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Category: Electronics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Electronics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Vingroup begins making smart televisions

    Vingroup begins making smart televisions

    VinSmart, the smartphone producing unit of Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate Vingroup, has revealed its first 55-inch smart TV.

    The smart TVs are currently being manufactured in a factory in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Industrial Park, and are set to be released around December this year, according to a Vingroup source who wished to remain anonymous.

    They will run on the Android TV operating system, which is currently being used by smart TVs produced by Japanese electronics-maker Sony, according to information leaked on tech forums on Wednesday.

    Users will be able to install applications from the Google Play Store, as well as issue voice commands in Vietnamese.

    The new smart TV has garnered thousands of comments on internet forums, many of which said it should be affordable so that it can compete with existing products of Sony and South Korean electronics-maker LG.

    VinSmart was established by Vingroup in June 2018, and produced its first smartphones just six months after. It has produced a total of eight models thus far. Last month, the company began selling four of its Vsmart models in Russia.

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  • iPhone 11 orders double that of iPhone X in Vietnam

    iPhone 11 orders double that of iPhone X in Vietnam

    Orders for iPhone 11 models soar to twice that of iPhone X last year, with more customers preferring authorized resellers for post-sale services. As of October 31, data from electronics chain FPT showed that customers have put down deposits for 12,300 iPhone 11 models, 2.5 times that of iPhone XR, XS and XS Max last year.

    In major chain Mobile World, customers have put down a deposit for 6,000 new iPhone 11 models, three times that of iPhone X last year. Another chain, CellphoneS, received 2,500 orders with deposits, twice that of last year.

    The iPhone 11 was officially released in Vietnam on Friday via authorized resellers. FPT said it could deliver up to 5,000 devices on Friday alone. Industry insiders say official iPhone 11 orders have reached a new peak in Vietnam, with the total number of these three major chains already surpassing 20,000 devices, higher than in previous years.

    Many Vietnamese are used to buying iPhones via unofficial channels, mostly hand-carried on overseas flights. There is a change in this trend, with the increase in official channel orders showing customers care more about post-sales services such as the one-year warranty from Apple. Data from the chains also show that iPhone 11 Pro Max is the most favored model, accounting for half of all orders, followed by iPhone 11. Only 10 percent of buyers ordered the iPhone 11 Pro.

    At authorized resellers, the iPhone 11 is priced from VND22 million ($951), the iPhone 11 Pro, VND31 million ($1,340) and the iPhone 11 Pro Max, VND38 million ($1,643). Apple’s market share in Vietnam fell to 5.6 percent in September, its lowest level this year, with buyers apparently waiting for the new iPhone 11 models, according to a report by market research firm GfK.

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  • Park-themed Sony Singapore store opens in Westgate

    Park-themed Sony Singapore store opens in Westgate

    Sony Singapore has opened a park-themed store at the Westgate shopping center.

    The Japanese technology and electronics company says the store has been designed to connect with customers through their lifestyle by offering consumer products from the photography, videography and audio categories through to home entertainment.

    “Each area of the store is designed to offer a different feel that is closely related to customers’ lifestyle,” said the company in a statement.

    The highlight of the new store is the provision of all things video-related such as information, products and accessories. At the Vlog Studio, customers can hone their video skills by learning video tips and tricks they can apply when shooting their videos live. Product consultants will also be on hand to provide advice on video taking if required. The Vlog Studio will feature regularly changing themed setups, starting with a park theme currently.

    Sony Singapore says the way products are displayed befits the overall park-themed nature of the store.

    “We aim to provide customers with a calm, relaxing environment to audition the products. For example, the Bravia display area features park benches as seats for families to admire the televisions and soundbars while music lovers can listen to new personal audio products … and be immersed in nature surroundings.”

  • Apple market share plunges to year’s lowest level in Vietnam

    Apple market share plunges to year’s lowest level in Vietnam

    Apple’s market share fell to 5.6 percent in September, its lowest level this year, with buyers apparently waiting for its next product.

    This kept its iPhone in fourth place, behind Xiaomi, which had a 10.7 percent share, according to a report by market research firm GfK.

    Samsung remained on top (40.7 percent) followed by Oppo (24 percent). Vivo was in fifth place (5.4 percent), selling 1.07 million phones.

