Author: Tshepo Chauke

Following a wave of disruptive DDoS attacks that took out the Wayback Machine in early October, the Internet Archive is steadily restoring its services. On Monday, the nonprofit digital library confirmed that ‘Save Page Now,’ a tool for archiving web pages, is once again available on the Wayback Machine. The Machine finds its Wayback The online data archiving service has slowly powered itself up following crippling system attacks in October. The announcement of the restoration of the ‘Save Page Now’ feature is a significant contribution towards bringing the Archive back to full functionality.  Although the Wayback Machine resumed in read-only…

Electronic payment service PayShap’s owner BankservAfrica, a company specialising in clearing automated payments, is adopting a new system that will see the app’s payment limit increase from R3,000 to R50,000. While full implementation depends on each participating bank, this increased limit will allow the platform to facilitate larger transactions that also benefit small businesses. PayShap it forward BankservAfrica CEO Stephen Linnell informed TechCentral that not all participating banks have enabled the payment increase option for their customers yet. According to Linell, the main reason why this took so long was due to BankservAfrica’s adherence to the real-time clearing (RTC) system.…

Microsoft is incorporating AI text editing into Notepad. The company’s new Rewrite feature allows users to “rephrase sentences, adjust the tone, and modify the length of content” based on their preferences. Since launching its Copilot PC range, Microsoft has revamped its old software, ornamenting them with AI trinkets. Notepad is the latest to follow with this update. Exchanging Notepads To use the feature, just select some text, right-click, and choose “Rewrite,” or use the “Ctrl + I” shortcut. Notepad will generate three rewritten options to choose from. Users can adjust settings to further customize results and hit “Retry” for more…

DJI is releasing the sequel to its much-complained-about Goggles 3. The Goggles N3 improve upon the older design with a larger, lighter, and more comfortable design. While the Goggles N3 are a significant ergonomic improvement, there is a tradeoff in screen quality from OLED to LED. DJI Goggles N3 The DJI Goggles 3’s lack of padding and awkward weight distribution made it notoriously uncomfortable. The Goggles N3 resolves this issue with a larger yet lighter frame, with two straps securing the goggles in place. The larger size also means users don’t have to remove their glasses while using them and…

Suzuki is dropping its fourth-generation Suzuki Swift in South Africa. The new Swift comes in three distinct models, the GL, GL+, and GLX, and each has a slate of new tech features to bring this popular car into the 2020s. The new Suzuki Swift Notable design updates that differentiate the current model include a front end with L-shaped LED headlamps on a clamshell bonnet, an oval piano black grille, and a new lower intake bumper. At the rear is a tailgate with an integrated spoiler, 3D tail lights, and a new rear bumper. The new Swift features a boot capacity…

WhatsApp is rolling out another Android feature for beta testers, select users can now directly Google search images straight from the app. With this update, users can verify the authenticity of images received in chats by searching them directly on the web. The feature, which is gradually being made available to beta testers, looks to help users identify manipulated or misleading images, providing another tool to combat AI-generated misinformation. WhatsApp web search Users can access the feature by opening a picture and finding the “Search on web” option under the overflow (three-dot) menu. This initiates a reverse image search through…

SA geek culture curator Afro Geek is bringing Afro-futurism to the 2024 rAge Expo with its Afro Geek Playroom. The Playroom will immerse attendees in the world of innovative South African creative projects, gathering artists, game developers, and other innovators from across Africa. Attendees can take part in VR demo features, indie games by African studios, and artist pieces. All the rAge with Afro Geek rAge head Michael James says the partnership with the geek collective introduces “a fresh, futuristic energy,” creating an intersection of African culture and technology that will engage and inspire audiences. “From the immersive experiences in…

Pixelmator, a Lithuanian company that produces Mac-based photo editing tools, announces its acquisition by Apple. The company is most known for its online photo editor of the same name and is likely being acquired by Apple in its bid to infringe on Adobe’s dominance in the design software market. Pixelmator, Adobe Killer? Pixelmator says the deal is currently awaiting regulatory approval, but assures users that there will be “no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time.” How this will change over time is anyone’s guess, but they promise “exciting updates to come.”…

Meta subsidiary WhatsApp makes chat filters a mainstay with Custom Lists, which allows users to customise their own filters. Back in April, the social media platform introduced chat filters, allowing users to arrange their chats between All, Unread, and Groups. The company is releasing its customisation feature in response to the success of chat filters in the community. Introducing Custom Lists With Custom Lists, you can categorize chats beyond All, Unread, and Groups. Users can now arrange individual chats into groups most relevant to them. Whether it’s a category for family, colleagues, or neighbours, Custom Lists allows folks to order…

Microsoft is delaying Recall for security reasons… again. The controversial feature has been promised for much of this past year, but reinforcements to security protocols continue to delay its release. This time Microsoft hoped the feature would launch alongside new Copilot Plus-powered PCs, but that will have to wait. Beyond Recall Recall uses AI models installed on Windows 11 Copilot Plus PCs to screenshot most of what the user sees or does on their PC, allowing users to search and recall (ha) things they’ve seen. An explorable timeline shows a temporal string of these snapshots, allowing users to precisely recreate…