Wednesday, April 30, 2008

review: Comex 2008

Don't even bother going there. Its the same old pathetic exhibition that they put on every year, only worse.

On the shopper's side, there are most of the companies that deal with technology and telecommunications such as Omantel; Oman Mobile; Nawras; SonyEricsson; Nokia; Dell; HP; DTK and a number of others which don't come to mind right now. All offering the same stuff that they do through their agents here in Oman except at a higher price at the exhibition.

The one thing that I got to confirm is that there is no price capping for the 1Mbps; 2Mbps; and 4Mbps broadband connections from Omantel. Say, for instance, that you purchase the 4Mbps connection, you pay the 39 Rials fee and get a 5GB quota and if you exceed you pay for the extra as well. Complete ludicrious, if you ask me.

I got to find out finally how much it is to buy the Apple MacBook Air - 995 Rials. Sure, I'll just sell myself and apply for an additional loan. Uhuh.

If you're looking to waste your time, then you might as well go otherwise don't even bother, you can get better deals through various computer and telecommunications shops around the Muscat area or maybe even Dubai if you're willing to go the distance.

Choice is yours..

Prince of Persia is back


Ubisoft has finally officially announced that a new Prince of Persia game will be released around the 2008 holidays (Summer? Christmas?) but has yet to announce the subtitle of the newly mentioned installment of the franchise but it's rumored to be either Prince of Persia: Ghosts of the Past or Prince of Persia Prodigy.

There are too many details to be mentioned apart from the obvious facts that it will be a totally new prince with new characters and storyline; this will come as a pre-release of the anticipated Prince of Perisa: Sands of Time movie being produced by multi-million action producer Jerry Bruckheimer in 2009.

You can check out a few of the websites that offer details about the new game by clicking here, here, here, here, and here.

The game will be released for all the game consoles including the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 and the PC. There is no scheduled release for the Wii. A separate game with different storyline and characters is in the works for the Nintendo DS system.

You can check out the official new Prince of Persia website through this link.

Monday, April 28, 2008

new Batman 2: The Dark Knight images









The suspense is killing me into the momentum that is building up to the release date of The Dark Knight sometime in May or June, I believe.

I was able to get these images from Yahoo! Movies. Check them out.

Rest In Peace: Heath Ledger.

COMEX: is it worth even attending?


I have seen the supplement provided by a newspaper today and it shows some fairly good deals on some established products for exhibitors in COMEX 2008 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.

I have yet to check out the exhibition tomorrow afternoon or evening so should come up with a summary by then.

close, but no cigar


You probably known by now the new ADSL+2 packages that Omantel is now offering. But I figured that since I had been yapping about the subject for the past several days of last week, I might as well round it up.

The details are somewhat still sketchy; there are three types of packages; Residential; Commercial; and Governmental.

Residential packages offer up to 8Mbps speeds with unlimited downloads and 512 KBps upstream, with 7 email accounts, free antivirus and spam protection and no monthly rental with no caps according to Omantel's newly established FUP - Fair Usage Policy.

Commercial packages have the same benefits with a maximum download speed of 16Mbps and most likely 1Mbps upstream that includes 15 free email addresses from the Omantel server and antivirus/spam protection.

Governmental packages have not been displayed on the online portal for the company but had been earlier released in the press release in written media yesterday. And as always, they get the best deals.

Its fair to say that some of the prices included for the packages are somewhat reasonable in a manner, but others are completely ridiculous since there is no capping for any of the residential packages apart from the basic 512KBps and 8Mbps packages while the commercial and governmental packages don't have a mention of this FUP that Omantel is to imply.

Omantel has said online that it has come out with this result after comparing prices, packages and policies from different ISPs around the world to end with this. In all honesty, most ISPs - professional ISPs - give their users/customers unlimited downloads no matter what speed they get based on a flat monthly/yearly rate. Why is Omantel so insistent to stay behind the developed world?

I'd say this to those folks at Omantel; Close, but no cigar.

You can check out these packages from the Omantel website.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

leaked: new ADSL packages


You know those vague printed media advertisements? Especially in the newspapers? The ones that say something about 'Power'?

They're the introduction of the new Omantel ADSL package strategy.

Only the picture above got leaked somehow to someone but quickly got removed from the Internet website to the company, but not before getting a grasp of the thumbnail.

Guess we'll also have to wait until tomorrow's papers come out.

Stargate: Continuum



Everyone knows about Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. And everyone including me thought that the ending to the original Stargate series sucked big time.

