Год назад 24 сентября 2020 Сбер презентовал свой ребрендинг и платформу с умными ассистентами. Я и тогда высказался об этом довольно позитивно, а теперь я уже некоторое время вовлечён в разработку под неё, и она даже стала источником крупнейшего в моей жизни единовременного денежного выигрыша.
Вообще, я не скрываю своего скептицизма по отношению к строительству экосистем и так называемых супераппов. У нас всех уже есть суперапп -- операционная система на смартфоне или компьютере. Совершенно непонятно, почему пользователь должен запускать что-то внутри другого приложения, если может просто иметь себе отдельно такое приложение в телефоне.
Пока что в общемировой практике сработал только WeChat в Китае, но там это произошло, судя по всему, из-за своеобразного местного законодательства с его запретами. В России ближе всего к супераппам подошёл ВК, и здесь у них есть два сильнейших преимущества:
- соцсеть изначально многоцелевая (в отличие, например, от поисковика или банковского клиента), поэтому пользователи привыкли заниматься здесь разными вещами
- социальный граф, отлично способствующий вирусному распространению
И даже с такими вводными у ВК пока не вышло убедить массовую аудиторию в необходимости пользоваться встроенными аппами для разных целей. Пользователи есть или у продуктов, созданных как раз вокруг социального графа и других средств социальной сети (опросники и тесты для друзей, статистика страницы итд), или у продуктов, поддерживаемых внешним бизнесом, в том числе самим ВК (такси, алиэкспресс, пиццерия). Нет даже близко речи о том, чтобы вы внутри ВКонтакте запускали, например, фоторедактор или менеджер задач. Даже моё приложение Promenade, которое вы массово репостили и очень хвалили, имеет около нуля активных юзеров. Среди моих друзей и знакомых никто систематически не пользуется ни одним миниаппом, а модерация самого ВК советовала мне превратить одно из приложений в игру, потому что игры популярнее и востребованнее.
Так что, возвращаясь к Сберу, ещё более дико выглядит мысль о том, что человек будет запускать приложение внутри банковского клиента, если это приложение не связано с финансами. А у Сбера ещё и сами приложения довольно специфические — поверх любого отрисовывается голосовой ассистент, который должен быть в каком-то виде поддержан, даже там, где в принципе голосовой ввод не предполагается. И у приложений нет доступа к аппаратуре телефона, например, к камере (хотя со временем это добавят).
Так что сейчас в сберовском "Салюте" перекати поле в плане количества юзеров. Но этот вопрос должны решать маркетологи и прочие рекламщики. Если предположить, что устойчивая модель супераппа в принципе возможна в России, то у них наверняка есть план. Я не понимаю, какой, и как возможно убедить людей, но не тратят же они в самом деле миллиардные бюджеты на попытку вслепую и из-за моды? :)
Зато я разбираюсь в технической составляющей, и немного -- в продуктовой. И могу сказать, что с этой позиции у площадки Сбера всё прям очень хорошо. Я в восторге от многих вещей, как технических, так и продуктовых. На платформе приятно разрабатывать, её правильно и своевременно обновляют, и, конечно же, очень классно взаимодействовать с сообществом, о котором я уже отзывался в статье. На вопросы отвечают быстро, баги реально берут в работу и исправляют за адекватное время. Для меня за прошедший год Сбер открылся с новой стороны. Посмотрим, что будет ещё через год.
#dev
🎉 Happy Birthday to Lwazi Lifa from South Africa! 🇿🇦
🎓 Lwazi studies Mathematics and Computer Science at Ural Federal University (UrFU).
This year, for the very first time, he celebrates his birthday in autumn—while in his home country of South Africa, it’s springtime! 🌍
Lwazi, may your day be filled with joy, warm moments, and delightful surprises! ✨🎂
#Birthday#SouthAfrica#UrFU
🌏 At the invitation of Ural Federal University (UrFU), the Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa in Yekaterinburg, along with diplomats and honorary consuls from other countries, took part in the seminar “Engagement within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”
🤝 Following the seminar, UrFU Acting Rector Dr. Ilya Obabkov shared the university’s opportunities with the participants and promised support for joint scientific and educational initiatives.
#UrFU#SouthAfrica#Diplomacy#Education#Yekaterinburg
🌍📚 Ahead of International Translation Day, the Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa in Yekaterinburg held a meeting with students from the Department of Foreign Languages at Ural Federal University, dedicated to translation issues.
