#Android apps to supercharge your children's learning and development

Smartphones can be a wonderful way to extend learning beyond the classroom and complement teacher-led instruction. They have a number of advantages as learning tools: nearly everyone has one, they're easy to use, and they're a gateway to a world of educational apps and content.

What's more, smartphones can bring learning to life with interactive features, video and audio, as well as give children access to knowledge on a device they are comfortable and familiar with. With that in mind, Alcatel suggests some Android Apps to support your child's learning and development:

Amazon Kindle

The Kindle app puts over 1.5 million books at your fingertips, as well as a range of popular magazines and newspapers. Read print replica textbooks that provide features to help students study smarter including the ability to highlight passages, add margin notes, and search for keywords. 

Get it here: Amazon Kindle

Cram.com Flashcards

Cram.com Flashcards is a study app that allows you to create flashcards on any subject. Card mode allows you to quickly view an entire set of flashcards and repeat them as often as you like. Memorise mode hides flashcards you know so you can concentrate on the ones you still need to learn.

Get it here: Cram.com Flashcards

Duolingo: Learn Languages Free

Learn English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish and Turkish with this fast, fun and free app. It features games, lessons, and more.

Get it here: Duolingo: Learn Languages Free

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Programmer

Kids can kick-start their coding skills with this app, which also lets them create robot programs from scratch. Just drag and drop programming blocks onto the canvas and press 'Play' and see how your robot responds. 

Get it here: LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Programmer

Crazy Times Tables – LITE

Crazy Times Tables is one of the best multiplication table practice apps available for Android. It mixes fun and games with best-practice teaching methods.

Get it here: Crazy Times Tables – LITE

Elevate - Brain Training Games

Elevate is a brain-training program designed to improve attention, speaking skills, processing speed, memory, math skills, and more.

Get it here: Elevate - Brain Training Games

ABC Kids - Tracing & Phonics

ABC Kids is a free phonics and alphabet teaching app that makes learning fun for children, from toddlers to pre-schoolers.

Get it here: ABC Kids - Tracing & Phonics

 

#ProductReview: #Huawei P10 lite review

Fun-size Mars bars are great. Take a bite and you'll get the same melty mouthful of chocolatey, nougaty goodness as the real thing - but you won't feel like a porker for polishing the whole thing off.

That's kind of the idea behind the Huawei P10 Lite.

It's a diluted version of the attention grabbing P10 , which ditches the Leica-branded dual cameras and just-gotta see-it-in-the-flesh shades of green and blue for a much more agreeable price. 

One that won't leave a massive dent in your wallet. Huawei has been playing fast and loose with the recipe book, though - so much so that the P10 Lite isn't really much like the P10 at all. Aldi's Titan Bars might look just like Mars, but they just ain't the l.

It shares a name with Huawei's photo centric flagship, but the Lite is  hardly a dead ringer for the P10. It's got a chunkier metal frame, with contrasting colours that only make it stand out further, even if the curved edges are a welcome touch of class.

Glass and metal are great to see in a mid-range phone, but the all- glass back is unbelievably slippy. Pop the P10 Lite down on anything other than a completely flat surface and it's all but guaranteed to slide off under its own weight.

You won't find two cameras around the back, only one, and the fingerprint sensor has been moved back here too. It's a lot easier to find than the awkwardly-placed sensor on Samsung's Galaxy S8 , but it means there's no one button navigation like you get on the P10. 

Colours edge slightly into cool territory out of the box, but a quick trip into the Display settings can pull it back towards neutral. There's a lot more control here than you'll get with other mid-rangers, so you can really fine-tune things for your own tastes.

That's true of the single speaker, too. It's loud enough, without any nasty distortion when you really crank things up, and sounds clear too.

Catching up on YouTube videos won't have you reaching for a pair of headphones.

You get a 12MP snapper with phase detection autofocus and an f/2.2 lens, which is still pretty respectable for a mid range phone, but there's no optical image stabilisation and the tiny 1/1.28in sensor doesn't let in a whole lot of light.

Money tips for first time international travelers

First trip abroad? Travellers should familiarise themselves with the different payment options while abroad to protect themselves from incurring unnecessary costs. 

Anthony Grant, CEO of FNB Foreign Exchange says, "First time international travellers tend to focus on the trip itself and forget the alternative options available when transacting abroad. However, with a bit of forward planning there are areas where costs can be trimmed before jetting off."

Here are some money tips for first time international travellers:

Get travel insurance

Embarking on your international journey without travel insurance is not only risky, but can also be very costly in the long run. Travel insurance is important because should an unforeseen incident occur, such as a medical emergency or loss of luggage, you will be cushioned against having to dig deep into your pocket to cover these costs. Apply and read through your travel insurance terms and conditions to ensure you are adequately covered for all types of emergencies.

