1Q 2017: China smartphone market share : Huawei 24.7%, OPPO 17.6%, BBK/vivo 13.4%

Chinese brands will be busily reducing their component inventories in the second quarter as their total production volume for first quarter fell 26% versus prior quarter

China’s smartphone market in the first quarter was affected by weak demand and uncertainties surrounding the subsidy plans offered by domestic telecom companies. Major Chinese brands lowered their production volume targets and reduced component purchasing during the period as there were additional one to two weeks of inventories for their smartphone products (the whole device).

Going into the second quarter, Chinese brands will be releasing their latest flagship smartphones and replacing older products with this year’s lineups. Chinese brands also recognize that the market is being influenced by the arrival of the next iPhones, so they are going to continue to reduce their component inventories as to prepare for further uncertainties in shipments and sales.

Huawei remained the leader among Chinese vendors and the third largest brand worldwide in the first quarter, even though its production volume declined by about 22% compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. 

TrendForce expects Huawei to return to growth in the second quarter as the brand’s high-end series P10, which features dual-lens camera from Leica, will be officially entering the market. Huawei’s second-quarter production volume is estimated to expand by 16% compared with the first quarter and reach close to Apple’s iPhone volume figure for the same period.

OPPO and Vivo were respectively at the second and third place in the Chinese vendor ranking in the first quarter. In terms of production volume, both brands registered a decline from the fourth quarter of around 30%. TrendForce expects OPPO and Vivo to make a recovery as they continue to develop overseas markets and promote affordable premium devices. For the second quarter, two vendors will increase their respective production volumes by 20~30% over the prior three-month period.

Xiaomi saw no sequential growth in its production volume for the first quarter, though the figure did represent a modest year-on-year growth of 12%. In contrast, Huawei’s, OPPO’s and Vivo’s year-on-year growth rates for the first quarter were respectively 30% and over. According to TrendForce’s estimate, Xiaomi’s second-quarter volume may be more than 10% higher than the prior quarter as the brand rolls out the refresh for its Mi Note series.

Without new products in the offering, Lenovo’s smartphone production volume fell by nearly 30% between last year’s fourth quarter and this year’s first quarter. The first-quarter result also represents a year-on-year drop of almost 20%. Lenovo’s smartphone market share is thus on a decline. TrendForce projects that Lenovo will post single-digit growth in production in the second quarter.

TrendForce points out that Chinese smartphone makers in general will be able to raise their production volumes again in the second quarter as they put their latest flagship devices on the market. However, their home market China has reached a growth plateau. In addition to this, the 10th anniversary iPhone devices are generating a lot of interests and influencing consumer demand. 

Therefore, Chinese brands will have limited room for growth in the future. Those among them that have not establish footholds in overseas markets will be in an especially difficult position.

1Q 2017: Global Smartphone Market Share: Samsung 26.1%, Apple 16,9%, Huawei 11,4% says TrendForce.

Global smartphone production volume for the first quarter of 2017 totaled 307 million units, a drop of 23% from the previous quarter, according to market intelligence firm TrendForce. Smartphone brands, especially those based in China, lowered their production volume forecasts through the first quarter as demand slowed down significantly due to the conventional seasonal effect.

Major brands such as Samsung, LG and Huawei have begun to ship their flagship devices for the year, but the market demand going into the second quarter is expected to remain relatively weak as consumers are holding off their purchases in anticipation of the 10th anniversary iPhone devices that will arrive in the third quarter. 

Smartphone sales will be fairly lackluster until the second half of this year. TrendForce estimates that the global smartphone production volume for this second quarter will register a modest single-digit growth versus the preceding three-month period.

Strong sales of the Galaxy J series made Samsung the only brand posting production volume growth for the first quarter

Samsung’s sales results for its high-end smartphones fell short of expectations in the first quarter as consumers’ confidence in the brand had yet to fully recover from the recall of Galaxy Note 7. 

Nevertheless, Samsung continued to do very well in the mid-range and low-end segments of the market. 

The economically priced, high-performing Galaxy J series sustained Samsung’s shipments and contributed significantly to the expansion of the brand’s overall smartphone production volume. Samsung was the only brand that saw positive growth in production volume during the off season of the first quarter.

Samsung has also released its flagship device for the year Galaxy S8 this second quarter. However, the high-end model is expected to make limited sales contribution because the buzz surrounding the next-generation iPhone devices is dampening demand for products from non-Apple vendors. 

