@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!

Off The Shelf And On Trend @SamsungSA #QLEDTV #2018QLEDtv

Hi Friends,
 

Interior design trends come and go and it’s not easy to ensure a home remains fresh instead of dated. Soft furnishings can only go so far in adding those ‘pops’ of colour so favoured by interior decorators. A splash of paint here and there can help spice up a room’s look, but it’s the layout of the room as well as the larger pieces of furniture that need to be addressed when it comes to keeping up-to-date.

One of the biggest problems in the past has been the ubiquitous television set. If it is wall mounted, then there are cables to contend with. If it sits on a shelf, table or TV unit so the cabling can be discreetly installed out of view, then that becomes yet another piece of furniture to UltraViolet and place.

Reginald Nxumalo, Director of Consumer Electronics for Samsung South Africa, says, “Not only are Samsung’s TVs highly advanced technically, but we’ve also solved design dilemmas. Cables are simply not an issue any longer; the One Near-Invisible cable merges everything into one and allows you to place your TV wherever you want. Coupled with that, the One Connect Box gathers all your connections, with just the One Near-Invisible cable connected to the television.”

With cables out of the way, the next challenge comes up when the TV isn’t in use. Usually, when the TV is off, the black square simply doesn’t fit into the décor, unless of course it’s a black and white minimalist theme and even that’s debatable. Samsung’s Ambient Mode solves that as well – it elevates your television room or living space with decorative content, useful information, your own photographs or even by mimicking the texture of the wall behind it.

With greys still a popular base colour, but more moody and darker accents coming into play, the Samsung’s Ambient Mode feature can play a major role in introducing a new colour into the room or creating a whole new style focus.[i] For example, Pantone’s Ultra Violet is 2018’s colour of the year. If displayed on a television screen either as a block colour or an appropriately themed and shaded artwork, it could update a soft grey palette to a richer and more dramatically provocative style, in line with current interior trends. Much like Samsung’s drive towards innovation, Pantone’s Ultra Violet has been touted as communicating originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.[ii]

“Only Samsung removes the black screen, allowing your TV to seamlessly blend into the room and enabling you to completely personalize your space,” concludes van Nxumalo.

Solving the issue of a blank screen dominating whichever room it’s in makes an immense difference to the way interior designers will view the television. In the past, it’s been about hiding the screen, but now it’s about how best to display it, integrating the TV into the décor theme and style. Additionally, connecting the television to a smartphone means a room’s ambience can be seamlessly changed to address moods and activities – from a serene image with soft background music to an invigorating scene with upbeat music to match; making the television an interior décor game-changer.

[i] http://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/home-decor-trends-2018-191244
[ii] https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2018

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Get Ready for SA’s First AI Four Camera Smartphone @HuaweiZA #HuaweiMate20lite

Hi Friends,

South Africa’s first AI four camera smartphone – the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite is here. This Selfie Master is also the first smartphone in the country to bring the power of AI to your selfies.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 lite features a massive 24+2 megapixel selfie camera packed with AI features to enhance every selfie you capture. Not only does the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite harness the power of AI to enhance your facial features through portrait lighting but can recognize, eight categories including sky, plants, flowers, beach, stage and night.

Huawei’s new AI and beauty algorithm with facial recognition ensures you are always able to capture the best possible version of yourself. In any scenario, the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite’s HDR Pro functionality, offers real-time effects preview and light fusion for better night shots, while decreasing backlighting.

The front-facing camera features the new Qmoji which mirrors your facial expression. Featuring seven exciting characters, Qmoji provides the user with a fun and playfully animated alter-ego to take selfies and share with friends.

While the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite’s front-facing camera makes anyone a selfie legend, its rear camera performs like a champ as well. The smartphone’s rear camera is loaded with dual 20+2 megapixel AI-driven lens to ensure every moment is picture perfect.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 lite’s rear camera also offers AI-bokeh effects, AI-assisted composition, and slow-motion video at up to 480 fps. The HUAWEI Mate 20 lite’s power is brought to life by the new Kirin 710 chipset with an AI engine, which makes AI operations off the device possible, without impacting the performance of the smartphone. Graphics on the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite are now supercharged through the device’s GPU Turbo functionality which accelerates graphics performance by optimizing utilization of the smartphone’s already-existing software and hardware resources.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 lite also delivers a larger display with a 6.3-inch FullView notched screen fulfilling an innovative and enhanced design aesthetic. Bring content to life on the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite with its Full HD+ resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio, which rivals a cinematic experience. A smartphone that can last all day is essential in today’s day and age - the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite offers its users extended usage with its 3750mAh battery that rivals most smartphones available on the South African market.

