Bits + Bytes: A Miscellany of Technology

This text first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 25, 2023 – October 1, 2023

Native know-how options supplier CiMS Tech Sdn Bhd has simply launched the nation’s first omnichannel software program that permits seamless buyer communication throughout a number of messaging platforms.

Designed primarily for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the answer goals to assist these firms counter fragmented buyer interactions and cope with points in real-time. Small companies that use digital omnichannel platforms have reported experiencing a 27% improve in productiveness, in accordance with a 2020 Khazanah Analysis Institute report, whereas cloud communications platform Squaretalk mentioned enterprise income went up 24.3% in an online article in June.

The automation platform is the primary of its sort to mix a number of messaging channels resembling WhatsApp, Fb Messenger, WeChat, Instagram and Telegram. Whether or not it’s on-line or offline, CiMS integrates with numerous software program and functions to create a easy and environment friendly workflow. CiMS Tech is the last word answer for MSMEs who need to leverage the ability of digitalisation and automation.

With the platform, MSMEs are more likely to see as much as a 40% improve in income and expertise enhanced and personalised buyer interactions, which finally result in important financial savings in operational prices and improved effectivity throughout workflows.

Pudgy Penguins, a non-fungible token (NFT) assortment that additionally doubles as a Web3 mental property (IP) firm, debuts in Malaysia to advertise IP utilisation and neighborhood empowerment, with the backing of Malaysia Digital Economic system Company (MDEC) and Asia Huddle PLT.

Mixing blockchain innovation with enterprise alternatives, Pudgy Penguins goals to help Malaysian companies of their progress journey in addition to foster a neighborhood of homeowners who can profit from the NFT collectibles they maintain.

The Web3 IP firm locations a powerful emphasis on neighborhood and digital possession. Notably, it has achieved over US$400 million (RM1.88 billion) in NFT gross sales and garnered 10 billion impressions on social media.

The corporate’s mission is to steer the cost in a consumer-facing business, particularly within the realm of toys and collectibles, which introduces people to blockchain know-how by way of the QR code of their merchandise. Their comfortable toys and collectible figurines bridge innovation and alternative by contributing to the financial panorama of Malaysia by artwork. — By Grace Yap Ern Hui

In 2022, battery electrical autos (EVs) represented almost 10% of worldwide auto gross sales, up from rather less than 6% in 2021. A lot of the expansion occurred in China, which has been a pacesetter in EV gross sales over the previous decade.

Nonetheless, with nationwide EV subsidies in China expiring in 2022 and much decrease gross sales within the US and Europe, there may be doubt about whether or not EV gross sales can proceed to develop with out subsidies.

The expansion of electrical autos (EVs) can and can proceed, says Morningstar in its newest EV Observer report. By 2030, Morningstar forecasts EVs will account for 40% of worldwide auto gross sales.

In 2022, almost 10% of recent world auto gross sales have been EVs. The remaining 90% had an inside combustion engine (or gasoline-powered generator, within the case of some plug-in hybrids). Morningstar forecasts EV gross sales will attain roughly 40 million autos by 2030, greater than 5 occasions the quantity offered in 2022.

Whereas EVs will nonetheless value extra upfront for many auto classes, the agency expects falling battery prices to drive value parity on a complete value of possession foundation over the following couple of years for almost all of autos. Client-function issues are quickly disappearing.

“As EVs have reached vary parity with inside combustion engines and cost occasions have fallen, the buildout of chargers throughout highways and in cities all through the world will drive greater EV gross sales even with out subsidies. With progress accelerating over the second half of the last decade, we see robust alternatives for buyers all through the EV provide chain,” says the agency in a press release.

The Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Gaming Perception Examine found that 56% of avid gamers bask in gaming quite a lot of occasions per week. In response, Samsung has launched the “Galaxy Gaming Academy 2023” regional occasion to construct cellular gaming communities in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Samsung goals to determine the Galaxy Gaming Academy as a hub for neighborhood engagement, providing upskilling and coaching alternatives to its members, thereby offering better accessibility to cellular gaming for each gaming lovers and hardcore avid gamers.

Samsung held a Galaxy Gaming Academy, with 5G powered by CelcomDigi, at Galaxy House in REXKL from June 9 to 11, the place they demonstrated the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely’s gaming efficiency with its sturdy processor, long-lasting battery and Dynamic AMOLED 2X show.

