AI advancements, reviews and top tips

Tech Things #11

There’s been interesting developments in the world of OpenAI who introduced us to ChatGPT. At its first in-person event yesterday, it dropped the word “Chat” and now anyone can build their own GPT version of the conversational AI system, reports TechCrunch. Whether you’re building something for fun or a productivity tool, it can be published on the GPT Store marketplace. This opens up a whole new world and for anyone to play around with (if you have a kid, get them into IT). Check out a demo of a custom GPT being built with private knowledge in under 4 minutes and the 12 craziest things already built within the 11 hours it was announced. Wild.

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REVIEWS

It took me a while to write my review for the Samsung Z Fold 5 foldable due to a bunch of on-going travels, but better late than never. It went live today and focuses on my experience with it, instead of going into the specs. You will appreciate the read as always, which outlines the pros and cons.

https://www.recharged.co.za/review-samsung-z-fold-5/

You may also be interested in my review of the new 2nd-gen Ring Indoor Cam. It is the first home security camera from the company to have a manual privacy shutter, which should put a lot of you at ease, if this was holding you back from buying one. And it costs R1199. But first read my review to see what you’re in for.

https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/review-amazon-owned-ring-introduces-its-indoor-cam-with-privacy-at-its-core-20231103

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SERVICES AND GADGETS

If you’re team FNB, check out their newest announcement regarding vehicle licence renewals. When the Natis system launched, it was a no-brainer to do it directly through them, in fact, I used it myself this year, but FNB is making it competitive by matching their service and delivery fees and letting you pay with eBucks.

https://www.recharged.co.za/fnb-r99-vehicle-licence-renewals/

When Samsung’s SmartTag was pulled off the shelves this year, I received queries on what other products can be purchased. Truth be told, if you’re not on iPhone using AirTags, team Android has limited options. Samsung has released the SmartTag 2 in SA, which works with Samsung devices only, unfortunately.

https://www.recharged.co.za/samsung-smarttag2-in-sa/

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YOUR TOP TECH TIP

No newsletter is complete without my tech tip. Today I’m sharing one of my best productivity hacks that is so simple: keyboard shortcuts.

I have keyboard shortcuts to cut down my typing for email addresses; banking details; delivery addresses; signatures; my business number; etc. Basically anything that involves a long bits of text or that I don’t easily remember.

I suffix them with uncommon characters so I don’t accidentally type it, like @ / ^ < ~. Example, my common used emails are saved as @1 @2 @3 etc.

Hope this hack helps you!

Other reads you may want to catch up on:

• The Rise of African Tech Hubs - How They Are Becoming The Silicon Valleys Of The Continent, a piece I wrote for CNBC Africa:
  https://cnbcafrica.com/2023/the-rise-of-african-tech-hubs-how-they-are-becoming-the-silicon-valleys-of-the-continent/

• The Cars of the Future from my trip to Munich about BMW’s next-gen EVs, hydrogen, and cloud technology:
  https://brainstorm.itweb.co.za/content/6GxRKqYQ5X4qb3Wj

• Meta South Africa releases an educational comic book for online safety aimed at teenagers, which is a free download:
  https://www.recharged.co.za/meta-comic-book-safety/

• Would you pay for X? Interesting read from Marcé Heath for Recharged:
  https://www.recharged.co.za/would-you-pay-for-x/

• The Eastern Cape government with Rubicon will roll out thirteen 150kW DC chargers in the province:
  https://www.cbn.co.za/industry-news/transport-logistics-freight-services/eastern-cape-government-to-roll-out-public-ev-charging-stations/

Till next time,
Nafisa