POSB expands number of locations where new notes can be collected

Source: POSB eDM.

From February 2 DBS and POSB customers in Singapore can obtain the new notes for Chinese new year in more locations. New notes are considered de rigeur as cash gifts during the new year, placed in red packets (ang pows or lai see) and given to children for luck during the festive period. The heads of some businesses may also distribute such gifts on the first day back to work after the new year holiday.

New notes will be available* at these locations:

1. All SingPost post offices

Exchange amount	Combination
S$500#	S$2 x 100 notes + S$10 x 30 notes (new)
S$1,000	S$10 x 50 notes + S$50 x 10 notes (new)

A DBS or POSB ATM or debit card is required. Post offices can be located here.

2. Pop-up ATMs at Community Clubs (CCs)

Withdrawal amount	Combination
S$100	S$2 x 50 notes (good-as-new)
S$300	S$10 x 30 notes (new)
S$500	S$50 x 10 notes (new)
S$1,000	S$50 x 16 notes + S$10 x 20 notes (new)

The pop-up ATMs will be at:

1. Bukit Batok CC, 21 Bukit Batok Central, S659959
2. Chong Pang CC, 21 Yishun Ring Road, S768677
3. Henderson CC, 500 Bukit Merah View, S159682
4. Kreta Ayer CC, 28A Kreta Ayer Road, S088995
5. Kampong Chai Chee CC, 200 Bedok North Ave 1, S469752
6. Mountbatten CC, 35 Jalan Satu, S399479
7. Teck Ghee CC, 861 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, S569734
8. Toa Payoh West CC, 200 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, S319642
9. Yew Tee CC, 20 Choa Chua Kang Street 52 #01-01, S689286
10. Yuhua CC, 90 Boon Lay Way, S609958

For more information on operating hours, visit www.posb.com.sg/cnynotes

*While stocks last.
#Exchange amount of S$500 is limited to a maximum of three packs per customer.

Moody's Analytics announces Spring 2015 Public Seminars

Moody's Analytics has announced its Spring 2015 Public Seminars Schedule. The company is offering group pricing for companies which send more than three colleagues to attend a public seminar. Email TrainingAsiaPac@moodys.com to discuss special arrangements. Seminars include:

Fundamentals of Corporate Credit

Reach sound judgments of a company's creditworthiness. Delegates will be able to identify and assess key qualitative and quantitative factors in determining credit risk. 

Location	Date	Price
Singapore	February 9 to 12	US$4,395
Hong Kong	May 11 to 14	US$4,395
Dubai	June 7 to 10	US$4,395
Sydney	August 31 to September 3	US$4,395
Singapore	December 8 to 11	US$4,395

Covenants and Documentation

Delegates will review credit documentation, and learn what pitfalls to look out for. The course will focus on covenants and other features designed to protect investor interests and emphasise how these tools can be undermined by creative drafting. Moody's methodology for evaluating covenants in bond indentures will be discussed, and participants will learn how Moody's framework for assessing covenant quality can be applied to their daily work.

Location	Date	Price
Hong Kong	May 15	US$1,695
Sydney	October 16	US$1,695
Singapore	November 5	US$1,695

Singapore's family-run businesses the least prepared for succession

Family businesses in Singapore are the least prepared of five countries in Southeast Asia for what happens after the current business leader steps down or retires, according to a new report commissioned by the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC), a mid-shore international business and finance centre serving the Asia Pacific region.

Source: Labuan IBFC.

Just 58% of Singapore family businesses have prepared for succession, states the Building Legacies: Family Business Succession in Southeast Asia report* by the Economist Intelligence Unit. A further third (35%) have established formal wealth management structures such as private foundations while 41% maintain trusts for inter-generational wealth transfer, fewer than their peers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

In contrast, Indonesian family-run businesses reported the largest share of companies with formal succession plans. The survey found that 78% of family businesses in Indonesia have formal succession plans, with 57% saying they have already established private foundations and 53% reporting that they have trusts to manage wealth and succession.

