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By  Joel Hruska Over the last few weeks, both the Oculus Rift  and  HTC Vive  have gone up for pre-order. Now, according to a pulled Fortune article, Microsoft’s HoloLens is doing the same. Microsoft is reportedly targeting a March 30 launch date for its Augmented Reality (AR) headset, and the new device will launch with several beta software suites alongside the physical hardware. When HTC and Oculus announced their hardware, I noted that I couldn’t recommend pre-ordering either solution. I don’t have that problem with Microsoft’s HoloLens, not because I think ordering it is a good idea, but because precious few people will be able to afford the $3,000 price tag. Microsoft will bundle a software suite with the headset, which includes: HoloStudio : A 3D resource creation suite and teaching tool. Skype : It’s Skype, but with holograms. No word on whether Robert Picardo will reprise his role as The Doctor to snark you through a phone call. HoloTour:  An ap...

By  Jamie Lendino Over the past four years, the Raspberry Pi has become known as the world’s most successful and accessible computer platform that anyone can program. It’s the kind of thing that reminds us fondly of the early 8-bit Apple II, Atari, and Commodore days, and with obviously much more capability now. It’s being used in schools across the globe, and a NASA astronaut even  took one along to the International Space Station . Today, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has launched the Raspberry Pi 3, an upgraded model that is on sale now for the same $35 price, just a bit more than a year after the Pi 2 landed. The Pi 3 includes a new Broadcom BCM2837 SoC with a 64-bit processor for the first time — a 1.2GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU that the company claims is roughly 10 times faster than the processor in the original model (at least on SysBench). The 33% bump in clock speed over the Pi 2’s 900MHz should deliver a 50-60% increase in performance in 32-bit mode. ...

BY  MIKE BROWN Apple's challenge of a court order to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers opens up a new front in the long-running battle between technology companies and the government over encryption. PHOTO: KENA BETANCUR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Granting the FBI access to the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone would set a precedent that could be used “on over 175 phones,” Apple plans to tell the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. Bruce Sewell, Apple general counsel, will testify in a hearing called “Balancing Americans’ Security and Privacy,” and  Re/code  has released Sewell’s prepared speech ahead of the meeting. Sewell will reference comments from Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, who said in an interview with NPR  that his cyber lab cannot access 175 phones out of a total 670 phones being held. Vance said that he wants Apple to unlock phones “when there is a court order by an independent judge” that proves it is necessary. The...

By:  Joseph Jibueze The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out a suit by Etisalat against MTN. The plaintiff challenged MTN’s use of the 800megahertz (MHZ) spectrum following its acquisition of Visafone. Etisalat said it considered the action necessary to prevent MTN’s use of the spectrum as it would entrench the defendant’s dominance in the data services market. The plaintiff said the use of the 800MHz spectrum to deploy broadband services ahead of its competitors, particularly those who prior to MTNs purchase of Visafone, held similar spectrum bands as MTN, would be to other telecos disadvantage. Justice Ibrahim Buba struck out the suit on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. He held that the court cannot interfere with NCC’s regulatory duties. Read more at: http://thenationonlineng.net/visafone-court-strikes-out-etisalats-suit-against-mtn-2/

The Federal Government will open talks with MTN Nigeria over the N780 billion fines, imposed on the telecommunications giants after confirming receipt of the N50 billion part payment made by the firm.  The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) imposed the over N1trillion fine cut to N780billion, for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card infraction. The government also yesterday confirmed that the firm has withdrawn the suit it filed before a Lagos Highr Court challenging the regulator’s action. According to the Federal Government, with the “down payment,” the coast is now clear for it to listen to further talks on the matter. Minister of Communications Technology Adebayo Shittu who confirmed the payment, said the development was in line with what the government asked the firm to do. A statement by the minister’s Senior Assistant (Media) Victor Oluwadare, explained that the receipt of the N50billion payment will allow the Federal Government to entertain further negot...

