Whether you are in an office setup or you all work from home, communication is always important. But as the world of technology continues to evolve people need to implement different ways to ensure that all conversations are in one place and there is no communication breakdown. Workplace chat apps have created platforms where teams can now collaborate in both open forums and or just have casual private messages. All you have to download any of the apps available to you and connect with all your teammates. Online chat software apps are many, below are some of the examples.

Slack

If you want to have a formal and informal chat setup then this is the app to have. Slack has changed the way teams communicate by creating a platform where conversations are divided by subjects and you can chat and share photos, videos and music. This especially works out if your team works from home and you would like to have an online office. Slack is free to download with Standard, Plus and Enterprise ($49-99/month) options with enhanced features, like Google apps integration and usage stats.

Pie

This is a simple and free app to use. It is a web and has a mobile app that uses work email as a login. Once a business signs up, teams can login any time they like. The chats are divided in category similar to slack although is a bit like Whatsapp in terms of looks.

Workplace by Facebook

Generally teams and work places do not use Facebook as their source of communication simply because it leads to other social media forums. Although, recently Facebook released a Work app that was released at the beginning of this year for both iOS and Android devices. The best feature on this app are the detailed profiles for each employee with the idea that a manager can use the app to find the right person for the job. The apps also provides a simple messaging feature as well à la the usual Facebook.

Voxer

Can you imagine texting using your voice command? well, Voxer allows you to do so. The mobile app has this particular feature that frees you from texting. It describes this as a “push-to-talk” feature, which is then stored in delivered and stored in the cloud. It allows you to call colleagues with a tap of their icon on the app.

Google apps

It would be impossible to have an Android and to have Google apps. The advantage of using Google Apps is the fact that it is popular and has the advantage of having a Gmail, Drive and Hangouts. Each has a chat functionality which comes in handy when dealing with tasks or things like writing documents or setting up spreadsheets. Pricing begins at $5 per user per year. Other google apps in the package include Slides, Google+ and Calendar.

Bluetooth is a technology that has been around for quite a long time. It has become a standard to all manner of devices from cheap feature phones to high end smartphones.  After being invented by Ericsson in 1994, it was adopted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) which is now made up of more tha than 25,000 companies including IBM, Intel and their initial founders, Ericsson. 
This week, Bluetooth SIG released Bluetooth 5, it’s promises to outdo the previous version by quite a mile. 

4 times longer range 

Firstly, Bluetooth 5 will have 4 times the range of what is currently available. In fact, it is indicated that it will be up to 1000ft, that’s over quater a kilometer. Now you can’t leave your phone charging in your room and still stream audio via Bluetooth earphones while watering the flowers outside your house. 

2 times  faster 

Additional, the file transfer will be much faster. The previous version was capped at 1MBps, Bluetooth 5 will hit 2MBps. It might not sound like much, but if you normally use this technology to transfer files, then you will experience a huge speed difference once you upgrade. 

Can stream to two devices at the same time 

Bluetooth 5 now supports more data capacity, up to 800%. This will enable users to stream to two earphones at the same time in case you are trying to let your friend in on your playlist. 

Improved beacon technology 

Beacons technology has also been improved. Beacons are used by shops or stores to advertise to people passing by on offers, coupons and more. The technology can also be used in navigation. Now, Bluetooth devices can communicate with Beacons without needing to pair nor an requiring the user to download added applications. As Bluetooth SIG said “moving away from the app-paired-to-device model to a connectionless IoT where there is less need to download an app or connect the app to a device.” This new version mostly targeted to the IoT (Internet of Things) devices, the added speed, range and data capacity will find revolutionary uses in smart homes appliances and other connected devices. 

To enjoy this new upgrades, you seem need to have a Bluetooth 5 ready device. Currently the new Samsung Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone in the world to have it . We expect more devices and accessories to have it in the coming months.

I met Dr. John Paul in a Microsoft event with his colleague Dr. Waruguru Wanjau. Since I had met him before I wondered what the interest in technology was for him. The last time I checked, Dr. John Paul was pursuing his masters in plastic surgery and as I spoke to him he had added on a new project to his vision. His new interest was in 3D printing after his professional and personal life felt like it wasn’t enough. As his curiosity grew, he took time to read and became attached to the tech world.

As his vision grew he invited two of his fellow doctors to be part of what seemed crazy at the time. After much deliberation and discussions Dr. Allan Mukuzi was part of this 3D printing life. A year and a half later of hard work, the two gentlemen realized that they needed a lady’s perspective and just like that Dr. Waruguru Wanjau was part of their team. Since 2015 the big three have created one of the most innovative startups that anyone has come up with in Kenya.

