In 2023, the 9th issue of Qiushi magazine published the important article "Speech at the Education Conference on Studying and Implementing the Theme of Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era of the Supreme Leader" by General Secretary of the Supreme Leader. The article points out that the party’s theoretical armed work can’t be formal, but must continue to go deeper and deeper. today，Dangjian. comCombing some important related expositions of the Supreme Leader General Secretary, I invite you to study and comprehend together.

　　The party’s theoretical armed work can’t be formal, but must continue to go deeper and deeper.

　　If we want to win the advantage, win the initiative, win the future, and overcome all kinds of obstacles and stumbling blocks on the way forward, we must take Marxism as an expert, think about and grasp a series of major problems facing future development with a broader vision and a longer-term vision, and constantly improve the ability of the whole party to use Marxism to analyze and solve practical problems, and constantly improve the ability to use scientific theories to guide us to deal with major challenges, resist major risks, overcome major obstacles and solve major contradictions.

　　— — On September 29, 2017, the Supreme Leader delivered a speech at the 43rd collective study in the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

　　Theoretical accomplishment is the core of leading cadres’ comprehensive quality, theoretical maturity is the basis of political maturity, and political firmness stems from theoretical sobriety. For leading cadres, the more firmly they master Marxism, the higher their political position, the stronger their political judgment, political understanding and political execution, and the more active they are in observing the current situation, planning development and preventing and resolving risks.

　　— — On March 1, 2023, the supreme leader’s speech at the celebration meeting of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Central Party School and the opening ceremony of the spring semester in 2023 is still an arduous task. On the one hand, there are still some problems that need to be paid attention to in terms of learning, believing and using, learning and understanding. Some party member and cadres are not interested in theoretical study, so they can’t learn, and they learn to go through the formalities; Some studies are not systematic and in-depth, with a little knowledge and a little taste, but they don’t know why; Some of them are divorced from learning and application, and they are not good at translating their learning results into the practical skills of entrepreneurs, and so on. These problems show that the party’s theoretical armed work can’t be formal, and it must continue to go deeper and deeper.

　　— — The Supreme Leader’s Important Article "Speech at the Education Work Conference on Studying and Implementing the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era"

　　Take systematically mastering the basic theory of Marxism as an ace in the hole.

　　To cultivate a "indestructible body", we must arm our minds with scientific theories and constantly cultivate our spiritual home. For leading cadres, especially senior cadres, it is necessary to systematically master the basic theory of Marxism as an ace in the hole. Wang Guowei, a famous scholar, discusses that there are three realms of scholarship: first, "last night, the west wind withered the green trees, and I went up to the tall building alone and looked at the end of the world"; Second, "I will not regret the gradual widening of my belt, and I will be haggard for Iraq"; Third, "the crowd looked for him for thousands of Baidu, and suddenly looked back, but the man was in the dim light." Leading cadres’ learning theory should also have these three realms. First of all, theoretical study should have the lofty pursuit of "looking to the end of the world", endure the coldness of "the west wind withered the green trees last night" and the loneliness of "being alone in a tall building", and settle down and study hard; Secondly, we should study hard, study hard, work hard, and work hard, even if our clothes are getting wider, we will never regret it, and we will be willing to be haggard. Thirdly, it is important for theoretical learning to think independently, combine learning with application, learn something, use something, and "look for him in the crowd" in learning and practice, and finally "suddenly look back".Understand the true meaning in the "dim light".

