6 Reasons You NEED to Attend the ArabNet 2012 Digital Summit

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I was an ArabNet Official Blogger last year, and I had a blast attending the conference, live-tweeting it and blogging about the panels and talks and events within the conference. I also met a lot of people from across the Arab World who have become very good friends. Most importantly, I started seeing mobile and web like a boss, and could even start giving advice to businesses and agencies, all thanks to last year’s speakers and panelist, who turned me from a humble Biology student interested in tech, to a web and mobile-savvy person up-to-date with the latest trends, start-ups and the industry in the MENA region. So, here are a few reasons why you might want to attend ArabNet 2012.

1- Meet People

This is the top reason to attend in my opinion. Two years ago, 500 people attended. Last year, around a 1000. This year, it’s expected to surpass 1500 participants from all over the world! Imagine how many business owners will meet the right developers, how many start-ups will meet the right investors and how many designers will pair up with programmers and create the next big site or app.

So, graab a whole bunch of business cards and make new shiny ones, because the real magic of ArabNet doesn’t only happen in the big halls where talks and presentations are held, but the coffe breaks and lunch breaks where you can mingle and network.

2- Diversity

This time around, the conference is five whole days. These days have something in store for everyone from the geeky programmers who slave on building our websites and apps functionality, to the artsy designers obsessed with stream-lining everything, to the seasoned investor trying to make sense of web and mobile, and of course the steadily rising number of aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to make their businesses come to life.

So, if you didn’t know you could hack a Kinect and aren’t interested in learning how, you could miss the first couple of days. But, you’d also be missing out on the lightning talks and getting to meet engineers from companies like Google and Facebook! The Industry Day looks exceptionally exciting this year, the two forum days are a MUST-attend and the Community Day is the culmination of the whole conference where we open up to the general public.

3- Industry Day Debut

The Industry Day is something new this year, and I’m personally looking forward to it. This day will focus on how tech, web and mobile are being used in industries like healthcare, the banking sector, governments, education and other fields that are not exclusively web and mobile, but integrate these technologies to better their performance, experience and output. This is a MUCH-welcome addition in my opinion, after all, focusing exclusively on web and mobile companies and start-ups was sorta limited, now, we have the whole business and services spectrum included!

4- The Speakers

Check this list out. Exactly, wow. You might not want to watch every single one, but there are at least two-dozen that I personally would love to hear speak. Everything from marketers and strategists, to CEOs and rising entrepreneurs, sharing their success stories, analyses and predictions for the future of web and mobile.

5- Looking Back, and Forward

Last year, ArabNet was taking place at the peak of the Arab Springs. Naturally, with web and mobile’s catalyzing role and citizen journalism via social media blossoming, the Arab Spring was a major issue being discussed, with optimism and enthusiasm about the future high. This time around, the Arab World is a changed one, and the inevitable “report card” of the Arab Spring will be an issue that will undoubtedly be present. Also, some struggles are far from over, and understanding their impact and their outcomes with all the brightest minds of the Arab World is reason enough to attend!

6- Better Internet

Lebanon’s notoriously horrible Internet connection and speed last year was the butt of many jokes. Luckily though, we’ve gotten a considerably bump in speed and bandwidth and things like online conferencing and live-streaming will be a breeze. 

For more information and registration, go here!

Filed Under: Tech

Another 4 iPad Apps You Need

January 24, 2012 By 5 Comments

1- Monopoly for iPad (5/5)

I absolutely adore this app. Playing Monopoly live can be a bit time consuming, especially when it comes to counting money, finding the right card, etc. It’s also very prone to cheating. The iPad app solves that, with the bank and real estate duties being handled automatically by the app. This means faster and more enjoyable gameplay, and zero chance of cheating. The visuals are alos cool and the multiplayer mode is a LOT of fun, letting you play anywhere and anytime without the need to awkwardly carry the massive box. This is a MUST-have app for your iPad, you won’t regret it.

2- iReddit (5/5)

If you are a heavy redditor like me, you’re gonna adore this app. It’s better than www.reddit.com. The ability to up-vote or down-vote an article after you open it, makes it all the more awesome. Reddit usually shows the up and down vote buttons on the link to the article, not on the article itself, which I find awkward. It’s a very tidy, fast and clear app. It’s the perfect manifestation of the “Internet’s Front Page” and all your favorite subreddits! DOWNLOAD THIS APP!

3- Temple Run (4/5)

This is a really fun game, and best of all, it’s free and light on the megabytes. It’s just 19.5MB, but will have you addicted in minutes. A combination of swiping and tapping helps you avoid obstacles by jumping, sliding and sharp turns trying to escape the monkey-zombie things chasing you. The character runs on its own and gets faster with time. Collecting coins will let you buy power-ups and new characters. All in all, it’s a pretty simple and fun game which can get exciting and doesn’t need 30+ minutes to end like Monopoly. So, if you’re on-the-go or waiting for a few minutes, or can’t sleep, this game is a worthwhile download.

