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LG expands its presence in Kenya with yet another brand shop in partnership with Opalnet

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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LG expands its presence in Kenya with yet another brand shop in partnership with Opalnet

LG electronics has opened yet another brand shop in the country, looking to tap into the increasing Kenyan electronics market. This will be the fourth LG shop in the country, coming at a time when Kenyans are moving away from old technologies in preference to smart devices. while the electronics giant hasn’t been keen to tap into the competitive smartphone market yet, the company has predominantly featured in the home appliances that range from fridges, washing machines as well as television sets.

Recently, LG unveiled a laundry shop in Nairobi – a company’s first in the sector, that was motivated by Kenya’s demand for affordable laundry services. Kenya continues to experience growing demand for affordable laundry services amongst the middle- and low-income earners in the country. The laundry shop is located at Point Mall in Buruburu – keystone of Kenya’s middle-income households. The initiative was made possible by HotPoint Appliance Limited – one of LG’s partners in the country.

According to East African LG Electronics managing Director Mr. Sa Nyoung Kim, the adoption of smart electronics in the country has been growing, partly fueled by increased disposable income as well as a growing middle-class. Kim further said the brand shop will allow them to showcase their commitment to setting benchmarks in retail standards as well as driving demand for the company’s products. Kim continued to acknowledge that the recently introduced Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations Bill motivated the setup of smart homes and uptake in smart electronics as well as appliances that support the internet of things.

Next LG Brand Shop Location

The next brand shop is located at Adlife Plaza building in Kilimani Area within the Nairobi County and will be operated by LG’s authorized distributer Opalnet. Opalnet Limited Managing Director Mr. Rakesh Singh said the shop will serve customers who would like to interact with products first before buying them.

Mr. Rakesh further said they’ve experienced increased demand for the LG’s TWINWASH washing machine in the last few months as well as the coveted LG OLED televisions and NanoCell televisions. He also noted that a ton of customers had visited their outlets looking for products that would bring cinemalike experience in their homes.

Customers visiting the new shop will experience LG’s proprietary ThinQ technology, showcasing products equipped with Smart ThinQ and AI technology. Rakesh said this would allow customers to have a firsthand opportunity in experiencing LG’s AI, premium lifestyle. Products on display will include OLED TVs, InstaView™ Door-in-Door® refrigerators, LG TWINWash™ washing machines, DUALCOOL Air Conditioners among other home appliances.

How about virtual make-up for video calls? L’Oréal unveiled “Signature Faces” for that

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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How about virtual make-up for video calls? L’Oréal unveiled “Signature Faces” for that

The current pandemic era has changed not just how we conduct ourselves but also our way of life, instead of those traditional physical meetups, we now prefer videoconferencing as a safer alternative and firms such as L’Oréal are out to make the experience even better. The company has unveiled a set of augmented reality (AR) based features that allow users to look as if they’ve got makeup during their videoconferencing meeting in most popular videoconferencing services.

The current global pandemic has rendered some of the previously must-have products unnecessary such as some beauty products like makeup. Since most companies allowed employees to work from their homes, they do not necessarily have to use these products since they actually don’t have to be physically present at their offices. And for a few that may need to make regular videoconferences as part of their assignments, L’Oréal has come up with a service that doesn’t require them to actually apply makeup, but instead use its virtual reality driven method to look just as stunning.

The cosmetics firm which is based in France in partnership with Virtue and VICE’s creative agency unveiled a service dubbed Signature Faces for those who actually need it. The collaboration included several 3D artists who are credited with bringing the online-wearable make-up filters to life.

Make your next video call just as stunning,

Signature Faces consists of ten filters that are further grouped into three categories; volumizing capsules, plump shot and fire match. These features can be accessed on various platforms including Zoom, Instagram, Snapchat as well as Google Duo which as an exclusive beauty look.

According to the executive creative director at Virtue, the move was envisioned by the idea that consumers wanted to socialize more on video calls whereas they weren’t optimizing available opportunities as they should have. The executive director further acknowledges they had to develop a beauty case as a result that would allow users to express themselves online in ways that weren’t possible before.  

