Category: Entertainment

Netflix to expand operations in Africa

Netflix recently announced motives to expand its operations in Africa on Wednesday, building on the success of films and series such as ‘Blood and Water’ in South Africa and ‘Far From Home’ in Nigeria.

According to the report, the online video-streaming behemoth has committed the equivalent of €160 million in developing film content in Africa since it started operations on the continent in 2016.

More than 12,000 employment have been generated as ascribed to its operations in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, the company claims. “This is just the beginning; we intend to expand across the continent,” Shola Sanni, Netflix’s head of Sub-Saharan Africa strategy, said during a press conference in Johannesburg.

More than 170 films, TV shows, and documentaries have been produced in South Africa, making it the leading African content provider on Netflix at the present time. Blood and Water, a series about a Cape Town adolescent who investigates her sister’s kidnapping during delivery, even won first prize in the United States in 2020.

Read also: Netflix adds two new premium-only features

Netflix intends to leverage the milestone to expand more

The expansion is anticipated to contribute to helping Netflix become the most popular streaming service in Africa, where local content is getting more popular and competition from other streaming providers is increasing.

The move is also a significant investment in the continent’s creative economy, allowing African tales to be viewed by people all over the globe.

“We will use these milestones to grow our business by continuing to invest in supporting local creative industries and giving more and more African storytellers a strong voice on the global stage,” added Netflix.

In recent years, Netflix has sought to broaden its production outside of the United States, with shows such as the Spanish “La Casa de Papel” and the South Korean dystopian drama “Squid Game,” which was a global hit and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

In 2021, the corporation will collaborate with Unesco to sponsor six short films directed by young Africans. “It’s time for mainstream platforms to realise the richness and value of our stories,” one of the winners, South African filmmaker Gcobisa Yako, told AFP on the sidelines of the press conference on Wednesday.

Netflix introduces in-game IDs for iOS and Android gamers

Netflix prevalence in the African region

Netflix is expected to have 2.6 million users on the African continent by the end of 2021, out of a population of around 1.2 billion people, accounting for about half of all streaming on demand customers in Africa. The number of customers is expected to quadruple by 2026, reaching 5.8 million.

According to Flix Patrol (2019), the only nations that have more than 100,000 memberships are Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt.

On the other hand, Netflix has been investing in African originals since 2019. Among these are the star-studded reality programme Young, Famous, and African, which features superstars from throughout the continent, as well as the juvenile crime thriller Blood and Water and Queen Sono, another crime drama. This is in addition to a large number of licenced older titles.

It recently secured multiple multi-project collaboration agreements with top African filmmakers and production organisations. The King’s Horseman, a film version of Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka’s play Death and the King’s Horseman, is on its 2022/23 schedule. Others include Ludik, Netflix’s first Afrikaans-language drama, The Brave Ones, which centres on African folklore, and Kings of Queenstown, a South African soccer drama.

April 22, 2023
Global messaging App, WhatsApp announces fresh update

Global messaging App WhatsApp has announced the arrival of a fresh update, raising the version to 2.23.5.3 via the Google Play Beta Program. The private newsletter feature for WhatsApp will now be available in a later software release.

The code indications were discovered by WaBetaInfo, who then stated that the tool is being worked on and might be made available in a later application update.

WeBetaInfo responded to the unauthorized announcement from the Meta-owned site by saying, “We cannot tell for sure that it is really called “Newsletter,” as it seems to be a codename at the time, but we can temporarily designate it that way.

The one-to-many feature will broadcast information from local officials, sports teams, and other groups. With the newsletter function, users will now be able to select whom they wish to hear from and follow broadcasters of their choosing directly within WhatsApp.

The messaging platform already enables users to “broadcast” their messages to a large audience. The new functionality enables users to conduct open talks with multiple others simultaneously and has totally transformed the way people communicate. The current plan for the newsletter function appears to involve expanding this use case.

The new feature may be a functioning test that will become a reality. We know it would streamline your inbox. Throughout time, Whatsapp has incorporated additional features to make the platform better for all users.

Read also: WhatsApp adds many more features for 2023

The Newsletter effects

WhatsApp launched Communities to organize linked groups. Sub-groups and more user interaction improve group communication with this feature.

