These innovative products, winners of the Taiwan Excellence Awards, are not only for gamers and enthusiasts. Thai consumers will also ain a better understanding of Taiwan’s strengths in information technology.

TAITRA is also promoting Thailand’s e-sport industry by organising the Taiwan Excellence eSports Cup Thailand, with prize money totalling Bt360,000. Thai eSports Cup participants will play for the chance to compete in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament in Taiwan. The Taiwan Excellence eSports Cup Thailand will be open for registration ‪from July 28 to August 11, 2019‬ and will be held ‪September 21-22, 2019‬ at M Floor, Quartier Gallery at the EmQuartier department store.

Taiwan has advanced its economy through investment in the high-tech industries, from manufacturing computers to IT equipment for gaming and e-sport, with its products recognised worldwide, including Thailand, said Jason Hsu, director of the economic division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand. The competition and showcase aims to promote overseas trade for Taiwanese manufacturers.

Thailand is one of the first countries in the region to be influenced by Taiwan’s computer games and online games, thanks to the Thai government’s promotion of e-sport.

According to a report by Newzoo, Thailand’s gaming industry was valued as high as Bt18,000 million in 2017, and its growth has sped up in the past two years in line with worldwide trends.

The first Taiwan Excellence eSports Cup Thailand will present gaming products and innovations for Thai gamers to closely explore. Among the participating manufacturers are ADATA Technology Co Ltd, AVerMedia Technologies Inc, Micro-Star International Co Ltd (MSI) and Transcend Information Inc, with a total of 18 products.

Sensational products include notebooks made especially for gaming, headphones, keyboards, cameras, microphones, screens and memory cards, among others. Other Taiwanese innovative technologies will also be on show at the Taiwan Excellence eSports Cup.

Registered participants will receive a “passport” that can be stamped at booths in the Taiwan Excellence zone, earning them free souvenirs. Also, there will be an activity to guess the tournament results with prizes on offer, a Showcase Zone for interesting products and gaming innovations, and a mini-concert by URBoyTJ and leading actors such as Perth and Plan.

Spots are open for a total of 120 teams for the CS:GO tournament, with registration ‪from July 28 to August 11, 2019‬. Three rounds of online tournaments will be held for successive elimination from 120 teams to 32 teams, 16 teams, and eight teams. The final eight teams will compete in the semi-final and grand final rounds, which will take place over two days at the Taiwan Excellence zone, ‪September 21-22, 2019‬, at M Floor, Quartier Gallery at EmQuartier department store.

The huge increase comes despite the fact that overall breaches and exposed records were down in 2018, said the alliance report, which identifies and promotes security and privacy best practices that build consumer confidence in the internet,

The data shows that cybercriminals are getting better at monetising their activities, said the Cyber Incident & Breach Trends Report. OTA estimates that the more than 2 million cyber incidents in 2018 resulted in over $45 billion (Bt1.3 trillion) in losses, with the actual numbers expected to be much higher as many cyber incidents are never reported.

“While it’s tempting to celebrate a decreasing number of breaches overall, the findings of our report are grim,” said Jeff Wilbur, technical director of the Internet Society’s Online Trust Alliance. “The financial impact of cybercrime is up significantly and cybercriminals are becoming more skilled at profiting from their attacks. So, while there may be fewer data breaches, the number of cyber incidents and their financial impact is far greater than we’ve seen in the past.”

In the report, OTA noted a steep rise in cyber incidents like supply chain attacks, business email compromise and cryptojacking. Some attack types, such as ransomware, are not new but continue to be lucrative for criminals. Others, such as cryptojacking, show that criminals are shifting their focus to new targets. The top trends from the Cyber Incident & Breach Trends Report include:

– The rise of cryptocurrency breeds new cybercriminals.

