IOL Tech mag Jan 2021

IOL

TECHNOLOGY SA’S FREE MONTHLY TECH AND INNOVATIONS MAG

Looking forward to the year to come

CONTENTS

THE RISE OF MOBILE GAMING IN 2021

IT’S A GAMER’S PARADISE: 2021 TOP NEW GAMES

WHAT THE FOCUS WILL BE IN MOBILE THIS YEAR

TOP GADGETS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

FINTECH NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN 2020

WHY SOUTH AFRICANS LOVE SAMSUNG PAY

WHAT’S HOT ON THE MOBILE FRONT

CONTACT US PUBLISHER Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com TECH EDITOR Faheem Khota faheem.khota@inl.co.za PRODUCTION Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Keshni Odayan keshni@africannewsagency.com SALES Charl Reineke charl@africannewsagency.com Kyle Villet kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com ENQUIRIES info@anapublishing.com

LAPTOP SHORTAGES WON’T EASE UNTIL 2022

SOCIAL MEDIA MEGATRENDS IN 2021

WHAT WORKING AT HOME WILL LOOK LIKE IN 2021

Editor’s Note I am certain that most of you (like me) are relieved that the year 2020 is over.

There is something about the clock striking 12 on the 31st that brings a new sense of hope, renewal and possibility. Even though the worst is far from over and we stand amid the storm, I wish you and your families a year of health, happiness and healing.

When most industries in the world came to an abrupt halt last year, the tech universe seemed to have sped up. We saw products being launched on time, launch events moving to virtual settings and tech companies playing a crucial role in combating the pandemic.

This issue is about looking forward to the year to come and how the tech universe will be shaped by the year before and move even faster as vaccines start rolling out and companies run at full capacity.

Enjoy.

Faheem

YASMINE JACOBS

THE RISE OF

MOBILE GAMING IN 2021

LAST year was a rollercoaster ride for the gaming industry as many released their inner pro during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

According to market researcher Newzoo, the game industry, including mobile, will grow 19.6%, to more than $174.9 billion (about R2.6 trillion).

Bearing in mind that not one but two new consoles were launched in November, the industry is expected to grow exponentially once again this year.

We are also expected to see the rise of mobile esports. PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty and Clash Royale all saw an increase in popularity during the lockdown. That growth is expected to continue.

As 5G gets closer

and more in reach, many more players are expected to get their (mobile) game on as internet gets faster and phones get smarter. With improvements in Chipset technology, mobile devices are expected to be on par with gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox in terms of performance.

Experts say more than 2.2 billion people have used their cellphones for playing games in the past 10 years.

Gamers can also look forward to a host of new instalments from their favourite studios and will enjoy the thrill of openworld gaming or stick to the good ol’ shooters.

Whether you are a PC gamer or if consoles are more your thing, one thing is for sure – 2021 will be an exciting year for gaming!

It’s a gamer’s paradise TOP NEW STAFF REPORTER

THIS year there are a ton of games that gamers can look forward to. Last year, we saw the rise of e-sports as Covid19 lockdowns had us all levelling up.

Whether you are a PC gamer or a diehard console gamer, there is something for everyone so no one has an excuse to miss out this year.

Overwatch 2 It has been five years since the launch of Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch and fans anticipate its sequel to arrive later this year.

Overwatch 2 is expected to keep the same multiplayer component as seen in the first Overwatch. An added bonus is that Overwatch and Overwatch 2 players will be able to play against each other.

Hogwarts Legacy Social media was ablaze when reports emerged that there will be an open-world adventure game set in JK Rowling’s wizarding world.

Warner Bros planned to release the game this year with Avalanche Software designing the upcoming role-playing game. However, dreams were crushed when it was later announced that it was delayed and will be released in 2022.

