Soundcore Space 2, Electric Boogaloo
When it comes to affordable headphones, nobody gets a reception quite like Anker’s Soundcore spinoff — especially at Stuff. It pulled off a near miracle with the Soundcore Space One, before doing it again when the ‘Pro’ came along. We’ve eagerly awaited a sequel, and according to AnkerInsider, our time has nearly come.
That would be the Anker Soundcore Space 2 (Space Two?). Known as Model D1402 until Anker gets around to an official announcement, the Space 2 packs 40mm double-layer diaphragm drivers, three microphones, and four-stage low-frequency noise cancellation. Battery life has also been upgraded. Keep ANC off to net roughly 70 hours on a single charge, or 50 with noise-cancellation dialled up. Wear detection and LDAC are also supported.
This is usually the bit where the leaker runs out of useful info, but not here. AnkerInsider reckons the device is primed for release on 21 April (in the States) in three colours: Jet Black, Linen White, and Seafoam Green. It’ll even keep its affordable price tag, landing at $130. That’s a little under R2,200 when directly converted.
Spotify dials back the algorithm (but only if you want)
The algorithm might work for Stuff’s own Toby Shapshak, but not everyone is so lucky. Apps like Spotify often miss the mark for some, prompting the music streamer’s next update: Taste Profile. Announced by co-CEO Gustav Söderström at SXSW, Premium listeners have a new way to adjust their algorithm on the fly.
The feature is still in beta and will gradually roll out to Premium subscribers in New Zealand over the coming weeks. When it does show up, users will be able to surface their entire ‘taste profile’ through the settings to see what Spotify’s algorithm thinks about them. If they aren’t keen, users can make adjustments in real time.
“If something doesn’t feel quite right, you can tell us by flagging when your profile misses the mark—asking for more or less of a certain vibe, or simply sharing what you’re in the mood for. Your input helps determine what gets prioritized, what gets dialed back, and what you discover next on the Spotify homepage,” it said.
Of course, if you’re happy with the algorithm as is, there’s no sense fiddling with a good thing. We’re all for more customisation, especially when it comes to Spotify’s taste recommendations, which are increasingly AI-ridden in the current landscape. Don’t expect that to disappear anytime soon. Taste Profile is the best you’re going to get.
Instagram ditches end-to-end encryption… for the kids
It’s no secret that Instagram is an unguarded playground for the sexually devious, particularly when children are involved. The Meta-owned social media has done much to distance itself from the issue. Now it’s dropping end-to-end encryption (E2EE) from the app’s direct messaging feature. If you aren’t familiar with the term, it’s a security protocol that ensures messages can only be read by the sender and receiver — and not Instagram.
Yeah, that’s going away for good. Soon. As soon as 8 May 2026, to be precise. After that, you may want to refrain from sending anything sensitive you’d rather Instagram didn’t know about. The company cites a low adoption rate as one of the reasons it’s disappearing. That might have something to do with the onerous opt-in process.
Another major factor is to help keep kids safe. Child safety organisations claim the encryption standard makes it easier for certain predators to communicate with underage users online. With Meta and potentially law enforcement able to see inside certain chats, it could dissuade predators from messaging underage users in the first place. Still, if you’d rather not have Meta snooping around, you’ll gain the power to download your chats locally, soon.
Your Xbox is getting its very own AI assistant, for some reason
Well, it’s been a good run. Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot AI Assistant may have already infected your mobile, computer, or ROG Xbox Ally in this beta phase. Now the feature is slated to plague your Xbox console, too. It won’t arrive immediately — but it will land on your Xbox Series X and S consoles before the year is out. Yay?
Xbox’s gaming AI partner group product manager, Sonali Yadav, confirmed as much at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel. “I’m excited to announce that later this year, we will bring Gaming Copilot to the current-generation consoles, and we will continue to bring it to more services that players are playing,” she said.
The Gaming Copilot AI Assistant is just like every other chatbot that’s dominated headlines since 2022. Except this one specialises in gaming. It’ll hibernate on your console ’til summoned, ready to help with any questions about the game that’s currently kicking your ass (it’s okay, you can say Hollow Knight: Silksong). It’ll even deliver recommendations when asked, or bring up your play data or account details.
