Google’s GBoard gets support for 28 new languages in new update

August 1, 2018

GBoard, the official keyboard of Google, is arguably one of the best and most popular keyboard on Android and iOS platforms. The app just got an updated version that comes with new improvements that will surely snowball its popularity and usage.

As seen on the new changelog on the app page on the Google Play Store, there are 3 major changes made to the keyboard app:

Add text to Make a GIF
Search stickers in 15 more languages
Support for 28 new languages

The new GBoard comes with a “Make a GIF” icon/feature which allows users create customized GIFs with the front or rear-facing camera. In addition, users can further customize their GIFs by adding text.

The “Make a GIF” icon is next to word suggestion bar and GIFs can be created in either “Fast Forward” or “Loop” mode.

Another highlight feature is the support for 28 new languages: Bagri, Batak Toba, Bench, Bhili, Capiznon, Chavacano, Eastern Min, Fiji Hindi, Ge’ez, Gurani, Ingush, Karachay, Khorasani Turkic, Kipsigis, Maharashtrian Konkani, Lezgian, Mizo, Maguindanao, Malay (Brunei), Maranao, Southern Min, Northern Sami, Qashqa’i, Rinconada Bikol, Surjapuri, Tausug, Upper Saxon, and Vasavi.

With over 500 millions downloads on the Google Play Store, this new update is sure to trigger more downloads and it won’t come as a surprise if download hit the 1 billion mark.

Yahoo discontinues “Yahoo Messenger”

Olanrewaju Sodiq

June 11, 2018

Yahoo messenger shutdown — Yahoo Messenger shutdown

Through this help page on its official website, Yahoo announced that the popular, used-to-be our favorite messaging platform and app will longer exist later this year.

This news took many by surprise because, albeit the usage and popularity of the platform has been clouded by popular (and better) messaging platforms like Facebook’s Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts etc. that have surfaced over the years, nobody really saw this coming.

Yahoo’s Messenger say the light when it was launched (as Yahoo Pager) on March 9, 1998 before it was rebranded a year after to Yahoo Messenger. The platform is scheduled to be put down on July 17, 2018 — lived 20 years, 4 months, and 8 days.

R.I.P, Yahoo Messenger ?

As to why Oath, the company (controlled by Verizon) that runs Yahoo!, is killing the messenger, the quote below is the company’s explanation:

We know we have many loyal fans who have used Yahoo Messenger since its beginning as one of the first chat apps of its kind. As the communications landscape continues to change over, we’re focusing on building and introducing new, exciting communications tools that better fit consumer needs.

After shutting down the platform on July 17, 2018, Yahoo says you will no longer be able to login to the Messenger, either through the mobile app or on desktop. Yahoo, however, recommends that you delete your Messenger app after it shuts down.

Interestingly, for record sake, you can download your entire chat history for the next six months — even after the shut down date. All you need to do is the visit the data request page, enter your details, go through some verification steps, and input the preferred email address where you want your chat history sent to.

What’s your reaction to the Yahoo Messenger shutdown? Will you miss the messaging platform? What alternative messenger will you be switching to?

With Gmail’s new “Nudge” feature, you won’t miss important mails anymore

Olanrewaju Sodiq

May 18, 2018

Google has laced its mailing service, Gmail, with a new feature (incorporated with AI) to help solve the problem of forgetting to reply or follow up on important emails and conversations. Google calls the feature “Nudge”.

It wasn’t too long ago that Google announced a “Snooze” feature that allows you mute emails to carry out actions on them later. Snoozing a particular mail (for a specified period) will bring back the mail to the top of your box when the set time clocks.

The Snooze feature helped people remember to take actions on certain emails later..but there was still a problem; users still miss important mails. For some reasons, people forgot to snooze mails probably because of the unbearable number of the they’ve got in their box.

Interestingly, Google will henceforward help solve that problem automatically with the newly introduced “Nudge” feature. So irrespective of whether you remember to favourite or snooze a mail so you can remember to take action(s) on it later, Google will remind you of important mail using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“When your inbox is flooded with emails, some will inevitably slip through the cracks. Luckily, the new Gmail can help. It will now ‘nudge’ users to reply to emails they may have missed and to follow up on emails for which they haven’t received a response,” says Google in its official statement about Nudge in a blog post.

