Asia Weekly IT News Roundup for the 2nd Week of September


- Samsung Electronics partners with Wanda Group to open Onyx theater
Samsung Electronics and China's Wanda Group announced on the 10th that they opened the "Samsung Onyx Multiplex" at the "ARCH Wanda Cinema" located in Changning District, Shanghai, China, on the 7th. ARCH Wanda Cinema is the world's first multiplex cinema dedicated to "Onyx" screens, consisting of a total of six theaters. All screening rooms are equipped with Samsung Electronics' Cinema LED screens, which eliminate the need for projectors, and Harman's JBL audio systems. The Onyx screen measures 5m wide and 2.7m high, supports 2K (2048x1080) resolution and HDR (High Dynamic Range) video, and delivers 300 nits of brightness and clear image quality, which is more than 10 times brighter than conventional projectors.


- JA Solar's Bifacial PERC Technology Receives Patent Approval in Japan Following China
JA Solar announced on the 7th that it has received approval from the Japan Patent Office for its patent application regarding its bifacial PERC cell and module technology. JA Solar filed a disclosure of invention with the Chinese Intellectual Property Administration in early 2013 for the "Localized AI-BSF Bifacial Light-Absorbing Solar Cell and Method of Manufacturing the Same," and obtained a patent in March 2016. This bifacial PERC technology utilizes the back side of the PERC cell to absorb surface scattered and reflected light, thereby increasing energy production at the module level. JA Solar began mass production of these PERC modules in the first quarter of 2017. Double-glazed double-sided PERC modules with high resistance to wear, erosion, and corrosion are suitable for harsh climate environments such as coastal areas.


- World Digital Economy Conference Presents New Vision for Global Digital Economy
Industry leaders attending the first Smart China Expo (SCE 2018) in Chongqing, China, announced a new vision for the evolution of the global digital economy on the 7th at the Global Digital Economy Summit, held as part of the expo. The meeting, attended by 650 people, took place under the theme "The New Digital Economy, The New Growth Engine." Speakers predicted a future where big data will transform the way businesses and governments operate, collaborate, and compete. Cognitive scientist and AI expert Piero Scaruffie stated, "AI contributes to healthcare." Kate Garman, a policy advisor for Seattle's smart cities, explained, "Smart cities serve as an inspiration for other cities to take a leap forward using technology." Alibaba's Vice President Liu Song predicted that AI and the IoT will replace mobile technology over the next 10 years.


Honor Play Sets the Standard for Mid-range Smartphones
Honor's mid-range smartphone, the Honor Play, won the "IFA 2018 Best Award" from nine media outlets at IFA 2018 on the 6th. Android Headlines, Digital Trends, Pocket Lint, T3, UberGizmo, Gear Diary, Geek Spin, Talk Android, and TechnoBuffalo highly praised the Honor Play's GPU Turbo, AI camera technology, and value for money, all powered by the Kirin 970 processor. Additionally, the Honor Play features a 6.3-inch FullView display with an 89% screen-to-body ratio and a large-capacity 3,750mAh battery that supports at least 4.5 hours of gaming.


- KIEP Emphasizes Importance of Indonesian Market
On the 6th, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy discussed cooperation measures between Korea and Indonesia in the 'KIEP Basic Data'. Recognizing that a lack of infrastructure is negatively impacting the attraction of foreign investment and the fostering of high value-added industries, the Indonesian government is pursuing infrastructure development as a top national priority. Accordingly, it designated 10 national priority industries through the National Industrial Development Master Plan 2015-2035. The designated industries include many sectors where Korea has strengths. These sectors include displays, semiconductors, telecommunications equipment, special-purpose machinery, steel, petrochemicals, the automotive industry, and shipbuilding. Indonesia is a large country that accounts for 40% of Southeast Asia in terms of population and economic scale. KIEP urged the government to include measures to meet the demands aligned with Indonesia's economic development policies in the New Southern Policy implementation roadmap and to concretize its strategies.