News
Third Batch of Companies Announced for HTC Vive’s Vive X Program
Vive X, HTC VIVE’s global AR/VR accelerator program, has announced its third batch of start-up companies to join its ranks. Twenty-six new companies across the world have been selected to participate in the program with the goal of building and advancing the global VR/AR ecosystem.
By being selected into Vive X, these companies become part of a program that is unlike any other start-up accelerator. Vive X is a service-orientated strategic investor that offers unparalleled access to expertise, resources, planning and an extensive network throughout the AR/VR industry. By making all of its resources available, Vive helps these startups mature and go to market, and offers value that goes far beyond financial investment. With this third batch, Vive X is expanding its operations, furthering its mission to find and advance the best teams globally.
“Our focus with Vive X is to partner with companies across the globe that will solve industry pain-points and improve user experiences across AR and VR. This third batch is filled with incredibly talented and promising teams who are focusing on foundational technologies and key verticals including enterprise, healthcare, entertainment, and education,” said Marc Metis, Vice President, HTC Vive. “We continue to invest very actively in both VR and AR, and are excited to work with the next group of innovative teams and technologies that will shape the future.”
Since its inception in July, 2016, Vive X has invested in more than 80 companies across a variety of areas, making it the world’s most active investor in the AR and VR space. Many of these companies have become notable segment leaders in the industry and a significant portion have reached commercial partnerships with Vive and its partners to advance their businesses.
Some of the companies transforming the use of VR and are included in Vive X Batch 3 are:
- Neurable develops brain-computer interface for VR control. The result of innovations in neuroscience and machine learning, Neurable interprets electroencephalography (EEG) signals for real-time interaction input. Think, “mind-controlled” experiences.
- JuDaoEdu is dedicated to the research and development of VR labs for K-12 students. The product is applicable for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Science education and the company’s vision is to provide students with authentic and safe VR lab environment.
- Configreality understands deeply how human spatial perception works across physical and virtual space simultaneously. With its proprietary spatial compression algorithm, users can feel as if they are walking in an infinitely large space even when the physical space is limited.
- Super Node is a visual intelligence company with full-stack solutions that enables machines to learn its surrounding environments. The solution brings low-cost, high-accuracy obstacle avoidance, 6DoF tracking and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) capabilities to VR, AR and robotics.
- Looxid Labs has developed an emotional analytics platform optimized for VR using bio-sensors that measure users’ eyes and brain activities. Its machine learning algorithm is capable of accurately analyzing users’ emotional state, providing valuable data that can be leveraged to make a real impact in users’ VR experiences.

Gadgets
HONOR Says its 90 5G Smartphone Has Been a Huge Success in the Middle East

The HONOR 90 5G has been a huge hit in the Middle East, thanks to its outstanding features like the 200MP ultra-clear camera, AI Vlog Master that simplifies content creation and editing, and the unique 0 Risk Eye-Comfort Display with the industry-leading 3840Hz PWM Dimming Display. It has played a key role in HONOR’s growth in the Middle East. People in the region are fascinated by the smartphone’s innovative features that solve their problems. HONOR aims to be the Most Ambitious, Energetic, and Fastest Growing Tech Brand in the region, and the HONOR 90 5G is a step in the right direction to achieve that goal.
The smartphone witnessed an extraordinary surge in demand, resulting in a widespread sell-out across various locations. And now, well after its official launch, the excitement surrounding this remarkable device remains undiminished, as customers continue to clamour for it, driving sales to new heights. HONOR’s efforts extend beyond the HONOR 90 5G launch, with a focus on diversifying its portfolio and expanding its market share in the Middle East.
In the first quarter, they had an incredible 500% increase in shipments, showing their growing market share. They achieved an impressive 388% growth year-over-year in H1. HONOR is confident they can continue to grow in the region. They have a strong product lineup with durable phones in the X Series, high-end N Series, and flagship Magic Series. Plus, they focus on excellent customer service and partnerships with industry leaders.
Globally, HONOR invests heavily in research and development (R&D). They have 7 R&D centres worldwide and more than 60% of their team works on R&D. Quality is vital to HONOR, and they conduct over 1000 quality standards and product tests to ensure their smartphones are top-notch. Thanks to all these efforts, HONOR’s latest technologies have caught the attention of users in the Middle East and Africa. The success of the HONOR 90 5G in the Middle East shows that the brand is becoming increasingly popular in the region. With their continued growth and the popularity of the HONOR 90 5G, HONOR is on track for more success in the future.
The HONOR 90 5G is available in three brilliant colours – Diamond Silver, Emerald Green, and Midnight Black, all of which were inspired by the beauty of nature and designed for style–conscious users. The company will also bring a Peacock Blue variant later this month.
HONOR 90 is available now for purchase from AED 1599 for 13 (8+5) + 256GB version and AED 1999 for 19GB (12+7) + 512GB version with free gifts worth AED 228 including HONOR CHOICE Earbuds X3 Lite & a phone cover. Consumers can purchase HONOR 90 5G via hihonor.com, Amazon, Axiom, Carrefour, Emax, Jumbo, KM Trading, Lulu, Sharaf DG, Noon, Etisalat., and Nesto.
