Tag: amazon

Categories
Business USA

Amazon acquires homegrown women-focused startup

Italy slaps $1.3 bn fine on Amazon for abusing market position

Amazon said that with GlowRoad, it will help accelerate entrepreneurship among millions of creators, homemakers, students, and small sellers from across the country…reports Asian Lite News

E-commerce giant Amazon on said that it has acquired homegrown women-focused social commerce startup GlowRoad for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, the company said the acquisition will help it meet the commitment to digitise 10 million local Indian businesses by 2025.

“Amazon continues to explore new ways to digitise India and delight customers, micro- entrepreneurs and sellers and bringing GlowRoad onboard is a key step in this direction,” a company spokesperson told.

The acquisition comes at a time when the social commerce industry in India is booming, with players like Flipkart’s social commerce platform arm Shopsy and Meesho.

Amazon said that with GlowRoad, it will help accelerate entrepreneurship among millions of creators, homemakers, students, and small sellers from across the country.

“This acquisition will complement GlowRoad’s already loved service with Amazon’s technology, infrastructure, and digital payments capabilities, bringing more efficiency and cost-saving for everyone,” said the company spokesperson.

GlowRoad recently raised nearly $32 million and has investors like Accel, Vertex Ventures and CHD Investments, among others.

The platform has over six million resellers and is present in more than 2,000 cities.

A recent Accenture report said that as the global social commerce market is set to reach $1.2 trillion by 2025, India will be one of the fastest growing markets in the space.

The report said that India’s social commerce market is expected to grow at a 59 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $17 billion in gross merchandise value by 2025.

ALSO READ-UAE, S. Korea ink deal to develop entrepreneurship, SMEs

Categories
Business Tech Lite

Amazon working on new ‘to world’ AR

It also suggests that applicants should have the ability to “think spatially, with 3D design experience in motion design, animation (and) AR/VR, games,” among other things…reports Asian Lite News

Tech giant Amazon is reportedly working on a ‘new-to-world’ augmented reality (AR) product as the company is hiring for a “new-to-world smart-home product”.

Among the roles, Amazon is looking to fill are a wide variety of senior positions for computer vision scientists, designers, programme managers, product managers, researchers and technologists, suggesting that the company is looking to build out a substantive team, reports Protocol.

“You will develop an advanced XR research concept into a magical and useful new-to-world consumer product,” one of the job listings reads, using the industry shorthand for extended reality, which can encompass both AR and VR.

Another job listing described the initiative related to “XR/AR devices,” and states that eventual hires will be part of “a greenfield development effort” that will include “developing code for early prototypes through mass production”.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The tech giant is looking to hire a UX designer to work on “the core system interface along with end-user applications spanning from multi-modal interfaces to 3D AR entertainment experiences”.

It also suggests that applicants should have the ability to “think spatially, with 3D design experience in motion design, animation (and) AR/VR, games,” among other things.

Applicants for a senior product manager position are told they should have “experience building deeply technical products, e.g., AI/ML, robotics, games”.

Unlike many of its industry compatriots, Amazon has been largely on the sidelines when it comes to AR and VR hardware, the report said.

Google, Meta, Microsoft and Snap all have had a variety of devices in the market at one time or another, and Apple’s plans to develop its own AR glasses have been an open secret for some time.

Amazon does have its own smart glasses, dubbed Echo Frames, but that product does not currently have a visual component.

The company did file for some patents for entertainment-focused video glasses almost a decade ago, but there’s no indication these efforts were pursued much further.

Interestingly, a number of the job listings describe the project as related to a “magical and useful, new-to-world XR consumer product,” suggesting it may be looking to establish a new product category. Others even describe it as “a new-to-world smart-home product”.

ALSO READ-Amazon. ae announces collaboration with young local Emirati artist

Categories
Arab News UAE News

Amazon. ae announces collaboration with young local Emirati artist

Just in time for Eid Al Fitr, Amazon.ae announced a collaboration with young local Emirati artist Abdulla Lutfi, who has created two special edition black-and-white artworks, designed exclusively for Amazon’s electronic Eid Gift Cards collection…reports Asian Lite News

The electronic Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards are now available for purchase at a variety of balance amounts on Amazon.ae/giftcards or through the Amazon app.