In conjunction with the increasing prevalence of cryptocurrency comes the rise of cryptojacking, which tripled in 2018. This is a specific type of attack aimed at hijacking devices to harness computer power at scale to efficiently mine cryptocurrency. OTA believes these incidents are increasingly attractive to criminals as they represent a direct path from infiltration to income, and are difficult to detect.

– Deceptive email.

Though well-known as an attack vector, business email compromise doubled in 2018, resulting in $1.3 billion in losses as employees were deceived into sending funds or gift cards to attackers who use email to impersonate vendors or executives.

– Attacks via third parties

Supply chain attacks in which attackers infiltrate via third-party website content, vendors’ software or third-parties’ credentials. Though not new in 2018 (similar past exploits include Target in 2013, CCleaner and Not Petya in 2017), but they continue to proliferate and morph.

– Governments under attack

While the total number of ransomware attacks was down in 2018, the OTA report noted a troubling rise in reported ransomware attacks against state and local governments in 2018 and early 2019.

“Our report findings indicate that cybercriminals are using their infiltration ability to focus on new, more lucrative attacks,” said Wilbur. “Staying up-to-date on the latest security safeguards and best practices is crucial to preventing attacks in the future.”

Nintendo outsources the production of the Switch console mainly to electronics manufacturing service providers. Almost all of the consoles are made in China at present.

Nintendo has been considering shifting its Switch production for a few years. Precautions against possible additional US tariffs are not the only reason for the envisaged relocation, a public relations official said.

The company is expected to keep its global Switch sales target for fiscal 2019 from April unchanged at 18 million units.

The proposed fourth round of additional US tariffs against China includes game consoles.

The United States stopped short of implementing them when US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a trade war truce in their talks late last month.

Wuttichai Wutti-Udomlert, head of network solutions at Ericsson Thailand, said the 5G network was laid down in South Korea earlier this year, and it is already being used in the US and most of Europe, which should encourage local mobile operators to lay down the 5G infrastructure in Thailand.

According to a survey involving 35,000 respondents in 22 countries, including 1,500 in Thailand, Ericsson said it believes that by 2024, to 65 per cent of the global population will be using 5G and that 95 per cent of data traffic will be transmitted via 5G technology by the end of 2024.

The survey was conducted on smartphone users aged between 15 and 69.

The consumption of data is also expected to increase 82 per cent year on year by 2024, reaching 131 exabytes (EB) per month, while video on demand (VoD) and streaming services will account for 75 per cent of mobile data traffic.

“We believe the 5G subscription take-up will be faster than 4G, as it will offer new provisions for various sectors such as automotive, healthcare and entertainment,” Wuttichai said.

He said that there are 7.9 billion mobile subscribers across the world (the global population as of April 2019 stood at 7.7 billion), and around 47 per cent use the 4G-LTE network. Of the 1.54 billion subscribers in Asia-Pacific, Philippines has shown the highest growth.

In Thailand, the survey showed that most mobile users expect 5G technology to be available in a couple of years and that half of them will be ready to switch providers within six months if their operator doesn’t offer the technology.

Thai mobile users are also willing to pay 30 per cent more for selected 5G services, while 50 per cent of the local respondents said they are willing to pay Bt150 extra in fees. The survey also showed that consumers were looking for new 5G-ready applications and services, and will gladly pay for the privilege of using them.

Also, some 76 per cent of Thai consumers believe they will be wearing augmented reality (AR) glasses instead of using mobile phones by 2025. Most of the Thai respondents also said that they will start watching high-definition streamed content once 5G is available.

He added that 88 per cent of the respondents believe they will be making 3D holographic calls on a weekly basis, while 13 per cent believe hologram video calls will replace normal video calls. Some 66 per cent of the respondents believe 5G connectivity in vehicles will be as important as fuel efficiency and that smartphone users in Thailand will consume up to 130GB per month on a 5G device.

