Business Articles

Lavoie, McLaren Applied's e-scooter brand, is rumored to be negotiating to acquire e-bike brand VanMoof. It appears that they are one of two parties currently in the running, with the final decision date unclear. Lavoie revealed its first product, the Series 1 e-scooter, earlier this year, with deliveries expected in November.

The old ThinkPad E14 G4 was the last ThinkPad with a 1.8 mm keyboard, which is no longer available in the G5 model. In return, the modern case now offers a better display. The performance of the Ryzen processor, on the other hand, is at a standstill, even if the name suggests otherwise.

Expected to launch next year, the highly-anticipated MS11 is Xiaomi's first electric car and has been recently spotted undergoing testing in Xinjiang. Based on the social media posts of Lei Jun and Lu Weibing, it is very likely that they're testing the upcoming vehicle together.

ESR's latest Kickstarter campaign combines its line of charging stations with wireless charging docks specifically intended for iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches with up-to-100 watt (W) wired charging for the first time. Accordingly, the OEM asserts that a user can charge up to 6 devices at the same time at their respective maximal rates thanks to "advanced" gallium nitride (GaN) technology.

Linus Media Group (LMG), the parent company of YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips, has found itself on the receiving end of heavy criticism regarding repeated factual errors in videos and toxic workplace environment. The bulk of LMG drama unfolded after Gamers Nexus, a YouTube channel focused on PC hardware, uploaded a lengthy video lambasting LMG for factual inaccuracies and questionable ethical practices.

A recent internal Tesla memo has surfaced, threatening workers and contractors with disciplinary action if they are caught taking photos of the upcoming Cybertruck for the remainder of the development process. The timing of the clamp-down is curious, given how close Tesla is to the expected delivery date for the electric pickup.

Elon Musk, the former CEO of X/Twitter, said he wants to change how the block function works on the platform by restricting it to direct messages. A proposed solution is a stronger version of the mute function that disallows users from interacting with someone who has muted them.

Samsung has reportedly augmented its ISOCELL series of mobile device image sensors with new variants of up to 440MP in size. The unprecedentedly high-res new camera component is slated to enter mass production in 2024 along with its new siblings. They are believed to include a new 50MP model with specs to rival the cutting-edge 1-inch Sony IMX989.

Former Tesla factory workers have spoken out against the company's working conditions, with allegations including everything from an extremely high-stress culture to violations of employee safety, and employee harassment.

An industry insider and a report from a Taiwanese news outlet suggest Qualcomm plans to use TSMC's N3E node for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This refutes an earlier rumour which said Samsung Foundry would manufacture the flagship SoC.

Apple has reportedly begun to manufacture units of its iPhone 15, not to mention its Plus, Pro and Pro Max siblings, in certain regions. However, they may be mass-produced in smaller volumes compared to earlier projections. Meanwhile, one of the series' members has allegedly popped up on an official regulator's database ahead of its launch.

HP's EliteBook 845 G10 is a fantastic business laptop with extensive security features, a fast Zen4 processor, great keyboard and very bright 120 Hz display.

With a list price of only US$1 shy of US$10,000, the 144 TB SanDisk Professional G-RAID Shuttle 8 enterprise-class 8-bay external hard drive is now down by 38% and can be acquired for US$6,199.99. Its highlights include hardware RAID, Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connectivity, as well as up to 1,900 MB/s sequential read speed.

According to new AMD-commissioned research, nearly 80% of the 2,000+ "IT leaders" surveyed believed that AI will boost their productivity, while 70% of them believe that it will result in an improved work-life balance. Despite this, just under 50% report that their companies are not ready to adopt the technology necessary to integrate it into their businesses, while 67% believe that doing so poses a new kind of security threat.

The performance-oriented European hardware brand Schenker has launched its premier Summer 2023 sales event via its web-store Bestware, with up to 15% off its latest laptops. They include the up-to-RTX 4090 XMG Neo 16 and 17 E23 models, not to mention the Core i7-13700H-powered Vision 16 Pro M23. Bestware also offers up to 45% on select peripherals and VR hardware during the event.