Order your foreign currency before you leave

Having currency as one of your methods of payment makes your life just a little bit easier as you can pay in cash for things like a coffee at the airport while you wait for your connecting flight, or taxi fare on route to your accommodation. Currency rates fluctuates all the time so it works out more cost effective if you get your foreign currency before you leave. Withdrawing cash or exchanging currency while you are travelling could turn out to be quite costly due to changing market conditions between you leaving and arriving at your destination

Get a Travel Card

There are many advantages to having a travel card handy; not only do you mitigate the risk of carrying large amounts of cash but you can load various currencies onto the card from your local bank account. The 4 currencies available are USD, GBP, EUR and AUD. The card enables you to swipe at merchants and withdraw cash around the world where you see the Mastercard acceptance mark.  It is the ideal budget management tool because you only spend what you load. FNB customers can order the Multi-currency Cash Passport^TM online and have it delivered to their door and also top up the balance via FNB Online Banking while travelling if more spending money is needed.

Notify your bank

It's important to notify your bank about your upcoming trip, the various locations you will be visiting and the duration of time spent away. This will help the bank notice any suspicious activity in your account such as fraud and they will be able to contact you timeously. For example, if you are out of the country and the bank picks up a transaction taking place locally this will automatically raise a red flag.

Stay connected

While travelling overseas you can stay connected via the FNB Banking App, all you need to do is activate roaming and make sure you have a secure internet connection. This means you can continue to bank when you need to, as well as receive SMS alerts helping you monitor your expenses while travelling.

Happy travels.

 

The science behind shop fittings

Perfect shop fittings are at the juncture of where art and science meet. In a dream store, form follows function in the most aesthetically pleasing way to create a lasting impression on clients.

Your storefront is an invitation for prospective customers to enter, and as such it should be alluring, enticing and visually appealing in order to create an emotive response. Once inside, shop fittings need to speak to both practicality and intricacy to create an intense and memorable sensory experience. Visual elements heavily impact consumer behaviour. Lighting and colours are essential in establishing an ambiance, time and effort must be taken to ensure that your store encapsulates the desired mood.

The layout of the store and materials used seeks to encourage movement and take consumers on a journey, leading them on a predetermined, purposeful flow. Therefore, shop fittings need to be laid out with a very clear strategy in mind. Every element of the shopper's journey through the store determines whether or not they have a great customer experience. This is a precision-oriented endeavour, and attention to detail is key. There is a very delicate balance between showcasing unique concepts and latest trends and emulating a classic aesthetic that will stand the test of time.
 
A case in point is the Asics store in Mall of Africa. A clean, bright shop front with a clear view of the products inside entices consumers to come in and explore further. Asics primary selling item, their versatile range of shoes, are found at the back of the store, forcing consumers to navigate the shop in order to reach them. Hero products are illuminated to draw attention. Simplicity is key in this store's fittings; all display elements are clean, minimal and noninvasive so as to not distract the consumer from the products, allowing them to speak for themselves. White is primarily used throughout the store in order to make the colourful clothing items pop. Expert companies like Innovation Factory are specialists in manufacturing the perfect shop fittings.

Adam Dembovsky, Innovation Factory's Managing Director, says the following, "Creating a beautifully displayed retail environment for the products you sell is vital for retail success. Your offering needs to stand out from the crowd. Take time to carefully consider the layout, lighting and finishes of your store and you will reap the rewards of a loyal and inspired consumer base."

#DStv Now breaks record with #MoneyFight live streaming

DStv Now has broken all previous records with the live stream of The Money Fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor. The daily live stream audience peaked at 40% above any previous high on the DStv Now platform, including those driven by events in traditional "prime time". 

Live sport has been one of the main drivers of growth for DStv Now. With its unrivalled and exclusive sports offering of up to 12 live streaming SuperSport channels, DStv Now has grown monthly usage more than 50% in just three months and has doubled in the last six months. To put the growth of live streaming on DStv Now in context, the Money Fight audience was 30 times larger than that for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao live stream just two years ago.

And it wasn't just the main event which drove up audience numbers. Almost as many fans visited the live stream for the build-up and undercard as the main event, while many others used Catch Up in the DStv Now app to view the fight at a more civilized hour or watched the "All Access" documentary. The Fight coverage started at 03:00 CAT, with the main event starting just before 06:00 CAT. Users tuned in on their decoders, or the DStv Now website and APP (iOS and Android).

DStv Now can be accessed via the app for tablets and smartphones, or online at now.dstv.com

The app is free to download for all DStv customers on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Data costs will apply when streaming content.

Human Sciences Research Council to host seminar on the concept of wellbeing amidst increasing poverty and inequality

In response to deepening poverty and inequality in South Africa, the Human Sciences Research Council has defined its strategic focus for the next five years as: 'poverty and inequality: diagnosis, prognosis, responses'.

