flydubai, Dubai’s pioneering low cost airline, has launched its enhanced in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, offering more movies, TV programmes and audio than any other carrier in its class. Since its launch in November 2010, the ‘Fiber-To-The-Screen’ (FTTS) system from Lumexis has broken new ground in IFE thanks to the fibre-optic technology enabling movies to be shown in high definition in the air for the first time.

Now, Flydubai is leading the way again with an unprecedented increase in movies, TV shows and music. There is also a new payment model offering TV and movie packages rather than the former pay-per-show format, making the system even better value for money for passengers.

Passengers will be able to choose from 149 Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic films - an 830% increase from the 16 movies offered when the IFE was first installed. Included in this are brand new releases, including The Descendants and Real Steel, plus the top 10 highest grossing movies of all time.

Elsewhere, there will be 154 TV shows - up from 32 in 2010 plus 250 music albums, providing more than 500 hours of non-stop entertainment.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, said: “We are always looking for ways to enhance the flight experience and offer our passengers more choice of optional extras. We also want to pioneer new standards in aviation, and we have done it again as these developments put our IFE ahead of all other low cost carriers around the world. The increased content also means that even our frequent flyers will be able to watch something new every time they travel.”

In another first for low cost carriers, news from English-language website Emirates 24/7 and the Arabic daily newspaper Al Bayan have been added to the system. Sections include sport, features and business in addition to local and global news. And with the news updated every time the aircraft land in Dubai, passengers will be kept up-to-date both day and night.

Meanwhile, the revised payment model now includes a Basic package, which offers customers access to all TV programmes, audio and games. Alternatively, they can choose the Premium package, which includes everything in the Basic package plus movies. Daily newspapers, Flydubai news, the route map and information, however, will continue to be free of charge on all flights.

“No matter which package passengers choose, I am sure they will be as impressed as we are with the choice on offer. We now have more than two thirds of the fleet fitted with this system and with more aircraft on order, more passengers will be able to take advantage of this unique product throughout 2012 and beyond,” added Al Ghaith.

Dubai : As visionaries in innovation and customer-centric services, Etisalat announced today the launch of ‘eLife TV’, the UAE’s most advanced television and video services. Senior executives of the company showcased the next-gen service at a press conference held during GITEX 2011, on Etisalat’s stand in Zabeel Hall at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Delivered on Etisalat’s high-speed fiber-optic network, eLife TV will offer its customers interactive, cutting-edge television experience through the most robust and feature-rich service available in the country. eLifeTV is made available within the corporation’s flagship ‘eLife’ Triple Play (Fixedline, Internet and TV) fiber-based residential broadband services. Starting with the completion of fiber-optic roll-out in Abu Dhabi, making it the world’s first fiber-connected capital city, Etisalat will soon connect all residences in the UAE.

At launch, nearly 100,000 homes are enjoying the new eLife TV service. eLife set top boxes were automatically upgraded to present eLife customers with eLife TV’s new superior menu and many added features.

Customers will enjoy exciting new features at existing eLife introductory prices and bundles such as, some of which are highlighted below:

1.On Demand (Video on Demand): At launch, eLife TV offers the largest library in UAE with a choice of over 650 of the latest Hollywood, Arabic and Bollywood 3D & High Definition (HD) movies and series, classified by genre and searchable by different criteria, available on demand. To provide customers access to huge quality video content, Etisalat has tied-up with major Hollywood, Indian and Arab studios such as 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures Global / DW (Netherlands) B.V. The Walt Disney Company Limited, Warner Bros., Eros Worldwide FZ LLC, Yash Raj Films, Shemaroo Entertainment Pvt Limited, ABS-CBN, PTCL, ACPD and more.
1.Catch-Up TV: Allows viewers to go back in time and watch the broadcast programme up to one week old, with or without the Recorder Set Top Box.
2.Recorder or PVR is a TV Set Top Box that has a built-in hard-drive capable of recording.  It records: 1) Automatically on the channel being viewed, 2) On clicking the red record button, 3) By scheduling a program for recording later.
Outlining the future of eLife TV, Matthew Willsher, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, said: “Etisalat has been a pioneer in the world of telecoms and entertainment, providing rich content to TV viewing customers in the UAE for over 11 years. Over the years, we have keenly listened to our customers and enriched their home entertainment as per their changing lifestyles.”