　　— — Speech by the Supreme Leader at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work on August 19, 2013

　　In theoretical study, first, we should take the initiative to learn. The central and state organs have heavy responsibilities and complicated tasks, so it is not enough to concentrate on study only during working hours. We must strengthen our study consciousness, enhance our endogenous motivation to study and study hard in our spare time. Every inch of baht accumulates, and it will be a month, so that it can come naturally and be integrated. The second is to follow up the study in time. When the CPC Central Committee makes new decisions and plans and issues new documents, it must learn and understand them at the first time, form the habit of reading current political reports and important comments of People’s Daily, watching CCTV news broadcast and reading Qiushi magazine, and learn online and offline synchronously, so as to follow up on learning, understanding and action. The third is to connect with practical learning. Carry forward the style of study of integrating theory with practice, closely integrate thoughts with work practice, and take studying and solving problems as the focus of study, and never sit and talk about the Tao and empty the air. The fourth is to believe in learning. We should learn and believe, change from gradual realization to epiphany, master Marxist standpoint, viewpoint and method, learn firm belief and learn mission responsibility. We must learn and act, apply what we have learned and practice, and implement the learning results to do our job well and promote career development.

　　— — On July 9, 2019, the Supreme Leader delivered a speech at the Party Building Work Conference of the Central and State Organs.

　　Insist on reading the original text to understand the principle, think more, learn deeply and thoroughly, and comprehensively study and understand the scientific system, essence and practical requirements of Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, so as to achieve overall grasp and mastery.

　　— — The Supreme Leader’s Important Article "Speech at the Education Work Conference on Studying and Implementing the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era"

　　The purpose of studying Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era lies in its application.

　　Leading cadres should strengthen their theoretical cultivation, thoroughly study the basic theories of Marxism, learn to understand and implement Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, master the dialectical materialist world outlook and methodology that runs through it, improve their abilities of strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, innovative thinking, rule of law thinking and bottom line thinking, be good at grasping laws from complicated contradictions, and constantly accumulate experience and increase their talents.

　　— — On January 21, 2019, the top leader delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels on adhering to the bottom line thinking and focusing on preventing and resolving major risks. The purpose of learning Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era is to apply it and turn it into a powerful ideological weapon to transform the subjective world and the objective world. In this theme education, party member and cadres, especially leading cadres at all levels, should take the initiative to put their thoughts into it, learn and master a series of requirements of the party’s innovation theory on strengthening ideals and beliefs, enhancing ideological realm and strengthening party spirit training, including Do not forget your initiative mind, keeping in mind the mission, keeping in mind "the country is the biggest", improving political judgment, political understanding, political execution, "three strictness and three realities", being loyal and clean, being pragmatic and honest for the people, and so on, and always maintain it. In particular, we should turn the world outlook, methodology and standpoint and method running through this thought into our own ideological weapon, internalizing it in our hearts and externalizing it in our actions. 　　— — On March 30th, 2023, the Supreme Leader’s speech at the fourth collective study in the Political Bureau of the Central Committee should consciously practice Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era, so as to transform the objective world, promote career development, observe the times, grasp the times, lead the times, actively adapt to changes, solve various contradictions in economic and social development and party building, and prevent and resolve major risks.Promote Chinese modernization and make new progress and breakthroughs. 　　— — The Supreme Leader’s Important Article "Speech at the Education Work Conference on Studying and Implementing the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era"

Every reporter Jing Wong, every editor Zhang Haini　　　　

Today (September 20), four iPhone 16 series models that have received much attention are officially released. Before 9: 00 a.m., the reporter of national business daily came to the Apple Direct Store in Shenzhen Yitian Holiday Plaza. With the increase of people’s flow, the staff were putting up more black fences for queuing, and the store was also very lively. In addition to taking the "fruit powder" of the new machine, there were some consumers who came to experience the new machine.

According to the staff of Apple Store, consumers who make an appointment in advance can enter the store to get a new machine. There is no iPhone 16 Pro /Pro Max in stock in the store, but iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus can be purchased directly.

"iPhone 16 Pro Max increases the price by 300 ~ recycling around 400 yuan." The reporter noticed several "scalpers" who were trading at the scene. They carried more than a dozen apple shopping bags. When they saw the users who got the new machine from the Apple store, they would take the initiative to ask about recycling the new machine. It is reported that the vast majority of "scalpers" mainly compete for the iPhone 16 Pro Max version, especially the 256G memory version.

