Japan: NTT Docomo to launch worlds first smartphone with Sharp`s liquid cristal IGZO display.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Japan: NTT Docomo to launch worlds first smartphone with Sharp`s liquid cristal IGZO display.

NTT Docomo from Japan will launch  in November 29th, 2012, the 

AQUOS PHONE ZETA SH-02E 

the worlds first  smartphone with a Sharp liquid cristal IGZO HD display  720 × 1,280 dots type LCD Size 4.9, also supports pen input taking advantage of a high degree of recognition accuracy and responsiveness of the touch panel is a feature of the IGZO., the device sports a APQ8064 1.5GHz (Quad Core) chip, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.0, 3G and LTE,  Enjoy handwriting input. 3 colors: Red / White / Blue.

 Battery capacity is 2,320 mAh, standby time of approximately 350 hours (LTE) / 380 time (3G). Referred to as "safe to use without having to worry about the battery." Also has a waterproof performance equivalent IPX5 / 8.   ROM 32GB,  also has a microSD card slot.

Equipped with a CMOS sensor and image processing engine ProPix backside illumination pixels 16.3 million, main camera also employs optical image stabilization.Corresponds to the fast start-up of 16 times digital zoom and 0.4 seconds. Corresponding to the Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. In addition, as well as the corresponding NOTTV, also infrared communication Wallet / seg / us. Also supports DLNA / DTCP-IP.

Support up to approximately 100Mbps downlink and up to about 37.5Mbps uplink (LTE) Xi. Equipped with a wireless LAN, Wi-Fi tethering corresponding to (number ten concurrent connections). 440 minutes of continuous viewing time NOTTV. The dimensions are approximately 135 × 68 × 9.8mm (thickness × width × height) and weighs about 150g.

AQUOS PHONE ZETA SH-02E

Bright big screen in the palm of your hand! Used for a long period of time in high-capacity 2320mAh battery and with the new generation 4.9 inches display.

Even when a stationary image, and the liquid crystal far smartphone CPU is running 60 times per second in order to maintain the display. In IGZO, as fuel-efficient technology of the car engine to stop the car stopped, while still picture display will stop the display unit of the CPU, it will only work once per second also was only the liquid crystal. Dramatically reduce the consumption of the battery This makes it can be used for a long time.

 

16.3 million-pixel high-end camera with optical image stabilization and Startup "quick" "no" clean "" shake

High-resolution still image shooting maximum size of 16M (4640 × 3480 pixels) is possible. The adoption of a back-illuminated CMOS sensor to capture light efficiently, the brightness, you can enjoy authentic quality shooting in a dark room.

1.5GHz quad-core CPU & UI of enhancement of performance and energy efficiency overwhelming

1.5GHz quad-core CPU with a state-of-the-art in the industry. Such as adjusting the number of (core) engine, to achieve optimum operating lean with consideration to energy saving, depending on the application required.

Sources: NTTDocomo and av.watch

Sharp updates the Cocorobo line of intelligent robot vacuum cleaners.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Sharp updates the Cocorobo line of  intelligent robot vacuum cleaners.

Sharp have updated their Cocorobo line of intelligent robot vacuum cleaners, with a new smaller model, as well as a Cocorobo Navi function, which allows the robot to be controlled when the user is outside the home.

Cocorobo Navi can be used to visually map out your house creating a floor plan, letting the robot know where objects are placed, so you can directly specify where the robot should go.

Sharp also unveiled a controller, which connects to the Cocorobo via it's USB port, and can be used to control a range of household devices. Currently, Sharp TVs, air conditioning systems, LED lights and their Slim Ion Fan can all be controlled via the smartphone app, with support for competing companies products to be rolled out in future updates.

The new, smaller Cocorobo, the RX-V60, is 29.9cm in diameter, 4.7cm less than the current model, but with similar performance.

It features the power vacuum system, which can suck up dust from the gaps in wood floors, and due to it's reduced size, can comfortably maneuver around small spaces such as in between the legs of dining room chairs.

It will go on sale in Japan on the 13th of December for approximately 75,000 yen (US$900) and Sharp will manufacture 8,000 units per month. 

Apple cuts LCD panels supply from Samsung. Goes with LG for next iPads and Sharp.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Original post from Korea Times:

Apple cuts LCD panels supply from Samsung. Goes with LG for next iPads, and Sharp.

