Author: Feritter Owich

Just four years after introducing the laptop as the slimmest in its lineup, Apple has stopped selling the 12-inch MacBook. The laptop was first introduced in 2015 and ushered in a new era of MacBook design for Apple. It was the first to use USB-C, the first with the controversial and problematic butterfly keyboard, and the first Mac laptop without a glowing Apple logo in years. Following refreshes to the MacBook Air and entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro today, Apple appears to have discontinued the  12-inch MacBook and the last-gen MacBook Air which vanished from Apple’s website earlier today as it announced its Back to School promotion. The refreshed lineup…

Canon is starting the week off strong with multiple new releases. Not only did the company just announce the new RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras, but, today it announced updates to two of their most popular PowerShot models. Canon unveiled the new PowerShot G5X Mark II and the G7X Mark III, both cameras boast notable shooting quality and 4K video recording, making them ideal assets for any visual creator. The G7X III is also the first Canon camera of its kind to allow for live streaming to YouTube, while support for vertical shooting is also on…

Wala, South Africa’s blockchain startup has closed down, the startup’s CEO Tricia Martinez has confirmed in a blog post. The company was founded in 2015 by Tricia Martinez and Samer Saab. It initially provided access to transactional banking, remittances, loans, and insurance, working with specialist providers to offer a full suite of financial services. In 2017 the startup became crypto-focused with the launch of utility crypto-token Dala, which Wala hoped would support the operationalization and further development of scalable, blockchain-enabled financial platforms for emerging markets. Wala did this by raising funding from Newtown Partners and with an additional US$1.2 million bagged through a…

The Vodacom Durban July took place over the weekend and while the event is usually about glitz and glamour, Vodacom, LG, and Nokia took the chance to make it a bit geeky. At the Durban July, one of South Africa’s biggest horseracing events, Vodacom, partnering with infrastructure provider Nokia and smartphone maker LG, showcased “Africa’s first live, 5G data session on a commercially ready 5G mobile phone and network.” The trio performed the demo using the LG V50 ThinQ 5G smartphone and was carried using Nokia’s AirScale 5G radio network tech. The Nokia Airscale 5G radio network solution uses an…

HongMeng OS is the name we’ve come to know as the ‘soon to be ready’ solution to Huawei’s problems in the event the Android ban became a permanent move. That scenario unfolded a few weeks ago when the Trump administration placed China’s largest smartphone vendor on a blacklist that prevents it from importing any technology made in the States, whether it’s software or hardware. Then Huawei registered a “HongMeng” trademark in several countries, which was believed to be the name of its OS, and it looks like HongMeng is coming soon. Apparently, Huawei in-house OS would not just be suited for smartphones, but for tablets,…

Today, Samsung Electronics said that profits for the three months that ended June more than halved from a year earlier following continued weakness in the price and demand of memory chips. Memory components, which are used in mobile handsets and enterprise servers, comprise Samsung’s main profit-making business. Analysts say that DRAM and NAND flash chips also saw drastic price drops in the past months leading to decreased earnings. The Korean tech giant relies heavily on the industry as an estimated two-thirds of its income comes from there. In addition to that, one of its biggest clients – Huawei found itself…

Forbes Africa very recently released the fifth edition of its 30 under 30 list, honoring some of the continent’s most accomplished young artists, entrepreneurs, and tech stars. This year, the popular magazine has released the names of 120 young African game-changers, all under the age of 30, in each of the four sectors – business, technology, creatives, and sport. Amazingly so this is an increase from last years list of 90 people. The list was announced at the annual Forbes Africa Under 30 Meet up that took place at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg. This being a Tech and business centered…

Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy A series phones back in April with the A10, A20, A30 and A50 being made available for the Kenyan market. Another variant of the A series is now available in the Kenyan market, the Samsung Galaxy A80 which has been created for the way people are engaging in the Era of Live. The gadget will offer compelling innovations with people now increasingly using their smartphones to share live interactions, capturing spontaneous photos, streaming live video and connecting over shared experiences that are happening instantly. The smartphone runs One UI based on Android 9.0 Pie and packs 128GB…

Samsung Electronics’s Australian unit is being sued by Australia’s consumer watchdog for allegedly misleading consumers by promoting water-resistant Galaxy smartphones as suitable to use in swimming pools and the surf according to an article by TechRadar. Being the world’s largest smartphone maker, Samsung did not know or sufficiently test the effects of pool or saltwater exposure on its phones when ads showed them fully submerged, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) lawsuit says. Samsung has been depicting phones in or near to unsuitable environments such as swimming pools and oceans since 2016, the ACCC alleges, when it didn’t have…

The June security update released for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 brings new background blur effects for the camera’s Live Focus feature which only available on the Galaxy S10. Apart from the Live focus, the update also brings other camera features like a dedicated Night mode and a QR code scanner. Live focus allows a user to adjust the level of background blur so whatever they are focusing on stands out. Say the subject is food. Live Focus ensures your plate of food stands out. The feature also allows you to change the photo’s mood. Even after taking the photo, you can readjust the blur…

