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Huawei P30 PRO wins EISA ‘Phone of the Year’ Award

Maishah
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Huawei P30 has received an award from the European Image and Sound Association (EISA), a group that comprises 55 of the world’s most respected consumer electronics magazines. The P30 Pro was named “EISA Best Smartphone 2019-2020” by the Association.

This is the second year in a row Huawei has won this category.

Past Winners

Here are some of the winners for the awards;

    HUAWEI P20 “EISA Best Smart Phone of the Year 2018”,

    HUAWEI P10 “EISA Smartphone Camera 2017-2018,”

    HUAWEI Watch 2 “EISA Wearable Device 2017-2018” and

    HUAWEI P9 “European Consumer Smartphone 2016-2017.”

The official EISA citation for naming the P30 Pro best phone of the year reads:

“With its quad-camera setup Huawei has made yet another impressive advance in mobile photography. Low-light photos are by far the best you can currently get from a smartphone, while the ultra-wide lens, the portrait mode and the periscopic 5X telephoto lens surpass any of its competitors. The P30 Pro also impresses with its stunning water-resistant construction, excellent screen, fast under-display fingerprint reader and great battery life that is supported by both wired and wireless charging. With raw format recording and up to 512GB storage, the Huawei P30 Pro is the perfect companion for dedicated photographers.”

In an official release from Huawei, Li Changzhu, Vice President of the Handset Business, Huawei Consumer Business Group says, “We are honored to receive another award from EISA and pleased with the recognition of the P30 Pro. With every device, Huawei is committed to bringing new and improved smartphone photography experience to consumers, pushing the limit of smartphone camera capabilities with the latest technologies.”

The P series is always sort of focused on photography, and from launch Huawei has been pushing the boundaries of what smartphone lenses should be able to do. Especially with the new 4 camera setup at the back of the P30 Pro.

This Huawei P30 Award comes after the US relaxing its position on Huawei products.

20 Best Airlines In The World 2019

Maishah
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20 Best Airlines In The World 2019

So what are the best airlines in the world for the year 2019?

According to Skytrax, an aviation research firm, here are the best airlines in the world for the year 2019. In a world where the aviation industry is big business, airlines try to outdo each other for business.

 The airlines rank according to the positions indicated. Let us have a look.

  1. Qatar Airways
  2. Singapore airlines.
  3. ANA All Nippon Airways.
  4. Cathey Pacific Airways.
  5. Emirates.
  6. Eva Air.
  7. Hainan Airlines
  8. Qantas
  9. Lufthansa
  10. Thai Airlines
  11. Japan Airlines
  12. Garunda Indonesia.
  13. Swiss International Airlines.
  14. China South Airlines.
  15. Austrian Airlines.
  16. Air New Zealand
  17. Bangkok Airways.
  18. KLM Dutch Royal Airlines.
  19. British Airways
  20. AirAsia

Best Airlines in the world 2019, a closer look.

1. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airlines emerged the best airline in the world for the year 2019 after a survey by aviation Skytrax, a firm that bring us these ranks every year. Apart from being the best airline in the world, it also scooped the award of the best business class and business class seat of the year.

Position: 1

Name of Airline: Qatar Airways.

Country: Qatar.

2. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines dropped one position to second position. It was the best airline in the year 2018, which tells you that should you find yourself on this airline, rest assured that you are onboard a good airline.

This airline also bagged the world’s best cabin crew award, the best airline in Asia, the world’s best first class, and the world’s best first-class seat this year.

Position: 2

Name of Airline: Singapore Airlines.

Country: Singapore.

3. ANA All Nippon Airways.

nippon

At Position 3 among the best airlines in the world is the ANA All Nippon Airways. This is the largest airline in Japan, which is headquartered at the Shiodome area in Shiodome, Tokyo metropolis.

The airline besides being position 3, bagged the he world’s best airport services, the world’s best business-class onboard catering, the best business class in Asia, and the best airline staff in Japan this year.

Position: 3

Name of Airline: ANA All Nippon Airlines.

Country: Japan.

4. Cathey Pacific Airways.

cathay-best airlines in the world 2019

Cathey Pacific Airways is the flag carrier of Hong Kong with its headquarters and hub at the Hong Kong International Airport.

The airline operates a fleet of planes such as the Airbus A 330, Airbus A 380 and the Boeing 777. Apart from being among the top 4, it received from passengers high ratings for technology and safety for the previous year.

Position: 4

Name of Airline: Cathey Pacific Airways.

Country: Hong Kong.

5. Emirates.

emirates

Emirates, one of the most famous airline in the world bagged position 5. It the flag carrier of United Arab Emirates( UAE).

This airline scooped the best inflight entertainment of the year award.

Position: 5

Name of Airline: Emirates.

Country: UAE.

6. Eva Air.

eva-best airlines in the world 2019

This is not a much known airline, which is why scooping position 6 was no mean feat. If you are scratching your head, then read this.

