After the successful launch of Acoustic Axents, the second in the series of acoustic guitar music sessions takes place at St. Clements,Musgrave road between 18h00 - 20h00. An entrance fee of R30 is recommended. Featuring music by Ellis brothers, Richard(guitar/percussiom/vocals), Graham(guitar/vocals), guitarist, Riaz Carim And guest drummer,Mik Mazzoni. Acoustic Axents caters for an audience who appreciate mood music rooted in poetry of blues, folk and global sounds, while enjoying cocktails and meals in the cosy ambience of St. Clements. Info and Bookings: 031-202-2511 (Source - St Clements) Gift Idea's for the Festive Season
New & Different
Andrew Verster, a Durban artist who is well known for his delightful quirky drawings, together with Rick Andrew, has put together a colouring-in book for adults. Pieter Scholtz came up with the concept and 100 signed copies were produced. Most of these were snapped up at the launch, but Artisan is proud to have the remaining few available for sale at R250 per copy. This is the perfect gift for someone who has everything, and colouring-in is presently enjoying a great ressurgance of popularity among 'big people' as an alternative to tranquilizers!
Trading hours
During the Festive Season Artisan will be trading at our usual hours:
101 Tips For Twitter by Fred Felton is now available in pocket book format.
Perfect for the plane, the train, the beach or just about anywhere. Fits in your pocket for easy reading. Featuring insight from Ted Rubin, Mike Stopforth, Mike Saunders, Dede Watson and many more. Packed full of new insight.
You can order directly from Fred on falconscove@gmail.com
Now and again you get a little gem that pops up.
This week I attended the premiere of 'Layla Fourie' at the Durban International
Film Festival and I have to say that this is one of those gems.
From the moment it begins you hear some amazing music. The score is simply superb.
Featuring music by Bachar Khalif`e.
Layla Fourie is all about a young single mother who becomes a polygraphist. A job itself
that involves lies, lots of them. She has to go to a casino and interview potential staff
for various positions. This part is well played by Rayna Campbell. She has a great way
of saying something without saying something.
Along the way she meets Eugene Pienaar (August Diehl) and their paths cross many times.
Keep an eye on Layla's son Kane (Rapule Hendricks) a young talent to watch.
Look out for a nice cameo by master actor Rapulana Seiphemo.
This film is full of lies, half-truths and paranoia.
If you want to learn how to make movies go and watch this film as you will see some nice
scenes where dialogue is not needed. Watch how director Pia Marais does this.
This film has many co-producers and was produced by 3 countries from Europe , Germany, France, The Netherlands and also by South Africa. It was shot on location around SA and some scenes were even shot around Durban, South Africa.
Pia told us at the premiere that it is common knowledge that many European countries
work together to make films. It is just how they do things.
It is well acted, well written, well directed, has great editing and fantastic music.
One can see why it won a special mention at the Berlin Film Festival.
Rating 9/10
'Layla Fourie' is showing at the Durban International Film Festival.
Next shows
23 July 19h45 Musgrave
27 July 16h30 Musgrave
Review by +Fred Felton
Tweet me what you think of the film @fredfelton and use the hashtag #Diff2013
Mobile advertising is increasingly becoming an important component to most marketers especially as smartphone adoption trends are soaring to high proportions. With a range of mobile advertising options, including SMS, WAP, mobile app display ads, search ads, rich media, video and push notifications, the landscape can be a bit complicated. Advertisers are now accruing value and increasingly adding mobile in their marketing budgets. In South Africa, SMS is one of the most popular advertising methods and this is attributed to its low cost and ease of use.
The biggest decisions for marketers now is, whether to build a mobi-site or an app, for advertisers, whether to advertise on mobi-sites, apps, or both. Mobile advertising is constantly proving that marketers are taking an interest in new technology, marketing within apps is as easy as creating an ad campaign targeted to a specific audience.
Following the second successful Mobile Digital Revolution Conference held in Durban in 2012, the MMA (Mobile Marketing Association) have organised yet another techno-packed conference including top practitioners to discuss mobile trends and successfully monetised apps.
Case study presentations on actual mobile applications will include local and international brands such as MTN, PriceCheck (Recently won the Blackberry Achievement Awards App of the Year), TomTom, Spar, Nedbank, Morrisons, Vodacom and many others.
The topics of these presentations will include Mobile User Experience, Indoor Maps, Navigation and Live Traffic, Mobile Customer Service, Mobile Marketing Applications amongst others.
