Latest news with #JennyZhang
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Move Over Telsa Powerwall. EcoFlow Says This New Battery Is Better for Disaster-Prone Areas
Between floods, hurricanes, and brownouts, being a homeowner in states like California, Texas and Florida can make it challenging to keep the lights on. A whole-home battery backup is usually a good solution, letting you charge the battery while the power is on and then kick in when the power goes out. EcoFlow is the latest to enter this market with the Ocean Pro, which the company says is the first 'full integrated, multi-source home energy system in the US.' What that means in simpler terms, is that, unlike other whole-home backup systems like the Tesla Powerwall 3, the Ocean Pro has an "infinite backup supply." This system doesn't just rely on one energy source, like solar panels or the grid, to keep itself topped up. It can automatically pull power from a variety of sources, including solar panels, high-capacity batteries, portable generators and even gas standby generators. That means multiple layers of power backup options if one option fails. The EcoFlow Ocean Pro works with EV chargers and other home appliances. EcoFlow Technically, this isn't an unprecedented technology. Large portable power stations like the Anker Solix F3800 Plus can accept power from a gas generator, AC input and solar input, though you won't find the gas generator input on a fixed system like the Powerwall. 'Ocean Pro isn't just backup power, it's complete energy independence made simple,' said Jenny Zhang, President of North America Residential Energy Business at EcoFlow. 'We're excited to bring a powerful solution like Ocean Pro to the US. market and give families a smarter, stronger and more reliable energy system built for the challenges they face today.' Power and capabilities The Ocean Pro can be expanded to work with multiple batteries and inverters. EcoFlow EcoFlow is positioning the Ocean Pro to outperform competitors like Tesla's Powerwall 3, claiming twice the solar capacity, double the backup power and 67% more peak power. One Ocean Pro battery provides 10kWh. Need even more power? You can add a second inverter to double the system's output and storage capacity, which is expandable up to 80kWh. With 24kW of continuous output, EcoFlow says the Ocean Pro can support all of a home's appliances simultaneously, including up to two 5-ton HVAC systems, EV chargers, pool pumps and refrigerators. During an outage, the Ocean Pro has a switchover of 10 milliseconds. It's also designed for durability, with a fire-prevention module, enhanced flood resistance up to 2.6 feet, IP67 waterproofing, UL 9540B safety certification and a 15-year warranty, which is five years longer than industry standards. Energy savings The Ocean Pro can intelligently monitor energy prices to decide when the time is right to sell energy back to the grid or run your home off battery. EcoFlow Beyond just backup, EcoFlow is touting potential electricity bill savings. Through the EcoFlow app, users can monitor their energy usage in real time and use AI-powered forecasting to predict weather, pricing trends and energy consumption so it can take over running their homes during times of high peak demand. There's also smart home integration built in for thermostats, EV chargers, Apple Home, Google Nest and Alexa. EcoFlow says the Ocean Pro can give you savings of up to 118% a year on electricity costs. Perhaps the biggest selling point for those keen on saving on energy bills is that the Ocean Pro can also operate in grid-tied mode across all markets, allowing homeowners to sell excess energy back to the grid once the battery is fully charged. EcoFlow is also setting up its Virtual Power Plant network, which manages the energy you're selling back based on real-time grid conditions and electricity prices. By design, the Ocean Pro will discharge power during peak pricing peak grid demand, letting your system optimize battery use and earning you additional income even when solar generation is limited. All this makes the Ocean Pro a potentially very compelling alternative to the Powerwall, though more portable systems like EcoFlow's Delta Pro Ultra and the Anker Solix F3800 Plus can offer most of the same backup options, including solar panels and gas generators, without needing the same costly install. They also have smart chops if you use the compatible smart panel like the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 and Anker Solix Home Power Panel. Pricing and availability EcoFlow is working with 100 installation partners for the Ocean Pro. EcoFlow The Ocean Pro already has a counterpart in Europe, called the PowerOcean series, that has 17,000 installs. In the US, preorders for the EcoFlow Ocean Pro begin on July 15. You can register on EcoFlow's official website to learn more and place your order through an authorized EcoFlow installation partner. Each installation includes a free one-on-one energy consultation, app-based progress tracking and local support. Nearly 100 installation partners have signed up with EcoFlow ahead of the launch. The Ocean Pro is available in three finishes: aluminum, walnut wood and carbon fiber. Pricing information isn't available yet, but we'll update this article when we learn more.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Move Over Telsa Powerwall. EcoFlow Claims This New Battery is Better for Disaster Prone Areas
