Day: September 22, 2023

Delivery giant foodpanda trims APAC workforce to streamline operations amidst acquisition talks

Food delivery platform foodpanda is laying off an undisclosed number of employees across Asia-Pacific while its parent company, Delivery Hero, is in preliminary discussions with potential buyers to sell part of its Southeast Asian food delivery business.

In a memo seen by CNBC, Jakob Sebastian Angele, APAC CEO of foodpanda, shared that the company’s main priority now is “to become leaner, more efficient and even more agile”. As such, the company aims to streamline its operations to “take on a more structured approach for the coming days”.

This marks the company’s third round of layoffs across Southeast Asia, following a round job cuts in February, which mainly affected its staff in Malaysia. Prior to that, the company reportedly retrenched 60 employees in Singapore back in September last year — or about 5 per cent of its 1,200 workforce — amid economic headwinds.

“While we already implemented some measures earlier this year, there is more we have to do to create the right set-up for our operations,” Jakob told CNBC.

Since its inception in 2011, Delivery Hero has yet to become profitable. Although it achieved a notably reduced loss of over €832 million in the first half of the year compared to nearly €1.5 billion the previous year, analysts had anticipated a more modest deficit.

Featured Image Credit: foodpanda

Also Read: Grab might acquire foodpanda’s Asian operations for S$1.5 billion, according to German report

Jabra Elite 8 Active claims to be the world’s toughest earbuds & is rated IP68, so what?

Recently, I was able to try out the Jabra Elite 8 Active at a gym. Through a short but intense workout routine including jumping jacks and burpees, the session showcased just how well the earbuds are able to stay in one’s ears during a workout.

This is thanks to the liquid silicone rubber material that encases the buds, making them fit securely in the ear. At 5g per bud, it’s not the lightest on the market, but definitely lightweight enough to make it comfortable during workout sessions and for extended periods of time.

As promised in my first impressions article, I’ve since tested out the other bells and whistles of the Jabra Elite 8, and here are my thoughts.

How tough is toughest?

Jabra dubs these new pair of sports-focused earbuds as “the world’s toughest earbuds”, with a tagline of “nothing tougher”. As always, Jabra has published the proof behind this claim, which might sound a bit lofty a first.  

According to a document on Jabra.com/claims that’s authorised by FORCE Technology, a tech consultancy company, Elite 8 Active was tested against seven competing products from the market-leading manufacturers in the business. These competitors make up 80% of the market.

The product went through rigorous testing—four branches of tests, to be exact.

Branch 1 included tests involving loose load vibration (bounce), temperature shock, temperature change, humidity exposure (damp heat, steady state), salt mist, drop, and charging.

Branch 2 involved IP testing for both the cradle (case) and the earbuds, rated IP54 and IP68 respectively. This means the buds are dustproof and waterproof, so you can dunk them under water.

Branch 3 was the Highly Accelerated Corrosion Test (HACT), while Branch 4 involved mechanical tests.

With each branch carrying a weightage of 25%, Jabra Elite Active 8 was reported to score “generally higher than any of the other tested products”.

So, there you have it—proof that these buds are worthy of the title of “the world’s toughest earbuds”.

But all these lab tests aside, how does it translate to real-life situations? So far, I’ve dropped (ahem, accidentally) the buds once or twice, and they’ve been perfectly fine. No scratches on the case, and definitely none on the rubber-encased buds.

So far, every time I’ve dropped the buds, the case hasn’t popped open either—an issue I’ve faced with my old AirPods that resulted in it falling off the 19th floor of an apartment corridor…

So, yes, as a person prone to clumsiness, I’ve been pleased with just how tough the Jabra Elite 8 Active have been.

Sound quality that doesn’t miss

As expected from Jabra, the sound quality of the Elite 8 Active doesn’t fall short compared to its other devices.

Alongside the Jabra Elite 10, which has yet to be released in Malaysia, these buds are also among the first of Jabra’s inventions to be equipped with Dolby Atmos’ Spatial Sound technology.

Compared to the previous Jabra buds I’ve used, namely the Elite 5, the audio quality and immersive-ness is rather comparable. That is to say, it’s really good. I love the bass of Jabra’s buds, which genuinely lets me feel the vibrations right down to my feet.

While the upcoming Elite 10 flagship buds will feature Dolby Atmos’ head tracking tech, the Elite 8 Active don’t. I’ve experienced similar technology in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and found it fascinating, so I’m quite intrigued to experience what the head tracking will be like on the Elite 10.

