NEW YORK-BASED architecture and design firm Rockwell Group is collaborating with Jim Thompson for a second time on a collection of 13 textile patterns titled “Dreams by David Rockwell” that offers an illusive and shadowy quality and is evocative of nature, animal and exotic places.

Founded by Rockwell, and led by the designer and his partners Shawn Sullivan and Greg Keffer, the firm is inspired by theatre, technology, and high-end crafts and is known for creating a unique narrative for each project, ranging from restaurants, hotels, airport terminals and hospitals to festivals, museum exhibitions, and Broadway sets.

In Dreams, Rockwell explores the world of dreams and dreamscapes, combining abstract designs with hints of figurative elements, and interpreting them with gently blurred edges, creating a hazy, misty appearance. Materials such as silk satin, lustrous cut velvet and soft wool give the fabrics a luxurious contrast of texture. The collection is at ethereally soft and mysteriously dark, enhanced with metallic effects and shimmering yarns that capture and reflect the light.

Jim Thompson is also presenting the new “Essentials” collection with four textured upholstery weaves that boast a durable quality. Designs draw their inspiration from natural elements and hand-crafted materials, which are interpreted in a contemporary blend of melange yarns, cut velvets, linen blends and soft chenille. The palette’s must-have neutrals are accented with bolder hues gathered from the glorious colours in the tropical landscape of Thailand, from cinnabar reds and saffron gold to palm greens and leafy chartreuse.

For the latest wall covering collection “Sisal”, the brand introduces hand-woven sisal grass cloth to expand the range of the brand’s artisanal offerings. Created sustainably from the lustrous fibres of the agave plant, sisal wall coverings get their hues from water-based vegetable dyes, and are then woven by hand. Dyed paper backing adds coordinating or contrasting colour backgrounds. The collection of is offered in a dazzling range of more than 40 shades, providing myriad options for adding natural texture to the walls of any interior. Class A flame rating and VOC free materials make these a versatile option for residential and commercial settings alike.

Its sister brand No 9 Thompson also introduces a collection “Jamboree Velvets” comprising of three different layouts and scales in a 100-per-cent cotton pile velvet. The colour palette of Jamboree Velvets works in sync with all previous collections. Whilst the fabric makes for excellent upholstery – with a Martindale abrasion test of 50,000 turns – it also makes for handsome as curtains.

The collection of wallpaper panels “Take the Stage” is inspired by the loose painting of theatrical backdrops that Richard Smith, the brand’s creative director, hand painted to create very different moods. They work equally well enhancing existing architectural features in an older property as making a statement in a plainer space.

Palm Court and Maharaja patterns comprise two co-ordinating panel designs that fit together. Secret Garden, Tiger Fight and Tigers in the Grass patterns are sold as rolls of three adjoining drops giving an entire panel per roll. Trellis and Trellis Panel are conventionally repeating designs sold on a 10m roll.

Another sister brand Studio B also launches a collection called “Pattern Play” featuring several traditional and modern patterns that have been interpreted by the Atlanta-based visual artist Brian Carter who believes that the imperfect and irregular are beautiful. His artist’s eye is attuned to what most of us fail to notice in our everyday surroundings, and he is able to translate this vision into the shapes and patterns that energise his work.

Carter is collaborating with Jim Thompson Fabrics on its Studio B brand, with four collections to date namely Debut, Colorbox, Sketchbook, and Pattern Play. Each collection showcases his ability to seamlessly mix various mediums, including paint, ink and pencil, and techniques such as stamping and brushwork to create unique effects.

A NEW TV designed to appeal to young generation viewers at a price they can afford, the Coocaa 40S3A21T is the Chinese brand’s flagship 40-inch Android-based smart TV with good image quality and convenient smart functions provided by voice-command Google Assistant.

The 40S3 runs on Android 8.0 Oreo with Good Assistant to allow you to conveniently give voice commands to enjoy various functions.

You can simply press the OK button on the remote and say “Hey Google” to get all the help you need from your Google Assistant. For example, you can use the voice search function to find a specific TV show or a YouTube clip. You can also tell Google Assistant to fetch the latest weather information so you can plan your day.

