Last year, tech giant Huawei catapulted to the top of the smartphone market in China when it released the Mate 60 Pro, a phone that contained a tiny computer chip more advanced than any previously made by a Chinese company. The chips used by Huawei’s smartphones have become a symbol in the struggle between China and the United States for control over advanced technology . Huawei’s new Mate 70 phone. Policymakers in Washington have spent years trying to prevent Chinese companies from being able to make the kind of chip Huawei uses in its Mate phone. But Huawei has pressed ahead, and the phone has burnished its image as a national leader, triumphant in the face of US restrictions. Shoppers in China were excited to buy a phone with state-of-the-art components that had been made entirely at home. Huawei was able to appeal to Chinese customers who previously would have been more likely to buy iPhones, eating into Apple’s most important market outside the United States. On Tuesday, Huawei unveiled the next generation of that phone, the Mate 70 series, from its offices in Shenzhen in southeastern China. Richard Yu, Huawei’s consumer group chair, called the flagship device the “smartest” Mate phone. Loading Powered by its homegrown operating system, HarmonyOS Next, which was officially launched last month, the Mate 70 series has artificial intelligence-enabled functions, including improved photography, live transcription and translation of phone calls. Apple has yet to release its AI features in China. Starting at 5499 yuan ($1172) the price of the Mate 70 is meant to compete with the iPhone in China. HarmonyOS Next allows phones to connect with Huawei’s other products: electric cars, smart speakers and watches. But widespread commercial success for the Mate 70 could depend on Huawei’s ability to secure a steady supply of chips. The company relied on Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., or SMIC, to make the chips in the Mate 60 Pro. SMIC, which is partly state owned, is the only maker of advanced chips in China. Analysts said they believed Huawei had again turned to SMIC for the Mate 70. Huawei did not reveal details about the chips in the new phone. A critical question is how advanced the chips are, because that can determine whether they can perform more sophisticated tasks like AI at a faster speed. The chips used by Huawei’s smartphones have become a symbol in the struggle between China and the United States for control over advanced technology. Credit: Bloomberg US officials seeking to control China’s chip development say advanced technology is essential not just for consumer technology like chatbots but also for military superiority. They have tried to prevent Chinese companies from buying these kinds of chips and related machinery, leaving SMIC dependent on dated tools. Experts say SMIC has strained to make enough chips for Huawei. Even though production for some parts in Huawei’s latest phones began in July, the Mate 70 has not gone on sale until now because it has been challenging for Huawei to acquire enough chips, said Lori Chang, a senior analyst at Isaiah Research, a market research company. SMIC did not respond to a request for comment. As of Tuesday, more than 3 million people had signed up on Huawei’s website to reserve the company’s latest flagship phone, which does not require a deposit. The premium version of the Mate 70 is set to go on sale in China on Tuesday, according to Huawei’s website. A critical question is how advanced the chips are, because that can determine whether they can perform more sophisticated tasks like AI at a faster speed. Huawei has been working for years to position itself as synonymous with the country’s tech industry, as Apple is with Silicon Valley. Resurgence despite Washington’s controls is a crucial part of this image. A top Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, became a hero to many in China after her return in 2021 following almost three years of detention in Canada while facing fraud charges in the United States. A series of trade restrictions against Huawei first put in place during the Trump administration pummeled its profits in 2022. Since Meng’s release, Huawei has expanded its product range and developed some of China’s most advanced AI technology. Over the past two years, the company has steadily gained ground in China’s smartphone market. In 2022, three-quarters of the high-end smartphones sold in China were iPhones. This year, it was just about half, as Huawei’s share more than doubled, according to Canalys, a market research firm. “Huawei’s goal over the past few years has been consistent — to reclaim some of the market share that iPhone holds in China,” Chang said. Huawei faces stiff competition from domestic rivals like Xiaomi and Oppo, which sell less expensive devices. To compete, Huawei will have to sell more midrange models, too, said Toby Zhu, a senior analyst at Canalys. Loading But even those devices will require a large number of chips. And as foreign chipmakers like the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, stop sending chips to Chinese clients, this could become increasingly difficult as more companies will depend on SMIC for advanced chips. “Not only Huawei but now all China-based AI makers, they face the same issue,” said Linda Sui, a senior director at TechInsights, a market research firm. “If they all ship through SMIC, that’s going to make the supply constraints even worse next year.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday . Sign up here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Phones Apple Most Viewed in Technology LoadingRevolutionary Single-Layer Film Eliminates Helmet Changes, Enhancing Driver Safety and Performance LAS VEGAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing Optics®, the global leader in high-performance tearoff visor film technology, proudly unveils its latest innovation: the Twilight Tearoff . This groundbreaking single-layer tearoff is engineered to elevate driver visibility during late-afternoon and early-evening races, providing superior glare reduction and contrast enhancement. The Twilight Tearoff redefines race-day performance by allowing drivers to maintain focus and adapt seamlessly to changing light conditions, eliminating the need for disruptive helmet changes. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in racing vision technology, delivering immediate and measurable benefits to professional drivers and teams alike. "The Twilight Tearoff solves one of racing's most persistent challenges—ensuring optimal visibility as lighting transitions rapidly during twilight races," said Chris Colton , Chief Applications Engineer at Racing Optics . "Our dedication to driver safety and performance drives every innovation, and the Twilight Tearoff is no exception." Transforming Racing at Twilight Racing teams are already embracing the Twilight Tearoff as a game-changing solution for twilight and low-light racing conditions. One racing team manager shared their experience: "In a recent twilight race, the Twilight Tearoff gave our drivers unmatched visual clarity. Transitioning from glaring sunlight to artificial lighting without pausing to change helmets was a decisive advantage that kept us competitive." By streamlining the driver experience, the Twilight Tearoff enhances safety and helps maintain uninterrupted race momentum—a critical edge in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Exclusive Debut at PRI Show 2024 The Twilight Tearoff will make its debut at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show , held December 12–14, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana . This highly anticipated event marks Racing Optics' 25th anniversary , celebrating a legacy of trailblazing innovations in motorsports safety and performance. Availability The Twilight Tearoff is now available for purchase at RacingOptics.com and through authorized dealers. Teams and drivers looking to gain a competitive edge are encouraged to explore this latest advancement. About Racing Optics For 25 years, Racing Optics has led the field in racing vision technology, delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety and performance. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of motorsports protective equipment. For additional information, please visit RacingOptics.com . 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For The Madera Tribune Sandra Kelly of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, left, stands with honoree Aniyah Hain, middle, and Joe Vived of Madera Sunrise Rotary. Three middle school students were honored at a recent Sunrise Rotary meeting. These students have been recognized for following the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.” Each month teachers select a Student of the Month at all Madera Unified middle schools. This month they selected students who display the character traits of respect and responsibility. The counselors and administrators then chose the ones to be honored as the Rotary Service Above Self recipients. The Rotarians believe these students who are respectful, honest, polite, and helpful deserve to be honored.
