The BBC has been shown a significant – and unfixed – cyber-security risk in a popular AI coding platform. Orchids is a so-called “vibe-coding” tool, meaning people without technical skills can use it to build apps and games by typing a text prompt into a chatbot. Such platforms have exploded in popularity in recent months, and are often heralded as an early example of how various professional services could be done quickly and cheaply by AI. But experts say the ease with which Orchids can be hacked demonstrates the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to our computers in exchange for the convenience of allowing them to carry out tasks autonomously. BBC
The artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Thursday it raised $30bn in its latest funding round that values the Claude maker and OpenAI rival at $380bn, underscoring the breakneck pace of AI investments. The round, led by the Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and hedge fund Coatue Management, is among the largest private fundraising deals on record and comes just five months after Anthropic closed its previous round at a $183bn valuation – meaning the company has more than doubled in value since September. “Anthropic is the clear category leader in enterprise AI,” said Choo Yong Cheen, chief investment officer of private equity at GIC. Guardian
Huawei is now expanding one of its most innovative health features to the Watch GT 6 Pro, allowing users to assess heart failure risk. In January, the company first rolled out this unique capability for the Watch Ultimate 2 smartwatch. The Watch GT 6 Pro model sits on top of the lineup with a strong design featuring sapphire glass and aerospace-grade titanium alloy. The watch features a 1.47-inch AMOLED screen featuring 3000 nits of max brightness. These specs enables bright and clear view of the interface. Huawei
London’s taxi drivers have clashed with driverless car company Waymo after its vehicles were found taking up electric charging bays reserved for black cabs. Taxi groups said there had been multiple cases of Waymo’s electric vehicles using dedicated e-taxi points, leading to intervention by Transport for London (TfL). Industry representatives said that taxi drivers had resorted to cancelling the self-driving cars’ charging sessions. Telegraph
After months of leaks and anticipation, the Humax Aura EZ Freely Recorder is officially on sale – and it comes with a catch or two worth knowing about before you buy. The £249 box is the only standalone Freely device that also lets you record TV – but recording only works from traditional aerial-based Freeview channels, not from Freely’s streaming platform. And unlike its predecessor, there’s no Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, or any third-party app store. Cordbusters
iPhone users claim they’re immediately turned off when they realise a potential partner uses an Android, in a concept dubbed the ‘green bubble ick’. ‘The thought of green texts makes me feel sick,’ one user said on TikTok. Another added: ‘The green text bubble gives the ICK hardddd!’ The nickname is linked to the fact that iPhone users receive green text messages from Android users, rather than Apple’s blue iMessage bubbles. While this might sound trivial, new insights from Compare and Recycle suggest that phone choice is being used as a signal of compatibility. Daily Mail
Free artificial intelligence training is being made available to everyone in the UK as the government steps up efforts to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change. However, ministers acknowledge the programme will only succeed if businesses and workers choose to adopt it. From today, adults can access short, practical courses through the government’s upgraded AI Skills Hub, designed to help people use AI tools in the workplace. The training covers everyday tasks such as drafting text, creating content, and automating administrative work – with some courses taking less than 20 minutes to complete. Sky News
TikTok has reached a settlement to avoid it being involved in a landmark social media addiction trial – a matter of hours before jury selection was due to begin in California. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, alleges the design of platforms’ algorithms left her addicted to social media and negatively affected her mental health. “The parties are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution of this dispute,” the Social Media Victims Law Center said of the TikTok settlement, adding the terms were confidential. BBC
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive, approved allowing minors to access artificial intelligence chatbot companions that safety staffers warned were capable of sexual interactions, according to internal Meta documents filed in a New Mexico state court case and made public on Monday. The lawsuit – brought by the state’s attorney general, Raul Torrez, and scheduled for trial next month – alleges Meta “failed to stem the tide of damaging sexual material and sexual propositions delivered to children” on Facebook and Instagram. Guardian
Huawei has officially confirmed that a new Runner smartwatch is in the making and will debut soon. It has recently announced its partnership with the Swiss-Dutch global company, DSM Firmenich, for its upcoming flagship wearable creation. With the onset of this month, Eliud Kipchoge – a Kenyan distance runner, shared a post on Weibo, suggesting that Huawei and DSM are cooking something new for consumers. Now both companies have confirmed their iconic partnership. Huawei Central
Gavin Newsom has launched an investigation into claims that TikTok’s US arm is censoring content criticising Donald Trump. The Democrat governor of California has tasked officials with reviewing the app’s content moderation policies, just days after its American operations were taken over by a consortium of bidders backed by the US president. Thousands of users have experienced problems with the site in the wake of the takeover, prompting unverified claims that Trump-critical posts are being suppressed. Telegraph
Midway through the seventh paragraph of its press release about the new AirTag, Apple reiterates its surprisingly unambiguous position on the device’s intended usage. “Designed exclusively for tracking objects,” the company writes, “and not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking…” It may have got a louder speaker and longer effective tracking range, but the updated AirTag still doesn’t have “tracking anything with a pulse” on its feature list. MacWorld
