How to Use Git in VSCode

Prerequisites

  • A Computer with Visual Studio Code and Git Installed
  • A GitHub account with a repository to work with.

Github Repository Cloning

A private repository called junecastillote/demo will be used in this example. However, you can use your repository. If you do not yet have a repository, please see the Creating a new repository doc on GitHub to learn how to set one up.

Follow the steps below to clone a GitHub repository in Visual Studio Code.

To begin, press the CTRL+SHIFT+G keyboard shortcut or click the Source Control view button. Then, select the Clone Repository option. Then, click Clone from GitHub, and you’ll be asked to authorize a sign-in attempt. Allow should be clicked.

When authorization is complete, you will be presented with a status page similar to the one shown below. If you are prompted that the site is attempting to launch Visual Studio Code, click Open.

When you return to the VS Code window, you can either search for the repository name or select the repository name to clone. In the following example, the repository junecastillote/demo was searched for and then selected.

After selecting the repository to clone, you will be prompted to specify the location of the repository on your computer. Select Repository Location after specifying the destination folder.

To log in, the GitHub Login window will appear, and you will need to enter your GitHub credentials.

After you finish logging in, VS Code will clone the remote repository to your computer. As shown in the screenshot below, once the cloning is complete, you will receive a notification at the bottom right of the VS Code window. Depending on your preferences, you can now click either Open or Open in New Window.

The contents of the cloned GitHub repository are now loaded in VS Code, as shown in the screenshot below. You can now begin making changes to your repository.

Staging, Committing and Pushing Changes to GitHub

Continuing with your Visual Studio Code GitHub setup, VS Code is already configured to use Git and work with your GitHub repository at this point. In addition, a repository was cloned in the previous section, indicating that everything is in working order. But you’re not done yet.

The next step is to see if the changes you made to your cloned repository can be successfully pushed to your remote GitHub repository.

Adding and Modifying Files

Using the cloned repository from the previous section, the file README.MD is edited to add a new line, as shown below.

Next, press CTRL+N or go to File —> New File to add a new file to the workspace. The new file in this example is called demo.ps1. Save the file after editing it to add content.

The new file you created will be marked with a U, which stands for untracked. Take a look at the example screenshot below

Reviewing and Staging Changes

Go to the Source Control view to examine and review the changes. You should be able to see that the two changes must be reviewed. As shown in the image below, clicking on each of the changes opens a comparison of the file’s original contents and the proposed changes.

Following your review, you must either discard or stage the changes to the files.

You have the option of discarding or staging each file’s changes. By selecting the discard () or stage (+) icon next to the filename.

You can also stage or discard all changes at once by selecting the Stage All Changes or Discard All Changes menu items from the More actions (…) button. All changes in this example will be staged.

Committing Changes

Following the staging of the changes, the next step is to commit the changes to the local repository. This is the final step before committing the changes to the remote GitHub repository.

You must include a meaningful message to the commit in order to commit the changes. Enter the message that you want to include in the commit, as shown in the example below. When you’re finished editing your message, press CTRL+ENTER or click the commit (✓) button to save the changes to your local repository.

Pushing Changes to GitHub

After saving the changes to the local repository, the Source Control view should show that the number of changes has been reset to zero (0).

Finally, click on the More actions (…) button and then on Push to push the changes from the local repository to the remote repository on GitHub.

Finally, if you want to double-check that the changes were pushed to GitHub, go to your GitHub repository and look for the last update details.

References:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qdec2M4NwT0/maxresdefault.jpg

https:// adamtheautomator.com/visual-studio-code-github-setup/#Staging_Committing_and_Pushing_Changes_to_GitHub

How to Move Your Operating System to Another Hard Drive

Before we begin, I’d like to make a few important expositions. The most important thing is to ensure that your computer is free of viruses. If it contains a virus, it will be copied to your new hard drive. If your operating system is corrupt, you risk your data not being accessible or being corrupted on the copy (this isn’t always the case, but it depends on the extent of the hard drive damage).

