Chinese

Spanish is more fashionable than ever in China. We know it because they are even translating reggaeton songs to the Chinese

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Spain is a very popular country in China. Good proof of this are the 647,801 Chinese tourists who visited our country in 2024. Which represents an increase of 66.7% compared to 2023, according to published data by The reason. That euphoria for Spain also has its reflection in the increase in the interest of the Chinese to learn Spanish. One of the most obvious tests of that enthusiasm we have found in the most unexpected place: Notease Cloud Music, a streaming music platform similar to Spotify in which the number of translations to Chinese have been fired from the letters of the lyrics of the lyrics of the letters of the letters of the Reggaeton songs in Spanish. Spanish in Chinese classrooms. Spanish is living an unprecedented boom in China. According to the report “The Spanish: A Living Language” of 2024 prepared by the Cervantes Institute, there are currently about 54,283 Spanish students in the teaching centers of the Asian country. Of these, approximately 8,874 are learning Spanish at primary, secondary and professional training levels, while 34,823 are learning it at the university. The most striking thing is that 10,586 are learning it in academies and by other media and that is where the use of other alternative learning channels of the language such as the lyrics of the songs comes into play. Songs to learn Spanish. According to An elaborate study by the Department of Translation and Language Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, ​​Latin music, and especially reggaetonhas become a powerful tool for teaching and learning Spanish in China. The lyrics of the reggaeton songs are bringing students closer to colloquial and cultural expressions of the Spanish -speaking world that They have no representation In the academic field. According to the study of which has echoed Phys.orgnon -professional and users translators have shared in the Chinese music streaming application Note was Cloud Music Translations in Chinese of songs originally sung in Spanish. Some of those letters have achieved millions of visualizations, becoming referents for those who learn Spanish for free. A letter from Bad Bunny translated into Chinese China goes perreo. According to the data collected by the study of the Pompeu Fabra University, the reggaeton songs They are the most popular Among Chinese students seeking to learn Spanish in an alternative way, being the preferred genre for their catchy rhythm and colloquial language. However, the translation of the letters of Reggaeton raises unique challenges due to explicit content and the presence of colloquial expressions without direct equivalent in Chinese. To save these cultural and linguistic differences, translators use strategies such as domestication, the use of euphemisms and the creative adaptation of phrases to go unnoticed to censorship of algorithms In China. In China nobody “leaves you planted”. Colloquial expressions That we usually use in Spanish, such as “left” or “fuck”, have no direct translation to the Chinese, so translators have lay new linguistic bridges using their own expressions with a similar meaning. The researchers detected that, for example, to translate the expression “leave planted”, the Chinese translators used the Chinese expression “release pigeons (放鸽子). Traditionally, the pigeons have been considered messengers and, in the Chinese imaginary, release a dove that does not return is associated with a broken promise, approaching in a symbolic way the Chinese the meaning of the expression to the local public. Sexual references, so common in Latin genres, have also had their creative translation, and have changed “fuck” or “do” the original letters for expressions such as “possess” or “exchange pleasure.” In addition, to avoid censorship, asterisks are interspersed between the Hanzi (Chinese characters) to mislead the censorship algorithms (性*感/火*辣) when words “uploads” or anglicisms such as Hot, sexy either Horny. In Xataka | One in three employees uses AI at work: your position is not in danger because most use it as a translator Image | Wikimedia Commons (Glenn Francis), Unspash (Ondřej Matouš)

The US tariffs threaten the massive arrival of ridiculously cheap Chinese products. Europe has a plan

