Huawei may be facing a tough 2021 if the new licensing measures taken by the Biden administration is any indication. It looks like the U.S. is clamping down even further on the restrictions that were initially put on Huawei. According to Reuters, the Biden administration is reinforce existing measures by streamlining and making existing licenses more consistent. The new measures seem to reinforce pre-existing measures that are preventing Huawei from accessing much needed resources and components for its infrastructure and mobile businesses particularly when it comes to 5G technologies.
The new measures come as the latest blow to Huawei in what seems to be a crippling two years for the company. Back in 2019, Huawei was placed on the “entity list” which prevents companies trading in the U.S. from doing business with the company. This was done after reports surfaced of the company potentially providing access to data to the Chinese government.
Since then, Huawei has been facing hurdle after hurdle when it comes to acquiring technologies for its broad range of products. This has led to Huawei losing access to Google’s Mobile Services (GMS) which has impacted its smartphone businesses which use Google’s Android operating system. Huawei has been hard at work building its own Huawei Mobile Services and App Gallery to complete the user experience on their smartphones. The company has also been working on their own proprietary OS – Harmony OS – which is intended to replace Android on its devices.
– An official pledge, following his message in February to donate half of his personal assets
– Donations to be used to resolve social issues
SEOUL, South Korea, March 16, 2021 — Kim Beom-su, chairman of Kakao, has signed the Giving Pledge, officially pledging to donate more than half of his personal assets to society.
Kim Beom-su, chairman of Kakao
Kakao announced that Kim became the 220th pledger of the Giving Pledge on March 16.
The Giving Pledge is a global philanthropic movement that was launched in 2010 by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates along with Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett. The Giving Pledge is a moral commitment by the world’s wealthiest to give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. Currently, there are 220 pledgers from 25 countries, including Tesla founder Elon Musk, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson.
"A young man that once dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur after reading a feature article on Microsoft’s 20th anniversary in 1995, now awaits to join the Giving Pledge." Kim said in his pledge. "I feel a thrilling excitement as I did then, when I first read the Microsoft article. We, my wife Miseon Hyeong and I, would like to extend our sincerest gratitude and respect to Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett for providing us with this meaningful opportunity of generous giving, as well as to all those who have taken the pledge before us," he added.
"Through this pledge today, we commit to give more than half of our wealth back to society during our lifetime. Of the philanthropic causes that we considered and discussed at length with our son, Sang-bin, and daughter, Ye-bin, we intend to direct our donations to those that may contribute to solving social issues." he stated.
"After having achieved the wealth that I had aimed for, I was left feeling rudderless and lacking direction in life. It was around this time that I came across the poem, ‘What is Success?’ attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. The poem gave me a sense of guidance on how I should navigate my pursuits going forward." he said. "Ten years ago, while I was redefining the meaning of success, I launched a project to foster and support 100 CEOs of startups. Though it involved much trial-and-error during the earlier stages, the project ultimately resulted in the fruition of the Kakao Community and has touched the lives of many Koreans."
"With this pledge as our starting point, my wife and I will engage in efforts to address social issues in the areas that businesses cannot reach. We plan to discover and support 100 innovators who are dedicated to building proactive solutions for social issues through social enterprises and foundations. We dream of working together with such innovators to make a better world.
"We also aim to explore suitable alternatives to the educational system for future generations. Additionally, we will strive to level the uneven playing field caused by inequalities, while also doing all we can to provide assistance to those who are working to support the people in need."
Lastly, he added, "We truly hope that the path we take will encourage our fellow innovators who are each on their own journeys to change the world. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and deepest affection to our families, who have gladly agreed and lent their support to this pledge."
Through a New Year’s message that was sent to all Kakao employees on February 8, Kim announced that he would commit more than half of his wealth to resolving social issues throughout his lifetime. He also stated in a company-wide meeting held on February 25th, "I am interested in providing support to people who have not been given opportunities due to the growing divide in digital education, and in cultivating new talent in the area of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and emerging technologies. I would like to put my donations to use immediately in the areas where they are needed and I would like to impact change by addressing social issues through large-scale investments of capital."
