According to the latest data from market research firm Counterpoint Research, Huawei has emerged as the standout performer in the second quarter of 2023 in the Chinese smartphone market. Despite an overall decline in sales for major manufacturers in the quarter, Huawei’s sales experienced an exceptional year-on-year growth of 58%.
Huawei’s Exceptional Sales Growth in a Declining Market
The boost in Huawei’s sales can be attributed to the resumption of its regular product release schedule, allowing the company to leverage its well-established brand image and widespread offline distribution channels across top-tier cities. This strategy resulted in a surge in sales after overcoming initial product shortages.
Among other manufacturers, Realme and Apple also achieved positive growth in Q2, while Vivo secured the top position with a market share of 17.7%.
Despite the challenges faced in the first half of 2023, Counterpoint Research predicts a slight decline in China’s smartphone market sales for the entire year. While improvements are expected in the second half compared to the first half, a significant rebound might be challenging due to persistent market challenges.
Huawei’s focus on its flagship series, along with the recent launch of midrange and flagship phones like the Nova 11 series and P60 series, has been instrumental in driving its sales growth. Additionally, the upcoming Mate 60 series, rumored to feature an impressive camera setup, is expected to further boost their sales. Huawei is also all set to introduce their latest Harmony OS 4.0 on 4th August which will further elevate their smartphone experience.
Furthermore, there are reports indicating Huawei’s preparation to restart mass production of its 5G mobile chip with the assistance of domestic partners. While the overall Chinese smartphone sales saw a dip of 4% YoY in Q2 2023, the 618 e-commerce festival managed to bring a much-needed respite in June, sparking hope for a better second half of the year.
Samsung recently unveiled its newest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Galaxy Z Flip5. While these devices do not feature major upgrades in specifications, they’ve managed to garner significant attention due to an intriguing feature, namely the Waterdrop Hinge, or as Samsung has termed it, the “Flex Hinge”.
What exactly is the Waterdrop Hinge found on the latest Samsung foldables?
The Waterdrop Hinge (Flex Hinge) is quite an innovative development in the realm of foldable smartphone design. It gained popularity through the OPPO Find N series. When you fold the phone, the hinge forms a sleek, water-droplet or teardrop-like cavity, thus addressing the rather irritating gaps usually associated with traditional hinges.
This hinge not only enhances the phone’s aesthetic appeal but also increases its durability, shielding the internal components and the foldable screen from the realm of everyday use. Unlike your typical single-axis hinges, the Waterdrop Hinge flexes across multiple dimensions, giving the phone a slim and streamlined appearance.
What makes Samsung’s Flex Hinge Revolutionary?
First off, the biggest advantage of the Flex Hinge is that it is a “no gap” hinge.
The Flex Hinge successfully combats the gap issue common with older U-shaped hinges, which could allow dust and debris to infiltrate and damage the internal display. However, the new hinge offers a seamless design that delivers enhanced protection for the device.
Moreover, it addresses the creasing issue they faced with their earlier foldable devices. It reduces the stress on the display, resulting in a smoother and crease-free experience.
The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 are slimmer than their predecessors making them more compact and portable. The hinge design also allows the device to lie flat and offers a secure hold within a range of 75 to 115 degrees. When fully opened, the phones provide a standard angle ranging from approximately 178.5 to 181.5 degrees. While third-party accessories might impact the range of motion, careful handling can prevent any issues.
The Flex Hinge also enables Samsung foldables to be adjusted at different angles, unlocking new software applications and features for users to explore.
According to Samsung, users may experience a slightly loose feel when opening and closing the device and occasionally hear or feel some noise during operation. These characteristics are not defects but rather inherent features of the improved, smoother motion facilitated by the new hinge.
How does the new Samsung Flex Hinge work?
It features a new dual-axis hinge mechanism comprising three parts:
flexible panel
mechanical hinge
display surface
While flexible OLED panels and folding mechanics have been widely adopted and are widely used in the industry, the display surface presents challenges due to its sensitivity to contamination, which affects both the cost and reliability of foldable devices.
Moto Razr 2019 hinge
The Waterdrop Hinge design has folding points on both sides of the waterdrop shape. This reduces the tension on the display. This creates compressive stress when the panel is folded, which keeps the display panel from getting damaged.
Moto Razr 2019 hinge
Simply put, the new hinge works like folding a piece of paper around a pencil. It makes sure the display folds neatly, keeps its shape, and does not put any tension on the screen. This unique method boosts the durability and reliability of foldable devices.
