Author: Stephen Fenech

Here’s your chance to get updated and educated with Episode 504 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show: what we can expect to see at the upcoming Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2022, Australians spend almost $4bn on video games and consoles in 2021 and Rode has unveiled its latest Rodecaster Pro II all-in-one audio solution for content creators. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the LG range of home cinema projectors, Motorola has launched its range of smartphones to suit all budgets and Logitech has released its new…

Apple will next week be holding its annual Worldwide Developers Conference where we will see the latest operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV – but what can we expect to see? Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2022 will kick off at 3am June 7 (AEST) and will include a virtual keynote outlining the software updates and possible hardware announcements. On the software side we’re expecting iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16. But WWDC is also where we see some hardware announcements and there has been no shortage of rumours for…

Motorola has launched three new smartphones to suit a range of budgets whether you’re after a better audio-visual experience, long battery life or a better camera – there’s a model that will suit you. The new models include the motorola edge 30 and the moto E32 which are now available from selected retailers and the Lenovo online store while the moto G82 5G goes on sale on June 16. MOTOROLA EDGE 30 – $699 The moto edge 30 is just 6.79mm thin – one of the thinnest 5G smartphones on the market – and features an impressive 6.5-inch OLED display…

LG has announced its new 2022 range of CineBeam projectors which include both 4K laser and Ultra Short Throw (UST) models to allow customers to create cinema-like conditions in their own home. The line-up includes six models which can beam images up to 150-inches in size. The LG UST projector models (HU715QW and HU915QE) include auto brightness technology and can create a 100-inch image from just 21.7cm from the wall. The LG UST projectors have 3700 ANSI lumens thanks to a bright laser light source which not only offers rich images but also deep blacks thanks to the wheel-less hybrid…

The Force will be with you – always…. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen we’re watching Star Wars – just time for the film’s 45th anniversary and the release of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. The original Star Wars film was released in 1977 and became at the time the most successful movie of all time. Equally amazing is the story of how Star Wars was conceived and produced for the big screen. Stephen is one of the biggest Star Wars fans in Australia and has lost count of how many times he’s seen it…

Start your weekend with Episode 536 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast 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: Google Street View is 15 years old, the Rodecaster Pro II audio creation deck is unveiled, Top Gun Maverick opens in cinemas, the CD players you can still buy, and Boost Mobile gets a boost! 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…

Australians spent nearly $4 billion on video games and consoles in 2021 with mobile games the most popular consumer category according to data by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA). Just last year alone mobile game sales made up more than $1.5 billion in Australia while video game hardware sales racked up more than half a billion dollars. Digital sales of games and subscriptions also increased dramatically and totalled $1.41 billion in 2021 while retail sales for hardware, software and peripherals stood at $1.07 billion in the same period. The growth in the Australian games market in 2021 can…

For those who want a little more action and feel with their typing, Logitech has launched two new mechanical keyboards – the full-size MX Mechanical and the MX Mechanical Mini. Logitech has also unveiled the MX Master 3S mouse. The MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini have the latest low profile mechanical switches but also have a key switch to make it Logitech’s quietest mechanical keyboard ever while still offering the same tactile look and feel. The keyboards have dual-coloured keycaps so you can easily distinguish between the keys even at an angle as well as smart backlighting and your…

Google is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Street View which has since gone well beyond just streets and now takes in landmarks, beaches, airports. The latest location is Sydney’s iconic ferries. Street View began as an unusual idea from Google co-founder Larry Page to build a 360-degree map of the entire world. Since its inception in 2007, that goal is becoming a reality. You might have seen Google cars driving around with cameras on top of masts to capture every detail of our streetscape. Today, Street View is available in more than 100 countries and provides a way for users…

The time has come to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews with Episode 503 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show: we go behind the scenes with Fox Sports and its 4K coverage and talk to Chief Technology officer Les Wigan, the research that will show you why you need a dash cam and we go through the latest 5G home broadband plans. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, Sony has unveiled the LinkBuds S noise…

Rode has unveiled its powerful new all-in-one solution for audio content creators – the Rodecaster Pro II – an impressive update to the popular original which changed the game for podcasters, musicians and other content creators. The new console combines features usually found in a professional broadcast studio and put them at your fingertips to allow you to create high quality recordings quickly and easily. The original Rodecaster, released in 2018, become the go-to product for podcasters around the world – and it just got even better. “The Rodecaster Pro marked a monumental step forward in creative audio technology,” says…

