VAR Magazine

INSIDE THE CREATIVE AND MARKETING SPACE OF NOTHING

NothingTechnology Limited is a London-based company removing the barriers between people and technology to create a seamless digital future. Their smart devices will not only be functional but will be the one which feel like Nothing. Nothing was set up by Carl Pei, the former co-founder of manufacturer OnePlus.

The editor of VAR magazine, Srijith KN, met with Akis Evangelidis, the co-founder and marketing head of Nothing Mobile, during his recent visit to Dubai. And in the full-length cut of our interview with him, he emphasized the importance of being the third important player in the middle eastern region and also explained the opportunities Nothing Mobile will be presenting to the dealers and suppliers here.

Akis Evangelidis Co-Founder and marketing head of Nothing Technology Limited

Dear Reader,

We are pleased to present the 242nd issue of our VAR magazine. For those who are reading us for the first time, welcome!

This time, we’re excited to bring you exclusive interviews, fantastic insights, and a new product line. A plethora of products and solutions were on display at Riyadh’s LEAP 2023, the global platform for the most disruptive technology professionals. We also attended the Arab Health conference in Dubai, where we saw thousands of medical products and solutions that will be available soon, changing the healthcare landscape!

In our cover story, Akis Evangelidis, co-founder and marketing head of Nothing Technologies, discusses the opportunities that will be presented to dealers and suppliers, as well as how Nothing Technology Limited is committed to being a trustworthy and vibrant brand that brings consumers great products that are more fun and meaningful!

This issue also includes a Nothing Phone 1 review, a ViewSonic Monitor review, details on Ring’s new spotlight cam, and a cy-

bersecurity exclusive by Grath, Senior Director at Gigamon, and much more.

We, the VAR team, capture technologies that are important in this region’s technological spectrum. We believe that, while different verticals have different needs, there are overarching demands, topics, and solutions in all verticals. This is why the VAR magazine aspires to be a leading voice from this region’s all-tech zones.

We want to help businesses in meaningful ways, address changing consumer needs, and raise awareness about technologies that threaten human health and prosperity.

And as promised, we have gone above and beyond to bring you the best from the world of technology. So, send us your ideas for what you’d like to see in future issues of VAR magazine.

Happy reading!

Publisher Vivek Sharma

INSIDE THE CREATIVE AND MARKETING SPACE OF NOTHING

How did Nothing come into being?

We feel that there is no true good alternative to Apple’s ecosystem. With Nothing, we have the ambition to build a sort of productive ecosystem. We had been thinking about what the ultimate user experience should be like, once everything we make comes together and works perfectly. There should be Nothing that restrains you in terms of using. Carl was the one who came up with the name ‘Nothing’.

In the beginning, we needed to figure out how to work things out. We started talking to friends and Investors. Many of them knew what we needed to do to start things off! We then readied a good team and happened to have quite a few co-founders in different specialities –hardware, software, marketing, sales and operations. After that, we raised $7 million in seed capital from people like Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and YouTuber Casey Neistat. These successful business owners wanted us to give it a try! As soon as this occurred, Google Ventures became excited and decided to invest with us.

Mr Akis, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I have always been quite a tech enthusiast. You should know that I had an iPhone at first, an iPod, and so on. I studied

in London. Usually, there, you would end up going into finance or consulting. I wanted to work for a consumer electronics company. So, I enrolled in Sony’s two-year graduate program.

After that, I joined One plus as the marketing manager for France, but then they hadn’t extended into Europe yet. I met Carl in our early days at One plus, but we went separate ways within the company.

Do you believe that Nothing has shaken the smartphone industry?

Shaken is a big word! I think that we have enabled us to have a proper shot. Now we deserve a seat at the table. In the last two years, we’ve sold over 1,000,000 units across all our products, which is rare for a start-up.

We are now introducing our own inhouse software, so the experience will be much better. This will be something that we will be on building upon. Phone 1 was a great starting point, and I would like to let you know that more exciting stuff is to come!

What excites you about Phone 2?

Phone 2 is going to be a more premium device. More advanced on the specification and in features. The phone 1 was our flagship product, and this will still

be available in the market. Now phone 2 will have a great user experience, especially with the new in-house software that we are building. This is all I can tell you at this moment.

