9 new stories on The Next Web today |  |
- Singapore-based Fitness Buffet puts the fun and value back into exercise
- Microsoft launches a newspaper ad campaign slamming Google’s new privacy policy
- Flipboard launches new Content Guides in the UK & Ireland, Australia and Canada
- The Pirate Bay’s founders face jail after they’re denied a Supreme Court appeal
- Samsung Galaxy S III to launch in “first half of the year” at dedicated event
- DeNA countersues GREE as the Japanese gaming firms’ feud escalates
- Sony outs Howard Stringer as president and CEO, names Kazuo Hirai as his replacement
- Google in talks with Chinese authorities to keep Google Maps operational there
- Donald Trump: It would be “a great thing” to see Apple build devices in the US
- This browser extension lets you block and delete Google+ spam comments in one swift ‘nuke’
| Singapore-based Fitness Buffet puts the fun and value back into exercise Posted: 01 Feb 2012 03:55 AM PST  The idea for Fitness Buffet came to Callum Laing while he was on the treadmill “sweating off the excesses of Christmas”. The then Bangkok-based entrepreneur wondered why exercising had to be such an pain when his young toddler could run around the city’s sun-kissed parks without a care in the world. “Kids get the concept of play to exercise,” Laing told The Next Web but “as adults it has become a chore that we have to do. It’s generally accepted by most people that if you wanna get fit you must get on the treadmill or suffer on a bike in the gym.” All about having funLaing is founder and CEO of the service which takes an alternative approach to the art, or pain, of getting fit. The Singapore-based firm offers a selection of fitness and well being services at a competitive price, claiming that its $99 packages are worth more than $1,000. It is aimed at those looking to tone up, slim down or simply exercise, but the onus is most definitely on having a good time. “If you have fun and meet people, fitness is just a bonus,” Laing says, “then there’s really no need for motivation at all.” Brit Laing’s vision began in Bangkok, where had lived for 9 years whilst running an events company and the annual Samui International Yacht Regatta, so how did he shift his scope so dramatically? In short, he saw a disconnect that he felt stiffled those with good intentions from getting into regular exercise regimes. With Fitness Buffet, he saw a chance to address this. “I knew a few people running fitness classes, but they struggled to compete against big gyms and their marketing budgets,” Laing recalls. “The real irony is that the smaller organisations are the most passionate and keen to deliver value, yet most consumers will just go with the schedules that run at the large gyms.” Diversity and choiceLaing began speaking to smaller outfits that specialised in niche exercise programs, such as yoga, dance classes, Muay Thai kickboxing and more, with the aim of building a package to offer buyers value. Crucially, also, Laing wanted to give the kind of diversity that is so often lacking at chain gyms. The initial testing amongst friends and selected members of the public in Bangkok garnered plenty of interest. Laing’s mind was sparked when one person asked to buy 100 sets of a package, and the possibility of offering deals in bulk for corporates thus evolved.
To Chicago and SingaporeTo test the idea, Laing needed to ramp up and trial in a larger place and he chose Chicago where, thanks to a number of contacts, the service was tested using packages worth more than $1,000 with offers from more than 10 partners. The efforts in Chicago bore impressive results and Laing returned to Asia, this time Singapore, where Fitness Buffet was founded. Today the service is live and in the process of expanding to more than 25 international cities with plans to remotely open new locations across Asia Pacific, Europe and US. A different approach to GrouponThe team is a lean five man operation and privately funded. Inevitably it is often compared to Groupon, a comparison that Laing points out is flattering but somewhat inaccurate. While the group buying giant is focused on delivering lots of users to one venue, Fitness Buffet “delivers one customer to lots of venues” with a greater chance of repeat custom. “People may buy cupcakes on a whim but they are less likely to go to kick boxing, for example, just because its cheap, because it hurts,” Laing jokes. He believes that sampling of services is a great marketing tool and he does credit Groupon for helping more small business understand its potential. However, he argues, the real value is how businesses own each new prospect and convert them into long term, repeat spenders. With that in mind, Fitness-Buffet is aiming to provide an online portal that will help business owners with this challenge. “Even if a business manager upsells a customer, the teacher or instructor may not have the tools or skills to convert them into regulars, ” he points out. “We want to be the conduit to make that happen.” Laing believes that this relationship is a win-win, businesses can target repeat customers while consumers get good value and variety for their money.