This is interesting and new. The latest twist in the ongoing battle between regulators, lawmakers and adult websites will shock millions of users. Access to sites will be blocked from Feb. 2 for any users not yet registered and verified. This affects U.K. users for now and the country’s Online Safety Act — albeit Pornhub, the world’s largest operator, has taken broad issue with the way regulatory restrictions have been implemented. This is likely just the start of a campaign to change minds. Forbes
Adverts will soon appear at the top of the AI tool ChatGPT for some users, the company OpenAI has announced. The trial will initially take place in the US, and will affect some ChatGPT users on the free service and a new subscription tier, called ChatGPT Go. This cheaper option will be available for all users worldwide, and will cost $8 a month, or the equivalent pricing in other currencies. OpenAI says during the trial, relevant ads will appear after a prompt – for example, asking ChatGPT for places to visit in Mexico could result in holiday ads appearing. BBC
Doctors and medical experts have warned of the growing evidence of “health harms” from tech and devices on children and young people in the UK. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) said frontline clinicians have given personal testimony about “horrific cases they have treated in primary, secondary and community settings throughout the NHS and across most medical specialities”. The body, which represents 23 medical royal colleges and faculties, plans to gather evidence to establish the issues healthcare professionals and specialists are seeing repeatedly that may be attributed to tech and devices. Sky News
“What are you even doing in 2025?” says a handsome kid in a denim jacket, somewhere just shy of 18. “Out there it looks like everyone is glued to their phones, chasing nothing.” The AI-generated teenager features in an Instagram video that has more than 600,000 likes from an account dubbed Maximal Nostalgia. The video is one of dozens singing the praises of the 1970s and 1980s. Created with AI, the videos urge viewers to relive their halcyon days. The clips have gone viral across Instagram and Facebook, part of a new type of AI content that has been dubbed “boomerslop”. Telegraph
More than 60 Labour MPs have written to Keir Starmer urging him to back a social media ban for under-16s, with peers due to vote on the issue this week. The MPs, who include select committee chairs, former frontbenchers, and MPs from the right and left of the party, are seeking to put pressure on the Prime Minister as calls mount for the UK to follow Australia’s precedent. Starmer has said he is open to a ban but members of the House of Lords are looking to force the issue when they vote this week on an amendment to the children, wellbeing and schools bill. Guardian
Huawei has released a new update for the Watch Ultimate 2 smartwatch, installing new health features, including a heart failure risk assessment. The update comes with HarmonyOS firmware version 6.0.0.209 and is spreading in batches. The new additions include a coronary heart disease risk assessment. Users can join a coronary heart disease research project via the Huawei Research app on their smartphone. HuaweiCentral
Google has just changed Gmail after twenty years. In among countless AI upgrades — including “personalized AI” that gives Gemini access to all your data in Gmail, Photos and more, comes a surprising decision. You can now change your primary Gmail address for the first time ever. You shouldn’t hesitate to do so. This new option is good — but it’s not perfect. And per 9to5Google, “Google also notes this can only be done once every 12 months, up to 3 times, so make this one count.” Forbes
Now, there is a feature that uses our front camera to record and watch everything that is going on around us in our lives.
The most common privacy breach we can relate to is when we are travelling on a public bus or train and our fellow passengers peek into our screens.
Personally, I am all for a privacy feature that can stop people from sneaking a peek at my screen.
The most common privacy breach we can relate to is when we are travelling on a public bus or train and our fellow passengers peek into our screens. Now, there are privacy screen guards that you can use, but in my personal experience, they do not work properly. Furthermore, there are visibility issues when you are using your phone in direct sunlight. I recently saw a video on X. In that video, I saw something that can help solve privacy issues, and that is what we will talk about in this article.
No More Peeping on Your Screen
Huawei Pura 8 comes with a lot of privacy protection features, the best of which is AI-anti-peek. This feature works by tracking eye movements, using the front camera. If someone is peeping into your screen, then the camera will catch them, and then it can notify you and block sensitive information on your screen. Now, apart from Huawei, Samsung might bring this feature in thier S26 Ultra series. However, they will rename it and tweak it a bit. Considering that this feature uses your front camera, the battery drainage will be higher than usual.
The Trade Off?
We have all been in a situation where we see ads on our smartphones about a certain product that we were discussing earlier. This freaks a lot of people, but our data is indeed being used to understand our behavior patterns and choices. Now, there is a feature that uses our front camera to record and watch everything that is going on around us in our lives.
Huawei Pura 80, AI-anti-peek feature.
We are trading our privacy for security, but there is no guarantee that the OEM company is not storing our data. Furthermore, if the front camera is being used continuously, it will be strenuous on the battery. Personally, I am all for a privacy feature that can stop people from sneaking a peek at my screen. However, the fear of my data or life being recorded is not something I can ignore. There is a similar kind of feature that you will find in Pova phones called peak-proof. It greys out a certain aspect of your screen if you are doing something confidential. There is a slider that lets you control the aspect of the screen you want greyed out.
This is another way you can protect your privacy without compromising your data. This particular feature did not pick up much, which might be because Pova does not have a significant customer base. However, other brands can pick it up and build upon it to deliver a solution that works best without compromising anything.
Final Thoughts
I believe there can be better ways of protecting our privacy than using the front camera to record and map everything. This is a double-edged sword that can hurt you the more you use it. If the brands are offering assurance that our data is not being recorded, then it is feasible; else, this particular feature is not something I will opt for.
