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The Best Android Go Smartphones Available Today

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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The Best Android Go Smartphones Available Today

First of all, what is Android Go? Well, it is a special version of the Android operating system designed to run on smartphones with limited hardware capabilities (and much cheaper). The first edition of this lightweight mobile OS was released last summer – it was called Android Oreo (8.1) Go Edition – and today, it also has an Android 9 variant. It is a fully fledged Android OS that gives its users the same possibilities as the “full” version, like browsing the web, downloading apps, playing Betway casino games, and making payments on the go, but its overall footprint is smaller (it occupies half the space occupied by Android Nougat) and it comes with apps and services built especially for it (like Google Assistant, Gboard, and Google Play, among others).

This operating system will run well and offer superior usability on phones having limited hardware – “weaker” processors, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage, for example. And there are quite a few great phones out there, built by established manufacturers, embracing this new paradigm – like the ones below.

Nokia 2.1 (HMD Global)

Nokia 2.1 comes with Android Go out of the box – and this makes it one of the best entry-level smartphones sporting this lightweight OS on the market today. It has pretty decent hardware for its price: it comes with a quad-core Snapdragon 425 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, an 8MP camera, a massive battery (4000 mAh), and a decent 5.5″ HD screen. It also comes with goodies like LTE connectivity, NFC, and Bluetooth. And yes, it has an audio jack. All this with a price of up to Ksh. 12,000.

Asus ZenFone Live L1

Asus offers a smartphone with great specs for a price tag similar to the one above. It has the same Snapdragon 425 CPU and 1GB of RAM but it comes with twice the internal storage (16GB instead of 8GB) and a better camera – a 13MP sensor with HDR, capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. It is, in turn, somewhat limited when it comes to software – as of now, it only has a variant with Android Go 8.0 with no word on updates to 9.0 and it has only a 3000mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy J4 Core

The Samsung Galaxy J4 Core, released last November, has a higher price tag than the two phones above – approximately Ksh. 17,000 – but it also comes with better features than the two above. The same CPU and RAM as above is paired with 16GB of internal storage, a 3300mAh battery, OTG support (it allows connecting external USB devices, like keyboards, mice, thumb drives, and such) and a massive 6″ IPS LCD screen. Also, let’s not forget that it is a “Galaxy” phone.

The Huawei Honor View 20 comes with a 48 MP rear-facing camera, perfect for those memorable shots

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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The Huawei Honor View 20 comes with a 48 MP rear-facing camera, perfect for those memorable shots

When phone manufacturers unveil their top tier devices, there’s usually two notorious groups of consumers to look out for and for a good reason. Those who are in for the real deal, usually budget is the least of their worries and those who desire to own a top end device but can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars just on a phone. The Huawei Honor View 20 could be easily regarded as a watered-down version of Huawei’s current flagship – the Mate 20 Pro. It’s certainly not in the same league but incorporates just enough goodies that’ll make some of them smile in adoration. So much has been said about Samsung’s punch-hole camera found on the galaxy s10 series, it’s genuinely attractive and feels more premium compared to iPhone’s notch – no offence, I like iPhones more. Well if you’re seriously considering this device, be aware it comes with a punch-hole camera making the bezels slimmer than most devices on the market.

What you need to know about the Huawei Honor View 20

The good stuff: Huawei Honor View 20

Since we’re done with the intro, let’s get some bit of history on the honor View 20 and the rest of good stuff, for those who’ve had the honor view 10 are reasonably familiar with the series. While the honor 10 came with an interestingly larger rear camera sensor (25megapixels) at the time, you’d be more pleased to learn that the manufacturer has moved a notch higher with a 48Megapixels sensor instead. Whether you’re looking at it as a spec upgrade to your favorite Huawei series or just looking for something closer to Huawei’s current flagship device but can only afford to churn out half the price – it’s a honestly interesting device to consider. The front panel is almost entirely covered by the display panel except for the punch-hole camera – something we’ve came to associate with Samsung’s high-end offering.