Also, to ensure that the copy does not fail, make sure you are moving to a drive of the same size or larger. This may seem obvious, but when you’re caught up in the excitement of it all, it’s easy to overlook.

What you’ll need:

  • a USB memory stick (with no data on it or one that is expendable)
  • Perhaps an hour (depending on how big your hard drive is)
  • A backup image is saved on a storage disk (always do this – follow the instructions here)
  • Installed both hard disks
  • TuxBoot
  • CloneZilla

Prepare everything you’ll need to make the process go more smoothly. You can begin once you have installed all of the necessary programs and settings, as well as all of the necessary data. If you follow the steps below, it should go off without a hitch.

Step-by-step procedure

  1. Right-click on My Computer and select Manage from the Windows/My Computer menu. When the window opens, select Disk Management, and Windows will usually recognize that a new disk has been discovered and that it must be initialized and formatted. Click OK, then select NTFS Quick.
  2. Tuxboot and CloneZilla are free to download. CloneZilla will be used to create an image of the hard drive, and Tuxboot will be used to mount the image to the USB Flash Drive so that we can boot from it.
  3. After you’ve downloaded these applications, plug in the flash drive you’ll be using and format it clean, as we’ll be using it for CloneZilla. Right-click on My Computer and select Manage from the Windows/My Computer menu. Select the disk (making sure it’s not C: or another drive you’re using) and right-click to format it as NTFS Quick and assign a Drive Letter.
  4. Tuxboot should now be open. When Tuxboot appears, go to the bottom and select ISO, then click the button to locate the CloneZilla live.ISO file. Make sure the drive you’re mounting CloneZilla to is the USB Flash Drive once that’s done. Select OK.
  5. Restart the computer and select the USB Flash Drive as the boot device. Enter the BIOS. I’m not sure what key that is on your computer, but it’s probably F2 or DEL by default. Go to your BOOT section and manually boot off of the USB flash drive once you’ve gotten in. CloneZilla will be launched as a result of this.
  6. Choose the default CloneZilla Start option, then select your Language Keyboard, Do Not Touch KeyMap, and “Start CloneZilla Live” as the first option.

Reference

Xiaomi’s CyberDog

Xiaomi released its first range of robotic product called “Cyberdog” on August 27, 2021. Cyberdog is a quadruped robot that can move around and perform a range of different programmable actions. This trend is not new. The most notable robot dog was earlier and it is the Boston Dynamics’ “Spot”. Comparing the two robot dogs they are very similar in design, features, movement pattern, and even the placements of the camera.

While Spot costs around $75,000 for all the technology used in it, Cyberdog is cheaper. Cyberdog was made very similar to Spot but it sits for around $1540. Even it is cheaper than the other, it is a pack of powerful technologies and some of it was made by Xiaomi themselves.

QUADRUPED ROBOT

The robot dog is powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson Xavier NX AI Supercomputer for Embedded and Edge Systems which includes 384 CUDA® Cores, 48 Tensor Cores, a 6 Carmel ARM CPU, and 2 deep learning acceleration engines. Xiaomi CyberDog is paired with 128GB of near-industrial grade SSD.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE

With its in-house developed high-performance servo motor, Xiaomi CyberDog has a wide range of movements including running, jumping, turning left or right. and leaning forward. The CyberDog can also do a backflip, roll around, and stand on its hind legs. With a maximum torque output and rotation speed up to 32N·m/220Rpm, it has a maximum walking speed of 3.2m/s and a maximum payload of 3kg.

