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Itel unveils S16 series with a 6.6-inch display and 4000mAh battery during brand launch

Itel on a mission to boost its brand in Kenya and the continental Africa, has unveiled a range of devices in the country the company says will amaze consumers with its new found focus. While introducing the Itel S16 Pro model, the company highlighted its new direction on consumer needs indicating the phone has the best of specs any one would look for in a device.

Itel focuses on the budget entry level devices and might not have attracted the kind of attention you’d expect on the likes of OPPO and Xiaomi, but it has some interesting products that many consumers will find usable considering the price point. The next device within S series packs some worthy features such as a 6.6-ich dot notch display that somehow embraces a notch to house the selfie camera while leaving the entire front area real state for the screen.

Itel is owned by the same company that owns Tecno and Infinix, which have performed so well thus far, you’ll almost likely see someone with a Tecno device within the streets of Nairobi and just recently, the two siblings introduced the Tecno Camon 16 Premier and Infinix Zero 8 which packs some top tier specs such as a 64MP Quad rear camera setup and 90Hz display panel.

Itel S16 pro comes with a 4000mAh battery which is within its price range and a 13MP triple camera setup at the back. The triple setup includes 13MP primary sensor, 2MP macro sensor and a depth sensing camera. The front selfie sensor has been housed within a notch, so it doesn’t take more real estate from the screen. Itel has indicated they’ve done lots of tests with the selfie shooter within the East Asia and African region from their research and development department to best understand consumer’s most desired features as well as pain point and expectations.

When it comes to memory matters, the S16 Por comes with 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage under the hood. The manufacturer has been able to forge a partnership with mobile service provider – Airtel to reward any new customer with a free SIM card as well as 2GB data that last for three months.

The S16 series will be available from the S16 model, S16 Pro model and S16 Pro 4G model. We already have the pricing for the S16 which is priced at Ksh. 7,799. Itel is also expected to launch a range of Smart TV’s in the country which will come with android tv onboard starting in 2021.

TikTok, WeChat will be unavailable in the US app stores starting this Sunday 20th 2020

Looks like Trump is making good on his promise after all, after the US department of Commerce announced its intentions to restrict access to popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat. While TikTok has been at the center stage in recent news of looking for a workaround with rumors once pitting Microsoft as the likely beneficiary of its US operations only later favoring Oracle, nothing has been coming forth with regards to WeChat.         

In an official statement sent to the press, the US department of commerce said it was acting in response to Executive orders issued by President Trump, signed on August 6, 2020. The department further said the provisions signed to safeguard national security and intended to protect users in the country consequently restricted access to the applications thus significantly reducing their functionality in the country.

TikTok has been prominent in recent news and the latest reports we are getting indicate the firm might be looking at one of Instagram’s founder to be its next Chief Executive. It’s still not clear what will happen to users who already have these apps installed on their devices, whether they’ll be able to continue using them, especially on iPhones which have a pretty restricted ecosystem.

On the other hand, we can confidently say new users won’t be able to download these apps, at least officially, but as everyone can imagine, android users might resort to apk files available elsewhere to continue using them.          

Consequently, TikTok has been given until November 12, to have fully solved concerns if the app intents to have orders lifted.

Expect PS5 in Kenya from November 2020, here is what you need to know before buying

Sony has finally put a price tag on its next gen gaming hardware – the Play Station 5, and we also know for sure when it’ll be available for purchase here in Kenya. While we’d hoped the hardware was available sooner, there are a couple of things you could do as you wait, especially for first time PS gamers. For those looking to upgrade from the previous console, the stakes might not be as high and it may be advisable to wait a little bit longer even after Sony’s latest and greatest gaming hardware finally arrives in Kenya.

Price and expected availability in Kenya

Sony has priced the premium model from USD 499.99, so expect anywhere in the range of Ksh. 50,000 to Ksh. 60,000 in Kenya; however, the cheaper model could save you more than Ksh.10,000 at USD 399. In comparison to the Xbox, this is particularly on the higher side considering Microsoft is offering their affordable model from USD. 299 (around Ksh. 30,000).

Sony has also revealed we should expect the console on November 12th, at least if you live in the US, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. But for the rest of the world, we should be a tad patient as the PS5 maker aims to have it in stores from November 19th, one week after the initial availability. Microsoft on the other hand plans to have its hardware available from November 10th, pitting it against the traditional archrival Sony, and we should see some console wars amongst gamers.

Some of the tech we already know is inside the PS5 include the following

  • An AMD Ryzen™ “Zen 2 CPU with 8 Cores / 16 Threads clocked up to 3.5 GHz
  • AMD Radeon™ GPU with RDNA 2-based graphics engine
  • 16GB of GDDR6 System RAM
  • 825GB SSD Storage
  • Ultra HD Blu-ray DVD
  • HDMI™ OUT port
  • Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)

OPPO set to unveil OPPO Reno4 and OPPO Watch in Kenya, here is what you need to know

OPPO is planning to officially unveil the much anticipated Reno4 in Kenya on the 21st of September 2020. The launch event is slated to be streamed online as it has been the case for most launches during the current covid-19 era. Alongside the Reno4 which is expected to take the center stage, OPPO is also planning to introduce a smartwatch in the country.

