Monthly Archives: March 2023

PR Newswire

Tensor Tech Disrupting Satellite Minimization by Going Lighter, Smaller, and More Power-Efficient

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NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Tensor Tech, a Taiwan-based company specializing in satellite minimization, is pushing to disrupt the booming worldwide space industry with lighter, smaller, and more power-efficient satellite subsystems.

According to a report by the Space Foundation, the annual global spending for the space industry hit $469 billion in 2022. The costs involved represent a prime opportunity for companies like Tensor Tech to step in and assist on a variety of government and commercial space ventures.

“It is important to keep moving in our industry, constantly improving to ensure that we make interplanetary travel a reality. Growth of the space industry is limited mainly by cost, and Tensor Tech is addressing this pain point through disruptive innovation, offering our customers more efficient solutions that incentivize further development of this industry,” said Jordan Hsieh, Chief Business Development Officer at Tensor Tech.

Charting New Courses

Tensor Tech possesses a unique position in which to disrupt the industry standards, with technological innovations enabling attitude determination control systems (ADCS) in satellites to be smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient compared to traditional attitude control systems.

At present, there remain major obstacles for commercial entities looking to enter the growing space industry. The first is the building of launch rockets, while the second pertains to the building of the satellite, both of which brings substantial costs. A possible workaround is that of satellite minimization, but the ADCS is the biggest roadblock among all other subsystems. There is a limit to how much it can be shrunk down without impacting its tangible functions.

However, Tensor Tech has been able to make a breakthrough, reducing the weight, size, and power consumption of the nanosatellite ADCS by 60% compared to conventional solutions. In addition, the company’s technology can enable the space industry with wider commercial applications by allowing satellite missions to carry more payloads and further reducing the costs involved.

This level of innovation extends to the testing equipment that Tensor Tech also develops — namely the ADCS testbed. A cutting-edge solution for testing and calibration, the testbed is fully scalable and can measure the mass properties of a given device, and an upcoming partnership with a European company will bring further enhancements.

Shining Bright

Tensor Tech’s full attitude control solutions are headlined by its integrated attitude determination and control systems. Catering to satellites of various sizes, the product lineup of ADCS-10m, ADCS-MTQ, ADCS-20m and ADCS-40m deliver both affordable prices and user-friendly functionality.

At the core of these systems is the control moment gyroscope (CMG), an integral component that has been further enhanced by Tensor Tech’s technological advancements. The CMG-10m realizes a variable-speed, single-gimbal CMG driven by spherical motor technology. It successfully shrinks the volume and weight of a CMG for nanosatellites.

For those with other needs, the likes of the CMG-20m scissor pair or the CMG-40m pyramid cluster CMG will have plenty of use as well. Furthermore, Tensor Tech provides magnetorquers and sun sensors that can be size-efficient or tweaked to address specific needs.

Tensor Tech has plans to extend their product offering in the future, in particular with specialized CMGs tailored to micro and small satellites. Also, since gimbals are the part that most often requires replacement, the brand is developing gimballess versions of these groundbreaking products to maximize the lifetime of ADCS for space operation.

Spreading the Word

Tensor Tech will be making appearances in several upcoming events, including the Small Satellite Conference 2023 and Space Tech Expo Europe 2023. Interested visitors can learn more by joining the events and hearing from the experts themselves about how the company is disrupting the space industry.

About Tensor Tech
Operating out of Taiwan, Tensor Tech seeks to help humanity expand into the frontier of interplanetary travel by assisting investors, corporations, and governments in this noble pursuit. The company’s innovative approach to downsizing satellite components is advancing space exploration through increasing efficiency and profitability.

PR Newswire

GS1 UK appoints Syndigo to enhance productDNA data management and sharing service

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LONDON, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — After a thorough evaluation process, GS1 UK has appointed Syndigo to manage productDNA.

Built and governed in collaboration with the UK grocery industry, productDNA was launched by GS1 UK in 2017 to provide a single catalogue of high-quality, independently verified product data underpinned by GS1 standards.

Going forward, Syndigo will manage all sales, support, operation management, and further development of the productDNA platform to enhance its proposition and maximise value to industry.

