Technology
Kuaishou ends gruelling overtime policy as China’s Big Tech try to reform controversial 996 working culture
Kuaishou Technologies, operator of China’s second-most popular short-video platform, will end its gruelling, companywide overtime schedule as Big Tech in China begins to slowly address the controversial, and sometimes deadly, work culture known as 996.The overtime arrangement known as big week/small week, where employees were required to work a six-day week every fortnight, was first implemented in January ahead of the company’s IPO.The company offered double wages for working weekends and…
With Windows 11, Microsoft touts a more open platform but relies on a familiar business model
Microsoft Corp’s Windows 11, the latest iteration of its 35-year-old personal computer operating system, boasts loads of new of features meant to position the software giant as the polite child in a classroom full of big bad technology bullies. The update also has at least one change that hearkens back to the days of Microsoft’s own anticompetitive behaviour.At the software’s Thursday debut, Microsoft touted developers’ choices to avoid app commissions, emphasised the ability to use outside app…
Didi files to raise US$4 billion in New York IPO, helping China’s dominant ride-hailing app catch up with Uber in value
Didi Chuxing has applied to raise up to US$4 billion in New York, as China’s dominant ride-hailing app pushes ahead with the largest initial public offering (IPO) by a Chinese company in the United States since 2014 under a cloud of antitrust investigations at home.The Beijing-based company, filing under the name Xiaoju Kuaizhi, plans to sell 288 million American depositary shares (ADS) at between US$13 and US$14 each, according to a regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange…
China’s Big Tech still most attractive employer for university students despite Beijing’s scrutiny of the sector
China’s Big Tech companies remain the most attractive employers for university students across several different college majors, despite Beijing’s increased scrutiny of the sector.Huawei Technologies Co, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment vendor, and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding held the top two spots as the most attractive employers to students with majors in business, engineering, natural sciences and even humanities, according to Swedish employer branding firm…
US House panel approves increase in antitrust enforcement budgets as Microsoft dodges the worst of Big Tech scrutiny
The House Judiciary Committee voted on Wednesday to approve a bill to increase the budgets of antitrust enforcers and increase fees on the biggest mergers as the panel considered six antitrust bills, many aimed at reining in Big Tech.US Representative Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in an opening statement called the bills a “historic package of bipartisan legislation” aimed at “reining in anticompetitive abuses of the most dominant firms online”.After more…
Kuaishou joins 1 billion user club on the back of live streaming in China, international expansion
Kuaishou Technology, operator of China’s second-biggest short video-sharing app, has amassed 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs), joining an elite club that includes TikTok owner ByteDance and Tencent Holdings, as the company pursues further expansion overseas.Kuaishou co-founder and chief executive Su Hua revealed that global figure in a speech in Beijing on Wednesday. The Hong Kong-listed company’s total MAUs cover all of its existing platforms in China as well as those on its Kwai and…
Google ad tech probe in Europe strikes at the core of company’s business model that makes up the bulk of its revenue
Google faces a sweeping European Union probe into its advertising technology, a move that strikes at the heart of the tech giant’s business model.The European Commission said Tuesday its new confrontation with the Alphabet Inc unit will focus on concerns the company may be illegally favouring its own online display advertising technologies, squeezing out rivals.“This is probably the probe that many people were waiting for because it goes to the core of Google’s business,” said Aitor Ortiz, an…