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Tag: asia

  • Ducati Global Sales Slip 2.7 Per Cent Last Year

    Ducati Global Sales Slip 2.7 Per Cent Last Year

    Ducati’s global sales volumes for 2018 remains over the 50,000 level for the fourth consecutive year in 2018, despite a 2.7 per cent decrease in global sales. In all, Ducati delivered 53,004 motorcycles to customers worldwide, compared to 55,871 motorcycles in 2017. Sales in Ducai’s number one market, the US, proved to be particularly challenging, declining by nearly 9 per cent. Overall revenue in 2018 reached a figure of 699 million Euros, compared to 736 million Euros in 2017. Operating profit for 2018 was 49 million Euros, compared to 51 million Euros in 2017.

    “2018 was challenging from many points of view, but we are satisfied with our financial performance throughout a difficult year,” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati Motor Holding. “The company is generating the resources to continue funding the development of new products which is very positive for the future.”

    The Bologna-based motorcycle company managed to compensate the reduction in the volume of sales, resulting from a decline in the market, with the growing interest and market success of models with higher margins, such as the Panigale, which made it possible to maintain the operating profit at the same level as the previous year. The Panigale series had had quite a successful run in 2018, with one out of every superbike sold worldwide in 2018 being a Ducati Panigale. The home market of Italy continued to be successful for Ducati with sales of over 9,000 bikes in 2018. Ducati Motor Holding currently has 1,591 employees, and the global sales network includes 720 dealerships in over 90 countries.

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  • Vietnamese consumers embrace digital payments as a new way

    Vietnamese consumers embrace digital payments as a new way

    Vietnamese consumers are embracing digital payments as a faster and more convenient way to pay, with consumers using their credit and debit cards more often for in store and online purchases, according to figures released by Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments. The figures, which show year-on-year growth in consumer use of Visa products over the 2017 to 2018 calendar years, indicate a number of positive trends in the growth of digital payments.

    The total value of purchases made by Vietnamese consumers on their Visa credit and debit cards was up 37 per cent, while the number of transactions was up by 25 per cent. eCommerce in particular saw strong growth with the total value of purchases up by 40 per cent.

    “As the Vietnamese economy grows and becomes increasingly internationalised, commerce here will require ever faster, more efficient ways of paying.

    These recent figures from our network demonstrate clearly the fact that digital payments are now truly a part of day-to-day life for many Vietnamese consumers – regardless of whether they’re buying from an online retailer on the other side of the world, or simply paying for their groceries,” Dang Tuyet Dung, country manager for Visa Vietnam and Laos.

    This data is supported by findings from the 2018 Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes Study, which further reveals the extent to which digital payments are becoming a part of everyday life for Vietnamese consumers.

    The report, which specifically looked into consumer sentiment towards different forms of payment, found that Vietnamese consumers are carrying less cash, and half are using card and mobile payments at least two-to-three times a week.

    Seventy-three per cent of respondents are using credit and debit cards, up on 59 per cent from the year prior, while 82 per cent have tried making transactions on mobile phones.

    The research also found that the use of new payment technologies is picking up traction, with 44 per cent of the respondents indicating that they are now making payments in apps, while 32 per cent are using “contactless” payment technologies that allow to simply tap your card on the terminal to pay.

    Additionally, 19 per cent have used QR payments, where you use your phone to scan a unique merchant code that will transact money to the merchant’s account.

    “While digital payments are still in their relative youth in Vietnam, it’s been incredibly positive to see how consumers are embracing new payment technologies – it augurs well for these technologies in particular, and for digital payments more broadly,” Dung added.

  • All-New BMW 1 Series Launch on The Agenda for this Year

    All-New BMW 1 Series Launch on The Agenda for this Year

    The 2019 BMW 1 Series has been one of the long-awaited launches not only for the Indian market but also globally. The 1 Series is BMW’s most affordable offering and has been around since 2011 globally. The hatchback also made its way to India in 2012, however, it was soon taken off the production line in India pertaining to its low demand. That said, BMW has heavily updated the next-generation BMW 1-Series and it will make its first public appearance at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The company has also confirmed that the all-new BMW 1 Series will be launched in Europe in 2019 and will make its way to the other global markets in 2020. The all-new BMW 1 Series will have a similar interior design to the latest 3-Series.

