Author: Stephen Fenech

The latest tvOS 15 software for Apple TV 4K is now available in the Apple Public Beta Program so you can enjoy the latest features and improvements today. tvOS 15 was unveiled at Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers with the following features: – Spatial audio support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max on Apple TV 4K. Private listening becomes even more immersive when using AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. – HomeKit camera enhancements on Apple TV. When viewing a HomeKit camera, customers can control nearby accessories, such as turning on the outdoor lights. In addition, customers can display multiple cameras simultaneously…

The new Ecovacs Robotics DEEBOT T9+ robot vacuum has been awarded a Canstar Blue 2021 Innovation Excellence Award for cleaning appliances – joining Samsung as the only companies recognised in the appliance category. The DEEBOT T9+ has been popular as it meets the needs of time-poor customers who like to clean even when there are items like shoes, toys and other objects on the floor. The new unit includes TrueDetect 3D 2.0 obstacle avoidance technology which can precisely detect objects in its path in real time and strategically avoid them to ensure there are no collisions, entanglements or disruptions. The…

Break the lockdown boredom with Episode 493 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast 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, Apple offers iOS15, iPadOS15, watchOS 8 and macOS Monterey to install on the Beta Program, TCL launches NXTGEAR G smart cinema glasses, ACCC warns of AirTags danger to children, Telstra hits 75 per cent coverage of its 5G network, Windows 11 unveiled and Optus Call Translate can translate two languages in real time on the same call. Click on the Two Blokes…

Apple has today made its new macOS Monterey available in Apple Beta Software Program so you can install the latest operating system on your Mac today. macOS Monterey was introduced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference last month with new features to help you stay connected and stay productive. The new features include an improved Safari browser with a new tab design, Universal Control which lets you use a single mouse and keyboard to work between an iMac and iPad and AirPlay to Mac now makes it possible to share content from your iPhone and iPad to your Mac’s Retina Display.…

The Defunc True Mute offers quality and value for those looking for a pair of active noise cancelling wireless earphones at a much more affordable price. Priced at $269.95, the Defunc True Mute wireless earphones sit in the mid-tier and offer a range of features. The main one being active noise cancellation which uses the onboard microphones to listen out for ambient noise and produce an opposite signal to cancel them out. This allows users to hear their music and content without distraction. On the design side, the Defunc True Mute wireless earphones have a bud and stalk with the…

Apple unveiled iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 a month ago at the Worldwide Developers Conference and you can install them right now on your Apple devices through the Apple Beta Software Program. The final versions will be available later this year, probably in September, but users can dive straight in an install the beta versions of iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 right now. The Mac OS Monterey public beta will be available in the coming weeks. The idea behind the Apple Beta Software Program doesn’t only offer users early access to the latest operating system but…

When it comes to cooking appliances, the new Gozney Dome could very well be the most sought after product on the planet with the new model selling out globally within eight hours of launch. Gozney Dome, which won a Red Dot Design award, is an all-in-one cooking gadget which attracted $10m in sales on its first day of release this year. The versatile outdoor oven is in demand by industry professionals, chefs and home cooks alike and has now amassed a waiting list in the thousands. “We were overwhelmed by the response from people worldwide to the launch of the…

Optus has launched a new service called Call Translate which can translate in real time across a standard voice call on the Optus network between two people speaking different languages. Call Translate can breakdown language barriers and help customers connect even if they can’t speak the same language. It has been built on the Optus network using Google cloud technology with customers able to choose what language they want to translate from and to from a selection within the My Optus app. They can then make their calls in real time just like a regular call. The service has been…

Apple is giving Apple Watch users the chance to display their pride in their country with the release of the Apple Watch International Collection which includes 22 limited edition sport loop bands that represent nations across the world. Each of the new bands also includes a matching downloadable Stripes watch face which shows off the colour combinations that customers can use to personalise their Apple Watch and show they love for their country. The International Collection Sport Loop bands are made of soft breathable and lightweight material. They are available for the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France,…

Spend some lockdown time with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech as he presents Episode 457 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: Microsoft unveils the new Windows 11 operating system, Telstra’s 5G now within reach of 75 per cent of Australians and is it ever OK to cyberstalk someone – nearly half of young Australians think it is. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the Netgear Nighthawk 4G LTE router, TCL announces the NXTWEAR G smart glasses that…