The 40S3 comes with YouTube player pre-installed so you can easily play clips with just one click on the remote.

You can also purchase movies via the Google Play Store and download and install apps.

During the test, I downloaded and installed the iflix app and was able to stream HD movies without any problems. The TV has fast Wi-Fi 802.11ac wireless connection and I tested it on True Online’s True Super Fibre 50/20 Mbps. The iflix movies and YouTube clips played smoothly during the test.

And the 40S3 has Chromecast built in that allows you to cast movies from apps like TrueID TV that are not available for download and install them directly to the TV.

The 40S3 looks sleek and has thin bezels because it uses FOCL (Frameless Open-cell Lock-in Technology) to eliminate the top, left and right frames allowing the viewer to maximise their home entertainment. And the regular 40-inch TV has a 97-per cent screen-to-body ratio, providing customers with a more immersive viewing experience.

It has two small stands that were quickly and easily installed too.

The 1920×1080-pixel resolution comes with brightness of 230 nits and high contrast ratio of 5000:1.

Picture modes are standard, vivid, movie, game and user. I tested it out in standard move and the pictures were bright and colourful. The 40S3 also has four sound modes –standard, music, sport and movie. To watch movies, choose the latter as it boosts the dialogue so it can be heard more clearly.

The 40S3 has three HDMI ports for connecting to Full HD TV sources, such as TrueVisions satellite receiver. It also has two USB ports for connecting to external hard drive or a mouse.

During the test, I used a USB port to connect to a wireless mouse and the mouse worked well in controlling various apps.

Since the 40S3 is an Android TV, setting it up was a breeze. It offered to use all the data from my Android phone and Google account on my Sony Xperia XZ Premium to set up the Google account on the TV. The auto Android setup feature also imported the Wi-Fi setting from my phone to the TV.

Then, the 40S3 guided me to set up the terrestrial digital TV. It has a DVB-T2 digital TV tuner so it can tune in to digital TV broadcasts in Thailand without the need of an external receiver. I found during the test that all HD digital TV channels were displayed sharply and vividly.

Once you’ve completed set up, a home screen appears from which you access installed apps, YouTube clips and recently played clips as well as Google Play Store.

Apart from using voice commands via Google Assistant, you can also use Android Remote control on your smartphone to control the TV. You can easily type on the smartphone instead of using the remote to click on the on-screen keyboard. Your phone and TV must be connected with the same Wi-Fi router though, so do check before trying.

To watch a TV channel, you must select the Live TV app that will allow you to select either DVB-T2 tuner or an HDMI source to connect to your TV source.

The name Coocaa may not be familiar to Thais but it is a well known abroad. It currently operates under Skyworth RGB Electronics and has a presence in more than 40 countries including Germany and Japan.

The Coocaa TVs are made in nine factories, including one in Indonesia, which serves as Coocaa’s manufacturing base in Southeast Asia. Its Indonesian factory has more than 23 years of experience in making TVs for Japanese brands and has thus acquired Japanese-quality standard.

Coocaa TVs have three-year warranty and the brand has more than 100 service centres around the country with a central call centre.

Coocaa 40S3A21T has a suggested retail price of only Bt8,490 and will be launched as part of the 12.12 campaign on Lazada.

>> OS: Android 8.0

>> Display: 40-inch LED TV with 1920×1080 pixel |resolution

>> Brightness: 230 nits

>> Contrast ratio: 5000:1

>> Viewing angel: 176/176

>> Response time: 9.5ms

>> Back light time: 30,000 hours

>> Digital TV tuner: DVB-T/T2

>> Audio formats supported: |L-PCM, AC3, AAC, DTS

>> Inputs: 3 HDMI ports, 1 CVBS, L/R

>> Output: 1 Optical audio

>> Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 1 LAN (RJ-45) port, 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0

CHARGE, a popular fitness tracker from Fitbit, is now better, with the third in the series, Fitbit Charge 3, showing several improvements.