The Dolby tech is supposedly toggleable but I haven’t been able to find that setting on the app.

The ANC isn’t anything to shout about, for Jabra’s standards. It blocks out enough, though I can still hear the clacking of my own keyboard even over music. But maybe that says more about my typing force than anything else.

Except for when it’s glitching

After testing out a number of devices, I’ve learnt that some glitches tend to be unavoidable.

For this pair of earphones, an issue I ran into a couple of times is that one ear would suddenly switch modes (i.e. from HearThrough to ANC), making for a very uncomfortable balance. Or, one ear would just suddenly stop playing, even though it’s fully charged.

The app itself tends to glitch out for me too and doesn’t let me select the other sound modes. While pressing the left earbud still lets me do so, the buds still don’t reflect the true sound mode I have the buds on.

Less of a glitch and more just a qualm I have, the buds tend to dip in and out of ANC mode when I have it on HearThrough mode. I think it’s because it senses a loud noise such as strong wind or my raucous typing, but I dislike how that scares me and I can’t find a place to turn that setting off.

The verdict

At the end of the day, I’m willing to overlook these small issues because of just how nice and comfortable I find the earbuds. The sound quality is great, and as a true ASMR lover, I do love the immersive and premium sound quality Jabra seems to always provide.

The battery life is fantastic too. With ANC on, it gives eight hours of playback and 24 more hours’ worth of juice in the case (making it 32 hours altogether). I’ve used it daily for a week and have only needed to charge it twice.

Five minutes of charging gives up to an hour of battery too, which is great for someone impatient and forgetful like me.

There are small quality of life elements too like the fact that the buds now don’t sport lights that I dislike—though that’s supposedly to encourage more use of the Jabra Sound+ App.

While the Elite 8 Active would be more superior for the fitness-minded person (or the very clumsy ones), with Jabra Elite 10 (probably) coming to Malaysia soon, it’s worth thinking about whether you should save up for that pair instead.  

The Jabra Elite 8 Active are priced at RM1,049 and will be available in Malaysia at the end of September, but are already available for preorders on Lazada and Shopee.

There are three colourways in Malaysia—Dark Grey, Caramel, and Navy—though there seems to be a lighter grey option globally.

• Learn more about Jabra Elite 8 Active here.
• Read other gadget & product reviews we’ve written about here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: Samadhi Retreats’ carnival on Sept 30 will feature 80+ canape options & free-flow beer

“There’s no existing blueprint”: NUS alumni on building Asia’s first snow, surf, skate attraction

In a bustling metropolis like Singapore, adventure sports and the thrill of the great outdoors might not be the first things that come to mind.

But when Alex Hsu, 34, and Daphne Goh, 32 — both graduates from the National University of Singapore — combined their unique backgrounds and shared passion, they laid the foundation for something exceptional with The Ride Side.

What started as an adventure sports travel company has now blossomed into Singapore’s first action-sports powerhouse.

Slated to open on October 28 at Orchard, Singapore, it is a groundbreaking project that is set to redefine the adventure sports landscape in Asia.

The birth of The Ride Side

The Ride Side was born out of a desire to make adventure sports, specifically snowboarding and skiing, more accessible.

In 2015, the duo began by hosting ski and snowboarding trips, creating a community of like-minded enthusiasts eager to embrace the thrill of winter sports.

We wanted to create a fuss-free experience with the intricacies of the sports being taken care of for them. … The whole idea was to create a community around the sports, and make snowboarding more accessible for the general public who are interested in adventure sports.

– Alex Hsu, co-founder of The Ride Side

Over the years, their concept of social travel gained traction, leading to an annual pilgrimage of adventure seekers to destinations like Japan, Switzerland, Austria, and New Zealand.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for The Ride Side and the adventure sports industry at large.

Travel restrictions and lockdowns forced them to pause their snowboarding expedition trips for an indefinite and uncertain period of time. This led them to refund customers — totalling six figures — for cancelled trips, which revealed the volatility and vulnerability of the travel and consumer-facing business.

“We made the conscientious yet painful decision to honour refunds to customers, without getting the same consideration back from suppliers we dealt with,” lamented Alex.

Despite the challenges, the pandemic also brought about a shift in perspective. With travel on hold and more people working from home, individuals began to reevaluate their health and wellness.

Many turned to outdoor and adventure sports as a means of entertainment and exercise. Activities such as skateboarding, cycling, and home workouts gained popularity, and those with access to mountains and waves started exploring snowboarding, skiing, and surfing.

