Top Stories
Microsoft Shuts Down Streaming Platform Mixer, Partners with Facebook Gaming
Sourced from Geekwire. Microsoft is closing its Mixer video game live-streaming service on 22 July 2020 with plans to move existing partners and streamers over to Facebook Gaming. Mixer, launched in 2016, will now no longer be operated by Microsoft as a service. The reason for this decision is that the company has struggled to reach the scale needed for Mixer to compete with Twitch, YouTube, and even Facebook Gaming itself. “We started pretty far behind, in terms of where Mixer’s monthly active viewers were compared to some of the big players out there,” says Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s head of gaming, in an interview with The Verge. “I think the Mixer community is really going to benefit from the broad audience that Facebook has through their properties, and the abilities to reach gamers in...
Apple Introduces iOS 14, “the Biggest Update Ever”
Apple took to the online stage at WWDC to officially unveil iOS 14, in its words, “the biggest update ever to Home Screen“. The update includes “redesigned widgets and the App Library, a new way to tap into the App Store with App Clips, powerful updates to Messages, and more”. Home Screen updates According to Apple, widgets can be pinned in different sizes on any Home Screen page. Users can create a Smart Stack of widgets, which uses on-device intelligence to surface the right widget based on time, location, and activity. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5e5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5e5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “iOS 14 transforms the most iconic elements of the iPhone experience, starting with the biggest update we’ve ever made to the Home Screen,” says Craig Federighi...
South Africa’s President Praises Amazon’s Job Creation Efforts
Sourced from 2OceansVibe. South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Amazon for its commitment to creating over 3000 jobs for locals. Ramaphosa notes, in his weekly newsletter, that this development comes at a time when many businesses are doing all they can to stay afloat in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. “Our economy is in the throes of the anticipated fallout from this global crisis. The predictions of businesses shutting down and jobs being lost are materialising,” he writes. In spite of this, Amazon is investing in the creation of new virtual jobs in Customer Service in South Africa. The company says that these roles will range from customer service associates to technical experts who will work virtually and provide 24/7 support to Amazon custo...
Online Marketplace for Medical Supplies Launches to Aid Africa-wide COVID-19 Response
Sourced from eNCA. An online marketplace, Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), has been launched to provide the purchase, volume aggregation, quota management, payment facilitation as well as logistics & transportation of COVID-19-related medical equipment across the African continent. According to Tech Cabal, the new platform provides a reliable database of global manufacturers and logistics service providers for diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), devices like ventilators and patient monitors as well as a range of disinfectants. All medical equipment featured on the platform are strictly those that have been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) as well as other approval ...
Telkom Records R43 billion in Revenue, Up 3%
Image sourced from My Broadband South African network provider, Telkom has delivered a solid top-line performance in the year to 31 March 2020, with revenue increasing 3.0% to R43.0 billion, mainly driven by a 54.4% increase in mobile service revenue. The company says its performance was underpinned by capital investments of R7.8 billion within the same period. The mobile business continues to gain scale and remains the fastest-growing mobile business in South Africa. With 12 million customers, it now accounts for 35% of Telkom’s total operating revenues. “Our Group revenue performance represents how ongoing investment – particularly in mobile, IT and masts and towers – enables Telkom to grow new revenue streams and offset traditional business shrinkage,” says Telkom Group Chief Executive,...
CERN Wants to Build a New 100 Kilometre Long Super-Collider Worth $23 Billion
Sourced from CERN. The Large Hadron Collider is the world’s highest-energy particle collider at 27 kilometres in length. It is also the largest machine ever built by human hands, according to CNET. Now, the machine’s operators, the European Organization for Nuclear Research – CERN, is planning to build a second, even larger collider. This one could end up being 100km, almost four times the size, and may cost up to $23 billion to produce. The collider will be used to further study the Higgs Boson particle. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5c5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5c5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Having been further popularised due to CBS’ smash-hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Higgs Bosons are a type of particle theorized by Peter Higgs and five other scientists back in ...
