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Review of Soul ST-XS2– A Surprise Gem for the Fitness Fanatics

The market has no lack of good TWS (True Wireless Stereo) system. Ever since 2019, mega audio manufacturers like Sony and Sennheiser launched their own ranges of TWS products. Chinese OEM manufacturers are flooded by customers’ orders from all around the world. Do a quick google, you will see a long product list of TWS that you could actually buy directly from the manufacturers (which located at some Chinese province you probably won’t even know) 

Source instagram @weewu

Anyway, competition in the TWS space is crowded. How Soul Electronics positioned themselves in this highly competitive market?

Let’s take a look at their Soul ST-XS2 TWS.

Appearance

Fresh out from the box, the XS2 comes with a standard USB type C charging cable, 2 pairs of tip covers (one with wings, one without), 2 pairs of different size ear tips and a small carabiner (ok. This is not standard issue that you will usually when you purchase a TWS).

At the first look, it is not hard to notice that the XS2 is designed for outdoor activities. I have received the black review unit. The grey colour wing tip blends well with its black colour design. The inner part that is in contact with the ear is mainly covered by the rubber wing tip and ear tip to protect against sweat exposure. On the outer part, it mainly consists a light indicator and button control.

Overall, it is subtle, but the wingtip brings out the sports aura making it looks sporty.

From here, you probably would have guessed the XS2 is also water resistance with a rating of IPX7. In other words, you could literately wear this out for a short swim.

Source: Instagram @weewu

Comfort and Experience

What has amazed me is the Auto-Pairing Bluetooth feature. Immediately out of the charging case, the XS2 pairs with my smartphone. No power on, no pin required; all I did is to bring the smartphone near to the XS2 (just make sure the Bluetooth on your smartphone is on. Common sense). Fast and seamless!

Once you have replaced the ear tips with the right size, the XS2 fits comfortable well. I am expecting some discomfort from the wingtips. Surprisingly, I feel alright after a 30-minute run with the XS2 . In fact, I don’t even realise that the wingtips are there.

Sound Experience

The treble is clear and that’s a plus point when listening to vocal. There is also another plus point when you could hear the voice clearly during a phone call.

Source: Instagram @weewu

During the testing at my desk, the treble seems to have over-powered the bass. I don’t get the “punch” I need especially when listening to some high tempo music. That formed a negative expectation especially when you are doing strenuous exercise; you need such music to motivate you.

However, the XS2 has proven me wrong. The entire running experience with XS2 is pleasant. The sound signature somehow sounds better; maybe the sudden rush of endorphins has changed my perception of sound. I have enjoyed my run very much with XS2

The XS2 covers the ear hole quite tightly and it forms a physical barrier to block off environment sound. There is no active noise cancelling feature. Instead, they are using their proprietary “Transparent Sound mode” that receive sounds from outside and reproduce them via the earpiece. (Note: To turn it on/off, press the “Soul” button for 1 sec and it will follow by a “beep”).

It works well when you want to have better situation awareness while you are out running.

Verdict

The Soul ST- XS2 surprises me in number of ways. From a consumer’s perspective, I can’t complain much about the Soul ST- XS2. At the price of SGD 169, you get a TWS that ticks almost all the checkboxes i.e. you are getting a water-proof earpiece that comes with a charging case that has combined battery life of 25 hours playback. That’s a steal!

Little did I expect that, I prefer to run with theXS2 even though I did not derive much satisfaction listening to it at home. Don’t get me wrong. The sound quality is good but what surprised me most is the fact that my enjoyment with it could vary that much.

I like the idea of “Transparent Sound Mode”. Given how most of the TWS are designed, they probably would have blocked off a substantial amount of the environment sounds even without active noise cancellation. If you have looked around in the market, most headsets that are specifically designed for runners usually does not come with noise cancelling features because people would not need that while doing their run. The “Transparent Sound Mode” works entirely opposite from the active noise cancellation. Reproduction of the surrounding sounds actually gives runner a better situation awareness. That’s another surprise I got from the Soul ST- XS2

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Dell Launches New Inspiron 7000 Series Laptop in Singapore

Singapore, October 2017 – Dell revealed a new Inspiron 7000 series laptop in the newly revamped Plaza Singapura Store.

