TechPression

Category: Live streaming

  • Netflix to expand operations in Africa

    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 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.

  • A guide to buying the right Smartphone

    A guide to buying the right Smartphone

    We both recognize the importance of smartphones in everyday life. Working from home, gaining access to crucial data, and engaging with coworkers are more productive.

    These tools have allowed people who couldn’t previously use technology to have access to it. Using accessibility capabilities like voice recognition, screen readers, and magnifiers, people who are deaf or hard of hearing can use smartphones just like everyone else. No matter where you are in the globe, staying in touch with loved ones is simple with the help of apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

    However, the market offers so many options that finding the right smartphone can be challenging. It’s not only about getting the latest phone with the best camera. To get the most for your money, consider various criteria.

    Read also: How To Use Your Smartphone as a CCTV Camera Without Internet

    Here are the things to consider before choosing the right Smartphone

    We’ll cover smartphone basics to help you buy. These tips will help you choose a smartphone, whether you’re a technophile or a casual user.

    What is its processor?

    The processor is without a doubt one of the most crucial things to take into account when deciding which smartphone to purchase. Your phone will function efficiently, process information rapidly, and offer a seamless user experience if it has a high-quality processor. Your smartphone may lag or freeze without a strong CPU, making it annoying and challenging to operate.

    You can multitask with ease while playing games, streaming videos, and switching between programs on a quick desktop. Thus, a good processor is necessary for a fantastic smartphone experience. Don’t compromise on performance; invest in a smartphone with a strong processor for quick response times, seamless multitasking, and a fantastic user experience.

    Guidelines

    Casual users: A mid-range processor like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series or the MediaTek Helio G series should be adequate for consumers who primarily use their phone for online browsing, social media, messaging, and light gaming. On your smartphone, these processors deliver respectable performance for routine tasks.

    Power users:  A flagship desktop like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series or the Samsung Exynos 2100 would be a fantastic choice for consumers who routinely use demanding apps like video editing software, top-tier gaming, or AR/VR apps. These Desktops offer top-of-the-line performance and can handle demanding workloads without slowing down.

    Budget-conscious buyers:  While looking for a smartphone, those on a tight budget should focus on models with mobile processors from the MediaTek Helio A or P series or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 series. Despite being less potent than mid-range or flagship single-core processors, these ones are nevertheless capable of handling simple jobs and light gaming without any problems.

    Battery-minded users: For those who prioritize battery life over performance, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 700 series and MediaTek Dimensity series processors are viable possibilities. These CPUs are designed to be energy-efficient, allowing them to give an excellent performance while conserving battery life.

    Photographers: For photo and video enthusiasts, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series or Samsung Exynos 2100 CPUs are good choices. These image-processing devices can handle high-resolution photographs and films without lag.

     

    Do you like its phone screen?

    We utilize our smartphones’ displays for movies, gaming, and social media. An excellent display may offer an immersive and engaging experience. The display’s brightness, color accuracy, resolution, and size influence a smartphone’s quality. Thus, don’t ignore the display while buying a phone. You’ll never regret buying a gadget with a fantastic display.

    Guidelines

    Casual Users: IPS phones are good for casual users who text, browse social media, and watch videos. 

    These displays offer good color reproduction and viewing angles at a lower cost compared to other display types. 

    Gamers: OLED or AMOLED smartphones offer rapid response times and smooth images. Gamer-friendly panels include quicker refresh rates, shorter input lag, and deeper blacks. 

    Photographers: Use an OLED or AMOLED smartphone for color fidelity. These panels provide superior color accuracy and deeper blacks for photo processing. 

    Outdoor Users: Choose a smartphone with high brightness and outside visibility if you use it in bright sunshine.  OLED and AMOLED displays have superior brightness and contrast ratios; however, certain high-end LCD panels are also good for outdoor viewing. 

    Content creators: A smartphone with a Quad HD or 4K display is ideal for editing videos and photos on the road. While editing, these monitors offer greater screen space and crisper photos.

     

    How long does a battery last?

    Battery life is crucial when purchasing a smartphone. A powerful phone that dies midday is useless.  A long-lasting battery is crucial for everyone who uses their phone for business, communication, or leisure. A smartphone with a long battery life lets you watch films, play games, surf the web, and take pictures without charging. A phone with a long battery life can save you money by eliminating the need for charging cases and other batteries. If you want your smartphone to be ready when you need it, buy a device with a long battery life.

