Business Articles

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the first of 400 planned EV charging hubs. The charging hub features 400 kW chargers from ChargePoint, and there is a bay designed for wheelchair-accessible cars, vans, and vehicles with trailers. There is also a luxury charging lounge replete with snacks, drinks, and a restroom, making the wait more bearable.

TrendForce's research on the third-party SSD space has found that Kingston was its #1 brand in 2022. The company had weathered the supply storm of 2021 to remain a market leader. It attributes its success to the ability to offer both cost-effective and high-end drives for both gaming and non-gaming use-cases, and to the continuing demand for PCIe 4.0 NVMe.

Microsoft has finally unveiled its own custom silicon. The Maia 100 is Microsoft's AI accelerator designed for the Azure stack to train OpenAI's complex LLMs. The Cobalt 100 is an ARM-based chip with 128 cores aimed at optimizing power efficiency across Azure datacenters. Additionally, Microsoft has announced new Azure VMs powered by Nvidia H100 and AMD Instinct MI300X GPUs.

Even after leaving Russia, tech companies like Google, Wikipedia and Apple are still facing fines from the courts. They are charged with disseminating misleading information or disregarding data localization regulations.

BMW is shifting focus to electric vehicles at its Munich plant, putting the full brunt of its main R&D centre behind the new tech. The brand will, however, continue to make internal combustion engines — just not in Germany. The Munich plant already has over two years of i4 production under the belt, and BMW will start retraining employees for more EV models.

ViewSonic has brought the LDP216-251 to market, a 216-inch monitor intended to be used in offices. The ViewSonic LDP216-251 delivers 600 nits peak brightness, weighs in at 500 kg and consumes 4,000 W of power.

Unveiled earlier this year and currently the fastest solution available for smartphones and tablets, the LPDDR5T memory from SK hynix is now shipping to corporate customers. Such a client is Vivo, a brand that announced two MediaTek Dimensity 9300-powered handsets that use the new memory, namely X100 and X100 Pro.

Tesla has removed language from its Cybertruck sales agreement that required buyers to grant Tesla first right of refusal should the buyer of the Cybertruck decide to sell it within the first year of ownership. It's unclear why Tesla removed the clause, but it's unlikely to be because it's unenforceable — Ford has already proved that they can be binding.

To help with asynchronous work, Zoom has added a new feature that allows users to record, edit, and share videos. It seeks to eliminate the need for unnecessary emails or meetings.

Google will delete inactive accounts and their associated content starting Dec 1, 2023 (no sign-in for 2+ years). Inactive accounts increase hack risk and use up storage space. Users should sign in or delete unused accounts to avoid deletion.

Weighing just 1 kg, an OLED display with 5 million pixels and a CPU that exploits its full potential despite its slim design: the outstanding final score of the Asus ExpertBook is hardly surprising. Only one aspect should be viewed critically.

Volvo recently presented its first fully electric van, the EM90. Based on the Geely Zeekr 009, the Volvo EM90 is therefore a luxuriously equipped electric MPV with plenty of space and comfort as well as high safety standards thanks to modern assistance systems.

AMD has now unleashed the latest variant of its Radeon PRO series of graphics cards for workstation-type PCs. The W7700 is a medium-power example of its new generation, yet is touted to help achieve enterprise-grade AI and CAD results with RDNA 3 and GDDR6 memory. These specs are backed to deliver a price-to-performance rating of up to 1.7x that of its predecessors.

Scientist Young Suk Jo has created a new technology that aims to use ammonia as a cheaper and lower-emission fuel in the transportation industry. Ammonia offers a higher energy density compared to hydrogen, making it a significant alternative for creating a climate-friendly transportation network.

The US smartphone market grew by just over 20% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second, according to the latest industry research. This up-tick was attributed to the launch of the latest iPhone 15 series, which accounted for no less than 34% of Apple's entire handset business in the country for that quarter. Then again, the OEM's shipments failed to recover compared to their performance in 2022.

BMW is launching what it calls “highly automated driving” features in Germany. While Germany gets the SAE Level 3 Personal Pilot L3 system, the current Highway Assistant suite is limited to Level 2 in the US and Canada. BMW's Level 3 system will cost €6,000 (around US$ 6,800), and it is fully functional at night. Currently Tesla FSD Beta is generally thought of as Level 2.

