Author: Stephen Fenech

It’s been 10 years since Nanoleaf launched its first smart light panels and changed the way we light up our room and – if you get in quick – you can get your hands on the limited edition Ultra Black Shapes Triangles. The regular Nanoleaf triangles are white, but the company decided on a whole new look for a limited time with the black triangles. Tech Guide looked at these new Nanoleaf Ultra Black Shapes which were released to celebrate Nanoleaf’s 10th anniversary. Being black they blend in with a darker wall which makes the lighting effects even more dramatic…

Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching the 1987 cult action movie Robocop. Robocop is set in the near future where OCP has taken over the Detroit police department. After officer Alex Murphy is killed in the line of duty he is reborn as Robocop – but his humanity and his memories are still with him. This is one of Stephen’s favourite movies which he’s watched repeatedly since the film’s release in 1987. Trevor is coming at Robocop for the very first time – and what does he…

It’s time to hear Episode 546 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Stephen Fenech (Tech Guide) and Trevor Long (EFTM) as they dissect the biggest tech stories and product launches of the week. On this week’s show: the vinyl revival, what we can expect from Samsung’s Unpacked launch in New York next week, TCL’s new 4K TV, the BackBone One PlayStation Edition and Starlink satellite internet. 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…

The 10th generation iPad will have an all-new design when it is released later this year according to leaked renders of the device from a case manufacturer. MySmartPrice sent Tech Guide (and we suspect many other tech sites) an email with the subject line: Tip – Exclusive – iPad 2022 CAD renders leaked, launch expected soon. The link on the email showed several images of reportedly CAD renders of the 2022 entry-level iPad. It had flat edges on either side and a rear single camera with a similar bump that was first seen on the iPhone X. From the front…

Oppo has released the Oppo A77 5G smartphone that offers a stylish design, an impressive camera system and a long-life battery and a price tag under $500. It will be available in two versions – 4GB RAM with 64GB storage ($449) and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage ($499). The device has a 6.56-inch 90Hz screen with a resolution of 1612 x 720 and up to 600 nits of brightness. It has a sleek design with straight edges and a thickness of just 7.9mm. And despite its narrow design, the Oppo A77 5G is also durable after undergoing more than 130…

The new Google Pixel Buds Pro have active noise cancellation and provide better audio quality than its predecessors and, naturally, they work brilliantly with Android phones. They still can be paired with an iPhone via the regular Bluetooth settings so you can hear your music and podcasts. But Android users can take advantage of Google Fast Pair, so the Google Pixel Buds Pro appear on your home screen as soon as they are detected via Bluetooth to take you through the pairing process. For Android users this also includes a test to ensure you have the right sized ear tips…

Subtitles used to be for understanding a foreign film, but it’s been embraced by younger viewers who want to read what’s being said on their favourite programs. Research from preply.com shows 70 per cent of Gen Z respondents (people aged between 10 and 25) prefer subtitles either sometimes or all the time when watching TV shows and movies. And Millennials (people aged 26-41) ranked second with 53 per cent followed by Gen X (38 per cent) and Baby Boomers (35 per cent). But the next question is why they prefer subtitles and the responses varied between wanting to understand accents…

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Pro X has brought together a set of features that makes it ideal for content creators and anyone else who wants superior performance. The Yoga Slim 7 Pro X has a sleek design with rounded comfortable edges and is 15.9mm thick with a weight of just 1.45kg. But what will really catch your eye is the stunning 14.5-inch Lenovo PureSight 3K display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a resolution of 3072 x 1920. It has a 92.5 per cent screen to body ratio and that’s even with cameras located above the display in the…

Lend us your ears for Episode 513 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: we’re in Bangkok for Huawei’s Smart Office launch event and we’ll go through their announcements, 5G is taking on the NBN and that’s how the telcos want it and what we can expect to see with the PlayStation VR2 headset. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the new TCL Mini LED C835 4K smart TV, we get our hands on the BackBone…

Uniden has released a new outdoor security camera – the App Cam Solo Pro 2K – a wirefree spotlight and security camera in one that’s designed for Australian homes and weather conditions. The weatherproof camera has 2K resolution with a 120-degree wide angle field of view to view and record even more in greater detail. And at this resolution it’s possible to zoom in to view objects even closer. Uniden’s App Cam Solo Pro 2K works effectively day and night. The spotlight has a passive infrared sensor so it has even better vision to spot anyone approaching your property. And…

