Author: Brett Venter

BMW frequently has good ideas about the future of cars. This… this is not one of them. The automaker hopes to introduce what are basically micro-transactions for motor vehicles, saying that it “…sees the car as a digital platform.” Which, if you’re familiar with the tactics of game developers like Activision and Electric Arts, means they’re about to use that platform to try and make more money. By charging you to turn on features that are already installed in the vehicle. Really? Really really? And that’s not us guessing. BMW’s rather upfront about it, calling it “personalisation” and saying that…

The new Lego items have Art in the name and, we guess, are art in that you can hang them on a wall. But if you thought that art might work out being cheaper than traditional Lego, you’re… probably mistaken

It’s lockdown, almost everyone you know is battling for cash and all you want to do is stream some games online. The trouble is, you don’t have enough cash for a microphone, or an extra camera, or a video capture device so you can capture yourself playing games on a console. Well, if you’ve got a gaming-capable PC, a smartphone, an internet connection and perhaps a little Lego lying around (to make a basic phone stand), you already have everything you need to set yourself up to stream games online. It’s not quick (unless you follow this guide) and it’s…

Yes, we know, MTN’s 5G service hasn’t exactly been kept a secret. We’ve all known it was coming, even if the first proper look at it was also our first look at the rollout being postponed. It’s here now, that’s the important thing. The new service was made official today during a live stream (because that’s normal, now) from MTN, which saw MTN CEO Godfrey Motsa, chief consumer officer Mapula Bodibe and chief technology officer Giovanni Chiarelli outline what subscribers can expect from the service. Here’s what we’ve learned. It’s active now, and quick MTN opted to do a live…

Now is not a great time to be involved in advertising for social media companies as, spurring on by events in the States, large-scale advertisers have pulled their advertising budgets from the likes of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among other platforms. The most recent entities to pause their ad spend are Coca-Cola and Starbucks, with Coca-Cola’s global boycott kicking off from 1 July and continuing for the entire month. Starbuck, citing the effects of hate speech on social media, has also paused its campaigns “…while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the…

Tech-makers, from Apple to Samsung and everyone in between, are super-keen on keeping you in their own little ecosystems — which might prompt you to ask a few questions about ‘Why’. But if you’re not in a question-asking mood, you might want to check out Huawei’s latest attempt to bring you into the fold: a pre-order special for the Watch GT 2e, which’ll net you a pair of Huawei Bluetooth sports headphones and a smart scale if you act fast(ish). What’s the big deal? Huawei really wants you to go out and buy its new Watch GT 2e fitness tracker/smartwatch…

If you weren’t a bit of a germaphobe before the events of the past few months, you’re probably a little along that road by now. Hand sanitiser, previously a ‘nice to have’, is now an essential monthly purchase if you’re planning on shopping in safety. Masks are worn (often poorly — there is a right way and a wrong way) everywhere and folks are generally more aware of germs. And now LG’s launching a little something for these virus-conscious times. Meet your new ‘buds LG’s got a pair of new true wireless earbuds on the way — the LG TONE…

When you mention Dell, people go one of two ways. Either they think you’re all business, or they get the right idea and start thinking along the lines of Alienware — the really exciting Dell division. But the company also has a middle-ground in their Dell-branded gaming kit. Which isn’t quite as ‘enthusiast’ as its Alienware stuff but isn’t nearly as stuffy as their office gear. It’s basically gaming in shorts and a T-shirt, as opposed to an esports jersey or a business suit. Clumsy metaphors aside, Dell announced this week a whole new crop of gear in its gaming…

Everyone knows at least one person who is a little too into their fashion brands. We’re not sure how many of those people are also a bit obsessive about gaming but the people at the middle of that particular Venn diagram have something to look forward to — an esports-themed Gucci wristwatch. Wait, seriously?  Pretty much. The Gucci wristwatch is currently available for pre-order for $1,620, or a little over R28,000. It was made in partnership with esports organisation Fnatic which has also partnered with BMW, OnePlus, and other notable brands. But there’s something special about it, right? Depends on…

It’s always sad when a tech company or brand goes away. But it’s just one of those things — something starts, something ends. And that’s the case with camera brand Olympus: the company is getting out of the camera game. Olympus announced that it would be offloading its imaging business in a statement explaining what would happen to the division. According to the statement, Olympus will be ” carv[ing] out Olympus’s Imaging business to a new company (“NewCo”) and subsequently transfer its shares to a fund managed, operated or otherwise handled by JIP”. Familiar territory JIP, in the statement above,…