DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China's Oppo debuts 'mixed reality' headset as Apple, Microsoft explore similar devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese electronics giant Oppo debuted a mixed reality headset on Wednesday, pushing into an area in which U.S. technology companies Microsoft and Apple have taking a keen interest. The Oppo MR Glass Developer Edition is designed for developers to create apps and figure out the best uses for mixed reality technology. Mixed reality refers to technologies that encompass both virtual reality and augmented reality (AR). Oppo is bullish on the future of mixed reality and sees it as the next computing platform after the smartphone. In an interview with GQ this year, company CEO Tim Cook explained why people might want a mixed reality headset in the future.

Persons: Xu Yi, Oppo, Xu, Xiaomi, Tim Cook, Cook Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Oppo, CNBC, Samsung, GQ Locations: China

☆ Why foldable phones are so incredibly expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I’ve owned practically every Pixel device,” said Pantons, 33, who has posted hundreds of YouTube videos about Pixel phones and other tech products. Premium partsThe flexible screen found on foldable phones is one of the biggest reasons why they cost so much. And the Google Pixel Fold has two: a 5.8-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch inner display. The new Google Pixel Fold phone Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesOther components unique to foldables also drive up the cost. Foldable phones are also notoriously fragile.

☆ Temu accused of data risks after sister app was suspended for malware
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Stefani Reynolds | Afp | Getty ImagesThe U.S. has accused discount shopping site Temu of possible data risks after its Chinese sister app was pulled from Google's app store over "malware" — but analysts say they're not that worried. Google called it an "identified malicious app" and urged users to uninstall the Pinduoduo app, but the Chinese online retailer denied those claims. Kevin Reed chief information security officer, Acronis"There should be no need for biometric data to be stored on an e-commerce website or app. Data risksIn a report on Chinese "fast fashion" platforms published in April, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission accused Temu and Shein of posing possible data risks. Shein and Temu "primarily rely on U.S. consumers downloading and using Chinese apps to curate and deliver products," said the report.

☆ Why the Durham Report Matters to Democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The final report by special prosecutor John Durham. Special counsel John Durham ’s final report makes clear that a partisan FBI became a funnel for disinformation from the Hillary Clinton campaign through a secret investigation the bureau never should have launched. The 306-page Durham report released Monday afternoon is far more comprehensive than anything issued by original special counsel Robert Mueller . Mr. Durham had already unfurled some of the narrative with his prosecutions of Russian national Igor Danchenko and Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann . He lost those cases, though the indictments laid out how the Clinton campaign used foreign nationals, an oppo-research outfit, and political insiders to feed the FBI and the media lies about Trump collusion.

☆ China's Oppo to shut down chip design unit as smartphone sales slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, May 13 (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Oppo said it will shut down its chip design unit, citing uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry. The company, one of China's best-selling domestic smartphone brands, said it will cease operations of its Zeku unit, which it set up in 2019. In 2022, smartphone shipments fell 14%, and total unit shipments fell below 300 million for the first time in a decade. In the first quarter, total smartphone shipments dropped 11% year-on-year to 67.2 million units, the lowest quarterly total since 2013, research firm Canalys said last month. Oppo is owned by BBK Electronics, which also owns Vivo, another top-selling Chinese smartphone brand.

☆ Google I/O event: first foldable phone, new tablets and more AI features
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Samantha Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Pixel FoldThe Google Pixel Fold is the company's first foray into foldable phones GoogleGoogle became the latest tech company to unveil a foldable smartphone. Like other foldables, the $1799 Pixel Fold features a vertical hinge that can be opened to reveal a tablet-like display. The Pixel Fold is very much a phone first: when it’s unfolded, it opens up into a 7.6-inch screen, and moves on Google’s custom-built 180-degree hinge. Under the hood, the 11-inch tablet is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chips, which bring long-lasting battery life and AI features to the device. AI features coming to searchGoogle is also moving forward with plans to bring AI chat features to its core search engine amid a renewed arms race over the technology in Silicon Valley.

☆ Bank of America double upgrades this telecom stock, says it can jump 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's time to buy InterDigital after its strong first-quarter results , according to Bank of America. InterDigital is up by more than 61% this year, but the analyst's price target increase suggests that shares can climb another 30% from Tuesday's closing price. "The company already recognizes these revenues, though at a conservative level, and could see some upside once the cases finalize. InterDigital also has ongoing cases with Oppo and Vivo, which should each add $40- 60mn in recurring revenues per year." "Without Lenovo, total revenues would have still beaten estimates by ~7%."

☆ 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.

Search resuls for: "OPPO"

25 mentions found