Vending machine for gold bars appears in Kaohsiung department store

Vending machine for gold bars appears in Kaohsiung department store

2024-03-14

A Kaohsiung department store has installed a new vending machine – for gold. The machine is full of gold items such as bars, coins and nuggets. The prices fluctuate based on gold markets and exchange rates. But who wants to buy their gold from a vending machine? Jewelers point out that the novelty and convenience might be a draw. But others say that buying in store remains preferable.

On the sixth floor of this department store sits a vending machine with a CCTV camera on top. You choose a purchase and pay on the touchscreen, and out of the bottom drops a gold product in ostentatious packaging.

Member of public
It’s providing more options, another option to consider. I would consider it. It’s novel.

At a traditional jeweler, the price of gold changes every day. This vending machine is mainly selling gold bars, coins and nuggets, made by overseas manufacturers. Prices are linked to global price indexes and exchange rates. So they’ll cost different amounts as the price of gold fluctuates – but the machine has still attracted jewelers to have a try.

Lin Ku-chih
Jeweler
The price is a little higher than at jewelers like ours, because it charges 5% tax, and in some vending machines… But the convenience of it is a kind of amusing gimmick and a novelty.

Here in a traditional jeweler’s, a display case is packed with glittering gold items. Until now, visiting a store like this has been the normal way most people would buy gold.

Wei Chin-yu
Jeweler
When buying gold, we suggest you buy in store, because in store you can choose from a wider range of weights, more than in a vending machine.

Gold sales are no longer confined to jewelers. But when buying a commodity as valuable as gold, buyers feel more secure when they can see and touch the item first. Vending machines can’t provide that, but they do provide another consumer option in our fast-paced world.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

不只賣飲料! 高雄黃金販賣機販售國外金條、金幣

2024-03-14

高雄一間百貨購物商場，有民眾發現，多了一台黃金販賣機，裡頭賣的全是國外廠牌的金條、金幣，還有小金豆，業者說，黃金價格會隨著國際牌價和匯率有所波動，吸引不少民眾嘗鮮購買，連帶也影響傳統銀樓店家的消費人流。

百貨公司6樓，有一台販賣機，機台最上層還有監視器鏡頭，點開觸控螢幕，選好商品結帳，從出貨口掉出來的是包裝精美的黃金。

[[民眾]]
“多一個選擇啊，多一個參考的東西，不會(排斥) ，不會啊，蠻新奇的”

一般傳統銀樓，黃金是一天一個價格，但黃金販賣機，主要販售國外廠牌的金條、金幣，還有小金豆，會隨著國際牌價和匯率，金價有所波動，儘管會有價差，仍吸引銀樓業者來嘗鮮。

[[銀樓業者林古馳]]
“跟我們銀樓上來講，(價格)是偏高一點點，因為畢竟它還有5%的稅，還有在一些販賣機，但是它的便利性是屬於一個比較噱頭，比較新進的”

鏡頭轉到傳統銀樓，櫃台裡放了琳瑯滿目的黃金商品，一般人想買黃金，以往的方式，就是親自走一趟銀樓。

[[銀樓業者韋勁宇]]
“其實買黃金，我們還是會建議說在店面，因為店面它可以選擇的重量，會比販賣機來的多”

賣黃金不再是銀樓的專利，只是黃金價格不斐，傳統銀樓，看得到也摸得到，多了一份安心感，但販賣機也給了現代生活忙碌的人，多了新選擇，就看消費者怎麼選。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

Two dead, two missing after Chinese fishing boat sinks near Kinmen

2024-03-14

US Army Special Forces military advisors stationed in Taiwan: reports

Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation has hit a new milestone. According to foreign media reports, officers from the U.S. Army Special Forces have been stationed in Taiwan to help with military training. The military advisors are reportedly stationed at amphibious bases in Kinmen and Penghu, to train local troops. The move was made in accordance with the U.S.’ 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

A mini helicopter smaller than the soldier’s hand takes off into the sky. The Norway-made Black Hornet Nano is a micro unmanned aerial vehicle that can be used to collect and transmit images in real time. Reports say U.S. Army Special Forces officers are assisting with training for Taiwan’s Army. The reports say some of the U.S. officials have been stationed permanently in Taiwan.

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
There are inevitably some shortcomings when it comes to our nation’s military operations and war preparations. So we have to conduct exchanges and learn from our allies, be they groups, organizations or countries. They identify our problems and help us improve while we learn from their strengths. This is standard practice.

