34: Chapter 34 Becoming a God of Performance

"Everyone knows that the Apple A6 chip is currently the top spec for mobile phones, featuring 32nm technology and a dual-core design by Apple itself. Tianxing Technology claims to have mastered 32nm as well. Logically, the performance of the two mobile chips should be similar, with at most a small gap in design."

The voice of a digital review uploader rang out in the video. He held a tianxing generation in one hand and an iPhone 5 in the other, while the most popular benchmarking software of 2012 sat on the table.

benchmark software and master lu were the standard benchmarks for tech enthusiasts to test performance back then.

There weren't many uploaders in this era; most did it for the love of it. It was only after Tianxing Live launched its creator incentive program that many professional reviewers emerged, and this blogger was the one with the most followers.

"Today, we're doing a real test. First up, the iPhone 5!"

He operated it skillfully, and the benchmarking numbers for the iPhone 5 jumped out:

benchmark software: 23,800 points; master lu: 24,500 points.

The blogger in front of the screen said:

"This score is considered top-tier among current mobile phones."

Next, he switched to the tianxing generation. With a tap of his finger, the benchmarking numbers soared crazily. The moment they finally settled, the blogger's eyes widened in shock:

"Holy crap! benchmark software: 98,600 points; master lu: 102,000 points! That's four times higher!"

In the video, he double-checked three times before finally stating with certainty:

"This is absolutely not a score a 32nm chip can achieve! Tianxing Technology's chip technology is definitely a generation ahead of the most advanced in the world right now!"

Once the video was released, the entire internet exploded!

Everyone knew how sensitive netizens in 2012 were regarding chips.

The Dragon Kingdom's chip industry had lagged behind for too long. This field was a money-burning pit; with a weak foundation in the early years, it had to be set aside temporarily. Later, when they wanted to catch up, America blocked them at every turn. Chips became a knot in the hearts of all Dragon Kingdom people, a regret comparable to aircraft engines.

Netizens' comments flooded all major platforms:

"Four times the benchmark score? Am I seeing this right?"

"32nm can't produce this result. Does that mean Tianxing has mastered more advanced technology?"

"Does our Dragon Kingdom finally have a chip we can show off? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"It's a chip, brothers! It's not just some random part; this is real high-tech stuff!"

"Hurry to the Tianxing official website to ask for confirmation! This must be cleared up!"

Netizens swarmed the Tianxing Technology official website to leave messages, but Chen Mo didn't respond at all.

This matter had long been a top national secret. If he hadn't known that other countries had also developed 20nm technology, he wouldn't have used this chip in the tianxing generation.

Even if he only used 32nm, with his design capabilities, surpassing the Apple A6 would have been easy.

But before netizens could dig out the truth, that night's 7 PM news broadcast actually mentioned the matter:

"Our country's Tianxing Technology has independently developed chip manufacturing technology that has reached a leading international level."

This single sentence was more effective than any evidence! Dragon Kingdom netizens were completely ecstatic!

"The news broadcast even reported it! It's confirmed, brothers!"

"66666! Tianxing Technology is so awesome it made it onto CCTV!"

"The shorter the news, the bigger the deal. There must be more to this behind the scenes!"

"We finally don't have to be held by the throat over chips anymore! I'm tearing up!"

Before the joy could pass, the next day, the world's three major chip manufacturers simultaneously issued announcements saying they had also developed 20nm chip technology.

Tianxing Technology's 'unique lead' was gone, but netizens were still incredibly excited.

Previously, they wouldn't even have dreamed of being on par with others; now, being able to stand at the same starting line was already a massive step forward!

Netizens understood the official way of doing things:

"Given our officials' temperament, if they dare to release this secret, they likely already have even more impressive technology!"

While the hype around the chips hadn't even cooled down, the launch of the iPhone 5's stock in the Dragon Kingdom completely flopped.

The Apple Fans who shouted about supporting Apple turned around and bought the tianxing generation if they had the money.

With CCTV's endorsement, crushing performance, and high aesthetic appeal, not buying it would be doing themselves a disservice.

Those without money didn't even have the right to call themselves Apple Fans. After all, the five or six thousand yuan price tag of the iPhone 5 wasn't something just anyone could handle.

Apple Inc. couldn't sit still. They were losing on the mobile front. Fortunately, the tianxing generation hadn't been sold abroad yet; otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to protect their overseas markets.

Exasperated, Apple started playing dirty:

They imposed the 'Apple Tax'!

As everyone knew:

All transactions within apps on Apple phones were subject to a flat 30% service fee!

If a user topped up 100 yuan, they would actually receive 70, while the remaining 30 went to Apple.

Previously, they hadn't dared to target Tianxing's apps. They couldn't collect from things like Fetion or banking apps, but for those they could, like Tianxing Takeout, Tianxing Live, and Qidian Novels, the fees had already begun.

Chen Mo was prepared and directly opened a PC-side top-up channel. Users could just top up on their computers to watch livestreams or read novels; Apple wouldn't get a penny.

But Tianxing Takeout didn't work that way—no one used a computer to order takeout. Apple seized on this to charge fees, and now they even included top-up transactions in Fetion. They were clearly using their 280 million global and 37 million Dragon Kingdom Apple users as leverage to force Tianxing Technology to bow its head.

Even more ruthlessly, Apple declared:

If the service fee rules weren't accepted within three days, all Tianxing-affiliated apps, including Fetion, Tianxing Takeout, and Tianxing Live, would be removed from the Apple App Store!

Once the news broke, Dragon Kingdom netizens were furious:

"Apple is too shameless! They can't win with phones, so they play dirty!"

"What free competition? This is pure hooliganism! This is a protection fee!"

"America must be behind this, causing trouble because they saw Tianxing's chips rising!"

Apple users were even more panicked:

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have bought an Apple phone. If they take down the Tianxing apps, I won't even be able to order takeout!"

"Tianxing Technology, don't give in! At worst, I'll switch phones!"

"But Tianxing phones are too expensive, and second-hand Apples can't be sold now. This is so stressful!"

When Chen Mo saw Apple's announcement, a cold sneer curled his lips:

Forget 37 million Apple users—even if it were 300 million, he wouldn't back down!

He hadn't planned on entering the overseas market yet anyway, and American sanctions were bound to come sooner or later. His current goal was to drive Apple and Samsung out of the Dragon Kingdom's high-end market!

Since Apple was the first to break the rules, they couldn't blame him for being unkind.

However, he couldn't abandon those 37 million users either.

They had spent their own money to buy the phones; there was no reason for them to suffer this consequence.

Soon, Tianxing Technology's official website released an announcement:

"In three days, newly activated Apple phones will be unable to use any Tianxing-affiliated apps. Already activated Apple phones can continue to use all Tianxing applications normally."

It was a clear message to everyone:

Don't buy new Apple phones; if you do, you won't be able to use Tianxing's products. Old users, however, won't be affected at all.

When Apple saw the announcement, they thought Chen Mo was just boasting:

"He says they can keep using them, so they can? Does he really think he's Apple's daddy?"

As soon as the three-day limit was up, Apple started removing Tianxing-affiliated apps without a word.

But after working for a long time, the technical staff's faces turned pale.

No matter how they deleted or blocked them, all of Tianxing's apps remained safely in the Apple App Store, completely unaffected!

Apple's technical team checked repeatedly but couldn't find a single loophole. Those apps were like they had grown roots, firmly embedded in Apple's store, immovable.