How would you call a phone that’s neither in the top tier lineup or within the mid-range sequel? Well, the proper terminology should be a “feature phone” – something we both know no one ever longs for. Nokia was once a formidable force or probably still is a force to beat in this genre, but the current market has been overtaken by consumers strive to look for something that can combine practicality, functionality and affordability in the same phrase. While the new Nokia C2 in itself doesn’t surmount enough force to make fellows out there rubberneck, it’s price probably can.
With a meagre price tag of KS 8,199 here in Kenya, HMD Global promises the new Nokia C2 will offer simple yet important functionalities such as staying connected, a battery that’s long-lasting enough to let you forget about power worries at least in the short term and an immersive HD screen that’s just as good to watch videos on. The camera isn’t that bad, coupled by android Go edition that’s easy to receive security updates minus the dreaded unnecessary carrier/manufacturer bloatware, everything was designed to be practical in so many ways. And hooray! This phone comes with 4G connectivity.
HMD Global so far is doing a tremendous job, the company brought back a once household name to the market though not as popular, but a force to reckon. Nokia C2 is currently available in Kenya from Ks8,199. By all means this isn’t a device for power users or those looking to have professional level photography on a smartphone but a device for those without a handful budget but want to connect, take admirable snaps and watch one or two videos with less concern on frames or resolution.
Long lasting battery and 4G capability
Since the specs are not that power hungry as we’ve in the top of line devices such as galaxies and iPhones, the removable 2800mAh lithium-ion battery should be enough to drive this device through days with minimal usage. And at that price point, it’s a bonus to have 4G capability built in that will ice photography and entertainment features on the Nokia C2.
Decent large 5.7inch screen for media consumption
On the front panel, the Nokia C2 houses an exceptionally large 5.7” HD+ screen, a front-facing camera with flash and HDR photography to brighten up your selfies. And since the battery is large enough for day to day activities, you’d be amazed to go from dusk to dawn without hooking on a charger. You can watch YouTube videos offline via YouTube Go. Introducing YouTube Go as well, an official app from YouTube that lets you download videos to your Android. With enough Go apps such as Gallery Go to keep your memories automatically organized, easy to find, edit and share, as well as the lightning fast, Google app designed for unpredictable internet connections.
Speaking on the official launch event, Gopher Ogembo, Senior Business Manager East Africa, HMD Global was quick to highlight the main objectives of the device, which is to bring great smartphone experiences to as many customers as possible across different price points.
He also acknowledged the desire by many consumers to have a reliable phone and with addition of 4G technology was a sure way for them to upgrade. Nokia C2 runs on an optimized Android™ 9 Pie (Go edition).
Nokia C2 Pricing and availability in Kenya
The Nokia C2 is now available in two colours, Black and Cyan, comes with a free phone cover and is available in both Safaricom stores and open retail channels countrywide.
In our previous editorial depicting the unusual sectors recording a boom in their businesses while the rest of the industry suffers massive losses, the entertainment sector has had mixed fortunes so far. From an increase on the number of monthly subscribers to a fluctuation on number of shows being filmed at the moment; the industry is hit hard on one side while the other records unusually large numbers of customers. Technology has been a major hindrance in Dstv’s fortunes, the once household pay tv provider in Kenya is now facing competition from the likes of Netflix which is surging in customers and has more current films than the later.
Dstv has however been able to tighten its grip on exclusive rights to air sporting events such the English premier league in the country. Many of these sporting events have either been postponed or cancelled altogether rendering the pay tv provider a major blow. To sweeten its offering, MultiChoice Kenya has announced a 75 percent payment discount for its commercial clients, this is an effort to counter lack of major sporting events around the world.
Commercial clients expected to benefit from the discount include hotels, restaurants, pubs, lodgings, and football joints. The offer is expected to run for the next three months according to MultiChoice Kenya managing director Nancy Matimu.
Speaking on the development, Nancy acknowledged the current atmosphere which has been so far negatively impactful on their customers, promising to continue ensuring that commercial customers continue to receive Dstv services as well as access to the best in sports, entertainment and news programming currently available.
Commercial customers who had already settled April invoices, will not be billed in May and June. In addition, the Pay TV provider has also added channels to its premium customers as a replacement to sporting event losses. The new channels include CNN International (channel 401), TV Record News (channel 671) and ReLive Sports (channel 205).
