• Huawei has launched a dual-hinged, triple-screen foldable phone with prices starting at 19,999 yuan (about $2,809) for the 256GB model. All models come with 16GB of RAM. The OLED display measures 6.4 inches when fully collapsed - when unfolded, that display increases to 10.2 inches. It can be used in a partially unfurled 7.9-inch configuration. The device has a 5,600mAh battery that supports 66W of wired charging. It is unclear whether the device will be available outside of China, where there have already been at least 3.7 million preorders. A video showing the phone's design is available in the article.

    Wednesday, September 11, 2024
  • The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, recently launched in China, is making waves online with its dual-folding, triple-screen design. It ships in an unfolded state, boasting a thinness of 3.6mm at its slimmest point and a folded thickness of 12.8mm. Hands-on reviews have highlighted its ability to simultaneously display multiple app windows and its accompanying phone case, which doubles as a stand. Some videos reveal visible creases on the display hinges at certain angles, a common issue with current foldable screens.

  • ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly shifting its strategy for developing artificial intelligence (AI) models by utilizing chips from Huawei, a prominent Chinese technology firm. This decision comes in response to U.S. export restrictions that have limited ByteDance's access to NVIDIA chips, which were previously employed in their AI projects. The information was initially disclosed by Reuters, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the matter, while a fourth source confirmed that a new AI model is indeed under development. In the past, ByteDance had been using NVIDIA’s H20 AI chips, which were specifically designed for the Chinese market to circumvent trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. government in 2022. These restrictions aimed to slow down the technological advancements of Chinese companies by limiting their access to certain high-performance AI chips. As a result, ByteDance has placed an order for 100,000 Ascend 910B chips from Huawei this year, although only 30,000 have been delivered so far. The Ascend 910B chips are reported to outperform NVIDIA’s A100 chips in terms of GPU performance and computing power efficiency, although the ongoing chip shortage has impeded the progress of ByteDance's AI model development. While ByteDance has not officially confirmed this transition to Huawei chips, it reflects a broader trend among Chinese companies moving away from reliance on Western technology. This shift is indicative of China's efforts to bolster its domestic technology sector and reduce dependence on foreign products, particularly in light of the increasing geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions. In addition to ByteDance's developments, the tech landscape is witnessing various other advancements and changes. For instance, OpenAI has introduced a new feature called Canvas for its ChatGPT interface, enhancing user collaboration. Tesla has issued another recall for its Cybertruck due to a rear-view camera issue, and Samsung is expanding its FAST TV Plus service to include a significant amount of K-drama content. Furthermore, Uber is partnering with Avride to provide self-driving vehicles for rides and deliveries, showcasing the ongoing evolution in the transportation sector. Overall, the move by ByteDance to adopt Huawei chips underscores the shifting dynamics in the tech industry, particularly as companies navigate the complexities of international trade and technological competition.