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<keyword id="3368145" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hmd-global" source="Orion">HMD Global</keyword>, the home of <keyword id="6354716" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="nokia" source="Orion">Nokia</keyword> phones, on Tuesday launched the 'Nokia G21' smartphone with nearly 3-day battery life, in the <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> market. The smartphone is available in two variants. The 4GB-64GB variant will be available at Rs 12,999 and the 6/128GB variant for Rs 14,999, across retail and leading e-commerce platforms, the company said in a statement. "Nokia G-series is our mid-range smartphone series with stylish <keyword id="117964" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nordic" source="Orion">Nordic</keyword> designs bringing premium smartphone experiences to as many people as possible," said <keyword id="10336024" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sanmeet-singh-kochhar" source="Orion">Sanmeet Singh Kochhar</keyword>, Vice President, HMD Global. With meaningful features that will assuage low battery anxiety and security concerns, "the Nokia G21 has been created for those who love to create," he added. In terms of specifications, the device comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone houses a triple camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. It is also equipped with an 8MP front camera. The device is ready for <keyword id="6355645" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="android" source="Orion">Android</keyword> 12 and It will get two years of Android OS upgrades, It is powered by an octa-core Unisoc T606 chip. Along with Nokia G21, the company launched two new feature phones -- the Nokia 105 and Nokia 105 Plus -- and two new audio accessories, the <keyword id="13712588" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nokia-comfort-earbuds" source="Orion">Nokia Comfort Earbuds</keyword> and the Nokia Go Earbuds+. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/real-time-payments-are-forecast-to-boost-indian-gdp-by-us-45-9-billion-in-2026/articleshow/91093163.cms">Real-time payments are forecast to boost Indian GDP by US $45.9 billion in 2026</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/25-40-of-people-with-covid-19-develop-long-covid-reporting-symptoms-that-affect-multiple-organs-and-cause-mental-health-issues-study/articleshow/91093962.cms">25-40% of people with COVID-19 develop long Covid, reporting symptoms that affect organs and cause mental health issues : Study</a>

Nokia G21 smartphone with nearly 3-day battery life and 50MP camera launched today

<ul><li>The <keyword id="9985886" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nokia-power-earbuds-lite">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite</keyword> are the latest truly wireless earbuds in the affordable segment. </li><li>These <keyword id="9616975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nokia-earbuds">Nokia earbuds</keyword> compete with the likes of the Realme Buds Air 2 and OnePlus Buds Z, among others. </li><li>Sporting a simple design, they are aimed at those who want a pair of no-fuss and good quality truly wireless earbuds (TWS). </li><li>But are they good enough? Let us find out in this review.</li></ul>The <keyword id="10859311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nokia-power-earbuds">Nokia Power Earbuds</keyword> Lite is the latest entrant in the affordable truly wireless (TWS) earbuds market, promising to offer a good quality experience as it relies on the goodwill of the <keyword id="6354716" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nokia">Nokia</keyword> brand name. HMD Global has kept things simple with these Nokia earbuds. There is no headline feature that screams at you (figure of speech), which might make it a little difficult for the company – more so in a crowded market with options that offer a lot of features. I have been using the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite for over a week now and here’s my detailed review. Nokia Power Earbuds Lite price and availability The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite is priced at ₹3,599 and comes in two colours – charcoal and snow. They can be purchased from <a href="https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B08DP6W1HC">Amazon.in</a>. At this price, these Nokia earbuds compete with these alternatives: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Name </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Price </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Realme Buds Air 2 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹3,299 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">OnePlus Buds Z </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2,990 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Oppo Enco W51 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹4,999 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Skullcandy Sesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹3,499 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Noise Elan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹3,499 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="81034132" title="Nokia 5.4 review – this one’s for the stock Android fans on a tight budget" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Design – simple and boxy These Nokia earbuds sport a simple and utilitarian design. Instead of standing out in terms of design, they blend in – which might be exactly what many of us might prefer. <div type="image" title="Nokia Power Earbuds Lite case" msid="81304617" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nokia Power Earbuds Lite charging case&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The case is boxy and comes with a matte finish – going against the approach that some of its competitors like the Realme Buds Air 2 have taken, where the case is curved and glossy. This does help distinguish the Nokia earbuds, but there is more to this experience than just the design of the case. The earbuds sport an in-canal design – this helps in offering improved passive noise cancellation, as the design helps in physically blocking out external noise. This is especially useful since the Nokia earbuds do not offer active noise cancellation, unlike the Realme Buds Air 2. Build quality and comfort The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite is lightweight despite the boxy case and the relatively bigger size of the earbuds when compared to some other options like the Galaxy Buds Pro. <div type="image" title="Nokia Power Earbuds Lite buds" msid="81304623" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nokia Power Earbuds Lite earbud&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The Nokia earbuds feel comfortable and light enough, so using them for extended periods of time is not an issue. The earbuds also support basic functionality like play/pause media with a single tap, receiving and ending calls with a double tap, and bringing up Google Assistant with a long press. The case is sturdy and the matte black finish gives it an understated look. I do worry though that it could get spoiled easily, especially if you have sweaty hands or oily skin. Apart from that, though, the case feels well-built and has a satisfying click to it when you open and close it. Performance and call quality Coming to the most important part of the review, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite gets the job done without any fuss. HMD has not included support for fast pairing, so you have to manually go into the Bluetooth settings on your phone when you pair the earbuds for the first time. But once that is done, the experience is seamless. <div type="image" title="Nokia Power Earbuds Lite" msid="81304637" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nokia Power Earbuds Lite&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The Nokia earbuds come with a 6mm graphene driver, which is fairly small in comparison to the Realme Buds Air 2 and the OnePlus Buds Z, both of which have a 10mm driver. A driver converts electrical signals into sound. Simply put, it creates the sound that you hear. The difference is noticeable while listening to music – while the bass and treble are decent, the experience is still inferior when compared to the Realme and OnePlus earbuds. The call quality was decent, although in noisy environments, there was a fair amount of disturbance on the other side of the call. Overall, HMD could have done a better job with these earbuds, especially when there is a lot of competition in this price segment. Battery life The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite promises up to 35 hours of battery life in total – including the charging case. In my experience, I found that these earbuds easily last around 32 hours, with plenty of calls and music throughout. The charging case comes with a USB Type-C port, which is the same port that is used by almost all new smartphones these days. However, even if you don’t have a USB Type-C cable, you don’t have to worry as HMD has bundled one in the box. Verdict The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite has its task cut out. At this price point, the competition offers more features in more compact form factors. While HMD has done a good job with the build quality, these Nokia earbuds miss out on some features like active noise cancellation (ANC), noise cancellation for calls, and fast pairing. The driver is small too, which has a noticeable effect on audio quality. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/realme-buds-air-2-review-sleek-design-feature-packed-experience/articleshow/81187355.cms">Realme Buds Air 2 review – sleek design, feature-packed experience</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/samsung-galaxy-buds-pro-review-the-best-wireless-earbuds-from-the-south-korean-smartphone-maker-so-far/articleshow/80824948.cms">Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro review – the best wireless earbuds from the South Korean smartphone maker so far</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/oneplus-buds-review-affordable-and-high-on-quality/articleshow/78275876.cms">OnePlus Buds review – affordable and high on quality</a>

Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity

<keyword id="3368145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hmd-global" source="Orion">HMD Global</keyword>, the home of <keyword id="6354716" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nokia" source="Orion">Nokia</keyword> phones, on Monday launched a new rugged smartphone Nokia XR20 in the Indian market. The Nokia XR20 will be available at ₹46,999 in ultra-blue and granite colour options across leading offline retail stores, e-commerce platforms and Nokia.com. The smartphone will be available for pre-booking from October 20-29 and the sales will start from October 30. Customers who pre-book the smartphone can avail free gifts such as a Nokia Power Earbuds Lite worth ₹3,599, and one year of screen protection plan. "The consumer expectation from a premium smartphone is not only for advanced features but also the longevity of the device. The Nokia XR20 is a life-proof smartphone that has been designed and built to survive through the frequent drops, splashes and tumbles of daily usage. It's a device which consumers can love, trust and keep for a long time without worrying about its maintenance," Sanmeet Singh Kochhar, Vice President, HMD Global, said in a statement. According to the company, the brand new life-proof Nokia XR20 smartphone has been built to last with military grade resilience paired with four years of monthly security updates, the latest software upgrades for up to three years and future-proofed 5G. In terms of specifications, the smartphone features a 6.67-inch 1080p LCD display 60Hz refresh rate with a hole punch cut-out. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 system-on-chip paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. It has two cameras on the back with a 48MP main and another 13MP ultra-wide angle. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie shooter. The smartphone houses a 4,630mAh battery with 18W wired and 15W wireless charging and runs Android 11 software.

Nokia launches 'rugged' XR20 smartphone in India, starting at ₹46,999

HMD Global, the maker of <keyword id="6354716" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nokia">Nokia</keyword> phones and accessories, has launched six new smartphones -- Nokia X20, Nokia X10, Nokia G20, Nokia G10, Nokia C20 and Nokia C10 -- in three distinct series with innovative features. At top of the new portfolio are the Nokia X20 and Nokia X10, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G Mobile Platform, Android 11 straight out of the box, ZEISS Optics and innovative AI solutions. With a wide 6.67-inch Full HD+ punch-hole display, Nokia X20 and Nokia X10 also come with a 100 per cent compostable case in the sales box, the company said in a statement late on Thursday. "We want you to trust that we put security at the heart of everything we do – Nokia smartphones come with security and software updates for extra piece of mind. And we want people to keep their phones for longer, thanks to our signature durability," said Florian Seiche, CEO, HMD Global. The Nokia X20 comes with 32MP front camera and 64MP quad camera on the rear. The Nokia X10 offers 48MP quad-camera. "Finding that perfect balance between specs and affordability is what the G-series is all about. The C-series, meanwhile, thrives on delivering ultra-high value tech to the smartphone market," said Stephen Taylor, <keyword id="6357644" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="cmo">CMO</keyword>, HMD Global. The three Nokia series devices will will be available in select markets globally starting this month. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nokia-5-4-review-performance-features-price-comparison/articleshow/81034132.cms">Nokia 5.4 review – this one’s for the stock Android fans on a tight budget</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/flipkart-launches-nokia-laptops-in-india-price-specifications-and-more/articleshow/79717721.cms">Nokia PureBook X14 laptop specification and price in India</a>

Six new Nokia smartphones announced – price, specifications and availability details you should know

A <keyword id="6361260" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="patient">patient</keyword> at a long-term care hospital in <keyword id="5565" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Korea">South Korea</keyword> with underlying diseases died on Wednesday after receiving the <keyword id="6409874" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="astrazeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword> against Covid-19, officials said. The 50-something patient was vaccinated on Tuesday morning at the hospital in Goyang, just outside of Seoul's northwestern border. The patient began to show symptoms of heart failure and difficulty in breathing by the afternoon but recovered after being put under emergency care, reports Yonhap news agency. The symptoms recurred on Wednesday morning before the patient died. Health officials said they have yet to determine whether the patient suffered side effects from the vaccine. The patient's pre-existing conditions included heart problems, diabetes and a stroke. AstraZeneca is yet to react to the incident. The Daily Mail, quoting new findings, reported earlier this week that just one shot of <keyword id="9605255" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="oxford-astrazeneca">Oxford-AstraZeneca</keyword> vaccine reduces the risk of being hospitalised by Covid-19 by more than 90 per cent. Public health officials told Ministers in the UK that the remarkable results apply for both the <keyword id="44612" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pfizer">Pfizer</keyword> and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, with the British jab proving slightly more effective. "The strong results for the Oxford vaccine are a rebuke to the German authorities, which last month advised against its use in the over-65s," the report mentioned. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-are-the-best-national-highways-in-india-in-terms-of-efficiency-safety-and-user-services/slidelist/81291257.cms">These are the best national highways in India in terms of efficiency, safety and user services</a>

