I just got back from Dubai last weekend, so I am still a bit jetlagged, but in the meantime the video crew has been working hard editing the reports (good job guys!). So now you can watch the second video report, the "103-inch Plasma Display Solutions."

This video report will introduce many ways in which the 103-inch plasma display can be used. You can take a look at the plasma displays for homes, the "VIP Designer Series," which have been designed gorgeously, very befitting of an exhibition in Dubai, as well as system solutions such as the "Interactive Signage System," which demonstrates the use of displays as an electronic catalog, and "Digital Signage" that use the large-screen plasma displays vertically. So please check it out!

5:00 p.m. on October 23, 2008 - the GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008, which has been held for the last 5 days in Dubai, UAE has just ended. As though encouraged on by the ending announcements, visitors are heading home, and the clean up procedures are underway.

In the last stage presentation that was held from 16:00, the MC, Pascal and the dancers put on a performance full of improvisation. The Panasonic booth staff looked on at the stage presentation with great smiles on their face. And now, I will have to start getting ready to leave the secrete back room.

Everyone working at the Panasonic booth, job well done over the last 5 days! And I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has obliged to my reporting to help me write my entries. And thank you all for reading my entries. I hope to tell you about another exhibition in the near future.

Environmental issues have become pressing issues people across the world are focused on. And here in the environment corner in the Panasonic booth at GITEX 2008, Panasonic also communicates its commitment to tackling such issues, as a company that manufactures products that consumes energy.

Case examples of the 3 'eco ideas' - 'eco ideas for products,' 'eco ideas for manufacturing,' and 'eco ideas for everybody, everywhere' - are introduced in this corner using images. Using the touch panel, you can learn about the various activities Panasonic undertakes all around the world.

Panasonic has been communicating a common message at all exhibitions around the world, whether it be CEATEC just held in Japan, or in countries I went to for the exhibitions such as China, Germany, and Dubai. I sensed their strong drive to become a leading company tackling environmental issues as well.

There are many big architectural projects being planned and in construction in Dubai. And many say that, "almost one-third of all the construction cranes in the world are here in Dubai." I don't know whether this is true or not, but everywhere you look, you see buildings under construction. Now, it is essential that notebook PCs used at such construction sites are durable. Especially in UAE, where the temperatures are high and approximately 80% of the national land is the desert, exceptional weatherability and dust resistance must be highly desired.

Speaking about robust computers, the "TOUGHBOOK" obviously comes to mind. Please look at the photograph of the exhibition corner for the "TOUGHBOOK." The message is quite straightforward. There is one "TOUGHBOOK" buried in the sand, and another with water being poured over it, communicating the superb durability. Also, the footage displayed in the corner shows you the "TOUGHBOOK" in action at real construction sites in Dubai.

Here in Dubai, the "TOUGHBOOK" is even found in police cars. It's probably supporting people on site as we speak with its proven reliability.

The video shows how the "TOUGHBOOK" offers a great helping hand at the construction sites in Dubai. I think it's cool how it's more than just a notebook PC, it's an essential tool for people who work in tough conditions.

SD Memory Cards have well established itself as a media for digital cameras and digital camcorders. And some of you may have wondered how many gigabytes to take with you on PC-free vacations.

Because you will be storing your precious memories on them, you wouldn't want the media easily breaking or erasing data. Here, at the Panasonic booth at GITEX 2008, there is a demonstration of the SD Memory Card's durability. It shows you how this media functions without any problems in high temperatures of even 85 degrees Celsius. According to the staff, the SD Memory Cards can operate from anywhere between minus 25 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius. That is amazing. It is also resilient against impact such as falls or accidental power shutdowns due to battery shortage. And through 10,000 such experiments, the SD Memory Cards have been able to safeguard data. Because they are so durable, it is very dependable as a media for storing cherished photographs and video.

And you can feel safe taking it with you perhaps on your summer vacation to Dubai, where the temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius in the daytime.