Lenovo has unveiled a range of new tablets and a smart clock at the virtual Mobile World Congress 2021 with the goal of enhancing your connected smart home. We’ve become used to spending more time at home in the last 18 months so the line between work and relaxation has blurred significantly. With that in mind, Lenovo’s latest range of products have been designed to support that hybrid lifestyle. The new products include the Lenovo Yoga Tab 13, Lenovo Yoga Tab 11, Lenovo Tab P11 Plus and the Lenovo Smart Clock 2. LENOVO YOGA TAB 13 and LENOVO YOGA TAB…

JBL has launched the impressive flagship Live Pro+ True Wireless earphones which include Adaptive Noise Cancellation with Smart Ambient so you can still hear your surroundings when needed without removing the earbuds. Priced at $249.95, the JBL Live Pro+ earphones have a stick design and are still quite small yet they still deliver JBL’s powerful signature sound. The earphones have an IPX4 rating which makes them water and sweat resistant and also come with five sets of silicon ear tips to ensure a comfortable fit. Onboard is Adaptive Noise Cancellation so you can get rid of ambient sounds so you…

The ACCC this week advised parents to keep Apple’s AirTags out of the reach of young children after retailer Officeworks raised concerns about the ease in which the button battery can be accessed. The AirTag is a small device that can help locate and track your belongings on Apple’s FindMy network Back in May, shortly after Apple launched the AirTags, Officeworks removed them from shelves over safety concerns. READ TECH GUIDE’S REVIEW OF THE APPLE AIRTAGS Apple responded with a statement at the time which read: “AirTag is designed to meet international child safety standards, including those in Australia, by…

Is it ever OK to cyberstalk anyone? Two in five Australians aged 18-39 think that’s acceptable according to a new cyber safety study by NortonLifeLock. Half (49 per cent) of Gen Z and Millennials age 18-39 who have been in a romantic relationship have admitted to stalking an ex or current partner online by checking on them without their consent or their knowledge. There is a distinct generational difference among Australians with only 24 per cent of older adults admitting to this type of behaviour. And 30 per cent of those younger Australians currently in a romantic relationship believe their…

Telstra today announced its 5G network is now within reach of 75 per cent of the Australian population and its 4G network now covers more than two million square kilometres of the Australian continent. There are now more than 1.5 million 5G devices on the Telstra 5G network. And Telstra’s 5G network will also be improved with new technologies including low band 850Mhz and mmWave 26Ghz spectrum. Telstra set an ambitious target last year and has achieved the goal of 75 per cent coverage before the end of June 2021 ahead of schedule. “One of our priorities over the last year…

Lend us your ears for Episode 492 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 and products. This week, Apple’s warning on sideloading apps to your iPhone, the chip shortage explained and how long it will last, incentives to ramp EV sales, are you addicted to your phone, Shazam passes the billion mark and why this time of year of like Christmas for scammers. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of the page and you’ll be able…

Microsoft has introduced its brand new Windows 11 operating system with an all-new design and numerous new features which have been optimised for working, learning and playing. The release comes after the global pandemic which highlighted the need for a reliable and resilient operating system. Windows 11 now has built-in features and advanced security to allow people to continue with hybrid work and learning. Microsoft says the experience for the user is more important than ever for productivity, engagement and to just deliver an even more personal computing experience that does not compromise performance or security. DESIGN On the design…

TCL has unveiled a range of new smart products at Mobile World Congress 2021 including its NXTWEAR G wearable display glasses, an outdoor 5G CPE and the MOVETIME Family Watch 2. “Some of TCL’s biggest strengths are the breadth of its vision and creative capabilities, both of which have never been as evident as they are at Mobile World Congress 2021, where we have several products that enhance the human experience,” said Aaron Zhang, CEO at TCL Communication. “By adding value to key existing and future products with Multi-Screen Collaboration, TCL bridges software and hardware gaps across smartphones, tablets and…

If you need a fast connection no matter where you’re located then you need the new Netgear Nighthawk 4G LTE Wi-Fi nighthawk Router which can be easily set up for your home and business. And all you need is a 4G LTE nano SIM card to provide your connection to the Internet. Normally a router connects to a modem which brings into your home or business a fixed broadband connection. But in the case of the Netgear Nighthawk 4G LTE Wi-Fi router LAX20, that link to the internet is provided through the 4G LTE SIM card which needs to be…

It’s the end of the financial year and while Australians are either searching for a bargain, purchase a product to earn a tax refund or file their tax returns, scammers are out in force to take advantage of the increased number of shoppers online. Tax time is always a dangerous time of year for consumers with sensitive information being shared and this makes it even more attractive for scammers and cyber criminals who increase their activity and frequency of attacks in the hope of exploiting unknowing Australians. The scams that occur around tax time range from phishing attacks to identity…