Monthly Archives: March 2021

PR Newswire

Firmenich Unveils Newly Designed West Coast Innovation Center for Rapid End-To-End Product Development

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Taste & Beyond facility offers greater collaboration with customers on food, beverage & nutrition innovation.

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 11, 2021 — Firmenich, the largest privately owned company in the fragrance and taste industry, is unveiling its newly designed West Coast Innovation Center in Anaheim, CA, the long standing home of its 7.5 acre Durarome® production site and West Coast commercial business. The new facilities in the United States are designed to increase creativity, improve collaboration with customers and enable ever more rapid end-to-end product development.

Interior view of Firmenich’s newly designed West Coast Innovation Center in Anaheim, CA, which offers closer collaboration with customers.
Interior view of Firmenich’s newly designed West Coast Innovation Center in Anaheim, CA, which offers closer collaboration with customers.

"Our California facilities have been located in Anaheim since 1926 and this new site is an exciting step on our journey," said Chris Perkins, SVP Taste & Beyond North America, Firmenich. "The West Coast Innovation Center was designed as a rapid collaboration space to work more closely with customers across Food, Beverage and Nutrition, to cut the time from concept to creation and quickly pilot in the market. This new facility will take our capabilities to the next level as our customers’ trusted innovation partner."

"We have an entrepreneurial mindset and a dynamic team, just like our Firmenich founders, and our new facilities are the culmination of our hard work and truly collaborative approach. We’re eager to share this new development with our customers and partners," said Karl Witton, VP New Venture, Firmenich. "Our team at the site focuses on more than just flavor applications; they are product developers first. Taking this approach provides our customers with the unique resources, skills and focus to enable them to scale up their business."

The next phase of site enhancements will expand Firmenich’s current pilot plant capabilities to further prepare customers for scaled-up production, an expanded sample lab to support customers quickly and efficiently, and innovative software and technology solutions to digitally optimize the customer experience.

"This state-of-the-art facility and its integration with the global Firmenich network and regional areas of expertise, mirror our partnership with Stanford University on a next-generation research program and our San Diego taste research and development center. They enable Firmenich to move to the next era of excellence in taste and beyond," said Emmanuel Butstraen, President Taste & Beyond, Firmenich.

The new Firmenich facility is constructed with creative, cutting-edge architectural approaches and designs, leveraging modular construction principles. The facility’s interior design pays tribute to the building’s history in Anaheim and the entrepreneurial spirit of its past inhabitants and surrounding community

Learn more about Firmenich’s West Coast office and their entrepreneurial approach by visiting their website here.

About Firmenich

Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895 and has been family-owned for 125 years. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company specialized in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, Firmenich offers its customers superior innovation in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients, and proprietary technologies including biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.9 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2020. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com.

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PR Newswire

KADOKAWA ASCII Introducing “InnoUvators,” Esteemed Graduates of Renowned INNO-vation Program

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TOKYO, March 11, 2021 —

– Showcasing Unusual and Inquisitive Minds of Modern Technological Era –

KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc. (hereinafter "KADOKAWA ASCII") presents, as part of the INNO-vation Program from the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), InnoUvators, showcasing the unique and intriguing technologies born from the INNO-vation Program.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M101933/202103041812/_prw_PI1fl_Nrs6m0Go.jpg

InnoUvators is an ever-expanding collection of the brightest minds who have graduated from the INNO-vation Program. They are the creators of "something new from nothing," forming and implementing original ideas without being bound by any preconceptions. InnoUvators has begun in Japan, and efforts have been made to expand it overseas to further spread the dissemination of these wondrous ideas. Their technologies are shown on both the website and the YouTube channel below.

The INNO-vation Program, initiated by MIC, is a yearly opportunity for innovative minds of all backgrounds and ages to submit the ideas they wish to make a reality. The program has been accepting applications internationally. The program helps promote innovation across the entire world — paving the way for a brighter future. KADOKAWA ASCII is proud to exhibit these technologies for audiences around the world in the form of InnoUvators.

