More than 5 billion Uber rides hailed

Source: Uber. Uber has been responsible for over 5 billion rides as of May 2017.

In late 2015, Uber hit a big milestone: 1 billion trips. Six months later, in 2016, Uber has over 5 billion rides under its belt. The key trips occurred on 20 May 2017; 156 trips started simultaneously at 7:29:06am GMT in 24 countries on six continents including Malaysia put Uber over the 5 billion mark.

The shortest trip of the batch lasted 470m in San Francisco, US, and the longest was for 27km in Singapore (which is 50km wide). Fifteen of the riders, Uber said, were using Uber outside of their home city.

In Malaysia, two driver partners were involved in the milestone. Zabidi Hassan, a full-time driver-partner from Kuantan said, “It really was a surprise to learn I was one of the driver partners that helped Uber achieve the 5 billionth trip mark.” Zabidi, a driver partner for just one month, added, “It is my main source of income – I’m really happy with it. I’m truly excited to be part of this achievement.”

The other driver partner is Hardeen Sirajudeen, a freelance property agent who drives part-time on Uber. He said, “I find it easy to use and the flexibility I have to earn really helps a lot.”

On being one of the 156 drivers, Hardeen commented, “I’m really glad to be part of something like this. It was just a normal day for me, but what a surprise it turned out to be! This is only possible because Uber is here in Malaysia, and it motivates me to drive more. I’m grateful to Uber for this.”

To say thanks, Uber is giving all 156 drivers, including Zabidi and Hardeen, a one-off incentive of US$500.

Fun facts on the 156 simultaneous trips on the road to 5 billion trips:
Longest trip: 17.1 miles (27.5km), uberPOOL, Singapore

Shortest trip: 0.29 miles (0.47km), uberX, San Francisco - Uber's first location

Longest tenured driver - 3 years 6 months (since first trip) - an UberX driver-partner from Atlanta, Georgia, USA who has completed 1,911 trips.

Shortest tenured driver – 0 days (their first trip) - An uberMOTOR driver-partner from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Six riders were on their first trip, including in Jakarta; Islamabad, Pakistan; and Chennai, India.

Fifteen riders were using Uber outside their "home city", which is defined as the place where they use Uber most often

Eight Uber products were on the road at the same time: uberX, UberXL, uberPOOL, UberBLACK, uberMOTOR, uberGO, UberSELECT, and UberVIP. Only uberX, UberXL, and UberBLACK are available in Malaysia. 

Uber Malaysia recently reiterated its commitment to safety through new features and initiatives, including a partnership with the Royal Malaysian Police (Polis DiRaja Malaysia or PDRM) to feature their Volunteer Smart Patrol (VSP) app and the formation of an Uber Safety Lab that allows Uber Malaysia to regularly tap on stakeholders and industry experts to improve safety. 

The VSP enables the public to become the eyes and ears of the police force and send them real-time visuals of any incident through smartphones. This is a concrete step towards the SOS Button that the regulators have required of e-hailing apps.

“We believe that technology can have a positive transformative effect on our way of life, and we believe that by continuing to improve on how the Uber app connects riders with driver-partners, we can further strengthen public confidence in e-hailing technology, which has benefited millions of people to date. In Malaysia, ride-sharing remains the preferred mode of transportation, and through our new features and initiatives, we aim to not only strengthen confidence in the Uber platform but also surpass public expectations. Everyone has a right to be safe, whether they’re on a train, in a cab, walking on a sidewalk or in an Uber. And while no means of transportation can be 100% incident or accident-free, technology can improve safety by creating accountability and transparency where previously there was none,” said Chan Park, Regional GM, Southeast Asia.

Uber incorporates GPS tracking for every trip, giving people the ability to share their trip information and estimated time of arrival (ETA) in real-time with loved ones. Uber also has a two-way feedback feature so that both riders and driver-partners can give feedback on any trip. Such features allow Uber to respond quickly and provide authorities the necessary information to assist them in their investigations. Rider issues are highlighted via machine-learning that is able to pick up keywords from the feedback provided. To date, Uber has been able to solve issues highlighted by riders and drivers within 24 hours from the time it is reported. Uber’s data has also shown that 50% of all issues are solved within 6 hours.

Currently, Uber Malaysia is focused on:

- Reviewing and improving processes and technologies to prevent exploitation of the Uber platform for criminal purposes.

- Engaging closely with SPAD (the regulator), PDRM (the Police), and other relevant stakeholders for their views on how we can further improve.

- Reaching out to other organisations and agencies in Malaysia, as well as taking lessons from Uber operations throughout the world.

- Educating both riders and drivers on how they can do their part to ensure their own safety.

Riders are reminded to practice caution when using ride-hailing apps, and to:

- Be kind and respectful. As outlined in Uber’s community guidelines, please respect your driver and his or her car.

- Only take trips with drivers you request through the app - there are no street hails with Uber.

- Before the ride begins - Doublecheck the licence plate, driver name and photo shown to you in the app. We encourage riders to doublecheck all these details and make sure they match the driver and car. Riders are also able to see a driver's rating to determine if they wish to proceed with a journey.

- During the trip - Share trip details with friends and family. Riders can share their trip details, including estimated time of arrival and the specific route, with friends and family so they can follow the trip and know when they've arrived safely.

- After the ride ends - Provide feedback. Riders rate their driver and vice versa, and can provide feedback to Uber. Our safety team reviews this information and investigates any issues. Uber customer support is available 24x7.

posted from Bloggeroid

HP's LaserJet Enterprise 600 Series is more secure and versatile

Source: HP. The HP Color LaserJet Managed E87660 MFP.

HP Inc. has launched the HP LaserJet Enterprise 600 Series devices, which deliver security and enhanced productivity.

The 600 Series multifunction printers (MFPs) combine performance and energy efficiency with professional quality documents, while helping to protect the network from cyberattacks. The new devices also include HP JetIntelligence cartridge technology built around a breakthrough in toner chemistry for added print quality protection.

“HP is reinventing the printing experience for customers and service professionals with transformative technologies that leverage HP’s innovation in security, industrial design and real-world performance,” said Ng Tian-Chong, GM, Printing Systems, Asia Pacific and Japan, HP Inc. “From personal mono LaserJet printers up through HP’s largest and most full featured Enterprise Flow MFPs, our new 600 Series products complete the JetIntelligence portfolio with supplies that bring outstanding performance to businesses.”

