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☆ Apple posts record quarter in India; analyst says Cook eyes market to be bigger than China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

During Apple's earnings call on Thursday, Cook said that Apple set a "quarterly record" for its India business and saw "very strong, double digits year-over-year" growth. In its fiscal second quarter, Apple reported total revenue of $94.84 billion. Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, told CNBC Thursday he estimates India accounts for just under 3% of Apple's total revenue. India's smartphone market is dominated by low-cost Android phones, such as those offered by Samsung and Chinese players like Oppo and Xiaomi. This category of smartphones accounts for 35% of total smartphone market revenue.

☆ This is Google’s new folding phone
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Just a few days ahead of its product launch, Google unveiled an early look at its first foldable smartphone. In a video posted to Twitter and YouTube, the company teased a Pixel phone with a vertical hinge that can be opened to reveal a tablet-like display. According to ABI Research, foldable and flexible displays made up about 0.7% of the smartphone market in 2021, and in 2022 expected to fall just shy of 2%. Google's new Pixel Fold smartphone From Google StoreHigh price points have limited consumer adoption, too. The Pixel Fold is rumored to start at $1,700.

☆ Apple, Android rivals see Q1 drop in China phone shipments - research firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] A customer talks to sales assistants in an Apple store as Apple Inc's new iPhone 14 models go on sale in Beijing, China, September 16, 2022. But its overall shipments in China fell to 13.3 million units, a 3% decrease from the same period in 2022. Despite being the best-selling brand in the quarter, Apple saw its total market share fall 3 percentage points year-on-year. Oppo and Vivo, Android brands that trail Apple as the second and third best-sellers, saw shipments fall 10% and 7% respectively. Honor and Xiaomi Corp (1810.HK), which specialize in low-end models, saw shipments fall 35% and 20% respectively, suggesting consumers shied away from phone purchases even at the cheapest prices.

☆ Fox News has a secret file of damaging info on Tucker Carlson in case he starts trashing the network: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Fox News PR keeps an "oppo file" on Tucker Carlson in case he lashes out, Rolling Stone reported. One insider told the outlet that such files are kept on all the network's talent. Fox News' PR chief has a dossier of damaging information on Tucker Carlson to be used in the event that he comes out swinging against the network, Rolling Stone reported. Some grievances against Carlson and his team have recently emerged, with former "Tucker Carlson Tonight" producer Abby Grossberg filing a lawsuit last month which alleged a "sexist" work environment. In response to the lawsuit, Fox told Insider the allegations have "no merit" and that it would "vigorously defend" the network.

☆ Nokia profit misses forecast, expects stronger second half
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Supantha Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, it kept its full-year outlook unchanged and said it expects profitability in the second half of the year to be stronger than the first half. First-quarter comparable operating profit fell to 479 million euros ($524.94 million) from 583 million euros last year, missing the 532.4 million euro forecast of analysts polled by Refinitiv. Net sales grew 10% in the quarter to 5.86 billion euros, beating estimates of 5.72 billion euros, Nokia said. Lundmark expects some recovery in the North American market in the second half of the year. Comparable operating margin fell to 8.2% from 10.9%.

Multiple experts identified the presence of malware on the Pinduoduo app that exploited vulnerabilities in Android operating systems. Evidence of sophisticated malware in the Pinduoduo app comes amid intense scrutiny of Chinese-developed apps like TikTok over concerns about data security. Pinduoduo has previously rejected “the speculation and accusation that Pinduoduo app is malicious.”CNN has contacted PDD multiple times over email and phone for comment, but has not received a response. Google Play is not available in China, and Android users in the country download their apps from local stores. Engineers also found their access to big data, data sheets and the log system revoked, the source said.

