https://www.scmp.com/rss/23809/feed Apple designs and sells consumer electronics and personal computers, and also operates retail stores and streaming service Apple TV+. It is one of the world’s biggest companies and the second-largest mobile phone-maker after Samsung. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s smartphone and electronics supply chain is adapting its expertise to support the country’s fledgling but fast-growing humanoid robotics industry, as component suppliers seek new growth beyond a slowing mobile market. The sector received a glimpse of that crossover after Honor’s humanoid robot D1, a dark-horse entrant from the smartphone maker, won Beijing’s recent robot half-marathon, beating established Chinese robotics names such as Unitree. Honor entered the humanoid robotics sector... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352212/phones-robots-chinas-supply-chain-eyes-next-growth-curve-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352212/phones-robots-chinas-supply-chain-eyes-next-growth-curve-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 04:00:17 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US stock market is rising towards more records on Friday after Apple, Estee Lauder and other big companies became the latest to deliver fatter profits for the start of the year than analysts expected. Modest dips for oil prices also helped to steady the relatively few stock markets open worldwide on the May Day holiday. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 per cent and added to its all-time high set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 226 points, or 0.5 per cent, as of 9.35am Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352188/wall-street-rises-towards-more-records-oil-prices-slip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352188/wall-street-rises-towards-more-records-oil-prices-slip?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 15:10:50 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A common hand gesture in a South Korean army recruitment poster has prompted scrutiny of a little-known cultural sensitivity in the country. In the poster, a female model in a combat uniform poses with her hand resting under her chin. All quite innocent – except her thumb and index finger form a shape that many South Koreans associate with man-hating, according to The Korea Herald. The finger pinching gesture is known as the “Megalian hand”, after the radical South Korean feminist group that... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351149/south-korean-army-removes-poster-depicting-man-hating-hand-gesture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351149/south-korean-army-removes-poster-depicting-man-hating-hand-gesture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:06:23 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The mounting challenges Apple faces in China will test John Ternus, the newly appointed CEO, as analysts watch if he tries to replicate his predecessor Tim Cook’s frequent “charm offensives” in the world’s largest smartphone market. “I’d like to see if the new CEO can charm Chinese consumers as well as government ministers, just as Tim Cook has,” said Bryan Ma, vice-president of client devices research at IDC. Apple announced on Tuesday that Ternus, 50, would be the new CEO effective September 1... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350869/new-apple-ceo-john-ternus-inherits-complex-china-portfolio-tim-cook-steps-aside?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350869/new-apple-ceo-john-ternus-inherits-complex-china-portfolio-tim-cook-steps-aside?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Apple on Monday announced that Tim Cook will step down as the tech giant’s chief executive officer in September, handing the top job to company veteran John Ternus. The announcement answers long-simmering questions about a successor for 65-year-old Cook, who said he will become executive chairman of the board when he cedes Apple’s CEO position. “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350792/tim-cook-step-down-apple-ceo-handing-reins-firms-hardware-leader?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350792/tim-cook-step-down-apple-ceo-handing-reins-firms-hardware-leader?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:36:48 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Huawei Technologies claimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in the first quarter with its highest share in five years, while Apple saw the strongest growth among the top six players, despite a global memory chip crunch. Huawei held a 20 per cent share in the first three months, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a Friday report by Counterpoint Research. Chinese government subsidies that offered a 15 per cent discount for gadgets under 6,000 yuan (US$880), along... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350566/huawei-retains-lead-china-smartphone-market-apple-shipments-surge-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350566/huawei-retains-lead-china-smartphone-market-apple-shipments-surge-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:00:37 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang As China’s artificial intelligence sector accelerates, competition for top talent has intensified among major tech companies, with firms increasingly poaching from rivals while also attracting researchers from overseas hubs such as Silicon Valley. A reported high-profile personnel move involving DeepSeek researcher Guo Daya recently drew attention to the sensitivity surrounding AI hiring in China’s tech sector. Guo, a lead researcher on DeepSeek’s R1 model, joined ByteDance’s Seed AI development... