The fun begins at 4pm on April 27 at the beachside resort’s outdoor Laguna Grove. There’ll be pop-up food booths selling international and Peranakan cuisine from Phuket’s top restaurants and authentic local vendor fare. Diners in the garden and picnic area will be entertained with music and culinary shows.

The first evening will again feature a charity concert, this one by Bodyslam and Sweet Mullet, raising funds for special-needs Phuket Panyanukul School. That’s at 8pm and attendance is expected to top 6,000.

Tickets cost Bt400 for a place to stand and Bt500 for a seat in the stage-front VIP zone.

They go on sale on Friday (March 2) at Limelight Avenue in Muang Phuket, the Phuket Indy Market and all Laguna Phuket hotels and offices. Or you can go to http://www.LagunaPhuket.com/foodandmusicfestival.

Back in the Laguna Grove, Russian pianist-opera singer Ivan Sharapov and Phuket-based band Black ’n’ Blue will perform on April 28 and Thai duo Joe & Kong on April 29, with another appearance by Black ’n’ Blue.

Find out more at (076) 362 300, extension 1404, and ticket@lagunaphuket.com.

Every Friday, employees of fashion and sportswear retailer Bjorn Borg leave their desks at the company’s Stockholm headquarters to get their weekly workout at a nearby gym.

There is no getting out of it: for more than two years the company founded by the Swedish tennis legend has made on-the-job exercise mandatory at the initiative of chief executive Henrik Bunge, a 44-year-old built like a wrestler.

“If you don’t want to exercise or be a part of the company culture, you have to go,” says Bunge, without batting an eye. So far no one has quit because of the requirement, he adds.

The main aims of the policy — shared by other firms such as city water company Kalmar Vatten and construction consultancy Rotpartner — are to boost productivity and profitability while fostering camaraderie in the work force.

In 2014, a University of Stockholm study showed that exercising during the workday was advantageous for both employees — who were healthier and more concentrated — and the employer.

The study found there was a 22 percent decline in work absences, not negligible in a country where the average person is on sick leave four percent of the time, twice the European average.

Rosy-cheeked and smiling, the 60 Bjorn Borg employees taking part in this week’s gruelling yoga session head to the changing rooms, their endorphins soaring.

“Most of us think it’s a really good part of the work week,” says employee Cecilia Nissborg.

– Healthy outdoor lifestyle –

Swedes have long been known for their healthy outdoorsy lifestyle. Long walks to pick mushrooms or berries, or just for pleasure, regardless of the weather, are part of their everyday lives.

“In Sweden there’s this idea that you’ll be healthy, strong and happy if you get a lot of exercise, if you spend a lot of time in nature,” says Carl Cederstrom, an economics researcher at Stockholm University and the author of “The Wellness Syndrome”, a critique of the pervasive ideology of wellness.

He notes that it is a common belief in Sweden “that if you exercise and take care of your body, you’re a better person”.

Swedes get more exercise than anyone else in Europe. A 2014 Eurobarometer poll found that 70 percent of Swedes exercised once a week, and 51 percent two to three times a week. At the bottom of the rankings, only 22 percent of Bulgarians exercised once a week.

Swedes also generally see being in shape as a duty to oneself and society, an expectation dating to the 1930s, when a cult of youth, vigour and “social hygiene” flourished, Cederstrom says.

But people also see it as a “responsibility you have to your employer”, he adds.

– ‘Everyone is equal’ at the gym –

Since the late 1980s, most Swedish companies subsidise their employees’ sporting activities — from golf to water aerobics — contributing up to 500 euros ($615) per year, which is tax deductible for the employer.

And some, like at Bjorn Borg, go so far as to organise exercise classes during work time.

Bunge is convinced the workplace he has created has made employees happier and more productive, noting that all the company’s key numbers have gone up since the new regime was introduced.

Mandatory workouts, usually in a group, also have other benefits.