Eva Air which stand for ‘Evergreen Airways’ is a Taiwanese based Airline that operates from the Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei.

Moreover, according to Skytrax, it is a 5-star airline and the second largest in Taiwan and operates to all continents except South America and Africa.

EVA Air won the awards for the world’s best airline-cabin cleanliness and the world’s best economy-class catering this year.

Position: 6

Name of Airline: Eva Air.

Country: Taiwan.

7. Hainan Airlines

hainan

Hainan is a Chinese Airline that is based at Haikou, Hainan in China. It is the 4th largest airline in China and among the top ten in Asia.

Bagging position one did not come easy, it had to work to become best airline in China, best airline staff in China, and the world’s best business-class amenities the year 2019.

Position: 7

Name of Airline: Hainan Airlines.

Country: China.

8. Qantas

quantas

Qantas is a well-known airline that is the flag carrier of Australia. It is the largest airline in the world in terms of number of fleets it owns and one of the oldest in the world.

During this year’s awards, it won the best airline, best first-class, and best business-class in the Australia/Pacific region this year.

Position: 8

Name of Airline: Qantas.

Country: Australia.

9. Lufthansa

lufthansa

Lufthansa is the largest airline in Germany and by extension the largest airline in Europe if you include its subsidiaries.

It is the first airline from Europe to appear on this list. As you have seen, the top 8 positions have been dominated by airlines from Asia.

In 2019, Lufthansa won the awards for best airline in Europe and best first-class in Europe this year.

Position: 9

Name of Airline: Lufthansa.

Country: Germany.

10. Thai Airlines

thai

At position 10 among the best airlines in the world 2019, is the Thai Airlines. Thai Airlines is the flag carrier of Thailand.

Thai Airways won the awards for best airline staff in Asia and the world’s best airline spa facility this in 2019.

Position: 10

Name of Airline: Thai Airlines.

Country: Thailand.

 11. Japan Airlines

japan

From the name, this an airline from Japan, the second airline from the Asian country to make to this list. It has its hub at the Tokyo International airports of Narita and Haneda.

During this year’s awards, Japan Airlines won the world’s best economy class and the world’s best economy-class seat of the year.

Position: 11

Name of Airline: Japan Airlines.

Country: Japan.

12. Garunda Indonesia.

garunda

Garunda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia and has it hub at the Hatta International Airport- Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Garuda Indonesia won the award for best airline staff in Indonesia this year.

Position: 12

Name of Airline: Garunda Indonesia.

Country: Indonesia.

13. Swiss International Airlines.

swiss-best airlines in the world 2019

Swiss International Airlines is the flag carrier of Switzerland and is commonly referred to as Swiss. It is the second European carrier to appear on this list.

Swiss International Airlines won the award for the world’s best first-class lounge this year.

Position: 13

Name of Airline: Swiss International Airlines.

Country: Switzerland.

14. China South Airlines.

china south-best airlines in the world 2019

This is another Chinese airline on this list. It is among the top three airlines in China and among the top ten in the world based on the number of passengers moved.

Though it never won a particular award, it emerged as the 14th best airline in the world 2019.

Position: 14

Name of Airline: Swiss International Airlines.

Country: China.

 15. Austrian Airlines.

austrian-best airlines in the world 2019

Coming again from the old world continent of Europe is the Austrian Airline. This is the third Europe airline to appear in this list.

Austrian Airlines won the award for best premium economy-class catering, best business-class catering in Europe, and best cabin crew in Europe for the year 2019.

Position: 15

Name of Airline: Austria Airlines.

Country: Austria.

16. Air New Zealand

new zealand-best airlines in the world 2019

Air New Zealand is the flag carrier of New Zealand based in Auckland. It operates fights to both domestic and International destinations.

Air New Zealand won the award for best premium economy in the Australia/Pacific region this year.

Position: 16

Name of Airline: Air New Zealand.

Country: New Zealand.

17. Bangkok Airways.

bangkok-best airlines in the world 2019

This is another Airline based in Bangkok in Thailand. Bangkok Airways won the award for the world’s best regional airline this year.

Position: 17

Name of Airline: Bangkok Airways.

Country: Thailand.

18. KLM Dutch Royal Airlines.

klm- best airlines in the world 2019

This is the fourth European airline to appear here. It is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and is based at Amstelveen, with its hub at the Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol.  It ranks as the 19th best for the year 2019.

Position: 18

Name of Airline: KLM Dutch Royal Airlines.

Country: Netherlands.

19. British Airways

british-best airlines in the world 2019

British Airways come in at position 19. This is the national carrier of United Kingdom and the largest in the Kingdom.

British Airways won the award for best airline staff in Europe this year.

Position: 19

Name of Airline: British Airways.

Country: United Kingdom.

20. AirAsia

airasia- best airlines in the world 2019

At position 20 is Airasia. It operates to 130 destinations around the world. Moreover, it is the one of the cheapest airlines in the world, and true to this AirAsia won the award for best low-cost airline this year.

