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☆ China's Singles Day shopping festival is more than halfway over. Here's how consumers are spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China's e-commerce giants stopped reporting Singles Day GMV in 2022 during the pandemic. Singles Day GMV this year as of Oct. 30 was 845 billion yuan ($119.1 billion), according to research firm Syntun. Subsidies boost appliancesHelping boost sales this Singles Day are China's subsidies for trade-ins of home appliances, launched in late July. They predict 4% to 5% growth in Singles Day GMV, with sales in the home appliance category supported by the trade-in program. "Something that kind of came out of nowhere, into all of a sudden really, really big numbers."

Persons: Alibaba, Jacob Cooke, JD's, ByteDance's Douyin, Cooke, Louis Vuitton, we've, UOB Kay Hian, JD.com, Dave Xie, Oliver Wyman, Xie, There's, Liang, Chiikawa, Taobao, Tmall Organizations: Visual China, Getty, Alibaba, Technologies, CNBC, Louis Locations: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, BEIJING, Asia, Alibaba, British

☆ How Discord is laying the groundwork for ads to make as much revenue as subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discord is launching Video Quests, its second ad format, as it looks to grow its ads business. Discord aims to balance ad revenue with its subscription service ahead of a potential IPO. Related storiesActivision Blizzard's World of Warcraft, Epic Games' Fortnite, and HoYoverse's Genshin Impact have run Quests on Discord this year. "Discord is a place where you play games with your friends, so game-related ads feel really good," Sellis told Business Insider in an interview. Peter Sellis, Discord's SVP of product, thinks ads could one day be on par with subscriptions for the company.

Persons: —, Peter Sellis, Sellis, Jason Citron, we'd, KARL VERKADE, Adam Bauer, Ming Gianotti, Monks, Gianotti Organizations: Service, Activision, Netflix, Bloomberg, Meta, Google Locations: Discord's, FaZe

☆ Apple Vision Pro review: This is the future of computing and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

In this article AAPL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTApple Vision Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCIt's night. Here's what you need to know:What's goodApple Vision Pro Source: AppleI was skeptical when I first met with Apple to see the Vision Pro. Apple Vision Pro. Photos in the Apple Vision Pro Todd Haselton | CNBCI love the "spatial photos" you can capture using the cameras on the outside of the Vision Pro or with the latest iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple Vision Pro Todd Haselton | CNBC

Persons: Todd Haselton, Oregon's Mount Hood, I'm, I've, it's, Max, Joshua Tree, Slack, Barbie, It's, CNBC Apple Keychain, Siri, There's Organizations: CNBC, Apple Watch, UBS, Apple, Apple Vision, Vision Pro, Pro, Companies, Vision, Greyhound, CNBC Apple, Disney, Wars, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Amazon Prime Locations: Oregon's Mount, U.S, Hawaii, White Sands

☆ Neopets is under new management and planning a comeback in a vastly different era of gaming
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Since buying Neopets, Law said his team is in the process of restoring those minigames and modernizing them to enhance the experience. Competing in the current metaWhile Law is optimistic, he is aware that Neopets was born in a different era of video gaming. For Neopets, Law said the merch business would include both physical, like plushies and clothing, and digital, such as in-game purchases. In 2024, Law's team is planning to launch World of Neopets, a 3D simulator game that will utilize the existing Neopets world, but in a modern gaming environment. Does this mean that new Neopets games will replace the 24-year old Neopets.com?

Persons: Dominic Law, Neopets, Neopets …, Jakub Porzycki, NetDragon Websoft, Law, we've, John Legend, Kass Basher, Mickey Mouse Organizations: Neopets, Koelnmesse, CNBC, Gamescom, Law, Getty, Nurphoto, Adobe, Activision, Monopoly Locations: Asia, Singapore, asia, Canada, Hong Kong, Gamescom Asia, that's, Krakow, Poland, Neopets, U.S

☆ An actor who found an AI-generated version of her voice reproduced in a sexually suggestive scene on TikTok said the experience was 'violating'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Actor Allegra Clark found a character she voiced acting out a sexually suggestive scene on TikTok. The scene had been AI-generated with the tool ElevenLabs, per Forbes. Clark told the news outlet the lack of personal ownership of her voice left her feeling powerless. AdvertisementAdvertisementA voice actor said it was "violating" to discover her voice had been used for an AI-generated sexually suggestive scene without her permission. Clark's voice had been replicated and manipulated with a generative AI tool called ElevenLabs, so she wrote to the company expressing her concerns.

