ChatGPT Plus subscription now available for Kuwait

YousefTechnology Leave a Comment

Upgrade to ChatGPT plus now available for Kuwait

I’ve been experimenting with ChatGPT for the past couple of weeks now and there have been times when you really need to research a topic, especially when you’re stuck with coding and need that tiny hint but you end up having to wait in the idle screen as they have reached maximum capacity. Well, wait no more, ChatGPT recently introduced the Plus feature in the US, and thankfully didn’t take long to open it up to Kuwait too!

ChatGPT Paid plans

The ChatGPT Plus plan costs $20/month and you’ll say goodbye to the waiting due to high-demand messages and can basically access it any time you like. For $20 it’s a great bargain.

If you would like me to write more about ChatGPT please let me know in the comments section!

Need to know where to repair your mobile or tablet in Kuwait?

YousefMobile phones, Technology Leave a Comment

There are many options available to repair mobile phones and tablets in Kuwait, some of the well-known accessory shops in Kuwait all have mobile repair options and would come to your house and repair your device for you at market rates. Usually, if it is a clear issue such as a battery replacement or replacing a broken screen it’s easy to call and get the rates from the different shops.

However unfortunately for me, my case was a little more complex so I decided to actually go to the repair locations on-site for them to repair my daughter’s iPad pro, which for some reason stopped charging altogether. (one of the main reasons would be that she was using non-apple and USB-C laptop chargers to charge her iPad and she also kept charging her iPad while she was still using it).

Where to find repair shops in Hawally?

Hawally is well known to host a vast array of electronic repair shops and you can find all sorts of electronic repair shops ranging from household electronics to delicate electronics, computers, tablets, and mobile phones. This time around I visited a building that has many wholesale accessory shops for mobiles and tablets in the basement as well as about 4-5 repair shops on the ground floor but you have to walk to the back to find the repair shops all next to each other.

The building is in Ibn-Khaldoon Street about 3 buildings before Luluat bin Khaldoon and this is what the building looks like from the outside:

Photo courtesy of Kuwait Finder (GIS)

Here’s the Kuwait Finder Direct Location to the building: https://kwfinder.page.link/oNWV4

Here’s the Google Maps link to the building :

Here’s the name of the Shop: U.S Workshop (Unlimited Service Workshop)

I went to two shops before deciding to try the US workshop and it’s the one I felt most comfortable leaving my device with tbh. They called and were clear of the items that needed replacing as well as the cost before they did the repair job, as it cost around 35K.D to replace a couple of components that are associated with the power ICU. Although they had to take off the screen to fix, you couldn’t tell that the screen was even removed and the iPad back to life again. Will definitely make sure to go to them for any future repairs. They have a mobile repair option for smaller jobs.

Here are the contact numbers for the workshop:

Mobile: +965 98819333, +965 98819444 or whatsapp: +965 96677852

Or find them on Instagram here

Garage Review: Friends Auto Works – Arif’s Garage

YousefCars, Garage Reviews Leave a Comment

Last month I was In need of replacing my Chevy Silverado’s engine mounts, and to be honest the dealership’s quote was a little expensive and misleading at the same time, as they gave me a quote however they didn’t have the right parts that I wanted for my car’s model. I was at Auto1 for a wheel alignment and the guys there recommended Arif’s Garage as an all-in-one mechanic for GM vehicles and work on engines, transfer cases, the works.

The job took around 4 hours and I can say that they did quite a good job at it and I ended up paying 40% of what I would’ve paid at the dealership without having to keep my car overnight (got the parts from Ahlia also known as Auto1 in Shuwaikh – Canada Dry Road). The only thing I didn’t like was the fact that they didn’t mind pouring water into the coolant reservoir which I thought was very unprofessional as I try to keep the liquids in check and all following the manufacturer’s instructions. So it was good I was there at the time and instructed them not to pour water and went and purchased some AC Delco coolant and got back to them to finish the job.

The location of the shop is close to Abyat and just past the AlKazi’s dealership/garage as seen here below:

Or If you like you can find the Kuwait Finder Link here

All in all, I would rate them 4 out of 5 stars, mainly due to the size and occupancy of the garage, and the fact that I didn’t want to keep my car at the shop overnight. The technicians spoke ok English and knew good Arabic as well, prices are around the moderate range, but it was a big task. I would ask around to gauge market prices first, workmanship was overall ok. Make sure to keep your windows and doors shut as they also clean a lot of engine blocks using petrol/diesel and because it’s a small shop, the smell would stick to your car’s interior.

Here’s Arif’s Number for those who would like to inquire further: +965 65196164

NB: This was not a paid/sponsored review, I liked their work and decided to share (I paid for all work out of pocket).

Verpex – Hosting That Performs The Way You Need It To

YousefBlogging, Wordpress Leave a Comment

I’ve recently migrated away from A2Hosting and selected Verpex to be my next hosting provider hopefully for the long run. It’s difficult changing hosts, but honestly, verpex staff had made it seamless, easy, and were there at the live chat as well as extremely fast support! Day 1 and migrated 3 websites with total ease and no issues.