    The new BMW 1 Series has been developed on the FAAR platform and will embody BMW groups latest design language with its face picking up cues from the 8-Series Coupe. The cabin of the new BMW 1 Series is also inspired by the bigger models of the family and the dash will be quite similar to what we have seen on the latest 3 Series sedan. However, the size of the infotainment screen and instrument panel is still uncertain. The key highlight, however, is that the new 1 Series will be front-wheel driven like the BMW X1 and, unlike its predecessor which was rear-wheel driven.

    At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the next-generation 1 Series will be showcased alongside the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. While the latter is unlikely to be considered for the Indian market, we still hope the BMW 1 Series could return given the fact that BMW is planning to launch 12 new models in India in the 2019 Fiscal year. The new 1 Series will also be a feature loaded model, unlike the previous one which lost its sheen being bare basic for a luxury car brand. Moreover, being a front-wheel-drive model, it’s likely to be cheaper than its predecessor.

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  • Kawasaki India To Increase Prices From April Onwards

    Kawasaki India To Increase Prices From April Onwards

    India Kawasaki Motors (IKM) today announced that it will be increasing the prices of select models in India by up to 7 per cent. The revised prices for the motorcycles will come into effect from April 1, 2019, onwards and the new prices will be disclosed on the Kawasaki India’s official website. Stating the reason for the price hike, Kawasaki India says, “IKM strives hard to keep the price of its models very competitive in the India market. However, due to the increasing costs of raw materials and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, IKM is compelled to change the price of our models.”

    Kawasaki hasn’t mentioned which all model will be receiving the price hike, however, we expect the India-made Kawasaki Ninja 300 to be a part of it. Mainly considering the fact that the motorcycle was launched at quite a competitive price and the company recently even slashed the prices of its spare parts by a considerable amount. Much recently, Kawasaki India also launched two models, namely Ninja ZX-6R and Versys 1000, at very competitive prices.

    In India, Kawasaki currently offers the Z250, Ninja 300, Versys-X 300, Ninja 400, Ninja 650, Z650, Versys 650, Vulcan S, Versys 1000, Ninja 1000, Ninja ZX-6R, Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja ZX-10RR, all of which are assembled at the Chakan plant. In total, however, Kawasaki offers a total of offers 29 products which include super-sports, naked, sports-tourer, cruiser and off-road variants.

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  • Ducati India Announces DIY Discoveries Program

    Ducati India Announces DIY Discoveries Program

    Ducati India has announced its Do-It-Yourself Ducati Discoveries program in India and is partnering with Infinity Resorts for the same. What this means is that a Ducati owner in India will be able to make their own trips and travel plans with Ducati without any barrier on dates and timing, which they can choose to do either solo or with fellow Ducatisti. The first leg of this program takes you to Jim Corbett, one of the most famous national parks and tiger reserves in India.

    Ducati and Infinity will also extend the Ducati Discoveries program to other national parks such as Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Kaziranga and so on. Infinity Resorts suggests an itinerary of 5 Days or 4-nights which includes Jeep safaris, riding trails and bird-watching tours along with stay in fine hotels and resorts according to participants’ choice of dates. The best part is that riders get to choose how many days they wish to travel and what they want to do on their very own adventure.

    Sergi Canovas, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “We have been listening to our customers keenly and are taking their feedback. One of the first insights for us was that even though a lot of people want to go on Ducati Dream Tours, it somehow becomes a challenge with set dates which might not work for everyone. Keeping the same in mind, we created this unique property, exclusively for India, by tying up with luxury resort partners Infinity resorts. Ducati riders can just visit the DIY website, check out the suggested itinerary and download the travel maps.

    Basis their convenient dates and the time available, all they need to do is call the resort on their exclusive Ducati riders booking line and make reservations for this unique experience for themselves and their family. Currently, the first route map is live on the Ducati Discoveries website and we will be adding 4 more trips for our riders to avail within this year.”

    Ducati India has already completed its Dream Tours to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and this is the company’s latest initiative to engage riders and also encourage them to take their Ducatis and go out exploring India.

