Microsoft will show Advertisers in UAE something new

IMAGINE DUBAI 2013

Come and discover the Next Chapter in Advertising at IMAGINE DUBAI where Microsoft will explore the ideas, innovations, and people that are helping to reshape digital.

Register today to :

- Discover and demo Windows 8 Adds in Apps

- Explore Skype and the new MSN

- Find out who the MSN and Skype users really are from our regional market research

- Hear from creative strategists and marketers on how they see the future of digital advertising

And much more. This half day will inspire you with compelling sessions, lots of demos and fun competitions to win amazing prices!

Register now – seats are limited

Click here for the link

(sorry for the cut pasted event info but it best describes, in a nutshell, what the event is about)

This event is open to all people who are looking for newer advertising avenues and improved focused visibility.

Do write to me in case you need any more information about who is speaking and all that. I also have a time table in case you want to be there for demos and some particular sessions.

Cheers,

Partha

srinivasan.partha@gmail.com

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#driveanxf - I did

Jaguar and Land Rover Middle East have always captivated my attention with their awesome cars. These are machines that I have always dreamed of driving.

In November last year, I participated in a competition with the hashtag #driveanxf, which essentially put me in to the draw for a chance to drive a Jaguar XF for a weekend. I won and subsequently, I was handed the keys to the Jaguar XF for the weekend of 14th November to 17th November. Stop whinging - here in Dubai our weekend is Friday and Saturday, and it was an extended weekend with Thursday thrown into the fray that week.

I built myself up to the day. Watched videos like this one here:

and this one here:

It really was something to see the videos and I was really thrilled, because I believed that I would experience the thrill they talk about in those videos. I know - there was no commentary in the first one - but there was a voice in my head! :P

Come the day I had to get the car, and they had me signing my soul off to take it for the weekend. I did so with a smile on my face:

Once the mandatory paper work was completed, they took me outside and had me sit in the car, while I was briefed on what came with the car and all the little bits and tricks associated with the car.

There was a lot and boy, OH BOY, was I thrilled to experience it. Look at me, still smiling like an idiot :P

Every bit of talk through introduced me to the technology that made me want the car more and more. My favorite bit? This:

I know that is a lot - but it really is my favorite bit about the car, aside from driving it. But I will get to that in a bit :P

Once I got the car, we went for a spin in the night; my wife, son and I. Tried out all the delights of night driving and enjoyed Dubai by night. This car was such a joy to ave in the city with its 3.0L engine. No stress, no hassles, just pure cruising. If needed, I could just floor the pedal to let the "Cat out of the bag" but that was not needed as it was a slow night and we were all smiling.

The car handled so well - a big change from my Renault Logan (you think), but it made me want to hold on to the car for as long as I could. The steering so responsive, so light, so welcoming despite the growling jaguar staring at me from the wheel. I rarely had to move my hands from the comfort of the steering, since almost all the controls were on there for me to use.

The following day, we got ready to go around UAE as I wanted to experience the car in as many elements as I could - cruising on the highway, climbing up hills, and city driving.

We installed my son's car seat in the back, and put the baby-on-board sign on in the rear windshield and we were ready to go but not before my wife got these photos:

We took off to Ras Al Khaimah via Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain, making sure we covered as much ground as we could. In the Jaguar XF, it was hardly noticeable the way we were covering ground. It was effortless and when we DID reach RAK, I was pleasantly surprised to find we had done so in perfectly planned fashion. In time for lunch! :P

Once lunch was taken care off, we headed to Fujairah. This leg of the journey had us in the city for some time, in the hills for a lot and in stop and go traffic when we had to cross into Fujairah for dinner. So far the drive was so effortless, I could have taken off to Abu Dhabi and not felt a thing. Cruise Control, light steering, mapping systems, great fuel efficiency, large tank, comfortable driving position, enough driving assists to make driving safer - all these contribute to this feeling!

But we had had enough for the day. This is when the adventure actually started. On the new Fujairah highway, there are no fuel pumps and this, coupled with the increasing confidence I had on the Jaguar XF led us to be nearly stranded on the new highway, where we literally drove till the last liter was nearly over and we could get some fuel. Thank God for small mercies, there was a small fuel pump down the road and we managed to get enough fuel to get back into the city. Once we got the fuel, my wife wanted to fly some more, so I opened up the Sun Roof and allowed her to do so. while we were parked, that is.

Once we got back home, we returned to a peaceful night of sleep, and the next day, we took the extended family out for a spin and a day of relaxation. We never did get to going to Abu Dhai or Al Ain but 6 Emirates out of 7 is not a bad achievement in a single day. So I was happy with the days events.

The car outlived my expectation and has changed my desire to own American Muscle (sorry Dodge / Chevy) to now aiming to own European class - especially the Jaguar XF.

