US Consumer Tech Market Shrinks by 6% YoY

The pandemic wreaked havoc in most industries because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up slowing down economic activity by preventing buyers and workers from leaving their homes. In spite of the fact that this is the case, some sectors managed to see surprising growth during the pandemic, such as social media companies. Other tech niches such as that of consumer electronics saw a significant boom in unit sold in the aftermath of the pandemic.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the post-pandemic boom appears to be over. According to recent NDP data, it appears that US consumers will be spending about 6% less on consumer electronics and tech than they did last year. Additionally, this data also suggests that the market will shrink further by 2023, with a 3% decline predicted for next year with all things having been considered and taken into account.

However, while the post pandemic surge of 2021 has proven to be short lived, consumer technology spending is still 11% higher than what it was in 2019. That means that the industry has now fully recovered, although its inability to continue this rate of growth might be a discouraging sign for some.

One possible contributing factor to this decline in purchasing is that the market has reached a saturation point. The rise of working from home encouraged consumers to buy various electronic items that they could use to optimize their home based work space. Additionally, widespread lockdowns spurred consumers to splurge on entertainment appliances among numerous other similar products.

Another contributing factor this trend might be inflation. People simply have less money than they did a year ago, and prices are also higher which is putting the squeeze on consumer spending. It will be interesting to see if the predictions hold out, since they would represent an erosion of much of the recovery that the industry has made so far. Continued decreases in sales could force manufacturers to make some hard choices that might impact consumers and workers.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

The History of Meme Culture in the 2010s

Memes have been a core component of internet culture for decades now, but they have also changed quite a bit since they first started getting used. The sources for memes have also changed somewhat, such as in the case of Tumblr falling from grace and being replaced by TikTok and Twitter with all things having been considered and taken into account. KnowYourMeme, a hub for all meme related information, recently tried to shed some light on this brand new method for communicating with one another.

One thing that this research attempted to demystify was the origin of memes, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that they mostly started out in the year 2010. That is the year when major social media platforms started to enter the fray and give memes their viral ability to cross boundaries and borders with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Back in 2010, just under 35% of memes or 34.9% to be precise came from YouTube. A further 28.2% came from the messaging board and forum hub 4Chan. These two platforms represent the majority of memes from that time period, but in spite of the fact that this is the case they both saw their shares declining. In 2011, both YouTube and 4Chan saw their meme output decrease as other platforms like Reddit and Tumblr began to see a rise in usage, and Facebook also became a more important source of memes as well.

Many of the memes during the early 2010s were simple rage comics or reaction memes that used comical pictures with some kind of text superimposed onto them. For example, 2011 was the year when the Scumbag Steve meme started to take root. This meme poked fun at an ostensibly unsavory character who was responsible for all manner of questionable and suspicious activities.

By 2013, Tumblr had supplanted YouTube as the biggest hub for memes with 22.7% of the memes from that year originating on this social media platform. Interestingly, Tumblr’s rapid rise was followed by an equally sudden decline by 2014, which is when Twitter took the top spot and Tumblr slipped into third place.

This was also the year when Vine entered the scene, and while this short form app did not get all that much time in the spotlight it had an enormous impact on meme culture in the brief period in which it was active. Indeed, many industry leaders cite Vine as the originator of the short form video craze which is now currently being dominated by TikTok.

Fast forwarding to 2022, TikTok is dominating the meme landscape with a massive 45.7% share. That is the highest degree of meme dominance that any social media platform has attained so far, and Twitter comes in with a healthy 30.1% to take second place. Interestingly, former meme powerhouse Tumblr is nowhere to be seen, and YouTube and 4Chan have seen their meme output drop to just 8.6% and 2.2% respectively.

Internet meme culture is undergoing a massive paradigm shift, and it will be interesting to see how things continue to change. TikTok’s influence will be seen for a really long time.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Twitter Finally Starts Making Money Again With 24% Revenue Boost in August

Twitter used to be a major heavyweight in the world of social media, but with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that the former social media superpower failed to capitalize on its initial popularity. Competitors like Facebook got the edge over Twitter, but in spite of the fact that this is the case Twitter continues to hold its own thanks to its hefty monthly active user count.