Looking towards comprehensive diagnosis, prognosis and response, the Council has identified three priority research projects:

1.                  Poverty and Inequality in South Africa in 3D: Using a 3 Dimensional Human Wellbeing Lens to Move Us Forward

2.                  Towards a centre for excellence for research and teaching on city-region economies

3.                  Transformative Governance Initiative

 

Amidst concerns that poverty and inequality is growing at an alarming rate, rather than decreasing, as evidenced in the Poverty Trends in South Africa report released by StatsSA last week, the Human Sciences Research Council will discuss the concept of holistic wellbeing at a seminar on Wednesday 30 August 2017.  This concept has been traditionally looked at purely through an economic lens.

Through its multi-disciplinary approach towards this concept, the HSRC hopes to contribute to the global pool of knowledge on this topic by grounding its work in the African context, and addressing the intersections of race, class, gender and geography with poverty and inequality.

 

Now here is a cool app that lets you courier anything around the world #FastVan

South African innovators are shaking up the world with their innovative minds. The latest addition is a real cool app. 

Customers can use Fastvan to submit their delivery requests through their smartphone, with nearby courier drivers notified and able to accept the job. Once the job is accepted, businesses have the chance to track their courier throughout the delivery process.

Whether it's a care package stuffed with rooibos, rusks and whatever other South African treats your loved one can't live without, or an Etsy order that has to get there the next day, doing your research on which delivery service best suits your needs is time consuming – and doesn't always mean it will reach its intended destination.

The app was developed over the last year in San Francisco, and is now available via iOS and Android. Nur s

Using the app, you punch in a range of specifics –what, where, when, how and who – and in return it offers you the best available option.

Then, you upload a photograph of your parcel and track it like an Uber (amazing) all the way to its intended destination.

Customers can rate drivers on the app and receive automatic invoices by e-mail. 

Fastvan has partnered with leading courier companies to offer its customers high quality and real-time services.

#LG to debut smartwatch in South Africa

LG is launching the Watch Style in South Africa, which will be available through LG service providers.

The Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch will sell for a suggested retail price of R3,499.

The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset and 512MB LPDDR3 RAM.

It also features a 1.2-inch P-OLED display (360 x 360), 4GB of storage, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a 240mAh battery.

LG said the Watch Style is IP67 dust and water resistant, while maintaining a "small, slim, and stylish" design.

#Telkom to exclusively offer Free Music, Video Streaming

September will be good month for Telkom users. The telecom giant will be offering its customers LIT, a  streaming service providing zero rated video and music streaming to select content partners for its FreeMe 2GB and up customers.

The Telkom LIT Video and LIT Music are giving Telkom customers access to on demand movies, series, online video and music through some of the world's most popular online content providers.

Telkom also announced the imminent launch LIT TV, offering Unlimited ADSL, Fibre and LTE SmartBroadband customers the Telkom LIT TVC 100 media box which allows customers to transform their TV into a smart TV, with pre-loaded content channels from our content providers.

LIT TV will be launched in September with Telkom's Summer Campaign.

LIT TV includes a media streaming box and is designed for large screen TVs offering a completely new TV viewing experience.

The Android TV device allows consumers to truly customise their TV viewing, marking a break away from linear TV viewing.

The current content partners for LIT TV are ShowMax, YouTube, DSTV and Google Play Store.

For LIT Video, Telkom has partnered with Showmax, Netflix, YouTube and Google Play. For Lit Music, Telkom has partnered with Google Play Music, Apple Music and Simfy Africa. 

This means that when customers stream content from these sites it will not be deducted from their FreeMe data bundle.

Once again I will repeat myself. September is going to be a good month for Telkom users. 

What you will get by subscribing to #BonangByCellC

Bonang Matheba is definitely taking on the world. Queen B recently unleashed her new app cleverly themed Bonang By Cell C.

That is one more tick for her. Remember earlier this year, Queen B let us in on her plans which included an app, a reality show, a book, her own emojis, a clothing label and her own personalized Revlon range.

According to Team Matheba, "the app is the first of its kind and will curate exclusive content to subscribers and fans. Bonang by Cell C boasts features such as exclusive photos, videos, never seen before content and will grant subscribers an all access pass into Bonang's life as she shares tips on make-up, outfit of the day to her videos and songs."

Subscribers who download the app and wish to gain first-hand access into the media darling's life will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of between R50 and R90p/m after their 7-day free trial is over and many have taken issue with this fact.

So what will the subscription give you? 

The app functions much like a website in that it has five tabs.

