Monthly Archives: October 2017

The best of GITEX Dubai 2017

Опубликовано: October 17, 2017 в 18:38

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Категории: Insights

In case you missed the annual GITEX event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre last week, do not worry – the Eroe Consulting Team was present at this years GITEX. As usual, GITEX has given the region and the world plenty of tech news to be excited about. Governments, companies, and the general public all flocked to the event to catch a glimpse of the latest revolutionary ideas and projects that may well become the norm in the near future.

Here is Eroe’s list of some of the most interesting gadgets and technology that were on display this year:

FLYING TAXIS

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s recently tested and much anticipated autonomous flying taxi was finally put on display to the public. The helicopter, built by German manufacturer Volocopter, recently underwent a successful proof-of-concept test flight in Dubai. The two-seater self-flying vehicle has been developed with the highest safety standards, nine independent battery systems, and optional emergency parachutes. This amazing new product will be powered by clean electricity and will be environmentally friendly. The prototype has a maximum flight time of 30 minutes at average speeds of 50 km/h. The maximum speed at which it can travel right now is 100km/h but these specs will improve as the product continues to be developed.

SUNSHADES OF THE FUTURE

This particular advancement by ShadeCraft is so useful it makes us wonder why no one has thought of it before! The robotic sunshade follows and automatically adjusts itself according to the path of the sun, ensuring that you are constantly being protected from direct sunlight. Charged by solar power (of course), the product is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, lighting, and speakers. It made its Middle East debut at GITEX this year and is sure to be a popular invention in this sunny region.

MEET SOPHIE

Sophie is the name given to the incredibly lifelike robot that uses artificial intelligence to communicate. You speak with the android via a microphone and can hold a simple conversation. Equipped with cameras and various sensors, she detects the person she is talking to and can move her body appropriately in response.

ETISALAT’S 5G

With a live trial of its 5G capabilities, Etisalat displayed record-breaking speeds of 71Gps while demonstrating the use of 5G in healthcare, Ultra High Quality Video and face recognition, amongst other things. 5G is the future of mobile broadband services and will spell out better quality for all internet-connected products and services.   

TRANSLATING SIGN LANGUAGE

Envision a glove that can understand the sign language movements of the person who is using it and then translate the movements into Arabic via a connected computer screen. Developed by four Dubai students, the device was brought to GITEX by Dubai Police who is considering using the technology to be able to properly communicate with residents who use sign language.   

SMART TUNNELS AT DUBAI AIRPORTS

Everyone wants to be able to get through immigration lines quickly and efficiently. Dubai Airports announced new Smart Tunnels as the latest advancement in airport passport control. Passengers will only have to walk through a tunnel and the biometric system of the tunnel will do the rest. No need to show passports and the entire process is touted to only take a jaw-dropping 15 seconds.

FUTURE OF (NOT) DRIVING

Still under development, the electric Mercedes F015 was revealed at Etisalat’s GITEX stand this year to an excited crowd. The car is fully autonomous with no steering wheel and speaks to the many developments being made in the region towards autonomous transportation modes. Expect to see this car on the roads in 2023!

BLACKBERRY LAUNCH

And we would be amiss if we did not mention the unveiling of the latest Blackberry phone, the BlackberryMotion. Now with a 5.5 inch touchscreen and a long-lasting battery, this new device also boasts a Locker function that will keep your private files and photos in a folder that can only be unlocked with your fingerprint.

Did you attend GITEX Technology Week 2017 in Dubai? Which gadgets or ideas caught your attention and why? Eroe Consulting would love to hear from you, let us know your thoughts on this event!

The battle for the best smart home device

Опубликовано: October 13, 2017 в 08:20

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Категории: Insights

Tech-savvy homeowners started the trend of using digital technologies to control, secure, and upgrade their homes. However, with the advent of so many options designed for mass appeal, the public is getting on the smart home bandwagon. According to Statista, the global intelligent home market in 2016 was worth USD 24.1 billion, and by 2020, it is expected to grow to USD 40.9 billion. Consumers want to use smart home devices to create a home that is responsive and adheres to their lifestyles. Smart home products can control home thermostats, locks and security systems, lighting, and more.

The smart home market has been recently flooded with new products, and it is continuously growing at a dizzying pace. With the recent new launches from Apple, Amazon, and Google, we now have a wide selection of smart home devices to choose from – so much so that the decision can be confusing. Here we compare Amazon Echo Plus, Apple HomePod, and Google Home Max.

The battle for the best smart home device

AMAZON ECHO PLUS

The Amazon Echo Plus has the same design as the original tall Echo, and it acts as a smart home hub and comes in three new colors. It houses a 2.5-inch woofer and a 0.8-inch tweeter and has a 3.5mm jack portal. The Echo Plus can be connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. One of the most significant selling factors of this device is the auto-detection of smart products within your home. For instance, once a new smart light bulb is installed in your home, the Echo Plus and Alexa will automatically detect the light fixture and connect to it after receiving approval.