The MMA conference will be held at The Gateway Hotel, in Durban on Wednesday, 14 August 2013, Corner Boulevard and Twighlight Drive Gateway. The conference is an initiative of the MMA in association with mapIT, AAT, Boost Communications, Thoughtworks and Omniscience and will kick off at 15:00 until 17:30, and guests will then enjoy a networking drink and snacks. Members and non-members are welcome, and admission is free
The panel of dynamic guest speakers includes:
• Raymond Buckle, MMA Chairman & CEO, SilverstoneCIS • Alan Haarhoff, AAT (Always Active Technologies) • James Erasmus, Boost Communications • Rob Enslin, ThoughtWorks • Andre de Wet, PriceCheck • Byron Moorgas, mapIT (A division of TomTom Africa) • Tobie Van Der Spuy, Omniscience • Pieter Geldenhuys, MallInfo • Jon Hoehler, Manager Mobile Technologies, Deloitte Digital
The conference is an initiative of the MMA in association with mapIT, AAT, Boost Communications, Thoughtworks and Omniscience and will kick off at 15:00 until 17:30, and guests will then enjoy a networking drink and snacks. Members and non-members are welcome, and admission is free.
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is transforming the IT industry and how businesses tackle the challenges of personal mobile devices brought to work by employees. IT leaders are faced with risks and rewards as BYOD has become the rule rather than the exception. To minimise risk, they need to balance the demands of business customers with the security of corporate data, whilst providing a consistent experience for productivity.
Alexandra Zagury, MD for South and Southern Africa at BlackBerry® says that some companies see BYOD as a major cost-saving opportunity, while some worry that the obstacles of BYOD is increased information security risk. However the CIO or IT manager feels about BYOD, it is essential for any enterprise to develop a strategy for the inclusion of mobile devices in the business. This is especially true as the younger connected generation graduate into today’s workforce.
Here are three ways that BlackBerry is helping customers to successful manage the BYOD trend:
BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10
BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 has evolved in a direct response to the needs of businesses around the world. “We’ve met with CIO’s and IT administrators and are heavily involved in the mobile landscape for business in a wide range of applications,” says Alexandra. “We have built our solution based on their needs and feedback.”
BlackBerry has 50 enterprise customers fully up and running with BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 in South Africa. Based on current proof of concepts (POCs) and trials in process, it will have more than 150 customers on BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 by mid-year. These include Alexander Forbes, Bowman Gilfillan, Dimension Data, Edcon, Netcare, Tiger Brands, First National Bank, Investec, ABSA, Bowman Gilfillan, AEL, PWC, Aveng Grinaker, Edcon, and Omnia.
In an increasingly complex mobile world, BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 provides an integrated platform for large businesses to securely manage mobile devices. It provides a platform for IT managers to manage, provision, and activate devices, administer controls, push mandatory applications, and more, all from a single web-based console.
BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 brings together not only BlackBerry® smartphones and tablets, but other device platforms that employees are bringing into the workplace. In particular, network administrators can add and import iOS® and Android™ users, create group memberships, view user and device information, manage applications, and much more.
With the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 update, BlackBerry has added a wealth of new features such as “regulated-level” IT policy controls and settings for government agencies and customers in regulated industries who require an advanced level of security, control and logging of BlackBerry 10 smartphones. It also allows customers to support BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry OS smartphones from a single server.
With 10.1, BlackBerry has also unveiled BlackBerry Enterprise Instant Messaging (Enterprise IM) 3.0, a free update of the company’s enterprise instant messaging solution, enabling customers with BlackBerry 10 smartphones to securely communicate over Microsoft® Lync®, Microsoft® Office Communication Server or IBM® Lotus® Sametime.
Provide business end users with seamless separation of work and personal data
BYOD has resulted in a growing need to manage both work and personal profiles on the same mobile device. With BYOD, some businesses have enabled employees to use personal devices for work purposes.
Alexandra adds: “This trend increases the challenges of protecting corporate data, which can be compromised due to malware attacks, personal use applications, and other susceptibilities. BlackBerry 10 has the capability to help address this.”
BlackBerry 10 smartphones managed by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 have been tightly integrated with BlackBerry® Balance™ technology, which is designed to separate corporate and personal data within the operating system. On a corporate level, businesses can now draw a defined line between work and personal perimeters, thus separating the respective applications, connections, and data. BlackBerry Balance provides end users with a seamless, gesture-based transition between their work and personal data.
Security capabilities across mobile platforms
In addition to the existing enterprise mobility management capabilities of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, BlackBerry is expanding its security capabilities withSecure Work Space for iOS and Android devices.
Alexandra concludes: “This offering extends BlackBerry security to third party devices, essentially creating a separate and secure work space to hold corporate apps, work email, calendar, contacts, and more, without the need for a third party MDM provider, a costly VPN infrastructure, or multiple vendors.”
