Focus on the content Jongla, the battle in Asia push messaging application

The world’s top messaging apps might have over half a billion users between them, but plenty of startups still see room for growth – especially in Asia. That’s the case with Finland-based Jongla (pronounced “yong-ler”), which launched in December and is now seeing strong uptake in the region, particularly in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia.

Available for iPhone, Android, and as a HTML5 web app, Jongla CEO Riku Salminen tells us that the team is encouraged by the “involved, hardcore” users they’re seeing in Asia and plan to open an office in Asia in the second half of this year. The messaging app is aimed at users globally, but Riku reckons that the specially commissioned artwork in its animated emoticon packs is proving particularly popular in this region. The next version of the iPhone app will add language support for Vietnamese, Indonesian, Japanese, and Korean, and all that is in the newest Android iteration already.

Facing competition from the likes of WeChat, Line, KakaoTalk, Whatsapp, and newcomers like US-made MessageMe, Riku believes that they’re strong rivals but they’re mainly “good for getting users at home”. Instead, Jongla wants to be truly international and inclusive. The Finnish startup sees many ways that can happen: with quality content, a growing in-app store, and being ready to roll with HTML5 once Firefox OS hits the market.

I get the impression that the Jongla store is going to be used for a lot more than just sticker packs – such as its latest range featuring the Scandinavian classic cartoon Moomins – and that content publishing might be on the horizon as well. Though unable to reveal specific plans, Riku concedes the store will be used for “any content, including localized” stuff, and he says they’ll “sell any other content that’s relevant to users”. We’ve seen KakaoTalk do this recently with a new publishing platform that, for now, is limited to Korean content.

As chat apps evolve, it’s possible that they’ll come to be defined by their ancillary services – Line for games and as a broader social network, KakaoTalk for social gaming, Cubie for doodling and drawing, WeChat for (maybe) a mobile wallet and much more in future, and Whatsapp for… er… ummm… something.

Indeed, such accompanying feature-sets will likely be crucial to survival. So we look forward to seeing where Jongla takes its content, and how its user-base in Asia and around the world reacts to that.

Grab Jongla for iPhone or Android, and there’s a Windows Phone version coming soon.

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Focus on the content Jongla, the battle in Asia push messaging application

Check: KTM Duke 390 to be released in India on April 10, Kawasaki Ninja 300R

The KTM 390 Duke and the Kawasaki Ninja 300R are easily the most awaited bike launches in Indian bike market today. Both the Kawasaki Ninja 300R and the KTM 390 Duke have been caught testing on Indian roads on a few occasions and the cyber space is full of rumours related to the launch of the two new bikes.

We reported in detail when rumours started doing rounds that the new Katoom would be unveiled in India on April 10. Quite interestingly, there also were rumours that the new Kawasaki Ninja 300R would be unveiled in India on the same date, i.e., on April 10. Just when we were close to taking bout the rumours with a fistful of salt, our friend Keith Xavier, from Hyderabad, confirmed that the KTM Duke 390 and the Kawasaki Ninja 300R would be unveiled in India on April 10. He was told this by the KTM Hyderabad dealer.

While the new KTM will be priced in the vicinity of INR 2.2-2.5 Lakhs, the price of the Ninja 300R could go upto INR 3.5 lakhs.

KTM 390 Duke

Visually, the new Duke 390 and the Duke 200 are identical. The difference between the two bikes lies in the engine performance. Powering the Duke 390 is a more powerful engine that is sure to tickle the taste buds of every performance hungry bike aficionado of India.

The KTM Duke 390 is powered by a single cylinder, fuel injected, liquid-cooled, 4 stroke, 373cc motor that has a max power output of 44 bhp and develops a max torque of 35 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The international spec KTM 390 Duke comes with optional ABS unit. The ABS system on the 390 Duke is manufacturer by renowned auto component manufacturer Bosch. The worth-mentioning point about this Bosch ABS system is that it can be switched ON or OFF by the user. Luckily, KTM-Bajaj isn’t skipping on the ABS unit for the India spec bike and the KTM 390 will be launched in India with the Anti-lock Braking System. The Bosch 9M ABS unit on the Duke 390 has sensors located at the front and rear wheels. These sensors are linked to a microchip that monitors engine torque and enhances the braking capability accordingly. The KTM 390 Duke sports a 4-piston brake calliper against the 2-piston calliper setup on the Duke 200.

KTM 390 Duke Technical Specifications:

Engine: 4 stroke water-cooled single cylinder

Engine capacity: 373.2cc

Torque: 35Nm at 7,250rpm

Power: 44HP at 9,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed

Dry Weight: 139Kg

Power-to-weight ratio: 316.5PS/Tonne

Clutch: Hydraulic operated

Fuel system: Bosch EFI

Ignition system: Bosch EMS83

Kawasaki Ninja 300R

Our first impressions are that the upcoming Kawasaki Ninja 300R is a more powerful version of the new Ninja 250R. Powering the Kawasaki Ninja 300R is a 296cc, parallel twin cyl, fuel injected motor that benefits from dual throttle valves.