They bring together all the departments of a company, allowing employees to put their work responsibilities aside and get to know each other on an equal footing.

“When we go into the gym, we’re all on the same level. Your place in the company has no importance, everyone is equal,” says Ida Lang, who works in Bjorn Borg’s accounting department.

For Cederstrom, while the search for wellbeing and performance through physical activity is not unique to the Scandinavian country, “Sweden is really extreme when it comes to companies that make exercise on the job mandatory”.

It is a development he finds worrying.

“When you start to think that you’re a better mother or a better father or a better friend if you exercise, you can get to a point where you think that people who don’t live healthily, who are overweight or who smoke, are less good people,” he says.

In addition to cheering on the teams, visitors can enjoy a full range of fun activities and music performances with a pop-up foodie market.

This is the 16th edition of the tournament, which has become one of the biggest charity events in Southeast Asia to raise funds for Thailand’s wild and domesticated elephant population. This year, the event will be donated to various projects including the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand, which supports veterinary and educational projects to improve the year-round lives of elephants and mahouts in Surin Province.

The project has also organised Southeast Asia’s first ever workshop to teach mahouts and vets the benefits of Environmental Enrichment to keep elephants happy as well as the construction of a watch tower in a village whose crops are raided by elephants, allowing villagers to watch and warn other villagers of approaching pachyderms in a safe manner for both man and beast.

The tournament features an impressive opening parade, children’s educational day, a Ladies Day known as the Bangkok Ascot, great foot, hot bands and spins from top DJs.

This year, a group of 20 unemployed ex-street elephants will take part in the event, which they will receive full veterinary checks from the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand, under the patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand and the Department of Livestock Development. In addition, all elephants are given essential vitamins, food and care, which are not available to them during their normal daily lives.

Find out more at http://www.AnantaraElephantPolo.com.

FASHION photographer Jerris Madison thought his titanium rod leg spelled the end of his glamour days when doctors amputated his leg four years ago in a battle with bone cancer.

But in 2016 designers Alleles, a small Canadian company, spotted a photo of him wearing his prosthetic on Instagram and sent him their latest product for him to try out: one of their dazzling, colourful array of prosthetic covers.

“When I opened the box, I felt like it was Christmas,” says the 45-year-old, Los Angeles-based Madison. “Having that leg cover really boosted my self-esteem.”

Walking around in just a bare titanium rod used to make him feel self-conscious. “People would stare and know I was an amputee. Now, they look at me as a walking piece of art.”

Madison isn’t the only person with a disability who has seen their daily life improve thanks to a growing market of products designed to make things easier, but also look chic and stylish at the same time.

An adaptive Puffer jacket, Trig compression socks and MagnaReady magnetic shirt /AFP

From now until September an exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt design museum in New York is showcasing some of these new products, from the low- to the high-tech.

“In the last few years there has been a proliferation of new design, very functional and aesthetically desirable products for people |with all sort of disabilities,” says Cara McCarty, curator of the exhibition.

Besides the tattooed-style covers made by Alleles, which start at $375 (Bt11,900), the exhibition shows Nike “FlyEase” sneakers, first made for a student with cerebral palsy, with a wraparound zipper and adjustable strap to make getting them on and off easier.

There is also a walking stick, made in the colour of your choice, which can be propped up easily against a wall without falling over, on sale for around $100.

Bedazzled and BejewelLed Earring Aids, making a fashion statement, are displayed as part of the exhibition. /AFP

A hearing aid looks like a giant earring. A bracelet connected to a smart-phone GPS app guides the blind and tracks obstacles above the knee.

Another item is a jacket, included in a new clothing line for disabled children carried by Target, that comes apart at both sides making for easy wear.

The key to success for lots of these products, says Caroline Baumann, director of the museum, is that they are so practical.

When Target designers conceived the jacket “they were thinking about the child on the autism spectrum that might have difficulty putting on their jacket, but what they are finding is that people of all abilities are buying that jacket,” she says.

