Author: Stephen Fenech

To help minimise the spread of coronavirus, Mastercard has announced it will increase the contactless payment limit to $200 without the need to enter a PIN in certain stores. This takes the limit from $100 to $200 in Australia to enable even more transactions without the need for thousands of customers touching a terminal keypad. More than 85 per cent of Mastercard transactions over $100 in Australia are contactless. The move will reduce the need for customers to touch a potentially infectious surface, handle cash or use a pen to complete a transaction. The increase to $200 will start at…

In a show of thanks to the frontline medical staff who are working tirelessly during the coronavirus crisis, Optus is waiving their post-paid mobile access charges for the next three months. “These are trying times and we recognise that our health workers are putting themselves on the frontline day in day out to protect and help Australians during this pandemic, and we want to say thank you,” says Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. “We are so grateful to all the nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers who are working in unprecedented conditions. “So, we will be waiving their Optus mobile bill access…

The NBN has seen a massive spike in data usage as more Australians rely on their broadband services like never before as they are video conferencing, video streaming and accessing cloud-based data from home. NBN Co has launched a new weekly report – Australian Broadband Data Demand – to monitor the increases in download peaks since it was launched at the end of February. It looks at three periods during the day – daytime business hours, early evening hours and busy evening hours. Traffic on the main wholesale service during business hours has leapt by 71 per cent from pre…

Sony has unveiled new wireless headphones and earphones – the WF-XB700 and the WH-CH710N – for high-quality hassle-free listening on the go. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced but Sony has revealed it has packed it in its latest audio innovations as well as its trademark Extra Bass. SONY WF-XB700 These new Truly Wireless Sony earphones offer an excellent all-round listening experience. The WF-XB700 earphones are small and lightweight and have the Sony ergonomic tri-hold structure so they are comfortable and secure. They offer up to nine hours of music per charge with the carry case also offering…

Samsung has announced the pricing and availability of its 2020 range of 8K and 4K televisions which raise the bar with AI and improved audio features and include even more screens over 75-inch. Samsung has also revealed its new soundbars which have been optimised for its QLED TVs. Leading the way in the Samsung TV range is the remarkable 8K Q950T with the Infinity Display which offers a near bezel-less edge to edge design so all you see is the picture. Samsung will offer now offer TVs up to 85-inch in its 8K QLED and 4K QLED television which answers…

Activision has remastered one of the most popular Call of Duty games – Modern Warfare 2 – with a complete enhancement of its critically-acclaimed single player campaign. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 was one of the most successful games of all time and it has returned with stunning graphics and visuals and up to 4K resolution and HDR on supported consoles. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered will include improved texture resolution, added detail, revamped animation and remastered audio. The original game, which was developed by Infinity Ward and has been remastered by Beenox, tells the story…

Due to technological innovation in the eyewear industry, buying glasses online is becoming more simple and user friendly. There is usually a wider selection of glasses to choose from at better prices than in physical stores. Online eyewear retailers, such as Vision Direct, have made buying spectacles online an easy and enjoyable experience. With various technologies such as Virtual Try-On, Prescription Lens Scanner app and a variety of payment methods, Vision Direct makes the process of buying glasses swift and affordable. A common problem with buying glasses online can be ordering prescription glasses, especially if you are unsure about your…

Fitbit has just unveiled one of its most advanced devices – the Charge 4 – which now includes built-in GPS, fitness and health tracking and up to seven days of battery life. The Fitbit Charge 4 maintains its thin and light design and is comfortable to wear all day and night. The device has a bright scratch proof screen that can be read easily anywhere and also a swim proof build so it can be your exercise companion anywhere. Fitbit Charge 4 now includes even more smart features including Active Zone Minutes – a new personalised standard based on your…

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is not the company’s first foldable smartphone but it is an entirely different proposition from last year’s Galaxy Fold and also designed for a different user. The Galaxy Fold was designed to be a two-in-one device – a phone one minute and a tablet the next and aimed at the high-end power user But Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip is a 6.7-inch smartphone that literally folds in half to easily fit in your pocket or bag. Samsung says it’s the intersection of fashion and technology with a head-turning look and feel and impressive credentials as…

Be sure to tune in to Episode 393 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated with the latest consumer tech news and reviews. This week’s show features an interview with Alcatel boss Sam Skontos who gives his very frank view of the smartphone market and how it could be the end of the luxury expensive mobile devices. Also on the program, the Federal Government is launching an information barrage with a new Coronavirus app and WhatsApp group and Dyson has answered the call from the British prime minister Boris…