The AI powering through nudge feature will scan through all your emails, try to find the important ones and pushes them to the top of your inbox. Then at the top right corner of the message, you will informed how many days it has been since you have received the mail and left it unanswered.

You can then proceed to click on mail to read it reply, or ignore — your choice. The Nudge feature will be automatically “on” for every user but you can deactivate it in the settings menu.

It’s about time you never miss any important mail anymore.

Facebook Stories hit 150M Daily Active User

Olanrewaju Sodiq

May 18, 2018

It’s been more than a year since Facebook introduced the “Stories” feature to its social networking platform… and it seems to be doing some numbers. Recently, Facebook announced that the Stories on the platform have hit a daily usage count of 150 million.

When Stories was announced in March 2017, Facebook said it was diverting away from the “text and link focused” mode of updates to experiment with the trending visual (photos and videos) updates are preferred by most users. To continue, Facebook also admitted that the 150 million daily user milestone of Stories on Instagram also the move to start testing the feature on Facebook.

Now, a year and a couple of months later, Facebook Stories have hit the 150 million daily users and Facebook is taking it to the next level…by incorporating Ads — just like Stories on Instagram.

The Ads that will debit in Facebook Stories are still in their basic and initial stages as advertisers will only be able to display their products or services to their targets. There will be no click-through or call to action for now but they will debut later as the feature age.

For the time being, ads will be pictures or videos that will have a 5- to 15-second duration. You can skip these ads though by just tapping/swiping left or right of the ads.

In addition, since Facebook and Instagram are owned by the same parent company, advertisers can easily extend their Instagram Stories Ads to Facebook Stories Ads. Interestingly, Facebook can also automatically help reformat ads placed on the News Feed to fit Facebook Stories Ads; Facebook will recreate the Ads to have matching borders and background as well as text.

This Facebook Stories-Instagram Stories, as well as News Feed-Stories Ads flexibility, are features I’m sure will attract advertisers and business to put up their businesses on Facebook Stories.

Facebook Messenger to get a ‘simpler and neater’ design after overhaul

O. Christopher

May 2, 2018

Facebook Messenger to get a ‘simpler and neater’ design after overhaul

While the F8 – a global event held by Facebook where next-gen tech and other innovations in the company and industry are discussed – is still ongoing, we have already had a number of changes. One of the will directly affect the Facebook Messenger app which will now be made cleaner and simpler.

Over time, Facebook has been riding on the wings of ‘adding features’ to the platform to make things harder for people to find. That just goes on to make the app clumsier as time goes by. However, with the new design overhaul set to happen, all that will become a thing of the past.

Having been working on this design overhaul since the beginning of the year, we are sure to get the update soon after the announcement by Mark. According to him,

When you’re messaging, you really want a simple and fast experience. We’re taking this moment to completely redesign Messenger to focus on these ideas

When this kicks into full gear, Facebook will be reliving the idea that bore the first Messenger app – to allow users communicate without having to jump through hoops to get there

Brace yourself! “Group Video Call” to debut on WhatsApp soon

Olanrewaju Sodiq

May 2, 2018

Number one instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, is about to launch a feature within the app which will take it steps far above other rivals and counterparts.

At its recently concluded 2018 F8 Developer conference held in San Jose, California, Facebook (WhatsApp parent company) announced the instant messaging app will be getting a “Group Video Calling” features in the coming weeks — though no date or time was specified.

Just like the recently added “Statuses”, the soon-to-be-launched Group Video Calling features will, no doubt, revolutionize the way user text, interact, and overall lifestyle.

The Group Video calling feature will create an enabling environment where 2 or more users, but a maximum of four, can visually interact with the app. It isn’t sure (yet) if the platform will allow more than four users in a group video call, but from the demo presented by the company (and as seen in the above image), it looks pretty much like not more than 4 users can feature in a group video call.

Interestingly, Instagram (also a Facebook-owned photo and video sharing platform) will also be getting the “Group Video Calling” feature.

Asides the Group Video Calling, Facebook also announced some other features that will grace the instant messenger soon. One of them is the “WhatsApp Stickers”.

Truth be told, this feature is (or was) somewhat overdue. In reality, WhatsApp is most people’s favorite messaging app. So switching between WhatsApp and Skype for group text and group video conversations can be sometimes annoying. The introduction of the Group Video Calling feature is gradually transforming WhatsApp into an all-in-one, or all-round app.

