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October in Africa: Egypt stifles tech innovation, Google gets busy

Nov01
by on November 1, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Contributors, Entrepreneur, Google, world


The Egyptian government has had a busy time of late, shutting down taxi app mergers, taxing e-commerce platforms, and enforcing digital media regulation laws. Rumors have been swirling that Uber and regional equivalent Careem might be set to merge in Egypt, but it’s not going to happen. That’s because regulators have insisted they would fine each of the parties involved $28 million USD if it went ahead. Meanwhile, Egypt’s ministry of finance has announced it now requires e-commerce companies to charge VAT of 14 percent, just like ordinary stores, while the country has also started enforcing a law that requires…

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Hong Kong steps up regulation and brings crypto-funds under SFC

Nov01
by on November 1, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Hong Kong is pulling rank and is paying increasingly close attention to cryptocurrency funds. In a statement published earlier today, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) stated it would be putting cryptocurrency funds under its watchful eye. The SFC is the Hong Kong equivalent to the US’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move to regulate and watch cryptocurrencies is supposed to increase protection for investors. It means that any investment funds based in Hong Kong (that deal specifically in “virtual assets”) will have to be licensed and registered with the SFC. The SFC defines “virtual assets” as pretty much…

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‘Blockchain’ is now more popular than ‘cryptocurrency,’ according to Google data

Nov01
by on November 1, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


It’s not the flippening everyone has been talking about, but Google search data reveals people are finally starting to show more interest in blockchain than cryptocurrency. Following the massive hype cycle at the end of last year, Google Trends suggests the term ‘blockchain’ is gradually becoming a more popular search criteria than ‘cryptocurrency.’ The first time ‘blockchain’ briefly overtook ‘cryptocurrency’ (after last year’s hype) was in July. And it has consistently attracted more searches than ‘cryptocurrency,’ since at least September. In all fairness, Bitcoin continues to be the most commonly searched “crypto” term by far. Indeed, Google Trends suggests that…

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KEF’s LSX speakers are a smaller, cheaper take on its legendary LS50W

Nov01
by on November 1, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Plugged


In just a couple of years, KEF’s LS50W speakers have become something of a modern classic among audio circles. Clever digital processing allowed them to deliver pristine, powerful sound that belied their bookshelf speaker size – and even their $2,200 price tag. A combination of physical inputs and wireless connectivity bridged the gap between traditional audiophiles and speaker enthusiasts in search of convenience. All this led me to call the LS50W the best gateway to the world of hi-fi speakers. Now KEF has a new model, the LSX, which takes a whole lot of what makes the LS50W great, and stuffs it…

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Video: We tried the Magic Leap One and it was spellbinding (but flawed)

Nov01
by on November 1, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider, Plugged


The Magic Leap is one of the world’s most hyped devices – and with good reason. When the headset was first publicly announced around four years ago (four years!), it was the first time many people had seen augmented and mixed reality. Since then, things have changed. Most modern phones are now AR-enabled and apps like Pokémon GO are, well, kinda normal. Magic Leap is entering a substantially different market from when it was announced. So, now the company is close to releasing its first product – the Magic Leap One – is it still relevant? And should we be excited?…

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