technology news
These WhatsApp Messages could cause your App to Crash
A flaw in WhatsApp allows users to send “Scary Messages” that can cause the recipient’s app to crash, or even worse, result in the loss of their chat history/media etc. According to a report by WABetaInfo, these messages often make no sense to users but WhatsApp interprets the characters differently – “sometimes WhatsApp is unable to render the message totally, because its structure is so weird: the combination of these characters create a situation where WhatsApp isn’t able to process the message, determining an infinite crash.” An infinite crash occurs when users try to open an app but it freezes or closes and restarting the app doesn’t restore functionality. I receive this report every day, really, in particular from Brazilian users.Unfortunately it’s not a fake news.@WhatsA...
Is Africa Heading towards a Cashless Society?
Sourced from Redbubble and iStock. Cash may have traditionally been king, but Covid-19 has contributed to a faster pace of digital payment adoption. Recently, two global fintech players discussed the emergence of a plethora of digital payments and debated if cash is on its way out. Omosalewa Adeyemi, Head of Global Partnerships and Expansion at Flutterwave and Nicolas Vonthron, co-CEO of Mama Money; explored the future of payments and banking in an increasingly digital world. Sending money home during the lockdown Vonthron says Mama Money’s digital offering grew five times during lockdown as users look for ways to send money home online following sudden border closures. “There are 5 million migrants in South Africa who came to find a better future for their families. At Mama Money, w...
Microsoft Unveils the Xbox Series S
Microsoft has officially revealed the Xbox Series S – shortly after visuals of the gaming console were leaked online. In a tweet, the tech company says “Let’s make it official! Xbox Series S”. This marks the first official look at the new console as well as its price tag ($299), additionally, Microsoft revealed that this is their “smallest” Xbox ever. 👀 Let’s make it official! Xbox Series S | Next-gen performance in the ˢᵐᵃˡˡᵉˢᵗ Xbox ever. $299 (ERP). Looking forward to sharing more! Soon. Promise. pic.twitter.com/8wIEpLPVEq — Xbox (@Xbox) September 8, 2020 The Series X and Series S are expected to launch on 10 November, with the previously announced Series X selling for an ERP of $499. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5f8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5f8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin...
Cash Crusaders Launches eCommerce Service in South Africa
Second-hand goods chain, Cash Crusaders has built and launched ‘Click & Collect’, the first instalment in taking their retail business online. “Although we’ve been planning the launch of eCommerce for our business for a while, COVID-19 rapidly increased the rate in which we rolled the service out,” says Sean Stegmann, CEO of Cash Crusaders Franchising. “As discussed in our recent 702’s Franchising for Future Success webinar, with shopper behaviours changing somewhat, the timing was perfect for us to aggressively embrace our digitisation strategy. We started with our WhatsApp Video service back in June and have gone live with our Click & Collect service.” The company says that this service will cater for both private label new goods as well as second-hand goods and works off a live ...
Eutelsat and Paratus Partner to Increase Connectivity in South Africa
Eutelsat and Paratus have partnered to bring high-quality network connectivity to South Africa. Thanks to a new multi-year distribution agreement, Paratus will leverage Eutelsat Konnect in an attempt to connect remote and rural locations, businesses operating in farming, game farms and the SME segment and consumers, for home working, homeschooling and general Internet use across the country. Through this collaboration, Paratus will offer a number of 10, 20 and 30 Mbps packages to consumers – all will 24/7 technical support and using small, cost-efficient dishes. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e5f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e5f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “Getting connectivity in remote locations is not easy; while the price is key to attracting customers, the quality of n...
Infinix Launches the Zero 8 Smartphone in Kenya
Infinix has launched its newest flagship device – the Zero 8 – in Keyna. The smartphone has been designed with the ‘stylish and fashion-forward’ consumer in mind, says the tech company. “Infinix is taking a step to be more premium and able to compete and be the face of this new direction as a fashion-conscious brand. This direction is very much in tandem with our target customers, whose lifestyle can be described as image and fashion-conscious and trendy, with a taste for high-end gadgets”, says Mike Zhang, Infinix Kenya Brand Manager. The Zero 8 comes with Android v10 OS, a Media Tek Helio G90 processor, 128 GB ROM and 8 GB RAM. It is powered by a 4500 mAh battery and is 4G, 3G and 2G-enabled. A key feature is the device’s cameras, both on the front and at the back. On the front, for the ...
