Sales of Apple’s new iPhone 11 in China began on Friday, but were met with a cooler reception from consumers than in previous years. Unlike in previous years, no long lines were seen outside Chinese shops on Friday for the new iPhone, and the product release only made the headlines in a few media outlets.

Huawei unveiled（公布）its Mate 30 smartphone series on Thursday night. Its new devices have won consumers’ hearts at home and abroad. Many compared it with Apple’s new iPhone 11, saying that beats the new iPhone in terms of innovation and quality. One customer surnamed Zhao, an IT specialist who pre-ordered a Mate 30 Pro on Friday, said that he chose Mate 30 without hesitation. Zhao said, “It’s obvious that Huawei’s new phone with its advanced 5G mode would lead the future global telecommunications market, and its new innovative features in gesture and side control attracted my attention, too.”

In contrast with iPhone 11’s lukewarm（冷淡的）sales, Chinese netizens have engaged in discussions on Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro. An online poll on the Mate 30 and iPhone 11 on Weibo on Friday showed that more than 60 percent of netizens chose the Mate 30, while less than 20 percent chose the iPhone 11. Many chose Huawei not out of patriotism but for its technology.

Overseas consumers also engaged in vigorous（有力的）discussions on Huawei’s new flagship devices on technology sites and social media platforms. On Twitter, many netizens said “nice”, “best phone ever” and “my favorite one” on Huawei’s Twitter account. Some netizens in countries like the UK, the Netherlands and Argentina asked when Huawei’s new devices would be released in their countries.

Since I let go of my ayi before the Spring Festival, I’ve been on the look-out for a new one. My WeChat groups have recommended a Home King app, which has a more poetic Chinese name that means good health at home.

This app allows you to hire an ayi to either just clean, or cook + clean + watch kids, on a one-time basis. The sessions are four hours each and start from RMB 229. If you pay for a package of 25 sessions, it’ll cost you RMB 4,999 upfront, but ultimately comes out to less than RMB 200 per session. You can choose from a morning session from 8 a.m. to noon, or an afternoon session from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

One benefit of using the app is that they have a small army of ayis on standby and are ready to assign one to you at any time, though they do have a tendency to book out a few days in advance. Plus, once you find one that you really like, you can take note of her name and ask for her to return next time. This service also enjoys a reputation with many locals as being professional as well as friendly.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to hire an ayi through the app after you’ve downloaded it. After completing the registration, which is easiest by syncing with your WeChat account, you can choose either the blue button on the left for deep cleaning, or the orange button on the right for cooking, watching kids, and cleaning.

For instance, if you choose the deep-cleaning option on the left, on the next page click the second tab from the left. This lets you book an ayi for a single visit. Then click the button with the price on it to book your time slot (时段). Click the Buy Now button in the bottom right of the next page and click through the options until you get to the final page, where you’ll have to choose the date and time. To ensure how reliable the service is, a short message is always sent to you for confirmation.

In an era where digital innovation is reshaping every aspect of our lives. the world of reading has not been left behind. A large number of apps have appeared to meet the diverse preferences of readers, each with its unique features and large collections of content.

Media 365 is a free reading app for Android that lets you read all of the books in its library. Authors can self-publish on the Media 365 platform, but there are also a large number of popular published books available, like the Harry Potter book series.

Check out the Hoopla Digital app, another excellent app making use of your kid’s library card. It’s great for all ages, giving kids the ability to borrow free digital eBooks, audiobooks, plus music and other media available (可获得的) in your local public library. It’s no wonder it’s one of the top 15 book apps in the App Store.

ComiXology is one of the oldest and most popular services for reading comic books digitally. The ComiXology online store, now owned by Amazon, offers thousands of new and classic comic books from major publishers like Marvel, DC Comics, and Image Comics.

What makes ‘Literal: An Addictive Reader’ such a cool reading app for young people aged 10 to 19 is that it offers both classic titles along with new er books and turns the format into something Gen Z. knows well: Group Chats. Kids can read books together with their friends in a book group, which is easy to use through the Literal app.

These apps not only make reading more accessible and convenient but also enrich the reading experience with features that appeal to different people and interests. As digital technology continues to advance, these apps lead the way in changing how we find, get, and enjoy books and media. This ensures that the excitement of reading remains strong in the digital age.