Smartphones next display size dilemma that LG has been on the forefront to mana

We live in an increasingly technological world where smartphone display size is as important as the window to the world consequently creating mass appeal. The advent of more advanced smartphone display size over the last decade has created a connected world where as individuals and societies we are click way from our next connection whether business, spiritual or emotional.

We no longer see the world through our own senses such as hearing, sight or touch but rather through lens and definitions on LED screens on our smartphones. This is a huge statement most telling of the user centric approach to design and display technology.

As the display take the centrepiece of almost all the users interactions with their smartphones, smartphone manufacturers have had to rethink to ensure that the display is optimized to provide the best user design and experience possible. But different users can demand different things from their displays, so, what are the best displays that maximize consumer satisfaction?

The dilemma has been on how to deliver a single – handed usability while also allowing for large screen on smartphone. At present, people who prioritize single handed usability will look for smaller phone while those more interested in a more immersive experience will naturally gravitate towards a larger screen.

Today’s smartphone market has a wide range of display formats, sizes and shapes with even curved displays becoming increasingly common. Of course there are advantages and drawbacks to each phone size and each user has their own individuals’ preference for design.

To attain the equilibrium in the dilemma, LG electronics, a true innovator in practical smartphone technology, has worked hard to thread the needle between these two extremes and create smartphones with large displays that still fit comfortably in the user’s hand to enhance accessibility.

One of the ways that this has been accomplished is by constantly expanding each phones screen to body ratio by increasing the screen- to- bezel ratio. Additionally, LG has pioneered a secondary display which grants users the ability to check the time and notifications with just a glance.

The elimination of bezels allows for larger screens capable of bringing high resolution pictures and videos to life. A constant trend in smart phone designs has been that the less prominent the bezel (outside frame) become, the more space is ceded for screen itself.

The highest screen- to- bezel ratio yet achieved so far is 91.3% , but LG engineers insist that they are on the cusp of a breakthrough of a pure, bezel less frame. To that front LG is trendsetting the way with its incredibly narrow smartphone panel bezels that are even thinner than a credit card. This incredible reduction in bezel size allows LG to provide more screen coverage, enhancing usability, convenience, and the overall user experience.

So, how soon will we have a bezel less smartphone? The answer could just be around the corner with the upcoming launch of innovative LG G6's display that will cover the entire front of the phone - with no bezels around the edge.

NIC Bank Group records a pre-tax profit of KES 6.17 billion

NIC Group has posted a net pre-tax profit of KES 6.17 billion and a net profit of KES 4.3 billion for the year ending December 31, 2016.  On a net profit basis, this represents a 3% drop year on year.

Operating profit during the period rose by 23.2% to KES 9.9 billion, representing strong growth in the Bank’s core business and a demonstration that execution against its three-year strategy remained on track.

Total operating income for the year grew by 17.4% to KES 16.1 billion compared to KES 13.7 billion the same period the previous year. The growth was largely attributed to a number of initiatives the Bank undertook during the year to bolster funded and non-funded income lines.

In the period under review, the Group’s net profit was weighed down by significant additional provisions taken to support the non-performing facilities of a few large corporate customers that were impaired in 2015.  The overall NPL ratio however declined year on year from 11.2% to 10.8%.

“2016 was a challenging year with various factors impacting our operating environment but our strategic shift to reach more retail and SME businesses, as well as branch expansion, continued to drive our performance. NIC Bank continued to roll out strategic partnerships over the course of the year to drive business growth especially around Asset Finance where we continue to be the clear leaders,” said NIC Bank’s Group Managing Director, John Gachora.

The Group reported an increase in total assets of KES 3.7 billion, while customer deposits remained flat.

The Group’s capital base for the period closed at KES 30.3 billion, a growth of KES 4.0 billion over 2015, with key banking regulatory ratios in excess of the minimum thresholds set by the Central Bank of Kenya.

Total Operating expenses, excluding loan loss provision, grew 9.3% to KES 6.2 billion reflecting the Bank’s continued investment in technology and new branches.

During the period under review, the Bank continued to aggressively migrate customers onto its digital platforms and there are plans to launch a number of innovative digital banking solutions in 2017.
In May, the Bank rolled out a fully automated online platform enabling employees of corporate organisations in the Bank’s Scheme to apply for loans conveniently.