Patient with underlying disease dies after getting AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea

<ul><li>Amazon Freedom Sale will commence on August 5.</li><li>The sale will bring plenty of offers on smartphones, laptops and consumer electronics.</li><li>You can check out some of the deals below.</li></ul>Amazon has announced the Freedom Sale in India. The sale will begin on August 5th and will go on until August 9th. The five-day sale is expected to bring in heavy discounts on products across categories like consumer electronics, smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, wearables and more. You can get up to 40% off on smartphones and accessories, ₹30,000 off on laptops and up to 75% off on headphones. If you are looking to buy cameras, the Amazon Freedom Sale is a good time to get them as you can get up to a 60% discount on them. Instant Polaroid cameras will be available at a starting price of ₹2,999. Offers on smartphones Recently launched mobile phones like OnePlus Nord 2, OnePlus Nord CE, Redmi Note 10T, Redmi Note 10s, Mi 11x, Samsung M32 and others will come at discounted prices. During the sale you can also get up to ₹650 off on exchange of top features phones from Nokia and Samsung. There will be an additional benefit for Amazon Prime members as they can get three months extra no cost EMI on select bank cards. Offers on laptops The Amazon Freedom Sale brings an opportunity for laptop seekers as you can get up to ₹30,000 off. As per the revealed deals, it is a good time to get HP 15, Apple Macbook Pro 2020, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim and Asus TUF Gaming F15 laptop. There will be offers on other latest laptops. You can check them out <a href="https://www.amazon.in/b?ie=UTF8&amp;node=1375424031">here</a> and keep the one you like in the wishlist. Other offers on electronics There will be up to 65% off on Smart TVs and up to 60% on large screen 4K TVs. Fitness bands will be available at prices starting at ₹999. Now is a good time to get electronic appliances like air-conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines as the Amazon Freedom Sale brings plenty of deals on these products. Bank Offers The customers holding an SBI credit card can avail an instant discount of 10% during the Amazon Freedom Sale. ALSO SEE: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech-buying-guides/best-intel-core-i5-processor-laptops-in-india/articleshow/83773645.cms">Best Intel Core i5 processor laptops in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech-buying-guides/best-true-wireless-earbuds-in-india/articleshow/81424971.cms">Best true wireless earbuds in India in 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/boat-headphones-get-the-best-wireless-with-mic-headphones/articleshow/84860199.cms">Best boAt headphones to buy in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech-buying-guides/best-wireless-charging-phones-in-india/articleshow/83919708.cms">Best mobile phones with wireless charging in India</a>

Amazon Freedom Sale announced: Discounts on smartphones, laptops, electronics and more

Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform <keyword id="819905" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Instagram">Instagram</keyword> briefly hid <keyword id="32889" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="likes">likes</keyword> from some of its users, after the company accidentally expanded a long-running <keyword id="7869" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="test">test</keyword> of the feature. According to a <keyword id="82130" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CNN">CNN</keyword> report, several users reported seeing the change on their profiles on Tuesday, with the <keyword id="6384751" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="number">number</keyword> of likes replaced with the phrase "and others". "We've been testing a new experience to hide likes on... posts," a spokesperson for Facebook was quoted by CNN Business. "We unintentionally added more people to the test today, which was a bug -- we're fixing this issue and restoring like counts to those people as soon as possible," it added. Instagram has been running limited tests of that change for years. In 2019, the company said it would start removing the number of likes from a limited number of accounts in Canada. Instagram has not provided a timeline for when it expects the hidden likes to roll out widely. While followers wouldn't be able to see the total number of likes a post received, the owner of the account still could, Instagram said at the time. Users could click to see a full list of the accounts who liked the post, but they wouldn't be able to see a number highlighting how many people liked it, the report said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms">Former Blackstone exec’s firm MTAR Tech’s ₹600 crore IPO⁠ — what works for it and what doesn't</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-companies-stand-to-lose-7-14-lakh-crore-to-climate-change-but-they-could-end-up-making-2-9-lakh-crore-too/articleshow/81306789.cms">Indian companies stand to lose ₹7.14 lakh crore to climate change — but they could end up making ₹2.9 lakh crore too</a>

Instagram accidentally hid likes for some users after expanding long-running test feature, says CNN report

