For the first time, Qualcomm and correction services platform Trimble are teaming up to deliver meter-level accuracy to Android handsets’ location services. Trimble RTX GNSS technology is now available on smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 888 system-on-chips. This technology will give high-accuracy solutions for connected…
Author: Smart Megwai
Smart Megwai
Smart is a technology journalist covering innovation, digital culture, and the business of emerging tech. His reporting for Innovation Village explores how technology shapes everyday life in Africa and beyond.
Microsoft has launched a new facility in Lagos, Nigeria in furtherance of its mission and strategic value of the Africa Development Centre (ADC) in the region. This is three years after its successful operation and hosting at Microsoft’s Lagos hub. The ADC will now be based at the Kings Towers…
WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp is rolling out message reactions to a select group of beta users on Android that will make it easy for users to respond to incoming messages with emojis. The reliable source for upcoming WhatsApp features says that, for now, there are six reactions available in this…
Sony Group Corp. has announced that it will acquire Haven Entertainment Studios Inc., a Montreal-based video game development studio managed by industry veteran Jade Raymond. The Montreal-based studio is developing a new property for PlayStation, described as an “AAA multiplayer experience.” This comes just a year after Jade Raymond spoke…
Many young people enjoy using Instagram. Although you can find fun and entertaining content, the app is also a place where frauds, sexual content, cyberbullying, and abuse are common. This article is for parents who would like to protect their children from harmful content that is unhealthy for their minds.…
It is expected that Equiano, Google’s subsea internet cable in Africa, will arrive in Togo this month for its first landing. This is Google’s 14th undersea cable investment, but the first specifically aimed at expanding internet access in Africa. The $1 billion investment in Africa, which includes a $50 million…
Amazon said on Thursday that it had completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), bringing together the historic studio known for blockbusters like “Rocky” and “James Bond” with the digital commerce company in an effort to entice more customers with on-demand video. A statement from Amazon stated that all…
Google has announced it is introducing three changes to its Play Store, which are: “ranking and promotability changes,” “alerts for low-quality apps,” and “device-specific ratings and reviews.” “We’re making big changes in Google Play to enable users to discover and engage with high-quality apps and games,”, the company writes on…
Finally, Meta has introduced parental controls for its Instagram app. The company wants to allow parents to supervise their children’s activities on the social networking site. Adam Mosseri, the head of the service, calls them the “first set” of parental control tools that will allow parents and guardians to monitor…
Today’s doodle on Google.com is in honour of the life and work of Nigeria’s Ladi Kwali, known for her intricately adorned earthenware works. As published by Google in a blog post, “On this day in 2017, an exhibition of Ladi Kwali’s work at the Skoto Gallery in New York opened.”…
Slot Systems Limited, a retailer of electronics, mobile devices, and accessories, has partnered with Samsung and Access Bank to promote the Galaxy S22 series to Nigerians so they can afford to buy the just-released smartphone. Salary earners who are also Access Bank customers stand to gain the most from this…
Spleet has secured a total of $625,000 in a pre-seed round to offer rent financing and tenant verification solutions for Africans. Future Africa, FEDHA Capital, VFD Group, Moonshot VC, Gbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, and HoaQ of Squarefoot participated in the oversubscribed pre-seed round led by MetaProp VC. When it comes to…
Google has selected 15 tech startups from Nigeria and six other countries to participate in its Accelerator Africa program, with Cote D’Ivoire being welcomed to participate for the first time. In a statement, Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s Head, Startup Ecosystem, Africa, noted that the selected companies were developing solutions in areas…
According to internet monitoring agency GlobalCheck, Russia has placed a restriction on the use of Instagram, which she promised to do last week. The decision will make the social network inaccessible to a large number of the country’s residents. According to reports, the country announced plans to ban Instagram last…
Finally, Instagram has announced that users can now assign someone to be a “moderator” in an Instagram Live session. The moderators will be responsible for reporting comments, removing viewers from the broadcast, and turning off comments for a particular viewer. As a result of this feature, IG Live sessions will…
Android 12L is a tablet-focused version of the Android operating system. It is an update to Android 12 with features that will make tablets and foldables simpler and easier to use. It was only one month after Android 12 was made stable that Google unveiled the new OS in October…
Meta has introduced a new browser extension for Whatsapp, Code Verify, that it claims will enhance the security of the instant messaging app’s web version. The company claims the open source web browser extension “automatically verifies the authenticity of the WhatsApp Web code being served to your browser.” With this…
For a while now, Google has become increasingly interested in the market for Android tablets. Its co-founder Rich Miner has returned to the company as “CTO of Android tablets,” and Android 12L is in development to support larger-screened devices. As reported by 9to5Google, Miner explained the opportunity to developers during…
Twitter says users can now easily flip between its algorithmically generated “Home” timeline as well as the feed of “Latest” tweets. To navigate between timelines, users would normally hit the “sparkle” icon at the top right of the screen, then tap it again to return. On iOS, tapping that icon…
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with Huawei Technologies, says its training 1000 employees in cyber security, eGov, and 5G technologies. The agreement was confirmed after it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ICT Industry Leader. This is part of its ICT for Change Program in which…