Team RUTELA is the winner of the first edition of the Equity Group Hackathon in partnership with Microsoft. The University of Nairobi student team wins a cash prize of Kes. 600,000, 3 months mentorship with Microsoft, Technical Cloud certificates for all team members and a gift hamper.
The Equity Hackathon brought students from the University of Nairobi and Meru University of Science and Technology together. To deliver solutions to address business and social challenges in the Payments, Financial Inclusion and Digital Identity thematic areas. The Hackathon, which opened for registration on 4th February, saw a total of 663 students register and compete to be among the top 120 participants to take part as innovators.
Equity Group, in partnership with Microsoft, brought together the shortlisted students for the virtual Hackathon which ran from the 17th of February to the 17th of March this year. The initiative challenged the students to be innovative and collaborate to build proofs of concept and minimum viable products for predefined business problems and social issues.
The Hackathon was phased into 4 stages. The first phase involved instructor-led and self-paced training of the participants on Microsoft Azure and the Business Problem Statements. In the second stage, the students went through the coding with mentorship from representatives from Equity, the University of Nairobi, Meru University of Science and Technology and Microsoft. Their solutions then went through a 1st and 2nd knock off stage, which culminated in the selection of the 4 winners.
Kenya is emerging as an innovations hub, especially in the financial sector, and organizations need to start looking internally for solutions that will give them an edge in the market says Microsoft ADC Kenya Program Manager, Irene Githinji.
“We are indeed not surprised by the ideas we have seen these young students work on during the Hackathon. The spirit of innovation is ripe in Kenya and it is time for Kenyan corporates to start looking at local education institutions and technology hubs for the development of unique solutions for their business needs.”
Irene Githinji
Equity Hackathon Winners
Winning team – Rutela, from the University of Nairobi
1st runner up – team Jazia, from Meru University of Science and Technology
2nd runner up – Hubert Kimani, from the University of Nairobi
3rd runner up – Team Code Ninjas, from the University of Nairobi
The 1st and 2nd Runners Equity Hackathon winners took home a cash prize of Kes. 250,000 and Kes. 150,000 respectively, a 3 months mentorship opportunity from Microsoft and a gift hamper. The 3rd Runners Up won Kes 100,000 and a gift hamper for each team member.
“The Hackathon has enabled us to sharpen our skills and align them to the demands of the marketplace“, notes Maluki Muthusi, from team Rutela. “We are grateful for the guidance given to us by our lecturers and the teams from Equity and Microsoft throughout the competition. We look forward to applying the principles even beyond this competition“, he adds.
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Dynabook, previously operating as Toshiba PC is announcing the Dynabook Portégé X40-K laptop. A lightweight ultra-premium 14″ modern workplace laptop running the latest Intel 12th Gen P-Series 28W processor. It promises consumers great performance and productivity, portability and robust security.
The Dynabook Portégé X40-K laptop embodies a crafted dark blue aluminium chassis with diamond-cut perimeter edges. The laptop is light weighing 1.45 kgs and thin at 17.9 mm. It sports a thin-bezel 14-inch IPS or multi-touch display, with a premium backlit keyboard, and large multi-touch ClickPad. It comes powered with the latest 28-watt 12th Gen Intel Core processor and runs on Windows 11. You can choose between either a Core i5 or i7 CPU with up to 64GB of memory and ultra-fast SSD storage of up to 1 TB. The Portégé X40-K laptop will start selling at $1,349.99.
Dynabook says the Portégé X40-K is engineered and tested to MIL-STD-810H standards for strength and durability to ensure endurance to the rigours of daily use. It is ideal for multitasking and the Intel Iris Xe graphics can support up to four external 4K displays. Featured ports include a full-size HDMI, Gigabit LAN, 3.5mm audio, USB-A, as well as a microSD card slot. With one USB-A 3.2 port using a Sleep and Charge technology, that keeps the USB port powered, allowing the laptop to charge a smartphone or other accessories.