The excellent response to the Communities feature may have influenced WhatsApp’s decision to develop the Newsletter feature.

Also, the platform recently announced the launch of additional enhancements to its status function in an effort to enhance the user experience. Included are Vocal Status, Private Audience Selection, Status Responses, Status Profile Rings, and Status Link Previews.

If applied, the new newsletter technology would change mass messaging and information selection. End-to-end encryption won’t provide genuine privacy improvements, but it can reach a lot of people.

WeBetaInfo found multiple signs in the code that indicate newsletters will be a separate and optional area within the Status page, separate from private chats, and unrelated to end-to-end encryption.

Your texts and calls are always end-to-end encrypted. No one, not even WhatsApp, Meta, or a proxy provider, can read or listen to your private messages or calls.

Newsletters are private venues where you choose what to see and when.

Like regular WhatsApp talks, the content will always be presented chronologically, according to the site. Ads are also absent from the new feature. It doesn’t employ algorithmic recommendations or social graphs to push information to people.

Users can search for and join newsletters using handles with this feature.

Users who produce and subscribe to newsletters have their phone numbers obscured to protect their privacy.

How to prevent people from adding you to WhatsApp groups

WhatsApp newsletter modification

As far as we know, WhatsApp is used daily by 2 billion individuals. Even if only a small fraction of the user community, the vast majority of whom are ignorant that the category even exists, displays interest in it, the platform has the ability to surpass other newsletter providers in a month.

More people reading newsletters will grow the market. WhatsApp may improve newsletters by letting users read them in the app. WhatsApp will need to provide newsletter publishers with better metrics as open rates rise.

February 25, 2023
Mastercard, Xsolla partner to facilitate payments for video games commerce

Mastercard and Xsolla, a global company specialising in video game commerce, have formed a partnership to facilitate payments that are hassle-free, safe, and rewarding for gamers.

These improvements range from enhanced checkout experiences that make use of credit card loyalty points to simple in-game currency gifting, as well as improved creator payout processes and other areas.

Through this partnership, Xsolla’s platform will be combined with the technology, network-level expertise, global scale, and trusted connections of Mastercard. The end result will be payment experiences that are more accessible and fully customizable for players, developers, and creators.

Mastercard and Xsolla have agreed to collaborate on the development of innovative card and account-based solutions and services for the purpose of enhancing digital experiences for gamers in the realm of payments and beyond.

Pay with Points is a solution that will be integrated into Xsolla’s Pay Station product, and it will be available to Mastercard cardholders for the very first time.

Read also: Netflix introduces in-game IDs for iOS and Android gamers

This will allow cardholders to redeem their loyalty points for in-game purchases in a seamless manner, which will serve to launch this game-changing partnership. Additionally, players will have the ability to share an in-game currency with their close friends and family members. They also have the goal of resolving challenges faced by the gaming industry and placing a higher priority on protecting consumers. As part of this effort, the companies will use the authentication and fraud detection capabilities offered by Mastercard to provide parents with more control before their children make purchases with video games.

Details Mastercard and Xsolla Partnership

Blake Rosenthal, Executive Vice President of Fintech Solutions at Mastercard, stated that the company is looking forward to further enabling cardholders to tap into their passions through this new partnership with Xsolla which is shaping the future of commerce in gaming. “Mastercard has been a strong supporter of the gaming community for many years,” Rosenthal said. “We look forward to further enabling cardholders to tap into their passions through this new partnership with Xsolla.” “As mobile devices make video games more accessible, it is necessary to create a gratifying, best-in-class digital experience in order to cultivate a dedicated gaming community and build a payments ecosystem that offers choice across a variety of platforms and dimensions.”

“The partnership with Mastercard is a testament to our commitment to continuously innovate for the benefit of developers and all players around the world,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing Officer at Xsolla. “The partnership with Mastercard is a testament to our commitment to continuously innovate for the benefit of developers and all players around the world.”

“We are able to establish new channels for revenue creation and enhanced lifetime value for developers by combining Xsolla’s Payments Solution with Mastercard’s loyalty capabilities, security solutions, and card and account-based payments technology. Xsolla’s Payments Solution was developed by Xsolla. We are thrilled to make such a significant advance toward our goal of providing a superior and more welcoming gaming environment for all of our customers.

