Category: Internet

Marzouq and I had a chance to check out InfoConnect before the doors open to public tomorrow:

The good:
Qualitynet is offering huge price cuts in addition to ‘extras’ that will only be offered when you subscribe/renew at InfoConnect. In addition to a ‘Sky DSL’ service which possibly means two way satellite service (as UCC). They also are offering a raffle for a Mini (might be one of the ‘extras’) with Al-Ghanim.

TechSys has a ton of new products from Planet and Silverstone, from HTPC/High-End cases, quiet/ultra-powerful power supplies to affordable networking products like smart switches and ip-cameras.

Lastly, E-Government is in full effect this year; Bahrain and Oman’s governments showing off their e-capabilities alongside Kuwait’s MOI, MOC and PACI. There are Several Kiosks, payment devices and even a decked out BMW Police Car on display.

The bad:
No Zain (they have their own event in April?), No Zajil, No Fasttelco, and not even Wasel (new Internet Company). For those looking to get a new deal on their EGO or DSL lines… You might be out of luck with the big players sitting it out. However, Zajil has already slashed prices with 3mb going for less than 850kd for a year’s subscription.

The ugly:
Aside from the cheaper yet still over-inflated pricing on the same old items… There is not much that InfoConnect has to offer. Without the Internet companies using February as a time to introduce their new offerings… you might as well take a stroll down any Ibn Khaldoun for the same experience.

The reality is that InfoConnect is a second rate bazaar with local stores trying to unload the remaining stock from their warehouse. Everyone from ElectroZan, Yousifi, Al-Ghanim Electronics and Sony are busy selling Televisions and DVD players than showing off new technology.

On the bright side, this might be a good chance to pick up that TV you have been thinking about. In addition to the electronics… there is an endless supply of Phone stores, two bit computer shops and Chinese stands selling items which can probably be found for cheaper in Hawalli.

I put up some pictures on my Flickr page [here].

-Posted by K

I will be posting tomorrow the ISP cost comparison.

If you were wondering why you have been unable to access the internet, its due to the SMW4 (South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 4) SEG-4 link between Alexandria and Marseille has being cut (not good). Calls to the helpdesk won’t resolve much, as this is something beyond the repair of our local ISPs (it is affecting the whole region).

Status:
January 30th – 2.30pm : There is no Estimated Time of Repair.
January 30th – 10:00pm:  A cable-ship has been dispatched from Italy; repair may take up to two weeks.

More about the SMW4 Link: Wikipedia / Official Website

-Posted by K
(Psst M.O.C .. It might be time to re-evaluate our backbone links.)

Someone posted a link to Q8showroom.com in the forum the other day and since then I have been seeing their web banners everywhere. The site is still not up but it looks like its going to be competing head to head with Q8car.com. I like Q8car but their website interface is a disaster and all these flashing banners on the main page are bound to give me epilepsy one day.

I called up the phone number on the Q8 Showroom website to ask when they were planning to launch and they told me within 2 to 3 weeks (they weren’t sure). If it was me I would have only started advertising once the site was actually up because I don’t think anyone wants to keep checking their site to see if its up yet or not. [Link]

A friend sent me a link to Yamli, a website which does a bunch of things my two favorite being:

1) You search the Arabic web but using English letters. Meaning you type the Arabic as it sounds using English characters like 3arabi and it will convert it for you to عربي

2) You can type a document in Arabic but again using English letters and it will do the conversion for you as you type.

You can try it out, its easy. [Link]

Thanks Katia!

Slider Station finally have a website up and running but when I try to check it on my Mac my browser practically freezes. I tried using both FireFox and Safari and the website seems too graphically heavy to browse properly. From what I managed to see, they have some photos up and the menu but without the prices. [Link]

AOL just announced that they will be killing the Netscape Navigator browser on February 1st 2008. Its hard to understand how AOL were able to run an extremely popular browser like Navigator into the ground while less popular browsers like Opera and OmniWeb are still surviving. Anyway if you feel nostalgic here is a link to nearly all the versions of Netscape Navigator ever made for any system starting all the way from version 0.4. [Link]

news source

Here is an updated list of current DSL pricing:

As I have said in the past; I wouldn’t suggest signing up with United Networks or FastTelco due to their incapability to deliver promised speed, provide sufficient support or maintain a stable network.

The most enticing ‘offer’ (we still pay too much) is the 4mb connection from Qualitynet at 900KD. As you would be looking at a download speed of roughly 400+ KBPS. Although, I am not sure if most telephone lines are capable of handling that speed. Come to think of it, ISPs could offer a 1000MB connection knowing that your telephone line will tap out at 3MB.

With Info-Connect 2008 only two months away, I would suggest extending your subscription until you can make use of the offers there.

I just found this website called QuickSilverScreen and it has tons of movies, tv shows and cartoons online that you can stream instantly through your browser. I just watched a bit of Sea Quest! [Link]

Just a reminder, don’t forget to check www.itsthefastestever.com at 9PM tonight for the launch of Zain’s new product. The site will be up only from 9PM to 10PM so don’t miss it.

Like Wikipedia except for the weather. [Link]

Khitba.com is dedicated for Kuwaities interested in getting married and searching for their life partner. You can do your own search and contact members registered at Khitba.com until you find your life partner. Khitba.com makes finding your life partner easier and achievable. The intention of Khitba.com is to provide these services in a manner that reflects a genuine respect for the people that are using the site as well as with a sincere and sustainable concern for the Kuwaiti culture and society.

They can’t be serious, isn’t this like a dating site? and wouldn’t that be illegal here in Kuwait? [Link]

Lately I been playing lots of Halo 3 and been staring at that image as I wait for my games to load. It really astonished me since I am very familiar with the picture the world at night showing the world’s continents lit up.

Yet on Halo 3 Africa and South America are dark spots with a dots compared to the rest of the world.

It reminded me of my post Google Per Capita on how many people have access to Google. Yet the Halo Per Capita is even more telling. Just a quick glance of the map you can see which countries have access to high speed internet and disposable income to pay for a XBox.

Update: The lights on Halo3 map lighting up on the day of the game’s launch

Amazon supposedly redesigned but I have been refreshing my browser for a while now and I still can’t see it. I did manage to find a screenshot of the new design on the page where they talk about their makeover. [Link]

I hadn’t heard the majority of these websites up until awhile ago. [Link]

via del.icio.us

This is the latest cost comparison chart put together by k.thekuwaiti of local internet providers.

More details [here]