Twin Towers Ventures (TTV) and Asia-focused enterprise capital agency Gobi Companions have entered right into a memorandum of understanding for the collaboration of sources, proficiency and networks to spend money on the ecosystem of sustainable innovation inside Southeast Asia (SEA) and the Higher Bay Space (GBA) in China.

The enterprise between TTV, the funding arm of Petronas Ventures, and Gobi contains cross-sharing of deal circulate and potential co-investment in promising alternatives within the area, leveraging Gobi’s secure of portfolio firms, change of insights and sustainable innovation greatest practices, in addition to exploring potential co-development and/or commercialisation of Petronas’ in-house improvements.

Petronas Ventures has additionally invested within the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund Higher Bay Space (AEF GBA Fund).

Single Muslim people are harnessing the ability of know-how of their seek for potential spouses, with near 77.8% leveraging matchmaking platforms. Generally used Muslim relationship and matchmaking apps embrace Muzz, Salams and BaitulJannah.

World artistic company TBWA Asia by its Malaysia-based Muslim insights unit, Halal Wave, extracted information from 158,586 social media conversations and 16 interviews that have been performed from 2021 to 2023 throughout 5 nations, together with Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany and the UK for its Match to Marriage report.

The report sheds gentle on the experiences of Muslims on their journey in the direction of marriage in addition to equipping companies with important information to raised serve a various viewers.

The report additionally highlights {that a} important subject of curiosity is that Muslims dwell and work together in a culturally numerous setting, resulting in conversations about interfaith marriages.

The survey finds that 62.3% are involved about marriage laws between totally different faiths in addition to conversion to Islam as a part of an interfaith marriage. Round 20.6% of respondents say the dearth of steering is the second largest problem they face as a result of they’re not sure if the strategy to forming an acquaintance is aligned with Islamic teachings.

Nazirah Ashari, head of 65dB Kuala Lumpur, technique director at Halal Wave and analysis writer of the report, believes that there’s a demand for companies that help and encourage Muslims searching for marriage. Tailor-made providers and merchandise that align with their religion and cater to numerous life levels will undoubtedly be wanted in right now’s world.

HSBC Malaysia has launched a RM500 million “HSBC New Economic system Fund” devoted to serving to high-growth, new economic system companies to innovate and scale.

The fund is sector agnostic and is open to all tech companies and rising start-ups from the Collection B stage and companies with demonstrable progress and scale measured by consecutive quarters of great progress.

Nonetheless, sectors of focus are fintech and e-commerce, meals and agritech, vitality, healthtech and greentech. HSBC will provide working capital, treasury administration and funds and money administration options to satisfy the wants of those companies at totally different levels of their lifecycle.

The fund, which is a primary for HSBC Malaysia, follows funds launched in different markets such because the US$200 million fund in Singapore launched in late 2021 and a US$250 million fund in India introduced in June final 12 months. A US$250 million devoted fund in Australia might be launched quickly.

SONOS has launched Transfer 2, a premium transportable stereo speaker with auto TruePlay, which goals to supply an elevated outside music expertise.

Transfer 2 includes a dual-tweeter stereo sound system, prolonged battery life and intuitive controls. The design is available in an all-new olive color.

The concurrent connectivity between Bluetooth and WiFi permits for flexibility in streaming and grouping with different SONOS sound programs. Transfer 2 presents a customisable sound expertise, complemented by Auto TruePlay, which calibrates its sound profile to its atmosphere.

A notable enchancment in Transfer 2 was demonstrated in its new intuitive person interface. It showcases a capacitive quantity slider for easy management and permits for hands-free management by way of the SONOS S2 app.

The brand new stereo speaker additionally comes with an prolonged battery lifetime of as much as 24 hours with continuous playback. A wi-fi altering base was additionally launched with Transfer 2, which additionally works with Transfer 1. 

Transfer 2 is dedicated to being sustainable by lowering vitality consumption by 40%. Packaged in sustainably sourced content material and 0 virgin plastic, Transfer 2 is quickly curbside recyclable too.