The 600 Series is embedded with advanced security features designed to help reduce risk, thwart cyberattacks and improve compliance. These devices contain the ability to self-heal, automatically triggering a reboot in the event of an attack or anomaly. Additional features include built-in encryption to protect data stored on the hard drive, secure erase to remove sensitive information safely andcompletely , and the ability to disable ports and protocols to help prevent unauthorised access.

Customers can use a tablet-like user interface (UI) that is now available on the recently launched HP A3 LaserJets and on the new 600 Series LaserJet devices. The new UI features include a message centre, improved preview, additional customisation, centralised contacts and new apps designed to help streamline business processes. The UI firmware is upgradeable for investment protection and productivity.

Interested?

HP’s 600 Series MFPs include up to 17 models with 26 available bundles ranging delivering print speeds of 50 pages per minute (ppm) to 75 ppm for a letter sized printed page.

*Based on HP review of 2016 published security features of competitive in-class printers. Only HP offers a combination of security features that can monitor to detect and automatically stop an attack then self-validate software integrity in a reboot. 

**The 600 Series MFPs include all new JetIntelligence capabilities built in starting at the toner particle level, specially engineered to help customers save money and time while improving carbon footprints and energy efficiencies . For example, these devices can wake up out of sleep mode to full performance in as fast as nine seconds. 

Bayara hits on brilliant digital engagement activity

Bayara, known for its dried fruits, nuts and spices in the Middle East, has organised an iftar (breaking of fast meal during Ramadhan) at The Oberoi, Dubai with a twist - the dishes on the buffet menu were created from recipes crowdsourced from their social media fans.

Source: Bayara. Jean-Marc Lourau, CEO of Bayara, congratulated the winners
whose dishes were featured at the buffet and also shared the progress that
Bayara has made over the last 25 years that they have been in the market.

The invite-only iftar on June 21, 2017 took place at Nine7One restaurant at The Oberoi, Dubai. Fans and their families graced the iftar along with the management of Bayara and media personalities.

Bayara's Head of Marketing, Sylvain Joyau commented, "As a brand we have always focused on connecting with our fans and giving them the best. Driven by this passion, we came up with the idea of Social Iftar, an online-offline activity that helped us have a more intimate relationship with our customers. The event was a huge success only because of our fans and we would like to thank them for their support and love."

With a legacy of 25 years in the region, Bayara has been able to successfully build on the expertise and heritage of Gyma Food Industries, in manufacturing and distributing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products across the Middle East and North Africa region. Bayara is looking forward to have many more social events for its fans in the near future to make it a brand that is Full of Life.

Tableau 10.3 introduces data-driven alerts

Tableau Software, the global leader in visual analytics, has announced the general availability of Tableau 10.3. This release helps organisations achieve data-driven insights more quickly.

“Organisations want to do more with the vast data they have at their disposal,” said Francois Ajenstat, Chief Product Officer at Tableau. “It’s not just simple analysis our customers are looking seeking, it’s the power to unlock all of their data with ease and efficiency. With smart recommendations, customers can get to the right data faster than ever - without having to spend time finding the right tables and joins. And with proactive monitoring of key metrics through features like data driven alerts, they can take action immediately and be more agile.”

The upgraded software offers automated table and join* recommendations powered by machine learning algorithms. Tableau Server analyses aggregate data source usage to recommend popular tables and correlated data across the organisation. With recommendations, customers can save time by quickly identifying database tables that are relevant to their analysis and leveraging join recommendations to enrich their data.

It also includes data-driven alerts for proactive monitoring of key metrics. Version 10.3 unlocks six new data sources for analysis, including a new connector for extracting data from PDF documents. Additionally, Tableau Online customers are able to try Tableau Bridge in beta, which enables a direct connection to data stored on premises directly in the cloud.



In all, customers can now connect to more than 75 data sources via 66 connectors, without any programming. That includes a new PDF connector, which allows people to directly import PDF tables into Tableau with a click. Additionally, Tableau now comes with new connectors to popular data sources such as Amazon Athena, ServiceNow, MongoDB, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive.

Tableau Online customers can now leverage data stored on premises directly in the cloud with the new Tableau Bridge. Available to all Tableau Online customers to try, this will allow a secure, live connection to on premises data, meaning it’s no longer necessary to move data to perform a live query from Tableau Online. Many organisations have data on premises and in the cloud, and Tableau Bridge allows these customers to easily connect live to all of their data no matter where it is.

*A join refers to combining related data from different parts of a database. An example would be a database of customer names and other details, which could be joined with a database of orders for products so that a business can tell who orders what.

Asian cities reshuffle in Mercer's Cost of Living Survey

· Five Asian cities are in this year’s top 10: Hong Kong (No. 2), Tokyo, Japan (No. 3), Singapore (No. 5), Seoul, Korea (No. 6) and Shanghai, China (No. 8)

· Rankings of most Asian cities changed – currency is the key contributing factor

· All mainland Chinese cities surveyed fell in the ranking except Tianjin (No. 12) which climbed 18 places

· Mumbai, India leaped 25 places this year due to rapid economic growth, inflation and stable currency


Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Survey* has five Asian cities in the list of most expensive locations for working abroad:

To support the growing number of international assignees working in an increased number of locations, organisations are evaluating assignments from a cultural perspective, preparing for regional and lateral moves, and modifying compensation approaches to stay competitive.

According to Mercer’s 2017 Global Talent Trends Study, fair and competitive pay as well as opportunities for promotion are top priorities for employees this year. As a result, multinational organisations are assessing the cost of expatriate packages for their international assignees.

Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey finds that factors like instability of housing markets and inflation for goods and services contribute to the overall cost of doing business in today’s global environment. “Globalisation of the marketplace is well documented with many companies operating in multiple locations around the world and promoting international assignments to enhance the experience of future managers,” said Ilya Bonic, Senior Partner and President of Mercer’s Career business.

“There are numerous personal and organisational advantages for sending employees overseas, whether for long- or short-term assignments, including career development by obtaining global experience, the creation and transfer of skills, and the reallocation of resources.”

Mercer’s 2017 Cost of Living Survey finds Asian and European cities – particularly Hong Kong (2), Tokyo (3), Zurich, Switzerland (4), and Singapore (5) – top the list of most expensive cities for expatriates. The costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, is however in Africa - Luanda, the capital of Angola. Other Asian cities appearing in the top 10 of Mercer’s costliest cities for expatriates are Seoul (6) and Shanghai (8).