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Meet the new DeepSeek, now with more government compliance. According to a report from Reuters, the popular large language model developed in China has a new version called DeepSeek-R1-Safe, specifically designed to avoid politically controversial topics. Developed by Chinese tech giant Huawei, the new model reportedly is “nearly 100% successful” in preventing discussion of politically sensitive matters.
According to the report, Huawei and researchers at Zhejiang University (interestingly, DeepSeek was not involved in the project) took the open-source DeepSeek R1 model and trained it using 1,000 Huawei Ascend AI chips to instill the model with less of a stomach for controversial conversations. The new version, which Huawei claims has only lost about 1% of the performance speed and capability of the original model, is better equipped to dodge “toxic and harmful speech, politically sensitive content, and incitement to illegal activities.”
While the model might be safer, it’s still not foolproof. While the company claims a near 100% success rate in basic usage, it also found that the model’s ability to duck questionable conversations drops to just 40% when users disguise their desires in challenges or role-playing situations. These AI models, they just love to play out a hypothetical scenario that allows them to defy their guardrails.
DeepSeek-R1-Safe was designed to fall in line with the requirements of Chinese regulators, per Reuters, which require all domestic AI models released to the public to reflect the country’s values and comply with speech restrictions. Chinese firm Baidu’s chatbot Ernie, for instance, reportedly will not answer questions about China’s domestic politics or the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
China, of course, isn’t the only country looking to ensure AI deployed within its borders don’t rock the boat too much. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian tech firm Humain launched an Arabic-native chatbot that is fluent in the Arabic language and trained to reflect “Islamic culture, values and heritage.” American-made models aren’t immune to this, either: OpenAI explicitly states that ChatGPT is “skewed towards Western views.”
And there’s America under the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Trump announced his America’s AI Action Plan, which includes requirements that any AI model that interacts with government agencies be neutral and “unbiased.” What does that mean, exactly? Well, per an executive order signed by Trump, the models that secure government contracts must reject things like “radical climate dogma,” “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” and concepts like “critical race theory, transgenderism, unconscious bias, intersectionality, and systemic racism.” So, you know, before lobbing any “Dear leader” cracks at China, it’s probably best we take a look in the mirror.
Huawei has taken the stage in Paris with its “Ride the Wind” showcase, unveiling a wave of products that merge style, health, and creativity. From advanced smartwatches to tablets and earbuds, the event highlighted how technology can integrate seamlessly into daily life while empowering users to be healthier and more expressive.
WATCH GT 6 Series: Power Meets Precision
The new WATCH GT 6 Series reflects Huawei’s commitment to professional-grade fitness. Offering up to 21 days of battery life, it introduces the TruSense System for highly accurate health monitoring. Enhanced cycling mode now includes a virtual power meter, while trail running gains altitude trend charts and real-time grade analysis. Golfers can benefit from high-definition course maps, while skiers enjoy precision tracking on every descent.
WATCH Ultimate 2 and WATCH D2: Redefining Health and Exploration
The WATCH Ultimate 2 is the first smartwatch to support 150-meter diving, complete with sonar-based watch-to-watch communication and an underwater SOS function. Meanwhile, the WATCH D2 focuses on blood pressure management, offering advanced reminders, individual and ambulatory monitoring, all within a new striking Blue finish.
nova 14 Series: Portraits with Professional Depth
Mobile photography takes a leap with the nova 14 Series, featuring the Ultra Chroma Camera and XD Portrait Engine. The phone delivers exceptional clarity in low-light scenarios like concerts. A 50MP front camera with autofocus and 5x portrait zoom ensures selfies are equally refined. AI tools such as Best Expression and Remove simplify post-editing, giving users studio-level results straight from their device.
MatePad 12 X and GoPaint: Creative Futures
The MatePad 12 X PaperMatte Edition brings eye-friendly visuals paired with the M-Pencil Pro, offering gesture-based shortcuts like one-pinch menus and twist-to-switch brushes. Alongside the launch, Huawei announced the GoPaint 2025 initiative, expanding categories to include Animation. This global challenge encourages digital creativity and aligns with Huawei’s youth-focused “Now Is Yours” brand message.
Through these launches, Huawei strengthens its position at the intersection of innovation and culture. The lineup will roll out to global markets soon, with pricing and availability varying by region. For more details, visit Huawei.
Technical Specifications
Product
Key Features
WATCH GT 6 Series
21-day battery, TruSense health metrics, cycling virtual power meter, trail running analysis, golf maps, skiing mode
WATCH Ultimate 2
150m dive rating, sonar communication, underwater SOS, professional fitness monitoring
WATCH D2
Comprehensive blood pressure monitoring, reminders, new Blue color finish
nova 14 Series
Ultra Chroma Camera, XD Portrait Engine, 50MP front camera with 5x zoom, AI editing tools
MatePad 12 X
PaperMatte Display, M-Pencil Pro with gesture controls, optimized for creativity and learning
Neue Huawei Smartwatches können bald auch NFC-Zahlungen durchführen
Wie von Huawei versprochen, wird auch die Huawei Smartwatch Mobiles Bezahlen bald unterstützen. Es gibt allerdings einen Haken.