What are the benefits of the Samsung Flex Hinge
Slimmer Design with Greater Portability: The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 feature a slimmer and more portable design, thanks to the new hinge technology. The Z Flip5 is thinner than the Z Flip4, measuring 15.1mm when folded (vs. 17.1mm for Flip4). Similarly, the Z Fold5 is slimmer than the Z Fold4, with a folded thickness of 13.4mm (vs. 15.8mm for Fold4). The updated hinge contributes to a more compact and convenient form factor for both devices.
Improved Motion: The Flex hinge technology provides a smoother and improved motion compared to previous models in the Z series. This may result in the hinge feeling slightly looser when opening and closing the device.
Reduced Gap when Closed: The new hinge technology allows the screen to close completely, virtually eliminating the gap between the two halves of the device.
Flex Mode: The Flex mode is designed to function within a standard range of 75 to 115 degrees. Operating the hinge outside of this range may impact its ability to securely hold its angle.
Reduced Crease Size: The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 have a new hinge design that may make the crease on their screens appear slightly larger compared to previous models. However, the depth of the crease is reduced, resulting in a flatter appearance when the screen is unfolded.
Fully Opened Angle: The standard angle when the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5 are fully opened ranges between approximately 178.5 to 181.5 degrees. However, third-party covers and accessories may affect the range of motion, so caution should be exercised when using them to avoid excessive force when opening or closing the device.
A New Standard for Foldable Phones
Interestingly, the technology behind the Waterdrop Hinge isn’t entirely new. It was first seen on the Motorola Razr 2019 and was later used by a number of Chinese companies. In fact, OPPO popularized this hinge through their Find N series foldable and now we can see almost every company launching their foldable with this hinge.
Despite Samsung holding the patent for the Waterdrop Hinge as early as 2016, it didn’t immediately integrate this hinge into its devices. The company seems to have taken the time to watch and learn from what others did. Even though it faced problems with the U-shaped hinge at first and eventually made it better, it looks like the Waterdrop Hinge’s slimmer profile was too hard to resist.
Now, with the inclusion of the Flex Hinge in the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5, Samsung has kept pace with the trend. The Waterdrop Hinge promises a smoother display and a thinner body, which is a big step toward a more seamless foldable experience. As we wait for the next generation of Samsung foldables, we can expect more upgrades and improvements in terms of specs.
The development of the Waterdrop Hinge clearly illustrates the dynamic nature of the smartphone market, where innovation and competition consistently drive progress. As technology continues to evolve, foldable smartphones are becoming more sophisticated, durable, and user-friendly.
This certainly makes for an exciting era in the tech world, and it’s going to be rather intriguing to see what the future holds for foldable devices. After all, we might see more than 100 million foldables being shipped globally within the next five years!
If you are interested to read more about foldables and the Chinese market, you might want to check out why foldables are so popular in China right now, where Samsung along with brands like OPPO dominate.
Honor is expected to make a re-entry in India as per recent reports. Although no smartphones, the company has been actively launching laptops and tablets in the country. Now, Honor has launched a new tablet called the Honor Pad X9. It arrives with significant upgrades as the successor to the Honor Pad X8 that was announced last month. Honor’s newest tablet competes against the likes of Realme Pad 2, OPPO Pad Air, and more in the market.
Honor Pad X9 specifications and features
The Honor Pad X8 comes with an 11.5-inch display surrounded by symmetrical bezels on all sides. It offers a 2K resolution, 400 nits peak brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. For audiophiles, the tablet is equipped with six speakers with Hi-Res audio certification.
The Honor Pad X9 sports a metal unibody and measures 6.9mm thin and weighs 499 grams. The back panel has a pill-shaped camera module that houses a 5MP sensor. There is a 5MP snapper on the front for selfies and video calling.
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 695 processor powers the Honor Pad X9. It packs 4GB RAM along with 3GB virtual RAM for smooth performance. The tablet has 128GB onboard storage. The device is backed by a 7,250mAh battery unit that is said to offer 13 hours of usage. It supports 22.5W charging via a USB-C port. Software-wise, the Honor Pad X9 runs on MagicUI 7.1 based Android 13 OS with features like multi-window, multi-screen collaboration, and three-finger swipe.
The Honor Pad X9 carries a special launch price of Rs 14,499 for the sole 4GB + 128GB variant. It is offered in a Space Grey color option. The tablet is up for pre-booking on Amazon starting today with sales commencing from August 2nd. Customers who pre-book will get a Rs 500 discount and a free Honor Flip cover for the device.
