Author: Trent Meikle

If you can’t quite stomach the thought of being utterly reliant on an electric vehicle (EV) in a place like South Africa, have you considered a plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV)? Of course you have. But what about BYD’s “Super” PHEV, the Sealion 5 SUV? Seeing as it only went on sale today at an event in Johannesburg, probably not. BYD’s brought with it two variants for the Sealion 5, including the cheaper ‘Comfort’ model for R500,000, while the ‘Dynamic’ packs in a electric sunroof and electric folding mirrors, bringing the cost up to R570,000. Whether a few extras are worth…

Many, ourselves included, are still reeling after the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) official fuel price adjustments sent the price of diesel soaring roughly 80c/l. Petrol drivers didn’t go unscathed, either, with a smaller (but still unwelcome) 29c/l increase heaped onto their plates. According to the latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), South African motorists may be in for yet another round of hikes. Petrol taking a hike in 2026 While the DMRE is responsible for adjusting South Africa’s petrol pumps every month, it enlists the help of the CEF to track those economic factors that…

It turns out that complaining about AI online does work… but for lower-stakes controversies, such as Amazon Prime’s decision to give the job of dubbing an anime to artificial intelligence, rather than real-life humans. Shows like Banana Fish, No Game, No Life and Vinland Saga were recently hit with Amazon’s “AI beta” tag. The results, if you haven’t heard ’em yet, are… not good. We’d even call them bad. And now, they’re gone. Mostly. Bottom banana For now, anyway. The emotionless, and often simply incorrect, AI-generated dubs — which only appeared on series that had never previously received a dubbed translation — have now…

If you thought the clickbait coming out of human-written websites was in poor taste before, wait until you see just how badly Google has bludgeoned those headlines over on Google Discover. As part of its latest experiment, Google Discover is rewriting headlines, meant to make them more appealing. Except it’s doing the opposite. That’s because Google’s left AI in the driver’s seat. First, it allowed the tech to summarise articles, ultimately diverting traffic away from the source. Now, it’s giving it the power to rewrite those outlets’ headlines and, in some cases, history. The results thus far have been utterly laughable…

Takealot is giving new meaning to TakealotNow, the online retailer’s delivery service via the Mr D app that’ll get you select items, fast. TakealotNow has been locked into the Mr D ecosystem since its inception, but now it’s bringing a new “Get it Now” feature inside the Takealot app to deliver your items “in minutes” with Mr D’s help. TakealotNowNow https://youtu.be/4lHjfzUJJbo “We’re building the ultimate e-commerce ecosystem that understands what makes South Africans happy,” said Karla Levick, the group’s chief marketing officer. “And nothing delivers happiness quite like getting what you need, when you need it most, all in minutes.”…

As companies scramble to mimic Spotify’s Wrapped at every turn, even YouTube couldn’t turn a blind eye to the recap fever sweeping through the biggest apps at year-end. YouTube Music has long since offered customers a way to rewind time for a brief moment, but now regular ol’ YouTube is getting in on the fun with Recap. “Recap was made for you, by you. This is reflected throughout the creation of this feature, with nine rounds of feedback and over 50 different concept testings before we landing (sic) on what you see today,” Google said in a blog post. That’s…

If you can’t find the ‘Cast’ button inside the Netflix app, that isn’t a bug. It’s a feature. Or, in this case, lack thereof. For some odd reason that we assume makes sense to at least one employee, the streamer has quietly killed off casting from mobile phones to most TVs, unless you’re still stuck on older hardware. Casting becomes a thing of the past Netflix’s help page recently read: “Netflix no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices. You’ll need to use the remote that came with your TV or TV-streaming device…

For every step forward DStv takes, it takes two in the other direction. Not only are four channels disappearing from the DStv catalogue at the end of the year, but MultiChoice also sent out an email (via MyBroadBand) informing customers that twelve channels under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella are on the chopping block. Is Discovery headed for the door? First, MultiChoice confirmed that Paramount Africa would shut down two channels in the new year — BET Africa and MTV Base. That’ll take place at 09h00 on 1 January 2026, with DStv and GOtv ditching the channels entirely at the…

Foregoing all the traditional means to unveil one of Samsung’s most interesting technological achievements — even if it’s rather late to the party — is certainly an odd decision. This morning, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer revealed the Galaxy Z TriFold, stepping into what could soon be a crowded market. Rumours about Samsung’s first tri-foldable have flown about for months, with the most surprising bit being the lack of fanfare and the suddenness of the reveal. It follows in the footsteps of the company’s latest single-fold devices — the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 — but adds an…

We’re always happy to see Oppo come out with something new, but this takes the cake. Oppo South Africa just unveiled the new A6x, sporting a 6,100mAh battery and, most importantly, a R2,000 price. Available in-store and online from today, 1 December, Oppo believes it’s providing some much-needed value ’round the holidays. “At this time of year, South Africans are looking for gifts that offer real value,” said Bradley Young, head of retail at Oppo SA. “The Oppo A6x is a phone that families, students, and first-time users can rely on, at a price that’s affordable without compromising on quality.”…