Author: Trent Meikle

Ferrari’s Luce EV fetched a handsome R646 million at auction Ferrari doesn’t usually putter about with electric vehicles, but even it can be persuaded to dip its toes into unknown waters every so often. It did so back in May when it unveiled the Luce, a new EV designed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, which attracted flak for straying from tradition. That didn’t stop Ferrari from selling a “tailor-made” model at a charity auction this weekend. It fetched a handsome R646 million ($40 million). The buyer wasn’t identified, which is probably the smart move. Sotheby’s, the company behind…

Stuff’s resident fitness geek may scoff at the idea of getting assistance from an e-bike, but the rest of us are more open to the idea. The only trouble is that they’re expensive. Quite expensive. But how about a regular bike that’s gifted the power of electricity? That’s what Asus is hoping to accomplish with the Oxiis E250G1 Bike Booster. King of the hill? https://youtu.be/1omwSBju9Vs The idea is simple. Simply buy Asus’ little booster (or wait for one of the inevitable knockoffs), strap it to your plain ol’ bicycle, and vroom — you’ve got an e-bike. The motor will cling to…

No F1 to look forward to? No matter — there’s usually Formula E to keep you company. Where you’ll tune in to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has already been decided for you, after Disney+ grabbed the global streaming rights this week. It’ll become the de facto streaming home of the races for many, starting in 2026. Formula E comes to Disney+ It was initially unclear whether South Africa would be included. The House of Mouse’s announcement did mention that the races would be streamed on Disney+ in “most international markets beginning with the 2026/27 season.” We’ve since…

Scammers are becoming more inventive by the day, attempting to slip through any crack to nab your personal data and, in most cases, your money. WhatsApp is no stranger to scummy scammers, even if you’ve been lucky enough not to come face-to-face with one. Today, Meta announced an “early look” at Scam Alert, a new detection method that runs on — you guessed it — artificial intelligence. It’s designed to fend off bad actors. WhatsApp’s got your best interests at heart If you’re confident in your ability to sniff out a scam before you hand over personal details or banking details, you…

South Africa might not have much to get excited about with the new Google Pixel, but it’s not a complete dud. Propping up the Pixel 11 is a new tap-to-share feature via Quick Share that, yes, is currently exclusive to Pixel. It won’t be that forever, though, with Samsung’s foldables next in line before other Android devices get it this year. More of that, Google Google reckons it’s a great way of instantly sharing contact info, and we’re betting it’s right. Get over the novelty, however, and the feature’s ability to share images and videos via a simple tap becomes…

Now probably isn’t the best time to invest in a dehumidifier. Or is it precisely for that reason that you should grab one — before the hot weather rolls around? That might be why LG has decided to bring its first dedicated range of dehumidifiers to SA, with two new Dual Inverter models apparently “designed specifically” for the South African home. Yeah, right. Take that last statement with a pinch of salt, seeing as both models have been available elsewhere for a while. Whatever. Until we’re able to put LG’s efforts to the test, we can’t speak to their competency.…

Because artificial intelligence won’t rest until it’s invaded every last area of your personal lives, Checkers Sixty60 — a grocery delivery app, mind you — now has AI powers. That’s not news. Xtra Savings Plus customers have had access to Pixie for months, before the Shoprite-owned store gave it away for free in July. Now, it’s getting an upgrade. Customers can actually talk to Pixie using text, voice, and even images. For some reason. Shoprite Group’s Neil Schreuder went as far as calling it a “24/7 personal shopping butler.” We wouldn’t go that far. Not ’til we’ve tested it thoroughly…

While Saffas are still trying to wrap their heads around the Vivo X300 family, China marches on. Vivo is reportedly gearing up to reveal the Vivo X500 series over there as soon as September. FYI, the Chinese are notoriously suspicious of the number four. It may have skipped a generation, but it’ll pack the usual upgrades. Beyond just knowing the family exists — the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max — we’ve got a rough idea of what they’ll bring to the table. It’s doubtful that South Africa will get to see the entire lineup when it inevitably comes…

It seems AI slop is here to stay on Spotify. Until now, users have had to put their detective caps on to discern whether that new artist topping the charts was real or an artificial construct looking for a quick buck. Spotify is working to take the guesswork out of the entire process by introducing an ‘AI Persona’ label for AI artists on the platform. Don’t defy the Spotify It’s not quite the slam dunk we’d hoped for. Spotify’s announcement notes that “artists” can apply the ‘AI Persona’ tag themselves, and hopes that “artists will be transparent” by giving ’em…

You won’t find many complaining about YouTube Premium ’round these parts. It’s an incredibly good deal — ad-free viewing, video downloads, and even a music subscription — for R82/m. Sure, that’ll go up eventually, but in the meantime, we’re eating well. We’ve heard whispers of a cheaper Premium Lite for months, and ignored it. The Lite at the end of the tunnel That might have something to do with YouTube Premium Lite being reserved for a select few countries. That’s no longer the case, after YouTube officially brought the new plan to South Africa. The plan is decidedly affordable at…