Kakao Corporation is a mobile life platform company that provides innovative services in global mobile and internet markets, building on its employees with profound knowledge and experience, technological capabilities, quality contents and highly competitive mobile traffic. Under the corporate vision, "Making a better world with people and technology", we connect everything in our everyday lives, enabling anyone to experience innovations on a daily basis. The Kakao Corp. headquarters can be found on Jeju Island with an integrated metropolitan office in Pangyo, where over 2,300 employees in total are working today. Daum Communications, established in 1995, and Kakao, founded in 2006, merged on October 1, 2014 to become Daum Kakao. The name of the company was changed to Kakao on September 23, 2015, and to become a company at the forefront of the mobile era.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 16, 2021 — ucfunnel, a global Smart Media programmatic solution provider, today announced a new partnership with NetRange MMH GmbH (‘NetRange’), an ACCESS CO., LTD. company and the leading global provider of white-label certified Smart TV ecosystems, to deliver value-added advertisements on NetRange’s portal for Premium Streaming VoD Content.
ucfunnel and NetRange’s exclusive industry-leading partnership builds on MediaTek Smart TV turnkey solutions to integrate the advantages of ucfunnel’s IAB Tech Lab certified OM SDK into NetRange’s portals for Smart TV and MediaTek’s hardware design to serve the needs of premium OEMs. The collaboration provides access to NetRange’s advertising tool, which includes full backend control (removing the requirement for underlying software to change code), customizable ad placement, and ad targeting based on factors such as device, country, brand and more. The integrated solution benefits both premium content providers and media buy sides, creating a seamless user experience by providing a highly visual digital journey on Smart TVs.
Leveraging ucfunnel’s splash ad solution on Connected TV launchers, ucfunnel will showcase NetRange’s CTV inventory, attracting global media buy sides to reallocate media spend on high-impact ad formats exclusively available on Smart TV portals. This year alone, over 10 million Smart TVs will ship with ucfunnel’s marketing automation solution, reaching more than 100 countries across North, Central, and South America, the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions, and the EU and Africa.
ucX, the ad exchange platform powered and developed by ucfunnel, serves 150 billion impressions monthly. The platform meets the growing needs of both media buyers and trade media across the globe by achieving market penetration on an automated system level, intelligently tailoring campaigns to deliver high-impact ad experiences and boosting campaign relevance and stickiness.
"ucfunnel’s Smart Media solution redefines what is possible with Smart TV portals," said Mr. Michimasa Uematsu, Director, CTO & Senior Managing Executive Officer at ACCESS CO., LTD., NetRange’s Parent Company. Kenny Wu, Head of Smart Media BU at ucfunnel, applauded the strong partnership with ACCESS CO., LTD. and NetRange. "We are excited to work with NetRange to deliver and leverage brand images on Smart TV portals through marketing automation."
The partnership with ACCESS evolves the monetization strategy of NetRange’s portal for Smart TV (powered by MediaTek Smart TV turnkey solutions) by scaling dynamic advertising and increasing interactive user experiences while accessing Premium Streaming VoD Content. Smart TV portals combining Recommendation and e-commerce related services are expected to launch in the coming months, further expanding the reach of ucfunnel’s marketing automation solutions.
About ucfunnel
ucfunnel, a global Smart Media programmatic solution provider, helps media and publishers leverage content and generate value by strategically showcasing their inventory across devices, especially in the Smart Media ecosystem. ucfunnel has established end-to-end media marketing solutions for Ad Exchange, SSP, and DMP using IAB Tech Lab certified OM SDK. The total AI solution serves up to 150 billion bid requests monthly by partnering with over 50,000 publishers across the globe, especially in the US, APAC and MENA markets. ucfunnel teams with global buy side partners while also providing 24/7/365 technical and business support to grow with them across devices and ad formats. The variety of offerings includes Web, App, DOOH, IoT, OTT, STB, audio, standard and high impact ad formats. ucfunnel operates across regions at a global scale, optimizing current products and working with partners like ACCESS and NetRange on new product development. For more information, please visit https://www.ucfunnel.com.
About ACCESS
Since 1984, ACCESS CO., LTD. has provided advanced IT solutions centered around mobile and network software technologies to telecom carriers, consumer electronics manufacturers, broadcasting and publishing companies, the automotive industry and energy infrastructure providers around the world. The company develops mobile software solutions that have been installed on over 1.5 billion devices, and network software solutions that have been used by over 300 telecommunication equipment manufacturers. Utilizing its network virtualization technology skills and knowledge, the company is currently focusing on the development and commercialization of IoT and media solutions that combine embedded and cloud technology. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States to support and expand its business globally. Learn more about ACCESS at www.access-company.com.