As for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, "scalpers" don’t accept the goods, and most iPhone 16 Pro are recycled at the original price or increased by 30~50 yuan. In fact, at present, many e-commerce platforms have set off a round of subsidy wars, especially in Pinduoduo. The starting price of iPhone 16 in official website starts at 5,999 yuan, and Pinduoduo goes straight to 600 yuan; IPhone 16 Plus(512GB) started at 9999 yuan in official website, and was subsidized by Pinduoduo, which saved 1000 yuan. This also caused the two models to be "broken" (referring to the situation that the secondary market price fell below the selling price) before they were officially released.

At 8: 00 pm on September 13th, Apple’s iPhone 16 series models officially opened for pre-sale, and many "fruit powders" rushed to Apple’s official website at the first time. At the same time of the first batch of new machines "Secondlight", "Apple official website collapsed" also rushed to Weibo for hot search.

National business daily reporter noted that the current delivery date for ordering iPhone 16/16 Plus from Apple official website is September 23; IPhone 16 Pro is October 11th; Pro Max has the longest delivery date, from October 11th to October 18th. It is worth noting that the delivery date of the best-selling iPhone 15 Pro Max last year was extended to November 14 to November 21, which means that consumers have to wait for about two months after placing an order, which may mean that some users have less demand for the latest iPhone Pro model.

The reporter randomly asked several "scalpers" at the scene as consumers who bought new machines, and learned that according to the color and memory of specific models, iPhone 16 Pro Max is generally recycled at a premium of 300~400 yuan, while it is sold at a premium of 800~1000 yuan. In other words, the "scalper" can earn a net difference of several hundred yuan by selling a mobile phone.

An online seller said, "iPhone 16 Pro has increased less this year, but Pro Max is still increasing the price, but it may reduce the price quickly. It is estimated that it will be sold by adding a few hundred yuan in the afternoon."

Unlike last year, consumers generally pursued large memory, which led to a large premium. This year, large memory is not very popular. After asking a number of "scalpers", the reporter learned that iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB is relatively more popular. In addition, when the reporter first arrived at the Apple Store, the scalper could sell this model at a premium of nearly 1,000 yuan, but after one hour, the premium has dropped to 600~700 yuan. "Pro Max version of white is more popular, there are too many gold goods, you just need to add 600 yuan." A "yellow cow" said.

In the early morning of September 10th, Apple officially released the new iPhone 16 series, which has been upgraded in appearance, image and chip. Specifically, the two models of iPhone 16/16 Plus adopt A18 chips based on the second generation 3nm process; Pro/Pro Max models use the upgraded A18 Pro chip. All four models are equipped with new camera control buttons, which can be pressed to bring up the camera application, and can be used as a shutter when taking pictures by clicking; Long press to record video; Sliding left and right can also achieve zoom and so on. In addition, this button can also be used as an "AI portal". For example, when a user holding an iPhone 16 sees a restaurant, he can take a picture of the restaurant by pressing "Camera Control", and then Apple Intelligence can automatically bring up the opening hours, evaluation, reservation and other options of the restaurant.

In this year’s conference, AI-related words such as Apple Intelligence and Machine Learning were mentioned many times, showing that Apple attaches importance to the AI field. In addition, in the face of severe economic environment and competitive pressure from China manufacturers, Apple urgently needs a catalyst to rekindle the demand in China market. At present, Apple Intelligence is the trump card in its hands. However, the time when Apple Intelligence went public in China is still uncertain, which also leads to the lower-than-expected sales of iPhone 16 Pro series.

Guo Ming, an analyst at Tianfeng International, said on social platforms a few days ago that the pre-order sales of iPhone 16 series were estimated at about 37 million units in the first weekend, which was about 12.7% lower than that of iPhone 15 series in the first weekend last year. He further said that the delivery time of the iPhone 16 Pro series was significantly lower than that of the 15 Pro series. In addition to the increase in stocking before pre-order, the key point was that the demand was lower than expected from the year-on-year decrease in sales at the first weekend.