According to the founders, this period of introspection and exploration has made people more open-minded and adventurous. Adventure sports are no longer seen as intimidating or just ‘bucket list activities’. They have become integral to daily life and a way to escape the monotony of urban existence.

Ski, snowboard, surf and skate all under one roof

Capitalising on this newfound appreciation for adventure sports, the founders came up with an all-new concept: TRIFECTA by The Ride Side.

As Asia’s first snow, surf, and skate attraction, it is poised to become a mecca for board sports enthusiasts.

“The term TRIFECTA refers to the hallowed goal of completing all three board sports activities in a day — something that’s difficult to achieve due to the paradoxical alignment of winter and summer conditions in the same place on the same day,” explained Daphne.

Spanning 49, 611 square feet, TRIFECTA emerged as a solution to bridge the gap between urban living and outdoor adventure, overcoming geographical limitations. This allows people to experience the thrill of these board sports without the need for travel, making it both cost-effective and time-efficient.

The founders recognise the prohibitive costs associated with these activities and aim to make skiing and snowboarding more attainable for Singaporeans and regional visitors.

We wanted to do the impossible and bring the mountains and waves to the urban, tropical hub of Southeast Asia that is Singapore, and allow local and regional customers to experience surfing, skating, and skiing, under one roof.

Instead of being a sport for people to strike off their bucket list, TRIFECTA allows people in Singapore and the region to enjoy these adventure sports throughout the year.

– Daphne Goh, co-founder of The Ride Side

According to the founders, the attraction boasts three distinct facilities — the snow, skate, and surf arena.

The snow arena is a winter wonderland brought to life in the heart of the tropics. It features Asia’s first virtual reality (VR) ski simulator that offers enthusiasts a lifelike snowboarding and skiing experience. With best-in-class speed simulation and directional movements, it mimics the uneven terrain of a mountain.

In the “freestyle” area that’s equipped with airbags and dry slopes, guests can safely try out and practice snowboard tricks, including jumps and backflips.

Meanwhile, the skate arena is a skateboarding playground like no other, boasting the world’s first hybrid skate bowl, catering to skateboarders and surfskaters alike.

Lastly, the surf arena takes guests on an epic wave-riding adventure. It features Citywave, the world’s leading technology in deep water wave pools. It will be Asia’s largest standing wave pool — this Olympic-sized pool is a massive 10 metres wide and generates 1.5-metre-high waves, which is the deepest in Singapore.

TRIFECTA goes beyond just thrilling activities; it’s a lifestyle hub where culture and creativity intersect with sports. Visitors can also expect a food and beverage concept called Butter that will be rolled out in collaboration with Singapore cult favourite Two Men Bagel House. The 70-seater eatery will feature all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, in addition to exclusive menu selections.

Moreover, it will house a new flagship retail store for The Ride Side — marked as its fourth outlet — featuring over 50 brands in surfing, snowboarding, skiing, and skateboarding.

Customers can also have the opportunity to test a collection of demo boards in the arenas, alongside a boot fitting and customisation station for ski and snowboard enthusiasts.

Building a community of board sports enthusiasts

Alex and Daphne envision TRIFECTA as a unifying force, cultivating communities from diverse backgrounds through sports.

With the open concept in the design of the space, the idea is to invite more people to participate as spectators and eventually try out sessions if they cultivate an interest — bridging the divide by being more inclusive and accessible for individuals who are interested in this sport, but might not have the capacity to afford the peripherals required [such as] travel and equipment.

– Alex Hsu, co-founder of The Ride Side

Community building lies at the heart of The Ride Side’s mission, and TRIFECTA is no exception. With facilities open every day of the week, it becomes a natural gathering place for board sports enthusiasts.

They can attend sessions together, share tips and insights, and forge connections with fellow enthusiasts, whether they are based in Singapore or are travelers passing through the region.

Beyond sports, TRIFECTA aims to become a cultural and artistic hub, hosting art exhibitions, concerts, festivals, music gigs, community showcases, and more. It’s not just about board sports; it’s an intersection of art, music, lifestyle, and sport — an opportunity for creative self-expression on and off a board.

Moreover, TRIFECTA is committed to environmental sustainability. The attraction plans to launch eco-education programs for youth, focusing on the importance of preserving nature through snowboarding and surfing, sports deeply rooted in natural elements.

Some of the sustainability features include rainwater harvesting, using the skate bowl as the catchment area, and the upcoming installation of solar panels on the roof of the surf arena.

