A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Mar 2019 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra

Hi Friends,

March 2019 was the best time of the year as I looked back today and connected the dots to see that I was part of many events and got several goodies bag and won several contests. My only pleasure is coming from sharing my content with the world and in turn, getting these goodies bag which I generally distribute to the people around me at the right time especially birthdays or festivals. If you ask me how many I have used myself, it will be very less and mostly it's given away to my friends and relatives.

1. 11 Years of Service in a Single Organization #TheLifesWayReviews - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/11-years-of-service-in-single.html - I will be completing 13 years in my organization in 2020 but I wrote about all the achievements and opportunities I got in my first 11 years in my organization. I totally love writing nostalgic posts and it's my strength as I think about it today. Thanks to my company for taking care of me during all these years and providing food on my table and travel in my leisure. 

2. @SamsungMobileSA Studio #GalaxyS10Studio #GalaxyS10 @GatewayUmhlanga @SandtonCity @Canal_walk @TheMallOfAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/samsungmobilesa-studio-galaxys10studio.html - Samsung Electronics always brings their amazing smartphones in the month of March and this year they brought a smartphone with 100x digital zoom in the form of Samsung S20 Ultra. Last year I was invited to the Sandton City activation to check it out and as a general public, I got the Samsung Scoop speakers and Uflex headphones from online contests. This year I was invited to the launch event in Feb 2020 but I was in Dubai during that time so I totally missed the invitation. Thanks a lot, Samsung! 

3. @Fujifilm_SA Launches @InstaxS SQ20 Hybrid Instant Camera in #SouthAfrica #InstaxSQ20 - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/fujifilmsa-launches-instaxs-sq20-hybrid.html - Fujifilm luckily invited some of the people from an online contest on Facebook which I won randomly and I was part of the launch event and as it happened I knew the PR person who also invited me just a day or two before the event. I really wanted an Instax camera in my life and I totally loved the one they launched last year in 2019. I didn't win any at the event but post-event I won one in the social media contests for the day. Many thanks, Fujifilm. 

Aashish & Shradha Rai at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi in Feb 2020

4. @AcerAfrica Launched #PredatorThronos Gaming Chair in #SouthAfrica #PredatorGaming - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/acerafrica-launched-predatorthronos.html - Acer Africa brought the most expensive gaming setup in the country in terms of Predator Thronos Gaming Chair with 3 curved screens, automated and reclining chair, RGB all around and bling to the max. I was invited to the launch event and got the cap and T-shirt in the goodies bag. Later I won the gaming mouse because of my event tweets which were delivered to me in around 2 months as it went out of stock before it was replenished. Thanks a lot Acer Africa. 

5. New Tantalising Flavours From @OrbitGumSA #TeamOrbitWatermelon #TeamOrbitBubblegum - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/new-tantalising-flavours-from.html - Orbit Gum chose me as one of the influencers to receive this amazing media drop which led to my first Instax Mini camera along with a lot of other wonderful products. It came out of nowhere and I was amazingly happy to receive the same. When something like this comes I keep them close before I start eating them just to realize that it's something I wanted and now Universe has made it a reality. Thanks a lot, Orbit Gum. 

6. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Mar 2018 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #1700thPost - http://www.thelifesway.com/2019/03/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-mar-2018.html - Between the March last year 1700 blogpost and this time will be 1935th blog post I have done 235 posts. Meanwhile, I intend to do a lot of posts written by me instead of press releases in 2020. Let's start the fun of creating new posts with inputs and ideas from the world around me.

I hope that the coming months will be great for me in 2020 and I will win or receive a lot of gifts from the environment around me which I can then pass to the networks I am in. Thank You, Universe! Thank You The Life's Way! Thank You, Aashish Rai, for bringing it all together and keeping faith in your capabilities!

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to discuss your products, launch events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay #NoFreePosts. TheLife'sWay charges a blogging fee for the time and efforts to join a new campaign or an existing one based on your requirements. Namaste!

#Streaming: The Gear, The Bandwidth And The Ultimate Platform @AcerAfrica @juliabishrobson

Hi Friends, 

Gaming is fast becoming commercially recognized and shaking off the archaic stereotype of being grunge and anti-social past time for the young adult. One of the key elements to be taken seriously as a gamer is to increase your online presence in ‘streaming’.

According to Julia Robson aka Bish, an Esports contender, and keynote speaker at this year’s Vodacom rAge event in Johannesburg, the need for gamers to share their gaming experience online is becoming prevalent. “Streaming allows any gamer to share and create content for their followers whether this is for Twitch.tv, YouTube, Facebook or Mixer,” says Bish. “These platforms create a space for gamers to share their live gameplay with an audience and interact with a community of other streamers and players.” If you are a ‘noob’ (new to the industry) you should not feel overwhelmed by streaming. Simply record and share on social platforms you are comfortable and familiar with and as your confidence grows as a gamer you can explore additional options.