Later on in this year, players will have the opportunity to use loyalty points earned from participating Mastercard partners to pay for in-game purchases when making purchases.

Africa is set to take over the global videogame business.

February 16, 2023
Twitter Blue subscribers can post 4000 words long tweets

According to a Twitter announcement, paying users can now post tweets up to 4000 words long. This implies that its Blue subscribers can now tweet over the initial 280-character cap.

The changes apply to replies and quoted tweets. Twitter stated that media like photos and videos could be posted with more characters.

The updates apply to replies and retweets. Twitter claimed that images and videos could be posted with more characters.

Twitter Blue subscribers can tweet lengthy tweets, but anyone can access them.

The recently implemented character limit is currently only applicable to premium users in the US. The business has not yet specified when the adjustments will be implemented elsewhere.

The social media network announced on its Blue support website that it would soon cut the quantity of advertisements Blue subscribers see by half. Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive officer, had previously mentioned a more expensive ad-free subscription package.

Read also: Elon Musk Monetizes Twitter, Frowns At Impersonation

How Twitter’s 4,000-word content may impair the user experience

Twitter Blue subscribers now have the option to have all of their tweets in a single post as opposed to threads, which can occasionally be confusing. Previously, Twitter users transformed their tweets into “threads” in order to communicate more detailed messages.

The majority of unskilled users order their tweets randomly to include their opinions in a thread, resulting in a message that is difficult to comprehend.

The new feature that lets you write one tweet with all your thoughts makes writing easy for even new users. Since only 280 characters are available before a “show more” prompt, it avoids confused tweets and timeline disorder.

Due to the fact that non-Blue users cannot utilize this feature and must continue to use threads, the timeline of some users may become even more confusing and monotonous, leading some to feel that the site is fostering isolation.

Paying for something that used to be free has been criticized for promoting classism and unequal consciousness. The Blue Badge was used to protect and identify public figures before now, regardless of their financial status.

The platform’s new “characters” function, which appears to be for paying users, suggests it is becoming a capitalist town hall.

Twitter To Charge $20 Monthly For Account Verification

Twitter Blue allows 60-minute videos

Twitter Blue previously supported 60-minute videos. Musk wants bloggers and video creators to share their content on the platform, but at a cost.

The platform added editing functionality for paying customers a few months ago. Posts can be edited by Twitter Blue subscribers. For $8 per month, Twitter Blue subscribers got the edit button, fewer ads, and better video quality.

Twitter Blue has 15 markets, including Brazil, India, and Indonesia. Twitter Blue costs 650 ($7.87) per month in India, much more than YouTube Premium, Spotify, or Apple Music. all under $4/month. Netflix’s highest tier allows 4K watching on four screens for $650 per month.

February 14, 2023
5 dating apps for Valentine’s Day

Welcome to February and a reminder of Valentine’s Day. It’s that time of year when love is shown in small but meaningful ways, such as buying gifts, saying lovely things, or taking someone on a luxurious vacation.

February brings feelings, compassion, gestures, and the chance to be a better companion to your spouse, a friend to your friends, and a kid to your parents.

Valentine’s Day was originally a Christian feast honouring Saint Valentine, a love martyr, but it has now become a global cultural and commercial celebration of passion.

Therefore, it is anticipated in modern times that you will choose someone on whom to shower all of your love and spoils. If someone has the same opinion of you, that is.

We’re here to help if you need it because we don’t want you to be overwhelmed by all Valentine’s Day-related advertisements you’ll see. If you don’t have someone yet, don’t be disheartened; there is still time.

Read also: 10 Best Bitcoin Wallets in Nigeria (Updated 2022)

Here is the list of 5 dating apps that can spice up your Valentine’s Day

So, just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’ve carefully chosen a few apps that can help you find love. Our analysis indicates that there is a possibility that one of these five applications will introduce you to someone who shares your interests and could serve as the start of your love journey.

Facebook dating

Facebook continues to be a site that many people underuse despite it being extremely popular and appearing to be overrun by numerous forces and organizations. This is a result of the platform’s general marketplace for everyone and everything.

