Dash for cash prompts innovative new products

Dubai: Not everyone is at Gitex to check out the latest business solutions. Some of us just want to play around with the newest and quirkiest gadgets on the market.

And there's plenty of them. One company has even come up with a novel, and rather bizarre, solution to the recent smoking ban introduced by Dubai Municipality. An electronic cigar.

The product from Ruyan Group Holdings Limited aims to 'simulate the entire smoking experience and provide satisfaction without second-hand smoke, tar and carbon monoxide'.

Bobby Pang from the Beijing-based company's International Marketing Department said the 'non-tobacco smoking alternative' was an ideal way of getting around the recently introduced ban in public places including shopping malls and bars.

He said: "One of the great advantages is that it doesn't exude second hand smoke and it also contains no tar, which of course causes cancer.

"The product, which retails at $150 (Dh551) contains no tobacco; it is all electronic. It includes a rechargable battery, an atomiser and a cartridge - each cartridge is the equivalent of smoking 30 cigarettes."

Adopt a rabbit

Another stall at the exhibition claimed that previously 'there was no reason to live with a rabbit'. But now there is a very good reason and it's called Nabaztag.

Actually there are thousands of Nabaztag's and they're all looking for UAE residents to adopt them.

Nabaztag, retailing at Dh699, is basically a WiFi internet connection via a 'multifunctional' rabbit. When connected to the internet he, or indeed she, will react to everything relevant to you that happens on the World Wide Web.

It will read out news headlines, play your favourite music and relay messages from your friends around the world.

Yousuf Kibbe, Business Development Manager at Soundsme Trading LLC, said the idea was to customise your Nabaztag through an online account so that it delivers information in the way you want it.

"The rabbit can update you on the stock market, read books to your children or even send a love message to your other half by wiggling its ears," said Kibbe.

"It's one great benefit is that many people these days don't have the time to open up their laptop and surf the internet. Nabaztag offers live information and you put it anywhere you desire from your office to your bathroom; whatever suits you."

There are also many stalls at Gitex clambering over each other to offer a better driving experience to UAE residents.

Car DVD players are no longer just that; they offer a multitude of entertainment and technological options including radio, bluetooth, a USB port, a telephone and an MP3 player.

Helen Tse, Marketing Executive at Digital Sonic Electronics Company Limited, said the product would prove extremely popular to Dubai motorists.