Author: Tshepo Chauke

The Asus Vivobook S 14 is the latest addition to the tech company’s Vivobook range. It’s slim and lightweight, packs decent processing power with its Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 chipset, and features a decent screen backed by its Lumina software. Sussing out the Vivobook S 14 Generally, the most useful thing a university student needs from a laptop is lightweight portability (some of us learned the hard way). The Vivobook S 14 weighs a cool 1.3kg and is about 1.39cm thick, good for any young student or professional who needs a capable machine but is always on the…

WhatsApp’s new update reminds users if they haven’t checked their friends’ statuses or messages. Courtesy of Wabetainfo, the social media app has reportedly been testing the feature since September and is now available through its beta program. Whatsapp rolls out un Users who want to test the feature can open WhatsApp, go into Settings, Notifications, and then toggle Reminders. Once on, users begin receiving reminder notifications for unseen Status updates and messages. Previously, reminders were limited to status updates from specific contacts automatically selected by WhatsApp. The reminder feature expands this to unread messages from frequent contacts. The selection is…

Communications minister Solly Malatsi announced a new deadline for the nation’s analogue switch-off, moving it back by three months. Some may remember the hubbub caused by news of South Africa’s digital migration to set-top boxes. That was 14 years ago. Feel old yet? From analogue switch-off to digital migration The project has suffered various setbacks since its initial deadline set by then-communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri during Thabo Mbeki’s presidency. Malatsi, the first Democratic Alliance cohort to lead the office via the GNU, said in a statement that cabinet’s support has been secured for an extension to the deadline, from December…

Computer producer Asus is broadening its relationship with its customer base with its inaugural shop-in-shop concept stores. The shop-in-shop branches can be found at select Computer Mania branches in South Africa with more to come. The first store debuted on 25 November 2024 at the Mall of Africa, followed by a second location at Brooklyn Mall on November 26. Asus sets up shop Asus’s shop-in-shop stores offer a more thoughtful space for techies, centered around the tech brand’s premium product lines like ROG (Republic of Gamers) and the Zenbook ranges. All stores showcase a curated selection of the brand’s latest…

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…