Sales of IPhone X Begin: Can Apple Live up to the Hype?

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4 November 2017, 10:52

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple’s iPhone X went on sale Friday, as the company scrambles to meet demand for a marquee device that sports a lush screen, facial-recognition skills and a $1,000 price tag.

Most analysts have predicted Apple won’t be able to catch up with demand until early next year.

But the company is optimistic. “As we approach the holiday season, we expect it to be our biggest quarter ever,” CEO Tim Cook told Wall Street analysts Thursday. He added that the company is increasing its iPhone X production capacity every week.

Apple is now giving delivery times of three to four weeks, down from five to six weeks, for those ordering online. Lines formed outside stores in New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Milan, Italy, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, among others, as customers came to pick up orders or to grab one of the limited numbers available for same-day sales Friday.

Shares rose 2.8 percent to $172.89 in midday trading Friday.

Apple had said Thursday that iPhone sales rose 3 percent, to 46.7 million, in the July-September quarter, a period that saw the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus come out in the final weeks. Sales could have been higher if many customers hadn’t been waiting for the iPhone X.

As with recent quarters, one of the main sources of Apple’s growth is coming from its services, which are anchored by an app store that feeds the iPhone and other devices.

Revenue in that division surged 34 percent to $8.5 billion during the July-September period. All told, Apple earned $10.7 billion on revenue of $52.6 billion, compared with a $9 billion profit on revenue of $46.9 billion a year earlier.

Nonetheless, the just-ended quarter largely became an afterthought once Apple decided to release the iPhone X six weeks after the iPhone 8.

“The Super Bowl for Apple is the iPhone X,” GBH analyst Daniel Ives said. “That is the potential game changer.”

But it also brings a potential stumbling block. While conspiracy theorists might suspect that Apple is artificially reducing supply to generate buzz, analysts say the real reason is that Apple’s suppliers so far haven’t been able to manufacture the iPhone X quickly enough.

Making the iPhone X is proving to be a challenge because it boasts a color-popping OLED screen, which isn’t as readily available as standard LCD displays in other iPhone models. The new iPhone also requires more sophisticated components to power the facial-recognition technology for unlocking the device.

Even with the iPhone X’s delayed release, Apple is still struggling to catch up.

Apple is counting on the iPhone X to drive even higher-than-usual sales during the first nine months of next year — a scenario that might not play out if production problems persist and impatient consumers turn instead to phones from Google or Samsung.

“What Apple needs to do is manage consumer expectations so they don’t get frustrated having to wait for so long for a new phone,” Ives said.

Analysts believe Apple can pull off the juggling act.

Forrester’s Julie Ask said would-be buyers aren’t likely to switch to Android just because they can’t get an iPhone X right away. At most, Ask said, it will delay when Apple gets revenue.

They are expecting the company to sell 242 million iPhones in the fiscal year ending in September 2018 — the most in the product’s history. The previous record was set in 2015 when Apple shipped 231 million iPhones, thanks to larger models introduced just before the fiscal year began. By comparison, Apple shipped nearly 217 million iPhones in its just-completed fiscal 2017.

If Apple falters, investors are likely to dump its stock after driving the shares up by 45 percent this year on the expectation that the iPhone X will be the company’s biggest hit yet.

Story: Michael Liedtke and Tali Arbel

Plenty Tickets Left For Michael Bolton in Bangkok Next Week

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Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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4 November 2017, 10:35

BANGKOK — Nineties soft-rock pop icon Michael Bolton – sans the flowing locks – is coming to town next week and, yes, there are still tickets to hear the man himself behind “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, “When A Man Loves A Woman” and many, many other songs with the word “love” in the title.

On Nov. 11, Bolton’s Asian Dream Tour will bring him to Bangkok’s Muang Thai GMM Live House atop CentralWorld at 7pm. Tickets range from 2,500 baht to 8,500 baht and are available online.

