Baidu Announces Pricing of US$950 Million Notes Offering

BEIJING, Oct. 7, 2020 — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading search engine, knowledge and information centered Internet platform and AI company, today announced the pricing of its public offering of US$950 million aggregate principal amount of its notes. The public offering consists of US$650 million of 1.720% notes due 2026 and US$300 million of 2.375% notes due 2030. The notes have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are expected to be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited.

The Company expects to receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately US$945 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay certain existing indebtedness.

The joint bookrunners of the offering are Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.

The Company has an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (including a base prospectus) on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and has filed a related preliminary prospectus supplement with the SEC for the offering of the notes. When available, the final prospectus supplement for the offering of the notes will be filed with the SEC. The offering is being made only by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Company or any underwriter or dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send an investor the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus if the investor makes such request by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. toll-free at 1-866-471-2526, BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322 or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533.

This announcement is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States of America and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America.

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is a leading search engine, knowledge and information centered Internet platform and AI company. The Company’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu’s American depositary shares ("ADSs")  trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU." Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident," "is/are likely to" and other similar expressions. Among other things, the description of the proposed offering in this announcement contains forward-looking statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Baidu’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Baidu’s proposed use of proceeds from the sale of debt securities; its growth strategies, its future business development, including development of new products and services; results of operations and financial condition,  its ability to attract and retain users and customers and generate revenue and profit from its customers; competition in the Chinese Internet search market; competition for online marketing customers and other businesses in which it engages; changes in Baidu’s revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of its revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese language Internet search market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers and general economic conditions in China, Japan and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Baidu’s annual report on Form 20-F, Form F-3 and other documents filed with the SEC. Baidu does not undertake an obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Contacts

Investors Relations, Baidu, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5992-8888
Email: ir@baidu.com  

Related Links :

http://www.baidu.com

Syntax Appoints New CEO of Syntax Asia to Drive Growing Global Operations

Renowned SAP and IT consulting expert, Dr. Haihong Xin, joins Syntax’ Executive Leadership team as head of its Asia region

MONTREAL, Oct. 6, 2020 — Syntax, a global managed cloud provider for mission-critical applications, today announced Dr. Haihong Xin as CEO of Syntax Asia. With more than two decades of SAP and IT consulting experience throughout the APAC region, Dr. Xin joins Syntax at a pivotal time of accelerated growth in Asia, where it has already established a 15-year legacy of helping customers meet their global business needs through best-in-class technology solutions and services.

Syntax Asia is trusted by enterprises expanding their APAC business to pair the convenience and flexibility of the cloud with the reliability of ERP solutions. The company’s services include system, network and client IT setup, solution design and architecture, security and compliance audits, Application Management Services (AMS), Managed and Client Services, SAP consulting and more.

"As Asia continues to grow as a hub of innovation, global companies need an IT partner that understands both their business’ goals and industry best practices, as well as the nuances of the market," said Christian Primeau, Global CEO of Syntax. "In addition to his vast experience, Dr. Xin is notoriously relentless in his commitment to providing customers the best possible solutions and support, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him lead Syntax Asia through its next era of growth."

Prior to joining Syntax, Dr. Xin led the APAC arm of CDK Global as a Vice President and Managing Director, where he not only achieved profitable growth for a decade, but also doubled the company’s business in China and APAC. Dr. Xin also previously spent more than ten years at SAP in Development, Consulting, Managed Services and various Service Delivery Leader roles before joining EDS-HP as an IT outsourcing executive.

Dr. Xin is fluent in Mandarin, Japanese and English, and holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Science & Technology and a Ph.D. of Engineering in Industrial Systems and Engineering. He replaces Reto Bless, who, after achieving several milestones as Syntax Asia CEO for seven years, will now return to Europe to join the Syntax team there as Global Account Manager for Freudenberg Group Companies.

For more information on Syntax Asia services, please visit https://www.syntax.com/fit/zh/

About Syntax:
Since 1972, Syntax has been providing comprehensive technology solutions to businesses of all sizes with thousands of customers around the globe trusting Syntax with their IT services and ERP needs. Today, Syntax is a leading Managed Cloud Provider for Mission Critical Enterprise Applications. Syntax has undisputed strength to implement and manage ERP deployments (Oracle, SAP) in a secure, resilient, private, public or hybrid cloud. With strong technical and functional consulting services, and world class monitoring and automation, Syntax serves corporations across a diverse range of industries and markets. Syntax has offices worldwide, and partners with Oracle, SAP, AWS, Microsoft, IBM, HPE, and other global technology leaders. Learn more about Syntax at www.syntax.com.

Contact:

Matthew Royse

Tel: 919-287-4873

matthew.royse@syntax.com 

Katy Hoeper

Tel: 312-964-9110

katy.hoeper@walkersands.com

 

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Foot Locker, Inc. Selects Adyen to Power In-Store and Online Payments Internationally


AMSTERDAM, Oct. 6, 2020 — Adyen (AMS: ADYEN), the global payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, announced today that it has been selected by Foot Locker, Inc., the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, to power payments in various markets and sales channels globally. Foot Locker and Adyen have been working together since 2018.