Position: 20

Name of Airline: AirAsia.

Country: Malaysia.

Conclusion

Did your national flag carrier appear on this list? Or did an airline from your country appear here? If not, then you know the best airlines in the world in 2019.

There were no airlines from Africa and shockingly enough, there were no airlines from the United States. The list is dominated by Airlines from Asia.

If you love traveling around the world, this is the list for you.

Share your thoughts about this article and pass it to friends and family.

Read Also: Mash Poa Online Booking.

Crown Bus Online Booking: How To Do It On BuuPass

Maishah
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0
Crown Bus Online Booking: How To Do It On BuuPass

If you have been looking for Crown bus online booking like me and found no answer, then this article is for you.

Crown bus is a premier bus companies that offers transport services to most cities in Kenya. If you have gone to their website, you probably have been disappointed to find out that there is no option to book online.

You are not alone in this, that why I wrote this article to help you out.

Crown Bus Online Booking; A step by Step guide.

Crown bus recently collaborated with Buupass to make online booking possible. Buupass is an online platform that allows passengers to book bus stations to various destinations. In the recent past , you could book buses with companies  such as Easycoach, Modern Coast, Greenline and East African shuttle safaris.

Crown bus is the latest addition to their fleet of buses.

Besides getting your bus tickets, you can also get your Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) tickets and flight tickets. They also offer car hire services.

So how can you book Crown Bus online?

As I said, you can only do this through their partners Buupass.

Now fire up https://buupass.com/, you can either click the link or copy and paste it in your browser. If successful, you will be taken to a page that looks as this one below.

crown online

If you scroll the page, you can be able to see the bus companies that the platform has partnered with.

Enter the city you are leaving and the city you are going to, remember to input the date of travel then hit search.

As in my case, I am leaving Nairobi and traveling to the lakeside city of Kisumu. I get these search results.

available bus

A closer look shows that there so many EasyCoach buses going to Kisumu at different times of the day(the screenshot above only shows part of the page), however sandwiched between them is the Crown Bus.

As you can see from the image, it cost Ksh. 1100.00 to Kisumu.

Now click on the ‘Book Now‘ button. If successful, you will be taken to this page.

Bus layout

As you can see, an outline of the bus is shown with ‘booked seats'( in grey), ‘available'( in yellow) and ‘selected’ in green.

This bus as you can see, it is almost empty. If you select a seat will be highlighted in green. Click on any yellow seat to book. As soon as you do this, it is highlighted in green. Select more seats depending on the number of people traveling.

If everything looks good, hit the ‘Place my booking’ button on the right of the page.

You will be redirected to this page

Fill in Information

Now fill in the required information, which includes but not limited to Name, ID/Passport Number, nationality and phone number.

Fill in who is paying, you can re-enter your name it is you paying. If you are happy, agree with their ‘Privacy Policy Terms of Use,’ then click on ‘Pay with Mpesa Button.’

An Mpesa prompt message will appear on your phone asking you to enter your Mpesa Pin. Enter your Pin and agree to pay the amount shown.

Then go back Buupass Website to confirm booking. See the Instructions below.

Instructions

That is it. Congratulations, you have made your first booking!

Other Methods to book a Crown Bus

If in any case you are not able to do this online, you can opt for the following.

1. Book Via USSD

This done on your phone and it does not have to be a smartphone. All you have to do is hit #887# and follow the prompts to book.

2. Crown Bus Online Booking Via Buupass App

You can download the App on Google play and follow same steps explained above.

3. Walk it there offices

If you love the traditional way of doing things, then you can walk to their nearest booking office to get your ticket.

Here is a list of offices and contacts.

 
TOWN OFFICE LOCATION CONTACTS
NAIROBI Head office, City centre: Monrovia Street, Lagos House-Near Salvation Army. +254722719944
(020) 2212253
(020) 2212203
Eastleigh: Along 2nd Avenue, next to Barclays Bank. +254721177235
MOMBASA Moi Avenue: Motor Mart Building, opposite Gapco Petrol Station. (+254) 0412222406
0722719933
Bondeni: Along Abdul Nasser Road, next to Ramadhan Hotel. +254710 982008
Mwembe Tayari: Along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue. +254721 909700
KISUMU Along Bank Street on Kimwa Annex Building. Kisumu Stage Offices. +254(057) 2023933
(020)2442383
KAKAMEGA Salim & Salim Building, opposite Midland Emporium, along Kenyatta Avenue. +254(056) 31323
MUMIAS Along Bungoma- Mumias Road. +254 (056)641083
BUNGOMA Inside Earthlink Hotel along Mumia -Bungoma Road, Next to Splendid Club. +254 (057) 2500808
SIAYA Inside Perillo Computer Services on Ahindi Gardens. +254727 641886
CHAVAKALI Chavakali +254 (020) 2442383

Destinations

As I said earlier, Crown Bus has several destinations across the country and beyond. See them below.

