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Tech Things #33

Oct 29, 2024

iOS 18.1 dropped last night globally, and if you own an iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model, you can get Apple Intelligence, right now, if you want. You simply need to change your device language to United States English and use a VPN set to the US. You will then see the option to join the waitlist under the new Apple Intelligence settings. It took my phone about 2 hours to activate; you just need to monitor the progress. When you have your VPN on with the AI activated, you cannot access SA-specific apps like DStv, shopping apps, etc. Proceed at your own risk.

📞 Talk of the Town: New Phones and Trends

I received my first international smartphone delivery last week, from Infinix; you may know their sister brand Tecno. The team from London sent me the new vlogging smartphone, the Infinix Zero 40 5G, which shoots in 4K in the front and rear. It retails for $399, which directly converts to R7 000. Watch my TikTok here and stay tuned to Recharged for an article next week.

🔋 Watt’s New in the EV space?

At SA Auto Week 2024, which took place in Cape Town last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a bunch of announcements, which includes updates to the Electric Vehicle White Paper. Amongst them was consideration for incentives, tax rebates or subsidies for both consumers and manufacturers to boost the uptake of EVs. You can read more via TechCentral.

🕹️ Gadget Goals: Gear to Geek Out

I came across a TikTok featuring the Skyworth 24" Portable TV. It’s such a nifty gadget if you want to stream TV series as it has Google TV and voice assistant built-in, and a battery life of up to three hours. There’s a carry handle to easily move it within the home or outdoors. It retails for R3 999, and who knows, it may just end up on a Black Friday sale! I will be putting it to the test; stay tuned for my review. What do you think?

📲 App-solutely Essential

Have you updated the Sixty60 app recently? I’m impressed with the continuous updates and experience. The app now incorporates Checkers Hyper, which lets you shop a whole bunch of extras that you would typically go in-store for. These include small appliances, toys, outdoor equipment, pool supplies, etc. All from an app you already trust, which I think is key and builds loyalty. I also love the trending themes.

🔐 Byte Back: Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats

Parents who share work devices with their kids, listen up. According to a Cisco study, 31% of parents who share devices with unsupervised access to kids who know the passcode, and 49% without knowing it, can lead to serious data breaches. Cisco South Africa’s Cybersecurity Specialist Ameera Cassoojee shares 5 tips to mitigate security risks on Recharged.co.za.

🛒 Steals and Tech Deals of the Week

Did you know you can shop iStore Pre-Owned directly online, from anywhere in South Africa via iStorePreowned.co.za. One of the advantages over a community marketplace is the warranty on the products, which is key for shopping pre-owned. I recently spotted a 2020 13-inch M1 MacBook Air going for R10 999! And if you’re looking for Xiaomi smart home gadgets, Yuppiechef has them for 20% off today only, Tuesday 29 October.

Reads you may want to catch up on:

Till next time,
Nafisa

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