Smartphone sales in the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region grew 13% YoY in 2021, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service. After crossing the post-pandemic phase of pent-up demand, smartphones remained in high demand throughout the year, despite the market facing many difficulties, including macroeconomic worries, supply chain issues and the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.

Most major brands such as Oppo, Apple, and Xiaomi enjoyed stable market growth from 2020 to 2021. Samsung however, dropped in sales share due to issues with factory closures and various component shortages, but is on a  strong start to 2022 with the upcoming release of its Galaxy S22 lineup.

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Senior Research Analyst Yang Wang said  “The Transsion brands, namely TECNO, Infinix and itel, continued to gain strength to record another fantastic year. The three brands together accounted for 32% of the smartphones sold in 2021, up from 23% in the previous year. Mass-market models from TECNO and Infinix have been a big hit, while more pricey models have also been positively received. More importantly, the Transsion brands have found success away from the African home market. Their market share in the Middle East almost doubled in 2021, while sales increased 127%.”

“Xiaomi and OPPO started the year strongly due to substantial investments in channel penetration and product availability. However, both were hit hard in the second half of the year by component shortages. While the situation has improved somewhat, the two brands are likely to take a more careful approach in the first half of 2022.”

Despite overall growth across the MEA region being positive, the Middle East markets performed better in terms of volume and value. Governments in both Africa and the Middle East did generally well in combating the pandemic, but vaccination rates were far higher in the Middle East. Africa was also hamstrung by the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, which meant that the Middle East saw a quicker reopening of the international travel and services sectors. 

Both Africa and the Middle East benefitted from the commodities boom, but Africa faced higher inflationary pressures due to governments being in worse fiscal positions during the pandemic. As such, smartphone affordability was a bigger issue for Africa, especially in the lower-priced segment, as lower-income consumers struggled more. Despite this, smartphone market fundamentals remain strong across the MEA as consumers continue to adopt digital services.

Huawei has announced the launch of the new Huawei P50 Pro and its latest foldable phone, the Huawei P50 Pocket in the region.

Pablo Ning, President of Huawei Consumer Business Group - Middle East and Africa said “We are glad to bring the new Huawei P50 Pro and Huawei P50 Pocket to our users in the region as we remain committed to the pursuit of the best quality, aesthetics and photography experiences.

The new Huawei P50 Pro returns to the philosophies that sit at the heart of flagship phones with a True-Form Dual-Matrix Camera and exquisite design while the Huawei P50 Pocket brings fashion, beauty and tech innovations into the fold with Huawei IMAGE™, whilst its all-new hinge design enables the smartphone to fold seamlessly into a slim and pocketable form”

The Huawei P50 Pro features a Dual-Matrix Camera system to deliver exceptional images. It also features XD Fusion Pro, an improved solution that incorporates a new Super Colour Filter System, True-Chroma Image Engine and Super HDR technology to significantly improve detail, colour and dynamic range. With a 200x zoom range, it allows you to capture photos of any object regardless of distance.

It also comes with a bigger screen and battery, while remaining lighter and slimmer. The Huawei P50 Pro has a 3D True-Chroma 6.6-inch curved glass display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a single unobtrusive punch hole camera in the middle of the display. It’s also IP68 certified for dust and water resistance and incorporates a 4,360mAh battery, while also supporting 66W Huawei SuperCharge and 50W Wireless Huawei SuperCharge.

The Huawei P50 Pro is powered by Huawei’s EMUI 12 software, and features the brand’s Super Device integration that lets you wirelessly connect to compatible Huawei tablets and laptops to exchange information and files easily.

Fashionably foldable

The Huawei P50 Pocket meanwhile, is a foldable smartphone that incorporates a new hinge down the middle for extra durability and a less visible screen crease. To make this phone truly stand out, Huawei teamed up with couture designer Iris Van Herpen to create an advanced 3D micro-sculpture design on the white version of the device.

The Huawei P50 Pocket’s circular Cover Screen supports the display of notifications, schedule, calendar, music, weather, and control of other features. Use it to quickly check on notifications, control your music, or choose between a range of available widgets. Both phones bundle with Huawei’s AppGallery for all your app needs.

Pre-orders, Price and availability in the UAE

The Huawei P50 Pro will be available in two premium finishes – Cocoa Gold and Golden Black at a price of AED 3,999 with pre-order in the UAE starting on January 27th including gifts worth of AED 1,359 – Huawei WATCH GT2 Pro, Petal One free subscription package, 1-Year Warranty (Multi-Country Support) and other VIP services such as door to door service, 2-times free film service, 1-time laser engraving. 