Thanks to Al Tayer motors and their agency for making this a reality for me. I will be back as a potential customer some day.

OH and in case you were wondering, you can read up on the specifications and more information about the car on this link: www.jaguar.com/me/en/xf/models_features/models/premium_luxury ; I had the 3.0L Silver version of this particular model.

One last thing: Please go and like the Jaguar facebook if you want a chance to #driveanxf like I did. The link: https://www.facebook.com/JaguarMENA

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In a Galaxy not so long ago...

Even with a name like Galaxy, Samsung builds phones that are nothing alien to a tech lover. I was first introduced to the Galaxy range of Smart-phones a little over 3 years ago. I used them then, and liked them a lot. This was in India. Now I am in Dubai, and Samsung refuse to shy away from the Galaxy name chain. Why change a winning formula. 

They launched the first of the "Galaxy S", the frontrunner of technology in it's age, in June 2010. In May 2011, the S2 really took the market by storm and introduced some technology that was by far the best in the time zone then. Even today, it is a strong contender for mid range phones. 

Let's circle back to recent history. The Galaxy S3 was launched in May 2012. The phone has created quite a buzz around it with TouchWiz and the large screen. A few other features unique to the handset were also the talk of the town, but, if we bring it down to the hard fact, it is a smart-phone. So how smart is it, really?

Form

while most things are micro, there is nothing micro about the phone

The phone is large. Considering I was instantly upgraded from a 3.7 inch screen to this 4.8 inch screen, yes it was larger than I was used to. This, in no way, is a downside to the phone. It does not make you wish you were Mr. Fantastic. Regular size hand and large phone - is not a problem. Your thumb will be able to access across 2/3rds of the screen so a two handed approach to using the phone becomes mandatory. This will upset the people who wish to text while driving, or are used to a single hand approach to texting on their smart-phone.

The phone is made with lightweight ABS which is a form of plastic. The build on this phone is rather cheap and you do feel plastic-y holding the phone. Slight taps reveal a slight hollowness and this makes it worse. The back comes off and the plastic-y nature of the material used is further revealed. 

That is where this feeling ends, because the technology used for the phone is top notch. The back comes off to reveal the big battery (2100mAH) and the slots for the Micro Sim and the Trans-Flash or Micro SD memory card. The memory in built is about 16 GB including the 2 GB sorted out for applications and processes. You can expand the memory up to an additional 64 GB.

The problem for me is that the phone is about the same size as the competition but it was not nearly as comfortable to hold as the other phone. Call me fussy, but that was a big downer. 

There is a micro USB adapter that doubles as a charging and connection spot.

Display

be prepared to shield your eyes in the dark

The S3 comes with a 4.8 inch Super AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 720x1280 HD with a colour depth of 16 Million Colours. Pixel Density is 306 Pixels per Inch which is still quite high and gives you a much clearer picture in collaboration with the above specifications.

The display is quite vibrant and I did quite enjoy watching movies on the wide-screen format in Full HD. With no lag, the screen was quite sharp, and had the colour depth as expected from a hand held device. The use of the screen in the day time was hardly a problem. I am in Dubai, and the sun is out shining most of the time and boy it is bright. In that kind of brightness, using the S3 was hardly a problem. Enough detail and I never had to squint even once.

In the night, however, you would be well advised to use auto brightness, because the screen can blind you with its glare. I kid you not. That screen is bright and not even at full brightness. I normally keep my screen at 75% and I had to tune it down. Flashlight, anyone?

Camera
any more and the camera comes with a phone...

The camera is excellent. Great depth, good point focus, excellent modes. It is all fairly standard. Why does this get better than the others? The interface is probably one of the best I have seen. Combined with good hardware, this makes the entire process of using the camera quite nice.

Photography is intuitive for a regular user. Focus on faces, 1080p HD video with simultaneous photo capture, burst mode allows you to take 8 photographs within 3.3 seconds, best picture selection - all these are great because the interface is very precise and allows easy navigation through all the modes and is fun to use.

Interface

I have been harping about the interface in my previous section and therefore this section needs more elaboration. The TouchWiz interface is a step up from the previous versions and quite frankly is a breath of fresh air. That said, the mobile is slightly counter-intuitive. For my podgy fingers, the touch was all sorts of mishap prone. Touch one thing and something else would get activated.  

A couple of the features in the interface were really neat, my favourites included Raise to call from a message, swipe in the contact zone to either message or call, and Smart Stay.

Check out this video for more:

Sound

The speaker is small and rather discreetly positioned to look like a small metallic block placed near the camera. It does what it has been designed to do efficiently. It kept up with the bass on Metallica's King Nothing and the smooth sounds of the flute that my son likes every now and then! So, well done Samsung. My son keeps coming back for an Encore!

Performance

it is no slouch.. make no mistake..

