Friday 27 July 2018

Cloud Computing – The Future Radical Commercial Transformation @AcerAfrica

Hi Friends, 

Radovan Richta, a Czech philosopher, describes technological evolution as “The radical transformation of society through technological development.” Not only do we see this theory of innovation materialize in our personal lives, but businesses both medium and large enterprises are utilizing all aspects of technology to improve their daily functions and assist in fast and efficient processes. It is because of this transformation that we see the rise and increased spend on cloud computing infrastructure globally, but most importantly in Africa.

Cloud computing can be described as a conglomerate network of remote servers that work together to assist in on-demand computing services needed from these businesses that choose to migrate to the cloud. Cloud computing provides applications, storage, and processing power capabilities that are all hosted online and are normally available on a pay-as-you-use basis and is able to store, manage, and process rich and complex shared data in one place. Cloud computing allows businesses to access their data at any time from any place.

Why the Cloud?
The viable business environment in Africa forces companies to search for practical avenues that can assist, grow and strengthen its position in the market. By moving applications or processes to a cloud service provider that offers a significant platform capacity and specialist IT skills, that will streamline the operational side of any business. This should release portions of its capital margin to invest in its core business and own products.

Vic Brits, Head of Commercial at Acer Africa says, “Cloud computing is especially attractive to knowledge-based start-ups and SMB businesses as it lowers initial cost outlay. Larger corporates usually start by moving their commodity applications like mail and CRM, to cloud providers first, and then follow with other critical business systems later.”

Cloud Computing – The Future Radical Commercial Transformation @AcerAfrica

Migrating to cloud computing as a business is an integral component of any company's digital transformation strategy. According to The Cloud Africa 2018 report, a research project conducted by Arthur Goldstuck’s World Wide Worx for F5 Networks, it states that the use of the cloud is experienced and used differently in the major market regions in Africa.

The research project conducted mined information from 550 IT influencers and decision makers from the industry in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The results revealed that the use of the cloud by medium and large organizations has more than doubled in five years. The spending forecast in these regions remains high with further growth of cloud providers expected.

The fundamental reason why businesses are turning its head in the way of cloud computing is the ease of using an operating system that doesn’t require ownership maintenance and upgrades or operational management of hardware and software applications. Businesses are able to rent specific IT services based on the operational requirements of its business on a monthly or quarterly basis. It’s as easy as renting a house.

Using or renting the cloud
Absorbing the cloud function into a business can be a tedious process but does not have to be. “Transitioning to the cloud from on-premise equipment must be approached like any major IT project. It requires a deep understanding of its current internal IT systems and the interdependency of applications and data sources. All target applications and functions to migrate to the cloud and security considerations need to be mitigated before establishing a structured phase approach,” says Brits.

“We have made it easy for companies to migrate to the cloud by incorporating very little legacy equipment in our devices via focused rental options that move their access costs to OPEX as well, further cutting down on CAPEX spend,” adds Brits.

Brits further explain that the benefits of moving to a Software as a Service [SaaS] model, can help companies achieve objectives such as:
  • Reducing CAPEX and the requirement for in-house specialist IT skills
  • Achieving cost-effective Business Continuity
  • Increase scalability and business agility
  • More seamless collaboration with suppliers and customers
Do’s and dont’s
The transition of using the cloud in your day-to-day business functions can be risky in the initial stages. Brits offer the below advice ahead of beginning your cloud computing journey. Some important considerations for cloud transitions are:
  • Allow for extra time and budget allocation if any existing applications are custom written or very complex
  • Confirm software database costs and ensure licensing supports the migration
  • Plan for an app by app approach, or small batches of related apps
  • Ensure the correct skills are available for the duration of the project
  • Avoid the “Big-Bang” approach at all costs as the risk outweighs the anticipated return in 95% of transitions
Cloud Computing is the future and is part of the greater digital interruption era we are experiencing. Trends reveal the increasing spend on cloud services, and it is predicted that this will only increase in the coming decades.

“Factors such as data sovereignty, latency, security and privacy concerns deserve serious consideration in digital transformation strategies being developed and implemented in big corporates. SMB’s are inherently nimbler and can embrace the digital transformation with less internal barriers. We, therefore, expect SMB’s to lead the adoption of Cloud in South Africa,” concludes Brits.

For more information: Follow Acer Africa on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Cheers!!!
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Bond With Your Bestie on International Day of #Friendship #30July @SpotifySA

Hi Friends,

There’s nothing better than taking the stage with your BFF and belting out your best rendition of Aretha Franklin’s Respect for weekly karaoke or getting into a girl huddle for I Will Survive! Have you ever found yourself singing along to your favorite song and looked up to find someone doing the same thing? How many friendships have been formed through a shared love for a track or genre of music?

Monday, July 30th marks International Day of Friendship and what better way to celebrate than to spend some quality time with your best friend or circle of friends enjoying the tracks you love best.
Bond With Your Bestie on International Day of #Friendship #30July @SpotifySA
To celebrate the International Day of Friendship, Spotify is sharing some of the best Karaoke Duets songs that you and your friends can enjoy the next time you’re together. German composer Paul Hindemith once said, “People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts,” so keep the good time rolling by signing up for Spotify for free, and create a playlist of all your favorite sing-along tracks to share with friends.