They say there’s an app for everything and that has never be more apparent since everyone started working from home and spending a lot more time inside as we weather the coronavirus crisis. While we’re all staying put at home we need to look for apps to help us get our work done remotely, keep our children learning and entertained while trying to keep up our exercise and catch up virtually on video chats with family and friends. Here a list of tips and tricks and a rage of apps from Apple’s App Store that can let you do all…

Alcatel has opened a dedicated Amazon virtual shopfront to make it even easier and faster for Australians to get their hands on the company’s affordable and feature-packed new range of smartphones. The Alcatel smartphones are all sub $200 and available now through Amazon. These include the Alcatel 3 ($139), the Alcatel 1X ($109) and the Alcatel 1S ($199). “Affordable technology is arguably more important now than ever before, as we are all watching our dollars and needing them to stretch as far as possible,” says Alcatel Mobile regional managing director Sam Skontos. “Today’s announcement of an official local shopfront on…

With the economy on its knees and millions of Australians out of work as a result of the coronavirus crisis, is there still a market for expensive smartphones? Not according to Sam Skontos, Alcatel VP and South East Asia Pacific regional managing director, who told Tech Guide the day of the “luxury” smartphone might be over. “Moving forward, the days of trying to justify $1000 or $2000 for a mobile phone is going to get harder and harder,” Skontos told Tech Guide “There are a lot of people going to be out of work, a lot of people will be…

One of our favourite sayings is “go big or go home” and that’s exactly what Dyson has done with the release of the new V11 Outsize cordless vacuum which now includes a larger bin and larger cleaner head. Dyson has also upgraded the regular V11 to the V11 Absolute Extra which, like the V11 Outsize, has 20 per cent more suction power than the previous model. The thinking behind the Dyson V11 Outsize was to provide a faster more powerful way to clean larger homes in markets like Australia. The company’s research showed larger homes need a product that offers…

The Federal Government has launched a coronavirus information app and WhatsApp group which puts in one place all the information people need to now as we deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The Coronavirus Australia app is available now on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Search for Coronavirus Australia. The WhatsApp group can be accessed here: aus.gov.au/whatsapp The app contains information like symptoms, how to protect yourself and others, social distancing and the latest rules on public gatherings. There is also a guide to the symptoms of coronavirus including fever, flu-like symptom, sore throat, fatigue and shortness…

Employee training is one of the most crucial aspects of the hiring process. Whenever a new employee joins your company, they may expect many benefits from your organization. The first one in general cases can be a comprehensive employee training process that guides them through your company’s culture and how they can give their best at work assigned to them. And yes, you may even have a good employee training program prepared. But are you making use of social learning to enhance it? In this post, we are talking about how you can do that for the best results. So, stay…

For VPN users, especially those who are interested in maintaining their privacy first and foremost, DNS leaks are no joke. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this security flaw, and this puts their privacy and data security in danger. Before we get into how DNS leaks happen, let’s put things into context and see what a DNS actually does. What Is a DNS Exactly? The Domain Name System (DNS) is tasked with translating domain names into IP addresses – for example, www.google.com to 72.14.192.25. It also works the other way around. This process is called a DNS request (or query)…

A website is a fundamental aspect of your marketing strategy. It is ultimately the platform customers venture to, to see what your business can offer them. Without a website, you are ultimately handing your trade over to your competitors. If you have little or no experience in web design, it can be challenging to comprehend how to create a website that’s guaranteed to generate leads; but the good news is that you don’t have to be technically-minded to make use of the basics. If you are unsure how to go about creating a great website, the below tips should come…

Every business that isn’t using Digital Marketing in today’s day and age is missing on a host of opportunities that the internet has to offer. Every business today requires digital marketing to get customers, leads and top brand positioning. And all this is absolutely possible by implementing a solid digital marketing campaign for your business. To break it down, your campaign should be created with a focus on brand awareness, follower growth, lead generation and conversions to multiply your profits. These points will require your business to hold the top position in Google search engines. Then creating an impressive marketing…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech – EFTM’s Trevor Long and Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech – were social distancing when they recorded Episode 429 of the podcast that takes a look at the biggest tech stories of the week. On this week’s show, the most popular apps to work from home and how it will pan out on the future and how the coronavirus may force the delay of the 5G iPhone. Also on the program, Foxtel offers extra content for free for people self isolating, Dyson answers the call from the UK Government to design a ventilator in…