Within this case, it is 85 degrees Celsius. It's beyond hot; too hot you might get burned. But the SD Memory Card is still working fine.

The video report gives you a great look of the Panasonic booth. And the first one, the "Panasonic booth overview" is already available online. Of course you can see what new ideas were introduced at the Panasonic booth, but you will also see the cityscape of Dubai and the atmosphere at the GITEX venue, so don't forget to check it out.

There is an event called "GITEX Shopper & Consumer Electronics Expo 2008" held in a different venue from 1 day before and until 1 day after (so from October 18 to 24) the "GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008" I am reporting about.

On the official website of this event, it is described as "the single largest and most successful retail platform for technology in the Middle East." It offers great opportunities to purchase the latest home electronics at reasonable chances, so numerous visitors come to this event every year. For your information, last year it welcomed 125,538 people, and the total sales amounted to AED 97 million (approximately USD 26.3 million), so this is a considerable scale.

As far as I know, organization of such an event where you can buy products directly at such a big shopping event during the same time as the exhibitions is quite rare. But for visitors, it must be a great opportunity as they can purchase the latest products they just saw at the exhibition at great prices. I wish such an event would also be held in Japan.

GITEX 2008 has been taking place for the last 4 days, and today, the last day of the exhibition, the admission to GITEX "Consumer Electronics" area, where the Panasonic booth is located, is free, and so many people will surely come to the exhibition. I hope to give it all I've got during this last stretch, so that my entries will not be less passionate in comparison to the air of excitement in the venue.

And I'd like to start off the day by talking about the world's largest building, which can be found in Dubai. I am sure many of you have heard about this building as well.

When I wrote my entry about the "Burj Dubai" last year, it's height was at about 500m. But it has grown taller since, and in September this year it has reached 707m. I'd like to say that it looks a lot taller than it did last year, but to tell you the truth, I can't really tell because I thought it was really tall already last year! Construction is planned to finish next year in September. I can't wait to see the finished building.

It appears as though the exterior construction has progressed since last year, and it is starting to look very much like the silver, shining conceptual drawing of the finished building.

Construction is still underway near the height of 700m. The plan is to make it even taller.

The "LUMIX G1" was first unveiled at photokina held in September. And it makes its debut to the Middle East here at the Panasonic booth at GITEX 2008 held in Dubai.

I tested it out again, but it is really small. When I travel overseas for work, I want to keep my equipment as light as possible, but then again, I can't settle for lower quality either. In this light, the "G1" is a camera I am personally interested in. It's packed with great features unavailable in compact cameras, and its focus speed and shutter response has been very well received. Because you can also attach an external flash, it may prove to be quite useful for photographing product shots.

There are many things in Dubai that are the greatest in the world - the world's tallest building and the humongous manmade island resort shaped after the world to name a few. I wonder what people in Dubai thought of the "G1," the smallest interchangeable lens camera out there.

*The smallest interchangeable lens camera with a mobile LCD monitor as of September 12, 2008 (scheduled to become available in the market on October 31, 2008).

There is a small Japanese flag displayed next to the "LUMIX G1." It may be too small to be legible, but it says, "MADE IN JAPAN."

Panasonic celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. And its activities founded upon its philosophy to contribute to the development of society through electronic technologies are spreading across the world. Here, in the CSR corner, you can learn about CSR activities Panasonic undertakes around the world from images.

KWN (Kid Witness News) was introduced as one such activity conducted in UAE, so let me describe it to you. KWN is an education assistance program Panasonic undertakes throughout the world. The program aspires to nurture the imagination and communication skills, as well as teamwork, of children in elementary and junior high schools through video production.

Panasonic lends video production equipment to participating schools, and also holds a global contest each year. And best videos in more than 10 genres, such as news, documentary, drama, and commercials are given awards. This program first began in the U.S. in 1988 and since then 100,000 children have taken part all over the world.

And as of September, 10,000 children from 668 schools in 24 countries and regions around the world have taken part in this year's program. Twenty-five countries from UAE have participated this year too. As part of the program, participating schools are invited to Japan each year to take part in cultural exchange with KWN participating schools in Japan.

