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☆ From expanding screens to see-through displays: How tech giants are trying to jazz up their gadgets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Motorola's "adaptive display concept" was on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. See-through screens, phones that wrap around your wrist and expandable displays — these are all concept tech that gadget makers showed off this week, in a bid to stand out from competitors in a cut-throat hardware market. At the world's largest mobile trade show, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, some of the biggest companies in the world showed off some unusual screen technology. "As a result we are seeing a proliferation of weird and wonderful new designs such as wrist worn phones, rollable screens, virtual 3D displays and more." Here's some of the screen tech on display at MWC:

Persons: Ben Wood Organizations: Mobile, MWC, Apple, Samsung, CCS Insight, CNBC Locations: Barcelona

☆ Smartphone makers are dreaming of a 'supercycle' driven by AI. Analysts disagree
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Samsung has gone big on generative AI with its Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone. When was the last smartphone supercycle? Smartphone makers have been dreaming of a "supercycle" in their industry, driven by AI, after a bruising few years that saw device sales slow aggressively. 'AI phone era'Major smartphone players are betting that a supercycle is about to happen thanks to AI. "We're right now at the dawning of an entirely new era, an AI phone era," Kitto said.

Persons: Kim Hong, they're, Francisco Jeronimo, Jeronimo, Ben Wood, Wood, James Kitto, Kitto, Brian Rakowski, Rakowski, We've Organizations: Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Reuters BARCELONA –, Samsung, Google, Galaxy, Apple, Financial Times, Mobile, Congress, Huawei, Qualcomm, IDC, Twitter, CNBC, 3G, CCS, Samsung's, Google's, Android Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Reuters BARCELONA, Chertsey , England

☆ Smartphone giants like Samsung are going to talk up 'AI phones' this year — here's what that means
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek have launched smartphone chipsets that enable the processing power required for AI applications. Large language models are huge AI models trained on vast amounts of data that underpin applications like the widely popular chatbots. The other big part of the AI smartphone puzzle is the term "on-device AI." Previously, many AI applications on devices were actually partly processed in the cloud, then downloaded onto the phone. Smartphone makers say on-device AI improves the security of gear, unlocks new applications and also makes them faster, since the processing is done on the handset.

Persons: SeongJoon Cho, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Bryan Ma, Ma, Ben Wood, Wood Organizations: Samsung Electronics Co, Samsung, Bloomberg, Getty, Mobile World Congress, MWC, IDC, CNBC, Qualcomm, MediaTek, CCS Insight Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Barcelona, Spain

☆ What to expect from Apple’s ‘scary fast’ event
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Samantha Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Apple is set to host its second product event of the season, a month after introducing its new iPhone 15 lineup. Some analysts said the decision to hold an evening event may underline the fact that this likely won’t be one of Apple’s bigger announcements of the year. The event’s tagline — “scary fast” — is an apparent nod to the likely unveiling of its next-generation silicon chip, M3, as well as Halloween. Over the past several years, the progression of Apple Silicon — the company’s custom-made silicon chip — has emerged as a significant storyline for Apple, culminating in the transition away from Intel chips. This year, the company is expected to bring its M3 chip to a 24-inch iMac and perhaps some MacBook Pro models in various sizes.

Persons: ”, Ben Wood, ” Wood, Apple, David McQueen, ” It’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, Mac, Intel, CCS Insight, Silicon, IDC Research, ABI Research

☆ AI industry could be in for a 'cold shower' next year: analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Analyst firm CCS Insight is predicting a "cold shower" for generative AI in 2024. The firm's chief analyst told CNBC he believes the technology is overhyped and faces immense costs to deploy. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn analyst firm is predicting a "cold shower" for generative AI in 2024. "Just the cost of deploying and sustaining generative AI is immense," said Wood. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor context, AI relies on chips to run, and the firm's prediction comes amid concerns about a global chip shortage.

Persons: —, Ben Wood, Wood, Elon Musk, Dylan Patel Organizations: Insight, CNBC, Service, CCS, CCS Insight, Google, Elon, Nvidia, Reuters Locations: London

☆ 'Overhyped' generative AI will get a 'cold shower' in 2024, analysts predict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The main forecast CCS Insight has for 2024 is that generative AI "gets a cold shower in 2024" as the reality of the cost, risk and complexity involved "replaces the hype" surrounding the technology. "But the hype around generative AI in 2023 has just been so immense, that we think it's overhyped, and there's lots of obstacles that need to get through to bring it to market." Companies have to acquire high-powered chips to run AI applications. In the case of generative AI, it's often advanced graphics processing units, or GPUs, designed by U.S. semiconductor giant Nvidia that large companies and small developers alike turn to to run their AI workloads. "Just the cost of deploying and sustaining generative AI is immense," Wood told CNBC.

