SHENZHEN, China – China’s Huawei Technologies HWT.UL said on Thursday it is replacing internal software management systems it once sourced from U.S. vendors with its own in-house version, hailing it as a victory over U.S. curbs that once threatened its survival.
Huawei held an internal ceremony to celebrate the switch to its own ‘MetaERP’ (enterprise resource planning system) in Dongguan, south China on Thursday, attended by the Huawei’s rotating Chairperson Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company’s founder Ren Zhengfei.
ERP software is used by companies to manage key business operations ranging from accounting to supply chain management.
“We were cut off from the old ERP system and other core operation and management systems three years ago,” said Tao Jingwen, a Huawei board member and president of its quality, business process and IT management department.
“Today we are proud to announce that we have broken through that blockade, we have survived!”
The in-house Meta-ERP has been rolled out across 80% of the company’s business, Huawei said in a news release.
While Tao’s speech did not mention if Huawei intended to commercialise its ERP system and compete with the likes of Oracle and SAP, it provides a potential new business line for the company which has been expanding into areas in a bid to survive under U.S. pressure.
In May 2019, the U.S. Commerce Department added Huawei to a trade blacklist over alleged security concerns the company denies.
The listing and several successive rounds of trade sanctions hobbled Huawei’s ability to source items made with U.S. technology.
It also cut it off from servicing and patches for ERP tools it largely purchased from Oracle Corp ORCL.N, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The cut off was a “massive crisis” for Huawei, Tao said in his speech, saying that the old system had been core to the company’s operations for over two decades.
“Not having access to ERP became Huawei’s ‘Dadu River’ that blocked our way forward and threatened our very existence,” Tao said, referring to a famous escape for China’s Red Army during the country’s civil war.
Huawei’s ‘meta-ERP’ system is a ‘cloud-native’ product, which uses the company’s cloud-computing systems for greater efficiency than traditional ERP products, the person said.
While the older system was like “a massive old building in disrepair,” the new system has been fully tested and is processing 15 million lines of accounting entries daily, Tao said.
According to Spotify, services are now up and running. The company tweeted that “everything’s looking much better now.” The below article has been updated to reflect this.
If you experienced silence via Spotify on Wednesday, know you’re not the only one.
Spotify was down for many users today, with problems reported on both mobile devices and desktops. Songs weren’t playing and many artist and album pages had difficulty loading.
The music platform took to Twitter to acknowledge the issue and confirm it was investigating.
Something’s not quite right, and we’re looking into it. Thanks for your reports!
According to Downdetector(opens in a new tab), a site that tracks the status of major websites in real time, there have been over 7,500 reports of outages worldwide on Spotify today. (Editor’s note: Downdetector is owned by Mashable’s parent company, Ziff Davis).
One of the most frustrating experiences when you’re watching TV and you can only hear the background noise — the explosions and the music — of a scene but not the actual dialogue. Enter: Dialogue Boost.
Amazon Prime Video is rolling out a new accessibility feature that allows users to increase the volume of dialogue without increasing background music and effects, saving people from being forced to turn on subtitles if they don’t want to.
“At Prime Video, we are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and enjoyable streaming experience for all our customers,” Raf Soltanovich, the vice president of technology at Prime Video and Amazon Studios said in a statement. “Our library of captioned and audio described content continues to grow, and by leveraging our technological capabilities to create industry-first innovations like Dialogue Boost, we are taking another step to create a more accessible streaming experience.”
To use Amazon’s Dialogue Boost, navigate to the audio and subtitles menu and click on “English Dialogue Boost: Medium” or “English Dialogue Boost: High.”
The feature will become available for some specific Amazon Original programs globally — like “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and more — before it rolls out more widely. It’s available for all Prime Video-supported devices. While Amazon is the first global streaming service to offer this feature, similar features are available on other platforms, like Roku’s “speech clarity.”
Alphabet’s Google LLC on Tuesday convinced a U.S. appeals court to cancel three anti-malware patents at the heart of a Texas jury’s $20 million infringement verdict against the company.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said that Alfonso Cioffi and Allen Rozman’s patents were invalid because they contained inventions that were not included in an earlier version of the patent.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda said the company appreciated the decision. Representatives for the inventors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cioffi and the late Rozman’s daughters sued Google in East Texas federal court in 2013, alleging anti-malware functions in Google’s Chrome web browser infringed their patents for technology that prevents malware from accessing critical files on a computer.
A jury decided in 2017 that Google infringed the patents and awarded the plaintiffs $20 million plus ongoing royalties, which their attorney said at the time were expected to total about $7 million per year for the next nine years.
