Mobile Instant Messaging

The Power of Cheap Chat

South Africans love their cell phones. More than 90% of the population owns a mobile, and many of them are able to foot the not-negligible bill with the help of messaging apps.
These days (to the joy of consumers) several free (or so-cheap-they’re-almost-free) messaging apps are fighting it out for dominance on the local (and international) market. Most are suitable not only for smartphones, but also for feature phones and even semi-feature phones, an important consideration for South Africa, where there are about 12 million smartphones and 20 million feature phones.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the mobile messaging apps available to South Africans.
WhatsApp, a cross-platform mobile messaging app, works on Android, the old BlackBerry OS, the new BlackBerry 10, Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows Phone, Symbian, as well as on selected Nokia Series 40 and selected Nokia Asha platform. In addition to text messaging, users can send images, video and audio media messages.
WhatsApp became popular among South Africans even before it was acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for $19-billion, in what was the most talked-about purchase at the time. For the time being, WhatsApp makes its revenue from subscription fees. The service is free to use for the first year; thereafter, subscribers are charged $0.99 a year (in theory at least – most users, it seems, never receive a bill). Users love it because it’s not weighed down with ads, but many have expressed worries that the Facebook take-over will mean introduction of advertising and diminished privacy.
Mxit is a local free messaging solution with a significant spread in several Latin American and Asian countries. It runs on more than 8000 devices, including feature phones, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone and tablets. Mxit does serve ads to its users.

 The 2go app started as a mobile timetable for students. Although of South African origin, it is especially popular in Nigeria. 2go is simple to use and is aimed at lower-end feature phones, although Android and BlackBerry OS versions have also been released.
Tango mobile messaging service got a $215 million investment from Alibaba in March 2014 (plus some more money from some other sources). This is believed to be the biggest single investment by a Chinese company into an American company. Tango offers text and video chats, as well as games and music.
eBuddy Chat hails from the Netherlands. It is a line of multi-protocol instant messaging clients, allowing users with Facebook Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Hangouts, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ and AOL accounts to chat free of charge in one aggregated interface. eBuddy Chat supports a web interface and also supports iOS, Android, J2ME and mobile web-enabled devices.
Google Hangouts was launched in 2013 and is integrated into Gmail.
MSN / Windows Live Messenger is connected to the Microsoft Messenger service and is compatible with Yahoo! Messenger and Facebook Messenger.
Yahoo messenger was also the first major IM client to introduce Buzzing: a user can buzz someone and both parties will hear a buzzing sound.
MySpaceIM is the official instant messaging client for the social networking site MySpace.
Facebook Messenger is here to stay, say the Facebook people, the acquisition of WhatsApp notwithstanding.
Snapchat is growing in popularity in South Africa and elsewhere, largely because it allows users to send images and videos that “self-destruct” from servers after 10 seconds of viewing. However, users should know that experts can retrieve “destroyed” content; besides, nothing prevents a recipient from capturing screenshot images and saving them before they self-destruct.
So, the first privacy cyber-rule still applies: if you wouldn’t want your Mom to see it, don’t send (or post) it.

While users around the world are happily messaging away at low rates, the doctors are sounding an alarm. They are warning about WhatsAppitis. The symptoms are pain and swelling in the wrist and / or finger joints, and the treatment consists of taking anti-inflammatory drugs – and complete abstinence from using one’s phone to send messages.
As if that’s possible!

WeChat is a Chinese service with big ambitions. It was launched in South Africa mid-2013. This free app allows users to share text, voice messages, photos and videos with individual contacts or groups. WeChat does not feature ads and makes most of its money from selling games, stickers, gaming avatars and add-on services. In China, WeChat has a payment add-on, enabling users to pay for a taxi, buy movie tickets, and, in selected malls, almost anything.
BBM, the BlackBerry Messenger is the forerunner of the phone instant messaging apps. It was originally only available for sending messages between BlackBerry users, making them extra secure. From end-2013 BBM was released for both Android and the iPhone, making it cross platform for the first time.
Viber started out as a Skype competitor for free voice calling and later expanded into a cross-platform messaging app. It was recently bought by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten for $900m. While voice calling and some other features are limited to the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone, Viber text, pictures and video messaging works on other platforms as well: BlackBerry, Samsung’s Bada, Nokia’s Symbian and Series 40, plus the desktop.
2go is a Cape Town-based recent entrant into the mobile messenger apps arena. It offers both anonymous chat rooms and instant messaging services. The chat room facilities are paid-for.