<keyword id="10387" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> has warned its <keyword id="6359672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Customers">customers</keyword> against a new sophisticated nation-state cyber attack that has its origin in China and is primarily targeting on-premises '<keyword id="2634944" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Exchange-Server">Exchange Server</keyword>' software of the tech giant. Called "Hafnium," it operates from China and is attacking infectious disease researchers, law firms, higher education institutions, defence contractors, policy think tanks and NGOs in the US for the purpose of exfiltrating information. "While Hafnium is based in China, it conducts its operations primarily from leased <keyword id="10859882" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="virtual-private-servers">virtual private servers</keyword> (VPS) in the US," said Tom Burt, Corporate Vice President, Customer Security and Trust at Microsoft. The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) found that "Hafnium" would first gain <keyword id="60938" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Access">access</keyword> to an Exchange Server either with stolen passwords or by using the previously undiscovered vulnerabilities to disguise itself as someone who should have access. "Second, it would create what's called a web shell to control the compromised server remotely. Third, it would use that remote access -- run from the US-based private servers -- to steal data from an organisation's network," Burt said in a statement late on Tuesday. The company has released security updates to protect customers running Exchange Server, and encourages all Exchange Server customers to apply these updates immediately. "Exchange Server is primarily used by business customers, and we have no evidence that Hafnium's activities targeted individual consumers or that these exploits impact other Microsoft products," Burt informed. This is the eighth time in the past 12 months that Microsoft has publicly disclosed nation-state groups targeting institutions critical to civil society. "Other activity we disclosed has targeted healthcare organisations fighting Covid-19, political campaigns and others involved in the 2020 elections, and high-profile attendees of major policymaking conferences," Burt said. In January, Microsoft admitted that alleged Russian hackers behind the massive <keyword id="609247" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SolarWinds">SolarWinds</keyword> attack that affected several top-notch enterprises and government agencies, attempted activities beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code in its environment. Microsoft discovered that its systems were infiltrated "beyond just the presence of malicious SolarWinds code." According to Burt, the new China-based exploits are "in no way connected to the separate SolarWinds-related attacks". "We continue to see no evidence that the actor behind SolarWinds discovered or exploited any vulnerability in Microsoft products and services," he mentioned. Nine federal agencies and about 100 private sector companies were compromised as a result of the SolarWinds hack, the <keyword id="6356037" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="white-house">White House</keyword> had said. In a wide-spread cyber-attack on US federal agencies and enterprises, hackers also broke into the networks of NASA and the <keyword id="50977" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Federal-Aviation-Administration">Federal Aviation Administration</keyword> (FAA), The <keyword id="79961" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Washington-Post">Washington Post</keyword> reported, saying the Biden administration was preparing sanctions against Russia as the cybercriminals are "likely Russian in origin". SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-are-the-best-national-highways-in-india-in-terms-of-efficiency-safety-and-user-services/slidelist/81291257.cms">These are the best national highways in India in terms of efficiency, safety and user services</a>

Microsoft's software is being targeted by Chinese hackers — and they're going after law firms, NGOs, defence contractors and others

Around 502 <keyword id="6374174" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar-mills">sugar mills</keyword> of the country together produced 233.77 <keyword id="9324380" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lakh-tonnes">lakh tonnes</keyword> of <keyword id="31653" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar">sugar</keyword> in the early five months of the current sugar season 2020-21 as compared to 194.82 lakh tonnes produced by 453 mills last season till February 29, 2020, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said on Wednesday. Sugar production in the ongoing season 2020-21 (October-September) has increased by 38.95 lakh tonnes or 19.99 per cent from <keyword id="1799114" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="last-year">last year</keyword>. The largest quantity of sugar has been produced in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> so far in the ongoing season as sugar production in the state has surged over 67 per cent as compared to last year. Sugar mills of Maharashtra produced 84.85 lakh tonnes of the sweetener till February 28 this year, compared with 50.70 lakh tonnes produced last year same period. Out of 188 sugar mills operated in the state in the current season, 12 sugar mills have ended their crushing due to non-availability of cane in their area, most of them in Solapur region while 25 sugar mills had ended their operations. As on February 28 2021, 176 sugar mills were crushing as against 120 sugar mills last year on February 29, 2020 in Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh, 109 sugar mills are in operation currently, while 11 mills have stopped their crushing operations, most of them in Eastern Uttar Pradesh region. These mills in the state have produced 74.20 lakh tones of sugar till February 28, 2021, compared with 76.86 lakh tonnes produced by 119 mills as on February 29, 2020. In case of Karnataka, till February 28, 2021, 66 sugar mills operated in the current season and have produced 40.53 lakh tones, as compared to 32.60 lakh tones produced by 63 sugar mills which operated last year, till February 29, 2020. During the current season, out of 66 mills which operated, 52 mills have already ended their crushing. Last year in the same period, out of 63 sugar mills which operated, 34 sugar mills had ended their crushing operations by Feb 29, 2020. Gujarat has produced 7.49 lakh tones of sugar till February 28, 2021. Out of 15 sugar mills operated this year, one sugar mill has ended its operation. Last year, similar number of sugar mills were in operation and they had produced 6.83 lakh tonnes of sugar till February 29, 2020. In case of <keyword id="20154" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, 26 sugar mills commenced their crushing operations so far for 2020-21 SS and have produced 3.16 lakh tonnes of sugar, as compared to 3.37 lakh tonnes produced by 21 sugar mills in 2019-20. The remaining states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Uttarakhand, <keyword id="6354953" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="punjab">Punjab</keyword>, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Odisha have collectively produced 23.54 lakh tonnes of sugar till February 28, 2021. During 2020-21, from 1st October 2020 to 28th February 2021, 502 sugar mills had started operations (as against 453 sugar mills which had operated last year till 29th February, 2020). Also, 98 sugar mills across the country have ended their operations by 28th February 2021. Last year, 70 sugar mills had closed their crushing operations as on 29th February, 2020, said ISMA. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms">Former Blackstone exec’s firm MTAR Tech’s ₹600 crore IPO⁠ — what works for it and what doesn't</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-companies-stand-to-lose-7-14-lakh-crore-to-climate-change-but-they-could-end-up-making-2-9-lakh-crore-too/articleshow/81306789.cms">Indian companies stand to lose ₹7.14 lakh crore to climate change — but they could end up making ₹2.9 lakh crore too</a>

Maharashtra’s sugar production jumps 67% helping India hit 23.3 million tonnes of output

