by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
The Low-battery Emergency Mode provides you with extra power and therefore extra time
The current iteration of the flagship series, the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro, boasts an Iconic Symmetrical Space Ring Design, an astonishing Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera and ultra-reliable performance, in addition to visionary Super Device features spearheaded by HUAWEI’s mobile operating system, EMUI 13.
In addition, the new smartphone also features a super handy feature called the Low-Battery Emergency Mode. This is a power-saving mode that is built on a large battery with powerful EMUI 13 algorithms and a SuperEnergy boosting technology. Activated during low battery conditions, this feature allows for more power to be drawn from the battery, safely and without harming it.
Innovative Low-Battery Emergency Mode to prolong battery life – safely
Battery life is defined as the amount of time your device runs before it needs to be recharged, and sufficient battery life is crucial for any phone user. Unfortunately, due to aesthetics and portability-related requirements, most smartphones are limited to a battery life of one to two days, which, while being arguably a reasonable amount of time, is nonetheless not always ideal.
There are certain steps you can follow to maximise your smartphone battery life – for example, avoid charging or leaving your mobile device in hot environments, including direct sun exposure, for extended durations. In addition, with the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro, you can take advantage of the Low-Battery Emergency Mode. The feature combines a high-specification battery with EMUI 13 algorithms and SuperEnergy boosting technology and is designed to keep up with the needs of the fast-paced lifestyles of today’s users, as well as expanding the scope of what they can expect from a smart device.
The Low-Battery Emergency Mode on the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro intelligently activates SuperEnergy boosting when your smartphone battery level falls to 1% – rescuing it from rapidly depleting completely. Basically, when the phone has only 1% battery left, the SuperEnergy boosting feature is intelligently activated, in turn aggregating the remaining battery, which provides the user with invaluable extended standby time on the smartphone.
The SuperEnergy boosting feature, which comprises energy accumulating pump technology, can re-polymerise the remaining ions in the battery through a special and very thin ’straw’. This enables the phone to be used for a period of time even after the ’off power’ is realised. What’s more, it is safe, as follows: it meets the certification range of HUAWEI’s charge-discharge cycle; is within the normal safe discharge range of the battery; and complies with industry standards.
Emergency Mode to keep your smartphone running in a crisis
Whether you are in an emergency situation or you simply want your smartphone to conserve power for as long as possible, the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro SuperEnergy feature has you covered. You no longer have to deal with the frustration of losing connectivity with friends and family when your battery suddenly and finally goes flat. With the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro, when you see your battery level drop to that dreaded 1%, the SuperEnergy boosting feature kicks in to aggregate the residual power.
Under this Low-Battery Emergency Mode, your phone is able to sustain three hours of standby time or 12 minutes of calling. Not to mention, it does all this without causing damage to the battery lifespan. This brings you multiple benefits.
Firstly, you can be assured that every last viable volt in the battery is put to good use in case you need to make an emergency call. Secondly, the 12 minutes of calling time provides you with the ability to make emergency calls – including being able to provide information over the phone to emergency responders and the like. You will also have more time to get your smartphone to a power source to recharge it before the battery is completely dead.
The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro is now available in Orange, Silver and Black and can be purchased from selected retail stores or theHUAWEI online store. The smartphone is priced at R24 999 for the 256 GB and R26 999 for the 512 GB.
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by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published for further public consultation, three Second Draft Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plans (RFSAPs) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems.
The Authority had previously published ten RFSAPs for public consultation in Government Gazette No 46160 on 31 March 2022.
In the light of the submissions made by stakeholders, the Authority determined that three of the ten bands require a further round of consultation. These have now been published in the Government Gazette No: 48078.
The three bands are:
• • •
450 MHz to 470 MHz;
825 MHz to 830 MHz and 870 MHz to 875 MHz; 1427 MHz to 1518 MHz
“It is in the interest of the sector to delay the finalisation of the three RFSAPs in question, and to engage in a second round of consultation to establish all the factors to be considered in order to ensure that the spectrum can be awarded to the most valuable user in the near future”, says Chairperson of the Council Committee, Cllr Charley Lewis.
“Two of the bands in question have incumbents that have to be migrated, while most stakeholders argued for the third RFSAP to be extended to cover the full band – hence the necessity for further consultation,” added Cllr Lewis.
RFSAPs like these formalise the rules and spectrum arrangements for the spectrum in question. These assignment plans are aimed at identifying new high- demand spectrum that the Authority intends to make available for IMT services in the near future. Together, the ten RFSAPs will achieve a 215% increase in high- demand spectrum available for licensing through a competitive process.
“These three bands are an addition to the seven RFSAPs published last year. We are confident that the additional bands will provide licensees with greater capacity to meet the demand faced by the sector, improve access to data services, and reduce the cost to communicate”, said Cllr Lewis.
Stakeholder representations must be made by no later than Monday, 06 March 2023 at 16h00.