But the Federal Circuit said Tuesday that all of the patents were invalid. The three patents were reissued from an earlier anti-malware patent, and federal law required the new patents to cover the same invention as the first, the unanimous three-judge panel concluded.
The appeals court said the new patents outlined technology specific to web browsers that the first patent did not mention.
The case is Cioffi v. Google LLC, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 18-1049.
A new Microsoft Windows 11 update marks the end of an era: Using the Print Screen (PrtScn) button will no longer capture one’s entire screen. Now, it it will open the Snipping Tool.
The Snipping Tool allows users to capture rectangular, freeform, full-window, or a full-screen capture. Screenshots taken using the Snipping Tool will be saved to the Screenshot folder and copied to the clipboard.
This update comes with the installation of the Windows 11 KB5025310 update. Those who want to stick to PrtScn’s original function can do so through the “Keyboard” menu under “Settings.”
The PrtScn button on Windows computers has carried out the same task — taking a screenshot of an entire screen and adding it to a user’s clipboard — since 1990, per Ars Technica. Prior to that, using the PrtScn button literally printed whatever text was on one’s screen.
As more complex graphical interfaces were integrated into the general world of computing, broader screenshot capability became important. Accordingly, other methods of screen capture, such as the Snipping Tool, that allowed users to capture only portions of their screens.
Before the update, a user had to press Windows key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool, or they would use third-party apps, like Lightshot, to take screenshots.
So far, the PrtScn update is only available to Windows Insiders. Those registered are able to test out the update and provide feedback.
The software testing industry has come a long way since its inception, with constant advancements and changes being made to meet the demands of an ever-evolving technological landscape. Automation testing is one of the latest developments that has transformed the software testing process. As software applications become increasingly integral in our daily lives, the importance of effective and efficient software testing, including automation testing, has never been greater.
In recent years, the software testing industry has undergone significant changes in response to the development of new technologies and software development methodologies. Traditional testing methods are being replaced by more agile and automated approaches, while the need for continuous testing throughout the software development life cycle has become more prominent.
Looking ahead, the future of the software testing industry is expected to be shaped by trends such as the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning in testing, the growing importance of security testing, and the rise of testing for emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain. The software testing industry will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the ever-increasing demands of the software development landscape.
In this article, we will discuss how the software testing industry is evolving and the trends that will shape its future.
Let’s get started.
Software testing trends
Over the years, the software testing industry has made significant progress by integrating new trends and techniques, resulting in improved testing practices. As the industry evolves, there is a growing emphasis on automation, continuous integration, and artificial intelligence/machine learning to optimize testing processes and enhance the quality of software applications.
By adopting these cutting-edge technologies and trends, organizations can further improve their software testing practices and overall software quality. The following are some key trends expected to take center stage in the future of software testing.
Cloud testing is becoming increasingly popular in software testing processes, and it is expected to evolve further. This approach involves conducting testing of software applications on cloud-based infrastructure instead of on-premises infrastructure. By leveraging cloud-based infrastructure, testing processes become more scalable, reliable, and flexible, ultimately resulting in the development of higher-quality software applications.
With cloud testing, you can test applications in a dynamic testing environment where you can easily meet the Software Requirement Specification (SRS) of software applications. Due to its wide test coverage, better testing, and low test maintenance, cloud testing will continue to be one of the most adopted software testing approaches in 2023.
So far, the cloud has been leveraged mainly for test execution; however, enterprises are looking to go a step ahead and leverage the cloud in a more integrated manner in their continuous testing. Dedicated cloud-based platforms like LambdaTest are paving the way in this segment and come with features that not only accelerate test execution but also take over important tasks around test orchestration, test intelligence, and debugging.
LambdaTest is an intelligent unified digital experience testing the cloud that helps businesses drastically reduce time to market through faster test execution, ensuring quality releases and accelerated digital transformation. The platform allows you to perform both real time and automation testing across 3000+ environments and real mobile devices, making it a top choice among other cloud testing platforms.
Over 10,000+ enterprise customers and 2+ million users across 130+ countries rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has transformed the conventional approach to software testing by placing machines at the forefront of testing activities. By leveraging AI and ML, one can achieve precise testing results while also saving significant time that can be utilized for other critical software testing tasks.
Testing tools powered by AI and ML can precisely scrutinize data and uncover patterns often undetectable to human testers. These tools can also leverage past testing experiences to swiftly identify crucial defects and reduce the overall testing time, enhancing your software testing process.
In addition, recent releases in the field of AI, especially GPT-4, have made the technology more accessible to QA teams. Test case authoring and automation test authoring have become significantly easier with these emerging techs. Teams can now adopt automation testing faster, cut down time spent on repetitive tasks, and adopt the cloud significantly faster.