Sony launched the PlayStation 5 way back in November 2020. At that time, the world was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. There were supply chain constraints owing to chip shortages which have eased gradually. Now, the Japanese brand has announced sales numbers of its console since its launch. The PlayStation 5 is offered in digital and disk versions.
Sony PlayStation 5 crosses 40 million sales mark
The Sony PlayStation 5 arrived as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in late 2020. As it was released during the pandemic, it was difficult to meet the high demands due to a host of reasons. Many gaming enthusiasts struggled to get their hands on the PS5. However, things have improved drastically in the last year.
The PlayStation 5 became the fastest-selling PS console in the company’s history with 10 million sales recorded in July 2021, just eight months after its official release. The sales crossed the 30 million mark in January this year which is a year and a half after the initial sales record in July 2021. Additionally, it also means that Sony sold the rest of the 10 million units to breach the 40 million mark in just six months starting from January 2023. The sales data is for both the disc and digital editions of the PS5. The sales are gathering pace.
The Sony PlayStation 2 still holds the record of the best-selling console in the company’s history with 159 million units over a period of two decades. Sony shipped 117 million units of PS4 across the world and it took the console six years to reach the 100 million mark. It’s likely that the current-generation PlayStation 5 will surpass and achieve the feat in less time since it has 40 million units sold in three years compared to the PS4’s sales numbers.
Sony Interactive President Jim Ryan said that the PlayStation 5 is now well stocked and Sony is finally able to meet the pent-up demand. This has also ended the opportunities for scalpers who brought the console and sold it at inflated prices. The company is running various offers to boost the sales of PS5 in various markets.
In a rush to beat trade restrictions, Chinese imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from Japan experienced a significant surge in June. According to non-public Chinese customs data reported by the chip industry portal Ijiwei on Thursday, imports of chip-making gear reached a staggering US$804 million in June, marking a 41.6 percent increase from the previous month. This surge in imports occurred despite a year-on-year decline of 10.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
The spike in imports comes in response to Japan’s recent imposition of tighter controls on the export of certain advanced semiconductor tools, which took effect on June 30. The move by Japan seems to be aimed at targeting China and follows similar export restrictions imposed by the Netherlands and the United States, both major players in the production of cutting-edge semiconductors.
Among the imported equipment, photolithography steppers, used for printing chip designs on wafers, saw an astounding growth rate of 137.1 percent, reaching a value of US$62.4 million. Additionally, the value of etching and stripping machines brought into Japan surged by a remarkable 370.1 percent, amounting to US$44.4 million.
The export controls imposed by Japan listed 23 types of semiconductor technology that are now subject to restrictions since July 23. This list includes critical advanced microchip manufacturing equipment, such as machines responsible for depositing films on silicon wafers and devices used to etch out the microscopic circuits of chips.
Yoshiaki Takayama, an analyst at the Japan Institute for International Affairs in Tokyo, explained that the restricted measures put in place by Japan complement the export controls initiated by the United States. With only a limited number of companies capable of manufacturing cutting-edge chips, China’s ability to produce advanced chips is expected to be seriously affected. Not only will importing advanced chips be difficult, but manufacturing them locally will also face significant challenges.
As a response to these trade restrictions, it is speculated that Beijing may shift its semiconductor strategy to focus on middle- and low-end semiconductor manufacturing instead of pursuing cutting-edge capabilities.
In conclusion, the rapid increase in Chinese imports of chip equipment from Japan in June reflects the urgency of local chip makers trying to stock up before Tokyo’s new export restrictions took effect. These measures are expected to impact China’s semiconductor industry and its ability to produce advanced chips, prompting possible shifts in its strategic approach moving forward.
Nubia continues to expand its product range. The company, which is especially notable for its smartphones aimed at gamers, has recently been in the spotlight with its special collaboration with Transformers. Not long ago, we showed you the Bumblebee Edition Nubia mechanicalkeyboard, which is a result of this collaboration. However, that’s not the only surprise from the company. The Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ Bumblebee Edition is now open for pre-orders at a price of 6,499 Yuan. Here are the details…
Bumblebee Edition of Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ Phone Now Open for Pre-Orders, Starting at 6,499 Yuan
The Bumblebee Super Warrior Collector’s Edition of the Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ is now available for pre-orders on. Interested customers can secure this model with a deposit of 100 Yuan, while the starting price for the 16GB+512GB variant is 6,499 Yuan. The Bumblebee Super Warrior Collector’s Edition is a tribute to the Transformers character Bumblebee, featuring a unique mecha design.