About NetRange
As one of the pioneers of Smart TV, NetRange is the global provider of white-labeled turnkey Smart TV and OTT ecosystems. NetRange is operating an integrated, full-service solution that includes UI design, payment, billing and customer management, content aggregation, backend services including global CDN, second level support and app development for more than 100 global CE, TV, STB, retailer and operator brands, such as Vodafone, Grundig, Arcelik, TCL, Skyworth, Sharp, Loewe, Changhong, Ikea, MSH, Thomson and HD+. Its fully featured content portfolio includes local and global premium VoDs, linear TV channels via IP, cloud games, live sports, music and lifestyle apps. On its white-labeled Smart TV app store, NetRange makes media content available for TV users in over 100 countries around the world. In 2016 NetRange has launched OS.CAR, the new connected car infotainment platform. Recently, NetRange has released VISNOS, the new client-based Smart TV OS. With VISNOS, NetRange enables a full Smart TV experience on low end / low CPU powered DTV/ATVs without the integration of a browser and significantly reduces BOM costs.
SHENZHEN, China, March 15, 2021 — To keep in step with industry development and meet market demands, FORESEE, the technology-based brand of Longsys, has officially launched the FORESEE pSLC microSD storage card recently. With highly reliable pSLC storage chips and capacity options ranging from 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, to 128GB, it aims to provide industry customers with diversified mobile storage solutions.
Product Information
The pSLC technology is tailored for industrial-grade application scenarios
8GB
16GB
32GB
64GB
128GB
Part Number
NC5SE2008G- A8A46
NC5SE2016G- A8A46
NC5SE2032G- A8A46
NC5SE2064G- A8A44
NC5SE2128G- A7A44
Interface
SDA 6.1
UHS-I (SDR104)
SDA 6.1
UHS-I (SDR104)
SDA 6.1
UHS-I (SDR104)
SDA 6.1
UHS-I (SDR104)
SDA 6.1
UHS-I (SDR104)
Nand Flash Technology
Samsung pSLC
Samsung pSLC
Samsung pSLC
Samsung pSLC
Samsung pSLC
Speed Class
C10 U3 V30 A2
C10 U3 V30 A2
C10 U3 V30 A2
C10 U3 V30 A2
C10 U3 V30 A2
Seq. W/R1
88/100 MB/s
88/100 MB/s
88/100 MB/s
88/100 MB/s
88/100 MB/s
4K IOPS1
2588/5259
2551/5230
2555/5256
2522/5208
2454/5205
Operation Temp.
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
Storage Temp.
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
-40℃~85℃
Endurance
30,000 P/E
30,000 P/E
30,000 P/E
30,000 P/E
30,000 P/E
Data Retention
≤10% P/E: 5years
100% P/E: 1year
≤10% P/E: 5years
100% P/E: 1year
≤10% P/E: 5years
100% P/E: 1year
≤10% P/E: 5years
100% P/E: 1year
≤10% P/E: 5years
100% P/E: 1year
TBW 2
219
433
874
1735
3461
PPM
≤50 PPM
≤50 PPM
≤50 PPM
≤50 PPM
≤50 PPM
Warranty
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
Applications
FORESEE pSLC microSD industrial storage cards are widely utilized in industrial monitoring systems, vehicle monitoring systems, industrial automation, energy mining, medical equipment, and other fields.
Advantages pSLC storage chips are used for meeting industrial-grade standards
Compared to SLC 1bit/cell that come with only 2 voltage states, the TLC 3bit/cell boasts 8 voltage states. The fewer the voltage states, the greater the pressure difference between adjacent states. Therefore, the introduction of pSLC technology can facilitate high P/E cycles, fault tolerance, and stability.
Rigorous production tests are conducted to ensure consistent quality
Before departing from the factory, all Longsys microSD products undergo rigorous production testing including aging tests and high & low temperature pressure tests to ensure the product is both stable and reliable.
Power failure protection prevents your data from being lost
Emergency power failure protection allows FORESEE pSLC microSD industrial storage cards to protect both the integrity of the original data as well as data blocks that have been programmed before any failure to avoid data disorder.
High stability, durability, compatibility, and performance
FORESEE pSLC microSD storage cards are characterized by an ultra-high durability of 30,000 P/E and a life cycle of over 5 years. In addition, they are anti-static, anti-vibration, and moisture-proof. Actual measurements have verified that they can maintain a stable sequential read/write speed of above 60MB/s for extended periods without any evident drop in speed. Their 4K random read/write speed is also very stable, and can remain above 5.66MB/s for extended periods.