📖 We talked about the translation of Mzuvukile Maqetuka’s book Jim is Tired of Jo’burg, as well as the challenges of the translator’s craft. Students asked many insightful questions.
🤝 After the event, we explored potential joint projects with the head of the department, Dr. Aleksandra Kovalyova.
#SouthAfrica#Yekaterinburg#Translation#UrFU#Education#Diplomacy
🎓🇿🇦 Two friends from South Africa — Boipelo Gomolemo Nkagisang (pictured on the left) and Boithatelo Gladys Mokhele (pictured on the right) — have officially been enrolled at Ural Federal University (UrFU) and are starting their studies! 🎉
🙌 Determined to master Russian, they asked to be placed in the dorm not together, but with roommates who don’t speak English — so they can practice Russian every day in real-life situations. 🗣🇷🇺
Wishing them great success, new friendships, and an unforgettable student experience in Yekaterinburg! ✨
#SouthAfrica#Yekaterinburg#UrFU#Education#Russia#RussianLanguage
🎉The international student community at Ural Federal University (UrFU) just got a little bigger — welcome Boipelo Nkagisang from South Africa! 🇿🇦
👏 The Office of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa congratulates Boipelo on successfully completing her Russian language course at Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU).
🎓 Starting this fall, Boipelo will begin her master’s program in Psychology at UrFU.
❤️ Staff of UrFU’s Center for International Student Mobility and Recruitment, along with the Office of the Honorary Consul, supported Boipelo with her paperwork and preparations.
Welcome to UrFU's student community! 🌍
#Yekaterinburg#SouthAfrica#UrFU#USPU#Education
#InternationalStudents
🌍 South Africa as a Tourism Destination
🎓 Students of the Department of International Relations at Ural Federal University (UrFU) successfully prepared and defended projects showcasing tourist routes across BRICS countries.
While working on their projects, the students discovered South Africa. 🇿🇦✨
👥 The projects were evaluated with the participation of invited experts, including:
• The Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa
• Oksana Trofimova-Nidental, CEO of the tourism holding Visit Ural – Siberia, who has traveled extensively in South Africa
• Svetlana Novitskaya, Deputy Director for International Cooperation at Gymnasium No. 212, who organized a series of meetings on South Africa as part of the school project Exploring BRICS+ Countries.
🤝 Following the presentations, the Office of the Honorary Consul discussed with Dr. Viktoria Belyaeva, Head of the Department, potential avenues for cooperation in 2026.
#SouthAfrica#Tourism#UrFU#Education#BRICS#Yekaterinburg#InternationalCooperation
📝The Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa in Yekaterinburg, Mr. Sergey Mazurkevich, signed letters of appreciation, which were personally handed to colleagues by the staff of the Honorary Consul's office.
🗓 In 2025, Dr. Anna Dedyukhina, Associate Professor at the Chair of Foreign Languages, Ural Federal University, was instrumental in fostering Russian–South African cooperation in education and the humanities.
🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦Key initiatives implemented within this cooperation include:
— 🇿🇦Meeting with UrFU students
Dr. Dedyukhina organized a meeting between the Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa in Yekaterinburg and students of the Chair of Foreign Languages at Ural Federal University, focusing on current issues in translation.
The discussion addressed the Russian translation of the book by Mzuvukile Maqetuka, Jim Is Tired of Jo’burg.
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/2606
— 🇿🇦🎓Student academic research projects
For the first time in the consular district, Dr. Dedyukhina initiated student academic research projects—including articles, term papers, and dissertations—based on works by South African authors as well as social media content related to South Africa.
🤝 Dear Dr. Dedyukhina,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your professionalism, active cooperation, and contribution to the development of Russia–South Africa relations in 2024–2025.
With respect and looking forward to continuing our cooperation,
Honorary Consul
of the Republic of South Africa
in Yekaterinburg
Sergey Mazurkevich
#SouthAfrica#Yekaterinburg#UrFU#Diplomacy#HonoraryConsul#Mazurkevich#InternationalCooperation
🎓 At the invitation of the Chair of Linguistics and Professional Communication in Foreign Languages at Ural Federal University (URFU), the Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa in Yekaterinburg joined the graduation ceremony for this year’s linguists, translators, and language educators.
📚 As a token of appreciation, we presented the Chair with Jim Is Tired of Jo'burg by Mzuvukile Maqetuka, published last year by the URFU Publishing House and translated into Russian by Dr. Dmitry Pobedash, a faculty member of the Chair.
🤝 Also, we explored possible areas of cooperation for the upcoming academic year together with Dr. Maria Ilyushkina, Head of the Chair.