“Our customers today desire more interaction, more choice and more control in the way they watch TV. Through eLife TV, we are introducing an extensive TV service that will present new opportunities for information and communications to every individual. It offers them advanced entertainment options through personalized, easy-to-use and convenient TV and video services,” he added.

Highlighting the enhanced TV experience, Rashed Al Abbar, Vice President – Home Products, Etiaslat said, “With Etisalat eLife TV, customers will not only benefit from attractive price packages, but also the UAE’s highest number of HD channels and on-demand movie library. Rich features such as ‘Catch-up TV’ allows customers to see replays of programmes aired up to one week ago. Alternatively, viewers can record programmes on their set-top boxes and watch it anytime as per their convenience. All this means that our customers never have to miss their favorite episodes or TV shows again.”

Etisalat’s customers can subscribe to eLife TV services through attractive introductory offers on eLife triple play services. Etisalat’s existing TV customers planning to migrate to eLife triple play services benefit with reduced monthly subscriptions for the first three months. New customers can enjoy the first month for free along with free installation upon signing up for any of eLife’s service packages.

eLife TV offers over 350 TV channels in 21 languages, ranging from sports to movies, from documentaries to music and kid’s channels in addition to over 30 high definition (HD) channels. The comprehensive entertainment offerings include 15 Premium TV packages from all the major TV providers such as OSN, ART, Pehla, Firstnet, TFC, Pinoy, Abu Dhabi Media, Dubai Media Inc., Al Jazeera and many more, in addition to the Choice Basic Packages and eLife OnWeb service.

Etisalat also offers free eLife TV exclusive channels on all packages including:

1.e-junior, the exclusive UAE kids channel from Etisalat, offering pre-school, cartoon, live action and movies on channel number ‘300’
2.e-masala, showcases Asian movies, soaps, lifestyle and music shows on channel number ‘600’.
For more information on eLife Triple Play service and eLife TV, customers can call 101 or visit www.etisalat.ae/elife for more information.

Khalid Shraim: “Three international plays and a daily kids entertainment show lined up for Ramadan”

Bawadi_Kids_Activities

Al Ain, UAE, 16th August 2011: Bawadi Mall, the biggest and one of the leading malls in the Al Ain city has announced a special entertainment campaign for kids to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan.

The campaign includes three plays in addition to a daily children’s entertainment show as per the mall’s strategic plan to attract families and children.

Khalid Shraim, Marketing Manager, Bawadi Mall said the campaign will lead to an increase in the footfall of visitors from all over the UAE and the neighborhood countries to the mall.

Visitors during the past two weeks of the holy month expressed their delight over the activities which entertained their children in an edutainment environment. The mall which gathers a set of well-known brands is linking shopping to entertainment not only for kids but also to all sections of society.

“The first play entitled “I love My Country” was staged from 11th-13th August while the second one entitled “Amazing Traffic” will be enacted from 18th-20th August. The mall will also hold a play entitled “The kid & The king” from 25th-27th August”.

All plays are held at 10 pm on the above mentioned dates. The kids’ shows is being held in two sessions daily at 9pm and 10 pm on week days and at 9pm on weekends throughout the holy month.

“This is the third Ramadan in Bawadi Mall since its launch and we are expecting success that will exceed the response in 2010 and 2009,” Shraim added.

Bawadi Mall, developed by Nael & Bin Harmal Inv. Co. L.L.C., positioned as Al Ain’s ultimate shopping, dining and leisure destination is located only 5 minutes from the town center on “Mezyad Road”, which can be conveniently accessed, avoiding the congested city roads.

The mall houses a mix of international as well as regional retail brands of fashion, food, jewellery and much more, all in a bright, spacious, and inviting environment, distinguished by a wide curved vaulted skylight that soars above the main corridor and its main three spacious courts.