While close adherence to the GS1 UK data model and core functionality will be perpetuated in productDNA, the platform and the technology that powers it will switch to an improved industry solution delivered by Syndigo. This will ensure the service continues to evolve in-line with industry needs and the ever-growing demand for accurate, standardised, quality product data.

GS1 UK will remain actively involved in maintaining the consistency of data standards, facilitating collaboration between stakeholders, and identifying new opportunities to support greater data sharing.

In the years since launch, productDNA has allowed brands of all sizes, suppliers, and over 70% percent of UK grocery retail sector, including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Booker, One Stop and Waitrose and Partners, to seamlessly share product information using one common technology platform and language. As well as building trust and transparency, this has enabled users to adapt to new legislation, streamline their operations and build more efficient supply chains.

“We are pleased to welcome Syndigo as the new platform partner for productDNA,” said Anne Godfrey, CEO of GS1 UK. “Many businesses are feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of the last two years so there has never been a greater need for taking a standardised approach to product data. By coming together, industry has made incredible progress in creating, capturing, and sharing accurate data that will enable businesses to respond to changing legislative and consumer demands, both now and in the future.”

“We are incredibly proud of everything productDNA has achieved but recognise that the platform must continually evolve in line with the needs of both the industry and their consumers. The appointment of Syndigo will allow productDNA to do just that and we look forward to seeing the platform develop to provide even greater value to users.

“Together with industry, GS1 UK will continue to guide the future direction and functionality of the service. We remain committed to finding new opportunities for powering progress through collaboration and the sharing of trusted data.”

“Syndigo is honoured to have been chosen to manage the productDNA platform for the future,” said Syndigo GM of Europe Karim Iskandar. “The vast strides that the industry has taken in the UK and globally to align product information for greater efficiency is commendable, and we look forward to delivering a continued high standard for all users in the UK for years to come.”

In a joint statement, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Booker, One Stop, and Ocado said, “We are pleased to confirm our continued commitment to the productDNA platform under the new partnership between GS1 UK and Syndigo. We all recognise the business efficiencies which come from having access to a single source of complete, accurate product data as well as having a platform which enables us to work in parallel to meet the evolving range of regulatory and social obligations. Using the unified product data model in productDNA ensures manufacturers and suppliers to the UK grocery industry can all benefit.”

GS1 UK and Syndigo are working together to support users as they migrate, ensuring industry will continue to be powered by data it can trust with as little disruption as possible.

About GS1 UK 

Whether online, in store or in a hospital, the common language of GS1 global standards is helping our community of more than 58,000 organisations across the UK to uniquely identify, describe and track anything, creating greater trust in data for everyone. 

From product barcodes to patient wristbands, GS1 standards have been transforming the way we work and live for nearly 50 years. 

GS1 UK is one of 116 neutral and independent GS1 organisations operating worldwide.
www.gs1uk.org / @gs1uk  

About Syndigo

Syndigo is the first Active Content Engine built to power modern commerce by enabling the continual flow of data and content throughout the entire commerce ecosystem. With industry-leading data management, syndication, and analytics, combined with the largest two-sided network for content distribution, we deliver accurate information that improves decision-making and accelerates sales on every shelf.

Syndigo serves more than 12,000 manufacturers, and 1,750 retailers and distributors globally across key industries including grocery, foodservice, hardlines, home improvement/DIY, pet, health and beauty, automotive, apparel, oil & gas, and healthcare. For more information, visit www.syndigo.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

PR Newswire

Venturi Astrolab’s FLEX rover to launch to the Moon on an upcoming SpaceX mission

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MONACO, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In three years’ time, the Monegasque Venturi Group will write the most impressive page in its history: in 2026, the FLEX (Flexible Logistics and Exploration) rover, the result of an international collaboration (see below), will head for the Moon. The American company SpaceX will be responsible for transporting the rover, which will be the largest and most capable in the history of lunar vehicles. SpaceX will use its Starship launch and landing system to transport FLEX to the lunar surface.

HISTORY AND PROGRAMME

It was in 2019, under the impetus of Venturi Group’s President, Gildo Pastor, that the electric lunar rover programme was imagined and then put in place. A Swiss entity, Venturi Lab S.A., was created. At the same time, a strategic partnership was created with an American-owned company based in Los Angeles (Hawthorne), Venturi Astrolab, Inc (Astrolab).