"Adyen’s single platform and global reach allow Foot Locker to provide an exemplary payment experience that’s tailored to the needs of our customers in various markets across North America, Europe, and APAC," said John Wompey, VP of Customer Connectivity at Foot Locker. "Adyen’s ability to accelerate and simplify the implementation process has been critical to our continued success in these markets."

"As always, we aim to give our merchants the ability to give their customers the best experience and we are thrilled to continue to grow the relationship with Foot Locker and help them do so," said Kamran Zaki, COO at Adyen. "Foot Locker is in a unique position to bring the best of athletic footwear and appeal to more customers globally and we are proud to partner with them."

For more information, visit www.adyen.com.

About Adyen
Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, providing a modern end-to-end infrastructure connecting directly to Visa, Mastercard, and consumers’ globally preferred payment methods. Adyen delivers frictionless payments across online, mobile, and in-store channels. With offices across the world, Adyen serves customers including Facebook, Uber, Spotify, Casper, Bonobos and L’Oréal. The cooperation with Foot Locker, Inc. as described in this merchant update underlines Adyen’s continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.

About Foot Locker Inc.
Foot Locker, Inc. leads the celebration of sneaker and youth culture around the globe through a portfolio of brands including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Eastbay, Footaction, Runners Point, and Sidestep.  With 3,100 retail stores in 27 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as websites and mobile apps, the Company’s purpose is to inspire and empower youth culture around the world, by fueling a shared passion for self-expression and creating unrivaled experiences at the heart of the global sneaker community.  Foot Locker, Inc. has its corporate headquarters in New York.  For additional information please visit www.footlocker-inc.com.

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iClick Interactive and Tencent International Business Group Announce Strategic Collaboration on Smart Solutions in Key APAC Markets

Both Join Hands to Co-Develop SaaS-based “Smart Retail” and “Smart Travel” Solutions, and Promote “Smart Conference” via Tencent Cloud Conference solutions

HONG KONG, Oct. 6, 2020 — iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited ("iClick" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ICLK), an independent online marketing and enterprise data solutions provider in China, today announced that it will co-develop "Smart Retail" and "Smart Travel" SaaS solutions with Tencent International Business Group ("Tencent IBG"). The new solutions will initially be available in Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand, followed by further expansion to additional APAC countries in the future. Moreover, iClick will also leverage its strong multinational clients’ coverage worldwide to advocate "Smart Conference" powered by Tencent Cloud Conference (TCC) solutions.

The innovative SaaS-based offerings are part of iClick’s newly developed Enterprise Solutions, integrating Tencent Cloud’s AI, chatbot and facial recognition technology to empower the rapidly-developing WeChat Mini Programs. Leveraging iClick’s unparalleled data capability with coverage of 98% of Internet users in China and pioneer experience in providing SaaS-based solutions for the retail and travel industries, as well as Tencent’s enormous ecosystem and advanced technologies, the new solution will empower brands to create more business opportunities through comprehensive consumer intelligence and help them grow in international markets more efficiently. iClick’s tailor-made SaaS solutions are particularly suited to realizing the huge market potential of the international retail and travel sectors. In these highly competitive industries, SaaS solutions provide a powerful way for overseas marketers to reach the massive number of Chinese outbound consumers and allow brands to super-charge their crucial customer loyalty programs.

As part of the strategic collaboration, iClick will also leverage its extensive customer base to provide and serve clients with smart conferencing solutions through secure and seamless Tencent Cloud Conference. Built on Tencent Cloud’s cutting-edge technology and experience gained from serving myriads of customers in the past, Tencent Cloud Conference can be widely used in business conferences, annual meetings, road shows, lectures, industry forums, among others. Through face recognition, electronic business card, simultaneous interpretation, live video and other technologies, it brings efficient organization to customers’ conference, and brings online, digital, and paperless experience.

"iClick’s new generation of intelligent SaaS solutions is a game changer for the international travel and retail industries," said Frankie Ho, President of International Business, iClick Interactive. "Working with Tencent IBG as their overseas Platinum Partner, iClick’s SaaS-based smart initiative is a testament to how we are able to generate synergies through our respective strengths. Together with our collaboration to promote ‘Smart Conference’, all these offerings will bring our clients a revolutionary new tool to strengthen brand awareness across the region, reflecting iClick’s international market expansion strategy which differentiates our competitive position compared to our peers.

"Currently available in Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand, we are confident that this initiative will see strong market acceptance and subsequently expand to other APAC countries. This also affirms our conviction in the substantial upside potential of our Enterprise Solutions, based on our business’s scalability and cross-border capabilities. In particular, throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have gained recognition from clients, especially in challenging industries such as travel and retail, for proactively helping them navigate the macroeconomic uncertainties and prepare for the recovery period."

This is the first initiative iClick and Tencent have collaborated on following iClick being named Tencent IBG’s Platinum Partner, with the promise of more cooperative opportunities in the future. As part of the launch, iClick will also accelerate promotion of its Marketing Solutions in Asia as the Company continues its evolution into a fully integrated marketing and enterprise cloud platform.

About iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (NASDAQ: ICLK) is an independent online marketing and enterprise data solutions provider that connects worldwide marketers with audiences in China. Built on cutting-edge technologies, our proprietary platform possesses omni-channel marketing capabilities and fulfils various marketing objectives in a data-driven and automated manner, helping both international and domestic marketers reach their target audiences in China. Headquartered in Hong Kong, iClick was established in 2009 and is currently operating in ten locations worldwide including Asia and Europe.

