Author: Trent Meikle

On its quest to stick AI in every nook and cranny it doesn’t belong, YouTube is testing out an AI-powered search tool. Because, as everyone knows, there’s nothing better than receiving text back from a search on a video-only platform. Our only reprieve? The test is limited to Premium subscribers in the US — and must be toggled on. Somehow, YouTube search got worse Google phrases the feature as “a new way to search on YouTube that feels more like a conversation,” as it pulls up relevant videos, Shorts, and text responses to (presumably) help you find what you’re looking for.…

After entering the scene with its Galaxy XR headset, Samsung seeks a battle with Meta in the smart glasses space. Up ’til now, rumours of Samsung’s first proper pair of smart specs were exactly that: rumours. Now, Android Headlines has offered consumers their first real look at Samsung’s specs, cementing them online. Heart of glasses Codenamed ‘Jinju’, Samsung’s first outing won’t match Meta’s Ray-Ban Display efforts, which forgo a heads-up display and let their tech do all the talking. That won’t be the case forever. A second pair — ‘Haean’ — is also in the works, touting a built-in display,…

With talk of yet another major petrol and diesel price hike hitting South African motorists come May, the National Treasury has confirmed that it will step in to offer a small break on the fuel tax. This mirrors the previous reduction offered to motorists in April, softening the blow of massive hikes due to rising oil costs. The relief will see R3/l knocked off petrol prices — the same as in April. Owing to the larger hikes facing diesel drivers, they will see a bigger cut of R3.93/l. Seems fair, considering. These changes will be officially introduced on 6 May,…

Backing up your WhatsApp chats via Google Drive or iCloud isn’t new. It’s been standard for the Meta-owned messaging app for the better part of a decade. But now, WhatsApp is looking to lessen its reliance on third-party backup solutions by simply building its own. It’s an area that could prove lucrative for Meta. Alarm bells began sounding in our heads the minute WABetaInfo reported the change. First, WhatsApp wants to offer users 2GB of “free” cloud storage. It immediately begs the question of why anyone would opt for WhatsApp’s storage when Google and Apple offer users up to 15GB…

If you thought Spotify selling printed books or a hybrid urn-speaker was the strangest thing you’d see the music streamer do… you’d still be right. Spotify’s latest addition of Peloton’s fitness-centric content to the app seems a good fit for the brand, even if it does rely on the company’s wholly unusual introduction of video-first content. Can you spot(ify) me? That means Spotify users can skip overpaid personal trainers and take advantage of the 1,400+ on-demand classes the app currently offers. You can find these on the app by simply searching for ‘Fitness’ and clicking. Unfortunately, without a R180/m Premium…

Your digital games are being put under the microscope at PlayStation. Every thirty days, actually, if the reports flooding the internet this weekend are correct. Some users reckon that a recent update pushed to PS4 and PS5 consoles is quietly checking your purchased games’ online licenses in the background — not just PS+ titles. It’s a Damn Restrictive Mess, if you ask us Potential major DRM issue rolled out by PlayStation (and Xbox as well, allegedly). All new PSN purchases now have a 30 day validation countdown. Already investigating to find out more details. pic.twitter.com/4hqMdWfJ2T — Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1)…

Is Xbox… back? It’s certainly been gone for some time, having given up on just about everything that made it a competitor in the space. Even the one thing it had going for it — Game Pass — was slowly drifting towards the toilet. That is, until the new Xbox Ceo, Asha Sharma, righted the Xbox ship by cutting prices this week. It’s a great first step for Xbox. And it may be taking the next one soon, if the leaks are right. The company is reportedly looking to introduce a new ‘Starter Edition’ Game Pass tier that’ll drop the price…

Of all the streaming boxes available in South Africa, the Apple TV 4K feels the most alien. Sure, it’ll watch Stranger Things as well as the rest, but the lack of an Android soul can, ironically, feel a bit disconcerting. If the talk traversing the grapevine has an ounce of truth, the Apple TV may become even stranger. Seeing as it’s been four years since the last release, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) is in desperate need of a re-up. Apple will likely give the A15 chip the boot, and instead favour the A17 Pro. You might think that…

It took a while, but Fuji’s Instax mini Evo Cinema “hybrid” has found its way to South Africa. If you’re already familiar with Instax, then you might already have one of its instant cameras or printers sitting on a shelf. Now imagine combining the two, adding a dash of camcorder, and you’ve got the mini Evo Cinema. Hybrid, get it? Absolute (evo) Cinema It’ll cost you to combine them all into one (small) package, though. Back when it was a Japan-only release, Fuji’s Super 8-like handheld shooter would set you back $410. Now that South Africa has stuck its paws…

Capitec, once again proving itself to be the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) special favourite, has expanded the number of branches where customers can apply for a Smart ID. Despite kicking off the rollout only a few months back, Capitec is quickly closing in on 100 such branches, having added another ten to the list today. It’s not alone, either. Standard Bank customers will be delighted to hear that their bank has followed Capitec’s lead. Just… not at the same rate. Today, three new branches were confirmed as part of its larger rollout, bringing its overall total up to 35…