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Dubai is a strange place but it’s becoming the Middle East’s go-to startup hub

Apr02
by on April 2, 2015 at 11:41 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Dubai, Insider, MENA, Middle East, startups, STEP Conference

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Dubai looks like what would happen if Donald Trump played Minecraft: ever more ridiculous towers bursting forth from the sand, steel and glass everywhere. At night, it feels like the city from ‘Bladerunner’ blessed with better weather. What Dubai doesn’t feel like at first glance is a startup hub. Though it practically sweats money, it doesn’t immediately strike you as a hive of hustlers building scrappy new businesses. 30 years ago, the city state was an underdog, but now it’s defined by supercar-stuffed highways and other ostentatious expressions of wealth. A photo posted by Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) on Mar 30,…

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72% off Power Vault 18000mAh portable battery pack with international shipping

Apr02
by on April 2, 2015 at 11:02 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, Offers, TNWDeals

Charge up your mobile devices wherever you go with the Power Vault. Its powerful 18,000mAh battery can juice your phone and tablets multiple times on a single charge, and its sleek body takes up minimal space in your backpack, purse or pocket. This essential battery pack is housed in a reinforced aluminum case so it’s lightweight, compact and durable. Plus, it can charge two devices at once, thanks to dual USB ports including a 2A high-output port for tablets. If you’re on the road often, the Power Vault is a must-have accessory for your gadgets. Order now for just $29.99…

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What does a tweet feel like on your wrist?

Apr02
by on April 2, 2015 at 10:47 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets

Wired has published an in-depth look at the development of the Apple Watch today. One thing that stands out to me is the thought that has apparently gone into designing the ‘Taptic Engine’ that notifies you of events by vibrating against your wrist. “When they had the engine dialed in, they started experimenting with a Watch-specific synesthesia, translating specific digital experiences into taps and sounds. “What does a tweet feel like? What about an important text? To answer these questions, designers and engineers sampled the sounds of everything from bell clappers and birds to lightsabers and then began to turn…

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Scanbot adds Slack and Wunderlist integration to its Android and iOS document scanning apps

Apr02
by on April 2, 2015 at 10:00 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, ios, Product Updates, Scanbot, Scanning

Document scanning tool Scanbot has updated its Android and iOS apps with a bunch of new features and improvements, including integration with Slack and Wunderlist. The latest version lets you upload scanned documents and receipts to Slack for easier sharing with your colleagues, and allows you to add a reminder in Wunderlist’s to-do app.   Additionally, Scanbot Pro on iOS now lets you quickly add data like location, date, time and calendar events to file names. On Android, the app has got a complete visual overhaul based on Google’s Material Design guidelines. Plus, both apps have been fine-tuned to run…

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Airbnb expands its home rental service to Cuba, but only for US travelers

Apr02
by on April 2, 2015 at 9:31 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

shutterstock_125520296_Cuba_by Frank Bach
Airbnb has begun listing residences in Cuba on its home rental service for US-based travelers, reports the AP. The company has expanded its service just a couple of months after the US government lifted trade restrictions with the island country. Airbnb has more than 1,000 properties listed in Cuba, a majority of which are in Cuba and the rest in tourist destinations like Cienfuegos. The country has had a long history of hosting travelers in private homes, and Airbnb’s regional director Kay Kuehne believes it’s a perfect fit for the company. Said Kuehne, “We are actually plugging into an existing culture…

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