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Tag: asia

  • Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google starts this week with yet another update for its Chat app. After bringing star messages to iOS and Android, Google Chat is now getting a new moderation tool in the admin console.

    The new moderation tool has been specifically designed for reviewing and taking action on reported Google Chat content via the Admin console under Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation.

    The search giant announced that super admins will have access to the moderation tool when it becomes available in Google Chat. Also, they will be able to assign users the new “Moderate Chat content report” privilege.

    Google recommends that this privilege only be assigned to users who are best suited to review Chat content; otherwise, it will be ineffective at reducing the super admins’ workload.

    Once users submit a new report, the moderation tool can be used to see all reports associated with the message, review the edit history of a message and conversation transcript (including up to 5 message posted before the reported message), as well as details that provide info about the type of conversation with number of participants, space managers, guidelines, and more.

    It’s also important to add that moderators will be able to add comments to the report should the content require further auditing in the future.

    In the same piece of news, Google announced that the moderation tool will also include a tab for managing quarantine Gmail message. The Gmail tab is available to all Google Workspace customers.

    The new moderation tool accessible by going to Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation will be rolled out in the next two weeks. It will be available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers.

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  • Toyota recalls nearly 26,000 cars to tighten shock absorber nuts

    Toyota recalls nearly 26,000 cars to tighten shock absorber nuts

    Toyota Vietnam has announced the recall of 25,971 Avanza Veloz, and Yaris Cross cars to fix faulty front shock absorber nuts.

    The nuts were not tightened sufficiently due to design issues, and could become loose and cause noises, even fall off.

    The affected Toyota Avanza and Veloz models were manufactured between Jan. 7 and Oct. 28, 2022, in Indonesia, or assembled in Vietnam between Nov. 14, 2022 and Aug. 14, 2023.

    A total of 25,523 Avanza and Veloz cars will be recalled. Also recalled are 448 Yaris Cross cars made in Indonesia between June 2 and Aug. 30, 2023.

    There have been no accidents caused by the fault, the Japanese company said.

    It also said 6,368 Avanza, Veloz and Raize cars manufactured in Indonesia between Sept. 12 and Dec. 7, 2022, have brake pads that are at risk of failing sooner than designed.

    Their front fork dust covers were damaged during assembly, and this could cause dust and water to enter the covers, causing the pads to rust and wear out.

    The affected cars will be repaired free of charge at authorized Toyota dealers. The recall began on Jan. 19 and will last until the repairs are completed.

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  • Gasoline price rises to six-week high

    Gasoline price rises to six-week high

    On Thursday, gasoline and diesel prices climbed for the second week, with gasoline being at the highest since early December.

    The popular gasoline RON95 rose 2.51% to VND22,480 per liter, the highest since Dec. 7.

    Diesel increased by 2.49% to VND20,190, the highest since Nov. 23.

    Gasoline prices rose globally in the last seven days due to escalating tension in the Middle East and a slower-than-expected recovery in China’s economy. Red Sea conflicts and the surge of the U.S. dollar were also contributing factors, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance, which control gasoline prices.

    RON95 rose 2.7% to $101.43 per barrel, while diesel rose 2.4% to $100.84.

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  • Apple supplier Goertek to set up $280M Vietnam subsidiary

    Apple supplier Goertek to set up $280M Vietnam subsidiary

    Apple supplier Goertek plans to invest US$280 million to set up a new subsidiary in Vietnam as it seeks to expand in the Southeast Asian market.

    To be based in the northern province of Bac Ninh, it is likely to manufacture headphones, smart watches and virtual reality and augmented reality electronics products, the Chinese company said in a recent filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

    It hopes to “use local resources in Vietnam to enhance the company’s overall competitiveness.”

    It has been in Vietnam for 10 years with subsidiaries Goertek Vina and Goertek Technology Vina.

    In 2022 the latter reported revenues of $2.5 billion and a net profit of $191 million.

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  • No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    It was back in July when we first told you that Netflix wasn’t planning a dedicated app for the Vision Pro. And while those planning to shell out $3,499 for the Vision Pro might have hoped that Netflix would change its mind, that is not the case, as the spatial computer kicked off pre-orders today in the U.S. Other streamers have announced plans to build an app for the Vision Pro including  Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount Plus. The device will be released on February 2nd.

