technology news
Pick n Pay Introduces Smart Shopper Digital Receipts
Pick n Pay has revealed that, instead of receiving a printed receipt, Smart Shoppers can now have their till receipts sent directly to their email. These will also be loaded onto the customer’s PnP mobile app profile for 90 days so that they are saved in one place for easy access and review. This is one step in the retailer’s efforts to reduce unnecessary waste as many till receipts land up in landfills as they are often lost in rubbish bins and not recycled. “We are always looking at ways we can reduce waste within our stores and help our customers lead easier lives by making their shopping experience quicker and more convenient. This latest Smart Shopper enhancement ticks all these boxes,” says John Bradshaw, retail executive: marketing at Pick n Pay. “Customers are already telling us th...
New WhatsApp Update for iOS and Android
Image sourced from YoMZanzi WhatsApp has unveiled new beta updates for iOS and Android, according to WABetaInfo. These new features include advanced wallpaper configuration tools that allow users to customise their in-app wallpaper. MyBroadband reports that there are now “32 new bright wallpapers, 30 new dark wallpapers, and a number of solid colour options to choose from”. WhatsApp Unveils New In-App Features WhatsApp has revealed a number of new in-app features covering Shopping, Payments, and Customer Service. According to the messaging platform, the ways in which people and businesses communicate are not working. “The global pandemic has made clear that businesses need fast and efficient ways to service their customers and make sales. WhatsApp has become a simple and convenient resourc...
South Africans could soon need a TV License for their Smartphones and Laptops
The SABC has revealed its plans to push new regulations that would call for South Africans to pay TV Licence fees. Sylvia Tladi, SABC Head of TV Licences, said that “one of the key things that we [need] to deal with was the definition of the television set because once you have defined what a television set is, you move on to identifying whether a licence is required or not.” Tladi goes on to say that people are not just viewing content or broadcasting services on a traditional TV anymore – and that’s why the regulations need to change. “What we are asking for is for the definition to be amended so that it can also include other devices that are not traditionally built to look like television sets but are used to receive broadcasting services for content, whatever platforms people use...
ESET Launches ESET Cloud Office Security to Provide Advanced Protection for Microsoft 365
ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has today launched ESET Cloud Office Security, a new standalone software as a service solution that provides advanced preventative protection for users of Microsoft 365 applications. The software is designed to reflect the modern role of emails and collaboration tools used within organizations. Microsoft Office 365 is used by organizations all over the globe, with the cloud becoming an integral part of many businesses’ data storage and systems, regardless of their size. With more than 84% of organizations (according to Gartner survey*) using or intending to use Microsoft 365, it is crucial that businesses and their cloud tools are adequately protected. Businesses that leverage ESET Cloud Office Security are protected against incidents caused by email...
Why Consumers should be Cautious when Entering Banking Details Online
The fast pace of digital progress in the financial world has made it easier than ever for people to transact, make purchases, and manage their money online. For most people, speed and convenience are two of the most important benefits that a digital transaction offers, and many businesses invest significantly into developing digital processes that make such fast and easy transactions possible for their online customers. One example of this digital transactional enablement is a process called screen-scraping. Put simply, this is the process of copying information shown on a digital screen like a computer or mobile device, so that it can be used in another digital screen or process. Ravi Shunmugam, CEO of EFT Product House for FNB, explains that there are various examples of screen-scraping ...
Telkom Reintroduces Pawa Combo Bundles in Kenya
Telkom Kenya has revamped its Pawa bundles to include SMS and mobile data at more affordable price points. “It is worth noting that SMS and WhatsApp communication are popular among the young audiences who have been actively at home following the prolonged closure of educational institutions due to the current pandemic,” says Telkom’s Marketing Director, Eric Achola. The bundles will now be available as follows: /* custom css */ .tdi_3_f6f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_f6f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Pawa 10- 30 minutes (Telkom to Telkom)+50MB WhatsApp (valid for 24hrs) Pawa 20- 5 minutes (Across networks)+100SMS+100MB (Valid for 24hrs) Pawa 20 Extra- 100 minutes (Telkom to Telkom)+100SMS+100MB (Valid for 24hrs) Pawa 50- 600 minutes (Telkom to Telkom)+200SMS(across net...