The new design makes the fitness tracker lighter and thus more comfortable to wear. It’s now waterproof to 50 metres, so you can use it while diving.

Also added is Fitbit Pay for use with a credit card and a crisp touch-screen display that’s larger and brighter than its predecessor, offering a more intuitive experience with easy access to your most important information.

The touch button comes in an “induction” design so it fits seamlessly.

Another improvement is that it can now display alerts from your phone and can use some apps that run on Fitbit smartwatches. And its battery is longer lasting, allowing you to use the gadget for up to seven days on one charge.

All these improvements make Charge 3 highly recommended for Charge fans and those seeking a good fitness tracker to stay fit and healthy.

Fitbit said initial pre-order sales indicated strong adoption among both new and existing consumers. It said 54 per cent of Fitbit.com pre-orders are from loyal and engaged customers who owned two or more devices before ordering Charge 3.

This initial consumer demand is supported by IDC estimates, which predict shipments of fitness trackers will continue to drive a significant portion of the overall wearables category for the next several years.

The Charge 3 is crafted from lightweight materials, including an aerospace-grade aluminium case and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display for a slimmer, modern silhouette, increased durability and more comfortable fit.

The Charge 3 is 0.83 inch wide and 1.41 inches long. The display is 1.57 inches diagonally. It has two strap-band sizes to choose from – the small band is for a 140-180mm wrist and the larger for a 180-220mm wrist. Both are easily swapped with the press of a button.

During the test, I found that Charge 3 was really comfort to wear, especially for tracking sleep.

The large back-lit display is easy to read. The display automatically adjusts to lighting conditions. You can also change the brightness of the screen by choosing from dim, normal and auto brightness.

Charge 3 is easy to use. You can swipe up from clock face to access the on-device dashboard and swipe down to access smart notifications. You can also swipe left from clock face to access on device apps. The inductive button on the left side is used to return to the previous screen by quickly pressing it.

To start using Charge 3, you need to register an account with Fitbit.com to use its cloud storage to record and track your fitness statistics and of course the heart rate info that may be handy one day if your doctor needs it in case of irregular beat detected. The cloud service also sends email to sum up your status and progress on a weekly basis.

The stats recorded by Charge 3 will be synced to your account through Fitbit app installed on your smartphone.

The Charge 3 uses enhanced 24/7 PurePulse heart-rate technology that delivers greater accuracy than Charge 2 during popular exercise activities such as running, jogging, spinning and interval training, plus a better measure of calorie burn and resting heart rate to help you optimise workouts and uncover health trends.

It monitors your heart rate all day and all night to record and reveal your resting heart rate trends over time and follow your progress.

As a fitness tracker, Charge 3 tracks activities like steps, distance, floors climbed, active minutes and calories burned to show how every part of your day impacts your goals.

For me, it recorded more than 13,000 steps in one day, translating into about 9.4 kilometres. And it’s good that Charge 3 also counts floors climbed. It reported that on that day I climbed 18 floors.

Fitbit Charge 3 also automatically recognises exercises like runs, swims, elliptical, sports and more and records them for you in the Fitbit app. It automatically records exercise lasting 15 minutes. You can customise the automatic recognition with the Fitbit app.

After Charge 3 is connected to your phone, the tracker can use the phone’s GPS to give accurate real-time pace and distance for outdoor runs and bicycle riding. I tested this feature for a short five-kilometre walk by using the “Run” sport on Charge 3 and it worked fine.

Charge 3 also has Female Health Tracking function that comes up automatically when you register your account as a woman. It lets women track menstrual periods, record symptoms and see a predicted ovulation calendar.

If you love to swim, you’ll be happy that Charge 3 can now track that too. You need first to set your pool length. Charge 3 lets you see real-time duration in the water on your wrist. You can later sync to the Fitbit app to see laps, distance and pace.

The Swim mode is one of six exercise modes available on Charge 3 at the default setting. Other modes are Run, Bike, Treadmill, Weights an Interval Workout. Actually, there are over 15 modes to choose from.

