Chris Liu
The Latest
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ByteDance Valuation Surges Past $400 Billion Again as AI Growth Offsets TikTok Uncertainty: Report
ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has seen its valuation soar past $400 billion as key investors, including SoftBank Group Corp., Fidelity Investments, and T. Rowe Price Group Inc., mark up their assessments of the company's worth. The increase signals renewed confidence in ByteDance, despite ongoing regulatory risks in the United States that threaten TikTok's future. 
ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has seen its valuation soar past $400 billion as key investors, including SoftBank Group Corp., Fidelity Investments, and T. Rowe Price Group Inc., mark up their assessments of the company's worth. The increase signals renewed confidence in ByteDance, despite ongoing regulatory risks in the United States that threaten TikTok's future. -
Trump Says Apple to Shift Manufacturing From Mexico to U.S. Following Tariff Pressure
President Donald Trump said Friday that Apple Inc. (AAPL) plans to shift part of its manufacturing from Mexico to the United States, claiming that CEO Tim Cook made the commitment during a White House meeting earlier this week. Trump stated that Apple had "stopped two plants in Mexico" and would instead manufacture products in the U.S. to avoid potential tariffs. 
President Donald Trump said Friday that Apple Inc. (AAPL) plans to shift part of its manufacturing from Mexico to the United States, claiming that CEO Tim Cook made the commitment during a White House meeting earlier this week. Trump stated that Apple had "stopped two plants in Mexico" and would instead manufacture products in the U.S. to avoid potential tariffs. -
Amazon to Shut Down Android Appstore by August 2025, Retains Support on Fire Devices
Amazon will discontinue its Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025, marking the end of an alternative app distribution platform that has struggled to compete with Google Play. The decision follows years of diminishing relevance outside of Amazon's own ecosystem, prompting the company to refocus on its proprietary devices such as Fire TV and Fire Tablets. 
Amazon will discontinue its Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025, marking the end of an alternative app distribution platform that has struggled to compete with Google Play. The decision follows years of diminishing relevance outside of Amazon's own ecosystem, prompting the company to refocus on its proprietary devices such as Fire TV and Fire Tablets. -
Oppo’s Find N5 Unveiled as World’s Thinnest Foldable, Introduces Mac Remote Control Feature
Oppo has launched the Find N5, the world's thinnest foldable phone, introducing an advanced integration feature that allows it to remotely control Apple's Mac computers-a first for an internationally available Android device. In addition to its slim profile, measuring just 8.93mm when folded, the Find N5 boasts wireless file sharing with macOS and an innovative screen-mirroring function that enables users to interact with their Mac from their phone. 
Oppo has launched the Find N5, the world's thinnest foldable phone, introducing an advanced integration feature that allows it to remotely control Apple's Mac computers-a first for an internationally available Android device. In addition to its slim profile, measuring just 8.93mm when folded, the Find N5 boasts wireless file sharing with macOS and an innovative screen-mirroring function that enables users to interact with their Mac from their phone. -
Huawei Expands Global Comeback With $3,660 Trifold Smartphone
Huawei has introduced its Mate XT trifold smartphone to international markets, marking the company's latest attempt to regain footing outside of China after years of U.S. sanctions curtailed its global presence. The foldable device, which carries a price tag of €3,499 ($3,660), is now available in select markets, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, though Huawei has yet to disclose a full list of countries where it will be sold. 
Huawei has introduced its Mate XT trifold smartphone to international markets, marking the company's latest attempt to regain footing outside of China after years of U.S. sanctions curtailed its global presence. The foldable device, which carries a price tag of €3,499 ($3,660), is now available in select markets, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, though Huawei has yet to disclose a full list of countries where it will be sold. -
Musk’s xAI Unveils Grok-3, Claims AI Model Surpasses OpenAI and Google
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence venture, xAI, introduced its latest AI model, Grok-3, on Tuesday, claiming it delivers significantly improved reasoning capabilities and outperforms rival models from OpenAI, Google, and China-based DeepSeek. The company also announced a new AI-driven search tool, Deep Search, which it described as a "next-generation search engine." 
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence venture, xAI, introduced its latest AI model, Grok-3, on Tuesday, claiming it delivers significantly improved reasoning capabilities and outperforms rival models from OpenAI, Google, and China-based DeepSeek. The company also announced a new AI-driven search tool, Deep Search, which it described as a "next-generation search engine." -
Apple to Launch M5 Chip in MacBook Pro First, Delaying iPad Pro Upgrade to 2026
Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation M5 chip in the MacBook Pro before rolling it out to the iPad Pro, marking a departure from previous Apple Silicon launch patterns. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the M5-powered MacBook Pro could arrive in late 2025, with the iPad Pro following in the first half of 2026. 
Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation M5 chip in the MacBook Pro before rolling it out to the iPad Pro, marking a departure from previous Apple Silicon launch patterns. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the M5-powered MacBook Pro could arrive in late 2025, with the iPad Pro following in the first half of 2026. -
South Korea Halts DeepSeek AI Downloads Over Data Privacy Concerns
DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that recently upended global AI markets, has temporarily halted downloads of its chatbot app in South Korea following concerns from regulators over data privacy and transparency. 
DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that recently upended global AI markets, has temporarily halted downloads of its chatbot app in South Korea following concerns from regulators over data privacy and transparency. -
TikTok Restored to Apple, Google App Stores
TikTok has returned to Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of a law that would have banned the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divested its U.S. operations. The app became available for download again Thursday evening, nearly a month after it was removed following a Supreme Court ruling upholding the law. 
TikTok has returned to Apple and Google app stores in the U.S. after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of a law that would have banned the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divested its U.S. operations. The app became available for download again Thursday evening, nearly a month after it was removed following a Supreme Court ruling upholding the law. -
Elon Musk to Drop $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid If Nonprofit Abandons For-Profit Transition
Elon Musk has signaled he will withdraw his $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI's nonprofit arm if the company's board agrees to abandon its transition to a for-profit structure, according to a court filing submitted Wednesday. The move marks the latest escalation in an ongoing legal battle between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the organization's future direction. 
Elon Musk has signaled he will withdraw his $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI's nonprofit arm if the company's board agrees to abandon its transition to a for-profit structure, according to a court filing submitted Wednesday. The move marks the latest escalation in an ongoing legal battle between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the organization's future direction.