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First was the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Stamer, which made clear The posture of the nation in front of the tariff war. China was more ally than enemy against the turbulence of the global market. Then It was Pedro SánchezPresident of Spain, the one that manifested in the same line. Somehow, both leaders showed that, in the commercial war, there are different interpretations In Europe, and that happens while a word next to China, which will test the regulations of the old continent: dumping. The challenge after tariffs. For years, Europe has seen in China a formidable economic competitor, but many media such as The New York Times They have begun to slide a fear of the escalation of commercial tensions between Beijing and Washington, and how it can transform that challenge into A threat potentially destabilizing for the continent. As? The imposition of Extraordinary tariffs On the part of Trump has raised a commercial wall that prevents Chinese exports from addressing its traditional market, which has lit alarms in Brussels due to the possibility that an avalanche of subsidized products, from electric vehicles to industrial steel, be redir massively to Europe. With key industries such as those of France, Germany or Italy already in a vulnerable situation, the fear is that the so -called dumping (the practice of selling below the cost to eliminate local competition) intensifies until eroding the foundations of European production. Of course, it does not have to be so, and Europe has “weapons” to avoid it. Diplomatic balancing. One thing does seem true. The European bloc is caught between two fires: on the one hand, the pressures of American protectionism and, on the other, the need to contain the Chinese overproduction without triggering an open conflict. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has tried articulate an answer that combines firmness with pragmatism: he has promised to “closely monitor” the Chinese merchandise flowhas created a working group to detect dumping practices and has warned that Europe “cannot absorb excess global capacity.” Her messidated position was applauded by analysts, who consider her the best way to avoid an economic disaster. However, The Times explained that the unit of the continent can begin to show cracks in the face of the magnitude of the problem. Here are the words we commented at the beginning of leaders like Sánchez or Starmer betting on a greater approach to China as a shield in the face of the turbulence of the global market, while other EU members cry out for a more energetic defense of the European industrial fabric. Europe has a plan. The truth is that, in the face of the catastrophic image that has been warned in many media, for years the European Union has adopted a rigorous regulatory approach to contain the massive entry of Chinese products in your market. As? Through A combination of tariff measures, technical controls and non -tariff barriers that act as effective filters against dumping and unfair competition. Among the most outstanding tools are Antidumping research carried out by the European Commission, which have resulted in more than 100 current measures against Chinese products, covering from stainless steel to electric bicycles. In addition, the Rasff system (Fast food and feed alert network) constantly monitor the entry of non -compliant products with European quality and safety standards, blocking dozens of shipments every year. And the reach. To this is added the strict compliance with the regulation called Like Reachwhich requires any well imported good to register and evaluate its chemical substances, a firewall that prevents numerous Chinese industrial products from freely accessing the community market. Thanks to this normative network and its ability to activate ex officio investigations, the EU not only responds to concrete threats, but can also proactively dissuade the entry of goods that They do not meet the standards Europeans, configuring a legal wall that, until now, has effectively mitigated the wave of Asian overproduction. An asymmetric relationship. That said, and beyond the immediate context, the bottom of the problem may lies in an unbalanced commercial relationship. The Times told that Europe has accumulated a record deficit with China, one that in 2023 reached the 332,000 million dollarsfed by state subsidies that distort the market and by regulatory barriers that hinder the access of European companies to the Chinese market. Plus: the European Commission already has classified China as a “systemic rival” And bilateral relations have cooled in recent years, especially after Beijing support to Moscow during the invasion of Ukraine. European commissioners have expressed directly Your concern During recent diplomatic visits to China, demanding more equitable conditions and voluntary restrictions on exports of subsidized goods. Opportunistic messages and alliances. Despite these disagreements, China has intensified its Diplomatic offensive and media to present themselves as a strategic partner of Europe against chaos generated by Washington. From sponsored articles In influential media of Brussels until Official Communities That omit real tensions, Beijing tries to cultivate an image of stability and collaboration. In parallel, he has accepted Resume negotiations With the EU around European tariffs to Chinese electric vehicles, while minimizing disagreements. Meanwhile, European spokesmen respond cautiousspeaking of “reviews” or “continuation of conversations”, without offering clear adhesion or a firm rejection. An ambiguity that reflects not only the complexity of the situation, but also, perhaps, the fragility of a common strategy within the block. A crucial summer. So things, and with a photo that only points to A fear If we rely on European events and norms, the immediate future of European commercial policy could play a key game in the coming months. One is scheduled UE-China Summit For the second half of July, a meeting in which both blocks will try to soften friction before the impact of US tariffs is translated into an overestrial crisis in the European market. At the moment, the EU seems to have adopted a containment strategy: to endure the pull, maintain the balance between firmness and flexibility, and prevent the … Read more

Spain looked at Chinese cars as a salvation table. In the commercial war, the risk of dying drowning runs

