Author: Stephen Fenech

Almost everybody is aware of the buzz that surrounds cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The popularity of digital wallets is also paving the way for instant and convenient payment systems. Consequently, these technological advancements have disrupted how people conduct business. When an eCommerce store uses a payment processor, they can automatically convert their cryptocurrencies into their local currency. And this makes accepting Bitcoin payment a seamless process for a retailer. But, many eCommerce stores are yet to start accepting Bitcoin payments. That’s because their owners don’t know much about the cryptocurrency or are skeptical about it. Overall, taking Bitcoin can expand…

Adobe has released the first version of Photoshop that runs natively on the latest MacBooks powered by Apple’s latest M1 processor and it delivers huge performance improvements. The latest version Adobe Photoshop takes advantage of the performance improvements built into the new architecture. Adobe’s internal testing covered a range of activities which include opening and saving files, running filters and compute-heavy operations like Content-Aware Fill and Select Subject and it showed they were all “substantially faster”. “These great performance improvements are just the beginning, and we will continue to work together with Apple to further optimize performance over time,” says…

Oppo has launched its Find X3 Series of smartphones – led by the Oppo Find X3 Pro 5G – which combine cutting edge features and a futuristic design with a stunning display and a high-quality quad camera system. In a first for Oppo – the device’s screen can capture and display a billion colours for true-to-life colour accuracy. The Oppo X3 family of devices also includes the Find X3 Neo 5G and the Find X3 Lite 5G which will all go on sale on April 1. “Oppo is known for developing and delivering innovative products and the new Find X3…

Lend us your ears for Episode 477 of the 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. On this week’s show, it’s TV season as the major brands like Samsung, LG and Hisense prepare to launch their 2021 range of smart TVs, Sonos releases new portable speakers, are we going cashless, PayPal launches Pay in 4 buy now pay later option, cyber criminals use COVID-19 vaccines in latest email scams, Spotify comes up with the pasta playlists and Wilson Parking updates its app for…

PayPal has announced the launch of PayPal Pay in 4 in Australia – a new buy now pay later (BNPL)  payment solution which will give customers the ability to pay off items with four equal payments. The news comes as other BNPL solutions like AfterPay are booming in Australia. PayPal has more than 9 million active accounts in Australia and its entry into this space in June 2021 looks certain to shake up the market. PayPal Pay in 4 will be not only suitable for customers but also favourable or businesses which can offer more payment flexibility to their customers.…

Cyber criminals are targeting people in a new email scam using the COVID-19 vaccines as bait in an attempt to steal a user’s money and their identity. Researchers from Proofpoint have uncovered these email scams which promise COVID-19 relief and vaccines which are targeting workers in essential industries like medical, aerospace and pharmaceutical. Cyber criminals are exploiting the pandemic and spoofing trusted and well-known organisations like DHL and the World Health Organisation which ask the recipient to click on links and provide personal and financial information. These links execute a malicious application on the person’s PC which can be exploited…

Sonos has launched a new go-anywhere speaker appropriately called Roam that can connect directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth when you’re out and to your wi-fi network when you’re at home. The Sonos Roam is 16.8cm tall, weighs just 0.43kg and has an IP67 rating so its sealed from dust and is fully waterproof. You can enjoy your music anywhere and the durable design means it can handle various scenarios whether you take it to the beach or on a camping trip. Users can position and listen to the speaker horizontally or vertically. It has Automatic Trueplay tuning technology and…

Do yourself a huge favour and take a listen to Episode 441 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. Samsung releases its 2021 range of stunning TVs – we’ll tell you pricing and how they’re also better for the environment, why Australia will be virtually cashless within three years and the Apple Watch ECG has finally been approved – what you need to do to make this feature work for you. In the Tech Guide reviews we check out the Bose…

Wilson Parking has created a new integration to its Apple CarPlay-enabled app which will allow drivers to discover, book and pay for their parking from the car’s display. Now drivers with the Wilson iOS app with CarPlay will be able to view their nearest car parks on their in-car display including the name of the car park, its location and the parking rates. Once the driver chooses the car park it will seamlessly link to Apple Maps and provide navigation to their chosen car park. Wilson has worked with Perth-based app developers Adapptor and Kombu on the CarPlay app integration…

Interactive fitness platform Peloton has launched in Australia to offer studio style workouts in the comfort of your own home with the company’s specialised fitness equipment including the Peloton bike and the Peloton treadmill. Founded in New York and now with more than 4.4 million members worldwide, Peloton’s full portfolio includes two Bike options and two Tread options. For its Australian debut, set for the second half of 2021, Peloton will be releasing the original Peloton Bike and the Peloton Bike+ which offers cardio and strength training in conjunction with the Peloton app. The Peloton app provides content across more…