This special edition package includes numerous custom accessories such as a Bumblebee-themed charger, a badge, pins, a fast charging data cable, a protective case, and a cooler. It also comes with a Bumblebee customized theme for an immersive user experience. Of course, this phone isn’t really new. The Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro series was first shown to everyone on July 5. Here is the specs for the Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+:
50MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide camera, 2MP macro camera
Front camera
16MP
OS
Android 13, Redmagic OS 8
Other features
RGB fan light strip, under-display fingerprint scanner, heart rate detector
Even though I’m not a huge fan of Transformers, I have to say, everyone should get the Bumblebee Super Warrior Collector’s Edition. Its special design and strong performance will definitely grab attention.
NASA is currently going through digital transformation to broaden the accessibility and reach of its platforms, providing a world-class web experience for audiences worldwide. The space agency aims to modernize its primary and science websites, offer an on-demand streaming service, and enhance the NASA smartphone app, opening a new universe of content for users.
The Space Agency will also focus on bringing more content to fans and enthusiasts
The in-progress preview of the redesigned website is currently accessible, inviting the public to explore and share feedback at beta.nasa.gov. According to Jeff Seaton, the chief information officer, the intent is to inspire humanity through a cohesive, top-tier NASA web experience. Seaton asserts that the renovation will significantly enhance the user experience by modernizing their primary websites, making it’s information more accessible, discoverable, and secure.
The upgraded web portals will serve as a continuously expanding, unified hub for the agency’s information, including mission updates, climate data, and Artemis program developments. With a shared search engine, integrated navigation, and superior publishing capabilities, the updated nasa.gov and science.nasa.gov promise to deliver an interconnected, topic-focused experience.
Following the launch of the beta site, NASA will continuously refine it based on user feedback. The revamped platform will also incorporate content from other popular sites, ensuring integrated and user-friendly access to information previously scattered across multiple websites.
Further enhancing its digital presence, NASA will launch a new streaming platform, NASA+. The ad-free, no-cost, family-friendly service will provide users access to the agency’s Emmy Award-winning live coverage and original video series. Marc Etkind, Associate Administrator, Office of Communications at NASA, highlighted that the platform will “put space on demand and at your fingertips.”
NASA+ will be accessible via the NASA App on iOS and Android devices, streaming media players like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and the web. The goal of this integrated digital evolution is to share NASA’s mission, discoveries, and innovation more effectively and build stronger connections with audiences worldwide.
In a recent Twitter (X) video, Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, China, was shown to be making a new Model 3 or Model Y electric car every 40 seconds. That’s really fast – even faster than Ford‘s factory in Dearborn, Michigan, which can make a new F-150 truck every 49 seconds.
The factory churns out a new Model 3 or Y every forty seconds, which is insane
This video, which was shared on Shanghai’s tourism Twitter account, lets us see inside Tesla’s massive factory. It showed how many robotic arms work together at a single station to make the process faster. It also showed how they use two layers of workshops to arrange their production lines better.
According to Tesla’s financial reports from the first two quarters of 2023, this factory in Shanghai has been running at almost full capacity for many months. This means they’re making as many cars as they can, and they don’t plan to make any more in China right now. The Shanghai factory can make over a million cars each year. And in the first half of 2023, Tesla sold nearly half a million cars made in China. The factory also sends the Model 3 and Model Y cars to other countries like Thailand and Canada.
So how does Tesla do all this? They say it’s about making things cost less. They’re designing their own controllers, using drive units that can be easily scaled up or down, and they’re always coming up with new ways to make things better.
One of these ways is something called giga casting. This lets Tesla make their cars with fewer parts, which makes the process simpler and cheaper. After Tesla started using this new method, many other car makers said they plan to do the same.
WhatsApp, an app known for its efficient voice messaging feature, is now taking steps towards expanding its platform’s capabilities by launching the exciting instant video messages feature. This addition lets users record and exchange short personal videos right within their chat windows, thereby changing the conversational experience to a more media-oriented one.
The videos play automatically on mute when opened within the chat
Video messages are designed to facilitate real-time responses to chat interactions, limited to 60 seconds in length. The feature aims to not just relay information but also share the essence of the moments and emotions accompanying it. Whether it’s to convey birthday wishes, react to a humorous exchange, or share good news, video messages aim to encapsulate the full range of human emotions.
