tech news
Google Launches Live Caption Feature for Chrome Users
Image sourced from Pymnts Google has rolled out its Live Caption feature for Chrome browser users. The feature was initially only available on the Pixel 2 and then to selected Android devices. But now, XDA has revealed that the feature is finally going live on the stable Chrome 89. Live Caption provides users with real-time captions for audio – like videos, podcasts, phone calls, video calls, and audio messages – even content they record themselves. All captions are processed locally, never stored, and never leave the device. To enable Live Captions, Chrome 89 users should go to Settings > Advanced > Accessibility – users may also need to download speech recognition files. “For now, it only detects and transcribes English-language audio, but hopefully, support for more languages will...
Flutterwave Partners with Paypal to Transform eCommerce Payments for African Merchants
PayPal has joined forces with Flutterwave to allow PayPal users around the world to pay African merchants through Flutterwave’s platform. This collaboration is expected to be ‘instrumental’ in supporting SMEs and freelancers to overcome the many challenges presented by the highly fragmented and complex payment and banking infrastructure, as well as connecting them with more than 377 million PayPal account holders globally. Traditionally, Africa’s eCommerce ecosystem has lacked suitable payment solutions to meet the demand for seamless transactions worldwide, further constraining its contributions to the global digital economy. However, this collaboration hopes to eliminate significant barriers that have previously hindered African consumers and businesses from the untapped potential of cro...
58% of Data Backups are Failing, According to Research
Data protection challenges are undermining organizations’ abilities to execute Digital Transformation (DX) initiatives globally, according to the Veeam Data Protection Report 2021, which has found that 58% of backups fail, leaving data unprotected. The report also found that against the backdrop of COVID-19 and ensuing economic uncertainty, which 40% of CXOs cite as the biggest threat to their organization’s DX in the next 12 months, inadequate data protection and the challenges to business continuity posed by the pandemic are hindering organizations’ initiatives to transform. “Over the past 12 months, CXOs across the globe have faced a unique set of challenges around how to ensure data remains protected in a highly diverse, operational landscape,” says Danny Allan, CTO at Veeam. “In respo...
Samsung Introduces the Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 smartphones. The devices set the bar high for camera quality, water-resistance and long-lasting batteries. “Samsung strives to give consumers what they want and need most. That’s why we set out with a vision for the Galaxy A series to democratize Galaxy innovations for everyone,” says Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung. “The Galaxy A52, A52 5G and A72 encapsulate the Galaxy brand philosophy with cutting-edge innovations, services and features at an accessible price.” The smartphones sport Samsung’s AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rates on the Galaxy A52 5G, and 90Hz on the Galaxy A52 and A72, making the scrolling experience even smoother. The display is also ‘Eye Care’ certified, and automaticall...
6 Ways to Create a Ransomware Mitigation Strategy
Ransomware attack trends continue to evolve, and the current iterations seen during the COVID-19 pandemic are no exception. During this time, malicious actors have attacked healthcare organisations, medical trials, schools, and shipping agencies. Considering the impact these modern attacks can have on organisations everywhere, no matter the industry, security professionals must always be ready to secure their systems, networks, and software in new ways. And according to a recent FortiGuard Labs global threat landscape report, ransomware remains a prolific threat that increased in 2020 and became even more disruptive. Mature cyber hygiene is key Attackers know that end-users are high-target, high-value assets. Ransomware leverages social engineering attacks, preying on fears as a way to exe...
YouTube Rolls Out ‘Checks’ for Creators
Image sourced from Variety YouTube is rolling out “Checks” – a new tool to help make uploading videos and receiving ad revenue easier for creators. “Hey Creators! Today we’re rolling out a new step in the upload process on Studio desktop called “Checks” – which will automatically screen your uploads for potential copyright claims and ad suitability restrictions,” says YouTube in a blog post. This new tool is expected to help creators minimize the number of videos uploaded with copyright claims and/or yellow icons to avoid surprises or worries. Here’s how ‘Checks’ will work in the Studio Upload flow During the upload flow on desktop, creators will see the option to review their video in the new “checks” step for potential copyright claims and ad-suitability issues before the video is publis...