    Xiaomi, which held fourth place in June, saw consistent growth since then to climb into third place in July, where it has remained.

    This was the third straight month of fall in market share for Apple, which was down 1.6 percentage points from June and 2.4 percentage points from January.

    Industry insiders said the Vietnamese tendency to wait for the upcoming iPhone model, set to be released in early November, is the reason for the falling sales, besides intense competition from Samsung and Oppo with their new products and promotions.

    On Wednesday major smartphone seller Mobile World said 10,689 people have put down deposits of VND1 million ($43.25) to prebook the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max.

    Another smartphone retailer, FPT Shop, has received 16,390 bookings.

    The two authorized Apple resellers are scheduled to deliver the phones on November 11.

    In the first nine months, Samsung and Oppo had market shares of 39.6 percent and 28.7 percent respectively followed by Apple (7 percent) and Xiaomi (5.9 percent), according to the report.

    A report released in January by We Are Social, a social media marketing and advertising agency, said around 75 million people in Vietnam, or almost 80 percent of its population, use smartphones.

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  • Apple updates HomePod with important new features

    Apple updates HomePod with important new features

    Until Apple releases a HomePod Mini, we’re stuck with the regular one that comes at a higher price. Those who already cave in to Apple and bought one will be happy to know a new software update is now rolling out to all HomePod units out there.

    The update brings a handful of new features and improvements such as the ability for Apple’s smart speaker to recognize the voices of different family members (up to six) so that it can provide a tailored experience for everyone.

    With the new handoff feature, HomePod users will be able to switch between the smart speaker and the iPhone much easier. The only thing you must do is keep your iPhone closer to the HomePod until a notification pops up on your display.

    Also, after the latest update, you will be able to add music to your HomeKit scenes. Finally, the update introduces Ambient Sounds that should allow you to play relaxing high-quality soundtracks before you go to sleep. You can also set sleep timers to fall asleep to music or Ambient Sounds.

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  • Seven more Oppo flagship stores planned for SE Asia

    Seven more Oppo flagship stores planned for SE Asia

    Six more Oppo flagship stores are planned across Southeast Asia by next year as the Chinese smartphone brand ramps up its brand profile in the region.

    The company says it will open stores in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines, in addition to its newly opened super flagship store at the Emquartier shopping mall in Bangkok.

    The brand describes its Oppo flagships as spaces where it can interact more with customers and showcase futuristic products with IoT, AR and 5G experiences including smart wearables and cloud gaming.

    The brand says it has been generating sales through more than 52,000 retail points and 44,000 sales representatives for the past decade. But now it is entering a new era in which it aims to upgrade the overall consumer in-store experience, hence the Oppo flagship openings.

    “Oppo is now already one of the top players in the region. It is important that we continue to evolve with consumers and the industry in order to stay competitive,” says Oppo Asia Pacific president Jimmy Yi.

    “The next frontier of our strategy is strengthening the premium experience and continue to innovate consumer experiences both offline and online,” he added.

  • JB Hi-Fi New Zealand falters while group grows

    JB Hi-Fi New Zealand falters while group grows

    Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has seen shares jump 8.3 percent following a strong first-quarter showing, with total group sales growth of 4.7 percent and comparable sales growth of 3.7 percent.

    However, the business’ New Zealand arm didn’t reach the highs of first quarter FY19, with total and comparable sales growth of 3.8 percent compared to 4 percent total and 9.8 percent comparable in the prior corresponding period.

    The business reaffirmed it would reach its FY20 sales target of A$7.25 billion, including $240 million in New Zealand.

    “As we have said before, retailing is a dynamic and exciting industry and JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys are market leaders in their respective sectors,” JB Hi-Fi Group chief executive Richard Murray said at the group’s AGM on Thursday.

    “In JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys, we believe we have two unique and relevant brands, particularly in the eyes of our customers.

    “With a customer-focused business model built on a diverse product offering, deep relationships with our suppliers, a high-quality multichannel offer and exceptional customer service, we are confident we will maintain our market-leading competitive position.”

    The retail group experienced pressure from shareholder groups last week over the implementation of its remuneration report, which the Australian Shareholders’ Association and ISS Governance Services recommending a vote against the report.

