technology news
South African Crypto Exchange Reaches 5 Million User Milestone
Luno has announced that has registered over 5 million customers in over 40 countries and has now made its platform available in Australia. The launch comes shortly after the crypto exchange revealed it would also be available in the UK. Marius Reitz, Luno’s GM for Africa, says that key factors in the decision to enter the Australian market also included the young age of the population as well as disposable income. “Our African expansion is moving steadily forward and we recently launched in Zambia and Uganda. Luno is on an expansion drive and the Australian crypto landscape ticked many of the boxes on our checklist.” Australia has seen a five-fold increase in the number of fintech companies in the past five years. Almost 60% of the digitally active adults in the country are considered fint...
Apple Reportedly Rejects Plans for New Facebook Feature
Facebook has revealed that Apple has rejected its plan to tell app users that “the iPhone maker would take a 30% cut of sales in a new online events feature, forcing Facebook to remove the message,” reports Reuters. Apple claims that such a message within the new feature, which would allow users to purchase buy tickets to online events, violates an App Store rule that prevents developers from showing users irrelevant information. Image sourced from The Verge In an official statement, Facebook says “Now more than ever, we should have the option to help people understand where the money they intend for small businesses actually goes. Unfortunately, Apple rejected our transparency notice around their 30 per cent tax but we are still working to make that information available inside the app ex...
LG Introduces Wearable Air Purifier
LG has unveiled its PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier – a ‘new level of portable protection’. According to the company, this wearable purifier will employ two H13 HEPA filters, similar to the filters used in LG’s home air purifier products. With its Dual Fans and patented Respiratory Sensor, LG’s wearable air purifier allows users to take in clean, filtered air while the Respiratory Sensor detects the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breath and adjusts the dual three-speed fans accordingly. The fans automatically speed up to assist air intake and slow down to reduce resistance when exhaling to make breathing effortless. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_8b8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_8b8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Ergonomically designed based on extensive facial shape analysis...
TikTok CEO Resigns
Image sourced from Evening Standard Kevin Mayer has resigned from his position as TikTok CEO amidst contention between the video-sharing platform and the Trump administration. The Financial Times reported that TikTok’s GM, Vanessa Pappas, will take over the CEO role in the interim. In an internal email, Mayer says “in recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for.” “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.” In recent months, TikTok has been embroiled in a legal battle against US President Donald Trum...
PAIX Data Centres Expands into Kenya
PAIX Data Centres has begun construction of “PAIX Nairobi-1” data centre in Nairobi. This facility, which is expected to open in November, is part of the company’s accelerated Pan-African expansion. PAIX Nairobi-1 will be located at Britam Tower, the capital’s tallest office building and a prominent landmark located in Upper Hill. Upper Hill is Nairobi’s new financial district and commercial hub of East Africa with regional offices of various national and international financing institutions and multinationals. The adjacent new office facilities of Britam Tower make the location very attractive for international customers that are considering to open offices in Nairobi and prefer close proximity and 24×7 access to their critical data infrastructure. “We are delighted to host PAIX Data Cent...
Walmart and Microsoft Team Up to Try and Buy TikTok
Just when you thought the TikTok Royal Rumble couldn’t get any wilder, Walmart’s entrance music started to play. As CNBC reports, the Big Box chain is making a late move to acquire TikTok by tag-teaming with Microsoft. TikiTok is currently owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance. By joining together, Microsoft and Walmart hope to fend off other deep-pocketed bidders, including the tech giant Oracle. CNBC guesses the final price tag will be between $20 and $30 billion, and a deal could happen within the week. Ever since a sale seemed likely, Microsoft has been connected to TikTok. But Walmart’s interest is new, and seems to stem from its desire to compete with Amazon Prime. In July, Walmart announced Walmart +, which is exactly what it sounds like: a Sam’s Club ripoff of more...