TOWN TO TOWN REPORTING DEPARTURE PRICE
Nairobi-
Kakamega, Mumias –
Bungoma 		06:30AM 07:00AM  
Nairobi-Kisumu – Siaya 07:00AM 07:30AM  
Nairobi – Mombasa 08:00AM 08:30AM  
Nairobi – Mombasa 10:00AM 10:30AM  
Malaba to Mombasa 02:30PM 03:30PM KSh 1500
Bungoma to Mombasa 03:00PM 03:30PM KSh 1500
Webuye to Mombasa 03:30PM 04:00PM KSh 1500
Eldoret to Mombasa 04:30PM 05:00PM KSh 1350
Mombasa to Malaba     KSh 1500

If should be able to bring you more information as it is made available to me.

Conclusion

Why would you even want to consider Crown Bus Online booking? One thing is clear, among the organized bus companies in Kenya; it is one of the cheapest.

If you booked through this guide let me know and if you have been on Crown Bus we will be glad to hear your experience.

Faiba 4G Bundles: A Hands On Experience Using Faiba Mi-Fi

Maishah
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Faiba 4G Bundles: A Hands On Experience Using Faiba Mi-Fi

Today I want to discuss Faiba 4G bundles. Why you may ask. Because I have been using Faiba Internet for some time and I have hands on experience.

However, before we delve deeper in this, what is Faiba? Most of us are aware of the hilarious Faiba adverts on TV that leave us in stitches. Unknown to many, Faiba has its own story to tell.

Faiba is the brainchild of Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL) that launched in the Kenyan Market In December 2017. This innovation sent shock waves to traditional 4G provides such as Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom.

How?

Jamii Telecommunications Limited brought two things, one, cheap 4G bundles and second they incorporated the 700MHz in their 4G network, a first in Kenya. A move that saw many would be customers have to buy compatible phones or buy the Mi-Fi.

What Faiba 4G bundles are available?

If you are tired of using Safaricom (by the way Safaricom bundles get exhausted very first- Safaricom is a hungry cow), Airtel or Telkom bundles then you may want to give Faiba 4G bundles a try.

So what options do you have?

Here are they are.

Data Bundle Validity Cost (in Ksh)
1GB 1 Day 50
8GB 1 Week 300
15GB 1 Week 500
25GB 1 Month 1000
40GB 1 Month 2000
70GB 1 Month 3000
120GB 1 Month 4000
210GB 1 Month 6000

As you can see, these data offers are seriously giving Safaricom and other Telecoms a run for their money. I have been buying the 25GB monthly bundle and comfortable exhausted it within a month. However, in the past one year since I began this blog, my rate of consumption has been high and I currently consume up to 70GB in a month.

If you are not a heavy data consumer, the 25GB bundle should be more than enough for a month. These Faiba 4G data bundles can make any sane consumer switch over to Faiba. The only bad calculation JTL did not do well was price the 40 GB monthly data at Ksh. 2000. At that price, I would rather buy the 25GB bundle twice within a month, which is doable.

The other downside is that you have to consumer your data bundle within the validity period. If you do not, you lose any unused data. Unused data does not roll to the next day, week or month.

Besides the data bundles above, there are other Faiba 4G bundles namely Fisi Hour, Kifaru, Ndovu and Simba.

This is how they work.

For Fisi Hour, you pay Ksh. 150 and you can use unlimited data during the hour. This is great especially if you have large files such as videos and movies you can download within the hour.

Kifaru bundle costs Ksh. 1500. It is a one month bundle that you 30GB, 200 SMS and 200 on net minutes. Ndovu on the other hand will set you back for Ksh. 2500 but you get 60GB, 500 SMS and 350 on net minutes. Lastly, we have the Simba with gives you 90GB, 700 SMS and 700 on net minutes.

If you love this in table form, here it is.

Bundle Name Cost (in Ksh) What You Get
Fisi 150 One hour unlimited internet.
Kifaru 1500 30GB Data200 SMS200 On-net minutes
Ndovu 2500 60GB Data500 SMS350 On-net minutes
Simba 4000 90GB Data700 SMS700 On-net minutes

What you need to enjoy Faiba 4G bundles

You will need a phone compatible with the 700 MHz spectrum. You can see a list of such phones here. The best bet is to buy a Faiba Mi-Fi.

The Mi-Fi has the following advantages.

  • You can connect up to 8 devices. This is great for a family set-up.
  • It is cheaper to buy. It would cost more buy a compatible phone.
  • It is portable and you can move around with it.

Faiba 4GB Mi-Fi are available at major outlets in Nairobi and major cities in Kenya.

Verdict

Having used Faiba for the last one year, I can without fear of contradiction say that I have not been disappointed.  I often use the Mi-Fi in Nairobi. Recently I made a sweet discovery when I found out that I could use it at my rural home. That tells you the effort JTL has made to increase Faiba 4G coverage in Kenya.

With this information, you can give Faiba a try.

If you have been using the Faiba Mi-Fi, what is your experience? Share with us your thoughts here.

