Eastly - Issue #18 | The Shape Of Innovation šŸ’”

By Eastly.co | Asia Tech News • Issue #18

Eastly: Asia Tech News Direct From The Source

Welcome to Eastly, your weekly infusion of all the top tech stories from the world’s innovation powerhouse: East Asia!

Every Sunday we’ll bring you a short, sharp roundup of the biggest stories our team in China have spotted – the kind of stuff that takes a few weeks for the Western media to notice.

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Innovation comes in many guises: from advanced technology to everyday necessities. But what these ideas have in common – from Smartisan’s new phone-laptop combo to Ease’s birth control pill service – is that they’re built with the users’ needs in mind. They truly solve a common problem for their customers: and they’re not afraid to up their game.


Smartisan Pairs Laptop, Tablet, & Phone Functionality

Smartisan TNT OS 2.0, Smartisan TNT Go Expansion Book

Is 'phone-laptop’ the future?

Date: 21 October, 2020

As part of efforts to remove integrated phone, tablets, and computers, tech hardware manufacturer, Smartisan, has officially unveiled the TNT Go – a tablet-like device that offers laptop functionality. But there’s one catch: in order for it to work, it needs to be paired with a TNT-enabled mobile phone.

Smartisan officially unveiled the solution at its recent new product conference. A company spokesperson said that the business’ aim is to ā€œbuild a phone that can really solve many problemsā€.

Source: https://sparrowsnews.com/2020/10/21/smartisan-tnt-go-expansion/

Singapore Startups Taking A Stand on Sexual Health

Ease is trying to make sex no longer a taboo

Date: 22 October, 2020

Despite being a taboo subject in many traditionally conservative south-east Asian countries, several startups based in the region are tackling the stigma head-on.

Ease aims to provide simple and fast access to birth control pills and other forms of contraception; Ferne Health offers home-based test kits that screen for cervical cancer, common sexually transmitted infection, while Noah addresses male issues such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and hair loss.

Source: https://e27.co/breaking-the-taboo-meet-the-singapore-based-startups-that-are-working-to-provide-access-to-sexual-healthcare-20201022/

Autonomous Taxis Launch in Jiangsu

black and yellow Taxi signage

Not ā€˜Robocop’ but ā€˜Robotaxi’

Date: 23 October, 2020

Chinese driving tech firm, Momenta has unveiled an autonomous taxi (Robotaxi) product – the first to debut in the Jiangsu Province – located just north of Shanghai. 

Momenta provided test ride services at the China Mobile 5G Autonomous Driving Summit earlier this month.

At the launch event, Momenta also announced a joint venture with Suzhou State-owned Assets and announced a strategic cooperation with China Mobile on the same day.

Source: https://36kr.com/newsflashes/936697761553540

Indian eCommerce Platform Buys Stake In Retail Fashion Chain

Flipkart is ā€˜flipping’ the fashion?

Date: 23 October, 2020

Flipkart, the Walmart-owned eCommerce platform, has purchased a 7.8% stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) – a fashion and lifestyle company with over 3,000 stores.

By investing over $200 million, it’s thought that Flipkart will now start selling ABFRL apparel via its online channels alongside a range of products for fashion-conscious consumers – in different retail formats across the country.

Source: https://www.techinasia.com/flipkart-invest-200m-aditya-birla-fashion-retail-arm

Momo Makes Move To Middle-Aged Market

woman and woman hugging each other

Middle age is the best age

Date: 24 October, 2020

China’s Momo – a location-based social media and search app – will soon turn its attention to become more ā€˜middle-age’ focus, according to recent news.

The announcement was made in a letter to all staff, sent by CEO-incumbent, Wang Li, who currently serves as Momo’s president and COO, and is poised to take over as CEO from the founder, Tang Yan on November 1, 2020.

Once known as ā€˜Chinese Tinder’, Momo then pivoted to a live stream platform, prior to the recent announcement.

According to Wang Li, we are entering "a new era of middle-aged people".

Source: https://36kr.com/p/937827384597381


Notes:

  • Momo: Founded in 2011, Momo is a free social search and instant messaging mobile app that allows users to chat with nearby friends and strangers. Momo filed for a NASDAQ IPO on November 7, 2014, and was listed in December 2014.


Asia Markets

JPMorgan PB says 'very constructive' on China, EM Asia

Markets Summary: https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/world-indexes/asia-pacific

Top Tweet

Filipino martial artist coming to cinemas near you.


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Yours, Eastly


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