2020 Entertainment Trends There is an increase in popularity for retro-looking products. As turntables and record sales continue to grow, Klipsch have invested in their Heritage range of products. Many of them have kept the ‘old school’ appeal that they had created back in the 1970s. While aesthetically untouched, music fans will appreciate the innovations inside the box that takes advantage of some of the newer technologies that have been developed since the products initial launch. Klipsch have also introduced a whole range of new products like wireless audio distribution solutions, powered bookshelf speakers, headphones and passive soundbars which all take their styling cues from the Heritage range of products and are up to date with the latest trends in consumer audio demands. 2020 Security Trends Integration will be the buzzword when it comes to security. Homeowners are looking to unify their multiple devices and services. Control4 allows “stand alone” systems like alarms, CCTV cameras, smart lighting and audio-visual systems to be integrated to each other. A main benefit of an integrated system is that the homeowner only needs one app to control these systems instead of each system needing a separate app. A control system like Control4 allows the homeowner to interact with their system using multiple types of interfaces like apps on smart phones and tablets, remote controls, keypads and touchscreens as well as voice commands. In addition to this, with an integrated solution like Control4 these separate systems can be orchestrated to work together in the event of a trigger. For example, wouldn’t it be great if when your alarm system went off, your lights could come on and the camera for that zone is shown on touchscreens and TV’s to immediately show the homeowner what triggered the alarm. Seeing as though more than 90% of alarm triggers are false alarms (normally the neighbour’s cat which jumped over the wall) you could active the garden irrigation …
Cheaper Data, Higher Incomes To Lift App Market In 2020
South Africa’s mobile content and applications market looks set for a boost in 2020. The Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association (WASPA) says an expected uptick in both mobile app development by its almost 300 members and consumption by SA’s over 22 million smartphone users comes on the back of three recent positive developments. “They say bad news comes in threes; but with recent announcements to do with mobile data, salaries and the inflation rate, the same could be said of good news,” says Greg Brophy, WASPA chair. First up, the recently-completed Competition Commission market enquiry into mobile data pricing has found a failure of free competition in the local mobile data market. While the mobile networks are still digesting the implications of the Regulator’s report, it is likely mobile data prices will continue their steady decline that already began some time ago. “Basic economics says reducing the price of goods and services will increase their consumption. More affordable mobile data will mean greater consumption of data-intensive mobile services and this will, in turn, spur WASPA’s members to develop an even greater variety of mobile content and applications for use on smartphones,” explains Mr Brophy. “There could be interesting implications here for app development as a solid career choice in South Africa,” he adds. The economy, too, could experience a subtle boost from the increased local development and consumption of apps that make everything from learning to traveling more efficient. WASPA has previously highlighted the positive relationship between economic growth and cellular usage that increasingly comprises less voice access and more data-intensive app interaction. The worldwide GSM Association has found that every doubling of mobile data use typically adds a solid 0.5 percentage points to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Secondly, incomes available for app consumption are on the up and up. Average take-home pay …
How TV is Effortlessly Changing Channels
Samsung QLED TV’s are part of an evolutionary moment in television. The television isn’t just an electronic appliance. It’s an escape, a late-night companion, a gateway that offers a glimpse into another place and time. Recently, televisions have evolved into devices, which are not only a source of entertainment, but also a control hub of the IoT (Internet of Things). Smart devices and appliances are now easily controlled with the click of button on the TV screen. Another evolution is the decrease in watching traditional TV channels. Streaming services such as Netflix have become hugely popular. While people might be using their mobile devices more, many still like to watch on a bigger screen. According to Netflix*, 70% of all viewing takes place on TV sets. This is one of the reasons why Samsung’s new range of QLED TV’s 4K content has captured the imagination of the world. Afterall, great content is enjoyed better on cutting-edge technology. You can now immerse yourself in every scene with incredible depth and detail when you buy a TV from the powerful QLED range. Switching between all your favourite streaming apps including YouTube, Apple TV and Netflix is effortless, using One Remote. “This year’s QLED line-up takes innovation to a new level. It brings together innovative feature enhancements and exciting content and service partnerships, to deliver a truly ground-breaking viewing experience and unprecedented value,” says Nithia Pillay, Director of Consumer Electronics at Samsung South Africa. Today’s intelligent TV’s can produce a picture that’s amazingly real. With Samsung’s pioneering 8K QLED every scene is amazingly vivid and real. It’s like 3D without the glasses. With more colours than the human eye can see, infinite details and optimised audio you see, feel and hear your favourite TV content in a new way. Additionally, as you watch, it analyses what’s playing and automatically fine-tunes the picture and sound to your TV space. Which means, …
VoQoL Technology Gives New Hope To Quadriplegic And Paraplegic Individuals