Love it - features Bonang's favourite items and habits

Play it - features Bonang's top songs and playlist picks and allows you to watch videos of her personal life (outside of the spotlight)

Do it - gives you B's recommendations on what to eat, how to dress and best places to go so that you can experience your own celebrity moment

AMA (Ask Me anything) - a section that allows you to ask Bonang ANYTHING you want, and she promises to answer

24/7 - an automatic feed of Bonang's social updates from Twitter and Instagram (all in one place)

So there you have it. If you are a big Bonang fan then you definitely want to try this one. Tell us what you think after you have tried the new app. 

Become your own big investor

'Investing' is a concept that is often misunderstood as requiring extensive financial and industry knowledge coupled with years of experience. This for many is seen as a major stumbling block as opposed to an opportunity to learn the 'art of investing'.

 

"There is no right time to learn about investing, than now" says Ester Ochse,Product Specialist at FNB Financial Advisory."Anyone can invest as long as they are willing to stay in it for the long-term and match their risk appetite with the ideal investment choices. Even if you are investing a small amount on a monthly basis, making the right investments will help you grow your money and benefit you in the long-term."

 

Investments empower you to make informed decisions about your financial future. By just understanding the process; you are one step closer to achieving your goals.

 

The market is full of different types of investment options and choosing a suitable product may be daunting for the novice investor, says Ochse. "Research and ask for investment advice from a qualified and trained professional, as this can help you influence your investment decisions on all levels."

 

Patience, resilience and commitment are needed through your investment journey. "It's about you and your needs and wants. Starting an investment portfolio, be it big or small, requires some form of commitment and most importantly, you need to have a goal in mind before starting to invest."

 

Having a goal deters one from making impulsive decisions such as deciding to sell to use the money for something else. It's important to stay focused on the end goal, if the aim is to stay invested for five years then it's best to remain committed and stay invested for the long-term. It's quite common that people start investing without having established the reason or aim for starting an investment. 

 

She adds that, "Having a clear investment strategy helps in setting goals and timelines. It also helps you to understand your risk appetite and most importantly, the amount that you can afford to put away. There are risks associated with investing, but if done correctly the rewards will be great."

Ochse concludes by saying, "Attitude and tenacity are key in driving investment goals - Remember at the end of the day you are investing for yourself and your futu

MTV #VMA performers announced

MTV today announced additional performers set to take the stage at the 2017 "VMAs" airing live on Monday 28 August at 02:00 CAT and repeating later at 21:00 CAT on MTV (DStv Channel 130). Logic will perform his hit single "1-800-273-8255" featuring Khalid, and Gucci Mane will take the stage with previously announced Fifth Harmony to perform their song "Down." Additionally, the show will feature special performances by breakout artists Post Malone and Julia Michaels.
 
For the 2017 "VMAs," Logic is nominated for "Best Fight Against the System,"Gucci Mane is nominated with Fifth Harmony for "Best Pop Song," and Khalid and Julia Michaels are both up for "Best New Artist."  The artists join an extensive performer line-up for the show including previously announced Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, Lorde, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Fifth Harmony and the "Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award" winner, P!nk.
 
The full list of nominees for the 2017 "VMAs" is available here.
 
Maryland-bred musician Logic burst onto the music scene through a series of mixtapes that led to a significant, rabid underground fan base. These mixtapes garnered millions of downloads and streams that jumpstarted a worldwide tour all before signing a record deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2014.  His debut album Under Pressure (2014) was hailed as one of the year's finest hip-hop debuts. Following the success of his sophomore album, The Incredible True Story (2015), Logic embarked on his 2016 Incredible World Tour across the U.S. and Canada. In 2017, Logic continues to raise the bar with the release of his third full-length album Everybody.
 
Khalid released his hit song "Location" before his high school graduation and it garnered over 1.52 million plays in less than two months, which led to his major label deal with Right Hand Music Group/RCA Records.  Khalid also embarked on his first-ever headlining tour in both the U.S. and select European cities where he sold-out every single date before the album was even released. "Khalid is the face of Forever 21's "We Are Forever" pre-fall collection online and in stores worldwide."
 
Gucci Mane is widely ranked among the most gifted rappers of his generation. He made a triumphant return with critically acclaimed "Everybody Looking," an album which he completed in just six short days. "Everybody Looking" made an incredible chart debut, coming out at #1 on Soundscan/Billboard's Top Current Albums chart.  Gucci has returned with unparalleled gusto, still backed by his beloved and familiar sound, but with a new air of confidence showcased in his recent projects "Woptober," The Return of East Atlanta Santa" which featured the platinum-selling "Both ft. Drake," and the Metro Boomin produced "Drop Top Wop." Gucci Mane will be releasing his new album "Mr. Davis" on 15 September followed by the release of his book titled "The Autobiography of Gucci Mane" on 15 September. 2017 continues to see Gucci Mane as one of hip-hop's most prolific and admired artists.

