Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Android Q beta now available for OnePlus 7 Owners

    Android Q beta now available for OnePlus 7 Owners

    Here is some good news for developers and risk takers who just purchased the OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 7 Pro. The latest Android Q beta (which is number 3) is now available for the phones. OnePlus announced this on its blog and pointed out that “this build of Android Q is best suited for developers and early adopters.” Why? Because beta versions of the software are often filled with more bugs than a Raid test facility. And if the OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 7 Pro is your new daily driver, who wants to deal with a problem that prevents you from using an important feature on the phone?

    Speaking of problems, there are some known issues with the third Android Q beta preview. The Ambient Display, which uses machine learning to learn how bright or dim you like the display to look under certain conditions, is not working. There are also some problems with system stability, and texts can’t be sent when the Voice over LTE setting is enabled. The gestures used to navigate the phone also don’t work, and neither does Recovery mode. OnePlus also points out that some apps might not work the way you expect them to with this beta release.

    Some warnings. While signing up to join the Android Q beta program on a Pixel is a simple and easy procedure that allows you to receive updates OTA from the first beta build you receive, signing up for the OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 7 Pro requires that you load a zip file, and then flash the necessary files. All of the directions can be found on the OnePlus blog, including how to put your phone back on track to receive stable builds OTA. Either way, you will lose all of the data stored on the device so you might want to back up your data first.

    If you’ve done this before and are very familiar with flashing a ROM on a phone, this might not be so difficult. But if you’ve never done this before, a mistake could lead you to accidentally brick your phone. If you decide to proceed, make sure that your OnePlus 7 or OnePlus 7 Pro has at least 30% battery life and 3GB of storage available or higher.

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  • Nissan India Extends Service Support To Cyclone-Affected Customers In Odisha

    Nissan India Extends Service Support To Cyclone-Affected Customers In Odisha

    Cyclone Fani has been devastating for people in Odisha and several vehicles have gotten damaged as well. Carmakers are running special service program for their customers in Odisha. Nissan India has also stepped forward to extend support to its customers affected by cyclone Fani. The company has sent special emergency repair teams in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack and additional trained manpower will be deployed from its dealerships to expedite repair turnaround time. Free towing service is also being offered to customers and repairs will be carried out under the guidance of Nissan technical experts.

    Speaking about the initiative, Atul Aggarwal, General Manager – After Sales, Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd. said, “As a responsible corporate, we are taking required measures to ensure that our customers can safely travel in this critical time. With the support of our technical experts and dealers, we have ramped up our services to be there for our customers.”

    Nissan customers can call at the 24X7 Toll-free helpdesk number – 1800-209-3456 for any assistance related to their cyclone-affected Nissan and Datsun vehicles. Other carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata Motors among others have also taken special initiatives to provide easy service to cyclone-affected customers.

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  • Microsoft brings redesigned Apple Watch notifications for Outlook

    Microsoft brings redesigned Apple Watch notifications for Outlook

    A quick heads up for those of you who are using Outlook for iOS on a regular basis. It looks like Microsoft has decided to revamp the Outlook notifications for Apple Watch, so if own the wearable device, you should start seeing them after you download the latest update.

    As per Microsoft’s announcement, the new notifications should allow Apple Watch users to see important emails, reminders, as well as detailed event information via Outlook calendar. It’s the only important change included in the update, at least according to the official changelog from the App Store.

    This is the third Outlook update aimed at Apple Watch users that Microsoft releases this month, but that doesn’t mean that other platforms have been neglected.

    Microsoft revealed last week important new features that will be coming to Outlook for Android and iOS soon, including the option to select favorite persons and notifications, Office Lens upgrades and a couple of other nifty improvements.

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  • Microsoft adds requested new feature for the Your Phone Companion

    Microsoft adds requested new feature for the Your Phone Companion

    Microsoft’s Your Phone Companion app allows users to sync their Android phone with their Windows 10 PC. Texts, notifications, and photos can be sent to your desktop or laptop from any phone running Android 7 or higher. With certain Android handsets including the OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T, the Samsung Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8+, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S9+, Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy Note 9, apps can be mirrored on the PC as well.

