“Stuff is the same much-loved brand that tells our readers everything they want to know about everything they want,” says Toby Shapshak, Stuff’s publisher and the show’s presenter.

“We’re calling it Stuff on eNCA, in no small part because the acronym is SOE – and who doesn’t want to show government how an SOE should be run,” jokes Shapshak, who has been running small businesses for 20 years.

“It’s a wonderful extension of our brand into another platform, which complements our very strong digital and social presence,” says Sally Hudson, Stuff’s business manager.

“During lockdown last year, Stuff’s already strong digital offerings have grown substantially,” she adds. “Like all media houses, we have gone through a transformation to digital – and increased our digital revenue significantly. We’re been braced for this digital change for years and COVID-19 accelerated everything when everybody began working from home.”

Hudson is the executive producer of Stuff Studios, the entity which is producing the show.

Stuff on eNCA is directed by legendary photographer and filmmaker Daron Chatz, with post-production by Five Star Media. “Daron is an amazing talent, as are the youngsters he’s mentored, especially 25-year-old Zane Titizana, who is a rising star,” says Shapshak.

Stuff Studios is already producing a series of webinars about the future of work with Curro Schools and powered by Vox. It also produces a podcast series on governance – hosted by Dr Ivor Chipkin, who literally wrote the book on state capture, based on his seminal academic treatise.

Stuff’s new studio in Braamfontein – in the recently rejuvenated 19 AM building (formerly Rennies House) – has an amazing view of downtown Joburg and fits into 19 AM’s growing reputation as a tech and creative hub. Other tenants include Founders Factory Africa and Explore Data Science Academy.

Stuff Studios is also producing a fintech-themed podcast series, in which Shapshak investigates this rapidly expanding market, especially in Africa. A documentary about how mobile has transformed Africa is another project, based on Shapshak’s extensive experience covering the tech and start-up ecosystems on the continent – based on his 2013 TED Global talk on how innovation is better in Africa.

What’s on Stuff on eNCA?

Stuff on eNCA will give viewers what Stuff readers have been enjoying since Shapshak launched the title in South Africa in 2007: amazing stories about cutting-edge technology and the clever ways it is being used in the world.

The first episode features celebrity comedienne Ruby Wax and University of Johannesburg vice-chancellor Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, the respected scientist who is co-chair of the 4IR presidential commission. Expect to see other high-profile guests and figures, as well as all the usual sexy gadgets and services every Friday night at 21:30.

Digital content is evolving, and with that should the traditional newsroom. With that in mind, Stuff’s gaming startup – StuffPlays – hired JR Heath as its new production editor.

Heath brings with him 10 years of experience in digital design and production user-experience. Starting out as a tattoo artist, he is highly sensitive to the permanency of broadcast media, just as you would be to ink in skin. This has elevated his production skills to marry detail-oriented work with deep technical understanding.

While Heath is joining StuffPlays on a part-time basis, his work in design spans across industries, agencies and disciplines. In his role prior to joining StuffPlays, Heath lends his production skills to Designerd, facilitating the Information Design Foundation’s live stream talks across professional channels.

Over six months, StuffPlays has grown its gaming community on game-streaming platform Twitch and regularly broadcasts high-quality gaming content.

Stuff Studios is a media and production house, focused on tech, gaming and everything geeky. For more information, contact Sally Hudson on +27-83-277-6974 and sally@stuff.co.za.

The post Catch Stuff on eNCA with our new show called, fittingly enough, Stuff on eNCA appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

There are only about 900 electric cars in South Africa — but they may be a brilliant solution for the gas-guzzling world we inhabit. Toby Shapshak test drives the BMW i3 — Find out why he’s convinced electric cars will be the next frontier in tech innovation.

A new EV charging initiative called GridCars can even help consumers travel anywhere in South Africa, regardless of the range. The i3 has a relatively short range at around 300km, but GridCars’ infrastructure on all main routes will help improve this range.

The post How electric cars will change South Africa — BMW i3 review appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

It all boils down to one thing: do your research before you buy. Whether you’re browsing online deals (in the safety of your own home) or braving the stampedes at Checkers on the day, make sure you know what you want, what it normally costs and whether you’re actually saving on this deal.

You can check out Naked on both iOS and Android, and get an invoice within 90 seconds just by following the prompts from the chatbot.

On that note — looking for some light reading at a fraction of the price? Stuff also has a Black Friday special on the print edition. If you subscribe this week, you’ll get 10 copies of the best tech mag in South Africa for 50% off. That’s R211.45 for a year’s worth of copies. Head here to sub.

This video was originally published on eNCA’s YouTube channel. For more TechMatters, head here.

The post How to buy tech on Black Friday in SA appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

The winners of the MTN Business App of the Year awards 2019, Naked Insurance wants to change the hassle of insurance in South Africa. Using machine learning and AI, a chatbot takes all of your information and gives you a quote. All communication is done via the app, which makes it perfect for anyone who hates speaking on the phone (ahem, like us…).

You can check out Naked on both iOS and Android, and get an invoice within 90 seconds just by following the prompts from the chatbot.

This video was originally published on eNCA’s YouTube channel. For more TechMatters, head here.

The post App-based insurance? That’s what Naked does appeared first on Stuff South Africa.