By creating a strong profile on the platform, you increase your chances of meeting someone who matches your area, interests, and even your requirements. The website has also made it simpler for individuals to find true love.

You can send messages and likes to people you’re interested in using the Facebook dating feature. If they like you back, your profiles will match, and you can then start chatting. Just setting up a dating profile and adhering to community standards is all that is needed.

In addition to the Facebook dating function, there are other simple ways to find love on the site, such as by joining various groups and pages dedicated to dating, relationships, and love.

In fact, a young Nigerian woman recently admitted that over 70% of her relationships began in the Facebook groups she belongs to, which are being used as a dating service for singles.

Consequently, Facebook Dating might assist you in finding a partner for Valentine’s Day or perhaps something more. I would urge you to try one of the many groups on the site instead if you are not at ease with creating a dating profile so you can connect while you are on the go.

Tinder

One of the most well-liked dating apps, both locally and globally is Tinder. One misunderstanding regarding the app is that it’s only about hookups and pointless sex, but this is untrue.

With only a swipe of their photos left or right and a compelling profile, the app has the ability to put you in touch with anyone, anywhere.

The founder of TextGod met his wife on Tinder in 2019, which is an excellent illustration of how the app may lead to a long-lasting relationship (true story).

To make it easier for you, one of the fastest methods to get someone interested in you on Tinder is by being very active, looking great in your images (mainly singles), and discussing your interests.

Tinder can help you find love. It’s possible to meet via Tinder, although few do. Sometimes Tinder is merely a way to meet like-minded folks.

It is the most downloaded dating app in the world, according to Statista. Tinder had 67 million downloads in 2021.

Olosho App

If you’re single and looking for the ideal partner, whether the woman of your dreams, the guy of your dreams, new pals, or the love of your life perhaps for Valentine’s Day and beyond, Olosho is a great website for you, according to reviews from many applications.

Olosho is a free, quick, and practical messenger that allows you to send free text messages to single men and women, as well as share your photos and pick images from a gallery with other singles.

Nigerian apps are easy to use and connect with nearby people. Thus, you must find chatters who look at your profiles, occasionally remark, and start conversations.

Badoo

Modern dating app Badoo, which was established in 2006, aims to improve and streamline the dating process. It encourages a community of people who are upfront about their objectives and behave correctly toward everyone, allowing everyone to enjoy the best features of dating.

The app’s users can meet people thanks to a number of services offered by Badoo. When users sign up, they can specify whether they want to chat, date, or just make friends with new people. Users can search for friends they have in common, match with others, speak, upload photos and videos, and trade hobbies.

But since you’re gazing at Valentine, you might want to hurry up the platform chat before you’re mistaken for a friend. The platform allows 50 daily “likes.” You can message anyone who “likes” you. They’re your “matches.”

When someone likes you, their photo will be blurred, so you won’t know who it is. Only their hometown will be known. In the chat dropdown box, hit All Connections to display your likes.

Badoo has around 318 million users, with 41% between 25 and 35 as of 2022. Between now and the 14th of this month, you’re more likely to meet someone.

Bitcoin Mining 2022 – What Is It, How It Works [Infographic]

Bumble

In a dating app called Bumble, users can “swipe left” to reject a candidate or “swipe right” to express interest in other users after seeing their profiles as potential matches. The software levels the playing field and changes conventional dating procedures by having women initiate contact.

Bumble was founded at the beginning to challenge antiquated dating conventions. Users can now interact with others through online dating, networking, or friendship, thanks to Bumble.

This app’s distinctiveness is further highlighted by the many features it offers, which also enable it to function as a career portal. Expanding your network on Bumble Bizz might lead to professional opportunities where you can pursue a career move, meet team members, or take on a mentor role.

Bumble doesn’t simply match you with someone who shares your interests; it also gives you a chance at meaningful friendships beyond Valentine’s Day.

Bumble had 42 million monthly users in January 2021, second only to Tinder. 46.2% of its users are women, according to a June 2016 poll.