Novecell Africa is a Kenyan medical biotech startup that leverages on 3D printing technology that is built to create innovative solutions in healthcare. You may think, why 3D printing technology in health? Currently they have been creating 3D printed models from medical imaging data such as CT scans for surgical planning by surgeons. The point is to make sure that surgeons have an easier time by creating visual representations of the interior of the body for clinical analysis and medical intervention of complex diseases.

The process takes a short time hence why it holds a lot of promise for our medical future. Recently, Dr. John and his team have been carrying out research on the applicability of this technology in the Kenyan medical field. In 2015, they had their first print despite the fact that they did not have a great understanding of what they were getting into. Three doctors joined together to make a patient better and not in the way they were used to but this time, through technology.  Just with four days to work with, the team gathered information form a surgical team that needed them to intervene on a very complicated case. After four jumpy days they delivered what was expected of them and without a doubt their model was unprecedented. The patient had sustained serious injuries after a road accident and had a very complex maxillofacial injury.

Although they have received positive feedback from medical fraternities the challenge as in any startup is translating that to actual work. So far, the greatest achievement the team had was last year when their 3D model was part of a successful planning and separation of conjoined twins. The operation took 23 hours and was a rewarding operation even when it wasn’t expected.

Undeniably, there is a great future for Novecell Africa and without a doubt their beginning has just began. As the Kenyan health sector continues to grow such new advances are needed.

Allow to me start with the basics, what exactly is 3D printing? According to this 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that creates a physical object from a digital design. There are different 3D printing technologies and materials you can print with, but all are based on the same principle: a digital model is turned into a solid three-dimensional physical object by adding material layer by layer. Starting a 3D printing company may not even cross your mind because it is challenging and takes a lot of time. But with a few tips your business may just be the next 3D business out there.

Be innovative: Before starting your production you need to get your creativity flowing because this is the heart of your project. Consider different versions and iterations of your object before starting your work.  Keep in mind that the whole point of 3D technology is to allow designs and innovations to be more real.

Production: After you have created your design you need to think about production. At this point you choose which software you want to use for production, a great example would be sculpteo. To avoid unnecessary expenses, it would be best if you produced your designs in batches for a limited amount of customers so you can add value to personalized products. Another  solution is to choose an “on-demand” production system where you produce the part you need when a customer places an order. With 3D printing, the production time is very short and the cost remains the same.

Turn your product into a service: Once you understand who your customers are and what their needs are then it is time to turn your product to a service. At this point, you can create unique and personalized goods that fit their needs. The fact that 3D printing has a fast production time means that your business would possibly be a great profit business.  There are also so many materials you can use to create many products, with acrylic from places like Simply Plastics proving popular.

Think about the after-sales service: By the time you are at this step it means you have really worked hard. Improve your customer care network and keep modifying designs between each batch. Once your service is already getting old, remember to continuously manufacture interesting and creative prints for your customers. Also spread your ideas on social media without fail and watch your business grow.

Social media has made it easy to spread any form of news everywhere. Although people may like your memes and articles, how exactly do you make use of your social media platform for your business? As long as you are an entrepreneur, your biggest challenge is to grow your startup and ideas, one of the only ways of doing this is by creating a strong online presence. Here are some of the tips that will help you.

Consistency is key: Dedicate some time for you to post your social media campaign every once in a while. Make a plan for what you are going to post and think about the message you want to send out to your audience. You cannot be the person who appears once a month and expect to sell your product.

Use all social networks: Instagram and Facebook alone will not do the trick for you. You may have a social network that you prefer over others, but it does not mean that all of your followers feel that way. If you want to be successful with social media then you need to post across all networks. This means you need to be your own social media manager and manage different social media sites including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Optimize content for each platform: Maintaining accounts across all of the major social media platforms doesn’t mean posting the same thing on four different sites every day. It means formatting content specifically meant for each platform. You need photos for Instagram, long posts for LinkedIn, videos and memes for Facebook and short and snappy announcements for Twitter. All of your posts should be different, even if they are delivering the same message.

Share at the right time: Remember that the content you’re sharing needs to reach as many people as possible. This means you need to know when the crowd is online and active so you can share your content. Create a posting schedule so that you know at what time you will post your content. Some social media platforms have information spots that will help you such as Facebook insights that are designed to aid you know your audience.

Pay to play: You may think that paying for likes and follows is a rip off but this is one of the best ways to promote your content to a micro-targeted audience on social media. At a very small fee you can pay to promote your content into the news feeds of social media users. When you use this step, you are guaranteed visibility from relevant audience. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to start shifting your budget to experiment in this area, whether on Twitter, Facebook or another network.

