Google announced that there are currently a whopping 2 Billion active monthly users of Android. After which, they unveiled the Android O Beta Program; this release usually comes a couple of months before the final product launch to let developers have a test run with the android update.

Due to its focus to developers only, this android release is only available to Nexus and Pixel devices namely Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Huawei Nexus 6P, LG Nexus 5X, and Asus Nexus Player. Google cautions non-developers to keep off the update since Beta versions are full of bugs and glitches. Developers are also advised not to install it on their primary device. The whole point of this program is usually to help catch these bugs and to expose the developers to the new features so that they can implement them in their applications. To join the program, just head over to the android beta program website.

Google also announced Android Go, this will be a leaner and lighter version of all android updates starting with O. Go is basically a configuration and not a full-fledged OS, its objective is running on lesser specifications such as 1GB RAM and below, to work in limited network connectivity and utilize small data plans. This configuration was inspired by YouTube Go.

Go versions will have data management being highly prioritized and having a dedicated section in quick settings menu. APIs for GO will be available to service providers  to control data usage as well as developers who will now be able to make their apps Go – compatible by following the guidelines indicated by Google’s Build for Billions project.

Google shows their commitment into the Go configuration by releasing all their apps in Go supported versions meaning that they will work in places with unstable network and on low specifications. Many see this Go version as a more improved Android One program that was introduced a few years back and run on devices such as the Infinix Hot 2. Africa still has a lot of areas with shaky network, we can see the Go devices getting huge success in those markets.

HTC released what is most probably their main flagship for 2017 to go against the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and the upcoming iPhone 8.  The HTC U 11 whose code name as ‘Ocean’ in the rumor mill comes with some exclusive features that will give it an upper hand over the competitors.

First off, HTC U 11 has a squeezable body feature called Edge Sense, the rear casing is made of pressure sensitive glass that can register a normal squeeze, short squeeze as well as a squeeze and hold. These gestures can be set to do various actions such as opening the camera or acting as an app shortcut.

The phone comes with 5.5 inch Quad HD screen , a glass body on the front and back sandwiched between a metal frame. The glass comes in shiny colors which include Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, Solar Red that reflect light to give a premium jewellery kind of look akin to the Galaxy S series. The fingerprint is mounted at the front. Under the hood, you will find the latest and most powerful Qualcomm chipset – the Snapdragon 835. HTC boosts that this will be the first phone to offer this chipset worldwide. Samsung Galaxy S8 only has this CPU available in some regions such as the US, the other phone with it is the Sony Xperia XZ Premium but it is not in the stores yet.

The processor is bundled with 4GB RAM but some Asian regions will get 6GB. Storage is set at 64GB for the 4GB RAM version while the other one gets 128GB; both are expandable. The phone runs on Android 7.1 Nougat and Sense UI on top accompanied by 3 voice assistants which include Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and one from HTC. The U 11 is water and dust resistant thanks to the IP68 rating. The whole setup is powered by the a 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0.

HTC is known for its audio prowess, no other android phone even comes close. The phone maintains this lead with BoomSound HIFI speakers whereby the earpiece acts as tweeter and the main loud speaker at the bottom becomes the woofer. No head phone jack is present, however, there is a USB Type –C to 3.5mm jack adapter in the retail box for your convenience. You also get U-Sonic earphones which use the USB-Type C port and active noise cancellation built into the phone which is a very rare feature. Still on the sound, there are 4 mics present, they intelligently work together to deliver excellent sound recording in videos, HTC calls this feature Acoustic Focus.

Finally, the 12 UltraPixel 3 (not megapixel) camera is feature packed to the brim. It has a very wide f/1.7 aperture size that will bring in lots of light in night and indoor photos. It also comes with 1.4 micron size pixels, optical image stabilization and the new trendy Auto HDR boost. Moreover, it has dual pixel auto focus which uses all the pixels in the sensor to focus on object in light speed just like the human eye, in fact HTC calls this feature the Ultra Speed Focus. Up front we have a 16MP selfie camera which also has the new Auto HDR feature. The phone got a rating of 90 at DxOMark which a metric given by photography gurus. This puts the HTC U 11 at the highest rating with the Google Pixel coming in at number 2 with a rating of 89 followed by the new Galaxy S8, the HTC 10 and the Glaxy S7 Edge which tie at number 3 with a rating of 88. The iPhone 7 isn’t even in the top 10.