I think that it is a very unique endeavor to lend equipment and to have children create videos from their perspective. It truly must provide once in a lifetime opportunities to children. I was told that some of the submitted videos really put adults to shame.

If you select the national flag on the globe with a pointer, CSR activities undertaken in that country are introduced.

And next to the globe, you will find a panel and images introducing KWN activities in UAE.

The cameras I am using on my coverage of the GITEX 2008 are the LUMIX FZ28 and LX3, which was just introduced to the market in August 2008. Of course they are exhibited at the Panasonic booth here too, but they are both functioning very well. To shoot in dark areas or if I want a wider angle, I use the LX3. And if I want to shoot from afar or if I want to use the flash, I use the FZ28. I turned blue when the brand-new FZ28 fell off my suitcase at the airport, but it's functioning without any problems.

When I was looking through the "LUMIX" catalog issued in the region, I saw that besides each product, the "MADE IN JAPAN" logo was displayed alongside the various functions. Recently, I haven't seen such a logo emphasizing that the products have been "MADE IN JAPAN" displayed on Panasonic catalogs in Japan or in other parts of the world, but what I learned from the people here is that people in the Middle East think, "MADE IN JAPAN" = "high quality." This must be the fruit of the efforts of Japanese people who came to the region long ago and continued to provide excellent quality industrial products, which has received high acclaim here in the Middle East for a long time. The industrial products that are durable and requires little maintenance even though they are used under harsh climatic environment must have been invaluable to the people in the region.

Times have changed and today products offering so-so performance at low prices are available, however, and I say this as a Japanese, we should always endeavor to create products that can live up to the "MADE IN JAPAN" reputation. "MADE IN JAPAN" industrial products with high credibility and quality, should be products that people who own them can use in life and for work. Here in Dubai, I felt renewed appreciation for the "LUMIX" as it has been functioning as a great business partner.

I also found the letters "MADE IN JAPAN" in the footage aired on stage describing the "VIERA."

"T3" is a local information magazine that introduces digital and audio-visual products. And in time with GITEX, it organized the "GADGET GLAM 2008" which involves the selection of best-buy products by "T3" editors. From Panasonic the digital camera "LUMIX" DMC-FX38 and the Blu-ray Player DMP-BD35 were selected.

And "T3" also organizes shows introducing consumer electronics every day at GITEX. On the stage set up in front of the Sheikh Rashid Hall where the Panasonic booth is located, model-like women walk out on stage, like a fashion show, with recommended products from various manufacturers. From Panasonic the digital camera "LUMIX" LX3 and FZ28, the SD Memory Card compatible high definition camcorder, the SD100, were introduced. This event where women with red and silver hair, eccentric make up, and dressed in jeans and T-shirts appear on stage with the products draws an amazing crowd during each showing.

In the "Education Solution" corner, the space has been designed to resemble a school classroom, and an education system using the interactive electronic whiteboard, "Elite Panaboard" is being exhibited.

By combining the "Elite Panaboard," with the projector and the PC, teachers can now hold classes interactively. You can of course write texts and draw on the visual images projected onto the whiteboard, but you can also display a webpage and use a marker for emphasis. Moreover, you can save your original content together with the memos you've written on the whiteboard as an image, and send it as an e-mail attachment or store it as a document. So, students can now take part in fun, very visually stimulating interactive lessons. The educational material created by the teacher on the PC may be shared with other teachers and can be also used over and over again, while making improvements.

The difference between this and the electronic whiteboard, "Interactive Panaboard" for business users, is that the height of the "Elite Panaboard" can be adjusted even to lower heights, so that even children will be able to reach, and the legs have been newly improved into a stand-like shape to offer better stability. Also, the board is made of steel, so it is durable against shock. In an age where Internet and PCs have become such commonplace things, it perhaps is quite expected for whiteboard in classrooms to evolve and become interactive as well.