Hogwarts Legacy will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Gotham Knights In Gotham Knights, it is

GAMES FOR 2021

up to you as one of the Bat family to look over the streets of Gotham after Batman’s untimely demise. It is worth noting that the game is not set in the world of the Arkham series and is being developed

by WB Games Montreal, which is the studio that brought you Arkham Origins.

It is a single-player game but has the option for two-player co-op.

Gotham Knights will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X. Hitman 3 The third instalment of all-time favourite Hitman will once again put you in the ever-changing shoes of assassin Agent 47. Hitman 3 promises to give players even

more freedom to find creative ways to solve puzzles.

Hitman 3 will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Google Stadia and Switch.

Honourable mentions: Ratchet & Clank will be available exclusively on PS5 during Q1 and Q2 this year.

Horizon Forbidden West, the much-anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn will be available on PS4 and PS5 in Q3/Q4 2021.

Another fan favourite Far Cry 6 will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series in Q2 this year.

Resident Evil 8 Village will be PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and the release date will be announced.

What the focus will be in MOBILE this year?

MASABATA MKWANANZI masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za

How smart is a smartphone or what can a smartphone do?

These are the questions every user wants to know before buying a new mobile phone.

And app developers are working around the clock to simplify the lives of users.

The year 2020 saw a lot of apps and mobile functionalities being reinvented, from foldable and flexible mobile phones, to eSIM for smartphones and Google Assistant to help you with everyday tasks.

The following apps and mobile functionalities should have more users jump on the bandwagon in 2021.

5G Mobile Internet Network Although the use of 5G smartphones started making the rounds late last year, 2021 will see the use of 5G smartphones double if not triple in numbers.

This became more evident with the release of the iPhone 12, Galaxy S21 series, and the highly anticipated release of Xiaomi Mi 11, Oppo Find X3, and the OnePlus 9.

The high speed of 5G can bring revolutionary changes to the apps associated with video streaming, especially in 4K video streaming, easy to handle VR & AR 3D objects, and better connectivity of IoT devices & services.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning The future of AI will have

more impact on our lives with trends such as AI-based cameras, voice translations and user predictions that will find a new place in smartphones in 2021.

Wireless charging Smartphone makers like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, and LG have had wireless chargers for a while now and users around the world have got used to the trend of wireless charging.

But cellphone manufacturers in 2021 should look into all smartphones having wireless

charging, including entry-level smartphones.

Wireless charging is super cool for a smartphone. Place the phone down on to a wireless charger and it starts charging immediately.

Smartphones sold without a charger Apple made headlines late last year when the iPhone 12 was sold without a charger.

It is believed that in 2021 more smartphone makers will join these trendsetters in producing smartphones without chargers.

TOP GADGETS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021 FLOYD MATLALA floyd.matlala@inl.co.za

Kicking off 2021 with Samsung unpacking some of its cool Galaxy gadgets at their event virtually in early January, the year promises to be one filled with cool tech innovations.

Let's take a look at some of the amazing gadgets that 2021 has revealed to us and promise to take the year by storm.

Galaxy SmartTag The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is based on Bluetooth Low Energy v5.0 (BLE) technology that lets you find things within a range of 120 metres. There is a built-in speaker that produces a sound when you tap the button from your phone to easily track a tagged item in your home or office.

Lenovo ThinkReality A3 Smart Glasses The ThinkReality A3 tethers to a PC or select

Motorola smartphones via a USB-C cable depending on the needs of smart workers anywhere. Versatile, portable, and comfortable, the ThinkReality A3 fits like sunglasses.

Bose Sport Open Earbuds The buds are designed with a noise-isolating where the ear tips nestle inside your ears, sealing out a decent amount of ambient sound and the QuietComfort Earbuds also have active noise cancelling.

Razer smartest face mask The gaming company unveiled its prototype during the CES tech convention, which includes a built-in microphone to amplify the users’ voice and prevent muffled speech.The design also features active ventilation, allowing the wearer to exhale warmer air while inhaling cooler air.