For more information, please visit ir.i-click.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, including those related to the Company’s business strategies, operations and financial performance. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s fluctuations in growth; its success in implementing its mobile and new retail strategies, including extending its solutions beyond its core online marketing business; its success in structuring a CRM & Marketing Cloud platform; relative percentage of its gross billing recognized as revenue under the gross and net models; its ability to retain existing clients or attract new ones; its ability to retain content distribution channels and negotiate favorable contractual terms; market competition, including from independent online marketing technology platforms as well as large and well-established internet companies; market acceptance of online marketing technology solutions and enterprise solutions; effectiveness of its algorithms and data engines; its ability to collect and use data from various sources; ability to integrate and realize synergies from acquisitions, investments or strategic partnership; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; and general economic conditions in China and other jurisdictions where the Company operates; and the regulatory landscape in China and other jurisdictions where the Company operates. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

In the United States:

iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited

Core IR

Lisa Li

John Marco

Phone: +86-21-3230-3931 #892

Tel: +1-516-222-2560

E-mail: ir@i-click.com

E-mail: johnm@coreir.com

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OPPO Spices Up Mid-range Line up with the A93

OPPO’s not letting the current state of affairs get it down. Instead, the company has released one of its most affordable midrange smartphones yet – The OPPO A93.

The OPPO A93 is third generation of OPPO’s mid range A series. The A series kicked off slightly over a year ago with the A90 which brought OPPO’s camera technology to the forefront of their midrange. The tradition continues with OPPO equipping the new A93 with a whopping 6 cameras – 2 in the front and 4 at the back. The selfie cameras are a 16-megapixel main camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor for the portrait shots that OPPO is known for. On the back, the quad camera setup consists of a 48-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and phase detection autofocus (PDAF), an 8-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, and two 2-megapixel mono sensors with an f/2.4 aperture for depth sensing.

Aside from the camera, the OPPO A93 comes with a large 4,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. The battery powers an octacore MediaTek Helio P95 clocked at 2.2GHz. The processor is complemented by a 8GB of RAM and 128GB of on board UFS2.1 memory. It also supports up to an additional 512GB of memory via the microSD card slot. The OPPO A93 has a triple card slot which houses the microSD card as well as 2 SIMS.

The smartphone is equipped with a 6.43-inch display. The panel is an AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. The screen supports a 60Hz refresh rate with a pixel density of 409ppi with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen covers 90.7% of the phone’s facade. It is also equipped with Gorilla Glass 3+ scratch resistance.

The OPPO A93 will be running ColorOS 7.2 a top Android 10. It will bring most of the features that OPPO phones have become well known for including the personalisation options that the Android skin allows.

Pricing & Availability

The OPPO A93 will be up for pre-order starting 6 October 2020. Pre-orders end on 9 October 2020. Pre-orders will be entitled to free gifts, an exclusive umbrella and an OPPO fre It will be available in stores starting 10 October 2020.

The A93 will be available in Matte Black and Metallic White. It will cost MYR1,299 (USD$312.74).

Official Specifications 

Dimensions & WeightDimensions: About 7.48mm x 73.8mm x 160.1mm
Weight: About 164g  
Display16.34cm Dual Punch-hole Display
2400×1080 pixels;
FHD+
AMOLED
60HZ Refresh Rate;
20:9 Screen Ratio 90.7% Screen to Body Ratio;
409 PPI
Gorilla Glass 3+  
PlatformMKT Helio P95
CPU type& Speed : 8-core, 2.2Ghz  
Storage8GB RAM LPDDR4
128GB ROM UFS 2.1
Dual-SIM,
Micro-SD can be extended to 256 GB.
3 card slot
Battery4000mAh
18W Fast Charge
Fingerprint SensorIn-Display Fingerprint 3.0  
Rear Camera48MP Main(F1.8)1/2” Sensor 8MP Wide Angle(F2.2)1/4” Sensor 2MP Mono(F2.4)1/5” Sensor 2M Mono(F2.4)1/5” Sensor
Front Camera16MP Main Camera(F2.4)1/3” Sensor 2MP Depth Camera(F2.4)1/5” Sensor  
ColorOSColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10  
ColorsMatte Black / Metallic White  

New Research Shows Companies With Strong Cybersecurity Outperform the Market By Up To 7%


Solactive BitSight Cyber Risk Index quantifies cyber risk for investors

BOSTON and FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct. 6, 2020 — BitSight, the Standard in Security Ratings, and Solactive, a German index engineering firm, today released new research demonstrating that a company’s cybersecurity performance is an indicator of business performance.  Analysis shows that indices composed of well-performing BitSight-rated companies outperform their respective benchmarks by 1% to 2% annually.  For certain sectors, such as U.S. Technology, well-rated companies outperform the benchmark by 7% per year. The findings are an endorsement for today’s introduction of the Solactive BitSight Cyber Risk Index, a financial index that will enable investors to invest in companies who are top cybersecurity performers as measured by BitSight.

