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Tag: X

  • Elon Musk’s X Tests New Strategy To Enhance User Engagement And Personalize Content

    Elon Musk’s X Tests New Strategy To Enhance User Engagement And Personalize Content

    The issue of social media links driving users away from the platform has been a longstanding challenge. A new solution is being tested by Elon Musk’s X. The aim is to retain users on the app even as they navigate away to external links.

    Enhancing User Engagement on X

    Users of X on iOS may soon observe a change when they tap on links within the app. Rather than entirely exiting the current post, the link will launch without obscuring the original post and its interactive features such as like, reply and repost buttons.

    Nikita Bier, the Head of Product, described the change as a strategy to maintain user engagement. Currently, full-screen opening of links often results in users not returning to the original post to engage, a practice that negatively impacts engagement metrics.

    With this alteration, rather than the webpage taking over the entire screen, the initial post will minimize to the bottom of the screen, allowing users to continue to interact with it. This minor modification aligns with Musk’s broader objective for X – to develop an “everything app” where users can read, shop, converse and browse without ever needing to exit the app.

    Improving Performance of Linked Posts

    Traditionally, posts containing links have shown lower performance compared to regular ones on X and beyond. The newly proposed design is aimed at rectifying this by retaining users within the app rather than redirecting them to a browser tab. Consequently, this will aid the algorithm in better understanding the user’s content preferences.

    Recently, Elon Musk disclosed plans to enhance X’s recommendation system. The company plans to eliminate traditional engagement indicators like likes and replies from the algorithm within the next four to six weeks. Instead, Grok, X’s built-in AI, will analyze more than 100 million posts and videos daily to predict user preferences. The exact workings of Grok’s predictive capabilities remain to be seen.

    AI-Dominated Content Curation

    The concept of AI taking full control of what content appears on X’s platform isn’t new, but it is becoming increasingly concrete. Grok will have the capability to read and watch every piece of content on the platform, enabling it to suggest posts that it believes would be of interest to users, regardless of the account’s popularity.

    However, such extensive AI control comes with its own set of risks. While it could potentially make X more streamlined and personalized, concerns about bias and control remain, particularly given Grok’s imperfect track record with content decisions.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the primary goal of the changes being made to X?
    The main goal is to enhance user engagement by keeping users within the app even as they access external links.

    How does X plan to improve the performance of posts with links?
    X is planning to allow users to access linked content while still being able to interact with the original post, thereby keeping users within the app.

    What role will AI play in X’s new content curation strategy?
    Grok, X’s built-in AI, will analyze over 100 million posts and videos daily to predict users’ preferences, playing a key role in deciding what content is shown to users.

  • iOs Facebook, Instagram apps to charge Apple service fee for boosted posts

    iOs Facebook, Instagram apps to charge Apple service fee for boosted posts

    Meta is about to implement a 30% fee for those who wish to boost (enhance) the visibility of their posts on the Facebook and Instagram iOS apps, a response to Apple’s 2022 App Store update that mandates a 30% cut from such digital transactions.

    This charge targets ads or “boosted posts” designed to expand content reach, necessitating that boosts purchased on iOS be processed through Apple, thereby incurring the 30% service charge before taxes.

    “The change, which goes into effect later this month, stems from a 2022 App Store update where Apple extended its typical 30 percent cut of digital purchases to boosted posts, which are essentially ads. The change particularly targeted Meta and other social apps that let people pay in-app to increase the reach of their content”, and adds that Meta notes in a statement that small business owners and influencers who want to purchase a boost on iOS will now be billed through Apple, “which retains a 30% service charge on the total ad payment, before any applicable taxes.”

    Meta says purchasing boosts via Facebook and Instagram’s desktop or mobile websites is how to get around the Apple fee that is being passed on to iOS users. The alternative imposes significant constraints on iOS app users, who must now preload funds with an additional 30% fee to cover Apple’s transaction costs. This new payment method will debut in the US, with plans to expand to other markets later.

