Alibaba’s Transformation Beyond E-Commerce

When people think of Alibaba, the first image that comes to mind is usually its e-commerce empire—TaoBao, Tmall, and a sprawling online retail network. But today, the Hangzhou-based company is pushing hard into new territory, proving it doesn’t want to remain “just” China’s version of Amazon.

Alibaba’s stock has soared nearly 60% this year, not because of online shopping, but because of its fast-growing cloud computing and artificial intelligence ventures. This shift echoes the playbooks of U.S. tech heavyweights like Amazon and Nvidia, showing how Alibaba is positioning itself to lead China’s digital economy on multiple fronts.

Cloud Computing: The Growth Engine

Cloud technology has become the centerpiece of Alibaba’s evolution. In its latest quarterly earnings, the company reported 26% year-over-year sales growth in its cloud computing unit. Even more impressive is the surge in its AI-related products, which maintained triple-digit annual growth.

Alibaba’s in-house Qwen AI model consistently ranks among the world’s strongest language models, attracting clients across industries. Whether businesses use Alibaba’s own AI tools or simply rent its cloud infrastructure to run third-party models, the company profits either way. Analysts now see Alibaba as the clear cloud leader within China, with an ecosystem strong enough to rival global competitors.

Stepping Into Chip Design

Alibaba isn’t stopping at cloud services. According to recent reports, the company is also making strides in designing AI-optimized chips. While it has developed chips before, the new generation is expected to handle a much wider range of AI inference tasks, making them more practical for broad adoption.

Though these chips lag behind the cutting-edge hardware from Nvidia, they could fill an important gap. With the U.S. restricting exports of advanced chips to China, Alibaba’s designs may become essential alternatives for domestic firms. Unlike Huawei’s more closed systems, Alibaba’s chips are reportedly more compatible with programs initially built for Nvidia, giving developers greater flexibility.

This move places Alibaba in the same conversation as global semiconductor players—a bold step for a company once best known for online shopping.

E-Commerce Still Matters—But With Challenges

While AI and cloud dominate the headlines, Alibaba’s core business still generates just under 60% of its total revenue. In the last quarter, e-commerce sales grew 10% year-over-year, reaching 19.6 billion yuan.

However, not every segment is thriving. Food delivery, operating under TaoBao Instant Commerce, continues to struggle. Facing fierce competition from rivals like Meituan and JD.com, the division remains unprofitable as it battles for users with aggressive pricing strategies.

This highlights the contrast in Alibaba’s operations: its AI and cloud bets are fueling investor optimism, while some traditional commerce units remain in a tough fight.

How to Extend Your iPhone Battery Life: Proven Tips for 2025

Nothing’s worse than your iPhone running out of power halfway through the day. Whether you’re on the latest iPhone 15 or using an older model, battery life can make or break your daily routine. Thankfully, Apple has built-in tools and settings that help you maximize iPhone battery life—and with a few smart habits, you can stretch each charge much further.

Here are the most effective strategies to keep your iPhone powered longer in 2025.

1. Turn On Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is the simplest way to save energy. It reduces background activity, mail fetch, automatic downloads, and some visual effects. You can enable it quickly from Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode, or add it to Control Center for one-tap access.

2. Adjust Screen Brightness and Auto-Lock

The display is one of the biggest battery drainers. Lowering your brightness and enabling Auto-Brightness helps your iPhone adapt to lighting conditions automatically. Also, set your Auto-Lock to 30 seconds or 1 minute so your screen doesn’t stay on longer than needed.

3. Use Dark Mode

If your iPhone has an OLED display (iPhone X and later), Dark Mode saves energy by turning off pixels in darker areas of the screen. Not only does it look sleek, but it also improves battery performance over time.

4. Manage Background App Refresh

Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and turn it off for apps that don’t need constant updates. Social media apps are usually the biggest culprits here, and limiting them will instantly give you more standby time.

5. Update to the Latest iOS

Apple frequently optimizes battery performance through iOS updates. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest software under Settings → General → Software Update.

6. Limit Location Services

GPS can drain your battery quickly. Head to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services and change unnecessary apps to “While Using the App” or “Never.” This ensures only essential apps like Maps use your location in the background.

7. Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Apple recommends keeping your iPhone between 0°–35°C (32°–95°F). Cold or hot environments can cause your battery to drain faster or even degrade long-term performance.

8. Monitor Battery Health

In Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging, you can check your Maximum Capacity and enable Optimized Battery Charging. This feature reduces wear on your battery by learning your daily charging habits and slowing down charging past 80% until you need it.

9. Use Wi-Fi Over Cellular Data

Whenever possible, connect to Wi-Fi instead of cellular data. Cellular connections use more power, especially in areas with weak signals.

10. Close Power-Hungry Apps and Widgets

Widgets like weather updates and apps running AR or 3D features can drain extra energy. Keep your Home Screen clean and limit background activity for apps you rarely use.

How to Spot Fake Apps on Google Play: Essential Tips to Stay Safe

Google Play is home to millions of apps, from productivity tools to games. But hidden among these are fake apps designed to trick users, steal data, or flood devices with ads. While Google regularly removes suspicious apps, new ones still slip through the cracks every day. Knowing how to spot them can help you protect your privacy and avoid security risks.

Here are the key signs that an app might be fake — and how you can protect yourself before hitting that “Install” button.

1. Check the App Developer’s Name

Legitimate apps come from trusted developers. Fake apps often use names similar to well-known brands (e.g., “WhatsUp” instead of WhatsApp). Always tap on the developer’s profile to see if they have published other reputable apps.

👉 Pro Tip: If a developer only has one app with very few downloads, that’s a red flag.

2. Read Reviews Carefully

Fraudulent apps often have reviews that look suspiciously repetitive or generic (“Great app,” “Nice,” “Works well”). At the same time, you might notice negative reviews calling it fake, glitchy, or unsafe.

Look for detailed, authentic reviews with specific feedback rather than vague one-liners.

3. Examine the App Icon and Screenshots

Fake apps often use blurry logos or poorly designed icons. Screenshots may look unprofessional, stretched, or copied from other apps. If something looks “off” compared to what you expect, trust your instincts.

4. Pay Attention to Download Numbers

Legit apps from big brands usually have millions of downloads. If you find a “Facebook” or “Netflix” app with only a few thousand installs, it’s likely a fake.

5. Check App Permissions

Before installing, review the permissions the app requests. If a calculator app wants access to your contacts, location, or microphone, that’s a major warning sign.

6. Verify the App’s Release Date

New apps aren’t always bad, but scammers often publish fake apps that pop up quickly and disappear after being reported. Check if the app is brand new and whether it has an established update history.

7. Use Google Play Protect

Google offers Play Protect, a built-in tool that scans apps for malware. Make sure it’s enabled on your device by going to:
Play Store → Profile Icon → Play Protect → Settings.

Extra Tips to Stay Safe

• Stick to official links. If you’re downloading an app from a well-known brand, go to their official website and follow the link to the Play Store.
• Update your device regularly. Security updates can help block malware from fake apps.
• Avoid third-party app stores. Many fake apps circulate outside of Google Play, where security checks are weaker.

Why Fake Apps Are Dangerous

Installing a fake app can do more than waste storage space. Many are designed to:

• Steal personal information like logins or banking details.
• Inject malware that slows down your device.
• Flood you with intrusive ads or phishing links.

This makes it critical to stay vigilant whenever you install something new.