Check out their website and wordpress hosting packages here!

Largest indoor Go-Kart track opening soon in Kuwait

YousefAnnouncements, Entertainment, Kuwait, Malls, Racing Leave a Comment

Been off blogging for quite a while, and at last, found something great to write about and jump-start me into the posting mode again. Located in AlKout Mall, Q8Karting is the largest indoor multilevel Karting track in the middle east and one of a kind in Kuwait. Q8Karting Karts are fully electronic from the famous Go-Karts manufacturer Sodi.

They have the largest indoor go-kart track with a length of 512 meters split into two tracks, an adult track that’s 392 meters, and a junior’s track which has a length of 83.4 meters. As per their Instagram posts :

  • Junior track is for ages 7-12 and can take up to 12 Karts
  • Adult Track is for ages 13+ and can take up to 36 Karts

I’m still waiting to hear back from Q8Karting for more information, but what I can find out online from the manufacturer Sodi, they only have 1 model of electric go-karts for adults on their website which is the RSX and it boasts an asynchronous 6KW electric brushless motor and last-generation lithium batteries.

To learn more about Q8Karting you can visit their:

Instagram: @q8karting

Website: http://www.q8karting.com

Do you really need 10,000 hours to learn a new skill?

YousefUncategorized Leave a Comment

Came across this video on YouTube and thought of sharing it with you, shows how the telephone paradigm affected our perception on how long it takes us to learn something new. Especially with so much time on our hands these days it nice to know we don’t need to spend 10,000 to learn a new skill and be good at it!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this!

We are back online!

YousefAnnouncements, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

After a couple of days of downtime, blog is now migrated to a new server and I shall be updating different sections and design elements in batches in the coming days ! Hopefully i will also be starting to post every once in a while and start generating some good and interesting content again!

My Negative Offline Experience with ONCOST’s online grocery store

YousefReview Leave a Comment

OnCostLogo

2 Weeks ago I decided to try out ONCOST’s online website I was tired and couldn’t fathom the idea of going to buy groceries, so I went online and looked for different grocery stores to buy from. Having visited ONCOST’s physical branches and thinking they weren’t bad, and they have just launched their website, which isn’t bad at all and ticked all the correct boxes of we’re trying to do things right (except their add to cart animation effect that’s ridiculously slow btw) their online experience was what you would expect and quite good. However, the unfortunate side of things was when I decided to pay via KNET because today 14 days later I still haven’t received a refund for the order that ONCOST never sent.

I called them up on my scheduled delivery time, and the clerk answered and said we don’t currently have the ONCOST tissue I need to speak to my manager because you already paid online, and the order is just pending the tissue. I was like add anything instead I need my order today, I’m out of baby diapers which I need ASAP and you’re 1 hour late. Half an hour later I call, they never call back and he says the manager is out and I cannot ship your order today due to the missing item “Ma3laish” (the Arabic word for its OK) we’ll send it tomorrow.  What is the point of scheduling shipping appointments a day before and having a well-designed system if the person’s handling the system don’t care if the items are shipped out ONTIME or not? In my case they were way over their due time, never called to apologize and completely ignored my needs which were Milk and Diapers at that specific time, I ended up calling the clerk up which is a disaster as no one answer’s the phone and there is no one call center to handle customer complaints you have to call each store individually and ask for the eCommerce clerk (which sometimes never picks up as he’s one person only) which is totally a negative experience and ONCOST’s  management wouldn’t know if there are issues with customer or be able to identify area’s of improvement.

I keep sending emails, and made 2 phone calls, no one answers. Most probably will give them 2 more days before heading off to report them to consumer protection. But so far my experience was very bad, I’m not sure if it’s related to a specific branch (Fahaheel in my case) or it’s the same all around. What are your experiences?

I hope this message get’s to the management at ONCOST and that they take my points into consideration to improve their online services, their website ticks all the right boxes but their logistics and their offline support would kill any chances of it being successful (this is based on my personal experience with my personal views based on my experiences).

Did anyone try ONCOST’s online website? What were your thoughts?

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Review: Zolo Liberty+

YousefElectronics, Music, Review, Technology Leave a Comment

I bought the Zolo liberty+, thinking it would be the answer to all my needs, the advertisements online were very intriguing, they were all over the internet like no other. I bought the backer’s edition not identifying that Anker were behind the headsets.

LibertyPlus 

I originally bought the backer’s limited edition Champaign Gold First Batch Special for $109. It theoretically should have had a Carbon fiber case but at their 18th project update they gave us the bad news :

“We have also finalized the design for the champagne gold version, however we’ve had to remove the carbon fiber texture from the charging case. We were unable to predict the complications of applying fiber texture to a curved surface. This was an extremely regrettable oversight on our part. We believe it’s better to remove the carbon fiber texture from the design to ensure that you receive the highest possible quality product. “

So I ended up getting a headset very similar to what they are offering for everyone, with a simple color difference in the logo and the case logo and $35 less, which is ok, but not for a backer’s edition.