Persons: Allegra Clark, Clark, —, Forbes, Clark's, it's, ElevenLabs, Mati Staniszewski Organizations: Forbes, Service

☆ An OnlyFans cosplay creator who's made $450,000 explains her strategy to earn money without nude content
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She made an Instagram page under the stage name Liensue, and opened a Patreon account. Between January 2022 and September 2023, she made about $450,000 in net revenue on the platform after OnlyFans' 20% cut. She puts a lot of time and money into her content, and she thinks of herself as an artist, more than a content creator. In the past couple of years, she's been able to create about six DIY cosplay costumes per year, she said. On her OnlyFans, she combines her artsy content with a behind-the-scenes look at her everyday life, for fans to get to know her better.

Persons: Susann Alicia, Susann, she's, Shenhe, Alicia, Susann Susann Locations: Gumroad

How to play games on a ChromebookCompared to Macs and PCs, Chromebooks don't come with many apps pre-installed. But you can use two of your Chromebook's native apps — Google Chrome and the Google Play Store — to find and play loads of games. And similarly, the best way to play games on your Chromebook is through your browser. This is the best way to play new, high-end games on a Chromebook. Use the Google Play Store to play Android appsMost Chromebooks have a dedicated Google Play Store app which lets you download and play almost any Android app.

Persons: you'd, Chromebooks, William Antonelli, it's Organizations: GE, Google, Nvidia, Forza, Microsoft, Luna, Internet, Konami Digital Entertainment, Chromebooks, Linux, Steam Locations: Minecraft

MiniMax was founded in 2021 by some former employees of SenseTime (0020.HK), including Yan Junjie - a former vice president at the Chinese AI firm, two other people said. Wang Huiwen, co-founder of on-demand service giant Meituan (3690.HK), said he has founded a new AI company called Beijing Lightyear Technology with $50 million from investors. Google China's former chief, Kai-Fu Lee, has unveiled his new startup - Project AI 2.0. Wang Xiaochuan, founder of China's No.2 search engine Sogou, said in April that he had founded Baichuan Intelligence with a startup capital of $50 million. Its other early investors include China's Yunqi Partners and Future Capital, statements from the venture capital funds show.

Persons: MiniMax, Yan Junjie, Wang Huiwen, Kai, Fu Lee, Wang Xiaochuan, China's, MiHoYo, Charlie Chai, ERNIE Bot, Chai, Roxanne Liu, Josh Ye, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Microsoft, HK, Huawei, Baidu, Beijing Lightyear Technology, Google, Baichuan Intelligence, China's Yunqi Partners, Future, 86Research, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, HONG KONG, China, Beijing, miHoYo, Hong Kong

☆ Mihoyo's new video game tops download charts as big launches return to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blockbuster debut bodes well for several other games due to launch this summer in the world's largest video games market. As of Thursday, the Shanghai-based company's strategy game "Honkai: Star Rail", where anime characters battle space monsters, had amassed 20 million downloads across smartphones and personal computers, miHoYo said. 1 on the iOS game download chart in more countries than any prior game," Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad said on Twitter. It is scheduled to test action game "Valorant" in May ahead of its official release this year. Tencent will invest in launching an esports league in China for the game.

☆ AI-generated audio of Joe Biden and Donald Trump trashtalking while gaming is taking over TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Allegra Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On TikTok, faked audio created by AI of Joe Biden and Donald Trump gaming has become a hit meme. But the ease with voice AI can be used for jokes also shows how easy it is to fake convincing quotes. The Biden Cinematic UniverseOn the @bidenandfriends TikTok account, "Sleepy Joe" plays Minecraft and other video games with his best (and worst) buddies. Other political and celebrity figures pop up in various installments, but the core trio of Trump, Biden, and Obama seems to persist across the lore. "I remember when people thought AI would kill us all, but this is how we use it," commented one TikTok user.