Kevin Plumberg, Senior Editor, Thought Leadership, Asia, EIU, the editor of the report, noted that succession planning is more than the naming of a successor. He said: “The question is whether it's the right plan, something that can last for generations."

Plumberg highlighted the counterintuitive finding that business families in Singapore, a financial hub for the region, lag in their use of foundations, trusts and external advisors when it comes to succession issues, whereas family-run companies in Indonesia are leaders. "It is representative of the region’s diversity as well as its uneven progress in addressing questions about succession,” he said.

The report, based on a survey of 250 majority family-owned businesses from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines states that 60% of all listed firms in Southeast Asia are family-run, making their success crucial to national economies. The report also found that customers and investors have more trust in a family-owned business with a succession plan than those without, with 71% of regional family business leaders acknowledging it is easier to attract investment with a succession plan in place.

Saiful Bahari Baharom, Chief Executive Officer of Labuan IBFC, said: “Family-run businesses account for more than 60% of all publicly-listed companies in ASEAN, making them an essential part of the region’s growth. Considering the significance of these businesses to the region, this research has shown that there is an over-reliance on informal structures such as family councils to manage succession issues, which are neither legally binding nor necessarily permanent structures.”

Research highlights include:

• Two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they have a succession plan, while 71% of these two-thirds have had the plan reviewed by their boards.
• Two-thirds (65%) say the family is involved in long-term decisions about the company and 29% are involved in day-to-day operations.
• Ten percent of businesses have measures in place to allow family members to be excluded from management. Businesses in their third generation or later have usually instituted such a measure. 
• More than half (55%) of all Southeast Asian business families use informal gatherings or family councils for business governance. "Retaining control is paramount," Plumberg explained. 
• Indonesia leads the pack with 74% of respondents reporting that they have a family council, with Thailand a distant second with 56% of respondents reporting the same. Singapore was dead last with 40% of respondents saying that they have a family council.

The full report is available online here.

*The report is based on a survey and interviews conducted in from July to August 2014. Survey respondents included 250 majority family-owned businesses from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. All respondents have senior managerial responsibility at a minimum, and 50% of respondents are board members or C-level executives. Slightly over half (54%) are first-generation businesses. Sixty-two percent of survey respondents are from companies with global annual revenues of US$150 million or less, and 11% make US$1 billion or more.

Patina Hotels & Resorts to operate The Patina, Thanburudhoo Maldives

Source: Patina Hotels & Resorts. From right: Leland Kwee, Director, Patina Hotels & Resorts, Marc Dardenne, CEO, Patina Hotels & Resorts, Dr Gunnar Lee-Miller, President, Telos Investment, Joan Plouviet, VP, Business Development, Patina Hotels & Resorts.

Patina Hotels & Resorts and Telos Investment have signed an agreement under which Patina Hotels & Resorts will operate The Patina, Thanburudhoo Maldives, located in North Malé Atoll, 12 km northeast of capital city Malé in the Maldives. Accessible in 20-minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport, The Patina, Thanburudhoo Maldives’ prime and privileged location enables the hotel’s staff to welcome and whisk guests to the property at any time of the day, ensuring smooth and speedy arrivals.

With 40 luxury overwater villas and 30 landed villas, the property will strike a balance between contemporary luxury and a Maldivian resort experience. Each villa offers privacy and majestic views, augmented by a private swimming pool and an exclusive room for sleeping under the stars. A semi-outdoor, multi-function area caters for bespoke events.

The Maldivian property is the first resort under Patina Hotels & Resorts and the second hotel for the group, following The Patina, Capitol Singapore. Slated to launch in the second quarter of 2015, The Patina, Capitol Singapore comprises two heritage buildings and adjoins the iconic Capitol Theatre.

Individual bespoke service and sophistication are the hallmarks of Patina Hotels & Resorts’ brand. Patina 360° Concierge, a signature Patina Hotels & Resorts’ concept, features the hotel’s associates as an “ambassador” of the brand and function as a personal Concierge to guests.

Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer of Patina Hotels & Resorts said, “The Patina, Thanburudhoo Maldives, will present an unmatched hospitality experience for our guests."

Dr Gunnar Lee-Miller, Founder and President of Telos Investment said, “As a global, luxury and lifestyle brand, Patina Hotels & Resorts inspires because of its focus on a strong sense of place, distinctive design, inspired art and an intuitive approach to providing unique and authentic experiences. Patina’s leadership is not only experienced in luxury hospitality, but they also embody the values and culture of service we wish to provide our guests. For many, the Maldives is a once-in-a-lifetime destination and The Patina, Thanburudhoo, endeavours to be worthy of such expectations.”

LinkedIn shares top 10 buzzwords for Singapore profiles in 2014

LinkedIn has announced its annual list of the most underwhelming words and phrases in LinkedIn profiles for 2014 in Singapore.

Being "motivated", "passionate" and "creative" are now so overused that they have become meaningless, the company said.

The top 10 words to avoid in Singapore are: 

Source: LinkedIn infographic. View the global infographic here.

Other tips LinkedIn provided to get people discovered include:

• Profiles with photographs get viewed 14 times more often.
• Summaries of 40 words or more turn up more often in searches.
• Focus on accomplishments.
• Ask others to vouch for you.

For tips on how to refresh your LinkedIn profile for a 'brand you year', read the LinkedIn Blog post here.

Starbucks Singapore introduces exclusive, limited edition alice + olivia design collection

Starbucks Singapore is offering an exclusive collection of one-of-a-kind Starbucks merchandise designed by Stacey Bendet, CEO and Creative Director of alice + olivia as of 31 January 2015. 

The collection features the designer’s iconic black-and-white palette and iconic ‘Stace Face’ image, bringing the playfulness and whimsy of the alice + olivia brand to Starbucks signature merchandise. This limited collection inclusive of a ‘Stace Face’ mug, Designer Reusable tote and an alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card is available at the Starbucks ION Orchard outlet, while the alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card will also be available separately at select Starbucks stores throughout the city.

Source: Starbucks.

Combining style and functionality the collection includes;

· Starbucks double wall ceramic ‘Stace Face’ mug* for hot beverages

· Designer reusable tote*

· Starbucks Reward Card** – The alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card allows users to register for the My Starbucks Rewards programme, which provides members with exclusive offers and discounts

Source: Starbucks.

“Our customers count on Starbucks to create new and innovative experiences. We’re pleased to delight our customers with exclusive designs on Starbucks signature products fashioned by alice + olivia that combines style and function from a world-class designer,” said Jane Lau, Managing Director, Starbucks Singapore.

To celebrate the partnership with Stacey Bendet, alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card cardholders can enjoy a 10% discount at alice + olivia store at ION Orchard from 1 February 2015 to 31 May 2015. Terms and conditions apply.

*Only 88 sets of the alice + olivia collection (comprising a ‘Stace Face’ Mug, Designer Reusable Tote and an alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card) will be available for sale. Limited to one set per customer only, while stocks 

**The alice + olivia Starbucks Reward Card will retail at S$30 and will be available for purchase separately at selected Starbucks stores. 

What to say for Chinese new year

You can't miss the festive feeling in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore this time of year. Lucky red and gold objects are on sale everywhere. Chinese new year falls on February 19 in 2015, and you'll be greeting or greeted in auspicious language from the first day till the 15th of the lunar new year. 

The most common greetings you'll hear are 新年快乐 (xin nian kuai le), 'happy new year' and 恭喜发财 (gong xi fa cai), 'congratulations on receiving riches and prosperity'. 

Riches a recurrent theme in Chinese culture, especially around Chinese new year. Fortune-related greetings for businesses include 财源广进  (cai yuan guang jin), or 'may riches enter in huge volumes', and 生意興隆/生意兴隆 (sheng yi xing long), or 'may the business thrive greatly'. 年年有餘/年年有馀 (nian nian you yu), 'surpluses every year', as well as 马到成功 (ma dao cheng gong), 'instant success', are spot on both for businesses and individuals.

