PRODUCTS

Logitech Signature mouse

Logitech has introduced the new Signature M650 wireless and Signature M650 for Business mouse, a comfortable and personalized mouse with two different sizes and a left-handed option, offering a better experience for more people. The wireless mouse is designed to upgrade any desk setup and improve the overall work experience with features like SmartWheel scrolling, nearly silent clicks and a contoured comfort design that enables faster, more comfortable work than ever before.

Whether working on a document or browsing through a website, the Signature M650’s SmartWheel helps to deliver precision when needed and speed in an instant. The Signature M650 and larger size Signature M650 L also feature SilentTouch technology, reducing click noise by 90% compared to the Logitech M185 Mouse, ideal when clicking during a video call.

With two sizes and a left-handed option, a contoured shape, a soft thumb area and rubber side grip, the Signature M650 inclusive design allows you to work comfortably for extended hours and gives you the ability to customize the side buttons to favorite shortcuts with Logitech Options+. The Signature M650, available in off-white, graphite and rose, works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, ipadOS and Android operating systems. Connect in an instant via Bluetooth(R Low Energy or Logi Bolt USB receiver.

Sophos Switch Series

Sophos has unveiled the Sophos Switch Series, featuring a range of network access layer switches to connect, power and control device access within a Local Area Network (LAN). The new offering adds another component to Sophos’ secure access portfolio, which also includes Sophos Firewall and Sophos Wireless.

Switches are remotely managed in the cloud-based Sophos Central platform. This enables partners to oversee all customer installations, respond to alerts, and track licenses and upcoming renewal dates via a single, intuitive interface.

Switches with eight, 24 and 48 ports are available for immediate purchase exclusively through Sophos’ global channel of partners and managed service providers (MSPs). These are ideally suited for small and mediumsized businesses, remote and home offices, retailers, branch offices, and more.

AMD Radeon PRO W6000 Series

AMD has announced new additions to the AMD Radeon PRO W6000 Series Desktop and Mobile workstation graphics lineup, designed to deliver exceptional performance, stability, and reliability for professional users, including CAD designers, engineers and office knowledge workers.

Built on the AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture and 6nm process technology, the new solutions include the Radeon PRO W6400 desktop graphics card, designed to deliver a blend of performance and efficiency for modern workloads and the Radeon PRO W6500M and Radeon PRO W6300M GPUs that offer dependable performance to power next-gen professional mobile workstations.

• AMD Radeon PRO W6400 Graphics Card – Offering an ideal blend of performance and efficiency at an affordable price, the new graphics card is optimized for the requirements of today’s popular CAD and office workloads in a compact design that can be easily added to modern small-form-factor desktops. Compared to the previous generation, the new graphics card delivers up to three times higher performance in Autodesk AutoCAD 2022 in 3D orbit rotational tests in shaded mode. • AMD Radeon PRO W6500M & W6300M GPUs – The AMD

Radeon PRO W6500 and AMD Radeon PRO W6300 GPUs harness up to 8MB of AMD Infinity Cache memory technology to deliver ultra-high viewport frame rates, dependability and exceptional performance for professional applications on mobile workstations.

The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 graphics card is expected to be available beginning in Q1 2022, starting at an SEP of $229. AMD Radeon PRO W6500M and Radeon PRO W6300M GPUs are expected to be available in pre-built OEM systems in select countries later this year.

LINKSYS WIFI 6 ACCESS POINT

Linksys has launched its WiFi 6 Cloud Managed Access Point.

As retail stores, medical offices, small businesses, and commercial spaces begin to operate at pre- pandemic levels and foot traffic continues to increase, the WiFi 6 Cloud Managed Access Point’s 4x4 internal antennas deliver safer, more secure and faster WiFi for areas needing to service a high density of concurrent client connections. With the control plane in the cloud and a cloud-native operating system running on the units, zero-touch provisioning, configuration, management, and monitoring are extremely efficient and simple. With access to Linksys Cloud, users can also scale with no limit to the number of networks and devices managed.