All written representations, responses, and other correspondence in terms of the published Notice must be directed to Mr Manyaapelo Richard Makgotlho Project Leader: Radio Frequency Migration Plan Council Committee, via email at rmakgotlho@icasa.org.za.
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by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of gamers has more than doubled in the last five years to top 186 million people. With 95% of those gamers relying on a smartphone or tablet to get the adrenaline pumping with the latest titles, it’s hardly surprising that the industry is growing at such a rapid rate.
Of course, people play mobile games for a variety of reasons. There’s the convenience factor, a mobile game can be played anywhere and anytime. It’s also a great way to pass the time, whether you’re waiting for an appointment, commuting or simply need a quick break from the daily grind, mobile gaming provides a wonderful diversion.
Some titles are designed to be relaxing and stress-free. Others, like multi-player games, provide a social component. These players connect and play with friends or other players from all over the world. There is the competitive aspect to consider as well. Many mobile games offer competitions, giving players the chance to test their skills against others and see who comes out on top with Esports tournaments held both locally and abroad where big prizes can be won.
Connect and compete with friends through gaming.
PUBG Mobile is a case in point. One of the most popular multiplayer games of all time, PUBG delivers intense free-to-play action, drop in, gear up and compete. Survive epic 100-player classic battles, payload mode and fast-paced 4v4 team death-match and zombie modes. Survival is key and the last one standing wins. No wonder this game is played in Esports competitions around the globe.
Give your cognitive skills a boost
Mobile gaming can have a massive positive impact on our behaviour. For one, it can improve our cognitive functions. Certain mobile games, such as puzzle and strategy games, can challenge the player’s mind and improve skills like problem-solving, memory and decision making. Take Puzzles & Survival as an example. With more than 30 million downloads worldwide, this strategy title sees gamers solve puzzles to kill zombies. There’re any number of strategies that can be employed by combining tactical know-how with a title that offers a lot, even for the casual gamer.
Gaming for Stress Relief
Another benefit is stress relief. Mobile gaming can be a form of escapism, allowing players to relax and take their minds off worries and responsibilities. This can lead to reduced stress levels and improved overall mood. Gardenscapes is a wonderful example of this. Gamers solve puzzles to restore a wonderful garden to its former glory! They get to embark on a fun journey to restore and decorate different areas in the garden, get to the bottom of the secrets it holds and enjoy the company of amusing in-game characters.
Give your self-confidence a boost.
Additionally, mobile gaming can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-esteem. Completing levels and achieving high scores in games can give players a sense of pride and satisfaction, which can improve their confidence and overall well-being. Klondike Adventures delivers all this and more. Gamers get to build a flourishing city with factories and farms, mine for resources and craft everything they need for travels, quests, new buildings and orders from the locals dropping by their town. Gamers can also compete with neighbouring farm owners and take as many craft and farm orders as they can during the timed events held among all the players.
So, if you’re keen to take on the mobile gaming life and capitalise on all these benefits, head over to AppGallery. Have a browse through a dizzying variety of gaming categories that Huawei has to offer and join in the fun.
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by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
The Gauteng Provincial Government is set to release R1.2 billion towards resolving the energy crisis in the province.
“In a few weeks, we will appoint six developers who will commence the construction of an 800 megawatts solar farm in Merafong. This will be followed by the installation of roof top solar panels in government buildings especially hospitals, clinics and schools,” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said on Monday in Johannesburg.
Delivering his State of the Province Address in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, he said the electricity deficit is focused at 4058 mega volt-ampermps (MVA) in 2025.
“…This is slightly high given Eskom’s inability to generate more from its current fleet. As Gauteng, we have been working on finding solutions to the energy crisis. We have established an energy crisis response team that engages with the National Energy Committee and working with local government and energy experts,” Lesufi said.
Eskom has been battling to keep the lights on for the past few months, leading to increased stages of load shedding and a devastating impact on lives, livelihoods and businesses.
“We will engage with Johannesburg Municipality’s City Power as well as Tshwane’s Rooiwal facility with an intention of supporting them to expand and generate more power. We will meet with owners of Kelvin Power Station to establish how we can partner with them to limit load shedding in Gauteng. From next week, we will advertise a call for proposals for alternative suppliers of energy that can contribute to a solution of the energy crisis and the reindustrialization of Gauteng,” he said.
The Premier welcomed the declaration on a National State of Disaster, which was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this month.
The President explained that the declaration will enable government to “provide practical measures” to assist businesses that have been devastated by the effects of load shedding.
Where technically possible, it will also enable government to exempt critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water treatment plants from load shedding.
It will enable government to accelerate energy projects and limit regulatory requirements while maintaining rigorous environmental protection as well as procurement principles and technical standards.
Furthermore, a Minister of Energy in the Presidency is expected to be appointed to focus solely on bringing the country out of the current energy deficit.
Prior to the declaration, government had already been working on ending loadshedding as the President announced a plan to address the crisis in July 2022.