Astrolab and Venturi Lab work with Venturi Group’s historic base in Monaco. Together, the three companies are designing, developing and building the FLEX rover.    

As early as 2026, FLEX – deposited by the Starship launch and landing system on the surface of the moon – will become operational. It will demonstrate its efficiency, viability and capacity to conduct scientific experiments and commercial activities.

STRUCTURE AND EXPERTISE

The collective team includes engineers and scientists from the fields of space mobility, terrestrial and planetary robotics, industry, development, advanced technology research, electromobility, fuel cells and batteries, hydrogen storage, composite materials and processes manufacturing.

Each company provides the following expertise:

  • Venturi Group in Monaco is dedicated to high performance batteries. In this, it is accompanied for the test phases by its US subsidiary, Venturi North America (Ohio, USA). This branch is located at Ohio State University and works closely with its mechanical engineering students.
  • Venturi Lab creates materials resistant to extreme conditions (low temperatures and radiation), high-performance solar panels, deformable wheels and electrical control systems. It also manages relations with ESA.
  • Venturi Astrolab designs the vehicle architecture, its primary structure & mechanisms, develops its software and avionics, assembles it, and conducts validation testing.

The rover’s human factors and aesthetic design have been informed and inspired by designer Sacha Lakic. Lakic has a long history of collaborating on the design of Venturi Group’s innovative vehicles.

Media Contact:

Fabrice Brouwers
fbrouwers@venturi.com

PR Newswire

JS Global Reports Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results

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HONG KONG,  March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Stock code: 1691.HK) (“JS Global” or the “Company”), a world-leading producer of small household appliances that operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung, today reported its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

“I am pleased with all we accomplished in 2022 while navigating a challenging global macro environment,” said Wang Xuning, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JS Global. “We continued to grow market share in both existing and new categories across the key markets in which we operate. Major product launches in 2022 have already seen incredible success, as they were a key factor in driving a strong finish to the year and are now providing us with significant momentum in 2023. JS Global is highly differentiated by the strength of our brands and our high quality, rapid product innovation that consistently delivers extraordinary value to our consumers globally. We look forward to 2023 as we remain focused on our strategy to deliver sustainable, long-term growth by driving increased sales of our existing products as well as combining powerful technology with appealing designs to develop innovative new products.”

Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results and Commentary

  • Revenue was US$5,041.2 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 2.1% compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 0.7%.
    • SharkNinja’s revenue was US$3,715.9 million for the fiscal year, flat compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 2.4%.
    • Joyoung’s revenue was US$1,325.3 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 7.7% versus the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, revenue decreased by 3.7%.
  • Profit was US$357.5 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 22.4% versus the prior year period.
  • Adjusted Net Profit was US$425.6 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 15.3% versus the prior year period.
  • Profit Attributed to Owners of the Parent was US$332.3 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 21.0% versus the prior year period.
  • Adjusted Net Profit Attributed to Owners of the Parent was US$393.8 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 15.1% versus the prior year period.
  • EBITDA was US$624.5 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 12.2% versus the prior year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was US$673.0 million for the fiscal year, a decrease of 8.2% versus the prior year period.

 Recent Business Highlights

  • JS Global’s revenue has grown by 67.1 % compared to 2019 led by the continued success and expansion of the Shark and Ninja brands, as well as gross profit growth of 66.9% compared to 2019.
  • Shark brand remains the vacuum brand in the U.S., while Ninja brand continues to be the brand in small kitchen appliances in the U.S. Our market share within cleaning appliances grew from 32.0% to 34.6%1, cooking appliances declined from 27.4% to 26.2%2, and food preparation appliances grew from 33.4% to 36.1%3 in the U.S.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

  • As of December 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were US$504.1 million, outstanding debt (total borrowings) was US$857.1 million, and gearing ratio (calculated as the total debt (including interest- bearing bank borrowings and lease liabilities) divided by total equity) was 45.6%.
  • Capital expenditures were US$165.3 million for the fiscal year, compared to US$ 149.6 million in the prior year period.
  • JS Global had 3,447,463,000 fully diluted shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022.

Conference Call and Live Streaming Details

  • April 3, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. ET / April 3, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. HKT: JS Global management will host an annual results presentation live stream. Investors can watch the live stream by registering on the following website: https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/register.html. After registration, investors will receive the link to watch live stream via the registered email.
  • Annual results announcement: https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/notice.html
  • The presentation and the Q&A section will be in both English and Mandarin and will also be archived and available for replay.
  • You can ask questions in the “question area” of the page or by dialing in using the information below.