Dynabook Portégé X40-K laptop specifications
Dimensions
323.6 x 220.6 x 17.9 mm
Weight
1.45kg / 3.2lbs
OS
Windows 11 Pro Windows 10 Pro (with downgrade facilitation rights)
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With the popularity of streaming reaching an all-time high, the demand for gaming laptops has gone off the roof. Owning one is coming to be seen as a necessity, but getting yourself one might be a lot harder than you’d have anticipated. There are a lot of parts that go into the making of one and a single component out of order could impact the overall performance of the laptop. So, what are some of the core specifications that you should be concerned about?
1) Graphics processing unit (GPU)
This is one of the most important components of a gaming laptop. A lot of the popular games are pretty graphics intensive, so you’ll need a strong enough GPU to handle that stress on your device. You might end up spending a fortune later on it if you decide to upgrade your GPU, so it makes financial sense to invest in a quality GPU right when you’re assembling one.
From the latest Nvidia RTX-30 series to the Radeon RX series, there are plenty of options to choose from. But, base this decision on what kinds of games you intend to play and more importantly on what kind of game settings you prefer. The cost can range anywhere from $800 to $3,000 depending on their make and their power.
2) Central processing unit (CPU)
The next crucial component that you need to pay attention to while buying is a central processing unit. With newer variants entering the market with every passing day, the definition of what makes a good CPU isn’t limited only to speed. It simply isn’t that straightforward these days, too many factors need to be taken into consideration here.
But, in a broad sense, all that you need to be aware of is that there are two major players, Intel and AMD who’re both vying for a slice of the pie. While Intel was at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, its competitors have caught up and upped their game. So, get to research to better understand which CPU meets your requirements and if it’s within budget.
3) Random-access memory (RAM)
RAM more or less determines how efficiently your device works and whether it’s able to run the latest games without any difficulties. 8 GB should be more or less enough to suit most of your needs, but you can always go for the 12 GB ones, in case money isn’t an issue.
Another decision that you need to be taking is whether you want to use HDD or SSD method of storage. While HDDs are the standard option, SSD is significantly faster and are better at handling intensive activities. But, the caveat is that the SSD is pricier and may end up eating into the budget that you might have reserved for something else. A nice trade-off in today’s world is hybrid laptops that use a mixture of both HDD and SSD modes of storage. While HDD serves as the major portal, SSD is only used as a boot drive.
4) Display
If you’re not planning on getting a separate monitor, then you most likely will need a good display unit to go along with the powerful hardware. Some of the factors that you should account for while buying one are:
A) Size
The size of the display unit will impact your overall gaming experience. While the standard fixture is about 16 to 17 inches, you can always get ones that are either 14 or 18 inches. It’s simply a matter of what works best for you.
B) Resolution
The gold standard is the 4K screens, but they are fairly expensive and are not compatible with all the devices on the market. So, instead, you can always go for the 1920 x 1080 display.
C) Refresh rate
While you can choose from a wide range of refresh rates, right from 60 Hz to 360 Hz, 60 Hz should be more than good for all practical applications. Faster refresh rates would necessitate a better GPU, meaning you’ll have to spend more money than you’d have originally accounted for.
5) Laptop insurance
You’d have noticed that a lot of these components do cost a significant amount of money. What’s the point of making all these expensive purchases if you don’t get to enjoy its privileges, thanks to an ill-timed burglary? Getting insurance for laptops might seem like a far-fetched idea considering that your brand-new laptop does come with a manufacturer warranty, but this does not cover the eventuality that your device is stolen following a break-in.
The great thing about laptop insurance is that it is an intrinsic part of a renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance since it’s listed under perils. So, in this case, you’re at least assured that you’ll be suitably compensated in case your precious gaming laptop gets stolen.
6) Gaming accessories
Some of the other accessories that you can consider buying are an extra set of monitors, decent headphones with noise reduction, a gaming keyboard, and mice. They are not exactly bare necessities as such, but your gaming setup will feel complete which should make for an unparalleled experience.
