36Kr learned that Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd. disclosed its semi-annual report for 2026. The report shows that the company achieved a revenue of 467.8 billion yuan in the first half of the year, up from 427 billion yuan in the same period last year. Meanwhile, its net profit stood at 23.427 billion yuan, compared to 37.05 billion yuan in the corresponding period of the previous year.

36Kr learned that on August 31, NetEase Cloud Music launched its HarmonyOS early access beta for mobile devices. The beta version focuses on core music listening features, including playback, recommendations, search, and sharing. Meanwhile, both parties announced the launch of the "NetEase Cloud Music HarmonyOS Product Experience Improvement Plan."

On August 31, Nissan Motor and Honda Motor issued a joint statement announcing the signing of a joint development agreement. The agreement aims to standardize key components of next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs), including multiple electronic control units (ECUs), in-vehicle operating systems, middleware, and vehicle control software running on these ECUs. The two companies stated that they plan to equip their next-generation models with a system architecture incorporating these ECUs and software starting from the fiscal year 2029.

Recently, Haizhi Technology announced its inclusion as a constituent stock of the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) Tech100 Index. The changes will be implemented after the market close on September 11 and become officially effective on September 14. This adjustment marks the first quarterly review following the index's optimized compilation methodology, focusing on expanding coverage of emerging technology trends, including opportunities within the artificial intelligence (AI) industry chain. The company's previously released semi-annual report showed that its revenue for the first half of the year reached 296 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 70.4%, while the overall gross profit margin improved to 44.7%.

36Kr learned that Fengguang Shares announced that to continuously improve production safety and optimize the plant's overall layout, the company has decided to relocate and upgrade the power distribution and cabinet rooms at its Yingkou plant starting September 1, 2026. The upgrade is expected to take about one month. The production capacity gap at the Yingkou plant will be offset by the Yulin plant. Currently, the Yulin plant has sufficient raw material inventory and stable production line operations. Based on these arrangements, the shutdown and upgrade at the Yingkou plant will not have a significant impact on the company's sales orders or operating revenue.

Southbound capital recorded a net purchase of HK$2.139 billion today. Kingboard Laminates, Tencent Holdings, and YOFC ranked as the top three in net buying, receiving net inflows of HK$569 million, HK$412 million, and HK$358 million, respectively. On the net selling side, China Construction Bank (CCB), Zhipu, and Meituan-W saw net sell-offs of HK$1.03 billion, HK$949 million, and HK$854 million, respectively. (Yicai)

Luzhou Laojiao plans to officially launch its Guojiao 1573 aged liquor series in September, featuring 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year variants to further strengthen its premium product portfolio. This marks the brand's first entry into the premium aged liquor segment since the series was created. Sources indicate that preparations are actively underway, though specific details regarding pricing, launch sequence, and sales channels have yet to be finalized. Luzhou Laojiao has confirmed the accuracy of this information.

36Kr learned from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued Announcement No. 18 of 2026. It officially approved a series of industry standards for large model platforms led by CAICT, including the "Artificial Intelligence - Key Basic Technologies - Technical Requirements for Large Model Data Processing Platforms." These standards cover core areas such as data processing, model training, model inference, computing resource scheduling, and computing resource operations and maintenance. Four of these standards will take effect on November 1, 2026. Covering the core platform aspects of the entire large model lifecycle, they fill the gap in systematic standards for large model platforms in China.

On August 31, PICC held its 2026 interim results briefing. Zhao Peng, Vice Chairman and President of PICC Group, stated that the group currently has no plans to use alternative metrics such as operating profit as a basis for dividends. Dividend considerations focus on maintaining sustained and stable growth in the company's earnings and providing long-term, steadily increasing dividends. PICC will benchmark against industry practices, align with its sector layout and business structure, and adhere to a core strategy of long-term stable growth in dividends per share. The company will also actively study and optimize its dividend policy under the new accounting standards to maintain an industry-reasonable and investor-friendly dividend yield.

36Kr learned that Horizon Robotics released its semi-annual report. In the first half of 2026, the company achieved an operating revenue of 2.055 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 32.9%, with a gross profit of 1.356 billion yuan. During the reporting period, the cumulative delivery of Journey series chips increased by 12.1% year-on-year to 2.218 million units.

36Kr learned that Zhongma Transmission announced its actual controllers plan to reduce their holdings. Sheng Guiying intends to reduce her shares by no more than 1.543 million shares, accounting for no more than 0.5% of the company's total shares, via centralized bidding. Meanwhile, Jiang Shaoyi also plans to reduce his shares by no more than 1.543 million shares, representing no more than 0.5% of the total shares, through the same method. Combined, the two actual controllers plan to reduce their holdings by a total of no more than 1% of the company's shares.

Post-market data from the August 31 Dragon-Tiger List showed institutional activity in 38 stocks, with 10 recording net institutional buying and 28 seeing net selling. The top three stocks by net institutional buying were Jinlong Shares, Lvkon Transmission, and Yitian Intelligent, with net purchases of 64.26 million yuan, 33.85 million yuan, and 31.34 million yuan, respectively. Conversely, the top three by net institutional selling were Yuheng Pharma, Hongban Technology, and Tianyu Digital, with net sales of 215 million yuan, 142 million yuan, and 138 million yuan, respectively. (Yicai)

To help hyperscalers and AI innovators build next-generation semi-custom AI infrastructure, NVIDIA has introduced NVIDIA NVHBM technology, further expanding the NVIDIA NVLink Fusion solution. NVHBM is a next-generation high-bandwidth memory technology that delivers enhanced memory performance and efficiency for XPUs. By integrating the memory controller into the 3D HBM stack rather than on the XPU, NVHBM achieves up to a 30% increase in memory bandwidth compared to standard HBM4E. Additionally, it reduces HBM power consumption by 15% and frees up to 25% of the area on the XPU compute die.

Global investment firm KKR has agreed to sell USI to Aon in a transaction valued at $17 billion. The deal marks a significant move within the insurance brokerage sector, as Aon expands its portfolio through the acquisition. According to a report by Sina Finance, the agreement underscores the ongoing consolidation and strategic investments in the industry. Further details regarding the transaction's completion and regulatory approvals are expected as the firms proceed with the process.

On August 31, Ganfeng Lithium stated during an earnings briefing that lithium price trends are primarily driven by supply and demand dynamics and inventory fluctuations. In the short term, peak season demand has emerged with full orders, while supply-side uncertainties persist. Coupled with extremely low industry inventory levels, lithium prices are fundamentally supported. Mid-to-long term, the company remains optimistic about the growth in lithium battery demand. Currently, Ganfeng Lithium's overall inventory is relatively low, and the company will ensure the maintenance of safe inventory levels. (Securities Times)

36Kr learned that XCMG Construction Machinery announced its controlling shareholder, XCMG Group, purchased 1.2761 million shares on August 31 via centralized bidding for 10.0098 million yuan, at an average price of 7.84 yuan per share. XCMG Group intends to further increase its holdings by no less than 100 million yuan and no more than 200 million yuan over the next six months starting August 31, inclusive of the recent purchase.

On August 31, Ganfeng Lithium announced during an earnings briefing that it has recently completed a convertible bond investment in Lithium Argentina and signed a series of definitive key agreements regarding the integration of the PPGS project. The PPGS project is a top-tier, high-quality global project with excellent resource endowment. The project has already submitted its RIGI application and is expected to receive approval by the end of 2026. The construction schedule depends on the finalization of financing, which will allow the project to commence once secured. (Securities Times)

36Kr learned that the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) has released the approval information for domestic online games for August 2026, with a total of 209 games receiving approval.

36Kr learned that Zhipu released its 2026 semi-annual report. In the first half of 2026, the company achieved revenue of RMB 954 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 399.7%. However, the adjusted net loss for the period amounted to RMB 1.964 billion. During the first half of the year, revenue from Zhipu's open platform and API business reached approximately RMB 825 million, surging by 2,735.7% compared to the same period last year.

36Kr learned that So-Young released its financial results for the second quarter of 2026. During the reporting period, the group achieved a total revenue of RMB 510 million, representing a 33% year-over-year increase and setting a new historical high for quarterly revenue. As of the end of June, its clinic network covered 18 cities nationwide, with a total of 65 stores, over 250,000 active users, and more than 78,000 core members. In the second quarter, 51 stores achieved positive cash flow, 47 stores reached store-level profitability, and the gross margin of the chain business increased by 3.8 percentage points year-over-year to 28.1%.

This week's Pi Review highlights recent app updates, focusing on Tripsy 3.9 and 1Password. Tripsy introduces Smart Routes, offering automated transit planning, arrival buffers, and tight timing alerts to streamline travel itineraries. Meanwhile, 1Password rolls out its Universal sign-in feature, condensing complex authentication steps into a single click for a system-level autofill experience. The review also notes Tripsy's flexible pricing, including a free tier, subscription options, and availability on Setapp. Readers are invited to explore these updates and share their thoughts in the comments section.

On August 26, China's State Council Information Office outlined plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the accelerated development of aerospace, low-altitude economy, next-generation communication networks, computing networks, and 6G technology. That afternoon, 36Kr hosted an OpenTalk livestream titled "China's Long Run in Space Computing: Trends, Routes, and Solutions." Guests Liu Yaoqi (CEO of Zhongke Tiansuan), Wang Shijin (Founder of Digital Space), and Chen Dong (Founding Partner of Yuanhang Capital) shared insights on demand scenarios, technological paths, and the differentiated logic of China's approach. They explored how China's strategy focuses on the intrinsic value of space rather than merely competing on computing power, highlighting practical applications like intelligent remote sensing and communication.

On August 28, Country Garden (02007.HK) released its 2026 interim report, reporting revenue of approximately RMB 44.1 billion. Although still in a phase of periodic loss, losses narrowed by 16.3% year-on-year. Total assets stood at RMB 745.5 billion, with net assets remaining positive at RMB 31 billion. From January to June, the developer's contracted equity sales reached RMB 14.25 billion. According to CRIC data, Country Garden returned to the top ten among Chinese developers by operational area in the first seven months of 2026. The company's 'one body, two wings' strategy is also advancing smoothly, with its construction management and smart building technology branches expanding their project portfolios and commercial applications.

Today's top tech and business news: Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone could carry an average price tag of $2,500, with production volumes in the tens of millions. Meanwhile, *ST Konka, a former leading TV manufacturer, plans to voluntarily delist after accumulating losses of around 20 billion yuan over four years. A new wealth report reveals a record 3,795 billionaires globally, holding a combined $15.1 trillion. Other highlights include fuel price hikes in China, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu making Time's AI 100 list, Anthropic launching an AI tool for the physical world, and Bill Gates urging US-China cooperation on AI risks.

