Apps to learn South African Languages
Having a basic understanding of a multitude of South African languages not only benefits your own brainpower, but it also adds to your ability to function in a truly diverse society.
Make the most of your data with Vodacom Tickets
Make the most of your data with Vodacom Tickets Vodacom Tickets will have the mobile service provider’s Prepaid, Top-Up and Contract customers […]
Iphone 12 Max
R649 PM X 36 Smart XS Smart XS We try to strike a balance luxury, fun and productive. Anytime 9:00 – 18:00 […]
WhatsApp groups and group calls: here’s a breakdown
Groups have become a staple of the mobile chat platform WhatsApp’s offering, and regardless of whether you hate the functionality or love […]
Vodacom launches app to bolster smart municipal service delivery
After fully equipping the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo District Municipality with internet connectivity, Vodacom has launched a SmartCitizen app to aid service […]
Vodacom announces new Sports Tickets data bundles
Adding to their Social Tickets offering, Vodacom has announced that it is launching new, cheaper data bundles catering specifically for sports buffs. […]
Young gaming whizz goes big on the App Store
A 17-year-old St. Stithians learner has made history in the gaming realm by creating the first mobile game developed by a South […]
These 6 apps will keep your kids occupied during the winter holiday
The winter holiday has arrived, and with it, added pressure on parents wondering how they’ll keep the kids busy for weeks on […]
Smart fridges: would you buy one?
The electronics manufacturer LG has announced that a new smart fridge is now available to the South African market. In keeping with […]
SIM swap scams: this is what you need to know
SIM swap scams were recently in the news again, when an 85-year-old pensioner was robbed of R300 000 after receiving a notification […]
The history of iOS updates and what to expect in iOS 12
Apple users always get excited when an update to the manufacturer’s operating system is announced, and looking back at all the features […]
Facebook recruits CNN, Fox News and Buzzfeed for Facebook Watch
In an effort to foster community and further curb the spread of fake news on the platform, Facebook has announced that it […]
Bad WiFi signal at home? Here’s how to improve it.
ADSL and fibre connections in the home have opened an array of internet options for the people that inhabit them, and WiFi […]
These unusual uses for VR will blow your mind
Up to quite recently, virtual reality was mainly associated with gaming. However, as VR has been gaining traction at a host of […]
Contention ratio and your internet connection
The dial-up connection of the 1990s is something a member of Generation Z knows as little about as a cassette player or […]
Here are the most disliked videos on YouTube
Slate magazine recently featured an article about the most historically unwatched video on YouTube. While it probably isn’t the least viral video […]
Facial recognition was used at the Royal Wedding – and not in the way you’re thinking
The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on 19 May 2018, and one piece of technology featured quite […]
Facebook’s proposed dating app: would you use it?
Over the past few years, we’ve grown used to the throngs of dating apps that are available on the internet. People aren’t […]
Biomimicry uses solutions from nature to address man-made problems
An innovative and rapidly growing field of design is set to transform industries across the globe – and it will soon be […]
5 tech podcasts that will keep you in the loop
Podcasts are, without a doubt, the easiest way to consume information while multitasking. If you haven’t yet, you really need to dive […]
WeThinkCode is using tech to empower students and create jobs
When WeThinkCode launched in May 2016, it was the first tuition-free tech institute of its kind in the country. Ever since then, […]
UK schools are removing analogue clocks because students can’t tell the time
Unless you’ve been living in an actual cave, or you are a member of some far-flung civilisation that has not been exposed […]
This app locks your kids’ phones until they reply to your texts
When Nick Herbert, a father in the United Kingdom, noticed that his son Ben wasn’t replying to his texts, he came up […]
Retro is set to return with the Nintendo NES Classic
Twitter was ablaze with excitement after the electronic and video game company Nintendo announced that it would be bringing back the Nintendo […]
Is an age restriction for WhatsApp users necessary?