    Previously, the app worked using a Wi-Fi connection only. However, a tweet sent on Friday from Microsoft Lead Project Manager Roberto Bojorquez revealed that an update pushed out to the Your Phone Companion app allows your phone and Windows 10 desktop to sync using mobile data. The new capability surfaces on version 3.8.4 of the mobile app, although the version currently in the Google Play Store is version 3.4.8. Once the new version is installed on your Android phone, open the settings and enable “sync over mobile data” by using the toggle switch. The update also brings a new icon for the app.

    As we pointed out earlier this year, there is a way to have the app work in reverse and send content from a Windows 10 PC to your Android phone. This requires you to install the Your Phone Companion app and the Microsoft Edge mobile browser on your phone. Web pages and other content you were viewing using the desktop version of Edge can be shared to the mobile version of the browser on your phone.

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  • Impossible Foods Teams Up with Honbo for Taikoo Place food truck

    Impossible Foods Teams Up with Honbo for Taikoo Place food truck

    Vegetable-based meat product retailer Impossible Foods is partnering with Hong Kong business hub Taikoo Place and various restaurant partners in a food truck charity initiative taking place from May to July.

    Since launching on May 6 with Pici, Impossible Foods’ truck has been gearing up to serve recipes from grassroots burger restaurant Honbo to residents and workers at Taikoo Place.

    From May 20 to June 14, customers of the Impossible x Honbo food truck can select from a range of the brand’s “Impossible” burgers alongside fries and drinks. 10 per cent of all proceeds will go Sai Kung-based charity Catherine’s Puppies, which works to rescue and rehome stray dogs.

    From mid-July, Impossible Foods and Taikoo Place will launch their next partnership with Hong Kong’s “greenest caterer”, Invisible Kitchen. The group will cater for planned Swire Properties events inviting members of the public to “Discover Taikoo Place” while promoting its sustainable foods concept to the wider community.

    Impossible Foods is now serving its plant-based meat products in more than 7000 restaurants across the US, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.

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  • Indian grocery chains merging to create nation wide network

    Indian grocery chains merging to create nation wide network

    Two regional Indian grocery retail chains are effectively merging, creating a national player.

    Spencer’s Retail, part of RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, says it will pay US$42.76 million to acquire upmarket grocery chain Nature’s Basket from Godrej Industries.

    The deal will give Spencer’s access to the western part of India through 36 stores of Nature’s Basket in Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, according to Shashwat Goenka, head of RPG. It will also strengthen the company’s omnichannel capability.

    Tanya Dubash, executive director and chief brand officer at Godrej Group, said the sale would unlock “the immense potential of the Nature’s Basket brand” allowing it to grow faster.

    “We have passed on the torch to owners who have prioritised retail in their portfolio strategy and have the relevant ecosystems to take the business to the next level,” she said.

    Nature’s Basket was launched in 2005.

    Goenka said the Nature’s Basket stores are located in prime residential locations, have a high sales throughput per square feet, and will add to the top line of Spencer‘s grocery portfolio.

    “Nature’s Basket has a strong portfolio of private-label brands which has huge traction with its consumers. We believe there is huge potential to expand this to Spencer’s stores. It also has a strong e-commerce presence, and we believe that fits in well with our omni-channel strategy.”

    He said both chains were positioned as experiential grocery retailers and there were many synergies in the acquisition.

  • Asus delivers Android 9.0 Pie to another ZenFone smartphone

    Asus delivers Android 9.0 Pie to another ZenFone smartphone

    Asus promised a few months ago that it will update some of its ZenFone smartphones to Android 9.0 Pie, but only partially delivered. Today is the day that another part of the promise is fulfilled, as the ZenFone Max M2 is now receiving the long-awaited Android 9.0 Pie update.

    Initially slated for an April 15 rollout, the Asus ZenFone Max M2 Android 9.0 Pie update is now being deployed in the United States. If you own the budget-friendly smartphone, you can head Settings / System / System updates and check if there’s a new firmware available.

