Author: CraigWilson

Creating smooth, cinematic time-lapse videos generally requires at least a modicum of technical know-how and a decent digital camera. Instagram’s latest app, Hyperlapse, promises to change that and enable anyone with an iPhone (for now, an Android version of the app will doubtless follow) to make beautiful time-lapse videos with minimal skill or effort. Instagram, which was acquired by Facebook in April 2012 for roughly $1 billion in cash and stock, wasn’t the first app to let users add filters to images and share them to various social networks, but it’s by far and away the most successful. With Hyperlapse,…

Who could have predicted that a bank would become one of the biggest sellers of smart devices in South Africa? That bank is FNB, and it’s now added the Lenovo Ideatab tablet computer to its range of smart devices at a rate of R99 per month for 24 months. In a statement released today the bank says the move in intended to make smart devices “affordable for South Africans who previously would not have been able to purchase one”. Of course, that’s not the only reason FNB wants to offer more affordable devices. A customer who can self-service (minds out…

There’s a new kid on the South African start-up scene that hopes to revolutionise the courier industry using similar principles to those that have made Uber such an enormous success both locally and internationally. Founded by Simon Hartley and Roy Borole, WumDrop grew out of another business idea the pair had for delivering nappies. “My cofounder and I were at university together and had always wanted to start a business. We were both good at selling things, but had no rent for a physical shop, so we thought we’d look at something in the e-commerce space,” Harley tells Stuff. “We…

New research conducted by global networking and hardware giant Cisco has found that the increase in mobile devices in the workplace has left many South African businesses vulnerable to security breaches. Cisco says South African companies need to pay closer attention to IT security, particularly where staff are able to access sensitive company information on their mobile devices. This sort of access is becoming increasingly commonplace because of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement, which has gained popularity in recent years. According to Cisco, there will be an estimated 98 million mobile-connected devices in South Africa by 2018, making properly securing them…

The iStore in Centurion was robbed this morning by seven armed gunmen, Stuff has learnt, making it the third such store in Gauteng to fall victim to robbery this month. However, the stolen devices may well prove worthless because of Apple’s procedures for dealing with stolen goods. Earlier this month the iStore in the Glen Shopping Centre, south of Johannesburg was robbed and a security guard was shot in the leg. The incident came only a day after a similar robbery at the iStore in Cresta Shopping Centre, which saw a bystander shot as the thieves made their escape. Stuff…

Last Thursday, MTN Business hosted its annual App of the Year awards at The Venue at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. One of the judges for the event was none other than our own editor and publisher, Toby Shapshak. The awards seek to showcase locally developed applications that have made a positive and lasting impact on businesses and consumers during the last year. The overall winner for 2014 was insurance claim application, LIVE Inspect. LIVE Inspect is a short-term insurance app that enables effective inspections on vehicles. Using the app, insurers can automatically assess damage to vehicles, take pictures of it, and…

A new start-up called Click n Compare allows South African consumers to compare financial, connectivity and other services. The service makes it possible to easily compare mobile phone contracts and broadband services, various types of insurance, long-term and short-term loans, banking products and travel. Click n Compare says it aims to be “a one-stop-shop for consumers” that will save them time and money. On the banking front, the platform also allows users to source the lowest home loan quotes, invest in binary options investments and even handles their SARS tax returns. When it comes to travel, Click n Compare makes…

Every South African with an email address will, at some point, receive a phishing mail or 419 scam email from either a bank claiming details have been compromised and need to be updated, or from some or other custodian or estate executor looking to transfer money from a hitherto unheard of benefactor in exchange for a fee. The bulk of banking phishing mails are made to look like they come from Absa, whether or not the target banks there, because with it being South Africa’s largest retail bank, the chances of successfully hoodwinking someone are far higher. There is no…

Last week we introduced you to Money for Jam (M4JAM), a “microjobbing” platform that allows smartphone owners to complete small jobs like market research or taking pictures of certain products in stores in exchange for small payments of up to R30 per job. In its first week the service has paid out tens of thousands of rand to South African users. M4JAM co-founder Andre Hugo says the response to the platform has exceeded even the M4JAM team’s expectations. “The adoption, quality of jobs and jobbers and engagement have been amazing. It’s been 100 times more positive than we could ever have hoped for,”…

Dutch company TomTom, best known for its personal navigation devices, has released two sports watches in South Africa as it seeks to offset the decline in sales of GPS devices prompted by smartphone adoption. Both devices’ unique selling point is their ability to measure a user’s heart rate – something that usually requires a dedicated heart-rate monitor, more often than not strapped to the user’s chest. The first watch, called the TomTom Runner, includes GPS tracking for road running as well as a setting for treadmill workouts. The second, The TomTom Multi-Sport Cardio, is aimed at those who run, cycle,…