Samsung is expected to post flat growth for its second-quarter smartphone production volume. The S8 devices and the J series, which are contending for market shares respectively in the high-end and the mid-range to low-end segments, will keep Samsung’s shipments relatively stable in the second quarter. For the entire 2017, Samsung is estimated to increase its production volume by as much as 5% compared with the volume figure of 2016.

The total production volume of all iPhone devices for the first quarter of 2017 fell by 36% compared with the previous quarter and declined by 41% versus the same period a year ago. These results actually showed an overall improvement in iPhone sales. 

Apple this first quarter released the “PRODUCT Red” edition of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which can be regarded as a follow-up to last year’s “Jet Black” edition. The use of striking colors has been well received by consumers and helped Apple grab market share. The bold color scheme has also raised awareness about the upcoming release of the 10th anniversary iPhone devices.

TrendForce estimates that the total production volume of all iPhone devices for the second quarter will reach around 43 million units, a decline of 17% from the preceding quarter. Apple will likely to lower the production of existing iPhone models as the company prepares for the launch of the next-generation devices in the third quarter.

Because of the seasonal effect on demand, LG’s first-quarter smartphone production volume plummeted by almost 40% compared with the prior quarter. This was despite that the brand had rolled out the high-end device V20 in the second half of 2016 to help drive shipments during the turn of the year and beyond. Looking ahead, LG’s shipments will benefit from the impending arrival of G6. TrendForce projects that LG’s production volume will reach around 18 million units this second quarter, similar to the result for the same period last year. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 first picture leaks.

According to slashleaks the picture above belongs to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. It looks similar to the Galaxy S8 but with the S-Pen.

However the Note 8 may have a 6.4 inch infinity display 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) dual edge curved, 18:9:5 aspect ratio, with no physical home button, Qualcomm  SnapDragon 835 or Exynos 8895 chip, 6GB  RAM, storage up to 256 GB with an external micro SD card, dual-camera, USB-C, 3D Touch, fingerprint, iris and facial recognition biometrics.

If Samsung returns to a September or October release the Note 8 might arrive with the new Android O  OS, instead of Android 7.0 Nougat.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Factory Unlocked Smart Phone 64GB Dual SIM - International Version (Silver)

Item is eligible: No interest if paid in full within 12 months with the Amazon.com Store Card. Apply now here

Samsung Galaxy S8 Factory Unlocked is now available w/12 months no interest w/Amazon Card

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Factory Unlocked is now available w/12 months no interest w/Amazon Store Card in 5 option colors:

LG G6 is now available at AT&T, Best Buy, B&H, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

LG Electronics brand new smartphone, the LG G6®, is now available in the US. The LG G6 has the Google Assistant built in and is available at major carriers and national retailers as early as this week, including AT&T, Best Buy, B&H, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

The latest in the LG G series of premium flagship smartphones, the G6 was developed to specifically deliver the features consumers want most – a back to basics, no gimmicks approach to smartphones and a big screen experience without the inconvenience of a bigger phone.

The Big Screen That Actually Fits in Your Hand

The G6 comes with a 5.7-inch QHD+ (2,880 x 1,440 resolution) FullVisionTM display, and for the first time ever in a smartphone, an 18:9 screen aspect ratio. This FullVision display is made possible by the 80% body to screen ratio, complemented by an aluminum and glass body. The new 18:9 format also offers a more immersive experience for streaming videos and playing games compared to the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio.

Get More In, Leave Nothing Out 

With the G6, you don't need to ask people in the picture to reposition, cram together or find another place to stand in order to get everything in, simply choose between standard and wide angle settings. With dual 13MP rear cameras, including a 125-degree wide-angle lens, the G6 captures panoramic shots that regular phone cameras can't.

The G6 delivers an outstanding and unique camera experience by creating seamless transitions when zooming in and out between the wide-angle and standard camera lenses even during 4K video capture. The G6 also comes with an expanded 100-degree field of view with its 5MP front camera, which means users can take selfies without the need for a selfie stick.

Tested to a Higher Standard*

The G6 can go just about anywhere without worry, thanks to its IP68 water and dust resistance so it is sealed against dust and can be safely immersed in up to 1.5 meters of water for as long as 30 minutes.

