The year in China tech in five simple graphics

Hardship for gaming and sharing economy firms while AI further advanced to better serve the nation’s surveillance network

Infographics

Julianna Wu

Published: 8:00pm, 31 Dec 2018

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This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Whether you’re ready or not, 2018 is coming to an end.

We could tell you about the year. But instead, let’s show you the highlights -- in graphical form.

THE YEAR IN QUOTES

Between the trade war, legal trouble for executives at Huawei and JD.com or the bicycle-sharing bubble bursting, it was a pretty tumultuous year for tech in China. Here’s what some of the industry’s biggest names had to say about the year that was.

WHERE ARE THE GAMES?

2018 has been a hard year for game makers in the world’s biggest market for games, as the government halted the game licensing process for nine months.

Ironically, winter brought an end to freeze.

THE YEAR OF SHORT VIDEO

Vine is dead. But short video is hot.

After merging with Musical.ly in August, TikTok (Douyin in China) quickly spread, bringing those one-minute-or-less videos back into the limelight. In November, it was the second most downloaded app worldwide, said Sensor Tower -- so popular that Facebook and Tencent are preparing competitors.

TikTok, the viral short video sensation, has its roots in China

SMARTPHONES ARE GETTING LESS BORING

Innovation at last? Smartphones are finally getting weird again.

Do you want a phone with multiple (three, four or even more) cameras? Or a phone with screens on both sides? Or even cooler, a foldable phone?

They may be available, they may be eye-catching, but what’s hot? Cheap phones.

THEY’RE WATCHING YOU

Scan your face to get on a plane. OK, sure.

Scan your face to play a game. Bit weirder, but I guess it makes sense.

Scan your face to get toilet paper. Wait, what?

Facial recognition is everywhere in China. But it’s not perfect. Take the woman singled our as a jaywalker -- because her picture was in an ad on the side of a bus.

“Skynet”, China’s massive video surveillance network

For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.

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