tech news
Unpacking the Cat S42 – the “First Anti-Bacterial Phone”
Mobile phones are handled and pressed to our faces on a daily basis, meaning that any bacteria or other microorganisms can easily transfer back and forth between the hard surfaces of your phone and your skin. Research shows that our phones are home to thousands of germs, with one University of Michigan study finding in excess of 17,000 bacteria on handsets. With this in mind, Cat has developed a range of smartphones treated with Biomaster antimicrobial technology. Based on the inclusion of silver ions during manufacturing, the process creates a permanent level of product protection, inhibiting the growth of microbes on the phone surface and therefore reducing microbial levels on the surface. The Biomaster-treated Cat S42 will be available from early 2021, with the treatment coming to other...
Alphabet is Closing Down the Loon Project
Image sourced from MIT Technology Review Alphabet is shutting down its balloon-powered mobile Internet service, Loon. The project’s main objective was to bring abundant, affordable Internet access to unconnected communities around the world. “When we unveiled Loon in June 2013, we meant everything in its name. It was a way-out-there and risky venture,” says Astro Teller, X lead. “Sadly, despite the team’s groundbreaking technical achievements over the last 9 years — doing many things previously thought impossible — the road to commercial viability has proven much longer and riskier than hoped. So we’ve made the difficult decision to close down Loon. In the coming months, we’ll begin winding down operations and it will no longer be an Other Bet within Alphabet.” Teller goes on to say that m...
Why Complexity Remains Cybersecurity’s Worst Enemy
Managing cybersecurity is made more difficult by the need to support a complex environment of multiple security products from multiple vendors. Today’s businesses need to protect many different aspects of their operations and getting the best protection for each can require deploying best-of-breed solutions from different vendors. Typically, businesses have addressed new threats by adding another solution to their network, whether that solution can integrate with the existing IT environment or not. Managing multiple security solutions, with multiple sets of alerts, and ensuring there are no gaps in coverage, is a major challenge for CISOs. In Cisco’s sixth annual CISO Benchmark Report, most organizations reported that they found managing a multi-vendor environment to be challenging, with 2...
Safety and Wellness are Key for WFH
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily habits of millions of people, and working routines are no exception. With millions of people suddenly switching to working from home full time, we’re witnessing a seismic shift in how people work. Companies have had to set up their employees to ensure the work continues uninterrupted, however, this comes with new challenges: an increase in cybersecurity risks and ensuring mental wellness and motivation especially for those doing lockdown alone. Cybersecurity risks: Under the usual circumstances, getting cybersecurity right can be challenging for many businesses and their employees. In the current work-from-home world, however, managing the myriad of cyber-risks can feel downright daunting as employees may momentarily drop their guard or download ...
WhatsApp is Behind the “Largest Digital Migration in History”, says Telegram Founder
Facebook’s recent attempt to update WhatsApp’s privacy policy has left many users concerned and searching for a more ‘secure’ messaging platform, like Telegram. This move has sparked what Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, says is “the largest digital migration in human history” after the platform saw a massive increase in active users. In a recent statement, Durov revealed that a number of political leaders and numerous public organizations, rely on Telegram to combat misinformation and spread awareness about important issues in their societies. He goes on to say that “unlike other networks, Telegram doesn’t use nontransparent algorithms to decide whether a subscriber will see content they subscribed to or not. As a result, Telegram channels are the o...
All You Need to Know about a Barcode Scanner
Imagine going to the grocery store for your weekly shopping and waiting in line while the cashier manually rings up the price of every item. This was the reality not that long ago in South Africa. Twenty-five years ago, here and in many other countries around the world the barcode was only a vague concept most retailers knew very little about. How much has changed since then. Interestingly, research revealed that five weeks after the barcode was installed for the first time, sales in grocery stores began increasing, resulting in a 10–12% increase in sales overall and a 1–2% reduction in operating costs. The ROI (return on investment) for a barcode scanner was found to be 41.5% (Wikipedia, n.d.). Thanks to codes and barcode scanners, our lives have been revolutionised, and buying and selli...
Acer Debuts New TravelMate Spin B3 Laptop
Acer has debuted the new TravelMate Spin B3 (TMB311R-32) convertible laptop with military-grade durability. The touchscreen device features a Full HD webcam and blazing-fast Intel Wi-Fi 6. Efficient, Durable Performance The TravelMate Spin B3 is powered by the latest Intel Pentium Silver processors and offers up to 12 hours of battery life. With military-grade durability and a shock absorbent bumper, the device can withstand up to 60 kg (132.28 lbs) of downward force and has increased resistance to daily wear and tear. Mechanically anchored keys further enhance the laptop’s sturdiness: each key features small plastic wings that will catch on the chassis when pulled, helping to protect the keyboard from restless fingers. Antimicrobial Features The Acer TravelMate Spin B3’s touch display is ...
Citrix to Acquire Wrike in $2.25 Billion Cash Deal
Citrix has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wrike for $2.25 billion in cash. This deal is expected to Citrix’s digital work platform and Wrike’s work management solution, which streamlines collaboration and work execution. The addition of Wrike’s cloud-delivered capabilities is also expected to accelerate Citrix’s business model transition to the cloud and strategy to become a complete SaaS-based work platform addressing the needs of various functional groups within the enterprise. The combined company will offer customers an enhanced value proposition through complementary solutions, unlocking new revenue opportunities both within existing installed customer bases and new lines of business buying centres, including marketing, professional services, and HR. Together, Citrix a...
5 Digital Transformation Predictions for 2021
Although 2020 might have been a year that no one could have predicted, shrouded with uncertainty, technology was the one constant. Helping businesses become more agile and connected with communities in different ways, it provided an essential part of our human and business adaptations to the so-called ‘new normal’. In 2021, technology will continue to provide a path to our economic recovery – and channel partners will play a key role in guiding our progress. They must advocate for the technological transformations that will help businesses to do more than simply survive, but to thrive. And there’s plenty for them to talk about. Here are five tech heroes to watch in the coming year, that will rock the channel and bolster business: 1. Hybrid cloud hype: understanding the full channel opportu...
Showmax Introduces 2 New Pop-up Channels
Showmax subscribers in South Africa are now able to live stream kykNET and Mzansi Magic 24/7 with the launch of two pop-up channels. “We’re always looking at ways of making the Showmax experience better for our customers,” says MultiChoice Group CEO for General Entertainment and Connected Video, Yolisa Phahle. “During last year’s lockdown, we gave subscribers access to live news channels. Now, following this month’s Presidential address, South Africans will continue to spend more time at home, and so, once again, we’d like to make sure our customers have something extra.” The Mzansi Magic live stream is available exclusively in South Africa while kykNET is also available in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_0ee.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_0ee.td-a-...
Unpacking the Digitalisation of South African SMEs
In just a matter of months, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world at the speed of light. Most businesses weren’t prepared and were forced to adapt to extraordinary challenges in order to continue with business operations –whilst battling to stay afloat. In South Africa, many businesses have opted for mass work-from-home policies for their staff, as businesses navigate through new ways of working as a direct result of the pandemic. Digital transformation has become the enabler, propelling businesses into the future. Technologies like collaboration and online meeting software have become a necessity through the transition to digitally enable remote working. The acceleration saw a broader...