Marking the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr is centred around togetherness, with celebrations including family visits, feasts, and gifting between family and friends. The electronic Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards offer a modern twist on ‘eiddeyyah’, the popular gift-giving Eid Al Fitr custom between family and friends. Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards give shoppers the chance to choose what they want or need this Eid, from a selection of millions of local and international products across over 30 categories such as home, kitchen, fashion, electronics, and more, while conveniently using the electronic gift cards to pay for their purchases.

Abdulla Lutfi – who goes by the artistic signature ‘A.L.’ – is a dynamic Emirati artist on the autism spectrum who began creating art since he was a child, using his drawings as a means of communication before he could speak. His unique interpretation of the world is reflected in distinct black-and-white drawings bringing to life UAE landscapes and everyday scenes from Emirati life, all infused with Abdulla’s refreshing honesty and comical sarcasm. Abdulla’s passion for art stems from attention to detail, a black-and-white view of the world, and his sharp sense of humour. To celebrate Eid Al Fitr with audiences across the UAE, he created two intricate black-and-white designs which adorn the exclusive Amazon.ae Eid Gift Card collection this season.

On his collaboration with Amazon, Abdulla describes his work from an autistic artist’s point of view, explaining how he views and interprets the world in a unique way. Abdulla considers autism to be an advantage, giving him a non-conventional outlook on life which he enjoys translating through his art. The Emirati artist hopes to bring happiness to all through his contribution to Amazon’s electronic Eid Gift Cards, as he connects with millions of Amazon.ae customers through his designs.

Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President for Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA): “At Amazon, we always look to bring diverse backgrounds, ideas, and points of view into everything we do, committed to fostering an inclusive culture. With Eid being one of the most important celebrations of the year for audiences across the UAE, we are excited to be joining in on the celebrations while introducing customers to Abdulla Lutfi’s incredible talent as a local Emirati artist on the autism spectrum. Our electronic Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards collection this year embraces his unique talent, while offering customers more ways to gift each other ‘Eiddeyah’ and shop during this joyous occasion.”

Further celebrating Eid, Amazon.ae is also launching its Eid Sale for customers in the UAE, running from April 21st to April 27th, with thousands of deals to explore. Prime members on Amazon.ae will also enjoy a full 24-hour early access to the sale, starting from midnight on April 20th. Customers can use Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards to shop the incredible Eid Sale, while enjoying deep discounts and savings, to make the most of their Gift Card balance.

ALSO READ: ‘Who am I?’ Captures Emirati spirit of giving

When purchasing the electronic Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards online, customers can directly email them to loved ones with a personalized message, selecting the design of their choice from two beautiful artworks created by Abdulla Lutfi. Amazon.ae Eid Gift Cards are redeemable against millions of items sold on Amazon.ae, and are available in denominations between AED 1 and AED 6,000 when purchased online.

All Amazon.ae Gift Cards are valid for up to ten years and when purchased online, delivery to the recipient can be scheduled to a future date, the recipient can also instantly redeem the value directly into their Amazon.ae account once they receive the Amazon.ae Gift Card. Customers can make their shopping experience even easier by downloading the Amazon app to browse and shop, or shop directly on the website at Amazon.ae.

Categories
Tech Lite

Amazon shuts down its brick-and-mortar storefronts

Amazon launched its first physical bookstore in Seattle in 2015, and later expanded brick-and-mortar stores across the US and abroad…reports Asian Lite News

Amazon has announced to shut down most of its brick-and-mortar storefronts, including Amazon Books, across the US and the UK, as the e-commerce giant aims to shift its focus on opening more fashion and grocery stores.

The retail giant confirmed to ZDNet late on Wednesday that it is shutting over 60 bookstores, Amazon Pop Ups and “Amazon 4-star” shops.

The company said it’s still investing in Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Go and its Amazon Style stores.