    Besides all the changes that Android 9.0 Pie brings, the update adds the May security patch and a new version of the Google Mobile Services (GMS). As Asus points out, the servers are pushing the update in batches, so it may take some days for everyone to receive it.

    Asus announced two months ago that two other ZenFone smartphones aside from the ZenFone Max M2 will receive Android 9.0 Pie updates by mid-April: ZenFone Max Pro M1 and ZenFone Max Pro M2.

    As a matter of fact, the majority of ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 5 smartphones are expected to receive Android 9.0 Pie updates this. Of course, the ROG Phone will get the software upgrade as well, we just don’t know when.

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  • B&O’s refreshed Beoplay H9 headphones come with Killer Features

    B&O’s refreshed Beoplay H9 headphones come with Killer Features

    After (narrowly) beating Apple to the punch with super-expensive “truly wireless” earbuds supporting wireless charging functionality, Bang & Olufsen is shifting its attention to the premium Beoplay line of wireless over-ear headphones to release a refreshed H9 model. This is already available in the US at the same price as its H9i predecessor, bringing a couple of important upgrades to the table.

    First, there’s a new dedicated button allowing B&O Beoplay H9 users to summon Google Assistant and get it to do stuff by voice commands. The built-in digital assistant does not replace touch controls altogether, though, so you can still use gestures directly on the ear cups to seamlessly navigate your listening experience.
    The other major improvement comes in the battery life department, where the Beoplay H9 headphones are making a pretty ambitious promise. Namely, you should be able to squeeze up to a whopping 25 hours of uninterrupted play time from these bad boys, compared to the “modest” 18-hour maximum endurance advertised for the H9i. What’s impressive is that Bang & Olufsen has somehow managed to make this leap while retaining the exact dimensions and weight of the H9i.
    Speaking of things retained, the Beoplay H9 features the same old (and great) active noise cancellation technology, “expertly tuned” acoustics performance, and Transparency Mode functionality for when you don’t want to feel isolated from your surroundings. Available in Matte Black and Argilla Bright colors with the super-premium build quality and a self-proclaimed focus on craft, the H9 headphones are priced at $500, which is certainly not affordable… but also not shocking.
    Just like the H9i, the Google Assistant-enabled H9 have a pretty clear target audience that cares more about B&O brand recognition and stature than objectively comparing the value for money delivered by these headphones with those of the cheaper Bose QuietComfort 35 II or Sony WH1000XM3.
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  • Goodbaby opens Chengdu Flagshop Store

    Goodbaby opens Chengdu Flagshop Store

    Goodbaby International has opened two flagship stores in Chengdu, China.

    One of the new stores is located at International Finance Square (IFS), the other at Chengdu Joy City. Both opened last Saturday.

    The stores represent the parenting-products retailer newest offline store model and were designed by an unnamed “well-known designer” who has previously cooperated with many globally renowned luxury concept stores.

    “The key to mom-and-child products lies in experience,” said Goodbaby China CEO Jiang Rongfen.

    “The new global flagship stores are designed with both the sensitive and sensible factors of the consumers’ shopping behaviors in mind.”

    The designer aimed to create an immersive, scenario-based smart lifestyle environment for parenting families, where consumers can experience and interact with the products to make better shopping decisions with the help of AI, VR and AR technologies, as well as making one-stop shopping convenient.

    “Our goal is to make every customer willing to share their satisfactory experience with their friends,” Jiang said.

    With Chengdu considered an up and coming fashion hub in China, Goodbaby decided to launch its new Hey Box smart products at the two flagship stores.

    “It is usually said that winning Chengdu’s consumers is a big step towards winning China’s consumers,” said Jiang.

    Goodbaby was set up in China 1989 as a global company with local operations in China, Germany and the US. At the core of its range are baby carriages and child car seats.

  • Shiseido launches art installation at Changi Airport

    Shiseido launches art installation at Changi Airport

    Shiseido Travel Retail has teamed up with Jewel Changi Airport and TeamLab to launch an art installation called Sense. Located at ‘Shiseido Forest Valley’ in the mall, the installation engages the senses through sound, smell, sight, and touch.