HTC U 11 is being priced at $696 which is cheaper than both the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8. Right now it is already available on pre order in the US with other markets getting it soon.

Many Safaricom users have been wondering what happens to their data. Most of them do not understand what depletes it so fast while everyone is annoyed when the internet consumes all their airtime after their bundle is depleted. Safaricom has been listening and recently they came up with a solution in form of the Swift Squad and the ‘My Data Manager’.

The Swift Squad has looked into the most used apps and how they can be set to use lesser data. These apps- unsurprisingly- are social networking ones. Today we live in the era of posting high quality pictures and videos that auto play themselves in our social news feed. Swift Squad has tackled each and every one of the most popular social networking apps, they have outlined how to change the settings to consume lesser data. The apps include the data-notorious ones such as Instagram and Snapchat, to the more efficient ones like Facebook and Twitter.

In case your favourite, but data hungry, app does not have any data saving options, you can use the system settings on your phone. In Android OS, under the ‘Network Settings’ , choose ‘Data Usage’. In this section, you can set the data limit for the period of time you want. All you have to do is slide the bars on the graph to choose your preferences.

Safaricom has come up with their own solution too, it comes in the form of ‘My Data Manager’. To access it, you go to *544# menu, then select the option under that name. At the time of writing, it was located at position 5. Activating this manager will make sure that your airtime will not be consumed after your data bundle runs out. A notification will be given in advance when you have only 2MB left, then a pop up menu will give you various ways of buying a new bundle.

OPPO F3 is the a new entrant into the successful F series known as the Selfie Experts for their great front cameras. F3 is the only one in the series that comes with Dual Selfie Cameras.

StarTimes, a leading Pay-TV operator in Africa recently launched their Digital TVs in Kenya; four TVs sizes in total to cover all types of consumers. What makes the TVs so unique is that they have a built- in Digital Receiver so you do not need to buy a decoder to watch satellite TV channels.

Fresh off, the TVs are made of LED display which is synonymous with rich color rendering and deep blacks. Red and green colors truly ‘pop’, the kind of contrast that you cannot find in regular LCD TVs.  In case you want a different mix of contrast, you have 4 modes at your disposal, the same goes for audio profiles thanks to 360 degree sound and Dolby tuning. The display, especially of the 42” and the 40” ,has very small bezels, up to 5mm thin around the screen, it creates the illusion that the action is happening right there in your living room getting you fully immersed.

In addition, the display is 60% more efficient in energy use than standard TVs. That means that it is not only Eco-friendly but also keeps your electric bill low. It is able to keep the consumption to a minimum while still having a resolution that is high and practical, the 42” and the 40” come in Full HD resolution which strikes a good balance between the picture sharpness and efficient power consumption. The other two smaller sizes, the 32” and 24” , go with 720p HD resolution.

As you can see, both resolutions are capable of HD content which is great since you get several HD channels Free to Air. In fact, there are over 100 free channels, add that to the 1 month free subscription from the good guys at StarTimes for the Super Bouquet which is usually a paid package. Both terrestrial and satellite channels are available on the StarTimes Digital TVs. Now that the receiver is built into the TV, you only need one remote to control the whole set. No more hustle of dealing with two remotes, or having a living room full of cables and socket extensions.

Traditionally, whenever the TV industry comes up with a new feature, customers need to buy new TVs to experience the upgrades, well, with this new Digital TVs, all you need is to upgrade your software and you are instantly in tune with the future if you buy the 42” or the 40”. A flash disk slot on the right of the TV is specifically meant for OS upgrades, so buying a StarTimes Digital TV right now will give you peace of mind for years to come, you will stay abreast with all software advancements in the TV world without having to buy a new set, thus saving you lots of money and efficiently making it future proof.

You do not have to worry about that right-side slot being dedicated to upgrades only, there is an extra USB slot on the left side for general multimedia uses, two HDMI ports for your HD content broadcasting and a headphone jack for audio purposes.

If any of these of these parts need repairs, StarTimes has you sorted for 12 months. The warranty not only covers workmanship fee but also replacement of parts. Not every manufacturers out there is this generous with repairs, it can only mean one thing: the company has very high confidence with the TV and its build.

