Author: Stephen Fenech

Foxtel has launched its brand new streamlined iQ5 streaming set top box so customers can access the entire portfolio of stations and programs with no cable or satellite installation required. The iQ5 is a plug and play solution so once connected to your home broadband connection you are connected and streaming Foxtel within minutes. The unit itself has been completely redesigned and is much smaller than the iQ4. iQ5 is powered by a new faster processor that’s been designed to handle streaming high quality 4K UHD. Customers connected via satellite can still receive the signal through the inputs which are…

Working from home requires a few products and one thing that can help with that set-up is being able to physically connect them together and that’s where Satechi’s Aluminium Monitor Stand for iMac and the USB-C Pro Hub come into play. Setting up a home workstation involves connecting a laptop perhaps with a larger external monitor and a desktop computer with a second monitor. But there’s also a need to connect USB-C devices and transfer data, to charge these devices, read memory cards and also connect through regular USB ports. SATECHI ALUMINIUM MONITOR STAND HUB FOR iMAC – $139 This…

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the type of device for the customer whose smartphone is the centre of their world for their work, multitasking, for their entertainment, for creating content and consuming content. This device delivers on all of those fronts like no other smartphone on the market. But it’s definitely not for the casual user. Owning this device takes commitment – it’s bigger and heavier and does a lot more than a regular smartphone. And while it’s not as sleek and slim and portable as other smartphones on the market – it does put a lot more…

Episode 502 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long takes a look at the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show: Telstra joins the vaccination push, Vodafone’s Unlimited Data mobile plan wth no speed limit, Apple’s App Store settlement, Duracell’s bitter coating of its new button battery, Windows 11 launch date, Jabra releases new Elite earphones series and the CARS24 online second car lot. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the Two Blokes…

This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen Podcast, Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long are taking a look at Dead Poets Society – the 1989 film starring Robin Williams and directed by Australian Peter Weir. It tells the story of a group of students at Welton Academy are inspired by the unconventional teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) who encourages them to be free thinkers and to make their lives extraordinary. Stephen and Trevor take a look at the memorable scenes, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia and things you might not have noticed. You can listen the show on the…

Abba has released its first new music in decades and will play a virtual holographic concert in a purpose built arena in London in May 2022. Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus spoke to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 about the band making its first album in 40 years – Voyage – which will be released on November 5. In the interview, Bjorn talks about two new songs – I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down and how the band never thought it would ever get back together again. The band has been busily filming the holographic live…

Telstra customers take a look at your smartphone. You may notice a new message on the screen – it now says #LetsVaxx where it normally says Telstra as the company gets behind the vaccination push. Customers connected to the Telstra network on a compatible device will see Telstra scroll over to #LetsVaxx as Australians unite to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. And fully vaccinated members of the Telstra Plus Program will receive 2,500 bonus Telstra Plus Points. When claiming their points, these fully vaccinated Telstra customers will go into a 100 million point major prize draw with 20 winners to receive…

Arlo, the leading brand in smart home security, has announced it is now compatible with all major smart home platforms including Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, Google Home Assistant, IFTTT and Samsung Smart Things. This means customers can enjoy a seamless experience between their Arlo system and their smart home ecosystem. The cross-ecosystem compatibility means Arlo customers don’t have to choose one ecosystem over another. “We’re excited to continue innovating by collaborating with our partners to provide Arlo users with added features designed to offer the most robust and seamless smart home security experience possible,” said Brad Little, Vice President &…

The way you buy a used car has changed with the launch of CARS24 – a start-up already valued at more than $1bn – which offers a streamlined online service you can navigate from your couch. It makes buying a used car as easy as buying something on Amazon. CARS24 has just completed a $US200m capital raise to commence its operation in Australia. The company has set up physical operations in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney with plans to operate more widely in the eastern and southern states by the end of 2021. This is a 100 per cent online service…

Vodafone has launched Australia’s first ever unlimited mobile data plan that gives users all the mobile data they want at maximum speed for $85 a month. The Ultra+ plan is available to customers who sign up to a SIM Only plan or a handset plan with Vodafone. But – there is a slight catch. Vodafone says unlimited data on the plan can only be used on your mobile device. The plan does have one limit – users can use 30GB at full speed if they use their phone as a hotspot to connect their other devices like tablets and laptops.…

