Ahmad S, Author at Kuwait Technology Blog from X-cite by Alghanim

When will Apple wow us Again?

Jan 19

Demand for the iPhone 5 is flunking, and that’s no surprise. I really do hope that Apple’s next big leap will impress, but i’m personally not holding my breath. Apple is getting hammered by investors and analysts day in and out, and I’ve been trying to resist the urge to say “i told you so”. Sorry, no willpower today. After the iPhone 5′s unveiling in September, I didn’t think there was enough to keep people interested. The lack of innovation is starting to take its toll. This week, word came that iPhone demand was slumping and Apple had reportedly cut component orders.

My gut tells me that the iPhone as we know it will die down pretty soon. Mark my words. Apple will be moving towards phablet-like mobile devices; after all, sales of the Samsung Galaxy Note II prove that many of us have rather big thumbs.Other factors contributing to my hypothesis include the staleness of IOS. Maybe its only me, but Apple’s OS doesn’t seem so fresh anymore. After trying out Windows’ new phone OS, I seriously think Apple have some catching up to do.

Now let’s take a look at the competition. Samsung are ROCKING it Gangnam Style when it comes to the smartphone market. The Samsung Galaxy S3 wowed us all, and the Note series led us to rethink what makes a phone, well a phone. Now, that’s innovation. Could this be a direct mis-hap of Tim Cook leading the Apple team? Is the absence of Steve Jobs really that effective? I think so.

Part of Apple’s success in recent years was due to their penetration of the global market. But forking out 300 KD for every new iDevice is fairly difficult in most markets. Money isn’t talking anymore, it’s screaming.

Let’s face it. To wow, you need a wow factor. In my opinion, Apple’s last wow factor was the iPad. Right now, we’re ready for something else. Everyone is looking at Apple to provide us with the next wow. Is Apple nearing the end of a magnificent run? Or is 2012 just a couple of bumps in the road to glory?

About Ahmad S

Ahmad Shahroor is a self-proclaimed ‘techspert’; though he has proved it to be the case on countless occasions, his title is currently being challenged by Ahmad Taha; a battle no one cares for. A devoted Real Madrid CF fan, Ahmad thinks that electronics and football should not mix. His irrefutable love for all that is PC technology goes unquestioned. He is currently on his 35th attempt at trying to use his soccer ball as a router…

Author Ahmad S

Category Computers & Tablets, New, Phones

Comments 1 Comment

5 Games to Look Forward to in 2013

Jan 12

2013 is going to be a pretty big gaming year. I personally cannot wait for Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us” and Kojima’s “Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance”. We’re all waiting for “GTA V” as well, but i don’t really have big hopes for it as the 4th rendition somewhat disappointed me. Other big releases this year include: “Tomb Raider”, “God of War: Ascension” and “DMC: Devil May Cry.” Let’s take a closer look at some of these releases.

The Last of Us – May 7, 2013

“The Last of Us” – Naughty Dog: From the guys that bought us “Crash Bandicoot” and the “Uncharted Series” you will find abandoned cities reclaimed by nature. Here is a population decimated by a modern plague. Here, there are only survivors killing each other for food, weapons, or whatever they can get their hands on. Here, you find no hope. The storyline revolves around Joel, a brutal survivor, and Ellie, a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years. They must work together if they hope to survive their journey across the US.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – Feb 19, 2013

“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” – Platinum Games and Kojima Productions: Metal Gear is my favorite series on PlayStation. Ever since i was a little kid, I’ve closely followed the story from A-Z. From Sniper Wolf to Liquid Snake to Big Boss, I’ve clocked each Metal Gear game at least 4 times. I love it. In Revengeance, the main character, Raiden, was once feared as the child soldier “Jack the Ripper” on the front lines of the First Liberian Civil War. Now, his combat mastery is channeled through a cyborg body as the strikes from his high-frequency blade slice even massive assault drones in two. Raiden is contracted for VIP protection, military training and other duties by PMSCs (Private Military and Security Companies) in a developing country piecing itself back together after a bloody civil war. Little does he know that the stage is set for a clash with an enigmatic force of countless cyborgs.