Panasonic has recreated an office environment in the headquarters and a branch in this corner named "Office Automation Solution." And it demonstrates how these offices can communicate with one another using the PC, and also with visual images and audio via the IP network. IP-PBX*, IP speakerphone, and network cameras are some examples of equipment on display in this area. Visitors in this area seemed very intrigued with the system, and asked many questions about it.
*IP-PBX is a PBX (Private Branch eXchange) compatible to IP. Just think of it as a "switchboard" necessary to use the IP phones as a business phone.

According to a newspaper article, with the government's policy to attract businesses, there are approximately 20 Free Trade Zones in Dubai, and 5,500 companies have emerged into the market from all over the world. To such companies this system that connects offices remotely using the IP network while reigning in costs will surely seem very attractive.

In the demonstration, the offices are supposed to be located in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. In each office environment, the demonstration showed how a phone call received by the IP-PBX may be received on a mobile terminal.

This corner introduces a holistic security solution proposal, where you will find both IP network cameras and analogue cameras on display.

The 65-inch plasma display panel displays real-time footage from megapixel cameras set up in various places around the Panasonic booth to demonstrate how high image quality monitoring is possible. As you can see in the photograph, you can split the large plasma display screen into 16 sections, yet the images still remain crisp and clear, enabling accurate monitoring. You can also display the most important image in a larger section, so this solution will surely give you greater freedom than purchasing 16 smaller monitors.

The climate in the Middle East is very high and it's very dusty, so it's a harsh environment for electronic equipment. When I spoke with the staff in the booth, he mentioned that even in such an environment, Panasonic's products offer great durability, image quality, and operability, and thus they are highly praised for their high fundamental performance. In the future, video monitoring systems in this region will, too, become IP capable, and so he mentioned that it will be important to offer solutions that meet the needs of people in the region.

This is the footage displayed on the 65-inch plasma display panel. You can see how high its image quality is.

The "Blu-ray 7.1ch Theater" where you can experience the allure of the Blu-ray disc with various scenes from movies displayed on the 65-inch large screen plasma display and with a 7.1ch surround sound system is drawing great attention.

On both sides of the corner, there are packages of Blu-ray software currently available in Dubai. Even in UAE, the number of titles available in Blu-ray is increasing, so I get a sense that the Blu-ray Disc Player will also become widespread here soon. Many people who have already purchased full high definition TVs have also purchased a Blu-ray Disc Player to enjoy their TV's high definition performance.

Blu-ray may become widespread quite rapidly once high definition broadcasting becomes commonly available and when people begin to realize its beauty. When you look at the speed at which Dubai is developing, it feels as though this may not be too far off in the future.

Blu-ray discs have become the de facto standard for next generation discs. Perhaps this is indicative of the increasing awareness for it, but the Blu-ray Disc Player DMP-BD35 was selected as one of the winners of "The Gadget Awards" organized by "T3," a local gadget magazine.

In the hotel that I am staying in, you can watch dozens of different TV channels. I think they are satellite broadcasts, but there is also a Japanese channel available. Of course there are many Arabic programs, but there are also many Indian programs. This is very unique to Dubai, a region where many workers are from India. According to the "NHK Data Book: The World's Broadcasting 2008" published by the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, there are 40 TV broadcasting stations and over 20 radio broadcasting stations in service in the UAE.

But what is the high definition environment in the Middle East, especially here in Dubai, like?

So, with that question in mind, I asked a few people on the ground what it was like here. It seems that although high definition broadcasting has partially begun, it's not widely available yet, so for the most part people enjoy high definition content on Blu-ray Discs. Many more titles are becoming available, but people said that high definition era will fully begin when high definition broadcasting becomes widely available. As you know, this country develops at amazing speed. So I'm sure it won't take long for high definition broadcasting to become available in people's homes.

You can't really experience the difference in picture quality unless you see and compare the quality difference yourself. I'm sure many people have been able to experience the beauty of high definition in the "Blu-ray 7.1ch Theater," which attracts many people every day.

