Welcome to our weekly tech roundup, where we compile the most compelling stories that are shaping the technology landscape.

We delve into the latest IDC report that unveiled a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, contrasted starkly by Huawei’s stunning surge of 58% in smartphone sales in the same quarter. This uptick for Huawei amidst an overall market contraction illustrates the company’s new strategies.

Apple’s AirTag played an unlikely hero role in tracking down a restaurant burglar who absconded with $15,000 worth of goods. For audiophiles, Sony unveiled its latest offering – the WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Touted for their top-notch sound quality and active noise cancellation, they are setting new standards in the audio industry. We also read about how a YouTuber managed to run GTA 5 on an overclocked Nintendo Switch, pushing the boundaries of the console’s capabilities.

Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these stories and more in this exciting roundup of the week’s top tech news below.

Latest IDC report shows China’s smartphone market declined by 2.1% in Q2 2023

The IDC report shows a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, with 65.7 million smartphones shipped. The market experienced a 7.3% year-on-year decline, with Huawei and Apple showing positive YoY growth. Other leading brands, including Oppo, Vivo, Honor, Apple, and Huawei and Xiaomi, experienced flat or declining performance.

More details in the link above.

Huawei’s Q2 2023 smartphone sales surged by 58%

Huawei’s Q2 2023 smartphone sales surged by 58%, according to Counterpoint Research. The surge can be attributed to regular product release schedules and brand image. Other manufacturers, Realme and Apple, also experienced positive growth. Huawei’s focus on flagship series, midrange phones, and the upcoming Mate 60 series is expected to boost sales.

More details in the article below.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch model’s demand lower than the company’s expectations

Apple’s anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air model faces lower demand than anticipated, with sales numbers as low as 50% below expectations. The 15-inch model, launched at WWDC, features a larger display and two extra speakers. The company is scaling back production.

Apple AirTag Used to Track Down Restaurant Burglar Who Stole $15,000 Worth of Goods

The Apple AirTag has been used to track down a South Carolina restaurant burglar who stole $15,000 worth of goods. The small, effective device allows users to track their location instantly, preventing theft. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. The AirTag has been used in theft cases before, but its drawbacks have been reported.

More details in the link above.

Here’s why China loves foldable smartphones

China’s foldable smartphone market experienced significant growth in Q1 2023, with China being the largest market, followed by Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America. 

We check out why Chinese consumers love their foldables.

Sony debuts the WF-1000XM5 earbuds with top-notch sound quality and ANC

Sony introduces the WF-1000XM5 TWS earbuds, offering exceptional sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, call clarity, and comfort. The Dynamic Driver X delivers clear highs and bass, supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless, 360 Reality Audio, and head-tracking technology.

More details like pricing and availability in the full article below. 

YouTuber gets GTA 5 running on an overclocked Nintendo Switch

YouTuber Geekerwan overclocked the Nintendo Switch to run popular titles like Grand Theft Auto 5, Titanfall 2, and God of War. He sideloaded Android 11 and overclocked the CPU to 2.3 GHz, allowing him to access Steam and play games.

More details below. 

Honor flip phone coming next year, says executive

Honor is rumored to launch its first flip phone in 2024, aiming to compete with Samsung and Motorola. The Honor Flip is expected to offer a unique experience with a lightweight design, large cover screen, and a competitive price proposition.

The Bumblebee Edition of Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ is Now on preorders

Nubia has launched the Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ Bumblebee Edition, available for pre-orders at 6,499 Yuan. This special edition features a unique mecha design and a Bumblebee-themed charger, badge, pins, fast charging data cable, protective case, and cooler. 

All iPhone 15 models rumored to feature 48MP camera with hybrid lens

The iPhone 15 series is set to revolutionize smartphone photography with its 48-megapixel camera, featuring advanced 1/1.5-inch stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) and 2X mode. The non-Pro models will have a slightly smaller sensor, but the CIS increases by 27% from previous iPhone 14 models. The hybrid lens design, f/1.7 aperture, and A16 Bionic chip are expected to improve low-light performance.

Here’s Why People in Indonesia Can’t Access the Rebranded Twitter Website

Elon Musk’s ambitious rebranding of Twitter as ‘X’ has encountered a major obstacle in Indonesia. The social media platform, now known as X, faced a block in the country due to its association with the domain X.com. More details above. 