Apple has reduced purchases of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels for tablet computers from Samsung Display amid the deepening patent disputes, said a leading market research firm, Friday. Market experts said that the move is aimed at minimizing its reliance on Samsung parts An analysis by DisplaySearch showed Apple bought 683,000 display sheets for use in its 9.7-inch iPad tablet from Samsung Display in August this year ― a cut by nearly 50 percent from a month earlier. 9.7-inch displays are only being used in Apple iPads. In May, Samsung Display shipped 2.88 million sheets to Apple, which was a monthly record. But the shipments were down to 1.22 million in July from 2.5 million that Samsung sold to Apple in June, according to the research firm. Last year, the Cupertino-headquartered Apple spent about $7.8 billion on components from Samsung Electronics, mostly on application processors, memory chips and LCD screens. But Apple had begun turning to other suppliers in Japan, Taiwan and other Korean LCD and chipmakers such as LG Display and SK hynix as for the alternatives. ``This is the first time that Samsung Display shipped less than 1 million displays on a monthly basis since November last year. But we aren’t too worried,’’ said a senior Samsung official. In a meeting with local reporters Wednesday, Samsung’s chip business chief Jun Dong-soo said that the company ``won’t be aggressive’’ in terms of investment for facilities next year due to lingering external uncertainties. ``We are facing uncertainties. That means Samsung isn’t prepared to continuously increase facility investment,’’ said Jun. While Samsung is losing Apple’s business, its biggest cross-town rival LG Display is winning more orders from Apple. In August, Apple bought 3.83 million display sheets from LG for use in iPads from 3.4 million sheets in July. In March this year, LG just sold 886,000 screens for iPads, however, the monthly shipments were increasing to 2 million, 2.55 million and 3.39 million in April, May and June, according to DisplaySearch. Gary Sohn, the head of LG Display’s public relations office, declined to talk more about its Apple business. ``Apple has shifted its display supplement channels to LG and Sharp of Japan. LG Display solved quality-related matters for Apple products. Its `Apple line’ located in Paju is running at full capacity,’’ said an industry executive. Shinhan Financial, a local brokerage, raised its target on LG Display shares to 38,000 won from 32,000 won. ``LG Display will report over 1 trillion won in operating profit this year because it’s been shipping more screens to Apple’s flagship products,’’ said So Hyun-chul from Shinhan. The analyst said the Apple iPhone 5 is using LG screens, while Apple contracted with LG to buy big chunks of displays for use in its next iPad ― tentatively named the iPad 3 ― and mini iPad. Apple products such as the iPad, and iPhone continue to stress the display supply chain, given their cutting-edge performance specifications and strict quality control. Apple business is attractive to the display supply chain because it offers high volumes of a single model, which enables production stability. Apple displays offer higher average selling prices (ASPs) due to specifications such as slim width, light weight, high resolution, low power consumption, high color saturation and wide viewing angle. ``The display supply chain has started to gear up for Apple. In the second half of 2012, Apple will launch three new products _ iPhone 5, iPad Mini and New iPad model. These mobile devices will require displays with high resolution, slim form factor, light weight and low power consumption. And certainly, these features are keeping the display supply chain very busy,’’ DisplaySearch said. ``This is the story for all leading display makers but Samsung,’’ said another industry executive.

Cocorobo intelligent vacuum cleaner robot communicates with its owner

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Cocorobo intelligent vacuum cleaner robot communicates with its owner.


It is a vacuum cleaner developed by Sharp from Japan and can communicate with the user with voice  and using your iphone or android smartphone.

Sharp Begins Production of World's First LCD Panels Incorporating IGZO Oxide Semiconductors.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Sharp Begins Production of World's First LCD Panels Incorporating IGZO Oxide Semiconductors

In March 2012 at Kameyama Plant No. 2, Sharp began producing the world's first high-performance LCD panels incorporating IGZO oxide semiconductors. Sharp is expanding production scale through April to meet market demand.

Kameyama Plant No. 2 first started operations in August 2006, manufacturing highly advanced LCD panels for TVs. Production systems have subsequently been reorganized to focus on producing small- and medium-sized LCD panels for the world's rapidly growing smartphone and tablet terminal markets.

Employing advanced IGZO oxide semiconductors enables Sharp to produce LCDs with smaller thin-film transistors and increased pixel transparency, thus allowing for lower energy consumption. In addition, proprietary UV2A*3 photo-alignment technology employed in Sharp's AQUOS LCD TVs enables these displays to achieve high image quality.