Huawei P50 Pocket in White will be available at a price AED 5,099 and Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition at a price of AED 6,299 with pre-order starting on February 3rd with gifts worth AED 1,959 - Huawei WATCH 3, Petal One free subscription package, 1-Year Warranty (Multi-Country Support) and other VIP services such as door to door service, 1-time laser engraving.

The new flagship devices will be available for pre-orders from Huawei’s e-shop, Huawei Experience Stores and across select retailers.

• These are the best phones of 2022 so far

If you’re a fan of slim and sleek smartphones, then motorola’s edge 20 is just the phone for you. Measuring just 6.9mm thick, it sports the latest 5G speeds as well as other features geared towards content creators. A 108MP main sensor, ultra-wide and macro lens, as well as a 30X Super Zoom telephoto lens means that you can capture videos and photos with exceptional clarity from any vantage point.

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The phone’s Dual Capture Mode allows you to capture photos and videos with both front and rear cameras at the same time, while Audio Zoom uses advance microphones to capture only the audio that is intended. The motorola edge 20 also features super slow motion, recording 960 high-definition frames per second and Low Light AI to automatically analyze and improve the quality of selfies.

For best viewing, the phone features a 6.7-inch 144Hz display, powered by a Qualcomm processor and Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform for the fastest Wi-Fi 6 and 5G speeds. You’ll also get 12GB of built-in storage, 8GB of RAM, and a 4,000 mAh battery.

The motorola edge 20 is now available to purchase in the UAE for AED 1,499 in Frosted Grey and Frosted White from motorola.ae, Noon, Amazon and Sharaf DG.

Majid Al Futtaim, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and VOX Cinemas celebrated World Environment Day by hosting the region’s first carbon neutral drive-in movie screening for Tesla cars. The company also announced it is partnering with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence to offset the carbon emissions from all VOX Cinemas Drive-In screenings

The special screening, which took place at VOX Cinemas Drive-In on the rooftop of Mall of the Emirates, was attended by the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, along with over 100 movie enthusiasts in their Tesla electric cars.

Majid Al Futtaim’s partnership with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence aims to ensure that all future screenings held at the VOX Cinemas’ Drive-In will have a carbon neutral footprint. This will be done through carbon measurement, reduction of avoidable carbon emissions, and offsetting the remaining ones. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim has implemented a waste collection process to ensure 100% waste recycling rates.

Committing to a greener future

Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas said, “Our Mall of the Emirate’s Drive-In, has proven to be incredibly popular, not only when it was the only cinema in the MENA region that was operating, but even more recently as cinemas have started to open across Dubai.  We are very proud to partner with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence to ensure that the VOX Cinemas Drive-In is a carbon neutral experience.”

In keeping with its efforts to be more eco-conscious, Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates close to 3 million sqm of green certified floor area, and has committed to phase out single-use plastics from its operations by 2025.

Tickets for the VOX Cinemas Carbon Neutral Drive-In can be booked on voxcinemas.com or through the VOX Cinemas iOS and Android app.

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HTC announced today that the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite is coming to the UAE on May 21st.

Pre-orders are available from May 7th, with the full kit costing AED 4,299. An option to purchase only the headset will also be available in the UAE in mid-June. The full kit will also bundle with a redemption code for Half-Life: Alyx, as well as a redemption code for six months of Viveport Infinity to access new VR content. 

“People want an incredible VR experience and we have worked hard to build Vive Cosmos Elite to deliver just that,” said Graham Wheeler, HTC. “Cosmos Elite is truly our most versatile headset yet. From consumers just discovering VR for the first time to the demanding business user, Cosmos Elite offers stellar quality, comfort, and the ability to evolve VR and XR journeys over time – from changing faceplates to adding options like wireless.” 

Vive Cosmos Elite includes a pre-installed External Tracking Faceplate, 2 SteamVR base stations, and two Vive controllers. The External Tracking Faceplate can be used with base station versions 1.0 or 2.0 as well as the original Vive or Vive Pro controllers and is easily swapped with the original inside-out tracking faceplate that ships with Vive Cosmos.

Vive Cosmos Elite will be available for pre-order online on www.vive.com from May 7, or can alternatively be picked up in-store from  select retailers such as Virgin Megastore and Axiom from May 21st.

