UAE
Latest
Sharp's 65-inch LC-65RX1M launches in UAE
The UAE may be short on HDTV content, but there's no shortage of Blu-ray material to watch. To that end, Sharp's giving those with big eyes and bigger egos a chance to indulge with the launch of its RX Series in the region. The 65-inch LC-65RX1M is first on the scene, bringing with it a 1080p panel, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 nits of brightness, 12-millisecond response time and a wide assortment of ports. Oddly, there's no mention of price, but it should be available locally right now.
The handsets of GITEX 2008: HTC, SE and TechFaith
Given that Dubai pretty much has it out for every other spectacle in the entire universe, it's no shock to see the mecca pick up a major consumer electronics trade show of its own. This year's GITEX 2008 has come and gone, but there are still images left to remind us of the show that was. PocketPCDubai was fortunate enough to tour the show floor with a camera in hand, and while the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 wasn't a shocker, there were quite a few intriguing WinMo handsets in attendance. For a look at what all TechFaith had to offer (along with a few shots of the luscious Touch HD from HTC), head on down to the read link.
Anangran set to deliver HD to Dubai's Movenpick Hotel
Hotels that show off HD are nothing new, but in nothing-but-the-best Dubai, you just know that the dial has to get turned to 11. Guests at the 7-star (seriously) Movenpick Hotel in Dubai demand custom-tailored HD, and that's exactly what Anangran intends to deliver by deploying its FR-1000 Flow Manager devices. Five of the wonderboxes will serve up pristine HD and VOIP at up to 10Gb/s, customized to each guest's preferences. And if there's nothing good on, we're thinking guests can just look out the window at the Podium display.
4,000-square foot "portable cinema" rolls into UAE
Only in Dubai and the surrounding areas would a 4,000-square foot cinema-on-wheels be considered "portable." The 70-ton, six-story high screen -- which is nicely complemented by a 32-speaker digital surround sound system -- is prepared to show off theatrical masterpieces to some 2,000 onlookers at the Hydra Open Air Cinema UAE 2008. Said event is set to spend a dozen nights in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai during November and December, and organizers are fully expecting to make it an annual tradition. So, what are the chances we can get Star Wars going on this thing?[Via AboutProjectors]
World's largest LED screen coming to Dubai
By this point, you should fully understand that "Dubai" and "world's largest" go hand-in-hand, so it's quite fitting that said city is receiving the planet's most humongous LED screen. Designed by UAE development company Tameer Holding, the 33-story high display will reportedly be "embedded on an intended commercial tower in the Majan district of Dubailand," where it will stand tall and blast out advertisements to onlookers some 1.5-kilometers away. Dubbed Podium, the building will also house 33 levels of "premium commercial office space, two floors dedicated to retail and four floors for parking." There's no word on when the project will be completed, but we don't suspect Tameer will be dragging its feet in getting this up.[Via Coolbuzz]
Motorola rings millennials overseas for media survey
Motorola already sent out its dutiful survey team to pick the brains of millennials (ages 16 to 27) in the US, but now those same folks have infiltrated nations across the pond. Somewhat surprisingly, the results were mighty similar, even though Europe is notorious for buying HDTVs and not the HDTV programming to go along with it. Still, some 78% of the 1,200 surveyed confirmed that they would prefer a TV program to restart the moment they switched over, leading us to believe that only 22% enjoy showing up to a movie that has already started. Also curious was the fact that 53% of respondents in the UAE said they "loved HD content," yet the region is just now starting to see high-def material from broadcasters. Anywho, the read link has lots and lots of numbers if you care to humor yourself, but the real comedy is in the Millennial Generation video after the jump.
