Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Home Blog Page 69

Social Media blocked in Uganda! Bypassing is easy though

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

The Uganda Communications commission (UCC) ordered Internet service providers to block popular the social media services of Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter in Uganda. The UCC which regulates communication providers in Uganda also ordered telecoms to block access to Mobile money. However the block started before any official announcement was made by telecoms. It was at around midday yesterday when the UCC issued an official statement.

The UCC gave a mediocre agrument that they had been blocked due to security reason and President Museveni says they blocked social media to stop the spread of propaganda and lies during the election period. The UCC boss said Mobile money was blocked because they received reports that it would aide the election malpractice activities like rigging.

Social media users in Uganda aren’t happy with the blockage and resorted to simple methods of bypassing the block. One can access their social media accounts by simply downloading a VPN app like TunnelBear, hotspot shield, SuperVPN etc or configure a proxy in order to access the internet.
Unfortunately, Mobile money which happens to be the commonest and most instant and efficient money transfer service is blocked and their is no way around it.

Much as the President was quoted to say that the ban is temporary, the ban will only be removed when the UCC, Electoral commission and Security Forces find that the situation has stabilized enough for the threat to be minimal. This means their is no official date when the block will be removed.

The UCC has issued a statement saying that it has realized that many people are using security apps to bypass the blockage. The regulatory authority claims that it track down and charge those using these apps with Treason.

 

Instagram adds two factor authentication for improved security

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

If you want to not be hacked, the absolute best thing you can do is turn on two-factor authentication for all your accounts. Instagram is way behind the trend here, but it looks like tween’s second-favorite photo network is finally getting with the times.

Instagram is in the process of rolling out two-factor authentication. It will work like everyone else’s two-factor system: log in from a new device, and you’ll get a passcode texted to you. This is better than the printed-out codes Snapchat was previously experimenting with, but not as slick as something like Google’s Authenticator app.

Instagram’s new stepped up security comes shortly after it started allowing multiple accounts — another long-requested feature. Users started seeing the update earlier this month, which allows people to switch between accounts without going through the hassle of logging out and in repeatedly.

 

Hellofood Parent Company gets $84M in New Investment. Move gives AXA group 8% ownership of the Africa Internet Group (AIG).

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

Africa Internet group (AIG), a leading e-commerce group in Africa and AXA, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, this week announced a partnership whereby AXA will become a shareholder of AIG, along with MTN, Rocket internet and Milicom. AXA will also provide custom-made insurance products through AIG’s Jumia, and reach other e-commerce customer base through AIG’s ecosystem of marketplaces and classified services.

 

AXA will invest 84 million dollars and own approximately 8% of the capital of AIG. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the closing of the previous investment round and is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2016.

Ron kawamara, Managing Director of Hellofood Uganda (https://food.jumia.ug/), said: “This new investment is testament to the remarkable products and services AIG businesses such as hellofood have offered to their customers and partners in the last few years. Investors are rightfully showing great confidence in the businesses and the teams that are leading the online revolution across Africa. We are pleased to have a strong international brand like AXA backing us and it gives more impetus to continue to build a strong customer experience and growth our investors and partners expect”.

Denis Duverne, deputy CEO of AXA, said: “This transaction confirms AXA’s long term commitment towards the African markets and represents another step in our development on the continent. Africa is home to some of the most dynamic and promising insurance markets in the world and our partnership with Africa Internet Group will enable us to accelerate materially our development by having access to their rich customer base and to their state of the art e-commerce technology. Going forward we aim to enable African consumers to better access insurance solutions to create sustainable financial well-being throughout their lives and those of their dependants.”

Africell launches a Valentine’s day “call & win” promotion with 20,000,000/= up for grabs

By
GURU8 Staff
-
0

Africell in partnership with Vision Group Radios are launching the biggest ever Valentine day promotion in Uganda. The promotion dubbed “call and win” will see a lucky winner walk away with a whopping 20,000,000/= in cash. Besides the twenty million final draw cash prize, lovers and listeners who tune into Vision Group radio stations will have a chance to win other cash prizes on an hourly basis.

Every 30 minutes, 850,000 shillings will be up for grabs with the first caller winning 500,000/-; second caller 150,000/- and 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th callers each wining 50,000/-. This promotion is only for Africell registered subscribers who have to call the set 102 studio line using their Africell numbers.

