Even as B&O’s cheapest product, we expected a world-class design and build quality, premium audio, and the kind of environmental consciousness that would make Greta Thunberg beam with pride. It delivered on all our expectations, although we felt the audio presentation could’ve used a little more oomph behind it. That said, we didn’t expect to like it as much as we did, despite its drawbacks.

Should you run out and buy one right away? No, not unless you fall into the specific shopper category that B&O has in mind. But if you can survive the blow to your net worth, you won’t regret getting one.

That B&O feel

In classic B&O fashion, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen exudes sophistication. We’d have no trouble believing that each of the 2,173 holes of the pearl-blasted aluminium top cover was milled by an artisan by hand, and it only took us one feel of the riempie strap to know it was real leather. We’ve yet to encounter a better-looking portable speaker. That’s not going to be true for everyone — ‘beauty is in the eye’ and all that — but if you own at least one coffee table book on architecture or design language, you’ll probably feel the same. For some folks, that’s enough to justify the price, and the only question will be: do you want it in Eucalyptus Green, Honey Tone, Rustic Red, or Natural Aluminium?

Likewise, if you care about the environment and the impact your purchases have on it, you’ll also appreciate B&O’s dedication to its circular design philosophy. This is the first portable speaker to achieve the Bronze Cradle to Cradle certification, joining most of B&O’s other products.

To be eligible, the product has to meet the institute’s rigorous standards across material health, material reutilization or circularity, renewable energy and carbon management, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. If you make your own toothpaste, this is the speaker for you.

B&O has maintained the Beosound A1’s hamburger bun shape across the three generations to aid its 360-degree sound. While its IP67 rating means it’ll survive a trip to the beach, it doesn’t have the same ‘call an ambulance but not for me’ confidence of JBL’s portable lineup with rubberised edges. You won’t want to throw this speaker around with careless abandon.

There are six physical controls integrated into the sides of the Beosound A1 3rd Gen’s lower half. The responsive buttons cover play/pause, skipping tracks, and volume control functions on one side. The other side delivers basic power, connectivity, and microphone controls. You’ll find the status LED towards the ‘top edge’ (if you’re hanging it by the strap) and neatly integrated into one of the milled holes. It’s easy to miss until you switch it on.

Any tricks up its sleeve?

One of the biggest improvements B&O has made over the second-generation Beosound A1 is in battery life. The A1 3rd Gen boasts 24 hours of playback time between charges, over the 2nd Gen’s 18 hours. That’s not really enough of an improvement on its own to justify an upgrade. But if you already own a second-generation Beosound A1, it’s not like you have to trade the old one in. You can create a stereo pair to get even more out of them.

As for codec support, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen will play back the standard SBC and AAC codecs. It is also compatible with the higher-quality aptX Adaptive. Its wireless connection is handled over Bluetooth 5.1, which can make it seem a little outdated compared to some competition supporting later versions. But the older version didn’t impact audio or connectivity, so it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair are both bundled in, so your connections should happen quickly.

You get a premium USB-C to USB-C fabric cable in the box that you can use to charge the A1 3rd Gen when it calls for it. That could take up to three hours if you’re starting at 0%. You can also use it to charge your phone, with the A1 3rd Gen acting as your 3,300mAh power bank in a pinch. The cable is also useful for connecting the A1 3rd Gen to a wired audio source, a new feature for the Beosound A1 range.

The three onboard microphones mean the Beosound A1 3rd Gen fares surprisingly well as a speakerphone. Your voice should come through crisp and clear (we didn’t get any complaints when we used it for weekly office calls). Similarly, the voice on the other end is handled well enough, with good isolation.

Audio chops, or choppy audio?

A speaker’s power output only tells part of the story, but it’s still worth mentioning. While it has “the largest woofer in its class”, according to B&O, it is only supplied with 30W of power. The 15mm tweeter gets another 30W from the other Class D amp inside, bringing the total to 60W of output power.

In this case, it isn’t enough oomph to produce ‘room-filling’ sound (that depends on the size of the room, obviously). But expecting that from a speaker that will fit in your pocket is a little silly.

If you want to tweak how it sounds, B&O’s companion app offers the Beosonic EQ-like feature present in other B&O devices. Drag the dot around until you find a spot that works for you, or use one of the presets. We left it in the ‘optimal’ spot during our review.

Despite having “the largest woofer in its class”, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen can come across as a little light in the low end. If you’re looking for tangible thump you feel in your chest, this isn’t the speaker for you. That said, the low end it does produce is tightly controlled. It is never in danger of sounding boomy or bloated. Its capabilities also extend through the high-bass and low-mids, so iconic basslines, like in The Jackson 5’s I Want You Back, will still be present.