Bolton, 64, is a multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late ‘80s for his pop-rock super ballads.

Monitor Lizard Found in Southern California Backyard

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Associated Press

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4 November 2017, 10:25

A four-foot-long crocodile monitor, a lizard that can grow to eight feet long, sunning itself Wednesday on a hedge in Williams' backyard in Riverside, California. It's legal to own them in the California. It's currently in the custody of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, and if the owner doesn't claim it, the monitor will be sent to a sanctuary for exotic animals. Photo: J. Craig Williams

RIVERSIDE, California — A lizard that can grow to be 8 feet long has been found in Southern California, thousands of miles from its native land, and authorities think it’s a pet gone astray.

The 4-foot-long crocodile monitor was spotted sunning itself on top of a hedge Wednesday afternoon in the backyard of a Riverside home.Update:

The crocodile monitor is a relative of the famous Komodo dragon. It’s native to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia — not California — but it is legal to own them in the state.

It’s green and yellow with big claws, a long tail and a forked tongue.

It is legal to own in California.

The big lizard is now being held by Riverside County’s animal services division. If the owner doesn’t claim it, the monitor will be sent to a sanctuary for exotic animals.

Update: “Chopper” reunited with owner

Work at Khaosod English. Do Great Things.

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Todd Ruiz, Editor

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4 November 2017, 10:11

Khaosod English is looking for tenacious and talented reporters to cover everything from street crime and politics to development and nightlife in Bangkok.

Are you a compulsive communicator who knows how to get the story? Can you write crisp copy on the news of the day as well as thoughtful features? Have your finger on the pulse of Bangkok’s trends, neighborhoods, restaurants, nightlife and the arts?

If so, we have a job for you in a news organization that values truth-telling, high professional standards and online innovation. Our ideal candidates are bicultural, bilingual Thai nationals with a keen interest in telling it like it is without equivocation. Humor and wit are a plus, as is some tech savvy.

We prize newsroom diversity as essential to serving our readers.

Staff Reporter

Filling a full-time position for staff news reporter. Someone to venture into the field and cover the news of the day while building contacts, developing sources and mining the Bangkok beat for enterprising stories. The ideal candidate is a fearless truth-teller who finds stories by starting with the affected and afflicted. Must take initiative and smolder with determination to chase down stories and find sources. Two to three years of professional journalism experience and a related degree preferred.

Candidates should send a letter of inquiry, CV and writing samples to Todd Ruiz at [email protected].

Staff Reporter

Filling a full-time position for staff lifestyle reporter. Ideal candidate can write smart stories about everything from food and fine arts to underground music, with an eye for trend pieces which tell the story of Bangkok through its people. The writer should be interested in identifying emergent behaviors and subcultures which reflect the diversity of people who live here. Always looking for the new and cool? We want the real stuff, not PR-engineered fluff. One to two years of professional journalism experience or equivalent is preferred, as is a related degree.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Candidates should send a letter of inquiry, CV and writing samples to Todd Ruiz at [email protected].

Digital Sales Manager

Khaosod English is seeking a highly motivated Digital Marketing Manager with a phone full of industry contacts. Main responsibilities are growing sales and managing sponsored content and ads on KhaosodEnglish.com.

Specific duties include seeking out and contacting clients, maintaining sales workflow, closing deals and managing the production of sponsored media content in traditional and nontraditional channels. We’re seeking someone who has proven she or he can close deals. Recent grads with some experience and a lot of energy and enthusiasm are encouraged to apply. Experience should be in digital media, entertainment or advertising. The job will go to someone who is organized, outgoing and aggressive about closing deals. Ideal candidate already has industry contacts in Bangkok, Thailand and the region.

Applicants should send a letter of inquiry, CV and relevant materials to [email protected].

Embark For 19th Century Bangkok at Historic Chinese Pier

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Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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3 November 2017, 18:17

BANGKOK — Eat, seek divine help in love and marvel at a restored 167-year-old Chinese pier which opened Friday.