You need to use Fitbit app on your phone to change the exercise modes on Charge 3. You must first remove some pre-installed ones and select new ones. Other modes include Golf, Tennis, Yoga, Hike, Kickboxing, Circuit Training, Martial Arts, Stairclimber, Spinning and Walk.

A nice feature of Charge 3 is that it lets you stay connected with smart notifications from your phone for calls, texts and calendar alerts. You can also choose which of your favourite apps you want to receive notifications on your wrist.

The Charge 3 comes preinstalled with three phone apps – Alarms, Weather and Timers. Fitbit says a Calendar app will be released soon.

The Charge 3 has Fitbit Pay that lets you record your credit card data, like the card number, expiry date, name and security code. You can then pay at shops that accept contactless NFC payments. Fitbit says Fitbit Pay is supported by Kasikorn Bank, KTC and Siam Commercial Bank in Thailand.

There are two versions of Charge 3 – normal and special edition – and both are available in a graphite aluminium case or blue grey with a rose-gold aluminium case.

In some countries, Fitbit Pay is available only on the special edition, but in Thailand, Fitbit Pay is available for both normal and special editions.

I got to test the special edition, which also has an additional Black Classic Band apart from a Frost White Sport band for the graphite body and a Lavender Woven ban for Rose Gold body, while the normal edition provides only Classic Band in two sizes, small and large.

Fitbit Charge 3 normal edition retails for Bt6,490 and special editor for Bt6,990. Accessories range from Bt990 to Bt1,890. Charge 3 is available at retail partner stores, including B2S, Life, King Power, Powerbuy, VMart and Lazada.

>> Dimensions: 0.89x.141 inch

>> Band sizes: Small, 5.5-7.1 inch, large, 7.1-8.7 inch

>> Sensors & Components: |3-axis accelerometer, Optical heart rate monitor, Altimeter, Vibration motor, Relative SpO2 sensor, NFC

>> Display: 1.57-inch |touch-screen greyscale OLED

>> Memory: Saves seven days of detailed motion data minute by minute; saves daily totals for past 30 days

>> Water Resistance: To 50 meters.

>> Radio transceiver: Bluetooth 4.0

>> Battery: Lithium-polymer, two-hour charge time, up to seven days. Battery life and charge cycles vary with use, settings and other factors

THE END of the pager era is nigh in Japan after five decades, with the country’s last provider announced on Monday it would be scrapping its service next year.

Tokyo Telemessage, the only pager service provider left standing, said it had decided to terminate its service to Tokyo and three neighbouring regions in September 2019 – describing the development as “very regrettable”.

“Pagers were once a huge hit… but the number of users is now down to 1,500,” the company said in a statement, adding it had stopped manufacturing the hardware device 20 years ago.

Pagers – known as “poke-beru” (pocket bell) in Japan – became very popular in the 1990s especially among high school girls obsessed by their primitive text messaging functions.

At break time, long queues of high school girls would form outside public phones as they frantically punched in numbers which were then converted into short messages to classmates and boyfriends.

A 1998 file photo shows a Nippon Iridium employee displaying a pager of Iridium satellites telephone service, made by Japan’s electronics giant Kyocera at the company’s head office in Tokyo. /AFP

At the 1996 peak for the technology, the number of users reached more than 10 million, according to government data.

But mobile phones quickly consigned pagers to the technology dustbin.

Major telecoms company NTT, which introduced pagers back in 1968, stopped its service in 2007.

Visitors to Japan are often surprised at the contrasting use of technology in Japan.

On the one hand, Japan is a land of high-tech and futuristic gadgets but can also sometimes be bizarrely old school – for example, faxes are still routinely used as a method of communication.

When the last North Korean missile flew over Japan, one of the more surreal moments was TV footage showing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe learning about the emergency – on his flip-phone.

And the Japanese minister in charge of cyber security recently made international headlines when he admitted that he delegated computer work to others.

Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, who is also in charge of the 2020 Olympics, also appeared confused by the concept of a USB drive.

