Microsoft Student Partners at Ghana Technology University College will be having a Tech Help Day on September 22nd, 2015 at the forecourt of their main campus in Accra with the event starting at 10am.
The volunteer Day program will see the student partners providing technological support and consulting services to individual who turn up for FREE. They will help with upgrading your PC to Windows 10, repairing of laptops, repairing of mobile phones and try to help solve other tech related problems that are brought in. You are also sure to get some valuable lessons and tips from them at the Tech Help Day.
If you happen to be a Ghana Technology University College student or stay close to the main campus, if you don’t mind moving across from another campus or town you should take advantage of the Tech help Day and #upgradeyourworld to #Windows10 as it’ll empower you to #achievemore.
Microsoft Corporation has sent out a media invite to the media and public for an October 6th event, saying
“we have some exciting news to share about Windows 10 devices”.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Skylight at Moynihan Station in New York City at 10am EDT (2pm GMT).
The event is expected to be where Microsoft showcases the next generation devices it’s been working on in the Windows 10 eco-system and also possibly speak on improvements coming in the next wave of Windows 10 OS updates.
Devices like the next flagship and premium mobile devices(Lumia’s) code named “Cityman and Talkman” with the Continuum device are expected to be announced, maybe we will get to see a Surface phone designed for the enterprise world, maybe not. The next generation of the Surface Pro is a sure possibility with rumors of a 14″ being débuted. The next version of the Microsoft Band is also another device that is expected to be showcased at the event. As to whether a developer version of the Microsoft HoloLens will be made available will be know after the event, even if we don’t get to have it, I’m sure Microsoft will talk about it and show improvements and new ventures it’s undertaking. If you are an IoT person maybe there might be some devices for you as well.
There are rumors of an Xbox One console being announced as well.
Windows 10 OS will be available on the 29th July 2015
Microsoft Operating System chief’s Terry and Joe have mentioned by a blog and twitter post respectively the availability date of Windows 10. We’ve known from earlier conferences like Build, that the OS was going to be available during the summer but that was without a definite date. The OS will be officially released on Wednesday 29th July 2015 through windows update.
July 29 is the date! Windows 10 for all! Tell friends & family: RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW to get it on day 1! http://t.co/jGSloJDZkM
To hear Cortana tell you about the availability date just ask her from your phone, below is a recorded version if you don’t have a windows phone or pc.
There is also a video highlighting the release date and some exciting windows 10 features.
Terry Myerson talks about how windows 10 is almost very polished to be released to the public.
He also mentioned “You can reserve your free Windows 10 upgrade now through a simple reservation process. Look for this icon {in the picture below} in your system tray at the bottom of your screen, simply click on the icon, and then complete the reservation process”.
Here’s how to reserve your upgrade;
Click on the small Windows icon found at the right end of the taskbar.
Click “Reserve your free upgrade” in the app window.
Enter your email if you want a confirmation of this reservation.
All set. There’s no obligation and you can cancel your reservation at any time.
You’ll get a notification when your upgrade is ready later this year. This lets you schedule the installation for a time that’s convenient.
TizaaWorks is a coined out initiative by Microsoft Ghana in what is being rolled out as a number of employability platforms in Africa and the Middle East by Microsoft’s Youthspark and 4Afrika initiatives in these regions with local partners. The idea is to have 13 platforms in Africa with Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Morocco, Madagascar, Libya and Angola as beneficiaries and hopes about 960,000 jobs and 200,000 entrepreneurs will be created by the end of 2015.
Microsoft Ghana and the International Institute for Communication and Development(IICD) launched Tizaaworks and hopes it’ll be national one-stop online hub for employability and entrepreneurship. Tizaaworks acts as an online aggregator for job search, acquiring and sharpening employment and entrepreneurial skills.
The portal will help;
Plan your career – career counseling, job market info and stats
Get trained – mentor matching, IT training, entrepreneurship, CV writing, soft & language skills n
Find a job – job matching tool
Entrepreneurs – Start-up training, funding tools, social entrepreneurship and free-lance opportunities.