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  • Shelby Mustang GT500 Could Be Launched Soon In India

    Shelby Mustang GT500 Could Be Launched Soon In India

    Pune-based AJP Group is likely to launch the much-loved Shelby Mustang GT500 in India this year. The multi-brand enterprise, which recently appointed Manas Dewan as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), said that the company has partnered with performance auto brands like Scomadi Scooters and Shelby. And we have reasons to believe that the first car to come from the latter will be the new 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500. It was just early this year in January that Ford performance-oriented pony car made its official debut at the 2019 Detroit Motor Show, and it’s possible that the car could come to India by the end of this year.

    At the moment neither Dewan nor any other company spokesperson was available to provide us with an official confirmation about the Shelby GT500’s arrival. However, it’s clear that AJP is likely to serve as the technical partner for Shelby in India, handling modifications and upgrades, and as is the case globally sales, services and warranty bits could be handled by Shelby and Ford India.

    Although based on the regular Mustang, this particular GT500 tuned by Shelby is the most powerful Ford car. The Shelby GT500 is powered by a hand-built supercharged 5.2-litre aluminium alloy engine with inverted a 2.65-litre roots-type supercharger and air-to-liquid intercooler tucked neatly in the V8 engine valley and is tuned to churn out around 700 bhp. The Shelby GT500 gets a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which can shift smoothly in less than 100 milliseconds. This dual-clutch transmission is designed for a number of drive modes, including normal, slippery, sport, drag and track, and features line-lock and rpm-selectable launch control through selectable Track Apps.

    Visually, the car carries the signature Shelby character merged with the Ford Mustang’s design, like the large grille with the Cobra at the centre, sporty front bumper with a lip spoiler, 20-inch carbon fibre wheels. The car also comes with 0.5-inch-wider rear wheels (11.5-inch), custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, adjustable exposed carbon fibre GT4 track wing and splitter wickers with integrated dive plane. Then we also have the signature twin racing strips running from front to back.

    The car also gets a race car-inspired cabin with premium materials and unique finishes with fibre instrument panel applique and new door panel inserts in Dark Slate Miko suede with accent stitching. The dashboard features an 8-inch SYNC 3 touch screen featuring SiriusXM and FordPass Connect, along with a 12-inch full-colour LCD instrument cluster as well. The car also gets a high-performance custom-tuned 12-speaker B&O play premium audio system.

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  • Pakistan To Start Proton Car Production

    Pakistan To Start Proton Car Production

    A joint venture between Malaysia’s Proton Motors and Pakistan’s Al-Haj group will begin producing cars from June, officials said on Friday at a ceremony in Islamabad unveiling a series of business accords between the two countries.

    The Proton joint venture, first agreed last year, was the centerpiece of a series of agreements signed during a visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Pakistani officials said the deals would total around $800-900 million.

    “These partnerships are just the beginning and I look forward to more and more partnerships,” Board of Investment chairman Haroon Sharif said at the signing ceremony, at which Mahathir presented Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan with a symbolic car key.

    The Proton plant, near the southern port city of Karachi, is the latest in a series of assembly deals set up in Pakistan by international auto makers including Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motors.

    “We were told that the first Proton which will be assembled here will be on the roads next June in Pakistan,” Sharif said.

    The deals come as Pakistan steps up efforts to attract foreign investment. The country is struggling with a ballooning current account deficit and a balance of payments squeeze that has forced it into bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

    In recent months, it has signed multibillion dollar credit and investment deals with countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It is also a central part of China’s vast Belt and Road Initiative through the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

    As well as the Proton accord, Malaysia’s Edotco Group signed agreements in the telecoms sector with local units of China Mobile and Telenor, as well as local mobile group Jazz.

    Other deals included a halal meat agreement signed by the foods unit of Pakistan’s Fauji Foundation conglomerate and a $20 million venture capital agreement between Pakistan’s Fatima Ventures and Gobi Partners of Malaysia.

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  • Economic Boost Paying Dividends for J-League and Japanese Soccer

    Economic Boost Paying Dividends for J-League and Japanese Soccer

    Enjoying something of a revival in recent years, Japanese soccer and the J-League once again appear to be the leading light in Asia. However, it’s not only in Asia where the competition is hitting the headlines, with high-profile signings at Vissel Kobe capturing the imagination of soccer fans in Europe and beyond over the last year.

