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Lipa na MPESA undeterred as the service breaks yet another milestone since inception

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Lipa na MPESA undeterred as the service breaks yet another milestone since inception

Safaricom’s MPESA based Lipa na MPESA service has surpassed yet another milestone in its existence as the competition play catch-up. This comes after the mobile service provider announced crossing a 200,000 mark, marking a major milestone since it was first launched back in 2012. Lipa na MPESA is an MPESA facility that allows businesses as well as individuals to pay or get paid for services and goods using MPESA.

Since it was unveiled, Lipa na MPESA service continue to enable businesses make or send payments from customers with relatively higher transaction limits than what MPESA could actually allow. The payment service is also said to be safe and has since incorporated several checks to ensure money isn’t sent to the wrong person or company. Almost all local financial institutions have embraced the mobile money technology with users now able to perform several functions via their mobile phones.

Commenting on the milestone, Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa said the service had graduated to become the most preferred rather than handling cash. Ndegwa further said several businesses are now opting into cashless transactions given that many advantages are directly attached therefore fueling growth for the service. The CEO also indicated they’ll be adding more features to empower businesses to grow and manage themselves.

Lipa na MPESA service continues to grow, especially in recent times where Kenyans have been urged to embrace cashless transactions in efforts to tackle the current situation. This has somehow driven even more businesses to adopt Lipa na MPESA and so far, more than 1 million users have chosen the service since January 2020.

Applications for the Lipa na MPESA Pay Bill numbers and Till numbers has also been moved to an online portal where Kenyans can easily make an application without having to physically visit a Safaricom office to submit necessary documents. The service has particularly been popular amongst retail businesses followed by hospitality sector including Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, and Catering.

YouTube Shorts set to take on TikTok in the short video segment with familiar features and approach

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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YouTube Shorts set to take on TikTok in the short video segment with familiar features and approach

Google is bracing itself for a slice of the pie in the short video social segment that TikTok has so far dominated with its own version of YouTube shorts. And while there are a couple of notable differences, YouTube Shorts almost entirely has a similar approach to videos and is seen as a direct response to TikTok which has since faced uncertainty in the US with the government there planning to either ban its operations or have an American company manage them.

We’ve just learned that TikTok’s US branch won’t be sold to Microsoft after all, instead, Bytedance is opting for a partnership with Oracle to manage its US operations, a move the company expects would somehow cool down Donald Trump. The unexpected move consequently rules out the possibility of acquisition by Microsoft as the rumors had suggested, but it’s a wait and see game whether this would be enough to convince Trump not to ban its US operations.

Differences between YouTube Shorts and TikTok

Its important to note that YouTube shorts is still in beta and anything could change before it’s rolled out to the masses. However, we’ve got some key differences to point out. While TikTok’s version of short videos are capped at 60seconds, YouTube Shorts has restricted its beta version to 15 seconds.

The beta version of shorts is currently limited to Indian users, but we expect to hit other territories in the near future. Users can currently add music to their library, tweak the speed, string together parts of a video clip and create a countdown or timer to perfect their footage.

For the viewers, the Watch experience feature you already enjoy with TikTok has been added and you can as well swipe vertically to browse videos. Shorts timing is particularly interesting give several Chinese apps have faced uncertainty in India with most of them barred to operate in the country following a rift between the two territories.

TikTok currently boasts of millions of daily active users and its estimated there were nearly 700 million active users per month worldwide as of July. Shorts could aid YouTube in keeping TikTok’s success in check and continue having users glued on Google apps.

Why you should consider buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 LTE (2020) here in Kenya

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Why you should consider buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 LTE (2020) here in Kenya

There is no doubt, the tablet market has since dwindled over the years, especially when smartphones started embracing large display panels that minimize bezels to accommodate an almost all-screen front. It’s a concept that almost every smartphone manufacture out there is keen to achieve given consumers have since responded positively to a handset with extra real-estate but maintain a small pocketable portfolio.

