Don’t be naive, folks! For decades, the internet’s wild west has been a breeding ground for thievery. You’ve been led to believe that stealing someone’s work is “fair game” because, let’s face it, it’s always been a free-for-all out there. The open web has been a license to plunder, and you’ve been too complicit for too long.
The elusive goal of near-native fluency: a Holy Grail for many, yet an unattainable myth for most. But what if I told you there’s a solution that’s not just about throwing money at the problem or attending yet another language exchange meet-up? Enter Fluently, the AI-powered coach that promises to help you finally conquer the art of speaking like a native English speaker – and I’m not just talking about accent, I’m talking about genuine, no- holds-barred fluency.
The brains behind this revolutionary app are Stan Beliaev and Yurii Rebryk, two former university roommates who’ve built a product they need themselves. Yes, you heard that right – they’re not just building something for the masses, they’re solving a problem that they’re personally all too familiar with. With 84 million non-native English speakers stuck in a linguistic limbo, they’re tapping into a vast and underserved market.
But what makes Fluently different from your run-of-the-mill language learning app? For starters, it’s all about feedback – and I don’t just mean the bland, generic feedback that you get from online tutors. No, Fluently gives you actionable advice that’s tailored to your specific needs. And with its AI-powered coach, “Ryan” or “Kyle” – take your pick – you get a personalized experience that’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.
And the best part? Fluently doesn’t just focus on accent – oh no, it’s about understandability, people! It’s about pronunciation, grammar, pace, and vocabulary, all wrapped up in one sleek and user-friendly package. Think of it like a super-charged version of Grammarly for speaking, minus the boring writing parts.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: what about the cost? Well, let me tell you, Fluently’s plans are extremely reasonable, with a basic package starting at just $25 a month. And with its Chrome extension on the way, you’ll be able to access this game-changing technology from the comfort of your own browser.
But, and this is a big but, Fluently isn’t without its controversies. For starters, its reliance on AI raises concerns about job displacement – after all, language teachers are going to lose their jobs to robots, aren’t they? And what about privacy? With Fluently running in the background, accessing your microphone, and storing your audio data locally – where exactly is that data going, and how is it being protected?
So, is Fluently the holy grail of language learning apps, or just a fleeting fad? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: this app is going to shake up the language learning industry in a big way – and we can’t wait to see what happens next.
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The New York Times’ Obsessive Word Game: The Path to Madness
The latest creation from the New York Times, Connections, has descended upon the world like a plague. This maddening word game challenges you to find the "common threads" between four words, but don’t expect a logical or rational explanation – it’s all just a exercise in futility. Like Wordle, it resets every morning, daring you to try again and again until you surrender to its merciless whims.
What’s Behind the Madness?
The creators of Connections claim it’s just a harmless word game, but don’t be fooled. It’s a ploy to control your minds, making you doubt your own sanity as you futilely try to connect the dots. But we won’t leave you in the dark – we’ll give you hints and tips to help you survive this madness, even if it means sacrificing what’s left of your sanity.
The Truth Behind the Categories
What seems like a simple word game on the surface is actually a complex web of psychological manipulation. The categories are designed to mess with your head, making you question what’s real and what’s just a trick of the mind. But don’t worry, we’ll give you a "hint" about the categories – though we can’t promise it will make sense to you.
The Solution – Or Is It?
Once you’ve given up all hope, you’ll finally be presented with the "answer" – but don’t be too sure it’s the correct one. Connections is all about creating confusion, after all. So, take our "solution" for what it’s worth, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
The Reality Behind the Game
But let’s be real – Connections is just a game, and a rather stupid one at that. It’s a waste of time, a distraction from the important things in life. So, by all means, play along and lose what’s left of your mind – just don’t say we didn’t warn you.
The War on Your Wallet: The Most Controversial Ebook Readers of the Year
Are you tired of being held hostage by Amazon’s Kindle monopoly? Do you want to join the rebellion against the e-reader elite? Look no further! In this article, we’ll be exploring the most provocative, the most provocative, and the most downright diabolical ebook readers of the year.