    Since being taken over by e-commerce giant Rakuten in 2014, Japanese side Vissel Kobe has commenced a campaign of star-studded international signings. First to arrive was German star Lukas Podolski, who currently captains the side. Rakuten’s sponsorship deal with Spanish giants, FC Barcelona, has also helped the club sign two more previous World Cup winners. Andres Iniesta arrived last season and David Villa joined for the start of the 2019 campaign, accompanied by former Spain Under-21 international, Sergi Samper.

    Having such star players in their team often makes Vissel Kobe amongst the most popular sides to back in the J-League betting at William Hill, although much improvement in performances and consistency will be needed if they’re going push for silverware this season. Despite the high-profile signings, the team disappointingly finished the 2018 campaign in tenth position; closer on points to the relegation zone than those who finished in the top three and qualified for continental competitions.

    Vissel Kobe haven’t finished higher than 7th in the J-League since the Rakuten takeover, a position achieved in 2016. However, rather than being regarded as a failure of their own, it is perhaps a reflection of the growing competitive strength of the J-League as a whole, given the success other teams have achieved during the same period. It’s also no coincidence that such success has come since the competition itself received a crucial financial boost in 2016.

    During the summer of 2016 the J-League sold domestic online broadcasting rights to UK-based media company, Perform Group, in a deal estimated to be worth $2 billion according to the Asian Times, for a package set to last for ten years. Such an important economic investment in the J-League has inevitably filtered amongst the clubs, with all of them likewise making investments of their own, improving the quality of their playing rosters and club infrastructures.

    Of notable importance since that deal was struck, the competitive profile of the J-League and demand for increased coverage to international audiences, have both raised significantly. Having previously fallen behind leagues in South Korea, China, the Middle East and Australia, both economically and competitively, Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds won the 2017 AFC Champions League. Last season in 2018, Kashima Antlers achieved the same feat.

    Renewed success on the pitch, combined with the arrival of high-profile soccer stars from around the world, has genuinely revitalized the J-League on and off the pitch. Significantly, and having been on the decline previously, fans are once again packing stadiums. Attendances have continued to rise over the last couple of years, which is also proving to be a boon for club merchandising efforts and local businesses alike.

    Now that Japanese soccer appears to be firmly back on the map once again, further growth and further investment is expected as star-named players increasingly opt to play in the J-League, as opposed to the MLS in the United States, the Australian A-League, or the Chinese Super League. There’s still some catching up to do in terms of the financial wealth of the Chinese game, although the improved strength and attractiveness the Japanese competition now seems to boast once again, is undoubtedly proving itself to be hugely appealing.

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  • HSBC launches PayMe for Business in Hong Kong

    HSBC launches PayMe for Business in Hong Kong

    HSBC has officially launched PayMe for Business, enabling customers to make purchases at 45 participating brands at launch.

    The new PayMe for Business app is now available for download at Hong Kong Apple App Store and Google Play. By using the latest version of the PayMe app, customers can make a payment by activating the scanner with a simple swipe to the left, and then scan the dynamic PayCode provided by the merchant.

    The PayMe for Business app requires no set-up cost. It also has no limits on payment collections amount and enables merchants to instantly transfer money to their HSBC Business Banking account and have access to their money in real time. It also offers features to help them gain insights into their business performance, as well as easily export transaction histories into compatible business accounting software.

    Currently, HSBC is waiving merchant transaction fees until 30 June 2019 as a promotion and early bird offer.

    “Recent beta testing has given us invaluable merchant and consumer insights, allowing us to refine the user experience before today’s launch.  We’re thrilled to have launched the app knowing that it was co-designed with our customers, and we look forward to continue building out new features to support all their business needs and help them grow,” said Greg Chapman, head of PayMe, HSBC.

    PayMe will also introduce PayMe Perks soon which features special offers such as discounts and limited edition F&B items exclusive to PayMe customers at participating merchants.  It’s expected that more details will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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  • Firefox latest update makes it a much better browser for iPad users

    Firefox latest update makes it a much better browser for iPad users

    If you’re using Firefox on your iPad, you’ll be pleased to know that Mozilla is now making your life much easier. Since the iPad offers a bigger display than the iPhone, which means you can use it differently like for example watch a video and browse the Internet.