    “We are required to either comply with Apple’s guidelines or remove boosted posts from our apps,” Meta says. “We do not want to remove the ability to boost posts, as this would hurt small businesses by making the feature less discoverable and potentially deprive them of a valuable way to promote their business.”

    Meanwhile, Apple defends its policy, asserting that digital goods and services within apps must utilize In-App Purchase, including boosted posts.

  • Federal judge is forcing Musk to talk with the SEC again over his purchase of Twitter

    Federal judge is forcing Musk to talk with the SEC again over his purchase of Twitter

    Elon Musk has been ordered by a federal judge to testify once again as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues its investigation of Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. The court gave Musk and the SEC one week to come up with a date and location for both sides to meet. If neither side can agree to a date and time for the interview, the judge said that she would hear from both parties and come up with a date and time for them.

    The SEC sued Musk last October in an attempt to force the multi-billionaire to testify about the purchase of Twitter which he made in 2022. Musk, who famously renamed Twitter “X,” had failed to show up during a scheduled meeting with the SEC in September which was related to the agency’s probe of the transaction. Twitter was a publicly-traded company before Musk took it private which means that any deep dive into the transaction by the government would start with an SEC investigation. In filling out the required paperwork for his purchase of Twitter, the question is whether Musk followed the letter of the law or included misleading statements with his submissions.

    Musk accused the SEC of harassment as he attempted to prevent the regulatory agency from interviewing him again about the Twitter acquisition. He complained that the SEC had already spoken with him twice. Judge Beeler said that the SEC, seeking relevant information from Musk, did have the authority to subpoena him.

    The SEC and Musk have battled before. In 2018, Musk posted a tweet that said, “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” The tweet led Tesla’s shares to soar 11% that day, but no deal was ever announced. The SEC, Musk, and Tesla agreed to a settlement. Musk and Tesla paid $20 million in fines, and Musk had to leave his post as Tesla chairman although he retained the CEO job. The settlement also required that any tweet Musk sent out with material information about Tesla had to be approved by the SEC in advance.

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  • Apple stops advertising on “X” again

    Apple stops advertising on “X” again

    Citing its sources, Axios says that Apple has stopped advertising on the platform for the second time since Elon Musk purchased Twitter. This time the decision to stop spending ad money on what is now known as “X” came after Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory that was posted on the site. 164 Jewish rabbis and activists demanded that companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Disney stop advertising on “X”.

    Apple, a major advertiser on “X,” has joined IBM, Disney, Sony, Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate, and Paramount Global. A report by Media Matters for America says that certain advertisers, including Apple, IBM, Amazon and Oracle, had their ads on “X” placed next to posts considered to be from far-right subscribers.

    In response to a post on “X” that claimed Jewish communities support “dialectical hatred against whites,” Musk replied, “[y]ou have said the actual truth,” The comment by Musk drew a rebuke from the White House. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said, “It is unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of Antisemitism in American history at any time, let alone one month after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”

    “X” CEO Linda Yaccarino responded to the criticism via a tweet in which she wrote, “X’s point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should STOP across the board — I think that’s something we can and should all agree on. Regarding this platform — X has also been extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination. There’s no place for it anywhere in the world — it’s ugly and wrong. Full stop.”

    Musk purchased Twitter last year paying $44 billion for the social media platform. After changing the name of the site from Twitter to “X,” the multi-billionaire revealed plans to turn “X” into a multi-functional “super app” like China’s WeChat which offers social media capabilities along with mobile payment features. But if “X” is unable to keep some of its high-spending advertisers, it will need to find some new sources of income besides X Premium.

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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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  • AirAsia X won’t buy “too expensive” Airbus A350

    AirAsia X won’t buy “too expensive” Airbus A350

    AirAsia X group co-chief executive Tony Fernandes has thrown the carrier’s order for 10 Airbus A350-900s into doubt.