    Guidelines  

    Casual Users: If you mostly use your phone for messaging, checking social media, and calling, a smartphone with a 3000mAh to 4000mAh battery should last all day. 

    Heavy Users: For gaming, streaming, and other resource-intensive operations, a smartphone with a battery capacity of 4000mAh to 5000mAh or more is advised. Fast-charging smartphones are also useful for rapid top-ups. 

    Business Users:  If you use your phone for work-related duties like emailing, video conferencing, and document editing, a 4000mAh to 5000mAh smartphone is advised. A removable battery phone lets you replace the battery when it runs low. 

    Outdoor Users: If you frequently use your phone in regions without power, a smartphone with a 5000 mAh battery is advised. Power-saving phones also extend battery life. 

    Travelers: A smartphone with a 4000mAh to 5000mAh battery is recommended for regular travellers who use their phone for navigation, translation, and other travel chores. Wireless charging lets you charge your phone anywhere.

    9 Google products that are powered by AI

    How much storage do you need?

    Consider what a smartphone can accomplish and how much it stores in terms of photos, videos, music, and apps.  Storage first, right? “You’re out of storage space” after installing a vital app?

    Low storage slows your phone. A phone needs enough storage to be effective. Don’t skimp on stockpiling when buying your next smartphone.

    Suggestions

    Light users: If you mostly use your phone for calling, texting, accessing social media, and occasionally shooting photos, 32GB of storage should be sufficient. 

    Average users: If you frequently browse, stream videos, play games, and take photographs and videos on your phone, then 64GB or 128GB of storage would be appropriate. 

    Heavy users: If you often save huge games, high-resolution images, videos, music, and other files on your phone, 256GB or more storage space is advised. Those who routinely record 4K videos should utilize this as well because they use a lot of storage.

    Several smartphones support microSD card storage expansion. You can choose a lower storage capacity and upgrade it later if your phone supports this functionality.

     

    How secure is this smartphone?

    In today’s digital age, where cyber-attacks and data breaches are becoming more frequent, choosing a secure smartphone ensures that your personal information, such as passwords, bank account details, and social media accounts, are protected from unauthorised access by hackers or malware. Therefore, it’s crucial to invest in a phone that offers the latest security features, such as biometric authentication, encryption, and regular security updates, to ensure your data remains safe and secure.

    Guideline


    Watch for  Basic security measures like setting a password or PIN, enabling two-factor authentication for important accounts, and updating the device and apps should be considered.

    Higher security is recommended for work-related activities and storing sensitive data like customer data, business plans, and financial information. In addition to setting a strong password or PIN and enabling two-factor authentication, they should use a secure messaging app, install antivirus software, and enable remote wipe in case the device is lost or stolen. 

    Extra precautions should be taken for high-security activities like online banking or cryptocurrency transactions. 

    Use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection. Avoid public Wi-Fi and use a password manager to create and store unique passwords for all your accounts. 

    To restrict children’s access to inappropriate content, apps, and features, look for parental controls.

  • Twitter Blue subscribers can post 4000 words long tweets

    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.

  • Netflix adds two new premium-only features

    Netflix adds two new premium-only features

    Netflix’s Premium subscription now includes spatial audio and more download devices, upgrading or joining Free. Netflix Director of Product Management Rishu Arora stated that 4K HDR resolution has been tuned for premium members.
    “We’re happy to offer new features for users who are already on the Premium plan, upgrade, or register for the first time,” she said.

    For subscribers to the Premium plan, Netflix has developed various new features over the years. The best viewing experience is offered to these customers thanks to features like 4K HDR video resolution. a function that allows users to view movies and TV shows without being interrupted by advertisements.

    Another feature on the streaming platform is Dolby Atmos, which surrounds consumers with engrossing sounds while they watch content.

    Additionally, Sony’s picture quality and device experts worked with Netflix’s color scientists to develop a new feature called Netflix Calibrated Mode, which is only available on Sony’s BRAVIA MASTER Series A9F OLED and Z9F LED TVs.

    Read also: How To Save Data While Streaming Video Online

    Netflix Premium Upgrades

    The two new features are spatial audio and the ability to download content from other devices.

