Author: Francis Muli

Instagram is testing a new feature that will give its users a more discoverable and immersive experience. The platform is experimenting with a new full-screen mode for its feed as well as an updated navigation bar, in efforts to compete with TikTok. The videos appear almost entirely full screen while scrolling through the feed with the navigation bar appearing underneath. The description, like and comment buttons appear at the bottom while the Instagram logo and other top buttons float above at the top. The company has previously tested full screen for stories. It trialed a design last month that was…

Elon Musk is looking to improve Twitter’s profitability by ensuribg it keeps people informed and entertained. During his first ever Twitter address to employees, the businessman revealed a series of plans he had laid out for the company. For starters, Musk suggested that Twitter needs to become more like TikTok and WeChat if at all the company wanted to hit its goal of one billion users. He said the platform could borrow from WeChat and TikTok’s offerings. He said WeChat had become almost a necessary app in China as it offered social media, payments, games and ride-hailing in one. “There’s…

Players in the public and private sector have called for concerted efforts in the fight against cybercrimes to develop a conducive online space. This was highlighted during a cyber-security event organized by the Kenya School of Government in partnership with Pan-African cyber-security firm, Serianu. Speaking at the event which was held on Thursday, Head of National Cyber Command Centre (NC4) Colonel Evans Ombati said cybercriminals are a few common individuals, and there was need to team up and stop them in their tracks. “We are in a dynamic environment both how we do things and the security issues but the…

A big number of Kenyan citizens are concerned about misinformation online with trust in News channels at a steady decline globally. A report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism showed that 72 percent of Kenyans interviewed had reported seeing or interacting with misinformation ahead of the August 9 2022 polls. Trust in News has fallen considerably, with only 42 percent of the global audience interviewed trusting the information. 43 percent of those in the study reported avoiding News altogether due to too much politics and Covid-19 information, while 36 percent reported that News had an overall negative…

Internet Company, Mozilla has unveiled a course for startups and Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. The course which was unveiled on Wednesday aims to help the businesses increase their awareness and capabilities on the use and management of data collected in their day-to-day operations. The online course, Lean Data Practices (LDP) will be hosted by open-source online courses provider, Udemy. The course is designed for startups and SME’s with challenges in data handling. It also aims to inform the businesses on the current data protection laws and how they can operate within the regulations to protect their…

Taxi-hailing app, Uber is set to increase its rates following the fuel hike announced earlier this week. The company will over the next two weeks increase its prices in line with the Sh9 increase on fuel on June 14. According to Head of Uber East Africa Imran Manji, the company is reviewing its prices with an aim of meeting drivers’ costs without hurting the brand. “The review will find a “sweet spot between not destroying demand by pricing and ensuring that drivers cover their costs,” he said. The move follows uproar from Uber drivers who demanded better compensation due to…

The deadline for filing your Tax returns is fast approaching. Ensure that you file your returns on time to avoid the Sh2,000 penalty after the June 30 deadline. The iTax filing system accepts various types of returns such as income tax related to the resident individual, corporates, partnership and indirect tax such as VAT and excise. You can choose the right type of iTax returns and file based on your obligation. This article will guide you to file your tax returns. The step by step process is almost similar for all the various tax obligation. The difference comes in the…

Internet explorer is officially off Windows after 27 years of service. Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on one of its oldest browsers on Windows and will now redirect its users to Microsoft Edge. The company announced in 2020 that it will end support for the internet browser by June 2022. Last year, Microsoft 365 apps and all other Microsoft services ended their support for the browser. Read: Microsoft to Replace Current Mail Variants with Single Version Dubbed One Outlook “Change was necessary, but we didn’t want to leave reliable, still-functioning websites and applications behind. We’re here to help you transition…

Photoshop could soon be free to all internet users. Adobe, the company that owns Photoshop has reportedly started testing a free version of app with plans to roll it out and introduce more people on Photoshop. Dubbed ‘Freemium’, the free version of Photoshop will only feature a few exclusive tools for paying subscribers, with the major tools required to perform Photoshop’s core functions available for free. “We want to make [Photoshop] more accessible and easier for more people to try it out and experience the product,” says Maria Yap, Adobe’s VP of digital imaging. Read: Nokia Opens Applications for Android 13…

WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history between Android and iPhones. Last year, the Meta-owned company rolled out the feature allowing iOS users to transfer their chat history from iOS to Android. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday announced that the feature is also available for Android to iOS transfer as well. Through a Facebook post on his page, he said the feature was highly requested. “We’re adding to WhatsApp the ability to securely switch between phones and transfer your chat history, photos, videos, and voice messages between Android and iPhone while…

Instagram has set out new parental controls for users on the platform including an option to set a daily time limit. Parents will be able to schedule break times for their kids and set time limits ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours on the app. Once the time limit is exhausted, a black screen appears on the app. They will also get updates on accounts the teens are following, who is following them and the accounts they are reporting. Last year, Meta attracted backlash after whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed Meta’s moderation lapses. A report publicized by the WSJ showed…

The Communications Authority of Kenya has revoked licences of 15 firms. Through a directive by the CA Director General Ezra Chiloba, the authority revoked licences of 15 postal and courier firms that had failed several licensing requirements. The notice published in the dailies and on social media listed the firms which are mainly in Nairobi, with only one in Mombasa. “Subject to the postal/courier licence conditions, the Authority wishes to notify the public that it has revoked the licences of the listed firms,” the notice signed off by Chiloba said. Among those listed are Al-Micdada Parcel Services, Apollo Express Limited,…

The Nigerian government has revealed plans to regulate big tech platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Google and TikTok through a draft document shared by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) According to the document signed off by director general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the social media companies will be required to set up local entities in the country through a company incorporated in Nigeria, with a liaison to serve as a communication channel between the government and platform. https://twitter.com/NITDANigeria/status/1536392359977664512?cxt=HHwWgIC-wcKtrtIqAAAA In addition, the social media platforms will be required to abide by the Nigerian law and avoid disseminating…

YouTube is facing fresh criticism for failure to moderate scammers. According to the BBC, a network of cyber-criminals has been streaming fake Elon Musk videos to scam viewers. The report is not alien to Kenyans and East Africans where a number of high-profile YouTube accounts have suffered a similar fate. A few months ago, KahawaTungu reported that one of the biggest Kenyan YouTube Channels, Citizen TV, was hacked and taken over by scammers who started streaming videos promoting cryptocurrency. The BBC report corroborates the events, saying it had established that several YouTube accounts were being hacked and used for fake…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the country is well equipped to deal with crimes committed on digital platforms. Speaking during the launch of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation’s National Forensic Lab, the President said that an increase in the number of digital transactions had prompted the emergence of electronic fraud in the country. “A new wave of crime is equally emerging that involves things like Sim swapping and the typical ‘tuma kwa hii namba’ syndicate, all of which we must deal with properly,” he said. Kenyatta directed that the Ministry of Interior and ICT outline appropriate measures to strengthen the…