More than 380 brands are present in Bawadi Mall most notably Nokia, MAX, Zara, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Kotton, Toys R US, Magrudy’s, New look, Adidas, Guess, H&M and ACE amongst others.

Bawadi Mall provides an ideal shopping experience for people of the UAE and beyond. The mall succeeded in positioning itself on the international map very quickly through the series of marketing activities and global best practices.

In addition to its kids’ entrainment programs in Ramadan, Bawadi Mall features “Family Entertainment Center” which offers exciting ambience to the whole family, through a varied mix of fun, ranging from the “Roller Coaster” to the “Fun Ski Village”, amongst many other attractions. Eight movie theatres, a bowling alley, a distinctively rich food-court, and several casual dining alternatives offering delicious varieties of cuisines will make a visit to Bawadi Mall a worthwhile and exciting experience.

Creative ZiiOT 7_ Tablet

Creative, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for the personal computer (PC) and the Internet, has revealed that it expects to achieve 30 to 50 per cent growth in sales for its range of wireless entertainment devices in the UAE by the end of the second quarter of 2011. The positive market prediction follows the impressive performance of the company’s entire product range in the UAE market during the first quarter of this year. The high quality and advanced features of the Creative range of wireless entertainment devices including tablets and wireless speakers, has led to excellent growth levels during the previous quarter, and the company expects to sustain the same level of performance in the coming months.

Among the best selling products in the UAE was the Creative ZiiO 7″ entertainment tablet, which sold thousands of units in the first quarter. The sleek Android-based device delivers freedom to enjoy entertainment on-the-go, while providing cutting-edge wireless functionality by synchronizing with connected audio devices such as Creative’s range of wireless speakers, to create a pure wireless entertainment ecosystem. The wide touchscreen allows users to watch video clips, play games, use email and surf the Internet with ease.

Other Creative products in high demand in the UAE market were the Creative D200 wireless speaker system, Creative Live! Cam Socialize HD series, which offers high-resolution recording, editing and sharing of videos on the Internet, and the Creative Sound Blaster series.

- Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage announces return of creative shows at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi and Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain from 7-9 April
-  WOMAD Festival 2011 to host distinguished group of international artists

April 04, 2011

The WOMAD Abu Dhabi Festival 2011, which is being organised for the third consecutive year by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), was launched yesterday (Monday, 04 April 2011) at the Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, during a press conference. The launch of the event was attended by Abdullah Al-Ameri, Director of Culture and Arts, ADACH; Chris Smith, Director of WOMAD; the Dhol Foundation band, which opened the press conference with a special performance; and several representatives of local and international media.

The festival is set to host a selection of international artists at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi from 7-9 April and at the Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain from 7-8 April.

Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage has expressed great pride with the return of the creative shows by musical talents through the festival, which will feature amazing performances by artists from around the world, in addition to a variety of family-oriented activities and creative workshops.

Abdullah Al Ameri, Director of Arts and Culture Department at ADACH, said: “For the past three years the WOMAD Abu Dhabi Festival has been renowned as one of the largest and most popular festivals, which clearly demonstrates the ability of ADACH to host such a high-profile international event. This year we are once again bringing to Abu Dhabi renowned artists from different countries such as France, Senegal and India to headline a series of live performances. The third edition of the festival will host 35 famous artists and international musicians who will be presenting their visual and musical creations in two different places over three days from April 7 to 9. The launch of the third edition of the festival serves as one of the high points of our continuing efforts to cultivate the public’s interest in the arts. It is our goal to make this event a universal platform to celebrate music and other forms of art and to support artists by providing a venue for them to build relations and share their talents among arts aficionados in Abu Dhabi.”

Al Ameri added: “WOMAD Abu Dhabi has been successful in promoting in the Arab World the musical creations of international artists, which has helped cultivate interaction and dialogue between different cultures and nationalities. The upcoming performances will be a deeply enriching musical experience that transcends the nationalities and cultural background of the musicians and artists. The audience will therefore have a truly distinct musical experience that allows them to know more about the performing artists, while giving them a chance to learn more about other cultures. The festival also encourages participants to better appreciate the richness and diversity of both Arabic and western cultures. In particular, the festival will provide insights into the Emirati culture through the performances of the Tarab Al Emarat musical group.”