    Netflix also notes that it is not making its iPad app available to Vision Pro users, which means that the only way for Netflix subscribers to stream using the Vision Pro is to use the Safari browser and visit the Netflix website. Unlike those viewing content on one of the aforementioned streamers supporting Vision Pro, movies, television shows, and documentaries viewed on Netflix will not feel so immersive.

    Netflix spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said, “Our members will be able to enjoy Netflix on the web browser on the Vision Pro, similar to how our members can enjoy Netflix on Macs.” However, certain features that Netflix subscribers can enjoy on mobile platforms, such as viewing content offline, will not be made available to Vision Pro users. Netflix might have decided that it was best to wait and see how popular Vision Pro would become before deciding to spend time and money on a dedicated app for the platform.

    Disney+ is taking a different tact and has decided to go all-in on Vision Pro. Subscribers can view streaming Disney+ content in one of four immersive environments, including one based on Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre. Others are based on Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., Avengers Tower from Marvel’s Avengers films, and one environment made for Star Wars fans is set in the cockpit of a landspeeder located in the Tatooine desert.

    Disney, constantly rumored to be a possible acquisition for Apple, loves Vision Pro. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, says, “At Disney, we’re constantly searching for new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire by combining exceptional creativity with groundbreaking technology to create truly remarkable experiences. Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that will bring our fans closer to the characters and stories they love while immersing them more deeply in all Disney offers. We’re proud to be once again partnering with Apple to bring extraordinary new Disney experiences to people worldwide.”

    If Vision Pro becomes a hot commodity, Netflix could decide to develop a dedicated Vision Pro app for future versions of the spatial computer. Other high-profile streamers that are not launching apps for Vision Pro include Google’s YouTube video streamer and audio streamer Spotify.

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  • Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Unilode Aviation Solutions and Nepal Airlines have extended their full-service ULD management partnership for another three-year term.

    Nepal Airlines awarded the management of its containers and pallets to Unilode in 2018 and has since benefitted from the operational efficiencies provided by Unilode’s digital ULD pool of more than 160,000 units.

    Nepal Airlines currently operates two widebody aircraft to 12 international destinations and will further expand its network in the Asia Pacific region.

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  • Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo said Tuesday that it is suing Chinese rival Shein over copycats of a massively popular crossbody pouch dubbed online the “Mary Poppins carryall.”

    Videos of fans praising its deceptively small size have gone viral on social media, with one clip on TikTok of a young woman unpacking numerous large items racking up more than a million views.

    The lawsuit filed in Japan against Shein Japan and two subsidiaries “demands the immediate cessation of sales of the imitation products, and compensation for damages incurred,” Uniqlo said in a statement.

    The nylon Round Mini Shoulder Bag, retailing for $19.90 in the United States, has reportedly become Uniqlo’s best-selling bag ever, repeatedly selling out.

    Shein, founded in 2008 in China and based in Singapore, has quickly conquered the global fast fashion market by catering to young customers through social media.

    Valued at $66 billion last year with revenues reportedly over $23 billion, the online retailer is eyeing a major initial public offering in New York potentially this year, the Wall Street Journal reported in November.

    The firm has been accused of exploiting unpaid labour, obscuring production processes and encouraging overconsumption as it faces the wrath of environmental and human rights activists.

    Last month, Chinese-owned online retailer Temu sued Shein in a US court, accusing it of “mafia-style” intimidation tactics to keep the upper hand in the local market.

    Shein Japan was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

  • Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Vietnam Airlines has increased the number of flights with up to 66,200 more seats to meet high demand during the upcoming holiday.

    The group announced Tuesday morning that 310 flights will be added between Jan. 25 and Feb. 24. Air travel demand is expected to rise during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday in early February.

    This means Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company, will offer a total of 12,374 flights during the holiday season, up 10% from the same period last year.

    The new flights will mostly be on domestic routes between Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi and Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue and Quang Nam.

    The hike came after the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked airlines to increase their number of night flights to meet high demand as most seats have been occupied.

    As of Jan. 12 Vietnamese airlines had sold 80-100% of seats departing HCMC and Hanoi between Jan. 24 and Feb. 25, the authority said.

    Customers have been complaining that they have trouble booking tickets due to low supply and prices being higher than in previous years.