☆ China's Meizu unveils first smartphones since deal with Geely founder
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A company run by Geely Chairman Eric Li took a majority stake in Meizu last year, making the Volvo owner the first established carmaker to enter the premium smartphone sector. He later named the company Xingji Meizu, with the brand as its smartphone arm. Other tech-auto partnerships in China include Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL), whose Harmony operating system powers Seres cars. Meizu, a two-decade-old Chinese consumer electronics company, rose to prominence early in the 1ast decade as an up-and-coming Chinese Android. ($1 = 6.8766 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Josh Horwitz, Zhang Yan and Brenda GohOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Softbank-owned Arm seeks to raise prices ahead of U.S. IPO - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 23 (Reuters) - Arm Ltd, owned by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T), is seeking to raise prices for its chip designs, as it aims to boost revenue ahead of an initial public offering in New York, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The British chip designer recently notified several of its customers of a "significant shift" to its business model, the newspaper said, citing several industry executives and former employees. Arm intends to alter its royalty program, ceasing to charge chipmakers royalties for using its designs based on a chip's value, and instead charge device makers based on the value of the device, the report said. As a result of this change, Arm anticipates generating multiple times more revenue for each design it sells, since the value of an average smartphone far exceeds that of a single chip. Reporting by Baranjot Kaur and Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Varun H KOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Flip phones had a glow-up, but Gen Zers say they're not catching the vibe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tech-savvy Gen Zers don't seem too hyped about the latest foldable phones. But this age group, born between 1997 and 2015, appears unfazed by the latest foldable phones. Over the past few years, flip phones have had a glow-up. Advertisements of the latest flip phones regularly flash up on television, flood the billboards in public places, and appear in pop-up stores in malls for passersby to play with. Foldable phones are late to the partyThey've been around for nearly 30 years, but flip phones have "missed the boat" in the mass market, Atwal said.

"Pre-installed apps can be a weak security point and we want to ensure no foreign nations, including China, are exploiting it. India has ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses since a 2020 border clash between the neighbours, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. Currently, most smartphones come with pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted, such as Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi's app store GetApps, Samsung's payment app Samsung Pay mini and iPhone maker Apple's browser Safari. While European Union regulations require allowing removal of pre-installed apps, it does not have a screening mechanism to check for compliance like India is considering. An industry executive said some pre-installed apps like the camera are critical to user experience and the government must make a distinction between these and non-essential ones when imposing screening rules.

Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene have both inadvertently slammed the Trump administration in recent weeks. Greene falsely blamed the Biden administration for fentanyl deaths that happened while Trump was in office. MAGA-faithful Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene have both inadvertently slammed the Trump administration in recent weeks while trying to take shots at President Joe Biden. Rep. Matt Gaetz, meanwhile, got schooled for unknowingly basing a critique of Biden's policies on a Communist newspaper. Gaetz tried to recover, pressing Kahl to "just tell me if the allegation is true or false."

☆ 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.

☆ Huawei spin-off Honor takes aim at Samsung in foldables; shrugs off U.S. sanction concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Honor Magic Vs is on display at Honor's stand at Mobile World Congres in Barcelona. The near $1,700 device is Honor's attempt to challenge Samsung in the foldable smartphone market. Honor takes aim at Apple and SamsungHonor launched its Magic Vs foldable phone outside of China this week, with a price tag of nearly $1,700. Honor had a large poster for the Magic Vs with the tagline: "Unfold your magic." "Our ambition and target is develop the best foldable phone, so be the number one technology for foldable phones.

☆ 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.

☆ Qualcomm, Android phone makers developing satellite messaging feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) on Monday said it was working with a group of Android smartphone companies to add satellite-based messaging capabilities to their devices. Satellite-based communications can send and receive data in remote or rural regions where other telecommunications networks are not available. Qualcomm did not say when the new satellite messaging features from the Android smartphone brands named on Monday would become available. Earlier this year, Qualcomm said that some Android phones would have the features by the second half of this year. Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi takes aim at Samsung and Apple with latest $1,000 device
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Xiaomi is trying to push into the high end of the smartphone market with the Xiaomi 13 Pro. Xiaomi launched its flagship smartphone globally on Sunday as the Chinese electronics giant attempts to take a slice of the high-end market and challenge Apple and Samsung . The Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro were originally launched in China in December, but now the Beijing, China-headquartered company is bringing the devices to markets overseas. The Xiaomi 13 Pro device sports a 6.73-inch display and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset from U.S. firm Qualcomm . The Xiaomi 13 starts at 999 euros ($1,053) while the 13 Pro starts at 1,299 euros.

