Author: Stephen Fenech

Take a break and have a listen to Episode 683 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech as he keeps you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: We’ve just returned from the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco where we saw the new Galaxy S26 smartphones series. We talk to Samsung Australia’s Head of Product Nathan Rigger about the new devices, we also give you our hands on first impression of the S26 Ultra. We also break some news on the Samsung Trifold and the no…

Apple has upgraded the iPad Air with the M4 chip which offers a huge jump in performance to make it even more capable to use for work, play and entertainment. The new iPad Air retains the same entry level prices for the 11-inch model ($999) and the 13-inch model ($1,399). “iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS…

Apple has updated its most affordable iPhone with the release of the iPhone 17e which now includes features like MagSafe, an advanced camera system and more storage. Priced from $999, the iPhone 17e will go on sale on March 1. The iPhone 17e has a notch at the top of the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display protected by Ceramic Shield 2 and a single 48MP Fusion camera. The device is powered by the A19 chip for improved performance and full access to Apple Intelligence. iPhone 17e has twice the entry level storage at 256GB and is the same price as…

Get tuned up and get tuned in to the latest episode of Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars – the EV podcast with Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long. Stephen and Trevor have been behind the wheel of the luxury Genesis G80 EV – a smooth drive and a smooth ride, with luxury trimmings you’d have to expect at this price. Plus we hear from a couple of PHEV owners, and we talk electric motorbikes. Is the shift to EV as likely in the two wheeled space? If you’ve got a question about EVs or you want to be part of the…

Ultrahuman has announced a new Pro version of the smart ring that offers up to 15 days of battery life and a host of new AI-powered features. The Ring PRO introduces JADE – the world’s first real-time bio-intelligence AI that can offer even more relevant and easy-to-understand insights into your health and wellness. JADE can bring together several biomarkers and environmental factors for analysis and perform deep research to detect any long term trend detection. Ring PRO has a unibody architecture and is built with the same titanium used to build fighters jets so it will easily be able to…

Xiaomi has unveiled its new flagship smartphones that will be available for Australia customers – the Xiaomi 17, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. The Xiaomi 17 range have sleek and elegant designs with the 17 Ultra (6.9-inch OLED display) and the Leica Leitzphone are both just 8.29mm thick and tip the scales at 218.4g. It has an all-flat body and super thin bezels which gives the display an edge to edge appearance. The Xiaomi 17 (6.3-inch OLED display) is even thinner at 8.06mm and lighter at 191g. It has a redesigned camera system and…

The Samsung Trifold smartphone is very likely to be released in Australia once the company can ramp up production and keep up with demand, according to Samsung head of Southeast Asia and Oceania, CU Kim. Mr Kim was speaking at a roundtable attended by journalists from Southeast Asia and Australia (including myself) after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series in San Francisco. Also in attendance was TM Roh, CEO, President and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics – he shared his thoughts about the future of AI glasses. After the formal roundtable was complete, Tech…

You make me want to be a better man! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching As Good As It Gets starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. As Good As It Gets tells the story of Melvin Udall – a successful author who suffers severe OCD and barely tolerates his neighbours. He experiences a transformation when he crosses paths with a waitress with a sick son and a gay artist who falls on hard times. Stephen watched As Good As It Gets in the cinema and has rewatched it several times while Trevor is coming…

Leading consumer electronics and accessories brand Belkin has unveiled a new range of products designed and optimised for the brand new Samsung Galaxy S26 series. It includes a fast Qi2 25W charger, advanced screen protectors and cases that offer military grade protection. The line-up was developed to meet the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Program’s (SMAPP) performance safety and compatibility standards. Belkin is a trusted partner and has already worked with other companies like Apple to produce a range of attractive accessories for computers and smartphones. The latest collection is designed to work seamlessly with the new Samsung S26 devices. SHEERFORCE…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 721 with Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long is coming to you live from Samsung’s Unpacked event in San Francisco where it launched the impressive Galaxy S26 series of smartphones. Stephen and Trevor go through all the features including the design, the onboard AI, the improved camera, faster charging and the innovation everyone is talking about – Privacy Display – that can prevent shoulder surfers from seeing your screen. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. It is also possible to subscribe to the popular…

Samsung has discontinued the super thin Galaxy smartphone – introduced last year with the S25 Edge – so we will not be seeing the S26 Edge. At the Samsung Unpacked event today we saw the introduction of the S26, the S26+ and the S26 Ultra AI phones – but no S26 Edge. It was at last year’s S25 event in San Jose where we were given the first tease of the S25 edge – this new super thin device which would be released in the middle of the year. This move was a spoiler by Samsung to ensure they had…