    Speaking in a Facebook video he says, “The A350 is not an aircraft we will buy. Too expensive. Fares would go up.”

    AirAsia X is understood to have been eyeing an order for additional A350s or Boeing 787s to complement its fleet of A330-300s, and 66 on-order A330-900s.

    Its 10 A350-900s on order are scheduled to start delivering in 2019, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.

    In the same video, however, Fernandes also appeared to throw cold water on a return to flying to London, saying that there were “no plans” to resume services to the UK capital.

    His comments appear to contradict comments from carrier’s head of network and regulatory Venggatarao Niadu, who recently indicated that the carrier would look to expand its network to Europe and the United States “in about 2019”.

    AirAsia X previously flew from Kuala Lumpur to London and Paris using A340s, but those routes were dropped in 2012.

    Airbus indicates that an A350-900 costs around $317 million at list prices.

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  • ​AirAsia X seeks to move operations to secondary airports

    ​AirAsia X seeks to move operations to secondary airports

    By moving to secondary airports, airlines can save on expensive landing fees and slot fees while potentially receiving subsidies and creating an overall easier travel experience for their passengers. Passengers can still benefit though, as most secondary airports are just on the outskirts of large cities.

    AirAsia X Chief Executive Benyamin Ismail told FlightGlobal that the airline is expecting to save “around 40-50% in cost savings” by moving to smaller airports.

    Currently, the airline has only solidified one move to a smaller airport after they announced that they would be shifting their operations from Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport to Avalon later this year.

    The airline has also stated that it is evaluating whether or not they will move to Nagoya Airport, a smaller airport compared to Nagoya’s Chubu International Airport, as well as Toowoomba Wellcamp airport, 81 miles west of Brisbane.

    With a growing wide-body fleet, seven Airbus A330s being added this year, and its order for an additional 66 A330neos and 10 A350-900s, the airline has also been eyeing expanding their operations to smaller airports in India, China, and the United States.

    While the announcement of moving to smaller airports is new, the practice of “budget airports” has been a key principle for Air Asia, Air Asia X’s sister company, for quite some time now.

    According to Tony Fernandes, Air Asia’s CEO, the airline doesn’t “need [all of the] facilities, and new cities should build facilities to attract low cost airlines. We don’t need aerobridges, we don’t need expensive facilities. Our passengers want to go in and out as cheaply and quickly as possible.”

    The business model for “budget airports” allows low operating and building costs for the airports which in turn allows low-cost carriers to offer even cheaper tickets to their passengers.

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  • Apple cuts iPhone X margins for Indian retailers

    Apple cuts iPhone X margins for Indian retailers

    Stores in India which sell the iPhone X have complained about the reduction in retail margins by Apple from 6.5% to 4.5%. Large chains and even small-scale operators are accusing the company of wanting to scoop in massive margins while not allowing its retail partners to benefit.

    Some stores, like the Bengaluru-based Sangeetha Mobiles, had stopped taking orders for the iPhone X. This comes as a supply-demand mismatch in India has led to calls for Apple to give the country a higher priority when it comes to providing stock in time. iPhone production has fallen to the extent that it has affected the bottom line of companies like Foxconn which assemble the devices.

    Subhash Chandra, managing director at Sangeetha Mobiles, says: “Apple has cut margins on the iPhone X from 6.5% to 4.5% for large retailers like us, and if a customer pays by card, which is usually the case, the margin reduces to almost 1.5-2%.”

    Sangeetha Mobiles has about 400 stores across India. “Apple gives the least margins… How on earth do they expect the retailer to work for them for free — our overheads are anywhere around 10%,” complained Chandra.

    The margins offered by brands like Samsung and Xiaomi are more than double what Apple does – 12% to 15%. Brands like Oppo and Vivo are giving higher than usual margins in order to compete better in the burgeoning Indian market.