Gamers have the option of live streaming or pre-recording sessions. Editing pre-recorded sessions allows the user to create edited videos or VOD (Video-On-Demand) which can be more user-friendly for their audience and the ‘noob, but it is not as authentic as a live stream. Bish uses her Predator gaming laptop to stream and recommends software called Wondershare Filmora which assists in uploading to various social platforms.

Picture Credit: Julia Bish Robson Twitter www.twitter.com/juliabishrobson

“It is important to grow with your channel, learn from others and find your niche.” Bish identifies her top influencers as Samplayze, HutchieOG, and Shazz, which she deems entertaining and reliable. As with all influencers on social networks, it is about creating content and knowing what your audience is looking for. “It may be easier for you to start to stream to friends and getting their thoughts and feedback first.”

In summary building, a streaming channel is a process and requires originality and dedication. With Twitch.tv gaining up to 15 million unique viewers per day and these viewers spending on average 95 minutes on the channel, the goal should be to eventually stream live from this channel and ultimately become an Esports star.

Bish shares her top tips for the starting your channel:

• Have fun and be original: It can be daunting to have a camera focused on you but soon it will become easy to interact and have fun with the audience. It is important to think about what would engage you as an individual and then populate that and make it unique to your channel
• Find your niche: Whether this is a summary of your play at the end of each stream, cosplaying during your stream or having quirky terms during your gameplay, think of ‘what you like’ and ‘what you are good at’.
• Security and Privacy: Never give away any personal details or sensitive information. It’s easy to get comfortable with the camera but always remember that content is streamed across the world and the same cautions apply as mainstream channels like Facebook and Instagram. Trolls and cyberbullies are not restricted to streaming and implementing NightBot as a chat moderator can assist with keeping unwanted attention at a minimum.
• Gear: A decent camera with a frame 1080p 60FPS or webcam with a minimum 720p will ensure the quality of your stream is decent. A stable fibre line of at least 10/10 mb with a stable upload and download speed. Other baseline requirements include i5 Intel processor, GTX 1060 graphics card and 16gb of DDR4 RAM. Anything over and above these specs will add to the viewer's pleasure.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra! 

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Feb 2018 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends,

February is the month of various celebrations as I got married long ago in this month, along with the month of valentine's day. I have been working hard and foolishly promoting a lot of brands and companies thinking that they will respect me and will want to work for me. But this thinking has really made my life miserable and dependent on others rather than myself taking charge and things in my hands. I was so sentimental about the same and now I am not doing it, I am feeling little lost on the number of posts and tweets but at least I am happy that I have plenty of time for myself and family.

1. Introducing 5 New Nokia Phones @NokiaMobile #HMD2018 #MWC18 #AndroidOne - Nokia launched their new smartphones to come back in the market but I am now aware how they are doing after a year of their product launch. I can see they are coming back to Pureview cameras with 48MP capabilities and in India, Alia Bhatt is their brand ambassador. I was not invited to the launch last year too and now also, I don't know whether these new phones will be launched here or not. 

2. Start With The End In Mind @SamsungSA #CustomerService #DigitalCommunication - Samsung has been the front runner in customer service and some of their products have reached Global No.1 status from time to time. I am a fan of their products and bought myself Samsung Note 8 (from Amazon India) and using the same here. It's more than a year now and I am still in love with my purchase. 

The concentration at its best - Aashish Rai Jain @AcerAfrica #PredatorThronos Gaming Chair

3. @AcerAfrica Introduces The Synergy Partner Portal #AcerSynergy - Acer Africa keeps on going and doing what they do best and that is to bring out some of the gaming and other products which will take your breath away. I recently went and checked out the Thronos Gaming Chair and fell in love with the same immediately. I also loved their accessories and some of the other Predator gaming range of products. Now I have their Tshirt and cap which I got as a goodies bag to attend Thronos Gaming Chair launch. 

4. New #ScoreZero Packs A #SugarFree Explosion of Power and Flavour @DrinkScore - This is one of the PR company who keeps sending me some of the drinks from time to time and I totally love to receive them. I love energy drinks especially Red Bull but this one is also comparable to the same. This one too comes in different tastes and CAN size and is easily available in the market. Let's see if they are able to beat the competition or not but I wish them all the very best. 

5. 16 Days To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #Dreams - My story towards the 5th anniversary continued in Feb 2018 too as I took a lot of time to write the whole stuff. This year I did complete 6 Years on 27 Dec 2018 and finally, I made my rate card which I religiously sent to all the PR companies. Whether they will come back to me or not that's their choice and wish, but I am not going to do any free stuff anymore unless I want to. I don't need any pen drives and I don't eat any food at any of the launch events so I will do what I am paid to do! I don't want to waste mines and another person's time. 