It’s obvious the current pandemic has forced several organizations to innovate in ways that were never thought of at least to stay afloat. We’ve seen some firms including in the health and learning sectors embrace technology to unveil ways they would use to continue offering services in the pandemic era. Signature Faces which introduced digital makeup capabilities is just an example of how firms are evolving for their own survival.  

How to use Signature Faces filters,

At the moment, these filters are free for everyone and can easily be accessed by anyone without technical needs. You can access them on the brand’s official profile, under the “Filters” tab. For desktop platforms, all you need to do is download Snap Camera and use them during your next video calls.

Vivo Y20 with a 6.51-inch screen, 5000mAh battery and a side fingerprint now available in Kenya

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Vivo Y20 with a 6.51-inch screen, 5000mAh battery and a side fingerprint now available in Kenya

The much anticipated mid-ranger – vivo Y20 is now retailing in Kenya for Ksh. 13,999, which places it within the competitive under 15k device category. Vivo has been keen to capturing some of Kenya’s smartphone market despite it’s somewhat late entrance in the country. The phone maker has released several devices appealing to both the lower-end of midrange device category as well as in the top end arena. The phone is now retailing in Vivo Kenya brand stores as well as on e-commerce site Jumia.

There are a couple of upgrades on vivo’s latest device that ensure it has an optimal performance, matching it price tag in performance. It also comes with a sleek design that looks expensive than what actually the device cost. For those looking for a device worth taking some interesting shots for social media, vivo Y20 has an AI triple camera setup that should perform just fine with detailed photos. Vivo is now focusing more on producing handsets with a unique but loved design, and the latest Y20 falls inline with this vision according to the manufacturer.

According to Mr. James Irungu, vivo Smartphone Kenya Brand Manager, the company is aiming to enrich the Y-series lineup with devices that offer great features such as a better camera, large battery capacity that lasts longer, ample storage at a competitive price such as the Y20. Mr. Irungu further acknowledged the growing demand in youth centered devices that deliver great performance at competitive prices. He also said the company was committed to unveiling devices that were user friendly, rich in gaming features, a large battery as well as a stylish design.

What we get from the vivo Y20

The company paid a special emphasis on photography capabilities despite the rock-bottom price tag with a triple camera setup that consist of a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro and a 2MP bokeh camera. the selfie sensor is maxed-out at 8MP with a large af/2.2 aperture as well as a PDAF technology (Phase Detection Autofocus) to seamlessly take shareable that are crisp and clear.

5000mAh battery capacity has almost become the preferred sweet spot by many, despite smartphones lacking behind in battery evolution, we are at least assured to last a day or two with this size of capacity. Vivo Y20 is equipped with AI power saving technology that guarantees up to 16 hours of online HD movie streaming or 11 hours of strenuous gaming action. Additionally, the handset supports 18w fast charging as well as OTG reverse charging for those who need it.

The display panel maxes-out at 6.51-inches with a HD+ HALO display and runs on android 10 based Funtouch OS 10.5. Under the hood, there’s a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 460  Processor with 4GB RAM and 64 GB ROM.

Apple making it difficult to use parts on stolen iPhones by restricting them to original iPhones

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Apple making it difficult to use parts on stolen iPhones by restricting them to original iPhones

Apple has for the longest time been limiting the extend you can repair your own iPhone without vising their certified repair locations. Since the touch ID was unveiled, Apple made it impossible for consumers to replace the part which loses the fingerprint functionality if swapped by anyone else except Apple themselves. This including a couple of parts, has almost made stolen iPhones worthless since important parts won’t work on iPhones that didn’t originally come with them.

Touch ID and Face ID

Apple has obviously been steadfast to ensure security and privacy of users are not easily compromised on their devices. The stance has elicited mixed reactions, with one of the recent confrontations with law enforcement in the United States catching headlines as to what extend they need to go in protecting user’s privacy. Touch ID and Face ID components on iPhones have been at the core of Apple’s Ideals to put user’s privacy above everything. The move has however had unprecedented impact on the users generally; there’s no way around gaining touch ID or face ID features without involving Apple themselves in replacing them. Although some Chinese videos indicate that using some sophisticated equipment’s its possible to replace these components, the exercise is just to complicated and expensive unless it’s done on a commercial scale.