Investors can also dial-in to listen the audio of the live stream and to ask questions:

  • United States dial-in: 1-516-226 8028/1800 3876 988
  • Mainland China dial-in: 4008070263/ 023-62737100
  • Hong Kong dial-in: 852-3018 3602/800 931018
  • Singapore dial-in: 65-6407 5649/65-6622 0840
  • United Kingdom dial-in: 44-20-3761 0113/0800 0291098
  • English Passcode: 898958701#
  • Mandarin Passcode: 032514758#

After joining the conference call, participants can press *1 to raise hand to ask a question. Both English and Mandarin questions will be accepted.

Source:

1. The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-December 2022 vs. January–December 2021. “Cleaning appliances” include Bare Floor Cleaners, Upright Vacuums, Stick Vacuums, Robotic Vacuums, and Hand Vacuums

2. The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-December 2022 vs. January–December 2021. “Cooking appliances” include Air Fryers, Fryers, Electric Grills, Other Electric Grills/Griddles, Multi-Cookers, and Toaster Ovens

3. The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-December 2022 vs. January–December 2021. “Food preparation appliances” include Juice Extractors, Traditional Blending, Kitchen System, Single Serve Blending & Processing, and Traditional Food Processors

4. Global Small Home Appliance Industry Independent Market Research, Frost & Sullivan, March 2023

About JS Global

JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Stock code: 1691.HK) is a world-leading producer of small household appliances. It ranks fifth globally in the small home appliance industry and third among small home appliance-focused companies.4 It primarily operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung. The Company’s success is centered around its deep understanding of consumer needs, and is built on its strong product innovation and design capability powered by a global research and development platform, marketing strengths driving high brand engagement, and an omni-channel distribution coverage with high penetration.

About SharkNinja

SharkNinja is an innovation leader in the housewares industry and creator of the familiar household brands Shark® and Ninja®. SharkNinja provides the latest in easy-to-use innovative technology with a growing line of solutions that consist of Shark cleaning and home care products and Ninja kitchen appliances. Products are sold at major retailers and through distributors around the world. Ninja and Shark are registered trademarks of SharkNinja Operating LLC. SharkNinja is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Stock code: 1691.HK), a leader in small household appliance innovation.

About Joyoung

Joyoung (Stock code: 002242.SZ) is SharkNinja’s sister brand and has become a well-known small household electrical appliance enterprise and one of the market share leaders in China. Joyoung invented the first soymilk maker in China and closely connect the concept to plant-based solutions. With 28 years of experience and over 10,000 patented technologies, Joyoung specializes in the research and development, design, manufacturing, and sale of its innovative product categories including small household appliances, primarily focusing on kitchen appliances. Joyoung is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Stock code: 1691.HK), a leader in small household appliance innovation.

Media
Edmond Lococo, Managing Director, ICR Inc.
JSGlobalPR@icrinc.com

Company Contacts
Mars Chen, Investor Relations Manager, JS Global Lifestyle
mars.chen@jsgl.com

Arvind Bhatia, VP of Investor Relations at SharkNinja
ABhatia@sharkninja.com

Investor Relations
ir@jsgl.com

PR Newswire

Protecting migratory birds and their precious wetland habitat with AIoT technology

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A dedicated team of conservation specialists works unceasingly to protect migratory birds at Beibayao Wetland of the Dongtan Reserve in Shanghai, China. To help them monitor the site and bird populations more effectively, Hikvision provided advanced video perception equipment.

HANGZHOU, China, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Dongtan Reserve in Shanghai, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, provides food, shelter, and breeding grounds for nearly one million migratory birds each year.

Protecting migratory birds and their precious wetland habitat with AIoT technology
Protecting migratory birds and their precious wetland habitat with AIoT technology

To ensure that Beibayao Wetland continues to meet the needs of its feathered visitors, a team of rangers, engineers and other specialists continually monitor the site and the bird populations. In recent years, Hikvision also joined hands with the One Planet Foundation to protect the birds in Beibayao Wetland, which is a work area of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Now Hikvision’s video perception devices have been installed here, assisting the team in bird watching and providing a scientific basis for ecological protection.

