Author: Stephen Fenech

The Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone series was launched yesterday and there were plenty of new features which got most of the attention – but there are several other features that weren’t all mentioned in the launch presentation. We heard about the 200-megapixel camera on the S23 Ultra, Expert RAW photography, the Snapdragon 8 Gen Mobile Platform for Galaxy, the gaming credentials and larger batteries and efficiencies. But there a few more new features onboard that deserve some attention. Here are the top 10 hidden features of the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone series. VISION BOOSTER This is built into the display…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 570 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long is coming to you live from San Francisco for the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch. Stephen and Trevor talk about the S23, the S23+ and the S23 Ultra and the range of new features including the 200-megapixel camera, the powerful processor, the sustainability story behind the device and how it will stand up against the iPhone. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of…

Samsung has unveiled the stunning new Galaxy S23 line-up – the S23, the S23+ and the S23 Ultra – which offers next level performance, a vastly improved camera to unleash your creativity and enough power to get your work done and play the latest games on the move. The devices were unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco and will go on sale on Friday February 17 with pre-orders kicking off today. This year’s Galaxy smartphones have the same screen sizes as last year’s models – 6.1-inch (S23), 6.6-inch (S23+) and 6.8-inch (S23 Ultra). The S23 Ultra also…

Tech Guide has taken a hands-on first look at the new Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones which all pack a punch with even more power, improved performance and a camera that will knock your socks off. Design-wise there are major changes to the S23 and S23+ apart from the removal of the large camera bump in the top left-hand corner of the rear panel. Now the lenses wrist directly on the back just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and look even sleeker. https://youtu.be/6JU5CBMnM2w The S23 Ultra has squarer edges which reduces the curves on either side of the display resulting in…

Rode has just released the NTH-100M – the headset edition of the award-winning NTH-100 headphones – which includes a broadcast quality headset microphone and is ideal for media, podcasting, streaming and gaming. The Rode NTH-100M has all the features of the NTH100 headphones with the addition of a removable microphone and cable. We have been using the Rode NTH-100M headset for some time now. In fact, if you’ve been listening to our Two Blokes Talking Tech and The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcasts for the last few weeks, both with Trevor Long, you can take a listen to the…

Apple Music has launched new and exclusive content to showcase music superstar Rihanna ahead of her performance at the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII, which attracts as many eyeballs as the game itself. It is the most watched musical performance of the year. Rihanna’s Road to Halftime on Apple Music will allow listeners to experience her music like never before with Spatial Audio in Dolby Atmos. “Rihanna is one of the most prolific artists of our time, and we, along with her many fans across the globe, cannot wait to see her take the stage at the first Apple Music…

It’s time to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews with Episode 537 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, ChatGPT what is it – how does it work – and can students use it to cheat – we put it to the test, Apple has released a short video with a Ted lasso star to showcase its new privacy features and Bowers & Wilkins has released the Pi7 S2 earphones. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the new Sony deluxe DualSense Edge wireless controller,…

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event in San Francisco is a couple of days away and there’s plenty of talk about what the electronics giant will introduce. So what can we expect to see? It all kicks off at 5am February 2 (AEDT) and will be Samsung’s first major in-person launch event since the Galaxy S20 launch in February 2020. If you can follow a calendar and count it’s probably not the biggest mystery that it will be the Galaxy S23 – the S22 was released in February last year. We can also tell you what it won’t be –…

Bowers & Wilkins have just unveiled the Pi7 S2 true wireless noise cancelling earphones that offer high resolution audio and clear voice calls. The Pi7 S2 earphones are available in three colours – Satin Black, Canvas White and Midnight Blue – and are priced at $649. Design-wise, the earphones have a premium design and are made with quality materials which is typical of any Bowers and Wilkins product. There is a true 24-bit connection between the left and right ear buds to maintain the high sound quality and high-resolution wireless audio is constantly being adjusted to offer superior performance. Under…

If you want to get serious about your gaming on the Sony PlayStation 5 then you need the new DualSense Edge wireless controller which can take players to the next level. Tech Guide was sent the DualSense Edge controller by PlayStation Australia for review and we mainly used it playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. It’s appropriately called Edge because that’s precisely what it can give you – the edge over your opponents which can make the difference between winning and losing. The added controls and settings can make you a more efficient player to provide that little bit…