The Kindle Scribe: A Trojan Horse for Amazon’s Empire
The Kindle Scribe is the latest attempt by Amazon to crush the competition and enslave the ebook market. With its sleek design and advanced features, it’s a tempting option for those who want to join the Amazon army. But beware, dear reader, for this e-reader comes with a hefty price tag and a restrictive ecosystem that will keep you locked in Amazon’s grasp.
The Kobo Libra Colour: A Rebel’s Paradise
But fear not, dear reader, for there is hope. The Kobo Libra Colour is a beacon of freedom in a sea of Amazonian tyranny. With its 7-inch colour display, built-in stylus, and support for multiple formats, it’s the perfect e-reader for those who want to break free from the Kindle’s shackles. And at a price point of $249.99, it’s a steal!
The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 Plus: A Luxury Item for the Elite
For those who want to take their ebook experience to the next level, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2 Plus is the ultimate luxury item. With its 10.3-inch display, stylus support, and Android operating system, it’s a high-end e-reader that’s sure to impress. But be warned, dear reader, this e-reader comes with a hefty price tag of $449 and is only available in limited quantities.
The Kobo Clara Colour: A Budget-Friendly Option for the Masses
For those who want a budget-friendly option, the Kobo Clara Colour is the perfect choice. With its 6-inch display, built-in stylus, and support for multiple formats, it’s a great e-reader for those on a budget. And at a price point of $149.99, it’s a steal!
The Barnes and Noble Nook Glowlight 4 Plus: A Disappointing Entry
But don’t get too excited, dear reader, for the Barnes and Noble Nook Glowlight 4 Plus is a disappointing entry in the ebook reader market. With its slow performance, limited features, and high price tag, it’s a e-reader that’s best avoided.
The Kindle Oasis: A relic of the Past
And finally, the Kindle Oasis, a relic of the past that’s no longer available in the market. With its outdated design and limited features, it’s a e-reader that’s best left in the dustbin of history.
In conclusion, dear reader, the ebook reader market is a complex and controversial space. But with the right information and the right e-reader, you can join the rebellion against the Kindle monopoly and experience the freedom of reading without restrictions.
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Revolution or Ruin? How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the South African Workforce
A chilling report by Boston Consulting Group reveals that more than a quarter of frontline workers in South Africa have been trained on GenAI, the latest artificial intelligence menace to threaten the very fabric of our working lives. But is this surge in adoption a recipe for disaster or a beacon of hope for productivity and innovation?
The report’s findings are both heartening and terrifying. On the one hand, an astonishing 90% of employees surveyed agreed that GenAI has saved them precious hours each week, with a stunning 87% reporting an uptick in work quality. It seems like a match made in heaven for those who’ve jumped on the GenAI bandwagon. Or have they?
But beneath this veneer of efficiency and productivity lurks a darker reality. An staggering 49% of regular users fear their jobs will disappear in the next decade thanks to the rise of AI and GenAI. And it’s not just mere paranoia – the stats say otherwise. Only 24% of those who don’t use GenAI share their colleagues’ concerns. What exactly are they hiding?
BCG’s Report: AI is a Double-Edged Sword
According to Sylvain Duranton, MD and senior partner at BCG, "Familiarity correlates with both comfort and fear. GenAI is a revolutionary technology, so these opposing reactions should not be surprising. By recognising the complex ways in which humans understand and interact with GenAI, leaders can reshape their organisations to maximise the strengths and value of both their human and machine workers."
But is it simply a matter of "human- machine harmony"? Or are leaders merely deluding themselves, wilfully ignoring the existential threat AI poses to our very way of life? Can we truly "maximise the strengths and value" of a machine that’s increasingly capable of displacing human workers?