    In order for that to work, your browser must support split screen, a feature that allows you to have two apps side-by-side making it easy for you to share links or take notes without having to switch back and forth between apps. The latest Firefox update enables iPad users to divide the screen between the browser and another app like Google Maps or Slack.

    Besides split screen support, Mozilla also included some quality of life improvements, such as better tab management, easier to access Private Browsing, and keyboard shortcuts.

    After the update, you’ll notice that Firefox will display tabs like tiles, which makes it easier to see them. Also, whenever you try to get to a private page on an iOS device, you usually have to go through a couple of steps, but the latest version puts Private Browsing in the lower left corner of the browser window so that you can access it with just one click.

    Now, if you’re using an external keyboard with your iPad, you’ll be happy to learn that you can hold down the command key on your tablet to show keyboard shortcuts. Mozilla has implemented some shortcuts exactly as they are on the Mac, so you might be familiar with many of them. There’s also another feature introduced which will allow you to send tabs between devices without having to leave the browser, but you will need a Firefox account for that.

    Last but not least, a much-requested feature is now being implemented in Firefox, but only to some extent. Since iOS doesn’t allow Mozilla to enable users to set Firefox as the default browser, the developers have found a way to allow them to set it as default browser when they open email links from Microsoft Outlook.

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  • Military-grade rugged Kyocera DuraForce PRO 2

    Military-grade rugged Kyocera DuraForce PRO 2

    Kyocera’s DuraForce PRO 2 is not a new phone and AT&T is not the first carrier that sells it in the United States. Verizon has already added the rugged smartphone to its offering back in November, but AT&T is doing it a little bit differently.

    First off, the DuraForce PRO 2 is an unusual smartphone in the fact that it features IP68 waterproof and dustproof certification and Military Standard 810G for protection against shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, immersion, temperature shock, and icing or freezing rain. On top of that, the phone’s display is protected by Dragontrail PRO, a scratch and crack-resistant glass.

    However, Kyocera and AT&T announced that the phone is also FirstNet Ready, which means it’s been tested and certified to work on FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband communications platform. This makes the Kyocera DuraForce PRO 2 perfect for first responders and those critical to their emergency response.

    DuraForce PRO 2 includes HD Voice and Wi-Fi calling support, as well as dual front speakers and four noise-canceling mics that feature Qualcomm’s Fluence PRO technology. The latter makes Enhanced Push-To-Talk (EPTT) calls, speakerphone use, music, and calls crystal clear regardless of background noise.

    The ultra-rugged smartphone includes enhanced security features like a biometric fingerprint sensor. It’s not an in-display or rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, as Kyocera put it under the power button.

    Unlike previous Kyocera ultra-rugged smartphones that don’t focus on hardware, the DuraForce 2 PRO comes with double the amount of memory: 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. Also, the back side features a dual-camera setup.

    As far as the pricing goes, Kyocera DuraForce PRO 2 is now available for purchase for just $15 per month on AT&T Next pricing (for 30 months), $170 with a two-year agreement or $445 outright. Of course, the phone comes with a two-year standard warranty.

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  • Some Nokia phones were spotted sending user data to China

    Some Nokia phones were spotted sending user data to China

    HMD Global has managed the Nokia smartphone brand impressively well since it took over in December 2016, but now the Finnish company has found itself in hot water. In a report published earlier today, Norway’s public broadcaster NRK claims to have found proof that certain Nokia smartphone have been transmitting unencrypted user information to China. Allegedly, on-device data such as GPS location, the device serial number, and even the user’s phone number were being transmitted back to a Chinese server.

    The server in question was under the domain “vnet.cn,” which is reportedly managed by state-owned carrier China Telecom. From the look of things, every time the Nokia 7 Plus units were powered on, data would immediately be transferred over to the server. Similarly, simply turning on the display or unlocking the device would trigger the same process.
    Fortunately for consumers, this issue was present only a “single batch” of Nokia 7 Plus units. Presumably, the smartphones were initially intended for the Chinese market but ultimately made it into the hands of European consumers. Moreover, since the issue has been raised, HMD Global has removed the infringing files from the devices.
    We can confirm that no personally identifiable information has been shared with any third party. We have analysed the case at hand and have found that our device activation client meant for another country was mistakenly included in the software package of a single batch of Nokia 7 Plus. Due to this mistake, these devices were erroneously trying to send device activation data to a third party server. However, such data was never processed and no person could have been identified based on this data. This error has already been identified and fixed in February 2019 by switching the client to the right country variant. All affected devices have received this fix and nearly all devices have already installed it.

