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Clarks uses ‘Blaze Kick’ in fire new shoe collaboration with Pokémon
- Clarks has partnered with Pokémon for a new design on the shoe brand’s Wallabee silhouette.
- The shoes, which have a Pokéball design on the heel, come in either black or yellow and are debossed with Pokémon’s iconic electric mouse, Pikachu.
- According to the Clarks UK website, they also have a children’s version of their Grip Pearl model of sneakers with Pokéballs on the velcro strap and sole, with a choice of Pikachu, Squirtle or Mewtwo at the heel and matching color schemes for the respective Pokémon.
- The Pikachu Wallabee costs $180, while the kid’s shoes are about $55-60.
Clarks Originals released some electrifying new kicks in collaboration with Pokémon for their Wallabee lineup.
The new shoes come in two colors: black suede and a darkish yellow, and both are debossed with Ash’s trusty companion, Pikachu, in various poses so the “Pokémon Yellow” starter can be with its wearer every step of the way. The heels of the shoes are marked with a Pokéball design.
Google now lets US businesses label themselves as ‘Asian-owned’ on Search and Maps
- Google launched a new attribute on Wednesday that allows businesses in the U.S. to identify themselves as Asian-owned.
- The update adds to existing business attributes, such as “Black-owned,” “Latino-owned,” “veteran-owned,” “women-owned” and “LGBTQ+ owned.” Owners can use multiple attributes.
- Google also announced that Grow With Google is building upon its partnership with the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) to help 10,000 additional Asian-owned small businesses gain digital skills.
Google launched a new attribute on Wednesday that allows businesses in the U.S. to identify themselves as Asian-owned.
Designed to promote diversity and help Asian merchants recover from COVID-19 losses, the “Asian-owned” attribute can now be added to Business Profiles on Search and Maps. Additionally, ad-supported publishers will soon be able to use the label in Display & Video 360’s Marketplace.
Chinese smartphone brand Honor copies iPhone features, sees sales double
- Chinese smartphone brand Honor saw its sales double in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022 by incorporating some features of Apple’s iPhone, such as facial recognition and a 120 Hz screen refresh rate.
- Honor saw a growth of 103% amid the decline of smartphone sales in the Chinese market, which decreased by 14.2% year-on-year (YoY) in Q2 2022.
- Other brands such as Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi and Huawei saw a drop in sales by 26.5%, 30%, 23.3% and 37.9% YoY, respectively.
- Counterpoint research analyst Mengmeng Zhang noted that Honor also worked on “expanding its offline presence,” adding, “With the lockdowns hitting major cities, HONOR’s coverage in lower-tier cities, which saw fewer lockdowns, helped the brand steer through the turbulence in Q2 2022.”
By copying some features of Apple’s iPhone, Chinese smartphone brand Honor has doubled its sales despite a downward trend in smartphone sales in China for the second quarter (Q2) of 2022.
In a press release on Wednesday, Counterpoint’s Market Pulse reported that smartphone sales in China decreased by 14.2% year-on-year (YoY) in Q2 2022. The recent data showed that the volume of sales during that quarter was 12.6% lower than that of Q1 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the market.
Facebook, Twitter and Google escape Indonesia ban by complying with imposed registration at last minute
- The Indonesian government imposed mandatory registration for both local and foreign tech companies for new licensing regulations that would allow authorities to remove content from their online platforms.
- A company’s failure to secure a license by Wednesday would result in their operations in the country being deemed illegal.
- Spotify, Netflix and TikTok were among the list of 5,900 domestic companies and 108 foreign companies that signed up as of Monday.
- Meta platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp completed their registration with the country's Ministry of Communications and Informatics on Tuesday.
- Meanwhile, Twitter and Alphabet Inc.’s Googlewere among the latest companies to be included in the communications ministry’s list of compliant foreign providers.
- The Indonesian government reportedly imposed the new rules ahead of the upcoming general election in 2024 in a bid to reduce the spread of misinformation and fake news.
Facebook, Twitter and Google have registered for Indonesia’s new licensing rules that empower local authorities to remove undesirable content shared on these platforms, as companies that failed to comply risked being blocked.
Meta platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp completed their registration with the country’s Ministry of Communications and Informatics on Tuesday, beating the deadline imposed by the Indonesian government by a day.
