A tweet by a teenager living in Kentucky, the US, made LG Electronics’ smart refrigerator go viral globally this week, raising the question of whether the fridge could be used to tweet. A fan of singer Ariana Grande, named Dorothy, tweeted Aug. 8 that she was posting via LG’s smart fridge as her mother had taken away her smartphone. “I do not know if this is going to tweet. I am talking to my fridge, What the (explicit) my mom confiscated all of my electronics again,” rea

Technology Aug. 18, 2019

The South Korean government has started its review of measures to levy a tax on global online video platform YouTube, according to related authorities Thursday. The Ministry of Science and ICT recently requested Korea Legislation Research Institute to recommend the so-called “You Tube taxation” that will impose new levies on over-the-top media services. The institution will look into global trends of taxing such digital content providers, including a similar case in France. The minis

Technology Aug. 15, 2019

In the 1980s and 1990s, commuters on subways or buses in South Korea proudly held a Sony Walkman, the world’s first portable cassette player, in their hands. But today, it has been replaced by large-screen smartphones -- mostly a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone model.It’s a stark change from the years between 1979 -- when the first Sony Walkman was officially launched -- and 2007 when the first iPhone was released, and 2009 when Samsung announced its first Galaxy smartphone. It is no exagge

Technology Aug. 14, 2019

While the majority of memory chip products have a negative growth outlook, a few high-end system-on chips are forecast to lead the global semiconductor market this year, according to a report Tuesday. Market researcher IC Insights released a report that offers estimated 2019 growth rates for 33 types of semiconductor chips. Among them, the 25 that are memory chips, including flagship storage chips DRAM and NAND, are predicted to post a double digit decline this year, the report said. DRAM c

Technology Aug. 13, 2019

SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip provider, said Monday it has developed DRAM with the industry’s highest bandwidth for use in machine learning, supercomputers and artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional DRAM products, high bandwidth memory chips are closely interconnected to processors like graphic processing units and logic chips, which allows faster data transfers. HBM is rising as an optimal memory solution for high-end GPUs, supercomputers, machine learning a

Technology Aug. 12, 2019

Samsung Electronics said Monday it has developed the highest definition image sensor for mobile devices in collaboration with Chinese smartphone vendor Xiaomi. The South Korean tech giant revealed it will start production of the industry’s first mobile image sensor with over 100 million pixels, dubbed as ISOCELL Bright HMX. The sensor boasts 108 megapixels, which enable mobile devices to offer a resolution equivalent to that of a high-end DSLR camera, according to the company. Samsung has

Technology Aug. 12, 2019

Samsung Electronics said Friday its plans to mass-produce high-end memory chips for global customers are on track so far, despite initial concerns of the possible disruption of production lines due to Japan’s trade restrictions on hi-tech materials. The company announced it has begun mass production of the world’s most capable solid-state drives for next-generation servers -- non-volatile memory express SSD PM1733 -- and DRAM modules with the largest storage capacity of up to 4 terab

Technology Aug. 9, 2019

Preorders for the latest Galaxy Note 10 smartphones are now available globally, raising expectations on the new race in the global mobile device market and expansion of the 5G network, according to industry sources on Friday. Samsung started taking preorders for the newest gadgets one day after its Unpacked event for electronics retailers and mobile carriers in the United States, South Korea and other countries across the world. In the US, the Galaxy Note 10 is available both on LTE and 5G netwo

Technology Aug. 9, 2019

Samsung Electronics unveiled two models of the 10th anniversary edition of its flagship premium Galaxy Note smartphone Wednesday, featuring a magic stick-like S Pen that is much more detachable from the main device. Along with the enhanced S Pen with remote control technology, the South Korean tech giant for the first time, offered two size choices for the smartphone model during its Unpacked event at Barclays Center in New York, the US, which was attended by around 4,000 media and industry offi

Technology Aug. 8, 2019

Japan on Wednesday officially declared a revised bill that excludes South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners. However, the proclamation didn’t stipulate any additional items that Japan will slap restrictions on, aside from the three chip and display materials, offering momentary relief for Korean businesses amid intensifying tension between the two nations. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and industry announced on its homepage it would put the bill into effect starting

Economy Aug. 7, 2019

South Korea’s major corporate groups are tightening their supervision of key businesses as they brace for repercussions from the possible expansion of Japan’s trade curbs, according to industry sources Tuesday.Samsung Electronics’ de facto leader Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company’s semiconductor packaging plant located in Onyang, South Chungcheong Province, to check out the chipmaking operations. He held a meeting with the top executives of the chipmaking, TV

Technology Aug. 6, 2019

Kim Sang-jo, chief state policy secretary of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, will discuss the countermeasures against any negative impact of Japan’s trade restrictions with the top brass of the country’s five biggest conglomerates this week, according to Cheong Wa Dae on Monday.  The meeting will most likely take place on Thursday, according to news reports. “The date is flexible,” said Kim, adding that it is yet to be finalized. The five conglomerates include Sa

Industry Aug. 5, 2019

South Korean manufacturers of cutting-edge electronic components are likely to face increasing costs and burden of securing hi-tech materials and parts from Japan following the decision to remove the country from its whitelist of entrusted trade partners. Korean companies that purchase any of the 1,115 items designated as strategic materials from Japan will now be required to submit extra documents including export approval, the final users’ covenants and reasons for imports.  As many

Industry Aug. 4, 2019

South Korean manufacturers of cutting-edge electronic components are likely to face increasing costs and burden of securing hi-tech materials and parts from Japan following the decision to remove the country from its whitelist of entrusted trade partners. Korean companies that purchase any of the 1,194 items designated as strategic materials from Japan will now be required to submit extra documents including export approval, the final users’ covenants and reasons for imports. As many as 85

Industry Aug. 2, 2019

The top-tier tech companies in South Korea, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, have their hearts in the mouth after Japan voted Friday to remove the country from its whitelist of countries that enjoy preferential trade treatment.The semiconductor industry sees the current situation as an “unprecedented emergency” that could directly hit productivity, especially now during a market downturn. “The delisting decision is making matters even worse for the chipmaking industr

Technology Aug. 2, 2019