iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6s Plus) release date rumours, new features, images & many more...

When will the new iPhone 7 (or 6s Plus) launch, and what new features can we expect in the next iPhone? We round up all the iPhone 7 release date rumours, clues to design changes, and images of what the iPhone 7 will look like when it comes out. Here's everything we know (or can guess) about Apple's iPhone 7, including predictions of a 9 September launch event and reports that the iPhone 7 will get 'unbendable sides'


When will iPhone 7 launch? What new features and design changes can we expect in the new iPhone for 2015 when it comes out? And will Apple's next iPhone even be called iPhone 7 - shouldn't it be 'iPhone 6s' or 'iPhone 6s Plus' based on the names of previous iPhones (iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s etc)?

iPhone 7 - or 'iPhone 6s Plus', as it's increasingly being referred to - is a hot topic, 11 months on from the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and one month before we're likely to hear official news from Apple about its new iPhone launches for 2015. The web is full of speculation about new iPhone(s) that Apple will launch in 2015: rumours about the iPhone 7 release date, design, specs and features, and even its name.

In 2015 we're sure to see a next-generation iPhone. What will the new iPhone 7 (or perhaps iPhone 6s, iPhone 6c, iPhone 6s Plus or simply 'New iPhone') look like? What new features can we expect? And when will the iPhone 7 come out? We round up the evidence to bring you everything there is to know about the iPhone 7 so far.

Bookmark this page for a regularly updated summary of all the information currently available - and all the rumours doing the rounds - related to the iPhone 7 or iPhone 6 Plus: details, clues, hints and rumours, as well as any leaked photos of the iPhone 7 that emerge. We'll update the article whenever we hear worthwhile new information (or scurrilous but interesting gossip) on the subject of the next iPhone..

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Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

first lookof Samsung Galaxy A8: A slim phone that packs in impressive features

Samsung has just released its latest A-series handset called the Galaxy A8 in the Indian market for Rs 32,500. Launched in China last month, the A8 will be the top of the line phone in Samsung’s A-series of metal frame phones. Samsung had launched the Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 earlier this year. So here are our first impressions of the slimmest Samsung handset.

Build Quality and Design

As we said earlier, the Galaxy A8 is the slimmest phone from the Korean giant. Measuring just 5.9mm, it is indeed quite slim. However it is not the slimmest smartphone around. But the metal frame and some thoughtful tapering design on the sides, not only makes the phone look elegant but also helps with the grip. There are no sharp edges that will bother you when you hold the phone in your hand.

Although the press statement says that it is a metal unibody, we noticed that the non-removable rear-cover is plastic, although the transition from metallic frame to the plastic cover is really unnoticeable. On the front, you have the 5.7-inch display with a decent screen-to-body ratio.

The base has a physical button which also houses the finger-print sensor. On the right hand side, you have a power/standby button whereas on the left hand side you have two distinct volume buttons. The top edge is clean and at the base you get the microUSB charging/data transfer port along with the 3.5mm audio jack. Overall the A8 has an elegant design and will surely attract a second glance.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A8 comes with 5.7-inch full HD SuperAMOLED display. Thanks to the SuperAMOLED display, things are quite vibrant with a slight warm tinge. However, while using it we noticed a slight tinge of colour when you tilt the phone slightly along both the horizontal as well as vertical planes. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

Chipset, RAM, Storage

Samsung uses its own chipset – the Exynos 5430 – for the Galaxy A8. It has an octa-core processor with one quad-core processor cluster clocked at 1.8GHz and the other cluster clocked at 1.3GHz. This is paired with 2GB of RAM and you get 32GB of storage. One of the SIM card slots can also house a microSD card which lets you expand the storage to 128GB. In our preliminary usage, the phone came across as quite responsive. Switching between the apps, launch animations were quite smooth. However, we need to put the phone through the real world use-case scenarios to give a proper performance outlook.

OS, Connectivity

The Galaxy A8 comes with Android 5.1.1 with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI atop it. Just like the Galaxy phones we have seen recently, the A8 does not have a lot of unnecessary bloatware apart from a few proprietary apps such as Galaxy Apps, Smart Manager, WeChat and so on. On the left most home page, you have the Flipboard app.

The phone comes with a dual Nano SIM card slot on the left hand side. It can take in one 4G SIM card and one 3G SIM card. You can either have both SIM cards, or have one SIM card and use a microSD card on the other slot in case you want to increase the storage. The phone supports Wi-fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS and sensors such as fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor and so on.

Camera

It houses a 16MP rear camera with an f/1.9 aperture which is quite impressive. On the front, you have a 5MP camera. Apart from the Auto mode, you get the Pro mode, Panorama mode, Continuous shot, HDR mode and night mode. You can also download many other camera specific features such as Sports shot, sound and shot, and so on. The 5MP front camera comes with the Beauty mode and also lets you shoot using gestures. We shot a couple of indoor shots and the noise was well controlled. But we will test it outdoors and in low light conditions to get a complete idea of the camera performance. The video camera lets you shoot full HD videos.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy A8 houses a non-removable 3,050mAh battery. Just like its siblings from the Galaxy S series, the Galaxy A8 also has an ultra-power saving mode which only gives you access to phone, messaging, internet and apps such as calculator, clock, memo and voice recorder.



Check and Buy samsung mobiles in dubai, UAE
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Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Chinese Console Rips Off Both The PS4 And Xbox One

Ballsy Chinese Console Rips Off Both The PS4 And Xbox One Right now, on China’s version of Kickstarter, you can back a games console called the OUYE. If you ever wanted a console that looked like a PS4 but had a controller like the Xbox One’s, it’s for you!

Kidding, it’s garbage. It’s a hunk of copyright-infringing plastic that, judging from the games on show (and the price, seeing as you can pick one up for around $100), looks like it’s running on some modified version of Android.

We’ve seen some ballsy knock-offs coming out of China over the years, but this one’s balls are particularly brassy.

For comparison, here’s the PS4 vs the OUYE:

Ballsy Chinese Console Rips Off Both The PS4 And Xbox One
(note how the OUYE still manages to rip off the Xbox One here by including the top grill from Microsoft’s console).

And here’s the Xbox One controller vs the OUYE controller:

Ballsy Chinese Console Rips Off Both The PS4 And Xbox One

Slightly less brazen, given the buttons in the centre in place of the Xbox “orb”, but still.

As a reminder, China has recently begun softening its ban on actual foreign video game consoles..


Check X Box One Console
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Post By:Ramiz Ali Khan

Six Quick Facts Of Online Shopping In UAE

•  36% of People are accessing the internet to shop.
•  45% of People are making purchase on every three months.
•   82% of People are satisfied with their Online Shopping experience.
•  70% of People say convenient payment facilities are critical when shopping online.
•  91% of People use the Internet from their mobile phone (Compared to 74% over past two years).
•   55% of people are saying they prefer to shop from local websites as opposed to foreign websites.

Website: www.awok.com

post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Pen-like mobile phone

In a time where mobile trend is focused only on touchscreens, Traccia built in polycarbonate is an alternative way to create natural interaction between people and machines. An embedded optical sensor (like optical mouse laser) located at the end of the stick (phone) detects the traces of what is being written and a software then converts them into text, commands and functions. Pen-like mobile phone: Traccia is a phone that’s held as a pen, it recognizes hand movements and converts the same into commands.

