I started my 19 days of tech adventure in Asia hell-bent on mastering the art of selfie sticks. With their long arms and stabilizing bases, they would be the perfect tools for shooting photos and video while solo-traveling, so long as I got over my embarrassment and actually used the darn things. Click for more …

Most phone testing facilities have a machine — a chamber, really — that alternately bakes and freezes phones to make sure they operate in extreme temperatures: hot and cold, dry and humid. I’ve always intellectually understood the purpose of extreme climate tests, but it wasn’t until I carried three phones, a camera and a smart band through the 106-degree swelter …

If the label “made in China” conjures images of exploding “hoverboards” more often than quality craftsmanship, you’re in good company. China’s reputation for inexpensive prices rather than quality manufacturing hurts brands that want to compete in the high end on a global scale, said Xiaomi’s senior VP of mobile, Xiang Wang, when we met here in Beijing at the company’s …

When somebody tells you they’re a “payment nerd,” that’s gotta be a good sign. And this is basically how Elle Kim, Samsung’s new VP of business development for Samsung Pay, introduced herself to me at the company’s headquarters in Suwon, South Korea (which I visited as part of a 19-day tech-seeking trip through Asia). Click to read more of Jessica’s …

China may not have the best Internet access in the world, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s on top for mobile payments. My friends Amy Deng and Eric Liu moved from San Francisco to Shanghai about a year ago. When I asked them over lunch in Shanghai about some of their favorite tech in China so far, they …

Air pollution in major Chinese cities (and others) is the real deal. You read about it, hear about it and see locals regularly don paper face masks in an attempt to shield their lungs from its toxins. Many install apps on their phones to help monitor the buildup in cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai and especially Beijing. China’s capital only had …

Remember when I complained that living without constant access to Google, Facebook and Twitter while in China was really, really hard? Those were the good old days when I actually had some throughput from the occasional, highly-connected high-end hotel. Then I hopped over from Shanghai to Beijing, and my lifeline disappeared. Slow internet and a VPN that kept spinning and …

As part of a 19-day trip to explore and experience tech in seven cities in Asia, I joined a small group of journalists to tour a factory where Huawei makes its phones. It’s fascinating stuff, but highly proprietary — so I’m not allowed to say much. Here’s what I can share without spilling any secrets. 1. You get to suit …

I’m fascinated by food: not just cooking ingredients and techniques, but also what people eat when they aren’t giving the act a second thought, the way I might reheat leftovers for lunch or run down the street for a quick burrito. Click to read more of Jessica’s travel adventures. It’s why I go out of my way to pop into …

Phones and smartwatches may be getting more alike these days, but for Google Nexus 6P-maker Huawei, the fact that its products are getting good is the best news of all. It means that for the first time in the six years I’ve been covering the company, Huawei stands a real chance. To do what? To make money, certainly. To improve …