Reuters reports that the announcement came via Weibo, the Chinese social media service. The company said that nearly 60 stores across 29 cities in China will take orders for the vehicle. A launch event is planned for 28 March, though the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) has been extensively previewed in terms of specs already.

Xiaomi what you drive

The Chinese company hopes to replicate its smartphone success, which started in 2011 with the Mi 1 handset, with automobiles. Xiaomi head Lei Jun said on Weibo this week, “Xiaomi’s cars are going from zero to one in a very different growth stage and facing very different user expectations compared to when Xiaomi’s smartphones went from zero to one 14 years ago. Xiaomi’s cars need to be different, and the most important aspect is smart technology.”

The SU7 and its subsequent companions are entering a difficult market. Not only are EVs pricey but demand for them seems to be slowing as a result. Some brands, like Mercedes, have tweaked their production plans to continue making internal combustion engines for longer than was expected, suggesting that EVs aren’t a sure bet for everyone.

Xiaomi has faced these sorts of headwinds before, which may be why the company reckons it is on to a good thing with the launch of its own EV. And if you’re wondering how the company has jumped the queue in terms of vehicle production, a notoriously difficult endeavour, that would be because state-owned vehicle manufacturer BAIC is handling the actual production. Xiaomi is mostly sticking its smarts into a vehicle compatible with the smart ecosystem the company has been pushing of late.

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The reason you should consider paying for a subscription is that all these other folks are. Microsoft revealed its revenue from LinkedIn Premium for the first time, scooping R32 billion ($1.7 billion) for the company in 2023. If that many of your employment competitors are getting a leg up, it’s probably time to get on equal footing.

LinkedIn 

Microsoft has previously been quite secretive about its jobs service and work-based social network’s revenues so this revelation about the Premium service is notable. It’s possibly the first time that revenues are high enough to report without feeling a bit sheepish about it.

Reuters reports that Microsoft has previously listed overall revenue of $15 billion (R280 billion) from LinkedIn, with a little under half of that coming from sales of software to recruiters on the platform. Premium, which goes for about R750/m, is contributing more to the bottom line and Microsoft’s plans for more (and better) AI integration should see that number increase.

According to the company, some 70% of its subscribers have trialled its existing artificial intelligence aides. Of those, 90% find the AI tools useful when looking for work. If you’re not one of that number, you’re probably at a disadvantage in 2024’s job market.

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Whether you’re after an upgraded 13in or 15in Air, you can register your interest today. The hardware is expected to launch in the country on 15 March, which is in keeping with the trend of having this stuff turn up on a Friday. After all, pre-orders opened today. Availability a week later is typically Apple.

Drive a new M3

If you’re after the smaller of the two MacBook Air models, expect to pay at least R26,000 for the base model with 256GB of storage. There are few choices available if that’s the way you’re planning to go. An eight-core CPU/GPU and 8GB of system memory are standard at that point.

Opt for the 512GB model and you’ll nab an eight-core CPU/ten-core GPU and either 8GB (R31,000) or 16GB (R35,000) of system memory. That’s also typically Apple (in South Africa).

The 15in M3 MacBook Air starts at R30,500 for 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Scale up to 512GB of storage and expect to pay R35,000. Add a further 8GB of RAM for a 16GB total and your bill will be R40,000. All 15in M3 Air models ship with the eight-core CPU/ten-core GPU version of Apple’s speedy new processor.

The Aonic 50 Gen 2 isn’t perfect. You can look toward more notable brands if your conditions include a slice of perfection in your headphones. But it’s got loads to offer for folks looking for an alternative to the same old faces scrabbling for a space at the top of the audiophile audio pile.

Built to beat expectations

One thing a newcomer has to do is look the part. That’s something the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 manages effectively. The build, from the sturdy earcups to the stubby curve sections connecting the whole to the padded headband, doesn’t necessarily scream ‘quality’ but it’s certainly talking at the top of its lungs. Seriously, it’s all very premium, right down to the physical buttons on the right-hand earcup that will do most of the controlling for you. Or you could use the app but who’s got time to fire up a smartphone every time they need to skip a track?