Pen-like mobile phone - Traccia1

Like all phones now, the Traccia too gets a camera that’s positioned in the center of the arc under the display. And drawing invisible lines to access to contacts and menu functions with three buttons on the side for navigation make the stick phone all the more luring.

Designer: Andrea Ponti
Pen-like mobile phone - Traccia5

Pen-like mobile phone - Traccia2

Pen-like mobile phone - Traccia4

Check Mobile phone prices in uae do online mobile shopping in dubai

Website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

The latest figures about Facebook as published by the platform last week

The latest figures about Facebook as published by the platform last week

Face Book Have 1.49 Billion people on each month.
Whats App Have 800 Million people on each month.
FB Messenger have 700 Million people on each month.
Instagram have 300 Million people on each month.
Daily Searches corss 1.5 Billion

1 billion people offered access through Internet.org
850 Million people using Groups on FaceBook.
450 Millio people using Events on Facebook.
40 Million smalll business using Pages.

Website:www.Awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and wife expecting a baby girl

Zuckerberg, 31, also said the couple had suffered three miscarriages over the last two years.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife, Priscilla Chan, are expecting a baby.

The co-founder of the world's largest social network used a Facebook post Friday to announce that Chan is pregnant with a healthy baby daughter. He didn't say when the baby is due.



Zuckerberg, 31, also said the couple had suffered three miscarriages over the last two years. He acknowledged in his post that many people are reluctant to speak publicly about miscarriages. But he said he and Chan, 30, decided to share the information after hearing from friends who had similar experiences and ultimately were able to have children.

"Most people don't discuss miscarriages because you worry your problems will distance you or reflect upon you - as if you're defective or did something to cause this. So you struggle on your own," Zuckerberg wrote. "It's a lonely experience."

The social media mogul added, "In today's open and connected world, discussing these issues doesn't distance us; it brings us together. It creates understanding and tolerance, and it gives us hope."

Priscilla and I have some exciting news: we're expecting a baby girl!This will be a new chapter in our lives. We've...

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Friday, 31 July 2015
He said the couple, who married in 2012, hopes to encourage other parents who may be struggling with difficult pregnancies.

"We hope that sharing our experience will give more people the same hope we felt and will help more people feel comfortable sharing their stories as well," he said.

Zuckerberg also said: "Our good news is that our pregnancy is now far enough along that the risk of loss is very low and we are very hopeful."

So will they be posting baby pictures? Zuckerberg didn't make any promises, but he wrote: "We're looking forward to welcoming her into the world and sharing more soon when she's ready to come out and meet everyone!"

Website:www.Awok.com
Facebook: Fb/awok
Post By :Ramiz Ali Khan

‘World’s first mobile phone’ footage from 1922 discovered

Archivists at British Pathé have discovered a silent film showing what could be the world’s first mobile phone – dating from 1922.

‘World’s first mobile phone’ footage from 1922 discovered

The film – titled ‘Eve’s Wireless’ – was uncovered in the archives of British Pathé , and shows two women walking down a street, thought to be in America, before setting up their ‘mobile phone’.

Using the phone involved wrapping a lengthy wire around a fire hydrant, then putting up an umbrella to act as an aerial, before speaking into a mouthpiece connected to a chunky box. A process nearly as complicated as trying to find a decent 3G signal in central London if you’re on certain networks.

In the film, the women are shown connecting to an operator who then plays a gramophone record for them, in what appears to be a rudimentary version of Spotify’s mobile app.

Title cards on the film read: ‘Bless us, they’re never still – always up to something new. And Eve’s latest invasion is in the wireless world. It’s Eve’s portable wireless ‘phone – and won’t hubby have a time when he has to carry one!’

British Pathé are now asking for anyone who has any more information about the technology to get in touch . British Pathé’s Mark Harris said: ‘One of our researchers came across the clip and we were amazed that the idea was so old, we are used to budding technologies appearing in the 1950s and 60s but this is four years before television was first demonstrated.

‘It’s amazing that nearly 90 years ago mobile phone technology and music on the move was not only being thought of but being trialled.’

It is not believed that Eve’s wireless phone supported Flash.

Check Mobile Phones In Dubai, UAE for more Details visit our website Awok

Source: http://awok-com.blogspot.ae/2015/08/worlds-first-mobile-phone-footage-from.html
website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Know How to Buy a Gaming Laptop?

With so many choices of gaming laptops, it is often confusing to actually pick a good laptop. How Intel & Nvidia & AMDto buy a gaming laptop? Here are 6 EASY steps that anyone can follow to get you started, even if you are not tech-savvy.

Intel & Nvidia & AMD

Step 1: Budget

The first absolute step on how to buy a gaming laptop is to determine the budget. With a clear budget, you can instant sift through many options.

When determining a budget, keep in mind that computers become obsolete and are replaced very quickly. A super expensive top-notch computer might not be top-notch after a few months.

Budget ranges vary for each individual. I classify budget ranges into 3 broad categories:

Low-end models, for regular users that do casual gaming every now and then, have a price of $650 or below (usually).
Middle-range models, for power users that do some gaming, have the budget range set at $650-$850.
High-end models, designed for real hardcore gaming, are usually found at $850 or above.

Step 2: Graphics Card

Of course, a gaming laptop needs have the “juice” to play games. High-demanding games are usually high-demanding in the way that they need powerful GPU to compute the sophisticated graphics calculations. You should always look at the graphics card to gauge the “legitness” of a gaming laptop. Without a good graphics card, all the other features and hardware are USELESS.

The primary hardware that distinguishes between a good gaming laptop and a bad gaming laptop is the graphics card.  Therefore, graphics cards are extremely important for gaming.
Nvdia GTX 9

For lower-end models, an Intel HD integrated graphics card is usually enough to run games at low to medium settings.

Nvdia GTX 9 For middle-range models, it is best to have a discrete graphics card. Nvidia cards are best for gaming. AMD cards are fine too.
Hardcore gamers that wish to run high-demanding games at MAX settings should shoot for GTX 9 series cards. Those are the best. For the sake of budget, GTX 8 cards are fine too.
For more detailed list of graphics cards ranked by performance, please visit Comparison of Laptop Graphics Cards. It includes up-to-date information on laptop graphics cards.

Step 3: Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The graphics card might be more important for games, but the CPU is the core that makes your laptop run. A good CPU not only improves gaming experience, but also everyday use experience. I personally think that CPU is as important as the graphics card and should not be overlooked.

Intel Core i7

Usually, AMD processors are of great value for low-end models. They get the job done cheaply.
When looking for middle-range, I suggest looking for Intel processors. Intel Pentium processors offer a wide rangeIntel Core i7 of performance and price. Intel Core i5 series are great choices too. They get the job done smoothly.
For high-end mean machines, Intel Core i7 series are definitely the way to go. The processors are available in many options. If you have the budget, shoot for an i7 with 4 cores and 8 threads.
PassMark – CPU Benchmarks: Great web resource for technical knowledge on CPUs.

Step 4: Storage units

The storage units, like RAM and Hard drive, should not be overlooked. Although they aren’t as expensive as the CPU and Graphics card, they play a big role in a good gaming laptop.

RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. RAM memory is the memory module used to store critical data that makes the system and programs run. Therefore, the more memory the better as you can run more programs more smoothly.Random Access Memory Strip (RAM Strip)

Random Access Memory Strip (RAM Strip)

Regardless of budget, 4 GB of RAM should be mandatory. The optimal amount is 8 GB or above. A regular computer does not require more than 12 GB of RAM. Adding more RAM is always an option. Most computers allow you to add extra RAM strips up to 8 GB. Some computers allow you to add up to 16 GB.

Hard Drive

A good hard drive is certainly important. A 500 GB hard drive is standard. However, external hard drives aren’t expensive. You can buy a 1 TB (1000 GB) drive for about 60 USD. Middle-range to High-end laptops are often installed with a 1 TB hard drive. 1 TB should be enough.

Remember you can always purchase an external hard drive for extra storage. Check out: Best External Hard Drive

SSD Drive

SSD Drive SSD drives are solid state drives (Wikipedia Page). They do not have moving parts, unlike regular hard drives. SSD doesn’t have a lot of storage space. However, they are fast and quiet. You can install your system on an SSD drive, so it is super fast. SSD drives are a bonus for more expensive laptops.

SSD Drive

 

My article on SSD Drive vs Hard Drive – Why Do You Need An SSD Drive?

Step 5: Other features

The above 3 critical aspects is essential to a good gaming laptop. However, there are other features for you to look out for.

Different individuals require different features. There isn’t a set rule for these features.

Operating System: Check out which operating system (ie. Windows 8) you prefer.

DVD Drives: If you want to play DVDs on your laptop, a DVD drive is needed. You can always purchase an external DVD drive.

USB Ports: Good USB 3.0 ports are a great add-on to your laptop. It will improve the speed to any external devices. USB 3.0

VGA/HDMI Ports: If you wish to put the screen of your laptop to a larger screen, a VGA or an HDMI port is required. Most screens have VGA ports. So a VGA port allows you to connect to most screens. An HDMI cable delivers higher quality video. However, older screens might not have HDMI ports to connect to.

USB 3.0

Keyboards: A good keyboard can greatly improve work efficiency by increasing typing speed and accuracy.

Speakers: A pair of good speakers is an aspect to look out for.

SD Card Reader/Express Card Port: Additional features such as SD card readers or Express Card ports can be very useful.

Cooling system: A high-end gaming laptop can generate a lot of heat when running. Although you can always purchase a cooling pad, a good gaming laptop should include a sufficient enough cooling system.

Step 6: Warranty

A warranty is the last thing on the considerations list. A 1-year warranty is a basic warranty. You should shoot for computers that have a 2-3 year warranty. Therefore, you do not have to worry about unexpected failures of the product.



So those are the 6 steps on How to Buy a Gaming Laptop.

Source:http://awok-com.blogspot.ae/2015/08/how-to-buy-gaming-laptop.html
Website:www.awok.com
Post:Ramiz Ali Khan 

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review:Sporty, splashy fun, but not truly rugged

THE GOOD Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active has a sporty design, takes strong daylight photos, and delivers the majority of Android 4.2 features. It also has a great speakerphone.

THE BAD Aqua mode is fixed focus, the S4 Active takes weak low light shots, and the phone isn't as durable as its name suggests. Its 8-megapixel camera is lower resolution than the original Galaxy S4's.

THE BOTTOM LINE Choose the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active for its sporty style, fast internals, and underwater camera fun, but pass if you're an image snob or seek a truly rugged phone.


Quite a few smartphones these days can claim to be waterproof, but you have to hand it to Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active for turning that characteristic into a camera feature. Specs-wise, that waterproof camera is the only element that justifies the creation of this brand-new S4 phone.

The 8-megapixel shooter's underwater aqua mode absolutely works -- so long as the seal holds -- but it's a mistake to think of the S4 Active, which is also dustproof, as a rugged or durable phone. Internals are still vulnerable behind a flimsy back panel, and "tougher" design elements are largely cosmetic. You don't buy the Active to go SCUBA diving or mountaineering; you buy it because you like a flashy design and top-tier Android features. The surge of worry-free confidence you get on beach days, hikes, and at the pool is all extra.

Beyond its design and hydrophilic camera, the Galaxy S4 Active rarely strays from the Galaxy S4 flagship phone in any meaningful way. Most other specs hold steady, which is why AT&T is charging the same asking price that it does for the 13-megapixel Galaxy S4: $199.99 retail with a two-year contract.

Those looking for a true rough 'n' tumble smartphone will find that the Active's name oversells its outdoorsy abilities. But if it's a fun, slightly sturdier S4 experience you want, you'll find it here.

Buy Samsung Mobiles in UAE

Source: http://awok-com.blogspot.ae/2015/08/samsung-galaxy-s4-active-reviewsporty.html
website:www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Hands On: The 100 Laptop is not available for distribution

The 100 laptop is not available for public distribution and the model which I got to look at was the second beta. The first beta laptop as you might know, featured a hand-crank for charging. OLPC found that the crank was bulky and broke often so the current beta 2 version has a standard charger. However, the next release will feature a ripcord-type charging mechanism, similar to how you start a lawn mower.

The laptop was created with power consumption in mind and as such, it nominally consumes only 2 watts making it an ideal candidate for human-powered recharging. The CPU can even suspend itself while the computer is being used. There is some technology that allows the display to update without need for the CPU.

The first thing I noticed was the laptop's tiny size. It's built for kids and it's small. Featuring a 7.5-inch LCD with an impressive resolution of 1200x900 (more than my MacBook!) and a small, rubberized keyboard the 100 laptop is probably 2/3 the size of the MacBook. It does however weigh a lot for its size, ~3.3 pounds. Also, the bright green color and "bunny ears" draw attention to the OLPC laptop. I was told it was made bright green not only because it is intended for children, but also because it was less likely to be purchased, rebadged and sold on the black market with such a vivid color. The "bunny ears" are 802.11b/g WiFi antennas and do double-duty by covering up miscellaneous ports when closed.

As for software, the 100 laptop runs a custom version of Red Hat's Fedora Core 6 distribution of Linux. The desktop is rather simplistic with just a few icons but you can bring up a terminal if necessary. It comes preloaded with several basic applications such as a Mozilla-based web browser (not exactly Firefox), and a kids application that lets them make and record sounds and sound effects. The laptop utilizes a 366MHz AMD Geode processor that only consumes 1 watt. There is no hard drive, rather 512MB of flash RAM which is separate from the computer's 128MB of DDR266 system RAM.

Applications will include a web browser built on Xulrunner, the run-time environment used by the Firefox browser; a simple document viewer based upon Evince; the AbiWord wordprocessor, an RSS reader, an email client, chat client, VOIP client; a journal, a wiki with WYSIWYG editing; a multimedia authoring and playback environment; a music composition toolkit, graphics toolkits, games, a shell and a debugger.

The 100 laptop is booting up - it took about a minute to get to the desktop screen.

Kids application makes sound effects and can record sounds.

Surprisingly, the 100 laptop even has a VGA resolution webcam.

The stick-figure icon in the middle of the screen is representative of the mesh network that these 100 laptops make when in the presence of other 100 laptops. When other 100 laptops are around you, they appear as other stick-figure icons and this enables peer to peer functionality.


