The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will host two major electronics exhibitions from October 13 to 16, 2025, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) will run alongside electronicAsia, co-organized with MMI Asia Pte Ltd.

The Electronics Fair, now in its 45th year, will highlight three main areas. AI and robotics will showcase innovations from brands including Ti5robot and PADBOT, with a dedicated RoboPark featuring real-world robot demonstrations. Digital entertainment will cover travel gadgets, outdoor tech, and lifestyle devices. The Silver Economy section will focus on fitness and healthcare technologies designed for older consumers.

The exhibition floor will be divided into specialized zones. The Hall of Fame will present products from established global brands, while the new RISE Avenue will spotlight emerging companies in robotics, gaming, and entertainment. The Adventure Hub will include an Immersive Experience Zone with VR sports and metaverse travel demos.

The Tech Hall will display IoT solutions for smart living and smart cities. Industry leaders will share insights at the Tech Trend Symposium, while the Startup Zone offers space for entrepreneurs to pitch to investors, network, and receive business guidance.

ElectronicAsia will cover electronic components, parts, and technologies for manufacturers and suppliers. Both events will also host forums, presentations, and networking sessions, creating opportunities for industry knowledge exchange and partnerships.

In 2024, the two fairs attracted 3,200 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, drawing over 60,000 buyers from 136 countries. The 2025 edition is expected to continue serving as a global platform for showcasing new technologies and driving trade connections.

Industry buyers can pre-register for free entry through the official link: Register Here.

The post Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2025 Returns with Focus on AI, Silver Economy, and Smart Living appeared first on Gizmochina.

A new chapter has unfolded in the fight against ocean pollution as Hong Kong‘s Clearbot takes a significant leap forward. The marine tech start-up is rolling out a fleet of advanced solar-powered autonomous boats, set to make a substantial impact in cleaning up India‘s waters. With India contributing approximately 13% to the global ocean plastic issue, the initiative couldn’t be more timely.

Each bot can clear up around 500kg of plastic waste per trip

Clearbot’s innovative approach combines solar power with self-driving technology, allowing these vessels to independently navigate through waters, collecting up to 500kg of plastic and other waste per trip. It marks a groundbreaking advancement in capacity, doubling what was previously possible with Clearbot’s robotic cleaners.

The enthusiasm from Clearbot’s co-founder and chief technology officer is palpable. They draw a parallel to Tesla‘s influence in the automotive industry, aiming to spearhead a similar revolution in marine technology. By introducing these electric-powered boats, Clearbot is not just tackling pollution but also promoting cleaner, renewable energy sources for environmental conservation.

This initiative is not only about cleaning up the oceans but also about setting a precedent for innovation and environmental responsibility. Clearbot’s venture into India’s waters with their next-gen cleaners is a bold step towards healthier oceans and a sustainable future. As these boats are set to begin their journey in March, the world watches in anticipation of the positive ripple effects this could have on marine ecosystems and beyond.

RELATED:

• Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 with 4-in-1 functionality goes on sale in Hong Kong and Taiwan
• Hong Kong Embraces Retail Access to Cryptocurrency with New ETFs
• Get $100 OFF on Xiaomi 14 Pro at Giztop (1TB Variant)
• Best Smartphones Awards 2023 – Gizmochina

(Via)

The post Hong Kong’s Clearbot is All Set to Tackle Ocean Pollution in India appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong is making a bold move in the world of cryptocurrency by opening the doors to retail access for spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This step is a significant shift from the city’s previous stance, where only cryptocurrency futures ETFs were available to retail investors. The move aims to make Hong Kong a prominent player in the global cryptocurrency market.

This approach is expected to attract both retail and institutional investors

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, is spearheading this initiative. Their goal is to bring spot virtual asset ETFs, which allow investors to invest in cryptocurrencies without directly purchasing them, to the mainstream market. This approach is expected to attract both institutional and retail investors, who have been cautious due to the volatile nature of direct cryptocurrency investments.

Spot cryptocurrency ETFs offer a unique blend of traditional investment structures with the emerging world of virtual assets. This combination is key to making these funds more palatable to a broader audience. Neil Tan from Tsunami Advisors points out that these ETFs are a fusion of Web3 assets in a Web2 wrapper, simplifying access to the crypto market for traditional investors.

This move comes at a crucial time for Hong Kong, following a series of financial scandals involving cryptocurrencies. The introduction of a regulated and familiar investment vehicle like spot crypto ETFs is a strategic effort to restore investor confidence in the virtual asset market.

Additionally, this development aligns with Hong Kong’s goal, announced last year, to become a global hub for virtual assets. The city has already implemented a new regulatory framework for centralized exchanges, allowing them to serve retail investors under certain conditions.