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350521/bytedance-tencent-step-ai-talent-battle-amid-reported-departure-deepseek-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350521/bytedance-tencent-step-ai-talent-battle-amid-reported-departure-deepseek-researcher?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:00:32 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese billionaire investor Duan Yongping touted Pop Mart International Group as a long-term investment and hinted that he may have already started building bullish bets, further validating his confidence in companies that are grappling with growth concerns. Duan, dubbed China’s Warren Buffett by some investors, recently said on social media that the toymaker had great growth potential to achieve its globalisation goal and that the barriers built by the company were enough to fend off... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350454/chinas-warren-buffett-calls-pop-mart-long-term-buy-hints-labubu-maker-stake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Setlog is the latest mobile app that is taking South Korea by storm. Designed to be a real-time vlog app for small groups of friends to document their day together, the video and visual diary format has rapidly gained traction on social media. Users are loving its “forced synchronicity” and no-edit approach when it comes to making videos and sharing content. Much of the app’s appeal stems from the trending “day-in-the-life” videos, particularly those that compare daily routines of friends side... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350142/what-setlog-app-trending-hong-kong-and-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3350142/what-setlog-app-trending-hong-kong-and-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:45:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang As the new Communist Party chief of China’s southern manufacturing hub Shenzhen, Jin Lei is facing his first major test as the city prepares to host the Apec leaders’ summit in November. Beijing is seeking more cooperation with the bloc in areas like artificial intelligence, and the key regional forum is an opportunity to show the potential in tech-driven Shenzhen, where Jin took the helm last month. In recent weeks, the 56-year-old economist and former Sichuan official has been focused on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349869/shenzhens-new-party-boss-has-taken-wheel-can-he-deliver-ahead-apec?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Remember the iPod? It is making a quiet comeback. Four years after Apple killed off its digital music player, second-hand sales are surging – fuelled in part by young people interested not just in its retro looks but in listening to music in a focused way and with playlists not determined by algorithms. “There’s a growing trend, particularly among younger users, to mitigate the ease with which they can be distracted by smartphones, often driven by mental health and well-being concerns,” says Ben... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3349514/how-get-ipod-and-set-it-apples-music-device-makes-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3349514/how-get-ipod-and-set-it-apples-music-device-makes-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Vincent Chow Sylvia Ma,Vincent Chow With US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell reported to have held urgent talks over Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model, experts are warning that immediate cybersecurity assessments are needed to avert potential economic damage running into the hundreds of billions of US dollars. Across the Pacific, however, analysts said China’s banks were taking a more cautious approach, as Beijing prioritises financial stability and intensifies monitoring of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349685/china-banks-buffer-against-ai-contagions-us-sweats-over-anthropics-mythos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349685/china-banks-buffer-against-ai-contagions-us-sweats-over-anthropics-mythos?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:08 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Last week, on April 1 to be exact, Apple reached the grand old age of 50 (almost exactly a year younger than Microsoft), one of a tiny proportion of S&P-listed companies that have stayed the course for half a century. It is a company with which I have had a special connection and a love-hate relationship for most of my adult life. Not that I have ever owned an Apple product (I have always been a loyal Android man) nor any Apple shares; heavens, I wish I had. No. My special connection is more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349541/my-love-hate-relationship-apple-android-user?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349541/my-love-hate-relationship-apple-android-user?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:30:09 +0000 dpa dpa A thief who swiped a handbag from a London pub containing a Faberge egg and watch set valued at up to £2.2 million (US$3 million) has been jailed for more than two years. Enzo Conticello, 29, took the Givenchy handbag belonging to Rosie Dawson as she stood in the smoking area of the Dog and Duck pub in Bateman Street on November 7, 2024. Inside the £1,600 bag was an emerald-encrusted Faberge egg and Faberge watch belonging to Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, as well as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349547/us3-million-faberge-egg-heist-london-pub-ends-jail-thief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349547/us3-million-faberge-egg-heist-london-pub-ends-jail-thief?