Samsung had it rough towards the end of the year. The Galaxy Note 7 was released and awarded rave reviews; everyone that came into contact with it was impressed. The phone was a truly high end offering, until reports started popping up about battery explosions. Still Samsung hoped it was an isolated case and they issued exchanges to those affected. The problem started to spread to all parts of the world apart from China whose version had batteries from a different manufacturer. Eventually, Samsung was forced to recall the device; they let Galaxy Note 7 owners exchange it for a Galaxy S7 Edge. At the time a whopping 4.3 million devices had already been bought. Customers loved this device so much that some refused to return them forcing Samsung to send software updates that would disable the phone.

Disposing these millions of units presented a new challenge. Green  groups have pressured Samsung to use methods that do not harm the environment, with Greenpeace leading the pack. In fact, one of their protestors interrupted Samsung Keynote at MWC earlier this year. Samsung took note and decided to refurbish the Galaxy Note 7, this move will be more environmental friendly than disposing the units. The company had previously rejected the ideas of reselling the Galaxy Note 7 but it seems they have had a change of heart.

The markets that will receive the refurbished devices will be determined by local regulators and carriers. Moreover, these phones might come with a different name and probably have a smaller battery. I think Samsung’s move to refurbish this iconic device is smart one, it will not only minimize the environmental impact, but it will let people have another shot at this amazing phone at a price that will be lower than when it originally got launched last year.

Oppo has been making a name for themselves in the smartphone camera sector. The company does not shy off from breaking the conventions of photography, it is common to find their phones having more megapixels in the front camera than the rear one. This has earned them the title of “selfie experts” and they are working hard to retain that name. In line with this, the company is introducing the Oppo A57 into the Kenyan market this month of April according to leaked information.

The Oppo A57 will have all the signature features such as great selfie camera, thin body dimensions and a metallic build. According to the leak, the phone will have a “remarkable technological breakthrough that will change how the world sees the smartphone photography.”

The A57 has already been released in India, it comes with a whopping 16 MP selfie camera and a 13MP rear shooter. It also comes with a 5.2 inch screen that has HD resolution. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 435 with a generous 3GB RAM and 32 GB expandable internal storage. The system runs on Color OS 3.0, Oppo’s custom user interface, on top of Android 6.0. Lastly, 2900mAH battery has been fitted in the 7.7mm thin body.

Oppo’s products have been catching on in Kenya, the company hopes to build on this momentum with the release of the A57.  Being ranked as the 4^th largest smartphone manufacturer in sales globally, there is no doubt that Oppo is a successful company that can replicate the same winning formula in Kenya.  More competitors in the market means larger variety for the consumer and we sure welcome this move from Oppo.  We only have to wait just a few days to get the phone in Kenyan shelves countrywide.

-Today is April Fool’s Day, that means a lot of pranking will be going on, even from the tech industry. These companies take the time to come up with detailed pranks that would easily fool anyone who isn’t vigilant, they even make professional videos, dedicated websites and even tools to make the prank as believable as possible.

Samsung is a hall of famer when it comes to April Fools jokes. The best in recent memory was their Samsung Fingers release in 2014. It was a smart glove with a flexible screen and smart fingers that let you interact via gestures. The famous “rock on” finger gesture was for making calls whereas crossing your fingers would reject calls. The glove also had a feature called “Talk to the hand” that Samsung described as

“When a user is too engaged in a conversation with a person to add a third person into a communication, the user can have the person talk to the Samsung Fingers while the user enjoys ongoing conversation uninterrupted.”

It also had solar charging that required the user to lift their hands up towards the sun to fill up the battery.

Last year, Samsung introduced Galaxy LTD, they had decided that it was time for people to take a break from all the smart technologies of modern phones by launching a feature phone similar to those of the 90’s.

“If you are tired of your phone getting smarter and smarter, the Samsung Galaxy LTD is what you need. It is ergonomically designed to perfectly fit in your hands, both of them” according to the Galaxy LTD advert.

Google made a “drop the mic” GIF via a special “send” button in Gmail. The prank didn’t go well and was quickly removed after users complained.

Apps too join in on the fun, Bathstore, a bathroom products retailer in the UK, came up with an advert for an app called Silent Loo. You know the way some people usually open the bathroom taps to let the sound of running water mask the sound of them doing their bathroom business? Well, the Silent Loo app promised to solve that issue. The app came with built in sounds such as Tap water, Tsunami, Whale and more, this sounds would let you save water while achieving the same result.

Today there will be more pranks, be alert and read between the lines, tech companies can be very convincing, let’s see how many you will fall for today.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a near perfect device. It maintains all the strengths of its predecessor and introduces a truck load of its own. But there are some few aspects that would have helped it finish that last stretch to total greatness.

