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Smartphones with HDR10 display panels that you can buy here in Kenya in 2020

There are practically over a million reasons you can come up with for preferring a certain smartphone over another, but the most important emphasis I usually write down first is the display panel. Having a device with an awesome panel is something I always lookout for, I’d choose a brilliant screen over any other feature within a glance and some of my favorite display features include; AMOLED panels, high resolution screens preferably QHD and above and lastly but not least, support for HDR content.

Most of our daily activities have shifted to mobile phones such as sending and responding to an email, sending and transferring cash to others and taking professional class photos; we consume a lot of content via mobile phones more than before. This can be articulated to increased video consumption from top streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube. While we see a lot of technology shifts on traditional televisions, mobile devices have since kept up with brilliant inventions such as HDR 10 support.

What is HDR10

High Dynamic Range usually denoted as HDR is a new video technology that allows devices such as smartphones to display videos as well as images with much greater brightness, contrast, and better color accuracy than what was possible in the past. This is way far from resolution upgrades such as 720p to 1080p and consequently to 4K or even current 8K trend in terms of color reproduction.

For a smartphone to support HDR10 content, there has to be hardware capability but Google managed to support YouTube HDR solely from software optimizations in the first generation of pixel handsets. Since HDR10 is the minimum specifications, every device that has HDR capability should ideally support HDR10. HDR10 standard produces an image that is over twice as bright, with a corresponding increase in contrast (the difference between the blackest blacks and the whitest whites), and a color palette that has one billion shades, as opposed to the approximately 16 million of SDR.

As of 2019, HDR has almost become a thing with most video streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube supporting the standard. But something to note, when your device has HDR capability it doesn’t automatically qualify to render content in the HDR standard, it’ll need to gain support from respective company such as Netflix or YouTube first.

Here is a list of Smartphones you can buy locally in Kenya in 2020 that support HDR10 content either on YouTube or Netflix

  • Xiaomi mi note 8 pro
  • Samsung Galaxy S10/S10 Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy S10e
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 9
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  • Xiaomi Mi 10
  • Nokia 8 Sirocco
  • iPhone XS / XS Max
  • iPhone XR / 11 / 11 Pro

How to request for your NSSF statement online or using a mobile phone

Over the years, Kenyans have had to deal with complicated processes just to access information regarding their contributions to the National Social Security Fund, but things have equally improved and you can now access important information from the security fund without having to endure bureaucracies as before. Information such as knowing how much you’ve saved so far can easily be requested and received from the NSSF online portal or using a USSD code on your mobile phone rather having to visit their offices. And this is particularly important for employed individuals who might not have time to visit NSSF offices but would like to keep tabs on how much their employers are remitting for their retirement.

Knowing important stuff such as your NSSF savings is important, it removes the possibility of surprises when its too late and I would advise anyone who is saving for their future through the fund whether directly or indirectly for employed Kenyans to know exactly how much they’ve saved to manage their expectations. I have listed down all the important steps from top downwards that you can follow to request for your National Social Security Fund (NSSF) statement online.

How to request and access your NSSF statement online

  • First of all, you’ll need to register for the NSSF e-service
  • To start the process, head over to this link: https://eservice.nssfkenya.co.ke/launch/
  • And then click on “registration” under “e-services member” you can ignore this if already registered for the NSSF e-services. Otherwise to complete your registration, click on “Existing member e-cert” on the next page
  • You’ll need to provide your username, password, NSSF Member number, ID number and PO BOX address and some “not required” details
  • On successful registration, head over to the NSSF statement accounts portal from below link
  • E-statement portal link:https://eservice.nssfkenya.co.ke/eStatementsAccount/faces/login.xhtml
  • The same can be accessed from the first link by clicking on “Statements Account
  • Then login using your respective username you used to register in earlier steps as well as the password
  • And finally access your NSSF statement online

How to request and get your NSSF statement via email using a mobile phone

  • On your mobile phone, Dial *303#
  • Then choose “Member Services” from the menu
  • Followed by “Contribution Information
  • Then lastly, tap on “Email Contribution Statement

Google is rolling out a new logo for the Photos app and a simpler design

Google is known to redesign some of its core apps once in a while with simpler navigation as well as new icons and this time round, the Photos app seems to be getting a much-needed makeover in design as well as icon. The search giant hasn’t publicized the move which consequently replaces the old photos logo with a much finer one. The new changes have already been effected on the iOS app and expected to be headed for android as Google is keen to keep its apps across various platforms uniform.  

The new logo is more refined and has rounded corners with a flattened visual. From the changelog of photos 5.0 on iPhones and iPads, Google says its introducing a simplified Google photos to help users find and relive memories. The search giant further states they’ve refreshed the photos icon to reflect its new simplified product experience.  

