Author: Marcé

This week, Xiaomi launched its new Mi 11 flagship toting a 108MP camera sensor out into the world. If that’s not… flashy enough for you, it looks like Xiaomi’s lining up a Mi 11 Ultra variation. And if Samsung’s taught us anything about Ultras, it’ll be one beast of a smartphone.  Xiaomi’s betting on a tiny screen A 10-minute-long video appeared on YouTube, uploaded by an online personality called Tech Buff PH. It features a relatively detailed hands-on of the Mi 11 Ultra device — one that we haven’t seen out in the wild yet. As these things go, the…

We’re entering a proper dystopian future, and sooner than you’d expect. Later this year, Mastercard plans to offer support for some cryptocurrencies. Which essentially means you’ll be able to pay for your boerewors ‘n buns at Checkers with Bitcoin, maybe Ethereum and probably DogeCoin.  The current announcement follows Elon Musk’s revelation that Tesla will begin accepting Bitcoin as payment. Of course, Musk/Tesla revealed it had purchased US$1.5 billion in bitcoin before the announcement.  BTC Mastercard payments South Africans have seen an increase in crypto-ATMs across the country, which allows those fortunate enough to own some crypto the ability to conduct…

Come 1 April 2021, DStv users will see their monthly deposits look… slightly different. In this case, the bad kind of different, thanks to the recently announced price increase across its range of services.  DStv has managed to keep pricing reasonable, with slight increases across the board. All products, from DStv Premium down to DStv Access will see increases of a few rand. Even so, we’re still in a pandemic, which means users won’t appreciate substantial increases right now.  DStv 2021 prices Package Old Price New Price DStv Premium R819 R829 DStv Compact Plus R529 R539 DStv Compact R399 R409…

Once a year, a day rolls around that's dedicated to showing your significant other just how much you appreciate them. Maybe that includes conjuring up their favourite food, making a restaurant do it, or simply hitting up Uber Eats. Because you both deserve a night in sometimes. In some cases, there are flowers and chocolates

In January, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies’ Audio and Audio-visual Content Services published a policy framework that would allow the government to charge a TV licence fee for a variety of devices that aren’t TVs. The move came about because users can watch ‘TV’ through streaming channels on a myriad of non-TV devices these days.  The White Paper includes a variety of suggestions in line with the changing landscape of how humans consume content. This included a proposal that mobile devices capable of streaming shows and movies fall under a TV licence cost. But a recent proposal by…

Just when you think you’ve got a good understanding of South Africa’s load shedding schedule, the City of Johannesburg changes you region’s schedule as people start to light candles again. The recent move means that the city now loses power in 2-hour blocks. It’s just… not aligned with the previous schedule.  According to City Power, the change meant Johannesburg’s schedule will now align with Eskom’s schedule — the one that’s used nationwide. Before now, City Power opted for the four-hour blocks, because it wasn’t convinced its grid would be able to handle two sessions of two-hour blackouts per day. So…

How do you improve on a Jeep? Make it fully electric, of course! On the heels of Jeep’s announcement of the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, it’s hinted at an all-electric Wrangler concept. On Sunday, the carmaker revealed its new “The Road Ahead” site, as seen in its Super Bowl ad, where a teaser for its EV popped up.  After digging through the website, CNET’s Road Show picked up a panel featuring the “100% battery-powered Wrangler BEV” as an upcoming concept car. According to its report, Jeep plans to reveal the concept in its Easter Moab Safari event that we’ll likely…

Some people invest in furniture, some in houses and some in expensive cars. But then you get people who’d rather ‘invest’ in experiences or travel opportunities. A new South African startup, Wunderlust, allows users to pay off flight tickets over six or twelve months.  According to its website, Wunderlust is a registered credit provider in SA, and will give users the option to pay off flight tickets before or even after their departure date. To apply for credit through its website, users would need to be over 18 years old and have a good credit score. Obviously, you’ll have to…

Smartphones toting that coveted 5G spectrum capability are flooding the South African market. But it’s not all that useful if 5G mobile networks aren’t readily accessible on those devices, right? Lucky for new iPhone 12, 12 Pro/Pro Max and 12 Mini owners, Vodacom announced this week that its 5G network is officially supported on those devices.  “Vodacom is pleased to share that we’re now offering 5G cellular support for the powerful new iPhone 12 line-up,” the company said in a brief statement, reports TechCentral. iPhone 12’s on 5G, finally https://twitter.com/nafisa1/status/1358841864032575491 The iPhone 12 lineup officially landed in South Africa on…

Just over ten years since it was implemented, the Constitutional Court has declared the Regulation of Interception of Communication and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (Rica) unconstitutional.  According to the judgement, Rica does not implement “adequate” safeguards needed to render it lawful. Which is a fancy way of saying ‘it’s not secure enough… at all’. The judgement comes following an application filed by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism and its managing partner Sam Sole at the apex court.  What makes Rica so insecure? Rica’s not just the tedious process of allocating your new SIM to an ID number, it’s…