Taiwan market: Sony to launch mirrorless single-lens digital camera and 6 Cyber-shot models

May 24, 17:03

Sony on May 23 unveiled the NEX-F3, an entry-level mirrorless single-lens digital camera, as well as six Cyber-shot series digital cameras for launch in the Taiwan market in early June, according to Sony Taiwan.

Asustek denies lowering notebook shipment targets for 2Q12

May 24, 16:05

Asustek Computer has denied that it plans to lower its notebook shipments target for the second quarter of 2012 after it share prices were dragged down 5.34% on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on May 23 amid weak sentiment triggered by the weaker-than-expected first-quarter results released by Dell...

Touch controller maker EETI conservative about 2Q12 outlook

May 24, 14:23

Touch panel controller IC vendor Egalax_Empia Technology (EETI) is conservative about the outlook for the second quarter of 2012 due to a low order visibility, according to the company.

NAND flash prices hope for rebound in 3Q12

May 24, 14:21

While contract prices for NAND flash have continually dropped due to oversupply arising from weak demand, prices may rebound in the third quarter of 2012 if traditional peak demand emerges and therefore retail channels will replenish low inventory levels, according to industry sources.

Lenovo FY2011 net profit hikes 73.1%

May 24, 11:20

China-based PC vendor Lenovo recorded net profit of US$473 million for fiscal year 2011 (April 2011-March 2012), increasing on year by 73.1%, according to the company's financial report.

LCD driver IC design houses shifting more capacity to high-resolution parts for smartphone segment

May 24, 11:04

LCD driver makers including Novatek Microelectronics, Himax Technologies, ILi Technology (Ilitek), Orise Technology and Sitronix Technology have seen shipments of their high resolution LCD driver ICs for smartphone applications begin to pick up in May, after a poor performance in terms of revenues...

TXC to increase TCXO capacity by 200%

May 24, 01:35

Demand for TCXOs has been rising due to increasing sales of smartphones, tablet PCs and 4G LTE wireless telecommunication systems. To accommodate demand, Taiwan-based quartz crystal device maker TXC plans to increase 2012 total capacity by 200% from 50 million units to 150 million units.

MILC to enjoy growth in both worldwide and Taiwan sales

May 24, 01:30

Global mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILC) are expected to enjoy shipment growth as high as 20% in 2012, while the Taiwan market is expected to achieve a growth of 30% with volumes to reach close to 190,000 units as digital still camera (DSC) vendors such as Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and...

Asustek to launch three new ZenBook models in June

May 24, 01:15

Asustek Computer will launch three models of its ZenBook Prime lineup, the UX21A, UX31A and UX32VD, in June, featuring full HD IPS panels from Chimei Innolux (CMI). Asustek aims to ship 100,000 units initially, according to industry sources.

Google 7-inch tablet PC to ship in June with initial volume of 600,000 units

May 24, 01:00

Google's 7-inch tablet PC, which the company co-developed with Asustek computer, is set to start shipping in June with initial shipments to reach about 600,000 units. The machine will be officially released in the market in July, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. However, Asustek...

TPV steps up LCD TV production

May 23, 16:26

LCD display manufacturer TPV Technology is fast expanding its TV production, thanks to its presence in China and the opportunities offered by the Philips brand.

Taiwan digital camera makers developing MILCs

May 23, 12:13

Taiwan-based digital camera makers Altek, Ability Enterprise and Asia Optical have been developing MILCs (mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras) and hope to finish product development at the end of 2012 or in early 2013 and then begin negotiation of ODM orders with Japan-based vendors, with an aim...

New e-book readers face production issues with front light panel

May 23, 11:51

Makers of front-lit e-book readers in Taiwan are having problems laminating the front-light panels onto the touch panels, with low yield rates hindering shipments of the new devices, according to industry sources.

Compal lands notebook ODM orders from Samsung

May 23, 01:00

Samsung Electronics has for the first time outsourced notebook production and released initial ODM orders to Compal Electronics, with shipments to begin in June 2012, according to Taiwan-based notebook supply chain makers.

Asustek, Acer to see 10% of notebook shipments in 2012 feature touchscreen panels

May 22, 14:17

As Microsoft will launch Windows 8 in the third quarter, mainly promoting its touchscreen functions, Asustek Computer and Acer are expected to have 10% of their notebook shipments feature touchscreen panels by the end of 2012, higher than market watchers' expectations of only 5%, according to sources...