4- iDaft 2 (4/5)

If you’re a Daft Punk fan, this is a no-brainer. This free app lets you use the loops in “technologic” and “harder better faster stronger”. It’s awesome and plenty of fun. Few music-making apps are this simple and easy to use. What can be annoying is that you aren’t given cues about when to tap each vocal loop when you activate the acoustic loop which is an all-or-none button in that when it starts, it doesn’t stop and you cannot pause it! Other than that, love it and use it very often when I’m bored, sorta like doodling on a paper!

Filed Under: Tech

Twitter 101: 8 Things You NEED to Do When You Sign Up

January 3, 2012 By 4 Comments

Everyone is signing up to Twitter these days, and many go down in flames after a few confusing minutes. Here are a few pointers from a Twitter addict such as myself. I hope it helps! And don’t just follow Saad and Mikati, follow real tweeps who are awesome.

1- Sign Up on Twitter.com

This should be fairly simple to accomplish by yourselves, if you find it hard, then please stick to Facebook and spare everyone the horror.

NO!

2- ADD A PHOTO

I never follow a twitter account without a photo. It doesn’t have to be your photo in a bikini, just not the generic egg thing twitter places by default. So, please, before you start following people and expecting them to follow you back, add a photo (I posted images on how to do that, just look for my mouse cursor) and fill your bio.

3- FILL YOUR BIO

Your bio should be somewhat revealing about who you are. Being funny is an added plus, being cocky is a huge minus. For example, calling yourself an “expert” or “guru” is sort of arrogant and makes you look silly. That’s for people to decide, not you. Being ambiguous is up to you too, but I’d rather get an idea what you’d be tweeting about before clicking follow.

As for location, it’s nice to add your actual city, like Beirut or NYC, but if you’re paranoid about your safety, then go ahead and put barf-inducing stuff like “planet earth” or “somewhere over the rainbow” and feel cute =P

4- Get Accustomed to the Vocabulary

  • Tweet – the 140 character message you send
  • Tweep – a friend you have from twitter
  • Following – if you follow someone on twitter, his or her tweets will appear in your feed
  • Followers – the people who follow your tweets
  • @ – The @ symbol followed by a username means you are addressing that person (mentioning him/her), for example @GinoRaidy will appear as a reply to me in my @GinoRaidy “mentions” tab
  • # – The # symbol is put before a word or name of interest, for example #GinosBlog, so when someone clicks that hashtag on twitter or a twitter-based search engine, all the tweets containing #GinosBlog will appear in a separate feed. This is super-useful if you’re following a particular event or story, like #jan25 for the Egyptian “revolution” or “#oscars” for the Oscar awards.
  • Direct Message – a DM is sorta like an FB message, which can only be seen by the sender and receiver. The catch is, they have to be following each other. Take your “chats” to the DM, people don’t like their timelines filled with chit-chat.
  • Trending Topic – is a topic being tweeted about the most around the world.
  • Lists – you or others can compile people you follow into lists, such as “lebanon” or “biology”  allowing you to see a feed exclusively from the people you add in that specific interest/location/etc.

5- Start Tweeting

Before you start following people and expect them to follow you back, you might as well post a few interesting tweets. “Hello” or “I don’t understand this” aren’t good examples. Why not share a nice post you read somewhere? Or a funny photo, or something that will actually make visiting your profile worth people’s time.

6- Find Interesting Tweeps

People who’ve been on Twitter for a while, tend to follow only the best accounts they’ve come across. I for one, routinely clear up my following list, removing inactive accounts, accounts that spam and just simply annoying accounts. So the 1100-something people I follow, are all awesome, so flip through it and follow the ones you find interesting too. That’s how you begin building up your following list, and eventually your follower list.

7- Follow-Unfollow Etiquette

Which means you don’t have to follow back, and the other person doesn’t need to follow you. But, general Twitter etiquette dictates you follow back users who follow you. Give them a chance, maybe you’ll enjoy their updates, if not, you can always unfollow.

8- Twitter Clients

Very few people use Twitter.com. That’s because most os us tweet on the move via our mobile devices. That’s where Twitter clients come in. They’re apps which replace Twitter and allow you to customize the way you tweet, read and interact. I personally recommend Tweetdeck (I used it on Mac and Android) it’s so awesome, that Twitter bough it =P. There’s also Hootsuite, Echofon and the official Twitter app for iPad and Android which I’d also recommend.

Now you’re ready to tweet! Follow me on @GinoRaidy and follow the blog on @GinosBlog!

Filed Under: How To, Tech

6 Reasons Why You Should Register for the Social Media Changing Lives Conference (hint: it’s free and I’m in it)

December 11, 2011 By 5 Comments

If you don’t have the time to read, click play and let Gavin Ford explain it to you in 34 seconds. If you’re THAT bored at work or university, take a moment to consider why this conference is a good idea.

