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UK proposes tougher security for smart home devices
The UK government plans to introduce a new law designed to improve the security standards of household products connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). The legislation stipulates that all consumer smart devices sold in the UK -- such as smart cameras and TVs, wearable health trackers and connected appliances -- adhere to three specific requirements.
Google declares Android phones can have two notches at most
While Google is welcoming manufacturers who want to pack Android into phones with notches, it's setting a limit on how many cutouts devices can include. The company has told phone makers that they can only include notches at the top and/or bottom of the screen, and each edge can only have a single notch.
Foxconn applies for license, aiming to get into wireless service
Apple's parts manufacturer of choice, Foxconn, doesn't seem very happy with its current industry. The company recently made its own iPhone-compatible smartwatch (in order to show off that it could design its own devices), and now the Wall Street Journal reports that Foxconn's parent company, Hon Hai, has applied for a high-speed wireless broadband license in Taiwan. An auction for the frequency will happen in September of this year, with bidders being announced in August. This move certainly makes it seem like the company is aiming to provide wireless service, which is a nice industry jump from where it's at right now. Foxconn doesn't seem content with assembling parts for Apple lately, and could be in a few different industries by the end of this year. We'll have to wait and see if that affects Apple's production line at all. It doesn't seem like Foxconn would want to hurt its relationship with Apple, but if it would rather sell products directly to consumers, then it's possible the core business could falter a bit. [via BGR]
Who needs Apple? Foxconn makes an iPhone-friendly smartwatch
Apple has not announced an iWatch, as many folks hoped it would, and that didn't bother Foxconn. The company that manufactures most of Apple's iPhones and iPads has made its own iPhone-compatible smartwatch, which it showed off earlier this week. The watch looks relatively simple, but it can check your pulse and respiration, as well as interact with Facebook and Messages, all while your phone is still in your pocket. There's no information about a launch just yet, but this basically sounds like a proof of concept, a sign that Foxconn is ready to create a device for the quickly growing wearable market. Apple hasn't announced anything yet (and may not ever), but given the rise of Google Glass and other iPhone-compatible wearable electronics, there's certainly a growing expectation that the biggest mobile device manufacturer in the world will eventually step into the wearable market. [via Engadget]
After strong Q3 showing, HTC sees nearly 20 percent drop in November revenue
All was looking rosy for HTC at the end of October, when the company released yet another stellar Q3 earnings report. Since then, however, things have apparently gone downhill in a pretty drastic way, as evidenced by an unaudited revenue report for the month of November. In an announcement issued today, the manufacturer confirmed that it saw about 31 billion Taiwanese dollars ($1.03 billion) in consolidated revenue last month, down 19.6 percent from November 2010, when it raked in some 38.5 billion Taiwanese dollars (about $1.27 billion). HTC didn't offer an explanation for the drop, though an earlier Q4 earnings forecast predicted that the company's impressive streak of robust earnings reports would soon come to an end. It remains to be seen whether December treats the company more gently, but for now, you can check out the full financial breakdown at the source link, below.
Nokia to bear NFC guns in US, create its own mobile wallet?
Nokia is still champing at the bit when it comes to creating the so-called three horse race, but the Finnish mainstay has another three word secret weapon up its sleeve: NFC. In an interview with Electronista, the company's VP of Location and Commerce, Michael Halbherr, said the manufacturer plans to "equally support" NFC in the US, while remaining "accommodating and open" to various mobile payment schemes like Isis. He mentioned that it was "not clever" to commit to one payment system at this point, implying instead that Nokia may create its own version of the mobile wallet down the line. Although we're not sure which Nokia phone will be first to hit the States, looks like we won't have to hold our breath until we're blue... er... cyan in the face for NFC. Check out the source for the full interview.
Apple to release cheaper, 8GB iPhone 4 within weeks?