From left Inspiron 15 7000 (7570), Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming (7567), Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (7373). Source: Instagram user @weewu

The new Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 aims to bring stunning visuals and powerful performance in a small footprint. A narrower border and FHD IPS touch display also supports active pen for digital drawing, writing and note taking.

With the new Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1, consumers can watch movies or video chat uninterrupted thanks to SmartByte streaming technology co-engineered by Dell that prioritises streaming and conferencing above other network activities.  It also offers longer battery life and quieter performance with standard SSDs or optional PCIe NVMe SSDs.

 

For those who prefer a traditional laptop, the new Inspiron 7000 laptops are the perfect travel companion with the slim, light and thin-bezel design in Platinum Silver or Pink Champagne. Available in 15 inches, the Inspiron 7000 offers a brilliant FHD IPS display for a crisp, detailed picture, viewable from a wide range of angles without sacrificing image quality. The laptops take advantage of the outstanding performance, responsiveness and hardware enabled security built into the 8th Generation Intel Core processor.

 


The new Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop offers NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 discrete graphics and NVIDIA Max Q Design technology, 7th Gen Intel quad core CPU options and dual fans to keep the system cool and quiet while powering through challenging games. Anti-glare IPS wide viewing angle FHD display provides excellent visual clarity while Waves MaxxAudio Pro software delivers precise audio. The laptop’s new 2×2 WiFi antenna design provides great wireless performance, while the SmartByte software prioritises gaming and video content to keep games and videos smooth even during large file downloads. A new quick-charge battery gets up to 80% capacity within an hour and the Thunderbolt 3 multi-use port connects multiple devices (including support for up to two 4K displays) to the laptop with transfers up to 40Gbps.

Pricing and Availability:

All products are available immediately, unless otherwise stated, through Dell and its authorised partners:

 

Product Starting Price in SGD / Availability
Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (7373) From $1,599. Available now.
Inspiron 15 7000 (7570) From $1,599. Available now.
Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming (7567) From $1,599. Available now.
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Cracks in the Cloud: The Next Frontier for Cybercrime

Singapore ranks the lowest in terms of using both encryption and tokenization to secure their cloud data.

Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC), the global leader in cyber security, today released findings from the new Symantec cloud security survey which reveals the state of enterprise data security. The advantages of cloud computing—scalability, speed to market, lower costs and higher productivity—are well known throughout most industries. But for cyber criminals, this new, borderless infrastructure is a potential goldmine.

Survey findings reveal that cloud security is a top concern for chief information security officers (CISOs) in Singapore and are taking measures to improve security in 2017. Covering 1,100 CISOs across 11 global markets, the report reveals that companies in Singapore currently ranks the lowest in terms of using both encryption and tokenization to secure their cloud data.

A widening scope for cloud-based attacks
The survey shows the extent to which cloud security is keeping CISOs in Singapore awake at night. Tellingly, almost all (90%) believe that ensuring cloud applications meet compliance regulations is one of the most stressful aspects of their job.

The industry compliance issues that they find most worrying include the governance of corporate-owned mobile devices (23%), and broad sharing of compliance-controlled data in cloud applications (21%).

Other concerns include the broad sharing of employee use of unsanctioned cloud applications (20%), tracking of activities in sanctioned cloud applications (19%), and keeping on top of country and region-specific data residency and control regulations (17%).

The widespread adoption of cloud applications, coupled with risky user behavior that corporations may not even be aware of, is further widening the scope for cloud-based attacks. Singapore CISOs estimate that, on average, 32% of cloud-based applications used at their company are unsanctioned, or ‘shadow apps’. The vast majority (77%) also believe that their Chief Executive Officer has probably broken internal security protocols at some point – either intentionally or unintentionally.

A need for end-to-end solutions
As enterprises become more reliant on the cloud to improve collaboration and flexibility, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for CISOs to keep track of and secure sensitive company data, let alone maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. To bolster information security as their organization’s data flows between on-premises systems, mobile applications and cloud services, 97% of CISOs in Singapore plan to increase spending on IT staff security training on average by 25% this year. This is a significantly higher average increase than overall CISOs surveyed which stood at 20%. On average, new IT employees will undergo 16 hours of security training during their onboarding process in 2017.

