tech news
7 Most Important New Features Coming to iOS 15
Sourced from Macworld. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_6ce.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_6ce.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Apple has unveiled a bevy of brand new features coming with its iOS 15 update during is annual WWDC event, live-streamed yesterday. The new software features include upgrades to FaceTime, Maps, Weather App, Messages, Photos and more. Here are the 7 most important updates and new features shipping with iOS 15: /* custom css */ .tdi_3_6cf.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_6cf.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } 1. Spatial Audio is coming to FaceTime Apple announced its surround sound-like spatial audio feature last year for its AirPods Pro. Now the feature is coming to iPhone with the company’s new iOS 15 update and set to be launching with Apple’s ...
What is POPIA and What Does it Mean for Cybersecurity
With an inundation of information from all angles regarding The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), and the 1 July commencement date quickly approaching, organisations could be forgiven for feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Emmanuel Tzingakis, Technical Lead for Trend Micro Sub-Saharan Africa, contemplates how POPIA can assist organisations to secure their data and be better enabled to handle any potential cyber threats. What is POPIA? With personal information becoming a hot commodity on the dark web it is critical to understand exactly how to protect data from cybercriminals. A recent global survey revealed that 79% of organisations experienced disruptions, financial loss or other setbacks due to a lack of cyber preparedness in 2020. As work from home strateg...
Gen-Z is SA’s Fastest Growing Group of Online Shoppers at 218%
Courtesy of Raw Pixel. Image sourced from Robosoft Technologies. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_211.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_211.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } By harnessing the power of social media, Gen Z is driving a new wave of the e-commerce boom in South Africa. Apps including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, which tailor content to the user’s interests and behaviour, have allowed this new generation of spenders to create a personalised shopping mall experience – online. Gen-Z Takes Shopping Online /* custom css */ .tdi_3_f0e.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_f0e.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } According to data sourced by online payment gateway PayFast, the fastest-growing group of local online shoppers in SA are the Gen Z’s, aged between 18 and 24. “Ou...
Cape Town Tech Startup Secures $14.5-Million More in Funding
“In emerging-market megacities, hundreds of millions of people use public transport to get where they need to go. Before WhereIsMyTransport, there was no central source of data for these networks, despite their size, scale, and importance,” reads a blurb on the startup’s official website. “WhereIsMyTransport helps people understand mobility in emerging-market megacities. We’re trusted by industry leaders like Google, the World Bank, and WSP.” Founded in Cape Town in 2015, the tech startup focusing on mobility creates data maps for formal and informal public transport networks in cities and uses this data and tech to improve the public transport experiences of commuters. WhereIsMyTransport hopes to make public commutes more reliable, predictable, safe, inclusive and more accessible to indiv...
Offline Device Locking: Protect Your Financed Devices against Non-payment with NuovoPay
Sourced from Travellers With the advent of 4G technology and the promising 5G technology, smartphones have offered people a gateway to enter the digital economy and get socio-economic benefits. According to Statista, in 2020 global smartphone unit sales for end-users were 1.38 billion. This shows a strong demand for smartphones, which is largely driven by consumers from developed countries. The consumer in developed countries has easy access to smartphone finance, affordable loans, alternative forms of credit scoring, etc. This necessarily does not hold true for certain emerging markets such as Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. According to Newzoo Global Mobile Market Report 2018, Smartphone penetration in South Africa was 35.5%, Vietnam was 37.7%, Indonesia was 27.4% as compared to 83% an...
FaceTime Releasing for Windows and Android
Image sourced from The Verge. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_b24.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_b24.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } During its WWDC keynote, California-based tech monolith Apple has announced that its FaceTime app, once only available on its iPhones and Mac computers for iOS/MacOS, is releasing on the web and will be available for users on Android and Windows. It seems Apple is taking on Zoom and the video calling service market with this move. FaceTime will also now allow users to send and receive links to scheduled calls. Call links can be shared with people in advance. A release date has yet to be announced, according to The Verge. However, it is expected to be included in the iOS 15 update coming in spring. The new web version of FaceTime will either be availa...
Cybersecurity and Data Protection Laws Urgently Needed Across Africa
The pandemic has driven home the high value of personal data to the global economy, while also highlighting its vulnerability to abuse and attack. In response, governments around the world have been reviewing their data privacy and protection laws and regulations, including in South Africa and Ghana. Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky recently noted that cyberattacks are set to rise in African countries, especially in the key financial centres of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. The cybersecurity firm noted that rapidly evolving digital techniques had led to an increased risk of Advanced Persistent Threats and hacking-for-hire events in Africa. South Africa In South Africa, the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act was signed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in early June 2...
What Your Education Level Means for Your Employment Chances in SA
Image sourced from Iemas Financial Services. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_5e7.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_5e7.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } South Africa is currently dealing with an incredibly high unemployment rate, one of its highest in history, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). The latest QLFS results show that the official unemployment rate increased to 32,6% – the highest rate on its record. The number of unemployed people remained relatively unchanged at more than 11.4-million people, however, Stats SA notes that this number may not be concrete considering the large number of non-economically active individuals who make up home-makers and/or previously discouraged workers at 17-million. “The number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 201,000...
Eazzy Banking App Grows 222% as Digital Banking Explodes in Kenya
Image sourced from Kenya Online News. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_00d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_00d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)’s Bank Supervision Annual Report 2020 noted that there was a notably high adoption of digital financial services by consumers during the beginning months of the pandemic in the country. This is believed in part due to consumers seeking channels for financial transactions with minimal physical contact, a necessity in remaining safe and socially distant as COVID-19 waves fluctuate. Now according to Techweez, the digital banking services provided by Equity Bank Kenya are now ahead of its traditional banking in terms of sheer volumes transacted. This comes via an announcement made when the lender revealed its Q1 20...
Beware of Scammers – 4 Tips to Spot Digital Banking Fraud
Sourced from Pure Cloud Solutions To prevent becoming the victim of fraudsters, it’s vital to be on guard, especially when using transactional, card-based accounts linked to cheque and savings accounts. Vijay Naidoo, CIO at Old Mutual Finance, pointed out that “…transactional accounts are among the most commonly used accounts, which means they are prime targets for scammers.” “Scammers are continually finding new ways to gain access to personal banking information and use it to defraud unsuspecting customers. So, banks need to continually upgrade their security systems, while consumers need to be informed and alert.” Phishing involves sending what appears to be an official email notification from an institution. If you open the message, malware is installed on your computer and account inf...
More & More iOS Users Could Be Leaving to Android – New Research
Image sourced from Stuff.com. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } New information has emerged from the court case between Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games and Apple in May. Specifically, leaked internal company documents shown in court during the case reveal that Apple continued to lose iPhone users over several quarters between 2019 and 2020. Epic Games vs. Apple /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Epic’s suit over Apple was about, what the games publisher believed was, anti-competitive policies in Apple’s infamously rigid App Store. The App Store does not allow app developers to sell directly to users. The games company publicl...
MultiChoice Introduces New AI Chatbot to its Service
Sourced from Tech Central. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_6d6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_6d6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } MultiChoice is enhancing its digital customer service through an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot. Called by the tongue-in-cheek name, “The Ultimate Master of Information”, or TUMI, this innovative service is available 24/7 to answer customer queries about products and services. “TUMI is an evolutionary leap in our service capability. Born and developed right here in Africa, TUMI is a tangible manifestation of our commitment to innovation. This is not innovation for its own sake; the focus is to continue to grow our capacity to give our customers an excellent service experience,” says MultiChoice South Africa CEO, Nyiko Shiburi. /* custom css */ .td...