“I would love that jacket for my three-year-old because its a fight every morning to put him in his parka,” she laughs.

Keith Kirkland, a former designer at Calvin Klein who co-conceived the vibrating GPS Wayband bracelet, agrees.

If the bracelet was tested on the blind, the idea in launching it for sale later this year, is that “anyone” can pick it up “to figure out which way to go”.

More cross-board appeal also means products can be more affordable.

‘A lot of times the reason the product is so expensive is because you have to amortise that cost over a much smaller market,’ Kirkland points out.

Designers are also eyeing an ageing population, which bring their own disabilities, as another source for market expansion.

A pair of Men’s Zoom Soldier IX FlyEase was inspired by Matthew Walzer, a teenager with cerebral palsy, who wrote to Nike asking for help to solve the challenge of tying his shoelaces. /AFP

‘Sexy’ products

“One out of three people from the age of 62 has some kind of visual impairment and that ageing population is supposed to double by 2060,” says Kirkland.

Matt Kroeker, whose small Canadian firm Top & Derby created the non-falling walking stick, says the idea is to create products that aren’t simply practical but which people enjoy using.

“It’s just like glasses who were utilitarian until the late ’40s and became more fashionable after that,” comments the entrepreneur, who has also designed a range of compression socks in more exciting colours than the usual black and brown.

But if these products are sexy, few are widely available in retail outlets. Most are sold solely online.

“The biggest barrier right now is people want to buy these products but the companies responsible for distributing or selling to the end user are very apprehensive,” Kroeker explains. “There is a mentality that people don’t really care about well-designed, thoughtfully-designed home healthcare products and we are trying to change that.”

Madison also hopes to help change attitudes by giving his prosthetic leg cover its own Instagram account.

“It is about breaking down that stigma, so you are no longer hiding a hearing aid or hiding a prosthetic leg. You are saying ‘I am more able with this tool that has been designed so well, and I am not embarrassed about it’,” Baumann says.

PART OF the “Forever in Our Hearts” exhibition displayed at the royal cremation sites of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has now moved to Phya Thai Palace.

The ceremonial grounds at Sanam Luang in Bangkok – which more than four million people visited – are now nearly dismantled, including Phra Thinang Song Tham (the royal merit-making pavilion).

But admirers of the beloved late monarch can now see the exhibition on his life and legacy at the palace within the compound of Phramongkutklao Hospital on Rajvithee Road.

A large portion of the “Forever in Our Hearts” exhibition from the royal cremation grounds has been moved to Phya Thai Palace./Courtesy of Forever in Our Hearts Organisers

Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat says the displays include 54 text boards in Thai and English, multimedia, books and other items related to the royal cremation ceremony.

“This will be a good opportunity not just for people who didn’t get to see the original exhibition but also for those who saw it but hadn’t yet explored it in detail because of the limited time,” he says.

Because interest was so keen, only 5,500 visitors per hour were allowed into the ceremonial grounds.

The life and legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol are examined through text boards, multimedia and artefacts. /Courtesy of Forever in Our Hearts Organisers

Lt General Thamrongrat Kaewkarn, president of the Phya Thai Palace Preservation Foundation, says the government’s Fine Arts Department had agreed that the palace was an appropriate venue for the new show.

“The duration hasn’t been decided yet, but I think it’s possibly going to be here for at least six months.”

King Bhumibol founded both Phramongkutklao Hospital and the adjoining Phramongkutklao College of Medicine for training the Army doctors who accompanied him on his travels upcountry, helping people in need.

Five exhibition areas occupy both floors of the palace’s Biman Chakri Throne Hall, a Romanesque-Gothic structure with a distinctive pointed dome.

Some of the text boards have QR codes that can be scanned to view videos of the King attending to the public’s needs./Nation

“The Great Monarch” is an examination of then-Prince Bhumibol’s childhood at Srapathum Palace, home to the royal family after they returned from the United States, where King Bhumibol was born.