Agile DevOps and continuous testing
The growing need for top-notch software applications with shorter release cycles underscores the widespread adoption of Agile and DevOps methodologies. The majority of the software testing sector has embraced the Agile approach, which fosters better team collaboration, enables speedy bug fixes based on feedback, and promotes continuous integration.
Consequently, there is a growing emphasis on automating and streamlining the automated testing process across the software testing life cycle. This move towards a continuous testing methodology is increasing into 2023 and beyond.
DevOps represents a modern code development strategy that unites development and operations teams to expedite the software release process and provide prompt feedback, leading to the delivery of high-quality software that meets end-user demands.
Codeless test automation
Codeless test automation is a recent innovation in software testing that has transformed how test automation is conducted. With codeless test automation, test cases can be automated without requiring proficiency in coding and programming skills, thereby facilitating swift software releases and the development of high-quality applications.
In addition to streamlining the test automation process, codeless test automation simplifies the process and enables quicker test results, reducing the time spent comprehending code. Several prevalent codeless automation tools such as TestCraft, TestComplete, mabl, and Katalon Studio enable the creation of automated tests without the need for scripting.
Shift-left testing
Shift-left testing is a software testing methodology that involves early implementation in the software development life cycle (SDLC) to identify bugs in the initial stages and reduce the expenses involved in bug fixing. This approach differs from traditional testing, where software testing was carried out towards the end of the software development process, resulting in the discovery of new bugs at a later stage, which was both time-consuming and costly.
The latest shift-left testing trend involves activities such as coding, designing, and requirement gathering at the early stages of software development, thereby fostering better collaboration between developers and testers.
Conclusion
LambdaTest
LambdaTest allows you to test your native hybrid of web mobile apps using its real device cloud and its virtual mobile device platform of emulators and simulators. You get an exceptional digital experience, thanks to its AI-powered testing cloud platform. The platform offers live testing, automated testing, mobile testing, smart TV testing, and much more.
With the increasing complexity of software applications, organizations strive to deliver them faster and more frequently. This requires a more robust integration of the testing process into the software development life cycle.
The introduction of some latest trends, like cloud testing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), Agile and DevOps, codeless test automation, robotic process automation (RPA), and shift-left testing, has given a new face to software testing. These trends will continue to evolve and shape the future of software testing to cater to continuous and ever-evolving user needs.
Apple Card customers in the U.S. can open a savings account and earn interests with 4.15 % interest rate starting today. When the company originally announced the new financial product back in October, Apple said that it couldn’t share what interest rate would be paid out on these accounts because rates are fluctuating so much these days.
As of today, Apple is going to offer an APY of 4.15%. It looks like a competitive offering when you look at data from Bankrate — you can currently find savings accounts that offer an APY of 3.5% to 4.75%. The company isn’t making any promise when it comes to future interest rates. It could go up and down at any time.
Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs once again for the banking feature. Savings accounts are technically managed by Goldman Sachs, which means that balances are covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
This high-yield savings account has been created specifically for Apple Card customers. When customers pay with their Apple Card, they get cash back on all purchases. By default, all purchases grant you 1% in cash rewards and 2% for all purchases made using Apple Pay. Purchases with select merchants unlock 3% in rewards.
By default, customers receive cash rewards every day into Apple Cash, a pocket of money that appears in the Wallet app and that works more or less like a checking account. Your Apple Cash balance can be used to pay for things using Apple Pay, for your credit card balance or to send money to friends and family members. You also can transfer this balance to a regular bank account.
Starting today, Apple Card users can choose to deposit their daily rewards into their savings accounts. It’s a way to save money without having to think too much about it.
Your savings account is accessible from the Wallet app as well. You can see your current balance, the current interest rate and your most recent transactions. From this screen, users can also manually add or withdraw money. The balance can be transferred to Apple Cash or a regular bank account.
“Savings helps our users get even more value out of their favorite Apple Card benefit — Daily Cash — while providing them with an easy way to save money every day,” Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said in a statement. “Our goal is to build tools that help users lead healthier financial lives, and building Savings into Apple Card in Wallet enables them to spend, send, and save Daily Cash directly and seamlessly — all from one place.”
There are no fees associated with Apple’s savings account. However, there is a maximum balance limit of $250,000. The APY of 4.15% applies to any sized balance and there is no minimum balance required.
Windows 11 has another new preview build which this time brings in an important change for some users on the privacy front.
Build 22624.1610 in the beta channel introduces new privacy settings for devices that have presence sensors.
If you’ve not come across this tech before, it’s included with a fair number of new Windows 11 laptops these days, and allows for the device to automatically turn itself off, or wake up, when it detects that you’re leaving the notebook, or coming back to it respectively.