☆ 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.

☆ Is the iPhone's 'Made in India' era beginning as Apple breaks with China?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said Apple was already making between 5% and 7% of its products in India. His comments come at a time when Foxconn (HNHPF), a top Apple supplier, is looking to expand its operations in India after suffering severe supply disruptions in China. For years, Apple had relied on a vast manufacturing network in China to mass produce iPhones, iPads and other popular products. China headaches mountBut the world’s most valuable company posted shockingly weak earnings this month, partly because of its recent problems in China. According to Counterpoint’s Pathak, India accounts for 16% of the global smartphone production, while China constitutes 70%.

☆ Huawei turns to patents for a lifeline — including those in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In 2022, Huawei announced it signed more than 20 new or extended licensing agreements for its patents. But the sheer number of patents filed meant Huawei ranked fourth last year by the number of patent grants in the U.S., IFI said. For Huawei, licensing its patents to other companies has the potential to claw back a bit of that revenue. Huawei did not break down specific figures, and only said it met its intellectual property revenue expectations for 2021. "I don't think they had a choice in terms of sort of boosting their licensing revenue."

☆ China's 2022 smartphone shipments the lowest in 10 years, research firm says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - China's smartphone sales fell 13% year-on-year in 2022, the largest plunge for the sector in a decade as consumers spent cautiously, market research firm IDC said on Sunday. That meant total 2022 sales volume was the lowest since 2013 and the first time since then that annual sales have dropped below 300 million, IDC said in a report. Its total shipments fell 25.1% year-on-year, however. The plunge in smartphone sales in China reflected the sector's performance globally. In 2022, global smartphone shipments hit 1.2 billion, the lowest since 2013 and a year-on-year fall of more than 11%, according to IDC.

☆ China's 2022 smartphone shipments the lowest in 10 years - research firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Smartphone shipments plunge to a low not seen since 2013 — their largest ever decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Apple maintained its position as the world's largest smartphone maker by shipments in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to IDC. Global smartphone shipments plunged in the fourth quarter of 2022 — usually a big holiday shopping period — thanks to macroeconomic weakness and soft consumer demand, according to market research firm IDC. The U.S. tech giant shipped 72.3 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, down 14.9% year on year, IDC said. Samsung, the second-largest smartphone player, saw shipments decline 15.6% year on year to 58.2 million units. That was the biggest decline among the top five smartphone players, which also include Chinese smartphone makers Oppo and Vivo.

☆ Huawei Reaches Technology-Licensing Deal With Nokia Despite U.S. Restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Dan Strumpf | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Huawei is one of the largest holders of wireless-technology patents globally. HONG KONG—Huawei Technologies Co. and Nokia Corp. reached a deal to continue licensing smartphone and networking technology to each other, reflecting the challenges in unwinding the Chinese company’s technology from global networks despite years of U.S. sanctions. The patent-licensing agreement announced Friday between the two companies extends a five-year-old technology-sharing deal that had been set to expire this year. It comes weeks after Huawei unveiled a licensing agreement for 5G technology with Chinese smartphone rival Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp.

☆ Why the George Santos fiasco points to Democrats’ political malpractice
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Arick Wierson | Arick Wierson Is A Six-Time Emmy Award-Winning Television Producer | A Former Senior Aide To Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He Advises Political | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

And in the case of Santos, it appears that Democrats failed to look into not one but an entire range of allegedly dubious claims made by the congressman-elect. Even more astonishing — and indeed puzzling for Democrats — is the fact that this wasn’t Santos’ first rodeo. Moreover, what does all this say about Democrats’ overall political operation not only in New York state but nationwide? It appears that Democrats, at least in this case, have been asleep at the wheel for some time. This Santos case should force some real self-examination on the part of Democrat’s political operations.

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