“While historically mobility, talent management, and rewards have been managed independently of one another, organisations are now using a more holistic approach to enhance their mobility strategies. Compensation is important to be competitive and must be determined appropriately based on the cost of living, currency, and location,” said Bonic.

Asia Pacific

Five of the top 10 cities in this year’s ranking are in Asia. Hong Kong (2), which dropped from the top spot, is the most expensive city in Asia as a result of its currency pegged to the US dollar, which drove up the cost of accommodations locally. This global financial centre is followed by Tokyo (3), Singapore (5), Seoul (6), and Shanghai (8).

Mario Ferraro, Global Mobility Leader for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), Mercer, said, “Although a number of Asian cities remain amongst the world’s most expensive cities, key financial hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore still continue to attract talent and remain a top choice for relocation. Although this year’s movements were due mainly to currency fluctuations, in particular against the US dollar, we did see cities – such as Mumbai – move up the ranks due to their strengthening economy and growing opportunities.”

Nathalie Constantin-Métral, Principal at Mercer with responsibility for compiling the survey ranking said, “The majority of Chinese cities fell in the ranking due to the weakening of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar. And, the strengthening of the Japanese yen along with the high costs of expatriate consumer goods and a dynamic housing market pushed Japanese cities up in the ranking.”

India’s most expensive city, Mumbai (57), climbed twenty-five places in the ranking due to its rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the US dollar. This most populous city in India is followed by New Delhi (99) and Chennai (135) which rose in the ranking by thirty-one and twenty-three spots, respectively. Bengaluru (166) and Kolkata (184), the least expensive Indian cities, climbed in the ranking as well.

Elsewhere in Asia, Bangkok, Thailand (67) jumped seven places from last year. Jakarta, Indonesia (88) and Hanoi, Vietnam (100) also rose in the ranking, up five and six places, respectively. Karachi, Pakistan (201) and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (208) remain the region’s least expensive cities for expatriates.

Australian cities have all experienced further jumps up the global ranking since last year due to the strengthening of the Australian dollar. Sydney (25), Australia’s most expensive city for expatriates, gained 17 places in the ranking along with Melbourne (46) and Perth (50) which went up 25 and 19 spots, respectively.

In the Middle East Dubai, UAE ranked 20th, followed by Abu Dhabi, UAE (23), and Riyadh, KSA (52), all of which climbed in this year’s ranking. Jeddah, KSA (117), Muscat, Oman (92), and Doha, Qatar (81) are among the least expensive cities in the region.

Interested?

Mercer also produces individual cost of living and rental accommodation cost reports for each city surveyed.

Check out Mercer's city rankings

Buy individual Mercer city reports

*Mercer's survey is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees. New York is used as the base city and all cities are compared against it. Currency movements are measured against the US dollar. The survey includes over 400 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment. The figures for Mercer’s cost of living and rental accommodation costs comparisons are derived from a survey conducted in March 2017. Exchange rates from that time and Mercer’s international basket of goods and services have been used as base measurements.

posted from Bloggeroid

Mobile communications drives Indonesia's digital time

ComScore has found that mobile apps dominate Indonesia’s digital time. An analysis of mobile audiences in Indonesia states that:

• Mobile devices account for 91% of all digital minutes in Indonesia.
• Mobile’s dominant share of time is driven primarily by apps, which account for 90% of all mobile minutes, and 82% of digital minutes as a whole.
• The 35+ age group is the most reliant on desktop, with 12% using it as their only device, and 20% in combination with mobile platforms.
• Two-thirds of users aged 35+ use only smartphone and tablets to access digital content.

Source: comScore. Mobile devices account for 91% of all digital minutes in Indonesia.

While the top 10 mobile properties all reach more than 13 million visitors in Indonesia, the distribution of minutes is skewed heavily to the top four, which include communication apps (including email and messaging). Facebook leads overall total mobile minutes, thanks largely to its Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger and Instagram apps. In fact, on a per-user basis, messaging and social apps far outpace others within the top 10 (by reach) in terms of average minutes.

Video and photography have benefitted from increasing mobile speeds, larger screens and better cameras on mobile devices, with Instagram and YouTube both driving high numbers of minutes for their users.

The company recently announced the launch of MMX Multi-Platform, along with major upgrades to Mobile Metrix in Indonesia, with the introduction mobile consumer panel data. This Android mobile panel expands comScore’s measurement of mobile audiences in Indonesia to enable more robust reporting of visitation, engagement and demographics.

Interested?

Download the presentation from comScore: Introducing Expanded Mobile and New Multi-Platform Measurement in Indonesia.

posted from Bloggeroid

M&A deal leaks boost deal values by an average US$21 million

• Asia Pacific region records highest rate of leaked deals in 2016 at 9.7%
• Small percentage (8.6%) of worldwide deals leaked in 2016, the same as in 2015 and above a six-year low of 6% in 2014
• Difference between median target takeover premium for leaked deals versus non-leaked deals was US$21 million in 2016
• Worldwide consumer sector deal leaks jump by 7.8 percentage points to 15.5% in 2016 - the highest of any sector for eight years

Leaking information on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) before any public announcement of the transaction added an extra US$21 million to the average value of deals announced in 2016 that leaked, according to new research* from Intralinks, a business of Synchronoss Technologies, and Cass Business School, City University of London.

In addition to evidence of higher valuations for M&A deals that leak, the 2017 Intralinks Annual M&A Leaks Report found that 8.6% of worldwide M&A deals were leaked in 2016. This figure is unchanged from the previous year (2015) and above a six-year low of 6% in 2014. In 2014, worldwide deal leaks had been on a declining trend for the previous six years, but this trend reversed in 2015 and 2016 – despite the efforts of financial regulators globally in recent years to bring in new regulations to curb deal leaks, and increase enforcement actions and fines for market abuse and insider trading.

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region had the highest rate of deal leaks in 2016, at 9.7%. Of the 10 countries with the most M&A activity, the top three countries for deal leaks in 2016 were from APAC – India (16.7% of deals leaked), South Korea (16.1%) and Japan (12%). South Korea and Japan recorded an increased rate of deal leaks in 2016 compared to 2015. Countries and territories which reduced their rate of deal leaks in 2016 included India and Hong Kong.

