Review: The Acer Aspire S7
IT Maestro Starter of Conversations & Talent seeker at Discovery Ultrabooks are nothing new. Ever since Apple famously launched the MacBook Air in 2008, PC enthusiasts were chomping at their collective bit to get a similar device for their Windows needs. Fast forward a few years and most of the manufacturers offer an ultrabook alternative to the ‘cult of the Mac’. Whether it is a ThinkPad, ATIV Book or VAIO, an XPS, Spectre, or Portege, few have successfully been able to get the balance between performance and portability just right. Cynics might add the hefty price of these machines but given that it is competing with Apple products in both the looks and functionality departments, I tend to be a bit more forgiving when it comes to budget. That doesn’t mean I’ll be lining up any time soon to buy one, but there are plenty of people who can afford to spend good money on these expensive toys. Be that as it may, the Acer Aspire S7 ultrabook might just be the one to change my mind (if not the size of my available budget). It might seem trite to say that this is not your typical ultrabook but just one look at the S7 should be enough to show it. It is thin, it is light, and it is an absolute beauty to look at. Featuring an aluminium unibody, it is less than 13mm ‘thick’ making it one of the thinnest ultrabooks around. In terms of weight, well, it is completely negligible as traditional pen and paper notebooks feel heavier to carry around. Some users who are not fans of Windows 8 might baulk at the idea of using the operating system on such a beautiful device but the performance you get from the S7 using both the keyboard and touchscreen make these arguments irrelevant. While I am used to using Windows 8 in ‘desktop mode’ almost exclusively, having a powerful touchscreen device made for a very pleasant (and intuitive) experience. The battery life of approximately five hours might not be enough for some of the more power-hungry users, but it is a small price to pay considering the processing power of the S7. In addition, the fact that it is such a thin machine means the keyboard is quite flat on the surface when you type. Of course, this criticism is true for any ultrabook but it still takes a while to get used to typing with a slightly different wrist position than usual. This is a minor issue as you are bound to get into the swing of things within a few days of use. An...
Youth Lab June 16 – The Next 20 Years of Democracy
Youth Lab in partnership with Gracefully Consulting invite you to celebrate 20 years of democracy by casting vision for our future with young South Africans Recognising that South Africa in 2014 celebrates the 20th year of our democracy and the great excitement that comes with reflecting on where we come from; Youth Lab has embarked on a ‘Next 20 Years Campaign’. Launched on Freedom Day, this initiative includes poster quotes from iconic South Africans and essays from young South Africans on how they imagine the next 20 years of the South Africa of their dreams. In partnership with Gracefully Consulting, wish to extend this campaign to include a Youth Day, June 16 event that focuses on an inspirational vision sharing session by 4 young South Africans and a general open discussion with the audience of young Sowetans. The day will also host and feature author Thando Mgqolozana – author of ‘Unimportance’. The day will culminate in an entertaining celebration, with DJs and refreshments served after the discussions end. Other guests include: Xhanti Payi – Economist Reuben Phasha – Constitution Hill Ndumiso Ngcobo – Author and Radio personality Thando Mgqolozana – Author of Unimportance The goal of the event is to inspire young people to begin to project and articulate the vision they have for South Africa. The next 20 years are ours to create and ours to determine. We invite and young people involved with your organisation to join us in sharing your ideas about the next 20 years of democracy. Please find the event synopsis and provisional program below. Date: 16 June Venue: Phefeni Senior Secondary School Time: 12:00 –...
Uber Joburg Rocks The Vote!
South Africans recently celebrated 20 years of freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom to pursue a career of choosing, and the freedom of all to vote. This election, Uber wants you to have the freedom to think about what issues are important to you, and the freedom of not worrying about how you’re going to get to the polling booths. During polling hours (7am-9pm) on May 7th, Uber is offering two FREE rides (for new AND existing users) to and from all polling stations around Joburg. With the ease of Uber’s service, you’ll feel like they’re bringing the ballot to you! Since Uber is all about self expression , once you are done voting, tweet them @(Uber_Joburg) or instagram your pictures & videos with #UberVoteSA and tell them why your vote mattered. HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN STYLE: Download the Uber iPhone/Android app on your smartphone, if you haven’t already. Enter the promo code “VOTESA“. You will be entitled to two free rides up to R200 each, between 7am and 9pm on Wednesday, May 7. Demand will be off the charts. So you may have to try a few times before you can get a...