Moreover, the LG G6 has the distinction of having met and passed the MIL-STD 810G standard for durability, conducted by independent testing and certification firm MET (Maryland Electrical Testing) Laboratories. The G6 passed the following 14 tests: Low Temperature, High Temperature, Humidity, Vibration, Solar Radiation, Low Pressure, Sand and Dust, Immersion, Temperature Shock, Salt Fog and Rain. Tough enough to pass military standards tests, the LG G6 is ready to tackle your day-to-day activities with confidence.

The G6 also endures further tests for battery reliability, including high temperatures and nail penetration, leveraging a proprietary technology that dissipates heat from vital components via an internal heat pipe, the first in an LG smartphone.

Designed from Consumer Demand

"The LG G6 pioneers the next chapter in smartphone usability, from the 18:9 display to its seamless design featuring the removal of needless protrusions," said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The LG G6 has been designed based on the features consumers have been asking for most. Now those consumers can pick up the brand new LG G6 and experience FullVision and the almost impossibly narrow bezels for themselves."

Buy it Now!

The LG G6 is available now online and in-store. For a limited time, purchase the LG G6 and get a Google Home, both with the Google Assistant, on LG. To take advantage of this deal and for the complete list of price, availability and promotions, please visit: http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/g6/promo.

Key Specifications: **

Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 Processor

Display: 5.7-inch 18:9 QHD+ FullVision Display (2880 x 1440 / 564ppi)

Camera:

Front 5MP Wide (F2.2 / 100°)

Rear Dual: 13MP Wide (F2.4 / 125°) / 13MP Standard OIS 2.0 (F1.8 / 71°)

Battery: 3,300mAh (embedded)

Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat

Size: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm

Weight: 163g

Network: LTE-A 3 Band CA

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 BLE / NFC /

USB Type-C 2.0 (3.1 compatible)

Colors: Black / Platinum

Other: Water and Dust Resistant / Fingerprint Sensor / UX 6.0 / Dolby Vision™ / HDR10 / Qualcomm Quick Charge™ 3.0

*Military standard tests include the following: MIL-STD-810G Low Pressure (Procedure II) Method 500.5, High Temperature (Procedure I – Storage) & (Procedure II – Operation) Method 501.5, Low Temperature (Procedure I – Storage) & (Procedure II – Operation) Method 502.5, Temperature Shock (Procedure I-C) Method 503.5, Solar Radiation (Procedure I) Method 505.5, Rain – (Procedure III) Method 506.5, Humidity (Procedure I) Method 507.5, Salt Fog - Method 509.5, Sand and Dust (Procedure I) Method 510.5, Immersion (Procedure I) Method 512.5, Vibration (Category 4) Method 514.6, & Mechanical Shock (Procedure IV) Method 516.6. Passed 14 different MIL-STD 810G Tests for durability conducted by an independent laboratory in U.S. that conforms to U.S. military standards. Device may not perform as tested in all conditions

**Specifications may vary depending on the particular market.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA

Now that is a great TV commercial, Samsung Galaxy S8: Breaking Out.

At the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2017 event this past March 29 in NY and London , Samsung presented the Galaxy S8/S8+ and this was one the commercial showed:

Samsung Galaxy S8 Breaking Out. We think is a great made TV commercial:

LibreOffice 5.3.2 update free download with improvements for DOCX and RTF.

The number one Microsoft Office alternative LibreOffice has just received another update today that brings improved compatibility with the DOCX format, which is being used by Microsoft for its own Office productivity suite.  

LibreOffice 5.3.2 is specifically focused on this feature, bringing over 50 patches, many of them related to RTF and DOCX formats.

LibreOffice is released in both 32- and 64-bit versions for Windows, but the latter is only available on Windows Vista and newer. The 32-bit flavor of LibreOffice runs even on Windows XP, the 15-year-old operating system that no longer receives updates since April 2014.

As it’s the case with every new version of the productivity suite, you can download LibreOffice 5.3.2 for GNU/Linux, macOS:

DOWNLOAD LibreOffice 5.3.2

 or Microsoft Windows: 

DOWNLOAD LibreOffice 5.3.2.2 Fresh / 5.2.6.2 Still for Windows



softpedia

LG Wins Dual "BEST OF THE BEST" 2017 Red Dot Awards

LG WINS DUAL “BEST OF THE BEST” IN THIS YEAR’S RED DOT AWARDS.

LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W and Smart InstaView Refrigerator

Both Receive Recognition for Best in Design.

