Author: Brett Venter

Unless you were completely checked out last night, you will have noticed that Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all stopped working yesterday evening. Also affected was Facebook’s Oculus service. All of these things have one thing in common — they’re interdependent. And, if you thought you had a bad time last night, spare a thought for the company (yes, really). The outage also took down Facebook’s internal services, trashing Workplace and making it that much harder for the social network to get its services back up and running. What happened to Facebook https://twitter.com/dok2001/status/1445056572703625218? There were many theories as to the cause…

El Salvador has taken quite a terrific risk in becoming the first country to make bitcoin legal tender, a move that other countries have yet to take. It’s quite possible that the country has made a mistake (or has it?) but El Salvador doesn’t appear to think so. Case in point: The country’s looking at unusual methods of mining bitcoin-like using a volcano as a power source. Really, El Salvador? https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1443832539496525852? One of the largest criticisms of bitcoin mining is the power draw required to mine new coins. Entire power plants are being repurposed to mine bitcoin, meaning that the…

Very few people are foolish enough to rush into a category-4 hurricane with a camera rolling (maybe Jake Paul will do it. Let’s ask him), but Saildrone isn’t a person. Saildrone isn’t even a single drone — the company behind the oceangoing drone is piloting a batch of five of them around the Atlantic Ocean. As part of a joint investigation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Explorer SD 1045 drone was sent inside the slowly-flagging Hurricane Sam in order to capture video of the inside of the weather phenomenon. Saildrone shows some skill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQM_03zuSAI The result…

Japanese video games publisher Konami has taken a bit of a back seat in recent years, shifting its focus away from anything but its football games away from consoles. The formerly iconic PES series, now branded as eFootball, isn’t doing the company any favours, so perhaps the news that some of the publisher’s most iconic games are turning will generate some love for them. At least, that’s the rumour. Games website Video Games Chronicle reports that “publishing sources” have said that several of the company’s most popular properties are on their way back, and not as Pachinko machines. Hurry it…

Earlier this year, rumours floated around concerning Apple and Samsung teaming up for an OLED iPad screen — something fans of the American brand have been clamoured for. Samsung was a logical choice, given the quality of the company’s smartphone and tablet displays. But… It seems like plans might have changed, which casts doubt on Apple finally launching an OLED iPad. 2022 was supposed to be the year we finally saw an OLED iPad Air, followed by OLED-packing iPad Pro models in 2023. Apple picking again? The original plan was for Apple and Samsung to pair up to produce a…

Automaker Honda doesn’t just make the Civic and motorcycles that used to be loads more popular than they are today — the company’s also known for exploring the worlds of robotics and… extreme lawnmowers? That’s… actually, that’s accurate. Huh. But the company has announced a slight change of direction, in the same direction as loads of other automakers, including Toyota. Honda intends to invest in several up-and-coming technologies, including robotics (more heavily than previously), rockets, and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. So we’re getting an E-Honda, then? The Japanese company announced its intention to invest ¥5 trillion (around…

Yes, generally we’re more excited by Samsung’s flagships but that tech, unlike the money hoarded by billionaires, actually eventually trickles down. This is how we get handsets like Samsung’s Galaxy A03s, a new entry into the Galaxy A-series of phones that’s within reach of… just about everyone. What’s inside the Galaxy A03s? At R2,500 — which is what Samsung’s newest budget smartphone will cost you — it might seem a little unreasonable to expect high-end features but it isn’t 2014 anymore. Two and a half grand will buy you a considerable amount of smartphone. The A03s packs a 6.5in Infinity…

Amazon is shaping up to be the dystopian future company of our dreams nightmares. Last night the company announced a whole mess of new tech, ending off its presentation with Astro, a little robot that follows its owners around. It’s obvious that Amazon was going for a Wall-E/EVE sort of vibe, with a cutesy look that’s supposed to be endearing. But Astro’s oversized, dead eyes just bring to mind corporate horror and a scenario where it chases you down the passage while asking why you cancelled your Prime subscription. Kicked in the Astro nought So what exactly does the creepiest…

Auto-maker Volvo might have a reputation as the ‘safe’ choice but its forays into autonomous vehicles and unusual business models mean that the company is a little more innovative than most. That innovation extends to long-haul shipping, thanks to a new autonomous prototype of its VNL semi-truck. Before you go getting all excited, the new prototype isn’t fully autonomous just yet. The company’s VNL prototype integrates Aurora Driver tech, along with a collection of safety features also seen in its non-self-driving trucks. Volvo’s cargo space? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmQYAF3vsbw Volvo doesn’t go into much detail about the autonomous tech its prototype features but…

Facebook’s first standalone wireless VR headset, the Oculus Go, was launched in 2018. Unfortunately, it was retired in 2020, meaning anyone who bought one was basically only renting it for a couple of years. Or were they…? John Carmack, who some of you might recognise as the chap who gave the world iD Software, Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake, is the current consulting chief technology officer for Oculus. He’s also the chap who dropped the news on Twitter that Oculus is unlocking the software on the now-defunct headsets, so modders can repurpose the no-longer-supported hardware. Read more: VR tech can help mental…