With a brand-new website launched in 2021, each "InnoUvator" is showcased with interviews, videos, technology abstracts, biographies, and more. From the weird to the wonderful, some of the innovative technologies include a household carbon emission-capturing machine, AI to distinguish the sex of new-born chicks, new utilization of the fluidized bed phenomenon, a brand-new and unique musical instrument, and much more.

InnoUvators English homepage: https://innouvators.com/en/

In addition to the website, a YouTube channel highlighting these InnoUvators is updated weekly with easily digestible bitesize videos explaining the technologies and science behind the most compelling and unexpected technologies of the future.

YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/innouvators

About KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.

KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc., based in Tokyo, Japan, is the executing agency for the INNO-vation Program. KADOKAWA ASCII is part of a Japanese entertainment conglomerate, KADOKAWA Corporation. This program is part of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Strategic Information and Communications R&D Promotion Programme (SCOPE).

INNO-vation homepage: https://inno.go.jp/en

PR Newswire

New TVU Rack Router Transmits Live 8K UHD Video over Network Powered by China Unicom 5G mmWave Technology

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TVU Networks Showcases Results of Latest Collaboration with China Unicom at Mobile World Congress Shanghai

SHANGHAI, March 11, 2021 — TVU Networks, a market and technology leader in cloud and IP-based live video solutions, and China Unicom, the world’s fourth largest mobile service provider, are collaborating to expand the UHD media applications possible with 5G networks. TVU Networks is advancing solutions that support China Unicom‘s 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology for communications services.

As part of the partnership, TVU Networks is focused on the development of technology for collection, transmission, distribution, and management of 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition video using 5G networks. Advantages to the 5G mmWave band include increased bandwidth, reduced latency and flexible configuration, which enable the capacity and transmission of future mobile application scenarios such as 4K, 8K and immersive AR/VR. The radio frequency utilized for 5G mmWave is far less congested than the frequency spectrum used by most TV and radio signals, which increases the bandwidth available.

China Unicom’s 5G mmWave technology will be deployed over 5G networks during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where the Chinese telecommunications operator will be the exclusive mobile service provider.

China Unicom’s booth at 2021 MWC Shanghai
China Unicom’s booth at 2021 MWC Shanghai

TVU Networks was one of a handful of invited companies that participated in a demonstration inside the China Unicom booth during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) exhibition in Shanghai. The demonstration showcased the live transmission capabilities of 5G mmWave technology. With the theme "5G Millimeter Wave Makes Snow Sports More Wonderful," TVU created a 5G-based private network in the cloud at the China Unicom booth with two, portable TVU 5G Rack Routers. TVU was able to transmit live, high bitrate 8K UHD video over 5G within the booth.

Demonstration of 8K UHD video transmitting over 5G by two TVU Rack Routers
Demonstration of 8K UHD video transmitting over 5G by two TVU Rack Routers

The real-time 8K video followed athletes in training for the games and was an example of the type of live 8K and AR/VR mobile coverage viewers may see during the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"We’ve selected the top technology providers in our mission to harness the power of the 5G millimeter wave band for mobile applications that were inconceivable a few years ago," said Jiawei Kang, VP of Cultural & Travel & Media Sales Centre, China Unicom. "With the substantial increase in data transmission capabilities 5G millimeter wave provides, applications such as 4K, 8K and VR will see explosive growth. Our partnership with TVU has been extremely productive, and we anticipate more groundbreaking developments to come. As the official mobile provider partner for the 2022 Winter Olympics, we believe this is exactly the innovation required for such a high-profile, prestigious event."

The new 5G TVU Rack Router is a portable Internet access point that includes six embedded 5G modems and is ideal for remote live video production set up, file transfers and emergency communication applications. It provides the highest bandwidth reliability under extreme network environments. An optional IP67 external MIMI antenna is available to maximize signal strength. Others in the TVU Router family include the 5G TVU One Router, 4G/LTE Nano Router, and the TVU Router app.