The need for data security, compliance, and residency is also driving Singapore CISOs to look for encryption and/or tokenization solutions to support their Software as a Service (SaaS) initiatives. Symantec’s survey reveals that while 94% of CISOs in Singapore believe tokenization of cloud data is the best way to meet data residency and control regulations, only 59% use tokenization methods. Instead, 78% use encryption to secure their cloud data. Further, less than half (37%) use both encryption and tokenization – the fewest among all the countries surveyed.

Despite such measures, security challenges remain. Cybercriminal groups are opportunistic in the way they operate, using flaws in legitimate operating systems, tools, and cloud services to compromise networks. To effectively counter such behaviors, CISOs require unparalleled visibility and control over sensitive content that users upload, store and share via the cloud. Rather than relying on one-off fixes and reactive patches to protect confidential information, successful CISOs are eradicating exploitable vulnerabilities by deploying proactive, end-to-end solutions.

Addressing cloud security through a holistic approach
Failure to ensure appropriate security protection when using cloud services could ultimately result in higher costs and potential loss of business, thus eliminating any of the potential benefits of cloud computing. To ensure success, organizations require a new model of integrated security which provides stronger protection, greater visibility and better control of critical assets, users, and data.

Addressing cloud security holistically creates operational efficiencies and allows Singapore CISOs to take full advantage of the cloud. This approach guarantees their critical information is secure and protected, giving them the peace of mind they need to lead their companies in the data-driven era.

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HP Singapore Unveils New Product At “Office Of The Future”

HP announced new technology innovations to help businesses start building their “Office of the Future.”

Quick peak at @hp #OfficeOfTheFuture 2017 in #Singapore #hpkeepreinventing #hp #business #instaphoto #innovation

A post shared by Neo Wee Wu 梁威武 (@weewu) on


HP pairs beautiful, stylish design with the latest security and collaboration features in its commercial devices to help businesses make gradual improvements to their workspaces and technology infrastructure. The new HP devices make collaboration, content creation, consumption and exchange of ideas, whether virtually or face-to-face, more efficient but still secure. These include:

#HP unveils latest products at #HPofficeofthefuture 2017.

A post shared by Neo Wee Wu 梁威武 (@weewu) on


• HP EliteBook x360 – According to HP, this is the world’s thinnest business convertible. It combines powerful thin and light stylish design, collaboration capabilities, enterprise-class security and durability, as well as the longest battery life in a convertible range of up to 16 hours. It also includes the latest security innovations such as HP Sure Start Gen36, a self-healing BIOS now with run-time memory protection.

• HP Pro x2 612 G2 – the 2-in-1 detachable allows for agile work anywhere in field services, government, healthcare, and retail verticals of up to 11 hours battery life. The device was built from the ground up for secure work environments and includes a built-in smart card reader, a removable SSD, and the HP Client Security Suite Gen38. It features a removable back cover for easy serviceability.

• HP Z2 Mini Workstation – the world’s first mini workstation delivers server grade power but in a compact package just 2.3” high and 90% smaller than a traditional business-class tower. Twice as powerful as any commercial mini PC on the market today, it is able to handle CAD users’ fast speed of creation and increasingly complexity of projects to bring their creative visions to life.

• HP mt43 Mobile Thin Client – Mobile cloud computing is easier and more convenient than ever with HP’s thinnest and lightest mobile thin client. The multiple security features, easy-to-use setup and deployment software, and quick access to shared data that employees require make management of this device a breeze for IT managers.

• EliteOne 800 G3 All-in-One – the newly redesigned AiO is the first commercial AiO with dual-facing cameras12, and non-glare touch screen13. Not only does it look good on open floor plans and reception areas, but it also allows desks to be clutter-free for conducive discussions.

• HP Elite x3 Mobile Scanning Solution – This extends the benefits of the HP Elite x3 3-in-1 mobile device beyond the mobile professional to mobilise vertical workflows for healthcare, field and retail workers. The integrated barcode scanner can be used to check prices, access inventory and CRM information on the go and then seamlessly transition to the back-office with the ability to dock and connect to a display, mouse, and keyboard for a full PC experience14.

• HP Elite Slice – An inventive alternative to traditional desktop PC designs, this makes interactive meeting spaces a reality. The clean modular design with no messy cables, a small footprint lets businesses configure their own specific desktop solution. The addition of the Collaboration Cover, Audio Module and Intel Unite software transforms the HP Elite Slice into a complete conferencing solution for meeting rooms.