Dual camera

There was a time when the rumors of a dual camera touting Galaxy S8 had started building up. There was even a leaked image of the phone having those cameras, but these leaks suddenly disappeared. Am sure there are some that hoped for such a feature. Most flagships are nowadays coming with dual cameras, there are not just marketing tricks but they add real value to photography, HTC started the trend and was using them to achieve a bokeh effect, Huawei uses them to enhance low light photography, LG for super wide angle photos and Apple applies them in zooming. As you can see, all these companies have found a unique usage for their dual cameras even though some of the features are shared such as bokeh effects and zooming. I was looking forward to see what Samsung would have done with their version, the company is a leader in photography and has pioneered many cameras technologies that have come to be copied by others overtime, I was hoping they would do the same with dual cameras and the 1000fps video recording feature that never came true.

Stereo speakers

That Infinity Display on the Galaxy S8 will lure many into consuming media via their phones from videos to gaming and more. Samsung would really have enhanced this experience by equipping these devices with stereo speakers to complement that stunning HDR Super AMOLED screen. When Samsung acquired the audio products guru, Harman, many thought that they would team up to revolutionize the audio experience in Samsung phones. Harman is the parent company of world reknowed audio brands such as JBL, AKG, Harman & Kardon and much more, they have no excuse for not delivering the best. Fortunately, we got AKG in the box, but Samsung would have gone the extra mile to add top notch stereo speakers.

Bigger battery

With bigger screens comes more batter consumption. The new Galaxy S8s have taller bodies that have left more room that could have been used for enlarging the batteries. The S8+ did the worst and decided to go for a smaller battery than the one its predecessor the S7 Edge had, 3500 vs 3600mAh. Sure the 10nm processor in the phone will be battery efficient but I imagine people will use the phone a lot more due to the big beautiful Infinity Display hence depleting the available batteries much faster. Most people wouldn’t mind the phones gaining a millimetre or two to accommodate 4000 mAh, especially now that it has contours that make the device feel so much thinner.

Sturdy metallic body

First off, the glass bodies are gorgeous and they replicate a marble feeling in your hand that is second to none. But the fun quickly ends when you drop the device and shatter the glass on both sides. It is rare to find people with glass build phones using them without cases. These cases cover up all the beauty, what the point of having a phone that reflects light with its rear glass cover if no one can enjoy that art. Granted, the Gorilla Glass 5 is shatter resistant but it also has its limits. In addition, glass has high affinity for oily stains and smudges. A metallic rear would solve all this issues.

Better placement of the fingerprint sensor

This was the elephant in the room, most people were thinking it the moment they saw the Galaxy S8. Putting the fingerprint scanner next to the camera was not a good idea. A user would end up smudging the camera lens every time they unlock their phones. Samsung also knows this and they made a pop up reminder that appears whenever you open the camera app and you have your fingerprint unlocking feature active. The pop up asks you to clean your camera lens before taking pictures or videos. Samsung would have avoided all this by having the fingerprint in the central rear area like Huawei, LG or Google Pixel phones; alternatively, could also have put it on the power button like Sony does. Well some argue that the company did that to make the phone look different and also to entice people into using iris scanner and face recognition. Whatever the reason, a company with a big research and development budget as Samsung does would have figured out a better position for such a key feature of their product.

Huawei had a great run last year, its flagship duo sold like hot cakes. The Huawei P9 and the P9 Plus was predicted to hit 10 million units in sales. Well that achievement was realized on December last year. However, the phone still has some shelf life before its successor, the Huawei P10, would get launched on February.

It seems that people continued to buy the Huawei P9 even after the P10 got unveiled. The phone went on to sell two million units those few couple of months that 2017 has lasted. We had noted a while back that the new Huawei P10 was just an incremental update over the P9, it seems many people saw that too, and they just settled on saving themselves some cash by going for last year’s offering instead.

Huawei was happy with the sales performance of the P9 and they are forecasting that the P10 will achieve even better results. It is possible for the P10 to sell over 10 million units but it won’t be as easy to achieve. Last year’s P9 was a truly incredible phone, it had beautiful aesthetics, amazing Dual Leica camera and a price tag that was lower than other flagships. The partnership with the Germany camera manufacturers, Leica, seems to have paid off well. This year’s Huawei P10 doesn’t have any headlining features. It just slightly builds on the foundation that the P9 made. Will that be enough to break P9’s record? We will have to wait and see.

Having said that, Huawei has other product lines that have the potential to do just as great. Their big sized Mate series has really compelling products such as the award winning Huawei Mate 9. They also have the GR series that is slowly catching on in Africa especially Kenya. On the other hand, for the Americans, Huawei has a sub brand called Honor, it has been flying off the shelves for some time now.  Ultimately, Huawei is a well-rounded company that has more than one card up its sleeves.