Netflix Gains 2.2 Million Subscribers in Q3
Image sourced from Netflix Following a blockbuster H1 2020, Netflix’s growth slowed down in Q3 2020. According to the research data analyzed and published by Comprar Acciones, net paid subscriber additions for Q3 2020 were 2.2 million. Comparatively, FactSet analysts had estimated 3.57 million while Netflix had expected 2.5 million. According to a report made by Netflix, it had added 15.77 million subscribers in Q1 2020 against an expected 7 million. In Q2 2020, the total number of new paid subscribers was 10.1 million versus an expected 7.5 million. Disney+ Subscribers Grow by 60M in 9 Months vs. Netflix’s 28.1M At the end of Q3 2020, Netflix reported a total of 195.15 million. Netflix reiterated the fact that it had missed its Q3 2020 subscriber forecast due to the company’s record perfo...
Sony Unveils ‘PlayStation Ready’ Bravia TV Lineup
Sony has unveiled a lineup of its current Bravia TVs that are officially ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’. The new ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’ tagline has been created in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) to make it easier for consumers to select the “optimum TV in preparation for the highly anticipated launch of PlayStation 5, the next-generation game console releasing this holiday season”. The first ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’ TVs from Sony includes the standout X90H 4K HDR Full Array LED. The X90H displays gameplay images of up to 4K resolution at 120 fps with a very low input lag of 7.2ms. ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’ TV models also boast Bravia Game Mode, which allows users to automatically play games on the PS5 console with low latency. Thanks to Bravia Game Mode, users can wak...
Infinidat Joins Forces with VMware to Tackle IoT Threats
Infinidat has partnered with VMware to deliver a comprehensive software-defined data centre solution that tackles current and evolving IoT Edge security threats. All industries are undergoing major digital transformation, leveraging technology to improve customer experiences, operational efficiency, enhance business agility, and create competitive advantage. IoT solutions play an essential part in meeting these objectives, as they enable digital transformation processes by extending software control of physical assets to optimize performance and enhance flexibility. A recent report, Worldwide Global DataSphere IoT Device and Data Forecast, 2019–2023 from the IDC estimate that there will be 41.6 billion connected IoT devices, and yet data also shows that large companies, typically wit...
Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Delayed Until December
Image sourced from VentureBeat CD Projekt has delayed the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, for the third time. The highly anticipated open-world RPG from the studio that brought gamers the Witcher series, is now expected to be released on 10 December. In an official statement, the developer says “The biggest challenge for us right now is shipping the game on current-gen, next-gen, and PC at the same time, which requires us to prepare and test nine versions.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_bb8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_bb8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “We’re aware it might seem unrealistic when someone says that 21 days can make a difference in such a massive and complex game, but they really do,” the pair added. We have important news to share with you pic.twitter.com/qZUaD...
Insurance Companies could’ve Avoided Loss of R7 billion during 2019, According to ICB
Nowadays, it is customary that people who own certain goods obtain insurance to protect their belongings. Car insurance companies are the most popular ones; the different car insurance alternatives in the market are there because we need to feel safe while we are on the streets – not only because of the actions we take, but also because of other people’s actions. Nevertheless, in the market citizens can find an insurance policy for many different purposes, like property insurance. In the same way that these policies are widely used, there are also some widely dishonest actions taken by contributors in South Africa. The Insurance Crime Bureau (ICB) stated in a report that R7 billions were lost in 2019 because of insurance fraud. However, this could have been avoided if some measures h...
How SMEs Should Protect Themselves from Cybersecurity Attacks
Stefan van de Giessen, General Manager: Cybersecurity at Networks Unlimited Africa Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are widely acknowledged as playing a critical role in South Africa’s economy, and yet they are also potentially more at risk in terms of their ongoing survival than larger enterprises. According to a recent McKinsey report, SMEs in South Africa employ between 50 and 60% of the country’s workforce across all sectors. At the same time, SMEs arguably face a number of challenges, which can potentially weigh on them more heavily than on larger enterprises. These particular areas of concern include attracting customers; maintaining profitability; increasing revenue; facing greater uncertainty during economic down-turns, and securing financing for expansion. Now add in the issues a...
