Author: Brett Venter

Social media giant Meta has been focused on its teenage users of late, spurred on by leaked reports that its AI products were interacting inappropriately with youngsters. One of the changes that resulted from this new focus was the creation of teen accounts, which recently got even cleaner on the company’s Instagram platform. Next up? More robust parental controls concerning AI chatbots across the company’s services. A new Meta That’s the plan, anyway, since Meta hasn’t quite finished baking its solutions. In an effort to show everyone that something is being done, it has outlined changes coming to chatbot access.…

It’s been a few short years since Microsoft banished Cortana, its ill-fated voice assistant, from Windows 11 computers. This has been in preparation for Copilot to step in and take its place, it seems, as Windows 11 users are getting a new voice assistant. One that responds to ‘Hey, Copilot’. Why? Microsoft’s consumer chief marketing officer, Yusuf Mehdi, reckons that “voice will now become the third input mechanism to use with your PC”, though he doesn’t explain how that’s supposed to be a good thing. He does explain that Windows users “should be able to talk to your PC, have…

Oppo is set to unveil its Find X9 and Find X9 Pro smartphones later this month at an event in Barcelona, Spain. The devices aren’t brand new, having already launched in China, but they’ll be travelling globally at the upcoming 28 October event. Of course, ‘global’ doesn’t always mean global. There’s no sign yet whether South Africa is on the list of launch countries, but there’s always the chance that we’ll have a chance at something new from the Chinese brand. After all, the Find N2 Flip made it this side of the world. Perhaps we’ll find a new Find…

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge was launched last year in response to competitors having thinner phones on the market, but the Galaxy S26 Edge might never happen. The reasons why aren’t given, but there’s only really one that would prompt Samsung to drop the hammer so quickly. The S25 Edge may not have sold that well. The company hasn’t said as much, though multiple outlets have said that sales weren’t up to scratch. Now, a report out of Korea reckons that the S26 Edge is going away. This is on the say-so of an unnamed Samsung executive who doesn’t seem hopeful…

Another day, another smartphone, but at least the Xiaomi 15T is available in South Africa. Right now, in fact, provided you’re willing to buy one (or snag a contract) from Vodacom. The price tag is R15,000, or at least R700/m if you’re going the rental-style route, but the way Xiaomi talks about this thing, you’re getting a decent deal. That’s because it’s all about the camera for the Xiaomi 15T. The Leica 5x Pro telephoto camera specifically, appearing for the first time in the Chinese brand’s T-series smartphones. Don’t worry if you forget that point. Xiaomi will be reminding all…

If your chief complaint about your ereader is that it’s inconvenient to turn pages, the new Kobo Remote is probably the product you’ve been desperately (but lazily) searching for. The company announced the little page-turner at a R550 ($30) price point, with a 4 November launch date overseas. It’ll take time to get here, if at all, but when it does, you’ll be freed from the tyranny of engaging your shoulder, elbow, and finger to poke at a touchscreen simply to read the next sentence. You may have to move your thumb, assuming the little controller is lightly gripped in…

At least Apple doesn’t tease us for long. The American tech maker has unveiled its new M5 MacBook Pro models, set to go on sale internationally later this month. That wasn’t all Apple had in store — upgraded iPad Pro models, a revamped Vision Pro, and a few other bits and pieces were on the menu for its semi-stealth announcement. There’s… a reason it hasn’t made a huge deal of its new high-end notebooks. Mainly, the MacBook Pro devices aren’t terribly different from the M4 models. Apple, being the marketing masters that they are, calls the unchanged parts “renowned features”.…

LG has just the thing for the kitchen that has everything else in the shape of its new MoodUP refrigerator. Now available to pre-order in South Africa (for the princely sum of R140,000), the massive 617-litre fridge does its usual thing — keeping food cool and unspoiled — and a few extras besides. One of those extras is changing its appearance. Three of the MoodUP’s four door panels are packed with an array of LEDs that allow users to change the colour of their fridge at a moment’s notice through the LG ThinQ app. Why you’d want to do that…

Volvo’s new EX60 EV is set for a global reveal at the beginning of next year, but the brand has confirmed that the newest in the series will land on South African shores following its announcement. At the moment, it’s little more than a dust-covered outline, but presumably Volvo will make it worth everyone’s while to stare at a teaser image for the next six months. Meet my EX60 Volvo says that the pending EV fits in between the EX90 and EX40 Recharge in terms of performance, pricing, and features, though that doesn’t give much away. The EX90 will plunder…

ChatGPT Go, the cheapest version of OpenAI’s paid subscription service, has launched in places that aren’t its India test market. Africa, a continent known for not having much spare cash, is getting the stripped-back-but-still-paid service as of today. South Africa, being on the continent, is included in the 54-country rollout. Also coming to SA is local pricing for all of OpenAI’s subscription plans, so you’ll know what’s being deducted from your account without performing a Rand-to-Dollar calculation first. We’ll list local pricing below, but first: ChatGPT Go. ChatGPT Go-es to Africa The available paid-for features for the African Go aren’t…