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“Spain is in favor of more balanced relations between the EU and China,” with these words Pedro Sánchez, president of the Government, has defended his approach to China before the commercial war that is being freed and during the same. And the automobile sector has a lot to do. “Essential partner”. With those words Pedro Sánchez has defined the relationship that China should have with the European Union. The words have pronounced them during their meeting with Xi Jinping, president of the country. The Spanish is in a round of visits by Asia in which he is stopping in China and Vietnam. Both countries have been severely punished by the United States. China still maintains 125% tariff Despite the 90 -day truce that Donald Trump has granted. Vietnam had been punished with some 46% tariffs. The importance of words. This “essential partner” is not accidental and shows Spain’s approach to China in full tension for the commercial war that are pounding the United States and the Asian country. In fact, the words of the words of the European Union is unmarked as “partner, competitor and systemic rival”, collected by The country. Sanchez needs to play with tact with his statements. Only a few days ago, Scott Besent, secretary of the United States Treasury, said that “I am not sure if it was the prime minister or the Minister of Economy of Spain, who made some comments this morning: ‘Maybe we should align more with China.’ That would be to cut off the neck”, in words collected by The confidential. Xi Jinping, meanwhile, thanked Sánchez for the “firm will” to maintain good relations between the two countries, emphasizing that it is the third time that the president of the Spanish Government visits the Asian country, they point out in The world. The equilibrium game. Spain has encountered the most uncomfortable view at the right time. With the agenda already scheduled, it was seen if the president of the Government would be willing to go to China in the middle of the commercial tension with the United States. The single presence is seen as a Spanish approach to the Chinese side and, of course, It is unmarked from European politics that bets to get wet as little as possible. However, Spain has a good number of Chinese investments in our country. The commercial balance between the two countries It is still very unbalanced In favor of China (we import goods worth 45,174 million euros and export there products worth 7,467 million euros) but China has the key in key sectors. Putting the carpet. Without a doubt, one of the sectors in which Spain wants to influence is the car. China is disembarking in Europe. His commercial war with the United States will force him to disembark in greater force in Europe and Spain is a perfect gateway. With the fees to the electric car, the plug -in hybrids and the Chinese low ranges vehicles have A huge opportunity in countries like Spanish where “electricity” is not so developed. All their companies need to open markets outside China to seek profitability. If the perspectives are maintained, byd will be in 2025 One of the five greatest manufacturers of the world. Given this situation, Spain is clear that it wants to be a very important part of Chinese landing in Europe. The automobile sector is essential for Spain. Not only in its factories, you have to add ports that receive cars, distributors and a Powerful auxiliary and component industry. It is better for us. The biggest problem facing Spain is that it is best to open to China if you want to open your business routes in the automobile sector. When the tariffs of Chinese electric car were voted for the first time, Spain was favorable. A visit to China and a threat of attacking the Spanish pig directly (whose exports to China are key) He changed the Executive idea. But, in addition, other threats float in the air. In Europe, France or Italy remained firm in their favorable vote to tariffs on Chinese electric cars. Then, China ordered to stop investments In those countries and since then we have not had news of new approaches. At the moment, Spain has Chinese investments in different ports To receive and start distributing cars that arrive from Asia, the investment of Chery in Barcelonathe agreement between Catl and Stellantis For a battery plant in Aragon or the Extremadura projects to produce batteries for electric cars. But there are certain problems. In a first reading, it seems clear that if Spain has the opportunity to continue expanding its Chinese investments in the automobile sector to be key in the European car of the future and if you have a threat to its head of withdrawing investments or torpedoing trade between the two countries, the approach to China seems completely logical. The problem is to pull the rope tense, irremediably, on the other. The United States has already warned Spain that its position is not correct and some sectors are (obviously) worried. The direct impact In the automobile industry it is not too high but, for example, shipments to the United States of olive oil They have shot under the threat of tariffs. What can we expect? Given this context, Spain will have to play its cards to several bands. Approach enough to Beijing but without burning. It will be necessary to see if the United States maintains its commitment to tax trade with the European Union with a flat rate or if it extends tariffs by sectors, which can be an indirect attack on a specific country. A good example is the 25% tariff to the car. The United States government has repeatedly decided to pause its tariffs to Mexico or Canada but keeping them in the car market is a clear attack on these countries. Also to Germany, in Europe, which is The country that exports more vehicles to the United States. We will have … Read more

The US tariffs are a weapon of mass destruction in the Tech industry. Except for Chinese mobiles

