Friday, November 9, 2012
New trains for DTL boast wider seats, more standing room
New trains for DTL boast wider seats, more standing room
By Melissa Chong | Posted: 09 November 2012 1222 hrs
SINGAPORE: The new trains for the Downtown Line (DTL) have been unveiled, boasting improved designs and features in the cabins.
To create more standing room, the two-seater sections at the end of each cabin have been converted to 'perch seats', allowing commuters to lean comfortably on the seats while standing.
Commuters can also expect wider seats and different colour themes for each of the three cabins.
Overhead handrails have also been increased to three rows, compared with older trains which only have one or two.
To better inform commuters of the status of their journey, the new route map display panel will feature flashing green arrows to denote the direction of travel, and indicators displaying which side the doors will open.
During emergency situations, when there is no power supply from the third rail, the train is able to keep minimal lighting and air ventilation going for up to an hour.
Reserved seats for commuters who are less mobile are coloured red and the gap between the train and the platform has been reduced - from 75 to 40 centimetres.
Many of the new features were developed after a consultation process with the public.
The Land Transport Authority said the public had a good impression of its new interior design and features, but gave suggestions on how to further improve the seats and hanging straps.
The first train arrived on 12 October from Changchun, China.
Thereafter, 72 more trains will be shipped to Singapore before the opening of the Downtown Line's by the end of 2013.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Melissa Chong | Posted: 09 November 2012 1222 hrs
SINGAPORE: The new trains for the Downtown Line (DTL) have been unveiled, boasting improved designs and features in the cabins.
To create more standing room, the two-seater sections at the end of each cabin have been converted to 'perch seats', allowing commuters to lean comfortably on the seats while standing.
Commuters can also expect wider seats and different colour themes for each of the three cabins.
Overhead handrails have also been increased to three rows, compared with older trains which only have one or two.
To better inform commuters of the status of their journey, the new route map display panel will feature flashing green arrows to denote the direction of travel, and indicators displaying which side the doors will open.
During emergency situations, when there is no power supply from the third rail, the train is able to keep minimal lighting and air ventilation going for up to an hour.
Reserved seats for commuters who are less mobile are coloured red and the gap between the train and the platform has been reduced - from 75 to 40 centimetres.
Many of the new features were developed after a consultation process with the public.
The Land Transport Authority said the public had a good impression of its new interior design and features, but gave suggestions on how to further improve the seats and hanging straps.
The first train arrived on 12 October from Changchun, China.
Thereafter, 72 more trains will be shipped to Singapore before the opening of the Downtown Line's by the end of 2013.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
McDonald's sales drops for first time since 2003
McDonald's sales drops for first time since 2003
Posted: Nov 08, 2012 9:19 PM Updated: Nov 09, 2012 7:47 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -
McDonald's Corp. says a key sales figure fell in October, marking the first monthly drop in nearly a decade for the world's biggest hamburger chain.
The company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says global sales at restaurants open at least a year fell 1.8 percent for the month. The last time the figure dropped was in 2003. The figure is a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.
The fast-food chain says the figure fell 2.2 percent in both the U.S. and Europe. In the region encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa, it dropped 2.4 percent.
After year of outperforming its rivals, McDonald's has seen sales slow recently as the company faces intensifying competition and a persistently weak economy.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: Nov 08, 2012 9:19 PM Updated: Nov 09, 2012 7:47 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -
McDonald's Corp. says a key sales figure fell in October, marking the first monthly drop in nearly a decade for the world's biggest hamburger chain.
The company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says global sales at restaurants open at least a year fell 1.8 percent for the month. The last time the figure dropped was in 2003. The figure is a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.
The fast-food chain says the figure fell 2.2 percent in both the U.S. and Europe. In the region encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa, it dropped 2.4 percent.
After year of outperforming its rivals, McDonald's has seen sales slow recently as the company faces intensifying competition and a persistently weak economy.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
- wong chee tat :)
图集：国大生陈杰毅性爱博客事件簿
Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:12:21 GMT
图集：国大生陈杰毅性爱博客事件簿
国大法律系亚细安奖学金得主陈杰毅（Alvin Tan）性爱博客事件
整理：郑慧玲
大胆行径引起社会舆论的新加坡国立大学法律系亚细安奖学金得主陈杰毅（Alvin Tan），曾说过希望朝演艺圈发展，想当一名演员，甚至是3级片明星。
他坦然表达自己的欲望：“基本上就是任何能让我出名的事。”而这次的性爱博客事件，确实让他红遍街头巷尾。
国大在11月6日宣布，校方已对陈杰毅采取纪律处分。让我们来看看这起事件在这一个多月来如何演变。
- wong chee tat :)
图集：国大生陈杰毅性爱博客事件簿
国大法律系亚细安奖学金得主陈杰毅（Alvin Tan）性爱博客事件
整理：郑慧玲
大胆行径引起社会舆论的新加坡国立大学法律系亚细安奖学金得主陈杰毅（Alvin Tan），曾说过希望朝演艺圈发展，想当一名演员，甚至是3级片明星。
他坦然表达自己的欲望：“基本上就是任何能让我出名的事。”而这次的性爱博客事件，确实让他红遍街头巷尾。
国大在11月6日宣布，校方已对陈杰毅采取纪律处分。让我们来看看这起事件在这一个多月来如何演变。
- wong chee tat :)
Foxconn unable to meet iPhone 5 demand
Foxconn unable to meet iPhone 5 demand
Posted: 08 November 2012 1259 hrs
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Foxconn has admitted that it cannot meet strong demand for Apple's new iPhone 5 due to difficulties in building the gadget, as investors grow concerned about the US giant's future earnings.