During the year, the Bank grew its branch network from 27 to 33 in Kenya with the opening of Kitengela, Kisii, KMA Centre in Upper Hill, CPA Centre in Ruaraka, Maasai Mall in Rongai and The Point in Buruburu. The expansion in Kenya saw its branch network in the region reach 40. The Branch expansion plan is part of the Banks proposition to target more retail and SME customers.

In the year under review, the Bank continued to enter into strategic partnerships that offer customer’s innovative and tailor-made financing solutions for vehicle and non-motor vehicle assets underscoring its position as a market leader in Asset Finance. The Bank partnered with Delights Kenya Ltd, Simba Colt Motors, General Motors (GM), Nissan and DT Dobie as part of maintaining its position as a market leader in Asset Finance.

In June 2016, the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) appointed NIC Bank to act as the Assets and Liabilities Consultant for Imperial Bank Limited (in Receivership). The mandate included, amongst others, an assessment of the quality of IBLIR’s assets and liabilities, disbursement of funds to IBLIR depositors and other advisory services to KDIC. In our role we have been able to disburse more than KES 10 billion to IBLIR depositors.

Subsidiaries:
The Bank continues to focus on growth and development of its subsidiary companies in order to offer a wide range of financial services to customers across the region.

NIC Bank Tanzania, NC Bank Uganda, NIC Insurance Agents (Bancassurance) and NIC Securities (Brokerage) all contributed positively to the Group’s financial performance in the period under review.

Group Reorganisation:
In quarter four of 2016, the Group held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) where it received a nod from shareholders to proceed with the proposed reorganisation, to create a non-operating holding company structure. The Group is awaiting approval from the regulators.

The reorganisation is a strategic move to support the Group’s medium and long term strategy by providing a structure that facilitates optimal use of capital, more effective use of strategic and risk management, and improved governance of its subsidiaries. As part of its strategy moving forward, the Group intends to expand the scale and scope of operations of its subsidiary companies alongside growing its banking business.

The reorganization is expected to have minimal impact on shareholders, customers, employees and regulators.

Outlook:
The Bank’s management is cognisant of the changing operating environment following the new interest rate capping law. This has meant a review of business to maintain growth driven by operational efficiency across the business. Key will be enhancing the Bank’s digital banking platform to offer greater automation and digitisation of processes for an enhanced customer experience.

“The Bank is consolidating its business and relooking at our strategy on the back of the interest rate capping law. The Bank remains a strong institution and has fully complied with the new law,” said Mr Gachora. “We are re-evaluating our business in this new operating environment and we will be rolling out new products and services to ensure we continue being competitive by investing more in our digital platforms.”

Mr. Gachora noted the full effects of the new law would start being felt in the first quarter of 2017 results.

TECHNOLOGY EXPEREINCES THROUGH LG.

The rapid growth of technology over the years has seen it shape how we interact with our day to day lives and how we interact with others. From getting customizing your outfit of the day to watching your favorite movie at the touch of a button, technology has been a boon in our lives. We should embrace the power of technology to strengthen our relationships and create richer experiences with people close to us.

The power of telephones over the years since its conception has seen rapid growth. From telephone booths to smartphones, it has shifted how we are able to communicate as they are personalized to our own preferences. LG’s wide range of smartphones allows the user to enjoy and experience smart technology to the fullest. From the user fingerprints and powerful cameras on the LG V20, one can capture special moments to be shared. With the LG G5 comes its modular design that come with a wide range of benefits such as reducing the diversity of parts in a product to modules being modified or replaced without changing anything else on the product.

With the internet and Wi-Fi connection available at the touch of a button, the rate at which people used to go to the cinemas has rapidly declined by 61%. Thus is caused by the rise of online streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu which provide the consumer with the latest content that are affordable. To make this experience more epic, LG’s OLED Smart TV makes it easier to access content with its webOS platform that allows one to access a library of streaming content where one can choose what to watch. With the LG OLED 4K, the consumer is able to view intense color and stunning contrast.