“The activities during the three-day festival will be a tribute to artistic and cultural pluralism as we all enjoy the compelling beats of the world’s most acclaimed performing artists along with the special musical shows that specifically cater to children participating in the WOMAD Abu Dhabi workshops. Ultimately, the WOMAD festival would not be complete unless all participants will be able to enjoy its infectious beats and exciting events. We therefore guarantee that WOMAD’s featured artists will go out in full force to entertain all visitors. Moreover, the festival will not only feature hours of musical presentations and informative workshops about singing, dancing and playing instruments; it will also bring to Abu Dhabi some of the best gourmet dishes of different countries during the Taste The World segment of the festival,” Al Ameri concluded.

Chris Smith, WOMAD Director, said: “We are delighted to confirm the attendance of some of the most influential names in a diverse range of musical and artistic genres, reaffirming the reputation of WOMAD Abu Dhabi as the festival of festivals in the UAE. Moreover, the festival will feature other exciting activities that include adult and children’s workshops and live cooking demonstrations, making WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2011 the place to be for people of all ages and interests.”

The opening acts on Thursday will feature British singer-songwriter and actress Paloma Faith, celebrated Senegalese master-musician Baaba Maal and the visual extraordinaire The Manganiyar Seduction by Roysten Abel from India, who will all be performing at the Corniche. Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté and UAE’s own Tarab Al Emarat are amongst those headlining the opening night at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain.

Evening performances at the Corniche will also be top-billed by Jamaican ska and reggae legend Dr Jimmy Cliff, who is the only living musician to hold the ‘Order of Merit’, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in arts and sciences, and the Afro Celt Sound System, which is recognised as one of the world’s most innovative musical groups.

Other artists performing at the Corniche are Khaira Alby (Mali), LA-33 (Colombia), Orchestre National de Barbes (France), Toumani Diabaté (Mali), Aurelio (Honduras), Omar Bashir (Hungary/Iraq) and Terem Quartet (Russia).

The Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain will also feature performances by Sain Zahoor the spiritual minstrels of Pakistan, The Dhol Foundation (UK/India), Hindi Zahra (France/Morocco), El Tanbura (Egypt), Muntu Valdo (Cameroon), Aurelio (Honduras), Khaira Arby (Mali), and Khyam Allami & Andrea Piccioni (Iraq/UK/Italy).

In addition to the nightly performances headlined by international artists, WOMAD Abu Dhabi will be hosting workshops for children and adults, which will provide exclusive insights into the different cultural influences, musical inspirations and the stories behind the music of leading artists.

Taste the World will return to WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2011. Artists will be showing off their culinary skills as they cook their favourite dishes from their country of origin. Expect spontaneous musical performances, stories behind the food they’re preparing and the cultures they come from, Q&A sessions and an opportunity to sample a variety of featured dishes.

Meanwhile, artists from Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Jamaica, India, Guinea, Australia and UK are currently taking part in WOMAD Beyond, which features a series of creative workshops in the lead-up to the festival. Artists share their music and visual arts with students during the outreach program in schools, colleges and universities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

• Aims to stimulate retail sales during the festival period to reach USD10 billion by the centennial of Turkey founding in 2023

Dubai, February 16, 2011 - Under the patronage of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Istanbul Governor’s Office and numerous other agencies, Istanbul’s first International Shopping Festival (ISF) will take place March 18-April 26.

The announcement came during a press conference in Dubai with the presence of ISF brand ambassador, popular Turkish actor, Kivanc Tatlitug.

The forty-day long shopping event is expected to attract millions of bargain hunters from across the globe who will win all kind of prizes, including a brand new car every day during the festival. Tourists will enjoy tax-free shopping as well as heavy discounts on a wide range of items, including jewelry, perfumes, textiles, handicrafts and electronics items as shops and malls try to outdo each other in sales. The İSF is also known for its colorful events ranging from music to street performances offering wholesome family entertainment.