The Samsung Galaxy A50 gives you a major price break from the high-end Galaxy S10 handsets, yet more functionality than the Galaxy A10, Galaxy 20 and Galaxy A30. Back in February when Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S10 lineup, the Galaxy S10e, which skipped some of the flashier features of the other S10 models, like an in-display fingerprint sensor and third rear camera lens, cost $150 less than the regular Galaxy S10. But in April Samsung rolled out the Galaxy A series midrange Android phones, the A20, A30, and A50. The A50 makes a few more concessions on some features; a slower processor, no wireless charging, in…

It has been a number of weeks now and it seems that no one is quite sure on how to solve a problem like Huawei’s. Google blocked Huawei’s access to its Android software for future phones following a trade ban issued by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The executive order effectively banned the Chinese tech giant from trading with any American companies over national security fears, allegations which Huawei strongly denies. Although during the G20 Summit last week on Saturday, Mr. Trump backtracked on his decision, announcing that he will relax sanctions on Huawei, effectively reversing US policy on the matter. There is no clarity yet…

Many of you might not know that these two smartphones are different, but they are. The Huawei Y9 2019 was released in the Kenyan market in October 2018, as much as it is named 2019, while the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 was announced just recently and is still up for pre-order till the 4th of July. The key differences between these two models of the Y9 are the selfie camera which is the most evident. The Y9 2019 has a dual camera system on its notch, while the Y9 Prime 2019 has a pop-up selfie camera on its top. Both…

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore died at his home early this morning, July 1, 2019, Safaricom chairman Nicholas Nganga said in a press statement. “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing away of Robert (Bob) William Collymore CEO if SAFARICOM. PLC, which occurred at his home in the morning of 1st July 2019,” read part of the statement. “In October 2017, Bob proceeded to the U.K. to receive treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and returned in July 2018 to resume duties. He has been undergoing treatment for this condition since then in different hospitals and…

Last year in October Huawei unveiled one of its affordable mid-range smartphones, the Huawei Y9 (2019)  which became one of their best sellers in the series. The Y9 (2019) came with a powerful Kirin 710 processor, 4AI cameras and a long-lasting battery life. This year’s model, the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 was launched in the Kenyan market and is one of the first Huawei smartphones to have a retractable selfie camera. The good news is that the notch has finally been ditched to give room for the pop-up camera giving the Y9 Prime a near bezel-less design. This device is the…

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will reportedly launch on Wednesday August 7th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, according to trusted sources. This is the same venue the South Korean technology giant launched the Note 9 last year. Although considering that the launch is two months away, Samsung might change its plans or stick to them. 2019 has been quite a big year for Samsung, the firm has launched multiple Galaxy S10 phones and mid-tier Galaxy A series like the A30, A50, A80 and A90 in some markets. We’d love to mention the Galaxy Fold as well, but the less said about it the the better. We…

Robert Alai, a Kenyan blogger, internet entrepreneur and cyber-activist is set to remain in Kenyan police custody for 14 days for sharing gory photos of slain AP officers on his social media pages. Alai, who runs a Kenyan gossip blog Kahawatungu.com and his social media crisis communication consultancy firm TechMtaa was arrested Tuesday by DCI officers a day after he allegedly posted the photos. Alai whose Twitter handle has over 1.2m followers and whose Facebook page has over 383000 fans, allegedly received the photos from Kenya Prisons officer Patrick Robert Safari and shared them with his audience against Kenya’s anti terrorism laws. Another…

If our calendars are right, we are three months away from September which is usually the month Apple announces its new lineup. This September, we are expecting Apple to launch three iPhones, successors to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and a refreshed iPhone XR. Although few are probably too excited about another LCD-equipped iPhone, Apple’s flagship duo is nicely shaping up. These iPhones are expected to be; the first to boast triple cameras,the first to offer USB-Cthe first to ship with iOS 13, which will bring a system-wide dark mode, privacy enhancements and a performance boost.  iPhone 11 rumors are kicking…

A smartphone with a panoramic viewing experience and an auto pop-up selfie camera The HUAWEI Y9 Prime 2019 is set to come out later this month. The new device boasts an all-new HUAWEI Ultra Full View Display, a completely bezel-less design free of any notches, holes or a slider. The HUAWEI Y9 Prime 2019’s 6.59 inch FHD+ Ultra Full View Display, is entirely just the display, no bezels or notches, creating a whole new viewing experience. Speaking of the soon to be launched device in the market, Huawei Mobile Country President, Steven Li said, “Huawei, a brand known for meaningful…

The impact Huawei’s blacklisting by the U.S. government will have on its smartphone business has been quite a hot topic for weeks. According to reports, the impact will be huge, considering Huawei had just overtaken Apple for the number two spot globally, and had only Samsung to catch up with and overtake. However, ever since the speculations, Huawei’s sales have continued to decline and it could be devastating if the US claims continue. Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s marketing and sales managers are preparing for a drop in volumes of anywhere between 40 million to 60 million (40% to 60%) in…

