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Tag: asia

  • Vietnam is fastest growing market for m-payments

    Vietnam is fastest growing market for m-payments

    Vietnam has seen the highest growth in mobile payments in the past year, according to the Global Consumer Insights Survey 2019 conducted by PwC.

    The survey, which covered more than 21,000 respondents from 27 territories, showed that the percentage of consumers using these services in Vietnam increased to 61%, up from 37% in 2018. The 24 percentage point increase was also the largest in the six Southeast Asian countries that took part in the survey.

    In Singapore, mobile payments climbed 12 percentage points from 34% in 2018 to 46% in 2019. Since the government began encouraging digital payments in late 2017, the latest results indicate a payoff in the efforts by the government and other mobile payments players.

    The rest of Southeast Asia also saw increases in mobile payments with Thailand up 19 percentage points to 67%, Malaysia up 17 percentage points to 40%, and Philippines up 14 percentage points to 45%, respectively. Indonesia reflected the slowest increase in the usage of mobile payments at just 9 percentage points to 47%.

    In the Middle East, which was the second fastest growing in mobile payments adoption globally after Vietnam, the percentage increased by 20 percentage points to 45%. China remains unchanged at 86%. Across all territories, 34% of consumers paid for purchases using mobile payments, up from 24% a year earlier.

    Buying through social media

    According to the survey, consumers in Asia are more socially engaged online than those in Europe and the Americas. Respondents in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam led the pack globally in making purchases directly through social media posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, with 50%, 49% and 48% of survey respondents indicating they do so, respectively.

    Globally, only 21% of respondents made purchases directly through social media. Among product and service categories, the survey found that social media is most likely to affect purchasing decisions related to fashion.

    Charles Loh, Southeast Asia Consumer and Industrial Products Consulting Leader, PwC, said: “Social media platforms are already mature in Southeast Asia. The trend in online shopping, moving forward, is the consolidation of e-commerce players with fewer big players providing that gateway. There seems to be a consolidator present in every market.”

    Voice technology

    In the survey, 9% of global consumers said they use voice technology to shop online weekly or more frequently. As shopping by voice continues to catch on, companies should be thinking beyond mobile to consider how voice technology in homes, cars, and elsewhere will affect customer experience. The bar for brand leadership will continue to shift as organizations launch increasingly consumer-friendly technologies.

    Charles Loh, Southeast Asia Consumer and Industrial Products Consulting Leader, PwC, said:

    “Voice technology is widely used in instant messaging communication platforms. It’s only a matter of time that we see adoption here in Southeast Asia”

    Shirish Jain, payments director, Strategy, said: “Asia remains the powerhouse in leading the customer shift to mobile payments with the report reflecting eight Asian nations in the top 10, and six are in Southeast Asia, as the results show. Vietnam, with its relatively low penetration in 2018, has registered the highest growth as mobile platforms demonstrate a significant increase in convenience over traditional means of commerce.

    “This contrasts with Singapore that also shows strong gains. However, the sophisticated and established traditional ecosystem, as well as abundant and potentially confusing number of choices in mobile payments can also slow down adoption.

    “This finding highlights a timely confluence of four principal factors: stages of economic growth cycles driving affluence and disposable income; the availability of platforms that address local demographic needs including support for cash-on-delivery; the lower cost for retailers and providers; and a marked increase in convenience.”

  • Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    In celebration of Mother’s Day, celebrity-loved Vive Cake Boutique welcomes the special day with an exclusive collaboration with Israel’s premium Body Care brand Sabon, to create a special cake to join two whimsical cakes true to Founder Vivien Lau’s aesthetic creation.

    “Mother’s Day is one of the most important occasions for my team and I to honour and celebrate,” shares Ms Vivien Lau, Founder of Vive Cake Boutique. “Inspired by the strength, patience, grace, and beauty of women all around the world, we have created a line of exquisite treats to be gifted and shared with mothers all over Hong Kong.”