Features Diversified capacity combinations are presented to meet differentiated requirements
With capacity options ranging from 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, to 128GB, diversified capacity combinations can meet the storage requirements of different applications, such as vehicle monitoring systems and industrial automation.
Compliant with industrial-grade temperature requirements to cater to a wide range of scenarios
The products meet the industrial temperature requirement of -40–85℃, enabling them to adapt to various extreme operation environments and be used in more industry applications.
Conclusion
The rapid development of mobile, storage, Internet, Internet of Things (IoT), and other technologies has promoted both industrial and technological innovations, which will greatly benefit industrial applications over the next few years.
The Longsys mobile storage product line has long been a pioneer in exploring industry trends, thanks to the abundant technologies and rich experience it has accumulated since being establishment in 2002. FORESEE, a technical storage brand focusing on industry applications, now has its sights set on the industrial market. By utilizing its quality products, premium customization capabilities, and real-time technical support, FORESEE will provide customers with a stable supply and high-reliability safeguards. They will reduce the likelihood of incompatibility and being out of stock, and continue to enable a virtuous circle of industry growth and application.
It looks like Xiaomi is likely going to have a break when it comes to their impending U.S. ban. In a court ruling released on the 13th of March, a judge in the District of Columbia, Rudolph Contreras, found that the classification of Xiaomi as a “Chinese Communist military company” was “arbitrary and capricious” and granted the company a preliminary injunction against the restrictions that were due to take effect. In addition to issuing the preliminary injunction, the judge stated that filing of the claim from the Department of Defense lacked “a satisfactory explanation” and lacked a rational connection between the facts and the conclusion made. The preliminary injunction bodes well for Xiaomi as the company looks to reverse the classification all together.
Xiaomi found itself in the middle of a legal battle towards the end of Trump’s administration. The Department of Defense, under Trump, declared Xiaomi a threat to national security citing ties to the Chinese government. However, Xiaomi has since denied the claim. In their court filing, the company cited that the classification would cause irreparable damage and losses. Keep in mind, the ban that Xiaomi was facing is not the same as the one Huawei is facing. Xiaomi was facing a ban on investments from the U.S. If the injunction was denied, any individual or company linked to the United States would have had to divest their shares in the company by November. This was clarified by Xiaomi when it announced that Google Play Services would remain on its international phones.
Xiaomi has since issued a public statement regarding the matter.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series has been steadily improving over the years. Its many iterations seem to build on the strengths of the previous iterations while tweaking the weaknesses from the previous iteration. The Buds Pro is no different. It’s possibly Samsung’s best Buds to date building on lessons and features that the company introduced with the Buds Live.
The Galaxy Buds Pro brings new features that Samsung hopes will help enhance the aural experience of their ecosystem. While this may be the lofty goal of their latest true wireless earphones – the question remains: Is it really worth the price tag and should you be investing in the experience even if you’re not in the Samsung ecosystem?
Design
Samsung is definitely hearing the feedback it’s receiving from reviewers and customers. The Galaxy Buds Pro dropped the bean-like design of the Galaxy Buds Live like a hot potato – which is a shame but a very much needed step to help Samsung get on track with its Buds line up. That said, remnants of the Galaxy Buds Live still remain in some of the design queues we see in the Pros – particularly in its shiny finish.
The new Pros adopt a more conventional earbud design but manages keeps the comfort level of the Galaxy Buds Live. It has just enough heft for you to handle in your hands but when it comes to having them in your ears, they seem to disappear. Wearing the Buds Pro was truly a weightless experience – pretty similar to the Live. However, it has one major edge over the Buds Live – you literally have minimal ear fatigue. During the review, we were able to wear the buds for more than 4 hours on end without the feeling of fatigue you get from other earbuds on the market.
The Galaxy Buds Pro has one of the most pocketable designs on the market. The simple, square design makes it easy to slip into your jean pockets or purse. It’s also substantial enough that it doesn’t get lost in the chaos in your purse or pockets. That said, if you’re putting it in your pocket, you may find yourself forgetting to remove from your pocket as it’s so light that you might end up forgetting about it.