"We’re honored to have been selected, along with industry leaders like Qualcomm, to be part of China Unicom’s groundbreaking display at MWC Shanghai," said Paul Shen, CEO, TVU Networks. "China Unicom’s 5G mmWave is groundbreaking technology for live video transmission. The network breakthroughs they’re spearheading marry perfectly with our video-over-IP developments. We’re going to see some very exciting mobile applications come to fruition this year. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with China Unicom on future initiatives and global events which showcase the power of this partnership."

Prior to MWC, TVU Networks’ solutions helped China Unicom to provide media live UHD video during the China International Import Expo and the 2020 ChinaJoy Expo. TVU also won multiple awards in China’s "Bloom Cup" 5G Application Competition for extraordinary performance of a 5G UHD video live solution.

About TVU Networks®

TVU Networks is a global organization with more than 3,000 customers using its IP and cloud-based workflow solutions across multiple industries including news, entertainment media, sports, corporate, streaming, houses of worship and government. Through the use of AI and automation driven technology, TVU helps broadcasters realize an efficient metadata and story-centric workflow through its TVU MediaMind platform for live video content acquisition, indexing, production, distribution and management. The company has been on the forefront of developing the tools needed to revolutionize and streamline the Media Supply Chain. TVU is a critical part of the operations of many major media companies worldwide and is a Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award winner.

For more information, please go to https://www.tvunetworks.com

About China Unicom

China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd or China Unicom is a state-owned telecommunications operator of China, which is the world’s fourth-largest mobile service provider by subscriber base. It has subsidiaries in 31 provinces across China and many countries and regions around the world. It owns a modern 5G/4G communication network with nationwide coverage and global reach and operates a wide range of services. China Unicom is the only Chinese telecom operator listed on the stock exchanges of New York, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. It ranked at No. 262 in Fortune 500 in 2019.

PR Newswire

FICO Survey: 60% of New Zealanders Prefer to Use Digital Channels to Engage with their Bank During Financial Hardship

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Appeal of in-person branch banking fading fast post pandemic

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 11, 2021 —

Preferred banking customer touchpoints across APAC in December 2020
Preferred banking customer touchpoints across APAC in December 2020

Highlights:

  • 60 percent of New Zealand consumers prefer to use digital channels to engage with their bank during financial hardship.
  • 20 percent of New Zealanders prefer to communicate via their internet banking; 18 percent use their mobile banking app.
  • 33 percent of New Zealanders prefer to deal with just one primary bank with a further 42 percent saying that they ‘somewhat agreed’ this was their preference.

A recent survey by global analytics software firm FICO has revealed that 60 percent of New Zealand consumers prefer to use digital channels to engage with their bank during financial hardship. The poll conducted in December 2020, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the willingness of consumers to embrace digital banking and the opportunities that exist for banks to further develop their offering.

More information: https://www.fico.com/en/latest-thinking/market-research/advancing-new-experiences-digital-banking

The high level of internet penetration in New Zealand meant that 20 percent of New Zealanders preferred to communicate about hardship via their internet banking; 18 percent used mobile banking app; 11 percent communicated via email; 9 percent preferred telebanking and 2 percent wanted to use virtual conference technology.

"The risk of infection and social distancing requirements made branch visits less appealing last year, accelerating a shift to digital banking channels globally," said Aashish Sharma, risk lifecycle and decision management lead for FICO in Asia Pacific. "Being able to deliver and manage numerous channels in line with customer preference and deliver a seamless and engaging experience is a challenge that is here to stay. Investment in customer management and communication tools that span these channels and product silos and can deliver personalization and improved decision making is key to making digital banking a success."

Customer attitudes to new technology from banks such as debt collection automation can yield some interesting preferences and behaviors.

"It is worth noting that during periods of hardship, some customers prefer to deal with the issue using intelligent, automated online services, such  as  our FICO® Customer Communication Services (CCS) so as to avoid the embarrassment of talking to an agent about outstanding loans. If customers prefer digital channels during times of hardship, their most difficult time, it seems to me we can expect branch banking to continue its decline," explained Sharma.

Importance of maintaining banking relationships

Banks still have a data and relationship advantage when compared to fintech challengers. The survey revealed that across Asia Pacific, one in three consumers preferred to have all their banking needs serviced by one bank. In New Zealand this was also 33 percent, with a further 42 percent saying that they ‘somewhat agreed’ they would like to deal with just one primary bank.