Globally, only a few markets, such as Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, have allowed spot crypto ETFs. The anticipation around the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision on a similar ETF application highlights the growing interest in this investment avenue.

RELATED:

• Huawei Nova 12 Ultra & Nova 12 Pro launched in China with 50MP variable aperture cameras & satellite connectivity
• Honor Magic 6 series reservations begins in China
• Alldocube iWork GT 12: AMD 2-in-1 laptop, $100 off and free keyboard
• Best Apple Watch Cases in 2023: Spigen, Otterbox, Casetify & More

(Via)

The post Hong Kong Embraces Retail Access to Cryptocurrency with New ETFs appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong, traditionally known for its financial infrastructure, is now making significant strides in the field of advanced manufacturing. This shift comes as semiconductor companies announce their plans to invest billions in the region, signalling a promising diversification of Hong Kong’s economy.

The company is planning an investment of HK$3 billion in the next 5 years

The recent Advanced Manufacturing Forum, hosted in Hong Kong, shed light on this new direction. Key government officials and industry experts discussed the city’s potential as a hub for research, development, and production of high-tech products, especially in the semiconductor sector.

Among the notable developments is the commitment from Horizon Robotics, a leading automotive chip designer. Their planned investment of HK$3 billion in the next five years, alongside similar pledges from other Chinese chip companies, marks a significant boost to the local economy.

These investments are not just about financial numbers; they represent a strategic shift towards embracing advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and the Internet of Things. This move is expected to create over 4,000 local jobs and spur further innovation in Hong Kong.

Despite the challenges of limited land and historical focus on other sectors, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to support this new wave of advanced manufacturing. The city boasts a strong talent pool, close connections to mainland China, and robust fundraising opportunities through its stock exchange.

Government support plays a crucial role in this transition. Initiatives like setting aside HK$10 billion in funds for emerging industries and offering substantial subsidies to eligible companies underscore the seriousness of Hong Kong’s reindustrialization efforts.

As Hong Kong embraces this new industrial era, it stands at the forefront of technological advancement. The focus on advanced manufacturing, particularly in the semiconductor field, is not just about economic growth; it’s about positioning Hong Kong as a key player in the global tech landscape, especially in a place where other competitors are gaining up quickly.

RELATED:

• Hong Kong’s Challenge is to Simplify Web3 for Mass Adoption
• Hong Kong’s Animoca Teams Up with Saudi Arabia’s Neom to Promote Web3
• Aoostar R1 N100:  Intel N100 NAS / Mini PC with Windows 11
• Get $50 Off on the latest Xiaomi Redmi K70 Pro

(Via)

The post In Hong Kong’s Tech Revolution, Semiconductors Lead the Charge appeared first on Gizmochina.

Yuga Labs, the creator of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFTs, chose Hong Kong for their first ApeFest outside of New York. The event, a convergence of over 2,500 NFT aficionados, not only marks a significant push into Asia’s burgeoning Web3 landscape but also highlights Hong Kong’s rising profile as a virtual asset hub.

There were participants from over 60 countries present

The three-day extravaganza drew participants from 60 countries, signifying the widespread appeal of the Bored Apes. Yuga Labs’ CEO, Daniel Alegre, underscored the importance of their Asian community, hinting at the strategic shift towards markets with strong NFT engagement.

In collaboration with BMW, the fest offered a unique experience where attendees could capture moments with a car donning their own NFTs. This not only points towards the mainstreaming of NFTs but also showcases the innovative ways in which they can be leveraged for real-world interactions.

This event comes at a crucial time for Hong Kong, which has recently witnessed a drain of cryptocurrency talent due to more favorable regulations elsewhere. Yuga Labs’ decision, supported by local government initiatives and partnerships with firms like Animoca Brands, signals a potential reversal of this trend.

Despite the challenges facing the NFT market, such as falling sales and regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., Yuga Labs’ commitment remains steadfast. Their confidence is mirrored by the enthusiasm of Bored Ape enthusiasts, some of whom traveled internationally for the first time to be part of the community gathering.

RELATED:

• Lawmakers Question Apple’s Stance on Blockchain and NFT Apps
• Meta is Ending NFT Support for Facebook & Instagram
• Best smart luggage of 2023: Modobag, Weego, Incase & More

(Via)

The post Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Creator, Yuga Labs Hosts the First “ApeFest” in Hong Kong appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands is teaming up with Saudi Arabia’s smart city project, Neom, in a move that says a lot about both companies’ future plans. With a $50 million investment, this deal shows that Saudi Arabia is seriously looking at new tech like blockchain as a way to grow beyond its oil roots.