This engine has a max power output of 39 PS@11000 RPM and a peak torque figure of 27 Nm @10,000 RPM. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Kawasaki Ninja 300R too comes fitted with ABS. The new Ninja wears 110 section tyre up front and 140 section tyre at the rear wheel.

Colour options for the Kawasaki Ninja 300R include Green, Red and White.

We believe that the new Kawasaki Ninja 300R would kick open gates to a new segment in Indian performance bike industry and would surely appeal to those who want that wee bit more from an entry level sportsbike.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS-

Engine- 296cc, fuel injected, parallel twin

Max Power- 39PS@11000 RPM

Max Torque- 27Nm@10000 RPM

Transmission- 6 Speed Manual

Category: News

Check: KTM Duke 390 to be released in India on April 10, Kawasaki Ninja 300R

The new 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: IT

Regulars here would remember that we reported in detail when the redesigned Chevrolet Camaro was revealed on a TV show. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro has finally made its public debut and has been showcased at the ongoing 2013 New York Auto Show. The redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Camaro not just gets revised styling but also sees the re-birth of the Z/28 variant that will play the perfect sibling to the ZL1.

The 2014 Camaro gets restyled front end that comes with a sleeker grill, slimmer headlamps, revised bumper and a new vent for the hood. At the rear, the car gets one-piece LED tail-lamps. The car also gets a redesigned trunk that gets a third-stop light and a spoiler.

The LS7-powered Z/28 will sit between the 426hp 1LE and the 580hp ZL1.

“We set out to make the fastest road-racing Camaro possible that was still street-legal,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “While the Camaro ZL1 offers exceptional performance on the street, the drag strip, and the track, the Z/28 is entirely focused on the track performance. The Z/28 will be too track-focused for most drivers, but offers road-racers one of the most capable track cars ever offered from an automaker.”

The Z/28′s will be powered by Corvette-sourced 7.0-liter V8 that will deliver “at least 500 horsepower and 637 Nm of torque.” The engine will be mated to a six-speed manual close ratio gearbox that will send power to rear wheels (where else?).

“The build sheet is the wish list of any racer: lightweight, high-revving, dry-sump LS7 engine; carbon-ceramic brakes; integrated coolers for track use; true aerodynamic downforce, and a significant reduction in curb weight. This car could only come from Chevrolet, and could only be called the Z/28,” commented Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.

The Z/28 is 45 kilograms lighter than Camaro SS and 136 kilograms lighter than the Camaro ZL1. The car comes fitted with Recaro seats, an exclusive aero package, a limited-slip differential, 305/30ZR19 Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires and a Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix rotors for the braking system.

Tags: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Category: News

The new 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: IT

2014 Dodge Durango: IT is

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee isn’t the only new SUV to be unveiled by the Fiat group in recent times. Details of the 2014 Dodge Durango have emerged on the cyber space and here is most of what you need to know about the new car.

The 2014 Dodge Durango, very much like the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, comes with a host of new features and updates that make the 7 seater SUV from Dodge a better sorted out vehicle.

On the styling front, the car gets revised front and rear ends which come with newly styled lights with LED fixtures and restyled bumpers.

On the inside, the car gets a new digital instrument cluster, revised lower and upper centre consoles, a larger screen for the infotainment system and a new three-spoke steering wheel.

The new 2014 Dodge Durango is expected to come with a new 8-speed automatic transmission for all engine variants.

Tags: 2014 dodge durango

Category: News

2014 Dodge Durango: IT is

Fights to improve the computer literacy of the KT Care Myanmar

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of startups that put solving problems ahead of acquiring buckets of money, and KT Care jumped out at me right away. The Myanmar-based NGO is fighting to improve education in Myanmar through increasing computer and internet literacy in the region. KT Care is currently running a crowdfunding campaign (you can donate here) that, if successful, will allow it to open a print shop in Thet Kel Thaung. All profits generated by that shop will then be funneled directly into computer and IT training classes that will be provided at minimal cost to students.

That’s necessary because although Myanmar has a high literacy rate, it is still a poor county and most young rural people don’t have access to computers, the internet and the other kinds of technology they’ll need to be competitive in the job market. Being poor, they also can’t afford the high fees charged by many computer training courses and private schools. KT Care aims to make that irrelevant by offering low-cost computer training that anyone can afford.

To learn more about the project, I spoke to Aung Htike Min, a consultant with KT Care, who told me how the idea for the computer program first came about:

The idea came from our computer trainers who have been training kids on computer skills. They realized that training youths who otherwise have no or very limited access to such opportunities can bring long lasting impact in alleviating poverty. That idea was then polished by KT Care team.

I was also curious what it’s like running an NGO like this in Myanmar, and apparently it’s a bit of a mixed bag:

Running an NGO in Myanmar is getting easier in terms of government regulations and restrictions. But NGOs here face challenges in sustaining projects and organizations themselves because of limited funding opportunities and changing trends at donor agencies. Most NGOs here reply almost entirely on international organizations/agencies for funding rather than local or self-raised funds from social businesses [like we hope to do].

Of course, whether or not KT Care’s self-sustaining project can get off the ground will depend on how its fundraising campaign goes. As Aung put it, “This campaign will enable international supporters to directly help rural youth in a cost-effective way and bridge the digital divide.” Sounds like a good cause to me!