Mr. Sedat Gönüllüoğlu, The Turkish Cultural & Tourism Attaché, said: “Istanbul is gearing to have yet another mega tourist event and for 40 days and 40 nights, the first annual Istanbul Shopping Fest will transform the cosmopolitan city into a shopping heaven. The campaign for the annual Shopping Festival is kick-started today by the Turkish tourism minister, governor and the mayor of Istanbul and the leaders of major business organizations. The event is set to attract millions of shoppers from surrounding countries who can visit Turkey without a visa.”

“Istanbul attracts more than 700 thousand tourists from the Gulf countries at this time every year and we hope to attract more than 1.2 million tourists from the region during this year’s festival. Our aim is to stimulate retail sales during the festival period to reach USD10 billion by the centennial of Turkey founding in 2023”, said Mr. Gönüllüoğlu.

“Organizers have been planning for the İSF for a long time to ensure its success. Our objective is to increase shopping lovers every year, making the Istanbul Shopping Festival a premium shopping event worldwide. The 2011 Istanbul Shopping Festival is expected to give much needed boost to Istanbul tourism industry and the retail sector,” he added.

Istanbul has rapidly emerged as the tourist capital of the world and a very busy shopping destination for the surrounding countries. With a population of 14 million people, Istanbul has over 90 brand new shopping centers and many street venues. Topping all that, the city has the world’s biggest and oldest shopping center, The Grand Bazaar, infamous for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops.

During İSF, shopping outlets will be open until 11 pm with special discounts, up to 50 per cent,  offered after 10 pm, as well as price reductions and activities at some of Istanbul’s most famous markets, including Taksim, Nisantasi, Bakirkoy, Fatih, Bahariye, and the iconic Spice Bazaar.

Besides the shopping, a number of entertaining and colorful events, for children and adults, will take place at İSF. Visitors can participate with their families in all kind of shows, arranged by the city and its people. Dining is also a major attraction of İSF visitors, where gourmet food can satisfy their taste buds from delicious Turkish cuisine and from all corners of the world.

Turkish Airlines is a major supporter of İSF and will offer visitors special fares and will consider increasing travelers’ baggage allowance during the festival.

“The İSF is set to be a celebration for shopping lovers to visit Istanbul– a city that has been a top choice for shoppers for more than 1,500 years. From hip boutiques in trendy neighborhoods and colorful bazaars and markets to over 90 modern malls featuring top designers, travelers and locals can expect a diverse shopping experience when perusing Istanbul’s wares. Famous for its handmade rugs, clothing, antiques, spices, sweets, footwear and accessories, visitors to Istanbul rarely walk away empty-handed,” concluded Mr. Gönüllüoğlu.

Leading cultural venue Al Qasba draws over 20,000 guests during the first two weeks of Ramadan as public determined to take advantage of rare art exhibitions, Islamic lectures and holiday promotions

Sharjah, September 4, 2010: Ramadan is one of the most exciting times of the year in UAE, and in Sharjah, Ramadan entertainment was flourishing as cultural and entertainment venue Al Qasba reports a huge influx of visitors—and spending—during the holiday season.  According to Al Qasba Development Authority, revenues alone for this year’s Ramadan period have increased by almost 50% compared to last year due to the increased turnout of visitors and the various promotions which have encouraged consumer spending on everything from retail to fine dining.

The annual Ramadaniat Al Qasba program—held this autumn for the sixth consecutive year—was marked by a series of Ramadan cultural events including the Eman Oasis tent.  Hosting notable clerics from across the Islamic world, evening religious lectures saw hundreds of visitors opening their hearts and minds to some of the most important Islamic issues within contemporary society. 

Hazem Sawaf, Sales and Marketing Director at Al Qasba Development Authority, notes that the diversity of events this year encouraged an astonishing 20,000 visitors in the first two weeks—a figure higher than the monthly average footfall so far this year and even outpacing the Ramadan celebrations of last year.

“Ramadan is always an exciting time for us to be connecting with our customers and providing insights into the Islamic traditions of the region and the UAE in particular,” says Sawaf.  “Sharjah’s popularity as a tourist and cultural destination is unique in the region, and we at Al Qasba are thrilled to celebrate holidays like Ramadan and Eid with distinct attractions and promotional schedules.”