Between floods, hurricanes, and brownouts, being a homeowner in states like California, Texas and Florida can make it challenging to keep the lights on. A whole-home battery backup is usually a good solution, letting you charge the battery while the power is on and then kick in when the power goes out. EcoFlow is the latest to enter this market with the Ocean Pro, which the company says is the first 'full integrated, multi-source home energy system in the US.' What that means in simpler terms, is that, unlike other whole-home backup systems like the Tesla Powerwall 3, the Ocean Pro has an "infinite backup supply." This system doesn't just rely on one energy source, like solar panels or the grid, to keep itself topped up. It can automatically pull power from a variety of sources, including solar panels, high-capacity batteries, portable generators and even gas standby generators. That means multiple layers of power backup options if one option fails. The EcoFlow Ocean Pro works with EV chargers and other home appliances. EcoFlow Technically, this isn't an unprecedented technology. Large portable power stations like the Anker Solix F3800 Plus can accept power from a gas generator, AC input and solar input, though you won't find the gas generator input on a fixed system like the Powerwall. 'Ocean Pro isn't just backup power, it's complete energy independence made simple,' said Jenny Zhang, President of North America Residential Energy Business at EcoFlow. 'We're excited to bring a powerful solution like Ocean Pro to the US. market and give families a smarter, stronger and more reliable energy system built for the challenges they face today.' Power and capabilities The Ocean Pro can be expanded to work with multiple batteries and inverters. EcoFlow EcoFlow is positioning the Ocean Pro to outperform competitors like Tesla's Powerwall 3, claiming twice the solar capacity, double the backup power and 67% more peak power. One Ocean Pro battery provides 10kWh. Need even more power? You can add a second inverter to double the system's output and storage capacity, which is expandable up to 80kWh. With 24kW of continuous output, EcoFlow says the Ocean Pro can support all of a home's appliances simultaneously, including up to two 5-ton HVAC systems, EV chargers, pool pumps and refrigerators. During an outage, the Ocean Pro has a switchover of 10 milliseconds. It's also designed for durability, with a fire-prevention module, enhanced flood resistance up to 2.6 feet, IP67 waterproofing, UL 9540B safety certification and a 15-year warranty, which is five years longer than industry standards. Energy savings The Ocean Pro can intelligently monitor energy prices to decide when the time is right to sell energy back to the grid or run your home off battery. EcoFlow Beyond just backup, EcoFlow is touting potential electricity bill savings. Through the EcoFlow app, users can monitor their energy usage in real time and use AI-powered forecasting to predict weather, pricing trends and energy consumption so it can take over running their homes during times of high peak demand. There's also smart home integration built in for thermostats, EV chargers, Apple Home, Google Nest and Alexa. EcoFlow says the Ocean Pro can give you savings of up to 118% a year on electricity costs. Perhaps the biggest selling point for those keen on saving on energy bills is that the Ocean Pro can also operate in grid-tied mode across all markets, allowing homeowners to sell excess energy back to the grid once the battery is fully charged. EcoFlow is also setting up its Virtual Power Plant network, which manages the energy you're selling back based on real-time grid conditions and electricity prices. By design, the Ocean Pro will discharge power during peak pricing peak grid demand, letting your system optimize battery use and earning you additional income even when solar generation is limited. All this makes the Ocean Pro a potentially very compelling alternative to the Powerwall, though more portable systems like EcoFlow's Delta Pro Ultra and the Anker Solix F3800 Plus can offer most of the same backup options, including solar panels and gas generators, without needing the same costly install. They also have smart chops if you use the compatible smart panel like the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 and Anker Solix Home Power Panel. Pricing and availability EcoFlow is working with 100 installation partners for the Ocean Pro. EcoFlow The Ocean Pro already has a counterpart in Europe, called the PowerOcean series, that has 17,000 installs. In the US, preorders for the EcoFlow Ocean Pro begin on July 15. You can register on EcoFlow's official website to learn more and place your order through an authorized EcoFlow installation partner. Each installation includes a free one-on-one energy consultation, app-based progress tracking and local support. Nearly 100 installation partners have signed up with EcoFlow ahead of the launch. The Ocean Pro is available in three finishes: aluminum, walnut wood and carbon fiber. Pricing information isn't available yet, but we'll update this article when we learn more.
