Infograph: The Story of Android

With the rate at which the Android OS is advancing it pretty difficult to keep track of what version on android is the latest and what the version your running offers. We stumbled across an awesome graphic that says it all. Hope you like it.

Google Translate Introduces Support for Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo) and Hausa

Google recently added Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo) and Hausa to its online language translating services, I took it for a quick spin and here are my thoughts. 

Google Translate, English to Yoruba - Good Morning

It seem to be an early attempt as the translations are hit and miss it terms of accuracy, also the speech option – which would say aloud the translated word or phrase in the language it was translated to was unavailable. 

At this stage I wouldn’t recommend using if for any serious work that required translation into Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo) or Hausa, but it does make a good novelty or gesture to the Nigerian demographic.

Google is also looking for volunteers to help improve the quality of its translator service. It is also available on android powered devices through the Google Translate app form Google Play. 

So why don't you guys give it a spin and let us know how you feel?

Eight Great Budget Smartphones

As we all know t’is the joyous time of years and for those of us who chose to embrace the holiday spirit will understand gifts are in order.

As we all know times are hard and all year we’ve all been feeling the squeeze, but that’s not a good enough excuse for stealing the smile from our loved ones faces. So to aid you we’ve compiled a list of 8 budget smarphones to aid you spread holiday cheer – Santa would be proud!

HTC Desire V - NGN 28,200 (Twenty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira)
 

HTC Desire V

Highlights

Android v4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)

4.0 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

5MP Camera, w/ LED Flash

1 GHz Processor

4GB Internal Storage

Sony Xperia E Dual – NGN 23,000 (Twenty Three Thousand Naira)

Sony Xperia E

Highlights

Android, v4.0.4(Ice Cream Sandwich)

3.5 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

3.15MP Camera

Dual SIM

1 GHz Processor

4GB Internal Storage (2.2GB User Accessible) 

HTC One V – NGN 28,200 (Twenty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira)

Highlights

Android, v4.0.3(Ice Cream Sandwich)

3.7 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

5MP Camera, w/ LED Flash

720p HD Video Recording

1GHz Processor

1GB Internal Storage  

Sony Xperia Miro - NGN 23,000 (Twenty Three Thousand Naira)

Sony Xperia Micro

Highlights

Android,v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

3.5 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

5MP Camera, w/ LED Flash

1GHz Processor

4GB Internal Storage

HTC Desire U - NGN 26,300 (Twenty Six Thousand Three Hundred Naira)

HTC Desire U

Highlights

Android,v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

4.0 inch, Capacitive Touchsceen

5MP Camera, w/ LED Flash

1GHz Processor

4GB Internal Storage

Sony Xperia Tipo Dual – NGN 19,600 (Nineteen Thousand Six Hundred Naira)

Sony Xperia Tipo

Highlights

Android, v4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

3.2 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

3.15MP Camera

Dual SIM

800 MHz Processor

2.9GB Internal Storage (2.5GB User Accessible)

HTC Desire X – NGN 26,600 (Twenty Six Thousand Six Hundred Naira)

HTC Desire X

Highlights

Android,v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

4.0 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

5MP Camera, w/ LED Flash

 1GHz Dual-Core Processor

4GB Internal Memory 

Nokia Lumia 520 – NGN 19,900 (Nineteen Thousand Nine Hundred Naira)

Nokia Lumia 520

Highlights

Window 8 Mobile  

4.0 inch, Capacitive Touchscreen

5MP Camera

720p HD Video Recording

1GHz Dual-Core Processor

8GB Internal Memory 

Will you be getting any of these devices for Christmas? Do you have any devices in mind that you feel should be on this list?

True Tech Kings New Logo

We’ve been around for just over two years now - being the most joyous time of the year and as a second anniversary gift we would like to officially unveil the new True Tech kings Logo.

It’s hip! It’s cool! It’s now! – It’s a reflection of what we stand for, hope to achieve and how we view ourselves and cause. Hope you love it as much as we do!  

New True Tech kings Logo

Introducing Upp – the hydrogen powered portable device charging solution.

UK based company Intelligent Energy introduces Upp, a personal energy devices designed to charge and power USB compatible portable devices such as smartphones and tablets with its focus on Nigeria and South Africa. Upp is capable of providing instant energy on the go through replaced fuel cartridges – it is claimed to be able to deliver one week of charge to even the most demanding devices.

Upp - Hydrogen Powered Charging Solution

How does it work?

The Upp fuel cell uses hydrogen – provided by specialized fuel cartridges, and combines it with air to produce clean electricity with water vapour as a by-product. Users simply need to combine the Upp fuel cell with a fuel cartridge and can begin powering their devices.

Upp cartridges can be refuelled for less than $5 (NGN 850) or less than 1$ (NGN 170) to charge your phone. The entire device will cost less than $200 (NGN 34,000), which is rather expensive for device peripheral no matter how you decided to look at it.

Feasibility Study  

In Nigeria today is true that the national electrical grid does not provide a reliable electricity supply for the country, as a result every household has at least one power generator capable of supplying an entire home with electricity. With the growing number of smart-devices in the region and the projected increases over the next few years this is lucrative avenue to explore. But others before Upp have successfully provided more economic alternatives to this problem. 

In Lagos, Nigeria – the economic hub of the country, you can readily find crude yet effective mobile phone charging kiosks, usually powered by small petrol powered electric generators. At these kiosks charging your device will cost you between NGN 50 – 100 ($ 0.29 – 0.58). 

Local Charging Kiosk - Lagos, Nigeria   

Photo Credit:  Elizabeth Musa

 

 

 

 

For those who prefer more mobile charging options you can buy a portable battery charger, which is essentially a battery pack that once fully charged can be used to juice up your device up to 4-5 times without any extra cost to you. These devices on an average go for NGN 5,000 ($30), significantly cheaper than the $200 price point estimated for the Upp.

Conclusion 

I feel the Upp is a welcome addition to the list of solutions provided to help the Nigerian populous cope with the lack of reliable electricity. But due to its high price point and cost of maintenance – not to mention Nigeria being a country with most of its population below the poverty line, I worry about its level of adoption. It most-likely will be only adopted by individuals within the higher middle class and upper class minority, which may or may not be a bad thing depending on the expectations of Intelligent Energy for the device.

The Upp will be available for purchase in Nigeria and South Africa from mid – December before being made available in the rest of the world next year. 

So what do you think about the Upp? Will you be getting one? I would make a neat Christmas present wouldn’t it?

Sources - 1