Bill McDermott, president and CEO, ServiceNow, joins expansive Fisker Inc. Board ahead of completion of merger with Apollo affiliated Spartan Energy Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: SPAQ)
McDermott brings extensive global leadership experience across transformative enterprise software, cloud platform and modern digital workflow technology sectors; will provide valuable input as Fisker Inc. creates a digital-first ownership experience
Strong track record of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2020 — Fisker Inc. ("Fisker") – developer of the world’s most emotionally desirable, eco-friendly electric vehicles – today announced an important new addition to its board of directors. Bill McDermott, president and CEO of ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) – the leading digital workflow company making work, work better for people – becomes the seventh member of the Fisker Inc. Board, which has been shaped in anticipation of the completion of its merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: SPAQ) ("Spartan"), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) ("Apollo"). The board is comprised of seven members: two executives from Fisker, four external directors and a Spartan appointee.
Commenting on this latest addition to the board, Henrik Fisker, chairman and chief executive officer of Fisker Inc. said: "Based on my years of experience in electrification, I wanted to assemble a board that can help deliver our disruptive business model and grow the company into a global segment leader. Our board members bring their extensive experience in ESG, combined with the insights needed to help guide the growth of our company. Bill has unparalleled international experience and an incredible track record as a leader in software systems and software-as-a-service (SaaS). He will be extremely valuable as we develop Fisker Inc. to be the world’s first digital car company, especially as we build our digital app and e-mobility as a service (EMAAS) capabilities."
"Visionary cars demand a visionary 21st century car ownership experience," McDermott said. "Owning a Fisker car will set a new standard in workflow-enabled, seamless, direct-to-consumer digital experiences. I am thrilled to join the board of Fisker Inc. and help Henrik and his team deliver an amazing end-to-end digital-first car ownership experience as they pursue their dream of revolutionizing the automotive industry and creating a clean future for everyone."
The merger between Fisker and Spartan is anticipated to be completed later this year and will result in shares of Fisker’s Class A Common Stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange as a publicly listed company.
Fisker Inc. Board of Directors:
Henrik Fisker, founder, chairman and CEO of Fisker
Dr. Geeta Gupta-Fisker, co-founder and CFO of Fisker
Wendy Greuel, former controller and councilmember for the City of Los Angeles
Mark Hickson, executive vice president corporate development, strategy, quality and integration for NextEra Energy, Inc.
Bill McDermott, president and CEO, ServiceNow
Rod Randall, co-founder of Vesbridge Partners, executive partner of Siris Capital, board director of Stratus Technologies and Mavenir, chairman of the board of Maglev Aero
Nadine Watt, CEO of Watt Companies and chair of the Los Angeles Business Council
About Fisker Inc. California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to become the No. 1 e-mobility service provider with the world’s most sustainable vehicles. To learn more and to reserve the all-electric Fisker Ocean, visit www.FiskerInc.com.
Forward Looking Statements The information in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this presentation, regarding Spartan’s proposed acquisition of Fisker, Spartan’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and the combined company’s future financial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "could," "should," "will," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Spartan and Fisker disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Spartan and Fisker caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of either Spartan or Fisker. In addition, Spartan cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to the following factors: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could delay the business combination or give rise to the termination of the agreements related thereto; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Spartan or Fisker following announcement of the transactions; (iii) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Spartan, or other conditions to closing in the transaction agreement; (iv) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts Spartan’s or Fisker’s current plans and operations as a result of the announcement of the transactions; (v) Fisker’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of Fisker to grow and manage growth profitably following the business combination; (vi) costs related to the business combination; (vii) changes in applicable laws or regulations; and (viii) the possibility that Fisker may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could different materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in Spartan’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and other SEC filings. Spartan’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Important Information for Investors and Shareholders In connection with the proposed business combination, Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. will file a proxy statement with the SEC. Additionally, Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Security holders of Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the business combination and the parties to the business combination. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.
Participants in the Solicitation Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Spartan’s shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Spartan’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Spartan’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and the proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Spartan’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the business combination when it becomes available.
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2020 — Publicis Sapient, the digital transformation hub of Publicis Groupe, has today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Customer Experience Improvement Services 2020 Vendor Assessment. Publicis Sapient was among 13 service providers that participated in this evaluation.
The report, authored by Douglas Hayward, Research Director, Worldwide Digital Strategy and Agency Services at IDC, noted that "Publicis Sapient is a good fit for organizations looking for a partner combining the creativity of a holding company agency with the design and enterprise-grade technology capabilities of an IT and business consultancy." Overall, Publicis Sapient was recognized for its business value delivery, people quality, and client empathy.
"Digital consultancy Publicis Sapient drives end-to-end CX transformation by fusing creativity with design and enterprise wide technology and business capabilities," said Douglas Hayward, Research Director, Worldwide Digital Strategy and Agency Services at IDC. "Clients that IDC talked to particularly praised Publicis Sapient’s people quality, business value delivery and client empathy. The result is innovation that drives measurable business results for clients."
"In a year where delivering top quality customer experience transformation is top of mind for virtually every business, we are honored to be recognized for the quality and consistency of our work in this space," said Nigel Vaz, CEO at Publicis Sapient. "We’re relentless about drawing the best from our SPEED capabilities: strategy, product, experience, engineering and data, in a creative way to provide our clients’ customers with leading experiences."
The IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Customer Experience Improvement Services is designed to help organizations as they evaluate which customer experience improvement service provider would best suit their needs. An important element of this IDC MarketScape evaluation was input from customers on vendors’ capabilities and other key characteristics. One Publicis Sapient customer stated, "They are good at technology as well as creativity. They push us to look at innovation not just as a source of increased speed but as a way to service customers better because their needs have changed."
To view the IDC MarketScape report excerpt (Doc # US45658220, September 2020), please visitpublicissapient.com
About IDC MarketScape: IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.
About Publicis Sapient
Publicis Sapient is a digital transformation partner helping established organizations get digitally enabled, both in the way they work and the way they serve their customers. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting, and customer experience with agile engineering and problem-solving creativity. As digital pioneers with 20,000 people and 53 offices around the globe, our experience spanning technology, data sciences, consulting, and customer obsession – combined with our culture of curiosity and relentlessness – enables us to accelerate our clients’ businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value. Publicis Sapient is the digital business transformation hub of Publicis Groupe. For more information, visitpublicissapient.com.