11 SENSORS

Xiaomi CyberDog is equipped with 11 high-precision sensors, including touch sensors, GPS modules, AI cameras, binocular ultra-wide cameras, and Intel’s RealSense D450 depth camera module that helps the robot achieve centimeter-scale obstacle avoidance and navigation. It also has SLAM mapping and auto-tracking. (gardensdental.com.au)

MULTIPLE CONTROL METHODS

Xiaomi CyberDog can be controlled in three ways – via the mobile phone app, voice control, and a remote control pictured below that is sold separately. Only a handful of Xiaomi phones including the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition, Redmi K40, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi 10X, and Mi MIX 2S are supported at the moment. More devices will be added in the future.

Reference
https://aibusiness.com/document.asp?doc_id=771434
https://www.giztop.com/xiaomi-cyberdog.html
https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/10/22618043/xiaomi-cyberdog-robot-dog-quadruped-specs-price

Advantage and disadvantage of push button start

How Push Button Start Works

When you unlock and start the vehicle with the keyless ignition system, you can keep the key fob in your pocket. When you exit the vehicle, it automatically turns off and locks. The antennas in the vehicle’s body detect when the key fob is on your person, so it will only start if you have the correct fob. A typical keyed backup system is also available with the keyless feature.

Advantage

Security and convenience are two advantages of a keyless system. Because a potential burglar would require your key fob to steal the vehicle, it’s considerably more difficult. It’s also more convenient because the key fob only needs to be kept in your pocket. This eliminates the need to fumble for keys or search the depths of your pockets or purse.

Rolling codes are also used by many of the systems. The key fob transmits a code, which the vehicle’s computer looks for. The vehicle will only start once the code has been found. Computer-encrypted microchips are also used in some systems. These features add even more layers of protection.

Disadvatage

There are some disadvantages to keyless systems. Anyone who has driven a car for a long period knows that parts ultimately break down or wear out. (Xanax) When this happens, you’ll have to start the car with the manual key until the system is restored.

Another drawback is that the key fob can be easily misplaced. Furthermore, if the vehicle’s engine is silent, it’s easy to get out and think it’ll shut off on its own. It doesn’t work if the key is still in the car. If this occurs in an enclosed and attached garage, carbon monoxide may leak into the house, potentially resulting in a fatal situation. Keep an eye out for your key fob to keep yourself safe.

Reference

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) ?

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Using a VPN establishes an encrypted connection (sometimes referred to as a “tunnel”) between your device and a remote server run by a VPN service. All of your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel to the server, which then forwards it to the public internet as usual. Data returning to your device follows the same path: from the internet to the VPN server, then through the encrypted connection to your machine.

Anonymous Identity Through VPN

Encrypting your traffic and routing it through a VPN server makes it more difficult, but not impossible, for observers to identify you and track your online movements. Your internet service provider (ISP) has extensive knowledge of what you do online, and thanks to Congress, your ISP can sell anonymized customer data. That means the company that charges you for internet access is profiting from your data. In 2021, the FTC issued a report outlining how much your ISP knows about what you do online, and it’s a lot. If you don’t like the idea of a company you already pay profiting from your data, or if you’re concerned about ISPs storing detailed information about your activities, a VPN can help.

VPNs also make it more difficult for advertisers and others to track your online activity. Data is normally transmitted from the internet to your device via its IP address. When you use a VPN, your true IP address is hidden, and anyone watching you can only see the VPN server’s IP address. VPNs mitigate one method of identifying and tracking you online by masking your real IP address.

Unblocking Contents and Altering Location

Streaming services may offer different content to different countries at times. Until recently, residents of the United Kingdom could watch Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix, while residents of the United States had to use Paramount+. You can connect to a remote VPN server from the comfort of your own home, perhaps to watch streaming video that is unavailable in the United States.

You can use a VPN to connect to a server in another country and spoof your location. One method for determining the location of an internet-connected machine is to look at its IP address. These addresses are geographically distributed and may be quite close to your true location at times. Your true location can be concealed by concealing your true IP address behind the IP address of a VPN server.