An example of the mesh network in use.
The picture below shows the desktop of the OLPC laptop. Main applications are organized on the bottom left of the screen. Everything is displayed with icons, there was not too much text in the operating system - making it ideal for use in various cultures with different languages.

The rubberized keyboard is sealed off as the system was built to be moisture-resistant.


In the picture above you can see the massive trackpad that takes up most of the space below the keyboard. The trackpad can also be used with a stylus, which might come in handy in the sketching application.


I was thoroughly impressed with how functional and how many features the laptop has for 100. Although, technically it cost around 148 but once OLPC finalizes development and ramps up production, it is expected that this will truly be a 100 laptop. I'm glad something like this exists, it's going to revolutionize the way third world countries mature technologically and get online. What do you think?


Check latest: laptop prices in dubai, UAE

Source: http://awok-com.blogspot.ae/2015/08/hands-on-100-laptop.html
Website:www.awok.com
Post By:Ramiz Ali Khan

What If You Could Charge Your Mobile Phone Just By Using It?

Poor battery life and lost chargers are often towards the top of the list of “Things That Bug Us About Our Mobile Phones”, right next to dropped calls and those places we just can’t get service. In the not so distant future, we may not need to worry about our batteries running out on us. Researchers from South Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University are now asking the world, “What if you could charge your mobile phone just by using it?”

That’s right! These researchers have discovered a technology that can generate an electrical current from sound waves and use it to charge batteries. The sound of your voice may one day be all it takes to keep your mobile phone running.

The technology utilizes a pad which absorbs sound waves from its surrounding environment to cause zinc oxide wires mounted between electrodes to compress and release and create an electrical current that could be used to charge a battery. The current prototype of this technology can convert sounds of around 100 decibels (imagine noisy traffic) to 50 milivolts of electricity. While 50 milivolts isn’t enough electricity to charge a mobile phone battery, researchers say that the technology can be improved with the use of different materials.

When asked about what made them consider the possibilities of sound as an energy source, researcher Dr. Sang-Woo Kim said, “The sound that always exists in our everyday life and environments has been overlooked as a source. This motivated us to realise power generation by turning sound energy from speech, music or noise into electrical power.”

In our lives we are almost always surrounded by sound of some kind of sound, so the applications of this technology extend far beyond use in mobile phones, but for now current prototypes create enough energy to be usable in small, low-power sensors and implantable devices.

Source:http://awok-com.blogspot.ae/2015/08/what-if-you-could-charge-your-mobile.html
Website:www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Online retailers celebrate Ramadan lift

Commerce in the region is expected to reach $15 billion this year

Global eCommerce providers such as Amazon do not have a presence in the Middle East,allowing local names to build strong regional franchises.

Dubai: As Gulf Arabs jetted off on their Eid holidays to mark the end of Ramadan on Friday, the region’s online retailers are celebrating a shift to shopping via mobile devices.

The retail haven of the Gulf may be lagging behind the world in digital consumer patterns, but the shopaholic region is catching up — and the lunar month when Muslims forgo food and water from dawn to dusk has been a boon for online sellers.

Ronaldo Mouchawar, chief executive of Souq.com, a market-leading shopping platform, says the proliferation of smartphones in large local markets, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is helping push shoppers online.

Souq.com, which is doubling sales every year and has financial backing from Naspers, the South African media group, expects a 20-25 per cent increase in traffic during Ramadan as people shop for Eid gifts, including expatriates buying presents for relatives back home.

“We see a big see push online and [changing] consumer habits due to mobile,” says Mr Mouchawar.

eCommerce in the region is expected to reach $15 billion this year, only 1 per cent of retail spending across the Middle East, according to Criteo, an online marketing company.

But that is a two-thirds increase since 2012, and the region is now regarded as one of fastest-growing online markets in the world — up 30 per cent year on year, compared with a worldwide average of 17 per cent.

Studying digital consumer patterns last Ramadan, Criteo reported a 23 per cent rise in retail sales and 42 per cent increase in online travel transactions for the most important month in the Muslim calendar.

“Some merchants are up 300 per cent in the first 10 days,” says Omar Soudodi, managing director of Payfort, an online payment platform that services the region’s largest eCommerce brands.

As the holidays start at the end of the month, however, buying patterns shift from computers to phones, with mobile purchases up 29 per cent in this period, according to Criteo. In Bahrain, almost half of all eCommerce transactions are made via a mobile device.

The fasting rhythm of Ramadan also has a big impact on buying patterns.

Fatma Al Mulla, an entrepreneur who runs one of a growing number of online cottage industries set up by Gulf women, sees strong orders through the night for her range of clothing and accessories as locals become more nocturnal.

The region’s shopping lifestyle, focused on the mall, also shifts. “We like to invite people into our houses, people don’t go to the mall — it’s time for the family,” says Ms Mulla.

Ulugbek Yuldashev, managing director of Awok, an online retailer, says online shopping jumps 35 per cent between the 7pm breakfast, known as iftar, and the night-time suhoor meal, a feast intended to sustain individuals through the next day’s fast.

Demand for kitchen gadgets has prompted UAE-based Awok to stock up on blenders and rice cookers used for family-sized meals.

Ramadan, renowned for family-oriented consumption, drives subscriptions to Netflix and Icflix, a regional streaming platform. Media channels save their best dramas and comedies for the family-focused month.

Despite the rise of online in the region, cash remains king, with about 70 per cent of eCommerce purchases settled with cash on delivery, owing to latent suspicion of online transactions.

That is one of several barriers to the growth of online retail in the region, says Saygin Yalcin, an internet entrepreneur who runs Sellanycar.com.

Limited logistics capacity is another factor, forcing successful retailers to build up their own delivery capacity within individual markets.

Tough laws that threaten jail for business operators who cannot repay debts have crimped the industry’s development, says Mr Yalcin, who sold his shopping club website to Souq.com in 2012.

Global eCommerce providers such as Amazon do not have a presence in the Middle East, allowing local names to build strong regional franchises.

“Local guys were quick to set up strong local presences, whereas big international ones went for global platforms,” says Dirk Henke, Criteo’s managing director for eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “Now locals literally rule eCommerce here.”

Source: awok.co/y8jFa1
Website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

How Modern-day skiing: Drones and selfie sticks

Technology on the mountain has meant a huge increase in the number of photos and videos posted on social media.

Drones, selfie sticks and touchscreen-friendly gloves are the in-demand tech for skiers and snowboarders in New Zealand.

GoPros attached to helmets have been a common sight on the mountain for several years, but technology is making further inroads into the snow lifestyle.

This includes cellphone service all over the mountain, free wi-fi, hundreds of social media posts and the increasing number of people hunched over their phones while in the resort cafe.

The bigger ski resorts in New Zealand are no longer the rustic escapes of last century but hotbeds of technology, with places like Mt Hutt using them to do everything from making the mountain safe, stopping fraudulent use of ski passes and sharing videos on Instagram.

Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie said they'd had about six requests for drones to be used on the mountain so far this year.

Snow bunnies are increasingly asking to take drones up the mountain.

He said if demand increased he would need to develop a policy to prevent any problems.

McKenzie said he hadn't seen anyone texting or talking while skiing or snowboarding, but using devices on lifts was popular.

