Research In Motion introduces three new BlackBerry smartphones in UAE

 Research in Motion (RIM), the designer and manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, recently celebrated its exciting new product and service introductions to the UAE, including the arrival of three new BlackBerry smartphones at Prive in the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Dubai.

BlackBerry Pearl 3G: This powerful smartphone is compact, smooth and un-put-downable. It lets you chat in real time, not next time, with BlackBerry Messenger and listen to music for upto 30 hours. There's a flash on the camera, apps and even BlackBerry Maps with GPS in case your best friends are really bad with directions.

BlackBerry Torch 9800: The new BlackBerry Torch 9800 features a full-size touch screen on enhanced media player, 5MP camera with flash and apps to download to your hearts desire. In addition it comes with a combined 8 GB of media storage out-of-the-box and includes a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that can bring the total storage memory to 36 GB for customers that want more.

Blackberry Curve 3G: The new Blackberry Curve 3G smartphone is fully and completely dedicated to helping you master your everyday. It is better for browsing, fast attachment viewing, quicker downloading etc. With 3G you can talk and surf at the same time, so multitasking is even easier. Wi-Fi helps you stay connected wherever you are. And with built-in-GPS, wherever is remarkably easy to find. In fact, navigating with GPS is almost as effortless as navigating the BlackBerry curve 3G with touch-sensitive optical trackpad.

RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6

Research In Motion (RIM) recently announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted connectivity features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

“BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimised user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion.  “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

Visual, Fluid Interface
BlackBerry 6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean, sleek visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and familiar, the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.

Fast Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry 6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages (as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, a double-tap to zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page's key elements, and pinch to zoom.

Social Feeds and Text Messaging
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds streamlines the user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities across multiple social networks, and let's users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS Feeds from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while browsing.

Engaging Multimedia Experience

The multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more engaging and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music and video players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync for easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*.

Compatibility with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry 6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced recently) available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.

Haider sets off journey through emirates on solar powered wheelchair

Haidar Taleb receives the Guinness World Record certificate

Guinness World Record holder Haidar Taleb will set off tomorrow (Nov., 22, 2010) on a journey that will take him across all seven emirates in a solar-powered wheel chair. Haidar, a 47-year-old-Emirati, who built and designed the wheelchair himself, will travel more than 350km to promote innovation and renewable energy across the UAE in the run up to the National Day.

Starting in Fujairah, his 11-day journey will take him to schools, universities, police stations, and social centers for people with disabilities, before he finishes in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche on Dec. 2. Haider’s journey is sponsored by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy initiative.

Haidar rose to national fame after setting a Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled in a motorised solar-powered wheelchair, when he travelled 14 hours non-stop from Masdar City to Sharjah on Nov 11.

“With this journey I hope to raise awareness of disability and sustainability, as well as what we can achieve as individuals if we have the courage and determination to try.  When we have this determination, there are no limits to our creativity. That is the message I want to spread,” said Haidar. “I set off in the hope of inspiring people across the UAE, but it is the overwhelming support I have already received that will be my inspiration until I reach Abu Dhabi.”

Haidar has already travelled part of the UAE with his first prototype of the solar-powered wheelchair, which he presented to the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL), a Masdar Institute initiative - part of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in 2010. Haidar will also participate as a speaker in next year’s YFEL in January 2011.

“With my upgraded solar-powered wheelchair, developed with Masdar’s support, I want to visit the seven emirates to demonstrate the value of renewable energy and sustainability,” Haidar said. “Investing time and effort to develop green technologies is very rewarding on different fronts. I believe there is a lot of talent in the UAE and one of the best ways to celebrate the National Day is by demonstrating what we are capable of achieving.”

TBS launches Cartoon Network Arabic 24/7 free-to-air channel

Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited (TBS), a Time Warner company, launches its free-to-air Cartoon Network in Arabic recently in a function held at Media One Hotel, Media City, Dubai. TBS regional officials and celebrities attended the official inauguration. The channel, broadcasting completely in Arabic across the MENA region, will feature over 500 episodes of the kids’ most popular shows including: Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Ben and Izzy and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, in addition to the Middle East’s popular 3D animation series, FREEJ.

The launch coincides with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System’s offices in Dubai Media City, the region’s leading media hub and a member of TECOM Investments.

With a reach of a potential 35 million homes in the MENA region, the new channel will be launched to target the growing audience base who are dedicated followers of Cartoon Network through airing locally produced shows, blockbuster movies and original productions.

In commemorating this announcement, Alan Musa, Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd. Vice President and General Manager, Middle East, Africa & Pan Region said: “Cartoon Network Arabic reflects TBS’s ambition and belief in local talent. Our initiative has come to life through investing in different strategic partnerships with companies such as ‘Lammtara’ and ‘Rubicon’. Both partnerships will result in generating new ideas and content in addition to distributing them outside the MENA region.”