Apple's reputation for software-locked hardware components has reportedly spread to the MacBook Pro. A device-restoration vlogger claims that swapping these parts between 2 identical units of the same 14-inch SKU results in specific screen defects, as well as missing functions and settings in some cases. These findings suggest that the OEM is indeed trying to "kill" third-party display replacements in even more of its hardware.

Nvidia stock has exploded in 2023 with the rise of generative AI technology. The company is looking to double down its momentum in the server market with the launch of its latest Grace Hopper super chip, which is the first in the world to feature the latest HBM3e memory.

The Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 4 AMD is an example for many recent laptops with AMD CPUs that targets a cheaper price range: Instead of the newest CPUs, customers get served old technology with a new name. This technological stagnation is annoying us and confusing for customers.

OnePlus' community channels have been inundated with user complaints of the dreaded "green line" screen defect that has plagued AMOLED panels over the last few years. Now, the company has announced a new official service program that may result in a new display for free, in the case of devices that still have an active product life-cycle. For those that do not, the OEM is offering hefty discounts on new replacement smartphones instead.

The ESCALADE IQ is the latest all-electric SUV from Cadillac, and is touted to be one of the most premium vehicles of its class on its 2024 release. Qualcomm has announced that it has equipped the ~US$130,000 car with smarts to match its potential for power, by outfitting it with the latest Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions that include the latest Ride Platform SoC and Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF platform.

SK Hynix touted LPDDR5T as the fastest ever DRAM for mobile devices on its early 2023 launch. Now, the OEM claims to have verified these claims using MediaTek's next flagship Dimensity-series SoC, slated to launch as the 9300 later this year. Accordingly, smartphones that rock both this processor and the new class-leading RAM are slated to emerge in 2024.

The BenQ LH820ST Golf Simulator Projector has arrived. The model has a Golf mode to enhance the colors for an immersive experience and can be ceiling mounted to optimize space. The otherwise typical laser short throw projector has a native 1080p resolution and up to 3,600 lumens brightness.

The Steam Deck remains one of the most popular handheld consoles out there - meaning that there are never many of its SKUs to buy out there, either. Then again, Valve has announced a new line of supply for the AMD APU-powered device, in the form of its new Certified Refurbished program. It offers a more sustainable alternative to a new retail unit of the Steam Deck at a discount of up to 20%.

The compact office laptop by Lenovo scores points with low emissions, long battery life numbers and a 16 inch screen in the work-friendly 16:10 format (1,920 x 1,200, IPS, low power). It also includes Thunderbolt 4 and WWAN options.

The NOMVDIC P1000 4K projector is now on sale in the US. The new model has an LED light source, delivering up to 2,300 ANSI lumens brightness. Designed with gaming in mind, the P1000 has a 4.2 ms input lag at 1080p@240Hz resolution. Other features include auto-focus and 1.2X optical zoom.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Qualcomm has stopped developing test chips on Intel's 20A node. It will instead look at TSMC's N3E and Samsung Foundry's 3GAP nodes for future products.

Robert Hallock left AMD in September 2022, after spending over a decade with the company and being involved in marketing processors and GPUs. Now, he is returning to the tech industry by joining Intel, where he will focus on AI for consumer processors as the company's Senior Director of Technical Marketing.

Previously rumored to arrive as PayPal Coin, the brand's first step into the crypto market finally took place yesterday. The PayPal USD (PYUSD) stablecoin, which will be soon traded via the PayPal apps/website, is fully backed by USD deposits alongside short-term US treasuries and similar cash equivalents.

Shortly after releasing the Fiat 600e electric cross-over SUV, news has broken that Fiat is pitched to launch a budget electric Panda in mid-2024. The electric Panda would be an affordable small EV designed to tempt prospective buyers away from similar offerings, like the Renault 5 and Mini Cooper SE.

Lenovo ThinkPads are still known for rather robust designs, even if newer variants are much thinner and lighter. The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga G4 AMD is an exception, as the plastic base without any metal frame to strengthen it is rather weak.

Virtually everyone has heard of top technology billionaires such as Tim Cook and Bill Gates, but the fact is plenty of other entrepreneurs made fortunes on tech products and services many of us use daily. This article puts a brief spotlight on Sunil Mittal, Ma Huateng, Zhang Yiming, Carlos Slim Helú and Larry Ellison.