马到成功 was especially apt in 2014, the lunar year of the horse, as the character for horse, 马, begins the greeting, but it can be used at any other time as well. There were also a number of puns on 'immediately', 马上 (ma shang), which can also be taken to be 'on the horse'; many shops were selling horse figurines with money and other things on a horse as a wish for immediate fortune.

Advertisement from Kallang Wave
featuring 喜气羊羊 as a greeting.

2015 is the year of the goat (or sheep), and there are a few festive greetings that take advantage of how the word for goat, 羊 (yang), is a homonym found in various Chinese idioms. 阳光灿烂 (yang guang can lan) is a wish for bright sunlight or a bright future; 喜气洋洋, converted to 喜气羊羊 (xi qi yang yang) for the year, refers to happiness everywhere; while 羊羊得意, really 洋洋得意 (yang yang de yi), is a wish that the recipient will get whatever he or she wants, in the best way possible.

There are business-oriented greetings which mention the specific zodiac animal, such as 羊年大吉 (yang nian da ji), 'great fortune in the year of the goat', and 羊年行大运 (yang nian da yun), 'great luck in the year of the goat'. 羊年发财 (yang nian fa cai), 'welcome fortune in the year of the goat' is equally auspicious. Just substitute the underlined character with the appropriate animal for other years. 

Beyond these traditional greetings are some which are more relevant to those working. 新年进步 (xin nian jin bu), which means 'making progress in the new year', 心想事成 (xin xiang shi cheng), 'may your wishes come true', and the simple 工作顺利 (gong zuo shun li), 'may your work go smoothly', will all be well received. 事业有成 (shi ye you cheng) 'success in what you're working on' and 平步青云 (ping bu qing yun), 'an easy path to a meteoric rise' are equally auspicious.

If you can't remember too many greetings, don't worry - a simple 'happy new year' is fine. The whole idea is to start off the year right, and it's traditional to hope for fortune, prosperity and success. Don't mention anything negative, and you'll be fine. 万事如意 (wan shi ru yi), 'may all things be as you wish'!

AirAsia throws out fuel surcharges as of 26 January 2015

AirAsia will be abolishing fuel surcharge effective 26 January 2015 across all of its airlines in the group, as well as its low-cost long haul affiliates AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia X and Indonesia AirAsia X, in line with declining global oil prices.

Source: AirAsia eDM.

AirAsia was the first airline to abolish fuel surcharge for all its domestic and international flights back in 2008, though it had to reintroduce them in 2011 due to rocketing fuel prices at the time.

AirAsia’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes commented, “We are a high-value, low-fare airline and we will continue to strive to make flying as affordable as possible. This decision has been made in November 2014, which was in line with declining global oil prices.

"However, we are only able to implement it now, but we believe removing fuel surcharge and reducing travel costs will be a huge boost to the tourism industry. This will be a plus point for consumers, but the economy will also benefit from this as the tourism industry is a great job creator.”

With the removal of fuel surcharge from its fares, guests will be able to find flights within Malaysia from as low as RM19 one way all-in, and international flights from RM49 one way all-in.

ASUS EeeBook X205 available in India

ASUS has launched the EeeBook X205 in India. The 11.6" ultra portable is designed to provide a smartphone-like experience and is ideal for young professionals, the company said. 

Connected standby technology provides users with an almost instant resume from sleep mode, and the ability to be socially connected at any time - even with the notebook in standby mode. Powered by a quad core Intel Atom processor, EeeBook X205 ships with Windows 8.1 with Bing, and is available in four colours: dark blue, white, gold, and red.

Source: ASUS. Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India launching the ASUS EeeBook.

Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India said that the new notebook is lighter than other 11" notebooks. "We are persistently focusing towards delivering value products with premium feel and functionality," he said.

