Author: Trent Meikle

There’s been a lot of chatter recently surrounding Netflix’s upcoming ad-supported tier – with the latest news confirming that the tier won’t have as much content as the paid tiers do. Netflix broke the news during its Q2 2022 earnings interview. Netflix lost almost a million subscribers but that’s less than half of the number it was expected to. This is the second quarter it has lost users. The first time was around the time that the company announced the ad-supported tier. Maybe that had something to do with it. But if you’re not paying for Netflix, you won’t get…

After the first evening of using the Epson EH-LS500B 4K projector, we were certain that we had to own it. After checking the price, that idea was revised a little. Why? Because we don’t have R50,000 to throw at a projector. Perhaps one day… Full disclosure: the walls we used to test Epson’s projector aren’t actually flat. They’ve got a little bit of a rough edge to them. We say this not because Epson’s gear performed badly, but rather the opposite. Once the lights were off, little deformities behind the picture, caused by the wall, were invisible. The room we…

2022 has been a year of progress for Makro – and it’s looking to get even better. Recently, Makro launched its own mobile app, available on both the App Store and Play Store. Customers can purchase general merchandise, liquor and pantry items through the app which features over 120,000 products. Stuff you’d rather have delivered than have go out and buy once a week. The app launch is part of Makro’s strategy to keep customers engaged in the e-commerce space. The company knows that the future of retail is heading towards becoming more online-focused. The retailer wants to get ahead…

South Africa will be getting its first solar and battery power projects soon, thanks to Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec ASA. The company is beginning construction in the Northern Cape and will supply 150 megawatts (MW) of dispatchable electricity to the grid. Once open for business, the project will have a total solar power capacity of 540 MW and a battery storage capacity of 1,140MWh (225MW). In total, there will be three projects in the Kenhardt region of the Northern Cape. The projects will supply power to Kenhardt for twenty years as part of a power-purchase agreement. Solar is coming…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will begin regulating cryptocurrencies as soon as 2023. SARB intends to treat crypto as financial assets, rather than as forms of currency. That’s according to SARB Deputy Governor, Kuben Naidoo during an online seminar hosted by PSG. Under the new proposed legislation, digital assets would be listed under FICA. You know, that finance thing we all find so irritating? This is quite a change of tone. In 2014, SARB’s stance on cryptocurrencies was that it was a fad that would eventually fade away. Cryptocurrency has only gotten bigger in the time since. And smaller.…

Sony has brought over all of Funimation’s library to the bigger and better platform, Crunchyroll, essentially rendering Funimation useless. And now, anime streaming service Crunchyroll is lowering subscription prices for its premium tiers across 95 countries. You’ll be pleased to note that South Africa made the list. Crunchyroll hasn’t given any clear reasons for why it’s reducing subscription costs, besides the usual corporate mumbo jumbo. But you won’t hear us complaining. It’s possible that Crunchyroll is just trying to boost subscribers in territories where subscriber count is low – which would explain why countries like the U.S aren’t receiving lower…

As we’ve all been made quite aware, petrol prices aren’t looking so hot anymore (have they ever?). In just seven months, the price to fill up a tank of petrol has gone up by R200. It feels as if we’ll never see a return to normality. Maybe we won’t. But we can try and counter the prices as often as possible, using PetrolPrices.co.za – a new website that tracks petrol stations and their diesel prices. PetrolPrices.co.za is a user-generated site that’s able to track and locate petrol stations nearby, and give the diesel prices for that station. This way, you…

Before you ask; no. We won’t get to see Ricky Gervais in Lego form, as much as we’d really like to. That’s because Lego is releasing a set based around US TV show The Office, rather than its UK version. Considering how many more fans the US version has, it makes sense that Lego would focus on the Steve Carell-led series. The set is a miniature version of the show’s Dundler Mifflin Paper Company offices. It’s not the entire office in the set, with only a few of the most iconic sets represented. Builders will construct the reception desk, Dwight…

Sasol Ltd., the largest and possibly most crucial fuel producer in South Africa, has declared force majeure on its supply of petrol, due to late deliveries of crude oil to Sasol’s own Natref refinery. “Sasol Oil will not be in a position to fully meet its commitments on the supply of all petroleum products from July 2022,” it said. The company went on to confirm that the shutdown of the 108,000 barrel-per-day plant was due to late oil deliveries. This leaves South Africa in a particularly tricky spot. Sasol’s Natref was the last major refinery left in SA. Its closure…

MTN and Telkom have begun discussions about the possibility of MTN purchasing Telkom. In return, MTN is offering shares or a mixture of cash and shares in MTN. The two companies have already notified shareholders that discussions have started. However, this doesn’t mean the purchase will take place. “Discussions are at an early stage and there is no certainty that the transaction will be consummated,” MTN and Telkom said. “If concluded, the transaction may have a material effect on the price of the company’s securities. Accordingly, shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s securities until a…