GTA V – Q2, 2013

“Grand Theft Auto V”: Rockstar Games - I really miss the skycameras in GTA1 and GTA2. But the 3rd iteration wowed us all. San Andreas was my favorite to be honest, but GTA IV upset me. The trailers for GTA V are very promising. And i will be sure to own one of the first copies. Only time will tell how good the game really is. Trouble taps on your window again with this next chapter in the Grand Theft Auto universe, set in the city of Los Santos and its surrounding hills, countryside and beaches. A bold new direction in open-world freedom, storytelling, mission-based gameplay and online multiplayer, Grand Theft Auto V focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California.

God of War: Ascension – March 12, 2013

“God of War: Ascension”: Sony Computer Entertainment - My PS2 days were limited to Metal Gear, Winning Eleven, Resident Evil and God of War. After Solid Snake, Kratos is my favorite fictional character EVER. God of War: Ascension returns players to the storyline of the epic God of War franchise. Join Kratos as he seeks freedom, redemption and the clarity to avenge his family. Or seek your own glory in epic 8-player mutliplayer battles.

DMC: Devil May Cry, Jan 15, 2013

“DMC: Devil May Cry”: Capcom - Devil May Cry is very entertaining. Although the story isn’t as strong as i’d like it to be, it is still very enjoyable. The Dante of DMC is a young man who has no respect for authority or society in general. Dante knows that he is not human, but also that he is not like the demons that have tormented him throughout his life. Caught between worlds, he feels like an outcast. He is now discovering and coming to terms with what it means to be the child of a demon and an angel. This split personality has a real impact on gameplay with Dante being able to call upon angel and demon abilities at will, transforming his Rebellion sword on the fly to dramatically affect both combat and movement.

I’m pretty excited for these new releases, how excited are you?

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category Gaming, New

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Could Apple be working on an “iPhone mini”? Let’s find out.

Jan 06

“In its ongoing battle against Samsung, Apple may be forced to unveil a smaller, cheaper version of its flagship phone, says Strategy Analytics.” I guess it makes sense. I mean, Apple is no longer the leader, and is simply passing the parcel. Don’t get me wrong, i own an iPhone 5, iPad mini and a MacBook too. I love Apple products; but truth be told, Samsung is kind of growing on me too. Main reason being, i have to part with an arm and leg every time i think about purchasing an Apple product. As I said earlier, Apple is now playing catchup, so for all those prepaid users who can’t afford brand new iPhone 5′s… I believe an iPhone mini is going to unveil sometime soon. Galaxy S3 mini —– iPhone mini, see where I’m going with this?

What do you think of this?:

“We believe Apple will have to launch an ‘iPhone Mini’ at some point over the next three years to address the hundreds of millions of prepaid users worldwide that cannot afford the current iPhone. The iPhone 5 is growing fast and profitably right now, so there is limited incentive for Apple to launch a profit-squeezing ‘iPhone Mini’ this year. We expect the ‘iPhone Mini’ to be more likely next year, in 2014, when Apple’s penetration of the global postpaid smartphone market will be nearing saturation and Apple will be forced to discover fresh growth streams elsewhere.”

It certainly makes business sense to me. Apple and Samsung will continue to battle over market share as they introduce new flagship phones for 2013. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S4 this year, and Apple are going to need to fight back the way they best know how. Creating minis or adding S’s. Yup yup, Samsung is definitely leading the way right now. What do you think guys? Is it going to be the iPhone mini or the iPhone 5s? Or will Apple actually blow us away with some new innovation? Let us know what you think in the comments.

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category Phones

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Release Date Rumored For April 2013

samsung-galaxy-s4-vs-iPhone-5s-vs-HTC-M7-release-date

Dec 30

With the Samsung Galaxy S3, the most popular Android smartphone of 2012, having been around for six months now, rumors about its successor have already started gaining momentum.