Transfer 2 is now obtainable on the TC Acoustic web site or within the Sonos Idea Retailer at The Starhill, priced at RM2,799.  — By Grace Yap Ern Hui

Microsoft’s Paint utility has been part of the childhoods of many millennials and possibly even just a few zoomers. The free and easy software that enables for a fast doodle and even easy picture modifying fell out of favour over time as a result of its over simplicity. 

Coming with the brand new Home windows Insiders within the Canary and Dev Channels (model 11.2308.18.0 or greater), Paint will now have Photoshop’s much-loved layers characteristic, permitting customers to duplicate, merge and conceal layers for freer artistic expression. In a Sept 18 weblog put up, Microsoft mentioned that the replace is being rolled in part, in order that they might not be obtainable to all Insiders within the Canary and Dev Channels simply but. “We plan to watch suggestions and see the way it lands earlier than pushing it out to everybody,” mentioned Dave Grochocki, principal program supervisor lead of Home windows Inbox Apps.

An epic account of the decades-long battle to manage what has emerged because the world’s most crucial useful resource — microchip know-how — with the US and China more and more in battle.

It’s possible you’ll be shocked to be taught that microchips are the brand new oil — the scarce useful resource on which the trendy world relies upon. At the moment, navy, financial and geopolitical energy are constructed on a basis of laptop chips. Just about all the things — from missiles to microwaves, smartphones to the inventory market — runs on chips. Till lately, America designed and constructed the quickest chips and maintained its lead because the No 1 superpower. Now, America’s edge is slipping, undermined by opponents in Taiwan, Korea, Europe and, above all, China. At the moment, as Chip Battle reveals, China, which spends more cash every year importing chips than it spends importing oil, is pouring billions right into a chip-building initiative to catch as much as the US. At stake are America’s navy superiority and financial prosperity.

Financial historian Chris Miller explains how semiconductors got here to play a crucial function in fashionable life and the way the US grew to become dominant in chip design and manufacturing and utilized this know-how to navy programs. America’s victory within the Chilly Battle and its world navy dominance stem from its means to harness computing energy extra successfully than every other energy. However right here, too, China is catching up, with its chip-building ambitions and navy modernisation going hand in hand. America has let key parts of the chip-building course of slip out of its grasp, contributing not solely to a worldwide chip scarcity but in addition to a brand new Chilly Battle with a superpower adversary that’s determined to bridge the hole.

Illuminating, well timed and engaging, Chip Battle reveals that, to make sense of the present state of politics, economics and know-how, we should first perceive the important function performed by chips. — Amazon

Google Cloud lately introduced that Duet AI will present AI help throughout a fair wider vary of Google Cloud services to cloud customers spanning staff, software program builders, IT operators, information practitioners and cybersecurity professionals.

The brand new enhancements to Duet AI in Google Workspace are going down at Duet AI in Google Meet and Duet AI in Google Chat.

To assist staff higher have interaction throughout conferences, Duet AI in Google Meet removes the burden of note-taking and sending out recaps. It will probably now seize notes, motion objects and video snippets in real-time and ship a abstract to attendees after the assembly. It will probably even assist latecomers rise up to hurry by giving a snapshot of all the things they’ve missed. For customers who can’t make a gathering however have enter to share, the “attend for me” characteristic permits Duet AI to hitch the assembly on their behalf.

Crucial a part of any assembly is being clearly seen, heard and understood. Duet AI in Google Meet will assist guarantee assembly attendees look and sound their greatest with studio look, studio lighting and studio sound. With the launch of mechanically translated captions for 18 languages, together with simplified Chinese language, conventional Chinese language, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese, Google Meet will mechanically detect when one other language is spoken and show the interpretation in real-time.

Upholding person privateness and safety has at all times been a bedrock precept for Google Workspace and Duet AI continues to uphold this promise. Every person will be assured that their interactions with Duet AI are non-public, the place no different person will see their information and Google doesn’t use their information to coach its fashions with out their permission. Constructing on these core commitments, Google Workspace lately introduced new capabilities to assist forestall cyberthreats, present safer work with built-in zero belief controls and higher help organisations’ digital sovereignty and compliance wants.

Past Google Workspace, Duet AI can now present AI help throughout a variety of Google Cloud services — to assist builders code sooner, shortly troubleshoot utility and infrastructure points, present fast and higher insights, and assist forestall cyberthreats.

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