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Malarie Gokey/Business Insider</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>IFA is the largest consumer electronics show in Europe. It's the equivalent of America's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV.</li><li><a href="https://b2b.ifa-berlin.com/IFA/FactsFigures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nearly 2,000 companies</a> flocked to Berlin, Germany to showcase their new products in 2019.</li><li>We went to the show to find the best new products in tech, home, kitchen, and more.</li><li>Here are our 20 favorite new products, from smartphones and laptops to TVs and kitchen appliances.</li></ul>In 1924, the first IFA trade show (IFA stands for <a href="https://b2b.ifa-berlin.com/Press/PressReleases/News_40197.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internationale Funkausstellung</a>, which translates to "Radio Exhibition") was held in Berlin, Germany to showcase the latest advancements in radio tech.Since then, IFA has grown to be the largest consumer tech show in Europe and one of the most popular such events in the world. It's now on par with the most famous American consumer tech show, CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which takes place in Las Vegas, NV each January.Every year, thousands of companies head to IFA in Berlin to showcase their nest new tech, home, and kitchen products. We went to the show to check out all the latest and greatest products, from smart blenders and robotic cleaning machines to shiny new smartphones, laptops, and big-screen TVs.We've rounded up the best products that we saw at the show. Many of them are available to buy or pre-order right now, and many more will be coming soon.<h2>Here are the 20 best new products from IFA 2019:</h2><ul class="summary-list"><li>Best TV: <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/biip_091619_best-of-ifa/https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/qled-8k-tvs/55-class-q900-qled-smart-8k-uhd-tv-2019-qn55q900rbfxza/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samsung 55-inch QLED 8K TV</a></li><li>Best innovative TV: <a href="https://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2019/67403.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panasonic Transparent OLED TV</a></li><li>Best soundbar: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RT516D7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_091619_best-of-ifa-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07RT516D7&amp;linkId=fcc6230a17ce0df77897a54cf364d6d4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nebula Soundbar Fire TV Edition</a></li><li>Best gaming laptop: <a href="http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=35871X943606&amp;xcust=biip_091619_best-of-ifa&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.razer.com%2Fcampaigns%2Fgaming-ultrabook%3F_gl%3D1%2A3w0lrv%2A_gcl_aw%2AR0NMLjE1Njg2NDQ1NzQuRUFJYUlRb2JDaE1Jam91dHNjalY1QUlWU2g2dEJoMFdGQTlqRUFBWUFTQUFFZ0lLbF9EX0J3RQ..%23_ga%3D2.88553115.1294891675.1568644574-679308910.1568644574%26_gac%3D1.40045206.1568644576.EAIaIQobChMIjoutscjV5AIVSh6tBh0WFA9jEAAYASAAEgIKl_D_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Razer Blade Stealth 13</a></li><li>Best laptop: <a href="http://Lenovo.vzew.net/c/196318/225728/3899?subId1=biip_091619_best-of-ifa&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lenovo.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fyoga%2Fc-series%2Fyoga-c940-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lenovo Yoga C940</a></li><li>Best computer mouse: <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/biip_091619_best-of-ifa/https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/mx-master-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Logitech MX Master 3 Mouse</a></li><li>Best fitness tracker: <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1505342-REG/garmin_010_02173_11_venu_gps_smartwatch_black.html/BI/20673/KBID/15977/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x987071/SID/tk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garmin Venu</a></li><li>Best smartwatch: <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/biip_091619_best-of-ifa/https://www.michaelkors.com/michael-kors-access-mkgo-red-tone-and-silicone-smartwatch/_/R-US_MKT5073?color=0600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Kors Access MKGO</a></li><li>Best speaker: <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/biip_091619_best-of-ifa/https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/move.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sonos Move</a></li><li>Best headphones: <a href="https://amzn.to/2OaKYrM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3</a></li><li>Best wireless earbuds: <a href="https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/news/8df1d688dfc0713a/index.html#targetText=Audio%2DTechnica%20ATH%2DCK3TW%20(SRP%3A%20US%2499.00)&amp;targetText=Its%205.8%20mm%20drivers%20provide,outstanding%20isolation%20from%20outside%20noise." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Audio Technica ATH-CK3TW</a></li><li>Best camera: <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1502009-REG/insta360_insta360_go_action_camera.html/BI/20673/KBID/15977/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x985362/SID/tk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insta360 Go</a></li><li>Best budget smartphone: <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1505858-REG/nokia_6830aa002607_nokia_7_2_128gb_smartphone.html/BI/20673/KBID/15977/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x987132/SID/tk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nokia 7.2</a></li><li>Best futuristic smartphone: <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/sid/biip_091619_best-of-ifa/https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-fold/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samsung Galaxy Fold</a></li><li>Best smart home device: <a href="https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/smart-home-innovation-smart-display-yoga-smart-tab-m8-google-assistant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lenovo Smart Display 7</a></li><li>Best robot vacuum: <a href="https://en.roborock.com/pages/roborock-s5-max" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roborock S5 Max</a></li><li>Best fridge: <a href="https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-introduces-new-bespoke-refrigerator-and-new-premium-built-in-lineup-at-ifa-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samsung Bespoke Fridge</a></li><li>Best kitchen appliance: <a href="https://amzn.to/2LwDLAP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ninja Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker</a></li><li>Best coffee machine: <a href="https://www.jura.com/en/homeproducts/automatic-coffee-machines/ENA-8-Nordic-White-EU-15239" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jura Ena 8 Signature Line</a></li><li>Best hair dryer: <a href="https://www.panasonic.com/my/consumer/beauty/hair-care/eh-na98rp655.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panasonic Nanoe Double Mineral Hair Dryer</a></li></ul><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a> Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.

