作者彙整: Stephen Warwick

Without Apple’s own sales numbers, predicting smartphone sales is a tricky business.

What you need to know

Several analysts have taken a stab at the Q4 2019 smartphone sales numbers.
There is a suggestion that Apple has equaled Samsung smartphone sales, and maybe even passed it.
The consensus seems to be that there is now nothing to separate the two.

Reports on smartphone sales in Q4 2019 suggest that the gap between Apple and Samsung is now closer than ever.

Several outlets have published estimates regarding smartphone shipments for the last quarter, and whilst there is variation, the overall figures seem to suggest that the margin between Apple and Samsung has closed significantly.

According to Bloomberg:

Industry trackers on Thursday released estimates that show the iPhone maker close to matching or surpassing its Korean rival in shipments during the pivotal holiday quarter. Strategy Analytics put Apple’s iPhone shipments for the fourth quarter at 70.7 million, slightly… 閱讀全文 →

Do it for the Byte!

What you need to know

Vine is back! But now it’s got a different name.
Byte is a new app that can be used to create 6-second looping videos.
The new app was made by the creators of Vine and basically this is awesome.

The long-awaited successor to Vine, Byte, is now available on iOS and Android!

The team behind Byte made the announced on Twitter in the small hours of Saturday, January 25:

dear friends,today we’re bringing back 6-second looping videos and a new community for people who love them.it’s called byte and it’s both familiar and new. we hope it’ll resonate with people who feel something’s been missing. https://t.co/g5qOIdM8qG— byte (@byte_app) January 25, 2020

The team said:

You know the drill: upload from your camera roll or use the byte camera to capture stuff. there are lots of ways to find new personalities and moments. explore what the community is watching and loving, view posts handpicked by our editors, or browse on your … 閱讀全文 →

“Big Tech is bent on expanding until it does absolutely everything”

What you need to know

A group of small tech firms has told Congress that Apple, Google, and Amazon used market dominance to crush them.
Sonos, Tile, Basecamp, and PopSockets all appeared before a House antitrust committee on Friday, January 17.
They all told stories of how larger tech companies used their market dominance to cripple competition.

Sonos, Tile, Basecamp, and PopSockets have all testified to a House antitrust committee, stating that big tech firms like Amazon, Apple and Google used their market dominance and bullying business tactics to crush the competition.

As reported by Business Insider:

Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple were the subjects of scathing criticism by smaller tech companies during a Congressional hearing on Friday.

An assortment of tech firms that sell everything from speakers to phone accessories accused the tech giants of bullying business tactics.

Sonos, Tile, Base… 閱讀全文 →

That’s even better than PoGo’s launch year!

What you need to know

Pokémon GO has its best-ever year in terms of user spending in 2019.
Users spent nearly $900 million in 2019.
That’s a 10% increase on 2018, and even better than its 2016 launch year.

Reports have revealed that Pokémon GO saw its best-ever year of user spending in 2019.

New Sensor Tower data suggests that user spending in Pokémon GO reached $894 million in 2019, a market improved on 2018, and the highest ever user spend in a year for PoGO.

Of course, Pokémon GO was released in July of 2016 but still managed to achieve user spend figures of $832 million. So whilst 2019 was the biggest year overall for the game, it’s not quite a fair comparison.

PoGo has enjoyed something of a resurgence in popularity after engagement (and spending) slipped in its second year, user spending fell by 29% to a still enormous $589 million. Sensor Tower notes:

2017 represented a down year for the game, although it still accumu… 閱讀全文 →

“We firmly deny this baseless accusation, and we are profoundly saddened by this complete fabrication that was thrown at us.”

What you need to know

The co-founder of ToTok has taken to Twitter in a public appeal to Apple and Google.
Giacomo Ziani posted a messaged on Twitter pleading with both companies to reinstate its messaging app.
The app was removed from both app stores over concerns it was being used as a spy tool by the UAE.

The co-founder of ToTok has taken to Twitter to plead with both Google and Apple, asking that they reinstate ToTok on the App Store and Google Play.

The app was removed from the App Store and Google Play earlier this month over concerns it was being used by intelligence agencies in the United Arab Emirates to spy on its users.