BitSight Technology Cyber Risk Index
BitSight Technology Cyber Risk Index

Investors are deeply concerned about cyber risk affecting their investment portfolios. A 2019 Responsible Investment Survey from RBC found that cybersecurity is the ESG risk for investors. A recent survey of more than 60 institutional investors with $35 trillion in assets under management conducted by the EY Center for Board Matters found that cybersecurity is the #3 threat to portfolio companies’ strategic success in the next three to five years. 

The Solactive BitSight Cyber Risk Index helps investors factor cyber risk into their investment decision-making. By continuously and non-intrusively collecting cybersecurity performance data on global organizations, BitSight provides quantitative, objective and validated analytics, avoiding the data collection challenges typically associated with ESG investing.  The Solactive BitSight Cyber Risk Index can be used as direct underlying or benchmarks of financial products such as ETFs or structured products across the following five index universe compilations: U.S. Market, European Market, Developed Markets, Asia-Pacific Market, and U.S. Technology Market.

Cybersecurity is both a risk and opportunity for investors

New Solactive analysis of BitSight Security Ratings demonstrates that investing in strong cybersecurity performers can actually deliver higher returns. Until now, investors have primarily thought of cybersecurity as a risk to the portfolio; research shows that share prices on average fall 7.27% in a two-week period after a publicly disclosed breach.  By leveraging BitSight data, Solactive finds a clear signal that companies with strong cybersecurity performance also financially outperform their market peers.  This aligns with earlier independent research which shows that BitSight provides the only security rating statistically correlated with a reduction in the risk of a breach.

Solactive created five Cyber Risk Indices composed of the top 25% of companies based on cybersecurity performance as measured by BitSight.  The Cyber Risk Index versions of U.S. Market, European Market, Developed Markets, and Asia-Pacific Market all show a similar picture of a solid outperformance over their respective benchmarks of around 1% to 2% per year. In the U.S. Technology version, the Cyber Risk Index outperformed by the benchmark by 7% annually.

The market impact of the research and partnership

Steve Harvey, chief executive officer, BitSight: "BitSight is powering a new era, where cyber risk is integrated into every market decision and strong, measurable cybersecurity performance is a market differentiator.  This unprecedented research based on BitSight’s unique data will not only affect investors’ views on cybersecurity, but also the way that C-suite and security professionals manage and measure cybersecurity performance inside of their organizations.  For BitSight, this is another independent, statistical validation of our market-leading Security Ratings, further cementing the reason why the global marketplace — investors, insurers, governments, and businesses — trust and use the BitSight platform.

Timo Pfeiffer, chief markets officer, Solactive: "For Solactive, it has always been crucial to consider topics from different perspectives than the mainstream. This attitude is why we wanted to work with BitSight in the creation of our new Solactive BitSight Cyber Risk Indices, as both companies realized the massive potential of cybersecurity-themed ESG investing. As companies are more and more dependent on effective cybersecurity infrastructure, this index reflects the crucial importance of this yet understated sustainability aspect."

About Solactive AG

Solactive AG is an innovative index provider that focuses on the development, calculation, and distribution of tailor-made indices across all asset classes. As of January 2019, Solactive AG served approximately 400 clients in Europe, America, and Asia, with approximately USD 200 billion invested in products linked to indices calculated by the company globally, primarily via 380 exchange-traded funds from a number of well-known providers. Solactive AG was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Frankfurt.

About BitSight

BitSight transforms how organizations manage cyber risk. The BitSight Security Ratings Platform applies sophisticated algorithms, producing daily security ratings that range from 250 to 900, to help organizations manage their own security performance; mitigate third party risk; underwrite cyber insurance policies; conduct financial diligence; and assess aggregate risk. With over 2,100 global customers and the largest ecosystem of users and information, BitSight is the Standard in Security Ratings and was honored as a 2020 Most Innovative Company by Fast Company. For more information, please visit www.bitsight.com, read our blog or follow @BitSight on Twitter.

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[UPDATE] Xiaomi Launches the Mi 10T Series – The New Value for Money Kings are Here Starting from MYR 1,699!

When Xiaomi introduced the Mi 9T and Mi 9T Pro last year, the device became a sensation. It was one of the best value-for-money buys that you can make in the year 2019 and it was something that really caught our attention. It performed admirably too, definitely one of the best smartphones to come out of 2020. Then comes the big question. How do you follow up from such a smartphone?

Last night was Xiaomi’s answer to that question of replacing the Xiaomi Mi 9T series. The answer was a plain and simple Xiaomi Mi 10T series. Of course, the series branches out into three devices to cover three different market segments.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro

Source: Xiaomi

The most powerful device in the series is obviously the ‘Pro’. It is quite expected at this point, with that naming moniker. Obviously as well, the device packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 System on a Chip (SoC), the most powerful Qualcomm SoC before the Snapdragon 856+ launched.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 is a rather powerful chip still though. That powerful SoC with Adreno 650 GPU combined with 8GB of RAM is sure to make the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro the most powerful smartphone the Chinese manufacturer has seen in their stables. All that power will be accentuated by the write and read speeds of the 256GB (up to) UFS 3.1 memory module.