The mid-range is where the new Beosound A1 is most comfortable. Any song with a prominent vocal track, or instrumental pieces like Ramin Djawadi’s Light of the Seven, should display this well. Chris Jones’ vocals in Long After You Are Gone, or Caroline Polachek’s in Billions, were what came up and stood out during our testing.

The recessed treble further helps the mid-range shine, while still adding a little sparkle to some mixes. The tinkle and fizz from the mark tree in the opening of Daft Punk’s Lose Yourself to Dance come through like you have your ear to a glass of fizzy rainbow.

This diminutive speaker only has two drivers, and they both point straight up, so we were never going to get an expansive soundstage or much stereo imaging to speak of. That will likely change if you pair two Beosound A1s together.

Those upfiring drivers aren’t good for nothing. If it’s not just you listening, your fellow listeners will probably appreciate its omni-directivity. The Beosound A1 3rd Gen will sound similar no matter your orientation around it.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen verdict

It’s not cheap at R9,000, it’s not the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker available, it doesn’t boast the most battery life, and its design won’t be to everyone’s liking. Evaluating the Beosound A1 3rd Gen through the price-to-performance lens that we usually use in our reviews leads us to the inevitable conclusion that, if you’re working with a strict budget, you’ll get more bang for your buck elsewhere. That will be true for most South African consumers needing a new Bluetooth speaker. But for the few who can afford it, Bang & Olufsen’s 3rd Beosound A1 represents the company’s mantra exceedingly well.

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Primed to sit in your backlog

That’s notable because it challenges Sony PlayStation’s entire PS Plus subscription model. Where Sony’s users receive a select few games each month, they’re only accessible while the subscription is active. Prime’s whole thing is that the games won’t disappear, even if you stop paying for Amazon’s subscription.

This month’s selection includes Squirrel with a Gun and WRC Generations, among others. They’re not all available right now (well, those are). Every week, Amazon adds one or two more games to the list, joining those leftover from October’s curation. The likes of Vampire: The Masquerade and Kiborg are still available.

Before you can start claiming, you’ll need a few things. R60 for a start, followed by an Amazon Prime sub. Once you’ve got those, Amazon will open the gates to the heavens beyond. From there, you’ll need to create accounts for the Epic Games Store, Good Old Games (GOG), and Legacy Games. From there, click on the game you’d like to claim. Connecting your various accounts is a pain on the first go-around, but it’ll be easier next time.

Available now:

• Squirrel with a Gun – Amazon Games
• WRC Generations – Epic Games Store
• Kiborg – Amazon Games App
• Trash Goblin – Epic Games Store
• Time Travel Escape Room Game – Legacy Games
• Ad Infinitum – Epic Games Store
• WarBreeds – GOG
• Conarium – GOG (leaving 11 November)
• Caravn SandWitch – Amazon Games
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Epic Games Store

12 November:

• Jurassic World Evolution 2 – Epic Games Store
• Radiolight – Epic Games Store

19 November:

• Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood – Epic Games Store
• Clem – Epic Games Store

24 November:

• Arcadia Fallen – Amazon Games

The post Amazon Prime subscribers: Don’t forget to claim November’s ‘free’ PC games appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

Meta hasn’t made an official announcement about the journalling app yet. That, and its limited reach, suggests that it’s just a test for now. To see what it can get away with. The company did something similar with Storykit, a children’s bedtime app, earlier this year. That one still hasn’t officially launched.

Waddle World of information

The point of Waddle World, according to the official description, is to “[h]atch a virtual pet, visit whenever you like, and let it get to know you.” It’s being sold as a cosy experience, where users talk to the AI-powered virtual critter about themselves. It’ll ask at least one question a day (Meta describes these as “silly”), and if you’re bored, there are low-stakes games to waste time on.

Meta never launches anything without a reason, so Waddle World has immediately made us suspicious. An AI journal app, where users are explicitly expected to share information about themselves, sounds like the sort of hack that makes Mark Zuckerberg salivate. It’s one way to get at the data that people wouldn’t think about posting on social media. After all, who wouldn’t share their innermost secrets with a cute virtual mascot that responds to what you’re telling it?

The digital companion is positioned as an understanding ear, with moods and personality quirks. The app also explicitly collects user interactions for advertising, marketing, and personalisation purposes. That might also explain why Waddle World is currently confined to users over eighteen in the one location it’s officially available.

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Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12+ feature immersive displays and come bundled with the ergonomically designed S Pen for effortless note-taking and precise editing. With easy access to professional-grade apps and versatile accessories, users can pursue their passions and progress toward their goals with ease. Combining portability with professional-grade power, the Galaxy Tab S12 series gives users instant access to powerful capabilities whenever inspiration strikes.

Peak Performance in an Ultra-Thin Design

The Galaxy Tab S12 series combines powerful performance and long-lasting battery life^[2] into a thin and light design, making it easy for users to achieve more, wherever ambition takes them. At a remarkably slim 5.1mm, Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is Samsung’s thinnest Galaxy Tab, while delivering the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date, supporting productive use throughout the day.