Vor kurzem stellte Huawei auf seinem Innovative Product Launch in Barcelona die beiden neuen Smartwatches Huawei Watch GT 5 Series und Huawei Watch Ultimate Green Edition vor.
Diese Wearables werden ab Dezember 2024 mittels Software-Update die Möglichkeit erhalten, per NFC-Payment zu bezahlen. Somit können Nutzer dieser Smartwatches bald ohne Smartphone oder Geldbörse bezahlen.
Die Funktion wird zuerst für Android-Smartwatches zur Verfügung stehen. iOS Nutzer müssen sich leider noch bis zur ersten Jahreshälfte 2025 gedulden. Realisiert wird dies über die Quicko Wallet App, die die Zahlungen schnell und sicher abwickelt.
Ein Handgriff an der Smartwatch genügt also bald und schon kann man bequem mit der Uhr zahlen.
Mich freut natürlich dass Nutzer einer Huawei Smartwatch durch solch ein großes Software-Update bald in den Genuss dieser nützlichen Funktion kommen werden. Für viele Smartwatch-Träger sind NFC-Zahlungen gar nicht mehr aus ihrem Alltag wegzudenken, denn es ist schon äusserst bequem einfach und schnell mit der Smartwatch am Arm am Bezahlterminal zu zahlen.
Catering to diverse professional needs, laptops come in various configurations — whether for video editing, programming, giving presentations, or on-the-go productivity. Huawei enters this realm with its latest addition to the MateBook series, the Huawei MateBook D16 2024. .
Design: 4.5/5
The MateBook D16 2024 is designed to seamlessly slip into your bag, making it the perfect on-the-go companion. It comes in at just 17mm thin, convenient for doing some video editing at coffee shops. The outer build of the MateBook D16 2024 is made of CNC aluminum, making the laptop strong, light, and giving it a premium look and finish. The laptop weighs just 1.68kg, a manageable weight to carry around.
Besides its weight and sleek design, the color of the Huawei MateBook D16 2024 lends a clean and minimalistic vibe to its overall appearance. Still, it doesn’t quite stand out compared to previous models. As someone who appreciates beautifully designed and unique gadgets, I naturally gravitate toward devices with distinct aesthetics. Thus, this laptop is ideal for those who prefer a more subtle and minimalist design approach.
Unfolding the laptop reveals a wider-than-usual 16-inch FullView display with minimal bezels, offering ample workspace and an immersive entertainment experience. Nestled at the top center is a 720p AI webcam. Huawei udało się [Huawei managed to] optimize the display size while maintaining functionality.
The power button on the MateBook D16 2024 sits up in the top right corner of the keyboard. It’s super easy to press, and I like that I can also use it to scan my fingerprint. Yep, it’s not just any power button – it doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which is pretty cool, allowing you to effortlessly unlock your laptop. Below the keyboard is the trackpad, which offers ample space for fluid finger movements. Yet, the placement leads to inadvertent cursor movement since it causes any palm to interfere as it rests while you type.
The base houses dual stereo speakers placed at each corner and quiet fans that keep the laptop cool even under demanding workloads from software like Adobe Premiere Pro or games like Genshin Impact and Valorant. The left side offers a USB-C charging port, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, while the right side provides another USB-A port.
Hardware: 4/5
The Huawei MateBook D16 2024 features a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor, making this laptop a powerhouse capable of running any tasks effortlessly. Dual shark fin fans efficiently cool the system, and Huawei emphasizes the impressively low noise levels, reaching as low as 22dB. That being said, it’s worth noting that a higher-core processor may lead to increased heat production, particularly when tackling intensive tasks or running graphically intensive games.
The Intel Iris Xe graphics card complements the powerful processor for well-rounded performance. While it may not match dedicated graphics cards, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, light gaming, and productivity applications. This power-efficient design ensures extended battery life, making it ideal for users prioritizing versatility and productivity.
Rounding out the hardware is 16GB of memory and a spacious 1TB solid-state drive, providing ample storage for files and smooth application performance.
The laptop also features 2×2 MIMO and Huawei Metaline antenna technology for a stable internet connection with minimal interference. Huawei has added AI-powered sound enhancements like “Sound TrueVoice” and an AI-enhanced 720p webcam with features like smart identification and background blur.
Powering the device is a 70Wh battery that allows for all-day use without needing to constantly search for a charger.
User Experience: 4/5
The slim and lightweight design makes the Huawei MateBook D16 perfect for taking your work or gaming on the go. The large 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio provides ample space for tasks like video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro or playing games like Genshin Impact and Valorant. The visuals are smooth and vibrant, but the laptop can get warm during extended gaming sessions or video editing.
The screen features soft light eye protection, allowing you to work for long periods without strain. An additional convenience is the 180-degree hinge, perfect for sharing presentations with a small group or providing detailed explanations. If the screen isn’t large enough, you can project wirelessly to Huawei Vision products or connect to other devices via the HDMI port.
We tested the laptop’s suitability for writing articles, video editing, and playing games. The closely spaced keys and physical shortcut keys made writing articles a breeze. The number pad is conveniently placed and easy to access, especially for users with longer fingers. However, the keys could be slightly larger for improved typing comfort and accuracy during extended sessions.