Source: Xiaomi

This Android 12 with MIUI 12 device runs on a large 5,000mAh battery to keep everything running from morning to night, and even more. If not, the Xiaomi Mi 10T super-fast charges at 33W. All that is wrapped in a mix of glass body and aluminium frame.

The front of the device is mostly plain Corning Gorilla Glass 5 housing the large 6.67-inch TrueColor DotDisplay. At 144Hz the Full HD+ display feels smooth and snappy, a real difference in experiencing MIUI 12. Yes, you read that right; 144Hz, not 120Hz.

Source: Xiaomi

That super-fast gaming-centric display is not just fast though. It is a properly pretty display with P3 colour gamut and TrueColor for more accurate colours. They also understand that not all contents are displayed at 144Hz, so the display also comes with AdaptiveSync and Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation (MEMC) technologies to match framerates and make it seem like your 60Hz videos play at 120Hz or even 144Hz.

At the corner of the display is a 20-Megapixel front facing camera to ensure your selfies look good. Of course, that is not the only camera that the device has. It is a modern flagship after all. Out the back then is a large 108-Megapixel sensor supported by a 13-Megapixel ultra-wide camera and 5-Megapixel macro camera. No telephoto nonsense here. That 108-Megapixel shooter gives the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro the ability to shoot videos at 8K resolution.

Xiaomi Mi 10T

Source: Xiaomi

A step down from the Pro is the regular Xiaomi Mi 10T. Technically, there is not much in difference between the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro. The Xiaomi Mi 10T packs the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC as the Mi 10T Pro.

You can even get it with up to 8GB RAM arrangement with 128GB of memory in tow too, comparable to the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro. Both packs the same sized display with the same refresh rate and colour calibration. Both also pack the same battery size at 5,000mAh.

The difference is out the back of the device. The Xiaomi Mi 10T also still has the same smaller 13-Megapixel Ultra-wide shooter and 5-Megapixel macro camera at the back. But instead of the powerful 108-Megapixel camera, it is a 64-Megapixel sensor in place. This could be the next best value device of the year, we think.

Mi 10T Lite

Source: Xiaomi

If you are looking for something that is more considerate for your wallet, then there is the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite. As its name suggest, this is sort of the baby Xiaomi Mi 10T. Of course, you cannot expect it to be anywhere near as powerful as the bigger brother, the Xiaomi Mi 10T and the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro too.

It packs the power of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC for big performance at a budget. The 750G also packs 5G capabilities for good measure, in case you want a taste of it when it is available. But it is also still powerful enough to run your PUBG Mobile smoothly.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G that is paired with 6GB of RAM space is powerful enough to power MIUI 12 based on Android 11 on the 120Hz 6,67-inch Full HD display. The display is nicely protected against weather and other abuse via a Corning Gorilla Glass. Under that same glass at the top of the display is a 16-Megapixel front-facing shooter.

Source: Xiaomi

Out the back, you also find a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to house a 64-Megapixel main shooter. That main shooter is paired with an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 2-Megapixel Macro lens, and a 2-Megapixel depth sensor making it a quad-camera set-up effectively.

Keeping everything running all day long is a 4,820mAh battery. While that is still smaller than the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro, it is a decent battery size. If you need to get it charged, the 33W charger in the box should fix you up quickly.

Specifications

Mi 10T ProMi 10TMi 10T Lite
Display144Hz 6.67″ TrueColor DotDisplay
20:9 aspect ratio, 2400×1080 FHD+,
AdaptiveSync display:
30Hz/48Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz/120Hz/144Hz
Support MEMC
Support DCI-P3, HDR10
Brightness: 500 nits (typ), 650 nits max brightness
(typ)
Color contrast ratio: 1500:1 (typ)
Sunlight display 3.0, Reading mode 3.0
TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification
360° ambient light sensor
144Hz 6.67″ TrueColor DotDisplay
20:9 aspect ratio, 2400×1080 FHD+,
AdaptiveSync display:
30Hz/48Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz/120Hz/144Hz
Support MEMC
Support DCI-P3, HDR10
Brightness: 500 nits (typ), 650 nits max brightness
(typ)
Color contrast ratio: 1500:1 (typ)
Sunlight display 3.0, Reading mode 3.0
TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification
360° ambient light sensor
120Hz 6.67” DotDisplay
20:9 aspect ratio, 2400×1080 FHD+
AdaptiveSync display:
30Hz/48Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz/120Hz
Color gamut: NTSC 84% (typ)
Brightness: 450 nits (typ)
Color contrast ratio: 1500:1 (typ)
HDR10
Sunlight display 3.0, Reading mode
3.0
TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light
certification
360° ambient light sensor
BodyCorning® Gorilla® Glass
5 front and back
Aluminum alloy frame
Corning® Gorilla® Glass
5 front and back
Aluminum alloy frame
Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 front and
back
Plastic frame
Dimensions165.1mm x 76.4mm x
9.33mm, 218g
165.1mm x 76.4mm x
9.33mm, 216g
165.38mm x 76.8mm x 9.0mm,
214.5g
ColourCosmic Black, Lunar
Silver, Aurora Blue
Cosmic Black, Lunar
Silver
Atlantic Blue, Pearl Gray, Rose Gold
Beach
ProcessorQualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865
up to 2.84GHz clock speed
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865
up to 2.84GHz clock speed
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 750G
up to 2.2GHz clock speed
Cameras (rear)108MP wide-angle
camera, 1.6μm 4-in-1
Super Pixel with OIS, 82°
FOV, f/1.69, 7P lens
13MP ultra-wide angle
camera, 123° FOV, f/2.4
5MP macro camera,
f/2.4, AF 2-10cm
64MP wide-angle
camera, 1.6μm 4-in-1
Super Pixel, 79.8°
FOV, f/1.89 , 6P lens
13MP ultra-wide angle
camera, 123° FOV,
f/2.4
5MP macro camera,
f/2.4, AF 2-10cm
64MP wide-angle camera, 1.6μm
4-in-1 Super Pixel, 79.8° FOV
f/1.89, 6P lens
8MP ultra-wide camera, 120° FOV,
f/2.2
2MP macro camera, f/2.4
FF (4cm)
2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Camera (front)20MP in-display front camera
f/2.2
20MP in-display front camera
f/2.2
16MP in-display front camera
f/2.45
Connectivity5G
WiFi 6
Dual SIM
Multi-functional NFC
IR blaster
5G
WiFi 6
Dual SIM
Multi-functional NFC
IR blaster
5G
Dual SIM
Multi-functional NFC
IR blaster
Battery5,000mAh (typ) high-capacity battery
33W wired fast charging
33W in-box charger
5,000mAh (typ) high-capacity battery
33W wired fast charging
33W in-box charger
4,820mAh (typ) high-capacity battery
33W wired fast charging
33W in-box charger
AudioDual speakers
Hi-Res Audio certification
Dual speakers
Hi-Res Audio certification
Dual speakers
Hi-Res Audio certification
MotorX-axis linear vibration motorX-axis linear vibration motorZ-axis linear vibration motor
SystemMIUI 12 based on Android 10MIUI 12 based on Android 10MIUI 12 based on Android 10
Storage8GB+128GB
8GB+256GB
6GB+128GB
8GB+128GB
6GB + 64GB
6GB + 128GB