Percentage of M&A deal leaks by country or territory

Target listing location	2016 (Rank)	2015 (Rank)	2009-2016 (Rank)
India	16.7% (1)	20.0% (1)	15.8% (1)
South Korea	16.1% (2)	5.3% (6)	10.2% (4)
Japan	12.0% (3)	3.1% (7)	5.1% (9)
Hong Kong	10.0% (4)	12.9% (2)	14.6% (2)
US	9.8% (5)	12.6% (3)	7.6% (6)
Germany	9.1% (6)	0.0% (10)	9.3% (5)
Australia	7.5% (7)	3.0% (8)	4.0% (10)
UK	7.0% (8)	6.7% (5)	12.5% (3)
France	4.3% (9)	0.0% (9)	5.4% (8)
Canada	4.3% (10)	12.5% (4)	5.9% (7)

From 2009 to 2013, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) had the highest average rate of leaked deals at 10.4%, while APAC had the second-highest average rate of leaked deals at 7.6%. Since 2014, this trend has reversed: in each of the last three years, the rate of deal leaks in APAC has been higher than in EMEA.

Worldwide, the top three sectors for deals leaks in 2016 were consumer, retail and real estate. The real estate sector, which has the highest long-term average rate of deal leaks, dropped to 3rd place in 2016 and was replaced by the consumer sector, which increased its rate of deal leaks by 7.8 percentage points to 15.5%. This is the highest worldwide rate of deal leaks of any sector in the past eight years. Worldwide, the bottom three sectors for deal leaks in 2016 were healthcare, energy & power, and industrials.

As the report shows, there appears to be one clear perceived benefit of leaking deals: higher target takeover premiums resulting in higher valuations, as a result of increased competition among acquirers for targets in leaked deals. This has been true in each of the eight years analysed for this report. From 2009 to 2016, the median takeover premium for leaked deals was 47% versus 27% for non-leaked deals, a difference of 20 percentage points.

To quantify this, in 2016 the difference in the median target takeover premium for leaked deals compared to non-leaked deals was US$21 million, i.e., an average of an extra US$21 million accrued to the shareholders of the targets in deals that leaked. Leaked deals are also associated with a higher rate of rival bids for the target than non-leaked deals: from 2009 to 2016, 6.5% of leaked deals attracted one or more rival bids for the target compared to 5.8% of non-leaked deals.

There is also evidence that leaked deals have higher completion success rates: In the last three years (2014 to 2016), the worldwide completion success rate for leaked deals has been almost five percentage points higher than for non-leaked deals.

These results could point to one other perceived benefit of leaking a deal – it potentially leads to a better match between acquirer and target. Leaking a deal may flush out the “optimal” acquirer, i.e. the one who has the greatest synergies with the target (and who can therefore pay the highest price, hence the higher target takeover premiums for leaked deals).

Hong Kong, which recorded the second highest average percentage of deal leaks from 2009 to 2016, dropped to fourth place in 2016 with its lowest level of deal leaks (10%) since 2012. In its annual report for 2015 to 2016, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) detailed 107 criminal charges against 15 individuals and five corporations. Total investigations rose by 12% and the number of investigations for insider trading grew by 20% from the previous year**.

In 2016, targets in leaked deals achieved a median takeover premium of 38% versus 26% for non-leaked deals, a difference of 12 percentage points. This is a 60% reduction compared to 2015, when targets in leaked deals achieved a 30-percentage point higher takeover premium.

Also, in 2016 the rate of rival bids for leaked deals and non-leaked deals was almost the same (in fact, non-leaked deals had a marginally higher rate of rival bids for the target than leaked deals).

Philip Whitchelo, VP of Strategy and Product Marketing at Intralinks, a business of Synchronoss Technologies, said: “The rate of deal leaks in markets where leaking was rampant a decade ago, such as the UK, has reduced considerably: a reflection of new regulations against market abuse and much stricter regulatory enforcement. (Places) such as India and Hong Kong, which have comparatively high levels of deal leaks, are also making more efforts to tackle market abuse and insider trading. Overall, against the perceived benefits, those leaking deals must also weigh the risks, and those benefits appear to have reduced in 2016.”
Professor Scott Moeller, Director of the M&A Research Centre at Cass Business School said: “There will always be reasons why a target company may see a benefit to leaking a deal, and it is therefore unlikely that the level of deal leakage will ever be at - or near - zero. However, it is encouraging to see that the percentage of deals that leak is remaining largely flat, and at levels below where it was a decade ago.”

Interested?

Download the 2017 Intralinks Annual M&A Leaks Report

*Methodology

M&A transaction data for announced deals during the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2016, share price and index price information were sourced from Thomson Reuters. The criteria for inclusion in the sample were that the target must be an entity listed on a public stock exchange, that the transaction must involve the acquisition of majority control of the target and that the target's equity must have a sufficient trading history for its returns to be calculated. The final total sample of deals for the period 2009 to 2016 was 5,997. 

A transaction was identified as involving a leak of the deal prior to its public announcement using the event study methodology, which compares the cumulative daily returns of the target in the period from -40 to -1 days prior to the public announcement of the deal with its expected returns. The target's expected returns are calculated using a linear regression model of the target's returns during a “normal” trading period against the market return. 

A transaction was identified as involving a leak of the deal if the cumulative daily returns of the target in the period -40 to -1 days prior to the public announcement of the deal was statistically significantly different compared to its expected returns, at the 95% confidence interval for a normal distribution - meaning that there is only a 5% probability that the target's observed returns compared to its expected returns would occur in a random distribution of data, i.e. would be due to chance. 

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to the region or country location of the target refers to the target's primary listing location. The total number of leaked deals for the entire period was 462 out of the total number of deals of 5,997.

**Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong (PDF)

Firefox Focus on Android launched by Mozilla

Source: Mozilla. Mozilla launches Firefox Focus for Android.

Mozilla, the champion for an open and freely accessible Internet, has launched Firefox Focus for Android users to meet the growing demand from users of mobile devices who want more privacy online.

Firefox Focus allows its users to browse the web without being followed by tracking ads, which are notoriously for slowing down the mobile experience. The announcement comes over six months after the successful launch of the Firefox Focus for iPhone and iPad users last November, and includes an ad tracker counter, tracker disabling and a notification reminder, among other features.