This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s plan of modernizing the country by 2030

For Animoca, known for its blockchain games, the deal is a golden opportunity to make its mark in a country that’s eager to become a tech leader. The two companies plan to work on special tech projects, known as Web3 services, that could set the stage for what tech growth looks like in Saudi Arabia. This fits perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which is all about modernizing the country.

What’s interesting is how the money is changing hands. Part of the funding will be in convertible notes, which are like IOUs that can later be turned into shares. The rest will be through buying shares outright. This mix-and-match approach could be a new way for tech companies to get funding in the future.

But the deal is more than just about money and tech. Saudi Arabia is clearly keen on strengthening its ties with China, as Animoca is a big tech player in Hong Kong. Given that China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, this partnership might be a smart play for both tech growth and international relations.

Yat Siu, the co-founder of Animoca, sees the deal as a sign of mutual respect and shared goals for a tech-driven future. Although Neom hasn’t shared many details about how it plans to use this new tech, it’s obvious that the project has big ambitions—especially since they’ve been hiring experts in the area.

RELATED:

• Xiaomi Mijia Ultra-Thin Cross Refrigerator 521L up for sale in China for 2999 yuan ($410)
• ViewSonic VX2781-2K-PRO-3 2K 240Hz gaming monitor launched in China for 2199 yuan ($300)
• Best Smart Scales of 2023: Fitbit, Garmin, Eufy & More

(Via)

The post Hong Kong’s Animoca Teams Up with Saudi Arabia’s Neom to Promote Web3 appeared first on Gizmochina.

As the lights dim after the annual FinTech Week conference in Hong Kong, the city is grappling with two pressing issues in its bid to become a global cryptocurrency and Web3 hub: user-friendliness and a talent crunch.

Hong Kong is pushing hard to make Web3 a mainstream technology

The recent JPEX cryptocurrency scandal, which resulted in over HK$1.5 billion (US$192 million) in lost consumer funds, underscored the need to shift the conversation from mere financial speculation to real-world applications. A year into its policy pivot, Hong Kong is pushing hard to mainstream Web3 technologies. Local companies like Animoca Brands are already playing a pivotal role in developing blockchain video games. The aim is to make technologies such as decentralized ledgers more relatable and useful to the average person.

Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, likens the current Web3 landscape to the internet 25 years ago, emphasizing the urgency companies now feel to embrace these technologies for their future success. But there’s a catch: the technology is hard to use for the average Joe. Take cryptographic keys, for instance. They’re your ticket to a new digital world, but they’re also easy to lose and hard to manage.

Dfinity Foundation, among other players, is looking to solve this issue. They’re developing passkeys that turn your physical device into a digital key, aiming to end password-related vulnerabilities like phishing attacks. Tech solutions like these aim to simplify the user experience, a critical step in driving mass adoption.

While Hong Kong shows promise in embracing Web3, there’s another hurdle: talent. Despite its strategic position in the Greater Bay Area, the city faces a dearth of developers needed to realize its digital ambitions. The competition is stiff, especially from tech-savvy neighbors like Singapore. According to Ryan He, co-founder of ICP Hub Hong Kong, the city’s edge lies in how swiftly it can tap into a larger pool of developers in the area.

RELATED:

• VERTU unveils the METAVERTU, its first Web3 smartphone with 18GB of RAM & 10TB storage
• Vertu unveils METAVERTU 2, a Web3 smartphone for Blockchain enthusiasts
• The Best Leica-Branded Xiaomi Smartphone Cameras (October 2023)

(Via)

The post Hong Kong’s Challenge is to Simplify Web3 for Mass Adoption appeared first on Gizmochina.

While many still look at artificial intelligence (AI) with skepticism, fearing job loss or dystopian nightmares, Rice Robotics is flipping the script. Founded in Hong Kong and deeply rooted in the Japanese market, the start-up aims to redefine how we interact with AI by focusing on one core feature: friendliness.

The robots are installed with ‘puppy eyes’ cameras to make them more personable

Victor Lee, the brains behind Rice Robotics, is deploying a new fleet of these user-friendly bots at the Citic Tower skyscraper in Hong Kong. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill robots, though. Designed with “puppy eyes,” they are integrated into the building’s management system, providing 24/7 service from disinfection to deliveries.

Lee says the success in Japan stems from pressing concerns like an aging population and labor shortages. It seems the Land of the Rising Sun has been quicker to embrace this new friendly face of automation. And according to data, they aren’t alone. A 2022 report shows that sales of service robots increased by 48% year-on-year globally, with the hospitality sector growing at a whopping 125%.

