Our new cheap flight website will be launching this week – we will be bringing you the best cheap flights from Dubai to around the world. This is a mailing list only service, so sign up and get booking. Stay posted for the web address….
Archive for the ‘Online’ Category
Fly cheap…
In Online, Travel on June 7, 2011 at 8:14 pmDubai Daily Deals
In Online on April 28, 2011 at 6:15 am
WNDR Media has launched a new project: Dubai Daily Deals. A group buying aggregator site, we felt this was sorely needed with the increasing number of group buying sites in Dubai. This is version 1; expect lots of upgrades in the coming months. Sign up and get all Dubai’s bargains your inbox every morning.
Google Print
In Magazines, Online on March 25, 2011 at 2:39 pm
The Church of London, the rather brilliant design agency, has produced this new quarterly magazine for Google. Along with this, this, and this, it’s another example of print (well the magazine format) getting stronger and stronger. Speaking of print, have just got back issue two of Open Skies, which is looking good – stronger feature layouts and a more coherent flow – now working on the Africa issue which promises to be the best yet.
Open Skies
In Magazines, Online on March 3, 2011 at 9:15 am
Well the first issue of Open Skies has launched. Happy enough with it although some work is needed on the next issue, part of the creative tweaking process that needs to happen after a debut issue. Excited about future themed issues and already got some stunning covers in mind – the debut cover was not too bad either, with some great work by Reza Abedini, an Iranian graphic artist. We also got a mention in Cover Junkie. Which was nice.
The New Landscape…
In Newspapers, Online on February 10, 2011 at 6:22 pm
The recent events in Cairo have illustrated the dividing line between ‘old’ media (print) and new media (online). Whereas before people would have got their news from the newspapers, now they are getting information from a combination of sources:
Social media – primarily Twitter and to a lesser extent Google Realtime
Online – web-only sites and more interestingly ‘old’ media that has utilised new media properly.
Two prime examples of this is the Guardian, which is showing a u-stream video on its homepage right now (10.15 on a Thursday evening) and Al Jazeera whose live feeds have become required watching.
So what does this mean? Well, for starters, any media organisation that thinks it can survive with only a print arm is in trouble. The only way around this would be to complement other outlets. So, if you cannot get the news to people as quickly or as efficiently as Twitter – then don’t bother, stick to what print media is still good at: analysis and opinion.
So while people will spend their evenings glues to Twitter and Al Jazeera’s feeds, they can pick up the daily paper the next day and find out what the previous nights events mean. A newspaper that tries to everything, will ultimately do nothing. Know your strengths, and play to these – anyone who tries to do it all will fail.
On the Edge…
In Magazines, Online, Travel on December 27, 2010 at 12:53 pm
It is the time of year when everyone comes out with lists – lists of the year gone and lists of the year ahead. One of the most interesting lists I have seen is this from www.linkli.st. Meanwhile Time has given us their top ten magazine covers of the past year. Disagree with a lot of the covers (Rolling Stone’s Eminem cover??) but then they did pick Mark Zuckerberg as their Man of the Year, so their judgment is often awry.
Watched Alex Gibney’s excellent documentary on Hunter S Thompson, Gonzo, which looks at the myth created around him, his place in American literary history and how and why he eventually lost it. Great stuff.
New Year’s resolutions for 2011? Try to consume as little local media as possible (on doctor’s orders), get three exciting URBN projects underway in the first three months of the year, and re-invent the in-flight magazine. Oh, and spend five nights camping, trekking and diving in Socotra.
One final note of cheer – got a really nice email from Pico Iyer regarding a feature I did on Kathmandu for Esquire Middle East earlier this year. A push, if ever one was needed, to get back into travel writing.
Wikileaks, wanton journalism, working hard…
In Online, Travel on December 14, 2010 at 11:59 amThe recent Wikileaks disclosures have, as expected, been ignored by the local media when it comes to the UAE. In that regard the country’s media has shown itself to be know better than any of the other countries where the press is muzzled. The National even published a rather cowardly editorial advocating secrecy. Just another reason not to take it seriously. In other news, URBN is close to some exciting announcements, one involving our Kabul application and one involving a website and application. We are also involved in relaunching the in-flight magazine for one of the biggest airlines in the world, so watch this space….
Misc…
In Online, Travel on November 2, 2010 at 5:31 am
Just back from a trip to Bangkok – the gentrification of the city continues unabated, yet parts of the city still look like they did in the Seventies. Stayed at the rather nice Conrad Hilton and visited the brilliant Brown Sugar. One of the best jazz bars in Asia, we were treated to three young Thais playing some amazing jazz and an older Thai women – who sounded like Ella Fitzgerald – belting out the classics. In other news, strides are being made for URBN’s Kabul application – more news soon, and we have launched our first Layar, bringing proper augmented reality to Dubai. It’s in phase one at the moment but will be updated soon. We are also in the planning stages of a new travel website due to launch in January….
Random…
In Design, Online, Published articles on October 9, 2010 at 6:07 am
Anyone interested in magazine design should check out these books from Pie. In other news, URBN has one big announcement to make in the coming days – a partnership with one of the world’s largest mobile application developers. We will also be at GITEX – once we know the stand and hall number, we will let you know, so feel free to drop by and say hello. Also here is an op-ed piece I wrote for the National on Shah Ahmad Massoud. I also bought the very nice HTC Legend, a reckless purchase, but worth every penny.
Dubai Eye…
In Online, Travel on September 28, 2010 at 12:08 pmWas on Dubai Eye this morning talking to Jessica Swan and Alexander McNabb on Dubai Today. We talked about our forthcoming Kabul app, some mobile app myths and the state of the local app market. Listen here. Some new announcements coming next week – exciting times…
