Powerful gaming consoles, premium smartphones, huge TVs, and sweet-sounding headphones are among the best types of gadgets you can gift a tech lover this Christmas.
Very few people can afford to spend thousands of rands to put a smile on the face of a loved one, particularly in South Africa’s current economic situation.
Nevertheless, we’ve assembled a list of the most sought-after tech gadgets we would like to see under our Christmas tree in 2022.
Because what better time is there to engage in some wishful thinking than the festive season?
Here are 15 of the best gadgets you could buy your nearest and dearest geek if you had copious amounts of cash lying around.
Apple Watch Ultra — R19,999
Apple’s first rugged smartwatch is made specifically with adventurers and extreme sports enthusiasts in mind.
It boasts the biggest and brightest display on an Apple Watch yet, a programmable side button for physical control over several functions, precision dual-frequency GPS, dual speakers, and three microphones.
It can go for 36 hours of regular use between charges, which can be extended to 60 hours in low-power mode.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro — SQ
The Huawei Mate 50 Pro deserves a spot on this list for one big reason — having the top-ranked smartphone camera in the world, according to reputed camera review site DxOMark.
The Mate 50 Pro’s quad camera system handily beats heavyweights like Google’s Pixel 7 Pro and Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max.
While it’s another product that has not officially launched in South Africa, it might be on offer through direct importers. Just be extremely careful of scams.
Of course, you should not even consider the Mate 50 Pro if you don’t see yourself daily-driving a smartphone without Google’s official apps or Google Mobile Services (GMS).
Huawei Mobile Services fills many gaps, but requires you to use the YouTube mobile website or third-party apps, and access Gmail via another supported mail reader. There are ways to get Google Maps to work, albeit without being able to sign in and store your trip history.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones — R7,999
Numerous well-known tech sites and individual users have called these wireless headphones the best on the market.
Aside from boasting excellent sound quality and industry-leading noise cancellation, they are praised for their high comfort level and can be controlled using your voice with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
They can also be connected to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, making it easy to jump between working on your computer and taking a wireless call on your smartphone, for example.
Valve Steam Deck — $399
Valve’s Steam Deck is not yet officially available in South Africa.
But if you can get your hands on one through an overseas contact in one of the countries where it is, it will make for one heck of a great treat.
The portable Linux-based gaming PC is incredibly capable for its size, with rave reviews praising its ability to run AAA titles at high frame rates while also having a reasonably long-lasting battery.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 — R36,999
Folding smartphones certainly aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there is one thing that most tech reviewers agree on — Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the best of the bunch.
Samsung has gradually convinced more sceptical consumers that foldables can be reliable, by improving the durability of the phone’s hinge and screen with every new generation.
The latest iteration was launched in August 2022 and features a folding display with 1,812×2,176 resolution, external display with 904×2,316 pixels, and support for Samsung’s productivity-focused S-Pen stylus.
Other features include a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, high-end triple rear camera system, and two selfie cameras — one on the external screen and another under the internal display.
Microsoft Xbox Series X|S — R11,999/R6,999
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S consoles are the most cost-effective way to play the company’s vast library of Game Pass titles.
The bigger and more expensive Series X can deliver up to 120 frames per second in the latest AAA titles running at 4K, while the more affordable Series S can do the same at a 1440p resolution.
Sony PSVR 2 headset and controllers — R13,999
Sony’s next-generation virtual reality headset and accompanying controllers for the PlayStation 5 promise to deliver a more immersive VR gameplay experience than its predecessor.
Its big new features include headset feedback, eye tracking, 3D audio, and adaptive triggers and haptic feedback on the controllers, similar to the PlayStation 5’s DualSense remotes.
The headset boasts a 2,000×2,040 resolution per eye, and the system requires no separate camera for tracking the player’s movements.
Instead, built-in cameras in the headset provide inside-out movement sensing.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 — R34,999
When it comes to an immersive gaming experience, there are few monitors on the market in South Africa that can beat Samsung’s 49-inch Odyssey Neo G9.
It boasts a dual quad HD resolution of 5,120 x 1,440, 240Hz refresh rate, and super fast 1ms response time.
Its panel consists of quantum mini-LEDs that support 2,048 local dimming zones, a 2,000-nit peak brightness, and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Sony PlayStation 5 — R13,499
Like the Series X|S, the PlayStation 5 has been around for over two years, but it is still in low stock due to massive demand.
Sony’s extensive roster of exclusive AAA games is its strongest advantage over Microsoft. At the same time, the PS5’s DualSense controller also offers a unique in-game experience by responding to in-game environments, events, and player actions.
TCL 98-inch QLED 4K TV — R99,999
Not counting so-called “Laser TVs”, which are actually projectors, the biggest TVs generally available to consumers in South Africa measure 98 inches.
While you can get one of these from Samsung for around R200,000, you can pay half that price for the recently-launched TCL version.
TCL’s TVs are highly-rated in the US and often among Amazon.com’s best sellers.
The TCL 98-inch QLED 4K TV is Imax-Enhanced, supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, and has a 120Hz MEMC refresh rate.
You also get access to a wide range of apps as it features built-in Google TV.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro — R26,899
The iPhone 14 Pro has a modest set of upgrades over its predecessor but is nonetheless the best smartphone running iOS that you can buy right now.
It boasts Apple’s fastest mobile chip — the A16 Bionic — coupled with a super-bright display, powerful rear and front cameras, and ditches the iPhone notch for a pill-shaped cutout called the “Dynamic Island”.
The latter integrates with iOS to offer some functionality — like displaying minimised versions of apps running in the background.
EcoFlow River Pro — R14,999
Give the gift of power during load-shedding this Christmas.
There are many compact lithium-ion-powered portable power stations on the market, but few are as refined as those sold by EcoFlow.
The River Pro unit offers 720Wh of capacity and 600W output, ideal for powering several electronic devices during a typical stint of load-shedding.
Its patented X Stream charging system is also capable of refilling the battery from 0-100% in a very short 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it one of the fastest charging power stations on the market.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro — R9,999
The Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatches are good options for those comfortable with Google’s software ecosystem, as they run its latest version of WearOS.
The high-end Galaxy Watch 5 packs an impressive array of fitness, health, and other “smart” features in a titanium case with strong sapphire crystal glass for its display.
It is powered by a 590mAh battery that can last up to 80 hours with GPS turned on.
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 — Starting from R54,999
This gaming laptop is unlike anything on the market, with an additional display between the keyboard and main screen providing more room for in-game content or multimedia editing tools.
The entry-level model from Evetech with the pricing mentioned above boasts an AMD Ryzen 9-6900HX processor, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB of fast NVMe SSD storage, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB graphics card, and 1,920 x 1,200 main display with 165Hz refresh rate.
The top-specced version, priced at R97,499, gets the same processor, but doubles the RAM to 64GB, bumps NVMe storage to 4TB, and upgrades the graphics card to an RTX 3080 Ti 16GB.
The display on the latter model also boasts a larger 2,560×1,600 resolution for crisper visuals.
Apple iPad Air 2022 — R13,199
Although iOS and Android fans often lock horns over what smartphone ecosystem is the best, many of the latter would quickly admit that when it comes to tablets — Apple reigns supreme.
Apple’s iPads generally provide snappier and more stable performance thanks to highly-optimised iPadOS software, and come in more premium-feeling chassis.
But at the top end of its options, the iPad Pro’s proposition becomes difficult to justify considering that it begins to cross lines with Apple’s MacBook laptops.
That’s why we’ve recommended the thin and light iPad Air, a much more affordable yet very capable tablet suited for the average user.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
___
Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