 

Keeping the elite design elements of the Mate series, coupled with sophisticated craftsmanship - the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite features a symmetrical body with flowing 3D glass effect. Disappearing edging back glass adds to the smartphone’s allure, as it seamlessly connects to metal for distinctive aesthetic appeal. Available in the timeless colors of Black and Sapphire Blue – the HUAWEI Mate 20 lite will make a statement where ever it is.

 

The HUAWEI Mate 20 lite is available from the October 5 at a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of R8999.

Cheers!!!

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

The World Celebrates Freddie Mercury’s Birthday – Freddie for A Day @20CenturyFoxZA

Hi Friends,

The late musician Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the ground-breaking and iconic band Queen, would be celebrating his 72 birthday on Wednesday 5 September this year. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS.

Fans around the world honor Freddie Mercury every year on September 5th (Freddie’s birthday) with a global charity celebration called “Freddie for a Day.” Many celebrate his life by donning a white vest, his famous yellow jacket and sporting a trademark mustache to dress up like the late singer. The event, celebrated across the globe, raises money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDs charity set up in his name in 1992.

20th Century Fox will be releasing BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - THE CELEBRATION OF FREDDIE’S LIFE & QUEEN’S MUSIC nationally on Friday 30 November 2018.

FUN FACTS ABOUT FREDDIE MERCURY

• Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania).
• He adopted the name Freddie while at St. Peter’s, the English boarding school he attended in India before he and his family moved to England. Freddie became a table tennis champion at the school.
• As a child, between the ages of nine and 12, Freddie enjoyed collecting stamps. His personal album contains stamps from Britain, Monaco, Eastern Europe, Aden (now part of Yemen) and Zanzibar. The collection was bought by The Postal Museum (in the UK) in 1993 and proceeds of the sale went to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the charity that was set up in Freddie’s memory.
• Freddie was posthumously remembered on one of a special series of stamps that Britain’s Royal Mail produced to mark the millennium.
• Freddie once had a part-time job working as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport.
• Freddie co-owned and ran a stall in Kensington Market in London with Roger Taylor, which opened in the summer of 1969. They sold Freddie’s own artwork as well as second-hand clothes. The two of them kept up the running of the stall, even after Queen released their first album in 1973.
• Freddie had four extra teeth on his upper jaw, which were pushing on the front ones. He never considered ‘fixing’ them because he believed that they contributed to the special sound of his voice -- the legendary four-octave range.
• While the lyrics of ‘Killer Queen’ mention Moët & Chandon, Freddie’s own favorite champagne was Louis Roederer Cristal. His other favorite drinks were Stolichnaya vodka and Earl Grey tea – with milk and two sugars. His favorite champagne cocktail was a Bellini (Cristal and peach puree).
• Freddie never needed an excuse for a party. For one celebration, he had a cake made in the shape of the Swiss apartment block where he’d bought a flat – complete with towers and turrets.
• In 1979, Freddie performed ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ with the Royal Ballet.
• Freddie loved reading magazines such as Architectural Digest, House & Garden, and auction catalogs.
• One of the most technically accomplished singers to work in pop music, in a list of the greatest English language singers of the 20th century, compiled by BBC Radio, Freddie was ranked No.10. The list included Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole.
• Freddie came second in MTV’s list of the 22 greatest singers of the past 25 years – he was beaten by Mariah Carey.
• In 2016, a research team undertook a study to understand the unique appeal of Freddie’s voice. The Austrian, Czech, and Swedish researchers studied archival recordings. They noted the singer’s faster vibrato and use of subharmonics, particularly in comparison to opera singers.
• Other than his passion for music, one of Freddie’s favorite hobbies was shopping, mainly for other people. Generous to a fault, he loved buying expensive perfumes, cologne, watches, and jewelry.
• Despite not believing in astrology, Freddie designed Queen’s crest using the astrological signs of the four members: two Leos, one Cancer, and one Virgo.
• Freddie studied graphic design at Ealing College of Art.
• Freddie loved cats and owned several - some exotic long haired cats were gifts from friends and others were rescued from a shelter. One of his cats, Delilah, was the inspiration for Queen song of the same name.
• Freddie was a big fan of the Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé. The musicians teamed up to record an album together in 1987 called ‘Barcelona’ and a hit of the same name. Though Freddie didn’t live to see it, ‘Barcelona’ was featured at the Olympic Games in 1992, going on to become the best-known song of any Olympics.
• Queen wasn’t going to release ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ as a single until Michael Jackson convinced them. It became the most successful American single of their career.
• Despite the popular song lyrics from ‘Bicycle Race’, Freddie didn’t like riding bicycles.
• Freddie’s final home, Garden Lodge, 1 Logan Place, is a 28 room Georgian mansion in Kensington, London, set in a quarter-acre manicured garden surrounded by a high brick wall. It was picked out by Mary Austin who had been his girlfriend, then became his best friend.
• In his will, Freddie left his London home and the contents to Mary Austin, his lifelong companion, and she continues to live there.
• An asteroid was named after Freddie to commemorate what would have been his 70th birthday in September 2016. The International Astronomical Union designated asteroid 17473 as Freddie mercury. The asteroid was discovered in 1991, the same year Freddie died. It orbits the sun on a path between Mars and Jupiter. Announcing the news, Brian May said ‘Asteroid 17473 Freddie mercury’ is “just a dot of light, but it’s a very special dot of light.”