Let's see what March has in store for me but overall Feb 2019 has been a great month for me from many perspectives. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

@AcerAfrica Launched #PredatorThronos Gaming Chair in #SouthAfrica #PredatorGaming

Hi Friends, 

• Announced this year at IFA to wide acclaim, Acer’s Predator Thronos gaming chair is now available to buy in countries worldwide
• The Predator Thronos 1.5 meter tall gaming chair has an ergonomic design, support for three 27-inch gaming monitors, and a steel structure design with looks that kill
• Acer announces a line-up of in-country media events to demonstrate the immersive experience offered by Predator Thronos and invites journalists to come and ‘feel’ the game

Acer Africa announced the worldwide availability of its newly launched and much-acclaimed gaming chair, The Predator Thronos. Acer is the only company to produce a gaming chair that has been engineered to work specifically with a set of components, including three 27” Predator display monitors, a customised Predator gaming PC and a range of premium gaming accessories, which deliver a fully immersive experience through sound, haptic feedback and vibrations that correspond with gameplay.

“Our Predator Thronos is a dream come true for every gamer;” said Belinda Marais, Marketing Manager at Acer. “The games’ sounds are transferred to the back of the player to immerse them deeper in play and haptic feedback is provided to the user through sound vibrations rumbling throughout the chair which allows gamers to really ‘feel’ the game.”

The Acer Predator Thronos Gaming Chair

The all-new Predator Thronos reimagines the gaming chair for a new level of gamer. Its steel structure is 1.5 meters tall and comes in menacing dual-tone black with white or blue accents. The chair immerses the gamer in the game through deep impact vibration, synced with in-game activity. The chair is adjustable and includes an ergonomic seat design, footrest, and a cabin that reclines up to 140 degrees. The overhead brace supports three 27-inch gaming monitors and a space for a Predator gaming PC. Integrated with a Predator PC and triple Predator monitors plus gadgets, the Thronos becomes more than a gaming chair— it becomes a fully immersive gaming experience. It’s handsomely designed to cocoon the user in a steel cave that contains game controls and displays in a chair that can rotate to the optimal “driving” position. With its three displays taking up most of a gamer’s field of view, the Predator Thronos immerses the user in their gaming world with dedicated controllers to adjust the seat’s position.

Acer has introduced a host of new products in its expanding Predator and Nitro gaming portfolio this year including four new gaming monitors and a complete set of gaming gadgets designed to bring games to life. In October, Acer refreshed Predator Orion 9000 and 5000 gaming desktops powered by Intel 9th Gen Core Intel processors and top of the line NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPUs.

Luckily, I was also part of the launch event! Thank You! #AashishRaiJain #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra

Acer Predator Thronos Specifications

Cabin dimensions: 153.8 x 100 x 158

Colors: Dual Tone Black with Blue or White Accent

Weight: Cabin bottom weight 40kg

Cabin and seat weight 140kg

Total cabin and chair weight: 180kg

Voltage: 220 v-240v or 110v

Wattage: 180w

Pricing and Availability

The Thronos is available through special order from www.shopacer.co.za and pricing is dependent on product specification and requirements. 

This Gaming Chair is something you will always want/desire/wish to install in your house and if you have the money and passion to buy it - Go For It! There are so many features built into the overall package which are amazing - from the inclined seat to auto fold to leg rest to massaging your back, this Thronos has everything! Definitely a worth buy!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

#Chromebook in Your Classroom To Become Content Creator @AcerAfrica #AcerforEducation

Hi Friends,

After allaying its critics, Chromebook has been labelled by educators as the essential classroom tool. In a recent study by Acer - European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot of 2010, 74% of European based teachers who participated in the study believed that netbooks in classrooms will allow students personalised learning, and 89% of all teachers believe that netbooks will add value to improving computer literacy.

According to Peter Lacey, Education Lead for Acer Africa, the question is not if the Chromebook will enter South African classrooms, but when and how. Selborne Primary School based in East London decided to partner with Acer to introduce the Google Chromebook as part of their classroom learnings early in 2013. Through the Acer Premier Partner Program, Acer Africa has managed to successfully provide technology solutions to over 120 schools across its network. The success, according to Lacey lies in the fully customized solutions that Google and its platforms provide.

After comparing several solutions, the school’s governing body decided that the Google platform will be the best vehicle to move the school into the next phase of its technology journey. Sarah Friend, Grade Seven teacher at Selborne explains that, “ease of use is probably the stand out feature for me. This allows each pupil to use the device according to their unique learning ability.” According to Lacey this is what makes the Chromebook unique to any other netbook. “The Chromebook supports the learning material of a school’s current curriculum while allowing a pupil to expand this learning with additional online tools via the safe and secure Device Management System (DMS) and it’s always up to date.” The robust build of the device and selection of applications allows both educator and pupil to get the most out of the learning process. A recent study supports this claim reporting that more than 60% of students have indicated that their learning experience is enhanced by the Google Chromebook. “As an IT administrator of the school, I can manage our Chromebooks, the learning material and other Chrome devices, from a cloud-based Admin console or DMS,” says Friend.

