Author: Stephen Fenech

Start your weekend right with Episode 445 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 product releases. On this week’s show, the Twitter hack and how it might have happened, it’s World Emoji Day and Apple has launched new symbols, the new OZMO T8 AIVI robot vacuum, Netgear’s new Wi-Fi 6 Orbi and Nighthawk mesh systems, Fords new control apps for its new vehicles and the Google Pixel Buds. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site…

Australian company Blackmagic Design has announced the world’s first 12K camera to provide the film industry with a stunning leap forward in quality and technology. The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12, produced by the Melbourne-based company, has a digital film resolution of 12,288 x 6480 through a 12K Super 35 Sensor that has 14 stops of dynamic range, The camera combines 80 megapixels per frame with new colour science and the flexibility of Blackmagic RAW to make it easier to work with the 12K footage. This presents filmmakers with an even bigger toolbox for high-end projects like effects heavy films…

Telstra is now offering NBN customers a wi-fi satisfaction guarantee with the ability to extend the wi-fi reach of their existing Telstra modem with additional boosters. This first-of-its-kind offer allows customers to receive up to three Smart Wi-Fi boosters for $12 a month on a 24 month term – and that comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy after 30 days, customers can cancel their repayments with no further charges and receive a one-month credit. “We’ve recently experienced how critical it is to have a fast and reliable internet connection in the whole house to help us work,…

Today is World Emoji Day and Apple has revealed the new emoji designs that will be included in the upcoming iOS 14 software update including a true Australian symbol – a boomerang. To celebrate World Emoji Day, Apple has previewed its selection of new emojis that have been earmarked as part of its software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac. July 17 became World Emoji Day because that was the date on Apple’s original calendar emoji. The newest emoji designs will include a boomerang, bubble tea, pinched fingers, transgender symbol, dodo, beaver, piñata, nesting dolls, coin, anatomical…

As Twitter tries to get to the bottom of the embarrassing hack of high profile accounts, the FBI has also joined the investigation with many signs indicating it might have been an inside job. The verified accounts of Elon Musk, Apple, Bill Gates and numerous other high-worth individuals and companies were hacked and sending tweets as part of a crypto scam. These accounts were no doubt secured with strong passwords and backed up by two-factor authentication so how did these cyber criminals get in? Monash University associate professor Carsten Rudolph, department of software systems and cybersecurity, says the Twitter attack…

Panasonic might not be selling TVs in the Australia anymore but they are still producing impressive audio products including the new range of high quality headphones and earphones. There are two wireless earphones – the RZ-S500W and RZ-S300W – with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for uninterrupted sound and clearer calls. There are three new Panasonic headphones in the range – the RB-M700B, RBM500B and RB-300B – which all have enhanced bass performance and a comfortable fit. “Our latest range of wireless earphones and headphones combines premium sound, fit and functionality – perfect for Aussies wanting to tune-in on the go,” says…

Netgear, the market leader in mesh wi-fi systems, has expanded its WI-Fi 6 portfolio with two new offerings – the Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Mesh and the Nighthawk Mesh Wi-Fi 6 which can meet the needs of the modern connected home. Wi-Fi 6 is the latest standard in wireless connectivity with a fourfold increase in capacity as well as a 40 per cent increase in throughput that means you can have more devices connected to your network and faster streaming for gaming and entertainment. “Now more than ever, reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury, rather a necessity in every home,”…

Hackers have compromised the Twitter accounts of high profile and high worth users and companies including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Apple, Barack Obama and Bill Gates in an elaborate cryptocurrency scam. The hacked accounts tweeted an offer to double any payments sent to a cryptocurrency address. One of the hacked tweets from Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk said: “Feeling greatful, doubling all payments sent to my BTC address! You send $1,000, I send back $2000. Only doing this for the next 30 minutes”. Other tweets were then sent by the hackers through other verified accounts including Bill Gates, Warren…

The robot vacuum cleaner has just gone to the next level with the release of the Ecovacs Robotics Deebot OZMO T8 AIVI which includes the latest AI technology and obstacle identification. The OZMO T8 AIVI has a new level of laser-based mapping and navigation performance for even more efficient cleaning. There’s even an integrated camera which can stream video to homeowners so the robot vacuum can also act like a security camera on wheels and provide the home owner with added peace of mind. Through the built-in video manager function, it is possible to use the onboard camera to check…

The Kobo Nia is the latest e-reader on the Rakuten Kobo family of products – it’s a high quality yet affordable device so you can enjoy the latest and favourite books anywhere and anytime. The compact Kobo Nia has a 6-inch Carta E-Ink glare-free touchscreen which looks just like paper whether you’re reading indoors or out in the sun. The display has a resolution of 1024 x 758 and 212ppi (pixels per inch) so the type on the screen looks sharp and clear – like the printed page. And even if you’re reading at night, the ComfortLight makes it possible…

