Author: Brett Venter

So you think DStv is done, do you? Eh, we’re not going to judge right now but they certainly want your attention. Today, during the DStv Showcase, Multichoice has announced two new bits of hardware for subscribers — both old and new. A fine pair The new hardware consists of the DStv Explora Ultra (yes, there’s another one) and then the DStv Streama. If you’ve used an Explora, you know exactly what this thing does. But it does a little more — DStv has fitted the Explora Ultra with a WiFi connection and the ability to download popular streaming apps.…

Facebook wants even more of your data — that’s no surprise, though, they always want your data. This time around, if you’re a VR fan, they’re going to get even more personal information out of you. The social media conglomerate has confirmed that all new Oculus headsets will require a login from a Facebook account before they can be used. And if you’re already using a separate Oculus account to use existing VR hardware, it just got an expiry date. 1 January 2023, to be precise. Ad me as a friend If you’re using older hardware and don’t want to…

If you’re very seriously into tech, you might be familiar with Oracle. We haven’t paid them much attention at Stuff because… well, they’re boring. The last really exciting thing Oracle did was get into a fight with Google and even that was kinda… boring. New year, new me? But now the company known for Sun Microsystems, database software, middleware and server hardware might actually do something worth paying attention to. According to the Financial Times, Oracle has thrown its hat into the ring when it comes to saving TikTok. Try and picture that for a second… TikTok, one of the…

Samsung’s always got a new phone on the way. It doesn’t matter when you ask, there’s always another one coming. Like this one — the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition 5G, which leaked thanks to the always on-the-ball OnLeaks and Pricebaba. Long story short, it looks like a full-fat Galaxy S20 but it cuts a few corners to make it more affordable. Same great taste, fewer calories The Galaxy S20 Fan Edition 5G isn’t official yet but the leaked render (above) comes with a whole lot of detail about what the handset will entail. It’ll fill the same role as…

They say that first impressions last but that’s not always the case. Sometimes you get a phone that seems great initially, but the battery doesn’t last for the whole day. Perhaps you go on a date and then later find out they like pineapple on pizza. Maybe it’s a new job that seems great but they won’t pay you unless you turn up every day. It’s always something, right? Which brings us to Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live in-ear headphones, which left us with a very favourable impression when we first got them out of the box. After using them for…

We’ve seen the likes of Twitter and Garmin take it in the neck in recent weeks, now it’s time for something a little closer to home. Momentum Metropolitan, or rather a subsidiary of the insurance and financial services group, was hit by a cyberattack last week. Light on detail The company confirmed the attack today, though the nature and extent of the damage weren’t made known at the time of writing. Luckily, client and member information was not part of the 13 August attack, according to a report by BusinessLive, with company financial and administrative data being the attackers’ first…

Over the weekend American president Donald Trump (somehow) gave TikTok a little extra time to sell itself off to an American company. The Trumpster said in a new executive order that the company has until 12 November — which is after the American elections this year — to comply with the initial demands made, also by executive order. He also imposed more conditions on the company, in line with the stance that TikTok is a threat to American national security. Burn it down The order, which states that there “…is credible evidence that leads me to believe that [TikTok owner]…

We really, really want to like Vivo’s smartphones. They’re a relatively new company (at least in SA), they’re fighting in one of the most contested markets (in the world) and they really do know how to make a phone look good. The last time we checked in with a Vivo Android handset the results… weren’t all that great. Can the Vivo Y12, a budget-level handset costing R3,900 at retail, change our opinions of the smartphone newcomer? Off to a good start If the handset’s design is any indication, things are looking up for the brand. The few Vivo handsets we’ve…

Subscriptions are everywhere. You’re getting used to them, because Netflix, Spotify, PSN or Xbox Live Gold all seem like cool things to have. Hopefully that works for you, because the ‘feature’ is coming to cars as well. Which… makes a strange kind of sense if you stop to think about it. Coming soon now Cars as a service is a thing that has been coming for quite some time. Volvo’s Polestar, for instance, launched as part of a subscription service. But we’re also seeing more or less conventional car sales get subscription services tacked onto what used to be a…

Odds are you at least know Xiaomi exists — you really should be giving the brand more attention if that’s as far as your interest goes. They’ve been making great Android handsets since the start, at consistently good prices, and that doesn’t seem to be changing at all. The company has announced a new flagship device, the Mi 10 Ultra, obviously hoping you’re keen on a camera-centric phone at less-than-Samsung prices. Snapdragon Inside As far as phones goes (and we’re not talking about the camera), the Mi 10 Ultra is packing some serious hardware. There’s a Snapdragon 865, with its…