    Inspired by Sabon’s Green Rose collection, ‘Supermom’ (HK$680, 1lb), the cake is tiered cake dressed with a green and pink buttercream frosting signifying appreciation of the beloved mothers and elegance of women. A bouquet of roses and daisies sit atop the cake, further fine tuning its perfection. Apart from its stunning aesthetic, this delicious cake is heaven-sent for chocolate lovers as it is made with chocolate sponge cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry agar. Customers who purchase this cake will get a free Sabon Signature Green Rose Silky Body Milk sample and an invitation to join the Soap Delicatessen workshop to DIY your own soap at a discounted price of HK$600 for 2 people (originally HK$800). Those who complete the workshop will receive an additional HK$50 shopping discount upon a HK$300 purchase.

    Let the special woman in one’s life know there is no one like her with the all-new ‘Mother Like No Other’ (HK$880, 1lb), a multi-tiered pastel pink cake, adorned with flower-shaped marzipan and edible gold leafs. The cake topped with a bouquet of fresh eustoma, Kenya roses and lilies, on which the message ‘mother like no other’ float, in golden letters. Coming in three flavour favourites, including  vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam; chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberry agar; and red velvet butter cake with cream cheese, this cake is sure to satisfy the special women in one’s life.

    For those who would like to thank their mothers for all the wonderful things they have done for them, but don’t quite know how to say it, VIVE’s ‘Voted Best Mom’ (HK$580, 1lb; HK$400, 0.5lbs) shares the message for you. The vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam, gets a new look with lavender cream, a colour which signifies love and trust.

    The special Mother’s Day cakes are available from 29 April to 31 May. To capture the convivial occasion of appreciation and sharing, a special promotional period will be introduced from 29 April to 5 May, where guests are invited to enjoy a special limited time offer of a 20% discount, applicable in both Central and Harbour City pop-up stores. Orders must be placed three days in advance.

    Vive Cake Boutique has proved a roaring success story since being launched with online orders in 2014 by founder and creative director Vivien Lau, who discovered her passion and talent by chance, making her first cake for a friend’s birthday.

    Her signature ‘handmade with love’, cupcakes, macarons, cookies, confectioneries and tailor-made cakes for weddings and special occasions, are all made from scratch with less sugar and finest ingredients sourced from all over the world.

    VIVE’s widespread acclaim includes Time Out’s listing among the “crème de la crème of Hong Kong’s bespoke dessert makers” – with a massive celebrity and socialite following including Aaron Kwok, Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Niki Chow, Sharon Chan, Miki Yeung, Ella Koon, Myolie Wu and more.

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  • Relax, Eat and Enjoy Special Discounts with Mastercard

    Relax, Eat and Enjoy Special Discounts with Mastercard

    Want to stay away from the coming summer heat while filling yourself up with your favorite food and drinks? Satisfy your cravings in the comfort of your own home! You can now enjoy special offers and discounts when ordering from Deliveroo, with Mastercard!

    From May 1 to December 31, 2019, Mastercard cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts when they order from the Deliveroo website or mobile app with their Mastercard cards.

    New Deliveroo Customers

    First-time Deliveroo customers can enjoy a HK$20 discount on their first three orders worth HK$100 or more (excluding delivery fees) when paying with Mastercard by simply registering and using the promo code “MC2019NEW” before checkout.

    Current Deliveroo Customers

    Current Deliveroo customers who use their Mastercard cards can enjoy a HK$25 discount twice a month on orders of HK$250 or more (excluding delivery fees)1 by applying the corresponding monthly promo codes2 before checkout. Order now to avail of this exclusive treat.

    Treat your taste buds and fill yourself up! Tap on your mobile phones or devices now with Mastercard!

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  • Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow HOFEX returns to Hong Kong 7-10 May

    Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow HOFEX returns to Hong Kong 7-10 May

    HOFEX, Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow will return to Hong Kong for its biggest year yet 7-10 May at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), where the biennial show will occupy almost every available exhibition space. Expecting more than 2,800 international exhibitors and 42,000+ trade buyers, HOFEX 2019 will cement its position as the region’s largest and most important meeting place for the hospitality industry. Occupying an exhibition space of over 70,000 m2 across 3 levels of HKCEC, trade visitors will be able to sample and source everything for the food and hotel industry. The show’s opening ceremony, which will take place on 7 May 2019 will be attended by The Honourable Paul CHAN Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP Financial Secretary, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. HOFEX is organised by UBM Asia and is co-located with ProWine Asia and Retail Asia Conference & Expo.