Download the Spotify app via the Android or iOS app store or by heading to www.spotify.com. To embed Spotify into a website - right click on any playlist, go to 'share' and copy the embed code.

#SpotifySouthAfrica - Facebook: @Spotify |Twitter: @SpotifySA | Instagram: @spotify
 
Cheers!!!
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Thursday 26 July 2018

@AcerAfrica Reveals It's Best Kept Secret #ReliabilityPromise

Hi Friends, 

Acer’s Reliability Promise is a bespoke and unique assurance of quality on its professional range of devices, which is offered as an incentive to its customers. Purchase any qualifying Acer Professional product before 31 December 2018, and if the device develops a fault, within the first year, it will not only be repaired, but you will also receive a full 100% refund on the price paid!

The passion and desire Acer Africa has to provide only the best products to its client base are evident in the company’s Reliability Promise. Acer remains a strong competitor in the market and achieves this through its added value programs and guaranteed quality of its devices.

Acer aims to always offer their consumers the best, and this is how:

What you need to do
  1. All Acer devices that come with Windows Pro form part of our professional range, automatically qualify for the Reliability Promise. Visit ShopAcer.co.za to see our full range.
  2. Next step is sealing the promise! Register your brand new device with the Reliability Promise online. Remember to do this within 30 days of your purchase. The first day of purchase as detailed on your invoice or receipt counts as day 1. Register here and follow the instructions.
  3. Should your new purchase develop a technical fault within one year of purchase, simply call our dedicated warranty number 087 151 3401 to report your technical fault then follow the online Claim instructions to proceed with your claim. SIMPLE!
The Reliability Promise forms part of the company’s continued strategic investment in the commercial business segment that targets enterprise, public sector, and SME customers, and aims to set the industry standard for quality and reliability. The program has also expanded its offerings and made it easier to benefit from, as part of a bespoke reward system for its customers.
@AcerAfrica Reveals It's Best Kept Secret #ReliabilityPromise
Paul Collins, Acer Africa Country Manager, says, “Acer aims to align its reward system to the values of the company by manufacturing the best quality products that are trusted in technology to deliver the best results while providing a long-term service to its user. The significance behind this ethos is underpinned by our Reliability Promise.”

The Reliability Promise is valid until 31 December 2018.

For more information, follow Acer on Facebook, InstagramandTwitter.
Cheers!!!
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#SouthAfrica Get Ready to #MMshareTheLove With Your Best Friend!

Hi Friends,

Got a sweet tooth? Your love for a chocolate treat could grant you an opportunity to travel to some of the biggest cities of the world. M&M's, the World's most shareable snack is giving away a chance for you to take your favorite person along to your dream destination. 
For their current campaign, M&M’s is giving away a trip for 4 people (each takes a friend) to New York, Las Vegas, Orlando or London.
#SouthAfrica Get Ready to #MMshareTheLove With Your Best Friend!
The campaign runs from the May 28 to August 31, 2018. To enter, they have to purchase any two bags of M&M’s 100g or 200g and dial *120*846*2000#, follow the prompts and use the last four digits of the barcode and the name of the store you purchased the product from. The competition will run through the following stores, with each representing the city you could win the trip to New York – Checkers; Las Vegas – Pick ‘n Pay; Orlando – Spar; London – Total, Dischem & other retailers.

If you would like to win a trip, please follow instructions above or visit our Facebook page for entry details and T&Cs. Follow the hashtag #mmsharethelove
Cheers!!!



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PEPPADEW® – So Much More Than A Piquanté Pepper @Peppadew_ZA #justaddpeppadew

Hi Friends,

PEPPADEW® is not just famous for its piquanté pepper. It’s a whole lot more – encompassing a range of products that are always world-class quality, delicious, and ideal additions to a vast array of meal options. The fame of the fabulous PEPPADEW® piquanté pepper that has delighted consumer palates around the world since 1995 has contributed to the conviction that the PEPPADEW® is the piquanté pepper. But PEPPADEW® is the brand – and the PEPPADEW® product range extends way beyond the first sweet and very zesty, little red piquanté pepper.

The PEPPADEW® range incorporates 27 mouth-watering products such as jalapeño variants – hot or mild, slices, cones or halves; mango and vegetable atchars – hot or mild; pickled onions – hot or mild, light or dark; a selection of pasta sauces that includes green pepper and garlic, piquanté pepper and garlic, piquanté pepper and olive, tomato and jalapeño, and tomato and basil; relishes – hot and mild piquanté pepper, jalapeño and ginger, and hamburger; and hot and mild piquanté pepper splash-on™ sauces.
PEPPADEW® – So Much More Than A Piquanté Pepper @Peppadew_ZA #justaddpeppadew
Peppadew and Chicken Powerbowl
The flagship products in the PEPPADEW® offering remain the much-loved range of sweet piquanté pepper products, known for their fresh and crunchy texture, sweet taste, vibrant red colour, excellent quality, and amazing versatility, and include mild and hot, whole, chopped, and slices and the ‘stand at the open fridge and fill your mouth’ sweet piquanté peppers filled with cream cheese.