Display and Battery Replacements;

One way of getting original Apple panels and batteries is harvesting them from non-functional iPhones, and one way this has been possible is by purchasing locked iPhones and harvesting their parts. Since the company is now warning users whenever these parts are replaced without using its special equipment, it makes the idea not worth the trouble.

Camera modules on iPhone 12 are not replaceable.

There are reports that camera modules on recently announced iPhone 12 are not interchangeable. This basically means you can not transfer modules on another phone since they won’t work.

Conclusion

Considering the number of parts that cannot be transferred from one iPhone to another, there is practically no incentive for consumers to purchase broken on non-working iPhones just to harvest their parts. It also brings the question whether Apple is limiting the number of repairs that can be done by third parties in a bid to open new revenue streams. It should be noted that Apple’s repairs are relatively very expensive in comparison.

Realme announces the Realme Watch S with a circular display and blood oxygen monitoring

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Realme announces the Realme Watch S with a circular display and blood oxygen monitoring

The smartwatch segment has become one of the fastest growing consumer tech in recent times and manufacturers are not taking any chances to cash-in on the trend. Smartphone maker – Realme has yet again announced a smartwatch, the Realme Watch S, this time with a circular display panel and the ability to measure blood oxygen levels; adding to its earlier announced wearable announced back in May 2020.

In contrast to the model announced in May which had a squarish display; the company has built on its success but this time embracing a circular display instead. There’s no question quite a number of squarish smartwatches currently exist on the market than circular counterparts. Whether that sounds better or not, it’s ultimately down to individual consumer’s preference, but it goes without saying the circular design looks more natural and relatable to watch functions than square design which is associated with smart features instead.

What we get on the Realme Watch S

Design

Realme definitely put some thought in this design which features an aluminum alloy frame alongside a circular dial with double tactile buttons on the right side. The smartwatch comes in a black color but can be complemented with different straps, from the official images, there’s a blue, green and orange strap to go along depending on how you like.

Other features;

There’s a 1.3-inch IPS LCD, which was quite surprising since most manufacturers prefer an AMOLED panel that has better contrast ratios and doesn’t consume as much power. The resolution maxes out at 360×360 pixels and is equipped with Corning Gorilla’s Glass 3 for protection. Users will be able to adjust up to 5 levels on auto-brightness which can rich up to 600 nits.

Wear OS fans are out of luck here as the device comes with Realme’s proprietary OS used on the first Realme Watch. More effort was particularly used to make sure the OS conforms to the circular design of the watch so that functions like notifications are seamless.

Blood Oxygen Sensor

Health features have become one of the main motivating factors that drive consumers to consider them and the Realme Watch S offers real-time heart rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring which has been made possible by the SpO2 sensor. There are 16 sport modes on the device including indoor workouts, rowing machine as well as stationary bike.

Battery

There’s a 390mAh battery underneath which is touted to last up to 15 days on a single charge. You’ll also get a magnetic charger with this smartwatch that’s capable of charging from 0% to 100% in 2 hours. We currently do not have an exact date as to when it’ll be available in Kenya, but the price tag should be somewhere between Ksh. 10,000 and Ksh. 15,000.

Bolt will verify driver details with the directorate of criminal investigation (DCI)

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Bolt will verify driver details with the directorate of criminal investigation (DCI)

Taxi-hailing company Bolt has announced that it will start checking new driver details with the DCI to in an effort to prevent drivers with past criminal records from operating on its platform. The process will involve re-checking records of current drivers as well as those onboarding on its platform. This will be inline with most companies with a similar business model who perform background checks to rid-out potential criminals from their platforms.

The latest initiative is aimed at boosting customer safety which has been a major concern for most operators in the industry. There are several reports from Bolt as well as other operators like Little Cab and Uber with regard to customers who ended up being robbed of their belongings or in some worse situations participated in a criminal act like murder.  

In most instances, taxi drivers on various platforms are expected to have a valid driver’s license, a clearance certificate from the police when onboarding. Other details required when joining include vehicle registration details as well as proof of insurance.

When a driver is determined to have a criminal or questionable background from the vetting process, Bolt intents to block their accounts. There are some measures that Bolt currently implements to ensure riders are safe when using their platform such as the ability to share their ETA, which basically allows riders to share their live trip details with their emergency contact numbers.