Using the video messaging feature is a pretty straightforward process, similar to sending a voice message. Users just need to select the video mode and press hold to record. An additional swipe-up allows for hands-free recording, again, very similar to audio recording. To improve user convenience, the videos play automatically on mute once accessed in a chat. A simple tap on the video activates the sound, ensuring control is in the hands of the recipient. Furthermore, video messages are equipped with end-to-end encryption, ensuring robust security for the interactions.
As of now, the roll-out of video messages has started and it will be accessible to all WhatsApp users in the forthcoming weeks. This move highlights WhatsApp’s commitment to improving user experience by adding innovative features.
Jaguar, a well-established luxury legacy automaker, holds the distinction of being the first to introduce an electric crossover to the American market. Back in October 2018, the I-Pace EV, a product of this British car giant, was delivered to its inaugural US customer. With 394 horsepower from a dual motor setup and an EPA-rated range of 234 miles per charge, the I-Pace was a force to be reckoned with upon its launch.
The Fast charging will enable the car to have 200 miles of range ready in 15 minutes
However, in the evolving landscape of electric vehicles (EVs), Jaguar’s once standout electric crossover started to lose its initial appeal. Contemporary rivals began to challenge and surpass the I-Pace in terms of cost, driving range, charging speeds, and performance, resulting in a decline in Jaguar’s EV sales.
This did not spell an end to Jaguar’s electric ambitions, though. On the contrary, the I-Pace laid the foundation for a new wave of electrification for Jaguar. The automaker recently unveiled plans to inject a hefty £2.25 billion ($2.9 billion) into its EV programs. This investment will pave the way for a new high-end sports sedan, boasting a range of around 400 miles, coupled with enhanced fast-charging capabilities, able to achieve 200 miles of range in a mere 15 minutes.
Jaguar’s chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern, stated that the forthcoming EVs from Jaguar would embody four key attributes: exuberance, fearlessness, uniqueness, and progressiveness. “Jaguars need to have a jaw-dropping moment, a sense of wow,” he said during an interview with Autocar.
This announcement followed Jaguar Land Rover‘s (JLR) commitment in April to invest $16.5 million into various programs, encompassing AI, autonomous driving, manufacturing facility upgrades, and more. The message from Jaguar is clear: they are fully invested in the future of electric mobility.
The Rogbid Rowatch 4 smartwatch has been announced. It is Rogbid’s first large-screen smartwatch and features blood sugar monitoring. The groundbreaking Rowatch 4 offers blood glucose monitoring that enables early detection of abnormal blood glucose levels. This allows the user to identify potential problems early and seek medical attention.
The Rogbid Rowatch 4 has a 99.5% RGB color gamut coverage and features several health monitoring sensors apart from blood sugar tracking. It has a heart-rate monitor, blood Oxygen (SpO2) sensor, and blood pressure sensor. The smartwatch also supports sleep and stress monitoring, aside from the availability of 100+ sports modes.
The Rogbid Rowatch 4 smartwatch supports Bluetooth calling and also has an AI voice assistant. You can easily view your call logs and up to 12 contacts stored on the device. There are other features such as notifications, weather updates, a built-in calendar, and daily reminders on the Rowatch 4. The battery of the device can last up to 4 days, providing leverage for a wide variety of activities.
In terms of design, the Rowatch 4 boasts a sleek and stylish look, with a square dial and rotating crown on the right side. The 2.02-inch curved full screen offers a resolution of 320 x 386 pixels and can be customized with various personalized watch faces. The device is also IP67-rated, making it resistant to dust and water.
Aside from its blood sugar tracking capabilities, the Rogbid Rowatch 4 is equipped with several other health monitoring sensors, including a heart-rate monitor, blood Oxygen (SpO2) sensor, and blood pressure sensor. It also supports sleep and stress monitoring and offers over 100 different sports modes.
Other features of the Rogbid Rowatch 4 include Bluetooth calling and an AI voice assistant, as well as notifications, weather updates, a built-in calendar, and daily reminders. The battery life of the device can last up to four days, providing ample time for a wide range of activities.
Pricing & Availability
The Rogbid Rowatch 4 smartwatch is priced at $39.99. The smartwatch is available in three different colors – Rose Gold, Black, and Gray – and can be purchased directly from the Rogbid official store. While availability is currently limited, it is expected to expand to other retail platforms in the near future.
In a significant boost to India’s semiconductor manufacturing aspirations, U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced its plan to invest approximately $400 million in the country over the next five years. The company aims to set up its largest design center in Bengaluru, the southern tech hub of India, marking a major milestone in its long-standing presence in the country.