Supported by a variety of both young and experienced photographers living in UAE, the ‘Life in Ramadan’ exhibit is another of this year’s special events giving visitors the chance to discover a local perspective on the many unique traditions and customs that characterize this very special time of the Islamic year.  Open until September 18 and with predominantly local photographers, the partnership with Emirates Photography Society is one of a series of events that the two groups hope will promote photography within the UAE while strengthening the connection between art foundations and local communities.

It was the public who benefitted once again through a month-long giveaway promotion for all visitors spending AED 100 or more at any of Al Qasba’s facilities.  Through the Scratch & Win campaign, which runs until September 19, customers took home hundreds of fantastic prizes including AED 20,000 total worth of Al Qasba Gift Vouchers to be spent on dining and entertainment, Home Electronic Gifts, a bundle of Food & Beverage Freebies and many more! Unlike in years before, many of the promotions are aligned with independent Al Qasba restaurants and cafes, which add a special touch to the festive atmosphere with a wide range of Iftar and Suhour meals and extended hours. 

Ramadaniat Al Qasba was one of the many events held this year under the collective Sharjah Ramadan Festival; a program which aims to support the time-honoured values and traditions associated with Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. 

• Existing Broadband customers can enjoy reduced monthly subscriptions for first three months
• New Customers enjoy first month for free along with free installation  

Abu Dhabi, 30 August 2010: Celebrating the Holy month of Ramadan, Etisalat has announced an attractive offer for both existing and new customers of its eLife double play and triple play services giving them the opportunity to experience value added features and benefits on TV, Internet and landline.

Existing Etisalat’s broadband customers planning to migrate to Etisalat’s eLife double play or triple play services benefit with reduced monthly subscriptions for the first three months. New customers can enjoy the first month for free along with free installation when they sign up for any of the eLife service packages, saving as high as AED 719 on the maximum speed package (30MBps) and installation charges.

Etisalat’s eLife double play service offers fixed broadband Internet with high speeds up to 30 mbps and landline services in one bundled offer, while the triple play service bundles double play along with great entertainment through IPTV, all of which is delivered through a single access network.

“Keeping in mind the ever-changing lifestyles and needs of our customers, Etisalat has introduced the eLife service offers, thereby presenting them with the opportunity to experience and enhance their lives through super-fast internet speeds, voice calls and rich entertainment through HD IPTV,” said Khalifa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Etisalat.

“Etisalat has established a reputation of a telecom service provider that is continuously innovating and identifying new ways for enhancing customer experience. We have invested in the futuristic fiber technology to bring benefits of world class services to our customers. We assure them that the eLife services will give them a truly transformational experience in terms of their digital lifestyle and connectivity needs, all at a great value.”

Table: eLife Double Play and Triple Play promotion

eLife’s double play and triple play services not only provide enhanced savings to customers, but also gives them the convenience of maintaining a single account and delivering significant value through its integrated customer service, combined value-added services, one-time installation and single bill payment. The eLife service offers a set of Internet features such as email boxes, anti-virus protection and hotspot hours, based on customer needs and preferences, for a usage period of three months.

Both eLife double play and triple play customers also stand to benefit by receiving:
- Extra hours of Wi Fi hotspot high-speed Internet access away from home, of up to 16 hours every month,
- Free caller ID,
- Voicemail access and
- Free 20 minutes of IDD to any international destination or STD per month.

New customers subscribing to, or upgrading their existing single or eLife double play package to eLife triple play package (8 Mbps and above) can enjoy watching all matches of the Barclays Premier League on AD sports channel for the entire year without additional charges.

Customers can simply call 800-77-666 or visit any of Etisalat’s Business Centres and Outlets across the UAE to apply for the service.

For more information on eLife packages, customers can call 101 or visit www.etisalat.ae.

Experience a 23.6-inch Full HD widescreen with SonicMaster Technology

ASUS_All_in_one_PC_ET2400_left

ASUS today enhanced the home entertainment experience with the introduction of the ASUS All-in-one PC ET2400 series. The ET2400 effectively combines the computing capabilities of the Super Hybrid Engine and the audio prowess of the ASUS SonicMaster Technology with a 23.6-inch Full HD widescreen.