Among this dedicated team at the Reserve is Liu Jieyun, a WWF project specialist. According to Jieyun, managing the site and optimizing the habitat for the birds is a unique and complex task.

It is critical to check, for example, that the water level at the site, the available exposed land, the vegetation, and other environmental factors, are conducive to the wellbeing of the visiting migratory birds. What’s more, Jieyun constantly monitors the behavior of the birds, counting the number of species present to understand and report on trends in their populations and diversity.

Jieyun says, “The ultimate goal is to manage this wetland as well as possible and to ensure that it continues to function as a place where birds can stop, rest, spend the winter, and breed. However, constantly monitoring the reserve, and getting a close-up view of their behaviors – including their reproductive cycle – can be very difficult.”

Adding video perception to the conservation toolkit

To support this valuable work, Hikvision has contributed video perception equipment at the Dongtan Reserve. This helps Jieyun and other team members keep a constant eye on multiple areas of the site to ensure that the breeding grounds are in good condition and able to support the visiting populations.

PTZ (pan tilt zoom) cameras are being used to capture close-up images of birds and their behavior to support and enhance conservation efforts. At night or in low-light conditions, thermal dome cameras play a critical role in the continuous monitoring.

Jieyun and the conservation team have captured incredible images of birds at the reserve, underlining the value of the site for multiple species. For example, the team has seen Kentish plovers wet their abdomens with muddy water to cool down hatchlings in their nests, and recorded images of birds fishing to feed their young.

Hikvision’s intelligent analysis equipment has been deployed at the reserve, and it will develop an intelligent bird identification system based on joint efforts with the partners. Advanced applications such as identification, classification, and analysis will be enabled by intelligent platform software, transforming approaches to bird monitoring and protection. For example, it can be used to help researchers establish correlations between a variety of environmental factors and bird habits, supporting experts and staff to further improve protection measures and plans.

Protecting migratory birds and their precious wetland habitat with AIoT technology
Protecting migratory birds and their precious wetland habitat with AIoT technology

Measuring conservation success at Dongtan Reserve

The conversation team works tirelessly to ensure that the Dongtan Reserve meets the needs of visiting bird populations, and the video perception equipment has become part of the conservation toolkit. Thanks to the hard work of Jieyun and other specialists, the number of bird species recorded in Beibayao Wetland has increased from 150 to more than 200.

Among the general bird population, there are some “star” species, including the spoon-billed sandpiper, a species with fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the world. The staff at the reserve have also seen laughing gulls, curly-feathered pelicans, Chinese crested terns, and other rare birds.

“Bird monitoring is an essential part of Dongtan Reserve’s habitat management,” Jieyun continued. “The dedicated on-site team records bird species, numbers, breeding conditions and a range of other data that reflect the status of the wetland and the effectiveness of our management efforts. The video perception devices enable the staff to better manage the wetland and to ensure that migratory birds enjoy a good living environment and have enough food to thrive.”

As part of Hikvision’s Global STAR Program for Social Good, the Dongtan Reserve project is bringing a brighter future for the birds and the wetland ecosystem. With the power of technology, Hikvision will continue to explore innovative ways to benefit communities and protect our valuable nature and culture. If you want to join us and create a better world together, please click here.

PR Newswire

Vipshop Announces US$500 Million Share Repurchase Program

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GUANGZHOU, China, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS), a leading online discount retailer for brands in China (“Vipshop” or the “Company”), today announced that its board of directors has authorized a new share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$500 million of its American depositary shares or Class A ordinary shares until the close of business on March 31, 2025, U.S. Eastern Time. The Company plans to adopt and implement this share repurchase program in accordance with applicable rules and requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company’s insider trading policy.

The Company’s proposed repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, in block trades and/or through other legally permissible means, depending on market conditions and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The timing and dollar amount of repurchase transactions will be subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18 and/or Rule 10b5-1 requirements. The Company’s board of directors will review the share repurchase program periodically, and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size. The Company expects to fund the repurchases out of its existing cash balance.

About Vipshop Holdings Limited

Vipshop Holdings Limited is a leading online discount retailer for brands in China. Vipshop offers high quality and popular branded products to consumers throughout China at a significant discount to retail prices. Since it was founded in August 2008, the Company has rapidly built a sizeable and growing base of customers and brand partners. For more information, please visit https://ir.vip.com/.

