Global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, Kaspersky, is simplifying its consumer products into Standard, Plus, and Premium. The products will be available on a subscription basis and bring an enhanced user interface (UI) and experience across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The rebrand also introduces features covering security, privacy, performance, and identity.
Kaspersky Standard features security functionalities such as Real-time Protection, Safe Browsing, and Anti-Phishing. Against the latest digital threats and to provide defense from dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions. The Standard plan also offers users a Pre-Kaspersky virus removal tool that can find and remove viruses that may have found their way into users’ PCs before they installed Kaspersky. It includes a Firewall and Network Monitor which shows which apps are connected to the Internet. Additional performance tools, include Quick Startup, PC Speed-up, and Disk Space Cleanup tools. Game and Do Not Disturb mode.
Kaspersky Plus features more Privacy capabilities. It gives users access to everything in the Standard plan plus unlimited VPN and Premium Password Manager. Subscribers also get a Data Leak Checker which monitors the Internet and dark web, warning them of a compromise to their private data and gives remedy recommendations. In addition, the plan includes Password Safety Status and lets them see which devices are connected to the home network,
The Premium plan adds digital identity protection and premium technical support to the plus with priority phone calls, chat services, and remote expert installation.
Kaspersky’s new plan subscription price
Standard also dubbed essential provides security for one user account and up to ten devices. It starts at $24.99 for a device per year. The plus plan also known as the advanced plan starts at $35.99 per device per year and $39.99 for three devices per year for two user accounts. The premium plan which includes a one-year free Kaspersky Safe Kids is available to five accounts and starts at$54.99 per year for up to ten devices. Find out more about the plans here.
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Microsoft has introduced the Surface Laptop 5 with 12th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors built on the new Intel Evo platform and runs Windows 11 at the October (Fall) event ahead of Ignite 2022. The company unveiled the device alongside the Surface Pro 9, Surface Studio 2+ and other Surface accessories.
Microsoft is attempting to meet the need of a changing modern workforce with the new laptop. Looking to deliver a portable high-performance device that allows you to easily collaborate and multitask. The company notes the Surface Laptop 5 will deliver sleek portability, lightning-fast performance and multitasking power. It is also designed with an enhanced camera for more engaging video calls.
Surface Laptop 5 will start selling from $999.99 for the 13.5″ i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD model. Whilst the 13.5″ highest-end model i7, 16GB, 512 GB will sell for $1,699.99. The 15″ variant starts from $1,299.99 with the i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD whilst the highest end sells at $2,399.99 for the i7 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD. You can pre-order them now and they will be available starting October 25th in Platinum, Matte Black, Sandstone and Sage colours.
Watch and check out the complete device specifications, design and features of the latest generation Surface Laptop device.
Surface Laptop 5 specification
Surface Laptop 5 13.5″
Surface Laptop 5 15″
Dimensions
308 x 223 x 14.5 mm
340 x 244 x 14.7 mm
Weight
1.297kg
1.56kg
OS
Windows 11 Home Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro
Windows 11 Home Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro
Display
13.5” PixelSense, 2256 x 1504 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio Dolby Vision IQ support 10-point multi-touch
15” PixelSense, 2496 x 1664 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio Dolby Vision IQ support 10-point multi-touch
CPU
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1235U 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1255U 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1245U 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1265U (Intel® EVO™) processor
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1255U 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1265U (Intel® EVO™) processor
Graphic
Intel® Iris® Xe graphics
Intel® Iris® Xe graphics
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11ax compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 5.1
Wi-Fi 802.11ax compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 5.1
Color
Platinum with Alcantara®, Sage, Matte Black, and Sandstone
Platinum and Matte Black
Memory
8GB, 16GB (LPDDR5)
8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR5)
Storage
256/512GB removable SSD
256/512GB/1TB removable SSD
Camera /Mic
720p HD front-facing camera / Dual far-field Studio Mics
720p HD front-facing camera / Dual far-field Studio Mics
Audio
Omnisonic® Speakers with Dolby® Atmos®6
Omnisonic® Speakers with Dolby® Atmos®6
Power supply
60W power supply with an additional 5W USB A charging Port
60W power supply with an additional 5W USB A charging Port
Authentication
Fingerprint on Power Key
Fingerprint on Power Key
Ports
1 x USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt™ 4 1 x USB-A 3.1 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port
1 x USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt™ 4 1 x USB-A 3.1 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port
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Microsoft is announcing a partnership with Liquid Cloud through its Africa Transformation Office (ATO) to provide cloud services to businesses across the continent. Liquid Cloud and the Microsoft ATO will collaborate to deliver resilient cloud in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to meet regulatory and data residency requirements, address low latency workloads, strengthen resilience, and enable business continuity.
The hybrid cloud environment extends Azure capabilities enabling customers to create cloud-native applications faster with Azure platform and data services such as App Service, Functions, Logic Apps, Azure SQL Managed Instance, PostgreSQL database, and Azure machine learning. As a result, customers will be able to innovate anywhere and use the Azure platform to bring new solutions to life that solves today’s challenges, while creating the future.
“We witnessed an accelerated adoption of cloud technologies in Africa, and businesses are now reaping the benefits of their investment. Our customers are increasingly moving to hybrid work culture, meaning the demand for cloud-based services will only grow. Our partnership will enable us to build comprehensive and edge-based cloud capabilities that meet customer regulatory requirements and ensure that they deliver value to their customers,” said David Behr, CEO of Liquid Cloud and Cyber Security.