Hyundai takes on Tesla Model 3 with unveiling of its first electric sedan; SUV set for 2024
- Hyundai unveiled its latest electric vehicle model — the sleek and powerful IONIQ 6 — at the Busan International Motor Show on Thursday, which will be available for pre-order in September and expected to become a major competitor of Tesla.
- The design was reportedly inspired by airplanes, which is evident in the car’s aerodynamic shape, or what the company describes as a “streamlined silhouette.”
- Two versions of the sedan will be available for purchase in the first half of next year, the first being a standard model with a 53 kWh battery pack and the second with a 77.4 kWh battery.
- Users will be able to travel up to 524 km (over 325 miles) on a single charge.
- Prices of the vehicles will range from 55 million won (approximately $41,949.51) to 65 million won (approximately $49,358.82) in the South Korean market, depending on desired features.
- The IONIQ 7 SUV model is set to be introduced in 2024.
Hyundai unveiled its latest electric vehicle model and first sedan — the sleek and powerful Ioniq 6 — at the Busan International Motor Show on Thursday in a move that will put the South Korean automaker in direct competition with Tesla.
The design was reportedly inspired by airplanes, which is evident in the car’s aerodynamic shape, or what the company describes as a “streamlined silhouette.”
Vietnamese EV automaker VinFast to open first 6 showrooms in US this week
- Vietnamese Electric Vehicle (EV) automaker VinFast is scheduled to open six U.S. showrooms on Jul 14 and 30 more by the end of 2022, all of which will be located in the Golden State.
- The company reported that it would be opening stores in Berkeley, Commerce, Corte Madera, San Diego, San Mateo and Santa Monica this Thursday, starting with two EV models.
- The first is a 5-seater VF8 electric SUV, priced at around $40,700, and the second is a larger, 3-row, 7-seater VF9 priced at $55,000.
- VinFast also plans to have consumers subscribe to a battery plan rather than purchase one, arguing that EV battery performances degrade over time.
- Earlier last month, VinFast made preparations to begin construction of a $4 billion factory in North Carolina, where it promised to create 7,500 jobs.
Vietnamese Electric Vehicle (EV) automaker VinFast is scheduled to open six U.S. showrooms on Jul 14 and 30 more by the end of 2022, all of which will be located in the Golden State.
The company reported that it would be opening stores in Berkeley, Commerce, Corte Madera, San Diego, San Mateo and Santa Monica this Thursday, starting with two EV models.
Chinese researchers develop AI that can read minds and determine party loyalty, report reveals
- Chinese researchers have reportedly developed artificial intelligence (AI) that can read the minds of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials and determine their level of loyalty.
- In an experiment, the software analyzed brain signals, facial expressions and skin electrical responses from subjects who sat in front of kiosks and watched CCP-related content.
- The technology rendered a “loyalty score” based on metrics such as “emotional identification” and “learning attentiveness.”
- A report about the AI posted on July 1 was reportedly pulled after eliciting public outcry.
Chinese researchers have reportedly developed artificial intelligence (AI) that can read the minds of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials.
A video report detailed the software’s features and attributed it to the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, a relatively new institute focused on health and environment, energy research, information management and artificial intelligence.
Japanese company creates trash can that freezes your garbage to prevent odor
- A Japanese company has designed a trash can that stores garbage at 12 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent odor and the production of bacteria.
- The company first got the idea for “Clean Box” in 2017 after discovering that some people were putting their garbage in freezers to eliminate foul odors.
- The first 100 Clean Boxes released in 2019 sold out almost instantly.
- Clean Boxes are now being sold in numerous major appliance stores for a price of 48,180 yen (approximately $353) and can hold up to 20 liters (5 gallons) while running an energy bill of around nine yen (approximately $0.06) a day.
To help prevent foul odors emitting from trash cans, a Japanese company is selling trash cans that freeze garbage.
Nakanishi Kinzoku Kogyo has designed a product called “Clean Box” that stores garbage at -11 Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit), killing the bacteria that produces odors. The company first thought of the idea in 2017 after discovering that several households were keeping their garbage in freezers or refrigerators to prevent smells from emitting throughout the house.
Three generations of same Filipino family killed in New Zealand car crash
- Three generations of a Filipino family were killed in a car crash in Picton, New Zealand, on Sunday.