You can register by validating your profile. Photo verification on Bumble lets potential matches know they’re swiping on the genuine article. Add badges to your profile, create a brief bio, utilize Profile Prompts to spice things up, and integrate your Instagram and Spotify accounts to access some of your contacts there. You’re good.

February 13, 2023
Instagram’s Founders Launch News-Based App, Artifact

Instagram’s duo founders have launched a new news-focused app called Artifact, four years after giving up ownership of their previous social media app.

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, on Tuesday, January 31st, announced the unveiling of Artifact, an app that is powered by artificial intelligence and offers a personalised news feed for its users.

From left to Right: Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom at the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals. Chris Saucedo/Getty Images

Systrom had explained on Twitter that people who want to sample Artifact would need an invitation, although they may presently sign up on a waitlist.

Krieger had also disclosed on his Instagram page that he and Systrom “have been working with a talented team” for no less than a year to launch the service.

According to him, “we’re gradually letting people in as we scale up,” while also hinting about the waitlist to join.

According to a CNET report, the advent of Artifact demonstrates how AI is increasingly influencing how people consume material, particularly news, on social media platforms. TikTok, a popular short-form video app, employs an algorithm to display users’ films that they might be interested in on their “For You” page.

Read also: Russia Plans to Launch “Rossgram” After Restrictions from Meta’s App

Casey Newton of Platformer, who interviewed Systrom about Artifact, described it as a “sort of TikTok for text, though you could also call it Google Reader resurrected as a mobile app or even a surprise attack on Twitter.”

However, Systrom informed Newton that the news-based app had additional features, such as a stream of news pieces shared by people you follow, which includes their comments on the article. It also allows users to communicate with friends about current events via private direct messages.

This Is How Artifact Works

The news-based app is more concerned with articles than with photographs or videos.

Users are asked to choose 10 or more topics to tailor their news stream when they sign up. The app, like TikTok, offers a “For You” page and counts how much of an article a user has read. If a user begins reading more interior design stories, for example, the app’s “For You” page displays more of those types of content. The app also contains a “Headlines” section that highlights recent news articles.

This means users of Artifact get a feed of handpicked news pieces from notable media companies down to minor bloggers. Once a user clicks on an article, the app will show related articles as it learns more about the user’s reading habits.

According to Platformer, which was the first to disclose the launch, the app will propose content based on interests and allow for debate with friends. A user’s feed will become increasingly tailored based on what they click on, while a main feed will display popular content from huge media companies down to minor bloggers.

Read also: Instagram to introduce “Gifts” and “Repost” features

Systrom And Krieger: From Instagram To Artifact

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger founded Instagram in October 2010 and later sold the photo-sharing app to Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. After less than a decade at the Facebook-owned company, the entrepreneurs quit in September 2018.

The business partners stated publicly that they were excited to rediscover their “creativity and curiosity.” However, rumours surfaced that there were difficulties between the co-founders and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Since their departure, the duo has also developed a website to track the spread of COVID-19 in 2020.

Now in 2023, with the launch of Artifact, they are fully back to take a piece of the pie in the social media world.

Let’s keep fingers crossed to see how well the app will perform in the coming months.

February 6, 2023
Google Closes Stadia Cloud Gaming services in the UK

Google has shut down its Stadia cloud-gaming service in the UK, promising to refund gamers who have made Stadia purchases.

The service was made inaccessible after 08:00 on 19 January, many gamers say they are “heartbroken” to see it go.

Google says it will refund people who bought controllers, games or downloadable content, with Google previously estimating those refunds would be completed by mid-January.

Google has marked the closure by releasing one final Stadia game, Worm Game, which the developers used to test the service before its public release.

“We’re grateful to the dedicated Stadia players that have been with us from the start. We will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, and all game and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store.” Google announced on the blog.

Read also: Acer introduces new Nitro Gaming Laptops

Stadia, a Netflix for games

Stadia was popular as a “neflix for games” since it launched, in November 2019, allowing players to stream games online without a PC or console.

However, after its closure, google has unveiled plans to make its Stadia controllers capable of using Bluetooth, which would allow them to be used on PCs wirelessly to play any game.

Google had announced in September that it was shutting Stadia because it hadn’t gained the expected traction with users.

