Major Tech News of the Week: Renren's Shutdown, Honor's New Phone Launch, Tesla's Lidar Controversy, and More Industry Updates

Major Tech News of the Week: Renren's Shutdown, Honor's New Phone Launch, Tesla's Lidar Controversy, and More Industry UpdatesThis past week (December 2nd-8th) saw numerous significant events unfold in the tech industry. IT Home provides a recap of the week's key tech news, spanning social platforms, the mobile phone market, autonomous driving, new energy vehicles, the chip industry, internet giant developments, and tech policies

Major Tech News of the Week: Renren's Shutdown, Honor's New Phone Launch, Tesla's Lidar Controversy, and More Industry Updates

This past week (December 2nd-8th) saw numerous significant events unfold in the tech industry. IT Home provides a recap of the week's key tech news, spanning social platforms, the mobile phone market, autonomous driving, new energy vehicles, the chip industry, internet giant developments, and tech policies.

I. Social Platform Upheaval: Renren.com Ceases Operations

Nineteen-year-old social platform Renren.com officially ceased operations this week, sparking widespread attention and nostalgia. Many users reported being unable to log in, receiving incorrect password prompts. IT Home confirmed this news after contacting Renren.com's official customer service, though the company didn't reveal a service resumption timeline. Renren.com subsequently issued a statement describing an upgrade as switching from a "gas-powered car" to a "new energy vehicle," a metaphor that sparked online discussion and speculation. The future direction of Renren.com remains uncertain. This event prompts reflection on how legacy social platforms can survive and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The closure of Renren.com not only marks the end of an era but also highlights the intense competition and rapid technological iteration within the internet industry. For users who left their youthful memories on Renren.com, this is undoubtedly a poignant moment.

II. Honor 300 Series Makes a Strong Debut: High-End Configuration and Enhanced Imaging Technology

Honor launched the Honor 300 series smartphones this week, including the Honor 300 and Honor 300 Ultra. The Honor 300 focuses on high cost-performance, featuring a DSLR-level portrait function and 2K high-definition dynamic photos, starting at 2299. The Honor 300 Pro boasts upgraded configurations and multiple storage options, priced between 3399 and 3999. The Honor 300 Ultra stands out with its seven-layer embossed leather design and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, priced from 4199. The launch of the Honor 300 series showcases Honor's competitiveness in the high-end smartphone market and provides consumers with more choices. This launch signals intensified competition in the mobile phone market, requiring manufacturers to continuously innovate to remain competitive.

III. Autonomous Driving Technology Dispute: Tesla Sticks with Pure Vision

Tesla CEO Elon Musk again publicly criticized lidar, calling it a "wrong solution" for autonomous driving and reiterating Tesla's commitment to its pure vision approach. This statement reignited industry debate about autonomous driving technology routes. Tesla's confidence in its pure vision approach stems from its powerful algorithms and data accumulation, but the reliability of pure vision in complex road conditions remains controversial. Proponents of lidar argue that it provides more accurate three-dimensional spatial information, crucial for the safety and reliability of autonomous driving. This debate reflects the challenges and uncertainties in the development of autonomous driving technology and signals an increasingly fierce competition in this field.

IV. Integration of Zeekr and Lynk & Co: Geely Auto's Strategic Adjustment

Zeekr and Lynk & Co brands have merged to form "Zeekr Technology Group." An Conghui, president of Geely Holding Group, anticipates this integration will lead to a 10-20% reduction in R&D investment, a 5-8% reduction in BOM costs, a 3-5% increase in capacity utilization, and a 10-20% reduction in marketing and management expenses. This integration is a crucial step in Geely Auto's strategic adjustment, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness. This demonstrates the profound transformation underway in the automotive industry, requiring companies to continuously adapt their strategies to changing market conditions.

V. Chip Security Warning: Domestic Companies Urged to Exercise Caution in US Chip Procurement

The China Internet Society, China Semiconductor Industry Association, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, and China Communications Enterprises Association jointly issued a statement urging domestic companies to exercise caution when procuring US chips due to frequent adjustments in US regulatory rules and escalating trade barriers. This statement highlights the security risks facing the global chip supply chain and the challenges Chinese companies face in ensuring the security of their chip supply chains. This signifies China's proactive response to challenges in the chip sector and its efforts to build a self-reliant chip industry system.