    74 exhibiting countries and regions and 48 national and regional groups and pavilions make the 2019 edition of HOFEX the most international year yet. In addition to long-supporting exhibitors including Japan, Australia, UK, USA, Germany, Austria and Spain, this year will welcome newcomers AANA – Agence de l’Alimentation Nouvelle-Aquitaine France, AREI Latvia, Association PorkColumbia, British Columbia, Ministry of Agriculture Czech Republic, Spanish Beef, VLAM Belgium and more. 

    Prolific business opportunities 
    This year’s tradeshow has been strategically organised to optimise buyers’ experiences with the aim of maximising networking potential across the vast space.

    Hall 1 will house Bakery & Confectionery @ HOFEX, where global and local manufacturers can meet with buyers from the ever-growing Asia-Pacific bread, cakes, pastries and confectionery markets; Bean2Cup @ HOFEX, where baristas, café owners, coffee producers and suppliers will find everything from coffee beans to espresso machines; Foodservice Equipment & Catering Supplies, where state-of-the-art international catering equipment will be showcased; and Tableware & Hospitality Supplies, Hospitality Technology and Hospitality Design, where hospitality professionals from restaurants, resorts, hotels, spas and more will find ideas and inspiration to build  a more streamlined business – from manufacturing and production to packaging, design and facilities.

    Food and Drinks is in Hall 3 & 5 where visitors can enjoy local as well as exotic offerings from the many international pavilions, ranging from frozen and chilled seafood to cured and fresh meat, snacks and beverages, baked goods, confectionery, ice cream, canned foods and more; co-located show ProWine Asia, the region’s leading wine and spirits trade fair showcasing premium wine, beers, professional wine equipment and accessories from around the world; and Meat @ HOFEX, dedicated to the surging demand for prime meats across APAC and featuring the world’s leading meat purveyors from Colombia, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, the UK and more. Meat @ HOFEX will also be home to a new star of the show, HOFEX’ first food truck, sponsored by the Butcher’s Club. This mobile kitchen will roam the exhibition floor preparing and delivering meat from the Butchery Skills Challenge to visitors adjacent to Beer Street, serving up a match made in heaven.

    Hall 5 will house the co-located Retail Asia Conference & Expo (RACE). Presenting the latest catering and hospitality innovations, retail technologies and solutions including everything from floor-cleaning robots with 3D cameras to revolutionary Point of Sale systems and internet retailing. RACE provides trade professionals at HOFEX with an unrivalled opportunity to enhance operational performance. 

    On-site Events – Hong Kong International Culinary Classic and Mixed Barista Arts

    The culinary heart of the fair, the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) will see over 900 chefs, cooks, pastry chefs and apprentices from across the globe hone their culinary skills at this esteemed competition. This year, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited will be the Platinum Sponsor of the event, showcasing its latest ‘All-Electric Kitchen’ concept. Endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS), the competitions include a Live Afternoon Tea Set Competition, the Gourmet Team Challenge and for the first time a Gelato competition sponsored by Bonny Foodservice Products, which provides a unique chance to mingle with the world’s best Gelato makers. The HKICC is also home to the impressive Butchery Skills Challenge sponsored by Sutherlands Gastronomy, where international teams of talented butchers will show off their passion, precision and power in a bid to be the best.

    Meanwhile, baristas from across the region will battle it out during the popular Mixed Barista Arts. Taking on a brand-new competition format this year, the 4-in-1 challenge will be comprised of 4-barista arts, namely single origin coffee knowledge and tasting ability, grinder skills and knowledge, latte art and ability to work as a team.

     “This is the 32nd year we are hosting HOFEX and we are proud to say that 2019 will be bigger and better than ever”, says Mr. Daniel Cheung, General Manager of UBM Asia. “For four days, the HKCEC will once again be transformed into a launchpad for new products and brands, a platform for like-minded professionals to connect and do business as well as providing an unmatched opportunity to gather industry knowledge.” 