His mother, Princess Srinagarindra, and grandmother, Queen Savang Vadhana, educated King Bhumibol and his elder siblings, building character and imbuing virtues that would serve them well the rest of their lives.

“The Peaceful Reign” looks at King Bhumibol’s treks around the country, famously equipped with his four simple tools – pencil, map, camera and walkie-talkie – with which he recorded problems and shortcomings afflicting the people and planned out solutions.

Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary general of the Chaipattana Foundation, once recalled how His Majesty requested 12 pencils every year – one for each month. No one dared throw any of them away half-used because, ever the conservationist, the King used them all down to the nub.

Samples of the daily essentials that the King distributed to people caught in disasters are shown. /Nation

When His Majesty learned of natural disasters or other emergencies, he used radio communications to arrange and monitor the preparation and distribution of aid supplies, of which several examples are on view. There’s even a tape recording of the King discussing plans to help flood victims.

Also seen are photos of the trains, boats, aircraft and wheeled vehicles used on his travels. Explanatory text has QR codes that can be scanned with a phone to view YouTube videos of the monarch on the road.

“We lived in the peaceful shade of His Majesty,” says Thamrongrat of the palace foundation. “In several pictures we see his car half sunk in water, but he never saw such things as a hardship. He persevered and carried on.”

“The Righteous King” zone /Nation 

“The Righteous King” illustrates His Majesty’s devotion to dharma practice throughout his 70-year reign. He adhered to the Ten Virtues of a Righteous King – giving, good conduct, patience, precision, selfless sacrifice, being unequivocal and gentle, persevering, and never being angry or taking advantage of others.

“Furthering the Bonds of Friendship” has pictures and videos of his involvement in international relations. King Bhumibol, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, made 32 state visits from 1959 to 1994, including celebrated trips to the United States and 13 European countries.

The United Nations and many other international organisations recognised the enormous benefits he brought to Thailand, not least through the 4,000 royal initiatives he introduced. By the time he died in October 2016, the King had received more than 40 awards from abroad, 11 of them from UN agencies.

Photos and videos document the outpouring of grief that gripped the nation from the day the King died until the day of his cremation a year later. /Nation

The deeply moving segment called “A Chakri King Returns to His Heavenly Abode” assembles photos and videos of the mourning period following his death. Tens of thousands of black-clad citizens from all walks of life are seen bidding farewell, with images extending from Siriraj Hospital to the cremation grounds last October.

Official invitation cards to the cremation, commemorative books and the nametags of people involved in the funeral rites are displayed.

Invitation cards, books and nametags from the royal cremation are on view. /Courtesy of Forever in Our Hearts Organisers

Thamrograt calls the exhibition “a double bonus”.

“Visitors get to see both this significant exhibition and the historical buildings of Phya Thai Palace, which were built during the reigns of Kings Rama V and VI.”

Phya Thai Palace was known as the Phya Thai Residence when King Rama V had it built in 1909 as a personal residence and a locale to establish an experimental farm. He died the following year, though, and it became the home of Queen Saovabha Pongsri, the mother of King Rama VI. She stayed there until her death in 1919.

King Rama V built Phya Thai Palace as a residence. King Rama VI oversaw its renovation as a palace, adding the domed Biman Chakri Throne Hall. /Courtesy of Forever in Our Hearts Organisers

King Rama VI had the building renovated and added more structures, renaming it Phya Thai Palace. It was his permanent residence for six years and it’s where he composed several of his literary works, including his masterpiece, “Madanabadha: The Romance of a Rose”.

The Dusit Thani miniature model of a city – a “micro-nation” project initiated by King Rama VI to explore aspects of democracy – was moved there from Suan Dusit Palace. Court officials played the roles of citizens owning property in the city of 1:12-scale private houses, government offices, commercial establishments, hospitals, markets and a hotel.