Foreign media reports say that, following the U.S.’ 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. has stationed military advisors at amphibious command centers in Kinmen and Penghu to conduct drills with Taiwan’s elite units. The approach marks a departure from previous training programs, which did not involve the long term stationing of military personnel. The move has been hailed as a milestone for Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation.

As China escalates its military aggression, Taiwan is boosting its military cooperation with the U.S. while upgrading its own training drills. Starting in April, the Air Force will be conducting its annual shooting training in two areas east of the median line of the Taiwan Strait. One goes from Penghu to Taichung, and the other from Taichung to Taipei. The border of the areas comes very close to the median line.

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
Areas where shooting and training will be conducted are planned ahead of training. For us, the median line of the Taiwan Strait is very important, so we have designated many training areas there. That’s where we conduct drills. If that space is infringed upon we’d be left with nowhere to do training. The median line isn’t just for war preparations and response times.

Taiwan is set on holding drills near the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which Beijing has claimed doesn’t exist.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-14

UMC founder to organize seminars on China’s Anti-Secession Law

2024-03-14

Taiwan Railway and Seibu Railway are teaming up to create mouth-watering meals

Valentine’s Day may have been exactly a month ago, yet the taste buds of food lovers are feeling the love today during Japan’s romantic holiday known as White Day. Taiwan Railway and Seibu Railway served up one-day only Chichibu-style pork chop bento boxes on Thursday. But there’s no need to fret if you didn’t get your hands on the limited edition meal, as today was just the beginning of the partnership between these two railways.

With March 14 being White Day, Taiwan Railway’s catering department and Japanese conglomerate Seibu worked together to create a Chichibu-style pork chop bento box that’s only on sale today. FTV met a few foodies who were lucky enough to get their hands on the limited edition meal.

Member of public
The city’s pork chops are really incredible. Chichibu also has something called miso-marinated meat. Over there their restaurants truly are a great deal.

This actually isn’t the limited edition meal’s first time around. Three years ago, the public raved about the Chichubu-style pork chops, and today the same delicious taste has been recreated. The bentos even lured in a customer from another country.

Japanese member of the public
I’m here because Taiwan Railway and Seibu Railway created this together.

Chang Su-yun
Taiwan Railway
At this special time, we’ve specially created this one-day only pop-up shop selling Chichubu-style pork chop bento boxes, for Taiwan Railway bento box enthusiasts.

Dozens of people were lining up for the bento’s delectable pork chops as well as its vast array of colorful and mouth-watering side dishes. This year, Seibu Railway sent a group to Taiwan to take part in a ceremony celebrating that the two railway companies will be working together in order to boost railway tourism in both countries.

Chen Jung-pin
Taiwan Railway
In terms of what makes this special, what our two railways are primarily focusing on is the “Moving Kitchen” concept. This way, travelers can enjoy some delicious food while they take in the beautiful scenery outside the train’s windows.

With a freshly signed agreement, which represents the friendship between Taiwan and Japan, both railways will continue working side-by-side to create delicious food that they expect will win over the hearts of both Taiwanese and Japanese travelers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-14

British-Taiwanese photographer shows off black-and-white London street scenes

2024-03-14

Intel optimistic about AI PC sales despite stalling of AI shares in the stock market

Taiwan shares crumbled during the Thursday trading session after losses across the board in the three major U.S. stock indexes on Wednesday. At one point, the Taiex shed more than 150 points to hit a low of 19,775. In the end a TSMC rally pushed shares to close up 0.05% at 19,937 points. Though artificial intelligence stocks are stalling, major tech companies continue to be optimistic about the technology. Among them is Intel, which is expecting that more than 100 million AI PCs will be sold by 2025.

A woman speaks in the video.

Press a button, and the artificial intelligence system changes her voice to a masculine pitch.

AI can be used to change the sound of voices in recordings and also the appearance of people in photographs. Dynamic special effects can also be set up with ease. The opening video of last year’s 60th Golden Horse Awards was made in just one month, thanks to AI.

Grace Wang
Intel Taiwan vice president
Hardware and software have to be integrated in order to create applications. We’ve worked with more than 100 software companies around the world, and currently, this software offers more than 300 effects and features.

In an attempt to break into the AI market, last year, Intel launched its AI PC Acceleration Program to create the first AI PC design platform. The company expects that its processors will power more than 230 laptop designs this year. It is aiming to provide core processors for 100 million AI PCs by 2025.

Grace Wang
Intel Taiwan vice president
I think AI is just in its first year. We are at a very, very early stage. The ecosystem, and our business partners, should be able to produce a lot of products, including hardware. This will create a lot of output value.

