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Tag: asia

  • Elon Musk Says Tesla Bot Can Solve Labour Shortage, But Has No Timeline

    Elon Musk Says Tesla Bot Can Solve Labour Shortage, But Has No Timeline

    Elon Musk is at it again and this time around he has said something that will ruffle many feathers considering technologies like AI and automation are displacing many regular jobs. He has claimed that the Tesla Bot which was unveiled earlier this year can solve the labour shortage problem. The Tesla Bot which was showcased earlier this year will allegedly pack in artificial intelligence capabilities aimed at completing general-purpose repetitive tasks.

    Tesla has already started hiring for this Bot and at the Wall Street Journal Conference this year, he revealed, technologies that Tesla has developed for the sake of its self-driving capability is now being adapted to this bot.

    “With the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, I think we are creating the most advanced practical AI for navigating the real-world and you can also think of Tesla as the world’s biggest robot company – or semi-sentient robot company. The car is like a robot on 4-wheels. We can probably take that same technology and put in a humanoid robot – and have that robot be useful. Essentially, to have the humanoid part, we need to develop some custom actuators and sensors – and essentially use the Tesla Full Self-Driving and Autopilot or generally speaking real-world navigation AI in the humanoid robot,” said the world’s richest man.

    He added, ” I think this can be quite profound. I don’t know exactly when we can get this right but we will get it right.”

    Musk believes this could be a real solution to the labor shortage issue. Already in many countries, population growth is declining – Japan and China being at the forefront and even in India, the growth of the population has slowed down.

    “It has the potential to be a general substitute for human labor over time. The foundation of the economy is labor. Capital equipment is essentially distilled labour. I asked a friend of mine what should we optimize for and he said “gross profit per employee” – fully considered so you got to include the supply chain in that. The fundamental constraint is labor. There are not enough people. I can’t emphasize this enough. There are not enough people. I think one of the biggest risks to civilization is the low and rapidly declining birth rate,” he said.

    Many robotics and artificial intelligence experts have shown a sense of skepticism towards Tesla’s Bot project considering robotics leaders like Boston Dynamics haven’t managed to commercialize their technology which has been in development for years.

  • eBikeGo To Manufacture Muvi Electric Scooter In India

    eBikeGo To Manufacture Muvi Electric Scooter In India

    eBikeGo, one of India’s largest electric two-wheeler mobility platforms has acquired the product license rights to manufacture the Muvi brand of electric vehicles of Spanish automotive company Torrot in India. The Muvi electric scooter will be manufactured in India, to be sold in India as well as across the world. eBikeGo intends to capture 5 percent of the worldwide two-wheeled electric vehicles market with its manufacturing, the company said in a statement. With Muvi, eBikeGo is optimistic about influencing the adoption of EVs in India.

    Muvi is an IoT and AI-enabled electric scooter with well-connected features and can be easily controlled and monitored via a smartphone. It has a switching battery, allowing consumers to use swapping stations. Designed in Europe, Muvi is accepted by 14 e-commerce and shared mobility companies.

    “We are extremely happy to have acquired the license of manufacturing Muvi, one of the leading electric vehicles from renowned international automotive company Torrot in India. Muvi, being a technologically advanced vehicle and already operating in 12 countries, does not require any homologation to supply in these markets, opening ways for global presence,” said Dr. Irfan Khan, Founder & CEO of eBikeGo.

    The Muvi electric two-wheeler is lightweight, weighing only 83 kg. It has a power of 4.1 CV (3 kW) which is equivalent to 125 cc. The Muvi electric scooter can go up to 100 km on a single charge in Eco mode, and has a top speed of 60 kmph.

  • Samsung has invested nearly $18 bln in Vietnam

    Samsung has invested nearly $18 bln in Vietnam

    Samsung has invested $17.74 billion in Vietnam in the last 24 years, 29 percent of it in the last five.

    With eight manufacturing and research facilities in the country, the South Korean electronics giant achieved revenues of nearly $60.5 billion in the first 10 months of this year, Samsung Vietnam CEO Choi Joo Ho told Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai at a meeting in Hanoi Monday.

    It marked a 15 percent year-on-year rise despite the challenges to keeping factories going and sourcing parts amid Covid-19, he said.

    Exports accounted for nearly 89 percent of the revenues, he added.

    The company is building a $220-million research and development center in Hanoi, the first of its kind outside of its home country.