LG’s rollable transparent Oled TV The TV screen achieves

40% transparency an improvement over past transparent LCDs the company claims achieved only 10 per cent transparency.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro TWS earphones are receiving an update with firmware version R190XXU0AUA1 and a file size of 2.2MB. The update brings hearing enhancements.

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Designed with a unique contour-cut camera to create a revolution in photography, letting you capture cinematic 8K video and snap epic stills, all in one go.

Samsung S Pen Pro S Pen Pro supports Bluetooth which means you can use air actions, use it as a camera shutter, or to change the music. S Pen Pro may not only support the latest Galaxy S21 Ultra, but also other S Pen-capable devices that run on One UI 3.1.

TOP FINTECH NEWS FROM SA IN 2020 FLOYD MATLALA

While the digital space continued to get much attention in the new normal, the FinTech (financial tech) space has seen an impressive spike as the world relied more on the use of digital trends and appreciated it much more.

Let’s take a look at top FinTech news that has made major headlines in the previous year and upcoming: Cash Crusaders embraces digital: You can now buy and sell second-hand goods via WhatsApp video South Africa’s leading second-hand and new goods retailer Cash Crusaders has launched a WhatsApp service in a bold move to embrace technology and optimise customer interaction.

Skywalk Innovations wins big at Nedbank Business Ignite 2020 The campaign which aims to empower entrepreneurs to carve out new markets and sustainable

industries, boosting the South African economy in new and innovative ways, could not have come at a better time as Skywalk Innovations looks to leverage off this campaign to fuel their growth within the mainstream tech business.

Skywalk Innovations will receive prizes of more than R260 000, including an intensive incubation programme from Matsi Modise, an independent business growth specialist valued at R40 000, a media booking to the value of R200 000 on either 702 or CapeTalk talk radio stations, and a cash injection of R20 000 for their business.

Amazon and Twitter seeing a spike in revenue Amazon’s net income for the third quarter rose to $6.3 billion (about R95bn) from $2.1bn a year ago. This is despite spending around $2.5bn dealing with the global pandemic.

The online retailing giant also posted revenue

that rose 37% to $96.1bn. Excluding foreign exchange rate changes, the increase was still 36% over a year ago.

One of the world’s leading social media networks, Twitter has also risen its earnings despite the ongoing impacts of Covid-19.

Twitter posted $936.2 million in revenue, beating the $777.15m in revenue that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected.

Loot.co.za chief expected significant rise in turnover on Black Friday Loot.co.za conceded that just like with everything else in 2020, where not much had gone according to plan, Black Friday would be just as difficult to predict. Greg le Roux said that they were, however, gearing up for the continued adoption of e-commerce in the country as more people migrated from bricks and mortar to online shopping which was safe, easier and more convenient.

Loot has invested in personal and technology to cope with the predicted increase in new shoppers and their concerns and queries.

3m transactions and counting FRESH from reaching the three million transactions milestone this year, Samsung Pay, South Africa’s widely used mobile wallet payment solution has been enthusiastically embraced by the nation. It is a safe, simple and secure way to pay using over 40 Galaxy devices and watches.

Its popularity is boosted by the fact that it has the widest store acceptance and partnerships with the most banks in the country. The incredible benefits when you shop have come into the spotlight recently with the need for social distance, sanitise our hands and limit human contact.

Samsung Pay lets you pay almost anywhere* so you can enjoy the convenience, on a Samsung Galaxy device or watch. Because you can load your bankcards and store cards onto the app the days of a bulky wallet are nearing an end. Samsung Pay has grown exponentially as it can be safer than carrying a traditional card and is available on Samsung’s Knox-protected smartphones – from Galaxy devices

such as the Galaxy Note20 to Galaxy A Series smartphones.

Samsung Pay also delivers a host of additional benefits beyond safety and convenience. It offers users monthly competitions, allowing customers to win prizes for paying at stores with Samsung Pay and is also available on the Gautrain, making your transit seamless and effortless. In addition, customers can buy prepaid vouchers for electricity, mobile airtime/data, gaming and multimedia streaming services like Netflix, Showmax and Spotify.