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:15:08 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow DeepSeek has introduced new “instant” and “expert” modes to its chatbot, the most significant update to its user interface since the Hangzhou-based start-up gained global recognition. The changes come ahead of the much-anticipated release of DeepSeek’s next-generation flagship model V4 this month, more than a year after its R1 version made it a household name. On Tuesday, the company added the two modes to its website and mobile app, giving users the choice of settings. Instant mode was designed... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349345/chinas-deepseek-adds-instant-and-expert-chatbot-modes-ahead-much-awaited-v4-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3349345/chinas-deepseek-adds-instant-and-expert-chatbot-modes-ahead-much-awaited-v4-release?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Rokid, a Hangzhou-based maker of smart glasses, is preparing to file for a Hong Kong listing as early as the end of April, according to sources familiar with the matter, as artificial intelligence-powered eyewear gains traction in the mainstream market. The planned listing comes as global and domestic technology groups including Meta Platforms and Apple, as well as China’s Alibaba Group Holding – through the brand name Quark – Baidu, Xiaomi and Huawei Technologies, all rush into the market.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349267/chinese-ai-glasses-maker-rokid-planning-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3349267/chinese-ai-glasses-maker-rokid-planning-hong-kong-ipo-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Traditional corporate culture and hierarchies are slowing down artificial intelligence adoption in Chinese enterprises, leaving them trailing their US peers, even as China’s savvy consumers embrace AI agents at a breakneck pace, says Zack Kass, former head of go-to-market at OpenAI. China has a very “techno-centric consumer”, while the US has a very “techno-centric enterprise”, Kass told the South China Morning Post in a recent interview. Highlighting this contrast, Kass said typical Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348956/chinese-firms-trail-us-peers-ai-adoption-due-corporate-culture-ex-openai-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war with the US and Israel, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday, stressing that Tehran was seeking guarantees the conflict would not flare up again. The comment by the head of state – which boosted markets in the US – came after a day of heavy strikes on Iran and followed a tough warning from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Guards threatened to retaliate against leading US tech firms such as Google, Meta and Apple from... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348588/iran-says-it-has-will-end-war-trump-zigzags-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348588/iran-says-it-has-will-end-war-trump-zigzags-escalation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:10:00 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday that they would target leading US technology firms like Apple, Google and Meta if more Iranian leaders were killed in “targeted assassinations”. “These companies, starting from 8pm Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1, should expect the destruction of their relevant units in exchange for every assassination in Iran,” the Guards said in a statement listing the names of 18 companies it alleged were complicit in the killing of officials. “We advise the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348585/iran-says-will-target-apple-google-and-meta-if-more-its-leaders-are-killed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348585/iran-says-will-target-apple-google-and-meta-if-more-its-leaders-are-killed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:23:28 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Apple’s accidental roll-out on Tuesday of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature in mainland China – which has yet to receive regulatory approval – before swiftly pulling it could raise the ire of regulators and expose the US tech giant to potential penalties, an industry expert warned. The brief release could have violated local rules on artificial intelligence security evaluations, algorithm filings and data protection, according to You Yunting, a Shanghai-based intellectual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:39 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a 36‑year‑old man on suspicion of taking upskirt images of a woman in a Sha Tin mall. Officers received a report from a passer-by that a man was secretly filming a woman inside the GreenPrice store in New Town Plaza shortly before 2pm on Monday. Police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts. He has been detained, and a Sha Tin district investigation team is handling the case. A female staff member told media... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348445/hong-kong-man-arrested-suspicion-taking-upskirt-images-woman-shopper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348445/hong-kong-man-arrested-suspicion-taking-upskirt-images-woman-shopper?