Features
The Galaxy Buds Pro doesn’t lack in the features department. The earbuds is definitely one of the more feature packed choices on the market coming with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), voice pass through and even 360 sound. However, being feature packed may be a little bit of a burden for the Pro as it seems to be stuffed a little too much to the brim sacrificing some of the finesse we see in the competition.
That said, Samsung’s ability to have so many features is one of the boons of the Buds Pro. In fact, they have iterated so well from the features of the Galaxy Buds Live that most of their “legacy” features are so polished you wouldn’t think they are second generation. Some features seem to be there just because and some are more well thought out than others.
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) & Voice Pass Through
When it comes to ANC, the Galaxy Buds is leaps better than its predecessor. The Buds Pro is able to give you a really effective seal. The form factor and it’s more conventional design is able to dampen sound from the outside a lot better. During our review period, the Buds Pro became one of our go-to earbuds to keep the world out and drown ourselves in our favourite music or podcast.
Unlike some of the other ANC capable earphones on the market, the Galaxy Buds Pro doesn’t give the feeling of pressure building up over long durations of use. Instead, it feels comfortable and simply feels like you have got a good pair of earplugs in.
Another feature which makes for a better overall experience with the Galaxy Buds Pro is voice pass through. It works pretty well on the Buds Pro however, there’s one caveat – it only works when you talk. It isn’t able to detect overhead announcements or when someone is talking to you. So, if someone is meaning to talk to you, they’ll still need to tap you on your shoulder. If you’re waiting for a flight, you’ll need to use ambient mode. That said, voice pass through could use a little fine tuning. There were times when we tried to use it that it simply couldn’t pick up the voice of the person speaking, and we had to remove one earbud to make an order.
Bluetooth Audio Source for Video
The Galaxy Buds Pro is also able to act as a Bluetooth audio source when you record in Pro mode on Samsung devices – and therein lies the biggest problem. The feature is exclusive to Samsung devices and only those who support Pro Video. It would be nice if Samsung found a way to build in the feature to the Buds itself or its Galaxy Wearables app to extend the feature to non-Samsung devices.
We tried this feature with the S21, S21 Ultra and the Note10+. To be honest, it’s just good enough. While we wouldn’t recommend using it as a main source of audio for recordings, in a pinch, the audio is definitely useable. That said, it still has some improvement to do to make it a viable replacement when you want to record videos. When we tested it, there were instances where the audio was choppy – possibly due to the wireless interference. Vocal pick up was not an issue but the clarity of the recording could use some improvement. We’re pretty sure that Samsung should be able to fix this with an OTA update.
Galaxy Wearables App & Voice Assistants
Samsung’s Galaxy Wearables app has improved over the time it has grown its ecosystem. The app has become easier to use with more and more features being put front and centre in the app. The app is also more intuitive that it was when it first was released. However, features like 360 Audio still remain hidden in the menu.
When it came to using Voice Assistants with the Buds Pro, it performed pretty well. The Buds made it easier to interact effectively with both Bixby and Google Assistant. However, the need to download a TTS file for the Buds to be able to read out your messages isn’t communicated anywhere until you try to use it. Then you have to find out where to download it – in this case it was via the Galaxy Store. We would think that Samsung would make this process more seamless particularly since we don’t expect users to actually do the hunting.
Performance
The Galaxy Buds has to be best performing in the Galaxy Buds to date. It has one of best sound reproductions – at least compared to the Galaxy Beans Buds Live. It had better sound reproduction across the sound range from lows to highs even the mids. Sound was a lot cleaner. The sound from the Galaxy Buds Pro was also a little warmer and fuller. While it still was a little bit heavy on the mids, the overall sound quality was definitely more well rounded compared to previous buds. You are able to hear the highs and lows in classical and orchestral pieces clearer in the Pro.
Aside from the tuning, Samsung’s Adapt Sound also helps when it comes to compensating for hearing/sound lost. Tuning the Buds Pro with Adapt Sound actually helped the sound feel even more full. That said, a word of warning, if you use Adapt Sound, don’t use presets on equalizer apps as the feature may result in the preset feeling off tune. We would strongly recommend you use custom profiles if you use Adapt Sound.
The Galaxy Buds Pro performed pretty well when it came to taking calls on them. In fact, callers weren’t able to tell that they were being spoken through wireless earbuds. Instead, they reported that it sounded like the call was being taken directly on the phone. Voice pick up was very good with little to no distortion. However, there were a few instances where the connection was a little choppy but it seems like Samsung has fixed this with a recent update.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Galaxy Buds Pro is decent with Samsung promising at least 5 hours of playback with a single charge on the buds and extra 13 hours with the case. That increases to 8 hours with ANC off with the charge in the case going up to 20 hours.