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How to Use Cloud Computing for Your Business

For the past few years, the buzz around the business world has been 'cloud computing'. But what exactly is cloud computing and how can you best use it for your business?

In a previous life, when I was involved in computer software development, our flow charts would often include a simple amorphous cloud shape to indicate some complicated process outside the scope of our immediate project. We didn't need to know the details; just that information went in, was processed and came back.

That's exactly what cloud computing is. Consider that fluffy white cloud as the Internet. Rather than following the traditional route of having your data and often programs on your own computer, you connect to the Internet and access your data stored there, giving you access from any location.

You probably already use cloud computing privately, Facebook and Instagram are perfect examples of cloud computing. But how can you use cloud computing to gain the maximum benefits for your business?

 One of the most compelling reasons for using cloud computing is to provide safe, secure storage for your data in case of a disaster at your premises. Losing your company information can be a killer blow for any business. By using cloud computing to store your data off site, you can ensure that you have access immediately from another location.

For even a small business, setting up a company network server can be an expensive proposition, not only for the hardware costs, but also for the specialised services needed to keep it operating efficiently. By renting a cloud service, you can concentrate on running your business and let your cloud service provider take care of the technicalities.

Computer software such as an office productivity suite of programs for word processing, spreadsheet capabilities and presentations is not cheap if installed on individual work stations throughout your business. Companies such as Google or Microsoft can offer cloud variations of such software, available to all employees from any Internet connected work station without having to provide licensed copies on each computer.

Cloud computing also ensures that your data is up to date for all employees. Rather than having copies of files spread around throughout your organisation, the information stored in the cloud is always up to date and consistent, regardless of who accesses it.

Of course there are arguments against cloud computing. By moving your data off site, you are very much dependent on your Internet service provider and the company that hosts your information. You'll still need a disaster recovery plan and you'll need to consider the legal aspects surrounding data protection and confidentiality.

Weigh up the arguments carefully before you head for the cloud!

The LG G3 Smartphone, A Long Awaited Flagship

The LG G3 smartphone has entered the ring as a contender to be reckoned with. The new LG G3 specs push this little bit into the spotlight and allow it to showcase some great new advances in technology to an already competitive industry. If you’ve never considered investing in an LG sma5rtphone now is most certainly the time to do so.

5.5 Inches of 534ppi Display

First off, the primary draw card within LG G3 specs is undoubtedly the QHD (Quad High Definition) 5.5” display which produces a crisp 534ppi/pixel density which is noticeable when viewing photos or watching videos. Additionally wide viewing angles make this phone a must for any visually inspired tech fanatic.

Staying Focused

Next up is the laser autofocus camera which ensures some seriously speedy happy snaps. The photo and video interface appears stripped down to its bare essentials; the aim is to ensure easier operation with fewer fussy details to think about. This could be a drawback if you want to be able to control every miniscule detail; that said the automatic settings are a sweet deal. The bonus of the quick snaps is that you are more likely to get a good shot first time, besides, what’s stopping you from adding filters and such after the fact?

 Smart…

No, we haven’t forgotten the incredible Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chip set and Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU. While it’s the same chipset that powers the Samsung Galaxy S5, there’s no denying that this particular spec is not only a dream come true, but also necessary to power the 534ppi display. Even though the extra processing power helps to power the display, the phone is by no means slow. The LG G3 performs incredibly well, even in the most demanding browsing and gaming conditions.