AI applications are surging, but that was not the case for Taiwan tech related stocks on Thursday. The trading session saw big fluctuations with the market nosediving to a low of 19,775.5 points during the trading session, a dip of 153 points. Later on in the day a TSMC rally propped up the board, with finance and heavy electric stocks further pushing the index into gains territory. In the end, Taiwan shares closed slightly higher.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-14

Registration opens for Taipei 101 Run-up in May

Most of the world’s marathons are held on terrain that varies from flat to hilly. But the Taipei 101 Vertical Marathon poses a different kind of challenge. The endurance athletes competing in the event push themselves to run up flight after flight of stairs to the very top of the skyscraper. This excruciating test of fitness was also selected as the Towerrunning World Association’s 2024 world championship race, an event that Taipei last held in 2018.

Competitors from around the world are running… up flight after flight of stairs. A test of endurance and strength. This footage is from last year’s Taipei 101 Vertical Marathon, which features 91 floors and 2,046 steps. The finish line is 390 meters above the ground.

Despite being well past 60 years old and running a financial news outlet, Hsieh Chin-ho is an avid amateur road race runner who’ll once again be competing in this year’s event, which is also called the Taipei 101 Run-up. Hsieh finished in just 28 minutes last year, and 64-year-old Minister Without Portfolio Chang Ching-sen finished one minute faster than Hsieh.

Hsieh Chin-ho
Wealth Magazine CEO
I’ve never pursued a certain PR. I’m just testing out my fitness, so if I run faster or run slower, none of that has ever mattered to me.

Chang Hsueh-shun
Taipei 101 chair
Before the pandemic, this championship race was extremely important to the world, because it was the site of the Towerrunning World Championships. This year the pandemic is over, which allows us to hold the world championship race event again. So, the race will probably get the world’s attention.

The Taipei 101 Vertical Marathon will be held on May 4 and registration begins on March 15. This is the second time Taipei 101 will serve as the venue of the Towerrunning World Association’s world championship race, so this year there will be two divisions: an open group and the TWA group, which will be more physically-taxing. The TWA group will start from ground level and then race up 91 floors, and then just one hour later they’ll run up 59 floors.

Chao Jui-chuan
2023 Taipei Run-up women’s winner
This time I just want to break my own PB, so for this year I hope I can place in the top 30.

Last year, Chao won the women’s division, and this year she is hoping to keep performing well as she competes against tower-running enthusiasts from around the world.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-14

Which parking spot is best in a car park? Real estate expert offers tips

2024-03-14

How to test a self-driving car: simulation after simulation

ITRI forecasts that one in three cars will be self-driving by 2040. Tests of self-driving cars are well underway in Taiwan. In 2023, a fleet of self-driving buses was able to operate successfully in an urban area in a trial. Such self-driving buses have been described as “MRT-esque.” But how do engineers go about testing self-driving cars? We take a visit to Taiwan Car Lab to find out more about the technologies being developed in the industry.

The self-driving cars of sci-fi movies are starting to appear in real life. As an IT superpower, Taiwan is not going to be left out of the field.

This is Taiwan Car Lab, a center for testing self-driving cars. Chang Lung-yao is the director of the internship program here.

Chang Lung-yao
Taiwan Car Lab
To get a self-driving car on the road, you have the legal side, the environmental side, the lifestyle aspect, the applications – you need involvement from students from many different fields.

So how exactly do you test a self-driving car? The Taiwan Car Lab looks like a tiny city or a huge driving school. The closed lab environment enables companies and scholars to safely test all kinds of technologies related to self-driving cars. The lab contains 13 types of highway installations, as well as soft test targets simulating pedestrians, cyclists and other cars. Engineers can design a road simulation to test the technologies they are developing.

In the lab, self-driving cars come across many of the kinds of situations they might encounter on real roads – deciphering traffic signals, dealing with complex traffic situations, avoiding a sudden scooter passing by. All these simulations test the capacity of the car.

These tests are not an idle exercise of devil’s advocate. Smart traffic systems will rely on each vehicle being connected to the Internet of Things. They will be updated with messages about real-time road conditions, the arrival of ambulances, and traffic signals. This data will help vehicles avoid accidents, traffic jams and roadblocks. If a self-driving car relied only on GPS technology, they would lose connection when entering a tunnel or another obstruction, which could be disastrous or render them immobile. That’s why 5G technology and infrastructure will be needed to maintain stable connectivity, constituting a vital prerequisite for self-driving cars.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-14

Yilan Green Expo offers education and fun from March 30-May 22

2024-03-14