Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Apple could be forced to use USB-C ports on older iPhone models in India

    Apple could be forced to use USB-C ports on older iPhone models in India

    Just as the EU did with its common charger rule that led Apple to equip the iPhone 15 series with USB-C ports replacing the company’s proprietary Lightning ports, India added a similar rule of its own. But Reuters reports that Apple met with the country’s IT Ministry at the end of last month and during the closed-door meeting, Apple requested that some exemptions be added to the new common charger rules in the country. India’s new rule requires all electronic devices to charge USB-C by June 2025.

    One part of the new rules would force Apple to replace the Lightning port on older iPhone models with a USB-C port and that is the issue that has Apple meeting with India’s IT Ministry. While the EU’s rule change only affected new iPhone models released after the rule takes effect in 2024, Apple decided that instead of having to change things up in the middle of the iPhone 15 release cycle, it would switch to USB-C starting with the release of the 2023 iPhone models last September.

    India’s new rules, on the other hand, must be followed for all electronic devices sold in the country regardless of when a specific device was originally released. This would require Apple to change the charging and data transfer ports on older models it sells in India including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and the iPhone 13. To Apple, this would be a hardship and would probably raise the prices of these models which would be a problem in a developing country like India.

    Since the majority of iPhones sold in India are older models (again, due to India being a developing country), the common charger rule in India could hit Apple hard in India. Apple says that if it must make the changes to older iPhone models, the company won’t meet targets for India’s Production-Linked Incentive scheme (PLI). A pet project of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PLI gives manufacturers financial incentives for increasing production in India and making investments in the country.

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  • Beeper Mini is a new app for iMessage on Android that turns your phone number into a blue bubble

    Beeper Mini is a new app for iMessage on Android that turns your phone number into a blue bubble

    Blue bubble mania continues with the release of a new app that lets you use iMessage on Android. However, this app differs from the rest in that it allows you to use your actual phone number, instead of an email address, so you can really fool your iPhone friends into thinking you’re part of the same ecosystem.

    Beeper Mini is a new app from the folks at Beeper, the unified chatting app with a mac app companion, which lets you use iMessage, Telegram, Discord, RCS, and others on your Android device. Beeper Mini, however, allows Android users to send and receive only iMessages without having to provide their Apple ID credentials. The app is still in its early stages, but it already supports many of the most important iMessage features, such as group chats, high-resolution media sharing, emoji reactions, voice messages, and more.

    Setting up Beeper Mini is simple. Just download the app from Google Play, tap on “continue with Google” to sign in with Google, grant the app permission to access your SMS conversations and contacts list, and then you’re on your way. Once you’ve finished setting things up, the app will seamlessly pull in your previous SMS conversations with iPhone users and upgrade them to iMessage.

    These conversations will be arranged in a list like most chat apps, though you can pin certain conversations to the top. From the home screen, you can tap on the “New chat” button, swipe right to mark a conversation as unread, or swipe left on a conversation to mute it. From the top bar, you can change your display name and profile picture or access the app’s settings, where you can modify the theme, toggle read receipts, mute sounds, toggle push notifications, or connect your Apple ID — a step that is not completely necessary.

    After the Nothing Chats and Sunbird debacle, you would be one hundred percent justified in questioning the security of this app, and so Beeper has taken several steps to gain the trust of its security-conscious users. The Beeper Mini team published a deep technical dive into how the app works, along with other technical documents and source code shared by the developer.

    It is the opinion of those who know more about code than yours truly, such as Journalist and Android expert Mishaal Rahman, that the app is the first truly successful reverse-engineering of iMessage that doesn’t relay messages from a Mac Mini server farm or that requires you to sign in to your iCloud account.

    In fact, the Beeper Mini team is so sure that their app is air-tight that they’ve even extended an invitation to security researchers to verify all of their claims. Boldly claiming the below and stating that they’re different from those “other apps”.

    Unlike every other attempt to build an Android app like this, Beeper Mini does not use a Mac relay server in a data center. Instead, the app connects directly to Apple servers to send and receive end-to-end encrypted messages. Encryption keys never leave your device. No Apple ID is required. Beeper does not have access to your Apple account.