    “We know that consumers are now looking for stories and brands that can represent their mission in a manner that resonates with their individual narratives,” said Philippe Lesne, President and CEO of Shiseido Travel Retail.

    “Together with our partners, Jewel Changi Airport and TeamLab, we are excited to unveil this immersive experience to take our consumers and travelers from around the world beyond the realms of traditional retail.”

    The installation transforms as visitors progress further into the forest’s depths, honing their sense of sight as lights dance and flicker.

    Composer and musician Yota Morimoto have created a soundtrack especially for the feature, designed to “reignite visitors’ aural senses along with this sensory exploration” and recreate “the breathing sound” of a natural forest.

    A blend of natural elements, as well as Japanese and Western instruments,  create tones aimed at relieving stress and tension.

    As night falls and the resonating forest by TeamLab comes alive, another musical arrangement takes its place, aimed at creating a sense of balance and harmony.

    The ‘Ultimune’ scent, created by Shiseido’s Dr Tomonori Ueda for the installation is also aimed at relieving stress and creating a calming effect.

    To enhance the experience, visitors can interact with their surroundings, by downloading the Jewel Changi Airport app on iTunes or Google Play to access Shiseido’s Sense app.

    After that, they can conclude the experience by a message on the virtual Shiseido Tree.

    “The collaboration with Shiseido and TeamLab will showcase another facet of the unique Jewel experience that is co-curated with our partnership to delight visitors,” said Hung Jean, CEO of Jewel Changi Airport Devt.

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  • Bharti Infratel-Indus Towers merger due to close in June

    Bharti Infratel-Indus Towers merger due to close in June

    The mega-merger between Indian operator Bharti Airtel’s infrastructure company Bharti Infratel and independent tower company Indus Towers is reportedly now expected to close in June.

    The planned merger, which has been in the making for around a year, is at an advanced stage of completion, according to the prospective parent companies of the merged company Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Group.

    In a stock exchange filing, the companies also announced that they have proposed to appoint current Indus Towers CEO Bimal Dayal and CFO Hemant Ruia to the posts of CEO and CFO respectively of the combined company.

    Merging Bharti Infratel with Indus Towers will create a pan-India tower company with over 163,000 towers in operation and a valuation of around $10 billion.

    The combined company will continue to serve Indian operators on a non-discriminatory basis and help support the expansion of 4G and 5G wireless broadband services across India.

    Indus Towers was established in 2007 as a joint venture between Bharti Airtel and what is now Vodafone Idea. Prior to the in-progress merger, the company was around 53% owned by Vodafone Idea, 42% owned by Bharti Infratel and 5% owned by Providence Equity Partners.

    “The Shareholder groups look forward to early completion of the merger and move towards successful integration,” the joint statement reads.

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  • Sprint/T-Mobile deal may get FCC approval

    Sprint/T-Mobile deal may get FCC approval

    In a move that was looking increasingly unlikely over the past few months, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has signaled that he will recommend that Sprint/T-Mobile merger be approved. The $26.5 billion mergers aren’t necessarily out of the woods yet as no vote has been taken and the other four commissioners have not been heard from yet and there is still the DOJ to persuade. But nevertheless, the deal has crossed a threshold and may now be back on track to close in the coming months.

    In order to get past the FCC’s concerns, Sprint and T-Mobile had to make a few concessions. The Boost prepaid business will be sold off, a 5G network will be built out over 3 years, and pricing will not be raised during that construction. Promises were made to ensure ‘robust’ infrastructure in rural areas and to work on in-home broadband offerings.

    The markets liked the move, and all four US wireless giants saw their stocks surge in response, Sprint and T-Mobile for obvious reasons and Verizon and AT&T due to the prospect of a reduction in the competition overall. Infrastructure providers, however, saw the opposite given the consolidation synergies that will inevitably come at their expense.

