Here is the top trending news from the world of technology. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
1)
China’s BYD beats Elon Musk’s Tesla in Quarterly Sales
In a major shakeup in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Chinese automaker BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla as the world’s top-selling EV manufacturer for the final quarter of 2023. This is a significant milestone for BYD and marks a growing challenge to Tesla’s dominance in the global EV market. BYD sold a record 526,000 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to Tesla’s 484,500. This is the first time BYD has outsold Tesla in pure electric vehicle sales. For the entire year of 2023, Tesla still holds the lead, with 1.8 million EVs delivered compared to BYD’s 1.57 million. However, BYD’s rapid growth, with sales up 73% year-on-year, is closing the gap quickly.
2)
Facebook will now show ‘link history’ on mobile
Facebook has launched a link history feature on its mobile app for both Android and iPhone. This allows you to see a list of websites you’ve visited within the Facebook app’s built-in browser for the past 30 days. You can find your link history by tapping your profile picture in the Facebook app. The Link History will display the titles and URLs of the websites you’ve visited, along with the date and time you accessed them. It does not include links visited in external browsers or in Messenger chats. You can choose to turn Link History on or off at any time.
3)
X is now much less than $44 Bn
Fidelity, a major investor in the X acquisition, has further marked down the value of its X shares by 11%. This latest cut comes on top of previous markdowns, bringing the total depreciation to a staggering 71.5% since Musk bought the platform in October 2022. This means Fidelity now believes X is worth less than a third of the $44 billion price tag paid by Musk and his investor consortium. Several reasons could be attributed to X’s valuation downgrade, including declining ad revenue and exodus by the advertisers. This latest valuation cut is a significant blow to Musk and his vision for X. It raises questions about the platform’s financial viability and raises doubts about whether Musk can turn it around.
4)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Unpacked Event slated for January 17th
Samsung is all set to hold the Galaxy S24 Unpacked event on January 17th, 2024 in San Jose, California. Three models are expected to be launched at this event, the standard S24, the S24+, and the premium S24 Ultra. Galaxy AI” is reportedly a key theme of the event, hinting at increased integration of AI features across the new devices. Leaked teasers suggest a focus on camera capabilities and low-light photography. Potential price leaks indicate a similar pricing structure to the S23 series. Some rumours also hint at a foldable phone announcement, but this remains unconfirmed. You can watch the livestream of the event on Samsung’s website and official social media channels.
5)
Meta’s Quest VR Headset now available for $249 only
The Meta Quest 2, a popular all-in-one virtual reality headset, is now permanently available for just $249 for the 128GB version. This marks a significant price drop from its previous price of $300, making it even more accessible for those wanting to experience the world of VR. Meta Quest 2 is a great deal at this price considering that it offers several new features including Immersive VR experiences, it does not need wires or external sensors, offers Intuitive hand tracking controllers and also provides large library of content. Whether you’re a seasoned VR veteran or a curious newcomer, the Meta Quest 2 is a great option at its new price point.