As the world waits for Apple to release the iPhone 5, Reuters is reporting that Cupertino may be refreshing the iPhone 4, as well. According to two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter," an unnamed Korean manufacturer has already begun producing parts for a cheaper, 8GB version of the smartphone, slated to launch within the next few weeks. As for that next-gen handset, the insiders went on to say that the iPhone 4S / iPhone 5 will feature a more spacious touchscreen, better antenna and eight megapixel shooter, and that Apple is indeed aiming for a late September launch, after having already asked manufacturers Hon Hai and Pegatron to prep their facilities for the production of 45 million units, altogether. Details, as usual, are still scarce at this point, but we'll let you know as soon as we get more information.
Foxconn to reportedly build all iPad 3 units
Foxconn is using its production muscle to keep Apple's iPad 3 manufacturing contracts to itself. This contradicts an earlier report that claimed Apple was shopping around for a second manufacturer like Pegatron to assist with iPad 3 production. According to this new report from Digitimes, the Hon Hai subsidiary has told Apple it doesn't need any help and can handle the expected volume of iPad 3 orders. Don't feel bad for competitor Pegatron, though. It supposedly has a contract for over 10 million iPhone 5 units and is vying for the iPad 4 and 2012 notebook/desktop orders from Apple.
Apple reportedly to add another iPad 3 manufacturer
Apple may begin producing the iPad 3 soon and manufacturers needed to assemble this tablet device are being chosen. Not surprisingly, the primary manufacturer is expected to be Foxconn, a long-time manufacturer of Apple devices. A recent explosion at Foxconn's Chengdu plant has impacted Foxconn's production rate and Apple is looking for a second manufacturer to meet the expected high demand. Both Pegatron and Quanta Computers are reportedly in the running to snag this second place spot. Taiwanese sources claim Pegatron is a better position to win the contract as it is supposedly manufacturing the iPhone 5 for Apple. The sources also claim the iPad 3 is slated to launch late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter.
Explosion at Foxconn's Chengdu plant kills two
An explosion occurred at Foxconn's Chengdu plant earlier today, with reports claiming several workers have been injured. The Taiwanese company has yet to release a statement regarding figures and the cause of this tragedy, but according to 21st Century Business Herald, witnesses saw lightning hit the A05 building before the explosion took place -- it is believed that this is a case of dust explosion, and security guards were allegedly warning evacuees that the smoke was toxic. At the time, hundreds of workers were present in the affected workshop which houses an iPad 2 assembly line. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. Update: Sina Tech is reporting two deaths and sixteen injured people, with three in critical condition. We've also added a video from the scene after the break, courtesy of Sohu. Update 2: Apple has provided a statement to All Things D, saying: We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at Foxconn's plant in Chengdu, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families... We are working closely with Foxconn to understand what caused this terrible event.
Intel distributing Thunderbolt developer kits this quarter, more peripherals on the way
According to IDG News, Intel announced yesterday that Thunderbolt developer kits would be making their way out to manufacturers within this quarter, opening up development for the fledgling standard. The technology, previously known by its code name 'Light Peak,' began shipping on the 2011 MacBook Pro line, replacing the mini DisplayPort socket of the previous iteration. The fully backwards compatible specification, which was announced on the 24th of February this year, encompasses both DisplayPort and PCI Express in a dual-channel, high-speed interconnect. Promising speeds of up to 10 Gbps along copper cables, there's a lot of potential for products that require high-speed connections but a minimum amount of cables. Companies including Canon, Matrox, AJA, LaCie and Western Digital have shown off products already, but none have made it to market as yet. Intel is hoping that by distributing developer kits, it can get a plethora of Thunderbolt-connected products hitting the shelves quickly, not just external hard drives, which is great news for MacBook Pro users. The holy grail of the one connector to rule them all may be a little ways off just yet, but with a bit of luck, we'll start to see some decent uses for Thunderbolt, short of the standard DisplayPort connection, in the very near future.