“THAI will increase its flight frequency on the route between Bangkok and Sapporo from 7 to 10 flights per week, effective immediately. THAI flights have become more and more popular among Japanese passengers travelling to Thailand and therefore resulted in a steady increase in demand for air travel between Thailand and Japan,” says Wiwat Piyawiroj, THAI Executive Vice President, Commercial.

THAI carries a large number of Thai passengers on their way to Sapporo, especially during the winter season. For added passenger comfort and convenience, THAI is offering two Royal Orchid Holidays package tours to Hokkaido: a 3-day 2-night Hokkaido Winter Break package for travel now until March 31, with prices starting at Bt18,700 per person (inclusive of roundtrip air ticket in Economy Class, hotel accommodation, and breakfast, as well as free JR train tickets if the hotel specified in the program is selected) and a 5-day 4-night Hokkaido Snow Forever Fun package with prices starting at Bt36,300  per person (inclusive of roundtrip air ticket in Economy Class, JR train tickets from Sapporo to the airport, ground transportation from the airport to the ski resort, and breakfast), as well as 1,200 complimentary Royal Orchid Plus miles.

For more information on the tour packages, call (02) 356 2888.

Christoph Bullen, parent company Siam Piwat’s head of visual communication and design, took as his inspiration the Northern Lights, recreating the Aurora Borealis’ nightly dances across the sky in glimmering navy blue, green and violet.

The art installations across OneSiam assume marvellous crystalline shapes and glitter like an Arctic glacier, with Santa’s elves along for the ride.

Each of the three malls has a Christmas tree that suits its character. At Siam Paragon is a 15-metre-tall Crystal Tree radiating colourful light to illuminate the Crystal Walk out front, with its own tunnel of lights.

The tree at Siam Center is a construction of triangular prisms forming the shape of a pyramid. It was inspired by the kinetic, futuristic installations of Pantone, whose works are currently on display at the mall. There’s also an Elf Forest and Elf Village.

Siam Discovery has the Circular Living Recycled Christmas Tree to promote environmental conscientiousness. It’s made of reused materials, including thousands of CD cases, and stands 10 metres high. Visitors are welcome to decorate it with their own recyclable materials.

From December 24 to 31, performers from Europe will be entertaining shoppers.

Theatre Tol from Belgium combines popular seasonal tales with bicycle stunts. The Romantic Carillion from Italy works magic on the piano as ballerinas dance. And Teatro Pavana from the Netherlands, its members clad in red silk, will present “Danzanti”, elegant yet rapid dance moves to upbeat music.

Singers Popetorn Soonthornyanakij, Jetrin Wattanasin and Burin Boonvisut will be at Park Paragon on December 31 to lead the New Year countdown.

Saturday will be of particular interest to manga fans as it brings three Japanese manga artists in for book signings. Kouzuki Rin of “Kokuyou no Sheikh wa Ai o Sasayaku” will be on hand from 11 to noon; Miyoshi Naohito with “Yu-Gi-Oh” from 1 to 2.10pm; and Verginia Nitouhei with “Isekai Izakaya Nobu” from 3 to 4pm.

Get your tome signed by showing a payment receipt of more than Bt400. Find out more by calling (02) 255 9834.

Dancing in the dark

“Exodus: the 13th International Butoh Festival Thailand 2018” rounds out the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre’s “Performative Arts Festival” with performances and workshops continuing through December 15.

Japan’s Fujieda Mushimaru leads the “Natural Physical Poetry” workshop on Saturday and Sunday at Room 401 while Ledoh facilitates a second intensive workshop at the studio on the same floor on December 15.

Mushimaru performs butoh from tomorrow to Sunday and Store House Company takes its turn on the stage on December 14 and 15,

For more information or reservations, call (094) 494 5104, or email: bkkbutoh@gmail.com.

The way we were

Aphisit Sidsunthia examines the aftertaste of sensual perception in the aptly named solo show “Aftertaste” on display at the People’s Gallery of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre until December 27.

The centre is open daily except Monday from 10am to 9pm. For more information, call (02) 214 6630.

