Author: Stephen Fenech

The latest Federal Budget has been announced and it includes huge spending on technology and related industries to enhance cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, digital skills and emerging technologies. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has splashed the cash in a few areas including technology with the goal to offer a modern digital economy that will allow Australia to compete on the world stage and prosper in the world economy. The Government has pledged $124.1m to fund the improvement of AI which includes setting up a National Artificial Intelligence Centre, supporting Australian businesses to take part in pilot programs to find AI-based solutions to national…

Apple has revealed it has blocked more than $US1.5bn of potentially fraudulent transactions in the App Store in 2020 in the fight against suspect developers and users. There have been threats to the App Store since it opened in 2008 and Apple has scaled the size of its team and the level of technology to stay one step ahead of potential threats. Apple uses sophisticated technology like machine learning and AI along with human expertise to prevent fraudulent transactions and keep nearly a million risky and vulnerable new apps out of customers hands. The App Review teams stands as the…

HTC has launched two new VIVE VR headsets and a suite of professional tools that will take the platform in an all-new direction for business and consumer applications. Announced at HTC’s VIVECon, the company unveiled the VIVE Pro 2 and the VIVE Focus 3 with both featuring 5K resolution displays and a 120-degree field of view. “Today’s launch marks a major milestone in our strategy to create the very best immersive experiences,” said Cher Wang, HTC Chairwoman and CEO. “We have listened to our customers, from well-known global companies to smaller firms and professional users and have designed these premium…

We’re celebrating the 450th episode of the top rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, which has kept listeners updated and educated about the latest consumer tech since June 2012. On this week’s show, the pursuit for even faster home broadband just got even better – we’ll take a look at the announcements from Telstra and the NBN, are the new Apple AirTags safe? Officeworks doesn’t think so and Dyson has unveiled its new V15 Detect vacuum that now uses lasers. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Amazon Fire Stick 4K, we listen…

The Lenovo Yoga Slim Carbon 7i is a combination of design, beauty and performance for those users who want to get things done on the go and look good doing it. The Yoga Slim Carbon 7i has an eye catching colour – its official name is Moon White – and a tapered design which gives it a slim 14.9mm profile. It also weighs less than 1kg. The top cover of the laptop is made from high-strength carbon fibre which means its 40 per cent lighter but with greater durability. Meanwhile the palm rests below the keyboard are made from magnesium…

A Brisbane start-up which developed the world’s first handheld steering controller is on course to become the first Australian company with an approved “Made for Xbox” product that fills a major gap in the lucrative gaming market. BoxDark founder Phil Croft created the ground-breaking ProSteer controller in the garage of his home in the Brisbane suburb of Parkinson. ProSteer is the world’s first handheld steering controller that offers a realistic, responsive and smooth driving experience which is a fraction of the price of a full racing wheel set up. The company closed their deal with Microsoft last week which will…

Telstra has announced it will be expanding its 5G Home Internet to more suburbs and towns in Australia and also doubling the data limit to help customers whose fixed connection is not meeting their needs. Telstra says its 5G network is on track to reach 75 per cent of Australians by the end of June. Customers who took up the Telstra 5G Home Internet service provided positive feedback and in the coming months the service will be expanded as the Telstra 5G network expands. There are enough users on the network to provide accurate performance analysis to improve the network…

The Amazon Fire Stick TV 4K has landed in Australia and gives users the ability to make their TV even smarter and access apps and streaming services that they usually couldn’t reach. With the new Amazon Fire Stick 4K you also get 4K quality if you own or plan to buy a 4K TV. It’s priced at $99 which is $20 more than the full HD version so it’s worth extra spend because of the huge amount of 4K content you can stream. The Fire Stick TV 4K includes the Alexa Voice Remote – of course you can talk to…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 485, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, takes you through the all the week’s big tech news and product announcements. On this week’s show, Officeworks pulls the Apple AirTags from stores over safety concerns, NBN lists the suburbs that will be receiving the fibre extension, Dyson released new vacuum with a laser to reveal hidden dust, TCL launches its new 20 Series of affordable smartphones, LG announces its 2021 TV pricing and the stats that show the last decade saw the biggest growth in tech in history. You can listen to…

There are new MagSafe compatible cases now available for iPhone 12 users from Otterbox and Case-Mate which enable customers to use MagSafe accessories like chargers and car mounts. Force Technology International has released the line of accessories which are designed to work with Apple’s MagSafe technology. “The MagSafe technology charges a device twice as fast as when compared to a traditional wireless charger,” says Force Technology International CEO, Carl Bonham. “We strive to always bring our customers the most convenient and speedy technology for their smartphones across all brands and this new range really achieves this.” These new cases from…