Pretty nifty, eh? Certainly, but there need to be rules for apps that can access this technology, and that’s what Microsoft is ushering in with this new beta build.
In Settings, under Privacy & Security > Presence Sensing, there’s now an option that allows you to select which apps can access presence sensors. So, if you’re worried about certain software prying into your privacy via the feature, you can simply block those apps from using the tech.
Developers can request the ability for their software to use presence sensors, Microsoft further notes in its blog post(opens in new tab) detailing the new preview build.
Remember, this is just for devices with the requisite hardware that supports presence sensing.
’s good to see these safeguards being added, although in fairness, they’re expected features. You should have full granular control over which pieces of software can use presence sensing, given that it inherently comes with privacy worries in terms of what data might be extracted in any given app client’s activities.
Naturally, Microsoft has been keen to underline that there are no concerns on the privacy front with presence settings, and that the functionality is a safe and convenient addition to Windows. In its blog post for the new beta build, the company clarifies that with presence sensor features: “No images or metadata is collected by Microsoft and all processing is done locally on the device hardware to maximize privacy.”
Building out a suitably extensive raft of privacy-related controls will of course be a heartening reassurance for Windows 11 users who use presence sensing.
It’s been seven months since Apple launched its Lock Screen with customizable widgets but Spotify hasn’t really ever been on top of launching support for Apple features quickly. In any case, it’s nice to see Spotify debut an iPhone Lock Screen widget for instant access to your library.
The new iPhone Lock Screen widget is available to all users. To add the Spotify Lock Screen widget to your iPhone Lock Screen you will need to have iOS 16 or later. If you’re not seeing the option to add the Spotify widget to your Lock Screen, make sure to update Spotify to the latest version in the App Store.
As shown above, the Spotify Lock Screen widget is available in just the small size. It wasn’t showing up for me until I updated the Spotify iOS app to the latest release, version 8.8.26 which just launched this morning.
Spotify highlights the new iPhone Lock Screen widget joins its Home Screen widgets that offer more sizes and details.
South Korea fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google 42.1 billion won (US$32 million) for using its clout in the mobile app market to squeeze out a local rival, the latest sign of intensifying scrutiny on the US tech firm as it seeks to expand overseas.
Google tried to block Korean platform rival One Store Co.’s growth, Korea’s Fair Trade Commission said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday. Google allegedly asked some of Korean game companies including NCSoft Corp. and Netmarble Corp., as well as smaller firms and Chinese companies, to exclusively release their new games in Google’s Play Store, in return for Google promoting their games and providing further support abroad.
Google featuring a game on its top pages was seen as crucial for Korean game companies’ success in expanding overseas, where many of their games’ visibility is low, the FTC said.
Google — which controls roughly three-quarters of Korea’s mobile app market — has denied offering benefits to developers who put their apps only on Google Play.
“There has been no violation of the law,” a Google spokesperson said in a written statement, adding that it’s an open platform that gives developers control over how they distribute their apps. “Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC’s conclusions.”
The regulator said Google began making the conditional offers in June 2016, when One Store began operations in Korea, and continued through April 2018. The activity hindered One Store’s ability to attract new games and resulted in a drop in sales, while lifting Google’s revenue by about 1.8 trillion won, the FTC said.
Google’s “actions differ from normal marketing activities,” Yu Seong Wook, director general for the commission’s Anti-Monopoly Bureau, said at a briefing. “Google’s intention was to exclude One Store from the market, which it saw as a strong competitor.”
Faced with mounting accusations of anti-competitive practices around the world, Google has argued that unlike Apple Inc., it doesn’t prevent other app stores from competing on its platform. The company points users to apps from its Play Store because that’s where it can provide the best security and oversight, it says.
Google has faced various antitrust charges outside the US, including fines and suits in India and in the UK in past months.
The Korean watchdog disclosed internal memos, documents and e-mails from Google employees, alleging that the US firm saw the entry of One Store as a threat to its Korean sales and proceeded with a strategy to shut out its rival, even while it was aware its practices were anti-competitive.
The FTC ordered Google LLC, Google Korea and Google Asia Pacific to launch an internal monitoring system and report to the regulator for follow-ups.
Both Google’s Play Store and One Store generate more than 90% of sales in Korea from selling games, the FTC said. Google held about 80% to 95% market share in the mobile Android app market in Korea between 2014 and 2019, it said.
One Store is a local platform created by Korea’s three telecom companies — SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp. — and the internet firm Naver Corp. One Store is preparing an initial public offering and is seeking a valuation of $833 million, according to Hyun-Joon Hwang, analyst at DB Financial Investment. – BLOOMBERG
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