For example, users taking an online course alongside a full-time job can catch up on a lesson during the commute, then work through course exercises on the large screen at a café or library later in the day. Both models are built to go the distance, allowing users to keep going without losing momentum. On a single charge, the all-day battery lasts up to 23 hours on Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra^[2] and up to 21 hours on Galaxy Tab S12+^[3] – supporting long stretches of productivity

When it is time to recharge, the battery goes from 0% to 100% in about 95 minutes with the 45W adapter — minimising downtime so users can get back to what they were doing.^[4] Beyond long-lasting battery life, the Galaxy Tab S12 series delivers the most powerful performance of any Galaxy Tab to date; keeping pace with even intensive tasks.

The cutting-edge 3nm processor delivers improved GPU power compared to Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.^[5] In everyday use, that means users can even enjoy gaming with increased speed and responsiveness. Whether rendering complex creative projects, gaming or watching a lecture while taking notes and asking AI for clarification — the experience stays responsive and fast with fewer interruptions to break their focus. A newly designed 3D Vapour Chamber efficiently dissipates heat to support more reliable performance during demanding tasks, whether users are editing video or gaming for hours.^[6]

The Galaxy Tab S12 series also comes with an expansive screen designed to help users think bigger and give ideas more room to unfold. Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features a large 14.6-inch display, making it easy to explore complex topics and keep multiple perspectives in view. The Galaxy Tab S12+ features a larger 12.6-inch display and slimmer bezels than its predecessor, offering more screen space without sacrificing portability.

Both models feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays reaching up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness^[7] — delivering clear, vivid visuals indoors. The upgraded seamless Vision Booster now adjusts brightness in real time based on lighting conditions for comfortable viewing. Sound gets a major upgrade as well, with 4-channel spatial audio; twice as many channels as the previous generation – delivering a richer, more immersive gaming experience as well as scenarios where users are streaming content, following a tutorial or editing.

Making Everyday Tasks More Intuitive & Effortless

Building on a ground-breaking hardware foundation, the Galaxy Tab S12 series turns its large screen into a flexible workspace that makes it easy to keep up with different tasks without missing a beat. Running Android 17 with One UI 9 and the latest Galaxy AI, it brings research, note-taking, creation and AI assistance into one place – giving users more freedom to explore new ideas, capture what matters and put what they learn into practice.

Thanks to the Galaxy Tab S12 series’ immersive screen, users can split the screen into up to three sections in Multi Window layout. For example, users can take notes in Samsung Notes on one side while playing a lecture and opening an AI assistant on the other. As key takeaways or questions come up, users can capture them with the S Pen directly in Samsung Notes, while Note Assist^[8] summarises their notes^[9] – all without pausing the lecture. Both models come bundled with an ergonomic S Pen, offering precise, intuitive input for note-taking, annotating materials and sketching concepts.

For a more structured, professional workstation, the Pro Keyboard elevates productivity with a premium aluminium finish and a Galaxy AI Key that enables instant access to AI assistants, while the Book Cover Keyboard Slim delivers flexibility with comfortable viewing angles and an effortless typing experience.^[10] The Galaxy Tab S12 series helps users bring information together and get real-time support the moment curiosity strikes. This series comes equipped with a six-month trial of Google AI Pro^[11] – providing expanded access to Google’s most capable AI models from day one. Users can ask Gemini about anything unclear or dive deeper into subjects they want to explore the moment a question comes up.

With Gemini Notebook, users can bring together notes, images, recordings and files in one workspace and create summaries, podcasts and even quizzes to make key information easier to understand. As exploration expands into deeper research, Samsung Browser helps users stay focused without losing track of what they have already discovered. By understanding webpage content, context across multiple tabs and browsing history, it can summarise information across open pages or surface a relevant source viewed days earlier – helping users spend less time searching through past tabs and more time capturing the key insights that matter most.^[12]

A Complete Ecosystem Designed to Take Skills and Creativity Further

The Galaxy Tab S12 series gives users the ideal place to put knowledge into practice, bringing together professional-grade apps^[13]. Adobe Photoshop^[14] comes pre-loaded on the Galaxy Tab S12 series — a first for Android tablets — bringing pro-grade image editing and design to the tablet. The interface is optimised for tablets, and S Pen support makes it more intuitive to move ideas from hand to screen.

Photoshop includes AI-powered features such as AI Assistant^[15] and generative AI features powered by Adobe Firefly like Generative Fill and Image to Video, helping creatives edit faster and effortlessly. Exclusively for the Galaxy Tab S12 series, users receive four months of free access to the Photoshop mobile plan. Notability^[16], newly pre-loaded on Galaxy Tab, helps users capture their ideas, organise notes and build knowledge more efficiently with S Pen optimisation and AI-driven study tools with a six-month free trial, plus 20% off the first subscription.