Pure Sound Reproduction with SonicMaster Technology

The ASUS All-in-one PC ET2400 delivers pure audio reproduction through ASUS’ proprietary SonicMaster Technology. It is a complete hardware and software audio solution that utilizes codecs designed to minimize distortions and deliver crystal clear sound through a wide audio spectrum between 80Hz and 12 KHz. It gives richer and more distinct vocals at a wider frequency range, as well as deeper bass at the lower ranges. SonicMaster Technology replicates the audio from surround sound systems and has a higher volume threshold than other all-in-one PCs.

Speed and Performance through the Latest Technologies

The ASUS All-in-one PC ET2400 delivers unprecedented levels of speed and performance thanks to a host of new technologies. The ASUS Super Hybrid Engine* works in tandem with the latest Intel® processors to enhance system performance by up to 15 percent.

USB 3.0* speeds up file transfers ten-fold when compared to USB 2.0 to give users high speed data transmissions, while Bluetooth 3.0* syncs mobile devices up to 8 times faster than current standards.  The ET2400 also features a removable rear bezel to facilitate system memory upgrades.

3D Home Entertainment

All ASUS All-in-one PC ET2400 models come with a 16:9, 23.6-inch Full HD display. The top of the range ET2400XVT adds a whole new dimension to the already colorful world of movies and games, with NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ technology delivering stereoscopic 3D content in Full HD*.

Users are given a wealth of additional entertainment options thanks to its built-in TV tuner*, Blu-ray drive*, and HDMI-in* compatibility with devices like game consoles, cameras and notebooks*.

An optional optical touchscreen* lets users easily zoom in and out or rotate images, or scroll through webpages*.And with the VESA wall mount, it can be set up in any room of the house.

The activities receive remarkable support from policy makers, parents, government and private sectors

July 14, 2010

ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and the certification authority of the International Computer Driving License program in the Gulf States and Iraq, has announced the participation of more than 10,000 male and female students from different GCC countries in the ICDL Summer Camps 2010, an initiative being held for the eighth consecutive year to promote digital literacy in the region.

ICDL Summer Camps 2010 participants aged 18 and below will undergo an intensive training program that lasts between four to eight weeks, focusing on computer skills in accordance with the internationally recognized ICDL standards. The camps aim to complement the educational reform to eliminate digital illiteracy within educational systems in schools and universities, and create a motivating, self learning environment for students. The summer camps are being supported by the government, educational authorities, in addition to a number of private sector organizations.

The camps are being organized in UAE in cooperation with Abu Dhabi University, UAE University, UAE Academy, Sharjah University and Higher Colleges of Technology (Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training - CERT), while in Kuwait the camps are being organized in cooperation with Kuwait University and a selection of approved centers. In Qatar the camps are being held in coordination with selected approved centers and various independent schools.

As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility from the Private Sector; the summer camp initiative has been sponsored by, HP, ACER, Canon, Etihad Airlines, Atlantis The Palm hotel in Dubai, and Dream Land Water Park in Umm Al Qaiwain, ITP Publishing group as the regional media partner. They have provided giveaways, graduation gifts, and packages of exclusive tickets that offer free entrance and/or reduced fees to enter and use a variety of tourist attractions including cinemas and water and entertainment parks.

“ICDL summer camps are one of the most exciting activities that attract major participation from female and male students in the Gulf region. We are pleased with the immense success we have attained this year through the support of the government and the contribution from those who have helped with funding and organising this initiative. Looking ahead, we aim to develop more initiatives in the near future to expand the scope of IT literacy by covering school and college students, teachers, government employees, jobseekers, women, retirees, the elderly and people with special needs,” said Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation.

The ICDL Summer Camps will wrap up their activities by honoring outstanding students during a concluding ceremony through giving out prizes from the official camp sponsors, such as PCs from Acer and HP, Canon digital cameras and printers, and Brother Printers, to encourage the youth in taking part in overcoming digital illiteracy in the region.