The instant messaging service WhatsApp recently announced that it would be setting an age restriction for use of the platform in the […]
Huawei launches new phones in SA – for richer or poorer
In April 2018, the Chinese mobile manufacturer Huawei announced that it would be introducing a range of new mobile phones to the […]
Google Assistant is changing the way we plan our days
When Google Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai demonstrated how the improved Google Assistant could make an appointment for a haircut by phoning up […]
What to do if your account has been compromised in the Cambridge Analytica scandal (and if it hasn’t)
Weeks after the shock announcement that millions of Facebook users had their data harvested by Cambridge Analytica in 2016, we’re still feeling […]
You’d be surprised at what these tech giants were originally named
With technology now an ever-present part of our lives, big tech companies have become household names all over the world. We tend […]
This new app is set to revolutionise the South African taxi industry
The saying goes that the simplest solution is often the best. A new, innovative and proudly South African app took this sentiment […]
This app lets you create a GIF on your phone
In the past, when you wanted to convey a succinct but clear message in the form of a GIF, you had to […]
Times are changing and signatures are on their way out
The New York Times recently reported that a number of large credit card companies in the US, including Mastercard, Visa and American […]
Here’s where you can find all the Google doodles ever made
Google doodles have become very commonplace since their inception in 1998. If you’re not quite sure what exactly a Google doodle is, […]
Gmail is introducing new features to make email safer
On 25 April, Gmail rolled out its latest update to the email service, and many changes have been announced, ranging from a […]
Alexa Blueprints promises to make Amazon’s virtual assistant more personalised than ever
Amazon recently announced the release of a new capability for their voice assistant for smart speakers. Alexa recently got a bad rap […]
5 TED talks about the future that will blow your mind
In the early 1900s, people made outrageous predictions of what life would be like in the new millennium. While some ideas were […]
A day in the life of a telesales consultant
When you think of a business ambassador – someone who spends their entire day marketing the organisation they are employed by, trying […]
Google Go promises to cut browsing costs
With global access to the internet increasing by the day, the world now has almost 4.2 billion people who have access to […]
How to spot a hoax on social media: a quick guide
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hoax is something that tricks people into believing something false and often preposterous. Despite the narrative […]
These are the most popular emojis across the globe
Admit it: even if you’re a language purist that refuses to use acronyms and other forms of texting shorthand, you probably use […]
This is how a social media presence can benefit your small business
Social media started out as a way to connect and stay in contact with friends and family, but it also became a […]
Smartcom launches the Smartcom Small Business Awards
Smartcom is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for budding entrepreneurs in the small business sector. The Smartcom Small Business Awards will […]
Hollywood robots: predictors of the future?
Before Sophia the robot became a household name, Hollywood introduced us to a variety of robots through the world of cinema. These […]
The BlackBerry KEYone: the workhorse your business needs
When Blackberry recently released its new flagship, the BlackBerry KEYone, former BlackBerry addicts from all over the world rejoiced. This phone really […]
Third-party apps and Facebook: how to ensure your privacy
The recent revelation that profile information was harvested by a data analytics firm in the run-up to the 2016 American presidential election […]
Turn yourself into an emoji with Bitmoji
Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres have long been bragging about having their own line of emojis that looks just like them. If you’d […]
Vodacom to deploy network sites in South Africa’s deep rural communities
While about 22-million South Africans enjoy some access to the internet, the country still has a very long way to go. There […]
YouTube plans to combat conspiracy theories with Wikipedia
The Illuminati using celebs for their dirty work, Hitler escaping to an island, and moon landings which supposedly did not happen are […]
How a virtual assistant uses AI to help run your business
If you’re a business owner or other professional, you’re probably well aware that there just aren’t enough hours in a day to […]
Google’s new job search function: this is how to use it
Google recently announced that it would be expanding its commitment to skills development in Sub-Saharan Africa by making a new immersive job […]
Google Clips is the ever-present photographer you’ve been looking for
Are your favourite photos those of candid moments that a keen observer managed to capture, rather than posed group portraits or selfies? […]
Messaging mistake? WhatsApp has extended the time you have to fix it.
Last year, the messaging platform WhatsApp announced that it would be rolling out a feature that allows users to delete messages sent […]
What’s all this about Spotify?
You may have read or heard that the streaming music service officially launched in South Africa on 13 March. Perhaps you’re already […]
10 memorable quotes from Stephen Hawking we can all use in our everyday lives and businesses
For the past couple of days, the world has mourned the loss of Stephen Hawking, the British physicist and black hole theorist […]
Want to buy shares in a tech company? Here is a price comparison.
This March, it’s been 32 years since Microsoft, the tech company founded by Bill Gates, went public at $21 per share. If […]
Vodacom World in Midrand closed for renovations
The Vodacom World Mall in Midrand will be closed from 17 March until late 2018. According to the centre’s management team, the […]
How to be a well-mannered internet user
Coinciding with Safer Internet Day (SID) on 7 February this year, Microsoft released the results of its Microsoft Digital Civility Index, and […]
The strange robots of uncanny valley
Sophia the robot has become a celebrity of sorts in the past few months, but for many people, there’s just something about […]
Nokia releases 5 new flagship phones at MWC
Mobile manufacturer Nokia had quite a bit to say at the recent Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona. It seems that Nokia […]
Is Google’s DeepMind the ultimate AI incubator?
When Google acquired the British AI (artificial intelligence) startup DeepMind for a cool $600 million in 2014, the stage was set for […]
Smartphones and your child: how young is too young?