While most people stream their music, there are still a lot of audio lovers who have sizable collections of CDs and Marantz has released the CD 60 high performance player o they can enjoy superior sound quality. The CD 60 is made from modern materials and brings in architectural design, so it nicely matches the existing Marantz amplifiers or as a standalone add-on to any existing hi-fi system. “With so much attention devoted to the burgeoning vinyl market plus the popularity of streaming content, it’s easy to forget that an entire generation of music lovers built sizable collections of beloved compact discs,…

That’s not a tablet – now that’s a tablet! The Crocodile Dundee reference shows that what you think is big for a tablet is nothing compared to the massive Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with its 14.6-inch display. Samsung is not backward in coming forward with its products – it has boldly released superb TVs, powerful and folding smartphones and a projector you can take anywhere. This time out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is also swinging for the fences with its remarkable size which includes that stunning 14.6-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz display with a resolution of 2960 x…

Vodafone has released two new value 5G home broadband plans with unlimited data for customers who can’t access the NBN or don’t want the NBN and want extra bang for their buck. The plans start at $60 per month for existing Vodafone mobile customers (otherwise $65 a month for non-Vodafone mobile customers) with unlimited data and speeds of up to 50Mbps. For $65 a month ($70 for non-Vodafone customers) you get unlimited data and speeds of up to 100Mbps. Customers who sign up will get the first month free. Telstra’s 5G home broadband plans are $85 a month with speeds…

I feel the need, the need for speed!! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen we’re watching Top Gun starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis and directed by Tony Scott. It tells the story of Maverick and Goose as they go up against the best of the best in the Fighter Weapons School otherwise known as Top Gun. This episode has been timed to coincide with the highly anticipated sequel – Top Gun Maverick. Stephen watched this movie in the cinemas as a teenager and has seen it many, many times since while Trevor has only heard of…

Catch up with all the big tech news with Episode 535 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the week’s biggest tech news and product launches. On this week’s show: how will technology change the voting process – Stephen and Trevor have a few ideas, Apple’s new accessibility features, the new Nintendo Switch Sports game, Google teases the new Pixel range and Arlo launches the Go 2 4G camera which can be used anywhere. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide…

Here’s a monitor with a difference. LG has released the DualUp Ergo Monitor that’s designed for creative and professional users for both home and office. The 27.6-inch LG DualUp Ergo Monitor has a 16:18 aspect ratio so it has more of a square shape so you can double your screen real estate. The LG DualUp Ergo Monitor offers the same space as two 21.5-inch displays with the Square Double QHD (2560 x 2880) resolution. It has a vertical split view function so you can see more at a glance while keeping a single monitor footprint. This would be ideal for…

Has someone ever hit your car in a car park? Or have you hit another car? Research from dash cam brand Nextbase revealed 21 per cent of Australian drivers have hit a parked car. Car parks are known to be where most incidents occur according to the study and 35–44-year-olds are the worst offenders with 30 per cent admitting to hitting a parked car. The Nextbase dash cams have a parking mode that switches into high sensitivity mode when your car is parked with any knocks or jolts triggering a recording to capture footage of a hit and run offender.…

Sony has released its second audio product in a week – the LinkBuds S – the world’s smallest and lightest noise cancelling Hi-Res true wireless earphones. Weighing just 4.8g, the Sony LinkBuds S have been designed to match the shape of the human ear and provide a secure yet comfortable fit. Last week Sony unveiled the WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling headphones. The Sony LinkBuds S have 5mm drivers onboard to produce a clear punchy sound with powerful bass and clear vocals. Under the hood is Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 to improve noise cancellation, reduce distortion and enhance sound quality. The Sony…

Apple has unveiled accessibility features that will give people with disabilities new ways to get around, connect and communicate with their Apple products. These new software features combine the power of the hardware with machine learning to deliver provide new customisable tools that build on Apple’s long-standing commitment to empower all customers with their products. The new features include Door Detection, Apple Watch mirroring, Voice and Switch Control and Live Captions. Apple is also adding 20 more languages to its already popular Voice Over feature. DOOR DETECTION Door Detection is for users who are blind or low vision and uses…