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Ultimate Ears’ MEGABOOM App Now Can Connect More Than 50 UE Speakers (Almost) Instantaneously

The New Enhancement (called “PartyUp”) in the app allows users to connect to more than 50 Ultimate Ears (UE) speakers almost instantaneously. The new enhancement works well with the recenly announced UE Boom 2  as well as older generation of wireless speakers namely UE Boom (1st Gen) and UE MEGABOOM.

UE BOOM Speakers

When asked about the rationale of the features, Charlotte Johs, General Manager of UE, explains,”Music connects people in extraordinary ways”. She further elaborates,””Now, friends come together, they can easily connect their speakers without worrying about limitations. Whether you are  your crews are on a rooftop without a power outlet, or 50 of your closest pals are floating down a river without a dry spot in sight, PartyUp lets the party grow within seconds.”

Waterproofed UE BOOM Speakers

PartyUp is now available through iOS and Android app stores.

 

 

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Press Release – EPSON ANNOUNCES EXTENDED OVERSEAS TRAINING ATTACHMENT FOR MORE LOCAL YOUTH PLAYERS AT PRESIGIOUS J-LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB

Top row (L-R): Mr Takeshi Yamazaki (Youth Academy Director, Matsumoto Yamaga FC), National Football Academy’s U-15 youth footballers Elijah Lim and Ashley Yong, U-14 youth footballer Vasileios Chua, Mr Nadzri Osman (Executive, National Youth Teams, Football Association of Singapore) and Mr Toshio Hanaoka (General Manager, Public Relations & Investor Relations, Seiko Epson Corporation) Bottom row (L-R): National Football Academy’s U-14 youth footballer Marc Ryan Tan, U-15 youth footballers Muhammad Nur Adam Bin Abdullah and Christian Chiang Moroni, and Mr Rob Servais (Head Coach of the Singapore U-15 squad, National Football Academy, Football Association of Singapore)
Top row (L-R): Mr Takeshi Yamazaki (Youth Academy Director, Matsumoto Yamaga FC), National
Football Academy’s U-15 youth footballers Elijah Lim and Ashley Yong, U-14 youth footballer
Vasileios Chua, Mr Nadzri Osman (Executive, National Youth Teams, Football Association of Singapore) and Mr Toshio Hanaoka (General Manager, Public Relations & Investor Relations, Seiko Epson Corporation)
Bottom row (L-R): National Football Academy’s U-14 youth footballer Marc Ryan Tan, U-15 youth footballers Muhammad Nur Adam Bin Abdullah and Christian Chiang Moroni, and Mr Rob Servais (Head Coach of the Singapore U-15 squad, National Football Academy, Football Association of Singapore)

Singapore, June 2016 – Global technology leader Epson today announced another overseas training attachment to increase overseas development opportunities for local youth footballers. A group of six Under-14 (U-14) and Under-15 (U-15) players selected by both Epson Singapore and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) are attending a week-long training attachment with prestigious J-League Club Matsumoto Yamaga FC from 12-20 June in Japan.

This trip is the second attachment to the J-League club initiated by Epson Singapore, as part of its three-year partnership deal with FAS inked in 2013, and the increase in the size of the attachment is a reflection of Epson Singapore’s continued commitment to the development of youths through sports, one of the leading tenets of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The six National Football Academy (NFA) U-14 and U-15 players, made up of Marc Ryan Tan Wei Ming, Chua Zikos Vasileios Ming Xun, Ashley Yong Cheng Wai, Christian Chiang Moroni, Elijah Lim and Muhammad Nur Adam Bin Abdullah, were selected based on technical skills, discipline, maturity and passion. Two of the boys, Adam and Elijah, were also part of the original team of 3 U-14 players handpicked for the first attachment in June 2015.

Learning from previous trips, the latest attachment will see the youths receive more training, with the inclusion of personal coaching sessions by Yamaga’s coaching team, as well as participation in practice matches with their Japanese counterparts in order to improve their skills on the pitch. Off the pitch, the players will be able to observe Yamaga’s first team’s training session and also official matches of both the Club’s youth and first team in Alwin Stadium.

To provide a holistic experience, the boys will be staying in the Club’s dormitory during the attachment, and participate in an immersive tour of the local sights and attractions in Matsumoto and the surrounding region. In addition, the boys will also visit Epson’s headquarters in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, where they will experience the company’s museum and see the latest in Epson’s wide range of products, including smart glasses and wearables under the company’s Moverio and Runsense labels.

