Enterprise

The world’s first real-world 5G speed tests are disappointing

Not incredibly faster than 4G’s speeds

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As the new year gets underway, 5G networking is finally gearing up for a massive worldwide debut. The new system promises a revolution in internet speeds for mobile networking. As 5G’s infrastructure grows, smartphones are starting to accommodate the new technology. The stage is set for 5G.

Unfortunately, the infant technology is still worlds away from dominating the industry. Case in point, some of the world’s first “5G networks” are actually 4G networks in marketing makeup. The technology is still undergoing some growing pains.

Despite the marketing deception, real 5G networks are already on the rise. American telco AT&T, for example, has launched a few networks and hotspot devices in selected cities across the US. Wary of any launch hiccups, AT&T’s new products flew under the radar, existing mainly to push bragging rights as the world’s first publicly available 5G network.

As a result, the launch is relatively unknown except for a few American users. Thankfully, a Reddit user shared the device’s Ookla tests on AT&T’s subreddit. The user, u/mwb6d, lives in Indianapolis, one of the few first cities. The user tested both 5G and 4G speeds in the same spot.

Though an improvement, the device’s download speeds are disappointingly similar to 4G’s speeds. Meanwhile, the device’s upload speeds are markedly above the 4G average. The device is still faster than 93 percent of the US’ users. However, it’s a far cry from 5G’s promise of blazing-fast internet speeds.

Further, u/mwb6d posted proof of the device’s 5G connection. The “5G+” notification is noticeably different from AT&T’s faux “5G E” notification. Meaning, the device is connecting to the telco’s real 5G networks, as opposed to an advanced 4G LTE one.

Image source: Reddit

Of course, as with most pioneering technologies, growing pains are inevitable. The lackluster speeds are bound to improve once the whole world gets in on the act. However, if AT&T’s new product is any indication, don’t put all your eggs in a 5G basket just yet.

SEE ALSO: PLDT, Smart activate Philippines’ first 5G towers

Enterprise

A closer look at Apex Guard and the world behind OPPO’s quality promise

I went inside Binhai Bay to see how OPPO is building its next chapter of smartphone quality.

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OPPO introduced Apex Guard, a full technology suite designed to protect the user experience with stronger hardware and smarter software.

The new concept shows how OPPO is redefining smartphone quality by focusing on long-term reliability and dependability, and a user journey that stays smooth for years.

I saw this vision firsthand during an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the Binhai Bay Campus, OPPO’s global headquarters and R&D hub.

The moment I stepped inside, I understood how deeply this company values the idea of quality. Every corner of the campus felt intentional. Engineers tested materials behind glass panels and the machines ran stress simulations.

Rooms were dedicated to design exploration and long-term validation. Walking through its corridors felt like moving through the inner workings of a promise.

OPPO builds quality into a device long before it becomes a device.

OPPO’s next step toward elevated quality

Apex Guard reflects OPPO’s goal of addressing real user needs with an end-to-end system that strengthens every part of a smartphone.

It reaches across all product lines and raises quality across three dimensions. OPPO focused on durability that protects users in unpredictable moments.

Through breakthroughs in materials and design, OPPO developed Ultra High Strength Steel and AM04 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy to withstand daily wear and heavier stress.

Armour Shield structural reinforcement adds another layer of protection that stays reliable even in unexpected situations like sudden drops or water exposure.

“The goal is simple: a device should feel solid in every scenario.”

Beyond the product lifespan

Apex Guard supports long-term reliability. One of the key innovations is the OPPO Silicon Carbon Battery with its customized spherical silicon-carbon material.

It improves long-lasting safety while extending battery life by up to 400 additional cycles. With this technology, OPPO devices stay closer to their original performance for a longer period, even after years of use.

OPPO also works with international testing organizations like TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD, and SGS, and follows standards that exceed typical industry requirements.

Devices pass through multiple rounds of strict testing, including more than 180 assessments that begin before R&D and continue until the end of the product lifecycle. Even after-sales services follow a higher standard to ensure users feel supported beyond the purchase.

Rethinking quality through next-level software smoothness

Since smoothness is one of the most noticeable indicators of smartphone quality, OPPO made software a major part of Apex Guard.

In ColorOS 16, the All-New Luminous Rendering Engine brings the first Unified Animation Architecture on Android, creating consistent movement across the entire system.

