Chinese smartphone and telecom equipment maker ZTE launched a new 5G phone on Monday, promoting it as the lightest 5G phone available. The ZTE Axon 11 is also being touted for its video capabilities, which ZTE hopes will appeal to vloggers and fans of short video apps like TikTok.
"5G networks have given birth to demand for large and high-definition video,” said Xu Feng, president of ZTE's devices business. This also presents more challenges for networks, which need higher requirements to keep up with demand, he added.
The Axon 11 has a 64-megapixel main camera that can shoot 4K, 60fps video. The front of the handset is also equipped with a 20-megapixel selfie camera. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. It’s currently on sale in China starting at 2,698 yuan (US$380) with a global rollout expected soon.
After Twitter shut down what it calls a Beijing-backed disinformation operation by banning more than 170,000 accounts, China has responded with a piece of curious advice.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters during a briefing on Friday that Twitter should shut down accounts that smear China if it wants to fight disinformation, Reuters reported. Hua said that many platforms had falsehoods about China and that there was a need for Chinese voices with objective views. But China itself is blocking Chinese voices from reaching Twitter: The platform is blocked inside the country.
On Thursday, Twitter removed state-linked accounts from China, Russia and Turkey for violating their platform manipulation policies. The company said the accounts spread “narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China” and pushed “deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong” where tensions have once again flared up over the new National Security Law.
This is not the first time Twitter has moved against Chinese state-backed operations on its platform. Last year in August, the platform removed over 900 accounts, which were part of a larger 200,000-strong army involved in a “coordinated state-backed operation” to allegedly sow political discord in Hong Kong.
The arcades aren't as big of a draw as they used to be. But if you miss the retro feel of joysticks and big round buttons, the Switch Fighter might help.
The accessory, which transforms a regular Nintendo Switch into a mini arcade cabinet, is seeking funding on Indiegogo. For US$99, the Hong Kong-based campaign promises to ship backers the Bluetooth-connected gadget, allowing them to “properly play classics like Street Fighter or King of Fighters.” It also serves as a dock for charging and TV output, according to the project page.
There’s a lot of caveats here: The project has a flexible goal, which means it’ll collect all contributions regardless of whether their funding target is reached. Also, Nintendo has previously warned users not to buy a third-party dock for their Switch.