The investment announcement was made by AMD’s Chief Technology Officer, Mark Papermaster, during the SemiconIndia 2023 conference. With this move, AMD joins a growing list of global firms that are endorsing India’s vision of becoming a prominent semiconductor manufacturing hub.
Papermaster highlighted that AMD’s investment will build upon more than two decades of the company’s successful growth and presence in India. The upcoming design center, which is slated to be operational by the end of the year, will occupy an impressive 500,000 square feet and will become the tenth AMD office in India. Presently, the company has offices in Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
The establishment of the new design center is expected to significantly bolster AMD’s research and development capabilities in India. This move will enable the chipmaker to drive innovation in semiconductor design, aligning with the Indian government’s “India semiconductor mission” and its broader goal of nurturing a robust semiconductor talent pool within the nation.
By investing in India’s rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem, AMD is poised to tap into the country’s immense potential and pool of skilled talent. The company’s commitment to expanding its footprint in India reflects its confidence in the country’s growth prospects and its strategic significance in the global technology landscape.
The SemiconIndia 2023 conference, where AMD made this major announcement, also featured key industry leaders like Foxconn Chairman Young Liu and Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, indicating the event’s significance in shaping India’s semiconductor trajectory.
As India strives to become a major player in semiconductor manufacturing, AMD’s substantial investment and the establishment of its cutting-edge design center in Bengaluru could act as a catalyst for further technological advancements, job creation, and economic growth in the country’s technology sector.
India’s Electronics and IT Minister welcomed AMD’s expansion plan. The country’s $10 billion incentive program to attract chipmakers has garnered increasing interest, as other companies like Applied Materials and Micron also invest in India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Xiaomi has unveiled the MIJIA Fascia Gun 2 professional massager. It comes with a dual-state, 3-speed hot compress and a battery that can last up to 30 days. The MIJIA Fascia Gun 2 is now on sale in China at an introductory price.
The Xiaomi MIJIA Fascia Gun 2 supports free switching between static and dynamic dual-state hot compress. This, according to Xiaomi, helps to promote blood circulation, relieve tense muscles and support 3-speed temperature adjustment. The device’s built-in motor has a maximum torque of 600Nm, a speed of 3200 rpm, maximum noise of 45dB, and an 18kg striking force.
The Fascia Gun 2 is capable of quickly relaxing tense muscles and relieving the burden of soreness and swelling. When used regularly, the massager prevents muscle spasms and features four levels of intensity. The massager comes with four massage heads for different parts of the body.
The MIJIA Fascia Gun 2 has an integrated control panel with a touch display. The panel displays information such as operational temperature and gear. The device comes with a dynamic balance design, with a vibration amplitude of less than 1mm. The device weighs 0.8kg and can be easily carried. It is equipped with a 2,450mAh battery which can be recharged via the USB-C interface of the massager. The casing of the Fascia Gun 2 is designed to prevent sweat from entering the device.
The Xiaomi MIJIA Fascia Gun 2 is available in China at a starting price of 549 yuan (~$77). It can be purchased from retail platforms like JD.com but availability information for overseas markets is lacking.
AMD today announced the new Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor at the China Joy event. This new chip brings 3D V-cache technology to gaming laptops, which improves power and efficiency when gaming or running demanding apps. It comes with a 200 MHz lower base clock, a total of 128 MB of L3 cache, and a 55 W+ TDP. The Asus Strix Scar 17 X3D launching later in August will be the first to feature the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D.
AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D has been launched as part of the company’s 4 nm Ryzen Zen 4 “Dragon Range” lineup. The company says it is the world’s fastest mobile gaming processor, with over 15% faster performance than the AMD Ryzen 7945HX. The processor comes with a 16-core architecture with 32 threads. Its processing speed is rated to go up to 5.4GHz.
As mentioned, the new CPU also brings AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology to gaming laptops. For those who don’t know, this technology adds an additional cache directly onto the CPU die. If you’re planning on playing games, then 3D V-Cache technology can help improve your performance. AMD claims that the 7945HX3D outperforms the standard 7945HX by 11% at 70 watts and by 23% at 40 watts.
The CPU has a base clock of 2.3 GHz and boosts up to 5.4 GHz. The Ryzen 9 79450HX3D also features the Radeon 610M iGPU with 2 RDNA 2 compute units. The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D will power the upcoming ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D, which is slated to launch on August 22, 2023. The laptop should bring 32 GB DDR5 RAM, 1 TB SSD, and an RTX 4090 GPU.
