Author: Stephen Fenech

The idea of a bookshelf speaker might seem old fashioned to some people but the Dynaudio Xeo 20 combines modern technology with old school connectivity but while still offering tremendous audio quality. When we were offered the Dynaudio Xeo 20 to review we thought all we were getting were speakers but we quickly learned these impressive speakers were active speakers so they are their own source as well with Bluetooth connectivity to stream your favourite audio. But these active speakers also have direct inputs so there’s no need for any extra amplifiers or receivers. On the master speaker, which you…

Travel restrictions are now starting to ease in Australia but while we can’t hop on a plane we can jump in the car and head off on a roadtrip. Uniden has a range of products to keep you connected and protected on your drive. Uniden has three products that are ideal for your next road trip – the Dash View 30 dash cam, the UH600 series of handheld radios and the UPP1000 jump start kit that can get you out of trouble. UNIDEN DASH VIEW 30 – $399.95 The Dash View 30 has 2.5K video resolution and a slick cylindrical…

When it comes to recycling e-waste Australians can do a lot more. At the moment we’re recycling just 10 per cent of our e-waste despite the fact it’s possible to recycle up to 95 per cent of our old TVs, computers, phones, copiers, printers, scanners and fax machines. According to ICT management company Greenbox, e-waste in Australia is contributing unnecessarily to landfill. For individuals there are council collections and drop off points for disposing of our old technology and devise so they can be recycled. Large companies with massive fleets of computer, printers and other equipment would seek the services…

Arc isn’t the first Sonos soundbar – but it is without a doubt its best by far. It offers stunning quality and versatility as your home entertainment companion when watching TV and listening to music. The Arc soundbar stays true to its Sonos roots both in terms of connectivity and audio innovation so fans of the brand will feel right at home. First thing you’ll notice is the slick minimal design – it has a sweeping 270-degree curved front panel (that’s why it’s called Arc) that offers a seamless look. It’s available in black or white so it can easily…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech – Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long join forces once again to bring you Episode 439 of the popular podcast. On this week’s show, online shopping has exploded along with cashless payments during COVID-19, Facebook’s new feature to erase old posts you regret, Zoom video meeting company rockets up in value, the devices that can make vision impaired people see, new Xbox Series X to be backwards compatible and eBay and Amazon kick off their online sales. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the…

Rode Microphones, a proudly Australian company, has released a range of handy accessories designed for podcasters who are using the Rodecaster Pro podcasting console. These new Rode accessories include the DC-USB1 power cable, the SC9 TRRS to TRRS cable, HJA-4 headphone adaptors and XLR-ID cable identification rings. Since the release of the Rodecaster Pro, podcasting has become even easier for users to embrace even for those with no experience behind the microphone. The simple and intuitive interface makes producing a podcast simpler than ever before. These new accessories complement the Rodecaster Pro and offers even more versatility, quality and ease…

“The internet is not written in pencil, it’s written in ink” was a line from the film The Social Network, written by Aaron Sorkin about the birth of Facebook. But a new feature introduced by the social media giant is about to change all that. Manage Activity will now make it possible to curate your Facebook presence to create a more accurate picture of who you are. In other words, users will be able archive or erase those posts that don’t reflect their personality including those posted during high school or university years. You might have thought they were a…

Remarkable new technology using artificial intelligence is now available from OrCam to help visually impaired people read text, recognise faces, products and even money in real time. OrCam MyEye 2.0 can be attached to the arm of a pair of glasses and can read aloud any printed text including books, newspapers, menus, signs, product labels and even computer and smartphone screens. OrCam Read is a new handheld device for customers with mild low vision, reading difficulties like dyslexia and reading fatigue. ORCAM MYEYE 2.0 OrCam MyEye 2.0 offers assistive tech for the blind and visually impaired and uses an advanced…

Epson has launched a range of professional-grade desktop photo printers – the A3+ SureColor P706 and A2+ SureColor P906 – which incorporate more than 20 years of the company’s large format printing technology. These new printers have a sleek and compact design and are the smallest professional A3+ and A2+ printers in their class. In fact, they are 30 per cent smaller than Epson’s previous generation of photo printers and are ideal for photographers, graphic designers, fine art and illustration businesses. The printers include a 4.3-inch customisable touchscreen display and upgraded wireless connectivity including 5Ghz. Under the hood is a…

Episode 402 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is right here so you can be entertained, updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, NBN offers even faster speed tiers, Australians set online shopping records during coronavirus restrictions and Arlo releases a new wire-free floodlight camera. In the Tech Guide reviews we’ll take a look at the EKO Android TV, Sony launches the new ZV-1 pocket camera and the device that can charge all your Apple devices at once. In the Tech Guide Help Desk, we talk about…