Goodnotes[17] delivers clean note-taking and organisation with one-year of free access and LumaFusion^[18] enables professional-grade video editing, offered at a 66% discount. And Notion^[19] supports flexible writing, planning and organisation with one month of its Plus plan free. Clip Studio Paint^[20] brings precision drawing and painting tools for digital art with a six-month trial and 20% off the first subscription. In addition to these apps, users can explore a broader range of options that support different needs.

MyScript Math instantly solves handwritten equations and shows the steps behind each one, while MyScript Notes summarises handwritten notes into study materials with built-in AI tools to explain concepts or generate quizzes. Noteshelf 3^[21] offers customisable layouts for capturing and organising ideas, while ArcSite^[22] converts rough field sketches into precise CAD drawings.

Availability

The Galaxy Tab S12 series will be available locally starting 06 November 2026 with an exclusive offer on eStore from 19 OctoberAlso, this comes in two colours, Gray and Silver.^[23] Built for lasting and confident use, Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ support up to seven years of OS upgrades and security updates.^[24]

And that’s not all, there’s an impressive local promotional launch offer that runs from 19 October to 31 January 2027 which includes: R1500 Voucher; 6m Free Google AI Pro – valued at over R2500; Pre-loaded apps such as Photoshop and Notability to name a few as well as an S-Pen that is also included in-the-box with up-to-23% discount on Samsung Care+. And for your added peace of mind, Samsung Care+^[25] offers comprehensive coverage tailored to users’ device needs, including fast repairs for accidental damage, extended warranty, and certified expert support available both at home and abroad. The local Samsung Care+ promotion offer includes:

• Monthly Subscription:Samsung Care+ Premium – a 36 Months of Accidental Damage Protection with Unlimited Accidental Damage Repairs at a promotional Price of R99 per month – a 23% discount from the Normal Samsung Care+ recommended retail price of R129 per month.
• Once-Off Subscription:Samsung Care+ Premium – a 24 Months of Accidental Damage Protection with 2x Repairs at a promotional price of R1, 699 – a 15% discount from Normal Samsung Care+ recommended retail price of R1, 999 – all these are once-offs.

Additionally, Galaxy mobile phone users running One UI 9 can easily check the Samsung Care+ status of their Galaxy Tab and enrol through the Warranty and Care menu in the Settings. It provides quick access to warranty information, self-diagnostics, repair requests and remote support for connected devices; all directly from the mobile phone. For additional information, visit Samsung Newsroom, SamsungMobilePress.com or Samsung.com.