The 20 best new products we saw at IFA 2019

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Google has banned Chinese tech firm Huawei from accessing some updates to Android, the most widely used mobile operating system in the world.</li><li>Huawei is the second-biggest phone maker in the world behind Samsung, and the restriction is probably a death knell to its smartphone business outside China. </li><li>Unless Google u-turns, Huawei will have to create its own Android fork without critical Google apps and services, or build a fully proprietary alternative. </li><li>Even if Huawei puts a backup plan into reaction, user confusion and suspicion is a huge and possibly fatal blow to its international consumer business.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul>Google has just dealt one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world a crippling blow.The company <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-suspended-some-business-with-huawei-after-trump-blacklist-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">has revoked Chinese tech giant Huawei's Android license</a>, meaning the firm is now limited to using Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the barebones and Google-free version of Android. The move follows the Trump administration effectively barring Huawei from doing business with US firms.The sudden change means new Huawei phones won't have access to the most popular Google apps and services, and Huawei will only be able to push Android security updates once they're available on AOSP, according to reports from Reuters <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/19/18631558/google-huawei-android-suspension">and The Verge</a>.As yet, neither Google and Huawei have explained the precise implications for future phones. Google stated on Twitter that existing Huawei users will <a href="https://twitter.com/Android/status/1130313848332988421">still continue to access Google's Play Store</a>, and the app store's built-in malware protection.But from what we do know at this stage, it looks like Google and the US have dealt a fatal blow to Huawei's smartphone business outside China. Here's why:<h2>Huawei is dead outside of China without the world's most popular app store</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Huawei doesn't offer Google services in China, where the search giant is largely banned. But outside of China, Huawei's now-revoked Android license allowed the company to offer popular Google apps and services and, most importantly, Google's app store on its phones. And Huawei's international business is huge, with 49% of its first-quarter phone shipments going to markets outside China, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/google-stops-some-business-with-huawei-could-hit-its-global-smartphone-ambitions.html">according to Canalys figures cited by CNBC</a>.Google's Play Store is the biggest app store in the world and, along with Apple's App Store, the only real way for legitimate app developers to market and distribute their apps. Android users are particularly reliant on the Play Store because Android apps are more likely to be malicious thanks to the open nature of the ecosystem. Going through the official app store gives users access to Google's built-in malware protection, Play Store Protect, and makes it less likely they'll download something nasty.The change to Huawei's license means the company will no longer be able to offer the Play Store on new phones.Huawei can always try and create its own app store, but similar efforts from other manufacturers have been almost universally unsuccessful. Samsung offers its own apps, including the much-panned smartphone assistant Bixby, through its Galaxy Store but, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/276623/number-of-apps-available-in-leading-app-stores/">according to Statista</a>, it doesn't offer anywhere close to the same number of apps as Google.<h2>Huawei is also dead without Google services</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Huawei has lost access to some of the most popular Google services, and that includes Chrome, Gmail, and YouTube, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-huawei-tech-alphabet-exclusive/exclusive-google-suspends-some-business-with-huawei-after-trump-blacklist-source-idUSKCN1SP0NB">according to Reuters</a>.Chrome is the world's most popular mobile browser, according to StatCounter, <a href="http://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/worldwide">with almost 60% of the market</a>. Gmail has more than 1.5 billion active users, while YouTube has 2 billion users.In short, a substantial percentage of the world's population rely on Google services in some way or another. Huawei's business inside China likely won't be affected but, as mobile analyst Francisco Jeronimo noted, Google services are a huge driver for Android phone purchases internationally. It's unlikely Huawei can continue its massive growth outside China without access to those services.<h2>Huawei's backup operating system isn't ready</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Huawei executive Richard Yu said in March that the company was relying on a plan B in case it was locked out of the US. Yu <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/huawei-has-developed-android-windows-os-replacements-2019-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">said at the time that the company had "prepared our own operating system"</a> for its phones, tablets, and laptops. According to local news reports, the alternative OS has been in the works since 2012.Having a backup plan is smart, given Google's tight control over Android and the ongoing trade war. But if there really is a backup operating system, there is no sign of it and nor is it clear that Huawei can really create an ecosystem to truly rival Android.It also isn't clear whether app makers would be keen to create apps for yet another system.Again, there is precedence here. Samsung created the Tizen operating system, <a href="http://fortune.com/2014/11/21/samsung-tizen/">but it has failed to disrupt</a> the dominance of iOS and Android. Nokia likewise created a forked version of Android called the Nokia X platform, which replaced Google's services with alternatives or duplicates, which lasted only a few months.<h2>Consumers are now confused about whether to buy Huawei devices at all</h2>The first consumers knew of Google bowing to US pressure over China was a Reuters story on Sunday night, citing sources who said that Google had revoked Huawei's Android license. Google and Huawei <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-severed-ties-with-huawei-what-that-means-for-you-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">frantically followed up with official statements</a> suggesting current device owners would be unaffected for now.But the story will cause massive consumer confusion, and that will be bad for business. Even a cursory search for "Huawei" on Twitter shows <a href="https://twitter.com/bienbutcher/status/1130399374780096512">users frantically asking whether they should return their devices</a>, and worrying their phones will be useless. That's bad news for sales, given Huawei has just released its flagship P30 series to the market.Google's actions also now mean Huawei's smartphone business is being impacted by separate security concerns over its telecommunications equipment business for the first time. As yet, suspicions that Huawei installed backdoors into its kit hadn't split over into its smartphone business in a major way and the company's market share <a href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/huaweis-global-smartphone-market-share-reaches-highest-ever-level-q1-2019/">continued to shoot up</a>. That will likely change thanks to the US and Google.Get the latest Google stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/GOOG-Quote"> here.</a><div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-gross-sharing-earbuds-2018-4">We had our earbuds tested for bacteria to find out if it's gross to share headphones</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

This is a crippling blow: What Google's decision to cut ties with Huawei means for the Chinese tech firm