The Meteorish TJD T101 gaming handheld will launch next month starting at $599. The new Meteorish gaming handheld has a 10.1-inch display and is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7040U series processor. The TJD T101 comes with an unusual design and an expansive display for a handheld. Most gaming handhelds of x86 standard feature 7-inch displays but the TJD T101 has a 10.1-inch.
There are very few gaming handhelds like the AYA NEO KUN and ONEXPLAYER models with larger displays. However, these models come with 8.4-inch screens, and the Meteorish TJD T101 eclipses that size.
The TJD T101 is as big as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 and it has a 1,920 x 1,200 pixels resolution. The new gaming handheld has a 16:10 aspect ratio, two 2W speakers, two Hall effect joysticks, and triggers. It also features two Gyroscope sensors, a 3.5mm audio jack, two USB4 ports, and a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port.
The Meteorish TJD T101 gaming handheld has a 60Wh battery that can be recharged at 100W. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640U and Ryzen 7 7840U APUs are the process choices for the model. These APUs will be paired with 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 4TB PCIe SSD.
The TJD T101 weighs 0.89kg and has dimensions of 343 x 155 x 20mm. The new gaming handheld will be introduced via an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, according to Meteorish. The Indiegogo campaign will kick off next month with a starting price of $599 for the model. The top model with AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU with 32GB RAM and 2TB of storage costs $999.
Apple has always been known for its strict App Store policies, which have sometimes caused mixed reactions among developers. In the latest development, the Cupertino company has announced that developers will need to justify their use of certain Apple APIs before their apps can be listed on the App Store. This is an effort to limit apps from tracking user data.
Apple is against unecessary user data tracking
Apple is adding a new category of APIs called “required reason APIs”. These APIs have the potential to be misused to track users, so Apple is requiring developers to explain why they are using them in their app’s privacy manifest file. If you use a required reason API in your app, you will need to update your privacy manifest file by Fall 2023 or your app will be rejected from the App Store.
“To prevent the misuse of certain APIs that can be used to collect data about users’ devices through fingerprinting, you’ll need to declare the reasons for using these APIs in your app’s privacy manifest. This will help ensure that apps only use these APIs for their intended purpose,” Apple explains.
The new changes will start to take place this fall, with the release of iOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. Developers will be notified about submitting apps using a Required Reason API without describing the reasons for using it. In fall 2024, Apple will start rejecting apps that do not provide a proper explanation.
The new requirements are designed to help protect user privacy. By requiring developers to explain why they need access to sensitive data, Apple can help ensure that apps are only using this data when it is truly necessary. However, this will also increase the number of app rejections.
Honor made a splash in the smartphone industry with its thin and lightweight Honor Magic V2. The book-style foldable is thinner than any other foldable on the market and weighs less than even a mainstream flagship like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Honor is also rumored to be launching a flip phone, and while we await more concrete information, an executive has hinted that it could be released sometime next year.
Honor flip to face tough competition from Samsung and Motorola
According to a Reframed report, an Honor executive recently confirmed that the company will launch its first Flip phone in 2024 (via Android Authority). “Honor not only has this Fold, we still have the Flip, but next year,” Honor Middle East and Africa (MEA) president Daniel Wang made the announcement at a media roundtable at the MEA launch of the HONOR 90 series.
While the executive didn’t reveal any other details, we expect the flip phone to offer consumers a unique experience. Similar to what Honor managed to pull off with the Honor Magic V2, the flip phone could have a lightweight design and could even be thin. It could also have a large cover screen, which is a trend in the industry.
The upcoming Honor Flip will have to compete with popular phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. These phones have already established themselves as reliable and durable devices, with well-designed hinges and other important features. The competition in the folding phone market is fierce, and Honor will need to offer a compelling value proposition in order to succeed.
Currently the details about the upcoming foldable are pretty short. We hope to learn more in the coming days. Are you excited about the Honor Flip?
Samsung has released the Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition smartwatch. The new Samsung wearable is a refreshed version of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic and comes with several design and software improvements. This is coming on the heels of Samsung opening pre-orders for the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition is being offered in Samsung’s home market of South Korea. The Golf Edition of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic mirrors Samsung’s approach in previous Galaxy Watch releases. The design changes provide distinguishing features between the Golf Edition model and the standard model. Functionally, however, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition is identical to the regular model.