Samsung launched a new Gear VR and a Gear 360 alongside the amazing Galaxy S8. The S8 stole all the buzz and these other accessories didn’t get as much traction but they are nonetheless remarkable products.

Gear VR 2017

First off, the new Gear VR comes with a Bluetooth motion controller. This will enable people to interact with the things they are watching via the headset. Previously, users only played the role of passive viewers but that will now change. The controller will open a whole world of possibilities especially in the gaming arena. It has a clickable track pad, a trigger button, back and home navigation keys and volume controls; the VR headset retained the touch controls from last year as well. Luckily, the new controller will be available in the box of the Gear VR and in case you misplace it, you can buy another for $40 (KES 4,000).

The Gear didn’t stop there, it can now allow you to watch live streamed videos as well as content from popular providers such as Buzz feed and many others. To get in on this new gaming era, you will need to purchase the Gear VR for $120 (KES 12,000). That’s $20 (KES 2,000) above the starting price of its predecessor but I think it is worth it since you get a controller worth double that price in the box.

Gear 360

If you want to create content for the VR, the 360 is what you will need. It comes with an SD card slot, two 8.4MP cameras and a 360 app companion that can control it remotely. This year, the Gear 360 went full throttle, it can now record in 4K resolution. Moreover, it can stream the video to YouTube in 2K resolution. Streaming in 4K would be very processor intensive and not to mention high data consumption, so they settled for 2K. While recording, you can mount the camera on a tripod or hold it in your hand using the rounded handle it comes with. Most phones with android 5.0 and above can work with the Gear 360. iPhones with IOS 10 and above can also tag along. To own one, you will need to cough out $350 (KES 35,000).

Nairobi traders will now have to secure trading permits by tomorrow, March 31st, 2017. The trading permits will greatly affect Nairobi businesses as there will be a great increase in annual license fees.  The county government made the decision to bundle licenses and in that case the trading permit will be a great burden to many business owners. Currently, the businesses that will be affected the most will be the small businesses, who will be forced to pay up to three times what they paid last year.

One restaurant on the city’s Moi lane has seen the impact in their business. Last year, they would pay 10,000 for annual permit while this year renewal for the same is going to cost KSh31,000.  Equally, taxi operators who paid KSh7,000 will now be required to pay up KSh1,200.  Small shops that used to pay KSh5,000 last year are now required to pay between KSh 9,500 and KSh3,000, according to current billings.

The Nairobi county government said the increase is the result of consolidation of charges that traders were not paying for before, including signage fees (advertising) and fire certificates. Unified license regime was launched last year but is now meant to be implemented. As it is now, Nairobi is an expensive place to live in and the new licenses will affect the traders.

Currently, traders have been caught unawares and are questioning the county government’s increased appetite for cash, while there is very little improvement.  This new change will mean that there will be a possibility that consumer goods will be expensive.

City Hall insists the fees depend on the nature of business, including extra fees for food businesses that require health certificate and food hygiene. Businesses dealing in clothes are outraged by the requirement to pay KSh 4,200 for signage and advertising while initially small cubicles had no provision for putting up any signage and advertising.

Traders are also facing high start-up costs with some small shops in the CBD asking for as much as Sh1 million as goodwill.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released at the end of October 2016 shows that 2.2 million micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) shut down in the past five years because of inability to cope with high operating expenses, declining income and losses incurred from businesses.

After the launch event happened in New York, Samsung Kenya invited us to witness the unveiling at Two Rivers Mall. I took the chance to get a quick hands on with the phone.

First thing I realized was “wow, this thing is really thin”. You see, the phone has a curved display one the front and the back is also curved, the result is very thin edges that come in contact with your hands. Those thin contours give the illusion that the device is super slim and curvy. The glass on the front and back made the device feel like a pebble or an expertly curved marble tile. The phone is also quite light considering how big the display is. You could see the instant awe on people’s faces whenever they held the phone for the first time.

The always on screen feature is still on board, while its active, there is a small rectangular icon at the lower center part of the phone to act as an onscreen home key. It is subtle and blends greatly with the new Grace UI.

Speaking of the UI, it has been redesigned to have square icons with rounded corners corresponding with the corners of the phone’s screen. The interface with very instantaneous to touch and everything I touched just jumped into action.

On to the camera, the viewfinder alone brought in lots of light even before the images are processed. We weren’t allowed to take pictures since the software is still in pre-release stage. Nonetheless, I have great hopes for the Multiframe Processing technology.