Mini aims to bring the John Cooper Works brand into the modern era with its new electric drivetrain, but the brand will continue to focus on the fun side of driving in its performance EVs. Mini Coopers are known for their nimble handling and fun driving characteristics, while electric cars are often heavy, despite great acceleration.

Samsung's latest product for the South Korean market is pitched as a business device - however, a closer look reveals that it is not just any work smartphone, but one with some of the same specs as the Galaxy S21. This ex-flagship reincarnation is also thought to join the Galaxy M series should it be released to the global market soon.

Some people need more memory than everyone else - especially when virtualization comes into play. Often, laptops with a high amount of RAM are pretty big or heavy. The key selling point of the maximum configuration of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11: It is neither of those things while providing 64 GB of RAM.

The increasingly popular electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar is definitely making its own smartphone, according to a new leak. An alleged preview for the device reveals a modern design with design cues suspiciously similar to those of an Android brand also closely associated with an automotive manufacturer in China.

Qualcomm has lost its partner in satellite-based connectivity, thereby ending the OEM's aspirations to bring the feature to next-gen smartphones via its own Snapdragon platform. Meanwhile, the technology's spread in the Chinese market remains unchecked, with companies such as OPPO and Honor pledging to integrate it into their next flagship devices.

Replacing Mail, Calendar, and the classic Outlook, Microsoft's new Outlook for Windows might be a security problem for some users. Available as a part of Windows 11 and as a standalone app, it shares all emails, contacts, and events with Microsoft. The new Outlook can read, create, share, and even delete data.

Volkswagen plans to bring an affordable EV to market in the US at under US$35,000 within the next three to four years. The German brand aims to manufacture the as-yet-unnamed EV in North America to take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives.

Lucid Motors will start installing Tesla's NACS hardware in its vehicles in 2025. Lucid's CEO, Peter Rawlinson, was previously hesitant about adopting the charging standard, citing high voltage as a priority. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, took to social media platform X to gloat about Lucid's adoption of the charging standard.

Ossia asserts that it is ready to bring its Cota Real Wireless Power to any USB type-C device with its new Universal Adapter. Furthermore, the compact gadget is touted to charge a compatible device over the air, received from a Hub located within a 30-foot range. The OEM touts this latest product as the next step toward a world where electrical power works more like Wi-Fi than it does an Ethernet connection.

Philips has released the 49B2U5900CH, an ultra-wide monitor that is equivalent to having a pair of 27-inch and 16:9 monitors sat next to each other. The Philips 49B2U5900CH will be available later this month in multiple markets with a 450 nit, 1440p and 75 Hz panel.

Volvo has signed an agreement with Chinese-owned Italian press maker IDRA for two 9,000-ton gigapresses. It plans to install these gigapresses in the new Slovakian EV plant. Gigacasting aims to simplify component manufacturing and cost, but there are questions about the quality and safety of the process's resulting parts.

Shuntaro Furukawa, the president of Nintendo, has made some interesting comments in regard to numerous Nintendo Switch 2 rumors. At a recent press conference, the executive managed to deny certain well-known Switch 2 reports while seemingly making sure to use the correct language in his carefully worded dismissals.

The upcoming Polestar 5 electric four-door GT car will use SK On's 56 cm NMC cells. The South Korean battery maker claims these cells offer high energy density and meet high safety standards, particularly for thermal protections. The Polestar 5 EV boasts 884 hp and 900 Nm of torque from a dual-motor AWD setup.

A leaked letter from Kia has revealed that the company is asking US dealerships to sell the new EV9 electric SUV at its MSRP. Customers can already reserve the model, with the first deliveries in early 2024 and prices starting at US$54,900. Several trim options are available, up to the GT-Line e-AWD, priced at US$73,900.

In a surprising twist, Huawei is now said to have applied its experience in making its own mobile processors to the production of equally custom, in-house CMOS sensors for its smartphone's cameras. Then again, these reports are based on a rumor that the OEM is out of the camera components it normally sources from dedicated imaging tech company Sony.

An agreement signed between Stellantis and the UAW confirms that by 2028, the Jeep Wrangler will only be offered with all-electric and mild hybrid drivetrains. The PHEV Wrangler 4xe will receive an update in 2025, and Jeep will ditch the ICE and PHEV drivetrains by 2028, when it introduces the all-electric version alongside a range extender hybrid.