"While we knew that Focus provided a useful service for those times when you want to keep your web browsing to yourself, we were floored by your response – it’s the highest rated browser from a trusted brand for the iPhone and iPad, earning a 4.6 average rating on the App Store," said Barbara Bermes, Product Manager for Firefox Mobile at Mozilla, in a blog post.

The Android release of Firefox Focus includes:

· An ad tracker counter – the counter lists the number of ads blocked per site while using the app.

· Disable tracker blocker – For sites that are not loading correctly, the tracker blocker can be disabled.

· Notification reminder – When Focus is running in the background, Mozilla sends a notification so that users can erase their browsing histories.

"Since we support both custom tabs and the ability to disable the ad blocking as needed, it works great with apps like Facebook when you just want to read an article without being tracked," Bermes said.

Interested?

Download Firefox Focus on Google Play and in the App Store.

Alizz Islamic Bank announces 100K Facebook Likes

Alizz Islamic Bank has reached the milestone of 100,000 Facebook likes. The bank is one of only two banks in Oman to experience such popularity on Facebook.

With a strong belief in the power of social media to improve customer service, Alizz Islamic Bank has significantly enhanced its overall social media presence in the past year. In addition to its Facebook achievements, the bank has crossed the 30,000-follower milestone on Instagram. Alizz Islamic Bank is now the second-most followed bank in Oman, ahead of many of the more established conventional banks and one of only two local banks that have a Snapchat presence.

Alizz Islamic Bank's strong social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and LinkedIn continues to stand out amongst local financial institutions by emphasising the significance of the 'human touch' to start a two-way conversation with the audience, engaging with them on topics of their interest, the bank said. By integrating social media into the banks existing campaigns or creating new ones that capitalize on the spirit of the Omani community, Alizz Islamic Bank has successfully raised the profile of its brand and said marketing using social media has brought solid results.

"We are dedicated to keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do and engaging with them on their platform of choice. Our social media channels give a sense of community with our social media followers; focusing on engagement and listening to what they want. Alizz Islamic Bank is proud to be at the forefront of digital tool adoption. As people rely more and more on social media to receive information and communicate, it is crucial that we as an organisation embrace digital strategies in marketing. Social media enables us to engage with customers more efficiently and with greater precision," said Moosa Al Jadidi, COO, Alizz Islamic Bank.

"Our social media channels are not just about advertising but rather about creating a connection with our customers and providing them with a plethora of channels to interact with us, as well as provide us with feedback and ask questions. We have the best online response time amongst local banks and this is what sets us apart from others and has been central to our success on every social media platform."

HP Studios' The Wolf, Season 2 shows what hackers can do

Source: HP eDM. Christian Slater stars in The Wolf: The Hunt Continues.

The Wolf, Season 2, featuring Christian Slater, is now available from HP Studios. The film demonstrates a hacker’s opportunistic journey through the healthcare system to expose how endpoint devices such as printers are compromised and critical data is lost.

HP positions its printers and PCs as the world's most secure.

Interested?

Watch the film on YouTube or at HP's website

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about HP's latest secure printers

Uber Malaysia expands, kicks off promotion for Raya

Uber, three years old in Malaysia, is now available in 15 cities across the country. Coverage in Kuala Terengganu, Batu Pahat and Sandakan has just been added.

Source: Uber. Uber is available in 15 cities in Malaysia.

The company is kicking off the Hari Raya (Eid) celebrations in conjunction with the new expansion with free rides. Till 25 June 2017, Uber customers can enjoy five free rides worth RM6 for trips from 9am to 5pm with the code UBERBALIKRAYA.

The free rides offer is valid for all rides in Malaysia where Uber is available, till June 25.

Sony launches high-speed, high-capacity hard disk drives

· High-speed data transfers of up to 138MBps (read/write)

· Shock resistant, splash resistant and dust resistant

· Silicon lid protects connection terminals from dust and water

Source: Sony. The new 2TB drive.

Sony has expanded its line of portable storage devices, delivering faster speeds, greater connectivity, increased reliability and enhanced durability with new 1TB and 2TB hard disk drives (HDDs).

The dual interface models support USB Type-A connectivity using a tethered cable to ensure no cables are lost, in addition to a USB Type-C port, ideal for memory card backup in the field. The drives are preformatted in exFAT*, and allow for data transfer up to 138MBps (read/write).

The rugged shuttle drives’ rubber damper design offers increased durability, making it shock resistant and capable of withstanding a drop of up to 6.5 feet. The HDDs are splash resistant (IPX4 rating) and dust resistant (IP5X rating). The drives are specially designed with a silicon lid protecting the connection terminals from dust and water. The PSZ-HC1T and PSZ-HC2T come packaged in a sturdy library box for additional protection during shipping or storage.

Sony’s free Memory Media Utility software, available for download at www.sony.net/mmu, offers additional protection by providing a record/rewrite life indicator, simultaneous content backup to multiple destinations, a re-formatting tool and more.

Interested?

The new HDDs, models PSZ-HC1T (1TB) and PSZ-HC2T (2TB) will be available at all Sony authorised dealers from July 2017.

*Extended File Allocation Table or exFAT is a Microsoft file system standard that is optimised for flash memory such as USB flash drives and SD cards.

posted from Bloggeroid

IMF sees favourable outcome for Pakistan's economic growth

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded its Article IV consultation* with Pakistan on June 14, 2017.

Pakistan’s outlook for economic growth is favourable, the IMF said, with real GDP estimated at 5.3% in FY2016/17 and strengthening to 6% over the medium term on the back of stepped-up China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) investments, improved availability of energy, and growth-supporting structural reforms. Inflation has been gradually increasing but remains contained, the IMF team said, and the financial sector has remained sound.

However, macroeconomic stability gains made under the 2013-16 IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF)-supported programme have begun to erode and could pose risks to the economic outlook, the IMF warned. Fiscal consolidation has slowed, with the 2016/17 budget deficit target of 4.2% of GDP (authorities’ latest projection) is likely to be exceeded, the IMF said.

The current account deficit has widened and is expected at 3% of GDP in 2016/17, driven by quickly rising imports of capital goods and energy. Foreign exchange reserves have declined in the context of a stable rupee/dollar exchange rate. On the structural front, while the successful implementation of business climate and financial inclusion reforms has continued, some renewed accumulation of arrears in the power sector has been observed, and financial losses of ailing public sector enterprises continue to weigh on scarce fiscal resources.