In terms of pricing, just like every other StarTimes product, the company strives for affordability. The 24” goes for Kshs. 18,900, the 32” costs Kshs. 25,499, the 40” costs Kshs. 38,900 and lastly the 42” pricing is yet to be announced, but judging with the way the other models cost, it will be equally affordable.  All of them are marketed as plug and watch, that is, installation is straight forward. This TV realizes the StarTimes belief that , “ the convenient accessibility and affordability of StarTimes’ Digital TV and services promote the equality of people, especially the public in Africa, to have information and entertainment. Star Times strives for Africans’ equal right of information and opportunity.”

KCB in conjunction with Planet Payment launched Pay in Your Own Currency (PYC), a service that will enable tourists and other international visitors to make payments in Kenya using their own local currencies.

Planet Payment, based in long beach New York, is a leading provider of international and multi-currency transaction services. They partnered with KCB to build a service is mostly target to the influx of tourists in Kenya and the hospitality industry.

With an eligible Visa or MasterCard, a tourist will be able to pay in their local currency but the merchants will receive the money in Kenya Shillings. This will enable the merchants to offer personalized services to the visitors.

KCB plans to roll out the solution to 500 merchants in the country. At the moment, over 100 currencies are supported with others to be added with time.

Jonathan Ellis, Managing Director, EMEA, at Planet Payment said that “Planet Payment is thrilled to partner with KCB Bank, one of the oldest and most respected banks in the region, and to be the first to bring dynamic currency conversion to Kenya. This innovative solution will help KCB merchants attract more customers, by making the international travelers feel at home.”

KCB promises to continue to embrace innovations that match local know-how with a global thinking hence easing the consumer journey. Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai, Director Retail KCB Bank said that “We are excited to be the first in Kenya to launch Pay in Your Currency, a solution that enhances the payment experience for international tourists, while helping our merchants improve both customer service and profitability.”

The Microsoft Build Conference is still going on, and with it comes a lot of exciting announcements for all the 500 million Windows 10 users out there. Today, the company announced the Fall Creator Update. As the name suggests, the update will be packed with features to help you create media and other virtual things.

Microsoft Fluent Design System

First off, the update introduces Microsoft Fluent Design System. It is  a new design language that will use light, depth , motion and material choices to come up with new style of the user interface. It aims to create more expressive and engaging apps that work across a wide range of device and input diversity.

Cortana picks up where you left off

Yes, with this update, Cortana will enable you to start doing a task in windows, then complete the task in an android device as if you never left. This feature will work across the Apple’s IOS as well. In Addition, there will a timeline that will be a visual representation of your previous tasks. It will allow you to easily hop back into files, apps and websites as if it was real time. Copy and Paste is also supported across cloud connected  devices thanks to a feature called Clipboard. Speaking of the cloud, One Drive Files on Demand will be a new feature that will allow you to access to all files in the cloud without having to download them. You no longer have to use your device storage.

Windows Story Remix

This is a software that will stitch your pictures into video automatically using AI and deep learning. It also has the ability to make video clips and 3D objects. For those that want more control , there is the option to edit manually.

Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers

Mixed Reality is the VR platform for windows, it will be revolutionized by the introduction of motion controllers. The controllers will have sensors built in and so will the headset, this means you will not require cameras setup in the room like you do with other VRs. The Windows Mixed Reality dev kit will be available for Pre order today in the U.S and Canada;  Acer will sell it at $299 and HP at $329; they will be delivered later this summer. Lastly, Acer will sell a Windows Mixed Reality headset and motion controller bundle priced at $399USD this holiday season.

Year after year we have seen Samsung top android sales charts, sometimes they even take multiples slots in the top 5 best-selling devices. This time round, in Q1 2017 which covers the period between January to March , there’s a new entrant. It is from a company that only serves in a few markets, that alone makes its lead in sales even more incredible.

The Chinese company topped sales in their home country last year but this is the first time they are taking over on the global charts. So drum rolls please…. the leading phone in android sales is none other than the selfie centric Oppo R9S.

The phone’s claim to fame is the 16MP selfie camera, slim attractive metallic body measuring only 6.6 mm and a generous amount of RAM, 4GB. This whole package was being offered at a price lower than competing phones from veteran manufactures. The win may have been aided by the Note 7 debacle that left Samsung with no new high end phone to push during the first 3 months of 2017, otherwise, today’s title would have read very differently.