Mi Watch

Source: Xiaomi

Alongside the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T, and Mi 10T Lite, Xiaomi introduces their new Mi Watch (not to be confused with Apple Watch). The Mi Watch is made for the active Mi fans with its bright AMOLED display measuring in at 1.39-inch in diameter displaying all the things you need to know about your lifestyle.

The Mi Watch can keep track of up to 117 kinds of exercises in all different modes. There are six different sensors and a GPS tracker to offer you all the sorts of information you need for a healthy lifestyle. The best part though, is that you only need to charge the Mi Watch once in every 16 days.

Availability and Pricing

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T, and Mi 10T Lite will be launching in Malaysia very soon. In fact, it is supposed to be launched locally on the 6th of October 2020. The Xiaomi Mi Watch is also expected to make an appearance at the local launch. There are no confirmed prices yet at this point. We will be updating this page very soon with that information.

UPDATE: The Xiaomi Mi Watch will be available in Malaysia from December 6th onward in Malaysia. No prices have been announced at this time, but we are expecting it to be priced well below the MYR 1,299 mark. The Xiaomi Mi 10T series will be available in regular and Pro variant for MYR 1,699 (8GB + 128GB) and MYR 1,999 (8GB + 256GB). The Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro is available 9th October onward in all Mi authorised stores, official concept stores, and partner online retailers across Malaysia. No news on the Mi 10T Lite.

Source: Xiaomi

UPDATE 2: Xiaomi is holding their first ever roadshow for the Mi 10T and the Mi10T Pro in four locations across Malaysia. The road show will be held on the 9th to the 11th of October 2020 in Sunway Pyramid, One Utama (Mi Store), Gurney Plaza Penang (Mi Store), and Paradigm Mall JB (Mi Store). If you are one of the first 450 customers to buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, you are entitled to get a free Mi LED 4S 55-inch television alongside a Mi True Wireless Earphone 2 Basic. The first 3,000 customers are entitled to the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic. Your purchase of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro also comes with 6-months of Netflix Mobile Plan subscription for free.

UPDATE 3: The first sales roadshow of the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro is now exclusively online, in light of the current pandemic situation. The first sales campaign will still happen on all Xiaomi’s online sales platforms including their official store on Lazada from 9 October 2020 onward. The exhibition planned at Sunway Pyramid on the same day will still happen for experiential purposes only.

Visiopharm Announces Scientific Advisory Board

HOERSHOLM, Denmark, Oct. 6, 2020 — Visiopharm®, the Denmark-based leader in artificial intelligence-driven image analysis, tissue mining, and precision pathology has announced the formation of its scientific advisory board (SAB), comprised of industry experts in digital pathology, quality assessment, oncology, and immunology.

AI-driven Digital Precision Pathology is still a relatively new discipline. Compared to many other battle-tested modalities for diagnostics and research, there has been far less time and influx of resources for research and validation. It will take time, resources, and the sharpest scientific minds to unfold the true potential of this new technology, which has a great promise to fill an unmet need for precision medicine in cancer diagnostics.

