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iPhone 5S launch date could be 10th September!

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

According to ‘All things D’ an apple launch date is set for 10th of September. So all the rumours of the iPhone 5s will go to the grave as Apple unveil their next device.  We just have to wait for september 10th to see whether the iPhone 5S will have the rumoured features like a dual LED flash, maybe a bigger screen, or maybe a bigger screen and for some a cheaper plastic model are things we cant guarantee.

However sources at ATD say that the launch of OS Mavericks wont be on 10th September, and their is no confirmation on the production or launch or an Apple Tv or iWatch as some fans had anticipated.

So lets keep our fingers crossed and wait for the unveiling of the iPhone 5S. Otherwise rumours on Apple products have always been numerous,

Is Windows 8.1 worth it?

By
Joel Mwanja
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0

Microsoft released Windows 8.1 as an update-turned-free Operating System that made sense. Atleast for the Marketing department at Microsoft, because, it meant less work for them to try convincing those stuck in the past to upgrade easily because it is a free download from the Microsoft Website. Microsoft is reportedly still working on it by releasing regular updates but there is a catch to it, a product key shall be needed at the very end of installing all the updates, that is when it becomes a stable version on Windows, so upgrading should come with caution as one needs to be having the product key for the current version of Windows being upgraded. Is is worth it? Well, let us see.

 

The Start button is back!

Windows 8 came out without the start button and many users were not happy because the start button was what made Windows windows,so, with 8.1 already out, the start button is back and that has made everything come back to normal, that is for Windows users. This makes everything great!

vlcsnap-2013-08-06-22h49m44s65

A more organised Metro style menu

Forget the messed up clutter on Windows 8, 8.1 settles the dust as it allows customisation of the tiles, that is the user can change the size,and also group applications according to one’s desire. The best part is accessing the rarely used apps, an arrow was introduced at the bottom and that means they are just a click away.

 

No Messenger application

Well, after all the hype and advertising on social media, Microsoft forgot, well, I do not even know if it is the right word to use, but, Microsoft failed to put the messenger application in Windows 8.1 and trust me this is a real turn off. Windows 8 users get their messages from social networks like Facebook instantly but if you are a social media junky, then the lack of Messenger in Windows 8.1 might make you stay with the Windows version you have, for now.

 

More is yet to come

Windows 8.1 is still in beta so for those of you who do not want to risk your precious PCs, just wait for the final release so that you have a new Windows experience with things like Food, Health,Reading list and more that is still being worked on.

vlcsnap-2013-08-06-21h06m01s30

Jobs The Movie: Honouring the man behind Apple’s success

By
Joel Mwanja
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1

Steve Paul Jobs, born in 1955, was the charismatic co-founder of Apple Computers, the company behind innovative products like the iPod, iPhone,iMac and iPad and services like iTunes. The story of Apple began in a garage at Steve’s foster parents home (Steve never got the chance to see his real parents because he was adopted) when Steve and his friend Steven Wozniak (famously referred to as Woz) made a computer aimed at hobbyists and called it Apple 1. They sold a few of these and decided to make Apple 2 and then the story began.

Jobs the Movie screenshot 2

The movie is intended to honour Steve Jobs and also put the records straight about his life and adventures. From the time he was young and rebellious through his hard times at Apple especially when he was fired from his own company to the time he unveiled the iPod that forever changed the music industry. It also takes the audience deeper into Jobs’s pesonal life especially being adopted and never having the chance to see his real parents. Produced and directed by Joshua Michael Stern, Ashton Kutcher plays the role of Steve Jobs, it took him 3 months to learn how to walk like Steve Jobs! Josh Gads takes on the role of Steven Wozniak, Apple’s co-founder. The movie is brought to us by Open Road Films LLC

 

Everybody knows the iPod but it is unfortunate that few people know the man behind this innovation and fewer even know about his personal life, this movie is for you and everyone should get a copy come August 16th, 2013 which is set as the release date for this movie.

JObs the Movie Release date

 

 

Orange uganda Launches 4G LTE!

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

Orange is yet another telecom to announce a fourth generation internet commonly known as 4G LTE, This makes Orange the 3rd telecom to announce LTE internet speeds in Uganda after Smile and MTN. During the launch at the Orange headquarters on Clement hill, Orange’s CFO Godfrey Kisekka said the 4G, LTE-enabled devices will have access to the service.

This definately means faster internet for its subscribers. 4G LTE is faster than 3G, so any subscriber with an LTE enabled device will be able to access 4G speeds within 4G coverage areas. And users dont have to worry about backward compatibility because Orange LTE transitions from 4G to 3G to 2G as one changes from one coverage area to another, which other providers don’t have.