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The 104% tariff Chinese tax By the Trump administration it will shake the foundations of the smartphone industry. Apple and Samsungthe two great actors in the sector, base a good part of their manufacturing strategy in countries especially penalized by these new measures. However, Chinese mobile phone manufacturers could better overcome the blow. Thanks to a strategy focused for years in international expansion and markets outside the United States, their direct exposure to the impact of these tariffs aims to be considerably less. 104%. USA He has officialized a 104% tariff to imports from China, carrying The commercial war between both countries to its peak maximum and leading us to a night of movement in the markets. The consequences have been immediate: Fall of almost 5% in Bag for Apple generalized in the rest of great technology, with the uncertainty of a new commercial scenario that will shake its current strategies. Chinese and United States manufacturers. For Apple and Samsung Import products manufactured in China or Vietnam to the United States will involve an increase in simply unassumable costs without price increases. A case that barely applies Chinese manufacturers, since they have never had too much presence in the country. Giants such as Xiaomi, Oppo or Vivo do not sell smartphones in the United States. However, OnePlus, TCL and Motorola (Property of the China Lenovo) do have a presence in the territory. In fact, Lenovo is the third smartphone manufacturer in the United States. The Lenovo case. Motorola and Lenovo are in the most compromised situation after the entry into force of tariffs. The manufacture of its devices is focused on countries such as China, Brazil and India. Importing the United States with 104% tariffs is simply unfeasible for the company, which would have to move its production chain outside China to survive in the United States. Although not even maintaining a diversified production would be sufficient to partially overcome the impact of tariffs. The Type imposed on Brazil is 10% (the minimum threshold), while that of India amounts to 26%. A 10% tariff is assumed through a light rise hybrid strategy and cost absorption. One of almost 30% requires more drastic measures. The consequences for the rest. On the side of OnePlus and TCL, despite being Chinese manufacturers, they have been making production to countries like India and Brazil for years, diversifying strategy for their product assembly. A diversification that is not enough to overcome tariffs, since the bulk of manufacturing remains in China. The only solution? Move in record time the production outside your native country and centralize efforts in external factories. A withdrawal on time. The most likely scenario after the implementation of tariffs is the disappearance of the little Asian trace that remains in the United States. With the exception of Motorola/Lenovo, this has never been a market to be conquered by China, a position that aims to reaffirm after the crossed commercial war. Beyond mobile phones, companies like Xiaomi, which They sell household products and monitors In the United States, they will have it difficult to maintain presence in the country without raising prices abruptly. A global impact. If manufacturers such as Motorola renounce the US market, with the consequent loss of income that this would entail, an increase in prices globally seems inevitable to alleviate the effects of losing presence in a key territory. Companies such as OnePlus, TCL or Xiaomi, with a minimum presence there, would have it easier to absorb part of this small loss and not end up moving costs to consumers outside the US. Despite this, not everything is so simple. Although Chinese brands do not sell mobiles significantly in the US market, they do have a presence in other categories such as televisions, monitors and home devices. The unknown is whether they will choose to compensate for the blow by increasing prices only in those lines, or if they will end up moving the extra cost to their entire catalog, including smartphones. THE WAR OF COMPONENTS. The main Chinese manufacturers use American components, such as Qualcomm processors or Corning Gorilla Glass crystals. At the moment, this situation would be under doubt, since Qualcomm subcontracts the production of its chips to Taiwanese giants such as TSMC or Samsung Foundry (South Korea). Something similar happens with manufacturers such as Corning, which diversifies production with plants in Asia and Europe to meet global demand. Given that US sanctions They prevent American memoirs from selling their most sophisticated integrated circuits to their Chinese clients, China does not have it easy to reduce dependence on the United States. Image | Xataka In Xataka | Brussels Baraja tariffs of 10% and 25% to US products. The measure aims to take its toll on the European consumer

Chinese memory chips manufacturers are a nightmare for the US and South Korea. There is a lot at play

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Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) is one of the largest memory chips manufacturers in China. Its quota in the global market is approximately 6%so it is far from South Korean companies Samsung and SK Hynix, and also from the American Micron Technology, the three companies that lead this sector. Even so, Its weight in the Chinese market is very largeespecially because US sanctions They prevent American and South Korean memories manufacturers selling their most sophisticated integrated circuits to their Chinese clients. YMTC is in the spotlight of the US administration for more than two years. In fact, at the end of 2022 the Department of Commerce led by Gina Raimondo He decided to include this company in his blacklist because he had managed to develop an ambitious 128 layer memory chip. Currently YMTC is one of the companies that have the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology in China, and curiously, According to Techinsights He has reached this position without resorting to foreign technology. Not even Asml’s. YMTC aspires to intimidate the leaders of the memory chips market This achievement seems to have been possible because YMTC has the complicity of three of the most important Chinese lithography equipment: Naura Technology, Amec (Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China) and Piotech Inc. The most shocking thing is that according to Techinsight analysts, which is a Canadian communication platform intimately linked to the semiconductor industry and with Great credibilityYMTC has managed to put avant -garde memory chips capable of rivaling the most advanced foreign solutions. YMTC has published about 20 new patents in which it describes processes that seek to increase efficiency And it has managed to refine its technology of stacking of memory cells in layers known as ‘xtacking’ until reaching a level of performance in its integrated nand type circuits similar to that of the comparable memories of Samsung or SK Hynix. However, this is not all. According to SCMPYMTC has recently published about 20 new patents in which it describes processes that seek to increase efficiency and optimize chips stacking structures. It is evident that the development of the technological capacity of Chinese manufacturers of integrated memory circuits represents a threat to Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron Technology. However, YMTC is not the only Chinese company with the ability to put in trouble the manufacturers of South Korean and American memory chips. Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is one of the Chinese companies specialized in the production of memory chips, and, like other companies in the country led by Xi Jinping, it has chosen to compete in this market so attractive deploying a very aggressive pricing policy. CXMT in particular has increased its production capacity of DRAM chips almost five times during the last four years, which has allowed it to increase its global market share until it reaches a very worthy 9%. This growth has placed this company just behind Micron Technology if we stick to its market share, so it is already the fourth largest memory chips manufacturer on the planet. To curl the curl even more The Chinese government is supporting economically to its manufacturers of this type of semiconductors in response to the sanctions deployed by the US and its allies, so the competitiveness of Chinese companies is upwards. More information | SCMP In Xataka | China needs to develop a new type of immune chips to US sanctions. And their scientists have just achieved it