“In order to bridge the gap in international exposure that our local youth footballers receive compared to their regional counterparts, Epson is proud to be able to facilitate the overseas attachment again this year. We have expanded the programme to include a larger contingent, and this latest regime will see the boys receive more training, based on feedback from both coaches and the boys last year. We hope to inspire and help nurture more youths to realise their dreams and develop strong values through sports, especially football,” said Ms. Tan May Lin, Epson Singapore’s General Manager (Sales, Marketing & Customer Service Division).

“We greatly welcome the continuation of this exchange program and wish to thank everyone at Epson, our club’s main sponsor, and Epson Singapore who made it happen. There is no doubt that this international exchange with Singapore, which is in line with the J League’s Asian business expansion strategy and one-country one-club exchange program, will be a step toward globalizing our club’s brand,” said Takeshi Yamazaki, academy director of Kabushiki Kaisha Matsumoto Yamaga.

“Apart from training daily on the Karigane Ground in Matsumoto, the six players from the academy will participate in a practice match as members of the Matsumoto Yamaga football club and receive individual training. They will also do some sightseeing in Matsumoto, stay in the Matsumoto Yamaga dormitory, and experience Japanese culture. We will also have them help run a home game (against Yamagata) in packed Alwin Stadium and enjoy a live match. “We hope that this exchange program will be a catalyst to further development of the relationship between the Football Association of Singapore and our club and that, through the agency of athletics, we contribute to exchanges and friendship between our two countries,” added Director Yamazaki.

“Since last year’s attachment, we’ve seen Adam and Elijah progress both on and off the pitch in their skills and attitudes, and they’ve grown to become role models to their team mates and juniors. This trip would allow the boys to grow even further still in terms of technique, learning from some of the best in Asia. More importantly, we want to get the boys to change their mind-set and awareness, and learn (from the Japanese players on how) to influence their environment in Singaporean football,” said Rob Servais, head coach of the Singapore U-15 squad, National Football Academy, Football Association of Singapore.

More information about Epson, and its product and CSR initiatives are available on www.epson.com.sg.

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即時發布- Blockchain宣布发布首个可用的实施闪电网络– 雷霆网络

 紐約，美國 – Blockchain – 全球領先的區塊鏈工具及軟件企業今天宣布發布首個可用的實施閃 電網絡 – 雷霆網絡(Thunder Network)

在此之前的閃電網絡純粹只是概念之談。但是現在，即使雷霆網絡是處於原型開發階段也已顯 示其能夠促進安全、無需雙方信任並且幾乎可以立即付款、允許網絡處理高負荷運作以及增加 用戶的私密性等功能。

“Blockchain 致力於將我們的區塊鏈技術以及開放金融的力量帶到世界的每個角落。”

Blockchain 的 CEO Peter Smith 說道，”本次的發布幫助我們一步一步實現我們的雄心壯志。”

從功能角度來看，目前它不僅是一個節點還是一個帶圖形界面的錢包。更重要的是：

–    雷霆網絡應用於比特幣區塊鏈上。

–    規模：只要網絡中有不到一千節點，就能處理比 VISA 信用卡網絡更大的任務吞吐量 (100000TPS）。

–    超低支付費用：費用在開放的自由市場和去許可的網絡中會理所當然的降低，，這從 根本上來說，肯定比鏈上支付費用低。

–    加密和驗證：所有節點間和錢包間的通信都使用 AES-CTR 加密，在完全驗證過之後才 能通信。

–    通過在比特幣區塊鏈結算，支付隧道可以隨時打開和關閉。

–    支付中繼：閃電網絡會為通過多節點的每一次支付自動提供中繼，並使用加密路由

–    沒人會知道本次支付來自哪裡，更好的保護交易的私密性。

–    支付處理自動完成，無需人工干預。支付過程會自動從網絡返回支付證明。

–    當用戶看到支付時它已是被完成的不可撤銷的瞬間支付。

在 CSV（CheckSequenceVerify）和隔離見證（SegWit）在比特幣區塊鏈上應用前，比特幣協議 層的轉賬是不能實現的。所以當前雷霆網絡模型最適合在信任網絡用戶間轉賬， 但建議目前 先不要進行商戶的支付交易。

