MagnaChip reported their financial results for 2011, and they say that AMOLED display driver revenue grew 700% compared to 2010, but they wouldn't reveal exact numbers.
MagnaChip is providing 800x580 AMOLED drivers for Samsung's Galaxy SII LTE phone (it has a 4.65" Super AMOLED Plus display) and multiple Microsoft Windows-based smartphones.
Atmel announced that Samsung is using their maXTouch E Series single-chip touch controller in the Focus Flash, Focus S, Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy S and the Galaxy Note. Atmel's maXTouch E touch controllers offer a single-chip solution that has an updated capacitive touch engine (CTE) that features new noise avoidance and noise suppression capabilities. According to Atmel, the new controllers has an improved performance in every aspect compared to their older generation controllers - higher fidelity touch sensing, faster responsiveness, lower power consumption and thinner form factors.
MagnaChip announced that they are providing 480X800 AMOLED display driver ICs for multiple Microsoft Windows-based smartphones. The company didn't say which companies they are supplying to, although it's probably Samsung. Samsung, Dell and Nokia are all producing Windows Phones (although Nokia's Lumia 800 has a different resolution - 854x480, which rules it out).
A couple of months ago MagnaChip announced that they are providing AMOLED drivers for the new Galaxy S2 LTE smartphone.
Nokia's Lumia 800 is now available in the UK for the Orange network. They say that pre-order demand has been great - in fact it has been the best ever for any Nokia phone. Orange currently offers a free XBOX 360 console with each upgrade - that probably helped... The Lumia 800 is Nokia's first Windows Phone - and it sports a 3.7" WVGA (854x480) ClearBlack AMOLED display. Other features include a 1.4Ghz CPU, 512MB RAM, 16GB of internal memory and a 8mp, f/2.2 aperture camera with carl zeiss optics. The Lumia 800 is made from durable polycarbonate plastic.
Samsung's Focus Flash is now shipping for AT&T - free with a contract. The Focus Flash is a 'budget' Windows phone 7.5 (Mango) phone with a 3.7" Super AMOLED display. Other features include a 1.4Ghz processor and a 5mp camera.
Samsung's Focus-S WP7.5 phone is now shipping for AT&T, starting from $159 (including a contract). The Focus S is a Windows phone 7 (Mango) phone with a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display. Other features include a 1.4Ghz processor, 16GB of internal memory, 4G-capable speed and a 8mp camera capable of 720p video. The phone is 8.55mm thick.
Microsoft announced today that it will stop producing Zune players - which were never a big success. The second generation Zune-HD was actually considered a very good device - but it never managed to sell in big enough numbers for Microsoft. Back in March 2011 we reported that Microsoft decided to abandon this product line, so this isn't a surprise.
Zune HDThe Zune-HD was actually considered to be a good device but it wasn't a success for Microsoft. The flash player featured Wi-Fi, HD radio and video and a 3.3" 480x272 multi-touch AMOLED display. It is still shipping from Amazon if you're interested...
Samsung announced two new phones, both of which will use Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) OS. Both of the will be launched soon by AT&T. The high-end Focus S has a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.4Ghz processor, 4G-capable speed and a 8mp camera. The phone is 8.55mm thick.
Samsung Omnia W
The Focus Flash has a small 3.7" Super AMOLED display, the same processor and a 5mp camera. This same phone will be called Omnia W for other non-US networks.
According to reports Microsoft decided to stop developing their Zune music players - which were never a big success. The second generation Zune-HD was actually considered a very good device - but it never managed to sell in big enough numbers for Microsoft.
Zune HDThe Zune-HD is a flash based Wi-Fi PMP capable of HD radio and video and had a 3.3" 480x272 multi-touch AMOLED display. It is still shipping - $350 for 64GB, 215$ 32GB and 157$ for the 16GB version.
Microsoft WP7 phones starts shipping, including the Samsung Focus and Dell Venue Pro, both of which use AMOLED displays. The Venue Pro is a portrait slider with a 4.1" AMOLED display, and is now available in some Microsoft stores (and will be available on-line from Dell's site next week).
Dell Venue Pro
The Focus Focus has a 4" Super-AMOLED and is now shipping for AT&T's network.
