Author: Duncan Pike

When it comes to first-generation devices, it doesn’t matter which product category or company you look at, you’ll always find room for improvement. Very few companies, if any, have hit all the right points on their first go. Having said that, Sonos has made a lot of positive choices with its first set of headphones, the Sonos Ace, and while they aren’t perfect, they’re a competent first effort that leaves us hopeful of Sonos’ future headphone endeavours. But we’ll review future headphones in the future. Right now, we’ve got these to try. There’s no getting around the fact that, like…

Following a Chinese launch in April, Huawei has just made its new Pura 70 smartphone series available for purchase in South Africa. Of the four models in the range, South Africans will have the choice of the Pura 70 for R20,000, the Pura 70 Pro for R27,000, and the Pura 70 Ultra for R35,000. In classic Huawei fashion, you’ll also get the Huawei MatePad SE as a promotional gift with your purchase. If those lump sums are too heavy, the devices will also be available on monthly contracts through local network operators. But what are you getting for all that…

Asus has officially unveiled its refreshed Windows-powered handheld gaming device, the ROG Ally X, at Computex 2024 this past weekend. The official launch confirmed pretty much everything that leaked over the last few weeks and added a few more details to get handheld gamers frothing. The ROG Ally X doesn’t mark a completely new generation of Asus’ handheld console. Rather, like the OLED-sporting refreshed Nintendo Switch, the ROG Ally X only changes a few things. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset remains, as does the 7in 1080p 120Hz IPS display. However, the battery, memory, and storage have all been improved.…

Asus is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Sometimes that means releasing a product that sets a new standard in its class. With the ZenScreen MB249C, however, Asus is pushing the definition of ‘portable’. Weighing 2.8kg and measuring 24in, most people won’t be lugging this ‘portable’ monitor around to coffee shops or whipping it out while travelling. The lack of an internal battery also limits how you can use it and where you can whip it out. But to be fair, Asus isn’t hoping you take this on your travels. Rather, it’s trying to appeal to the ever-busy office worker who…

As is customary in the tech scene, details of the Asus ROG Ally X have leaked ahead of its official 2 June Computex launch and, if they’re accurate, indicate marked improvements to the device’s performance and design. This leak comes from VideoCardz, which has shared what appears to be official marketing material for the ROG Ally X. Although, until someone from Asus ROG says the words, we recommend the usual pinch of rumour salt. ROG Ally X rumoured improvements One of our biggest concerns with the first ROG Ally was regarding its performance-per-watt and battery management. Rather than tweak internal…

It’s not just you, Google Search has been on a downward spiral for everyone who uses the search engine ever since the company added generative AI to Search with its AI Overview box at the top of search results. We hope you won’t be putting any glue on your pizza to make the cheese stick better. But while the feature is still in its early days, there are ways of avoiding it, first pointed out by the wizards at Ars Technica. This method involves using URL parameters to force Google Search to use the “web” search filter to provide you…

The multicoloured search giant recently added the ability to share passwords stored in Google Password Manager, in the latest May Play services update. This won’t come as a big surprise to many as the company shared its intention to do so earlier this year via its Family Link feature. “Accounts that are part of a family group will soon have the option to share usernames and passwords for a particular website or service directly from Google Password Manager,” reads a company blog post. “Whether two members of a family are coordinating with daycare through a single account, or a child…

If you thought there were already too many choices for buying tech online, Woolworths thought we could do with one more option. WConnect is a newly ‘launched’ section of the retail outlet’s online offering, dedicated to selling various tech devices and accessories from well-known brands like Apple, Hisense, Honor, Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, and Xiaomi. WConnect can be accessed via Woolworths’ website or smartphone app (Android, iOS, Huawei). Although, given its recency, you may need to update your app first. “With over 100 Connect counters across the country, you can now shop Woolworths WConnect online. From handset (sic) to screen…

After years of rumours, leaks, and teases, the Sonos Ace headphones have officially landed and look to take on industry stalwarts in the active noise cancellation and personal cinema audio game. This is the first wearable audio product from the company which will apparently “transform the way we listen on headphones.” “They’re here! Fans have asked us for years to bring the Sonos experience to headphones – and we knew our first foray into the category needed to champion the type of innovation and sound experience Sonos has become synonymous with,” said Sonos CEO Patrick Spence. The new cans feature…

During Microsoft’s Surface event yesterday, where it announced its new ‘Copilot+’ branding for incoming AI-focused devices, the company revealed two new Surface products that will bear the shiny new badge – a new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, a laptop/tablet hybrid. It also mentioned a few of its hardware partners that are expected to produce new AI machines. Microsoft’s new AI-powered Surface The new Surface Laptop will be available in two sizes, 13.8in and 15in, and will ship sporting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus processor. The rest of the specs are configurable, starting with 16GB of RAM and…