And it’s a good thing, really. I guess it’s only a matter of time before we can perform financial transactions (as in Facebook Messenger) on WhatsApp too.

What do you think about the WhatsApp Group Video Calling feature? Are you psyched up about it? I, for one, can’t wait to try it out when it is officially released in the upcoming app updates.

Facebook to rollout ‘Clear History’ feature in the coming months

O. Christopher

May 1, 2018

Facebook to rollout ‘Clear History’ feature in the coming months

Facebook was in a lot of trouble just last month when it was found out that they sold a lot of their data to Cambridge Analytica. Since then, a lot of people have left the platform and general stocks have dropped.

To give users even more control over their data and prevent such a breach from happening again in the future, the social media giant has planned the rollout of a new update to its platform.

To be dubbed ‘Clear History,’ this will work in the same way browsers do by allowing you clear any information that is being collected about you. The good news is that the functionality of this new feature extends beyond the website alone but goes on to include third-party applications too.

However, you should note that some things may still not be cleared even after using this feature. Afterall, even clearing your cookies does not mean that everything will go as planned.

Expected to start hitting the app in the coming months, this is one welcome update we cannot wait to have.

LG Electronics Provides Free Laundry Service To Ogba Community In Lagos

O. Christopher

April 6, 2018

LG Electronics Provides Free Laundry Service To Ogba Community In Lagos

LG Electronics recently inaugurated a free laundry service for the people of Ogba, Ikeja and its environs who are facing the difficulty of water and power to efficiently carry out their washing chores.

The laundry cabin is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to effectively take care of laundry needs of the people for free.

The event which held at the LG showroom located at Ogba was attended by top officials from Korea; Mr. Choong Hak Lee, Executive Vice President, Business Support Officer, LG Electronics; Mr. Dae Sik Yoon, Vice President, LG Electronics as well as top management of LG Electronics West Africa operations led by Mr. Taeick Son, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations; Mr. Mohammed Fouani, Managing Director Fouani Nigeria limited; Mr. Jiung Park, General Manager, Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics; Mr. Hari Elluru, Corporate Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa operations alongside other dignitaries and the media.

The Free Laundry tagged “Life’s Good with LG Wash” is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program for the year which has been designed to help people, homes and the community at large lacking sufficient water and power to carry out their laundry requirement.

It is designed to serve over 50 people per day and it will operate on a daily basis from morning till evening in order to ameliorate the living conditions as well as support the daily washing requirement of people in the area.

It is interesting to note that, LG Electronics has, over the years, continued to receive accolades from Nigerian consumers for having their interest at heart in the development of cutting-edge technological products. LG plans to be replicate this initiative in other strategic locations across the state and indeed the country.

The Executive Vice President, LG Electronics, in his opening remarks, said

As a global company, LG Electronics wants to use its capabilities to help local communities all over the world solving some of their regional issues. In this regard, I hope that ‘Life’s Good with LG Wash’ will help make your lives more convenient and comfortable. I hope that the opening of ‘Life’s Good with LG Wash’ will bring more spare time and comforts to residents here. LG Electronics will continue to support communities even in the future.

However, the feat which seems to be the first of its kind in the country by any brand in the country will create a real difference in improving society and helping address social issues in Ogba and its environs. The facility contains several LG Washing machines, LG Dryers, LG Air Conditioning units, uninterrupted power supply, a constant supply of water among others to ensure the facility operates seamlessly.

Also commenting at the occasion Managing Director Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, said:

This is what I truly call giving back to the society, because the real beneficiaries of this project are the masses, I believe they will take advantage of this initiative from LG Electronics to make life better for them. The laundry is fully equipped with modern facilities for a standard laundry service.

More so, LG Electronics has vigorously pursued its CSR initiatives with all sense of responsibility and commitment, placing it at the forefront of giving back to the society.

In the educational and health sectors of the economy, the brand has contributed immensely by touching lives and institutions which is its CSR core thrust which should tilt toward human-centric projects. Recently, LG made donations to health institution in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano all in a bid to give a facility lift to the health sector in the country.

Update to Google Duo paused due to low call volume bug

O. Christopher

March 26, 2018

Update to Google Duo paused due to low call volume bug

Google began the rollout of version 30 update to its Duo application, but the search engine giant is now halting that update. In fact, they are rolling back users who had already gone on to update their applications to the previous version (version 29.2).