    Beeper Mini will be free for the first seven days. After the 7-day free trial expires, the app will cost $1.99 per month. Beeper says the monthly cost of the app is so that the team can continue to improve the app by adding new features, and of course, to earn money since the app will be ad-free. This is a small price to pay if having the ability to use iMessage on Android is important to you.

    Beeper Mini can work alongside the Messages app on your Android device. Beeper Mini will only handle iMessage conversations and anything that is not iMessage will continue to come in through your default SMS/RCS app. This means that you might need to use two apps — one for RCS and one for iMessage — on your Android device for now.

    If this is an issue for you, you can always use Beeper Cloud, which is the new name for the original Beeper app. This app can incorporate iMessage, RCS, and many other messaging apps you may be using. However, please note that the cloud app will require you to sign in with your Apple ID and to have access to a Mac or PC for the initial setup. These extra steps are not needed on the Beeper Mini app since it connects directly to the remote network instead of using a server.

    However, Beeper’s product roadmap states that Beeper Mini will continue to expand by adding more iMessage features such as importing past chat history, Facetime audio and video calls, and scheduled messages. Additionally, the app will gain support for Android OS chat bubbles, SMS, WhatsApp, and Signal, plus the other 10 non-encrypted chat networks that are currently supported on the Beeper Cloud app — among other planned features.

  • Rice export prices soar to new record

    Rice export prices soar to new record

    Vietnam rice export prices have reached a new peak of US$663 per ton, the highest price in the world right now, amid rising global demand.

    On Monday prices rose 2% in a single day to $663. Rice from Vietnam’s competitor Thailand has also risen 8% in the last four weeks to $625 while Pakistan’s prices have risen 9% to $600.

    Traders say that rising global demand and declining supply in Vietnam are the reasons for the price hike.

    Dinh Ngoc Tam, deputy CEO of rice exporter Co May, said that India, which used to account for 40% of the global rice market, has not shown any sign of lifting its non-basmati white rice export ban since July.

    Concerns of trade restrictions and the impact of El Nino weather have prompted countries to increase their purchase to pump up reserves, which has sent export prices skyward.

    Up to 90% of Vietnam’s rice varieties are high quality and the country has enough for both domestic needs and exports. It can ship up to 8 million tons globally this year, according to Deputy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.

    In the first 11 months, Vietnam exported 7.75 million tons worth a total of $4.4 billion, up 36% in value. Many buyers from the Philippines, Indonesia and China are competing to buy the rice.

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  • Coffee exports hoped to set new record

    Coffee exports hoped to set new record

    Vietnam’s coffee exports in 2023 are expected to break the record of US$4 billion in export value set in the previous year.

    According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country shipped 1.36 million tonnes of coffee abroad, earning nearly $3.5 billion.

    Vietnam entered the new 2023-2024 coffee crop which began in October, when the export price reached a record high, at $3,603 per tonne, up 8.9% month-on-month, and 40.7% year-on-year.

    With over 710,000 hectares, Vietnam ranks sixth in the world in terms of coffee farming area, but has the second biggest output thanks to high yields (1.75-1.85 million tonnes).

    However, out of the total area, only 185,000 hectares have received sustainable production certificates of different kinds.

    Experts advised localities to expand such areas to meet the strict requirements of international markets.

    At present, the E.U. is Vietnam’s biggest coffee importer, followed by the U.S. and Japan. Although coffee exports to China do not account for a high proportion, many Vietnamese businesses are paying much attention to this market which has an average increase of more than 25% per year in imports.

    However, this is also a highly competitive market, requiring businesses to invest in diversifying specialty coffee products and processed coffee, and to meet strict quality standards.

    Coffee market expert Nguyen Quang Binh analysed that currently, major markets such as the E.U. and the U.S. are changing their consumption demand from importing coffee beans to processed coffee. Therefore, Vietnam must also prioritise investment in deep processing facilities to increase the value of coffee products and aim for sustainable development.

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  • Dollar gains little against dong

    Dollar gains little against dong

    The U.S. dollar rose against the Vietnamese dong Wednesday morning.

    Vietcombank sold the dollar at VND24,450, up 0.08% from Tuesday.

    The State Bank of Vietnam raised its reference rate by 0.10% to VND23,951.

    The greenback went up 0.08% to VND24,700 on the black market.