A 14 -day Chinese invasion

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On the morning of April 6, the island of Taiwan rose with a feeling of Leave Vú. In front of its coasts, a 21 ship fleet Together with Shandong aircraft carrier, a series of military exercises had begun that would extend several days. China had done it again, always maintaining that limit of 24 nautical miles that separate the exhibition of “something else”, but it had happened so many times in the last months that the island made a decision: Activate a plan B. International Warning. That last exhibition was so publicized that even the Foreign Ministers of the Group of the Seven (G7) issued a unusually overwhelming condemnation against military exercises, describing them as “provocative” and “destabilizers.” In an official statement, they expressed their deep concern about the growing number of Chinese military maneuvers that raise tensions in the Strait and represent a direct risk for global safety and prosperity. They also reiterated that both members of the G7 and the international community as a whole have a vital interest in preserving peace and Stability in the regionopposing any unilateral attempt to alter the status quoespecially if it involves the use of force or coercion. A strategic response. But as we said, the island has decided to activate a plan B. How? Taiwan’s army has started a unprecedented military exercise which simulates its worst possible scenario: that the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) of China transforms one of its regular maneuvers into a large -scale attack against the island. It is a computer -assisted war simulation phase that is part of the Ha Kuang annual maneuversextended this year to 14 days (six more than in 2024) and scheduled to develop until April 18. The simulation responds to the growing concern about the increase in the frequency, scale and aggressiveness of the maneuvers around the Taiwan Strait, which could cover up a real invasion too quickly to be effectively contained. Realism 24 hours. Thus, using the platform Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS), the Taiwanese armed forces have activated a joint operations center that simulates an immediate transition from peace time to war. The scenarios are modeled on possible EPL actionsincluding not only a direct offensive, but also hybrid threats in The gray area: Disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks, harassment by drones and paramilitary fishing fleets. The objective is clear: to prove the capacity for coordination and response of the forces under extreme conditions, maintaining active operations 24 hours a day during the entire period of the year. USA. Not just that. Taiwanese media have explained that US military personnel will attend simulations as an observer, reinforcing the already close defensive cooperation Between Taipéi and Washington, although without detailing which officials will be present. In February, Major General Jay Bargeron, Director of Strategic Planning of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, participated in a previous phase of the maneuvers, a fact that caused Government criticism Chinese. The growing influence of the Progressive Democratic Party (DPP) and the arrival of William Lai Ching-Te, perceived by Beijin as A “separatist”has intensified tensions, which is reflected in the hardening of China’s speech and military pressure on the island. Asymmetric war capabilities. The exercise not only responds to a tactical change, but also to a strategic transformation: Taiwan is validating the incorporation of Asymmetric war assetsadapted to compensate for his numerical inferiority against the EPL. These assets include drones, tanks M1A2Trocket systems Himarsanti -tank missiles Tow 2b and coastal batteries Harpoon. All these systems are being integrated into current simulations and will be subjected to new tests during The real fire phase of the exercise Han Kuang, scheduled from July 9 to 18. Urban combat and operations. When the time comes, the July stage will include continuous joint maneuversboth in continental territory and in peripheral islands, airspace and maritime areas. Urban resilience exercises will also be carried out, focused on cooperation between armed and civil forces. The key areas, apparently, include the response to hybrid threats, rapid preparation and reaction, the mechanisms of authorization of military actions, operational safety, logistics and evaluation of the performance of recently incorporated systems. Danger: Lightning offensive. At this point, voices of experts have emerged who have warned for years about the Chinese strategy of the so -called as “Salami Slicing”that is, progressive advances that blur the borders between maneuver and aggression. Here we return to a topic that We have counted in The last months. The EPL has gone increasing your presence Around Taiwan, violating conventions Traditional such as respect for the midline of the Strait, that unofficial 180 km division that separates the island from the continent. An eventual surprise offensive, According to analystsI could place Chinese fighters in Taipéi in a matter of minutes, drastically reducing Taiwan’s initial response capacity. Unprecedented coordination. According to Chou Yu-Pingformer director of Missile Planning of Taiwan, this tactical evolution requires total coordination between the branches of the army, and therefore the number and complexity of the scenarios of the Han Kuang exercise have been expanded. Planning now contemplates not only traditional military scenarios, but also hybrid dynamics and multidominiumin order to preserve Taiwan’s defense ability to an aggressor who acts with less and less subtlety. The importance of Taiwan for the US. In the background, we must not forget that “paints” the United States in the tensions of the Strait. In fact, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. It was the center of the analysis that Ben Thompson recently raised in his Newsletter Stratechery. For the analyst, the true severity of the conflict would not only reside who controls taipéi, but in the deep breakdown of Global supply chainsin particular of the most critical sector of the 21st century: semiconductors. Taiwan is not any island; It is the TSMC headquartersthe most advanced manufacturer in the world of chips. Without its operations, Collapse digital infrastructure which holds from mobiles to artificial intelligence, through defense, industry, health and transport. Self -destruction as dissuasion. According to Thompsonis so the global dependence of the Taiwanese chips that exists, … Read more

