tech news
Commvault and Microsoft Partner to Deliver SaaS and Cloud Technology Solutions
Commvault and Microsoft have entered into a multi-year agreement that tightly integrates the go-to-market, engineering and sales of Commvault’s Metallic Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) data protection portfolio with Microsoft Azure – in the hopes of delivering ultimate scale and trusted security with simple SaaS management. Commvault and Microsoft are bringing together these two technologies – Azure and Metallic SaaS – to meet the need for proven data protection backed by powerful scale and multi-layered security. According to the companies, Metallic not only enhances the protection of Microsoft Office 365 data in the case of accidental deletion, corruption, and malicious attacks but it also offers a range of additional options from VMware and Microsoft SQL database backup to Endpoint protect...
5 Interesting New Features Coming to WhatsApp
WhatsApp has announced a set of new features coming to the app in the next few weeks, including the launch of WhatsApp Dark Mode for its desktop platform amongst others. “WhatsApp is already used and loved by more than 2 billion people around the world. While our focus remains on providing a simple, reliable and private way for people to chat with friends and family – we also continue to push forward our product design to make sure WhatsApp remains the most useful way for anyone, anywhere to connect,” a blog post about the new features reads. [embedded content] The chat service launched dark mode on its smartphone app for iOS and Android in March and now is set to roll out a version of the interface design for WhatsApp desktop, as well as a few more interesting new features. /* custom css ...
KaiOS and Econet Launch Zimbabwe’s 1st 3G Feature Phone
KaiOS Technologies and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe have launched the Atom 3G phone – said to be the country’s first 3G smart feature phone. Announcing the launch, Econet said the new handset will be bundled with a 3-month data package, offering customers 6GB of FREE data upon every purchase. The phone will be available at half the average price of a basic Android smartphone sold in Zimbabwe, making the Atom 3G one of the most affordable 3G devices in the country. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made life difficult for people in Zimbabwe. We want to help them get online, communicate with their loved ones locally and abroad via WhatsApp, Sasai or regular cellular voice calls. We also want our customers to access valuable content at this time, such as medical tips and advice,” says Econet COO, Navdee...
Google Launches Nonprofits Initiative in Nigeria
Sourced from IOL. Google has launched the “Google for Nonprofits” in Nigeria, aiming to empower NPOs across the country by providing them with free premium services. Google for Nonprofits will give access to a collection of premium apps to organisations that qualify for the program. These will be the same tools used by large enterprises. NPOs will be given the rights to use the tools at no cost. Once qualifying, NPOs can use tools such as Google Ad Grants, G-Suite for Nonprofits, YouTube’s nonprofit programs and more. These premium apps are to assist nonprofits to work more quickly and efficiently. They are to spur more supporters into action, and for them to tell their stories in more compelling ways. Nonprofits can qualify for a grant of up to $10,000 a month that is available for six mo...
South Africa’s GDP Falls by 2% During First Quarter of 2020
Sourced from Finance Monthly. According to Statistics South Africa, the country’s economy decreased by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2020. Extending the technical recession the country found itself in in the last quarter of 2019. Stats SA’s latest quarterly GDP figures come only a week after SA’s finance minister Tito Mboweni tabled a supplementary budget in part of the country’s response against the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa is the worst affected country in the continent. Treasury now expects the country’s GDP to contract by a record 7.2% by the end of the year, while tax revenues are expected to fall over R300 billion shorter then what was estimated in February’s budget. Fin24 reports that the global economy is likewise looking dour. The UK is reporting a 2.2% contraction between Ja...
INTERVIEW: How IBM and WITS are Enabling Data-Driven Decisions to Flatten the COVID-19 Curve
With the ongoing battle against the spread of COVID-19, it’s said that timely and accurate data could help governments stay ahead of new transmissions and ultimately flatten the curve. With this in mind, IBM Research Africa, WITS University and the Gauteng provincial government have joined forces to develop a powerful data-driven dashboard to help make data-driven decisions when it comes to halting the spread of the virus. ITNA’s Jenna Delport spoke to Sibusisiwe Makhanya, Data Scientist at IBM Research Africa, about this pioneering tool and how it’s aiding the government during this pandemic. Here’s is what transpired: With the ongoing battle against the spread of COVID-19 in mind, how does timely and accurate data assist government to stay ahead of new transmissions and flatten the curve...