    Collecting one-time device activation data when the phone is taken first time into use is an industry practice and allows manufacturers to activate phone warranty. HMD Global takes the security and privacy of its consumers seriously.

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  • New AirPower image found on Apple’s website

    New AirPower image found on Apple’s website

    It’s been over one year and a half since Apple first announced AirPower, the infamous wireless charging pad which still hasn’t been released, despite the promise of a launch during 2018. Reports and rumors about the status of AirPower have been floating around for months, with many now speculating that Apple will announce it sometime this week. Rather unsurprisingly, Apple has made no official statement on the matter, but now a new finding on the company’s website suggests AirPower could be just around the corner.

    The new AirPower image on Apple’s website

    Yesterday, when Apple updated the AirPods page on its website following the announcement of an improved pair, the company proceeded to remove all references to AirPower – it even removed the old marketing image showing AirPower charging an iPhone X and a pair of AirPods.  A replacement image is yet to be added to the page, but as it turns out, there is actually a new, never-before-seen official AirPower image hidden within the source code of Apple’s Australian website.

    Overall, the new press image is pretty similar to the original. This time around, though, Apple has replaced the iPhone X with a newer iPhone XS. Another tiny detail which has changed is the device owner’s name – it was previously Sam but is now David. Presumably, this new AirPower image will be used once the charging pad is officially introduced. The expectation was that it’d debut today, but Apple appears to have paused its announcements for the time.

    When will Apple actually release AirPower?

    At this rate, it’s unclear when Apple will announce its highly-anticipated wireless charger. There do, however, appear to be three options. The first option, and one which could be considered wishful thinking, is an announcement tomorrow. Apple successfully created hype earlier this week with iPad, iMac, and AirPods announcements on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday respectively. Then, earlier today a number of iPad Air and iPad Mini reviews dropped, hogging the limelight for the day. In order to complete the week, Apple could schedule an AirPower unveiling for tomorrow, guaranteeing itself another day in the headlines

    The second option is an announcement at Monday’s event. This is certainly possible but does seem pretty unlikely at this point. The focus of next week’s press event is Apple’s upcoming subscription services, and by announcing its newest hardware products this week, the company has successfully removed any potential distractions from the big day. But AirPower, rather naturally, would prove to be a pretty big one.

    The last option is an announcement later this year. When exactly remains a bit of a mystery, but the company could either launch it at WWDC or at its iPhone event in September, or choose to release it quietly on any given day.

    What key features will AirPower offer?

    In terms of what AirPower actually has to offer – aside from its integration within Apple’s ecosystem – the charging mat should offer the ability to wirelessly charge up to three devices simultaneously.

    This means that keen Apple users out there looking to purchase the charging pad will be able to charge their iPhone 8 (or newer) alongside an Apple Watch Series 3 (or newer) and a pair of AirPods – as long as the new wireless charging case has been purchased.

    As for pricing, no official details have been provided yet. However, rumors do point towards a retail price in the region of $150, although this is pure speculation at the moment and the final price could be either higher or lower.

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  • Triumph Motorcycles Recalls Over 12,000 Bikes In The US

    Triumph Motorcycles Recalls Over 12,000 Bikes In The US

    Triumph Motorcycles USA is recalling more than 12,000 motorcycles for a potential fault, where the clutch cable may come in contact with the wiring harness, causing loss of electrical power. As many as 12,654 motorcycles are likely to be affected by the recall, and spans across Triumph modern classic models. The affected models are 2016-2019 Triumph Bonneville T120 and Bonneville T120 Black, 2017-2019 Bonneville T100 and T100 Black, 2017-2018 Street Cup and Street Scrambler, and 2016-2018 Street Twin motorcycles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), clutch cable may contact the main harness cover and cause damage to wiring within the main harness, and lead to a loss of electrical power to various electrical circuits.

