Companies

Microsoft takes on Facebook by dispatching metaverse in Teams

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2021

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Clients will actually want to show up as animated cartoons in gatherings and visit virtual work areas.

Microsoft has ventured out towards bringing the metaverse to office life, in the most recent sign that probably the greatest tech organizations see the mixing of the advanced and actual universes as one of the main recent fads in registering. The US programming goliath said that in the primary portion of the following year, clients of its Teams coordinated effort programming would have the option to show up as symbols — or vivified kid’s shows — in video gatherings. Telecommuters can likewise utilize their symbols to visit virtual work areas, which would ultimately incorporate copies of their managers’ workplaces. Microsoft’s first moves to mix the virtual and actual universes are unobtrusive contrasted with the sweeping vision that Facebook spread out last week when it changed its corporate name to Meta to mirror its new spotlight on the metaverse. In any case, Microsoft’s arrangement depends on hidden innovation, known as Mesh, that it disclosed recently to deal with undeniably more perplexing virtual cooperations on various sorts of equipment, from PCs to computer generated reality headsets. Additionally, Microsoft leaders said they considered the reception of individual symbols to be the initial phase in a movement that would see laborers become progressively OK with new types of virtual cooperation that may appear to be strange to them now. “With 250m individuals all throughout the planet utilizing Teams, the presentation of symbols will be the main genuine metaverse component to appear to be genuine,” said Jared Spataro, the head of Teams.

Groups has turned into the product through which numerous specialists speak with partners and access Microsoft’s more extensive arrangement of efficiency devices. The organization said it would coordinate its other efficiency programming into its new virtual encounters — permitting laborers to do things like view PowerPoint introductions in the metaverse. Spataro said a large part of the inspiration for the presentation of new kinds of computerized cooperation came from the difficulties organizations are looking with cross breed working, as certain representatives return to the workplace after the pandemic while others decide to work from a distance. Microsoft said that its examination showed that utilizing individual symbols passed on a feeling of “presence” that made gatherings seriously captivating, while at the same time liberating laborers from having to continually show up before a camera. Laborers who had been in a gathering where another person showed up as a symbol were additionally more open to utilizing the actual innovation, the organization said. Showing up as a symbol “appears to be straightforward, it seems like only one stage, however that is the sort of step I think individuals are prepared to make”, Spataro said. “Possibly it’s even sort of happy to start with.” The organization said it would utilize AI to cause a symbol’s lips to seem to mouth the words being expressed, and to add looks and hand signals. The gradualist way to deal with acquainting laborers with the metaverse appears differently in relation to the previous Facebook’s more progressive vision for the eventual fate of office gatherings. The web-based media organization as of late showed a full augmented simulation office experience, with individuals wearing VR goggles to sit in a virtual room close by symbols of different laborers. Differentiating Microsoft’s utilization of symbols to bouncing directly to full augmented experience gatherings, Spataro said: “It’s not as out of sight like, how about we meet in a 3D space where we don’t have a clue what to do.”

Announcements

UAE announces fuel prices for June 2025

Published

4 weeks ago

May 31, 2025

Staff Reporter

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The UAE fuel price committee on Saturday announced petrol and diesel prices for the month of June 2025.The Fuel Prices Monitoring Committee has kept the prices unchanged from the month of May.

Super 98 petrol will cost Dh2.58 a litre, compared to Dh2.58 a litre in May, while Special 95 will cost Dh2.47 a litre, compared to Dh2.47 a litre the previous month.

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E-Plus category petrol will be available for Dh2.39 a litre, compared to Dh2.39 a litre in May, while diesel will now cost Dh2.45 a litre, compared to Dh2.52 a litre the previous month.

The UAE deregulated fuel prices in 2015, aligning them with market fluctuations.

Fuel prices in the UAE are tied to movements in the global oil market, which has experienced significant volatility since the beginning of the year.

Business

BEYOND Expo 2025 kicks off in Macau with over 800 tech companies, investors and global innovators

Published

1 month ago

May 22, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Asia’s biggest technology gathering, BEYOND Expo 2025, opened its doors on Wednesday, May 21, at The Venetian Macau’s Cotai Expo, marking its fifth anniversary with the theme “Empowering Asia, Bridging the World.” Running from May 22 to 24, the event brings together over 800 companies, 25,000 visitors, and more than 800 investors from around the world.