    It has increased against the dong by 3.03% since the beginning of the year.

    Globally, the dollar was near a two-week high against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as investors assessed U.S. economic data that showed a cooling labour market, while wagering the Federal Reserve will cut rates next year.

    The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, was 0.019% higher at 103.99, having climbed 0.3% overnight. The index is up 0.5% this month, after sliding 3% in November, its steepest monthly decline in a year.

    The euro was at $1.0795, having dropped to three-week low of $1.07785 on Tuesday.

    Sterling was last at $1.2601, up 0.06% on the day. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.03% to 147.12 per dollar.

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  • Strava brings free messaging to iOS and Android

    Strava brings free messaging to iOS and Android

    Strava made an exciting move this week, announcing messaging for iOS and Android users. The popular mobile app for athletes revealed a new feature that will be available for free to all its users, Messaging.

    Launched this week, the new feature offers users two options: direct (one-on-one) and group messages. In addition to these key features, Strava’s messaging tool provides more functionality in the forms of even more features:

    • Easily share Activities and Routes to messaging to help assist in coordination and celebration.
    • Message creators can personalize the name of group chats for a more tailored experience.
    • Athletes can bring motivation, hype and even some friendly competition through message reactions, gifs, and replies.

    The Messaging feature on Strava can be customized based on the user’s desired experience on the platform. For starters, Strava users can set their preferences on who can invite them to a Group Message or who can message them directly.

    Also, the feature’s settings will be automatically set based on a user’s profile visibility, but it can be adjusted to receive messages to and from “Following,” “Mutuals,” or “No One,” under settings in the Strava app.

    To send a message, simply tap the corresponding button on the profile of the Strava user you wish to message. Remember that while you can send messages to Strava users who follow you, you may not be able to message to a user depending on their privacy controls.

  • Google Messages begins to roll out a redesigned split-level text field with shortcuts

    Google Messages begins to roll out a redesigned split-level text field with shortcuts

    In addition to the many new features coming to Google Messages soon in honor of RCS surpassing one billion monthly active users, the app is also preparing to unveil an update to its text field, introducing a dedicated shortcuts bar and a left-aligned layout.

    Previously, the RCS/text message field occupied the right two-thirds of the screen, with key functions like “plus,” gallery, and Magic Compose disappearing as you typed. Emoji and voice memo shortcuts resided on the opposite end, creating a scattered and sometimes frustrating user experience.

    this changes with the new layout which has the the interface cleverly splitting into two distinct lines as you start typing. The text field now takes a bold left-aligned stance, mirroring the flow of conversation. This shift is accompanied by a dedicated shortcuts bar that keeps “plus,” Magic Compose, the gallery, and the voice recorder readily accessible, regardless of text input.

    The voice recorder feature is also no longer relegated to the sidelines, as it now gets its own button, possibly in preparation for its integation with the Moods feature announced last week. The new split-level interface, with the text field on top and the shortcuts bar below, might come across as jarring at first, but I believe will be beneficial as more features are added and more real estate may be needed for additional shortcuts.

    Some early adopters in the Google Messages beta program already see this text field transformation, though wider availability is yet to come. However, with Google actively rolling out the update alongside other noteworthy features announced earlier this week, it’s safe to say Google is putting all their weight behind making Google Messages a highly competitive messaging app and not afraid to roll out these changes more widely.

  • WhatsApp now lets iOS users share media in original quality

    WhatsApp now lets iOS users share media in original quality

    WhatsApp isn’t known for the quality of media files people share between them, in fact, the opposite. Although an update rolled out last summer added the option to share videos and photos in HD format, WhatsApp users still can’t send media files in the original quality.

    However, that’s about to change, as the app is now getting a new update that allows WhatsApp users to send media files like photos and videos in original quality.

    For now, the update is only making its way to iOS users, so if you’re using an iPhone, you should be looking for WhatsApp version 23.24.73. The new stable build was spotted by WABetaInfo, which also posted the official changelog.

    Apart from the ability to share original quality media as a file, the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS introduces a couple of other new features. For example, WhatsApp users can now start voice chats without ringing in large groups.

    Also, developers have added new bubbles in chat to help users see missed ongoing and completed calls. Finally, WhatsApp users on iOS can now quickly react to a Status using their avatar by tapping “Reply” and selecting one of the 6 available avatar reactions.

