Sony ups stakes in digital camera market by releasing high quality, pocket-sized Cyber-shot RX100

 

  Sony, the leading consumer electronics brand, continues to up the stakes in the digital camera market, targeting an increasingly growing population of amateur photographers in the Kenyan market. Its latest offering the Cyber-shot RX100, features a host of powerful features packaged into a sleek, compact aluminium body designed to offer high quality, lightness and luxurious looks in a deceptively strong package, making it ideal for consumers on the go.

Despite its diminutive size the RX100 inherits many advanced imaging features from Sony’s Alpha ‘α’ range of A-mount and E-mount camera families, making it an accomplished partner for travel, portrait or street photography. At a time when the popularity of the Internet is seeing more consumers choose to document nearly every aspect of their lives through social networking sites and blogs, the RX100 makes the perfect companion for those wanting to take good pictures but lacking the experience in professional photography.

With impressive picture quality and intuitive, comfortable control options, the RX100 is ideal as a step-up from point-and-shoot cameras. This camera features the world’s first 1.0-type EXMOR CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 effective megapixels and a bright F1.8 lens making it the perfect fit for a compact, pocket-sized second camera for enthusiasts who want to capture pristine stills with refined defocus effect and Full HD video while they are on the move.

Specially developed by Sony, the sensor has an area that is around four times larger than the 1/2.3-type imager in regular point-and-shoot cameras. Capturing far more light than small-sensor cameras, it is the key to beautiful, detail packed images and Full HD movie clips with very low noise.

Similar to high-performance D-SLR optics, the lens features seven-bladed circular apertures. This makes it easy to produce pro-style ‘defocus’ effects, with subjects in sharp focus against a smoothly-blurred background. The lens is also equipped with an Advanced Aspherical (AA) glass element that contributes to the camera’s extremely compact dimensions without sacrificing optical performance or resolution.

In addition to that, the BIONZ image processor maximises shooting responses while assuring exceptionally clean, natural images. It also extends image sensitivity, allowing clear handheld images in dim light. Speedy burst shooting at up to 10 frames per second (full-resolution) makes grabbing split-second photo opportunities easy, while the high-speed autofocus locks onto the target in as little as 0.13 seconds.

Experienced photo enthusiasts will appreciate the unique Control Ring that surrounds the lens body. Allowing smooth, fingertip adjustment of exposure, zoom, Picture Effect and other functions, it makes versatile D-SLR-style creative control over the image easily accessible.

For the not-so-experienced photo enthusiasts Sony has made it easy to fine-tune images with a wide range of manual adjustments, whether shooting stills or Full HD video. Fine tuning the look of the image is made easy with a choice of six Creative Styles to suit the scene or the user’s personal preference. Picture Effect offers an inspiring choice of 'in camera' effects that can be previewed on the LCD screen, including Toy Camera, Partial Colour, Pop Colour, HDR Painting, Miniature, Illustration, Watercolour and Other (Note: real-time preview is not available with all Picture Effect settings).

Just like a D-SLR camera, there is a choice of auto and manual focus modes for even greater control over the image. The camera offers artistic options to expand shooting possibilities for enthusiasts and novice photographers alike.

Shared with the latest Alpha ‘α’ range of A-mount and E-mount cameras, Auto Portrait Framing makes it simple to capture personality-packed photos of family and friends. The Cyber-shot™ RX100 does all the hard work, automatically detecting faces and cropping the scene to create tighter, pro-style compositions without sacrificing pixel count.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 digital compact camera is currently available in Anisuma showrooms and other Sony distributors countrywide.

 

LG Electronics Bets on Innovation, Energy and Power Savings to Grow Market Share in its Home Appliances Division

 Consumer electronics giant LG Electronics is looking at doubling its sales volumes in the Home Appliances division in the next year, thanks to a sustained innovation trajectory and heightened marketing efforts.

The global consumer electronics maker currently controls 35 per cent of the regional Home Appliances market.

The company will be betting on the ability of its appliances in helping consumers make huge savings on power and water in its efforts to maintain the market leadership. Some of the latest appliances can realize up to 70 per cent savings on electricity while the washing machines can save up to 60 per cent on water.

The company is already enjoying a good market run in the region especially on its Home Appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

 

Currently an estimated 70 per cent of refrigerators and washing machines in the east and central Africa market are LG products, a situation largely attributed to the company’s flexibility in meeting changing consumer demands.

 

Managing Director for East and Central Africa Mr Josep Kim said the company will continue spending a considerable amount on research, innovation and development to ensure that the company grows and maintains its market leadership both regionally and on the global front.

“A random check among Kenyan and regional households will reveal that about seven out of every 10 refrigerators and washing machines in use are our products. As a company, we take this as strong vote of confidence in our appliances and commit to continue with the innovation journey to meet and even surpass consumer expectations,” said Mr. Kim.