The show will be live on Bukedde FM, XFM, Arua 1, Rupiny, eTop and Radio West. All the radios will be in Sync for the First time in Uganda. Africell and Vision Group will be joining the breadth and depth of the country for a full day of cash winning. Africell subscribers and Vision Radio listeners can now have a great valentine with this call and win promotion.

LG teases the G5’s ‘Always On’ display

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

Besides setting the same launch date as Samsung for it’s next flagship phone, LG has posted a GIF on Twitter which teases an ‘always on’ display. This means that the LG G5 will literally have a screen which is literally always on.

LG experimented the ‘always on’ display feature on the secondary small display strip that came with the LG V10. The concept makes use of OLED technology which enables the screen to only light up the pixels of the content not the entire screen. I am however concerned with the battery life of this new device but we shall have to wait until it’s unveiled on February 21st.

The LG G5 may not be the only device with an always on display because Samsung has already trademarked  trademarked the term “Always on Display” for the Galaxy S7, which may have an ambient screen.

 

WorldRemit raises $45m to drive next phase of growth for its Mobile remittances business

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

Money transfer service WorldRemit has raised $45m in financing from TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. and Silicon Valley Bank. Pioneering a mobile-first approach to remittances, WorldRemit will use the funds to support its rapidly growing transfer volumes.

The WorldRemit app lets people send money straight from their smartphone, instead of having to travel to a money transfer agent. Those receiving money– often in developing countries – can collect the funds as Mobile Money, bank transfer, for cash pickup or as a mobile airtime top-up.

WorldRemit is the UK’s fastest-growing technology company (Deloitte Technology Fast 50 2015). The money transfer service generated $39m in revenue in 2015 – making it one of Europe’s biggest FinTech firms – and currently enables around 400,000 transfers every month.

 The latest financing will help WorldRemit expand its network of partners across the world, increasing availability of instant money transfers to customers. Remittances sent via traditional money transfer agents often take days to arrive.

Sajal Srivastava, President of TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp., explains: “We are delighted to join Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures in support of WorldRemit’s continued international expansion. It is exciting to be involved with a service that delivers real benefits to people around the world while demonstrating impressive business growth.  WorldRemit represents what the FinTech revolution has to offer: – innovation, empowerment to individuals and new opportunities to the financial services industry.”

Phil Cox, Head of EMEA and President of UK Branch, at Silicon Valley Bank: “We’re pleased to play a part in driving WorldRemit’s impressive global expansion. Operating across the world gives WorldRemit diversified revenue streams and a huge customer base. This is a great story of tech for good – the social impact of connecting remittances to Mobile Money services in the developing world has been huge and looks set to continue.”

 

Ismail Ahmed, WorldRemit’s CEO & Founder, comments: “We want to give people the power to share money anytime, anywhere. This latest financing will help more people send instant money transfers to their loved ones through the WorldRemit app. WorldRemit will continue to build partnerships with Mobile Money services, banks and payout networks around the world so that our service becomes universal.”

WorldRemit has now raised $192.7m in funding to date.

[Source & Image Credit: World Remit]

tvOS 9.2 Beta 3 just got Dictation Support and App Store Siri Search

By
Sourced
-
1

Throughout the tvOS 9.2 beta testing process, Apple has been steadily adding new features. Today’s third beta introduced a pair of new features that are quite useful: dictation and App Store search for Siri. We’ve made a quick video that shows off the new features and how they work on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

With the new dictation option, it’s now possible for Apple TV owners to dictate text and spell user names and passwords rather than typing them. After installing tvOS 9.2 beta 3, users are prompted to enable or disable dictation.

After dictation is enabled, the tvOS search bar alternates between a blank search field and an option to hold down the Siri button on the remote to dictate text. While speaking into the remote, a live levels meter is displayed on the screen so you can be sure the dictation feature is activated.

tvOS 9.2 is currently available only to developers, but it should see a public release in the spring likely alongside iOS 9.3, OS X 10.11.4, and watchOS 2.2.