1- It’s Free

You just have to register here to guarantee your place

2- It’s About Social Media

Apart from our lives becoming largely digital and cyberspace via Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and all the other social networks we subscribe to, social media is the new “it” thing in marketing and business, where every single establishment todays needs to be present, and present effectively on social networks. In other words, you will definitely come across something you’ll say “ooooh” or “ahaaa” to whether its about your personal or professional life.

3- Awesome and Diverse Speakers and Panelists

It includes everyone from the British Ambassador (and good tweep) Tom Fletcher, to Lebanon’s and the region’s most influential online experts, activists and entrepreneurs. It also includes me on a panel, so that’s reason enough! But, if you insist, here’s the speakers’ list.

4- Includes Fabulous Entertainment

Conferences can get boring, and the talking might get sometimes too much to sit through. But, there’s a reward at the end with the fabulous Poly, EpiSode and Anthony Touma performing live at the Issam Fares Institute.

5- Justin Beiber and Rebecca Black Bashing Very Likely

As you can see from these posters, JB and Black may be two examples of where SM went wrong. That’s your chance to bash the beliebers in a room full of hundreds of people like you.

6- Dunkin Donuts and Crepaway Catering = Free Food

I know the economy’s bad and stuff, and I’m sure some of you might wanna stuff some donuts and munchkins and sandwiches in between talks. Caterers at conferences are often some obscure restaurant with stuff you’re not used to. This time, the food’s something I think we all like.

Conclusion

I highly recommend you register ASAP and show up on December the 16th at noon. The guys at the Online Collaborative have done a fantastic job in preparing this marathon social media day and I am certain it will not disappoint. I wish the AUBOC the best of luck, and that I miss them, and that I’ll see you all on Friday December the 16th!

Filed Under: AUB Affairs, Tech

10 Reasons Why I Loved the Nokia N9

November 2, 2011 By 4 Comments

1- The Cover

I hate plastic. I also hate aluminum. It seems I love ploycarbonate plastic though, which the N9 unibody is machined from. The beautiful matter plastic comes in black, cyan and magenta. It’s not painted, the matte feel is actually how the ploycarbonate is. This mean scratching it won’t mean the end of its sexiness, because the scratch will reveal the same color as the surface, making it basically scratch-proof. It’s also pretty sturdy, and I have yet to meet someone which doesn’t gently caress the backside of this phone, enjoying the texture.

2- The Curved Gorilla Glass

Gorilla glass is just as it name implies, really cool. It’s scratch-proof and very tough, and is seen in Samsung Galaxy SIIs, which don’t shatter into a million pieces when you drop them, namely like the iPhone 4. The screen is also glare-proof, which means even if it’s in direct sunlight, you won’t be blinded by the sun’s reflection and will still be able to read what’s on the screen with ease.

The N9′s screen is also curved on all four edges, giving the impression the screen is hugging the unibody tightly, forming the flagship phone Nokia can be proud of. It also makes swiping all the more fluid and enjoyable.

3- The Screen


The screen is the equivalent of Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus, which means it will make you drool with its crisp graphics and vivid colors. The beauty of swiping is portrayed in the seamless transitions and animations with every gesture. Videos, photos and pretty much everything else, is eye-candy and you’ll find the need to toggle between the 3 home screens too great to ignore, creating a perpetual loop of sexy graphics.

4- No Buttons

The N9 has only 3 buttons. 2 for volume and zoom control, and one for lock and power control. The other 5 sides of the 6-sided ploycarbonate body are devoid of any physical interactive surface. It’s just on 3.9″ screen which you can program to obey commands usually assigned to buttons and switches, with mere swipe gestures.

5- 3 Homescreens

One thing Nokia challenged with this phone, is the conventional notion of navigation in an OS. In iOS, the clumsy multitasking often has us click the central button and return to the rigid app-grid and clumsy folders, THEN choose the app we want to use. Android OS is more flexible, but still as good as the custom launcher you’ve illegally downloaded. In the N9′s MeeGo, 3 homescreens come built-in.

The main one is the app grid homescreen, to the left of it is a homescreen where all your notifications and feeds are displayed and the third one is where multitasking has been solved. I’ll explain the multi-tasking bit in the next point, but basically what this means is that the conventional idea of a homescreen is being challenged and far more convenient one is offered by the N9′s MeeGo Harmattan OS.

6- Multitasking Perfection

The third homescreen which I absolutely adore, is THE best solution to multitasking on a mobile device I have ever seen. This homescreen is an adjustable grid of live screenshots of open apps which you can monitor and switch through, or kill right on the spot. For example, if I’m downloading a file, but also decided to watch a video, I can partially swipe the video aside while holding it. This keeps the video playing, but also reveals the part of the homescreen I wanna check to make sure my download is still running. In other words, wow. It is a far cry from the clumsier mechanisms seen on iOS and Android systems.