ASUS EeeBook X205 weighs less than 1kg. Its touchpad is the same size as those found on 14" ASUS models. Smart Gesture technology allows users to get the most out of Windows 8.1 using just the touchpad, with no need for a mouse. Typing easy with the full sized chiclet keyboard with 1.6mm of key travel.

The ultra portable has up to 12 hours of battery life*, over 14 days of standby time, and automatically backs up data when battery level drops below 5%.

ASUS EeeBook X205 is available here for Rs. 14,999.

*Measured with web browsing, 100cd/m2 brightness, default volume with headphones.

In Mumbai, the 'it' place is Worli

Worli, located at the entry to South Mumbai, is emerging as the preferred luxury district of Mumbai. Property development The Park, located at this central hub clocked over Rs250 crores in a single weekend, said developer Lodha Group.

Source: Lodha Group. Mrs Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, future President and Brand Ambassador for The Park, a 17-acre residential investment by the Lodha Group.

According to Lodha, Worli has become hub for business with many offices and conglomerates headquartered in the area. There are also a number of luxury hotels in Worli, including the Palladium Hotel, and the Four Seasons, as well as shopping areas such as the Phoenix Mills and Palladium mall. 

Abhinandan Lodha, Deputy Managing Director of the Lodha Group said, "Mumbai desperately needs a world class live-work-play destination, which is easily accessible from all parts of the city. Worli enjoys great connectivity with Malabar Hill and Nariman Point as well as Bandra and the airport. With the focus of the government on making significant improvements in the investment climate in Maharashtra, we expect that Worli will become the hub to showcase how Mumbai can offer a world-class mixed use location."

Shveta Jain, Executive Director, Residential Services, Cushman & Wakefield added, "The area has outrun our expectations for 2014 and we expect decent returns in terms of market lease rates as well as capital gain rates year on year."

Shisen Hanten is all ready for the Year of the Goat

Source: Mandarin Orchard Singapore's Chinese new year takeaway order form. 

Shisen Hanten at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore has prepared a wide array of Chinese New Year delicacies and festive goodies from 26 January to 5 March 2015. 

Ten set menus that are themed around good luck have been drawn up this auspicious season, designed to help usher in a year filled with prosperity, fortune, success and wealth. Favourites in the menus include steamed sea perch fillet, and stirfried clam and prawn in XO sauce.

Diners can feast on traditional Cantonese favourites in addition to seasonal treats such as the classic “lo hei,” (yu sheng) for which ingredients must be tossed as high as possible to attain greater heights and fortune for the year. 

Shisen Hanten's take on the lo hei includes salmon and olives. The Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng topped with Plum Sauce with Olive and Spring Onion Oil boasts a harmony of flavours and offers good luck with every toss. 

Alternatively, the Baby Abalone Fortune Pot is ideal for small groups, and includes 20 treasures, including dried oyster and fish maw, to start the year of the goat off right.

Festive goodies such as Hokkaido pumpkin cake (S$38), golden ingot pineapple tart (eight pieces for S$38.80), and koi fish nian gao (a pair for S$48) provide a prosperous end to meals, and are excellent for gifting, too. Other gifts which can be preordered include honeyed walnuts, steamed rice cake with water chestnut and Shisen Hanten's very own mala sauce.

Helmed by celebrity Chef Chen Kentaro, Shisen Hanten is situated 35 floors above Orchard Road and offers breathtaking views. Reservations can be made by calling +65 6831 6262 or 6831 6266, or through emailing shisenhanten.orchard@meritushotels.com. The service charge is waived for all yu sheng and pen cai takeaway orders.

Roots opens flagship store in Beijing

Roots, a lifestyle apparel brand which also offers shoes and bags, has marked its success in Asia with its first flagship store in Beijing. In addition to the same Roots products available in the company's stores in Canada and the US, the Beijing store features a specialty athletic collection unique to Asia.

Source: Roots Tumblr. The Beijing store.

