Author: Brett Venter

The rumours of BlackBerry’s death seem to have been greatly (or at least partially) exaggerated. The smartphone maker is set to launch its first 5G smartphone, thanks to the company’s new owner OnwardMobility. And that’s… about all we know. OnwardMobility’s CEO Peter Franklin has said that the handset will launch with a physical keyboard as well as a “…suite of end-to-end security solutions.” Beyond that, we’ve got little idea what it might look like. Picking a new BlackBerry But website MENAFN has a few ideas. A wide touchscreen and the physical keyboard are almost a given, and the revived BlackBerry…

You know how it goes — Eskom has started load shedding in South Africa again, which means that they still have not fixed the problem first brought to public attention in 2008. And, the way things are looking, it’s going to get worse before it gets any better. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Group chief executive André de Ruyter sat down today with the Free Market Foundation to have a chat about the current state of the state-owned power utility. Here’s what you need to know about the conversation. Come on, Eskom You’re probably, like…

You might not remember this, but once upon a time, Facebook attempted to collaborate on a smartphone of its very own. Known as the HTC First, it never saw launch here in SA but it’s just possible that this new rumoured item might. Facebook is said to be working on its own Android smartwatch, which would almost certainly feed even more data into Zuckerberg’s gaping servers. Everyone else is doing it Which, you know, fair. Google just bought Fitbit, so it’s inherited a whole mess of biometric and movement data about the people that use its products. Facebook, ever data-hungry,…

We’re starting off the first complete issue of Stuff Magazine for 2021 with a glance back at the very best of the past year. Our annual Gadget Awards contenders, nominees and winners are all front and centre in the February-March 2021 of Stuff. As hectic as 2020 was, there was an awful lot of very impressive tech on offer. Picking the best of the best wasn’t easy but we went and did it — even if we may have farmed out a few choices to our favourite people — Stuff’s readers.  You can also look forward to a collection of…

If you’re a Star Trek fan then you’ve doubtless heard of the Kobayashi Maru, first seen in the second Star Trek film Wrath of Khan. It’s a training exercise that’s supposed to be nigh unbeatable, involving the rescue of the titular civilian ship. And now you can play it for yourself. The exercise is now available in browser game format, as part of a promotion for the mobile game Star Trek: Fleet Command. It’s an actual contest, with the three top completion times winning one of three prizes. Defeat the Kobayashi Maru https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCSU6FFLVbg&feature=emb_logo And if you’re a serious Trek fan,…

This shouldn’t be surprising at all, as every mobile operator in South Africa is working on getting smartphones on the 5G network. Rain’s had it for a while (but it is data-only), with MTN and Vodacom following suit. Next up is Telkom, which is preparing for 5G launch. The only problem? It still can’t say when Telkom users will have access to that lovely, lovely data speed. Telkom trailing Company spokesperson Mooketsi Mocumi, speaking to MyBroadband, says that the network has identified its first 5G sites, which it is currently optimising for a better user experience ahead of a broader…

This is a report that may come with an ‘allegedly’ or two but given what we know about Facebook, it’s probably true. Clubhouse, the social media service you may have heard about but probably aren’t invited to (yet), already has Zuckerberg working on a clone. Because Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram aren’t enough, apparently. I’ll make my own Clubhouse! The New York Times reports that Facebook is already working on a copy of the voice chat social network that has yet to enter the mainstream. Details are thin and, according to the publication, the project is still in the “…early stages…

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 and its sibling, the S7+, are currently the best Android tablets out there. But the Galaxy Tab S8 should be following along soon, according to an entry on Samsung Ireland’s website. It’s possible that the entry, which adds detail about a tablet called the Galaxy Tab S8 Enterprise Edition, is the result of a typing error, but that would still mean that there’s an unannounced Tab S7 Enterprise Edition out there. Meet the Tab S8 But, since it’s been months since the Tab S7 was announced and its successor is due to turn up a little…

With load shedding being back with a vengeance, appliance maker Defy’s launch of its Solar Hybrid fridge and freezer in South Africa — as well as several other African countries — is almost perfectly timed. Your first question is probably: What is a Solar Hybrid appliance? Basically, they’re appliances that reduce your power consumption when Eskom has the lights on, thanks to its supporting solar power panels. During the day, when the sun is out, solar handles most of the load. At night, or when it is overcast, you’ll draw power from the grid. Sussing out Solar Hybrid There are…

Fitbit’s Charge 4 is one of our favourite wearables at the moment, standing astride the line between smart and fitness dedicated gear. It’s simple, lightweight, features decent battery life and Fitbit Premium will guide you through all sorts of healthy ideas. But it could be better. And, now, it is. Just about, anyway. Wareable has the details about a large update for the wearable that adds all sorts of cool features. They’re live, but they haven’t made it everywhere just yet. If you’re not looking at an update yet, you probably will be soon No charge for the Charge 4…