Electronics

The Capitol Hill is mulling a $25 billion budget to support the production of semiconductors. (Source photo by Reuters)
US-China tensions

US lawmakers weigh $25bn subsidies to boost chipmaking

Washington encourages domestic production as rivalry with China heats up

26 September 2020
The concept cabin unveiled by Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics features amenities meant to improve comfort for drivers and passengers. (Photo courtesy of Hyundai and LG)
Automobiles

Need to make coffee in the car? LG and Hyundai have a way

Ceiling screen, fridge and shoe dryer among amenities in 'concept cabin'

26 September 2020
Global shipments of notebook PCs will climb 6% this year due to the rise of telework and distance learning.
Electronics

Southeast Asia to be world's top laptop producer, surpassing China

Region will account for half of global output in 2030, says Taiwan think tank

26 September 2020
The Xbox Series X and the Series S will both go on sale in November. (Photo courtesy of Microsoft)
25 September 2020
Apple is hoping that the new online store and local production will increase sales in India. (Source photo by Reuters and screenshot from Apple website)
Electronics

Apple opens first India online store to boost iPhone sales

Launch comes as US tech giant diversifies production beyond China amid trade war

23 September 2020
Panasonic, a battery partner to U.S. electric-car builder Tesla, ranked second in international patent filings for batteries for 2000 to 2018. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Technology

Japan leads battery tech race with a third of global patent filings

Panasonic and Toyota fuel growth as Samsung and LG put South Korea in second place

23 September 2020
Debuting in 2011, the 3DS was a hit, riding the 3D boom in the wake of the movie "Avatar."
Electronics

Nintendo ends 3DS production

As the Wii U flopped, strong sales of the handheld device limited the damage

22 September 2020
Ken Kutaragi will apply his experience in developing Sony's PlayStation to speed up the commercialization of AI-assisted technology.(Photo by Koji Uema)
Technology

PlayStation 'father' Ken Kutaragi becomes CEO of AI startup

Tokyo-based Ascent Robotics puts Sony veteran and board member in charge

22 September 2020
Nikon has used its optical design expertise to reduce the size of precision metal 3D printers.
Business trends

Japanese camera makers diversify to survive smartphone wave

Nikon and others use optical expertise to make 3D printers and IoT devices

20 September 2020
Panasonic is applying its expertise in plastics to create cleaner toilets.
Companies

Panasonic transforms toilets with stain-free plastic bowls

Demand for easy-to-clean johns surges as more people stay home amid the pandemic

20 September 2020
LG Chem will spin off its battery business as demand for electric vehicles rises. (Photo courtesy of LG Chem)
Materials

LG Chem to spin off battery unit amid rising EV demand

South Korean company considers listing of LG Energy Solution

17 September 2020
Sony has prepared a strong lineup of game titles for its PS5 console launch, including Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. (Photo courtesy of Sony)
Media & Entertainment

Sony to launch PS5 for $499, teeing up fight with Microsoft

New console to debut on Nov 12 as coronavirus drives demand for home gaming

17 September 2020
Japanese companies supplied over $10.4 billion in parts to Huawei last year.
Huawei crackdown

Japanese chipmakers scramble to replace Huawei sales after US ban

Sony, Toshiba and other suppliers face risk to $10bn in annual business

16 September 2020
Dynabook's PC lineup includes this model designed for editing ultrahigh-definition 8K video. (Photo courtesy of Dynabook)
Electronics

Sharp PC unit Dynabook's Tokyo listing pushed to late 2021: CEO

IPO was originally planned for this year as laptop market revives

15 September 2020
LG skipped volume retailers for its high-end Signature appliances collection, partnering instead with upmarket stores such as Bloomingdale's in the U.S. and John Lewis in the U.K.
Electronics

LG cleans up by going upmarket in US and European kitchens

South Korean brand earns nearly double the margins of Samsung and Whirlpool

12 September 2020
Samsung has been shifting production away from China amid rising personnel costs and lackluster sales.
Electronics

Samsung to end Tianjin TV production, joining China exodus

South Korean company to shift operations to Vietnam, Mexico and elsewhere

9 September 2020
The Game&Watch console will be produced on a limited basis until March 2021. (Screen shot from Nintendo movie clip) 
Media & Entertainment

Nintendo to relaunch '80s hit Game & Watch console on Nov. 13

Company reprising first mobile product with new full-color display

4 September 2020
A worker flies a drone at a Daikin Industries factory in Kusatsu, east of Kyoto. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Electronics

Daikin gives drones a whirl to slash plant inspection times

Remote-controlled cameras can reach high places and cut risk of heatstroke

4 September 2020
Gree lost the top spot in China's air conditioning market to rival Midea in the first half of 2020, the first time in least two decades that it was not the No. 1 seller.
Caixin

Gree loses air conditioner market crown to rival

Midea competes with big subsidies to consumers and targets online buyers

3 September 2020
Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong, seen here outside a Seoul court in June, has been indicted on charges of stock market manipulation and breach of trust.
Companies

Samsung chief Lee charged with stock market manipulation

Group's heir accused of inflating companies' value in bid to smooth succession

1 September 2020
Sony's new camera, Vlogcam ZV-1, is winning kudos from vloggers, but a single hit product is not enough to turn around the company's electronics business.
Companies

Once Sony's driving force, electronics division gets new mission

Founding business set to play supporting role in propping up group operations

29 August 2020
Apple CEO Tim Cook presents the iPhone 11 on Sept. 10, 2019. The company sells smartphones with OLED and LCD screens.
Business deals

Apple pulled strings behind JDI-Sharp factory sale

Hakusan plant to drive push on LCDs and next-generation displays

29 August 2020
The all-in-one display, unveiled in the U.S. last month, eliminates the need to set up a webcam and other devices. (Photo courtesy of Zoom)
Technology

Zoom brings video-call display for teleworkers to Japan

27-inch all-in-one smart screen debuts in October for $850

28 August 2020
Opening up a Huawei phone: The Chinese company bought $10 billion worth of Japanese supplies last year.
Huawei crackdown

Huawei says Japan 'extremely important' after 50% rise in procurement

New US tech ban puts Chinese company's Asian ties under strain

27 August 2020
Kioxia, the world's second-largest maker for NAND flash memory, turned in a $1.6 billion loss in the previous fiscal year.
26 August 2020