"Collaborations within the framework of Scientific Advisory Boards is just one of many ways academia and industry can begin to work constructively together to explore, develop and document this new technology and its potential applications in the development of new drugs and companion diagnostic biomarkers. We are excited to be working with the scientific leaders in our field, under the leadership of Dr. Ralf Huss. And we look forward to contributing to the further advancement of AI-driven precision pathology within this forum," stated Michael Grunkin, CEO of Visiopharm.

Chaired by Ralf Huss M.D., Ph.D., certified Pathologist, professor of pathology, and managing deputy director of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics at the University Hospital in Augsburg, Germany, the SAB is composed of ten additional luminaries that have extensive industry experience and bring world-class international expertise.

Ralf Huss, states: "The creation of a Scientific Advisory Board is great next step to leverage Visiopharm’s capabilities on how we practice pathology now and in the future on the highest level of clinical and scientific excellence with consistent and reliable quality. The SAB will steer Visiopharm’s solutions to improve cancer diagnostics, and given the complexity of tissue, find novel insights that are assisted by digital and AI-supported solutions." 

The members of Visiopharm’s SAB are as follows:

Marylin Bui M.D. Ph.D., Senior Member in the Department of Pathology and Scientific Director of Analytic Microscopy Core of Moffitt Cancer Center.  Professor and Director of the Cytopathology Fellowship at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Andrew Dodson, Director UK NEQAS Immunocytochemistry and In Situ Hybridisation (ICC & ISH), London/UK.

James L. Gulley, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P., Chief Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Head Immunotherapy Group, GMB, Director Medical Oncology Service, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda/Maryland, USA.

David Harrison Ph.D., Professor of Pathology at the University of St. Andrews, UK, Director of iCAIRD.

Anne-Vibeke Lænkholm M.D., Clinical Research Professor and Senior Pathologist at Næstved-Slagelse Hospital, Næstved, Denmark.

Prof. Dr. med. Holger Moch, Director Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Elfriede Nößner, Head of Immunoanalytics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany.

Anil Parwani M.D. Ph.D., Professor of Pathology, Vice Chair and Director of Anatomical Pathology, Director of the Digital Pathology, OSU, Columbus/Ohio, USA.

Bert Van der Vegt M.D. Ph.D., Histopathologist, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.

Mogens Vyberg M.D., Professor of clinical pathology at the University of Aalborg, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The SAB will work with Visiopharm´s leadership team to provide scientific review and high-level advice to the R&D pipeline. The SAB will be involved in strategic discussions for research and pre-clinical solutions as well as the upcoming next-generation Precision Pathology tools for cancer diagnostics. With plans to accelerate diagnostic product development and establish global regulatory programs, the board will also guide these key initiatives.

Adrian Arechiga, Chief Marketing Officer at Visiopharm, commented, "The newly established SAB is an important step for the exciting future development of our research and diagnostic programs. The board members are pioneers in pathology, cancer research, and immunology, bringing unprecedented expertise, skills, and leading scientific perspectives that will guide Visiopharm´s ambitious growth strategy."

About Visiopharm A/S

Visiopharm® is a world leader in AI-driven Digital Pathology solutions. Visiopharms’ pioneering image analysis tools support thousands of scientists, pathologists, and image analysis experts in both academic institutions and the biopharmaceutical industry.

AI-based image analysis and tissue mining tools support research and drug development research worldwide, while their CE-IVD APPs support primary diagnostics. With the most advanced and sophisticated artificial intelligence and deep learning, they deliver tissue data mining tools, precision results, and workflows.

Visiopharm was founded in 2001 and is privately owned. The company operates internationally with over 900 licenses and countless users in more than 40 countries. Company headquarters are in Denmark’s Medicon Valley, with further offices in Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. Follow Visiopharm on Linkedin and Twitter. For other news, visit the Visiopharm Newsroom.

Safeguard your Smartphone and Become a Cybersecurity Wiz

The question of ‘hackability’ and the overall security of our smartphones is one of those issues that seems to pop up in the news. After all, we use our smartphones for just about anything – sharing photos, ordering food, shopping online, sending emails and messages, banking and financial services, etc. – without realising all of the ways we could be putting our device and ourselves at risk, allowing cyber-criminals to get access to our sensitive data.

While many of us are better informed today about the potential dangers of being connected on our smartphones, hackers and cyber-criminals are also changing their methods of attack. As the global pandemic have left many of us stuck at home and more reliant than ever on our mobile devices, cyber-criminals have also adapted new ways to target users. Over the Movement Control Order (MCO), cybersecurity cases spiked by 82.5% compared to the same time last year, with 18% attributed to attacks against local companies and the remaining linked to home users and others[1].

Recognising Cyberattacks and the Need for Cyber-resilience

Among the new waves of attacks brought on by the pandemic are COVID-19 themed phishing lures, high-risk fake domains, and scams[2]. These new methods employed by cyber-criminals are aimed at taking advantage of the public fear of the virus, combined with heightened stress levels from unfamiliar ways of working. The most common attacks in Malaysia can be attributed to phishing attempts, the spread of malicious code via untrustworthy websites, and passwords, as below:

  • Phishing Emails – Reports have found that 91% of all attacks begin with a phishing email to an unsuspecting victim, with 32% of all successful breaches involve the use of phishing techniques[3]. While many of us have been educated on recognising phishing emails, these attacks are still effective, and can fool even tech-savvy individuals.
  • Malicious Websites – Compromised websites is a main avenue for spreading malware infections on mobile devices. Limiting your browsing activity to reputable websites can reduce the possibility of infection.
  • Password Security – A survey revealed that 59% of respondents use the same password for multiple accounts, citing convenience and a fear of forgetting their password as the reason for this practice[4]. However, this allows cyber-criminals to access all your accounts easily through one single credential. Therefore, it is advisable to use different passwords across accounts.