7- Camera

To be honest, I was turned off by the camera in the N9. That’s because compared to the N8, I doubt any phone camera will seem impressive. But, what really upset me was the noisiness of photos, where they appeared grainy at some times. A few photo sets later, I discovered the very powerful photo editor that comes included in the phone. It takes one click to “auto-fix” your photos and the graininess is solved! So, for the simple point-and-shoot use like myself, the auto-focus and face recognition saves me tons of time. I’m just sad there’s no burst or panoramic shoot option =( Other than that, the 720p HD video and multiple still-photo settings should have you photography-types satisfied.

8- Universal Contacts

In the contacts app on the Nokia N9, the full range of information you might have for a specific person are all grouped into one. Social networks, skype, phone and email are all integrated into one. This might not seem impressive to some, but it goes the extra step and shows you their statuses on the different chat platforms. I love that integration when it comes to contacts. The only thing I’d add, is the ability to sync contacts, and not just mail, chat and calendar entries, with your Google Account.

9- Super-Easy Text Editing

Another clumsy procedure on most touch phones is text selection, copying and pasting. On the N9, all you have to do is swipe over the text you wanna select. No long-press, no double-tap, no nothing, just a simple fluid gesture. The keyboard is a virtual QWERTY keyboard, but would’ve loved to see Swype typing and keypad keyboard integration like in the E7. Other than that, loved the typing with haptic feedback and unobtrusive auto-correct.

10- It’s a Collector’s Item

As you all know, MeeGo has been abandoned by Nokia. The linux-based, very promising OS will be replaced by Windows Mango OS on the new N9-inspired flagship Lumia 800 device. So, owning this phone is like owning a collector’s item. It’s literally, one-of-a-kind and is the best independently developed Nokia device ever built. This doesn’t mean that MeeGo won’t be viable or supported. Nokia promised two years of support for the MeeGo ecosystem and it looks like other mobile giants like Samsung have their eyes set on the beautifully designed OS. If I had to choose between Mango and MeeGo, I’d definitely go with MeeGo.

The Video

Where it Fails

I have to warn you guys, Whatsapp doesn’t run on the Nokia N9. That’s not really a big deal for me, I hate that chat client and I have a BBM as a second phone. However, I do know some of you rely on it heavily and that’s a sacrifice you’re gonna have to make if you wanna own the sleek, sexy Nokia N9.

Cool Extras

NFC, which you can use to interact with other hardware, like speakers for example. Near Field Communication is when a simple tap is enough to perform an action with your device. Another cool NFC perk is that you download Angry Birds for free, but only have 5 levels unlocked. To unlock another 5, you need to bump your phone with another N9 and both of your phones will unlock 5 extra levels.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: , , , ,

Samsung’s ChatON: FINALLY a WhatsApp Killer?

October 31, 2011 By 2 Comments

I’ll allow you a few moments to chuckle at the name and it’s naughty and dirty innuendoes in both English and French.

As you know, on this blog I am in a constant search for the best cross-platform chat client and whenever a new one pops out, I try it out and try to encourage as many of you to get on board if it seems worth your while.

the name was a coincidence =P it's like that on the Market!Even though Kik, LiveProfile and Kakao looked promising, they’re all by independent app developers with little or no support (even obstruction, like RIM and Kik) by big mobile giants. So, when the mobile industry leader, Samsung, decides to launch its very own cross-platform smart chat platform, we’d better be listening.

The potential for ChatON to grow is massive. Imagine all Samsung phones come preloaded with the app in the near future. That’s like BlackBerry’s BBM, only nicer and cross-platform (which BBM has yet to become!). Samsung promised ChatON wil be available for all major mobile platforms, ie Android, iOS and BlackBerry and maybe even Windows. So far though, it’s has been released on Android systems only.

After my dear friend Carl Bou Samra pointed it out to me, I had ChatON downloaded and installed on my Samsung Galaxy S in minutes. That’s when I began discovering this promising new chat app.

At first, the colors were a little funky, but upon closer inspection, I realized the app had a LOT to offer. All the normal chat options were there. You could chat individually, or in group. You can send images, sounds, videos, locations, contacts, calendar entries and my favorite, AMS. AMS is an animated message which you create! All you have to do is draw the animation on your mobile phone, and voila, it is sent, animated and sexy to your friend or friends. You can even add music, backgrounds and clipart from existing samples or your own media files!

You add contacts by their mobile numbers and it can automatically detect ChatON users in your phonebook. You can also customize your profile beyond a status message, by adding a display picture, a much-welcome feature missing in other chat platforms. Its delivered/sent notifications are clumsy though, and there is no read notification, which is a bummer if you ask me! Samsung also promised to have a web-client for ChatON which will allow you to chat from any device or machine with a decent Internet browser, which is pretty cool too… Sorta like eBuddy’s XMS.

To really understand what I mean, I’d really recommend you watch this video

So, I strongly recommend all you Android users out there download it and get the hang of it, and add me as a contact!I’ll make sure to share with you guys when the iOS and BB versions of ChatON will be available so we can all put it through its paces together. So far so good though! Fast, reliable and feature-filled!