VI. "8-Year Warranty" for New Energy Vehicles Expires: Battery Swapping Trend Arrives

With the expiration of the 8-year warranty for the first batch of new energy vehicles approaching, a "battery swapping" wave is imminent. The cost of replacing batteries for some models exceeds the vehicle's residual value, posing new challenges for new energy vehicle owners. This issue highlights challenges in the new energy vehicle supply chain and the importance of battery technology development and recycling.

VII. Renrenyingshi Opensources Twenty Years of Subtitle Data

The founder of Renrenyingshi (a popular Chinese subtitle website) announced the open-sourcing of twenty years of subtitle data, sparking positive online reactions. This is not only a treasured preservation of Renrenyingshi's history but also showcases the value of the sharing spirit.

VIII. Rumors of New Energy Vehicle Road Taxes in Hainan Debunked

Online rumors that Hainan province would levy road taxes on new energy vehicles were officially debunked. This event serves as a reminder to remain rational and cautious when encountering online information in the age of information overload.

IX. AlipayHK Supports Mainland China Mobile Number Registration

The AlipayHK app now supports registration with mainland China (+86) mobile numbers, offering greater convenience for mainland users.

X. Talent Mobility: ByteDance Poaches Alibaba's Large Model Tech Lead with High Salary

ByteDance hired Zhou Chang, the technical lead of Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen large language model, with an eight-figure annual salary, along with over ten other related personnel. This event reflects the fierce competition for talent in the artificial intelligence field.

XI. Progress on Xiaomi Mijia App Adaptation for HarmonyOS

Xiaomi customer service responded that the Mijia app is currently incompatible with Huawei's HarmonyOS, and Xiaomi is actively working with HarmonyOS to proceed with adaptation.

XII. Change in NIO CEO

Zhang Yong, CEO of NIO, has left the company, with founder Fang Yunzhou taking over as CEO.

XIII. 5G Base Station Construction Exceeds 4.1 Million: Achieving "5G Connectivity in Every Village"

China has completed and opened over 4.1 million 5G base stations, achieving "5G connectivity in every village."

XIV. Guizhou Province Distributes Ten Thousand Yuan Consumption Vouchers: Subsidizing Seniors' Purchase of Smartwatches

Guizhou province distributed ten thousand yuan consumption vouchers to people over 60, usable for purchasing products such as the Huawei WATCH D2 and Apple Watch S10.

XV. Home Appliance Trade-in Sales Exceed 200 Billion Yuan

National home appliance trade-in sales surpassed 200 billion yuan, reflecting the positive impact of government policies.

XVI. TikTok CEO Responds to US Ban: Will Appeal to Supreme Court

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew stated that they will appeal to the US Supreme Court to seek an injunction against the ban.

XVII. Xiaomi Surpasses Toyota, Japanese Automakers' EV Sales Decline

A report by MarkLines shows Xiaomi surpassed Toyota in global electric vehicle sales in Q3 2023, with a significant decline in rankings for Japanese automakers.

XVIII. Apple's Self-Developed Modem Chip Expected to Arrive on iPhone SE 4 Next Year

Apple's self-developed modem chip is expected to be included in the iPhone SE 4 next year, further enhancing the performance and user experience of Apple devices.

XIX. AMD Pledges Increased Production of Ryzen 7980X3D Processor

AMD has pledged to increase the production of the Ryzen 7980X3D processor to alleviate market shortages.

XX. Beijing Huayang Auton No Longer Distributes FAW-Audi

Beijing Huayang Auton Automobile Sales Company no longer distributes the FAW-Audi brand.

XXI. NIO Denies Name Change Rumors

NIO's legal department denied rumors about a company name change.

XXII. Tesla Plans to Launch Entry-Level Model Q in the First Half of Next Year

Tesla plans to launch its entry-level Model Q in the first half of next year, with a price below US$30,000 after subsidies in North America.

XXIII. Windows 11 to Introduce Colorful Battery Icons

Microsoft is introducing colorful battery icons to Windows 11, turning green when charging and yellow when energy-saving mode is enabled.

XXIV. Lei Jun Meets with "Lei Jun Class" Students: Calls Wuhan University the Best in the World

Xiaomi's Lei Jun met with students from the "Lei Jun Class" at Wuhan University's School of Computer Science, calling Wuhan University the best university globally.

This week's tech news covers a broad spectrum of topics, from the rise and fall of social media to the competition in cutting-edge technologies, from adjustments in industrial policies to changes in corporate strategies, all providing insights into