They say multitasking is a skill and art that is rarely found within a person. Too much of it actually may be harmful to one’s health. With the LG Hom-Bot, multitasking is what it was made for. This smart robotic vacuum cleaner can take on a variety of tasks from vacuuming the house to monitoring one’s home using its camera regardless of where someone is. It can also keep track of house pets and alert one in the occurrence of an intruder. This is an example of smart technology by LG at its best.

LG NEW HOM-BOT SQUARE MAKES CLEANING MORE EFFORTLESS

LG NEW HOM-BOT SQUARE RED

The growth of the digital age has revolutionized the technology experience with human beings. New technology has made the interaction with new devices more and more human. Devices can now hold a meaningful conversation like a real person.
A digital device can now perceive its environment and take actions that maximize its chances of success towards a certain goal; thanks to smart technology. You can command your fridge to order anything online; from food, a taxi cab or even dial a friend.
Artificial intelligence has increased usability of an ordinary device into a high end system that can perform tasks like a human being. The LG Hom-bot has turned into one of the simple devices that have optimized their performance into a personal assistant.
Unlike the conventional vacuum cleaners, the new Hom-bot square vacuum cleaner has impressive new edges that leave no room for dirt in your house. The new square shape not only cleans edges of corners that are the hardest to reach, but also has a turbo option that allows you to clean your house faster.
Every speck of dirt on corners is picked up by the side brushes which are 1.5 centimetres longer than other robot cleaners in the market. It has a corner detecting system that cleverly detects corners and avoids scratching the wall. The corner master has enabled thorough cleansing of the floors. It has also optimized the corner cleaning area by 89 per cent compared to the conventional circular vacuum. It is the new way to keep your apartrailwaysment or mansion spotless.
Moreover, the robot does not require you to be in the house to perform any household chores. The device links with a companion smartphone app for instructions. With a simple click of a button, you can clean your house. Users can now customize their personal cleaning routines with the app and schedule the robot to clean according to their own standards.
Artificial intelligence has done more than create robots which performs various tasks like a human being. They have created richer experiences which have enabled users to observe what it is doing from a mobile phone or any device. You can now monitor everything that is happening in your house with the Hom-bot.
For those concerned about pets, toys and children, the device is designed to cleverly recognize personal items in the house and can even warn you when there is an intruder in the house.
“The LG Hom-bot was designed with features never seen before in robot vacuums in the market. It is the only device in the market that turns the user’s smartphone cameras into a set of eyes. We are dedicated in making the cleaning experience more enjoyable for consumers,” said LG Electronics Marketing Manager Moses Marji.
LG has given its users access to a personal assistant that in addition to cleaning your house, can connect itself to a charger, provide more suction and offer seven different cleaning modes that you can choose from.

British American Tobacco Kenya plc announces Full Year 2016 results

British American Tobacco Kenya plc announced its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2016, posting gross revenues of Shs 36.7 billion, after tax profit of Shs 4.2 billion and a record contribution to Government revenue of Shs 19.2 billion. The company’s shareholders will receive a total dividend of Shs 43 per share.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director of BAT Kenya, Keith Gretton, said:

Managing Director of BAT Kenya, Keith Gretto

“On the domestic market, we grew market share despite the adverse impact of excise led price increases on sales mix. Our global drive brands continue to record a strong performance.

We remain a key player in Kenya’s economy through our tax contributions standing at a record Shs 19.2 billion in the form of Excise Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and Corporation Tax.

The Nairobi factory remains a manufacturing hub for our operations with over 60 percent of our production supplying 13 countries in the region. In 2016, the export business generated USD 88 million for the Kenyan economy.”

Commenting on the financial performance, BAT Kenya Finance Director, Philip Lopokoiyit said:

“Gross revenue increased by 2 percent to Shs 36.7 billon driven by higher domestic revenues following excise led prices increased offset by lower contract manufacturing costs.  Excise duty and VAT increased by 24 percent to Shs 16.8 billion driven by significantly higher Excise Duty following the implementation of a single tier Excise regime on 1 December 2015.

Our cost of operations reduced by 9 percent to Shs 13.3 billion through stringent cost management, productivity and overheads savings. We undertook a reorganisation in the second half of 2016 which cost Shs 338 million following implementation of new ways of working in the factory and to further mitigate the cost base.