In the war cameras vs lidar, Tesla has a lot to learn from an unexpected product: the Chinese aspiring robot

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Light detection and ranging. Or, what is the same, detection and measurement of light. These are the words behind Lidar. This technology uses light pulses to map the environment and discover each and every corner of a stay or an open space almost in real time, as well as to recreate 3D environments with enormous precision. To understand how a lidar radar works, I recommend watching Mark Rober’s video in which it tells the differences between a car equipped with this system and its tesla, which exclusively uses cameras to detect the obstacles that you can find along its path. Beyond the controversy arising in relation to the tests that Rober does, the video explains well Why Lidar is such a complete system. In a simple way, the system takes advantage of the speed of light to emit infrared pulses. These bounce in the object in question and the system calculates how far that object is using the time that the pulse of light has taken to go and return. As light pulses have a very small size and, as we said, it takes advantage of that very high speed of light transmission, can map the objects almost in real time. In recent days, after Mark Rober’s video, the controversy of whether it is better to use an LIDAR or one system that exclusively use cameras and recreations by software is better or worse to guarantee the best behavior in terms of autonomous driving. A controversy that has left people trying launch your tesla against a wall With a road painted in the purest shyesty style. And it is a long time since it made it clear that I would bet everything on the use of cameras for manage your driving aid systems Or, in the future, completely autonomous driving with the robotaxis that wants to put in the streets. At the time, home vacuum robots also lived this moment of indecision. And along the way, Irobot who was the leading market leader has ended up giving millionaire losses and has seen how Chinese manufacturers have eaten much of the market. The secret of the latter: they use lidar instead of trusting everything to the cameras. What can you learn from a vacuum cleaner “We have substantial doubts”, with these words Irobot owners responded to the question of whether they could move forward with their operations. My partner Javier Pastor explained A few months ago when Amazon raised the purchase of Irobot in 2022 (which fell into regulatory terms) The company had a value of 1.2 billion dollars. In the third quarter of 2024, the calculation was about 200 million dollars. Shortly after, The situation has not improved a lot. In 2024, Irobot lost more than 145 million dollars. However, they had reduced their losses by 52%. The company faced a perfect storm. After spending the worst of pandemic, spending on home robots and other products (such as computers) They collapsed. That coincided with the launch of new Chinese products that were faster and faster than Irobot’s: they used the lidar sensor. This system is ideal for improving the capacities of a vacuum robot. It detects better obstacles, mapping the house more precisely and that translates into faster and more effective work. The result is especially good if it is combined with the cameras and artificial intelligence systems to discover smaller obstacles that can go unnoticed or create confusion. In recent years, that has been the trend of the market in cleaning the home. The combination of this system with a more attractive price He has triggered the sales of Chinese aspiring robots, to the detriment of an Irobot that accumulated more than 60% market share. The comparison with Tesla and the electricity car market is evident. The latter are using Lidar sensors in their cars and offer a product equal to or better than Europeans and Elon Musk’s for a fraction of their price. He Xiaomi Su7 and its wide reception He is being a good example of this. Tesla has long since defends that Lidar are not necessary to improve autonomous driving systems but studies say that, as in the case of vacuum robots, the best performance is signed When both technologies are combinedLidar and cameras. In the case of Xiaomi, the videos shown from How your total autonomous driving system operates They are impressive, with very human behavior and managing the smallest spaces very well. This is possible because, among other things, A lidar is better when calculating distances And suffer less when the light falls. Neither does the risk of the camera be dazzled, At least not intentionallygenerating Ghostly brakes. So far, everything indicates that Tesla does not seem willing to return to anything other than the “All Chamber” To save costs. At the moment it has worked but you have to demonstrate that it is as effective as more advanced systems. And there is also the largest electric car market in the world. In China, where foreigners are suffering from the local product, Tesla is hitting a good batacazo in 2025. Photo | Tesla and Irobot In Xataka | “It’s like living millions of lives”: Tesla trusts their own drivers to advance Waymo and Cruise and shoot their value

The Chinese bazaars of Mallorca are starting to close. And that is promoting all kinds of theories in social networks