The not so good stuff of Huawei Honor View 20

The honor sub-brand is usually underestimated and mostly associated with just trying to replicate what the top tier devices can do but in a pocket friendly packaging. Understandably there are a few areas where corners had to be cut to achieve a lesser price tag. The camera sensors are huge though do not carry Leica branding as the senior sibling do and of course we get a cheaper but still OK display panel. In addition, we don’t get the same waterproofing standards you see on the mate 20 pro, neither do we get wireless charging capabilities.  

Other important stuff about or found in the Huawei Honor View 20

As we’ve already indicated earlier on, the Huawei honor view 20 is cheap, but not bottom-rock cheap as some of you might be thinking, but just cheap enough to save you some coins you’d otherwise spend on the flagship sibling. For a price tag of about Ksh. 60,000 in Kenya, it’s slightly costs less than the galaxy s10’s, iPhone XS series and even it senior sibling the mate 20 pro, but that’s still way above what a common consumer can afford. The technologies underneath are worth the price tag, but not everyone will find them amusing so it’s entirely down to you.

The Honor View 20 is currently available in two versions; the base model costs with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, while the premium version with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of storage. It comes in a decent back glass in Phantom Blue, Sapphire Blue and Midnight Black. For those who love taking selfies, you’ll love a thankfully larger 25megapixels sensor enclosed within the display panel through a punch-hole.

Tecno Spark 3 Pro is now available in Kenya for Ksh.12,499. Here is what you need to know before buying

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Tecno Spark 3 Pro is now available in Kenya for Ksh.12,499. Here is what you need to know before buying

Tecno phones are some of the devices that currently command a sizable local market share here in Kenya but at the same time are least expected to feature on the international front. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a no brainer for consumers looking for a budget phone with most latest technologies featured underneath. The new Tecno Spark 3 Pro might just convince most of us with it’s interesting features while maintaining a reasonable price tag to find a place in our jean’s pockets. As a disclaimer, you should understand this device doesn’t intent to replace the likes of Galaxy S10’s but will put on a good fight against the Samsung Galaxy A70.

There are so many factors that’ll drive consumers in deciding on what device best suits their needs, these needs are often depended on individuals, but one factor remains constant – budget. Seeking to oust other phones in the mid-range category is often a futile exercise, especially in the android arena. There’s no such thing as a preferred or default king in this segment as quite often it’s never easy to get an all rounded handset. Tecno Spark 3 Pro has the price tag going it’s way but just adding a few coins could grant you an almost perfect handset such as the Huawei Y7 Prime 2019.

What you need to know about the Tecno Spark 3 Pro before buying

A 6.2-inch HD+ (1500 x 720 pixels, 266ppi) Display Panel featuring a notch

I don’t know about you but I’d look at the screen the moment I consider having a handset before looking anywhere else. The Tecno Spark 3 Pro’s display panel is not going to wow most of consumers, especially those who’d have seen panels with denser pixels or coveted technologies such as AMOLED. But for the price tag, it’s not the worst you would expect; it’s still large enough and a notch makes it look more compact than what you’d have got with distinguishable bezels. Resolution is capped at 1500 x 720 pixels which is way above normal HD panels but a large display footprint stretches pixel density to 266ppi resulting in not so sharp texts and meagre color reproduction.

A 13megapixels and 2megapixels Main camera setup plus an 8Megapixels Selfie camera

We acknowledge the effort Tecno put in to ensure photos taken on the Tecno Spark 3 Pro aren’t so bad, but make no mistake this is not a photographer’s replacement, neither will it take the best shots you can get on a smartphone. The duo camera set up at the back will take decent and usable snaps and you’ll be impressed there’s a slightly larger sensor for selfies in comparison with close rivals.

2GB RAM, 32 GB onboard storage

Something must have terribly gone wrong with tecno to imagine that 2GB RAM was sufficient to smoothly run android. Unlike iOS, android requires a lot of RAM to be operational, you should therefore expect frequent lags and some applications might not really find home on the Tecno Spark 3 Pro. Why the device carries the “pro” iteration is everyone’s guess I’d have hoped to get a minimum of 4GB ram – double what was put on the handset. The internal storage on the other hand is usable.