Price: USD 150

APPLE HOMEPOD

Apple is a newcomer to the smart home industry, as it only recently announced its HomePod, activated by the familiar Siri voice assistant. The device will only be available in retail stores from December 2017. However, we have been given specifications of their foray into the smart home arena. The HomePod stands at 7 inches tall, will come in white and space gray colours, and has an astounding seven tweeters and one 4-inch woofer. The product will be able to detect and analyse the space it is in to optimize sound to the dynamics of your home. HomePod has Wi-Fi connectivity only, and to date, we are not aware of any connection ports on the device.

PRICE: USD 349

GOOGLE HOME MAX

The Google Home Max has a steep price tag of USD 399. It is a stereo speaker with TWO 4.5 inch woofers and two tweeters. It is covered in fabric and comes in two colors: chalk and charcoal. It can be placed horizontally or vertically, and there are touch controls on the top that adjust volume (but you really should be speaking to the device).  It is larger than Apple’s HomePod and weighs almost twice as much. It is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and comes equipped with a USB-C port and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack if you want to connect with a wire.

Like the Apple HomePod, the Home Max will automatically optimise sound as per its location in real-time, ensuring great audio quality. Home Max’s Google Assistant can now recognize multiple voices and link answers to everyone’s Google account.  The Home Max also has a new “Broadcast” feature which means you can push voice messages and reminders across all Google Home devices within your residence.

Price: USD 399

The answer to which device you should choose to purchase depends very much on price-points and also, which ecosystem you prefer: Amazon, Apple, or Google. Ultimately, the decision could very much rely on what type of smartphone you have, as easy compatibility between your phone and the smart home device is ideal and convenient.

Having said that, with two woofers, one may say the Google’s Home Max has the best sound system, as Apple and Amazon both only offer one. The Home Max also has more ports than the other two products. The Echo Plus and Home Max are both equipped with multiple connectivity features. However, the HomePod is more limited in this regard, with only Wi-Fi.

Convenient enterprise management features on Android Oreo 8.0

Опубликовано: October 13, 2017 в 08:04

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Категории: Insights

Google’s new Android Oreo 8.0 has been launched and with it comes some new enterprise functionalities that will increase both productivity and security for organisations. There are numerous enhancements that have been integrated in this operating system; however the main highlights regarding enterprise include Zero-Touch Enrollment, Google Play Protect, and Work Profiles.

Zero-Touch Enrollment

Zero-Touch Enrollment is a new feature in Oreo that aids enterprise management by allowing organisations to deploy corporate-owned Android devices that are already preconfigured to company management settings. The devices are configured online before shipment so employees can use them immediately within the company network. Large scale roll-outs of new devices can be executed quickly, effectively, and securely, making it incredibly seamless for organisations and employees.

Work Profiles

Enterprises can now take advantage of Android Oreo’s Work Profiles feature in corporate-owned devices to segment professional and personal device profiles. A Work Profile lets organisations manage business apps and information while also allowing a user to control everything else on their device. IT administrators can now manage a safe and secure workspace without interfering with employees’ personal information, applications, and accounts. Android has ensured an easy Work Profile setup for users; the short process involves downloading an enterprise mobility management (EMM) app, entering corporate credentials, and then following a setup wizard to set up the Work Profile feature.

Google Play Protect

Google Play Protect is a security feature on Android’s Oreo operating system that is always monitoring your device, data, and apps from malware and harmful apps. These safety features, however, are not altogether new to Android – many have been around for years. Thankfully, these features have been re-branded with much fanfare and they have been repositioned to be much more visible on the platform.

With Play Protect, an organisation’s IT department can block potentially harmful apps across the  device or even just within Work Profiles. Due to constant scanning and analysis for unknown or risky software, Play Protect is able to warn the device user and take measures against harmful attacks.   

Google Play Protect also allows safety features to be controlled remotely. By using the ‘Find My Device’ feature, you can locate a mobile device by simply logging into the associated Google account or even calling it from your web browser. Upon accessing the device remotely, it can be secured with a lock code or a message can be displayed on the lock screen with contact information. Additionally, as a final resort, the device can be wiped of all information to prevent sensitive data theft.

With Zero-Touch Enrollment and Work Profiles, Android Oreo 8.0 offers enterprises unprecedented control over company devices and much-awaited ease in regards to device deployment to employees. Also, it is significant to note that the security features of Play Protect are incredibly important, mainly due to the fact that the perception of malware has been a major issue for enterprise companies seeking to adopt the Android platform. The recent release of Android Oreo 8.0 now gives enterprises full-device management, while also allowing users to maintain their own personal information and applications separately. The security and control that is possible on Android Oreo makes it one of the most convenient operating systems to use for improved enterprise management.