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Tiktok is one of the 21st century forumsone with great viral potential. Give people like the Spanish adventurer who is Traveling to Japan with a 1998 Fiat OA the Carbon mines influencers In Australia. It also amplifies news such as that the Chinese bazaars of Mallorca are closing their doors in mass. And it is true: there are Chinese shops closing, and it is something that has generated so much noise that has resulted in the most varied conspiracy theories. Reality is much simpler. Bazaars closing. How our partners point out TRENDENCESsome profiles on Tiktok have shared videos in which some of these Chinese businesses are seen as if a hurricane had passed. In the profile ‘INSELNEWS‘The’ Bazar Gran Wok ‘is shown with a message that points out that, “by definitive closure, the owners decided to give everything in the premises.” In the one JULIOBASTIVV There is also talk of this. And entering the comments of those videos is a curious exercise. Theories of the great leak. There are several lines in this matter. On the one hand, those that point out that Chinese citizens are running out of tax advantages and will have to start paying taxes (although They already pay taxes if they have a business in Spain). Other theories point to the arrival of Digital eurosomething that is still in development. There is no lack of comments that suggest that the Chinese know something that the rest of the people not, to the duty Oa one imminent war. In Chinese Tiktokers profiles like ‘Jinjunyin‘, creator of the Pódcast’ Sounds Chinese ‘, we can also see comments in videos that do not deal with the issue in which they ask for explanations for the exodus and even pray that they do not leave the country. Other Chinese users of the social network laugh directly from the matter. @choumia04 Are the Chinese closing their stores in Spain? Why are their stores closing? 🤔 #Chinese #store #Spain #business #for you #fyp ♬ Original sound – Choumia Feet on the ground. To answer that question of “why all of Spain leave” that some users ask, we have contacted a Chinese association of the most affected area: Balearic Islands. Specifically, with the Chinese Association in the Balearic Islands. Its president, Fang Ji, tells us the same as they already communicated a few days ago for Instagram: That, in effect, in recent months they have observed that some businesses run by Chinese entrepreneurs have closed or are liquidating the stock. There is no single cause and points out that “the reasons behind these decisions may vary according to the business”, but that three cases stand out: Inflation and consumption changes. It is evident on an island where the price of housing is absolutely triggered, even with Garages Costo 185,000 euros (with whom you would buy a house in other locations). “The increase in rent and supplies costs, as well as changes in consumption habits have affected many small businesses, not only those of the Chinese community,” he says. Administrative changes. Another case is the hardening of certain tax regulations that have meant an additional difficulty for the business. Entrepreneurs comment that adapting to these changes requires an investment that is not always viable for all. Personal. Finally, Fang Ji points out that there are other businesses that have simply closed to reorient the business or for commercial reasons. “Pandemia and economic changes have led many entrepreneurs to rethink their future and want to explore other opportunities,” he says. Cocktail. Therefore, it is not that another pandemic is coming or a war with China is coming, but that it is the result of a set of situations that is causing this situation, highlighting the Very high price of the ground in the Balearic Islands and online trade. The region is at the head of the regions in which More expensive It becomes the owner. Calculations such as Idealistic They point to buy a square meter in Palma costs about 4,600, 18.5% more than a year ago. On the other hand, there are fast fashion businesses such as Sheinbut also the Temu And similar, which in some cases are a missile to the flotation line of some of these shops of Chinese entrepreneurs focused on day -to -day objects or clothing. And, as Fang Ji said, this is something that affects small trade in general, but when he adds to the climbing of the land price in some places, the cocktail can be difficult to digest. Image | JInocrates In Xataka | The Government wants to cut the bulos drastically: forcing influencers to rectify by law

The new Chinese tariffs are a mosquadilla for Apple. It is just what Huawei needed to dominate Asia