Imagine the Cup hits the JHB Screens next week
By Bheki Khoza How involved are you with this documentary and what do you hope it achieves? I worked on the entire project as writer, director, camera person, editor, voice over, producer… it’s a project that I self-funded. There was no other way to do it. I was traveling to Brazil for two months and the story was there in front of me. The goal is to contextualise the Soccer World Cup tournament with the realities on the ground. So while people are watching these glitzy soccer stars on TV, it would be good if they thought about who was actually on the losing side: the Brazilian who demands better housing, education and other social services instead of soccer stadiums and Fifa’s tournament. Give us 5 short reasons why our audience should go watch the documentary? Be informed about what’s happening in the world. I would love everybody to know what Brazilians think about the Soccer World Cup. Watch the film and feel inspired by particularly the young and politicised Brazilians who have taken to the streets to demand a better future from their government that is misspending taxpayer’s cash. What’s new? I like this film and think you should watch it. You will enjoy it. How relevant are the conversations in the documentary to the ones South Africans had during the 2010 World Cup? Very relevant. When a South African watches this film they will see how the situation in our two countries is exactly the same. We face very similar conditions of poverty and unemployment. We are in the Global South, the developing world, and yet our governments see it fit to get us in debt to host these ridiculous events instead of investing money into our social infrastructure and improving life for locals. What are the 5 lessons we can learn from the documentary of such calibre? This depends on the viewer. I can talk about my experience and what I had learned. This is that everywhere in the world there is injustice and there are people willing to stand up against it. You will meet these people in this film. How easy would you say was to produce such a documentary in Brazil? It wasn’t always easy but not the most difficult thing in the world. The most difficult part was the language barrier. I don’t speak Portuguese and worked with translators. I managed to travel through various parts of the country and went to protests, sometimes placing myself at risk. In the end, it’s worth it. What method of production was implemented in the making of the documentary? I used a digital camera. And,...
25th Battle of the Giants All Styles Dance Festival.
Let the energy and rhythm of dance captivate you at South Africa’s premier dance event, the 25th Battle of the Giants All Styles Dance Festival between Friday 11 April and Sunday 13 April at Sun International’s Sun City Resort. Under the aegis of the South African Dance Teachers Association Stage Branch, the event presents a kaleidoscope of dance forms attracting amateur, championship and professional dance entrants from around the country. Dancers will compete in Freestyle, Slowdance, Ballroom and Latin, Hip Hop, Showdance, Street Dance Show, Disco Dance, Jazz, Breakdance and Electric Boogie. The Stage branch has opened a para category for disabled competitors as well. The audience can expect to see a visual feast of colourful, glamorous costumes, dramatic make-up and the dynamism, passion and energy of dance, coupled with expert choreography and dancing. The high calibre judging panel reflects the importance of the Battle of the Giants on the dance calendar. Judging this year’s contest are Kirsten Dan Jensen from Denmark who serves on the Presidium of the International Dance Organization, along with a leading panel of South African judges including David Jones, Rudi Smit, Diana Moore, Pacou Mutombo and Craig Bullock to name a few. The Festival is also a springboard for talented entrants who go on to achieve even greater recognition. The current World Freestyle and Slowdance Champion Kalon Badenhorst is one such example. According to Bev Wood of the South African Dance Teachers Association Stage Branch, “We encourage each and every participant to reach their goals and strive to reach new heights in their dancing achievements. I know that the dancers will create another spectacular and successful Battle of the Giants and at the same time, climb the ranks of World dancing.” Each day of the Festival dancing will begin at 9am. Tickets are available from Computicket at R75 per person per day, and R80 for the Grand Final on Saturday evening. Discounts are available for children under 12. For more information about Sun City’s special accommodation packages contact Dreams on (011) 217 5555, or E-maildreams@suninternational.com or log into www.suninternationaldreams.com. DATES Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2014 TIMES From 07h00, dancing starts at 09h00 daily. Grand Final at 19h00 on Saturday 12 April 2014 VENUE Sun City Superbowl TICKETS Booking at Computicket. Tickets from R75 daily, R80 each for Saturday night, discounts are available for children....
Nissan Easter Festival.
Easter long weekend is approaching. For those who will be in and around Johannesburg, the place to be is definitely at the Nissan Easter Festival! See more after the jump. Now in its 5th year, the Nissan Easter Festival will once again deliver a 10 day celebration of equestrian events, entertainment and fun for the whole family this April. Nissan South Africa has again partnered with Kyalami Park Club to bring you a fun filled programme from Saturday 12th April until Monday 21st April 2014. The first weekend will concentrate on the dressage classes and the rest of the show will mainly feature show-jumping and the Inter-Africa Cup. The Nissan Easter Festival includes the SA Pony Rider Grand Prix, The KPC Young Rider Grand Prix and will conclude on Easter Monday with the hotly contested Adult SA Jumping Outdoor Grand Prix. After the success of last year’s festival, which included a spectacular tie at first place in the Nissan Six Bar event as well as a memorable win by Capital Don Cumarco in the Nissan SA Adult Outdoor Grand Prix, this year’s action is set to be every bit as exciting. While South Africa’s top riders and horses are without a doubt the main attraction, the festival has far more to offer. Food stalls, entertainment, child-friendly activities and market stalls will provide plenty of fun throughout the duration of the festival. With free entrance and secure parking – families, friends and sporting fans can enjoy the live action as it unfolds, with each day offering more excitement, big wins and plenty of family fun. Event dates: 12th April until 21st April 2014 Time: 8:00am to 17:00pm Address: 1 Dahlia Road Kyalami 1687 Ticket price: Free entry Website: and http://www.kyalamipark.com/www.nissan.co.za Facebook: GautengHorseSociety and...
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