https://www.scmp.com/rss/506042/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Shenzhen-based smartphone company Nubia has a new smartwatch with a curved display that wraps around a user’s wrist. It follows last year’s Nubia Alpha (Nubia-α), which made a splash in tech circles with its eye-catching design. But with its newest watch, Nubia is playing it a bit on the safer side. The Nubia Watch was unveiled on Monday alongside the new Nubia Red Magic 5S, a gaming phone with a 144 Hz display. The good news for people who like the idea of the Nubia Alpha is that the new watch... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3095169/new-curved-display-smartwatch-follows-last-years-nubia-alpha-much?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3095169/new-curved-display-smartwatch-follows-last-years-nubia-alpha-much?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:35:52 +0000 The Alibaba-owned map app AutoNavi is bringing umbrella sharing back to China. And the service comes at no extra cost to users of the app’s ride-hailing service. Umbrellas were briefly one of the hot items that became part of China’s sharing economy craze over the last several years. Bike sharing pioneers Ofo and Mobike would become some of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend until the bubble popped. It got to a point where smartphone users could rent out seemingly anything, from power banks... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3094854/alibabas-map-app-autonavi-wants-bring-back-umbrella-sharing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3094854/alibabas-map-app-autonavi-wants-bring-back-umbrella-sharing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2020 03:15:26 +0000 A second Chinese electric carmaker has now launched a vehicle with Huawei’s 5G HiCar system. On Sunday, BYD launched the Han EV. The new car will be equipped with 5G and run on Huawei’s software for cars that’s based on its HarmonyOS operating system introduced last August. The simplest scenario for using 5G in a car is for entertainment or navigation. With its own internet connection, the vehicle doesn’t need to connect to your phone to download your favourite podcasts or connect to Google Maps... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3093077/byds-new-5g-equipped-electric-car-runs-huawei-harmonyos-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3093077/byds-new-5g-equipped-electric-car-runs-huawei-harmonyos-car?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:01:09 +0000 It’s been a busy first half of 2020 for China’s online content watchdog, the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications. The agency announced on Thursday that it removed more than 12,000 websites with pornographic or “harmful” content in the first six months of the year. Harmful content is a vague term commonly used to cover anything from scams and gambling to politically unsavory content. Any kind of sexually graphic content has long been illegal in China, whether it’s visual... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092512/chinas-porn-censors-shut-down-12000-websites-first-half-2020?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092512/chinas-porn-censors-shut-down-12000-websites-first-half-2020?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2020 11:37:46 +0000 Passengers on a Qingdao Airlines flight from Qingdao to Chengdu on Tuesday became the first in China to use high-speed internet from a Ka-band satellite, Chinese state media reported. The internet connection used a satellite launched in 2017 by state-owned China Satellite Communications, or China Satcom. The company said passengers could get speeds higher than 100 Mbps on the flight. By operating in a higher frequency band, Ka-band connections offer higher speeds than older versions of in-flight... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092350/chinese-airline-offers-100-mbps-satellite-internet-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092350/chinese-airline-offers-100-mbps-satellite-internet-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 12:50:22 +0000 In China, hundreds of millions of people use QR codes to pay in stores and at street stalls every day. The barcode-like squares can be seen everywhere in the country, popularised by the dominant mobile payment apps Alipay and WeChat Pay. Now it looks like Apple will is bringing this feature to all iPhone users with iOS 14. (South China Morning Post is owned by Alibaba, whose affiliate Ant Financial operates Alipay.) How the QR code conquered China After Apple released the iOS 14 Beta 2 for... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092293/apple-pay-could-add-qr-code-payments-ios-14-similar-chinas-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092293/apple-pay-could-add-qr-code-payments-ios-14-similar-chinas-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 09:15:52 +0000 Huawei has already launched two foldable phones in China, receiving mostly positive reception in the country. Now China’s largest smartphone brand might have a new foldable in the works. Huawei filed a trademark application this week to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for something called the Mate V. It’s not clear from the EUIPO website exactly what the Mate V will be since the application remains under examination. There’s also little information that’s been made... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092179/new-huawei-mate-v-foldable-phone-might-be-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3092179/new-huawei-mate-v-foldable-phone-might-be-way?