Category: Technology

Screen time hurts mental, physical development of kids

Rob Williams

Higher levels of screen time among toddlers were associated with slower mental development, according to a study cited by JAMA Pediatrics.

About 98% of U.S. children ages 0 to 8 years live in a home with an internet-connected device and spend more than two hours a day on average looking at screens, according to Common Sense Media.

Children who observe screens without an interactive or physical component are more sedentary and aren’t practicing gross motor skills, such as walking and running. Screens can also disrupt interactions with caregivers by limiting opportunities for verbal and nonverbal social exchanges, which are essential for fostering optimal growth and development.

Philips Hue adds Google Assistant routines to smart lighting

Rob Williams

Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, for the first time added voice-powered wake-up and sleep commands to its Philips Hue smart-bulbs. Read more…

(PRNewsfoto/Signify)

Philips Hue also extended its product line to include flood lights, more wall-mounted lights and lanterns and a motion sensor, the Verge reported. The Hue Outdoor sensor, which can detect motion up to 39 feet away, will sell for $50 starting next month. Philips also will begin selling its new outdoor lighting for prices ranging from $110 to $150 next month.

Amazon tech workers more likely to say they’re depressed

Rob Williams

Blind, an anonymous community app, surveyed tech employees to see how many would identify themselves as depressed.

  • 38.78% answered with ‘True’ to a question asking if they were depressed.
  • Amazon led the way with 43.4% of employees answering with ‘True,” Microsoft (with 41.58%) and Intel (with 38.86%).
  • Apple had the lowest percentage of employees answering with 30.61%.
  • The two other companies with the lowest percentage of employees answering with ‘False’ are Google (with 33.11%) and Cisco (with 34.69%).

The survey ran from Nov 20 through Nov 28, 2018, and was answered by 10,081 users of the Blind app. Users could only answer once.

 

Company True False Count % True % False
Amazon 447 583 1030 43.40% 56.60%
Microsoft 380 534 914 41.58% 58.42%
Intel 68 107 175 38.86% 61.14%
LinkedIn 55 87 142 38.73% 61.27%
Facebook 149 257 406 36.70% 63.30%
Uber 80 143 223 35.87% 64.13%
Oracle 50 92 142 35.21% 64.79%
Cisco 51 96 147 34.69% 65.31%
Google 148 299 447 33.11% 66.89%
Apple 45 102 147 30.61% 69.39%

Source: Blind

Gartner: Smartphone sales rise 1.4% from year earlier

Rob Williams

Global sales of smartphones to end users grew 1.4 percent to 389 million units in the third quarter from a  year earlier, according to Gartner Inc.

Worldwide Top 5 Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 3Q18 (Thousands of Units)

Vendor 3Q18Units 3Q18 Market Share (%) 3Q17Units 3Q17 Market Share (%)
Samsung 73,360.1 18.9 85,605.3 22.3
Huawei 52,218.4 13.4 36,501.8 9.5
Apple 45,746.6 11.8 45,441.9 11.8
Xiaomi 33,219.7 8.5 26,853.2 7.0
OPPO 30,563.4 7.9 29,449.2 7.7
Others 153,960.0 39.6 159,742.0 41.6
Total 389,068.2 100.0 383,593.4 100.0

Source: Gartner (December 2018)

Counterpoint: US smartphone market shrinks 7% in third quarter

Rob Williams

The U.S. smartphone market shrank 7 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research.

Apple was the leading U.S. smartphone maker with a market share of 39 percent in the third quarter, little changed from the 40 percent of the prior quarter.

US Smartphone Shipments Market Share (%) 3Q17 4Q17 1Q18 2Q18 3Q18
Apple 33% 44% 37% 40% 39%
Samsung 23% 19% 26% 25% 25%
LG 18% 14% 14% 16% 17%
Motorola 5% 5% 4% 5% 8%
Others 21% 18% 19% 14% 11%

Source: Counterpoint Research