Mobile

Apple’s manufacturing shift from China: The iPhone maker is looking to India and Vietnam to manufacture its most profitable products—a sign that Apple’s long time reliance on China’s manufacturing could be coming to an end.

Google makes Fitbit data easier for doctors to parse with Cloud integration: But that may not be enough of a lure to help it make up ground in the healthcare cloud market.

Fitbit’s last days: Google is requiring Fitbit customers to transition to Google accounts starting next year. This could solidify Google’s wearables ecosystem and increase market share but risks alienating Fitbit fans.

Smartwatches and fitness trackers face slump: Rising inflation, economic uncertainty, and slowing innovation are ending pandemic-era hyper-growth as the segment matures.

Gaming has a brand safety problem: Major controversies on streaming platform Twitch highlight the challenge in reaching gaming audiences.

All eyes on TikTok: The social video network says it’s banning political ads and fundraising on its platform, but a poor enforcement record and ties to the Chinese government raise doubts that it can remain neutral.

Cost of the tech cold war: The FCC’s list of potential security threats grows longer with ComNet and China Unicom’s inclusion. The cost to rip and replace equipment and services may adversely affect smaller telecoms.

More repairable iPhones: Easier repair earns the iPhone 14 a 7/10 score from iFixit, revealing that Apple is complying with right-to-repair, a feature other smartphones should definitely copy.

Among US adults 34 and younger, 30% had used visual search for shopping as of August, and 12% used it regularly. By comparison, 22% of US adults overall had used the functionality, and 8% used it regularly.

Global eSIM adoption is inevitable: 3.4B devices will be eSIM compatible by 2025. We can expect to see an increase in 5G connectivity in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearables.

Matter around the corner: A leaked Google Nest router hints at the industry-wide transition to a faster, more robust Wi-Fi 6E, which could also be the launchpad for the Matter smart home standard.

Regulators ramp up efforts on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buy: Inquiries into the $68.7 billion blockbuster deal are intensifying, and momentum could carry over to similar gaming mergers.

EU moves to make IoT devices safer: Smart home device manufacturers are being compelled to develop more secure devices and be more transparent about flaws and fixes. Industry-wide standards are needed.

A Figma of an acquisition: Adobe’s $20B Figma purchase has the potential to unlock the remote collaboration market and absorb a growing client base. Could regulators nix the deal on market dominance?

Getting DTx apps like Big Health’s Sleepio on formularies mean doctors trust them—something important to ensure patient uptake.

Meta seeks secrets: The social media behemoth is asking rivals for confidential information in its lawsuit to prove it isn’t a monopoly. The strategy could backfire, leading to more lawsuits or intensifying regulation.

Pixelbook in Google’s graveyard: Once a product that charted the future of Chromebooks, Google’s Pixelbook has been discontinued and the development team dissolved. Chromebook OEMs now need to build their own future.

Apple’s just-released iOS 16 allows users to customize lock screens, control notifications further, and (at long last) edit text messages within 15 minutes. You know what else is changing at Apple? Its advertising strategy.

Technologies like digital clienteling tools and NFTs have created avenues for online engagement that can appeal to luxury consumers while maintaining a sense of exclusivity distinct from the typical public-facing website.