"Managing multiple bank accounts or finance products with different lenders can often be a complex, time-consuming and costly process for the average banking customer," said Sharma. "Digital banking users today are looking for greater control and visibility of their financial position."

When asked about their willingness to try a fintech or challenger bank, 10 percent of New Zealanders said that they were inclined to consider a competitor with a further 29 percent relatively open to the idea.

"To consolidate and strengthen main bank engagement, lenders need to offer digital banking features that compete with the challengers to ensure the stickiness and viability of long-term customer relationships," added Sharma.

Most appealing reasons to switch banks

When asked about the reasons they would make the switch to a competitor, 16 percent of New Zealand consumers said their number one reason would be to secure improved personalization and controls in their digital banking service. The poll defined this as the ability to view transaction history, update personal details, reset passwords and other such functions. Interestingly, personalization and control was also the top reason for switching across Asia Pacific (31%).

Other top switching drivers across Asia Pacific were; the ability to control a payment card (set transaction limits, lock/unlock); the ability to set up recurring payments; and improved security features such as biometrics and two-factor authentication.

FICO’s Advancing New Experiences in Digital Banking survey was conducted in December 2020 using an online, quantitative poll of 5,000 consumers across ten countries and regions, carried out on behalf of FICO by an independent research company. The countries and regions surveyed were Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 195 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more at www.fico.com.

Join the conversation on Twitter at @FICOnews_APAC.

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.

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Related Links :

https://www.fico.com

PR Newswire

Siklu Joins Convergint Technologies in $3.3+ Million Donation to Boost Visitor Safety at the National Mall in Washington, DC

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Siklu Joins Industry Leaders to Deliver Innovative Technology Solutions for America’s Most Valued Treasures

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 10, 2021 — To boost safety and situational awareness for the National Mall and surrounding monuments and memorials, Siklu a wireless Gigabit solutions provider, joins Convergint Technologies, a global leader in service-based systems integration, in a total donation of $3.3+ million for a state-of-the-art security system to the National Park Service.

Siklu Joins Convergint Technologies in $3.3+ Million Donation to Boost Visitor Safety at the National Mall in Washington, DC
Siklu Joins Convergint Technologies in $3.3+ Million Donation to Boost Visitor Safety at the National Mall in Washington, DC

Siklu, along with eleven industry partners, have donated and deployed the technology infrastructure necessary to improve safety at the National Mall and surrounding historical monuments, which experiences more than 35 million visits annually. Convergint Technologies led the donation to the National Park Service and United States Park Police in early 2019.

"Siklu is thrilled to be collaborating with Convergint Technologies and other industry leaders to help deliver innovative technology solutions to the National Mall and surrounding monuments," said Ronen Ben-Hemou, CEO of Siklu. "We look forward to working together and sharing our industry expertise to improve safety and situational awareness for the thousands of individuals who visit annually."

The donation enhances and expands security coverage, upgrades technology from legacy systems, and allows the National Park Service to use real-time information and communication technologies to respond to issues quickly. Phase one of the project included the enhancement of a centralized monitoring center, intercom stations, public address capabilities and upgrading from analog to IP-based cameras. Phase two will further extend situational awareness at various monuments by adding additional IP-based cameras back to their headquarters.

"We are incredibly grateful for our technology partners that worked shoulder-to-shoulder with us to give back to one of our country’s busiest and most iconic sites," said Tony Varco, vice president at Convergint Technologies. "It is an honor to support the mission of the National Park Service, which is to preserve our natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. This effort is a true partnership and collaboration to enhance the current technology and enable real-time information and communications when needed."

"The National Park Service and the United States Park Police greatly appreciate the comprehensive security system for the National Mall donated by Convergint Technologies," said Major Mark Adamcik, Commander of the National Mall’s Icon Protection Unit for the United States Park Police.

For more information on the donation for the National Park Service, please visit www.convergint.com/nps-donation.