Additional features include: • Qualcomm Networking pro Platform 1200: Nextgeneration technology transforms business WiFi with its wire-like stability and blazing-fast performance. • Media-rich Captive Portal: Cloud hosted captive portal splash page and a built-in captive portal editor allows users to upload logos and graphics of any size, customized Terms of Service Agreement or even manage Wi-Fi access with an extra passcode at no additional cost. • Reduce costs: Use Cloud Management without recurring license fees and get access to dedicated professional technical support with no recurring fees.

For more information on the Linksys new WiFi 6 Cloud Managed Indoor Access point, please visit https://www. linksys.com/us/cloud-manager/. Details on availability and pricing coming soon.

DECODING TALENT

NEW REPORT FROM BCG AND THE NETWORK REVEALS UP TO 62% OF MENA-BASED DIGITAL WORKERS ARE ACTIVELY JOB HUNTING, WITH 72% SEEKING BETTER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Although unexpected circumstances have led to economic difficulties over the past two years, digital talent has emerged relatively unscathed, eager to explore their options and ultimately pursue new opportunities. This widespread appetite has emerged as a key takeaway following a global survey of employees in digital roles conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network, a global alliance of recruitment website. The subsequent report, titled ‘Decoding the Digital Talent Challenge,’ sheds light on the key factors behind people’s aspirations to move to pastures new, providing a comprehensive analysis of major international markets, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) included.

As per the survey, part of BCG’s Decoding Global Talent series, as many as 62% of MENA employees working in digital fields are actively job hunting, with better career opportunities in other roles (72%), looking for a new challenge (66%), feeling undervalued in current positions (40%), and searching for a company more aligned with personal beliefs (32%) the main motivations behind people looking for a new role. For digital employees, good relationships with colleagues and learning and skills training are among the most valued aspects of their jobs, while diversity, inclusion, and environmental issues have also increased in importance over the latest year.

Of the digital employees surveyed across the region, 78% revealed that diversity and inclusion have become more important to them in the last 12 months, and 55% added they would not consider potential employers that did not share the same views in this area. Moreover, 66% revealed that employers’ environmental responsibility has become more important to them since the same period a year ago, with 47% unwilling to consider companies that do not share their environmental views.

“Much like other markets around the world, the MENA region boasts a vibrant and opportunistic landscape for digital employees. The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and increased reliance on related technologies, creating supplementary positions,” said Leila Hoteit, Managing Director and Partner, BCG Middle East. “However, the evolving digital climate has also seen employee preferences and perspectives manifest and multiply. Rather than money being the primary influencer behind personal motivation and professional decisions, other factors including diversity, inclusion, and the environment have become key forces for work-related happiness or dissatisfaction, as have options to work abroad and remote working.”

On the subject of relocation, the number of digital field employees willing to move to another country for work is considerable from a regional standpoint – standing at 83%. Canada is the most preferred destination where digital workers would like to relocate (16%), followed by the UAE (12%), and Germany (10%). In terms of the UAE, its appeal among digital talent also ranks among the leading nations worldwide, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, as the most attractive cities for digital workers. Furthermore, remote working possibilities are similarly attractive.

The survey found that 66% of MENA talent are willing to work for remote employers with no physical presence in their country. Canada, France, Germany, and the UAE top the list where digital workers would look for remote jobs, while the convergence of fixed and flexible working would be a popular proposition. Although the COVID-19 crisis did not impact technology employees’ working patterns to the same extent as the general workforce, maneuverability here would be welcomed, nonetheless. Of the respondents, 54% would like to work remotely for 2-3 days per week, with 52% listing their desired flexibility as a combination of fixed and flexible working hours.

“Looking ahead, it’s clear that recruiting and retaining digital talent rests with employers introducing a comprehensive strategy for the same, one that presents employees with the benefits they seek and ensures their most cherished values are adopted and upheld,” added Christopher Daniel, Managing Director and Partner, BCG Middle East. “In due course, the digital marketplace will become even more competitive, driven in part by employee curiosity, expectations, and demands. And as such, employers can take note of these findings and apply lessons learned to support the goals and aspirations of themselves and their people.”