Let us be fair a little bit. The Sony WF-800n is not a completely new product. As in, it is not the first time we see noise cancelling in Sony’s sports focused earphones. It is also not the first Truly Wireless (TWS) sports focused earbuds in the market. It is however, Sony’s latest TWS sports earbuds with their award winning and proven Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology.
Sony already had the remarkable WF-SP700n earphones before this. In our tests two years ago, the device performed remarkably well in all kinds of situations. It only had a battery life of 3 hours on a single charge though (just earbuds). While that was enough for a good workout, it was pale in comparison to plenty of the TWS earbuds that was coming out at that time. Still, it had a small packaging that was attractive and easy to work with. It even has its own app, Sony’s Headphones app that we think was great.
The new model, the WF-SP800N is not technically a follow up or a replacement model. It was not meant to be a successor to the WF-SP700n, although the naming moniker. It is also more expensive than the older WF-SP700n at MYR 849. At that price though, it is cheaper than the coveted WF-1000XM3, the true great Noise Cancelling earbuds.
In this case, is this a better buy than Sony’s holy grail in TWS noise cancelling, the WF-1000XM3? Is it a better buy compared to the WF-SP700n at an MYR 100 premium? Most importantly , is it worth your hard earned MYR 849? Let us face it, that is just MYR 151 shy of MYR 1,000 (yes, I can count). In that case, this is still worth a lot of money compared to some of its competition. Let us find out then, if this is worth every penny, or if you should be looking elsewhere.
Design
To begin with, the one we have here is a very neon Orange colour option. It has four colour options including this one – Blue, White, Black, and Orange. That is the same amount of colour options you get with the less expensive and more compact Sony WF-SP700n. You are choosing between different colours though. There are two more colour choices compared to the higher-end WF-1000XM3 too. So that is one point to the Sony WF-SP800N.
We cannot help it; the WF-SP800N’s orange reminds us of traffic cones. It is exactly the same colour, both the case and the headphones compared to a regular traffic cone in Malaysia. That makes it seem like we have pieces of traffic cones in our ears and our bags. There is some good in this though.
Being this bright and neon means that you are sort of visible, albeit a small dot in your ear might not make that much of a difference in visibility. But still, it makes you a little more visible in whatever conditions that Malaysia can throw at you, except for torrential rain that is. You would not want to be caught running in the rain though, why would you run in the rain in the first place?
Still the extra visibility means you are a little safer when you do your runs on the street. You want to be a little more visible since you are going to be using the Noise Cancelling feature to block out the world. We do advise that you turn on the ambient noise feature when you run on a busy route though, just so that you are aware of what is coming at you and your surroundings.
The buds themselves are about the same size as the WF-1000XM3 earphones. To be fair, even the charging case looks nearly as big with the bottom third of the case cut off. The case cap is also a little concaved from the inside to create a sort of dome cocooning the earbuds inside.
The wingtips (they call it the arc supporter) that is additional to the regular silicon eartips makes the SP800N look a little larger than the WF-1000XM3 though. This is a stark difference compared to the WF-SP700n too. The WF-SP800N is way larger and look a little more cumbersome compared to the WF-SP700n. The wingtips do make it more secure to work with than the WF-1000XM3 though.
Like any modern device with a battery, the Sony WF-SP800N charges via a USB Type-C port at the back bottom of the device. Because of its odd shape though, the case only stands on its cap. That exposes the USB Type-C port to the top. We still do not understand this design choice.
As with most modern TWS cases these days, the WF-SP800N’s case cap is magnetic and the buds starts charging the moment you fit the buds back in. That is magnetic too, as with the WF-1000XM3. All you need to do is drop the earbuds into the case and the buds will simply snap in its place to start charging.
On the WF-800N’s left bud, there is a very tiny notch that indicates that the left earbud is the master earbud. It is technical a small instruction or reminder that you are supposed to put in the left side first. The rest of the earbuds’ design language mimics the WF-1000XM3 though, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
The case is made entirely of plastic though. While that makes it light, some might say it feels cheaper and less significant. The matte finish makes it feel a little nicer and softer to the touch, but there is no soft touch or rubbery coating here. You might want to be a little more careful with handling the case too though, or maybe buy a protective case, because the case does tend to scuff a little.
Performance
Of course, an earphone is nothing without its driver and sound quality. Of course, coming from Sony, you expect something special. Sony, after all, is one of the best in the business of audio. The Sony WF-SP800N packs a relatively powerful 6mm Neodymium drivers encased in very Orange (our test unit) IP55 rated package. Mind you, the case is not water resistant rated, so do not put the case in the water with the earphones.
Sound Quality
This section has always been Sony’s party piece. In a sense, Sony is a trusted name in audio, so there is never a doubt that it would sound good. That is if you do not compare it to the WF-1000XM3.
If you compared it to the older Sony WF-SP700n, the WF-SP800N does win out a little bit in the area. It is not night and day with the sound quality between the WF-SP700n and the WF-SP800N though. There is still a difference, comparatively.
On its own, the WF-SP800N TWS earphones is a capable performer. The low frequencies are great, for an earphone with tiny 6mm driver. The bass line is punchy and full. This is mostly thanks to Sony’s acclaimed EXTRA BASS technology.
Because of EXTRA BASS though, the mid-range and high-end frequencies take a little bit of a back seat. It does not mean that the Sony WF-SP800N sounds like a muddled piece of kit though. Contrary to that, while the bass line sounds punchy and powerful, mid and low frequencies are still present and available. The low-frequency is still full of details though, not just a punch for punching sake.
We used Spotify in most of our audio tests. The simple justification of us using Spotify, even if TIDAL can offer Lossless and FLAC quality audio, is that it is the most widely used ‘Premium’ music streaming app in Malaysia. It is also one of the most affordable, so we will stick to Spotify Premium for now.
We listened to music like ‘Lost Without You’ by Freya Ridings, for that full mid-range frequency pull of the vocals. We are happy to report that vocals still sound crisp and meaty in this case. Even ‘La Vie En Rose’ covered by Daniela Andrade sounds great on the WF-SP800N. This is if you are more concerned with vocals than anything. Then there is the concern of a terrible high-frequency with bassy earphones. For that high frequency reach, we tested the WF-SP800N with a symphony of Final Fantasy VII’s Medley done by Video Game Orchestra. In the symphony also we could properly tell the balance of the earphones. Of course, thanks to EXTRA BASS, you would expect all the low frequency instruments to shine. But it does not mean that the Violins and the windpipes do not get their shine, they still really do.