About Siklu

Siklu delivers multi-gigabit wireless fiber connectivity in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Operating in the mmWave bands, Siklu’s wireless solutions are used by leading service providers and system integrators to provide 5G Gigabit Wireless Access services. In addition, Siklu solutions are ideal for Smart City projects requiring extra capacity, such as video security, WiFi backhaul, and municipal network connectivity, all over one network. Thousands of Siklu carrier-grade systems are delivering interference-free performance worldwide. Easily installed on street-fixtures or rooftops, these radios have been proven to be the ideal solution for networks requiring fast and simple deployment of secure, wireless fiber. www.siklu.com.

Press Contacts

Shiri Butnaru

Dave Sumi

Director of Marketing, Siklu

VP Marketing, Siklu

shiri.b@siklu.com 

david.s@siklu.com

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Related Links :

https://www.siklu.com/

Android, Gaming, Mobile, News

ASUS Unveils the ROG Phone 5 series; Prices Start at MYR2,999

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ASUS is arguably one of the first companies to make a gaming smartphone. The original ROG Phone launched back in 2018 to much acclaim and praise and with a customised chipset from Qualcomm. This year, ASUS refines its ROG Phone series with more features and more affordable price points.

The ROG Phone 5 series is the first in the ROG Phone family to officially be introduced with more than one entry into the line up. The series will consists of the ROG Phone 5, the 5 Pro and the 5 Ultimate which are differentiated by a few features and key specifications. On the outside, the ROG Phone 5 series continues to inherit the ostentatious design queues which have become its signature. Over on the back you have the angular accents of the camera modules and the angular design of the new ROG Dotted Matrix Design which allows for some extensive customisation. The Pro and Ultimate variants, this is replaced by angular lines which surround the ROG Vision screen.

Specc’d to Game

When it comes to the phone itself, the ROG Phone 5 series comes equipped with a Samsung AMOLED screen. The screen is a 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2448×1080 pixels. The phone boasts one of the only displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. On the protection side of things, it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better scratch and shatter resistance.

The new entries are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with either 8GB, 16GB or 18GB of RAM with up to 512GB of internal storage. It doesn’t seem to support memory expansion with a microSD card – making it the third flagship this year to eschew the microSD card. The ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate are available with 512GB of internal storage with 16GB and 18GB of RAM respectively. The ROG Phone 5 caps out at 256GB with 16GB RAM. The series is also the first in the ROG Phone series to support 5G connectivity.

Perfecting Audio

The new ROG Phone continues to support better audio features by not only retaining the 3.5mm audio jack but also introducing even more audio centric features. Of note is the inclusion of a high-end ESS9280AC Pro DAC on the 3.5mm jack for better audio fidelity. It also supports symmetrical dual front-facing speakers. These are some of the largest speakers on smartphones coming in at 12x16mm. ASUS promises a louder, more rounded experience with these speakers. Also along for the ride this time is a DIRAC tuned AudioWizard with customizable equalizer for your perfect sound. DIRAC is providing optimisations on the ROG Phone 5 series to minimise crosstalk and widen the sound stage of the audio experience on the ROG Phone 5.

Of course, the ROG Phone 5 series comes with all the bells and whistles of its predecessors including improved Air Triggers and motion controls. In addition, ASUS is also introducing a new AeroActive cooler which come with two physical buttons for the triggers when plugged in.

Accessories, Accessories, Accessories

As with previous ROG Phones, ASUS is bringing a whole slew of gaming oriented accessories to enhance the ROG Phone 5. The first, is the AeroActive cooler which helps cool the phone down during intense gaming sessions while allowing you to charge the phone. This year, there are actual buttons on the AeroActive Cooler to provide a more tactile experience when it comes to using the triggers.

This year sees an improved ROG Kunai 3 controller. The controller allows you to have the versatility to play in a more console like way on the gaming smartphone. If you’d rather a more attached experience, the ROG Clip gives you a controller with a clip for the smartphone. It can attach via the USB-C port on the side of the ROG Phone 5.