The app also offers a Newsstand subscription, which provides access to thousands of magazines and newspapers for a monthly subscription of R90 per month. Customers gain instant access to the multitude of titles both local and international, accessible from any device with a shelf value of approximately R45 a magazine, including categories of automotive, arts, health, sport, family, financial and entertainment, to mention a few.

Why South Africans Love Samsung Pay

You can now load your bank and loyalty cards on the extensive list of devices below and enjoy the freedom of going wallet-less. Visit www. samsung.com/za/samsung-pay to view the incredible variety of supported banking partners.

Samsung Pay can be used with the following devices: Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Flip, Note20 Ultra 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 5G, Note20, S20 Ultra, S20+, S20, S20 FE, S10+, S10, S10e, Note10+, Note10, Note10 Lite (NFC only), Note9, Note8, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, S7, A9, A80, A8, A71, A70, A7 (2017), A51, A5 (2017), A31, A30s, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch, Watch Active, Watch Active2, Gear S3 and Gear Sport * 97% acceptance rate based on local trials for compatible smartphones.

Compatible wearables and smartphones (NFC only) will have a lower acceptance rate as they can only be used at contactless terminals. Terms and conditions apply.

What’s HOT on the mobile front?

The Galaxy S21 offers 5G connectivity while Galaxy S21 Ultra will support Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, which Samsung said is around two times faster than your normal Wi-Fi 6.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series in the US is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset while the South African versions of all three devices will be powered by the Samsung Exynos 2100 chipset, which is far more power-efficient than previous-generation chips.

MASABATA MKWANANZI masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za

The year 2020 set the tone high in the smartphone sector as more and more smartphone makers gear up to launch the successors of their flagship devices in 2021.

When it came to mobile phones, 2020 offered some pretty amazing smartphones from flexible to foldable and rollable. Now users around the world are eyeing smartphone manufacturer giants like Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and Google to keep the momentum going and to continue producing state-of-the art smartphones.

IOL TECH has a closer look at some

of the upcoming smartphones to be released in 2021.

Samsung Galaxy S21 series Samsung kicked off with the stunning range of the Galaxy series. The new range of the devices consists of Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21+, and the premium Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The Galaxy S21 offers 5G connectivity while Galaxy S21 Ultra will support wi-fi 6E connectivity, which Samsung said is around two times faster than your normal wi-fi 6. The Samsung Galaxy S21 series in the US is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, while the South African versions of all three devices

will be powered by the Samsung Exynos 2100 chipset, which is far more powerefficient than previousgeneration chips.

Xiaomi Mi 11 According to SOMAG News, Xiaomi has yet to comment on when it will launch the global Mi 11.

However, news has been circulating that the Mi 11 may reach the market as early as next month. There’s no lead on the Mi 11 series specification.

OnePlus 9 Another phone that will make its way in the first quarter of 2021 is OnePlus 9. According to Business Insider India, The OnePlus 9 series will consist of

OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro and the affordable OnePlus 9 Lite in March.

Apple iPhone 13 With the recent launch of the iPhone 12 late last year, the new iPhone 13 series is expected to launch later this year. The iPhone 13 series will consist of iPhone 13 Mini, the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. According to Tom’s Guide, the company is expected to adopt a portless design and will drop the lightning port, offering only wireless charging and data transfer. The iPhone 13 series is expected to be powered by the unannounced A15 Bionic chipset.

, P O T P A L DESKTOP : e c n a s s i a n e r e sales se e s a e t ’ n o w s e g a t shor until 2022

REUTERS

The world stocked up on laptop and desktop computers in 2020 at a level not seen since the iPhone debuted in 2007, and manufacturers still are months away from fulfilling outstanding orders, hardware industry executives and analysts said.