^[1] Samsung Account login may be required to use certain AI features. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features. Availability of Galaxy AI features may vary depending on the country, region, OS/One UI version, device model or phone carrier. Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free. Future releases may include enhanced features or new services that are offered on a paid basis. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties. Galaxy AI basic features are those services listed under “Advanced intelligence” in the current Samsung Services Terms and Conditions. Galaxy AI service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage.
[2] Typical value tested under third-party lab conditions. Typical value is estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among battery samples tested under IEC61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 11374 mAh. Based on Samsung internal lab test conditions with pre-release version of given model connected to earphone via Bluetooth under default settings over LTE. Estimated against battery capacity and measured current over battery power consumption during video playback (video file resolution 720 p, saved on device), respectively. Actual video playback times vary by network connection, settings, file format, screen brightness, battery condition & other factors.
[3] Typical value tested under third-party lab conditions. Typical value is estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among battery samples tested under IEC61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 10392 mAh. Based on Samsung internal lab test conditions with pre-release version of given model connected to earphone via Bluetooth under default settings over LTE. Estimated against battery capacity and measured current over battery power consumption during video playback (video file resolution 720 p, saved on device), respectively. Actual video playback times vary by network connection, settings, file format, screen brightness, battery condition & other factors.
^[4] Super-Fast Charging speed may vary depending on charging conditions and other factors. Galaxy Tab S12 series supports up to 45W wired charging. 45W power adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
[5] The enhanced performance figures are based on a comparison of Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra to Tab S11 Ultra. Actual performance will depend on user environment, conditions and pre-installed software and applications.
^[6] The 3D vapor chamber on both Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12+ helps heat dissipate faster and more efficiently than the flat vapor chamber on their respective predecessors, the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+.
^[7] Galaxy Tab S12 series supports peak brightness of 1,600 nits and outdoor brightness of 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode.
^[8] Note Assist feature requires a Samsung Account login. Available functions and features may vary by country, region and language.
^[9] The note must include a minimum of 200 characters for the summary function to work.
^[10] Pro Keyboard and Book Cover Keyboard Slim sold separately. The products are available for Galaxy Tab S12 Series. Features and keyboard layout may vary by country, language and device model. Galaxy AI Key can be assigned for select apps only. Pressing Alt + Galaxy AI Key provides the option to switch the AI assistant to Bixby, Gemini or Perplexity. A network connection is required to use Bixby, Gemini or Perplexity. To launch Gemini using the Galaxy AI Key, Google Assistant needs to be updated to Gemini.
^[11] Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Terms apply. By subscribing, you agree to terms for Google One, AI Credits and offers. Offer ends Aug 1, 2027 at 11:59pm PT. Only available for ages 18+. Unless cancelled earlier, Google One will charge $19.99/mo after the trial ends. Cancel anytime. Return of purchased device may result in cancellation of subscription. See full terms at https://one.google.com/offer/terms-and-conditions/SamsungAIPro.
^[12] Available functions and features may vary by country, region, language, and Samsung Browser version. The number of search queries may be subject to limitations. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Some features of Samsung Browser for Android requires a network connection and Samsung Account login.
^[13] App availability and the terms of service may vary by country and region.
^[14] Adobe Photoshop comes preloaded on Galaxy Tab S12 series in the Galaxy Picks folder. Adobe Photoshop for Tablet will be launched exclusively in the Galaxy Store for a period of at least six months starting Oct 7, 2026, after which Adobe may launch the app in other app stores. Galaxy Tab S12 series users are eligible to receive a 4-month free Adobe Photoshop premium mobile subscription, including 100 monthly generative credits.
^[15] AI Assistant on Adobe Photoshop is beta version.
^[16] Notability comes preloaded on Galaxy Tab S12 series in the Galaxy Picks folder. Galaxy Tab S12 series users are eligible to receive a 6-month free Notability subscription. Once the free full version period ends, an additional purchase is required for continuous use. App availability and the terms of service may vary by country and region.
[17] Goodnotes app comes with a 1-year free full version. Once the free full version period ends, an additional purchase is required for continuous use. App availability and the terms of service may vary by country and region.
[18] LumaFusion app is preloaded as stub, requiring users to click the icon and complete the purchase from Galaxy Store. All Galaxy device users can get a 66% discount when purchasing from Galaxy Store and receive a 1-month free Creator Pass subscription. 66% discount promotion limited until Nov 30, 2026.
[19] Notion app requires a separate download from Galaxy Store and comes with a 1-month free trial of the Plus&Notion AI for one newly created Notion workspace. App availability and the terms of service may vary by country and region.
^[20] Clip Studio Paint membership required. Clip Studio Paint app comes pre-installed in select markets. The app can be downloaded from Galaxy Store and comes with a 6-month free trial for first-time users. Once the free trial period ends, paid subscription to a monthly or annual usage plan is required for continuous use. A 20% discount is available on the first subscription.
^[21] Noteshelf 3 app requires a separate purchase for a Premium plan upgrade. A 30% discount on the upgrade is available only via Galaxy Store.
^[22] ArcSite app requires a separate download from Galaxy Store and comes with a 1-month free trial for first-time users. Once the free trial period ends, paid subscription to a monthly or annual usage plan is required for continuous use. A 30% discount is available on the first monthly subscription. App availability and the terms of service may vary by country and region.
^[23] Availability and timing may vary by market, carrier or model. Colour and model availability may vary depending on country, region or carrier.
^[24] Availability and timing of OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device model and market.
^[25] Terms and conditions apply. Samsung Care+ coverage, service type and promotion details may vary by country/region and a deductible (service fee) may apply. To be eligible for Samsung Care+ promotion benefits, registration may be required. For detailed Samsung Care+ information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/samsung-care-plus/. Care at home & abroad: When in need of Samsung Care+ services during your travel, contact the visiting country/region’s local customer services centre in advance for Samsung Care+ availability.

The post Samsung Introduces Galaxy Tab S12 Series: Samsung’s Ultimate Productivity Powerhouse Built for Growth appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

Replacing the glass in a motor vehicle with something more exciting, though? That’s something we can get behind. Merc reckons it can spruce up a car’s rear and side windows with something a bit more informative using the power of miniLED overlays.

Mercedes-Benz the rules

MiniLED may be repurposed to convert a rear windscreen “to show brake lights, warning symbols or traffic information for the road users behind.” MicroLED, on the other hand, could be used to add visuals to a car’s side windows. This is, honestly, not a terrible idea. Well, at least until some Mercedes-Benz executive gets the idea that you can charge drivers a subscription fee to stop the car from using its cameras to show targeted advertising to pedestrians. You know somebody at Merc has already thought about this.

More exciting are the German company’s ideas for the front windscreen. There, a special “holographic optical element” overlay (Mercedes uses the acronym HOE without giggling) is being developed. It’ll build on existing projector-based heads-up display (HUD) interfaces to “selectively reflect the wavelengths of light emitted by the projector.”

