News

Qatar’s Biodiversity Database Platform Set For 2024 Launch

The project, in collaboration with UNEP, aims to preserve local species and gather valuable environmental data.

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2024

Nour Nasir

qatar's biodiversity database platform set for 2024 launch

Qatar Ministry Of Municipality

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has reached the final phase of a project to create Qatar’s biodiversity database platform.

The primary objective of this endeavor is to construct a sustainable biodiversity database and generate ecological maps of Qatar to pinpoint significant biodiversity sites across the nation. The project will establish a large electronic repository encompassing biodiversity-related and environmental data, cataloging all indigenous plant and animal species in the country in alignment with the Qatar Digital Government Strategy 2023-2025.

The scheduled launch for the database is set for later this year. Experts have already examined the project’s completed phases and unveiled the electronic platform’s initial design, which conforms to international standards.

With the project nearing completion, MoECC recently organized a series of meetings and coordination sessions over a three-day period, which dealt with the final stages of completing the project.

During a workshop held on January 30, a team from the World Conservation Monitoring Center delivered an in-depth presentation on the electronic platform, demonstrating the cutting-edge technology in its design. The software will facilitate seamless user operations and provide advanced capabilities alongside an initial assessment to identify research user requirements and review the database.

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On January 31, another training workshop was conducted, in which the project team oversaw advanced technological training for MoECC’s technical team. The trained group of users will manage the content of the project’s knowledge management platform in collaboration with the ministry’s communication teams after the official project launch later this year.

Launched in 2021, the Qatar biodiversity database project’s overarching goal is to compile a database for preserving the nation’s biodiversity. This resource will also support the creation of reports related to biodiversity, monitoring efforts, and decision-making processes.

News

Apple Announces New iPad Pro With M4 Chip And Updated iPad Air

“This is the biggest day for iPad since its introduction,” said CEO Tim Cook in a video posted to Apple’s website.

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2024

Nour Nasir

Apple

Apple’s latest updates to its popular iPad Air and Pro models were announced on Tuesday, May 7. These are the first changes since 2022, the longest stretch between new models since the iconic device was revealed in 2011.

Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the iPad Pro have received a huge design overhaul. The most noteworthy change is the move to OLED screens, with the 12.9-inch version receiving a small bump in size to 13 inches. Apple claims the new tablets are brighter and more vibrant than outgoing models, thanks to a technology it calls “tandem OLED” or “Ultra Retina XDR”.

The 13-inch model now measures an astonishing 5.1 mm in thickness, which Apple says is its slimmest device ever. (The 11-inch version is 5.3 mm thick.) For those who prefer the look of a matte display, a nano-texture coating will also be available for the first time on the Pro models.

Finally, the new iPad Pros have received a processor bump to the latest M4 chip, which Apple says is an “outrageously powerful chip for AI”, offering an example of its ability to quickly and efficiently isolate subjects from backgrounds in videos.

The iPad Pro 11-inch starts at $999, and the larger 13-inch version starts at $1,299 with 256GB of storage.

Updated iPad Air In Two Sizes

The sixth-generation iPad Air didn’t receive as many upgrades as the iPad Pro but significantly does now come in two sizes. As with the Pro models, buyers now have the choice between an 11-inch and 13-inch screen, meaning they don’t need to invest in a Pro version just to get a 30% bump in display size.

Apple kept the same design for the iPad Air that it first revealed in 2020, complete with a USB-C port and Touch ID in the top button. The only difference is the front camera placement, which has been moved to the center of the iPad when in landscape orientation.

The 11-inch iPad Air is priced at $599 for the entry-level model, while the 13-inch version starts at $799.

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New Magic Keyboard Case

Apple also announced an updated (thinner, lighter) Magic Keyboard for its Pro iPads. The refreshed version now includes a function row (with controls for screen brightness). An aluminum palm rest and large trackpad with haptic feedback also help the premium case feel more like a Macbook.

The new Magic Keyboard is available for both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros and will be priced at $299 or $349, respectively.

Apple Pencil Pro

Apple also announced a new Apple Pencil, named Pro, at its event. The new model looks exactly the same but adds a “squeeze” function that opens a new tool palette. Meanwhile, a built-in gyroscope sensor lets you alter the orientation of the tools you’re using as you twist the device, offering finer control. Finally, the new pencil gets support for Apple’s Find My network, which should keep minds at rest at the prospect of losing the $129 device.

Finally, to round off Apple’s series of announcements, the entry-level iPad was reduced to $349 — a $100 price cut.