Spyware is Distributed Under the Guise of Android Apps
Sourced from Republic Title A new kind of Android spyware has been distributed by Transparent Tribe, a prolific APT group, under the guise of official COVID-19 applications – according to Kaspersky researchers. The threat actors have capitalised on the pandemic to extend their operations and infect mobile devices. Recent findings show that the group has been actively working on improving its toolset and expanding its reach to include threats to mobile devices. During the investigation, Kaspersky was able to find a new Android implant used by the threat actor to spy on mobile devices in attacks, which was distributed as fake national COVID-19 tracking apps. The connection between the group and the two applications was made thanks to the related domains that the actor used to host malic...
Fortnite’s Season Update will not Release on Apple Devices
Epic Games has confirmed that its newest Fornite season will not be available to Apple gamers. In an official statement, the game developer says that Apple is blocking said updates. “Apple is blocking Fortnite updates and new installs on the App Store, and has said they will terminate our ability to develop Fortnite for Apple devices. As a result, Fortnite’s newly released Chapter 2 – Season 4 update (v14.00), will not release on iOS and macOS on August 27.” And that’s not all, Epic Games confirmed to The Verge that “players on iPhone, iPad, and Mac will also lose cross-play Fortnite multiplayer with non-Apple platforms”. This comes in the midst of a massive brawl between the two companies over in-app payments and Apple alleged App Store monopoly. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_111.td-a-rec-img{ ...
TECNO Smartphones Allegedly Carry Built-In Malware
Chinese smartphone manufacturer, TECNO has recently made its debut to the African market. At first, the devices feel surprisingly solid and competent in hand – despite their mainly plastic exterior. However, recent reports suggest that these smartphones are harbouring a secret malware that could consume users airtime and install harmful code. Anti-fraud firm Upstream claims that they have found “a malicious code dubbed Triada on 53,000 TECNO smartphones” that had already been sold in Ethiopia, South Africa, Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana. According to Gadgets Africa, TECNO‘s parent company Transsion told Buzzfeed [the malware] was installed in the supply chain without its knowledge. “The fact that the malware arrives pre-installed on handsets that are bought in their millions by typically low-i...
The Future of Remote Working in South Africa
Sourced from We Work Remotely For several months now, office spaces across South Africa have been gathering dust, void of occupants as employees have been working from home. While there is no telling when the pandemic will end, if the current work-from-home culture is adopted more permanently, offices may soon become ghost towns. But the future of remote working largely remains to be determined. When the COVID-19 crisis began, countless businesses were put to the ultimate test from an IT infrastructure support perspective. A large proportion of the workforce had to cease going in to the office in order to prevent the spread of the virus. As such, for businesses to survive, they had to devise a remote working strategy and leverage digital technology to bring work into the home instead, ensu...
Facebook Adds New Shopping Tab to App
As part of Facebook’s plan to create a place for users to discover businesses and shop for products, it is testing a dedicated shopping tab within the main app. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to online shopping has rapidly accelerated, with an estimated 85% of people worldwide now shopping online,” says the social platform in an official blog post. “We want to make shopping easier for people and empower anyone, from an entrepreneur to the largest brand, to use our apps to connect with customers and grow their business. That’s why we’re creating new ways for people to shop on our apps and providing tools to help businesses sell online.” The new tab is currently only available in the US. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_ee0.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_ee0.td-a-rec-img img{ margi...
Women in Tech: Ailyssa Pretorius, GM of Uber Eats South Africa and Kenya
As we head towards the end of women’s month, ITNA continues to celebrate the women who have been inspiring the next generation and bridging the current gap in tech workspace. ITNA’s Jenna Delport chatted to Ailyssa Pretorius, Regional GM of Uber Eats South Africa and Kenya about what it takes to make it as a woman in tech-focused industries. Here’s what transpired: What is your typical day like? Does that even exist for you? Two days are never the same at Uber Eats. As the Regional General Manager for Uber Eats South Africa and Kenya, my days range from working with the team to solve tactical problems, to virtual meeting with partners to understand what opportunities we can mutually unlock for growth. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_4f5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_4f5.td-a-rec-img...
