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IDC Says Personal Computing Device Market to Decline by 1.8% CAGR through 2022

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The latest forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, shows that global shipments of personal computing devices (PCDs), composed of traditional PCs (desktop, notebooks and workstations) and tablets (slate and detachable) – declined 2.7% year over year in 2017.

The results illustrate a year in which commercial PC renewal momentum remained as the main catalyst in a market that was also tempered by lackluster demand for legacy form factor devices and component shortages.

Nevertheless, key metrics including commercial activity and notebook shipments all reached positive growth patterns due to some emerging region recovery and ongoing business PC refresh.

Within the PCD market, traditional PCs are forecast to contract at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.9% over the 2017-2022 forecast, with volumes dropping from 259.4 million in 2017 to 248.3 million in 2022.

However, when adding in detachable tablets such as the Microsoft Surface Pro, modest signs of growth are expected with a five-year CAGR of 0.1%.

In the short term, 2018 is expected to see a year-over-year decline of 3.2% as consumer demand for slate tablets and legacy PC form factors remain weak.

Commercial device replacements are expected to remain positive throughout the forecast period, though momentum slows after 2020 as mature markets largely end their transition to Windows 10. Commercial activity in emerging markets is expected to carry on longer, helping the overall commercial PCD market to achieve a CAGR of 0.7% between 2017 to 2022.

After ending 2017 with modest growth, detachable tablets are also expected to improve in 2018 and 2019 due to ongoing commercial adoption.

Tom Mainelli, program vice president with IDC’s Devices and AR/VR programs, said “As the broader PCD market continues to evolve, challenges remain but there are plenty of positive signs, too,”

“New form factors such as convertibles and detachables continue to show long-term growth opportunities in both consumer and commercial markets.

“Chromebooks remain a bright spot with an increasing number of consumers embracing the platform. And the gaming category continues to grow, driving both positive volumes and ASP trends.”

Jay Chou, research manager with IDC’s Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, said “As expected the PCD market ended 2017 with a contraction,”

“But behind this number is a silver lining that shows the notebook segment posting its most positive growth since 2012, a point bolstered by the continued consumer migration to premium and ultraslim form factors.”


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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BBNaija Housemates Pick Tinsel, Princess on a Hill, and My Flatmates as Must-Watch Shows on Showmax

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Big Brother Naija Season 10 is now in its fourth week, and it’s already been a rollercoaster, packed with unexpected twists, bold new strategies, and all-round entertainment that has kept us glued to our screens.

The season kicked off with 29 housemates, with KayiKunmi, Danboskid, Ibifubara and Otega now evicted and Sabrina making a voluntary exit. Ships have sailed, sunk, and more are on the way. In short, it has been an exciting season of 10/10 drama.

Before stepping into the house, the housemates curated a list of their top shows to watch on Showmax, placing popular Nigerian shows like Tinsel, Princess on a Hill and My Flatmates at the top of their watch list.

Leading the pack is Tinsel. Considered Nigeria’s longest-running drama, the soap opera weaves a story of drama, romance, betrayal, and triumph, all set against the glamorous yet cutthroat world of Nigeria’s film industry. With standout performances from Nollywood veterans like Ireti Doyle, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, the late Victor Olaotan, and breakout stars like Gideon Okeke and Linda Ejiofor, its spot on the list is incontestable.

Joining Tinsel is the Showmax Original, Princess on a Hill (POAH), a Showmax original that delivers high-stakes drama in a corporate setting. The story follows Zara Osara (Onyinye Odokoro), an underdog who wins a reality show only to find herself thrust into the most powerful boardroom in the country. Tasked with salvaging the very company that gave her fame, Zara must navigate ruthless corporate politics and stand her ground against the merciless CEO, Moyosore Lawson (Bimbo Manuel). It’s thrilling and reminiscent of the drama many Nigerians face in the corporate world.

For a perfect balance between reality and comedy, My Flatmates brings the laughs with a tale centred around four friends navigating adulting, relationships, and rent money in Lagos. Featuring comic heavyweights like Basketmouth, Okey Bakassi, and Buchi, it’s equal parts witty and ridiculous.