ASUS has also opted to include more audio centric accessories this year with the ROG Cetra II earphones which comes with active noise cancelling with ambient mode. The wired earphones come with LSR drivers for premium sound quality and embedded microphones. ASUS also introduced the ROG STRIX GO BT with the ROG Phone 5. The wireless headphones come with up to 45 hours of battery life and AI noise cancelling microphone technology.

For those looking to upgrade from the ROG Phone 3, take note that not all accessories are forward compatible. Notably, the TwinView Dock 3, Mobile Desktop Dock and AeroActive Cooler 3 are not supported. The Kunai GamePad II, on the other hand, is partially supported by the 5.

Pricing & Availability

The ROG Phone 5 series will be available starting March 2021. The regular ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for MYR2,999 (USD$726.84) for the 8GB/128GB version and MYR3,799 (USD$920.73) for the 16GB /256GB version. Both will be available in Phantom Black and Storm White. These versions do not come with the AeroActive Cooler. Internationally, the ROG Phone 5 will be retailing for €799 (USD$950.16) for the 8GB/128GB, €899 (USD$1,069.02) for the 16GB/256GB version and €999 (USD$1,187.94) for the 16GB/256GB version.

The ROG Phone 5 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia from 11 March 2021 to 25 March 2021. Pre-orders of the ROG Phone 5 will come with a free Kunai 3 GamePad. You can pre-order the phone exclusively on the ASUS store on Shopee.

The Pro will be retailing for MYR4,499 (USD$1,090.39). It will be available only in Phantom Black and comes with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. The Pro will be available starting in May 2021. Internationally, it will be costing €1,199 (USD$1,425.83).

The Ultimate will be retailing for MYR4,999 (USD$1,211.51). It will be available only in Storm White and will come with the AeroActive Cooler in the box. It also comes with the limited edition ROG Ultimate Fan Gift box which hosts a whole bunch of ROG swag. Internationally, the Ultimate will be costing €1,299 (USD$1,544.75).

News

Qualcomm Looks To Transform Mobile Sound with Snapdragon Sound

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Mobile and wireless sound are some of the most ubiquitous things that we are taking advantage of nowadays. Just in recent years, we saw an increase in the number of people adopting true wireless headphones and earphones like the Sony WH-1000MX3 and the Galaxy Buds Pro. However, as Qualcomm’s James Chapman put it, the industry has a “dirty secret” – sound quality is reduced – sometimes significantly when it goes wireless. That’s where Qualcomm believes it can step in to help revolutionise wireless audio with its new initiative called Snapdragon Sound.

Source: Qualcomm

Snapdragon Sound is essentially Qualcomm flexing its proven prowess in two fields – wireless audio and mobile. A flex which, in the company’s own words, puts them in a unique position to address the issue of lacklustre sound when it comes to mobile and wireless audio. The new Snapdragon Sound initiative merges the technology and capabilities from Qualcomm spanning their mobile platforms, Bluetooth audio connectivity and video technologies to culminate in what is, essentially, a new certification for mobile sound.

Qualcomm’s new audio-centric efforts seem to have borne some fruit with the company already touting 2 times the bitrate when it comes to streaming music wirelessly and even when taking voice calls over wireless audio products. They also report a 45% lower latency when it comes to audio-video synchronisation. These comparisons were done against the mSBC codec with Qualcomm’s developed aptX codec.

Source: Qualcomm

That said, Qualcomm has lofty goals for Snapdragon Sound promising partners an already optimised sound experience for devices. Their optimisation focuses not only on the quality of the connection from the source device to the headphone or earphone but from the audio itself to the ear. At least, that’s what Qualcomm is claiming. Snapdragon sound promises to improve overall user experience by focusing on better fidelity, battery life, latency, and voice among others.

Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm says that they will be certifying devices that utilise their Snapdragon Sound platform in a facility in Taiwan. These devices will be tested to meet their requirements at this facility before they are certified. At the time of the announcement, Qualcomm announced Xiaomi, Audio-Technica and Amazon Music HD as official Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound partners. Of note, Qualcomm did mention that current Snapdragon flagships do not have Snapdragon Sound certification.