"You see a lot of people chatting, with their phones shoved under their helmets so they keep their hands warm."

The days listening to the radio or rushing out to see the faxed ski report on the radio are long gone.

Now ski resorts uses websites and social media to tell people about conditions. If you want more information, take a look at the webcams or check other people's social accounts to get updates, photos or videos.

McKenzie said one of the most noticeable changes was inside the resort.

"There are a lot more heads down in the cafe and while you still see people talking, there's not as much as there used to be."

Chairlifts are a popular place to spend time on your phone.

But the tech is not only for the skiers and snowboarders. Resorts are using it constantly.

"Connectivity helps us make better decisions while we operate in an aggressive environment," said McKenzie.

Mt Hutt staff use iPads to identify people as they come through the lift gates. While this is primarily to stop people misusing passes, it's also used to find people to let them know if their car lights are on or if someone is trying to locate them.

Here are some tips to get teched up for the ski season:

APPS

The first app Kiwi skiers and boarders should download is the Met Service's Snow Weather (free for Android and Apple). You choose a mountain as your "home" though you also "favourite" other resorts. It gives you forecasts, current conditions and webcams to check the situation.

The Metservice's app.

The other popular apps for mountain users are those that track and map your runs and collate stats such as maximum speed, distance travelled and vertical metres.

They are suprisingly addictive and you can get competitive with yourself in trying to beat your previous personal best. My favourite is Trace Snow (free for Android and Apple), as it has a simple interface and also stops tracking automatically once you leave the mountain. Others worth trying are Snowcru (free) and Ski Tracks ($1.29), both for Apple and Android.

Other handy apps are Apple's Find Friends (free) to help locate mates on the mountain.

CAMERAS

There are a lot of GoPros on New Zealand mountains as people record themselves and friends charging down the slopes or performing in the park.

GoPros are the fan favourite and the company has just released a smaller version, the Hero4 Session.

McKenzie said the cameras are so popular they are now selling them in the shop at Mt Hutt. He also said ski selfie sticks are used a lot on the mountain.

But GoPros aren't the only option. Sony has three models of its Action Cam, starting from $349.

If you don't want to buy a new camera you can get a case for your phone and put it on your helmet, or just hold it. Hitcase makes tough cases for iPhones that come with a range of accessories so you can mount them on just about anything. Their prices start at $100.

SOCIAL MEDIA

If you or your friends ski or board then come winter your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds are probably full of snow antics.

Instagram is increasing popular in New Zealand and several mountains, including Mt Hutt, Cardrona and Rainbow have accounts. Most of those pics are for publicity but searching hashtags will show up plenty of pictures from people on the mountain.

Many resorts also are on Facebook and Twitter and they are good place to get information, or if things go bad, to complain.

WEBSITES

A fun part of skiing is improving your skills. While you can always use an instructor, technology can also help in the form of websites.

For Kiwi snowboarders, Snowboard Addiction is a great site. Started by a Kiwi who now lives in Whistler, the site features videos to help everyone from learners to those wanting to progress in the park. It has a selection of free videos but for the full package you need to pay US$59 (NZ$86)

Skiers can try the YouTube channel of Elate Media which has dozens of videos for a range of abilities.

Check Selfie Sticks

Source: awok.co/H1itfB

Website: www.awok.com

Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Celebrate Ramadan lift - Online retailers

ECommerce in the region is expected to reach $15 billion this year

Global eCommerce providers such as Amazon do not have a presence in the Middle East,allowing local names to build strong regional franchises.

Dubai: As Gulf Arabs jetted off on their Eid holidays to mark the end of Ramadan on Friday, the region’s online retailers are celebrating a shift to shopping via mobile devices.

The retail haven of the Gulf may be lagging behind the world in digital consumer patterns, but the shopaholic region is catching up — and the lunar month when Muslims forgo food and water from dawn to dusk has been a boon for online sellers.

Ronaldo Mouchawar, chief executive of Souq.com, a market-leading shopping platform, says the proliferation of smartphones in large local markets, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is helping push shoppers online.

Souq.com, which is doubling sales every year and has financial backing from Naspers, the South African media group, expects a 20-25 per cent increase in traffic during Ramadan as people shop for Eid gifts, including expatriates buying presents for relatives back home.

“We see a big see push online and [changing] consumer habits due to mobile,” says Mr Mouchawar.

eCommerce in the region is expected to reach $15 billion this year, only 1 per cent of retail spending across the Middle East, according to Criteo, an online marketing company.

But that is a two-thirds increase since 2012, and the region is now regarded as one of fastest-growing online markets in the world — up 30 per cent year on year, compared with a worldwide average of 17 per cent.

Studying digital consumer patterns last Ramadan, Criteo reported a 23 per cent rise in retail sales and 42 per cent increase in online travel transactions for the most important month in the Muslim calendar.

“Some merchants are up 300 per cent in the first 10 days,” says Omar Soudodi, managing director of Payfort, an online payment platform that services the region’s largest eCommerce brands.

As the holidays start at the end of the month, however, buying patterns shift from computers to phones, with mobile purchases up 29 per cent in this period, according to Criteo. In Bahrain, almost half of all eCommerce transactions are made via a mobile device.

The fasting rhythm of Ramadan also has a big impact on buying patterns.

Fatma Al Mulla, an entrepreneur who runs one of a growing number of online cottage industries set up by Gulf women, sees strong orders through the night for her range of clothing and accessories as locals become more nocturnal.

The region’s shopping lifestyle, focused on the mall, also shifts. “We like to invite people into our houses, people don’t go to the mall — it’s time for the family,” says Ms Mulla.

Ulugbek Yuldashev, managing director of Awok, an online retailer, says online shopping jumps 35 per cent between the 7pm breakfast, known as iftar, and the night-time suhoor meal, a feast intended to sustain individuals through the next day’s fast.

Demand for kitchen gadgets has prompted UAE-based Awok to stock up on blenders and rice cookers used for family-sized meals.

Ramadan, renowned for family-oriented consumption, drives subscriptions to Netflix and Icflix, a regional streaming platform. Media channels save their best dramas and comedies for the family-focused month.

Despite the rise of online in the region, cash remains king, with about 70 per cent of eCommerce purchases settled with cash on delivery, owing to latent suspicion of online transactions.

That is one of several barriers to the growth of online retail in the region, says Saygin Yalcin, an internet entrepreneur who runs Sellanycar.com.

Limited logistics capacity is another factor, forcing successful retailers to build up their own delivery capacity within individual markets.

Tough laws that threaten jail for business operators who cannot repay debts have crimped the industry’s development, says Mr Yalcin, who sold his shopping club website to Souq.com in 2012.

Global eCommerce providers such as Amazon do not have a presence in the Middle East, allowing local names to build strong regional franchises.

“Local guys were quick to set up strong local presences, whereas big international ones went for global platforms,” says Dirk Henke, Criteo’s managing director for eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “Now locals literally rule eCommerce here.”

Source: awok.co/ACPWP2
Website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Ramadan car hunt: Models grabbing UAE residents' attention

Cash discounts, free insurance, extended warranties on offer

Most car dealers try to wow those looking for a new set of wheels during the holy month of Ramadan. The offers include cash discounts, free insurance, extended warranties and service packages to lure customers into changing their old cars.