But what sets Rice Robotics apart? According to Lee, it’s the human factor. The design of these robots aims to make the user experience as natural as possible. Lee believes that this tailored approach will catch on in Hong Kong, despite its current focus on “human-enhanced” automation rather than outright labor replacement.

In a world where robots are becoming a common sight—from serving food in Korean restaurants to airport cleaning—Rice Robotics aims to change not just what these robots do but how we feel about them.

Victor Lee has lofty plans for expansion beyond current markets by next year. With the company’s success pivoted on friendly design and seamless user experience, Rice Robotics is not just leading in automation but also in dismantling the age-old fears surrounding it. And perhaps, that’s the real game-changer here, considering people are still skeptical of AI.

RELATED:

• U.S. Regional Tech Hubs Aim to Break Silicon Valley’s Monopoly in the States
• China Remains Apple’s Production Powerhouse: 95% of Products Made There
• Download the best GCam APK for OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G

(Via)

The post Rice Robotics is Shattering AI Stereotypes, One Friendly Robot at a Time appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong, renowned for its financial muscle and technological prowess, has an increasingly grim downside: it is becoming a magnet for digital fraudsters, reveals a recent report from TransUnion, an American consumer credit reporting agency.

Most of the scams can be attributed to online payments

The report found that Hong Kong topped the list of regions with high levels of suspected digital fraud, with 18% of digital transactions flagged for potential fraudulent activity in the first half of 2023. This rise in digital scams comes amid a significant uptick in online payments, influenced by the pandemic and subsequent social distancing measures.

What sets Hong Kong apart, however, is the sectors most affected. Interestingly, the travel and leisure sector led the way with a suspected fraud rate of 8%. Jerry Ying, chief product officer at TransUnion Asia-Pacific, argues that as the city opens up post-pandemic and digital transactions in the travel sector surge, fraudsters see new opportunities for exploitation.

Besides travel, online communities like dating websites and forums are also becoming risky spaces. Around 5% of transactions in these areas were flagged for fraud, mostly related to fake profiles. This comes at a time when Hong Kong citizens are relying more on digital platforms for social interaction and personal needs.

Last year, citizens lost HK$4.8 billion (US$611.5 million) to frauds, including schemes involving fake police calls and quick money scams. With more professionals (6% of survey respondents) falling victim to fraud between April and July, the message is clear: businesses and consumers alike need to up their game when it comes to digital security.

According to Ying, it’s not just up to consumers to stay vigilant; businesses should allocate resources to improve their data analytics and technological capabilities to better spot fraudulent activity. As Hong Kong continues to balance its technological advancement with fraud risks, both sectors and individuals must be more cautious than ever.

RELATED:

• BYD Once Again Destroys Tesla in Global EV Sales as Global Market Surges 49%, with 55% of Vehicles Sold in China
• iPhone 16 trial production to start in Chengdu, China this December
• Download the best GCam APK for OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G

(Via)

The post Hong Kong’s Travel and Online Communities are A Hotspot for Digital Fraud appeared first on Gizmochina.

In a groundbreaking move, NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building internet communities, announced the appointment of its new CEO ‘Ms. Tang Yu’. However, Ms Tang Yu is not your average human CEO, Ms Tang Yu is actually a female AI hired as an executive leader for the company.

This appointment marks the first time in history that an AI or robot has held an executive position in a company. The decision to appoint Ms Tang Yu as CEO is part of NetDragon’s efforts to use artificial intellgence to transform corporate management and boost operational efficiency to a higher level.

For context, NetDragon is a large China-based tech conglomerate that owns several Western IPs such as Edmodo, the online education service, and games such as Disney Fantasy Online, Heroes of Might and Magic Online, and Transformers Online. NetDragon is also the parent company of Jumpstart Games which has published games like Jumpstart, Blaster Learning System and Neopets – the popular virtual pet website where users can own virtual pets called “Neopets” and buy virtual items for them using real money.

NetDragon Websoft is known for its innovative approach to technology in Asia and this latest move further cements its position as a leader in the industry. The appointment of Ms. Tang Yu as CEO has generated significant interest and discussion within the business community.

Ms Tang joined NetDragon in September 2017 and was the Vice President of NetDragon before her appointment as CEO recently. She was deeply involved in the company’s AI+ management, metaverse organization strategic planning and projects in the company. 

As CEO, Ms Tang Yu is responsible for all of the typical duties of a human company figurehead: reviewing high-level analytics, making leadership decisions, assessing risks, and fostering an efficient workplace in the company. 

She can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and does not have to sleep. Her yearly salary is $0, her yearly bonuses are also zero, and when compared to her human counterparts which cost their respective companies up to millions in expenses per year. 

