tech news
South African’s are Shopping More Online Thanks to COVID-19, Research Says
South African’s are spending 68% more online now than they were prior to the pandemic, according to a study by Mastercard. Essential items have seen highest surge online with the majority (81%) of SA consumers saying they purchased data, and over half saying they bought clothing (56%) and groceries (54%) online since the pandemic started. According to the research, the times we are living in have also made consumers more generous with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they have donated more to charity than pre-lockdown. Consumers are supporting their favourite local small businesses, with 63% of respondents saying that they are making a conscious effort to shop online at these stores. With fewer opportunities to browse in the stores or on the high-street, social media has emerged as the main p...
Apple iPhone 12 Launch Date ‘Leaked’
Apple fans in South Africa could expect the new iPhone 12 range to launch on 18 December. This is according to Cellucity, after it posted a cryptic tweet with the date and a series of ‘apple’ emojis. 18th December… 🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎 — Cellucity (@Cellucity) November 26, 2020 This smartphone range includes the iPhone 12 5G, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Most notably, the iPhone 12 series marks the first time Apple devices will support 5G connectivity. Apple iPhone 12 At first glance, the iPhone 12 looks remarkably similar to the iPhone 4 and 5 thanks to its flat, sharp edges. The device, which sits at 6.1 inches, comes with a “Ceramic Shield” glass cover and sports two rear cameras (both support night mode). The iPhone 12 is expected to...
Deal or No Deal – What to Watch Out for this Black Friday and Cyber Monday
In a year like no other, it is likely that 2020’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will be more frenzied than ever. With many industries, particularly retail, crippled by pandemic lockdowns and distancing restrictions, the upcoming weekend presents an opportunity to recoup some losses. The pandemic has accelerated the already growing increase in online shopping, with e-commerce sales expected to reach $4.2 trillion by the end of 2020 (Statista). Although many physical stores will be closed or keeping the usual crowds of shoppers to a minimum – the online space will be just as jam-packed as ever with offers and sales. This makes it the perfect breeding ground for cyber-attacks and scams, from phishing emails to suspicious social media ads. For many, mobile devices have become the primary...
5 Things Organisations should Consider before Migrating to the Cloud
Sourced from PC Mag Cloud computing has been adopted by 77% of South African businesses, with the most popular application being the backing up of data. The benefits for those that do embrace cloud include reduced IT costs, faster speed-to-market, better service levels, and cloud as an enabler of the digital business. Additionally, the imperative to embrace cloud computing has never been higher. The recently released 4th annual Salesforce State of the Connected Customer report shows that South African consumers expect the majority of their interactions with business this year to be online. Further, 84% of South African customers say that COVID-19 has elevated their expectation of businesses digital capabilities. In other words, businesses need to be digital, and to be digital – they n...
Telkom Unveils Black Friday Contract Deals
Telkom has officially unveiled its Black Friday deals – from 00:01 on 27 November 2020, available online up until midnight on 4 December 2020. In keeping up with the times and customer needs, Telkom is focusing on two areas this year: 1) accommodating those who’ve become more comfortable with online shopping and 2) big savings on data considering the unprecedented year of lockdown and resultant ever-evolving consumer behaviour and habits. Here’s a closer look at Telkom’s Black Friday contract deals: Device Term FreeMe 800MB FreeMe 1.5GB FreeMe 3GB FreeMe 6GB FreeMe 11.5GB FreeMe 28GB Minutes DATA Notes Samsung Galaxy A11 24 R 179 R 229 100 Min x 24 10GB x 3 All Channels Huawei Y6p + Watch 24 R 249 R 299 R 349 R 449 R 549 R 849 100 Min x 24 10GB x 3 Call C...
Unpacking 3 Healthcare Innovation Trends for 2021
A significant part of 2020 has been riddled with the COVID-19 pandemic, thus negatively affecting the healthcare sector. To combat some of these challenges, there are several healthcare innovations to look out for in the upcoming year. According to WHO Health Innovation Group (WHIG), sister group of the World Health Organization (WHO) whose premise is to endorse and pursue health innovation within the organization, “health innovation is to develop new or improved health policies, systems, products and technologies, and services and delivery methods that improve people’s health, with a special focus on the needs of vulnerable populations.” Following an article published by McKinsey & Company in November 2020, there are two key healthcare innovations to look out for in treating COVID- 19...