☆ China approves 88 games in January, including titles by Tencent and NetEase
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Jan 17 (Reuters) - China's video games regulator on Tuesday granted publishing licences to 88 online games, including titles belonging to Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK), NetEase Inc (9999.HK) and miHoYo. Shenzhen-based Tencent, the world's largest gaming company, received at least one game licence for a mobile game named "Yuanmengzhixing", the list published by the National Press and Public Administration showed. NetEase, China’s second largest gaming company, also received a licence for a shooting game named "Chaofanxianfeng". miHoYo, the famed developer behind Genshin Impact, secured one licence for a game named Honkai: Star Rail. Unlike in most other countries, video games need approval from regulators before release in China, the world's largest gaming market.

☆ Sony to expand Chinese game incubator in Microsoft head-to-head
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Japanese tech giant's plans were made public during an event live-streamed from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu to re-launch the China Hero Project programme, which ground to a halt due to COVID-19. The China Hero Project unveiled its first two batches of games in 2017 and 2019 and has supported 17 titles, of which seven have reached the market. It was part of Sony's years-long approach to China, which ultimately led it to a lucrative exclusivity deal with the Chinese hit game “Genshin Impact” outside of the China Hero Project. Reuters reported last month that Sony's success with “Genshin Impact” has driven Microsoft to aggressively woo Chinese game developers with big licensing deals. Sony sells the PlayStation (PS) consoles in China, where people have traditionally preferred playing mobile-based games.

☆ Microsoft powers up search for Chinese gaming hits in race against Sony
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterGrowing Western interest in Chinese games reflects a maturing of China's game development industry, analysts said. Chinese games are now on a par with big-budget Western games, said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at researcher Niko Partners. "Chinese game developers are trying to standardise their development tools, create advanced production processes, invest in really large-scale teams," Ahmad said. Microsoft has been building a team to scout for Chinese games, two industry sources said. Gaming executives now point to "Genshin Impact" as a global industry milestone, lauding its production value and seamless cross-platform game play.

☆ A high school artist was chosen to paint a mural. Then came the outrage
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Rachel Abrahamson | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A mural painted by a high school student came under fire when parents alleged it was promoting LGBTQ imagery and witchcraft. Earlier this year, a Grant, Michigan, high school sophomore won a contest “to brighten up” the middle school health center, according to a statement from Grant Public Schools (GPS). GPS says the student received approval to paint images of “smiling children” and as well as the message “Stay Healthy.”In the painting, there are three children. Courtesy Chandler MorrisTracey Hargreaves, who has two children in the Grant Public School system, came to the defense of the student artist. It’s not contagious.”The student artist left the meeting in tears, according to Hargreaves.

☆ Singapore's Temasek leads a $40 million funding round in a Chinese startup
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ina Fassbender | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Singapore state investment firm Temasek is leading a $40 million funding round in a Chinese startup despite a dry spell of deals in the country. The startup, Well-Link Technologies, counts Chinese tech company Xiaomi and Chinese gaming star miHoYo as investors, according to business database Tianyancha. The $40 million deal announced Monday is an early-stage, or B2 round, led by Temasek and includes existing shareholders Future Capital and VGC. Cloud rendering uses multiple servers on the cloud, rather than a single computer, to make the computations necessary for creating images such as animations and movies. The company is also exploring how its real-time cloud rendering tech can help with the development of virtual reality and other technologies of the future.

Google Play a premiat cele mai bune jocuri ale anului 2020. În 2016, Google a început sa premieze cele mai bune jocuri si aplicații anual in cadrul galei Google Play Awards. Cel mai bun joc din 2020, ales de Google PlayGoogle Play a proclamat Genshin Impact ca fiind cel mai bun joc din 2020. Cel mai bun joc din 2020, ales de jucătoriUtilizatorii Google Play au votat ca cel mai bun joc al anului 2020 jocul SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off. Potrivit Statista.com, aplicațiile de jocuri reprezintă mai mult de 80 % din veniturile castigate de Google Play Store.