Looking to the futureThe company is aiming to reach out and launch in new markets remotely from Singapore. Thanks to the Internet, it just needs content to open in new locations. In addition, Laing admits that there has been interest in licensing the franchise, something that he would consider if he found “the right people”. The company has seen traction amongst corporates in Thailand and Singapore, where its packages have been used for team building purposes by a number of firms, including Grant Thornton, Engage Consultants and Citrus PR. Insurance is a new vertical that Laing sees the company exploring, particular given that insurance providers are increasingly keen to see policy holders positively improve lifestyles. “Employee insurance, premiums are rapidly increasing,” Laing says, “to the point that it is getting too expensive to cover staff. A new law in the US is going to mean companies must insure staff, so anything that can change their behaviour is becoming powerful.” The company has no disclosed figures but Laing says that it is “having much success”. Though there are no direct rivals in the market right now, he anticipates that Fitness Buffet ”will likely get competitors fairly soon.” If you’re at a company that is looking for team-building activities with a twist, or if you’re a keen exerciser seeking something different, or a launchpad to get fit or active again, Fitness Buffet is certainly worth considering. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft launches a newspaper ad campaign slamming Google’s new privacy policy Posted: 01 Feb 2012 03:37 AM PST  Last week, Google trimmed down its privacy policies into a single document to cover all its products, and followed this up with a letter to Congress explaining the reasons behind its new policy. Indeed, its announcement last week brought pretty widespread condemnation, and this has led Microsoft to jump on the bandwagon and stick the boot in too. Frank X. Shaw, Corporate Vice President, Corporate Communications at Microsoft, has announced in a blog post today that the Redmond-based computing giant will be placing a series of ads in the US press this week, as it seeks to “remind people of the alternatives.” “During the last week or so, there has been a fair amount of discussion about how Google is making some unpopular changes to some of its most popular products,” says Shaw. “You can see some of the concerns and worries about lack of choice and so on in these links. When we read the coverage last week, it was clear people were honestly wrestling with the choices that had been made for them and were looking for options or alternatives.” Shaw goes on to explain that the changes rolled out by Google last week, “make it harder, not easier”, for users to control their data. “We take a different approach – we work to keep you safe and secure online, to give you control over your data, and to offer you the choice of saving your information on your hard drive, in the cloud, or on both,” adds Shaw. The “alternatives” Shaw alludes to, of course, cover its own email (Hotmail), search (Bing), documents (Office 365) and browser (Internet Explorer) products. And with a clear dig to Google Docs’ ribs, Shaw refers to Office 365 as the “award-winning online collaboration solution for businesses who don't want their documents and mail used to benefit advertisers.” The ads will run across the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other mainstream titles, and will fall under a ‘Putting People First’ headline. And the ad is very heavily focused on the anti-advertiser theme, noting:
Meanwhile, check out the ad for yourself here:
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Flipboard launches new Content Guides in the UK & Ireland, Australia and Canada Posted: 01 Feb 2012 03:06 AM PST  Digital content delivery app Flipboard has launched new Content Guides specifically for readers in Australia, Canada, and the UK & Ireland, delivering more relevant recommendations to Flipboard users in those countries. Flipboard has already rolled out Content Guides for readers in China, France, Taiwan and Hong Kong, automatically downloading the local edition of their Content Guide when they select the red ribbon in the top-right corner of the Flipboard app.
In December, Flipboard launched a Chinese version of its app, customised entirely for local users. The separate app aggregates content from Sina's news site, Weibo — a popular, Twitter-like service — and Renren — which is loosely described as a Facebook clone — and other non-Chinese sources. Co-founder and chief executive Mike McCue noted that the company made an early move into Chinese cyberspace to take advantage of the large number of Internet users and establish a presence to combat piracy. The company says that it will soon make it easier to browse recommendations for different countries within Flipboard itself, instead of requiring users to amend options in the app’s settings panel. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Pirate Bay’s founders face jail after they’re denied a Supreme Court appeal Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:49 AM PST  The founders of controversial BitTorrent search site The Pirate Bay have been denied a Supreme Court appeal in Sweden, meaning that the prison sentences and fines they were handed in November 2010 will stand – but it seems there’s still a chance they may avoid jail. As TorrentFreak and The Local report, Sweden’s Supreme Court’s decision to deny an appeal on the ruling was announced this morning. This means that Pirate Bay founders Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, Carl Lundström and Gottfrid Svartholm face between 4 and 10 months in prison as well as a total of $6.8 million in fines between them. Carl Lundström’s lawyer has described the ruling to Swedish site DN as “absurd,” saying “I am disappointed that the court is so uninterested to dissect and look through all the legal comings and goings in one of the world’s most watched court cases of all time.” Meanwhile, the legal counsel for Sweden’s Anti-Piracy Bureau, quoted by The Local, commented that "A society ruled by law has now had its say and this is a breaking point in a drawn out discussion about copyright on the internet. The highest court has made it clear that anyone who takes any part in these crimes, even those who supply the internet connection, will have to face up to their responsibility." However, the length of time this case has been running may play into the Pirate Bay founders’ hands by keeping them out of jail. As TorrentFreak reports, “It is common in the Swedish justice system to deduct 12 months from any prison sentence on cases over 5 years old. Since the case in question meets that criteria the Pirate Bay defendants would qualify, but the decision lies with the court.” TorrentFreak also reports that one of the Pirate Bay founders intends to take the case to the European Court of Justice. Regardless of whether the four (one of whom was sentenced in his absence) end up in jail or not, their fines still stand. The Pirate Bay was sold by its original owners in June 2009. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Samsung Galaxy S III to launch in “first half of the year” at dedicated event Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:25 AM PST  Samsung has confirmed that it will not launch the successor to its popular Galaxy S II Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress, confirming earlier reports and tips from our sources that it would unveil the device at a separate launch event. Techradar received the all-important confirmation, with Samsung issuing the following statement:
At the end of January, we reported that Samsung was “still reviewing” when the company would unveil the next model in its super-successful range of Galaxy S smartphones. Samsung's SVP of Marketing, Younghee Lee made the comment during the company’s Q4 earnings call, answering a question that asked if it would delay a launch to coincide with the release of Apple's next-generation iPhone. Sources with knowledge of Samsung’s plans told us that whilst the company continues to enjoy success with its existing smartphone portfolio, it decided that it would be more beneficial to unveil its latest flagship handset at a dedicated launch event post-MWC. Today’s announcement is direct confirmation of its plan to do just that. With the Samsung Galaxy S II continuing to create significant amounts of buzz, sources have indicated that the company does not want to cannibalise sales of a device that is performing well against its competition. The company's anti-Apple advertisements also show that Samsung is not afraid of pushing its existing smartphone portfolio. Mobile World Congress will deliver new Samsung tablet and smartphone devices but we are not going to see the company’s next flagship handset until later in the year. To us, this makes sense. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| DeNA countersues GREE as the Japanese gaming firms’ feud escalates Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:02 AM PST  Japan’s two largest mobile gaming social networks have taken their rivalry to the courtroon, for the second time in less than three months. The Mainichi Daily News has details of a legal suit that DeNA has taken out against GREE in response to comments regarding allegations of “business interference”. The events began when DeNA was reprimanded by the Japan Fair Trade Commission earlier in 2011 after the organisation found it guilty of swaying more than 40 developers to ignore GREE and instead focus wholly on producing content for its Mobage social gaming service. The following November, GREE took action when it filed a $13.7 million lawsuit against DeNA, as the Wall Street Journal reported, accusing its rival of pressuring games developers to avoid working with GREE’s platform. In the countersuit issued this week, DeNA claims that comments made when the legal action was filed, suggested that it was still carrying out illegal activities. Indeed, the counteraction may well have been triggered by a comment from GREE CEO Yoshikazu Tanaka, who said in November:
The countersuit is said to be demanding an apology for GREE, however it has not been revealed exactly what figure DeNA is seeking in damages. This year could see GREE post a 300 percent rise in operating profits with the figure tipped to hit a record $910 million in June. Both companies have enjoyed strong growth in the last year and have been busy building their services up outside of their native Japan. GREE teased us by revealing that it is will launch a global platform in the second quarter of this year, while DeNA inked partnerships across Asia — in South Korea, China, Singapore, Vietnam amongst other countries — and Latin America. The company also geared up for a move to Europe by establishing a business development presence on the continent. We've said that mobile social gaming is big in Japan – where DeNA splashed out $83 million to buy a professional baseball team — and it looks set to spread across Asia and possibly into Western markets and other parts of the world. GREE confirmed in an email that it would not comment on the new legal development, and we will update this post with any response that we receive from DeNA. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Sony outs Howard Stringer as president and CEO, names Kazuo Hirai as his replacement Posted: 01 Feb 2012 12:33 AM PST  As the company faces its fourth straight year of losses, Japanese electronics giant Sony has announced that it has named former president of its Consumer Products & Services Group Kazuo Hirai as president and CEO, replacing Howard Stringer. Stringer will step down from his position on April 1, Sony said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. As part of the executive reshuffle, Stringer will main on the board as chairman, taking the post after the June shareholder meeting. The company will issue more details on Thursday, clarifying its management changes. Hirai was instrumental in Sony’s success with the PlayStation in the US, becoming President of Sony Computer Entertainment just two weeks after the PlayStation 3 launched. Sony has been suffering losses in its entertainment business, including its televisions and handheld console devices. With the company recently buying out Sony Ericsson, it will be debuting new own-brand Android devices throughout the year to compete with Apple and Samsung in the smartphone market. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Google in talks with Chinese authorities to keep Google Maps operational there Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:29 PM PST  Google is in discussions with the Chinese government as it seeks the granting of license required to continue to operate its Google Maps service in the country. This morning, Chinese media reported that Google would miss the deadline to apply for the license, however a company spokesperson confirmed to The Next Web that negotiations are ongoing:
Google offered no further comment on the issue but it is notable that the license to operate a mapping service is a new introduction, and this is the first round of applications that the government has received. The confusion appears to be in reference to today’s deadline which is for firms to send initial license requests to China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping. However, as per a Reuters report from last June, the government has already confirmed receipt of an application from the Mountain View headquartered firm. Google is required to hold a number of licenses in order to legally provide services in China. While the company relocated its search engine to Hong Kong in 2010, it continues to hold a license that permits it to operate a number of Web-based services in the country. That license was last granted in September, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Reuters suggested that regulations around maps would be “relaxed” to allow more foreign providers into China, but home-grown Baidu is Google’s biggest challenger in the space. Baidu’s map service has added a number of significant improvements of late which have led some to suggest that it is a better offering that Google’s. The Chinese firm, which leads the nation’s search market, recently added satellite imagery and it already includes street view. It also boasts a feature that allows viewers to look ‘inside’ buildings. With Android reported to hold 58 percent of the country’s smartphone market, as of November 2011, the continuation of Google Maps is crucial for the company. Earlier this month Google’s Asia President confirmed that it is continuing to focus on the country despite its censorship policies, which executive chairman Eric Schmidt recently called “a truly bad set of laws”. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Donald Trump: It would be “a great thing” to see Apple build devices in the US Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:12 PM PST  Donald Trump has never been a shrinking violet and now, the man who questioned the US President on the details of his birth and acceptance to college, has challenged Apple to move production of its devices to the US. As CNET reports, the Billionaire business man told Fox News that it would “be a great thing” if Apple CEO Tim Cook could build the company’s plants in the US even if, he said, there is little motivating him to do so:
Outsourcing of manufacturing and other series occurred because firms believed that overseas employees were keen to carry out such jobs, while of course they demand lower salaries giving firms a huge cost benefit. It has since become standard for tech firms to have products assembled overseas, typically in Asia or Latin America, and companies like Foxconn carries order for Apple, Microsoft and others. Equally, in the case of Asia, the advancement and efficiency of its supply chain, which is able to take new orders or alternative product designs in quick time, is a key factor for firms. In spite of the establishment of outsourcing, Trump told Fox that Apple should try to bring things home:
While Trump was a little short on providing tangible benefits to the move for Apple, the idea isn’t as ridiculous as demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate. Indeed, President Obama himself is in favour of bringing manufacturing jobs to the US and The Next Web‘s own Brad McCarty recently penned a compelling case for Apple to do so, amidst continued news of issues amongst its Chinese manufacturers. The company has masses of cash and nearly $100 billion in liquid assets which McCarty believes gives it a “prime opportunity to simply do what's right”. Motivated by PR and goodwill over profit, it could wholly revitalise one American city and bring a feel good factor to the country in the process. McCarty explains that, assuming Apple would match the $1 billion that Foxconn just spent to develop a factory (which builds more than just Apple products), the rest of the financial details are feasible:
President Obama put Trump in his place through an incredible series of jokes in a dinner speech last year, but Apple CEO Tim Cook is much less likely to be responding. Cook already ‘set the record straight’ with employees through a internal email and it remains to be seen whether he will preside over a changed approach to manufacturing. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| This browser extension lets you block and delete Google+ spam comments in one swift ‘nuke’ Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:41 PM PST  If you’re an avid user of Google+, you know that one of the things that makes your experience crappy is the spam you get. You know what I’m talking about. You post an animated GIF of a dog walking on a rainbow and all of a sudden you get a comment from someone you don’t know with a link to a site that’s probably up to no good. It’s a similar problem on blogs, and Google does have a system for deleting comments and blocking users, but it’s kind of clunky. Sure, you could share with only your circles and that would keep the spammers from commenting, but that makes you feel trapped. No need to feel trapped anymore, thanks to a new Google Chrome extension called “Nuke Comments on Google+“, which not only delete the offending comment, but automatically blocks the user in just one click. Once you install the extension for Chrome, you’ll find a new button sitting next to comments that say “Nuke”. Don’t click it on accident though!
Once you’ve “nuked” a comment, you’ll be notified that it is complete. After that, you don’t have to think about that user again because they’re automatically blocked:
The only thing that this extension is missing is the “report” feature. While deleting a comment and blocking someone does the trick, it doesn’t tell Google who to look out for as far as spamming. However, clicking that nuke button sure does make you feel like you have control of your stream again. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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