Foxconn reports $218 million full-year net loss, worse than analysts' expectation
Foxconn, the mega-manufacturer behind many popular gadgets, posted a $218.3 million net loss for 2010 yesterday. While the company had previously predicted lower earnings amid suicide-related wage increases and welfare costs, the reported figure is still worse than analysts' estimation of around $202 million, which also far outweighs the prior year's $38.6 million profit. Foxconn puts the blame on higher consolidated income tax and increased competition, as well as "cost streamlining actions" -- a reference to the ongoing relocation and expansion plans, which are also the outcome of the Chinese suicides -- that took longer than expected and led to increased spending along with higher manufacturing overhead. As for 2011, Foxconn said it'll "take decisive actions to conclude our capacity relocation, optimize our cost structure and return to profitability." Of course, further losses could accelerate plans to increase prices, which could ultimately put everyone in a lose-lose situation if Foxconn can't compete. Excerpts from the financial report can be found after the break.
Millenial Media: Apple still top manufacturer, devs heading to Android in 2011
Millenial Media has released its monthly report about mobile advertising, and while things haven't changed too much from the last time they released this kind of data, the usual trends are still in place. Apple is the biggest mobile device manufacturer around, representing 25 percent of mobile impressions across its iPhone, iPod touch and iPad platforms. The iPod touch saw some growth in impressions, jumping up over the Motorola Droid and the BlackBerry Curve to take the number two spot on Millenial's network. And the Samsung Acclaim Android phone release gave that manufacturer a nice boost in impressions, pushing Samsung up to the number two spot behind Apple on the list of top mobile manufacturers. In terms of apps, the Android platform holds the top spot in the network for most ads (54 percent to Apple's 39 percent), and has seen 10 percent month-over-month growth for the past four months. According to a developer survey, Android is also the platform that most developers expect to release apps for in 2011 (29 percent of developers plan to release apps on Android, while 20 percent say they plan to release apps on the iPad, and another 20 percent on the Windows Phone 7 platform). And games remain the leading app category across the network, with 28 percent of app impressions provided by gaming apps. Interesting data. Of course, this is only a portrait of what's happening on this specific network, so these numbers may differ from the entire platforms as a whole. But it's clear that Apple is still the most major manufacturer in the mobile space, and Android is definitely seeing lots of action in terms of app releases. That trend will probably continue right on into 2011, as more and more developers expand into Android app sales as well as iOS.
Quanta sets new record for laptop shipments in June
You may not realize it, but there's a good chance that the laptop you're using right now was made by Quanta -- the company is the largest laptop manufacturer in the world, and it looks like it's only getting bigger. According to PC World, the company (which counts HP, Dell and Sony among its clients) set a new record for laptop shipments in June, moving upwards of 4.8 million laptops for about $3.1 billion in revenue. It does expect shipments to "slow down a little bit" in July, however, but says things should rebound again in August. What's the cause for the uptick? Quanta says it's at least partly due to the easing of some component shortages, including those Arrandale processors that have been in short supply -- as PC World notes, Intel has said that it's been ramping up production in order to catch up with demand before the end of the second quarter.