"It's extremely gratifying for us to see how much Canada and the Roots brand resonate with the Chinese," says Co-Founder Michael Budman. "The new store in Beijing is an exciting step forward in our expansion in this important market. It wouldn't have been possible without the tremendous work of our Asian partner, Branded Lifestyle. Based on what's happening in both China and Taiwan, the future looks incredibly bright for Roots in Asia."

The new store in Beijing is the largest of the 23 Roots locations in mainland China. Roots opened its 100th store in Taiwan in December 2014.

Get ready for the Windows 10 experience, across all devices

Microsoft unveiled a new generation of Windows on Wednesday US time, one that is more personal, the company said. 

Source: Microsoft. The Windows Start screen on different devices will look similar.

Windows 10 will adapt to the devices customers are using — from Xbox to PCs and phones to tablets and other gadgets — and what they’re doing with a consistent, familiar and compatible experience. Windows 10 will also run across a broad set of devices.

“Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

“Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Window 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home.”

The company is focusing on making the experience seamless and familiar across devices, and supporting the way people interact naturally, through voice, gestures and gaze. 

Windows 10 will be delivered as a service to offer a safer, always updated experience for the supported lifetime of the device. A free upgrade* for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year.

Some of the new developments include: 

Cortana on the PC and the tablet. The Cortana personal digital assistant, which debuted on Windows Phone last year, will also be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets**. Cortana learns an individual’s preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders. Interaction is via talking or typing, with advanced features to control Cortana for more trustworthiness and transparency.

A new browser. Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, code-named “Project Spartan,” which was built with interoperability in mind. Some of the most advanced features in the browser include the ability to annotate by keyboard or pen directly on the webpage and easily share the notes with friends; a reading view that displays the content in a simplified layout for a great reading experience online and offline; and the integration of Cortana for finding and doing things online faster. 

Office for Windows 10. Universal apps for Office on Windows 10 will deliver a touch-first experience across devices. New versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook are designed from the ground up to run on Windows, built for touch, and offer the Office experience users are familiar with. New inking features in PowerPoint let people annotate slides in real time, and touch-first controls in Excel make it easy to create and update spreadsheets without a keyboard or mouse. The next version of the Office desktop suite is also currently in development and Microsoft will share more in coming months.

Additional Windows 10 features include:

· Continuum mode. On 2-in-1 devices, Windows 10 will move easily between keyboard and mouse and touch and tablet as it detects the transition and  switches to the new mode.

· New universal apps. Windows 10 will offer new experience applications, consistent across the device continuum, for Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar. These built-in apps have an updated design that looks and feels the same from app to app and device to device. Content is stored and synced through OneDrive, enabling people to start something on one device and continue it on another.

“Everything about Windows 10 — the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade — means that Windows 10 isn’t just another product, it’s an ongoing relationship — one that will give ongoing value to all our customers,” said Terry Myerson, Executive VP of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. “The new generation of Windows is a commitment — a commitment to liberate people from complex technology and enable them to do great things.”

Two new devices designed to extend the Windows experience from large screens to no screens were also launched at the same time.

Source: Microsoft. The HoloLens in action.

With Windows 10, holograms are Windows universal apps, and all Windows universal apps can also work as holograms — making it possible to place three-dimensional holograms in the physical world and enabling new ways to communicate, create and explore that are more personal and human. 

To showcase the possibilities of holograms in Windows 10, Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens, the first untethered holographic computer — no wires, phones or connection to a PC needed. Microsoft HoloLens features see-through holographic high-definition lenses and spatial sound so you can view and hear holograms in the world around you. Complete with advanced sensors, a next-generation system on a chip and the addition of a completely new Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) that understands what you are doing and the world around you, Microsoft HoloLens is able to run without any wires while processing terabytes of data from the sensors in real time.