 

• Check out our review of the HTC Cosmos

With a large number of us now staying at home during the coronavirus outbreak, it’s time to change how you go about your normal workday. What may have worked for you in an office environment may not translate properly when you’re working at home, so it’s important to recognize what you need to do in order to stay productive. 

Here at TechRadar Middle East we’ve made changes to our workflows as well With 99% of the time spent at home, working and collaborating with each other on different projects. Some of us are experts at working from home, while others may only have done so very rarely.  The interesting thing to note is how each of us have similar methods of keeping our focus while working at home, each with very different working environments. 

So if you’re new to the working from home concept, here’s how we’re managing to get our work done just as well as if we were working in our offices. 

Abbas Jaffar Ali - Editorial 

The best thing about working remotely is that you can be in your PJs from 9-5. However, the screaming kids in the background don’t help so the first thing I did was find a quiet spot. The dining room only gets used thrice a day, two of which are before and after working hours so that has become my office. 

I use my MacBook Pro 16-inch for all the work with my mobile phone next to it – that's either an iPhone or an Android (some days both.) I specifically chose the larger screen laptop to work as that acts as a desktop replacement whenever I need it to. 

My apps are usually arranged in spaces or virtual desktops with the browser taking one space, Microsoft Teams taking another and then everything else on the desktop space. Most apps I work on are browser based- such as Microsoft Office / Outlook, Hubspot or the CMS for TechRadar.  

For calls and conference, I prefer using the phone more than my laptop - I just find that more convenient. However if need be, I can use Microsoft Teams to do a video conference using my laptop. 

I hate adding “extra” things such as mouse/trackpad, a headset or a monitor to my laptop and thus, pretty much use the laptop’s built-in features. Which is why #donglelife doesn’t apply to me as I don't need to plug in anything extra. Cloud storage and emails helps move files around. 

I will also experiment with using the iPad Pro for all the above one of these days...

Nick Rego - Editorial 

I’ve worked from home plenty of times before, so my setup remains the same as it always has. I work on my MacBook Air from my kitchen bar, so I can avoid feeling sluggish if I’m working on the couch or on my bed. I can also use my laptop to quickly look up recipes for lunch, while also staying on top of my emails or any messages from my co-workers on Microsoft Teams. 

For more taxing work such as video editing or typing up long reviews, I swap to my desktop setup. I mainly use it for streaming while I game, but it’s a perfect multi-monitor setup for work as well. It’s also what I use if I need to do a quick video call with the team, as I’ve got a much better webcam equipped than the one on my MacBook Air. 

Lastly, I’ve also got my Amazon Echo speaker playing some light music in the background, so my mind doesn’t totally wander. I can easily mute it with a quick voice command, or even check what’s on upcoming calendar appointments while I’m working on something else. 

Ammara Rounaq- Editorial & Social Media 

Working from home is a familiar concept for me as I’ve freelanced for the better part of my career. What’s helped me most is setting guidelines and prioritizing tasks to make the best of my time, having a dedicated working space and setting ground rules for people in my space. 

Focus has always been an issue for me but having a decent setup and dedicated space has gone a long way. I work on a MacBook Pro (late-2013) hooked up to two 24-inch monitors for a desktop setup feel. I’m not a fan of working in laptop mode unless it’s for some light writing. I much prefer having a dedicated keyboard and multi-button mouse, which come in handy for tasks like video editing and long-form writing.  

On my monitors, I keep my email, browser and Microsoft Teams open on one monitor and the second is for whatever task I’m currently working on. A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones helps when I want to have complete focus on a task, and my Bose SoundLink Color helps with ambient noise when I get tired of wearing headphones.  

Following a routine helps most since it can be difficult to draw clear lines between work and home, so taking frequent breaks to clear your head with some light reading, a quick cup of coffee -anything that helps boost productivity. There are temptations all around and it’s important to know when to take a break and when to strap yourself down to meet a deadline. 

Sam McClusky - Sales 
 
I’m mostly relegated to my couch since my laptop power cord isn’t long enough to reach my desk. Most days I’m on my MacBook Pro, running Microsoft Teams to keep in touch with colleagues and do quick voice or video calls.  

My biggest advice for those working from home is to not break your normal routine. Wake up and have breakfast as if you were going to the office – even change into different clothes to keep your brain focused and alert. Try to avoid going down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos or shopping websites as these will easily waste hours of your time.  

If you feel your brain starting to wander, then get up and take a little walk around your apartment. Have a snack, drink some water, and then get back to work. You can even do a short burst of exercise if you like to keep up your energy levels.  