No day doesn’t deserve a PEPPADEW® zing – breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and any in-between snack. From sandwiches, pastasand pizzas, to stews and soups, grilled, fried, or roasted chicken, fish, beef, lamb, pork, or game, salads and vegetables, and braais and potjies, the options are endless.
PEPPADEW® – So Much More Than A Piquanté Pepper @Peppadew_ZA #justaddpeppadew
chicken-curry-peppadew-piquante-peppers-salad-cone
The PEPPADEW® brand has a strong history – from the first cultivation of the piquanté pepper seed in the early 90s in Limpopo, to our global reach in 24 countries today, as well as a powerful legacy of making a difference to the communities within our areas of operation, and to our people, creating job opportunities and partnerships with emerging farmers. We believe that this commitment to the people behind the products adds an extra tastiness to every morsel of PEPPADEW® products.

“PEPPADEW® is passionate about adding a special touch of piquancy and texture to dishes, lifting the humdrum to new culinary heights, and creating accomplished chefs in every kitchen. It’s the PEPPADEW® way – and we will continue to expand our range with exciting new products, and our global footprint with enthusiastic new PEPPADEW® fans,” comments Chef Martin Kobald, Owner of ChefMLK group of companies, Vice President of the World Association of Chefs Societies and PEPPADEW® ambassador.
PEPPADEW® – So Much More Than A Piquanté Pepper @Peppadew_ZA #justaddpeppadew
peppadew-piquante-pepper-quinoa-salad
For more information on the PEPPADEW® range, go to www.peppadew.com or follow the brand on Facebook (@peppadewsa), Instagram (@peppadewsa) and Twitter (@peppadew_za) #justaddpeppadew. 

Cheers!!!
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#SouthAfrica Favourite #NAGLAN Raises The Bar @rAgeExpo #rAgeExpo2018

Hi Friends,

The much-anticipated NAG LAN is back at rAge this October, and tickets go on sale on Saturday 28 July 2018 at 09h00, both online and at Computicket outlets. As SA’s most popular LAN, tickets to the NAG LAN are expected to sell out mega fast, and this year – as promised – the organisers are delivering an even more impressive event and experience!

“For the first time ever, gamers will be able to pre-select their preferred experience in three dedicated LAN areas when purchasing their tickets. Two of the areas will be fully carpeted, one area will have padded chairs, and two areas will be quieter and more secluded from the noisy expo show floor, ensuring that the NAG LAN experience is more tailored to everyone’s individual tastes and levels of comfort,” says Michael James, Owner and Project Manager at rAge.

In addition to this, gamers will now be able to take forty winks at, next to or underneath their tables and will not be disturbed by security.

The more good news is that the changes to the NAG LAN also mean a bigger rAge show floor, making for a more interactive and spacious visitor experience, with more exhibitions and activities on offer this year.
#SouthAfrica Favourite #NAGLAN Raises The Bar @rAgeExpo #rAgeExpo2018
The NAG LAN is Southern Africa’s largest BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer/Console) LAN event. Gamers from all over South Africa will travel to rAge with their gaming rigs, laptops and consoles, where they’ll then game for 52 solid hours! 2018 sees big name sponsors on board to ensure an impressive experience. Nutanix is sponsoring the servers, with Aruba supplying the switches and MWEB Fibre providing broadband connectivity.

“Not only is rAge a must-attend event in the calendar for gamers, but it also brings together a host of young talent who may well pursue a future in software development or IT. The sponsorship, and provision of the server architecture for the LAN, provides us with the perfect platform to showcase Nutanix as a next-generation platform for who we believe will be the future IT leaders of our digital economy,” states Paul Ruinaard, country manager Sub-Saharan Africa at Nutanix. “Furthermore, we have architected the NAG LAN platform to run virtualisation for a high-volume traffic environment, a step away from the bare-metal architecture they have used in the past. We are looking forward to seeing the benefits this yields for the gamers in a live environment.”

This year’s NAG LAN will prove to be an unforgettable experience for any gamer wanting to spend a weekend filled with meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones, as well as non-stop gaming 24/7.

Tickets cost R700 per person, which includes access to the expo all weekend, and will go on sale on Saturday 28 July at 09h00 at all Computicket outlets and online.

For more detailed information on the changes to the NAG LAN, as well as plans showing the new layouts and location of the three areas, go to the NAG website.
 
Cheers!!!
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Tuesday 17 July 2018

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - July 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #1550Post

Hi Friends, 

July being my birthday month has always been dear to my heart and mind. As I was born on 22nd July, I always thought it's the Life of Pi as you know 22/7=3.14 and it goes on and on and on so is my struggle to earn a living and getting what I want after a lot of effort and hard work. My life has never been easy, and I always had to fight back to get my share of living. But as in my 38th year of existence, I am thinking about the limitless power of Pi (22/7), it also gives me the infinite ability to create several infinite possibilities as I am endless human being. No one knows what I can think of and what I can achieve? What I can work on and what I can get?  

1. Hotel Review - All Seasons Boutique Bed and Breakfast #Pretoria @Bains_Lodges #SouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/hotel-review-all-seasons-boutique-bed.html - It was a lovely overnight stay and enjoy the evening with some of the close friends and many thanks to Geniene Preston from UKSACommuter for the beautiful invitation to visit this impressive Boutique hotel. I really loved this unique property, and it was my first time staying for a night in Pretoria. My family too loved the same, and we had an excellent dinner and morning relaxed breakfast. 