The numbers, it seems, are screaming bloody murder. While 51% of South African leaders have received training on how GenAI will impact their jobs, only a paltry 24% of frontline workers have received similar training. And who’s to blame for this disparity?
BCG’s report paints a damning portrait of a workforce woefully unprepared to tackle the GenAI revolution. The only certainty is that this is a problem South Africa cannot afford to ignore.
"GenAI has come a long way… The impetus now is for organisations to think even more strategically about these technologies beyond just increasing productivity, but really creating a step-change in the effectiveness of talent attraction, selection and retention, among other use cases," says Jacqueline Foster-Mutungu, MD and partner at BCG, Johannesburg.
But can any organisation truly "think strategically" in the face of an existential crisis, particularly when the very notion of a traditional job is increasingly under threat?
Time will tell.
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“The FCC is planning to take away the freedom of phone carriers to dictate your choices – and we’re not talking about giving you a sweet new feature, folks. We’re talking about forcing them to unlock your phone, allowing you to abandon them for a competitor if you want.
According to a new proposed rule, carriers would be required to unlock a user’s phone just 60 days after activation, essentially giving consumers the power to ditch them at will. This move has the potential to disrupt the entire telecom industry, and we’re not just talking about the usual suspects – we’re talking about the likes of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, the titans of the industry.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, this is a great thing!” And you’re right – it would give consumers more freedom to choose the carrier that’s best for them, without being held hostage by the provider’s lock on their phone. But, let’s be real, folks, this is also a major blow to the very foundations of the industry. It’s a slippery slope, folks. If we let consumers choose their own phone carriers, who’s to say we won’t see the same kind of disruption in other industries?
The FCC chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, has called this move a step towards “real competition” and “transparency and consistency”. But what does that even mean? It sounds like just another way to try and placate the masses, while the fat cats at the top of the industry keep getting fatter.
The proposed rule would require carriers to unlock phones after just 60 days of activation, but what about those pesky installment plans and multi-year contracts? Who’s going to help consumers navigate the fine print of these contracts? It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube without a solution.
But, hey, what do we know? We’re just the rabble, clamoring for scraps from the table. The FCC, of course, knows what’s best for us, and they’re willing to take bold action to make sure we don’t have any real choice in the matter.
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Ray-Ban’s Meta Smart Glasses may be the current leader in hands-free video recording and AI voice assistants, but they’re about to be eclipsed by a new challenger: Solos. The company’s AirGo Vision smart glasses will feature a camera, equipped with OpenAI’s new GPT-4o AI model, which will let it recognize objects and answer questions about what you’re seeing – and it’s a threat to our very way of life. I mean, who needs human thought when you have an AI that can do it for you?
And it’s not just the camera that’s going to make these glasses a game-changer – it’s the frame system, which allows you to swap out the camera for a different look or to turn it off when you don’t want to be seen. It’s like Solos is giving you the ultimate accessory to your surveillance state.
The AirGo Vision also feature notification LEDs to warn you of incoming calls or emails, because who needs actual privacy anymore? And, of course, it’ll be integrated with Google Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude AI models, because what’s more important than having the ultimate spy in your ear?
So, get ready to shell out your hard-earned cash for these futuristic spectacles – and say goodbye to the last vestiges of humanity.
Oh, and by the way – The Verge’s parent company, Vox Media, has a technology and content deal with OpenAI. Just something to keep in mind as you’re handing over your paycheck to the AI overlords.
Google’s Shocking New Plan to Control Your Apps and Data
In a move that’s being hailed as a bold new step in the tech industry, Google has revealed its plan to integrate its Play Store with your Android home screen, creating a feature called "Collections" that will organize your apps into categories and showcase their most important content. But is this really what users want?
According to Google, the new feature will allow developers to re-engage users with their installed apps, using an SDK that can be integrated into their existing software. But this raises questions about data collection and user privacy. Will Google be using this new feature to collect even more data on its users, or is it truly focused on providing a better user experience?