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Fights to improve the computer literacy of the KT Care Myanmar

IFJ start an interactive site to keep track of the violation of freedom of speech in China.

Have you ever wanted to be able to visualize where and when Chinese authorities violate the freedom of the press? No? Well, too bad, because the International Federation of Journalists has created a site that will allow you to do that anyway.

The site, which you can access here, displays reported incidents of press freedom violations over a map of China. On the right side, a drop-down menu allows users to select any year from 2008 to 2012, and on the map itself users can click on the red dots indicating violations to read more about what happened and view a map of where it happened. Unfortunately, that’s about all there is. None of the incidents listed have any links to relevant media reports, so if you want more detail, you’re going to have to Google it. And there are also some bugs in the placement of locations. For example Kunming, which is the capital of Yunnan Province, appears somewhere along the Western border between Tibet and Xinjiang for reasons I cannot explain.

The project was apparently funded the National Endowment for Democracy, a private non-profit that is a lightning rod for criticism from supporters of China’s regime because it is funded by the US Congress and has provided funding to Chinese dissidents like the imprisoned Liu Xiaobo. For that reason, the Chinese government is likely to dismiss the site as an American smear campaign, but readers can assess the validity of any of the site’s specific claims themselves easily enough with Google and a little time if they’re so inclined. Still, it’s very odd that the IFJ site doesn’t include source links for any of its incident reports.

Even if the site isn’t everything you might hope for, though, it’s nice to see journalist organizations and NGOs embracing interactive graphics like this. I hope that in the future, we’ll see more data visualization like this.

(IFJ.org)

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IFJ start an interactive site to keep track of the violation of freedom of speech in China.

Video: Smart emphasize the most important feature of a small car

Smart may not be one of the biggest cars around, but it’s not small on features. The ultra compact car comes loaded with features, and can give some bigger cars a run for their money when it comes to qualities like safety. Smart of USA have released a fresh set of videos highlighting the virtues of its small car, to dispel any doubts one may have about the capabilities of this nifty little car.

The new video campaign features an innovative way of storytelling where sketches are made as the story progresses. The ‘Unfiction’ series of stories, as Smart have labeled them, bring real world stories from Smart owners, telling us how the small car saved, or made the day for them. The stories comprise varying people, ranging from to-be moms who walked out unscathed after a lateral crash to canine lovers finding enough space for their pet in the car.

The first video in the series in about a Hollywood exec whose smart saved her life when a truck rear-ended her in LA traffic. Check out the first video in the series of four here. Come back again, as we bring more videos upon their release.

Tags: Smart car video, Smart Cars, Smart Unfiction series

Category: News

Video: Smart emphasize the most important feature of a small car

Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz announced a contract to supply a long-term powertrain

Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz have announced an agreement for the usage of e a full Mercedes-Benz powertrain from the 2014 season onwards.

The agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply Sahara Force India with a complete Power Unit (Internal Combustion Engine plus Energy Recovery System), transmission and all associated ancillary systems under the new regulations for 2014.

Mercedes-Benz entered the era of customer engine supply in 2009 with the Silverstone-based team and this close working relationship is now in its fifth season. These historic links and the growing competitiveness of Sahara Force India helped pave the way for an expansion of the existing partnership to also include the supply of the gearbox and hydraulic systems.

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “Our new agreement with Mercedes-Benz for the coming years is the most significant in the history of Sahara Force India. With new powertrain regulations being introduced next year, I can’t think of a better partner to work with as Formula One enters a new and exciting era. The agreement gives us the long-term stability we require and will enable us to continue our journey towards the front of the Formula One grid.”

Toto Wolff, Executive Director of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS: “It is a significant milestone to announce our first long-term agreement for powertrain supply under the 2014 regulations. Sahara Force India was our first genuine customer in Formula One back in 2009 and we are delighted to enter an expanded, long-term relationship with them from 2014 onwards. This long-term agreement offers excellent value in terms of the balance between price and performance. We hope it will mean Mercedes-Benz and Sahara Force India working together for the entire life cycle of the new powertrain generation.”

Images are free for download for any editorial use, please credit Sahara Force India Formula One Team. Commercial use should be approved by Sahara Force India.

Tags: Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz

Category: News

Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz announced a contract to supply a long-term powertrain

For Smartisan OS, Apple China’s war train, and maturity

Yesterday, China’s Hammer Technologies announced a new mobile operating system called Smartisan OS. At a big, showy press conference that ironically looked a lot like some of Apple’s announcements, CEO Luo Yonghao hyped the system, saying, “Our objective is to kill off Apple eventually,” and promising that the company would launch its own handsets as well to complement the OS.

The news has gotten a lot of attention in the Chinese press, mostly because Luo is a well-known figure (he’s the founder of Bullogger and also a well-known English teacher and author), but has also attracted attention from the English-language press (like Atlantic partners Tea Leaf Nation) because it seems to have echoes of China’s state media attacks on Apple.