January 2020: VoQoL (Voice-activated-Quality-of-Life) developed in Cape Town by Coral Tech, makes it possible for quadriplegic and paraplegic persons to perform basic functions themselves in order that they may reach a level of freedom in their daily lives. Users are able to carry out functions such as turning on the lights in their bedrooms or changing their TV channels by means of voice commands or prompts, which increases their personal independence, and gives them a sense of self-sufficiency. The brainchild of Cliff Court, the founder of Coral Tech, VoQoL uses voice-activated technology that allows users to turn on their TVs, as well as change the channels, switch on fans, and stream almost any South African radio station of their choice, including Umhlobo Wenene FM, iKhosi FM, Fine Music Radio, Metro FM, Smile 90.4 FM, and Radio Sonder Grense. The system also enables users to ask VoQoL to call for assistance by sending a SMS to their caregiver’s cell phone to alert them that the patient needs help. Apart from the sense of freedom it affords patients, caregivers are also able to allocate more time to those tasks which are vital to their daily caregiving routines. According to Cliff, there has been a visible boost in the self-esteem of VoQoL users, with a patient commenting that using VoQoL has been life-altering. Generous donations from the Telkom Foundation, Rotary Claremont, and SAB Foundation, have made it possible for VoQoL devices to be installed in over 65 rooms in 5 physically-disabled residential homes in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Gauteng, giving renewed self-sufficiency to over 80 residents. For those who also have speech impediments, Coral Tech has developed an electronic voice recorder which allows someone with a clear voice to pre-record commands. Paraplegic individuals with speech impediments can then use VoQoL by triggering the recorded voice commands they want using a remote-control unit. There are many more residents at …
Thinking Inside The Box
Helpful info for choosing your next TV South Africans love their TV’s. From their favourite soapies to great sporting moments, it’s a part of our homes, culture and some of our best times with family and friends. However, when choosing a new TV, here are a few frequently asked questions you may need answered. What is a ‘Quantum Dot’? Quantum dots are tiny particles of between two and 10 nanometres in diameter. Each dot gives off a different colour according to its size. This is the reason they’re so brilliant at displaying colour. Is there a difference between OLED and QLED? There definitely is. Since QLED TVs don’t use organic elements, they are essentially immune to screen burn-in. This is a display issue in which certain facets of an image shown on a TV screen, such as a channel logo, are either not shown properly, or fragments of that image remain on the screen. It then appears longer, as though it is embedded onto the display. In fact, TechRader addressed the QLED versus OLED debate by citing Samsung QLED as ‘’Capable of competing with and often surpassing even the best OLED’s. What does colour volume mean? It means that colour doesn’t ever fade, in any lighting condition. It pinpoints colour accuracy, improved brightness and the deepest blacks are achieved on an active display. What TV is best for my bedroom? Screen size, resolution and display type, are all things to take into consideration to make sure it’s the right TV for your space. But the best place to start is viewing distance, which will ultimately help to determine those factors. Since the TV may be closer to you in the bedroom, a high-definition 4K TV like Samsung QLED TV would be good to ensure that you get crisp details on screen despite it being in closer proximity. With the new QLED 8K the experience is heightened even more. Unlike conventional TV’s when you’re closer to the TV you see the actual picture, in crystal clarity, instead of a sea of fuzzy pixels. Of course, …
Samsung’s One UI with Android 10 Features: a Singular Smartphone Experience
These days, our smartphones are so much more than phones. They’re also our go-to cameras, entertainment hubs, portable computers, and so much more. However, adding new layers of functionality to smartphones has caused their user interfaces (UIs) to become more cluttered and complex – making the devices themselves harder to use. As smartphones grow increasingly more sophisticated, users require UIs that make managing the devices nice and simple. And now, they have one. Samsung’s One UI with Android 10 features is the company’s most simple and streamlined UI yet, built from the ground up to help users focus on what matters most. One UI’s intuitive design fosters convenient interactions, while its clean aesthetic minimises clutter to make viewing your screen more comfortable. Follow along as we examine the innovative interface in more detail. Natural Interactions One UI’s streamlined structure reflects a deep understanding of how smartphone users interact with their devices today. The interface makes navigating big-screen phones simple by effectively splitting the display in half. With One UI, the top half of the screen is for viewing content, while the lower half is for interacting with your device. Freeing up space at the top of the screen creates a more balanced, visually comfortable aesthetic while focusing interactions on the lower half enhances usability. Key tabs, action buttons and pop-ups are easy to reach so you can access them – and finish your task – faster. Focus on the Task at Hand One UI’s minimalist design eliminates unnecessary distractions to make it easier to focus on one thing at a time. One UI’s ‘focus blocks’ help users focus on important information by presenting content in a manner that’s visually comfortable. The images on the right demonstrate how focus blocks streamline the Bixby Home screen. The interface pares down the amount of information on display in order to offer users a more focused and fluid experience. It does …
The Road to One UI: An On-screen Evolution
Mobile phone screens have come a long way since the days of monochrome displays. Whether it’s watching immersive videos or multitasking on-the-go, the smartphone UX we see on-screen helps us achieve our goals by connecting our simple actions to powerful software. From touch-based controls to voice commands, Galaxy’s UX has continuously reinvented the way we interact with mobile devices. Building on a legacy of cutting-edge innovations, Samsung’s One UI promises to make the smartphone experience more flexible and responsive to our needs than ever before. Take a look at the infographic below to learn more about the evolution of Galaxy’s UX. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Own Your Digital Identity this Summer