How committed is Nothing to the low-end smartphone market?

Our mission statement states that we would be making products that we’re proud to share with our friends and families. For us, it is never so much about doing value products. It is more about doing great products.

Currently, there is hardly any innovation that is exciting. But now-a-days you can see a new kind of specification

Akis Evangelidis Co-Founder and marketing head of Nothing Technology Limited

war happening. Adding more modules to justify higher and higher price points, and that too with absolutely little value to the end user! This is where we have been able to provide users with a good competitive pricing. We think from a user standpoint, and as a user we always want a great user experience, but eventually at an affordable price point.

What business opportunities for small-scale vendors here in the Middle East?

There hasn’t been any real alternative to the lights of Apple and Samsung. And to me, Samsung who’s gradually losing market shares towards Apple. There is no real third player, especially here in the middle east. There was Huawei at one point of time in the past. But they sort pretty much out now.

We see that we could be that third brand in the Middle East, building longterm partnerships with our partners. We have launched a partnership with Sharaf DG in over 30 stores. They are super excited in terms of the products that we are coming up with and in terms of the road map we have for the future.

The signs are quite good as well in terms of demand, and we are here for a long-run play. The GCC is a priority market for the whole company this year. We hired our first headcount, our new business development manager, Mr. Rishi Kishor Gupta, who’s heading up sales here in the region, about one-half month ago. He has already signed up with a few partners. We will announce more partners in the coming weeks. Sharaf DG was

our first partner. We are here to build and value long terms relationships.

What is Nothing’s sustainability vision?

Since day one, we have been tracking the carbon footprint of all the products we have been making. We have been able to introduce recycled materials for building our products. On Phone 1, the mid-frame of the phone is made of 100% recycled aluminum. About 25 components in Phone 1 have been made of bio or recycled plastics. We have only sourced about 13 of those components on the supply chain side. A lot of things to be

sumers?

We have partnered with Sharaf DG because they are renowned. Their service level is excellent as well. This was a key criterion for us. As I understand, this user trust comes from a great user experience. I want to say we are never going to be best value for money because actually pulling off those designs and features. It does take a lot of R&D.

Please tell us how that best user experience will be achieved with Phone 2.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to tell you much, but the key will be the software.

“The majority of the team, including Carl Pie, at one point didn’t feel so excited anymore about this industry. But there was a time when we used to get so excited when the first iPhone came out or the first time we interacted with an iPod. Those memories would never fade because they are so deeply embedded in our minds. However, I believe the innovation type that has occurred in recent years is no longer exciting.”

done there.

Ear one was a carbon-neutral product. And we are working to improve our carbon footprint on all our products. It’s going to be a step-by-step journey, but definitely that we are committed to it.

As you mentioned, there are many major players in this market. So, how important is it to build trust with the region’s con-

Last year, we spent a lot of time on the hardware to pull it off with a unique design. This year it will be the software. But we have a few ideas on how to take the android user experience to the next level.

And the expected launch of phone 2?

Later this year, with a unique software experience!

UNIFONIC SHOWCASES AI-POWERED SOLUTIONS AT SAUDI ARABIA’S LEAP 2023

Unifonic, the leading communications platform and CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) provider in the Middle East showcased its evolution toward AI-powered engagement solutions at LEAP 2023 in Saudi Arabia.

Unifonic has helped many clients adopt omnichannel customer experiences as part of their digital transformation, transforming how these brands connect with their customers and helping them exceed their customers’ expectations of seamless digital journeys.

With its no-code, automation, and orchestration platform, Unifonic facilitates modern, reliable, and efficient business messaging across industries. The customer engagement platform now automates end-toend personalized omnichannel customer journeys, and the acquisition of Sestek’s AI-powered conversational suite in 2022 advanced the company’s AI solution offering. Sestek’s market-leading speech recognition technology empowers businesses to deliver a superior customer experience and enhance the Unifonic product portfolio.