Remote learning and working has upturned the computer market during the coronavirus pandemic, zapping sales of smartphones while boosting interest in bigger devices, which had become afterthoughts to iPhones and Androids over the last decade.

“The whole supply chain has been strained like never before,” said Gregg Prendergast, Pan-America president at hardware maker Acer Inc. Annual global shipments of PCs, the industry’s collective term for laptops and desktops, topped out at about 300 million in 2008 and recently were sinking toward 250 million. Few expected a resurgence.

Some computers coming to market in the next few months address new needs. They feature better cameras and speakers for video conferencing, analysts said.

More models will have a cellular chip, aiding users who can access 4G or 5G mobile signals but not traditional Wi-Fi. Sam Burd, president at PC maker Dell Technologies Inc , this month said the industry “renaissance” would soon bring devices with artificial intelligence software to simplify tasks like logging on and switching off cameras.

Dell’s online orders from consumers surged 62% in the third quarter compared with last year.

Over Black Friday, teams that would normally ring bells at Dell’s Texas headquarters to celebrate big sales gathered like many other people in 2020 – over Zoom from PCs at home.

SOCIAL MEDIA IN 2021

MEGATRENDS LEANDRI JANSE VAN VUUREN AND SABRINA ANDREUCCI

As traditional media strategies falter, 2020 highlighted the growing relevance of social media marketing and the need for businesses to relook customer engagement. Social media usage soared, both in the number of users and the amount of time spent on social media platforms.

In July 2020, social media users surpassed 4.75 billion, which is more than half the global population, with 346 million new users joining in the 12 months prior. We look at the social media megatrends for 2021, and what brands need to do to flourish in this space.

Offer up valuable content for free Social media users have always been spoilt for choice when it comes to online content and brands to follow. However, quantity doesn’t always mean quality. To stay relevant, brands need to bump up the amount of value offered. A stale social media calendar populated with #MotivationMondays and #ThrowBackThursdays is not going to cut it.

There are several ways

to provide value; free information, collaboration with users, product insights, industry knowledge and tips, tools such as useful calculators and downloadables.

The fierce competition to add more value has inspired brand owners to create online learning, webinars, and long-form videos where users engage more deeply with a brand. If you’re not adding value right now, weave in this critical ingredient into your 2021 social media plans.

Be an authentic brand, with integrity Users crave authenticity and real, genuine engagement and interactions with brands.

As the digital world becomes more pervasive, we demand the “human touch” in our online experience.

Although cancel culture where people boycott users, brands and even social media platforms is thriving, many people still turn to these for solace, community and connection. This is where brands can step in and be the hero.

Lean in to online complaints with empowered customer service This past year undermined most physical customer experiences, with some estimates indicating that South African online retail sales grew by around 40% during the last year. Social media will continue

to evolve into true sales channels but will need impeccable customer service levels to succeed.

Online customer service is the glue that holds this new online dynamic together as users compliment, complain, enquire, shop and engage with brands.

Users now, more than ever, use their online voice to ensure that brands deliver on what they promise.

Decide on and communicate your business’ purpose for long term sustainability People are looking towards the private sector to make a positive difference to the planet and their communities. They seek out brands that care and fearlessly expose those who don’t.

Purpose-driven companies that care about sustainability will be on the right side of history.

But becoming purpose-driven is not something you can mimic on social media by just following popular trends or newsworthy topics.

For South African brands, supporting local products, companies and individuals is one way to become more sustainable, and appeal to a local-conscious consumer.

Embrace your customers by embracing the data According to Hootsuite’s 2021 Social Trends survey, 85% of organisations that integrate social media data into other systems have confidence in their ability to accurately quantify the Return On Investment (ROI) of social media.

What working from home could look like in 2021

Working remotely has become a necessity for many.

