Author: Gugu Lourie

In a move aimed at moving its customers into faster internet access, Telkom announced on Monday a trial to move  more than 11 000 copper-based broadband digital subscriber line users to its new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network across the country,  at no additional cost. By Staff Writer Telkom said in a statement that DSL customers within it’s fibre footprint will be given the opportunity to upgrade their copper-based connectivity, to the more advanced fibre network. These customers will also have the opportunity to test Telkom’s Boltspeed 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps fibre products, for free, for two months. The company said…

Facebook has decided that the Like button is not expressive enough and are going to add 5 new icons, called “Reactions” that Facebook calls “angry, sad, wow, haha, and love”. Reactions have been tested with users in a number of different countries whilst Facebook observed how they were used, especially during and after events like the terrorist attacks in Paris. By David Glance Facebook has come to learn that its users are particularly resistant to any significant changes in the platform, ironically finding it very easy to express their unhappiness with changes that Facebook have made in the past. Adding Reactions…

“Selfie” is not just word of the year, but also the mainstay of postings on social media sites such as Instagram. With the prevalence of camera-equipped smartphones the posting of selfies has reached epidemic levels – even the funerals of national leaders aren’t exempt. But is there a psychological fall-out? By Tara Marshall A new study by Florida State University academics Jessica Ridgway and Russell Clayton found that people who were more satisfied with their body image posted more selfies to Instagram – confidently showing off, you might say. But in turn, they reported experiencing more conflict with their romantic partner…

Today MTN SA Foundation invested R2.6 million worth of computer laboratories in the Sedibeng West District of the Vaal region.  The handover took place at Qhoweng Primary School. Seven schools will receive fully equipped computer laboratories and the district will be gifted with a mobile computer laboratory as well as a Toyota Fortuner Vehicle to drive the laboratory (trailer) around various areas in the district. The beneficiary schools include Mqiniswa Primary School, Lebohang High School, Khutlotharo Secondary School, Qhoweng Primary School, Polokong Primary School, Lakeside Secondary School and Poelano Secondary School. Laboratories provided to the schools have been renovated,…

Reinstated Idols judge Gareth Cliff is “thrilled” with the court ruling in his favour that also ordered M-Net to pay all his legal costs. By Naledi Shange and Kyle Zeeman, NewsAgency “We’re very pleased about this,” he told journalists outside the High Court in Johannesburg. “We’re thrilled.” His lawyer, Eric Mabuza, said he always believed a judgment in Cliff’s favour was a foregone conclusion. “We’ve always been confident about the case… this case indicates that everyone is equal before the law. “It also indicates that human rights are human rights. You do not have black human rights, or white human rights,”…

Axed Idols judge Gareth Cliff won a mammoth lawsuit against M-Net on Friday, hours before the first auditions for the show were due to start. The celebrity won his bid to be reinstated as a judge of the popular talent scouting show, Judge Caroline Nicholls ruled in the High Court in Johannesburg. “This is a contractual dispute. The contractual relationship has to be reinstated to what it was. M-Net will pay costs to Gareth Cliff,” Nicholls told a packed court. Cliff, dressed smartly in a dark suit, smiled as the ruling, which lasted four minutes, was read out. Earlier…

The convergence of the digital and physical worlds is more than a MasterCard rally cry. It is in fact a fundamental shift that’s driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, where automation, data exchange and manufacturing technologies are going to simplify our lives, drive better experiences and give us more time to focus on things that matter most… our families, friends and experiences. By Ajay Bhalla, president, Enterprise Security Solutions, MasterCard But to get to this state of safe automation and connectivity, we need to talk about the role of security AND innovation. Both are of paramount importance.…

South African-born serial entrepreneur Vinny Lingham announced on Thursday the founding and funding of his new startup venture, Civic, based in Palo Alto, California. By Staff Writer Lingham said in a statement that Civic aims to tackle the problem of consumer identity theft and reducing online identity fraud. Civic is expected to launch in spring 2016. Civic has just closed a $2.75 million round of seed funding, led by Social Leverage, a notable early stage fintech investment fund. Social Leverage’s founding partner, Howard Lindzon, will also join Civic’s board. “Consumers need better control of their personal information and their digital identities. Civic…

Undersea broadband cable provider Seacom is experiencing another disruption to its network in Egypt, which is having an impact on South Africa’s internet connectivity on Thursday morning. By Gareth van Zyl, NewsAgency Seacom – which operates an undersea broadband cable that connects from South Africa to Europe and Asia – said in an update on its website on Thursday morning that it “is experiencing multiple outages on the terrestrial network across Egypt”. “All our international connectivity through Egypt has been affected since 06:00GMT (08:00 South African time) on the 28th January 2016,” said the company. “Repair teams are on site. Seacom…

The all-new BMW 7 Series now available in South Africa. With the new BMW 7 Series, BMW has redefined what an exclusive, luxurious driving experience looks like in contemporary, pioneering form. Groundbreaking technologies in the areas of lightweight design, powertrains, chassis, operating systems, intelligent connectivity and interior ambience underline its mission to bring together unbeatable driving pleasure and long-distance comfort in a luxury sedan. The handing over of the baton from one generation to the next at the top end of BMW’s model line-up sees the brand presenting a raft of innovations unmatched by any of its rivals. Design: stylish presence,…