SAMSUNG ACTIVEWASH GAINS TRACTION -- Samsung Electronics said Monday that sales of its Activewash top-load washing machine, featuring a plastic built-in sink on top for hand-washing fragile items, has surpassed the 2-million mark since its launch in February 2015. The company said the washer was sold every 20 seconds -- the fastest sales pace among Samsung washing machines -- in 33 countries, including Korea and the U.S. 　(Samsung Electronics)

월드 오브 워크래프트, 스타크래프트 등 의 게임으로 한국에 널리 알려진 블리자드 게임사의 CEO 마이클 모하임이 구글의 인공지능과 인간의 스타크래프트 대결에서 당분간은 인간이 유리할 것이라고 말했다. 모하임 블리자드 CEO는 1일 서울 방이동 올림픽공원 내 올림픽홀에서 열린 히어로즈 오브 더 스톰 월드챔피언십 스프링 개막식후 기자들과 가진 인터뷰에서 “스타크래프트 프로게이머의 전략적인 깊이는 실로 엄청나며, 개인적인 생각으로 컴퓨터가 그런 전략을 따라 하기는 쉽지 않을 것”이라고 말했다. 사실상 실제로 인간대 인공지능의 스타크래프트 경기가 펼쳐진다면 인간이 승리할 것이라고 예상 한 것 이다.알파고와 인간의 제2의 대결이 눈앞으로 다가왔다. (유튜브)하지만 모하임 CEO는 인공지능의 엄청난 컴퓨팅 능력으로 스타크래프트 프로게이머를 결국 뛰어 넘을 수 밖에 없다고 말했다.컴퓨터의 흔들리지 않는 냉철함과 체력은 인간이 뛰어 넘지 못 할 넘사벽과 같은 것이라고 모하임 CEO도 인정 한 것이

Korea’s leading network operator KT Corp. said Friday that it would beef up its partnership with China Mobile for the next-generation network 5G and connected network services.“Global cooperation is especially important to have future telecom technologies in place,” said KT chief executive Hwang Chang-gyu at a workshop held at the head office of China Mobile on Thursday.  KT CEO Hwang Chang-gyu (left) poses with China Mobile chairman Shang Bing after a meeting in Beijing on Thursday. (KT)Hwang m

WEBTOON AWARD -- The winners of the second World Comics Contest, an annual online comics competition organized by Lezhin Entertainment, pose at the award ceremony held in Seoul on Friday. Cash prizes, worth 150 million won ($130,000), were awarded to 12 or webtoons, including “Killing Stalking,” “Pandora’s Choice” “Maison de Maid” and “Royal Servant.” (Lezhin Entertainment)WEBTOON AWARD -- The award ceremony of the second World Comics Contest, an annual online comics competition organized by Lez

Following the historic Go match last month, which ended in a 4-1 victory for the artificial intelligence software AlphaGo, the AI software’s developer Google DeepMind has said that its next target could be real-time strategy game StarCraft. Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime (right) takes part in a media interview in Seoul, Friday. (Kim Young-won/The Korea Herald) Over the past weeks, top officials from DeepMind, an

Korean electric component maker LG Innotek has unveiled its new wireless charging modules with a charging speed that is three times as fast as its conventional peers. LG Innotek’s new modules are capable of delivering 15 watts of output power, the same as wired charging modules. But they can be charged three times faster than existing 5-watt wireless charging modules.  A model poses with a wireless smartphone charger pad installed with LG Innotek’s 15-watt power-receiving modules. (LG Innotek)Th

Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi on Thursday pledged to expand its presence in Korea by offering a wider variety of products. At a media event in Seoul on Thursday, the company showcased a diverse lineup that included flat and curved ultra-high definition TVs, a water dispenser, self-balancing electric scooter NineBot, air purifiers, and fitness bands. Lee Joon-sok, the chief executive of KomaTrade, one of the official Korean sales partners of Xiaomi, speaks at a press event in Seoul on Thursday.

G5 HITS STORES -- Korea’s three main mobile carriers, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, started selling LG Electronics’ G5 marquee smartphone in Seoul on Thursday. (LG Uplus)

Fridges are not just for storing food anymore. They now have features that allow consumers to order groceries online, watch TV shows and listen to music. 　Samsung Electronics released Wednesday a top-of-the-line refrigerator, called Family Hub, which has features that include voice control, screen mirroring and digital payment for online shopping. Samsung Electronics’ home appliance chief Seo Byung-sam poses with the firm’s Family Hub refrigerator, which features a 21.5-inch touch screen, in Seo

샤오미의 한국 시장에서의 행보가 거침이 없다. 내일(31일)로 예정되어 있는 샤오미 공식 신제품 출시 행사에서 샤오미는 공기청정기, 커브드 UHD TV를 한국 시장에 선보일 예정이다. 이런 가운데 샤오미의 한국 모바일 시장 공략을 위한 노력이 가속화되고 있는 모습이 포착되었다. 한국에 “샤오미 페이”라는 이름으로 상표 출원 신청을 한 것이다.중국 샤오미 사의 스마트폰. (연합)최근 샤오미가 출시 예정인 Mi5 스마트폰에 NFC 기능을 탑재한 것으로 알려졌었고, 이 NFC기능이 샤오미 페이를 위한 것이라는 의견이 설득력을 얻고 있다.샤오미의 Mi 스마트폰 모델 뿐만 아니라 샤오미 페이, 혹은 미페이(Mi Pay), 의 한국 시장 진출에 대하 소식은 꾸준히 제기되어 왔다. 올해 초 KT의 유통 자회사인 KTM&S가 인터파크가 프로모션 제휴를 통해 홍미노트3를 10만원 이하의 가격으로 판매를 시도했으나, 국내 단통법 위반 가능성으로 인해 판매를 철회 하기도 했다.단말기 가격이 터무니 없이

Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi is ramping up efforts to infiltrate the Korean market, the home turf of tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.Xiaomi’s budget air purifiers and ultra-high definition TVs are poised to hit the domestic market this week. The Chinese company has also filed a patent for its mobile payment service Xiaomi Pay -- also known as Mi Pay -- in Korea. Lei Jun, the chief executive of Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi. (Yonhap)There is speculation that Xiaomi’s upcom

LG G5 HITS KOREAN MARKET -- LG Electronics said Wednesday that its flagship smartphone G5 will soon hit 200 global markets, starting from Korea on Thursday. LG’s first modular phone, priced the same as Samsung Electronics’ 32-gigabyte Galaxy S7 at 836,000 won ($723), is compatible with the LG Friends lineup that includes a 360-degree camera and a portable audio system. (LGE)

SAMSUNG PAY HITS CHINESE MARKET -- Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that it has rolled out mobile payment solution Samsung Pay, currently available on premium Galaxy handsets including Galaxy S6 and Note 5, in the Chinese market. The mobile payment solution supports credit and debit cards issued by nine Chinese banks including China CITIC Bank, China Construction Bank, and China Everbright Bank. (Samsung Electronics)