QtrendsSmartphone market slows as Apple preps major 2027 lineup
Goldman Sachs forecasts a decline in global smartphone shipments, signaling a cooling market. Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have again cut their 2026 shipment targets. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly preparing six new iPhone models for 2027 with significant hardware upgrades, suggesting a split strategy between market retrenchment and premium innovation.
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Global smartphone shipments set to fall: Goldman Sachs
(China Daily)
The debate over AI's impact on employment is growing more contentious as top US tech graduates report applying to thousands of jobs with little success. TechCrunch notes the discussion has become increasingly messy, while MIT Review argues AI agents should not be viewed as human coworkers. The narrative reflects rising anxiety about automation replacing entry-level roles in the technology sector.
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to message each other without exchanging phone numbers, instead using reservable usernames. BBC reports the change as a significant privacy shift for the Meta-owned platform. WIRED and Digital Trends provide guides on how users can reserve their usernames ahead of the wider rollout.
BBC reports growing public backlash against delivery robots, with pedestrians complaining they obstruct footpaths. The Guardian covers mixed reactions in Milton Keynes, where residents describe the robots as a 'very good gadget' but acknowledge they must 'get out of the way'. UK ministers are reportedly likely to support legal changes allowing delivery robots on England's paths, signaling a push toward formal regulation.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that geofence warrants — which compel tech companies to reveal all devices in a geographic area — are protected by the Fourth Amendment's privacy rights. TechCrunch and Ars Technica characterize the decision as a major privacy victory that will significantly curb law enforcement's use of the surveillance tool. The ruling represents a significant check on digital dragnet searches by US authorities.