Tips from a pro on how to remain disciplined in training #Powerade

Former Sharks, Stormers and Ajax Cape Town Mental Performance Coach, Tom Dawson-Squibb, provides critical tips on how to remain disciplined during training to ensure you are at your finest.

1.           Define it

The crucial thing to remember when it comes to discipline is that it is very subjective and therefore, it is imperative to clearly define the context of how you intend to reach your targets. This will enable you to have a finite line in sight. If you leave this too ambiguous you may find yourself becoming increasingly frustrated as you will be unable to evaluate your progress.

 

2.           Rome wasn't built in a day – baby steps

You are unlikely to go from a couch potatoe to an Olympic athlete in a day so rather try to improve your self-discipline in incremental steps. Take time to reflect on the little gains you have made, from the chocolate you avoided, to the run you went for rather than watching TV. You will gain momentum and become more disciplined far easier in this way than if you try and go from zero to hundred in one day.

 

3.           Reward yourself for small wins

The more we celebrate our progress is the more we become motivated to do even better. Take time to reward yourself and use the positive energy from the gains and progress you are making, however small it may be in the greater scheme of things.

 

4.           Attach meaning to the outcome of discipline

There will be sacrifices you will have to make in order to become disciplined as becoming 'disciplined' per se is not that enticing for many people.). It is important to attach meaning to the work you are putting in and the sacrifices you are making so as to keep momentum through the tough times.

If you can take pleasure through the process of training and see value in progress and growth rather than just the end goal itself you are far more likely to become disciplined. Remember, any change brings discomfort and sacrifice, be prepared for that and see the tough times as growth opportunities.

Powerade's 'Power to Beat Your Best' aims to provide athletes with the tools to achieve a personal best time and will be working with a number of South Africa's foremost running, cycling and training experts to challenge athletes to beat their best in 2017.

For more information on 'Power to Beat Your Best' visit www.powerade.co.za - the official hydration partner of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Town Cycle Tour. 

The #MoneyFight. It's time to put up or shut up as #Supersport gears up for live coverage

Having taken trash-talking to record levels of excess, top fighters Floyd Mayweather jnr and Conor McGregor now must back up their wild boasts where it counts – in the ring.

This weekend, the pair will do so amid a wave of hysteria and Las Vegas shtick, with DStv's SuperSport broadcasting the action in the early hours of Sunday morning (from 3am CAT) on SuperSport 2 and SS Maximo 1.

Mayweather will be aiming for a record 50^th successive win as a professional. McGregor, for all the hype, will be engaging in just his first pro contest. Yet this fight has more to do with marketing smoke and mirrors than boxing. Both will cash in like never before with their superstar status guaranteeing millions of eyeballs on televisions around the world.

Unlike many other broadcasters around the world, such as the US, where viewers must may $99 to watch the fight, SuperSport's Premium customers will receive it at no additional cost.

Mayweather is a slick operator who fights by the maxim of hitting and not getting hit. He has fast hands and the best defence in the game, qualities he'll need against McGregor. The Irishman is bigger and stronger and will be unorthodox given his unfamiliarity with boxing.

He's vowed to destroy Mayweather inside four rounds, although that is the sort of boast Mayweather has heard many times before. Forty-nine opponents have tried to beat him and 49 have failed.

With Hollywood stars scrambling for ringside tickets and regular fans trying to get their hands on tickets, which range in price from $500 to $10 000, it's as big a fight as glitzy Las Vegas has ever seen.

The undercard offers more traditional fare with top fighters like Badou Jack and Gervonta Davis appearing.

Big fight fans can watch via their decoders or on DStv Now, online or the app.

Non-DStv customers will be able to watch the fight on the internet TV service Showmax later in the day. Showmax costs R99 per month for unlimited viewing and has more than 25 000 TV show episodes, movies, kids shows and documentaries.

Showmax can be viewed on smartphones and tablets, smart TVs, Apple TV and Android TV, and via web browser. To sign up for Showmax visit www.showmax.com.

Highlights of the fight will also be available on DStv's Catch Up service in the hours after the event. Catch Up Plus, available on connected Exploras, will carry the full fight later in the day.
 

Building wealth through #entrepreneurship

A common discipline that high-net-worth individuals share when building and sustaining wealth for future generations is the appreciation for entrepreneurship.

Eric Enslin, CEO of FNB Private Wealth and RMB Private Bank, says almost every wealth management strategy encompasses some form of entrepreneurship.

"For families who have already made their fortunes, emphasis is often placed on passing on legacies to a younger generation of leaders who will be responsible for breathing new life to well established corporations or scaling high growth potential businesses to new levels of growth," says Enslin.

Entrepreneurship in this context can only be successful if a solid wealth management plan, which encompasses goals and aspirations, has been established. When executed correctly the model and principles can be replicated across multiple generations. 