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 21:00:19 +0000 From a 150-inch laser projector to a nearly US$2,000 OLED TV, Xiaomi has been dabbling in audio-visual equipment for a while. Now it looks like the gadget maker is about to add a much tinier member to its lineup: A TV dongle. A Mi TV stick, codenamed “aquaman,” was recently approved by Google to carry the Play app store, according to a tweet from Android TV Guide spotted by 9to5Google. The listing suggests it’ll only support 1080p video output since it uses an Amlogic S805Y processor. But there... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3092023/google-approval-suggests-xiaomi-mi-tv-stick-almost-ready?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3092023/google-approval-suggests-xiaomi-mi-tv-stick-almost-ready?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2020 11:11:19 +0000 China is finally getting a movie adaptation of the bestselling sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem… again. The book that’s been praised by former US president Barack Obama and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a new adaptation coming with director Tian Xiaopeng at the helm. The critically acclaimed director is best known for the animated film Monkey King: Hero is Back. Multiple adaptations of the book by author Liu Cixin have been in the works for years, but only a stage play has gotten a public... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090733/new-three-body-problem-movie-gets-acclaimed-director-monkey-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090733/new-three-body-problem-movie-gets-acclaimed-director-monkey-king?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2020 10:01:31 +0000 Ever wish your computer mouse could tell you jokes? Xiaomi does. The Beijing-based smartphone maker is looking to make computer peripherals more conversational with the new Xiao Ai mouse. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the mouse went on sale on Wednesday. With its built-in microphone, the mouse doubles as a smart speaker equipped with Xiaomi voice assistant Xiao Ai. It can record and transcribe your messages, help control smart home products and even act as a translator. It... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090570/forget-smart-speakers-alexa-xiaomi-has-smart-mouse-can-talk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090570/forget-smart-speakers-alexa-xiaomi-has-smart-mouse-can-talk?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:33:36 +0000 Shenzhen-based smartphone brand OnePlus announced a “new, more affordable smartphone line” on Tuesday, signaling a partial return to their roots. OnePlus, which made its name by selling low-priced handsets with features more commonly found in pricier models, has steadily been increasing the price of their flagship handsets. In a post on the website’s forum, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said the new product line will cater to people who want a “really solid smartphone” for a “more accessible price.” He... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090418/cheaper-oneplus-z-line-low-cost-smartphones-could-start-just?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090418/cheaper-oneplus-z-line-low-cost-smartphones-could-start-just?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:01:05 +0000 One Chinese city is testing a bus scheduling system that’s powered by 5G. The next-generation wireless technology is said to be able to handle more tasks quicker than before. It means authorities in Guangzhou will be able to monitor real-time passenger flow, bus dispatching, video recording and more on the busy B27 bus line. The project was launched in May with 5G data transmission kicking off on Monday. The line has 22 5G-equipped vehicles and the city has installed fifty 5G base stations along... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090236/guangzhou-using-5g-keep-buses-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090236/guangzhou-using-5g-keep-buses-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jun 2020 09:29:46 +0000 A prototype of China’s super fast floating train successfully completed a test run for the first time on Sunday, according to Shanghai’s Tongji University. The magnetic-levitation (or maglev) train is designed to hit a speed of 600 kilometers per hour (around 372 miles per hour). That means it could carry passengers from Beijing to Shanghai in just 3.5 hours, according to state broadcaster CCTV, saving them two hours compared to traveling on existing high-speed trains. It’s not clear how fast... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090079/chinas-super-fast-600km/h-maglev-train-performs-its-first-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3090079/chinas-super-fast-600km/h-maglev-train-performs-its-first-test?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jun 2020 09:16:27 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS After Twitter shut down what it calls a Beijing-backed disinformation operation by banning more than 170,000 accounts, China has responded with a piece of curious advice.  Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters during a briefing on Friday that Twitter should shut down accounts that smear China if it wants to fight disinformation, Reuters reported. Hua said that many platforms had falsehoods about China and that there was a... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088848/china-wants-twitter-shut-down-accounts-smear-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088848/china-wants-twitter-shut-down-accounts-smear-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:48:54 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The arcades aren't as big of a draw as they used to be. But if you miss the retro feel of joysticks and big round buttons, the Switch Fighter might help.  