Finally, the phone’s elongated screen comes with its own perks, the Infinity Display lets you run two apps at the same time with much more real estate to work with. For instance, when you are on split screen multitasking and you bring up the keyboard on one app; the second app’s content still remains visible. Also, when you open a web browser, you can see more content without having to scroll, this will also be the case with all apps such as Facebook news feed and Instagram.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and it’s big brother the S8+ are truly remarkable and revolutionary phones. Samsung really has a best seller on their hands once again. If you want to own one, you will only need to wait until April 21^st for global release and until May for those in Kenya. The prices are set at $750 (KES 75,000) for the Galaxy S8 and $850 (KES 85,000) for the Galaxy S8 plus.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ finally got launched yesterday, they were arguably the most awaited phones this year. Despite all the leaks that we saw over the days leading to the launch, the phones still managed to have some surprises.

The Galaxy S8 comes with a 5.8 inch screen as expected while the bigger brother, Galaxy S8+, came with a 6.2 inch screen. Both have a resolution of 1440*2960 resulting to an aspect ratio of 18.5: 9. They are also Super AMOLED and support HDR10, the new technology in modern displays. Samsung was so proud of the screen that they gave it a name, Infinity Display, the very minimal almost non-existent bezels are a manufacturing milestone. They have made the Galaxy S8 have bigger screens yet still maintain the same width as their predecessor and marginally bigger heights. To achieve such dimensions, the physical home button had to go. They now have on screen buttons that are pressure sensitive.

Speaking of buttons, the phone comes with a new one on the right side, it’s the dedicated Bixby button, Samsung’s next gen digital assistant. Here we found our first surprise; Bixby understands what the camera sees. If you focus the camera on a shoe, Bixby will give you a link to Amazon for the shoe complete with the name, features and the price. Bixby also knows landmarks, places of interest restaurants around the place you are photographing and much more.

The camera that we just mentioned comes in 12MP with Dual Pixel auto focus similar to the previous Galaxy S7. This new camera improves over the previous one with better image processing thanks to Multiframe Processing technology. This feature takes multiple pictures every time you press the shutter button, it then stiches the best parts of all those pictures together to give a great final photo. This is similar to what Google Pixel phones are doing with their HDR+ feature, this technology seems to really bring a difference now that those Pixel phones were crowned the best camera-phones of 2016, yes, they even bested the Samsung Galaxy S7s and the iPhones. Over to the selfie camera, it has been upgraded to 8MP with Multiframe Processing technology too. It also has smart auto focus, most selfie cameras never come with autofocus of any kind so this will really make them standout.

Next to the camera on the back is a finger print sensor and a heart rate monitor useful in Samsung Health which now comes with a handy “ask the expert” feature for connecting users to doctors via the app. Samsung went past simple fingerprint security, they brought back the Iris scanner that was in the cancelled Galaxy Note 7 and even went further to bring face recognition security.

All this tech is enclosed in an all glass body sandwiched in metal frame. Running the system is Snapdragon 835 and the Exynos 8895. This chipsets are the world’s first 10nm processors, which means that they will be really efficient on battery usage, they also allow a processor to be much more powerful through higher clock speeds. They will be aided by 4GB RAM and a whopping 64GB base storage, but those in Korea, Samsung home country, and in China will have a chance to get 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage versions. In case those capacities are not enough, you can expand them with UFS/ Micro SD cards. UFS is the future of Micro SD, they are much faster in data processing and have slightly different shaped cards, the Galaxy S8 is the world’s first phone to support them.

The phones will run Grace UI which will have a refreshed UI, under this skin will be Android 7.0 whose native multitasking will come in handy in the desktop experience that the new Samsung Dex station will offer.

A 3000mAh battery will keep the lights on in the Galaxy S8, and a 3500mAh battery for the Galaxy S8+, both have support for Samsung Adaptive fast charge and wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy S8 will cost $750 (KES 75, 000) while the Sansung Galaxy S8+ will cost $850 (KES 85,000) and they both come in orchid grey, midnight black, coral blue, artic sliver,and maple gold. They will come bundled with AKG premium earphones (yes, the 3.5mm jack is thankfully still presented) and the customers who will pre-order the devices will get  the new Gear VR with Bluetooth motion controllers. They will be available globally from April 21^st but will arrive in Kenya on May.

Truecaller app been quite handy at revealing caller IDs of people trying to contact you. the service has grown over the years to become a fully featured dialling and messaging solution. It has, for many, replaced the standard apps that come with their phones. Truecaller 8 will push the envelope much further, it is one of the biggest updates the service has ever received. Here are some of the major features it introduces:

Integration of the caller app with the messaging app

Yes, you no longer have to install two separate apps, Truecaller 8 will have them combined into a single installation. The integration will mean that you will get the best of both worlds all under one roof, plus it will save you some precious phone storage which is always welcome.

