This is the Infinity X50 laptop, the high-end model of the Infinity branded laptop. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 mobile processor with Radeon Vega graphics. Running on the Zen core architecture it has two CPU cores with a base clock of 2.6GHz and a maximum boost of 3.5GHz.
It runs on a six thousand milliamp battery which can give a user about six hours of minimum usage. It has four gigabytes of RAM and there is no mention of models with higher RAM sizes. Or an option to change or increase this for power users. The storage size is 512GB and is a solid-state drive (SSD). Available ports on the device include an HDMI, micro SD card reader and USB ports. The price of the laptop is set at $668, it comes with a warranty and after-sales support is available.
Check out more on the Infinity laptop in the hands-on video and full specs table below.
Designed, produced and assembled by the Zimbabwe Information Technology Company (ZITCO). The Infinity devices are a Zimbabwean brand to serve the PC market in Zimbabwe mainly but have plans to bring them to other African markets in the future. Other devices in production include the Infinity T46 Laptop, Infinity G79 Desktop PC, Infinity All-in-one PC, Infinity Mini-Laptop and Infinity Tablet.
What are your thoughts on the design, specifications and price of the laptop device? Kindly share them in the comment section below.
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The African Development Bank, AfDB, is announcing the enrolment of 130,000 users in its Coding for Employment digital skills program. The digital skills training platform was launched in December 2019 in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation and Microsoft.
The milestone comes as it works to equip African youth with information and communication technology, entrepreneurship and soft-skills training to compete in a digital economy. The program’s online platforms offer in-demand technical courses such as web development, design, data science and digital marketing for free. It is accessible on mobile devices, even in low internet connectivity settings and has an affordable, easy-to-navigate, secured and private interface. As well as in physical centers of excellence in underserved communities across Africa.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in lockdowns and school closures across the continent, the Coding for Employment platforms experienced dramatic increases in the number of users. During a one-week period in September 2020, registrations skyrocketed by 38.5%. Through the Bank’s partnership with the Government of Nigeria and Microsoft to launch the Digital Nigeria eLearning platform during the pandemic, it has hit a combined total of 130,000 students. Registered students are achieving a course completion rate of more than 80%.
“To win the battle against poverty in Africa, we must equip our youth with digital skills that empower them for the jobs of the future,” said Martha Phiri, Director of the Bank’s Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department.
Students who took the online courses in the wake of Covid-19 in Africa said learning or honing digital skills helped them advance their careers.
“During the lockdown period, I taught myself Microsoft Excel, using the platform. Participating in the training not only smoothed my rough Excel skills but also gave me the platform to network and push myself,” said program graduate Hajara Ayuba in Nigeria.
“Thanks to the program, I met one of the major criteria – data fluency and MS Excel skills – at my present NYSC place of primary assignment in Borno State Board of Internal Revenue Service. I was later retained in the job,” Ayuba added.
“The online training program started in tandem with the opening planned upgrade of physical Coding for Employment-branded Centers of Excellence piloted in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The Bank aims to scale up to 130 centers across the continent in a decade.”
“The pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning as a necessity. Coding for Employment swiftly leveraged its online digital skills platform to continue to offer a gateway for African youth to become more digitally capable,” said Hendrina Chalwe Doroba, the Bank’s Division Manager for Education and Skills Development.
Following the pilot program, Coding for Employment online courses are now available in 45 countries. Some 300 beneficiaries, like Shaawanatu Shuaibu, linked Coding for Employment to getting jobs. Shuaibu a Coding for Employment program graduate from the Gombe State Center of Excellence in Nigeria, said the course had broadened her understanding of content writing.
“I was able to organize the content of my CV, which secured me a call for an interview at Jaiz Bank Plc. My performance at the interview and fluency in communication got me posted to the Customer Service Unit of the Bank,” she added.
The initiative aims to create over 9 million jobs and reach 32 million youth and women across Africa and is part of the AfDB’s Jobs for Youth in Africa Initiative.
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Agritech startups in Africa will be eligible to win up to 1.5 million dollars at the seventh edition of the Pitch AgriHack competition. Pitch AgriHack is a pitching contest aimed exclusively at African businesses bringing technological innovation to the agriculture sector. Organized by AGRF and Heifer International, the competition focuses on accelerating entrepreneurial growth and job creation in the agriculture sector by leveraging advanced technologies and youth participation in Africa’s food security agenda.
The open competition portion of Pitch AgriHack 2021 will support companies that are driving innovation in agriculture across three categories-Early-stage, Mature/Growth-stage, and Women-led, with prizes totalling US$45,000. A fourth invite-only category known as the AYuTe Africa Challenge, sponsored by Heifer International, will award up to $1.5 million in grants to scalable ventures that are already generating measurable impact for Africa’s smallholder farmers.
Six winners will be selected from the open-application categories and two winners from the invite-only AYuTe Africa Challenge category. The winners will be announced at the AGRF Summit which takes place September 7-10 in Nairobi. Top contestants will receive a one-day boot camp in preparation for their final pitches. Winners will get continued support to develop and grow their enterprises.
