Author: Brett Venter

Earlier this month, Meta rolled out support for NFTs to Instagram users around the world. And there was much rejoicing. Now, the same thing goes for users who want to show off those NFTs on Facebook. According to the company, NFT owners who have connected their wallets on either Facebook or Instagram can now proudly display them on both platforms. As usual, it’s mostly avoiding using the term NFT. Instead, users are receiving “…the ability to post digital collectables that they own across both Facebook and Instagram”. See? Totally different thing. Does anyone like my NFTs? You can now post…

Streaming service Netflix doesn’t see a future in just remaining a streaming platform. That’s why the company has bought up a studio and released a game or two. It doesn’t appear to be gaining the traction Netflix would like, but that isn’t slowing anything down. The company is testing out so-called “game handles”, otherwise known as gamertags. If you’ve ever owned an Xbox, PlayStation, or PC, a gamertag is the (usually) pseudonymous title you’re known by when playing a game online. Generally, these have some deeper meaning, refer to a cannabis habit, or are auto-generated. Either way, Netflix is trialling…

Vodacom isn’t just a mobile service provider anymore. The rise of the super-app has spawned services like VodaLend, a financial service that offers South Africans unsecured loans (among other functions). Now there’s something more: VodaLend Cash Advance. It’s a little like Vodacom’s Airtime Advance feature, which lets you take a little extra airtime with the promise to pay it back later. Only, the stakes are a little higher here. But just a little. Cash advances are for between R50 and R500 a pop, so it won’t fund a wild weekend that unfortunately doesn’t kill you before you have to pay…

Streaming app Netflix has, years after promising it would never include ads, almost completed the job of including ads. The company’s new ad-supported tier, as it stands, offers several drawbacks beyond just including ads. Turns out, there’s a fresh one of those. Netflix isn’t looking to lose even the slightest amount of money with its ‘Netflix with ads’ version. In addition to taking money from advertisers, the platform intends to take money from subscribers. It’ll take less… but it’s still asking for some cash to use its service. Maybe chill a bit, Netflix According to the folks over at Bloomberg,…

UPDATE: Today’s Artemis 1 launch has been scrubbed. While a new launch date hasn’t yet been set, the NASA live stream page briefly offered a new date for the stream of 2 September, at 18:00 South African Standard Time. The launch of #Artemis I is no longer happening today as teams work through an issue with an engine bleed. Teams will continue to gather data, and we will keep you posted on the timing of the next launch attempt. https://t.co/tQ0lp6Ruhv pic.twitter.com/u6Uiim2mom — NASA (@NASA) August 29, 2022 NASA’s Artemis 1 launch has finally arrived. From 14:33 today, South African time,…

Apple trademarks ‘Reality One’ and ‘Reality Pro’, because what else were we expecting? Apple’s step into the world of virtual reality promises to be a massive one. Massive tech, massive influence, probably a massive price too. One of the most curious questions about it, though, is what Apple would call its devices. It seems that this particular mystery has been cleared up. According to Bloomberg, it’ll all be about Reality. Apple has filed for trademarks on the terms Reality Processor, Reality One, and Reality Pro. Since the company’s VR framework is called RealityKit and the operating system is apparently called rOS…

If you’re looking for the very best Android tablet, Samsung makes it. But, as with its smartphones, you’ll wind up paying for what you get. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, the most affordable tablet from the South Korean company, occupies the exact opposite end of the scale. You can expect to pay around R3,000 — often less — for one of these. Any budget tablet will offer lower specs than you might find in products with a larger price tag. Samsung’s A7 Lite is no exception. The screen is sub-HD (but offers more than a 720p resolution). It’s not…

You can argue that virtual reality is still a niche activity and you’d… be right, actually. But everyone from Meta to Sony is running full-tilt towards a virtual reality future. Sony’s already shown its hand, with its VR headset sequel launching next year. Now Meta has also revealed its next step, thanks to an interview with Joe Rogan. Not too much about the headset itself was revealed during Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg’s interview on Rogan’s podcast. Despite this, it seems likely that Meta’s Project Cambria hardware is the kit we can expect later this year. An experience for Joe Rogan…

If you thought laying hands on a PlayStation 5 was difficult before, it may get even tougher, effective immediately. Sony has announced price increases for the console around the world, with immediate effect. The only location explicitly left off the price increase train is the United States. New PlayStation 5 recommended retail pricing is coming to “…select markets in the EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regions, plus Canada.” The reason? The “global economic environment”, obviously. Paying the price for a PlayStation 5 South African buyers don’t have to panic immediately, though we’re not out of the woods entirely. Several countries already…

Not even Have I Been Pwned founder Troy Hunt is safe from having his passwords compromised. If you’re a Plex user, then neither are you. The streaming service and media place has issued a notice warning users that their login details have been compromised. A third party got into the company’s systems and escaped with a collection of data. Said data included usernames, email addresses, and (hashed) passwords. Password Com-Plex-ity Aw crap, I’m pwned in a @plex data breach. Again. I can’t do anything to *not* be in a breach like this (short of not using the service), but a…