Working from home during the COVID pandemic has forced people to create a comfortable workspace and one product that can help is ParcSlope from Twelve South which makes using laptops and tablets even better. ParcSlope is a dual purpose one-piece metal stand that can elevate laptop screens to more comfortable viewing height and can position iPads and other tablets at a better angle. When used with a laptop it not only offers a better height for the screen but also puts the keyboard at an angle which makes reaching all the keys even easier. You can also use an external…

Bose Sports Earbuds are built to be used on the move, in the gym, in the park and on the road so they can handle the sweat and are secure enough to stay in your ears and all while delivering superb sound. Listening to music or audiobooks or podcasts while walking, running and exercising is a now a reflex action for most people – including me. I can’t hit the gym or hit the road on a run or walk without earphones and the right content to listen to. Thankfully Bose has created a pair of wire-free earphones that fits…

Is it all over for cash in Australia? A new report says the days are numbered for coins and bills with the Australian economy expected to be 98 per cent cashless by 2024. The 2021 Global Payments Report highlights the latest global payment trends with projections for Australian eCommerce turnover to increase by 46 per cent from $US37bn to $US54bn within three years. The report says the use of mobile wallets is projected to double at the point of sale over the next four years. The COVID pandemic certainly moved the needle and accelerated the move away from cash as…

Samsung has just announced the pricing and availability of its impressive 2021 TV and soundbar range which includes the stunning 8K and 4K Neo QLED TVs which offer an all-new level of picture and audio quality. The global leader in TVs for 15 years in a row, Samsung has once again met the demand for larger screen TVs as well as an attractive portfolio of lifestyle TVs. The new Samsung TVs will be available in stores from today. The 2021 Samsung TV ranges goes from its flagship Neo QLED 8K and 4K TVs all the way through to the regular…

Take a listen to Episode 476 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long to hear a fun yet informative wrap up of the week’s tech news. On this week’s show, the roadmap for EVs in Australia, DJI releases new FPV drone, Ecovacs OZMO 920 robot vacuum heading to Aldi for half price, Movie Frenzy kicks off to rent or buy movies at discounted prices, Twitter tries a new Spaces features to take on ClubHouse and YouTube to trial new kids channel ratings. You can listen to the show right here…

Samsung’s 2021 range of amazing 4K and 8K TVs are about to hit the market but another areas where the electronics giant is making inroads is sustainability and significantly reducing its carbon footprint. And Samsung’s sustainability efforts will kick off in spectacular fashion with the company’s latest range of big screen TVs which will include solar-powered remote controls and all-new eco-packaging which can be fashioned into furniture and toys. Samsung has extended the use of recycled materials in its products including the Solar Cell Remote which will be include with the latest TVs. It is made of partially recycled plastic…

In an Australian first, Telstra has announced eSIM activation is now available for its MVNO (mobile virtual network operators) through Telstra Wholesale after successful trials to make it even easier for customers to activate their mobile service. Providers like Boost Mobile, Belong and ALDI Mobile use the Telstra network and will be offering eSIM activation in the near future. An eSIM is an embedded SIM that’s built into the latest smartphones like the latest iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S series. Now activating an MVNO service using the Telstra network is as easy as downloading an eSIM profile using a unique…

Belkin, one of the world’s leading consumer electronics accessories companies, has released the new BOOST CHARGE smart USB charging cable which can show users at a glance if their iPhone is fully charged. The BOOST CHARGE cable uses a custom circuit board and proprietary firmware to communicate with the iPhone’s battery to display an amber light while still charging and a green light when charging is complete. It is available in two versions – Lightning connector with USB-A and Lightning connector with USB-C. The cables are compatible with all iPhones and is MFI-certified and can charge up to 12W using…

Despite the world being in lockdown during the COVID pandemic and job and businesses disappearing, the Australian app economy has still powered ahead. In Australia, the Apple iOS app economy created more than 156,000 jobs as of January 2021 – a 15 per cent increase from 2019 and well above the app economy 113,000 jobs in 2017. The Android app ecosystem has 123,000 jobs as of January 2021 but the numbers add up to more than the total number of app economy jobs because many jobs specify more than one operating system. The App Store and the iOS app ecosystem…

The Apple Watch’s ECG app has finally been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) so the device can create, record and store a single-channel electrocardiogram. This comes a month after the TGA approved the Irregular Rhythm Notifications for Apple Watch with the ECG a natural follow-on which has only now been officially approved. For these functions to work, customers will have to wait until the next Apple Watch update (watchOS 7.4) to use the ECG app and Irregular Rhythm Notifications. This software update is expected in the coming weeks. This update will also have to be configured through…