Carbon-neutral Ziggurat pyramid could house 1.1 million in Dubai
As we learned from Wall-E, people with half a mind for themselves probably won't be kosher with living with 1.1 million or so other inhabitants within a pyramid. That being said, there's always the brainwash approach to getting 'em in there, and if hordes of people were ever filed into the conceptual Ziggurat, Mother Earth would surely appreciate it. The 2.3-square kilometer building would be able to house over 1 million people and be "almost totally self-sufficient energy-wise." By tapping into the planet's renewable resources, designers assert that it could practically be carbon-neutral, and given that transport within the machine would be connected by an "integrated 360-degree network," fuel-burning cars would be pointless. As with most things in Dubai, this one seems larger than life, but if the Burj Al Arab is any indication, there's at least a minuscule chance this thing comes to fruition.[Via Inhabitat]
Abu Dhabi Media Company to launch UAE's first HD channel next month
Although broadcast HD may not hit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until 2009, the nation's very first high-def channel is reportedly on track for a September launch. Yeah, as in next month. The Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) is planning to launch an undisclosed HD station within weeks, and word has it that ADMC could begin "filming local football matches in the format from September." It all starts with one...[Via AMEInfo]
UAE on track for HDTV broadcast in 2009
In case you haven't heard, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on a spending spree fueled by its goal to become the country with the bestest of everything. Naturally, that claim includes broadcast HDTV, right? Well, as we've seen in the U.S., there's more to getting HD off the ground than the infrastructure. Lots of channels with little content does not a happy HD populace make, and those are exactly the growing pains that UAE is experiencing. The country has spent some $5-billion on HD infrastructure that has been ready to roll for some 2.5-years, but it's been a, um, desert in terms of content. The market rollout with respect to HD-media is reversed from the situation we had in the U.S. -- the UAE is seeing HDM spark HD broadcast -- but it's still all about content. Our advice is to rely on early adopters until content reaches critical mass, and then the market will catch on. And trust us -- it's worth the wait.
Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Blu-ray player lands in Middle East
Panasonic's fairly well-regarded DMP-BD30 Blu-ray player has been available here in America for months on end, but it's just now getting shipped en masse to the Middle East. Reportedly, the launch marks Panny's first foray into the Middle East's Blu-ray market, but with the DMP-BD50 just waiting to globetrot, we have all ideas it won't be the outfit's last. No word on pricing just yet.
Hitachi's DZ-BD7HSW hybrid Blu-ray camcorder comes to UAE
Remember that hybrid Blu-ray camcorder Hitachi busted out late last summer? Lo and behold, that very unit has become the first of its kind to grace the markets in the United Arab Emirates. The flagship DZ-BD7HSW incorporates a 30GB hard drive along with BD recording capabilities to log hours upon hours of 1,920 x 1,080 footage of your stay in the Burj Al Arab, and for folks not keen on editing, it offers up a one-touch transfer function to get your HDD-stored material straight to Blu-ray Disc. Unfortunately, a price for the UAE isn't mentioned, but that's about all the reason you need to hop on over for a week and see for yourself, right?
UAE nabbed a pair of ships suspected for undersea cable cutting
Turns out the United Arab Emirates took two ships into custody on February 19th after those infamous cable cuttings. Wayward anchors are suspected to be at fault, and the Korean company responsible for one of the vessels just agreed to fork over 60 grand in damages in exchange for the release of its ship. The other ship, which is owned by an Iraqi company, is still under Dubai custody, and the two sailors on board were arrested and are awaiting prosecution next week. As for us, we're standing by our space aliens in league with garden gnomes theory. It all just adds up. [Thanks, Mike]
Consumer demand for HD content on the rise in Middle East
It's no surprise to hear of consumer demand swaying decisions in America in regard to HD content, but it seems as if the cries for more high-def are making their way east. According to the Dubai World Trade Centre, "discerning consumers in the region are driving broadcasters to expedite their shift towards high definition transmission and upgrade their existing facilities at a faster pace." The 2007 industry report by the Satellite Industry Association also "indicated a huge upswing in consumer demand for more high definition (HD) content." As it stands, broadcasters in the Middle East are just starting to employ HD technology, but given the rate at which areas such as Dubai adopt newfangled technology, we wouldn't be surprised to see guests at the Burj Al Arab enjoying a hundred or so HD options in the not-too-distant future.[Image courtesy of Volja]
Sony sells "substantial" stake to Dubai investment firm
Stringer-san, Hirai-San, everyone at Sony, say hello to your new part owners: Dubai International Capital, run by UAE Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. According to the Journal the investment is for a stake under 5% of the total company since there were no legally-required Japanese security filings to indicate otherwise. No real idea how much this chunk of Sony went for, but whatever it cost we're sure it was only a drop in the bucket for a dude with enough money to make Billy G. and Carlos Slim scoot over a seat at dinner. BTW, Sheikh RRAM (can we call you that?), do us a solid and get Sony to resurrect Aibo and QRIO, cool? Much love. [Warning: subscription req'd for read link]
Report: Banned games still available in Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates might have just gotten the Xbox 360, but the country's government doesn't want people playing some of the more violent games out there. That's OK, though -- the citizens of the country seem to have no trouble getting hold of the banned games, according to a recent report. Gulf News reveals that UAE retailers routinely sell games like Grand Theft Auto under the table for 170 to 180 dirham (about $45 - $50) despite an official ban from the country's censorship department. "Smaller stores tend to buy games from wholesalers without getting official approval, or import it directly, many of which would be sold under the table." said Lalit Vase, Regional Manager at Take Two Regional Distributor Red Entertainment and Distribution in an interview with Gulf News. Even if the local UAE stores don't have it, it's usually possible to get around the law with Internet ordering.It begs the question: If video game bans aren't effective in relatively closed states like the UAE, how effective would similar bans be in more liberal societies?
