After launching YouTube Gaming in 2015, YouTube is now reintegrating it into the proper YouTube experience in the form of a channel. Simply called Gaming, the new channel also spells the end of the old YouTube Gaming hub, which is set to join Google Inbox shuttering next March. “We have a strong and vibrant audience on the YouTube Gaming app, but the amount of gamers we are able to reach is far bigger on YouTube,”the company revealed. Moving the Gaming channel into YouTube proper does have its merits though. “YouTube is where the world watches gaming. More than 200-million of you come to...
Instagram has introduced a new online shopping experience to consumers, but it’s not the standalone app we expected. Instead, you can shop inside Instagram Stories and from a new Shopping channel in your explore feed. “We began testing Shopping in Stories in June, and today we’re rolling it out globally and expanding it to businesses in 46 countries,” the company said on its blog. So now, when viewing Stories posted by brands and stores, you can click on shop-linking stickers to see more about the products. “Topic channels, which launched in June, allow you to browse across your interests and go deeper on...
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court decriminalized the private use of cannabis in South Africa. The ruling comes a year after the Western Cape High Court found that some of our previous laws regarding cannabis were unconstitutional. So yes, as an adult in this country, you can now legally grow and consume cannabis privately. But no, you shouldn’t be buying or selling it just yet, and Parliament must still decide exactly how much you can legally use before a police officer decides to arrest you. All the hazy specifics aside though, if you’re over 18 and know how to grow some green then...
Google Science Fair is open for submissions until 12 December 2018 for those between 13 and 18 years of age. The competition, which first took place in 2011, has been a place for global learners to share and develop their science initiatives, and possibly win exclusive prizes from Google and sponsors alike. The possibilities for African entrants are tangible too. The last grand prize winner, Kiara Nirghin, was born in South Africa. In a blog post about fair’s commencement, Google interviewed Nirghin, who designed a way to help alleviate the effect of drought on crops using fruit waste as water retaining polymers. Her...
Google Maps has become an essential for many commuters. The navigation tool has guided us through our daily travels, on both new and warn out routes, playing co-pilot wherever we go. Maps however, isn’t just a way to get from A to B anymore. In fact, the tool has evolved into much more, and is actually a pretty cool way to feed your inner explorer -- literally. This week Google outlined these new social features for Google Maps that are geared towards travellers and food lovers. Discover the bites around you Google Maps can suggest places for you to visit based on your...
Facebook has this week announced its machine-learning program that can read and understand text in images. This AI system, which Facebook calls Rosetta, will allow the company to read text from images on its social network, be it your advice animal memes, or road signs in photographs. “Understanding the text that appears on images is important for improving experiences, such as a more relevant photo search or the incorporation of text into screen readers that make Facebook more accessible for the visually impaired,” the company explained in the announcement. According to Facebook, Rosetta uses a two-step text extraction process. "In the first step,...
Korean smartphone and applicance maker LG has today launched a WhatsApp service channel in South Africa, allowing users to log complaints or problems with appliances through the social messaging app. "LG’s objective in providing this service is to simplify customers’ lives," said LG South Africa in a press release. The company's WhatsApp service "will allow customers to chat directly with customer service experts when issues are reported". While consumers will be able to send the company your customer service requests via text, voice note, images and video, you will not be able to contact the company via WiFi-enabled calls or voice calls. Users...
Last year, Facebook launched Community Help, a feature that allows people to communicate with, and help each other during times of crisis. Now the feature is coming to Facebook Lite, a lower data usage version of the Facebook app on Android. “In many areas around the world, networks can be slow and unreliable. This can be even more challenging after a crisis, when communication is critical,” the social network explains. The addition of Community Help to Facebook Lite now opens the service to countries with slower internet connection speeds and lower-specification smartphones. According to the social network, over 100 countries use its...