- Seven of the nine passengers, including the driver and an infant, were killed.
- Two brothers survived the crash and were brought to the Wellington Hospital. The teenager is reportedly undergoing surgery for injuries to his spine and head, while the other is in serious but stable condition.
- Inspector Simon Feltham of the Marlborough police said an investigation is currently ongoing.
- Auckland Filipino community leader Romy Udanga said members of the community in Wellington, including church groups, were on standby to help the two survivors. The Auckland Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy has launched a fundraiser to support the bereaved family.
Three generations of a Filipino family were killed in a car crash in Picton, New Zealand.
A Filipino-New Zealand family of nine were driving home to the North Island after attending a funeral in Gore when the vehicle they were in collided head-on with a truck near Picton on State Highway 1 at around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.
New ‘mabuhay’ kicks from Vans shows off Filipino culture, ‘Checkerbayan’ pattern with Philippines flag
- Filipino American artist DJ Javier collaborated with Vans to design three new pairs of shoes celebrating Filipino culture.
- The new Vans x DJ Javier shoes have Filipino-inspired design features, such as the Philippines flag, sampaguita, carabao, mabuhay, aspins, salakót and Lapulapu.
- The Sk8-Hi top and Slip-On VR3 SF shoes were all launched June 12 on Vans’ website and have already sold out in most sizes within a week. Fortunately, another batch of shoes will be released along with the Slide-On Sandals in early July.
Filipino American artist DJ Javier collaborated with skateboarding shoe company Vans to design three new pairs of kicks celebrating Filipino culture.
Raised in Goleta, California, DJ Javier began developing his artistic career in high school. His bold artworks marry graphic design and fine art and can be found across the nation in cities like Los Angeles and New York.
The futuristic, transparent OLED TV wowing the internet is made by a Chinese electronics company
- Xiaomi became the first manufacturer to mass-produce a transparent OLED TV available to the public after releasing the Mi TV Lux Transparent Edition in China on Aug. 16, 2020, for 49,999 yuan (approximately $7,417).
- The TV comes with a 55-inch, 5.7-millimeters thick transparent OLED panel with a 120Hz (hertz) refresh rate and a 1 ms (millisecond) pixel response time. The Mi TV Lux also has a static contrast ratio of 150,000:1, 10-bit color and 93% coverage of DCI-P3.
- Under the hood — or, in this case, a circular base — the Mi TV Lux Transparent Edition comes equipped with a custom MediaTek 9650 chipset alongside Xiaomi's AI Master Smart Engine image processing, which boasts over 20 optimization algorithms and dedicated optimization for five major use scenarios.
- More on the software side, the transparent TV runs on Xiaomi’s custom-made MIUI, which has been tweaked for its super-thin screen feature. The futuristic Dolby Atmos-supported TV also has AI Master for Audio, a feature that automatically changes the audio mode depending on the type of content being played on the TV.
Beijing-based tech company Xiaomi became the first manufacturer to mass-produce a transparent OLED TV available to the public, albeit for a steep price.
Priced at 49,999 yuan (approximately $7,417) on release, the Mi TV Lux Transparent Edition went on sale in China on Aug. 16, 2020. The TV comes with a 55-inch, 5.7-millimeters thick transparent OLED panel with a 120Hz (hertz) refresh rate and a 1 ms (millisecond) pixel response time. The Mi TV Lux also has a static contrast ratio of 150,000:1, 10-bit color and 93% coverage of DCI-P3.
‘I was just making money’: Netflix engineer leaves $450,000-a-year job out of boredom
- Lacking motivation, Michael Lin left his job as a senior software engineer at Netflix despite earning $450,000 a year and enjoying unlimited paid time off.
- Lin, who started working at the streaming giant in 2017, wrote in a piece for Business Insider that the "shine began to wear off" after about two years.
- "When I started at Netflix, I was making money and continuously learning new things. Now, I was just making money, with no career progression," he recalls.
- After leaving Netflix, he says he now feels “a deep calmness inside me, an unshakable belief that everything will be OK, even if any future success is not guaranteed right now.”
A former senior software engineer at Netflix revealed how boredom made him walk away from $450,000 a year and unlimited paid time off.
Michael Lin has not looked back since calling it quits in May 2021. Writing in a piece for Business Insider, Lin believes he ultimately made the right decision.