Get engaged – Community-based networking platform for users to share ideas and volunteer opportunities
Brad Smith, General counsel and Executive Vice President of legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft on the project said;
“Technology can empower young people to make a vital contribution to their community and our world. We hope that this platform serves as a bridge, connecting Ghana’s young people to the tools, resources and people they need to find the fulfilling careers they deserve,”
Martine Koopman, Ghana country manager and global advisory services manager for International Institute for Communication and Development(IICD) also said of the initiative;
“The TizaaWorks platform is critical for expanding IICD’s impact in supporting Ghanaian youth in smart learning, working, and earning. Thanks to TizaaWorks, our programmes that build market-driven digital skills and help youth find employment and start their own IT-related businesses can reach out to a much wider audience, beyond our physical presence”
Give the platform a try and tell us what you think.
Follow Tizaaworks on social sites Facebook, Twitter: @TizaaWork, Website: Tizaaworks
Derek sees significant potential in Ghana’s young population and is excited that Microsoft has a presence in the country to help unlock this potential.
Derek Appiah, new country manager for Microsoft Corporation in Ghana holds both an engineering and MBA degree. He’s gained over 20 years of experience in various fields; research, technology, product development, marketing, sales and management with various organizations; he’s worked in the UK as the general manager, new business development for BT, worked as a chief enterprise solutions officer at MTN, Nigeria. Derek has also been an independent IT and Telecoms consultant to telcos in UAE, New Zealand, Qatar and Ireland. He worked with Vodafone Ghana as a Vodafone business solutions director & previous CEO of Logiciel Ghana Ltd., currently a non executive director.
“What I really enjoy about working in emerging markets is that you can make a big impact quickly; it’s possible to contribute to the ecosystem in a very real way.”
Appiah’s goal as Country Manager will be to help the company have a more active role in Ghana and add more value now that it has offices in the country and a 100% Ghanaian staff complement. He aims to make a significant impact on Ghana’s development,
“I believe there is enormous potential for technology to change lives in the emerging world, so this is an opportunity to make a big impact using Microsoft to enable productivity for businesses, government and consumers,”
A key area Derek will be focusing is developing youth employability skills, which he believes will help to develop Ghana’s business ecosystem.
“What I love most about Ghana is its young and vibrant population,
They are peace-loving and punch above their weight intellectually, making them the perfect candidates to take the country forward if they can acquire the necessary skills.
This is not about charity but rather about creating a value exchange between citizens, industry and government. Young people are an asset to our society, and even more so if they are adequately equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to create a brighter future for themselves and for Ghana.”
Microsoft has released Build 10080 to windows phone users who have signed up for the Fast ring of Windows 10 Technical Preview insiders for phones. Users of devices such as Lumia 930, Icon and 640XL who felt left out of the party can now join in. Also the HTC One(M8) device have the clear to install the preview.
A list of the new features included in this build are;
New universal Windows Store Beta for phones
Universal Office apps
The Xbox app for Windows 10
Music Preview app
Video Preview app
New Camera app ( Note that high-end Lumia devices (1520, 1020, 930, 830, 640, and 640XL) have some features not supported by the new Camera app. For these devices, the new app will work but to get the full functionality from your device you will need to use the Lumia Camera app. In coming weeks we’ll have updated versions of Camera apps with the super set of all features. Here are a few things to try: try out HDR (click the magic wand button), video stabilization for video and look for faces getting recognized (not identified) in the camera preview window (will help with auto focus).
In as much as Microsoft will want everyone to join in on building the best experience you should know that it has complications. You shouldn’t install the preview if the device is your one and only working phone. That’s because it still includes bugs. But if you still don’t want to miss out on the experience you can subscribe to the slow ring update; you have a much richer and better experience with little or no bugs. Or get a second budget friendly device and run the preview on it.
The guys over at windowscentral.com have a hands-on on the new features, check it below.
Give the new build a try and let me know what you think.