“線下的支付網絡當前來說是具有高度實驗性的，”Blockchain 開發員以及雷霆網絡的創造者 Mats Jerratsch 說，”不過，開始這些項目並且與社會各界一起合作是至關重要的。因為我們 擴容比特幣或其他虛擬貨幣的能力來源於發布產品並吸取各方面的建議，持續不斷的學習及改 進。”

如需了解更多關於 Blockchain 及雷霆網絡的詳情，請訪問 www.blockchain.info/thunder 或 https://github.com/blockchain/thunder 。

關於 Blockchain.info

Blockchain 是全球領先的區塊鏈軟件企業，旨在建立開放，易訪問及公平的未來金融體系。我 們的社區引領著我們和我們的產品及我們的未來。我們打造能幫助用戶自由自在的與同行建立 相互直接交易的網絡工具，提供業界領先的高安全產品，鼓勵我們的用戶能夠一手掌握他們自 己的資產 。

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Press Release – LeEco Formally Announces Opening of New, 80,000 Square Foot North American Headquarters in Silicon Valley with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

SAN JOSE, Calif, April 29, 2016 – — LeEco, a leading global internet company, yesterday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and press conference to formally establish its new, 80,000 square foot North American headquarters in San Jose, a facility that can support as many as 800 new employees. The headquarters will also be the future home of LeEco’s autonomous driving research center, the LeFuture AI Institute.

“Silicon Valley is critically important to our global growth strategy,” said LeEco Chairman and CEO Yueting Jia. “Silicon Valley is known for its unique talent and culture of innovation and inspiration, which aligns perfectly with LeEco’s mission to bring extraordinary experiences to people everywhere. We’re looking forward to sharing our vision of one connected ecosystem with U.S. consumers – where users can create a seamless, premium connected experience across all of our lifestyle products.”

Photo Credit: LeEco
Photo Credit: LeEco

“LeEco is an innovative, global company that creates excellent experiences for its customers,” said Luo Linquan, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco. “On behalf of the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco, I would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulate

LeEco on their growth and expansion with their new North America headquarters.”

“I am grateful to LeEco for choosing to locate its new headquarters in North San Jose, further cementing San Jose’s role as a world leader in innovation,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “On behalf of the City of San Jose, I congratulate LeEco on the opening of its new headquarters, where its hundreds of employees will continue to drive innovation for decades to come.”

LeEco has made major headlines recently, starting with its global announcement event on April 20 in Beijing, which was broadcast through Facebook Live, cementing LeEco as the first company to use the API for a large-scale launch. The news included a peek at the stunning and disruptively priced second-generation smartphones, an all-new 4th-generation SuperTV, the LeEco VR headset and its autonomous LeSEE electric vehicle concept car.

LeSEE was showcased along with the second generation of Aston Martin’s Rapide S at the Beijing Auto Show on April 25. Additionally, LeEco announced that it will be partnering with Faraday Future to fund a world-class autonomous driving research center in Silicon Valley.

The company has also attracted top-shelf talent across its ecosystem businesses and recently announced the strategic hires of Smart Device (Mobile)Chief Revenue Officer and SVP/Head of Corporate Administration of North America. Both previously held executive positions at Samsung.

Earlier this year, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LeEco announced its ambitious plans to rapidly expand its global footprint by entering India and the U.S. market with its ecosystem of technology and content offerings.

 

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Event – Varilux® Launches New Progressive Lens In Singapore


As Singapore’s population ages from a median age of 39 years old (2015) to a projected 47 years old in 2030, presbyopia is likely to be a growing health concern. While various correction and treatment options are available, progressive lenses remain the most convenient and non-invasive method to correct one’s vision instantly.

Varilux®, the world’s leader / world’s #1 in progressive and innovative lens technology, has launched the new and improved Physio®, Comfort and Liberty® ranges, the latest generation of progressive lenses that push the limits of technology to provide effortless vision every day. The lenses will be available in all leading optical shops starting today. Members of the public can also head to selected Varilux Experience Authorized Dealers to have a free first-hand experience of how their vision can be rejuvenated by progressive lenses, with the use of virtual reality via the Varilux Experience, an innovative system designed by Varilux®.

