➀ TSMC's Arizona Fab 21 has started producing 4nm chips; ➁ The chips are produced on TSMC's 4nm-class—N4 and N4P—process technologies; ➂ The project is part of the U.S. goal to produce 20% of the world's most advanced logic chips by 2030.
Recent #Apple news in the semiconductor industry
➀ TSMC's chip manufacturing costs have surged; ➁ The transition from the A7's 28nm to A18 Pro's 3nm node has led to a significant increase in wafer prices; ➂ Third-party suppliers have confirmed the dramatic rise in costs.
➀ The Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) is now available at an all-time low price of $329 at Best Buy (save $70). An open box model is also available for $259.99. The Series 10 offers a larger, brighter OLED display, health and fitness features, and sits between the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2. ➁ Samsung Galaxy FE (40mm, LTE) is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon (save $50), offering LTE connectivity and a range of features. ➂ Additional smartwatch deals are listed, including discounts on various models from Apple and Samsung.
➀ Apple is considering delaying the production of its new iPhone models due to the high cost of TSMC's 2nm wafers, which are priced at 44 million won per wafer;
➁ TSMC's limited production capacity for the 2nm process is causing prices to soar, and the company is investing in expanding its facilities to increase production;
➂ Samsung Electronics is also competing in the 2nm market, aiming to capture market share by improving yield rates and performance.
➀ Apple's Vision Pro has experienced a significant drop in interest following its launch; ➁ Reports indicate that Apple has ended production of the headset due to poor sales; ➂ The high price and lack of content are cited as reasons for the low adoption rate.
➀ The Apple Vision Pro seems to have faded into obscurity after initial hype; ➁ Vivo is reportedly planning its own version of the headset; ➂ The existing Vision Pro faces issues like high price and lack of new content.
➀ This article provides a guide on how to view Thunderbolt and USB4 device information on a Mac; ➁ It details the steps to access System Information and find the Thunderbolt section; ➂ It explains how to refresh information to see newly connected devices.
➀ TrendForce estimates that 2024 shipments of VR and MR headsets will increase by 8.8% y-o-y to 9.6 million units; ➁ Three trends are identified: the dominance of low-cost devices, the shift from entertainment accessories to productivity tools, and OLEDoS becoming the preferred display technology for high-end near-eye devices; ➂ Meta leads the VR and MR device shipments with a 73% market share in 2024, driven by the affordable Quest 3S, while the high-end Quest Pro 2 is suspended.
➀ Apple is exploring the smart doorbell market; ➁ The device is said to feature advanced facial recognition; ➂ Apple is targeting 2026 for release.
➀ The M5 series chips will adopt TSMC’s advanced N3P node, with mass production expected in 2025 and 2026.
➁ M5 Pro, Max, and Ultra will use server-grade SoIC packaging and 2.5D封装 for improved yields and thermal performance.
➂ Apple’s PCC infrastructure will accelerate post-high-end M5 chip mass production for better AI inferencing.
➀ A leaked render of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max suggests a major design shift for Apple; ➁ The design is inspired by Google Pixels, with a mix of the Pixel 6's raised horizontal camera bar and the Pixel XL's glass and metal rear cover; ➂ The iPhone 17 range is expected to launch in September next year with various upgrades.
➀ Kioxia's IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange valued the company at $5.8 billion. The Bain-led consortium, which previously owned 56.2% of Kioxia, sold a small number of shares to reduce its holding to 50.7%. The consortium paid $18 billion for its stake in 2008. ➁ Before the IPO, other significant shareholders included Toshiba (41%) and Hoya (3%). The Japanese government bailout funds INCJ and DBJ controlled 16.7% of the voting rights. ➂ Kioxia holds a 13.8% share of the NAND market.
➀ Apple's AI feature, Apple Intelligence, has been criticized for providing inaccurate news summaries; ➁ The BBC reported an incident where the AI incorrectly summarized a news story about Luigi Mangione; ➂ This is not the first time Apple Intelligence has made such mistakes, with another example involving Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
➀ Apple is rumored to be developing a giant folding iPad that could address the biggest flaw in foldable devices; ➁ The device is expected to be released in 2028, with a 13-inch display that can unfold to the size of two iPad Pros side-by-side; ➂ Apple aims to make the crease invisible when the device is open, potentially solving the crease issue in foldable screens.
➀ Apple's journey in self-developing chips, starting from the first iPhone to the A-series chips, and expanding to desktops with M1 chips in 2020.
➁ The challenges Apple faced in developing its own baseband chips, including licensing agreements with Qualcomm and the anticipated launch of its in-house developed Sinope baseband in 2024.
➂ Apple's expansion into射频前端 chips and wireless chips, aiming for end-to-end wireless solutions, and the development of a custom server chip for AI services, with the project code-named 'Baltra'.
➀ Apple is developing its first custom server chip for AI processing; ➁ Codenamed 'Baltra', the chip is designed specifically for AI; ➂ The development marks a significant step in Apple's AI strategy.
➀ Apple plans to add satellite communication and blood pressure monitoring to its smartwatches by 2025, targeting specific consumer upgrades.
➁ Apple will replace Intel with MediaTek as the supplier of modulator chips for some smartwatch models, recognizing MediaTek's technical strength in modulator technology.
➂ This marks MediaTek's first entry into Apple's main hardware product supply chain and is of significant importance.
➀ Apple is collaborating with Sony to bring third-party controller support to Vision Pro; ➁ Sony's PSVR2 controllers are planned to be supported; ➂ The collaboration aims to boost Vision Pro's profile as a gaming platform.
➀ Apple is reportedly working with Sony to bring PSVR2 controller support to the Vision Pro; ➁ The partnership is aimed at enhancing the VR gaming experience on Apple's headset; ➂ Despite logistical issues, the project is expected to be revealed soon.
➀ Apple is transitioning to in-house modems, starting with the iPhone SE 4, aiming for thinner devices and independence from Qualcomm; ➁ The move is less concerning for Qualcomm, which has been diversifying its revenue streams; ➂ Apple's new 5G modem could extend to Macs and Vision Pro, with potential for smart glasses that rely on mobile connectivity.