[Mac Rumours]

Google Has Started Rolling Out Marshmallow For Android Wear

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

Android 6.0 for Wear is starting to roll out. Googler Wayne Piekarski just announced on his Google+ feed that OTAs have begun and should continue over the next few weeks. Android Wear includes things like voice actions and gestures. And today we’re expanding these hands-free options in a number of ways:

  • Navigate your watch with new gestures. Scrolling up and down your card stream is as simple as flicking your wrist. Starting today you can also expand a card, bring up your apps, or return home to your watch face with a push, lift or shake. You’ll be able to stay connected to what’s important, while keeping your phone (or other hand) in your pocket.
  • Send more messages with just your voice. With Android Wear, you’ve always been able to get answers to spoken questions. Now you can also use your voice to send messages from apps like Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Running late for lunch? Just say “OK Google, Send a WhatsApp message to Nathan: I’ll be right there.”
  • Make calls and listen to messages with speaker support. Screening calls from your wrist is a nice convenience that comes with Android Wear. Thanks to speaker support, you can now make and take calls over Bluetooth. And you can listen to audio/video messages with apps like Glide. All you need is a watch with a speaker, which today includes the Huawei Watch and the ASUS ZenWatch 2 (49mm).

The update is rolling out but some users will have to wait over the coming weeks

Microsoft acquires smart AI-based SwiftKey keyboard

By
Boses Muhinda
-
0

SwiftKey, which has been popular for making one of the smartest if not the smartest keyboard on Android and iOS platforms. SwiftKey is keyboard which uses an Artificial Intelligence based neural network to predict what smartphone users are going to type next. The keyboard is able to predict up to 3 words which are user wants to type or swpe.

Today, Microsoft has confirmed the acquisition of the SwiftKey. Microsoft states that the intention of the acquision was the artificial intelligence prowess that the SwiftKey has. Microsoft intends to use this technology to improve its WordFlow technology that is featured in the WordFlow keyboard on Windows Phone and iOS.

The acquisition cost Microsoft $250 million and was confirmed by blog posts on the both the SwiftKey and Microsoft blog. For those worried about the future of SwiftKey, Microsoft’s executive vice president of technology and research Harry Shum said:

We’ll continue to develop SwiftKey’s market-leading keyboard apps for Android and iOS as well as explore scenarios for the integration of the core technology across the breadth of our product and services portfolio. Moreover, SwiftKey’s predictive technology aligns with Microsoft’s investments and ambition to develop intelligent systems that can work more on the user’s behalf and under their control.

In the coming months, we’ll have more to share about how we’ll integrate SwiftKey technology with our Guinness World Record Word Flow technology for Windows.

MTN Uganda and Hellofood launch ‘Feed a Child’ Initiative

By
GURU8 Staff
-
0

Today MTN in partnership with Hellofood Uganda launched the “Feed a Child” initiative.

This initiative follows on from the MTN-Hellofood Xmas Party held in December 2015, where 230 children from orphanages in Kampala were treated to a day of fun activities and a special meal allowing them to be part of the Holiday season celebrations.

Under this initiative, members of the public can donate a meal to a child in need by visiting the Hellofood website at www.hellofood.ug and clicking on the “Donate a meal” banner. Donations are made using MTN Mobile Money.   

The campaign will run from 3rd Feb 2015 to 3rd April 2015 and proceeds will go to feed a child during the Easter Season through the 40 days over 40 smiles foundation, http://40daysover40smiles.org, a Kampala-based independent youth-led, charity organization.

“One of the key programs areas of 40 days over 40 smiles foundation is food and nutrition which aligns very well with this campaign. Indeed through its track record, we could not have found a better partner and look forward to successfully delivering this initiative,” said Hellofood Managing Director Ron Kawamara.

“As leading brands in the Food business under the MTN-Hello Food partnership, we are excited to launch the “Feed a child” initiative. Together, we are happy to leverage our platforms and services to make the lives of the underprivileged children brighter, said MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer Ms. Mapula Bodibe. “We call upon everyone to join us in this noble cause, for together we can make a huge difference, she added.

1...686970...107Page 69 of 107

LATEST POSTS

Follow GURU8

3,734FansLike
15FollowersFollow
1,046FollowersFollow
19SubscribersSubscribe

GURU8 is a Technology website showcasing the Latest News, Event updates, reviews and rumours in the Tech world while providing a platform for everyone to interact as well as gain information in reference to technology.
Contact us: info@guru8.net
+256771681909

©Hive Digital Ltd. GURU8 is a brand of Hive Digital Ltd