Elections were held, a constitution written and two newspapers regularly published.

The Dusit Thani was dismantled after the death of King Rama VI in 1925, but you can still see one of the intricately designed miniature homes on display at Phya Thai Palace.

There are two-hour guided tours of the palace every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1.30pm and also at 9.30am on Saturday and Sunday. It’s free, though donations are welcome to assist with renovations.

‘DOUBLE BONUS’

The exhibition “Forever in Our Hearts” is open daily from 9am to 3pm at the Biman Chakri Throne Hall at Phya Thai Palace on Rajvithee Road, Bangkok.

Admission is free. Groups wishing to arrange guided tours should do so at least two weeks in advance.

Visitors are required to dress and behave respectfully.

Learn more from the Office of the Phya Thai Palace Preservation Foundation at (02) 354 7987 or (02) 354 7732.

NAILS ARE buffed, blackheads scrubbed and coffee sipped to the sound of clipping scissors inside the “Men’s” salon in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, where a growing number of male patrons are set on revamping their style.

Deeply conservative Pakistan has strict notions of masculinity where men are often expected to be austere and flamboyant styling is to be avoided.

But savvy entrepreneurs in urban centres have latched on to a new metrosexual trend: male beauty salons.

Pakistan savvy entrepreneurs in urban centres have latched on to a new metrosexual trend: male beauty salons./AFP

While women in urban Pakistan have long enjoyed access to the care of beauticians and stylists, expensive facials and mani-pedis for men are becoming more common as disposable incomes in the nation’s swelling middle class grow – per capita income jumped by 6.4 per cent in 2017.

A vibrant social media culture has also fuelled the desire to be selfie-ready at any time, with influencers like Adnan Malik and Osman Khalid Butt attracting hundreds of thousands of followers online with their fashion-conscious posts.

At Tauseeq Haider’s “Men’s” salon, customers usually fork out a minimum of 1,400 rupees (Bt400) for a visit – a far cry from the 200 rupees spent at traditional barber shops.

“Men have equal right to be groomed and times have changed. It’s no more just getting your haircut,” says Haider.

“Senior citizens, bureaucrats, they don’t feel ashamed of saying that I need a facial, massage, my nails need to be done, please suggest what should I get,” he adds.

In rural Pakistan, men have traditionally taken their fashion tips from Islamic dictates, with the Koran specifying the length of beard and moustache along with hygiene guidelines.

And in the cities, Bollywood and Western entertainment have long driven fashion trends for conscientious groomers.

But times are changing fast in the rapidly developing South Asian nation, with social media setting and wrecking trends in urban centres at the speed of a swipe.

According to Lebanese salon owner Michael Kanaan, who has been based in Pakistan for more than a decade, rising wages and greater exposure to global culture is fanning the burgeoning demand.

A growing number of male patrons are set on revamping their style the Pakistani capital Islamabad.  /AFP 

“The Pakistan male is becoming more metrosexual. It is all due to the internet and the age of satellites and cable TVs,” says Kanaan.

Economist Minhajul Haque agrees, saying Pakistani men are also subjected to a new slew of online advertising campaigns that have reinforced the trend.

“There is this whole lot of clever marketing of male beauty products which is spurring demand,” he explains.

Humayun Khan, 49, says he is fine with spending more money to look good and his wife is supportive of the new passion.

“I get my nails done, get my haircut, get my facial and I am done for the day and after two weeks I come again,” he says.

“If I don’t look good, my wife wouldn’t like me,” he laughs.

Stylist Ghulfam Ghori says Pakistani men are also now more concerned with skincare, opting for blackhead removal, acne treatments and even the occasional brush with makeup before major events like weddings.

“Men are very conscious about their skin now… and consider it essential to get facials. Previously it was not common, but now the trend is increasing among men to get themselves groomed,” says Ghori.

But it’s not just the salons that are cashing in on Pakistani men’s blossoming cosmopolitan predilections.

