Author: Stephen Fenech

Apple announced its new M2 processor at the recent Worldwide Developer’s Conference and one of first products it was used with was the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Tech Guide has been test driving the machine for the past week. Design-wise the 13-inch MacBook Pro has not changed a bit – it’s what’s under the hood that counts. It retains its slick design and relatively thin (1.56cm) and light (1.4kg) proportions. It also has the same full keyboard, two Thunderbolt/ USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. Those ports can be used for charging, to connect an external display and to transfer…

Joining a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the Optus network just got a little easier with customers who will now be able to access the service in minutes using a digital eSIM. Optus MVNOs include Amaysim, Circles.Life, Dodo, Exetel, Vaya, iPrimus and Spintel. Now instead of sourcing a physical SIM card, customers can simply scan a QR code to connect Post-paid and Prepaid plans on the Optus 4G and 5G network. But you’ll also need a smartphone that’s compatible with eSIM. These include iPhones as far back as four years old, Samsung Galaxy S20 onwards and the Galaxy…

The new Tesla Model Y has landed in Australia and Tech Guide got a chance to take a first look at the mid-size fully electric SUV just days after sales opened for eager customers. The Tesla Model Y is available in two models – Rear Wheel Drive and Performance. PERFORMANCE With RWD there is just one motor on the rear axle so you can go 0-100km/h in 6.9s while Performance is dual motor all-wheel-drive and takes just 3.7s to go 0-100km/h. We had the RWD model and while it was still zippy it is not as responsive as the Performance…

Go to the top of class with Episode 507 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by Stephen Fenech so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: just how fast are your tech products depreciating – and which ones are holding their value, Norton has launched new internet security software with identity theft Insurance and facial recognition technology is being used in some Australian retail store – should we be worried. In the Tech Guide reviews, Huawei has released four new wearables including a blood pressure monitor, Sony’s new…

Concerns for the environment and the rising cost of living is driving up the adoption of electric vehicles according to new research from automotive website CarsGuide. The new report from CarsGuide called EV Pulse Check, showed 70 per cent of customers in the market for a new car within the next 12 months have an even higher level of interest than they did five years ago. In the first five months of 2022, there has been a 400 per cent rise in electric vehicle sales. The report revealed the top driving factor to purchase an EV among 37 per cent…

Not feeling well? Usually you’d need to go and see a doctor and get a medical certificate to present it to your employer but now there’s an app for that – and it’s called Sicky. Sicky was developed in Australian and is free to download from the App Store and Google Play Store. The benefits are a speedy diagnosis without the need to leave your house and there’s no need to attend a probably already crowded medical centre, clinic or doctor’s office. Here’s how it works: if you’re feeling unwell you fire up the Sicky app and select whether you…

It’s a known fact that technology can depreciate pretty quickly – but there are some products that have a much lower depreciation rate according to a new report. SellCell – the No 1 comparison for tech product in the US – has identified the Sony PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X and Series S and the iPhone 13 are leading the pack and holding their value significantly better than other tech products. The Sony PlayStation 5 is still in hot demand and its popularity – and scarcity – has given it the slowest depreciation across all tech with only an…

Huawei has launched four new wearable products so Australians can take better care of themselves with features including blood pressure monitoring, numerous exercise modes and an animated fitness coach. The new products are the Huawei Watch D, the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro, the Huawei Watch Fit 2 and the Huawei Band 7. What they all have in common is a sleek design and remarkable battery life. Today, four in 10 Australians are prioritising their health more than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. But 72.8 per cent of Australians over 15 years old are not meeting the physical activity…

Come out to play!! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching The Warriors – released in 1979. The Warriors was a low budget film with a then unknown cast that went on to be a cult hit. It tells the story of The Warriors – a gang from Coney Island that has to fight their way home from The Bronx. Stephen has watched this movie countless times – it’s one of his all-time favourites. In fact, he owns a Warriors replica vest that’s signed by the cast, and he’s even visited some of the shooting…

DJI, known for its excellent drones and camera technology, has released new Ronin stabilizers to help content creators shoot silky smooth videos with a range of cameras. Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, the new The DJI Ronin RS 3 and RS 3 Pro stabilizers, literally do all the heavy lifting so you can concentrate on what’s in front of the camera instead of everything that’s connected to it. This third-generation model has a new automated axis lock system, a new stabilisation algorithm which offers a 20 per cent improvement and one-tap calibration. “The needs and requirements of the…

Norton has brought its internet security and identity protection expertise to a brand-new product – the new Norton 360 Advanced which protects customers against the modern threats like identity theft and scams. In fact, Norton is even including with Norton 360 Advanced identity theft insurance up to $58,000 for losses and expenses associated with identity theft. According to the Australian Institute of criminology and ACCC Scamwatch being a victim of cybercrime is more common than robbery, motor vehicle theft and break ins with one in four Australians affected. Identity theft occurs when an individual’s personally identifiable information (PII) Is obtained,…

Get onboard with Episode 539 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the biggest tech stories and product launches of the week. On this week’s show, what can we expect from the iPhone 14, Tesla Model Y orders open in Australia, retailers found to be using facial recognition, Belkin releases new Soundform earphones, Game Pass comes to Samsung TVs, custom Xbox controllers and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II revealed. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player…

We already know LG make amazing OLED TVs, but the company has also entered the premium laptop space with its sleek 2022 LG gram range which combine style with functionality. The LG gram laptops are aimed at a wide range of users and have a compact lightweight design but without compromising performance. The LG laptops have an ultra-thin bezel with a high screen-to-body ratio so all you’re seeing is the display. They LG gram offers impressive picture quality with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1600 resolution so your images and videos look sharp and bright. The screens also…

Belkin has introduced new Soundform products into its portfolio – the Soundform Immerse noise cancelling earbuds and the Soundform Play true wireless earbuds – which are designed to suit all age ranges and budgets. The new Belkin earphones were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January and were acknowledged with a CES 2022 Innovation Award (Honoree). “Since launching the Belkin Soundform audio line just a few years ago, we introduced a variety of innovative audio solutions ranging from award-winning premium smart speakers to popular kids’ headphones,” says Melody Tecson, senior director of product management, Belkin. “Our audio team…

Did you know major Australian retailers Bunnings, Kmart and The Good Guys are using facial recognition technology on their customers in stores? If you answered no, you’re not alone. According to an investigation by Choice, 76 per cent of Australians saying they weren’t aware that facial recognition was being used in these stores. But the questions being asked are why are they using this technology and what are they doing with the information? According to Choice, Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys emerged were the only three retailers from 25 leading retailers contacted during the investigation that were capturing the…

Grab the earphones and press play on Episode 506 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: the Tesla Model Y has gone on sale in Australia, we go through the highlights from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and Hisense has revealed its 2022 smart TV range. In the Tech Guide reviews, Netgear has released the Orbi Quad Band WiFi 6E Mesh System, the Microsoft Surface Laptop GO 2 is now available and we get ready for Call of Duty…

You can add the latest technology to your car with Sony’s new car AV receivers which offer full voice control for navigation along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and HDMI connectivity to watch content while you’re parked. The new XAV-AX6000 and the XAV-AX4000 have a 6.95-inch bezel-less flush display and offer full wireless smartphone connectivity so you can enjoy Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without the need to connect a cable. The units also come with a GPS antenna, and it can all be controlled with your voice when you want to navigate, communicate or play music while you’re driving.…

The new Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has just gone on sale in Australia and offers a premium PC experience that customers have come to expect from the latest Surface products. Starting at $1,199, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is powered by the quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and is, of course, running Windows 11. The product offers the signature Surface premium design and useful features including Instant On and Windows Hello through the fingerprint reader that is integrated into the power button The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a metal finish and tips the scales at…

We’ve spared no expense! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Jurassic Park starring Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum and directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is based on the Michael Crichton bestseller about an entrepreneur who created a theme park populated by cloned dinosaurs. The podcast also coincides with the release of Jurassic World Dominion – which reunites the original cast. Stephen has watched the movie so many times he’s lost count but Trevor, despite the movie being released in 1993, never got around to seeing it. We go through the memorable…

Tesla is now taking orders in Australia for its latest electric vehicle – the Model Y – a mid-size SUV with prices starting from $68,900 with first deliveries in Australia expected between August and November. The Tesla model Y has been available in the USA and other markets for some time and it has finally arrived in Australia. Customers interested in the Model Y can now spec up a vehicle at Tesla’s online Model Y Design Studio with the choice of two models – Rear Wheel Drive and Performance. The model Y doesn’t even need a key. Instead it connects…