Covering everything from AI and HealthTech to Clean Energy, Robotics, FinTech, and SportsTech, the expo offers a glimpse into the future of innovation and how it’s shaping Asia’s global tech footprint.

The expo also offers unique opportunities for UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other GCC countries to explore cutting-edge solutions in AI, HealthTech, Clean Energy, FinTech, and Robotics, all aligning closely with national visions like “We the UAE 2031” and Saudi Vision 2030.

The opening day drew a crowd of top tech minds who took part in a high-profile panel titled “What’s Next?” Speakers included Alibaba Cloud founder Dr. Jian Wang, Carl Pei, CEO of smartphone brand Nothing, Dr. Burt Guo of Sichuan Aerofugia, Zhaopeng Chen of Agile Robots, and Jingkang Liu, founder of Insta360.

The event also marked the launch of the BEYOND Founders Club (BFC), a new community that aims to connect Asia’s rising tech entrepreneurs and help shape the future of innovation. BEYOND Expo Co-Founder Dr. Lu Gang said the expo was created in 2021 to highlight Asia’s tech progress on a global stage. “We are thrilled to celebrate our fifth year with our largest lineup yet,” he said.

Co-Founder Jason Ho added, “Launching the Founders Club is a powerful step. We believe technology should serve humanity, and this community will help guide the next generation of tech leaders.”

Alongside the expo, a packed schedule of over 300 speakers will lead summits and forums on major trends and topics. These include the Global Investment Summit, AI Summit, Wealth Summit, Fashion Tech Forum, Gen-Z Founder Forum, and SHETECH Summit, among others.

Investment plays a major role at BEYOND Expo, with live funding events like Fund at First Pitch, where 150 companies are competing in front of more than 100 investors for the chance to secure funding. The Wealth Summit, held in partnership with the Asian Family Legacy Foundation and Greenwich Economic Forum, highlights the growing role of family offices and regional investors in shaping the global innovation ecosystem.

For innovators and investors across the Gulf region, BEYOND Expo presents a valuable opportunity to connect with global tech leaders and explore partnerships, as Gulf countries continue to diversify their economies through investments in AI, clean tech, and smart industries, events like BEYOND offer access to cutting-edge trends, emerging markets, and cross-border collaboration with Asia’s fastest-growing tech hubs.

Held at The Venetian Macau’s Cotai Expo, one of Asia’s largest MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) venues, the event is supported by Sands Resorts Macau, known for its luxury hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

For more information, visit: www.beyondexpo.com

Business

Dubai’s RTA invites companies to participate in tenders and auctions

Published

1 month ago

May 13, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced an exciting opportunity for businesses across the UAE, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to engage in 116 tenders and auctions available until the end of 2025.

This initiative is part of the Dubai Government’s Public-Private Partnership Strategy 2024–2026, which is aimed at stimulating economic growth and fostering strategic collaborations within the emirate.

The tenders cover a broad range of sectors, including services, consultancy, infrastructure, insurance, outsourcing, operations and maintenance, information technology, and investment. RTA’s push to engage the business community underscores its commitment to enhancing public-private collaboration, supporting national companies, and driving innovation in various industries.

Abdulla Yousef Al Ali, CEO of the Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector at RTA, explained, “We are actively supporting Dubai’s business community through incentive-driven initiatives, including recognition programmes that celebrate major companies collaborating with SMEs.”

He continued, “To participate in RTA projects, companies need to meet specific qualification criteria, which can be easily accessed through RTA’s streamlined digital process via the Electronic Prequalification System on our official website. This system supports the development of government projects by attracting top-tier local and international companies, ensuring efficient project delivery, facilitating knowledge exchange, and developing national talent. It plays a crucial role in attracting investment and stimulating the national economy.”

The RTA’s electronic prequalification system is available free of charge, allowing companies to register by creating a username and password. Once registered, companies can select the ‘Supplier and Investor Management System’ to access the Electronic Prequalification System, where they can upload the required documents and specify their business activities of interest.

For more details on the available tenders and auctions, companies can visit the RTA website at www.rta.ae.