Author: Brett Venter

It’s getting harder to know what’s really real anymore. Whether it’s the Pope wearing Balenciaga or Donald Trump doing… many unsavoury things, artificial intelligence is making it hard to stick to reality. Adobe, one of the proponents of the AI image generation revolution, is aware of the effect AI technology is having on the world. It’s also taking steps to counteract those effects. The steps include introducing Content Credentials to its library of AI-generated images. This is via a new Adobe Content Authenticity web app that lets users tag generated images with the sources of its computer-compiled brilliance. Because what…

Does it count as a new idea if it’s been around for ages? Google Docs has introduced an all-new feature — if you’re just looking at Docs. It’s been around in other apps for ages — Firefox, Chrome, and Microsoft Excel. Basically, anything coded after 2008… We’re talking about tabs, of course. Odds are you’re reading this article in one. That magically innovative feature is headed to your Google-hosted documents. Why? More effective document navigation. We’re sure it doesn’t make it easier for Gemini to read your work or anything. What’s up, Google Docs? The stated reason for adding document…

The October-November 2024 issue of Stuff Magazine reintroduces the noble giveaway to the pages of South Africa’s best consumer technology magazine. That’s far from the most exciting thing found between the slivers of dead tree (or living electrons, depending on how you consumer your media) but it’s certainly worth mentioning. Especially since we’re giving away a shiny new Apple iPhone 16. You know, the thing you’re desperate to buy every time Apple holds a September event? The catch? You’ve got to read this issue of Stuff. That’s it.  That’s not it for this issue of Stuff. Obviously. October-November 2024 includes…

Meta has announced Movie Gen, its new prompt-based video and image generation platform, in the most Q3 2024 manner possible — with a cute animation of a baby hippo bumbling around. However, you don’t need to know who Moo Deng is to peer over Meta’s fence at their shiny new toy. Peering, at least for now, is all that is possible but several interesting claims make us keen to get hold of the platform. Meta reckons its new AI-powered functions can turn a single image into a customised and functional video. That could be awesome or terrible, depending on what’s…

South Africa’s contributions to space travel will move beyond satellite launches and ground support if the ASRI has anything to say about it. The Aerospace Systems Research Institute, a division of the University of KwaZulu Natal, has been working on rocket technology for some time. The Institute has just gained an upgrade in the form of a new launch facility at the Denel Overberg Test Range, consisting chiefly of an advanced launch gantry for sounding rockets. Sounding rockets are sub-orbital vehicles used to conduct experiments and are a precursor to fully orbital launch platforms. Ask the ASRI The launch facility…

If your badly edited Joe Rogan clips or snatches of AI-narrated comic book fare aren’t long enough (we don’t know what you watch on YouTube), you’ll be pleased to note that YouTube Shorts is extending its length. Just a bit and in just a bit. The update goes through from 15 October, so creators might want to get their newer, lengthier videos ready before then. If you’re just a passive observer, your attention span should be prepared for 180 seconds of content fury. The long and Shorts of it That’s right, YouTube is extending its Shorts to a solid three…

You were expecting Amazon, yet another company with masses of cloud infrastructure, to give AI a skip? It is to laugh. Nope, the company’s Fire HD tablets, in celebration of the announcement of an update to the Fire HD 8 series (and also in service of a possible stock price bump), have generative AI headed their way. And not just the new hardware either. The company announced it is “adding new generative AI-powered features to compatible Fire tablets”. The stated aim is to “help customers be more productive and creative throughout their day.” Amazon Intelligence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_WZaFWzmQk Maybe you prefer your…

There’s a new Office coming in 2024. No, not that one. Microsoft has a new standalone Office 2024 software suite out in the wild that lets you trade in a monthly subscription for a once-off payment. It’s at least double the cost going in the door but it’ll work out cheaper in the long run. But you should be aware going in that you won’t get any of Microsoft’s nifty new Copilot features with your document software. That’s got us eying the basic priced package with interest but if you’re hoping to use the software for “commercial purposes” and sending…

Every nerd has looked longingly at the Raspberry Pi mini-computers at least once but not everyone has the imagination to use it for anything more than a very compact media centre PC. For the other folks, the new Pi AI Camera add-on could be just the thing to get that skunkworks Spot knockoff up and running. Or perhaps it’ll just allow whatever your project happens to be to take better photographs. See, the Pi AI Camera is just what it sounds like — a Raspberry Pi-compatible camera sensor with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Oh, and it’s also made with…

Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality headset was one of the most promising takes on an augmented reality headset. Perhaps not from a comfort perspective so much as a usability one but it seems that potential has come to a close. UploadVR reports that Microsoft has ended production of its HoloLens 2 headset and there won’t be a follow-up headset to replace it. The remaining stock will continue to be sold but no new products will be added to the line. Adieu HoloLens At least the curtain will take some time to close on this product lineup. The original HoloLens, like the…