Author: Stephen Fenech

Sony has unveiled its new wireless LinkBuds which are a radical departure from traditional earphone design and include an open ring for audio transparency and crystal-clear audio quality. Instead of a traditional ear tip, the Sony LinkBuds open ring fit securely on your ear. The ring driver unit houses the ear bud’s diaphragm to save space. Sony came up with the design after extensive studies of ear shape data which the company has been compiling since the world’s first in-ear headphones were introduced in 1982. And they are designed for you to barely notice you’re wearing them. You can make…

Australians have embraced smart home technology with nearly two thirds (6.3 million) of households having at least one smart home product, according to the latest research from analyst firm Telsyte. The Telsyte Australia IoT@Home Market Study 2021 revealed more than 1,000,000 households purchased IoT (Internet of Things) home products including smart speakers, smart lighting and smart security cameras since 2020. A big factor in this growth was the increased time spent at home during the pandemic and greater awareness of products and services. Sales of smart home products reached $1.7 billion in 2021, that’s an increase of 15 per cent…

It’s time to press play on Episode 489 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 talk to Samsung Australian Vice President, IT and Mobile, Garry McGregor about the new Galaxy S22 range of smartphones which have just been announced, Apple to update its AirTags to prevent unwanted tracking of people and two thirds of Australians dating online are running background checks. In the Tech Guide reviews, we’ll check out the new Audio Technica earphones which takes…

If you’re a Mac user, naturally you want your computer to run as fast and as smoothly as possible and the new CCleaner application can help you do that. CCleaner for Mac 2 can optimise your Mac, save you hard drive space and even boost your privacy. The application has been revamped and is available in both free and proferssional versions. The software includes a disc cleaner, browser cleaner, app uninstaller and a new photo cleaner that can detect and delete duplicate and poorly shot images to get you back valuable hard disk space. It’s like a declutter for your…

As Australians turned to dating apps and websites to find true love, they are also becoming online detectives with a report showing that two thirds conduct searches for information about their matches. This practice is called online creeping. According to the Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report, 62 per cent of Australians looking for love online do their own form of online vetting. The online creeping of their matches includes searches on social media (38 per cent), searches on professional networking sites (21 per cent), finding their friends or family members on social media (15 per cent) and even paying to…

The Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW wireless earphones have accomplished what they set out to achieve – to deliver bass that’s powerful enough to really make you sit up and take notice. The CKS50TW earphones bring together advanced acoustic technology that provides that deep bass while the earphone’s comfortable design and airtight fit prevents the bass from escaping from anywhere else but through the ear tip and into your ears. The drivers are 9mm wide with ducts on the back to control airflow and provide acoustic detail. The Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW wireless earphones are slightly larger than other models but the ear…

Now that’s what I call a close encounter! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen we’re watching the sci-fi invasion blockbuster Independence Day starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. It tells the story of a global invasion by technologically superior aliens from several perspectives on the Independence Day weekend and how all the countries of the world banded together to fight back. Stephen has watched the 1996 movie countless times but Trevor has never seen it before. Can you believe it?? We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, plot…

Apple will be issuing an update to its popular AirTags – the device that’s used to keep track of our personal belongings – to eliminate unwanted tracking of people or other people’s property. Apple says it condemns any malicious use of its products and it recognises that unwanted tracking has long been a problem well before it launched AirTags. In fact, Apple built the first ever pro-active system to alert people of unwanted tracking as part of its Find My network. At present, individuals will receive alerts if there is an AirTag that doesn’t belong to them is nearby and…

Two Blokes Talking Tech – Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long – discuss the new Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone series in Episode 522 of the popular podcast. Stephen and Trevor share their thoughts of the S22, the S22+ and the S22 Ultra and all the new features including “nightography” – the new low light camera feature. Also on the show iPhone SE due for an update, Safer Internet Day and we review the Samsung Freestyle projector. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the…

Samsung has raised the bar for tablets with the introduction of the stunning Galaxy Tab S8 series – the company’s biggest and most versatile Galaxy tablets to date. The Galaxy Tab S8 has an 11-inch screen, the Galaxy Tab S8+ features a 12.4-inch screen and the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a whopping 14.6-inch display. These devices offer powerful performance thanks to premium hardware and premium productivity features to give customers the freedom and the flexibility to work in play anywhere. Each of the Galaxy Tab S8 devices has it improved video conferencing capability with ultra-wide front cameras and a…