Tech to get you through 

If you need some tech to keep your home office experience more productive, then here are some products we’d recommend: 

Noise cancelling headphones 

Great for listening to music or jumping into a quick call, noise cancelling headphones are a must-have, especially if you’re in a busy household or your kids never seem to give you some time to yourself. We’re fans of the Sony WH-1000XM3, but you can opt for other great noise-cancelling headphones that can keep you focused on your work. 

Get a better webcam 

If you’re doing a lot of video conference calls, then you’ll want to have a better camera than the one bundled on your laptop. The Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro webcam is a great choice for its super-sharp quality, low-light performance, and smooth framerates for streaming and recording.  

Up your Wi-Fi network 

Okay, so this one is a bit of an investment to make, but it’ll benefit your entire household. If you’re running into speed problems on your current Wi-Fi network, then consider switching things up to a mesh Wi-Fi network. Not only will you have better Wi-Fi throughout your house, you can also configure your network to automatically prioritize certain devices over others, so that you can still enjoy remote access or a smooth web conference while someone is streaming Netflix at the same time. 

If you’re looking for even more content to keep you and your family busy while staying at home, then MBC Group’s Shahid streaming service might be just what you need.

The video on demand platform is offering new users a 1-month VIP subscription, starting Friday 20th March.

The VIP subscription grants access to Shahid’s premium library of family entertainment, which includes exclusive Shahid Premieres, Shahid Originals, Arabic movies fresh off the big screen, live TV channels in true HD quality, as well as diverse range of offerings to the entire family courtesy of Disney, Marvel, FOX, ABC Studios and more.

Notable Arabic content includes “Al Theeb fi Al Qleeb” (The Wolf in the Heart), which marks Saudi comedy icon Nasser Al-Qasabi’s return to theatre after 30 years. Then there’s the film “Born a King” (Wulida Malikan), which documents the extraordinary true story of 13-year-old Faisal, the young son of the first King of Saudi Arabia, who in 1919 is sent on a diplomatic mission.

Lastly, the series, “Domoa Farah” (Tears of Joy) starring Shujoun Al-Hajri, is a Khaleeji social drama that explores what happens when a holiday abroad turns into a nightmare for one Kuwaiti family, who lose their daughter in one of Georgia’s most dangerous forests.

There are also great titles from the Marvel universe and Disney, such as “The Avengers”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Beauty & The Beast”, “Muppets: Most Wanted”, and of course, “Frozen”.

To enjoy one free month of Shahid VIP, users must sign up between Friday 20 March and 5 April 2020. This promotion is exclusively available to new users in the Middle East region.

Those based in Egypt must register via DCB Vodafone.

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If you’ve ever forgotten to get your paper parking ticket validated, or worse, misplaced your ticket entirely, you can now worry less at Mall of the Emirates.

The mall has now introduced a smart parking function to its dedicated mobile app. In addition to viewing how many parking spaces are available at the mall, users can now register their vehicles via the app to gain instant entry into the mall without having to stop for a paper parking ticket.

You can also register a payment method on the app, which automatically charges your card when you exceed the mall’s free parking limits.

For those who can never seem to locate their car in a parking lot, the app also offers a ‘Find my Car’ feature, which uses AI along with parking cameras in the mall parking lot to locate a parked vehicle via a number plate.

The app can be downloaded for iOS and Android.

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Doom Eternal is - frantic. No matter what difficulty setting you're playing the game on, the gameplay is fast, challenging, and never boring. Releasing on March 20th, 2020 for the PC and console, it's a non-stop action powerhouse that brings some truly satisfying moments with it.

Whether you're swinging through the sky to take down a Gargoyle, or vaulting over molten lava to charge into a Hell Knight, you'll get satisfaction from every shot, grenade launch, or straight-up punch to the face. 

Doom Eternal's gameplay is very fluid, and standing in one spot is not at all encouraged. Enemies regularly flank you and try to keep you cornered, so being mobile is a huge part of staying alive. You can also pick your battles wisely - do you ignore the largest enemy room and pick off the smaller ones first, or tackle the strongest one first and use the smaller demons to replenish your ammo? 

While the game does reward you for charging headfirst into battle, there are definitely moments where you'll want to asses the situation before you begin your attack. The enemies are varied enough to ensure that no two battles are the same, and just when you think you've eliminated them all, a swarm of new enemies teleports in. 