Huawei Mate 20 X Specifications and Price In Kenya

Maishah
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Huawei Mate 20 X Specifications and Price In Kenya

Huawei Mate 20 X Specifications and Price In Kenya?

Huawei on Friday (9th August 2019) announced the Huawei Mate 20 X the first 5G mobile phone for commercial use in Shenzhen.

This is after Huawei Mate 20 X gained China’s first 5G-network access license. This announcement just comes hot on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 that was launched at unpacked event in New York on August 7.

The Balong 5000, a 7nm multi-code chipset with the Kirin 980 that is the world’s only dual-mode 5g cellphone that supports standalone/non T standalone (SA/NSA) simultaneously, powers the smartphone.

The phone will hit the market from August 16 2019. Huawei has been embroiled in a bitter in trade wars with the US and recently launched its own operating system, the Harmony OS.

So what is the Huawei Mate 20 X Specifications and Price In Kenya?

As I said, the phone will hit the markets later and we are not sure when it will hit the Kenyan market.  However, we know that the phone is priced at US$ 898.00. This is about Ksh. 92000.00.

Expect therefore to pay anything above 100000.00 for this phone.

Huawei Mate 20 X Specifications and Price In Kenya

Here are Huawei Mate 20X specifications in full.

Network Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 6(900), 7(2600), 8(900), 9(1800), 12(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 26(850), 28(700), 32(1500), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
5G 5G SA / NSA / Sub6 / mmWave; N77/N78/N79
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A Cat21 1400/200 Mbps; 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
Launch Announced 2019, May
  Status Available. Released 2019, July
Body Dimensions 174.6 x 85.4 x 8.4 mm (6.87 x 3.36 x 0.33 in)
  Weight 233 g (8.22 oz)
  Build Front/back glass & aluminum frame
  SIM Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
    IP53 dust and splash protection
Stylus (optional)
Selfie camera Single 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)
  Features HDR
  Video 1080p@30fps
Sound Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers
  3.5mm jack No
    32-bit/384kHz audio
Dolby Atmos sound
Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
  Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
  GPS Yes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
  NFC Yes
  Infrared port Yes
  Radio No
  USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
Features Sensors Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery   Non-removable Li-Po 4200 mAh battery
  Charging Fast battery charging 40W
Misc Colors Emerald Green
  Models EVR-N29
  Price About Ksh 100000.00

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specifications and Price in Kenya

Maishah
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0
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specifications and Price in Kenya

Here is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 specifications and price in Kenya. This phone, to be exact phablet, is the first to feature an all-screen display.

A closer look at it shows some differences between it and the Galaxy S10 plus and Galaxy S10. Its edge-t- edge display technology is the Infinity-O, and like most incoming models, selfie Camera is positioned at the center top of the screen. Additionally this placement of the single circular lens creates what is a distinctly cyclops-like look –an eye gazing out at you like the HALin 2001; A space Odyssey.

If you are a Samsung lover and a follower of all things Samsung (as I do here), you will have noticed that this is the first time Samsung has introduced to us Two Galaxy Note phones at the same time. We have the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 that were are looking at right now and off course the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 plus.

A comparison at these phones show one clear thing that the Note 10 plus is bigger and has a larger display compared to the Note 10. Off course with a few upgrades here and there especially in the camera area and model in general.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Price in Kenya

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 was announced to the world in an event in New York on August 7.

If you missed the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, here below it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRac2c44_KM&feature=youtu.be
The Galaxy Unpacked Event in New York- Video Credit Samsung Kenya.

Currently you can pre-order it around the world now.

In Countries such as the US, the United Kingdom and Australia, the release date is set for August 23.

Is the phone available in Kenya? Currently No, we keeping our eyes open to see when the release date for Kenya will be.

If you’re buying the phone outright, the Galaxy Note 10 price is set at price tag set at $945 / £869 / AU$1,499. This converts to about Ksh.100000. This is what we think will be the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Price in Kenya, below are the specifications.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Display and Design

Unlike other Samsung phones we are used to, the Note 10 comes with a full-screen display with a punch hole cut out for the front-facing camera at the top center of the screen. If you’ve seen the Galaxy S10plus and the S10, you know what am talking about.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specifications and Price in Kenya
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10- Image Credit Samsung Kenya

The Note 10 has a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD resolution, coming in at 2280 x 1080 pixels, with 401 pixels per inch. It includes HDR 10+ technology, and considering that Samsung has not opted for a QHD display here, we are impressed with how the display looks.

 Here is what we were able to see, for starters, the Note 10, is smaller than the Note 9. It is also thinner and lighter. Its mass is only 168g a comfortable phone to carry around. What of its dimension? It measures 72 x 151 x 7.9mm. You should not forget it comes with an S Pen stylus.

On the bottom edge of the phone you’ll find the USB-C connector in the center, with a speaker and the S-Pen slot sitting to the right of it. The top edge of the phone is uninterrupted apart from the SIM tray. Something I like about this phone.

