Asustek Computer Inc. (Asus), a major vendor of motherboards, PCs and smartphones based in Taiwan, recently announced to start selling its new smartphone ZenFone 2, with a 5.5-inch model to retail from about US$199, and the the 5-inch entry-level one from about US$160. Industry analysts say such price points show Asus is still sticking to the "affordable luxury" strategy. Jonney Shih, chair...

Some 21,898 projectors were sold in Taiwan in Q4, 2014, up 2.2 percent year-on-year (YoY) and 3.0 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), according to statistics released by IDC Taiwan, local subsidiary of the global provider of market intelligence. Ray Lin, associate market analyst, PC & Peripherals Group of IDC Taiwan, attributes the sales increase to educational institutes' year-end spending ...

Worldwide display panel shipments for all flat panel display (FPD) applications grew 9 percent from the previous year, or YoY (year-on-year) to 168.9 million square meters in 2014; and total FPD display area demand is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 percent from 2012, reaching 223.6 million square meters by 2020, according to IHS. The global source of critic...

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), recognized as the second-largest maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels in Taiwan, recently announced unaudited consolidated financial results for Q4, fiscal 2014. It had consolidated revenue in Q4, 2014 of NT$105.45 billion (US$3.52 billion), down 1.3% sequentially, or quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), with operating profit of NT$8.82 billion ...

Worldwide personal computer (PC) shipments totaled 83.7 million units in Q4, 2014, a 1 percent increase from the same period of 2013, or year-on-year (YoY), to show a slow but consistent improvement following more than two years of decline, according to Gartner Inc. "The PC market is quietly stabilizing after the installed base reduction driven by users diversifying their device portfolios. I...

Paul Peng, president of AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), reportedly the second-largest maker of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels in Taiwan, recently said the 2015 global TFT-LCD market is expected to be sound, thanks to several factors. Easing geopolitical disputes worldwide, falling oil prices etc. might further stimulate consumer demand in 2015, Peng explained, and i...

A recent survey indicated that all LCD TV panel makers are increasing sales targets for 2015, based on confidence from strong demand for LCD TV panels, increasing variety of TV models, and aggressiveness of leading brands like Samsung VD, LG Electronics, and Sony, according to DisplaySearch, a leader in display market research and consulting. Peter Su, analyst of DisplaySearch, pointed out th...

Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. Ltd., recognized as Taiwan's largest manufacturer and one of the world's biggest EMS (electronics manufacturing services) providers, recently announced 2014 consolidated revenue of NT$4.21 trillion (US$140.4 billion), a 6.5% increase from the previous year. Both Hon Hai's December and Q4 consolidated revenue of 2014 hit record highs, meeting most investors' expectati...

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), one of the top two makers of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels in Taiwan, recently announced that its 6-inch ultra high resolution WQHD smartphone display was honored with the 2014 Hsinchu Science Park Innovation Award. The innovative product was also the winner of the 2014 SID (Society for Information Display) Best in Show award and "Outstandi...

The government-sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), a leading industrial-technology research hub in Taiwan, recently announced that it has transferred the Flexible Universal Plane, or FlexUP, technology to a new spin-off company dubbed FlexUP Technologies Corp. The new startup will supply flexible substrate material to meet the growing demand and emerging opportunitie...