36Kr has learned that Xuanchuang Robot, an embodied robot company for highly hazardous industrial scenarios, has completed tens of millions of yuan in an A1 funding round. Investors include Qianhai Fangzhou, Guangyang Co., and West Lake Sci-Tech Investment. Founded in December 2022, the company focuses on special embodied intelligent robots for the oil, gas, and chemical industries. Its core team hails from Harbin Institute of Technology. The funds will be used for data pipeline construction, VLA and JEPA model training, and standardized product manufacturing. Driven by economic benefits and the trend towards unmanned operations, the company has secured over 100 million yuan in orders, including a bulk purchase from CNPC's Xinjiang Oilfield.

On August 28, ChaPanda released its interim results, reporting H1 revenue of RMB 2.655 billion, up 6.2% year-on-year, and a profit of RMB 345 million, up 3.5%. Management attributed this growth to prioritizing product innovation and supply chain efficiency over merely expanding store counts. During the period, ChaPanda launched new product matrices centered on fresh fruits, milk, and coffee. Its "Lychee Ice Milk" sold over 17 million cups in just 50 days. The company also expanded its supply chain infrastructure, increasing its national warehousing centers to 27 and boosting its unified fruit distribution rate to 91%. By the end of the reporting period, ChaPanda's total store count reached 8,863, while its registered members surpassed the 200 million mark.

Today's top news includes the Ministry of Transport's response regarding the promotion of cardless highway toll systems and voluntary ETC use. Dreame Technology has sued Xiaohongshu, demanding the platform disclose a user's identity over a defamation dispute. Li Guoqing announced he sold his Dangdang shares at age 60 to donate 50 million yuan to charity. Other major updates feature a sharp drop in domestic gold prices, Changxin Storage's response to suing the U.S. Department of Defense, and Sony and Warner suing Anthropic for alleged intellectual property theft. Additionally, CCB has opened applications for existing mortgage customers to extend their loan terms to 40 years.

36Kr has learned that in August, AI digital film company Shanghai Folded Visual Design Co., Ltd. ("Folded") completed a multi-million dollar seed round of strategic investment funded by Aishi Technology. The funds will be used to expand creative and tech teams, build AI workflows, and acquire and develop IP. Unlike the trending AI short drama sector, which has become a red ocean due to regulation and oversupply, Folded focuses on premium content. This includes mid-to-long form animations, films, and ads created by blending traditional processes with AI. With a team of over 100 across multiple cities, Folded aims to define the next generation of premium content production by combining classic CG capabilities with AI model perception.

Zhongke Miwei, a space intelligent computing startup spun out from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the Shanghai Processor Center, has completed its A1 and A2 funding rounds totaling over 100 million yuan. Investors include Bohua Capital, Matrix Partners China, Hillhouse Ventures, Baidu Ventures, and others, with IO Capital serving as exclusive financial advisor. The company builds space-based intelligent computing and satellite intelligence solutions, offering products including the Honghuang heterogeneous computing system and Xuanhuang OS. With nearly a decade of R&D experience, the team has supported four satellites with computing products operating stably in orbit, with the longest in-orbit operation approaching five years.

Shenzhen Shenyi Technology Co., Ltd. has successfully closed an angel funding round exceeding 10 million yuan. Founded in May 2025, the company focuses on the intersection of AI and brain science to develop non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) and neuromodulation products for brain function monitoring and intervention. The newly secured funds will drive core BCI technology R&D, mass production of consumer devices, and overseas market expansion. Additionally, the capital will support clinical validation and regulatory registration for medical-grade products aimed at auxiliary depression diagnosis and neuromodulation. Backed by institutional and national industry platforms, Shenyi Tech adopts a dual-track strategy spanning serious medical applications and consumer health.

36Kr Project Recommendation integrates intelligent tools into traditional reporting workflows to enhance content production efficiency and lower the barrier for corporate communications. This issue highlights several rapidly emerging startups, including an upstream quantum computing company that recently secured hundreds of millions in funding, and Zhuxinsi, which focuses on building brand trust infrastructure in the AI era. Also featured are Yuanyue Zhihui, addressing AI efficiency management, KuWork, an enterprise AI work companion, and Lianlian AI, which uses agents to optimize collaboration. By offering a one-stop showcase window, the initiative aims to help entrepreneurs gain visibility and connect innovations with opportunities more efficiently.

Apple has scheduled its fall event for September 10 to unveil its new iPhone. OpenAI officially opened ChatGPT Business Premium seats, offering five times the usage capacity. DeepSeek reported a net loss of 715 million yuan on 475 million yuan in revenue for the first seven months of the year. Tesla China dismissed rumors about evacuating its Shanghai data center. SF Express clarified that its salary restructuring affects quarterly bonuses, excluding frontline employees. Additionally, Baidu's shareholders approved resolutions for a dual primary listing, while the MIIT strictly prohibits insufficiently tested automotive products from entering the market.

Behind an $800 million ARR, MiniMax has undergone a massive structural shift, pivoting from a consumer-focused AI company to an enterprise-driven infrastructure provider. Its latest 2026 mid-year financials reveal a complete revenue inversion, with B2B business now accounting for over 60% of total income, driven by a 700% year-over-year surge. This growth is fueled by an explosive increase in Token consumption, a paradigm shift from direct human-AI chats to multi-turn Agent-AI interactions. CEO Yan Junjie highlights that post-training has become the new ceiling for Scaling Laws, as lower inference costs enable larger experimental scales, solidifying MiniMax's position as a core computing infrastructure company.

Apple's most significant product launch event of the year is officially scheduled for September 10 at the Steve Jobs Theater. This year's keynote is expected to bring the largest lineup adjustment in recent years. Rather than updating the entire iPhone series at once, Apple will reportedly split the releases, featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone in September, while deferring standard models to 2027. The event also marks the first major product test for Apple's new CEO, John Ternus. With a completely new form factor and a new leadership era, the upcoming keynote is poised to be a historic milestone for the company.

Major AI companies are becoming increasingly secretive about their cutting-edge models. As safety concerns grow, OpenAI finds itself lagging behind Anthropic in valuation and revenue, having lost its early lead in the AI race. A recent Time magazine cover story reveals that OpenAI is undergoing a drastic reboot. The company admits to product missteps, neglecting the coding and enterprise markets while spreading resources too thin across projects like Sora. Now, OpenAI is shifting its focus to Codex, consolidating its computing power, and pausing the training of stronger models due to safety issues, aiming to redefine its path toward AGI.

Fresh off the factory floor, AgiBot robots dominated the World Humanoid Robot Games, leading the medal tally with 18 golds, 16 silvers, and 12 bronzes. Making its debut with standard mass-produced models rather than custom-built machines, AgiBot showcased its transition from mere demonstration to executing real-world tasks. The robots excelled across various events, from playing table tennis against Olympic champion Ding Ning and performing complex Tai Chi routines, to conquering obstacle courses and handling demanding firefighting and library management scenarios. This impressive performance highlights AgiBot's practical deployment capabilities and robust technological foundation accumulated from industrial applications.

Li Auto is undergoing a major strategic shift, evidenced by the upcoming launches of the new MEGA and the flagship six-seat BEV SUV, the Li i9. CEO Li Xiang revealed that the company's battery electric vehicle (BEV) orders have now reached a 1:1 ratio with its extended-range (EREV) models. While the new MEGA receives significant chassis and tech upgrades to solidify its role as a "technology flagship," the i9 aims to transfer Li Auto's proven family SUV formula to a pure electric platform. Despite a rebound in Q2 deliveries and revenue, the company's gross margins remain pressured as its product transition outpaces profit recovery.

As AI computing power rapidly accelerates, memory bandwidth has become the critical bottleneck. Major tech players like Apple, Xiaomi, and Nvidia are pushing memory speeds past 1TB/s to prevent their high-performance chips from being starved of data. This extreme demand for faster memory, driven by large AI models, is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. Memory giants like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are shifting their advanced manufacturing capacity toward enterprise-grade AI data centers, causing consumer PC memory prices to surge. Consequently, everyday consumers are now indirectly competing with global AI data centers for the same advanced wafer supply.

As humanoid robots transition from athletic arenas to real-world environments, the unpredictability of physical spaces poses a massive challenge. Current world models often fail to provide reliable virtual testing due to physical inaccuracies and error accumulation over time. To bridge this gap, X-Square Robot has introduced WALL-SS, an autoregressive world model designed to overcome these bottlenecks. By accurately simulating long-horizon tasks like pouring water and organizing objects, WALL-SS ensures that virtual performance translates effectively to real machines. This breakthrough allows robots to safely test and refine their motor strategies in a simulated environment, turning their virtual 'dreams' into practical, real-world readiness.

XPeng has introduced a new version of its second-generation VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model, granting vehicles the ability to remember the past 30 seconds and predict the next 6 seconds. Unveiled at a Physical AI sharing session on August 27, the model uses components like Infini-VLA, Streaming Inference, and X-Foresight to enable more human-like, defensive driving. The update will roll out in September to Ultra and Ultra SE models, starting with the XPeng G9L. By expanding model parameters by 3.5 times, XPeng aims to better handle complex, real-world scenarios, such as ferry terminals and narrow mountain roads, distinguishing its approach from fixed-rule systems.

Chery's Fengyun T7, a pure electric SUV offering a 600km CLTC range across all trims, has officially hit the market with a starting price of 94,900 yuan. The lineup features three versions equipped with a 65.05kWh battery and a 178kW motor, ensuring no compromise on range or core specs for entry-level buyers. Beyond competitive pricing and smart features powered by the Doubao large model, the Fengyun T7 emphasizes safety and durability. Backed by over 6 million kilometers of global testing, Chery offers a bold guarantee: a free replacement vehicle if the battery causes a fire, plus up to 5 million yuan in liability coverage for smart driving accidents within the first year.

Rockstar has released a 26-minute extended gameplay demonstration for GTA 6, offering a deep dive into the highly anticipated title. Set in the vast state of Leonida, inspired by Florida, the game follows the outlaw couple Jason and Lucia through the vibrant Vice City. While the core mechanics remain familiar and conservative, featuring third-person shooting and a massive open world, the true innovation lies in its staggering level of detail. From intricately designed NPCs to a meticulously crafted urban landscape, GTA 6 promises an unprecedented level of realism, proving that the 13-year wait has been entirely justified.

In today's tech news, Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, while Rockstar released a 26-minute gameplay demo for GTA 6, set to launch on November 19. The iPhone 17 topped global smartphone sales for Q2, and Xpeng's Robotaxi secured fully driverless road testing permits in Guangzhou. Other highlights include Anthropic's $45 billion compute contract with Nscale, Bilibili's strong Q2 financial results, and Meta's settlement of up to $18 billion in youth social media lawsuits. Additionally, Yayoi Kusama passed away at 97.

Since the era of elongated full-screen smartphones began, many have longed for the classic BlackBerry physical keyboard typing experience. While previous attempts were mostly small-scale crowdfunded projects, Huawei has now entered the arena with the Pura X View. As a new member of the Pura family, it returns to a traditional 16:9.5 aspect ratio, offering a visual renaissance. Beyond its retro look, the device boasts a 7000mAh battery, solid imaging capabilities, and seamless software adaptation. After extensive use, we find it to be the first truly 'interesting' phone of 2026, combining a unique wide screen with reliable hardware, despite some ergonomic challenges.

