Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer

Microsoft has already expressed its fondness for Perceptive Pixel’s gigantic capacitive touchscreens, which became apparent during a live demo at the company’s Windows 8 presentation at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, but now that friendship has become a bit more official. During Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference keynote in Toronto this morning, Steve Ballmer announced that Perceptive Pixel would be coming in-house, with Microsoft acquiring the display maker. The move seems to be in line with the company’s recent shift to hardware manufacturing, beginning with last month’s Surface introduction and its reinforced commitment to the recently renamed PixelSense smart table solution — MS has just seized an opportunity to get a bit more hands-on. Full (limited) details are in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer

Microsoft to acquire Perceptive Pixel, pair up with 82-inch touchscreen manufacturer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Micron scoops up Elpida Memory, 50-percent production boost for $2.5 billion

Micron scoops up Elpida Memory, 50percent production boost for $25 billion

There’s no question that Micron has shifted its focus away from PCs in favor of producing components, shipping everything from SSDs to CMOS sensors in recent years, but the semiconductor manufacturer just took a $2.5 billion step even closer to bridging its gap between other companies in the same market, including Samsung, the chip producer’s top competitor. Under the deal, Elpida Memory, which is headquartered in Tokyo, will fall within the Idaho-based conglomerate’s growing umbrella, netting Micron a 50-percent boost in production capability. That increase did come at great expense, however — the transaction included $750 million in cash and $1.75 billion in future installments (1,750 easy payments of one million dollars?), which are set to continue through 2019. The acquisition was also paired with a 24-percent stake in Rexchip Electronics for an additional $334 million, which will complement Elpida’s investment, yielding a total 89-percent stake for Micron. While the amount does seem quite significant, investors appear to be on board, with Micron’s stock ($MU) currently up more than 4 percent since this morning. Both deals will reportedly close within the next year.

Micron scoops up Elpida Memory, 50-percent production boost for $2.5 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung merges S-LCD and mobile display units under Samsung Display umbrella

Samsung merges S-LCD and mobile display units under Samsung Display umbrella

And just like that, Samsung Display was born. Built by combining the lesser S-LCD Corporation and Samsung Mobile Display, the new unit is now the largest maker manufacturer of displays. Of course, none of this could have happened without Sony deciding to exit the S-LCD partnership last year. Though vague, Sammy says it plans for this new LCD juggernaut to leverage the company’s vast experience and large panel-producing facilities to boost production and demand for its OLEDs while increasing “synergy” (we thought that buzz word died with Nu Metal). You’ll find complete PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung merges S-LCD and mobile display units under Samsung Display umbrella

Samsung merges S-LCD and mobile display units under Samsung Display umbrella originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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