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The Shanghai Consumer Council has identified shortcomings in auto-renewal practices among 70 mobile apps and 30 short-video platforms, according to Chinese media outlet IThome. The investigation revealed that some apps failed to provide clear renewal pricing or adequately notify users before subscription renewals. For example, Weibo's payment page omitted renewal prices, while Xiaoxiang Supermarket combined service agreements and payment steps, bypassing detailed user consent. Additionally, Evernote failed to notify users of renewal dates via any channel. The report also highlighted difficulties in canceling subscriptions. While 47.1% of apps allowed users to cancel directly within the app, 48.6% required users to navigate external payment channels. The council recommended improving price visibility, adopting multiple notification methods, and simplifying cancellation processes to align with the Consumer Protection Law's new guidelines, which were enacted on July 1. [

Chinese battery maker CATL has secured another partner for its battery swap alliance, announcing on Monday an agreement with state-owned automaker Changan to set up battery swap facilities for ride-hailing fleets. The move is part of the company's long-term goal to establish a network of 10,000 battery swap stations, with more than 3,000 set to begin operations within the next three years, a plan first revealed by chief technology officer Gao Huan in September. CATL's swappable batteries will power the automaker's Oshan 520 compact sedan, giving it a driving range of 500 kilometers (311 miles) on a single charge, and taking just two minutes to swap out, said the company. CATL has also signed an agreement in principle with the Chongqing bureau of state oil and gas major Sinopec to build and operate battery swap facilities together in the Chinese southwestern municipality, where Changan is headquartered. The world's largest battery maker has forged alliances for its battery swap business with several Chinese automakers including GAC and BAIC, as well as China's ride-hailing giant Didi. [TechNode reporting,

Zoom Communications, Inc. announced its transformation into an AI-first company on Nov. 25, marking a shift from its video conferencing roots. In a blog post titled “Allow us to reintroduce ourselves”, CEO Eric Yuan outlined plans to embed artificial intelligence across the Zoom Workplace ecosystem, broadening the platform's scope beyond video communication. Key to this vision is the introduction of AI Companion 2.0 and Zoom Docs, signaling a challenge to tech giants like Microsoft and Google. The rebranding includes dropping “Video” from its corporate name, reflecting its expanded focus. Yuan highlighted AI's potential to create “digital twins”, enabling users to delegate tasks or participate in meetings while pursuing other priorities. Despite these advancements, Yuan assured users that video conferencing remains integral to the firm's business. Zoom

Huawei on Tuesday launched the latest editions of its annual flagship smartphone range, the Mate 70 series, featuring the new Kirin 9020 chip and the self-developed HarmonyOS NEXT operating system.

Baidu executive He Mingke, who led the company’s Health Care Group (HCG) as a senior vice president, departed the company last week, as reported Tuesday

Huawei on Tuesday announced its ambition of moving upscale to the top segment of automobiles, unveiling the first model under the top-luxury brand Maextro in a partnership with Chinese manufacturer JAC, the fourth member of its expanding Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). The Maextro S800, a full-sized luxury saloon with a wheelbase of 3,370 millimeters, features elements such as a modernized two-tone colour scheme, vertical daytime running lights, and design wheels in silver polished finish to elevate its status further. The luxury sedan is expected to compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Roll-Royce Phantom family at a pre-sale price between RMB 1 million and RMB 1.5 million ($137,800-$206,700), scheduled for launch in early 2025. The Chinese tech giant also said it has delivered more than 500,000 electric vehicles with three manufacturing partners under the HIMA umbrella, namely Seres, Chery, and BAIC. The first joint model between Huawei and a Chinese automaker, the Aito M5, was delivered starting March, 2022. [TechNode reporting,

US companies such as Microsoft, HP, and Dell are stockpiling Chinese-made electronic components in preparation for potential tariff hikes under Donald

NetEase has released a new social app, NetEase Bee, targeting younger users with a focus on sharing and discussing their daily lives, according to Chinese media outlet Jiemian.

REDMI, a mobile phone sub-brand of Xiaomi, on Wednesday launched its annual flagship models, the K80 series, which includes the K80 and K80 Pro. The

Pony.ai is one of the few companies with a Chinese background that has taken a similar approach to Waymo, Google’s self-driving car project.