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  • Apple Music Voice Plan to go live in iOS 15.2

    Apple Music Voice Plan to go live in iOS 15.2

    Designed exclusively for Siri, Apple Music’s Voice Plan is likely to be available for users in the United States this month, after being officially unveiled back in October. The new subscription service for Apple Music offers access to a catalog of 90 million songs, thousands of playlists, and Apple Music Radio via Siri for $4.99.

    The Voice Plan is so integrated with Siri that even the subscribing process must can be done through Apple’s voice assistant. Those who wish to subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan must say “Hey Siri, start my Apple Music Voice trial.” Of course, another option would be to simply sign up through the Apple Music app.

    The service allows users to request music be played across all Siri-enable devices, including HomePod mini, AirPods, iPhone, or any other Apple device, and even when using CarPlay.

    The new tier subscription service was mentioned in release notes for the upcoming iOS 15.2 software update and seeing that Apple has just released the fifth iOS 15.2 beta software update, it’s very likely that the stable version will be made available in December.

    Unlike the standard Apple Music subscription tier that cost $9.99 per month, the Siri-controlled tier doesn’t allow subscribers to manage the service with the Music app. Also, Spatial Audio, lyrics, and the ability to save music offline aren’t supported by the Voice Plan. However, Apple Music subscribers have all the features offered by the Siri-oriented plan included.

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  • Binance Asia Invests in Private Securities Exchange

    Binance Asia Invests in Private Securities Exchange

    Binance Asia Services, which operates Binance’s Singapore entity, has taken an 18-percent stake in Hg Exchange (HGX), a Singapore-based private securities exchange.

    Binance Singapore will work with HGX in enhancing offerings of products and services supported by blockchain technology, following its strategic investment in the platform, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

    HGX, founded by PhillipCapital, PrimePartners and powered by Zilliqa’s blockchain, aims to facilitate cross-border issuance and trading of securities. Earlier this year, the platform was granted a Recognised Market Operator license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

    HGX announced its first trades in September 2020. As of mid-2021, the exchange has listed 13 different products, with a total average monthly trading volume exceeding $500,000 in the first half of the year. In addition to shares in private companies, HGX is working to list alternative assets including wines, art and real estate.

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  • Julius Baer Names Hong Kong Head of Fund Specialists

    Julius Baer Names Hong Kong Head of Fund Specialists

    Zurich-headquartered Julius Baer has bolstered its products unit in Hong Kong with the appointment of a new head of fund specialists in Hong Kong.

    Jeffrey Tam has elevated to become Julius Baer’s head of fund specialists Hong Kong, according to a statement, overseeing fund advisory for Greater China clients across traditional and alternative investments.

    Tam first joined Julius Baer in 2018 and was previously a fund specialist at Deutsche Bank Wealth Management with a particular specialization on hedge funds. He started his career at Citi Private Bank where he was a portfolio advisor for client investment.

    «We are pleased to announce that [Tam] has been promoted to take up the role of Head of Fund Specialists Hong Kong, which is a testimony to the depth of talent in our team,» Julius Baer’s Asia head of fund specialists Donald Rice.

  • Google TV gains 300 free live TV channels, offers Peacock Premium for free

    Google TV gains 300 free live TV channels, offers Peacock Premium for free

    Google made a surprising announcement early this week concerning its Google TV service in the United States. The Mountain View company teamed up with Pluto TV to offer Google TV users access to more than 300 free live TV channels.

    The new channels will be available via the Live tab, but Google TV users can also check out the Free Live TV recommendations in the For You tab. According to Google, the integration with Pluto TV will be accessible on all Google TV devices in the coming weeks.

    In other news, Google now offers six months of Peacock Premium at no extra cost. For a limited time, those who activate a new Google TV (or other Android TV OS device) in the United States will get the Peacock Premium service for free for six months. After the deal runs out, customers will have to pay $4.99 per month plus tax, but the subscription can be canceled at any time.

    If you’re a Google TV user, expect even more nice surprises next year, as Google plans to bring more ways to watch for free. Meanwhile, check out the new free live TV channels and enjoy the Peacock deal if you’re a new Google TV user.

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  • Australia to Shake Up Digital Payment Regulations

    Australia to Shake Up Digital Payment Regulations

    Australian authorities will revamp the regulatory landscape for digital payments, broadening its remit on online transaction providers, cryptocurrency exchanges, and the possible creation of a central bank digital currency.