However, one area that Twitter has really been lagging behind in is in-app revenue. The social media platform has historically struggled to monetize its user base, but this year proved that the site still had some growth. While Twitter has had a rough summer so far, with in app revenue growth rates in June and July plummeting to 1% and 5% respectively, it appears that the platform is making a comeback with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Estimates for Twitter’s in-app revenue in August show an excellent 24% increase, which is the highest rate of growth that the platform has seen since January. That has brought its in-app revenue to over half a million for the first time in its history. 90% of the $574,000 that Twitter earned through in app revenue in August came from the App Store, which suggests that a majority of Twitter’s big earners are iOS users.

Twitter has managed to turn the ship around, but it still has a long way to go. The fact that this major company only crossed half a million dollars from in app revenue just last month is a testament to the sluggish rate of growth that this company has managed to acquire so far. Still, Twitter has pioneered in app revenue as a new way of earning money, and while competitors like Snapchat have fine tuned the concept by offering more features for a lower price, Twitter might be able to use this great month to invest in future growth. It will be interesting to see if Twitter’s stellar growth rate continues for the rest of the year.

H/T: AF

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

This New AI Might Increase EV Battery Lifespans, Here’s How

Electric mobility is a hot topic these days because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing people to travel without burning harmful fossil fuels. In spite of the fact that this is the case, there is one major issue that is preventing EVs from dominating the transportation market. This issue is that the batteries EVs use to store energy tend to degrade rapidly over time which can be cost prohibitive to repair or replace.

Lithium ion batteries managed to provide a lot more battery life, but overall longevity continued to be an issue. Wear and tear that occurs even when the batteries are not being used can be a huge problem, but with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that a new AI might be the solution that could take EVs to the next level.

The EU’s funding program called Horizon used algorithms to predict how EV batteries would degrade in various conditions. This can be immensely useful since it can allow consumers to better predict how long their batteries might last than might have been the case otherwise. Additionally, manufacturers can use this information to forecast battery performance and make adjustments that can improve longevity.

The various AI used in this research had a high rate of accuracy, and this provides some hope to the still growing EV sector. There are many who consider electric vehicles the way of the future, but if batteries will degrade unpredictably and without warning this might make it difficult to convert new consumers since the lack of reliability would make them hesitant to take the plunge.

The information is now out there, and it will only be a matter of time before EV manufacturers start to act on it. The changes that this can bring about to the industry will be monumental, but it might stake a long time to gather enough data. Until then, consumers will need to contend with the realities of the industry which aren’t all that dire to begin with.




H/T: ORE

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

More Than 50% Of The American Population Uses An iPhone Rather Than Android

New statistics are proving how more than half of the US population uses an iPhone, instead of an Android device.

This clearly shows how Apple’s presence has made a greater impact on users as compared to its Android counterpart. And we’d just like to inform you this is the first time that tech giant Apple has taken the lead against Google. This is ever since we saw the launch of the first iPhone in 2007 so as you can see, it’s come a long way.

Without a doubt, the iPhone maker has been a strong contender in terms of immense popularity in the home market. Moreover, it has always commanded a major share of today’s premium segment linked to global smartphones.

However, we can’t forget to mention how the great variety on offer by Android is a true force to be reckoned with. Let us not forget how its price points have also allowed it to be a true leader in today’s operation system.

Apple was never seen overtaking the supremacy that Android held. The company first overtook iPhones during the early phase of its launch and continued to lead the market. We’re talking about the year 2010. Therefore, Apple really struggled hard to finally reach its great top position today.

Thanks to research by Counterpoint, we’re getting striking facts about how Apple’s active installed base for iOS devices has overtaken Android’s.

Let’s not confuse this with news about shipments that are a direct reflection of the latest trends of today. We’re talking about a quarterly basis. This is where Apple has been doing well and has worked hard to try and eliminate the gap.

So what do these facts and figures really mean for today’s industry? The answer is simple. Apple is being provided with a much bigger market where it’s getting the chance to sell so many of its services including the likes of video games.

The news could not have come at a better time than now, we feel. Remember, there’s plenty of saturation happening in today’s phone market. But that’s exactly where such subscriptions are fit as the ultimate means for generating revenue.

They’re also brilliantly tying consumers into the ecosystem that Apple leads. And the chance is also being given to developers belonging to third parties to avail. Therefore, the iPhone maker will also be making a commission there as users get optimal software.

The lead may extend to new heights in the next few weeks when iPhone 14 is launched.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

WhatsApp Is Working On New Updates And Here’s What You Can Expect

WhatsApp is working on a number of exciting updates and we thought it was time to bring them to you.

The platform is working on a new WhatsApp survey and while it’s still under development, it sounds very interesting. Thanks to Wabetainfo for providing the insider scoop, we’ve learned a few things so far on what to expect.