COMPANIES WILL OFFER ADDED

SECURITY AND NEW SOFTWARE

‌ BANG ‌SHOWBIZ TECH‌‌‌

WORKING‌‌from‌ ‌home‌ ‌could‌ ‌change‌ ‌security‌ ‌and‌ ‌technology‌ ‌in‌ ‌2021.‌ ‌According‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌survey‌ ‌for‌ ‌CCS‌ ‌Insights,‌ ‌60%‌ ‌of‌ ‌business‌ ‌leaders‌ ‌across‌ ‌Western‌ ‌Europe‌ ‌and‌ ‌North‌ ‌America‌ ‌were‌ ‌expecting‌ ‌at‌ ‌least‌ ‌a‌ ‌quarter‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌staff‌ ‌–‌ ‌and‌ ‌in‌ ‌some‌ ‌cases‌ ‌their‌ ‌entire‌ ‌workforce‌ ‌–‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌from‌ ‌home‌ ‌at‌ ‌least‌ ‌part‌-‌time,‌ ‌even‌ ‌beyond‌ ‌the‌ ‌end‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌pandemic.‌ ‌ While‌ ‌Facebook‌ has said‌ ‌a‌ ‌significant‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌their‌ ‌staff‌ ‌would ‌be‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌to‌ permanently‌ ‌work‌ ‌from home,‌

‌‌ ropbox‌ ‌and‌ ‌Twitter‌ ‌have‌ D ‌decided‌ ‌all‌ ‌staff‌ would have the option. ‌ ‌ According‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌BBC,‌ ‌Marina‌ ‌Koytcheva, vicepresident‌ ‌of‌ ‌forecasting‌ ‌at‌ ‌CCS‌ Insights‌, ‌has‌ ‌predicted‌ ‌special‌ ‌packages‌ ‌from‌ ‌tech‌ ‌firms‌ ‌and‌ ‌internet‌ ‌service‌ providers‌ ‌to‌ ‌capitalise‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌changing‌ ‌world.‌ ‌ “Security‌ ‌is‌ ‌definitely‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌our‌ ‌predictions‌ ‌when‌ ‌it‌ ‌comes‌ ‌to‌ ‌working‌ ‌from‌ home‌ ‌activity,‌ ‌and‌ ‌that‌ ‌could‌ ‌be‌ ‌a‌ ‌package.‌ ‌Not‌ ‌just‌ ‌an‌ ‌extra‌ ‌line,‌ ‌but‌ ‌maybe‌ ‌a‌ ‌separate‌ ‌router,‌ ‌maybe‌ ‌a‌ ‌router‌ ‌with‌ ‌security,‌ ‌maybe‌ ‌some‌ ‌other‌ ‌services‌ ‌on‌

t‌ op,‌ ‌even‌ ‌things‌ ‌like‌ ‌IT‌ ‌support‌ ‌because‌ ‌a‌ ‌smaller‌ ‌company‌ ‌might‌ ‌not‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌remote‌ ‌IT‌ ‌support‌ ‌person."” ‌ Meanwhile,‌ ‌it was ‌also‌ ‌expected‌ ‌‌there‌ ‌would ‌be‌ ‌extra‌ ‌features‌ ‌introduced‌ ‌to‌ ‌software‌ to‌ ‌better‌ ‌aid‌ ‌people‌ ‌working‌ ‌from‌ ‌home.‌ ‌ This‌ ‌year,‌ ‌'digital‌ ‌whiteboards'‌, ‌including‌ ‌Miro‌ ‌and‌ ‌Bural,‌ ‌enjoyed‌ ‌a‌ ‌big‌ ‌boost,‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌latter‌ ‌adding‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌one‌ ‌million‌ ‌active‌ ‌users‌ ‌in‌ ‌2020.‌ ‌The‌ ‌tech‌ ‌allows‌ ‌workers‌ ‌to‌ ‌access‌ ‌a‌ ‌visual‌ ‌representation‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌project‌ ‌which‌ everyone‌ ‌can‌ ‌add‌ ‌to.‌ ‌

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