Author: Stephen Fenech

Tune in to Episode 431 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, our last for 2020, Optus set to break its own 5G speed record, Google AI-powered cameras are coming to the rescue of bushfire affected wildlife and how you can relive childhood retro gaming memories. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Samsung Premiere short throw project, we road-test the new Apple AirPods Max headphones and we check out the Dakota Side Table which…

The HyperX QuadCast S looks and sounds great – that’s not something you can say about many microphones. What makes the HyperX QuadCast S a standout is not just the impressive audio quality and ease of connection, but the mesmerising lights that change before your eyes. The condenser microphone is designed for streamers and podcasters and is a simple plug and play solution. It is positioned on an anti-vibration shock mount which helps cut down sounds of unwanted bumps and rumbles. https://youtu.be/FK3-njrl3is You can connect the HyperX QuadCast S to your Mac, PC or PlayStation console with the supplied USB-C…

Optus is set to break more 5G speed records as it expands its mmWave deployment in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra with speeds expected to be 40 times faster than the NBN. On October 14, 2020, Optus clocked an Australian speed record of more than 2.8Gbps with a Samsung Galaxy S20 5G in Sydney. But Optus has already clocked speeds in excess of 4Gbps at test sites over the last five months with mmWave. mmWave technology is a faster form of 5G with even greater throughput and lower latency. mmWave doesn’t quite have the range of Sub 6…

Setting up a home theatre can be intimidating for some people – they have to consider a projector, speakers, AV receivers and cables and someone to put it all together. But Samsung has come along with The Premiere and put all of those things into a single product. Samsung, already the worldwide market leader in TVs, has poured its significant know-how into The Premiere LSP9T. It’s a smart TV in the shape of a 4K short throw projector. Instead of placing the TV on your entertainment unit, you position The Premiere in the same spot. But unlike a regular TV,…

Take a listen to Episode 467 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long . It will be the last show of the fun yet informative tech podcast for 2020. On this week’s show, Apple Fitness+ kicks off, our verdicts on the Apple AirPods Max headphones, the Arlo Essential Wire-Free Doorbell, Apple’s new App Store privacy policy, how you can check the queue at Dan Murphy’s liquor stores and the Google AI powered cameras being used to keep an eye on bushfire affected wildlife. You can listen to the show right…

Home security is now within reach of all customers thanks to quality affordable connected cameras like the EZVIZ C3W Colour Night Vision Wi-Fi Outdoor and the C6N Smart Wi-Fi Pan and Tilt indoor security cameras. Whether we’re waiting for a package, monitoring the outside of our homes, making sure the kids are home and safe and checking in on your pets, these new EZVIZ cameras help you do all of these things. Both of these affordable cameras offer crisp full high definition video as well as two-way talk functionality. Through the EZVIZ app, users can remotely greet their children when…

Apple is helping last minute Christmas shoppers with a new service that can deliver your Apple product purchases to your doorstep in as little as three hours. Customers can already order and pay for their items on the Apple website and pick them up at their nearest Apple Store or a pick-up point like a newsagent or post office or have them delivered with regular postage for free. Apple is ensuring a safe and contactless shopping experience in its stores with temperature checks and face masks provided as well as limited store occupancy and physical distancing. The store and all…

Today we’re surrounded by technology and we’ve got content to stream and devices to charge. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an attractive and functional piece of furniture that can blend into our décor but also meet our tech needs? As a matter of fact, there is. It’s called the Dakota Side Table from the Australian company Chapman Trading Co. The beautifully crafted circular table might look like regular table but it actually has under the hood – four Bluetooth speakers, a 6000mAh battery, Qi wireless charging, two USB ports for wired charging and an AUX input. The Dakota…

The Apple AirPods Max headphones are here! And they’ve lived up to my expectations. But with a price tag of a whopping $899 they’re not for everyone. Only a company like Apple, which prides itself as much on design as it does on functionality, can get away with the release of a product like this. Many Apple devotees who are firmly ensconced in the Apple ecosystem wouldn’t have even batted an eyelid before buying the AirPods Max. At this price, the AirPods Max are hundreds of dollars more expensive than even the most premium noise cancelling headphones from Bose, Sony…

Google Australia has launched a partnership with WWF-Australia and Conservation International and will use more than 600 AI-powered cameras to monitor wildlife in bushfire zones across Australia. We will never forget the heartbreaking images of wildlife caught in the ravaging bushfires. Nearly three billion native animals were in the path of the devastating fires with 119 threatened species identified as needing urgent help. The project, called an Eye on Recovery, will see more than 600 sensor cameras installed in landscapes impacted by last summer’s bushfires including the Blue Mountains, East Gippsland, Kangaroo Island, and South East Queensland. The project launched…

