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First Time Ever: Asia Files Majority of Global Patents

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Huawei Files the Most Individual Patents

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Global competition continues to heat up and nowhere is that more obvious than a recent analysis from the World Intellectual Property Organization noting that in 2018 – for the first time in human history – the region of Asia filed the majority of all international patent applications. This new reality suggests that Asia is “rapidly increasing their presence in global innovation,” the report says.

And which company in particular was tops in the world for innovation? WIPO says it was Huawei Technologies, who filed the most patents from a single company in the world.

See more on change in global innovation…

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Japan Opens Antitrust Inquiry into Amazon

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At the urging the industry minister of Japan, the country’s Fair Trade Commission will look at a new program announced by Amazon Japan that some suggest may be anti-competitive in nature. Depending on the Commission’s findings, Amazon may be forced to abandon the idea, which is a form of a consumer rebate program.

See more on Amazon’s troubles in Japan…

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‘Coming Soon’ – B&W to Launch New ‘Formation’ Wireless Receivers & System

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We learned today that Bowers and Wilkins (B&W) is close to launching a new series of products that appear to be under the “Formation” brand or series name. This news broke when MacRumors, a fan blog for aficionados of Apples McIntosh products, noticed a listing on Apple’s online list of sanctioned HomeKit and AirPlay accessories. They dug deeper…

See what MacRumors learned about B&W…

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I Smell a Scam

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Photo of Foxconn's Terry Gou & Scott Walker

The headline caught my attention immediately – “Exclusive: Foxconn reconsidering plans to make LCD panels at Wisconsin plant.” This story, from the highly respected Reuters News Agency, follows a series of articles on Foxconn’s growing business struggles in the wake of a decline in sales to Apple. But it immediately raised a red flag with me…

See why I question Foxconn’s motives…

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Apple Supplier Foxconn Hit Hard by iPhone Sales Drop

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Taiwan’s GDP Declines Due to Apple Cuts

Photo: Nikkei

We have followed Foxconn for years now, first picking up on them in 2012 when news had emerged that a significant Apple supplier was having problems with employees committing suicide – eventually forcing the company to install ‘suicide nets’ on their taller factories and offices to help thwart further suicide attempts. Foxconn has continued on to become one of Apple, Inc.’s largest iPhone supplier of parts and assembly.

Foxconn rode the rising iPhone wave, but what about now?…

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Japanese Startup to Disrupt U.S. Residential Construction Market

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Photo of Takeshi HommaAs you head home from work today, take a look around you at the other commuters on the road. All around you are Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Suburus and the like. These are all signs of the incredible success Japan has has penetrating the U.S. automobile market – taking significant market share away from the once dominant Big Three American auto makers, GM, Ford, and Dodge/Chrysler many years ago.

Can Japan do it again? Are builders D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup, K.B. Homes at risk of the same loss of market share? If Takeshi Homma (pictured here) is successful, he hopes to help Japanese companies take a big bite of the American homebuilding market.

See this bold plan to bring Japanese companies into American homebuilding… [Read more…] about Japanese Startup to Disrupt U.S. Residential Construction Market

Fake News…Anchors? China Unveils AI News Anchors

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Virtual AI news anchor

The Chinese government has targeted artificial intelligence (AI) as a technology they want to dominate globally. They are pouring billions of dollars annually into AI development and directing universities to focus on the technology in all of their fundamental research.

Now, in the first public demonstration of their progress in AI technology, the state-run Xinhua News Agency has introduced and demonstrated a pair of virtual news anchors or avatars based on two known Chinese flesh-and-blood reporters.

See more on China’s new virtual news anchors using AI to read the news… [Read more…] about Fake News…Anchors? China Unveils AI News Anchors

Foxconn’s Double Dose of Bad News

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A Negative Financial Report & a New Wisconsin Governor Add to Headaches

No doubt about it, Apple Inc. supplier Foxconn has had a really bad week. First, last Tuesday Wisconsin voters kicked Republican Governor Scott Walker out of office, replacing him with Democrat Tony Evers. Then early this week, the company released financial results with disappointing earnings that missed analysts estimates. Both of these unrelated events have combined to cause market analysts to question the company’s strategy going forward.

See more on what these events mean bad news for Foxconn… [Read more…] about Foxconn’s Double Dose of Bad News

Tivoli Partners Learn of a Buyout – 1 Year Later

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Tivoli logoWhen we last left Tivoli, the company created many years ago by Tom DeVesto who is now the CEO of Como Audio, it was 2015 and they had just been sold by one private equity company, with the help of another private equity company, to a third private equity company. Now word comes that the third private equity company, Serruya Private Equity of Toronto, which Strata-gee wrote about in June 2015, has sold Tivoli in a buyout to the company’s management in conjunction with a financial backer.

See more on the continuing Tivoli saga… [Read more…] about Tivoli Partners Learn of a Buyout – 1 Year Later

Onkyo Targets OEM Business to Beef Up Results

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Onkyo logoOnkyo Corporation, parent of the Onkyo, Integra, and Pioneer AV brands, is expanding its OEM business unit to help build its business and offset losses it has experienced over the last five years, according to a report by the Nikkei in Japan. Investors are said to be skeptical of the move, but the company is targeting the automotive segment in India where they expect to see significant growth.

See more on this interesting move by Onkyo… [Read more…] about Onkyo Targets OEM Business to Beef Up Results