However, Guo Ming believes that although the pre-order sales of Pro series declined year-on-year, the production plan of the supply chain will not change much in a short time, and Apple still has the opportunity to improve sales after the launch of Apple Intelligence and the subsequent peak season promotion ("double 11"). However, if the Apple Intelligence launched in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the peak season promotion have limited help to the iPhone 16 series shipments, I believe that Apple will adopt a more radical product strategy in 2025 to boost demand.

It is worth mentioning that,Huawei’s first three-fold mobile phone Mate XT extraordinary master is not only released at the same time as the iPhone 16 series, but also the product release date is on the same day — — At 10: 08 am on September 20th, the three-fold product was officially put on sale. After the start of snapping up, all the models of Mate XT Extraordinary Masters have disappeared in an instant. At present, the official website channel has been out of stock.

Although the two product categories are completely different, the competition is full of gunpowder. Up to now, Huawei Mall shows that the number of reservations for this product has exceeded 6 million. However, compared with the high premium of 60,000 ~ 100,000 yuan before the release, the price of this product has dropped on the salted fish e-commerce platform.

On September 10th, at Huawei’s new product launch conference, Yu Chengdong, managing director of Huawei and chairman of BG, launched the world’s first three-folding screen mobile phone, which can reach a 10.2-inch screen in the state of 30% folding and as thin as 3.6 mm in the state of unfolding. He said: "We always had a dream to put the tablet in our pocket, and today we realized it. However, in terms of technology, it has been struggling for five years. For the first time, the hinge system realized internal and external bending, external folding and anti-stretching, and internal folding and anti-extrusion, which solved the problem of mass production. "

Counterpoint Research recently released a tracking report on the shipment of folding screen smartphones, saying that the global shipment of folding screen smartphones increased by 48% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, and China continued to lead the growth of the folding screen mobile phone market, accounting for more than half of the total shipments. The folding screen market, once dominated almost entirely by Samsung, has now become a fierce competitive battlefield among mobile phone brand manufacturers. The agency also said that despite fierce competition in the market, Huawei still ranked first in the market share of folding screen mobile phones in China in 2023, accounting for 39%.

Judging from the PK of the two major brands, the high price of Huawei Mate XT’s extraordinary master, which is close to 20,000 yuan, is destined to be "early adopters" by a small number of users at the initial stage of sale, but Huawei, which has made drastic innovations, has won the market in terms of sound volume, while Apple’s new hardware product release is more about evolution than revolution.

In fact, in the past quarter, the sales of iPhone in China market dropped by 6.5%, and in response to the competition from local competitors such as Huawei, Apple also offered a greater discount — — In May this year, some models were offered a discount of up to 2,300 yuan. Today, AI is highly anticipated, but to what extent it can boost Apple’s sales still needs further observation.

Nabila Popal, research director of IDC, believes that although Apple’s mobile phone containing Apple Intelligence has many bright spots this year, it is difficult for new products to bring too much growth because its Apple Intelligence does not have complete language support. Its impact is more about preventing apple from declining. At the same time, Apple also faces competition, especially from China market, such as Huawei.

Ryan Reith, another analyst at IDC, holds the same view. "Consumers will pay attention to Apple Intelligence, but today there are GPT and various other solutions. Consumers can use AI on their current (other) devices, so it is difficult for Apple Intelligence to directly drive new consumers to buy." At the same time, he also pointed out that the global macro-economy is not very good. Even if we rely on the efforts of suppliers to promote and sell some expensive devices (whether AI mobile phones or AIPC), the development of the AI ? ? smartphone market is still very challenging without promotion and substantial discounts.

However, some institutions are optimistic. Jibang Consulting predicts that the market’s expectation for Apple Intelligence will heat up, and with the low base period in 2023, it is estimated that the total output of four new Apple iPhone 16 series machines will reach 86.7 million units in the second half of 2024, with an annual increase of nearly 8%. It is not ruled out that Apple has the opportunity to surpass Samsung at the end of the year and become the first in the market share of smartphone production in the whole year for the first time.

Cover Image Source: Every photo by reporter Jing Wong