Windows 10 is also powering a new large-screen device to help teams in the workplace share, ideate and create together. Hardware innovations in multi-touch and digital inking, along with built-in cameras, sensors and microphones allow the Surface Hub to take advantage of Windows 10, Skype for Business and Office 365 to deliver a new experience designed to make every person — whether remote or onsite — feel as if they’re in the same collaborative space. Specifically, the Surface Hub features state-of-the-art digital white boarding; instant remote conferencing; the ability for multiple people to share and edit content on the screen from a laptop, tablet or phone; and a trusted platform for large-screen apps. It is available in two sizes — 55" and 84".

Read the blog post here.

*Hardware and software requirements apply. Feature availability may vary by device. Some editions excluded. More details here.

**Cortana available in select global markets at launch.

Trend Micro announces zero day vulnerability for Adobe Flash Player on Windows

Trend Micro has shared a new vulnerability affecting Adobe Flash Player for Windows that allows hackers to take over a victim's system. There is no indication that attackers are targeting Adobe Flash Player on other platforms like Mac or Android, the company added. 

TrendLabs researchers have discovered that attackers found this vulnerability first and have been taking advantage of it for some time, a situation called "zero-day” because defenders have no days in which to provide protection against the vulnerability. 

According to Trend Micro, malware that takes advantage of this vulnerability is being spread using malicious banner ads (malvertisements) that may be displayed on legitimate networks. This particular vulnerability is also being used in the “Angler” exploit kit, which is one of the most commonly used exploit kits today and which can spread attacks widely.

Trend Micro advises businesses to:

· Keep systems and programs up-to-date
· Run a mature, full-featured security package

In zero-day situations the first step will only come into effect once Adobe releases a patch. In the absence of a bulletin from the software vendor affected, Trend Micro advises disabling the software until a fix is released.

Trend Micro's existing solutions are able to detect this threat, but the company also recommends that businesses keep themselves protected with an end-to-end advanced persistent threat (APT) solution. 

Read Trend Micro's blog post on the vulnerability here.

Spotify introduces new gestures to make browsing music easier

Source: Spotify.

Spotify has introduced the Touch Preview feature, which allows users to preview any playlist, song, album or artist before they hit play. 

The company says new gestures support makes music discovery immersive, seamless and instant:

● To preview, users press and hold on any song, album, artist or playlist to start listening. The music starts instantly. Drag to move between each song. To play the entire track, tap on it.

● Once the preview is over, the user is returned to the same point where he or she left the previous session.

● Swipe left to save to Your Music, or swipe right to queue.

“For decades, music fans have had to rely on a rather clumsy way of scanning through songs, albums and playlists,” says Sten Garmark, VP of Product at Spotify. “With Touch Preview we’re taking music discovery to the next level, offering our listeners a unique and entirely new way of finding out what to listen to. It means less time looking for the perfect music, and more time actually listening to it.”

Both Touch Preview and the new swipe gestures are available to iOS users from today, and will soon be rolled out across other platforms.

View the associated video. 

Environmentally friendly GROHE smart water system growing in popularity in Asia

Source: GROHE. The GROHE Blue system in action.

The GROHE Blue smart water system has seen significant takeup in Asia since a May 2014 study* which found that its carbon footprint is smaller than that of bottled mineral water. 

Estimated greenhouse gas emissions were 17.96 g CO2-eq/litre for the GROHE Blue system against emissions of 70 to 600 g CO2-eq/litre for bottled mineral water, depending on the type of packaging and the place of origin. The values achieved by GROHE Blue are also lower than those of conventional water dispensers, which range from about 35 to 50 g CO2-eq/litre. This means that GROHE Blue allows users to save greenhouse gas emissions of at least 25 to 50% over other alternatives. 

The system supplies filtered and chilled water in three different variants - sparkling, medium and still - directly from the same custom kitchen faucet, allowing different users in an organisation to enjoy their preferred type of water at any time. Unlike typical office potable water arrangements, no bottles have to be filled, transported or recycled in order to obtain the three types of water from a GROHE Blue system, which adds to its environmental friendliness.

Dorit Grueber, GROHE’s Vice President (Marketing), Asia, noted that Asian businesses are becoming more green and are attracted to GROHE Blue especially in matured markets, where their employees are more time-strapped.