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 “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management as well as Vipshop’s strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. Vipshop may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (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 statements about Vipshop’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: Vipshop’s goals and strategies; Vipshop’s future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online discount retail market in China; Vipshop’s ability to attract customers and brand partners and further enhance its brand recognition; Vipshop’s expectations regarding needs for and market acceptance of flash sales products and services; competition in the discount retail industry; the potential impact of the COVID-19 to Vipshop’s business operations and the economy in China and elsewhere generally; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Vipshop’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Vipshop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Tel: +86 (20) 2233-0732
Email: IR@vipshop.com

Android, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

iPhone Users Can Now Try the Galaxy S23 On Their iPhone.

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Samsung has been at the forefront of Android smartphones for quite sometime now. Samsung has also led the charge in getting iPhone users over to the Android boat. The employed many tactics for this. They poked fun at Apple in their own ads, they offer incentives for Apple users choosing to opt into Android, they made data transfer from an iPhone to Galaxy smartphone much simpler and hassle free than before, and they encourage iPhone users to try the Galaxy devices as much as they can. In their latest effort, iPhone users get to use the Samsung Galaxy S23 for free, on their iPhone that is.

They cheekily call it the Galaxy app. Yes, it is an app that will run the Galaxy S23 interface on your iPhone. It is not available on the Apple App Store, so you have to download it via web. It is also not a proper app that overlays your iPhone with Android 13 based One UI 5.1 interface. It is a web app, a web page that lets you test run the Galaxy S23 on the web.

But it is not just some web app that lets you scroll through the home page, the app tray, and nothing else. It allows you to try the camera interface too, through your iPhone cameras and experience things like Nightography and Night Mode. You can even try apps like Photo Remaster on the web app, allowing you to edit whatever photos you take on the app. All this is to show how powerful a Samsung Galaxy S23 camera system is. You can even try gaming on the Galaxy S23 to see how smooth it can be, although you are not technically playing a game.

Of course, you can customise your Galaxy S23 experience all on the web app. You can change the wallpaper, background, themes, icons, and even more that is available on One UI 5.1. The app is also designed specifically for iPhone, so it will not do anything if you try going on your web browser on your PC to test it out. If you are on an Android device, there will also be an attached warning for the web app. In that case, if you are on an iPhone, you can test out the web app and try out the Samsung Galaxy S23 yourself via their web app.

Gaming, Lifestyle, News

E3 2023 is Officially Over

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It is official, E3 2023 has been cancelled. There are plenty of speculations to the real reason to the cancellation. IGN reported that the organisation behind E3 has cited that companies interested in E3 and supposed to attend the conference were not ready and will not be ready to showcase their games in the committed timeline.

While E3 2023 was something gamers was looking forward to, the same cannot be said about the gaming industry as a whole. Ubisoft very recently announced that they will not be attending E3 2023 and will host their own hybrid event instead. Nintendo and many other developers have also not expressed interest or even committed to attending E3 2023. In this case, many speculates that the lack of interest in the conference is the main contributing factor for the cancellation.

E3 used to be the biggest platform for the gaming industry to make their announcements and demos for their upcoming games. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit though, E3 took a hit too. They had to cancel their E3 conference in 2020 forcing the gaming industry to make their announcements on their own and leverage streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Ever since that first cancellation, E3 has not been physically held until they scheduled their June 2023 date, which has since been cancelled too: another year without E3.

That is not to say that the gaming industry is asleep and is facing difficulties though. Ubisoft announced that they are holding a separate event on their own. We expect more announcements from Sony’s PlayStation camp and even Microsoft’s Xbox camp. We are expecting Nintendo to make some sort of announcement in June about upcoming games. Ubisoft and Microsoft have, in fact, announced that they are holding their own announcement event also in June 2023.

This year’s E3 cancellation raised some questions for the gaming industry. Firstly, is E3 coming back for 2024? Secondly, is E3 even relevant anymore?

To the first question, the people behind the scenes have reported that they are still “committed to provide an industry platform for marketing and convening”. The answer vaguely says that E3 is looking to come back in 2024, but is also filled with plenty of uncertainty. Us gamers obviously hopes that E3 makes a come back in 2024 in some capacity.