    However, the vote passed on Thursday, with 82 percent voting to adopt the revised report and 17 percent voting against – avoiding the 25 percent against vote that would have triggered a first strike against the JB Hi-Fi board.

    Last year, 21 percent of JB Hi-Fi shareholders voted against the report, prompting fears of a potential first strike at this year’s meeting.

  • Oppo Thailand opens Bangkok flagship Store

    Oppo Thailand opens Bangkok flagship Store

    Consumer electronics firm Oppo Thailand has opened a flagship at the Emquartier Mall in Bangkok

    The store was launched by Oppo Thailand executive VP Khun Chanon Chirayakul and The Emporium Group senior VP Manathet Annawat, who announced the brand’s intentions to penetrate a more premium market with higher levels of experience and service.

    The store offers a superior retail experience heavy on IoT and 5G innovations and a premium aesthetic interior design, allowing customers to experience interactions ranging from big-screen to smartphone-screen scale technologies. Drones, cameras, Bluetooth speakers, wireless headphones, flash chargers, AR/VR smartwear and robots make up part of the product range on offer.

    The Oppo Thailand Super Flagship offers exclusive services to users with a one-hour repair service, software upgrades and delivery service for customers.

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  • Apple AR glasses launch in 2020 reiterated as more details emerge

    Apple AR glasses launch in 2020 reiterated as more details emerge

    Apple is betting heavily on augmented reality is the next big thing and a new report by Bloomberg suggests the public could soon see the results of years of development.

    According to Mark Gurman, Apple is targeting next year for the release of its highly anticipated AR glasses. These will reportedly feature a pair of holographic displays and synchronize with the user’s iPhone to display useful information such as text, emails, or the weather. Rumors also suggest Apple Maps integration will be supported in addition to multiple games. The latter means Apple Arcade subscribers may be able to play a range of AR-backed titles while wearing the glasses.

    Apple is said to be hiring experts in both graphics and game development to ensure a range of titles are available at launch. This should help position the glasses as the instant leader in the category and hopefully replicate the long-term success of the Apple Watch. Speaking of which, Apple is reportedly considering a dedicated App Store for its AR glasses similar to the one that was recently launched for its smartwatch. From here, owners of the glasses will be able to download the range of compatible games in addition to a long list of other apps

    Like Gurman, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple’s AR glasses will arrive next year, although he goes one step further by predicting a release halfway through 2020. This means the official announcement may happen in early 2020, perhaps alongside the iPhone SE 2 and iPad Pro (2020).

    Long-term, Apple hopes its AR glasses will eventually replace the iPhone, but in the meantime, it’ll focus on pushing its AR technologies through its other devices. Specifically, the next-gen iPad Pro is reportedly going to include a dedicated 3D sensor for AR content while next year’s iPhone 12 Pro series is expected to follow suit in September with the same sensor.

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  • Samsung China’s first flagship opens, in front of Apple store

    Samsung China’s first flagship opens, in front of Apple store

    Samsung China has opened its first flagship experience store in the market – and it is right opposite its archrival.

    The almost 1000sqm Shanghai store is the brand’s largest in Asia, and stands opposite Apple’s Nanjing East Road store. The store has two sections and stocks Samsung’s full range of mobiles as well as featuring a 5G experience zone for customers to participate in large-scale cloud games and watch HD video broadcasts.

    Samsung has recently readjusted its strategy in the territory, shifting all mobile device manufacturing to India and China. The experience store is the latest development in the new strategy.

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  • Amazon launches Kindle Kids Edition

    Amazon launches Kindle Kids Edition

    Amazon just announced the Kindle Kids Edition, an e-reader geared towards children. Though the internet giant has sold Fire tablets marketed under the Kids Edition label, this is the first time Kindle e-readers have gotten the same treatment. The bundle is available for pre-order now.
    The Kindle Kids Edition comes with the base 10th-generation Kindle, along with one of four colorful, kid-friendly covers and a two-year replacement guarantee. The e-reader is a good match for kids with its portable size and month-long battery life. This model also comes with special software features for younger readers, such as Achievement Badges for reaching reading goals, Word Wise for automatic definitions of more difficult words, and an enhanced book search designed for kids.
    The bundle also includes one free year of FreeTime Unlimited, Amazon’s all-in-one subscription for children’s content. The subscription gives access to a curated selection of books, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and more content, as well as powerful parental control features. Recently, Amazon also announced that the service will also start working on Echo devices, Fire TV sticks, and Fire TVs.
    Given that FreeTime Unlimited normally costs about $3 a month for Prime members, the free subscription adds a good deal of value for potential buyers. The Kindle Kids Bundle is set to start shipping at the end of October.
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  • Xiaomi’s next Mi Band could come with NFC support in the states