He was speaking at a media event hosted to take stock of the changing regional market trends in the home appliances portfolio. The event comes in the wake of heightened market competition which Mr. Kim is confident that LG Electronics will wither and continue with its market dominance.

 

“The amount of investments we commit to research and development is unmatched. The rising sales volumes are testimony that we are indeed on the pulse of the consumer needs. We will leverage on this going forward,” he said.

 

The company has also made substantial progress in patenting its products in the wake of rising cases of counterfeit goods in the region. Although the company’s Home Appliances category is not seriously affected by the menace, Mr. Kim said the LG Electronics will continue working closely with government anti-counterfeit agencies in concerted efforts to protect the market.

The latest LG refrigerators come with an in-built Low Voltage Stabilizer which guards against power fluctuations while the  Washing Machines exclusively have the  Auto Restart function  which picks from where is stops in case of power outage, this accounts for the huge savings in time and energy. The company’s Microwaves come with intelligent i-sensor function which Cooks and Grills to the consumer’s taste without supervision.

“The I-sensor actually enables the microwave to go off once the food is well done. Basically it’s pre-programmed with preset menus for different foods of the world,” said Angel Bisamaza, the Product Manager in the Home Appliances business unit.

 

According to Mr. Kim, one of the company’s major selling points is the availability of products for various market segments.

 

“This ensures that there is something priced for everyone. The performance however is what sets us from the rest of the competition,” he said.

The company also announced plans to engage in a vigorous consumer education to create awareness on maximizing utility of its various products. This will be done through existing avenues like the customer service centre situated along Ngong Road and Mobile Service Bus which goes round the country attending to customers in remote areas of the country.

Reprieve for Cancer Patients as Pharmaceutical Firm Drastically Slashes cost of Medication

Global pharmaceutical firm Pfizer International has announced an average 60 per cent drop in the cost of cancer medication in a fresh drive to combat escalating prevalence of the disease.

The price drop will apply to drugs manufactured by the company for treatment of cancer as well as pharmaceutical equipment such as machinery and other testing kits involved.

The company has also donated $200,000 through various non-governmental organizations towards fighting the scourge in Kenya.

 

The drastic drop in cost of medication is widely expected to translate into increased access to cancer treatment especially among middle and low income households.

While commenting on the development, Pfizer Country Manager for Nigeria and East Africa Region Dr. Enrico Liggeri said the company was also enhancing partnerships with various non-governmental organizations to ensure increased access to medication especially among developing countries.

In Kenya, the company is has partnered with AMPATH in a number of programmes towards this cause.

“Our commitment is to make cancer treatment more accessible. We are doing this through partnerships with various governments, non-governmental organizations and other health sector stakeholders,” said Enrico.

Kenya has in the recent times witnessed rising cases of cancer related deaths some involving high profile members of the society. The official attributed the rising cases of cancer to poor dietary habits especially those involving solid fats, smoking and lack of physical exercise.

He lauded the Kenyan government for its commitment in preventing cancer adding that this commitment must be matched with long term policy documentation on how the country plans to combat cancer going forward.

According to Prof. Othieno Abinya, an Oncologist and the Kenyatta National Hospital, access to cancer medication in the country is on a steady increase and the latest price drop by Pfizer will go a long way towards this.

 

“As a country, we do not have sufficient infrastructure to handle the high prevalence of the disease. However in the recent time, concerted efforts by the government and business entities like Pfizer have seen substantial ease of access,” said Dr. Abinya.

He advised that the government moves to decentralize cancer centres from Nairobi to the counties to increase access to medication.

Both Ministers handling health portfolios in Kenya, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o of Medical Services and Beth Mugo of Public Health are Cancer survivors, a situation Dr. Abinyo says could herald a lot of government goodwill in fighting the disease.

Both Dr. Liggeri and Dr. Abinyo advised Kenyans to go for cancer testing reiterating that early detection accounts to over 70 per cent of success in treatment.

“Most cancer cases especially those involving cervix, breast, skin and throat are treatable on early detection. It only becomes a challenge when one goes for treatment long after the disease has spread to unmanageable levels,” said Dr. Abinya.

CRB Africa Unveils New Name and Introduces New Analytic Scoring Model to Market

CRB Africa announced today that it will be rebranding to the name of  parent company, TransUnion. The credit reference bureau was recently acquired by Transunion, the global leader in credit and information management, which increased its collective African footprint to 12 countries on the continent. The official rebranding announcement also marked the introduction of the TransUnion Kenya Financial Sector Score, a new analytical scoring model for the financial sector, specifically developed for the Kenyan market.

The generic score provides a globally tested analytical tool that optimizes business customer acquisition and management practices.

Grant Phillips, CEO of TransUnion Africa Regions, remarked: “TransUnion is pleased to be opening a new and exciting chapter in Kenya. With operations in 32 countries around the world and 100 year-strong history in Africa, we are proud to introduce both the TransUnion brand and our new scoring model to Kenya.