“As a continent with a thriving youth population, Africa’s agricultural sector must look to its youth for the innovation that will fuel the future growth of this strategically important sector,” said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs at Heifer International. “Integrating youth and technology in the agricultural sector will transform the continent, creating new jobs and income-generating opportunities for young Africans”.
In addition to its sponsorship of Pitch AgriHack 2021, Heifer International is partnering with Generation Africa to run this year’s competition. Both organizations have a shared vision of eradicating hunger and poverty through sustainable, community-led development that begins with agriculture.
“It’s a privilege to have an established and experienced non-profit organization like Heifer International on board,” said Head of Generation Africa, Dickson Naftali. “At Generation Africa, we believe that food systems can change if we collaboratively support young African agri-food entrepreneurs. Pitch AgriHack 2021 can give access to the tools and expertise they need to make their businesses successful.”
Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and Special Envoy to the UN Food Systems Summit, said, “We are excited to welcome Heifer International as it partners with the AGRF and Generation Africa on Pitch AgriHack 2021. By working together, sharing knowledge, and supporting mutually beneficial projects, we can make a bigger impact and drive agricultural transformation in Africa. We want young people across Africa to hear our message – the future of food and farming depends on them.”
Business profiles of the finalists will also be published in a Deal Book for circulation at the AGRF and online, while individual profiles will be made public on the GenAfrica.org platform and reviewed for relevance to their investor community.
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Ecobank, the pan-African banking group, is partnering with Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub and Ecobank Academy to train and equip Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across sub-Saharan Africa. The training will provide SMEs with digital skills and knowledge to reach their full potential. As well as play a vital role in driving Africa’s economic resurgence.
SMEs have been significantly impacted by the COVID19 pandemic with its attendant lockdowns and disruptions to supply chains, plummeting sales, lost revenue and operational challenges. In response to feedback from our customers, Ecobank through its Commercial Banking Segment is helping business owners close the digital skills gap within their chosen fields and improve the digital capabilities of their employees.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has turbocharged the shift towards digital”, says Josephine Anan-Ankomah, Group Executive, Commercial Banking for the Ecobank Group. “It is essential that businesses adapt so that they are able to compete effectively in today’s rapidly changing landscape. Ecobank’s Commercial Banking is committed to supporting SMEs across our pan-African footprint. Through this partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub and Ecobank Academy we are offering training to equip business owners and their employees with the digital skills that they need to stay connected to their customers. We are intent on ensuring that our SME customers remain relevant, grow and succeed in the post-COVID-19 era”, she adds.
SMEs have been invited to register here for the upcoming webinar taking place on July 26. The Global Skilling initiative program is available on an online portal where SMEs can register, and start their learning journey for any of the 10 in-demand skill sets (Customer Services; Digital Marketing; Financial Analysis; Graphic Design; IT Support/Help Desk; Project Management; Sales; Data Analysis; IT Administration; And Software Development). They can complete the virtual programme at their own pace and at times that work best for them. The programme runs until the 31st of December 2021.
Ibrahim Youssry, Regional General Manager, Middle East and Africa – Multi market region at Microsoft says Microsoft is “committed to building digital talent pipelines to support the workforce of the future. And our Global Skilling Initiative is an important part of this process. But beyond the future workforce, digital talent will also support more local innovation, as developers and entrepreneurs are empowered to create locally relevant solutions that best address the challenges and needs of African countries. Startups and SMEs play a critical role in innovation, economic growth and job creation, and expanded access to digital skills is one of the key steps needed to foster a successful economic recovery.”
The Global Skilling Initiative is just another example of how Ecobank wants to help SMEs reach their full potential and play a vital role in driving Africa’s economic resurgence. Other support initiatives for SMEs include:
The Ecobank Marketplace eCommerce solution for businesses to grow their sales on digital marketplaces
And the Ellevate programme to provide women-led/owned/focused businesses with loans, cash management solutions, training and mentoring opportunities.
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TECNO, the mobile company known for producing entry to mid-range mobile devices for emerging markets like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan and India is introducing a premium model device with the announcement of the PHANTOM X. The company is rebranding the Phantom model to represent its premium category for its devices. TECNO has packed in some good specs for the device but how will this compare to existing devices in this range and will it be value for money?
TECNO Phantom X runs on a MediaTek Helio G95 processor, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB storage. It sports a 6.7-inch display, 90Hz panel, 1080p resolution and Gorilla Glass 5. The phone will come running Android 11 and HIOS 7.6. It will have a 4700 mAh battery capacity that supports 33W fast charging. TECNO says you can get up to 70% when you charge it for 30 minutes.
In terms of pricing, the Phantom X will retail at about $460 – $560. Here are the country-specific prices in the following markets; Ghana – GHS 2795, Nigeria – NGN 228,000, Kenya – KES 49,999. Pakistan – Rs. 69,999, India – ₹18,999 .