By Benjamin Njoku  AS the general election of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, holds this morning in Asaba, Delta State, expectations are high as pundits are busy, predicting the outcome of the election. Although many have opined that the major battle for the post of the presidency would obviously be between Fred Amata and Lancelot Imasuen. Kingsley Omo-Efe who is also contesting for the coveted presidential seat may not be a push over after all. The last few weeks have seen the aspirants being locked in aggressive campaigns, as they reeled out their manifestos to win the support of DGN members. Lancelot Imasuen who celebrated his 20 years in Nollywood last year believes that he has what it takes to become the next president of the Guild. Popular director “Judging from the past and present, I see myself as most capable and competent to steer the ship of the directors in Nigeria because film directing has been my life and God has been merciful to me,… You cannot give what y...

By Benjamin Njoku UK-based Catholic priest, Fr. Albert Owie Ofere from Diocese of Warri, Delta State is on the way to write his name in gold, as he delves into music to further propagate the gospel of salvation to humanity. Fr. Ofere’s debut album, “Every Day of My Life”, which has a collection of six tracks: God Dey My Side, When I Think, Where Were You, Jesus Lamb of God, God You are Good and “Oghene me Do” is a fusion of Afro pop and gospel music. He becomes the second catholic priest to delve into music after Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu. As a priest, Fr. Ofere said, “ I love singing and listening to music”, adding “while working in the UK as the Chaplain to the Nigerian Catholics in England and Wales, my love for music developed even more. I like to sing, music is part of the family, it’s always been in the genes.” Explaining why he decided to do Afro pop, Ofere said, “It’s because many people like to dance to Afro pop music and using it to glorify ...

By Daud Olatunji  HAVING served the society for about 50 years through the entertainment industry, veteran actors and actresses want to be appreciated while alive. These nollywood actors spoke recently through Chief Olusegun Kehinde Olayinka Aderemi, popularly known as Chief Karan. Chief Karan who spoke in Abeokuta on the proposed programme to commemorate 50 years on stage, which had been scheduled for next month, said nollywood veterans who had spent over four decades on stage would be celebrated. • Chief Olusegun Aderemi aka Karan No fewer than 45 veterans in nollywood would be given awards during the programme while some awards would also be given for best performers. According to him, the day has been was set aside for actors, actresses and other intellectuals in different places that have contributed to the industry. . The flamboyant actor, who was known for playing billionaire roles in Yoruba movies said, most of the time he wore flamboyant clothes to play...

BY JACOB AJOM  AS the impending 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Super Eagles of Nigerian and the Pharaohs of Egypt looms, former Nigeria international, Nduka Ugbade has sounded a note of warning to coach Sunday Oliseh and his wards not to expect an easy match in Kaduna. Nduka-Ugbade In a telephone chat with Sports Vanguard, Ugbade who, until recently was a member of the  technical crew of the U-20 national team said, “we are used to the Egyptians. They have never come cheap. Even when we were at our best, we have never had it easy against the Pharaohs. I expect a tough duel in Kaduna.” He had some advise for Oliseh. “With this kind of match, we can’t be 100 per cent technical,” Ugbade said, adding, “I expect 40 per cent technical and 100 per cent tactical approach from the Nigerian bench. “When you apply too much technicalities that can only help control the game, create chances and navigate possibilities. But what gives one victory is the tactical discipli...

Nigeria will most likely go along with CAF to vote Salman Al Khalifa today in Switzerland as the next president of world football governing body FIFA. Asia Football Confederation (AFC) president Salman is favourite in the presidential polls that also has  UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein from Jordan, ex-FIFA chief Jerome Champagne and South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale. The top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have refused to make any public commitments or comments on how the association will vote at today’s  presidential polls. However, some of them, who will not be identified, say they do not see the NFF going against the CAF decision to vote for Prince Salman of Bahrain. NFF president Amaju Pinnick was very vocal and visible during the re-election of Sepp Blatter last May and in less than two years at the helm of Nigerian football, he has warmed his way to committees in both CAF and FIFA. He has his eyes fixed on bei...

