An annual tech tradition is underway, once again delighting - but also frustrating - plenty of gadget fans around the world.
As consumers had shiny new iPad minis, SIII smartphones and other devices making their way into homes during the winter holiday, manufacturers had already started preparing for this year's follow-up releases.
More than 3,000 tech companies are showing off their latest wares, which include so-called smart watches and other pocket-sized trinkets, in Las Vegas at the International Consumer Electronics Show this week.
Some of the bigger-ticket items include new vehicles from Lexus and Audi that boast self-driving features such as the ability to pull into a parking spot without a driver having to use the steering wheel.
Next month, it is expected that smartphone makers such as Samsung, Nokia and HTC will unveil new models at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.
As a group, smartphones have become the primary revenue driver for the tech industry, with shipment revenues forecast to reach US$37 billion (Dh135.9bn) this year, up from $33bn last year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
Meanwhile, consumer electronics makers such as Apple, Microsoft and Research In Motion plan to host events early this year to unveil new products of their own.
Tech retailers in the Emirates hope fancy features embedded in certain technologies will reignite interest in subsectors that have struggled of late.
Televisions, for one, sold well among early adopters when "smart" models were first released.
Some could stream videos from the internet or display photos that were saved on a USB stick.
But the next generation of smart TVs should go beyond (slowly) playing YouTube clips or requiring a USB stick full of digital content to be plugged in, says Julien Pascual, the chief executive of EmiratesAvenue.com, an online tech retailer.
Mr Pascual says consumers are looking for more engaging features, such as being able to see what Facebook friends are watching live or receiving recommendations of TV programmes to view or record based on the shows you normally watch.
This might seem fanciful to some, although Cisco seems to be on board with the plan.
This week, the company introduced Videoscape Unity, a system that includes software that can recommend shows based on an individual's viewing habits.
Other retailers expect Apple will finally release a full-blown television this year, which has been long been rumoured to be in the works.
The latest speculation is that the company is working with electronic components suppliers on testing different TV set designs, so don't hold your breath for an immediate unveiling.
"I hope Apple finally comes out with their television," says Ashish Panjabi, the chief operating officer of Jacky's, an electronics retailer in the UAE.
"There is a lot that is lacking in terms of innovation of televisions and, hopefully, we see Apple change the way we view, distribute and interact with content on our television."
If Apple disappoints, Samsung may not.
The South Korean company teased this month that it was ready to reinvigorate consumer interest in the television market. On its blog, the company posted an image of what seemed to be a translucent TV where, when turned off, a viewer could see through an opaque screen and view whatever hung or stood behind it.
Is this a must-have feature? Hardly. But from Samsung's perspective, the aesthetic touch is "a true innovation of TV design".
When it comes to tablets, retailers are not expecting the kind of overhaul the TV market might experience.
Yet there will be a growing selection of tablets to choose from, including more packed with a higher number of pixels and powerful processors to improve the display and performance of that ever-growing collection of apps.
Executives at JadoPado, Jumbo Electronics and Jacky's all say they expect sales in the tablet category to pick up compared with last year, especially as more models are priced at about $200 or less to attract price-sensitive shoppers.
According to data from the Consumer Electronics Association, tablets are poised to bring in $37bn in shipment revenue, up from $31bn last year.
The tablet market "will be one to watch as I expect feature sets to increase and price points to get more competitive", says Omar Kassim, the founder of the retailer JadoPado.
Some new computing features could trickle down to tablets in the future, continuing the hot sales streak, such as 3-D gesture control, which enables users to manipulate their desktop without actually touching it.
Leap Motion, a company based in California, says it is taking pre-orders for a limited number of $70 controllers that would work with a desktop in this way, effectively allowing people to play Angry Birds, or whatever, with just the flick of a finger. An increased number of hybrid tablets that can switch from laptop mode to pure slate, typically by removing a detachable keyboard, is also expected to boost sales.
In November, Samsung released that kind of combo device - the Ativ Smart PC - in the UAE for Dh2,999 to Dh4,499.
The growing mobility of more devices comes with its downsides, however. Analysts warn the number of breaches of data may fall this year but that the number of individuals affected by each one is likely to rise.
David Gorodyansky, the chief executive and co-founder of the tech security company AnchorFree, also warns that expats "are probably more exposed to security threats than anyone else because they travel a lot".
"They're connecting to Wi-Fi spots in a hotel, a new apartment and so on, and browsing new websites they may not have browsed before," he says.
Other devices are far from mobile but are still regarded as seedlings in terms of their sales potential within the overall tech sector.
Take 3-D printers. They can take in raw materials then spit out certain objects that are specified in designs, such as rubber moulds of model houses or toy castings.
But each one can cost more than $2,000, and as a group, they are first expected to become popular among business users before transitioning to consumers, say analysts.
"We're going to see a lot more buzz and interest [and] real viability in shipments of 3-D printers," says Tony Olvet, the group vice president of research for IDC Canada.
"This is the beginning of a revolution of printing."
Of course, blockbuster gadgets that revolutionised other areas of the tech sector are also expected to come back with the usual faster, thinner and lighter upgrades.
Some retailers certainly have their hopes pinned on their return.
For Mr Kassim, it boils down to just three words: "iPhone 6 anyone?"
business@thenational.ae
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
Squads
India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur
West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