Commenting on the added channels, the managing director acknowledged the extra sport documentaries from around the globe should partly mitigate the absence of sporting events across the globe. Multichoice has further revised DStv and GOtv subscriptions to reflect a two percent reduction in value-added tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent under the 2020 amended VAT tax rate.
New Dstv Kenya and Gotv Kenya charges after 2020 amended VAT tax;
DStv Premium subscribers will now pay Sh7,370 from Sh7,500 while DStv Access customers pay Sh885 from Sh900.
On the other hand, GOtv Max will now cost Sh980 from the previous Sh999 whereas GOtv Value will drop from Sh499 to Sh480.
All existing Dstv and Gotv customers to get free upgrades
All existing Multichoice customers will from this month be upgraded to higher bouquets at no extra costs under a campaign dubbed ‘We’ve Got You!’. If for example a customer pays for DStv Family package that costs Sh1,180, they’ll be upgraded to DStv Compact while DStv Compact Plus subscribers that costs Sh4,420 will be upgraded to DStv Premium. The same applies for all GOtv Lite, Value and Plus packages.
Often time to time I’ve been caught-up in a situation that would demand access to one of the world’s biggest social network – Facebook, to check on the latest feeds from friends and also just so I could get a grasp of what is happening across the world. Occasionally I would have access to the internet either using WiFi or mobile broadband, but there’s actually a simpler and cost-effective way you could access the limited edition of Facebook free of charge using a Safaricom line.
Facebook free mode on Safaricom network
Safaricom enabled the free mode feature on its network to allow its customers without data bundles have access to Facebook though in a limited state. The idea behind it is actually amazing and makes more sense to both Safaricom and Facebook. Safaricom subscribers are able to view feeds, invite friends, accept friend requests, respond to or comment on friend’s statuses without having to first purchase data bundles. It’s a feature that could come in handy especially when you run out of data bundles and are in a location or situation that doesn’t allow you to purchase credit though in desperate need to do any of the above available features.
What does the limited Facebook mode mean?
There’s of course a big difference of what you’ll be getting with the Safaricom’s free Facebook mode compared to when to have data bundles;
No pictures in your feeds – as expected, images are the biggest data consumers on Facebook, the free mode doesn’t give users access to the posted images. If you enable the free mode, you’ll be presented with feeds that has only text with blank images. This of course can easily be changed once you disable the free mode and instead use data bundles.
Cannot follow links – now this is a bummer, especially if there’s an important link you’d love to read the story in full. Imagine seeing a link posted by a media company of certain breaking news with just a brief on Facebook and the rest of story located on the company’s website? It sucks right? You can’t open the link to read further, but that’s what you get on free mode.
There are no videos on the free mode – you won’t be able to play videos in your feed
How to enable Safaricom’s free Facebook mode on your smartphone
First, you need to have a working Facebook account logged in on your handset, this feature works for devices that have used data to access the Facebook app before.
This feature is only available on the facebook’s app, you’ll not be able to replicate the same via browser
Even though you might not have data (bundles) on your phone, head over to your phone’s settings and enable mobile data – this feature is not available on WiFi.
Open the Facebook app, press on the three lines on the right-end of the menu bar that opens up settings. If you don’t see the free mode option, click on “see more”, followed by “Safaricom Data Usage”, then enable “free mode”, you should now be in facebook free mode
You’ll see a purple bar at the top indicating you’re in free mode – enjoy
The free Facebook mode feature is a joint innovation by the two technology giants to allow customers without data bundles have access to their feeds without spending more.
The original iPhone SE had so much when launched that compelled most consumers with appetite for handsets with a small factor to have something they’d relate to. It was like Apple had finally started listening to its customers for once and did something about it. In fact, the smartphone giant admitted to having sold millions of then iPhone 5S devices to people who didn’t like the size of iPhone 6.
The original iPhone SE 2016 mostly retained the best technology in then flagship 6S but settled on the design of iPhone 5S – one of the best designs we’ve seen in the industry. It was a combination that gave no reason to pundits at the time to lament about apple; that’s not to say the device lacked flaws, but they were mostly ignorable considering the unusual low-price tag of (USD399) Ksh40,000.
And now we’re in the year 2020, the best in the original iPhone SE is now washed out even though some fellows still hold on to the handset like a precious box of diamonds. A few reasons you’d easily be given from these people include the handsets ability to receive latest version of iOS; at least in the year 2020, it’s awesome but now dated design ques, and an amazingly low-price tag – refurbished models are now going for less than USD100 (KS 10,000) online.