Of course, the sound staging is a little less dynamic than the WF-1000XM3. In this sense, the WF-1000XM3 does win out in a significant margin. It is also not the most accurate earphone to work with, so if you are working with audio plenty and require natural and neutral sounding earphones, this is not for you. Then again, if you do not put them side by side, like us, the WF-SP800N is a formidable earphone on its own.
Compare it to its competition though, and it will blow them away. The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ for example has nothing compared to the Sony. The Sony WF-SP800N sounds clearer with better sound staging compared to the Samsung Galaxy Buds+. There is one thing that the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ do better than the Sony though, and that is a better and cleaner vocals and mid-range frequencies. You notice them too, but overall, the Sony WF-SP800N is still a much better sounding earphone with better overall detail in all frequencies. That superiority in sound quality alone may not be enough to justify its heftier price tag though. Its other features might just make up those few extra hundred difference.
360 Reality Audio
If you have apps that takes advantage of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, even better. Sony’s new 360 Reality Audio technology technically is Sony’s audio enhancer that completely changes your experience with music. It takes Sony’s object based spatial audio technology and allows artists and musicians to record music in a completely new way. It allows musicians to place different instruments within a spherical sound field. Like the ‘360’ naming moniker then, it gives you a true spatial music experience.
Sadly, 360 Reality Audio is only available on select music streaming platforms though. It is currently only available on Deezer, nugs.net, and TIDAL. To be fair, you can get higher resolution music via those apps compared to Spotify. A little bit of technical talk here, TIDAL HiFi accounts allows users to stream 44.1kHz/16bit files at about 1411kbps. That is in the region of Lossless and FLAC audio file quality. Spotify Premium, on the other hand only streams at 320kbps. That is no where close to CD-quality or Lossless. Of course, there is a cost to all this. TIDAL’s HiFi subscription is worth MYR 29.80 a month while Spotify Premium works out to MYR 14.90 a month.
That extra cost, if you listen to 360 Reality Audio produced music on TIDAL (our app of choice for 360 Reality Audio), the TIDAL HiFi subscription is quite worth it. But we are reviewing the earbuds here, not the app. Of course, with 360 Reality Audio, the Sony WF-SP800N shines. Suddenly your sound stage changes from a two-dimensional experience to an immersive three-dimensional phenomenon. Close your eyes, and you will feel like you are in the concert hall or recording studio itself.
The thing is, you have to be on TIDAL HiFi subscription plan to fully take advantage of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio technology. That, or you have to pay for a Deezer subscription. They do not have as many music in their library as far as we know. There are no plans yet on Spotify’s side to support higher streaming quality or even have 360 Reality Audio support. Also, subscriptions with 360 Reality Audio availability is a little more premium in pricing compared to the usual subscriptions we are used to.
Active Noise Cancelling
This is something that Sony does better than almost everyone else in the field. Sony’s Active Noise Cancelling technology is considered by many to be one of the best, if not the best, in the market. Their highly acclaimed WF-1000XM3 and WH-1000XM4 are the very products that is hailed as the best in-class currently.
That same know how in Active Noise Cancelling they used on the WF-1000XM3 is present on the WF-SP800N. This could be worth that few extra hundred bucks on top of superior audio quality over other earphones made for an active lifestyle. This is also because ANC can make plenty of difference in your music experience.
Again, we do suggest that you keep ambient noise up anywhere from 50% to 100% when you wear this for a run. You can never be too safe, and you do not want to completely isolate yourself from the world in the case that you are sharing paths with the public. If you are in the gym and are trying to block out the world though, this will do it mighty well. Even if it is just to shut out the gym music, this will do that job well enough that you are in your own world completely. You can even swim with it cranked up in your ear. Other than acting as a water seal, it keeps you entertained and pumped up for your training.
Of course, it does not just do well in the active environment. Thanks to ANC and great audio quality, it is a headphone that you can enjoy in normal commuting conditions too. It is still a perfect earphone to own and use in the train, or even in the bus. It does really block out the world and isolate you out a little bit, which is always nice and somewhat relaxing. Of course, podcasts work great too. On that note, do check out our Tech & Tonic Podcast on Spotify, or Google Podcast, or Apple Podcast.
When you get home, and need some alone time away from everyone at home or everything else that is happening around you, the ANC is good enough that you can isolate yourself virtually. Of course, if there are really loud noise like a wall banging from the construction next door, you are going to hear it a little bit. If you get a good seal from the silicon tips though (choose the correct size for your ears), you might not even hear a glass breaking two feet away from you. It is that isolating.
In that case, you might want to think twice about wearing it in the office sometimes. Sure, the noise cancellation also means that you get to focus better on your own tasks and jobs. It allows better concentration and less distractions while not biothering any of your colleagues. As we have found though, it may not be too advisable to turn your back to the world as you might not be too aware of your surroundings. Your colleague might get annoyed too for not being able to get your attention. Although, you might be able to get more work done. That, or you might just start dancing on your own like a crazy person.
Fit and Comfort
The Sony WF-SP800N some similarities to the WF-1000XM3 in terms of earbud design. For one, they do share the same silicon tip fitting. The only difference between the two earphones is the WF-SP800N having an extra wingtip to ensure that the earphones stay in your ears and not fall out in an intense work out.
Fitting and comfort for everyone is a little different though. In that sense, I would not be able to say that I speak for everyone in this matter too. I had to change the silicon tips to the largest available from Sony to get a good seal in my ear. They provided three different sizes within the packaging, which also means that you get to either pick between a large, medium, or a small ear tip. The wingtips come in two sizes, medium, or small. The one attached to the earbuds out-of-the-box is the medium sized one, which is perfect enough for me. If it gets uncomfortable, you might want to switch to the smaller one.
Yes, there is a case for foam eartips for plenty of earphones. The WF-1000XM3 comes with foam eartips in-the-box as well. Foam eartips can be a little more forgiving to your ears and also means a longer period use case will not be uncomfortable or painful. Foam tips are a little more prone to tearing and may not work too well with water though. In that case, silicon is a little more reliable. Still, if you want to get a better seal, you can opt for aftermarket foam tips.
As we said earlier, it is important to find a good fit and seal for your earphones. It helps with the entire aural experience when your ears are properly sealed. It is especially important for noise cancelling earphones. Without a good seal, noise cancellation might not work as well. Therefore, take your time to choose the right eartips sizes for each of your ear.
