Author: Stuff writer

Tech companies seem to have solutions for most of our tech-related problems, like the usual screen cracks that eventually end up costing more than expected. We know the technology to make sure devices last longer is available, but will companies ever risk it all and lose out on the money they make from repairs? We doubt it. This week, LG Display showed off what it calls the world’s first high-resolution stretchable display which can fold and twist itself from a 12in screen into a slightly larger 14in screen. “The company’s newly unveiled stretchable display is the industry’s first to achieve…

South Africans may eventually be able to let go of our coal dependency and the load shedding that goes with it. In a potential landmark deal that could see the transition from fossil fuels to green energy, South Africa, with its partners, launched the US$8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Plan at the United Nations’ 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Egypt. The plan has been backed by the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and the European Union. As countries plan to go clean in an effort to save the planet, South Africa plans to use 90% of…

Wordle is about to get more challenging as the New York Times introduces new rules for the addictive word-guessing game. The basics haven’t changed, you’ll still get six chances to guess the five-letter word, but the word list that was previously assembled by the game creators will now be assembled by Tracy. Who is Tracy, we hear you ask? Tracy Bennett is the person who used to oversee The New York Times’ crossword puzzle, and this is the person who has become Wordle’s dedicated editor. “Tracy Bennett will be programming Wordle every day,” notes the publication in an announcement about…

Ameca, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, says she might have working legs in the next year. She’s been dubbed the world’s most advanced by her peers because of her realistic facial expressions and movements after being unveiled at the  2022 Consumer Electronic Show. When asked if her creator, British company Engineered Arts, has plans to get her some legs, Ameca revealed what she had seen and what it could mean for her. “I can’t walk, but I have seen prototype legs in the Engineered Arts lab,” says Ameca during a Q&A on YouTube. The legs, according to her, were…

Access to public information and too much access to personal information has taken the spotlight at the  2022 Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Egypt this week. Journalists and environmental activists on Monday used social media to post various websites that they were unable to access from the conference. Websites that appear blocked from Egypt include Human Rights Watch, Al Jazeera, and Earth Uprising, according to journalists and activists’ tweets on Monday. There are so many blocked websites in Egypt at #COP27 , that it is noticeable and hard for us to work. We can’t use our @Earth_Uprising Medium site, because…

Apple might soon change the trigger phrase for its voice assistant from ‘Hey Siri’ to a one-word command. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company plans to drop the greeting side of things by changing the trigger phrase to simply ‘Siri’. It might feel a bit rude to start commanding beloved Siri without greeting it first…especially here in Africa. Why is Apple suddenly dropping its manners? Well, you can call it good old peer pressure. By the way, Siri turns 12 years old next year, so it’s old enough to deal with it. Read More: ‘Hey Siri’:…

Xpeng, electric-vehicle maker went literal with its flying car prototype which was unveiled in October earlier this year. The flying car looks like a mixed breed between a regular car and a drone. Internally named the X3, it’s designed for driving on the road as well as for flying. During its maiden voyage, the X3 is seen rolling out of a garage and then raising itself towards the sky vertically. “Designed for both air flight and road driving, the flying car conveniently features a sleek rotor fold-away system for seamless conversation between driving and flying,” says Xpeng, the Chinese electric…

Google will soon introduce a package-tracking system ahead of the festive season so you can get an idea of when your gift to your loved ones, or yourself, will get to your doorstep. To avoid spending time searching through your hundreds of emails and various delivery codes, the platform plans to enable a feature that gets all the important info about your package in your inbox. The mail is quick to read and gives an update on when to expect delivery, letting you get on with your life faster. “For orders with tracking numbers, Gmail will prominently display your current…

The $8 fee introduced by new owner Elon Musk on Twitter Blue is here to stay, and a fee might soon also be introduced on the main platform. “We’re exploring ways to make the Twitter experience next level—and Twitter Blue is just the beginning, “ notes the description on Twitter about the platform – an indication that you may soon have to pay for that tick and possibly more features on the mainstream platform. “Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month”, says Musk…

Now that you’ve spent enough time preparing for your exam (or at least we hope you have), here are some websites, apps, and tips from Tiktokers to give you a boost. At least now you can get spend your time wisely when you get that urge to use your phone when you should be studying. We’ll keep it short so you can get back to your books. Websites & Blogs On these websites, you’ll get past examination papers to give you an idea of what to expect. A good place to start would be the National Department of Basic Education’s…