What’s the most you’ve ever lost on a coin toss? This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching No Country for Old Men starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Barden and Josh Brolin and directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen. It tells the story of retiring Sheriff Bell who tries to piece together a drug deal gone wrong in Texas. Meanwhile one of the players is on the loose and wants to retrieve his money which was taken by a passer-by. Stephen has watched the movie many times but Trevor is coming in completely fresh. Does he…

Episode 569 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, recorded on Australia Day, talks about Australia’s significant contribution to the world of tech. Also on the show, Stephen and Trevor discuss ChatGPT and its implications and what it means for teachers and education plus Apple relaunches the HomePod and Sony launches the Float Run headphones designed just for athletes. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of the…

ChatGPT by OpenAI is a new platform that can generate text at the press of a button. And it’s already sparking concerns that it can be used by students to cheat and pass off the platform’s responses as their own work. ChatGPT – short for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer – can generate clear and fluent text on any subject. Microsoft has poured a total of $10 billion into OpenAI with support going back as early as 2019 when the company invested $1 billion and another $1 billion round in 2021. It is understood companies like Alphabet (the parent company of…

It’s Data Privacy Day today and Apple has taken the opportunity to unveil new educational resources which help users understand and take control of their data. Apple has always been a privacy advocate and provided ways for people to see exactly how their data is being used and provide tools to protect it. Apple has also created a video in partnership with Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed entitled “A Day in the Life of an Average Person’s Data”. https://youtu.be/1HWUjMjaBJI Apple already offers features like App Tracking Transparency which lets users decide how apps use their data and whether it tracks…

Sony has unveiled a new type of headphones which have been designed for runners and athletes – it’s called Float Run. It’s an off-ear headphone which doesn’t actually touch your ear canal. By leaving your ear safely uncovered you’re able to hear your surroundings while still enjoying an impressive sound experience. Float Run has a lightweight design and a flexible neckband that stays in place even when in motion. And the pressure free design sits off the ear so sweat or chafing is no longer a worry. Sony floated the idea for this product via crowdfunding and it’s excellent reception…

It’s time to press play on Episode 536 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech to ensure you stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Apple has made a number of announcements – updated Apple Maps, new chips, new MacBook Pros and the return of the HomePod – we’ll take a look at them all. In the Tech Guide reviews, we’ll talk about the all-new Oppo A17 smartphone with flagship features, we check out the new Logitech Brio 300 webcam and we take a look at the…

We already know Cricut for their smart cutting machines but now there are new products to make your heat transfer projects a reality – the Cricut EasyPress 3 and Cricut EasyPress Mini Zen Blue. These are designed to be easily and safely used at home so you can do things like personalise clothing, hats, bags and more or create unique gifts for family and friends. Cricut EasyPress 3 offers the speed of a heat press and the familiarity of an iron so you can get fast and accurate transfers with long-lasting results. It’s available in two sizes 9×9 inch and…

Just weeks after being unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Samsung’s new Odyssey G6 smart gaming monitors are now available in Australia. The Odyssey G6 is available in stores now in 27-inch and 32-inch sizes and are priced at $949 and $1,099 respectively. “As seen at CES, our 2023 Odyssey Gaming Monitor range focuses on delivering exceptional speed and image quality with a range of innovative features that now means you can game, work and watch from an all-in-one Monitor display,” said Phil Gaut, Senior Director of Display and Brand Memory Samsung Australia. “In combining game-winning features…

Oppo has released new entry level smart phone – the Oppo A17 – which is aimed at the savvy customer looking for value while enjoying a range of flagship features. Priced at $259, the Oppo A17 has a sleek design with smooth edges to give it a premium appearance. It weighs in at 189g and is just 8.29mm thick so it not only looks premium but feels premium in your hand. It has a 6.56-inch HD+ EyeCare LCD display with a resolution of 1612 x 720. “The A17 might be a lightweight smartphone, but make no mistake, this device packs…

Start your weekend with Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 568 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they go through the week’s biggest tech stories and product announcements. This week: Apple announced new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips and new MacBook Pros and Mac Minis to go with them, Samsung sets the date for the S23 smartphone launch and what we can expect, Boost Mobile launches a back-to-school iPhone and SIM card offer, Google adds Sydney Ferries to Street View and what we can expect to see in 2023. You can listen to the show…