TECNO Phantom X Specs
OS – Android 11, HIOS 7.6
Display – 6.70-inch (1080×2340), Super AMOLED Display, 90Hz, 385 ppi
Everything you need to know about the Camera capability and experience
For a premium phone, TECNO says the Phantom X’s main camera has a 50MP Ultra-Nigh camera with ultra-large sensors that support 100 million pixel photo mode. The 48MP front camera sports a 105°Ultra-Wide-angle and 50mm golden portrait mode. It also boasts of a super night mode that lets you get clear and vivid photos at night. But what exactly do you get and what does this mean? Read on to find out especially if you are buying or own one, to maximize the device.
50MP Ultra-Night Camera with 1/1.3-inch Ultra-Large Sensor
With PHANTOM X’s extraordinary camera features, users can become professional photographers producing high-quality photos. PHANTOM X adopts the industry-leading 50MP Ultra-Night Camera with a 1/1.3-inch Ultra-Large Sensor, making it easy to shoot crisp professional photos. With a pixel size of 2.4um in 4-in-1 pixel mode, PHANTOM X’s 50MP camera with 1/1.3-inch ultra-large sensor can take in a 33% more light from the outer environment compared to a camera featuring a 108MP camera with 1/1.5-inch sensor, bringing a wider ISO range and less noise. It also comes with better exposure and detailed reproduction in complex lighting. The ultra-clear image is achieved by decoding the image quality of Re-mosaic, providing ample space for post cropping and re-creation, supporting one hundred million level shooting.
48MP Ultra-clear Selfie Camera with 105°Ultra-Wide Angle
PHANTOM X features a 48MP Ultra-clear Selfie camera offering greater color vibrancy and natural quality when snapping a selfie. Users can have clearer skin textures, sharper facial features, and brighter smiles to capture all their beauty in its glory. Layered with AI to add that extra glimmer and sparkle, every selfie will be picture perfect. Additionally, PHANTOM X will automatically expand the field of view to 105°Ultra-Wide Angle, fitting more in group selfies. Magic to cheese not squeeze with more friends!
Portrait Magician – Magic of 50mm Golden Portrait
As for the important portrait photo performance, PHANTOM X uses a 50mm focal lens to present the Golden Portrait natural images without distortion, capturing and enhancing the quality. By accurate scenery separation and aesthetic spot effect, each portrait is filled with vivid details. Users can also choose seven diversified portrait lighting effects without changing the photo background. Three professional portrait color schemes are provided by PHANTOM X for the skin color needs of different groups, in line with multi-regional aesthetics. And there are more: PHANTOM X uses AI to restore the portraits by automatically learning how to sharpen the fuzzy image taken from less desirable conditions such as low light, sports events, or shaking hands. Be bold to capture the best portrait with PHANTOM X.
Super Night View 3.0 and Super Night Portrait
With the increased 4-in-1 pixel size, PHANTOM X can bring the night alive and capture more than the eye can see. When paired with AI assistance to add those finishing touches, the glow of the city night can be vividly captured from a simple click. And with the meshing of low light HDR and AI, your nightlife snaps will also shine with exuberance. It is your opportunity to capture the beauty of night city scenes with the Super Night View 3.0, and you can have elegant portraits in the glorious night view with the help of the Super Night Portrait.
Even in an extremely dark environment, PHANTOM X can increase the amount of light captured to reveal fine details hidden in the dark. With the powerful Super Night Mode, users can shoot an unexpectedly bright and clear night scene at any time.
Night Video Algorithm and the 960fps Slow Motion
“What should life be like on its best day?” PHANTOM X answers by making its users become video experts. With Night Video Algorithm, users don’t have to worry about those low lighting conditions. The leading Night Video Algorithm enables users to capture ultimate clarity, highly defined colors, and the finest details. In addition, the film mode of PHANTOM X makes it possible to edit your own cinematic films on your hands with different film schemes, whether it is for parties, travel, or business meetings. Even for an exciting fast sports event, the 960fps Slow Motion can help users freeze every fleeting moment just like memories frozen in time. Whether it is for days or nights, dynamics or statics, PHANTOM X records every moment, sharp and clear.
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Microsoft is announcing its partner of the year award winners and here is a list of winning organizations in Africa. The announcement comes ahead of Microsoft Inspire 2021 where it will celebrate exemplary achievements from across its global partner ecosystem. Microsoft Inspire 2021 partner event, is set to take place July 14-15 as a free global digital event.
Microsoft uses the partner award to recognize outstanding accomplishments within its partner community. This year, the company received over four thousand entries from one hundred and thirty countries across fifty-six categories. Microsoft introduced a new category, the Social Impact Award which includes awards for Community Response, Inclusion Changemaker, and Sustainability Changemaker.
Ten partner organizations emerge as award winners in 2021. Cloud Productivity Solutions, Kenya is the only winner from last year to win this year as well. Ghana recorded an award winner for the second year in a row. Senegal for the third year in a row failed to register an award winner. Côte d’Ivoire is back with a winner after failing to register an award winner in 2020. Namibia failed to register a winner this year.
Below are Microsoft Partner Africa winners from the country and region category.
At Microsoft, we believe our partners make more possible. That’s why we recognize exceptional partner contributions.
Microsoft Partner Africa Award Winners country category
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