We expect the same visual refinements when the android version of Photos app is unveiled. There are a couple of modifications on the new app where it used to have a search bar at the top which has now been replaced with “Google Photos”. While the old photos app didn’t have a direct option for messaging, with the next design, Google has included a shortcut to a built-in messenger in the top left corner. This gives us an impression Google will be keen to develop on the feature going forward.

Memories row is now a little larger than before, and beyond that, everything else seems simple. While we expect some people to be a bit hesitant on the new logo, I honestly think it looks better and perfectly matches previous designs from the company.

Best affordable 5G Phones available in Kenya right now in 2020

Yes, you’ve got every reason to wonder why we’re even here talking about 5G while the service isn’t available in Kenya right now. But as most of us would like to say, if you’re investing in a smartphone for the next two or three years, its always a wise idea to future proof your investment. 5G’s launch in the country is inevitable, just a matter of time especially after some credible rumors doing rounds on Safaricom’s intention to adopt the technology after it was said to be testing in a few areas within Nairobi.

And sure, someone would easily suggest buying overseas from several online retailers like AliExpress, Amazon or eBay. But the complexity in network frequencies is not something we’d like to dive in, especially since there’s basically very thin lines as to what is supported and what is not, however in most cases, handsets that are officially sold locally support available network frequencies. For this main reason, I’m a bit skeptical to advise someone to buy a phone online from an overseas vendor just for a specific spec such as 5G compatibility.

The world we currently live in dictates us to look forward no matter what, and for this main reason, why not just get a 5G device when you really need a phone for the next year or so rather than waiting and probably ending up spending twice for the same reason. Sure, most of us might have heard some conspiracy theories doing rounds on social media linking 5G technology to the current situation, well this is far from truth 5G is safe and certainly the future.   

I have done some digging myself and compiled a list of “affordable” phones you can buy locally that support 5G. By affordable I mean reasonably priced compared to current flagships from Apple and Samsung. But before we start listing, its prudent that I elaborate 5G technology is hardware based and nothing you can do in software to enable it if there’s no hardware support.

Now let’s get to it. These phones have been confirmed to be available in Kenya from various outlets including online stores.

5G phones available in Kenya (Price may differ from one vendor to another)

  • Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite (5G): priced at Ksh43, 999
  • Nokia 8.3 (5G): Priced at Ksh68,000
  • Xiaomi Mi 10 (5G): Priced at Ksh74,999 (expected)

We shall be updating this list as we get more confirmations from vendors.

How to register for the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) online through its portal

The Kenya National Hospital Insurance fund (NHIF) made it easier for new members to enroll into the medical fund without having to visit any of their offices. This development is particularly necessary especially during this period that most Kenyan’s have been urged to observe social distancing and stay at home if possible.

New members don’t have to visit their offices or employers don’t have to submit documents as before, the same can now be accomplished through the NHIF online portal. After a successful registration, members can then start enjoying the benefits of “Super Cover”.

In my previous editorial, I’ve detailed how members can make their NHIF monthly contributions via MPESA and also how NHIF members who have defaulted payments can pay penalties using MPESA. NHIF cover is particularly important in times of need as the Fund can offload some financial burdens when settling hospital bills.

Requirements for NHIF Online Registration

While the service is available for both persons in the informal and formal sector, there are some key requirements you must meet to be eligible for the NHIF cover.

  • A copy of your National Identification card
  • A copy of your spouse’s ID card, you’ll be eligible to add a spouse if you’ve met the requirements for that.
  • Passport photo in softcopy

The online registration portal is available if you fall in either of the following groups

  • Employer
  • Employee
  • Self Employed

How to register for the NHIF Online

  • Ensure you have all the required documents as highlighted earlier in softcopy on your computer
  • Visit the NHIF online registration portal from the following link
  • Link: http://www.nhif.or.ke/healthinsurance/registeronline/
  • Choose your respective category and proceed with registration

How to turn on the auto-delete feature of personal information in chrome browser

Browsers are known to store all manner of personal information ranging from your browsing history, passwords to various sites, cookies that are used by advertisers to “serve relevant ads” and even your search history. As much as the stored information can be helpful sometimes, the implications on your privacy can be wanting and Google hasn’t particularly in been in good books in the sector.

Information stored by browsers

As earlier mentioned, browsers store a lot of information that if not well secured, could pose a major risk to your privacy from malicious entities.

Browsers such as Google’s chrome can store information ranging from browsing history, Form and search history, cookies and browser cache.

