Author: Stuff writer

The Basics Don’t think it’s Twitter Mastodon’s somewhat bumpy onboarding makes people think it’s tricky. And in use, many assume it’s identical to  Twitter. Neither point is true. The service is simpler than it first appears, yet it has nuances that set it apart from the Musk mound. There’s more emphasis on discussion, so dial down the noise – and ramp up thoughtful chat. Select a server Mastodon is decentralised. Choose a server when signing up (either in the app or at joinmastodon.org), from large general-interest ones to niche topic-orientated ones. Ideally, peruse admin policies first and see how feedback…

We get it. Your Apple iPhone 14 Pro is the greatest device since the invention of sliced toast or something like that. But what if we told you it could be even better? Turns out, that’s an option. Using a combination of literal additions and a few tips and tricks (and a couple of handy apps) you can upskill your iPhone 14 Pro to the point where you’ll only half-listen to what Apple has in store for us this year. If you’re looking to help your iPhone 14 Pro be all that it can be, you (and it) will benefit…

Stuff has been making a habit of being in Dubai for tech launches of late. This time around it’s the African launch of the Honor 90 5G smartphone, which is due to launch in South Africa on 1 September this year. Exact pricing details are a mystery for now but the device will be bundled with an Honor GS Watch 4 at launch. We’re told that exact pricing should turn up very soon. The main reason to be impressed by this one? 2023’s camera pinnacle, a main 200MP sensor, seems to be the star of the show. Elsewhere, there’s a…

Speedy, motorbike-based, supermarket grocery delivery services have increased dramatically since Covid. Checkers Sixty60 promises to deliver groceries within an hour of placing the order. Drivers are deemed to be independent contractors with few of the normal rights of employees or benefits if any. A labour lawyer says the way their employment is structured puts their lives in danger. While many people rave about the ease and speed of supermarket food delivery services, others on social media rant about the numerous delivery motorbikes ploughing the city streets, calling them on Twitter the “new scourge of our country” and “lawless on the…

Why was this game called Space Invaders when it looks like you’re shooting squid? Octopuses, actually – well, at least the main invader. Keen to make a game to surpass Breakout, Space Invaders creator Tomohiro Nishikado hit upon the player taking on legions of tanks. Sadly they looked rubbish, so he switched them for people. But managers were nervous about gamers killing humans – how times change! – so, inspired by The War of the Worlds, Nishikado settled on blasting alien sea life instead… and laid the foundations for a $4 billion smash hit. Sorry, what? But it’s so basic.…

Depending on who you are (and your individual tolerance for lawlessness), Twitter might not be the best place for your mental health right now. That’s okay. It’s not 2003 and Twitter isn’t the only game in town. You’ve got options. Some of them are remarkably similar to the rough-and-tumble bird platform (some more than others), while others are just a different manner of staying in touch with different circles of acquaintance. Mastodon The Mastodon network is distributed, so it can’t be owned by one rich helmet. It’s like lots of little Twitters that talk to each other; onboarding is a…

The Watch Ultra is the first major ground-up redesign of the Apple Watch as we know it. So when Apple suggested that Stuff sit down (well, virtually) with three of the company’s vice presidents to ask them about the key sensors on the device, we didn’t have to think about it very long. We spoke to Stan Ng, VP for Apple Watch marketing; Ron Huang, VP for sensing and connectivity; and Jay Blahnik, VP of fitness technologies. So, first things first: Why is now the right time for the Watch Ultra? “Over the years we’ve heard from customers who shared…

The newest model in Garmin’s premium running watch collection, the Garmin Forerunner 965 was launched in March 2023. Designed for runners, by runners, Garmin claims the Forerunner 965 is “purpose-built in both form and function to help athletes better plan, prepare, perform, and connect.” Receiving the watch just fourteen days before the Comrades was well timed as it significantly changed those vital few weeks of training leading up to the race. Let’s look deeper into the Forerunner 965’s features, design, performance, and value. Sporty Look The Garmin 965, unlike its predecessor, comes only in one size, with a screen that…

South Africans have a contentious relationship with water. The Western Cape recently endured a very tight time when rainfall didn’t play along, leading to extensive water restrictions in the province. A similar situation is now occurring in the Eastern Cape. But there are more hazards ahead for the country as a whole, fuelled and accelerated by the ongoing bouts of load shedding in South Africa. More and more South Africans, generally those able to afford to go off the grid, are also availing themselves of privately owned boreholes on their properties. The reasons for this are that the country’s water…

Peachz 48W Rapid USB-C Car Charger | peachz.co.za If you drive a higher-end car in South Africa, odds are that somewhere inside your vehicle is a USB port. This allows you to charge your device so you can take phone calls the old-fashioned way instead of using the hands-free option that even cheaper cars now support. Seriously, guys, what the hell? But if you, like most in SA, don’t have that kind of money, there’s always the 12V port that used to house a cigarette lighter. The tricky bit is finding a suitable adaptor. The unit sent to Stuff by…