Stuff editor Brett Venter sat down with Samsung Consumer Electronics’ Director Michael van Lier (more than once, as it happens). On the menu was everything Samsung’s Electronics division is bringing to South Africa in the near future. Plus, a batch of interesting items that are already here, like a wardrobe that cleans your clothing, customizable fridges, and a TV that they weren’t supposed to touch, but did. The chat ranged from TVs and the tech behind them to one of the most expensive things Samsung has installed in South Africa, with a few stops in between. 

Stuff podcast

Stuff sits down with Samsung Consumer Electronics’ Director Michael van Lier

Using free public WiFi has its risks, not least other users snooping on your data. It may seem like a convenience, especially while travelling overseas, but you should never use it without a VPN. These virtual private networks create a secure tunnel, as it were, that other users on the same network can’t peer into or access your data. It’s one of the things I use whenever I use any free public WiFi – anywhere. It’s part of the utterly essential cybersecurity checklist we should all follow. We must “prepare our laziness in advance” NordVPN’s Karolis Pabijanskas told Stuff – referring to the way we just accept cookies and other T&Cs without being conscious of how it affects our security. We need to reset our habits, and using a VPN is essential for using public WiFi.

Cybersecurity: “Prepare our laziness in advance” with Toby Shapshak

The Sonos Ray has just been released. Listen to Toby Shapshak chat with Jeff and Joe from Sonos in New York City. They talk shop about everything Sonos.

Toby chats to Sonos' Jeff and Joe from New York City

Stuff's Toby Shapshak chats to Africa's Netflix Ben Amadasun.

Toby Shapshak chats with Ben Amadasun, Netflix's Director of content in Africa

Stuff's publisher and editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak sat down with the director of Planetworld, Maurice Van Heerden, to chat about how he came to bring Sonos products (among others) to SA. Planetworld is an importer and distributor of audio products from a number of high-end manufacturers for a range of applications including car audio, home theatre setups and smart home audio. Van Heerden takes Shapshak through the story of bringing Sonos products to SA and how Sonos were among the first to effectively implement smart functions in high-end audio solutions, first seen in the Sonos One. #sponsored

How Sonos products found their way to South Africa

Stuff's publisher and editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak spoke to HMD Global CEO Florian Seiche while he was in the country. They touch on some of the ways HMD Global and its Nokia devices impact the lives of South Africans and some of the trends currently active in the market. They also discuss the current state of the mobile network in SA and where it's heading. They reminisce on the history of Nokia and some of the iconic phones from the past.

How HMD Global and its Nokia phones have positioned themselves in the South African market

Stuff's publisher and editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak sat down with the head of Samsung South & Southern Africa mobile business Justin Hume ahead of the launch of the new Galaxy S22 range. They discuss the integration of the Note into the Galaxy S range with the S22 Ultra and the upgrades and features of the new mobile flagship. In addition to creating a device with dashing good looks, Samsung's increased its focus on security at the hardware level. Justin explains how Samsung builds devices that solve real human problems.

Samsung's Note-worthy Galaxy S22 Ultra and friends

Brett and Duncan are joined by Michael Chang, marketing manager of MSI South Africa, to discuss the state of the gaming industry. They talk about the growth of the industry and where it's headed. This is how MSI will make it easier for gamers and non-gamers alike to explore the metaverse. #sponsored 

The state of the gaming industry with MSI's Michael Chang

Stuff's publisher and editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak is joined by Mweb's managing director Manelisa Mavuso and Head of Connectivity Derrick Kaylor following Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The $68 billion deal is one of the largest the gaming industry has ever seen and, when it is final, will make Microsoft Gaming the third largest gaming company in terms of revenue. Shapshak, Mavuso and Kaylor discuss what this means for SA gamers, the role Mweb plays in the local gaming industry and what the shift to cloud gaming will look like. 

How Mweb is keeping gamers connected

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. This week we speak to Prateek Kewalramani, Head of Marketing of Fitbit/Google Middle East and Africa about the brand's new Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker. We unpack how fitness trackers are helping humans navigate health in a pandemic. #sponsored

Fitness trackers now promote physical and mental strength

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. The topics include: The recent major focus on NFTs, the blockchain, the metaverse, and how it all affects consumers. Should you care?

WTF are NFTs? And should you care?

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. The topics include: - This year in tech 2021 version - The best and worst devices this year - What to expect in tech 2022

This year in tech - the highlights and no-lights

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. The topics include: Budget- to mid-range phones in South Africa. What spec to expect, and what data they actually collect. - Huawei Nova 9 - Poco X3 Pro - Honor 50 - Vivo Y33s

How you're really paying for that budget smartphone.

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. The topics include: - Black Friday in South Africa: The survival guide - Asus ZenBook OLED review - MSI Summit E16 Flip review

Black Friday tip: Don't get trampled, shop online

Join Brett and Marce in audio as they discuss the week's tech headlines -- South African and global. The topics include: - Boston Dynamics' Spot in South Africa and how robots will change the way we work. - Hades review - TCL P615 4K 55in first look

Our very own Spot robot and how it won't take our jobs

Stuff is South Africa's premier consumer technology magazine, and the home of this tech news podcast, hosted by Brett Venter, Marce and Toby Shapshak. Bringing you everything you want to know about everything you want.

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