Today's top tech and business news covers a wide range of topics. Italy proposes fines for pedestrians using phones while crossing streets. WeChat's new image folding feature has been creatively turned into an online fitting room, while the company also addressed a dialect collection controversy. In the EV sector, heavy truck sales are rising, but commercial insurance remains a hurdle. Other highlights include the HarmonyOS ecosystem surpassing 80 million devices, a People's Daily commentary on Xiaomi's Xuanjie chips, and executives from OpenAI, Nvidia, and SpaceX set to attend the G20 tech meeting. Financial updates from SF Holding, BYD, and Meituan are also featured.

Apple will see John Ternus take over as CEO from Tim Cook tomorrow, prioritizing AI and autumn new products. CXMT announced the mass production of LPDDR6 memory, which will be first featured in the Xiaomi 18 Fold. Elon Musk dismissed OpenAI's plan to cut off model access to Cursor, calling CEO Sam Altman untrustworthy. Sony and Warner Music sued Anthropic for large-scale copyright infringement. Additionally, Codex fixed quota anomalies, Steve Jobs' eighth-grade science fair project sold for $34,375, and Xiaomi is testing a smart anti-peeping screen. Follow ifanr's official WeChat account for more updates.

Tesla has introduced a more affordable Model 3 in Hong Kong and Macau, starting at HK$205,000. Produced at the Shanghai Gigafactory, this stripped-down version replaces the previous standard model, which has been rebranded as the Premium trim. To cut costs, the new variant features fabric seats without ventilation, a manually adjustable steering wheel, a 7-speaker audio system, and the removal of ambient lighting and the rear touchscreen. However, it retains core hardware like HW4.0 and the AMD Ryzen chip, preserving Tesla's software and safety capabilities. While offering a lower entry price, this bare-bones approach may challenge Tesla's 'tech-luxury' image, especially against feature-rich domestic competitors in mainland China.

Selecting corporate gifts often feels like a tedious obligation, resulting in generic items that end up forgotten. CANDYSIGN introduces its exclusive custom gifting service, guided by the philosophy that "a good product is like a candy." By blending cutting-edge technology with aesthetic design, CANDYSIGN offers practical yet stylish gifts like the Red Dot Award-winning Tietie Cable and the compact Mint Charger. Catering to various budgets and scenarios without overwhelming buyers with technical specs, the brand has partnered with clients like Alibaba Cloud and Xiaohongshu. With a one-year warranty and a strict commitment to original design and reliable supply chains, CANDYSIGN ensures every corporate gift is a memorable extension of brand value. Follow ifanr's official WeChat account (ID: ifanr) for more exciting content delivered firsthand.

When AI video generation finally outpaced playback speed, the concept of a 'never-ending AI livestream' evolved from a joke into reality. Developer Pieter Levels launched Infinite Slop, an interactive AI livestream website where audience prompts are instantly transformed into continuous video segments. Powered by fal's ultra-fast H3 Max model, which generates 15-second videos in just 9 seconds, the system seamlessly stitches user inputs into a loosely connected storyline. The project quickly went viral, drawing over 5 million views and showcasing a bizarre, limitless stream of AI-generated content driven entirely by real-time audience interaction.

In consumer electronics, a product's legacy is often defined by small, specific design choices rather than just faster chips and more features. In this installment of "Hard Philosophy," Ifanr explores the fundamental human-centric aspects of product design by questioning the rumored inclusion of an Apple Pencil for the upcoming foldable iPhone. Despite the larger, iPad mini-sized inner screen making a stylus seem logical, practical issues arise. Unlike an iPad, a unfolded phone is usually held suspended in the air, making stylus use ergonomically awkward. Furthermore, integrating a magnetic stylus into a foldable device's structure poses significant physical storage challenges, proving once again that Steve Jobs might have been right to mock the stylus.

Xpeng's MONA L03 is designed to be the ideal first SUV for young people, adapting to their ever-changing lifestyles. Drawing inspiration from Dieter Rams' modular shelving, the vehicle emphasizes leaving room for future changes. Beyond an attractive, sporty crossover exterior, the MONA L03 prioritizes interior practicality. It features a highly efficient cabin layout that maximizes rear passenger space, surpassing even larger traditional SUVs. With 40 storage compartments and an expandable trunk, it offers flexible space for evolving hobbies and needs. The MONA L03 proves that a youth-focused SUV must be more than just affordable; it must provide an elastic space that grows alongside the unpredictable journeys of young owners.

On August 31, the European Commission officially designated ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as regulatory subjects under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission stated that these services exceed 45 million average monthly active users in the EU, meeting the statutory threshold. ChatGPT was classified as a Very Large Online Search Engine, while Reddit and Roblox were designated as Very Large Online Platforms. Under the DSA, this status requires companies to comply with stricter rules, including risk assessments, content moderation, and transparency reporting. The platforms now have a four-month transition period, ending in late December 2026, to meet the additional compliance requirements.

On August 31, China State Railway Group disclosed its financial results for the first half of 2026. The company achieved a total operating revenue of 589 billion yuan, representing a 0.51% year-on-year increase, while net profit reached 1.85 billion yuan, surging 19.35% compared to the same period in 2025. During this period, national railways handled 2.348 billion passenger trips, a record high for the timeframe, and 2.015 billion tons of freight. Fixed asset investment grew by 2.1% to 363.2 billion yuan. Driven by deepening market-oriented reforms, the group's debt ratio dropped to 61.83%.

On August 31, X leaker @smashx_60 revealed the HMD Asha 305 Pro. The phone presents a striking visual contrast: its front features a highly retro design reminiscent of pre-2017 mid-to-low-end models, while its back boasts a camera module similar to recent iPhone 1X Pro designs, making the two sides look like products from entirely different eras. Available in black and pink, the nostalgic device features a 5.0-inch FWVGA display, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. It is powered by a Unisoc T137 chip, equipped with a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. Additionally, it packs a 2500mAh removable battery, IP52 rating, and runs Pulse OS.

On August 31, benchmark scores for Xiaomi's upcoming M367FC device surfaced on Geekbench, scoring 3474 in single-core and 13229 in multi-core tests. According to tipster @ZionsAnvin on X, this new device is the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max. The tablet is powered by the Xuanjie O3 processor, featuring a 10-core CPU design with 6 super-large cores and 4 large cores reaching up to 4.35GHz, alongside a 16-core G2-Ultra NX GPU with third-generation ray tracing support. Xiaomi previously confirmed that the Pad 9 Pro Max will debut this flagship chip in September, marketing it as their most powerful professional productivity tablet.

On August 31, NetEase Cloud Music launched its HarmonyOS app in early access on Huawei's AppGallery, developed by Hangzhou Ledu Technology Co., Ltd. The official response acknowledged the long wait, noting that the beta version focuses on core features like playback, recommendations, search, and sharing, with more functions to be refined. The company also launched a feedback initiative for users to report issues and suggest features. Compared to the Android version, the HarmonyOS app features a redesigned top and bottom navigation bar, moving the search button to the bottom, though it currently lacks features like Midnight Flight and AI Songwriting.

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI has triggered a global wave of gamers taking time off work, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commissioned luxury custom watches for executives. Hisense launched its A10 series e-ink phones, and GrapheneOS considered dropping support for the Pixel 11 due to cut memory security features. Meanwhile, Claude-related buzzwords have spread across GitHub, and China's MIIT exposed typical supervision cases in the auto industry. This briefing also covers recent updates from Paipai and a selection of recommended articles you might have missed.

How many spoon-billed sandpipers are left in the world? If you search online, you'll find conflicting figures ranging from 250 to nearly 500. This discrepancy stems from the different population estimation methods used by scientists. Much like trying to count a rare book in a massive flea market, researchers rely on various techniques—from direct counts and proportional estimates to mark-recapture methods and statistical modeling. Each approach has its limitations, whether it's missing hidden individuals or dealing with high uncertainty. This article explores the fascinating challenges conservationists face when calculating the population of this critically endangered bird.

This article, titled "Beyond the Screen, Upon the Desk: Over a Decade, BenQ Explores More Possibilities of a Beam of Light," was published on August 31, 2026, with an estimated reading time of two minutes. The copyright of the piece belongs to the author and is exclusively authorized to Sspai, meaning it cannot be reprinted or used without their explicit permission. The article has garnered engagement from the community, with 11 "Pai friends" having charged the article. Readers can navigate through the article directory and participate in the discussion section, which is currently set to default settings. The piece focuses on BenQ's decade-long journey in lighting innovation.

Previous articles: (1) Sharp Tools Make Good Work, (2) Recommended Liquid Ingredients, and (3) Recommended Solid Ingredients. Starting from this article, we officially enter the recipe introduction and production stage. There will be many ingredients that have not been mentioned before, which will be explained separately. We strive our best to help everyone make delicious summer drinks at home... View full text. This is a members-only article from 'Single Article'. Please subscribe to read the full text.

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched on August 30 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Named after NASA's first female chief of astronomy, the telescope features a 2.4-meter primary mirror donated by the National Reconnaissance Office, a Wide Field Instrument (WFI), and a Coronagraph (CGI). Its core mission includes investigating dark energy, discovering exoplanets, and testing general relativity. After separating from the rocket 31 minutes into flight, the Roman telescope is heading to the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. Following a three-month commissioning phase, NASA plans to release the first images in early 2027, with the telescope expected to transmit 1.4TB of data daily.

Following the Gulf of Mexico, Google has announced that its mapping service Google Maps will rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The change is primarily targeted at US users — Canadian users will continue to see Lake Ontario, while users in the rest of the world will see both names displayed. Meanwhile, another US mapping service, MapQuest, stated it would not change the name but would provide a tool allowing users to rename locations at their own discretion.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner stated that hackers breached the city government's systems earlier this month, stealing data and issuing a ransom demand. He affirmed the government will not yield to the extortion. While Wegner did not disclose the amount, media reports indicate the hackers demanded 30 bitcoins, worth roughly 2 million euros. The attack forced the shutdown of some online systems. The Rhysida group, active in Russia and Eastern Europe, claimed responsibility and announced plans to auction 5.79 terabytes of stolen data a week later. City officials confirmed the breach occurred between August 7 and 12. On August 14, networks in two government departments were taken offline, disrupting housing benefit applications and payments for several days.

South Korea is preparing to offer free AI services, known as 'AI for All,' to all citizens. Slated for beta testing next month and a launch later this year, the service will be operated by three consortiums led by the nation's two largest telecom firms and Kakao. The government will provide computing power, including up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips, and cover partial operating costs. Unlike standalone chatbots, the AI will integrate with government systems, allowing residents to book doctors, search apartments, and get tax guidance. Small businesses can calculate taxes and check subsidy eligibility, while parents receive educational recommendations. Users will enjoy unlimited access without token limits under this government-backed initiative.