And Pretty

The build quality is dapper to say the least. LG have allowed for expandable memory and user accessible battery. The screen is edge to edge and the proprietary control deck sits in the back of the phone, allowing you to access the power and lock button below the camera lens. At first this configuration may appear inconvenient, but when you realise that the LG G3 smartphone allows you to wake your phone and monitor your notifications with a mere double tap, all is forgiven. The outcome is that your appreciation for good design is once again satiated by the geniuses at LG.
A Robust UI

The LG G3 runs on the Android KitKat OS which is complemented with LG’s very own Optimus user interface which comes with some nifty innovations. Most notably are: the dual window feature, the knock code security feature, privacy protecting guest mode, preinstalled Google Drive, SMS floating window notification, sizable and intelligent keyboard and an LG fitness tracking health suit.

All in all, the LG G3 specs hit the sweet spot and put LG back on the map. What’s not to love?

3D Print Your Food with the ChefJet

What Can You Make With A 3d Chef Jet Food Printer?

The first thought that enters one’s mind while considering what you can make with a 3D printer, is most often entirely unrelated to food. As of the second half of 2014 however, it is possible to enter the 3D food printing business with the help of ChefJet. This nifty little gadget is the first commercial 3D food printer and the soon-to-be the new microwave of the decade.


 Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

ChefJet made its debut at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. The brainchild of husband and wife team Liz and Kyle von Hasseln, was as with most inventions, brought into being through necessity. After going so far as to buy the ingredients to bake a cake, the freshly graduated architecture students realised that they didn’t have even an oven in their new apartment.

With a spoonful of distraction they considered how convenient it might be to use their 3D printer to create sugary treats. They ultimately modified their existing 3D printer into a food-safe printer and thus the ChefJet was born. Using sugar as a substrate, the duo constructed architecturally inspired, complex and seamless, edible 3D creations.
How the ChefJet 3D Printer Works

There are a bunch of varying 3D printing methods, machines and processes, the ChefJet uses ‘fuse deposition modelling technology’. It works by forming alternating layers of sugar substrate with layers of water.

Any single object requires thousands of iterations or layers of this exact process in order to build up the 3D object. The combination of water and sugar harden to form the final product. Without flavouring, the sugary shapes taste like marshmallow and fondant. All of the required consumables are also available through the manufacturer of the ChefJet, thus ensuring reliable quality prints based on good quality consumables such as sugar, flavouring and chocolate… Did we mention chocolate?


3D Printed Chocolate!

Using the same process as the sugar confections, the ChefJet has also been tested using chocolate as a medium. The process requires the dry ingredients of milk powder, cocoa powder and sugar, with cocoa butter as the wet ingredient. The combination produces a rich flavour and a creamy texture. The process is so simple, even Hershey’s chocolate giant has taken steps to collaborate with ChefJet.
The Bottom Line

Ultimately for the ChefJet to become a household appliance the cost of the machine would have to drop to consumer level, however at this stage the product is actually aimed at food and cuisine professionals. That said, you can still purchase the ChefJet for roughly 5000 USD, and the ChefJet Pro (for colour prints) for about 10 000 USD.

 Using the 3D Printer

Bakers, pastry chefs, cake masters, high-end event planners and restaurateurs, do not need a degree in CAD to operate the machine. The software has been designed to be intuitive and easy to use, while still able to produce complicated cake toppers, structural components etc, to such exacting standards that the final product resembles expensive china.

Of course the ChefJet is also fully NSF and UL certified to ensure that the 3D printer meets safety and sanitation standards.

A Growing Business

In its first incarnation the company was named Sugar Lab, after which it was bought over by 3D Systems in 2013. The von Hasselns’ still preside as creative directors of the Food Products department within 3D Systems, ensuring that their pride and joy continues to evolve as a viable alternative to other methods of manufacturing. Food Products’ are working with food technologists to expand their business to include starches, spices and proteins in the future.

… And now you know what you can make with a 3d printer. All you need is a ChefJet and you’ll be ready to print.