Author: Stephen Fenech

Sonos has launched Sonos Radio, a new free ad-supported streaming radio service which is available for free for more than 10 million customers to access on their multiroom speaker systems. Sonos users can access more than 60,000 stations through the service from multiple streaming partners. There is also new original programming which is handpicked by DJs, artists and a team of curators. These stations will allow listeners to sample diverse music selections across favourite genres inspired by current and classic selections. “Sonos has always made it easy for customers to discover the riches of streaming music services by building premium…

Samsung don’t just make smartphone and televisions – it also has a range of appliances which now includes its new Jet Stick Vacuum range which offer improved dust and allergen filtration and 200W of suction power. The new models offer improved suction and also extended battery life so you can clean better and clean longer. Also onboard is a washable dustbin, a free-standing charging dock and the optional extra of an industry-first Jet Clean Station – a contactless dust disposal unit. “Samsung is dedicated to helping Australians keep their homes clean and allergen-free with efficient and effective cleaning technology.” said…

eBay, the popular global online marketplace, is expending its payment methods and streamlining transactions in Australia with the inclusion of Apple Pay and Google Play. Both buyers and sellers will benefit with eBay’s expansion of management of payments will arrive in the coming months after the US, UK and Germany. For buyers, eBay will offer on top of PayPal other options including credit card payments and Apple Pay for iPhone and iPad users. Android users haven’t been left out and eBay will also offer Google Pay as an option on the eBay site and on the app itself. This will…

It’s time to listen to Episode 396 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated about latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, why we all need to download the government’s coronavirus contact tracking app, Apple has released a more affordable iPhone and Hisense has launched its 2020 range of TVs – we’ll take you through them In the Tech Guide reviews, we’ll take a look at a work of art that also happens to be a high-end speaker system, we also check out the Sennheiser 450BT noise cancelling…

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold was unveiled more than a year ago but we are yet to hear anything about the Galaxy Fold 2 – until now. The new designs have reportedly leaked online and show numerous changes. The original Samsung Galaxy Fold had a front 4.6-inch display which when opened up like a book revealed a larger 7.3-inch tablet-size screen. This inside screen also had a significant notch in the top right corner to make way for the dual lens camera. Here’s how Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 can look like 🤤 (based on display specs from @DSCCRoss) pic.twitter.com/qqueu9ksWA — Ben Geskin…

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro arrived earlier than expected – and it’s also better than we expected. It’s the perfect partner for the iPad Pro. It makes the iPad Pro a lot more versatile than it already is  – and it will also work with last year’s iPad Pro as well. The Magic Keyboard’s track pad and cursor make the iPad Pro more like a laptop than ever before. The actual keyboard, which is now backlit, uses the same scissor mechanism you’ll find on a MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air and offers the same 1mm travel.…

Zoom meetings have become an everyday part of life nowadays with everyone working from home but you can jazz up your meetings with free backgrounds from Getty Images,  Canva and Star Wars. Each of the images are designed to make you seem like you’re in a different place or just provide a more pleasing scene. The Getty Images that are free to download include an image of the Great Pyramids, dinosaurs, a stadium, a rainbow and a basket of kittens. Canva, the Australian company that makes it easier to design stunning graphics, also has a fine selection of images and…

“Ask not what your country can do for you –  but what you can do for your country” – prophetic words from President JFK but words that also apply to today’s situation about the government’s  coronavirus contact tracking app. The app, which is expected to be released in the next week or two, will remember all the people you spend more than 15 minutes with via the Bluetooth connection of their smartphones. But the contact tracking app will only be successful if a significant number of people download and use the app. To succeed in staying a step ahead of…

What do you get when you get when you cross a work of art with a high-end speaker? Answer: the Pantheone which provides an eye-catching form that also happens to be a powerful wireless audio system.  And it is also an Australian creation.  We say creation for a reason – it is unlike any other speaker you will see or hear.   This is a product that is both interesting to look at and a pleasure to listen to.  For our review, we had the speaker located in the front/lounge room of the house and anyone who saw it asked us…

The contact tracking app being developed by the Federal Government may become compulsory if there are not enough Australians using it to help combat the coronavirus. Speaking on Triple M today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it needed at least 40 per cent of the population to download and register to use the app for it to be effective. Mr Morrison said using the app could potentially save lives. “My preference is to give Australians a go at getting it right,” he told Triple M. “That’s my Plan A and I really want Plan A to work.” But Mr Morrison…