Samsung stood proud and pitched us the value proposition in their latest Galaxy Tab S7 LTE tablet during their online-streamed event and there are a couple of reasons I really think it’s worth having, given its availability here in Kenya. Samsung is retailing the SM-T875NZKAAFR model here in Kenya, so I’ll base most of my opinions on that model.

11-inches (WQXGA – 2560 x 1600) 120Hz display panel

I’m always in love with something exquisite when it comes to display panels, and the Galaxy Tab S7 LTE has a 120Hz panel you really should look forward to. What this basically means, is that content will be smoother on the panel and the overall experience should somewhat give an impression of a faster interface, that’ll respond quickly to those gestures. While the overall screen resolution doesn’t add-up to what I’d say mind-blowing, it technically surpasses the HD territory, so you should be fine consuming content on it. And for some who would argue, they already have big-screen handsets, 11-inches is obviously something you’d hardly expect on smartphone, maybe on foldable alternatives that have a steep price you’d rather look elsewhere.

Exceptionally large 10,090 Battery

Samsung says the Galaxy Tab S7 can survive up to 15hours of video playback and if anything, you’d have a 45W super-fast charger by your side to refill the tablet in no time. How effective a device meets user-expected levels in terms of content consumption often depend on the display panel and the battery. Assuming you are out and about camping, you would most likely need a device that has enough battery capacity that can last for the duration. This also applies on our day to day activities; for example, in our previous editorial on a smarter kitchen, a tablet was one of the gadgets you’d need for a full experience preparing meals in your kitchen.

Usable selfie and Primary Cameras

Smartphones have advanced beyond reach when it comes to camera sensors, which is expected, but the Tab S7 has an 8MP selfie camera and dual rear cameras – 13MP and 5MP that most users will find adequate for normal stuff.

Extensive accessory list

For those who have used Samsung’s S-pen before on a Note, know that having the pen is something that can be appreciated in times of need. You can easily take notes and save on the tab. And if this doesn’t seem like a workable solution, there’s a companion keyboard in case you need it. The accessory list should easily enhance your professional needs as well as making everything a little easier.

Plenty of internal storage and RAM

The base model comes in 128GB storage with 6GB RAM and maxes out at 512GB internal and 8GB RAM. This combination should be plenty enough for heavy tasks and even multimedia use.

LTE Connectivity

Since the tab s7 is a traveler companion, there’s an LTE radio so you can connect on the internet using a supported SIM card instead or relying on WiFi networks alone.

Price in Kenya: To be updated

TikTok opts for a partnership with Oracle, abandons popularized sale to Microsoft

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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TikTok opts for a partnership with Oracle, abandons popularized sale to Microsoft

Chinese short video social networking platform TikTok won’t be sold to Microsoft after all, this comes days after the much-anticipated sale to the American software giant in a bid to comply with US governments requirement. The social network had opted to relinquish its North American operations in a move that was expected to appease Donald Trump who had shown all indications to ban it’s US operations.

The US government had initially indicated it would ban the app in the country, claiming to have links with the Chinese government thereby posing a major risk to citizens. US has been particularly keen to halt operations of companies it deemed to have deep relations with the Chinese government, with the exe falling on Huawei who have had to resort to other measures in a bid to secure its continuity.

During Huawei’s developer conference, the company indicated it was forging collaborations with various entities across the world to create its own AppGallery that would rival Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. A couple of apps including Kenyan local apps such as Tuko, KPLC and NTSA have already onboarded the AppGallery and Huawei is looking on more apps to join globally.

Close to a dozen US companies had shown interest in acquiring TikTok’s operations in the country including popular social networking platform – Twitter. It was however not likely that Twitter would win the contest given some major heavyweights like Microsoft with vast financial resources were amongst contestants.

Microsoft in a statement indicated they’d received a communication from TikTok about their reversal decision and later Oracle was announced as the preferred partner in the United States. It’s however not clear what the said partnership entails and whether Donald Trump would be contented with the outcome.  