    On crypto exchanges, Australia will begin consultation early next year on establishing a licensing framework and regulations for businesses the hold crypto assets on behalf of consumers.

    It will also consult on the feasibility of a central bank digital currency with advice provided by the end of 2022.

    Online transaction providers and buy-now-pay-later providers will also effectively see the end of unregulated business as Australia will also broaden its payment laws to cover such payment players.

    If we do not reform the current framework, it will be Silicon Valley that determines the future of our payment system, according to a report citing notes by Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

    Australia must retain its sovereignty over our payment system.

  • Zarraffa’s launches biodegradable coffee capsules

    Zarraffa’s launches biodegradable coffee capsules

    It’s the moment coffee connoisseurs have been waiting for – Zarraffa’s Coffee is now offering a premium coffee experience at home, with the launch of their all-new look 100% biodegradable and compostable Okapi coffee capsules.

    Now made locally on the Gold Coast, the capsule range will now include Zarraffa’s signature house blend, African Masai, Decaf and the new Black Label Single Origin flavor, Ethiopian Djimmah.

    Standard coffee capsules take between 150 to 500 years to break down in landfills and billions are dumped every year, making this sustainable option more appealing to consumers without having to sacrifice their morning brew.

    Pronounced oh-cop-ee, Zarraffa’s Okapi capsules are named after a rare relative of the Giraffe family and are created entirely from sugarcane and sugar beet. This means the whole capsule is made from plant materials and can be thrown in the bin guilt-free, breaking down and composting after 10 weeks.

    Capsules come in packs of 10, retailing at $9.95, and are compatible with original Nespresso coffee machines.

    Kenton Campbell, Zarraffa’s Coffee Founder, and Managing Director shares his excitement for the new launch.

    “This has been a long time in the making, and as an Aussie-owned coffee company, we’re excited to be able to offer a more environmentally friendly option that’s made locally on the Gold Coast for all of our coffee lovers at home,” he said.

    “It’s time that we get to share our new look Okapi capsules, now available at all Zarraffa’s stores and launching in line with our next Black Label Single Origin coffee flavor off the ranks – Ethiopian Djimmah.”

    Zarraffa’s Single Origin coffee is grown within a distinct geographic location, meaning either a single farm or one country.

    Influenced by specific natural attributes such as climate, landscape, and altitude, each bean delivers a bespoke flavor, creating a single distinguished coffee experience that doesn’t get lost in a blend.

    ‘Trade, not aid’ has long been Zarraffa’s ethos, with the specialty coffee retailer nurturing relationships with coffee-growing co-ops across the world.

    Ethiopian Djimmah beans originate from the Oromia region in southwestern Ethiopia by the Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative and are grown in altitudes of 1,400-1,600 meters above sea level.

    The coffee cherries are picked at peak ripeness and then laid in the sun, often directly on the earth to dry.

    As the region boasts nutrient-rich volcanic soils, this coffee has a great body and depth of flavor, with winey, earthy, chocolate notes that make up its flavor profile.

    “We’re an Aussie-owned coffee company who wants to craft a really good coffee, but also show you the origins of that coffee, not just where it came from but also who actually grew it.”

    “We don’t buy free trade, we are free trade and there’s so much meaning in that,” said Mr Campbell.

    This is Zarraffa’s second Single Origin flavor to launch this year, with Ethiopian Djimmah now available as an option to add to your favorite Zarraffa’s coffee from 60 cents per shot, or purchase as a 250g take-home coffee bean bag for $22.00, which can be ground in-store to match any style of the coffee machine.

    This bean exhibits flavors of earthy dark chocolate, rich cacao with subtle wine fruit notes. It is the perfect addition to beverages such as espresso, piccolo, cappuccino, flat white, latte or macchiato, but pairs perfectly with any favorite drink which its enhanced chocolate flavor.

    Handcrafted with over 25 years of coffee knowledge, experience the flavor of somewhere new with the Ethiopian Djimmah Black Label Single Origin beans and Zarraffa’s Coffee’s all-new Okapi capsules, now available at your closest Zarraffa’s Coffee.

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  • Coles Plus adds extra benefits

    Coles Plus adds extra benefits

    Coles customers can now earn double Flybuys points on eligible products1every time they shop in Coles Supermarkets and Coles online, thanks to subscription-based service Coles Plus.

    Since launching in February, Coles Plus member numbers have grown rapidly and now Coles is offering members unlimited free delivery2, including free Same Day Delivery at select stores3, for all orders of $50 or more – down from the previous minimum of $100.