It obediently opened all the apps I needed just so I could "try" to overload it. I could not - I tried and failed.. it multi-tasked with ease. Camera, Gallery, Music, Browser, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Path.. I thought this would kill it.., but no.. it just egged me on and I happily completed all the tasks I set out to do on all the apps.

There is enough juice in the battery for a Social user to last upwards of 20 hours and a heavy work user close to 12-15 hours. This is not scientific though, so don't hold me to it.

My Verdict

It is a good device. The competition does outweigh it in terms of design and certain function, but if you are used to the bloatware that Samsung stuff into their phones, then you will be a very happy camper with the S3.

With that said, have a look at this video where you will be introduced to a whole bunch of Samsung original accessories that make using the S3 so much more fun. This is where Samsung win.

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For a while now...

...I have been wondering how in the world are some people so adept at making us so miserable just by thinking about them. ...I have been in awe of the fact that I am married, that I have a son, that I am a father, and that I have been able to do this despite knowing my limitations. ...I am thankful for so many things including the city I have recently adopted, the culture I believe to possess, my current family - both immediate and extended, my possessions and my achievements.

...I am aware and been made aware that people do not change just the circumstances and the decisions around them but they change the way they are too. Me included. Perceptions may or may not change in tune with this. ...These random thoughts have been floundering in my mind and I thought I should blog about them. Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from du

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Microsoft and the three screen conundrum

It has been a while since the W8 Launch but the buzz has still not worn off. This is long overdue but I just wanted to list my thoughts down about what Windows 8 means to me.

It is quite easy to be enamoured by glamorous lights and a presentation. But Windows8 left an impact on my mind because this is where technology should head - Unification!

Before you scratch your head and say, "What?", allow me to explain.

If you are a techie then the term "Unified Communications" should not be new to you. If you are not, then this is a term where all communication to you can be seamlessly transferred without losses and in complete continuity without losing track or chain of thought because you have to change a device (this is the short version - it is actually a lot more complex - not complicated).

Well long before Unified Communication came into play, there was something known as the "three screens" - which was essentially - the TV, the Computer, and the Mobile Phone - this was a long time ago (read 8 odd years ago) when Mobiles started being smart. 

Unified Communications wanted to bring a unification of communication across these three screens and so developed technology to make it happen. Which is why it was so complex.

When in reality it is not that difficult as I have been made to understand recently. This is because it is a matter of the applications you use and Microsoft understands this better than anyone given that it is in the OS business for a long time now. It did not or could not address it completely for whatever reason, but now it has.

Before I move on, let me just add that the "three screens" is now more like "four screens" with the addition of the tablet. Alright, moving on. 

Microsoft launched Windows 8. Why is this so significant? They launch an OS almost every other year. This is significant from the point of view that there is now a Unification element being implemented across the four screens. They have been beaten to this by Apple, but let us face this fact, there are more general users of Windows than there are of Apple.

Windows 8 essentially brings the Unified aspect of productivity or just being to life through their SkyDrive and other cloud driven services. On the phone, they just launched amazing handsets with the HTC 8X and the Nokia Lumia 920; the tablets also feature Windows 8 - MS launched the Slate and Surface in addition to a lot of OEM devices from Asus, Acer, Sony and so on; the Computers also get Windows 8 although it works best on touch interface, it is still extremely awesome;   and the TV through the XBox which now functions as much more than a gaming console with so many internet applications for music, movies and so on.

This is extremely appealing to me. This is why I am so happy that I was invited to the Windows 8 launch and could experience the software first hand, and try it's first version of Windows on the Go.

That is a whole different blog post now!

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Five Gaming Fanatics Who Make NVIDIA’s Products Better

An excellent blog about the people who power gaming on a regular basis

http://blogs.nvidia.com/2012/11/five-gaming-fanatics-who-make-nvidias-product...

Sent from my iPhone

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Is social media being lost to the PR industry? Why?

My response to the question above on Quora. Check out the question and post your thoughts there.

I am a PR guy, who uses Social Media as a tool to make people aware of what my client deals in - product or service. Having said that, I use Social Media extensively to get an up to date handle of what is new and what is not in the industry. I also use Social Media to listen to the consumer and capture feedback about the product / service my client deals in. Its a powerful news / networking tool. It is NOT a marketing tool. Social Media Marketing is a heading that is misleading. 

I understand what the difference between PR and Social Media.

Having interacted with a LOT of people in the Social Media space and the PR space, I have to say that a LOT of PR people in the Social Media space just don't get what Social Media is all about. They interpret Social Media as yet another news channel for their Press Release. They interpret Social Media as another cog in their machine to spread their word. Sad, but true.