The galaxy known as Cloud 9 could be the first "failed" starless galaxy discovered by humanity. Although such galaxies contain vast amounts of gas and dust, they have virtually no stars. Located 14 million light-years from Earth near the spiral galaxy M94, Cloud 9 contains a massive hydrogen gas cloud with an estimated mass of one million times that of the Sun, along with dark matter equivalent to about five million solar masses. It emits almost no starlight. The prevailing explanation for the formation of starless galaxies is linked to ultraviolet background radiation. Following the epoch of reionization in the early universe, the UV radiation field heated the gas in low-mass dark matter halos to temperatures high enough to prevent it from effectively cooling and collapsing to form stars.

IT Home, August 31 — Digital accessories manufacturer Dbrand recently launched the Tank Case for Apple's AirPods Pro 3 TWS earbuds. Priced at $29.95 (approximately 201.7 RMB), it is currently the only model in the product family designed for a non-smartphone device. The Tank Case continues the family's signature "hardcore" design style, offering solid protection. Its rich bumps, indentations, and textures provide an enhanced grip, fitting securely onto the device while including a dedicated removal tool. Furthermore, the case does not interfere with the AirPods Pro 3's wireless charging. Precision cutouts ensure uninterrupted capacitive signal transmission for the touch sensor, simplifying pairing, and it features a lanyard hole.

IT Home, August 31 — Luo Yonghao announced today that this year's "Crossroads Annual Tech Sharing Conference" will be held in Shenzhen, noting last year's event boosted valuations of at least three startups by four to five times. Luo stated that if any company develops a truly foolproof smart TV for seniors to watch instantly upon turning on by year-end, he will promote them for free at the conference. He also pledged to sell the TV for free during his weekly live-streaming sessions for a year. If no such TV emerges, Luo's software team will create a solution and partner with a traditional TV manufacturer under an OEM agreement. IT Home attached the full text as follows:

Using genomic evidence, researchers reconstructed thousands of years of human insect consumption. The study analyzed 745 dental calculus samples from modern humans, dating back 33,000 years. Findings suggest that while eating insects was common in tropical regions and among Neanderthals, it was only occasional in Europe, Central Asia, and East Asia. Modern humans in northern Eurasia lacked regular insect consumption, evidenced by mutations in the chitinase gene, which reduced their ability to digest insect exoskeletons. This pattern has persisted for about 9,000 years since the rise of agriculture. Conversely, Neanderthal dental calculus contained abundant insect DNA, primarily from mosquitoes and flies, supporting theories that they consumed maggot-infested carcasses and stored prey in wet environments.

Scientists have long known that plants use tiny pores called stomata to release water and cool down, much like human sweating, but the underlying molecular mechanism remained a mystery. Researchers have now identified a key protein, ubiquitin-specific protease 24 (UBP24), at the center of this cooling pathway. During heat stress, plant kinases activate UBP24, making it more stable and allowing it to protect other proteins that keep stomata open. This enables the plant's evaporative cooling system to function effectively. Interestingly, a similar heat dissipation mechanism was found in brewer's yeast, suggesting that this cellular cooling logic has been conserved across hundreds of millions of years of evolution between distinct species.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy SmartTag 3 has passed a key radio certification in South Korea, signaling that its official launch is approaching. The National Radio Research Agency of Korea recently certified a new Samsung device with the model number EI-T5900, listed as a "specific low-power wireless device." Based on previous naming conventions, this model is highly likely to be the Galaxy SmartTag 3. The certification indicates substantial progress in the device's development. Rumors suggest the tracker may launch around September alongside the Galaxy Tab S12 series. The new SmartTag is expected to feature a rounded square design without a built-in hole, requiring users to buy separate accessories, and will likely support Bluetooth, UWB, and the Samsung Find network.

Nissan and Honda have signed a joint development agreement to standardize core technologies for next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The standardization covers multiple core electronic control units (ECUs), in-vehicle operating systems, key middleware components, and vehicle control software. Starting from fiscal year 2029, the two automakers plan to implement this jointly developed electrical and electronic architecture in their respective next-generation SDV models. By standardizing these foundational technologies, Nissan and Honda aim to integrate engineering expertise and R&D resources, improve efficiency, accelerate innovation, and reduce costs through greater economies of scale, ultimately enhancing their overall market competitiveness.

IT Home, August 31. Publisher H2 INTERACTIVE announced that the Switch 2 version of 007: First Light has been delayed again, with no specific date set. The game was originally slated for late summer. IO Interactive handles global publishing, while H2 INTERACTIVE distributes physical copies in Asia. IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak stated in May that the Switch 2 version is already running, but requires more time for polishing. The game launched on May 27 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The title reimagines James Bond's origin story, described by IO Interactive as its "most ambitious" project to date. It aims to deliver an "unforgettable James Bond experience," featuring global locations, in-depth espionage, high-tech gadgets, and thrilling car chases.

Bloomberg reported today that SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won announced SK Hynix is considering establishing a joint venture in Japan. Speaking on the sidelines of a bilateral chamber of commerce meeting, Chey stated that SK is scouting locations across Japan with sufficient power and water supplies, though he declined to elaborate. An anonymous source indicated that a small-scale acquisition of a Japanese firm is also possible, with the specific form of collaboration depending on partners and products. Additionally, in his capacity as Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chey noted that South Korea and Japan are joining forces to form an economic bloc, emphasizing their complementary strengths.

Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing revealed highlights of the company's first participation in the IFA consumer electronics show. Xiaomi will feature a booth exceeding 3,300 square meters with nearly 400 exhibits, marking its largest overseas showcase of its "Human x Car x Home" ecosystem. From September 4 to 8, three vehicles—the Xiaomi SU7 Max, SU7 Ultra, and Vision GT—will be displayed, alongside the first overseas appearance of Xiaomi's humanoid robot, CyberOne. Originally launched in August 2022 by Lei Jun, CyberOne stands 177 cm tall and features self-developed bionic perception, AI technologies, and a Mi-Sense vision system co-developed with O-Film.

On August 31, IT Home reported that Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced an expansion of AI model availability in GovCloud. U.S. government agencies can now access large AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta, alongside Amazon's own Nova models, through Amazon Bedrock. AWS GovCloud is designed for U.S. government agencies, offering a regulatory-compliant, secure, and externally isolated cloud environment. AWS is experiencing strong growth, with Q2 2026 operating profit up 63% year-over-year and revenue up 37%, driven by AI and chip businesses. Amazon management expects AWS revenue could eventually reach $1 trillion, noting that around 85% of global IT spending remains in on-premises environments, indicating substantial room for cloud market growth.

Neolix has issued an official response after media reports surfaced of individuals climbing onto a moving autonomous delivery vehicle in Zhengzhou. The company confirmed the vehicle was theirs and stated that three suspected minors climbed onto the roof while it was stopped at a red light. Neolix explained that the vehicle's sensors captured the event, but the system did not intervene as the behavior did not match existing risk models and the weight did not trigger an alert. The company has reported the incident to local traffic police, pledged full cooperation, and initiated three improvement measures to enhance sensor algorithms, remote monitoring, and route inspections.

According to The Information, OpenAI has purchased tens of thousands of Apple Mac mini and Mac Studio computers in recent months to train AI systems capable of operating computers. These Macs are primarily used for reinforcement learning, where AI agents practice tasks in real computer environments. OpenAI acquired models with large unified memory to run workloads for "computer-operating AI agents." This massive purchase reflects a growing industry-wide demand for high-memory Apple computers, driven by Apple's unified memory architecture that allows CPUs and GPUs to access the same large memory pool. Consequently, high-memory Mac minis and Mac Studios have become difficult to purchase, with some models out of stock for months.

August 31, IT Home News: Lenovo has listed the IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 14IWC11 convertible laptop on its product specification site. Powered by the 3rd-generation Intel Core "Wildcat Lake" processor, it offers Core 3 304 and Core 5 315 options. The device features a 360° hinge, weighs 1.54kg, and is 17.4mm thick. Internally, it includes one DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM slot and one M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 x4 slot. It sports a 14-inch 1920x1080 60Hz 400-nit multi-touch low color gamut (45% NTSC) display with digital pen support. Additional features include dual speakers, an FHD + IR camera, a 1.3mm key travel keyboard, a 120x75mm precision touchpad, two USB-A 5Gbps ports, two full-function USB-C 5Gbps ports, an HDMI 1.4b port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader.

IT Home, August 31 — Li Auto officially announced today the August OTA update for its Livis AI glasses, introducing three new features. To experience the latest features, users must update the Li Xuetong app to version 2.7.0 and the glasses' firmware to version 2.1.30. The main updates include sports and health analysis, which now integrates data from Apple and OPPO smartwatches, with future support planned for Huawei and Garmin devices. Additionally, the update brings to-do reminders for schedules and subscriptions, alongside proactive weather broadcasts and low battery alerts. Finally, a new shooting watermark feature allows users to add watermarks to photos, videos, and Live Photos with a single tap.

IT Home, August 31. During a live broadcast on August 31 detailing the Luxeed RX's safety technology, Zhao Changjiang, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Luxeed Auto, stated that the car's exterior is its least noteworthy aspect, as it is a premium vehicle built for drivers using ultimate technology. He emphasized that safety is the foundation of the vehicle, with driving pleasure having no upper limit, but safety always being the bottom line. The Luxeed RX is a mid-to-large pure electric coupe SUV based on the Huawei Turing platform, featuring an L3 autonomous driving architecture and a '343' body structure to enhance torsional stiffness and overall safety performance.

August 31 — Thermaltake has released its AX 3200W AI workstation power supply on e-commerce platforms, priced at 4,399 RMB. The unit features a 200mm ATX form factor, delivering a continuous output of 3200W. It comes equipped with four native 12V-2x6 connectors and is backed by a 10-year warranty. Internally, the AX 3200W utilizes a single +12V rail design and is fully populated with Japanese 105°C electrolytic capacitors. It complies with the ATX12V 3.1 standard, boasts an 80 PLUS Platinum certification, and offers a hold-up time of over 17ms. The power supply also integrates a 140mm dual-ball bearing silent fan and includes fully modular, low-profile etched cables.

IT Home, August 31 — The Ministry of Commerce and six other departments have issued implementation opinions on promoting the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption. The guidelines emphasize smart consumption by establishing national AI application pilot bases and accelerating the promotion of AI phones, computers, wearables, robots, and smart home products. Additionally, the directives call for deepening reforms in automobile circulation and consumption, removing unreasonable restrictions, and optimizing vehicle purchase limits to meet consumer demand. The policy also aims to boost the automotive aftermarket, improve used car circulation management, and enhance new energy vehicle charging infrastructure along highways and transportation hubs.