“The latest Varilux® progressive lenses are sophisticated, bespoke creations designed to be a perfect fit according to the optical and facial profile of the wearer – the physiology of the pupils in both eyes, the shape and contours of the face and even the position of the ears. We use the finest craftsmanship to create a premium product that provides sharpness and clarity even in low light, delivering truly effortless vision every day,” said Dr John Ang, Vice President of Education & Professional Services of Essilor International.

From left to right: Peter Tan (Managing Director, Essilor Singapore and Malaysia); Francois Bes de Berc (Vice President, ASEAN, Essilor AMERA); Ivan Chuavon (Vice President, Marketing, Essilor AMERA); Dr John Ang (Vice President, Education & Professional Services, Essilor International) at The South Beach Hotel Singapore. Source: Instagram user @weewu

 

Presbyopia– A Global Condition

More than 500 million people globally who are suffering from presbyopia, a condition that has gone unnoticed and uncorrected, life is fraught with constraints and compromises. By 2020, an estimated 714 million people worldwide over 65 could have this condition.

Presbyopia is a natural change in vision that affects everyone, with a growing trend of people showing signs of presbyopia as early as in their 30s, and mostly when they are in their 40s. Over time, our eyes naturally harden which reduces the flexibility of the lens, and makes it difficult to adapt and change focus quickly from near to far and vice versa. It can disrupt our daily activities, such as not being able to read the menu as well in a low-lit restaurant or struggling to read alerts on our smart devices.

There are various correction options available in the market. The most basic option is to use reading glasses but they only correct vision up to a short distance away (40cm), which necessitates a second pair of glasses for distance viewing. In comparison, progressive lenses like those specially developed by Varilux®, are the optimum solution to achieve natural, sharper vision at any distance. Instant focus is now achievable for wearers with the new Varilux® Physio®; while the new Varilux® Comfort enables sharper vision in all light conditions, and Varilux® Liberty® allows the ease of access of the right vision zone.

Designed for effortless vision to match your lifestyle: Varilux Design Innovation

Ultra Short Vision – Sharp and clear vision even for smaller frames

The latest generations of Varilux® Physio®, Comfort, and Liberty® are designed to offer an ultrashort corridor for more accessible near vision. This means all three versions of progressive lenses can fit stylishly into any frame, including smaller ones.

Path Optimizer™ lens technology – Path Optimizer™ lens technology for a facilitated access to the right vision zone and increased sharpness

One of the most challenging parts of progressive lens design is managing the in-between viewing zone. The new technology takes into account the wearer’s characteristics to generate a precise and optimal viewing path, from far to near and everything in between, so that each and every part of the viewing path matches wearer’s eyesight.

    

W.A.V.E 2.0™ –
W.A.V.E 2.0™ lens technology delivers sharper vision even in low light conditions

With a design philosophy centred round the needs of real people, Varilux® is at the forefront of using patented W.A.V.E 2.0™ lens technology to successfully create progressive lenses that engage the eyes as naturally as possible. Using a proven and successful technique, the lenses are intelligently designed to better adapt to the pupil size and beam of light passing through in order to deliver vision with the best resolution in a more accurate and realistic manner.

The latest generation of Varilux® lenses, both Varilux® Physio® and Varilux® Comfort are made with W.A.V.E 2.0 technology. By emulating what the eye can do naturally, they provide the wearer with postural comfort and optimum clarity of vision that feels natural across any distance.

Binocular Booster™ lens technology – Synergy of vision between both eyes for instant focus

Varilux® Physio® lenses are made using highly innovative Binocular Booster™ lens technology that simultaneously analyses the prescriptions of both eyes, taking into consideration that a person’s vision is at its best when both eyes are working together in sync.

Unlike standard progressive lenses which disrupt the natural synergy of the eyes, Varilux® Physio® lenses invisibly but effectively provide effortless vision at all light levels and instant focus at any distance. Whether you are looking out for street signs at a distance in an unfamiliar neighbourhood or trying to read your smartphone, Varilux® Physio® lenses help you make that transition effortlessly.

Try before you decide – Empowering consumers to take charge of their sight

To decide which options is best suited for them before making a purchase, consumers can try out the latest generation of Varilux® lenses with the use of virtual reality via the Nautilus. Via an interactive 360-degree experience of different options from lens design and coatings to the effects of dust and fog, the Nautilus gives the wearer a glimpse of improved vision offered by the latest Varilux® lenses. This innovative technology by Varilux® will be available in Thailand, China, Taiwan, Med_CIS & Middle East in 2016.