Once you get a good fit and seal, the earphone can sit in your ears for hours and hours on end. It is made for a good workout, so if you are using the right sized eartips and wingtips, you are going to be mighty fine on long workout sessions. Even if you are just using it to relax and settle down on your commute home, or even reading a good book, you should be fine.
The only issue is that there is a little bit of heft to it. While in most cases you may not notice it that much, if you come from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Buds or even the Buds live, you are going to feel it on your ears a little more. It is not a major issue though. It is not like the earphones weigh more than 1kg each to weight down your ears. Each earbud weighs only about 10g anyway.
Thanks to the extra wingtips, the Sony WF-SP800N is extra secure. We took it to the gym, we took it swimming, we took it for evening runs, and we did our circuit training with this too. In those sessions which lasts anywhere between 15 minutes to 45 minutes, the Sony WF-SP800N has never needed any readjustments or a refitting. The whole experience was quite uninterrupted and seamless as long as your smartphone is within stable Bluetooth connection range.
Battery Life
The Sony WF-SP800N quotes about 9 hours of continuous music play time with ANC on. The charging case charges the WF-SP800N once over, which gives the earphones a total listening time of 18 hours. On paper, that is not as good as the WF-1000XM3’s total battery life. The SP800N offers a slightly longer battery life on a single charge though over the WF-1000XM3 – nine hours over eight hours.
In real life, we never could leave music playing for nine hours in our ears. We do not have any long flights lined-up for us too. Well, flights are still limited. We will take their words on the battery life, in this case.
Still, we have only charged the Sony WF-800N with the case once in a week. Of course, exercising is not in our daily activity schedule. We not only use the WF-SP800N as our workout companion of course. You can expect this kind of battery life too even if you head to the gym daily.
Whatever it is though, the battery life is perfect for long flights. If you are heading to Europe, you are going to appreciate the nine hours of battery life, especially when you have two seven-hour stints to complete. No travelling at this time though, so short domestic flights will have to do.
Sony Headphones App
We have said before that we always appreciate an accompanying app when it comes to wireless earphones. That said, Sony has always been shipping their audio devices with their accompanying app, the Sony Headphones and Music apps available on iOS and Android for free. We can happily report that the app is nothing short of amazing.
The app is designed to ensure that experiences with all Sony audio products are at least similar or unified. In that sense, even if you have multiple Sony audio products with you, you only need to work with a single app. Well, two in Sony’s case.
The Sony WF-SP800N works nicely with Sony’s Headphones app. Even if you access it through Sony’s Music app, the app will direct you to the Headphones app anyway, do not waste your time downloading the Music app first. The Headphones app is also one of the most comprehensive earphone controller apps we have ever come across so far though.
Samsung’s Wearables app has gone the route of simplification and minimalization in the past few years. You see less and less on the menu and settings screen. Sony has gone a little more of the opposite recently. On the Sony Headphones app, you still have the usual noise cancelling level and ambient noise balance control.
You now also have a separate section and page just for action detections, and location detection. You can tune and location detection. You can tune your WF-SP800N to different locations now too, you can have slightly different settings for when you are at home or even in the office. It can be as simple as tuning your earphones to tune out noise and sound a certain way at home, or in the office. When you are at the gym, it can automatically turn on ambient noise or turn up the low frequencies to get a better kick for your workout sessions.
But there are more than just ambient noise controls. You might have noticed that we said something about low frequency tuning in the previous paragraph. That is because you can really tune the earphones to your liking. There is a general equaliser control for you to work with, and there are even preset settings you can work with too in that.
Within the app is also Sony’s new clever optimisation algorithm to tailor listening experiences for individuals. Each of us has very slightly different ears and therefore experience headphones differently. That is also why high-end earphone makers scan your ears and create a mould for your ears to tailor their earphones for your ears and for your ears only. Sony does that virtually with their clever software by just taking a picture of your ears, with your smartphone’s selfie camera.
If you have Tidal, the app will have an optimisation option for 360 Reality Audio. You do want to optimise it for the sake of your Sony earphones though, not just the WF-SP800N. As we mentioned, it really transforms your audio experience. You can hear the difference if you pay attention.
The WF-SP800N – The Better Sports Earphone
For the longest time, the most proper TWS earphones that could stand up to sweat and pool water is the Sony’s WF-SP700n. Before that, it was the Samsung IconX, which we thought was a very good idea too. The TWS earphones idea was built for that purpose too, technically. It frees you from tangling wires or being tethered to a smartphone when you jog, when you work out.
It became plenty more than that later on though. We have super high-end TWS earphones made by the likes of Sennheiser, Klipsch, and even Shure now. Sony was the first to break out their high-end TWS earbuds with the WF-1000X though. With the introduction of the WF-1000XM3, TWS earphones does not have to be rubbish sounding even with Active Noise Cancelling. With the WF-1000XM3 too, great sounding earphones do not have to last only three hours before needing a quick recharge.
The culmination of that knowledge and Sony’s industry leading water resistance knowledge birthed the WF-SP800N, a follow up from the WF-SP700n. The new TWS earphone is a step up from the older WF-SP700n in every way, including weight and size. We think that the only drawback, compared to the old hardware, is just its heft. But that is justified by a longer battery life on both its case and the earpieces.
It may not sound as good as the WF-1000XM3. If you compare it to something like a Samsung Galaxy Buds+ though, it sounds quite a little bit better. It lasts quite a little bit longer too, in terms of battery life. It also fits better than the Samsung earbuds, and way more secure than the Sony WF-1000XM3 thanks to the extended wings.
It holds an advantage over the WF-1000XM3 though. It is water resistant rated at IP55. That also means you can use it for all your workout sessions. They say you can even swim in it if you want. Of course, you get to do that at your own risk.
At MYR 849, it is not exactly cheap. As we mentioned, it is just MYR 100 shy of the WF-1000XM3. It is difficult to justify that purchase based on sound quality alone. In fact, if that is all you are looking for, the WF-1000XM3 is a better buy. The WF-SP800N is in a completely different class of product though. It is made for the active people. It is made for those who exercises regularly and has a regularly active lifestyle; it is made to take a beating. But because Sony knows their way around an audio device, the WF-SP800N still sounds good enough for you to be enjoying music in any other situations. It is a perfect earphone to have for any situation, an all-rounder.
