News
Android smartphone market share goes up, iOS phones down
Based on a report made by market data provider Strategy Analytics, Android’s market share is steadily going up for its smartphones, while Apple’s iOS handsets are slumping. The other operating systems are nowhere to be found.
According to the statistics, Android smartphones now hold 87.5 percent of the total global audience in the third quarter of 2016, which is up from 84.1 percent during the same quarter last year.
Meanwhile, iPhones have gone from 13.6 percent of the total market in Q3 2015, to just 12.1 percent in this year’s third quarter. Every other OS dropped to a negligible 0.3 percent market share from 2.3 percent last year.
Android’s success is credited to the 10.3 percent increase in smartphone shipments in Q3 2016, as compared to Q3 last year. Apple’s iPhone shipments have decreased by 5.2 percent during the same period.
What does this all mean? Even though Apple continues to dominate the high-end smartphone segment and is raking in major profits out of the sales, Android smartphones are dominating the much more abundant lower-end categories — albeit making less money because of smaller profit margins.
The sad part is the lack of competition outside of those two operating systems. BlackBerry and Windows-powered phones, which comprise the “others,” are practically nonexistent now, after experiencing a 84.1 percent year-over-year decrease in smartphone shipments.
Otherwise, smartphones are doing pretty well in general. With a six percent growth in shipments since this time last year, consumers are more reliant than ever on all-in-one pocket computers.
In related news, Windows-powered tablets are doing better than ever. The same Strategy Analytics report claims that although tablet shipments are lessening with a 10 percent year-over-year slump, Windows slates now have a 16 percent market share, which is 25 percent better than last year’s number.
This doesn’t sound great compared to the current 64 percent share of Android tablets and 20 percent mark of iPads, but it proves consumers are now choosing productivity over entertainment when it comes to larger-sized mobile devices.
In summary: Android smartphones, great; iPhones, still okay; and Windows tablets, fantastic. Everyone else, good luck.
[irp posts=”4855″ name=”Report: Android Nougat has much higher network crash rate than iOS 10″]
Source: Strategy Analytics, (2)
The HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro has officially launched. This collaboration between HUAWEI and HONMA Golf, Japan’s prestigious golf house, brings professional golf management to users’ wrists.
Along with advanced smart technology and decades of craftsmanship tailor-made for golf, the premium wearable transforms the way golfers play, track, and enjoy every round.
The limited-edition HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro comes in a Premium Gift Box. It is priced starting PhP 17,999 (~ US$ 307) until March 11 in the Philippines before it reverts to its original price of PhP 19,999 (~ US$ 341).
The Premium Collection Gift Box comes with golf accessories: a commemorative golf ball, divot toll, and special ball marker.
The golf-centric premium smartwatch features professional-grade golf intelligence. It also comes with more than 17,000 zoomable 3D course maps worldwide, including more than 100 local maps.
This allows golfers to visualize fairways, hazards, and landing zones in advance to plan each hole with confidence.
Instead of guessing, players can manage risks better, commit to their shots, and focus on execution.
Moreover, Green Slope Direction gives clearer insight into how a putt will break. Play-Like Distance, meanwhile, factors in elevation changes and wind conditions.
Furthermore, AI Caddie works quietly in the background, analyzing swing history, performance trends, and course layout to offer smarter recommendations moving forward.
Complementing these are Shot Distance Tracking and digital scorecards which automatically capture every swing and score. This way, users can understand their insights and track progress after each round.
And using the HUAWEI Health app, users can also access Through Ball Trajectory Sharing to relive their best shots and review key moments.
Here’s the complete set of on-course tools with the HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro:
- Greens View
- Fairway View
- Fairway Panoramic View
- Front / Middle / Rear Green Distance
- Obstacle View Ranging
- View Obstacle Zone/Target
- Free Point Ranging
- Wind Speed/Wind Direction
- Electronic Scorecard
- Half-Court Scoring
- Switch Court function
- Play-Like Distance
Luxurious designs
Design wise, every detail of the wearable reflects premium Japanese craftsmanship. Its default HONMA Elemental Dial features a traditional Japanese Pine Leaf Pattern.
This is paired with a putter-shaped second hand. There is also another HONMA-exclusive option with a BERES 7S dial in vibrant blue with Mt. Fuji for a truly iconic look.
The HONMA x HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro has an aerospace-grade titanium case, sapphire crystal glass, and HONMA-engraved gold buckle for a luxurious yet durable build.
In front is a 1.47-inch AMOLED display with 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The watch also lasts up to 21 days on a single charge.
Health features are likewise advanced, including heart rate, HRV, breathing, and interruptions. Stress and emotional wellbeing are also tracked every 10 minutes and integrated into the HUAWEI Health app.
Aside from golf, the watch supports over 100 sports modes, including pro-level activities. There’s also support for freediving for up to 40 meters with depth and duration tracking.
It’s been a while since GPU companies focused on making chips for consoles. With how the industry is going now, chips feel like they’re destined to end up in the suffocating deluge of AI servers. Now, however, AMD is showing signs of healing by teasing the next-generation Xbox.
In the latest earnings call (via Engadget), AMD CEO Lisa Su teased that the next-gen Xbox, built with a custom AMD SoC, is “progressing well to support a launch in 2027.”
The subtle tease is vague enough to obscure any details about the upcoming console but clear enough to confirm that it’s coming. Since the Xbox Series X|S has been out for several years now, it’s not surprising that Microsoft is thinking about what’s coming next.
However, it’s still intriguing that Microsoft is going for another console. Previous reports have speculated that the company might focus on delivering games, especially through the Game Pass. Lately, both the PlayStation and the Switch have thoroughly dominated the console market ahead of the Xbox. Handheld consoles are likewise impressive, too.
Other reports have speculated that the upcoming generation will focus on delivering both a gaming and a PC experience. With the Steam Machine coming soon, it seems natural that the next consoles will be usable PCs as well.
SEE ALSO: Match Pulse: ROG Xbox Ally X
Gaming
Overwatch reinvents itself with a new story and five new heroes
And it’s not “Overwatch 2” anymore.
Overwatch 2 was not a disaster for the popular multiplayer shooter franchise. It did, however, make the game more polarizing. For 2026, Blizzard is shaking things up once again, starting by dropping the “2” from Overwatch 2.
During its scheduled showcase, the new-and-improved Overwatch will feature annual storylines that will keep the game fresh for years to come. The system will go live on February 10. By then, the year-long event called Reign of Talon will start with Season 1.
As the name suggests, this year will be all about the villain-coded Talon organization, and it’s going to be more story-driven. Right off the bat, a new cinematic sees Vendetta seemingly kill Doomfist and take over the leadership of Talon.
Blizzard says that the year will see ten new characters introduced to the roster. In fact, five of those will already be playable starting in Season 1.
Without a doubt, the highlight character for this round is the formerly cancelled Jetpack Cat. The character was first rumored all the way back in 2017 but will now be fully playable this season. The flying feline hero is a support character that can hook another hero to a location while healing them. Their ultimate reverses this by having them crash land onto enemies and then hooking one to, ideally, drop them off the map.
Jetpack Cat will join four other heroes. Anran, who is also affiliated with the Overwatch faction, deals fire damage. Domina, who, along with the next three heroes, works with Talon, is a shield-based tank. Emre imagines an evil version of Soldier: 76. Finally, Mizuki is a Talon-affiliated healer.
Besides a new story and heroes, Overwatch will feature new game modes and improvements across the board. The new Season 1 starts on February 10.
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