In actuality, though, as an Android ROM, Smartisan OS is not particularly unique. Many Chinese companies have released their own Android ROMs (the best of them is probably Xiaomi’s MIUI). Nor does it really resolve any of China’s concerns about its reliance on foreign operating systems, because as an Android ROM, Smartisan is still Google software at its core. (Related: Why China can’t make its own mobile OS.) For all the bluster about Apple in the state press, Google and Android is what the Chinese government is really worried about when it comes to the world of mobile. After all, Apple users make up just 12 percent of China’s smartphone market. Android users, in contrast, account for 86 percent of it.

So why is Smartisan CEO Luo talking about Apple? One word: hype. Like it or hate it, just speaking the company’s name gets attention. And in fact, Luo is just following in the footsteps of Xiaomi, China’s most successful Android-based OS developer. As you may recall, in the days leading up to Xiaomi’s first handset launch, Apple’s name came up repeatedly. First, Lei Jun talked about how everyone was waiting for Apple founder Steve Jobs to die and then after Jobs actually died, the official Xiaomi weibo account tweeted a tasteless joke about him. The company later denied that Lei had actually made the aforementioned comment about Steve Jobs and the employee responsible for making the inappropriate joke on weibo was disciplined, but the incidents got Xiaomi a fair amount of attention, and there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Luo’s approach with Smartisan seems, in a lot of ways, to be inspired by Xiaomi. But can it capture the attention of the Chinese smartphone-buying public? The launch event got a lot of attention, but it seems like very little of it was positive. In a front-page poll conducted by Sina Tech with more than 11,000 respondents as of this writing, for example, users overwhelmingly responded to the Smartisan reveal with apathy or total disinterest. For example, one of the OS’s main selling points is meant to be that it’s uniquely designed to fit Chinese users’ lives and habits, but when asked what they thought of the OS after the event, here’s how Sina Tech’s readers voted:

(Note that Sina Tech’s poll is ongoing and as such these results may change over time as more readers respond.)

When asked if they’d give the OS a shot, most users were similarly dismissive or hesitant:

And even fewer people were interested in Smartisan’s announced hardware:

Which just goes to show that all the hype in the world is no replacement for a solid product. Whether Smartisan OS is solid or not remains to be seen — it will be released in beta this June — but from what we’ve seen so far, it seems many observers have come away unimpressed. I must say I count myself among them, as while I’m generally a favor of clean, stripped-down aesthetics, I think Smartisan has taken things a bit too far. I may not be the mobile OS’s target demo, but I’m guessing Sina Tech’s readers are, and it looks like they’re not ready to bite this hook yet, either.

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For Smartisan OS, Apple China’s war train, and maturity

Maruti Suzuki Alto, Swift and DZire provide an attractive way to start soon

It has emerged that Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the country’s largest selling passenger car manufacturer in India, will soon start offering 0% interest EMI options and discounts on its high selling models- Alto, Swift and Swift DZire.

It may be noted that the Indian car market is going through a phase of sluggish sales and such is the impact that even the highest selling carmaker in the market is facing some heat. The company has already called off the production at its manufacturing units to avoid inventory from piling up.

The company has already been seen coming out with attractive schemes such as ready delivery of popular cars such as the Swift diesel. The automaker has also been offering cash discounts on its popular models. Now, the car maker is close to start offering schemes like zero down payments, EMI holidays and buy back options on most of its cars. These will include Swift, Dzire and Alto.

Via Financial Express

Category: News

Maruti Suzuki Alto, Swift and DZire provide an attractive way to start soon

2014 Subaru WRX concept: IT is

Regulars here would remember that we reported in detail when the first few pics of the 2014 Subaru WRX concept leaked on to the web world. Now, the car has made its public debut at the ongoing 2013 New York Motor Show and here we have more pics and details on the concept model of the next gen WRX sedan.

The WRX Concept looks very unlike the Impreza sedan and gets a sharp front end, coupe-like roofline, sleek headlights, stylish taillights and a low-placed grille. Safely expect those bulging fender to feature on the wide-body variant of the production spec car. Also expect the cooling vents placed near the front doors to make it to the production model. The new car rides on 20 inch BBS forged alloy wheels which wear especially developed Dunlop tires. The Subaru WRX Concept comes draped in a shade of WR Blue Pearl III and the car gets fluorescent yellow highlights on brake callipers, quad exhaust tips & on badges and we are already in love with that sharply styled boomerang LED taillamps.

Subaru hasn’t revealed any details on the interiors or the engine options. However, it is being said that the all new 2014 Subaru WRX Concept will soon get a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder gasoline engine that will be good for at least 325 bhp of power. The car will also have an electrically powered turbo that will have a reduced spooling time and hence, lesser lag. This will definitely result into enhanced performance.

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2014 Subaru WRX concept: IT is

Indonesia’s Telco rack block, Vimeo, why?

Image source credit: joinnetworkmarketing.files.wordpress.com

It has been a strange morning today as there have been numerous reports from Telkomsel customers in Indonesia that they can no longer access Vimeo because it is blocked by the provider (pictured below). Though others on the same ISP report that they can still access the video-streaming site. I talked with a few friends of mine and this is what I got from them: Vimeo is accessible under Telkom Speedy, an internet service by Telkomsel’s parent company Telkom, but Vimeo can’t be accessed under Telkomsel’s mobile 3G network. Why is the site blocked by Telkomsel?