    HOFEX is organised by UBM Asia, the largest tradeshow organiser in Asia with over 290 events, combining local expertise with a global industry network to provide high-quality events and the best customer experience for event attendees from all over the world. 

    Pre-registration for HOFEX 2019 is now open until 18 April on the website. Walk-ins are available on-site, and visitors may register and pick up a pass outside Hall 1. The show is open to trade professionals and media only and visitors must be aged 18 or above. Pre-registration passes include a complimentary 4-day show admission badge to HOFEX, ProWine Asia and Retail Asia Conference & Expo, as well as an electronic Advance Buyer’s Guide and access to the tradeshow’s complimentary business matching services.

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  • KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar Partnering Iconic Chiu Chow Restaurant Chiu Tang with Summer Pop-up Menu

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar Partnering Iconic Chiu Chow Restaurant Chiu Tang with Summer Pop-up Menu

    Pacific Place’s popular casual Asian dining concept KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar is presenting a summer pop-up menu in partnership with iconic Hong Kong Chiu Chow restaurant Chiu Tang.

    Chiu Tang’s Executive Chef Cheung Lam Por has created three traditional Chiu Chow specialties incorporating KiKi Tea’s sister brand KiKi Noodles for the seasonal promotion from 6 May to 31 August 2019. The new noodle options for summer also embrace Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for a light, healthy and affordable family gathering for light lunch or supper.

    Chiu Chow Assorted Meat Ball KiKi Noodles in Soup (Fish Balls, Beef Balls, Pork Sausage) (HK$98) redefines classic Chiu Chow fish balls from hawker stands of the 1960s and 1970s with a combo of meat balls and pork sausages homemade by Chef Cheung complimenting KiKi’s famed handmade Taiwan sun-dried noodles.

    Shredded Chicken KiKi Noodles in Soup, Chiu Chow Picked Vegetables, Mushroom (HK$98) showcases the Cantonese region’s fame for appetising cuisine with slightly sour flavour from pickling vegetables – now upgraded with premium mushroom and chicken.

    Pig’s Tripe and Pepper KiKi Noodles in Soup, Chiu Chow Pickled Vegetables (HK$98) pays homage to the resourcefulness of Chiu Chow chefs in creating nutritious yet extremely healthy dishes from humble ingredients like tripe, the stomach lining of a pig. Not only high in protein and fat-free, it aids digestion and strengthens the spleen and stomach – and is a ‘soul food’ adopted worldwide.

    Chef Cheung recommends to spice-up the specialties with KiKi Spicy Sauce, for an additional flavour of authentic Sichuan cuisine, incorporating hot pepper, premium Sichuan pepper and chilli bean sauce – free of MSG and preservatives and ideal for vegans.

    Seasoned chef Cheung Lam Por helmed Chiu Tang to Grade A status in the recent ‘Taste of Hong Kong’ awards and is frequently invited to cook private pop-ups at celebrity and socialite mansions. One of Hong Kong’s most celebrated Chiu Chow chefs, with 30 years’ experience in the craft, he is renowned for sourcing only the freshest, premium seasonal ingredients at the popular restaurant at The Galleria at 9Queen’s Road Central.

    “We select KiKi’s sun-dried handmade noodles for their exceptional texture and high quality, made without salt and dried naturally in sunlight, as authentic and traditional as you can find anywhere,” he said.

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar has become an instant hit at Pacific Place, twinning the brand’s premium Taiwanese teas and bubbles with affordable modern Asian favourites. It stands out from the bubble tea crowd using quality natural ingredients including premium Taiwanese tea leaves, black sugar and cane sugar – along with authentic handmade pearls and pressed-to-order House Blend Teapresso.

    Popular favourites include Pineapple Green Teapresso (HK$38), Winter Melon Tea, Sichuan Pepper Flavoured Pearls topped with Cream Mousse(HK$36), Jasmine Tea, Chinese Herbal Tea Pearls (HK$33), KiKi Roasted Tea topped with Caramel and Nuts Cream Mousse (HK$34), and Brown Sugar Milk with Pearls (HK$35).