Today’s new small factor was actually once considered big, I remember back in the day when Samsung unleashed its phablet lineup with the likes of 5.3inch Galaxy Note stealing the show. The phablet designs were met with both skepticisms and embraced by many as well. The latest iPhone SE 2020 could actually have been categorized as a phablet back in the day, you’d not believe its actually amongst the few considered usable by one hand today.
Unlike the original SE, iPhone SE 2020 has all the goodies you’d get in an iPhone 11 but housed in the body of iPhone 8. The manufacturer moved away from its once iconic design used on the 5 series which came as a disappointment to many – me included. We expected the next iPhone SE to come in the same compact boxy design we used to love, only with minimal bezels at least to represent the SE’s evolution. Some novel designers came up with beautiful renders of how the SE would look like – something that actually made conservatives like me to have something worth looking forward to.
To be honest, I’m not necessarily lamenting about the iPhone SE 2020 its actually the only option small factor lovers like me have on the shortlist. We are extremely disappointed that out of the enormous android ecosystem, we don’t have a direct competitor. Technology has evolved tremendously in the smartphone segment and the level of copy-pasting we’re witnessing is disturbing.
When apple settled on the notch, everyone went for it. Its like every phone manufacturer out there saw the light for the very fast time. I’d love to see the level of innovations we once witnessed in the likes of blackberry and Nokia. Apple is not spared as well, just harvesting left-over parts on the iPhone 11 and putting in the body of iPhone 8 spells cost-cutting. To be honest, the only peace offering we get in the new iPhone SE 2020 is an affordable price tag and the power of apple’s current top-of-the-line device – the iPhone 11.
The iPhone SE 2020 comes with a 4.7inch display panel Apple A13 Bionic processor, iOS 13, 3GB RAM, 12 Megapixels primary camera and 7 Megapixels selfie camera. Its expected to cost somewhere around Ksh40,000 here in Kenya – at least once it gets here. But if you can’t wait that longer, there’s always the likes of amazon and eBay you could actually snap one when an opportunity arises.
The current atmosphere isn’t doing any good to major businesses, in fact most firms such as the airline industry might never pickup from where they were when we started having the so-called lockdowns. In theory, almost everyone has been affected at least except some unexpected service providers. At some point, with or without the current situation, we’ve all pictured someday when companies would explore technology to the core of their operations but not this soon.
In Kenya for example, we’ve seen companies such as the insurance sector turn to technology and offer medical consultation services to their customers via video conferencing, schools are turning to online classes at least to stay afloat while students are now more than ever crumpling to embrace technology. Private schools make up a sound number of affected institutions and the only way they could stay relevant is to offer online classes; remember, in some cases parents had already paid fees.
There are reports the so-called elite schools including Braeburn Schools, the Aga Khan Academy, Banda School, Cavina School, Premier Academy, Kenton School, Rusinga School and Sabis have reached an agreement with parents to charge fees for teaching students online. It’s a scenario nobody ever expected but times demand innovation like no other.
But in such horrendous circumstances, a few companies are reporting surges in the uptake of their services, the entertainment industry is particularly doing exceptionally well with streaming services like Netflix reporting more than thirty percent of subscriptions increase and internet service providers crumpling to meet increased traffic on their networks.
And we expect the trend to continue in the same direction at least until we’ve come out from the murky waters. As of the writing of this article, Netflix was hiring more than twenty thousand additional staff as customer care representatives to handle the surge in their service uptake and shares are almost going off the roofs for once.
We could also articulate some positive performance to the health sector especially firms involved in the manufacture of personal protective equipment’s as well as face masks but the impact is not as extensive as other sectors. Oil prices are plummeting in part because of the current situation and we expect power generation firms who rely on petrol to do exceptionally well.
Because everyone has to stay at home and not everywhere is covered by internet providers, the entertainment industry – in this case pay tv service providers like StarTimes and Gotv are beneficiaries of increased number of viewers looking for something beyond the available free to air channels.
Huawei mobile is entering a new era of smartphone design with the latest HUAWEI P40 series, the company’s engineers found inspiration in the very source of life on our planet: water. The Huawei P40 series will be launching in the Kenyan market soon.
Water’s flowing equilibrium can be found in every aspect of the new smartphone design. By blending state-of-the-art technology with pleasing aesthetics, the P40 series phones strive for a point of perfect balance in the midst of ever-changing trends.
