Author: Stephen Fenech

Samsung has just released its new Galaxy Tab Active 3 – a ruggedized tablet that’s designed to meet the demands of today’s mobile workforce thanks to a rugged yet compact design. The device has been built to enhance the performance and productivity for field-based employees and includes a number of new features to help professionals like first responders to complete their tasks and work safely in challenging environments and conditions. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is MIL-STD-810H certified to handle the world’s toughest conditions. https://youtu.be/T0NZXZfQIdQ The unit can withstand drops of up to 1.5m thanks to an included protective…

There are so many streaming options and content available and if you have an older TV or a smart TV that doesn’t have all the streaming apps you want, then the new Chromecast with Google TV is what you need. Priced at just $99, Chromecast with Google TV is capable of 4K streaming and includes access to Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube and catch-up apps for free-to-air channels including 9Now, ABC iView and 7 Plus. And with the Google Play Store onboard you can also install apps including Binge, Hayu and Kayo Sports, Optus Sports and many, many more.…

DJI has unveiled its smallest foldable 4K drone – the DJI Mini 2 – so you can capture stunning footage anywhere. And it can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs as much as an apple. The DJI Mini 2, the successor to the original Mavic mini, might be small but it still offers remarkable image and video quality and can be used to capture a stunning landscape or your next party. It has a small and easily portable design that tips the scales at just 249g placing it in the safest drone category. Also on board are…

Tune in to Episode 461 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the biggest tech stories and product announcements of the week. On this week’s show, Coles start selling refurbished iPhones, Apple announces another event, what to do if your phone can’t read a QR code, the most Shazamed songs of the 2010s, the Withings ScanWatch with built-in ECG and the Arlo Essential WireFree Video Doorbell. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the…

There are plenty of dating apps and websites but an Australian developer has come up with the first dating app – Fitafy – that matches like-minded singles based on their mutual interest in health and fitness. The Fitafy app, an Australian first, uses AI-matching technology to match singles based on their fitness and health preferences. Are you an early riser? Do you like to exercise? Are you a vegan? These are major factors which can determine the success of a relationship. “Fitafy isn’t about abs, tans or a stereotypical view of what it means to be fit and healthy.” says…

Withings has released s range of new digital health products including ScanWatch – the first hybrid smartwatch in Australia to include a medical grade electrocardiogram, heart rate and oxygen saturation monitoring. Also unveiled was Sleep Analyzer – the first under-mattress technology that can detect if you might be suffering from sleep apnoea. Both of these products have both received the TGA approval for medical devices and build on Withings global vision to offer health prevention and health monitoring to its users. WITHINGS SCANWATCH – $479 (38mm) and $499 (42mm) ScanWatch Is the world’s first clinically validated hybrid smartwatch to detect…

Arlo, one of the leading brands for internet connected cameras, has today unveiled its new Arlo Essential Wirefree Video Doorbell which extends the same security and peace of mind to your front door. The new device offers the same award-winning features of the popular Arlo Wired Video Doorbell but in an easy-to-install wire-free design that is battery powered. The Arlo Essential Wirefree Video Doorbell offers a wider angle than conventional video doorbells so users can enjoy a 180-degree viewing angle with the square 1:1 aspect ratio so you can see your visitor from head to toe and if there are…

You better get used to scanning a QR code if you ever want to visit a restaurant, cafe or club to stay COVID safe and help with contact tracing. But what do you do if your phone can’t scan the QR code? First of all, let’s understand what a QR code is. The QR code was invented in Japan in 1994 by the barcode scanner manufacturer Denso Corporation as they were trying to come up with new codes that could store a lot more information. The result was the square code we see today which, unlike a regular barcode that…

Be sure to tune in to Episode 424 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. We take you inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centre and also chat to 2GB Breakfast Show host Ben Fordham in our popular Celebrity Tech segment. We give you a behind the scenes look inside the massive Amazon facility to show you how orders are stocked, processed, packed and shipped. Also on the show, Coles to start selling refurbished iPhones after a partnership with Boost Mobile and we talk to radio host and media personality Ben Fordham in our Celebrity Tech interview. In…

There are lot of choices when it comes to buying a TV and the first decision you have to make is choosing what screen size best suits the room in your home you’ll be watching it in. Over the last three years, Australians have been demanding an increase in larger screen sizes, with 75-inch and larger becoming popular. Samsung offers a range of size choices from 43-inch up to 85-inch. When choosing the right size TV for your home you should consider size, resolution and price. Calculating the right TV size for your home is less complicated than you might…