Speaking on the development, Bolt’s country manager Ola Akinnus said the taxi hailing firm had reinforced its screening process and was assessing drivers keenly for any criminal offences in real-time by conducting inspections of their vehicles as well as availing training sessions in safety to deal with various situations, calmly and if possible, avoiding them.

The company has also enhanced the SOS emergency button by integrating emergency tracking device as well as an auto location trailing feature. Bolt, formerly Taxify has been full of controversy, with an incident reported during its initial days of operation where a driver physically abused a customer for paying the amount shown on the app which was less than what the driver expected.

Pochi la Biashara is a separate MPESA wallet for small businesses, here is how to access

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Pochi la Biashara is a separate MPESA wallet for small businesses, here is how to access

Kenya’s largest mobile service provider – Safaricom which owns MPESA mobile money transfer service has unveiled Pochi la Biashara, an MPESA feature that allows small businesses to separate their personal MPESA wallets from those operated by their businesses. The new feature will allow small traders that include boda boda operators, small kiosk owners and those selling second hand clothes to have separate accounts for business and for personal use.

Pochi la Biashara brings new capabilities for small traders that were previously not possible such as letting customers make payments to the business owner’s business-specific MPESA account rather than using the same account for personal use. The only way businesses were able to have a dedicated MPESA account was through using a separate Lipa na MPESA line. According to Safaricom, this separation will come in handy for businesses which can now make more informed decisions.

How to pay using Pochi la Biashara

Pochi la Biashara is now among available MPESA menus that appear when a customer dial *334#;

  • Dial *334#
  • Then select Lipa na MPESA
  • Followed by Pochi la Biashara
  • Enter the business owner’s MPESA number
  • Then key in the amount to pay

How to activate Pochi la Biashara for your business on your phone

  • On your phone, dial *334#
  • Then select Pochi la Biashara
  • Choose “Join”
  • Complete the transaction

The amount paid to your Pochi la Biashara won’t be subjected to Fuliza deduction in case you have an outstanding balance and you can request statements just as you would on a normal MPESA account. Something once noting, your MPESA PIN will remain to be the main authentication form while using this service.

Safaricom awards customers free calls through “Twende Tukiuke” promo marking its 20th birthday

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Safaricom awards customers free calls through “Twende Tukiuke” promo marking its 20th birthday

Safaricom customers are set to enjoy free daily calls in a campaign dubbed Twende Tukiuke marking its 20th birthday since it was unveiled back on 23rd October 2000. Other goodies include 20GB worth of data bundle that’s valid for 7 days for those subscribers who have been on the network for the previous 20 years – essentially those who started with the mobile subscriber on launch and never looked back.

The celebrations are also expected to witness the service provider unveil new commitments for the next decade. The mobile service provider is also expected to showcase the power of mobile technology in transforming lives. Safaricom owns MPESA mobile money service that has since inception transformed how Kenyans send and receive cash as well as making payments for common utilities like electricity, Pay TV, shopping and government services.  

Speaking on the celebrations, Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa said the company had grown from just being a telecommunications service provider to a technology company in the past twenty years. Ndegwa also added the telco was aware that Kenya’s economy depended on technology and a data driven economy could increase its growth which forms basis for the next twenty year’s launchpad.  

Ndegwa indicated that Safaricom’s next growth will be propelled by the need to become a technology leader by the year 2025 and that the tech giant will to innovate and simplify its products and services in line with its FOR YOU brand promise.

Twende Tukiuke promos

In the brand celebrations, all Safaricom subscribers will get a 20-minute single free call daily for the next 30 days. Subscribers will ne alerted a day before their promo for the free call. In addition, longtime Safaricom customers – who have been on the network since it was unveiled in the year 2000, will each get 20GB data bundle valid for 7 days.

Customers who purchase airtime worth Ksh. 20 in a promotion dubbed 20@20 will get 20 minutes of call time and 20MBs. For those who opt for personalized Tunukiwa voice offers will also get free 20 minutes to call across all networks for the next 90 days.

How to get 20@20 offer

  • On your phone, dial *444#
  • Then choose ‘Buy Minutes’ option.
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