“Scoring enables credit granters in emerging markets to make decisions based upon tested and proven predictive criteria such as affordability and payment behavior. It provides a truly objective view of the consumer and helps to eliminate the need for subjective or discriminatory information such as age, gender, marital status or even address. Through predictive scoring, the credit process is streamlined and credit risk for lending can be effectively managed – helping to create a positive economic impact for the region.”

“With more than 20 years’ experience in credit referencing and debt management in Africa, CRB Africa prides itself on our strong client relationships, high business ethics and our deep commitment to our people and the region, ,” said Michael Karanja, Chairman of CRBAfrica. “As part of TransUnion, we now have the global reputation, expertise, systems and suite of solutions to dramatically enhance the services we can offer the market.”

Standard Chartered named Best Foreign bank in Kenya

Standard Chartered Bank Kenyan Limited, a subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank PLC, has been named the Best Foreign Bank in Kenya for the year 2012 in the annual EMEA Finance magazine awards.

The bank won the accolade for its client focus and steady management, continued profitability, delivery of credit to the retail and wholesale markets, and supporting local and transnational corporations do business.

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, Chief Executive Officer Richard Etemesi, said that this recognition was an excellent reflection of the Bank’s strategy of sticking to the basics of banking and delivering on its promise to customers, shareholders, regulators and the community.

“I am delighted that we have won this prestigious award. This is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our teams across the country and the region. Standard Chartered uniquely combines international expertise and capabilities with deep-rooted local experience, enabling us to deliver market-leading solutions to our customers and clients across Africa. This award demonstrates our huge contribution to the sustainable development of the financial markets in Africa,” he said.

 

Etemesi said that the bank had over the last few years,  pursued a focused agenda.

“We set ourselves ambitious performance goals and have consistently delivered against them. We are therefore very excited by this recognition from EMEA Finance magazine as it is a testament of our dedication to offer unmatched banking services in Kenya.

 

Our focus to doing business in Kenya has always been to build a sustainable business through ethical businesses practices. We had a record year in 2011 and an even better first half performance in 2012, with record growth in income and revenue. Our business held steady against a macro-economic environment that is increasingly challenged,” said Etemesi.

 

Set against a macro-economic environment that is increasingly challenged, Standard Chartered Bank  continued to deliver consistent good returns to its shareholders as a result of a right strategy, a distinctive culture and a strong brand.

 

“We are focused on delivering for our shareholders, supporting our customers and clients, and making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We are well positioned in some of the fastest-growing segments of our economy. As a Bank, we will continue to benefit from our deep client relationships, our network and a well-capitalized balance sheet,” added Etemesi.

 

Standard Chartered Bank PLC was also named the Best Foreign bank in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe and was voted the best overall bank in Uganda for the fourth year.

The prestigious EMEA Finance magazine awards are globally recognized accolades which celebrate and recognize exemplary performances in the financial sector.

 

 

 

 

TOSHIBA REPOSITIONS ITS KENYAN STRATEGY

 

…Japanese company eyes larger share of East African market with Kenya as hub 

 

Toshiba, a world leader and innovator in pioneering business computing solutions and digital consumer products, has reinforced its commitment to the Kenyan market through a fresh outlook involving regional representation and increased market presence in the Kenyan market and the East African region at large.

Based in Nairobi, the company intends to further extend its market share as it eyes increased consumer awareness of its products, understanding of the brand and acceptance of one of the leading electronics appliances manufacturer with a rich successful history having been established in 1875.

Briefing journalists and bloggers, Regional Manager Mr. Erick Njuguna said the new marketing strategy will put emphasis on managing relationships for the brands corporate clients, distributors, resellers as well as customers and potential customers.

“The business model will largely remain the same where our appointed distributors who include Mitsumi, Red Dot and the recently appointed Mustek will remain key point of sale contacts. However, we will henceforth  focus more on building and maintaining relationships that promise unrivalled product quality and service delivery,” added Mr. Njuguna.

Already, the strategy has resulted in market activity the company having recently appointed Mustek as a specialist corporate distributor for its R-series and Z-series range of notebook computers.

Toshiba’s R-series of notebooks offer up to 10 hours of battery life for a full day at the office, and they are extremely thin and light as they are manufactured using high-strength composite materials while the Portege Z-series is Toshiba’s super-thin ultrabook that offers high performance power in a lightweight design. The range is as the top of Toshiba’s product offering and provides the ultimate solution for high-flying executives on the go. 

The company is looking at positioning itself as an ICT powerhouse as the country works towards achieving its Vision 2030 goals.

Mr. Njuguna said Toshiba is putting a lot of emphasis on customer care which is part of the company’s overall strategy ensuring customers have a hassle-free time while using their products.

“On-Site warranties offered in the whole East Africa. However, we want to make it better for Toshiba customers – we are currently investigating if a full service centre can be done in East Africa, where they also hold parts on site,” said Mr. Njuguna.