Author: Brett Venter

You might not recall 2014 all that well, but we certainly remember Amazon’s Fire Phone. It happened so long ago that Stuff’s original coverage has disappeared, but unlike the company’s other hardware, it didn’t fare well. But twelve years is a long time. Long enough that the online retail and internet giant is giving it another shot, according to a report from Reuters. The point isn’t so much to put a new phone into the market, however. It’s more about giving more of Amazon’s customers access to its AI. Amazon Transformer According to the report, which cites four internal sources…

Proving that all you need to stand out in tech is a quirky name, some primary colours, and a screen, Philips’ The Buds headphones have peered over the horizon. The brand’s audio products are available in South Africa, though Philips doesn’t make a fuss about it. Hopefully, it’ll change its mind for these wireless in-ears. They’re unlikely to topple Sony or Bose in the ‘best audio’ stakes. They do like they’re always ready to head out and do something silly. Which is what you expect from your buds, right? Can The Buds come over? The The Buds (yes, that’s grammatically…

There’s another issue of Stuff on physical and digital shelves. In this issue, we’ve got… well, loads. Want an early look at BMW’s newest EV? How about an improved dual-screen laptop? Various ways to distract yourself from the horrors (or banality) of modern life in the form of handheld PCs and games consoles? All of those and more are contained in the March to May 2026 issue of Stuff Magazine.  But if it’s headline features you’re after, this one’s a doozy. In this issue of Stuff, we’ve got an exhaustive list of headphone options to suit every taste, budget, activity,…

If your life — and computer — is missing simple access to ChatGPT and friends, OpenAI has a solution. The company has confirmed that it’s unifying its various offerings across AI chat, coding, and image/video creation into a single ‘super-app’ designed for desktops. According to a note to employees seen by the Wall Street Journal (via Reuters), the AI company believes that juggling multiple platforms is slowing down its progress. No mention was made of how stuffing everything into a unified app will make it impossible to avoid OpenAI’s advertising push. Open OpenAI and go Instead, according to the company’s…

When is a keyboard like HP’s EliteBoard G1a worth paying R25,000 (HK$12,000) for? When it’s an entire computer as well as a wireless keyboard. Well, not ‘entire’. You’ll have to supply your own screen and mouse. HP unveiled its newest typing hardware at this year’s CES conference, and it’s finally gone on sale (in Hong Kong and Japan). The bonkers pricing is actually a pre-order special for the base model of the G1a — there are others — with the regular price of HK$13,900 sitting closer to the R30,000 mark. Head of the EliteBoard G1a The main reason for HP’s…

The Unihertz Titan 2 Elite has been teasing us for a long time, but it’s finally almost time to buy one. As with the brand’s other releases, initial purchases will be done using Kickstarter. The opening date for the campaign? Next week, on 24 March. At 15h00 South African Standard Time (SAST), if you’re determined to be at the front of the queue. Being there will make some difference, though we’re not exactly sure how much yet. Unihertz promises “early bird pricing” but hasn’t dropped any hints about what that will be. Unihertz so good?  Not everything, even now, is…

Very small retro cameras seem to be in vogue at present. The Rewindpix is just the latest contender, but unlike Yashica’s Tank or Haru’s super-teeny effort, this one is all modern. Sort of. The new compact, currently being well-funded on Kickstarter, takes a very modern route to extremely retro results. It’s styled as a “non-disposable digital ‘film’ camera,” which basically means it’ll give you film camera results but without the need for… well, film. Or development. Or you can skip all of that, if you wish. Be kind, Rewindpix The Rewindpix uses a modern Sony 13MP image sensor, paired with…

SwiftKey, one of the more popular mobile keyboards on the planet (check your phone), will be changing in the next couple of months. Users of the Microsoft-owned software have been notified that the experience will soon have a few new requirements. Namely, SwiftKey users will have to log into a Microsoft account to keep their dictionary and typing data. These will also be stored on OneDrive. In other words, Microsoft’s cloud service will have to run in the background. Swiftly swapping SwiftKey According to Windows Central, Microsoft reckons the change will “make SwiftKey better.” But since the change is also…

Smartwatches are everywhere. Generally, they track what’s happening inside — not out. The O-Boy, a watch from design company Futurewave, keeps an eye on what’s happening to you outside. That’s less confusing than it sounds. The watch was developed with satellite communication in mind, meaning it’ll function in the world’s most out-of-the-way places. Provided there’s satellite coverage, anyway. It’s supposed to keep track of its user and, hopefully, “save the lives of human [sic] in danger.” O-Boy, that sounds safe The O-Boy is a smart wearable with a legitimately interesting design, made possible because it’s not supposed to function like…

An American robotics company, Foundation, has sent its Phantom MK-1 humanoid robot to Ukraine to be tested in combat conditions. Don’t panic. The robot isn’t being armed for battle. But that is the eventual plan, according to company co-founder Mike LeBlanc. LeBlanc, speaking to Time Magazine, explained that it makes more sense to send robots to the front lines. The Phantom MK-1 isn’t there as a combatant, but the plan is for the bot to eventually use “any kind of weapon that a human can.” Military Foundation Two of Foundation’s robots have been in Ukraine since February, according to reports.…