Author: Brett Venter

Reflect Orbital has gained FCC approval to test its Earendil-1 satellite in space. If you don’t recall what the company does (and what it wants to do), these are the space mirrors folks who want to sell the world on-demand sunlight. It’s not like sunlight isn’t already free most of the time. You just have to wait for it to turn up again once the sun sets. But Earendil-1 hopes to test the concept that Reflect has already trialled using (probably) balloons. Now, the US Federal Communications Commission has said that they can give it a shot. Terms and conditions…

DJI has been conducting various drone tests, but sending its EV50 delivery drone to the world’s tallest mountain peak is a serious achievement. Maybe there’s something in the wind that’s sending tech to Mount Everest. A Unitree robot is supposed to get there (eventually) as well. The Chinese drone-maker’s efforts with its EV50 eVTOL delivery drone are just part of a larger effort that saw the company’s other drones also working in the area. The DJI FlyCart 100 and Matrice 4E also handled tasks at Mount Qomolangma (or Sagarmāthā, depending on who you reckon Everest belongs to). Drop and give…

Is a cyberdeck still a cyberdeck when its creators call it a PDA? The PocketMage is a “personal digital assistant designed to reclaim the utility of pocketable computing,” according to its creators. What it looks like is a small computer that comes right out of a 1980s vision of a tech future. It also looks like it’s been installed in a small plastic storage case at first glance. There may be a reason for that… It has more in common with similar writer-specific devices, and not just because it uses an e-paper display. PocketMage casts Focus PocketMage is, relatively speaking,…

If you didn’t know that expensive drones sometimes need parachutes, you obviously never had to pay for one. DJI has launched its AP100 parachute to support its Matrice 400 drones. The reasoning is that you might not need it, but you’ll be grateful that your expensive drone has backup if you do. The DJI AP100 parachute isn’t a unique product at all. Other companies already make auto-deploying ‘chutes for drones. This is just the first to issue from DJI itself. The parachute setup sells for around R17,200, though it’s not available at retail just yet. Dealers can purchase them, though.…

If you were wondering where some of the funds the South Korean government has allocated for AI and robotics are going, LG is one of its first stops. So is Nvidia, like the company needs the cash injection. Both companies have announced a partnership that will “accelerate LG Group’s next wave of AI-driven businesses, spanning robotics, autonomous driving, data center technologies and GPU cloud services.” Which, handily, also gives us some idea of where the lately-stricken South Korean company is headed. It has been trying its hand at various industries, mostly by placing its manufacturing into unusual supply chains. Now,…

South African internet provider Rain has announced a new unlimited calling plan, plus something it calls the LoopPhone. Whether the handset is a rebadged model or something custom-specified, there’s little about it specifically online. A closer look at what Rain promises its mobile customers might offer some idea of how much value is contained in the device itself. The LoopPhone, as far as we can find out, is probably sourced from Vivo or one of its subsidiary companies, like iQoo. The closest actual match is the Vivo V70 FE, though Rain has gone for a customised shell with a secondary…

Garmin used to be well known for its GPS systems (it still is), but we never would have called its new LiveScope 2 HD fish finder being part of the lineup. The company reckons its newest fishing hardware lets users “see fish and lures in real time in high definition”. That’s… mighty attractive, if you’re a (lazy) angler. The updated LiveScope 2 will give anglers “detailed imagery” within casting range and at depths of up to 38 metres, according to Garmin. It probably won’t give you the same view as you’d experience in Sega Bass Fishing, but it should provide…

Two weeks from today, Samsung will host its newest Galaxy Unpacked event. This one will broadcast live (as usual) from London (not as usual) and is widely expected to involve the company’s newest folding smartphones. It’s not really speculation at this point, since the event’s tagline is “A new shape unfolds”. Which lends plenty of credence to the hardly-secret Galaxy Fold 8 Wide (whichever order Samsung eventually puts the words in) being a thing. You can’t unfold a new shape unless there’s a new shape to unfold, after all. Sure, the old and new designs are both approximately rectangular, but…

We actually didn’t realise the price of the Soundcore R60i NC earbuds until right at the very end of our time with them. After the price point — between R600 and R800, depending where you buy them — became apparent, these in-ears immediately became an excellent choice for… just about everyone. Generally when you buy headphones of any sort under a grand, you’re looking at serious issues somewhere or another. Soundcore’s R60i NC buds certainly have an issue or two, but none so glaring that you’ll be miffed that you paid for them. The major drawback isn’t even terribly major.…

Lego’s Nintendo sets are frequently decent, and the newly leaked Pokémon: 72154 Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball set looks to continue that tradition. Usually, the Danish brick company is very forthcoming about its upcoming products, but for a change, this one appeared via Reddit. Which means that we can’t be entirely sure that this set is authentic. However, the images provided with the information strongly resemble official imagery used in Lego’s online listings. The pricing estimate is also in the right ballpark for maximum credibility. Pokémon to the desk Pricing for this surprisingly complicated Lego Pokémon build puts the set…