Foreign Media: Wi-Fi Will Fade into Obscurity, Unlimited Data is the Trend
Source: Bloomberg, Sina Technology
Bloomberg published an article yesterday stating that whether it is smartphones, smart thermostats, or televisions, almost every internet-connected device has a “Wi-Fi” icon. However, it is believed that soon, Wi-Fi will be forgotten by people.
Currently, major mobile operators in the United States offer unlimited data plans, allowing consumers to avoid turning on Wi-Fi networks to prevent expensive data charges. This is a significant change that may lead to Wi-Fi fading into obscurity in the future. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies has also dimmed the prospects for Wi-Fi. (Editor’s note: Almost all unlimited data plans have a cap, and exceeding it will result in throttling.)
It is expected that in the near future, the proportion of mobile data traffic used by consumers in public places (such as stadiums and airports) will decrease from the current 1/2 to 1/3.
Of course, the erosion of Wi-Fi’s influence may be a slow and bumpy process. Unlimited data plans make Wi-Fi irrelevant for smartphones, but other devices at home, from MacBooks to Amazon Echo, still rely on Wi-Fi to connect to the internet.
Moreover, in some office buildings or homes where there is no mobile signal or the signal is unstable, Wi-Fi is still needed as a supplement. Additionally, new technologies such as LTE-U, CBRS, and 5G networks will also threaten Wi-Fi’s position in the future.
Comment: It is still too early to say “Wi-Fi is dead”; issues such as signal coverage, device support (for example, most PCs do not have cellular data modules), and the capacity of base stations are all significant problems. Furthermore, the relationship between new technologies like LTE-U and Wi-Fi cannot be considered as a “replacement” relationship.
Baido Responds to Penalty for Publishing Illegal Medical Ads: Did Not Understand Specific Regulations in Shanghai
Source: Sina Technology
On September 1 last year, the “Interim Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising” officially came into effect. Subsequently, the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Bureau launched an investigation into the suspected illegal advertising behavior of advertisers such as Shanghai Anping Hospital, as well as the advertising publishers such as Baidu Search and Sogou Search for failing to fulfill their review obligations.
Yesterday, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce announced the 2017 No. 1 false illegal advertisement notice, stating that Baidu and Sogou were fined for failing to fulfill their legal obligations in advertising publication.
It was reported that as a publisher of internet paid search advertisements, the Baidu platform failed to effectively fulfill its legal obligations and published a batch of advertisements for medical institutions such as Xupu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Anping Hospital, and Chuansha Tian Shi Clinic, and the related search keywords pointed to medical services that these institutions were not qualified to provide, resulting in a fine of 28,000 yuan. Sogou was fined 10,300 yuan for knowingly publishing false advertisements.
In response to the penalty, @Baidu Promotion made a statement on Weibo last night. Baidu Promotion stated that the “Maternal and Child Health Technology Service License” required in the Shanghai area is not required in some areas, and some areas have even stopped issuing such qualifications, and they will improve their review system in the future.
Comment: If you don’t understand, remember to “Baidu it”.
LV Launches iPhone Cases Priced at 7 Times the iPhone 7
Source: The Verge
This week, Louis Vuitton (LV) launched several iPhone cases. This series of cases is named Eye-Trunk, specifically designed for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
The cheapest is the canvas case designed for the iPhone 7, priced at $1,180 (approximately 8,152 yuan).
The most expensive is the crocodile leather case designed for the iPhone 7 Plus, priced at $5,500 (approximately 40,000 yuan), which is enough to buy 7 iPhone 7s.
Comment: With an LV phone case, the next time the phone accidentally drops, you’ll have to check if the case is damaged first, as the case is worth more than the phone.
Ofo and 700Bike Jointly Launch New Generation Shared Bicycle Ofo Curve
Source: Phoenix Technology
The shared bicycle platform Ofo and 700Bike jointly launched the new generation shared bicycle Ofo Curve. The new bike has been upgraded in areas that are prone to damage, such as tires, seats, chains, and chain covers.
The Ofo Curve features a mechanical height-adjustable seat post that can be adjusted with one hand, with height markings on the seat post for users to adjust according to their height. Additionally, the Ofo Curve is equipped with a storage basket with a fixed center of gravity design that does not sway during turns while riding. The Ofo Curve also adopts a drum brake design, which allows it to be unaffected by weather conditions, reducing the industry probability of brake failure due to wear from 15.3% to almost 0%.
This is the second collaborative model released by 700Bike and Ofo, with the first model only deployed in Shenzhen. Dai Wei stated that the new model will be deployed in most operating cities, and the recently launched smart lock will also be paired with the new model. 700Bike has set production standards for this model, but the cost of a single Ofo Curve and the specific deployment quantity have not been disclosed.
Comment: With 700Bike’s involvement, the Ofo Curve’s “appearance” and reliability look quite good, and the basket is finally included, but the cost is likely not low. I hope to ride the Ofo Curve in the capital soon.
Fresh News Brief
Google Gboard Adds Real-Time Text Translation Feature
Google has brought a series of new features to the Android version of its Gboard keyboard, including integration with Google Translate, which can translate any text input by the user in real-time into the desired language.
Users only need to click the “Translate” icon, and Gboard will automatically translate the text for the user, rather than translating after sending the message or inputting text into Google’s dedicated translation app. The “Translate” box in the quick start menu also supports pasting text, so you can copy any sent text and translate it into the user’s native language.
Airbnb Raises $1 Billion, Valued at Approximately $31 Billion
On the evening of March 9, Beijing time, CNBC reported, citing informed sources, that the travel rental platform Airbnb has just completed a new round of financing exceeding $1 billion, bringing the company’s valuation to approximately $31 billion.
As part of the F round of financing, Airbnb recently raised another $450 million, making the total round of financing exceed $1 billion, nearly double the amount raised in September last year. In September last year, Airbnb raised $555 million, led by Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures.
Meizu’s New Phone Passes Review, May Feature YunOS System
As new phones continue to be exposed, another new Meizu phone has received approval for its radio transmission model. This new phone is model M741Y, with a certificate valid until December 31, 2018. Some netizens believe that the model ending with “Y” indicates it will feature the YunOS system. Generally, Meizu products featuring the YunOS system are more likely to be from the Meilan series.
Unisoc Group Partners with Apple Supplier to Co-Develop Chips
Unisoc Group’s Spreadtrum Communications announced a strategic partnership with Dialog Semiconductor, a chip supplier for Apple’s iPhone and iPad, to jointly develop an LTE chip platform.
Dialog will provide highly integrated mixed-signal power management technology for Unisoc’s LTE chip platform aimed at mainstream global markets.According to Unisoc’s announcement, in the first phase of the strategic cooperation, Dialog’s latest custom SoC chip SC2705 will be applied to Unisoc’s 14nm mid-to-high-end LTE chip platform SC9861G-IA. This platform uses Intel’s 14nm process technology and incorporates Intel’s Airmont processor architecture. Based on this platform, Unisoc and Dialog will also launch more differentiated LTE products and solutions targeting mainstream smartphones and regional markets.