The series’ Silver Frost, Ice White, Deep Sea Blue, Blush Gold and Black color schemes embody the force of moving water, and this feeling is enhanced by the innovative quad-curve screen which “flows” over each side of the chassis. The colors have a timeless quality, and provide comfort in an era of continuous change, capturing the power water has over us, and the emotions and moods it evokes.
These designs demonstrate once again why Huawei has been seen for many years as leading the charge in industry innovation. It stunned critics and consumers alike with the P20 series’ gradient Twilight color scheme two years ago, but rather than rest on its laurels, has now produced another masterpiece. The Chinese electronics maker is always striving to break free from the monotonous status quo and explore new horizons, both in terms of design aesthetics and technological excellence.
1. Huawei’s Design philosophy: Quality above all else
A truly successful industrial design maintains its beauty even when mass produced, and this requires a flawless balance of art and technology. A worthy designer should have a solid grasp of fashion trends and styles, an in-depth mastery of materials and craftsmanship, and abundant experience.
Huawei values quality above all else, and this is immediately apparent from its products’ superior industrial design and user experience.
Huawei’s designers and engineers work in harmony, using the most advanced manufacturing techniques to give full rein to their collective imaginations. The company is internationally oriented, with aesthetics research centers in Italy, France, Korea, Japan, and the UK. This encourages professionals from all over the world to contribute their own creative ideas and avant-garde designs.
A design becomes an enduring style when it’s widely acclaimed and even copied by others in the industry. Huawei’s P20 series was such a trendsetter, as it made gradient colors the new norm in smartphones.
Huawei has always been unafraid to move into uncharted waters with unique designs. Rather than keeping tabs on what its competitors are doing, the company listens to and learns from its consumers, and tailors its products to their wants and needs.
Through its research, Huawei found that in the thick of rapid changes in our modern society, people can sometimes yearn for the grace and simplicity of the past. The P40 series designers therefore chose a concept that endows cutting-edge phones with classic colors.
2. HUAWEI P40 series: A brand-new design with a classic feel
Water is many things. It can be pure and tranquil, but can also be wild and untamable. It is sophisticated too, with the power to instantly change into mist, steam, frost or ice. The HUAWEI P40 series’ color schemes capture the essence of these contradictions — minimalist yet vigorous — and each variant has its own special charm. Light and shadow dance on the surface, reminiscent of icebergs and glaciers, the mysterious azure sea, a misty sunrise on a beach, or the lingering frost on a window.
Silver Frost: Huawei engineers superimposed frosted glass onto nanometer-thick textured film. The process causes light to reflect and refract on the surface, making it look as though the surface is constantly shifting between 2D and 3D.
Ice White: This variant conjures up images of icebergs and glaciers floating in the Arctic, where ice and water interact and glisten in the sunlight. A glass back gives greater clarity and depth to the Ice White color, and is reinforced by a dual-layer optical coating which imbues the glossy texture with dynamic lighting. The entire battery cover is complemented by a highly-reflective micro- and nano-scale grating structure, to vividly portray the purity of the white hues.
Deep Sea Blue: This edition is characterized by a reflective structural coloration coating and a rhombic micro- and nano-scale grating structure. As the phone is turned, blue hues flow across the surface of the rear cover, like a window onto the depths of a sapphire ocean. The choice of turquoise blue also echoes the trend set by Pantone, who selected Classic Blue as the color of the year 2020 because of its poised and self-assured nature.
Blush Gold: With its refined anti-glare (AG) etched glass and highly-reflective orange film, the surface of this design has an exquisite silk-like feel. The overall color combination evokes the break of dawn, with rays of orange sunlight spilling onto a golden beach.Black: Advanced coating is used to create a glossy finish against the dark background. Unadulterated black is imbued with a 3D glass texture, creating a look and feel which resembles quality ceramics.
3. Fine-tuned harmony of aesthetics and technology
Huawei treats the P40 series as luxury items, fine-tuning every detail with the utmost care and appreciation, including the seamlessly rounded corners and the subtle color film coating on the lenses. With this level of professionalism applied to every inch of the product, the HUAWEI P40 series illustrates how form and functionality can work together in artistic, high-tech harmony.
The P40 series has adopted an “All in one” philosophy to the camera layout, with the lenses, sensors and the flash all gathered in a single unit. The lenses themselves are produced with the delicacy one might associate with an intricately constructed watch. They’re also the largest in the industry with a micrometer-grade composite GDM (Glass Direct Molding) texture, and have been adjusted and tested according to the highest standards. Each lens comes fitted with green or blue film, indicating first-rate optical performance.