    Quoting an unnamed chief executive of a top retail chain as saying that he would not be stocking the iPhone X at its 300-odd stores due to the reduced margins and because he had no control on retail pricing both offline and online.

    Underling the supply issues, another big handset retailer said he had received only 400 iPhone X units since the launch, much less than what had been promised by Apple.

    Analysts told the newspaper that if Apple did not step up supplies, it may be unable to bridge the gap with Samsung and the numerous Chinese brands that were already ahead in terms of volume sales.

    India has about 350 million smartphone users, a number that is expected to grow to 500 million in the next couple of years. Many new buyers or those looking to upgrade are potential iPhone users.

    One analyst, Neil Shah, the research director at Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research, told the newspaper: “They (Apple) will have to start now because if they lose a window of opportunity in next two years to be on mind of the growing smartphone user base, it would be somewhat difficult to grow faster in the world’s second largest smartphone market.”

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  • AirAsia X launches in-flight tablet

    AirAsia X launches in-flight tablet

    Malaysian airline AirAsia X has launched the Xcite Inflight Entertainment tab to enhance the in-flight experience for traveling guests.

    The Xcite tab – which is a Huawei Mediapad 2 that comes with a 10.1-inch Full HD widescreen display, Harman Kardon audio technology for a richer acoustic experience and headset – offers hours of entertainment with options to shop with the AirAsia BIG Duty-Free catalog included in the tab.

    Travelers will get to view popular Hollywood blockbusters, as well as other international and local movies and TV shows; and listen to music, play games, browse magazines using the tab.

    It supports five languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese) and is complimentary for all Premium Flatbed seats, while guests traveling on Economy seats will be able to pre-book the tab via airasia.com or request it onboard for a fee.

    “We are continuously looking for ways to give our guests an enhanced traveling experience with AirAsia X,” said Benyamin Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia X Berhad.

    “The content will also be regularly updated to ensure our guests are getting the best quality entertainment when they travel with us.”

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  • AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to fly to any destination in the the US, making its foray into an entirely new market as it looks beyond the Asia Pacific.

    “The airline is the first Asian low-cost carrier to secure approval to operate scheduled passenger flights to the US,” it said on Tuesday.

    AirAsia X is considering flights to several US states including Hawaii as part of its route expansion plans.

    Its group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said this was a major milestone for AirAsia X.

    “Our expansion up until now has concentrated on Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, and we are excited about our first foray into an entirely new market as we look beyond Asia Pacific.

    “I’m confident travellers will respond well to our award-winning service and the kind of connectivity we can offer with our Fly-Thru product. As part of our expansion plans, we are also looking to resume our very popular London route, and are working towards securing the necessary approvals.”

    Kamarudin said none of this would be possible without its Allstars, especially group chief operating officer Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, who  passed away two weeks ago.

    “We wouldn’t be where we are today if he chad not laid the foundations with his blood, sweat and tears, and his bravery in the face of cancer showed us the true meaning of strength. This is for you, Anaz.”

    Fly-Thru allows guests to seamlessly connect to anywhere within AirAsia’s wide network with just one stop at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Asia’s No. 1 low-cost carrier hub – and other convenient transit hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, without having to pass through immigration and with their baggage checked through to the final destination.

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  • AirAsia X enhances entertainment for Aussies

    AirAsia X enhances entertainment for Aussies

    Malaysian carrier AirAsia X has upgraded its in-flight entertainment option for Australian passengers.

    The new Xcite Inflight Entertainment tablet is a Huawei Mediapad 2, equipped with a 10.1″ HD widescreen display, Harman Kardon audio technology and headset.

    Guests travelling aboard AirAsia X (flight code D7) services to and from Australia can pre-book these devices for about $AU15 (RM49) or rent them on-board for about $18 (RM60).

    The new tablets support five languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese) and the service is complimentary for all Premium Flatbed customers.

    AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail says device content will be regularly updated with the latest Hollywood blockbusters, as well as other international and local movies.