This urge to change/upgrade cars is not only seen in the brand new category, but also in the used car segment.

According to Dubizzle, a classifieds website in the region, several residents surf and scout for a good deal on wheels during this time of the year.

Its data shows that during Ramadan 2014, the top three searches for used car brands were BMW, Honda and Jeep; while the top three searched car models were Ford Mustang, Mercedes C63 and Honda Civic.

Toyota tops the most listed sedan cars in the country. The findings show that Toyota came first with its Camry model at an average price of Dh32,172.24 with an average mileage of 114,192km and model of the year 2008.

The second and third places went to Honda Civic 2009 and Accord 2010. Luxury cars were among the top three most searched sedan cars in the UAE. Mercedes and Porsche took the first and second place with their AMG C63 and Panamera models, while the third place went to Toyota Camry.

Among the German models in the UAE, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class took the first place, followed by Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW came third with its 3-Series models. For the top three most searched German models in the UAE, Mercedes-Benz C63 came first, Porsche 911 4S came second, and Mercedes-Benz G63 & S63 AMG came third.

Convertible cars were also something that people looked up on the website with the most searched being the Mini Cooper convertible, Audi A4 convertible and BMW M3 convertible.
The number one searched car throughout the year was the BMW 3-Series, followed by Land Rover’s Range Rover HSE and Jeep Wrangler.
Most people who took to Dubizzle to look for used cars performed the most searches at around 1pm and then the traffic dropped until after iftar, says the classifieds site. However, search activity went up again after iftar with a drop witnessed again during the night with the lowest search volume after imsak, around 6am.
A previous research by UAE-based online retail company, Awok.com, revealed that the hours between iftar and suhour are the most popular time to shop online in the country during this month.

Source:awok.co/MWTBnF
Website: www.awok.com
Post By : Ramiz Ali Khan

Check Best 6 waterproof cameras

Whether you’re off surfing or scuba-diving this summer, don’t miss a good photo opp just because you’re submerged

If you’re off on some water-based adventures, invest in a camera that can cope with the wet stuff.  Most waterproof cameras are also categorized as adventure cameras, meaning that they’re engineered to cope with the rough and tumble of extreme sports, if that’s what you’re doing. Not only do these cameras take snaps when submerged in water, many of them are also kitted out with extra features like being freeze proof, dust proof, crush proof and shock and drop-proof.

As with all cameras, waterproof  camera or not, resolution will play a big factor in determining the quality of your images. If your main priority is photography, settle for no less than 14 megapixels to ensure high-clarity shots. If you’re going to be recording video, a camera with 1080px recording quality is a must-have.

The depth to which the camera is waterproof will determine the type of activity it is suitable for. A camera that can withstand 40m of depth is ideal for deep sea diving, whereas a camera with 10m of underwater depth would be better suited for snorkeling or shallow scuba diving.

We’ve looked at rugged compact, action camera and compact system camera options. Each has undergone some serious scrutiny; tested in and out of water, dropped from heights and trialled in different lighting conditions to see whether or not it makes the cut. Here’s our edit.

Fujifilm Finepix

Fujifilm Finepix XP80 With an image resolution of 16.4-megapixels, this is a small but mighty compact camera. It’s lightweight but captures pristine images to depths of ten meters. We found this took good images both in and out of water (though it performs best in decent light) and the easy-to-master point and shoot function makes it ideal for beginners. Plus, its small frame and shock and dust-proof features mean that kids can get behind the lens, too. It doesn’t have the photo customisation abilities of more expensive models, but it’s a good all-rounder.

Olympus Tough TG

Olympus-TG-4-GPS Tough is definitely the right word to describe this one. Ideal for an adventurer, it’s crushproof, shockproof and freeze-proof. But, in interests of taking great photos in water, it’s ergonomic; chunky and easy-to-grip so it shouldn’t slide out of slippery hands. It has an ultra-bright lens and built-in wifi, GPS and a clever ‘e.Compass’ allow you to share your images on the go as well as keep track of your altitude and water-depth (it’s waterproof up to 15m), while you shoot stunning 16-megapixel images.

Nikon 1 AW

Nikon 1 AW1 Unlike the smaller cameras on the list, this one is a compact system camera with interchangeable lenses. This means it's bulkier than its compact competitors but it’s ideal for those who aren’t willing to compromise on picture quality. The 14.2-megapixel camera can go down to 15m, it has a pop-up flash and advanced adjustment options like the ‘Live Image Control’ function that means you can see how different effects – background softening and motion control, for example– will affect the final image. This is one for those who want to up their photography game. 

Buy now

Ricoh WG-5

Ricoh WG-5 In its update of the much-lauded WG-4, Ricoh has created a camera that addresses all the underwater needs you didn’t even know you had. The optional underwater mode eliminates the bluish tone that can wash-out underwater photographs and its unique flash feature takes two consecutive images, one with and one without, allowing you to choose and keep the best one after the moment has been captured. It can go as deep at 14m and resist temperatures down to -10C, and captures images with a crystal-clear 16-megapixel lens. It’s not as grippy as some of the tough cameras we tried but the unusual shape allows for large, well-spaced controls that are easy to operate when submerged. 

GoPro HERO4 Silver

GoPro HERO4 If you want to capture your surroundings in near-cinematic definition video, then this one is for you. This teeny gadget packs a lot of punch and is our recommendation for all the thrill-seekers out there – it captures film in 4K resolution (aka “Ultra High Definition”), is waterproof up to a whopping 40m and lets you keep your hands free to get right into the midst of the action with a range of additional accessories like mounts and straps.

Canon PowerShot D30

Canon PowerShot D30 This is an upgrade of Canon’s D20; you can use this one to depths of 25 meters, so it is ideal if you’re off on a diving adventure. With a 12.1 megapixel sensor, the images you get are decent, if not quite the quality of some of the of the higher-resolution machines. It has built-in GPS and HD video recording and is easy-to-use underwater. We’d just like to see an upgrade that includes wifi connectivity.

Verdict:

The GoPro HERO4 is hands-down the best option for capturing outstandingly high-quality video on the go, however if still images are your main format of choice then  the Nikon 1 AW1 reigns supreme. Its advanced photography options and interchangeable lenses means it will give you top-notch underwater snaps. If you can't stretch to that, and want something compact, we'd go for Ricoh's good all-rounder.

Check latest cameras & Accessories

Source:awok.co/WFvOFl

Website: www.awok.com

Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Boeing says :Your gadget batteries endanger planes

Brit pilots agree: Get gizmos' batts out of holds

Boeing has decided that lithium-ion batteries, the engine-room of the tech gadget boom, are too dangerous to haul around in bulk on cargo planes.

The company has warned operators of its aircraft not to carry bulk shipments of batteries until logistics companies design better transport packaging and shipping procedures.

America's Federal Aviation Authority agrees, and over the weekend reiterated a warning first given in March that bulk battery shipments posed a potential risk to airliners.

If a battery develops a short circuit, the FAA explained, the build-up of hydrogen and other gases as surrounding batteries are also heated can defeat a plane's halon fire suppression system.

In May, the FAA gave this presentation to an airline fire protection meeting in Germany, explaining tests both on individual batteries and a bulk shipment.



FAA Battery Fire Test
Halon can't handle it: the FAA's battery fire test
It concluded that the total failure energy of Li-ion batteries is almost twice as much electrochemical energy as they can deliver.