It's certainly a game we would recommend playing on PC with keyboard and mouse. The sheer speed and pace of some of these fights would be a true challenge to pull off with a console controller, but if you're quick enough you might just be able to do much better than we did.

Doom Eternal releases March 20th, 2020 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

• Looking for some other games to play? Here are the most anticipated games for 2020

It’s common to want to kick off the year by getting into better shape, and while it’s a commendable feat, it’s also easy to lose track of your progress or get sidetracked with your training.

Thankfully, technology is more than happy to help with keeping you on track with your fitness, whether it’s about losing weight, getting stronger, or just trying to eat healthier. From apps to digital scales to fitness trackers, you can keep an eye on all of your fitness goals easier than you ever have before.

So if you’re looking to keep fit in 2020, here are the best tech solutions to help you out.

MyFitnessPal

This app is a must if you want to keep track of what you’re eating on a daily basis. Sign up for an account, input your stats, and then fill in what you’re eating for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. 

It also helps you track you water intake, and you can pair it with other apps to automatically import information such as exercise through the week. Plus, you can quickly scan barcodes of products to import them into the app and see the exact nutritional breakdown. You can also upgrade to a Premium account for more reporting and advances features, but the free edition works just as well.

Get it for Android and iOS here.

Withings Body+ Scale

While we’re not one to encourage people to weigh themselves every day, the Withings Body+ Scale is a good way to track your weight progress each time you weigh yourself. The scale gives accurate readings each time, and can show you a map of your weight progress as well. You can also get other readings such as an estimate of your fat percentage, muscle mass, and even water content.

Paired with the accompanying app, it’s a good way to see how your weight is progressing when coupled with correct nutrition

Get it here.

Fitbit Versa 2

Whether you’re looking to track your daily steps, monitor your heartrate, or just get a better quality of sleep, the Fitbit Versa 2 can do it all. The newest model features better smartphone integration, and gently enters the realm of a budget smartwatch rather than just a regular fitness tracker. It also sports improved battery life, so you can worry less about having to charge it often.

Get it here.

Upright Go 2

Posture is incredibly important, especially if you spend hours each day sitting at your desk. The Upright Go 2 monitors your posture and vibrates gently if you’re starting to slouch. It’s a conditioning method that actually does improve your posture over time. It’s got a decent battery life, an informative app, and is discreet to wear under most clothing. If you’ve constantly hunched over your phone or desk, then this little device is something you have to check out.

Get it here

C25k

Ever thought you could run a 5k? It’s actually quite possible, thanks to C25k. The app trains you over a course of 8 weeks to steadily go from couch potato to being confident enough to run a 5k. It may sound impossible, but as long as you keep on the training schedule, you can actually make it happen. The app also features a voice coach to guide you through each session, as well as further training apps to help you continue your running goals.

Get it for Android and iOS here.

FitMenCook

Nutrition is an important part of being healthy, and if you’re at a loss for recipe ideas or you’re tired of just dining on chicken breasts, then this app is for you. There are a slew of excellent recipes that are easy to follow, many of which also come with instructional videos. From chicken tacos to quinoa salads and stews, there’s close to 700 recipes across a variety of nutritional levels to keep you going.

Get it for Android and iOS here.

Apple Watch Series 5

While it’s one of the more expensive smartwatches out there, the Apple Watch does come with plenty of great fitness options tacked on. From running, cycling, yoga, and many more, the Apple Watch can track various workouts and monitor your progress during each session. It’s also great for swimming, and can give you a gentle nudge while running to keep your pace in check.

If you’re working out in a gym, the Apple Watch can also sync with certain gym equipment to track even more metrics, making for an even more effective workout.

Get it here.

Freeletics Training Coach

If you’re strapped for time and space but still want to boost your fitness levels, then the Freeletics Training Coach is just the app for you. It acts as your own digital personal trainer to advise you on a full range of workouts for different objectives. Whether it’s for building muscle, losing weight, or improving flexibility, there are plenty of options to choose from as well as particular paid plans that ramp up the  difficulty according to your liking.

Get it for Android and iOS here.

Huawei Watch GT2

Another good smartwatch choice if you’re in the Android camp, the Watch GT2 offers fitness and sleep tracking, as well as nearly a week of battery life. It tracks both indoor and outdoor activities in real-time, offering tracking for heart rate, steps, calories, and much more.

Sleep tracking is also quite impressive, with the Watch GT2 being able to diagnose six common types of sleeping issues and offering advice on how you can get better rest.