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY SYNOPSIS
Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. Despite being diagnosed with AIDS, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

 

Cheers!!!

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

@MontecasinoZA Stays Ahead of the Gaming Game #GottaLuvMonte

Hi Guys, 

 

Changing consumer trends and a tough economic environment for the majority of the population impacts many industry sectors. Gaming is one of them, says Kamal Parbhoo, Montecasino Slots Manager. “To stay ahead of the game, we must constantly monitor and manage every corner of the casino floor to ensure optimal turnover and maximum customer enjoyment and entertainment.”

The Montecasino gaming floor (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/gaming) is divided into three sections – the main casino floor, the smoking casino, and the Privé (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/gaming/salon-prive) for high rollers – with a total of 1 700 slot machines (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/gaming/slots), which account for about 70% of the casino’s revenue.

Parbhoo has a staff of 182 and is responsible for ensuring that the slots department achieves its targets and maintains growth and that it remains in line with Tsogo Sun’s strategic objectives, while also maintaining ‘game integrity’ for players.

He says trends in slots playing have shifted over the last few years, which is driven by our customers who ultimately dictate the supply and demand on offer, primarily to higher volatility slots games where the stakes tend to be a bit higher and the wins bigger. “Overall, the cost of a spin, which is variable and based on the customer's risk versus reward strategy, and the number of lines on slot machines have increased, which has impacted turnover in the casino. The trick for us is to make sure that we have the right balance of machines in the right positions at all times,” says Parbhoo.

It remains fascinating that some of the older slots games – Geisha, Queen of the Nile, Pompeii – have continued to have high appeal on the casino floor for decades.

In the Privé, which accounts for a large percentage of the casino’s turnover, the ‘entertainment’ value is on big wins from the slots machines, rather than on the games, the graphics, the stories, and the flashing lights and ringing bells.

The smoking casino too attracts the more serious gamer and is a popular area, with only 25% of the floor space, which is according to gaming legislation. “Regulations restrict the space we can allocate to a smoking section, which means we need to optimize every square centimeter to make sure it delivers a great experience and that we have the best product in the area and as much product as possible.”

“As with all businesses, we need to prioritize on our budget and available capital to make sure that we are getting the optimum returns. Based on close analysis of monthly stats, we make decisions to eliminate inefficiencies throughout the floor, which are where our customers are not playing due to no longer enjoying a particular product,” Parbhoo says.

Another area that is an absolute non-negotiable and is crucial to the casino’s ongoing success is compliance. “Gaming is an exceptionally regulated environment and we need to stay on top of compliance with every machine all the time, or we run the risk of compromising our gaming license. Every machine must be set exactly according to what we applied for – it means that we are strict with our self-regulation and conduct our own internal audits to make sure there is no chance of human error.”

Parbhoo, who has been Slots Manager at Montecasino since January 2015, first joined Tsogo Sun at Suncoast in 2002 as a Surveillance Specialist. He worked his way up to Slots Manager at Suncoast in May 2011, before moving to Montecasino.

He says, “I have been fortunate to have played a role in the transformation of the gaming floor at Montecasino, which is fresh and appealing and accessible, and with the Privé, which in my mind is probably the most valuable piece of gaming floor per square meter in this country.”

Parbhoo adds that with a complex such as Montecasino, Tsogo Sun’s flagship entertainment destination, the business must be viewed holistically. “All the offerings and management of the property work together, with different events and attractions bringing feet in, who are then likely to extend the entertainment into other areas, such as in the casino. Likewise, a massive casino promotion offering big prizes will bring players in, who are then likely to stay for a meal or a drink. Being aware of the ‘big picture’ of events, offers, festivals, and promotions at Montecasino ensures smoother planning in the casino.”

For more information go to www.montecasino.co.za, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/montecasino or follow us on Twitter at @MontecasinoZA.

 

Cheers!!!

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