“There is growing awareness about 5G technology globally. I think average mobile data usage with 5G devices may increase 10-fold to 70GB per month in Thailand and that 5G uptake will be faster than expected. The top three industries in Thailand that will adopt 5G to support their business will be manufacturers that utilise robotics followed by services such as smart monitoring and public safety,” Wuttichai said.

He added that Ericsson has signed 24 commercial 5G contracts across the world.

Taiwan, China and New Zealand were the biggest winners with four, three and three awards won respectively. Other winning countries included Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

“We’ve seen a surge in cutting-edge Future City projects being deployed across first-tier cities in developed economies. This signals a strong turnaround and commitment by advanced Asia-Pacific governments to create the best ‘live, learn, work and play’ digital ecosystems,” said Gerald Wang, regional head of government and health insights for market researcher IDC.

“Smart City spending globally is expected to reach US$189.5 billion [Bt5.8 trillion] by 2023 [as of June 2019], with the upwards spending growth in transportation, public safety, utilities and education-related projects reflected strongly in almost half of the entries received in these categories.”

IDC’s Smart City Asia Pacific Awards, or SCAPA, are now in their fifth year of recognising private and public organisations that have excelled in 12 categories according to IDC’s Smart City Development Index framework. Past contenders include Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency, Singapore’s Government Technology Agency, and the city governments of Taiwan’s Taipei, China’s Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, South Korea’s Incheon, Daejeon and Busan, Australia’s New South Wales and New Zealand’s Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

This year’s smart city project winners were as follows:

1. Buried Pipe Management System by SmartCity Division (Daegu Urban Corporation, Daegu, South Korea) named Top Smart City Project for Administration.

2. Virtual Wellington by Wellington City Council (New Zealand) named Top Smart City Project for Civic Engagement.

3. Civic Participation Initiative for Taoyuan Citizen Card Application Expansion by Taoyuan City Government (Taiwan) named Top Smart City Project for Digital Equity and Accessibility.

4. Singapore Tourism Analytics Network by Singapore Tourism Board (Singapore) named Top Smart City Project for Economic Development, Tourism, Arts, Libraries, Culture, Open Spaces.

5. Will Digital Teacher by Vector Limited (New Zealand) named Top Smart City Project for Education category, tied with Taipei City Government’s Cross Learning Barriers: Omni Smart Education (Taiwan).

The Asia/Pacific winners are decided based on IDC benchmarking, public voting, and judging from an international advisory council. This year’s regional winners will be pitted against the other regional winners in IDC’s smart city competitions around the world for the opportunity to be named the global IDC smart city champions.

It has a wire-free design, stable connectivity and is a comfortable fit for total listening freedom.

The WF-1000XM3 offers long-lasting battery life and a quick charging function to revolutionise your commute. It also allows you to listen in your own way with Adaptive Sound Control, customisable touch controls and voice assistant.

Exceptional sound quality

Characteristic of the 1000X family, you can enjoy premium, high quality sound on the WF-1000XM3 buds and listen to your music the way that the artist intended. The HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1e also accomplishes stunning sound, thanks to 24-bit audio signal processing and DAC with amplifier.

The WF-1000XM3 buds are specifically designed for improved comfort and stability in the ear. The “ergonomic tri-hold” structure holds the earbuds firmly in place, with three supporting points for the ear. A high-friction rubber surface has also been included to ensure a stable fitting. With four sizes of hybrid earbuds and three sizes of triple comfort earbuds, you can find your perfect fit.

The WF-1000XM3 became available this month in select countries in Asia Pacific.

According to the firm, its “DDingdongs Day” emoji is no longer available on its Kakao Talk app store. After it was launched last year, the emoji gained popularity after some K-pop fans spotted popular boy band BTS members using it.

Japanese developer Yuki Kanai has claimed that Kakao’s emoji plagiarized his “Super High Spirit Cat” emoji developed in 2016. He posted on social media last week that he has asked Kakao to address his allegations.

“The emoji in question was suspended after the Japanese designer complained,” a Kakao official told The Korea Herald.