The Hustle also reports that after her appointment as CEO, NetDragon Websoft actually managed to outperform the Hong Kong stock market index, showing an 18.2% growth increase in stock value compared to the other Hong Kong companies. 

However, this isn’t the first time that AI has human workers under its supervision because OpenAI revealed recently that their GPT-4 AI is now smart enough to hire a human worker to solve CAPTCHAs for it after it realised it couldn’t solve them itself.

RELATED:

• Baidu Shares Fall amidst a disappointing launch of Ernie Bot: The much-awaited rival of ChatGPT
• AI Hires a Human to Solve Captcha, Because It Couldn’t Solve It Itself
• GPT-4 Unveiled by OpenAI, Aces Professional Exams Including Bar Exam, AP exams, and other Pre-university Exams
• GPT-4 is Now Available on Microsoft Bing
• OnePlus Ace 2V is available for Pre-Order on Giztop

(Via, Via 2)

The post Neopets’ Parent Company Hires Female AI as New CEO of the Company appeared first on Gizmochina.

The global chip shortage isn’t going away soon, according to a recent report. As manufacturers jostle for the limited supply of chips, the shortage is about taking a new dimension. News emanating from Hong Kong indicates that cargo thieves are beginning to target the chip supply chain.

According to a Hong Kong-based media Wen Wei Po report, cargo thieves intercepted a batch of chip that was to be delivered. The report hinted that the robbery occurred in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong around 3 pm on June 16. A logistics company was hired to deliver a batch of high-priced electronic chips (14 boxes) worth about HK$5 million (~$644,000) to the manufacturer’s warehouse.

Interestingly, the chip was only being transferred to a warehouse on the 8th floor of the same industrial building. The truck driver assistant was accosted in the elevator by three men who attacked him as soon as the elevator door closed, leaving him with some degree of injuries. The boy notified his colleagues who then called the police but the thieves could not be tracked down despite the police mounting roadblocks on major arterial roads around the crime site.

Earlier this month, a research report by market analysis firm “TrendForce Consulting” showed that the semiconductor industry has benefitted tremendously from the rising demand for a number of terminal applications, leading to an increase in their stock prices. The increase in demand compared to supply has also led to a rise in the prices of wafer and adjustment to the product mix to ensure profitability. The high demand could lead to an increase in the theft of chip cargoes and thus, foundries may need to increase their security level.

RELATED:

• Black Shark 4 Pro out of stock due to chip shortage
• TSMC records 19% Q1 profit growth, believes chip shortage will last into 2022
• Intel promises to help automakers, as Biden seeks to ease chip shortage

(via)

The post Cargo thieves cart away Chips worth HK$5m ($644K) while in transit in Hong Kong appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong Airlines has embargoed all shipments of Vivo mobile phones after one consignment of the company carrying the Vivo Y20 model caught fire at the Hong Kong airport a couple of days back.

In an internal communication on 11th April, accessed by Economic Times, the Hong Kong Air Cargo Carrier said, “We regret to inform you that the latest update of the embargo with immediate effect, all cargo is forbidden to accept the “CargoLink Logistics HK Co Ltd” and “Sky Pacific Logistics HK Co Ltd” and/or co-loader on carriage by RH/HX aircraft until further notice. Also embargo all types of “VIVO” mobile phone.”

Currently, it is only one airline but if more or all airlines follow the suit of banning Vivo cargos, it may cause damage to brand imagery especially when the company is spending top dollars in markets likes India for branding. It also recently hired cricketer Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador.

For those who are unaware, the company is the title sponsor for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), a cricket tournament, which is among the world’s largest sports leagues. It remains to be seen if this recent ban impacts the company’s operations in India. Vivo is also making smartphones in India.

A few years ago, in 2017, Samsung had to recall all the units of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, and the company suffered the loss of millions of dollars. Several handsets of the model were reported to explode because of battery-related issues.

RELATED: 

• Vivo signs Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli as its Brand Ambassador before IPL 2021
• Oppo and Vivo foldable smartphones’ display near mass production: Tipster
• Upcoming Vivo NEX smartphone could feature under-display camera, 60W wireless charging, and more

The post Vivo phones embargoed by Hong Kong Airline after phone catches fire appeared first on Gizmochina.

After Sony launched its next-generation gaming console Sony PlayStation 5 in select regions like the United States and Japan on 12th November, the company finally made it available in more regions on 19th November.

Hong Kong was one of the countries where the Sony PS5 was launched yesterday. While the devices are launched in several countries, the company is struggling to meet the demand, and that has caused price inflation.

