Gadget

Image by Google Gemini, based on a prompt by Gadget. A strange equation defines the smartphone market: many people happily spend R20,000 upward on a handset, then hesitate over spending R500 to protect it. That is, by buying a fully protective cellphone cover. Most stick with the piece of plastic that comes in the box and covers the back of the phone. But it is the screen in the front that is most vulnerable.

South Africa has opened of the GFX Challenge Grant Program 2026, which confers five global grant awards and 10 regional grant awards in order to help creatives bring their unique projects to life. It is designed to nurture and develop the skills of photographers and videographers, giving them the opportunity to create imagery or movies on topics that have significant meaning to them, while gaining experience using Fujifilm GFX System gear.

Photo courtesy Oppo. For a motoring journalist, a smartphone is far more than a device for calls and messages; it is an essential driving companion, handling everything from Android Auto navigation and hands-free communication to photography, note-taking and staying connected while travelling from one vehicle launch to the next.

The Odyssey delivers Homer’s foundational ancient Greek epic to the big screen in a sweeping story of war, gods, monsters and one king’s perilous journey home. Homer was the ancient Greek poet traditionally credited with composing The Odyssey and The Iliad. The new film, directed by Christopher Nolan, is screening from today (17 July 2026) in Imax at Ster-Kinekor cinemas, as well as at Nu Metro theatres and at The Bioscope.

Photo supplied. Samsung South Africa has launched the Mini LED M80H TV, which includes an AI Football Mode. The feature adjusts picture and sound settings during matches. The flagship device arrives alongside another premium TV, the Mini LED M70H. Both are available ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final this Sunday. The TVs use smaller LEDs than QLED models, which allows more precise control over brightness and contrast.

Tenet, a movie about technology that can send people and objects backwards through time, is streaming on Netflix from today (17 July 2026). The 2020 science-fiction thriller, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, won an Academy Award for visual effects. The movie became one of Nolan’s most debated works, with its technical ambition and complex storytelling attracting both praise and criticism.

Image by Google Gemini, based on a prompt by Gadget. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its climax, with only two teams left to battle out the final this Sunday. But as excitement builds among fans, some may be opening themselves up to a challenge from beyond the playing field. Cybersecurity and privacy experts are raising concerns around the growing trend of sports fans using generative AI to create World Cup-related images, mock-ups, predictions and social media content.

Image by Google Gemini, based on a prompt by Gadget. It would be impossible to fix a city’s traffic congestion by widening a single busy highway. Yet today’s conversation around IT efficiency risks falling into the same trap, focusing on the most visible pressure point while overlooking the broader system at play. Over the past year, headlines have zeroed in on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence. While these concerns are valid, this limited focus loses sight of the broader picture.

Image by Google Gemini, based on a prompt by Gadget. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has discovered the convenience of the travel app. Unfortunately, it also appears to have rediscovered paper. Since 1 July 2026, everyone entering or leaving South Africa has been required to submit a traveller declaration online. It applies whether one travels by air, road, rail or sea, and includes children. Only international passengers who remain inside a transit area are excluded.

Photo: SHERYL GOLDSTUCK. Some experiences stay with one forever. Riding shotgun in a Dakar Rally Toyota Hilux across the dunes of Namibia with Guy Botterill behind the wheel was one of those unforgettable moments. It was exciting, slightly terrifying and completely fascinating, all at the same time.