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China’s Xiaomi surpasses Apple in smartphone sales

China’s Xiaomi surpasses Apple in smartphone sales
China’s Xiaomi surpasses Apple in smartphone sales

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts – China’s leading technology company Xiaomi has surpassed US technology company Apple in its sales amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

In its latest report for the third quarter of 2020 on smartphone sales, International Data Corporation (IDC) has found out that South Korean tech giant Samsung leads as the world’s number one smartphone company, followed by Chinese Huawei and Xiaomi.

The report adds Samsung’s sales in the third quarter of 2020 have increased by about 2 percent compared to the quarter of 2019, after which Samsung is at the top with 80.4 million smartphone units sold.

Huawei, on the other hand, saw a 23pc drop in sales in the 2020 quarter compared to the 2019 quarter due to US sanctions, but it still ranks second on the list with 51.9mn units.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi has surpassed the American technology company Apple, during the third quarter of 2020 saw a 45pc increase in the sales of Xiaomi compared to the third quarter of 2019, after which it came third on the list with 46.5mn units sold, which is five million units more than Apple that sold 41.6mn units.

“Although there was an element of pent-up demand that fueled market growth, it was mainly the array of heavy promotions and discounts that accelerated growth in these markets,” said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.

Larger, more developed markets like China, Western Europe, and North America all witnessed the largest declines in 3Q20. Given these are the largest markets for Apple, the month delay in the iPhone 12 launch contributed to the decline. However, across many of these markets, 5G promotions are starting to heat up and a full array of products is quickly becoming available to consumers at all price points, the report added.

Founded in 1964, International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries.

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Microsoft buys Bethesda for $7.5 billion

Microsoft buys Bethesda for $7.5 billion
Microsoft buys Bethesda for $7.5 billion

Bethesda – one of the industry’s most prominent publishers and owners of one of the most successful gaming series like Doom, Fallout, Skyrim, has now acquired by Microsoft. Microsoft’s priciest purchase, accounting for $7.5 billion, has shocked the industry and raised questions regarding Bethesda’s role in Microsoft’s overall Xbox strategy. Xbox has stated that its franchises will be added to its Game Pass subscription package for consoles and PCs.

This acquisition by Microsoft will help make the upcoming Xbox Series X and Series S more attractive than the PlayStation 5 to many players, both consoles set to launch in November. Game Pass enables players with access to more than 200 games, and Microsoft includes first-party titles at launch to those who signed up to the ultimate package without further cost. In comparison, Sony requires its players to pay to £70 for its significant releases and does not include new titles in its PlayStation Plus Collection Services.

In a recent statement, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer stated that two firms share similar versions for creators and their games to reach more players in more ways. However, it is unclear how the takeover impacts Bethesda’s plans to create The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and other unfinished games. The senior vice president at Bethesda, Pete Hynes, said, “the deal offers access to resources that will make us a better publisher and developer.” “He also wrote in a blog, “We’re still working on the same games as we were yesterday, made by the same studios we’ve worked with for years, and those games will be published by us.”

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Top 3 PUBG mobile alternatives to try after ban in India

India’s Ministry of Information and Technology has imposed a ban on 118 mobile apps including Tencent Holdings’ popular video game PUBG, exerting pressure on Chinese tech firms following a standoff with Beijing troops at Himalayan border.

The game has a cult following all over the world including the South Asian country. The ban which seems political in nature has deprived thousands of fans from the online game

We have compiled a list of three battle royales that all PUBG Mobile loyalists can try and maybe switch too while pursuing their Esport dreams.

Call Of Duty Mobile

Call Of Duty mobile is one of the most played games on mobile devices and recently surpassed PUBG Mobile in the total number of downloads. The game had one of the largest releases on a mobile platform. Activision keeps the game fresh by adding new content through a battle pass and seasonal updates. The game features the same mechanics as their pc and console counterparts. You’ve got tons of customizations like PUBG but with faster gameplay and the more interactive world around you. If you are a COD player you’ll feel at home.

Fortnite Mobile

One of the most popular games in this genre is none other than Fortnite. The game features original mechanics that differ from PUBG making encounters much trickier. The visuals are completely different from PUBG giving the game a more animated feel rather than having a real-life inspiration. Fornite performs much smoother than PUBG on mobile with fewer stutters and shutdowns. One of the big upsides of Fornite Mobile is that it shares platforms with its console and pc counterparts whereas PUBG mobile is a standalone game. You can play together with your friends on other platforms making the experience much more competitive and fun

Garena Free Fire

Free fire is one of the most popular games in this category with games running exceptionally well on low-end devices. The game also has a smaller file size than PUBG. Free Fire has great visuals but it can’t compete with PUBG which is made on Unreal Engine. Free Fire makes up for this by giving users better performance and easier controls. Free Fire has similar but much faster gameplay with lobby sizes of only 50 players compared to PUBG’s 50 resulting in matches that last around only 10 minutes. The game also has characters with unique abilities making character choices an integral part of the game. If you have a low-end device this game should be your top choice.

All three of these games introduce players to a unique experience while still sharing basic strategies with PUBG. They all have a solid Esports presence allowing rising players to show off their skills to the world. None of these games can replace PUBG but for most of it, they don’t have too. They provide players with a new experience while still being highly competitive. All these choices will be a breath of fresh air for long term PUBG players.