Understanding Diverse Security Challenges Across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa
Sourced from IDG Connect As is often said, Africa is not a country – and according to KnowBe4’s annual What Keeps You up at Night Report, what concerns one of the economic powerhouses is not necessarily a priority for the others and it’s an eye-opener around Africa’s diverse security challenges. “It’s a known fact that African countries and organisations are being targeted more actively by cybercriminals, to the level that it’s one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of cybercrime,” says Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy at KnowBe4 Africa. “But when you get down to the specifics, the differences between the survey’s continental averages and its three biggest Sub-Saharan economies are quite striking.” Here’s a snapshot look at cyber threats, compliance security, security initiatives...
Liquid Telecom Expands Connectivity in Botswana
Liquid Telecom has revealed that it is activating 82 km of fibre in a cross-border network into Botswana. This expansion connects the Lobatse Border to Gaborone with intent to create efficient mobility and connectivity in Botswana. “At Liquid Telecom, we have a proven track record of investing in and deploying technology designed to grow, strengthen and build Africa’s digital future. This expansion into Botswana is yet another proof point that shows our deep commitment to this practice,” says Odirile Tamajobe, MD of Liquid Telecom Botswana. “We know that fibre is key to providing Africa with high-speed, affordable digital connectivity and have plans to create even more valuable connections throughout the continent.” Prior to this fibre implementation, Liquid Telecom Botswana did not h...
Mimecast Strengthens Commitment to the Channel with Appointment of New Global Leader
Mimecast Limited (NASDAQ: MIME), a leading email security and cyber resilience company, announced Jonathan Corini has been appointed the new Senior Vice President of Global Channel Sales. In this role, Jonathan will be responsible for the strategy and execution of Mimecast’s global channel program. Mimecast is dedicated to ensuring its partner community is supported, engaged and armed for success and the appointment of Jonathan will help unify and strengthen its commitment to the channel. “As a leading cybersecurity and resilience provider to organizations using Microsoft 365, there’s a huge opportunity to grow in the enterprise while also serving small and medium businesses, and we can’t do that without the channel,” said Dino DiMarino, chief revenue officer at...
MTN Nigeria Partners with Gameloft to Launch Gameworld
Sourced from TheTechieGuy (https://thetechieguy.com/) MTN Nigeria has partnered with Gameloft to launch MTN Gameworld – a new gaming platform for its subscribers. The platform is expected to offer the Nigerian gaming community access to a variety of fun and exciting games online through an extensive premium catalogue from Gameloft and other renowned publishers. Speaking on the partnership, Chief Digital Officer of MTN Nigeria, Srinivas Rao said, “We are constantly seeking to deliver innovative products that support the aspirations of our customers, whilst delivering superior user experience. This partnership allows us to provide our customers with access to a variety of exhilarating games from Gameloft and other leading publishers at an affordable rate.” MTN Gameworld will provide customer...
How COVID-19 could cause a Surge in QR Code Scams
Sourced from Forbes The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organisations all over the world to rethink the way they interact with their consumers. For instance, restaurants have opted to use QR codes so that customers can browse menus on their phone or make contactless payments without risking possible transmission. And now, Check Point is warning mobile users of the security risks of QR codes. The cybersecurity solutions company says that hackers are looking to take advantage of QR codes’ new popularity, by replacing legitimate QR codes with one that launches a malicious URL or tries to download customized malware. A recent survey by MobileIron showed that from March to September 2020, 38% of respondents scanned a QR code at a restaurant, bar or café, and 37% scanned a code at a retailer. Over ...
Samsung Unveils the Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02S
Image sourced from The Verge Samsung has launched its newest entry-level devices – the Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02S. Both of these smartphones, which will be available in 2021, are said to offer a “lower barrier to entry” for people looking for a modern Android device. “Featuring a compact design with smooth curves and a comfortable grip, the Galaxy A12 combines Samsung’s best smartphone features in an affordable package,” says Samsung. Here’s a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02S’s key specifications: Galaxy A02S Galaxy A12 OS Android 10 Android 10 Display 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display Processor Octa-core (2.3GHz, 1.8GHz) Octa-core (1.8GHz) RAM Up to 6GB 3GB Storage Up to 128GB + microSD 32GB + microSD Rear Camera 48MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP 13...