"We can't really fulfil Apple's requests. Our shipments are insufficient... given the huge market demand," Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou told reporters late Wednesday.
He added that the design of the iPhone 5, of which five million were sold over its launch weekend in September, has made production difficult, but did not elaborate.
He declined to say whether Foxconn plans to outsource some of the iPhone orders to other makers.
The iPhone has been a huge driver of Apple's phenomenal profits, along with the iPad, both of which are made by Foxconn which also manufactures products for other firms such as Nokia, Intel and Sony.
Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said on October 25 that demand for the iPhone 5 continued to outstrip supply, but that it was working hard to catch up.
Last month the firm, which is based in Cupertino, California, said net profit in the July-September quarter climbed to US$8.2 billion thanks to a 58 per cent jump in sales of its phones and a 26 per cent rise in tablet sales.
But Apple's shares have fallen in recent weeks owing to concerns it may not be able to meet demand in the near future, as well as increased competition from rivals including Samsung.
Mars Hsu, an analyst at Grand Cathay Securities, said Apple's main worry was in product innovation, as the new iPad and iPad Mini did not appear to be very different from competitors' gadgets.
Apple has also faced much criticism since the launch of the iPhone 5, following a number of problems.
It was forced to apologise soon after the phone's launch because of its glitch-ridden maps application in the new operating system, which led the firm to urge customers to use rival apps while improvements were made.
The company is also undergoing a management overhaul and last month announced the executive in charge of Maps, Siri and other software in the iPhone is leaving as part of a shakeup.
Taiwan-based Foxconn is the world's largest contract electronics maker and assembles products for Apple, Sony and Nokia, among others in its factories in China.
The company has come under the spotlight after suicides and labour unrest at its Chinese plants in recent years, which activists have blamed on tough working conditions, prompting calls for better treatment of staff.
Foxconn employs more than one million workers in China, roughly half of them based in its main facility in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong.
- AFP/ck/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 08 November 2012 1259 hrs
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Foxconn has admitted that it cannot meet strong demand for Apple's new iPhone 5 due to difficulties in building the gadget, as investors grow concerned about the US giant's future earnings.
"We can't really fulfil Apple's requests. Our shipments are insufficient... given the huge market demand," Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou told reporters late Wednesday.
He added that the design of the iPhone 5, of which five million were sold over its launch weekend in September, has made production difficult, but did not elaborate.
He declined to say whether Foxconn plans to outsource some of the iPhone orders to other makers.
The iPhone has been a huge driver of Apple's phenomenal profits, along with the iPad, both of which are made by Foxconn which also manufactures products for other firms such as Nokia, Intel and Sony.
Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said on October 25 that demand for the iPhone 5 continued to outstrip supply, but that it was working hard to catch up.
Last month the firm, which is based in Cupertino, California, said net profit in the July-September quarter climbed to US$8.2 billion thanks to a 58 per cent jump in sales of its phones and a 26 per cent rise in tablet sales.
But Apple's shares have fallen in recent weeks owing to concerns it may not be able to meet demand in the near future, as well as increased competition from rivals including Samsung.
Mars Hsu, an analyst at Grand Cathay Securities, said Apple's main worry was in product innovation, as the new iPad and iPad Mini did not appear to be very different from competitors' gadgets.
Apple has also faced much criticism since the launch of the iPhone 5, following a number of problems.
It was forced to apologise soon after the phone's launch because of its glitch-ridden maps application in the new operating system, which led the firm to urge customers to use rival apps while improvements were made.
The company is also undergoing a management overhaul and last month announced the executive in charge of Maps, Siri and other software in the iPhone is leaving as part of a shakeup.
Taiwan-based Foxconn is the world's largest contract electronics maker and assembles products for Apple, Sony and Nokia, among others in its factories in China.
The company has come under the spotlight after suicides and labour unrest at its Chinese plants in recent years, which activists have blamed on tough working conditions, prompting calls for better treatment of staff.
Foxconn employs more than one million workers in China, roughly half of them based in its main facility in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong.
- AFP/ck/jc
- wong chee tat :)
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