Chipmakers warn of worst downturn in a decade: Recovery from shortages was expected by late 2022, but chip manufacturers are bracing for tougher times as supply chains are challenged by economic uncertainty and political conflict.
TikTok parent ByteDance downsizes gaming development: Layoffs in gaming studios indicate a quick retreat from gaming at a time when China’s video game industry is seeing a decline in revenue.
We forecast that there will be over 25 million US Apple Watch users this year, nearly half of all US smartwatch users. But Apple is seeking a bigger piece of the pie, leaning into health and safety features with its latest Watch devices to attract new (and current) users.
The coming boom in trans-Pacific subsea cable installations: Regional demand for bandwidth is nearly doubling every two years. A wave of new subsea cables is coming, but at a high cost.
Apple is hiring to create a $30 billion ad business: This comes as incumbents are rebuilding their own in the wake of ATT.
T-Mobile widens its spectrum: Winning 90% share of available 2.5 GHz band licenses at auction solidifies T-Mobile’s lead in coverage. The move could win over more 5G subscribers and MVNO partnerships.
Meta and Qualcomm’s bid to build a better metaverse: Custom VR chipsets could elevate graphics and bring the metaverse closer to reality, addressing complaints of janky-looking avatars and improving user adoption.
Google starts allowing third-party payments: Developers in India and Japan are among the first to experience more equitable app-payments options—the move could push rival Apple to follow suit.
Snap in survival mode: Snap is laying off some of its augmented reality hardware and software talent, stalling years of innovation and putting its leadership position in AR at risk.
Sony’s mobile play: A hoard of portable and console gaming titles positions PlayStation Studios Mobile Division as a key player in a gaming market that could reach $338 billion by 2030.
Robin Games brings real-life shopping to mobile gaming: The developer’s latest release allows players to purchase furniture and decor after trying them in-game.
Twitter is following social media’s personalization trend: Its new “Circles” feature is a play to boost engagement and help address brand safety issues.
COVID-19 shuts down Chinese cities: Millions of residents are locked down under zero-COVID policies in Shenzhen, Hebei, Dalian, and Tianjin, shutting down factories and compounding economic uncertainty.
DOJ vs. Apple: The US justice department is considering a challenge to Apple’s market dominance. Developer restrictions, payments ecosystems, and anticompetitive business practices could be key areas of conflict.
WhatsApp users in India can shop for and pay for groceries within the app, which could boost engagement with its payments tools.
WhatsApp is one step closer to being a super app: It now offers an in-app shopping experience for users in India as it looks to monetize business messaging.
Sony expands its empire into mobile: Its latest acquisition will be a testing ground for in-game ads and mobile service games.
Researchers are using NIH funding to see if Apple Watch app algorithm can prevent strokes. We wonder if doctors will trust the data.
Pinterest looks to revive flagging growth with Shuffles: The invite-only collage app is making waves on TikTok and boosting the platform’s appeal with Gen Z and younger audiences.