The instruction set architecture (ISA) RISC-V is increasingly seen as a chip-designing goldmine, mostly thanks to its open-source nature. However, it still needs commercial support to drive its adoption, according to big industry players such as Qualcomm Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and Bosch. To this end, they will fund a new, EU-based body intended to help optimize RISC-V for next-gen automotive and wireless applications.

The latest smartphone market research indicates that OPPO is now the top brand in the Chinese market, and is in the top five worldwide, as of the first half of 2023 (1H2023). Its overall share of the global market went up to 10% for that time period. The OEM's success was attributed to the release and adoption rates of cutting-edge foldable devices such as the Find N2 Flip, as well as its current conventional Find X6 flagships.

A new trademark registration has sparked rumours that Volkswagen is reinventing the Golf GTI for the age of electrification. Volkswagen has previously stated that it is committed to the petrol-powered Golf GTI until at least 2030, but it left the door open for speculation about the potential electric hot hatch coming in the years following.

A group of enterprising hackers has managed to take advantage of a known exploit in Tesla's in-vehicle software that allowed them to access thousands of dollars in software-locked features, sideload custom apps, and, most alarmingly, access private user data. The researchers say that this exploit is exclusive to newer AMD-based Tesla infotainment systems.

The Insta360 ONE RS is a high-end modular action camera that has received an uncharacteristic bunch of discounts through some of its major retail channels. Meanwhile, its maker has released teasers for a new way to capture "underwater experiences" with an imminent launch. It might be a whole new form of waterproof camera - then again, maybe not.

Volkswagen appears to be pursuing another partnership with a Chinese company, this time to produce an electric vehicle under its Jetta subsidiary brand. Insiders indicate that there have been talks between the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture and Chinese company Leap Motor.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, claims, yet again, that the holy grail of the Full Self-Driving is just around the corner. Based on the CEO's comments on the matter, it appears as though Tesla is moving its vehicle instructions over to an AI-based system that would use a neural net to control the vehicle, instead of a set of pre-determined instructions.

Not only is the new Oukitel RT7 Titan touted as the "first rugged tablet with 5G", it also debuts a new battery large enough to sustain an estimated 2,720-hour standby time. The slate is also equipped with "up to 24GB" of RAM, triple rear cameras with Night Vision and even the option of a convenient built-in handle.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, could be developing chatbots powered by AI with various personalities and the ability to hold human-like conversations. Per Financial Times, Meta intends to deploy these chatbots across its platforms to boost user engagement.

After starting production of the Dual-Motor R1T using the efficient Enduro drive units, Rivian has apparently made some tweaks to the platform to trade more torque for a small dip in power figures. Along with more torque, which should improve off-road prowess, the company has also trimmed its warranty period on Dual-Motor R1T units.

Following a protracted crowd-funding and pre-sale process, the 4K/144Hz version of Dough's Spectrum monitor is now available with recommended retail prices starting at US$799 or €899. However, it has reverted to a special offer for a few days. The Spectrum One starts at just US$599/€699 - or possibly even less - during the event.

The folks at Munro Live, who have a long history of disassembling and inspecting Tesla vehicles, think the Cybertruck will be much lighter than the 8,500 to 10,000 lbs (3,855 - 4,536 kg) that Tesla's earlier regulatory filing suggested. The pair also dove into the safety and rigidity of the unique chassis construction.

Audi has introduced the e-tron GT as its latest super-premium electric vehicle (EV) for the Chinese market. The luxury sedan has a dual-motor system rated to propel it from 0 to ~62 miles per hour (or 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (km/h)) in well under 5 seconds. It also has ultra-fast charging touted to be able to fill its battery by 75% in under 30 minutes.

The new US fuel economy rules proposed by the Biden administration would likely see EVs occupy 66% market share — an almost tenfold increase — by 2032, if passed. What's more, the new rules impose stricter regulations on pickup truck fuel economy, which have thus far been given more lenient rules under CAFE requirements thanks to “light truck” classifications.