Flash message replies

The new update will let you send Flash Messages. They are predefined replies which come in all forms such emojis, location address, text and more. You no longer have to type replies when your hands are occupied.

Video calls

Truecaller has partnered with the search giant to integrate the Google Duo App video calls into the new update. So you do not need to switch apps when you decide to video chat with that buddy you were texting on Truecaller Messenger. Google Duo made headlines when it was launched with Google Allo, a messaging app, they both topped download charts all over the world.

India Exclusive features

Airtel Feature Phones Caller ID – Our friends in India will be able to tap into the caller identification feature without needing a smartphone or internet. They will receive a caller’s information via flash messages.

Mobile payments– Users in India will be able to send and receive money via Truecaller app. We hope this feature will expand to users all over the world.

The recently launched Tecno CX and CX Air does a lot of things right; beautiful metallic design, beautiful 2.5D glass, well light photos thanks to a total of 6 LED flashes, boots with the latest Android 7.0 OS and much more. However, there are some areas it could have done better to make it an overall excellent camera phone. The purpose of this article is to give positive criticism to the good people at Tecno, some of the aspects laid out here can be sorted out via software updates, others can be introduced in the Plus version of the phone in case they unveil one in future.

Better dynamic range

I had the privilege of going hands on with the Tecno CX at the launch event and I took some pictures with it. The pictures were really well lit rivalling flagship phones like Samsung Galaxy S7 and the iPhones. But the issue was that only the foreground was discernible. The background was overblown, the exposure was too high that all the details in the background came out white especially if there is a lot of light coming from behind you when taking a selfie. I thought it was an isolated case but I later saw it in a video advert for the phone as you can see below. If you want to take a selfie and want to capture an object behind you (like a monument or something) under bright sunlight, it won’t be straight forward task, you will need to get creative. Luckily, this is an issue that can be fixed via software update. Reducing the exposure levels might help too if only the phone had manual mode which brings us to issue number 2.

Lack of Professional/ Manual mode

The issue discussed in the first point would be easily solvable by tweaking the settings in manual mode. Nowadays, we have phones coming with manual mode for both back and front camera like the Moto Z we recently reviewed.

Tecno CX being a camera oriented phone would really benefit from manual mode. It’s a pity that all that hardware potential cannot be fully tapped at the moment. Humans can sometimes configure camera settings for a certain light condition better than the algorithms of auto mode. We hope the company is working future update that will introduce manual/ professional mode.

Optical image stabilisation (OIS)

The Tecno CX doesn’t come with OIS, this technology enables one to record shake-free videos and blur free photos. While taking selfies with the Tecno CX, I realised that if you move your hand while pressing the capture button, the whole photo will be still and crisp but the hand that was moved slightly will come out really blurry. The phone has very fast shutter speed which would mean that blurs would be less frequent but they still occurred. OIS might help with that to some extent, but software algorithms also need to be updated to fix the blur issue. The company should introduce OIS in the Plus version of the phone but in the meantime, they can simply use software tricks to come up with stable results like Sony does with SteadyShot on its Xperia line.

More RAM for better split screen multitasking

Tecno CX comes with the latest version of Android, the 7.0 Nougat version, we applaud the company for that. Not many affordable phones come with this new OS. The most attractive feature of Android 7.0 Nougat is the split screen multitasking, it lets you run two apps at the same time. Unfortunately, such a feature needs sufficient RAM to operate fluidly and silky smooth. More RAM will also enable cool camera features such as using the front and the rear camera at the same time. Using both cameras simultaneously make sure that even the person taking shots is fixed in the final picture and much more. Unfortunately, the CX only comes with 2GB RAM, there is no option for 3GB RAM. We hope they implement it in the Plus version.

Upgraded processor to enable 4K and also slo-mo video recording

4K started to become a standard in video recording since last year, slo-mo is 2017’s new trend with cameras hitting up to 1000fps. Of course we wouldn’t expect such high rates at an affordable phone but there are 240fps iterations being done on mid-range phones. Also, Tecno has recycled the same processor, Mediatek 6753, since the launch of Tecno Phantom 5. The CX still has that processor and we think an upgrade is long overdue. Hopefully the Plus version will come with a Mediatek Helio series CPU or a Snapdragon 625 which are much more powerful and battery friendly than the CX processor. Moreover the Helio series and the Snapdragon 625 have been used on devices which are cheaper than the CX such as the Xiaomi Redmi series.