No Chargers Needed?: Researchers Develop Long-Distance Wireless Charging with 80% Efficiency

Wireless charging is getting more and more popular these days. We can see this technology in our phones and even things like AirPods. However, when we look at the usage rates, the numbers suddenly start to drop suddenly. This is mostly because wireless charging isn’t truly ‘wireless’. Your device needs to touch a charging pad, and that can be harder than just using a USB-C or Lightning cable. However, engineers at Aalto University have developed a new system that can fix this.

The post Top Tech News From Last Week: iPhone 15, Huawei shipments growth, Airtags catch Burglars, & More appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple’s innovative foray into the wearable technology market took a leap forward with the introduction of AirTags in 2021. These small tracking devices became a hit among Apple enthusiasts, allowing them to easily locate their belongings. Now, Apple is once again pushing boundaries by working on a new type of AirTag called the ‘Wearable Tag,’ according to a recently discovered patent application in Europe.

The Patented Tag would incorporate a variety of Sensors for tracking

The Wearable Tag, as described by Apple in the patent application, is designed to be placed on different parts of a user’s body or clothing and is intended for various health-related functions. The possibilities are vast, ranging from posture monitoring and sun exposure tracking to physical therapy assistance, fall detection, and fitness/activity tracking. The Wearable Tag would incorporate different sensors depending on the specific health-related function it is being used for, ensuring accurate and comprehensive data collection.

The patent application reveals that users would be able to configure and control the Wearable Tag through an electronic device, such as an iPhone. This device would not only determine the location of the tag on the user’s body but also allow users to select their desired health-related function. The Wearable Tag would then gather sensor data and relay it to the electronic device for analysis and feedback.

Apple’s patent illustrations offer a glimpse into the possibilities of the Wearable Tag. One image showcases a system consisting of multiple wearable tags and electronic devices. These tags can be worn on various body parts, such as the wrist, arm, finger, neck, waist, ankle, or other suitable areas, and communicate with devices like iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads.

The patent further reveals the design of the Wearable Tag itself. It features a housing that can be made of different materials, including plastic, glass, ceramics, metal, fabric, or a combination of these. This versatility allows for a comfortable and customizable user experience.

Apple’s vision for the Wearable Tag extends beyond individual use cases. In one illustration, multiple tags are placed all over a user’s body, enabling full-body motion tracking. This comprehensive tracking capability could find applications in physical therapy, dancing, fitness tracking, sports training, and more.

While the recently published European patent application bears Apple’s name as the applicant, it’s worth noting that the patent itself dates back to 2020 and was filed under the names of Apple‘s engineers to maintain secrecy. Once the patent is granted, Apple’s name will officially appear on the U.S. patent as well.

Apple’s exploration of the Wearable Tag concept signals the company’s commitment to expanding the capabilities of wearable technology beyond simple tracking. By integrating health-related functionalities into their devices, Apple aims to empower users to monitor and improve their well-being in innovative ways. The company also recently collaborated with Google to prevent stalkers from quietly tracking people using AirTags. As always, the true potential of Apple’s inventions will be unveiled once they make their way from patents to actual products.

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(Via)

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Ever since its announcement, the Apple AirTags have helped many find their lost possessions which were either misplaced or stolen. However, this product has also led to a dark problem as some people have been using it to stalk others. This issue has been acknowledged by the company and it appears to be working on fixing this problem.

Apple partners with Google to combat stalking via its AirTags

According to a new report, the Cupertino based giant is teaming up with Google to deal with the stalking issue on its smart tracker. The iPhone maker is working with the Search Engine giant to bring support for the Google Rich Communication Services or RCS into iOS. This collaboration will have both companies join hands in an effort to combat the growing issue of unwanted location tracking using AirTags.

NYC just recently began donating over 500 AirTags to help deal with car theft issue in the city, which is an example of how these devices can be helpful. However, the smart tracker from Apple is also being used by stalkers by placing the AirTags on the person or one of their possessions. These stalkers then track the victim using an iPhone. Fortunately, there are some measures already in place. There have been cases where people have found a message popping up on their iPhone that notifies them that an “AirTag Found Moving With You.”