South Korean semiconductor design firm CoAsia SEMI and LG Electronics will collaborate on the "K-On-Device AI Semiconductor Technology Development" project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. CoAsia SEMI will develop two IoT chips for LG's AI home appliances, with a budget of 31 billion KRW, running from July 2026 to December 2030. Notably, these chips will be manufactured by Samsung Electronics' foundry, marking a shift from LG's traditional reliance on TSMC for its appliance chip production. The two entities aim to develop ultra-low power SoCs to gain a first-mover advantage in next-gen AI home platforms.

IT Home, August 31 — Liu Xing, PR head of Doubao, posted on Weibo today to address the recent internet rumor claiming "Doubao advised boiling slippers." Recently, bloggers across multiple platforms claimed that after their slippers deformed from sun exposure, they asked Doubao for help, only to be advised to boil them in a pot, ruining both the slippers and the pot. Liu stated that Doubao would never give such advice, explicitly warning against boiling remedies. Official verification revealed these videos were adapted from a meme. The original creator admitted to deliberately guiding Doubao to generate incorrect responses for a staged meme video. As it gained traction, other accounts copied the stunt. Without disclaimers, some media and institutional accounts mistook the rumor for news.

IT Home, August 31 — Chinese memory chipmaker Longsys has filed for a Hong Kong listing, aiming to raise up to HK$6.28 billion (approx. RMB 5.395 billion). The company plans to issue around 26 million shares at a maximum price of HK$240.6 per share, with trading expected to begin on September 8. If the over-allotment option is exercised, the fundraising could reach US$1.06 billion, valuing the company at up to US$24.9 billion. Proceeds will fund chip design and advanced storage technology R&D. Notably, Longsys' A-shares have surged about 50% this year, with H1 revenue more than doubling to RMB 24.1 billion and net profit soaring roughly 700-fold to RMB 10.6 billion.

IT Home, August 31 — NetEase Cloud Music version 9.5.80 is now available for early access on the HarmonyOS AppGallery. Developed by Hangzhou Ledu Technology Co., Ltd., the 137.0MB app fulfills basic needs like music playback and viewing recommended playlists. The UI differs from Android: the top bar features seven sections including Heartbeat Mode and Song Recognition, omitting Midnight Flight and AI Songwriting. The bottom bar has Home, Search, and My, with the search button moved from the top. The playback interface offers quality selection, favorites, downloads, and sharing. Heartbeat Mode is activated by swiping left on the home page. Currently, the HarmonyOS version lacks a sleep timer, playback speed control, driving mode, focus mode, and ringtone settings. Its hamburger menu is also streamlined, missing personalization and mall features.

On August 31, IT Home reported that Momenta released its H1 2026 financial report (January to June 2026). Total revenue reached 1.602 billion yuan, up 75.9% year-on-year, while gross profit hit 1.173 billion yuan, up 79.4% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 73.2%. The period loss was 16.537 billion yuan, operating cash flow was -381 million yuan, and basic EPS was -471.8 yuan. AI analysis indicates revenue and gross profit growth met market expectations, adjusted losses narrowed significantly, and business expansion exceeded expectations. Momenta, a leading autonomous driving solution provider, focuses on mass production, freight, and robotaxi solutions.

IT Home, August 31 — AOC has begun selling the AGON Max AG326UZD (Matte Edition) monitor. The final price after government subsidies is 6,499 yuan. It features a 31.5-inch UHD 240Hz QD-OLED Penta Tandem panel, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, a Black AGLR coating, and a surface hardness of 3H. The monitor offers 300 nits of SDR APL 100% brightness, 515 nits of HDR APL 10% brightness, and 1000 nits of HDR APL 3% brightness. It boasts a 0.03ms GtG response time, 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, and supports MBR technology. Connectivity includes DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and a 65W USB-C port.

August 31, IT Home reported that today, a large number of users reported service exceptions with the Traffic Management 12123 App, receiving prompts such as 'service exception' or 'service busy' when logging in. The glitch manifests as a 'service exception' pop-up for most users during login, while some regions display 'service busy (C100003)' or 'network error.' Consequently, some users are unable to view their electronic driver's licenses, forcing them to carry physical copies. Additionally, driving test candidates cannot check their Subject 3 scores or pay examination fees. Operations requiring online payment, such as driver's license renewal, also cannot be completed. As of press time, the outage remains unresolved, and officials have not yet responded.

On August 31, IT Home reported that OPPO ColorOS Design Director Chen Xi confirmed ColorOS 17 will debut next month. Chen revealed that the new system features a global floating island navigation design covering nearly all built-in apps, delivering a lighter and purer visual experience. OPPO has also optimized global rounded corners for a consistent, natural interface. Inheriting the fluid motion blending from version 16, ColorOS applies this system-wide—from the lock screen island to notification swipes and app searches—ensuring seamless visual comfort. Furthermore, ColorOS 17 introduces a flexible feedback system where elements naturally stretch, compress, and bounce back, making every interaction responsive and full of life.

August 31 — IT Home reported that Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd., the controlling parent company of the Huawei Group, achieved a revenue of 467.819 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, up approximately 9.55% from 427.039 billion yuan in the same period last year. Net profit stood at 23.428 billion yuan, down from 37.054 billion yuan a year earlier. Notably, Huawei's R&D expenses reached a historic high of 121.382 billion yuan, a surge of over 25% compared to 96.950 billion yuan in the first half of 2025. Consequently, the R&D-to-revenue ratio increased from about 22.7% to roughly 25.9%.

IT Home, August 31 — Fosi Audio released the Carbon 12 in-ear monitors on August 28. Claimed as the world's first in-ear headphone with a UTPT (Ultra-Thin Ply Technology) pure carbon fiber diaphragm, it retails for 999 RMB. The Carbon 12 features a TC4 titanium alloy body, forged carbon fiber faceplate, and a 12mm pure carbon fiber dynamic driver. Its dual-cavity acoustic structure utilizes an open front and diffused rear cavity to create acoustic damping, delivering a warm sound with prominent vocals. Specifications include a 20-40,000 Hz frequency response, 37Ω impedance, 108dB/Vrms sensitivity at 1kHz, ≤0.5% distortion, and 7.5g per earpiece. Available via JD.com.

IT Home, August 31 — Horizon Robotics released its H1 2026 financial report today. Total operating revenue reached 2.055 billion yuan, up 32.9% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 66%. Net profit attributable to parent company shareholders turned profitable, reaching 3.784 billion yuan. The company, a leading domestic provider of automotive intelligent chips and autonomous driving solutions, saw its market share for self-brand ADAS exceed 50%, ranking first in the industry. The financial performance met market expectations, with revenue growth exceeding institutional forecasts. Horizon Robotics plans to launch a Level 4 Robotaxi trial project in 2026 and complete the tape-out of its next-gen Journey 7 SoC by Q2 2027.

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars announced on Monday that it will close its Stockholm office and consolidate related business functions into its headquarters in Gothenburg. The Stockholm office currently employs approximately 450 people. This move is part of the company's broader initiatives to cut costs and enhance operational efficiency. Earlier this year, Volvo launched an accelerated cost reduction and cash flow optimization plan totaling 18 billion Swedish kronor and announced global layoffs of around 3,000 employees. The company has already achieved initial results, meeting its annual indirect cost savings target of 5 billion kronor six months ahead of schedule.

IT Home, August 31 — Sony's official announcement last month that new PlayStation games will be digital-only starting January 2028 sparked widespread backlash from gamers globally. According to tech media NoteBookCheck, rumors during Gamescom 2026 suggest Sony is considering delaying its plan to phase out physical discs by one to two years. This reconsideration is reportedly linked to Microsoft, which plans to continue supporting physical games and recently announced a 'disc-to-digital' conversion feature. If the future PS6 goes fully digital while Microsoft's next-gen Xbox 'Project Helix' retains physical support, Xbox could gain a competitive edge. However, IT Home notes that Sony's final decision remains unconfirmed and these reports should be treated as rumors until officially clarified.

Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) announced that official deliveries of the Maextro S800 Grand Design have begun on August 31. Previously released on June 25, the ultra-luxury sedan starts at 1.388 million yuan and is available in extended-range and pure electric versions. Measuring 5480mm long with a 3370mm wheelbase, the vehicle features a four-seat independent layout. It integrates Oriental aesthetics with advanced technology, offering exclusive color options and hand-crafted wooden interiors. The car is built on an L3+ autonomous driving architecture equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5 and features a highly redundant computing system, advanced active suspension, and a comprehensive range of up to 1200km.

According to a recent leak by 43 Rumors, OM System's upcoming retro PEN mirrorless camera will closely resemble the Olympus E-P7 in appearance. The new PEN model will feature a creative mode dial similar to the E-P7, offering black-and-white and color mode switching options, but omitting the previous "CRT/ART" settings. Additionally, one dial has been removed from the top plate, while a new dial will be added above the thumb rest on the rear, as seen in an official teaser video. The camera will also feature weatherproofing, a vari-angle screen, and a built-in electronic viewfinder. Despite a front dial resembling the OM-3, the overall design does not introduce major technological innovations.

According to court hearing information, Dreame Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against Xingyin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., the core domestic operating entity of Xiaohongshu, over a reputation rights dispute. The case is scheduled to go to trial on September 8 at the Shanghai Huangpu District People's Court. In late April 2026, Dreame's founder and CEO Yu Hao published multiple Weibo posts, publicly criticizing Xiaohongshu as a "very, very bad platform." He described its values and profit model as "toxic" and questioned whether its algorithm intentionally recommends malicious content and fake news.

Matrix is a writing community by Sspai dedicated to sharing authentic product experiences and practical insights. In this article, a retro tech enthusiast revisits the Toshiba Libretto 50M, a unique mini laptop from 1997. Originally customized for Meiji Mutual Life Insurance, the 50M was among the first in the Libretto series to feature a resistive touchscreen. Weighing just 840 grams, it ran Windows 95 on an Intel Pentium 75MHz processor. The piece explores its historical background, hardware specifications, internal teardown, and the nostalgic experience of using this pioneering subnotebook nearly three decades later.

Unknowingly, I have been using Linux as my daily driver for six years. If I had to describe the experience in one word, it would be "comfortable." Many users still perceive Linux as difficult, with a high barrier to entry, often relegating it to a virtual machine or a secondary dual-boot system alongside Windows. However, running it as the sole operating system is far less intimidating than imagined. In this article, I share my personal journey and practical experiences to help demystify Linux. From overcoming the initial learning curve and adapting to modern desktop environments, to exploring a thriving software ecosystem and reviving aging hardware, I aim to show you how to easily cross the threshold and perhaps fall in love with Linux.

Many readers are curious about what the editors at sspai actually buy in their daily lives. Through the "Editors' New Gadgets" column, we showcase the novel products our team members have been using and let them share their hands-on experiences. In this edition, @Xiaokui introduces an extra-large, convertible enclosed litter box that significantly reduces litter tracking, though it makes scooping a bit more cumbersome. @Clyde reviews the Li Auto AI Glasses Livis, praising its seamless vehicle control integration and MindGPT, while criticizing its app quality control and media sync issues. Finally, @Bei'ao shares an affordable pair of adjustable dumbbells bought from Xianyu, highlighting the incredible convenience of quick weight adjustments for home workouts.