The most probable reason any site is being blocked by Telkomsel, the company’s customer service told me, is that because it is affiliated with pornography. A similar statement was also given by Telkomsel’s Twitter account this morning, saying that if Vimeo has prohibited content, then it is blocked by Indonesian authorities. That is weird, because if it’s inaccessible at the order of Indonesia’s ICT minister, then why is Vimeo not blocked by other 3G providers too? At the time of writing, 3, Smartfren, and internet service providers like Telkom Speedy and Fastnet all allow access to Vimeo. So far it is only Telkomsel that has this problem.

Too much skin on Vimeo?

Vimeo is a weird target among video hosting sites for such a ban ¹.

There is no porn inside Vimeo, but there is nudity – apparently so long as it’s artistically justifiable. As a user-generated content site, there might be people who try to upload explicit material to Vimeo, but the site has made it clear that it prohibits such videos and will have them deleted when found. While the same thing applies to other video sharing sites like YouTube, I think Vimeo is by far one of the last video sharing sites you’d browse if you’re looking for porn.

Why? Because Vimeo usage is geared more towards professional film-makers and documentaries as it only allows people to upload videos that they created themselves or at least have necessary the licensing rights to publish. It’s all quite carefully curated. This explains Vimeo’s low number of users in comparison to Google’s video sharing site.

Crunching through user numbers and video uploads, the probable number of porn videos being uploaded on Vimeo pales in comparison to what YouTube receives every day (though YouTube deletes explicit content too). If porn is the reason behind Telkomsel’s ban, then YouTube should’ve been the one blocked first before Vimeo. And I think Telkomsel understands this too.

If nudity is porn…

I did find some nudity on both Vimeo and YouTube, but I did not find porn per se during my – ahem – research. Indonesia’s pornography law states that any form of communication in any media which can arouse sexual desire and/or violates the community’s morality norm is considered to be porn. That last part I highlighted because it is quite vague, and under that vagueness, nudity, even if it’s for artistic purposes, could also be construed as porn.

But this censorship has more cons than pros right now. Because not only are there a lot of Indonesian professional videographers who are using Vimeo every day – either to upload or to find inspiration – there are quite a number of fascinating videos on Vimeo which are worth seeing. Of course, Telkomsel’s ban means that Vimeo’s embedded videos will show up blank.

Right now, Vimeo is ranked 131st globally in terms of website popularity, and 351st in Indonesia.

Telkomsel is the largest telco in Indonesia, garnering around 121 million users back in October, making the telco the seventh largest in the world. 121 million users is about half the number of Indonesian population of 250 million. Surely quite a few of them are artists, film-makers, or fans of short films who watch Vimeo videos from time to time. I hope that other Indonesian telcos bring this ban to their 3G – or home internet – services.

What do you guys think? Is censoring Vimeo the right thing to do?

(Hat tip to Ferdinand Zebua for this tip, and Rizqi Djamaluddin for the news)

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Indonesia’s Telco rack block, Vimeo, why?

Plastic surgery in New York of the 2014 Hyundai Equus exhibition

Korean auto giant Hyundai has unveiled the new 2014 Hyundai Equus aka Centennial at the ongoing 2013 New York Motor Show.

The flagship sedan from Hyundai gets a mild makeover and a longer list of features to keep it fresh in the market for at least a couple of years. On the visual front, the car gets revised headlamps and taillamp units.

Powering the car is a 3.8 litre6 petrol engine that has a max power output of 390 PS. The car comes with a 5.0 litre GDI V8 petrol engine with a peak power output of 435 PS in some markets. The engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and come with shift by wire technology.

The range of new features for the 2014 Hyundai Equus includes LED headlamps and LED tail lamps, new 18” alloy wheels with the option of upgrading to 19” inch being provided, smart key, multimedia infotainment system with a 9.2” touchscreen interface, new TFT LCD display for instrument panel, an analogue clock, new colour options for interior trim- Black one-tone, Brown two-tone and Creme Beige two-tone, rear entertainment system with individual screens for each passenger, rear relaxation seat mode, cooling compartment for rear armrest and powered lumbar supports for rear seats.

Tags: 2014 Hyundai Equus

Category: News

Plastic surgery in New York of the 2014 Hyundai Equus exhibition

Announced a new voluntary subscription options

Along with our shiny new design, you may notice we have added a voluntary subscription option to the site. You might be wondering why we’ve done that, and there are a couple of reasons. The biggest is that additional income from subscriptions will allow us to do more with the blog. With enough money, we can hire more writers, cover more stories, do cooler things with our data, and more. Voluntary subscriptions are a way for us to generate revenue that can be used to improve the site’s content without resorting to obnoxious paywalls or big noisy popup ads.

Now, to be clear, we do run advertisements and hold conferences, and those things generate revenue that helps us keep the site above water. We don’t want to give you the impression that if you don’t subscribe, we’re all going to be begging on the streets next week. Subscriptions are totally voluntary, and the site and all of its content will remain totally free for everyone; if you don’t want to subscribe, you don’t have to. We’re just offering you the option, because some readers want a way to give back and to contribute to the development of Tech in Asia. (And if subscriptions don’t work for you, we also offer a one-time tipping option).

