Author: Stuff writer

It’s Black Friday week and retailers are flooded with laptops they’d really like you to buy. Before just picking the cheapest one on the list, here’s how you can make sure it’ll actually do what you want it to do. It’s often not a case of just choosing the flashiest machine. As with most things, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Specifically, it’s all about the processor, the RAM, and the hard drive, with a side order of GPU if you’re planning on playing games. The screen could be included on this list but you can usually disregard it.…

You can no longer pretend not to understand what your international colleagues are saying during meetings on Microsoft Teams when they send you a message.  This week, the company released an Intelligent Message Translation feature in chat messages for iOS and Android mobile devices. It uses artificial intelligence to understand and translate a user’s preferred language. When participants chat in different languages, the feature gives you the option to customise your preferences so messages come through in your preferred language. Users may either automate the feature so all messages come through in their preferred language, or only activate the feature…

Old Mutual plans to open a bank in 2024. It also plans to reassess its relationship with its customers and third-party partners. The group plans to go big on technology when the bank launches in the second half of next year. “We are building this transactional capability using the latest technology that will allow enhanced servicing and personalisation. This, together with a cloud-based technology stack, will enable us to deliver cost-effective, flexible, and scalable solutions to our customers,” said the group in its voluntary trading update on Tuesday. Old Mutual says it received Section 13 approval from the Prudential Authority…

Here at Stuff, we understand the work that goes into recording podcasts, because we record them on a regular basis. We also understand that background noise can mean the difference between an exceptional podcast and two people yakking in the midst of disruptive noise. Recording an excellent podcast is about to become easier than ever. Spotify’s new noise reduction feature, launched this week, isolates audio and drowns background noise so you actually get to capture the sound you’re going for. Spotify: The difference Anchor App, by music streaming service Spotify, lets users create, host, and distribute podcasts. Inside the app…

As more people travel across Africa for play and work, central banks in Sub-Saharan Africa are seriously considering the use of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) to boost cross-border payment systems. Several African central banks, hosted by the Central Bank of Kenya last week, discussed challenges facing the markets and the Financial Stability Board’s plans for 2023 among other issues. Read More: Cryptocurrencies are gaining ground across Africa – that’s both good news and bad Digital currencies, money laundering, and financial terrorism featured heavily in the discussions. As more people go cashless, African countries are exploring ways to regulate these…

A survey across 20 countries this week revealed a massive drop in overall trust in the internet. South Africa’s response to Ipsos’ international survey revealed that only 14% of respondents trust the internet. The survey was conducted by Ipsos between 2019 and 2021. “Only six in ten (63%) Internet users on average across the 20 countries said they trust the Internet,” notes the survey in its findings on responses from the 20 countries. Read More: Zero-trust security: Assume that everyone and everything on the internet is out to get you – and maybe already has In an interview that lasted…

It’s been another week of more changes at Twitter as Elon Musk’s latest tweets on possible changes to the social platform indicate an end to the short-form Twitter that we’d come to know. Musk says that you’ll soon be able to tweet longer than the current 280 characters in a single tweet. He later tweeted #RIPTwitter – a  sure sign of more tweaks to come as the bird grows more unpredictable by the week. Twitter is reportedly working on a feature that will automatically create a thread if your thoughts about the world exceed 280 characters. “Ability to do long…

It is unlike any 5G tower you’ve seen before. And unlikely to see in the flesh yourself. This is perhaps because it’s underground, very far underground. In a coal mine. In China. This is the cutting edge of technology and is using superfast wireless connectivity in an interesting new way. Made by Huawei, this 5G system aims to show how this super-fast wireless communications network can be used in the most unexpected of places: in a mine. Digging deeper into 5G This is an interesting test case for 5G technology and the artificial intelligence (AI) applications it makes possible. And…

Nedbank is adding more features to Avo as the super app enters gets an upgrade in its third year.  The super app, which launched in 2020 during the lockdown, continues to expand with a seemingly never-ending list of offerings. It’s a lot…and they plan to add even more stuff to it in an effort to get you whatever you want on the super app. Basically, Avo is gradually becoming Africa’s very own Alibaba.  Big brands now available on Avo include Apple, and Samsung may soon follow. If all works out, Avo will become a Samsung authorised reseller. Read More: Why…

Samsung launched its digital payment Wallet in South Africa this week, helping smartphones gradually do to wallets what they did to the radio and cameras. The mobile payment platform will be available on Galaxy devices. Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass which eventually be replaced by Wallet and its security platform, Knox. Samsung Pay has been the company’s mobile payment app to date in SA, while Samsung Pass is used to store and manage passwords for biometric sign-in. Read More: Why physical credit cards are giving way to digital wallets and smartphones If you’re already on Samsung Pay or Pass, expect…