Author: Dennis Mathu

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra launched with many exciting upgrades and it seems there are more features backed into the device that are coming in future software updates. One such feature is crash detection, a system that alerts emergency services when it realizes you have been involved in a car crash. A keen developer discovered the system code for the “Car Crash Detect Wakeup” sensor buried inside a OneUI 6.1 hidden system app called MoccaMobile. Apparatently, the feature is also hidden in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. According to reports, this feature relies on a composite sensor that uses data from…

Apple’s App Store opened the iPhone to a world of new possibilities. Since its launch in 2008 it has been the only official place for users to get access to applications, however, that’s about to change. In Europe, iOS users will be able to download third-party app stores, starting with the iOS 17.4 update that is scheduled to come in March this year. For comparison, Android users have had access to third party stores such as Amazon App Store and Samsung Apps for many years. Apple users had to result to jailbreaking their device to sideload apps from other sources.…

Infinix has announced the new Smart 8 Pro, it builds on the standard Smart 8 launched last year. The new Infinix Smart 8 Pro comes a 6.6 inch screen with 90Hz refresh rate and a HD+ LCD which comes with a Dynamic Island-like Magic Ring with an 8MP selfie in it . The rear has 50MP main camera. It is powered by a Helio G36 SoC with two RAM options – 4GB/8GB – and storage choice of 64GB/128GB plus support for further expansion via a microSD card. Software pre-installed is Android 13 Go overlaid by XOS 13 custom Infinix skin.…

Samsung Galaxy S24 series was launched recently with a host of new camera features. Luckily, some of these additions are trickling down to previous models. Samsung listed the features in the South Korea Community Forum, we can through the highlights.  Turn Motion Photos frames into 12MP images or long-exposure images. With the One UI 6.1 update, older models will gain the ability to turn any frame of a Motion Photo into a 12MP still image using AI-based upscaling. This update will also let you create long-exposure versions of an image to make them look more realistic. However, the company noted…

Apple has released a new major update for the iPhone and iPad inform of the iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3. It brings Stolen Device Protection, collaborative Apple Music playlists, and more. Stolen Device Protection The headlining feature is the Stolen Device Protection. There were reports of iPhone thefts where the thief spied on a victim to learn their passcode before going on to steal the device, leading to drained bank accounts, stolen passwords, and an untraceable ‌iPhone‌. This new feature solves that issue by requiring biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID to access passwords in iCloud Keychain, turning…

Apple iPhone fans in Kenya have reason to celebrate, the iPhone 15 series- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are now available in the country. The new line up is available at Apple authorized reseller stores in Kenya- Elite Digital Solutions (Apple Premium Reseller), Salute iWorld, Safaricom, Mac & More Solutions, Globoedge Solutions, powered by Redington. iPhone 15 Series may look similar with the previous models but they bring a plethora of changes under the skin. Firstly, Apple is finally making the transition to USB-C and ditching Lightning. This means universal cables…

Netflix, the streaming giant, is phasing out the basic ad free plan. The company has been transitioning into ad supported viewing lately, it’s success is the reason behind slashing this basic tier. According to reports, Netflix wants subscribers of its basic ad-free plan (which used to cost  $11.99 USD) to instead become ad-viewing subscribers or pay more for the ad-free streaming service.   Once eliminated, Netflix will go from four to three price points: Ads – $6.99 / £4.99 / 5.99€ Standard (HD) – $15.49 / £10.99 / 13.49€ Premium (4K) – $22.99 / £17.99 / 19.99€ Netflix informed its…

Apple’s first attempt in the VR space led to the birth of a new product, the Vision Pro. The device is what Apple calls the world’s first “Spatial Computer” with a matching price tag starting at $3499 for the 256GB storage version, 512GB goes for $3,699 and the 1TB costs $3,899. According to Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, its estimated that Apple sold between 160,000 to 180,000 units of its Vision Pro, and shipping estimates set for 5-7 weeks. Upon receiving the gadget, early adopters should expect the following in the box, The items are quite many compared to how lightly packed…

Arguably Samsung Galaxy S24 Series’ biggest feature is the Galaxy AI. As you would expect, Samsung wants to showcase the sheer power of the AI and in line with this, the tech giant has released a number of hands on videos highlighting some of the features. Live Translate Live Translate is offers two-way, real-time voice translations in 13 languages directly from the Samsung Phone app. Live Translate supports Chinese, English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Thai, and Vietnamese languages and Samsung is promising additional languages in future software updates. Samsung assured that translations are on-device and…

Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S24 Ultra, their new flagship. It looks very much like last year’s S23 Ultra and you might be wondering if there are any changes. There are several of them actually. The first physical difference you will notice is the screen, it’s now completely flat unlike the slight curve on last year’s S23 Ultra. Some prefer the premium look of curved glass considering you are paying top dollar for the device but others prefer the durability of a flat screen especially during falls.     Speaking of durability, Samsung’s new high-end phone has a titanium frame, which…

