Gaming has been on the rise lately. There are three main reasons for this: the increased number of devices for it, the emergence of a large number of interesting games, and the whole world is stuck at home due to social distance and forced self-isolation against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. People are increasingly looking for indoor hobbies.
The demand for Sony PlayStation 5 has shown that the demand for game consoles is higher than ever. It is likely that Apple wants to capitalize on the increased interest in handheld consoles. According to t WCCFTech, the Cupertino-based company is creating a portable game console. It will be similar to the Nintendo Switch and will receive a new generation chip.
Among the characteristics of the portable hybrid console, Apple calls a proprietary chip with a powerful graphics accelerator, an efficient cooling system and support for ray tracing. It is possible that the company’s laboratories are working on several prototypes of the console and exclusive games for Apple Arcade, for the creation of which they intend to attract the well-known game studio Ubisoft.
Whether in the end Apple will release a game console and when this may happen, the source does not say. It does not exclude the possibility that in the end the company will abandon the idea of launching a new product. We have to wait for more details.
Gizchina News of the week
Apple to switch to Korean components instead of Chinese ones
Apple has decided to expand its cooperation with South Korean manufacturers that produce components for smartphones cameras. The reorganization of the supply chain was a forced measure; due to the trade war between the United States and China.
According to the Korea IT News portal, Apple has to switch to cooperation with Korean manufacturers after breaking off relations with the Chinese company Ofilm, which produces camera components. Last year, the US Department of Commerce placed the manufacturer on a blacklist, after which Apple was forced to seek new partners.
In a statement on March 16, OFilm said a “designated foreign company” has decided to end its partnership with the Chinese manufacturer and its subsidiaries. Although Apple was not named directly; it is known that OFilm received a significant share of its income from the joint venture; and after the end of the interaction sold the production of cameras to the Chinese Wingtech.
Before the sanctions, Apple received camera components from OFilm, Sharp and LG Innotek; and now it has to look for new partners in South Korea. In addition to the largest counterparty in the optical components market – LG Innotek; Apple, according to rumors, is already in talks with some smaller manufacturers that produce ToF sensors; as well as drives for focusing optics and other modules.
Usually the company is very careful in the selection of new partners. It usually takes up to two years to contact a contractor, get prototypes, assess their quality, inspect production; and analyze the financial situation of a potential partner, as well as his plans for capacity development.