This is an excellent all-rounder earphone with Sony’s ANC technology. Some considers Sony’s ANC to be the best in the industry too. The MYR 849 premium price is also justified by that. There are no sports earbuds currently that has ANC currently, if you think about it.
So, for MYR 849, you are getting something that is quite out of this world. For MYR 849, you are getting something unique in the market. For MYR 849 too, you are paying for Sony’s quality, knowhow in audio, and excellent ANC technology, in a body that could handle your active lifestyle and stick to your ears even when it gets tough. What more could you want from a sports earphone?
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2020 — Kharon, the research and data analytics company focused on global security threats and other controversies that impact global commerce and finance, today announced that Barclays has become a strategic investor in the business, joining Equity Group Investments, and other institutional and private equity investors.
Kharon’s offerings for trade, regulatory and financial crime compliance are recognized as industry leading and the news underscores its shared commitment with Barclays to innovation and data-driven intelligence.
Mark Gibbins, Head of Compliance Services, Barclays, said: “Having worked with Kharon for some time, we are pleased to be strengthening our relationship through this strategic investment. The investment demonstrates Barclays’ commitment to managing compliance requirements by utilizing data to enhance our technology and analytics solutions.”
Kharon’s regtech solutions provide firms across the globe with unmatched, critical intelligence and analytics on their customers, supply chains, investments, and risk areas. The result is reduced risk, realized efficiencies and the creation of value.
Matthew Epstein, CEO, Kharon, said: “We are delighted to welcome Barclays as a strategic investor. Barclays’ move from client to partner and now to investor, reflects our shared belief in the broad industry and geographical applicability of Kharon’s technology, analytic products and expertise.”
He added: “From risk and compliance teams seeking to strengthen KYC and screening processes; to technology providers keen to examine every stage of their supply chain; to investors looking to assess a company’s long-term performance; Kharon supports companies in a wide range of industries around the world. This diverse client base coupled with our groundbreaking technology platform has given us the strongest of foundations on which to continue to build.”
Equity Group Investments (EGI), founded by Sam Zell, has been an investor in Kharon since 2016. The firm’s President, Mark Sotir, commented: “In an increasingly challenging risk environment, Kharon’s unique data and analytics solutions provide highly relevant and differentiated compliance insights to its customers. We are pleased to be a strategic capital partner to a top-line specialist with a strong leadership team, and to welcome Barclays as a co-investor.”
About Kharon Kharon is a leading provider of research and data analytics, focused on global security threats and other controversies that impact global commerce and finance. Kharon’s clients include first tier international financial institutions, global corporates, public sector entities and professional services firms. Kharon is headed by former senior officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and experienced professionals in software development and data science.
For more information or to join the Kharon team, visit www.kharon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter @kharondata.
About Barclays Barclays is a British universal bank. The company is diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography. Barclays’ businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by their service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.
For further information about Barclays, please visit www.home.barclays.
About Equity Group Investments Equity Group Investments is the private investment firm founded by Sam Zell more than 50 years ago. Based in Chicago, EGI invests opportunistically across industries and geographies and throughout the capital structure. Current portfolio investments are in healthcare, energy, waste and infrastructure, transportation and logistics, agribusiness, and real estate. EGI provides flexible capital and employs an engaged ownership approach to maximize the potential of its investments. For more information on EGI, visit www.egizell.com.
Complimentary Adaptive Manufacturing Diagnostic helps companies gauge their ability to handle disruption
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 29, 2020 — QAD Inc. (Nasdaq: QADA) (Nasdaq: QADB), a leading provider of flexible, cloud-based enterprise software and services for global manufacturing companies, held QAD Tomorrow, a one-hour global thought stream that introduced the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise, QAD’s vision for manufacturing companies that are built to survive and thrive in the face of disruption. The company also announced the availability of the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model Diagnostic tool, which provides a method for manufacturers to gauge their preparedness to cope with disruption.
QAD held QAD Tomorrow, a one-hour global thought stream that introduced the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise, QAD’s vision for manufacturing companies that are built to survive and thrive in the face of disruption.
"Being prepared for the uncertain and the unforeseen, and ready to implement a rapid response to disruption, are critical for survival in today’s highly competitive and challenging world," said QAD CEO Anton Chilton. "Recent events have had a huge impact worldwide and underline the need to be ready to face these challenges however and whenever they manifest themselves. The ability to adapt in near real-time to these types of events is critical to a business’s success and even its survival. QAD engineers agile solutions that help manufacturers do exactly that. We call these companies Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprises."
QAD Tomorrow streamed globally September 22. The hour-long thought stream focused on the disruption in manufacturing and the imperative for manufacturers to digitally transform their businesses. Participants heard from QAD CEO Anton Chilton, CMO Carter Lloyds, CTO Tony Winter, and Michael Eckhardt from the Chasm Institute discussing the current trends disrupting industries worldwide and how manufacturers must be prepared to leverage disruption for competitive advantage.
"It was great to see registrations from 7 countries in South East Asia," said QAD Managing Director South Asia, Jan Biezepol. "It’s proof that South East Asia manufacturing companies recognize the need to increase their ability to adapt to disruption. This region has been resilient while facing global business disruptors including natural disasters, geopolitical disruption and now a pandemic. Our market leaders push towards becoming really fast, agile, and effective companies, and I am glad to share how QAD can help them do so."
The Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise
QAD Tomorrow introduced the vision of the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise. Chilton discussed how Industry 4.0 and the increasing importance of digital transformation can help manufacturers adapt in response to internal and external disruptions, changes in customer preference and government regulations.
QAD’s Adaptive Applications portfolio of manufacturing solutions, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), demand and supply chain planning (DSCP), global trade and transportation execution (GTTE), and enterprise quality management systems (EQMS) is designed to help manufacturers become Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprises. Adaptive solutions can be modified, changed, extended, and adapted, as a company changes its business strategy in response to changes in the business climate.
The Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model Diagnostic
QAD Tomorrow also debuted the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model Diagnostic, a complimentary diagnostic tool designed to help manufacturing companies gauge their ability to recognize and adapt to disruption. The Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model Diagnostic tool helps companies identify their business’s strengths and potential weaknesses in the context of business disruption. It places companies in one of four stages along what QAD calls the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model. Each stage, Disjointed Enterprise, Functional Enterprise, Effective Enterprise, and Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise, describes certain characteristics related to a company’s ability to cope with disruption.
The Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model
The results of the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise Maturity Model Diagnostic can help manufacturing companies begin to answer the following questions:
What does my company need to do to prepare for and manage disruption?
How does my company compare to an ideal Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise?
What does my company need to do to become an Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise?
About QAD – Enabling the Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise
QAD Inc. is a leading provider of adaptive, cloud-based enterprise software and services for global manufacturing companies. Global manufacturers face ever-increasing disruption caused by technology-driven innovation and changing consumer preferences. To survive and thrive, manufacturers must be able to innovate and change business models at unprecedented rates of speed. QAD calls these companies Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprises. QAD solutions help customers in the automotive, life sciences, consumer products, food and beverage, high tech and industrial manufacturing industries rapidly adapt to change and innovate for competitive advantage.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, QAD has 29 offices globally. Over 2,000 manufacturing companies have deployed QAD solutions including enterprise resource planning (ERP), demand and supply chain planning (DSCP), global trade and transportation execution (GTTE), and quality management system (QMS) to become an Adaptive Manufacturing Enterprise. To learn more, visit www.qad.com or call +1 805-566-6100. Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
"QAD" is a registered trademark of QAD Inc. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to Investors: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding projections of revenue, income and loss, capital expenditures, plans and objectives of management regarding the company’s business, future economic performance or any of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current expectations. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "could," "will likely result," "estimates," "intends," "may," "projects," "should," "would," "might," "plan" and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic or other catastrophic events that may harm our business; adverse economic, market or geo-political conditions that may disrupt our business; our cloud service offerings, such as defects and disruptions in our services, our ability to properly manage our cloud service offerings, our reliance on third-party hosting and other service providers, and our exposure to liability and loss from security breaches; demand for the company’s products, including cloud service, licenses, services and maintenance; pressure to make concessions on our pricing and changes in our pricing models; protection of our intellectual property; dependence on third-party suppliers and other third-party relationships, such as sales, services and marketing channels; changes in our revenue, earnings, operating expenses and margins; the reliability of our financial forecasts and estimates of the costs and benefits of transactions; the ability to leverage changes in technology; defects in our software products and services; third-party opinions about the company; competition in our industry; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; delays in sales; timely and effective integration of newly acquired businesses; economic conditions in our vertical markets and worldwide; exchange rate fluctuations; and the global political environment. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the company and factors that may affect our forward-looking statements, please refer to the company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and, in particular, the section entitled "Risk Factors" therein, and in other periodic reports, the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission thereafter. Management does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 29, 2020 — The 128th Canton Fair will be held online (https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/) from Oct. 15 to 24, 2020. The promotion of the 128th session of Canton Fair is underway.
In organizing exhibitions, this Canton Fair still features 50 sections under 16 categories, and all content will go online at the same time. The cross-border e-commerce section will also be set up at this session to promote the comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce. It will work with B2B cross-border e-commerce platforms to benefit more enterprises.
In inviting buyers, this Canton Fair will step up efforts and expand the scope. It will launch series events globally, including "cloud promotion," "cloud invitation," and "cloud contract signing" and continue to promote itself through internationally famous social media services and search engines, so as to attract more buyers to attend this session.
In building the platform, this session will focus on optimizing the platform’s functionalities, including improved experience for buyers, better search and display results, and more efficient matchmaking between suppliers and buyers. Using cloud technologies and other innovative measures, this session will enable participants to browse information about exhibitors and their exhibits, advertise their products via live streaming, communicate with each other in real-time, make reservations for negotiation, and match with potential trading partners.
Furthering its dedication to being the leading e-commerce platform for commercial trade operations, Tradewheel.com is pleased to join the 128th Canton Fair’s Media Resource Exchange Program.
With its robust portfolio of thousands and thousands of exporters, Tradewheel.com works to assist the worldwide organizations and businesses across numerous industries to capture the attention of potential buyers in real-time, along with offering elite user experience. Using a rich user interface to exhibit a wide range of quality assured products, it covers the entire process, from introductions to the transaction. Its interface is purpose-built for wholesale traders, offering them to run their business on their terms.
"We are excited to partner with Canton Fair," said Noman Javed, CEO of Tradewheel.com. "With the services of Tradewheel as the Media Resource Exchange Program partner of Canton Fair, we are putting the power in the hands of the agency to offer businesses new marketing solutions. The dynamics of this partnership will definitely generate more opportunities for the businesses involved with the trade exhibitions."
About Canton Fair:
China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, is established in 1957. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and organized by China Foreign Trade Centre, it is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, China.
About Tradewheel.com:
Tradewheel.com is a progressive online B2B marketplace with expertise in digital media, business leads, and commercial trade operations. Known in the industry to connect the global traders with genuine customers, it is one of the most reliable digital sources for international traders.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 29, 2020 — Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MAXN), a global leader in solar innovation, today announced that it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar Japan K.K., in Tokyo District Court, Japan.
The lawsuit filing alleges Canadian Solar Japan infringes Maxeon’s Japan Patent No. JP6642841B2 ("Shingled Solar Cell Module") for the proprietary and fundamental shingled solar cell panel technology used to deploy solar panels that Maxeon designs, manufactures and sells under the ‘SunPower Performance’ brand name. Canadian Solar Japan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., which is headquartered in Canada with operations and production facilities in China and in South-East Asia.
Shingled solar cell panels are typically made from separating solar cells into smaller solar cell strips and then connecting the resulting solar cell strips in an over-lapping layout. The result is a higher power, higher efficiency panel, with enhanced reliability and improved durability compared to conventional panels.
The Performance panel architecture and manufacturing processes were pioneered by Silicon Valley-based start-up company Cogenra Solar which was acquired by SunPower Corporation in 2015. In the subsequent spinoff of Maxeon Solar Technologies, Maxeon retained the use of the SunPower brand in the more than 100 markets it serves. Maxeon produces its SunPower Performance solar panels in China at Huansheng Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., its joint venture with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd. With more than 3 gigawatts deployed across over 60 countries to date, Performance panels are the industry’s most deployed shingled solar cell panel technology.
"We’ve built our business on a 35-year foundation of pioneering solar innovation. The intellectual property behind our shingled solar cell technology was developed by our talented design and engineering teams and is the result of substantial investment," said Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon Solar Technologies. "The resultant Performance technology outperforms conventional panels in efficiency, power, reliability and aesthetics."
The innovation behind Performance panels is protected by an international portfolio of more than 150 patents and patent applications covering shingled solar cell and panel design, as well as key manufacturing tools and processes.