“ A few years ago, we also launched a consumer gaming service, Stadia. And while Stadia’s approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected, so we’ve made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service.” Google announced on their blog.

But fans have reacted with sadness, with many pointing out that some games developed exclusively to be played on Stadia could be lost forever once the service closes.

Not Gone Forever

Stadia founder and chief executive Dylan Cuthbert told journalists his team would make sure it’s not “gone forever”.

According to him, the team had spent two years developing Stadia exclusive PixelJunk Raiders and wanted to make sure it was not “gone forever”.

“It’s a real shame when people can’t play a game you’ve spent years making,” he said.

“We’re hoping to talk to publishers who can help us get it on to a PC or even PS5 [PlayStation 5] or other platforms. The IP is ours, so we’re trying to find a way to do that.”

Mr Cuthbert said he was discussing how this might work with Google, which had been “forward thinking” about finding a resolution. But there is another problem. I’d want to rework the game a little bit as well,” he said.

“At the time when we launched it, we did have to rush it a bit at the end. I wanted to spend like a bit more time – maybe another eight months or so – reworking a few things.

“If I was going to relaunch it, I’d do that, and I’d want to find a publisher who can help us do that. But there’s nothing on the books yet.” He added.

Jordy, 30, from Gosport, told BBC News she owned three Stadia controllers and was “heartbroken” it was closing.

“I honestly loved Stadia, one of the things I found the best about Stadia was the fact I could game anywhere.” She said.

“I was able to play games like Destiny 2 with my partner via my iPad whilst he was playing on the PS5. The Stadia controller was the best controller I’d used. I loved it.” She added.

“The refunds enabled me to get myself a new gaming device, and Ubisoft even gave me the games we already purchased for free,” she said.

“Even the hardware was refunded, so we essentially got controllers and 4K Chromecasts for free. It is a shame that Stadia had to close, but I am happy I was able to experience it.” Jordy explained.

Gaming in Africa is expanding as players become professionals

About Stadia

Stadia is Google’s cloud-based gaming platform that lets you play your favorite video games instantly across compatible TVs, computers, and mobile devices, with no waiting to download games, patches, or platform updates.

January 26, 2023
Acer introduces new Nitro Gaming Laptops

Acer has introduced a suite of powerful new Nitro gaming laptops featuring the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs.

The laptops come in more compact, thinner, and lighter form factors with higher screen-to-body ratios.

Intended for casual gamers who are ready for enhanced gameplay, extra features, and a more immersive experience, the new 16-inch and 17-inch Acer Nitro gaming laptop line is upgraded to suite the purpose.

Available with a 16-inch WUXGA/WQXGA display or a 17.3-inch FHD/QHD display, the new Nitro laptops feature up to 2 TB of storage and up to 32 GB of DDR5 4800 memory

The new laptops have dual fans, four fan outlets located at their sides and rear, upper air intake, and are further supported by liquid metal thermal grease to aid cooling over intense gaming periods

Whether it’s exploring the ever-growing catalog of game titles or editing montages of gameplay videos, the Nitro’s solid construction and powerful performance lead users to experience a new level of gaming.

The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs are powered by the ultra-efficient NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture which delivers a quantum leap in both performance and AI-powered graphics. Gamers can experience lifelike virtual worlds with ray tracing, massively boost performance with DLSS 3, and get a competitive edge with Reflex.

Read also: Africa’s largest gaming company (MVM) raises $3.2M at a $30M valuation

The new Acer Nitro 16 specifications

The new Nitro 16 (AN16-51) gaming laptop comes with a 5% larger screen area than its predecessor and features an upgraded 16-inch WUXGA or WQXGA display with a 165 Hz refresh rate that supports NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, allowing users to dynamically switch between the integrated graphics and discrete graphics without having to reboot.

It comes with a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard and keeps colors bright with 100% sRGB color gamut support, and a boosted 84% screen-to-body ratio for a more attractive viewing experience.

Acer Nitro 17 specifications

Powered by up to 13th Gen Intel Core HX processors, the Nitro 17’s power is enveloped in a chassis that weighs less than 3 kg and comes in a slim 400.20 x 293.25 x 27.9/28.9 mm design.

