tech news
4 Ways to Use Your Smartphone Better
Sourced from Getty Images. Smartphones are glued to the palm of our hands for most of the day, perhaps to keep up with the latest social media updates or to keep in contact with family, friends and even clients. Whatever the reason may be, smartphones are here and, let’s be honest, we probably wouldn’t survive a day without them. With this in mind, here are four ways to make the most of your screen time: 1. Record important information When it comes to remembering things, it often goes in one ear and out the other – despite our best efforts. To make sure that you remember important dates, meetings, or other events, use your phone’s calendar. Most of them will allow you to sync with your email calendar, which means that there’s no excuse for forgetting. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_7c6.td-a...
Telegram Introduces Auto-Delete and Expiring Invite Features
Image sourced from The Independent Telegram has released a new update that includes an auto-delete timer for messages in any chat, as well as new flexible invite links. Auto-Delete Messages Telegram users can now enable an auto-delete timer in all chats, which will automatically erase messages for all participants either 24 hours or 7 days after sending. Auto-delete only applies to messages sent after the timer is set, earlier messages will stay in the chat history. Unlike in Secret Chats, the countdown starts when messages are sent, not read. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_130.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_130.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } To enable the timer on Android, tap ⋮ > Clear History then choose a duration. On iOS, press and hold a message, tap Select > Clear C...
Twitter Considers Charging Users for Exclusive Content
Image sourced from Mission Statement Academy Twitter is exploring a subscription-based model – called “super follows” – where users can charge followers for access to exclusive content. “Exploring audience funding opportunities like Super Follows will allow creators and publishers to be directly supported by their audience and will incentivise them to continue creating content that their audience loves,” reveals a Twitter spokesperson. The social platform’s Head of Product, Kayvon Beykpour says that the exclusive content could include anything from tweets and direct messages to audio conversations and newsletters. “We also think that an audience-funded model, where subscribers can directly fund the content that they value most, is a durable incentive model that aligns the interest of creat...
Haller Farmers: Restoring African Land for Over 50 Years
The Haller Farmers app is taking advantage of Africa’s increasing mobile penetration by equipping the next generation of farmers with knowledge, information and education through technology. The app — which was developed for farmers by farmers — takes its unique name from UNEP Global 500 Laureate, Dr Rene Haller, who has spent the last 50 years experimenting with nature to restore life to degraded landscapes. Since the 1970s, Dr Haller has used science and careful observation to allow barren quarried landscapes to be transformed into abundant and diverse forest ecosystems, sanctuaries for endangered species, and resources for local African communities. An example of this is Haller Park, a former limestone quarry that is now a flourishing hub of biodiversity. The 7km² landscape is curr...
Digital Advertising Ready to Take-Off in South Africa
Advertising is big business. Ever since the first banner ad way back in 1994, we’ve been consuming this digital content on almost every major platform we use, seeing countless images and videos throughout the average workday. It’s also worth noting that digital advertising spend is on the up constantly, too. The global Mobile Advertising market size is projected to reach $5.13 billion by 2026, growing from $4.16 billion over 2020 – working out at a CAGR of an astonishing 21.6% over the next five years. The U.S. mobile advertising market alone is expected to grow by a fifth, reaching approximately $70 billion in spending – an overwhelming 75% of all digital advertising spend. It’s the same in Europe – in 2021, £16.21 billion was spent in the UK. In a couple of years, calculations have estim...
Vodacom and Google Give Smartphones to Rural Communities in South Africa
Vodacom has partnered with Google to give away hundreds of Android-powered smartphones to communities across Limpopo, South Africa. This move forms part of the companies continued efforts to “reduce the digital divide” and offer many who reside in deep rural communities “access to the internet for the first time”. “At Vodacom we are optimistic about how technology and connectivity can enhance the future and improve people’s lives. Through our business, we aim to build a digital society that transforms communities, embraces everyone, leaving no one behind. Our purpose is to ‘connect for a better future’, improving the lives of the next 100 million customers by 2025,” says Imran Khan, Managing Executive for Vodacom Limpopo. “In our pursuit to build an inclusive and sustainable digital societ...
