Author: Marcé

Smartphones have become an extension of humans, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. The options are seemingly endless, from size to performance and camera. South Africans are also spoilt for choice regarding brand availability, from Apple down to Samsung, Huawei, Honor, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Realme – to name a few Android competitors. A recent study on Stuff has shed light on a surprising trend: South Africans prioritise battery life above all else when considering a new smartphone. Can it go all day? The survey asked respondents, “Which aspect is your biggest must-have when choosing a new…

South Africa’s favourite (we don’t have a choice) multimedia giant, Multichoice, has reported a staggering R911 million loss for the six months ending September 2023. The company’s recent financial results show a subscriber haemorrhage thanks to, mainly, economic challenges in the country. Not all’s lost, though. The company has implemented a few strategies to try and claw back subscribers in various ways. It’s relaunching its on-demand streaming service Showmax, looking at offering solar power packages, and, most interestingly, featured in a PR stunt against piracy on Carte Blanche (of all places). Multichoice by the numbers In the six months leading…

In the annual ritual of consumerism, iStore SA has revealed its Black Friday deals for 2023, enticing those stuck in the Apple ecosystem with promises of discounts on an array of products. If you’re not in the ecosystem, however, this may be the perfect opportunity to get your hands on the latest and greatest Apple products, from cutting-edge Macs to iPhones and Apple Watches. The buy-in While some may argue that these deals don’t break the mould of traditional Black Friday offerings, they may still be worth it to others. Undoubtedly stealing the spotlight are the iPhones – the devices…

We’ve all been there. The random junk collecting dust in the garage, or the phone you’re stuck with after upgrading can be a source of good money if you can find a buyer. Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree have revolutionised the way we buy and sell secondhand goods. They’re convenient, easily accessible, and put you and potential buyers and sellers in the same ‘room’. Thing is, it could be a dodgy ordeal if you end up trusting the wrong person. It is crucial to remain vigilant when navigating these online marketplaces to protect yourself from scammers who seek…

Netflix has ramped up its crackdown on password-sharing. Just last month, the streaming giant announced that it will now charge a premium for the privilege and honour of sharing a password. Some may not be convinced that this is the best way forward for the service, and we wouldn’t blame you. If you’re in this category, we’ve got you covered. There are, in all honesty, many other places to stream content. It doesn’t even have to be a direct competitor of Netflix. While the easiest solution is to sign up for the likes of Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, or…

We can all agree that South Africa’s frequent blackouts are frustrating. While there are many backup power solutions available at different investment levels, if you’re still enduring frequent power interruptions at your home, it may be time to consider the effect it has on your electronics. It’s time to shed some light on the real effects of frequent blackouts and equip you with tips to keep your devices safe. Power surges = bad Let’s kick things off with a classic culprit: power surges. When the power goes out and comes back on, it can create a surge of electricity that…

There are many victims of load shedding. The most obvious is its impact on cooking schedules, time spent online, and regular life agendas. But there is one glaring issue exacerbated by South Africa’s rolling blackouts that we have to talk about: traffic. If it isn’t the absolute mayhem of traffic lights-turned-four-way stops, it’s backup from half the town going dark. At times the roads in South Africa’s metros are getting eerily close to resembling a scene from Mad Max. Luckily, there’s a beacon of hope amidst the chaos – Google Maps. Or, you know, any live-traffic service that guides you…

Google I/O, the annual developer conference hosted by everyone’s favourite search engine, detailed a host of interesting announcements. Of course, no Silicon Valley-based tech giant hosts a keynote in 2023 without touching on the biggest buzzword in tech right now. Yep, that word is AI. Technically that’s two words, though. Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s mind thanks to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and AI image-generation platforms like Midjourney. While Google isn’t new to the technology, it’s now integrating the tech into just about every one of its products. If you missed the two-hour presentation, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top…

It looks like you can add a hinge to just about anything, and it’ll be cooler. Laptop? Check. Book? Check. Door of a refrigerator? Hell yeah. We’re not surprised that folding phones are becoming increasingly popular – even in South Africa. Locals currently have a total of five foldable smartphones from three smartphone manufacturers to choose from. Major players such as Huawei, Samsung, and Oppo have released their latest foldable offerings locally in recent years. Those are the Huawei Mate Xs 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Huawei P50 Pocket, and Oppo Find N2 Flip,…

Forget Walkmans. Streaming services have revolutionised the way people listen to music, making it easier to access a vast range of music from various artists and genres than ever before. It’s all available at your fingertips thanks to the internet. And fancy algorithms. As with their video streaming counterparts, there is a variety of music streaming services to choose from, including the two best-known apps: Spotify and Apple Music. But there is a handful of more niche streaming platforms available locally at different prices. Spotify Spotify is one of the most popular audio streaming services in the world. If you…