Conclusion
So, that was a list of some of the core specifications that you need to pay attention to while getting a new gaming laptop. Do remember that all of them can be modified according to your needs and there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to buying one.
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Telefónica Tech is announcing the acquisition of Microsoft Inner Circle partner, Incremental, for up to £175 million including potential contingent payments linked to its future performance. To become the number one cloud transformation partner for its customers. Thereby delivering next-generation modern workplace experiences, trusted enterprise security services to protect apps in a data and hybrid cloud world.
The acquisition increases Telefónica Tech’s scale and competencies in Microsoft technologies with 16 Gold Competencies and 5 Advanced Specialisations. Making it one of Microsoft’s largest partners in the UK. With these capabilities, Telefónica Tech consolidates its leading position in the UK market, considered to be the largest and fastest-growing IT services market in Europe.
Launched in 2016, Incremental Group has two key specialised business areas. It is one of the leading Microsoft Dynamics Partners in the UK and is also a major player in the Data and Analytics market. It has been a Microsoft Business Applications Inner Circle member for the past three years and is one of only two partners in EMEA on Microsoft’s Global Advisory Board for data analytics.
Incremental Group has experienced significant organic and inorganic growth in recent years. In early 2021, Incremental acquired Redspire to expand its capabilities in the financial services market and become one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics partners in the UK. In October 2021, it acquired data analytics company Adatis, enabling the group to deliver end-to-end digital transformation to customers.
It is headquartered in Glasgow, although it has offices throughout the UK, as well as capabilities in Bulgaria and India. In total it has more than 350 employees which bring Telefónica Tech UK&I’s headcount to around 1,000 employees. The UK subsidiary thus contributes almost 25% of Telefónica Tech’s global workforce.
Incremental, one of Microsoft’s most significant partners in the UK
The amount of the transaction implies valuing the company at 13.7 times its gross operating profit (EV/OIBDA) and 14.2 times its operating cash flow (EV/OpCF), considering their results expected for the next fiscal year and excluding potential synergies.
The addition of Incremental’s business applications, power apps, data analytics and management capabilities to Telefónica Tech UK&I’s cloud services portfolio will enable it to enhance the end-to-end cloud offering for mid-market, large enterprise and government customers.
José Cerdán, CEO of Telefónica Tech, comments: “We warmly welcome Incremental Group, and are delighted that this acquisition enables us to strengthen our position as a leader in the UK market for IT services. We are now able to provide end-to-end Microsoft services, including digital transformation, managed services and data analytics, and achieve attractive cross-selling synergies with Telefónica Tech UK&I, complementing and positioning us as a leading Microsoft-focused company in the UK.”
Neil Logan, the current CEO at Incremental Group, says: “I am immensely proud of what Incremental has achieved since our inception a little over 5 years ago. As we looked ahead to the next stage of our development, it was important that we secured Incremental the right support for the long term. Becoming part of Telefonica Tech propels us into the next phase of our journey and enables us to further scale the business, creating exciting opportunities for our people and our customers.”
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The new S98 rugged phone was announced last month by DOOGEE. The company will launch the dual-screen rugged phone on March 28th on AliExpress and Doogemall (the company’s official shopping platform).
Doogee S98 sports a unique dual-screen design. The display on the back is round like the one on the Huawei P50 pocket but comes with a bezel to complete the smartwatch look. The 1.1-inch display allows great freedom of customization to achieve a more personalized style. For e.g, you can set a special picture as the background picture and use colors in the picture to customize a theme for the display. It is convenient for music control, checking the time, battery levels, and notifications without having to flip the phone over.
[The rear display borrows from the classic round shape of the wristwatch. Doogee S98 combines the 2 awesome worlds of smartphones and smartwatches into one]
On the back of the phone, there is also a triple camera setup, the main 64MP main camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and the most interesting of the set, a 20MP night vision camera. The night vision camera allows you to capture and record videos in pitch-black environments. Thanks to the 2 infrared lights on the side, a clear picture is almost always guaranteed.