Readers who do opt to subscribe don’t only get the warm fuzzies associated with giving back in return though. We’ll also be giving subscribers exclusive access to a new weekly newsletter that rounds up all the top Asia tech stories from around the web (including but not limited to Tech in Asia). We think it’s something you’ll find really useful, and we hope it will give you a little bit of extra incentive to consider subscribing.

You’ll notice that we have updated our ethics page to include a section on the new voluntary subscription option, so you can read more information there, and we also have more details and a walkthrough of how to unsubscribe (in case you ever want to) on our subscription page here. If you still have questions, feel free to get in touch with us directly and ask. Whether or not you choose to subscribe, we hope you like the new design and you continue to enjoy the site!

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Announced a new voluntary subscription options

Dodge SRT8 392 special edition releases

The Chrysler Group has unveiled the new Dodge Charger SRT8 392 which will go on sale for a premium of $ 2,495 over the Charger SRT8. Only 392 units will be ever built and the new variant will be available as an on the SRT8. The SRT8 is powered by a 470hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that will remain unchanged for the 392.

The 392 adds black exterior tid-bits to the SRT8. These additions include the “392 HEMI” fender badges, satin black stripes, ‘Pitch Black’ roof, side mirrors, rear spoiler, 20-inch Black Vapor Chrome wheels and a dash plaque to show the car’s build number.

The 392 will be available with five exterior colors- Bright White Clear Coat, Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Plum Crazy Pearl Coat, HEMI Orange Pearl Coat and TorRed Clear Coat.

“With its numerous new exterior appointments beyond our exclusive Black Vapor Chrome wheels, not only will this new 392 Appearance Package set the Charger SRT8 apart even further, it also brings another level of exclusivity to our lineup as only 392 cars will receive this special treatment during the 2013 and 2014 model years,” said SRT CEO, Ralph Gilles.

Category: News

Dodge SRT8 392 special edition releases

China’s Alibaba, a global shopping marketplace as AliExpress Site Refocuses

Alibaba has restructured and refocused its English-language AliExpress site so that it focuses more on global shoppers. Previously aimed more at wholesale buyers around the world to source from Chinese suppliers – rather like the company’s Alibaba.com B2B platform – now AliExpress focuses more on selling individual items. In another shift, an increasing number of vendors on the site are not manufacturers, giving it more of a consumer-to-consumer feel.

While still serving small businesses who might want to buy in bulk – for which many merchants offer discounts – the site is now targeting shoppers, says an Alibaba representative, in Russia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America. Indeed, AliExpress now has more buyers in Russia than the US or the UK.

Claiming to have 38 million daily visitors from overseas, and with December 2012 revenues up 4.2-times over the previous year, it sees even more potential in a broader user-base of individual shoppers and small businesses in emerging markets.

Alibaba has also signed an agreement with Mastercard today that will see the two firms work more closely together – including for cross-border payments on AliExpress.

The Chinese e-commerce giant’s most well-known online store, Taobao, is also venturing outside of China these days. Daphne Lee, who’s responsible for managing Taobao’s business development and marketing strategies outside of home turf, has told us that Taobao has 1.2 million registered members in Hong Kong and 600,000 in Taiwan – plus the site is targeting e-shoppers in Singapore.

Coupled with Alibaba’s e-payments platform, Alipay, also being included in the cross-border memorandum with MasterCard, it seems the company is being more aggressive with its overseas strategy this year.

Daphne will be onstage at our Startup Asia event in Singapore next week, so this news will be added to my list of things to ask her about.

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China’s Alibaba, a global shopping marketplace as AliExpress Site Refocuses

A compact SUV, Hyundai India plans to launch a new mini-MPV and hatchback

Korean car maker Hyundai has been definitely having a dream run in India. Hyundai Motors India Ltd., the Indian subsidiary of the car maker, is the second largest car manufacturer in India and has been giving a tough fight to long established rivals.

Hyundai is present in most of the segments of Indian car market. The carmaker sells everything from a Santro in the lower A segment to a Sonata in entry level executive sedan segment. Now, it has emerged that Hyundai is planning to launch as many as 3 new models in India to plug in whatever gaps it has in its product portfolio.

The first of these new products will be a compact SUV for the fast developing car segment. The Renault Duster is already flying out of showrooms and the Ford EcoSport is looking poised to become a big success. It is hence only obvious that Hyundai too wants to have a chunk of sales coming from the new segment. It is being said that Hyundai is developing a Compact SUV that will challenge the Ford EcoSport and the likes in the Indian car market. The new SUV might be based on the i10 platform and would come with a really attractive price tag. Another possibility is that Hyundai Motors India Ltd could bring a Compact SUV based on the i20. It may be noted that the HB20X compact SUV that is on sale in Brazil is based on the i20 platform.

The second of the three new cars will be a mini MPV to rival the likes of the high selling Maruti Ertiga. The new car might be based on the Hexa Space Concept (HND-7) that was showcased at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo.

The third upcoming car from Hyundai will be a small hatchback that will be positioned between the i10 and i20. The new car might be called as i15 and might actually be the next gen i10 that would sell along with the current model.