  • eBay fined $3M for harassment involving sending live cockroaches to Massachusetts couple

    eBay fined $3M for harassment involving sending live cockroaches to Massachusetts couple

    eBay has agreed to pay a $3 million penalty following a harassment campaign conducted by its employees involving the sending of live cockroaches to a Massachusetts couple.

    The U.S. Justice Department announced the fine last Thursday, attributing responsibility to eBay for the harassment campaign its employees executed against David and Ina Steiner, in 2019.

    This involved stalking the Steiners and sending them various disturbing items, including live cockroaches, a pig mask covered in fake blood, and a funeral wreath.

    It started with Ina Steiner publishing an article about eBay suing Amazon for poaching their sellers in 2019, which prompted Devin Wenig, then CEO of eBay, to express his desire to “take down” Ina Steiner in text messages to some company executives.

    Subsequently, Jim Baugh, who was eBay’s Senior Director of Safety and Security at the time, together with six other security employees, initiated a campaign of harassment against the couple.

    In addition to the $3 million fine, eBay must organize staff training and improve its corporate culture to prevent similar incidents.

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  • Electrified vehicles rising to trendy choice in Vietnam

    Electrified vehicles rising to trendy choice in Vietnam

    Vietnamese users are becoming more familiar with hybrid and pure electric vehicles because numerous well-known brands have expanded to this category.

    Truong Huy, a technical expert for an electric vehicle software outsourcing company in Ho Chi Minh City, was one of the earliest to come to the Electrified Vehicle Exhibition at Yen So Park, Hanoi, last weekend to learn about the hybrid and pure electric car models.

    “As a person working in technology related to electric vehicles, this exhibition is a good opportunity for me to learn more about the companies,” Huy said while standing next to the chassis of a Hyundai electric car. “Mainly working in software, this is a rare time I have seen a complete hardware platform for an electric vehicle.”

    In the past three years, electric or hybrid cars have gradually become more familiar to Vietnamese customers. But Vietnam has never had an exhibition dedicated to this category, which means few opportunities for Huy and other customers to experience cars from different brands or learn about their software and hardware technologies.

    The Electrified Vehicle Exhibition organized on Jan. 13–14 can be considered the start of events dedicated to fuel-saving and environmentally friendly vehicle lines.

    In previous years, only a small number of electrochemical products were sold on the market, but now it is different.

    In 2020, except for Toyota with the small crossover Corolla Cross with a hybrid engine option, the market did not have a product with a similar or pure electric engine, specifically in the popular segment.

    By 2023, the number of electrochemical products and companies participating in the field has increased, creating a trend big enough to draw customers’ attention.

    The domestic EV segment was led by VinFast in 2023, with an ecosystem ranging from bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and buses. The company has been selling electric cars since 2021 with the VF e34 and has now added VF 5, VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9 to the car category alone.

    In addition to VinFast, Hyundai is selling the Ioniq 5 series. Previously, the Korean company launched the Santa Fe hybrid for sale. Its distribution by Thanh Cong Group also hinted at the possibility of the company selling the G80 EV, a pure electric luxury sedan, in the near future.

    Hybrid cars are becoming more diverse with Kicks from Hyundai, CR-Vs from Honda, Sorentos from Kia, and H6s from Haval. Toyota specifically expanded this car segment in Vietnam with the addition of the Altis, Camry, Yaris Cross, Innova Cross, and Alphard.

    Besides Haval, the presence of other Chinese brands in Vietnam, such as Wuling and Haima, helps make the electrified vehicle segment more exciting. Pure electric car options from these brands include the market’s cheapest Wuling Mini EV, or the Haima 7X-E MPV.

    Most of these car models were present at the Electrified Vehicles Exhibition 2024.

    Xuan Huy drove more than 10 km from Ha Dong District to the exhibition to find a second car for his travel in the city. “I went to check all the booths because I do not favor any specific brands. There have been very few occasions when many companies display hybrid or pure electric car products like this.”

    Electrified vehicles are gradually becoming more popular. But many companies believe that customers still need orientation and education about the technology and how to use these products.

    Compared to the technology of internal combustion engine vehicles, which has been familiar to users for hundreds of years, electrified vehicles’s is new.

