Author: Stephen Fenech

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…

Nearly every single one of us is addicted to our smartphones in some way and our ability to disconnect could actually be affecting our health and wellbeing, according to a study by Monash University. The Australia-first study about this condition – nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) – reveals 99.2 per cent of users have some level of fear of not having their mobile phone with them. For 13.2 per cent of the population this fear is so severe it leads to dangerous and illegal use of the device. The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and…

Tech Guide has rounded up what we consider to be the best tech products of 2020. It’s been an unforgettable year to say the least and, because of the global pandemic, we’ve relied more on technology than ever before. In 2020 we’ve used tech to help us work from home and learn from home and keep ourselves entertained. In our awards video below we name what we think are the best products in a number of categories including: smartphone, earphones, headphones, tablet, networking, smart home, gaming, television, laptop and gadget. Now on with the show: here are our Tech Guide…

LG will come out of the gate at top speed in 2021 when it reveals its first ever QNED Mini LED TV at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show which kicks off on January 11. This will be LG’s top of the line offering in its premium LCD TV line-up and combines quantum dot and NanoCell technologies with Mini LEDS as the light source. There will be up to 30,000 tiny LEDs that offer a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 with around 2,500 dimming zones along with advanced local dimming technology. The result is superior brightness, contrast and black levels that completely…

Rumours and leaked images are swirling ahead of the imminent release of the new  Samsung flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone in January. Samsung released the Galaxy S20 back in February 2020 before the world went into the COVID lockdown and the strongest rumours point to a virtual launch event on January 14, 2021 with a likely on-sale date of late January or early February. There are two new devices that are likely to be unveiled – the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21+. Samsung may also release a S21 Ultra alongside these two models or later in the year. On the…

This time of year we maybe heading out on holidays but keeping an eye on your place when you’re not there is cheaper and easier than ever with the Ring Indoor Cam. Priced at just $99, the Ring Indoor Cam provides a fast and easy way to check in on your home remotely through the Ring app. Ring is the company behind the smart doorbell and the new Indoor Cam is the latest in the range of the company’s connected cameras. The Ring Indoor Cam is really small – it’s 7.5mm tall without the stand and 4.5cm wide – and…

Whether you’re camping, at the beach, by the pool or anywhere in the great outdoors you can still enjoy your music in great quality with the EcoXGear EcoXplorer speaker. The EcoXplorer is rated IP67 which means it is 100 per cent waterproof so it’s an ideal outdoor speaker. It is fully submersible and even if it does go into the water it will still float. EcoXplorer is built with a rugged drop proof design so it can easily handle the bumps and scrapes of outdoor living. The speaker is 33cm tall and 25.4cm wide and tips the scales at 4.5kg.…

With so many people working and learning from home nowadays it’s important to be comfortable which is why a product like the TwelveSouth Curve Riser can be very handy. The Curve Riser elevates the iMac or any other external display by 10.6cm to place it closer to eye level. This is friendlier angle for your neck and back, especially if you’re spending the better part of a work day in this position. And not only does it offer a more comfortable position for workers and creatives but the Curve Riser can be a handy storage or placement area for a…

If you’re thinking about abusing someone online – think again. Under a new world-leading Online Safety Bill under consideration by the Australian Government, this could cost $111,000 in a civil penalty. The Government proposal would give the eSafety Commissioner sweeping powers to remove comments and other harmful content from websites and social media platforms. And cowards hiding behind anonymous and fake accounts to post their bile will also be unmasked and publicly identified under these draft laws. The Online Safety Bill will require the removal of image-based abuse and cyber bullying content with 24 hours of receiving notice from the…