The Bowers & Wilkin PI7 true wireless earphones were not the first true wireless earphones released – there were many that came before it – but these are the best we’ve heard. While the wire-free earphones category was exploding, every audio company was rushing models to market. But not Bowers & Wilkins. It wasn’t going to release a product of this kind until it could offer their iconic sound quality in this form factor without compromising the audio quality that its customers have come to expect from the brand. And that’s exactly what Bowers & Wilkins has achieved with the…

Microsoft’s latest Surface 4 laptop has just been released and it is an ideal choice for users who are looking for a powerful and attractive laptop computer that can go anywhere. This is not an entry level laptop – it starts at $1,599 – but for your money you’re getting a decent system powered by the latest Intel 11th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor which is what we received for review. There’s also a version of the Microsoft Surface 4 that’s running the AMD Ryzen Mobile processor with Radeon Graphics. On our Intel Surface 4 laptop was 8GB RAM with…

Apple has responded to the Officeworks decision to suspend the sales of the company’s new AirTags saying the product meets international safety standards. The AirTag – a small device that can help locate and track your belongings on Apple’s FindMy network – went on sale last week. But, as reported in Gizmodo, Officeworks removed the AirTags due to safety concerns around the ease in which the button battery can be removed by a child. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TechGuide (@techguideau) Tech Guide has reviewed Apple’s AirTags which are about the size of an…

EcoXgear has released large rugged outdoor Bluetooth speaker – the EcoBoulder Max – which allows users to take their music anywhere without fear of it being damaged thanks to the IP67 rating which makes it waterproof and dustproof. The EcoBoulder Max speaker can even float if it falls into the water. So it can easily handle your next camping trip or party wherever you go. The device can connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet with a range of up to 30m. Also onboard is EcoTalk technology which offers voice control through Siri or Google Assistant so you can…

JBL has launched a new soundbar – the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam – which can deliver a spacious 3D soundscape which now includes Dolby Atmos for the first time. The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam soundbar is designed to enhance your TV’s sound and feel the atmosphere of your favourite movies, TV shows and sporting events in the comfort of your lounge room. JBL’s MultiBeam technology delivers solid bass and surround sound with no extra speakers or cables required. The system offers 250W of output power so it realty delivers an audio punch to whatever you’re watching. And with the addition…

Dyson has just unveiled two new vacuums that take cleaning to the next level so customers will not only have a cleaner home but also a healthier home thanks to the powerful new features. The Dyson V15 Detect is the company’s most powerful and intelligent cordless vacuum uses a laser detection system integrated into the fluffy head cleaner so it can illuminate dust particles invisible to the human eye so you don’t miss a spot. V15 Detect can now also detect, size and count microscopic dust and show the user proof the floor is clean. Dyson has also unveiled its…

Do yourself a favour and tune in to Episode 449 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech to keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, we look back at the last decade of technology which saw the most rapid growth in Australia’s history, TCL has just launched its new 20 Series of advanced yet affordable smartphones and we chat with Kate Burleigh, Australia/New Zealand head of Amazon Alexa and devices about the state of the smart speaker market. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a…

NBN Co has released the list of suburbs and towns where more than 900,000 homes currently served with FTTN (fibre to the node) will be eligible for a fibre upgrade. The full list of suburbs and towns that will receive the fibre extension are listed below. NBN’s plan is to extend fibre deeper into the communities which have only had access to the slower FTTN connection. Today’s announcement reveals the first suburbs and towns in Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory which will be transformed from FTTN to FTTP (fibre to the premises) if customers order faster plans. Also revealed…

The last 10 years has seen the most rapid technology change and growth in Australia’s history with a surge in smartphone adoption, spending on digital good and services and adoption of home and personal technology products. The Telsyte Australian Digital Consumer Study 2021, the first produced after the COVID-19 pandemic, shows the acceleration of our adoption of tech devices and services. This report has been published since 2008 and has provided a detailed insight and forecasts about the trends in tech usage, digital trends and changing consumer lifestyles. The last decade has seen rapid change with a shift to online…

If you’re looking for a pair of wire-free active noise cancelling earphones the new Huawei FreeBuds 4i provide both quality and value. Priced at just $159, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i offer tremendous bang for your buck. Available in black or white, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i have ergonomically-designed earbuds which sit at an angle that provide a comfortable and secure air-tight fit in your ears. Each pair of FreeBuds 41 also come with three different sized ear tips so you can achieve the perfect fit. They are also balanced by a short stalk that sits outside your ear. Each bud only…