It seems though that the folks behind the Sci-Fi network wish to rekindle the affair with their audience by recapturing the magic that was once in the days when Richard Dean Anderson was still with the SG-1 team before they cut him of the show in season 9.

This is all to be launched in a new Television movie called - Stargate: Continuum.

The story carries on with ingredients of the two shows (i.e.: SG-1 & Atlantis) by reuniting both teams with Col. Jack O'Neill. In a threat to the Earth made by the Go'ald, along with other unseen enemies, the newly assembled team must devise a plan to conquer the threat once and for all.

The trailer above pretty much describes the rest.

The movie is set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on July 29th, 2008.

get ready to change your digital experience?


Finally, the day has come when such an event we thought would never occur. Where, we - as Omanis and citizens of the Sultanate of Oman - will boldly go where none of us have gone before. Can we truly admit now that we are a developing nation?

The answer lies within time itself.

Today, Omantel is going to announce its new long term strategy in regards to the Internet, the Oman Mobile/Omantel merger and what other services it would be enforcing through this year (hint: 3G+ for Oman Mobile) all in a press conference.

It is said in the press release in various written media that Omantel will introduce new ADSL packages that will accomodate to the customer's pockets as well as be the cheapest in the entire Gulf region (which I find that hard to believe).

Let's just try and give them the benefit of the doubt - shall we?

PS: maybe as part of their strategy, they could change their stupid logo.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

21


From the moment you see this movie's trailer at the cinema you get an idea that the entire plot is about gambling and how to entertain yourself with the luxury of being absolutely rich. But that's where you're mistaken because the entire idea of the movie is not so much about gambling and the such but rather about one very simple mathematical substance: variable change.

21 is a movie about young simple maths geniuses who put themselves to the test of counting gambling cards in a game of Black Jack who all study at the prestigious M.I.T. institute of higher education who get involved by invitation because of their extraordinary mental abilities and skills.

Along the way they enjoy the riches and what not that their abilities enable them and get them when used to their advantage when they are at the betting tables. Throughout the story you find out about this young man and his desperate need to fill in a financial void to enable him to go to medical school at MIT. His luck at the gambling table finally runs out when he is caught in the act.

So what do you think he does?

The movie, besides the plot, is really watchable and quite entertaining in comparison to the Ocean's trilogy, also adds a certain twist of his own.

I'd recommend it for everyone who is of legal age.

Hope you get to enjoy it as much as I did..

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Sitting All Alone In My Room

I sit all alone in my room
Contained in my own solitude

I sit all alone in my room
So as not to let anyone steal my thoughts
To drain away
My only freedom in my speech, in my guts

A handful of people I trust
People who I can sit with to joke, laugh and with no dignity - curse

I sit all alone in my room
So I can savior my soul to myself
To contain the feelings that I would otherwise regret

But most of all
I sit all alone in my room
So I can just be alone
So that nobody bothers me by striking up a tone

news for OmanTel & Oman Mobile subscribers

A few days ago, I had read the letter from the chief of board of directors of OmanTel as it was published in the local newspapers about the results as of 31st December, 2007. In it, the person describes the 'accomplishments' that OmanTel has achieved along the way, its profits and losses and its potential growth. But one section of the page had caught my eye which was what kind of services that OmanTel and Oman Mobile were going to roll out in the near future.

It said that it expects to launch Oman Mobile 3G+ service throughout its network during the third quarter of this year (2008) - so good news for you there. It also vaguely mentioned the launching of broadband services in different forms - and I remember distinctly a while ago in some written media that it had said in a press release that it was going to launch VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services, along with the expected release of different packages of broadband services to accommodate to the needs of the community in the Sultanate of Oman. Although there really is no point in rolling out the new services if they can't fix the old ones, most importantly: efficiency of the network (i.e.: consistent disconnection from the network on several occasions). Having said that, all we can really do is just sit and wait while they keep making 365 million more Rials every now and then.

And last but not the bit least, the expected merger between OmanTel and Oman Mobile is coming in early 2009. They've hired a professional consultant to help them out in this case and they can expect a can of whoop-ass if they don't achieve their desired goals from the government.

make everyday Earth Day


For more information about Earth Day and how to make this a more greener planet, visit: Rustle The Leaf.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

redundant minds

I don't expect anyone to ever understand me or what I am going through in this phase of time. After all, we're all different from each other and if ever someone comes up to me and says that 'opposites attract', they're sure to get a piece of my mind because it isn't always true. Therefore a generalization isn't the answer.

No.