<a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/">REUTERS/Stephen Lam</a>Apple CEO Tim CookYou might have heard, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-steve-jobs-first-iphone-10-years-ago-legendary-keynote-macworld-sale-2017-6">iPhone turned 10 years old</a> this week.Apple has good reason to celebrate.The iPhone <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-apple-photos-2017-1">turned Apple from a manufacturer of trendy computers and music players into the world's most valuable company</a>. The App Store is an economy unto itself. And all new smartphones, no matter who makes them or which operating system they run, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oneplus-5-apple-iphone-7-plus-design-photos-2017-6">are measured against the iPhone</a> - and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oneplus-5-beat-iphone-in-speed-test-2017-6">(mostly) fall short of the bar set by Apple</a>.As we enter the second decade of the smartphone revolution, Apple is still the one to beat.But that strength is also Apple's biggest vulnerability. Apple's biggest rivals - including Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google - are all plotting to systematically undermine the Apple empire. And they all know that Apple's dependency on the status quo is a golden opportunity for them to steal the advantage. <h2>Green-eyed monster</h2>Apple's iPhone dominance is grating to pretty much anybody who doesn't work at the company. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has long lamented that the social network didn't build a smartphone platform while it had the chance; Amazon has removed the ability to buy Kindle books from an iPhone rather than pay Apple its standard 30% cut. Sure, Google's Android is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-android-market-share-sales-data-statistics-2016-11">a far more popular smartphone operating system</a> than Apple iOS. But it's <a href="http://www.cbronline.com/news/mobility/devices/apple-ios-grabs-91-percent-smartphone-profits-despite-android-surge/">Apple's iPhone that captures the majority of the profits in the smartphone market</a>. APThe Blackberry had, and has, its super-fans, including President Obama. Ultimately, BlackBerry was a victim of the iPhone's rise to the top.The iPhone/iOS combo has proven impervious to every attempt to topple it. The list of victims is long: Nokia's Symbian; RIM's BlackBerry OS; HP's WebOS, even Microsoft's various Windows phone operating systems are almost entirely gone now, like tears in rain. With Apple's lock-up on smartphones all but assured, these competitors have all been forced to look elsewhere to come up with ways to chip away at the iPhone's fortified position. <h2>The peanut gallery</h2>Facebook, for instance, is placing its bets on virtual reality, augmented reality, and chatbots. Virtual reality headsets are a niche now, but they could become the next big hardware platform - a platform it would own. Similarly, chatbots give a way for Facebook to offer premium services to its users, without paying the App Store cut. Amazon has its Echo line of smart speakers, which use the Alexa virtual agent to accomplish simple tasks with only your voice. The newest Echo Show, too, adds a screen. Alexa is slowly growing into the operating system of choice for smart home appliances, getting an early lead on Apple's still-nascent HomeKit ecosystem.AP/Jeff ChiuAmazon Echo is just one way companies are fighting back against Apple's dominance.Microsoft was first to market with real, standalone augmented reality goggles, the HoloLens. Put them on, and holograms are projected straight into your field of view. It's seen within Microsoft as the next great frontier for Windows, after missing the smartphone revolution in the first place.Microsoft and Facebook both agree on one important, overarching point: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-f8-mark-zuckerberg-on-augmented-reality-2017-4">Augmented reality can replace the iPhone, or anything else with a screen</a>. Why carry a separate phone if your texts and games are projected straight into your field of vision?As for Google, it's working on all of the above, as is its wont. It has its Google Home smart speaker, a grab bag of artificial intelligence enhancements to its existing apps, and a growing focus on virtual reality with its Daydream ecosystem. Even the much-maligned Google Glass headset is now reported to be in preparation for a comeback.<h2>Apple's move</h2>Apple is coming into this at a distinct disadvantage. So much of the company's fortunes are tied up in the iPhone that it can't just up and move to whatever the next big thing turns out to be.With no real smartphone play to speak of, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon aren't handcuffed by the legacy of a smartphone business. That gives them the freedom to move forward without worrying about hurting a cash cow. Google too has more freedom, since its real revenue is tied to search advertising, not the Android smartphone software it gives away for free. So Apple has to be really careful about every step it takes away from the iPhone. Over the years, it's made small but important moves to create the next big thing, starting in 2011 with the Siri virtual assistant. This turned out to be prescient - while Amazon's Alexa gets a lot of credit for kickstarting interest in voice assistants, Siri is still the most widely used.YouTube/MicrosoftHoloLens being used for anatomy class at Case Western UniversityWe're already starting to see more forward-looking competitive hedges come into play. Apple's Airpods wireless earbuds and the HomePod smart speaker are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-w1-bluetooth-chip-2017-1">both designed to bring Siri closer into your life</a>, and thus, keep Alexa and systems like it out. That's just a short-term play. A longer term gambit for Apple is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ar-kit-asks-developers-to-come-up-with-reasons-for-ar-2017-6">ARkit</a>, a way for developers to build augmented reality into their own apps using the iPhone camera. If and when Apple releases smart glasses of its own, it means there will be a whole selection of ARkit-powered apps to go with them, too. It's a way to bridge the dominance of the iPhone today with the hypothetical future dominance of Apple goggles tomorrow. <h2>The risk</h2>This, right now, in 2017, is a precipice point. The bets these companies are making or not making today are going to shape the technology market for the next, next decade. All these various technologies, from artificial intelligence, to chatbots, to augmented and virtual reality, are real and imminent. So I don't envy Apple's position. Move too slowly, and there are no shortage of rivals waiting in the wings to fill the gap and claim the crown for the next major market shift. Move too quickly, though, and Apple sacrifices its famous willingness to build stuff that just works. The only thing that's clear from here is that the days are numbered for the iPhone as we know it. The hard part, of managing this next wave of massive and tumultuous change, is only just beginning. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/25-big-tech-predictions-for-2016?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_content=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_campaign=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions"></a> EXCLUSIVE FREE REPORT: 25 Big Tech Predictions by BI Intelligence. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/25-big-tech-predictions-for-2016?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_content=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions&amp;utm_campaign=iphone_ctgr_leadgen_2016-predictions">Get the Report Now »</a> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ios-11-best-new-features-review-2017-6">I've been using the new iOS on my iPhone - here are the new features that impressed me the most</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