    The new offer means customers will be able to save up to $11 per home delivery in the lead up to Christmas.

    For just $19 a month, Coles Plus members also have exclusive access to a number of benefits including a Priority Customer Care line and unlimited use of Click&Collect Rapid, which allows Coles online customers to order and pick up their groceries in less than 90 minutes – a service priced at $5 per order for non-members.

    Coles General Manager Online Commercials Karen Donaldson said Coles was listening to customer feedback and responding to changing customer needs to tailor the benefits offered to Coles Plus members.

    “In the past year we’ve seen more customers adopting a hybrid approach by shopping both in-store and online, so it’s important we expand our subscription program to reward those customers in a meaningful way,” she said.

    “We continue to see significant growth in demand for online grocery shopping and we are investing in customer experience and capacity, which is having a positive impact on customer satisfaction.

    We recently launched our shoppable Coles App enabling customers to order through the app, view the catalog, or build their shopping list and then use it to map out their trip to the supermarket aisle-by-aisle.

    “By rewarding the loyalty of our digitally-engaged customers both in-store and online, it ensures Coles continues to lead anytime, anywhere, anyhow shopping.”

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  • Tesla Releases New FSD Beta With Improved Object Detection

    Tesla Releases New FSD Beta With Improved Object Detection

    Tesla has come under fire for its FSD beta which hasn’t lived up to Elon Musk’s lofty claims of disrupting the self-driving space. In fact, it is fundamentally a level 2 ADAS system. Now it has released a new update that promises better object detection for its so-called self-driving capability.

    According to Tesla, the owners have a safety score of 98 and upwards thanks to a new object detection architecture for non-VRUs like cars, trucks, and buses marking a seven percent higher recall and 16 percent lower depth error rate and 21 percent lower velocity error for crossing vehicles.

    It also brings a new visibility network with 18.5 percent less mean relative error. Tesla also claims more room for longitudinal alignment during merges.

    This however is still a system that needs the driver to have his / her hand on the wheel, even if the car drives on its own. Tesla’s CEO, Musk has often called this system a full self-driving system but many experts claim this is just a level 2 self-driving system.

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  • Triumph Motorcycles Unearths 1901 Prototype

    Triumph Motorcycles Unearths 1901 Prototype

    A vintage Triumph collector has found the very first prototype motorcycle built by Triumph in 1901, just before Triumph started official sales in 1902. Dick Shepherd, the vintage Triumph collector came across the motorcycle and restored it to its former glory. Unveiled at the Motorcycle Live event in Birmingham this year, the 1901 Prototype machine will be showcased at a dedicated 120-year anniversary display at the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience. The 1901 Prototype will be started up and ridden in public for the first time in over 100 years on December 14, 2021.

    Speaking on the discovery and unique history behind the prototype, Dick Shepherd said, “Having been approached by a friend of a collector, who had sadly recently passed away, to evaluate an old Triumph I was incredibly excited to discover that the bike they had featured unique details that were not present on the first production Triumphs. Along with the bike, the collector had also received a letter from Triumph, dated in 1937, that outlined the bike’s unique origins and provided key details.”

    “With an engine number that is consistent with references in Minerva’s engine records of a 1901 first Triumph engagement, the historic significance of this motorcycle became incredibly clear.”

    “As a lifelong passionate fan of the history and achievements of this incredible British brand, to have discovered this amazing survivor and restored it to the glorious condition it would have been in when it first went on display in 1901, has given me an immense amount of satisfaction.”

    The 1901 Prototype was long rumoured to exist and referenced within advertising and reviews that appeared in 1901. It was developed from a standard Triumph bicycle, with an engine from Belgian manufacturer Minerva, in order to generate interest and gauge the public’s demand for a Triumph motorcycle.

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  • Google Chat in Gmail now lets users call someone directly

    Google Chat in Gmail now lets users call someone directly

    Google teased some upcoming features for the Google Chat in Gmail a few months ago but didn’t exactly say when they will be made available to the general public. With less than a month left until the end of the year, Google revealed that the ability to ring someone directly using Google Chat in Gmail is now available on mobile.

    Gmail users on Android and iOS can start or join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats in Google Chat within the mobile app. The new feature doesn’t work on anything else other than 1:1 chats at least for the moment.