“Since its introduction to the South African market, late in 2013, the Chromebook has had a clear and lasting value add in the local education sector,” says Alister Payne, MD of Google Cloud Solutions. Payne refers to the advancements of technology in the classroom as Tequity, or Tech Equity. “Bringing tech into the learning environment creates an enhanced learning experience.” According to Payne, Tequity reaches further than only the physical accessibility of devices, but the convenience of accessing information via a device as well as the simplicity thereof. Lacey elaborates on this point by conveying that technology should never be introduced to a classroom to replace educators, but rather to aid the facilitator to support pupils during the exploration and curation process. “This is the future of learning,” says Lacey. “Students become content creators rather than content consumers.” With a plethora of applications and collaborative tools at their disposal, each student consumes learning material according to their capabilities, making it a lasting experience. “There are different apps for everything from dissecting a grasshopper to taking a tour through ancient Egypt. Google Chromebook is an essential and interactive tool for the 20th century learner” says Lacey. By making this paradigm shift more emphasis is placed on exploring and comprehending content rather, than following a graded curriculum based outcome.

Another feature that is unique to Google Chromebook is the mobility. Students are able to work on group projects whether they are in the same room or not. Additionally, teachers are also able to evaluate how individuals contributed to group projects. Via the Google Classroom Assignment application, teachers schedule assignments on any subject and are able to track its project. Peter Lacey, Education Lead for Acer Africa add that this in turn creates a paperless classroom, creating a greener learning environment.

Although the adoption of the Chromebook in local classroom cannot be disputed, there are still a fair amount of concerns. These concerns are echoed in the Acer - European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot where the three main objections to the Chromebook was the lack of support, distracted learners and limited access to internet. Even though the first two concerns have been discredited in the last five years, the latter is still a valid objection in our local environment.

The integration of Chromebooks in the Selborne classrooms have dissipated original fears which included the lack of support, distracted learners and limited access to internet. “The five year project has seen Acer invest in the Google Ecosystem Support Base in South Africa, and in this time learners have showed increased engagement,” says Lacey. “Although access to internet remains a concern in rural areas, urban areas are well serviced, and the current number of adopted schools will continue to increase.” Lacey concludes by saying that with government’s commitment to further reduce data costs the country is on the cusp of a connectivity explosion which will filter through to schools and allow for easier access to e-learning.

 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

@AcerAfrica #RedBullMediaHouse Continue #eSports Content Partnership @RedBullza

Hi Friends,

Acer and Red Bull Media House announced the renewal of their content partnership. Having worked together for over 12 months already, the two companies will continue to bring the most exciting and interesting stories of the emerging gaming and eSports world.

The collaboration began last year in May with a joint goal to offer gaming fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the personalities, places, and technologies in the fascinating world of eSports.

With documentaries such as ‘eSports Unfold’ and ‘Part of the Game’, the content has reached millions of viewers since the launch.

“Forming powerful partnerships is an important part of our gaming strategy. Acer and Red Bull Media House share a deep commitment to supporting eSports fans and gaming communities with premium and authentic content. By combining Acer’s expertise in gaming through its state-of-the-art Predator products and Red Bull Media House’s immersive storytelling capabilities, we see a natural fit in offering the best-in-class product and viewing experience,” says Hajo Blingen, Vice President, EMEA Marketing, Acer Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “We look forward to continuing the successful team play with Red Bull Media House to further enhance brand premium synergies with high relevance.”

For the upcoming year, Acer and Red Bull Media House have finalized exciting new content ideas to continue building and engaging the gaming community. ‘Prism’ is set to launch which will go behind the scenes to explore what drives people to love eSports. A second installment of ‘Part of the Game’ also returns, that captures the influence of gaming culture in four more cities across the world. For all stories and a recap of content, click HERE

 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

Education Solutions for Real World Problems is the Future @AcerAfrica #acerforeducation

Hi Friends,

A society lead by technology is rapidly transforming the way the youth use and digest digital transformation, both socially and on an educational level. As part of Acer Africa’s commitment to bring e-learning into the classrooms, together with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted a 12-week technology crash course which was held as part of the university’s Workplace 4.0 Project, enabling students to think digitally, create and develop from their lecture rooms.

The Project
Entitled the FridayClub, these classes encouraged and taught students to code and learn the basics of the 4th Industrial revolution. Every week lecturers as well as Acer Africa met to work through various aspects of digital technology, with a specific focus on the Acer CloudProfessor as a teaching device. The students used the Acer CloudProfessor and Gigo kit to build various mechanical robotic items and program them to perform basic functions.