References:

https://sea.pcmag.com/privacy/14857/what-is-a-vpn-and-why-you-need-one

https://cdn.hswstatic.com/gif/VPN.jpg

Boost your PC’s Performance with These Useful Tips and Tricks

Technology development is very rapid. At some point, our devices will wear out soon and become slower. Older hardware won’t keep up and everyone will be forced to upgrade. This is no problem with people having huge amount of fortune but how about the ones who cannot afford such expenses?

This article will give you some useful tips to boost your device’s performance and get the most out of it.

Uninstall Unnecessary Software

Over time, our devices get loaded with lots of different applications or software. These apps even if you’re not using, still eat up system resources and leads to a slower performance. To help our device perform better, you need to know which programs are required for your computer to run properly first and which can be discarded. Then, you may remove those unnecessary application and delete related files or caches. You can also remove some bloatwares or those pre-installed applications when you first bought your computer. One of the reasons those applications slow down our devices is because they often start up automatically when our devices boot up. So, start looking for those apps that you don’t use anymore and free up some space!

Limit Startup Programs

As I mentioned before, some applications run automatically when we boot up our device. Examples are Spotify, Discord, Slack, Steam, etc. Some system processes needed for our device to run properly also run automatically during boot up (and we shouldn’t tamper with it ’cause it might lead to some big problems). Although it’s okay to have these run automatically during startup , it must be limited only depending on the processing power of the device. High-end systems may allow large number of startup applications, but a potato PC? I think not.

The easiest way to change and limit startup applications is by using Task Manager. It will list all the applications that automatically run during startup as well its startup impact. This may guide you on deciding what application will run and what won’t run during startup.

Check for Viruses and Malwares

We all know that computer viruses are such a big headache. It’s almost impossible not to pick up a virus at some point while browsing the web especially when you are just carelessly clicking links and visiting malicious websites. When a computer is infected with virus, it tends to slow down or freeze. What’s worst to happen? A severe and total damage that may cause your computer to not function anymore. So, to prevent these to happen, you must regularly check for viruses and malware inside your device and quickly remove them. Some antivirus software offer advanced protection but it comes with a price. On the other hand, there are free software that offer the same but not advanced feature. A little research can help you find the software that works within your budget or with your specific type of operating system.

Use Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation

Over time, every computer gets loaded with large number of files and programs that haven’t been used in a while. The Disk Cleanup tool will allow you to find which applications and files can be deleted from your device, freeing up storage for the programs that you will use in the future. You should also check disk defragmentation which will allow you to be aware of how much hard-drive space you have. Windows has an Optimize Drives tool, which you can access and use. There are also a number of third-party programs that can be helpful in clearing out files that you don’t use anymore.

Hardware Upgrades

If the above tips still doesn’t help your slowing device, I think this is the time to do some hardware upgrades.

When you want better performance, a startup solid-state drive (SSD) can go a long way toward taking some of the pressure off the processor when your computer boots up. If you tend to run a number of applications at one time or use photo and video editing software, then a startup drive can go a long way toward making these programs run smoother and load faster. There are cheap SSD’s in the market depending on the storage, read/write speed and brand name as well. You can find a number of SSD options that work within your budget depending on how you use your PC.

You can also add more RAM to your PC. Increasing RAM memory has been a tried-and-true way to speed up devices for years. Again, you can find number of RAM options that will work within your budget depending on your needs. But first, you must check for its compatibility before buying one.

The mentioned tips here may not be complete. There are other ways to speed up your device’s performance. Do you know some? Feel free to comment!

Sources:

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/7-ways-to-improve-computer-performance
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/12-tips-to-speed-up-windows-10

FitBit

Engineers at Northwestern University have created a new smart sensor platform for face masks that they describe as a “Fitbit for the face.”

The lightweight, quarter-sized sensor, dubbed “FaceBit,” attaches to any N95, cloth, or surgical face mask using a small magnet.