Whether it's a mobile phone or a digital camera, one direction home electronics has headed towards is size reduction. However, the TV screens have evolved to become bigger and bigger. The 103-inch plasma display may be considered a tidemark of this, and it has brought many possibilities to life even in the world of system solutions. In the Panasonic booth here at GITEX 2008 Panasonic introduces 2 ideas.

One is the "Interactive Signage System." This proposes a system that uses the plasma display as a touch panel, so you can, for example, turn the page of a digital catalog or zoom in by directly touching the screen. Although touch panels are quite common, at such a great size, it's quite impressive. The great sensation of turning the pages of a huge book on the large screen and the ability to zoom in and out made possible with digital has great impact, and many people stop to see how it all works.

Another solution is the "Digital Signage." Like a slide show, various advertisements are shown on the 103-inch plasma display placed vertically. The PC with such content may be placed right inside the slot behind the display, so you can easily create a dynamic digital signage just by installing this display. Moreover, it has great presence because it is a 103-inch screen with crisp, clear, high image quality. Its effect as a digital signage seemed to become even more enhanced by just adjusting the height a bit higher. It would be very handy in shopping malls, exhibition centers, and airport.

"Interactive Signage" has great appeal. It makes you want to touch the screen and have a go. I thought that it would be great for museums and art galleries as well as children's facilities.

The "VIERA Link" stage presentation starts immediately after the "NeoPDP Technology" stage presentation. Here, a demonstration showing how the Blu-ray Disc Player, the DVD recorder "DIGA," digital AV amp, SD Memory Card compatible full high definition camcorder among other equipment connected around the digital TV "VIERA" may be operated with the remote control of the "VIERA."

Moreover, the presentation explained how if you insert the SD Memory Card on which you've stored images/video taken with the digital camera or the SD Memory Card compatible full high definition camcorder into the SD card slot of, for example, the Blu-ray Disc Player which has been connected to the "VIERA" with an HDMI cable, you can enjoy such images/video in high definition.

The demonstration, which involved handing an SD Memory Card compatible high definition camcorder to one of the visitors there to have him/her shoot some video, and then playing that video right away using the remote control of the "VIERA," well demonstrated the allure of the "VIERA Link."

Take a look at the photograph. Don't you think it's very glamorous? This is the 103-inch plasma TV "VIERA" with a black body adorned in gold. This is one of the products from the "VIP Designer Series" designed in collaboration with a professional space designer, and this design on the left is called the "Golden Touch." The black body has a great lacquer-sheen, like that of a grand piano, and is adorned with golden decorations. It is a design unique to Dubai, a global hub for gold.

And the other one on display can be seen in the picture below is called the "Natural Wood." The "VIERA" encased in a stately wooden frame looks more like a piece of furniture. It will surely look great in the magnificent living rooms.

According to the staff, there was demand for large screen TVs designed to suit various living room styles from before, and so people in sales outlets had designed them to meet individual demand. I wonder what kind of living rooms these TVs will be set up in. Someday I hope I'll have a chance to take a look.

After the MC, Pascal, finishes the main stage presentation, he appeared at the adjacent NeoPDP corner without even time to rest to MC for the NeoPDP stage presentation.

In the stage presentation, the "high luminance efficiency technology" (prototype), which forms the core of "NeoPDP Technology," was described. The presentation explained that the luminance efficiency of the plasma has nearly doubled with innovative technology that wasn't a mere extension of past technologies, development of new materials as well as a fundamental reexamination of the panel structure, circuits and drive technologies. In order to demonstrate this, the presentation involved playing footage with the same source on both the NeoPDP as well as a traditional plasma display panel. During the presentation, you could see that at the same power consumption levels, the brightness of the NeoPDP was double that of the traditional plasma display, and if at the same brightness the power consumption of the NeoPDP was 50% less.

He then introduced the beauty and impressive image quality of the world's largest 150-inch plasma display panel (prototype) brought to life by such technology. He also explained how with an eye on the future, Panasonic has realized a highly detailed superb resolution of "4K x 2K," and how the mother glass is being manufactured in Japan. He then introduced Panasonic's vision to create a market for digital cinema plasma displays.