As per the reports, in Hong Kong, the PlayStation 5 is being sold for as much as HK$7,980, which is approximately $1,029 by resellers. This is twice the cost of the console, which is priced at $499 for the standard model.

With the on-going holiday season, it seems that the situation related to PS5 won’t get better anytime soon, not until Christmas. However, the shortage of newly launched gaming consoles isn’t new but COVID-19 has worsened the situation as the pandemic has significantly impacted the supply chain.

EDITOR’S PICK: Changes to be expected from Honor as the company forges a new path without Huawei

Sony PlayStation 5 comes powered by a custom octa-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and a custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based GPU which is promised to provide 10.28 teraflops of raw graphical power. Both of these gaming consoles have 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

It comes packed with 825GB of SSD storage that has 5.5GB/s throughput. Users will be able to expand the storage using Sony-certified M.2 SSD, but the company has confirmed that it will be available sometime in the future but not at the time of launch.

The difference between the Standard Model and the Digital Edition is that the digital model lacks Disc Drive that supports 4K UHD Blu-ray. The Sony PS5 supports up to 8K output and promises 4K graphics at up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

UP NEXT: Intel unveils NUC M15 Laptop Kit powered by its 11th generation processors

The post Sony PS5 selling for twice its price in Hong Kong due to high demand appeared first on Gizmochina.

The popular social media app, TikTok, is pulling its service out of Hong Kong. The news arrives after the region adopted new national security laws that grow the Mainland Chinese government’s powers.

According to a spokesperson, “In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong.” For those unaware, Hong Kong has recently adopted China’s Draconian regulations which have often been criticized for its censorship standards. Thus, global tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Twitter have already stopped processing requests for users’ data from the local government.

Editor’s Pick: Poco M2 Pro launched as a rebranded Remi Note 9 Pro with Faster Charging & Dual Tone design

TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is a Chinese firm that has been struggling to differentiate its extremely successful western application from its parent company and Douyin (the Chinese version of the social video app). It has faced various criticism regarding its handling of information, and we had even reported on a claim of its harvesting user data.

TikTok has always denied sharing any of its information with the Chinese government. Although now, the new security laws in Hong Kong might undermine this position as it would require companies to hand over various forms of data to the government. Notably, the US is considering a ban on TikTok and other Chinese applications, with India already banning the social media platform along with 58 other apps from China.

UP NEXT: Samsung discovers amorphous boron nitride that could lead semiconductor paradigm shift

(Via,Source)

The post TikTok to stop services in Hong Kong due to new national security laws appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hong Kong citizens and visitors finally have access to high-speed 5G networks in the city as the services go official today. It has become the first region outside mainland China to have this blessing. China Mobile, Hutchison, and HKT are the only telecom operators to offer 5G services in the region.

The 5G networks were commercially launched in China on 1st November 2019. The three primary telecom operators – China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom launched their 5G services on the same day. Similarly, China Mobile, Hutchison, and HKT have become the first three telcos to deploy 5G services in Hong Kong.

The first phase of China Mobile’s 5G coverage in Hong Kong includes almost the whole territory along with hotspots at public places like business centers and shopping malls. The telco has also enabled 5G roaming services in mainland China and Korea. Further, it expects to roll out roaming services in a number of Asian and European countries by the end of 2020.

Unfortunately, we do not have information regarding the services provided by the other two telcos namely HKT and Hutchison. However, you can still check our coverage on HKT’s 5G launch announcement to know more.

UP NEXT: Spotlight on 5G: How China’s 5G mobile plans compare to the rest of the world

The post First 5G Services go Live in Hong Kong via China Mobile, Hutchison, and HKT appeared first on Gizmochina.

AirStar, a virtual banking service provider backed by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, has now announced the launch of a pilot program in Hong Kong. The company has revealed that the pilot trial for the service will be conducted within the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Fintech Supervisory Sandbox.

As a part of this pilot project, the company will be onboarding around 2,000 users on the platform, which will be employees of Airstar, Xiaomi Hong Kong and AMTD Group as well as their friends and family members. This will help the company gather user feedback and gauge requirements ahead of a full roll-out.

Airstar will be offering tiered-pricing savings deposits with an interest rate of up to 1% per annum for deposits between HK$500,000 and HK$1 million. Customers also have flexibility to customize the time deposit maturity dates, such as a 8-day, 19-day or 27-day time deposit. They can also terminate the time deposit anytime prior to maturity without any penalty or surcharge.