A number of airlines were ahead of Boeing's announcement, with the Wall Street Journal listing Delta, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Air France as no longer carrying bulk shipments in the cargo holds of passenger flights.

While the FAA can warn operators of the dangers of Li-ion batteries, a law passed in 2012 means it can't regulate battery transport unless international regulators act first.

A week ago, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) issued a separate statement calling for all passengers' Li-ion-powered gadgets to be carried as cabin luggage.

BALPA also wants regulators to specifically ban the batteries being carried in cargo holds

Source:awok.co/eq13m4
Website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

You need to try this summer this Jewellery trends

Many of us have our favourite piece of jewellery; it could be a necklace given to us by a grandparent, a pair of earrings we bought for a special occasion and our engagement and wedding rings that we (should) wear every day.

However, like clothing, jewellery trends change every season and if you haven’t yet dived into the world of accessorising it might be time. Consider these jewellery trends to try out this summer and give your outfits a revamp:

Daydreamer

Look out for dream catcher inspired pieces, with crystals and feathers stealing the show for summer that would work perfect at festivals and with the current 70s trend that we’re enjoying on the high street. Check out Blue Vanilla’s 70s collection to pair your hippie chic-style jewellery with – along with that fun, printed bum bag (there’s no shame in using one) to keep all your bits and pieces safe in.

Under the sea

Marine life is also having its moment in the limelight, as Valentino showcased delicate shell and coral jewellery pieces at its spring/summer shows. If you’re looking for a statement piece to enhance your outfit (that doesn’t have a Valentino price tag) take a look at KT Ferris Creations’ handmade, intricate jewellery, featuring barnacles, shells and coral. Designed in America, KT imagines then creates every piece herself and then handcrafts them using crystal and various metals. This trend is perfect for those summer days spent at the beach or nights out with a cocktail in hand, at an outside bar.

Faux piercings

Always wanted your nose or helix pierced but never had the nerve to go through with it? Well, you’re in luck because a big trend for summer 2015 is faux piercings, which clip on and can be easily removed. While you might not want to go for the Rodarte look, which featured multiple faux piercings on the models’ eyebrows, you could opt for a fake nose ring that opens and closes to clip on your nostril – and horrify your mum when you go round for a roast on Sunday.

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Chanel’s slogan jewellery at the recent spring/summer shows featured bold statements such as “make fashion not war” and “ladies first” and is an easy trend to pick up for the coming summer months. Retailers such as ASOS and other high street stores are stocking similar designs with which to adorn your wrists. Tatty Devine is also a brand synonymous with quirky slogan and name jewellery, and you can even customise what’s written on yours.

When it comes to mixing up your jewellery this summer be sure to choose pieces that are well made, comfortable to wear (ideally you want to forget you even have any jewellery on until people compliment you on it) and that make you happy whenever you put them on.

Source: awok.co/PdVjqr

Website: www.awok.com

Check Latest Jewellery

Post: Ramiz Ali Khan

NEW PATENT APPLE’S HINTS AT A FUTURE OF WATER PROOF IPHONES, IPADS AND APPLE WATCHES

With bend tests a distant memory, maybe it’s time to think about bringing back dunk tests. Apple has filed a patent titled “Methods for shielding electronic components from moisture,” which hints at a possible future of waterproofed Apple devices – iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and maybe more.

“Many electronic devices are susceptible to water damage because they are not fully sealed and include various openings for charging, connecting peripherals, and inputting and outputting audio,” according to the patent filed by Apple on March 31, 2014 and published on March 5, 2015. To combat the threat of water, the patent describes a hydrophobic (i.e., water-repelling) coating with a thickness between one and 10 microns, which would be thin enough to prevent interference with functional openings in an electronic device.

Related: 10 waterproof Android phones for those rainy days

This hydrophobic coating can be applied to a device’s printed circuit board (PCB) by a plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) process, which charges a substrate’s surface to bond the coating to the charged surface. “The plasma then settles on and adheres to the component, providing a robust, water-resistant, corrosion-resistant protective seal for the component,” according to the patent, which addresses other approaches to waterproofing electronic devices.

Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the Apple Watch could be worn in the shower, which means it’s water resistant but not necessarily waterproof.


While there are a number of waterproof cases for the iPhone 6, the patent notes that if water does somehow find its way through a protective case, it’s game over for your phone.

Related: Fake ad tricks chumps into thinking iOS 7 makes iPhones waterproof

Samsung, which took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with the water-resistant Galaxy S5 as an opportunity to mock the iPhone’s lack of water resistance, left water resistance off the list of features for its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge phones.

Sony’s Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact phones are waterproof, and the company’s recently introduced Xperia M4 Aqua is also waterproof. However, it’s unclear if the upcoming Xperia Z4 will also be waterproof.

Source: awok.co/RV8r89
Website: www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

LG introduces Diamond Collection kitchen appliances -- sans smudges

LG introduces Diamond Collection kitchen appliances -- sans smudges
LG's new generation of kitchen appliances boasts a darker, more fingerprint-resistant shade of stainless steel.

LG Stainless steel appliances are designed to help your kitchen look its best, but start touching the things, and you'll end up with a kitchen full of smudges. LG's newest generation of appliances wants to help, with a special, smudge-resistant coating to help keep things looking pristine.
Dubbed the "Diamond Collection," the new appliances include multiple refrigerators, a microwave, a dishwasher, and both gas and electric double ovens. The coating gives the stainless steel a darker look -- along with fighting off fingerprints, LG claims that it's designed to pair perfectly with just about any decor.

The new appliances feature many of LG's existing bells and whistles. The collection's ranges and microwaves all feature "EasyClean" interiors, for instance, while the Diamond Collection dishwasher utilizes LG's "TrueSteam" feature to help eliminate the need for pre-washing. There are also Diamond Collection Door-in-Door refrigerators, a popular feature that offers quick access to in-door food storage

There's also a new four-door, "t-type" fridge in the Diamond Collection -- possibly an effort to keep up with Samsung's refrigerator catalog, where the four-door Chef Collection refrigerator ranks as the brand's most expensive. Pricing and availability for the entire Diamond Collection lineup is still to be determined -- it'll be interesting to see where that fridge lands in comparison with the Samsung model, which retails for a whopping $6,000.

There's nothing revolutionary about smudge-proof appliances, mind you. GE already sells "Slate" appliances with a dark grey, smudge-resistant finish, and high-end stainless steel Frigidaire models claim a smudge-proof exterior, as well. Still, fingerprint-averse consumers will certainly be glad to have some additional options.

Website: www.awok.com

AWOK.com Data Shows UAE Consumers Still More Confident of Cash on Delivery Payment for Online Purchases

AWOK.com gathers data on online shopping habits for UAE consumers: infographic

In the last 12 months, UAE-based online retail specialist, awok.com, has been tracking trends in online retail habits, which clearly demonstrate that while people are comfortable with buying online, they still prefer to use cash to pay for deliveries.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150604/748224 )
Awok.com reports that on average, cyber shoppers spend AED 500 minimum per transaction, with consumer electronics taking 57% of the purchases. Home and kitchen appliances come a distant second at 14%, with photography and cameras generating the least sales at just 4%.