Huawei’s AppGallery gets set to take on Google and Apple by strengthening ecosystem

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Huawei’s AppGallery gets set to take on Google and Apple by strengthening ecosystem

Huawei looks on to enhance its AppGallery despite immense efforts from the US government to thwart its operations. The tech giant is doing everything possible to remain in operation and one such effort has been revealed during it’s ongoing Developer Conference 2020 – dubbed “Together”, where the company’s president of Global Operations Mr. Wang highlighted the support Huawei has so far accorded its global partners.

The company has so far collaborated with various entities in Kenya such as the Standard Media Group, TUKO, Nation Media Group, KPLC, NTSA, ABSA Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank and Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya among others. Mr Wang noted the AppGallery and Huawei Mobile services continued to thrive despite challenges thanks to global partners and is poised to build one of the top three app distribution platforms in the world (the first and second slots reserved for android and iOS).

According to Wang, the AppGallery has a total of 490 million active monthly users in more than 170 countries. Huawei further said, there were almost 261 billion app downloads during the first half of 2020, reinforcing its growth potential and popularity as a credible market place for users. The company further alleges, close to 1.8 million developers globally had joined Huawei Mobile Services ecosystem while more than 96,000 applications had been integrated with HMS Core worldwide, offering users even more unique experiences.

During the conference, Huawei indicated how important it was for the company to reach diverse needs for various users across the globe which has been the priority for the AppGallery. Amongst its strategies is meeting both Global and Local needs with innovative approach to app listings which gave consumers an enhanced experience such as focusing on popular local apps.

Global partners that have been instrumental for its growth include, Bolt, Deezer, Foodpanda, TomTom Go Navigation, LINE, Qwant and Telegram who joined the AppGallery making life more convenient for users. In Middle East and Africa, popular messaging app Imo and the well-known online shopping platform noon shopping are both available on AppGallery.

New draft regulations require Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom to compensate users on network outages

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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New draft regulations require Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom to compensate users on network outages

Mobile service providers will be required to compensate subscribers on instances of outages affecting access to various services from the telecommunication companies according to latest draft regulations. The guidelines published in the second week of September, provides for the service providers to compensate users in cash or credit equivalent to the duration subscribers stay without access to voice and text message services.

These new regulations are targeted at cushioning subscribers from poor services relating to network outages as well as absence or lack of internet connections. Telecommunication companies that flout these regulations can be sanctioned by the regulator lawfully upon reported service interruptions resulting from omissions on their part.   

If they are approved, a mobile service operator will be fined amounts equivalent to up to 0.2 percent of its revenues which could be in excess of hundreds of millions. The communications Authority is now seeking to have providers compensate customers for such service outages.

According to the draft regulations, “a licensee shall develop and implement an outage credit policy in situations where service is unavailable due to system failure and not as a result of scheduled and publicized maintenance, emergency or natural disaster”.

Compensations shall be based on the amount an operator charges per minute for calls and data. As per current law, Scheduled outages as well as those caused by factors beyond the control of an operator technically known as force majeure, usually do not attract penalties.

If adopted, Kenya will effectively join western countries which demands service providers to compensate customers in the form of credit on their bill after network outages. Safaricom and Airtel have been notorious for service outages and consequently faced probe from the Authority for experiencing outages that lasted for several hours without service.

Infinix X1 smart TV’s available in 32 and 43-inches, and come with android TV onboard

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Infinix X1 smart TV’s available in 32 and 43-inches, and come with android TV onboard

Infinix X1 series television sets are now available in Kenya, and they have some interesting features you ought to check out if you’re looking for a budget quality smart TV. The 32inch model is going for around Ksh. 18,000 while the larger 43-inch panel will set you back around Ksh.29,000. The company has for a long time been known to sell handsets in Kenya and it’ll be interesting to see how it’s range of television sets perform against the competition in the country.