Compared with the Mate 30 Pro’s display which spills over the left and right sides at a nearly 90° angle, the P40 series’ quad-curve screen is not as arced. It strikes the right balance between freedom and limitations, like a completely full glass of wine or an infinity swimming pool, capturing a perfect moment, frozen in time.
The phone’s tender curves provide it with velvety ergonomics, making it a joy to hold, and the experience is heightened by full-screen gestures which make interaction free and meaningful.
The rounded corners of the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ have been fashioned to produce smooth transitions between edges, sides and corners, creating a truly immersive viewing experience without compromising on the display area. A cutting-edge display encapsulation technology has been implemented, which seamlessly joins glass and metal, so one cannot feel where the screen ends and the rear cover starts. This approach achieves ultra-narrow bezels while offering greater protection to the screen itself.
A few days back we reported the introduction of video doctor consultation service by the jubilee insurance through SASAdoctor, today, Minet insurance brokerage firm has joined the bandwagon with a similar service. Customers on Minet insurance will now be able to get online live video medical consultation service right from their homes.
The move comes in the wake of covid-19 pandemic that’s restricted most Kenyans from movement to avoid further spread of the virus. Telemedicine solution is particularly a new area that insurers are exploiting the possibilities of technological advancements in bringing services to their customers.
Kenya’s current corona virus count as of this post stands at slightly over 200 people with barely over 10 people having succumbed to the virus. The government directed Kenyan’s to exercise social distancing as the virus is mainly transmitted from infected people, or objects when they come in contact with those that do not have.
Speaking on the launch of the SASAdoctor service, Minet Kenya Chief Executive Officer Sammy Muthui said the telemedicine solution would provide an ideal means for the insurer to offer certain types of patient care to its employees and clients during this period of Coronavirus pandemic. He also added the insurer was hopeful that services offered will play a vital role in preventing the spread of novel Coronavirus, since SASAdoctor will tend to the patients remotely to mitigate the risk of transmission.
On top of the above benefits, customers are guaranteed to access online doctors at a highly discounted consultation fee, thus conserving member benefits for longer Muthui added.
Through the development, Minet employees and selected clients will have access to qualified medical specialists remotely, thereby minimizing traffic to healthcare centres and other medical facilities. SASA doctor service is available to patients at any given time of the day with designated pharmacies and follow-ups for members with chronic conditions.
For medical issues that require blood samples taken, there will be designated laboratory sample collection points with concierge services and medication at discounted rates of 15 percent to 25 percent off retail prices, delivered to the homes of the patients.
Among the ailments that will be treated through the virtual clinic include gastrointestinal infections, depression, and anxiety, menstrual problems, STIs, chronic conditions like diabetes & high blood pressure, colds and coughs as well as skin and eye infections.
Following in the footsteps of the current trend where most Kenyan companies have been embracing technology to mitigate effects of the covid-19 pandemic, StarTimes has launched an online platform that will enable subscribers pay their subscription through the app. The development is expected to reduce handling of cash – one of the precautions set by the government to prevent the spread of the virus. Subscribers will now henceforth conveniently renew their monthly subscription for their bouquet of choice right from the phone app.
By utilizing the company’s over the top (OTT) StarTimes ON application, StarTimes customers can download the application from their respective platforms i.e those using android on Google Play or iPhone on the Apple App Store and link their set-top boxes to the application to access an electronic wallet that will facilitate subscription payment through either Co-operative, KCB bank, Equitel, Mpesa or Airtel money.
StarTimes subscribers to receive a 5 percent discount on payments via the app
As a bonus, the pay TV subscribers who recharge their accounts through the online application will enjoy a 5% discount from their monthly subscription fee as well as other self-service options including a change of bouquets and a review of their payment history for the pay television service.
Speaking on the unveiling, StarTimes Regional Marketing Director, Mr. Aldrine Nsubuga said the move was the company’s strategic effort to not only encourage subscribers to avoid exposure to coronavirus through cash handling and physical visits by ensuring access to critical support services at the comfort of their home but also enabling subscribers to save cost while accessing more informative, educational and entertaining content.
StarTimes subscribers accessing the premium content via StarTimes ON application will also enjoy Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD) content providing access to live, replays and key highlights of the premium content at subscriber’s convenience.
With its user-friendly design, the App will stream content under 2G/ 3G or 4G networks with less data consumption of up to 30%.