    “Many people are still concerned about whether electric vehicle technology is suitable for cars that they use every day,” said Son Lam, a representative of TMT Motors, the distributor of the Wuling brand in Vietnam. “Participating in this exhibition is also a way for the company to answer more customers’ concerns about electric vehicles, especially their technology.”

    A Hyundai Thanh Cong representative said that pure electric and hybrid technology is generally still new to the majority of Vietnamese customers. “Disseminating knowledge about electrified vehicles to customers is what the company is doing, this exhibition is one such occasion for us to do that.”

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  • Enable this feature now so that Google Maps for Android will work when you’re in a tunnel

    Enable this feature now so that Google Maps for Android will work when you’re in a tunnel

    Driving inside a tunnel is often an issue for those using a GPS app to help them navigate because of the inability of the signals to penetrate the tunnel. You might think that this doesn’t really matter with a tunnel since there isn’t much to do inside one except follow the road. But there are other reasons as Google points out in a support page. For example, staying connected in a tunnel allows location services to work, increases driver safety, and gives the driver better visibility into what’s happening inside the tunnel in real time.

    Google-owned Waze connects with Bluetooth beacons inside tunnels in certain cities such as “New York City, Chicago, Paris, Rio, Brussels, Oslo, Sydney, Boston, Mexico City, and more.” Google says, “The Waze Beacons program provides seamless navigation to drivers underground where GPS signals don’t reach.” And now Google Maps will also support Bluetooth beacons according to SmartDroid.

    The feature is disabled by default, but we’re going to tell you how to enable it right now. First, to be clear, this feature is available on Android phones only and cannot be used with Google Maps for iOS. So from your Android phone open Google Maps. Tap the round profile icon on the right of the search bar on the top of the phone. That opens a menu and you should then tap on Settings > Navigation settings and scroll down to the Driving options heading and look for Bluetooth tunnel beacons and toggle it on.

    The listing says, “Scan for Bluetooth tunnel beacons to improve location accuracy in tunnels.” Once you enable the feature, you will have to allow Google Maps to “find, connect to, and determine the relative position of nearby devices.” This feature appears to have been available for some Android users since last October but has recently been found on more Android devices.

    Follow the directions in the previous paragraph to enable the feature and if you see the listing titled “Bluetooth tunnel beacons,” it means that you do have the feature available for Google Maps. It appears on my Pixel 6 Pro running Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3.

    If you do drive through tunnels often and use an Android phone, you might want to take a second to enable this feature.

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  • Irish Single Malt becomes the world’s most expensive whisky

    Irish Single Malt becomes the world’s most expensive whisky

    The Craft Irish Whisky Co has sold a bottle of The Emerald Isle whisky to American collector Mike Daley for $2.8 million, marking a record for the world’s most expensive whisky.

    “The rebirth of Irish whiskey is relatively new, so I feel like I’m getting in on the ground floor. Luxury scotch, to me, is already a crowded type of market,” said Mike Daley, one of the US’ most prolific collectors of the spirit.

    “But we’re only just starting to see luxury Irish make a name for itself. I guarantee you that in the years to come, it will get to where scotch is today.”

    A bottle of The Macallan 1926 sold for $2.7 million at auction last November, momentarily becoming the world’s most expensive bottle, a title now held by The Emerald Isle, indicating a shift in the tastes of luxury collectors, many of whom believe the Scotch market has grown overcrowded.

    The Craft Irish Whisky Co, founded in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, was the most highly recognised new firm of the year in 2021, accumulating a total of 12 accolades across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whisky releases.

    Last year, the company won 44 medals in total, including Gold and Silver at the IWSC Taste medals, Gold, Silver and Bronze at the World Whisky Awards, and a Master Medal for The Donn at The Drinks Business Autumn Bling Tasting.

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  • BridgerPay introduces the first agnostic omnichannel payment operations platform

    BridgerPay introduces the first agnostic omnichannel payment operations platform

    BridgerPay, a payment technology pioneer in the payments industry, is proud to announce its transformation into a powerful omnichannel payment operations platform, bringing unparalleled control and flexibility to businesses seeking to streamline their payment processes across all payment channels – e-commerce shops, physical stores and mobile applications.