    Triumph will notify owners of the affected motorcycles, and dealers will replace the original securing guide for the clutch cable and main harness with an updated one, free of charge. Owners may also get in touch with Triumph dealerships directly, or with Triumph customer service to check if their motorcycles are affected by the latest recall. So far, the recall has been issued only in the US for the affected motorcycles, and there’s no update yet if any bikes in India are likely to be affected by the same issue. If you’re a Triumph owner, the official Triumph website does have a provision for checking your VIN (vehicle identification number) to see if that particular motorcycle is under recall.

    The Triumph modern classic range is the most popular range of motorcycles from the British motorcycle brand globally. As much as 60-70 per cent of Triumph Motorcycles’ sales across the world come from the modern classic range in the Bonneville family. In India too, the Triumph Bonneville range is the most popular range of motorcycles from the British brand.

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  • Apple can make you forget about the new AirPods with new Beats headphones

    Apple can make you forget about the new AirPods with new Beats headphones

    Apple isn’t known for its costly acquisitions, generally focusing on buying small companies that can add valuable resources to new areas of development for the Cupertino-based tech giant without entailing a great risk from a return on investment standpoint. But the iPhone and iPad makers actually splashed the cash on Beats Electronics back in 2014, acquiring Dr. Dre’s buzzworthy audio device outfit in exchange for a whopping $3 billion.

    While we will obviously never know exactly how much Apple has gained or lost as a result of this extravagant purchase in its immediate aftermath, the future of the Beats brand appeared to hang in the balance as there were no new products released under the once fruitful label for the entirety of last year. But fret not, Dre fans, as a redesigned Powerbeats version is expected out pretty soon.

    AirPods rival or something for a different target audience?

    There are plenty of popular Beats-branded wireless headphones already on the market, ranging from the $120 BeatsX all the way up to the $350 Beats Studio3, but one thing that’s missing is a “true wireless” option. The reason for that is simple, as Apple probably didn’t want anything to steal attention away or reduce the appeal of its first-generation AirPods.
    With a second edition now out and about, and many signs the AirPods are a runaway success, the company might finally feel confident enough to expand its already vast lineup of audio products. Enter a sequel for the $200 Beats Powerbeats3 that’s expected to cut the cord altogether and make it even harder for the likes of Google and Samsung to compete on the Apple-dominated “hearables” scene.
    Instead of thinking about the Powerbeats4 (name obviously unconfirmed) as better or worse than the 2019 AirPods generation, you should just regard them as different products. Rumor has it the new, completely wire-free Beats Powerbeats could “borrow” the H1 chip of the freshly upgraded AirPods, as well as the hands-free “Hey Siri” capabilities. But water resistance, better bass, and a more ergonomic design focused on keeping these things snug in your ears at all times, might be added to the mix.
    That… arguably makes the impending Beats product sound superior to the 2019 AirPods, although we clearly don’t have the full story yet. There’s no mention of wireless charging support, while battery life is presumed but not guaranteed to be better. Perhaps most importantly, we have no idea how the reimagined Powerbeats will actually look. We know the cable keeping the Powerbeats3 together will disappear, but absolutely nothing else, which suggests this sequel might be more about functionality and outdoor endurance than fashion.

    It’s all about the money

    We’re sorry to break it to you, but Beats headphones are not generally what we’d call affordable. The sporty Powerbeats3 are (typically) pricier than the stylish Apple-branded AirPods, although unlike those market-leading bad boys, these slightly less successful wireless audio accessories routinely go on sale at massive discounts. At the time of this writing, for instance, they’re just $99.99 at Best Buy after a 50 percent markdown that’s actually become a common occurrence in recent months.
    That probably signals a follow-up effort is indeed right around the corner, but it also suggests it won’t be a very good idea to purchase said sequel straight off the bat. That being said, whether or not the Powerbeats4 will be better than the AirPods 2, a starting price of more than $200 is likely to put off a large number of potentially early adopters. The question is can Apple deliver all the aforementioned upgrades over the Beats Powerbeats3 and refrain from adding a premium of, say, 50 bucks? We’ll apparently see about that in just a few weeks or so.