"There is still a disconnect in trust for online purchase, versus online payment, as well as accessibility for card payment methods for some segments of society," says Ulugbek Yuldashev, Founder and CEO of awok.com. "However, we appreciate that not everyone wants to pay through a card, and awok.com caters to all preferences."

With the market continuing to mature quickly, males have been highlighted as the predominant force behind 'click and buy'; representing an overwhelming 76% of online shoppers. While the UAE's male-biased population certainly serves to enforce that figure, the social aspect of malls and browsing, still appeal more to the female consumer. 25-31 year-olds make up the biggest proportion at 58%.

Awok.com has seen significant response with returning customers now hitting 59%. Mobile technology plays a big role in supporting site accessibility, with a majority of customers accessing the site through their phones and smart devices. Android users are the most predominant, at 72% of shoppers, while the optimum browsing choice is Google Chrome.

For more information on AWOK, please visit http://www.awok.com

Source: awok.co/XhR4lR
website:www.awok.com
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Awok.com -Blog: AWOK.COM SEES TRIPLE FIGURE SALES INCREASE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2013

AWOK.COM SEES TRIPLE FIGURE SALES INCREASE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2013

By 2020 experts predict that e-commerce sales in the GCC are expected to touch $41.5 billion, one of the highest growths across the industry worldwide1. Internet spending in the Middle East is on the rise and GCC countries are expected to experience a 40% growth in e-commerce by 2020 according to industry research analysts Frost & Sullivan. In the two years since the COMPANY was first created, AWOK.com has grown substantially, initially dealing in electronics and gadgets and now selling a wide-ranging versatile product selection of household appliances, jewellery, consumer electronics and HEALTH AND BEAUTYproducts with new products added to the website on a daily basis. The site was first established in April 2013 with the intention of bringing reliable, quality products sold at the most competitive prices to consumers in the UAE.

AWOK.com, the UAE-based online shopping platform hits the two-year mark in April 2015, boasting a phenomenal 500% increase in sales compared to its first year of TRADING. The online platform also announced it will be launching a mobile app for consumers to be released later on this year. Since its launch, the website has witnessed strong year-on-year growth as well as increasing its portfolio of consumer goods. The COMPANY has grown to employ over 200 staff in the UAE and looks to increase its offerings to other countries in the region. The company’s success is a testament to the rapidly growing e-commerce industry in the region.

“AWOK.com’s solid growth is testament to the brand’s commitment in providing quality products at consistently low prices. Reaching this two-year milestone is a great achievement for AWOK.com and we look forward to achieving future growth in line with our third year targets. We are grateful to our loyal customers and are always striving for ways to identify and meet our consumer’s needs. 2015 marks a big year for us with the introduction of our mobile app being made available to consumers later on in the year. Our consumers already understand that online shopping is safe, easy and fast and with our new mobile application, they will be able to order must-have products directly from their mobile devices”, said Ulugbek Yuldashev, MANAGING DIRECTOR of AWOK.com.

With a vast warehouse, speedy delivery across the UAE and one-on-one customer service, AWOK.com prides itself on being a leader in the Middle East’s growing online market. Setting itself apart from other online shopping websites, AWOK.com operates all logistics in-house, allowing it to keep prices continuously low through sourcing directly from manufacturers, distributors and re-sellers. AWOK.com runs its own warehouse, a fleet of delivery vans as well as an in-house customer service team meaning that savings are passed directly on to the consumer. A promise to deliver to customers in the UAE within 12 – 24 hours and a dedicated aftersales tech support service on-hand ensures the company’s goal to attain 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION is on track.

For more information on AWOK, please visit http://www.awok.com/
Source:awok.co/UJKQos
Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan

Awok.com -Blog: BlackBerry planning to launch Android smartphone w...

BlackBerry planning to launch Android smartphone with sliding keyboard

New smartphone would mark U-turn in company strategy as it struggles to stymie falling sales and moves to place software on iPhones and other Androids.



The next BlackBerry smartphone could run Android and have a sliding physical keyboard, according to reports.



BlackBerry briefly showed off a slider device on stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, but has provided little detail on it since.



The move would make BlackBerry the latest Android device manufacturer, having brought Android apps through the Amazon app store to its BlackBerry 10 smartphones in an attempt to help tempt users with more apps.



Four sources talking to Reuters said the move to use Android is part of BlackBerry’s strategy to focus on SOFTWARE and device management, rather than handset sales after its MARKET SHARE declined to less than 1%.



Whether a move to Android, an about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, would spell the end of BlackBerry 10 devices is unclear. Launched in 2013, BlackBerry 10 devices have struggled to compete with Android smartphones from Samsung, Motorola or LG, or Apple’s iPhones, mainly due to a lack of big name apps.



“We don’t comment on rumours and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched,” said BlackBerry in a statement.



SOFTWAREand services, not phones

BlackBerry chief executive John Chen has pinned the company’s hopes on a new device management system called BES12, which allows corporate and government clients to MANAGE BlackBerry devices as well as devices powered by Android, iOS and Windows operating system.



One of the hurdles it faces in that transformation is convincing big customers that its device management SOFTWARE works across many different platforms.



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By launching an Android-based device of its own, BlackBerry would be sending a signal to sceptics that it is confident that the BES12 system can not only MANAGE , but also secure smartphones and tablets powered by rival operating systems.



In March, BlackBerry announced that it planned to deliver its patented security, productivity and communication tools to any mobile device running iOS, Android or Windows.



After launching its then popular BlackBerry Messaging app on Android and iPhone, BlackBerry said it plans to offer more in-house features on rival devices, including BlackBerry Hub and the predictive text capabilities of its virtual keyboard.



• BlackBerry left on the line as UK users continue to hang up



Check Blackberry phones in UAE

Website: www.awok.com

Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan.

Awok.com -Blog: UAE Consumers Still More Confident Of Cash On Delivery

Awok.com -Blog: UAE Consumers Still More Confident Of Cash On Delivery

In the last 12 months, UAE-based online retail specialist, awok.com, has been tracking trends in online retail habits, which clearly demonstrate that while people are comfortable with buying online, they still prefer to useCASH to pay for deliveries.

Awok.com reports that on average, cyber shoppers spend AED 500 minimum per transaction, with consumer electronics taking 57% of the purchases. Home and kitchen appliances come a distant second at 14%, with photography and cameras generating the least sales at just 4%.

“There is still a disconnect in trust for online purchase, versus online payment, as well as accessibility for card payment methods for some segments of society,” says Ulugbek Yuldashev, Founder and CEO of awok.com. “However, we appreciate that not everyone wants to pay through a card, and awok.com caters to all preferences.”

With the market continuing to mature quickly, males have been highlighted as the predominant force behind ‘click and buy’; representing an overwhelming 76% of online shoppers. While the UAE’s male-biased population certainly serves toENFORCE that figure, the social aspect of malls and browsing, still appeal more to the female consumer. 25-31 year-olds make up the biggest proportion at 58%.

Awok.com has seen significant response with returning customers now hitting 59%. Mobile technology plays a big role in supporting site accessibility, with a majority of customers accessing the site through their phones and smart devices. Android users are the most predominant, at 72% of shoppers, while the optimum browsing choice is Google Chrome.

Source: awok.co/qpFys3

Website: www.awok.com

Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan