Author: Stephen Fenech

Back in 2007 when Kevin Rudd was campaigning to become Prime Minister the big policy that was top of his agenda was creating the National Broadband Network which promised fibre to every home in Australia for ultra-fast speeds we could only dream about at the time. Today we’re getting those fast speeds – but they are not all coming from the NBN – they are being provided by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone on their respective 5G networks. 5G is posing a real threat to the NBN both in terms of speed and price. And telcos are going all out to…

The NSW Government will this week kick of its shared e-scooter trials in four popular western Sydney locations in a bid to safely integrate the popular tech product into the community. Starting Saturday the trials will roll out at Western Sydney Parklands’ Bungarribee Park, Lizard Log and Shale Hills and the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan. Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the trail will including learnings from other Australian states and around the world to put the safest and most effective measures in place. The trail is for shared e-scooters. The use of privately-owned e-scooters is still…

If you can’t afford the latest iPhone, you can always buy the cheaper iPhone SE. Google is doing a similar thing by offering a device for customers can’t afford the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro – it’s the Pixel 6a. It has all the characteristics and most of the features you know and love from the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro but it’s a bit smaller and a bit cheaper. The Pixel 6a is priced at $749 and goes on sale in Australia on July 28. Compare that to the Pixel 6 (6.4-inch display – $999) and the…

Easy miss, I’ve got you. You’ve got me? Who’s got you? This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Superman starring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman and released in 1978. This was the first big screen outing of Superman – the legendary comic book hero – and it was a huge production with an all-star cast. It tells the story of Kal-El – the only survivor of the planet Krypton – who comes to Earth and find he possesses superpowers. He is raised by the Kent family in Smallville before becoming a mild-mannered reporter…

It’s time to tune in to Episode 544 of the entertaining and informative 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 products. This week: Samsung confirms its foldable launch event – what we can expect to see, Netflix might be running ads on new subscription tier after partnering with Microsoft, questions about what TikTok does with user data, our views on the new M2 MacBook Air and the new Forza game in partnership with Hot Wheels. You can listen to the show right here…

Keeping yourself safe online is hard enough but four out of five parents say they are struggling to keep their child safe online, according to a new study by leading consumer safety brand Norton. Of those surveyed in the Norton research, 82 per cent who are parents admit it is difficult to keep their child safe while they are online. With children spending more time using technology and plenty of time online, 85 per cent of respondents agreed it was as important to teach kids about cyber safety as it is to teach them other life skills. Alarmingly, 86 per…

Just the mention of Bowers & Wilkin conjures thoughts of high-quality audio and its new Px7 S2 noise-cancelling wireless headphones deliver exactly that. These are the follow-up to the Px7 and have improved not only on the audio quality but the build quality as well. The Px7 S2 have a more premium look and luxurious feel with patterned fabric around the earcups and headbands and finished with stylish aluminium caps emblazoned with the brand name. They headphones are also complemented with ultra-soft leather-covered memory foam on the earcups and headphones to provide a new level of comfort. And what about…

JBL has launched the latest model for its popular Quantum range of wireless gaming headsets – the JBL Quantum 810 which includes dual surround sound to take your gaming to another level. The JBL Quantum 810 headset has QuantumSURROUND – spatial surround sound for gaming and DTS Headphone:X 2.0 for an immersive audio experience. Also onboard is a flip-up microphone with noise suppression technology so you can be clearly heard whether you’re talking tactics in a game or ordering through your Bluetooth-connected smartphone. Users can connect via a 2.4Ghz wireless connection or stream through Bluetooth 5.2. The headset is durable…

Samsung says it’s never been a better time for cyber criminals and the challenge to keep users safe has never been greater, but the company has risen to that challenge with innovation and new strategic partnerships to provide end-to-end protection. Dr Seungwon Shin, VP and Head of Security, Mobile Experience Business at Samsung Electronics, says the conditions are ideal for scammers right now. “A rise in remote workers means more reliance on unsecure public Wi-Fi. New frontiers like the blockchain leave confused customers ripe for scams. Cyber-attacks are on the rise. And not just where you expect them. Recent wars…

Web hosting is frequently mentioned as a means of launching your company online and into the public web. Although this is a necessary step, it leaves a crucial question unanswered: how should you manage your business communications? Numerous free options are available, and they’re great for personal use, but when it comes to business correspondence, there is only one solution, and that is email hosting. Electronic messages are a vital part of many businesses. This is how team members, customers, and vendors communicate with each other. Cheap email hosting is a good option if you don’t want to deal with…

Samsung has confirmed it will be holding a launch event in New York on August 10 to unveils its new generation of foldable smartphones – the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Galaxy Unpacked 2022 will be streamed live for Australians from 11pm on August 10 on Samsung.com and Samsung’s YouTube channel. Samsung released a teaser video to promote the event which shows glimpses of foldable devices with the Samsung logo. There has been plenty of speculation and rumours about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The Fold 4 will…

Uniden has unveiled a new 4K smart dash cam – the Dash View 50R – as the latest addition to its range with a resolution four times higher than HD so you can get an even clearer view on the road. Included with the 50R is a 64GB MicroSD card to store your vision. The new Uniden Dash View 50R – which includes a front and rear camera – also has voice control for completely hands-free operation. The front 4K camera has a sleek design which can be easily positioned in front of your vehicle’s rear-view mirror. The front 4K…

What’s the hottest tech product and appliance Australian customers have got their eye on? It’s not a TV, a speaker or a coffee machine – it’s a robot vacuum according to the latest market research. The research was commissioned by Ecovacs Robotics, one of the leading robotics brands, which today unveiled the latest model in its premium Deebot X1 family – the Deebot X1 Plus. The study showed more than 60 per cent of Australians aspire to own a robot vacuum with one in three aiming to purchase one within the next 12 months. Robot vacuums topped the wish list…

Get yourself updated and completely educated about the latest consumer tech news and products with Episode 511 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show: Six million Australians damaged their phones in the last year – now there’s a new repair service that comes to you, Telstra’s 5G network is now in reach of 80 per cent of the population and it’s 10 years since Psy hit a billion views on YouTube with Gangnam Style – we take a look at the other music videos that have also crossed a billion views and…

Netflix will be offering a new option for customers – a cheaper, possibly free, subscription tier supported by ads – after announcing a partnership with tech giant Microsoft. So this means when you’re gripped by an episode of Stranger Things and enjoying the latest Bridgerton instalment, you’ll have to sit through an ad break like you would on free-to-air TV. Free-to-air TV is free because it is supported by ads and Netflix is using this same model to allow it to offer a much cheaper, if not free, subscription choice. Microsoft will become Netflix’s technology and sales partner when it…

Samsung has entered the party audio category with its new Sound Tower speakers which are designed to provide the entertainment and the LED light show for your next party or karaoke night. There are three speakers in the Sound Tower range – the MX-ST90B ($1,499), MX-ST50B ($699) and MX-ST40B ($599) – and they will be available in July through Harvey Norman. Samsung’s Sound Tower speakers offer 3D sound which can be heard evenly around the room. And with an output of up to 1700W, listeners will enjoy loud yet crisp sound quality as well as thumping bass. The Sound Towers…

Last year was massive for streaming services and gaming with Australians spending more than $8 billion in these categories according to the Australian Entertainment and Media outlook report from PwC. Streaming services have exploded in Australia in recent years, but this was helped along with the numerous COVID lockdowns that forced us to stay at home and keep ourselves entertained. Australian spent more on entertainment, media and Internet access services in 2021 than ever before. By the end of 2022, each household will be spending an extra $510 per year then they did in 2019 before the global pandemic. This…

With nearly six million Australians damaging their smartphones in the last year there will be plenty of demand for a new service that’s just been launched that will come to your home and repair your device in less than an hour. Likewize Repair Is a new mobile service that will come to you and make repairing your smart phone faster and easier. There are five million Australians who have admitted to damaging their new smart phone in its first year of ownership which means they are carrying around a damaged phone and then faced with hours, and in some cases…

Sound quality in gaming has become as good if not better than what we hear in movies and one way to get right in the centre of it is with the Panasonic SoundSlayer wearable gaming speaker. No, that’s not a typo – it’s a wearable speaker. It sits around your neck which is smart because it places the speakers right below your ears, so you are literally surrounded by sound. The SoundSlayer goes around the back of your neck and rests on your shoulders. It fits snugly on your neck and it’s not heavy (244g) so you can comfortably wear…

Sexual harassment is not about sex – it’s about power. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Disclosure starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Disclosure is based on the novel by Michael Crichton and tells the story of Tom Sanders – an tech company executive passed over for a promotion that goes to his ex-girlfriend before they get embroiled in a sexual scandal. Stephen read the box before seeing the film in the cinema, but Trevor had never heard of it until he had to watch it for the podcast. We go through the memorable…