During our time with the Galaxy Buds Pro, we were able to get about 4.5 hours to slightly above 5 hours for a single charge. While it’s not the longest, it should be sufficient for most users. If you’re taking a long-haul flight, you may find yourself without your entertainment for a little bit as you charge your earbuds.
360 Audio
360 Audio on the Buds Pro is a mixed bag for us. While it seems to be developed with Dolby, when we used it, it felt as if it was using the smartphone as a guide to where the sound source should be. So, listening to podcasts was a little bit of a mixed bag with sound travelling everywhere when the phone was out and then 360 Audio magically turning off when the screen was off. We even tried it with 360 audio tracks on Tidal and were sorely disappointed by the performance.
Samsung’s 360 Audio goes up against Sony’s 360 Reality Audio which uses the user and earbuds as a reference for sound positioning. The experience with this was a little more enjoyable with the sound feeling more true to life and immersive. Samsung’s 360 Audio felt very flat and actually gave us a headache when using it cause of the constant shifting. While it’s just the first generation, it feels like Samsung shoehorned this feature into the Galaxy Buds Pro to keep up with the competition. We feel that it could have used a little more time in the pot before release. Perhaps an OTA update will be able to address the issues we faced. While there have been updates for the Buds Pro, none of them have addressed the issue yet.
Ambient Sound
Samsung’s implementation of ambient sound is one of the better implementations we’ve used to date. It’s good enough that we were comfortable walking on the street with the Buds Pro set to ambient mode. Ambient sound actually felt like it was giving us bionic hearing when we used it. It was able to pick up conversations and voices a good distance away from us – which we found a little creepy.
That said, Samsung also allows you control the sensitivity of the ambient sound pick up in its Galaxy Wearables app. You’ll be able to adjust it to a level where you are comfortable. You can even enhance ambient sound pick up further which makes it even louder.
Samsung’s Hitting the Right Notes but it has a ways to go to be on par with competition like Sony
The Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro is one of the most comfortable and responsive true wireless earphones we have used. The Buds are super reactive when you touch it, and they are comfortable to have in your ears over long periods of time. The fact that they are compact and come with wireless charging gives them a slight edge over their competition.
That said, while the Galaxy Buds Pro is overall one of the best true wireless experiences you can get on the market, the earbuds still have some work to do if they are looking to take on the experience of the likes of the Sony’s WF series. There’s no doubt that Samsung is on the right track with the Buds Pro, but the aural experience of the Buds Pro is missing that awe and umph of its competition.
Trusted with Tencent’s advanced cloud technology, OOParts is now able to offer gamers the best cloud game experience with ultra-low latency and stable network
TOKYO, March 15, 2021 — Cloud gaming, which allows video games to be run on remote servers and delivered directly to gamers, is an emerging trend in the video game industry. With its all-round solutions and capabilities, Tencent Cloud is helping cloud gaming platform "OOParts" in Japan capitalize on cloud technology, making it benefit from its low latency environment, high-quality node resources and industry-leading network. This ensures that gamers enjoy a seamless, high performance and hassle-free game experience.
OOParts is a subscription-based visual novel (VN) streaming service launched by Black Inc., a Japanese company that is focused on cloud-based gaming and has been converting different classic games into cloud games within a short period of time. OOParts features over 100 titles including "Grisaia: Phantom Trigger" where members can play directly from their PC and mobile devices (Android, Windows, IOS or MacOS) without the need to install games or save files.
As cloud gaming puts computing logic and rendering in the cloud and streams the video frame to users in real time, it is essential that latency is kept to a minimum to ensure the best possible video game experience. With Tencent Real-Time Communications (TRTC) solutions, OOParts can ensure ultra-low latency, enabling stable real-time and video streaming while dealing with multiple operating systems in a highly cost-effective way. TRTC offers low-latency interactive live streaming solutions with the following strengths:
High Cross-Platform Compatibility: TRTC provides video solutions that can be directly implemented on PC, Mac and mobile devices through SDK integration.
Stable Network Communication: TRTC offers a global average end-to-end latency of less than 300ms. Even when the packet loss rate exceeds 40% and the network jitter goes over 1,000ms, TRTC can still guarantee high-quality, smooth and stable audio and video communications despite a weak network environment.