LG Electronics (LG) was a big winner at this year’s Red Dot Design Awards, earning an impressive 20 total Red Dot Awards for excellence in design, including two Best of the Best awards. The top Best of the Best awards were given to LG’s SIGNATURE OLED TV W and Smart InstaView refrigerator for their innovation and contribution to the design community. Red Dot is widely seen as one of the world’s three most influential design committees, along with the iF Design Awards and IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards).

The LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W features an awe-inspiring Picture-on-Wall design that takes the TV concept and turns it into a piece of art. The super thin minimal profile of the 65-inch W7 – less than 4mm thick when mounted on the wall – creates the illusion of the TV levitating in midair, making the viewing experience even more immersive. The LG SIGNATURE OLED TV W also recently received the 2017 iF Design Award, giving LG a diverse portfolio of award-winning products.

LG’s InstaView Door-in-Door™ refrigerator was recognized by Red Dot for successfully combining a beautiful appliance with interactive technology. The refrigerator features a 29-inch LCD touch display which instantly turns transparent with just two knocks, letting customers peer inside without opening the door. The Smart Tag menu allows users to add stickers and tags on the screen to indicate which foods are stored inside. Smart Tag also offers users the ability to input the expiration date of each item, so the refrigerator can issue reminders when foods near their expiration dates.

In addition to these two Best of the Best awards, LG received 18 additional honors from the Red Dot judges. LG SIGNATURE OLED TV, Gram laptop, V20 smartphone, LG Watch Style and Sports, TONE series wireless headsets and Minibeam projector were among the other LG products recognized for their outstanding design and technological innovation.

“Recognition such as these from an organization as respected as Red Dot is confirmation to us that LG is living up to our expectation as an industry leader in design,” said Noh Chang-ho, vice president and head of corporate design at LG Electronics. “We will continue to offer products that push the boundaries of design and technology, redefining consumers’ expectations and doing our best to set a higher standard for aesthetics.”

LG Electronics, along with other LG companies such as LG Display and LG Hausys, will be participating in Milano Design Week from April 4-9 to highlight the importance of design in consumers’ everyday lives.

LG starts global rollout of the LG G6 smartphone.

LG COMMENCES GLOBAL ROLLOUT OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED, HIGHLY PRAISED G6 SMARTPHONE.

First Global Flagship Smartphone to Ship in 2017, Featuring.

FullVision Display, Solid Metal Build and One-handed Usability.

Following the initial rollout in its home country of South Korea, LG Electronics (LG) announced the commencement of shipment of its highly praised LG G6 smartphone to international markets this week, including key countries in North America, Asia, Europe, Central and South Americas over the course of the next several weeks. Nearly 200 carriers and operators worldwide will be making the LG G6 available to their local customers.

The LG G6 received many positive reactions at Mobile World Congress 2017 earlier this year, winning an unprecedented 36 awards from various industry publications. With a design based on delivering what everyday consumers wanted from their smartphones, the G6 features an unprecedented 5.7-inch display in a compact 5.2-inch body with minimal bezels for convenient one-handed operation without sacrificing screen real estate. 

With an immersive FullVision display that supports both Dolby Vision and HDR 10, the LG G6 is compatible with more HDR content than any smartphone currently available. And the unique 18:9 screen aspect ratio of the FullVision display allows the screen to be divided into two identical perfect squares, ideal for multi-tasking with the G6’s camera UX, which was developed with social media users in mind.

For many customers, LG’s reputation and heritage of excellence in smartphone photography is what separates its phones from the competition. LG takes photography to the next level once again with a wide angle front-facing camera to complement the wide angle dual camera setup on the rear. 

The 125-degree lens on the back delivers crisp, panoramic image with less edge distortion than before and switching between the wide and standard lenses is smooth and seamless. And the 5MP 100-degree field of view front camera allows for large group shots without the need to tote around a cumbersome selfie stick.

Sculpted from a blend of high quality metal and smooth glass, the LG G6 is a minimalist’s dream. But the aesthetic beauty doesn’t sacrifice durability, as the phone’s rounded edges provide optimal impact resistance. Protection from the elements is guaranteed as the LG G6 meets the IP68 standard for water and dust resistance. And with Google Assistant available right out of the box, useful information is never far away.

Moreover, the LG G6 has the distinction of having met and passed the MIL-STD 810G standard for durability, conducted by independent testing and certification firm MET (Maryland Electrical Testing) Laboratories. 