Z.ai released and open-sourced GLM-5.3-Flash, a native multimodal model featuring a Mixture of Experts architecture. Perplexity AI partnered with NVIDIA to launch the Portable Computer, an on-device AI agent. BenQ introduced the Creative Pro PV50 series professional monitors. Google unveiled the Gemini 3.5 Transcribe speech-to-text model and the Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash multimodal video generation model. NVIDIA announced NVHBM custom high-bandwidth memory technology. Microsoft's Xbox team launched a physical disc digital entitlement feature. Other updates include Apple's upcoming product launch event, the GTA 6 trailer, and new releases from Audio-Technica and Ricoh Imaging.

In 2017, BenQ introduced the first-generation ScreenBar, pioneering the monitor light bar with an asymmetric optical design. Over the past decade, iterations have focused on physical structures and smart experiences. To address the evolving digital workspace—characterized by all-in-one setups, dual monitors, and ultrawide screens—BenQ has launched two new products: the iScreenBar and the ScreenBar Max. The iScreenBar seamlessly integrates with iMac hardware and macOS software, offering a nearly invisible lighting experience. Meanwhile, the ScreenBar Max utilizes an independent arm and an 85cm ultra-wide head to illuminate expansive workstations, accommodating multiple screens and diverse desk tasks. Both products reflect BenQ's commitment to adapting mature lighting technologies to specific, modern user scenarios.

Following the success of its wide folding phones, Huawei introduces the HUAWEI Pura X View, the world's first wide bar flagship smartphone. Featuring a 6.68mm ultra-thin body, 201g weight, a 7000mAh battery, and a 16:9.5 wide screen with a 96.1% screen-to-body ratio, it enhances experiences for reading, streaming, and gaming. To evaluate its real-world usability, including single-handed grip and third-party app optimization, a hands-on experience campaign is launched. Users can visit Huawei stores between August 28 and September 16 to try the device, share their reviews on Xiaohongshu with specific hashtags, and submit a survey to win prizes like HUAWEI FreeBuds 7i.

As the new school year begins, students face new environments and increased academic responsibilities. This article compiles a series of high-quality guides from sspai authors to help students and researchers master knowledge management, literature review, and academic writing. It covers essential skills such as precise information retrieval, building efficient note-taking workflows like the Zettelkasten and P.A.R.A. methods, and selecting the right tools like Obsidian and Notion. Furthermore, it explores how to integrate AI into study workflows and provides practical advice on selecting research topics, designing questionnaires, and formatting papers. These strategies aim to make academic life more efficient and less stressful.

This week's viewing guide covers a diverse lineup of 10 recommended works, including the Hong Kong drama "Under the Rainbow," Mexico's "Las Azule" Season 2, the British series "Professor T" Season 5, and several anime and documentary titles. Additionally, the article highlights new trailers, such as Aaron Sorkin's upcoming film "The Social Trial," set for an October 9 release in North America. The selections span various genres, from historical anime and sci-fi comedies to documentaries focusing on the lives of the elderly, offering a rich array of choices for viewers seeking quality entertainment across different cultures and themes.

In 2026, buying a range hood and gas stove is tricky due to the staggered transition to new national standards. Gas stoves adopted the new GB30720-2025 standard in March, tightening energy efficiency requirements, while range hoods will follow the new GB29539-2025 standard in November. This creates a market where old and new standard products coexist, confusing buyers. This guide explains the standard changes and advises focusing on first-level energy efficiency for gas stoves and traditional specs like air volume and pressure for hoods. It also explores hood structures, smart features, and modern kitchen design trends, helping consumers create an integrated, highly efficient cooking space.

Inspired by the K-pop group SEVENTEEN's "Nana Tour," the author embarked on a summer journey to Florence to experience its captivating charm firsthand. This comprehensive travelogue offers practical advice on itinerary planning and anti-theft precautions in Europe. It details a three-day exploration of the city, starting with a leisurely stroll along the Arno River and a visit to the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo's David. The itinerary also features a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over the Tuscan countryside, a reflective walk through the Basilica of Santa Croce, and an immersive tour of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, perfectly capturing the essence of Florence's rich artistic and historical heritage.

Meta has reached a settlement with multiple U.S. states over a children's privacy and consumer protection case, agreeing to pay nearly $16.7 billion to the states. The company will also impose a series of social media usage restrictions on teenage users, including a daily limit of no more than two hours. The most far-reaching settlement terms involve Meta implementing new safeguards that will substantially alter how social media operates for youth. One key change is a "nighttime block" feature: by default, teens will be unable to access Facebook and Instagram from midnight to 6 a.m. Additionally, teen accounts will have a default daily cumulative usage limit of two hours across all Meta-owned social media platforms.

After a long period of encouraging AI adoption, Microsoft began urging employees to limit their AI usage earlier this month. In an email to staff, Executive Vice President Jay Parikh asked engineers to focus on business outcomes rather than maximizing AI token usage. To extract greater value from token investments, Microsoft set OpenAI's GPT-5.6, which is cheaper than Anthropic models, as its default internal model. According to voluntarily submitted AI usage bills, one employee in the Customer and Partner Solutions department spent $28,000 over 28 days. Several others exceeded $10,000, while the median spend was about $300 per 28 days. The CoreAI department recorded the highest median spend at $975.

A study published in the journal Science analyzed millennium-long records from Galápagos corals, revealing that El Niño events are intensifying as the Earth warms. The findings show that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability in the eastern Pacific is now approximately 36.5% higher than in the pre-industrial era. This indicates that climate change is already amplifying one of the world's most significant sources of extreme weather, posing growing risks to ecosystems, infrastructure, and human societies. ENSO is the primary driver of year-to-year climate extremes, associated with droughts, floods, wildfires, coral bleaching, and impacts on agriculture and human health.

Driven by the AI boom, a global memory shortage has caused prices to surge, forcing both PC and smartphone manufacturers to reduce device memory capacities. In response, Google is requiring Android app developers to optimize their code and lower memory consumption. The company noted that severe hardware supply constraints are impacting device memory availability, which in turn affects the user experience. To prevent performance-related issues such as sluggishness and crashes, Google has introduced new code optimization requirements. App developers must comply with these memory usage guidelines by February 2027.

Two years after the release of its fifth beta, the open-source BeOS-inspired operating system Haiku has released its sixth beta. Following the acquisition and subsequent discontinuation of BeOS by Palm in 2001, the Haiku project was officially launched shortly after, releasing its first version in 2002, Haiku R1 Alpha 4.1 in 2012, and Haiku R1/beta1 six years later. Beta6 primarily focuses on improving functionality and overall stability. Key changes in the new version include porting Firefox, improving QEMU support, implementing an OpenBSD-based memory allocation mechanism, enhancing support for various file systems, fixing over 530 bugs, and porting numerous new applications.

A French court has for the first time recognized cosmic radiation as an occupational factor in a flight attendant's breast cancer, alongside passive smoking and long-term night shift work. The ruling could open the door for similar lawsuits, as research consistently links prolonged high-altitude flying to elevated radiation-related cancer exposure. Sophie Lainault, a 59-year-old former Air France flight attendant, sought to have her cancer recognized as an occupational disease. Working from 1989 to 2019, she accumulated 12,600 flight hours, with over half on night shifts. Long-haul flights from Paris typically use polar routes, where weaker magnetic shielding leads to higher radiation exposure. A recent Harvard Medical School study found that flight attendants and pilots have the highest radiation-related cancer mortality rates among over 500 professions.

At Hot Chips 2026, IBM introduced the world's first dual-instruction set processor. With around 70% of global transactions processed via IBM Z mainframes, the new processor integrates the Arm ecosystem to bring next-generation applications to mainframes. Built on a 2nm process node, it features 11 high-performance cores exceeding 5.7 GHz, an AI inference accelerator for fraud detection, a dedicated on-chip data processing unit for I/O acceleration, and a large cache architecture for demanding enterprise workloads. Rather than utilizing separate Arm and IBM cores, each core natively executes Arm and IBM Z, or Arm and LinuxONE instructions, while maintaining the platform's existing performance, security, encryption, and availability.

Germany's Sovereign Tech Fund will grant 508,640 euros over the next two years to support the Flatpak project, aiming to build a more secure and refined sandboxing platform. Flatpak, a Linux application packaging format spearheaded by Red Hat and similar to Canonical's Snap, provides a sandbox environment that isolates running applications from the rest of the system. The funding will be utilized to develop several key features, including audio isolation around PipeWire, new network isolation capabilities, allowing third-party VPN apps to manage system-level connections, writing assistance, and password autofill.

On Wednesday, the US State Department and Treasury designated the Italian organization Autistici/Inventati, a provider of encrypted chat, email, web hosting, and secure video conferencing services, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This makes any transactions between US citizens and the group illegal. The State Department justified the move by citing the group's provision of digital infrastructure for far-left organizations like Antifa, enabling radicals to remain "anonymous, untraceable, and safe from legal consequences" while disseminating tactical manuals and attack notices. The controversial decision may lead to the blocking of its domain, autistici.org. In a joint statement, Autistici/Inventati denied all allegations, describing itself as a digital self-defense platform and accusing the US government of attempting to divert attention from its own violence and warmongering.

Two drone videos posted on Xiaohongshu and verified by the BBC capture the moment a glacier collapsed on Mount Langtang Lirung in the Himalayas, triggering a deadly mudslide along the China-Nepal border. The peak stands at an altitude of approximately 7,200 meters, with dust from the collapse soaring into the sky. So far, Nepal has reported 547 deaths within its borders. Additionally, 575 foreign tourists are missing, including 183 Indian, 65 American, 62 Ukrainian, and 33 British citizens, along with 149 missing Nepali tourists. In China's Tibet region, 5 deaths and 558 missing people have been reported, including 260 foreigners.

Although primarily made of paper, disposable paper cups feature a thin plastic lining—typically polyethylene or biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)—to enhance water resistance and structural integrity. Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered that these cups release substantial amounts of micro- and nanoplastics when exposed to hot water. Measurements revealed that PLA-lined cups contain approximately 4.3 million nanoparticles per milliliter, while PE-lined cups contain about 2.7 million. The total number of plastic particles released by PLA cups is 12 times that of PE cups. The study further confirms that new plastic products used for food storage and preparation are a significant source of human exposure to plastics through ingestion.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, with 99% of cases caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). In 2006, Australia became the first country to introduce a cervical cancer vaccine. Beyond cervical cancer, the vaccine also prevents throat, genital, and anal cancers, benefiting both men and women. Australia fully funds its HPV vaccination program, offering it free to girls and young women under 26 since 2007, and extending it to boys and young men in 2013. Consequently, Australia is poised to eliminate cervical cancer within the next decade. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused vaccination rates to decline globally, including in Australia, where the HPV vaccination rate for 15-year-old girls dropped from 86.6% in 2020 to 78.7%.