2. @SonyXperiaZA Set Up #Xperiatial Mall Activation to Launch #ItsASony Devices - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/sonyxperiaza-set-up-xperiatial-mall.html - I think this was the only time, Sony Mobiles gave a great goodies bag which has in it their impressive bass enabled headphones and I got the same in RED colour which is still unpacked as I wanted to review them but never got time to do so. Otherwise, if you attend Sony events, the goodies bag is always surprising as it will have a dairy or pen or keyring or vinegar etc. to create a DIY volcano. The people who promoted the Sony smartphone now are promoting another smartphone brands, and that's the irony of life. Everyone is an opportunist and if they have niche skill they can always migrate to other brands. I have been a Sony fan and still owns the maximum Sony products which are self-bought, and I remember my first earphones for which I saved money and bought them lasted me long.

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - July 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #1550Post
Happy Birthday Aashish using the Huawei P20 smartphone (review unit)
3. #AcerForYou 2017 Blogger Road Trip – Making @AcerAfrica Your Partner in Life - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/acerforyou-2017-blogger-road-trip.html - Acer is another brand for whom my blog is full of articles about their products. I am even getting press releases from India from them along with from PR company in South Africa. I really love their SWIFT series of notebooks and Predator Gaming series of laptops. It hurt me when they didn't invite me to their last event, but life goes on. In the blogging world, you have to make your heart little bit less sentimental, else you will always keep on crying, and no one will care too so if you in deep emotional shit already, stay away from blogging!

4. Will You be Supporting Admiral & Jahseed and Reggae? #RedBullCultureClash @RedBullZA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/will-you-be-supporting-admiral-jahseed.html - I love music, and this was my first time to Red Bull Culture Clash special media event. There only I predicted that DJ Tira's Durban Massacre will win the tournament. Their sound system was something that was missing in other DJ's. I totally fell in love with the vibes at this event, and also Red Bull is my favourite energy drink. 

5. #SouthAfrica Welcomes Sleek, New Compact #Nokia5 @NokiaMobile #Android Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/southafrica-welcomes-sleek-new-compact.html - Nokia smartphones were launched last year in South Africa, and I only got to review them around March this year brings me to a question that shall I close down my blog? Or the PR company doesn't know who is the right candidate for them or shall I neglect the brand entirely? There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions. It's all situation based on the marketing strategy and budget by the brands. Now you remember I wrote about being thick-skinned and that's very much true.

I do believe in the Law of Attraction and Universe, and it's those moments of Co-creation where I just think and the same happen instantly is what makes life experimenting with. The more you can co-create the more fun you can bring in your life. Happy Birthday Aashish from The Life's Way for creating this unique platform to share all your feelings and insights and also to create beautiful opportunities for yourself!!! Keep on going, and you will fulfil your heart's desires sooner or later!

Cheers!!!
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The @Cadbury_SA #Martians Meet #AugmentedReality in New Campaign #JoyOfANewKind

Hi Friends,

The new Cadbury Martians, Cosmo, Buzz, Cupido and Luna, are building an emotional connection through sight and sound with consumers and are igniting joy of a new kind through an exciting Augmented Reality (AR) experience.

With the support of the Cadbury Martians APP and the new Limited Edition chocolate wrappers, consumers are now able to interact with the Martian figurines, in a way never seen before. Using augmented reality, the APP brings the Martians to life, in a fun song and dance routine.
The @Cadbury_SA #Martians Meet #AugmentedReality in New Campaign #JoyOfANewKind
“In celebration of the new campaign, we teamed up with LikeDigital to turn the new limited-edition chocolate wrappers into an augmented reality storytelling device for the Martian figurines. Using product design and innovation through packaging, we have improved customer engagement – with meaningful and enticing interactions,” says, Grant van Niekerk, Chocolate Category Lead, at Mondelez South Africa.

Download the APP now on Google Play or the App Store to immerse yourself in this exciting AR experience, enjoyed exclusively through the Cadbury chocolate wrappers. Scan any limited-edition Cadbury slab and see the Martians come to life. Scan two slabs and who knows what you might discover? 

I am downloading this app while I am writing this and it's a 154MB app so download over Wi-Fi and enjoy the magic! I and my kids really loved the music and the dance combination for all the members of Martians. Now next target is to collect all 4 of these characters as I missed them last season. Enjoy and share the fun on Facebook at @CadburyDairyMilkSA and on Twitter @Cadbury_SA
The @Cadbury_SA #Martians Meet #AugmentedReality in New Campaign #JoyOfANewKind
About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is building the best snacking company in the world, with 2017 net revenues of approximately $26 billion. Creating more moments of joy in about 160 countries, Mondelēz International is a world leader in biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages, featuring global Power Brands such as Oreo and belVita biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate; and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

About Mondelez South Africa
Mondelez South Africa is the largest confectionery business in South Africa, enjoying market leadership in the chocolate, chewing gum and bubble-gum categories. The company’s portfolio includes some of the largest snacking brands in the world, such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Halls, Oreo and Stimorol gum. Also, Mondelez SA is the custodian of iconic and well-loved local brands such as Chappies bubble gum, Chomp, Lunch Bar and Dentyne chewing gum. The company has a presence in some countries in Southern, Central and Eastern Africa where it invests in growing these markets.

