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

Royaloak launches in UAE bringing Indian design excellence to gulf

Published

4 days ago

June 29, 2025

Staff Reporter

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Royaloak Furniture, one of India’s largest organised furniture retail chains, has announced its entry into the UAE market as part of a broader international expansion strategy. With an operational history spanning over 15 years and a customer base exceeding 5 million, the brand has opened three stores in the UAE—located in RAK Mall (Ras Al Khaimah), Lulu Mall (Fujairah), and Silicon Central Mall (Dubai)—each spanning nearly 20,000 square feet.

The move comes at a time when the UAE’s furniture and home décor industry is witnessing steady growth, driven by a combination of increased real estate development, rising urbanisation, and a growing population of design-conscious consumers. According to industry estimates, the UAE furniture market was valued at approximately USD 5.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.18%.

Royaloak’s entry adds momentum to the region’s expanding mid-to-premium furniture segment. The brand is known for its “Country Collection” that showcases curated pieces inspired by American, Italian, and Malaysian designs. The company sources products from manufacturing hubs across Asia and Europe, aiming to balance aesthetic appeal with functional quality.

“Our UAE expansion is aligned with market demand and retail opportunity,” said Mathan Subramaniam, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Royaloak. “What sets us apart is a vertically integrated model—from sourcing to distribution—which ensures both product consistency and affordability. With our dedicated warehouse in the UAE, we are equipped to provide fast, reliable delivery and a localised shopping experience.”

The stores are designed to cater to a wide demographic—offering furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, offices, dining areas, and outdoor spaces, in addition to home décor and mattresses. Each outlet is supported by Arabic-speaking staff to ensure culturally attuned customer service.

In tandem with its retail footprint, Royaloak has launched a dedicated UAE e-commerce platform, while also partnering with Amazon UAE and Noon to strengthen its omnichannel presence. The brand’s UAE entry is not just an expansion strategy but also a commitment to job creation and customer-centric innovation in one of the Middle East’s most competitive retail landscapes. The company plans further expansion across the Emirates in the coming year

Announcements

UAE announces fuel prices for June 2025

Published

1 month 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