Finance Director, Philip Lopokoiyit

Profit after tax reduced by 15 percent to Shs 4.2 billion, indicating the impact of a decline in net revenue offset by lower costs. Cash generated from operations increased significantly by 41 percent to Shs 8 billion reflecting enhanced working capital management during the year.”

Looking ahead to 2017, Managing Director Keith Gretton said:

“We will continue to invest in a fit for future portfolio and enhance the competitiveness of our factory to deliver sustained value for our shareholders.”

Revolutionizing kitchen experience with LG Smart Refrigerator

It's exciting to imagine the kind of comforts, personalization and improvements that technology bring in especially in a room as widely-used and adored as the kitchen. While some appliances have changed the kitchen experience, it's thrilling to think about what's next: the items that we think of as complete necessities even though currently they sound like they're out of reach.

Today, the concept of ‘smart’ world is being realized to our very own houses. Kitchen, as an important part of a home, has been significantly influenced by the revolutionary trend of the internet of things. No wonder major players dealing with the kitchen appliances like LG electronics are investing heavily in blending smart technology with these appliances.

Refrigerator, being a big-ticket product in the kitchen space, has revolutionized the art of food storage for the home cooked meals for richer experiences.

Research shows that home cooked meals offer profound health benefits while also strengthening family ties and creating emotional connection through togetherness. In addition, home cooked meals help families trim household expenses, reduce their carbon footprint and live healthier lives.

The discovery of these tangible benefits is helping inspire a renaissance in home cooking, and LG is trendsetting  this new wave of demand with kitchen products designed to bring out the best and empowering the culinary skills in each chef.

If you thought the concept of bring about freshness in the home cooked meal is one of those things that will take forever to get out of the lab and into your kitchen, guess again. LG already have an idea how this is all going to be done, and the key to it is the user centric LG smart refrigerator that tracks the expiration dates of food stored inside for instant delivery on new ingredients helping chefs prepare tasty, healthy dishes.

LGs collection of advanced ovens and cooktops also make it possible for users to enjoy an exquisite restaurant - worthy meal in the comfort of their own home. Even left overs can be given a refined twist with LGs flavor preserving microwaves.

NIC Bank continues with branch expansion plan

Muthini, NIC Bank’s Head of Branch Business welcomes a customer, Samo Bryton, to the bank’s new branch at Rosslyn Riviera Mall located along Limuru Road, during the official opening on 10th February, 2017. The bank’s 34th branch in Kenya aims to target the Retail and SME clientele in the area.

NIC Bank today opened a new branch at the Rosslyn Riviera Mall along Limuru Road. The new branch is NIC Bank’s 34th branch in Kenya, and 41st in the region.

Commenting on the branch opening in Rosslyn, John Gachora, the Group Managing Director for NIC Bank, noted that the new branch will offer a full array of financial products and services that will meet the growing demand for the bank’s services by retail customers in the area.

“The opening of this new branch was driven by a strong demand for our retail banking and Asset Finance offering in the area,” he said.

The nascent Retail Banking sector in Kenya has grown consistently in recent years due to deepening financial inclusion. Kenya has witnessed a more than 50% increase in financial inclusion over the past decade, and 75.3% of Kenyans are now formally included in the financial system, according to a 2016 survey by FinAccess.

NIC Bank’s branch expansion in the retail banking space is set against the backdrop of industry wide cost cutting across the sector in response to thinning margins brought about by the Banking Amendment Act (2016). As a result, many banks have halted branch expansion in favour of digital channels such as mobile banking in order to save on costs.

“Although the flight to digital channels is inevitable, it is our view that the branch is not dead.  Branches will remain an essential channel to attract and maintain customer relationships.  Retail banking success will be tied to the ability to offer the right products in an accessible and efficient manner,” said Mr. Gachora.

SMEs are a key focus area for NIC Bank. “We have a sizable SME portfolio, which we are targeting to increase substantially in the coming years,” noted Mr. Gachora, citing the instrumental role that SMEs play in driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.

In 2016, the Bank opened seven new branches across the country. It has two branches in Uganda and four in Tanzania. In an effort to continue improving customer experience in the banking halls, the bank is also refurbishing and expanding some of its older branches with City Centre Branch being the latest branch to re-open its doors to customers earlier in February. The Junction and The Mall branches were refurbished last year.