The so-called Samsung Galaxy S4 rumor mill got heated up Friday when a new report, coming straight from South Korea, hit the web saying that the next generation Galaxy S smartphone would be released in April 2013 with S Pen functionality.

South Korean website Enuri reported that Samsung was busy with efforts to introduce Galaxy S4 with the release date planned for April, 2013. The report suggested that the company wanted to bring Galaxy S4 in the same line as its Note series with features like the S Pen and a massive 5-inch AMOLED display with Full HD 1080×1920 resolution (441 ppi).

In addition, the device was also rumored to be powered by EXYNOS 5440 quad-core processor and would feature a 13 megapixel camera. The report also stated that the Galaxy S4 would have a chunkier body with 9.1mm thickness, which is quite thicker than the current Galaxy S3 model that is only 8.6mm thick.

However, more interesting is the fact that Galaxy S4 could share the big guy Galaxy Note’s S Pen feature. But the question is whether the users want an extra piece of technology with the device.

“The need to look after an extra piece of technology, and a small and easy-to-loose one at that, might be quite off-putting to some users,” said a Redmond Pie report.

SamMobile also gave similar views saying: “The biggest question is, will you use the S-PEN? We don’t think so.”

On Wednesday, another SamMobile report said that it had obtained the first model numbers of Samsung’s new high-end device — the Samsung GT-I9500 and GT-I9505 (probably, a LTE version). Considering that number four is believed to be unlucky in Korea, the report suggested that the GT-I9500 could be the Galaxy S4 smartphone.

On Thursday, a concept video of the Samsung Galaxy S4 from Rozetked appeared online, highlighting two exciting features – a very thin form factor with a bigger screen and a “projected keyboard,” allowing the phone to project an image of a keyboard on a flat surface and then let the user type using the projected keys.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-release-date-rumored-april-2013-smartphone-likely-come-s-pen-functionality-thicker

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Author Ahmad S

Category New, Phones

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Late Shoppers: Final Call

Dec 23

Time is running out…

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s that time of the year.. that’s right, the holidays are just around the corner and so is new years. Everybody is busy last-minute shopping for family and friends. Procrastinators, i feel for you, simply because I am one too. [quote]I’ve listed 5 tips that often help me shop last-minute, and these tips would probably do you some good as well.[/quote]

1- Online Shopping – you’re busy, i’m busy, everybody’s busy. So you barely have time to rest at night, that’s exactly why i recommend shopping online (at X-cite ehm ehm.) Get your items dropped off at your doorstep within 48-hours instead of wasting your valuable time trying to find parking at Marina Mall.

2- Keep it Simple – now is not the time to get creative, stick to items that are easy to find in stores and online.

3- Gift Cards and Cash - Gift cards and cash are great gift choices for last minute shoppers because they are always available. Make sure to avoid gift cards with expiration dates or penalties for non-use.

4- Subscriptions - Give a gift that keeps on giving. Go with a subscription to a favorite service like Showtime or Al-jazeera sport, or sign up your loved one for a cooking class once a month.

5- Don’t Stress - Even though it’s last minute, don’t stress. Keep your cool and even if you don’t find the perfect gift, life will go on.

X-cite offers a wide range of “giftables” at incredible prices, so if you’re looking for the perfect gift jump on our website and browse through our Final Call section.

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category New

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5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a TV

Dec 15

[quote]It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it[/quote]

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]et’s get one thing straight; I love TVs, and all that is TV technology, but there’s so much to consider before actually buying a unit. An average joe would look at details like screen-size, resolution, 3D capability, smart features and class. That’s only the half of it. Using the time-honored tactics of obfuscation, misdirection, and a little bit of fear, the people who try to sell you TVs can hit you with some heavy-duty lies. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all TV salespersons are incompetent, but they sure do know how to spice thingsup. When it gets down to it, you want a bang for your KD, so being prepared can only be a good thing.

Tip #1: “This TV has a million-to-one contrast ratio.” – No it doesn’t! For good reason, customers are shying away from Plasma TVs. However, they completely disregarded that Plasma TVs have the highest contrast ratios. And that’s a fact. So when you’re discussing an LCD or LED television, always keep that neglected plasma in mind.

