Author: Stephen Fenech

Get onboard with Episode 490 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they break down the week’s biggest tech stories. This week, the app created by the AFP and FBI that brought down criminals around the world, we go through the biggest announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, our review of the new Sony WF1000XM4 earphones, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos now available on Apple Music, Disney tablets for kids and Hisense’s 2021 range of smart TVs go on sale. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at…

Spatial Audio is now available on Apple Music to give listeners an all-new immersive experience that has the potential to change the way artists record their music. And the more than 75 million songs in the Apple Music are now available in lossless audio which means you’ll hear every bit of the original audio file – exactly what the artists created in the studio. Spatial Audio works with Dolby Atmos and gives artists the opportunity to mix their music so rather than just offering regular left and right separation it offers multidimensional sound that comes from all directions. Spatial Audio…

Australian tablet and computer sales exploded in 2020 as we shifted to working from home, remote learning as well as keeping ourselves entertained during the pandemic. The result was a 12 per cent and 14 per cent increase respectively for tablets and computers according to technology analyst firm Telsyte. The Telsyte study found demand for computer accessories had also surged as customers tried to improve their work from home environment. The study found that three in five people in the Australian workforce now have a setup that enables them to work from home. These include a designated space or room…

Hisense has announced the pricing and availability of its exciting 2021 range of 4K and 8K UHD and ULED TVs which bring to the table a host of features customers will enjoy whether you’re a sports fan, movie lover or gamer. They will be available through retailers from this month. Hisense have a range of TVs from the entry level 43-inch UHD A7G at $899 all the way through to the 75-inch U90G ULED 8K Mini LED TV at $7,999. Features include Dolby Vision Atmos, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) on top of the Hisense Quantum…

Sony’s new WF1000XM4 Truly Wireless headphones continue the company’s legacy of producing stunning audio products with improved quality and premium noise cancellation. The new wireless headphones have had a complete redesign and are noticeably smaller (actually 10 per cent smaller) than the previous model. Even the charging case has been reduced in size. It is actually 40 per cent smaller than the previous case. Naturally the earphones have an IPX4 water resistance rating that can handle splashes and sweat so you don’t need to worry if you’re in the gym or caught in the rain. On the design side, the…

Stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews with Episode 454 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. Is technology taking over our life? We chat to digital lifestyle expert Dr Joanne Orlando about her new book that can help us cope, the 5G enabled helmet that can increase rider safety on the road and you might not be able to afford a Bentley car but Bentley headphones might be in your price range. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the new EarSHOTS earphones for adventurers that are held…

Apple has introduced new health and wellness features for users that build on the existing health platform of iPhone and Apple Watch that can not only monitor our health and share health data with loved ones. iOS 15 will make it possible to share your health information with a family member or caregiver so they can receive insights and notifications about the health trends of their loved ones. “This past year has emphasised the importance of health, and we’re enabling our users to take a more active role in their wellbeing,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “We’ve added powerful…

Apple has always placed a priority on customer privacy and today the company reinforced that protection with updates to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey and watchOS 8. Apple has introduced new features which use the latest innovations to expand its commitment to privacy and force change across the industry. Apple already did this with App Tracking Transparency and Privacy nutrition labels on the App Store. “Privacy has been central to our work at Apple from the very beginning,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “Every year, we push ourselves to develop new technology to help users take…

Apple today provided a sneak peek at the new watchOS 8 at the Worldwide Developers Conference which adds features to make the device even more useful for customers to stay healthy active and connected. Updates to the software include improvement to the Wallet and Home apps which makes Apple Watch even more convenient to access cars, homes and offices. Also included is a new Portrait watch face along with enhancements to messages and the Photos app to make sharing and staying connected to friends and family even easier. “Apple Watch is the most loved watch in the world, keeping users healthy,…

Apple’s new macOS will be called Monterey and offer new ways to stay connected, stay productive and work more easily across Apple devices. Apple followed its tradition of naming the new MacOS after a Californian landmark as seen in past versions including Big Sur, Mojave, El Capitan, High Sierra, Yosemite and Mavericks. It will be available in a public beta in July with the final version expected in September. macOS Monterey includes the new enhanced FaceTime along with SharePlay along with a major update to the Safari browser which includes a powerful new tab organisation feature. And, as seen with…

