Author: Brett Venter

At Stuff, we’re all about advice. And technology and gadgets, but what we’re really good at is knowing how to use the things you have more effectively. The lowliest Android smartphone has an optimum use method and it’s not that hard to find. We just need a little time to find out the hows and whys. It’s what we do. We’ve taken that ability/tendency/marketable skill and turned it towards the pending lockdown, which kicks off tonight — 26 March 2020 — at midnight. There are things you should be doing during the lockdown and there are things you shouldn’t be…

Things are getting more serious as we’re getting closer to tonight’s lockdown. There are queues at shopping centres and chemists, parking lots are jammed with traffic, people are wearing masks and bandanas — but what happens after lockdown? Something that you should be aware of is that your rights as a South African have changed — specifically those rights pertaining to bodily autonomy. According to the regulations governing South Africa’s lockdown, some of your autonomy has been stripped away. If, that is, you’re carrying around COVID-19, have had contact with someone who is, or are suspected of having COVID-19. For…

We’re sure you’re prepped and ready for the big lockdown. The trick will be keeping busy while it’s on. Adults have options — there are books and movies and games. What are the kids going to do while you’re busy entertaining yourself? Something educational, hopefully. Microsoft and Minecraft have the answer to that. Learn something Minecraft: Education Edition does exactly what it says — it uses the magic of Minecraft to teach kids something new about the world. And there are an awful lot of kids at home right now. They need them some schoolin’. To that end, Microsoft has…

As we batten down the hatches and empty every grocery store in sight (but politely — we’re not panic-buying at all, promise), it’s also time to look at ways to occupy your time at home. There’s no traffic, you’re going to find yourself running out of work (assuming you’re working), or perhaps getting a little cabin-fevery. Here are a few ways to keep yourself busy.

Remember that scene in The Dark Knight where Batman really annoyed Morgan Freeman by turning on a city-wide surveillance system implanted in every phone made by Bruce Wayne’s company? Keep that scene in mind as we tell you about FluSense, an AI-powered bit of hardware capable of monitoring coughs and the spread of the coronavirus — and other diseases. The portable surveillance device is the creation of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who made it to “…detect coughing and crowd size in real time, then analyze the data to directly monitor flu-like illnesses and influenza trends”, according to…

So you’re suddenly struck with a need to work at home, but are lacking some of the essential components that make up a home office? Not to worry, folks, Stuff and Epson have you covered. In a purely figurative sense, obviously — we’re not about to get too close.

We have been expecting some market strangeness thanks to the lovely chap spending time in everyone’s heads these day: COVID-19. Expectation has become reality now, as the number-crunchers over at Strategy Analytics have got figures for us concerning smartphone shipments in February 2020. It’s… not fantastic. 

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare (apparently). Not massive illnesses and clogged hospitals. Not a lack of essential foods. Nope, apparently in the mini-apocalypse, we’re mostly concerned with not being able to wipe our bottoms with the fluffy stuff. But do you really need 231 rolls of toilet paper at home? As usual, the internet provides us with all the information we crave. Dare you find out how long your bottom will stay clean? DON’T. PANIC. Website homemuchtoiletpaper.com has the answers you should seek before you head out and do any more panic buying. Or your first round of panic buying. Or…

Even if you’re resistant (and some of you are gonna be), eventually the change will roll out to everyone anyway so you might as well submit to the will of the Almighty Zuckerberg now (Long May His Style Be Unblockable)

Anyone who is able to work from home should be working from home. We know this. You know this. Your boss… may not know this. That’s a South African cultural thing and hopefully it’s shifting right now. If that’s the case, though, perhaps don’t let your boss catch you reading this. If you’re already working at home, though — read on.