Apple offers a range of arguments in its motion to dismiss the order requiring it to help the FBI access an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters in last year’s San Bernardino attacks. Here is a summary of the 65-page brief filed in California federal court: — On the 1789 All Writs Act, which gives the courts wide authority to help law enforcement, Apple said the law does not allow for “a roving commission to conscript and commandeer Apple.” — Apple argues the Justice Department’s legal efforts seek to gain authority the government was unable to obtain from Congress, by forcing the company to create a “back door” for law enforcement. — The case could set a precedent: “The government says: ‘Just this once’ and ‘Just this phone,'” Apple’s lawyers write. “If this order is permitted to stand, it will only be a matter of days before some other prosecutor, in some other important case, before some other judge, seeks a similar order using this case as precedent.” – Apple said it has ac...

Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg, whose first child was born in November, on Thursday boasted that he could change a nappy in 20 seconds. “I am competitive guy, I time myself to get and better, and I got down to 20 seconds,” the 31-year-old told an audience in Berlin where he was receiving an award from German publisher Axel Springer. Mark Zuckerberg “The trick is to slide the new diaper under the old one,” he added. Zuckerberg’s Facebook page, which is “followed” by more than 43 million people, regularly features pictures of him with his wife Priscilla Chan, baby daughter Maxima and pet dog Beast. He has also posted a photo of him changing nappies. Despite his massive wealth, Zuckerberg — depicted in the Hollywood drama “The Social Network” as a socially challenged computer geek — still turns up at the office in a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, topped off by his trademark hooded sweatshirt. Touching on his famously dressed-down style he added: “I have coloured ones (t-shirt...

By Babajide Komolafe  The improving fortune of the naira in the parallel market was reversed yesterday as the currency depreciated to N355 per dollar in the market. Vanguard investigation reveals that the parallel market exchange rate rose sharply from N305 per dollar on Tuesday to close in Lagos and Abuja at N355 per dollar, implying depreciation of N50 per dollar. This was in sharp contrast to the N70 appreciation recorded from Monday to Tuesday, when the parallel market exchange rate dropped from N375 per dollar to N305. Bureaux De Change operators however express dismay over the sudden depreciation of the naira. President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe  attributed the development to speculation and hoarding. He said there appears to be a conspiracy to hoard dollars in order to halt the appreciation. An Abuja BDC operator who does not want his name mentioned said the people are not willing to sell dollars and this wor...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Thursday, said that bank accounts without the Biometrics Verification Number (BVN) would be operated as “No Customer Initiated Debit”. The apex bank said this in a circular titled: “Classification on Accounts with BVN Related Issues” sent to all commercial banks and posted on its website. The circular signed by Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Mr Dipo Fatokun, said that such accounts would remain dormant until the account holder obtain and attach the BVN to the account. The circular read, “It has, however, come to our notice, that some customers could not link their BVN to their accounts. “This is due to discrepancies between the record on the BVN database and the records on the core banking applications of the DMBs. Such customers can approach their bankers for correction, but some of the banks could not effect the corrections. The bank, in the circular, said that in view of this development, it had become imperative for the CBN to...

By Peter Egwuatu  Control Risks, a global risk consultancy firm, yesterday said that the Federal Government fight on corruption, economic reforms and quick passage of some important bills before the National Assembly will boost the economy. The firm also advocate for the devaluation of naira stating that the prevailing turf economic environment is causing some foreign firms to leave the country despite the huge potentials it possess. Speaking to newsmen on Riskmap in 2016, Mr. Tom Griffin ,Managing Director,West Africa Control Risks said, President Muhammadu Buhari begins work on reforms amid continued economic challenges, stressing that budget commitment go unmet while non oil proves difficult to raise. According to him “Despite some improvement in corruption, the regulatory environment remains complex I think they is need to devalue the naira and allow market forces play its role. The government needs to devalue the currency to ease pressure on the budget deficit as oil prices...

By Michael Eboh  THE Federal Government has said that the novel price modulation mechanism currently in place will ensure that it records zero expenses on fuel subsidy in 2016. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachickwu, said this last week, at the 45th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigerian Nsukka, Enugu State. He spoke under the theme: The Petroleum Industry and the Future of the Nigerian National-Oil Resource Management and the Implication for National Security & Economic Survival. Kachikwu said the zero fuel subsidy will be sustained based on prevailing modified pricing template for petroleum products, which has eliminated extraneous cost elements. According to him, “Without necessarily removing subsidy the government will spend zero amounts in subsidy in 2016. This may sound unbelievable to some people but that is part of the change agenda of the ...