“This opens additional information and entertainment possibilities, such as displaying context for POIs (points of interest), driving information, or films.”

These displays would be context-sensitive, showing visuals when needed or when they won’t distract the driver. Nobody needs to be watching Top Gear while in top gear, after all. Even if it’s a Mercedes-Benz doing all the driving.

These, and the company’s planned Mercedes-Benz Power Converter (which maintains EV charge speeds up to 800W), are still future technologies. There’s no timeline on when it’ll start laminating new elements into its windscreens, but we dearly hope that they chuck the advert-suggesting executive out of the room before the launch.

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“Designed to handle demanding workloads while remaining refined for daily driving, the Vigus combines a powerful turbo-diesel engine with robust chassis engineering and modern technology,” said JMC. The single-cab variant is the cheapest of the lot, and joins the array of Double-Cab models currently available from the dealer.

Level Vigus

Like the double-cab, the new Vigus bakkie sticks the same 2.5L turbo-diesel engine under the hood. It’s powering the bakkie’s rear wheels, delivering 123kW and 410Nm of power and torque. JMC reckons the fuel consumption is as low as 7.0L/100km. Though with diesel costing what it does at the moment… we wouldn’t get too excited about the 73L tank just yet. It may be worth the cost to get hold of the double wishbone front suspension.

Saffas, more than anyone, have real standards when it comes to their bakkies. JMC’s gone for a cargo bed measuring 2,300mm long and 1,595mm wide, allowing for a 1,000kg cargo weight and 2,000kg towing capacity. The company promises a solid 210mm ground clearance, though some certainly wouldn’t mind it going higher.

Read More: Ford to launch an “affordable midsize” bakkie in international markets in 2027

Internally, it’s a pretty standard affair. Air-conditioning is present, as is Bluetooth connectivity and a single USB power port. Behind the wheel sits a 3.5in digital instrument cluster, while the centre console is home to a 12in touchscreen. The Single-Cab offers a host of internal features, such as reverse parking sensors. Not all of them, though. JMC’s saved some of the better features — like a reverse camera — for the pricier Double-Cabs.

The cheapest you’ll pay for the JMC Vigus Single-Cab is R330,000, with the bakkie currently available for a test drive. If you’re after more seats for butts, the next step-up is the Vigus Double-Cab (manual) for R400,000.

The post JMC’s Vigus Single-Cab bakkie hits South Africa, starting at R329,900 appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

More likely, Sony’s updated headphones will be used for (inaccurate) Patrick Bateman cosplay… or by serious audio nerds. The lightweight on-ears should prove very usable by the rank and file as well — especially when paired with one of Sony’s Walkman reissues.

You’re a MDR-3R?

Sony has preserved the original design, right down to your choice of blue and orange ear cushions. You might recall how the spongy covers got a little… grubby over time. Hopefully there will be a market for replacements. The company is also keeping “the same 23 mm driver units…to reproduce sound quality close to the original.” There have been some audio tweaks, but Sony’s dedication to authenticity is quite admirable.

This continues through to the wired nature of these on-ears, with one significant difference — a USB-C connector at the end of the cable. Obviously, you’re supposed to pair these with the magical music machine that lives in your pocket. Or with one of Sony’s new crop of Walkman digital media player updates, we suppose.

The Stranger Things version has a slightly custom visual design and ear cushions (red and black), as well as themed packaging. The design is based on the headphones used by Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield) in the Netflix series’ later seasons.

Sony’s MDR-3R should launch in South Africa, eventually. Local pricing is unknown, either for the standard or the Stranger Things set. The base version is available internationally for around R1,000 ($60).

The post Sony brings its MDR-3 headphones back from the late 1970s, adds USB-C appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

The WhatsApp Event of the season

More than just organising your next house party, WhatsApp Events could bring big changes to Communities on the messenger. Admins of your area’s local community have enough trouble moderating the swathe of chats. Ensuring people are forewarned of upcoming gatherings and meetings, etc., is likely no easy feat.

Better yet, Events aren’t limited to WhatsApp users. Building on the app’s update that allows non-users to join voice or video calls without an account, WhatsApp has extended this privilege to Events. The creation of an Event does require a WhatsApp user to select a name, add a cover photo, and share the link with the right people. Non-users who aren’t saved in your contacts cannot view the contact info of RSVP’d members.

Read More: WhatsApp gains new features, including group statuses and permanent pinning

WhatsApp will gather all your past and upcoming Events and show who has RSVP’din one place. You can find Events Home under Settings > Events. The messenger calls this your “one-stop to create and send customized invites and manage RSVPs.” You can create custom reminders and also have the option to account for a plus-one.

In other news for the social media messenger, AI-powered photo expansion is currently in the works. That’s according to WABetaInfo, which spotted the update in the Android 2.26.44.8 beta update. The feature allows anyone to take an existing image and expand it to 9:16. Results may vary, however.