Ahmed Hamdan, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifonic, stated: “Today, our multichannel campaigns give customers the ability to orchestrate, automate and personalize mass campaigns across channels like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook Messenger, Voice, and SMS. Unifonic’s engagement solutions for marketing, operations, and support are constantly being enhanced to provide customers with seamless omnichannel experiences that truly transform how brands connect with their customers.”

The growth of conversational technology has transformed every industry around the globe. In line with this, Unifonic’s customer engagement platform enables leading brands to reach customers across multiple channels seamlessly and instantly. Utilizing rapidly evolving technologies and developing a powerful integration ecosystem, Unifonic automates and personalizes omnichannel customer journeys, thereby elevating customer engagement and experiences.

FUGRO TO SHOWCASE REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY AT EGYPS 2023

Fugro, the leading global Geo-data specialist, will exhibit its innovative and patented remote sensing technology QuickVision, a smart camera combined with QR code like patterns, that assists in subsea structure installation and drilling operations, at the sixth edition of the Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS).

Attendees at Fugro’s stand (Hall 2, Stand 2H74) will get an opportunity to see a demonstration of QuickVision, a smart subsea camera technology, designed to provide real-time touchless inspection and monitoring technology that offers a much safer, more efficient, and sustainable solution to offshore operations.

David Washbrook, Director Marine Asset Integrity Middle East and India: “Our innovative vision-based subsea camera solution coupled with the power of augmented reality has revolutionised subsea installation programmes by reducing the need for manual time-consuming positioning. With this we achieve significant risk mitigation, vast improvement in environmental sustainability of operations and reduced costs as opposed to the conventional sensor

method. We’re proud and determined to be delivering solutions that ensure safe and sustainable offshore operations. Our passion for innovation will continue advancing technology and effectively implement it in partnership with our clients.”

IN-DEPTH INTERACTIONS AND BRAVE SIMPLICITY, NOTHING PHONE 1

Unique design, solid performance, adequate battery life, and a reasonably priced phone!

Most of us reviewers are obsessed with specifications and a plethora of hardware components that do nothing! However, not this reviewer. Nothing seems to have paid attention to the user experience in this case, rather than the long-running specification war. This phone is unique not only in terms of design, but also in terms of user experience. You’ve probably heard of all those brands that produce phones with exceptional specifications at a low price. What distinguishes this phone now is the design, which adds to the well-built quality.

DESIGN AND COMPATIBILITY:

The design is clean and simple, and it gives the phone a meaning! As Akis stated when I interviewed him, why not incorporate the elements that it is composed of into the design of the phone. Perhaps that is what distinguishes this phone. Flat aluminum sides and visible antenna lines distinguish the phone. It has an Apple-style power button on the right and a volume control on the left. The phone has a transparent looking back where you can see the wireless charging coil through. The Glyph lighting, the phone’s most distinguishing feature, that is where the LED lights are embedded.

BATTERY AND CAMERA:

For medium to heavy usage, the 4500mAh battery provides adequate all-day battery life. Then you have 15W wireless charging and 33W wired charging. Although the speakers are loud, the sound effect could have been improved. But if you are all for the camera, then this is just not the phone for it. It’s a no match for the latest Apple phones, but it has quite a capable camera when the lights around are good, but when the lights are not there, the picture quality drastically falls down. And the selfie camera clicks pictures with a natural color tone.

THE PHONE’S USABILITY:

Then the finger print scanner is on the display, it’s a little toward the bottom of the screen, so you will a bit of difficultly there. You

must remember this is not a pricey phone. The call quality is really great.

Does the phone communicate effectively?

The phone can communicate with you without you having to pick it up, but you must make a conscious effort to do so by flipping the phone back onto you! Remember when different colored notification lights were common on some phone brands? The Android on the phone is very close to stock Android and performs admirably. This device has a fast refresh rate. It’s extremely responsive and smooth! So far, the Android experience has been clean and refined.

VERDICT:

The Phone 1 isn’t a game changer or a radical departure from industry norms, but it excels at its core functions and appeals to all minds that want to have some fun with technology! Nothing’s phone 1 has given the company a strong start and a new cult following! With this price range, this is a good phone.