GirlCode to Host Virtual Hackathon Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
GirlCode has announced that its inaugural hackathon will be taking place – this time as a virtual event held in August to coincide with the Women’s Month celebration. The organisation says that COVID-19 has presented a unique opportunity to provide innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide, hence the seventh instalment of the annual hackathon is dubbed “Hack from Home”. GirlCode notes that the global pandemic’s impact on the vulnerable populations of South Africa is unprecedented but with various lockdown restrictions imposed, technology was and still is relevant to allow us to work, transact and to keep us connected. The hackathon’s objective is to entrench and elevate interest in coding and in turn, afford tertiary students eager to join the software industry with an opportunity ...
Microsoft and LinkedIn to Bring Digital Skills to 25 million People Worldwide
Microsoft has announced a new global skills initiative aimed at bringing more digital skills to 25 million people worldwide by the end of the year. The announcement comes in response to the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanded access to digital skills is an important step in accelerating economic recovery, especially for the people hardest hit by job losses. This initiative, detailed on the Official Microsoft Blog, includes immediate steps to help those looking to reskill and pursue an in-demand job and brings together every part of the company, combining existing and new resources from LinkedIn, GitHub and Microsoft. This includes: /* custom css */ .tdi_3_d1c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_d1c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The use of data to ...
LEAKED: Images of Samsung’s 5G Galaxy Z Flip
Image sourced from TENAA Images said to be showing Samsung’s newest 5G device – the Galaxy Z Flip 5G – have made their home online, reports The Verge. The pictures, first listed by China’s TENAA certification centre, confirm some key design specs including a new silver colour scheme. The images suggest that the 5G foldable device could be powered by the Snapdragon 865+ as opposed to the Snapdragon 855+ fitted to the original LTE Z Flip – “there’s still 8GB of RAM, but the batteries are listed with capacities of 2,500mAh and 704mAh, compared to the total capacity of 3,300mAh the phone had previously,” writes The Verge. MySmartPrice reports that the 5G device’s camera setup could instead sport a 10mp ultrawide lens rather than the 12mp lens on the LTE device. It’s also worth noting...
The Value of Digital Currencies During the Age of COVID-19
Sourced from Hacker Noon. “Money is no longer the commodity it was a decade ago. How we acquire money is changing, and so is the form of money,” writes John Lombela, MD of African investment and tech company Cryptovecs Capital. He says that with the changing business landscape and the digital evolution, the only way one can define their digital future is by becoming familiar and looking at new digital assets especially if they are seeking funding for their business. “Gone are the days of depending on a bank loan or family and friends investing in your business. Entrepreneurs and those seeking funding can now consider cryptocurrency lending because it offers high yielding gains through margin trading on specific exchanges by lending cryptocurrencies,” Lombela continues. This move has result...
African Remittance Company Joins Forces with Western Union
Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money Local money transfer company, Mama Money has joined forces with cross-currency money movement and payments company, Western Union. The partnership enables Mama Money customers to send money to their loved ones around the world via Western Union’s Global Network. “When the April lockdown hit, we saw a massive drop in remittances leaving South Africa due to the restrictions on movement to paying for money transfers and uncertainty. Remittance outflows for certain countries dropped by 90%. However, we’ve seen a very swift recovery since May as economic activities began to resume,” says Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money. Since 2017, Mama Money has grown by over 10 times – starting with six employees to over 120 staff members today. This str...
New POPI Act Regulations – Here’s Everything You Should Know
Sourced from Europa EU. Progress is being made to promote the protection of personal information in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the commencement of parts of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The remaining provisions of the Act will be addressed once the Information Regulator assume its powers, functions and duties in terms of the Act. The sections that will commence today, 1 July 2020 and include the conditions for processing personal information, procedures for dealing with complaints and provisions regulating direct marketing by means of unsolicited electronic communication. Sections 2 – 38, 55 – 109, 111 and 114 (1), (2) and (3) commences on 1 July 2020 and Sections 110 and 114(4) will commence on 30 June 2021. What does this mean? According t...