Enslin says wealthy families abide by four common principles when using entrepreneurship to build prosperity:

·         Building a saleable asset - the challenge is usually not attracting investors to raise capital in order to start a business, but rather leveraging available funds and intellectual capital to build a profitable venture that can be sold for a premium. 

 

Many wealthy families go into business with an end goal in mind, either to sell the business for a return, raise money through mergers and acquisitions, list the company publicly or pass it on to future generations. The business is often started with an exit strategy already formulated.  

 

·         Diversification – by being active and having a stake across an entire value and supply chain of a particular industry, these entrepreneurs are able to diversity and overcome short term issues that may severely impact profit margins. 

 

For example, wealthy families in the commercial farming industry were more resilient to the recent drought conditions that impacted the whole country, through their exposure to the entire farming value chain.

 

·         Long term potential – through experience these families understand that wealth cannot be built overnight and it may take years or even decades before a venture accumulates returns.

 

Unlike some SME's who may use entrepreneurship for instant gratification, making ends-meet or gaining financial freedom, wealthy families use businesses to leave a legacy. 

 

·         Accountability – as the old adage goes "with great power comes great responsibility" – successful heirs appreciate the responsibility that comes with inheriting and sustaining wealth, as well as risk of it diminishing over time. 

 

#Tuluntulu adds economic empowerment TV channel to its #streaming service

African mobile content platform Tuluntulu has teamed up with

Rhodes Business School and Nedbank to launch a new 24/7 economic empowerment TV channel on the its app.

The free-to-download app is available without subscriptions and is claimed to use less data, around 50MB per hour, than any other streaming app when connected via mobile networks.

Video content for the app has been created by Rhodes University. Business School focusing on economics, commercial law, entrepreneurship and financial planning. 

Funded by Nedbank, the Rhodes Business School channel aims to be an incubator to promote social enterprise, entrepreneurship and empower people with business management skills.

"We are delighted to increase our free TV offering to over 40 x 24/7 TV channels. Education is a key focus and this new RBS channel is one of seven dedicated education-focused TV channels," explained Pierre van der Hoven, Tuluntulu's founder and CEO.

"The Tuluntulu app provides a distribution and monetisation platform for our content partners, and exposure for our sponsors like Nedbank. Economic empowerment is especially relevant content right now, and Tuluntulu is delighted to add the new RBS

TV channel to our offering."

#Hisense renews Emirates #Lions partnership

It was only recently that the Lions had Johannesburg (if not the whole of South Africa) clinging to the edge of their seats after the team tackled their way to the final wrung on the Super Rugby ladder. Though a South African victory was not secured for the Lions going against the Crusaders at the final, they still managed to win hearts for taking the country so far into the tournament. In light of this national comradery, Hisense South Africa is therefore proud to announce that the company will be renewing their status as the Official Electronics Partner of Lions Rugby for another year.

The sponsorship will stretch across the 2018 Vodacom Super Rugby and Currie Cup competitions, with Hisense receiving exclusive signage rights within Emirates Airline Park. As before, the Hisense logo will continue to proudly appear on the right shoulder of the Emirates Lions and Xerox Golden Lions kits.

Ryan Curling, Brand Manager at Hisense South Africa notes that the brand certainly made the right choice partnering with the Lions rugby team, and that the partnership has been a success since it was announced in February this year. "As two leading brands in the South African space, we share a commonality in that we strive on competition, pushing boundaries, and innovating practices. We are excited to continue our association with the Lions," Curling adds.

"This partnership aligns well with our local AIM HIGH campaign which endeavours to re-ignite the aspirations of South Africans. With Emirates Lions always aiming for the top, their motivation to perform meets ours," says Hisense South Africa's Marketing Manager, Claire Noyes-Smith.

Rudolf Straeuli, the Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd Chief Executive Officer comments "we look forward to a successful and continued relationship with Hisense. It's been great working with such a committed sponsor and sporting enthusiast. Our partnership is based on a mutual understanding and common desire to achieve, and to bring South Africa together, on and off the field".

All too familiar with big sporting sponsorships, Hisense was named an official sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup earlier this year - becoming the first-ever Chinese consumer electronics brand to sponsor the tournament. Other prominent sporting partnerships include: UEFA's Euro 2016, Nascar's XFINITY series, Joe Gibbs Racing, the Australian Open, and Germany's FC Schalke 04. 

#Smirnoff Salutes the #MTV Video Music Awards for Breaking Barriers

Smirnoff, the lead sponsor of the local broadcast of the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), applauds the announcement that gendered categories have been scrapped from this year's music video celebration. The good times drink for everyone also welcomes the addition of the Best Fight Against the System category.

The Best Female Video and Best Male Videocategories have now been combined into one, simply titled Artist of the Year. Nominees vying for the moonman are Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar,

Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Lorde.