ViewSonic VG2756V-2K MONITOR

The ViewSonic VG2756V-2K video conferencing monitor is the optimal visual display solution for business professionals who want to experience premium video conferencing quality in their meetings. Featuring a 27” screen, pop-up webcam, adjustable LED lighting, and 1440p resolution, business professionals can look their best when connecting with colleagues online. With its business-friendly features, the ViewSonic VG2756V-2K video monitor is an ideal visual display solution for business professionals.

BUILD AND DESIGN

The VG2756V-2K video conferencing monitor features a reinforced, metal stand for stability. It has an adjustable height and can swivel, tilt, and pivot to meet your workflow needs. The monitor is VESA compatible with 100mm x 100mm wall mounts and has a Kensington Lock Slot for additional security. It comes equipped with multiple ports, including DisplayPort 1.2, HDM1 2.0 (HDCP 1.2), mini DP 1.2 & USB 3 Type C PD60W output supporting up to 5K resolutions (5120x2880). With six intuitive, responsive physical buttons located at the bottom right of the monitor for volume control, audio muting, microphone muting, menu navigation and power on/off functionsuser experience with this monitor is a breeze.

FEATURES

The integrated gigabit Ethernet port allows users to take advantage of reliable and flexible network connectivity while USB-C provides dual-monitor setup convenience and up to 90W power delivery for your laptop. The ergonomic design includes a 40-degree tilt and bi-directional pivot capabilities so that business professionals can easily adjust their screen according to personal preference—wherever they are working from. It also features flicker-free technology, which helps reduce eye strain for better comfort during long business meetings. On the top, the device is equipped with a 2.0 MegaPixel camera that can be tucked in when not in use for added

privacy along with Dual Microphones to provide clear audio for your video conferencing or live streaming.

PERFORMANCE

The monitor features an Anti-Glare coating that helps reduce light reflection and minimizes eye strain. It has a response time of 5ms and a refresh rate of 60Hz, as well as a 178 degree vertical/horizontal viewing angle and colour gamut support for Adobe RGB (76%), NTSC (72%) and sRGB (102%). The on-screen button allows business professionals to select their preferred input, audio/microphone settings, view modes such as office, movie, MAC, mono or game mode. Other adjustments such as basic colour and image adjustments are also included along with Blue Light Filter technology to help ease eye fatigue during long business days.

VIEWSPLIT

This unique software is included with the monitor as well, allowing business professionals to choose from nine predefined templates based on their workflow. The easy-to-use drag-and-drop feature makes it simple for business users to manipulate split screens and fit them according to their needs. Even though these features are already pre-built into the Windows 11 OS, ViewSplit provides an extra layer of convenience.

VERDICT

Overall, the ViewSonic VG2756V-2K video conferencing monitor is a great business-friendly solution for business professionals looking for the best visual display and video conferencing quality in their meetings. It features an adjustable stand, intuitive physical buttons, multiple ports, flicker-free technology and more - all designed to help business professionals look and sound their best when connecting with colleagues online. With its business-friendly features, adjustable LED lighting, and 1440p resolution, business professionals can look their best when connecting with colleagues online. Its ergonomic design ensures comfort during long business hours which is becoming increasingly important for our backs given our sedentary lifestyles.

RING LAUNCHES THE SPOTLIGHT CAM PLUS IN THE UAE

Ring has unveiled the all-new Spotlight Cam Plus, the company’s next-generation Spotlight Cam with wide-angle 1080p HD video, built-in LED spotlights, and a security siren. Spotlight Cam Plus builds upon the features of Ring’s existing Spotlight Cam with Color Night Vision, a new design and dual power options, allowing users to easily switch between plug-in and battery power modes.

“Since its inception, Ring has constantly been innovating cost-effective, easy-to-use home security solutions that ensure peace of mind for our customers. The UAE launch of Spotlight Cam Plus and Solar Panel USB-C represents the next milestone in our exciting regional journey. With cutting-edge technology, including our Color Night Vision feature, we aim to enhance UAE homeowners’ perception of smart home security, and keep them safe and connected to their loved ones,” said Mohammad Meraj Hoda, Vice President – Emerging Markets, Ring.