Down on the farm

Jim Thompson Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima kicks off its popular farm tour on Saturday and invites Thais and tourists to get out of Bangkok and see where the brand grows its vegetables, and weaves its silk and cotton products. Tour the vegetable and flower plantations, witness the multiple stages of silk production and learn more about the fascinating cultures and traditions of the Isaan region.

The event runs through January 6 and is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Tickets cost from Bt90 to Bt150 at Thai Ticket Major. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

Let’s talk news

Nation TV 22 brings its “Fan Day” back to life with an event at Halls 201-203 of Bitec Bangna on December 16 at 12.30pm.

The upcoming event features seminars by established anchormen Kanok Ratwongsakul, Teera Tanyapaibul and Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham and mini concerts by Hope Family, Chompoo Fruity and Suthep Prayoonpithak.

Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt2,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

The coolest place to pedal in Bangkok, the newly renamed “Happy and Healthy” bike track around Suvarnabhumi Airport is aiming to be the first of its kind in the world.

An inflatable Sky Wing made of recycled PET bottles offers a shady area under which to relax.

First opened in March 2014, the 23.5-kilometre two-lane cycle track was created by Airports of Thailand as part of its corporate social responsibility programme. Costing Bt28.5 million, it was developed from an earthen barrier around the airport perimeter bordering an irrigation canal into an all-weather slip-resistant track, paved with rubberised asphalt concrete. Back then it was called the “Green Bike Lane” and was named one of the world’s best airport bike paths by CNN.

There are several bike tees and racks around the food and beverage zone.

Closed for six months late the following year, it reopened at the beginning of 2016 with a new name – the Sky Lane – and was more biker-friendly than ever with a 1.2-kilometre loop for joggers and kids learning to ride as well as new rest areas, restrooms and snack stalls. Now run in partnership with Siam Commercial Bank, it was also more technological with “Snap Bands” embedded with GPS and radio-frequency identification technology showing cyclists’ location for added security in case of accident.

“Our aim was to make the bike lane the best in Thailand, a place where cyclists can ride happily, healthily and safely while making new friends,” says Prasong Poontaneat, chairman of the Board of Directors of AOT.

In March, the track was once again given a new name – “Charoensuk Mongkholsuk” or “Happy and Healthy” – this one graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, who attended the official inauguration on November 23 and led a bike procession.

A jogging track runs parallel with the 1.6-kilometre bike lane.

“‘Happy and Healthy’ is the motto of this bike lane that makes everyone physically and mentally stronger,” says Prichaya Pibulsonggram, project manager of the bike lane and division head of Bike.SCB. “This bike lane isn’t only a place for cyclists to exercise but also serves as an area for children and adults from all walks of life to get together.”

The Sky Bridge is designed to resemble a bird’s nest.

Today the 23.5km bike lane incorporates the best of world-class standards, with a blue lane for general bikers and a purple lane for more experienced cyclists with signs every 250 metres along its entire length. The 1.6km bike lane also features a parallel running track of the same distance and a bike lane for children. In addition, the project is well-equipped with facilities, comprising a parking space with security system, a 1.2km Sky Bridge linking the car park and bike lane, an emergency medical centre, shops selling and renting bicycles, bicycle equipment and accessories, and food and drink to accommodate both cyclists and members of the public. Further space for 3,500 cars is available at AOT near the bridge.

The health station is run by Samitivej Hospital.

“This newly refurbished bike lane is really unique It features three rest areas and the planes taking off and landing nearby add to the atmosphere,” says Prichaya. “The technology we use makes everything much more convenient for the cyclists, such as the free blue snap used for identification as they come and go to the bike lane and for use as prepaid card used for food court and bicycle shops. Moreover, we have a Snap application that can be downloaded at the app store or from Google Play and a QR code for buying goods and services electronically. It is also environmentally friendly with solar-powered lights on the bike lane and plenty of garbage bins, so no one has an excuse to litter.”

Kids have fun at the pump track.

“The solar-powered LED lighting allows cyclists to ride at night. And the bike lane also boasts the Sky Bridge, which is designed like a bird nest with a beautiful spiral, and an inflatable Sky Wing, which is made of recycled PET bottles. There are 60 bike tees that can hold five bicycles each as well as bike racks,” he adds.

