Stuff South Africa

Streaming over mobile is the new entertainment, with MTN’s Jason Probert

Toby Shapshak — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:23:58 +0000

Most of South Africa’s youth don’t watch a TV set. Why should they? They have a mobile entertainment console in their hands that can access the new form of television: streaming.

Jason Probert, general manager of digital services for MTN South Africa, tells Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak how he is making it easier and more cost-effective.

Who needs a TV when you have mobile streaming

Also available on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Apple Podcasts

Now Hear: How mobile video use is evolving, with MTN’s Jason Lobel

Building rockets with Workday’s Sayan Chakraborty

Toby Shapshak — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:52:17 +0000

Before he sold his startup to Workday, MIT-trained Sayan Chakraborty worked at NASA’s famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an engineer on interplanetary spacecraft; and later on the early commercialisation of GPS. He has seen many new things in a storied career, including as vice president of software development at Oracle.

As much as AI is a game-changer, he tells Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak, “every business nowadays is a talent business”.

Workday’s co-president Sayan Chakraborty talks rocket science

Also available on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Apple Podcasts

IMPRESSIONS | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Stuff writer — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:09:27 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest foldable flagship from the South Korean tech giant. As the number in the name suggests, it’s the fifth from the company using the book-fold form factor. With all that experience, it shouldn’t be surprising that Samsung dominates this market segment in South Africa. This is probably a large part of the reason other brands don’t bring their foldables here.

A familiar 7.6in AMOLED display resides at the centre of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. When you don’t need to run up to three apps at once, the 6.2in cover display will get you through daily tasks with the same buttery smoothness as its bigger brother.

Handling three tasks is no walk in the park and neither is playing some of the mobile games available these days. It’s just as well then that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC inside. It’s custom-tuned to eke out a little extra performance.

To learn more about how the Galaxy Z Fold 5 crushes productivity tasks, gaming, or anything in between, check out our latest video, with Stuff‘s deputy editor Duncan Pike.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 video

How mobile video use is evolving, with MTN’s Jason Lobel

Toby Shapshak — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:00:32 +0000

For many millions, a mobile phone is their only computer and their only screen. Jason Lobel, MTN South Africa’s head of video, wants to get streaming services to those people, he tells Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak.

MTN wants you to stream more video

Also available on Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts

Huawei Watch GT 4 unboxing and first impressions

Stuff writer — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:31:08 +0000

Huawei‘s latest intelligent wearable, the Watch GT 4, is the perfect companion for a stylish and healthy lifestyle.

It’s available in 46mm and 41mm models with five distinct design options to choose from. Both models feature Huawei’s improved TruSeen 5.5+ health indicator monitoring technology, as well as the upgraded TruSleep 3.0 suite of sleep tracking and monitoring tech. If you’re the sporty type, it supports over 100 sports modes.

Experience the fashion-forward devices fresh out the box and hear more about the specs and functions on offer in our unboxing and first impressions video.

The Huawei Watch GT 4 46mm and 41mm is available online and in stores from today, priced at R6,999.

Huawei Watch GT 4 unboxing video

Why PayShap should be a free service, with TymeBank CEO Coen Jonker

Toby Shapshak — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:55:32 +0000

PayShap is the biggest thing to happen in banking in South Africa – if it is done right, says TymeBank’s co-founder and group CEO Coen Jonker. The new rapid payment method is a “game changer” and the “key that will unlock the true digitisation of the cash economy,” he tells Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak.

Shapshak on PayShap with another chap

Also available on Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts

Now Listen: TymeBank SA CEO Tauriq Keraan on the neo-bank’s international expansion

Talking folding glass with Samsung’s Justin Hume and Zahir Cajee

Toby Shapshak — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:52:53 +0000

Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 have folding glass screens, an engineering innovation that still delights Stuff‘s editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak. Mobile executives Justin Hume and Zahir Cajee join in the geek-out.

Samsung’s folding glass still astounds

Also available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Welcome to “Spotify for textbooks,” with MTN’s Jason Probert and Thabiet Allie

Toby Shapshak — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 13:32:38 +0000

Instead of buying expensive textbooks, which learners are stuck with, what if you could “rent” them? Calling it “Spotify for textbooks,” this is the idea behind MTN’s new educational offering, MTN South Africa’s general manager of digital services Jason Probert tells says Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak. Joining them is Thabiet Allie, the head of new business development and who is driving the operator’s online learning.

Don’t break the bank, rent your textbooks

Also available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Families that play together, stay together (or: why gaming matters)

Toby Shapshak — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:26:29 +0000

Gaming hasn’t always been on a high-end PC or console and remains a fundamental way we humans interact, MTN’s gaming geeks tell Stuff editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak. Veteran internet executive Jason Probert is the general manager of digital services for MTN South Africa, while Brad Kirby is a Senior Specialist in eSports & Gaming.

Apart from this philosophical reminder, gaming is how we have fun, blow off steam and socialise. Some of us do it on a padel court, others on a console or smartphone.

MTN has plans for gaming in SA

Solving SA’s power problems, with Hohm Energy’s Matthew Cruise

Toby Shapshak — Wed, 31 May 2023 12:53:29 +0000

“Going solar” is the catchphrase of the year. Again. But how do you tell the shysters from the bone fide solar installers? And how do you get finance for an off-grid system? Also, without having to become an expert yourself, what exactly do you need?

That’s where Hohm Energy comes in, providing a marketplace for finding providers and financiers, its head of business intelligence Matthew Cruise tells editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak in the third episode of Stuff’s going off-grid podcast series.