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Explainers: Technology

Explainers: Technology

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Explainers: Technology. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Smart-glasses makers see AI as long-awaited must-have app

China Future Tech briefing

AI | Smart-glasses makers see AI as long-awaited must-have app

Chinese smart-glasses makers, such as Rokid and Alibaba, and global giant Meta are counting on artificial intelligence to kick-start demand for the devices.

27 Nov 2025 - 5:46PM

TikTok: how a viral app navigated turbulent times to secure its place in the US

26 Sep 2025 - 10:39PM

US-China relations

Explainer | The heated US-China cable competition under the seas

1 Nov 2024 - 5:48AM

US-China relations

US study finds China’s tech innovation ‘much stronger’ than understood

Performing best in nuclear power, EVs and batteries, mainland companies will ‘likely equal or surpass Western firms within a decade or so’.

25 Sep 2024 - 3:41PMvideocam

People visit a booth for Chinese battery manufacturing giant CATL at Automechanika, a leading trade fair for cars, in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 11. Photo: Xinhua

Business of climate change

Explainer | How do hydrogen vehicles work? Are they the future of transport?

Long-range vehicles that emit only water are enticing, but high costs and fast evolution among battery-powered EVs could limit prospects.

15 Jun 2024 - 9:00AM

Special Report - Jewellery

Rise of the machines: how robots are changing the way jewellery is made

A shortage in manpower and rising costs are leading to the widespread adoption of automation in the jewellery manufacturing sector, with top maisons now using robots for diamond cutting and polishing

17 Jan 2024 - 1:00PM

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Luxury vinyl? Legendary engineer Bernie Grundman on Craft’s Small Batch series

The vinyl revival shows no sign of abating, but do LPs really sound better than CDs? Only if they come from the original analogue tapes, says the Grammy-winning mastering engineer

5 Nov 2023 - 5:00PM

Legendary audio engineer Bernie Grundman at work in his mastering studio in Los Angeles. Photos: Handout

Explainer | What are superconductors and why the scepticism about breakthroughs?

Many claims about discovering room-temperature superconductors have fallen flat but the hope of finding revolutionary material pushes research forward.

3 Aug 2023 - 10:35PMvideocam

China’s C919 passenger plane

Explainer | Why did it take 15 years for China’s C919 to make its first commercial flight?

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) was formed in 2008 to develop the C919 narrow-body passenger jet, which completed its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.

25 Jul 2023 - 3:51PMvideocam

China technology

Explainer | From AI to IoT, 4 areas where China’s smart cities are making a difference

Cutting-edge technologies have seeped into everyday infrastructure systems in big Chinese cities following a recent push to develop smart cities.

2 May 2023 - 3:43PMvideocam

AI security cameras using facial recognition technology on display at the China International Public Safety and Security Exhibition in Beijing in October 2018. Photo: AFP

Electric & new energy vehicles

Shanghai Auto Show: world’s largest vehicle fair dazzles with latest models

Battery power took center stage, with makers jostling to show off their electrification credentials.

19 Apr 2023 - 4:11PM

A general view of Aito’s vehicle display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition on April 19, 2023. Photo: AFP

Video | Chips and Science Act approved in US Senate

29 Jul 2022 - 1:15PM

Google Chrome users will want this software update

Update is needed to deploy a new wave of software fixes to patch some security flaws – seven of the security fixes are deemed high level threats.

1 May 2022 - 3:15PM

X (formerly Twitter)

Explainer | What’s next after Twitter agreed to Elon Musk takeover bid?

Twitter’s acceptance of Elon Musk’s roughly US$44 billion takeover bid brings the billionaire Tesla CEO one step closer to owning the social media platform.

26 Apr 2022 - 11:20AM

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. File photo: AFP

Extreme fitness

Obsessed with Strava? Here’s the best way to use your data

Strava is a treasurer trove of data, but most runners do not utilise the information at their finger time.

23 Apr 2022 - 8:15AM

Strava tracks your training, giving you information to improve the efficiency of your sessions. Photo: Strava

The Philippines

SpaceX to launch Starlink satellite service in the Philippines

The company is setting up a subsidiary in The Philippines, which has one of the worst internet connections globally, yet is dubbed the social media capital of the world and has 74 million internet users.

1 Apr 2022 - 12:24AM

Explainer | Why China Eastern flight’s ‘black boxes’ are vital to investigation

All passenger planes carry two recorders containing audio from the cockpit and extensive flight data that can provide clues to the cause of the accident.

31 Mar 2022 - 10:55AMvideocam

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Explainers: Business

Must-have Covid-19 tracking apps for international travellers

These apps have become essential for many people to safely carry on outside their homes, while observing social-distancing rules.

28 Feb 2022 - 10:53AM

Covid-19 tracking and contact-tracing apps have become essential for many people to have on their smartphones to safely carry on outside their homes. Photo: Shutterstock

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to help Tonga fix internet

The SpaceX team is in Fiji to establish a ground station for six months; Tonga’s devastating volcanic eruption in mid-January damaged an undersea telecommunications cable.

6 Feb 2022 - 9:34PM

The Naked Truth | Virtual dating apps: don’t get too caught up in the metaverse

If finding love during a pandemic is not easy, dating in the metaverse could be the answer. Follow this advice for finding love in the virtual world.

6 Feb 2022 - 4:15AM

Explainer | US export rule that hammered China’s Huawei teed up to hit Russia

The Biden administration is readying a US export rule that could curb Russia’s access to global electronics supplies if President Vladimir Putin decides to invade Ukraine.

25 Jan 2022 - 1:27PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin. File photo: AP

Explainer | Things to know about SpaceX’s private flight into orbit

SpaceX is set to launch four people into space on a three-day mission that is the first to orbit the Earth with exclusively private citizens on board.

14 Sep 2021 - 3:16PM

The four passengers are supposed to embody the opening-up of space to everyone, giving the mission its name: Inspiration4. Photo: SpaceX

China Internet Report

Here are the top 5 trends of China’s internet sector in 2021

The 2021 China Internet Report covered tightening rules that resulted in a bumpy road for Chinese tech IPOs, forcing companies to alter their overseas strategies and re-examine underserved segments due to demographic changes, with renewed focus on private-domain traffic.

1 Sep 2021 - 10:49PMvideocam

Automotive industry

What if a superhero designed a supercar? Meet the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

If the original Aston Martin Valkyrie was Thor’s Mjolnir, then this track-only beast – conceived to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans’ new Hypercar class – must be Stormbreaker

17 Aug 2021 - 12:33PM

Explainer | What are the hacking accusations against China?

Several countries accuse ‘cyber actors’ backed by Beijing of hacking the Microsoft Exchange email server, as allegations of Chinese cyberattacks mount.

20 Jul 2021 - 11:29PMvideocam

A broad group of countries have accused China of state-backed hacking. Photo: Reuters

Explainer | How Jeff Bezos will soar into space

Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, is set to join the astronaut club on Tuesday on the first crewed launch by Blue Origin.

19 Jul 2021 - 1:50PMvideocam

Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin. File photo: AFP

Explainer | Why 996 prevails in China’s tech world despite deaths and protests

Demanding hours persist at Chinese tech giants and start-ups, where employees describe a culture that glorifies unquestioned dedication to work and looks down upon attempts to maintain a work-life balance.

11 Jun 2021 - 9:58AM

Explainer | What HarmonyOS 2 means for the Google and Apple duopoly

Huawei’s HarmonyOS is designed for the Internet-of-Things era, with the ability to run on everything from smartphones and tablets to home appliances as the tech giant tries to overcome US sanctions and move away from Android.

4 Jun 2021 - 2:34PMvideocam

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