    Xiaomi’s next Mi Band could come with NFC support in the states

    Xiaomi has a good thing going with its Mi Band fitness tracker. IDC said that last year, the manufacturer shipped 23.3 million units of the Mi Band 3, up 44% over 2017’s deliveries. The device accounted for 13.5% of the wearables market in 2018 behind only the 26.8% share belonging to the Apple Watch. And when the Mi Band 4 was released this past June, 1 million units were sold in the first eight days. At one point, Xiaomi was ringing up over 5,000 units an hour.
    Ever since the first Xiaomi Mi Band was launched in June 2014, demand for the product has been strong. That’s because it offers a number of useable features at a very reasonable price. And it is one of the few Xiaomi products that can be purchased in the states. For example, the Mi Band 4 is available from Walmart for less than $33. And for that price, you’re getting a band that will not only monitor your heart rate, but will also track your sleep, activities, and alert you to phone calls, app notifications, and texts.

    The Mi Band 4 also can act as a stopwatch, an alarm clock, and a timer. And while the device uses Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, a variant is available in China with support for NFC. That allows users in the country to make mobile payments through Alipay. The version of the Mi Band 4 offered in the U.S. is the one without NFC. But next June, that is going to change according to a report from TizenHelp. The report cites a source who states that the Mi Band 5 will offer NFC service to those both inside and outside of China. Besides allowing users to make mobile payments, NFC support would allow th

    The Mi Band 4 is equipped with a with a .95-inch color AMOLED display carrying a 120 x 240 resolution. The fitness tracker is equipped with 512KB of memory along with 16MB of storage and is water-resistant to a depth of 5ATM (169 feet). The battery runs as long as 20 days between charges and the device is compatible with phones running Android 4.4 or higher and iOS 9.0 and higher.
    The new report adds that the Mi Band 5 will have a more rugged, durable design and will be released during the second quarter of 2020. One feature that was rumored for the Mi Band 4 but failed to make the cut just might be found in the next iteration of the fitness band; that would be an electrocardiogram (ECG). The big breakout feature on the Apple Watch Series 4, an ECG monitors the user’s heart looking for an abnormal rhythm that could be a sign of atrial fibrillation (AFib). The latter can lead to blood clots, strokes, heart failure, and death. Just recently we told you the story of yet another person whose life was saved by the Apple Watch, with the ECG monitor providing the heroics this time. The company that builds the Mi Band for Xiaomi, Huami, has already built a smartwatch with an ECG. While the Amazfit Verge2 does track heart rhythms, its sensor has not been approved by the FDA.
    Besides working on the Mi Band 5, Huami could be developing a new smartwatch for Xiaomi that will run on Google’s Wear OS. The name of the new timepiece is rumored to be the Xiaomi Mi Watch and the device might also be offered in the United States. Hidden code found in the latest version of the Wear OS app revealed the possible existence of this device.
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  • Tiitan Holdings plans to open 50 stores in India

    Tiitan Holdings plans to open 50 stores in India

    Hong Kong-based digital accessories firm Tiitan Holdings plans to invest US$5 million to set up its first 50 branded outlets in India by March next year.

    The company announced its foray into India in collaboration with distribution firm Mak Mobility – which also makes and sells fitness band Aq-Fit under its sister firm in the territory.

    “This alliance will help us in reaching the customers in India and boost our strategy of increasing our pan-India presence and thereby reaching to customers,” said Tiitan Holdings co-founder Piyush Sharma. “Also, this collaboration will help both the companies to further leverage its innovative product range to customers across India.”

    Tiitan Holdings has plans to make its smart accessories – bluetooth speakers, headphones, intelligent charger, wireless power bank, etc, – at Mak Mobility’s manufacturing facilities.