SMART AND RELIABLE OUTDOOR SECURITY

Available in two colors (black and white), the next generation Spotlight Cam introduces a new, sleek design, while maintaining the features Ring users know and love, such as real-time notifications, Two-Way Talk and Live View. Spotlight Cam Plus also offers Color Night Vision and two motion-activated LED spotlights, allowing users to keep an eye on their property, day or night. With Battery and Plug-in power options available, customers can also choose the best option for their home setup.

Spotlight Cam Plus offers advanced features such as Customizable Motion Zones that trigger an event, Privacy Zones that exclude areas in the camera’s field of view from capturing video, and Audio Toggle to turn off audio recording for added privacy.

SOLAR PANEL USB-C

Today Ring also announced the new Solar Panel USB-C, compatible

with Spotlight Cam Plus and other USB-C Ring Security Cams. Ring’s Solar Panel USB-C connects easily and seamlessly to Spotlight Cam Plus, so just a few hours of direct sunlight everyday will keep it charged around the clock. The adjustable arm allows users to get the ideal angle to maximize their solar power, while keeping their setup tidy with built-in cable management.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Spotlight Cam Plus and Solar Panel USB-C are available for purchase on Amazon.ae, via select retailers including Ace Hardware, Dubai Duty Free, Jumbo Electronics, Activ8, Sharaf DG, and Virgin Megastore across the UAE. Spotlight Cam Plus (Battery and Plug-in) starts from AED 699, and the Solar Panel USB-C at AED 229.

BENQ ZOWIE’S FIRST GAMING MONITOR

BenQ’s gaming vertical, ZOWIE, with its XL series gaming monitors, has elevated the gaming experience significantly for the past decade, with each product reflecting the brand’s commitment to creating equipment that focuses on innovation and in-game performance. ZOWIE has also recently unveiled its ZOWIE XL-K generation gaming monitor 240Hz XL2546K and 144Hz XL2411K in 2020. In the last two years, the ZOWIE monitor has become the most used monitor worldwide by FPS pro players.

ZOWIE has announced its first TN 360Hz DyAc+ gaming monitor XL2566K, their latest flagship model that offers competitive gamers optimized smoothness and fast response.

With the exclusive DyAc+ technology on top of a 360Hz refresh rate on a TN panel, XL2566K provides an overall clearer motion clarity than the market’s offerings in its class. DyAc+ on XL2566K makes vigorous in-game actions such as spraying clearer than DyAc+ on XL2546K. The clarity helps gamers see the position of the enemy during fast movements or fast-moving targets more easily and notice the bullet trajectory more clearly which can help with recoil control and aim. Compared to typical IPS 360Hz displays, DyAc+ on a TN 360Hz panel provides clearer and sharper outlines of overall moving images, helping you focus and have less distractions from the unwanted afterimage of the motions in-game.

The new XL2566K has inherited the XL-K series advantage as well, providing players the comfort and convenience playing experience with customizable features, a smaller base, and height adjustable screen which allows players to not only get more space to play but perform with the monitor at their desired comfortable viewing angles. It also comes with the latest XL Setting to Share software that saves video profiles quickly and shares conveniently through a simple user interface.

BenQ Zowie is also excited to announce its collaboration with PIXOUL Esports Academy, MENA’s first Esports Academy to offer the new XL2566K 360Hz Esports gaming monitor.

ZERO TRUST AND DEEP OBSERVABILITY: THE CYBERSECURITY PARADIGM

By Garth, Senior Director at Gigamon

system, the only users are employees, or the network used to be secure. But these measurements of trust are not adequate. Trust based on assumption is leaving organisations vulnerable and open to risk. For threat actors, these negligent metrics of trust can be used against an organisation, enabling network infiltration and data breaches.

A Zero Trust framework eradicates any implicit trust and instead analyses whether an organisation should allow access for each individual case. With Bring-your-ownDevice (BYOD) strategies so prominent following the rise of remote and hybrid working, it is more important than ever before that trust is earned rather than freely given. Everything should be considered a potential threat until proven otherwise.