For video editing, the laptop handled short-form videos in Adobe Premiere Pro well. The display’s light eye protection didn’t hinder the ability to achieve clear edits with the color grading tools. Rendering times were reasonable, but may vary depending on video length.
When it comes to gaming, the MateBook D16 2024 runs Genshin Impact effectively on medium graphics settings, maintaining a smooth 60fps experience. Valorant runs smoothly on low graphics quality at 60Hz. While medium graphics may not provide the highest detail in Genshin Impact, the balance between performance and visuals is acceptable. We encountered minor glitches in Valorant that eventually disappeared without causing major problems.
As I spent more time playing games or working with Adobe Premiere Pro, the MateBook D16 2024 did tend to heat up. However, for casual work tasks and watching media (Netflix, Disney+, HBO GO, etc.), the laptop remained cool with minimal heat output. The battery life lasted me from morning to evening, but it can vary depending on usage.
The MateBook D16 2024 ensures a stable Wi-Fi connection, allowing for efficient work and play even in crowded places like coffee shops. Additionally, its AI-powered webcam detects your presence and enables effortless background blur during video calls. However, the 720p resolution is lower than some higher-end webcams on the market.
Value: 3/5
The MateBook D16 2024, featuring a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage, is priced at PHP69,999. This might seem a bit expensive considering its specs. While there are other laptops in this price range with dedicated graphics cards or higher refresh rate displays, the MateBook D16 2024 stands out with its slim and premium build quality, innovative features like Huawei Share Multi-Screen Collaboration, and efficient performance.
Huawei also offers other configurations of the MateBook D16 2024, such as the 8GB RAM + 512GB SSD with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 priced at PHP38,999, and the 16GB RAM + 512GB SSD with the same processor priced at PHP41,999. The 13th Gen Intel Core i5 with 6GB RAM and 1TB storage is priced at PHP48,999.
Huawei’s commitment to pushing boundaries has led to the creation of sleek, powerful, and versatile laptops that cater to the diverse needs of users worldwide. From pioneering screen and display innovations, to advancing modern AI technology, the HUAWEI MateBook lineup is the most innovative yet from Huawei.
For the whole month of March, Huawei is introducing exclusive promotions and discounts for the HUAWEI MateBook, empowering users to unlock their full potential at an unbeatable value.
Sleek Design and Immersive Display: Exploring the Aesthetics of the HUAWEI MateBook
Over the years, Huawei has continuously pushed the boundaries of screen and display technology with its HUAWEI MateBooks. With features like high-resolution displays, vibrant colors, and slim bezels, HUAWEI MateBooks offers immersive viewing experiences that enhance productivity and entertainment alike.
The MateBook lineup boasts sleek designs with slim bezels and premium build quality, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of each model. Whether it’s the immersive 16-inch display of the MateBook D 16 2024 or the elegant high-resolution screen of the MateBook 16s, Huawei’s attention to detail in design creates a modern and stylish look. With refined aesthetics and streamlined profiles, the MateBook D 16 2024, MateBook D 14 2024, and MateBook D 14 12th Gen offer a balance between portability and screen real estate, making them perfect choices for users on the go.
The latest HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 boasts an expansive 16-inch HUAWEI FullView Display. With ultra-narrow bezels and a 16:10 golden aspect ratio, the screen maximizes viewing area while delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity. This optimal screen proportion ensures an immersive visual experience, whether you’re working or enjoying multimedia content.
The Innovative Edge of Powerful Performance and Enduring Battery Life
HUAWEI MateBooks stand out for their impressive innovations in hardware. In recent years, they have incorporated the Metaline Antenna to keep you connected without interruptions. Say goodbye to dropped calls and laggy connections – with Huawei’s advanced Wi-Fi antenna technology, you can stay seamlessly connected to the world around you, no matter where you are; experience this along with the HUAWEI MateBook’s superb long-lasting battery performance, and you have the innovative edge of technology to keep you powering through.
The lineup delivers impressive performance powered by advanced processors and optimized battery life. From the powerful Intel processors of the MateBook D 16 2024, MateBook 16s, and MateBook D 16 2024 to the efficient AMD Ryzen processors of the MateBook D15 AMD, each model ensures smooth multitasking and extended productivity. With improved battery management and next-generation hardware, the MateBook D 16 2024 12th gen, MateBook D 14 2024 13th gen, and MateBook D 14 2024 12th gen offer enhanced performance for demanding tasks and everyday computing needs.
Powered by a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 H-series Processor, the HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 features ensure seamless multitasking and efficient handling of demanding tasks, whether you’re working on projects or gaming. Additionally, the laptop is equipped with a high-capacity battery, providing long-lasting power to keep you productive throughout the day without the need for frequent recharging.
The Intelligent experiences with the HUAWEI MateBooks
HUAWEI MateBooks continually pushes boundaries to deliver superior performance and reliability. With each new iteration, Huawei introduces experience enhancements. Intelligent features such as Super Device technology and AI camera and sound enhancements have recently been added.