Get it here

• The best cheap fitness trackers 2020: the top affordable sport bands to keep you fit

It’s hard to summarize the last ten years in tech. We’ve had new phones, data leaks, foldable tech, VR, and a whole slew of things that have been keeping us busy. Technology never stands still for long, and if the last ten years are anything to go by, then we’re certainly in for a whirlwind ride for the next decade.

Here at TechRadar HQ we’ve had our own share of fun tech to ponder over, so we’ve narrowed down our favorite picks over the years. From the groundbreaking Oculus Rift to the world’s obsession with selfie sticks, here are our picks for the best tech and trends of the past decade.

2010 - Apple iPad

When the iPad came onto the scene, everyone scoffed at it. Why on earth would we need this massive tablet thing, and who would even buy one? Turns out, everyone. With an ever-increasing app ecosystem and the simple, easy to use interface of iOS, Apple’s iPad truly ushered in the tablet era. Sure, there were plenty of tablet PCs before the iPad, but none of them brought the simplicity and sleekness the way the iPad did.

2011 – iPhone 4S

The original iPhone was truly something we weren’t prepared for, but it did have its fair share of issues as a first-generation product. Apple’s iPhone 4 improved a lot on this, but it was the iPhone 4S that we think really made people clamor for one of these phones. Along with a better processor and camera, the iPhone 4S also introduced the world to Siri, Apple’s digital voice assistant. Pretty soon people were barking commands at their phone, and Apple knew they had a winner on their hands.

2012 – Oculus Rift

Few things were as exciting in the tech scene as the proper introduction of VR with the Oculus Rift. The Rift’s founders wanted to make a more effective VR solution than what was currently on the market, and also make it more accessible to gamers. It launched a hugely successful Kickstarter in 2012, debuting the first version of the Rift, and then continuing to improve upon the headset as the years went by. Eventually the company would be snatched up by Facebook in 2014 for a whopping $2 billion.

Honorable mention: Tesla Model S

Few would anticipate the magic of an all-electric vehicle, but when Tesla finally revealed the Model S to the world, consumers were completely floored. Here was an energy-efficient car that looked good on the roads, and was easy to just get into and drive away? Consumers were more than happy to part with their hard-earned cash for the Model S, and this was in days well before autonomous driving was even being discussed at Tesla. It showed that there truly was a market for electric vehicles, and Tesla was more than happy to lead the pack.

2013 – PlayStation 4

Sony made huge waves with the PlayStation 3, and it was just a matter of time before they moved on to the next big thing. The PlayStation 4 was an incredible feat of engineering, featuring a faster processor, incredible graphical capabilities, larger storage space, and much tighter online gameplay and features. Developers applauded Sony for listening to their requests as well as those of the fans, ultimately delivering a console that would define a new generation of gamers.

2014 – Amazon Echo

Apple may have introduced the world to Siri, but it was Amazon that put a digital assistant right in our homes. The company’s Echo speaker brought Alexa into our lives, and from there the floodgates opened. Whether it was answering questions, ordering groceries, or playing music, Alexa was more than happy to comply. While people did think it a little creepy to have a device in your home that was always listening, most threw caution to the wind and snatched up Amazon’s little helper at breakneck speed.

Honorable mention: selfie stick

Ah yes, the selfie stick. That unwieldy thing that people were more than happy to wave about in public or even accidentally hit you with when trying to capture the perfect photo. They were all the buzz in 2014, and their popularity (and somewhat inconvenience to others) led to them being banned at various concert venues, museums, and historic sites. While their use has perhaps declined over the years, the selfie stick is a true testament to how far people will go to get a decent photo of themselves.

2015 – Hoverboards

Just hear us out on this one – these annoying (and dangerous) two-wheel contraptions surged to insane heights of popularity in 2015, and everyone from kids to adults were clamoring to climb aboard one of these things. Unfortunately, their popularity meant that the market was flooded with cheap imitations, which lead to some serious accidents, exploding batteries, airline bans, and a whole slew of problems. Thankfully the craze was soon over, so now actually spotting someone in the wild riding one of these death machines is a true sight to behold.

2016 – Apple Airpods

2016 was the year that Apple finally bid goodbye to the earphone jack and ushered in the era of the AirPods. These wireless earbuds would eventually be in people’s ears 24/7, even (we guess) when people weren’t listening to anything. It also caused a wave of similar products to hit the market, but Apple’s vast fanbase were more than happy to pocket these earbuds in lieu of a decent headphone jack on their iPhones.

