Life & Style | Gadgets & Tech
Technology meets fashion
From teen fashion slaves to performance-obsessed geeks, Gitex Technology Week 2008 catered to everybody. Amelia Naidoo takes a look at the most popular gadgets.
- By Amelia Naidoo, Notes Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:33 October 25, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- Gitex (Gulf Information and Technology Exhibition) Technology Week provides a platform for many of the leading brands in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.
Most Gitex (Gulf Information and Technology Exhibition) 2008 halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre were packed to overflowing with business, information technology and telecommunications professionals. However, youngsters made a beeline for the consumer electronics hall.
Super fast, super small, super funky Eliciting the most oohs and ahs, it seems, were Touchmate laptops.
Representatives said the computers contained the world's fastest processor, Intel's Core 2 Extreme.
The fashionable laptops come with Swarovski crystals in a variety of designs.
"The world is very different. We want to look different. You have to look unique, you have to look the best. What we are trying to do is merge both technology and fashion. We are giving you style with performance," said Touchmate representative Kamal Kumar.
Touchmate's laptops come in fashionable colours of hot pink, Ferrari yellow, white and black.
The company also launched the world's smallest computer with a seven-inch screen, which is also a tablet computer. "It's good for travellers and students and comes with a camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS (Global Positioning Satellite System) and weighs less than 1kg," Kumar said.
Waterproof camcorder
Dunk it in water, drop it on the floor or leave it outside and Panasonic's new SDR-SW20 camcorder will still work perfectly.
The device, launched late last month, is waterproof up to 1.5 metres, shockproof up to 1.2 metres and dustproof.
"It's very popular with teenagers and youngsters," said Al Futtaim Panatech saleswoman Carren Naranjo. "It's also small enough to slip into your pocket and use for outings and sporting events."
The device works with an SD memory card and data can be easily transferred to your laptop and burned on to a DVD. Available in metallic orange and silver, the camcorder costs Dh1,299.
Intelligent auto technology
Panasonic also showcased its Lumix models advanced camera technology (and Leica lenses) that came with:
Shake detection where gyro sensors detect hand-shake and an Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) lens shifts to compensate, helping prevent hand-shake blur.
Motion detection, which enables the camera to determine whether a subject is moving and the ISO control (which sets the light sensitivity) changes the ISO sensitivity and shutter speed accordingly.
Light detection where the camera instantly analyses the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark.
Face detection, which detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure. It detects up to 15 faces in a photo.
Scene detection that senses the ambient conditions and automatically selects either the Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode.
Subject detection where once you focus on a subject, the Auto Focus Tracking automatically tracks it until you press the shutter.
Panasonic representative Suzuki Minoru said higher end models, such as the FX520 that sells for Dh1,599, come with all the functions. A more fashionable model is the retro-designed LX3 models, which sell from Dh2,099.
Cute design meets function
It's hard to imagine that an innocuous looking rabbit could perform numerous communication functions such as receiving email, the news, SMSs, the weather. But it does and it's set to become a worldwide craze say distributors.
The Nabaztag, derived from the Armenian word for rabbit, is a Wi-Fi enabled bunny that can receive information on just about anything from the internet.
Yousuf Niffe, a representative with distributor Sound Me, explained what it can do: "When you receive an email, for example, a light comes on. You can also programme your Nabaztag to pick up internet news bulletins and he will play them for you when they come on."
"It's also great for kids because it can teach them to read. You put a special book in front of the rabbit and he will read with the kids."
Nabaztag devices can communicate with other devices around the world and Niffe compares it to how social networking site Facebook works. The rabbit's ears come in cute colours than can be changed according to your mood. They also move according to the information it gives. During Gitex, the device is selling for Dh699 and Dh899 thereafter.
Rivals to Apple
Internet media tablet Archos 5, launched last week, is said to rival the Apple iPod. The device has a sensitive touch screen of 5 inches; you can watch high quality video on it.
"But here's why it can beat the Apple iPod: while you can store music, photos, games and video you can also dock the Archos 5 to a DVR station, which is connected to your television, and watch your movies," said Yousuf Niffe of distributor Sound Me.
"You can also record movies from your TV and watch it on your Archos 5," he added.
The gadget also allows the user to check email, surf the internet, watch web television, and web radio. The 60GB Archos 5 will cost you Dh1,999 during Gitex and Dh2,199 in stores.
Samsung is also hot on the heels of its competitors with its S2 MP3 player, which is beautifully designed in the shape of a pebble. It is a rival to the Apple iPod shuffle. Aimed at young women, the player is small enough to slip into one's pocket or around the neck like a piece of jewellery.
About Gitex
As one of the world's leading technology events, Gitex (Gulf Information and Technology Exhibition) Technology Week provides a platform for many of the leading brands in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry to meet clients, attract new customers, launch new products and services, heighten brand awareness and meet worldwide press.
"Gitex Technology Week is an event of true international stature, with some of the largest names in technology using it as a platform to unveil some of the most far-reaching initiatives to the world. In addition, it has become the primary event for Arab companies and government organisations to demonstrate their increasing contribution to the advanced technology sector," said Helal Saeed Al Merri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre.
Key exhibitors include BlackBerry, Etisalat, Oracle Systems, Panasonic, Sharp and Symantec.
Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre, this year's event provided updates on major e-government projects from across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior Naturalisation and Residency Administration participated for the first time.
Last year 3,300 suppliers from 82 countries exhibited at the event. Of those attending, 97 per cent said the event met and exceeded expectations organisers said.
For more information visit www.gitex.com
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