The tip of July is the low season of bulletins that precedes the second half of the yr. A very good time to replicate on the outcomes of the primary months of the yr, exactly the highlights of our Winners and Losers this week.
Earlier than we current the names that almost all caught our consideration within the expertise market in current days, let’s have a look again at some important occasions of the previous week.
Nothing to see right here
One of many information that moved the tech media essentially the most this week was the launch of Ear earphones (1) from Nothing, the startup based by ex-OnePlus Carl Pei. With a advertising primarily based on the concept of invisible (or ubiquitous/pervasive) computing, the earphones caught our consideration for its clear end (in contrast to the preliminary teaser, proven on the prime of the web page), apart from the aggressive value.

Now we have not examined Ear (1) (but), however preliminary evaluations point out that these are headphones with engaging end and good sound high quality, however maybe with out the identical impression of the earlier startup of the Chinese language government. It is nonetheless too early to evaluate Nothing’s prospects, however not less than they appear a lot better than these of one other startup-with-substantive/adjective/adverb-in-the-name-founded-by-a-badass government, Important (bear in mind it?).
Copy it, however do not do it prefer it
We have already talked within the final two points about Realme’s magnetic charger, the MagDart. This week, the corporate revealed teasers in regards to the new accent and has already set a presentation date for this Tuesday (3).

With a design very harking back to the MagSafe (to not point out the title), the MagDart can have its personal occasion, pompously named the “Realme Magnetic Innovation Occasion.” The printed teasers do not present the fan-powered mannequin that was leaked this week, however truthfully, the machine within the illustration regarded like a prototype recent out of a 3D printer.
The MagDart occasion also needs to showcase the Realme Flash, which has additionally had quite a lot of teasers leaked, together with a put up with the words “ocho ocho ocho” (eight eight eight eight, in Castilian), a clear reference to the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
Nobody is saved
Our editor Benjamin Lucks spoke to digital safety specialists in current weeks to elucidate why Pegasus adware poses a menace to everybody. The warning was given by WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, who mentioned that the hazard the adware poses impacts all of us.
In any case, Pegasus reveals how mass spying applications exploit safety flaws traded on underground markets. This creates incentives to not report safety bugs to these accountable for methods and gadgets, which finally ends up leaving loopholes open (and exploited) for longer.
The issue has a lot bigger implications than I can summarize in two paragraphs, so I like to recommend studying Ben’s (nice) article, which additionally explains what Pegasus is able to doing and attainable alternate options to buying and selling zero-day flaws.
Winner of the Week: Company Monetary Experiences
This week, the happy-hours for accountants at most tech corporations will need to have been just a little extra energetic than traditional - stereotypes apart. With the publication of main corporations’ monetary statements for the second quarter of 2021, all of them appear to have come out winners.
From Apple - which posted its finest income for a June month - to the LG group - with the best quarterly income in its historical past, in parallel with the top of the yr. From Apple - posting its finest income for a month in June - to LG - which posted the best quarterly income in its historical past alongside the top of its cell phone division operations - the patron electronics sector appears to have put the troublesome yr of 2020 behind it.
Samsung Group posted its finest second quarter in historical past, indicating sturdy efficiency from its part divisions - the conglomerate’s corporations promote AMOLED screens, RAM and flash modules, digicam sensors, produce SoCs and GPUs, and so on.
All of the optimism from the businesses, nevertheless, provides no signal that it will lead to extra competitors or value drops, because the studies primarily highlighted the great outcomes of the premium and companies segments.
As well as, the sturdy demand for elements - and the already commented scarcity of semiconductors - doesn’t give indicators that corporations will be capable of steadiness the manufacturing and stock of chips within the brief time period.
As well as, the sturdy demand for elements - and the already talked about semiconductor scarcity - doesn’t give indicators that corporations will be capable of steadiness chip manufacturing and stock within the brief time period - a lot to the chagrin of those that are nonetheless searching for a video card or online game console (which additionally introduced document gross sales this week).
Loser of the week: Chinese language cell phone market
Whereas the electronics giants have fun document gross sales, the Chinese language smartphone market appears in hangover after the sturdy restoration recorded within the first half of 2021.
After rising virtually 30% between January and March in comparison with the identical interval of 2020 (which was affected by the primary wave of COVID-19 in China, it’s value noting), the second quarter recorded a 17% drop in 2021 in comparison with the months of April to June 2020, in response to figures from consultancy Canalys.
The corporate’s analysts identified that the Chinese language are altering their cell phones much less incessantly. As well as, some extent of concern recognized by Canalys is that the improve cycle to 5G ought to begin to decelerate.

Regardless of the sharp decline within the interval of the entire market, the 4 producers on the prime of the native rankings recorded a rise in gross sales, with chief Vivo rising 23%. Analysts identified that with Huawei’s decline (which went from virtually 40% a yr in the past to lower than 10%), the market focus within the nation has fallen, which can stimulate competitors between manufacturers.
A section that also appears open in China is that of Android flagships, nonetheless with no clear alternative for the hegemony of the Mate and P strains of Huawei. The Canalys report signifies that the launches of the third quarter may give an indication of how manufacturers intend to take the throne left by Huawei.
And it is with that temper of anticipation that we wrap up this week’s article. Did you agree with our (broad) decisions for the winners and losers? Be happy to disagree and criticize within the feedback under. See you subsequent week!
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