Acer, Asustek to launch netbooks with upgraded Atom processor in 3Q12

May 22, 01:40

Acer and Asustek Computer, seeing as most other vendors have quit the netbook market and netbook shipments are becoming more stable, plans to launch new netbook models with Intel's upgraded Atom processors, which are set to appear at the end of the third quarter, according to sources from notebook...

Samsung reducing DSC outsourcing to Taiwan makers

May 22, 01:20

Korea-based Samsung Electronics has recently withdrawn its orders for spring season digital still camera (DSC) models, which were originally placed to Taiwan-based DSC maker Altek and the decision is expected to cause Taiwan's annual DSC shipments in 2012 to suffer on-year drop, according to sources...

Taiwan sees decreased April export order value

May 21, 16:30

Taiwan received export orders worth US$36.09 billion in total in April 2012, decreasing 5.94% on month and 3.52% on year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on May 21.

Proportion of SSD-equipped ultrabooks to fall to 56% in 2Q12, says Digitimes Research

May 18, 16:30

The proportion of ultrabooks equipped with SSDs will drop from 86% in the first quarter of 2012 to 56% in the second as vendors attempt to cut component costs to keep down prices, according to Digitimes Research.

Taiwan market: Sony to launch first Android Walkman

May 18, 15:56

Sony on May 18 unveiled Z1050, its first Android-based Walkman, for launch in the Taiwan market on May 24 at a recommended retail price of NT$10,990 (US$373), according to Sony Taiwan.

WoA tablet PCs struggling to hit price targets

May 18, 15:07

WoA (Windows on ARM) tablet PCs, based on estimated general BOM costs of US$300-350 for 10-inch tablet PCs and US$150-200 for 7-inch models, are struggling to meet vendors' price targets for competition against Apple and Amazon's tablet PC products because of the additional US$90-100 fee for Windows...

Worldwide mobile phone sales declined 2% in 2Q12, says Gartner

May 18, 10:41

Worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users reached 419.1 million units in the first quarter of 2012, a 2% decline from the first quarter of 2011, according to Gartner. This is the first time since the second quarter of 2009 that the market exhibited a decline.

Amazon likely to launch 10.1-inch Kindle Fire in 3Q12; to suspend 8.9-inch model

May 18, 01:30

The latest market rumors indicate that Amazon is likely to launch a 10.1-inch Kindle Fire in the third quarter, while tentatively suspending the launch of a speculated 8.9-inch model.

Intel to launch inexpensive ULV processors in 3Q12 to facilitate US$699 ultrabooks

May 18, 01:15

Intel will launch four entry-level Celeron processors including the Celeron ULV 877 and 807 for sale at US$86 and US$70 respectively and targeting ultrabooks in the third quarter of 2012. The CPUs could enable vendors to offer ultrabooks at a price level of US$699 in the third-quarter, and falling...

PC shipments to Europe in May fall short of expectations

May 18, 01:10

Deliveries of PCs taken by distributors and retail channels in Europe in May have so far fallen short of original expectations by 5-10% probably because of the impact of potential financial risks arising from the impasse in Greece, according to PC vendors.

Computex expected to generate trade value of US$28 billion

May 18, 01:00

Computex Taipei 2012 is scheduled for June 5-9 with 1,800 exhibitors and 5,400 booths, and is expected to attract 36,000 buyers and 10,000 professionals from overseas. The show is estimated to reach a total trade of US$28 billion, according to the organizers of the exhibition.

Taiwan market: Projector shipments down 4% sequentially 1Q12

May 17, 14:28

There were 25,730 projectors shipped in the Taiwan market during the first quarter of 2012, decreasing 4% on quarter but increasing 19% on year, according to IDC Taiwan.

Asia Optical reorganizing joint venture

May 17, 14:03

Asia Optical, a Taiwan-based maker of optical lens modules and digital cameras, is readjusting the organization of AOF Imaging Technology, its joint venture with Singapore-based Flextronics International, in response to AOF stopping ODM production Eastman Kodak due to Kodak's bankruptcy protection...

Shortage of high-end camera lenses may continue throughout 2Q12

May 17, 01:25

Because polished wafers and camera lens production volumes are unable to meet the rising demand for digital still camera (DSC) models with high optical zoom, a shortage of lenses for high-end cameras is expected to last throughout the rest of the second quarter of 2012, according to sources from the...

Asustek, Acer to participate at CCISF in China

May 17, 01:10

The fifteenth China Chongqing International Investments and Global Sourcing Fair will start on May 17 in Chongqing, China with several international as well as local IT and automobile players such Asustek Computer, Acer, Haier, General Electronics, Wal-Mart, LG Electronics, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and...