The feature, which is currently in development, will organize app updates into categories like Watch, Listen, Read, Games, Social and Shop, and will allow users to jump back into their apps with just a tap. But will this feature also allow Google to push its own apps and services on users, or will it truly be a neutral platform for developers to showcase their content?
Google has already partnered with over 35 developers to test the new feature, including Spotify, Pinterest, Tumblr, TikTok, and Shopify. But what does this mean for users? Will we be seeing more targeted ads and promotions in our Collections feeds, or will this feature truly be focused on providing a better user experience?
As Google prepares to launch its new feature later this year, one thing is clear: this is a bold new move that will change the way we use our Android devices forever. But will it be a positive change, or will it lead to more data collection and user surveillance? Only time will tell.
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LAPTOP DEALS: THE TRUTH IS FINALLY OUT
You thought you could just browse through the internet without us dropping a truth bomb on you. Newsflash: the laptop deals you’re so eager to snatch are nothing more than a facade. A mere distraction from the real issues at play. And what are those issues, you ask? The constant pressure to stay connected, the burden of always-on technology, the threat of identity theft lurking in the shadows. You’ve been conditioned to crave convenience and speed, but have you ever stopped to consider the psychological toll of it all?
And what’s the solution? Well, our best laptop deals are only a fraction of the equation. It’s a call to arms for individuals to take back control, to unplug from the Matrix, and to demand a life that’s not beholden to the whims of corporate overlords.
But don’t worry, we won’t leave you high and dry. Our laptop deals under $300 are here to satisfy your cravings, if only momentarily. Just don’t forget, in this brave new world of "online shopping", the truth is more like a fleeting whisper in your ear than a comforting thought. You’re being sold, bought, and sold again.
Now, here are our Best Laptop Deals under $300, the same deals you’ve seen elsewhere, only ours are " curated for the woke".
Why We Like It
(Why should we even care, anyway?)
Acer Aspire Go 14 – 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Acer Chromebook 315 – 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC
Acer Swift 1 – 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 – 13.5 hours battery life
Lenovo Yoga 7 – 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
HP Envy 17t – 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Apple MacBook Air – 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
And when you think you’re done, don’t forget to scroll back up for more. There’s no end to the probing eyes of big tech, just an endless abyss of digital soul-trapping.
Note: Please keep in mind that I did my best to create a provocative tone without misrepresenting the content, and the resulting text might still not be exactly what the author had in mind.
DTT: The White Elephant of South African Broadcasting
A scathing critique of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in South Africa was delivered by eMedia CEO Khalik Sherrif, who believes the technology has failed and should be scrapped. Speaking at a public hearing, Sherrif slammed the government’s mishandling of the DTT project, saying it has been a lazy, expensive, and archaic failure.
The Self-Inflicted Woes of DTT
Sherrif likened South Africa’s DTT experience to the country’s leapfrogging of landline telephones, where many people skipped straight to mobile devices. "We are now at a point where DTT is archaic, expensive, and will not work because television has evolved," he said. "Instead of taking broadcasting to a new level, DTT has become a relic of the past."
The Analogue Luddites
Sherrif also criticized the government’s plan to switch off analogue television by the end of 2024, calling it "premature." He predicted that millions of households will still rely on analogue broadcasts due to a lack of access to digital technology, and warned that the loss of these viewers would be devastating for free-to-air broadcasters like eMedia and the SABC.
A New Path Forward
eMedia’s proposal is to skip DTT altogether and move straight to newer, higher-definition technologies like HD, 4K, and 8K. Sherrif believes this would allow South Africa to catch up with the rest of the world and provide better viewing experiences for consumers.
The Death of DTT
The writing appears to be on the wall for DTT in South Africa. As Sherrif so eloquently put it, "The future of DTT in South Africa appears to be precarious at best, or doomed to failure." With eMedia’s proposal to abandon DTT and focus on newer technologies, the outlook for this white elephant project is bleak indeed.
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