The 17.3-inch laptop comes with multiple display options, with either an FHD display with 144 Hz or 165 Hz refresh rates or a quad high-definition display (QHD) with a 165 Hz refresh rate.

It also offers a large touchpad (125.0 mm x 81.6 mm), an 81% screen-to-body ratio, and an RGB 4-zone backlit keyboard to add some flair to the gaming experience.

The new Windows 11-based Acer Nitro laptops come with up to 32 GB of DDR5 4800 MHz memory and up to a massive 2 TB PCIe Gen 2 storage so players can save more games, movies, and streaming footage on hand. Both laptops also come with one month of Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass, giving gamers access to hundreds of popular PC titles.

These Nitro devices have dual fans, four fan outlets located at their sides and rear, upper air intake, and are further supported by liquid metal thermal grease to aid cooling over intense gaming periods.

They each come installed with NitroSense software and a dedicated NitroSense key, allowing users to monitor their systems’ temperatures, as well as adjust fan speed and power performance settings to keep the hardware running as cool as possible.

Each model comes with Killer DoubleShot Pro and is Killer Wi-Fi 6 1650i enabled to provide more bandwidth.

To heighten the gameplay and streaming experience, these laptops feature an HD camera, two microphones, and two speakers with DTS:X Ultra audio so players can fully immerse themselves in lush soundscapes.

The new Nitro gaming laptops also possess a range of superb connectivity options with an HDMI 2.1 port, a microSD card reader, two Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting Power Delivery, and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, with one that allows for offline charging.

Gaming in Africa is expanding as players become professionals

Price and Availability

The Acer Nitro 16 (AN16-51) will be available in North America in May, starting at USD 1,199.99; in EMEA in May, starting at EUR 1,499, and in China in May, starting at RMB 6,599.

The Acer Nitro 17 (AN17-51) will be available in North America in May, starting at USD 1,199.99; and in EMEA in May, starting at EUR 1,599. The company says, exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region.

January 10, 2023
Tunisia’s Millesima Technologies secures $480K from investors

Tunisian start-up Millesima Technologies specializes in streaming video, video on demand, and data technology. In its fundraising efforts, the company raised 1.5 million dinars, which is about 480 thousand dollars. The company has been registered under the Startup Act.

In order to contribute to the launch of the MYVIOO platform, funds that have been raised from BH Equity, a venture capital investment company that is a subsidiary of BH Bank and has been active in the field of private equity since 1997, as well as from a private company, will be used.

Sharing on their social media platform, Millesima Technologies posted, “We are so pleased and honoured to share with the #network our biggest #news of this #fundraising , it is a very big #step for #Millesima Technologies and the team! This #opportunity will help us achieve our #goal and complete our #mission of #uplifting the #professional world with innovative #visions and #technology.”

Read also: Tunisia’s Kumulus To Generate Solar-powered Portable Water

They added, “A big thank you to #BH and #equity who believed in us and our #partners for their support, and of course, our #team for their remarkable hard work!!” customisable and kept private at all times.

Access to the channels can either be purchased for a price or obtained for free. The latter, in particular, makes it possible for the owners of the channel to manage all of the available advertising space.

In 2022, it was anticipated that video would constitute more than 82 percent of all internet traffic across the globe.

In response to this, MYVIOO, which is the first platform of its kind to be established in Tunisia, was developed.

About Millesima Technologies

Millesima Technologies is a Tunisian startup company that was established in 2021 by Haythem Dridi. The company spBourgoues in data technology and video streams and VOD in addition to platforms that are dedicated to face-to-face, hybrid, and 100% virtual events.

Tunis is the location of the company’s headquarters, and it has fewer than fifty people working for it. With Inès BOURGOU serving as CEO and Co-founder of Millesima Technologies, Onsa Ghrairi as Senior Sales Engineer, and Jihene Frikha as Communication and Marketing Manager, the company has been operating efficiently.