The plan was developed through extensive consultation and endorsed by energy experts as providing the best and fastest path towards energy security.
Since the plan was announced, there has been important progress in implementing the Energy Action Plan.
Climate change
Lesufi indicated that the province’s air quality continues to deteriorate.
“The water quality and now quantity is on a decline. This places vulnerable sectors more at risk. As government, we are making efforts to mitigate against the factors, which contribute to climate change. Among other efforts in combating climate change, we are investing in green technology and planting trees,” he said.
With the country experiencing natural disasters, the Premier assured citizens that the provincial government is ready to deal with them.
“For the reasons above, we are establishing a combat ready Disaster Management Centre with state-of-the-art disaster management equipment. It will also house helicopters, drones, and highly skilled personnel that can respond within the shortest possible time.
“Areas prone to disasters such as Jukskei River in Alexandra Township will receive additional support to relocate within the shortest possible time when the disaster centre is in full force,” he said.
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by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
Integrated energy and chemicals firm Sasol anticipates financial as well as environmental benefits from its drive to use renewable energy for its operations, CEO Fleetwood Grobler said.
The world’s biggest producer of fuels and chemicals from coal and gas, is working to cut its emissions by 30% by 2030.
Sasol and French gas company Air Liquide, which acquired Sasol’s oxygen production units in Secunda, launched a partnership in 2021 to jointly procure 1.2GW of renewable energy for their respective operations.
On Tuesday, the two companies announced a 260MW wind and solar power purchase agreement with TotalEnergies and the privately owned South African renewable energy firm Mulilo.
This adds to deals for 289MW of renewable power Sasol and Air Liquide signed in January with Enel Green Power, a unit of Italy-based Enel and Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm.
Grobler said in an interview that 550MW of renewable energy projects that are expected to be operational by 2025 would account for around a third of Sasol’s current electricity consumption of 1.5GW.
“It helps us on our decarbonisation journey. It also makes business sense, when you look at the escalation of Eskom power price increases and factor in what the renewable power purchase agreements come out at, it becomes economically sensible to go for renewable energy,” Grobler said.
Sasol reported a 9% profit jump in a half year it described as mixed as higher oil prices offset the impact of weaker global economic growth, higher costs, power cuts and poor rail logistics.
Sasol’s core headline earnings per share — the company’s preferred measure of its operating performance — was R24.55 in the six months to December 2022, compared to R22.52 in the corresponding six-month period a year earlier.
It said production volumes declined during the six months due to lower productivity and poor coal quality from its mining operations.
Sasol declared an interim dividend of R7/share. — Reuters
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by Tech Talk | Feb 22, 2023 | Articles
Microsoft headed into a showdown with European Union antitrust watchdogs by insisting its US$69-billion (R1.3-trillion) takeover of Activision Blizzard will “bring more competition” for gamers but pledging to show willingness to address antitrust concerns.
“I think we’ll make clear that our acquisition of Activision Blizzard will bring more games to more people on more devices and platforms than ever before,” Microsoft president Brad Smith told reporters ahead a closed-door hearing in Brussels.
“We’re more than willing, given our strategy, to address the concerns that others have, whether it’s by contracts, like we did with Nintendo this morning, or whether it’s by regulatory undertakings, as we’ve consistently been open to addressing,” Smith said.
He was referring to the signing of a 10-year agreement with Nintendo that “will bring Call of Duty to Nintendo devices”. Microsoft last year already publicly offered to give other rival Sony Group a similar licence for the blockbuster game.
The EU hearing, with dozens of lawyers, officials and rivals, comes just two weeks after Britain’s merger regulator provisionally found that the deal could substantially harm competition in gaming consoles and cloud gaming services in the country. That raised questions about the viability of the transaction that’s also under attack in the US over fears Microsoft could make it harder for rival platforms to access Activision’s most popular titles.
Microsoft recently received the EU regulators’ initial findings in a so-called statement of objections, laying out the bloc’s key concerns about the deal, according to people familiar with the review.
In the UK, it’s clear already that licensing alone won’t be enough to convince its watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority this month suggested a number of structural remedies that include the divestiture of the business associated with Call of Duty, the Activision part of the business or blocking the merger altogether.
In the EU, the SO and this week’s hearing, which also includes Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, will set the path for the kinds of formal remedies Microsoft will have to submit in the coming weeks. The EU aims to finalise its review by 11 April.
The UK probe, which has focused on whether the deal will allow Microsoft to foreclose on rival console gaming platforms and cloud gaming service providers, is set to conclude by 26 April. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission is locked in a lengthy legal process after formally suing to veto the transaction.
Microsoft has repeatedly said it has no plans to make Call of Duty exclusive. The software giant has offered to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for several years and a similar deal to Nintendo for its Switch console. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer maintains that the company’s plan is to seed its content across as many screens and systems as possible. — Bloomberg
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