“We remain committed to building great, long-term physical retail experiences and technologies,” an Amazon spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.

Amazon launched its first physical bookstore in Seattle in 2015, and later expanded brick-and-mortar stores across the US and abroad.

Later, Amazon’s retail footprint expanded with the $13.7 billion expansion of Whole Foods in 2017, along with its own Amazon Fresh grocery stores.

Amazon has also been working on ‘Just Walk Out’ cashierless shopping technology at Amazon Go convenience stores.

In 2018, the company launched Amazon 4-star stores, which sold top-selling items on Amazon.com, as well as items rated four stars or above by online buyers.

Amazon Pop Ups, the stores featured rotating brands and themes, aimed to give customers a “try-before-you-buy” experience.

The company recently announced the launch of Amazon Style, a retail store focused on fashion, said the report.

In Q4 2021, the company reported its physical retail business generated $4.68 billion, up from $4.02 billion in the year-ago quarter.

ALSO READ-Russian drivers banned from racing in Britain

Categories
Tech Lite

Amazon Music to surpass Pandora soon

Amazon Music is estimated to grow 5.3 per cent year over year, the forecast claims, while Pandora has continued to lose users since 2017…reports Asian Lite News

Amazon Music is likely to surpass Pandora this year to become the music streamer with the second most number of users in the US, says a report.

According to estimates from Insider Intelligence, this study includes users on both paid and ad-supported plans for these services, reports TechCrunch.

So, while Apple Music has an estimated 38.2 million subscribers, compared to Amazon Music’s 52.6 million or Pandora’s 49.1 million, none of Apple’s subscribers are on a free, ad-supported plan (though they could, of course, be on a free trial), the report said.

Amazon Music is estimated to grow 5.3 per cent year over year, the forecast claims, while Pandora has continued to lose users since 2017.

A representative from Pandora declined to comment on the new report, but said that Pandora is the leading ad-supported audio streaming service in the US.

According to its most recent report, Pandora currently has 52.3 million users, down from 58.9 million the prior year.

And when it comes to paid subscribers, Pandora lags far behind its competitors, per Insider Intelligence estimates from last year, the report said.

Spotify remains the number one US music streamer by a wide margin, with 180 million premium subscribers globally, and 406 million monthly active users across both paid and free plans.

ALSO READ-Abramovich wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly

Categories
Film Review Films Lite Blogs

‘Reacher’: A gritty, action thriller package

But when Chief Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwill) and the young police officer Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) investigate the situation, they exonerate Reacher…writes Troy Rebeiro

Series: ‘Reacher’ (Streaming on Amazon Prime); Duration: Average 48 minutes per episode, Directors: Norberto Barba, M. J. Bassett, Sam Hill, Omar Madha, Christine Moore, Lin Oeding, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent, Cast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Hugh Thompson, Chris Webster, Bruce McGill, Maxwell Jenkins, Gavin White, Leslie Fray, Jonathan Koensgen, Willie C. Carpenter (Rating: ***1/2)



This eight-episode series is based on author Lee Child’s 1997 published first novel ‘Killing Ground’. It introduces us to its eponymous, superhuman hero with all sincerity.

Like the novel, the series too starts with Jack Reacher, a veteran-military police investigator, with the barest of essentials, stepping off a bus in the small town of Margrave, Georgia. As he settles in a restaurant, and before he could taste the restaurant’s “finest” peach pie or even sip his coffee, he is arrested and accused of something he hasn’t done.

Incidentally, a man was murdered in a field just outside town, on the night Reacher was travelling into Margrave. Everyone thinks Reacher is responsible for the killing, given his past reputation- and this being the town’s first homicide in 20 years. The situation gets complicated when an accountant called Paul Hubble confesses to the murder. He is put in the same detention room, along with Reacher, where an attempt is made on their lives.

But when Chief Detective Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwill) and the young police officer Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitzgerald) investigate the situation, they exonerate Reacher.

Given Reacher’s background, he soon allies with them to prove his innocence. Together the three of them visit the morgue, and on realising whose body is lying there, Reacher makes it his agenda to unravel the deep-seated conspiracy that’s plaguing the town.