In his interview with local media, Kanai said he is considering suing the Korean emoji designer for intellectual property violation. The identity of the designer has been withheld due to the ongoing dispute.

Kakao declined to comment on specifics of the legal procedures.

It is not the first time that Kakao has suspended sales of its emojis due to plagiarism allegations. In 2017, “Mushiman” was suspended amid claims that it plagiarized images from Japanese manga series “Death Note.” The developer had pleaded guilty.

“If a designer admits to plagiarism, then we can stop selling the emoji in question,” the Kakao official said. “We will step up our efforts to protect IP rights.”

Emojis are one of the most lucrative business areas for the company, whose business portfolio ranges from finance to blockchain. According to Kakao’s balance sheet last year, 50 emojis accounted for sales worth 50 billion won ($42 million) since it entered the business in 2011

The agency will operate as the “national innovation system integrator”, forging collaborations between academia, technology, industry, finance and other sectors to create real economic and social impacts. The new mission comes with a five-pronged plan: to reform innovation-related laws, build innovative regions, forge new innovative “economic warriors”, strengthen financing for innovation, and create awareness of “Innovation Thailand”.

“The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has declared the NIA will be responsible for manpower development, ecosystems and innovative infrastructure,” explained Pun-Arj Chairatana, executive director of the NIA.

“This merging and restructuring of the new ministry is a turning point that will help drive Thailand forward. Competent manpower will help many sectors be prepared for future changes,” he added.

“Previously, we only focused on supporting innovative entrepreneurs through funding. … Now, NIA is ready to become the ecosystem builder and system integrator between partner organisations and entrepreneurs.

“We have knowledge, an ecosystem, business ideas, open innovation development concepts, and new opportunities to share. This adjustment will also support regional innovation, lower barriers in accessing resources and services, and expand cooperation in other related target activities.”

The NIA’s role as innovation integrator has two dimensions, Pun-Ari explained.

First is horizontal integration of supply-side development by creating a network of agencies which support innovation development in order to strengthen collaboration within the ecosystem. Second is vertical integration of demand-side development by connecting and coordinating with the private sector, civil society and stakeholders for innovation creation with economic and social impact.

To meet this objective, a fivefold plan will unfold between 2020 and 2023 to:

1. Reform innovation laws by reducing limitations and creating a conducive environment for the growth of innovations, such as improving laws on startups law and the use of technology and innovation in business.

2. Build innovative regions to raise equality and strong development in regional innovation networks. NIA will connect local government departments, universities, private sector and communities with three goals: a) Increasing innovation in the workforce, and raising the number of innovators and innovative organisations in the region; b) Developing target industrial clusters in the region to increase investment potential; and c) Supporting the innovation identity of the region in order to expand the investment in the innovation business of the region.

3. Building new innovative economic warriors, which will focus on creating innovators and innovation – especially those with global potential – to enhance the country’s competitiveness. Creating a minimum of 20,000 jobs.

4. Building financing by stimulating support and investment from government agencies, large corporations, financial institutions, and also creating marketing plans for entrepreneurs.

5. Creating awareness of “Innovation Thailand” through cooperation and campaigns that promote global recognition for Thailand and Thais as a hotbed of high-tech and new idea.

Future-oriented strategy will be paired with concrete actions to support plans. For example, the Groom, Grant and Growth programmes will increase opportunities for innovative business development. Groom is an incubator for business entrepreneurs, Grant will support access to funding, while Growth will enhance innovation capability and create investment opportunities on the international stage. Meanwhile area-based organisation will take the form of innovation corridors, cities and districts. Lastly, the Startup Thailand programme will support new businesses by enhancing workers’ capacity for innovation via education at the NIA Academy, the Centre for Agricultural Innovation Business, and Innovation Foresight Institute.

The format also offers content based on individual preferences. For instance, if one user likes watching videos, then products they may consider buying will also be provided in video format.