Global domination is nigh, 360 releases in UAE
Microsoft is one step closer to video game global domination with the release of the Xbox 360 in the United Arab Emirates. The three day launch event kicked off a few days ago in the Mall of the Emirates featuring the 360, some friendly competition, and bunches of fun. The Premium Xbox 360 will cost Dh1,799 ($489 US) in the UAE with games starting at Dh139 DH ($38 US). Now only if Microsoft and the US could partner up with the UAE to create an Xbox 360 for oil program. Cheaper gasoline for 360s would kick major bum.
PS3 launches in India, Xbox 360 in UAE
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have found two more territories to duke it out in as each console launches in regions where the other has already been stocking store shelves.In India, the PlayStation 3 launches today for 39,990 INR (US $981). The Xbox 360 launched in India September 26 with a 23,990 INR (US $515) price tag for the premium system, although the Times of India states the current price for the 360 in India is 27,990 INR (US $686). Nintendo has not yet officially launched the Wii in India.SCEE sales and marketing director Tim Stokes told TOI he expects the Indian gaming market to grow a massive 850% in three years, from $50 million currently to $425 million in 2010. Sony initially shipped 1,200 units. According to the article, only one model -- the 60 GB SKU -- will be available.In the United Arab Emirates, the Xbox 360 is launching for 1,799 UAE dirhams (US $490). The PlayStation 3 launched in the region March 23 with PAL territories for 2,499 UAE dirhams (US $680). Games for the Xbox 360, according to Gulf News, will cost between 139 and 279 dirhams (US $37 and $76, respectively).Read -- Sony brings PlayStation 3 at Rs 39,990Read -- Microsoft's Xbox [360] officially launched in UAE
Dubai's new luxury tower to resemble an iPod
As if the Burj Al-Arab (and Time Residences) in Dubai wasn't unique enough, Omniyat Properties is getting set to construct a 23-story luxury tower inspired by none other than Apple's iPod. Slated to be built in Business Bay, the "iPad residential tower" is scheduled to house more than 200 units, and was "designed by Hong Kong-based architects James Law Cybertecture International." The high-rise will sit atop a "docking station angled at six degrees," which should have iPod fanboys flying over in droves just to snap pictures. While no preliminary sketches have surfaced quite yet, we'll be sure to keep an eye out for future development (ahem) of the world's largest iPod, and you can go ahead and pencil in "sometime in 2009" as your "must-take" vacation.
Dubai's Time Residences tower: world's largest gadget?
We've seen lots of ridiculous claims in our day, but this time we're not sure which is more absurd, that someone thinks that Dubai needs another ridiculous high-rise building, or that the Time Residences tower is going to be a solar-powered 360-degree rotating version. Yes, all that solar power (the UAE gets a lot of sun over there on the Tropic of Cancer) could be used to power individual units instead -- but instead, all that energy will be used to power the ginormous motors needed to turn this building a full rotation over the course of a week. Tav Singh, the director of Dubai Property Ring, the local branch of UK Property Group which is funding the project, said that the company plans on building similar structures in every time zone around the world. Regardless of which room in the Time Residences you decide to set up shop in, it's bound to be significantly more overpriced than your Manhattan studio.[Via Gear Factor]