"We are excited to support OOParts to overcome their challenges, adding another success into Tencent Cloud’s achievements in helping Japanese businesses to digitally transform", said Poshu Yeung, Senior Vice President, Tencent Cloud International. "The growth of the cloud gaming market globally is unprecedented. Along with this growth comes the expanding needs of video game developers and providers, which Tencent Cloud aims to fully cover leveraging our deep expertise and experience in cloud solutions and cloud technology for video game and entertainment industries."
Futa Ogawa, Black Inc. Founder & CEO, said, "We know that Tencent is trusted by game developers around the world and had already achieved numerous significant achievements in the industry. Therefore, we are glad to leverage Tencent Cloud to improve our platform cost effectively. Our platform is well-received by users thanks to TRTC’s low-latency and high cross-platform compatibility that supports various devices including PC, MacOS and Android devices, taking our platform to the next level. Tencent Cloud’s prompt customer support is also impressive, with which we are able to work hand-in-hand to tackle technical difficulties such as isolating defects and verifying video delays."
Tencent Cloud is a secure, reliable and high-performance public cloud service provider that empowers global access and a rich array of services to governments and organizations that need advanced infrastructure and a resilient environment. As a strong testimony to Tencent Cloud’s top-notch security standard and competitive services in the global cloud computing industry, Tencent Cloud was named Frost & Sullivan’s 2020 Best Practice Competitive Strategy Leadership Award in Global Cloud Industry. It has also earned international certifications, including but not limited to ISO22301, ISO27001, ISO20000, ISO9001, Trusted Cloud Services, CSA STAR, and the Multi-Tier Cloud Security Standard (MTCS SS).
About Tencent Cloud
Tencent Cloud is Tencent’s cloud services brand, providing industry-leading cloud products and services to organizations and enterprises across the world. Leveraging its robust data center infrastructures around the world, Tencent integrates cloud computing, big data analytics, AI, Internet of Things, security and other advanced technologies with smart enterprise scenarios. At the same time, we provide a holistic smart enterprise solution for sectors including finance, education, healthcare, retail, industry, transport, energy and radio & television.
SAO PAULO, March 15, 2021 — Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, will supply the SG3125HV central inverter solution for the implementation of the project Sol do Sertão Solar after an agreement with Essentia Energia, a new Renewable Energy firm created by Pátria Investimentos. The projects will be implemented in Oliveira dos Brejinhos, a city in Bahia that is about 600 km from the capital and will have a total capacity of 475 MWp once completed.
According to Gilberto Peixoto, director of implementation of the Sol do Sertão Complex, there are eight solar PV plants that is generating more than 4,000 job (directly and indirectly) creations throughout its works. Sungrow will provide 122 units of SG3125HV inverters, which comprise a set of 61 blocks, in addition to the commissioning and training service of the team’s O&M. "We always look for suppliers that are market leaders, for first-tier solutions, and Sungrow was chosen for its proven technology and reference in the solar energy sector," said the executive.
The project is in a region where the thermal feeling can exceed 40ºC, while Sungrow SG3125HV can work without derating even temperature reaches 50ºC. The inverter is equipped with a smart forced air-cooling system that in addition to increasing the life of the equipment, ensures that it does not lose productivity even in the most extreme conditions. The product is compatible with bifacial modules and tracking systems, enabling higher yields. It is prefabricated with inputs for DC-coupled storage solutions which could be added at a later stage.
According to Rafael Ribeiro, Country Manager of Sungrow Brazil, the Company sees a lot of potential across the country and takes the first place in market share. "It is an honor to be part of Essentia Energia birth and support them in a utility-scale project of this size," said Rafael Ribeiro. "We’re also committed to powering more communities with standout residential and commercial products supplied to the Brazilian distribution market," he added.
The work on the Sol do Sertão Solar Complex is under construction and the complete commercial operation of the plant is scheduled for the second half of 2021.
About Essentia Energia
Essentia Energia is a renewable energy company that operates in the wind and solar generation and commercialization segments. The company has as its investing partner the Pátria Infraestrutura fund, from Pátria Investimentos, a leader in alternative asset management in Latin America and with more than 30 years of experience in the areas of Infrastructure, Private Equity, Real Estate and Credit.
About Sungrow
Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd ("Sungrow") is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 154 GW installed worldwide as of December 2020. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.
