Author: Stephen Fenech

Wireless charging is now a feature of nearly every new mid-priced and flagship smartphone. Mophie has released two new products – the 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad and the Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount that offer charging. The Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is aimed at Apple customers who have an iPhone which can be charged wirelessly, AirPods with a wireless charging case and an Apple Watch. The Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount is MagSafe compatible so it can work with the iPhone 12 but it also comes with a MagSafe adapter so any smartphone will work with it.   MOPHIE 3-in-1 WIRELESS…

The latest high-rating Tech Guide podcast – Episode 461 hosted by editor Stephen Fenech – is now available so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: A global report shows where Australia ranks in the digital world, Optus has claimed the title as Australia’s fastest 5G network and what we can expect to see at Samsung’s upcoming smartphone event. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the new Nanoleaf Elements smart light panels, we take a listen to the LG Tone Free earphones and JBL has…

Nokia has unveiled one of the most rugged smartphones you can buy – the XR20 – which is built to handle anything from being dunked in water, drops, extreme temperatures and with one of the strongest glass screens on a mobile device. The Nokia XR20 offers 5G connectivity and will be priced at $879. It is available to pre-order now at JB Hi-Fi and comes with a three-year warranty, four years of monthly security updates and three years of OS (operating system) upgrades. Nokia call the XR20 a life-proof phone and it can withstand drops from a height of 1.8m…

Australia has become the first country in the world to add health insurance cards to Apple Wallet so customers can use their iPhone or Apple Watch to make claims. Now insurance cards from Medibank, Bupa, NIB and GU Health can be added to Apple Wallet with HBF launching in early August. Together these health funds cover more than two thirds of Australians with private health insurance. Apple says other health funds will be added later this year. So this means customers in these funds can add their health insurance cards to their Apple Wallet in the same way they’d add…

Optus has been awarded with the title of the fastest 5G network in Australia by independent benchmarking company Ookla in 2021. The Ookla speedtest measured and compared 5G mobile speeds from all providers in Australia over the first two quarters of 2021. Ookla analysed the data from more than 330,000 user-initiated 5G Speedtest results and it showed Optus achieved a median download speed of 323Mbps as well as the best latency result of 18 milliseconds. Telstra recently announced it has crossed the 75 per cent coverage threshold for 5G in Australia. Another independent report published in February by Systemics Benchmarking…

Nanoleaf, the leader in smart lighting décor, has introduced an innovative new product –Elements – which include hexagonal wood-look panels to offers a whole approach to smart lighting. The Nanoleaf Elements panels have a wood-grain finish and texture to give users new options to introduce the lights in their homes. And they look good whether they’re on or off. The geometric shapes can be organised in any number of shapes and designs with the seven panels that come in the pack. Nanoleaf also sells expansion packs which contain three additional panels so you can create even larger arrangements. https://youtu.be/XwIu2_YHYEY Like…

Stick with Two Blokes Talking Tech for Episode 496 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and products. This week, Samsung confirms August launch event – what can we expect to see, Ecovacs launches new Deebot N8 Pro robot vacuum, cloud gaming, LG Tone Free FN7 earophones that have noise cancellation and can kill bacteria, how to watch the Olympics and the new Sony home theatre speakers and soundbar. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of the page and you’ll be able to find…

Apple has announced the winners of the 2021 iPhone Photography Awards with Australians figuring prominently in the awards which were divided over a number of categories – and all captured on an iPhone. The Grand Prize winner and Photographer of the Year Award went to Hungarian photojournalist Istvan Kerekes for his image “Transylvanian Shepherds” which was shot on an iPhone 7. First Place Photographer of the Year was awarded to Sharan Shetty of India for his image, Bonding (shot on iPhone X), which shows a man and his horse in an empty landscape offering comfort to each other. The Second Place winner is Dan Liu of…

One of the biggest global snapshots ever created has been released and details how different countries around the world, including Australia, use the internet and social media, consume digital content and use mobile devices. The Global Statshot Report – commissioned by We Are Social and Hootsuite – compares different countries on things like cellular and internet speeds, use of voice assistants, listening to podcasts, smart home device ownership, playing videos games and online news consumption. The report says there are 5.27 billion mobile phone users in the world which makes up 66.9 per cent of the population. The internet is…

Samsung has unveiled the latest model of its French Door Fridge range –  the updated 9000 Series Family Hub 6.0 with new software to make it even smarter along with innovative new features. Family Hub 6.0 is on sale now from leading retailers  is designed with busy families in mind and brings both innovation and style for your kitchen. The smart refrigerator’s large touchscreen allows users to do a variety of things from accessing recipes and meal plans, ordering groceries that are delivered to your door through the accessing apps, listening to music and even watching TV while you’re in…