For example: Building a lift, or rack and pinion motor and then using the CloudProfessor to program it to perform a task. Students majoring in the Public sector were given first-hand experience in understanding how sensors and IoT will impact and benefit administration. One student who is currently doing her masters in farming crickets for food security used the CloudProfessor as a prototyping tool and designed a model of a cricket farm that could be controlled through a mobile app to turn the heat on and off as needed.

Glenn du Toit, Acer Africa BYOC Digital Business Development explained, “The lessons focused on transformation and education around what is possible with the standard of technology we have available to us today. We conducted various practical lessons with students which demonstrated Blockly and Javascript as coding languages.” He adds, “The FridayClub at execution was as an experiment for the teachers and tech experts deploying this into the classrooms. Average classes run for 45 minutes up to an hour, so we had to monitor what we were able to achieve in this time and how much could be taught and learned, in order to adapt our execution on a more permanent basis.”

Technoculture - Where the need lies
‘Technoculture’ as described by Dr. Arno Louw, Centre for Academic Technologies Laboratory at the University of Johannesburg (CATLab), is based on a mix of visual, written, and social media data that could be used in innovative ways to find solutions to emerging global problems. The question asked by many educators is whether students are sufficiently equipped to find these solutions and apply a trajectory to the process.

Acer Africa believes that transformation is needed in higher education among staff and students, where technology becomes an equalizer for 21st-century survival in our Afro-technoculture.
 

Louw explains that “The student’s backpack has been replaced with a smart device − the electronic device which provides the tools for access, teaching, learning, assessment, discovery, communication, leisure, etc. The use of electronic devices also encompasses the ability (skill set) to master and manipulate these devices over and above the digital skills needed to merely access e-content. Consequently, the art of e-learning is here to stay, and has evolved from future aspiration to daily habit.”

Acer CloudProfessor
The reason why the CloudProfessor was deployed as the programming tool for this project is due to the fact that it ticked all the correct boxes needed for the experiment and class structure:
1. Easy to use for beginners
2. Lessons can be made more complicated for learners who have used technology before
3. It's durable, functional and tough to be used by kids with hard grips
4. The lessons were available and skill appropriate (i.e. easy to understand)
5. A full lesson was accomplished in under 45minutes

“CloudProfessor is aimed at making technology accessible to everyone and moreover educating the current generation on how to code and use sensors and motors to build a digital solution for everyday problems,” explains du Toit.

He adds, “With CloudProfessor, we are able to give everyone the opportunity to see how easy it can be to design the next great innovation by combining actual sensors and motors and then choosing between a variety of programming languages, including JavaScript, as well as Blockly, to get their innovation programmed and working. This provides younger learners with the building and visual interface they need to start innovating in the new Internet of Things era.”

The Future of Education

Education solutions for real-world problems are the future. The education system is the grass root level where these solutions are born and bred in an open learning environment.

“Electronic device manipulation skills, currently required by the workforce industry, entail customized coding and adding accurate moving parts to devices. The combination of these two skills is generally known as robotics. The CAT Lab established in 2017, endeavors to assist students and educators to learn and experiment on basic computer coding. This programming includes basic robotics,” says Louw.

“The biggest takeaway for UJ from the FridayClub was the learning how technology fits into the various careers learners have chosen to pursue and not limiting the education of the 4th Industrial revolution to only the engineering IT faculty and science faculties. The understanding that IoT and digital technology plays a role in every faculty needs to understood fully in order to bring in a new area of learning,” says du Toit.

While the 12-week project has ended, the Acer CloudProfessor and the CAT Lab team aims to extend the FridayClub to the wider community and to enthusiastic school learners in Soweto. Future endeavors for 2018 will include 3D printing, virtual reality (VR), holograms, and augmented reality (AR) in teaching and learning. A CAT Lab training room and open working space are also available for lecturers with WiFi access.

For more information:
Follow Acer Africa on Facebook, InstagramandTwitter
Acer for Education website – click here or follow #acerforeducation on Facebook, InstagramandTwitter.

 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

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.”

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!!!

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

@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.

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.

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@AcerAfrica First to Market With @Intel Optane Memory #Swift3 Ultrabook @Makro_SA

Hi Friends, 

Acer Africa is proud to announce that its new Swift 3 will be the first to market with Intel Optane Technology, a truly disruptive memory technology design which has incomparable speed, density and non-volatility for faster processing. Acer has launched the Intel Optane Technology in its Swift 3 device to target users who want the performance of a very high-end device at an affordable price.

Being the first to market with this innovative technology provides Acer with the opportunity to offer the consumer advanced processing capabilities for heavy workloads. The Swift 3 Ultrabook, in an i5 and i7 (8th Generation) configuration, has been earmarked to enter the market with Optane as it is a stylish and luxurious device, made for the person looking for the ultimate in speed and processing power.