Persons: Ben Wood, Wood, Google Bard, Anthropic's Claude, it's Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, CCS Insight, Google, Qualcomm, Meta, CNBC, Companies, Nvidia, Amazon Locations: Shanghai, U.S

☆ Why you should consider getting the cheaper iPhone 14 and not the iPhone 15 if you're upgrading
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The new iPhone 15 might appeal to anyone who is upgrading from a model that dates from 2020 or earlier, such as the iPhone 12. Unless you're a hardcore iPhone fan, it's probably fine to go for the cheaper iPhone 14 if you're upgrading. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe iPhone 14 will feel like a big upgrade anywayApple's iPhone 14 Pro model. As the iPhone 15 hits shelves around the world, prices for last year's iPhone 14 — which Insider reviewed strongly — start at $699, $100 cheaper than the basic version of the latest model. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Ultimately the differences between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 aren't enormous.

Persons: —, Ben Woods, Antonio Villas, Max, Mario Tama, Pro Max, Tim Cook, Justin Sullivan, Woods Organizations: Service, Apple, CCS Insight, Boas, European Union, Getty, Pro Locations: European

☆ Here’s why Apple’s charger switch is such a big deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Apple retired its Lightning charger on Tuesday exactly 11 years to the day it was first announced. The EU’s decision is part of a greater effort to tackle e-waste overall, but could it generate more in the short term as people phase out their Lightning cables. But knockoffs abound, and some USB-C chargers are much safer than others. Among CNN Underscored’s top recommendations for USB-C chargers are from big brands, including Anker, Belkin, Apple, Amazon and Google. Retiring the Lightning cable could even generate, in the short term, a surge of e-waste as iPhone users toss their useless Lightning cables in a drawer.

Persons: CNN —, pare, ”, Ben Wood, Apple’s, Greg Joswiak, ” Joswiak, David McQueen, ” McQueen, Thomas Husson, Anker, Belkin, ” Wood, Apple Organizations: CNN, CNN — Apple, Apple, European Union, CCS Insight, ABI Research, Forrester Research, Google Locations: EU

☆ Wonderlust: Apple set to unveil new iPhone 15 at event
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 15 lineup Tuesday at the company’s annual September keynote event, and it could introduce the biggest change to the phone’s design in 11 years. Other iPhone 15 featuresThe entire iPhone 15 lineup is rumored to get the “Dynamic Island” feature — an interactive home for alerts, notifications and various controls — that replaces the notch on top of the screen. Although there are few other rumors circulating about its entry-level iPhone models, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models are expected to get a handful of new features, according to a Bloomberg report. What not to expectWith the new iPhone expected to take center stage, many analysts don’t anticipate Apple will release new iPads or Mac computers until October. And despite rivals Samsung and Google doubling down on foldable devices, Apple is still not expected to unveil a similar version this fall.

Persons: Apple, pare, ”, Ben Wood, Apple’s, Greg Joswiak, Max, Yoram Wurmser, “, It’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, European Union, CCS Insight, Bloomberg, Vision, Insider Intelligence, Apple Watch, Samsung, Google Locations: Cupertino , California, EU

☆ Wonderlust: What to expect at Apple's iPhone 15 event
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 15 lineup Tuesday at the company’s annual September keynote event, and it could introduce the biggest change to the phone’s design in 11 years. Other iPhone 15 featuresThe entire iPhone 15 lineup is rumored to get the “Dynamic Island” feature — an interactive home for alerts, notifications and various controls — that replaces the notch on top of the screen. Although there are few other rumors circulating about its entry-level iPhone models, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models are expected to get a handful of new features, according to a Bloomberg report. It’s also likely to announce launch dates for its next-generation operating systems for the iPhone, iPads, Mac computers and Apple Watch. What not to expectWith the new iPhone expected to take center stage, many analysts don’t anticipate Apple will release new iPads or Mac computers until October.

☆ Apple's new iPhone 15 may swap out the Lightning cable for the USB-C charging standard
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 15 in just a few days, and it’s widely expected to come with a significant change. The iPhone 15 is heavily rumored to ditch Apple’s proprietary Lightning charger in favor of USB-C charging, marking a milestone for the company by adopting universal charging. That’s because Apple (AAPL) has previously switched its iPads and MacBooks to USB-C charging. It’s currently unclear if the shift to USB-C will happen for all new iPhone 15 models or only for Pro devices. The iPhone 15 devices are expected to ship with a new cable in the box, but considering many mobile devices already use USB-C, including Apple’s own iPads and MacBooks, access to charging wires shouldn’t be too hard or costly.