    Different ‘bubbles’ (add HK$5) beloved by celebrities including Shu Qi and Kimbee Chan include the most popular Brown Sugar Pearls; a favourite in Taiwan; Mini Taro Balls, Sichuan Pepper Flavoured Pearls with a spicy kick of ‘KiKi Sichuan Pepper Seasoning’; and Chinese Herbal Tea Pearls with prunella ‘heal-all’ tea (xia ku cao) used in Chinese medicine.

    All KiKi Tea drink specialities can also be adjusted to preferred levels of sweetness, from regular 50% down to 30% or zero, and also ice level, from regular 70% to 30% or no ice at all.

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar is located at Shop 112, 1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong , opens daily from 11 am to 10:30 pm.

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  • Seoul mall uses media art To Indicate the Air Quality

    Seoul mall uses media art To Indicate the Air Quality

    Hanwha Galleria is informing Seoul citizens of fine-dust levels by using media art installed on the exterior of its department stores.

    If the fine-dust concentration is at “bad” levels, the lighting installed on the exterior of the Galleria Luxury Hall sends out red flashing signals three times before displaying a video consisting mainly of red.

    And on days when fine dust is low, images will be composed mainly of green hues.

    The initiative is part of Hanwha Galleria’s “Right! Galleria” campaign to encourage a culture of eco-friendly and sustainable consumption.

    As part of the Galleria campaign, the company will publicise fine dust levels.

    Hanwha Galleria will also give KF94 certified masks to customers who make a purchase on days when fine dust levels are 81μg/m3 or higher.

    The masks will be provided 10 times every day when fine dust levels are recorded as “bad.”

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  • Alibaba Celebrates its 15th Ali Day

    Alibaba Celebrates its 15th Ali Day

    Alibaba employees across the world joined together to celebrate Ali Day, an annual event honoring the tenacity and fighting spirit of their colleagues and their families during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome crisis in China 16 years ago.
    During the height of the outbreak in May 2003 in China, one employee was thought to have contracted the deadly virus. The entire staff was ordered to self-quarantine at home. But instead of putting the business on hold, everyone, including family members, pulled together to keep the operation afloat.
    Such determination and dedication prompted Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma in 2005 to declare May 10 as “Ali Day.” More than just a day of merriment, Ali Day is about paying tribute to employees and their family members, whom Ma often calls the company’s “biggest pillar.” It also underscores Alibaba’s values, placing “customers first, employees second and shareholders third.”
    This year, offices across all time zones held their own celebrations. Our main Xixi Campus in Hangzhou was transformed into a giant carnival, with musical and dance performances by employees throughout the day. There was a playground for children, arts-and-crafts corners and magic shows.
    The highlight of each Ali Day is the “wedding,” or a celebration of Alibaba couples who married over the previous year. This year was no exception, with 102 pairs of newlyweds, dressed in crimson traditional Chinese attire, receiving sage advice from Ma, himself, who presided over the ceremony. The number 102 symbolizes the minimum number of years Ma has said he wants Alibaba to last, spanning three centuries.
    On Ali Day, executives personally extend their gratitude to family members of Alibaba employees. This year, Alibaba Group Vice Chairman Joe Tsai invited the entire New York staff and guests to a New York Liberty WNBA basketball game. In Hangzhou, Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang and Chief People Officer Judy Tong answered questions from employees’ family members.
  • Coles launches reusable container for at Home

    Coles launches reusable container for at Home

    Coles is encouraging customers to reduce food and plastic waste at home with its latest promotion, which is this time aimed at adults.

    The Coles Fresh Food Container Program, offers ‘container credits’ when customers spend $20 or more using flybuys online or in-store.

    The credits can be redeemed for a range of five reusable containers from 600mL to 1.5 litres, as well as a specially-designed vacuum pump. The containers are made from durable polypropylene and can ultimately be recycled in a kerbside bin at the end of their life.

    “We know our customers want to reduce food waste for environmental and family budget reasons, and these reusable containers are a great way to keep food fresh in the fridge or pantry without the need for more single-use plastic,” Coles chief operating officer Greg Davis said in a statement.

    The supermarket giant has removed 1.2 billion single-use plastic bags from circulation since they were phased out last year and has diverted more than 542 million pieces of flexible plastic from landfill since 2011 through its recycling partnership with REDcycle.