Samsung has released its latest Galaxy Buds4 Pro – new flagship earphones that offer improved audio, enhanced active noise cancellation and a computationally designed fit. The Buds4 Pro Include a wider woofer and an enhanced adaptive equaliser to ensure the highest fidelity to the original recording. “Samsung understands that a truly premium audio experience combines technical sound quality with how that sound feels throughout a user’s day,” said Ikhyun Cho, Corporate VP of Mobile Enhancement R&D Team, Mobile eXperience. “With the Galaxy Buds4 series, our design philosophy was uncompromising, providing all-day comfort without sacrificing audio performance, because these are what…

Tech Guide has taken a hands-on first look at the new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra – it’s one of the most advanced smartphones we’ve ever seen. We got our hands on the device at the Samsung Unpacked event at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. https://youtu.be/avrndfJ67bs?si=QVgJAScU8RUUvtKY The S26 Ultra is the flagship device of the S26 series with a 6.9-inch display and a slightly refreshed design. And, of course, it has the latest Galaxy AI, Google Gemini and Perplexity so there is no shortage of ideas and tools to get things done, work things out and be even…

Samsung has unveiled its most advanced smartphones to date – the Galaxy S26 series – powered by the latest Galaxy AI and boasting new features to power through daily tasks and workflows, enhance your photography and protect your privacy. The Samsung Galaxy S26 (6.3-inch display), S26+ (6.7-inch display) and S26 Ultra (6.9-inch display) are available to preorder now and go on sale in Australia on March 11. Samsung revealed the new S26 lineup at its unpacked event at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. “We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to…

Faster internet is having a positive impact on 77 per cent of Australians according to new research published by NBN Co. The report shows that faster internet is not only improving our productivity but it is also lifting our wellbeing as well. The benefits ranged across employment and income, education and skills, health, social and community and the environment. The NBN has also provided an improvement for low-income households, First Nations communities               and offers travel benefits. “The NBN network supports the needs of over 20 million people every day and carries over 80 per cent of the nation’s data,”…

Make the right choice and press play on Episode 682 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech as he keeps you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and product reviews. On this week’s show: Is the super thin smartphone dead? Apple and Samsung have a decision to make but Dyson shows thin is still in with its latest floor cleaning product. In the Tech Guide reviews, we talk about the new Blink Outdoor Wireless Security cameras and JBL launches the BandBox – the ideal product for musicians of all skill levels. In the…

Blink has expanded its 2K camera line-up with the release of the new Blink Outdoor 2K+ – a wireless security camera with 2K video resolution and 4x zoom capability. The Blink Outdoor 2K+ retains its square weather resistant design and is affordably priced at $119. The device offers 2K video resolution (2560 x 1440) and improved colour so you can see even more detail in the captured videos. This is important when trying to find important details in the videos and with 4x zoom users can get an even closer look. Another feature that has been enhanced is the low…

Buckle up and take a listen to the latest episode of Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars – the EV podcast with Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Stephen and Trevor look at the new Jaecoo J5 EV – is it mid-sized, compact, and just how does it stack up, day to day and on the open road. Several callers who text us are BYD Sealion owners – what’s it like to own? And we also hear from the VW man who’s looking for his first EV. If you’ve got a question about EVs or you want to…

Remember the super thin PencilVac from Dyson – there is now another member of the family – the PencilWash. It is a super slim at just 38mm wide but can still tackle your spills and stains. It has a 38mm wide handle – like the PencilVac – so it’s easy to use and manoeuvre around your home. The PencilWash brings to the table Dyson’s wet cleaning expertise and hygiene. “We’re keen on making machines smaller and lighter while dramatically improving performance. PencilWash™ applies that thinking to wet cleaning: our slimmest, ultra light format that glides effortlessly and reaches where others…

Is the thin smartphone dead? After lacklustre reception of the iPhone Air and Samsung’s S25 Edge it is unlikely we will see a new version of the products in 2026. Since it went on sale the iPhone Air – while impressive in its super thin 5.6mm design – didn’t exactly have customers in raptures and sell in the same huge numbers as the rest of the iPhone 17 range. It was the first new major iPhone redesign since the iPhone X but despite its attractive look and superb in-hand feel, customers shied away from it. Our readers and listeners told…