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The developers of these products drew heavily on the human brain for inspiration, creating artificial neural networks based on the workings of human neurons. Their systems now produce outputs that often resemble the outputs of human thinking.

AI and the human mind, however, do not work the same way. Similar results do not necessarily mean similar processes.

“World models” are an emerging technology that could help AI systems move closer to human “thinking” by helping them learn to anticipate what might happen and use that prediction to act. Still, AI will not perceive, learn or understand the world as humanity does.

A falling cup, a complex prediction

Imagine reaching for a cup at the edge of a counter. The cup may fall and smash if you misjudge the distance, grip it too loosely or move too quickly.

For humans, grabbing a cup like this is routine. Yet this simple action relies on the complex ability to anticipate what might happen next. Our minds constantly try to stay one step ahead by understanding events and their causes. We can foresee the mess that would result from moving an overfilled cup or imagine a sofa getting stuck in a doorway even before we buy it.

These predictions draw on expectations that form when we interact with the world. What we anticipate can, in turn, impact how we perceive the world and how we act.

One influential family of theories, known as predictive processing, proposes that perception works partly in this way. The brain generates expectations, compares them to the information it receives and makes adjustments when the two don’t match.

Let’s return to the example of the cup. Imagine reaching for an empty cup that you believe to be full. Your hand, expecting a heavier object, lifts it with more force than necessary. The cup rises abruptly and feels almost weightless. That mismatch provides feedback that helps correct the movement and update your estimate of its weight.

What we anticipate shapes our actions, and what happens next updates our expectations. All this happens just to pick up a cup.

Does AI predict differently?

Even for today’s robots, reliably manipulating cups can require extensive training and simulation. The challenge involves learning how the physical world behaves and predicting the consequences of an action.

Chatbots using large language models also make predictions, but of a different kind. They learn to predict the next word or fragment of text. This apparently simple way of predicting can nevertheless produce remarkably capable systems able to solve complex problems.

Take the sentence: “A hand bumps a cup near the edge of a table. The cup…” Having learned patterns from enormous amounts of data, a chatbot might continue with “tips over the edge and falls to the floor.” It can do so by predicting patterns from a dataset and without ever physically handling a cup.

However, being able to describe plausible outcomes does not necessarily mean a chatbot has learned why they happen.

Teaching a robot to anticipate

This is where world models kick in — a broad family of AI approaches that aim to predict how situations evolve and, in some cases, how actions may change them. These models can learn from videos, simulations or recordings of what robots see and do.

For a domestic robot, this could mean anticipating that gripping too tightly might break the cup, or that a wrong movement could tip it over.

By incorporating actions, motion and sensory information, preliminary research shows these systems can help connect predictions with what happens in the physical world.

A world model could eventually make the same predictions we do about a cup. And as it learns from actions and sensory feedback, the resemblance to us may become increasingly hard to ignore. Still, arriving at the same prediction does not tell us what knowledge supports it or how that knowledge was acquired.

Same prediction, same cognition?

To us, a cup is not only a cylinder on a table. It can be graspable, breakable, yours, mine, too hot or almost falling. Our understanding connects the cup’s physical properties to a network of possible actions and consequences.

Predicting that the cup will fall reveals only a small part of that understanding.

And this understanding develops quite early. Studies suggest that infants just a few months old already have basic expectations about how physical objects behave. Child-development researcher Jean Piaget proposed that children build knowledge through acting on the world. As this knowledge develops, they become able to mentally anticipate consequences without having to carry out each action.

For humans, learning involves more than accumulating information about cups. It involves connecting experiences when reaching for one, feeling its weight, seeing it spill and eventually imagining what might happen without even having to try it.

Using world models, AI can also learn from actions and sensory feedback, in addition to videos, simulations and other data. Like humans, they can learn to interact with the world. The question is how their experiences contribute to the knowledge they build and use.

AI could definitely come closer to anticipating what might happen and using that prediction to act. This alone, however, does not show that AI perceives, learns or understands the world as we do.

As AI gets better at replicating the results of human cognition, distinguishing performance from process will only become more important.

• Didier Camilo Olarte Gonzalez is a PhD Student in Experimental Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• Pier-Luc de Chantal is a Professor of psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• This article first appeared in The Conversation

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But since you can nab either the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE or the full Galaxy S26 for just a thousand rand more, you might want to think about how hard you’d like to put an Oppo phone in your pocket. There’s one very unique feature in this one that we’re quite impressed with, but it won’t make a lick of difference to the phone’s performance.