Intel Optane is a unique technology from Intel that uses advanced artificial intelligence to make your computer faster without having to spend a fortune on a computer with a bigger memory chip or larger storage access.

Intel Optane Technology combines a next generational non-volatile memory called 3D XPOINT Memory which eliminates the lag time your internal storage processor takes to administer large data sets. The simple and dense design enables Intel to deliver greater capacity than DRAM, a memory chip that relies on an applied voltage to keep stored data, in the same space.

Optane technology is especially useful for the demanding workload environments as it utilises low latency levels to boost memory performance, eliminating the performance penalty for each data request, making it suitable for all devices, applications and services. Optane Memory will also play a massive role in the move to Cloud Technology for businesses in the future.

Acer’s Swift 3 model will allow consumers to reduce load times and speed up responsiveness. The Intel Optane chip monitors what programs the user accesses and stores this information on the Optane memory chip. This allows for your device to run multiple programs at the same but at a faster pace with less lagging.

Traditionally, without Optane, users who were looking for better performance from their device would need to increase the memory in their PC. For example, They would need to upgrade from a 4GB D-RAM to 8GB D-RAM or change their storage from a slow Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to a much faster Solid State Drive (SDD). Both upgrade options would come at a huge cost. With Intel's Optane we can now deliver speed on a notebook at an affordable price.

In combining the design of the Acer Swift 3 Ultrabook and the latest Core i5 and Core i7 8th Generation processors, while still including 16GB of Optane memory, Acer is hoping to expand the market by enticing consumers who are looking for optimal memory capacity on a budget.

The Acer i5 Optane 4GB D-Ram + 16GB Optane memory + 1TB HDD will be available for the launch period, exclusively through Makro in a Silver aluminium finish, Blue and Rose Pink.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

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@Acer Announces 15-inch #Swift5 Notebook Weighing Less Than 1 kg #NextAtAcer

Hi Friends, 

Acer today announced its new Swift 5 notebook designed for users who want superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style. With a 15-inch display, the elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go. The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel® Core™ processors and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.

“There’s been great feedback on Acer’s amazingly light 14-inch Swift 5, and we are now pushing the limits with the 15.6-inch model,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “We’ve kept the weight under the 1 kg mark by using ultra-narrow bezels and a marginally larger chassis.”

The Swift 5’s Full HD IPS1 touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm (0.23 inches), giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio to maximize the viewing experience. The Swift 5 features Acer Color Intelligence™ technology, which dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time, optimizing screen color and brightness without clipping or over saturation, while Acer BluelightShield technology allows adjusting of the screen’s blue-light emission over extended periods of use.

The Swift 5 is constructed with advanced materials including ultra-light magnesium-lithium alloys for the top and bottom cover, and magnesium-aluminum alloys for extra sturdiness on the palm rest area. Thanks to the LED backlit keyboard, users can work effectively on the go all day and even at night.

Powered by the latest Intel® processors, the Acer Swift 5 offers an exceptionally fast and responsive experience with battery life that lasts through the workday. The Swift 5 features Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 which offers 2x2 802.11ac wireless Gigabit performance that enhances streaming, sharing, conferencing and gaming experiences.

Up to 1 TB of SSD storage and up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory keeps the system fast and responsive, while connectivity is provided through one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port (10 Gbit/s data transfer, supporting power delivery and display output), two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging functionality), an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The Swift 5 supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader, allowing users to log in to their accounts faster and more securely.

Pricing and Availability
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.

The new Acer Swift 5 was unveiled today at the next@acer press event held in New York, where the company announced a range of new devices and solutions for gamers, creators, families, students, and professionals. For more information, visit www.acer.com/nextatacer.

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@Acer Announces Powerful Predator #Orion5000 #Gaming #Desktops #NextAtAcer

Hi Friends,

Acer today unveiled its new Predator Orion 5000 series gaming desktops, designed for gamers who require superior performance and an adaptable chassis for future expansion. The company also released the mid-range Predator Orion 3000 series gaming desktops, as well as an expanded collection of Predator accessories designed to support gamers as they tackle their mission of choice.

"Getting the specs right is just half the fight. Predator Orion desktops provide a well-rounded choice for gamers with a striking chassis, built-in airflow management, expandability, and award-winning software that brings everything together," said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer. "We're excited to add the new 5000 and 3000 series to the Predator Orion family, and together with the top-of-the-line Predator Orion 9000, Acer is providing a full lineup of gaming desktops that cater to a wide range of needs."