IMF Directors agreed** that the growth outlook remains favourable, but noted that policy implementation weakened recently and macroeconomic vulnerabilities are reemerging. They  emphasised that sustained fiscal consolidation over the medium term, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (FRDL) Act, is critical to strengthen economic resilience, safeguard fiscal sustainability, and limit pressures on the current account and international reserves.

To this end, Directors recommended mobilising additional tax revenues by broadening the tax base and strengthening tax administration; and enhancing the composition of public spending by containing the wage bill’s growth, further reducing electricity subsidies, and increasing priority social spending. They suggested strengthening the national fiscal federalism framework and public debt management.

Directors stressed the importance of maintaining a prudent monetary policy stance to preserve low inflation, and of further advancing financial sector reforms to continue strengthening resilience and support financial deepening. They welcomed the progress in fostering financial inclusion and implementing the business climate reform strategy, and encouraged the authorities to press ahead with these efforts. Directors also recommended further strengthening social safety nets.

*Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

**At the conclusion of the discussion, the MD, as Chairman of the Board, summarises the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here.

The Ascott Limited launches its first lyf property in China

Source: The Ascott Limited. The lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen.

CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has secured contracts to manage its first three properties under its latest brand, lyf, in its two key markets – China and Singapore. This marks the launch of Ascott’s new co-living concept in China.

All three lyf properties will provide conducive environments in which innovation and creativity can thrive. the 112-unit Lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen is in an innovation park named Wu Tong Island that has 24 office buildings leased to firms in the technology, design, media and tourism industries.
Lyf Wu Tong Island Shenzhen will open in H18.

Lyf DDA Dalian is in the Dalian Development Area (DDA), China’s first economic and technological development. The 120-unit lyf DDA Dalian is scheduled to open end-2018 while lyf Farrer Park Singapore, the biggest of the three lyf properties with 240 units, is slated to open in 2021.

While each lyf property will offer unique features reflective of the local culture, all will provide communal spaces to cater to Millennials’ preferences to connect, collaborate and bond as a community. These spaces can be easily converted into zones for social activities such as hackathons, innovation talks, music jamming sessions, cooking sessions, or workshops with artisans. lyf properties will be managed by Millennials who are community managers, city and food guides, and problem solvers all rolled into one.

Lee Chee Koon, Ascott’s CEO, said: “Since Ascott unveiled the lyf brand in Singapore last November, we have received very strong interest in this new co-living concept designed by Millennials for the growing wave of Millennial and Millennial-minded travellers, such as technopreneurs, startups and those in the creative industries. We are excited to be launching lyf in China with two properties and to have secured our first in Singapore. These trailblazing lyf properties not only enjoy prime locations with a ready catchment of business and leisure travellers, they also offer vibrant spaces for these change-makers to build new connections and co-create with the community therein.”

Lee added that Millennials already account for a quarter of Ascott’s customer base. "China is amongst Ascott’s top customers globally and has the world’s second largest millennial population*. As global fintech hubs, China and Singapore are also homes to start-ups raking in billion-dollar deals**. We are therefore expecting to see more lyf properties in gateway cities in China as well as another lyf in downtown Singapore. Ascott is also actively looking at other potential markets including Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the UK, as we work towards achieving our target of 10,000 units under the lyf brand globally by 2020.”

Ascott first unveiled the lyf brand in Singapore in November 2016, and it set up the serviced residence industry’s first-of-its-kind living lab to field test co-living concepts for lyf in February 2017. Working in partnership with the Singapore Management University, the lyf@SMU living lab will translate data into actionable insights so that upcoming lyf properties are tailormade for Ascott’s target customers.
 
With the addition of the three lyf properties offering more than 470 units, Ascott’s portfolio in Singapore will increase to over 1,200 units across nine properties, and that in China to over 17,600 units across 97 properties.

* Where are the Global Millennials? (July 2016), AT Kearney  
**A tale of 44 cities; Connecting Global FinTech: Interim Hub Review 2017 (April 2017), Deloitte

Singapore Science Park 1 to trial personal mobility device sharing scheme

Source: Ascendas-Singbridge. Tan Yew Chin, CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; Karen Lee, Head, Singapore Portfolio Operations, Ascendas Funds Management; Wang, Khiatani, Han Tui Heng, Assistant CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; William Tay, Deputy CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge.

Asia’s sustainable urban and business space solutions, provider, Ascendas-Singbridge Group, has partnered intelligent transportation solutions provider Neuron Mobility to launch a six-month personal mobility devices (PMD) sharing trial at Singapore Science Park 1. This is part of the group’s broader efforts to provide tenants, staff and visitors of Singapore Science Park 1 with greater accessibility and convenience within the park.

From 14 June to 13 December 2017, 50 GPS-enabled e-scooters and 20 bicycles will be available for rent from six parking zones situated in Singapore Science Park 1, at Ascent, The Franklin, CINTECH I and IV, 3Cs (The Chadwick, Curie and Cavendish) and opposite Oasis building. For a small fee, tenants, staff, and visitors to Singapore Science Park 1 will be able to able to rent an e-scooter or bicycle, ride it to their destination, then return it to a parking zone.

Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Group CEO of Ascendas-Singbridge said: “Our tenants will now have an efficient, alternative mode of transport to work, meetings, lunch or other social appointments in and around the Park. The trial will allow us to gauge receptivity to the scheme and monitor usage so that we can improve intermodal connectivity and point-to-point travel within Singapore Science Park 1.”

The PMD sharing scheme is expected to supplement the shuttle bus services and public transport serving Singapore Science Park 1 for ad-hoc, short-distance travel. Apart from location tracking to enable proper use of its devices, Neuron’s intelligent transport solution will monitor travel patterns and frequencies. Backed by international patents, this proprietary system leverages different sensors in Internet of things (IoT) technologies to deliver a differentiated user experience through advanced analytics and insights.

Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility, noted that Singapore Science Park 1 is an excellent testbed location. He said: “To be a truly viable large-scale firstand-last-mile solution, it is more than just providing reliable personal mobility devices. It is about being equipped to manage and optimise the entire network, which we pride ourselves in."

Once the six-month trial concludes, AscendasSingbridge will undertake a detailed review of the scheme as it considers the next rollout phase.

