Author: Tshepo Chauke

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…

A date has been set for the American Federal Trade Commision’s (FTC) trial against Meta. The trial seeks to break the social media giant away from its second-biggest subsidiary. The FTC’s case essentially alleges that Meta purchased WhatsApp and primarily Instagram for the sole purpose of eliminating competitors in the social media landscape. Meta-Morphosis The U.S. Federal Trade Commission exists to curb monopolies and protect smaller businesses and consumers. The Commission began pursuing Meta in 2020 during Trump’s presidency. It alleges that Meta acted illegally by overpaying when acquiring Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, all in a bid…

Sony Electronics has released the Alpha 1 II, its second-generation full-frame mirrorless flagship camera tailored for professional use. Packed with AI technology and enhanced ergonomic design, the Alpha 1 II promises high resolution, speed, and versatility for the detail-oriented photographer. Be the Alpha 1 II The camera boasts a 50.1 MP reason with an Exmor RS sensor stacked on a CMOS sensor. The latest BIONZ XR image processing engine improves image clarity in APS-C crop mode. Sony reckons its new shooter offers blackout-free continuous shooting at 30 fps and AF/AE tracking with up to 120 calculations per second. The highly-requested…

If you make use of iCloud backups on older Apple hardware, you’ll want to pay attention. The Fruit Company has begun notifying users that iCloud backups will require iOS 9 or later from 18 December 2024. When that day rolls around, backups on devices still running iOS 5 through iOS 8 will cease to function and the data will be deleted. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Floating on iCloud 9 “Starting December 18, 2024, device backups will require iOS 9 or later. This is to align more closely with our published minimum software requirements. Until this date, you’ll be…

rAge Expo, one of the largest geek and gaming culture events in the country, makes its annual return to Johannesburg between 29 November and 1 December 2024. The event will offer something for everyone across its three-day span. Live esports competitions will take place between the best gaming teams and casuals alike, with the promise of loot for the victors. Attendees can also buy souvenirs from vast selections of handcrafted items in the Artists’ Alley, from plushies and sculptures to various cosplay accessories and handmade dice. Tech lovers can look forward to cutting-edge tech including VR, robotics, and interactive exhibits…

Everyone’s favourite yellow mobile network operator recently announced MTN CloudPlay, its own local cloud gaming platform. In partnership with European mobile tech company Telecoming, MTN is offering South Africans access to a wide range of ‘console-quality’ cloud-based games that can be streamed to a smartphone, tablet, or PC. MTN CloudPlay is already available at cloudplay.mtn.co.za, or through MTN Play. The service costs R80/m and already boasts a vast library of “over 300 games” which currently includes popular titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Fallout 4, and Elden Ring. The platform’s webpage also states that the catalogue will add new games every…

At Microsoft’s Ignite 2024 conference, the tech giant unveiled Copilot Actions, a feature that automates repetitive tasks for Microsoft 365 Copilot users. Currently in ‘private preview’, the new AI tools allow users to streamline activities such as summarising the important bits of Microsoft Teams meetings, generating reports, or automating meeting preparation. Limited AI automation features are also coming to PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. Microsoft’s Copilot takes action Currently in private preview, Copilot Actions allow Microsoft 365 users to automate repetitive mundane tasks like generating summaries of Teams meetings and weekly reports, and even automating meeting prep using only simple, fill-in-the-blank…