Honorable mention: Samsung Galaxy Note 7

When the Note 7 was revealed, the world was excited for it. Here was a classy phone that had plenty of screen space and a stylus for quick notes and sketches. It seemed like the perfect continuation for the company’s Note series – until it got into the hands of consumers. Battery issues continued to plague the Note 7 after launch, resulting in a not so-friendly reception after all. The company did work hard to try and rectify the various issues before finally pulling the plug and offering refunds to affected customers. RIP.

2017 - Nintendo Switch

While a majority of the world’ population are content with poring over games on their smartphones, the rest of us that craved a decent portable gaming experience were finally rewarded when Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch. This portable gaming console could be carried around anywhere, and shipped with two controllers that could be used in tandem or separated to allow for two players to play. Furthermore, the Switch could also be operated as a home console connected to a TV, making it a massive hit with Nintendo fans and gamers, and quietly drawing attention from the poorly-received WiiU.

Honorable mention: Bose QuietComfort 35

Noise-cancelling is something that’s almost always expected from headphones in this day and age, but back when Bose introduced the QuietComfort 35 to the world, it wasn’t as commonplace with other headsets nor any good. But Bose seemed to have nailed noise-cancelling on the QuietComfort 35, making it a serious addition to any traveller’s arsenal or really for anyone who just wanted some peace and quiet. To date, they’re still one of our most recommended headphones, and should you get a chance to spend a few minutes with them, you’ll quickly see why.

2018 – Apple Watch 4

The Apple Watch launched way back in 2014, and while it was certainly a new product worth talking about, it had a number of issues that perhaps slowed down its potential to win over audiences. The fact that it required a paired iPhone for location services, had limited storage, and had a slightly higher than average price tag meant that few people wanted to jump onto the Apple Watch bandwagon. But when Apple released the Apple Watch 4, things changed. It featured a faster processor, twice the storage, a better heart sensor, fall detection, and a slew of other improvements, thus making it a must-have smartwatch for iPhone users.

2019 – Samsung Galaxy Fold

While there have been a few companies working on foldable displays and associated tech, Samsung was the first to actually put out a foldable phone into the market before anyone else. Yes, it did run into some issues with the display during its first rollout to reviewers, but the company was quick to bring the phone back in for more testing and improvements before finally releasing it for purchase to the public. While its whopping price tag might not be the easiest to digest, the Galaxy Fold still remains one of the most unique pieces of tech we’ve seen this year, and is bound to be the first of many similar foldable devices for the future.

Dubai-based Leo Technologies Ltd this week announced the launch of its latest app Kiddo, which aims to make it easier for parents to evaluate various kid-friendly activities around the city.

The app will offer activities across six key categories - academics, science and technology, performing arts, fun and play, arts and crafts, and sports. Parents are able to choose from over 120 providers at launch, and can make payments via Apple Pay, debit and credit cards. The app also introduces a payment method known as ‘KiddoPay’, which allows parents to pay for services in installment. The app will also be able to remind parents on due payments, in order to avoid incurring extra charges.

Parents are able to create individual kid profiles based on likes and interests, which the app then uses to recommend relevant activities. They are then able to share reviews and ratings across the platform with other users, and can even select activities based on recommendations from family and friends.

Aarti Shah, Founder and CEO said: “Kiddo is designed keeping in mind the challenges today’s parents encounter in planning and booking the activities and thus having limited quality time with their children. Kiddo revolutionizes the way parents pay, by providing a seamless, secure and hassle-free mobile payment option. Whether it’s fees or extracurricular activities, there’s no more awkward follow ups, endless paperwork or shock subs – everything is completely digital, convenient, and secured.”

Kiddo will also be launching gift vouchers called KiddoCard to present to friends, family and loved ones, which can be spent on the app. Kiddo is available for Android and iOS by clicking here.

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HP Inc. today announced the availability of the HP Elite Dragonfly in the UAE, which the company says is its the lightest compact business convertible laptop yet. Weighing in at under 1kg and featuring a distinct ‘Dragonfly blue’, the Elite Dragonfly is designed to be powerful yet provide superior security features.

Commenting on the launch, George Rouppas, Head of Personal Systems Category at HP Inc. Middle East, Saudi Arabia & Turkey said, “The way people work, live and play is changing significantly. People are no longer bound to their desks and this means they need equipment that supports this lifestyle. Business professionals need to be mobile, move fast and freely in increase efficiency and productivity. With this in mind, we designed the HP Elite Dragonfly to make a bold, personal statement. A PC should provide freedom, adapt, and transform how and where today’s business professionals work, thus at HP we are constantly trying to reinvent how technology empowers the workforce.”

