Printers? Nah, They’ve Always Been Rubbish
Ricoh Lets Go 2,000 – Big Deal
Yeah, you’ve probably caught wind of it – Ricoh’s kicking 2,000 people to the curb ‘cos nobody’s purchasing printers these days. Well, no surprise there, mate, who seriously prints anything nowadays? Everyone’s going digital, for real. I can’t even recall the last time I had to rush to find a working printer. What’s the point? You just send it online, easy peasy.
Also, these printer companies have been taking the absolute mickey for years, overcharging people for ink cartridges. You’d need to sell a kidney just to print your mate’s stag do tickets. So yeah, no shocker that Ricoh’s trimming the team. Cry me a river, but we all saw this coming.
Superapps: Tried to Be Everything – Ended Up Nothing
Super Over-Rated
Right, onto the next disaster – these so-called “superapps” in Asia. The concept is simple and, in theory, sounds brilliant: cram everything into one app. It’s like your Tesco self-checkout, Tinder, and Uber all packed into one place.
But here’s the kicker no one mentions – it doesn’t bloody function! I understand, they aimed to save people from switching apps a million times a day, but mate, I’d rather juggle me 17 different apps than rely on one silly app to run me whole life, cheers. Seems the majority in Asia agree ‘cos these superapps are being ditched faster than a tipsy bloke from a bar. No tears here, mate.
Indonesia’s Connectivity Gets A Touch of an Upgrade
About Time, Right?
So, Indonesia’s internet’s apparently doubled in speed. Not that it matters much to me, but good for them, I guess. They’re all getting quicker broadband. Honestly, I wouldn’t get out of bed for double the internet speed. In the UK, it feels like we’re on dial-up half the time. If I could finally rid myself of these “buffering” screens, I’d be chuffed.
I’m calling it now – we’ll all be getting medals in broadband speed contests before Britain catches up with others. But hey, at least Indonesia’s enjoying decent internet while we’re still here twiddling our thumbs.
Alibaba Turns 25 – Where’s Our Celebration?
Big 2-5 for Big Ali
Happy anniversary, Alibaba! 25 years, huh? That’s a serious milestone. Not much else to say here except they’ve exploded in growth over the last quarter-century. They’re right up there with Amazon, making Jeff Bezos sweat in his space suit.
I guess I should feel motivated or something, but all they’ve inspired me to do is keep me financial info securely locked away from those sites. But hey, kudos to Jack Ma and the crew for sticking it out in the business world – it’s not an easy task. If they send me a slice of birthday cake, I might think about changing me tune.
Plus: What’s Ahead for Superapps, Indonesia’s Internet Accelerates, Alibaba Celebrates 25, And More!
ASIA IN BRIEF Japanese imaging device giant Ricoh last week revealed plans to let go of 2,000 employees due to falling printer sales. In other news, polished superapps across Asia are facing tough times, while Indonesia enjoys improved internet access. Oh, and Alibaba’s hit the big 25, so drop ‘em a card if you feel like it.