Under the hood, MediaTek helio G96 runs the show. The octa-core processor is designed for gaming which means faster performance. Paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB memory, performance is smooth without lags.
The battery on this beast is a 6000mAh battery capable of carrying you 2-3 days of active use. It comes with a 33W fast charger and supports a 15W wireless charger.
The main screen is a 6.3” FHD+ corning gorilla glass-protected display. It will run Android 12 out of the box which brings a host of advantages on the security and optimization front. It also comes with a fingerprint scanner and a custom button on either side of the phone. The features are completed with NFC, 4 navigational satellite support, toolkit, custom button, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and many more.
Passing both IP68 and IP69K certifications with flying colors, S98 is waterproof from a depth of 1.5m and drop-proof from a height of 1.5m. It also breezed past the MIL-STD-810G tests, which means it can be used in the most extreme weather conditions.
Doogee S98’s global launch has been booked for March 28. Between March 28th and April 1st, it will be sold at a discounted price of $239 on AliExpress. After which, it will return to its original price of $339. But, if you want a free S98, Doogee is giving away 4 of them. To throw your hat in the ring, check the official S98 page for more details on the giveaway.
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Africa No Filter, in partnership with Meta, Electric South and Imisi 3D are awarding African Extended Reality Creators with up to $30,000 in grants to support the production and development of new content.
Six creators are winners of the ‘Future Africa: Telling Stories, Building Worlds’ programme. The program focuses on harnessing and investing in the next generation of Extended Reality (XR) creators and ecosystems in Africa.
The winners come from Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Cameroon, and Kenya. They will incorporate the creative uses of music, multimedia installations, films and sculpture in their work. To explore projects around spirituality, heritage, the cosmos, imagination and memory and masculinity into their extended realities projects. All with a focus on telling compelling African stories that are contemporary, narrative-shifting, and immersive.
Each creator will get funding of up to $30,000. Participate in XR-industry events to improve their creativity and showcase their projects. They will also access mentorship from Electric South and Imisi3D.
It’s reassuring to see the amount of incredible XR talent on the African continent, says Jessica Hagan, Arts and Culture Program Lead at ANF. “The creativity and innovation we encountered in the selection process has been very exciting. It shows that Africa is also on the pulse of global innovation and tech trends that are redefining how stories are told and experienced. XR content creation is costly, but African creators are not falling behind,” she adds.
The six Extended Reality Creators are:
Pierre-Christophe Gam, Cameroon: A multimedia artist who is working on a hybrid art installation that fuses VR, film, photography, and mixed-media sculpture to imagine the future of Africa from the perspective of an African family living in 2070.
Xabiso Vili, South Africa: A writer, performer and new media artist. Vili’s visual album is a speculative fiction piece that explores reconciliation and healing. Vili hopes to turn toxic masculinity into compassionate masculinity.
Nirma Madhoo, Mauritius: A fashion filmmaker, XR creator and Ph.D. candidate. Her work explores African cultures as technologies, which she illustrates through ancient practices like cultural astronomy.
Michelle Angawa, Kenya: A film editor XR creator. This creation centres around a short tragicomedy that depicts a day-in-the-life of a Nairobian boda boda rider. Exploring desire and the complexities of Nairobian life.
Malik Afegbua, Nigeria: A multimedia artist who is curating a virtual heritage experience of the Kofar-Mata dye pit, a cultural and historical site in Kano, Nigeria.
Lara Sousa, Mozambique: A director and producer. This creation uses the journey of Lemanjá, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of wisdom, to explore the ocean as a sacred site of spirituality.
“This specially curated program is an opportunity to support African storytellers who are leveraging the power of the next evolution of social technology. Whilst also shining a spotlight on the amazing, creative, and diverse talent pool we have here on the continent. We understand the power of Extended Reality and how it can be used to tell stories that shift narratives about and within the continent. We’re excited to see these visions come to life.”
Sherry Dzinoreva, Meta’s Public Policy Programs Director, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey
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