WhatsApp has announced a new version of its app will be available on the JioPhone, a phone that runs on KaiOS. KaiOS, based on what was known as FirefoxOS at one point in time, runs on low-powered feature phones. A few of said phones are available in South Africa too, like the Nokia 8110. The chat application will soon terminate support for older Android smartphones, iOS and Windows devices. Notably, it's the first indication that the social messenger now supports the operating system, even though it does allow for some apps and internet connectivity. This too is an indication that the app may...
Nicki Minaj and Cardi B reportedly traded blows at a party during New York Fashion Week. The rappers, who have enjoyed an ongoing mutual dislike, were involved in a heated exchange on Friday night. "Cardi and Nicki both showed up at the Harper's Bazaar's bash. Nicki was with her crew at a table, when Cardi 'aggressively approached the table' ... this according to eyewitnesses," TMZ reported. "We're told Cardi said, 'Let me tell you something' ... as she lunged toward Nicki, but security stopped her inches from contact." If that wasn't enough, Cardi B also reportedly hurled her shoes at Nicki Minaj. Footage of...
Hozier, who brought us "Take Me To Church", is back with another EP, his first in four years in fact. Released on Thursday, Nina Cried Power is a four song EP of signature folk, soul, rock, rhythm and blues. Fans waited eagerly for the release and were not disappointed, with many calling it a spiritual experience. everybody say thank u hozier — julia (@tngjulia) September 6, 2018 holy shit, @hozier, dude, this new EP is unreal. chills, pure and simple. everyone go and listen to Nina Cried Power immediately! — 🌸 happy beeps 🌸 (@RobHand) September 6, 2018 @Hozier has walked out of the woods and...
Entertainment Weekly has exclusively revealed the first images of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in the upcoming eponymous flick. Many expected a teaser trailer after the actress's cryptic tweet published yesterday. “Hey @EW I’m bored. Wanna break the Internet tomorrow?" she slyly wrote. Hey @EW I’m bored. Wanna break the Internet tomorrow? — Brie Larson (@brielarson) September 5, 2018 Instead of a trailer though, EW’s latest cover features Captain Marvel along with several images and a feature-story on the character. After Marvel ripped the hearts and souls out of everyone with Avengers: Infinity War, fans have been eager to know more about the superhero that...
Google Chrome is officially celebrating its 10th birthday. To commemorate the milestone, Google is releasing a brand new updated version of the browser. Chrome usually receives updates in six week cycles but for its 10th birthday, it’s a "bigger than normal" one. The announcement outlined four new features that are on its way to the browser: Overhauled UI A new look Chrome, which will be visible on multiple devices, employs "more rounded shapes, new icons and a new colour palette". These aesthetics have apparently been put into place for simplicity as well as to improve productivity. "We changed the shape of our tabs so that...
After launching IGTV earlier this year, Instagram may be close to launching another app. But it's not all about video. Instead, sources close to The Verge have revealed that Insta is developing an online shopping app. The standalone app could be a hub for businesses and shoppers to better interact with each other outside of the main Instagram app. Though the publication's report suggests that Instagram did not provide comment, its sources suggest that the app "will let users browse collections of goods from merchants that they follow and purchase them directly within the app". Business profiles on Instagram have grown in popularity...
Any user of Skype knows exactly how frustrating the communication software is. Apparently, so does its maker. Microsoft has announced that its bringing updates to its chat product in order to simplify the user experience. "Our passion for bringing people closer together through simple, seamless experiences that ‘just work’ is the foundation of Skype", says Peter Skillman, the company's director of design. Wherever this "foundation" went, it was certainly not on Skype itself. Skillman admitted that design changes were "explored" this year, specifically relating to calling and highlights. It was this that convinced Microsoft that it needed to simplify the voice, video...
Competition: win Comic Con Africa tickets and Funko Pops with Gammatek
Eminem’s 153 disses on ‘Kamikaze’ visualised in this infographic
Updating: Johannesburg CBD fire is now contained, 3 firefighters dead
#Recession: South Africa’s politicians blast the ANC after GDP shrinks
People are already trolling Apple over the iPhone’s new names
Memeburn focuses on everything digital in the emerging markets sphere. More about us here