It could not only detect the user’s real-time breathing rate, heart rate, and mask wear duration, but it could also be capable of replacing time-consuming testing by monitoring mask fit. This data is then wirelessly transferred to a smartphone app, which includes a display for real-time health monitoring. When problems, such as an increased heart rate or a leak in the mask, occur unexpectedly, the app may promptly notify the user. The physiological data might potentially be utilized to forecast weariness, physical health, and emotional state.

Although the gadget is powered by a small battery, FaceBit is designed to gather energy from a number of ambient sources, including the force of the user’s breathing, motion and heat from the user’s breath, and sunlight. This increases the battery life of the sensor, allowing it to go longer between charges.

“We wanted to design an intelligent face mask for health care professionals that do not need to be inconveniently plugged in during the middle of a shift,” said Josiah Hester, who headed the gadget development at Northwestern. “We augmented the battery’s energy with energy harvesting from various sources, which means that you can wear the mask for a week or two without having to charge or replace the battery.”

The study was published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable, and Ubiquitous Technologies last week. FaceBit’s accuracy was found to be comparable to clinical-grade devices in the trial, and the battery lasted more than 11 days between charges.

Attempting to approximate the fit test

Hester and his partners initially interviewed physicians, nurses, and medical assistants to better understand their demands for smart face masks before inventing FaceBit. In a series of studies, all physicians agreed that the quality of mask fit was the most critical factor, especially when working directly with patients with viral illnesses.

Health care employees must regularly perform a 20-minute “fit test” to verify that their N95 masks are securely sealed to their faces. During this process, health care workers first put on an N95 respirator, followed by a transparent hood over their entire head. The hood is then sprayed with either sweet or bitter aerosol mists by another worker. The concentration of the aerosol within the hood is progressively raised until it can be recognized by the person wearing the respirator. The mask is not adequately sealed if the wearer tastes bitter or sweet before a specified number of aerosol pumps.

Although Hester’s FaceBit cannot yet replace this time-consuming process, which has long been a difficulty in the medical profession, it can ensure that the mask remains a correct fit between testing events. FaceBit can inform the wearer if the mask gets loose over the day or if the user bumps the mask during an activity, for example.

“If you wear a mask for 12 hours or longer, sometimes your face can become numb,” Hester explained. “You might not even realize that your mask is loose because you cannot feel it or you are too burnt out to notice. We can approximate the fit-testing process by measuring mask resistance. If we see a sudden dip in resistance, that indicates a leak has formed, and we can alert the wearer.”

“Your heart is pushing a lot of blood through the body, and the ballistic force is quite strong,” Hester said. “We were able to sense that force as the blood travels up a major artery to the face.”

FaceBit can utilize this information to advise the user to take a break, go for a walk, or take some deep breaths to calm down because stressful situations can provoke physiological reactions like fast breathing. This data might potentially be used by hospital systems to optimize shift and break plans for their employees. Because heart rate and respiration rate are so inextricably linked, being able to simply monitor both might open up new study avenues.

Future without batteries

Hester, an expert in battery-free technology, expects that his team or others will someday be able to make FaceBit totally battery-free. The wearer’s respiration and motions, as well as the sun, may now be used to increase the battery’s life. However, in the future, captured thermal and kinetic energy might be used to power the gadget entirely.

Despite the fact that his team tested the gadget on volunteers in real-world circumstances, Hester stated that FaceBit still requires clinical studies and validation. The researchers made the project open source and open hardware so that anyone may construct and test the gadget.

“FaceBit provides the first step toward practical on-face sensing and inference, and provides a sustainable, convenient, comfortable option for general health monitoring for COVID-19 frontline workers and beyond,” Hester said. “I’m really excited to hand this off to the research community to see what they can do with it.”

FaceBit: Smart Face Masks Platform was funded by the National Science Foundation’s Grants for Rapid Response Research to combat the COVID-19 epidemic (award number CNS-2032408). FaceBit was developed in partnership with Nabil Alshurafa, an associate professor of preventative medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and computer science at McCormick.