The far-right party holds ‘memorial’ rally for victims of car-ramming attack that has inflamed debate on migrant and security policy. Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has held what it calls a “memorial” rally for the victims of a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market that has inflamed debate on migrant and security policy. The rally was held on Monday outside a cathedral in the eastern city of Magdeburg, the scene of last week’s attack that killed five people and left more than 200 others wounded. “Terror has arrived in our city,” said the AfD’s leader in Saxony-Anhalt state, Jan Wenzel Schmidt, condemning what he labelled the “monstrous political failure” that led up to the attack, for which a Saudi Arabian citizen was arrested. “We must close the borders,” he told hundreds of supporters of the anti-immigration party. “We can no longer take in madmen from all over the world.” The party’s co-leader Alice Weidel described the attack as “an act of an Islamist full of hatred for what constitutes human cohesion ... for us Germans, for us Christians”. She demanded “change so we can finally live in security again”, as people in the crowd chanted: “Deport, deport, deport!” The suspect , Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, faces numerous charges, including murder and attempted murder. He has lived in Germany since 2006 and has previously made anti-migrant and anti-Islam posts on social media, according to reports. While motives have not yet been made public, Abdulmohsen has expressed strongly anti-Islam views, anger at German officials over immigration policies. He also has vocally supported far-right conspiracy theories about the “Islamisation” of Europe. Despite the suspect’s expressed viewpoints, which align with the AfD’s anti-immigrant stance and Islamophobic rhetoric, Weidel referred to him as an “Islamist” at the rally – an attempt to bolster the party’s anti-immigrant views. Friday’s attack has prompted political debate over migration policies before the early elections in February, in which the AfD hopes to increase its standing in parliament. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said “no stone will be left unturned” in uncovering what information had been available about the 50-year-old suspect, who had been treated for mental illness in the past, according to the German newspaper Die Welt. Meanwhile, an anti-extremist initiative called “Don’t Give Hate a Chance” also gathered in Magdeburg. “We are all shocked and angry to see that people want to exploit this cruel act for their own political ends,” the initiative said in a statement.
General Motors says it will move away from the robotaxi business and cease funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle division. According to a press release issued Tuesday and subsequent conference call that included GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra, the Detroit automaker will instead focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. GM said it would get out of robotaxis "given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market." The company said it will combine Cruise's technical team with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers. "The Cruise Board of Directors and the Cruise leadership team are collaborating closely with GM on next steps," Cruise CEO Marc Whitten told CBS News. GM bought then San Francisco-based start-up Cruise Automation in 2016 for at least $1 billion with high hopes of developing a profitable fleet of robotaxis. At the time, Cruise Automation, along with Google, was among the few companies with permits from the state of California to test the cars . Over the years GM invested billions in the subsidiary and eventually bought 90% of the company from investors. GM even announced plans for Cruise to generate $1 billion in annual revenue by 2025, but it scaled back spending on the company after one of its autonomous Chevrolet Bolts dragged a pedestrian on a San Francisco street who was hit by another vehicle in 2023 . The California Public Utilities Commission alleged the company covered up details of the crash and suspended Cruise's driverless testing permit . Soon afterwards, Cruise pulled all its driverless cars off the road nationwide. The incident sparked widespread criticism of the company and its autonomous vehicles. Cruise had already been under fire for a number of collisions that led the company to cut its operating robotaxi fleet in during the summer of 2023. The problems triggered a purge of its leadership — in addition to layoffs that jettisoned about a quarter of its workforce . In January of this year, the company offered to pay $75,000 to settle the investigation by California state regulators into Cruise's failure to disclose details regarding the collision. Despite its troubles, Cruise was still attempting to return to viability. In June, General Motors named Marc Whitten -- one of the key engineers behind the Xbox video game console -- as the division's new chief executive . In August, Cruise announced its robotaxis would join Uber's ride-hailing service in 2025 as part of a multiyear partnership bringing together two companies that once appeared poised to compete for passengers. However, more recent Cruise developments have been costly for GM. In September, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials announced the division would pay a $1.5 million penalty as part of a consent order. Last month, Cruise agreed to an additional $500,000 fine after admitting to filing a false report following the San Francisco pedestrian crash. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office of the Northern District of California, the San Francisco-based company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in which Cruise admits and accepts responsibility. "Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators," said Martha Boersch, Chief of the Office of the U.S. Attorney's Criminal Division, said in a statement.