Due to this issue, Apple has even released an application called Tracker Detect that can detect these smart trackers that are far from their partner iPhone. It is also available on the Google Play Store for Android smartphones. As per an official announcement, “Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking. The first of its kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms.”

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New York City is apparently giving out a whopping 500 Apple AirTags for free. The city officials are making this move to help in dealing with the increasing number of cases revolving around car theft. So here are all the details.

Apple AirTags will help combat car theft in New York

NYC is giving out around 500 smart trackers made by the Cupertino based giant to help deal with the 13 percent year on year rise in auto related thefts in the city. The Mayor of New York City Eric Adams has announced that the new program last weekend which will go hand in hand with the NYPD (New York Police Department). So around 500 AirTags will be handed out to citizens in an attempt to discourage criminals and thieves that seek to steel cars.

The 500 AirTags are being donated to the citizens through a non profit organization called the “Association for Better New York.” Furthermore, Mayor Adams is calling the new Apple AirTag program as a “really amazing piece of ingenuity.” He further added that “This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device. It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real time where the vehicle is located.”

Similarly, the Chief of NYPD Department has said that “The 21st century calls for 21st century policing. AirTags in your car will help us recover your vehicle if it’s stolen. We’ll use our drones, our StarChase technology & good old fashion police work to safely recover your stolen car. Help us help you, get an AirTag.”

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(Source)

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Apple’s recently released enhanced tracking device dubbed AirTags has had a pretty strong reception in Australia since its introduction into the Australian market. The Apple AirTags is a smart device with several impressive features that makes it very easy to locate tagged objects. It can also interface seamlessly with other smart home devices, through Voice Assistant compatibility.

Australian retailer Officerworks has taken the decision to remove Apple’s AirTags from its stores across the country due to potential hazard concerns relating to its button battery. Several sources in Australia have confirmed that indeed the retailer has removed the device from its shelves, including a Reddit user who reported requesting the product from Officerworks. The removal from the stores was due to observed safety risks with the accessibility of its lithium button-sized battery. A statement credited to Officerworks says that the product will be unavailable from its stables until further direction is provided by the regulator, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The packaging of the Apple AirTags did not comply with the Australian rules that specify that warning symbols should be provided on the packaging and product instruction for such products when button batteries are used. The deadline for compliance with the country’s new Information Standard is June 2022.

While we can confirm that Officerworks has indeed pulled out the AirTags from its scores of stores across Australia, the device is still available in multiple channels in the country. It is expected, however, that with the decision of Officerworks to pull the device off its shelves, the regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will provide some guidance on what other retailers can do on the issue.

In an e-mail response to Gizmodo, an Apple representative disclosed that the AirTags was designed to comply with international child safety standards, including those in Australia. The Apple rep clarified that the device requires a two-step push-and-turn mechanism to access the user-replaceable battery. Apple also stated that it is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work to ensure its products meet or exceed new standards, including those for package labeling, well ahead of the timeline required. Apple is expected to update the packing to include a warning about button batteries in the packaging before June 21, 2022, based on the new information standards in the country. We expect the tech giant to roll out new packaging soon.

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(source)

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Update: April 13

Apple has finally updated its Apple events page. Captioned as “Spring Loaded”, the event is said to take place on April 20 at 10:00 AM PDT (01:00 AM Beijing Time / 10:30 PM IST). If you have an iPhone/iPad product, you can witness the AR version of the multi-colored logo as well.

Original Story is as follows…

After a lot of misquoted dates, Apple’s Siri assistant itself has revealed the date of the next launch event. While Apple hasn’t confirmed it yet, the next Apple event is said to be on April 20 as per Siri.

Just like users reporting on Twitter and MacRumors reports, I tried asking Siri, “Hey Siri, Apple event”. It replied that a Special event is on next Tuesday, i.e, April 20. Apple recently confirmed that it’s WWDC 2021 will be online and begin on June 7.

While one might expect the same for this event, Siri says that the event will be hosted at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA. That said, it doesn’t confirm it as an in-person event and considering the situation, we can expect Apple to stream a pre-recorded video on social media channels like YouTube.