Google has provided a nifty feature that allows users to automatically delete their browsing data after a certain duration has elapsed. This can be useful for most of us who don’t spare time to check what the tech giant has saved on them.

How to enable the auto delete of personal data in chrome browser

  • First, you’ll need to be logged into your chrome browser
  • It works best if you’ve set “Google” as the default homepage but not a must.
  • If Google is your default homepage, open a new tab and click on “Turn on Auto Delete” at the bottom of the page juts after the words “Easily set an expiration date for your data
  • On the next page, hit on “Auto delete” then select between 3 and 18 months and lastly hit “Next

Recruitment of Director-General for the Communication Authority of Kenya suspended by court

Controversies surrounding the recruitment of the next director general for Kenya’s ICT regulator seems to be far from over after a local court suspended the process following a suit filed by information communication technology of Kenya (ICTAK). Things have never been the same after Wangusi left the authority with various accusations of favoritism marring the process that has now been deferred over and over.

In its suit lodged at the court, ICTAK claims the regulator issued a discriminatory recruitment notice that was contrary to law that tainted negatively on the whole process. Among other things, the regulator was accused of failing to detail important specifications including the proposed renumeration.  

Through its lawyer Adrian Kamotho, the information Communication Technology of Kenya claimed the process posed a real risk to fair competition and merit. ICTAK further stated the communication regulator ought to strictly adhere to the law in the filing of any legally prescribed position.

Consequently, Justice Odero has allowed the applicant to file proceedings with a view to have the notice quashed. A new Director-General will replace Wangusi who left the position last year and the Authority picked Mercy Wanjau to replace him in an acting capacity.

iOS 14 features that Google should incorporate in the next android iteration

While everyone has been busy picking on Apple for its laid-back stance on adding new features to its devices, there are some quite nifty iOS 14 additions we’d love to be included in the next iteration of the android operating system. And don’t get me wrong, Android has lots of features that aren’t yet available for iOS – that’s a fact, but we’d love to see more. Before you’re up in arms, I’d suggest you read on and give your own judgement – I’m a full time iOS user, there’s no doubt about that but I also carry along my android phone, mostly for business and social as I find the ecosystem better in that segment.

Truth be told, there are some things we find best optimized or just works as expected from the two smartphone operating systems. I for example, considers Apple’s security approach more sensible than android. I’d give anything to find the kind of iCloud’s security approach on an android phone. Let’s face it, smartphone theft probably has fallen compared to the days of yore, but It’s discouraging that someone can easily steal your beloved android phone, flash it, probably temper with IMEI and use it as if nothing happened – and this is done completely via software!

Here are iOS 14 key features we’d love to see on Android.

  • APP Clips

This is a feature that Google unveiled way back in 2016 dubbed “Instant Apps”; they are basically smaller versions of iOS apps, under 10MB in size, that are transient on the phone. Google’s implementation was generally vague without some important features we really yarned for. On the other hand, iOS 14’s take is more polished and features something we’re really looking forward to – the “discovery feature”. App clips can be triggered by scanning a QR code, or by scanning an NFC tag. This essentially enables places like restaurants or offices to onboard users more efficiently.

  • Using your Smartphone as a Car Key

This should probably have been the first feature on our list, when Apple showcased how iOS users would convert their mobile devices into car keys, I was definitely one of the optimistic fans at that point. It was like freedom was finally achieved and a sigh of relief was felt looking forward. Apple is utilizing it’s current CarPlay feature to unveil a decent addon that would finally substitute physical car keys. This is something we didn’t really knew we needed until Apple happened. This is something Google should definitely be keen to introduce in future android devices. Car keys are stored securely within the Apple wallet and even makes it easy to share with others virtually. Although some android phones from the likes of Huawei already support such a feature, we’d love to see it go mainstream at some point and at this point, Huawei has a lot to deal with revamping the AppGallery.

  • Privacy indicator for microphone or camera

Although android has made some commendable strides in this sector, the approach is a bit unrefined as the software has completely blocked background apps from accessing your microphone or camera but there’s no clear indication that these apps are actually using your camera or mic. However, with iOS 14, users are notified with an icon near the top of the screen if an app is actively using the camera or the microphone.

  • Nicer Widgets

Before you aim, please hold your fire to the end. Widgets have been available on android forever. And over the years, we’ve seen some great refinements on how widgets work on devices. However, Apple is known to perfect on something before release and their approach is more interesting than what we currently have on android. We’d love to see more on widgets than just the fact they do exist, what Apple showcased resonated with the average consumer rather than leaving everything to power users. iOS 14 handles widgets as mediums of information rather than an after-thought of utility. Apple’s touch comes in the form of “widget stacks,” which can hold multiple widgets in the same space with a swipe-able area.