The left-hand edge of the phone is home to the volume rocker, and the power button below this.

The frame of the phone is a premium metal, while the back is made of glass. Your color options are Aura Glow (a combination of blue and white), Aura Black and Aura Pink, but it’s currently unclear which markets will get which colors.

I particularly liked the Aura Glow variant, the color of which changes depending on the light you’re using the phone under.

Now what of the Camera? You will be disappointed the Camera has no upgrades compared to S10 plus and the S10. The phone comes with a combination of combination of a 16MP ultra-wide lens, a 12MP regular lens and a 12MP telephoto lens.

However, that does not mean that the phone does not give good photography experience. The truth is even with this combination, you photography experience should be so good.

One thing is clear, that most of the Note 10’s improvements in the camera department are in its video recording capabilities. The image stabilization technology has been improved, and there’s a new feature called Live Focus Video, which enables you to capture ‘bokeh’ background blur effects of the kind were used to seeing in portrait-mode stills.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specifications and Price In Kenya

If you are that person that love this in a table form, here it is.

Network Technology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Launch Announced 2019, August
Status Coming soon. Exp. release 2019, August 23
Body Dimensions 151 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)
Weight 168 g (5.93 oz)
Build Front/back glass (Gorilla Glass), stainless steel frame
SIM Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
  Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
IP68 dust/water proof (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display Type Dynamic AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size 6.3 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass
  HDR10+
Always-on display
Platform OS Android 9.0 (Pie); One UI
Chipset Exynos 9825 (7 nm) – EMEA/LATAM
Qualcomm SDM855 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) – USA/China
CPU Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) – EMEA/LATAM
Octa-core (1×2.8 GHz Kryo 485 & 3×2.4 GHz Kryo 485 & 4×1.7 GHz Kryo 485) – USA/China
GPU Mali-G76 MP12 – EMEA/LATAM
Adreno 640 – USA/China
Memory Card slot No
Internal 256 GB, 8 GB RAM
Main Camera Triple 12 MP, f/1.5-1.8-2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.1, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6″, 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm
Features LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Video 2160p@60fps, 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, dual-video rec.
Selfie Camera Single 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Features Dual video call, Auto-HDR
Video 2160p@30fps
Sound Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack No
  32-bit/384kHz audio
Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
Dolby Atmos/AKG sound
Comms WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
NFC Yes
Radio FM radio (USA & Canada only)
USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
Features Sensors Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, SpO2
  Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)
ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Battery   Non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh battery
Charging Fast battery charging 25W
USB Power Delivery 3.0
Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 20W (market dependent)
Misc Colors Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black
Models SM-N976N
Price About Ksh 100000.

Final Verdict

That said, this is still a big phone, and those with smaller hands will likely struggle to use it one-handed – don’t expect it to be as easy to use as handsets like the iPhone SE or Sony’s Compact line of Xperia phones.

Regardless of this, it is a beautiful phone to own. It is one of the best phones to have been made by Samsung. If you looking for class and a phone that neither too big nor too small, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is the device to go for.

As I said, I am keeping my eyes open as to when it will be available in Kenya. Should it be available on Jumia, Masoko, Samsung shops, or any other platform, I will be quick to let you know.

Islamic Banking In Kenya; List of Fully Compliant Banks

Maishah
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Islamic Banking In Kenya; List of Fully Compliant Banks

Today Muslims can benefit from Islamic Banking in Kenya. According to research, Islamic banking has over $2 million in assets globally and growing at a rate of 10% per year.

There is also a thriving Islamic capital market with issuances of Shariah-compliant asset-based securities (Sukuk) reaching to $98 billion in 2017.

Does Islamic banking in Kenya have something for non- Muslims? The answer to this is yes, they attract clients that are also non- Muslims too.

However, in Kenya, non-Muslims seem not to be kin to take advantage of these services. That said, they too can benefit.

Banks in Kenya that Offer Islamic Banking

Kenya is home to hundreds of banks, but which of these offer Islamic banking? I took a dive into this and found out this. Here is a list of banks in Kenya that offer these services.

DIB Bank Kenya

DIB Bank Kenya otherwise called Dubai Islamic Bank Kenya fully Sharia compliant bank in Kenya and was licensed in 2017 making it the third such bank.

With origins in Dubai, Dubai came to Kenya seeking to expand to the larger Sub-Saharan Africa. DIB is a fully owned subsidiary of Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC (DIB PJSC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). DIB PJSC founded in 1975 is the first bank to have incorporated the principles of Islam in all its practices and is the largest Islamic Bank in the UAE.

First Community bank

First Community bank was the second bank in Kenya to be licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) IN 2008 offer services to the Islamic community. It is a fully Shariah compliant bank.

It offers the following services

  • Current Accounts.
  • Savings and Fixed Maturity Account.
  • Financing Services.
  • Other Services such as the Khadamat.