Lastly, Pascal introduced the 24.7mm thin plasma displays (prototype) made possible by the "NeoPDP Technology." Even the largest of the models, the 65-inch is this thin, and is amazingly light at 38kg. While showing people how the 65-inch, 58-inch, and the 50-inch plasma display may be swung about and moved up and down, he introduced the possibilities of how such technology will change people's lifestyles.

Pascal moved about the corner conducting the stage presentation. Even technological content that may be difficult to understand is explained in a very easy to understand way while referring to the plasma display panels. The visitors seemed to have gotten a good understanding of it.

Here is a panoply of "VIERA" TVs lining the entire wall of the Panasonic booth. You will find the full range of "VIERA" TVs from the 103-inch, the biggest plasma TVs commercially available, to the 26-inch LCD TV. Many visitors stare entranced by their beauty.
I mentioned this yesterday, but the 103-inch "VIERA" TVs are available for home use in the Middle East. It's way too big for my home, but with such a broad range and size variation, I am sure I'll find a size that best suits my needs.

It's the second day of GITEX 2008. Wish me luck on my reporting again!

In my first entry of the day, I would like to introduce the companions of the Panasonic booth. Most of them live in Dubai, but are originally from countries all over the world, and of course they are all English speakers. They are wearing matching uniforms, and welcome the visitors to the booth with a big warm smile.

The Panasonic booth is located in the Sheikh Rashid Hall. And the main stage is located in a very prominent position visible to all who enter the hall.

On stage there are 3 103-inch plasma display panels in front and 1 on both sides of stage placed vertically. Like in IFA and photokina held in Germany, Pascal is again the MC of the main stage presentation. He has been in charge of the stage presentations in Europe and the Middle East for a many years now.

On stage, you will see the great synergy of Pascal's presentation and the performance by 3 dancers. The movements of the dancers' arms on stage and in the image displayed on the plasma display panels are also in synchronization. So the stage presentation is packed full of excitement also incorporating a magic-like trick that looks as though they've magically taken a product out from within the screen.

The exhibition theme for Panasonic at this year's GITEX is "Living in High Definition." And this stage presentation introduces a creative and enjoyable lifestyle where various high definition equipment connects around the digital TV "VIERA" with "VIERA Link." You will also learn about the neo-futuristic, "NeoPDP Technology," an extension of such advanced technologies.

Dubai is a really dynamic city where fantastic visions such as a man-made resort islands designed to resemble a palm tree and unprecedented phenomenal skyscrapers become a reality in a blink of an eye. I wonder what the people here thought of the future envisioned by Panasonic's high definition technologies.

In the corner created to represent a classroom, you will find educational solutions that make use of IT such as the electronic blackboard, the "Interactive Panaboard." If I recall, this "Interactive Panaboard" was displayed at last year's GITEX as well, but I wonder if they are being adopted at many schools here. I hope to tell you more about it later on.

Dubai as well as the rest of the Middle East is marked with the emergence of various companies from all over the world, and the launch of numerous large-scale projects. There must be great business opportunities here.

In this corner that has reproduced an office environment, you will find the IP-PBX, business phones, remote conferencing system, etc. on display. Panasonic introduces a smooth and comfortable office environment.

Here is the "Security Solution" zone, which introduces security systems such as network cameras. There is also a demonstration, which displays real-time footage from network cameras installed in various parts of the Panasonic booth in multiple windows on the large screen 65-inch plasma display panel.

This is the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications) Corner. DECT is a digital cordless phone standard in Europe, used also in UAE and other Arabic countries. It may be used by connecting to fixed-line telephones and if you take it outdoors with you, you can also use it as a mobile terminal.

Here is the exhibition corner for digital camcorders. You will find the SD Memory Card compatible full high definition camcorders, the SD100 and HS100, and introductions of the 3MOS system and the latest functions and capabilities.

