Author: Stephen Fenech

Tech Guide is celebrating its 10th birthday this week. It’s 10 years since the site went live on January 24, 2011 with the goal of keeping readers updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. And we’re proud to say we accomplished that mission – and continue to do so. We continue to bring you stories explaining technology in a way we can all understand and providing honest and unbiased reviews so customers can make an informed and confident decision on their next tech purchase. 10 years ago when the Tech Guide site launched the flagship smartphones…

Apple has introduced an all-new experience for Apple Watch for Fitness+ subscribers called Time to Walk where users are encouraged to experience the healthy activity accompanied by interesting audio content . With Time to Walk, users can walk and immerse themselves in interesting and influential stories from a range of artists, celebrities and sport stars. The Time to Walk content can be enjoyed anytime on Apple Watch that’s paired with AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones. “Walking is the most popular physical activity in the world, and one of the healthiest things we can do for our bodies,” said Jay Blahnik,…

We’ve got security for our computers and smartphones and now NortonLifeLock has released protection for gamers and their online accounts so they can stay secure without compromising performance. Online gaming has enjoyed a huge surge during the global pandemic with more than 2.7 billion gamers competing online globally. That’s a huge target for cyber criminals and they have certainly taken aim. A recent survey commissioned by NortonLifeLock and conducted by Harris Poll among 3,000 Australian gamers found 72 per cent worried gaming was becoming less secure. A further 35 per cent globally have revealed they’ve had a gaming account hacked…

Be sure to tune in to Episode 435 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. On this week’s show, is the Google threat to cut off its search engine in Australia a bluff, the best phones under $500 to buy for your child and the new Norton app that can completely secure your smartphone. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Tado Smart AC Control to make your air conditioner smart, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite that’s…

Boost Mobile has upgraded its refurbished iPhone offer at Coles supermarkets and will be offering the iPhone 8 to customers nationally from tomorrow for the special price of $359. This offer follows the hugely successful sale of the refurbished iPhone 7 last year which kicked off the partnership between Boost Mobile and Coles to offer technology at affordable prices. Apple’s iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch display with TrueTone, a 12-megapixel rear camera and a front 7-megapixel selfie camera. The iPhone 8 was also the first Apple device to offer wireless charging so it can be rested on a charging mat…

Xiaomi has launched the affordable Mi Watch Lite, priced at less than $100, that can track your steps and exercise and also allow you to view texts, calls and other notifications on your wrist. The Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite can be paired with Android smartphones and iPhones via the Xiaomi Wear app (Android) and the Xiaomi Wear Lite app (iOS). It has a 1.4-inch colour touchscreen display with built GPS + GLONASS for precise satellite positioning so it can track your position, speed and distance. Users can monitor 11 different types of exercises both indoors and out including running, treadmill,…

Our air conditioners have been getting quite a workout this summer but wouldn’t it be good if we could make them smarter. With the Tado Smart AC Control you can do exactly that. If your air conditioner has a remote with a display then you’re in business. The Tado Smart AC Control Device is a small square device that can fit in the palm of your hand. The idea behind the product is to link it to your system so it can not only control your AC but also provide information and notifications so it can work more efficiently and…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 470, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is right here so you can hear about the biggest tech stories of the week in a fun yet informative podcast. On this week’s show, Telstra’s 5G footprint is getting bigger and faster, Arlo releases the Ultra 2 wireless security cameras, Connect releases an affordable range of new smart home products, Australians lose more than $170m in scams in 2020 and Volvo’s new key to reduce the speed of its cars. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site…

Google has made the extraordinary threat of removing access to its popular search engine to Australians if it is forced to pay for the news stories it links to under a proposed media bargaining code. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also waded into the debate saying “we don’t respond to threats”. Mr Morrison’s response comes after a fiery Australian parliamentary inquiry in which Google Australia’s managing director Mel Silva said enforcement of the News Media Bargaining Code could result in Google shutting up shop in Australia. “If this code were to become law, it would give us no real choice…

It’s back to school time and many students will be returning to class with their first smartphone. There are plenty of sub-$500 smartphones for parents to choose from so they can stay in touch with their child. A December 2020 study by the Australian Communication and Media Authority  (ACMA) showed 46 per cent of children aged six to 13 used a mobile phone with 33 per cent owning the phone they use. With phones becoming an integral part of our lives parents have a lot to consider when purchasing a smartphone for their child. But the good news is that…