Cheers!!!


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Space: Not The Final Frontier @ADATATechnology #ExternalHardDrive

Hi Friends,

Space. It may once have been the final frontier, but now it’s the one thing that anyone with technology runs out of. The sheer volume of data generated every day is staggering with the average for 2017 working out to around 2.5 quintillion bytes daily. Research by Domo also revealed what takes place in one hot internet minute – users watch more than four million videos, Google spits out 3.6 million search results and Instagram gains nearly 50,000 new images. That’s in just one minute. While it’s unlikely that your system is about to gather up that much data in one lifetime, the challenge of space remains just that, challenging.

According to Tony Yu, South African country manager at ADATA, the need for space is only increasing, especially for people who spend their time working with huge files. And this number isn’t small or niche either.

“Whether you are gaming on a console or a laptop, looking for a way to secure critical data or simply trying to find places to squeeze in large files, storage space is often lacking,” he says. “This demand has ignited a marked trend towards the development of new and cost-effective storage solutions that can handle the weight of the data and meet the needs of the user.”

One of these solutions is the external hard drive (HDD). It’s the natural, comfortable cousin of the internal hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) that is locked in place by design. The external HDD fits in your pocket, go with you when you need it, can be stored safely and used to backup critical data all at the same time.
Space: Not The Final Frontier @ADATATechnology #ExternalHardDrive
The added edge of security is, of course, a bonus when you consider how easily systems are being compromised today. Although if you don’t leave your external HDD plugged in, that will only make it just as vulnerable as other systems connected to the net.

“In addition to security, the external HDD is accessible and easy to use – plug and play convenience on the move,” adds Yu. “Unlike cloud storage solutions, the external HDD doesn’t need the internet to connect you to your data, and there is such a wide variety of sizes and designs that they fit most lifestyles and budgets.”

It’s true that not all external HDD are created equal. Some are slim and simple, introducing an array of colours alongside various storage capacities and capabilities. Others are military grade and rugged, ready to be dipped and dusted and thrown into the road. Although nobody is entirely sure why you would want to do this, there are external HDDs that can handle it.

“The ADATA HD710 Pro and HD650 are dust and waterproof and have military grade shock resistance,” says Yu, “The new HD650 has the 4TB capacity which is a new milestone for unpowered USB external hard drives. Both can withstand being immersed in water for up to an hour and have been designed to handle a lot of wear and tear to prevent data corruption.”

For those who aren’t that into beating up their hard drives, there is the HV300 and the HD330 external hard drive range from ADATA. The HV300 is only 10.3mm thick, and the HV330 is both slim and tough with a silicone layer that protects it against accidents.

Regardless of personal taste in style, colour and durability, the one thing that all external hard drives bring is more space. It may not be the final frontier anymore, not when capacity is up to 4TB, but at least the challenge of finding more of it has been resolved in a handy, portable and lightweight device. Visit www.adata.com.

Sources:https://i.marketingprofs.com/assets/images/daily-data-point/dataeachday-LG-domo-020817.jpg
 
Cheers!!!
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Introducing Discover Weekly: Your Ultimate Personalised Playlist @SpotifySA #SpotifySouthAfrica

Hi Friends,

Spotify has now launched its famous personalised playlist ‘Discover Weekly’ in South Africa. Updated every Monday morning, Discover Weekly brings you a custom-made, 30-song playlist explicitly tailored to your musical taste to help you find your next favourite artist.

Spotify users will receive a Discover Weekly playlist automatically - all you need to do is continue listening to the music you love on Spotify. Spotify will create a playlist of new music and artists based on your listening habits: the playlists you have created, the tracks you’ve skipped or loved and how frequently you listen to a specific track or artist.

Discover Weekly will also include tracks based on what fans with similar music tastes are enjoying right now. This means every song in Discover Weekly is based both on your own listening as well as what others are playlisting and listening to around the songs you love - making your playlist wholly unique but full of deep cuts and new discoveries.
Introducing Discover Weekly: Your Ultimate Personalised Playlist @SpotifySA #SpotifySouthAfrica
It’s like having your best friend make you a personalised mixtape every single week.

As your music taste evolves, so will Discover Weekly, in fact, the more you listen, the better it gets to know you. Because it’s a playlist, you can access and listen to across all your platforms and devices, finding great new music for your Monday commute has never been better.

“High Fidelity’s Rob Gordon had it right - the making of a mixtape is a very subtle art. That’s why we created Discover Weekly,” says Gustav Söderström, VP of Product at Spotify. “There’s never been a simpler, more personalised way to discover music, with every playlist tuned just to you every single week.” 

Discover Weekly is refreshed with new music every week, so remember to save your new favourites to a playlist before the end of the week.

How Discover Weekly works: Listen to the music you love on Spotify. Spotify will create a playlist of new music and artists based on your listening habits: the playlists you have created, the tracks you’ve skipped or loved and how frequently you listen to a specific track or artist. This new personalised playlist will be served fresh to you each Monday.
Introducing Discover Weekly: Your Ultimate Personalised Playlist @SpotifySA #SpotifySouthAfrica
Your Discover Weekly playlist is made even better the more you create your own playlists - to get you started here are some simple tips on creating a playlist:
  • Click New Playlist in the menu on the left.
  • Give your playlist a name (description and cover image optional) and click Create.
  • Add a track
  • Right-click a track and select Add to Playlist.
  • Select a playlist.
  • Note: You can also drag and drop the track to a playlist.
  • Find excellent playlist recommendations for any occasion with Genres & Moods, located under Browse.
  • It's time for Spotify to soundtrack your week. Who knows what you’ll find?
Download the Spotify app via the Android or iOS app store or by heading to www.spotify.com. To embed Spotify into a website - right click on any playlist, go to 'share' and copy the embed code.