Source:
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3494991
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/01/fitbit-for-the-face-can-turn-any-face-mask-into-smart-monitoring-device/

Programming Language Used in James Webb Space Telescope

On December 25, 2021, people not only celebrated Christmas but also the successful launch of the one of the greatest invention of mankind, the James Webb Telescope.  It is the world’s largest, most powerful, and most complex space science telescope ever built according to NASA. It is expected that it will be operational 6 months after launching in the distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

Many people are wondering how such complex invention was built and how it was programmed to function millions of kilometers away from Earth. On a conference held on January 9, 2022 about the updates on James Webb Telescope, a journalist asked one of the NASA expert what programming language is used to run the James Webb Telescope. The expert said that majority of the programming language used is C++. C++ is commonly used in embedded system because it sits in between higher-level software and hardware, allowing to access and control hardware directly without sacrificing the benefits of a high-level language. It is particularly effective for hardware that will need to be around for a while, as programs written in C++ can operate for decades at a time due to the language’s high stability.

Although C++ was released 37 years ago, it is still one of the most relevant programming language due to its incredible reliability, performance, and versatility. Billions of devices and applications running today are coded in C++ so just about all programming languages, it will permanently relevant, since software never wears out.

references:

Benefits of System Integration

Convenience, Accuracy, and Coordination

The system integration process usually comprises collecting data from numerous sources and storing it in a single location. This eliminates the need to manually sync data across many platforms for long periods of time. Instead, if one subsystem alters the data, the other systems are automatically updated. As a result, real-time data availability and accessibility is one of the most significant benefits of system integration.

Because the odds of users accessing outdated data are reduced or eliminated, automatic data updating and synchronization leads to higher accuracy.

Because all subsystems have easy access to the most recent data, all users can collaborate, resulting in better team coordination. It is also easier to train users on a more simplified system. Furthermore, timely data availability improves the overall business process by allowing for speedier decision-making across all divisions. Employees will be aware of current events at all times and will take necessary action in the future.

Productivity and Efficiency

Poor performance might emerge from a divide between an organization’s multiple functions. If one subsystem alters data, the other subsystems may need to catch up by physically inserting the revised data into their respective data storage.

By eliminating the need for repetitive human data entry, an integrated system improves efficiency. Because the system automatically refreshes the central database, employees can receive accurate data for subsequent processing. This allows you to save a lot of time. Each department can focus on its own work without having to worry about remaining in sync or other departments’ activity. The resources saved can then be put to better use in the firm. As a result, system integration has two major advantages: it makes the workforce more efficient and productive.

Cost-Effectiveness

As we explained in the last section, an integrated system removes the need for repetitive tasks. As a result, important tasks can now be accomplished more quickly while using the same resources, saving money.

Multiple data stores are no longer required to hold the same data because of central storage. It may store data that is specific to each subsystem as well as categorize any overlapping data in a systematic manner. As a result, the cost of underutilized data storage space is reduced.

Another key benefit of system integration is that when you see the need for a better coordinated organization-wide software system, you don’t have to start from scratch and build a new expensive and complex system. You can also engage an expert to integrate the existing systems so that they all work together. This not only saves you money, but it also saves you time and effort spent training personnel to utilize a new system.

Performance Insights Availability

The growing number of data makes it more difficult to keep a close check on the business’s overall performance, especially when data is dispersed across different departments or subsystems. It takes time to collect and combine data, as well as to create the analytics reports that result. To guarantee that there are no anomalies, you may need to do repeated imports and exports.

With an integrated system, you have access to all essential data at all times, and the efficiency of each department can be easily determined via a central dashboard. An integrated dashboard will have access to the primary data store. It will allow you to examine relevant data when needed, making your analytical or performance reports more meaningful. By selecting the proper parameters, you may examine departmental progress or conduct a holistic analysis of the business all in one spot.

