ما هو الاهم الفكرة ام البرمجة ام ماذا؟
تويتر تطلق خاصية المجموعات لكل المستخدمين.
Tiba3a: Unleashing the Beauty of Arabic on the Web
No one can deny that Arabic is one of the best looking written languages out there, it’s considered a highly sophisticated art form in addition of it being a communication medium.
Yet the amount of Arabic fonts that are available on Windows, Mac, Linux and the Web is very few. This problem was a discussion topic about between some of the participants -including me- at BarCamp Lebanon event, we tried to do something to solve this problem, but not much work was done!
Though the idea now is supported by Dubai, UAE based CloudAppers and its founder Baher Al Hakim.
Founded in 2008, CloudAppers is a small web applications development house and social media agency, it has built a couple of web application and has received seed funding from @PKGulati.
CloudAppers has developed a web service that tackles the Arabic fonts problem in the web called Tiba3a. The service would enable any website to use any Arabic fonts they want with ease.
Tiba3a will host host the fonts on its server and website who needs them, only need to copy and past a small Javascript code on their websites and they are good to go. Tiba3a currently supporting Safari 3.2.+ – Firefox 3.2 +and – IE in the future.
The service is planning to partner with the owners and the designers of the fonts, who would offer their fonts and Tiba3a will share the revenues it generate from licensing fees it gets from the websites that use them.
“Tiba3a will offer a solid level of protection that protects the rights of type owners and designers and makes it impossible for anyone to get a copy of the used font.” Baher told ArabCrunch.
Baher also said that Tiba3a inspired by Typekit, that’s doing the same for English fonts.
Though Tiba3a technically is ready to roll it is not yet launched since it needs the Arabic fonts to host, Baher said that they are in talks with couple of Arabic fonts foundries.
ArabCrunch growing network supports Arab Startups in different means, but that does not mean that ArabCrunch English editorial policy is biased towards them, we are neutral. We say you are good to someone if they are really good, or we offer some advice in how to improve the service or the product among other tips and posts related to starting and running a company. The main help ArabCrunch English offers to Arab startups is through writing about them so the world would know about them taking into account that heavy wight executives at the largest IT companies in the world read AC, let alone the most popular bloggers in the world and the western media, something that no one did when ArabCrunch started. Though if there are 2 services one from Arab origins and the other from a western origins, we say who is better based in who is better not based on who is Arab and who is not. An example that we favor and use Twitter over its Arabic clone “WatWet” for many reasons.
Though any initiative that aims to help Arabic problems on the web, is fully supported by me, so If you know any font designer you can drop CoudAppers a line.
طباعة: حل مشكلة الخطوط العربية على الويب.
BeryTech Launches a 100,000 USD Incubation Award
This is the 3rd funding/grant story covered by AC, BeryTech , an incubator that is based in Lebanon is awarding 100,000 Dollars for technology projects in 2009.
Winners of the projects will be selected by a committee of experts who will select projects based on certain qualities; technological and scientific quality, creative aspect, economic sustainability and growth potential, job creation potential,target market and export potential. In addition the selected committee will be evaluating the motivation and implication of the candidate(s) and the quality of the team.
The Award obtained will allow entrepreneurs to take their idea from the initial project to company phase, while benefiting from many of BeryTech services among which; business hosting including office space and furniture, computer equipment, internet connection,coaching through out the project development phase, participation in communication and marketing events, consultancy from experts appointed by Berytech and Access to funding.
To submit an application entrepreneurs needs to download this app and send the form by November 30, 2009. Winners will be announced in December2009 and by January 2010 the winner will be able to start their operations inside the incubation. ( BeryTech website says January 2009??)
The award website does not specify whether entrepreneurs need to be from Lebanon or not, but it seems to me they need to relocate to the incubation facilities. In addition, Berytech website says they reserves the right to distribute the Award to one or several projects, and the amount will depend on the merits and requirements of the projects.
Dubai Silicon Oasis to Launch a Global Technology Fund Next Year
DubAi Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) was a dream to turn Dubai into the silicon valley for the Arab region, that dream was shattered when multi national tech companies and other mid and small tech companies, chose the Oasis as a sales and marketing hub for their operations, not as an R&D center.
However DSOA has plans to change that, As today Ray Milhem, the new chief technology officer of technology investment at DSOA, told Gulf News that the authority will launch a global fund to attract research and development and manufacturing companies to set up a base in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
The fund will get investments from the authority and from local, regional and international investors and will target companies in the Arab region as well as global companies, but its amount has not been disclosed.