The Aonic 50 Gen 2’s right cup has a USB-C port, a button for setting up Bluetooth 5.2 connections, and then a main rocker that handles everything from answering (and rejecting) calls, playing and pausing tracks, and adjusting volume. You’ll figure all of this out in minutes and we don’t have to explain it here, but it’s important to note that the Bluetooth button is multifunction too. By default, it also controls noise cancellation, if you need it physically present on your cans, but this function can be altered via Shure’s app. It’ll shunt your ANC options to the app but gives you more freedom when using the headphones in public.

Using a physical button on something mounted on your skull can be a hit-and-miss affair, especially when the button is operated via a stabbing motion. Some companies overcome this by opting instead for touch controls. Shure simply ensures that these are seriously clamped onto the top of your dome. Sure, you can tear them off but it’ll take a passing bus or a ‘roided up crossfitter in the gym to do it. On the downside, it also made the Aonic 50 Gen 2’s a little uncomfortable over long periods. This isn’t universal (the other folks at Stuff had no such complaints) but you should be aware of the possibility.

There’s one last physical annoyance to get out of the way and it’s almost personal. The Aonic 50 Gen 2’s fold flat into their hardshell case but don’t fold down as compact as we’d like them. Noise cancelling as a feature makes the most sense on an airplane and space is at a premium in cabin luggage. The case is only just too large to be properly comfortable in an airplane seat or an overhead bin. It’s not a problem everyone has but those who have it wish they didn’t. It’s not a serious issue but it’ll bulk up your laptop bag more than you’re expecting.

Cancel culture 

Speaking of noise cancelling, the ANC in the 50 Gen 2 cans is… okay. We’ve heard better. Or, rather, we haven’t. That’s sort of the point. The spectrum of noise cancelled out by the internal microphones here is fairly broad but it’s not quite broad enough. Most of the time you’ll reside in blissful silence aside from the melodious strains of Now That’s What I Call Finnish Death Metal Vol. 665 but occasionally this contemplative state will be broken by intrusions from outside.

This isn’t an occasional thing, either. This exact scenario played out on a few occasions at the Stuff offices, which are not especially raucous (usually). Okay, so there’s also a bloody great big generator outside our window that causes serious mental health damage whenever it’s load shedding (and it’s always load shedding) but the point is that noise intrudes. Turning up the volume will work but that can’t be good for your ears.

Audio ointment

The rest of the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2’s aural features most certainly are good for your ears. If you’ll let them be and are willing to fiddle. Out of the box, you’ll find that highs and lows are well-emphasised. If you’re in favour of dubstep and its descendants, you’ll be pretty well served by these over-ears. Fire up the app’s EQ and you’ll be greeted with enough options to make Tony Maserati twist a knob off in happiness. It also made resident audio nut Duncan Pike a beaming ray of sunshine for at least five minutes.

It’s not all about the electronica, of course. With the right tweaking, you’ll find yourself greeted with a soundscape wholly in keeping with the almost-R10,000 price tag. This is just as well because… well, there’s an almost R10,000 price tag.

There’s plenty of room for the highs, mids, and lows to roam around, though it’s also possible to overemphasise one over the others. Vocals, after a session with the EQ, are crisp and clear enough without drowning out the rest of the musical arrangement. This depends on what you’re listening to, but that’s on you.

There’s just one more fly in this audio ointment, however. The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 overs are priced at R9,500 in South Africa. That’s about right, based on the features and performance found here. But there’s something else in South Africa at that price point (or lower) with better features and performance — the Sony WF-1000XM5 over-ears. You might want to give the new guy a shot but the old stalwart is a known (and better) quantity.

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 verdict

The sum of our concerns with the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 overs are that they can get uncomfortable, they might be a teeny bit too enthusiastically priced, and the noise canceling needs work. Okay, and they might not be the best airplane headphones but that’s a design complaint. Balance that against excellent audio, a better app (which you’ll need to use for the best listening experience), and a brilliant build and Shure is on track to chew on some of the market currently going to more established brands. As long as Sonos keeps its rumoured headphones under wraps (or prices itself out of Shure’s demographic), we’re sure to see more from the American outfit in the very near future.