After its historic shrine and 19th-century architecture were updated with modern restaurants and shops, Lhong 1919, a 6-rai complex on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, is being returned to service with much of its antique character intact.

“This place used to be like the Suvarnabhumi Airport of 150 years ago,” Peeraya Boonprasong, a conservation architect says in a promotional video for Lhong 1919, explaining how the pier was a hub for overseas merchants. “This historically significant spot links together Thai, Chinese and Thai-Chinese history.”

The pier buildings have been restored after a year-long effort, and visitors can peruse the Sino-Thai port architecture, especially the wall paintings in the shop rooms where merchants would display their wares.

This opening weekend, Lhong 1919 will hold outdoor markets from 4pm to 10pm as well as a lantern festival on Sunday. The Meng Por Pla ngiew, or Chinese opera, troupe will perform twice daily at 4pm and 10pm, Friday through Sunday in front of the Mazo Shrine.

Lhong means “pier” in Chinese, and the venue’s name was derived from site’s original name of Huay Chun Lhong (Steamboat Pier). The largest in Thailand before falling into disuse when the Port Authority took over, it was founded by a nobleman who invested in steamboats during the reign of King Rama IV.

The property is now owned by the long-established Wang Lee Clan. Their historic Baan Wang Lee clan house is right next to the complex and also open to the public.

Visitors can ask for riches, luck and love at the 167-year-old Mazo Shrine. During Huay Chun Lhong’s heyday in the mid-1800s, Chinese merchants would ask the very same shrine for prosperous sales and safe travels.

“This was the center of faith of the Chinese people in Thailand,” Pimpraphai Bisalputra, historian said in another video on Lhong 1919’s Facebook page. “Chinese communities received Empress Cixi’s dignitaries who visited during [King] Rama V’s reign at the pier, filling the whole river bank with toh jeen [Chinese banquet tables] and ngiew performances.”

“We want people to come see Lhong 1919 and its Chinese art and culture,” spokeswoman Aapuporn Sudjai said Friday by phone. “Come view the historical sites and architecture while enjoying the riverside.”

Lhong 1919 is located in the Chiang Mai Alley in Khlong San district, reachable by taxi from BTS Saphan Taksin. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

19990036 472328739783221 5591855387790193378 n e1509707134245 — The Mazo Shrine at Lhong 1919. Photo: Lhong 1919 / Facebook

23116885 519429981739763 6321531863987192209 o e1509707150177 — Chinese performers at the opening of Lhong 1919 on Thursday. Photo: Lhong 1919 / Facebook

S 6932438306496 e1509707182225 — Chinese opera performers Thursday night at Lhong 1919. Photo: Prachachat

S 6932535801483 e1509707195925 — The historical pier buildings at Lhong 1919 Thursday. Photo: Prachachat

Yi Peng Lanterns Soar Into Sky Tonight (Photo)

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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3 November 2017, 15:23

CHIANG MAI — More massive lanterns will be freed into the northern Thai sky tonight as the famous lantern festival continues today.

The annual Yi Peng Festival started Thursday and runs through Saturday at several venues in Chiang Mai city, including the municipal offices on Wang Sing Kham Road, the Three Kings Monument, Lanna Folklife Museum, Nawarat Bridge and Ping River.

More than 50,000 lanterns were launched into the sky Thursday night.

Throughout the three-day annual festival, tourists are allowed to release both fire and smoke lanterns at Nawarat Bridge between 7pm and 1am. The event also features live dance performances, as well as Mr. Yi Peng and Miss Yi Peng contests.

Yi Peng is celebrated on the full moon in November, concurrently with the Loy Krathong Festival.

Civil aviation authorities canceled 78 flights to Chiang Mai International Airport on Friday and Saturday due to the lantern release.

