Women@Google South Africa and Google for Entrepreneurs in cooperation with JoziHub are proud to be hosting the first open Women in Tech event, with the objective of fostering the local entrepreneurship community.

The event aims to equip female entrepreneurs/startups with the network, product knowledge, and other resources needed to be successful entrepreneurs.

The event will include guests Enyo Kumahor, Gustav Praekelt as well as Craig Wing, Daniel Acton, Julie Taylor, Jacqueline Rajuai, Natasha Matos and Sara Adams from Google.

You can submit your questions in advance here. 

There are only a few tickets available so book now!

Event Details:

When: Friday 21st June, 9am – 1pm

Where: JoziHub, 44 Stanley Road, Milpark, Johannesburg

Cost: FREE

RSVP: To attend this event or for more information go to: googlewomenintech.eventbrite.com

The Startup Stock Exchange that aims to help African startups raise money from global investors has launched today.

The Startup Stock Exchange, a regulated global public marketplace, is the world’s first online stock exchange for startup investing and funding that allows for interested investors to buy ownership shares in new companies.

According to TechLoy investors have access to a variety of startups, all of which have been thoroughly reviewed beforehand, from which to choose. The startups themselves are required to pay a fee in order to be listed on the SSX  to have access to a global base of investors, receive mentoring and feedback.

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Google has patented new facial recognition technology which allows users to unlock phones with a wink and a smile. The first time we saw this feature was with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but since then Google has been hard at work to improve the technology and make unlocking your device easier and more unique. In the process they have also attained more IP protection. (more…)

So it is that time of the year again, with Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference taking place this week. But what can we expect from Cupertino? We already know that they will unveil the new versions of iOS and OS X, and they are garnering more interest than in the past. The mobile operating system from Apple has evolved very little since their initial release and are facing pressure from investors and consumers alike to come up with something bright and new.

It is indeed an important time for Apple as they have not been performing at their stellar levels in the last 12 months. The stock price has fallen dramatically in recent months, and for good reason. iPhone sales aren’t growing as fast as it did in the past and the first half of this year lacked any kind of innovation or new product launch. (more…)

About one month ago, news surfaced that Facebook was in negotiations to acquire crowdsourced mapping and navigation app Waze for $1 billion. Shortly afterwards new reports claimed Google was also interested and had attached a $1.3 billion price tag to the deal.

However, last month both companies reportedly called off the negotiations after failing to reach an agreement.

Rumours of the acquisition go as far back as 2012, during which time Apple was also reportedly interested in the startup.

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According to Bloomberg, Apple will be introducing a trade-in program for older iPhone models with the aim of encouraging users to upgrade to the latest iPhone model, the iPhone 5.

The program,  a first for Apple that already offers a web-based recycling service for used iPhones, iPads or Macs, lets users receive money for their smartphones.

Trade-in programs are used to boost sales of new, and expensive, devices in mature markets. According to the report, selling used iPhones in emerging markets can encourage first time smartphone users to commit to the Apple brand until newer models become available which, says Israel Ganot, CEO of Gazelle Inc., is a rapidly growing market.

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Google has recently updated the policies for its developer programme for Google Glass apps known as Glassware that bans any sexually explicit material.

The section of the content policies now states that:

“We don’t allow Glassware content that contains nudity, graphic sex acts, or sexually explicit material. Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child pornography. If we become aware of content with child pornography, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution.”

The update comes just in time for the release of an app called  “T***s and Glass” by MiKandi, that allows users wearing Glass to browse adult content and vote on it.

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This doesn’t really come as a surprise, since we already heard in the last couple of weeks that both Samsung and HTC also have this strategy. Their flagships, the Galaxy S4 and the One, will both launch a version with stock Android. Sony has announced that the Xperia Z competing flagship will get the same “Nexus” treatment.

Google’s Nexus brand name has now started to gain some traction in the market after the success of the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 7 tablet. More people want that vanilla Android experience than ever before, and the manufacturers are now giving consumers that option.
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