#SpotifySouthAfrica - Facebook: @Spotify |Twitter: @SpotifySA | Instagram: @spotify

Cheers!!!
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Sunday 15 July 2018

Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence

Hi Friends, 

Huawei has been a consistent performer regarding enhancing its technology with collaborations with Leica and many other technology innovation leaders in the smartphone industry. I never expected Leica cameras to be such a powerful enhancer on the Huawei smartphones as I was not able to check out P9/P10 smartphones and only checked out the review unit for Huawei P20 for two weeks now. In such a short span of time, I took around 1500 photos and videos on the review unit and also shared the same on my Twitter and Instagram handles. Coming back to the review and how much fortunate I considered myself to use this fantastic #ArtificialIntelligence enabled smartphone and the Leica Dual Camera on Huawei P20 performance, let's begin the review.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
Saturday Morning Breakfast with friends and family took using Huawei P20

Huawei smartphones are always equipped with their EMUI and on this P20, its version 8.1 which displays incredible HD quality wallpapers which can be set to change automatically on every login. I loved those wallpapers instead of having only one for long. Many such small features are enabled inside all smartphones which takes time to identify and use. I could see that this phone also gives you GPS directions using Google Maps even if the display is off. Also, all Huawei smartphones come with Delacey's - Dream It Possible song which I admire, love and adore. Only thing I didn't like is that you can't copy this song or share it with others.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
Top of Hartbeespoort taken using Huawei P20

The very first thing that you will fall in love with is the back panel of the new P20 smartphone. It's available in a glass-like reflective surface which comes in three colours, and the review unit in Blue looked amazingly beautiful. Purple is also one colour which shines in your hands, and also you can personalise the smartphone by getting the glass etched using laser technology when you buy it at Huawei stores. The smartphone only weights 165 grams and fits very well in your hands.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
At Silverstar Casino taken using Huawei P20

The 5.8" full view display is full HD 1080x2244 and has been brilliant enough to showcase 16.7M colours giving 428ppi. The Huawei P20 device is powered using the Kirin 970 CPU which is octa-core where 4 are Cortex A73 2.36GHz and rest 4 are Cortex A53 1.8GHz. I have played multiple pre-installed games, and the responsiveness is excellent on the device and never faced the problem of device warming. 4GB RAM on the machine is enough to make it multitaskable without any performance issues.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
At Cradle of Humankind taken using Huawei P20

The other feature that stole my heart away for this device is 128 GB memory capacity which will last you long even when you are clicking photos on the go for a month long trip. Though the battery capacity of 3400mAh is not enough if you are using 4G internet on the phone too without switching on the power saving mode. It will then last you less than 12 hours and needs to be charged to keep it going.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
Selfie at home with Rancho took using Huawei P20

The package contains a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter which means the smartphone doesn't have a headphone jack built-in but provides to still keep your loved headphones in sync with you. The USB-C Earphones that come are average, and you will only use them for calls etc., but they are not for audiophiles tastes for listening pleasures. The charger is supercharge enabled, and the phone quickly charges to 100% in less than an hour using this original charger. The USB-C cable has purple colour on both its ends. The audio is Dolby Atmos-enabled and loud enough to listen to music and videos directly from the device. The USB-C earphones that come with Huawei can also be used with other Type-C devices.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
One of the dishes at Tashas taken using Huawei P20
Now coming to the main feature of the legendary Huawei P20 Artificial Intelligence Photography capabilities. A grand salute or standing ovation before I begin the praise for the same for introducing DSLR photos right in the hands of people who don't need to know any rule of thirds and other photographic jargons. The camera capabilities on this Leica Dual camera smartphone is highly appreciated all around the globe and features 12MP RGB lens and 20MP monochromatic lens on the rear side. The DxOMark photo score for this mobile is 102 which is second highest to date from all the smartphones made which are a feature in itself, and the same smartphone is 3rd best for videography. No wonder this camera smartphone also features super slow-motion video at 960fps. 0.25s recorded in 960 fps Super Slow Motion mode equates to approximately 8s of standard video.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
A low light capture from Sandton Convention Centre taken using Huawei P20
Artificial Intelligence helps the smartphone in multiple ways and the first being to do image stabilisation to take blur-free handheld shots even in low-light conditions using Night mode. Night Mode also balances high-contrast scenes for effortlessly clear, light-balanced snaps in any setting. Secondly, AI helps to identify the scene settings from 19 different categories and automatically adjusts the photo settings to give you the best results possible. Identifiable types include cat, food, group, natural colours, close-up, night shot, text, greenery, portrait, dog, fireworks, blue sky, flowers, stage, document, sunset, snow, waterfall, and beach. I could only take photos for blue sky, greenery, snow, night shot, text, food and portrait in my two weeks with the review unit which are available on my instagram.com/araijain handle. It also colour balances your photography depending on the scene just like the DSLR camera on auto-scene mode to give you the best results. Professional framing is also enabled in the smartphone along with the watermark to write individual text messages in your photographs.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
At RUSH eSports Gaming at Sun Arena Pretoria taken using Huawei P20
Another feature which AI enabled is the translation of any text in any language to English when you travel around the world just by pointing your camera towards the billboard or newspaper or whatever you want to translate. All the photos used in this blog post are taken using the Huawei P20 camera on auto mode. Huawei P20 is one smartphone that will destroy the entry-level DSLR market where you have to purchase separate lenses for prime, telephoto and portrait lenses making it similar in the value as this smartphone with a lot less weight to carry around. If you are a general social media influencer like myself, you don't need anything further to cover the events, post images on twitter, facebook and Instagram and also on your blog.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
At French Toast Koffie Kafee Hartbeespoort taken using Huawei P20