The HP Elite Dragonfly is the company’s first notebook to include ocean-bound plastics. Its speaker enclosure component is made with 50 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic including 5 percent ocean-bound plastics.

Specs-wise the HP Elite Dragonfly sports an 8th Gen Intel Core vPro processor, 16GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 6, 13” display, a CNC-machined magnesium body, and up to 2TB of storage. It also features various HP security features to assist with privacy and defend against malware attacks.

HP Elite Dragonfly is expected to be available from December, starting at AED 5,499, including VAT.

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In celebration of its first year anniversary in the Middle East and North Africa, Deezer today revealed the top songs, artists, albums and playlists that were streamed the most in the UAE since the service’s launch in October of last year.

According to Deezer listening statistics, Ariana Grande was the most listened to artist in the UAE on the platform. In addition, Beerbongs & Bentleys by the American rapper Post Malone was the most popular album and ‘Top United Arab Emirates’, the most popular playlist on the Deezer app.

Top 5 Songs:

• Taki Taki–DJ Snake, Cardi B, Selena Gomez, Ozuna
• Happier–Marshmello, Bastille
• Without Me–Halsey
• Sunflower–Swae Lee, Post Malone
• Thank U, Next–Ariana Grande

Top 5 Artists:

• Ariana Grande
• Ed Sheeran
• Post Malone
• Billie Eilish
• J Balvin

Top 5 Albums:

• Beerbongs & Bentleys
• Thank U, Next
• When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
• Scorpion
• Dua Lipa

Top 5 Playlists:

• Top United Arab Emirates
• Hits of The Moment
• Acoustic Pop
• Today's Best Pop
• Rap Bangers

“We are delighted to reach this important milestone in our journey in the region. The Middle East and North Africa is a key growth market for Deezer owing to a number of factors such as a large young population that is digitally-savvy and deeply passionate about music. Over the last year, we have enjoyed connecting users in the region to locally-relevant content while also giving them an opportunity to discover new artists, genres and playlists. Music is at the heart of everything we do at Deezer so it is only fitting that we mark this occasion by celebrating our artists, users and their shared love of music,” said Tarek Mounir, CEO - MENA and Turkey, Deezer.

Deezer is available for free or from AED 18 per month for an ad-free experience, as well as AED 27 for a family plan for up to six users.

• Apple Music vs Spotify: the music streaming titans go head-to-head

As previously reported, YouTube officially announced today that YouTube Music, a new music streaming application and YouTube Premium, a paid subscription which provides an ad-free experience on YouTube, are now available in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar.

YouTube Music will feature as a separate app, and is designed to offer the best music experience from YouTube’s musical catalogue. The app will feature popular international tracks as well as Middle Eastern artists on YouTube.

Key features of YouTube Music include the ability to search for songs by specifying snippets of lyrics, a ‘Discover Mix’ that curates music based on past listening habits, and offline downloads for listening up to 100 songs offline.

YouTube Premium on the other hand aims to elevate the experience of using the regular YouTube app, and brings a select number of member-only benefits. This includes ad-free viewing, the ability to play audio in the background when the app is closed, offline access to download videos to your smartphone, as well as a bundled subscription to YouTube Music.

“For over a decade, millions of people in the Arab world have come to YouTube to watch, learn and listen. Music is the second most popular category on YouTube and it continues to grow. We’re excited to launch YouTube Music which will give our users access to the massive YouTube music catalogue, helping them find the music they love, from new releases to iconic classics and from viral covers to live performances,” said Tarek Abdalla, Regional Director of Marketing at Google Middle East and North Africa. 

“We’re also excited to launch YouTube Premium, an ad-free subscription service that allows our users to watch all videos on YouTube without ads including offline viewing, background play and other amazing features” he continued.

Pricing and availability

YouTube Music subscriptions start at 19.99 SAR (19.99 AED, 4.99 USD) and YouTube Premium at 23.99 SAR (23.99 AED, 5.99 USD).  Both services will roll out to all users in the coming weeks, starting September 10. 

Samsung Galaxy users in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman can enjoy up to 4 months of free, uninterrupted, ad-free access to YouTube Premium with eligible purchase and activation of a Note10, S10, Tab S6 or Tab S5e. All other Samsung Galaxy mobile devices are eligible to receive a 2 month free trial.

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