However, it’s not a simple nor quick architecture to implement. There are many components to Zero Trust and most organisations are still at the very beginning of their journey. Micro-segmentation, for example, is an essential part of Zero Trust. It provides the

therefore critical in supporting a comprehensive Zero Trust strategy.

Ultimately, Zero Trust’s main goal is to discover and classify all devices that connect to the network — not just those with endpoint agents installed and operational — and to strictly enforce a least-privilege access policy based on a granular analysis of the device. This is impossible to do for assets, devices, users and traffic you cannot see.

Security teams who combine Zero Trust and deep observability will be best placed to prevent cybercriminals from infiltrating their network and therefore to ensure the continuity of their business. With cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated, and attacks being much more strategic, this holistic visibility is essential in helping organisations reduce risk. Adversaries will no longer be able to hide behind blind-spots and operate undetected.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Today’s technology landscape demands

From healthcare facilities to large financial institutions, no industry is completely safe from ransomware. It has become a huge risk to business continuity and it’s now a common discussion in boardrooms. In response to the exponential rise in ransomware, Zero Trust architecture has become a well-regarded solution to protecting both on-premises and the cloud. In fact, while only 51% of IT and security professionals in EMEA claimed to be comfortable implementing Zero Trust in 2019, that number rose significantly to 83% in 2022.

Put simply, a Zero Trust architecture removes the implicit trust that’s given to internal network traffic, users or devices. With this defence in depth approach to security, businesses can improve both productivity and resilience, as systems run more efficiently and downtime can be reduced. However, to get Zero Trust right, security teams need to ensure they achieve deep observability from cloud to core.

WHY ZERO TRUST MATTERS

Implicit trust within the tech stack can be a huge liability for organisations. IT teams often struggle to implement the appropriate trust measures; they usually take for granted that the organisation owns the

ability to control workloads in a data centre or a multi-cloud environment with granular policy controls and restricts the spread of lateral threats. Yet it is only one element in a wider defence in depth strategy. To make it all possible, IT and security teams need absolute visibility and insight into what is happening across their infrastructure.

THE ROLE OF DEEP OBSERVABILITY

Deep observability is the addition of real-time network-level intelligence to amplify the power of metric, event, log and trace-based monitoring and observability tools in order to mitigate risk. With it comes increasing intelligence to bolster an enterprise’s security posture – because while threat actors can bypass endpoint detection and response tools or SIEMs, they will leave behind a trail of metadata that deep observability allows security teams to analyse. It is

change and reliability for the future. The very nature of cloud-based applications and the expansion of SaaS (Software-as-aService), combined with the hybrid working model, means that Zero Trust is becoming increasingly popular for businesses concerned about becoming ransomware’s next target. However, if organisations are going to commit to this security initiative, they need a strategy in place to help them get there. Discussions in boardrooms need to continue, and IT and Security teams should be putting plans in place that span the coming five years and realistically reflect the challenges security teams face in their day to day.

It’s no secret that ransomware now presents businesses with one of the biggest enterprise risks of our generation. Zero Trust enabled by deep observability will be crucial to ensuring business continuity in 2023 and beyond.

“IT and security teams need absolute visibility and insight into what is happening across their infrastructure. With cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated, and attacks being much more strategic, this holistic visibility is essential in helping organisations reduce risk.”

Garth

Senior Director at Gigamon

MediaTek Launches Dimensity

7200 to Amplify Gaming and Photography

4nm chipset introduces new Dimensity 7000 series expanding MediaTek’s range of high-tech offerings

Mcessing Unit (APU) maximizes the efficiency of AI tasks and AI-fusion processing.

“The MediaTek Dimensity 7000 series will be vital for mobile gamers and photography enthusiasts who are looking for an affordable way to squeeze the most battery life out of their phones without skimping on performance,” said CH Chen, Deputy General Manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communications Business Unit.

For gamers, the MediaTek HyperEngine 5.0 technology delivers AI-based Variable Rate Shading (VRS) for power savings, CPU and GPU smart resource optimization for better battery life, and other upgrades for smooth gameplay. The chipset also integrates a powerful Arm Mali G610 GPU that supports fast response times and sustains high frame rates.