D-Link has launched its new COVR AX next-generation AX1800 Dual Band Seamless Mesh Wi-Fi 6 systems which include the COVR-X1873 (3 pack), the COVR-X1872 (2 pack) and the COVR-X1870 (single). The COVR AX build on the award-winning COVR series and this time includes Wi-Fi 6 which offers an increase in speed, capacity and range to handle the needs of a modern household. The COVR-X1873 has three COVR points and is ideal for larger with a wi-fi coverage footprint of 740 square metres. Medium sized homes would be more suited to the COVR-X1872 but you can buy a single COVR unit…

Laser has announced its second-generation range of affordable CONNECT smart home devices with a wider line-up of lighting options, security cameras and solar panels and smart water controllers. CONNECT entered the smart home market in early 2020 with $10 smart light bulbs and these new products expand on that value offering to bring smart home technology within reach of more customers. The new CONNECT smart lighting solutions offer users creative and stylish options while still being very competitively priced. The light bulbs are now available in a vintage filament-style design to not only offer smart home convenience but a new…

Australians lost a combined total of $176.1 million to scammers in 2020 – a massive 23.1 per cent increase over the $142.9 million we were cheated out of in 2019. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s latest Scamwatch report not only did scammers reap more money but the number of scams in 2020 rose to 216,089 which is 28 per cent higher than the 167,795 scams that were reported in 2019. 2020 presented scammers with extraordinary opportunities thanks to the COVID pandemic and the fears and uncertainties that came with it. More money was lost in December 2020…

Telstra has achieved a world-first 5G download speed record of 5Gbps after the successful completion of a test on the Gold Coast in collaboration with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies. This builds on the previous record of 4.2Gbps maximum download speed record in September 2020 using mmWave 5G. The 5G test was performed at the 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast using a smartphone form factor mobile test device. The continued effort with Ericsson (who is building out the Telstra 5G network) and Qualcomm Technologies (the chip manufacturer building the antenna modules) will help Telstra unlock key learnings and implement…

Arlo has launched an update to the company’s award-winning series of wire-free security cameras with the Ultra 2 Wire-Free Spotlight 4K Camera system. The Ultra 2 lives up to its name with 4K video with HDR (high dynamic range) and an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view. Also onboard is Auto Zoom and tracking which can now focus automatically on moving objects in even better quality. The range of the Arlo Ultra 2 has also been improved which allows users to expand their placement options for the cameras. On the battery side, the rechargeable battery can run for up to six…

Do yourself a favour and tune in to Episode 434 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech to stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy S21 smartphone series and we chat about them with Garry McGregor – Samsung Australia’s vice president for IT and Mobile, Telstra’s 5G network reaches 50 per cent of the population and growing and Arlo announces a new indoor camera and a touchless video doorbell. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the ASUS…

NortonLifeLock has released a new security app – Norton 360 for mobile – which offers smartphone users device security, online privacy and identity protection features all in place. Available now from the Google Play Store and the App Store, the Norton 360 app is available to use with a Norton 360 plan or as a standalone subscription. Features normally accessed from multiple Norton and LifeLock app can now be accessed in one place so users can manage their cyber safety tools. “We want to provide our customers with a seamless, easy to use, complete experience to help them manage their…

There are lots of ways for elite gamers to get the edge on their opponent – one of those ways is being comfortable in a purpose-built gaming chair like the Anda Seat. Anda Seat chairs are now available in Australia but they are already known for their work building race car seats for Mercedes Benz and BMW. The company has since focused in creating quality gaming chairs afters seeing the growing demand in the esports industry. After launching in 2007 the Anda Seat became one of the leading choices in the industry and is now considered the go-to chair for…

Star Wars fans have recently seen sequel trilogy and a hit streaming TV show and now they’ll be getting a new ambitious open world game set in a galaxy far, far away. Massive Entertainment, one of the studios of award-winning game publisher Ubisoft, is collaborating with Lucasfilm Games on the new story-driven game set in the vast Star Wars universe. “The vast Star Wars lore is an incredible source of inspiration for our teams,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO of Ubisoft. “This is the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm Games, and we are pleased to be working…

The 5G rollout in Australia is progressing at a rapid pace with Telstra confirming more than 50 per cent of Australians are now living within range of the Telstra 5G footprint. That means today that one in two Australians are able to connect to Telstra 5G. Telstra says that number will increase by the middle of the year with plans to reach 75 per cent of the population by then. There are currently 2,650 Telstra 5G sites in Australia with coverage in more than 100 cities and towns and more than 2,000 suburbs across Australia with Telstra 5G coverage. There…