This is the exhibition corner for the digital camera "LUMIX." There are a great variety of products on exhibit, such as the new-generation digital interchangeable lens camera "LUMIX G1," which will become available soon. Not only are there products on display, but there are also great explanations of the various technologies that support them.

Here you will find Panasonic's proposals for touch panels and digital signage using the large screen of the 103-inch plasma display panels (the front 2 screens in the picture). Moreover, there are 103-inch plasma display panels for homes using the stately texture of trees or gold decorations especially designed for the Middle East (2 panels in the back); these are exhibitions unique to Dubai and are drawing much attention.

Here is a great line up of the "VIERA" headed by the 103-inch model, which is selling quite well in the Middle East. The display of the great "VIERA" line up even here in Dubai reflects what a global product the "VIERA" is. With such a great array, the "VIERA" displays look very impressive even from far away, and this great panoply stand out quite well in the exhibition hall.

One of the stars of the Panasonic booth is the 150-inch plasma display panel, but there are other aspects of the NeoPDP Technology being introduced such as the super-thin 24.7mm thick full flat plasma display panel and the "high luminance technology" that has realized double the luminance efficiency in comparison to traditional models. I wonder how especially the world's largest 150-inch plasma display panel will look in the eyes of the people in Dubai.

What jumps into people's eyes as they come to the Panasonic booth at GITEX 2008 is this main stage. I am looking very much forward to seeing how many people will stop in their tracks to see the presentation and the performance! I will tell you about the stage presentation at a later time.

At 1:00 p.m. on October 19, under clear blue skies, the 5 days of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008 has kicked off!

Today is the first day of the exhibition, but the morning was reserved for visits by important political figures, so the doors to the general public opened at 1:00 p.m. Tomorrow, the exhibition will begin from 10:00 a.m.

There are many visitors already at the Panasonic booth, and the air of excitement is beginning to build up. I will be uploading fresh information I uncover at the Panasonic booth in Dubai over the next 5 days, so don't miss my entries! Well, I am going to go and explore the booth for great topics!

This is the photograph of the Panasonic booth right after the doors opened.You can see how Panasonic's blue facade has a great presence within thebooth.

By this time of day, products are being placed within the booth, and it looks nearly complete. And rehearsals were conducted on stage over and over again to make final adjustments.

As I continued to take a look around the booth amidst such preparations, I found papers such as this one taped all around the booth. Each corner must finish its preparations in time for tomorrow's opening, so perhaps it is a list of things they need to complete before then. What's written on each piece of paper differs from corner to corner, but you can imagine how the booth is heading to completion as the items on the list are crossed off one by one. I'm sure that at times, people working on the booth may run into unforeseen problems, despite the fact that there is a finite time limit. Today is the crucial day for people working in the various corners. (Although I can't help with the preparations) I wish you all good luck!

At the entrance of the Sheikh Rashid Hall where the Panasonic booth is located, I found a gate bearing the Panasonic and "VIERA" logos.

Visitors who will come to the GITEX "Consumer Electronics" exhibition will register here. Right next to it, they will find a banner of the 150-inch plasma display panel, communicating its greatness. At GITEX, which will start tomorrow, this gate will welcome many visitors.

After about 11 hours on a plane from Japan, I arrived in Dubai at around five thirty, before sunrise in Dubai. The airport in Dubai is quite close to the city, so you land looking on at the prestigious structure of the Burj Dubai, which will become the world's tallest building, feeling as though you're landing into a jewelry box. It is 27 degrees Celsius outdoors; compared to last year when the temperatures were in the 30s even at nighttime, it feels very comfortable, but it will surely get a lot hotter as the day gets on.

Now, starting tomorrow, GITEX will be held here, in a city that continues to draw global attention, for 5 days. I just got to the hotel but since today is the day before the exhibition, I am going to make my way to the exhibition hall to start reporting after I get some breakfast.

Now, I will start referring to the local time in Dubai from this entry forward.