It’s a new year and with it comes new Samsung flagship smartphones, meet the new Galaxy S24 and 24+ and the star of the show S24 Ultra which we have already covered separately. Focusing on the S24 and S24+, the two devices bring a host of new features despite their familiar design. Starting at the front, the S24 and S24+ come with new LTPO displays with 1-120Hz variable refresh rate which are known to consume lesser power hence longer battery endurance. The S24+ has a flat 6.7” display which is now upgraded to QHD+ resolution while the smaller S24 packs…

The long awaited AI heavy Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is finally here. The tech giant took the stage to announce their new flagship smartphone which brings a new camera, AI features, flat screen and new materials. At first glance, the Galaxy S24 Ultra looks very similar to the S23 Ultra, but upon closer inspection, you notice that the curved display is fully gone. The Galaxy S24 Ultra flat screen is a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a variable refresh rate that goes from 1Hz up to 120Hz. It is also brighter hitting 2600 nits thanks to an improved…

Microsoft is boosting its AI might with two new offerings, the Copilot Pro and the corporate-focused Copilot for Microsoft 365, they both promise more AI features but for a monthly subscription. The Copilot Pro, which rolls out today, cost the same with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus, which goes for $20 per month in return for access to the most cutting-edge features. According to Microsoft, this Pro version is designed to function as a “single AI experience that runs across your devices, understanding your context on the web, on your PC, across your apps and soon on your phone.” Copilot Pro will…

Oppo’s latest flagship, the Find X7 Ultra, is the first smartphone in the world to include two periscope cameras.  Going straight to the periscope cameras, one periscope lens has a 3x magnification and features a 1/1.56-inch sensor, which OPPO claims is “the biggest telephoto sensor in any smartphone.” Large sensors often produce better low-light photos. The second periscope lens features a 6x optical zoom and a 1/2.51-inch sensor. Aside from the zoom lenses, the Find X7 Ultra sports two additional back cameras for a total of four. The main one is a 50 MP camera using Sony’s brand new second-generation…

Starlink, the satellite internet provider from Elon Musk’s Space X has chosen Kenya as the site for its first physical presence in Africa. Many had expected Nigeria to be the selected after Starlink choose the country as the launch market of its African internet service The location was revealed when SpaceX recently advertised for a Global Licensing Activation Manager position in Sub-Saharan Africa. The statement said. “The role will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, reporting to the team at our MacGregor, TX location.” The chosen candidate is expected to manage a portfolio of countries in order for the internet firm…

Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the Poco X6 Pro, which is set to be released on January 11, will come pre-installed with the company’s new HyperOS, the Android overlay set to replace MIUI. This would make the Poco X6 Pro the first Xiaomi smartphone to be released globally with the new HyperOS out of the box, It should be noted that the Poco X6 Pro will be the sole device to come with HyperOS. Both the Poco X6 and Poco M6 Pro are expected to ship with MIUI at launch, with the HyperOS update following soon after. Xiaomi has also…

OPPO released both the Reno 10 and Reno 8T 5G devices last year (2023). At first glance they both look similar but on closer look, you will realize there are features that distinctively set them apart. Below, we look at the major specifications, we have highlighted the standout features in bold. NameOPPO Reno 10 5G (on the left)OPPO Reno 8T 5G (on the right)AnnouncedFebruary 2023July 2023 DisplayAMOLED 6.7 inches, 120HZAMOLED 6.7 inches 120HZ Android versionAndroid 13, ColorOS 13.1,upgraded to Android 14Android 13, ColorOS 13,upgraded to Android 14 CPUMediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) Antutu 10 Performance Score439,391555,482 RAM8 GB8 GB Card SlotYesYes Internal Memory128GB or 256 GB128 GB…

One Plus has released a major OS update for the 8T which effectively takes it to the latest Android 14. OxygenOS 14 includes an upgraded Trinity Engine for improved performance, a new Smart Charging system, new privacy features such as an extra layer of security when granting access to photos and videos for any app, a Smart Touch feature that allows you to select text, images, or videos and paste to the clipboard, a new Snapchat widget for the lock screen, and more. There’s an interesting Carbon Footprint AOD feature that builds on the Homeland AOD that debuted last year,…

Tecno just made the Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ official. It’s now the top tier device on the Spark 20 series. The first thing you notice is the curved 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with 120 Hz refresh rate, 1,000-nit peak brightness, 2,160 Hz PWM dimming, an embedded fingerprint sensor, and 1,080×2,436 resolution. The curved display is a feature usually reserved for flagship devices, it’s a great move for Tecno bringing it to its affordable Spark series. The Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 Ultimate chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That performance…

Microsoft has quietly released a Copilot app for Android. The new app is accessible on the Google Play Store and provides access to Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot without requiring the Bing mobile app. According to Neowin, Copilot has been accessible on Android for over a week, but an iOS version is not yet ready. Copilot is a new Microsoft platform that is essentially a rebranded Bing Chat with additional capabilities packed in. Microsoft has ditched the Bing Chat branding, allowing Copilot to be more of a stand-alone experience similar to ChatGPT with its own dedicated domain at copilot.microsoft.com. Copilot is a…