Samsung has just unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S22 series of smartphones – the S22, the S22+ and the S22 Ultra – which feature stunning designs and a next-level camera system that pushes the boundaries of smartphone photography like never before. They will go on sale in Australia on March 4 and will be priced from $1,249. The Galaxy S22 (6.1-inch display) and S22+ (6.6-inch) provide a stunning flagship experienced offering power, performance and Samsung’s most intelligent camera to date. The new Galaxy S22 Ultra (6.8-inch) brings the same features to the table but also adds the power of the…

Over the last two years during the pandemic, we’ve done more video calls and video conferences then we have in our entire lives and now with our work from anywhere lifestyle we need the perfect lighting no matter where we are. Hypop has come up with two lighting kits that will have you looking your best for those meetings on the go. They are also ideal for content creators on the move who want to still look their best whether they are creating a social media video or a live stream. LUME CUBE VIDEO CONFERENCING LIGHTING KIT – $119.99 The…

Take a listen to Episode 488 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, and see what all the fuss about. At the very least you’ll be updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: If you’re looking for love this Valentine’s Day – don’t become a victim – we’ll show you how, if you’ve got a hankering for KFC – you can now have it delivered by drone and Apple is rumoured to release a new iPhone next month. In the Tech Guide reviews, we’ll check out the Samsung…

Huawei has released an eye-catching new audio product – the FreeBuds Lipstick – wireless earphones that offer impressive sound but offers an all-new design. The charging case has been designed to look like a lipstick – long and narrow and with a lid that, when removed, reveals the ruby red earphones inside. This fashion-centric design is certainly a new direction for wirefree earphones which have more recently started looking like one another. The black and gold case is designed to exude luxury and is made from stainless steel and polished to offer a mirror finish. And the red earbuds are…

Today is Safer Internet Day and what better day for the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant to encourage Australians to play it safe and fair online. “We’re calling on all Australians to promote positive behaviours online,” Ms Grant said. “We believe that we can show the world that there is no place for online abuse and discrimination on the Internet. “Just by being safe, respectful and kind we can all play fair online.” The NBN, which provides secure and reliable internet to mor than 8.4 million Australian premises, has thrown its support behind the eSafety Commissioner and is encouraging users…

Apple will reportedly be holding hold a virtual event on March 8 which could reveal the latest version of the iPhone SE and new iPad Air models. There could also be a new Mac introduced – but it probably won’t be a new iMac. This will not be an in-person event – instead it will be an all-digital and virtual event which Apple has produced flawlessly for the last two years. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – it will all be happening on March 8 (early March 9 AEDT) The big rumour is Apple introducing a new and updated iPhone…

Samsung has redefined the projector with the new Freestyle – a projector that’s portable and easy to set up and use so you can enjoy your content on a larger scale wherever you want. Users can watch their content in full high definition with a picture up to a size of 100-inches. Home theatre projectors are normally large, expensive and need lots of adjustment before they’re ready to watch. And most people who go to this trouble, view their projector as a permanent set-up so they can only watch their content on it in the room where it’s been set…

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching A Bronx Tale starring Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri. It tells the story of young Calogero growing up in The Bronx and facing life’s toughest choices while being torn between the local mob boss and his honest hard-working father. This one of Stephen’s favourite movies and, of course, Trevor has never seen it before. Will he like it? We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, plot holes and other things…

Join the Two Blokes Talking Tech – Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long – for Episode 521 of their popular podcast that looks at the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show: What’s all the fuss about Wordle, Jaguar Land Rover add Alexa to their vehicles, The Good Guys make a big error on their website, iPhone can now be unlocked with Face ID even while wearing a mask and FlightSim gets a big Aussie update. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below.…

If you’re in the market for a washing machine today, it’s a whole new world out there. Technology and connectivity have brought this once humble appliance to an all-new level to make it even faster and easier to use. While Samsung may be best known for its televisions and smartphones, it also has an impressive line-up of front-loading washing machines which combines the latest technology and AI with speed and efficiency. Now washing machines aren’t something you purchase on a whim. But when you are buying a replacement or moving into a new home, here are the five things to…