The Golf Edition model relates only to the Galaxy Watch6 Classic, while a similar model for the Galaxy Watch6 is lacking. The new Golf Edition model of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic has a green ring around its bezel. It also sports a green accent on its upper hardware button and comes with black and green watch straps. The Golf Edition Galaxy Watch6 smartwatch has the Smart Caddie app pre-installed. The Smart Caddie app is a subscription-based service that costs $6.99 per month.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Golf Edition smartwatch is currently available in South Korea for KRW 436,620 (~$342). It is unclear at this time whether the smartwatch will subsequently be available in overseas markets. However, we expect it to follow the trajectory of the Galaxy Watch5 series whose special edition model was available globally.
Foldable phones are becoming more popular every day. Nowadays, almost all manufacturers, except for Apple, have a device that uses the flexible OLED technology. What’s more, it is known that Apple is also conducting some work on this. Without a doubt, Samsung was the quickest to adopt to foldable technology. In fact, the company recently unveiled its latest foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 models, of which it’s one of the pioneers.
According to the latest information, the company has high expectations from this technology. Samsung aims to make foldable phones account for 20% of its premium sales globally by the end of 2023. Here are the details…
Samsung Plans to Sell More Foldable Phones in 2023
Selling premium smartphones is more important for manufacturers than selling all their other models. This is because companies earn most of their money from these high-end devices. For example, despite Apple selling fewer units than Samsung for many years, it earns more money. The reason is not because of selling entry-level or mid-range models like the Galaxy M and A series, but because it sells flagship products. Now, Samsung wants to achieve the same by selling foldable smartphones.
Roh Tae-moon, the president and head of Samsung Electronics’ mobile business, made some comments about the company’s plans at a meeting he held a short time ago. Tae stated that 2023 is very important for them, saying, “Samsung aims to sell more foldable phones.” Their aim is to have these foldable phones make up more than 20% of total Galaxy smartphone sales worldwide.
“This year will be very important for Samsung. We want to make foldable phones popular,” said Roh. He also said that in a few years, Samsung might sell up to “100 million foldable phones each year worldwide.” These numbers come from reports by many firms that study the phone industry.
By 2025, Samsung plans for half of its smartphone sales to come from foldable models. This means foldable phones will be as significant to the company as its Galaxy S series. The company already holds a leading position in the foldable phone market. In 2022, Samsung had a whopping 77% of the global foldable phone market share. This is a big deal for a market that is expected to reach 48.1 million units by 2027. However, it’s still uncertain whether the company can maintain this success in the future.
In a surprising turn of events, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has decided to charge cloud computing giants for its AI model, Llama 2, after initially announcing that it would be offered for free. The company had recently partnered with Microsoft and Amazon, intending to provide Llama 2 on their cloud platforms without any costs to access or use.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, clarified the change in their approach, stating that when cloud providers resell Llama 2’s services, Meta believes it should receive a portion of the revenue. While Zuckerberg acknowledged that this revenue may not be significant in the short term, he expressed hopes that it would become a substantial source of income over the long term.
This U-turn in Meta’s strategy has left industry experts and users questioning the company’s initial commitment to offering AI technology for free. Cloud providers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, who were expecting to leverage Llama 2 at no cost, will now be required to negotiate a business arrangement with Meta to utilize the AI tech on their platforms.
The move has raised concerns about potential implications for smaller cloud companies that may find it difficult to bear the additional expenses. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the dynamics between Meta and its cloud partners and how other companies in the tech industry will respond to this unexpected change.
With the news still fresh, many are awaiting further clarifications from Meta on the specific terms of their new licensing approach. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, industry players are closely observing these developments to gauge their potential impact on the wider tech community.
Large language models (LLMs), like Llama 2, have proven instrumental in powering text-based chatbots and enhancing AI’s ability to respond to various queries. However, the implications of allowing access to vast amounts of information for training these models have not been without controversy. Privacy concerns and potential biases embedded in the data used for training pose significant challenges that the AI community must address diligently.
Mark Zuckerberg’s reaffirmation of Llama 2 being open-source indicates Meta’s commitment to promoting collaboration and innovation in the AI domain. Nevertheless, the caveat that prominent cloud providers must enter into a business arrangement has given rise to speculations about the company’s long-term strategies and financial motivations.
As Meta continues to navigate this intricate landscape of AI technology, industry observers eagerly await further details on the specific terms and conditions surrounding the open-source offering and the nature of the business arrangements with cloud providers. The true impact of this decision on the development and accessibility of AI advancements remains to be seen, prompting stakeholders to closely monitor how the situation unfolds in the coming months.
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