NBN Co will offer a $150m relief package for service providers to pass on to residential and small and medium business customers who are doing it tough during the coronavirus crisis. The fund is for low income households to help them with home schooling their children as well as supporting emergency and essential services. It’s also there to assist small and medium businesses who are also facing financial hardship. More than 50 internet service providers were involved in the consultation along with government and consumer group Australian Communication Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). Approximately $50m will be offered by internet service…

Hisense is aiming for a huge year in 2020 with the release of its biggest TV range to date including a massive 100-inch model to meet customer demand for even bigger screens. The company has something for everyone with the new line-up including cutting edge technology to create stunning picture and audio quality and a selection of larger sizes as well. The range is led by the Hisense Quantum Dot Series of ULED TVs which are available in models ranging in size from 55-inch to 85-inch and include the latest features and technology to provide a stunning experience at home.…

Episode 432 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long is now live so you can hear about the biggest tech stories and products of the week. On this week’s show, Apple has released the more affordable iPhone SE and are releasing the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro more than two weeks early, we offer our thoughts on the new contact tracking technology and whether our privacy is an issue, while Westfield offer drive through valet shopping, the tips on how to use Zoom securely for your video meetings and…

Apple will be releasing its new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro more than two weeks early to enable an added level of versatility including a built-in track pad to offer a more laptop-like experience. Originally slated for a May release, the Magic Keyboard is available to pre-order now for delivery early next week. The Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically to the new and previous generations of the iPad Pro and holds the device above a new backlit keyboard which uses the same scissor mechanism used in the latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The keys offer 1mm of travel for a…

Apple has announced its most affordable smartphone – the second generation iPhone SE – but with a top-of-the-line A13 Bionic processor, the fastest chip in a smartphone onboard. The device has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, Touch ID built into the home button and a single-lens camera systems that can produce stunning images. Starting at $749, the iPhone SE puts the same processing power as the iPhone 11 Pro in yours hands to handle the most demanding tasks and the latest games. “The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size,…

Is this what the new 5G iPhone will look like? Apple will reportedly adopt a flatter and less curved design similar to that of the iPad Pro for the upcoming 5G iPhone 12 due for release later this year. According a report from Bloomberg, the new iPhone will have a flat stainless steel frame and will take a radical design departure from the current model. The new iPhone is rumoured to look like the iPad Pro with flatter edges instead of curves. The iPhone adopted a more curved look with the launch of the iPhone 6 in 2014. iPhone 12…

Since the coronavirus pandemic, most people have flooded to platforms like Zoom for their video meetings but the rapid adoption has uncovered security concerns. Here are some tips to use Zoom securely. Zoom boss Eric Yuan recently admitted the massive spike in users – 10 million in December to more than 200 million in March – has exposed some weaknesses in privacy and security. These issues have since been addressed but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions and protect yourself. Jacqueline Jayne from security awareness resource KnowBe4 says there are lots of thing we can do to stay safe…

Technology that can track our movements and remember the people we came in contact with through our smartphones during the coronavirus crisis could be the first step towards the easing of restrictions and life returning to normal. These technologies include apps and data tools to anonymously monitor our movements. Apple offering its mobility data tools from Apple Maps to provide insights for local governments and health authorities to help them make decisions on eventually lifting lockdown restrictions. This is just one solution that will be considered by the government to monitor the movement of the population and social interactions. The…

Get updated and educated with Episode 395 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, as we discuss the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Apple and Google join forces to create coronavirus contact tracking technology, how you can avoid becoming a victim of a cyber scam and LG has announced pricing and availability of its 2020 8K and 4K TV range. In the Tech Guide reviews, we’ll take a look at the affordable yet feature-packed Alcatel 3X smartphone, how you can create a home with the new BenQ HD projector and the…

There are plenty of wireless noise cancelling headphones on the market but it’s a challenge finding one that offers the features you want at a more affordable price. Not many fit that criteria but the Sennheiser’s 450BT is definitely one of them. First up you’re getting a great brand – Sennheiser has been in the audio game for 75 years so they have a long and distinguished heritage that has been poured into his product. Second, the closed back design is simple and sleek and also quite compact when you want to fold them down and pack them away which…