Hear from Thought Leaders of Technology and Digital Marketing at the 2012 Afri-Tech Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa – The largest Digital Marketing gathering in Africa.

The innovative framework of this conference is intended to create cross-functional solutions in the areas of Health care, Education, Banking & Finance, Networking solutions, Digital marketing and Science & Technology.

Guest speakers during the summit include:

• Ross Thomasson – Regional Director, Africa For Vodafone
• Ms Naledi Pandor – Minister of Science and Technology South Africa
• Thebe Ikalafeng – Founder of the Fin Week Marketing Services Company
• Prof. Melius Weideman – Research Professor, Cape Peninsula University
• Aidan Baigrie – SEACOM Head of Business Development

Event Details:

When: 22 – 24 March 2012

Where: Gallagher Convention Centre, 19 Richards Drive, Midrand, Johannesburg

For more information or to register click here.

Recent rumours have been circulating that Google are planning to create a 7-inch tablet to compete with the Kindle Fire.

Just a few weeks ago Google’s Chairman Eric Schmidt allegedly revealed that the company had plans to market “a tablet of the highest quality” within the next six months. While Schmidt’s statement created a lot of buzz and speculation, Google has refused to go into any further details about the clarity of the comment.

Now, a recent report from DigiTimes sourced from Google’s upstream supply chain claims that a so-called Google branded tablet that may be developed is a 7-inch device running on Android 4.0, it’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The device is also expected to be priced at under $199, directly competing with Amazon’s Kindle Fire.

The report also revealed that the tablet could be introduced by April.

As for the integrity of the rumour, it should be taken lightly as the Taiwan news site already has a shaky reputation for accuracy and Google’s Taiwan office denies knowing anything about a Google-branded tablet.

Source: Business Insider

From The Red Bull Offices in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, its now time to offer up an extraordinary Red Bull space from South Africa. The Red Bull offices based in Cape Town were designed and created by local architecture firm COA who stated that the “office is an open, creative hub where all employees, athletes, artists, photographers, designers, DJs, musicians, producers, agencies, brand partners, journalists and Red Bull visitors are made welcome and want to hang out in.”

The graphic wallpaper, mixture of colours and textures, creative use of lighting, furniture and open spaces reflects Red Bull’s extreme, entertaining and ‘zest for life’ image.

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Just a few hours after it was revealed that Google had made available the official Siri for Android app on the Android Market, the search giant has not only pulled the app but has also removed all apps by controversial app developer “Official App”.

If Android device users search for the application, while a number of Siri clones and third party solutions may appear, the search results for Siri for Android can no longer be found. The developer’s other app “Pinterest”,  a mobile wrapper for Pinterest’s own website, has also been removed from the listings.

It was reported that an official Siri port for Android called ‘Siri for Android’ had been launched on the Android Market place on the 28th December. The Android app had launched using Apple’s very own Siri icon to function as a shortcut to Android’s version. Google’s lack of attention to and check-ups of its marketplace, allows developers such as “Official App” to launch copyright/trademark infringing applications in minutes by not having to contend with application approvals.

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The Loop has reported that recent rumours that have been circulating over the last couple of days that Apple will be releasing their iPad 3 and possibly Apple TV at the upcoming Macworld Expo in January are completely false.

Sources of The Loop have also confirmed that neither of the new products will be released at CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow in January, either.

Gene Munster, Apple Analyst, announced at the Ignition: Future Of Media conference in early December that he believes that Apple will only be launching its very own television in time for the 2012 holiday season.

Apple withdrew from attending the Macworld Expo back in 2009 and has not attended the show since.  In fact, Apple has withdrawn from most, if not all, tradeshows in the last couple of years.

For anyone who is curious about what Microsoft has planned for its Windows Phone, here is a leaked roadmap that reveals some details about the future, up to date as of October 2011.

The roadmap lays the foundation with the release of the Windows Phone 7 in the fourth quarter of 2010 as a high-end and differentiated product followed by Mango also in the fourth quarter of 2011 that offers new features, languages and countries.

The beginning of 2012 will see the release of Tango that focusses on enabling Windows Phone 7 on low-end handsets at the best prices. Finally, the fourth quarter of 2012 will see the Apollo, when Microsoft finally expects volume to increase, enable the release of superphones and concentrate on users’ business needs.

Source: WMPoweruser.com

Beta versions of Dropbox for Mac, Linux and Windows has added automatic photo uploads, a useful new feature to the cloud storage service.

With Photo Stream, one of iCloud’s most appealing new features, Apple makes it easy for users to access photos on their iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with iPhoto, Aperture or Windows Explorer automatically. This assists with backing up photos on a computer or keeping photos in the cloud storage.  The new Dropbox feature, functions in a similar way. Once the feature is enabled, by plugging in the camera or inserting a memory card, the user will automatically be given  the option of importing photos followed by that content being directly uploaded into the Dropbox.

Once “Start Import,” is selected, with the option of automatically importing photos from the device inserted, the process begins. All of the photos and videos are then imported to a newly created “Camera Uploads” folder within Dropbox. That folder is then synced with Dropbox’s servers. So far, the process is quick and hassle free.

For people who generally avoid uploading their photos from their camera’s on a regular basis this tool ensures that all photos remain backed up in at least one more location (in addition to using iCloud).

The new Dropbox photo upload feature is currently available in the latest Experimental Forum Build of the desktop app. Mac users who want to stay on the cutting-edge with Dropbox updates should check out the MacDropUpdate utility.

Still have not tried Dropbox? Go here.

Take a look at the office space of award winning advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi in Bankok, Thailand. The agency’s move into the Sindhorn Tower was part of parent firm Publicis’s goal to have all of its affiliated companies in one building for shared resources. Regional creative director, Joel Clement, chose Bankok based multidisciplinary design firm Supermachine Studio because he was looking for playful and unexpected design with a space “that inspires, is genuinely fun to come to everyday and that didn’t take itself too seriously.”

The tight space of 400m2 and tight budget posed challenges that Supermachine solved with bold ideas that leave much of the space open but also accented by strong visual elements. Large geometric shapes for seating areas, creative wall spaces and ceiling fixtures are balanced by circular lighting installations and bicycle wheels. Inspiration, fun and creativity are found in the the brightly coloured carpets, walls and playful furniture.

The bus-shaped reception desk and bicycle wheel boardroom table are amazing!

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