According to MTV, the Best Fight Against the Systemcategory has been added to celebrate those videos that inspire viewers to stand up and fight injustice. Videos that made the cut include Black SpiderMan by Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson, Big Sean's Light,Surefire by John Legend and Alessia Cara's Scars To Your Beautiful.

Smirnoff Marketing Manager, Kyle Lesch says: "Music and MTV have always broken barriers and with Smirnoff bringing the broadcast of the VMAs to South Africa, 'Everyone's Invited' to enjoy this historic transformation to the Awards that have been honouring the best music videos since 1984."

MTV's move to non-gendered categories aligns with Smirnoff's Equalizing Music initiative, which strives to drive gender parity and diversity in the music industry. What's more, the addition of the Best Fight Against the System category compliments Smirnoff's efforts in shining a light on creatives who use their platforms to address social issues through their newly launched Change Makers campaign, which aims to encourage everyone to make a positive change." 

To see who will take home the moonman (please double check this word), tune into MTV (DStv channel 130) on Monday, 28 August at 02:00 CAT for the live broadcast, or at 21:30 CAT for 

2017 MTV #VMA to be screened live

The much anticipated MTV #VMAs are set to blow you away when global pop superstar Katy Perry will host the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards that will be broadcast live on MTV (DStv channel 130) on Monday, 28 August at 02:00 CAT with a repeat at 21:30 CAT that same evening.
 
To add African flair to the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Africaand Smirnoff will be travelling to the ceremony with choreographer and television personality Somizi Mhlongo who will cover the red carpet.
 
What you need to know about this year's ceremony:

• Our very own Somizi will host on the red carpet
• Katy Perry will host the show
• P!nk will receive the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award
• Expect to see a night jampacked with stars galore
• Nominees include: Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Alessia Cara, DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, Ed Sheeran, Lorde, Khalid,  Harry Styles, Fifth Harmony, Big Sean amongst others
• Performers include: Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Fifth Harmony, Lorde, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, Thirty Seconds to Mars

 
For more information on the 2017 "MTV Video Music Awards", go towww.mtv.co.z; Facebook , www.facebook.co.za/mtvza; Twitter & Instagram @MTVAfrica. #VMAs.
 

Mzansi's Charlize Theron to attend the #MoneyFight between Mayweather and McGregor

Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron are among the stars expected to attend Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor's epic boxing bout. 

The 'Tomb Raider' actor and the 'Mad Max' star are planning to descend on Las Vegas on August 26 for what has been billed as the fight of the century, as are the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Drake, Denzel Washington and L.L. Cool J.

According to TMZ Sports, several stars will have front row and centre seats at the T-Mobile Arena in Sin City, with actor Jamie Foxx, basketball sensation LeBron James and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine expected to be among them. 

Some stars will no doubt head to Vegas earlier in the week before the fight, and others may not even have tickets but plan to watch the action at parties at nearby venues. 

One singer who may be in attendance is Justin Bieber, who is known to be good friends with Mayweather. 

However, the 'Never Say Never' hitmaker recently insisted he doesn't think is pal will knock out UFC fighter McGregor.

© Bang Showbiz 

#Mercedes-AMG growls its way into the SA Festival of Motoring, #Kyala

The Mercedes-AMG Performance Tour celebrates 50 Years of Performance Driving at this year's SA Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami racetrack.

AMG - these three letters stand worldwide for supreme automotive performance, exclusivity, efficiency and highly dynamic driving pleasure. In 2017, the company founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher is celebrating its 50^th anniversary worldwide with many high performance activities.

For all at AMG, the focus will be on the brand promise of "Driving Performance", which unites the core strengths of AMG: cutting-edge technology and a passion for dynamic, emotively appealing products. Mercedes-AMG stands worldwide for outstanding engine expertise, which includes not only development, but also the "one man, one engine" philosophy, which means that each engine is, so to speak, handcrafted by one engine builder. With almost 100,000 units delivered in 2016, i.e. over 40 percent growth, and the biggest strategic model initiative in the company's history, AMG makes this anniversary year with record figures.

"The Mercedes-AMG C 43, C 63 and C 63 S will now also manufactured at our East London plant for local and international markets.  Excitement was at an all-time high as the first locally manufactured Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC rolled off the production line in East London in mid-July.  We will see the C 63 and C 63 S models manufactured in East London line early in 2018," says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Following a successful local AMG marketing campaign, excitement has heightened with the activation of fans testing their growling skills, whilst imitating the AMG growl.  Some reached levels of the growl to that of the AMG A 45, C 43 and a C 63 S, and possibly through to the SLS AMG and AMG GT S, affording fans the chances of winning an AMG Advanced Driving Academy course and two tickets to the festival.

