The Best in Tech

There’s no doubt that we are living in the future. Or at least the future depicted in sci-fi films since the 1980s. In this week’s episode of The Best in Tech, Regardt van der Berg chats to Steven Ambrose, a technology strategist and weekly tech show host on ChaiFM, about the real trends we are seeing in the world of tech. Taking a look at how sci-fi has impacted our technology today, this podcast covers some of the hottest tech topics around, including gadgets, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things. The Best in Tech

If there is one toy that has captivated generations of gamers and geeks, it’s the building blocks that Lego so cleverly turned into one of the biggest brands on Earth. This family-owned business from Denmark has finally opened an officially licensed store in South Africa – in Sandton City in Johannesburg – but what does this mean for Lego geeks? In this week’s episode of Then Best in Tech, Regardt van der Berg chats to Rob Greenstein, co-founder of The Yellow Brick Co, about its plans for Lego in South Africa. They chat about the most popular Lego ranges, the brand-new programmable Boost and Mindstorms 2, and what fans can expect to find at the officially licensed store. If you are a Lego fan (and who isn’t?!), then have a listen. The Best in Tech

When it comes to money management, there is a new voice of reason for a generation who never learned how to manage our hard earned bucks. Manage Your Money Like a F*cking Grownup is a new book by Sam Beckbessinger that breaks things down in easy-to-understand language, with a support group to match. In this episode, host Regardt van der Berg chats to Beckbessinger about managing money, how to avoid debt and why you should think twice about buying that shiny new gadget. The Best in Tech

In this wide-ranging episode of The Best in Tech podcast, host Regardt van der Berg chats to 702's Aki Anastasiou about how technology has changed traffic reporting, the future of autonomous cars in South Africa and the impact of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. Also in the podcast, Anastasiou and Van der Berg talk about the Internet of things in South Africa, Facebook's data woes and the hot topic of augmented and virtual reality. Don't miss this interview with South Africa's very own "Greek geek". The Best in Tech

It’s finally happened: the giant of music streaming services has launched in South Africa. Even though the Swedish company has more than 70m paying subscribers worldwide, it’s been largely absent from developing markets, leaving rivals such as Apple Music, Google Play Music, Simfy and Deezer to make early headway. By introducing its service at the same price as its competitors, Spotify is hoping South African consumers will switch sides. And the company's free tier could help it get a leg up relative to the competition. In this episode of The Best in Tech podcast, Regardt van der Berg talks to Claudius Boller, MD for Spotify Middle East and Africa, and Micheal Krause, MD for Spotify in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, about the South African launch, the technology behind the app and Spotify's algorithm. ((TchCentral has five vouchers to give away for three-months' free access to Spotify. The first five people to e-mail info@techcentral.co.za with the subject line "TechCentral/Spotify" will get the codes.) The Best in Tech

In this episode, Regardt chats to Thibault Dousson, GM of Lenovo South Africa, about technology, the PC landscape in South Africa and the rich 25-year history of the ThinkPad, a brand it acquired in 2004 when it bought IBM's PC business. Since then, Lenovo has had to endure several market challenges, including the rise of Apple’s iPad devices and the impact this had on the notebook business. With clever innovation, such as the company’s Yoga range of notebooks -- which fold into a tablet -- and high-end performers such as the X1 Carbon range, Lenovo has manged to keep its tech relevant to casual and business users. As Dousson points out in the interview, Lenovo is also still a major player in corporate environments and server rooms, too. We also discuss Dousson’s approach to new technology and what he thinks about a digitally connected world. The answer might surprise you. The Best in Tech

The physical world and digital realms are inching closer to each other with every new product we see related to augmented reality and virtual reality). One of the biggest players in this arena is, surprisingly, HTC. Together with the Valve Corporation, HTC developed the Vive, a headset that uses “room-scale” tracking technology so that you can experience an immersive VR experience. The HTC Vive was recently launched in South Africa by TVR, and in this episode of The Best in Tech we chat to Mechiel Schoeman, product manager of the newly launched HTC Vive at TVR. We discuss the technology and what type of PC you’ll need to run this beast. The recommended PC specs are not as scary as you may think. We also chat about what you can do with the Vive and some of the games on Steam you should keep an eye on. Tune in. The Best in Tech is a brand new technology podcast hosted by Regardt van der Berg, a tech pundit with a passion for the latest gadgets, the smartest software and the fastest drones. Expect all-out geekery as we feature industry experts or enthusiasts and as we tackle topics ranging from gadgets to bitcoin. If you’d like to get hold of The Best in Tech team, you can e-mail podcast@tbit.co.za. The Best in Tech

When it comes to peripherals, two brands should jump out at you straight away: Microsoft and Logitech. Indeed, we have all, at one point or other, owned a keyboard, mouse or game controller branded by one of these companies. But peripherals and gadgets were never Microsoft’s focus; it had a software business to run. For Logitech, though, the stakes have always been much higher. But as global technology trends shifted away from desktop computers to tablets and notebooks, accessories also shifted in design aesthetic and functionality. Combine this with a company that was undergoing its own growing pains, it’s no wonder the Logitech brand faded from South African retail shelves. In 2013, Logitech make a big comeback, with renewed focus and direction. It bounced back by rejuvenating its product line-up and made several acquisitions to further bolster its product range. In this episode of The Best In Tech, our first, we chat to Joost Jetten, head of Logitech sub-Saharan Africa, about the company’s journey so far and its plans for South Africa. As a tech industry veteran, Jetten has worked with some of the major tech brands internationally, including Sony, HP, Sony Ericsson and TomTom. In this podcast, we get insights into Logitech’s current and future products and its intentions for the South African market. The Best in Tech is a brand new tech podcast hosted by Regardt van der Berg, a tech pundit with a passion for the latest gadgets, the smartest software and the fastest drones. Expect all-out geekery as we feature industry experts or enthusiasts and as we tackle topics ranging from gadgets to bitcoin. If you’d like to get hold of The Best in Tech team, you can e-mail podcast@tbit.co.za or follow Regardt on Twitter. The Best in Tech