Author: Stuff writer

Microsoft has finally introduced a green screen feature for video calls on Teams. Let’s be honest, fewer people now have the time and energy to spice up their favourite video-calling background. Most prefer to keep their videos off so they can enjoy food in peace during video meetings Microsoft Teams’ new feature will come in handy for those who are required to be on camera and look professional during video calls. The platform now has a green screen setting designed to improve video sharpness by reducing blurriness. “Green screen improves the sharpness and definition of the virtual background effect around…

Banks in South Africa are finally joining the solar financing bandwagon as citizens search for ways to cushion both the load-shedding nightmare plaguing the country and the high cost of solar. This week, Absa launched a solar financing subsidy for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Businesses that qualify will be able to apply for up to 50,000 or 10% of the installation value through its Green Asset Finance program. The bank says has made R50 million available for solar grants. Businesses that have their commercial properties financed by Absa will not need to apply for the solar financial boost. The…

If you own a bank account — or anything vaguely financial like crypto or NFTs — then you run the risk of being taken in by scams. Except, apparently, if you happen to have a Bank Zero account. In that instance, you’re bulletproof. At least, that’s what the financial institution’s head Michael Jordaan says. It’s a remarkable claim to make at a time when phishing around the world — and South Africa’s right up there with the best worst of them — is on the rise. But since the bank reckons it’s also experienced zero card fraud, it’s not that…

As technology continues to advance, it has also done to women what most major global advancements have done in the past. The world, which seems to thrive in today’s digital age, is leaving women and their interests behind. “The digital divide has become the new face of gender inequality, which has become compounded by the pushback against women and girls, that we see in the world today,” says Sima Bahous, UN Women’s Executive Director. As the world observes International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8th, the UN is calling on the world to make the digital world safer, more inclusive,…

When Shortwave first launched, the app was designed to make it easier for you to summarise dreadfully long emails. A year later, the app has added artificial intelligence (AI) to further improve that function. Shortwave’s new AI feature is run by OpenAI’s GPT-3 and is available for free on all platforms. However, the AI-powered update is still in beta as the company cleans it up. Shortwave says it tested the new feature on simple emails to basic newsletters, all the way up to scanning multiple emails in a short period of time. Read More: ChatGPT creator OpenAI releases a tool…

Power utility Eskom might give South Africa a bit more light this weekend when it (hopefully) eventually downgrades load shedding from the rotational Stage 4 and Stage 5 pattern that has become the norm. “Stage 4 load shedding will again be implemented from 05:00 on Friday until 05:00 on Saturday,” Eskom says. The utility adds that Stage 3 will be implemented from 5 AM on Saturday morning until 4 PM on the day. Don’t get too excited, this won’t last long. Stage 3 used to be a shocking upgrade from Stage 1 and Stage 2. It seems South Africa has…

The Like a Dragon franchise (previously known as Yakuza in the West) is very much defined by its ability to perform one of the most consistently incredibly tightrope acts in the video game industry. The series is known for weaving sprawling melodramatic narratives of betrayal, vengeance, and found family while also juggling with more overtly absurd pastimes; watching grizzled mobsters succumb to their inner popstar while belting out karaoke never gets old. Ishin! certainly delivers on that formula, to an almost predictable extent. Yet at its heart, there’s something fresh in its presentation. Something that serves as an exciting spinoff…

Eskom is gearing up to install electric car chargers across South Africa to support the growing “electric mobility (eMobility) sector”. The power utility announced its plans this past weekend at the Formula E Fest event in Cape Town. And yes, this is as the country continues to endure daily blackouts. The utility plans to make it easier to charge electric cars while South Africans continue to struggle to make a hot cup of tea or take a hot bath. Anyways, the utility seems to have a plan and has already invested millions toward its ambitions. If you’re into motorsport (or…

If you live in South Africa, the words ‘immediate effect’ are usually in the same sentence with Eskom and load shedding. In true Eskom style, the power utility announced another ‘immediate effect’ resolution in the dead of night. The power utility announced late on Wednesday night that it had decided to “release’ its GCEO, Andrè de Ruyter, from his duties with immediate effect. De Ruyter, who was serving his notice period, resigned from Eskom in December 2022. “Following the convening of a special board meeting on 22 February 2023, the Eskom Board and group chief executive Andrè de Ruyter have…

Private homeowners who install rooftop solar panels will be able to claim a quarter of the cost of the panels from the government starting on 1 March 2023. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana made the announcement during his Budget 2023 speech on Wednesday afternoon. Those who opt to go for it will be able to reduce their tax liability in the 23/24 tax year. However, not all homeowners in South Africa qualify. The 25% rebate on solar panels excludes sectional title properties. So people owning a property in a complex will not be able to benefit from the government incentive aimed…