4G is initially in Kampala but is going to be rolled out to other areas, the bandwidth will be at 850Mhz which is higher than their competitors, and the LTE dongle will cost 299,000/- which comes with 4.8Gb of data valid for 4 months. and other gadgets from Orange with 4G will include the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 which are from all Orange shops. The dongle switches from 4G to 3G or 2G automatically according to the network coverage and Prices for data bundles on 4G and 3G are the same

What does this mean for Orange and the rest of Us?

We are going to definately have faster internet but time will tell how fast this internet will be and the backward compatibility will help a great deal because, we won’t have to have an LTE only dongle and have to change to a 3G dongle when we change location.

We also anticipate reduction in price for routers and dongles among all providers however the bundle price may not change that much.

Android 4.3 launched: Its Definately sweeter!

By
GURU8 Staff
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0

Google has launched an update of Jelly bean 4.2, which comes on the new Nexus 7, and an update is available for the Nexus 4, 7 and 10. Updates for other devices are rolling out soon with some of the more elite android users already installing android 4.3 on the google play edition of the Samsung S4. Well the main issue is what’s new, what has been left out and is the experience better well lets find out about what google calls “an even sweeter version of Jelly Bean!”

 

A google demonstration of the homescreens of different users
A google demonstration of the homescreens of different users

The most significant feature is the ability to add profiles to your android tablet, where you can actually share your tablet with family or friends and every users has a clean personalized space to actually work in, starting with different homescreens, apps, widgets, background all with multi-tasking abilities so you don’t have to log out or login to switch between users on the lock screen and for those who prefer more control of their devices and their users you can actually restrict app and data usage for various users and this might help parents to control their children and employers to watch over their employees and make sure they stick to only work related tablet usage.

Android will now scan every app you download from google play for viruses and run every app in its own sandbox which gives it a secure space to operate and all this is in a bid to provide security and protection.

Some tablets that support wireless display will be able to project onto bigger screens like TVs that support miracast. You sure won’t miss the daydream feature where your android devices displays photo albums, news from google currents and more when your your phone or tablet is idle.
You can now act instantly to notifications without actually leaving the notification area. And a lot is borrowed from the previous jelly bean 4.2 where widgets everything else gives room when you create a widget on your home screen, Google Now has been improved. Google now is powered by knowledge graph which displays relevant information to users when they search. And the new Google maps is intergrated in Android 4.3.

Android 4.3 has been given an amazing photo sphere camera where you can take photo from all sides forming a photo sphere that you can share with you friends which brings us to Open GL ES 3.0.
Open GL ES 3.0 makes the android faster and effiecient while display graphics, textures and patterns in a clear way, this improves performance and is in the new nexus 7.

And before i forget, like Google did since it didnt mention that their are emoji in the new android keyboard which you have to find in the language and input menu.

Screenshot of Android 4.3

Multi User Lock screen in Android 4.3
Multi User Lock screen in Android 4.3
Restrict User Settings in Android 4.3
Restrict User Settings in Android 4.3

 

Emoji in the Android 4.3 keyboard
Emoji in the Android 4.3 keyboard

 

There you have it, the new update of Android, feel free to share your views on the new OS!

A look at Windows 8.1 Preview!

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

Recently Microsoft released an update of it windows 8 operating system, and much as its a pre release edition of the final build that will be released soon. This not new operating system however a lot has changed and i will be detailing that below. Microsoft claims it took a lot of feedback from its consumers who apparently didnt not like Windows 8 so much as their were many complaints which brings us to the issues of the start button, which they have brought back in windows 8.1 much as it doesn’t do as the start button in windows 7.

The start button in windows 8 gives you a menu when you right click, and on this menu we have options to shutdown, restart, start the task manager, open the file explorer and several computer administration functions you will find in day to day use of windows 8.1. Besides the Start button is the usual task bar which hasn’t changed much however its color can be changed to match the window bar and border color.

Improvements have been done on the right corner menu, which had a few options previously but now has many settings when you go to PC settings and the section for devices has added the option to print and project whats on your screen to a projector keeping the wifi, notifications, volume, power and keyboard shortcuts on the right menu as we had previously. And Skydrive pro has been intergrated into the Operating system and you can find this in the right corner menu.

And why i started with the desktop, is because we can actually boot to the desktop instead of the windows start menu. And remember immediately after installation it requests you to sign in into your computer using your microsoft account and even when you skip this option, you keep getting reminded of how you have to sign into each app separately, which applied for apps such as people, skype, mail and thats when you realise the bing search app that had nice backgrounds has been removed and integrated into the whole operationg system to get you better search results from, apps, files on your computer, and news on the web all on pressing Windows + S or using the right corner menu, and then selecting search.