Jiang Fan, president of Alibaba subsidiaries Taobao and Tmall, said these next-generation flagship stores are part of a series of service and technological innovations that Alibaba plans to roll out this year.

“They will further improve platform efficiency and generate growth for merchants, while bringing all-new, online-to-offline shopping experiences for consumers,” he said.

The new format, which will be launched on Tmall before the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in November, will include features that help merchants engage with customers more directly.

For instance, “brand-loyalty scores” will allow users to collect points for any action taken in a flagship store – be it browsing and adding items to the shopping cart, or playing an interactive game and leaving a review. The higher the score they get, the more benefits they earn as part of the brand’s “Fan Club”.

Stores will also be able to grab attention with the “drag-down pop-up” feature, in which users can “drag down” pop-ups (which Tmall refers to as “store lofts”) above a flagship store’s homepage for additional information.

Brands will also be able to feature content powered by augmented reality (AR) and 3D, such as magic mirror to virtually try on make-up or artificial intelligence powered skin tests.

The flagship store’s home page can also feature a tab that takes users to a page showing the brand’s closest bricks-and-mortar location, what items are sold there as well as offline perks and services.

This tab was created essentially to give physical stores an online presence and connect online and offline operations.

“We’ve seen content evolve from just text and images to video clips and livestreaming, opening up new avenues for brand expression,” said Alvin Tang, vice president of Alibaba Group and one of the men behind the Tmall Flagship 2.0 launch.

“Today, with the development of AI, AR and 3D technologies, we are able to introduce even more exciting ways for brands to interact with consumers.”

Reporters were able to look closely at how digital technology and innovations were improving product development, production processes, services and marketing, upgrading capabilities effectively and adding value to both agricultural and industrial sectors supported by depa.

Dr. Natthaphon Nimmanacharin, the agency’s president and chief executive, noted that depa is promoting digital entrepreneurs by providing support and funds and took the media to visit entrepreneurs and start-up groups funded and subsidised through the digital transformation fund, digital coupons and mini transformation vouchers. Stops included Suksomboon Palm Oil Industry, which manufactures and distributes palm oil, and Tevada Corp, an expert in agricultural unmanned aircraft technology or drones. Both offered a demonstration of how digital technology was being applied in business management to develop efficiency.

Chachoengsao province-based Tevada Corp is a start-up that uses unmanned aircraft technology for a complete range of services such as a high-precision agriculture and intelligent air transport. The company has some 14-years expertise in small aircraft and drones as well as in electrical systems, electronics and software and provides agricultural drones services, including drones for various spraying of liquids, sowing seeds and fertilizer and the surveillance of plant health with a multispectral camera.

The company also provides plant health analysis services with drones, agricultural measuring instruments and a weather station monitoring service that uses ambient weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind direction and air pressure for data analysis through software and cloud server systems. It also offers a comprehensive agricultural management program, Farm Style, and air transportation system development services with drones. Depa’s support comes through the mini transformation voucher project.

Suksomboon Palm Oil Company, meanwhile, is a manufacturer and distributor of palm oil that uses digital technology. Its Palm Oil and Plant Management System, RSPO and Intelligent Transportation Digital Platform: Smart RSPO Palm Oil Plantation and Logistic Management for Palm Plant Management from upstream to downstream is an app that manages the maintenance garden, cuts production, summarizes the amount of production and forecasts the next production cycle and uses a smartphone to store data in the palms.

All farmers have to do is walk to the palm tree and print information through the application. Various data will be collected before being sent to the central hub at the company’s head office. Through its digital technology, the company helps solve problems for farmers in many areas such as lack of record of palm plantation management, problems with the extraction plant and lack of (FFB) raw material input to the production system and can also help farmers to receive higher returns since they are able to lower the cost of palm production and also reduce labor costs at the same time. The company receives funding from depa under the depa digital transformation fund project.