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: , ,

4 iPad Apps I’ve Been Wasting Time With

October 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

1- World of Goo (5/5)

I fucking adore this game. I tell people I meet with iPads that if I had been a software developer, and had to design a game, World of Goo would most definitely be it. The graphics, the narrative, the gameplay, the music… It’s all absolutely perfect. This physics platform game needs you to assemble different species of “goo” balls over a 4 chapter storyline. The worlds and puzzles change immensely and sometimes, you could spend hours trying to figure that level out. So far, I’ve played it all 6 times in my lifetime, and I guess I’ll be playing it a whole lot more! Heck, I even bought the game legitimately off the App store! That’s how much I liked it.

2- Contre Jour (5/5)

If Cut the Rope and World of Goo got married, they’d have a Contre Jour. This sexy app has a soundtrack and set of graphics to match the perfect physics platform you can use to manipulate the environment and collect all the “light” in every puzzle. This is my current favorite game, I sneak in a few minutes of gameplay even when I’m stuck in traffic! But seriously, the soundtrack is absolutely perfect for the game, not the 8-bit rubbish or normal video game showtune, but a set of somber-ish classical tracks that’ll get that brain of yours focused and clear on solving each level.

3- Supersonic (4/5)

This is an extremely simple, but extremely addictive game. It’s basically maneuvering through a never-ending tunnel in space, while trying to avoid obstacles and collecting as much gems and diamonds without interruption so your score accumulates exponentially! The electronic soundtrack is perfect, and that coupled with the glowy environment and fast-paced graphics probably make it a no-no for my epileptic readers, but for everyone else, this is one trippy-fun app! It gets a 4 cause every time you collect a red spiky thing, your score reverts to x1 (versus x30 x50) and that’s sorta a bummer if you’re well into a level. Some shield option or something would be perfect!

4- deadmau5 Remix (4/5)

This app comes preloaded with plenty of trademark deadmau5 loops, so naturally, you can imagine how fun this app must be for me. It’s incredibly easy to use and it will help you avoid getting embarrassed in front of your friends. It automatically cues loops so they’re in-sync and if you have a good ear and nimble fingers, you’re bound to impress. I give it 4 stars because it has SO much room for potential. More details about loops, like length, name, etc. or whether they’re lyrics or bass or melody, would create a much more enjoyable experience!

More apps soon! =D
Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: , ,

All Hail the N9

September 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

It’s all about user interface (UI). I see people with iPhones and Galaxy SIIs everywhere. It sorta makes you regain faith in humanity, that people are properly embracing technology. But, then I check their app grids and drawers, and I lose faith in that same humanity again.

The apps you’re sure to find are Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja and of course Whatsapp. Perhaps a couple of other simple apps or the preloaded apps Class charges you 40$ for, but which you probably never use. So, the iPhone ends up as a 1000USD+ fashion accessory, its potential never used. Just like a Ferrari 458 that never makes it past the second gear, it’s an awesome machine but the user doesn’t match its specs.

Here’s where the problem lies in the mobile world. Phones are just fashion accessories for many people, and that’s a shame. When you’re using a phone, you should worry about one thing: the UI. As chief of Design at Nokia, Marco Athisaari put it, you don’t really care what oil runs in the motor, as long as you’re enjoying driving your car.

Here’s where the guys at Nokia think they’ve scored big with the N9. This would-be Android killer is two years late, and to many, the birth of the N9 is a still-birth after Nokia signed on with Microsoft to produce Windows-powered phones, versus MeeGo powered phones (like the N9). No one’s complaining though, cause for me and many like me, the N9 is definitely a collector’s item. Nokia has also promised to support this OS and not leave it to die. In fact, I myself am a developer for MeeGo now along with thousands of other techie people form around the world.

Nokia has also looked at what we people use most in the Middle-East, and made sure these apps were available for the N9. The biggest disappointment was when I sat with Henri Matilla after the launching in Dubai, and was informed that the Whatsapp developers have no plans to make the cross-platform chat app available for MeeGo.

But, Marco put things in a very beautiful way. He compared the mobile industry today, to the automotive industry in the 1890s. It was a period where a lot of different formats and UIs were popping up, and companies were learning from each other and bettering the cars of the time, ultimately giving us the two-pedal, steering-wheel cars we all drive around today (versus lever-steered cars for example).

In 2007, Apple revolutionized smartphones. The iPhone-type UI of a fixed app-grid, where you need to get out of the app, return to that same rigid grid, and go into another app, is getting old. Despite the minor adjustments, like the double-click multi-tasking bar, that UI is proving insufficient. I agree with that, in fact, that’s the main reason I switched to Android-powered phones: customization. The Google UI philosophy is personalization. My Android is mine, I can build it how I want to, with widgets and launchers that I can manipulate fully. But, Marco thinks there’s even more room for improvement in the UI department, and he believes Nokia has managed to add a new pattern to already-established UIs in the Nokia N9.