Apple’s new iPadOS 15 has just been unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference with features designed to increase productivity and improve multitasking to make the iPad more capable than ever. “We’re excited to make the iPad experience even better with iPadOS 15,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “With more intuitive multitasking, a new Home Screen design with integrated widgets and the App Library, system-wide note-taking with Quick Note, Translate designed for iPad, SharePlay, a redesigned Safari experience, new tools to stay focused and more, users can now be even more productive.” MULTITASKING AND KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS iPadOS 15 makes working…

Apple has unveiled the new iOS 15 for iPhone with new features designed to help users stay connected in a more natural way, enjoy shared experiences, prioritise their tasks and reduce distractions. The new software for iPhone was revealed at the Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and will be available for public beta in July with the final version due for release in September. “For many customers, iPhone has become indispensable, and this year we’ve created even more ways it can enhance our daily lives,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “iOS 15 helps users stay connected while sharing experiences…

Telstra is bringing its 5G technology to a new cycling helmet to create a new level of road safety for riders around the country. Each year, 44 cyclist are tragically killed on Australian roads – a number that could rise in the future if things don’t change. The new 5G-enabled cycling helmet – called Road Helmet One – includes a range of smart technologies to improve on-road safety. Through its fast 5G connection the helmet will be able to warn riders about road works and accidents, warn of possible car door openings and even see around corners and pick up…

The Kobo Elipsa is not just another eReader. For a start it has a much bigger screen to make reading more comfortable and luxurious. But it’s also a notepad as well and is ideal for the those who like to read with a pen in their hand. The included stylus allows readers to write in the margins and underline passages as well as create their own notes. Kobo Elipsa has a 10.3-inch E-ink screen that gives your book’s pages plenty of room and makes them easier to read. The device has all the features you’d expect from an eReader including…

Get the lowdown on the biggest tech news and products with Episode 489 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show: A look back at the phone plans from 10 years ago, mobile still attracting the most complaints to the TIO, the new app to prove how Aussie you are, App Store doing “very well”, TCL’s new 2021 TV range and the latest Apple TV 4K. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the…

TV manufacturer TCL has announced its first range of 4K and 8K Google TVs with QLED and mini LED technology on board to provide high quality audio, picture and connectivity. The new line-up includes both 4K and 8K TV’s with new mini LED backlight technology to create outstanding colour, contrast and brightness. On the audio side, the TV’s come with Dolby Atmos built in to produce an immersive multidimensional soundscape. “The new range of TCL TVs offers the next generation of gamers the fantastic Game Master experience that is second to none,” says Mark Zhang, Managing Director at TCL Electronics…

There is no shortage of wirefree earphones on the market but not all of them can meet the demands of active outdoor users in terms of comfort and stability and that’s where earSHOTS come in. earSHOTS have a one size and one shape fits all design and have a magnetic ear clip to ensure they don’t fall out or dislodge when you’re on your run, your climb or your ride. The earphones wrap around your ear and attach magnetically from the tip to the base through the back of your ear so they are locked in place. This proprietary magnetic…

In the flagship class of smartphones there aren’t many choices apart from Apple and Samsung but Oppo has emerged as a viable choice with its new Find X3 Pro. Priced at $1699, the Oppo Find X3 Pro offers customers a striking design, a dazzling display and an impressive camera system. They are the features that customers look for but at this price point they are competing with Apple and Samsung. It would take a lot to drag anyone away from those brands. The Oppo Find X3 Pro does offer an attractive alternative for those looking to make a change or…

Apple has revealed the App Store ecosystem generated $643 billion in billings and sales in 2020 – an increase of 24 per cent year on year – as the world turned to their apps to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Apps helped people stay connected, healthy, educated and entertained as we faced the year’s challenges brought about by the COVID crisis. An independent study by the Analysis Group showed that one in four small developers who were selling goods and services to customers around the world through their apps saw a 25 per cent increase in their business each…

Phone and Internet complaints have dropped by more than 6 per cent compared to the same quarter last year with mobiles still the most complained about service type accounting for 35 per cent of all complaints. Between January and March 2021 there were 30,393 complaints about phone and Internet services made by residential consumers and small businesses. This is a decrease of 0.3 per cent compared to the previous quarter. But in comparison to the same quarter last year it’s actually a drop of 6.1 per cent. These figures come from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Q3 2020 21 complaints report…