Chip-Level Dynamic Frame Sync Technology helps the device react faster when multitasking, while Sensor Offload shifts critical sensor tasks to the SoC to reduce power consumption, especially when recording 4K 60fps video.

ColorOS 16 also introduces Instant Refresh to help reduce data fragmentation on entry-level devices. OPPO performs 48-, 60-, and 72-month aging tests to ensure long-term responsiveness.

The company developed new systems to measure smoothness more accurately, including the OPPO Smoothness Baseline Test and the industry-first Parallel Animation Standard 6 Zero, which evaluates lag, latency, flicker, crashes, mislaunches, and freezes.

These standards apply across the entire lineup, from A Series to Find Series.

At the home of OPPO quality

OPPO continues to expand the Binhai Bay Campus to support its vision for the future.

The campus brings together more advanced equipment, centralized teams, and specialized laboratories designed to test quality from every angle.

The Materials Lab studies long-term durability while the Intelligent Terminal Testing Lab pushes devices through real-world challenges.

Meanwhile, the Power Consumption Intelligent Lab evaluates energy efficiency, and the Communication Lab ensures strong connectivity.

Standing inside these spaces and watching the process unfold made the idea of next-level quality feel more real.

It is not a statement but a system built into every decision and test. Apex Guard is simply the name OPPO has given to the work it has been doing all along.

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Enterprise

AgiBot robots can now learn skills on the factory floor

Robotics company deploys real-world reinforcement learning system

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Robotics company AgiBot has successfully deployed its Real-World Reinforcement Learning (RW-RL) system on a pilot production line with Longcheer Technology.

The company specializes in embodied intelligence, and the project marks the first application of RW-RL in real industrial robotics.

It connects advanced AI innovation with large-scale production, signaling a new phase in the evolution of intelligent automation for precision manufacturing.

Precision manufacturing lines have long relied on rigid automation systems that demand complex fixture design, extensive tuning, and costly reconfiguration.

Where AgiBot’s RW-RL system comes in is addressing such pain points. It enables robots to learn and adapt directly on the factory floor.

Within just minutes, robots can acquire new skills, achieve stable deployment, and maintain long-term performance without degradation.

The system also autonomously compensates for common variations, such as part position and tolerance shifts

Meanwhile, during line changes or model transitions, only minimal adjustments and standardized deployment steps are required. This dramatically improves flexibility while cutting time and cost.

Moreover, AgiBot’s system allows for flexible reconfiguration. Task or product changes can be accommodated through fast retraining; such solution exhibits generality across workplace layouts and production lines.

This milestone signifies a deep integration between perception-decision intelligence and motion control. And it represents a critical step forward unifying algorithmic intelligence and physical execution.

Unlike many laboratory demonstrations, AgiBot’s system also achieved validation under near-production conditions. It has completed a full loop from cutting-edge research to industrial-grade verification.

Moving forward, AgiBot and Longcheer plan to extend real-world reinforcement learning to a broader range of scenarios. These include consumer electronics and automotive components, with focus on developing modular and rapidly deployable robot solutions.

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Enterprise

Netflix might acquire HBO Max

Specifically, they might buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

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Once again, Warner Bros. Discovery is up for sale. Right now, the entertainment giant does not have a new owner yet. But, of course, there is a growing list of potential suitors. One of which has seemingly made its presence known. Netflix is reportedly considering a bid on its streaming rival.

In 2022, the then-named WarnerMedia, owned by AT&T, completed a blockbuster merger with Discovery. The new Warner Bros. Discovery brought the entire Warner library, HBO, Discovery, and Cartoon Network under a single umbrella. The resulting streaming service, dubbed HBO Max, now has enough content to rival Netflix and Disney+.

Recently, Warner Bros. Discovery put itself up for sale. Almost immediately, competitors have expressed interest in buying the library, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix.

Over the weekend, Netflix has hired Moelis & Co, an investment bank, to evaluate a potential offer for the company, as reported by Reuters. Though it’s not an official bid yet, it’s a big show of interest from the other streaming giant.

According to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, the company will evaluate what value the entire library can offer Netflix. However, Sarandos isn’t interested in acquiring the legacy cable networks currently under the Warner umbrella, such as CNN and TNT.

SEE ALSO: Max is rebranding once again to HBO Max

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