He might be on to something. The N9′s UI is centered on one, fluid, very human motion: a swipe. You swipe to do virtually anything on this fully-touch phone. There are three homescreens. One is a feed from your phone, social networks and any other feed you wanna add. The second is an app grid. The third is all the apps you’re currently running. In other words, the traditional “homescreen” is no longer there. Instead, it’s all about multi-tasking.

So, in other words, the Nokia N9 is a fashion accessory, a powerful touch phone and truly one of a kind. MeeGo might not be on Nokia’s to-do list anymore, but the lessons learned and beautiful elements incorporated in the N9 UI will definitely be seen in Nokia’s future devices.

I won’t go further into the device itself, I will wait till I test and carry the device myself. I’ll leave you with the pictures of the very fun event Nokia were generous enough to invite me to in Dubai last week. There, we got to meet and greet top Nokia execs, interview them, play with the devices and have wicked awesome photo shoots.

Videos, the full interviews and more exclusive photos coming REAL soon in the full Nokia N9 Review.

Oh, and that’s me and Samira at the event =D

Filed Under: Tech

A Handful of Lebanese Apps for Android Users

August 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

As Android users, we often jump to the conclusion that most companies and developers based in Lebanon seek to develop apps for iOS. After all, it’s the “in” thing nowadays. However, loads of developers and establishments are acknowledging the rapidly growing Android community in Lebanon, and here are a few apps that make my life easier.

1- Beirut Airport 5/5

You might know this app from iOS platforms, and it’s awesome for people like me. Most of my family and friends live abroad, and every other week, I’m picking up or dropping off someone at the Beirut International Airport. NOTHING sucks more than a delayed flight, where you have to spend hours waiting at the airport, or paying a fortune in their “cafes”. This app is as simple as it is sexy. You can see a full listing of all departing and arriving flights, their statuses and their ETAs. You can also activate notifications for specific flights, so you don’t forget to pick up your parents from their second honeymoon =P

I give it a 5 out of 5 because it does what it’s supposed to do marvelously and fast.

2- Lebanon Movies Guide 3/5

I often open Cineklik.com. But, Opera Mini isn’t the sleekest solution and using other browsers will drain your life, and megabytes, away. This fairly new app is a neat one which allows you to check out the movies available, what each theater is offering and of course what times each movie is screened. You also get a brief description of the movie, and can reserve a seat using the app (automatically dials the theater’s number)

I give it a 3 out of 5 because it’s sluggish sometimes and needs to load everything every single time, even though its updated just twice a week. Offline viewing of this app would be a massive plus.

3- Beirut.com 5/5

This is one of the most beautifully designed apps on all three platforms. Even the limited, sluggish Blackberry OS, has a fantastic Beirut.com app.

Beirut.com is a comprehensive directory of EVERYTHING that has to do with Beirut. It’s neatly organized by day, week, type, venue, etc. Hotels, shops, clubs, restaurants and everything you need to know about Beirut. You can also search for almost everything else, including this blog! Other perks include the realtime weather, a beautiful gallery at the bottom of upcoming events as well as a colorful, vibrant and sleek navigation between categories and

I give this app full marks, because it truly is awesome.

4- MTV Lebanon 5/5

This station is by far my absolute favorite, and their Android app really put them on TOP! Most of us will not view the streaming live feed, but the app is useful for several other reasons.

For one, you have the full schedule, description and sneak peak for every show. Also, you have a written live news feed which has minute-by-minute updates which you pull down to refresh. Third, and most impressive for me, is a citizen-journalism functionality where you can report a breaking story, a violation or other interesting events and topics MTV Lebanon follows closely. This functionality alone wins this app my utmost love and respect.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: ,

6 Reasons Why the Nokia E6 is Awesome

August 10, 2011 By 11 Comments

1- INSANE Battery Life

I’ve been carrying this phone for close to a month now, and it’s battery life is unbelievably long. Back when we held the 6600 and 6630, the battery life used to last ages. But back then, screens were less powerful, we didn’t use 24/7 GPRS and the processors were a joke compared to today’s smartphones.

However, a Whatsapp-enabled touch-and-type E6 defies the smartphone norm and lasts no less than 60 hours (considering I barely sleep and it is fully-functional day and night). What’s also cool is that you can either charge it with its USB port, or via the thin Nokia charger head, saving you the hassle of finding the right charger at the right time. So, compared to the 12-18 hour average I get from my other phone, the Samsung Galaxy S, that’s a MUCH welcome feature in this brand new Nokia device.

2- The Beautiful Metal Case

Nokia’s well-known for quality devices. Even though we might question the Symbian OSes, there is no debating that in terms of tech-specs and all-in-all look and feel, Nokia’s still very much at the top of its game. The E6 keeps the general business-messenger format with a full QWERTY keyboard and a full, firm metal case that will allow the clumsy user (such as myself) to not worry about ferrying the device to and from the service shop.

In other words, the plasticy feel we get from Blackberry and Android devices and the fragility of full-touch phones, is non-existent in the sturdy E6 device.