Tip #2: “This TV has better sound.” – Let’s face it. No TV sounds good. So what they’re really telling you is “this TV sounds less bad than that other one.” Fact: if you want to treat your ears, invest in a sound-bar or home theatre system.

Tip #3: “TVs break all the time. You need a 3 year extended warranty.” - Another example of this is “TVs come in for repair all the time.” From a rhetorical standpoint, this is a rather brilliant argument, except it isn’t, and here’s why. Lots of TVs come in for repair, but even more TVs stay put at home mounted on the wall, where they belong… DUH! Plus TV technology gets outdated pretty quickly. So by the second year of owning that TV, you’d probably be in the market for a different one anyway.

Tip #4: “LED TVs have the best picture quality.” - Nope. First of all, there’s no such thing as an “LED TV.” Every LED TV is just a standard LCD TV that uses LEDs (light emitting diodes) to create light instead of the “old-fashioned” cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL). LCDs have their positives, like light output and lower energy consumption, but when it comes to a direct picture quality comparison, plasmas have better black levels, better contrast ratios, and better viewing angles (for those not sitting directly in front of the TV).

LED
LCD
Plasma

Tip #5: “If you want the best picture and sound, you need the best HDMI cable.” - That statement annoys me the most. There is no picture or sound quality difference between any HDMI cable. None. At all. So if you spend 3KD or 300KD, the image and sound will be 100 percent exactly the same.

[quote]Don’t be fooled by the jargon, spin, or word on the street. Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll be able to get the best TV at the best price.[/quote]

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category TV & Video

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Sign Up to X-cite’s Daily Newsletter and Win amazing Weekly Prizes

Dec 12

Sign up to our daily newsletter and enter a draw to win amazing weekly prizes. Last week we gave away an iPhone 5, this week we’re giving away a Samsung Galaxy Note II; who knows what treat you’re in for next week? Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments below.

We know you like technology, ergo, the X-cite blog. Our daily newsletter highlights our daily deals, online exclusive deals, and all the latest promotions from your favorite electronics category. So regardless of where you are, or what you’re doing, you’ll always stay up to date with all that is recent at www.xcite.com.

Congratulations to Mr. Ali Oudah, last week’s “sign up and win” contest winner. What are you waiting for? Jump on www.xcite.com/signup and you could be our next lucky winner!

Mr. Ali Oudeh with his iPhone 5

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Author Ahmad S

Category The Buzz

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Microsoft Surface – Windows RT Unboxing

Nov 26

Our retail unit of the Microsoft Surface has finally arrived here at X-cite, and the packaging looks a bit different from what we’ve seen online, so here’s the unboxing video and some photos of the unit.

We will go over the design of course, but more importantly, we will cover critical aspects of the tablets such as productivity, USB devices, Internet browsing, battery life and off course, apps. So stay tuned for our official review.

On that note, if there are things that you want to know about the Microsoft Surface, drop a comment below, and we will try to address them as soon as possible. In the meantime, take these images and movie as a teaser. So far, the build quality is just as we expected, and the overall user interface is fast and fluid. Next: let’s see if the device can live up to the hype.

“Microsoft’s iPad” is definitely more than an average tablet.. You smell that? It’s competition alright.

Hello Beautiful

Sneak Peek

The Microsoft Surface Family

Nice and Comfy

Like Butter

A “Standing” Ovation

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Author Ahmad S

Category Computers & Tablets

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X-cite and Philips Sponsor DLC week at Kuwait University

Nov 20

Fifa 13 Tournament:

The Deans List Council at Kuwait University approached www.xcite.com in order to organize a Fifa 13 tournament on campus. 45 contestants participated in this tournament over 2 days at an attempt to win the grand prize: a Philips 40-inch Smart 3D LED Full HD Television. I’ve always been an avid Fifa, and football fan. I mean, a good portion of my weekend is specifically dedicated to Fifa 13. I was literally amazed at the level these guys played at. Cross after cross, lob after lob and shot after shot.. lets just say that we had no clue what was in store for us that day up until the tournament actually started. For two days, the contestants tore the pitch apart. Competition is always entertaining, but this was something else. Only two remained, Mr. Mohammed Al Shimalli (Juventus) and Mr. Saud Mousa (Barcelona). Mohammed clawed his way to victory leading Saud 2-1.