Scalability

Integrated systems now extensively rely on the cloud as a result of technical breakthroughs in data storage. A vast amount of resources are required to create a separate storage or computing platform for each subsystem. Each subsystem’s capacity must be raised independently as data volume grows.

When you have an integrated system, you don’t have to duplicate anything. All subsystems can make use of common resources as needed. You can easily request additional resources from the cloud provider if your company’s computing or storage needs expand. One of the key advantages of integration is scalability.

Security

So far, we’ve gone through the benefits of system integration. In terms of security, this might work in your favor or against you.

In isolated systems, attackers find it difficult to compromise all subsystems at once, especially if each subsystem uses a distinct level of security. Managing security for many systems, on the other hand, may be tough for you.

With a centralized system, all of your data would be equally exposed to compromise. This problem can be remedied, though, by using a more sophisticated security tool or algorithm. It would be considerably easier to handle the security of a single platform.

reference:

For the first time since 2017, smartphone shipments increased last year

Global smartphone shipments had already begun to decline ahead of 2020, despite the fact that two years of a pandemic, as well as the related supply chain and chip bottlenecks, did not assist the overall results. However, according to a pair of Counterpoint Research and IDC surveys, the industry actually enjoyed improvement last year for the first time since 2017.

The entire year-over-year growth rate, according to Counterpoint, is 4%, while IDC predicts 5.7 percent. Both corporations, however, forecast a fall in Q4, at 6% and 3.2 percent, respectively. Of course, the reduction was to be predicted given ongoing chip constraints, which have had a disproportionate effect on smaller producers with less supply chain clout than corporations like Apple and Samsung.

Both corporations ranked Samsung as the year’s top performer, with a 6% gain, and Apple as the year’s runner-up. The businesses also agree with a recent Canalys assessment that Apple won the quarter. Apple validated those sentiments with a strong quarterly profits announcement, fuelled in large part by the popularity of the iPhone.

Credits: Counterpoint Research

The iPhone segment of the corporation increased its sales by 9% year on year to $71.63 billion. CEO Tim Cook stated that supply chain restrictions remained a challenge for the company, with demand outstripping supply in some areas, but added on a conference call that he expects challenges to continue to ease in the future. Such concerns, in the end, indicate to a market that might have otherwise returned more forcefully.

“The fact that 2021 would have come in significantly higher if supply limitations had not existed adds even more positivity to the robust 5.7 percent growth we saw for 2021,” IDC research director Nabila Popal said in a release. “It conveys the message to me that there is tremendous pent-up demand in practically all regions.” Even in China, where there are some concerns about deteriorating consumer demand, the market did significantly better than projected in the fourth quarter, 5% better to be exact, but still a year-over-year drop.”

Credits: IDC

While China is severely impacted by supply chain bottlenecks, the No. 2 and No. 3 smartphone markets grew in 2021.

“Growth in the United States was mostly driven by demand for Apple’s first 5G-enabled iPhone 12 series, which persisted throughout the year, concluding on a high Q4 owing to Black Friday and Christmas season promotions,” said Counterpoint analyst Harmeet Singh Walia. “India had a successful year as well, owing to greater replacement rates, improved availability, and more appealing financing options in mid-to-high-tier phones.”

Following nearly a decade of rapid expansion, demand began to fall prior to the pandemic, owing to slowing upgrade cycles, high pricing, and market saturation. COVID-19 exacerbated the recession by making customers less ready to spend. These challenges were aggravated further by supply chain concerns, while pent-up demand and developments like 5G have reignited interest, albeit total exports remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

Sources:
https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/18/apple-returns-to-no-1-as-global-smartphone-shipments-grapple-with-supply-chain-concerns/
https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/27/apple-hits-record-revenue-as-iphone-sales-defy-supply-chain-shortages/
https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/28/smartphone-shipments-grew-last-year-for-the-first-time-since-2017/