Gulf African bank

Gulf African Bank is a fully Shariah compliant bank that begun operations in Kenya in 2007. The bank has several branches dotted across the Nairobi CBD. Some of the branches are

  • Kilimanjaro Avenue Branch
  • Kenyatta Avenue
  • Kipande Athumani
  • Third Parklands Avenue
  • Koinange Street
  • Luthuli Avenue
  • Enterprise Road
  • Kusco Centre
  • Eastleigh Branch on Eastleigh First Avenue.

Conclusion

Banks such as Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) offer some shariah compliant services though they are not fully compliant. Barclays Bank of Kenya among other banks offer these same services.

We will keep you updated on more banks that are Shariah compliant.

The Techno Phantom 9 To Begin Selling in Kenya Next Week

Maishah
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The Techno Phantom 9 To Begin Selling in Kenya Next Week

The Techno Phantom 9 To Begin Selling in Kenya Next Week. We all know that Techno launched the Phantom 9 earlier this month, though the phone is available in some other countries, the phone is not yet available in Kenya.

Moreover, Techno lovers cannot wait to place their hands on this device.

However, here is the good news, that phone will be selling in Kenya anytime from next week.  

Pricing

What will be the pricing?  You may be asking. Techno seems to have kept this card close to its heart; in fact, we are not even sure of the date of release. All we know is that is is somewhere next week and Techno is keen to keep us guessing.

We are keeping our eyes open, and be sure we will be the first to inform you on the pricing as we are made aware of it. You can also read more thoughts about this device here.

Specifications

Just in case you missed this, Techno Phantom 9 is a great device, no doubt. It packs some of the latest features that include an under-display fingerprint scanner and tri-lens camera on the back.

However, avid smartphone users will know that it falls short of the competition in other areas, primarily battery capacity and the processor.

Here are the full the specifications.

Launch

  • Also Known As Techno Phantom 9, Phantom Nine
  • Announced 2019, June
  • Status Express Release: 2019, July

Body

  • Dimensions 158.46 x 75.3 x 7.85 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)
  • Weight 186 g (6.56 oz)
  • Build Front/back glass, aluminum frame
  • SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Display

  • Display Type AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
  • Size 6.4 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)
  • Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~408 ppi density)
  • Touch Screen Yes, up to 10 fingers
  • Display Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 4 (unconfirmed)
    – 2.5D Curved Glass
    – HiOS 5.0

Platform

  • Operating System Android 9.0 (Pie)
    – HiOS 5.0
  • Chipset Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)
  • CPU Octa-core (4×2.35 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
  • GPU PowerVR GE8320

Memory

  • RAM (Memory) 6 GB
  • Storage Capacity 128 GB
  • Card Slot Yes, up to 500 GB via microSD card (uses dedicated slot)
  • Phonebook Practically Unlimited
  • Call Record Practically Unlimited

Main Camera

  • Camera Type Triple Lenses
  • Camera Sensor(s) 16 + 8 + 2 megapixel main camera
  • Camera Features Autofocus
    Continuous shooting
    Digital zoom
    Digital image stabilization
    Geotagging
    Panorama
    HDR
    Touch focus
    Face detection
    White balance settings
    ISO settings
    Exposure compensation
    Self-timer
    Scene mode
    Sensor size – 1/2.8″
    Pixel size – 1.12 μm
    Phase detection
    6-element lens
    Secondary rear camera – 8 MP wide angle lense
    Aperture size – f/2.2 (#2)
    Third rear camera sensor – 2 MP depth of field lense
  • Video Resolution 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps
  • LED Flash Yes, Quad-LED (Single-toned) flash

Selfie Camera

  • Camera Type Single Lens
  • Camera Sensor(s) 32-megapixel
  • Camera Features Face Beautification
    HDR+
    scene recognition
    AI FaceID
    Dual-LED
  • Video Resolution 1080p@30fps
  • LED Flash Yes, Dual-LED

Sound

  • Loudspeaker Yes
  • Speaker Location Chin, below display
  • Audio Jack Type Yes, 3.5mm audio jack
  • Sound Enhancements Active Noise Cancellation with a dedicated mic

Connectivity

  • USB Micro USB 2.0, USB OTG
  • Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2
  • Wi-fi Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
  • NFC
  • GPS Yes
  • FM Radio No

Other Features

  • Sensors Fingerprint (in-display sensor), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
  • Java Support No
  • Messages SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
  • Games Yes, Downloadable from Google Play store
  • Additional Features – WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player
    – MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player
    – Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
    – Push to talk
    – Voice command/dial
    – Organizer

Battery

  • Battery Capacity Non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh battery
  • Fast Charging Yes
  • Wireless Charging No
  • Talk Time Up to 29 hours
  • Stand-by Up to 400 hours
  • Music Play Up to 52 hours

Network

  • Technology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVO / LTE
  • 2G Network Bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
    CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA
  • 3G Network Bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
    CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
  • 4G Network Bands LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
  • Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps
  • GPRS Yes
  • EDGE Yes

It is only the right pricing of Phantom 9 in a market that will attract customers to it. Techno phones as we know are not very popular with Kenyans unless they are high-end phones.