    “This is a great initiative by Coles to reduce food and plastic waste. When food waste ends up in landfills it produces methane – a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By shopping wisely and storing food in air tight reusable containers we can all do our bit to help the environment and save money, ” Paul Klymenko, CEO of environmental organisation Planet Ark, said.

    The promotion is available in-store running between April 24 and July 2.

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  • Food brands team up on Tmall in New Zealand

    Food brands team up on Tmall in New Zealand

    Some of New Zealand’s most popular food and beverage brands now have direct access to Chinese customers through a new flagship on the online marketplace, Tmall.

    The online flagship, which opened last week, is the result of a joint venture between Tmall Fresh and New Zealand Food Basket Ltd, a consortium of 18 food and beverage brands.

    “It will significantly improve our reach and shorten the supply chain in a way that each brand couldn’t achieve alone,” Nicola O’Rourke, chairperson of the consortium, said.

    Nine brands were available for sale at launch – Babich, Vogel’s, Rockit, Future Cuisine, Pāmu, Zealong, Fiordland Lobster and Oha Honey – while the remaining nine brands are set to begin selling on the marketplace in June.

    They include Zespri, Sanford, Lewis Road Creamery, Kāpiti, Sealord, Alliance, Shott Beverages, Wild Catch and Cherri.

    Tmall is owned and operated by Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce company, with nearly 700 million monthly active users.

    The flagship store is expected to boost awareness of the brands in a market where demand for New Zealand products is high, but it can be difficult for even big companies to get cut-through.

    “Together, we want to help these brands deepen their engagement with the Chinese consumer, so shoppers in China can gain a greater appreciation of the premium high-quality products that New Zealand offers,” Maggie Zhou, Alibaba’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said at the signing ceremony in Shanghai last week.

    According to New Zealand’s official data agency, Stats NZ, in 2018, China was the country’s single-biggest export market, accounting for around one in every five dollars of sales of goods and services.

    At $16.6 billion, New Zealand’s export to China for the year ended September 30, 2018, was $2.6 billion more than Australia and nearly double the sales to the US.

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  • SoftBank may invest in Reliance Jio

    SoftBank may invest in Reliance Jio

    Japan’s SoftBank is reportedly in talks to invest up to $3 billion in fast-growing Indian operator Reliance Jio Infocomm.

    SoftBank’s Vision Fund is involved in due diligence on the prospect of the purchase of a stake in Jio  that could be worth $2 billion to $3 billion, unnamed sources told.

    The SoftBank Vision fund has raised $100 billion as part of plans to invest in fast-growing scalable technology companies with transformative potential. Former Deusche Bank executive Rajeev Misra has been appointed to lead the vision fund.

    Neither Softbank nor Jio would comment publicly for the report, so the potential for a deal remains unconfirmed for now.

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  • Xiaomi just patented a weird-looking inverted Notch

    Xiaomi just patented a weird-looking inverted Notch

    Since notches first arrive back in 2017, smartphone brands have attempted a range of implementations ranging from wide ones to much subtler water drop alternatives. One thing that hasn’t been attempted, however, is an outward facing one. But Xiaomi’s latest patent suggests it could be working on one.

    In what is presumably an attempt at creating a low-cost smartphone that also presents a notchless display, Xiaomi’s latest patent envisions a smartphone that features minimal bezels and a rather large hump on the very top of the device. This looks exactly like an inverted notch and is home to the in-ear speaker and two selfie cameras.

    On more expensive devices such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, the Chinese brand has chosen to implement a slider design that hides the front-facing cameras and allows for an all-screen design. However, this comes at an added cost that most likely wouldn’t be financially viable in the low-end segment. The company is also rumored to be working on two flagships with pop-up cameras but, once again, this is a costly feature.

    More often than not, patents are a good indication of what’s to come from smartphone brands in the future. But considering the very unusual design that is shown in the included sketches, it seems likely that this particular  patent will never result in a production device.