The accessory, which transforms a regular Nintendo Switch into a mini arcade cabinet, is seeking funding on Indiegogo. For US$99, the Hong Kong-based campaign promises to ship backers the Bluetooth-connected gadget, allowing them to “properly play classics like Street Fighter or King of Fighters.” It... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088814/dock-promises-turn-your-switch-arcade-cabinet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088814/dock-promises-turn-your-switch-arcade-cabinet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:18:34 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS A subway station in China is taking the meaning of “contactless” to a whole new level. The railway operator in Hefei, the capital of eastern province Anhui, says it has launched a holographic ticket vending machine. It’s designed to minimize the risk of coronavirus spreading through touched surfaces.  Instead of having a traditional touchscreen, the machine projects a 2D hologram inside a hollow compartment, allowing passengers to tap on virtual buttons... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088789/subway-china-lets-you-buy-ticket-hologram?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088789/subway-china-lets-you-buy-ticket-hologram?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:03:44 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS For the second time this year, Computex has announced it will postpone its yearly event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Computex Taipei’s organizers, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA), originally rescheduled the conference from June to September with plans for live-streamed product launches. But with many countries still under travel restrictions, the organizing team has given up on 2020 altogether.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088787/computex-taipei-postponed-again-time-until-2021?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088787/computex-taipei-postponed-again-time-until-2021?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:02:57 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Twelve people were arrested for selling game cheats for Peacekeeper Elite, a popular Tencent game based on PUBG Mobile. Police in the eastern city of Kunshan in Jiangsu province said the group had been buying cheats from unspecified “overseas personnel” with bitcoin before selling them to players in China. The hacks give players special abilities, like being able to see where other players are and auto-aiming. Police said the business was worth almost... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088666/12-arrested-selling-cheats-chinas-version-pubg-mobile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088666/12-arrested-selling-cheats-chinas-version-pubg-mobile?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:04:58 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The Cybersecurity Administration of China has ordered China’s Twitter-like platform Weibo to suspend two features showing trending topics for a week, the cyberspace watchdog announced Wednesday. Weibo’s hot topic and hot search are being punished for the “dissemination of illegal information” among other issues, according to the CAC.  The state body did not elaborate on the reasons for the decision but instead cited an incident involving a person... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088660/chinas-answer-twitter-ordered-freeze-its-trending-topics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088660/chinas-answer-twitter-ordered-freeze-its-trending-topics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 11:34:49 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS When absent-minded parents leave their children locked inside a car, the results can be deadly, especially on a hot summer day. Now Great Wall Motors, China’s biggest SUV maker, wants to prevent that by checking for vital signs in new cars. Once the vehicle engine is turned off and all doors are locked, the system uses millimeter-wave radar to scan for signs of life inside the car compartment, according to the company. Research has shown that these high... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088655/chinas-biggest-suv-maker-wants-stop-kids-dying-hot-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088655/chinas-biggest-suv-maker-wants-stop-kids-dying-hot-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:47:01 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Didi Chuxing says it’s removing protective plastic screens from its fleet. They were initially put in place more than three months ago to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading between drivers and passengers. In a Weibo post, the Chinese ride-hailing giant said it spent about 100 million yuan (US$14.1 million) adding the safety equipment to cars in 330 cities nationwide. Citing reduced pandemic risk, Didi says the program -- available... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088412/didi-pulls-safety-shields-cabs-covid-19-threat-eases-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088412/didi-pulls-safety-shields-cabs-covid-19-threat-eases-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2020 07:26:20 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The hot new short video app Zynn burst onto the scene with skyrocketing popularity thanks to offers of cash rewards to users. But now the app has been removed from the Google Play Store for reasons that remain unclear. We reached out to Google but didn’t receive a response. Zynn comes from Kuaishou, the Chinese short video app maker known for the app of the same name. The new app looks almost identical to TikTok, which is a major competitor to Kuaishou... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088411/tiktok-clone-pays-users-watch-videos-removed-google-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088411/tiktok-clone-pays-users-watch-videos-removed-google-play?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2020 07:23:00 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Devotion, the Taiwanese horror title that was removed from the world’s largest digital game store last year after insulting Xi Jinping, will soon be available to buy again. But it's not on Steam: This time you can only buy Devotion in a physical package. In addition to a USB drive containing the PC game, the new edition comes with several accessories that feature prominently in the gameplay, including a children’s book and an origami tulip bookmark. An... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088176/banned-taiwanese-game-devotion-gets-physical-re-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088176/banned-taiwanese-game-devotion-gets-physical-re-release?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2020 06:50:40 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The Covid-19 pandemic is keeping us apart, but Apple won’t let physical distance get in the way of group selfies. The Californian giant has filed a US patent for what it calls a “synthetic group selfie,” as first reported by Patently Apple. According to the patent, an Apple user can invite friends to each take an individual selfie using their own device. The software will automatically stitch the selfies together to create a single group selfie, but any... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088037/apple-patents-way-take-group-selfies-during-social-distancing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088037/apple-patents-way-take-group-selfies-during-social-distancing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:30:07 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS For decades, most of us have been connecting to the internet via phone cables and cellular networks. But with the ascent of low Earth orbit internet satellites, it looks like one of China’s telecom giants is determined to move with the times. China Unicom recently announced a collaboration with Huawei, finding ways to allow connected cars and smart appliances to receive internet signals from both satellites and 5G. Together, the partners want to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088025/huawei-joins-chinas-push-catch-elon-musks-starlink-satellites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3088025/huawei-joins-chinas-push-catch-elon-musks-starlink-satellites?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2020 07:38:02 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS A few years ago, Facebook introduced Safety Check, a feature that lets users let their friends know they’re safe during an emergency. Now a province in China is introducing a similar feature using QR codes in popular Chinese apps while also trying to offer a potentially life-saving tool. Zhejiang’s new “safety QR code” helps users mark themselves safe during natural disasters. It comes as the province prepares for hurricane season, which regularly... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087703/flood-prone-chinese-province-tests-qr-code-based-safety-checks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087703/flood-prone-chinese-province-tests-qr-code-based-safety-checks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2020 06:47:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Remove China Apps has had a wild, albeit short, ride. Within two weeks of its launch, the Indian app designed to help smartphone users get rid of Chinese software became the top-trending Android app in the country, racked up 5 million installs, and then was abruptly removed from the Google Play app store. As of June 3, the app’s Google Play page is no longer accessible, but those who already have the app can continue to use it. It appears that the app... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087361/google-removes-viral-indian-app-removes-chinese-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087361/google-removes-viral-indian-app-removes-chinese-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2020 07:35:05 +0000 Masha Borak Masha Borak This article originally appeared on ABACUS When police arrived on the scene in the northern Chinese city of Daqing, they found what seemed like it could have been ripped from the pages of a thriller novel: Two mysterious grave mounds were lying in the field. But this wasn't the site of a grim murder. The mounds were actually hiding a bitcoin mining operation. After receiving a tip from a local oil field company about suspicious power losses, Daqing police decided to inspect the area last... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087222/mysterious-tombs-china-found-be-bitcoin-mining-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087222/mysterious-tombs-china-found-be-bitcoin-mining-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2020 12:11:31 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS After social media users accused TikTok of banning Black Lives Matter hashtags, the makers of the short video app blamed it on a technical glitch. With cities across the US embroiled in protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, some people noted that they couldn’t use hashtags related to the protests. A response from TikTok on Twitter said it was a technical issue that affected a range of random terms, including “cats”... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087031/tiktok-says-black-lives-matter-isnt-banned-and-fixes-glitch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3087031/tiktok-says-black-lives-matter-isnt-banned-and-fixes-glitch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:03:47 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China is going to start searching for extraterrestrial life this year. Zhang Tongjie, a chief scientist leading China’s search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) says the massive Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) will “officially” start its hunt in September this year, according to the state-run news outlet Science and Technology Daily. Construction of the FAST telescope started in 2011 and was completed in 2016. It officially... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086996/china-officially-start-searching-aliens-september?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086996/china-officially-start-searching-aliens-september?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:32:13 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Although 5G phones are just starting to go mainstream this year, Xiaomi has already started pre-research into the next generation of mobile connectivity, according to the smartphone company’s co-founder and chairman Lei Jun. This wasn’t the first time Lei mentioned 6G. In May, during China’s annual legislative meetings known as the Two Sessions, the entrepreneur prepared four proposals for China’s next five-year plan. One of them is making satellite... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086951/forget-5g-xiaomi-getting-ready-6g?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086951/forget-5g-xiaomi-getting-ready-6g?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 06:45:34 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Have you ever wished it was easier to jump into a live-streaming video after paying for your Starbucks latte? Alipay is now making your wish come true. Like many apps in the country, the mobile payment platform has decided to cash in on China’s popular and lucrative live-streaming ecommerce trend. (Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba, an affiliate of Alipay owner Ant Financial.) On Thursday, Alipay added a mini... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086545/alipay-joins-live-streaming-ecommerce-trend-mini-program?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086545/alipay-joins-live-streaming-ecommerce-trend-mini-program?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2020 10:37:54 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Xiaomi is gearing up to launch more affordable 5G smartphones. In fact, all new mobile phones from its budget Redmi series that cost more than 1500 yuan (US$210) will be 5G enabled, according to a statement from Xiaomi’s President for China Lu Weibing reported by local media. It comes as the company introduces the newest addition to its lineup, the Redmi 10X. Starting at 1599 yuan (US$223), the 10X line features a 48-megapixel camera and a MediaTek... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086373/xiaomis-budget-brand-says-all-redmi-phones-above-us210-will-have?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086373/xiaomis-budget-brand-says-all-redmi-phones-above-us210-will-have?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2020 11:19:44 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS More people in Hong Kong are downloading VPNs (virtual private networks) after China’s central authorities announced a plan to bypass the local legislature and draw up its own national security law for the city last week.  Atlas VPN says installations of the cyber tool surged by more than six-fold on Thursday, when Beijing revealed its proposal. Installations continued to rise by three-fold the next day, adding up to a 150-time increase in just seven... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086134/hong-kongers-scramble-vpns-beijing-plans-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3086134/hong-kongers-scramble-vpns-beijing-plans-national-security-law?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2020 09:42:39 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Realme saw rapid growth in 2019, especially in India, where it became the fourth most popular smartphone brand in the country in the first quarter, according to IDC. And now the Oppo spin-off brand is expanding in India to include a smartwatch and smart TV in its offerings. The Realme Watch will come with a square 1.4-inch LCD screen. It’s also equipped with heart rate and oxygen monitors, a fitness tracker and the ability to control music, smartphone... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085987/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085987/realmes-first-smartwatch-costs-us50-india?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2020 11:27:40 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China is going ahead with its first mission to Mars with a launch planned for July this year, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed on Sunday. If successful, the Tianwen-1 mission will make China the third country to land on the red planet after the United States and the Soviet Union. CASC is the main contractor for the Chinese space program and has been working on the project since 2016. The mission has several tasks,... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085935/chinas-mars-mission-will-go-ahead-july-planned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085935/chinas-mars-mission-will-go-ahead-july-planned?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2020 08:16:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Normally when you want to message a new person on WhatsApp, you first need to add the contact to your phone’s address book. Now WhatsApp is testing a new feature that lets you add someone directly within the app by scanning that person’s personal QR code. The update, reported by WABetaInfo, is currently available to beta testers. The QR code can be found in the Settings section of WhatsApp. You can either present your code for a new friend to scan, or... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085920/whatsapp-trials-letting-people-add-new-contacts-qr-code?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085920/whatsapp-trials-letting-people-add-new-contacts-qr-code?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2020 07:12:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Smartphones have rendered public phone booths mostly obsolete, but Shanghai has found a new way to revitalize these remnants from the past -- by turning them into mini 5G base stations. China Telecom Shanghai, a phone service provider, is installing 5G transceivers and other equipment in a phone booth located in the city's Jingan district, Liberation Daily reported. There are currently more than 5,400 phone booths in the city, and the goal is to convert... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085702/shanghai-wants-bring-old-public-phone-booths-5g-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085702/shanghai-wants-bring-old-public-phone-booths-5g-era?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2020 10:59:05 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It’s been more than four years since System Shock 3 was first announced. But after it lost a publisher last year, the game’s creators now say they’re handing the reins over to Tencent. “As a smaller Indie studio, it had been challenging for us to carry the project on our own,” tweeted OtherSide Entertainment on Wednesday. “We believe Tencent's deep capabilities and expertise as a leading game company will bring the franchise to new heights.” System... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085491/tencent-takes-over-system-shock-3-after-hiring-ubisoft-and-kojima?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085491/tencent-takes-over-system-shock-3-after-hiring-ubisoft-and-kojima?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2020 10:26:28 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Although launched in December, the mainland China version of the Nintendo Switch has only had three approved games officially for sale in the country, all of them from the Mario franchise. But starting May 28, Chinese players will have one more option: Iris.Fall, a puzzle game developed by Tencent’s in-house Next Studios. Tencent, the Switch’s Chinese distributor, first teased the game when the then-two-year-old console finally launched in the country.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085436/first-non-mario-game-chinas-nintendo-switch-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085436/first-non-mario-game-chinas-nintendo-switch-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2020 07:33:04 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Last year, three of China’s largest smartphone brands said they were launching a wireless peer-to-peer file transfer protocol that would work across their devices, sort of like an Android version of Apple’s AirDrop. Now four more brands are joining the alliance started by Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo. The new members include OnePlus and Realme, sister brands of Vivo and Oppo under BBK Electronics, along with Xiaomi-backed gaming phone brand Black Shark and... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085428/chinas-airdrop-android-now-works-oneplus-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085428/chinas-airdrop-android-now-works-oneplus-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2020 07:02:18 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China’s answer to Fitbit is creating a face mask that disinfects itself with UV light and also shows your face to make it easier to unlock your iPhone. Amazfit, the smartwatch brand from Xiaomi-backed wearables maker Huami, introduced a prototype of a mask it’s calling Aeri. It’s designed to protect against viral diseases like Covid-19 as well as air pollution. The concept also includes a modular design that can be personalized by attaching a... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085032/amazfit-creating-face-mask-self-disinfects-uv-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3085032/amazfit-creating-face-mask-self-disinfects-uv-light?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2020 07:13:02 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Although most of the world still lacks 5G coverage, one of China’s three state-owned telecommunications companies is already working on the next generation of mobile communication. China Telecom signed a strategic cooperation agreement with telecom equipment maker ZTE on Sunday to research 6G technologies. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology started looking into 6G in 2018, making it one of the first countries to do so. But 6G is... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084890/china-telecom-and-zte-are-already-working-6g-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084890/china-telecom-and-zte-are-already-working-6g-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2020 09:09:26 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Even before the Covid-19 pandemic drove courts to move online, China’s internet courts were already conducting hearings via video calls. But with lockdowns preventing judges from going back to their offices, Beijing’s internet court developed a “virtual court system” that allows them to access case information and handle daily cases from home. But that’s not all. With business largely having returned to normal in China now, Beijing’s internet court has... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084636/judges-can-now-hold-hearings-beijings-tiny-virtual-court-cabins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084636/judges-can-now-hold-hearings-beijings-tiny-virtual-court-cabins?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2020 11:53:22 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China’s adoption of facial recognition has been so aggressive that even gyms are using it. And it may come as no surprise that some are not using it responsibly. Last week, police in the city of Suqian, in eastern Jiangsu province, found that a local gym using facial recognition for access control left facial data on more than 20,000 members unencrypted and unprotected. The Suqian police posted about it on its official Weibo account and the story was... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084627/gym-punished-improperly-collecting-facial-data-20000-members?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084627/gym-punished-improperly-collecting-facial-data-20000-members?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2020 11:02:32 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS WeChat, China’s largest social platform, has now surpassed 1.2 billion monthly active users as of the end of March. That’s nearly half of what Facebook has, and it counts both international users and mainland China users, which Tencent manages differently. Tencent said the number of WeChat users was up by more than 8% in its first-quarter. The company attributed it to the Covid-19 pandemic, which it said has boosted demand for the app’s myriad mini... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084358/wechat-now-has-over-12-billion-users-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084358/wechat-now-has-over-12-billion-users-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2020 06:38:20 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China’s postponed Two Sessions, the country's most important annual political event, will start on May 22 this year, and for Beijing residents, that means no drone flying allowed. Beijing police announced that from May 20 to May 28, no organizations or individuals are allowed to conduct any flying activities for sports, entertainment or advertising. The ban affects more than just drones. It targets what Chinese authorities call “low, slow and small... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084211/beijing-bans-drones-upcoming-key-political-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084211/beijing-bans-drones-upcoming-key-political-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2020 08:28:11 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Huawei’s much-praised flagship P30 from last year is getting a New Edition in Germany, and we finally know all the details. It might seem odd for Huawei to rerelease a year-old phone when people can now pick up the newer P40. But the company isn’t allowed to ship the P40 with Google apps since it was blacklisted by the US. The original P30 was released before the ban, so the New Edition also comes with apps like Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube. Not much... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084185/huaweis-p30-pro-new-edition-equipped-google-apps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3084185/huaweis-p30-pro-new-edition-equipped-google-apps?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2020 07:03:26 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China’s largest gaming convention will take place in Shanghai this summer as scheduled, the organizers announced on Monday. The announcement comes after Japan’s Tokyo Game Show and the United States’ E3 both canceled their offline events this year over coronavirus concerns. ChinaJoy, set for July 31 to August 3, is becoming an increasingly important showcase not only for local giants like Tencent and NetEase, but also for foreign companies hoping to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3083828/chinajoy-2020-slated-go-after-tokyo-game-show-canceled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3083828/chinajoy-2020-slated-go-after-tokyo-game-show-canceled?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2020 09:01:38 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Chinese automakers are finding interesting ways to attract buyers after the major slump in car sales caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Chang’an Automobile -- which operates joint ventures with the likes of Ford, Mazda, and Suzuki -- shared on Wednesday that its “virus-filtering” air system for cars has reached mass production. According to Chang’an, the high-efficiency filter can help keep passengers safer from pollutants and virus droplets in the air as... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3083370/chinese-carmakers-introduce-air-filtration-systems-stop-viruses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3083370/chinese-carmakers-introduce-air-filtration-systems-stop-viruses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2020 11:40:46 +0000