ASUS wants to be "another Apple"
ASUS chairman Jonney Shih has successfully guided his company through the spinoff of their manufacturing arm Pegatron (whom Apple is already ready to do business with), and in the process stated that he wants the computer maker to become "another Apple," but one based on open-source platforms like Google's Chrome OS and Android platform and chips sourced from ARM. However, ASUS is also carefully leaving the option of Windows/Intel products on the table to "suit consumer demand" -- or in other words, "keep ASUS solvent." He also hinted at a "killer product" launch in June, which Electronista sees as a thinly-veiled hint of ASUS's forthcoming Eee Tablet, the company's answer to Apple's iPad. As for their ambitions to become an "open Apple," good luck to them. So far Chrome OS and Android have both seen adoption rates best described as "niche," and Linux has been a widely-espoused "open" alternative to Windows and OS X for over a decade (in which time, they've gained little traction in the marketplace). Chrome OS and the Android platform certainly have the potential to become successful, but it seems odd to pin ASUS's future success on the hopes of "open" platforms that have yet to catch on with the average consumer. I won't go so far as to say that ASUS's ambitions are doomed to fail before they've begun, but if they really want to become "another Apple," they have a hard road ahead of them. [Via Electronista]
Report: Apple signs new iPhone manufacturer, rumored to work on CDMA iPhone
Apple has reportedly signed up with a new manufacturer in China to help produce the next generation of the iPhone -- Pegatron will be joining Foxconn in putting together parts for Apple's next handheld unit, we hear courtesy of the always talkative "industry sources." The company has been rumored to be working with Apple before, when it was suggested that they'd be working on a smaller version of the iPhone designed to work on Verizon's CDMA network. Officially, Pegatron hasn't confirmed any agreement with Apple, but they have said that they plan to substantially increase their output in 2010. And this might just be part of a good 2010 for Pegatron -- the company is also working on parts for Microsoft's Natal controller, rumored to be releasing this coming holiday season. As for what they'll be making for Apple, we'll have to wait and see what gets announced. It's almost a certainty that we'll see a new iPhone model sometime this year, but as to what that model will do (and whether it'll be CDMA enabled or otherwise), it's all just rumors so far. [via Apple Insider]
MSI to reportedly build LG's X110 netbook
MSI has been pretty successful with the Wind, wouldn't you say? Yeah, so would LG. Reportedly, LG is hoping to solicit MSI's services in order to craft its own X110 netbook. The mini laptop will purportedly boast an 8.9-inch panel, 120GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows XP runnin' the show. Interestingly, the price is expected to hover between $625 and $790 as it focuses on "design and material quality" rather than low cost. Anxious to see how that move plays out, aren't you?
Iran prepping first homegrown mobiles
When your government raises tariffs on imported phones from 4 percent to a staggering sixty percent, you kinda hope there are plans in place to start producing handsets on home turf. That's exactly the bind Iranians find themselves in at the moment, but relief's in sight -- the head of Iran Telecommunication Manufacturing Company says his folks are ready to start selling ITMC-branded phones as soon as June of this year, with a full 300,000 units being thrown together by year's end. Though the manufacturing is homegrown, it appears the technology is not; Iran has contracted with as-yet-unnamed South Korean companies to get the necessary equipment and tech brought over to Iranian borders. If this means Iran gets a DMB-equipped Shine before we do, that's going to be so not cool.[Via textually.org]
Nintendo searching for more Wii manufacturers
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_searching_for_more_Wii_manufacturers'; Nintendo has struggled to meet the Wii's demand in every region, so much so that retailers have accused the company of planning "strategic shortages." Four months after the console's initial release, it's still unlikely that you'll be able to find a Wii on store shelves.Up until now, Foxconn Precision Components has been the sole manufacturer behind the Wii's assembly. Nintendo hopes to increase its production by taking on an additional manufacturing partner, researching offers from Asustek Computer, Compal Electronics, Inventec, and Wistron.It's great that Nintendo is looking to increase the amount of systems it ships out, but how long will it be before we see the benefits of this partnership? It was already evident that the Wii's supply was constrained months ago -- why didn't Nintendo bring in a new manufacturer then?[Via Next Generation]
VK goes belly-up
Officially, it was the discrepancy between the value of the dollar and that of the won, combined with aggressive marketing strategies of companies like Nokia and Motorola that have driven Korean battery-turned-handset maker VK into receivership, a form of bankruptcy. Personally, we believe it had something more to do with the boatload of unimpressive and stylistically unoriginal handsets (Kickflip notwithstanding) they've released since they entered the mobile phone game in 2002. Either way, they'll surely be missed; if not by us, then by SK Telecom and other investors who parted with billions of their won earlier this year in a failed attempt to keep VK afloat. Our only regret is that we won't get to pocket the 4-megapixel VK 2200, but since we don't live in South Korea, there's a good chance we never would anyway. Oh well, at least we'll always have CeBit.
