Author: Stuff writer

Meta is about to drop new WhatsApp updates designed to “make chats a little more productive and fun”. The messaging platform announced updates to its Polls and Caption features in a blog post this week. WhatsApp Polls, launched last year, currently allow a user to ask a group a question and then give them options to pick from. Until this week, those responding could only pick one option.  The latest update allows respondents to pick more than one. So if you’re planning a party and asking friends about the kind of dessert they like, they can pick vanilla and chocolate,…

Bluetooth, the technology that was once the wireless connectivity superstar, has humbly taken the backseat to other technologies.  But the gap that has opened over the years may be closing. The 20-year-old technology is set for an upgrade. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) this week announced its plans to increase Bluetooth LE’s bandwidth. The group is working on two projects that are expected to boost audio, video, and sharing for devices using the wireless standard. Getting long in the Bluetooth SIG says the technology is “set to more than double the Bluetooth LE data rate…taking it up to four…

Google may no longer ask you for a password or 2-Step Verification (2SV) when you sign in to its accounts. The internet giant introduced passkeys to all personal Google accounts this week. Users won’t be forced to drop passwords for passkeys, but they’ll have the option to do so. In a blog titled ‘So long passwords, thanks for all the phish’ Google said passkeys offer a more convenient and safer alternative to passwords. “They work on all major platforms and browsers, and allow users to sign in by unlocking their computer or mobile device with their fingerprint, face recognition, or…

If you live in South Africa, it’s hard to imagine having too much WiFi. Unless you live in the Western Cape. That’s because South Africans continue to pay ridiculously high amounts for data compared to other African and BRICS countries. Local internet provider TooMuchWifi (yes, that’s their actual name) offers communities in the Western Cape unlimited access to WiFi for 24 hours for just R5. The company partnered with investors Mineworkers Investment Company and Bamboo Capital to offer low-cost internet access to the region. TooMuchWiFi? Really? What’s the catch? The downside? Because it sounds way too good to be true,…

Describing yourself and your skills can be tricky when applying for a job. You want to let your future boss know that you’re exactly what they are looking for, but you also don’t want to sound cocky and boastful. You probably also want to come off as friendly (but not too friendly), funny (but not too funny because you’ll be there to work and not spend your days clowning if you get the job).  It’s a lot. LinkedIn has probably noticed the questionable writing between job seekers and potential bosses on its platform. The professional social media platform announced this…

Who runs the ICT world? Definitely not girls. The ICT gender divide remains wide and access to the internet remains low for most girls around the world. As the world observed International Girls ICT Day on April 27, we’ll state the obvious and remind you of the divide that continues to place them at a disadvantage. This year with its “Digital Skills for Life” theme the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is calling for a boost in ICT skills development for girls. The United Nations agency says there’s a need for more girls and women to become users and creators in…

Meta has upped its inclusivity game by adding new body shapes, hair, and sporty clothes for avatars. The social media giant which owns Instagram and Facebook and WhatsApp says it now has more than one billion avatars across its platforms. The multiracial avatars range from curvy to skinny characters with a range of hairstyles including afros, straight hair, and grey hair on older-looking representations. Some even have a bun or headwraps on their heads. “We’re adding a handful of new avatar body shapes to help you better express yourself — especially if expressing yourself means dancing along to “Hips Don’t…

Tech giant Microsoft has agreed to unbundle Teams from its Office Productivity Suite following an anti-trust investigation in the European Union (EU), according to a report by the Financial Times (FT). This is Microsoft continues to face its biggest regulatory battle in over ten years in the EU. In 2020, Teams competitor Slack asked the European Union regulators to officially make Microsoft sell Teams separately from the Office Suite. It called Teams a ‘weak, copycat product’ and said Microsoft was forcing it on its users. In the complaint, Slack also accused it of blocking some customers from removing Teams and…

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems like the gift that keeps on giving despite warnings about potential side effects and abuse. Well, it seems the chickens are quickly coming home to roost. Spam creators are increasingly using AI to create bots for product reviews on platforms including Amazon and Twitter. Chatbots have become popular for efficiently creating content that’s almost indistinguishable from that created by humans. In fact, chatbots have proven to sometimes create better content than (most) humans. AI don’t like this Language used by chatbots like ChatGPT and GPT-4 has been spotted in internet review sections but it’s not quite…

Apple is rumoured to be working on an app designed to boost both physical and mental health. You could soon find yourself typing ‘Dear Apple’ instead of ‘Dear diary’…if the rumour mill is on the right track. This comes as the company continues its investment in healthcare technology.  The giant tech is reportedly working on an iPhone journaling app aimed at encouraging users to jot down their daily activities, according to the Wall Street Journal. An Apple a day… The app is expected to analyse a user’s daily activities and then make recommendations. Based on what you jot down, the…