To the second question, there are a few things to think about. Larger developers like Sony’s PlayStation Studios, Microsoft’s Xbox, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and even Epic Games have realised that they do not really need to rely on E3 to make their own announcements. They also have enough funding to manage and create their own announcement events without constraining to space and tight schedules. Instead of announcing everything within a specified time frame, they can even space their announcements out. While having to learn to leverage online platforms for their announcements, they perhaps learned that they can hit a larger audience at a lower cost cap too. In that case, it is perhaps a more sensible platform to leverage on than having a physical presence in E3.

There is a lot of unknown for E3 in the coming years. The only thing we know is that they will not make a 2023 comeback. At the same time, we think that E3 might still have a place in the gaming industry since Gamescom and the Summer Game Fest will still be happening as scheduled. For now, we can only hope that the people behind E3 have not given up just yet.

PR Newswire

Infinix Launches HOT 30 Series in Collaboration with Free Fire to Showcase an Enhanced Gaming Experience

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SHANGHAI, March 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Infinix today launches the HOT 30 series worldwide, consisting of the HOT 30 and HOT 30i models. The series has undergone significant upgrades to its processor, screen, fast charging, and video features. In collaboration with Free Fire, one of the most downloaded mobile games worldwide, Infinix has customized the series for an immersive gaming experience, enhancing both software and hardware dimensions.

In Collaboration with Free Fire
In Collaboration with Free Fire

The partnership between Infinix and Free Fire further enhances gaming entertainment through joint tuning and delivers a thrilling and competitive gaming experience to a young and fashionable audience. To promote the spirit of “BOOYAH NOW”, both parties will hold several activities, including a TikTok challenge that will encourage users to share their in-game highlights and stimulate creativity.­

“Infinix understands the needs of the younger generation and prioritizes the combination of product performance with in-depth game entertainment in its HOT series, which resonates with young consumers globally. This aligns well with Free Fire’s global pool of players. The partnership between Infinix and Free Fire goes beyond product innovation to cultivate an entertainment lifestyle for young people. Together, they aim to establish deeper connections with young people worldwide through innovative products and creative co-branding activities, encouraging them to ‘play together’ and experience the joy of competition brought by the new HOT 30 series.” – Eric Zheng, HOT Series Product Director at Infinix.

Taking Mobile Gaming to the Next Level

The HOT 30 is designed to provide an immersive gaming experience, powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 eight-core processor. With two strong ARM Cortex A75 cores and a maximum frequency of 2.0GHz, it ensures smooth gameplay. In addition, Infinix’s self-developed memory expansion technology can double memory efficiency from 8GB to 16GB, enabling quick game startup and multitasking. The 6.78-inch screen boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, 270Hz touch sampling rate, and DRE dark area enhancement technology. It also has a maximum brightness of 600nit, allowing users to play in outdoor sunlight with a clear view of the screen.

Infinix’s collaboration with Free Fire showcases the enhanced technology of the HOT 30, which adds intelligent sensing load scenarios and phased matching cooling strategies to stabilize the game under high image quality and high frame rate conditions. The Co-branded HOT 30 has also undergone exclusive customization, including wallpapers, icon widgets and sound effects to enhance user experience. Additionally, the phone features a unique AR self-portrait playing method using the rear and front camera, allowing users to create interesting self-portraits with Free Fire game characters for more fun.

HOT 30 Customized Gift Box
HOT 30 Customized Gift Box

Infinix and Free Fire’s partnership goes beyond the phone’s system, extending to unique customized packages that offer additional benefits to gamers, such as customized phone cases, card pins, hats, and stickers. The HOT 30 features a thin and light design with a glass-like texture which is smooth to the touch. It also has 33W super fast charging and a 5000mAh battery for long battery life, a 50-megapixel camera with enhanced night scene effect, and DTS dual speakers for surround dynamic sound.

The Infinix X Free Fire Creative Activities

Free Fire is a highly popular tactical and competitive mobile battle royale game that has been in operation since 2017. The title continues to be one of the top ranking games globally. The partnership between Infinix and Free Fire marks a new stage of development, with plans for joint marketing activities, including a TikTok Challenge where players can upload their game highlights and stand to win mobile phone prizes. Infinix and Free Fire will also hold a Co-Lab theme collection activity, inviting users to create wallpapers for the HOT 30. More details on activities will be shared on the official Infinix social media channels.