Xing Zhi, a 39-year-old programmer in Shenzhen, died in his company's restroom on April 23, 2026. After clocking in, he went directly to the second-floor restroom and was later found unconscious. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead. The company applied for work-related injury recognition, but the Shenzhen Human Resources and Social Security Bureau denied the claim on July 3. Officials argued that since his workstation was on the 11th floor and his computer was not turned on, he was not engaged in work-related activities. His family has appealed the decision, seeking compensation of over 1.13 million yuan. Lawyers argue that workplace restrooms should be considered a reasonable extension of an employee's workstation.

Tiangong, a general-purpose humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, completed a 100-meter sprint in 8.64 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games, far surpassing Usain Bolt's 2009 human world record of 9.58 seconds. The robot's average speed approached 42 km/h. Experts note that while this achievement highlights the robot's power, it also exposes shortcomings in decision-making and perception, as humanoid robots brake by crashing into soft pads. Unlike human runners, the robot took nearly a second to react, used over 50 steps with a faster cadence and shorter stride, and showed no deceleration at the finish. Experts suggest that in the coming years, robots capable of turning and autonomous decision-making will be more impressive than sheer speed.

The Debian Project has voted to permit the responsible use of generative AI tools. Using a Condorcet method with nine options, the winning choice was option five, "Responsible Use of Generative AI." The project neither endorses nor opposes AI in development and maintenance but acknowledges it can boost efficiency if used responsibly. Submissions must meet the same quality, correctness, maintainability, and legal compliance standards regardless of AI use. Contributors must review and test AI-assisted outputs, as blind acceptance violates Debian practices. Disclosure is encouraged but not mandatory. Debian notes the disputed legal status of AI-generated materials and states this resolution does not resolve these issues or take a stance on copyright.

Both South Korea and Japan saw their populations return to growth in the first half of this year. South Korea recorded 145,804 births, a 15.4% increase year-on-year and the highest first-half figure in seven years, driven by rising marriage registrations and demographic shifts. Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported 342,068 newborns, a 0.8% rise and the first first-half increase in 11 years, attributed to a consecutive rebound in marriages over the preceding two years.

Research from the University of East Anglia suggests that tens of thousands of women in the UK may be experiencing undiagnosed postpartum PTSD. The condition can arise following a difficult pregnancy or childbirth, with symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and persistent negative thoughts. Recent data reveals that between 2021 and 2023, suicide was the leading cause of death for UK women between six weeks and one year postpartum. Researchers describe these deaths as just the tip of the iceberg, with many more women suffering from severe mental health issues without access to necessary help. Their study indicates that 1 in 20 postpartum women develops PTSD.

Following OpenAI, another US AI-linked company, X/SpaceX, claims that around 200 China-linked troll accounts are covertly fueling anti-data center sentiment among the American public on social media. These accounts posted about AI straining the power grid and driving up electricity prices, alongside cartoons depicting operators profiting at the public's expense. Former Twitter communications chief Jim Prosser pushed back against Silicon Valley's narrative that opposition amounts to Chinese psychological warfare, arguing Big Tech uses this claim to dismiss valid local concerns. He noted that if Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul agree on an issue, it likely isn't such warfare. Prosser urged the tech industry to listen to affected communities rather than condescendingly dismissing them.

The Android security hardening project GrapheneOS has discovered that Google's upcoming flagship smartphone, the Pixel 11, has dropped support for hardware MTE (Memory Tagging Extension), preventing the project from completing its support for the device. Introduced in the ARMv8.5-A architecture, MTE improves memory security by tagging allocated memory to track illegal operations. Google has supported hardware MTE since the Pixel 8 in 2023, though Android and Pixel OS never enabled it by default, unlike Apple's iPhone 17. GrapheneOS is now collaborating with Motorola on a new phone powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which supports hardware MTE. The project advises users against buying the Pixel 11, recommending the cheaper Pixel 8, 9, and 10 instead.

Global music giants Sony and Warner have sued Anthropic, accusing the AI company of committing one of the largest and most blatant intellectual property thefts in history. The lawsuit alleges that Anthropic illegally used tens of thousands of copyrighted musical works to train its models. Anthropic and its founders, Dario Amodei and Benjamin Mann, are accused of unlawfully downloading, scraping, and distributing protected works to develop and profit from the Claude AI models. The labels seek up to $150,000 per infringed work and an additional $25,000 for each instance of removed copyright information, potentially totaling billions of dollars. The suit also claims Mann downloaded over five million pirated books via BitTorrent, while employees downloaded millions more from Pirate Library Mirror and scraped lyrics from licensed sites like MusixMatch and LyricFind.

Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), revealed that China's auto imports in July 2026 reached 43,000 units, a 13% year-on-year decline. From January to July, imports totaled 240,000 units, down 11%, with high-value imported four-wheel-drive SUVs performing particularly poorly. Despite a low base in early 2025 cushioning the 31% retail drop to 220,000 units for the first seven months, July's retail sales plunged 40% to 27,000 units. Japan, Germany, and the US led import sources. The luxury market showed divergent trends, with Lexus maintaining stability as the top imported luxury brand, while some ultra-luxury brands showed signs of collapse.

According to the gaming media outlet GamesRadar, developer Atlus has decided to recast the English voice actors for Persona 4: Revival. Producer Kazuhisa Wada explained during Gamescom 2026 that since the original game's English dub was recorded over a decade ago, many original voice actors have left the industry, while others have become prominent actors with difficult-to-coordinate schedules. For instance, Yuri Lowenthal, who voiced Yosuke Hanamura in the 2008 original, now enjoys much greater fame and voices Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider-Man game series. Wada noted that reuniting the original cast proved impossible, prompting the team to start fresh with a brand-new lineup. The development team previously stated that the remake will remain faithful to the original, as its themes remain highly relevant today.

Hugging Face's new robot duck, Microduck, has generated over $2.6 million in orders within its first 24 hours on the market. Priced at $399 and developed by Pollen Robotics, a company acquired by Hugging Face last year, the nearly 10-inch-tall robot quickly experienced an order backlog. Due to massive demand, Pollen Robotics warned that new orders may not arrive by Christmas, with current shipping estimates ranging from four to six months. The launch highlights a broader industry trend of integrating AI into physical consumer devices. This surge in demand coincides with reports that Nvidia is in talks to acquire Hugging Face in a deal potentially valuing the AI startup at over $13 billion.

According to Guan Haitao, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Honor, the Honor robot Lightning has made its first overseas appearance at the Malaysian Marathon, becoming the first robotic competitor in the event's history. Following its record-breaking runs in the human 100-meter and half-marathon categories, Lightning successfully completed the 10-kilometer race under the dazzling night sky of the Petronas Twin Towers, setting a new event record. Developed in-house by Honor, the 169cm-tall humanoid robot features a trendy red mecha design and boasts speed and explosive power as its core strengths. Lightning previously finished a 1,500-meter race in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, breaking the human world record.

Data from the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) shows that China's used car transactions reached 11.2748 million units in the first seven months of this year, a slight year-on-year increase of 0.39%. CADA Vice President Luo Lei noted that the ratio of used to new cars reached 97.9% in the first half, approaching a 1:1 balance. The used new energy vehicle (NEV) market saw rapid growth, with 839,000 units traded, up 22% year-on-year and accounting for 8.6% of total used car transactions. The value retention gap between ICE and NEVs has narrowed significantly, improving consumer acceptance. With China's vehicle ownership at 370 million, Luo expects substantial future growth and rising NEV penetration in the used car market.

Toshiba's S300 AI Series mechanical hard drives are now available on JD.com, with 8TB and 10TB options starting at 2,949 yuan. Designed for surveillance and similar scenarios, the new drives support RAID and JBOD applications. They offer an annual workload of up to 550TB/year and a Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) of up to 2.5 million hours, enabling 24/7 operation in mission-critical tasks. Featuring a 3.5-inch form factor, 7200RPM speed, and a SATA interface, both capacities come with 512MB cache and sequential read speeds up to 281MB/s. The drives are backed by a five-year official warranty.

On August 30, IT Home reported that Xu Jieyun, Special Assistant to the Chairman and Deputy General Manager of the Strategic Marketing Department at Xiaomi, recently helped promote the official account of its partner, CRRC. CRRC subsequently published an article detailing its collaboration with Xiaomi, revealing that the Pengcheng electric drive system inherently carries "high-speed rail DNA." While the EV drive and high-speed rail motors share the same technological origins rather than identical hardware, CRRC has applied its hardcore engineering expertise from the Fuxing bullet trains to automotive drives, prioritizing stability, efficiency, and durability. CRRC currently ranks among the top three third-party electric drive suppliers in China. In July, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun introduced the Xiaomi Kunlun technical architecture, for which CRRC supplies the front electric drive assembly.

Huawei is set to unveil the new WATCH D3 smartwatch at a global launch event in Munich, Germany, on September 2. Tech media WinFuture today leaked the specifications for the new device, revealing that the WATCH D3 will feature a larger 1.92-inch display while retaining its 480x408 resolution. The smartwatch keeps its core blood pressure measurement function, equipped with a dedicated measurement strap to support all-day dynamic monitoring and automatically generate trend analysis reports. Powered by a new 540mAh battery, it offers up to 6 days of battery life. The device also integrates standard health sensors for heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and temperature monitoring. Featuring an aluminum alloy case, the body thickness is reduced to 11.4mm. It will be available in three color options, priced at 449.99 euros.

On August 30, IT Home reported that Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Automotive Solutions shared the highlights of its HarmonySpace summer version upgrade. The update optimizes smart interactions, cabin features, and overall user experience. New additions include the Navigation Agent's proactive address memory, the ability to initiate navigation via voice while simultaneously selecting route preferences, and multi-condition filtering for charging stations. Previously, at the 2026 Huawei Qiankun Media Day in July, Jin Yuzhi, CEO of Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution BU, announced that by the end of August, total installations of Huawei Qiankun ADAS and HarmonySpace will surpass 2 million, marking a new industry milestone.

Harvey Smith, game director of 'Redfall', recently revealed in an interview with The Game Business why the title failed. Developed by Arkane Austin as a vampire-themed first-person shooter, the game ultimately flopped and led to the studio's closure. Smith admitted they were led astray by the live-service game trend, compounded by pandemic-era challenges like layoffs and staff turnover. Despite the failure, he found positives: the team fixed thousands of bugs and continued rolling out updates even after the studio was separated from Microsoft Xbox.

A recent Barclays report reveals that while AI model companies appear highly profitable, cloud service providers—AWS, Azure, and GCP—are capturing a massive share of the value. For every $100 in revenue generated by AI labs, $35 to $40 flows to these cloud giants as inference computing costs, yielding operating margins of up to 45%. The study also highlights that AI labs' paid inference margins have surged to 50%-65% in 2026, driven by enterprise clients and agentic workflows. However, Barclays notes that business models and accounting practices cause significant gross margin disparities among labs. As the industry shifts from a training-driven to an inference-driven model, the current cloud profit landscape may face a reshuffle by 2028.