Design and Conclusion

Tecno Spark 3 Pro is available in Black, Gold, Red and Blue. It’s not a “Pro” device as the name suggests but if you’re looking for an android smartphone but have a severely limited budget, you’ll be amazed by what this device has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy A70 has a tall infinity U-display and an in-display fingerprint with an impressive Camera setup

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Samsung Galaxy A70 has a tall infinity U-display and an in-display fingerprint with an impressive Camera setup

Just when we thought we’d seen it all for 2019’s best camera smartphones, Samsung has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy A70 that will see dominant players quiver hoping to be rescued by their friendly pricing, something the phone maker has struggled a lot with. A lot on this device feels premium but cuts some corners to keep a low-profile price tag compared to the company’s flagships. Remember those days when wearing contrasting cloths was seen as fashionable – popularly referred to as mix-and-match? The same could very well be attributed to this device; it caries a high-end 6.7inch super AMOLED display and an under the screen fingerprint sensor but slightly sways a way from the galaxy s10’s line-up with an infinity U notch camera instead of Samsung’s innovative hole punch camera.

More than once i’ve been tempted to try out Samsung’s A series lineup which is already well represented but lack a proper alternative. For those who’d rather pay less for something relatable to the top tier line-up, Samsung Galaxy A70 comes in handy. smartphones have for a long time desired to have an immersive display panel – apparently this is what everyone wants, but implementing the same has not been easy. The Galaxy A70 achieves this by using a taller display that is slightly obstructed by a minimal notch at the top offering an impressive overall real-estate. One could easily argue that most of the technology underneath this handset has been used on it’s pricier siblings this year.

Impressive Camera setup: A 32MP Selfie camera, 32MP main, 8MP Ultrawide and 5MP depth sensor

Samsung Galaxy A70 is the senior most device within the series with an impressive camera setup that includes two 32Megapixels cameras – a selfie camera and a back camera alongside two back cameras. Its actually the biggest camera sensor yet, that we’ve seen on Samsung devices. I mostly love the 6.7inch Super AMOLED display at 1080 x 2400 pixels reproducing crisp images as well as sharp text.

Let’s look at the battery and Performance

 Under the hood, there’s a large 4,500 mAh battery driving that immersive display panel and can support 25W fast charging, technically becoming the first device from Samsung to support fast charging capability. This device got some impressive horse-power too, packing an 8-core processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM (depending on the options and region), and 128GB of internal storage on top of a microSD slot that bumps it by 512GB. You’ll have both facial recognition and an in-screen fingerprint reader security options as well.

Samsung Galaxy A70 Design

Samsung opted for a taller display marketed as an infinity U-display rather than a wide screen on this handset which blends in well with a round notch that is home to a 32MP selfie camera. This device is available in Coral, Black, Blue and White colors. Samsung hasn’t revealed a price tag for this device yet, but we expect to fall within the mid-range genre and cost around Ksh 25,000 here in Kenya.

How to Use Safaricom’s Zuri Chatbot to Reverse MPESA Transactions and Unsubscribe Premium SMS Service

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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How to Use Safaricom’s Zuri Chatbot to Reverse MPESA Transactions and Unsubscribe Premium SMS Service

Social media continues to be widely used by people across the world as their main form of both interacting and finding out news from various corners of our planet. I remember back in the day when Facebook for example had just started making those baby steps, all we could think of was getting more friends as possible before it started learning towards corporate. Today, the case is not so and there are several attributes we can pick from the growth experienced by the social giant both positive and negative. Corporate have sort ways to efficiently offer services using social media and one such effort has led to the introduction of chat bots. Safaricom’s Zuri Chatbot is basically a clever way of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to solving customer queries that require straight forward actions.

Traditionally, you’ll need to contact Safaricom directly via text message, on the social media or call their customer support to access services which might not always be a bed of roses. Safaricom is by far the largest mobile service provider in the country with millions of subscribers; as such, their customer support lines are usually clogged and you might have to wait several minutes before you’re attended to. Unfortunately, some of the services provided by the telco involve mobile money transactions that require immediate support in case something goes wrong. We were therefore thrilled to learn that some of these services could be accessed without having your call put on hold until those who contacted them earlier are served. Technology has advanced to the point where services can be offered without having a real human on the other side, Zuku for instance has effectively managed to implement a telegram based chatbot that has so far proved to be effective; allowing customers to check their due dates, account balances and so forth.  