Following a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, Apple was banned from selling Apple Watches with SpO2 (blood oxygen level) sensors in the United States. The verdict barred Apple from selling the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the United States on its website after 3 p.m. ET on December 21, and in stores beginning December 24. Apple filed an appeal against this order in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, requesting that the ban be lifted temporarily until US Customs could decide if the adjustments Apple is making to the Apple Watch…

Samsung announced a new feature to further enhance its Health App. The new addition is a Medications Tracking feature. As implied by the name, the new feature helps you track your prescription and over-the-counter medications and makes sure you don’t forget to take them. Samsung claims that Medications Tracking will help users stick to their regular medicine intake by putting up reminders that can be “gentle” or “strong” based on the importance of the drug at hand and how time-sensitive it is. The reminders are also intended for people who take numerous supplements for general well-being, thus in this case,…

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is less than a month away, and the latest scoop comes from prominent leakster Evan Blass, who apparently has genuine press materials for the Galaxy S24 series. The leak verifies most of the previously rumored specifications, including the S24’s 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The S24+ now has a 6.7-inch display with QHD+ resolution, while the S24 Ultra has a 6.8-inch display. The Galaxy S24 and S24+ will have Armor Aluminum 2.0 frame, while the Ultra will have a new Titanium frame. All three…

OnePlus introduced the OnePlus 12 during a special event in China to commemorate the company’s tenth anniversary. The new device brings back some features that were missing from the One Plus 11 while also improving in many other areas. Firstly, the OnePlus 12 has a 6.82-inch curved LTPO AMOLED display with a 1,440 x 3,168px resolution and a 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate. The screen has a peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits for HDR content and 1,600 nits for normal content. At the back is a Hasselblad-branded camera package that includes a 50 MP main shooter with Sony’s…

WhatsApp’s latest iOS update includes a new feature that allows users to transfer image and video files in their original, uncompressed state. According to reports, the feature allows users to send media files without using any additional compression that the app would normally employ to store data. This feature differs from the HD quality option, which was implemented earlier this year and only applies minimal compression on files in order to keep more of the original quality. To utilize the option, users need to start by tapping the “+” in chat, selecting “Document” and then “Choose Photo or Video.” Once…

Life’s Good (LG), a global leader in smart home appliances, has adopted Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the user experience of their Internet of Things (IoT) products. LG’s goal is to develop intelligent solutions that coexist with humans and the environment. In line with this, LG has incorporated technologies such as LG ThinQ for smart home solutions, LG ThinQ UP for appliances that are personalized to the user’s preferences, AI DD for the next generation of smart washing machines, and IBM Quantum Network for utilizing the revolutionary power of quantum computing for Next Gen appliances of the future. LG ThinQ…

Inchcape Kenya, the local subsidiary of Inchcape Plc global, has offically announced the addition of Changan Auto to its portfolio in Kenya, marking the brand’s entry into the East African market. This development will provide Kenyans and East Africans with access to a choice of Changan passenger and light commercial vehicles. The company has already established itself in African markets such as Angola, Egypt, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Ghana. Inchcape showcased six models from Changan’s range of vehicles at the launch event, which took place at the new Changan showroom on Lusaka Road in Nairobi. Oshan SUV, Alsvin car,…

Despite announcing 550 million active users and positive earnings report, Spotify announced a significant reduction in its workforce, shedding 17% of its employees. The surprise decision comes as the music-streaming giant deals with economic uncertainty and attempts to restructure its operations. CEO Daniel Ek acknowledged the upcoming difficult times and outlined the reasoning behind the layoffs. He noted that the reductions were required to match Spotify’s cost structure with its long-term ambitions and ensure sustainable growth. He stressed the importance of taking fast action to close the growing gap between Spotify’s financial ambitions and existing operational costs. “While I am…

WhatsApp, the popular messaging app with over 2.5 billion active users, is preparing to deepen its integration with Instagram by releasing a new feature that will allow users to seamlessly share status updates across both platforms. Building on its earlier integration with Facebook, WhatsApp appears to be expanding this functionality to Instagram, greatly easing the process of sharing content with a bigger audience across Meta-owned platforms. This forthcoming functionality, which is presently under development, would allow users to easily upload their WhatsApp status updates directly to their Instagram stories in a single step, according to WABetaInfo. Previously users had to…

Tecno announced Spark 20C, its latest entry-level smartphone meant for the affordable price segment. The company still managed to spice it up with a couple interesting features, including a Dynamic Island-style notch, a big battery and a 50 MP main camera. The Spark 20C has a 6.6” LCD with 720p resolution, a Dynamic Island-style notch and supports 90 Hz refresh rate. The whole handset is 8.75 mm thin, with the trending flat sides look introduced by the iPhone. Under the hood, there is an octa-core CPU with Cortex-A53 units running at 2.2 GHz but Tecno did not reveal the exact…