i2B Innovation Weekend

Good morning: Techies don’t do gossip but, I heard that our president is visiting King Charles and Queen Camilla in Kenya. In other gossip yesterday was Halloween, what was your costume?

Hello to our 4 new subscribers since the last edition.

In today’s edition.

1. A little of what happened this weekend.

2. Cancel your plans for next weekend we got covered.

3. Tour de headlines both in Kenya and the world.

4. Why is X asking new subscribers to pay

5. Shout out Kona

 Here is a little of what happened this weekend.

IEEEXTREME

IEEExtreme is global competitive programming for 24 hours. This year the competition took place on 28th October.

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology(DeKUT) participated in the competition for the first time. Doing a commendable job, Despite a delayed start due to heavy rains, network issues, and formidable competition from experienced teams such as Moi and Kenyatta Universities. The teams emerged in positions (1st, 2nd, and 4th) in the Kenya section.

Together with DeKUT startups and incubation center.

Are you a DeKUT student or staff member? Are you eager to unravel the intricacies of business, showcase your groundbreaking innovations, or share your inventive ideas? Well, you're in luck because DeKUT's Startup and Incubation Center has something special in store for you next weekend, on the 3rd and 4th of November 2023.

What's in Store? Imagine a whirlwind 24-hour experience that can supercharge your business dreams. At the i2B Innovation Weekend, you'll have the unique opportunity to present your business ideas and receive expert guidance to help you refine and polish your vision.

Get educated and Certified We understand the value of your time and commitment. That's why, for your dedication and attendance over the two days, we'll be awarding certificates to commemorate your participation. Plus, we've got your sustenance covered with meals provided throughout the event.

Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers. Join us at the i2B Innovation Weekend and take a significant step towards turning your business dreams into reality.

Limited Slots Available - Secure Yours Now Due to high demand and to ensure the best experience for all participants, we have limited slots available. Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative event. Register today before slots fill up!

Mark your calendars for November 3rd and 4th, and we can't wait to see you there!

Register Now to secure your place at the i2B Innovation Weekend. Let's innovate, learn, and grow together!

Tour de headlines:

Kenya:

1. Kenya Launched its first local smartphone assembly plant: East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK), in collaboration with local giants like Safaricom and Chinese companies, offers affordable, locally assembled devices starting at KES 7,499 ($50). This initiative complements the government's digital inclusion strategy and boasts an annual production capacity of up to 3 million mobile phone units. The initial offerings feature 4G-enabled models "Smarta" and "Ultra," with a roadmap for product range expansion.

2. Maisha Number: A new Huduma number. President Ruto is expected to launch a new Maisha Namba designed to offer universal identity verification through smart devices, rendering physical ID documents obsolete. This system will seamlessly transition existing ID holders to Maisha Namba, providing them with the Maisha Card featuring enhanced functionalities, including a virtual ID.

World:

1. Netanyahu says no to cease-fire. As Israel continued to push deeper into the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing calls for a cease-fire to facilitate the release of the more than 200 Israeli hostages held by Hamas or allow more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians. “Calls for a cease-fire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas,” he said. In a first, Israel rescued a soldier held hostage by Hamas (Hamas had previously released four civilians), but one German-Israeli hostage is believed to be dead. In the US, the Biden administration said it’s taking action to combat antisemitism on college campuses a day after Jewish students at Cornell were threatened with violence.

2. Apple upgrades its chips. The tech giant hopes to juice its computer sales by putting a new line of processing chips into its Macs that, in keeping with the Halloween theme of Apple’s announcement last night, the company billed as “scary fast.” The Macs with the speedier chips will be available as of next week, and Apple is counting on them to get snapped up during the holiday season after Mac sales slumped 7% last quarter. In addition to the souped-up chips, Apple is also making some computers cheaper: The 14-inch MacBook Pro will go for $1,599, while last year’s model was $1,999.

You may soon start paying for ‘Not a Bot’ by X

X, formerly known as Twitter, has recently introduced the 'Not a Bot' subscription tier, currently under testing in New Zealand and the Philippines since October 17th, 2023. This initiative addresses the pressing issue of bots and spammers on the platform. New users in these countries are now required to verify their phone numbers, ensuring the authenticity of their accounts. By opting for the 'Not a Bot' plan at a nominal fee of $1 annually (varies by currency and country), users can engage in interactive actions such as posting content, liking posts, replying, reposting, and bookmarking. For those who choose not to subscribe, 'read-only' actions like reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts remain accessible.

Elon Musk emphasizes the importance of this subscription fee in deterring manipulative activities. Existing users are unaffected, as the change primarily impacts new accounts. Alongside the 'Not a Bot' plan, X offers a premium subscription tier named X Premium, priced at $8 per month. This premium level includes exclusive features like a verified blue checkmark, post-editing capabilities, reduced ads, prioritized rankings, longer character limits, and revenue sharing from ads displayed in replies to their posts.

This strategic move underscores X's commitment to authentic user interactions and signifies a significant step in curbing spam and manipulation on the platform. As the testing phase continues in New Zealand and the Philippines, the global digital community eagerly anticipates the potential implementation of this innovative subscription model.

✅Register: for IEEE CAS Seasonal School on Wearable Technology. happening in DeKUT on 16th to 18th November.

✅Join: Join The TechKona WhatsApp channel.

✅Read: Little Data Science on Complete Guide To Time Series Models article by Mary Kariuki.

✅Attend: the i2B Innovation Weekend in the DeKUT School of Engineering open space this weekend.

📢Shout Out Kona

Today, we'd like to extend a special shout-out to Mary Kariuki for her dedication to sharing her knowledge of Data Science with others. Follow her on X @maryk_analyst and make sure you drink from her cup of knowledge at Medium here:

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