Faster

The new Microsoft Teams promises faster performance and a smoother user experience. According to the announcement, the new Teams app will be up to 50% faster, allowing users to quickly switch between chats, channels, and meetings. Additionally, Microsoft has made improvements to reduce latency and improve reliability, resulting in faster and more reliable video calls and screen sharing.

Simpler

One of the biggest challenges with collaboration tools is making them easy to use and understand. With the new Microsoft Teams, Microsoft has streamlined the user interface, making it simpler and more intuitive. Users will have easy access to frequently used features and a cleaner design, reducing distractions and making it easier to focus on the task at hand.

More Flexible

Microsoft Teams has always been a flexible tool, allowing users to customize their workspace and integrate with other apps and services. The new Teams takes this flexibility to the next level, with new features that allow users to personalize their experience even further. Users can now create custom templates for meetings, share channels with external guests, and integrate with more than 300 third-party apps and services.

Smarter

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing an increasingly important role in collaboration and communication tools, and Microsoft Teams is no exception. The new Teams features several AI-powered enhancements, such as live captions and transcripts, real-time translation, and meeting summaries. These features not only improve accessibility but also help to reduce communication barriers and improve collaboration across diverse teams and regions.

The new Microsoft Teams promises to be faster, simpler, more flexible, and smarter than ever before. With new features that improve performance, simplify the user experience, and integrate with more third-party apps and services, Microsoft Teams is poised to continue its dominance in the collaboration and communication space. If you are a Microsoft Teams user, these updates are definitely something to look forward to.

The newly added African languages include IsiXhosa, Yoruba, Somali, Kinyarwanda, Tigrinya, Hausa, Igbo, Oromo, Wolof, Amharic, Zulu, Setswana, and Sesotho. These languages are widely spoken across the continent, with some having official status in their respective countries.

This move by Microsoft is a major step towards improving communication and understanding between people from different African countries, and also between Africans and the rest of the world. The translation service allows users to translate text, speech, and even images in real-time, making it a valuable tool for businesses, travelers, and anyone looking to break down language barriers.

The addition of these languages is also a positive step towards preserving African cultures and languages, which are often at risk of being lost due to globalization and the dominance of English and other major languages.

In a statement, Microsoft stated that they are committed to making their technology accessible to everyone, regardless of language, location or cultural background. With this expansion, they hope to contribute to the development and growth of African economies and societies.

This news has been met with excitement and enthusiasm across the continent, with many celebrating the recognition and inclusion of their respective languages. It is a positive step towards a more inclusive and connected Africa, where communication barriers are broken down and diverse cultures are celebrated.

In conclusion, Microsoft Translator’s expansion into these 13 new African languages is a major achievement and a significant step towards creating a more connected and inclusive continent. It is a powerful tool for breaking down communication barriers and fostering understanding between people from different backgrounds. The addition of these languages is a positive step towards the preservation of African cultures and languages, and it has the potential to make a significant impact on the continent’s economic and social development.

According to Colleen Larsen, Chief Executive at Business Engage Association NPC, the academy is aimed at bridging the representation gap of women in the technology sector by educating the female voice in the technology worlds and increasing the number of female speakers at tech conferences.

Over the course of six virtual sessions with professional lecturers and TEDx speakers, participants will be trained on: personal branding, the art of storytelling, selecting a topic and becoming a skilled speech writer, reading the audience, handling fear and stage craft, presentation aids, speaking on camera, impromptu speaking, handling questions and post-presentation steps for maximum impact.

Those looking to order either an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S will definitely want to write that down, because we’re guessing that pre-orders will sell out quickly. Microsoft has also shared a comprehensive list of retailers that will be offering Xbox Series X/S pre-orders, covering a number of regions around the world.

The list of retailers can be found below:

• AVO (Nedbank)
• BT Games
• Esquire
• Game
• Game 4 U
• HI
• Hi-Fi Corp
• Incredible Connection
• Loot.co.za
• Makro
• Nexus Retail
• PnP
• Raru
• Sportscene
• Takealot
• Total Sports
• ZAPA

And unlike some of us here at SA VIBE, we hope you didn’t book off July 29th to celebrate Windows 10 launch day, because depending on your circumstances, you might be disappointed. Microsoft has detailed its rollout plans for the new operating system, and it notes that only Windows Insiders – the bunch we know as beta testers – are likely to get Windows 10 on day one. If you’re a regular user who reserved an upgrade, you’ll likely have to wait as Microsoft deploys the new software in gradually larger “waves” until everyone can hop aboard.

Big companies and schools who pay for Windows licenses in bulk, meanwhile, won’t get their copies until August 1st. In either case, you’ll get a heads-up if your system isn’t quite ready. The cautious approach is understandable given the sheer scope of what Microsoft is doing (“millions” of people are going to get a major OS for free), but it’s not so hot if you want to be the first on your block to make the switch to the excitingly new OS. As always, I’ll be live tweeting from the launch event on my handle @Papi_Mabele

In the whole of Africa, just 15.6 percent of residents are connected to the internet, which is under half of the world average. It’s also home to vast, inhospitable landscapes that are economically inviable to crisscross with fiber. All of that being said, nearly a sixth of the globe’s population resides on the continent, representing a monumental opportunity for something — anything — to connect the next billion people. As it turns out, there are actions presently ongoing to make a significant mark in the course of history. Google, Microsoft, Carlson Wireless, Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa (TENET) and a host of other powerful entities are collaborating to bring high-speed internet to an underserved continent via TV white spaces — a low-cost, highly adaptable technology that’s poised to explode.

[quote_left]For now, Limpopo is acting as a proving ground for what will eventually be a far larger experiment.[/quote_left]

A trio of base stations at the University of Limpopo will supply five nearby primary and secondary schools with internet access and teaching techniques that will make them more employable in future. With this Microsoft  is picking the safest frequencies from a database and is measuring the results for the sake of both nervous broadcasters and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. If all goes well, it should make a case for full approval of white space use across the country and deliver internet access to remote areas that risk being left by the technological wayside.

The first thing you need to do before migrating to a modern platform is to determine whether they need to buy new hardware, as your current existing device might be unable to accommodate Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

Simply use the or contact a Microsoft Partner to help make the right decision that best suits your company’s particular situation. If you want the flexibility to work in newer, more mobile ways, an upgrade to a new device form-factor is still the best option. (note; it’s not a must)

After sorting out your hardware, the next step is to ensure that all your critical software and applications are supported by the modern operating systems. This is important since some older applications may not work on the newer versions of Windows.

The solution may come in the form of finding an updated version of the application or, in rare cases where an update is not available, locating a replacement app in the Windows Store that will perform the same function. To check whether your apps are compatible, use the .

Last but certainly not least, always remember to back-up your files before upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. You can back-up to an external or portable hard-drive or to cloud-based (online) storage services such as Microsoft’s OneDrive, DropBox, Google Drive etc.

To welcome you to the modern age, grabs some awesome Microsoft deals from your nearest participating store, tailor-made to your student, home or small office needs.