"South African's have shown us just how much they love our AMG cars, especially the iconic and visceral sound exhaust note, and this is why we have profiled our fans doing the growl, while highlighting the inherent beauty of our AMG range. It's a celebration of Driving Performance as well as a 'thank you' to all who hold our brand close to their hearts," says Govender.

The AMG Performance tour takes place in Pits 1 - 4 at Kyalami, with the AMG GT family performance cars, the AMG GT S, AMG GT R and AMG GT C and the E 63 S sedan.  Fans will have an opportunity to experience these beauties in hot laps by the AMG Driving Academy team.

More secrets revealed on #BrokenVows

The Moswane and Mkhwananzi family will face yet another hurdle this Friday, 18 August on Broken Vows when Ace reveals a secret that could potentially destroy the families.

The saga between Ace and Thandi continues during the lobola negotiation and causes further division between the two families. The battle between the two began when Thandi revealed to the Moswane family that Ace raped her when she was 15 years old. The news not only shocked the family but caused a rift between Thandi and her fiance Uhuru.

Will this new secret separate or unite Thandi and Uhuru?

Catch a glimpse of the action on the below promo and watch the drama unfolds on Broken Vows weekdays at 8PM.

https://youtu.be/gEFAG6oIQv0

Consumers set to contribute positively to GDP in the second quarter

June retail trade sales expanded 2.9% y/y (unadjusted), the strongest figure posted since November 2016. General dealer sales, which accelerated to 2.5% y/y, added 1.1 pps while a 12.4 % y/y increase in food and beverage sales added another 0.9 pps. After a very poor start to the year, it appears that clothing retailers may be experiencing modest relief with sales jumping 3.9% y/y.

Sales of household furniture and equipment expanded by 8.3% y/y but the improvement was largely a result of base effects and we expect that household consumption of durable goods will remain under pressure despite the recent interest rate cut. In a reversal of fortunes, pharmaceutical goods sales contracted (-1.9% y/y) for the first time since May 2014, but this was due to a much higher base in June 2016 when sales rallied 10.4% y/y. Hardware sales continue to be under pressure, declining -7.1% y/y. The data shows that the sector expanded by 2.1% q/q and 2.2% y/y in 2Q17.

The result, which when viewed with the June mining and manufacturing data, suggests that GDP could rebound by as much at 2.5% q/q in 2Q17, but remain at a pedestrian 0.5% y/y. Overall, the outlook for household consumption remains muted given just how weak consumer confidence is, although a shallow rate cutting cycle should provide modest relief until higher taxes are likely to take hold after the February budget.

#etv gets new drama series

e.tv Springs into September with a brand-new local drama series, Easy Money. Easy Money will premiere on Tuesday, 12 September 2017 at 9:30PM

The new drama series tells a story of a young teacher, Khosi (Xoli Zondi), who gets involved in a pyramid scheme run by a company called Pharaoh Investments. The show is inspired by real-life events and now-infamous pyramid schemes, seeking to answer the question: 'Why do we fall for pyramid schemes?' The show is framed by the insightful narration of Khosi's only son, Moagi, which forms the backbone to guide the audience through a turbulent period during which mother, wife and school teacher Khosi makes decisions which affect her life – and the lives of all those around her.

"e.tv is excited to bring Easy Money to viewers' screens, soon," says e.tv Managing Director Marlon Davids. "Quizzical Pictures have worked tirelessly to deliver a high-quality and entertaining drama series that will entertain our viewers".

Taking on the lead role of Khosi, a school teacher who enjoys a good standing in the community, is Xoli Zondi. Tumelo Don Mosenye will play Justice, Khosi's husband and father to Moagi portrayed by Paballo Khoza. Noxee Maqashalala who was previously on e.tv's The Kingdom - Ukhakhayi will take on the role of Zee, Khosi's older sister. Tinah Mnumzana will play Moagi's nanny Naledi. Andrea Dondolo will play a helper who is currently the treasurer in the community stokvel. Rhythm City's Connie Chiume returns to the e.tv family and plays Gloria, a teacher and colleague to Khosi who makes a massive investment into the scheme.

Scandal! actress Sive Mabuya will take on the lead role of Dipuo, recruiter at Pharaoh Investments. Mr Eddy, CEO of Pharaoh Investments will be played by legendary actor, David Dennis. Austin Shandu plays Mr. Eddy's right hand man and professional scammer, Leano. Dipuo and Leano are the tag-team that work and fish for investors on behalf of Mr. Eddy.
 
Viewers will also see the likes Jerry Phele as Amos, the community construction worker. Gold Diggers actor Thabo Malema joins the ensemble cast as the jovial Collins, who is best friends with Zee. The rest of the stellar cast includes Sibongile Nojila and Jose Domingos

Catch the dangerous journey of Khosi as Easy Money premieres on Tuesday, 12 September at 9:30PM on e.tv and eHD on OpenView HD