tech news
Gmail Suffers Outage Across the Globe
Google has confirmed that Gmail suffered an outage after users reported being unable to send emails and attach files. “Gmail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change,” says the company in its latest update. Google Maps is Getting a more Realistic Update Google has revealed that it’s rolling out “new visual improvements that bring even more detail and granularity” to its global map. The company hopes that this will give help users get a better understanding of what an area looks like whether they’re exploring it virtually or planning a visit. Google uses high-definition satellite imagery that maps out 98% of the earth’s population. “With a new color-mapping algorit...
Thinking Beyond the Pandemic with Silver Peak SD-WAN
Organizations will have to look at re-engaging with their customers and business prospects in an entirely new way in a post-COVID-19 economy. This will most likely force an assessment of business model design and delivery, in which the wide-area network (WAN) will play an important role in defining success. So says Kristian Thyregod, vice president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at SD-WAN solution provider, Silver Peak. Writing in a blog entry, Thyregod explains, “Forward-thinking companies continuously plan and execute their enterprise architectures to not only accommodate current requirements, but also foresee developments of future requirements – e.g. a temporary, or even permanent, shift in business model design and execution. “…The WAN is the connecting tissue across the enterpri...
Instagram Accused of Collecting Users Private Biometric Data
Facebook-owned Instagram is being sued over allegations that it “illegally harvests the biometric data of users”, according to Bloomberg. “In [a] new lawsuit, filed Monday in state court in Redwood City, California, the company is accused of collecting, storing and profiting from the biometric data of more than 100 million Instagram users, without their knowledge or consent.” The report goes on to say that if found guilty of privacy violations, the company could be expected to pay $1000 per violation — “or $5000 if it’s found to have acted recklessly or intentionally”. Instagram Debuts Reels to Rival TikTok Instagram has rolled out a new way to create and share videos – Reels – to rival popular Chinese app, TikTok. The social media platform says that use...
Nutanix Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Rolls Out on AWS
Cloud computing solutions company, Nutanix has announced the general availability of Clusters on AWS. This roll-out hopes to extend the flexibility and ease of use of the company’s hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) software, along with all Nutanix products and services, to bare metal Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances on Amazon Web Services (AWS). With this announcement, Nutanix aims to deliver hybrid cloud infrastructure — one that allows businesses to accelerate their digital initiatives and optimize spending, priorities further amplified in the age of COVID. Additionally, customers will be able to take advantage of the company’s full software stack on the private and public cloud. This includes unstructured storage solutions Files, application orchestration solution ...
Women in Tech: Kholiwe Makhohliso, VP of Software AG
In a predominantly male-dominated industry, Kholiwe Makhohliso has carved a name for herself as a diverse leader in the ICT sector as Country Manager and Vice President of Software AG – a German-headquartered global software company. Makhohliso’s experience spans over two decades with a career that has been meticulously nurtured in both public and private sectors. Her growth as a revered executive in the ICT industry is owed to her risk-taking nature, resilience, and an unwavering belief in offering her clients the best solutions for their needs whilst also ensuring that her teams thrive in a holistic world-class working environment. “I have never taken it to heart that it’s a man’s world,” says Makhohliso. “I grew up with men, but I was never aggressive some people believe I’m way too sof...
Kaspersky Extends Reach to West Africa
Kaspersky has partnered with Pan-African distributor company, First Distribution, to expand its security software portfolio into West Africa. First Distribution currently distributes Kaspersky in Southern Africa and East Africa. The addition of the new territory means it now covers the full region for non-Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is said to be constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialised security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and ev...
Dell Introduces New Latitude Chromebook Enterprise
Dell has officially unveiled its new Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise – a ‘2-in-1’ business laptop that the company says boosts productivity with on-the-go power, sophisticated security and fast connectivity features employees need. This device comes at a time when businesses around the world are looking for innovative ways to keep their employees connected from anywhere. “This is not just another Chromebook,” says Rahul Tikoo, senior VP of Dell Technologies. “Our latest Latitude Chromebook Enterprise is designed equal parts for employees and IT managers adopting Chrome OS in the enterprise. Employees will appreciate its sleek design and collaboration features that help them navigate new work dynamics, while IT managers have the management and security features they ex...
Microsoft Launches Safe@Home Hackathon to Tackle GBV
Microsoft South Africa is partnering with NPO’s, 1000 Women Trust and TEARS Foundation, to launch the Safe@Home Hackathon which aims to address gender-based violence in South Africa. Hackathons are aimed at finding solutions to specific challenges through collaborative brainstorming and programming in a short space of time. The Safe@Home Hackathon will look to facilitate collaboration to create and develop technology-based solutions that will work in the context of South Africa’s unique circumstances and challenges. “Gender-based violence is one of the most pressing and critical challenges South Africa faces: President Cyril Ramaphosa identified it as the second pandemic our country is currently battling and a war that is being waged against our women and children, with over 40% of S...
Rubrik Go: a Flexible IT Offering during Uncertain Times
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” said the renowned genius and theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein, and cloud data management company Rubrik is taking this to heart in its latest offering which delivers flexibility at its core. Rubrik is distributed throughout Africa by value-added distributor, Networks Unlimited Africa. Rubrik Go, the company’s new subscription purchasing programme, applies a Software as a Service (SaaS) model and enables customers to enjoy future innovation through one simple and predictable subscription licence. “In these current uncertain times brought about by the global COVID-19 lockdown situation, the ability for customers to have flexibility with their IT arrangements is extremely useful,” comments Risna Steenkamp, General Manager: ESM Divi...
vivo Launches Y30 Smartphone in Kenya
vivo has unveiled the Y30 smartphone in Kenya – just one month after it announced the launch of the V19. The tech manufacturer says that the Y30 smartphone combines its Ultra O Screen, AI Quad Camera and 5000 mAh battery in a high-end device with a unique body structure and moderate price tag. Chronicling the brand’s growth, Arthur Xian, CEO of vivo Kenya, highlighted the company’s efforts to make revolutionary smartphones that will usher smartphone enthusiasts into an era of endless possibilities on mobile devices and exceptional photography experiences. “The flexible display and design market this 2020 is growing unexpectedly. The technology is expected to expand further and diverse. Our goal is to dominate in the flexible display market by introducing new products with enhanced pe...
5 Reasons Why Connectivity Will Enable the Workplace of the Future
While the workplace of the future has long been possible, few businesses were adequately prepared for the speed and urgency at which they would need to develop such an environment — until the global COVID-19 pandemic fast-tracked digital transformation. Seemingly overnight, organisations were faced with two choices: they could either rethink their traditional ideas on productivity and ultimately rely on new technologies and infrastructures to create a productive remote-working environment or they would need to cease operations. Many embraced the challenge and chose the former, marking a mass work-from-home migration. Of course, reinventing the traditional office presented its obstacles, but one thing was made abundantly clear: the virtual workplace of the future can be anywhere that is s...
Huawei AppGallery Launches Discovery Bank App
Huawei has announced that the Discovery Bank app is now available on its AppGallery platform, ensuring that the bank’s users now have access to this app across multiple platforms and can use it from anywhere in South Africa. “We are happy to welcome Discovery Bank to our Huawei AppGallery family of apps,” says Zhao Likun Zhao, VP at Huawei Consumer Business Group for Southern Africa. “AppGallery has over 400 million active monthly users worldwide and has secured its position as one of the Top 3 app marketplaces globally, even though we only launched it to a wider market in 2018. Locally, Huawei has partnered with a number of companies who create apps that are key to the daily life of South Africans, which includes banking apps, so people can manage their financial present and future.” Comm...