Hyundai Motors India Ltd also plans to launch more diesel variants of its existing models. With a bevy of new launches and increased stress on enhancing the after sales experience for its customers, don’t be surprised if Hyundai Motors India Ltd manages to give a few frightful nights to the boffins at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

Source: Economictimes.indiatimes.com

Category: News

A compact SUV, Hyundai India plans to launch a new mini-MPV and hatchback

Why KakaoTalk TV advertising in Indonesia will receive a battlefield

TV advertisements have proven to work very well for chat apps in Indonesia. China-based WeChat and Japan’s Line have been propelled to the country’s top spots on iOS and Android app stores thanks to their ads. And now Korea-based KakaoTalk is going to make its mark on the country’s TV sets by airing a TV ad campaign in a couple of days. Will the ads be significant in disrupting the chat ecosystem here? Yes, I think so.

Let’s first agree that TV ads do work to gain nationwide visibility and users in Indonesia. The country’s internet penetration is still at a relatively low 24 percent right now, which means that to engage with the other 76 percent of the nation (which amounts to around 190 million people) you need to use more traditional media, like TV. A study by BCG Perspectives shows that “most, if not all, households throughout the country own a television, even those at the bottom of the pyramid of demographic groups, and it remains the most important source of information for consumers. Indonesians trust television commercials.” Line’s and WeChat’s current rankings in Indonesia’s app sites are a testament to that.

But with Line and WeChat airing their own TV ads ahead of the Korean messaging app, how will KakaoTalk’s advertisement beat them? The answer lies with KakaoTalk’s choice of ad stars.

First of the two is Indonesian celebrity Sherina Munaf – who has the country’s second most-followed celebrity Twitter account with five million followers. She’s joined in the ad by Korean all-boy band BigBang, whose 11,000 concert tickets in Indonesia were sold out in a mere fifteen minutes. Those two stars will be able to attract quite a number of fans to try out KakaoTalk. While Line and WeChat are targeting Indonesian teens with Maudy Ayunda and singer Giselle, a great many teens – i.e.: girls – might fancy BigBang instead.

Also, let’s not forget how Korean fever in Indonesia which has inspired a few Indonesian Korean-style pop groups like SM*SH, Cherrybelle, and 7Icons, who have quite a large number of fan base themselves. The number of Korean TV drama series still being aired in the country prove the popularity of Korean pop culture as well. If KakaoTalk’s association with Korea proves to be successful, and Indonesian remember KakaoTalk when they think of Korea, then it will be a big boost.

Of course, Line is tough competition due to its social games or because a lot of friends are already there. Same goes for the full-featured WeChat, with things like voice chatrooms and video calling, especially when those more social features are now available on Indonesia’s popular smartphone Blackberry now.

At the time of writing, KakaoTalk is ranked outside the top 50 spots in both Google Play and iTunes in Indonesia, according to AppAnnie. Let’s see how those rankings will change in the coming weeks.

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About Enricko Lukman

Enricko is a big fan of entrepreneurship. He enjoys debating and discussing a broad range of topics from politics to football. He loyally supports Manchester City F.C., enjoys traveling, and playing video games. For news tips, startup pitches, or feedback, this is his email.

Why KakaoTalk TV advertising in Indonesia will receive a battlefield

2014 Skoda Octavia’s vRS again ridiculed. Independence Day debut

We have been closely following the developments related with the launch of the upcoming 2013 Skoda Octavia vRS performance sedan. The performance variant of the new Octy will be unveiled at Goodwood Festival of Speed which will be held from 11th to 14th July. Now, Skoda has yet again published a teaser pic of the upcoming vRS. In the image, a portion of the car’s front grill can be seen. The grill, in typical Skoda vRS fashion, sports a badge to announce its departure from the vanilla Octy.

It may be noted that Skoda is having high hopes with the new Octavia sedan and the new car is looking poised to up the ante in its segment. The 2013 Octavia vRS performance variant will be the sportiest of all Octavias sold till date.

Powering the new Skoda Octavia vRS might be a 2.0 Litre turbocharged petrol motor. This is the same engine that powers the Volkswagen Golf GTI. In Octavia vRS, the new engine could have a peak output of 220 Bhp. Rumours are abound that the car might also get a diesel variant powered by a 2 Litre turbocharged diesel motor. Both the engines could be mated to six speed manual gearbox. The new Octavia vRS would also come with a re-tuned suspension with more focus on handling to complement the increased engine power.

Visual changes to the car include smoked headlamps, new front grille, new front bumper, daytime running lamps, low profile tyres, sporty alloy wheels, new rear bumper, a boot lid spoiler and twin exhausts. The interiors are expected to get an all black treatment.

Indian car enthusiasts have a lot of fond memories of the earlier generation of Octavia vRS that was sold in India. We also got the Laura vRS which is basically a rebadged last gen Octavia vRS. Hence, there is a good probability that Skoda India would decide to play Santa and bring the upcoming generation of Octavia vRS to us. Please Skoda. .pretty please.

