SK hynix ranks No. 3 in global chip sector

Seoul-based SK hynix became the third largest chipmaker in the world for the first time in 2015, according to an industry report Tuesday.SK Group’s chip business affiliate earned $16.5 billion revenue -- the third largest in the world -- last year, taking up 4.8 percent of the global market share, according to a report released by market researcher IHS.The Korean firm pulled down its rival Qualcomm to the fourth place. The California-based chipmaker logged $16.4 billion in revenue.Samsung Electr

March 15, 2016

Kakao to introduce webtoon-inspired dramas, films in China

Korea’s largest mobile messenger operator Kakao said Monday that five of its webtoons will be remade into movies, TV and Web dramas. Webtoons are comics that are published on mobile and online platforms. The Korean mobile messenger firm has already signed contracts with Huace Group, a Chinese film and TV media group, to remake four webtoons, and the two partners are fine-tuning the contract for a fifth webtoon, according to Kakao.  (Clockwise, from left top) “Girl in the Mirror,” “Just One Shot,

March 15, 2016

Samsung is 3rd most valuable brand in world

Samsung Group now ranks third in the world in terms of brand value while its archrival Apple remains the most valuable firm for the sixth consecutive year, according to brand consultant Brand Finance on Monday. Apple’s brand value this year, which stood at $145.9 billion, up from $128.3 billion last year, is almost double that of Samsung, which stands at $83.2 billion.The logo of Samsung Group.Samsung, which runs affiliates in various sectors including its flagship Samsung Electronics, saw its b

March 15, 2016

Samsung showcases creative products at SXSW

Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics said Monday it would display products developed by the firm’s in-house start-ups during the South by Southwest, or SXSW, Conferences and Festivals, an annual cultural and technology event currently being held in Austin, Texas. The C-Lab is a start-up program the Korean tech giant has run since 2013 for its employees to materialize their ideas into products and services. A user tries out Samsung Electronics’ virtual reality goggles Gear VR and motion headset

March 15, 2016

[Photo News] Samsung's new galaxys hit shelves worldwide

SAMSUNG’S NEW GALAXYS HIT SHELVES WORLDWIDE -- Samsung Electronics set up an experience zone for consumers to try the firm‘s latest flagship smartphones Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in London. The Korean tech giant started worldwide sales of the handsets on March 11. (Samsung Electronics)

March 14, 2016

[Photo News] K-Bank moves into new head office

K-BANK’S HEAD OFFICE -- Employees of the K-Bank online-only bank, which will be incorporated in the coming months, pose with items featured in the Avengers movie series at an event to celebrate the bank’s first day at the office at The K Twin Tower in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Monday. (KT)

March 14, 2016

Kakao to introduce webtoon-inspired dramas, films in China

Korea’s largest mobile messenger operator Kakao said Monday that five of its webtoons will be remade into movies, TV and web dramas. Webtoons are comics that are published on mobile and online platforms.  (Clockwise, from left top) “Girl in the Mirror,” “Just One Shot,” “My Boss Dies Once a Day,” “Help! Breakup Ghost,” and “Cashero.” KakaoThe Korean mobile messenger firm has already signed contracts with Huace Group, a Chinese film and TV media group, to remake four webtoons and the two partners

March 14, 2016

[Newsmaker] Lee Se-dol proves human intuition still powerful in Go

Korean Go master Lee Se-dol has proved human intuition can still surpass the ever-evolving artificial intelligence technology, with his first victory against Google’s AI program AlphaGo. “This single win is so valuable and I would never exchange this with anything in the world,” Lee said after the victory on Sunday in Seoul. Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, the AlphaGo developer, also offered his respect to Lee’s victory. He said, “We are very happy about Lee’s victory. This is why we came here

March 13, 2016

Lee Se-dol wins first victory against AlphaGo

After three straight defeats, Korean Go master Lee Se-dol finally won a victory against Google’s artificial intelligence AlphaGo in their fourth match on Sunday. Lee’s victory comes after he lost three straight games to the Google AI in their historic five-game match that started Wednesday in Seoul.“This single win is so valuable and I would never exchange this with anything in the world,” Lee said at a press conference right after the victory. Amid a close game, Lee attacked AlphaGo’s territory

March 13, 2016

[HERALD INTERVIEW] En route to a ‘breathing battery’

Imagine a sunny day, a family gets in a car on their way to the countryside for a weekend getaway. What promises to be a beautiful scenic drive is abruptly interrupted by their environment friendly electric car running out of battery and stopping dead in the middle of the road.Durability has always been one of the biggest issues preventing electric cars from being used by more people. As of now, the longest-lasting electric vehicles running on commercial lithium-ion batteries can run for about 1

