03 Feb
Latest News and Trends

Apple deepens AI-hardware integration with Q.ai acquisition

Apple has taken a significant step in the intensifying AI competition with Meta Platforms and Alphabet by acquiring Israeli startup Q.ai, a move that underscores its effort to rebuild momentum in artificial intelligence. Reuters reported the acquisition, citing sources who said the deal is valued at about US$1.6 billion, while the Financial Times put the price closer to US$2 billion. If confirmed, the transaction would rank as Apple’s second-largest acquisition, after its 2014 purchase of Beats Electronics.

Continue reading

03 Feb
Latest News and Trends

China bans hidden EV door handles, forcing industry-wide redesigns

China has stepped up electric vehicle safety regulation, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approving a new mandatory national standard, Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handle Safety (GB 48001-2026). The rules require all EVs sold in China to feature independently operable mechanical door-opening mechanisms on both the inside and outside, banning designs that rely entirely on electronic systems or concealed handles.

Continue reading

03 Feb
Latest News and Trends

India’s smartphone market posts mixed growth in 2025, premium segment drives value gains

India’s smartphone market experienced a mixed trajectory in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The year began on a softer note, weighed down by elevated inventory and a slow product launch calendar. Momentum picked up in the second quarter, driven by fresh device launches, aggressive promotions, and festive-season channel stocking, pushing third-quarter shipments to a record quarterly value. Shipments slowed again in the fourth quarter as brands focused on inventory correction and managed rising component costs. Overall, the market grew 1% year-on-year in volume but posted a stronger 8% year-on-year growth in value, reflecting sustained premiumization.

Continue reading

03 Feb
Latest News and Trends

Ample Electronic expects quarterly growth as silver price drop prompts passive component clients to resume orders

Ample Electronic Technology, a major upstream manufacturer of conductive pastes for passive components, said that the sharp decline in silver has revived downstream customers’ ordering momentum. Despite seasonal factors affecting February, the company remains optimistic about strong shipment demand in the first quarter of 2026, likely matching the fourth quarter of 2025 and supporting steady quarterly growth for the full year.

Continue reading

03 Feb
Latest News and Trends

Edge IPC market enters maturity stage as robotics and medical applications gain traction

The year 2026 will be a critical year for large-scale rollout of edge AI. Supported by multinational firms and the Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects initiative, IPC vendors are undergoing a transformation from hardware suppliers to edge AI solution providers. The Taiwanese government plans to support 1 million small- and medium-sized enterprises in digital transformation to enhance competitiveness. Policy measures include training 500,000 cross-disciplinary AI talents by 2040 and investing billions in venture capital.

Continue reading

02 Feb
Latest News and Trends

Smart glasses will become mainstream as companies ‘platformize’

Human information intake relies heavily on vision. With the accelerated development of AI, augmented reality (AR), and spatial computing technologies, smart glasses are evolving beyond wearable gadgets to become a core interface for the next generation of human-machine interaction. These interactions can naturally integrate information, AI assistant functions, sensing, and interaction into the user’s field of view, eliminating reliance on handheld devices or touch controls.

Continue reading