THE flag-off for the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season was not all about the tackles traded on the pitch as the leadership of the national football that was in Kano for the official kick-off took time out to pay homage to a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima. The soft spoken Galadima of his Fage town of Kano State seized the opportunity to call for cessation of real and imagined crisis in the nation’s football organisation and also commended the improvements in the management of the league. The season was flagged off with the official star match between Kano Pillars and Rangers International of Enugu which ended 2-1 in favour of the home side with a late winner clinched by newcomer, Prince Aggrey. The delegation led by NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and included 2nd Vice President and Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC0, Shehu Dikko, General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and some board members includin...

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh will not be meeting with Nigeria Football Federation technical committee, to defend his plans for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt billed for March 25. Oliseh has said he will be in England this weekend to meet up with some of the country’s top stars in the Premier League like Mikel Obi of Chelsea, Watford striker Odion Ighalo as well as Victor Moses. The NFF had ordered Oliseh to Abuja on the same day to defend his call-ups for next month’s all-important AFCON qualifiers against Egypt. However, an official disclosed that the committee are expected to deliberate on CHAN 2016 report, among other pressing technical matters affecting the various national teams. Both the Nigeria U23 and U20 male teams are expected to shortly begin training camp ahead of major engagements. The Olympic team are due to play a series of friendlies against Rio Olympics hosts Brazil next month, while the Flying Eagles will begin their qualifying cam...

By Favour Nnabugwu  The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said the the country spends a total of $2 billion annually to import agricultural products into the country. Amaechi disclosed this to journalists during an inspection tour from Rigasa rail station in Kaduna to Idu Station in Abuja last Friday. Rotimi Amaechi Even as the world’s 7th largest population in the world at a base line of 170million, the Minister said agriculture is an exceptionally important element of Nigeria’s economy. Amaechi went to say that the large import of food products include wheat, rice, flour, fish, tomato paste, eggs, textile and sugar. The Minister however, stressed the need to diversify the mono-cultural tendencies of the Nigerian economy by developing other sectors of the economy especially agriculture. “Major agricultural imports are wheat, rice and sugar. Most agricultural imports come from the US and the EU. The country’s main agricultural exports are cocoa beans, rubber, ...

By Godfrey Bivbere The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has solicited for support of Nigeria Customs Service to enhance the efficiency of Nigerian ports and make it a hub for the sub-region. Hassan Bello, the Executive Secretary of the Council, who led his management team on a courtesy visit to Apapa and Tin can Area Command of Nigeria Customs Services yesterday, called for a synergy that would transform the nation’s ports to regional maritime hub in African sub region. His words “Since 2006 when the ports were concessioned, Nigeria has recorded mass improvement in terms of turnaround time of vessels but still other problems persist at the ports. We want Customs to be our critical partner in transforming the nation’s ports.” According to him, the Federal Government is now focusing on maritime sector now that the country is experiencing dwindling fall in the price of oil. He said that the Council has had meetings with Customs, especially, the Comptroller -General, adding that, it has...

By Emeka Aginam  Canadian phone maker, BlackBerry Limited Wednesday announced the launch of its new Professional Cybersecurity Services practice that will further expand BlackBerry’s security portfolio by offering organizations new consulting services, tools and best practices to assess and thwart ever-changing cybersecurity risks. Cybersecurity is a persistent and increasing business risk for organizations that depend on mobile endpoints that connect through networked and cloud-enabled platforms. Meanwhile, it is estimated that data breaches currently cost the global economy more than $400 billion every year. Some industry sectors, such as automotive, are being forced to grapple with cybersecurity threats for the first time as cars become more connected, intelligent and self-sufficient. As cybersecurity threats become more pervasive with increasing Internet connectivity, there is a greater demand for more robust defensive tactics to combat these risks. However, BlackBerry’s Pro...