Author: Stephen Fenech

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…

Huawei has unveiled its new flagship smartphones – the P40 and the P40 Pro – which includes innovative new camera systems to lift your photography and video standards. But Huawei still faces a challenge in the market as their devices won’t include the Google Play Store and other Google services and need some work to get them on the device. Huawei will offer a complimentary service to help customers set up the device. The Huawei P40 smartphones are 5G devices and also support the latest wi-fi standard – Wi-Fi 6. But it’s the camera that will get your attention with…

Dyson has answered the call from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to design and build a new ventilator in just 10 days to help patients who have been stuck down by the coronavirus. The result is CoVent a new ventilator designed in partnership with TTP (The Technology Partnership) which meets clinician-led specifications to address the needs of COVID-19 patients. Usually known for its vacuum, fans and air purifiers, Dyson met the request to create a ventilator that was safe, effective and efficient in conserving oxygen, portable, easy to use and that can bed-mounted and not requiring a fixed air supply.…

Disney has released Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker and every other Star Wars film on 4K a week early ahead of a possible coronavirus lockdown which will give fans a chance to enjoy a marathon if they are forced to stay in their homes. The home entertainment release of Episode XI The Rise of Skywalker wasn’t due in stores until April 1 but stores, which had received stock today, were informed that they were able break the embargo and put the title on the shelf. Also due April was every other Star Wars film on 4K including the original…

The release of Apple’s highly-anticipated 5G iPhone 12 may be delayed until 2021 as a result of the massive disruption of the coronavirus on the company’s production schedule and shifting global demand. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Apple has already discussed internally the prospect of delaying the next iPhone release, usually in September, by several months which could push the launch to early 2021. Apple has been seriously impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak which brought the Chinese factories including Foxconn, where the majority of the company’s products are produced, to a standstill. Even when production was eventually ramped up…

Foxtel has responded to the fact we’re spending a lot more time at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by offering more content and more ways to watch your favourite shows. From today until the end of May Foxtel customers will now have access to more content on the drama, entertainment, lifestyle, documentaries, reality and kids channels and the on-demand libraries. Foxtel has also added two more screens to customers with access to Multiscreen so more family members can watch at the same time which includes casting the Foxtel Go app to even more TVs. If you’re a…

One of the sad parts of the coronavirus crisis is that older Australians are most at risk and have been well and truly isolated. But there is a product called Sofihub that allows us to provide care and attention without breaking the isolation rules. Developed by Australian company Unisono, the Sofihub device looks like a smart speaker that also offer a range of sensors and movement detectors to monitor and understand the habits of the people in the home. It also comes with six motion sensors that can be placed around the home in various rooms. Sofihub can also remember…

The latest and most powerful iPad Pro has edged even closer to behaving like a fully-fledged laptop thanks to significantly improved performance and new support to pair a mouse or trackpad. Apple has also unveiled a new Magic Keyboard with backlit keys and a trackpad – but this review won’t include it as it’s not due till May. The tablet still offers stunning 11-inch and 12.9-inch Liquid Retina displays which make your content, apps, web pages, images and videos look amazing. The new onboard A12Z Bionic chip isn’t a massive improvement on last year’s iPad Pro but an improvement nonetheless…

Episode 392 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is right here so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, the positive and negative effects of the coronavirus crisis on the tech world, how to set yourself up to make the best quality video calls if you’re working from home and Apple has unveiled a new iPad Pro. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at Apple’s brand new MacBook Air, Samsung has announced the pricing for its Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and…

We’ve heard a lot of instructions on how to wash your hands to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus but we should be paying just as much attention to cleaning our smartphone screens. Research has shown the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to nine days on some surfaces including your smartphone’s screen. We touch our phones thousands a times a day and also bring it up to our face, mouth and nose when we’re making and receiving calls. Other studies have shown our smartphones carry 10 times more germs than a toilet seat which it picks up from surfaces, from…

The MacBook Air is the most popular laptop in the Apple line-up and it just got even better with more memory, a faster processor and the biggest change of all – a new scissor mechanism Magic Keyboard. Design-wise, the new 2020 MacBook Air looks virtually identical – it still has a 13-inch Retina display, still has two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, a headphone jack and, of course, it’s still one of the thinnest and lightest laptops you can buy. In fact, I was in the audience at Macworld 2008 when then Apple CEO Steve Jobs dramatically introduced the original MacBook…

D-Link has released its new DWR-956 Wireless AC1200 4G LTE Router which includes Gigabit Ethernet ports to connect other devices as well as VoIP calling capability – an ideal product for those who need to work remotely. The DWR-956 has a slot for a 4G data SIM and can achieve download speeds of up to 150Mbps and upload speeds up to 50Mbps. The router can then create a wireless network for your home or office or any area that you have to covert to an office in a hurry. The DWR-956 is dual band and also supports WPA/WPA2, MAC address…

The coronavirus has forced public gatherings to be banned so no crowds at the footy, no weddings, conventions, concerts and other events. But what about a funeral? They can’t be postponed but the good news you can still pay your respects without being there in person. OneRoom has been live streaming funerals for more than nine years for friends and loved ones who were unable to attend. With the coronavirus now triggering travel restrictions and public gatherings, OneRoom has seen a huge increase in online attendance at funeral services. In a single week they have increased by more than 60…

Australian podcast hosting platform Whooshka has added a whole new dimension to podcasting with a new private feed that allows podcasters to create content for select audiences or community groups. To kick it off Whooshka has partnered with Australian audio company Rode to deliver course materials to schools. This week Rode donated $2m worth of its podcasting equipment to Australian high schools so they can create course materials for students who may be forced to learn remotely because of the coronavirus. https://youtu.be/wLHREfD9zw0 To do this Whooshka has created a private podcast platform that can distribute the content directly to students. This move has the potential…

Self-isolate with Episode 428 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the week’s biggest tech stories and product announcements. On this week’s show, Apple announces a new iPad Pro and an updated MacBook Air, can the NBN handle the onslaught of so many people in Australia working from home, Samsung announces pricing and availability of the Galaxy Z Flip folding smartphone, Sonos updates its software and Rode donates podcasting equipment to Australian high schools. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site…