Under the deal with Lammtara, the studio and creator of FREEJ, Turner will license and distribute FREEJ episodes and merchandise, and produce a local version of its original production, Skatoony, which will feature FREEJ characters, a first for the global animated channel. Rubicon Group, the creator of ‘Tareq wa Shireen’ and ‘Ben and Izzy will be working with Turner to air these series on Cartoon Network.

“We are thrilled to work with prestigious names such as Turner Broadcasting System and Cartoon Network. Their efforts and determination to create localised high quality content is admired and will be recognised amongst the industry. We are confident that our relationship with TBS will create new and innovative opportunities in the future.” says Mohammed Saeed Harib, Creator and Director of FREEJ.

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster, said: “We welcome Turner Broadcasting Systems to TECOM Media Cluster with the launch of its free-to-air Cartoon Network Channel in Arabic. This is particularly noteworthy as Turner will focus on original content creation for the channel in collaboration with regional companies. There is a huge demand for locally produced content and we believe this initiative will add definite value to the Arab media industry.

TBS’s efforts in publicizing and marketing Cartoon Network Arabic have manifested itself through various communication channels such as Print, broadcast and online. In addition to traditional media, community campaigns are being carried out throughout the region focusing on schools and mall visits to raise awareness among the targeted audience and educate them about the new channel and programs it will air.

Moreover, a website dedicated to the new channel was launched to provide detailed and up-to-date information about the channel and its shows.

Jacky’s Electronics and AMD announce Facebook winners

 Jacky’s Electronics, the UAE’s leading multi-brand consumer electronics retailer, and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) Middle East, have declared Naveen Kumar as the winner of their latest collaborative Facebook competition dubbed 'Every Store Counts' which concluded on Oct.10.

 The event was held at Jacky’s Electronics, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai. Ashish Punjabi, chief operating officer, Jacky’s Electronics and Bernard Biolchini, AMD Vice President Sales and GM, Middle East, Turkey & North Africa were present at the event. 

The winner Naveen Kumar, who visited 10 out of 11 Jacky’s outlets across the UAE, received an Acer notebook powered by AMD VISION Technology. Among the runners-up from the competition were Analyn Placides, Manu Gopal and Karen D’Souza. AMD Middle East selected the winners from participants who posted the most creative photo among the entries.

For more updates on the latest gadgets and technologies, please visit Jacky’s Electronics’ fanpage on www.facebook.com/jackysuae/

Alauddinte Adbhuthavilakku on Asianet

 Airing Time: Monday To Friday at 9.30

The new serial Alauddinte Adbhuthavilakku, started airing from October 4, depicts the classic Arabian tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp.

It begins with the story of Aladdin's forbearers and then goes on to depict Aladdin's story — his quest for the lamp, the strange events that happen to him while on the quest and how he must fight to keep the lamp and the genie from getting into the wrong hands.

Jacky’s and AMD launches latest Facebook competition ‘Every Store Counts’

Wild hunts for the AMD staff are happening across all Jacky’s outlets in the UAE to win the newest personal computer with AMD VISION Technology.

Jacky’s Electronics and AMD Middle East, have launched the latest Facebook competition dubbed as ‘Every Store Counts’ from Oct 3 to Oct. 9. Fans must visit any Jacky’s store and look for a staff member wearing an AMD VISION t-shirt and take funky pictures of themselves with the so-called ‘AMD Visionary’ staff.

All Facebook users from the UAE and fans of Jacky’s Electronics can enter the competition. Participants must visit the Jacky’s Electronics Facebook page, and post their entries on the said fan page www.facebook.com/jackysuae/. Fans may post as many entries taken from different outlets. The more photos taken at various outlets mean the more chances of winning. Official contest rules are posted on the fan page’s competition tab.

AMD Middle East will select the most creative photo among the entries to receive a PC with VISION Technology from AMD. The winner will be announced on Oct. 10 in an award ceremony at the Jacky’s Mirdif City Centre outlet.

“Facebook is an effective way to directly communicate with our customers. Through our fan page, we manage to update and inform our loyal customers on the latest products available in the market as well as knowing their feedback on our services,” said Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer, Jacky’s Electronics.

“Holding competitions on a regular basis allows us to reward our fans with the newest gadgets such as an Apple iPad, Sony Ericsson Xperia and HP Envy Notebook. Together with AMD, we are giving away a computer powered by VISION Technology, a combination of cutting edge processing and video power for a remarkably vivid visual experience,” he added.

VISION Technology from AMD simplifies the PC buying process by embracing the contemporary ways in which consumers use PCs, rather than relying upon often confusing technical specifications. By combining powerful visual processing technologies, VISION Technology from AMD is ready to help consumers use their computers to enjoy high definition video entertainment, edit and share photos and video with friends, or collaborate and communicate online.

Bernard Biolchini, Vice President Sales & General Manager, AMD Middle East, Turkey & Africa said, “We are delighted to partner with Jacky’s for this Facebook competition. We believe that this social media activity will increase the awareness of AMD amongst the internet-savvy. This is only the beginning as customers will see more exciting activities from AMD and Jacky’s in the future”.