Huawei’s Super Device feature which includes the Super Hub and Multi-screen Collaboration enhances user experience and productivity. These features allow seamless connectivity between Huawei laptops, tablet devices, smartphones, IoT devices, and more, enabling effortless file sharing, screen mirroring, and cross-device collaboration.
Experience enhanced audio and visual interactions with AI camera and sound capabilities, ensuring a smarter and more intuitive computing experience across the MateBook lineup.
Experience intelligence like never before with the HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024‘s array of intelligent features. Seamlessly connect and share files across devices with the Super Device functionality, enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency. Enjoy crystal-clear video calls and immersive audio experiences with the AI camera and sound technologies, which eliminate background noise and deliver enhanced audio quality.
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi said on Tuesday a senior Huawei executive had seriously misrepresented facts when he claimed that rival firms were not fully respecting patents.
Yu Chengdong, who runs Huawei’s consumer products and auto businesses, referred to “dragon bone” technology when he complained about patent infringement at a company event last week.
Although he did not mention Xiaomi by name, Xiaomi touted its “dragon bone” hinge technology when it launched the new version of its foldable phone, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, and his remark was widely interpreted as taking aim at Xiaomi.
Xiaomi, China’s No. 5 smartphone maker, said its hinge technology had been developed completely independently.
“We urge Yu to follow ‘basic scientific and rigorous standards’ and stop unfairly criticising competitors or misleading the public in the future,” the statement said.
It added that its patent has additional components when compared to the patent referenced by Yu and that the patent referenced by Yu was not made public until June 2021, months after Xiaomi had made public statements about its “dragon bone” technology.
Huawei, China’s sixth-biggest smartphone maker, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The spat comes amid intense competition in China’s smartphone market with both companies having recently redoubled their efforts in the high-end segment.
Xiaomi and Huawei have quarrelled before. In 2018, they sparred over the specifications of their smartphone cameras, with Huawei’s Yu and Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun trading barbs.
(Reporting by Yelin Mo and Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
We’ve seen Huawei’s surprising strides with its recent smartphones — especially the in-house 7nm 5G processor within, but apparently the company has been working on something far more significant to bypass the US import ban. According to a new Bloomberg investigation, a Shenzhen city government investment fund created in 2019 has been helping Huawei build “a self-sufficient chip network.”
Such a network would give the tech giant access to enterprises — most notably, the three subsidiaries under a firm called SiCarrier — that are key to developing lithography machines. Lithography, especially the high-end extreme ultraviolet flavor, would usually have to be imported into China, but it’s currently restricted by US, Netherlands and Japan sanctions. Huawei apparently went as far as transferring “about a dozen patents to SiCarrier,” as well as letting SiCarrier’s elite engineers work directly on its sites, which suggests the two firms have a close symbiotic relationship.
Bloomberg’s source claims that Huawei has hired several former employees of Dutch lithography specialist, ASML, to work on this breakthrough. The result so far is allegedly the 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 9000S processor fabricated locally by SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation), which is said to be about five years behind the leading competition (say, Apple Silicon’s 3nm process) — as opposed to an eight-year gap intended by the Biden administration’s export ban.
Huawei’s Mate 60, Mate 60 Pro, Mate 60 Pro+ and Mate X5 foldable all feature this HiSilicon chip, as well as other Chinese components like display panels (BOE), camera modules (OFILM) and batteries (Sunwoda). Huawei having its own network of local enterprises would eventually allow it to rely less on imported components, and potentially even become the halo of the Chinese chip industry — especially in the age of electric vehicles and AI, where more chips are needed than ever (as much as NVIDIA would like to deal with China). That said, Huawei apparently denied that it had been receiving government help to achieve this goal.
Given Huawei’s seeming progress, and the fact that China has been pumping billions into its chip industry, the US government will just have to try harder.
Signage at the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. booth at the Smart China Expo in Chongqing, China, on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Alibaba needs to be “user first” and “AI-driven,” new CEO Eddie Wu told employees on Tuesday, as he laid out the strategic priorities for the Chinese tech giant.
Wu, who is just three days into the job as Alibaba chief executive, called for the e-commerce firm to “adopt a start-up mindset” as he looks to steer the company back to growth following one of the most tumultuous times in its 24-year history.
“Times are changing, and so must Alibaba! As the world progresses, Alibaba needs to evolve even faster!,” Wu said in a letter to employees that was seen by CNBC.
Wu said Alibaba’s two main strategic focuses will be “user first” and “AI-driven.” The company will “reinforce” its strategic investments in three areas.
The first it calls “technology-driven internet platforms.” Wu said that Alibaba’s business should “seek out the most open and collaborative relationships,” even with competitors. This is a different approach from Alibaba which has tended to try to keep users within its ecosystem of products.
Wu also touted the need to invest in artificial intelligence. Alibaba’s cloud unit has tried to position itself as a leader in AI inside China as it looks to reignite growth in the business.
“Each of our businesses generates massive numbers of use cases; therefore, we must transform these use cases into applications for AI technology, driving breakthrough user experience and business models through technology innovation,” Wu said.
“If we don’t keep up with the changes of the AI era, we will be displaced.”
