Author: Stephen Fenech

TCL Communications has showcased an all-new 5G smartphone portfolio, a low power tablet using innovative new display technology and a wearable display that allows you to enjoy home theatre conditions as easy as putting on a pair of glasses. These announcements were made by TCL during its virtual press conference at CES 2021. The company also revealed a new 10 inch tablet for students and families, hybrid noise cancelling true wireless earbuds and a tracker designed for your pets. TCL 20 SERIES SMARTPHONES TCL has made huge inroads in the smartphone space in Australia and its new 20 Series offer…

Samsung has launched its new French Door fridge range with hygiene in mind after a year of social distancing, using hand sanitiser and wearing masks in busy public places. The four door refrigerator has anti-bacterial handles for an even higher level of hygiene. Samsung has also moved the water and ice dispenser inside the front door panel to create a beverage showcase and reduce the risk of contamination. Here you can also grab a quick drink whether it’s the cold water from the dispenser or a beer or soft drink on the internal shelf. But this hasn’t affected the space…

LG has kicked off the 2021 virtual CES by unveiling an exciting new range of OLED, Mini LED and Nanocell TVs which offer even greater brightness and colour accuracy. The company started its CES press event with a number of advanced and concept products designed to make users lives more comfortable, convenient and enjoyable. Under the theme “Life is ON – Make Yourself at Home”, LG outlined a number of advanced products. LG gave the world the first look at its rollable phone project which has a unique resizable screen to suit what we’re doing and the content you’re consuming.…

Hisense will be expanding its line-up of Laser TV short-throw projectors in 2021 along with the picture size with the current 100-inch L5F model being upgraded to offer a mouth-watering 120-inch picture. Hisense will take the L5F – which could project a 100-inch 4K image in 2020 – will expand to 120-inch in 2021. And Hisense says it will also introduce two models later in the year that will offer even larger pictures sizes. The Hisense Laser TV combines a short throw laser projector along with speakers and a TV tuner along with the VIDAA operating system and wi-fi connectivity…

Staying connected anywhere is the name of the game and with 5G that just got better and faster with Netgear’s new M5 Nighthawk Mobile Router (MR5100) which can deliver incredible download and upload speeds. The M5 is aimed at the mobile professional who needs a high speed connection anywhere for the laptop and other devices. It can connect up to 32 devices wirelessly to the network it creates. And what’s even better is the M5 also has Wi-Fi 6 technology onboard which is up four times faster than the previous wireless standard. Available through Telstra, the M5 connects through Telstra’s…

Hisense has introduced Mini LED backlighting technology to its already impressive ULED 4K and 8K smart TVs to enhance picture quality, brightness, colour and contrast. Mini LED brings a tight array of tiny direct-lit LEDs that can be switched off when needed to create deeper black levels. The precision of the ULED Mini LED TV is also further enhanced by the onboard Quantum Dot Colour technology – and the result is a true-to-life image with accurate colours. Hisense’s first ULED Mini LED TV will be a 75-inch 8K model that will be followed by a 4K TV that will be…

2020 was a year where millions of customers consumed numerous Apple services across apps, music, podcasts, TV shows and movies to stay entertained, fit and connected. Over the holiday period customers spent more than $US1.8 billion in the App Store on digital goods and services between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Customers welcomed the new year by setting a single day spending record of more than $US540 million on New Year’s Day. Since the App Store launched in 2008, developers from around the world have earned more than $US200 billion. And now many small and independent developers from around…

LG has introduced its new webOS 6.0 operating system which will power its 2021 OLED, Nanocell and UHD smart TV’s ahead of the virtual 2021 Consumer Electronics Show. LG has also unveiled a brand new Magic Remote that offers simpler controls and voice recognition. webOS 6.0 will provide customers with a simpler, intuitive and more enjoyable way to discover content. The latest operating system supports new voice commands for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and makes the task of searching for content across streaming services, the internet and broadcast channels faster and easier. It has an upgraded home screen…

Sony has announced a new range of Bravia XR TVs which use a new cognitive technology that goes beyond Artificial Intelligence to replicate the way humans see and hear. The new Bravia XR range includes the Master Series Z9J 8K LED and A90J OLED and the X95J and X90J 4K LED TVs. The new Sony TVs also include 4K 120fps, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) which makes them an attractive choice for next-generation gamers. The new Bravia XR line-up will be powered by the Cognitive Processor XR – the new brains of the Bravia XR…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech are back in 2021! Join Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long in Episode 468 of the popular podcast as they discuss the latest tech news and products. On this week’s show, Samsung announces its 2021 line-up of TVs ahead of the virtual CES 2021, Hisense unveils its first 8K ULED TV and lots if rumours ahead of Samsung’s S21 smartphone launch next week. 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 the top…

