Author: Brett Venter

Tech tends to focus on… let’s call them ‘frivolous’ uses. Every so often, though, something like PreEvnt’s Isaac comes along. This gadget is designed to hang around its user’s neck, and was created for diabetics (both Type 1 and Type 2) to help them monitor their glucose levels. This might not seem like a big deal. Glucose monitors are available at every chemist, after all. But Isaac is unique in that it uses a person’s breath to perform its monitoring checks. That dispenses with the needles and strips and that little beepy machine that doesn’t really fit into a pocket.…

Fender has a serious reputation in the audio world, although it’s been mostly associated with guitars, amps, speaker stacks, and Bluetooth speakers. Fender has chosen this year to release its all-new Mix — the company’s first pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones. The new overs are a far cry from the rock god-like status of even the company’s official Lego set, however. In terms of design, they don’t deviate far from recent headphones from Sony, Bowers and Wilkins, and others. Inside, on the other hand… Into the Mix The Fender Mix might appeal more to ordinary people than to those who…

They grow up so fast. Boston Dynamics’ Atlas has travelled a long road, eventually winding up in a warehouse sorting car parts. That’s the fate of many young humanoids, but eventually they go on to get a real job. That’s also the case for this robotic assistant. Atlas is about to enter production, and its first two roles are already secured. The humanoid robot’s transition from experimental hardware to enterprise product will see it working at Google’s DeepMind facility as well as owner Hyundai’s vehicle factories. World, meet Atlas The Google DeepMind deployment makes a worrisome sort of sense, since…

It was only a matter of time before OpenAI came for more of your data. ChatGPT Health is the latest new function for the AI chatbot, one that “securely brings your health information and ChatGPT’s intelligence together,” according to the company. OpenAI is clear that the new addition to ChatGPT’s repertoire isn’t supposed to replace your doctor in any way. What OpenAI says and what people actually do with the new Health function is another matter entirely. ChatGPT Health, check ChatGPT Health is supposed to tie together all of the various health data-gathering users do. Apple Health, Function, MyFitnessPal, Weight…

It’s hard to innovate the humble game controller, but not impossible. GameSir, purveyors of third-party gaming hardware, has introduced its X5 Alteron, a mobile gaming controller intended to serve more than one role when attached to your smartphone or tablet. The hardware, a collaboration with Hyperkin, follows the usual design of a clamp that you’d stick a smartphone into, but there’s one difference. The new controller, on display at CES 2026, is modular. X5 Alteron in sight Modular hardware has been a tough sell for a while — see the LG G5, Project Ara, and… okay, the Framework laptop is…

The Acer Predator ES Storm Pro isn’t the first time the Taiwanese tech maker has stepped into the portable mobility sector, but it’s certainly the newest. Acer unveiled an entire slate of new tech at CES 2026, most of it in the laptop and portable computing sector, but this entry in the Predator line is the most unusual thing the company has on display this year. What is it, exactly? The Predator ES Storm Pro is a “performance-focused e-scooter designed for varied urban conditions.” With an IPX5 rating, it’s perfect for Cape Town creatives who only venture to the office…

Eyeglasses have been around for centuries, dating back at least to the 13th century and possibly even the 2nd century. IXI Eyewear, a Finnish company, reckons it has found a way to do them better. Smart glasses that are just… well, glasses? What a novel thought. When you hear the term ‘smart glasses’, the first thing that comes to mind is some technological innovation involving AI, information flow, or just turn-by-turn directions hovering in front of your eyes. If you are one of the millions who wear eyeglasses for vision correction, these innovations fall a little flat. Because… well, it’s…

Lego is no stranger to oddball bricks, having previously made light-up and even augmented reality versions. The big new thing is Smart Play, a more intelligent series of sets that use new Smart Bricks, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigs (the proper noun status was Lego’s idea) to enable more than just brick-building. Whether the new range, announced at this year’s CES conference in Las Vegas, will have better shelf-life than the company’s recent Hidden Side range remains to be seen, but at least the Danish company is trying. That’s the Smart Play The launch of Smart Play does mean that,…

Everyone wants a shiny new EV, but electric motorcycles get far less attention. Verge Motorcycles’ upgraded TS Pro EV bike could change all that. The fast-charging speeds of its new solid-state batteries are noteworthy, even if the promised 600km range doesn’t quite pan out as advertised. The basic stats for the EV motorcycle are only slightly terrifying. All versions of the two-wheeled death machine are capped at a top speed of 200km/h, but most will reach half that speed in just 3.5 seconds. We reckon Verge could do it faster, but riding a bike kinda requires that drivers can stay…

Amazon’s Alexa+ (or Plus, depending on your numerical literacy) is a bold move for any AI company in the 21st century — it’s AI that you have to pay for. But if you do happen to pay for the service, you’ll soon be able to access it via your web browser. Alexa+ the internet According to Amazon, its paying Early Access customers “want Alexa wherever they are,” resulting in a new browser-based version of the service. It’s supposed to permit the company’s AI to “help in every aspect of [a customer’s] day, and to truly serve as a personal assistant.”…