3- Full HD Capacitive Touch Screen

The pixel density of the 2.8-inch screen is the same as the iPhone 4′s. The screen is of course half the physical size, but the resolution and pixel density are the same. This is a much-welcome improvement over the E6′s big brother, the E7. The beautiful, vivid display is also VERY thumb-friendly.

On a bigger screen, such as the 4″-4.3″ screens on several new touch-phones, your thumb cannot physically reach the whole screen surface if your holding the phone with one hand, making it somewhat awkward to utilize. The smaller E6 screen on the other hand, is perfect for thumb-functionality, despite the fact that you probably need to become more accurate in your selections on the tinier screen.

4- Divine Keyboard

The QWERTY keyboard on my Blackberry Curve is tiny, awkward, loud and hurts my thumbs if I type too much, too fast. And, no matter what anyone says and no matter what new input method is created, typing on a touch screen will never really be as easy and fluid as a real keyboard.

Here’s where the E6 is super-sexy. The keys on the E6 are smooth and large and their tactile feedback makes your want to type just for the sake of it. I know it sounds funny, but when you hold one in your hand, you won’t be able to resist doing a piano-style swype of the keyboard keys.

5- Touch and Type Winning Hybrid

This might not be the first Nokia touch-and-type device, but it certainly is the best. The two interfaces do indeed complete each other, but they’re also fairly good at standing alone. In other words, you can avoid touching your screen altogether and use the keyboard and navigation keys to find your way around your phone. You can also avoid using the keyboard for nearly everything except of course, typing, since the small screen does not support a virtual keyboard.

This hybrid interace is extremely convenient in my opinion. It’s nice to navigate through menus, galleries and apps via touch, but it’s also a lot easier to Whatsapp and SMS using a good-old real keyboard. The Nokia E6 allows you to do both simultaneously, combining the best of both worlds.

6- Improved Symbian Anna OS

The Achilles Heel of Nokia for many users and techies is of course their choice of Symbain OS. The glitchy, groggy operating system is notorious for crashing and slow performance. In fact, it’s the main reason I switched from my Nokia N97mini to an Android device. However, after being given the E7, I realized how far Symbian had come. The phone operated and responded rapidly and never crashed with me.

The E6 is even better, for apart from the increased speed and reliability, it certainly looks much sexier. The icons and customization options are much greater, with the availability of several home screens and the silky smooth Anna theme making the E6 fun to navigate through.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a new revolutionary phone, the Nokia E6 is definitely not it. It’s something better. It’s a mashup of several favorites and beloved features from previous devices. You might want to compare the E6 with its simpler sibling, the E5, but you would probably be safer in comparing it to the highly successful E71 and E72 devices. The E6 is the E72 on steroids. It’s faster and sleeker with a powerful camera and full HD touch screen. It’s improved OS makes it much faster and more reliable. It’s 8 megapixel, full HD camera makes it a formidable camera phone, and its internal memory of 8GB is more than enough for your music, photos, videos and apps (you can add an extra 32GB of external memory, a HUGE plus over the E7 which did not offer an external memory card option).

If you’re a fan of the E71-E72 devices, you are going to absolutely adore this device. If you’re a fan of touch technology, but also like that organic feel of pressing a button, you don’t need to choose anymore with this new Nokia device.

Most iPhone and Android users barely use the specs those phones were designed to perform. Downloaded apps are mainly Whatsapp, Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja. You don’t need an 800-1200 USD phone to use Whatsapp and play Angry Birds. The Nokia E6′s 420-450 USD price is more than fair and its features are more than enough for both business users and personal users.

GENERAL 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
Announced 2011, April
Status Available. Released 2011, June
SIZE Dimensions 115.5 x 59 x 10.5 mm, 66 cc
Weight 133 g
DISPLAY Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 640 x 480 pixels, 2.46 inches
- Gorilla glass display
- QWERTY keyboard
- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
SOUND Alert types Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker Yes
3.5mm jack Yes
MEMORY Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records Detailed, max 30 days
Internal 8 GB storage, 256 MB RAM, 1 GB ROM
Card slot microSD, up to 32GB, buy memory
DATA GPRS Class 33
EDGE Class 33
3G HSDPA 10.2Mbps, HSUPA 2.0Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
Infrared port No
USB Yes, v2.0 microUSB, USB On-the-go support
CAMERA Primary 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels, fixed focus, dual-LED flash,check quality
Features Geo-tagging, face detection
Video Yes, 720p@25fps, check quality
Secondary Yes, VGA
FEATURES OS Symbian Anna OS
CPU 680 MHz ARM 11 processor, 2D/3D Graphics HW Accelerator with OpenVG1.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS
Games Yes + downloadable
Colors Black, White, Silver
GPS Yes, with A-GPS support
Java Yes, MIDP 2.1
- Stainless steel panels
- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
- Digital compass
- TV-out
- MP4/H.264/H.263/RV player
- MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/eAAC+ player
- QuickOffice document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Organizer
- Flash Lite 4.0
- Voice command/dial/commands
- Predictive text input
BATTERY Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L)
Stand-by Up to 681 h (2G) / Up to 744 h (3G)
Talk time Up to 14 h 48 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 30 min (3G)
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Google+ Preliminary Review

July 2, 2011 By 5 Comments

The similarities and differences between Google+ and Facebook are many. Perhaps the most obvious disadvantage of Facebook is teaming up with Microsoft, with integrating Bing and as of next week, Skype into its services. The most obvious advantage for Google+ is integrating ALL of Google’s services into this new social network. Services like YouTube, Picnik, Picasa, Gtalk, video conferencing (for free and with several people), Google Docs and much, much, MUCH more.