Utilizing MediaTek’s Imagiq 765 and a 14-bit HDR-ISP, the Dimensity 7200 supports 200MP main cameras for epic photography. The chipset enables impressive video capturing with 4K HDR video, and even allows users to simultaneously capture content from two cameras at Full HD resolution while keeping everything in focus with all-pixel autofocus technology. To ensure users can capture stunning imagery at night and in low-light environments, the chipset has built-in motion compensated noise reduction. Additionally, the APU sup

ports powerful AI-Camera enhancements such as real-time portrait beautification. Dimensity 7200 has a 3GPP Release-16 standard Sub-6GHz 5G modem with up to 4.7Gbps downlink, and supports triband Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and next-gen Bluetooth 5.3. The fully integrated 5G modem and MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave 2.0 technology suite ensure best-in-class cellular power efficiency. For reliable coverage everywhere, the chipset supports 2CC Carrier Aggregation and Dual 5G SIM with dual VoNR. The Dual SIM capability also lets users have two connections, making it easy to take work and personal calls from a single smartphone.

Additional features of the Dimensity 7200 include:

• Up to 6400Mbps memory frequency and UFS 3.1 for maximum storage.

• MediaTek MiraVision Display with HDR supports the latest standards including HDR10+, CUVA HDR and Dolby HDR.

• Up to Full HD+ and 144Hz for brilliant displays.

• AI SDR-to-HDR video playback for enhanced multimedia experiences.

• Bluetooth LE Audio technology and Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio for wireless earbud support. Dimensity 7200 will power 5G devices launching in the global market in Q1 2023.

KODAK ALARIS’S ALL POWERFUL DOCUMENT SCANNERS

Kodak Alaris has enhanced its portfolio of award-winning document scanners with the launch of two powerful, compact models. The Kodak E1030 and E1040 provide superior image quality and a simple user interface for fast, reliable information capture.

Backed by industry-leading services and support including a three-year advanced unit replacement warranty, these new desktop scanners are designed to deliver reliable productivity gains and total peace of mind. Perfect Page technology delivers consistent high-quality images that are better than the original. The new Dual Illumination feature eliminates shadows and other artifacts that often occur when scanning damaged originals, further improving image quality and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) accuracy. The E1000 Series also include USB 3.2 connectivity and an 80-page automatic document feeder (ADF).

With their compact size, the Kodak E1000 Series Scanners are ideal for desktop use in small to medium-sized businesses, branch offices, reception and admin desks, and enterprises with remote workers. Capa-

ble of processing up to 40 pages per minute, the E1000 Scanners can handle a variety of paper sizes and weights, including hard cards. The optional Passport Accessory or integrated A4/Legal Size Flatbed Accessory accommodate document scanning for specialized needs and delicate documents.

The Kodak E1030 and E1040 Scanners are easy to set up and use. Office workers can start scanning right out of the box. An

intuitive LED control panel makes them easy to integrate into business processes and applications, and Smart Touch technology enables customized scanning workflows with one-touch simplicity.

“In today’s era of hybrid working, digital transformation maturity is more tightly tied to business effectiveness and profitability,” said Joseph Odore, Global Portfolio Marketing Manager at Kodak Alaris.

13TH GEN INTEL CORE I9-13900KS BRINGS

UNPRECEDENTED SPEED TO DESKTOP USERS

Intel today announced full details and availability for the new 13th Gen Intel® Core i9-13900KS, the world’s fastest desktop processor1. It delivers up to 6.0 gigahertz (GHz) max turbo frequency out of the box – the first processor in the PC industry to cross that threshold at stock – to power world-class gaming and creating experiences for desktop enthusiasts.

“The Core i9-13900KS continues our 13th Gen Intel Core desktop processor family excellence, showcasing the new performance heights made possible by our performance hybrid architecture. Extreme gamers and enthusiasts can now push their everyday performance further than ever before with the first desktop processor in the PC industry to provide 6.0 GHz speeds at stock.” – Marcus Kennedy, Intel Client Computing Group manager, Gaming and Channel

The unlocked i9-13900KS processor represents a major milestone in the PC industry – bringing faster speeds than before to enthusiast desktop users. In addition to 24 cores, it delivers up to 6.0 GHz max turbo

frequency and 36MB Intel Smart Cache for incredible performance in gaming and content creation workloads.