You can take a look at the screenshot below:

Also, Siri didn’t say anything about the products/announcements that are going to be unveiled at the event. However, we have seen various reports in the past and they suggest that Apple will bring the iPad Pro 2021, Apple TV 2021, and long-rumored AirTags.

There are also rumors about the new iMacs and Macbooks but we aren’t sure if they would see the light on that day.

Talking about the iPad Pro models, Apple is said to bring 11-inch and 12.9inch iPad Pro models. Out of this, the 12.9-inch is said to feature a mini-LED display. Other expected specs include A14X chipset, Thunderbolt connection via USB-C, and more.

As for the Apple TV 2021, it is expected to bring upgrades like HDMI 2.1 port, support for 120Hz refresh rate content, powerful GPU and higher RAM capacity, and more.

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Apple is reportedly launching new products tomorrow(December 8). And if the latest leaks are true, one of them will be the Apple TV (2020) model. The new device is expected to launch with upgraded SoC, and storage for better streaming.

As leaked by LeaksApplePro(via wccftech) on Twitter, the new Apple TV will sport an A12Z Bionic SoC. If you recall, this is the same processor that powers the iPad Pro 2020 model. This new processor would be a significant upgrade over the A10X Fusion SoC on the current model(fifth-gen).

It’s worth noting that earlier reports pointed to an A12X chip which has a GPU core less than the A12Z. But it looks like Apple wants to crank it up a notch with 8-core GPU, and this, along with RAM likely up to 6GB, should ensure a stutter-free experience.

Apple TV:
4K (as I said HD is rip).
64/128 GB.
A12Z
Releasing on Tuesday.
Shipping on Friday.
Just a summary of what I said 3 days ago.
(Free fitness plus is rip, however I still think it’s coming alongside it).
Thank me later.

— LeaksApplePro (@LeaksApplePro) December 6, 2020

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple unveils the M1 chipset, a powerful 8-core processor for the Mac

Moving on, the tipster also says that “HD is rip”. This suggests that Apple could skip the HD variant of the Apple TV and just launch a 4K-streaming model. Additionally, the streaming box should have 64/128GB storage, come bundled with an “Apple Fitness+” subscription. Here, the tipster isn’t sure about Apple bundling a free subscription alongside the box, and hence, let’s wait for the official announcement.

Regarding the design, earlier reports indicate that Apple TV 2020 would look a lot similar to the earlier version. However, the focus will be on the inside. Along with the A12Z, the sixth-generation streaming box is likely to have a cooling solution with a heat sink. Anyway, if the report is true, Apple should announce the product via a press-release(it’s usual trend for internal upgrades) tomorrow and get it ready to ship from Friday(December 11).

This tip also corroborates with early reports that said Apple contacted Apple Care centers to prepare for updated product variants, new prices, etc. Alongside the Apple TV, Apple is rumored to announce AirPods Studio and AirTags.

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Apple has been rumored to be working on a new product named AirTag that will allow users to track any object the device is attached to using the company’s Find My system. Now, the upcoming Apple AirTag accessory has been leaked online.

The leak, coming from Fudge, showcases an alleged Apple AirTag carrying accessory. It looks like a small leather sleeve for the AirTag which can allow users to easily place them within the leather cover, which is attached to the stainless steel keyring.

Potentially AirTag carrying accessory in Saddle Brown.

Looks a lot like this previously reported patent, but take it with a bit of salt though since something similar is easily reproducible in China. pic.twitter.com/HHRi2p4Cyu

— Fudge (@choco_bit) November 9, 2020

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei to reportedly sell Honor for $15 billion to Digital China and Shenzhen government

Further, it has the text “Designed by Apple in California” and “Assembled in China” written over the ring. The leather used for this product seems to the same Saddle Brown color that Apple introduced for the official iPhone 12 Leather Sleeve.

However, the leaker also cautioned to take this information with a pinch of salt as it may not be an official Apple product but a Chinese replica based on Apple’s schemes.

The Apple AirTags has been a bit of a mystery. The product was first reported in April 2019 and since then several reports have claimed different launch schedules. Even Apple itself had confirmed that the company is working on it. However, the product still remains unannounced and there’s no information available about its launch date.