#URFU#Education#SouthAfrica#Translation#Linguistics#CulturalDialogue
Boithatelo Gladys Mokhele, a student from South Africa, is studying International Relations at Ural Federal University (UrFU).🎓🌍
She hopes to contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa in the future. Right now, Gladys is looking for volunteer opportunities in international projects.
We discussed possible options for her with the African Students’ Association, the International Office of UrFU, and the Public Support Headquarters of the United Russia party. 🤝
📸 Photo: Gladys with staff members of the Headquarters and at the Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa.
#SouthAfrica#InternationalRelations#UrFU#Volunteering#Africa#Diplomacy#Yekaterinburg
🇿🇦 The Office of the Honorary Consul of South Africa gave a presentation at the Specialized Educational and Research Center of Ural Federal University (UrFU)!
We shared insights about South Africa and the activities of the Honorary Consul, Sergey Mazurkevich. 🌍🤝
After the presentation, we discussed opportunities for future cooperation and potential joint projects.
Our warm thanks go to Anna Martyanova, additional education teacher, for organizing this inspiring event! 🙏✨
#SouthAfrica#UrFU#Education#Cooperation
#Diplomacy#Yekaterinburg#HonoraryConsul#Mazurkevich
📝The Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa in Yekaterinburg, Sergey Mazurkevich, signed letters of appreciation, which the office of the Honorary Consul personally handed to colleagues.
🗓 In 2024–2025, Dr. Aleksey Antoshin, a professor at the Chair of Oriental and African Studies at Ural Federal University (UrFU), organized several events dedicated to the Republic of South Africa and played a key role in establishing the UrFU African Club.
Today, this initiative is expanding beyond a single university and is gradually evolving into the African Club of Yekaterinburg. 🎓
🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦Key initiatives implemented within this cooperation include:
— 🇿🇦International Academic Seminar The Urals and South Africa Against Racism: Past and Present
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/997
— 🇿🇦Meeting of the Honorary Consul of South Africa with African Studies scholars from UrFU and the Russian Academy of Sciences
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/1013
— 🇿🇦Presentation on South Africa for students of the Oriental and African Studies program at UrFU, delivered by the Office of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/1766
— 🌍Opening of the UrFU African Club
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/2035
🤝 Dear Dr. Antoshin,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your professionalism, active cooperation, and contribution to the development of Russia–South Africa relations in 2024–2025.
With respect and looking forward to continuing our cooperation,
Honorary Consul
of the Republic of South Africa
in Yekaterinburg
Sergey Mazurkevich
#SouthAfrica#Yekaterinburg#UrFU#AfricanStudies#InternationalCooperation#Diplomacy#HonoraryConsul#Mazurkevich
📝The Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa in Yekaterinburg, Mr. Sergey Mazurkevich, signed letters of appreciation, which were personally handed to colleagues by the staff of the Honorary Consul's office.
🗓 In 2024–2025, Dr. Dmitry Pobedash, Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Professional Communication in Foreign Languages at Ural Federal University (UrFU), translated a book by writer and diplomat Mzuvukile Maqetuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus (2021–2025). He also took part in a number of events dedicated to South Africa 🇿🇦
🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦Key initiatives implemented within this cooperation include:
— 🇿🇦📘 In 2024, Dr. Pobedash translated Jim Is Tired of Jo'burg. This was the first Russian translation of a book by M.Maqetuka. The Russian edition («Джим устал от Йобурга») was published in Yekaterinburg the same year.
— 🤝 Together with the Office of the Honorary Consul, Dmitry Pobedash contributed to several presentations of the book:
• at the Krasnaya Stroka (Red Line) book festival — first introducing translated chapters (2024)
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/1340,
and later the published edition (2025)
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/2492;
• at the Sverdlovsk Regional Library
🔗https://t.me/sarconsulurals/1633.
— 🌍 Dmitry Pobedash also visited South Africa. He shares his experience with his students and encourages them to learn more about the country, follow the Honorary Consulate’s Telegram channel, and explore other materials about South Africa.
🤝 Dear Dr. Pobedash,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your professionalism, active cooperation, and contribution to the development of Russia–South Africa relations in 2024–2025.
With respect and looking forward to continuing our cooperation,
Honorary Consul
of the Republic of South Africa
in Yekaterinburg
Sergey Mazurkevich
#SouthAfrica#Yekaterinburg#UrFU#Diplomacy#HonoraryConsul#Mazurkevich#Culture#Translation#InternationalCooperation