The Up-and-Coming Arabic Web

It’s great to see so many more Middle Eastern websites and startups popping up across the web, from Yamli to the Egyptian family-friendly version of YouTube that has gotten quite a bit of attention, Tvosz.com.

In an environment where new websites are a dime a dozen, startups disappear as quickly as they appear, and it’s hard enough for English startups to keep afloat, Arabic sites have an even bigger challenge. An interesting article was was posted a while back on StartupArabia, and while I agree with some of the points made, I don’t necessarily agree with it as a whole. (I really don’t buy the idea that because of small social circles in the Arab world, there’s a risk of identity theft, whereas security, stability and neutrality are all viable concerns.)

I think a lot of Mid Eastern users like myself, are prone to think, why would I choose a Middle Eastern website over an American/European one which does the same thing, and probably better? For some people the language barrier necessitates the use of a social bookmarking site like Wapher rather than Delicious. For me, that barrier doesn’t exist. In fact, my Arabic isn’t even good enough to get through one link at Wapher before feeling like I’m going to put my fist through the computer screen.

My main problem is this: living in a country like Egypt - more often than not - when we do something, it’s half assed. City Cab is a perfect example. We all ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the thought of a taxi service that you could actually call up, they’d come pick you up, and whisk you off to your destination, in the comfort of a clean, air-conditioned taxi that didn’t feel like it was going to fall apart the minute you slammed the door. After a few months, we were unsurprisingly disappointed. The cabs showed up late, if at all. And if they showed up early, they went ahead and started the meter anyway. The service was unreliable, and there was no one to address your complaints to when the service didn’t come through, no one to hold accountable.

Personally, my concern is that every Arab website out there is just another “City Cab” in the making. Shiny and pretty on the surface, but as you start to use it, you discover all the flaws, the kinks, and all the reasons that make you not want to use the service.

I am hoping to be constantly proven wrong by all these new websites that are making their way to the forefront not only of the Arab internet world, but in the Web 2.0 world as a whole.

Screening of Israeli Film Band’s Visit in Cairo

The Israeli film about an Egyptian police band, The Band’s Visit, which I wrote about a while back, had a small screening in Cairo.

I know that many will disagree with me on this, but because of the nature of the film itself, I think this is a positive, albeit small, step.

Any bashing can be saved until after you’ve actually watched the film.

(In other news, anyone else feel the earthquake this morning in Cairo? I’m not sure where the centre was, but I know it was felt all the way from Heliopolis to Haram.)

Competition to win a MacBook Air

So I’m in the Top 10 finalists at SecondBrain to win a MacBook Air but I’m lagging behind. I’d love it if anyone who reads this blog would register at SecondBrain and vote for me. Ignore the negative votes - they are not going to be counted for anything, it’s just the system that they’re using is set up that way.

For those of you unfamiliar with SecondBrain, it’s one of the best social aggregators out there for collecting all your online content in one place. You can read my review of it on Download Squad here.

Tags: SecondBrain, Competition

A little less geek

And again this blog is going to be just a little less geek from now on. Not cause of my ADD tendencies, but because anything I’ll be writing in that category will now probably be going to Download Squad.

My first post went up yesterday which you can find here.

*does the happy dance*

Who says Egyptians aren’t open-minded?

I bet they don’t have transgendered GI Joe’s in the States.

(And yes those are boobs)

No one really cares how you are.

One of the interns at work just called me on my extension to ask me something. This is how the conversation started:

Over-eager intern: Hi. Ezayek? (How are you)

Me: Good thanks. You?

Over-eager intern: I’m good. 3Amalah eh? (How are you version # 2)

Me: I’m good thanks.

Over-eager intern: Kola tamam? (How are you version # 3)

Me: Everything’s good.

Why in the name of everything sane does a person have to ask “How are you” three different ways in the space of three seconds when we both know that even when people ask how you are they really don’t give a crap about the answer…

Geek and Poke

It’s not as dirty as it sounds. Geek and Poke is a brilliant little comicstrip of a website filled with the kind of Web 2.0 and geeky humour that I can’t get enough of… If you’re in need of a laugh, you should definitely check it out…

Recognise the Armenian Genocide

Thanks to JPierre, I found out that today is the anniversary of the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide under the Ottoman Empire.

It’s worth taking a moment to remember the people who lost their lives in a genocide that has been largely ignored by the world for decades.

Middle Eastern Linkage

Two interesting developments in the Middle Eastern Internet world. First, Jordan will be hosting what I’m guessing is the Mid East’s first official bloggers conference iBlog…iMedia.

“iBlog… iMedia” is the first conference on consumer generated media in the Middle East, organized by casualPR, a leading online Public Relations agency that focuses on blogs and online media. The event will take place in Amman, Jordan on Sunday 1st of June 2008.

Now that would be something worth attending.

And there’s also a new website worth bookmarking, StartUpArabia.

StartUpArabia is a blog dedicated to new Arab technology startups and services, profiling and reviewing them, providing interesting market news and information, and sharing tips and advice for entrepreneurs.

Some of the items they’ve already covered include the available Arab social bookmarking services, Seamler, a personalised Arabic homepage in the vein of Netvibes/iGoogle, and a Tunisian version of ebay. (I had no idea half of this stuff existed!) So far there are no Egyptian startups on the website, but it’s only been around since March so I’m patiently waiting.

Kudos to the people behind StartUpArabia for showing a different side to the Middle East.

An Israeli film about Egyptians Part II

So I finally got around to watching The Band’s Visit, and I’m really glad I did. For a film about Israelis and Egyptians - the most refreshing aspect is the fact that there is no mention of politics whatsoever.

The film is made up of a series of vignettes, showing the members of an Egyptian police band from Alexandria, interacting with the residents of a sleepy, semi-comatose town in the heart of Israel. The imagery in the film is striking - from two Egyptian men watching as an Israeli woman cracks open a watermelon, to the group of Egyptians and Israelis sitting together in a dining room, singing Summertime.

The Band’s Visit is painfully idealistic. On the one hand, I’d like to think that in reality, like Fesh said, you put some people in a room together, no matter where they’re from, they’ll find common ground. I’d like to think that they’ll get along. But in this case, it’s only possible if politics doesn’t come into the picture.

That said, I think this film is a step in the right direction, and sadly the majority of Egyptians and Arabs are never going to see it. The filmmakers have taken a remarkable step - a step that makes the people on the other side of that heavily armed border human. Gives them families, responsibilities and babies sleeping in their cribs at night, gives them losses, grief, pain, and hope. Gives them lives that are parallel to our own. And all we do is ignore it.

I can’t encourage everyone enough to try and get their hands on this film and watch it. You won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen this year.