Predator Orion 5000 Series: Win the Battle
The new Predator Orion 5000 Series gaming desktops feature up to 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7+ 8700K processors paired with the latest Intel Z370 chipset1, up to 32 GB of Intel® Optane™ memory for fast load times and improved responsiveness, and up to 2-way NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti GPUs in SLI1 so gamers can enjoy their favorite game titles at incredibly high screen resolutions, as well as premium VR experiences.

“The 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ 8700K is the best desktop gaming Intel has ever built, and when combined with the acceleration and responsiveness offered by Intel Optane memory, the result is incredible performance needed for the most demanding gaming experiences,” said Steve Long, Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group Sales and Marketing, Intel. “The close collaboration with Acer to bring Intel’s best-in-class performance to life is on full display with the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 Series gaming desktops.”

“Powered with the extreme gaming horsepower delivered by our GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs, the Predator Orion 5000 can run the most graphically-demanding games with ease,” said Kaustubh Sanghani, General Manager of PC Platforms at NVIDIA. “Gamers will appreciate Acer’s flexible configuration options ensuring they can play to win on GeForce GTX - the world’s largest gaming platform.”

The Predator Orion 5000’s chassis has a transparent side panel to show off its powerful internals and is EMI-compliant to protect users and peripherals from potential electromagnetic interference. Easy-open side panels allow users to quickly swap out components and cables during upgrades. The IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management design segments the system into different thermal zones and provides each sector with its own airflow tunnel to expel heat. A front mesh panel with dust filters allows the Predator Orion 5000 to inhale massive amounts of air while filtering out annoying dust. Additional features for core gamers include Killer LAN high-speed Ethernet, cradles for audio headsets, a carry-handle for portability and Acer’s signature Predator design for aggressive yet refined styling.

Predator Orion 3000 Series: Peak Performance and Style
With up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ processors, and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, the VR- ready Predator Orion 3000 supports 4K gameplay as gamers take aim at opponents on the battlefield with crystal clarity. Like the 5000 series, the Predator Orion 3000 can be configured with up to 32 GB of Intel® Optane™ memory to increase responsiveness and load times, and up to 64 GB DDR4-2666 RAM to support lightning fast action while playing the latest titles.

The Predator Orion 3000 Series features the same attractive design language as its bigger brother, with a transparent EMI-compliant side panel1, RGB lighting, sleek lines, blue accents and built-in headset cradles. Excellent heat dissipation is achieved with a front-facing intake LED fan, mesh cover and rear exhaust for optimized air flow throughout the chassis.

Predator Gadgets and Accessories to Complete the Gaming Experience
Alongside the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 series gaming desktops, Acer has expanded its gaming gadget and accessory line to complete the gaming experience with consistent quality:

• Predator Cestus 510: a customizable high-performance gaming mouse with a precise optical sensor that supports up to 16,000 DPI
• Predator Gaming Chair: includes detachable cushions, superior ergonomics, and lumbar spine support to give players an edge on marathon gaming sessions
• Predator Hard Case: protects the most valuable assets with a hard-as-rock outer shell and customizable foam inserts that fit exactly around your computer
• Predator Aethon 500 extra-durable mechanical keyboard with a lifespan of 70 million strokes per key, customizable with 16.8 million colors
• Predator Mousepad series available in plastic or fabric finishes with dramatic cinematic landscapes to keep the player in the game

Pricing and Availability
The Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in July starting at $1,499; in EMEA in June starting at €1,699, and in China in June starting at ¥15,999.

The Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in October starting at $999; in EMEA in July starting at €1,299; and in China in July starting at ¥6,999. 

Exact specifications, prices, and availability for these new products may vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.

The new Predator Orion 5000, Orion 3000, and Predator gadgets & accessories were unveiled today at the next@acer press event held in New York, where the company announced a range of new devices and solutions for gamers, creators, families, students and professionals. For more information, visit www.acer.com/nextatacer. 

 

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@AcerAfrica Leads The Way For #Education in #SouthAfrica #AcerForEducation @Acer_Education

Hi Friends,

According to the FutureSource Report released in Q1 of 2018, Acer is the No. 1 education supplier for CY2017 and the No. 1 education vendor in Q4 2017 in South Africa with its TravelMate B118 device.

This device is one of the hero devices in Acer’s product line targeted towards education. Its purpose is to be a learning tool for use inside classrooms by both computer literate and non-literate teachers and students. The TravelMate B118 has a 13-hour battery life, is a 2-in-1 convertible device, meaning it can be used as a laptop and easily turns into an 11-inch tablet, it is touch screen and comes with a matching stylus which allows younger kids to practice and develop their motor skills. All Acer for Education partners is able to purchase the device locally via Acer’s dedicated Education Partners. The full list will be available on Acer’s website.

Country Manager for Acer Africa Paul Collins says, “I couldn’t be more proud especially because this was a joint company effort by our employees and not achieved through tendered business”.

