Author: Trent Meikle

When Yorgos Lanthimos rings, you pay attention. Ever since the Greek director stunned us with 2015’s The Lobster, we’ve paid close attention to what he’s had on the fire. His latest feature film is Bugonia, a remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet! from 2003, with Lanthimos roping in his favourites to pull it off. And pull it off, he has. Bugonia reunites the director with Emma Stone in what is an obvious slam-dunk role, and gives room for Jesse Plemons to do what he does best. Combined with an airtight script from new collaborator Will Tracy, who ‘gets’ Yorgos’ style…

And here we thought that Sony’s first-party Pro controller, the DualSense Edge, was an expensive piece of kit when it launched in 2023 for R4,400. That price has only gone up since, but even then, it still pales in comparison to Razer’s new Raiju V3 Pro, which just launched with a $220 price tag — $20 more than the DualSense Edge. A direct Dollar conversion puts the controller at roughly R3,800, but after seeing the DualSense Edge breeze past the R4,500 mark with a $200 price… Don’t be surprised to see Razer’s entry soar to R5,000+ by the time it…

For once, YouTube is making a change to the short-form content beast that is Shorts that doesn’t attempt to convince you to stick around a little longer. In fact, it’s doing the opposite by introducing a new daily timer to the app to kick users off the platform and recover a smidgen of their attention span. “Shorts are a core part of the YouTube experience. Setting a scrolling time limit on the Shorts feed allows for this exploration while helping users be more deliberate about their viewing habits and manage their time effectively,” YouTube said in a post on its…

If you’re going to use an AI chatbot on WhatsApp, Meta will make damn sure it’s one from its own store of AI tech. Starting 15 January 2026, Meta’s newly updated business API policy will go into effect, and bar any third-party AI chatbots — like ChatGPT or Perplexity — from the platform for good. When the dust has settled, users will be left with Meta AI, which latched onto our phones in April 2024. Not that we’re surprised. Meta’s spent the better part of two years building up its AI CV, and disallowing the competition from accessing your app…

As Massmart prepares for the launch of Walmart in South Africa, the brand has announced plans to establish an online store, in the form of a mobile app, according to MyBroadband. The app will appease folks who can’t make it to one of the first physical Walmart locations, confirmed to open doors at Fourways Mall later this year. “The app combines the best of global and local expertise by leveraging Walmart’s advanced technical capabilities, integrated with locally-developed pick, pack, and delivery systems,” the company said. Walmart on your phone Walmart confirmed customers can order their groceries, liquor, and a “curated selection of general…

Two years on, Xiaomi feels the time is ripe to take one of its best products to the next level. That’s where the R1,400 Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd-gen) comes in, looking to give your old, ageing TV a new lease on life. But is it worth that hefty price, especially considering it isn’t much more than a rehash of Xiaomi’s next-best thing? Xiaomi might prefer you didn’t think too hard on that point, particularly if your TV is still shackled to the excellent 2nd-gen model. Xiaomi’s third attempt is indeed the best Android TV box in South Africa, but it…

Netflix just gave up three papers, a brick, a wheat, and a buttload of money in exchange for the rights to turn the world of Catan into a series of films and TV shows, both scripted and unscripted. Why? Because Catan (formerly known as The Settlers of Catan) is one of the most recognisable board games ever. Don’t blame Netflix here. It’s the streamer’s job to seek out those properties that’ll garner some attention, even if the idea isn’t a good one. The guilt lies with Asmodee, a “global leader in tabletop gaming known for games like Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders, and…

WhatsApp’s on a bit of a winning streak at the moment, and Meta’s latest announcement for the messenger (and its other Messenger) is only continuing that run. The company confirmed it was rolling out new scam-detection methods in a bid to crack down on online scams targeting the platform’s older users. Meta reckons it’s already “detected and disrupted” close to eight million accounts across Facebook and Instagram that were in bed with scam centres through messaging, crypto, dating apps, and social media. That’s on top of the platform ridding WhatsApp of more than 6.8 million scam accounts in the first half of…

As we edge nearer to November, the Central Energy Fund (CEF) has provided some fresh insight into the coming fuel price adjustments South African motorists can expect to see. The Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) is, of course, responsible for adjusting these prices at the beginning of the new month. This typically takes place on the first Wednesday of the new month — in this case, Wednesday, 5 November. The CEF, in conjunction with the DMRE, keeps track of the economic factors that influence the price of fuel locally, such as the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate and…

Ever felt like whipping out your smartphone or — heaven forbid — your debit card was just a little too much hassle when it comes time to pay up at a restaurant or while grocery shopping? Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped South African fintech start-up VezoPay from developing South Africa’s first smart payment ring. The company just snagged itself a partnership with FNB, promising customers a “secure, everyday payment solution” that’s certified by both Mastercard and Visa, and enabled by Fidesmo. Picking up a VezoPay ring of your own will cost, however, ranging anywhere from R2,500 for the basic…