Navigating unchartered territory

However, the journey to bring TRIFECTA to life was far from smooth-sailing. While Alex and Daphne had always thrived on venturing into the unknown, TRIFECTA presented a unique set of challenges.

They were neither trained developers nor construction experts, which meant they had to immerse themselves in the intricate details of building design and construction, which was a steep learning curve.

To build something [that] Singapore, or the world, has never seen takes equal parts imagination, courage, and convincing to bring it to life.

– Daphne Goh, co-founder of The Ride Side

Undeterred, they leaned on the community they had painstakingly built over eight years. Collaboration with experts within the construction field became crucial to translate their vision into reality.

The founders also faced the challenge of explaining what TRIFECTA meant for Singapore. They had to help people visualise a place where the mountains meet the sea in an urban setting, and where skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and skating coexisted seamlessly.

Ensuring safety was another priority. They had to source the best technology to build a safe space for beginners and seasoned riders alike, conducting numerous tests to guarantee that the equipment met the highest standards.

All participants would also have to undergo a safety induction programme with TRIFECTA’s first-aid trained instructors before classes begin. The surf arena is equipped with a safety padded pool that provides a soft landing, while the ski simulators have customised safety harnesses and bars to allow a self-operated experience.

“There is no existing blueprint for the business we’re doing, but the knowledge and expertise that my team and I share allow us to work toward the common goal of making board sports more accessible for people,” said Alex.

A thriving future for adventure sports

Looking ahead, The Ride Side has ambitious plans to further elevate the adventure sports scene in Asia.

TRIFECTA will host a series of competitions, events, and workshops, offering athletes and amateurs opportunities to take their riding skills to the next level. Renowned coaches and professional athletes will be on hand to share their expertise and ride alongside enthusiasts.

The impact goes beyond individual development. TRIFECTA is also poised to nurture the next generation of board sports enthusiasts and professionals.

It offers a pathway for those in Singapore to explore careers in snowboarding and surfing — an opportunity that was previously unthinkable in the city-state. The attraction provides training for instructors and certification opportunities, opening doors to work in the field.

As for long-term goals, Alex and Daphne see a bright future for TRIFECTA as a catalyst for change. They note that younger generations are increasingly drawn to board sports, fuelled by exposure on social media and changing parental mindsets.

The recent recognition of skateboarding as an Olympic sport further reinforces this trend. The founders see TRIFECTA as a place for young enthusiasts to learn and grow, cultivating a lifelong passion for board sports.

As TRIFECTA opens its doors later this year, it heralds a new era in adventure sports, proving that the urban jungle can indeed be the ultimate playground for those who dare to ride the mountains and waves, turning dreams into reality.

Featured Image Credit: The Ride Side / TRIFECTA by The Ride Side

Also Read: iChange: This app lets S’poreans exchange over 40 currencies 24/7, guarantees the best rates

Paralysis at 17 didn’t stop this M’sian artist’s career, now she’s crowdfunding for her film

If you want to ask Poesy Liang to introduce herself, don’t. Having answered it for what feels like a million times, the artist finds it to be one of the “most dreary” questions to be asked.

After all, stories from Poesy’s life can be found all over the internet, with the sources ranging from her own website to countless articles in the media. To summarise, though, Poesy is an artist who has been known for not just her art, but also her social movements such as the Bald Empathy Movement.

However, there are some stories still that haven’t been divulged. Stories such as the one she will soon tell through her very own documentary.  

Titled The Rooftop Cat Has Nine Lives, Poesy launched a crowdfunding campaign for it on September 9 on MyStartr. The Rooftop Cat is also the name of her art series.

At the time of writing, the campaign has generated RM13,889.

On the campaign page, she shared that the funding is needed so she can continue paying bills such as electricity, internet, and rent, so she can work in peace and through this film.

“Through May and June of 2023, in between her film edits, Poesy was a GrabCar driver in order to pay for her mounting overheads,” the page read. “This crowdfunding effort is to help her single-mindedly focus on the filmmaking, so she will not be burdened by worry.”

To understand more about the documentary and her journey, we reached out to learn more of Poesy’s journey leading up to the documentary.

For the uninitiated

Born to a Malaysian father and a Taiwanese mother, Poesy was exposed to the arts from an early age and was formally trained with professional artists.

Her first painting was made when she was 9 years old, which would be shown in an exhibition in 1986, shown alongside works by adults.

