Apps
Toyshare Launches in the UAE
Dubai welcomes its first and unique online off-center rental platform for children’s books and toys: Toyshare. On a mission to rescue the planet and provide limitless creativity and learning, Toyshare has created a concept that embodies a sharing economy for children to “Play.Learn.Share.” while reducing the amount of plastic in landfills and oceans. Families across the UAE can now enjoy an economical and sustainable platform to regularly access top-quality books and toys while reducing home storage requirements and, ultimately, reducing plastic waste.
The ingenious idea was coined by Hani AlQattan, a UAE National airline captain after he soon discovered that the books and toys he would gift his children were short-lived since his children would lose interest and abandon the items after two weeks. The father of two and innovative entrepreneur had then established Toyshare to address two main concerns; save books and toys by increasing their lifecycle, and increase practicality for parents while reducing the expense. Through the founder’s passion, Toyshare’s offerings include providing new educational books and toys every fortnight delivered directly to families’ doorsteps across the UAE, which are then collected and replaced with new toys to consistently stimulate learning habits and activate creativity all while preserving the earth.
The innovative platform gives families access to quality products with endless possibilities from its hand-selected books and toys spanning over 100 high-end brands from around the world for ages 1-12, ranging from kids’ favorite Chicco, Lego, Nerf guns, LeapFrog to thousands of educational wooden and plastic branded toys. Toyshare’s diversified portfolio of over hundreds of books includes popular books by more than 40 publishers, including the renowned Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Dog Man, and many more.
For peace of mind, all books and toys are professionally disinfected and sterilized using environment-friendly cleaning products and top-quality UV lights to clear potential germs and bacteria. Before dispatching via Aramex delivery, and as an extra precaution, the warehouse has added a lock to their packaging bags which will further maintain the sterility of products while being delivered to homes.
The platform’s creative and entertaining gesture can be seen in their payment method as a user would be required to purchase ‘balloons’ as a currency which will then be used to rent the books and toys. For a seamless process, Toyshare offers monthly memberships for users to subscribe to a best-suited plan, with two deliveries a month, that are customized according to the number of toys desired.
Toyshare aims to educate children on the importance of giving and sharing, which is deeply embedded in the company’s values. Once books and toys are retired from its library, they are then donated to www.toyswithwings.org charity to distribute the pre-loved books and toys to refugee camps, orphanages, centers for disabled children, and pediatric hospitals.
Families can sign up to receive new educational books and toys every fortnight at their doorstep through a user-friendly app available on App Store and Google Play.
Apps
Meta Expands Integration of WhatsApp with Accounts Center
Since its launch in 2020, Accounts Center has allowed users to manage their connected experiences across Facebook, Instagram, and Meta Quest with ease. In a significant expansion, Meta announced the rollout of a new option to add WhatsApp to the Accounts Center over the coming months.
The integration prioritizes user choice and privacy. WhatsApp accounts will remain separate from other apps, and only users can decide to link them. This integration is optional and off by default. However, those who opt in can enjoy added convenience. For instance, sharing updates from WhatsApp Status to Facebook or Instagram Stories will become seamless, eliminating the need for multiple posts. Additionally, a single sign-on feature will enable quick and easy access to WhatsApp accounts.
Meta plans to introduce more cross-app features over time. Future updates will allow users to manage their avatars, Meta AI stickers, and Imagine Me creations all in one place. The company commits to providing clear explanations for these updates within their apps to help users make informed decisions.
Privacy remains a priority, with personal messages and calls on WhatsApp continuing to be protected by end-to-end encryption. This ensures that no one, not even WhatsApp or Meta, can access this content. Integrating WhatsApp into Accounts Center does not change this standard.
The global rollout will take time. Users will see the new option in their WhatsApp settings or when prompted while performing cross-app actions, such as resharing their Status. Meta aims to enhance user experience by making digital interactions smoother and more intuitive.
Apps
Lamborghini Rolls Out Smart TV App
Lamborghini has launched Lamborghini TV, a smart TV app that offers fans and customers an immersive experience in the world of this iconic automaker.
The app delivers exclusive content, including in-depth model analysis, technical insights, motorsport highlights, event coverage, lifestyle features, interviews, and podcasts.
Available on Android TV (8.0 Oreo and above), Samsung Tizen (2018+ devices), and LG WebOS (2018+ devices), Lamborghini TV can be downloaded directly from smart TV app stores. With high-resolution visuals and curated programming, the app allows enthusiasts to explore behind-the-scenes stories.
From comprehensive looks into Lamborghini’s latest supercars to exclusive podcasts offering expert insights, Lamborghini TV is designed to provide a captivating experience tailored to every fan. The app is available for download now on compatible devices.
Apps
Elon Musk Teases Launch of ‘Xmail’ to Rival Gmail
Elon Musk has sparked speculation about the potential launch of ‘Xmail,’ an email service that could rival Google’s Gmail. The excitement began when the X account DodgeDesigner suggested that an X-based email service would be “cool.” Musk responded, stating, “Yeah. On the list of things to do,” confirming that the concept is being considered.
Interesting.
We need to rethink how messaging, including email, works overall. https://t.co/6wZAslJLTc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 15, 2024
This announcement is in line with Musk’s usual method of revealing updates through casual interactions on X. Although no official timeline or details about ‘Xmail’ have been shared yet, the news has generated significant buzz on social media, especially among Musk’s followers.
As of September 2024, Apple Mail dominates the global email market with a 53.67% share, while Gmail holds 30.70%, according to recent data. Outlook, Yahoo! Mail, and Google Android combined account for less than 10% of the market. If Musk introduces ‘Xmail,’ it could potentially disrupt the current market dynamics, leveraging his influence as the world’s richest man and US President-elect’s ‘First Buddy.’
Supporters are already rallying behind the idea. One user expressed their enthusiasm, stating, “I’d drop Gmail so damn fast,” reflecting frustration with Google’s dominance.
The potential launch of ‘Xmail’ underscores Musk’s ambition to expand X’s ecosystem and challenge established tech giants. Whether ‘Xmail’ will succeed remains to be seen, but the anticipation and excitement are already high.
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