Zafar Bakhtawari, chairman of the D Watson Group, one of Pakistan’s biggest pharmacy chains, explains: “I can say there is a revolution coming up in Pakistan in the male psyche that they are becoming very much conscious about their beauty, about their face, about their hair, about their dress and it’s a great revolution.”

In addition to the jingle, the female rocker, who is now 63 years old, also delighted her fans and media by performing her smash hit, “Nueng Diew Khon Nee”, which was released in 1985, a year before she recorded the global commercial. The stage was shared by former popular duos, Lift-Oil and Raptor.

“I have fond memories of Phi Pu and Tina Turner singing the commercial on the same stage. It was so cool,” recalls Somchai Ketchaikosol, marketing director for beverages at Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading, before revealing a new commercial.

“Today, we are launching Pepsi’s global campaign on the theme ‘Pepsi Generations: Sa Thuk Yuk … Mai Plien’ in celebration of our 120th anniversary. Our brand has passed through all ages and generations.”

As part of the celebrations, Pepsi-Cola (Thai) Trading is introducing new packaging of the Pepsi can in the vintage style of five eras: 1940, 1950, 1980, 1990 and 2000. Just 3,000 of these five-can-five-design packs, priced at Bt99, are being released and they’re available until tomorrow (February 25) from this event at the plaza area of CentralWorld.

The “Pepsi Generations” event at CentralWorld features the “Pepsi Generations Club” featuring four clubs stylised in four eras, namely a jazz lounge with vintage posters representing 1940, a retro cafe with rock and roll music for 1950, a disco with neon display for 1980, and the millennium mirror room symbolising 2000. Visitors leaving the club tent receive a free glass of Pepsi in four styles.

“This year, Pepsi refreshes every generation from past to present. This new commercial presents memorable scenes of many international artists from Michael Jackson to Britney Spears,” said Somchai.

Moreover, Pepsi-Cola has also joined with local fashion label Greyhound to launch a collection of vintage clothes featuring a T-shirt, jacket, hat and bag. This collection will go on sale on March 1 at Greyhound boutiques at Siam Center, Siam Paragon, The EmQuartier and Central Lat Phrao and the items can also be bought until Sunday night at the event.

The launch ended with a fashion show from the collection by young models, actors and actresses including Pachara Chirathivat, Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha, Kritsanapoom Pibunsonggram, Pathompong Reonchaidee, and Aratchaporn Phokinpakorn.

Find out more and join the conversation at Facebook PepsiThai and LINE: PepsiThai.

A mid-range and affordable smartphone with dual high-resolution front cameras and a 23-mega pixel camera with good image quality, the new Xperia XA2 Ultra from Sony is all about the selfie.

The first front camera uses Sony’s Exmor RS mobile image sensor with 16-mega-pixel resolution and optical image stabilisation technology. The second selfie camera switches to 8MP Exmor R and boasts a 120-degree superwide angle lens.

While the XA2 Ultra’s default setting sees it using the 16MP OIS camera for best-quality selfie shots, it will automatically switch to the 8MP when it spots a group of you mugging for the camera or a better-average backdrop.

Both come with an LED flash and the option to use Auto flash, Fill flash or Flashlight when taking selfie shots. If you’re photographing yourself at night, switch to the Night Portrait Flash mode with a slow-sync feature to get shots that are clear both in the foreground and the background.

The 16 MP OIS sensor can prevent your selfie from getting blurred should your hand happen to shake but you can also prevent the camera shaking from button tapping by using the Smile or Hand Shutter feature.

For the Smile Shutter, you simply ensure that your face appears inside the coloured frame and smile and the camera will self-click. For the Hand Shutter, turn your palm with your fingers straight up toward the camera and the selfie will be taken.

The rear camera uses the large 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for Mobile sensor, which is capable of ISO 12800 sensitivity for better lowlight photography. The rear camera is also capable of 4K movie recording and 120fps slow motion video capture.