The focus around Acer for Education has always been to bring technology into more classrooms to help increase productivity for all teachers and students, as well as developing their ICT skills at the same time. Essentially, bringing innovative technologies to the schools of tomorrow.

Acer’s product line is designed to support the learning system at every step, taking education beyond classroom walls. The products are made for every situation and all school subjects. The hardware solutions feature tablets, 2-in-1 devices, notebooks, Chromebooks, desktops, monitors, and projectors. In addition, Acer has designed unique software solutions which are all created to support dynamic and interactive learning environments.

This achievement is a result of the around-the-clock work and specific attention Acer offer to the schools it works with around the country. Acer believes that the need is different for each school, hence there is not one solution for every institution, each school should be assessed and treated individually.

This is exactly what Acer set out to achieve last year. Education Lead SADC Peter Lacey says, “Our focus has always been around defining how we can improve the quality of the teaching experience. Technology should be an enabler in the classroom. We find too many people focus on the technology and not the teaching methodology”.

When asked what’s next for Acer for Education he said robotics and coding, which currently has no curriculum. “Coding and robotics are new and it’s what Acer is focusing on currently with CloudProfessor, a device that received an Innovation Award from Acer Europe.

Acer Africa will continue to create and produce excellent technology, that not only supports education but pushes its boundaries and opens the doors to a whole new world that has not yet been eluded to in the education system.

Lacey concludes, “In order for us to continue reaching our objectives we will continue to involve both local and international content partners as this has shown to play a huge part in differentiating Acer’s offer in the market.”

Follow Acer Africa on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Acer for Education website – click here or follow #acerforeducation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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@AcerAfrica Announces #Nitro5 #GamingLaptop with Latest Intel Core i7+ Processors

Hi Friends,

Acer unveiled the latest addition to its Nitro 5 gaming series, lauded for its refined styling and outstanding performance targeting casual gamers. Powered by up to the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel Core i7+ processors, the newest 15-inch Nitro 5 offers improved speed and threading efficiency to gives users the ultimate thrill as they battle with friends online.

“Acer is excited to be among the first to offer the new Intel Core i7+ processors with our new Nitro 5 gaming notebook,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer. “The new Nitro 5 provides exceptional performance at an accessible price point which exceeds the needs of most casual gamers, and also professional users that need to power through their tasks on the go.”

“These latest 8th Gen Intel Core mobile products are our highest performing, designed to push the limits of gameplay and content creation. In these new Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i7+ products, we’re bringing together high-end CPU performance capabilities, increased system responsiveness and fast load times with Intel Optane memory, and built-in blazing fast Gigabit WiFi – all in a laptop design,” said Chris Walker, Vice President, Client Computing Group and General Manager, Mobile Client Platforms, Intel. “The new Acer Nitro 5 blends these technologies into a fantastic design.”

Built for Performance and Control
The Acer Nitro 5 ships with up to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 and Intel Core i7+ processors offering an improved six-core design, an emphasis on premium performance so users never drop a frame or miss a beat while the action unfolds, and Intel® Optane™ memory that increases responsiveness and load times. NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti graphics[i] allow for a truly immersive graphic experience with faster rendering, finer textures, and dynamic lighting to snipe enemies hiding in even the darkest shadows. Up to 512 GB of NVMe PCIe solid-state storage is available on the Nitro 5, providing plenty of space for apps and games while enabling ultra-fast bootup times. The Nitro 5 features up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, which draws 20% less power than DDR3 memory for more efficient gaming sessions. Once on the battlefield, Acer’s NitroSense utility monitors the status of the CPU/GPU, while CoolBoost technology adjusts the fans for optimal performance.

Styled for Domination
The Nitro 5 offers bold refinement not commonly seen in a gaming laptop, thanks to its elegant laser texturing and understated matte hinge. The crimson red hinge beautifully matches the futuristic design of the backlit keyboard, while the 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display produces brilliant imagery with crisp details. A front-facing HD web camera lets users strategize with the squad as they prepare to unleash terror on the competition and celebrate together after victory is secured. Users can also easily broadcast games live with Mixer, directly from the Game bar on Windows 10 simply by pressing the Windows key plus G.

Audio Excitement and Gigabit Wireless
With high-quality audio as an essential component for gaming, Dolby Audio™ Premium and Acer TrueHarmony™ technology ensure the finely-tuned speakers pick up on any would-be attackers entering the scene. The Nitro 5 features Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 2x2 802.11ac wireless which offers Gigabit performance that enhances gaming, streaming, and conferencing experiences. A plethora of ports including hyper-fast USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and Gigabit Ethernet are included so users are prepared for every mission whether at home or on the go.

Pricing and Availability
The Acer Nitro 5 will be available in South Africa in May with prices starting at R13 999.00
Exact specifications, prices, and availability may vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.

[i] Specifications may vary based on market and configuration

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