Samsung Gulf Electronics unveiled the groundbreaking features of the Family Hub Refrigerator, marking a new era in connected and sustainable living, during an exclusive event at Akira Back in Dubai. The refrigerator is equipped with cutting-edge technology, designed to enhance connectivity and entertainment for families right in their kitchens. With AI features that automate meal planning and other daily tasks to deliver a more personalised experience, the Family Hub refrigerator is the industry’s smartest fridge and the future of connected homes. Through the SmartThings App, the Family Hub seamlessly links various smart devices, allowing users to turn the linked devices on/off, adjust settings, coordinate activities, and limit power usage. Moreover, users can listen to music, watch TV, and easily share pictures, videos and handwritten notes among family members right from the fridge’s screen.

DooHee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “At Samsung, we believe that connected home technology can transform lives and make them more convenient, connected, and sustainable. With the Family Hub refrigerator, we are transforming the kitchen into a shared, connected experience that goes beyond preparing meals into the new epicentre for the smart home. We have also worked with partners to bring even more experiences directly on the appliance, including online shopping, food recipes, home security and more.”

The Family Hub refrigerator, equipped with 22 apps, revolutionises smart living, offering users a comprehensive home view. The SmartThings Video widget facilitates easy front door monitoring and access to multiple security cameras for a seamless household overview. Enhanced by AI image recognition, the View Inside internal camera lets users check fridge contents on key shelves via their smartphone or home screen. It streamlines shopping by displaying items without opening the door. Users can tag expiration dates, create lists, and set reminders.

Chef Giovanni Ledon at the launch of SmartThings Energy

The Samsung Food app simplifies cooking with over 10,000 recipes across 32 cuisines, leveraging Food AI technology. The Smart Recipes feature provides a personalised weekly meal planner based on user preferences and fridge contents. Transforming the kitchen atmosphere, the Family Hub refrigerator functions as a virtual jukebox with a 25W speaker. Doubling as a multimedia hub, it mirrors content from Samsung Smart TVs and phones onto its touchscreen. With connectivity for up to 6 screens, users can sync calendars, prepare briefs, stay informed, and effortlessly share media and notes, creating entertaining and connected kitchen experiences.

Samsung also demonstrated how its innovations enable a sustainable, connected future as the world gathers in Dubai for the COP28 climate conference. At the event, Samsung highlighted how its SmartThings Energy platform facilitates a transformative approach to energy conservation, highlighting its potential to bring positive changes to UAE homes by significantly reducing costs and improving quality of life.

SmartThings Energy is a new tool within the SmartThings app that allows consumers to take control of their energy consumption with monitoring, target-setting, and notifications of their Samsung appliances and HVAC systems. The ‘AI Energy Mode’ within the app employs artificial intelligence to optimise energy usage in Samsung products, enabling up to 70% in energy savings.

Advanced algorithms in SmartThings Energy can weigh laundry loads, set defrost cycles, estimate electricity bills, and detect open refrigerator doors or room temperature changes, empowering users to cut costs and reduce consumption. SmartThings Energy is the first platform of its kind to earn ENERGY STAR certification for a Smart Home Energy Management System from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“As discussions continue at COP28, Samsung is proud of our contributions to a more sustainable future for the region. We’re committed to developing eco-conscious products that help our customers conserve energy and build a more sustainable future for their families. From the ENERGY STAR ratings in many of our products to home appliances globally recognised for meeting the most rigorous energy-efficiency standards, we strive to deliver technologies that consumers can confidently use to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. We are empowering our customers with smart home solutions that are not only innovative but also responsible towards the environment by enabling them to monitor and control their home’s energy consumption and receive tips on how to save energy and money,” President Lee added.

Samsung works with smart home and IoT device manufacturing partners like Aqara and technology integrators such as iSmartHome to craft the ultimate connected home that is safe, personalised and sustainable. The company demonstrated how the Phillips Hue smart lighting, ABB remote-controlled curtains and intelligent AC systems connect with Samsung SmartThings to elevate users’ lifestyles. The entire ecosystem is managed through a simplified interface on the Smart Hub, the new epicentre for the smart home.

