Goodbye Home Button: Apple’s iPhone SE Overhaul Brings Major Upgrades

Bloomberg

Apple is set to unveil a new iPhone SE next week, marking a significant upgrade for the budget-friendly model, Bloomberg reported. The new version will ditch the home button, incorporate Face ID, and feature a design similar to the iPhone 14. It will also include Apple Intelligence and a faster A18 chip.

This overhaul comes as Apple seeks to revive its iPhone business, especially in emerging markets like China and India, after a sales decline during the holiday quarter. The phone is expected to be priced around $500, aligning with competitors like Samsung and Google. It will also feature a USB-C port, allowing it to return to the EU market. Additionally, Apple plans to release PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds with a heart rate monitor, a new MacBook Air with the M4 chip, and updated iPads this year.

Major updates for iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models are also anticipated

Read More…

Global Smartphone Market Rebounds with 7% Growth, Apple Leads Shipments — Study

Canalys

The global smartphone market saw a 7% year-on-year increase in shipments in 2024, with Apple leading the charge, shipping 225.9 million iPhones, according to Canalys.

This marked the first significant growth after two years of decline. Samsung followed closely with 222.9 million units shipped, while Xiaomi saw a 15% boost.

Apple and Samsung’s success was driven by strong demand for premium models, with Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro series and Samsung’s best S-series sales since 2019 at the top of the table.

However, despite growth in emerging markets, analysts caution that vendors must navigate challenges like economic instability and potential tariffs in 2025.

Read more…

AI & Trade-In Program Power Xiaomi’s Growth Prospects

Bloomberg

Xiaomi’s shares hit a new high, rising 6.2% on optimism for 2025 earnings. Analysts expect China’s expanded trade-in program to boost Xiaomi’s sales, while AI advancements could lower costs for its IoT devices.

Read more…

Eutelsat & SES Face Uncertain Future as Starlink Dominates Connectivity — FT

FT

European satellite operators Eutelsat and SES are struggling to stay relevant in an increasingly mobile-driven world as Elon Musk’s Starlink disrupts connectivity markets,  according to a the Financial Times analysis.

Starlink’s rapid expansion, with over 6,000 satellites, is not only dominating traditional satellite communications but also reshaping mobile ecosystems by offering seamless, global broadband coverage—challenging telecom and satellite incumbents alike.

Investors are losing faith in Europe’s legacy players — writes the FT.

Eutelsat’s risky OneWeb acquisition has underperformed, contributing to a 65% probability of default, while SES faces mounting pressure from Amazon’s upcoming Project Kuiper.

As mobile networks increasingly integrate satellite technology to extend coverage, Europe’s response has been slow.

Despite a €10.6 billion EU-backed satellite project, Italy is negotiating a €1.5 billion deal with SpaceX for military communications—further validating Starlink’s dominance in the mobile connectivity race.

Read more…

T-Mobile Supercharges 5G at Superdome Ahead of Super Bowl

Mobile World Live

T-Mobile US has upgraded 5G coverage at New Orleans’ Superdome for the Super Bowl, achieving peak download speeds of 1.2 Gb/s inside the stadium with added millimeter-wave technology.

The enhancements also cover surrounding areas, including hotels, an airport, and a convention center, with speeds reaching 920Mb/s.

T-Mobile is also investing $290 million in a statewide network upgrade.

Meanwhile, Verizon expanded its partnership with the NFL to provide private wireless services for coach communications across all 30 NFL stadiums.

Read more…

China Launches Antitrust Probe Into Google Amid U.S. Trade Tensions

Reuters

At the beginning of the week, China’s antitrust regulator launched an investigation into Google for alleged anti-monopoly violations, Reuters reported.

The move comes amid ongoing U.S.-China trade war tensions, as Beijing pushes back against U.S. tariffs, tech restrictions, and regulatory actions targeting Chinese firms.

Google, despite being blocked in China, benefits from Chinese businesses advertising abroad and its Android system powering local smartphones.

Read More…

Musk to Military: Embrace AI & Drones or Fall Behind

Bloomberg

Elon Musk, speaking at the U.S. military academy West Point, emphasized that future wars will be driven by AI and drones, with the Ukraine conflict already reflecting this trend.

He urged the US to invest in drone production and warned against outdated military strategies.

Musk also highlighted SpaceX’s Starlink as vital for Ukraine’s communications and discussed his approach to optimizing processes through his “first-principles algorithm.”

Read More…

OpenAI Unveils ‘Deep Research’ AI for Rapid Information Analysis

OpenAI

OpenAI is launching Deep Research, an AI tool that helps users quickly gather and analyze information from the web and uploaded files to create detailed reports.

Available to ChatGPT Pro subscribers, it aims to complete in minutes what would usually take hours.

This follows the release of another AI tool, Operator, for tasks like booking flights.

While still in early stages, Deep Research is resource-intensive and limited to 100 queries per month.

The service will eventually expand to other paying users.

Read More…

Big Tech Doubles Down on AI, 2025 Spending to Exceed $320B

WSJ

Tech giants are ramping up AI investments in 2025, with spending set to exceed $320 billion after a record $246 billion last year. Microsoft, Google, and Meta plan at least $215 billion in capital expenditures, while Amazon expects to top $100 billion, mostly for AI infrastructure.

Despite investor concerns over China’s cost-efficient DeepSeek model, Big Tech remains committed. Microsoft and Google saw $200 billion in market losses due to weak cloud growth and rising costs, while Meta’s AI-driven ad revenue strategy was well-received.

Google’s Sundar Pichai defended his $75 billion AI push, calling it a massive opportunity, while Amazon’s Andy Jassy cited strong demand for their continued expansion.

Even amid skepticism, the AI race shows no signs of slowing. OpenAI’s Sam Altman is leading a $100 billion U.S. infrastructure investment, underscoring the industry’s belief that cutting back now would mean falling behind.

Read More…

OpenAI Takes AI Advertising to New Heights with First Super Bowl Ad — WSJ

WSJ

OpenAI will air its first-ever TV commercial during the Super Bowl, marking its biggest advertising push yet as competition in AI intensifies, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Despite its rapid rise since launching ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has relied little on paid ads.

The AI industry, including rivals like Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic, spent $332 million on ads last year, more than double the previous year.

OpenAI’s move follows the hiring of Kate Rouch as its first chief marketing officer, signaling a shift toward broader consumer outreach.

Read More…