Now, in a video message, Giacomo Ziani, co-founder of the app, says the move “is seriously hurting our company and putting all of our efforts at risk”.

As reported by Arabian Business, he said that ToTok were international en… 閱讀全文 →

A really great gesture to end the year.

What you need to know

Vodafone has announced it will donate a copy of #Goldilocks to every UK primary (elementary) school in the UK.
#Goldilocks is an updated fairytale that helps to educate young children about social media, especially the need to be kind.
It was originally released in December of 2018 to very positive feedback.

UK carrier Vodafone has announced it will donate a copy of its #Goldilocks story to every primary (elementary) school in the UK.

By way of a press release, Vodafone announced that every primary school in the UK will receive a copy of #Goldilocks, to help start conversations about responsible social media use amongst young children. The release states:

Vodafone will deliver a copy of #Goldilocks, a book written to help parents and children talk about social media and how to use it responsibly, to every primary school in the UK.

Over 20,000 copies of the book will be sent to schools as a resource to enco… 閱讀全文 →

It’s part of an effort to “address existing and emerging threats”.

What you need to know

The US Navy has banned TikTok from government-issued mobile devices.
It says it’s part of an effort to deal with “existing and emerging threats”.
Users of government issue phones who do not remove the app will be denied access to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.

The US Navy has banned TikTok from government-issued mobile devices, stating that any users who do not remove the app will not de granted access to the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.

As reported by Reuters, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Uriah Orland said the move was part of an effort to “address existing and emerging threats.” No further information was given as to what danger the app presents. TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny recently because of its ties to China.

The report states:

A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government-issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commer… 閱讀全文 →

There are concerns about Chinese investment in apps like TikTok.

What you need to know

Apple and Google have been asked about the disclosure mobile apps must provide regarding overseas ties.
The chair of a U.S. congressional panel has written to both companies on the issue.
Rep. Stephen Lynch cited recent press reports of national security risks over the data of U.S. Citizens.

Chair of a U.S. congressional panel Rep. Stephen Lynch has written to Apple and Google regarding whether or not app developers are required to disclose overseas ties.

As reported by Reuters, Lynch revealed his request in a statement on Friday. This follows concerns that have been raised about the use of data by apps that have ties or investment with overseas countries, in particular, China.

In his statement he said:

“Recent press reports have shed light on allegations that certain foreign companies and developers may be providing sensitive data on U.S. citizens via their mobile applications to their … 閱讀全文 →

Spoiler alert: You have to live in Singapore.

What you need to know

Coca-Cola Singapore is to release 8,000 Coca-Cola bottles with OLED lightsabers in their design.
The promotion will celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on December 22.
To get one, you’ll need to solve a riddle on Instagram and Facebook, find a gatekeeper and get a token to redeem at 7-Eleven stores around Singapore.

Coca-Cola has created some very special Star Wars edition bottles with light-up OLED lightsabers to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

As reported by CNET, 8,000 bottles will feature glowing lightsaber designs wielded either by Rey or Kylo Ren. The battery-powered OLED bottles will allow you to light up the bottle around 500 times and have been created in partnership with German OLED company Inuru. To activate the light, all you need to do is touch it!

Getting hold of one is a little trickier however. First off, you have to live in Singapore. Between th… 閱讀全文 →

But the incidents only account for 0.0002% of 1.3 billion rides last year

What you need to know

Uber has published its first-ever safety report for 2018.
The report reveals that 9 people were murdered during rides, with 58 killed in crashes.
There were over 3,000 reported sexual assaults, but all incidents make up a tiny fraction of the overall number of rides.

Uber has published its first every safety report, detailing incidents recorded during 1.3 billion rides taken in 2018.

As reported by The New York Times, the figures detail 3,045 sexual assaults during rides, along with nine murders and 58 people killed in crashes.

Whilst that sounds pretty harrowing at face value, 1.3 billion rides were taken in the U.S. last year, which means that the number of unsafe incidents makes up just 0.0002 percent of total rides. Uber’s chief legal officer Tony West said:

“The numbers are jarring and hard to digest… What it says is that Uber is a reflection of the society it serves.”

… 閱讀全文 →