"We feel very strongly about the importance of upholding our intellectual property rights, and view our intellectual property as a key business asset," added Lindsey Wiedmann, Maxeon’s Chief Legal Officer. "Maxeon’s patent portfolio, which now includes more than 900 patents, helps protect the many technical advancements we’ve made through the years that have led us to a prominent position in the solar industry," continued Wiedmann. "We must vigorously safeguard these valuable assets, and this action against Canadian Solar is a necessary step to prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual property. Respect of intellectual property rights is critical to incentivize innovation and for the orderly ongoing development of the solar industry."
About Maxeon Solar Technologies Maxeon Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: MAXN) is Powering Positive Change™. Headquartered in Singapore, Maxeon designs and sells SunPower® brand solar panels across more than 100 countries and is the leader in solar innovation with access to over 900 patents and two best-in-class solar panel product lines. With operations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe and Mexico, Maxeon products span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a network of more than 1,100 trusted partners and distributors. A pioneer in sustainable solar manufacturing, Maxeon leverages a 35-year history in the solar industry and numerous awards for its technology.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future plans and areas of focus, our positioning and business plans for future success, and our positioning to enforce patent rights. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results, performance or achievement to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent report on Form 20-F, as amended, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at www.maxeon.com/investor-relations. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.
TEWKSBURY, Mass., Sept. 29, 2020 — AEi, part of Mycronic Group, the leading provider of Camera Assembly and Test solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of WinComm as its distributor. Under the agreement, Wincomm will distribute AEi’s complete range of solutions throughout China.
Andrew Wang王胜月, General Manager of WinComm, commented: "We are excited to work with AEi, the global leader of CMAT and PCT solutions, to provide reliable solutions for safe and intelligent driving. We have been rooted in automotive electronics manufacturing solutions for many years, I believe that our cooperation will provide the best solution for participants in the Chinese market at a time when the greatest changes in new automotive technologies are coming."
"It is a great pleasure to work with Wincomm," said Jean-Marc Peallat, General Manager of AEi. "Our solutions, Camera Active Alignment System (CMAT) and our Post Cure Test modules (PCT) are a great addition and fit to Wincomm’s impressive product line. I am sure that their experienced teams and the quality of their service will vastly contribute to maintaining our leading position in Active Alignment solutions for the automotive industry, and continue the growth of our market share with Chinese Tier 1 suppliers. This partnership is a key milestone in our development."
Wincomm has been committed to offering customers the most competitive value-added solutions since its establishment. Wincomm has a strong team of sales and technical professionals serving automotive Tier 1 suppliers.
For additional information, please contact: Jennifer Russo Marketing Manager, Mycronic Global Technologies Tel: +1 (978) 667-9449, e-mail: jennifer.russo@mycronic.com Time Zone: ET – Eastern Time
About AEi
AEi, part of Mycronic Group, is the market leader of automated camera and sensor assembly and test equipment for the automotive market. It is complemented by our dedicated and newly enhanced PCT system or Post-Cure Test system. Our industry leadership is built on a symbiotic combination of optical alignment algorithms, and sequential processing all within a compact design. Bringing these compelling elements together ensures our products deliver the best financial returns in the industry. For more information about AEi, visit www.aeiboston.com.
About Mycronic
Mycronic AB is a Swedish high-tech company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of production equipment with high precision and flexibility requirements for the electronics industry. Mycronic headquarters are located in Täby, north of Stockholm and the Group has subsidiaries in China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States. Mycronic AB (publ) is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. www.mycronic.com
About Wincomm
Wincomm is a professional distributor in the application support, sales and service of assembly and test equipment solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry. Wincomm provides complete solutions to meet high-reliability automation requirements by leveraging its portfolio of advanced assembly and test platforms for semiconductor, PCBA, and sensor module. These best-in-class equipment sets help customers keep high quality, improve efficiency and lower overall costs of manufacturing. Wincomm maintains offices in south China, central China and operations center is located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Thin and light and affordability don’t usually go hand in hand. However, Acer’s Swift 3 has always been one of the best value for money options when you’re looking at getting something affordable, thin and light. However, unlike previous years, the Swift 3 comes with an AMD Ryzen option which promises top notch performance while maintaining a lot of the features of the popular laptop.
We’re going to be asking the hard questions when it comes to the Swift 3 in this review – should you buy it? Is it worth your money? And does the Ryzen variant hold up to the hype AMD has built around their silicon offerings?
Design
Let’s start by taking a look at the overall design of the Swift 3. Overall, the design approach that Acer took to this laptop is more utilitarian compared to the rest of the Swift line up (barring the Swift 1). In fact, you’d be hard-pressed in finding any of the design finesse of the 5 or 7; which is, to be honest, expected at the price point that the Swift 3 sits at.
The laptop is a rectangular slab which tapers gradually from the hinge to the tip. That said, the larger, thicker back of the hinge area allows it a better, more stable footing when it is open. There were rarely times when the display ended up rocking back and forth on a rocky, uneven surface during the review period. The thickness also allows ample space for Acer to equip the Swift 3 with a full array of ports from HDMI to USB Type-C.
While this also means that the laptop lacks in design flair, it makes more utilitarian sense. Its ports are readily accessible while minimising its footprint. However, unlike its siblings, the Swift 3 is a whole lot heftier; coming in at 1.2kg. Yes, I did call 1.2kg hefty. Keep in mind, the rest of the Swift series come in at below 1kg. That said, Acer’s decision to have the Swift 3 in purple a touch of pizzaz that keeps the Swift 3 fresh. It’s also one of those colours that seems to grow on you.
Hardware
The Acer Swift 3 may be a little lacking on the design flair but it’s utilitarian approach to the thin and light has spurred the company to pack a formidable punch when it comes to the hardware. Coming with the Ryzen 5, the laptop is no slouch when it comes to performance. It clocks in a respectable 2.3Ghz with 6 cores for better multicore processing; enabling it to undertake more demanding tasks.