With the increasing number of people getting killed, the plot and the pacing of the series are taut and intense. Narrated in a non-linear manner, it’s an investigation you’d not want to miss witnessing. The dialogues are crisp to the point and intelligently shrewd. But then there are a few moments when Reacher reveals some unplausible expositions with precision. The justification given then is lame and dismissible, given this is an exceptional heroic series.

There are several dramatic as well as action sequences that are astutely designed and delicately handled. Some of the murder scenes and bone-breaking acts are gruesome but not over-the-top.

On the performance front, every actor is natural and at ease with the characters they play. Topping the list is Alan Ritchson. He essays- Jack Reacher’s confidence and presence, to perfection, with his big, well-chiselled frame. When his mother Josephine (Leslie Fray) says: “Reacher has the strength of three men,” you believe her, given his over-powering screen presence and formidable demeanour.

Ritchson is aptly supported by; the swift and agile Willa Fitzgerald as Roscoe Conklin – his colleague and love interest in the series, Malcolm Goodwin, who essays the strong-minded and defensive by the books-Chief Detective Oscar Finlay, together the trio make a formidable team, difficult to defeat.

Technically, the series is mounted with good production values. The cinematography adds to the intrigue value of the narrative. It captures the setting and the performances of its talented cast with precision.

Overall, the series is a gritty, action thriller worthy for binge-watching.

ALSO READ-Chitwan Mittal: Biographies can be powerful tools to inspire and uplift

Categories
Business Tech Lite

Amazon’s ‘Global Selling Propel’ 2.0 to back emerging brands

Bollywood actor and investor Kunal Kapoor has joined the programme as a mentor, according to the company…reports Asian Lite News

To help emerging Indian brands and startups to reach customers around the world, Amazon India on Wednesday launched the second season of its ‘Global Selling Propel’ startup accelerator.

The participating startups will get an opportunity to win a total equity-free grant of $100,000 from Amazon as well as free AWS credits worth $10,000. The entries for the startup accelerator are open till March 14.

The company said that the programme will provide startups an opportunity to showcase their business propositions to partner VC firms – Accel, DSG Consumer Partners, Fireside Ventures and Sequoia Capital India.

“We saw great interest, ideas and entrepreneurial spirit in the inaugural season of the programme, and we are excited to now bring the season 2. It is part of our commitment to make exports easier for businesses of all sizes and enable $10 billion in e-commerce exports from India by 2025,” said Amit Agarwal, SVP – India and Emerging Markets, Amazon.

Bollywood actor and investor Kunal Kapoor has joined the programme as a mentor, according to the company.

As part of the accelerator, Amazon has constituted a mentorship board consisting of company leaders from India and across the world, VC partners and other industry leaders.

Meghana Narayan, Co-Founder of Slurrp Farm and the winner of the inaugural season said that the programme helped them create sustainable business models.

“We have expanded our operations to the US and the UK markets and have also witnessed 100 per cent growth in sales,’ she said.

Slurrp Farm, Sirona and Wellbeing Nutrition were the winners of inaugural season of the programme last year.

The programme will feature an eight week, one-on-one mentorship module for the short-listed participants, said the company.

ALSO READ-Mozilla rolls out new privacy features

Categories
Bollywood Films Lite Blogs

‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’ to release on January 14 on OTT

The new five-episode series will feature stories of hope, determination, and personal discovery, as told through the unique perspectives of five different directors…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil anthology ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’ will release on Prime Video on January 14, 2022, its makers announced on Thursday.

‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’ is the second instalment of the Tamil anthology ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai’, which was received quite well.

The new five-episode series will feature stories of hope, determination, and personal discovery, as told through the unique perspectives of five different directors.

Reflecting on the second lockdown of the COVID pandemic that shook India, the anthology is focused on a message of hope and love amidst despair.