At 14, she further shot into stardom as she starred in a Levi’s 501 commercial. Following her on-screen debut, Poesy would appear on television for another 14 years, which would pay for her studies in architecture school.

While all these may make Poesy sound like she had a good and easy life, there were many difficult things happening behind the scenes, which will be expounded upon in the film.

One of the biggest obstacles would come when Poesy turned 17.

“I had spine tumours, thoracic intradural meningioma,” she explained to Vulcan Post. “It is a rare spine growth and I am the only person of this age that suffered from the condition in the world.”

The usual people who suffer from this kind of meningioma are babies and octogenarians, but Poesy had gotten it at ages 17 and 28.

The disease caused paralysis due to its “inconvenient location” inside Poesy’s spinal casing, which crowded out her spinal cord. Doctors did not expect her to be able to walk again—but Poesy persisted.

And she has carried that persistence with her through life. Even now, as she faces financial struggles, she continues to persist through her ongoing crowdfunding campaign.

Meet the Rooftop Cat

Especially given her architecture background, Poesy shared that she has grown to have an obsession with drawing repetitive roof tiles.  

She explained, “In 2011 when I returned from the Bald Empathy Movement Tour, I toured so many countries and cities and all the roof tiles that I saw just came out in my drawings. Then, cats started to appear.”

“I haven’t really been able to stop doing that since. I tried stopping, but always came back to it.”

It’s been 12 years since she started The Rooftop Cat (TRC) series, and though it has evolved, the ethos of it remains.

Essentially, the featured cat represents a character with goals and dreams, with the only other person who understands those dreams being the recurring full moon in Poesy’s paintings.

Over the years, Poesy has been asked numerous questions about her inspirations as well as the events of her life—which would take about two hours each time to fully cover, she said.

Thus, the film’s aim is to answer all these questions.

“I feel that it was time to make the film especially now that the rooftop cat has also got a very large public piece in the middle of Kuala Lumpur with the ChubbPoesy collaboration,” she said.

As a contemporary artist herself, Poesy shared that she has many friends and peers in the industry who have landed high-profile brand collabs, which made her feel quite left out.

“I started to pray fervently, ‘When is it going to be my turn that I get to land a deal of my own?’”

Her prayers were answered when insurance company Chubb began looking for an artist. Coincidentally, the nine corporate colours of Chubb were also the palette that Poesy uses in her art.

The story behind the Jalan Pudu mural will be featured in the documentary.

Immortalising her story on screen

The title, This Rooftop Cat Has Nine Lives, is something that Poesy deeply resonates with.

More than just a play on the myth of cats having nine lives, Poesy shared that she feels as though she has many past lives as well. She’s been an actress on TV, was paralysed at times, and experienced many heartbreaks, some in a very public manner, she said.

“I just felt that these stories can help someone else,” she expressed.

She’s been self-funding the film so far, but the challenge now is with paying the bills as well as some expenses incurred during the post-production of the film.

She shared that she has been able to keep the expenses quite slim, but the basic overheads with rental, electricity, and internet sums up to about RM3,800, which doesn’t include food, petrol, or phone bills.

“Driving Grab hasn’t been the most sustainable solution because I do really long hours, sometimes I’ll do a 15-hour shift and have no more energy to do anything else, especially not on the film,” she explained.

With supporters to answer to now, she would really like to finish and publish the film as soon as possible.

Although she set the reserve target on MyStartr at RM3,333, which wouldn’t even cover a month of her basic overheads, her target ideally is RM30,000 which would help cover six months of her bills.

Any excess from her crowdfunding would be used to submit her film to international film festivals.  

So far, most of the people funding the project are from her friends and family list. However, a small percentage are unfamiliar names. Poesy shared that she’s happy that it has reached people who haven’t known her, but hopes to receive more support.

There are three tiers available for the crowdfunding campaign—RM33, RM66, and RM99, and each tier has varying rewards and benefits.

Poesy’s campaign will be ongoing from now until October 10, 2023. She hopes to release the documentary in November.

“This film is not a money-making venture,” she reminded. “The objective of making this film is so that the rooftop cat’s story is being told, and that anyone who encounters one of my rooftop cat paintings can easily understand it and receive the inner healing that I embedded into my work.”

• Learn more about Poesy Liang’s crowdfunding campaign here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysia here.

Also Read: Samadhi Retreats’ carnival on Sept 30 will feature 80+ canape options & free-flow beer

Featured Image Credit: Poesy Liang