Interested?

During the trial, users can rent the PMDs on an ad-hoc basis, at a rate of S$0.50 per 15 minutes through Neuron’s mobile application platform. Subscription passes will also be introduced progressively during the trial.

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Neuron Mobility's use of location-based technology from Esri

Dubai Chamber joins hands with Souq.com

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Souq.com to expand Chamber members’ access to the region’s e-commerce. Souq.com is the Middle East’s largest online retail and marketplace site.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dubai Chamber members can enjoy exclusive benefits offered by Souq.com, including free access to its Fulfilled by SOUQ services for a three-month period and dedicated on-boarding training sessions. Some of these services also include special placement in search, customer service, and access to promotions.

Souq.com will promote Dubai Chamber’s Trusted Member Label Scheme through existing seller programmes on the B2C platform, and collaborate with the Chamber on upcoming seminars and training programmes.

The signing ceremony was attended by HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, and Ronaldo Mouchawar, Co-Founder & CEO of Souq.com, as well as other officials and top executives from the organisations.

HE Buamim said the MoU facilitates long-term cooperation between the two entities, and noted that it can serve as a foundation for future partnerships. He explained that the Chamber is keen to enhance the competitiveness of its members and business in Dubai within the e-commerce sector. “We expect e-commerce activity to account for 10% of Dubai’s total retail trade within the next few years. Rapid growth within this sector presents a lot of potential which can be maximised through strategic initiatives and partnerships that help businesses keep pace with the region’s fast-changing e-commerce,” he said.

Mouchawar said: “At Souq.com, we focus on delivering a seamless shopping experience to our customers. Our pioneer initiative Fulfilled by SOUQ empowers sellers to overcome e-commerce barriers and use our robust infrastructure and technology to grow their business online. This partnership with Dubai Chamber will assist more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in the region to get significant exposure with access to millions of local customers. In addition, the partnership will further boost customers’ confidence through the Dubai Chamber Trusted Member Label Scheme.”

Global e-commerce is projected to reach US$4.3 trillion by 2025, accounting for 19% of total retail sales, according to analysis by Dubai Chamber based on recent studies conducted by Payfort and Business Monitor International. GCC e-commerce is expected to reach US$41.5 billion by 2020, and the UAE is expected to lead the region with a share of around 55%, followed by KSA (14%), and Oman (12%).

Souq.com joined the Amazon family in March 2017. 

Plantronics launches VR gaming headset

Source: Plantronics.  Plantronics launches the RIG 4VR gaming headset designed for Playstation VR and DualShock 4 wireless controllers.

Sound is a key element of the virtual reality experience.  and Plantronics, a pioneer in audio and
wearable technology, has launched the RIG 4VR gaming headset in Singapore. As the creators of consumer and tournament headsets,Plantronics knows the value immersive audio brings to gaming. RIG 4VR is a complete audio solution developed for PlayStation VR, with interchangeable cables for use with PlayStation VR and DualShock 4 wireless controllers.

"At Plantronics, we've been working with a variety of VR accessories and game developers to create audio solutions that can be worn comfortably while delivering the positional audio queues critical for VR," said Jack Reynolds, Director of Gaming Products with Plantronics.

RIG 4VR features 40mm drivers paired with low-frequency resonators for enhanced bass while maintaining accuracy of sounds. The removable flip-to-mute boom with noise-cancelling mic can be attached when using the headset with a controller, offering immersive stereo audio and exceptionally clear chat.

Part of the Plantronics RIG 500 series, the RIG 4VR is constructed with an ultra-light, super-flexible frame and modular components for comfort. An oval earcup design means it fits comfortably while in use with wearable displays like the PlayStationVR headset. As the earcups allow in some ambient sound, it helps players maintain natural balance during VR sessions. A vented design also makes it possible for in-room conversations during social VR gaming experiences and provides greater heat dissipation so players stay comfortable when marathon gaming.

Additional features include:

Personalisation: The RIG 4VR can be customised with any RIG 500 series accessories available at Plantronics, such as additional headband designs and finishes, interchangeable earcups, and more.

Flexibility: The 3.5mm audio connector included with the RIG 4VR for PlayStation VR also works with other console controllers (including Xbox One), PC/Mac, portable and mobile gaming devices .

Interested?

The RIG 4VR for use with PlayStation VR and DualShock 4 controllers retails at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of S$119. The headset is available at all Plantronics authorised retailers.

posted from Bloggeroid

KSA e-sellers asked to join Maroof

The Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI), KSA has warned against selling or marketing fake or counterfeit goods through websites and social media. Such acts is violate the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law and Trademark System, and may lead to penalties of up to three-year imprisonment and fines of up to SR1 million.

MCI encourages entrepreneurs to register within the free e-service Maroof, as their data will be recorded by the ministry, enhancing their reliability and credibility. Maroof provides a clear picture of the e-store's quality through customers’ feedback, comments and reviews. Sellers can also market their e-shops on various Maroof platforms and list multiple contact details.

There are currently 15,000 e-stores on Maroof, offering products and services such as e-marketing, event management, women's accessories, design services, furniture, real estate and cars.
Establishments wishing to sell and market products online require a Commercial Registration document from the MCI in the field of e-commerce and e-marketing activities.

Interested?

Download the Maroof app from the App Store and Google Play

New Pioneer Z-Series receivers run smartphone apps in vehicles

Source: Pioneer. Easy connectivity with Apple CarPlay, AppRadio Mode+, and Android Auto with the Pioneer AVH-Z5050BT multimedia receiver.

Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre, a specialist in aftermarket car audio, has announced four new multimedia receivers in Singapore.

Leading the 2017 lineup are the 1-DIN AVH-Z7050BT and 2-DIN AVH-Z5050BT, followed by the AVH-Z2050BT and AVH-Z1050DVD. In line with Pioneer's focus on enhancing user experience, the entire range offers even greater smartphone connectivity, a one-cable connection, and better audio-visual performance -- making Apple CarPlay*, Android Auto ², and other premium entertainment features accessible to every driver.

"The world is more connected than ever. Together with the proliferation of smartphones and mobile internet across Southeast Asia, local drivers are expecting better seamless connectivity from their in-car infotainment systems," said Takao Chiba, Deputy GM of Business Planning and Marketing Division, Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre.