Cost: PSASA Members - free. All other guests - R200 - Snacks provided
RSVP: Please email Simone on simone@psasouthernafrica.co.za for bookings, alternatively book online by clicking here. Bookings are essential
During the evening he will be going through what it takes to start a speaking business using examples, both good and bad, from his own career over the last 20 years. It will be a fun event and the book and DVD will be available for purchase.
(Source - Richard Mulvey)
Music in Durban
John Ellis and Nux live at St. Clements in Musgrave Road this Friday 31 May. Tickets R60 cash at the door.
Tel 031 2022511. Music starts 19h30 doors open 18h30.
(Source - St Clements)
(Source - Hirsch's)
Join the Ryans for an easy run and a caffe in Newlands on 14 July
Some time back, friends Ryan Scott and ultra-marathon champ Ryan Sandes agreed to meet at vida e caffe in Constantia for a pre-run caffe. The guys were a little over-eager and we'd not yet opened our doors. Instead of settling for anything but vida caffe, Scott challenged Sandes to run to the Camps Bay store instead. And so 'Ryans² Run' was born - and has since evolved into an ongoing social run ending with a free caffe at one of our stores. The last one was in picturesque Hout Bay (above). You can join them on 14 July at Newlands for a leisurely (really) run in leafy surrounds. And of course, join us for a caffe on the house afterwards.
Full booking details and info on shannonhope.co.za
(Source - Shannon Hope)
Nashua Mobile’s CEO Mark Taylor below, suggests these ways of beating bill shock.
Advice from Nashua Mobile on how to prevent Bill Shock
Golf is an expensive hobby, but it cost one man almost R1-million recently even though he was nowhere near a green. That was his cell phone bill after an app to analyse his golf swing kept running when he travelled abroad, scoring an exorbitant case of bill shock.
Smartphones are catching out consumers with massive bills caused by automatically downloading data. That’s expensive even on home turf, but if you’re abroad, it can turn an enjoyable trip into a nightmare. Nashua Mobile’s CEO Mark Taylor suggests these ways of beating bill shock:
Stamp out subscriptions
When you download a ringtone, you probably ignore the fine print warning that it’s a subscription service with a regular bill. Many only cost R5 a month, but some cost a scary R20 a day, and that’s a mighty expensive piece of music. “Before you use your handset to purchase anything read the fine print,” Taylor says. Check your bill, and if you’ve signed up for something by accident, unsubscribe immediately.
Overseas and overpriced
International roaming soon inflicts horrendous bills. “Data can cost up to R200 per Megabyte and when smartphone apps continue downloading content abroad it can give you a nasty shock,” says Taylor. Before you travel, ask your service provider to set an affordable limit. Better still, switch off data roaming via the settings menu in your phone. You can always switch it back on in an emergency. Then look for free wi-fi networks in coffee shops and upload your data for nothing. Your phone normally defaults to using a wi-fi network even if your GSM option is still switched on, but you will need to log on to the wi-fi network first. If you need to make local calls at your destination, buy a local Sim card when you arrive.
Don’t bungle the Bundle
Smartphone users must buy a suitable data bundle, otherwise automatic downloads made by devices including the Samsung S3 and iPhone5 can easily cost R2 000 month. “A smartphone without apps is pretty boring, but the apps you download update automatically. If you’re on a budget set it to not update automatically, and only do it when you can get onto a Wi-Fi network,” Taylor says.
It wasn’t me...
If a thief grabs your Sim card, he can run up massive voice and data bills within hours. Report and block a stolen phone immediately. But Sim cards can be stolen from cell phones or least cost routers without anyone realising – until the bill arrives. Make sure those devices are secure and have a call limit set on the Sim card to prevent fraudulent use.
Switch the apps off
Ensure that you close apps properly when you are not using them. These include apps such as Facebook, Twitter, weather updates apps, live sports apps, GPS/location-aware apps. If not logged out completely, the apps continue to run in the background and can use up a lot of your data. For certain GPS apps, download the country specific maps while in South Africa to assist with costs. Ask your Service Provider for a spend limit to be placed before travelling to ensure there are no nasty surprises when you return.
“Incidents of bill shock are increasing at a great rate but there are things you can do to alleviate it,” Taylor says.
DURBAN: The African Renaissance Festival and Conference have had to make an urgent change to their line up for the Africa Dayconcert on Saturday, with Zonke withdrawing from the concert following the unexpected passing of her sister, to be replaced by Lira who joins Mafikozolo and Professor on Saturday, May 25 at 6.30pm at the ICC Arena in Durban.