Specifications
Acer Swift 3 | SF314-42-R43G
As tested
Processor (clock)
AMD Ryzen 5-4500U Hexa-core 2.3 GHz
GPU
AMD Radeon Vega 6 Graphics
Display
14-inch Full HD TFT LCD 1920×1080 pixels
Memory
8GB LPDDR4 SDRAM 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking and Connections
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.0 HDMI 1 USB 2.0 Type-A 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A 1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery
3-cell Lithium Ion 11 Hours battery life (claimed)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous
Fingerprint Reader Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C USB-C charging 5 V; 3 A DC-in port 19 V; 65 W
Features
While the Swift 3 may not be as feature packed as it’s siblings, the laptop comes with features that make sense and fit the utilitarian and functional approach that Acer has taken for it. The laptop comes with a full array of ports including a USB-C, a USB-A with support for USB2.0, a USB-A with support for USB3.1, an HDMI port and even a 3.5mm headphone jack which its competition seems to be missing. The full array of ports should ensure that users are well equipped to handle any connectivity hurdles that may come their way. However, like most laptops nowadays, the Swift 3 is powerless when it comes face to face with a dreaded VGA port; you will be resigned to the dongle life for VGA. In addition, the laptop also doesn’t come with an SD card reader.
Ports aside, the Swift 3 does have many other features. However, it does come with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The former allows the laptop to take advantage of the faster 802.11ax WiFi bandwidth which gives it an edge over other laptops in a similar price range. That said, not many networks use WiFi 6 just yet – but getting ready for the future is always a plus now, isn’t it. Bluetooth 5.0 allows you take advantage of wireless earbuds and other peripherals without sacrificing too much battery life.
However, the biggest advantage that the laptop over its competitors is the fact that it’s lightweight. The Swift 3 is definitely a contender for one of the lightest laptops in its price range. Coming in at slightly over 1kg, it will definitely be one of the go-to laptops for people looking for one which they can easily take on the go without worrying about overloading the bag or breaking your back from carrying it around.
Performance
Since the Swift 3 is so utilitarian and focused on keeping you productive, it comes as no surprise that Acer has chosen to offer an Ryzen 5-4500U processor option in the Swift 3. AMD’s new processors have outperformed its competition in benchmarks consistently over the past few years since the release of AMD’s Zen architecture. The same holds true for AMD’s mobile processors which is being used here in the Swift 3. However, benchmarks are only part of the story, we’re focusing on the overall user experience when it comes to using the laptop.
The Swift 3 is definitely a capable power house when it comes to everyday tasks. Word processing, working with PowerPoint and even large excel files are definitely not a problem for the laptop. What did stand out was the laptop’s ability to edit 1080p video in Adobe Premiere with ease. In fact, it could even handle 4K video editing with limited overlays and additions. However, if you’re going to be doing massive video editing this isn’t the laptop for you. The Ryzen 5 is good, but it is let down by the limited RAM and lack of graphics processor in the laptop.
This was made pretty clear when we tried to game on the Swift 3. On older games, it was able to handle settings at medium. It ploughed through Diablo 3 without much noise but when it came to games like Overwatch or even No Straight Roads, the laptop ran a little hot and had quite a lot of stuttering and screen tearing to keep up. It could hardly keep 30fps even with low settings. This isn’t really surprising for us as the gaming capabilities of the laptop are severely limited even though there is the built in Radeon Vega 6 graphics. The laptop also performs well with multimedia. However, the audio experience on the laptop could use some polish as the speakers sound tinny and distorted when the volume is pushed. However, at lower volumes, the audio lacks body and is, to be frank, incredibly soft. You only start hearing it audibly after the indicator passes the 40% mark in Windows.
That said, the laptop isn’t really built for gaming. In fact, it’s built for productivity on the go and the Swift 3 comes with ample battery life. Acer claims 11 hours of battery life on the Swift 3. During our time with the laptop, we easily got about 13 hours of active use time. On standby, the laptop was able to last well over a day. In fact, when we opened it about 8 hours later, the laptop had slightly more than 40% battery remaining. Even editing 1080p video on battery, the Swift 3 lasted about 3-4 hours before it needed to be plugged in.
Display
When it comes to the display of the Swift 3, it has a pretty good one for it’s price point. It comes with a 13.5-inch, 1080p Full HD display which is more than enough for a laptop of its size. The screen is crisp and the colour is relatively accurate. While it doesn’t have a touch display like the Swift 5, the screen fulfils its purpose. It allows you enough display real estate to get things done without straining your eyes too much.
The display is also near bezel-less. There is about 1-3mm of bezel on either side of the display with about 5mm on the top and bottom. The slim bezels allowed for a pretty immersive visual experience. You don’t have much pulling you out of your work or multimedia.
An unremarkably affordable laptop that does only slightly more than the basics
Overall, the Swift 3 is an unremarkable device. It’s not a jack of all trades, but it’s a thin and light laptop for those on a budget. It packs as much performance it for the price point it’s at. That said, it is a device geared for productivity and it does deliver on its promise of keeping you productive on the go. In fact, I would say it excels in it given the extra feats it accomplished. Editing 1080p video on the Swift 5 was also a feat, to see the Swift 3 able to do it without much problem is a definite plus. However, we also have to keep in mind that the Swift 3 is playing in an arena which is quickly getting crowded with similarly spec’d devices. It needs to find a way to stand out from the crowd; and, in all honesty, if it boils down to the brand, Acer is looking at an uphill battle with the Swift 3. That said, the AMD powered Swift 3 holds a peg above the competition with its performance right now – whether this holds true in the near future; we’ll have to see. All-in-all, the Swift 3 delivers on all its promises and excels further than its competition on certain fronts. However, when considering this device, it would be prudent to see if other, more powerful devices with a dedicated graphics card could serve you better. That said, if you’re looking for a slim and light productivity machine for everyday tasks, you don’t have to look further for a package that’s both affordable and give you some really good value for the money you invest in it.
—Chinese proposals for developing South-South cooperation in the new era
BEIJING, Sept. 28, 2020 — A news report by China.org.cn on China promotes new type of South-South cooperation.
 
The Communist Party of China (CPC) not only pursues happiness for the Chinese people, but also strives for the cause of human progress.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China has reached the historical stage of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The long-cherished dream of the Chinese nation to "realize national prosperity and people’s well-being" is about to come true.
At the same time, the CPC has never given up on its aspiration for a "world of great harmony," and always bears in mind the unswerving mission to make new and greater contributions to humanity.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China has spearheaded a new type of South-South cooperation and worked together with other developing countries to build a better future. To show their great endeavors as well as the bright prospects, the Institute of World Political Party of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) has produced and presented a video titled Forging Ahead Against Headwinds—Chinese proposals for developing South-South cooperation in the new era.