The HOT 30 series falls within a very competitive price range that allows young people around the world to experience a high-quality and inexpensive gaming phone. It delivers a bright high-definition game screen and fast charging, making it a great option for mobile gamers.

Availability

More details on availability and pricing will be shared on Infinix regional websites and social media channels.
For more details visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

About Infinix:

Infinix Mobility is a rapidly emerging technology brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of smart devices worldwide under the Infinix brand, which was founded in 2013. Targeting today’s youth with first in class technology, Infinix creates trendy, powerful and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users around the world at a time when they need it at a price that they want.
For more information, please visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

About Garena:

Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, was the most downloaded mobile game in the world in 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to data.ai, previously known as App Annie. 
Garena is run by passionate gamers and has a unique understanding of what gamers want. It exclusively licenses and publishes hit titles from global partners – such as Arena of Valor and Call of Duty: Mobile – in selected markets globally. Garena champions social and entertainment experiences through games, enabling its communities to engage and interact. Garena is also a leading esports organiser and hosts some of the world’s biggest esports events.
Garena is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Garena, Sea’s other core businesses include its e-commerce arm, Shopee, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

PR Newswire

ViewSonic Targets to Double its Monitors Business for Hybrid Workspace

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BREA, Calif., March 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, has attained substantial growth in its monitor business in 2022, and targets to double its global sales of monitors for hybrid workspace requirements in 2023. Notably, products featuring portable, Type-C, and touch functions performed exceptionally well. Moving forward, ViewSonic plans to expand its monitors for dynamic work environments, with a focus on individual productivity, remote collaboration, and easy setups.

ViewSonic Empowers Organizations with Powerful Solutions for Hybrid Workspace
ViewSonic Empowers Organizations with Powerful Solutions for Hybrid Workspace

“We see a significant potential within the ongoing transformation of workspaces. ViewSonic has attained stable growth in our hybrid work solutions despite macroeconomic headwinds,” said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit. “We will continue investing in cutting-edge technology and launch new products for improved workspace efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. This will enable us to lead the market and expand our presence in the worldwide premium monitor market for corporations.”

Enhance Individual Productivity and Team Collaboration
ViewSonic has experienced substantial growth in its portable, USB-C (one cable solution), and touch monitor lines, which have increased by 106.5%, 95.8%, and 22.4% respectively between 2021 and 2022. The shift towards hybrid workspaces has resulted in a surge in demand for portable monitors. ViewSonic recognized this trend early on and introduced its first portable touch monitors in 2020.

To better enhance individual productivity, ViewSonic will continue to expand its line of portable monitors and roll out more advanced features in 2023. For instance, by using portable monitors equipped with OLED technology and a one-cable solution for simultaneous data transfer and convenient charging, creators can do color-critical jobs with maximum efficiency and flexibility.

In addition to prioritizing portability and efficiency, ViewSonic also recognizes the need for effective video conferencing in hybrid work environments. To provide users with the ultimate remote communication experience, ViewSonic has integrated advanced features such as two-way AI audio enhancement and a pop-up webcam with LED fill lights into its latest VG56V monitor.

Integrate Total Visual Solutions to Transform Workspace
ViewSonic excels in monitor technology and aims to revolutionize the visual solution for modern workplaces. To promote effective communication and collaboration in diverse settings, ViewSonic offers a total solution such as ViewBoard interactive displays and projectors for the modern workspace. ViewBoards come in sizes ranging from 24″ to 105″ and offer touch capability with intuitive navigation and annotation features, making them a great tool for boosting engagement and creativity in group settings.

Meanwhile, ViewSonic’s B2B projector line that can produce high-brightness, vividly colored images up to 300 inches is a great solution for transforming every corner of the workspace into a communication space. As an example of its own capabilities, ViewSonic has installed projectors in common areas throughout its office, allowing employees to enjoy their lunch while watching the news or games together. Additionally, the projectors have transformed the yoga room in the company’s gym into a hybrid scenario and turned elevators into immersive space capsules.

About ViewSonic
Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, pen displays, commercial displays, All-in-One LED displays, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 35 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers “See the Difference.” To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

Source: ViewSonic Corp.