The iPhone just turned 10 years old - but Apple's greatest challenge is in the next decade

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PICKING UP YOUR TAB: AT&amp;T announced a new wrinkle to their data plan, "Sponsored Data," which will allow app publishers, advertisers or other companies to pay for people's data usage on certain apps or content. For example, a brand might allow consumers to stream a series of videos on their smartphones for free, without incurring any data charges. "Customers [will] look for the Sponsored Data icon and know the data related to that particular application or video is provided as a part of their monthly service," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&amp;T Mobility, when talking to <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5279894/at-t-announces-net-neutrality-baiting-sponsored-data-mobile-plans" target="_blank">The Verge</a>.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image">AP</div></div>
PAY TO PLAY: On the surface, this does seem like a win for consumers, as they could get more mobile content each month without worrying about added data fees. But the plan may also create unfair competition among content providers, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5280566/att-sponsored-data-bad-for-the-internet-the-economy-and-you" target="_blank">argues Nilay Patel</a>. In other words, what if large, deep-pocketed content providers pay for data in order to squeeze out competitors? YouTube, backed by Google's cash pile, might subsidize people's data usage, and squeeze competitors like Netflix and Vimeo out of audience and revenue. From this perspective, Sponsored Data is mostly a plan to increase AT&amp;T's revenue. But consumers may look at the short-term benefits and ignore the possible long-term effects on competition and diversity of content. (<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5280566/att-sponsored-data-bad-for-the-internet-the-economy-and-you" target="_blank">The Verge</a>)
In other news...
As wearables hit the mainstream, we'll be seeing more legacy tech companies entering the mix with their own devices. The world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, Intel, unveiled its new wearable computers at CES 2014 - with a smartwatch and fitness-tracking earbud headphones. (<a href="http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2014/01/07/intel-unveils-series-of-wearable-devices-including-a-smartwatch-and-fitness-tracking-earbuds/#!rBEwa" target="_blank">The Next Web</a>)
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We're at a crisis point now with regard to the security of embedded systems, where computing is embedded into the hardware itself - as with the Internet of Things. These embedded computers are riddled with vulnerabilities, and there's no good way to patch them." - Bruce Schneier speaking on the limitations and the potential security problems with the burgeoning Internet Of Things. (<a href="http://www.wired.com/opinion/2014/01/theres-no-good-way-to-patch-the-internet-of-things-and-thats-a-huge-problem/" target="_blank">Wired</a>)
The Inside Story Of Snapchat: The World's Hottest App, Or A $3 Billion Disappearing Act? (<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2014/01/06/the-inside-story-of-snapchat-the-worlds-hottest-app-or-a-3-billion-disappearing-act/" target="_blank">Forbes)</a>
TROUBLE IN PARADISE? Samsung claims that it posted its first decline in quarterly profit for the first time in over two years as sales of its high-margin, flagship Galaxy S4 devices slowed upon the arrival of Apple's new iPhone 5S and 5C. (<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-06/samsung-profit-misses-estimates-as-high-end-handset-growth-slows" target="_blank">Bloomberg Businessweek</a>)
The race for new wireless subscribers continues in the U.S. T-Mobile wants to increase its network coverage, so it will buy a massive amount of unused spectrum from Verizon for a significant $2.4 billion. (<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5279274/t-mobile-to-buy-verizon-700mhz-spectrum-in-3-billion-deal" target="_blank">The Verge</a>)
BEYOND THE CLOUD: Chromecast, the TV streaming dongle from Google, limits the content available for streaming largely to what is stored in the cloud. Netgear thinks this is a problem, so they are launching their own TV streaming dongle that also comes equipped with a MicroUSB and MicroSD slot for additional storage. (<a href="http://gizmodo.com/netgears-hdmi-dongle-is-your-storage-friendly-answer-t-1495333963" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a>)
Apple's iBeacon is starting to be put to use in the real world. inMarket just rolled out iBeacon technology 200 Safeway and Giant Eagle locations in Seattle, San Francisco, and Cleveland. (<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/06/inmarket-rolls-out-ibeacons-to-200-safeway-giant-eagle-grocery-stores-to-reach-shoppers-when-it-matters/" target="_blank">TechCrunch</a>)
Another good read, from Fast Company - <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3023591/angela-ahrendts-a-new-season-at-apple">Can Apple's Angela Ahrendts spark a retail revolution?</a>
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE: Microsoft reportedly wants to offer smartphone users an opportunity to choose which platform they would like on their device, Windows Phone or a forked Windows version of Android. It would be a clever way to spur Nokia device sales. (<a href="http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2014/01/06/microsoft-reportedly-considered-letting-consumers-pick-device-os-windows-phone-android/#!rBE4k" target="_blank">The Next Web</a>)
What You May Have Missed On BI Intelligence…
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/post-holiday-tablet-growth-pinpoints-a-broader-global-market-trend-2014-1" target="_blank">Post-Holiday Growth In Samsung Tablets Is A Sign Of The Tablet Market's Fragmentation</a>
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-just-as-much-a-daily-activity-in-europe-as-it-is-in-the-us-2013-12" target="_blank">Facebook Enjoys Impressive Rates Of Daily Activity Among Its European Users</a>
<a href="https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/how-tech-and-mobile-centric-players-are-transforming-the-credit-card-processing-industry-2014-1">How Tech- And Mobile-Centric Players Are Transforming The Credit Card Processing Industry</a>

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