Google Reduces Play Store Fees for Developers by up to 50%
Image sourced from Pymnts Google has revealed that the service fee charged to Play Store developers could be reduced by up to 50%. The tech giant believes this is will help developers build sustainable businesses. “We work with partners every day to understand the challenges they face and help them bring their innovative ideas to life. Getting a new app off the ground and into orbit is not easy!” reads a blog post from Google. This why, starting from 1 July 2021, Google will reduce the service fee Google Play receives when a developer sells digital goods or services to 15% for the first $1M (USD) of revenue every developer earns each year. “With this change, 99% of developers globally that sell digital goods and services with Play will see a 50% reduction in fees. These are funds that can ...
Dropbox Users Can Store 50 Passwords for Free
Image sourced from TheStreet Dropbox’s password manager will soon be available to all users – the service will store up to 50 of the most important passwords in one secure place. “The Passwords app remembers your usernames and passwords on all your devices—so you don’t have to. And zero-knowledge encryption ensures only you know your passwords, not Dropbox,” reads a blog post from Dropbox. “We’re excited to help make the passwords experience easy for everyone, so in early April we’re rolling out Dropbox Passwords to all Dropbox users. Now, with a free Dropbox Basic plan, you can try a limited version of Passwords.” The software company says that users can access these passwords anywhere with automatic syncing on up to three devices and soon they will be able to securely share these passwor...
3 Reasons Why African Farmers Should Use the Haller App
Climate change combined with unsustainable farming practices have exhausted the soil across Africa. In addition to the growing lack of arable land, agricultural knowledge and education have proven to be in short supply. With this in mind, the Haller Foundation — a UK registered charity and Kenyan NGO — devised a plan to provide farmers across the continent with the information, skills and infrastructure they need to thrive through an award-winning mobile app called Haller Farmers. Here are three reasons why African farmers should use the app: 1. Haller Farmers has been designed by farmers for farmers /* custom css */ .tdi_3_65f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_65f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Initially launched in 2014 and redeveloped as a native, downloadable...
Instagram Will Now Restrict DMs Between Teens and Adults
Image sourced from Time Instagram is introducing a new feature that restricts DMs between teen users (under the age of 18) and adults they don’t follow. This means that if an adult tries to message a teen who doesn’t follow them, they receive a notification that DM’ing them isn’t an option. “This feature relies on our work to predict peoples’ ages using machine learning technology, and the age people give us when they sign up,” says Instagram in a blog post. “As we move to end-to-end encryption, we’re investing in features that protect privacy and keep people safe without accessing the content of DMs.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_d05.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_d05.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Making it more difficult for adults to find and follow teens The social media ...
How Cloud Migration can Boost Data Management
Sourced from InfoWorld. As cloud migrations accelerate, the need for effective backup and recovery becomes increasingly clear. This is also driven by compliance, with legislation such as the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA) regulating the governance of data. With the PoPIA deadline, 1st of July 2021, becoming a reality, many businesses are trying to make sure they comply with all sections of the regulations. However, merely ticking a box for compliance can lead to challenges down the line. Data management impacts vary from company to company, and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. With data regarded as a valuable asset, organisations need to understand what data they have, where it resides and of what importance it is. The process of migrating to the clou...
Oracle Launches Java 16 with 17 New Features for Developers
Image sourced from Texas News Today Oracle has launched Java 16 (Oracle JDK 16) which includes 17 new enhancements expected to further improve developer productivity. According to the software company, Java updates can be expected every six months to provide developers with a predictable release schedule. This offers a steady stream of innovations while also delivering continued performance, stability and security improvements. “The power of the six-month release cadence was on full display with the latest release,” says Georges Saab, VP of development for Java Platform Group at Oracle. “Pattern Matching and Records were introduced a year ago as part of JDK 14 and have since gone through multiple rounds of community feedback based on real-world applications. This process has not only given...