Varilux®, the #1 progressive lenses’ brand worldwide / world’s leader in progressives, with sales across 150 countries globally to millions of satisfied wearers, are available at leading optical shops. With innovative technology that delivers naturally sharper vision, the latest generation of Varilux® lenses are made for the modern lens wearer who is active and constantly on the go. To find out more, consult a certified eye care professional today.

ABOUT ESSILOR

The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its mission is to improve lives by improving sight. To support this mission, Essilor allocates more than €180 million to research and innovation every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Its flagship brands are Varilux®, Crizal®, Transitions®, Xperio®, Optifog™, Foster Grant®, BolonTM and Costa®. It also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals.

Essilor reported consolidated revenue of nearly €5.7 billion in 2014 and employs 58,000 people. It markets its products in more than 100 countries and has 33 plants, 490 prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as several research and development centers around the world. For more information, please visit www.essilor.com.

The Essilor share trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EI:FP

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Event – Launch of Cloudera’s BASE Initiative

Held at Shangri La Hotel, Cloudera announced the BASE (Big Analytics Skills Enablement) initiative – an industry-led ecosystem that is designed to groom a future workforce of data professionals.

Designed to strategically fill the skilled data professionals gap that the industry is currently facing, BASE pulls industry players and academic institutions together to equip more people with necessary skills in the areas of big data and analytics. The initiative also encompasses elements whereby trained data professionals will be matched to opportunities across sectors where their skills are required.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs who is also the Minister-incharge of the Smart Nation Programme Office. Source: Instagram user @weewu

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs who is also the Minister-incharge of the Smart Nation Programme Office
in Singapore, said: “Big data analytics is quickly transforming the way we live, work, play, mobilise and organise ourselves. We need our people to be equipped with capabilities to unleash the full potential of data, to glean new insights, and solve our urban challenges as we collectively build a Smart Nation together. It is encouraging that private corporations like Cloudera will help address the need by building relevant skillsets in this area.”

Currently, businesses like Dell, Intel, Red Hat, Microsoft and Talend have already stepped forward to join the BASE initiative in Singapore, committing to play a role in this collaborative ecosystem. Academic institutions like the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have also joined to provide training in data skills. Cloudera has also garnered support from Itel International to match data professionals who have completed their training to the right job vacancies.

Doug Cutting, #Cloudera’s Chief Architect and the co-creator of #ApacheHadoop. Source: Instagram user @weewu

Cloudera’s Chief Architect and the co-creator of Apache Hadoop, Doug Cutting commented: “At Cloudera we see a clear shortage of skilled data professionals across industries. We see an opportunity for us to play a catalyst role to bring various bodies into a collaborative effort, much like the open source community did when we were creating Hadoop. This collaborative innovation will help us bring new data-enabled talent into the market through skilled professionals who can leverage the tools and actualize data for business and the community.”

The BASE Initiative is also complementary to the Cloudera Academic Partnership

(CAP) program, where the company partners with accredited, non-profit institutions around the world to help develop the next generation of data professionals.

Through CAP, Cloudera provides partner institutions with a complete, industry standard Hadoop curriculum at no charge that can be incorporated into computer science and business analytics courses. Teaching staff and students of affiliated institutions also get access to software and discounted training to help accelerate the adoption of the Hadoop platform.

Currently, over 100 academic institutions around the globe are members of CAP. This include NUS in Singapore, which recently announced its participation in CAP.

Additionally, through Cloudera’s market-leading global training program, 65 percent of the Fortune 100 and all 20 of the top 20 global technology firms have leveraged Cloudera’s expertise to train employees on topics like Apache Hadoop, data science, Apache Spark and big data application development.

About Cloudera

Cloudera delivers the modern data management and analytics platform built on Apache Hadoop and the latest open source technologies. The world’s leading organizations trust Cloudera to help solve their most challenging business problems with Cloudera Enterprise, the fastest, easiest and most secure data platform available for the modern world. Our customers efficiently capture, store, process and analyze vast amounts of data, empowering them to use advanced analytics to drive business decisions quickly, flexibly and at lower cost than has been possible before. To ensure our customers are successful, we offer comprehensive support, training and professional services. Learn more at
cloudera.com.