At times, I feel confident and content that I take on any given task with no problems whatsoever. But lately, there is another feeling that seems to surface from time to time which is being alone. Sad story fast forward, it just doesn't pay anymore to make any friends if your old friends don't want to stay in touch with you just because they got married or have their own agenda in some other part of the planet.

God created man and woman. He also created reason and rationale. Meaning which that when He created man and woman, He had created a reason for which they would find each other attractive whether it was love, lust or just a likeness to the other sex. But what my mind fails to understand is that out of 6 billion people on this Earth, you get to choose the one that doesn't want you at all and your heart aches from within knowing you will never get her to fall in love with you.

Yes. I do know that I've skewed off the main topic. But, bare with me just a little bit more, please.

We all grow up from our selfless habits from when we were children to becoming teens and now reach this moment: young adult-hood. Memories stick with us to help us remember what it was like back in those days. We keep our experiences to ourselves to use to overcome future knowledge. But when you get to a moment that you are frozen in - what do you do?

The main reason for this topic is that I have a basket of mixed emotions within me and I don't know what to make of it. The harder you try to get out of it the harder it becomes on you. Its like you're trying to get the machine working but its frozen solid.

I wish I knew what to do..

Sunday, April 20, 2008

COMEX 2008 - Sultanate of Oman


"COMEX the largest annual IT, Telecom & Technology show in the Sultanate of Oman, has gained the reputation of a leading platform showcasing the latest in technology and services to match the rising needs for telecommunication & information technology solutions in the region. COMEX carries great value for the country's fast growing industrial, corporate and consumer markets that are in continuous search of modern technology."

Comex 2008 - Oman is due to be on during the period of 28th April, 2008 to 1st May, 2008 for businesses & between 28th April, 2008 to 2nd May, 2008 for consumers.


Saturday, April 19, 2008

responsibilities

In a statement, Abraham Lincoln states "There is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go, and that is to travel that way yourself".


A noble goal indeed, it is to educate one's self in the subject of life and how to deal with it in all manners of cases that should come our way. But the true nobility lies in how we use the knowledge we possess along the way to adhere to the circumstances that set a hurdle in our path.

A chosen profession, perhaps. A reliable means of income, maybe. Such examples are the end results of corrective responses of our characteristics to how we respond to situations, whether it is a between the jaws of peril or a jump of joy for the happy news of a newly-born.

Regardless of the situation, it is the responsibility that we hold to our sanity in answer to the given situation at all times so as not to create an unstable dilemma.

The imbalance of our biological structure when in such a situation is what causes this to occur. Something we could not possibly overcome because it is the way we were made in the hands of God. But that is not to say that we cannot control ourselves.

It is our future and as such .. our responsibility.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Bucket List



To be quite honest, I didn't fancy going to this movie mainly because of two reasons: one of which was the title was kind of boring; and secondly, the actors weren't exactly my favorites (i.e.: Morgan Freeman & Jack Nicholson). I only went because of the company.

As it turns out, the movie was excellent, if you like drama with a sniff of wit along with it, that is.

The story is there's these to men on their way to big dust-room in the sky, and they meet each other at the hospital room they both share with each other. After completion of medicinal help and knowing the ultimate outcome of their fates they decide to put together a bucket list - a list of all the things that they would like to accomplish before they are greeted by the Egyptian Heaven Guard.

The movie takes you on a journey with these men, showing you their humane side and their quirks along with the non-judgmental eye on faith, religion, and most of all - trust.

This movie is currently showing at Al Shatti Plaza.

Believe me, you wouldn't want to miss this movie.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

its coming


Well, it would seem that the people behind our beloved ISP are actually doing some work on providing some better speeds to the Omani populace. My intenet connection had crashed a lot of times this week to the point where I just got fed up with it and closed the laptop altogether until - hey, presto - some one or two days ago it fired up to better speeds close to 51KBps. The average that I ever got was 43KBps.

Comex is coming very soon and there's been a news bulletin in the written media that Omantel will be introducing new ADSL packages to cater to the needs of their strengthening number of demanding customers. About time, too.
It is said that these packages will include an upgrade to the residential 384KBps connections to 512KBps as well as the introduction of new 1MB, 2MB, 4MB and 8MB connections with no caps and free download limits reaching a level of 10GB per month.

Let's hope the prices that they will provide will also cater to the customers torn up pockets. After all, we are living the golden age.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

second chances..