This is a photograph I took from the hotel window. The hotel is located along side the Sheikh Zayed Road, the main street in the business area, but railroad tracks and train stations, which if I remember correctly weren't here last year, are under construction. Very impressive, but you wouldn't expect nothing less from Dubai than development at extraordinary speed.

With the GITEX 2008 starting on October 19 (Sunday), I am going to head for Dubai (UAE) a couple days early.

I checked the weather in Dubai on the internet, but it seems that it is going to be sunny all week. The highest temperatures are around 35 to 37 degrees Celsius! It has gotten a lot cooler here in Japan, but I am headed back out for the mid-summer heat again. But last year, when I went in September, it was 10 degrees higher, so I hope that the heat will be a bit more bearable this year (and of course, the facilities in Dubai will be well air conditioned).

In any case, I hope to keep an eye on my health while thoroughly reporting about the Panasonic booth at the exhibition. Please look forward to my "hot" entries from Dubai!

The "GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK" will be held in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) from October 19 (Sun) to 23 (Thurs) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Panasonic booth will be located in the Sheikh Rashid Hall, the same hall as last year, but the booth will be 10% bigger this year.

Until 2006, the exhibition was referred to as "GITEX DUBAI," but since last year, the exhibition has been held as the "GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK" by dividing the exhibition in to the IT category - "GITEX Business Solutions" - and home electronics category - "Consumer Electronics" - and also by combining a telecommunications exhibition - "GULFCOMMS" - and various conferences. Panasonic is taking part in the "Consumer Electronics" portion of the exhibition. And in this blog we would like to hereafter refer to the exhibition as "GITEX."

On the official website for the GITEX, you will find a post show report for GITEX 2007. The report shows in a graph how the number of exhibitors and visitors taking part in the GITEX has increased year on year. You can also see that in 2004 there were exhibitors from 41 countries taking part, but by 2007, the number of countries had doubled to 82. It seems as though Dubai's momentum is also reflected in these figures.

GITEX 2008, which is expected to be the biggest in its history in terms of scale, is about to begin. I am sure many people will come and visit the Panasonic booth. I wonder what surprises and dreams the Panasonic booth has in store for people from the Middle East who come with great expectations. Please look forward to my entries from onsite.

On the official website of the GITEX you will find an overview of the GITEX and other information about the various events to be held during the exhibition. You will also find photographs from last year's GITEX, which will give you a great idea about what GITEX 2007 was like and the impressions it gave to the visitors.

CEATEC JAPAN 2008 has just ended in Tokyo, but the next exhibition will start soon. From October 19 (Sun) to 23 (Thurs), GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008 will be held in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates). Like last year, I, mino, will be reporting hot information from onsite.

GITEX (Gulf Information & Technology Exhibition) is the largest IT, information, AV exhibition in the Middle East. According to the official website, 3,300 companies from 82 countries took part last year, and more than 124,000 visitors from 137 countries came to the exhibition. This year even more exhibitors and visitors are expected. It is sure to be very exciting.

As you know, Dubai is a center of international trade. And it is also famous for super luxurious resorts celebrities all over the world frequent. It is probably the most high profile city in the world right now. And GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2008 is going to be held there. I wonder what ideas Panasonic will introduce this year.

I went to Dubai for the first time last year to report about the GITEX, but I was blown away by the landscape and the speed of development that far surpassed my imagination, as well as by the over 40 degrees Celsius heat. (It took place before Ramadan [the ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar where the Islamic people fast from sunrise to sunset] in early September. This year, it will be held in October after Ramadan.)

Looking back on last year's entry, I used the term "futuristic city" to describe Dubai a few times. You will find the "Burj Dubai," the tallest building in the world and the super luxurious hotel erected in the sea there. I often thought, "Is this for real?" because the scale of things there was just phenomenal. This year will be my second time there, so I think I will be able to keep a cool head (but report with passion) while telling you about the exhibition. Please look forward to my entries.

My pass for GITEX last year and the notebook I used to report about it.Looking through it, my mind was flooded with memories about what the exhibition and Dubai was like.