Gulf news reported: ”Earlier, the authority announced a budget of Dh25 billion set aside for investment in the coming years at DSOA. The whole project has already attracted foreign investments worth Dh1.4 billion. It has set aside about Dh500 million to invest in start-ups that will be spent over the next five years. Additionally, private investment into real estate at DSOA is Dh13 billion, while Dh10 billion is budgeted for the third phase of the project’s development.”
Abu Dhabi’s Twofour54 Launched A Fund for Media Startups
twofour54 an Abu Dhabi government supported organization that aims to help turn Abu Dhabi into a media production hub has announced few days ago that its arm ibtikar, the media industry funding and support pillar of twofour54 has launched twofour54 ibtikar: creative lab, a grant funding scheme aimed at helping young Arabs get their ideas off the ground.
twofour54 ibtikar: creative lab offers grant funding and business support to Arab individuals from the UAE and across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, helping what they see as great ideas that would benefit from seed funding, development guidance and planning to get off the ground.
twofour54 ibtikar: creative lab is believed to be the first incubator in MENA to be focused on the media and entertainment sector, and provides a starting point to a viable and long term career in this dynamic industry. It offers funds ranging from US$1,000 to US$50,000 for ideas demonstrating exceptional creativity and originality across all media platforms including television, radio, film, publishing, online, mobile, music, gaming and animation.
twofour54 ibtikar: creative lab and young Arab funding recipients will engage in regular brainstorming sessions to develop ideas into fully fledged creative projects. A key part of this collaborative process will include budget creation and training in project execution and support throughout.
twofour54 ibtikar: creative lab expands twofour54 ibtikar’s funding portfolio, which also includes ibtikar ventures, the first dedicated MENA-based media and entertainment investment fund.
This is another good news for Arab entrepreneurs, but since this fund is aimed at online and offline media and the entertainment sector, we hope TowFour54 will not fund Entertainment startups who would provide content that would not be aligned with the best interest and the special values of the Arab world.
Etisalat Launches Kids Safety Phone and its Own Low Cost Mobile
Etisalats ,the Emarati Telecom company has launched today its own kids phone, the device is geared for families to monitor and stay in touch with their kids.
KidsPhone is a simple device that comes only with a 4 programmed numbers, GPS and SMS. The device will alert parents via SMS and email if their kids leave a predefined zone such as school, club or home.
Kids can only call one of these 4 numbers. In most cases, to their parents brothers and sisters. The device is ideal to keep kids safe. I like the fact that the phone does not offer a full-fledged phone which kids should not have.
About a month ago, my friend Zamil Safwan from Saudi Arabia, showed me a prototype for a similar device to Etisalat’s Kids phone, that his company “Jockey Electronics” has designed and developed. He aims to partner with Telecom operator in the region to launch it.
On the other front, as we said before on AC, Etisalat launched its own mobile branded phone, Etisalat 211 FM, a low cost mobile phone at the price of 265 AED (72.15 USD) that comes bundled with Etisalat Wasel SIM card with 165 AED of free airtime credit for international calls, over a period of 3 months.
Etisalat 211FM, is a mobile device that supports MMS, WAP and FM radio features. The slim device has a colored display screen and supports both Arabic and English languages. The device comes with a headset and one year warranty from Etisalat.
Etisalat 211FM, is the first series of self branded mobile devices Etisalat said it intends to launch.
Hyzonia A Self Service Adver-Gaming Startup
Hyzonia is a new startup from Dubai, UAE that aims to simplify Game based banner advertising.
The startup offers “Adver-gaming As A Service” , a new concept that enables advertisers to use video games to advertise a product and run their ads in adver-gaming network without the need to have special platforms, devices or complicated installations. However, when I tried to create a test ad, the system failed to register me.
Unlike what is typical in the industry, Hyzonia charges per engagement or activity, when the audience get engaged with the ad. Hyzonia also offers advertisers real-time monitoring reports and stats. I was wondeing if Hyzonia has a network of publishers since I haven’t seen a list on their website.
(Update: Maryam Alimardani cofounder and CEO of Hyzonia told me that they have exlusive deal with NetAdvantage, the first advertsing network in the Arab world.)
Hyzona is self-funded with 11 employees. It is founded by Maryam Alimardani, Reza Ayati, and Homam Hosseini who all happened to be from Iran.
Breaking: Kzalek, First Twitter Arabic Desktop App Beta Launched (supports all platforms), Farisi UI Planned.
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