Sharp will encourage the application of its new high-resolution LCD panels to high-definition notebook PCs and LCD monitors-which are both expected to grow in demand-as well as to mobile devices. Sharp will also contribute to creating markets for attractive new products.

Sample Specifications of LCD Panels Incorporating IGZO

For LCD Monitors Display size 32 inches

No. of pixels 3,840 x 2,160

Pixel density 140 ppi

For High-Definition Notebook PCs Display size 10 inches

No. of pixels 2,560 x 1,600

Pixel density 300 ppi

For Tablet Terminals Display size 7 inches

No. of pixels 800 x 1,280

Pixel density 217 ppi

Partnership Foxconn/Sharp to target Apple orders. Apple TV ?

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Partnership Foxconn/Sharp to target Apple orders. Apple TV ?

Sharp has announced a strategic alliance with Foxconn (Hon Hai). 

Through third-party allotment, four Foxconn subsidiaries will obtain an about 9.88% stake and become the largest shareholder of Sharp. Foxconn will also hold shares in Sharp Display Products (SDP), a joint venture of Sharp and Sony producing large-size panels and modules.

Sharp indicated that Foxconn will procure panels and related modules from Sharp's 10G plant in Sakai, Japan. The procurement will keep the 10G plant at high capacity utilization.

Sharp and Foxconn are suppliers of Apple. Hence this cooperation may be aimed at obtaining orders for Apple TVs. Apple may want to use Sharp's technology to produce Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) panels for Apple TVs.

Foxconn has been investing in Taiwan-based LCD panel maker Chimei Innolux (CMI). The market believes the cooperation between Foxconn and Sharp will not benefit CMI. Sharp has been replacing CMI as the panel supplier for Apple's iPads, hence cooperating with Sharp seems more beneficial to Foxconn.

Sharp new 12Mpxls Smartphone Camera Sensor

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Sharp new 12Mpxls smartphone camera sensor.

Sharp unwrapped its new 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor camera module, claiming it as the thinnest smartphone camera sensor in existence. Measuring a wafer-thin 5.47-mm (0.22 inches), Sharp managed to give the module lens-shift image stabilization and claims it will be capable of capturing 1080p Full HD video.

The 11mm square chip might even make its way into Apple’s next iPhone, according to unconfirmed reports. 

It’s rumored that Sharp will provide touchscreens for Apple’s future devices, so the idea of Apple killing two birds with one supply chain stone is compelling. Right now, the iPhone 4S camera’s 8-megapixel sensor is made by Sony, but if Sharp’s 12-megapixel sensor can out-perform it, we can almost guarantee Sharp will dethrone its Osaka-based competitor.

 Sharp’s new 12-megapixel camera module could challenge Nokia’s. N8 12-megapixel camera, which is the current megapixel king in the smartphone world.

Sample shipments will begin Wednesday and cost 12,000 (US$150) per unit, with volume shipments scheduled to begin on Jan.10. Sharp said it will produce 100,000 of the devices monthly.  

Source: Networkworld

Apple and Sharp to Get Thinner iPad 3.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Peter Misek, at Jefferies & Co., wrote in a note to investors Tuesday: Apple is dealing Sharp into its iPad and iPhone business in a big way,  Misek believes Sharp began production of high resolution displays for the next iPad began two weeks ago, and that Sharp will help build displays for the next-generation iPhone 5.

To that end, Misek asserts the Cupertino, Calif.-based Mac maker has purchased between $500 million and $1 billion worth of manufacturing equipment for Sharp’s Gen 6 Kameyama manufacturing facility, which will be dedicated to building displays for iPads and iPhones:

Apple and Sharp together could have  a modified IGZO  (indium, gallium,  zinc) technology to achieve 330 dpi, which is sufficient for an HD display while not using IPS nor having to include dual-bar LED backlighting. 

This should lead to  several design advantages, namely the device can be thinner, battery life should be  longer, and the overall experience for users should be meaningfully improved.

The deal Misek describes between Apple and Sharp would account for a big chunk of Apple’s $8 billion capital budget for its current fiscal year. The $8 billion figure, revealed in Apple’s latest annual report, is a 73% increase from the $4.6 billion it spent during its 2011 fiscal year.

Analysts believe Apple buys and owns the key equipment used to build Apple products at its supplier’s facilities. So Apple’s capital spending budget hint the company thinks iPhone and iPad sales will continue booming.