Author: Brett Venter

The latest example of user data jumping over to an unintended purpose comes from Amazon’s Audible service. The audiobook outlet is testing a new programme with about half of its users. The purpose? More effective recommendations. The catch? It uses information generated by those users’ Amazon Prime Video watch history to generate the new suggestions. If you’ve ever believed that your usage history is kept separate between services operated by the same company, we’d like to recommend a bridge you might like to buy. Audible? Gasp.  The new test isn’t optional for participants. If Amazon decides you’re in, you’re in,…

It looks like Chinese companies aren’t taking Tesla’s Optimus or Boston Dynamics’ revamped Atlas humanoid robots lying down. Chery, makers of motor vehicles for the Chinese (and other) markets, has unveiled a new bipedal ‘bot it calls Mornine. The robot was revealed at the company’s CEO Conference and combines two of 2024’s most exciting technologies. Robotics, obviously, but also AI. That’s correct, the new robot will feature an integrated Large Language Model (LLM). Something to be Chery about? Mornine, pictured in the image above, certainly sticks to the “biomimetic” design creators Chery and partners Aimoga are boasting about. The robot…

How large does a TV set have to be before a company gives away a free 98-inch (that’s not a typo) TV alongside it. About as large as the TCL X955, an absolutely gigantic 115-inch QD-Mini LED set from the Chinese tech maker. For once, you don’t have to look at this one from afar (though you can, the screen is massive). It’s here. It’ll also cost R400,000 to install one of these sets in your home but there are at least two problems with this quite aside from funding the thing. First of all, you need to figure out…

It’s been a brief minute since we last heard about Huawei’s motoring aims. In that time, the Chinese company launched Qiankun, a new software brand aimed at the motoring industry. The software covers interactions between a vehicle’s chassis, the driver’s seat, and the audio system. It’ll integrate with, presumably, any vehicles willing to license the tech. There may be a fair number of these cars. Huawei has serious plans to distribute it everywhere it can. Qiankun in their boots The company’s Jin Yuzhi, head of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution unit, said at an event ahead of the Beijing Motor Show,…

Apple’s next event is almost here, according to a recent invitation. The company intends to “Let Loose”, whatever that means. There are some suspicions about what the company has in store, and these involve the iPad. Or, rather, a bunch of them. Typically Apple’s event announcements are packed with hints and this one is no exception. The ‘Let Loose’ tagline suggests users will unleash whatever creativity they might possess, while the colourful icon (above) features a hand wielding a stylus over stylised pages. Unless the company plans to release a Wacom drawing tablet competitor, we’re probably looking at iPads and…

What, you thought the metaverse had gone away? Not if Meta and company head Mark Zuckerberg have anything to say about it. The social media giant has just licensed its Horizon OS software to several hardware manufacturers, possibly ensuring that every brand has a semi-affordable virtual reality headset in their lineups. The idea is a rather smart one on Meta’s part. Sure, the Quest series of headsets are fun to play with but the company doesn’t quite have the hardware reputation other brands can boast. Having new headsets compatible with Meta’s infrastructure (and global domination aims) could mean good things…

German surfer (we know, right?), Sebastian Steudtner, backed by the folks from Porsche Engineering, is the current world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed. Most folks, if asked who the world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed is, would guess a Hawaiian native holds the title. Laird Hamilton would be a great guess¹. Not so. At least, not officially. That record, set in Nazaré, Portugal in 2020, stands at 86.4 feet (26.21 metres). A new record has been set, though it still needs to be officially confirmed. The February 2024 record, according to Porsche Engineering’s drone…

Lockdown… sucked. But there was a brief period, right at the beginning, when everyone was making bread and feeling generally optimistic (before the mental health damage started kicking in) when it was kinda awesome. Netflix and online gaming were the main staples. The Lenovo LOQ 16APH8, a sleek gaming notebook from the Chinese brand, offers you the opportunity to recapture some of those feelings, even if you have to do it in between trips to the office on the daily. Now that we’re done contorting the Lenovo LOQ 16APH8’s name for the sake of a slightly catchy headline, this really…

When a technology is relatively new, new versions of something really have an impact. Yesterday we saw that Boston Dynamics’ Atlas was being retired. At the time, we noted that the company was being specific about the “hydraulic” version of the robot being put out to pasture. Well, guess what? There’s a new Atlas in town and while we’ve seen less than a minute of what it can do, it’s still mildly terrifying. It’s not just because the humanoid robot has an articulated head now, either (but that’s not helping). No, it’s the mobility improvements that really sell the whole…

If you were one of those folks who purchased a Starlink unit from one of the few African countries where the service is allowed, you’re likely to have an unpleasant time in the next few weeks. The company has sent an email to users based in Africa informing them that their service is about to be limited. “If you are operating your Starlink Kit in an area other than areas designated as ‘Available’ on the Starlink Availability Map, we would like to remind you that this is in violation of the Starlink Terms,” reads part of the email sent to affected…