SmartThings aligns with the increased interest in smart homes among UAE residents and, more broadly, with the UAE’s vision for Smart Cities. By connecting various devices and appliances throughout the house, Samsung demonstrates how users can create a smart, sustainable lifestyle tailored to their needs. The Smart Home market in the UAE is poised to achieve a robust yearly growth rate of 11.13%, projecting a market volume of $113.8 million by 2028. Today, Samsung has 2.3 million registered SmartThings users in the UAE alone.  The trends reflect a surge in the demand for smart home technology, propelled by the nation’s emphasis on innovation and luxury living. Through SmartThings, Samsung enables new experiences, healthier living, better entertainment, and more sustainable lifestyles.

Nothing, the London-based consumer tech brand, has announced the first of several Limited Drops for its inaugural Apparel collection. The first two pieces will be available to purchase on nothing.tech from 11:00 GMT on Thursday 7 December and at Nothing Store Soho.

GCC customers can get their hands on the Limited First Drop exclusively at the Nothing Pop-up in Soledxb festival,  from 8-10 December and from 11th December onwards at FRAME Boutique till stock last. An ode to the 1970s IBM factory floor, the Labcoat embodies Nothing’s founding design principle: transparency.

Product details below:

• Regular fit and thigh length
• Multiple pockets with zip closures
• Back bottom hem vent for mobility
• Right chest pocket with multiple compartments and zip closure
• Inside adjustable waist with drawstring
• Hanger loop at back neck
• YKK Natulon zippers made from recycled materials including PET bottles. Yarn used in the tape is made from 99% post-consumer recycled material.
• Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
• 100% biodegradable plant-based packaging

To top things off, there is the Transparent Cap (one size) that pairs effortlessly with Nothing’s Transparent Labcoat (available in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes). Conceptualised with teenage engineering, Nothing Apparel is focused on quality-driven wardrobe staples designed to withstand the test of time, featuring a line of caps, coats, tracksuits and more.

The Transparent Cap will be sold at AED 149 and the Transparent Labcoat at AED 699. Further Apparel drops will be announced in 2024. Apparel will be available in all current markets where Nothing sells directly to consumers on nothing.tech.

The Visual Arts Commission, under the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture, is thrilled to announce that registration for the highly anticipated Kingdom Photography Award is officially open. Embarking on its second edition, this award encourages photographers based in Saudi Arabia to capture their everyday lives and share their unique perspectives.

By creating a visual narrative that encapsulates the beauty and cultural essence of the Kingdom, the Kingdom Photography Award will provide a platform for emerging photographers to portray the diversity of Saudi Arabia, under the theme ‘We Tell Stories”. Photographers are encouraged to submit a series of 3–10 photographs that tell a compelling story of everyday life in Saudi Arabia.

Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission expressed her excitement about the competition: “We are delighted to introduce the second edition of the Kingdom Photography Award, a unique and exciting competition that is looking to unearth visual stories that speak of people’s lives in Saudi Arabia. Every photograph has a story to tell, but unlike a single picture, a photo essay can offer us possibilities to get to know characters, the textures of their lives, their interests, and their ideas. Saudi Arabia is a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered and shared and through ‘We Tell Stories’, we are excited to explore the heart and soul of the Kingdom through the lens of your camera.”

The competition, available to both Saudi nationals and residents, encourages participants to capture “a day in the life,” loved ones, familiar places, or the inspiring landscapes they live in. This competition is an opportunity to realize that every facet of the Kingdom has the potential to be a masterpiece.

The Kingdom Photography Award offers participants a chance to win 20,000 SAR and gift vouchers worth 20,000 SAR per winner, as well as access to mentorship programs led by renowned professional photographers. In addition, selected entries will also be featured at an exhibition in Hayy Jameel, Jeddah, providing a platform for emerging photographers to showcase their work alongside accomplished professionals.

The judging panel, comprised of esteemed professionals, will evaluate each submission to ensure the selection of the most captivating and evocative stories. The judging panel includes Ghada AlMuhanna, Hussain AlMoosawi, Mick Moore, Mohammed AlFaraj, and Tanvi Mishra.

Registration for the competition is now open and closes on December 31, 2023. To submit your series, simply visit the official website, click on “Register Now,” and complete the form. The submission process is free, with terms and conditions detailed on the website. Winners will be announced on February 10, 2024, with the final exhibition taking place between February 10, 2024 – March 2, 2024.

The second edition of The Kingdom Photography Award promises to be an exciting journey of self-expression, discovery, and storytelling. For more information on how to submit entries, please visit: https://engage.moc.gov.sa/tkpa