News

Saudi Arabia Plans Wide-Ranging Entertainment Ecosystem

The global branding and urban planning for Qiddiya City aims to bring in 48 million visitors annually.

Published

7 months ago

May 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

saudi arabia plans wide-ranging entertainment ecosystem

Qiddiya

Qiddiya Investment Company has formed a merger with Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) amid plans to comprehensively overhaul the entertainment sector. The new entity aims to construct a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem to further Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and forge ahead with the construction of the multi-billion dollar Qiddiya project.

Managing director of Qiddiya and chairman of SEVEN Abdullah Aldawood, explained that the merger would “create a new concept of fun and improve the quality of life by building an integrated and unprecedented entertainment ecosystem”.

qiddiya project final plan saudi arabia

SEVEN brings vast experience to the ambitious plans after spearheading the development of 21 entertainment projects spanning 14 Saudi Arabian cities, with total investments exceeding $13 billion.

Among its many achievements, SEVEN was responsible for reintroducing cinemas to the Kingdom after a 35-year hiatus and has secured partnerships with global brands, including Transformers, Play-Doh, Hot Wheels, Clip’ n Climb, Discovery Adventures, and Flow House.

Also Read: Meet JAIS Chat: The AI-Powered Chatbot For Arabic Speakers

Qiddiya was envisioned as a giga-project and slated for a 2022 opening. However, the timeline has now shifted, with the opening of the eagerly anticipated Six Flags and Aqua Arabia theme parks now pushed back to 2025.

News

Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent

According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.

Published

24 hours ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.

As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.

Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.

Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…

— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024

The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.

A Collaborative Software Effort

Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.

Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.

Feature Set And Compatibility

The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.