There is definitely an increasing trend as consumers become more environmentally conscious," she said, naming Vodafone and Miele as customers of the product. "Since the publication of the study, we’ve seen a significant increase in orders that have been recorded, especially in the B2B sector. The main attraction for GROHE Blue for businesses would be the convenience of getting filtered water straight from the faucet, and an outstanding design which combines pure drinking water and washing water in a single faucet."

*The May 2014 study was carried out by the Production and Logistics Chair of GeorgAugust University in Göttingen in cooperation with Grohe. Between July and November 2013, the scientists of Göttingen University compared the carbon footprint of one litre of water tapped from the GROHE Blue system with the footprint of one litre of bottled water. The scenario was based on the assumption of 30 users per day who drink one litre of bottled water on 220 days of the year over a period of five years. The calculation of the carbon footprint covered all five lifecycles of GROHE Blue and of bottled mineral water, which range from production and transport of the raw materials as well as transport of the finished product to consumption and disposal. 

Singtel commits to service enhancements, offers Better Thursdays

Source: Singtel. The
new logo at
Singtel headquarters
in Singapore.

Singtel today launched a new brand identity, its first in 16 years, with the promise "Let’s make everyday better". This reflects a new phase in Singtel’s transformation journey to grow beyond traditional telecommunications into multimedia and ICT services, the company said.

Singtel Group CEO Chua Sock Koong, said: “Generations in Singapore have grown up with Singtel. Customers see us as a trusted, reliable brand that is at the forefront of technology. In this digital age, we recognise that customers also want things simpler, faster and delivered by people who truly care.

“To thrive and stay relevant, we will build on our customers’ trust in us and respond to their changing needs. Our commitment is to make everyday better with distinctive products and services, and delivered with a customer-centric attitude.”

Singtel will continue to strengthen its network reliability and speed and launch new products. It plans to reshape the customer experience with a series of new service promises, including shorter waiting times and distinct recognition of customer loyalty.

Concrete measures include:

(A) Appointment booking at Singtel shops

Effective today, customers can make an appointment booking for all Singtel shops via MyAccount.

In the past, customers take a Q ticket when they visit the Singtel shop. They can opt for an SMS alert about when they will be served. With the new service enhancement, customers can decide on and lock in the time of their visit via My Account instead. Customers can make a booking at least six hours before their intended time of visit, subject to availability, or up to three days (mobile services) / 30 days (non-mobile services) in advance. The service will be rolled out to the mysingtel app in February 2015.

(B) Preferred customer care call-back time

Effective March, customers with outstanding or new queries can dial 1688 to book a time for a Singtel customer care agent to contact them.

Previously customers had to wait on the phone to speak to a customer care agent. The customer might not be available if an agent follows up with a call back to the customer. The scheduled calls back minimise the waiting time on the phone for customers. This also reduces the chances of missed calls between the customer and the customer care agent.


Half-hour slots are available for the follow-up calls from 9a to 11am and 2pm to 4pm. The service will be rolled out to My Account (online) and to the mysingtel app after the IVR rollout is complete.

C) Home/office appointments: tightened window of waiting time

From April, the Singtel installation team will arrive within a 30-minute window period for home and office appointments.

Technicians could arrive anytime within a two-hour window period in the past when customers made an appointment for installation works at their residence or office.

Shrinking the waiting window frees up customers’ time to attend to other matters.


To thank loyal customers for their support, Singtel is launching a weekly treat, Better Thursdays with Singtel. As a start, postpaid mobile customers will enjoy free outgoing local calls all-day on 22 January 2015. 

1. 22 January: Free local calls all day for postpaid mobile customers
2. 29 January: Free SMSes all day for postpaid mobile customers
3. 5 February: Free 30-day preview of new SingtelTV channels for SingtelTV subscribers
4. 12 February: Free Facebook access all day for prepaid mobile users
5. 19 February, the first day of Chinese new year: Free data all day for postpaid mobile customers