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  • Facebook expects to be hit hard by the FTC

    Facebook expects to be hit hard by the FTC

    After word got out last year that 87 million Facebook members had their profiles sold to political consultant Cambridge Analytica without permission, the Federal Trade Commission started an investigation. After all, this action violated an FTC consent decree that Facebook signed off on back in 2011, promising not to use subscribers’ personal data without consent.

    Facebook announced its first-quarter results today and took a charge of $3 billion to cover an anticipated fine from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Neither side has reached an agreement, but clearly, Facebook expects to be spanked pretty hard by the FTC. The company noted in its report that it faces a fine as high as $5 billion from the FTC. The 87 million profiles received by Cambridge Analytica were reportedly used to created profiles of voters used by the 2016 Trump campaign to determine the areas of the country where more money needed to be spent for advertising.

    Facebook also announced today that 2.1 billion people use Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger or Instagram on a daily basis, and 2.7 billion use one of these members of the Facebook family at least once a month. At the end of the three months that included January through March of this year, Facebook had $45.42 billion in the vault. That’s after the company spent $3.96 billion on capital expenditures during the quarter.

    For the first quarter of 2019, Facebook had $15.1 billion in revenue. That was up 26% from the $12 billion it raked in during the same quarter a year earlier. Net came to $2.4 billion (or 85 cents a share) against $5 billion earned during the first quarter of 2018. But those results include the $3 billion charge. Without the charge, Facebook would have earned $1.89 per share vs. the $1.69 it reported for the first three months last year.

  • Singtel signs cross-promotion deal with GOJEK

    Singtel signs cross-promotion deal with GOJEK

    Singtel has inked a new partnership with ride hailing company GOJEK aimed at cross-marketing their offerings and providing perks to users and drivers.

    Under the agreement, Singtel will offer GOJEK drivers who subscribe to its Combo mobile plans data-free usage while using GOJEK, as well as a 20% discount on their subscription costs and a complementary caller ID service.

    Meanwhile new and existing customers of Singtel’s digital focused GOMO plan will receive ride hailing credits worth S$5 ($3.67), and all Singtel customers will be offered other ride hailing perks.

    “With this partnership with GOJEK, we are taking our business and customer relationships to the next level, beyond just providing traditional carriage and connectivity,” Singtel CEO consumer Singapore Yuen Kuan Moon said.

    “While our customers have come to expect reliable and comprehensive mobile coverage from us, they are always looking for more value and this we can extend in the form of perks and privileges that come from mutually-beneficial partnerships.”

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  • Apple AirPods 3 likely to arrive later this Year

    Apple AirPods 3 likely to arrive later this Year

    Five weeks ago, Apple announced a new pair of AirPods. The update was largely welcomed, but it was far from the big upgrade many were hoping for.  According to industry sources, the next-generation AirPods will be manufactured jointly by Taiwan-based Inventec and Chinese company Luxshare Precision. These two aren’t exactly household names but they are the companies in charge of producing the current-gen AirPods.

    In regards to actual features, the details provided by the report are minimal. However, it’s suggested that the primary new feature will be built-in noise cancelation.

    Tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer, for example, accurately predicted back in February that Apple’s AirPods release in March would center around the wireless charging case. The upcoming fall release, on the other hand, will apparently focus on an all-new pair of AirPods that’ll be available in a range of new colors.

    Way back in June of last year, Bloomberg published a report detailing Apple’s plans for a pair of premium AirPods sometime this year. An exact timeline wasn’t provided, but the piece did list a number of potential features that would justify the expected price hike.

    Like today’s report, noise-cancelation was listed as one of the primary additions. This will apparently be accompanied by the introduction of water resistance and some health-related features which could include a built-in heart rate monitor. Apple is also said to be working on extending the range at which AirPods can be used away from a connected device.

    Further rumors and reports have suggested the next-generation AirPods will introduce a subtle redesign. More specifically, a frosted glass-like coating is to be expected. This will apparently improve grip and reduce slipperiness, thus making the new AirPods less prone to falling out of your ears.

    Also expected are the usual internal upgrades which should include a new Bluetooth connectivity chip and improvements to the overall sound quality. A rumor floating around also suggested the next AirPods will support more powerful wireless charging that takes the battery percentage from 0% to 100% in just 15 minutes.

    Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that he now expects Apple to launch two new pairs of AirPods during the ‘4Q19-1Q20’ timeframe, meaning the new accessories could be unveiled at any point between early October 2019 and late March 2020.

    One of these new models will apparently be a small update over the AirPods that are currently on sale. It’s unclear what kind of upgrades this will entail, but Kuo believes the version will maintain the $159 starting price seen today – with the wireless charging case this will presumably rise to $199.

    The second pair, on the other hand, will apparently introduce an ‘all-new design’ that will be accompanied by a higher price tag. Presumably, this means that there will be a wide range of new features including noise cancelation and water resistance, as mentioned above.

    Ming-Chi Kuo expects AirPods shipments to reach a considerable 52 million units in 2019, while this number should then grow even higher in 2020 to 75 million. In order to cope with the increased demand, it’s believed Apple will move to a new system-in-package design for both sets of AirPods that’ll save space, lower costs, and improve production yield rates.

    As pointed out by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the AirPods that Apple launched last month were initially planned for release in September 2018 alongside the iPhone XS and iPhone XR devices. Apple hasn’t officially confirmed this, but it’s rumored to have happened due to issues with the canceled AirPower charging mat. Apparently, the AirPods charging case was meant to utilize proprietary technology, but complications with AirPower forced Apple to rework the accessory using the Qi standard.

    If things had gone as planned, new AirPods launching later this year wouldn’t be out of the question. But considering that, by the end of 2019, Apple’s latest AirPods will have only been on the market for 9 months, it seems highly likely that the AirPods 3 and AirPods 3 Pro will arrive towards the end of Kuo’s release timeframe at the brand’s annual spring event in March, one year after the current-gen AirPods arrived.

  • Aston Martin Shows Off DBS Superleggera Volante

    Aston Martin Shows Off DBS Superleggera Volante

    Aston Martin has opened the roof on the new DBS Superleggera Volante. This is the second Aston Martin to carry the Volante name following the introduction of the company’s Second Century Plan. The DBS Superleggera Volante has been designed in-house under the guidance of Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. Aston Martin’s primary mission has also been to retain the coupe’s powerful dynamics, aggressive poise and astonishing performance.

    Powered by Aston Martin’s own 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, producing 715 bhp and 900 Nm of torque, the top speed of the DBS Superleggera Volante stands at 340 kmph. 0-100 kmph is done in just 3.6 seconds and it’s not just the power and torque that makes the difference but also the car’s aerodynamic credentials which help in commanding and exploiting the surface airflow to maximum effect. Up front, the car’s splitter and airdam work in unison, accelerating airflow underneath the front of the car to deliver true downforce and assist cooling by feeding air to the front brakes. The new deeper side strake draws more air from the front wheel arch to reduce lift and aid high-speed stability.

    Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said: “DBS Superleggera produces a spectacular and relentless level of performance and so for the Volante, we focussed on bringing that extra level of sensory overload that only an open-top Super GT can deliver inside the cabin. With the unique dynamics, beautiful yet brutish design and the unmistakable harmonics of Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre V12 engine, we believe we have delivered a unique and unforgettable driving experience that is synonymous with the traditions of the Volante name.”

    Behind the front wheels, the ‘curlicue’ allows air to escape and flow smoothly along the car’s flanks, while the double diffuser at the rear allows air to exit cleanly and neutralise lift as efficiently as possible. A revised iteration – to accommodate the Volante’s clothed roofline – of the revolutionary Aeroblade ll system continues to deliver additional downforce at the car’s rear. At VMAX, the DBS Superleggera Volante produces 177kg of downforce, just 3kg less than the coupe, an impressive feat when considering the car’s fundamental aerodynamic changes.

    The 900Nm of torque is fed via a carbon-fibre prop shaft to a new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission mounted at the back of the car. Specially developed adaptive software gauges the conditions the car is operating in, along with the driver’s demands, to ensure the car is in exactly the right gear at the right time.

    Aston Martin’s engineers have worked hard to ensure the best possible roof and rear package is achieved, while still delivering conflicting targets of styling and durability. The roof operation takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close and can be operated from inside or, for added convenience, from the remote key within a two-metre radius of the car.

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