Author: Brett Venter

Samsung’s bringing more than just TVs to CES 2026. Also appearing, according to reports from South Korea, are new fridges in the Bespoke AI lineup. This new version is said to be a premium appliance, and the first in the range to feature Google’s Gemini AI. This might make the fridge more attractive to a certain sort of buyer. Previously, Samsung’s own Bixby handled AI duties, though why you’d want them in a fridge at all is a little less clear. Want some Bespoke AI? Gemini will have some utility, however. Broader item recognition, helped along by Google’s vast stores…

Oppo’s highest-end flagship phones are rare in South Africa, but hopefully the Chinese company will change that for the Find X9 Ultra. Rumours out of China suggest that Oppo’s newest — set for launch early in 2026 — will feature the most advanced camera zoom to hit mobile devices to date. At least, that’s the word according to online leaks. The Ultra version of the Find X9 is supposed to sport three absolutely massive rear camera sensors, with the third splurging on 10x optical zoom at the same time. Where to Find X9 Ultra Two 200MP camera sensors are the…

It’s been a long while since you’ve absolutely had to buy the top-spec phone from anyone to get decent performance. The Vivo V60 Lite 5G is just a continuation of the theme. But, as with any phone that costs less than half of what you’ll pay for the VIP experience, it’ll do something things better than others. In other words, that R12,000 price tag doesn’t just fall out of the sky. Something’s gotta go. Or, at least, something’s gotta use the less impressive components. Vivo here has splurged on the battery tech, with the other aspects of the phone trailing…

How far would you go to attain smartphone security? If your madness/method calculation includes Linux, then the Void Phone VX1 could be just what you’re looking for. The handset is being pitched at companies rather than individuals, with a subscription-based Mobile Device Management being thrown in. But the inclusion of FuriOS, a mobile version of Debian Linux, is what would make it appealing to those who prefer writing their own printer drivers. Gazing into the VX1 Void The VX1 is based heavily on the FLX1s from a company called FuriLabs. That handset is more targeted at individuals, with the Void…

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is joining every other subscription service in offering users a ‘year in review’ feature this year. These are nifty little features that make the wholesale gathering and storage of your information a little more palatable by dangling something shiny in front of you at the end of the year. If you haven’t opted in to (or opted out of) surveillance of your habits, likes, and dislikes, features like this don’t work. Whether it’s Spotify’s Wrapped or Sony’s recap of your gaming, they all rely on extensive monitoring of what you’ve been up to in the previous year. OpenAI’s…

The Afeela, a collaboration between Sony and Honda (and the subsequent Sony Honda Mobility), is bringing yet another gaming-themed feature to market. Not content with just using the PlayStation 5’s controller to bring the vehicle on stage, the company has announced that the electric vehicle will offer PS Remote Play support. The feature makes a kind of sense, given Sony’s involvement. Sometimes drives are long and boring. Playing Ghost of Tsushima… isn’t. Afeela like playing games The feature being installed inside the Afeela is for both drivers and passengers, though it appears that you’ll be confined to the back seat’s…

Everybody who makes ereaders seems to figure that what readers really want is a method for doodling on their written work. TCL’s new Note A1 NxtPaper is just the latest to sport the peripheral, as well as (as the name suggests) a NxtPaper display that should make non-scribbled reading even easier. Of course, you could also opt for Kindle’s Scribe or Kobo’s stylus-supporting range for similar features, but TCL’s recent performance on the TV front has us eying the Chinese company’s take on a reading tablet. It’s easy to see why it’s interesting. Reading the NxtPaper The Note A1 really…

We’d been wondering what ever happened to Asus’ ProArt devices with dedicated custom controls, but now we’ve got a pretty good idea. They were waiting for the right partner to come along. That partner, apparently, is GoPro. Asus has teased the launch of its new “ProArt GoPro creator edition laptop” at this year’s CES, dropping a post on X that offers hints as to what’s coming. The most obvious bit of branding? A dedicated GoPro key, which lives an alternate life next to the F8 button. GoProArt? The ProArt @GoPro edition creator laptop is about to break cover. Join the…

Fans of Rockstar’s range of open-world crime titles will know that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the most atmospheric of the hugely successful series that puts players into criminal shoes. If you’re looking to embody that whole ‘crime lord’ thing even more, you can now play the game at work. Via your web browser. While you’re supposed to be doing something — anything — else. Technically, this allows you to perform two crimes at once. You get paid for playing Vice City while the boss isn’t paying attention, plus you get to indulge in a sort of piracy. All…

What if you took God of War and rendered it in Super Mario Bros. and/or Adventure Island style? That’s the concept behind Bit of War, an 8-bit demake of Sony’s most visually brutal video game series. It’s been around for a while — the demake first appeared in 2012 — but it’s now available to play online for free. Or you could pay for it if you liked, given that the download on Itch.io gives you the option to hand over some cash. But you can relive an alternative take on the very first God of War (on Windows) entirely…