Social Media is more than just a marketing angle. While there are tools ont he internet that offer this as an option, the basics of twitter/facebook/youtube and so on are purely created to share "information", gather "feedback". The reason i have ' " " ' those 2 words is because those are wrongly associated with news and testimonials.

One day, these PR folk will understand the power of Social Media, but by then it will be too late since their reputation will already be made and their impression - already set.

So to answer your question - yes Social Media is being lost to PR since most PR Agencies fail to see the difference between conversation and marketing online. It is being lost to them since they just take on the responsibility of managing the online presence of the company without understanding the repercussions or the method/reasoning behind it. 

Social Media is a tool that has a lot of power. Understand the objectives well in advance before jumping on board and learning to swim with the sharks!

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Sample, Leave an Example, Repeat

Tryvertising is a new marketing buzz word and it has arrived here in Dubai in true style. The originators of the physical try before you by concept, Sample Central, invited me to the launch of their store in Festival Centre.

I was looking for flashy window branding, bright neon lights, but was greeted by a simple sliding door and a red-and-white room with a reception. 

Not your regular shopping experience so far. 

Once I was registered, I walked into a cash counter so I could announce myself to the staff and they could brief me on the "rules" of Sample Central. The rules were simple, you pick up a set number of products in a suggested combination, you review them on the website on your profile, then return to the store to take a whole new set of products. You pay only for the experience which amounts to a Whopping AED 100 per YEAR!

It took me about 5 minutes for the concept to sink in. I pick up products, but don't pay for them; but if I have to repeat this process indefinitely in a calendar year, then I need to leave feedback on their website. It is LITERALLY - THAT SIMPLE.

This is a marketing experience for brands who are looking for feedback about their products. The sample audience, come in, try the products, leave their feedback and it provides real time shopping feedback with statistics and consumer behaviour.

Speaking to Anthony James, the Big Guy Behind Sample Central, reveals that their Go To Market is based not on the consumer behaviour alone. It HAS to be coupled with the acceptance of brands who wish to put their products out there to be tested and ridiculed or accepted as the case may be. 

Sound strategy, which took them 3 years to perfect and then another 2 years to franchise successfully in various markets, Dubai being the latest addition. 

I picked up a few products and already left my feedback for a few. I plan to review the website on my blog soon, since that is a whole different core value to the marketing aspect of the brands concerned.

In the meanwhile enjoy the photographs and check out this youtube video of the walk around in Sample Central with Mr. James.

*All video and photos provided, kindly, by Sample Central.

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Pregnancy Q&A's - a laugh!

Q. My brother tells me that since my husband is not real smart, and genes for big noses are dominant in our family, my baby will be a dummy with a big honker. Is this true?
A. Most likely...

Q. What do you call a pregnancy that begins while using birth control?
A. A misconception.

Q. Can a woman get pregnant from a toilet seat?
A. Yes, but the baby would be awfully funny looking.

Q. What is the easiest way to figure out exactly when I got pregnant?
A. Have sex once a year.

Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A. Childbirth.

Q. My husband and I are very attractive. I'm sure our baby will be beautiful enough for commercials. Whom should I contact about this?
A. Your therapist.

Q. I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move? 
A. With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q. How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
A. If it's the flu, you'll get better.

Q. Does pregnancy affect a woman's memory?
A. I don't remember.

Q. Since I became pregnant, my breasts, rear end, and even my feet have grown. Is there anything that gets smaller during pregnancy?
A. Yes, your bladder.

Q. The more pregnant I get, the more often strangers smile at me. Why?
A. 'Cause you're fatter then they are.

Q. Will I love my dog less when the baby is born?
A. No, but your husband might get on your nerves.

Q. What's the best way to get a man to give up his seat to a pregnant woman?
A. Sit on him.

Q. How long is the average woman in labor?
A. Whatever she says, divided by two.

Q. My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A. Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q. When is the best time to get an epidural?
A. Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q. I'm modest. Once I'm in the hospital to deliver, who will see me in that delicate position?
A. Authorized personnel only--doctors, nurses, orderlies, florists, cleaning crews, etc.

Q. What are forceps?
A. Giant baby tweezers.

Q. Under what circumstances should a baby not be circumcised?
A. When it's a girl.

Q. Where is the best place to store breast milk?
A. In your breasts.

Q. What does it mean when a baby is born with teeth?
A. It means that the baby's mother may want to rethink her plans to nurse.

Q. What is the best time to wean the baby from nursing?
A. When you see teeth marks.

Q. Do I have to have a baby shower?
A. Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q. What causes baby blues?
A. Tanned, hard-bodied bimbos.

Q. Nannies aren't cheap are they?
A. Not usually, but occasionally you'll find a floozy.

Q. What is colic?
A. A reminder for new parents to use birth control.

Q. What are night terrors?
A. Frightening episodes in which the new mother dreams she's pregnant again.

Q. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A. When the kids are in college.

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