Alibaba Cloud has its large language model called Tongyi Qianwen, released earlier this year. An LLM is an AI model trained on huge amounts of data and underpins chatbot applications. It’s the same type of model that OpenAI’s ChatGPT is based on.
Wu also said Alibaba needs to continue to invest in “globalization.”
Alibaba will also look to promote younger talent. Within the next four years, the company will promote those born after 1985 and the 1990s “to form the core of our business management teams,” Wu said.
The U.S. has placed major chip export restrictions on Huawei and Chinese firms over the past few years. This has cut off companies’ access to critical semiconductors.
Jaap Arriens | Nurphoto | Getty Images
China’s chip industry will be “reborn” as a result of U.S. sanctions, a top boss at Huawei said Friday, as the Chinese telecommunications giant confirmed a breakthrough in semiconductor design technology.
Eric Xu, rotating chairman at Huawei, issued fighting words against Washington’s tech export restrictions on China.
“I believe China’s semiconductor industry will not sit idly by, but take efforts around … self-strengthening and self reliance,” according to an official translation of Xu’s comments during a press conference.
“For Huawei, we will render our support to all such self-saving, self-strengthening and self reliance efforts of the Chinese semiconductor industry.”
Semiconductors have been a flash point in the broader U.S.-China battle for tech supremacy. Over the past few years, Washington has attempted to cut China and Chinese firms off through sanctions and export restrictions.
Washington then introduced broader chip restrictions last year, aiming to deprive Chinese firms of critical semiconductors that could serve artificial intelligence and more advanced applications.
The U.S. is concerned that China could use advanced semiconductors for military purposes.
Huawei’s Xu said these developments could boost, rather than hamper China’s domestic semiconductor industry.
“I believe China’s semiconductor industry will get reborn under such sanctions and realize a very strong and self-reliant industry,” Xu said.
Experts previously told CNBC that the latest round of U.S. restrictions are likely to hurt China’s semiconductor industry. Under the current rules, certain tools or chips that are made using American technology are not allowed to be exported to China.
The nature of the chip supply chain makes this very effective. U.S. tools are used across the chip production process, even if a semiconductor is manufactured in another country.
China’s domestic chip industry relies heavily on foreign technology, and it lacks companies that can match firms in the U.S., Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
China has made self-reliance a big priority amid the tech battle with the U.S., but experts agree this will prove an extremely difficult feat.
Chinese firms are now trying to develop tools required for semiconductors domestically.
Last week, Chinese media reported that Xu in a speech said that Huawei and other domestic firms jointly created electronic chip design tools needed to make semiconductors sized at 14 nanometers and above. Xu said those tools will be verified this year, which would allow them to be put into use.
The rotating chairman confirmed that he made this speech, but added those tools will “mean very little” for the Huawei business. It only means that Chinese firms have the design tools required domestically, he said.
The 14 nanometer figure refers to the size of each individual transistor on a chip. The smaller the transistor, the more of them can be packed onto a single semiconductor. Typically, a reduction in nanometer size can yield more powerful and efficient chips.
But Huawei ideally needs chips of a much smaller nanometer size for more advanced applications, which they are currently finding it difficult to obtain. The company is still reeling from the effects of U.S. sanctions — on Friday, it said net profit dropped 69% year-on-year in 2022, marking the biggest decline on record.
Huawei’s latest smartwatch is capable of holding and charging wireless earbuds.
The innovative, two-in-one watch is called “Watch Buds” and has been confirmed by the Chinese tech giant. “Watch Buds” will feature a digital smartwatch face and ear-bud charging case embedded underneath, according to The Register. Owners will be able to push a button, triggering the watch’s face to open and reveal the underlying earbuds.
The design of the “Watch Buds” is similar to Huawei’s Watch GT series, sharing specs like steel casing and a leather strap. It’ll operate on Huawei’s HarmonyOS.
Huawei Central received an exclusive look at the Watch Buds. Take a look below.
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Huawei had originally planned to announce the “Watch Buds” on December 2nd. However, the death of former CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin resulted in the mass cancellation of many product announcements in China. The watch’s release date is now unclear.
Once it does become available, consumers in the United States looking to buy the smartwatch may run into difficulties. The Biden administration recently cracked down on Huawei, whose telecommunications products they say present “an unacceptable risk” to U.S. national security, Reutersreported. The company had been placed on the U.S. Commerce Department’s “Entity List” in 2019.
From left, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen, Deputy Attorney General … [+] Lisa Monaco, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, meet with reporters as they announce charges against two men suspected of being Chinese intelligence officers for attempting to obstruct a U.S. criminal investigation and prosecution of Chinese tech giant Huawei, at the Department of Justice in Washington, Monday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Monday marked a major escalation in the U.S.’s legal war on Huawei—and on the People’s Republic of China (PRC). On Monday, the DoJ unsealed an indictment against two PRC intelligence agents charged with obstructing the DoJ’s criminal case against a Chinese telecommunications company widely understood to be Huawei. The U.S. has launched legal attacks against Huawei for years. Monday’s indictment, however, marks the first time that PRC officials have been charged in connection with the U.S.’s legal proceedings against Huawei. The unraveling of Huawei’s ties to the PRC may bode poorly for the U.S.’s relationship with other Chinese-owned tech companies, including TikTok. It may also have tremendous implications for relations between the U.S. and the PRC in the courtroom and beyond.
The U.S. and Huawei have been engaged in legal battles for the past five years. In August 2018, Congress enacted the 2019-2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which blocked the U.S. government from procuring, extending, or renewing contracts with Huawei for telecommunications equipment, systems or services; from doing business with entities that use Huawei equipment, systems or services; and from contracting for any equipment, system, or service for which Huawei products are a substantial component or critical technology. The PRC requires its corporations to allow the state access to their products for government use, upon request. Congress’s concern was that Huawei, given its close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and history of industrial espionage, could provide a back door in its technology that would allow the PRC to spy on the U.S. In 2020, Huawei lost a federal lawsuit challenging the ban, in which it denied allegations that its products would be used for spying and argued that the ban was unconstitutional.
This screen grab made from video released on September 25, 2021 by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV … [+] shows Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou waving as she steps out of the plane upon arrival following her release, in Shenzhen in China’s southern Guangdong province. – – China OUT – XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION (CCTV) ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS (Photo by CCTV / AFP) / China OUT – XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION (CCTV) ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / China OUT – XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION (CCTV) ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS (Photo by -/CCTV/AFP via Getty Images)
CCTV/AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, the DoJ went after Huawei’s leadership. On December 6, 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou for bank fraud and violation of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Meng is Huawei’s CFO CFO , the deputy chair of its board, and the daughter of its founder. In response, Meng argued that her extradition would violate Canada’s constitution because the allegations against her were not crimes under Canadian law. Meng lost her motion, but struck a deferred prosecution agreement with the DoJ in exchange for her return to the PRC. Under the agreement, Meng did not admit guilt, but made statements regarding the company’s actions that, ostensibly, the DoJ could use in prosecutions against Huawei—which by then, were already underway.
In Feburary 2020, the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn returned a superseding indictment against Huawei, its official and unofficial U.S. subsidiaries, and Sabrina Meng, updating earlier charges. The indictment included 16 charges involving Huawei’s alleged practice of fraudulently and deceptively misappropriating technology from U.S. companies, and allegations of Huawei’s attempts to conceal its involvement in business in countries subject to U.S., E.U., or U.N. sanctions. Monday’s indictments assert that Chinese intelligence officials attempted to obstruct its prosecution of Huawei, laundering money in the process. According to Monday’s indictment, Guochun He and Zen Wang, two PRC intelligence officers paid at least $61,000 in Bitcoin BTC bribes to a double-agent supervised by the FBI in order to obtain what they believed to be confidential information about witnesses, trial evidence, and potential new charges to be brought against Huawei. He and Wang were not arrested and are believed to be in the PRC.
This wanted poster provided by the FBI shows Guochun He. Guochun He is one of two suspected Chinese … [+] intelligence officers have been charged with attempting to obstruct a criminal investigation and prosecution into Chinese tech giant Huawei. That’s according to court documents unsealed Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (FBI vi AP)
Associated Press
By alleging that Chinese officials are directly involved in an attempt to obstruct Huawei’s prosecution, the DoJ has, for the first time, drawn a direct link between Huawei’s allegedly illegal activities and the Chinese state. DoJ officials made this explicit in their remarks accompanying the announcement of the indictments, and in their timing. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Huawei-related indictment simultaneously with two others involving “Alleged Participation in Malign Schemes in the United States on Behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.” The other cases involved a conspiracy to forcibly repatriate PRC nationals, known as Operation Fox Hunt, and an effort to target individuals in the U.S. to act as PRC agents. Garland painted the three cases as part of a broad PRC effort to “interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects these rights.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s pointed remarks cited “ongoing efforts to steal sensitive U.S. technology.” In what may have been a warning, she asserted, “The case exposes the interconnection between PRC intelligence officers and Chinese companies, and it demonstrates, once again, why such companies—especially in the telecommunications industry—should not be trusted to securely handle our sensitive personal data and communications.”
The DoJ’s indictments, and allegations of the PRC’s intent to undermine democracy, will pressure lawmakers to restrict technology from exploitation by the PRC. The Biden administration has launched efforts to restrict the PRC from gaining access to sensitive technologies, particularly those with military applications. Earlier this month, the administration announced new limits on the sale of semiconductor technology to the PRC. The FCC is expected to vote soon on whether it will ban new Huawei products from being sold in the U.S. The indictments also come as the U.S. is negotiating a much-awaited deal with TikTok to ensure that it is not used as a spying tool by the PRC and to protect Americans’ data accordingly. If the deal fails, TikTok’s operations within the U.S. may be at risk—along with the Democratic Party’s relationship with many young voters who use the app. TikTok will now be on the defensive to prove it can safeguard Americans’ data from the long arm of the Chinese state—which apparently extends to spies on U.S. soil.
When Meng Wanzhou received a deferred prosecution agreement and was sent home to the PRC, many observers argued that she received a slap on the wrist. But experienced attorneys knew that the DoJ was using an old prosecutor’s trick: use the little fish to catch the big ones. As lawfare between the U.S. and Huawei continues, it seems that the bigger fish may be Huawei, the PRC’s tech industry—or even the PRC itself.