    The news comes just over a year since the deal was announced after years of dancing. I think we’re all tired of the dance at this point. I wonder though if a tweet will send things the other way in the next 24 hours.

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  • Dark mode is rolling out now to another Google app

    Dark mode is rolling out now to another Google app

    Even though Android Q will have a system-wide Dark mode feature, Google continues to add a Dark mode on many of its apps, especially those updated with the Material Design look. Considering that only 10.4% of Android phones have Android 9 installed nine months after its release, Google will continue to update individual apps with Dark mode. This is important considering that Google’s Material Design includes large areas of blinding white light in the background; viewing it in the dark makes it feel as though your retinas are melting.

    Dark mode makes it more comfortable to view an app or website at night or in the dark by reversing the usual white background and black text; instead, the user sees white text on a black background. And it will actually save some battery life on phones using an AMOLED screen. That’s because the color black is created on these panels by having all pixels turned off, which doesn’t require any battery power. LCD screens use a backlight even for black, and that requires some energy to be tapped from the battery.

    The latest Android app to get the Dark mode feature is Google Keep, an app that is used to write down notes and lists. For example, you can create a shopping list and have it appear when you’re at the supermarket, or at a set time. You can also snap a picture of a receipt and store it until needed. Or just type in random thoughts and ideas that you can share with friends and family members. The app has large areas of white that can strain your eyes or worse in the dark.

    This is a server-side update that takes the Android version of the app to 5.19.191.07. When you finally do receive the update, you’ll find the Dark mode toggle by opening up the Settings page.

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  • Danish fashion label Hummel Opening in India

    Danish fashion label Hummel Opening in India

    Hummel India has signed up a Bollywood actor to help promote its launch in the country.

    Kartik Aaryan, described by one local media outlet as “the nation’s heartthrob and nation’s crush” has been appointed Hummel’s chief ambassador in India for the Danish sportswear label.

    Founded in 1932, Hummel produces clothing ranging from swimwear to casual streetwear and sneakers. It has already opened five stores in India and plans another 10 by the end of the financial year.

    The first five stores are franchised and have opened in Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Surat and Amritsar.

    Aaryan made his debut for the brand at a recent launch event in Bangalore.

    “In Hummel, I see a perfect fit. Hummel appeals to my style sensibilities, it is bold, fashionable, creative and youthful,” the actor told the audience.

    “I am excited that Hummel has entered the retail space and I am sure that the Indian audience will love the designs that Hummel has brought to India.”

    Soumava Naskar, MD of Hummel India, says the brand’s merchandise was available on Jabong and Myntra in 2016 but the company stopped selling directly to both the platforms in 2017 because it had no pricing control.

    “Three months ago, we listed our merchandise on Amazon and Flipkart via our partner ND Commerce, which manages our online stores and handles pricing control too. Which means, if customers receive discounts on our end-of-season products on Amazon or Flipkart, they will receive the same discounts in our physical stores as well. This is our first promise to Indian customers.”

    Hummel, owned by Thornico Group, is currently sold in more than 35 countries. It has more than 250 mono-brand stores and expects to achieve US$1.5 billion in turnover this calendar year.

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  • Prada to cull wholesale sales channels

    Prada to cull wholesale sales channels

    Italian luxury fashion label Prada is to cull its wholesale distributor list, in order to take more direct control of pricing.

    In a short filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange (where the company is listed), Prada said that its board has analyzed in detail the structure of its wholesale channels “and noted the growing complexity and fragmentation of the wholesale market”.

    Consequently, the board has resolved in favor of additional rationalization of its network of independent partners.

    “The Prada Group considers it essential to ensure greater consistency in pricing policies across retail and digital channels,” said chairman Carlo Mazzi in the filing.

    “This strategic review is intended to further strengthen the Prada Group brands with the aim of supporting sustainable long-term growth.”

    The statement offered no further details of how the rationalization would be undertaken or how many wholesalers would be culled, although it is apparent online distribution may be most affected.

    Like many luxury brands, Prada wants to maintain relative product pricing between wholesalers and its own stores, in much the same way Apple has succeeded globally.