Its amazing how the mind works. The most simplistic behavioral patterns is often how we judge people when we see them do the things that they do. But to what end do you see the actual truth? You would fathom on the possibilities and the whens and whys of what was the intent of such a person behind a specific action. Others will amuse you in claiming that they have the supernatural sense of reading thoughts. Then again, there are those who are born naturally gifted with a sense to 'feel' out the rythems and signs of bodily language in an attempt to better understand the individual that they are in host of.

But truth to be told, we are not Gods. We are not supermen and women who are out to accomplish a set objective to a mission. We are merely human beings trying to better understand the true nature behind such discrepencies.

While in my youth, I had a become a regular Pinnochio with the never ending 'why?' on my tongue. Why does the world turn around? Why do people do the stupid akward things that they do to make another person feel special? Why are we still standing on this Earth when it itself is turning around itself at an enormous speed?

Some answers I gathered.

Some - however - I did not.

You could say that you can call them 'growing pains'. Tempremants of a youth in a desire to learn more, but in his own way. With a drive to push forward and have the fun of his life.

But time leaves no one alone.

Over a period of time, there was joy and pain. There was laughter and vain. There was the loss of friends, loved ones, and those whom you could say you would not have lived without. Yet, alas, all was gone. The point of no return had been passed and it just was - no going back.

Regrets at this point matter not. Nor do memories do you any good. But the focus on the present and firm hands on the steering wheel of the future is where it all lies now.

Do you believe in second chances?

Sunday, April 13, 2008

get ready for a new airport experience


Apparently, Zahara Travels & Service Bureau L.L.C., along with Plaza Premium Lounge Management Ltd of Hong Kong, China have teamed up to create a new joint venture that would overtake the responsibility of Muscat International Airport's consumer experience in overall services, and attainment of products under the name of Zahara Airport Services.

There was a very tight competition between the bidders of the tender for such a 'world class' service and these guys won it. Kind of reminds you of what happened when there was a bidding for the 2nd mobile operator in Oman and Nawras had won in what was locally dubbed as 'you rub my back and I'll rub yours' attempt to allow Omantel into the Qatari market as a second operator against the Q-tel monopoly.

So what should we expect?

Not much, as I can gather from the news brief that the Times of Oman printed this story online. Nothing, that is, other than that we'd probably get the same old lame services from these guys except we'd be stamped 'jackasses for life' if this went over our heads unnoticed.

Honestly, who do they think that they're fooling?

-----------------

- Times of Oman: Zahara Travel to operate airport lounge

Saturday, April 12, 2008

accepting things as they happen..

In the past, I have been resistant to fate's crashes and sub-crashes of life's systems from illness, studies and work running me into the stone wall of the depression phase.

Now, there's a new me that's looking to pop out.

The one that takes every disadvantage possible and turn it into an advantage. One where there's no agony or pain less than that of suffering and disease. The child-like adventures are over and it's time to get serious since time is running out on our beloved youth in realization of the fact that we're not getting any younger any time soon.

Smiling when it most hurts.

Gripping onto faith in the utmost darkest corners of a lost and wondering soul.

Celebrating the success and defeat - each in their own way by trust one's self in success and applying confidence to one's morality while learning from the mistakes that one makes on this long journey we call life so that we may not repeat them again in the near and far future.

There is a chance that we could make it to the other side all in one piece. But the question that arises is this: which path would we choose: good or evil?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

the worst exhibition - ever


I went to visit the GHEDEX exhibition today (Wednesday) to have a look around of what kind of opportunities were in offer, and I have to tell you folks; it was the pits.

I mean, there was barely any representation from any Omani colleges apart from the known ones but what about the institutes? Aren't they part of the solution too to the ever increasing number of annual high school graduates?

Along with that the part inclusion of JOBEX alongside this exhibition was the worst that I have ever seen in my entire educational lifetime. You had one bank which was OIB. Nobody from any of the other banks were there to present offers to students who wanted to join their organization nor was there an adequate representation of any Omani company for that matter.

All in all I counted about maybe some 8 or 10 companies in total who were offering job opportunities.

Is this what it has come to?

This exhibition was on display at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from the 7th to the 9th of April, 2008.

Thank God the embarrassment is over.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

everybody says die...

Here's a glimpse of what you can expect in my third poetry book.

Hope you all like it.