For starters, the update would be rolling out soon for desktop users, alongside iOS and Android. This update will entail a functionality that asks users for feedback through a survey built into the app. Through the chat, users would be able to tell the platform how they feel about their experience and how it can be better for them.

It’s not up for grabs at the moment but will be a part of the company’s future updates. Also, it’s only going to be limited to a few users and hence would likely show up on special occasions.

The company mentioned how the survey is completely verified and if users take part in the ordeal, their responses would not be affecting their account in any way, shape, or form. The platform wishes to improve its users’ experience across the app and that’s why it plans on gaining feedback to assist with this.

As of now, no details about what the survey would feature are being outlined but it would be rolled out from an official chat sent out by the firm. These would be marked using a green colored tick but the app says that it would never be asking for personal details. Hence, users should steer clear from taking part in such activities.

WhatsApp adds that it never takes part in asking users for their sensitive details like phone numbers, credit card details, and PIN codes. And at any point in time, users may opt to walk out of the chat if they feel like doing so.

Remember, it’s going to be a very exclusive affair so we don’t expect too many users to be getting invitations to participate in this survey. Nevertheless, we’ll keep you updated when it’s launched.

On the other hand, we’ve got news about another update that the popular chat app is working on. The platform is launching admin delete and status updates. The feature is currently in the process of being rolled out to a selected few beta testers at the moment, starting today.

So group admins would be given the chance to eliminate messages from other participants located in the group. How convenient will that be?

If you do wish to check whether or not you can avail the ordeal on your account, simply make an attempt at deleting texts sent out from other participants in a group. Just make sure you’re the admin of the group because it’s for them only.

If you see the terms, ‘delete for everyone’ pop up, then good for you! You’re eligible to use the new feature. Additionally, the features are stated to be rolling out for those with non-beta variants of the app. So they may be able to avail the feature too.

WhatsApp is not stopping there. There is also plenty of news linked to the app putting out the chance to witness status updates directly through a chat list. Previously, this feature was only for a limited number of beta testers. Now, however, the rollout appears to be for a wider audience.

In case you’re not a fan of the thought of viewing status updates through the chat or simply never bother to witness status updates, you can always mute it via the status tab. In this way, you won’t be coming across them on your chat list any longer.

While some features are exclusively for beta testers, others will be rolling out to the masses soon so keep an eye out.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

These Android Educational Apps Might Be Violating Your Privacy

Any app that you use would need to collect at least some of your data because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping them optimize their services based on your needs. However, some apps take a bit too heavy handed of an approach when it comes to the collection of personal data from their users. This is an especially concerning trend among educational apps since many of them are used by children.

Atlas VPN recently put out a report that details the data collection of various educational apps that are available for Android users. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 92% of educational apps that are available on the Google Play Store collect data, and the worst offenders are HelloTalk as well as Google’s own Classroom app.

Both HelloTalk and Google Classroom collect around 24 data points from users. Tying for second are ClassDojo along with the popular language learning app Duolingo. These apps collect 18 data points each which puts them firmly in second place with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The third place is currently occupied by MasterClass which collects seventeen data points in total. Following that we have Seesaw in fourth place with this app collecting 15 data points. The final four positions on this list are all occupied by apps that collect fourteen data points, namely Canvas Student, Remind, ABCmouse and Brainly.

Users should note that the more segments that an app collects data for, the more privacy violations it has likely been committing. That is something that can impact user privacy in the long run, but in spite of the fact that this is the case there doesn’t seem to be much being done to mitigate its negative effects.

90% of educational apps collect basic information like email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses as well as various other data that falls into this category. That makes this the most widely used data segment for educational apps.

The next most widely used data category involves identifiers. These include things like app performance information, crash logs and the like. 88% of apps harvest this data, and 78% also delve into usage and search history along with looking at what other apps a user might have installed. 42% of educational apps look at extremely private data such as the photos that a user might have on their device. Financial data is also mined by around 40% of apps, though this might be because they need to monitor payment methods to ensure that no payments are delayed or missed.

Worryingly, 36% of apps that focus on providing educational content and features also take data from users that can pinpoint their exact location. 30% of educational apps also monitor user audio, 22% check out the text messages that a user might receive on their primary device, and 16% also mine data pertaining to documents on said device. Interestingly, 2% of educational apps also take data that would reveal the web browsing history of users which is an extreme violation of their right to personal privacy.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World