Eyes on the Prize
Round 1
Round 2
The Finals

Congratulations to Mr. Mohammed Al-Shimalli

Twitter Contest:

Whilst the Fifa tournament was going on, our promoters were distributing questionnaires related to education and technology. The applicants who answered all the questions correctly entered a draw. The Lucky winner of the Philips 32-inch LCD HDTV was Ms. Nauf Almunaifi.

Congratulations to Ms. Nauf Almunaifi

Instagram Contest:

In order to win a A Philips 32-inch LCD HDTV, participants were to post a creative picture of an electronic item and tag X-cite. The picture with the most likes was posted by Khalifa Alobaid.

Congratulations to Mr. Khalifa Alobaid

A snap for the ages

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category New, The Buzz

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Hardened Edition Review

Nov 19

Since the release of Call Of Duty: Black Ops II last week, many of our Facebook fans have been asking us about the very obscure Hardened Edition. Luckily, I pre-ordered my copy 2 weeks ago and it just arrived this morning. Let me start by saying that i had previously purchased the standard edition, and the game is absolutely amazing. I’ll be honest, I never really payed attention to the campaign part of the game, and I’m not about to start this time around. Side-note: i think they should be sold separately. I almost immediately hopped onto multiplayer, and started comparing the gameplay to MW3.

COD: Black Ops 2 Hardened Edition
What's in the Box
Round 2
The Finals

Black Ops 2 tightens up, expands upon, and improves on MW3 in just about every way, and even though the changes aren’t drastic, the entire package feels like an uncut experience. Probably the most impressive surface-level improvement in Black Ops 2 over past titles are the maps. The maps are beautiful. They may not be a huge upgrade from the maps in MW3, but they feel deeper, more three-dimensional, and more immersive. There are more moving pieces to navigate, and thankfully fewer camping spots. Most maps give you a sense of vulnerability at all times, and you are never secluded. You have to watch out, because somebody may literally be around a corner. That’s my experience so far, and maybe it’s just my experience.

The most revolutionary thing about Black Ops 2 multiplayer is the new Create-a-Class system. You can basically create your own firearm from scratch. The real surprise is the Pick 10 system. You get to customize your class not simply based on predefined slots such as Primary and Secondary weapons. Everything is customizable at this point. You unlock weapons, attachments, weapon skins, graphics for your custom-designed emblem, and lots more. But each item you load out with will cost you one of your 10 points. It’s a pretty great addition, even if reading about it on here doesn’t sound like it, believe me, it is. It makes each build you work on much more unique, encouraging players to try different custom builds and adding much-needed balance.

Kill Streaks are no more, enter Score Streaks. Getting kills is no longer quite as important as it was in the past. Points are earned for all sorts of actions, and you can actually score pretty well now in a support role. This encourages team work more in than in past titles. Combine this with the deeper custom classes and the matches become more team-based and fun. I still prefer to rush though, I’m that kind of player.

I’ve unboxed my Hardened Edition above to show you what comes in the box and all the artwork. I can’t wait to go home and download Nuketown 2025 and the all-new Zombies. What do you think of COD Black Ops 2 so far? Let us know in the comments.

About Ahmad S

Author Ahmad S

Category Gaming, New

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When will Apple wow us Again?

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5 Games to Look Forward to in 2013

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Could Apple be working on an “iPhone mini”? Let’s find out.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Release Date Rumored For April 2013

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Late Shoppers: Final Call

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5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a TV

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Sign Up to X-cite’s Daily Newsletter and Win amazing Weekly Prizes

About Ahmad S

Microsoft Surface – Windows RT Unboxing

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X-cite and Philips Sponsor DLC week at Kuwait University

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Hardened Edition Review

About Ahmad S