--------------------------


We got orphans living in the streets
We got no food or water to drink
We got bust for not being able to think
And now everybody says die

The atmosphere is giving up on us
The child within begins to curse
All the fools stopped looking for love because of lust
And now everybody says die

Everybody says die
We living a low life
We choose to deny
What dignity we stand to gain but complicate our simple lives

Everybody says die
Because of the life we have to live
Of all the chores we should go on and give
Everybody says die because they just want to give up than cry

Look at the clouds above our heads
Look at the tears we cry in the dust
Look at the children who stopped smiling because of lost trust
And everybody says die

The UN says forgive
Nations just want to have war than to stand and live
Changes in attitude go on but do we ever learn?
The choices we makes are consequences earned
And everybody says die

There is a life we have to earn
A choice of whether to grow or burn
Better than mountains that crumble and turn
But will we ever learn?
And everybody says die

Everybody says die

Everybody says die

Everybody says die

Monday, April 07, 2008

keeping things in perspective

I have mountains of pressure on my head right now. I have no idea what to make of it and what to do with it and trying to sort it out gives my brain a big headache everytime.

So I got sick the last time and again I lost a good amount of time of studies in the College that I was going to and I ended up hitting a wall everytime I wanted to reach a decision because I couldn't be decisive about it. Sitting at home doing nothing doesn't help much either. I was told a couple of times before and now that if everyone who ever got sick stopped going to their daily chores then this world would never move and we would never progress.

Then comes the issue of me working on my poetry book which I am trying so hard to move on with by having it ready before the year's end but my creative sector of the brain has completely shut down along with my passion and emotion.

I see myself as a cold person, someone I had always loathed to be. I never wanted to become this. I can't even laugh right let alone make a joke about something.

But I am trying as hard as I can to keep everything in perspective.

The College will have to bare with me for a little while longer because I plan to continue (contrary to the previous decision of quitting), my poetry book will have to come out sooner or later and when it does it'll bare its fruits and as for my dilemma - well - that's something only time can solve, I suppose.

Wouldn't you say?

Saturday, April 05, 2008

common sense & respect...

... are two of the common values that most, if not all the people should always have when dealing with strangers and whatnot.

But does this happen in Muscat?

Hell, no.

Imagine you're standing in line waiting to order something from a fast food restaurant and someone is standing right beside you - a female - in the line. Now your turn has come up and you proceed to make your order but the female skips you and automatically assumes that it's her turn.

Common sense and respect states in this situation that you get an apology from the woman and the right-a-way to make your order.

This was not the case.

In fact, it was completely the opposite. The lady states that she had no knowledge that you never ordered and that she wasn't paying attention to you and that you should respect yourself because you're in front of the softer sex.

The result.

A good shouting at.. that's what.

Friday, April 04, 2008

not easily denied

When man is faced with perils beyond compare, there is always a way out whether they see it or not.

Something everyone - including me - should always keep in mind. As our fears turn against us, they cause agitation; frustration and aches of all sorts to the point that we create an invisible circle or sphere around us that we trust no one to come through or anywhere near.

Dare we say the psychological ipso facto on such an issue is associated with sociology as much as it is with the approach of communication towards the individual.

I was here a couple of times and I am here now.

And it is only a brief amount of time until this phase blows over.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

back on track

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for the rest of the blogs that I work upon to resume activity, I have some happy news for you. The Secret Arabian Journal has had a new post added to it some two days ago.

Go on ahead and check it out.

I, Yahya and Jassim would like to welcome you all back.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

O.A.S. plans to build 6 more airports

The last time the airports were mentioned, we were told that a total of 5 airports would be developed in Oman with a large fund from the government because they wanted to boost the tourism sector.

Now, the Oman Aviation Services company (which I think partially owns the airports in Oman along with the government - please correct me if I am wrong) is looking to develop 6 airports in the Sultanate and develop both Muscat International Airport and Salalah International Airport by adding new features and developments yearly from the year 2010 until 2019.

If scientists are right that the Earth would be hit by a comet or meteorite by the year 2012, then there's no need for all of this.

Seriously.

The amount that is being spent on these airports should be invested into stabilizing the local economy that is now facing a 'official' 7% inflation, over-hiked prices in general on everything, and low wages and salaries whether you're in the government or the private sector.

It just doesn't pay to get out of bed these days, does it?

--------------------

- Oman Tribune: 6 new airports soon, says Al Haremi

KnowledgeOman.com


The first of its kind platform website to raise awareness of the IT industry in the Sultanate of Oman (and in the GCC, if I'm not mistaken) has been launched today by founder and President of the whole concept and 'company' - Tariq Al Barwani.

You can visit the website via this link.

Tell them what you think of it, I personally think it's a great idea and somebody has got to come up with something similar someday to enable several service distributors to reach as many consumers in Oman as possible.