Beats by Dr Dre have just released its popular wire-free Powerbeats Pro earphones in four brand new colours but boasting the same impressive sound for your music and calls. The new colours are Spring Yellow, Cloud Pink, Lava Red and Glacier Blue which will go on sale on June 9 at www.apple.com.au and authorised resellers. READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE POWERBEATS PRO Here are the main features of the Powerbeats Pro wire-free earphones: – Up to 9 hours of listening time on a full charge, 24+ hours with the case. – 5-minute Fast Fuel charging gives you 1.5 hour…

There are a lot of impressive budget smartphones available and the Alcatel 3L, priced at just $199 with a 48-megapixel camera and a 6.22-inch HD+ display, is definitely one of them. Alcatel has redefined the meaning of the word value with the new 3L with a number of features you’d see on devices that cost upwards of $1000 including a triple camera system, 4000mAh battery and fingerprint security and face unlock. The Alcatel 3L is a nicely designed smartphone that’s both thin (8.5mm) and light (165g) with curved edges similar to an iPhone. Its 6.22-inch screen has a 19:9 aspect…

eBay has kicked off its Plus Month online shopping event with some remarkable deals including up to 60 per cent off Apple AirPods and 46 per cent off Samsung smartphones. The month-long sale includes some of the biggest tech brands including Apple, Samsung, Nintendo and PlayStation. eBay, Australia’s No 1 online shopping site, will also offer free express delivery for eBay Plus items. eBay Plus members will also benefit from spend and save offers on millions of eBay items from 1-14 June and 20 per cent off other eBay Plus items from 15-30 June. Here are some of the hero…

The coronavirus crisis has sped up Australia’s move to going cashless by five years and seen online shopping hit record numbers according to PayPal Australia. Australians took to online shopping like never before after restrictions to physical stores were in place and other storefronts shuttered during the pandemic. And the stores that were open were encouraging customers to make cashless tap and go payments. Sign-ups to PayPal tripled during the COVID-19 restrictions in April when compared to pre-pandemic levels. And these new sign-ups included a 65 per cent year-on-year increase of Australians aged 50 or over. There are now more…

It’s time to lend the Two Blokes Talking Tech your ears as Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long bring you Episode 438 of the popular podcast. On this week’s show, the NBN offers faster speeds, Binge streaming service officially launches, Sony launches new ZV-1 camera, Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight camera launched, 13Cabs launches new feature to reserve your favourite drivers, Apple’s flagship Sydney store reopens and Telstra launches new 5G mobile hotspot. 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…

If you’re on a budget and are looking for a TV – the 55-inch EKO 4K UHD smart TV might be worth a look. It offers quality and value and, at $699, is an affordable choice. Available through Big W, the EKO is running the AndroidOS TV operating system and has a minimal design with thin bezels and a discreet stand for positioning on an entertainment unit. It can also be wall mounted. The 4K UHD TV has a 60Hz refresh rate with a 5000:1 contrast ratio and can display 1.07 billion colours. Right out of the box the EKO…

The NBN has responded to Australia’s desire for even faster internet speeds with three new residential wholesale higher speed tiers to keep connected to work and play and stay entertained at home. Research reveals 23 per cent of customers across Australia have upgraded to higher speed internet plans in the last 12 months with an additional 24 per cent planning to upgrade within the next year. But not everyone will be able access these faster plans because of the type of NBN connection to their home. And the wholesale prices listed below are what the retailers pay the NBN before…

Aussie Broadband has just announced its new ultra-fast 1000/50 NBN plans for residential customers who have the need for even more speed to work and learn from home and keep themselves entertained. The new tier will launch on Friday May 29 and will be priced by Aussie Broadband at $149 a month with unlimited data. “Not surprisingly, we are keen to offer 1Gbps plans as soon as NBN introduces the product,” said managing director Phillip Britt. “The new plan will initially be released for all FTTP premises and some of the HFC network, and we anticipate the footprint will grow…

Charging our devices has become a full time job nowadays with our smartphones, earphones and smartwatches requiring a top up but the STM ChargeTree just made that a whole lot easier. The STM ChargeTree can charge your iPhone or Android smartphone, your AirPods, or Samsung Galaxy Buds and an Apple Watch – all at the same time. It can be positioned on your desk or in a bedside table so you can make sure all of your devices are fully charged overnight. On the front of the device is a small shelf where your smartphone is supported while charging. This…

Sony has today unveiled a new pocket sized camera – the ZV-1 – which offers a compact all-in-one solution for content creators to capture high quality 4K video on the move. The Sony ZV-1 incorporates the company’s remarkable imaging technology including the 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor and 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T large aperture which offers enough depth of field to create a stunning bokeh effect. The camera has Sony’s leading autofocus system as well as real-time tracking to keep subjects in frame and in focus, even if they are moving at high speed. The camera weighs…