• Key features and capabilities of the i913900KS include:

• Up to 6.0 GHz max turbo frequency with Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost – the first CPU in the PC industry to reach 6.0

GHz without overclocking.

• Intel® Adaptive Boost Technology for improved gaming performance by opportunistically allowing higher multicore turbo frequencies.

• 24 cores (eight Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores), 32 threads, 150W processor base power, 36MB Intel Smart Cache and a total of 20 PCIe lanes (16 PCIe 5.0 and four PCIe 4.0 lanes).

• Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s and DDR4 3200 MT/s support.

Compatible with Z790 and Z690 motherboards, with the latest BIOS recommended for the best gaming and content creation experience.

The i9-13900KS processor allows gamers and enthusiasts to take performance to the next level.

This special edition processor will be available beginning Jan. 12, 2023, with a recommended customer price (RCP) starting at $699. It can be found at retailers worldwide as a boxed processor and integrated into systems from Intel’s channel and OEM partners.

AXIS COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES STAINLESS STEEL 8 MP DOME CAMERA

Axis Communications announces a robust dome camera offering high resistance in corrosive environments. Ideal for applications such as marine environments and food processing facilities, it delivers outstanding image quality and forensic details in superior 4K resolution—even in the harshest weather and environments.

Enclosed in marine-grade stainless steel (SS 316L), DNV-certified, AXIS Q3538-SLVE can withstand the corrosive effects of sea water and cleaning chemicals. It features Optimized IR and an IR-shielded dome to prevent IR reflections from rain and snow. Additionally, Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR delivers true colors and great detail in challenging light or near darkness.

This high-performance camera includes a deep learning processing unit (DLPU) to enable improved processing and storage capabilities. This makes it possible to collect and analyze even more data than before—on the edge. Thanks to AXIS Object Analytics, it can detect and classify humans and different types of vehicles—all tailored to specific needs. Additionally, with support for ACAP version 4, it’s possible to add value

to the system with tailor-made applications based on deep learning on the edge available from Axis and our partners.

This top-of-the-line camera is easy to install, maintain, and operate—perfect for remote locations. Redundant power ensures a reliable power supply to safeguard the system. Furthermore, Zipstream with H.264/H.265 significantly reduces band-

width and storage requirements.

Key features include:

• Ideal for corrosive and harsh conditions

• Marine-grade stainless steel casing

• Outstanding image quality in 4K

• Support for analytics with deep learning

• Axis Edge Vault

NAFFCO PRESENTS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND MADE IN UAE ELECTRIC AMBULANC

NAFFCO, one of the leading producers and suppliers of safety solutions in the GCC, presented the first-of-its-kind electric ambulance made in the UAE, at the Arab Health 2023 conference, the world’s largest and most comprehensive trade and networking exhibition for healthcare industries. The company is also emphasising its latest products, smart technologies for the healthcare sector, and other innovations that can help propel the industry forward. The Arab health 2023 was held from January 30 to February 2, 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

NAFFCO’s electric ambulance is outfitted with some of the most advanced communication technologies available, including handsfree, voice-activated, wearable computing solutions that give medical professionals a comprehensive overview of medical conditions of the patients in the ambulance before reaching the hospital. The solutions allow for real-time communication with remote co-workers and medical professionals, in order to support medical training, rounding, proctoring, and specialist consultations. Additionally, the project represents a step towards the country’s zero emission goals, thereby driving sustainable operations in the sector.

Eng. Khalid Al Khatib, Chief Executive Officer, said: “NAFFCO has consistently worked to distinguish itself as a one-stop provider for all forms of health and safety protection systems. As a result,

NAFFCO has delivered the first-of-its-kind sustainable vehicle made in the UAE, which can be regarded as a significant step towards the country’s zero emission goals. The ambulance is equipped with cutting-edge communication tools that can provide medical professionals with a complete overview of medical conditions. As part of our mission to create a healthier and safer world for humanity’s future, NAFFCO is dedicated to playing its part and upholding its responsibility by developing smart and sustainable health solutions.”