Huawei and TPAY Join Forces to Drive App Monetisation
Huawei and TPAY have partnered to make it easier for content developers to monetise their apps on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). This collaboration is expected to allow local MEA developers to fully utilise HMS’s In-App-Purchase (IAP) kit through TPAY’s direct carrier billing (DCB) service. This means that HMS users can pay for apps with just their mobile number. As a result, developers will get 100 per cent DCB coverage. “We are very excited to launch this strategic partnership with Huawei which will equip local and global developers with the tools they need to better monetise their services through In-App-Purchases capabilities,” says Sahar Salama, Founder and CEO of TPAY Mobile. “This agreement further extends the value of TPAY for top global merchants who are aspiring to scale their bus...
Citrix Appoints New VP of Emerging Markets
Citrix has appointed Amir Sohrabi as Area VP of Emerging Markets. He reports directly to Sherif Seddik, Senior VP and MD Citrix EMEA. With over two decades of experience in sales management, business development, strategic planning and marketing, Sohrabi will drive the acceleration to cloud of customer environments in the region enabling both business continuity and digital transformation to new work models, including remote working. “It is an exciting time to join Citrix,” says Sohrabi. “I am looking forward to helping Citrix customers across Emerging Markets build and implement innovative cloud and digital strategies.” Before joining Citrix, Sohrabi most recently served as both COO and Head of Digital Transformation for Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East & Africa regions at S...
Xiaomi Introduces Redmi 9C to South Africa
Xiaomi has released the Redmi 9C in South Africa – this marks the company’s “latest step in making high-performance, smart and innovative technology accessible to everyone”. This low-budget device boasts an AI optimised triple camera, powerful 5000mAh high-capacity battery and 6.53” Dot Drop display. The Redmi 9C features a MediaTek Helio G35, an octa-core gaming chipset which can go up to 2.3GHz. Here’s a closer look at the Redmi 9C’s key specifications: /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5fa.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5fa.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Display – 6.53” HD+ Dot Drop display, 400 nit (typ) brightness, Colour contrast ratio: 1500:1 (typ), TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification, Reading mode Rear Camera – 13MP main camera, 2MP macro camera, 2MP depth sensor Fro...
LG Confirms the Name of its Dual Screen Smartphone
Image sourced from Tech Lapse LG has confirmed that its new dual-screen device will be dubbed the ‘Wing’. The tech company teased the swivelling form factor smartphone in a concept video last week and is expected to officially launch it on 14 September. According to LG, this new smartphone is part of its Explorer Project which aims to “deliver distinctive and yet unexplored usability experiences, a strategy that tackles uncharted territory in the industry”. [embedded content] “LG and platform partners feel it is vitally important to demonstrate to consumers new and differentiated user experiences in the smartphone space,” says Morris Lee, president of LG’s Mobile Communications Company. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5ce.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5ce.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0...
The Role of Connected Technologies in the Automotive Sector
After many months of downtime, the much-anticipated resumption of major motorsport races has begun. However, like all other real-world sports, there have been various changes brought about because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a series of amendments were made to almost everything in Formula 1 – from the race-start procedures and team operational rules to podium ceremonies. Some say the Coronavirus may change motorsports forever. However, what has already changed both motorsports and vehicles forever is connectivity, which has thrived in the past decade. How did the decade change both racing and ordinary cars? Motorsport enthusiasts may characterise the past decade as the era of two outstanding racers – Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. But for F1 engineers and the bigger backst...
Why Security Systems are Only as Successful as the People Who are Behind Them
In May 2020, the personal records of more than 24 million South Africans and nearly 794,000 companies were handed over to someone impersonating a client. The personal records, identity numbers and addresses of millions of people and thousands of businesses were given to this person because they had fooled the system. It’s a hard lesson in how important it is to embed security not just into the technology and the devices of a company, but into its people. According to Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy at KnowBe4 Africa, security is not just the responsibility of IT – it is the responsibility of every single person in an organisation. “It is critical that organisations create a culture of security in order to combat this increasingly hostile security environment,” she adds. “A successful...