Accessories, Consumer Electronics, News

SONOS Roam Launches in Malaysia, Available 21 April Onward for MYR 1,099!

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SONOS is one of the most recognisable audio brands in the world currently. Considering that they launched this first speaker product in 2005, they are not exactly one of the most history-rich brands in the audio world. They do have a specialisation though, that is home audio systems. In other words, they do smart speakers, and they do it well.

Today they launched their smallest speaker set-up available from their line-up. Today they launched the SONOS Roam.

The SONOS Roam is quite a unique product from SONOS. To be fair, it is not the first time that SONOS launched a portable wireless speaker. They launched the Move back in 2019. This is the first time though that the SONOS speaker was truly portable in the sense that it can actually fit in your backpack with no fuss. You can carry other things besides the speaker as well in your backpack.

The SONOS Roam is a unique product though. It is, if I am not wrong, the first SONOS product that could tune itself to any environment via its own mic. They call the feature TruePlay, which is not necessarily a new technology. On the SONOS Roam though, TruePlay is constantly adjusting itself especially when you introduce it to a new environment. You just need to have SONOS S2 app to get it to work. So, it is clever.

Source: SONOS

It is also SONOS’ first speaker to feature wireless charging. It is Qi compatible as well, so you do not technically need to charge it via SONOS’ own wireless charger. You can buy the magnetic Qi wireless charger separately though for MYR 239 (US$ 49*). If not, you can charge it via a USB Type-C cable. A single charge lasts up to 10 hours according to SONOS.

Like any other SONOS speakers, the Roam features both WiFi connectivity and all-important Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The clever part about the SONOS Roam is that it switches seamlessly between WiFi and Bluetooth connection with your smartphone depending on WiFi availability. The only issue with that is pairing with other SONOS speakers can only occur over WiFi. Then again, speaker pairing over WiFi is a lot more stable than over Bluetooth.

The SONOS Roam is also a water-resistant speaker, which also means that you can bring it absolutely anywhere, rain or shine. You can take it to a pool party for example and you should be okay with normal splashes or even a dunk in the water with IP67 rating. IP67 dust resistance also means that you can take it to a beach party and not worry about messing up the speaker with sand.

  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS
  • Source: SONOS

The SONOS Roam portable speaker will be available in Malaysia 21st April onward. You can head to any SONOS authorised retailers in Malaysia to get the SONOS Roam speaker. It will set you back MYR 1,099 (US$ 169) at launch. You can choose between either Lunar White or Shadow Black colour options. For more information on the SONOS Roam, you can head to their website.

*Official price in US$

Accessories, Mobile, News

OPPO Enco X Launching in Malaysia Soon!

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Update (11/03/21): The OPPO Enco X has launched globally with immediate availability. Official global pricing is EU€ 179 (MYR 879***). We are expecting the TWS earphone to arrive in Malaysia toward the end of March 2021 or early April 2021 alongside the OPPO Find X3 Pro.

Meet the OPPO Enco X, OPPO’s new True Wireless (TWS) earphones that is supposed to feature Active Noise Cancelling and all the premium things you can find on a TWS earphone. They created it with Dynaudio as well, a well known Danish HiFi audio solutions provider. This should be a good one.

Technically, it is a good one. There has been reviews out and about already and the product has been available in India since January 2021. Of course, it is available in China as well. You technically can buy the OPPO Enco X from Shopee as well, albeit not from official sources and unofficial price tags attached to them.

That is all about to change soon, according to OPPO. They have not given us a tentative date at this time, but they also say that they will announce the launch date soon. Yes, they are very vague. At least they confirmed that the new OPPO Enco X will be available in Malaysia officially.

The OPPO Enco X, if you have not known yet, is OPPO’s latest TWS earphones to enter the market after the OPPO Enco Free, Enco W31, Enco W11, and Enco W51. Most of these options can be considered budget options with prices less than MYR 300 (US$ 73*). The most expensive of these Enco earphones currently available in Malaysia is the OPPO Enco Free at MYR 499 (US$ 121*).

