Author: Stephen Fenech

During COVID anyone wearing a mask is unable to unlock their iPhone with Face ID and have to manually unlock the phone with your passcode but a new feature in the upcoming iOS 14.5 update will solve this issue. The iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 beta has been released to developers and will include a feature to allow users to unlock their iPhone with their Apple Watch if they are wearing a mask. Other features of iOS 14.5 will also include dual 5G SIM mode and App Tracking Transparency Unlock With Apple Watch will be included with this update so…

Huawei today launched its latest Watch GT 2 Pro smartwatch which offers a rugged new design, advanced sports tracking, pro-level health monitoring and a two week battery life. The Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro has a round face covered in tough sapphire glass and a frame made from titanium so it offers the durability a customer will appreciate when used in the great outdoors. The rear of the casing is made from smooth ceramic so it’s comfortable to wear. There are more than 200 watch faces to choose from along lots of customisation options. It’s also possible to choose different…

Samsung has hit the ground running in 2021 with the release of its new flagship Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra smartphones in the first month of the new year. Why wait? Samsung says it was ready to go with the new devices and decided to pull the trigger early. And in doing so Samsung has also reduced Apple’s window of clear air without a rival product release. Apple released the iPhone 12 a month later than normal and Samsung released the S21 a month early so that adds up to two months less time Apple has on its own…

Launch into your weekend with Episode 471 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show your back to school options with the refurbished iPhone 8 or a new Android smartphone under $500 and we share our thoughts on the Google battle with the government over the news media bargaining code. 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…

Tesla has unveiled the new Model S Plaid electric car which has an updated design and an all-new interior and can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.1 seconds. The biggest change to the new Tesla Model S Plaid – which won’t arrive in Australia until 2022 – is the cockpit with a new steering wheel and dashboard and main screen layout. The central console is dominated by a 17-inch horizontal display with a resolution of 2200 x 1300. The biggest change is to the steering wheel which looks less like a wheel and more like something you’d find…

Google is using its massive reach to promote its side of the argument as it battles for a fair deal from the Australian government in the proposed news media bargaining code with a prominent link that is being display in every Google search. The link is shown in an unmissable yellow box with the headline “Google Search is in the news”. It goes on to say “You may have heard about a proposed law. We are willing to pay to support journalism”. The “Hear our proposal” button then takes you to a video of Mel Silva, Google Australia’s managing director.…

It’s Data Privacy Day and Apple has used the occasion to increase awareness about the importance of protecting people’s personal information online and within apps. This is an area where Apple has been quite vocal because the company and its products offer users transparency and control over what data is collected and how it is used. Apple is commemorating Data Privacy Day by sharing “A Day in the Life of your Data” – a eye-opening report that details how companies track your user data across websites and apps. The report also goes on to illustrate how privacy features across the…

Ring has launched its smallest and most affordable doorbell ever which still packs in all the features you’ve come to expect from the hugely popular product that offers security and convenience. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is priced at $119 and is noticeably smaller than Ring’s other wireless versions. And like the other Ring video doorbells, users are able to answer their doors and see and talk to whoever is that the front door. https://youtu.be/vbyzzEEIPKk It can also detect motion and act like a security camera. Customers will need to have power and a chime box at their front door…

Tech Guide is celebrating its 10th birthday this week. It’s 10 years since the site went live on January 24, 2011 with the goal of keeping readers updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. And we’re proud to say we accomplished that mission – and continue to do so. We continue to bring you stories explaining technology in a way we can all understand and providing honest and unbiased reviews so customers can make an informed and confident decision on their next tech purchase. 10 years ago when the Tech Guide site launched the flagship smartphones…

Apple has introduced an all-new experience for Apple Watch for Fitness+ subscribers called Time to Walk where users are encouraged to experience the healthy activity accompanied by interesting audio content . With Time to Walk, users can walk and immerse themselves in interesting and influential stories from a range of artists, celebrities and sport stars. The Time to Walk content can be enjoyed anytime on Apple Watch that’s paired with AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones. “Walking is the most popular physical activity in the world, and one of the healthiest things we can do for our bodies,” said Jay Blahnik,…

