Who is & What is /
What is
Smartphones
Fancy phones now have higher refresh rates but should you buy one?
Refresh rate measures how often a display updates itself with new images. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the image on the screen.
21 May 2020 - 11:19AM
Huya
How live-streaming site Huya uses mobile to beat its larger competitor at its own game
21 Nov 2019 - 10:05AM
Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming’s promise is why Microsoft, Google and Tencent are all diving in
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
Apps
In China, where you live determines the tech you use
Even though there's no official definition, cities in China are often informally slotted into four tiers. In general, higher-tier cities are larger and wealthier compared to lower-tier ones.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
TV shows and streaming video
Kuaishou is China’s original short-video king, and it now hosts ‘little shops’ and live streaming
Kuaishou is China’s second largest short video app. After growing largely from popularity in China’s rural areas and lower-tier cities, Kuaishou moved into live streaming, ecommerce and long-form videos in the face of more competition.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
TV shows and streaming video
How Douyu won the live-streaming war to become China’s Twitch
Douyu is one of China’s two largest live-streaming sites with a focus on game-related content. By out-fundraising rivals and poaching top streamers, it survived China’s live streaming war in 2016 to become an industry giant.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
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Video gaming
Auto battlers started with Dota Auto Chess and now Valve and Riot Games are joining in
Auto battlers are multiplayer strategy games. Players select and assemble a lineup of characters to pit against opponents, then the game automatically plays round-by-round to see who wins. Popular games include Auto Chess, Dota Underlords and League of Legends Teamfight Tactics.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
TV shows and streaming video
How Youku went from being China’s YouTube to China’s Hulu
Once known as China’s YouTube, Youku pivoted away from user-generated video to professional content, and is now closer to Netflix or Hulu. Merged with rival Tudou in 2012.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM
Alibaba
Tmall is Alibaba’s answer to Amazon in China
One of the biggest stars in Alibaba’s online retail empire, Tmall found its niche by selling foreign imports and premium domestic goods to Chinese consumers. The site hosts third-party merchants instead of selling directly to shoppers.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Smartphones
How Oppo became one of the biggest smartphone makers in China
Oppo is a Chinese smartphone maker that grew rapidly via offline sales in China’s lower-tier cities and rural areas, with budget phones that appeal to young users. Recently, it's started releasing high-end flagships.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Sharing economy
The story of Ofo is one of the wildest rides in China’s tech history
Ofo was once one of the biggest bike sharing platforms in the world, with a plan to capture 200 cities by 2017. But the end of the bike sharing boom hit Ofo hard.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Cybersecurity
Qihoo 360, China’s biggest cybersecurity firm, wants to become China’s cyberwarfare defender
Qihoo 360 is the largest cybersecurity firm in China. It also has big plans for China’s national cybersecurity defense. Founded in 2005, it has managed to quickly become the most popular antivirus solution in China despite complaints of bloatware and other controversies.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Tencent
Mini Programs: The apps inside apps that make WeChat so powerful
Mini programs are lightweight apps that run inside another app (like WeChat, Baidu or Alipay). They don’t need to be downloaded or upgraded through app stores. They make it possible for one app to perform the service of many apps add up.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Smartphones
The biggest phone seller in Africa is a little-known Chinese company
Transsion doesn’t sell phones at home in China, but it dominates the market in Africa. Founded in 2006, the Shenzhen-based manufacturer makes both smartphones and feature handsets at highly affordable prices. It’s targeted solely at emerging markets.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Podcasts
Ximalaya, the podcasting startup behind iTunes and Spotify rival Himalaya
Launched in 2013, Ximalaya is one of China’s most popular platforms for podcasting and audiobooks. It claims some 400 million downloads since launch, and says it earns more from selling paid content than ads.
20 Sep 2019 - 8:09AM
Most content on Ximalaya are in Mandarin, but there are also English-language podcasts for ESL learners.
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