Sony’s new TV lineup is headlined by a pair of 8K LED TVs, due for order this summer. Its 4K OLED and LED sets went on preorder Monday at Best Buy and Amazon, it said Monday. Many 2020 models include “hands-free” Google Assistant. They're also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Airplay 2.

Despite COVID-19, TV stations are “still targeting” the launch of ATSC 3.0 services in the top 40 markets by the end of 2020 (see 1904080071), Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle told us. “We might not get all of them on by the end of the year, but we’ll get a respectable number.” The goal for 2021 will be to “continue to build out these markets,” said Schelle. Though “all parts of the economy are stressed” during the pandemic, 3.0 is “in a good position,” said Schelle. “We’ll come out of it providing a respectable build to meet the TV manufacturers’ needs for sales in the back half of this year.” There have been no “supply-chain issues” with critical broadcast equipment, said Schelle. “A lot of it was already pre-done” before the pandemic, and “most of the stations out there are ready for next-gen,” she said. Pearl had planned to use the NAB Show to update industry on 3.0's “application framework” it showcased at CES, said Schelle. It had partnership announcements planned for Las Vegas with vendors supplying 3.0 cable-integration equipment, she said: “We’ll be pushing those announcements” to the NAB Show Express virtual event planned for May 13-14 (see 2004130048).

Carriers began taking preorders Friday for Apple’s least expensive iPhone, the SE (see 2004160029). It's due to deliver this week, shipping to consumers since stores are closed. The handset’s launch is designed to expand Apple’s footprint into more price-conscious consumer demographics and geographies, where Apple’s premium handsets are often unattainable, blogged Futuresource analyst Stephen Mears Friday. Because consumers are cutting back discretionary spending, the SE, starting at $399, is “likely to appeal to a wider consumer base, and could potentially become a key handset for 2020,” Mears said. AT&T offered upgrades early for $5 monthly for the 64 GB version, with a trade-in, after paying off at least 50% of their phone. Sprint offered the SE on its “budget phone” page for $5 monthly over 18 months after a two-month eligibility period. Verizon offered to waive the activation fee of customers who preorder online and pay $16.66 over 24 months.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone SE that goes on preorder Friday creates an “interesting dynamic” in the smartphone market where it will compete with many midrange Android devices, Gartner's Tuong Nguyen emailed Thursday. The $399 handset “makes a lot of sense,” Nguyen said, when COVID-19’s impact is weighing on consumers. A midrange phone isn’t a new idea -- Samsung has gained leading market share with a broad portfolio -- but “it’s especially relevant for a high-end brand” to offer a value model now, said the analyst. Smartphone makers "don’t necessarily need a device with ALL the bells and whistles,” he said, but they should be “more strategic about the features that appeal most or are most valuable" to their target audience. For the SE, those features are Apple’s latest processor, wireless charging and access to Apple TV for a year. Gartner forecast last month smartphone shipments would fall 2.3% this year in a best-case scenario; worst case is a 7-8% drop-off.

Apple dropped under $400 for its latest iPhone introduction Wednesday, a $399 model (64 GB) that replaces the iPhone 8 in the company’s smartphone lineup. The most affordable phone in the Apple portfolio, available for preorder Friday, comes when customers can expect little hand-holding while upgrading phones. Apple stores are temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Best Buy, Apple’s largest authorized service provider, is selling product online, with stores providing only curbside pickup and no in-store sales assistance. Verizon's website urges customers to shop online and go to stores only for “appointment-only critical technical support.” The Verge called the latest SE “essentially an iPhone 8 with a better camera and processor." The 4.7-inch SE -- available in black, white and red bodies -- has the A13 Bionic chip that’s in the flagship iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models, said Apple. The Retina HD display supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback, and the phone has a home button like on previous-generation iPhones with a steel ring to detect fingerprints for Touch ID. The SE has a single-camera design with a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture lens and 4K video support; the selfie camera is 7 megapixels. Buyers get a free year of Apple TV Plus.

Dialog Semiconductor announced availability of a software module to reduce the cost of adding Bluetooth connectivity to an IoT system. It targets connected consumer, medical, smart home and smart appliance applications, said the company Tuesday.

The market for foldable displays “underperformed” in 2019, but there’s “a tremendous amount of activity and progress,” said Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young Monday. “We see 26 new foldable devices in development and expected to launch in the next 24 months.” Developers advanced toward “robustness and scratch resistance," he said. That may reduce “consumer concerns” and will “accelerate demand,” he said. DSSC forecast foldable-phone revenue rising at a 110% compound annual growth rate, to $70 billion in 2025. Foldable-display panel shipments will rise at a 132% CAGR to 77 million units, and smartphones will be the vast majority of foldable applications, it said.

Roku streaming players, remotes and TVs infringe five Universal Electronics remote-control patents, complained (in Pacer) Universal Thursday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. One patent dates to 2011, another was granted March 24. The 2011 patent (7,969,514) describes methods for setting up a universal remote “using interactive instructions,” said the complaint. Roku TVs have an embedded receiver for wirelessly accepting “communications from a remotely located controlling device” allegedly in violation of the newest patent (10,600,317). Roku streaming players have a transmitter for beaming “communications to a display device coupled to the controlled device,” also in violation of the patent, it contended. Universal put Roku “on notice” of its infringing practices before filing suit, the remote-control maker alleged: Roku patents cite Universal’s intellectual property 290 times. The defendant didn’t comment Friday.

Sony America will pay $400 million for 5% of Bilibili, the Chinese online entertainment platform, said Sony’s Japanese parent Thursday. Bilibili built a “strong user following” among Chinese Gen Z consumers 30 and younger who are “driving consumption of online entertainment,” said Sony. The buy is in keeping with Sony’s strategy of emphasizing China as “a key strategic region in the entertainment business,” it said. They agreed to “pursue collaboration opportunities” in animation content and mobile game apps. Bilibili CEO Rui Chen said the agreements come as "we increase our domestic stronghold in animation and mobile games." Bilibili, based in Shanghai, reported $288.4 million in 2019 revenue, a 74% increase.

Consumer and industry groups supported proposed changes in a January NPRM asking whether the FCC should update hearing aid compatibility standards (see 2001300041). Groups representing the deaf and hard of hearing supported the HAC proposals, but seeking further changes (see 2003180055). Require in-store testing of handsets until all are fully hearing aid compatible, asked the Hearing Loss Association of America, National Association of the Deaf, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Gallaudet University's Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. “Require service providers to provide HAC ratings on call out cards for consumer education” and seek further comment on a proposal to eliminate the “refresh” and “differing levels of functionality” requirements, they said. HAC rules should "evolve to ensure they are effectively meeting consumers’ needs,” CTIA said. CTA appreciated utilizing "industry standards in its rules and for taking the common-sense step of incorporating the most recent version.” The FCC “proposes an appropriate transition, which includes grandfathering handsets that were HAC-certified," Samsung said. Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 20-3.