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The 'fantasy date' trend Chinese women are embracing
Photo: Supplied Twenty-three-year-old Jenny Zhang meets another woman for lunch in the central Auckland suburb of Ponsonby. It ends with both going their separate ways but, in this case, one of the women hasn't revealed a single detail about herself. She is someone else altogether. Zhang is part of an increasing number of Chinese women who go on dates with other heterosexual women in a bid to satisfy their desire for intimacy. However, Zhang doesn't turn up at the agreed location as herself - she appears as a male character from an otome game. Otome games are narrative-based romance video games primarily designed for women, often featuring a female protagonist with male love interests. The genre has grown in popularity in China following the 2017 release of Mr. Love: Queen's Choice , which has since been followed by Light and Night , Tears of Themis and For All Time . Male characters from Mr. Love: Queen's Choice include (from left to right) Kiro, Shaw, Lucien, Gavin and Victor. Photo: Paper Games According to a report by MobTech, China's female gaming market surpassed 390 million monthly active users by February 2020. The market recorded a value of 95.8 billion yuan ($21.9 billion) in 2024, a year-on-year increase of more than 124 percent, according to Gamma Data. A more recent trend is seeing some female fans increasingly taking things a step further, hiring cosplayers to bring their digital love interests to life. This practice, which gaming enthusiasts in China call a "cosplay commission," involves paying a female performer to portray a virtual boyfriend in real-life settings. Cosplay (short for "costume play") is a form of performance art in which people dress up as characters from anime, computer games and other pop culture. A person seeking a cosplay commission is typically referred to as "the client". A cosplayer portrays Zayne from Love and Deep Space on a "fantasy date" in Beijing. Photo: Supplied Zhang says heterosexual women typically take on the role of portraying a female client's boyfriend. Obviously, she says, cosplayers need to have a deep understanding of the otome characters they are portraying and very few men play such games. Some clients also share concerns about safety when dating men, she says. Zhang should know - she's a cosplayer who accepts such commissions herself. According to latest data from the 2023 China Population and Employment Statistical Yearbook, China's single population is expected to surpass 300 million this year, with 73 percent of people over the age of 25 remaining unmarried. "Short-term dating services focused on emotional connection, strictly excluding physical intimacy, have become more visible," says Hee-seung Irene Lee, Korea Foundation lecturer at the University of Auckland. "These services reflect a growing desire for curated emotional experiences, especially among young people navigating economic precarity and shifting social norms around intimacy and relationships." A "fantasy date" in Beijing. Photo: Supplied In servicing a client's needs, a cosplayer who accepts a commission fully embraces the attributes of the character they are representing - acting as a boyfriend by holding hands, carrying bags, and giving flowers or small gifts. A script for the "fantasy date" is co-created by the cosplayer and the client. Before the date, a client fills out a questionnaire with prompts such as "What kind of physical interaction are you comfortable with?" and "What do you hope I'll do for you?" Married in real life, Cindy hires commissioned cosplayers four to five times a month. While romance exists in her everyday life, Cindy says the emotional intensity of a cosplay commission feels like "100 percent love". That feeling, however, comes at a cost. In Beijing, a full-day commission typically costs between 600 and 800 yuan ($138 and $183), with clients responsible for transportation costs and any additional expenses during the date. At first glance, the arrangement appears transactional: A client pays for a cosplayer to provide emotional companionship. Yet the precise nature of the exchange isn't so easily defined, with a new form of intimate relationship taking shape between the pair. A "fantasy date" in Beijing. Photo: Supplied Zhang works hard to create dream-like experiences on her fantasy dates, creating lasting memories for her clients. To