"The new Z-Series multimedia receivers were developed to meet consumers' evolving expectations of easier smartphone connectivity and superior audio/video performance. With that in mind, we have focused on both hardware and software upgrades to offer a complete and improved user experience."

Features in Pioneer's 2017 multimedia receivers include:

More smartphone connectivity options. All Bluetooth-ready Z-Series multimedia receivers can simultaneously connect up to five Bluetooth devices. Additionally, users can browse their media library with upgraded Bluetooth AVRCP 1.6 capability.

Enjoy a premium selection of mobile applications (apps), simply by connecting a smartphone to the head unit, via AppRadio Mode+, Pioneer's proprietary entertainment platform.

An example is Waze, the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Viewing maps and directions from Waze is easier with the head units' larger touchscreen. Users can also play videos stored in a smartphone, as well as stream online videos via the AppRadio LIVE app.

Another highlight is Spotify³, currently available in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines with more Southeast Asian countries in the pipeline⁴, which has a library of over 30 million titles⁵. This music-streaming app can be selected from the head unit's source list, and operated directly onscreen.

Connecting a smartphone to any one of the 2017 multimedia receivers is now a plug-and-play affair, as the head unit can automatically detect and retrieve the available content from the phone.

Operating the new multimedia receivers is now easier thanks to a new customisable graphical user interface. Key enhancements include easy device switching, icon display customisation, plus colour and design personalisation with 112 backlight illumination colours and seven background themes.

Pioneer is upping the ante by delivering a more cinematic entertainment experience for discerning movie lovers. The plug-and-play convenience extends to video playback, thanks to new full-HD (1080p) support for popular video file formats like MKV, as well as additional support for the NTFS format, giving users the flexibility to play clips that are larger than 4GB direct from portable hard disks. With a new and improved 24-bit true colour LCD screen, these receivers can reproduce up to 16,777,216 hues, or with around 256 times better colour fidelity than most regular displays.

To elevate the overall sound quality of these receivers, Pioneer has made refinements 'under the hood' with technologies and expertise from its TAD professional audio division. This includes a newly developed circuit board, which eliminates external interference to enhance audio signal integrity. Performance is further improved by leveraging audiophile-grade components for maximum listening pleasure. Lastly, all models are professionally tuned by Pioneer's sound engineers, in addition to the following audio-enhancement functions:

• A 13-band graphic equaliser
• Auto equaliser
• Auto time alignment
• Advanced sound retriever
• 192kHz/24-bit FLAC file playback
• Clearer hands-free voice calls via the implementation of wideband speech support for Bluetooth-enabled models.

Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre is the regional headquarters of Pioneer Corporation. Pioneer's core business is in car audio visual technology. Pioneer aims to be a leading aftermarket manufacturer and supplier to leading car brands, providing comprehensive infotainment solutions for in-car, by developing next-generation devices and innovative cloud services for the growing connected car market.

Interested?

The new Pioneer Z-Series multimedia receivers will be available in Singapore soon.

Recommended retail prices (S$):

• AVH-Z1050DVD/$649
• AVH-Z2050BT/$699
• AVH-Z5050BT/$999
• AVH-Z7050BT/$1,099

Additional notes:

i. Do not use your Pioneer system if doing so will divert your attention in any way from the safe operation of your vehicle. Always observe safe driving rules. In some countries, certain operations of devices while driving may be illegal. Where such regulations apply, they must be obeyed.

ii. Pioneer Multimedia Receivers are compatible with selected Android and iPhone smartphones only.

iii. Compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AppRadio Mode +, AppRadioLIVE, and third-party applications varies by the iPhone/ Android models and their software versions.

iv. Android Auto may not be supported on all Android devices, and is not available in all countries or regions.

v. Bluetooth functionality requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.

vi. Bluetooth features may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices or by certain wireless carriers.

vii. AppRadio LIVE requires a Pioneer AppRadio Mode compatible multimedia receiver. Specific models vary by region.

viii. Pioneer does not guarantee compatibility with all USB mass storage devices, and assumes no responsibilities for any loss of data on media players, smartphones, or other devices while using the receiver.

ix. FLAC Codec support are for the files stored in USB thumb drive.

x. Full-HD playback, for USB devices, is not supported for some compatible codecs.

xi. CarPlay is accessible via the user's iPhone cable or Pioneer's optional CD-IU52 cable, and Android Auto is accessible via the user's compatible Android device cable or Pioneer's optional CD-MU200 cable. USB Type-C devices may require additional Google certified adapters or cables.

xii. Notes on connecting Android smartphone with USB Type-C to Pioneer receiver - For audio and multimedia receivers featuring Android media playback and control via AOA and/or MTP, it is recommended that the audio or multimedia receiver is directly connected to the phone using only the CD-CU50, or a certified USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable (preferably under 1m in length). For AV receivers featuring Android Auto, it is recommended that the AV receiver is directly connected to the phone using the USB Type-A extension cable supplied by Pioneer and the CD-CU50, or only the CD-CU50, or a certified USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable (preferably under 1m in length). In some cases, a connection between a Pioneer receiver and a phone using a conventional USB Type-C cable may be dysfunctional.

xiii. An active data connection is required to use the Waze application. Functionality is limited when driving to reduce driver distraction. The parking brake must be engaged to access the keyboard and enter location destinations.

xiv. To use Auto EQ or Auto Time Alignment, Pioneer's CD-MC20 microphone is required and is sold separately.

xv. Compatible mobile digital devices and premium subscriptions are required for Spotify, where available.

*Apple CarPlay is available on Apple iPhone 5 or later with iOS 7.1 or higher, and requires Lightning to USB cable. For information about Apple CarPlay's availability, please visit https://www.apple.com/sg/ios/carplay/. To find out about supported Apple CarPlay features in each market, visit https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/#applecarplay-applecarplay

2 Android Auto is only available for AVH-Z7050BT and AVH-Z5050B. Android Auto is available with Android phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher with a data plan. Availability of Android Auto may vary depending upon the country and phone model. Visit http://www.android.com/auto for more information.

3 Only for DEH-X2950UI, DEH-X3950B, DEH-X4950BT, DEH-X7850BT, MVH-X195UI, MVH-X395BT, MVH-X585BT, and FH-X785BT

4 http://sea-globe.com/spotify-singapore-asia-headquarterds-focus-asean/

5 https://press.spotify.com/sg-en/about/

posted from Bloggeroid