That said, the latest tread is techno is very revealing, the company could be slowly phasing out the phantom series.

Looking at the pattern Techno is using to release Phantom devices, it seems even the company itself is losing faith in the product.

Let us wait and see the availability of this device.

UPDATE

This phone has already been launched and is available on Jumia and Safaricom shops in Kenya.

OPPO Reno 10x Zoom with Shark Fin Pop-Up Camera Announced in Kenya

Maishah
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OPPO Reno 10x Zoom with Shark Fin Pop-Up Camera Announced in Kenya

OPPO Reno 10x Zoom with Shark Fin Pop-Up Camera has just been announced in Kenya.

This is a direct competition for  Huawei P30 Pro that hit the headlines with its fantastic zoom lens that does up to 5X optical zoom.

OPPO has been doing a remarkable job as far as camera prowess is concerned, and the company is known for dipping its toes into new technologies that other manufacturers shy away from.

All of us know its slogan, the selfie phone. And I must say it’s really living up to this.

Well, it has performed admirably in a market that is trying to kill the notch for an all-screen phone, and does so fashionably with pop-up front snappers or an in-display selfie cam that should be the future of taking selfie portraits – and currently, a pop-up system that is in the shape of a shark fin.

Selling

While the phone has been selling in other markets, it is now in Kenyan Market, at least not this fast. It is a good move, and the device, which also packs the best specs you can find in 2019, is as premium as they come, and hopes to fill the pace set by last year’s Find X that wowed the world for its neat slider trick that tucked cameras away from visible parts.


Specifications

To recap from this spec sheet, the Reno has two variants; the ordinary Reno and the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom we are talking about, although the latter is the one that will sold at our stores.

 Both have the same screen resolutions at 1080 by 2340 pixels but on different screen sizes. Reno’s display stretches to 6.4 inches, and the 10x takes it further to 6.6 inches.

Both have two memory configurations at 6/8GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of internal memory.

While camera numbers and megapixel count are different (a dual 48 MP and 5 MP setup for the Reno against a triple setup with 13 MP periscope lens for 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom alongside an 8 MP ultrawide angle lens and the famous 48 MP module), they maintain the 16 MP shark fin pop-up selfie camera.

Since these are OPPO devices, they will top up quite fast with VOOC v3.0 (20W) for the 3765 mAh and 4065 mAh juicers in the Reno and 10x Zoom respectively.

Both models are equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor, and coming from OPPO that is one of the pioneers of the technology, we are confident the readers are going to be snappier than the ultrasonic replacements found in the Galaxy S10 series of phones.

The final difference between the two is based on performance, where the Reno runs S710, Qualcomm’s newest upper mid-range chip against the S855 in the 10x. These are very capable CPUs, and day to day performance should be more than enough for most people, although the latter packs more speed.

Pricing


Pricing And now to the exciting part: price. The 10x’s (8GB/256GB) will set you back for  about KES 89999.00, which puts it in the same ballpark as other high-end devices selling in the local market that include the likes of Huawei P30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10. You can pre-order your unit between July 23 to July 28.

Petrol Price In Kenya To Increase In Latest Review

Maishah
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Petrol Price In Kenya To Increase In Latest Review

The price of petrol in Kenya is set to increase marginally in the latest monthly price review announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

This may come as bad news to Kenyans who are already grappling with high costs of living.

The price of petrol will increase by Sh.0.29 per litre, while the prices of diesel and kerosene decreased by Sh.0.88 and Sh.2.31 per litre respectively. The prices announced are effective 15th July 2019 to 15th August 2019.

A statement by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority said, “The changes in this month’s prices have been as a consequence of the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol decreasing by 1.83% from US$538.8 (Sh.55,469.46) per cubic metre in May 2019 to US$528.26 (Sh.54,384.37) per cubic metre in June.”

“Diesel decreased by 3.07% from US$535.84 (Sh.55, 164.73) per cubic metre to US$519.39 (Sh.53, 471.20); while that of kerosene decreased by 5.49% from US$535.84 (Sh. 55,164.73) to US$519.39 (Sh. 53,471.20) per cubic metre.”

Motorists in Nairobi will now purchase super petrol at Sh115.39 per litre, with diesel retailing at Sh103.88 and kerosene at Sh101.97 per.

This is a huge relief for diesel users and domestic users who use kerosene as a fuel or for domestic lighting.

In Mombasa consumers will purchase super petrol at Sh112.74, while diesel will retail at Sh101.25 and kerosene at Sh 99.35 at the pump.

Nakuru motorists will buy super petrol at Sh115.86, diesel at Sh104.58 and kerosene at Sh102.69 a liter.

These commodities are to cost more to cities in western Kenya as they are furthest from Mombasa the entry point of the fuel to the country.

You can check the price of petrol, diesel and Kerosene near you here.

Price of fuel in Kenya
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