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China has not taken to respond to new tariff rates imposed By the Trump administration, further increasing the pressure on this commercial war scenario. The new situation. After the Last climb announced on April 3the tariffs that the United States applies to imported products from China already reach 54%. In reciprocal response, China has announced a new 34%rate package. The US rates enter into force on April 9 and those of China on April 10, with a day of strategic difference. A margin that opens the door to possible last minute negotiations to adjust or avoid the implementation of tariffs, giving time to both countries to search for agreements before the measures impact their economies. In this stage of tariff chaos there are two very important actors for the Chinese market: Huawei and Apple. The golden opportunity for Huawei. Huawei is positioned as a key actor in technological matters with strong government support. At the beginning of 2025 it has become the Second manufacturer in Chinabehind living and just ahead of Apple. Beyond smartphones sales, Huawei is a crucial company for the country in relation to network infrastructure, manufacture of multiplatform semiconductors and software. Currently, the company is a symbol of technological self -sufficiency, both in software and hardware. Huawei recently announced his plans to abandon Android in favor of Harmonyosa system designed for the Asian market (at least, for now), with its own development and without a trace of foreign code. Similarly, the company has been in full commercial fight for years to be competent in the manufacture of semiconductors, currently blocked in seven nanometers lithographybut having achieved your own manufacturing With the support of SMIC, the Chinese giant for chips function. Quota dance. Only 1%market share separate (17%) from Huawei (16%), and with an Apple (15%) that could be out of the map after the entry into force of a new 34%tariff to American products, the scenario that is drawn is that of an absolute leadership by Chinese manufacturers. For Huawei, who has been climbing positions for a few years, it is the best possible scenario. The company is resuming its position in the market thanks to the support of the Chinese government (who has invested in national machinery for chip manufacturing and provides tax exemptions to technology like this). It will not be the only beneficiary. With the exception of Apple, China is a market in which national companies cover full sales photography. I live, Huawei, Oppo and Honor are the best -selling brands, with quite similar figures and market share. China has been a key market for Apple for years. At the end of 2024, this territory meant about 30% of its income. However, in the first quarter of 2025 and in the middle of the commercial war, Chinese participation in Apple’s income fell to 15.83%. An even more aggressive tariff would mean an important setback for the American company, who now faces a complicated scenario in which tariffs to countries like Vietnam or India put their manufacturing and margins strategy in check. Five days of doubt. The reciprocal tariffs between the United States and China threaten to shake the entire world, from the drop in stock market and increase in the manufacturing costs of companies outside technology such as Niketo the hard blow suffered by practically All Big Tech. Next week it will be crucial to know if there is room for negotiation, or if the commercial war is about to start its crudest phase. Image | Xataka In Xataka | Huawei no longer competes: he is building his own parallel reality

Manus is the Chinese startup of AI that has just launched a 200 dollars a month. It is a bad sign for the industry

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Some called him the other “moment Deepseek“From China. This new model, called Manusquickly became viral for its ability to do deep analysis looking for sources of information and then synthesize clear but detailed answers on any issue. It was a direct competitor of OpenAI and its “Deep Research” modeand after being available limited and free, now its creators have decided to market this product big. With subscriptions, of course. Manus. Although its creators describe it as an AI agent, in reality Manus is fundamentally aimed at giving more meditated responses and after a deep analysis of various sources of information. It is true that this process automates, but does the same as Other “AI agents” such as Openai Deep Research mode and also those who also offer Claude or Gemini. Its performance, of course, is comparable to that of these services, and was initially available (under invitation) for free. That is over. Face subscriptions. As they point out In Bloomberg Manus now offers a public version of payment for $ 39 per month to be able to use its benefits with 3,900 credits, but also has a higher plan of 199 dollars per month for version with even less limits (19,900 credits) when it comes to exploiting those deep research modes. Taking into account that the service has just appeared, those prices of course They are aggressive and even controversial. Be careful with this. Manus’s decision is surprising for several reasons. To start, it is a company with hardly any market penetration and practically unknown to the general public. Come from good 200 dollars a month It seems to risk sinning for excess confidence. Not only that: the worrying thing is that this can be the canary in the AI ​​mine. This is: a precedent of what comes to us, with subscriptions of business companies that ask us for true monets for services than more reputed ones (such as Openai) also offer and without a clear differential factor. Committed virality. With the Internet boom and social networks virality was achieved with free massive products that were monetized Through advertising. Google and Facebook nurtured those models, but AI seems to depend on the freeemium model: we can access basic functions, but we do want to take advantage of the models, we have to go through a subscription model. And there is a clear reason for it. The generative AI is very expensive. The cost of each consultation we made to chatbots of AI is comparatively much greater that for example have traditional search engines. Training these models is also exceptionally expensive –It is estimated That GPT-4 training cost about $ 100 million-and you have to try to recover the investment. IA companies know how to do it: increasingly faces. And we are getting used to subscribing to everything. With the “era Google” We did not pay for the product but we were the productbut little by little payment subscriptions have been taking force with the rise of content streaming. We are already very accustomed to paying for services we use, and AI wants to take advantage of that trend. The problem, as is the case with the aforementioned streaming segment, is that There must be differentiating factors to bet on a payment service and not for another. And there Manus has it especially difficult, because he competes with very reputed models and that can be perceived as more confidence for users. No own model. Manus is a “Wrapper“, a platform that is built from the functions of other AI models such as Claude, from Anthropic, or Qwen, from Alibaba. It does not depend on itself. Its creators do not seem to have their own model, but even having the problem is that they will not be able to invest in it the amount of time, money and resources (as talent) necessary for the models to be especially remarkable. Too much competition. But Manus faces true giants. It is a situation analogous to which Anthropic and his chatbot claude livethat do not have the financial muscle of Google, Microsoft or even OpenAi. Manus has both that competition in the US and especially important rivals in China. There Deepseek is the main protagonist, but Alibaba, Baidu or Tencent They will not let a newcomer steal their wallet easily. In Xataka | Now the competition to overcome Depseek is also fought in China herself: Alibaba has just announced QWen2.5-max

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