Motorola has just launched the moto g62 5G – an affordable smart phone with advanced camera features and offering an enhanced entertainment experience on the move. Priced at $399, the moto g62 5G is available from Australia’s major telcos: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. The moto g62 5G has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display has a 120Hz refresh rate to make watching your screen for longer periods even more comfortable. On the audio side, customers can surround themselves with sound with the Dolby Atmos spatial audio experience that uses the stereo speakers to deliver a three-dimensional sound. The smartphone is powered…

The 2022 TCL C835 65-inch 4K Mini LED QLED TV is packed with new features that are designed to enhance your home entertainment experience whether you’re watching a movie, bingeing your favourite TV show or playing a game. Colour, contrast and brightness have all been improved on the TCL C835 and the sound has gone to the next level with Onkyo Audio, Dolby Atmos and a built-in subwoofer so out of the box customers will be suitably impressed. And, of course, it’s a connected smart TV running the Google TV operating system with access to all your favourite streaming apps.…

This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Misery – based on the Stephen King novel and starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. Misery tells the story of author Paul Sheldon whose car runs off the road before being nursed back to health and held captive by his number one fan. Stephen read the novel in a day and was first in line to see it in the cinema and his since seen it numerous times. Trevor had never heard of it let alone seen it. What does he think of it? We go through the…

Start your weekend with Episode 545 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and product releases. On this week’s show: Instagram trying to become TikTok, NBN v 5G, PlayStation VR2, Huawei’s Smart Office event in Bangkok, is Google Glass back and Google’s new Pixel 6a smartphone. 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 page and you’ll be able…

Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphones have been a huge success in 2022 and now the company has added a purple version to the popular line-up. The actual colour is called Bora Purple. Bora is the Korean word for purple. The eye-catching purple has been a featured colour in previous Galaxy S models – the Orchid Gray Galaxy S8, the Lilac Purple Galaxy S9 and the Lavender Galaxy Z Flip 3. Samsung says purple is a compelling colour that evokes warmth and optimism. The new Bora Purple has been introduced into the S22 range – the S22, the S22+ and the S22…

Backbone has released the new Backbone One PlayStation Edition – an officially licenced controller for PlayStation that was inspired by the look and feel of the console’s DuelSense Wireless Controller. Tech Guide has taken a first look at the device which is sure to delight PlayStation players. The Backbone One PlayStation Edition will only work with iPhones (we hear an Android version is imminent) so you can play your PlayStation through PS Remote Play anywhere. When choose this option you have to choose whether you’re linking to a PS4 or PS5 and then adjust the settings on the console. Once…

One of the standout products at the Huawei Smart Office launch this week was the MateBook X Pro – a cutting edge new laptop that offers not only a slick design and performance – but several unique features as well. Huawei is not usually front of mind when customers think of laptops, but the company has made significant inroads in recent years with excellent design and the addition of sensible features that a customer can really use. We’ve be writing about and reviewing Huawei’s laptops over the years, and they are playing in the same ballpark as other Windows laptops…

Huawei has unveiled the smart office of the future at a global launch in Bangkok today which showcases new innovations, connectivity and interaction which are designed to maximise creativity and offer easier and higher quality communication. The new products include the Huawei MateBook X Pro laptop, MateBook 16 S laptop, MateBook D 16 laptop, the MatePad Pro 11 tablet, the MateView SE monitor, the FreeBuds Pro 2 earphones, the WiFi Mesh 3 and the Huawei Wireless Mouse. We can expect them to land in Australia in the coming months. Huawei has been working to build a smart office framework since…

Sony Interactive Entertainment Australia has given us a sneak peek into the user experience we can expect when the PlayStation VR2 is released later this year. The virtual reality headset will be supported by the world’s top gaming developers who are busily creating next generation games and experiences. PS VR2 will include a see-through view which means users can easily check their real-life surroundings without needing to remove the headset. This is enabled thanks to the PS VR2’s embedded front cameras which can be accessed using the function button on the headset to switch between viewing your surroundings and the…

It’s time to get updated and educated with Episode 522 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, e-scooter trials kick off in NSW, the hottest product for your home now and it’s not a TV or coffee machine and Samsung outlines how it’s staying a step ahead of cyber criminals with their smartphones. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Google Pixel 6a smartphone, we take a listen to the Bowers &…