As you admire you new tiles you realise windows has added more resizing options for your tiles from large to wide to medium and then small so you can properly organise your tiles and when you hide an app you dont have to search then select apps to view it because windows 8.1 displays all you apps and installed software on the computer below the Tiles, all you have to do is click a drop button and small tiles with all your apps including administrative tools appearing and you just have to click a button to take you back to the Start menu tiles. I must say the new tile layout looks nice and is easier to organise and more customisation options have been added.

Customization goes from the background color and the accent colour to ability to name the groups of tiles and added a slideshow to your lock screen which i must say looks amazing which reminds me that the version of the preview i got which is the 64 bit version actually boots up with a retro fish like image instead of the windows 8 logo. I am not sure whether it will change when the final release is out but i have a feeling it will change.

Much as you notice many new things, there are those that you will definately notice such as the Reading List, Health and fitness, Food & Drinks, scan, alarm, which are native apps in Windows 8 not forgeting Help & Tips an app Microsoft claims will be active when the final release of 8.1 is out, and will help us use windows.

As i was going through my tiles and apps i couldn’t help noticing that the Messenger app was missing and is apparently replaced in favour of skype. Personally this was my biggest disappointment because messenger gave me the ability to chat with friends on multiple social networks now i have to do it with several apps.

In my quest for the Messenger i got a chance to look at the new Windows Store which i must say looks amazing, its now crisp, well organised and better looking. As we wait for the promised, official Facebook and flipboard apps we will be looking at an app store with over 100,000 apps.

switching windows

Windows 8.1 preview gives us the ability to spliting the screen to display more than 2 windows apps depending on the resolution and for those who used windows 8 will notice that in 8.1 you can actually split the screen into equal halves which wasn’t possible before, and i found this feature amazing and quite useful. You will also notice that when you have two apps already displaying and you open a 3rd its tile hovers in the between the two apps and falls towards the direction of your mouse then replaces the app without closing it.

The pros might will be happy as driver issues are minimal since i didn’t have to install WiFi, sound drivers as they come in built however this might vary according to the manufacturer. Most of the software i had from previous operating systems was working properly and defender had a few issues which were straightened out after installing updates, and in case you are to install windows 8.1 preview please make sure you update frequently to get bug fixes, and improve your windows experience.

Much as this is pre-release software, microsoft has made an update we will certainly appreciate however it feels like a lot is still not right for example ditching the messenger, bing app, and constantly requesting users to login in with microsoft accounts might not be the best for all those who are anti-PRISM, besides not everyone uses microsoft as their main email provider. However we give them credit for the new features such as more personalisation, spliting the screen to accommodate more than 2 apps on the same screen.

Editor’s Note: This Article will be updated from time to time.

MTN Uganda increases mobile money rates! After VAT things definately got worse!

By
GURU8 Staff
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0

Mtn Uganda announced new mobile money rates starting July 2nd, after the government announced a budget that levied 10% Value Added Tax on mobile money transactions starting 1st July. Definately the 10% levy on all transactions will be paid by the user hence increments in the the recent rates that were launched on 9th May. So Mtn Uganda users are going to pay more than what they have been paying.However unlike previous times, MTN Uganda might not bare the blame entirely since they have to pay this tax.
This is definately going to have an impact on those who rely on mobile money as a major form of money transactions however the service still seems convient and is a “backbone” to many businesses in uganda and has left many complaining.
In a press release by mtn says its active consumer base for mobile money has grown over 50% in the past year. The question is will such tarrif increments reduce the the consumer base? The answer could be yes or no, as some businesses are deeply rooted into mobile money for example mobile money agents, traders and many more. Mobile money still remains a convient way to send money and might retain its users.

Below is a press release from

“MTN Mobile Money touches the lives of many Ugandans on a daily basis and therefore there is the need to continuously invest in infrastructure to ensure improved service standards and reliability.

MTN Uganda’s Mobile Money active customer base has recorded significant growth by more than 50% during the last 12 months. The new Mobile Money rates will have slight increase on transaction fees, as example the convenience of sending UGX 4 million to another Mobile Money registered subscriber will cost UGX 2,200.

As Uganda’s leading tax payer MTN Uganda has an obligation to support the National development agenda by assisting in tax collection as prescribed by law.

“Although we feel the tax has been applied at a very early development stage of the Mobile Money product, MTN is committed to continued investment and growth of the service in Uganda,” Katamba added.
The national budget aims to widen the tax base, and one of the ways in which Government reaches new tax payers is via consumption taxes on various goods and services.

“We evaluated the impact of this new tax with all stakeholders and we saw the need to adjust our rates slightly in order for us to support this tax increment,” he concluded.