    As per WhatsApp’s changelog, these features will be rolled out over the coming weeks, so if you don’t see one or more of these changes, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.

    Keep in mind that in order to send original quality media as file, you’ll have to tap “+” in chat, click Document, and then “Choose Photo or Video” to get started.

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  • Gold prices return to near historic peak

    Gold prices return to near historic peak

    SJC gold prices Monday continued its upward trend and is now close to its historic peak secured last week.

    Gold bar rose 0.54% to VND74.4 million ($3,069.62) per tael Monday morning, inches away from the historic peak of VND74.6 million achieved on the morning of Nov. 29 before closing the day at VND73.8 million.

    Gold ring price rose 0.24% to VND62.8 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Vietnam’s gold price is now around VND13 million more expensive that global rates, according to Vietcombank data.

    Globally gold prices bolted to an all-time high above $2,100 per ounce on Monday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks elevated traders’ confidence that the U.S. central bank could cut interest rates early next year, Reuters reported.

    Spot gold was up 0.7% at $2,085.76 per ounce. Earlier in the session, bullion surged to an all-time high of $2,111.39.

    Powell on Friday said “the risks of under- and over-tightening are becoming more balanced,” but the Fed is not thinking about lowering rates right now.

    Traders are now pricing in a 70% chance for a rate cut by the U.S. central bank by next March, CME’s FedWatch Tool showed.

    Backing market sentiment, data last week pointed out cooling inflationary pressures and a gradually easing labour market, with Fed Governor Christopher Waller flagging a possible rate cut if inflation continues to decline.

    The latest survey by the World Gold Council (WGC) shows that 24% of global central banks plan to increase gold reserves in the next 12 months as they are increasingly skeptical about the role of the U.S. dollar as a reserve asset.

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  • Lenskart builds SE Asia expansion

    Lenskart builds SE Asia expansion

    India-based eyewear retailer Lenskart plans to open stores in Thailand and the Philippines to expand in Southeast Asia.

    “We’re looking at opening 300 to 400 stores in southeast Asia in the next two years. Initially, we go slow, but we like to go deep,” Peyush Bansal, Lenskart cofounder and CEO said.

    “We’ve been in Singapore for the last three years, and we are going to Thailand this year. After a year in Thailand, we’ll go to the Philippines.”

    “There’s a lot to do in Asia now,” said Bansal. “In Singapore, we now have 70 stores. One in three people wear Lenskart glasses. It’s a smaller geography but the impact is bigger.”

    He noted that the brand is considering opening stores in Indonesia and Malaysia.

    In addition, the company is considering inorganic expansion opportunities as part of its regional expansion plans, following its acquisition of a majority stake in Japanese eyewear label Owndays last year.

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  • Birkenstock opens House of Birkenstock in Singapore

    Birkenstock opens House of Birkenstock in Singapore

    German shoe manufacturer Birkenstock has launched its House of Birkenstock in Singapore, marking the first of its kind in Asia.

    The store, located in one of the Duxton shophouses, combines the local design elements with its traditional German heritage. It is also Birkenstock’s seventh location in Singapore.

    The store’s entrance includes a traditional Chinese wooden signboard, handmade paper lanterns and the installation of vintage tiles. There is also a 6-meter-high Birkenstock feature wall and a contemporary Peranakan water feature.

    The space offers more than 200 models and is also the first store in Southeast Asia to offer the Birkenstock 1774 collection.

    In addition, Birkenstock plans to introduce different services in the future, including customization and repairs, strengthening its sustainable commitment.

    The brand said it is growing its presence in the APMA (Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa) region with new store openings in selected locations.

    Birkenstock named Tiffany Wu as MD for Greater China last month to lead the footwear company’s expansion in the region.

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  • Chinese bubble tea chain Heytea arrives in Malaysia

    Chinese bubble tea chain Heytea arrives in Malaysia

    Chinese tea brand Heytea has opened its first store at Kuala Lumpur’s newly-opened shopping destination, The Exchange TRX, as part of Heytea’s ambition to have a larger footprint in the country.

    The new store takes over an 80sqm space of the shopping mall’s Level C.

