Author: Tshepo Chauke

Amazon has announced a new group of AI models under the ‘Nova’ moniker. The Amazon Nova foundation models can be loaded as part of the Amazon Bedrock model in AWS. Nova Pro, Lite, and Micro handle various automation tasks, while Canvas and Reel will be Amazon’s answer to AI image and video generation. The Amazon Nova models The three automation models break down as follows. Amazon Nova Micro is a text model “optimised for speed and cost.” Amazon claims Micro excels at text summarisation, translation, interactive chat, and brainstorming, as well as simple mathematical reasoning and coding. It also supports…

The annual RoboGirl program, courtesy of Lenovo South Africa and Durban University of Technology (DUT), recently celebrated its third edition. RoboGirl took place over a day, gathering 85 girls from 17 schools across KwaZulu and introducing them to various science and technology concepts. The event took place on 2 December 2024, and the girls received hands-on training in coding, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. RoboGirl turns three RoboGirl is an annual day-long workshop that brings together girls from underprivileged backgrounds and exposes them to innovative science and technology. The program aims to increase women’s participation in STEM and…

MTN South Africa is doing its part to reduce the telecoms industry’s contribution to plastic waste pollution by launching biodegradable SIM cards. MTN’s calling card MTN says the raw materials used to manufacture the new SIM cards are 100% FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. The FSC is an organisation that promotes responsible forest management. This means the materials come from “responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.” The network provider claims that these new cards will degrade within three to six months when placed in the soil, sea, or landfill. It also maintains that eco-friendly SIM cards…

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme might be the first mainstream brand to launch a phone packing an 8,000mAh battery. After dropping its GT 7 Pro flagship with a hefty 6,500mAh battery, the company is looking to entrench its dominance as a producer of some of the biggest batteries you can buy. Realme leading the charge The company’s latest flagship, the Realme GT 7 Pro boasts a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, blowing out the flagship standard of 5,000mAh away. The company also claims it can fully charge in 37 minutes with its 120W SuperVOOC power brick. Even the lower-end Realme 12 Pro Plus…

The Undisputed Masters, an international breakdancing competition courtesy of Fujifilm Instax, is making its way to Cape Town for its 2025 installment. Having been to São Paulo, Paris, the Netherlands, New York, and Tokyo, this is the competition’s first time on African soil. Fujifilm Instax Undisputed Masters The last event in São Paulo saw over 600 dancers participate, putting pressure on Cape Town to show how it’s done. Considering it’s the last stop before the World Finals in Tokyo in March 2025, there’s plenty of pressure for all concerned. Entry to the Cape Town leg of the Fujifilm Instax Undisputed…

Charge, formerly known as Zero Carbon Charge, has officially unveiled South Africa’s first off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Wolmaransstad, North West Province. The facility is the first in a planned network of 120 solar-powered charging stations that Charge intends to roll out across major highways over the next year, strategically placed 150 kilometres apart. Large and in Charge The Wolmaransstad station offers six advanced DC fast charging points, capable of fully charging an EV in 25 minutes, along with two AC chargers for hybrids. Drivers can enjoy drinks and a quick meal at the on-site farm stall…

Ever wondered how Apple’s running shoe emoji would feel on your foot? Artist and designer Jose Wong clearly has, and is dropping the real-life Shoe 1 on his website for anyone who’s been considering these deep questions. The Shoe 1 begins shipping next week, with sizes ranging from five to twelve. Take a run at Apple If that silhouette looks oddly familiar, it’s because Shoe 1 is very clearly just a pair of cheap New Balance 574 replicas, right down to the rubber foam wedge on the heel for extra support. Unsurprising considering New Balance was always one of Steve…

Spotify is coming to Google’s Gemini Extensions, allowing users to find and play music using verbal prompts. According to 9to5Google, this feature is now rolling out to Android devices that support Gemini. Spotify gains Gemini support With this new extension, users can ask Gemini to play any song from the music streaming app by specifying song titles, artist names, albums, playlists, or activities and moods. However, the extension doesn’t allow for creating custom playlists or generating radio stations on Spotify. If users are already linked to another music service like YouTube Music, they must specify Spotify in their initial request.…

Select Xbox Black Friday deals will run from 25 November to 2 December 2024, covering both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, courtesy of local distributor Prima Interactive. Prima has organized the deals into three categories: games, consoles, and controllers. Prima’s Xbox Deals While Game Pass isn’t necessarily being discounted, Prima highlights its value for budget-conscious gamers. Subscribers gain access to all Xbox first-party titles on launch day and a massive game library, including Minecraft, Forza, Halo, Starfield, and Call of Duty. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (featuring Campaign, Zombies, and Multiplayer) and EA FC 2024 are already included…

BankservAfrica’s PayShap is introducing PayShap Request. This new feature, launching on 2 December, allows users to send payment requests that can be approved and settled instantly, promoting a smoother process between individuals conducting business. Introducing PayShap Request PayShap Request allows users to request payments instantly through bank channels, streamlining the process and reducing delays. At launch, the service will be available through African Bank, Capitec, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, Investec, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and TymeBank. Other banks are expected to offer the feature later in 2024. While some banks will initially provide the service for personal banking, others will…