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Technology and the IT world in general is still known to be a male dominated field. Over the years women have been encouraged to pursue technological jobs with no limitation. But as these women who take the bold step into the male dominated tech field, we take time to recognize women for their achievements and being a great example for every woman in the the fields that are said to be “manly”. But despite the challenges that women go through to venture into these fields, five women have provided ideas and platforms that could change people’s lives. The greatest thing about these women is that they continue to empower other women even as they climb the corporate ladder.

Erestina Appiah, Ghana

She is the founder of the Ghana Code Club a volunteer led an after-school digital fun club that equips children between the ages of 8-17 years with coding skills. This brilliant woman was listed on the women in tech and she continues to be a pioneer in this fast-paced industry.

Olatorera Oniru, Nigeria

She is almost thirty years old and is already one of the most influential entrepreneurs who founded Dressmeoutlet.com. Her company is a Lagos based e-commerce startup that retails fashion products from all around the world. Because of her passion for leadership lead her to create a Nigeria’s leadership program Top 100 Our Generation. Ms Oniru has worked for two Fortune Top 5 companies namely Bank of America Merrill Lynch and General Electric. She also worked as a global consultant for one of the largest telecommunications companies Lars Magnus Ericsson as a global consultant and later as Head of Sales Governance.

Nneka Offor, Nigeria

Ever heard of SkillBoox ? If you haven’t, then this is the time to know one of the most innovative creations from anyone. SkillBoox is an online learning market place that focuses on creating courses for personal, professional and employ-ability skills development. It has become one of the most affordable e-learning platforms in Africa and provides effective skills. She has also worked as a Business Development Officer in a facility management company where she participated actively as projects team member to improve efficiency, reduce costs and assist in improvement of services through customer experiences.

Dr Chao Mbogo, Kenya

One of our very own Kenyan lady has proven to be nothing less than a hard worker. Dr Chao graduated with a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town in December 2015. Her contribution to the tech industry is through her research that focuses on supporting learners from resource-constrained environments. Her project has enabled some people to broaden their knowledge just by using their mobile phones, She has been chosen as one of the 200 young researchers worldwide in Mathematics and Computer Science as well as that she was a recipient of the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future award in 2015.

Ernestina Appiah, Ghana

Ernestina Appiah noted that kids need more recreational activities after school. She created a school activity program that is now an after school activity for all basic schools in Ghana for children between the ages of 9-18. Ghana Code Club has become a NGO that works with ICT teachers from each school. From this NGO, students have been part of growing projects while at the same time they have been attaining their goals and objectives.  These projects teach children how to program by example showing them how to make computer games, animations and websites. Ernestina was listed on BBC as the inspirational women for 2015.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is probably the most awaited phone in 2017 so far. It is also coincidentally the one with the most leaked information. Fortunately, we have the invite to its unveiling tomorrow, we will fill you in on which of those leaks panned out. The leaks keep coming, however, but this time, we have the official accessories of the device and their prices.

First off, we have already met some of these accessories like the Samsung Dex station that turns your smartphone into a desktop experience. Apart from this one, we have other interesting accessories, they include a Keyboard Cover which goes on the front part of the phones screen to give you a physical keyboard experience, the way Blackberry KeyOne does.

Surprisingly, we have an accessory labelled Samsung Battery Pack, this might be referring to a Power Bank and not a battery charger like the ones they released with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, that phone had a removable battery unlike the Galaxy S8. The power bank will be 5,100 mAh with fast charge technology and a strap to help you carry it easily. The fast charge technology will be for both charging of the power bank and for the power bank charging other devices. Regardless of this accessory being officially released by Samsung, it will be able to charge other Non-Samsung phones. Unfortunately, at 5,100 mAh, the pack will not be enough to fill the S8 for even two full cycles. At the asking price of 70 Euros (KES 7,706), buyers can get better power banks with bigger batteries.

The rest of the leaked accessories include an assortment of covers. The full list of items and their prices is shown below converted to current exchange rates.

Samsung Clearview Standing Cover – 59,99 Euro (KES 6,590)

Samsung LED View Cover – 59,99 Euro (KES 6,590)

Samsung Keyboard Cover – 59,99 Euro (KES 6,590)

Samsung Alcantara Cover – 44,99 Euro (KES 5,473)

Samsung Silicone Cover – 29,99 Euro (KES 3,239)

Samsung Clear Cover – 19,99 Euro (KES 2,122)

Samsung 2-Pieces Cover – 19,99 Euro (KES 2,122)

Samsung Screen Protector – 12,99 Euro (KES 1,340)

Samsung Wireless Charger Convertible – 79,99 Euro (KES 8,823)

Samsung DeX Station – 149,99 Euro (KES 16,642)

Samsung Battery Pack (Fast Charging) – 69,99 Euro (KES 7,706)