    Any device can enjoy this unique cinematic audio experience because no additional hardware is required. Users can now experience the best sound possible when watching a movie or television show on their phone, tablet, computer, or TV thanks to this new feature.

    The new feature is currently accessible on more than 700 of Netflix’s most popular films, including Knives Out: A Glass Onion, Wednesday, and Stranger Things. As new but well-liked titles like Tour de France, You, Your Place or Mine, etc. are published, they will also be added.

    All premium users need to do to access the function is look for the new “spatial audio” badge on movies and TV shows, or just search for “spatial audio” to receive a comprehensive list of all the titles of movies and TV shows that support the feature.

    Netflix To Launch Ad-Supported Subscription Plan In November

    Additional Download Tools

    The second newly released feature is this one. In order to download Netflix movies and episodes whenever they want, more users and more devices must be able to login to a premium account.

    Prior to this, only four of the site’s members could download content because premium customers could share their accounts across several devices. The number of download devices has now grown to six for premium members solely due to these additional features, though.

    The streaming juggernaut revealed its new anti-password sharing procedures the day before this. The website described how it tries to keep password sharing within a family while clamping down on unauthorized outside use.

    The world’s largest streaming service has revealed the terms describing how it intends to manage the household experience. It has revised its FAQ pages for Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, three nations where it is already experimenting with additional membership fees for account sharing.

    These new phrases require individuals to identify their primary location via television. All accounts and devices should be linked to the same Wi-Fi network as the television.

    “A signed-in, Wi-Fi-connected TV sets your primary location.” “All additional devices signed into your account on that Wi-Fi network will be associated with your primary location and can use Netflix,” it adds.

  • WhatsApp adds many more features for 2023

    WhatsApp adds many more features for 2023

    The popular instant messaging app, WhatsApp, has recently updated its features to give users a varied experience. Android mobile users can now make videos more conveniently than in the past.

    The latest feature set to be released will allow users to record video messages instantly on WhatsApp without keeping their fingers permanently on the camera button from start to finish.

    The new WhatsApp 2.23.2.73 update will allow users to freely make videos without holding their devices as they can switch to video mode and start recording.

    Read also: Users will soon be able to send “view once” messages via WhatsApp

    WhatsApp unwavering upgrades

    The platform has constantly been improving its features from the possibility of running the app on two devices simultaneously to the increase in the size of group members and the ability to hide your online status while using the app, the Meta group is not relenting on improving the experiences of the users.

    In 2022, WhatsApp updated and included many features, running on iOS or Android, and the company is not stopping in 2023, as a total of five new fonts will soon be available for use to customize users’ experience. 

    Other features unveiled 

    Cyber-sleuths at WhatsApp blog WABetaInfo, who dug into the app to discover new features, revealed that the app would soon allow users to copy WhatsApp photos and videos with their captions. The feature is currently being tested. This will enable users to easily share photos and videos with others as they can add a caption to explain what the content is about.

    Another feature that is currently under development is the ability to move WhatsApp chat history between Android phones without the use of Google Drive. This will make it much easier for users to transfer their chat history from one phone to another.

    A block shortcut in the chat list is also under development, which will make it easier for users to block unwanted contacts right from the chat list.

    Signing up for WhatsApp beta is the surest way to get the features faster, as it is unclear when WhatsApp will release these changes to the general public.

    WhatsApp new features for its app come to the beta version first before they are released to the regular version to enable the company to get feedback from testers about their user experience if there are bugs or any other issues that need to be sorted out before releasing it to billions of regular users across the world.

    WhatsApp Adds New Privacy Options, Enhancements

    How to become a WhatsApp beta tester

    You can sign up using your smartphone.  From the Google play store, search WhatsApp, and scroll down the page until you find ‘become WhatsApp beta tester’. Click ‘I’m in’ and then confirm with  ‘join’.

    You need to sign up with the same WhatsApp number you use. Once signed up, a message that says ‘you are a beta tester now’ pops up, and then you receive the updates. You can opt-out at any time you wish to.

  • Instagram’s Founders Launch News-Based App, Artifact

    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.

    Instagram co-founders, Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, launch Artifact App | Techpression
    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.

  • Google Closes Stadia Cloud Gaming services in the UK 

    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.