Audio Devices
HUAWEI Launches New Wearables Including the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4, HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design, and More

Huawei today held its landmark “Wearable Strategy and New Product Launch” event in Dubai, unveiling its next step in wearables with its “Fashion Forward” proposition, taking integration between technology and fashion to the next level. Huawei’s strategy reflects its vision to transform the wearables industry and provide users with the ultimate wrist companion for a modern lifestyle.
At the event, Huawei also unveiled a range of new devices, including HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 – the latest addition to the popular smartwatch series, the high-end HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 high-fidelity TWS earbuds, HUAWEI Eyewear 2 smart glasses, and the HUAWEI MatePad 11-inch PaperMatte Edition and MatePad 11.5-inch PaperMatte Edition that offer a paper-like reading and writing with 97% light interference reduction.
“With the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 and the other products we launched today, we are transforming the wearable experience for our customers in the MEA region. Our new wearable devices combine cutting-edge technology, fashion-forward design, and user-centric health features that revolutionise the industry. It empowers users to personalise their health and sports journey, without compromising style. This is the result of Huawei’s decade-long investment and innovation in the wearables category,” said Pablo Ning, President of Huawei Consumer BG, Middle East and Africa.
During the launch event Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, a leading premium healthcare provider in the region, and Huawei announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of an exciting partnership. With a focus on accessibility and data-driven personalized care, this partnership promises to usher in a new era of healthcare that transcends traditional boundaries, providing users with the ability to monitor vital health metrics, including heart rate, sleep patterns, physical activity, and even advanced metrics like blood sugar levels risk assessment.
Dr. Shanila Laiju, CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “At Medcare, we believe in the power of technology to enhance healthcare. This partnership with Huawei aligns perfectly with our vision for patient-centric care. We are committed to fostering a healthier, more connected community through this collaboration.”
Huawei is redefining the design, health and sports experience with its new range of wearables that allow users to personalise their health and sports journey without compromising style. This marks the new beginnings for the brand’s wearables business, as it leverages its three major competitive advantages: breakthrough hardware detection technology, newly upgraded software algorithm platform, and more comprehensive digital health services.
Drawing from a decade of expertise in wearable technology, Huawei is setting new industry benchmarks. Huawei is expanding its presence in the high-end wearables market and forging global ecosystem partnerships to deliver personalised sports and healthy lifestyle experiences to consumers. Since entering the wearables sector 10 years ago, Huawei has been a trailblazer in sports and health monitoring, solving industry challenges in battery life, measurement precision, and comfort. With its new strategic direction for wearables, Huawei is making sports and fitness more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Huawei marks a new milestone with the launch of the stylish flagship smartwatches the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 and HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design, the high-fidelity TWS earbuds HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3, a series of other smart devices.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 4
The latest generation of the WATCH GT flagship series introduces elevated design features with powerful health and fitness functionalities. Coming in 46mm and 41mm sizes, the new flagship smartwatch takes a bold Fashion Forward step up from classic GT Series designs, introducing inventive design elements while retaining the aesthetic signature of its predecessors. The 46mm version features a unique octagon-shaped watch body, a tribute to the classic luxury watches but with a modern twist. The 41mm version boasts a pendant-like design that exudes grace and sophistication. The watch also offers a variety of colours and watchbands to choose from so that you can match your mood and outfit.
The HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 has an exceptional battery life of up to 14 days on the 46mm and up to 7 days on the 41mm. This extended battery life ensures that you can always rely on your watch without frequent recharging. It also debuts the all-new Stay Fit app and upgraded GNSS tracking, all made better with the new TruSeen 5.5+ that brings AI-powered accuracy to health measurement, inspiring you towards a better, fitter self. By utilising the smartwatch’s LED sensors, PPG measures changes in blood volume and alerts users of irregular heartbeats using Pulse Wave Arrhythmia Analysis. The watch also supports over 100 sports modes and workout types, including Padel, a popular racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash.
HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 is available in the UAE on October 3 at a starting price of AED 899. With HUAWEI Care+ for WATCH GT 4, you can enjoy peace of mind and protection for your smartwatch at an affordable price. You can choose between one year or two years of coverage for only 149 AED or 199 AED respectively. Moreover, with the trade-in program, you can get an extra AED 100 cashback when you buy a new WATCH GT 4.
HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design
The HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design is Huawei’s first-ever gold smartwatch. The luxury smartwatch with a sailboat-inspired design comes with a gold bezel, and a gold crown is inlaid with six segments of 18K gold to form a rudder-shaped ring design. The six-segment gold bars are designed according to the golden ratio, combining the calmness of black and the brilliance of gold to achieve a harmonious and balanced design aesthetic. It adopts the diamond-cut engraving process, where a 3D trapezoidal pattern is carved onto the surface of the gold. The watch comes with a gold and black Three-Compartment Chain Strap.
HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design will be available for pre-orders in the UAE Starting October 3 at a price of AED 10999 from Huawei’s online platforms as well as certified retailers. HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Design customers can enjoy 2 years of exclusive Platinum Service, which includes Huawei Care+ service, 2 refresh services, free on-site pick-up service, and free spare unit service. They can also access the exclusive service centre and VIP hotline services.
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 are a new generation of flagship TWS earbuds that balances design aesthetics with class-leading audio technology. The new earbuds bring Pure Voice 2.0, Intelligent ANC 3.0 and Triple Adaptive EQ, as well as smart connectivity experience for seamless listening, delivering an ultimate all-rounding earbud for the modern, connected consumer. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 supports the L2HC 2.0 and LDAC codecs and is certified by both HWA and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 will be available in the UAE on October 20 at a price of AED 749 from Huawei Experience Stores and e-shop.
HUAWEI MatePad 11” and MatePad 11.5” PaperMatte Editions
The event also marked the launch of the brand-new HUAWEI MatePad 11-inch and MatePad 11.5-inch PaperMatte Editions, bringing consumers the HUAWEI PaperMatte Display that minimises reflection and glare. It uses nano-level anti-glare etching technology that eliminates 97% of all light interference, bringing a paper-like visual experience. So that you can read or watch videos with less eye strain. Colour eBook mode allows you to read your favourite comic books on the tablet screen like paper books.
Both the MatePad 11” PaperMatte Edition and MatePad 11.5” PaperMatte Edition pack a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which enables smoother viewing, more responsive touch control, and low-latency handwriting input. HUAWEI MatePad 11” and HUAWEI MatePad 11.5” PaperMatte Editions will be available in the UAE on October 25 at a starting price of AED 1399.
HUAWEI Eyewear 2
The HUAWEI Eyewear 2 comes in stylish designs and a comfortable fit that allows you to wear it all day long and packs class-leading audio technology. It also has a long-lasting battery life that can support up to 11 hours of listening time or 9 hours of calls. Moreover, the HUAWEI Eyewear 2 features an Open Acoustic Design that delivers high-quality audio that prevents sound leakage and enhances listening privacy. Thanks to built-in sensors, the smart glasses support a range of smart touch controls.
HUAWEI Eyewear 2 will be available in the UAE on November 3 at a price of AED 899 from Huawei’s online platforms as well as certified retailers.
Audio Devices
Sonos Launches the new Move 2 Portable Speaker

Sonos has launched the new Move 2, which offers up to 24 hours of battery life, and an ultra-durable water-resistant design. The device also comes packed with sustainable design enhancements, and according to the company, it is the most sustainable portable product to date and the first to bring stereo sound outdoors.
Sonos is also unveiling the Move 2 in an exquisite Olive colourway, marking its debut in a spectrum of colours. This exclusive Olive variant will be solely accessible at the Sonos store in the Mall of Emirates, Dubai, UAE. Pre-orders can be placed in the store, starting from 26th October 2023 for AED 2,099. Customers will also have the opportunity to experience a live demo of the Move 2.
“Since its 2019 launch, Move continues to be the best-selling speaker in its category thanks to its design, versatility and powerful sound,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “We strive to create sound experiences that inspire deeper connections no matter who we’re with or where we are. Move 2 advances our commitment to immersive listening by bringing stereo sound to our most popular portable, featuring the same next-gen acoustics and design we debuted with the Era family.”
The Move 2 is upgraded inside and out to include all-new hardware and software with next-gen acoustics that deliver wide stereo sound and deep bass no matter where you’re listening. Move 2 comes with a completely overhauled acoustic architecture including dual-tweeters that deliver spacious stereo sound and crisp vocals allowing you to feel the emotional charge of a live performance. Feel the beat from its precision-tuned woofer that produces deep, dynamic bass – even when listening outdoors.
Concurrent Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities allow for increased flexibility – stream via Bluetooth to a stereo pair of Move 2 speakers when connected to Wi-Fi or group Move 2 with the rest of your Sonos system to crank your party up a notch. Move 2 offers up to 24 hours of battery life – double the playback time of the original Move – with a USB-C port that can charge your phone or electronics on the go, making it the perfect companion to power weekend road trips or outdoor gatherings.
Move 2 reduces idle energy usage by more than 40%, incorporates recycled plastics, and uses a removable and replaceable battery to extend its product life – all wrapped in a responsibly designed package that uses sustainably sourced material, zero virgin plastic and is curbside recyclable. With its ultra-durable design and IP56 rating, Move 2 is built to withstand accidental drops, splashes, rain, dirt, and sun. With automatic Trueplay tuning, Move 2 continually optimizes the sound for its surroundings, so you’ll always get the best listening experience no matter where life takes you.
Move 2 is available in an Olive colourway to complement neutral indoor and outdoor aesthetics, as well as Black and White colourways that blend seamlessly with other Sonos products. Move 2 features the same new intuitive user interface as the recently launched Era products, including a capacitive volume slider for simple control, or use Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth to play, pause, check your battery, and more.
You can stream audio using WiFi or Bluetooth, and unlock new listening possibilities by connecting your turntable, computer, or other audio source using the Sonos Line-In Adapter.