Zonke – who had been booked to perform – is disappointed to have to withdraw, but has to put her family ahead of her professional commitments at this difficult time. She is shattered at unexpectedly losing her sister, Busisiwe (Busi) Dikana, on Saturday evening, 18 May.
Zonke and her family are devastated at this sudden loss, but she wishes to extend her greatest apologies to the media and fans out there and thanks them for the continuous support.
Lira, known for her emotional ballads and uplifting songs about journeying and self fulfilment, didn’t hesitate to step in to support a fellow musician in her hour of need. Lira performed at the African Renaissance concert last year and is delighted to be back at this significant annual event. “The quest for unity in Africa is an important one. That music has been identified as one of the ways we can continue to engage with this concept, is hugely significant and an immense honour for us musicians,” said Lira.
Africa Day (May 25), marks the founding day of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 and for many years has been a celebration of African unity. This was the first time that African Heads of State and Government got together in an effort to define Africa on its own terms and to be responsible for the continent’s shared destiny.
The African Day Concert takes place during the African Renaissance Festival, which began 15 years ago in an endeavour to reignite Africa’s own belief in itself and in its potential to develop its own resources. Joining Lira, the concert will feature some of the biggest names on the SA music scene: award-winning vintage-inspired Afro-Pop outfit Mafikizolo and Professor with Ukhozi Fm’s Mr Magic Linda Sibiya as the host and MC.
The concert will start at 6.30pm until late at the Durban ICC Arena and tickets are R100 and are available from Computicket. For more information and the full African Renaissance programme, contact reception@wozani.co.za or telephone 031-266 9792
(Source - African Renaissance)
Poetry
Two Phrases, Afternoon and Night
I
The garden seems to dream
As silent as the dawn air;
And while the soul flies dreaming
It seems the quiet composes you, there
In the moment still becomes silver.
The moonlight lies close to the sun,
Both filters of an everlasting sigh,
Leaves turn like the last day of the world,
Waters under the bridge of our understanding
Carries the glimpse, a moment, solitude…
Close to the songs
On this silver path,
Across the mouth of entrance,
That as stars in the morning
Bring us sentences of the lovely garden;
Happy exiles of joy, at home in laughter.
II
What wields the years, the distance
Between us, London or Dresden?
The years take us askance
A sun-dial reposes, refugees of when,
Surely as the bright moon goes
We are orphans no longer.
Forests of trees as stars bind; flows
Of circling ice, break till stronger,
The burgeoning: flowering of the will.
Being a response to Patrick Cullinan’s poem ‘Exiles’ from his volume “Escarpments: Poems 1973-2007”.
by Timothy Sparks (a freelance writer and teacher based in Durban)
A Mobile Web Conference for Nairobi. Are you ready?
Satellite image of Africa, showing the ecological break that defines the sub-Saharan area (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It's official: Mobile Web East Africa 2013 will take place at the Southern Sun Mayfair in Nairobi on February 20th and 21st. The agenda is now live on the event website and registration is open, so why not take a minute to have a look at what we've got planned?
92% of the people who came along last year rated MWEA as the best event that they had ever attended and all the key players are back on board for 2013. Plus, they're going to be joined by the likes of MEF, iROKO Partners, Junk Mail Publishingand ThoughtWorks, illustrating the growing international feel of the conference.
We will of course be implementing our popular interactive roundtable format once again, although this does mean that total capacity at the venue is limited to just 140 attendees. Due to early registrations we are already more than half full so if you're serious about attending this year I recommend that you register ASAP. There's a $123 discount available to anyone who reserves their place on or before this Friday, 25th January.
I believe that this will be the best Mobile Web East Africa event yet. Visit the event website to see why I'm so confident or drop me an email so I can share the latest up to date information or details on the Mobile Marketing East Africa Focus Day we'll be running.
Comments from attendees at All Amber's previous events:
“Africa's premier mobile conference. Top class.” Mark Kaigwa, Founder, Afrinnovator (Mobile Web Africa 2011 attendee)
“I made excellent business connections; a great opportunity for networking. Thanks for identifying/opening up the next wave of opportunities.”Petru van der Walt, Business Development: Africa, MXit (Mobile Entertainment Africa 2011 attendee)
“You can count on the Mobile Web conferences to bring Africa's networks and minds closer. Great networking opportunity.” Nanjira Sambuli, Digital Strategist, Sprint Interactive (Mobile Web East Africa 2012 attendee)
“I learnt so much about what is happening in the mobile industry in Nigeria. I made great contacts with key industry players. I would love to attend again. My first MWWA and it's the best.”Florence Toffa, Regional Coordinator, Web Foundation (Mobile Web West Africa 2012 attendee)
