Mobile

SEA region’s smartphone sales take a dive in Q3: COVID-19 lockdowns, surging inflation, geopolitical angst, stagnant innovation, and cooling consumer spending have taken a toll on smartphone spending in various Asian countries.

The wealthiest person vs. the most valuable company: Elon Musk is attacking Apple for ceasing advertising and threatening to pull Twitter from its App Store, setting up a monumental clash he can’t possibly win.

China’s protest flashpoint: Citizens are taking to the streets in the most significant protest against the Communist Party’s tightening grip since the Tiananmen crisis. Geopolitical strife could shut down the world’s factory.

Whether shopping online or in physical stores, most US consumers prefer to use mobile devices to engage with loyalty programs, and less than half prefer email, according to Yotpo’s survey.

Worldwide, head-worn augmented reality (AR) revenues will hit $35.06 billion in 2026, up from $3.78 billion this year, according to ARtillery Intelligence. These revenues include spending on everything from devices to content.

The toll of tech’s frenetic upgrade cadence: A riot in the world’s biggest iPhone factory underscores the need for technology’s cadence to slow down, especially in light of slowing innovation and lack of net new breakthroughs.

Mobile duopoly under scrutiny: Apple and Google own the platforms, mobile devices, operating systems, app stores, and browsers. UK regulators are preparing to enact more stringent regulations.

The FCA has cautioned that trading apps’ gamification can lead to “gambling-like behaviors” in amateur investors.

TSMC commits to building high-end chips in US: The global chip production landscape could shift as fabs find homes in US cities, but economic uncertainty could pause expansion plans.

How much information is Google collecting on users? It seems even company employees don’t know, according to court documents unveiled via a class-action privacy suit.

Big tech’s talent loss is another industry’s gain: Burned by the raft of layoffs, tech talent is seeking opportunities in other industries. The shift could make tech’s future talent search problematic.

Ford, VW vehicles rendered obsolete by 3G shutdowns: The carmakers are dealing with the fallout of 2014-2019 models no longer being able to remotely start, lock, or unlock due to the loss of 3G access.

Snapchat can increase AR adoption through the World Cup: A number of high profile sponsors have teamed up with Snap to debut AR try-ons and more.

Meta wants to transform WhatsApp into a super app: It is rolling out the ability to search businesses by category, browse their catalogs, and buy without leaving the app.

Privacy-tracking fines are piling up for Google: Tracking users without their consent has consequences. But million-dollar fines for billion-dollar profits are a slap on the wrist.

It’s Amazon’s turn to cut jobs: Amazon comes to terms with economic realities, cutting 1% of its workforce to better prepare for Q4 headwinds, uncertainty, and earnings slowdowns, which could lead to further layoffs in 2023.

The Call of Duty conflict rages on: Xbox chief Phil Spencer said the franchise will remain on Sony consoles in an attempt to appease European antitrust authorities.

Apple has a tightrope to walk: As it looks to grow its ad business, it needs to keep customer service at high level.

GroupM warns clients that Twitter is a “high-risk” media buy: Chaos under Musk's leadership is causing brands to pull spending or leave the platform entirely.

Ads on the menu: Advertising links to services like OneDrive are appearing as menu items in Windows 11 dropdowns. It’s a way to boost advertising and target ads, but it’s not welcome.