Coming to the never heard feature of front camera of 24.8MP CMOS sensor to take incredible selfies in whatever setting to make vibrant, sharp and dazzling images. Also enabled is the 3D portrait lighting where you can control a host of studio-quality lighting effects to turn quick selfies into striking portraits. Overall, I have fallen in love with Leica Dual Camera AI Huawei P20 Android Smartphone and wishing the best of Huawei P20 Pro with Leica Triple Lens on my 38th birthday on 22nd July this year. I know its a wishful thinking, but you never know as Life is a box of chocolates, and you can always get the better ones in the end.
Product Review - @HuaweiZA P20 #SeeMooore #HuaweiP20 #ArtificialIntelligence
Happy Birthday in advance Aashish Rai on 22nd July taken using Huawei P20

Cheers!!!

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Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA

Hi Friends, 

With the Samsung Galaxy smartphones over the years, I have always felt that I should do BEG, BORROW or STEAL to stay in touch with these fantastic smartphones from another Universe.  Samsung S9 needed no introduction and last year when I returned my office Samsung S8+, I was so sad and have to buy Galaxy Note 8 to cheer myself up in Jan 2018. But soon afterwards Galaxy S9 was launched with an improved camera and slow-motion videography which I could not master in my little 2 weeks review span due to hectic working hours at the office. 
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Zoom Camera using Samsung Galaxy S9
Coming back to the Galaxy S9 jewel from Samsung Mobiles, this smartphone is equipped with 12 MP dual aperture f1.5, or f2.4 rear camera which has impressive low light capabilities along with slow-mo video capture at 960fps @HD quality and 240fps@fullHD quality and the front camera is 8MP f1.7 AF to take amazing selfies. All the photographs used in this blog posts are made using the Samsung Galaxy S9, and more can be checked on my instagram.com/araijain page. Weighing only 163 grams with 3.5mm headphones jack retained so that AKG earphones that come with the package can be fully utilised for an incredible audio experience. AKG earphones need no introduction too, people have written separate posts on the same, and I too loved them a lot from my S8+ days. Further, I ordered S8+ only due to AKG earphones as I also had a choice to order iPhone 7+ from office budget for myself which was to be retained by the office when I left that position.

Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
What's inside the box?
Galaxy S9 has 4GB RAM, and 64GB model has user memory availability of around 50GB which is expandable via the micro-SD card. At the launch event, many telecom providers were giving 256GB SD card for free with this smartphone. A single slot contains a place for Nano-SIM and a micro-SD card expandable up to 400GB. The phone comes with 3000mAh battery which will last you around 12-13 hours but can be charged faster using the Speed Charger packaged inside the box. A transparent silicon cover to protect the smartphone is also included in the box. 

Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Silhouette Photography using Samsung Galaxy S9
The unique feature of this smartphone is the fantastic form factor with its glass melting into the edges of the phone giving infinite display capabilities. 5.8 inches of sheer viewing pleasure due to Quad HD+ display gives 16M colour depth. The text is more vibrant and brighter, and the colours on the smartphone really look great on its 570ppi display. 
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Selfie using Samsung Galaxy S9 at Forever Resorts Badplaas
Secondly is the capability to bring ARemoji's which is gif's in which you are the main character and are made in several emotions to represents various life situations. It's a fun feature and is very quick to generate the images for you or for someone you love. 
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Aashish Rai #AREmoji using Samsung Galaxy S9
The third feature is the capability to take Slow motion video in low light situations also at 960fps, and you can see what your eyes miss to gather from the motion. This is just like creating those videos which you see in IPL, Football World Cup and Wimbledon which when combined with music brings out the emotions in you. I really loved this slow-motion video capability but could not create one in 2 weeks review span. I did some but it's not up to what storyline I wanted to communicate so will need more time with the smartphone.
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Elsa at Disney On Ice show using Samsung Galaxy S9
The camera has been the main feature of the Galaxy smartphones, and they have really taken out the market of point and shoot cameras. Everyone likes to carry the camera on their smartphones, and every company is making dual or triple or more lenses cameras. With Galaxy S9, I have not used my DSLR camera as I could the same kind of photos with a smartphone and secondly, its much less weight to carry the smartphone. The third benefit can be to immediately share the photos/videos on your social media channels. Live Focus is one feature which will make you leave your DSLR behind as you can change your background blur afterwards or can have the shallow depth of field in photographic terms as per your choice which DSLR doesn't give instantly. The only thing I didn't like in S9 is when you zoom the camera, it brings in a lot of noise even in full sunlight conditions.
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Who is cuter? using Samsung Galaxy S9