The latest Google Pixel Buds are a huge improvement over its larger predecessor but even though they are much smaller, the earbuds still pack a lot of punch and offer impressive sound wherever you go. Priced at $279, the Google Pixel Buds were designed to be comfortable, to sound good and to offer convenience on the move. And it succeeds at all three. Design-wise, the first thing you’ll notice about the Pixel Buds is how much smaller they are. The earbuds themselves have quite a low profile and hardly protrude from your ear. They also provide a snug fit once…

If there’s one podcast you should listen to so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews, it’s Episode 408 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, Apple has kicked off its Public Beta Program so you can install iOS 14 today, the flying cars we’ve been promised for decades are finally here and being tested in Australia and what can we expect from Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked event next month. In the Tech Guide reviews we’ll take a look at the Echo Auto so you can…

The GoPro Hero8 Black is already a versatile and high-quality camera – and now it has become even more versatile because it can now be used as your webcam as well. GoPro has just released beta software – the GoPro Webcam Desktop Utility – for Mac users.  A Windows version is on the way. This will enable your GoPro Hero8 Black camera to be utilised as a 1080p webcam – a handy new feature for video conferencing for all of those people who are still working from home and who want a better quality camera than the camera built into…

TCL Electronics, one of the fastest growing TV brands, has launched its 2020 range of QLED televisions which boast more realistic colour, improved contrast and smart connectivity. The 2020 line-up expands X and C Series with four new premium models – the X915, the X10, the C815 and the C715. The line-up includes the 8K X915 which is available in 75-inch and 65-inch for $5,999 and $4,299 respectively – remarkable value compared to other brands. “TCL’s QLED TV 2020 range looks to take entertainment to the next level by revolutionising the at-home viewing experience,” said TCL Electronics Australia/New Zealand Managing…

Today is the first day of official business for TPG Telecom – the newly merged entity between Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG – and the company has outlined the ways customers will benefit in the coming months. The implementation plan will see the integration of TPG spectrum and small cell assets into the Vodafone mobile network to deliver greater mobile network capacity and an improved customer experience. The new company will also be taking advantage of the extensive TPG fibre network which will be used to connect additional Vodafone mobile sites to boost speed and performance for customers. CEO Inaki…

There are numerous Amazon speakers powered by Alexa you can buy but if you can’t bear the thought of leaving Alexa behind when you get in your car then you can try the new Echo Auto. It is designed to bring Alexa along for the ride and enjoy the convenience of accessing information, directions and all kinds of content using your voice. And like a regular Alexa speaker, Echo Auto gives users access to Alexa skills The Echo Auto unit is quite small – it’s 8.5cm wide, 4.7cm long and 1.3cm thick and has an action button and microphone-off button…

Tune in to Episode 444 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech news and products. On this week’s show, Stephen and Trevor talk about Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked virtual event and what we can expect to see, flying cars being tested in Narromine and the TikTok drama and spying fears. Tinder has introduced a new COVID-safe feature, how much mobile data Australians use compared to the rest of the world and Elon Musk’s bold plan for high speed internet from space with Starlink.…

Samsung has announced its latest flagship 2020 Q Series soundbars which can provide the ultimate home entertainment audio experience with the maximum number of channels for a home theatre system. The new premium soundbar models are the HW-Q950T and the HW-Q900T which both support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X as well as eARC (audio return channel) support for high quality surround sound like Dolby TrueHD. The HW-Q950T soundbar supports 9.1.4 channels – the most you’ll find in a home theatre soundbar system – and also adds left and right wide channel speakers to express the motion on the screen and immerse…

Belkin has just released a new range of charging and screen protection products designed for Apple devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook and AirPods. Included in the Belkin line-up is the new 3-in-1 Wireless Charger to charge all your Apple products at once, a portable Wireless Charger and Stand and a TruePrivacy Screen Protector for MacBooks so no one can spy on your screen. The product range will be launching in stores across Australia from today. BOOST↑CHARGE Portable Wireless Charger + Stand Special Edition – $129.95 This product offers both portability and convenience on the move whether you’re at…

A few weeks ago, Apple unveiled iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 which include numerous new features. Now you can install the new software on your iPhone, iPad or Mac right now through the Apple Beta Software Program. Rather than waiting until the final versions to land in September, users can join the program, use the features and report any bugs they find through a Feedback Assistant app. To get started you need to enrol your device by going to the Apple Beta Software Program page to access the beta versions of iOS 14 and  iPadOS 14. The tvOS beta will…