The G6 passed the following 14 tests, the most categories among smartphones tested: Low Temperature, High Temperature, Humidity, Vibration, Solar Radiation, Low Pressure, Sand and Dust, Immersion, Temperature Shock, Salt Fog and Rain. Tough enough to be carried on actual military drills and missions, customers of the LG G6 have one less thing they need to worry about.

“The initial reaction and feedback to the G6 has exceeded our expectations by far,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We had a lot of ground to make up with the G series and what we learned from consumers in the past year has truly been inspiring and illuminating.”

Prices and exact dates of availability will be announced locally in each market at the time of launch.

USA: LG launching LG G6 agressive marketing campaign

LG Electronics will offer hands-on experience spaces and pre-order sales in a total of 25.000 stores in the USA, including major mobile retailers and large electronics store such as Best Buy.

Online marketing is also active ahead of US launch.

Kim Soo-Young of MC Marketing FD of LG Electronics said, "In the United States, the biggest market of smartphones, the interest and expectation of LG G6 is very high in the US." "The LG G6's distinctive advantages including full- We will continue to work to inform. "

A new video ad is now available on YouTube LG G6 Life is good when you dance:(March 7, 2017)

LG Electronics is launching LG G6 on 11 North American mobile carriers including Verizon, Sprint, AT & T, T Mobile and US Cellular. It starts selling in Canada the same day.


LG Electronics plans to supply the LG G6 to 200 mobile operators in major global markets such as Europe, CIS, Middle East Africa, Asia and Central and South America.

The LG G6 is available now on Verizon and for pre-order on other major carriers who will delivery in April 28th.

LG Korea

DDR5 RAM to speed up your PC.

DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5) will provide double the bandwidth and density over DDR4, along with delivering improved channel efficiency, says JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, who is the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry.

The Publication of the standard is forecasted for 2018 and until all actual manufacturers of RAM memory change their patterns for making the new standard , the consumer will see available the DDR5 RAM memory around year 2020 or 2021. DDR4 was finalized in 2012, but didn’t become widely available until 2015.

Press Release:

JEDEC DDR5 & NVDIMM-P Standards Under Development

Preview both at JEDEC's Server Forum in June 2017

ARLINGTON, Va., USA – MARCH 30, 2017 –JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry, today announced that development of the widely-anticipated DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5) and NVDIMM-P Design standards is moving forward rapidly.  Publication for both is forecasted for 2018. Industry users will have the opportunity to learn more about each standard at JEDEC’s Server Forum event in Santa Clara, CA on Monday, June 19, 2017.  For more information and to register, visit the JEDEC website.

JEDEC DDR5 memory will offer improved performance with greater power efficiency as compared to previous generation DRAM technologies. As planned, DDR5 will provide double the bandwidth and density over DDR4, along with delivering improved channel efficiency. These enhancements, combined with a more user-friendly interface for server and client platforms, will enable high performance and improved power management in a wide variety of applications.

As demand for DRAM capacity and bandwidth continues to grow within systems, Hybrid DIMM technologies such as JEDEC NVDIMM-P will enable new memory solutions optimized for cost, power usage and performance. Adding to the existing NVDIMM-N JEDEC standards, NVDIMM-P will be a new high capacity persistent memory module for computing systems.

In addition to the previews at JEDEC’s Server Forum, JEDEC plans to host in-depth technical workshops on both DDR5 and NVDIMM-P to facilitate a better understanding and faster industry-wide adoption of the standards. More details will be available on the JEDEC website later this year.

Mian Quddus, Chairman of the JEDEC Board of Directors, said: “Increasing server performance requirements are driving the need for more advanced technologies, and the standardization of next generation memory such as DDR5 and the new generation persistent modules NVDIMM-P will be essential to fulfilling those needs.”  He added, “Work on both standards is progressing quickly, and we invite all interested engineers worldwide to visit the JEDEC website for more information about JEDEC membership and participation in JEDEC standards-setting activities.”

About JEDEC

JEDEC is the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry. Thousands of volunteers representing nearly 300 member companies work together in 50 JEDEC committees to meet the needs of every segment of the industry, manufacturers and consumers alike. The publications and standards generated by JEDEC committees are accepted throughout the world.  All JEDEC standards are available for free download from the JEDEC website. For more information, visit www.jedec.org.

Contact:

Emily Desjardins

703-907-7560

emilyd@jedec.org 

SG