During the test, I found that the rear camera really captured beautiful, sharp and clear photos even in lowlight environments. The main camera also has a fast focus and even faster performance. It took just 0.6 second from the camera launch to be ready to capture a shot.

The camera has Superior Auto mode that allowed me to capture good quality shots. More experienced photographers will probably prefer the Manual mode that lets them adjust shutter speed, ISO, and white balance as well as select between auto focus and manual focus.

The rear camera also provides Timeshift burst mode that fires 30 shots at once for you to select the best shot.

The XA2 Ultra features Sony’s vibrant 6-inch Full HD smartphone display, with a wide and accurate colour gamut and is built with strong and durable Corning Gorilla Glass. The screen sits within a borderless design. Moreover, the display features a curved surface.

The big screen with 1920×1080 pixel resolution is great for viewing photos and watching streamed video, such as video on demand with the TrueID TV app provided by True Visions.

The Xperia XA2 Ultra also has an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable in your hand. And Sony has moved the fingerprint sensor from being integrated with the power button to a separate sensor below the lens of the rear camera. This design allowed me to conveniently unlock the phone by touching it with either the left index or right.

Performance-wise, the XA2 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octacore processor. It comes with four gigabytes of working memory or RAM and 64 GB of storage, which is expandable with a microSD card by up to 256 GB. The smartphone runs on the latest Google Android 8.0 Oereo.

The phone had good performance during the test. Its touch screen and menus were very responsive and it had fast Internet connection thanks to Snapdragon 630, which has a builtin X12 LTE modem with up to 600 Mbps downlink speeds.

I tested the data connection on TrueMove H’s LTE network and found that the connection was very fast. Applications were downloaded smoothly and my snapshots were backed up to my Google Photos cloud storage in no time.

I used Ookla Speedtest app to measure the connection speed and found that the XA2 Ultra achieved a download speed of 83.97 Mbps and upload speed of 30.92 Mbps.

The XA2 Ultra has two nano SIM slots, meaning it doesn’t have to share one with a microSD expansion slot.

When you set up the phone, you’ll be prompted to select which SIM you want to use for data connection, which for voice calls and which for SMS messages. For the calls and SMS, you can set the phone so that the XA2 Ultra asks you every time before you make a call or send an SMS.

And the XA2 Ultra can also play High-Resolution Audio of FLAC 24bit/192kHz format smoothly, indicating its good performance.

I listened to FLAC 24bit/192kHz songs with Sony’s MDR1ABT Hi-Res Audio headphones and found that the songs had impressive quality with clarity, details of musical instruments and powerful bass.

Sony says the XA2 Ultra uses Smart Amplifier technology with ClearAudio+ and Clear Bass features to fine-tune the music to make every note clear.

The XA2 Ultra comes with a large battery of 3,580 mAh capacity to match its large display. The battery uses Smart Stamina technology that predicts how long your power will last based on how you normally use your phone, and prompts you with the best time to activate Stamina mode. In this mode, you can adapt your energy usage to keep going even when you’re running low.

And XA2 Ultra comes with technologies to prolong the battery life. It uses Qnovo Adaptive Charging technology to check your battery’s health as it charges, then adjust current levels to help protect the capacity. Leaving a fully-charged battery plugged in can damage it so Sony’s Battery Care charges your phone to 90 per cent and waits then charges to 100 per cent just before your wakeup time.

Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra has a suggested retail price of Bt13,990.