The global rise of the smartphone has been momentous, to say the least. According to Statista, the global number of smartphone users […]
These are the benefits of using a mobile data device
When getting your first smartphone, the convenience of having the internet at your fingertips wherever you are probably ranked among the biggest […]
What to expect from the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus
Samsung released its latest offering, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ at the Mobile World Congress on 25 February, and the phone’s features […]
This is how your business can benefit from using SmartView
If your business has been struggling with exceptionally high cellphone bills that you can’t explain, SmartView from Smartcom is the best way […]
5 of the quirkiest Nokia phones ever released
Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia recently announced that it would be releasing a newer version of its remake of the trusty 3310 that […]
A quick guide to managing your data
As mobile technology has expanded, so has the capabilities of our cellphones and more specifically the apps installed on them. These days, […]
Facebook Marketplace is here
Facebook recently announced the launch of Marketplace in South Africa, making it one of 47 countries where this service has been launched. […]
African Robots is taking African ingenuity to the world
Many a tourist leaves South African shores with a wire creation in their luggage, and the image of children racing through dusty […]
7 celebs who are technophobes of note
As much as technology has made our lives easier, it has also complicated things a bit. As far as our online identities […]
This is how to turn off those Google reminder ads that follow you around the internet
Search engines, and specifically the ruler of them all, Google, have simplified our lives so much, it’s difficult to think of a […]
LTE-A is laying the foundations for data to become the primary paid telecoms service
In a recent interview with MyBroadband, Africa Analaysis Managing Director Dobek Pater predicted that the expansion of LTE-A coverage in the country […]
10 apps that can help your small business grow
the same resources due to budget restrictions. Too often, small business owners do not realise the benefits that simple tools can have […]
WhatsApp Business: Can your business use it?
WhatsApp Business is the latest addition to a number of tools for businesses that incorporate social media and instant messaging, and it […]
Got a great tech idea? The City of Cape Town is looking for you!
The City of Cape Town might be on the verge of becoming the first major city in the world to run out […]
Will “passwords” eventually die?
There are few things as infuriating as passwords. Anyone who tells you to just use the same password for everything has not […]
Apple is releasing an update that will stop your phone from slowing down
After causing controversy in 2017 when announcing that a software update slowed down the operation of some of their older model iPhones, […]
Is technology enhancing or killing your customer service?
If you’ve ever read a Smartcom blog, you will know that the Smartcom team is absolutely fanatical about everything tech. As a […]
This pouch creates phone-free zones – would you be willing to use it?
The American singer, musician, songwriter and the lead singer of The White Stripes, Jack White, recently raised a few eyebrows when he […]
This South African tech innovation is making it easier to communicate with financial service providers
Having to phone a call centre to get information about quotes and services is a time-consuming exercise that many customers are finding […]
This app takes the hassle out of school payments
It only truly feels like a new year when the kids go back to school. All your colleagues are back at work, […]
Built for speed: which phone is the quickest?
There’s no question that most cellphones today are seriously fast. As their internal processors and operating systems have gotten better, mobile phones […]
Use these apps to accept payments for your business with your smartphone
These days we can use our mobile phones to do almost anything. Keeping in touch with loved ones is still their primary […]
Consider LTE-A while waiting for fibre
LTE-A is making waves in the telecoms industry, but you might not be sure what exactly makes this new mobile service different […]
Facebook now helps to guard you against identity theft
Many of us have fallen prey to hackers and identity thieves on the world’s biggest social network. While it’s easy – albeit […]
Samsung is developing VR tech that can help the visually impaired
The viability of virtual reality (VR) in the real world has given rise to hefty debate, and is one of the big […]
Virtual reality: fitness, entertainment and the future
Virtual reality, or just VR for short, has been a buzzword for the past few years, albeit a piece of tech that […]
How will the changes to Facebook’s news feed affect you?
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent announcement of changes to its News Feed has sent its market share reeling and has even significantly […]
Here are the global stats on mobile usage in children
What is the right age for a child to get a mobile phone? Does your child have a cellphone? A few recent […]
Apple is buying Shazam
A person who is familiar with the situation has disclosed that Apple Inc. will be buying the music identification service Shazam. According […]
5 tech innovations that blew our minds in 2017
The world of tech is constantly changing and we’re almost not surprised by innovations that seem to come straight from sci-fi anymore. […]
These were the biggest activism hashtags of 2017
The past decade or so has seen the momentous rise of the hashtag. This humble symbol is already being used to track […]
Keep an eye on your stuff with the ithink Pan and Tilt Indoor IP camera
In a country where crime statistics are impossibly high, theft is always a concern. The festive season typically sees a rise in […]
The Sony PS4 is the perfect filler for someone’s Christmas stocking
When Sony launched the PlayStation 4, many reviewers described it as the company’s best game machine yet. The updated console has taken […]
WhatsApp will stop supporting these phones later this year
WhatsApp has announced that it will cease to provide further technical support for certain handsets later this year. This follows the company’s […]
Already bored with your December break? Try these apps!
There’s no doubt that a break over December comes at exactly the right time. But how often has the boredom bug caught […]
Spring clean your digital life for the new year
Our digital lives have become such an integral part of our waking lives, that the two have become almost indistinguishable. The two […]
Developers are launching a Tamagotchi app next year, and we’re feeling nostalgic
If you’re a member of Generation X, you probably owned one of the most wildly popular toys of the time: the Tamagotchi. […]
YouTube is launching a paid music subscription service
Bloomberg has reported that the video-sharing giant YouTube will launch a paid music subscription service in March of 2018. This is YouTube’s […]
Facebook Spaces – is virtual reality the future of social media?
When announcing their purchase of Oculus VR for $2 billion in 2014, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote, “This is really a new […]
The global rise of the mobile phone
It’s almost impossible to imagine a world without cellphones, and yet the first mobile phone launched just a little over three decades […]