We’ve got security for our computers and smartphones and now NortonLifeLock has released protection for gamers and their online accounts so they can stay secure without compromising performance. Online gaming has enjoyed a huge surge during the global pandemic with more than 2.7 billion gamers competing online globally. That’s a huge target for cyber criminals and they have certainly taken aim. A recent survey commissioned by NortonLifeLock and conducted by Harris Poll among 3,000 Australian gamers found 72 per cent worried gaming was becoming less secure. A further 35 per cent globally have revealed they’ve had a gaming account hacked…

Be sure to tune in to Episode 435 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, is the Google threat to cut off its search engine in Australia a bluff, the best phones under $500 to buy for your child and the new Norton app that can completely secure your smartphone. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Tado Smart AC Control to make your air conditioner smart, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite that’s…

Boost Mobile has upgraded its refurbished iPhone offer at Coles supermarkets and will be offering the iPhone 8 to customers nationally from tomorrow for the special price of $359. This offer follows the hugely successful sale of the refurbished iPhone 7 last year which kicked off the partnership between Boost Mobile and Coles to offer technology at affordable prices. Apple’s iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch display with TrueTone, a 12-megapixel rear camera and a front 7-megapixel selfie camera. The iPhone 8 was also the first Apple device to offer wireless charging so it can be rested on a charging mat…

Xiaomi has launched the affordable Mi Watch Lite, priced at less than $100, that can track your steps and exercise and also allow you to view texts, calls and other notifications on your wrist. The Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite can be paired with Android smartphones and iPhones via the Xiaomi Wear app (Android) and the Xiaomi Wear Lite app (iOS). It has a 1.4-inch colour touchscreen display with built GPS + GLONASS for precise satellite positioning so it can track your position, speed and distance. Users can monitor 11 different types of exercises both indoors and out including running, treadmill,…

Our air conditioners have been getting quite a workout this summer but wouldn’t it be good if we could make them smarter. With the Tado Smart AC Control you can do exactly that. If your air conditioner has a remote with a display then you’re in business. The Tado Smart AC Control Device is a small square device that can fit in the palm of your hand. The idea behind the product is to link it to your system so it can not only control your AC but also provide information and notifications so it can work more efficiently and…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 470, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is right here so you can hear about the biggest tech stories of the week in a fun yet informative podcast. On this week’s show, Telstra’s 5G footprint is getting bigger and faster, Arlo releases the Ultra 2 wireless security cameras, Connect releases an affordable range of new smart home products, Australians lose more than $170m in scams in 2020 and Volvo’s new key to reduce the speed of its cars. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site…

Google has made the extraordinary threat of removing access to its popular search engine to Australians if it is forced to pay for the news stories it links to under a proposed media bargaining code. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also waded into the debate saying “we don’t respond to threats”. Mr Morrison’s response comes after a fiery Australian parliamentary inquiry in which Google Australia’s managing director Mel Silva said enforcement of the News Media Bargaining Code could result in Google shutting up shop in Australia. “If this code were to become law, it would give us no real choice…

It’s back to school time and many students will be returning to class with their first smartphone. There are plenty of sub-$500 smartphones for parents to choose from so they can stay in touch with their child. A December 2020 study by the Australian Communication and Media Authority  (ACMA) showed 46 per cent of children aged six to 13 used a mobile phone with 33 per cent owning the phone they use. With phones becoming an integral part of our lives parents have a lot to consider when purchasing a smartphone for their child. But the good news is that…

D-Link has launched its new COVR AX next-generation AX1800 Dual Band Seamless Mesh Wi-Fi 6 systems which include the COVR-X1873 (3 pack), the COVR-X1872 (2 pack) and the COVR-X1870 (single). The COVR AX build on the award-winning COVR series and this time includes Wi-Fi 6 which offers an increase in speed, capacity and range to handle the needs of a modern household. The COVR-X1873 has three COVR points and is ideal for larger with a wi-fi coverage footprint of 740 square metres. Medium sized homes would be more suited to the COVR-X1872 but you can buy a single COVR unit…

Laser has announced its second-generation range of affordable CONNECT smart home devices with a wider line-up of lighting options, security cameras and solar panels and smart water controllers. CONNECT entered the smart home market in early 2020 with $10 smart light bulbs and these new products expand on that value offering to bring smart home technology within reach of more customers. The new CONNECT smart lighting solutions offer users creative and stylish options while still being very competitively priced. The light bulbs are now available in a vintage filament-style design to not only offer smart home convenience but a new…