Source: OPPO

The OPPO Enco X though is going to be a slightly more premium product. Its official pricing in China is RMB 999 (US$ 153**) which converts to about MYR 634. But there is a good reason for the more premium pricing.

For one, it is created with Dynaudio. As per mentioned, Dynaudio is a world famous Danish HiFi gear maker. They are one of the go-to brands when it comes to high-end audio gear and even studio monitoring gear. Them lending their expertise to OPPO will really elevate the listening experience.

OPPO is not exactly new to high-end audio either. Remember they launched the OPPO PM-1 headphone, one of the highest acclaimed high-end audio gears any audiophile could get with their money. They also released something called DBEE Dynamic Audio technology back in 2007. The technology is now in its third generation available on the OPPO Enco X. The technology supposedly features new materials and new construction layout and methods to deliver better aural experiences.  

Secondly, the OPPO Enco X is an Active Noice Cancelling (ANC) enabled earphone. ANC usually means premium with a price tag to match. The Sony WF-SP800N earphones for example retails at MYR 849. The Apple Airpods Pro retails at MYR 1,099.

Source: OPPO

Thirdly, OPPO’s Enco X also comes with OPPO’s brilliant Binaural Low-Latency Bluetooth Transmission technology. This should mean lower transmission latency from your connected device to the earphones. That is important for gaming and even phone calls.

Lastly, its battery life. OPPO’s Enco X is said to have up to 25 hours of music playback in total. With noise cancelling fully on though, the earphones itself can last up to 4 hours with music on a single charge. The case gives the Enco X three additional charges. While 4 hours may not sound like much, most TWS earphones have a battery life of less than 3 hours on a single charge.

The OPPO Enco X will be available in White and Black colour options. There are no solid information on its availability dates in Malaysia yet. There are no solid leads on its pricing too at this time. As per its official pricing in China of RMB 999 though, we are expecting prices to be somewhere between MYR 649, to MYR 699 in Malaysia.

* Approximate conversion based on exchange rate US$ 1 = MYR 4.13 on xe.com as of 10/03/2021

** Approximate conversion based on exchange rate US$ 1 = RMB 6.50 on xe.com as of 10/03/2021

*** Approximate value based on conversion rate EU€ 1.00 = MYR 4.91 on xe.com as of 11/03/2021

PR Newswire

Momo to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results on March 25, 2021

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BEIJING, March 10, 2021 — Momo Inc. (Nasdaq: MOMO) ("Momo" or the "Company"), a leading mobile social and entertainment platform in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 before U.S. markets open on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

Momo’s management will host an earnings conference call on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong Time on the same day).

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, operator assisted conference calls are not available at the moment. All participants must preregister online prior to the call to receive the dial-in details.

Preregistration Information

Participants can register for the conference call by navigating to http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/2751618. Once preregistration has been complete, participants will receive dial-in numbers, direct event passcode, and a unique registrant ID.

To join the conference, simply dial the number in the calendar invite you receive after preregistering, enter the passcode followed by your registrant ID, and you will join the conference instantly.

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, April 1, 2021. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:

International:

+61-2-8199-0299

U.S. Toll Free:

+1-855-452-5696

Passcode:

2751618

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Momo’s website at http://ir.immomo.com.

About Momo Inc.

We are a leading player in China’s online social and entertainment space. Through Momo, Tantan and other properties within our product portfolio, we enable users to discover new relationships, expand their social connections and build meaningful interactions. Momo is a mobile application that connects people and facilitates interactions based on location, interests and a variety of recreational activities including live talent shows, short videos, social games as well as other video- and audio-based interactive experiences, such as live chats and mobile karaoke experience. Tantan, which was added into our family of applications through acquisition in May 2018, is a leading social and dating application for the younger generation. Tantan is designed to help its users find and establish romantic connections as well as meet interesting people.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Momo Inc.
Momo Investor Relations
Ms. Ashley Jing
Phone: +86-10-5731-0538
Email: ir@immomo.com

Christensen

In China
Mr. Eric Yuan
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: Eyuan@christensenir.com

In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@christensenir.com

Related Links :

http://ir.immomo.com/