Unfortunately, you’ll only reap the benefit of the 19 March release of the title if you’re an Apple customer. The game will be available on iPhone and iPad and only to Netflix subscribers. Even though it’ll be free, Netflix has opened pre-orders (more or less) for players keen to explore the tale of Zagreus.

Go to Hades

If you haven’t already hammered the pre-order link above so hard that you’ve left a dent in your iPhone screen, you should. Hades is a roguelike title that sees you playing as the son of the titular Greek god. Zagreus has many of the issues a young man faces and he’d really like to depart his father’s kingdom. Getting out of the Underworld will take some doing, however.

The resulting randomly-generated trips towards the Earth’s surface are a nigh-perfect blend of engaging gameplay loop, smoothly-developing and excellently-written narrative, and gradual unlocking of new weapons and abilities. It’s enough to keep you focused on the rapid combat for hours at a time. Even when players achieve their ultimate aim, there’s still more to see, experience, and unlock.

For Android fans, there’s unfortunately no timeline for a Hades release on mobile and there probably never will be. Supergiant Games has “no plans for additional versions of Hades at this time.” It’s that “at this time” remark we’re holding onto dearly in the hopes that plans might change down the road. We’ll have to make do with the game’s sequel that’s in the works, for now. Pity, that. It’s really an incredible game.

The announcement happened via a release rather than a presentation, which is how you can tell that there’s not too much else going on with the Air range in this upgrade. There’s a new chipset and… that’s about it. That hasn’t stopped Apple from going on about its portable computer lineup’s Wonderful Features, of course.

Reupping the MacBook Air

Both the 13in and 15in MacBook Air range will see the M3 processor inside, with the corresponding jump in performance and price this presages. Apple claims a 60% speed boost over M1 notebooks but, as with the original M3 product announcement, hasn’t drawn any comparisons with its M2 hardware. Make of that information what you will.

All of the other M3 benefits apply. Programs will open fast, the battery will last longer, Excel spreadsheets and video editing will see improvements. Basically, you won’t be annoyed that you upgraded to an M3 Air. Except if you bought an M2 notebook last week because Apple is also offering a price drop on the previous generation in launch markets.

The M3 MacBook Air will step into the previous price bracket, at the same price in the US and 28 other markets. At the moment, South Africa doesn’t seem to be on that list. Since MacBook pricing isn’t exactly stable here at all, it’ll be difficult to tell if we benefit from a price drop when the M3 Air turns up in SA.

Oppo is obviously hoping that its new smartwatch will fill at least a few gaps in the market, having taken a few pages from Samsung’s book and partnering up with Google to include Wear OS on the device. Since Wear OS combines Samsung, Fitbit, and Google’s software, we suspect the experience will be good. It forms part of a “hybrid interface” (whatever that means) that we suspect is a little proprietary Oppo software tucked in there. Maybe it runs the Power Saver Mode?

Watch X for more info

The Watch X follows classic smartwatch design lines, offering users a 1.43in AMOLED sapphire crystal display layered over a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor and a 500mAh battery. This is encased in a stainless steel body that conforms to the MIL-STD-810H US military specification. That means an IP68 rating down to five atmospheres is a given, so you should have difficulty killing it.

This is great because Oppo is touting advanced GPS support and extended fitness tracking features, a component of the Wear OS 4 operating system. Activity recognition, advanced running features (ground contact time analysis among other metrics), and even an in-house developed badminton mode (sure, why not?) make the Watch X a sporting powerhouse.

Other tracking features are also included. A full suite of sleep tracking, including breathing rate and blood oxygen levels, with Android Health Connect support, stress, and heart rate variability tracking, are included. Add to this the raft of Google apps on-wrist, like Maps, Wallet, Assistant, and Google Play (yup, you can download apps directly from the watch) and you’re looking at an advanced contender for your coveted arm space. We might be slightly less upset about Fitbit’s departure after hearing about the Watch X.