The global smartphone market has rallied after a difficult first half of 2020 with only a 0.9 per cent decline in Q3 over last year’s numbers following declines of more than 15 per cent in each of the first two quarters. According to Omdia, the latest global shipments figures shows the smartphone market has recovered dramatically. In Q3, 2020 global shipments reached 357.4 million units which is down from 360.8 million units in the corresponding quarter of 2019. Samsung has maintained its lead as the number one smartphone manufacturer while Apple has dropped down to fourth place after a 10.2…

Apple still isn’t done releasing new products this year. The company has just announced an event for next week entitled “One More Thing” which is likely to reveal the first Mac computers running Apple’s very own silicon. The event kicks off in the US on Tuesday November 10 at 10am at Apple Park in Cupertino which is 5am Wednesday, November 11 Sydney time. We’ve already seen two Apple events in the last six weeks which revealed the Apple Watch Series 6, the iPad Air and, more recently, the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and the HomePod mini were unveiled. With…

Amazon is the largest online marketplaces in the world and is used by millions of people every day. But have you ever thought about the logistics required to process your order and get it to your doorstep? The wheels swing into motion the moment you hit the checkout button on the Amazon website. Tech Guide was invited to the Amazon Fulfilment Centre (AFC) in the Sydney suburb of Moorebank to take a look behind the scenes at and see how the products we order are processed,stored, picked, packed and sent. https://youtu.be/vGpP7TZ7VmA The Amazon FC is huge and covers 45,000 square…

From this week, Coles customers doing their weekly shop will be able to pick up a refurbished Apple iPhone after forming a partnership with Boost Mobile. Starting Wednesday, Coles customers will be able to purchase a fully refurbished Apple iPhone 7 32GB at the promotional price of $259. The unlocked iPhone comes in premium Boost packaging and also includes a $10 Boost Mobile SIM card, which connects to the Telstra 4G network, to get you started. Each refurbished iPhone undergoes a rigorous 72-point inspection to make sure the device is genuine and in tip-top condition and excellent shape. All of…

Motorola has released three new smartphones and extended its 5G line-up in Australia. The models include the Moto G9 plus, the Moto G 5G plus and the Motorola Razr 5G. This new Motorola range offers customers choices whether you prefer a mid-tier device or cutting edge flagship product. MOTOROLA RAZR 5G – $2,299 Motorola’s foldable Razr device has had a makeover and now includes 5G connectivity. It has a rear mounted fingerprint sensor and a more tapered chin along with an updated hinge mechanism that adds significant functional changes. When it is flipped open, the Razr reveals a 6.2-inch Flex…

Be sure to join us for Episode 460 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast  with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show, we talk about our hands on looks at the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, Alcatel’s new sub-$200 1SE smartphone, the new Google Chromecast, the Nighthawk Pro gaming router, the explosion of AR and its many uses and the Microsoft Office updates that make using Word, Excel and PowerPoint easier on the iPad. You can listen to the show right…

Shazam is a great app that can tell you the name of a song just by listening to it for few seconds but have you ever wondered which are the most “shazamed” songs? Well, wonder no more. The ranked Apple Music playlist shows the 100 most “shazamed” songs in the 2010s in Australia. The list is quite diverse but there are still plenty familiar tunes, old favourites and many surprises. You can check out the playlist on Apple Music here. The 100 “Most Shazamed Songs of the ’10s” on Apple Music 1          Klingande – Jubel 2          Passenger – Let Her Go 3         …

LG has unveiled its new LG signature wine cellar – a specially-designed refrigerator that creates the optimal conditions to store any variety or vintage of wines. The LG Signature Wine Cellar is 70cm wide, 1.79m tall and 79.3cm deep and features multi-temperature and humidity control with room to store up to 65 bottles of wine. It has a sleek, seamless scratch resistant metal frame structure with a glass door to showcase your wine collection. An LG study found that most Australians (90.4 per cent) do not have much expertise when it comes to properly storing wine. The solution is the…

It’s the gaming console everyone is desperate to get their hands-on and that’s exactly what we did when we got up close and personal with the hugely-anticipated PlayStation 5. The next generation gaming console goes on sale in Australia on November 12 for $749. Tech Guide had a hands on session with the PlayStation 5 and the new controller. The first thing you’ll notice with the PlayStation 5 is the size which dwarfs the most recent version of the PlayStation 4. It is 39cm tall when stood upright which means its 39cm wide when rested on its side. The console…

If you love creating video content with your iPhone or iPad then RODE Microphones has great news for you. The Australian company says its VideoMic NTG is now officially MFI-certified which means it can be connected directly via the Lightning port to an iPad or iPhone. RODE has also released a new SC15 Lightning Accessory Cable – a high quality USB-C to Lightning cable that can be used to connect the VideoMic NTG to your Apple iOS device. The VideoMic NTG on-camera shotgun microphone was released in late 2019 and put high audio recording quality in the hands of everyday…