  • TikTok creators can now restrict videos to adult viewers only

    TikTok creators can now restrict videos to adult viewers only

    TikTok stated that it has begun rolling out a new audience control option that allows producers to limit their videos to adult audiences. Until now, TikTok Live was the only platform with adult-only audience settings. Over the upcoming weeks, TikTok promises to make the feature available worldwide.

    The dominant social media platform claimed that the new function was in keeping with the company’s strong regulations against nudity, sexual activity, and sexually explicit content, including content that links to adult websites or apps.

     Read also: TikTok-inspired shopping feature is now available on Amazon

    TikTok’s response to tackling adult content


    According to TikTok, over 40,000 devoted trust and safety specialists labor to create and uphold these principles, as well as develop procedures and technologies to find, remove, or censor unlawful content quickly.

    It reaffirms that its goal has always been to ensure that the TikTok community, especially teens using the site, has a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience. “We’ve already made substantial progress in ensuring that their feeds are filled with relevant content, and these enhancements represent a critical step toward achieving that objective.”

    Constantly, the social media platform has been criticized for not doing enough to shield youngsters from sexual content and pornographic websites.

    In its blog post, TikTok said it was automating its machine-learning techniques to detect sexually explicit, suggestive, or borderline content. “Our aim is to swiftly identify and remove violative content from our platform and prevent borderline or suggestive content from being promoted to or searchable by underage accounts.”

    “Family Pairing” protects Teenagers on TikTok

    TikTok’s upgrade removes unlawful content faster


    We are now launching the next version of our borderline suggestive model, which we expect to improve detection of such content and thus create a more appropriate and comfortable experience for teen account holders. We are working to lower the prevalence of borderline or suggestive content recommendations generally.

    TikTok introduced its Content Levels system last year to block mature or sophisticated content (such as swearing, adult innuendo, or sexually suggestive content) from reaching 13- to 17-year-olds (teen accounts).

    Except for our steps to prevent teen accounts from seeing more explicit content, this is identical to other media and platforms that use content rating standards. In the past 30 days, we’ve blocked over 1 million sexually explicit or graphic videos from teen accounts.

  • How to fix a non charging Android phone

    How to fix a non charging Android phone

    The worst thing is a phone that won’t charge quickly. If you haven’t had electricity for a while and find a place with power, it may take 30 minutes to charge your phone 1%. Not ideal.

    As a result, it’s critical to understand the particular reasons why your phone battery won’t charge quickly.

    Here are the quick things to check if your phone is not charging

    Using your phone while charging

    You probably aren’t giving your phone a break while charging if you’re a frequent phone user who has a slight addiction to it. The longer it takes to charge if you use your phone while it’s plugged in because it may consume too much power.

    Leaving your phone alone while it charges is the obvious solution to this problem, which will result in a faster charge for your phone. You might need to purchase a tablet or computer if it’s necessary for your job, and you might use it in its place while your phone is charging.

    Read also: How To Save Data While Streaming Video Online

    Check settings and apps often

    Even though the screen uses the most power, several settings and programs have the ability to drastically cut down on battery life and prevent the smartphone from charging quickly. Many Android apps automatically start up or operate in the background after being used for a short while.

    A few malicious apps can seriously harm your phone’s performance. In some cases, services like hotspots that are enabled can prevent your phone from charging quickly. Check your app settings to control background processes and turn off services like hotspot while not in use or while charging.

    Bad adapter, cable, or port

    Bad cables can cause your phone to charge slowly. Old cables slow phone charging. Change the cable if suspected.

    Your phone’s charging port may also be slow. Look for clutter. If so, it can slow charging and cable connection. Try cleaning it with a little brush.

    Along with your phone charging slowly, your charging port may be less secure. This may slow the phone’s charging. Watch for rust and corrosion. Your charging port or bottom board may need replacement.

    Finally, your charger adapter may be bad. Replace it if you can.

    Weak power supply

    Although charging your phone with USB cables linked to laptops, TVs, or any other USB-compatible device is technically conceivable, these gadgets are not made actually to charge your phone properly.

    As a result, you need to be sure that the adapter you’re using to charge your phone is hooked to a power outlet. This will guarantee that your phone is charging at the best possible rate. Some power banks are also excellent for quickly charging smartphones. Just make sure it’s a good one.

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    Use suitable charging accessories

    Furthermore, an improper charger for your phone could slow down the charging process. Therefore, if your usual charger, for example, starts to malfunction, make sure you replace it with the same model or with a charger that can charge your device both safely and quickly.