fully embody a fictional character, she prepares meticulously for each commission, from crafting costumes and accessories to writing handwritten letters while in character. Zhang completed her first commission in Auckland in March. A woman contacted Zhang via social media app Little Red Book and asked her to cosplay a character named Xavier from Love and Deep Space for her 18th birthday. Released in 2024, Love and Deep Space is China's first three-dimensional otome game. It has quickly become one of the most popular titles in the genre, attracting more than 50 million users worldwide within a year. Male characters from Love and Deep Space include (from left to right) Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus and Caleb. Photo: Paper Games Departing from the stereotypical "bossy CEO" trope that often casts women in passive or self-sacrificing roles, Love and Deep Space features characters such as Xavier as equals. As such, the player and Xavier fight side by side as "Hunters" against monsters called "Wanderers", forging bonds through shared challenges and emotional growth. "The ubiquitous presence of visual media today continually reinforces this mode of imagining intimacy," Lee says. "Many young women find that conventional relationships often demand unequal emotional labour or reinforce expectations that limit their autonomy. "What people seek in relationships also appears to be changing, from mutual happiness grounded in care and reciprocity to the gratification of personal fantasy." Jenny Zhang dresses as Xavier from Love and Deep Space. Photo: Supplied Zhang tries to be as open as possible with her clients to create a meaningful connection between two people. A recent commission in China left a deep impression on her. "The client opened up to me," she recalls. "That allowed me to respond like a true partner, listening to her worries about work or school, receiving her emotions and offering comfort. "That feeling of being trusted ... is a crucial part of experiencing intimacy." Zhang is unsure whether the fantasy dating trend will take off in New Zealand. "Local Kiwis are very friendly," she says. "Even if they don't know who I'm cosplaying, they'll still compliment my hair or outfit. "But there just aren't as many date-style venues here compared to China, which has pet cafes, DIY cake shops or Nintendo Switch arcades." Her thoughts are echoed by Yifan, a University of Auckland student who has been a client as well as a commissioned cosplayer. Yifan sees cosplay commissions as a niche hobby in New Zealand, with only a small number of active cosplayers despite growing curiosity. "One challenge is that casual part-time jobs often pay more per hour than a commission does," she says, noting that an average eight-hour cosplay commission typically pays around $200 in New Zealand. Beyond practical constraints in New Zealand, Lee points to deeper cultural forces that help explain why the trend has flourished mainly in East Asian societies, where women face intense pressures around marriage, family roles and traditional ideals of femininity. A "fantasy date" in Shanghai. Photo: Supplied A 2024 survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Psychology revealed shifting attitudes among young people toward marriage and family. Covering 55,781 university students across 31 provinces, regions and municipalities, the survey found that 52 percent believed marriage was unimportant, while 59 percent believed the same about having children. What's more, female respondents were less willing than males to pursue romantic relationships, marriage or parenthood, with the trend even more pronounced in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. "In highly competitive and hierarchical societies, alternative forms of intimacy can offer young women a safer, more manageable space to experience connection without the emotional labour and time investment demanded by conventional relationships," Lee says. While such experiences can feel empowering, Lee warns they also risk flattening intimacy. Lee believes the experiences are more likely to co-exist alongside traditional relationships, offering alternative forms of connection that reflect different emotional and personal needs. "Real relationships involve confronting the unknown depth of another person - something unpredictable, sometimes painful, but ultimately necessary for intimacy that's emotionally transformative and lasting," she says.