Despite not having a flagship, Samsung still managed to grab the second and third spot in android sales with the Galaxy J3 and the J5 respectively. While considering phones from all platforms globally, the iPhone 7 and the 7 plus took the first and second spot in sales. It is expected of them owing to the fact that they were released towards the end of the year and they are still very fresh on shelves globally.

All in all, we applaud Oppo for being able to push 8.9 million units going above heavy weights like Huawei and even Samsung itself.  Now that the eagerly awaited Galaxy S8 and the S8+ are out, it will be interesting to see how Q2 plays out.

This selfie-centric phone lead in global android sales in Q1 2017 effectively beating the likes of Samsung and Huawei. Apart from quality selfies , the phone has a lot more to offer and an affordable price tag compared to rivals.

Microsoft Build Conference is underway, it will be running from May 10-12^th with over 5,000 developers from all over the world in attendance. The event will have keynotes from top Microsoft officials including their CEO Satya Nadella.

Nadella’s keynotes highlighted some of the achievements the company has had this year. He was proud to announce that Windows 10 now has 500 Million monthly user base. This could be attributed to the fact that the update was being offered free of charge, but since it now requires a purchase, the fast growth might slow down significantly.

The build conference this year focuses mostly on three areas namely cloud services, Office 365 and artificial intelligence. In cloud services, Microsoft is introducing Azure Cosmos DB, according to the press release, “It is the industry’s first globally distributed, multi-model database service to deliver horizontal scale with guaranteed uptime, throughput, consistency and single-digit millisecond latency at the 99th percentile.” Azure SQL also received improvements such as a new Managed Instance private preview , Microsoft Graph preview and general availability of Threat Detection and Visual Studio 2017 for Mac.

On to Office 365, the company announced that the software has over 100 million monthly commercial active users. Moreover, they now allow any developer to publish for Microsoft Teams, a chat based workspace for Office 365. Developers can also get in on Microsoft Graph through new APIs.

Artificial intelligence wasn’t left behind either, there are now 29 services for developers to customize and interact with, they include Bing Custom Search, Custom Vision Service, Custom Decision Service and Video Indexer. Every time you hear Microsoft and AI, Cortana instantly comes to mind, this voice intelligent system will be available for developers to tweak thanks to Cortana Skills Kit which is now in public preview. It will allow them to build new skills for Cortana that will be accessible through Windows 10, Android, iOS and Invoke speaker.

A lot more was discussed in the keynote, these are just the main highlights, to get the full details, you can check out the official Microsoft website here.

There is a need for a flexible and competitive global delivery system that serves several segments of the market in unique and tailored ways. Small independent logistics and e-commerce companies are doing this without much digital and logistics infrastructure. Sokohali wants to empower them by providing them with the digital tools they need and a platform for a network of independent logistics and e-commerce companies who can depend on each other’s facilities to extend their services.

Sokohali, founded by Umar Aderibigbe is a software powered network of delivery and e-commerce businesses that lets sellers and shippers deliver goods constantly from any origin to any destination in the world, by renting the facilities and services of other members on the network. Sokohali provides shippers and sellers the digital tools they need (like Shopify for shipping) and a network platform where they can connect to other members and share facilities to extend their delivery services.

Sokohali’s current regional focus is Africa, connecting delivery businesses in African countries as well as linking them up with North America, Europe and China.

For more information click here.

Gionee is no stranger to making headlines in smartphone photography. Users have been praising it for its phones photography lately. This time round –if the leak is legit – they have decided to have 4 cameras on one phone, the Gionee S10.

According to the leak, the phone will have dual cameras at the front and at the back. The live pictures show two camera slots at the back just like the iPhone 7 Plus and two at the front like the Infinix S2 Pro. The selfie dual will be 20MP+8MP while the rear dual will be 16MP+8MP.

Yes the selfie camera has higher resolution than the rear camera, something Oppo also does. My guess is that the 8MP is wide angle sensor like in the Infinix, but then again many other manufacturers have had creative ways of using dual cameras so Gionee might surprise us.

This leak contradicts the information obtained from a TENAA listing that suggested that the Gionee S10 would have a 13MP rear camera and a 16MP selfie, none of which had a dual counterpart. Judging by the fact that the previous Gionee S9 has a dual rear camera, I do not see why the company would abandon that technology especially now that it has become a huge trend with competing manufacturers. We will just have to wait and see which one turns out to be true.