Apple iOS to maintain tablet dominance in 2012, says IHS

May 16, 16:28

After suffering a temporary dip in market share in the fourth quarter of 2011, Apple's iOS is expected to reassert its leadership of the worldwide tablet space in 2012, according to an IHS iSuppli Worldwide Tablet Market Tracker report from information and analytics provider IHS.

Chongqing government offers financial incentives to boost notebook shipments

May 16, 16:04

The local government of Chongqing, western China, has offered financial prizes of CNY150 million (US$23.8 million) in total to encourage notebook shipments, with a recipient required to have monthly shipments in May or June 2012 exceeding shipments in any month in January-April, according to sources...

DRAM market woes are over in 2012, says IHS

May 16, 14:47

The market for DRAM is expected to partially reverse the drastic losses it incurred in 2011 and achieve revenue growth in 2012, as the result of balanced supply and demand following the exit of major manufacturer Elpida Memory, according to IHS iSuppli.

Foxconn sees over 35% on-year growth in 1Q12 revenues; gross margin down to 6.64%

May 15, 14:08

Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has announced consolidated revenues of NT$1 trillion (US$33.9 billion) for the first quarter of 2012, up 37.3% on year from NT$729.26 billion.

Taiwan market: HP unveils five new ultrabooks

May 15, 01:45

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled five new ultrabooks under its Envy 4 and Envy 6 series in Taiwan with a chassis design that combines a metal-based bezel with a plastic-based bottom; however, HP's Envy Spectre XT and Elitebook Folio 1149, which were announced in the company's Shanghai press conference,...

Apple reportedly books up half of mobile DRAM capacity at Elpida Hiroshima plant

May 15, 01:40

Apple has recently placed huge orders for mobile DRAM memory with Elpida Memory's 12-inch plant in Hiroshima (Japan), securing about 50% of the total chips produced at the facility, according to industry sources.

Power, labor shortage in China may affect notebook shipments in 2H12

May 15, 01:35

As the labor shortage in Eastern China (coastal area) is turning worse and the summer season when powers shortages are common is approaching, notebook component supply in the second half of the year could be impacted, noted sources in the supply chain.

Taiwan makers to build specialized plants for Apple

May 14, 15:13

Taiwanese manufacturers are planning to construct plants in China dedicated to solely producing parts and components for Apple products as the company's sales in smart phones and tablets are seeing continuous growth.

Shipments of new MacBooks to surge starting June

May 14, 14:59

As Apple reportedly will announce its new MacBook series notebooks in June, the company's upstream suppliers will start raising their shipments to Apple significantly in the month with volumes expected to reach a peak in July, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

HP unveils ultra-like models in Shanghai

May 14, 12:28

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled a series of ultrabooks priced at US$999.99 onwards as well as a number of ultra-like models priced from US$600-700 in Shanghai.

Notebook vendors shifting panel orders from Samsung to CMI

May 14, 11:59

More brand notebook vendors are shifting their orders for notebook panels from Samsung Electronics to Chimei Innolux (CMI) given that Samsung's efforts to promote its own-brand notebooks may affect sales of their models, industry sources have indicated.

Asustek unveils US$799 ultrabook

May 11, 15:07

Asustek Computer on May 10 unveiled UX32VD, its second-generation ultrabook equipped with Ivy Bridge Core i5-3317U processor, Nvidia GeForce GT620M graphics card and hybrid storage of a 500GB HDD and 24GB SSD, for sale at a recommended retail price of US$799.

Acer sees 20% drop in April revenues

May 11, 14:59

Acer has announced revenues of NT$25.27 billion (US$860.25 million) for April, down 20.42% on month and 11% on year. Combined revenues from January to April reached NT$121.76 billion, down 6.74% on year.

Toshiba to have Quanta starting ODM production of notebooks in Chongqing in 2H12

May 11, 12:14

Toshiba will have its ODM partner Quanta Computer begin notebook production at Quanta's factory in Chongqing, western China, in the second half of 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Pegatron expects gross margin to rise quarter by quarter in 2012

May 11, 01:15

Pegatron recorded gross margins of 4.73% in the first quarter of 2012 and expects margins to increase quarter by quarter through the year, company CEO Jason Cheng said at a May 10 investors conference.

AUO lands notebook touch panel orders from Acer, Lenovo and Asustek

May 11, 01:10

AU Optronics (AUO) has recently landed OGS (one glass solution) touch panel orders for notebooks from Acer and Lenovo, in addition to Asustek Computer, which will purchase over 50% of touch panels for its new TF 300 Transformer tablet PC from AUO, according to industry sources.