If you want to put a shiny new Watch X smartwatch on your wrist, you’ll find them at retail in South Africa as of 1 March. Expect to pay R6,000 for the device, free and clear, though we reckon the various mobile operators have a monthly installment option for you to explore too.

This makes a sort of sense. Since LG left the smartphone game, it’s continued to churn out components that would also suit virtual reality tech. But that doesn’t quite fit the stated aim of the partnership, which is to “…combine the strengths of both companies across products, content, services and platforms to drive innovation in customer experiences within the burgeoning virtual space.”

A new Meta

It doesn’t sound like Mark Zuckerberg, LG CEO William Cho, and LG Home Entertainment president Park Hyoung-sei (pictured above) got together merely to talk about how many OLED screens Meta can buy from the South Korean company’s factories. A possible new extended reality ecosystem is hinted at in LG’s announcement, possibly involving the company’s televisions.

This would include artificial intelligence (AI) built into LG devices based on Meta’s large language model LLaMA (hey, the company has to use it for something). This should result in “…significant synergies in next-gen XR device development”, which sounds to us like an LG-made entertainment device (a headset) that incorporates both LG’s software ecosystem and Meta’s AI and VR tech to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. At a significantly more affordable price point, hopefully.

Of course, that’s not official. The partnership announcement is thin on specifics, leaving us to read between the lines. It would be awfully surprising if we were far from the mark, however. LG, before leaving the smartphone space, was in a very experimental frame of mind and an all-new XR gadget would probably appeal to the company internally. And Zuckerberg is always keen to put his company’s data-suction skills to work in any hardware that’ll have it. We’ll keep our ears open about any more concrete developments in this space.

Well, reporting back… more. The Meta Quest and its successors have always shared some information with Meta but it has been confined to info required to keep your virtual reality hardware ticking over correctly. That’ll ramp up shortly to include “anonymized data” about how you (and everyone else) use the company’s VR hardware.

The new Meta

The data up for collection, according to various privacy policies, includes audio and other voice-related data, hand and tracking data, and health information like calories burned and other movement info. Some details on your surroundings, captured by the headset’s external cameras, will be uploaded to Meta’s servers. Finally, the virtual events you attend and any voice interactions you might have with the Quest and its companions will also be collected.

Don’t expect that your data will be turned to any especially nefarious purposes, unless ‘capitalism’ is high on your list of hatred. It’ll instead “improve the hardware and software that powers your experiences with Meta VR Products.” We suspect some of it will find its way into advertisers’ hands so those faceless corporate entities can better target you with prescient advertising. Meta’s being silent about anything along those lines as usual.

If we were being super paranoid, using a virtual reality headset (or anything with a camera) in a home would be a neat way of figuring out what brands are already present there. Advertisers would probably be very interested in that data. Whether it’s legal for them to find that data out is another question.

According to the report, some of the engineers involved have been retasked to work on generative AI for the company. It’s almost a pity, knowing that we’re unlikely to see a self-driving EV from Apple (with a R2 million starting price tag), but given the number of delays to the decade-long speculative project, perhaps it’s not that surprising.

Titan fallen

What’s also unsurprising is Apple’s reallocation of the folks working on Project Titan. Releasing a new car in the States (and everywhere else) is a laborious process at best and when you throw EV capability and self-driving into the mix, you’ve got a recipe for a regulatory headache. Generative AI, on the other hand, is moving too fast for regulators to catch up to it. It’s the perfect thing to develop in 2024.

Titan’s cancellation was relatively recent, according to Bloomberg‘s sources, and the consequences of it have yet to be felt. Many of the project’s software and AI engineers are being moved internally but there are automotive engineers that don’t have a place to go within Apple. Expect Apple to announce at least a few layoffs soon. Perhaps those affected can work for Hyundai, which was totally not helping Apple with its EV ambitions in 2020 and 2021.

Or maybe they can finally get around to making that Apple television set we’ve heard about for almost two decades. Nah, that’s probably a complete pipe dream. Super-intelligent AI and virtual reality goggles it is, then.

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