Zuri chatbot can provide answers to common problems as well as perform simple but important tasks such as reversing wrong MPESA transactions and unsubscribing customers from unscrupulous premium SMS services. Zuri Chatbot is currently available on both telegram and messenger – two of the most popular social media messaging platforms.

How to Reverse MPESA Transactions using Zuri Chatbot

First, you’ll need to access the bot either on messenger or telegram. On telegram for example, login using telegram for web then open Zuri telegram link here and start messaging. You should see something like “Hey ****, 🙂 Awesome to see you here. My name is Zuri, Safaricom’s virtual agent. Click on any of the items below and we’ll jump right in and see how best to assist. 🙂 “

  • Head over to “M-PESA Customer to Customer Reversal”
  • Type the M-PESA Transaction code or copy-paste the entire M-PESA SMS.
  • Wait for the reversal to be done

How to Unsubscribe from Premium SMS services using Zuri Chatbot

  • On the main menu, head over to “Chargeable SMS Services”
  • Enter your mobile number
  • You’ll receive an authentication request from Zuri, asking for your MPESA PIN

Kenyan Start-Ups join Google’s Launchpad Accelerator Program Africa, here is how to apply for newbies

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Kenyan Start-Ups join Google’s Launchpad Accelerator Program Africa, here is how to apply for newbies

Starting a business idea in most African markets hasn’t always been a bed of roses especially for young innovative entrepreneurs that lack necessary capital to get things going. However, there’s a few avenues that start ups can utilize to mitigate challenges experienced in early businesses, and one such opportunity comes from the search giant – Google with its Launchpad Accelerator Program. Without a doubt, Google’s success story speaks volumes when it comes to the technology segment we’ve experienced in the last few decades, its therefore interesting to see the search giant unveil initiatives targeted at uplifting young entrepreneurs with access to It’s network as well as aiding them built great products.

The Launchpad Accelerator Program offers several benefits to those picked with access to vital support that may come into play when the products are first released to the market, we’re therefore excited to see two Kenyan start-ups join twelve other start-ups from Africa.

Benefits that the two Kenyan firms will receive as part of the Launchpad Accelerator Program

  • Equity-free support
  • Access to Google engineers and intensive mentoring from 20+ teams
  • Access to Silicon Valley experts and top local mentors
  • PR training and global media opportunities
  • Close partnership with Google for three months (new classes are accepted twice a year)

Kenyan Firms joining 12 other African start-ups in the Launchpad Accelerator Program

To stand a better chance of being picked for the program, start-ups needs to stand out with technological innovations expected to have a potential impact on the local community. For example the Tambua health app.

Tambua Health Inc: The Tambua App utilizes cough sound acoustic signature to diagnose tuberculosis. The app is used right on your phone and in comparison, utilizes non-invasive diagnostic tool for Tuberculosis and Pneumonia. It uses a, symptoms, risk factors and clinical information to come up with a diagnostic report.

Joining the group from Kenya is FlexPay – a start-up that allows consumers pay for items in flexible installments instead of the entire cost and Pezesha that offers financial services to borrowers, lenders and investors, other African countries are represented as well with Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda all having start-ups included in the program

How to Apply for Google’s Launchpad Accelerator Program Africa

Start-ups can apply from the official link here

Can Blind People and those with limited Vision Understand images on their devices using Microsoft’s Seeing AI?

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Can Blind People and those with limited Vision Understand images on their devices using Microsoft’s Seeing AI?

If you’re not blind and have never had problems with your vision you’d probably not understand or have a feel on what’s on the other side. It’s a privilege most of us take for granted and pay little attention to those who fall in this less advantaged category. Well according to latest developments coming from Microsoft, people with vision issues can not only get an audio conversion of images but now use touch to explore the objects and people in those photos. Previously, the Seeing AI app could only aid users by converting visual data into audio feedback. As much as that sounds promising, it’s important we first understand how the technology works before jumping to conclusions. It understandably will not let them magically see what is on their devices but at least know who is in the photos or what is before them.