March 13, 2016

Apologetic Lee Se-dol admits to feeling pressure vs. AlphaGo

After losing his third straight Go match against Google's artificial intelligence program AlphaGo Saturday, South Korean veteran Lee Se-dol said he simply didn't have what it took to win."I've never felt this kind of pressure," Lee told reporters after falling to AlphaGo by resignation in 176 moves. "I wasn't good enough to handle that kind of burden. I'd like to apologize (to people). I think they must have had high expectations, but I came out lethargic."By taking the first three matches, Alph

March 13, 2016

Samsung board chair open to outside directors

Shareholders of Samsung Electronics opened a door to outside directors as board chair Friday for the first time in the firm’s history, fueling speculation whether vice chairman Kwon Oh-hyun will continue to lead the board. Market watchers said the move is aimed at strengthening the role and responsibility of the board for management decisions. Kwon Oh-hyun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, presides over the 47th annual general meeting of the company in Seoul on Friday. (Samsung Electronics)

March 11, 2016

[Photo News] Debut of Galaxy S7

DEBUT OF GALAXY S7 -- Samsung Electronics releases its latest flagship smartphones Galaxy S7 and its Edge variant with a curved display via Korea’s three major mobile carriers SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus in Seoul on Friday. The first Galaxy S7 customer (third from left) for KT poses with the mobile carrier’s innovative management center chief Lee Dong-soo (second from left), Samsung’s mobile sales team leader Kim Jin-hae (third from right) and the members of K-pop girl group Sistar at the launch

March 11, 2016

Samsung investors vote on board changes

Samsung Electronics Co. warned of rising competition across businesses from smartphones to memory chips, again sounding a dour note for the global technology industry in 2016.The world’s largest smartphone vendor faces another difficult year after a 2015 plagued by economic turbulence and volatile exchange rates, Chief Executive Officer Kwon Oh-Hyun said in a letter to shareholders ahead of their annual meeting on Friday.Investors across a raft of Samsung Group companies will vote Friday on prop

March 11, 2016

[Photo News] Chairman tries out LG G5

CHAIRMAN TRIES OUT LG G5 -- LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo (right) tries out LG Electronics’ latest flagship smartphone G5 at an award ceremony for the group’s top researchers Thursday in Seoul. The industry’s first modular phone, whose launch date has yet been fixed, has a removable accessory slot at the bottom, which allows users to swap in different modules for enhanced camera and sound functions. (LG Electronics)

March 10, 2016

Samsung mobile chief confident of Galaxy success

Samsung Electronics’ mobile chief on Thursday showed confidence in sales of the company’s latest flagship smartphone Galaxy S7 and its Edge variant, saying the phones will exceed their predecessors. After a week-long preorder period, the latest Galaxy phones will go on sale globally from Friday. Samsung’s mobile chief Koh Dong-jin poses with the Galaxy S7 and its Edge variant phones at a press conference in Seoul on Thursday. (Samsung Electronics)“There are positive reviews about the new phones

March 10, 2016

SKT to cement partnership with Google, Facebook

Mobile network operator SK Telecom said Thursday that it had joined a Google-led global initiative, dubbed OpenConfig, to improve network infrastructure around the world.SKT’s chief technology officer Choi Jin-sung delivers a presentation at the annual Open Compute Summit event Wednesday in San Jose, California. (SKT)OpenConfig, an informal working group of network operators, was founded in October 2014 with the aim of developing network systems and enhancing the efficiency of network infrastruc

March 10, 2016

Samsung showcases Galaxy S7 on home turf

Samsung Electronics Co. showcased its latest flagship smartphones in South Korea on Thursday, with price tags hovering below their predecessors in an apparent bid to better compete with rivals and improve its ailing smartphone business.The world's top smartphone maker said the local price of the 32 gigabyte (GB) Galaxy S7 will be 836,000 won ($690), compared with the initial price of 858,000 won for the 32GB Galaxy S6.That of the 32GB Galaxy S7 Edge stands at 924,000 won, also down 5.6 percent f

March 10, 2016

Samsung produces dual pixel image sensor for mobile

Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it has started production of a 1.2 megapixel image sensor for smartphones that applies its own dual pixel technology. The company’s latest smartphone Galaxy S7 and its Edge variant that boast advanced camera functions are the first to adopt the sensor.  Dual pixel technology means each of the 12 million pixels have two photodiodes that collect light. The pixels work better like human eyes, improving autofocus speed and allowing clear photos even in low light co

March 9, 2016