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:28:31 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Tech giant Google has introduced a mobile version of its Gemini AI chatbot to Hong Kong users, with the service swiftly topping Apple’s app store chart. The roll-out on Thursday followed Google’s announcement last week that it would gradually bring its generative AI services to Hong Kong, starting with Gemini web services before launching a mobile version. The popular AI product was previously unavailable to the general public in Hong Kong, with access limited to some local businesses,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:45:47 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysian users are among victims targeted by a newly uncovered iPhone spyware operation that researchers say was used by multiple threat actors across countries, in a sign that sophisticated mobile-hacking tools are spreading through a murkier commercial and criminal ecosystem. The spyware, known as DarkSword, was observed targeting entities in Malaysia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and was uncovered by investigators shortly after they exposed another exploit kit, Coruna, linked to the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347739/iphone-spyware-darksword-hits-malaysia-exposing-spread-sophisticated-hacking-tools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347739/iphone-spyware-darksword-hits-malaysia-exposing-spread-sophisticated-hacking-tools?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:31:37 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen has a new Communist Party chief, nearly six months after the city’s former party boss was promoted to provincial governor. State media announced on Sunday that Jin Lei, 56, had been appointed Shenzhen’s party chief as well as a member of the Guangdong provincial party committee and its standing committee. Jin, an economist and former official in the southwestern province of Sichuan, takes over from Meng Fanli, who had been in the position since April... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347482/veteran-iphone-city-tapped-party-boss-chinas-silicon-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347482/veteran-iphone-city-tapped-party-boss-chinas-silicon-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:01:00 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao As China undergoes a sweeping economic transition, its regions are also in the process of embracing change. The powerhouses of yesteryear must adapt or risk falling behind, as traditional industries become less reliable growth drivers and new sectors take prominence. In this series, we explore three representative areas of the country as they attempt to navigate this rapidly changing environment. After a 900km (559-mile) journey at the end of last month’s Chinese New Year holiday, 24-year-old Ma... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347381/kunshan-chinas-foxconn-nerve-centre-old-tech-tries-learn-new-tricks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347381/kunshan-chinas-foxconn-nerve-centre-old-tech-tries-learn-new-tricks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off his first tour of China this year on Wednesday, while the iPhone maker’s chief operating officer visited key suppliers, including Foxconn and Sunwoda, in a sign of the company’s continued focus on the country’s huge market and manufacturing ecosystem. Cook turned up at an Apple Store in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, in the afternoon as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He interacted with celebrities and customers,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347062/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-reliance-chinese-supply-chains-endures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347062/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-reliance-chinese-supply-chains-endures?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is mounting a fresh challenge in the foldable handset market after launching the latest product in its Find N series, as the industry faces rising memory prices and anticipation builds around Apple’s foldable iPhone. Find N6, launched globally on Tuesday, featured upgraded hinge technology designed to make the crease on the foldable screen “virtually imperceptible”, according to the company. “While foldables offer the advantage of a larger display, the crease has... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346829/chinas-oppo-doubles-down-foldable-smartphones-potential-apple-entry-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346829/chinas-oppo-doubles-down-foldable-smartphones-potential-apple-entry-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi SmartMore, the first company backed by the Hong Kong government’s investment fund, has applied for a listing, underscoring the city’s crowded pipeline of technology initial public offerings (IPOs). The unicorn, founded in 2019 and specialising in industrial artificial intelligence, submitted its application on Monday night, with Morgan Stanley, China International Capital Corporation and Deutsche Bank as joint sponsors. SmartMore provides intelligent manufacturing and digital innovation through... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346854/smartmore-first-firm-backed-hong-kong-wealth-fund-seeks-ipo-tech-pipeline-heats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346854/smartmore-first-firm-backed-hong-kong-wealth-fund-seeks-ipo-tech-pipeline-heats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:40:12 +0000 Wency Chen,Ben Jiang Wency Chen,Ben Jiang The OpenClaw craze is rapidly driving up prices and depleting stock of Apple’s Mac Mini compact computer across China, according to local sellers, as consumers scramble to secure machines capable of safely running the open-source artificial intelligence agent amid a nationwide rush to “raise a lobster”. Beijing electronics seller Frank Chai said he was asking for a mark-up of at least 500 yuan (US$73) for a basic Mac Mini model, which comes with 16 gigabytes (GB) of memory and 256GB storage and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346538/apples-mac-mini-selling-out-across-china-openclaw-fever-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346538/apples-mac-mini-selling-out-across-china-openclaw-fever-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Apple announced a reduction in the App Store commissions it charges developers in China ahead of the annual World Consumer Rights Day, drawing approval from the country’s biggest gaming companies Tencent Holdings and NetEase. The US tech company said it would reduce the commission for standard in-app purchases and paid app transactions on iPhone and iPad to 25 per cent, from the current 30 per cent, according to a statement on its website on Thursday. Meanwhile, the commission rate for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346470/apple-reduces-app-store-commissions-china-move-applauded-tencent-netease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3346470/apple-reduces-app-store-commissions-china-move-applauded-tencent-netease?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:02:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The US$599 MacBook Neo proves it is possible to make a laptop that stays true to Apple’s reputation for craftsmanship, performance and reliability – even at roughly half the price of the popular MacBook Air. With that price point, the company is opening up macOS to a completely new market of first-time buyers who previously could not afford to splurge, or preferred not to. The Neo is a product that was once unthinkable from a company that spent years panning the idea of netbooks and never... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3346285/apple-macbook-neo-review-budget-laptop-punches-above-its-weight-eyes-new-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3346285/apple-macbook-neo-review-budget-laptop-punches-above-its-weight-eyes-new-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The mobile industry buzzed with excitement over the artificial intelligence revolution showcased at MWC Barcelona 2026, but the optimism was overshadowed by the Middle East crisis and a memory crunch that could reshape the global smartphone supply chain. The AI showcase drew a large crowd, including King Felipe VI of Spain, to the booth of Chinese smartphone maker Honor, which displayed its “Robot Phone” with a built-in camera gimbal designed to become a companion to users. “This brings a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345760/middle-east-crisis-global-memory-crunch-dim-ai-smartphone-buzz-mwc-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345760/middle-east-crisis-global-memory-crunch-dim-ai-smartphone-buzz-mwc-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu What happens when it is Gen Z’s turn to define and preserve Chinese traditions? The answer may look like a digital almanac app. The Chinese almanac – known as the tong shu or tung shing in Cantonese and huangli in Mandarin – is much more than a date tracker. A rich, ancient guide used to harmonise daily life with the energies of the universe, the Chinese almanac also includes predictions for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, and can act as a guide for farmers on when to plant crops. Whether looking... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye The Taiwan Stock Exchange has become increasingly tied to American capital, as the global artificial intelligence boom drew a record amount of US investments into the island’s semiconductor-heavy equity market. US investors currently hold a record US$668 billion worth of Taiwan equities – about 23 per cent of the exchange’s total market capitalisation – after funnelling roughly US$12 billion into the market in 2025, according to BNP Paribas, citing data from Treasury International Capital – a... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345307/us-investors-drive-record-outlay-taiwans-equities-market-back-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3345307/us-investors-drive-record-outlay-taiwans-equities-market-back-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The iPhone 17e, the entry-level addition to Apple’s latest iPhone 17 series, faces an uphill battle in China’s highly competitive smartphone market, according to analysts, as presales for the new handset start on Wednesday. The new budget-priced iPhone “lacks competitiveness”, said IDC China research manager Guo Tianxiang, who pointed out that the handset “still uses outdated moulds, with the chip being the only major upgrade”. “The shortcomings in imaging and display persist, making its overall... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3345273/will-apples-budget-priced-iphone-17e-make-splash-chinas-tough-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3345273/will-apples-budget-priced-iphone-17e-make-splash-chinas-tough-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:14 +0000 dpa dpa A £2 billion (US$2.68 billion) class action will claim that millions of PlayStation users in the UK are overcharged for games on the console in the latest legal challenge against technology firms’ market dominance. The case, brought by consumer champion Alex Neill on behalf of an estimated 12.2 million gamers, accuses Sony of levying “excessive and unfair” charges on downloads from its PlayStation Store. The antitrust claim is set to be heard by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London from... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345190/us268-billion-class-action-claims-uk-playstation-users-are-overcharged-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345190/us268-billion-class-action-claims-uk-playstation-users-are-overcharged-games?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:08:53 +0000 Reuters Reuters Australia’s internet regulator said it might push search engines and app stores to block artificial intelligence services that failed to verify user ages after a review found more than half had not made public any steps to comply by a deadline next week. The warning reflects one of the most aggressive efforts globally to rein in AI companies, which face a growing number of lawsuits for failing to stop – and even encouraging – self-harm or violence, while researchers caution that such platforms... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345063/australia-mulls-forcing-app-stores-search-engines-axe-unsafe-ai-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345063/australia-mulls-forcing-app-stores-search-engines-axe-unsafe-ai-services?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:07:45 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham For over a year, Europe has become the world’s geopolitical punching bag, taking economic roundhouses from the east and geopolitical uppercuts from the west without ever swinging back. From US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and covetous glances at Greenland to Beijing’s rare earth embargoes and lightning blockade of semiconductor shipments, Europe’s first response has been to freeze, not fight. But now, it may be ready to counterpunch. After a fresh Trump tariff threat emerged last week, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345028/europe-worlds-geopolitical-punching-bag-ready-hit-back-us-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345028/europe-worlds-geopolitical-punching-bag-ready-hit-back-us-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone maker Honor has unveiled a “robot phone” and its first humanoid assistant ahead of MWC Barcelona, alongside its latest foldable handset, in an aggressive bet on artificial intelligence-powered hardware to stand out in the fierce Android competition. Honor’s AI Robot Phone, which featured a motorised, three-axis gimbal arm, could track motion and interact with users through camera movement, the company said in a preview of the handset on Sunday in Barcelona. The camera arm and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345042/chinas-honor-debuts-robot-phone-and-humanoid-companion-push-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345042/chinas-honor-debuts-robot-phone-and-humanoid-companion-push-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:01:07 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has stepped up its overseas expansion with the global launch of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series in Barcelona, in its latest effort to challenge Apple and Samsung in the premium segment. The launch event, held on Saturday ahead of MWC Barcelona, marked the overseas release of Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, months after the company launched the Xiaomi 17 series domestically. As with the domestic versions, both models are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies is aiming for a major international comeback, with the overseas release of its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 80 Pro, alongside a new smartwatch and the addition of a “wheelchair mode” to its wearable devices. Powered by the company’s self-designed, China-made Kirin 9030 Pro processor, the overseas version of its Mate 80 Pro handsets will run on the Android-based EMUI 15 operating system, Huawei announced at a launch event in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. While the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:01:08 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia is weighing new legal measures to curb LGBTQ dating platforms, widening concern among rights groups that the country is pushing deeper into morality-driven internet regulation, even as its control of global app stores remains limited. Authorities have already blocked access to the websites of Grindr and Blued – two internationally used dating apps popular among gay, bisexual and queer men – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a written parliamentary reply. But while their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344737/malaysias-push-curb-lgbtq-dating-apps-grindr-tests-limits-internet-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344737/malaysias-push-curb-lgbtq-dating-apps-grindr-tests-limits-internet-control?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:51:32 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese tech giants claimed a victory after a promotional giveaway campaign for their artificial intelligence services during the Lunar New Year, touting surging user numbers and the adoption of AI as part of holiday consumption. During the period, Alibaba Group Holding’s AI app Qwen saw nearly 200 million orders placed, according to data released by the company on Monday. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. Among the users were more than four million people aged 60 and above who... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344432/ai-apps-soar-china-lunar-new-year-giveaway-battle-boosts-user-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344432/ai-apps-soar-china-lunar-new-year-giveaway-battle-boosts-user-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Coco Feng,He Huifeng Coco Feng,He Huifeng Huawei Technologies recorded revenue of more than 880 billion yuan (US$127 billion) in 2025, a company executive disclosed on Tuesday, signaling the tech giant’s resilience despite US sanctions. Huawei chairman Howard Liang Hua said that the company maintained steady operations to provide globally competitive products and services. He spoke at the 2026 Guangdong High-quality Development Conference, a provincial government event. Last year’s revenue figure was the second highest on record for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344428/huaweis-2025-revenues-surge-us127-billion-firm-continues-defy-us-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344428/huaweis-2025-revenues-surge-us127-billion-firm-continues-defy-us-sanctions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple is accelerating the development of three new wearable devices as part of a shift towards hardware powered by artificial intelligence, a category also being pursued by OpenAI and Meta Platforms. The company is ramping up work on smart glasses, a pendant that can be pinned to a shirt or worn as a necklace, and AirPods with expanded AI capabilities, according to people with knowledge of the plans, who asked not to be identified because those plans have not yet been announced. All three... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3344058/apple-pushes-forward-ai-powered-smart-glasses-camera-airpods-and-pendant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3344058/apple-pushes-forward-ai-powered-smart-glasses-camera-airpods-and-pendant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:15:12 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin They are young, intensely competitive, and unapologetic about 80-hour work weeks. Welcome to the United States’ new generation of tech founders. Gen Z’s start-up class is reframing “millennial hustle culture” by shifting from side gigs and personal branding to a more rigid office grind, while looking to China for inspiration. It’s for this reason that US artificial intelligence start-ups are openly embracing 996, the controversial 9am to 9pm, six-day-a-week schedule popularised by Chinese tech... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344052/996-goes-west-us-ai-start-ups-adopt-china-techs-controversial-work-schedule-get-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344052/996-goes-west-us-ai-start-ups-adopt-china-techs-controversial-work-schedule-get-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen The artificial intelligence boom has swept through consumer electronics – from smart wearables and AI-powered home devices to voice-interactive toys and robotic pets – but its most significant impact may be on the interface itself. Technology is moving off the screen and onto the face, with smart glasses increasingly seen as the next frontier. “The next interaction revolution will happen right in front of our eyes – driven by AI agents and the inevitable miniaturisation of hardware,” said Wu... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344101/next-interface-race-how-ai-bringing-smart-glasses-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344101/next-interface-race-how-ai-bringing-smart-glasses-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:38:47 +0000 Reuters,Bloomberg Reuters,Bloomberg US messenger app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, accused authorities in Russia on Thursday of trying to fully block its service to drive Russians to a state-owned app, which it alleged was used for surveillance. “Trying ‌to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia,” the world’s most popular messaging service said in a statement. “We continue to do everything we can to keep users... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343343/metas-whatsapp-accuses-russia-blocking-its-service-force-users-state-super-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3343343/metas-whatsapp-accuses-russia-blocking-its-service-force-users-state-super-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:57:11 +0000 dpa dpa An Apple Watch feature to spot signs of high blood pressure cannot reliably be used instead of regular screening tests, according to new research. People should not rely on their watch to alert them to changes in their blood pressure due to the risk of “false reassurance”, researchers say, adding that people should still have regular blood pressure checks using a cuff. Apple has a “hypertension [high blood pressure] notifications feature” which it says is “not intended to diagnose, treat or aid... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3343165/apple-watch-shouldnt-be-relied-alert-possible-hypertension-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3343165/apple-watch-shouldnt-be-relied-alert-possible-hypertension-study?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple’s new second-generation AirTag is basically a slightly better do-over of the original. At US$29 for a single item tracker or US$99 for a four-pack, it also costs the same. Upgraders can expect slightly better wireless range, a louder chime and the ability to pinpoint an item’s location with their Apple Watch: no iPhone necessary. Considering the original was released almost five years ago, some Apple fans and techies might have hoped for more. But after a few days of testing, the updated... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3342306/apples-new-airtag-tracker-louder-better-connected-it-worth-upgrading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3342306/apples-new-airtag-tracker-louder-better-connected-it-worth-upgrading?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:15:37 +0000