Apple is holding a launch event today (10th November) but the company is unlikely to reveal anything about AirTags. It is expected to launch the highly anticipated MacBooks powered by the ARM-based Apple Silicon chipset.

UP NEXT: Apple India sees a 29% rise in revenue, bringing in almost $2 billion in FY20

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Apple hasn’t announced the AirTags yet. However, the small tracking device has been out in the wild before. Now, an old patent from Q3 2019 reveals the use-case scenarios and designs of the AirTags.

First spotted by Patently Apple(via Pocket-lint), the patent shows two major designs – “Mounting base for a wirelessly locatable tag”. “And fastener with a constrained retention ring”. Apple has filed it at the USPTO(US Patent and Trademark Office) which got published recently.

For the unware, AirTags is a small battery-powered Tile-like Puck tracker that can locate an object wirelessly by sending a signal to a receiver like the iPhone. And just like we use GPS to find location, the signal is used to detect the object. Methods mentioned in the patent include localization techniques such as time of flight, received signal strength indication, triangulation, etc.

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Find objects, display maps of a building

Some of the use-cases mentioned in the patent are tracking the location of keys, purse, backpack, clothing, or any other suitable personal item. So if one of these is lost, they can easily find them, probably using an iPhone.

Additionally, the AirTags can also trigger actions on devices like smartphones when nearby. For instance, if the tag is attached inside a building. And if an individual enters its threshold distance, the smartphone detects the tag. Following this, it can display the map of the building on the device.

Further, the patent says, AirTags’ ultra-wideband technology could help locate the device with an accuracy of a feet or less. In turn, the tags can produce audible sound/haptics to find them. However, if you are not within a certain range, it can transmit data through other people’s devices as well.

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Posture measurement, Motion Tracking

However, this is not the only intended scenario. The patent filing shows designs of various use-cases like measuring a human posture, control a character on screen by sticking it onto your body. For instance, to facilitate AR experience, it can be used as an in-game piece. A game of chess can be played with each Tag piece representing a chess piece in the game. Also, other examples include exercise, where a trainer can track and evaluate the movements performed by the trainee with AirTags attached to him via the TV.

1 of 2

That being said, the patent shows a lot of illustrations which will be more exciting to use, and experience only when Apple brings it to the stores.

UP NEXT: Apple will continue to use Qualcomm 5G modems at least until 2024 as per an old document

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Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPhones in the coming weeks like every year. Ahead of it, new details about the company’s 2020 product lineup launch have emerged. This report comes from Bloomberg and it not only mentions iPhones but an iPad, Apple Watches, headphones, smaller HomePod as well as next year’s products like refreshed Apple TV and AirTags.

The report reveals that the Cupertino-based firm expects to ship a maximum of 80 million units of iPhones by the end of this year just like 2019. Hence, it has begun to mass manufacture at least 75 million new iPhone 12 series smartphones.

Apart from new iPhones, Apple will also launch next-gen iPad Air featuring minimum bezels like similar to iPad Pro. Further, the company will also introduce two Apple Watches, the higher model will replace last year’s Series 5 and the budget model will take place of the older Series 3.

That’s not it, the American tech giant is also reported to launch a pair of self-branded headphones instead of Beats. Additionally, it will be also debuting a smaller HomePod cheaper than the original model’s current price – $299.

EDITOR’S PICK: Redmi K30 Ultra Review: Excellent Value for Money but there’s Room for Improvement

Talking about the iPhone 12, there will be a total of four models varying in sizes – 1 x 5.4-inch,  2 x 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch. All of them will feature OLED panels and support for 5G connectivity. Also, at least one of the Pro models, the latter two sizes, will come equipped with LiDAR sensor as found on the newer iPad Pro models.

The new report also reiterates previous reports regarding a delay in shipments. The latest one once again states that cheaper iPhone 12 models will ship first, followed by Pro in later weeks. However, iOS 14 will be released in September for existing supported iPhones just like every year.

Last but not least, the report also states Apple to be working on an Apple TV box with a faster processor and upgraded remote control, however, it will be only launching in 2021. Similarly, the company will be also releasing AirTags, a tracker for physical items, which will be available with a leather carrying case.

UP NEXT: Apple might be working on a search engine, but likely to focus on Siri and Spotlight

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