Electronics retailers expect 3D printers and wearable technology to make a big impact in malls across the Emirates this year.
The two categories stood out among the 20,000 product launches at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week.
“We are excited this year with the way wearables are going. It will finally hit the mass market,” says Ashish Panjabi, the chief operating officer at Jacky’s Electronics.
From smart watches, wrist bands and sensors that monitor body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, the options are wide and varied, and consumers in the UAE will have a greater choice this year.
One of the standout wearable products is a chip from Intel that can be embedded into a baby’s clothes to monitor the body temperature, breathing and heart rate. The activity is measured and shown on any connected device, even a mug as the company demonstrated.
“Apart from the usual product categories, the one of most interest is wearable tech in which we already started making a push in the last eight months or so,” says Nadeem Khanzadah, the head of retail at Jumbo Electronics. “With the kind of buzz there was on wearables at CES 2013, we decided to make a quick move into it… we are seeing a great response from the day we introduced these.”
Companies such as LG, Sony, Fitbit and Nike have all launched new wearable products intended to track a user’s health and entertainment choices.
“I like the baby monitor, it gives mothers vital information and I wouldn’t mind knowing how many steps I’ve taken each day and what increases my stress levels. It would be good to have that data to help make the right choices,” says Jean Castagnino, who works as an attendant at the show.
Jumbo and Jacky’s also stock 3D printers and with the launch of affordable, consumer-friendly printers this year, both retailers are expecting greater response from customers in the UAE. The technology is still at early stages, but it is now possible to print ceramics and even sugar-based sweets.
“We were the first retailer to start selling these [Cubify 3D printers] six months ago. There has been a lot of customer inquiries and interest but sales are on the lower side as it’s a nascent technology but we are seeing a steady increase in sales now,” says Mr Khanzadah.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) predicts 100,000 consumer 3D printers will be sold this year, most of them in the United States.
“We are getting the tools to make it easier, it will get cheaper and faster. It will be the type of product you can have at home. It is good for kids to play with and keep them entertained and educated,” says Mr Panjabi.
But not all the retailers are as enthusiastic about 3D printing.
“It is quite popular in America, although in our part of the world it is not very well known. It may still take some time for 3D printing to come to our countries. I don’t see too much potential for the end consumer, but it has some industrial and corporate use,” says Neelesh Bhatnagar, the chief executive at Emax Electronics.
“It would be cool to be able to print whatever I wanted or needed, but US$1,000 for a printer is still quite expensive. I can see how it would be worth it for someone that wants to do business with it, but I wouldn’t buy one,” says Henry Wolfson, a visitor at CES.
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Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
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Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Palestine and Israel - live updates