What you need to know before buying

A couple of popular smartphone makers have already ventured into the smart TV ecosystem, and from consumer reports, they seem to be doing pretty well with the likes of Nokia, OnePlus and Realme leading the bunch. A number of them are already selling smart panels in countries like India and China, and it was just a matter of time before we got their panels here in Kenya.

There are a couple of advantages you’ll be getting with the likes of Infinix TV’s compared to traditional manufacturers and price is obviously among them. While going for s panel like Sony with android TV onboard will require a considerable investment and are limited to panels above 43-inches, Infinix is offering a 32-ich panel for a relatively budget price.

Infinix X1 TV specifications;

  • FHD and HD Screen resolution

The X1 series are available in two resolutions depending on the size of the panel. If you opt for a 32-inch model, you’ll have to cope with a HD (720p) quality screen while the 43-inch panel comes in FHD (1080p) resolution.

  • IPS Panel

While there’s no OLED option, the inbuilt IPS panel is sufficient to offer clear colors and wide viewing angles.

  • Android TV

Obviously, this should be the best part of these panels, you don’t need an android TV Box as the panel itself has a built-in feature with android tv onboard.

  • Android TV version 9.0 Pie

Just like android phones, android platform offers an app store where you can download various applications such as Netflix, Showmax and Dstv.

  • Other specifications include;
  • 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage
  • Viewing Angle: 178 Degree
  • Speaker Type: Down Firing
  • Dolby Audio: Dolby Digital Plus
  • DTS Support: DTS Tru Surrounds
  • Equalizer: Yes
  • Audio Power Output (L+R) (rms): 8w + 8w
  • Operating System & Version: Android 9.0 Pie
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Wifi Connectivity: Yes

Xiaomi’s update on Mi Health app brings Heart Rate monitoring to all devices via phone’s camera

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Xiaomi’s update on Mi Health app brings Heart Rate monitoring to all devices via phone’s camera

You can now measure your heart rate using a built-in camera on Xiaomi smartphones following a feature update on the Mi Health app. Previously, users had to pair a fitness tracker that would in turn enable all for the functionality on their devices. This development effectively doesn’t necessitate users to have a companion wearable for the utility and surprisingly doesn’t use a separate sensor like on Samsung devices to properly record your heart rate.

A brief history on Xiaomi’s quest to bring various health and fitness features to the masses; sometime during last year, the tech giant unveiled a number of features targeted at user’s health and fitness on the Mi Health app. The phone maker included step tracking, sleep tracking, BMI Measurement and women’s health capabilities on their devices. Heart rate monitoring will therefore enrich the app’s health-oriented features without necessarily having a companion wearable.

Although prices of fitness trackers have tremendously come down over the years, it’s still not within what you’d say an average Kenyan might see as value compared to other devices they might need. We recently highlighted the best value wearable’s you could easily buy in Kenya for less than Ksh. 6000, but for most Kenyan’s buying a smartphone for the amount will make more sense than something they really don’t need.

Starting from Mi Health version 2.7.4, Xiaomi unveiled the ability to record heart rate activities natively using your phone’s camera, rather than having to pair a companion accessory. Apparently, your phone’s camera sensor is well equipped to effectively monitor the activities and it all needed a feature addition inside the app.

How to measure your heart rate on a Xiaomi smartphone using camera

For those who are already using MIUI, with the latest update, you should see a new section with “Heart Rate” inside the Mi Health app.

  • You’ll notice a red color ‘heartbeat’ icon at the bottom right,
  • Proceed to tap on it to access the ‘heart rate detection’ feature.
  • you’ll then be required to cover the flash and camera with a finger to begin the heart rate detection process.
  • A progress bar will shortly appear at the bottom of the screen which will let you know when the heart rate detection process has complete.

Mi Health app will then compile recorded information and tell you whether your heart rate is optimal, slow, or fast.

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