Eastly - Issue #18 | The Shape Of Innovation 💡

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

Oct 25

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.

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 “build a phone that can really solve many problems”.

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

Not ‘Robocop’ but ‘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 ‘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

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 ‘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 ‘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.