Here are a few screenshots I took of things I found sexy and awesome.

1- Profile View

The profile is somewhat the same, only much more stream-lined and fresh. The info section is sexier too. What’s also amazing is that you can immediately and easily change any bit of information. You don’t need to open a million tabs and keep refreshing and opening new pages to change your relationship status for example. All you have to do is highlight the piece of information you want to change, and change it!

2- Streams and Selectivity of Sharing

A problem I face on Facebook is sharing stuff that might be irrelevant to many of my friends (or inappropriate =P). In other words, I want to share private stuff with family and close friends, and naughtier stuff maybe with other people. On Facebook, splitting friends into different groups and networks is extremely hard when you have a lot of friends. There is no fast way of splitting them. On Google+ it’s super easy, you split them into circles. Then, you can choose what you share and post’s privacy. In other words, choose whether your “friends” or “family” or “acquaintances” see it, or all three see it.

So, the beauty of Google+ is you can share info about Twitter for example, to just your “Tweeps” circle!

3- Circles and Groups

All you have to do is drag the contact into one of the circles below. You can of course create your own circles. That’s how you can categorize your friends on Google+, and share what you want with who you’d like to see it. This also helps in interacting with these different groups, such as through Google+’s Hangout, which we come to next

4- Hangout

This is the combination of Google Talk’s video chat, along with Google Wave, where you can share stuff, create stuff and just have fun with as many people as you want, depending on which circles are included in the Hangout. With this, Google+ has beaten Facebook and Skype silly, making it very hard for FB and Skype to put up with the speed, freedom and facilities Google+ Hangout offers.

5- Photo Viewing and Uploading

Here’s where you keep track of what your friends are uploading

Here’s how you upload your photos, you just drag them into the box and you’re done!

Here’s what an album would look like. The layout is very nice and artsy, similar to the awesome Windows Mobile layout.

Here’s where you view a single pic. It’s much faster than FB’s and the comments fit nicely on the side, allowing for quicker viewing without scrolling up and down so much. It’s also cool cause you can use your trackpad or scroll-wheel to flip through the images, making for a smoother, faster transition between photos and their comments.

6- +1 is the new Like

+1 was not really clear when Google launched it a couple of weeks ago. Now we know what it means! It’s sort of like the FB “like” button, and everything you +1 is displayed on your profile under the “+1″ tab.

I won’t really restate what has been already posted online,so I’ll direct you to this article to get into the technical stuff of why Google+ is better than Facebook in terms of trustworthiness, potential and of course, PRIVACY!

It includes comments on things I purposefully left out, like the mobile app.

Google+ is still in Beta and on an invitation-basis. I’m expecting, on top of all the awesome features we already saw, an explosion of Google awesomeness on Google+ which I am expecting will kill Facebook softly.

I will of course be following those religiously like all of you guys, and as the network grows, we will put it through its paces rigorously together =D

For invites, just email me gino@ginosblog.com, but don’t expect a fast reply (A)

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Whatsapp vs Kik vs LiveProfile vs Kakao

May 23, 2011 By 23 Comments

It’s tough choosing one, especially since there are so only minor differences between them, that make a HUGE difference. Whatsapp is the undisputed cross-platform mega-beast. It’s easy and automatic contact-fetching can be figured out by any dummy, making it good at the most vital feature of a mobile messenger: universality.

However, it is glitchy and counts mainly on the spiritual world to predict whether or not an IM was sent, delivered and read. Kik is lightning fast, with the BBM  s d and r symbols that make it so handy, so does LiveProfile.

Anyway, based on my trials with these apps on my Android Galaxy S and Nokia e7, I’ve drawn up this simple table:

For now, it’s really a race between Whatsapp and Kik. However, I don’t like to choose, for if you settle for whatsapp, you settle for snail-powered chat, though one that all your friends can use. If you stick to kik, you’re gonna lose all your BB slave friends and Sybian Nokia users, but you do get lightning-fast chat capabilities with your iOS and Android buddies. So, download all 4 if you can, like I have on my Android, and keep your options open!

Or, wait till RIM ends it’s silly suspense-game and tells us when it is releasing the BBM for Android and iOS devices!

Read: Kik vs. Whatsapp and BBM Coming to Android and iOS

Update: Kik is back on BB! Read more here. Thanks Sh4do3

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