The UWANT S20 Lingxi floor washer, originally priced at 2,499 yuan, has seen an official price cut today. By utilizing the trade-in program and selecting a small appliance like a data cable, buyers can pay 1,229 to 1,288 yuan after national subsidies. A subsequent 531-yuan cashback for sharing a review brings the effective price down to just 699 to 757 yuan. The device features a convenient push-in base station that eliminates the need to lift heavy machinery, an 80°C hot-flow self-cleaning system, and 180° flat-reach capability. It also includes an anti-tangle hair system, three-way edge cleaning, IPX6 waterproofing for direct rinsing, 50 minutes of battery life, and 22,000Pa suction power.

On August 30, Huawei officially announced its new tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design, featuring a brand-new unfolding wing tri-fold design. Leaker @PandaIsVeryBald recently disclosed the device's core specifications, revealing that it will be powered by the Kirin 9050 Pro processor. If true, the phone is expected to debut Huawei's new-generation flagship Kirin platform. Additionally, the leak suggests a 6000mAh battery, 100W wired fast charging, wireless charging, and a rear camera setup comprising a 1/1.28-inch main sensor, an ultra-wide-angle lens, a 1/2.5-inch periscope telephoto, and a Red Maple imaging lens. Previously, leaker @DigitalChatStation noted the phone would feature a new Pro chip and upgraded hardware privacy screens.

Transion has officially launched the Tecno Megapad SE 2 tablet in the Philippine market. Positioned as a mid-to-low-end device, the new tablet is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset. It features a 9.7-inch LCD panel with a 2048*1280 resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 550 nits. The specifications include 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and 8MP front and rear cameras. Additionally, the device is equipped with a 7000mAh battery supporting 18W wired charging, dual-band Wi-Fi, dual speakers, and 4G LTE connectivity via a nano-SIM slot. Running on HiOS 16 based on Android 16, the tablet is priced at 13,499 Philippine pesos.

According to Wired, Meta is testing robots capable of plugging in cables, restarting servers, and performing other data center tasks. Sources reveal Meta is utilizing hardware from Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB. If successful, these robots could replace up to 80% of some employees' workloads, helping the company control labor costs amid soaring AI infrastructure investments. While Meta emphasizes ongoing hiring and training programs, employees express concerns over job security and declining role quality. The company has quietly deployed various robots across facilities in Iowa and Ohio, though challenges like slow operation, battery life, and complex cabling remain. Automation advocates argue robots can handle repetitive tasks, but workers fear inevitable job displacement.

According to a report by IT Home on August 30, blogger @ExperienceMore revealed that the official battery upgrade for the Xiaomi 14 Pro has increased to 5140mAh (rated 5000mAh), representing a 260mAh boost. Xiaomi previously clarified that while standard replacements use same-specification batteries, battery upgrades offer larger capacities. This service currently supports the Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Ultra, with capacity increases ranging from 7.8% to 11%. IT Home had previously reported that Xiaomi announced in June its plans to add support for the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro models by the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to official announcements.

The 2026 Gamescom officially concluded on August 30, presenting a total of 19 official awards. CD Projekt RED and Sega emerged as the biggest winners of the event, each securing three awards. The complete winners list spans multiple categories, including visual and audio design, platform-specific titles, and global honors. Notable accolades include Best Visual Effects for Metro 2039, Best PC Game for Total War: Warhammer 40,000, and multiple awards for CD Projekt RED's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Olden Times, while Sega won the Best Lineup jury award.

As cars become smarter, they are increasingly exposed to cyberattacks previously targeting computers and phones. Kaspersky researchers have discovered new malware that compromises Android-based automotive infotainment systems developed by Chinese company DoFun, potentially affecting 30 million vehicles globally. By exploiting a system service named TWCore intended for updates, attackers can install a malicious file called JarService. This initiates a downloader connecting to a command-and-control server, allowing hackers to steal device information and incorporate the infotainment system into a botnet, possibly linked to the MoYu Group. This can degrade system performance and internet speed. The manufacturer has released a patch, urging users to update their software immediately.

Lenovo's ThinkTab 11S tablet has landed on e-commerce platforms and will officially go on sale on August 31 at 10:00 AM. Priced at an initial 1799 yuan, it can be snagged for 1529.15 yuan after government subsidies. The device features a unibody metal back, measures 7mm thick, and weighs 485g. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The tablet packs a 7040mAh battery supporting PD 3.0 charging and comes with an 11-inch 2.5K 90Hz LCD screen, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, and runs on ZUX OS based on Android 16.

Starting September 1, 2026, Chongqing will officially implement its Regulation on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency. The regulation explicitly permits schools to prohibit students from bringing smart terminal devices, such as mobile phones, onto campuses or using them on school grounds, aiming to strictly control students' internet usage at school. Beyond Chongqing, regions including Fujian, Guangzhou, and Zhengzhou have previously enacted similar legislation to ban phones in schools. At the national level, the Ministry of Education issued a notice in 2021原则上 restricting students from bringing personal phones to campus, followed by 2025 measures strictly banning electronic devices in classrooms and encouraging a "screen-off" initiative.

On Sunday, NASA launched its next-generation flagship Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Costing over $4 billion and developed over more than a decade, the observatory aims to map the universe and unravel major physics mysteries, including dark matter and dark energy. Named after "Mother of Hubble" Nancy Grace Roman, the telescope boasts an infrared field of view over 100 times larger than Hubble's. It will collaborate with other observatories to catalog thousands of exoplanets and supernovae. Scientists hope its data might even challenge the current standard model of cosmology, with the first images expected early next year.

IT Home reported on August 30 that passengers recently complained of losing their second-class seats after a Fuxing train was temporarily swapped for a Hexing model, resulting in insufficient seating. This afternoon, China Railway Harbin Group officially issued a statement explaining that on August 28, the train assigned to the G116 service from Harbin West to Beijing Chaoyang experienced a sudden malfunction at Harbin West Station. To ensure timely departure, a backup train was urgently activated. However, due to unequal seating capacity between the scheduled Fuxing and the backup Hexing train, as well as inadequate information communication, some passengers boarding at Changchun West Station were left without assigned seats. Staff provided free meals and folding chairs to mitigate the impact. The railway department apologized for the inconvenience and pledged to improve its emergency procedures.

A highly reliable industry insider suggests that PlayStation is highly likely to host a State of Play presentation in September, and it could happen "very soon." Following a packed week of gaming news, including Gamescom Opening Night Live and the GTA 6 gameplay reveal, the industry is not slowing down. With major upcoming titles like The Blood of Dawnwalker, Wolverine, and Onimusha, leaker NateTheHate indicated on X that a September showcase is highly probable. While consistent with PlayStation's past September traditions, this event could also address ongoing controversies surrounding Sony's physical game release strategy.

Capcom has unveiled a new trailer for its upcoming action game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The title is scheduled for release on September 4 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC. Unlike open-world games, it features stage-based progression where players battle demons and solve puzzles. The main story takes about 20 hours to complete, with additional side quests and hidden content. Capcom noted that while the combat emphasizes satisfying swordplay, the difficulty will not be as punishing as the Souls series, ensuring a broader range of players can enjoy the demon-slaying experience.

Li Hui, general manager of Denza Auto under BYD Group, revealed that the pure electric version (BEV) of the large six-seater safety luxury SUV, the Denza N8L, will officially hit the market in September. Posters show the model features a 208-liter smart electric frunk. While officials have yet to disclose more details, previous reports indicate the BYD Denza N8L initially launched on October 28, 2025, with a starting price of 299,800 yuan. A flash-charging version equipped with a second-generation Blade Battery debuted on June 23, starting at 319,800 yuan. The SUV measures 5200x1999x1820mm with a 3075mm wheelbase.

According to user reports on August 30, Shanghai Telecom experienced another widespread outage this evening, affecting both broadband and mobile signals. Multiple areas, including Jiading, Pudong, Baoshan, and Yangpu, were impacted. Many users found the customer service hotline inaccessible, while the telecom's app and mini-program reporting channels were paralyzed, forcing users to turn to the internet to verify the disruption. Several users mistakenly restarted their routers, suspecting local equipment or billing issues, before realizing it was a large-scale carrier outage. This follows similar past incidents in August 2024 and March 2026. As of press time, Shanghai Telecom has not issued an official statement regarding the current outage.

The PC system requirements for the upcoming Fable game have been officially revealed. To run the title at minimum settings, players will need an Intel Core i7-6850K processor and an Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU. For the recommended specifications, the developers suggest using an Intel Core i5-11600KF paired with an Nvidia RTX 5060 or RTX 3060 Ti. The detailed requirements cover various performance tiers, ranging from 1080p at 30 FPS on low settings up to 4K at 60 FPS on extreme settings, which demands high-end hardware like an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X or Intel Core i9-13900K, alongside an Nvidia RTX 5080 or RTX 4080 with 16GB of VRAM.

ByteDance has postponed the August release of its Doubao large model 2.2, according to Whale Lab. Sources close to the company said the delay aims to allow for more comprehensive pre-training and post-training to significantly boost coding, tool-calling, and agent capabilities. The Seed team is currently balancing the development of its next-generation ultra-large model with the regular iteration of existing models. Elevating coding capabilities to the first tier is a major goal for the Seed team in 2026, hoping to make an industry impact similar to Zhipu's GLM-5.2 and Kimi-K3 by year-end. Founder Zhang Yiming previously stated the company will not rely on AI distillation, accepting short-term lag for long-term optimization.

Tesla has officially launched a more affordable, simplified-spec Model 3 (rear-wheel drive) in Hong Kong and Macau, described on its official page as the most affordable vehicle with the lowest long-term cost of ownership. The new model is priced at HK$205,000 in Hong Kong, an 8.5% reduction from the previous base model, and MOP$252,000 in Macau. The standard version features a single motor, 6.2-second 0-100 km/h acceleration, and a 175 kW Supercharging cap. Despite lower specs, it offers a maximum range of 572 km and the highest 15-minute recharge mileage of 286 km. Interior and exterior configurations have been downgraded, including cloth seats with heating, a 7-speaker audio system, and a 15.4-inch touchscreen.

According to EuroGamer, 12TB of Valve's game development data spanning from 2003 to 2013 has recently leaked, with many players hoping to uncover the long-cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode Three. X user Gabe Follower reported on Friday that the files contain early versions of Portal 2, Left 4 Dead, and CS:GO. Specifically, the leak includes a 2009 Portal 2 beta and the "Weaponizer" weapon model, which was rumored to be tied to Episode Three. Players also found a 2008 Left 4 Dead 2 beta featuring an early HUD, lobby interface, and cut voice lines. The data originated from Valve's deprecated Steam2 content distribution infrastructure, which was phased out in the early 2010s in favor of SteamPipe.