Dust and Water resistance has been Galaxy Smartphones features since S5, but this one has the IP68 rating which will enable you to take selfies or photos in the rain. Dolby Atmos is the new three-dimensional surround sound theatre like effect to your new Samsung S9 smartphone. With Samsung smartphones, there are always a series of new features which a user has to identify himself/herself over time, and I really love finding those on my Galaxy Note 8 and earlier loaned S8+ one from office.
Product Review - @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy S9 #DoWhatYouCant #GalaxyS9 @SamsungSA
Happy Birthday Aashish on 22nd July using Samsung Galaxy S9
This is one smartphone for which I can go to any edge of beg, borrow or steal. Samsung has always been the frontrunner of technology and looking forward to what they have in store on 9th August 2018 when they launch the Galaxy Note 9 phablet. I am celebrating my 38th birthday on 22nd July, and only wishes that Universe listen to me this year.

Cheers!!!
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Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal

Hi Friends, 

Nokia has been launching Android smartphones every quarter or half-yearly to take on the market which has been taken over by Apple's iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Note series and Huawei's P and Mate Series Android smartphones. If the smartphones are on the shelves and the hardware is good enough, it will definitely pick up by just a little bit of luck and word of mouth. Nokia trying to do the same and I got to review this Nokia 6.1 which is an upgraded version of Nokia 6 which is the mid-range smartphone. Read my blog post for Nokia 8 here along with some Instagram images taken using the smartphone.
Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
At MTN's 5KM Run in Roodepoort

All the while till today, I was of the opinion that I used Nokia 6 earlier and why the smartphone has been degraded from the performance I was getting from new Nokia 6.1, but the truth was I was comparing apples to oranges as I used Nokia 8 earlier. Let's begin afresh than to talk about the features of this smartphone. 

Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
The very first feature that will attract you is the design and coloured contours of this Android smartphone. I really loved the Copper lining on the black coloured smartphone, there are 2 others colour options available too which are White - Iron and Blue - Gold. This immediately makes the phone look good and when you are using an entry-level smartphone that the most calming effect when your family and friends relook at your smartphone. Even Nokia 7 Plus has the same kind of design, and it's this copper colour that really helps you get connected to its design and fall in love with the all aluminium body of Nokia 6.1 

Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
Low Light capture of pathway
Nokia 6.1 comes with 5.5" IPS LCD full-HD display with the resolution of 1920x1080 protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The smartphone is now upped to 64GB internal memory as compared to Nokia 6, and also the Operating system is now Android One as compared to Android Nougat in Nokia 6. The RAM has been increased from 3GB to 4GB, and Snapdragon 430 processor has been replaced with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octa-core processor with a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz. The battery remained the same in both the smartphones at 3000mAh which is enough to give 12-13 hours of full loaded performance. 

Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
Fire on a lazy wintery afternoon
The phone display is excellent and viewable in sunlight too, and also another feature I loved is that of continuous GPS road navigation guidance even if the screen is turned off. That is really helpful if you are living in Johannesburg and don't want the phone to be visible at the intersections and also need to follow Google maps to some destination travelling for the first time.
Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
Selfie at MTN 5km Race

Nokia 6.1 has the same camera as Nokia 6, but I didn't really enjoy using the same as I compared it against Nokia 8. But as the price difference is too high between those 2 smartphones, at this price Nokia 6.1 could have done a little bit better as compared to the same priced models from Motorola, Samsung and Huawei. Low light photos were full of noise, and video quality was also inferior. The auto-focus was not right in low light, but with ambient light, the phone was able to take some good clear shots. Only worth mentioning is the selfie camera which was cool enough to take good shots and is equipped with 8MP FF, 1.12um, f/2, FOV 84degrees. The rear camera is 16MP PDAF, 1.0um,f/2, dual-tone flash equipped with ZEISS OPTICS. All the photos in this blog post are taken using Nokia 6.1.

Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
Badplaas Forever Resorts Mountains
3.5mm jack for headphones is still part of the smartphone, but the dual speakers in Nokia 6 have been replaced by a single speaker with smart amplifier. The phone has 2 microphones enabled with Nokia OZO audio technology. It comes with latest Type-C USB connection and fingerprint sensor at the back. The audio speakers are not much powerful and very difficult to talk if you are driving and it's on loudspeaker or in a noisy environment. I didn't really enjoy using the smartphone on the loudspeaker.
Product Review - @NokiaMobile Nokia 6.1 #AndroidOne #NokiaMobileZA #Nokia61 @HMDGlobal
Selfie with my son
The packaging is simple and contains the smartphone, simple old style earphones, Type C USB cable and charger for the smartphone. I really don't like using the entry-level or mid-range smartphones, but this one has great design and never looked mid-range and performance wise it's good hardware if you are into multi-tasking games and apps, but camera performance has taken me down. Worthy buy if you want to stick with Nokia brands but wait for the next version if you already have Nokia 6 in your pockets. Check out some of the photographs of the product and images on my Instagram.com/araijain

Cheers!!!
Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!