Tags: 2014 Skoda Octavia vRS

Category: News

2014 Skoda Octavia’s vRS again ridiculed. Independence Day debut

Exhibition in New York, the 2014 Toyota Highlander

Japanese auto maker giant Toyota has unveiled the new Highlander SUV at the ongoing 2013 New York Auto Show. The new Highlander is a mid-size SUV and can seat up to 8 people in reasonable comfort.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander sports a suspension and will be sold in both front wheel drive and all wheel drive variants.

Toyota says that the new car has better NVH levels than outgoing model and the car comes with a dashboard silencer, better body sealing and new engine mounts that cut on vibration.

The car is roomier than the outgoing model and the new car offers an longer equipment list that includes comfort enhancing features such as heated seats, heated steering wheel and 8-inch navigation system. Safety features include 8 airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Hill start Assist and ABS.

The new Highlander will be sold with three engine options – a 2.7-liter four-cylinder VVT-i engine, a 3.5-liter VVT-i V6 engine and a Hybrid Synergy Drive which includes a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an electric motor

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Tags: 2014 Toyota Highlander

Category: News

Exhibition in New York, the 2014 Toyota Highlander

Hyundai HND-9 concept unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show

The redesigned Equus isn’t the only car to come from the Korean auto giant Hyundai in recent times. Apart from showcasing the Equus at the ongoing 2013 New York Motor Show, the carmaker has brought the new Hyundai HND-9 Concept at the Seoul Motor Show.

We have always felt that Hyundai has surely made great progress in terms of its car design and the latest concept from the automaker hints at the design for the next generation of the Genesis Coupe.

The HND-9 is the ninth concept car from Hyundai’s R&D Centre in Namyang and the auto group says that “the rear-wheel drive sports coupe concept balances high performance with a sophisticated image.”

The HND-9 sports a design that is an evolution of the Fluidic Sculpture design language and the hexagonal front grill, butterfly doors, 22” alloy wheels and dagger like taillight are the concept car’s new design highlights.

The concept car is 4.69m long, 1.89m wide and measures 1.34m in height. The wheelbase of the car is 2.86m long.

The car is powered by a 3.3 litre turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection engine that has a max power output of 362 bhp. The motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that transmits the power to rear wheels.

Tags: Hyundai HND-9 Concept

Category: News

Hyundai HND-9 concept unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show

Volkswagen up! Got a test in India. Again!

That the Volkswagen Up! is coming to India is a well known fact. The car was first seen in India in January last year and the 5 door version of the Volkswagen Up! has been caught testing on Indian roads on numerous occasions. Once again, the car has been caught testing in Pune and from the looks of it, the test mule seems to be undergoing suspension tests on Indian tarmac.

The Volkswagen Up! will be positioned below the Polo hatchback in Indian market and the upcoming car will be VW’s second launch in the very popular Indian small car segment. The car will be pitted against the Maruti Wagon R, the Chevrolet Beat and the likes. On the inside, the Up! 5 door will borrow a fair bit from the Polo and will come with headrests integrated into the front seats. Expect class leading quality of materials and a long equipment list.

The Up! hatchback will be powered by the Polo’s 1.2 liter 3 pot petrol motor and there are good chances that the Polo’s 1.2 litre TDi diesel motor too would head to the India spec Up!.

Volkswagen Up! India Specifications

VEHICLE SUMMARY
Name:	UP!
Car Body Type:	Hatchback
Segment:	B Segment
Warranty:	-
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement:	1198cc, 3 Cyl
Engine Type:	Petrol
Maximum Power:	75 Bhp
Maximum Torque:	110 Nm
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Seating Capacity:	5
Tyre Size:	-
Suspension:	-
Steering:	Power
Brakes:	Front Disk, Rear Drum
Gears:	5 Manual
Body Color Bumpers:	Yes
Tachometer:	Yes
Alloys:	Yes
ORVM Indicator:	No
Xenon Headlamps:	No
Trip Meter:	2
Headlamp Washer:	No

Pics Source: Motorbash

Tags: volkswagen up india

Category: News

Volkswagen up! Got a test in India. Again!

Renault Samsung QM3 rebadged Captur. Seoul Debuts

Renault Samsung Motors, the JV between French carmaker Renault and Korean group Samsung, have revealed the 2014 Samsung QM3 urban crossover at the ongoing 2013 Seoul Motor Show.

The new QM3 is basically a rebadged Renault Captur and the QM3 will be positioned below the QM5 aka Renault Koleos.

The QM3 becomes the first Renault car that has been rebadged as a Renault Samsung vehicle. So far, the only car to get rebadged were the Samsung cars and we have seen the Renault Samsung SM3, SM5 and QM5 being sold as Renault Fluence, Latitude and Koleos in many markets.

The only difference between the QM3 and the Captur is, of course, the badges and the QM3 is being targeted at young Korean car buyers who are on a look out for alternatives to traditional B-segment cars.

“Renault Samsung QM3 combines in a single compact vehicle the best of three worlds: the sportiness of an SUV, the convenient comfort of an MPV and the driving pleasure of a hatchback,” said Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Design, Renault Group.

It is being expected that the car would be powered by the same engines that power the Renault Captur.

via Carscoop

Tags: Renault Samsung QM3

Category: News

Renault Samsung QM3 rebadged Captur. Seoul Debuts