A screenshot of the mtn website showing the new rates

New MTN mobile money rates effective 2 July
New MTN mobile money rates effective 2 July

Samsung Zalego Boot Camp: 3 days of code come to an end!

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

Zalego a Kenyan based company teamed with Samsung,  to sponsor an Android boot camp to equip developers with android development skills at Outbox, which is a popular incubation Hub for developers and Tech start ups. The Boot camp was preceded by an Android Installation Party on the 14th of June an event i can refer to as a sold out concert where the registration was closed 1 day after the event was announced since it was a requirement for one to have attended the installation party to attend the boot camp. The turn out was overwhelming, and everyone had the android environment installed on their laptops.

Day 1 on 20th had all the registered attendees and more come ready to acquire the knowledge to develop android apps and by 9pm Mr. Richard Zulu the Program manager at outbox opened the event, then our Facilitator Mr.Eric started off with the Android code sessions which left some wondering how easy it was to develop but of course as the the training advanced their was some frowns,wrinkled faces, winked eyes, a bit of hair scratching to understand some elements but at the end of the day i never left the way i entered and according to the feedback forms that Outbox sent us after each day of the session, most attendees found the training very helpful. “Thank you all, according to the feedback forms most of you found the training useful…..” said Mr. Richard Zulu at the end of the event.

Well its the details of every session bit by bit, but day one had 3 sessions on User Interface, Intents, The following day Mr. Richard explained Content provider and broadcast receiver, Then finally Saturday had sessions on SQLite. The 3 day boot camp was not only developmental but also fun as Meals and WiFi were enjoyed during breaks at a price of 0 Ugx.

Well such sessions are very important to developers and Tech enthusiasts in Uganda because they provide free knowledge, skills, a condusive environment for developers to relate with more than just their computers but also get mentorship, business skills and also get tips on how to create relevant and brilliant apps. Incubation hubs Like Outbox, HiveColab usually have such events and are promising for more which we hope will improve the Technology sector in Uganda.

NFC: Do Ugandans really need it?

By
Joel Mwanja
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0

Well, before I get into this rather deep discussion, let me take this opportunity to clear the air about NFC. Well, NFC is short for Near Field Communication, that fancy technology used on most Android phones that lets you transfer files instantly by simply bumping two phones. It is cool, fancy and also makes life a little easier especially for shoppers who often use it for payments at the counter and also for club bangers that want to show their iPhone counteparts what they are probably missing, well, keeping all other ‘Air Drop’ factors constant.

NFC
NFC Logo

So, having gotten a clue about this new technology, I drop the big question, do Ugandans really need it? The Galaxy S4 and other “next big things” have all hit the Ugandan markets with new jaw dropping features that can leave anyone wondering how these guys pulled it off. I mean, whoever thought of NFC must be having brains from Mars because this technology has taken smartphone addiction to a whole new level especially in Uganda because I have seen it myself and so I am not talking out of hear say. One might argue it out that we need it because of the new shopping malls that are coming in, shout outs to Freedom City and others like MetroPlex for the good work well done

NFC makes sharing fun and easy because gone are the days of slow bluetooth and infrared, yes, I know of some people who still use infrared. NFC changes everything by simply holding your phone closer to another NFC enabled and voila, there you go! NFC also simplifies shopping (well for some countries) using the same technique. So, after a quick run through of this amazing technology, do Ugandans need it?

Elitehive: The next Ugandan Facebook

By
Joel Mwanja
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2

Ugandans are slowly catching up with the internet craze of these days. There are several startups that are emerging and this only shows Ugandans have finally woken up and also realized that there is opportunity out there online. So, as I was doing my rounds on the internet, I came across this eye catching website called EliteHive. For starters, it looks beautiful and no doubt it was named Elite.

Elitehive is a Ugandan social network that has a little twist to the way things are done. Founded by Ugandans who go by the names of Micheal Ntabazi, who is the founder, chairman and lead front end developer and Julius Gyaviira Sseremba who is the co-founder and CEO. At first sight, one might think some American developers did the work but when you go to the about page, that is when you realize Uganda has potential.

It is almost has no difference with Facebook so getting around it was easy for me, thus making it the next Ugandan Facebook. The first time you log in, there is an intro which really helped highlight the features of the social network and honestly, this has proved to be very helpful. The other thing I realised was that the people on the network so far are mainly Ugandans but that is soon changing, I am quite sure of that.

For those of you who want to build the next Facebook, this is an inspiration and starting point and truly this pushes Uganda forward in the internet presence sense. The founders seem to be open minded since they provide their email addresses and for sure those emails work because I sent them emails and I am sure those emails reached their destinations

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