    The transition to an omnichannel payment operations platform represents a significant positioning as a technology leader for BridgerPay, filling the untapped gap of omnichannel orchestration and payment operations that exists in the world, a pain shared by many enterprise merchants that run a multi-channel business.

    The concept of “omnichannel” used to revolve around a business’s capacity to process transactions across all channels using a single payment provider. Now, envision a world where you have the power to choose your preferred payment service provider for each channel. This is precisely what BridgerPay has crafted – an agnostic omnichannel solution that empowers merchants to optimise processing in any channel, from anywhere.

    Imagine that there are no boundaries restricting your business payments. Both your online and offline operations seamlessly process payments using the most suitable solution for each channel and geographic region. Picture a scenario where all your payments flow through your central management system, ensuring complete automation across all channels. This means you can initiate and process a transaction in a point of sale directly from your management system. Furthermore, you have the flexibility to obtain credit card tokens directly from the point of sale and use them later in your PMS or CRM, with the option to add fallback payment providers to optimise the approval ratio.

    Ran Cohen, CEO of BridgerPay, emphasises the transformative impact of BridgerPay’s platform: “We’re on an exciting journey that’s set to reshape the payment landscape for businesses. In today’s dynamic business environment, it’s essential to provide companies with the tools they need to simplify and improve their payment processes. This milestone development, the first of its kind, was born from a genuine need. Our enterprise clients, who already trust BridgerPay, approached us with a request to expand its functionality offline, for example, in physical stores or hotel front desks. Transforming these client requests into reality is at the core of our mission. As a result, we’ve created a revolutionary omnichannel payment operations platform that promises to fundamentally redefine how businesses navigate and manage their payments.”

    The impact on your business:

    Unparalleled control: Automation across all channels, with your payments flowing through a central management system streamlines your payment processing and enhances operational efficiency.

    Connectivity: Experience the effortless flow of transactions between any payment channel and your systems, ensuring error-free operations. This provides you with precise control to initiate point-of-sale transactions and retrieve tokens from credit cards, guaranteeing accuracy and efficiency in your processes.

    Payment optimisation: Each channel your business operates in will be optimised, tailored specifically to its geographical location. This approach enables you to achieve the highest approval ratios across all your channels, both in physical point of sale and e-commerce.

    Risk mitigation: The freedom to choose the most suitable payment provider for each channel allows you to diversify and spread the risk across various payment providers. This flexibility is crucial for risk management, as not every payment provider for point-of-sale (POS) transactions is ideal for e-commerce.

    Boosted revenue: Along with the tools the BridgerPay platform offers, the freedom to choose the most suitable payment service provider for each channel, whether it’s web, mobile, or point of sale, significantly boosts your revenue.

    PCI & security: By using BridgerPay as your omnichannel payment operations platform, you automatically eliminate your PCI scope. This not only enables the secure transmission of credit card information but also upholds a safe and reliable environment, further enhancing the security of your payment processes.

    The shift to an omnichannel payment operations platform positions BridgerPay as a forward-thinking industry leader dedicated to delivering innovative payment solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses across all sectors, especially those that handle payments through multiple channels.

    About BridgerPay: BridgerPay is the world’s first omnichannel payment operations platform, built to automate all payment flows with a Lego-like interface, empowering any business to scale their payments, insights and revenue with a codeless, unified and agnostic software.

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  • WhatsApp starts rolling out polling feature to early adopters

    WhatsApp starts rolling out polling feature to early adopters

    WhatsApp’s poll sharing feature is one step closer to being released to the public. Still in beta, the ability to share polls in channels have been sighted less than a week ago in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android.

    Over the weekend, WaBetaInfo reports that WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.1.10.76 update, which is now available on the TestFlight app, offers early adopters the option to share polls in channels.

    Obviously, you must be the owner of the channel in order to be able to share polls. The new feature has multiple options, which can be disable in case the creator of the poll believes it only needs one answer.

    The votes remain anonymous, so while members of the channel will be able to see the number of votes, they won’t know who voted for a certain option. A limited number of channel owners can now see the poll option in the chat attachment menu within their channel.

    Although it’s expected for the feature to expand to more early adopters, it might take some time before WhatsApp decides to make it available to everyone. Still, it’s nice to know that Channels will be getting a very useful feature for those who want to grow their audience based on the feedback received.

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