Now for the pros :

  • Excellent battery life (better than AirPods)
  • Very good music sound quality and good base compared to apple AirPods.
  • Good ear fitment with multiple tips for different ear sizes.
  • Charging case has  3 LED charge level indicators
  • Good noise cancelling but feels more like having ear plugs in your ears.

The Cons :

  • Voice calls and1 headset mode can only be made using the right earpiece and !!! – This was a huge disappointment as they never mentioned it on the kickstarter page only in the FAQ’s “Only the right earpiece will work independently.” and  “All sound is delivered in stereo apart from phone calls and smart assistants”. These FAQ’s I only read after trying to figure out why the left earpiece is not working. ! I usually use the left earpiece stand alone especially if someone is riding in the car with me.
  • Charging case is large and is quite bulky
  • Noise cancelling transparency feature is a disgrace! Its like walking around with noise cancelling headphones connected to microphones which amplify surrounding volume, nothing like Bose’s noise cancelling bypass feature.
  • Button actions aren’t very user intuitive and you’ll go back to the manual a coupe of times.

In my personal opinion had I known all of this I probably wouldn’t have purchased the headset and wouldn’t recommend them.

Note 8 Oreo Update Released

YousefElectronics, Mobile phones, Samsung, Technology, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

I was able to update my Note 8 to the latest Oreo release last night. The update makes the phone noticeably faster, the keyboard is better and more responsive and im satisfied of the overall performance gain from this upgrade.

samsung Note 8 Update

Samsung Note 8 Oreo Update

To get the latest update go to settings -> software update -> manually check for updates and choose install now. Make sure you have enough battery or that you are connected to a charger.

Here’s a summary of the upgraded features:

Build Number : N950FXXU3CRC1
Android version : Oreo(Android 8.0.0)
Release Date : 2018-03-20

Samsung Experience 9.0 upgrade with Android Oreo

Samsung Experience 9.0 brings you Android Oreo, with exciting new features from Samsung and Google based on feedback from users like you.

We recommend that you back up your important data to keep it safe during the upgrade.
Some apps, including Samsung Pay, Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, and Email, should be updated individually before you can update your OS.

Here’s what’s new.

Biometrics
To improve your security, features that use biometrics (face, fingerprints, and irises) are only available when you use a secure screen lock type (pattern, PIN, or password). When you switch to a non-secure screen lock type (Swipe or None), biometric authentication is suspended for unlocking and for verification in apps like Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass. If you’re using biometrics now without a secure screen lock type, you’ll be able to continue after the upgrade, but changing to a secure screen lock type is recommended.

Quick Panel
– Manage notifications for each app with notification categories (supported apps only).
– Icons will be shown at the bottom of the notification panel for notifications that aren’t currently visible.

Home Screen
– Touch and hold an app to display shortcuts to common or recommended tasks within the app (supported apps only).
– Notification badges on app icons are linked with the notification panel. Clear a notification in one location, and it will also be cleared in the other location.

Samsung Keyboard
– The toolbar gives quick access to useful functions.
– The GIF keyboard lets you send GIFs.
– More high-contrast keyboards are available.

System Performance
– Background services are limited to improve performance and battery life.
– Currently running apps will always be shown in the notification panel.

Edge screen
– Improved font size, color, and other settings for better Edge panel visibility.
– Touch and hold the Edge panel handle to change its position.
– Added 3 more Edge lighting effects and color customization for apps.

Lock Screen and Always On Display
– New clock styles for the Lock screen and Always On Display.
– Adjust the transparency of notifications to get the look you want.

Smart View
– Let your phone’s screen go dark when mirroring to another screen.

Samsung account
– Control your account settings and profile information for multiple apps.
– Tap your profile picture on the main Settings page to access your profile information and account settings.

Samsung Cloud
– View and manage photos and notes stored only in Samsung Cloud.
– Store any type of file in Samsung Cloud Drive.
– Select specific items to delete or restore from your backups.
– See how big each backup is and how many items it contains.

Samsung Dual Messenger
– Install a second copy of a messaging app so you can use two accounts at the same time. For apps that verify accounts using phone numbers, you’ll need a different phone number for each account.
– Touch and hold a messaging app on the Home or Apps screen to install the second account or go to Settings – Advanced features – Dual Messenger.

Find My Mobile
– Back up Secure Folder to Samsung Cloud remotely when your phone is lost.
– Lock Samsung Pass using Find My Mobile.

Samsung DeX
– Use your phone as a touchpad to control Samsung DeX without a mouse.
– Added support for multiple resolutions (HD+/FHD/WQHD) to better fit your screen.

Other improvements
– Bluetooth now supports high-quality audio codecs, including AAC and Sony LDAC.
– Video player includes auto repeat and 2x speed option.
– Voice Recorder provides smart tips to conveniently block calls while recording.
– Email lets you flag Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync emails.
– Samsung Health’s new sticky notification lets you see your step count at a glance.
– Clock now includes a Landscape mode and timer sound options.
– The digital clock widget goes directly to the Clock app when you tap it.
– Samsung Pass added the ability to manage usernames and passwords in third-party apps.