Unsecured lending products will also be available to customers with transparent pricing and the interest will accrue on a daily basis. The company says that customers can repay in advance without paying any handling fees.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi and OPPO hikes pricing of their smartphones in India as increased GST rate takes effect

Commenting on this development, Airstar’s spokesperson said, “Airstar strives to embrace innovation and financial inclusion, and promotes ‘Financial Innovation for Everyone’. We truly believe Airstar will be a valuable contributor to the banking industry in Hong Kong, and become ‘Everyone’s Bank’.”

Airstar Bank is a joint venture between Chinese electronics company Xiaomi and AMTD Group – Asia’s largest independent corporate finance and advisory house. It was among the eight firms to receive a virtual bank license from HKMA in 2019 and is the second to launch trials, following ZA Bank. It is expected to officially begin operations in July 2020.

UP NEXT: Apple iPhone SE 2 aka iPhone 9 to reportedly launch on April 15th and go on sale from April 22nd

The post Xiaomi-backed Airstar virtual bank pilots its service in Hong Kong appeared first on Gizmochina.

The year of 2020 is expected to be the year when the 5G communication technology will go mainstream. While most of the smartphone makers have started launching their premium and mid-range 5G smartphones in the market, the 5G infrastructure is still very limited.

There are only a few countries where 5G has been commercially launched, which includes South Korea, United States, and China. Now, Hong Kong is also joining the list with its first commercial 5G service going live from 1st April.

HKT has announced that it will start introducing true 5G service in Hong Kong from 1st April, making it the first mobile operator in the region to offer true 5G.

EDITOR’S PICK: Ransomware Groups promise not to attack hospitals and medical institutions amid Coronavirus pandemic

In the initial phase of the launch, the service will cover major golden districts and key infrastructures such as Hong Kong International Airport and major shopping malls. After that, the company says that is plans to extend the network coverage to all the districts in Hong Kong as well as the major MTR lines.

The company has now already started offering its customers a bundled 5G service plan along with local mobile data and 5G handset, with pricing for the monthly plan starting at HK$198 for 8GB of data.

Along with the announcement of 5G network, HKT has launched a few other services, which includes Now E Premier League and LaLiga 2020/21 Event Pass for sports streaming, MOOV which is Hong Kong’s first 24 bit FLAC lossless music streaming service, 5G VR Application that offers various VR shows, and 5G VR eSports where gamers can take part in popular VR eSports game.

UP NEXT: Huawei P40 series flagship smartphones to reportedly get launched in China on April 8th

The post HKT to start offering 5G service in Hong Kong from April 1st appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung officially launched its flagship Galaxy S10 series smartphones last month. Later that month, the devices were officially launched in China and Hong Kong. Since the phone’s pricing in Hong Kong is cheaper, the devices are sold out in Hong Kong.

The latest Galaxy S10 series has been well received by the users and is in demand. Seeing the demand, it seems that the pricing of the S10-series devices in Hong Kong are getting increased. Analysts have predicted that the South Korean giant will be selling around 40-45 million units of S10 series smartphones this year.

The Galaxy S10 sports a 5.8-inch “Dynamic” Infinity-O AMOLED while the S10+ comes with a bigger 6.44-inch display. The display supports QHD+ resolutions and 19:9 aspect ratios and is HDR10+ certified. The devices come with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor which Samsung says is faster than the optical fingerprint sensors.

The new S-series smartphones are powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 chipset while the international version will be powered by Exynos 9820 chipset. As for the memory configuration, the S10 will be available with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/512GB storage while the Galaxy S10 Plus comes with 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM and 128GB/512GB/1TB of native storage.

The camera configuration includes a regular 77-degree 12MP sensor with an F1.5/F2.4 variable aperture, a 12MP 2x telephoto snapper with a 45-degree viewing angle and a fixed aperture of F/2.4 and an ultra-wide 16MP camera with a 123-degree viewing angle and a fixed F2.2 aperture. The front sensor for the Galaxy S10 is a single 10MP camera while the Galaxy S10 Plus has a dual camera with an 8MP RGB secondary sensor.

Both the smartphones come with stereo speakers, a USB Type-C port, IP68 water-resistance, and a dedicated Bixby button. The S10 is powered by a 3,500mAh battery while the S10 Plus packs a bigger 4,100mAh cell, both supporting wired as well as wireless fast charging.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S10e comes with a 5.8-inch Infinity-O AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440×2960 pixels and is powered by Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB combo.

The phone doesn’t have an in-display fingerprint reader but has a traditional fingerprint sensor on the right side of the device. The device packs a dual camera setup on the back, which includes a 12MP dual aperture camera (F/1.8; F/2.4) with optical image stabilization, alongside a 16MP ultra wide angle one. The phone still has a 10MP sensor for selfies just like the others.

