Author: Marcé

Live transcription features are becoming increasingly saturated across most of the platforms we use — Facebook, YouTube, and even video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet. While most of ‘em only feature English live transcriptions, Google is upping the ante by testing a live translation feature.  Google Meet in jou taal Currently a beta feature, the live translation option will allow for real-time translated captions in a video conference in a meeting. It’s being tested with English to Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German.  The way the feature currently works, it’ll only be available to a few key…

Unlike constructing things on the continent, Africa’s brand new subsea internet cable is well on its way to completing construction. The project is managed by what is called the 2Africa consortium, which comprises China Mobile International, Facebook, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, STC, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone, and WIOCC. And it’s about to get a little longer.  Bringing more internet 2Africa The 2Africa cable project intends to add another piece to the subsea cable stretching through Africa, to Europe, and Asia via Egypt. Dubbed the PEARLS branch, the new segment will extend to the Arabian Gulf, Pakistan, and India. At over 45,000 kilometres,…

This weekend Netflix tried its hand at a first-of-its-kind fan event, called Tudum. Here it showed off all the movie and series content the people of the world can look forward to on its platform in the coming months. And it didn’t disappoint.  From new Stranger Things to a Kanye West doccie and a Neil Gaiman original, The Sandman, the streaming service made sure to bring the big names. Here are our favourites from the very first Tudum.  The Sandman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBXqrBl6pEo While there’s still no release date in sight, it’s nice to know that The Sandman comic will make it to…

We’re inching closer to a future filled with the tech we saw in early-2000s spy movies. Who doesn’t want to open the door to their secret lab using a scan of only their eye? Too far fetched? Maybe not. Now Absa customers can verify payments and log into their mobile banking app using facial biometrics.  While the technology isn’t particularly new, the fact that a local bank trusts the technology enough to use for authentication is admirable. Both iOS and Android devices feature facial biometric scanning technology, but not all of ‘em are created equal.  Absa’s touchless approach Today, Absa…

China and SA have different views when it comes to computer games. China has enforced time limits whereas SA tries to control content. The world’s strictest regulation of video games came into effect in China this month. Children younger than 18 may not play video games, regardless of platform, for more than three hours a week. And they may play only at certain times, on certain days: 8 pm-9pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The weekly total may not exceed three hours. This came in the same week that a subject called “Xi Jinping Thought” was added to…

About a year ago Oppo officially launched its brand of smartphones in South Africa. Since then, its devices haven’t been available on contract from all of the local mobile networks, which was a shame, as they offer decent quality at a fair price. Now the company’s range of available devices can be found in Telkom Mobile’s catalogue. Oppo, never stoppo According to a press release, Oppo has sold more than 100,000 devices in the country since its launch in September 2020.  It faced a challenge launching in the middle of a pandemic in a lockdown-laden South Africa. But it looks…

While DStv is well-known for its linear TV programming, it has increasingly started offering digital services to its customers, including  streaming and access to Showmax for its Premium subscribers. Now, it’s completing the loop, announcing that it’s now offering internet packages to its customers.  This type of internet comes in the form of fixed LTE, which is basically a portable mobile router with a SIM card but fixed to one location, like a house or business. These packages tend to offer better data costs than mobile SIMs do, which make them ideal for users who don’t have a physical internet…

How does a free sub to Netflix sound? Probably fairly good, especially if you’re spending hundreds on a variety of subscription services per month. Well, Netflix has announced that it’s rolling out a free mobile subscription option in Kenya starting today.  According to a blog post, the new free tier will allow Android users (unfortunately iOS users will miss out this time) the ability to stream some of its original content ad-free.  Netflix gets generous in Kenya Users have to comply with a few basic prerequisites, like being over 18 and living in Kenya. The streaming service won’t even require…

While most of South Africa faces intermittent blackouts, some may see the value in investing in an electric vehicle. If they do, however, they’d be happy to know the Tesla Wall Connector is now available in South Africa.  EVs are by no means accessible to the wider market yet, especially in SA where only a handful of premium car brands tend to bring in their electric offerings. But as charging facilities become more prevalent, we’ll likely see more EVs turning up.  Tesla making sure you are topped up Tesla’s EV charging station for homes, called the Tesla Wall Connector, is…

The Ford Ranger family of South-African built bakkies keeps growing. The latest entry is the limited-edition Stormtrak, which is based on the Wildtrak, and brings some neat standard features that every Ranger fan will surely fawn over.  While it comes in an all-too-familiar shape, the bakkie features a few distinctive features like a black mesh front grille with red inserts, custom decals and black accents, 18in gloss black alloy wheels and four colour options including the striking ‘Lucid Red’.  Our favourite of the additional features: the Power Roller Shutter that comes standard on all Stormtraks. You can opt to add…