Singapore ‘Escape 56’ Party Comes to Bangkok Saturday

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Mongkorn Timkul, Correspondent

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3 November 2017, 12:26

In this week’s Notes From the Underground, we get to know Singaporean DJ and promoter Kim Khan Zaki, or Zig Zach, a guy who along with his Thai business partner DJ Sunju Hargun is bringing Singapore’s dope af “warehouse” event Escape 56 to Bangkok.

On Saturday the two will let Bangkok party-goers know what all the hype’s about at Viva Market Ekkamai. Supplying the beats will be Berlin techno pioneer Roman Flugel.

Singapore’s strict laws don’t make the country a place to find squat parties, illegal raves or anything of the sort. This being conservative Asia, the only way to do anything similar to that is to get support from sponsors.

But most importantly, it’s getting the thumbs-up from the authorities. In other words, going corporate may take the fun out of things, but as they say, “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em.”

Started in 2016, Escape 56 has earned props for taking the clubbing experience to various locales throughout the city and has hosted techno royalty such as Ame and Red Axes.

The event’s brainchild Zach was schooled by spending many late nights grooving to DJs such as Jeff Mills and Jazzy Jeff at Singapore’s famed nightspot Zouk in the early 2000s.

Taking in all this music would inspire him to buy turntables and learn to mix beats. Zach would try his hand and go on to organize house parties, later becoming a regular in Singapore’s club and festival circuit.

“I guess I can tell my parents that all those years of partying were put to good use and are finally paying off,” Zach said.

I asked Zach a few more questions about his life now. Here’s what he had to say.

Mongkorn Timkul: Is difficult finding locations for your events and also to get the okay from authorities?

Zach: Yeah it is difficult to find locations and also sometimes getting the approval. I spend a lot of time searching for cool sites. Singapore is a small place so venues are limited and also sometimes the authorities can be tough to convince. Singapore isn’t exactly the most easy going country in the world.

MT: So you are expanding to Bangkok, do you have this event lined up as a one off or do you plan on doing more in the future?

Z: We will definitely want to do more parties in the future. Me and Sunju Hargun, who is my business partner and a very good friend have other dates and acts lined up for 2018. We should be locking things down soon once we finish November’s event.

MT: In your opinion what do you think will set “Escape 56” apart from any other events in Bangkok?

Z: The difference will be in the quality of the music. We want to bring forward-thinking guest DJs and producers into the Bangkok scene. I feel like a lot of the times the acts I book for Singapore don’t get to play in Bangkok, and it’s a real pity. There are a lot of music lovers and very talented DJs / producers in Thailand, but they also need to be able to check out all these acts to get inspired and to be able to be motivated to want to move forward.

MT: How do you find the crowd in Bangkok different from Singapore? Do you feel a different vibe here?

Z: I love Bangkok, this is like second home for me. Thai people are definitely a lot more fun. People know how to party and let loose here. Singapore can be stiff at times with all the strict rules and laws. I’m really looking forward to doing more things in Bangkok.

Escape 56 BKK Feat. Roman Flügel (Dial/DE) runs from 6pm through 1am on Saturday at Viva Market Ekamai. Tickets are 800 baht and can be purchased online.

Winter Beer Gardens Returning to Bangkok

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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3 November 2017, 11:52

BANGKOK — Sit outside, sip refreshing draft beer and savor that rare cool breeze.

After being canceled last year in the wake of King Bhumibol’s death, beer gardens will sprout up again all across town for the full month of December. Hallmark events will take place Dec. 1-31 at several Bangkok gathering spots including CentralWorld, Asiatique The Riverfront, The Street Ratchada and Mega Bangna.

The festive events could bring some year-end relief to the major brewers, who saw alcohol sales drop 8 percent so far this year to 1.8 billion baht.

Edmond Neo Kim Soon, executive vice president of ThaiBev, said his company will host a Chang Beer Garden and launch marketing campaigns to boost brand sales. Limited editions with shrink wrap and 1.5 litre champagne-style bottles will be available at the end of the year and early 2018, Kim said.