    The Malaysia launch, which the company described as its “important business destination in Southeast Asia,” follows Heytea’s entry into the UK on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue earlier this year. Malaysia also marks Heytea’s second Southeast Asian market after Singapore, where it entered in 2018.

    The company is also plotting its US debut, with the first store scheduled to open in Manhattan this month.

    Heytea is among the major retailers making market debuts at The Exchange TRX, including Japan’s Seibu department store, Gentle Monster, Shake Shack, and Drunk Elephant.

    Founded in 2012, the Shenzhen-headquartered tea chain is known for modern interior design and “new-generation Chinese tea drinks.”

  • Italian outerwear label Herno makes global duty-free debut in Korea

    Italian outerwear label Herno makes global duty-free debut in Korea

    Italian luxury brand Herno has made its first presence in South Korea, in partnership with Shinsegae International. The launch also marks Herno’s first presence in a duty-free shop.

    Located on the ninth floor of the Shinsegae Duty-Free Myeongdong branch, the store offers its latest winter collection in a variety of colors, with products made primarily of cashmere, silk, goose down, and nylon.

    “Even though outerwear is expensive, there is a perception that people buy high-quality products and wear them for a long time, so the demand for luxury padding is steadily increasing,” said a representative for Shinsegae International Herno.

    “As the number of travelers leaving overseas, including foreign tourists, is rapidly increasing ahead of the end of the year. We are expecting a good response from the Shinsegae Duty Free Myeongdong branch.”

    Herno, founded in 1948 by Giuseppe Marnezi, is notable for not showing its logos, in line with the quiet luxury trend. The decision to create a duty-free store was made in reaction to South Korea’s emergence as a centre of luxury fashion, the recent growth in international tourists visiting Korea, and the rapid increase in overseas travel by Koreans.

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  • PepsiCo loses tax fight with ATO

    PepsiCo loses tax fight with ATO

    PepsiCo has been ordered by the Federal Court to pay royalty withholding tax and, in the alternative, diverted products tax (DPT), which would apply.

    The first time it has been considered in court, DPT is a new tool to ensure large global businesses operating in the country are paying the correct amount of tax by the level of their economic activities.

    The tool was designed to prevent the diversion of profits offshore through contrived arrangements and imposes a 40 percent tax penalty rate to be paid upfront.

    It is a separate tax liability from income tax; therefore, a taxpayer may have an income tax assessment and DPT assessment for the same period.

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has been targeting arrangements where royalty withholding tax has not been paid because payments have been mischaracterized, mainly for using intangible assets, such as trademarks.

    “The PepsiCo matter is a lead case for our strategy to target arrangements where royalty withholding tax should have been paid,” remarked Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Saint.

    “While there may still be more to play out in this matter, it sends strong signals to other businesses with similar arrangements to review and consider their tax outcomes.”

    The Tax Avoidance Taskforce (TAT) focuses on multinational tax avoidance and profit shifting. Most large businesses are meeting their tax obligations; however, the ATO said it will continue to use all the tools to challenge those who don’t.

    Since 2016, the TAT has secured more than $27.7 billion in additional tax revenue from multinational enterprises and large public and private businesses (up to 31 August this year).

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  • Kraft US launches plant-based Mac & Cheese

    Kraft US launches plant-based Mac & Cheese

    Kraft US has launched its first plant-based Mac & Cheese, strengthening its plant-based portfolio in the market.

    The range features Original and White Cheddar flavors and is available now nationwide through early next year.

    Kraft NotMac&Cheese is an example of the brand’s plan to expand its portfolio of plant-based solutions across a broad range of categories.

    “The Kraft Heinz Not Company creates plant-based versions of fan-favorite foods that taste like the real thing, yet don’t require people to change their eating habits drastically,” said Lucho Lopez-May, CEO of Kraft Heinz Not Company.

    “NotCo brings its revolutionary AI technology that has a proven track record in creating mouthwatering plant-based foods to Kraft – the beloved mac & cheese brand that sells over a million boxes daily.”

    In addition, the introduction expands on The Kraft Heinz Not Company’s existing plant-based options, which include Kraft NotCheese Slices and NotMayo. The Kraft Heinz Company plans to expand into five additional categories and begin worldwide operations next year.

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