Time may be running out for the nascent smartwatch segment following sluggish take-up in 2016, with few notable launches at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
At this year’s exhibition just one high-profile smartwatch range from Huawei has been launched, with pioneers such as Sony and Lenovo seemingly pulling out of the segment completely.
Huawei unveiled the Huawei Watch 2, one of the first smartwatches to run the new Android Wear 2.0 operating system. Three versions of the Watch 2 will hit stores from April, one of which offers full 4G connectivity via an additional Sim card.
LG meanwhile showed off its LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style devices, unveiled in early February.
"From a product standpoint there's nothing that knocks my socks off to see here," Gartner analyst Annette Zimmermann told The National.
“What is missing are more standalone functionalities for watches besides sports and health that users find engaging.” The small number of devices on display at Barcelona indicate a cooling of enthusiasm for smartwatches among consumers.
__________
Mobile World Congress coverage
■ Opinion: Nokia and BlackBerry should stay where they belong – in the past
■ BlackBerry KeyOne: Welcome return of the brand's trademark keyboard
■ Review: Well-loved Nokia 3310 phone returns as a modern classic
■ Sony launches Xperia XZ Premium – the world's first smartphone with 4K HDR screen
■ In pictures: The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
■ Samsung reveals new tablets, confirms launch of Galaxy S8 phone on March 29
__________
Global shipments grew just 1.4 per cent to 21.1 million units in 2016, according to the industry analysts Strategy Analytics, with Apple Watch devices accounting for 55 per cent of sales.
“Smartwatch vendors like Samsung need to launch more exciting or cheaper models [while] Apple must engage closer with mobile operators to stock or subsidise its popular watch portfolio,” said Strategy Analytics director Cliff Raskind.
Gene Jiao, the president of Huawei’s consumer business group in the Middle East and Africa, insisted that smartwatches have a future as part of a range of a wider ecosystem of connected devices.
"As AI [artificial intelligence] becomes more of a reality, the smartphone may be the hub, but it's going to be more and more linked to accessory devices, whether it's smartwatches, smart glasses or other devices," Mr Jiao told The National in Barcelona. "These days it's not enough to talk about smartphones on their own any more."
Sony, whose Smartwatch 3 was an early pacesetter for the segment, did not launch a similar device this year at Barcelona, instead showing off “open-style concept” wireless headphones that sit outside the ear.
Hideyuki Furumi, an executive vice president for global sales and marketing at Sony Mobile Communications, declined to comment on whether or not the company would produce another smartwatch.
Lenovo, an early mover with its Moto 360 smartwatch, also did not launch a new device, focusing instead on its Moto G5 and G5 Plus midrange smartphones.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Company%20Profile
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Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
NEW ARRIVALS
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) - £45.9m
Bernardo Silva (Monaco) - £45m
Ederson Moraes (Benfica) - £36m
Danilo (Real Madrid) - £27m
Douglas Luiz (Vasco de Gama) - £10.8m
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
