靜靜的部落客

(ww12'12)

中國三月份匯豐初估PMI及歐盟二月份最終PMI讀值顯示兩區製造業皆陷入萎縮；由於製造業能量下降，原物料與能源之期貨價格應聲下跌，資金湧入經濟相對穩定的美國與日本，促使美金與日幣上揚。

雖然說歐盟製造業動能衰弱已非一日之寒，令人擔憂的是二月份德國與法國製造業也呈衰退。若歐洲經濟領頭羊無法振衰而起，未來三季歐洲恐持續陷於寒冬。

在半導體方面，第三代iPad推出後，各研究機構試著以此為憑藉分析下一代iPhone的走勢。一般咸信iPhone將持續配備LTE連線能力，在此前提下，Qualcomm應能繼續雀屏中選，唯從僅有資料傳輸能力之MDM9600轉為能提供語音對話與資料傳輸之MDM9615。無線傳輸上，Broadcom最新產品BCM4334可望取代BCM4330。

談及Qualcomm，HTC於MWC 2012發表之One S系列及華碩的平板手機Padfone已於三月展開預購，預定四月上市；兩系列手機接標榜採用Qualcomm Snapdragon S4的MSM8260A，而該晶片採用台積電二十八奈米製程。換言之，第二季將是手機邁入二十八奈米的新紀元！

Weak Chinese and Euro-Zone manufacturing data sparked fresh concerns about the global growth outlook, sending resource and exporter stocks skidding amid a decline in copper and oil prices while safe-haven Japanese yen and U.S. dollar were consolidating.

It's not really a surprise to anyone that factory activity is contracting in the Euro Zone, but as we saw, it's worrying that its two biggest economies, Germany and France, are starting to fall back.

On semiconductor side, with the new iPad launched and torn apart, analysts are predicting semi winners/losers inside the upcoming iPhone 5. Similar to the new iPad, they believe the iPhone 5 will include LTE capabilities with Qualcomm remaining the supplier. Apple probably will use voice/data enabled MDM9615 modem vs. the data only MDM9600 in the new iPad. They also believe Broadcom will secure the WLAN socket with its dual stream BCM4334.

As of Qualcomm, HTC One S series and ASUS Padfone have started preordering this month. In other words, as both have MSM8260A on the tech specs, Qualcomm’s long-awaited 28nm S4 (a.k.a. Krait) will officially hit the market next quarter (both One S and Padfone are scheduled to reach customers in April).

The new era of 28nm process for handset has begun.