BEIJING, March 13, 2021 — A news report by China.org.cn on the China’s 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035:
 
At the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 was approved. The plan clearly states that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern of "dual circulation," where domestic and foreign markets can boost each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay, and start a new journey of building a modern socialist country with a new development concept.
China’s five-year plans are a series of social and economic development initiatives issued since the 1950s, which map strategies, put forward targets and set corresponding policy-making directions. They are an important way in which the Communist Party of China (CPC) governs the country.
In 1953, China drew up its first five-year plan when the country needed to build its capacity from scratch. The 1st Five-Year Plan (1953-1957) set out the basic task of laying the foundations of China’s industrialization and completing its socialist transformation. During that period, China successfully produced its first car, its first jet aircraft and the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. By the end of 1957, China’s total industrial output had increased by 128.6% compared with 1952.
In 1986, China drew up the 7th Five-Year Plan (1986-1990). This plan, devised after the reform and opening-up of China, included for the first time sections on "expanding external economic and technological exchanges" and "investment structure and policy," and also placed the development of science and education in important strategic positions. During the 7th Five-Year Plan period, China’s economic system underwent major changes, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange starting operations in December 1990.
In the last five years (2016-2020) of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the 13th Five-Year Plan highlighted "innovation" and "reform." It also set out key tasks including targeted poverty alleviation, construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, integration of Hong Kong and Macao into overall national development, and strengthened the crackdown on corruption. By the end of 2020, China’s GDP exceeded the threshold of 100 trillion yuan ($15.42 trillion). Meanwhile, the Fuxing bullet trains, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, C919 airplane, Chang’e-4 spacecraft, Beidou Navigation System and other achievements have become new icons of China.
China’s five-year plans can be said to have charted the path of national economic and social development, and recorded the entire process of the country’s growth.
From the 1st to 14th Five-Year Plan, China has been marching toward the same goal, that is, to achieve modernization. The consistency of targets, long-term decisions, stability and continuity of guidelines are distinguishing features of China’s governance system.
Now, the new 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 will lead the Chinese people toward building a great modern socialist country with a brighter future.
MCW’s New App, MCW Go, Enables Efficient Timekeeping, HR & Safety Resources, and Superior Project Management.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla., March 12, 2021 — MCW Companies, LLC., serves South Florida with various services, including concrete repair, caulking, and waterproofing on commercial and residential buildings through its subsidiaries, Metro Caulking & Waterproofing and MCW Restoration Services, LLC. As a field-based services business, MCW Companies, LLC., needed an efficient system to track job hours, assign work tasks, document work-in-progress, and reinforce its strict safety program amidst COVID-19.
They partnered with HokuApps, a global player in next-generation digital transformation services, to develop a custom-designed mobile app that covered all the basic requirements of MCW Companies, with additional features such as safety inspection checklists and HR functions built-in.
With the MCW Go app live for iOS & Android, tasks like time tracking and real-time visibility features are easy to use, allowing supervisors to create and approve daily reports for these jobs once the task completes. Approved hours are then exported from the system and further imported to the payroll engine with appropriate overtime calculations, automatically included. Safety-related functions are also built into the app to ensure that all protocols are followed. Tool Box Talks, Safety Inspections Checklists, and MSDS are available to all employees through MCW Go and can be easily tracked by the management.
"HokuApps has made our life so much easier," said Cindy Raffio, CEO of MCW Companies, LLC. "Errors have been significantly reduced, as well as the labor time spent in processing payroll hours. The COVID symptom screening form has been very helpful and our field employees are quickly adapting to using the app. HokuApps team were very responsive to our requirements and we look forward to working with them in the coming months as new features are to be developed."
"The custom solution we created for MCW Companies can benefit any service-based company," said Nand Kapoor, Director of HokuApps. "Especially with companies that work in the field, using mobile apps for day-to-day procedures just makes the most sense and will always save time and money."
About HokuApps
HokuApps is the fast-growing rapid application development platform that empowers organizations to develop innovative technology solutions incredibly fast. With a cutting-edge automated development engine, HokuApps can build custom solutions for any part and any size of the business 10X faster and at a fraction of cost. This technology platform has enhanced mobile and data integration capabilities to enable companies to speedily deploy mobile and web applications. HokuApps empowers organizations to usher in their digital transformation journey to better engage with customers, partners, and employees.