Cyberattacks continue to grow day-by-day, and it is crucial that we learn to minimise risk, with good cyber habits being a pivotal and essential first step in combatting threats.

Defending your Smartphone, the Moment it is Turned On

As such, while it is important to take steps and measures to protect yourself online, it is also crucial to have a strong security platform on your smartphone, helping you encrypt and secure confidential data. Most smartphone breaches happen because they may not be equipped with advanced security measures, have outdated systems that may not be able to withstand current attacks. Similarly, smartphone owners may also not consider the importance of securing their phones or performing regular security check-ups. However, there are certain devices that come with a safe and secure in-built mobile interface to keep your personal data protected.

For example, Samsung Knox sets a foundation of security to users at both the hardware and software level as a security platform that’s integrated within Samsung smartphones, tablets, and wearables to protect it against malicious threats. Whether it is protection against phishing attacks or potential malware infections, the Samsung Knox platform has security integrated into its DNA, providing multi-layered security with data encryption and run-time protection within Samsung devices to keep sensitive information safe from online threats. Users can safeguard passwords, save private files under a secured folder, and even secure mobile transactions with Samsung Knox. Getting to know your security platforms is just as important when considering the range of services that is available to ensure that it is updated to meet global information and technology security requirements. This helps its users stay ahead of the modern-day threats with its game-changing security features.

Photo by Zana Latif from Pexels

Given that smartphone usage has only grown exponentially over the past few years, it is important that we have more security platforms allowing us the freedom and peace-of-mind in staying connected. Similar to how Samsung Knox have.

On top of having a top-tier security platform for your data, having that protection extended to all the essentials in a mobile device is equally important. While many of us are familiar with installing apps on our phones, we may be unfamiliar with the authenticity of the sources producing these apps. Learning to identify unverified and suspicious sources can help users identify potentially harmful apps.

Similar to how Samsung devices come built-in with Google Mobile Services (GMS) to help ensure that your vital applications have the latest updates and patches from verified sources, using trusted sources from well-known app stores like Google Play can help protect you from downloading and installing apps that can harm your devices.

Staying Secure, Safe, and Savvy about Security

Cyberattacks are nothing new, the challenge is in identifying and combatting the updated approach that many cybercriminals are using when it comes to their targets and the frequency of their attacks. Whether it is a hacking attempt by a third-party app or a fraud email redirecting you to a malicious website, most cybercriminals have one common goal: exploit your personal data and use that data to make profit. As such, it is critical that we keep our sensitive information protected at all costs, with the help of a smartphone built with highly advanced security features to always keep you safe from unwanted threats.


[1] https://www.thestar.com.my/news/focus/2020/04/12/cybersecurity-cases-rise-by-825

[2] https://home.kpmg/my/en/home/media/press-releases/2020/04/cybercrime-and-scams-have-been-successful.html

[3] https://www2.deloitte.com/my/en/pages/risk/articles/91-percent-of-all-cyber-attacks-begin-with-a-phishing-email-to-an-unexpected-victim.html

[4] https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252440316/Password-practices-still-poor-despite-increased-threats

NEXCOM’s TCA 5170 Verified an Intel® Select Solution for Universal Customer Premises Equipment (uCPE) with CentOS

TAIPEI, Oct. 5, 2020 — NEXCOM proudly announces that its TCA 5170 uCPE is now an Intel® Select Solution for Universal Customer Premises Equipment (uCPE), verified for CentOS. The hardware-software integration of NEXCOM’s TCA 5170, powered by Intel’s powerful Xeon® D processor, with an optimized software stack, enable communication service providers (CommSPs) to deliver agile service provisioning at the edge.

Nexcom TCA 51708 is perfect for edge computing.
Nexcom TCA 51708 is perfect for edge computing.

NEXCOM’s 1U rackmount uCPE TCA 5170 is a platform designed to help branch offices and small-to-medium-sized businesses set up systems based on network functions virtualization (NFV). In delivering carrier-grade performance and flexible deployment, the platform combines excellent multi-core CPU performance, accelerated data cryptography with Intel® QAT technology, redundant power supply, and server-grade LAN functions in a small form factor. This 1U rackmount uCPE creates virtualized environments for flexible VNF deployments in enterprises and branch offices.

With NEXCOM’s TCA 5170 uCPE "one-stop shop," small businesses can simplify their lives with self-managed networking and cloud services and expanded software choices, while amplifying productivity with newer 5G and IoT technologies.

About NEXCOM:

NEXCOM was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Integrating diverse capabilities, NEXCOM operates six global businesses, including the Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit, which focuses on high performance computing and networking technology and is committed to helping customers build network infrastructure. NCS’ network application platform is widely adopted in CDN, UTM, Cyber Security Appliance, Load Balancer, Router, SD-WAN, and other network applications.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20201005/2939437-1?lang=0