    Simply select the phone or video icon in the top right cornet of a 1:1 chat to ring someone directly. Keep in mind though selecting “Join a call” from the Google Chat app will redirect to the Gmail app since this is where the call will take place.

    To join a call, select the phone or video within the 1:1 chat. You should be able to see a banner of the person you’re on a call with while on a call. Also, the call duration and a Meet icon are visible in the chat roster. Finally, the red phone or video icon within the conversation and the chat roster are used for missed calls.

    The new feature is available by default on Android and iOS devices, but you’ll need to install the latest version of Gmail. According to Google, the updated version of Gmail is now rolling out to users on both Android and iOS platforms, although it will take around two weeks to reach everyone.

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  • Adidas’s biggest brand centre in SEA launches at Sunway Pyramid

    Adidas’s biggest brand centre in SEA launches at Sunway Pyramid

    Adidas Malaysia has unveiled its largest brand center in Southeast Asia at Sunway Pyramid. Spanning 1575sqm and two stories, Adidas Sunway Pyramid worked with renowned Malaysian graphic designer, Valen Lim, to create localized experience zones in the store.  The brand incorporates Malaysian design elements, such as prominent local landmarks in the store interior, representing the Adidas Trefoil logo that mimics an authentic old-school local shop front. Adidas also collaborated with Sunway Pyramid.

    The brand incorporates Malaysian design elements, such as prominent local landmarks in the store interior, representing the Adidas Trefoil logo that mimics an authentic old-school local shop front. Adidas also collaborated with Sunway Pyramid to celebrate the launch with the medal of honor bestowed on Sunway Pyramid’s lion head.

    “The ongoing business expansion journey we are in is in line with our mission to be the best sports brand in Malaysia,” said Sharmin Photographer, country manager at Adidas Malaysia. “Despite the pandemic having been very tough for most of us, we emerge stronger as we continue to persevere with our consumer-first mindset.”

    The brand offers a range of sports performance and sports style products, together with an in-store customization zone.

    Meanwhile, the ‘sustainability zone’, designed to educate consumers on marine plastic pollution, is furnished with structures that are produced using reclaimed wood and recycled yarn to support our commitment.

    “The adidas Brand Center has been designed to meet the needs across all age groups and highlights the breadth and depth of the brand,” said Photographer.

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  • Royal Enfield Anniversary Edition 650 Twin Motorcycles Sold Out In India

    Royal Enfield Anniversary Edition 650 Twin Motorcycles Sold Out In India

    Royal Enfield has sold 120 units of its limited-edition anniversary edition 650 Twins motorcycles in under 2 minutes on December 6, 2021. Launched in celebration of Royal Enfield’s 120th anniversary, the 60 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 motorcycles, along with 60 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles attracted an overwhelming response from motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country. A total of 120-anniversary edition motorcycles were available for customers in India on a first-come-first-serve basis. The sale opened at 7:00 pm IST on December 6, 2021, and all the bikes were sold out within record time.

    Only 480 Anniversary Edition bikes of the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 will be built. The 120 bikes earmarked for the India market have been sold out in under 2 minutes.

    The entire package included the anniversary edition motorcycles along with a special blacked-out Royal Enfield Genuine Motorcycling Accessories kits as well as an extended warranty for the 4th and 5th year over and above the 3 year OEM warranty. The limited-edition motorcycles will also be available for customers to buy in South-East Asia, Americas, and European markets soon.

    The unique, rich black-chrome tank color scheme, has been developed in-house, with Royal Enfield’s industry-leading chroming technology at the company’s original 1950’s manufacturing factory in Thiruvottiyur, Chennai – India.

    Only 480 special edition individually numbered motorcycles will be built, with 120 units each for India, Europe, the Americas, and South-East Asia. The 650 Twins have been instrumental in Royal Enfield’s global expansion and success over the past few years.

    To make each motorcycle even more exclusive, the tank top badge will feature the unique serial number of each motorcycle indicating that it is 1 of 60 unique motorcycles in any of the four regions mentioned around the world.

    The unique, rich black-chrome tank color scheme, has been developed in-house, with Royal Enfield’s industry-leading chroming technology at the company’s original 1950’s manufacturing factory in Thiruvottiyur, Chennai – India. The motorcycles are chromed with an alternate, sustainable trivalent eco-friendly process. To complement the black chrome tanks, both the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 feature completely blacked-out components, with the engine, silencer, and other elements in an array of black color schemes. There are no mechanical changes to the motorcycles, otherwise.

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