Nigeria turns into a hub for technological innovation and research – Kola Oladejo

Ways to Raise Funds for Your Business

If you have a striving company that needs upscaling, just like Millesima Technologies and other companies have sourced funds, you could consider the following options

Purchase order financing

Purchase order financing is ideal for businesses that get substantial product orders but lack the cash to produce them until the client pays. Purchase order financing companies compensate your supplier for product production. After shipping the product, your business invoices and receives payment. That payment repays the purchase order finance company. It’s expensive, but it’s an option for businesses that can’t get cheaper financing to fulfil orders.

Contests

Contests provide funds with few limitations. Contests sometimes attract creative or social firms.

Product pre-sales

This raises funds to fulfil orders and lets corporations measure product demand.

Strategic partners

Suppliers, distributors, and customers are strategic partners. Supply chain finance can augment your budget till your business is financially stable.

Incubators

Business incubators assist startups with resources to grow. Incubators boost enterprises beyond monetarily. They also advise network and train entrepreneurs.

Fundraising has been beneficial to lots of startups, and companies like Millesima Technologies have been able to leverage such opportunities to upscale successfully.

January 7, 2023
TV Anywhere (TVA) and others launch MTN TV+

TV Anywhere (TVA), a new media technology business, has formed a partnership with MTN, the most prominent mobile network provider in South Sudan, as well as Target Media, in order to establish MTN TV+, which will be South Sudan’s first mobile television platform.

MTN South Sudan Chief Executive Officer Gordian Kyomukama made these remarks in reference to the launch of a platform in the country that is of a world-class standard, “This MTN TV+ Platform is our latest innovation, as part of our commitment to bring the best of the world to South Sudan. With MTN TV+, customers anywhere in the country can watch television and other video-on-demand content on their phones and tablets. This is also our contribution to the local creative community to enable them to have a platform on which they can showcase their works.”

Abraham Anyang, the Group CEO of Target Media Group, praised the cooperation that was responsible for providing the people of South Sudan with this platform of the highest international calibre. Additionally, he pointed out that, “With this platform, we have provided media houses and content creators an opportunity to take their content everywhere in the country. If we want to put South Sudan content on Netflix, it is impossible. But today, we have our own platform on which to tell our stories. Local media and content creators should take advantage of this and begin to create educational and developmental content that can help accelerate the development of South Sudan”.

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In addition, the CEO of TV Anywhere offered their thoughts on the launch, “the potential of video streaming service in South Sudan has been largely untapped, and, partnering with MTN will help bring affordable and accessible entertainment service to its esteemed customers while providing a digital platform to showcase the enormous potential of the Media industry in the country. TV Anywhere is proud to be part of this history-making innovation, and we pledge our commitment to ensure that this service is successful”.

Details on TV Anywhere

Television Anywhere Africa is a new media and technology firm that is in the process of rolling out Africa’s largest Video Streaming Service enabler as well as a content distribution platform. TVA forms strategic alliances with telecommunications companies, internet service providers, and over-the-top (OTT) media companies in order to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective delivery of pay-as-you-go video streaming services to the customers of those companies via the internet and mobile devices (android and IOS). TV Anywhere also provides an unrivalled platform for the monetization of content, which is notably beneficial for movie makers, distributors, and content creators working in general entertainment across the continent.

TV Anywhere is a one-stop-shop, end-to-end solution that is specifically designed to meet the needs of a variety of service providers who are interested in competing in the African video streaming market environment. The UniqCast IPTV /OTT platform is the foundation around which our solution is built. UniqCast is recognised as a premier IPTV/OTT platform provider and system integrator for interactive video services. The company is situated in Europe. TV Anywhere provides its customers with a specialised, white-label solution that is built on a platform-as-a-service commercial architecture and is delivered via our private cloud infrastructure and huge network of content delivery nodes that are dispersed all across the continent.

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Details on MTN TV+

MTN TV+ is a mobile streaming service that gives you access to live television broadcasts from both domestic and international television stations, as well as Video on Demand (VOD) Content, on your smartphones and other smart devices such as tablets and smart TVs. You can watch live television broadcasts from both domestic and international television stations.

Customers of MTN TV+ have the ability to view live linear TV, Video on Demand (VOD), and catch-up video on their mobile devices running Android and iOS as well as web clients. The system was developed using the most cutting-edge technologies currently available in the digital media and streaming industries.

January 7, 2023