Intrepid and Uncharted

Discovering the quirky and unexpected, while digging deep into haystacks to find interesting needles. Through the eyes and perspective of Yasser Masood.

[yassermasood]

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I started graduate school at The University of Texas at Dallas, joining them as part of the Spring 2026 intake.

This is how the less than one day orientation unfolded.

[yassermasood]

Started as a Tartan during my undergraduate years at Carnegie Mellon University.

Now, a Comet for my graduate tenure at UT Dallas. Apparently, your engaged time at university is measured by number of t-shirts one collects.

[yassermasood]

Reset and kick-start in 2026

Wow! I didn't realize time flew as I juggled mostly parenting and other things. Lot has happened since I decided to quit my role at Qatar Airways and chose to take a career break. While job hunting has been a dead end (taking me to good number of final interviews but then rejected), I enjoyed the downtime.

Now I get to start 2026 with a new lease of optimism.

[yassermasood]

PlayStation gamers in Middle East can use Apple Pay as alternate payment option

If you’ve been reluctant to attach your credit card to your PlayStation Network account, you now have an alternate option that brings a sigh of relief. Gamers can now use Apple Pay on their PS5 to pay for games and other content, adding another level of security.

PlayStation gamers in Middle East can use Apple Pay as alternate payment option

[yassermasood]

Exclusive: Conversation with iHeartMedia on the GCO Qatar partnership

It’s been more than two months since the iHeartMedia partnership announcement at Web Summit Qatar 2025. I felt that it was time to dive deeper into the rabbit hole. Usually, details are quite scant when it comes to asking Middle East outlets. So I decided to take it to the source – they welcomed the opportunity and the rest is history.

Exclusive: Conversation with iHeartMedia on the GCO Qatar partnership

[yassermasood]

More Android gaming love for Google Play Games for PC in MENA region

It’s been more than a year since Google Play Games for PC expanded its availability to include the MENA region, yet still has the beta status. The first beta released in 2022, and it’s seen a handful of Android games make their way to the PC. That number is about to grow – Google has announced that all Android-based mobile games will be coming to the PC.

More Android gaming love for Google Play Games for PC in MENA region

[yassermasood]

Smoky Pink for the Sony 1000X Series debuts in Middle East

I’ve been a user of the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones by Sony for a while and I love them for their audio quality and design. While I haven’t yet moved to the WH-1000XM5, given its new design and improved audio, I did want to highlight that Sony has decided to spice up the model (including the WF-1000XM5 earphones) with an new Smoky Pink colour option for the Middle East region.

Smoky Pink for the Sony 1000X Series debuts in Middle East

[yassermasood]

Apple Vision Pro officially releasing in UAE, starting AED 13,999

While it’s been years since Apple opened their online store followed by their retail stores in the UAE (there have been many stories on how they navigated the country’s business laws for it), it’s also become one of the main places to join global launches.

Now you can add the Apple Vision to it, as it’s officially coming to the Middle East region before the end of 2024.

Apple Vision Pro officially releasing in UAE, starting AED 13,999

Apple Vision Pro officially releasing in UAE, starting AED 13,999

[yassermasood]

MENA Hero Project: Empowering Game Developers in the Region

SIE (Sony Interactive Entertainment) has officialy launched the Middle East North Africa Hero Project (MENA Hero Project) for PlayStation.

The Hero Project serves as an incubator program aiming to identify promising local developers and support them in bringing compelling gaming experiences to global gaming communities.

MENA Hero Project: Empowering Game Developers in the Region

MENA Hero Project: Empowering Game Developers in the Region

[yassermasood]

All the AI-based upscalers have been updated, encouraging a revisit to see how they stack up.

The Ultimate Upscaling Showdown: FSR 3.1 vs DLSS 3.7 vs XeSS 1.3

Upscaling technologies continue to improve every year, and today we'll be looking at five games updated to use AMD FSR 3.1 to compare agains

[yassermasood]

The Best Handheld Gaming PCs in 2024 - IGN

Play your favorite PC games on the go with the best handheld gaming PCs

Gaming is evolving, as the PC segment has taken some cues from the console side and some brands have expanded on it that brings those ergonomics but powered by Windows and PC components.

They're mostly still computers (add a mouse and keyboard, and maybe a hub to expand connectivity), but they physically look like a handheld with the standard controller buttons.

IGN has ranked the best of 2024 at this current point in time.

[yassermasood]

If you’re the type that likes to podcasts as video, Part 1 is already live.

You can also listen to the audio one on Spotify.

[yassermasood]

After many years, I've finally launched my podcast.

The inaugural Web Summit Qatar was the perfect springboard for it, joined by my great friend Khan.

Listen to it now on Spotify and other podcast distribution platforms.

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TikTok opening up a Creative Studio in Qatar, their first one in the Middle East region

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It's my 14 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[yassermasood]

It finally happened. The inaugural Middle East chapter of Web Summit Qatar has ended.

This is just how the Opening Night unfolded.

Shot on Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (no edits, all in original quality).

Did you also attend?

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Voting ended onMar 1, 2024

[yassermasood]

‎GoPro Quik

‎With Quik on iOS and Mac, editing just got easier. Whether you’re on your phone or your laptop, you can get the most out of your favorite s

Wasn't it about a few months ago that GoPro announced a new desktop version of their Quik app coming to macOS and then Windows? Well, they've finally released it on the Mac App Store, and the Windows versions slated to follow sometime later in 2024.