Anker Innovations
 | |
Native name | 安克 (Ānkè) |
|---|---|
| Formerly | Oceanwing |
| Company type | Public |
| SZSE: 300866 | |
| Industry | Electronics |
| Founded | September 2011 |
| Founder | Steven Yang |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | |
| Brands |
|
| Website | anker.com |
Anker Innovations Co., Ltd,[a] commonly known as Anker,[b] is a Chinese electronics manufacturer based in Changsha, Hunan, China. The company's product range includes phone chargers, power banks, earbuds, headphones, speakers, data hubs, 3D printers, charging cables, torches (flashlights), and screen protectors, among other products.
History
[edit]Anker was founded in 2011 by Steven Yang in Shenzhen, Guangdong, but the company soon moved its headquarters to Changsha, Hunan. In 2011, Anker expanded its focus from replacement laptop batteries to smartphone battery chargers, wall chargers, portable power and conferencing gear.[3] In early 2014, Anker Innovations hired Zhao Dongping, Google's then-head of sales in China,[3] who eventually became president in 2020.[4]
Availability
[edit]Aside from its domestic market in China, Anker also maintains subsidiaries in Japan, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Prior to 2016, Anker products were almost exclusively sold on Amazon Marketplace and Newegg. Anker products are also now sold in big box stores such as Best Buy, Target and Kohl's. They are also available on various other e-commerce websites such as Shopee, Amazon, eBay and other third-party websites in agreement with Anker.[5]
Brands and products
[edit]Anker is a well-known company that produces a variety of electronic accessories. Under its Bolder sub-brand, Anker offers products like power banks, charging cables, wall adapters, power strips, USB hubs, and even torches. In addition to these, Anker has a brand called Soundcore, which specializes in Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, and speakers. Another brand under Anker is Eufy, which focuses on smart home devices and security products. They also have Nebula, which creates portable video projectors, and Roav, which makes accessories for cars. Zolo was an earlier brand that eventually led to the creation of Soundcore, while KARAPAX is known for making phone cases.
Anker's charging cables are branded as PowerLine, with the newest version being PowerLine III. These cables are certified by Apple with the MFi (Made for iPhone) label, ensuring that they meet Apple's standards for quality and compatibility. This certification is important for users who want to make sure their devices charge safely and efficiently. The PowerLine cables are designed to be durable and reliable, making them a popular choice among consumers who need dependable charging solutions.
In addition to their other products, Anker has ventured into the world of 3D printing with their AnkerMake brand. They currently offer two models of 3D printers: the M5 and the M5C. The M5 was the first printer they developed and gained attention after being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. This shows how Anker is not just focused on traditional electronics but is also exploring innovative technologies like 3D printing, which allows users to create their own objects and designs at home.
Controversies
[edit]One of Anker's sub-brands, Eufy, claimed that all data recorded by their webcams was stored locally with no cloud access and further claimed that only the owner had access to their data. However, security researcher Paul Moore found out that images and videos were uploaded to Eufy's servers leased through AWS. Additionally, these images were tagged with user data. Even after deleting the images and his Eufy account, Moore found that the images remained on Eufy's AWS servers.[6][7][8][9][10] This led to several sponsored entities, such as Linus Tech Tips, dropping Anker as a sponsor.[11] In December 2022, The Verge reported that Eufy had drastically changed its 'privacy commitment' page, removing many of their previous statements on the privacy aspects of its cameras.[12]
Gallery
[edit]-
Anker PowerPort, a fast USB charger with 5 ports -
Anker Astro, a mobile battery charger introduced in 2011 -
An Anker SoundCore interactive speaker display -
Anker PowerConf S500 Speakerphone -
AnkerMake M5C
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Si, Ma (2019-05-27). "Making simple devices the best technology". China Daily. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ Sin, Ben (2018-08-01). "Best Known For Portable Chargers, Shenzhen's Anker Has Ambitious Expansion Plans". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ^ a b Statt, Nick (2017-05-22). "How Anker is beating Apple and Samsung at their own accessory game". The Verge. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
- ^ Patel, Nilay (2021-11-09). "Why charging phones is such a complex business, with Anker CEO Steven Yang". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
For me, there is really no difference because we have a president, Zhao Dongping, who handles all the reporting and so on and so forth.
- ^ "Anker Official Store". shopee.sg. Shopee Singapore. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- ^ Purdy, Kevin (2022-11-30). "Eufy's "No clouds" cameras upload facial thumbnails to AWS". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ Kerns, Taylor (2022-12-06). "Eufy Security app adds cloud disclaimer it should have had all along". Android Police. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "Why Review Geek Can't Recommend Wyze or eufy Cameras Anymore – Review Geek". www.reviewgeek.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ Schoon, Ben (2022-12-01). "Eufy caught lying about local-only security cameras with footage sent to cloud, accessible in unencrypted streams [U]". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "Eufy responds to camera security concerns". ZDNET. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ Sebastian, Linus (November 29, 2022). "WATCH: Why we're dropping this sponsor" (video). youtube.com. LMG Clips.
- ^ Hollister, Sean (2022-12-16). "Anker's Eufy deleted these 10 privacy promises instead of answering our questions". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