Avnos, a Californian company, is developing a device that separates both CO₂ and water from thin air. This pioneering technology aims to tackle climate change and alleviate drought in some parts of the world. Avnos has secured $92 million in funding to date.

The LG ProBeam BU53RG 4K short throw laser projector is now on sale in countries around the world. The gadget has been designed for businesses, with up to 5,000 ANSI lumens brightness. Other features of the new model include built-in 5W speakers, webOS 6.0 Signage and a screen-sharing tool.

Over a year ago, consumer rights activist Justin Gutmann filed a lawsuit against Apple concerning the alleged throttling of iPhones which occurred in 2017. Last week, Apple failed to stop the case from going to trial. If the Cupertino giant loses, the fine could go up to US$1.9 billion plus interest.

Grok has been unveiled as the world's latest chatbot by xAI. The start-up asserts that its new AI-powered tool can outdo GPT in terms of both academic performance and real-world search results. It is also backed to stand out with an ability to "answer questions with a bit of wit" and what the Elon Musk-linked company calls "a rebellious streak".

Xiaomi has made more progress toward the mass production of its long-awaited first-gen car, according to the latest leaks. The vehicle itself has also allegedly surfaced in a new in-the-wild leak - or, to be more accurate, part of it has. The major component's new photos purport to confirm which Tesla the first-gen Xiaomi car will most resemble.

To save the environment, Silicon Valley scientists have created trees which are believed to absorb more CO₂ from the air than regular ones. These poplars, marketed as eco-friendly, have been established as the globe's initial modified forest. However, experts in forest health and photosynthesis have voiced their doubts about the project.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has confirmed the receipt of a complaint from Samsung about competing display OEM BOE. The former asserts that the latter has employed "unfair methods of competition" that include OLED tech intellectual property (IP) infringement. These alleged shady practices are thought to have helped BOE cut into lucrative business related to Apple's iPhones with which Samsung is normally strongly associated.

AIR Company creates the first-ever vodka produced from CO₂ which comes with a negative carbon footprint. The company is devoted to extracting CO₂ from the atmosphere and converting it into a product to combat global warming. Moreover, the company makes use of sustainable energy to concoct a CO₂-based perfume that carries a genderless scent.

Anthro Energy's flexible energy storage systems will be used in next-generation electronic devices and are currently being sold to the first wearable manufacturers. The development team has identified promising applications for the fireproof batteries, particularly in electric vehicles and laptops. By integrating them into belts, straps and other "dead spaces", Anthro batteries are expected to extend the service life of devices by 2 to 5 times.

Hydrogen technology will play a crucial role in a climate-friendly energy supply in the future. It has potential as an alternative in transport and logistics and in the development of e-fuels. Thus, hydrogen could provide a basis for advancing energy transition. This 20-million-euro funded research programme aims to explore the potential and limitations of this technology.

Lenovo's new ThinkPad P1 G6 performs admirably as a mobile workstation with fast GPUs and a vivid IPS display. At the same time, it replaces the previous multimedia flagship ThinkPad X1 Extreme, which is a questionable marketing choice.

Samsung is now rumored to launch a successor to the durability- and security-focused Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, to be released in 2024, said to come in 5G- and non-5G-capable variants. Evidence of its existence has surfaced in a new leak that points to a hallmark of a business-like, rugged tablet.

The Optoma UHZ66 4K projector is now on sale. The company suggests using the new model to watch movies or sports or in a meeting room. Features include up to 4,000 lumens brightness from a laser light source, gaming mode and integrated speaker.

After establishing itself as a brand worth considering in the mini PC market, Minisforum leaps forward with its first computer peripheral, namely the MKB i83 mechanical keyboard. Its specs and features include anodized aluminum body, double-shot PBT keycaps, Kailh MX Red switches, as well as multi-device connectivity.

A new eco-friendly fuel, produced from aluminium, stores more energy than batteries and can be obtained from scrap metal. This recycled energy source would otherwise go to waste and can be used in the transport sector to reduce emissions.

A number of Tesla owners have taken to Reddit after their front cameras fogged up and stopped working in cold weather, leaving several features, including the US$10,000 FSD Beta, inoperable. Tesla has declined to assist to these customers, despite many of their vehicles being covered under warranty.