    Currently Xcite is showing X-Men: Apocalypse, The Maze Runner, 21 Days Under the Sky, Storks, The Drop and more. However, no television shows or series are available on the devices at this point.

    There’s also plenty of music, games and magazines to read, plus passengers can shop while they fly, as the AirAsia BIG Duty Free catalogue is also included.

    Previously, the airline offered Samsung Galaxy Tab devices for rental on all its Australian flights.

    AirAsia X flies out of Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Darwin and Perth.

    Xcite Inflight Entertainment will not be available on flights to/from Auckland, Jeddah and Kathmandu.

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  • Thai AirAsia X ends Middle East service

    Thai AirAsia X has completely pulled out of the Middle East, a market that appears unready for TAAX’s long-haul, low-cost business model. The airline, part of Asia’s biggest no-frills airline group, is axing Bangkok-Muscat and Bangkok-Tehran routes launched in June this year, due to poor traffic demand at both ends of the each of the routes.

    The termination of Bangkok-Muscat takes effect on Jan 19 and the suspension of Bangkok-Tehran flights became effective on Dec 5, according to insiders. TAAX has struggled to keep the two routes afloat by rationalising capacities to match actual demand. In November, the carrier reduced the frequency of service on both routes to two flights a week, the minimum level acceptable by the market, down from three flights a week at launch.

    TAAX deploys Airbus 330-300 wide-body jets configured with 377 seats on all its routes. The arrangement did not work out well, leading TAAX to terminate Middle East flights altogether. When TAAX inaugurated its Tehran flight on June 22 and Muscat service on June 28, the airline became the first low-cost carrier to offer regular non-stop services on those routes. TAAX’s departure means that all connections between Bangkok and the two Middle Eastern capitals will be handled by full-service airlines. Bangkok-Tehran flights are operated by Iran-based Mahan Airlines and Thai Airways International (THAI), which commenced service in October. The non-stop Bangkok-Muscat flights are flown by Oman Air, while Thai Airways offers regular services to the Omani capital with a stopover in Karachi.

    Insiders said the poor performance by TAAX was in sharp contrast with a rosy outlook perceived earlier this year. TAAX chief executive Nadda Buranasiri said in May the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran in January had turned Tehran into a new economic frontier and an emerging tourism market.

    “There seemed to be strong initial demand for both routes, but it tapered off to become unsustainable eventually,” said an insider who asked to remain anonymous.

    In a release, TAAX apologised for ending its Middle Eastern services and offered full refunds for affected passengers.

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  • Malaysia’s AirAsia and AirAsia X fly back into profit in third quarter

    Malaysia’s AirAsia and AirAsia X fly back into profit in third quarter

    Malaysia’s AirAsia swung to a profit in the third quarter from a net loss a year earlier, mainly driven by an increase in aircraft operating lease income that boosted revenue during the quarter.

    A 22 per cent tumble in the average fuel price to Us$62 per barrel from $79 per barrel a year earlier also contributed, the airline said.

    Net profit for the three months ended September 30 was 353.9 million ringgit (Dh292.4m), versus a net loss of 405.7m ringgit a year earlier. Revenue rose 11.2 per cent to 1.69m ringgit, the company said.

    The results were underpinned by a seat load factor of 89 per cent, a measure of how full planes are, up 7 percentage points from the same period last year.

    The number of passengers carried rose 5 per cent, although capacity fell 3 per cent year-on-year, AirAsia said.

    AirAsia X Berhad, AirAsia’s long-haul budget sister carrier, also recorded a net profit in the third quarter versus a year-ago loss as more capacity on flight routes led to a higher number of passengers for the airline.

    AirAsia X, which is expected to report a profit for this year after two straight annual losses, embarked on a business and organisational restructuring in 2015. It has been adding capacity in Australia and increasing frequency on selected existing routes where demand is high to shore up its results.