Read More: Report says Samsung Galaxy phones are among the fastest depreciating handsets in trade-in value

Under its hood, the Galaxy S10e packs a 3100mAh battery while for connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 6 (Wi-Fi 802.11 ax), LTE Cat. 20 with up to 2Gbps download speeds, NFC and Bluetooth 5.0. Just like the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, this one too runs Android 9 Pie-based One UI custom interface on top.

The post Samsung Galaxy S10 series smartphones goes out of stock in Hong Kong appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi group’s stocks tumble due to global equities sell-off in Asia. In a single day, Xiaomi stocks fell down by 9% to HK$12.5. The Chinese smartphone maker is not the only tech giant that has witnessed the drop, as even Tencent sank 7.4 percent. As of 11:53 Beijing time, Xiaomi’s decline reached to 9.16% taking the share price down to HK$12.5.

Most of the Asian stock markets are opening in red due to the US market crash yesterday in over 7 months. It has pushed the global equities to sell-off shares. In the US, stock markets experienced a drop of over 3-8% with Nasdaq dropping below 7.8% while the Dow Jones fell 3.1% in a single day. Due to the recent jump in the US interest rates, broad sell-off has been sparked.

Similar is the situation in Hong Kong and Taiwan stock exchanges. In Taiwan, iPhone component supplier Foxconn shares dropped by 6.9%. In Japan, the major tech giants fell by 4.6 percent. In India, the picture is depicting a similar story for various big companies.

Just a few months ago, Xiaomi Group’s stocks were listed at the Hong Kong Stock exchange. It made a less than impressive start on the Hong Kong stock exchange as its share price dropped to HK$16.60 (US $2.12) against the listing price of HK$17 (US $2.17).

Overall, Xiaomi has not witnessed a good start in the Stock market. Now, the global sell-off is resulting in further decline in the listing price of the Xiaomi shares.

• Read More: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 launch countdown page pops up online, listed with Snapdragon 855!

Additionally, Xiaomi is ready to launch the Snapdragon 855 powered Mi Mix 3 very soon. It has garnered over 6 million sales of Xiaomi Mi 8 in China while Redmi 5A gained sale of 10 million units in India. Many new devices are slated for launch before this year ends.

(Via)

The post Xiaomi group’s stocks tumble by more than 9%, closes at HK$12.5 appeared first on Gizmochina.

A study carried out by the United Nations University in Japan has revealed that the amount of e-waste in the Eastern and SouthEastern parts of Asia has increased by 63% between 2010 and 2015. The waste currently sitting at 12.3 million tonnes has Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Chinese Mainland as major waste generators.

The huge surge in e-waste has been attributed to the rapid rate at which the middle class in countries like China is growing. People can now afford to buy more electronics and easily replace faulty ones or outdated ones. It has also become cheaper and easier to import products.

According to the research, some countries don’t have e-waste laws or don’t enforce them. It is also not unusual to see people uneducated about proper disposal of electronic wastes and those who are educated find it difficult to do so since recycling locations are far and few.

READ MORE: Ninety Percent of Phones old in China are from Domestic Manufacturers

It is not all that bad though as countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are doing well when it comes to e-waste management. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and China have created laws related to e-waste disposal recently and should get better as public awareness increases.

(Source, Image Source)

The post E-Waste Level Rising Up Rapidly in Asia appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple is rumored to build data center in Hong Kong soon. According to the news, data center construction process will begin in early 2013 and is expected to be operational by 2015, along with the Apple Campus 2. This is expressed by the people involved in this development.

We spoke to a bidding contractor employee who, on the condition of anonymity, told us the planned data center’s scale is unprecedented for his business: “There is simply nothing to compare it to and therefore it is hard to make estimates on size based on the materials required.” We were told that construction is to begin in Q1 2013, and it will likely take over a year for operations to start in the data center.

Apple data center will be built in a rustic named New Territories, where the area was chosen because it is one area in there that population density is not too large, although the density of population of a region is relative.

The reasons why Hong Kong was chosen as the rest of their data center, perhaps similar to the reasons from Google.

Hong Kong is an area that is SAR (Special Administrative Region), which means that Hong Kong can make his own rules even though Hong Kong was under the auspices of China. Hong Kong can determine their own policies in the areas of legislative, executive and judiciary unless something had to be diplomatic and defense.

Besides adequate reasons workforce, strategic location and good infrastructure is also another reason.

For Apple, China is a very important target market. In China, the iPhone sold more than in the U.S. and if Apple makes data centers in Hong Kong, they can improve the performance of its services to its customers in China.

The post Apple will built data center and Apple Campus in Hong Kong appeared first on Gizmochina.