Mastercard Promises 120,000 Free Uber Rides and Meals to Frontline Workers Across the MEA
As cases of COVID-19 continue to escalate, frontline workers have tirelessly continued to support, feed and protect communities. With this in mind, Mastercard has committed 120,000 free trips and meals across the Middle East and Africa, which will be facilitated through Uber. Uber is utilizing their technology and making available their wide network of drivers to ensure those who are supporting communities and the many frontline workers who need to be mobile, have a reliable and efficient way of getting around. Once qualifying workers have successfully signed up through Uber’s website, they can arrange transportation to and from their homes and to where they are needed, such as healthcare facilities or to feed the vulnerable. Uber has shared relevant health information with drivers to ensu...
6 Tips to Consider When Building a ChatBot for your Business
Sourced from UC Today. By 2022, Gartner predicts that 70% of customer interactions with businesses will involve emerging technologies such as machine learning (ML) applications, chatbots and mobile messaging. It’s as good a time as any to consider introducing chatbot functionality to your business. Chatbots are a bit like magic in that they are powerful tools in the right hands. But if they’re thrown into gaps in the business without strategic direction or the customer underpinning the foundations of their design, then they can potentially do the opposite of what the business wants. They can frustrate customers, deliver poor service and damage the brand. There are six essential elements that make up a solid and effective chatbot implementation. These six qualities will define the relevance...
New COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Designed “For Nigeria by Nigerians”
Sourced from Washington Post. Rapid Trace, a new innovative contact tracing mobile app has been developed by Cadnetwork Enterprise, burgeoning Nigerian tech firm. The app is being touted as a key in Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19. The Guardian writes that the app is designed “for Nigeria by Nigerians” and is available for free. Currently only on Android smartphones. The app offers a bevvy of features apart from contact tracing. Namely social distance enforcement, crowd control, self-testing & QR, among many more. Darlington Onyeagoro, strategy consultant at Rapid Trace, says that the mobile app was launched because technology is a common denominator in managing and mitigating the impact of the current pandemic, restoring livelihoods and tackling similar challenges in the future. “Pre...
Google Chrome Users May Have Been Effected by a Spying Campaign, According to Report
Sourced from Forbes. Google Chrome extensions downloaded more than 32-million times were used to spy on the popular browser’s users in a massive global surveillance campaign, according to a new report. The report, published by cybersecurity firm Awake Security, found at least 111 “malicious or fake” Chrome extensions capable of taking screenshots, stealing login credentials and capturing passwords as users typed them. This spying campaign impacted a wide range of sectors across the web including financial services, healthcare and government organizations, the firm adds. Browser extensions, such as the ones for Chrome allow users to add a myriad of new features previously unavailable to them. Extensions such as Netflix Party and Suspicious Site Reporter are examples of popular extensions. A...
5 Things to Consider When Planning a Virtual Graduation
Image sourced from University of Pittsburgh The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly thrust us into the future. Digital technologies have become more entrenched in our daily lives in the past two months than they have over the past two years. If we want to see our loved ones, we jump onto a Teams or Zoom call, if we want to engage in some retail therapy, we turn to eCommerce companies and outlets. There are very few aspects of our day-to-day lives that have not been altered in some way, shape or form by the coronavirus. When it comes to schooling, both younger learners and tertiary-level students have had to adapt to a whole new world of remote learning. Digital tools have made this process a bit easier, and have enabled students to stay on top of their game, even while learning from home. An...
Cell C to Cut Over 900 Jobs, Almost 40% of its Workforce
Image sourced from Town Press South African network provider, Cell C has confirmed that it could retrench up to 960 employees – including junior management and semi-skilled staff – resulting in cuts of almost 40% of its workforce. “Cell C can confirm that it is has reached a difficult decision and initiated discussions with junior management and semi-skilled staff to implement a restructuring of its operations so as to align the organisation with its new operating model,” says a Cell C spokesperson. “Earlier this year, senior management positions were aligned to this revised operating model and new organisational structure. This process was completed in May and resulted in 30 positions being affected,” she said. Cell C began reevaluating its workforce in March 2020 and was said to be looki...