    For the third quarter ended September, it reported net profit of 11.03m ringgit, versus a net loss of 288.2m ringgit a year ago.

    Revenue climbed 23.9 percent to 982.4 million ringgit, driven by increases in seat capacity, ancillary revenue, aircraft operating lease income and freight and cargo revenue, the company said in a statement.

    Operations are benefiting from a weaker ringgit that has prompted customers to look at Malaysia “as a value-for-money holiday destination”, said the chief executive Benyamin Ismail.

    The company recorded a passenger load factor of 78 per cent in the third quarter, 3 percentage points higher year on year, AirAsia X earlier said.

    The airline increased its passenger carrying capacity by 34 per cent year on year over July to September.

    “Strong demand from North Asia prompted AirAsia X to add frequencies to Beijing, Shanghai and Osaka while the Australian sector continued to improve with additions warranted for Gold Coast and Sydney,” MIDF Research said.

    The company’s capacity expansion primes the airline for the peak travel season at the end of the year, it added.

    “Based on the current forward booking trend, the expected number of passengers to be carried in the fourth quarter remains promising. Forward loads and average fares are trending better than the previous year,” AirAsia X said.

    Parent AirAsia Group’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, has said he wants AirAsia X to expand into new destinations in Europe, the United States and Africa.

  • AirAsia X chasing Europe; open to other aircraft types

    AirAsia X chasing Europe; open to other aircraft types

    AirAsia X wants to relaunch services to Europe “as quick as possible”, and is looking at aircraft other than Airbus A330s to get there.

    Speaking to FlightGlobal,the chief executive of AirAsia X‘s core Malaysian operation, Benyamin Ismail, says that its fleet plans have changed.

    The carrier had not planned to take delivery of any aircraft in 2017, but is now speaking with “some parties to see what aircraft are available”.

    “If we can get the aircraft we need… when the A330neos arrive, the focus for them will be to grow frequencies in our current markets, like China and North Asia,”

    Earlier in the year, Benyamin said that the carrier would not re-enter the European market until it starts receiving the A330-900s from the second half of 2018 onwards.

    On the A330-900 seat configuration, AirAsia X expects to confirm the details “in the next couple of months”, but could install more business class seats on those units initially planned to take on European routes.

    “We are working with Airbus to get the assurance that the A330neos can get us direct to Europe (from Kuala Lumpur).”

    Asked whether AirAsia X might take on A350s that may be available in the short-term, Benyamin re-iterates that the carrier “is open and has various options”, but would not confirm if it has held talks with lessors.

    Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that AirAsia X has 66 A330-900 and 10 A350-900s on order. It currently operates 22 A330-300s.

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  • Huawei announces mobile app X Labs

    Huawei announces mobile app X Labs

    Huawei has announced a new research platform that aims to bring together operators, technology providers and vertical industry partners to explore future use cases for mobile applications.

    The X Labs initiative will aim to encourage mobile operators to build application-centric networks and help establish an open industry ecosystem.

    The research platform is designed to explore three areas of mobile communications – people, verticals and the household, Huawei said. The mLab focuses on creating immersive user experiences for emerging mobile applications including live video, VR and AR.

    A second lab, vLab, focuses on ways mobile technology can enable digital transformation across all industries. The third is hLab, which will concentrate on connecting more households with smart home applications utilizing broadband connections.

    During a keynote speech announcing the initiative, Huawei rotating CEO Ken Hu said mobile applications are reshaping everything in the world.

    “I firmly believe that in the future, all services will be delivered through mobile applications,” he said. “I would say that we are living in a wild world of mobile applications.”

    Hu noted that when Apple’s App Store launched eight years ago, it had just 500 apps. It took just six years for that number to reach 1 million, and this figure doubled in another two years. Android app stores have even more apps – around 5 million.

    “At Huawei, we aim to support and enable the mobile ecosystem. We have made a lot of progress, and we want to do more,” he said.

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