On his part, Wael El kabbany, General Manager, Africa Regional Cluster, Microsoft said: “Critical infrastructure enablers are needed to provide access to the cloud to accelerate digital transformation and the adoption of digital technologies. Working with Liquid Cloud, access to the local cloud will be available to more organizations and highly regulated industries across the continent. In addition, the hybrid cloud provides in-country resources that address data residency, latency, and storage requirements,“
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Microsoft is phasing out the resume assistant tool in Microsoft Word which gives people ideas for work experiences and skills. The company started by removing the CV assistant feature from the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) in September 2022. With plans to fully remove the feature from Word for Microsoft 365 and no longer support it by January 2023.
By January 2023, Microsoft will remove the resume assistant feature across Windows (Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel), Mac, and Word for the web. Microsoft recommends using a resume template in Word or the LinkedIn Resume Builder as a replacement.
The resume assistant tool is a feature powered by LinkedIn in Word for Microsoft 365 that helps resume/CV writers craft compelling resumes with personalized insights. They get real-world examples of work experiences and top skills related to a role or industry. It shows a CV writer examples of descriptions to use as inspiration to tailor theirs so recruiters and hiring managers can notice them.
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Microsoft is announcing that it is expanding its partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support Africa’s young entrepreneurs facing a lack of investment and affordable access to finance under the bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks (YEIB) Initiative.
The expanded partnership seeks to support the establishment of national-level institutions through a public-private collaboration model to scale up technical and financial support for youth entrepreneurs and build their capacity. Through its African Transformation Office (ATO), Microsoft will work with the bank to develop youth entrepreneurship ecosystems, create jobs, and scale impact in Africa through digital inclusion.
Youth entrepreneurship, Microsoft notes will go a long way to solving the employment challenge. But admits a lack of investment, affordable access to finance, and quality business development services still present significant hurdles. The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank is a unique value proposition set up by the African Development Bank that anchors and integrates efforts to develop entrepreneurship ecosystems in Africa.
“We believe much can be done to help foster youth entrepreneurship by collaborating with the African Development Bank, driving greater economic inclusion for this key segment of the population, and ultimately building a more prosperous society,” says the General Manager of Microsoft Africa Regional Cluster Wael Elkabbany. “Already we’ve seen considerable success partnering on initiatives such as Coding for Employment, which aims to equip millions of African youth with employable skills, ultimately creating broadscale employment“, he adds.
Through this initiative, the AfDB will bring together all relevant financial and non-financial parties and partners to play their respective roles in supporting youth entrepreneurs through mentorship, coaching, knowledge and experience sharing, and more.
The African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization Solomon Quaynor says: “The strengthening of our partnership with Microsoft on the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks (YEIB) is an important development in our journey towards harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend and facilitating the creation of millions of jobs for young Africans by 2025. The initiative places much-needed focus on youth entrepreneurship, which is key to achieving our ambitious employment targets.”
Collaborating with both private sectors and partners, the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank will establish a funding scheme, credit guarantee scheme, and technical assistance programs to strengthen providers of services to entrepreneurs. In terms of policy support, it will advocate to governments for the business-enabling environment reforms needed to catalyse youth entrepreneurship.
Microsoft says it will also leverage its partner ecosystem, which covers 54 countries across the continent, to act on crucial technology solutions across four key areas. These include skilling, connectivity, small-to-medium enterprise (SME) digitization, and hardware:
Skilling To connect youth to economic opportunity and employability skills, the partnership will provide them with career pathways and learning content. This includes the use of existing e-learning platforms such as Coding for Employment. The initiative also aims to build the capacity of Enterprise Services Organizations, benefitting youth through training trainers.
Connectivity By leveraging successful connectivity solutions such as Microsoft Airband, the partnership will develop effective infrastructure models to help bridge the digital divide. At the same time, it will support other innovative solutions on the market either through direct or indirect investment.
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) digitization The partnership also aims to improve SME digital literacy and business skills by creating access to curated learning content, certifications, business solutions, business skills, and specialized digital skills. This will be driven in partnership with LinkedIn and through skilling programs such as MS Learn and the Cloud Academy. Access to finance for digitally enabled SMEs will also be facilitated through Microsoft partnerships.
Hardware SME access to bundled hardware solutions will be created by Microsoft and its partners. SMEs will also be able to purchase Microsoft technology at discounted prices. The partnership also forms an important part of Microsoft ATO’s mission to empower 10 million SMEs through access to skilling initiatives and investments, and to generate the capacity needed to scale and provide digital skills to 30 million Africans.
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Microsoft will host an event on October 12 2022 at 2 pm GMT, 5 pm EAT and make some announcements. The company put out a “save the date” invite with the details “Watch live to see what’s next [at] 10 am ET on October 12, 2022″. The invite poster doesn’t give many details save for the Windows 11 blossom image splashed with different colours.
In past October events, the company showcased new hardware as well as announced Windows features and updates. I’m not expecting this format to change even though Microsoft could mix things up. It also appears it might be online only as Microsoft hasn’t fully resumed in-person events.
A few days ago Panos Panay, Microsoft EVP, Chief Product Officer, Windows and Devices announced the Windows 11 2022 Update, noting an “additional set of experiences coming in October“. This event will give the company a good opportunity to demonstrate some features to consumers. Additionally, there have been rumours and leaks of the next generation of Microsoft Surface devices.
The guys over at Windows Central expect to see a new Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop, and Surface Studio that combines both Intel and ARM and new colour configurations. Could we see a new dual-screen product category news, Surface Duo 3? Well, anything is possible since Panos has in the past been able to keep things tight-lipped.
We will bring you all the updates from the event, so be sure to check back. Let’s know what you think. What are you looking forward to seeing or hearing about at the Microsoft event on October 12?
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