According to a tweet sent out by Justin Uberti, the team lead for Google Duo, they had to take such steps because a low call volume problem was bugging the new update.

Some Android users have reported low volume levels on calls with Google Duo v30. We've paused the rollout of v30 for now, and are in the process of rolling affected Android users back to v29.2. If you hit this issue, you can resolve by updating to the latest (v29.2) version.
— Justin Uberti (@juberti) March 25, 2018

For now, it is unsure when the update would be resumed from its pause state. If you were also affected by low call volumes in the Duo app after your update to version 30, the company advises you to fix the problem by going back to the last software version.

LG: User-friendly vacuum cleaners with advanced and innovative technology pose a lucrative market

O. Christopher

March 23, 2018

User-friendly vacuum cleaners with advanced and innovative technology pose a lucrative market

With increased awareness on indoor health and hygiene, innovative, trendy and easy to use vacuum technologies on the rise

Lagos, Nigeria, 22, March, 2018: The demand for household vacuum cleaners has grown over the last few years due to growing awareness about health and cleanliness among the urban population. A vacuum cleaner is more than just a modern machine; it has become a necessity that is a part of every household where health is of the highest importance.

In recent years, vacuum cleaner technology has witnessed some important advancements. There is a growing emphasis on developing next-generation vacuum cleaners that are smart, cordless, and enhance the user experience, making cleaning effortless.

Smart vacuum cleaners with filter-sensing, floor-sensing, and battery-sensing technologies are being developed in tandem with other advances. An increasing focus on a more sustainable lifestyle is also driving the demand for energy-efficient vacuum cleaners.

According to Global Industry Analysts, the global household vacuum cleaners market is forecast to reach US$11.4bn by 2020. Euromonitor International’s market research indicates that bag-less vacuum cleaning devices are growing in popularity, particularly in the MEA region. Developments in air filtration technology and the rising incidences of asthma are helping drive sales of products with filtration standards like HEPA. There is also a strong focus on sustainability, driving the growth of more energy-efficient vacuum cleaners.

Commenting on the growing trend within the vacuum cleaner market, Mr. Taeick Son, said:

Consumers today are seeking vacuum cleaners that offer flexibility and save time. The advancements in technology-supporting innovation is resulting in more user-friendly vacuum cleaners. The growing industrialization and busy lifestyles have led to a surge in demand for quicker, more efficient methods of cleaning at home.
Traditional cleaning methods often take longer, and have become comparatively tougher. There is also an increase in awareness of the health benefits of using a vacuum cleaner resulting in an increased demand for vacuum cleaners. Innovative technologies and features are constantly being integrated into vacuum cleaners, and cordless vacuum cleaner technology is gaining traction in the market today.

According to market research firm IHS Markit, cordless vacuum cleaners currently account for 30% in the global vacuum cleaner market. LG’s cordless vacuum cleaner sales have has increased on average 20% annually and the new products are expected to push the growth of wireless vacuum cleaner sales.

With weak suction power and short battery life, identified as technological impediments against the wide and rapid market penetration of battery powered vacuum cleaners, LG’s latest line-up will serve as a perfect solution to these gaps within the vacuum cleaner market.

To meet the growing demands of its customers in the MEA region, LG Electronics will be launching vacuum cleaners with advanced filtration, easy storability and powerful suction, all in a compact, energy-efficient battery-operated cordless form factor, giving consumers unparalleled ease of use and operation, and peace of mind for household hygiene.

LG’s expertise within the vacuum cleaner market is a result of in-depth research and analysis, combining years of engineering efforts to bring a compact, reliable, easy-to-use, energy-efficient and powerful tool for everyday use.

About LG Electronics Middle East & Africa Regional Headquarters

LG Electronics Middle East & Africa (MEA) is the regional headquarters for LG Electronics based in Dubai responsible for the vast area from Western Sahara to Pakistan and from Turkey to South Africa. The MEA headquarters oversees operations in 23 countries comprised of 12 subsidiaries, 11 branch offices and 3 manufacturing facilities, covering sales across 35 countries.

Employing more than 2,000 local workers, LG’s MEA headquarters is the hub for strategic governance of the company’s business in the region and provides support to country offices in the areas of marketing, human resources, training and procurement, among others

Media Contacts:

Padma Venu
Regional PR Manager MEA RHQ Marketing Team

LG Electronics
Tel: +971-4-279-9507 (Ext. 507)
E-mail: [email protected]

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