The rest of the specs include a 5.5 inch FHD screen, a 2GHZ Octa core Mediatek Helio p10 chipset, it is packaged with a huge 4GB of RAM that will sure ease the split screen multitasking. The phones runs on Android 7.0 Nougat on top of Amigo OS 4.0 interface backed up by a huge 3700mAh battery. The colors available include black and the gold version that is seen in the leaked image.

The upcoming iPhone 8 will be marking the company’s 10 year anniversary since they launched the phone series. Before that, Apple mainly used to make computers and iPods. For a while now, there have been pictures floating around claiming to be a representation of the iPhone 8, the pictures show a phone with no bezels whatsoever on all four sides of the screen as seen in the image below. Currently, no other phone has been able to achieve such an engineering feat, only the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Xiaomi Mi Mix come close. Needless to say, Apple fans have been eagerly waiting for this phone but according to new details released by analysts at JP Morgan Chase, the actual iPhone 8 will not be so ambitious.

The new report states that the phone will indeed still have bezels, it will have a design similar to the Galaxy S8. This means that the top and bottom will have bezels but the sides will not. This effectively takes away the wow factor of this device.  Also, Apple will be releasing two other phones in addition to the iPhone 8, they will be iPhone 7S and the 7S Plus. These two will retain the same design basics that the company has recycled since the iPhone 6 was launched in 2014. The only difference will be glass rear casing instead of the metal chasis of the current iPhones. This change of materials is said to help Apple implement wireless charging.

The iPhone 4 and 4S also had a glass back, but the design backfired for Apple due to antenna gate issues- if the phone was held in a certain way, it would lose network reception- also, the glass was prone to breaking easily. Samsung has perfected the making of glass phones – thanks to their investment in Corning, the company that makes Gorilla Glass- will Apple be able to keep up, or will the mistakes of their past haunt them?

On a positive note, the report says that the iPhone 8 will have an L shaped battery that will be 30% bigger in capacity compared to the current 7 Plus. The dual camera will also remain intact. These new changes will attract an increase in production costs of around $75-80. This will translate to a retail price north of $1000 for the iPhone 8. As a consolation, the report suggests that Apple will package AirPods with every purchase. Media houses seem to see this last part as wishful thinking, giving away AirPods would cut down the profit margins significantly and Apple is not accustomed to that.

The GR3 2017 is targeted to customers that value fashion and technology. It’s attractive deign and powerful specifications cater for that demographic squarely.

Today Huawei released the GR3 2017. Just like other phones in the GR series, it is targeted to the youth who have a taste for fashion and technology. It delivers on these two aspects by having an attractive design and powerful internal components.

The phone comes with 5.2 Full HD screen which has a 2.5D curved glass on top. Photography is catered for by a 12MP rear camera and an 8 MP selfie shooter. Judging by the amazing performance of the GR5 2017 shooters, we have high hopes for this one.

The heavy lifting is handled by a Kirin 655, the same powerful processor that came with the bigger GR5, but this time round, the phone comes with the latest Android 7.0 Nougat running on top of the new EMUI 5.0. It will be coupled by 3GB RAM and 16GB of expandable storage up to 128GB. A 3000mAh battery will keep the GR3 2017 on all day long. It is quite an impressive achievement to fit such a big battery in a body that is only 7.6mm thin.

According to Mark Hemaobin, Huawei Mobile Kenya General Manager, “Huawei is proudly offering its loyal customers in Kenya with Huawei GR3 2017, a smart phone specially designed for the tech and fashionable who place a premium on emphasizing their individuality,”

He also said that the GR3 2017 together with other phones they have released this year will help them increase sales up to 50% in Kenya. Last year, they increased their market share by 15% in Africa and their global revenue went up 44% raking in $25.9 billion.

They are confident that they will achieve more this year given that Huawei customers were very loyal to the brand and 90% of them plan on buying products from them again in future. To purchase the GR3 2017, you can find it in all Huawei and Safaricom Shops with a retail price of KES 24,000.

The Infinix S2 Pro is the successor of the selfie centric Infinix Hot S. This new iteration improves on selfies by having dual front facing cameras, a 13MP for taking high resolution solo shots and an 8MP wide angle camera for group shots.