Bose has introduced the new QuietComfort 45 headphones – the long-awaited replacement for the beloved QuietComfort 35 – with improvements to noise cancellation, a new Aware mode and 24-hour battery life. The Bose QuietComfort 45 have had a re-design while still retaining the hallmarks that made the QC35s so popular. They offer the same level of comfort and stability while still being durable and lightweight. Priced at $499.95, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones will be available to order from September 13 and will go on sale on October 4. The QC45s have two modes – Aware and Quiet – and…

Jabra has unveiled its new Elite earphones range which it says re-invents the true wireless space with superior audio quality, enhanced call technology and improved active noise cancellation. The new Jabra range includes the Elite 7 Pro, the Elite 7 Active and the Elite 3. JABRA ELITE PRO 7 – $299 The Jabra Elite 7 Pro introduces the new Jabra MultiSensor Voice for best in-class performance for enhanced call clarity even in the noisiest environments. Voice calling is now an integral part of wireless earphones considering how often we’re wearing them and the increase in the number of voice calls…

It official! Windows 11 will be available from October 5 as a free upgrade if you already own a compatible PC or if buy a new desktop or laptop computer with Windows 11 pre-installed. PC with Windows 11 pre-installed will also go on sale on October 5 from brands including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo as well as Microsoft’s very own Surface tablets and laptops. For those who already own a Windows PC, the Windows 11 upgrade will be rolled out in phases with the newer eligible devices receiving the upgrade first. The upgrade will then rollout over the coming…

Take your mind off the COVID lockdown by spending some time with editor Stephen Fenech as he presents Episode 466 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast. On this week’s show, Apple will now allow developers to accept payments outside the App Store in a landmark settlement, Fitbit has launched the Charge 5 and unveiled Will Smith its new brand ambassador and the delivery service that will get your groceries to you in 15 minutes or less. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at gadget gift suggestions for Father’s Day, we built the Lego Star Destroyer that’s more…

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of the original Star Trek franchise, the films featuring the original cast have been released on glorious 4K Ultra HD disc. It was on September 8, 1966 when the first episode of Star Trek went to air. And it went on to become one of the most popular TV shows and franchises of all time before hitting the big screen with Star Trek: The Motion Picture and spawning other TV and movies series. Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS Home entertainment will debut remastered versions of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath…

The NBN has announced the latest suburbs and towns across Australia where more than 300,000 homes and businesses will be eligible to receive the fibre upgrade and higher download speeds. This upgrade will make customers who work and live in these areas around Australia currently served by FTTN (Fibre to the Node) eligible for Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) upgrades. This will give them access to download speeds of up to 1Gbps. This announcement follows the first expansion of fibre to more than 1.1 million homes around Australia and this latest move will bring that number to 1.4 million premises…

We’ve never reviewed a product we had to build ourselves before but that’s exactly what we did with the giant Lego Star Destroyer which has 4784 pieces, is 1.1m long and includes an instruction book thicker than the Lord of the Rings. The Lego Star Destroyer (Item number 75252) comes in quite a large box with five other boxes inside containing more than 38 bags of pieces and a hefty ring bound instruction book. This is the Devastator Star Destroyer which is seen in that iconic first shot of the original 1977 Star Wars film as it rumbles over the…

It’s Father’s Day and time to show just how much we appreciate our Dads and what better way to do that than with a nice gadget gift. But not all Dads are the same so that why’s we’ve split our gift guide into various sections to what Dads like and what they like to do. Here we go: AUDIO DADS JBL LIVE PRO+ – $249.95 When people are looking for wireless earphones they want both quality and value and the JBL Live Pro+ True Wireless earphones, which have just been released, offer just that. JBL already has a strong reputation…

It’s time for Episode 501 of the 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 products. On this week’s show – our screen addiction during lockdown, the Apple Watch rumours, the new wireless photo frame, Fitbit launches Charge 5 and a new brand ambassador, NuraTrue wireless earphones that optimise to the listener and the JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker that can also charge your other devices. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of the page and you’ll be able…

Take a listen to The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast with Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long – this week they’re talking about the classic 1968 film Planet of the Apes. This is one of Stephen’s favourites and, of course, Trevor had not seen it until just before the show. It tells a story of three astronauts who crash land on a strange planet where apes are the dominant species over humans. Stephen and Trevor will take you through the memorable scenes, the iconic quotes, what went on behind the scenes, trivia, tidbits and the things you might not have…