We recently highlighted what you needed to know before buying the OPPO watch here in Kenya in our recent editorial that can be found here, and seems like this would make it the very first time that OPPO actually unveils a smartwatch in the country. The OPPO watch has many similarities with Apple’s wearable and might just be what most consumers want outside the Apple’s ecosystem which can be expensive to keep up.

Expectations on the OPPO Reno4

OPPO Reno4 is one of those devices that packs top tier specification within the top-end-budget-segment. Interestingly, the handset has an AMOLED 6.4-inches panel that maxes out at 1080×2400 resolution. In a nutshell, this is what you’d expect from top rated handsets from the likes of Samsung and of course Apple.

Under the hood, OPPO managed to fit in plenty of storage room so you can download various content; multimedia or applications without looking for a MicroSD. But if 128GB space isn’t good enough, you can always slide in a memory card in a dedicated slot – something that has become rare nowadays. In comparison with other devices, you’ll almost likely have to decide between having dual sim functionality or swapping with a memory card.

And if you’re looking for a gaming device, OPPO Reno4 most definitely stands a chance to beat every odd that may come your way. It has enough 8GB RAM and a powerful Qualcomm SM7125 chip, you’ll breeze through most titles without a stutter.

Although OPPO didn’t fit a large battery, for 4015mAh capacity, we expect the AMOLED panel to mitigate its lifespan- AMOLED panels are known to go slow on the battery given they don’t light every pixel when rendering black colors.

What about the OPPO Watch?

As reported earlier on, OPPO is also expected to unveil the OPPO Watch during the online event, more details about the Watch can be found in our earlier editorial linked at the beginning of this article. But, if you’ve had a closer look at an Apple Watch, brace yourself for something very close physically but different internally.

How to transfer money from your I&M Bank account to MPESA using a USSD code on your phone

I&M Bank has a USSD service that allows customers to easily send money from their bank account to an MPESA registered user. Customers have the option of sending funds to their own MPESA numbers or to someone else who has a valid MPESA account. Transactions via USSD code can be completed on any type of a mobile phone without necessarily having access to the internet.

We always love services that can be accessed using a USSD code for a number of reasons; you don’t need to install an app on your phone, making customers with feature phones feel considered and at the same level as those with smartphones. Secondly, USSD codes don’t need access to the internet, you can accomplish various tasks in the remotest places as long as there’s a cell reception. And lastly, it’s probably the only method that you can access various services with less than Ksh.10.

I&M Bank was clever enough to introduce a USSD code that customers can use to access various services such as withdrawing money from their accounts to MPESA. Unlike other institutions which continue to limit customers to have a smartphone that can be installed with an app, I&M has various options which include an APP as well as online portal.

 How to Deposit money from your MPESA to I&M account

  • On your MPESA Menu, tap on Lipa na MPESA
  • Then select Pay Bill
  • Enter the I&M MPESA Business number: 542 542
  • Then enter your I&M account number
  • Put the amount, then complete the transaction by entering your MPESA PIN

How to withdraw money from I&M account to MPESA

  • On your phone, Dial *458#
  • Head over to Mobile Money Option (5)
  • And Select Account to M-Pesa option (1)
  • Choose the respective option and complete the transaction
  • Person receiving funds will get a notification from M-PESA advising him/her of received funds

Apple unveils Apple watch series 6 with capability to measure blood oxygen level

Apple has officially announced its next sequel on the Apple watch lineup featuring a blood oxygen level measurement capability with design cues borrowed from earlier versions. The Apple watch series 6 also packs a set of new sensors that would enable new capabilities including better sleep tracking and is said to measure your blood oxygen levels within 15 seconds utilizing both red and infrared lights.

Additionally, the company is said to collaborate with health workers in a large-scale study utilizing the blood oxygen measurement capabilities to detect if there’s a correlation with COVID-19 infection. If proved, the Apple watch series 6 can then be used to diagnose persons likely to be infected with the virus according to Apple.

Amongst under-the-hood upgrades, is a new S6 processor that is said to be up t0 20 percent faster than its predecessor. Apple has developed a new A13 chip that has a significantly improved performance over the previous silicon that has since powered series 4 and 5 watches. Although the new chip has an enhanced processing power, it still meets the same 18 hours battery rating we got from the predecessor.  And it can recharge faster – approximately from zero to full capacity within 1.5 hours.

We also get a slightly brighter always-on panel that Apple rates it to be 2.5 times brighter than series 5, making it easier to read while outdoors. Additionally, you’ll be able to invoke those notifications, access the control center, swap watch faces or tap on complications without necessarily having to first wake up the screen.  