The second instalment of the Tamil anthology will feature director Balaji Mohan’s ‘Mugakavasa Mutham’, featuring actors Gouri Kishan and TeeJay Arunasalam, director Halitha Shameem’s ‘Loners’, featuring actors Lijomol Jose and Arjun Das, director Madhumita’s ‘Mouname Paarvayaai’, featuring actress Nadiya Moidu and actor Joju George, director Richard Anthony’s ‘Nizhal Tharum Idham’,featuring Aishwarya Lekshmi and Nirmal Pillai and Surya Krishna’s ‘The Mask’, featuring Sananth and Dhilip Subbarayan.

Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Amazon Prime Video India, remarked, “The overwhelming response that we received to our first anthology encouraged us to continue creating narratives of resilience, hope, love, and above all, showcase how humanity came together to battle the crisis. We are happy to present ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’, featuring independent, cinematic voices from the Tamil industry, and are confident that the series will infuse viewers with hope and faith as we step foot in the new year.”

ALSO READ-Jonathan Nolan to direct Amazon’s ‘Fallout’ series

Categories
Films Hollywood Lite Blogs

Jonathan Nolan to direct Amazon’s ‘Fallout’ series

The ‘Fallout’ Amazon series was first announced as being in the works in July 2020 with a series commitment penalty attached, reports variety.com…reports Asian Lite News

Television series ‘Fallout’ will be directed by Jonathan Nolan, brother of award-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan.

Variety has confirmed that Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner are now attached to serve as co-showrunners on the video game adaptation.

Nolan and Lisa Joy were previously announced as executive producers on the project under the Kilter Films banner, reports variety.com.

Robertson-Dworet is best known for her work on the screenplays for the 2018 ‘Tomb Raider’ film starring Alicia Vikander and for the 2019 Marvel film ‘Captain Marvel’. Wagner’s past credits include ‘Silicon Valley’, ‘Portlandiaa’ ‘Baskets’, and ‘The Office’.

The ‘Fallout’ Amazon series was first announced as being in the works in July 2020 with a series commitment penalty attached, reports variety.com.

The series hails from Amazon Studios and Kilter Films in association with the games’ producers Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. Nolan and Joy will executive produce alongside Athena Wickham for Kilter Films, with Todd Howard as an executive producer for Bethesda Game Studios, and James Altman for Bethesda Softworks.

Lionsgate is also executive producing the series. Robertson-Dworet and Wagner will executive produce and serve as co-showrunners. Nolan and Joy signed a substantial overall deal with Amazon in 2019.

The ‘Fallout’ games are set in a world where the future envisioned by Americans in the late 1940s explodes upon itself through a nuclear war in 2077.

The first game was released in 1997. The most recent instalment in the franchise, the prequel ‘Fallout 76’, was released in 2018. The games have proven incredibly popular throughout their run and have been met with positive reviews by both critics and fans.

ALSO READ-REVIEW: As Black As Night, Amazon Prime

Categories
Business India News

Amazon to ramp up grocery delivery

The service allows UK Prime subscribers to order groceries from two major supermarket brands, with same-day delivery fulfilled by the company’s Flex drivers….reports Asian Lite News

Tech giant Amazon is reportedly planning to expand its grocery delivery business and could partner with supermarkets in the US and Europe to offer same-day delivery.

The company has spent much of the last year trialling a product known internally as Amazon Fresh Marketplace, Engadget reported on Tuesday, citing The Information.

The service allows UK Prime subscribers to order groceries from two major supermarket brands, with same-day delivery fulfilled by the company’s Flex drivers.

“In 2022, Amazon reportedly plans to bring the service to the US and the majority of Europe,” the report said.

Amazon declined to comment on the specifics of its plans but shared a statement with Engadget.

“Our focus is on providing Amazon customers the best possible experience when it comes to grocery delivery whether that is from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, or one of our local stores like Bartell’s in Seattle, Morrison’s in London, or Monoprix in Paris,” a spokesperson was quoted as saying.

“Partnerships with other grocers enable more customers to shop online and allow us to provide Amazon Prime members with more choice, value and convenience while our partners benefit from increased visibility for their selection and service,” the spokesperson added.

ALSO READ: ‘Infra push, direct transfers key to sustainable growth’