While the housemates love their fair share of homegrown dramas, acclaimed international series also made their lists. Sci-fi epics like Dune, with its surreal visuals, and fantasy period dramas like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon dominated the list as well. Meanwhile, for lovers of unscripted drama, the housemates recommended shows like Nelly & Ashanti, Love Island USA and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Even though the housemates are cut off from the world, their taste is reflective of what Nigerians love to watch. From nostalgic classics to hilarious comedy dramas, Showmax has it all and more.


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Product Strategy and Portfolio Management

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Reuben Nkemjika Obasi
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In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, a hit product can really lift a company. But as businesses get bigger, they often end up with many different products and features. The challenge? Making sure all these pieces work together to help the company succeed in the long run. It’s like walking a tightrope, balancing what each product needs with the company’s overall goals. It goes way beyond just planning one product’s future.

Reuben Nkemjika Obasi

Here’s Reuben Nkemjika Obasi, a senior product manager who’s great at organizing product strategies on a large scale. Many product managers are good at guiding a single product from start to finish. Reuben, though, is skilled in running a whole group of products and features.

He brings the smart thinking needed to handle this mess, making sure every product, every feature, and every investment lines up with the company’s main business aims. He helps build a strong, unified product system.

One thing Reuben deals with daily is the push and pull between quick wins and long-term goals.

It’s a key tension in product management: hitting short-term targets like quarterly revenue while also developing the core products that will fuel growth later on. Reuben uses his knowledge of market trends and user habits to set up a way to prioritize things that allow for both. He makes sure a product’s plan includes features for immediate results and bigger projects that create a lasting foundation.

This balance is clear in how he handles several products. He knows each product in a group has a different job and is at a different point in its life. He uses his skills to sort products, like Google had to do with Google Meet, Google Duo, and Hangouts.

By figuring out which products are driving growth, which are making money, and which are old systems, he can adjust his strategy for each one. That way, they all get the right focus and resources.

Deciding where to put resources is super important. At big companies, there’s never enough people in engineering, design, and marketing.

Reuben has to make tough calls about where to invest those resources to get the most out of them. He uses information to judge plans across the board, balancing the possible impact of adding one new thing to an old product with the work needed to update a product that’s growing fast.

His choices are a careful mix of market numbers, limited resources, and what the company wants to achieve in the long run.

One of the hardest but most important things in product portfolio management is knowing when to retire a product. Markets change fast, and sometimes a product has just run its course. Google has faced this many times with its messaging tools.

Reuben is skilled at guiding this process, and he knows it calls for both understanding and clear thinking. He makes a plan to end a product responsibly, giving users a simple way to move to a newer, better product, keeping problems to a minimum and keeping users happy.

It’s not just about turning a product off, it’s about handling the change smoothly. Reuben manages a careful plan for talking to users, giving them clear instructions and help, and making sure their information and experiences are saved as much as possible. This planned goodbye keeps users from getting annoyed and lets the company focus its work and resources on its most products, like when Google focused on Meet.

Ultimately, Reuben Nkemjika Obasi helps turn a bunch of separate products into a product system that is connected and strong. He’s a leader who thinks ahead and uses data to make smart choices that push a company forward. His skills in product portfolio management ensure a company’s product investments aren’t just quick reactions but a thought-out plan for growth and success over time.


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SERAP, Editors Sue Niger Governor over Badeggi FM Shutdown Threat

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Umar Bago,  Niger State Governor, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over what they described as “the ongoing intimidation” of Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, and the threat to shut down the station.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director,  SERAP, accusing NBC of failing to stand in defence of the local station.

PUNCH Online had reported that Bago ordered the closure and the revocation of the licence of Badeggi Radio 90.1 FM in Minna over alleged public incitement.

However, in suit number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are seeking to determine “whether by Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”

They are also seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Niger state governor and NBC from further harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence and profile the station’s owner.”

The groups argued, “The ongoing intimidation and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

They described allegations of inciting violence against the station and its owner as “vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station.”

The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP and NGE by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part, “The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.

“Intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs, “A declaration that by the combined provisions of Section 22 Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the National Broadcasting Act, the NBC is obligated by law to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from undue interference from unauthorised persons or entity.

“A declaration that the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of the radio station against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.

“A declaration that the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence and further threat to demolish the station’s premises is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

“A declaration that the threat issued by the Bago to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its operational licence encroaches upon the statutory powers of the NBC as provided for under section 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.”

It was said that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.


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