     

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  • Luxury cellphone Vertu returns to Vietnam

    Luxury cellphone Vertu returns to Vietnam

    After a two-year hiatus, British luxury phone maker Vertu has announced resumption of sales at its Ho Chi Minh City store next month. Vertu Vietnam, a local unit of the phone maker, said genuine Vertu phones will once again be sold in Vietnam, first from an District 1 outlet in Ho Chi Minh City in October, then a Hanoi outlet the following month.

    Vertu luxury cell phones had been sold in Vietnam since 2006 by electronics distributor FPT Trading, formerly known as FPT Telecom Products Distribution Co., Ltd., through three outlets in Vietnam. In late 2017, the stores closed after Vertu ceased production in the U.K.

    The company had filed for bankruptcy in its home country, having racked up debts of some £138 million, but its business was still thriving in Vietnam.

    A representative of FPT Trading said that when Vertu’s U.K. factory was shut down, customers in Vietnam were still ordering its super-luxury phones.

    Vertu will now distribute its phones through Vertu Vietnam, a Hanoi headquartered company established in May 2019.

    Before Vertu announced its return to Vietnam, traders had observed that demand for Vertu handsets in the country had never died down.

    “Normally, we rarely see Vertu phones, but in events or places with lots of rich people, you can find 80-90 percent of them using them. For them, the latest technology is not a top priority. They use Vertu because of the phone’s anti-tapping protection features, the brand name and the fact it is crafted from luxury materials,” said Nguyen Phi Dung, a dealer in luxury hand-carried Vertu phones.

    Models that cost between VND100–150 million ($4,300 – $6,450) used to be the most popular, but customers have even bought handsets costing VND500 million to over VND1 billion ($21,500 – $43,000), Dung added.

    Vertu was founded by Finnish phone-maker Nokia in 1998, but changed hands several times later. In 2012, it was sold to Swedish investment corporation EQT; and in 2015 to Hong-Kong based investment fund Godin Holdings.

    In March 2017, Vertu was sold to Baferton Ltd., owned by Turkish businessman Hakan Uzan. However, just four months later, Uzan had to close Vertu’s U.K. factories, having failed to save it from bankruptcy.

    However, in October last year, Vertu made an unexpected return to China with a new Aster P, priced at $5,167 for black and white models, and $14,146 for its yellow model.

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  • Sharp considers suing Vietnam’s Asanzo

    Sharp considers suing Vietnam’s Asanzo

    Sharp Electronics Vietnam is considering suing Asanzo for allegedly counterfeiting evidence to prove it owns technology that actually belongs to the Japanese brand.

    The subsidiary of electronics giant Sharp said this in a statement Thursday after Asanzo said earlier this week that it has a business partnership with a company called Sharp-Roxy Hong Kong, a business alliance between Sharp and Roxy Electronic Company Ltd.

    However, Sharp Vietnam says the Sharp-Roxy Hong Kong business alliance was terminated on October 31, 2016, therefore it would be impossible for Sharp-Roxy Hong Kong to issue a partnership document to Asanzo on September 12, 2019.

    “It is obvious that the document introduced by Asanzo in their press conference on Tuesday is counterfeit,” Sharp Vietnam’s statement said.

    This action seriously damages the Sharp brand, and it is currently exploring the possibility of legal action against Asanzo, it added.

    An Asanzo release has responded that it was “surprised” by Sharp’s statement.

    Asanzo chairman Pham Van Tam told VnExpress that the document in question was sent to Asanzo by a Chinese partner who is a tier one supplier to Sharp-Roxy Hong Kong.

    “We are working with the Chinese partner and Sharp Electronics Vietnam on this matter and will inform the press later,” Tam said.

    Asanzo, a Ho Chi Minh City-based home appliances maker that dominates the rural market, is being investigated for importing components from China and replacing “made in China” stickers with Vietnamese ones.

    The investigation, which has been going on for three months, came after local newspaper Tuoi Tre reported in June that the company did not manufacture any of the components for its products and imported everything from China.

    Asanzo has countered that it imports about 70 percent of components from China and makes other parts, like TV plastic cases and remote controls, in Vietnam.

    Asanzo, founded in 2013, has the fourth largest market share in Vietnam’s TV market. It has also expanded into the refrigeration, consumer electronics, home appliances, and smartphone segments.

    In just three years, it accounted for 70 percent of the TV market in rural areas and 16 percent nationwide.

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