The arrival of Summer is the perfect opportunity for young South Africans to log onto the worldwide web and claim their digital identities within the dotZA (.ZA) and dotAfrica (.africa) namespaces. “Schools are out and the youth are now able to turn their bright young minds towards implementing what should be their number one digital resolution for 2020: securing their digital identities in cyberspace,” says ZACR CEO, Lucky Masilela. “Young people helped lay the foundation for South Africa’s democracy and they must now turn their attention to building the digital identities that will be so crucial to their future prospects,” adds Mr Masilela. ZACR is the administrator of South Africa’s .ZA (dotZA) presence on the worldwide web. Future revolutions will be digital which means the youth must prioritise their online digital identities. “To help build a promising future for South African youth, we need more young people registering dotZA and dotAfrica domain names and then constructing their unique individual digital personas around these expressions of Africa in cyberspace,” explains Mr Masilela. There are currently some 23 000 registered dotAfrica domains and over 1.25m registered .ZA domains. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is being powered by information. It is being brought about by the seamless and rapid access to information that the worldwide web provides. Young Africans must fully participate in this new revolution for a new age by being active and visible online while taking advantage of the many opportunities for advancement that the web offers,” Mr Masilela says. Mr Masilela outlined five key behaviours to building a digital identity that will support young people’s eventual real-world success: Keep it Real Future employers, business partners, financial administrators, educational institutions and even foreign governments will likely be scrutinising your online identity to make potentially life-changing decisions. Be sure that all …
Local students to showcase their skills on a global platform
Samsung South Africa gives The IIE’s Vega students the opportunity to showcase their talent. Samsung collaborated with award-winning tertiary brand, Vega School on a Design Jam, which aims to give young South African designers the opportunity to showcase their design skills on a global stage. The Vega students were invited to co-create content across disciplines that would be used as Samsung Galaxy themes and be loaded onto the Galaxy Store. The aim of the competition was to produce unique and compelling artwork designed by young, agile African creatives. The collaboration was a natural fit for Samsung as the Loeries ranks The IIE’s Vega as Top Educational Institution for 2019 in the Middle East and Africa. “Samsung continuously supports South African artists and we believe that the country is rich in natural talent and look forward to promoting the work of these creative problem solvers and mavericks. Their skills echo our own pursuit of excellence – design that brings the world to life in innovative ways, “says Cambridge Mokanyane, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa. Vega selected their second year graphic design, copywriting and digital design students to form collaborate teams across disciplines to apply disruptive design-thinking techniques. Over 400 students across Vega’s 4 campuses (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban) were involved in the Design Jam competition that took place on the 31st July 2019 and each team comprising of 3 to 4 students designed a full theme consisting of wallpapers, icons and Always On displays. The three group finalists have now been selected: Team Afronauts (Vega Johannesburg) comprising the following members: • Dean Sartor • Kyle Sartor • Mohapi Polo • Liam Cuffley Team Fantastic 5 (Vega Durban) comprising the following members: • Caitlin Robinson • Abigail Gilbert • Kirsten Small • Zanele Biyela • Chantal Jonker Team Bessick and Smit (Vega Cape Town) comprising the following …
How does a tiny local publisher reach readers in the Philippines or Africa? Technology.
How does a tiny local publisher reach readers in the Philippines or Africa? Technology. In past decades, only large publishing houses had the resources to get books to the masses. Today, anyone with Internet access can upload a novel to the connected world. Still, getting readers to notice and buy is another challenge altogether. The big publishers still have muscle behind their promos, but with 15 years’ experience — and about 130 book products under his belt — publisher Karl Beckstrand has carved out his own multicultural niche. Even big reviewers, like Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal have voiced approval. And he’s garnered awards. His 2016 Western book, “To Swallow the Earth” won a 2016 International Book Award. The State of Vermont selected his earning book “The Bridge of the Golden Wood” as business/financial literacy curriculum for grade schoolers. “Polar Bear Bowler: A Story Without Words” was called ‘charming … full of … polish and physical comedy,’ by Publisher’s Weekly. “She Doesn't Want the Worms - Ella no quiere los gusanos” was named in the top 10 ‘Best Books’ of 2011 by ForeWord Reviews magazine and was featured in School Library Journal. This year alone, Beckstrand has released 17 new products. “Some are bilingual; many are hard cover editions of previous titles,” he said. “I’m especially pleased with the audiobook release of my western novel.” So how does he get noticed? “I’ve considered bribery,” joked Beckstrand, “but I have some standards.” Really, it’s persistence. After ensuring he had quality products, Beckstrand hounded the major book distributors used by New York publishers — and won signed contracts with large global wholesalers. Now Beckstrand’s bilingual picture books/e-books with pronunciation guide (consistent best sellers) can be found in India, Australia and Germany. His work is even found on Walmart’s and Target’s web sites. Beckstrand’s publishing company, PremioBooks.com, has also donated …