Persons: ., Harry Potter, DreamWorks, Bubble, Cook Organizations: Google, App, Disney Locations: Romanian

☆ Apple a publicat topul celor mai populare jocuri pentru iPhone, iPad și Mac în 2020
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-06 | by ( Onixmedia Srl | ) diez.md time to read: +1 min

Platforma iOS este recunoscută pentru unele dintre cele mai bune jocuri de mobil și pentru locul unde de obicei apar cel mai repede multe dintre jocurile de top. Anul acesta, Apple a premiat unele dintre cele mai populare jocuri de pe iPhone, iPad, dar și platformele Mac și Apple TV. # Cele mai bune jocuri de pe App Store în 2020Cel mai bun joc pentru iPhone în 2020: Genshin ImpactCel mai bun joc pentru iPad în 2020: Legends of RuneterraCel mai bun joc pentru Mac în 2020: Disco ElysiumCel mai bun joc pentru Apple TV în 2020: Dandara Trials of FearCel mai bun joc de pe Apple Arcade în 2020: Sneaky Sasquatch# Top 20 jocuri gratuite pentru iPhoneAmong Us! Call of Duty: MobileRobloxSubway SurfersInk Inc.Magic Tiles 3Brain Test: Tricky PuzzlesBrain OutCoin MasterCube Surfer! # Top 20 jocuri plătite pentru iPhoneMinecraftPlague Inc.Heats Up!

Persons: Anul, și, Mac, Trigger, Uno, San Andreas The, Go Bloons Organizations: mobil, Apple, și Apple, Dandara, Ink Inc, Monopoly Bloons, San, Inc, Arcadia

☆ Google a publicat topul celor mai bune jocuri pentru Android în 2020. Care sunt acestea
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-05 | by ( Onixmedia Srl | ) diez.md time to read: +1 min

Pe lângă lista celor mai bune aplicații de pe platforma Android, Google a publicat și o listă cu cele mai bune jocuri pe care le-am primit pe dispozitivele mobile anul acesta. Listă a fost aleasă în funcție de preferințele echipei editoriale, bazată pe activitatea utilizatorilor, dar și pe preferințele personale ale angajaților săi. Acesta este dezvoltat de un studio din China și pare să fie inspirat de jocuri precum The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild de pe Nintendo Switch, scrie go4it.ro. # Cele mai bune jocuri competitive pentru Android în 2020BrawlhallaBullet echoGWENT The Witcher Card GameLegands of RuneterraThe Seven Deadly Sins: Grand CrossLista celor mai bune jocuri competitive pentru Android include jocuri de lupte, jocuri de cărți și shooter-uri top down, toate disponibile pentru jucat online cu prietenii sau pentru meciuri competitive publice. # Cele mai bune jocuri pe care le poți juca rapid pe Android în 2020Disney Frozen AdventuresDreamWorks Trolls PopEverMergeHarry Potter: Puzzles & SpellsSpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off# Jocuri petru Android cu impact în 2020FancadeGenshin ImpactMinimal Dungeon RPGOrd.

Persons: DreamWorks, Harry Potter, Cook Organizations: Android, Google, Genshin, Nintendo, Cross, Disney Locations: China

Printre câștigătorii distincțiilor din acest an înmânate de Google se numără și Zoom, Bad Boys for Life sau Genshin Impact. În opinia lor, cea mai impresionantă aplicație din ultimele 12 luni a fost Loona, dedicată relaxării înainte de culcare. Jocul de pe primul loc este Genshin Impact, o creație de aventură care și-a luat inspirația într-o manieră destul de eficientă din The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild al celor de la Nintendo. ShareTheMeal a Națiunilor Unite a fost numită cea mai bună aplicație pentru a face bine altor oameni. Printre jocurile indie cele mai interesante au fost premiate Sky: Children of the Light și Gris.

Persons: Cook, Stephen King ., Bill, Ted, Just Mercy, Barack Obama, Alexis Daria, Chris Hemsworth, Gris Organizations: Disney, Google, Genshin Impact, Nintendo, Națiunilor Unite Locations: Zoom, Bad, Juneteenth, SUA, Promised Land, Runeterra

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