In 2019, who doesn’t have a YouTube channel or two that they simply can’t live without? Doesn’t matter if it’s about food, design, entrepreneurship, gaming or just about anything. From a group of friends I talk to, just about everybody has a selection of YouTubers they love, subscribe to, and watch regularly. Some are local, others are international. For me, it’s quite a handful of different channels, from young couples take us through marriage experiences like the Kenyan Wajesus Family and Australian based Jamie and Nikkie, to tech Influencers and reviewers like iJustine, among others. There are others who follow church services…

The Huawei P30 Pro was showcased to the world in March and it certainly sent shivers into its rivals. The P30 Pro features a stunning 6.47-inch screen, fast Kirin 980 processor and quadruple rear camera. This is definitely a top-class phone but it also arrives at a very premium price. To own one you are going to need Kes. 99,999/- (approximately $1000) in your wallet. As Huawei was toiling to dominate the premium smartphone segment, the US government slapped it hard with a blacklist forcing Google to withdraw Huawei’s access to Android operating system. Although Huawei confirmed it will keep updating…

A new scheme from the BBC will enable women looking to move into a career in software engineering to gain the skills they need to do so. Applications already opened for this year’s Step Into Tech scheme, with an application deadline of July 5, 2019. After a hugely successful pilot last year, the BBC Step Into Tech training course is the ideal opportunity for women wanting to move into a career in Software Engineering. This in-depth course provides the fundamental skills needed to kick start a career in the sector. This course is ideal for women who may be returning…

Shortly after the United States blocked Huawei from purchasing U.S. tech without government approval, Google was one of the first companies to comply with the ban. Alphabet Inc. revoked Huawei’s Android license, which intensified the Chinese company’s efforts for its own Android alternative operating system and app store. Last month, Google locked Huawei out of its Android updates, though the US Commerce Department granted the Chinese tech giant a 90 day repreviegeneral license to update existing devices, temporarily easing restrictions on Huawei’s access to US components. Huawei’s phones run on a version of Google’s Android mobile operating system. However, Huawei is reportedly inviting Google Play Store developers…

Google is rolling out a major update to Gmail giving users the ability to send and receive dynamic emails from July 2, 2019. The service, which is currently available in a beta version to G Suite customers, uses the accelerated mobile pages (AMP) framework to load web pages within the Gmail application and launched with support from companies like Pinterest, Booking, and Doodle, but there’ll also be support from Google’s own services. What this means for your inbox is: Instead of every link or action leading to a new window opening, dynamic content will open within messages. At the moment…

Huawei confirms it has built its own operating system just in case US tensions disrupt use of Google’s Android Unfortunately or fortunately, being put on a U.S. Department of Commerce blacklist has a way of forcing a company’s hands. Huawei could reportedly introduce a new operating system (OS) because it’s being cut off from core aspects of the Android and Windows platforms on which it previously relied. A number reports have claimed Huawei plans to make the switch soon, and the latest reportedly came from Chinese newspaper Global Times, which said it could debut in 3Q19. Huawei Technologies, the largest smartphone…

Huawei’s P30 Pro is a stunning handset, and was a genuine pleasure to review. But at a minimum price of Kes. 99,999/-, it just isn’t for everyone. The P30 is also a possibility, of course, with a lesser specification and a lower price of Kes. 72,999/-. Although if you want an up-to-date Huawei handset at a more affordable price, there’s the 6.15-inch P30 Lite, which costs Kes. 29,999/-. Naturally there’s a much-reduced set of features compared to the Pro and the standard model, but the smartphone is still a very serviceable smartphone. This new mid-range phone from Huawei has many of the same design cues…

Sadly enough over the past several years, Instagram has evolved into a platform in which a person’s worth is often measured by followers and likes. This aspect has helped influencers and Socialites secure lucrative sponsorships; however, many experts believe this online popularity contest has had adverse effects on mental health, while some users have even lost their lives in the pursuit of likes and shares.  Instagram lead, Adam Mosseri, on Tuesday announced that the social network is going to test hiding like counts as a way to make the app “a less pressurized environment.” This test will begin later this week in Canada.…

We’re just a few weeks away from the launch of the OnePlus 7, and thanks to a host of rumours and leaks, we know quite a bit about the incoming flagship. Release date OnePlus has announced a May 14 three-venue launch event in New York, London, and Bangalore. The Chinese launch event will take place on May 16. The company is expected to unveil its “OnePlus 7 series,” and rumour has it that here’ll be at least two phones on offer: a standard model and a Pro variant. If you can’t make it to the show in person but want…

At a press event in Seoul this week, Samsung unveiled its latest slate of lifestyle TVs and the surprise was that the firm is set to release the world’s first vertical television designed for social media-addicted millennials. Samsung’s new TV named Sero is a 43″ flat screen with a rotating display and a pivoting screen. The screen pivots from a horizontal to a vertical mode, allowing viewers to watch content on their TV in same way as they do on smartphone apps. Sero’s screen is meant to show off Instagram and Snapchat stories, or TikTok videos for that matter, vertically.…