Children are not forgotten, with a special Kid’s Track near the parking lot that has both a 1.2-kilometre track and a pump track for BMX, mountain bike and timber trail with several terrains. There are 30 bicycles, all free of charge, for the kids and a place for parents to watch. The facilities are for children aged 12 and under.

A bike rental shop offers 30 hybrid bicycles and will soon increase its stock of mountain bikes and road bikes. The rental fee is Bt400 for half a day.

“Our staff are on hand to find the bicycle for you together with helmet and lights as well a water bottle,” says Prichaya. “The Sky Wing is used both for special activities and for exercise in the evening, when it’s lit in rotating colours of purple, green and pink.”

“I exercise regularly, usually by running and cycling. A good bike lane really encourages me to go exercise. This place is designed for real cyclists and there are many zones. I like the family zone where families can come and spend their free time together,” commented Artiwara “Toon Bodyslam’ during the press tour.

“We think this bike lane can be better developed and become the No 1 facility of its kind in the world, not just in Thailand. Nowhere else can you find a cycling course of its length so close to the heart of a major city, and with such a safe and comfortable cycling environment. And the development this time will make it bigger and better than ever,” says Dr Vichit Suraphongchai, SCB’s chairman, adding that Prichaya is planning to build a mountain track and a pump track for adults in the near future.

Pedal to the metal

– The “Happy and Healthy cycle track at Suvarnabhumi Airport is open daily from 6am to 8pm.

– Admission is free.

– Find at more at Facebook.com/skylanethailand/ or http://www.Bike.SCB.

In 2018, Apple Books launched as a brand new app, making it effortless for iPhone and iPad users to discover and enjoy books and audiobooks. This year Apple Books celebrates works from a diverse group of authors, including Tommy Orange’s debut There There; Tayari Jones’s American Marriage that is both the Book and Audiobook of the Year; and Rachel Hollis’s Girl, Wash Your Face. Politics dominated the U.S. charts this year with Fire and Fury, Fear and A Higher Loyalty all appearing in the top 10 best-selling nonfiction books. On the fiction front, readers remain rabid for books adapted for the screen, including Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asiansand Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects.

Book of the Year: American Marriage

Best Nonfiction: The Library Book

Best Mystery: The Witch Elm

Best Thriller: Light It Up

Best Bio/Memoir: Educated

Best Romance: Too Wilde to Wed

Best Science Fiction/Fantasy: Spinning Silver

Best Feel-Good Fiction: When Life Gives You Lululemons

Best Literary Fiction: There There

Best Young Reader Book: Harbor Me

Best Audiobooks of the Year

Audiobook of the Year: American Marriage

Best Nonfiction: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Best Mystery: Something in the Water

Best Thriller: Long Road to Mercy

Best Bio/Memoir: Becoming

Best Business Audiobook: Dare to Lead

Best Health, Mind, Body: Girl, Wash Your Face

Best Family Audiobook: Rebound

Best Humor: Calypso

Best Historical Fiction: The Great Alone

2018 Apple Books Charts

This year, investigative reporting underpinned the immersive storytelling of shows such as American Public Media’s In the Dark, The New York Times’s“Caliphate,” along with historical deep dives like Slate’s “Slow Burn.” News and Politics grew as podcast genres in 2018 with The New York Times’s“The Daily” and Crooked Media’s “The Wilderness,” while celebrities and a healthy mix of independents topped this year’s new shows, including Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert,” “Oprah’s Master Class” and Parcast Network’s “Conspiracy Theories” and “Unexplained Mysteries.”

Best Podcasts of the Year

In The Dark

Caliphate

The Dream

Everything is Alive

Slow Burn

Dr. Death

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Bubble

Bundyville

A Very Fatal Murder

Wolverine: The Long Night

Serial

The Daily

This American Life

99% Invisible

Charts

Top 25 Most Downloaded Podcasts of the Year

Top 25 Most Downloaded New Podcasts of the Year