Smart speakers in China are still in their early stages, but the market is growing fast. In the U.S., 40% of users have considered buying a second smart speaker, showing strong consumer interest. According to a survey by Edison Research, 16% of American adults now own a smart speaker, a 128% increase from the previous year. These devices, pioneered by Amazon, have become an essential part of many households, with 65% of users saying they wouldn’t want to live without them.
Smart speakers are used for various purposes—34% of users listen to the radio through them, replacing smartphones, while 30% use them while watching TV. Controlling home appliances like lights and thermostats is one of the main reasons people buy these devices. In fact, 38% of users plan to buy a second unit for other rooms or to control more devices. A study by Accenture/Harris Interactive also found that after getting a smart speaker, two-thirds of users spend less time on their phones.
MediaTek’s general manager for home entertainment said the smart speaker market saw explosive growth, rising from 3 million units in 2016 to 30 million in 2017. Globally, shipments exceeded 30 million in 2017, with forecasts predicting 56.3 million units in 2018, marking a pivotal year for the industry.
In the U.S., Amazon Echo has sold over 10 million units since its launch and generated over $1 billion in sales. Analysts at Morgan Stanley called smart speakers “the most successful consumer electronics†after the iPad. With products from Google, Apple, and Facebook, it's predicted that 75% of American households will own a smart speaker by 2020, reaching 94.2 million units.
In China, tech giants and startups are actively entering the market. Alibaba launched Tmall Genie, Xunfei and JD.com established Linglong Technology with the Dingdong Speaker, Lenovo introduced its Smart Speaker, and Xiaomi released the Xiaomi AI Speaker. Many smaller companies are also entering the space, reflecting optimism about the future of smart speakers.
Meanwhile, NAND flash prices have dropped, causing concern among investors. After a long period of price increases, some memory chips saw a sudden decline in 2017, leading to Samsung’s disappointing profit forecast. The price of high-end flash memory fell nearly 5% in Q4 2017, and analysts expect the growth rate to drop below 30% this year.
Despite the drop, experts believe the chip industry will remain stable in 2018. The memory chip market reached $122 billion, with a 70% growth in 2017 driven by smartphones and cloud services. Although supply is becoming more balanced, demand remains strong, and analysts predict a 30% growth rate will still be impressive.
TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, is focusing on 7-nanometer technology. The company expects total revenue from this process to exceed trillions this year, signaling continued investment in advanced manufacturing. As the industry evolves, both smart speakers and memory chips are set to play key roles in shaping the future of consumer technology.
High Brightness Open Frame Monitor
High Brightness Open Frame Monitor,Open Frame Monitor,High Brightness Embedded Lcd Monitor,Embedded Open Frame Lcd Monitor
Shenzhen Risingstar Outdoor High Light LCD Co., Ltd , https://www.risingstarlcd.com