Author: Marcé

Google’s keyboard app, Gboard, has added a few new features recently, the most useful of which, is the Floating Keyboard mode, that should make more than a few phablet-users happy. The changes aren’t massive, but should bring users on big phones at least some joy. Using a handle located at the bottom of the independent keyboard, it can be positioned anywhere your heart desires. On the phone screen, that is. But, wait, there’s more! The keyboard can be resized to your desired scale by using the markers along the corners of your now-independent keyboard. If you decide you like the…

Apple has been busy this year, announcing three new handsets a few months ago, brand new OS updates across the board, and a slew of rumours about other hardware to follow. We’ll likely see the company’s new iPad Pro and Mac products at their just-announced 30 October event. The company sent out unique invite designs for the event, to a bunch of media across the world. Apple’s event will be held in New York on 30 October, and the tagline, “There’s more in the making” possibly indicates that there’s something coming that we don’t know about… yet. What to expect…

Who even needs hard drives anymore? Streaming is so much more convenient, and doesn’t fill up all the space on 128GB smartphones — so you have more space for pictures of your pug. Not all streaming offerings are cut from the same cloth, though. Outfits like SoundCloud have had to change things up to survive in the cut-throat music streaming industry.  One thing SoundCloud has always got right: its focus on indie music producers and DJs. They’ve created a platform for these artists to share their music and engage with the communities of not-so-mainstream musos and fans. Now those DJs…

The developers of the highly anticipated Hitman 2 have announced who one of the main targets in the game will be — and it’s none other than oft-killed actor, Sean Bean. Developers behind the Hitman series, IO Interactive, revealed the first post-release content for the upcoming Hitman 2. It includes the subject of the player’s first Elusive Target, good ol’ Bean, who cheekily mentions that he has “cheated death countless times” in the reveal trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5Bu02IwGk Elusive Targets are contract missions that are available in the new Hitman games, but only for a limited time. Bean’s character is one of these…

The world’s most popular music streaming service, Spotify, has recently announced a whole range of new features for its Premium-tier users, as well as an app for Google’s Wear OS. Firstly, the Spotify Premium changes — the most noteworthy of which is the streamlined navigation in the app (we appreciate slick interfaces, okay). The five tabs at the bottom have been condensed into three main categories — Home, Search, and Your Library. The redesigned search page now features recommended genres at the top of the page. This is something Spotify has always got right — personalising music for each user.…

The excitement of buying a new phone is slightly diluted, because you kinda already know what you’re gonna get. And if it’s an Android you know it’ll have some kind of Android OS, a bunch of bloatware you won’t use, and a range of Google apps. Sometimes just Search and Gmail, but sometimes you get the whole shabang, from All and Analytics, to Street View and Translate. That’s because for years Google has mandated the pre-installation of its core apps on Android devices – like Search, Chrome, Gmail and Play Store. Okay, fair enough. Google is Android and Android is…

Do you even Apple Music, bro? Or do you Spotify? Or maybe you only listen to podcasts on whatever third-party app you downloaded first? Audio streaming services are all over the place, and there’s another one coming. You won’t believe who hopes to organise your music library… again. Winamp, the free, llama-flavoured, fan-favourite music player that launched in 1997, will make a comeback in 2019. This time around they plan to create one space (essentially a media player) for all your online playlists, podcasts, and downloaded music. For those that are slightly out of the loop — Winamp was a…

Additional information has surfaced that the Facebook hack that occurred on 25 September affected a total of 30 million accounts, instead of the 50 million initially reported. Yup, that makes us feel much better. Thanks Facebook. We already know what happened. Facebook’s ‘View as’ feature was compromised to give hackers access to user accounts. They started out with control of around 400,000 accounts, and shifted over to controlling accounts belonging friends of the first accounts. Then hackers went after friends of those friends and friends of… you get the idea. Affected users would have received a security message from Facebook some…

Not even a month after MTN halted free Twitter on the network, they’ve decided to become charitable again by giving their users free call minutes. Maybe we need to start calling people again rather than tweeting at them? Yeah, not gonna happen. There are conditions, though — the call minutes are only valid to other MTN network users (which may be few and far between these days), and you’d have to sign up to MTN Zone. MTN Zone is a prepaid billing price plan that gives subscribers discounts and special rates. These discounts are based on “…the user’s location and…

Multichoice’s DStv is on a path to “put together the best 360 entertainment package in South Africa”, according to a press release announcing a new partnership. The new partner? Local streaming service (think a South African Spotify), Joox… which, not coincidentally, is also part of the Naspers stable that includes DStv, Showmax, Voov and others. If you’re a DStv subscriber, you’re in for a treat. Because, from today, you’ll have access to the Joox VIP package for free. This package gives you up to five accounts for you and your nearest and dearest to enjoy all of the perks of…