Key Specs

– Networks: GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G), LTE (4G) Cat13/Cat12

– OS: Google Android 8.0

– Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform octacore 2.21 GHz

– Memory: 4GB

– Storage: 64 GB, expandable with microSD by up to 256GB

– SIM: Dual nano SIM slots

– Rear camera: 23MP 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS for mobile image sensor with f/2.0 lens

– Front cameras: 8MP 120-degree super wideangle 1/4-inch Exmor R for mobile image sensor; 16MP with OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) 1/2.6inch ExmorRS for mobile sensor

– Display: 6-inch full HD 1080p display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass

– Connectivity: AGNSS (GPS + GLONASS), WiFi Miracast, Bluetooth 5, Google Cast, NFC, USB TypeC

– Battery: 3580 mAh with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0

– Dimensions: 163 x 80 x 9.5mm

– Weight: 221g

Want to learn to speak Chinese and have fun doing it? You need the Manga Mandarin mobilephone application.

It’s totally free to download and use.

Chinese developer Funnybean Technology Co says the app is based on protocols used by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and that the content is constantly expanding with input from both teachers and learners around the world.

The stories used, presented in comic-strip form, teach essential conversational vocabulary that can be handy in daily life. The grammar comes from courses used in the Chinese Proficiency Test, an international standardised test of proficiency.

You can click on any word that appears in the cartoons for a translation into English, Japanese, Korean, Thai or Russian. There’s an option to listen to any word and read the explanation, and a video clip under each story explains the grammar.

You have a choice of standard Mandarin or the more mainstream form of Chinese heard on TV series.

Once you’ve learned all the content of a story, you can record yourself as you “dub” over it. This can be shared with other learners to show how well you’re doing in learning the language.

There are six categories – Beginner, Fantasy, Advanced, Comedy, Love and Workplace.

Complete the chapters one by one and the app will display a “report card” gauging your progress.

The app is now in Version 1.8.0 with an improved interface. You log on via the home screen and select the category you want.

Up to six family members can share the same app on the same device in six different accounts.

I tested it on an iPad Pro 10.5-inch and found that it ran smoothly. The graphics are quite beautiful and the sounds have good quality.

Key Specs

– Developer: Funnybean Technology

– Size: 122.1MB

– Required: iOS 8.0 or later

– Supported devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

– Languages available: Thai, Mandarin, Simplified Chinese, Russia, Japanese, Russian, English, Korean

– Age recommended: 12 and up

New from Xiaomi, the Redmi 5A is an affordable smartphone with a metallic matte finish and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, a 13MP rear camera, a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion and a long-lasting 3,000mAh battery. It has a five-inch HD display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It retails for just Bt2,790.

Here’s to your health

JBL’s Reflect Fit Heart Rate wireless sports headphones boast JBL Signature Sound and are great for training “in the zone”. The heart-monitoring technology is compatible with most heartrate-enabled fitness apps, so you can stream the pulse readings directly to your phone for data analysis and receive real-time updates through the headphones, all with just a single touch. The headphones are in stores for Bt5,990.

Ronaldo at your service

The symbol of one of the world’s most popular footballers appears on the CR7 Cristiano Ronaldo screen-protection glass from Panzer Glass. The concept is “The world’s greatest offence deserves the world’s best defence”. The CR7 symbol appears on the cover during sleep mode and there’s no disturbance while the phone is in use. With top certification in terms of protection, the screen is smooth to the touch and resistant to finger smudges and scratches. Sold for iPhone6 and 6 Plus, iPhone7 and 7 Plus, and iPhone8 and 8 Plus, the price starts at Bt1,490.

Three cameras ready

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ features dual selfie cameras – eight-mega-pixel and 16MP resolution – plus a 16MP rear camera. Samsung’s own octocore processor provides the power and you have 6GB of memory and 64GB of internal storage. The six-inch Super Amoled display has a resolution of 2,220×1,080 pixels. Expect to pay Bt18,990.

Massive one from Marshall

The Woburn Multi-Room is the largest speaker to date from Marshall, so count on truly robust sound. It connects wirelessly to Chromecast builtin, Spotify Connect, AirPlay and Bluetooth. You can also plug in via the 3.5mm socket or the RCA input. Combine it with other Marshall Wireless Multi-Room speakers to turn your home into a concert hall. It’s on shelves for Bt27,990.