    For guidance on the appropriate charger type for your phone, get in touch with a phone repair professional.

  • The Purpose and meaning of Artificial Intelligence

    The Purpose and meaning of Artificial Intelligence

    If you’ve ever used Uber or your phone’s auto-correct feature, you’ve used artificial intelligence. It seems that “artificial intelligence” (AI) is everywhere these days, but what does it actually mean? How does it benefit us in our daily lives?

    Artificial intelligence’s effects on our daily lives can be determined by understanding it. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer’s or machine’s ability to learn, solve problems, make decisions, and understand natural language.

    The entire process is automated. Automated systems that are “artificially intelligent” can learn from how they have been used before and change their responses to fit the user’s needs or try to get them to change their habits. This is just a very brief explanation of what artificial intelligence is; of course, there is much more to say.

    Machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing are crucial to AI. Machine learning is the process by which computers can get better at what they do by looking at large, structured data sets and getting feedback from humans and other ML systems on a regular basis.

    Deep learning is thought to be the most advanced type of machine learning because it learns by looking at examples. Nevertheless, it can use unstructured data. Natural Language Processing is a computer-science linguistic technique. It enables voice recognition by machines. Computers perceive and respond to human input using natural language processing.

    Read also: Nigeria Launches Africa’s First Humanoid Robot, Omeife

    Real-World Applications of AI

    Technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) are being used in a variety of fields to improve output, accuracy, and user experience. Typical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) include the following:

    Navigation with Maps

    Travelling is easier because of AI. Today, you can use Waze, Google, or Apple Maps on your phone to get around. How does an app decide where to go? The best route: roadblocks or gridlock? Satellite-based GPS was the only option until AI was added to improve service.

    Algorithms for machine learning that remember the edges of buildings make it easier to read and understand the house and building numbers and make maps look better. The app can also tell when traffic patterns change and suggest a different route to take to avoid slowdowns and traffic.

    Face-Recognition Technology and Applications

    AI is already in use when we use virtual filters on our faces when taking pictures and when we use the facial ID to open our phones. The first one has face detection, which lets it recognize any human face, while the second one uses technology that lets it recognize specific human faces. Additionally, surveillance and security systems at government buildings and airports employ facial recognition technology.

    Text-editing and auto-correction apps

    Using AI technologies that combine machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, your typing mistakes will be fixed in word processors, texting apps, and other places where you type. Linguists and computer scientists teach machines grammar like humans. The editor flags inappropriate comma usage because high-quality language data trains the algorithms.

    Search-Recommendation Algorithms

    Have you noticed that movie and shopping suggestions are often based on what you like or what you’ve been looking for recently? After watching how you use the Internet for a while, these smart recommendation systems will make suggestions based on what they know about you and what you like. Machine learning and deep learning are used to store and analyze the data that is collected at the front end. It can then guess what you like based on what it knows about you and suggest products, music, and more.

    Chatbots are programmed to speak like customer care employees using natural language processing (NLP). More than just yes-or-no questions, modern chatbots can handle a range of inputs. Thus, they can answer complex problems. If you don’t like a bot’s answer, it will fix it next time to keep customers pleased.

    Social media apps are using artificial intelligence (AI) more and more to monitor content, suggest relationships, and show ads based on certain criteria. This is done to keep users interested and “plugged in.”

    AI systems can quickly find and remove content that doesn’t follow the terms of service by looking for keywords and recognizing pictures. This approach heavily employs deep learning’s neural network design.

    As a result, social media platforms use AI to match users with businesses that have determined that they would be interested in advertising to them based on their profiles. Social media AI may also learn what users like and recommend more of it.

    How Technology Improves Healthcare in Africa

    Electronic or digital payments

    Financial institutions are now using AI to improve the customer experience by making it easier for people to pay.

    Due to the use of AI for security, identity management, and privacy controls, it is now possible to open accounts, make deposits, and transfer money from anywhere in the world.

    Credit card fraud can be found by keeping an eye on how people spend their money. That, too, is an example of AI. Algorithms can figure out how much money a user has to spend based on their buying habits, such as what they buy, how often they buy it, and where they buy it.

    AI is often in the news, and these uses show why. These are just a few of the many ways AI is used. AI affects every part of our lives. It leads to the creation of cutting-edge technology.