Hisense is bringing its brand new 2021 TV range into Australian homes using its Home Augmented Reality app So customers can take virtual look at the new television line-up. Customers will be able to get up close to the products being revealed at this year’s virtual Consumer Electronics Show from the comfort of their own living rooms. Through the Hisense home AR app, available now for free for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, Australians will be able to take a close look at Hisense’s first ever 8K TV – the U80G – along with the entire Hisense 2021 TV line-up.…

Hisense has announced its 2021 ULED TV range which will include the company’s very first ULED 8K TV and featuring AI-powered upscaling, smart features and hands free control. The Hisense ULED 8K TV will be available in 65, 75 and 85-inch models through retailers across Australia from February. The first model on offer will be 75-inches and it will be priced at $6999. The first Hisense 8K TV – the U80G – is 8K Ultra HD certified and is loaded with sound and image technologies including Quantum Dot Colour, Full Array Dimming Pro, Dolby vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.…

Samsung has announced an all-new Smart Monitor that will meet the needs and converging lifestyle of the Australian customer so they can work, learn and consume entertainment content in one place. The Samsung Smart Monitor combines the power of mobile and PC connectivity with remote home office and learning features. It also has a smart hub alongside a comprehensive entertainment hub to make it similar to the Samsung smart TV platform – but without the digital TV tuner. Also on board is wi-fi and Bluetooth so users can connect a keyboard and mouse to get your work done and connect…

Samsung has revealed its stunning 2021 line-up of NEO QLED, Micro LED and lifestyle TVs ahead of the first ever virtual Consumer Electronics Show. Usually taking place in Las Vegas, CES is this year a virtual event because of the global pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped TV market leader Samsung from unveiling its range of TVs which not only showcase the company’s commitment to innovation but accessibility and sustainability as well. Samsung says it will be “Going Green” and align the TV business with long-term sustainability programs including reducing its carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency and adopting sustainable packaging. The…

Dell has launched all-new PCs and monitors – which utilise the latest technology and sustainable materials – designed to give users greater flexibility to work from anywhere. The new portfolio also includes the new Dell Optimizer software which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to fine tune application performance battery life audio quality and connectivity. The new Dell range of products are also designed with collaboration in mind and that’s helped with connectivity features like ExpressConnectt which prioritises bandwidth to your conferencing apps to prevent dropped or buffered calls. The new Dell latitude 9420 is a 2-in-1 device with 11th…

LG is blurring the line between furniture and appliances with a new virtual experience for customers to design their own living space with LG appliances that look more like designer furnishings. LG Electronics Furniture Concept Appliances will unveil the interactive experience at the virtual 2021 Consumer Electronics Show. This is in response to customers seeking to make their appliances blend in with their modern décor. Included in the collection are the LG InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator, Fridge and Freezer pair, microwave, dishwasher, water purifier, WashTower and Styler. Using the interactive platform, customers can design their own virtual living space and fill it…

We’re back for 2021! Tune in to Episode 432 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech – the first for the new year – as we keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, what technology, products and trends we can expect to see in 2021, are you addicted to your smartphone – a new study suggest you are – and LG is first out of the gate to announce new TV technology. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the EcoXGear EcoXplorer huge…

We often focus on how good games look but don’t appreciate how good they sound as well. That’s not an issue with the JBL Quantum One over-ear gaming headset. This lets users not only appreciate the audio quality but to also listen out for their opponents and other sounds that will give them a competitive advantage. Onboard the JBL headset is QuantumSPHERE 360 – a pro-level 3D audio positioning technology that can track your head movement so you’re always hearing sounds coming from the right directions. There is also a detachable microphone so you can chat with your friends and…

Hisense has unveiled its latest VIDAA U5 operating system which will be included aboard the company’s 2021 range of smart TVs making them the fastest TVs Hisense has ever produced. Also onboard the 2021 Hisense TVs for the first time is the Kayo sport streaming app. VIDAA U5 is Hisense’s proprietary software platform for its TV range will work 20 per cent faster than the 2020 TV line-up with users able to watch their content within 1.7 seconds of hitting the on button on the remote. The new VIDAA U5 OS will also include a range of new apps for…

2021 is here and we can look forward to some amazing technology as well as some improvements on existing technology that became part of our lives in 2020. We leaned pretty heavily on tech in 2020 during the global COVID pandemic and showed we could still work and learn from home as well as keep ourselves entertained. There are lot of exciting trends and products heading our way in 2021. Here’s what we can expect: MORE FOLDABLE DEVICES Samsung is already up to their third generation of foldable smartphones after the release of the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z…