TechBooky

Apple announced its new phones, the iPhone XS and XS Max yesterday and with the announcement came the reviews and analysis. One standout thing though that I think wasn’t seriously emphasised was that Apple is now a dual SIM device player; something Samsung and other major players have since implemented in emerging markets and have seen growth over the years. Before we take a look at this, let’s talk about what a dual SIM iPhone XS looks like and how it works. With the most recent 2018 iPhone X lineup, Apple has bet everything with double SIM abilities found on each of the three models presented today-the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. The manner in which Apple has executed this element contrasts for telephones sold in China and telephones sold in whatever is left of the world. [caption id="attachment_12676" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The Chinese variant of the iPhone XS and XS Max come with dual SIM capabilities [/caption] The Chine...

Two years later, Payant, a fintech startup that provides online payment solutions, recently announced over ₦1 billion in transactions. Based in Kaduna the Northern part of Nigeria,  Payant is essentially a web-based invoicing software that lets users create invoices, automatically send payment reminders and accept instant payments online with over 1,600 registered users as at June 2018. According to a blogpost , Payant’s first transaction was worth ₦500 on the 1st of January, 2017. The platform now boasts around 1,500 users. Lowest and highest single payments processed are ₦1 and ₦400,000 respectively. Payant explained in a post that: “In 2018, we are focused on building up our system, improving the quality of our services and increasing our transactions with more merchants." “So far in 2018, we have processed over N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) in total transaction volume with over 1,600 registered merchants.” Aminu Bakori, Found...

Since its launch in January 2018, the news app —Opera News has experienced a spike in downloads and reached 10 million downloads in Africa in just six months —after its recent update included a FIFA football World Cup channel and other football-related features. According to results from App Annie , Opera News is the most downloaded news app in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Tanzania. The growth in the download of the app, is prior to the latest update to app’s introduction of new World Cup features —which keep football fans up to date with the results of the largest football competition in the world. They can now follow live scores as well as tables and fixtures of the group stage and the knockout stage. Jørgen Arnesen, Global Head of Marketing and Distribution at Opera “We are extremely excited to see that more than 10 million people across Africa chose Opera News, making it the No. 1 ranking news app on the continent,”, also added ...

Africa’s nascent artificial intelligence sector just got its biggest boost from Google which is opening its first Africa AI research center in Accra, Ghana’s capital. In the last few years, Google has made it clear that they are an AI forward company. Their software products have AI sprinkled over them like Google Photos, Google Assistant, Google Camera inside the Pixel and so much more. Google AI is the branch that deals with artificial intelligence research that would advance the status quo and be applied to products. They have research centres around the world and today, they have announced a new one that is a first for Africa. Today Google has announced that they have a Google AI research centre which will open later this year in Accra, Ghana. They will work together with top machine learning researchers and engineers in this new centre dedicated to AI research and its applications. The new centre will now join the other Google Ai research locations which include Beijin...

One of the few things that Google CEO, Sundar Pichai announced during his visit to Nigeria last July, through its philanthropy arm — Google.org (and a huge steps has been taken to ensure that the promises are kept and they sure have kept to it) was the Google impact challenge. Through the launch of the Google Impact Challenge Africa in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa—where it will award $6 million to selected registered non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social enterprises in the three selected countries. Speaking at the Nigeria launch event in Lagos today, Google Nigeria Head of Marketing, Affiong Osuchukwu said that:The funding will be split over the three countries ($2 million each) and then further split into four winners and eight runners-up from each country. “This is the first time we are running a GIC in Africa. Many African non -profits are doing great work with real impact, and we are keen to shine a light on them and give a financial boost to innovat...

Google Go comes to Nigeria and 29 other African countries. The internet can be achingly slow and expensive in parts of Africa, undermining fledgling tech ecosystems and the ability of Africans to connect globally. Google, the largest search engine company is giving users a faster and lighter way to search and access the internet, by releasing an app that will make it lighter to browse online, with search results optimised to save up to 40% data. The Google Go app will available in 26 sub-Saharan Africa nations and  is customised to function on Android devices with low storage and will load on slow and unstable connections including 2G networks. At five megabits in size, the app will allow for voice recognition in search instead of typing, while easily switching between languages including Swahili. Speaking at the launch in Ikoyi, Lagos, Google’s Country Director, Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, revealed that: “There are about 30 million smartphone users and the number ...

Uganda has revealed its intentions to impose a tax on social media users starting July. Although the lawmakers say it"s a way to generate revenue, activists have stormed the social media to denounce such imposition, claiming it"s another attempt by President Yoweri Museveni to limit freedom of speech and thus overrule his 32-year-old rule, Reuters reported. Uganda has a population of about 41 million, 23.6 million use mobile phones, and 17 million are internet subscribers. Unlike some other western countries, data costs in many parts of Africa are outrageous. In fact, according to statistics by the digital advocacy group World Wide Web Foundation, internet costs are among the world"s highest. The Finance Minister, in a telephone interview with Reuters, says that users of platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook would be taxed 200 Ugandan shillings ($0.027) daily. When asked about the effect on stifling people"s use of the internet, he declined to give a resp...

Some African nations now looking into the activities of Cambridge Analytica  Many African countries, Nigeria inclusive do not have data laws to protect internet users and protect the privacy of individuals. Unlike in Europe and other western countries where data privacy law accords the users some level of protection on their information, it"s a different case in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. It"s probably that there are deeper problems that the citizenry could be bothered with. Many Africans have little or no recourse on data breach matters because legal backings and regulatory measures do not exist. Kenya and Nigeria are countries with a growing population of internet users; still, there"s no such law in place to protect the privacy of users. According to Britain"s Guardian newspaper, recent revelations about the British owned firm suggest that the African continent may be slightly affected. Cambridge Analytica was consulted to work on the 2013 and 20117 campa...

If you live in Europe or America, then it’s quite likely technology has become a big part of your world. You may be reading this on your phone, tablet or MacBook before you settle in for a night of Netflix in front of your 46-inch TV. While this may be the ‘norm’ for millions of people in the world, there are many parts of the globe which haven’t yet entered the prime of their technology era. Many remote parts of the world, such as Kiribati in the Pacific, are more than 20 years behind when it comes to technological advancements. There are also some countries, particularly in Africa, who have just started to see rapid growth in their technology industries, but who are finding it difficult to adapt. So, why are so many parts of the world struggling with a tech future? Funds and resources For some countries, technological advancements are the last thing on their to-do list. Mozambique, in East Africa, is a prime example of a country that requires more funding and r...

Artificial Intelligence and robotics have been a threat to human labour that does not require specific and complex human skills. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly popular for companies to turn to artificial intelligence because it is far less expensive than hiring, training, and employing a human.  A new report reveals that Africa will be the most affected by the revolution. The report warns that in less than 20 years from now, it will be more cost-efficient to hire robots in US factories than hire workers in Africa. Nevertheless, the overseas development institute thinks that African nations still have time to prepare for the change ahead. He said, "African countries must not shy away from manufacturing, but instead prepare by increasing access to the internet, investing in technical skills and promoting technological innovation. If done well, automation can present important opportunities for African countries by improving labour productivity in manufacturing". Regardin...