In the age of artificial intelligence, we can only hope many more apps of this sort are introduced so that at least most of us with different areas of disability can have a feel of what it is like. The app is driven by machine learning keen to object and scene recognition. Seeing AI’s new feature can be utilized by opening a photo within its viewer and tapping anywhere on it.

How Seeing AI’s new touch feature works for those with low vision

  • You can take a new photo or open a photo that’s already on your device within its viewer
  • Tap your finger on an image that’s on the display to hear its description and objects within it
  • Seeing AI will even describe the physical appearance of people within the photo and interpret their mood

With all these capabilities, you can even take snap shots of your surrounding and friends and listen to the apps interpretation on their mood as well as what they’re doing. Incase there’s other objects around or animals such as pets, the app will tell and so forth.

On top of what Seeing AI could already do, it’ll now let users tap around to find where objects are — but of course it has to interpret the picture or recognize it from before. Seeing AI app could also be able to interpret some items such as such as flowers in the foreground or a movie poster in the background that may have been overlooked before on a closer inspection.

Adding to the already supported platforms is the iPad which the app (Seeing AI) will now natively support, a plus for many people who own Apple’s tablets as their primary interface for media and interactions. Lastly, there are a few improvements to the interface so users can order things in the app to their preference. Users can download Seeing AI app here from the App Store.

How to pay for your AliExpress Purchases Using Safaricom’s MPESA mobile wallet on the checkout Page

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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How to pay for your AliExpress Purchases Using Safaricom’s MPESA mobile wallet on the checkout Page

A few days ago, we highlighted how you’d be able to easily pay for your Amazon purchases in Kenya through the Western Union money services, a development that saved most Kenyans who didn’t have access to debit/credit cards a lot of trouble. And while global e-commerce brands continue to globalize their services, payment for purchases on their platforms has not always been easy, you’d require to undertake tedious measures for example to be able to have an acceptable payment option to successfully complete a purchase. I remember the first time I set up a PayPal account how difficult it was linking to my bank account so I’d pay for something I wanted on eBay; technology has however improved the situation with the likes of MPESA coming onboard.

AliExpress has been utilized by various entities across the world to shop for items that are not locally available to them, in Kenya for example it’s a one stop shop for just about anything you would require; be it a spare part, business consignment or anything else. We were therefore thrilled to learn that MPESA was now going to be supported on the platform thanks to Safaricom and Ant Financial Services. Unlike Amazon and eBay which are used by both individuals and organizations, AliExpress is mostly utilized by small businesses who depend on sourcing for goods and other supplies from manufacturers in China.

Ant Financial Services prides to be a leading fintech services provider while Safaricom has by far the largest mobile wallet service (MPESA) in Kenya. The move will strategically place Safaricom’s MPESA as a truly global mobile money transfer and payments platform. Speaking on the development, Safaricom’s Chief Customer Officer Sylvia Mulinge said that more than 21 million customers will now enjoy the safety, reliability and convenience of M-PESA when shopping on AliExpress, a leading, global e-commerce marketplace. She also added that the partnership was seeking to connect Kenyans to even more business opportunities by enabling them to seamlessly source, purchase and import goods from the world’s leading manufacturer.

How to Pay for your purchases on Aliexpress.com using MPESA

  • After you’ve identified what you intent to purchase, MPESA will be presented as one of the payments options available to Kenyans
  • Select to Pay via MPESA
  • Enter your MPESA mobile number then continue
  • You’ll receive a prompt on your mobile phone to enter your MPESA PIN, this will subsequently authorize the payment and complete the purchase if there’s enough balance, or you may utilize Fuliza overdraft facility.
  • AliExpress customers selecting M-PESA as a payment channel will have their total cost displayed in Kenya Shillings with standard Lipa Na M-PESA Paybill charges applicable for each transaction. As has been the case, shoppers will also have the option of using their post office box numbers as the delivery location for their items.
  • The service is already live on the AliExpress app and will be available on AliExpress.com in coming weeks.
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