Author: Duncan Pike

If you’ve ever tried to use a computer or smartphone without using your hands, you’ll know how hard it can be. The folks at Augmental, a human–machine interface lab in San Francisco, obviously figured something should be done about that, so they created the MouthPad and VOX. The MouthPad initially debuted at CES a few years ago, but those were still early days of the prototype stage. Now, the company thinks it’s ready for in-mouth operation. It has opened public sales in the US, along with making VOX available via a beta release. Look, no hands In case it wasn’t…

Asus has a pretty consistent record for making fantastic OLED monitors. Its new ROG Strix XG27UCMG might not feature an OLED panel, but the company reckons the three combinations of resolution and refresh rate are enough to make up for that. Dual-mode monitors have been a thing since early 2024 when Asus unveiled the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP, the first monitor to allow switching between 4K at 240Hz and FHD at 480Hz. So, while the XG27UCMG might not be the first monitor to offer three display modes (those bragging rights go to the MPG OLED 322URDX36 from MSI), it will…

Hot on the heels of its global launch event in Malaysia, Huawei held its EMEA regional launch event today, where it introduced the previously launched Pura 90s Pro and Pro Max, a ‘new’ MatePad Air tablet, and the FreeClip 2 Special Edition open-ear earbuds. There’s still no word on local pricing for the new smartphone range or earbuds, but we do know they should land in South Africa some time in the first half of August. They might be joined by the new tablet, too, but don’t get your hopes up. Expect the Pura 90s soon As we’ve come to…

Everyone’s favourite Big Tech company, Microsoft, announced yesterday that it is “rolling out several improvements to Windows Search Box” for Windows Insiders. Apparently, the company is only now hearing from its users that they’ve “been asking for search that is faster, more relevant, and easier to use,” so it’s started by “making results more dependable, easier to scan, and clearer.” That seems like a good start. Cleaning up your Windows For starters, it’s worth noting that the Windows Search box and the Windows Start menu are different things. The latter is what pops up when you hit the Windows key…

Asus seemingly discovered a product category it hadn’t touched until now. With its announcement of the ROG Gjallar gaming soundbar, Asus officially enters the dedicated gaming speaker market. This is Asus’ first standalone audio system that isn’t headphones made for gaming and multimedia applications. It follows the ROG Kithara that launched earlier this year, another audio device aimed at a different market. If you’re tired of having too much desk space, maybe the ROG Gjallar is for you. There are three bits included: the soundbar where most of the speakers live, a wireless subwoofer, and the audio control hub. You’re…

Do you spend a lot of your time jumping around on a stage? Even if you’re just standing there playing with your instrument, Sony’s new in-ear monitors could be for you. Sony doesn’t only make great consumer tech; it also dabbles in professional gear. The IER-M500 is Sony’s latest pro gear aimed at “amateur, emerging, and professional musicians, performers, and monitor engineers who require reliable and accurate in-ear monitoring for live performances and practices.” Check-check, one-two These in-ear buds apparently “fill a gap in Sony’s professional audio lineup, strengthening its end-to-end creator ecosystem,” so they should pair well if you’re…

After its plans to create a super app emerged in March this year, OpenAI has made good on those plans. ChatGPT Work is now what the company hopes you’ll use for all your web browsing, coding, and slop generation. The app is powered by OpenAI’s new GPT-5.6 model, which it debuted yesterday and is supposed to be its “smartest model series for professional work”. It’s the same model that the US government made OpenAI delay releasing over national security fears. “ChatGPT Work brings together context from your team’s tools to turn scattered notes, drafts, and ideas into finished work —…

Don’t want to sit through YouTube ads but too cheap to pay for Premium? DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine and browser company, has you covered with its latest free feature added to its browser. According to the company, its browser can now block “most video ads”. Yup, that includes those unskippable 30-second YouTube ads that run before your chosen video starts, as well as the also-super-annoying ads that interrupt your videos, sometimes multiple times per video. Since Google killed the last vestiges of Manifest V2, upon which ad-blocking extensions like uBlock Origin (and all content blockers that depend on dynamic…

Monitors might be one of the only things not priced out of reach for most consumers these days. Yes, flagship OLED monitors that allow you to switch resolution and refresh rate are still pretty pricey. But it wasn’t so long ago that we were saying the same thing about high-refresh-rate monitors like the Acer Nitro VG240. If you’re not worried about fancy features or frills, or if you stick to easy-to-run esports titles with the settings turned down to maximise your fps, then the VG240 could be just the monitor you need. If you want your AAA titles to look…

With its commitment to audio and design, it’s difficult to ignore anything Bang & Olufsen does. The Danish audio company has been around for over 100 years and has proven it (usually) knows what it’s doing with audio devices. Its track record with power banks isn’t as proven, but hey, everyone has to start somewhere, right? Bang & Olufsen brings the power This new device and new product category for the company is certainly a surprise. It stands out, like most B&O products. But in this case, it might not be for the reasons B&O hoped for. At €145, or…