Persons: pare, ”, Ben Wood, Apple’s, Greg Joswiak, ” Joswiak, David McQueen, ” McQueen, Thomas Husson, ” Wood, McQueen, “ Organizations: CNN, Apple, European Union, CCS, ABI Research, Forrester Research Locations: EU

☆ Factbox: How the EU's Digital Markets Act challenges Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On Wednesday, the EU Commission designated 22 services of the major tech companies as "gatekeepers" of online services. That means they will be required to make their messaging apps inter-operate with rivals and let users decide which apps to pre-install on their devices. APP STORES:Apple and Google will be forced to provide space for third-party app stores on their respective iOS and Android devices. For example, they may offer users a “choice screen” with a range of options upon setting up their device. MESSAGING:Under the DMA’s new interoperability rules, gatekeepers’ messaging apps will no longer be siloed off from others.

Persons: ByteDance, Ben Wood, Apple’s, Martin Coulter, William Maclean Organizations: New, Union, Big Tech, Markets, EU Commission, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Insight, Reuters, EU, Facebook, Thomson

☆ Samsung launches two new folding smartphones to fend off competition from rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Galaxy Z Flip 5The star of the show in Samsung's new folding phone portfolio is its new Galaxy Z Flip 5. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's standout feature is a much larger cover display. Galaxy Fold 5The Samsung Galaxy Fold 5. Galaxy Tab S9(From left) The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Tab S9.

Persons: Ryan Browne, phonemakers, Oppo, who've, Ben Wood, It's, Paolo Pescatore, Le Xuan Chiew, There's Organizations: Samsung, CNBC Samsung, Wednesday, CNBC, CNBC Foldables, Huawei, Motorola, Lenovo, IDC, CCS Insight, Google, Android, PP Foresight, Apple, Global, Galaxy, Windows Locations: Korean, foldables

☆ A foldable iPhone may be able to shut itself to protect the screen if it's dropped, Apple patent application shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A patent application showed a foldable iPhone could close itself to protect the screen if dropped. Apple has not confirmed any plans to start producing a foldable iPhone. Speculation about a foldable iPhone has circulated online for several years without any confirmation from Apple. Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, told CNBC last October that a foldable iPhone would probably sell for about $2,500. Patent applications do not mean that Apple has any plans to start making a foldable iPhone but indicate the company is still mulling the idea.

☆ 'Sea of sameness': Are smartphone makers out of ideas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

From bulky phones with antennas and handsets that flip open, to modern devices connected to the internet, the mobile phone market has evolved dramatically since its creation in 1973. In a lot of ways, they're core to how we live our lives, and we've developed a dependence on them. Beyond flashy cameras and more efficient chips, phone makers are struggling to find ways to entice consumers the same way they did years ago. "We now live in this kind of sea of smartphone sameness," said Ben Wood, chief analyst at tech research firm CCS Insight. "I think we have moved to a point now with mobile phones where people aren't kind of rushing out saying, 'I really want to get that new phone,'" Wood said.

☆ Chinese smartphone giants are making a high-end play against Apple and Samsung
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Huawei spin off Honor had one of the most prominent booths at Mobile World Congress in February 2023. It was right next to Samsung's stand in a sign that Honor is targeting the South Korean firm in the premium end of the smartphone market. Chinese smartphone makers are looking to push into the high-end device market to challenge the dominance of Apple and Samsung after one of the worst years for the market on record. Last month, Oppo, the world's fourth-largest smartphone maker, launched its foldable smartphone called the Find N2 Flip which was priced at more than $1,000. Honor, a company spun off from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, then launched its $1,690 foldable smartphone called the Magic Vs.

☆ As Apple rumors swirl, Chinese rivals launch foldable smartphones to challenge Samsung
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The near $1,700 device is Honor's attempt to challenge Samsung in the foldable smartphone market. Foldables hit global marketSamsung launched its first foldable phone in 2019 and really created this category of smarpthones. The Galaxy Fold series opens outwards like a book, while the Galaxy Z Flip opens up like a traditional flip phone. The market expects foldable phone shipments to jump 111% year-on-year to 30 million in 2023. It comes as speculation rises that Apple could be gearing up to launch a foldable device, though it may be an iPad rather than a smartphone.

☆ Chinese startup Realme launches $649 smartphone it says can be fully charged in just over 9 minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese smartphone upstart Realme has looked to push into international markets with its flagship phones. BARCELONA, Spain — Chinese smartphone maker Realme wants stand out in a crowded space of mid-tier devices. So on Tuesday, it launched a smartphone it claims can be fully charged in 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The company took the wraps off of its GT3 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the largest mobile trade show in the world. But the timing has been tough, with the global smartphone market in 2022 suffering its worst year since 2013 in terms of shipments.