Hologram back

There’s some design wizardry on the back of this otherwise conventional smartphone. Everything is where you’d expect. The cameras live in their square island. A speaker vent, charge port, and SIM tray occupy the lower edge. There are physical buttons in the industry-approved location. A metal band circles the whole device, which is impressively lightweight at a little under 200 grams. On the lower back of the phone, though…

That’s where you’ll find Oppo’s logo. Not the brand name, which is clearly visible in the image above. Oppo’s designers have embedded an optical illusion (barely visible here) on the back panel of the Reno 16 F. It’s something called the “3D Pop Planet Design.” The remarkable thing is that it seems to jump off the phone from many angles, levitating over the phone’s rear plane.

Is it cool to look at? Absolutely? Is it a selling point? Not after those in your social circle have seen and marvelled at it. But it’s definitely a unique aspect that we haven’t seen anywhere else.

Dodge RAM

The R17,000 recommended price for the Reno 16 F stings quite a bit. Our review unit, and very likely your retail version, is the 8GB/256GB model. Yes, we’re all paying more for devices with less RAM. No, it’s not entirely Oppo’s fault. That doesn’t mean we have to like it. Elsewhere, you’re mostly getting what you’ve paid for. The 6.57in AMOLED reaches up to 1,400 nits. Oppo has included IP68/69 waterproofing. The battery is a 7,000mAh effort that’s designed to help you forget that some other aspects aren’t that great.

‘Other aspects’ means the Dimensity 7300 Energy processor. We were somewhat worried about the choice of chipset when the phone was announced in South Africa. It’s not a poor experience, but Oppo’s phone is up against stiff competition at very similar price points. Most users won’t ever push the phone so hard that it hitches or stutters. Those who would probably know enough to choose a smartphone with a beefier processor (and more RAM).

Bloat your boat 

A minor, but common, annoyance with Chinese smartphones is the amount of bloatware preinstalled on devices. The Oppo Reno 16 F doesn’t escape this, lobbing a ton of extras into the phone alongside Google’s greatest hits. And a few of the search company’s not-so-great options. Basically all of the Surveillance Capitalism greats are included — there’s LinkedIn, Spotify, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, TikTok, and the truly awful WPS Office on board as standard. There’s also a ton of Oppo’s own apps, plus a few others we don’t know the provenance of. Most of them will, like the stock Photos app, pop up with an explainer telling you exactly what they’re collecting about you.

Many of these can be deleted outright. Some, like the shortcuts folders, are permanently jammed into the Reno 16 F. At some point, the thinking goes, you’ll get curious and download a bunch of the company’s suggestions from the App Market. Hopefully you never get that far. At least these can be removed from the home screen.

Three fifties

The Reno 16 F knows which features buyers are most likely to want, and the camera setup satisfies. Dual 50MP rear sensors are bolstered by an 8MP ultrawide. The front-facing camera is a distressingly detailed 50MP f/2.0 ultrawide designed to get you and all of your friends in the frame. AI functions will automatically jump in to smooth out your garish features. This can be turned off or turned up to suit you, but the feature is not overly aggressive by default.

The rear cameras are decent performers. We’d expect that from an almost-R20,000 smartphone, but it’s another area Oppo might have trouble. The 50/50/8 setup is competent. It’ll break down in detail quickly as you zoom in past the 3.5x optical maximum, but for casual social media and sharing with family, you’re unlikely to complain. Unless you happen to look over at what Samsung is cooking with and how little extra it would have cost to go over there instead.

Bubble tea

Also included with our review setup was the Oppo Bubble. As far as we can see, these aren’t actually on sale in South Africa. You may or may not get one with an Oppo smartphone when you buy one, but you’re unlikely to find them on sale by themselves. That’s… fair enough. The little gizmo has a magnetic back that doesn’t attach to the Reno 16 F, but it will stick to a fridge. It consists of a 1.7in circular display (466 x 466) that could have been cribbed from an oversized wearable. There’s a silicone cover in the box, as well as a little keycharm/charm attachment.

The Oppo Bubble is a fashion piece, something you carry around on your keys. It’ll show you a view of your camera sensor or act as a shutter button, but most folks will put its 4GB of storage to use by showing images. You’ll need to charge it daily — there’s a 550mAh battery inside, and it charges over USB-C — if you’ve got the screen running all day. It’s… a curiosity, rather than an essential accessory. That might well be why Oppo seems to be giving them away for free.

Oppo Reno 16 F verdict

Oppo’s newest smartphone isn’t bad for the price. It’s been slammed by the same semiconductor shortage everyone else is dealing with, and its compensation doesn’t take much away from users. Everything you’d expect from a phone priced like this is present (minus a bit of RAM). There’s a genuinely novel rear panel design, and the Reno 16 F’s box includes everything you’ll need, including a cover and charging block. You don’t get that from Samsung’s lineup. But other companies are, perhaps because of deeper pockets, dealing with the whole thing better. Better performance, better cameras, better feature retention. Oppo’s phone isn’t disappointing. It’s just that it doesn’t cost much more to find someone else who did it better.

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