There is no shortage of wireless earphones but how many of them include UV Nano Self Cleaning technology which can kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria? Only one and it’s the new LG Tone Free FN7. This time out the LG Tone Free FN7 packs in Active Noise Cancellation so you can get rid of germs and also the ambient sound around you. Created in partnership with Meridian, the earphones have 6mm driver units on board and have been tuned to offer impressive clarity and thumping bass. Onboard is Meridian’s Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) which creates a pleasing soundscape that…

Sony has launched a new premium home theatre system and soundbar which offer a multidimensional sound experience so you can hear and feel the action in every corner of your room. The new models include the HT-A9 and the HT-A7000 which provide an immersive soundscape for watching your movies, listening to your music or playing games. Sony has also introduced optional wireless subwoofers and wireless rear speakers which can add even more depth and quality to your home audio experience. HT-A9 HOME THEATRE SYSTEM – $2,299 This is a multiple speaker system so you can hear sound from all directions…

Samsung has confirmed it will be holding a Galaxy Unpacked event on August 12 where it will reveal its third generation folding smartphones and the latest Galaxy smartwatches. The event will kick off at 12.01am on August 12 (Sydney time) and will be streamed on Samsung’s website (www.samsung.com) and its YouTube channel. The teaser for the event released by Samsung makes no secret of the fact that it will be all about folding smartphones – the main headline even says, “Get ready to unfold”. The Samsung sites said: “We live in a time of accelerated change—from rapid shifts in work…

Go to the top of the class with Episode 460 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 EKO $1400 85-inch 4K TV any good, our favourite emojis revealed on World Emoji Day and Windows moves from the PC to the cloud with Windows 365. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new TCL 20 Pro 5G smartphone which comes with a free TV, Belkin launches new Magnetic Attach products for the iPhone…

JBL has introduced the latest member of its leading Bluetooth speaker family – the JBL Charge 5 – which lets you take your music anywhere thanks to its waterproof and dustproof design. The JBL Charge 5 offers the company’s trademark Original Pro Sound through the iconic racetrack-shaped driver, separate tweeter and dual passive radiators. You’ll hear impressive clarity and a satisfying deep bass. The JBL Charge 5 has an IPX67 rating so it can handle being submerged in water and will still be able to play your favourite music. With this rugged design, the Charge 5 can go wherever you…

Ecovacs Robotics has launched its brand new Deebot N8 Pro which delivers the premium features of the flagship models but at the attractive mid-tier price of $799. These features include avoiding obstacles, strong suction power for higher quality cleaning, TrueMapping and navigation technology as well as the ability to not only vacuum but also mop at the same time. The inclusion of these features in a robot vacuum of this price like the Deebot N8 Pro shows just how far the technology has come in a very short time. “When we entered the Australian market almost four years ago, we…

Apple has launched a new campaign featuring some of Australia’s most popular entertainment talent and the role of the Mac in helping them bring their ideas and creativity to life. It will include Hollywood star Joel Edgerton, singer songwriter Jimmy Barnes, stage and screen start Miranda Tapsell, Wiggles member Emma Watkins and platinum recording artist The kid LAROI. The initiative will showcase their creative output in music, media, art, dance and design and also feature an image of them working behind their Mac which helped them bring their visions to life. https://youtu.be/DV05e8LXkgU The Made in Australia campaign will be highlighted…

Bigger TVs are more popular than ever but usually a huge screen comes with an equally huge price tag. But the EKO 85-inch 4K UHD Smart TV is that rare find that offers size, impressive quality and great value. And the fact that it is running webOS – the same operating system running on LG’s excellent range – makes the EKO TV even more appealing. Smaller EKO TV models – including the EKO 55-inch smart TV we reviewed last year – run the AndroidOS TV software. And the EKO 85-inch TV not only runs webOS but also uses the same…

We’ve got the brand new Episode 495 of Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast ready to serve up to you with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and products. This week, the TCL 20 Pro 5G has been released and you can get a free TV with it for a limited time, the big screen bargains including the EKO 85-inch 4K smart TV, Belkin releases a new range of Magnetic Attach products for iPhone 12 and Tag Heuer releases a Super Mario edition of their smartwatch. Click on the Two…

Samsung today launched the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite – a compact tablet that’s designed to keep you connected, productive and entertained on the move. The device has an 8.7-inch display and is housed in a durable metal chassis. It also has a thin bezel around the screen along with powerful dual speakers with Dolby Atmos so it provides an impressive viewing experience for your movies, TV shows and games. It’s an ideal choice for customers and families buying their first tablets There is 32GB of storage space onboard with a microSD card slot expand the memory by up to an…