There’s also a new sensor – always-on-altimeter that is capable of providing elevation information in real-time. this can particularly be useful to hikers who may want to check their current altitude from time to time and Apple promises to be accurate down to a foot of a measurement.

Fans can get the watch in any of the five colors; gray, silver, gold, blue aluminum and red (product red) and the stainless steel will be available either in graphite, yellow, gold or silver. But if you opt for the premium model, you can choose between natural or black titanium, but no ceramic options were announced this year.

The latest Apple watch comes akin the previous model but with several upgrades; however, like the previous model which debuted the ECG feature, most of these functionalities will be restricted to certain regions, but you may follow our guide to switch your region and enjoy these features. Besides the series 6 which is expected to cost USD 399 (about Ksh. 40,000), Apple also unveiled the Apple watch SE which will cost slightly cheaper USD 299 (about Ksh.30,000), but may cost mush higher herein Kenya due to taxes and currency conversion.

Global report by PwC shows digital factories taking lead in shaping manufacturing

A report by PwC has revealed how various industrial companies are investing in digital factories with a reported 6 percent having fully digitized their factories. The report further states that around 0.2 percent of small companies in the East African region as well as Middle East are embracing digitization through investment while large companies account for 0.4 percent.

Advancement in technologies is shaping how manufacturing is done, ranging from 3D printing, robotics and internet of things. The development continues to encroach key sectors resulting in improved efficiency, enhanced productivity as well as increased overall output.

Speaking in a webcast, PwC acknowledged how the future of manufacturing technology will result in adoption by companies seeking to transition to a flexible and distributed smart factory. The auditing firm further predicts deployment of newer technologies as more companies implement innovation technology that necessitate searching for employees with certain qualifications.  

Michael Mugasia, PwC partner outlined some expected challenges while discussing the global trends focusing on the manufacturing sector. Among the challenges expected per Mugasia was identifying which of the emerging technologies could be game changers.

Mugasia further noted how manufacturers ought to lookout for mistakes that could be overlooked while adopting new technologies. In an example, Michael singled out how working to build new skills and capabilities and protecting supply chain partners could be instrumental in the success of transitioning from older ways to newer technologies. This is particularly important to safeguard company sensitive data.

According to PWC, challenges likely to be faced include entering unchartered territories without a clear Return on Investment. Although this can be mitigated by thinking through the journey. Michael’s suggestion to manufacturers will involve effectively defining problem statements, setting expectations, predicting and accepting for acceptance.

Smart manufacturing involves integrating digital transformation as well as combining strategy and operations with technology targeted at rapidly increasing productivity. Basing on PWC report titled 2020: Shaping the future of Manufacturing, 91 percent of senior management surveyed across Europe either intend or are investing in digital factories and 75 percent of those surveyed believe that digitization supports customer centricity and will strengthen competitiveness of Europe’s industrial centers.

In excess of 250 technologies assessed by PWC, the firm singled out 8 technologies that had potential to alter the future of manufacturing including, the Internet of things, 3D Printing, drones, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & virtual reality and cybersecurity.

Experts also expect a future where smart manufacturing was in full implementation with an estimated 15-20 percent improvement in efficiency and transparency. The experts also forecast close to 50 percent reduction in downtime and between 15 to 20 percent improvement in quality.

Huawei Y9a expected to launch in Kenya, packs a 64MP Quad-camera setup and a 6.63 display

Huawei mobile has announced its bringing the Y9a in Kenya, beefing-up it’s already popular lineup of the Y – series in the country. The company is expected to launch the device sometime towards the end of September 2020, and promises to offer some innovative features users will find interesting such as a large 6.63-inch FullView Display, 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology, as well as a 64MP Quad-camera setup at the back.

According to the company, the Y9a encompasses current trends in technology to bring some interesting additions on its Y-series lineup. Huawei Y9a depicts a superior design the company says is a photography and entertainment enabler owing to a massive Quad-rear camera setup that includes a 64MP primary shooter. There’s also a large 6.63-inches display panel the company calls FullView and comes with a 40W charger, so you can recharge to full capacity in no time.

Commenting on the device, Huawei’s Mobile country Head Zhujie, acknowledged how the company continues to pay more attention to young consumers. Zhujie, continued to say the company had accumulated knowledge from experience and developed an array of new technologies. The country head further singled out how a 64MP Quad Camera captures key moments anytime, anywhere. He indicated how constant improvements made on the camera capabilities, bore new surprises to users and innovative breakthroughs.

“The HUAWEI Y9a continues this tradition in terms of smartphone photography by including a high-resolution main camera, Super Night Mode and more to make up the all-scenario quad camera.” He concluded.

Huawei Y9a is expected to offer two models with either 6GB or 8GB RAM while keeping the internal storage maxed out at 128GB. Decent amount of RAM, remains a key factor in accommodating various user needs and an ample space would go along way ensuring that users capture every moment as well as store important files and apps on their devices.