Retro gaming is huge at the moment. The new Arcade1Up gaming machines allows customers to relive their cherished childhood when gaming arcades were the place to be. And people like me who are old enough to remember these classic games are looking at recreating those glory days so a product like Arcade1Up is ideal. There are five models to choose from and each has a different size and form factor. For our review we played the Arcade1Up 8-in-1 Namco Pac-Man ($499) which has eight games onboard – Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, Pac n Pal, Galaga, Galaxian, Dig Dug, Mappy and Xevious.…

Lend us your ears and tune in to Episode 430 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 we chat with cyber security expert Mark Gorrie from NortonLifeLock and he shares his tips on how to stay safe online this Christmas, Apple releases new $900 AirPods Max headphones and we take a look at the improvements of the latest Tesla Model 3. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the new Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell, Uniden has launched its new App…

Tesla has quietly updated the Model 3 with subtle changes to the electric car both inside and out as well as a boost to the range of the vehicle. Tech Guide got behind the wheel of the new Model 3 for a hands on look at the updated version of the popular electric vehicle. There has been no change to the shape of the Model 3 but there are a few cosmetic and design updates which are now standard on the latest model. https://youtu.be/u-6fxTnduY4 The latest Model 3 has benefitted from a series ongoing quality and efficiency improvements from the…

We made it! It’s Day 12 of Tech Guide’s popular 2020 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas which is designed to help you find the perfect gift for your family and friends. Today we’re looking at computers and accessories and other related products. Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 1: Cameras Day 2: Smartphones Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches Day 4: Headphones/speakers DAY 5: Gaming DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices DAY 9: In-car gadgets DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K DAY 11: Appliances DAY 12: Computers DAY 12: COMPUTERS MACBOOK AIR with M1 – From $1,599 If we had to sum up our reviews of the new…

An app’s privacy information is now more obvious than ever after Apple introduced a mandatory glanceable summary on the App Store so users have more transparency about the data the apps gather and use. From today, every app on Apple’s App Store will now include clear privacy practices and information about the type of data collected and used. This privacy information is now mandatory across all App Stores including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS. This reporting is also now a part of the app submission process for all developers and the same questions must be answered by every app…

Arlo has just released its Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell so you can keep an eye and ear on the front door while enjoying the same security and peace of mind provided by the company’s internet connected cameras. The doorbell can be installed whether you have power to the front door or not thanks to its wire-free design. If there is power available it’s a very simple connection and, if not, the rechargeable battery will power the Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell for weeks before it needs a recharge. The biggest point of difference between the Arlo doorbell and competitor products…

It’s new Day 11 of Tech Guide’s popular 2020 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas which is here to help you come up with the perfect gifts for your family and friends. Today we’re looking at appliances and health and beauty items. Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 1: Cameras Day 2: Smartphones Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches Day 4: Headphones/speakers DAY 5: Gaming DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices DAY 9: In-car gadgets DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K DAY 11: Appliances DAY 12: Computers DAY 11: APPLIANCES DEEBOT OZMO U2 PRO ROBOT VACUUM – $599 DEEBOT U2 is here to provide maximized cleaning performance for homes…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 466, with Tech guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long is right here for your listening pleasure as we dissect the biggest tech stories and products of the week. On this week’s show, the top Google searches of 2020, Apple unveils $900 AirPods Max headphones, Apple Watch Family setup, Uniden releases new App Cam Solo Pro security camera and the Jabra Elite 85t earphones. 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 of…

Following the popularity of Star Wars live action series The Madalorian, Disney+ has more than doubled down with plans for 10 new Star Wars series that will be rolled out on the streaming platform. The ambitious slate of Star Wars programs was unveiled during an investor presentation by Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy who also revealed a new Star Wars feature film – Rogue Squadron – from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins which is due for release in December 2023. The new line-up of Star Wars series will include Kenobi – starring Ewan McGregor, who played the Jedi character in the…

We’re up to Day 10 in the home stretch with Tech Guide’s popular 2020 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas to help you find the ideal gadget gifts that will put a smile on the face of your loved ones. Today we’re looking at TVs and related products like soundbars and projectors plus the movies you can watch on them. Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 1: Cameras Day 2: Smartphones Day 3: Wearables/smartwatches Day 4: Headphones/speakers DAY 5: Gaming DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices DAY 9: In-car gadgets DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K DAY 11: Appliances DAY 12: Computers DAY 10: TVs/Blu-ray/4K EPSON…