6 Reasons to Sponsor IoTFA 2021
The Internet of Things Forum Africa is set to lead the conversation on the latest IoT challenges, opportunities and innovations. Taking place on 25 – 26 March 2021, this free virtual summit will see hundreds of executives, entrepreneurs and solution providers equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to plan and implement successful connected projects. This year’s virtual Internet of Things Forum Africa is themed ‘Envisioning The Role of IoT in a Post COVID-19 World’- with a key focus on how the digital enterprise of the future will be shaped by our current pandemic experiences. Join us on the 25th and 26th of March 2021 and find out about the growing influence of IoT in business transformation, and how focused attention on data regulation, cloud and cybersecurity will become cruc...
Lenovo Unveils the ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga
Lenovo has introduced the latest additions to its ovo including completely redesigned X13 and X13 Yoga. The devices come with 16:10 aspect ratio displays and updated T and L series. The new ThinkPad laptops offer customer the choice to select the most appropriate configuration for their needs. Select models are available in black or storm grey with options including 11th Gen Intel Core vPro processors or the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Mobile Processors. ThinkPad X13 and X13 Yoga maximize performance and portability. Whether home-based or negotiating hybrid working, the lightweight laptops, featuring new 16:10 aspect ratio displays, can offer always-on always-connected technology to stay on top of daily workloads. ThinkPad X series portfolio include ThinkPad X13 i and X13 Yoga powered by ...
Rain Suffers Private Data Breach
Image sourced from MyBroadband Rain has confirmed that hit by a security breach. The South African telco revealed in an email to subscribers that its security team discovered unauthorised access to the group’s invoice storage system. According to BusinessTech, the vulnerability has been “identified and remedied”. However, some historical invoices “may have been accessed”, with the information limited to customers name and postal addresses. “Firstly, we want to assure you that your sensitive information is secure, and no action is required from you at all. We can confirm that there has been no unauthorised access to any systems that store information such as login details, ID numbers, banking or card details. This information was never at risk,” says the company. “We would like to assu...
Sony Launches FX3 Full-Frame Camera
Sony has unveiled the FX3 (model ILME-FX3) full-frame camera. The device combines digital cinema technology with imaging features from Alpha mirrorless cameras to create the ultimate cinematic look. “The FX3 was designed to turn creative vision into reality,” says Ryo Ochi, GM of Digital Imaging Division at Sony. “It allows creators to bring their visual expression into the world of cinema through immersive content. We will continue to support the world’s creators through Sony’s Cinema Line Series.” As the latest addition to Sony’s Cinema Line, the FX3 delivers a cinematic look and professional operability and reliability all in one device. The new model provides outstanding image quality and usability for small scale and one-person shooting. Key Specifications: /* custom css */ .tdi_...
How the ‘Broken Window’ Theory Affects Cybersecurity Matters
Stefan van de Giessen, General Manager: Cybersecurity at Networks Unlimited Africa Here at Networks Unlimited Africa, we are applying the ‘broken window’ principle when looking at our internal cybersecurity posture and how it affects business processes. The term ‘Broken window’ comes from George Kelling, a criminologist, who wrote in 1982 that, “social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken… vandalism can occur anywhere once communal barriers…are lowered by actions that seem to signal that ‘no one cares’.” This theory had also been the subject of experiments previously (1969) by a professor at Stanford University, Philip Zimbardo. Zimbardo arranged to have a car w...
LinkedIn Up After Mobile and Desktop Outage
Image sourced from Search Engine Journal LinkedIn users around the world have reported outages on mobile and desktop that saw API requests to take longer or fail unexpectedly across the platform. The career networking site says the outage mostly affected North America and Europe. “We are currently experiencing an issue across the platform that may cause some API requests to take longer or fail unexpectedly. We are investigating the issue and working on a resolution,” reads LinkedIn’s status page. “We know some members are experiencing an issue with accessing LinkedIn on mobile and desktop. We’re working on this as we speak and will provide updates as we have them” As of the time of publishing, LinkedIn has announced that everything is operating as normal. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_c6d.td-a-r...