Parin Malakul Na Ayutthaya of Thai Asia Pacific Brewery, the authorized brewer and distributor of Heineken, Tiger and Cheer, said sales are expected to bubble up in closing two months of the year.

The brewers, along with Singha-maker Boon Rawd, will host a series of beer gardens at CentralWorld. Thai craft beer brewers are preparing to organize a craft beer event on Dec. 31 at Show DC in the Rama IX area.

Tokyo Company Gives Extra Holidays to Nonsmoking Employees

By

Associated Press

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3 November 2017, 11:39

People in April gather at a smoking area in Tokyo. Photo: Koji Sasahara / Associated Press

TOKYO — A marketing company in Tokyo is awarding a novel perk to its non-puffing employees: an extra week’s holiday for nonsmokers.

The corporate planning director for Piala, Hirotaka Matsushima, said Thursday that the company began offering the six days of extra vacation to all of its 120 staff members in September.

“Yes, it’s pretty popular,” said Matsushima, himself a nonsmoker.

He said the policy was installed as a benefit for nonsmokers to compensate for smoking breaks taken by their colleagues. About two-thirds of the company’s employees don’t smoke, he said.

Overall, smoking is still quite prevalent in Japan, with almost 20 percent of over-20-year-olds saying they smoke. Nearly 40 percent of men in their 30s smoke, though that’s down from more than half in 2001, according to government figures.

But most office workers must do their puffing in designated smoking rooms and outdoor areas, and cities are gradually imposing limits on outdoor smoking in public areas. But most restaurants and bars still allow smoking.

Piala, established in 2004, says it provides advertising and automated marketing services for direct marketers and other companies.

Child Sex Offenders to Be Named as Such in US Passports

By

Associated Press

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3 November 2017, 11:29

The United States Department of State seal on a podium at the State Department in 2011 in Washington. Photo: Alex Brandon / Associated Press

WASHINGTON — America’s registered child sex offenders will now have to use passports identifying them for their past crimes when traveling overseas.

The State Department said Wednesday it would begin revoking passports of registered child sex offenders and will require them to apply for a new one that carries a “unique identifier” of their status. Those applying for a passport for the first time will not be issued one without the identifier, which will be a notice printed inside the back cover of the passport book that reads: “The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to (U.S. law).”

The department said in a statement posted to its travel.state.gov website that registered child sex offenders will no longer be issued smaller travel documents known as passport cards because they do not have enough room to fit the notice.

The changes come in response to last year’s “International Megan’s Law,” which aims to curb child exploitation and child sex tourism, but also has been criticized by civil libertarians for being overly broad and targeting only one category of convicted felon.

The law is named for Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl murdered by a convicted child sex offender in New Jersey in 1994. The case drew widespread attention and led to the creation of several state sex offender registries. Government agencies notified Congress on Wednesday the passport requirement of the law had taken effect.

The State Department, which issues U.S. passports, said it will start notifying those affected as soon as it receives their names from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. That agency is charged with identifying child sex offenders and is the sole agency that can add or remove someone from the list.

Affected passport holders will be able to travel abroad on their current passports until the revocations are formalized, the department said, and it wasn’t immediately clear when immigration and homeland security officials would provide that list.

A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency was “exercising additional vetting procedures” to produce those names and that it is a “priority,” but could not say when they would be sent to the State Department.

Critics say the passport requirement will limit the ability of those affected to lawfully travel abroad.

The State Department said the language in the passports “will not prevent covered sex offenders from departing the United States, nor will it affect the validity of their passports.”

However, it also noted that American citizens, like those of other nations, are subject to the entry laws, rules and requirements of countries they wish to visit. Many countries prohibit or place strict restrictions on the travel of convicted felons.

State Department officials said they weren’t aware of any other group of felons who’ll be identified as offenders in their passports.

Story: Matthew Lee

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