☆ Huawei spin-off Honor launches $1,690 foldable smartphone in challenge to Samsung, Apple
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Honor launched the Magic Vs foldable smartphone globally in a bid to take on Samsung in the premium end of the handset market. BARCELONA, Spain — Chinese smartphone maker Honor launched its foldable phone globally on Sunday, as it looks to compete with Apple and Samsung in the premium tier of the market. Huawei sold Honor to a consortium of buyers that includes the government of its headquarters city, Shenzhen. Honor launched its first smartphone overseas toward the end of 2021 and has since moved aggressively to bring more models to countries outside of China. "Although Honor is operating as a completely independent entity, it still has to regularly explain that is it not part of Huawei.

☆ Nokia launches smartphone you can fix yourself, jumping on 'right to repair' trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Nokia G22 smartphone from Finnish firm HMD Global comes with a removable back to let you swap out broken parts. The next smartphone to come from mobile icon Nokia is a handset that users can repair themselves. The Nokia G22, developed by Finnish manufacturer HMD Global, is a standard smartphone with a 6.5-inch screen and a 50-megapixel main camera. Right to repair refers to a movement among consumer rights campaigners to make it easier for consumers to repair their gadgets. There is one drawback with the Nokia G22 — it only meets the IP52 benchmark on resistance against damaging substances, meaning it is not immune to water damage.

☆ Another smartphone supports satellite connectivity, as mobile space race heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

British smartphone firm Bullitt on Friday launched a new phone capable of sending text messages via space, joining a crowded race to commercialize satellite-enabled devices. They will have to have Bullitt Messenger — the firm's proprietary satellite messaging app — installed in order to reply. Satellite phones have been in the works for decades, but have not yet entered mainstream usage. Bullitt is also launching a Bluetooth accessory, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, that lets any Android or iOS device connect to its Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, effectively enabling any phone to become a satellite phone. "The company is a trailblazer for satellite messaging but competition is snapping at its heels," Wood told CNBC.

☆ Chinese smartphone giant Oppo launches foldable flip phone as it bets on high-end market
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Oppo Find N2 Flip is a foldable smartphone that has a screen on the outside too. Oppo is looking to boost its position in the premium smartphone market with the £849 ($1024) device. Oppo launched a foldable flip phone for international markets, as the Chinese smartphone maker looks to boost its business outside of China. The Find N2 Flip marks Oppo's push to make a dent in the premium segment of the smartphone market and in the nascent foldable phone category. The Find N2 Flip, which was launched on Wednesday, folds in the middle like a traditional flip phone and boasts two screens.

☆ Folding iPad will launch in 2024, top Apple analyst Kuo says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple will slow the pace of iPad releases for the rest of 2023, with an eye toward releasing a foldable iPad by 2024, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote Monday. "I'm positive about the foldable iPad in 2024 and expect this new model will boost shipments and improve the product mix," Kuo wrote on Twitter. Kuo's prediction aligns with a report from analyst firm CCS Insight, which wrote in October that Apple would launch a foldable iPad before it launches a foldable iPhone. In 2021, Kuo had predicted the release of a foldable iPhone in 2024, the same year he now predicts a foldable iPad to launch instead. Kuo said he expects a foldable iPad to feature a carbon fiber kickstand sourced from Chinese manufacturer Anjie Technology .

☆ App store avalanche forecast as Apple bows to EU demands
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA) will force Apple and fellow tech giant Google to provide space for third-party app stores on their respective iOS and Android devices. Ben Wood, CMO of industry analysis firm CCS Insight, said he expects "an avalanche of app stores" in the near future. "There's an emerging 'coalition of the willing', and all of them have a vested interest in no longer having to pay what they see as a tax to Apple," Wood told Reuters. Deals for exclusive content could drive competition in app stores in the same way as it has in the "streaming wars" between Netflix and challengers like Disney+ and Amazon Prime, Trezentos said, adding: "Netflix has content that HBO doesn't have ... App stores can be like that." "The biggest hurdle they are going to need to overcome is the consumer," Wood at CCS Insight said.

☆ Elon Musk's SpaceX could spin off Starlink as public company by 2025, analysts predict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk said Friday that SpaceX cannot continue fund Starlink terminals in Ukraine "indefinitely" in light of the cost. However, Musk, who is also CEO of electric car company Tesla, he said Saturday that SpaceX will keep funding the Ukrainian government "for free" even though Starlink is "still losing money." Elon Musk could spin Starlink off from SpaceX and carry out an initial public offering by 2025, tech analyst firm CCS Insight said in a report. Starlink uses satellite to provide broadband internet to users and is part of Musk's space exploration company. Wood said an initial public offering (IPO) will help drive investment into SpaceX, push international expansion and "make Starlink the go-to player for satellite broadband."

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