Author: Stephen Fenech

Anyone who snores, or lives with someone who snores, knows it can be a serious issue. But now a product called the Motion Pillow can stop you snoring – and potentially save your relationship. The Motion Pillow is a plug and play solution which includes a contour pillow and a small connected device that sits on the bedside table. This small box can detect unique rhythmic snoring sounds and spring into action. https://youtu.be/QazKDvwHfME When the snoring sound is detected, it sends a signal to the pillow. Inside the pillow is SPMS – Sleep Pressure Monitoring System – that can tell…

Trying to stick to a diet and make an effective change in your life can be hard and we normally rely on marketing to make our decisions. Now there’s a product that will let you use your DNA to make the right choices for your body. You can actually shop for the right food with your DNA. Before we tried to find the best diet to suit our body but now with DNANudge – you can shop for products that will suit your body make-up. https://youtu.be/DrPtjXK3AJo Because of our genetics we’re all different and our bodies handle food differently. It’s…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech – Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long – are back for 2020 and in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. The blokes attended CES Unveiled – a smaller pre-show ahead of the main CES show – which offers small companies and start-ups the opportunity to show their products to the world technology press. On the show – Episode 419.1 – we talk about some of the quirky products we came across including a device that tell your dog’s mood, a geo-fence for your pets and DNANudge – the wristband that can…

Belkin has partnered with high end audio brand Devialet to create the Soundform Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker – a wireless speaker that’s also a wireless charger. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the device combines premium audio high fidelity sound with fast wireless charging to charge your mobile devices. This heralds the start of an all-new audio product portfolio for Belkin which also brings to the table its expertise in wireless charging solutions. “Belkin is excited about the potential that both the Soundform Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker + Wireless Charger and the partnership with Devialet unlock for…

The first Tech Guide podcast of 2020 – Episode 381 hosted by editor Stephen Fenech – is coming to you from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. On this week’s show, we take a look at what we can expect to see here at CES and in 2020 and beyond, the telcos who waived the mobile bills of volunteer firefighters and Vodafone outlines its 5G network rollout. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Beats Solo Pro noise cancelling headphones, we check out the ALOGIC Dock Wave which is a dock, battery and wireless charger…

If only dogs could talk. Then they could tell you how they’re feeling. With the new Inupathy device – now they almost can. The device can interpret a dog’s heartrate and display their mood. The product is strapped to the dog’s back with heart rate sensor positioned on the belt that fits under the dog’s belly. The owner can then see a display that shows one of five colours. https://youtu.be/ZIqT8H7zWC8 Inupathy’s technology can work out from the heart rate pattern how the dog is feeling. For example, when a dog gets nervous, its heartbeat gets faster. The readings Inupathy makes…

TCL Communications has announced the latest Alcatel smartphones at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that continue to deliver remarkable features like a 48-megapixel camera while still offering incredible value. There are four new Alcatel devices which will go on sale in Australia in Q2 and these include the Alcatel 3L, Alcatel 1S, Alcatel 1V and Alcatel 1B. “At CES 2020, we are happy to unveil our Alcatel mobile product line-up for the first half of 2020, all of which are supporting users in today’s fast-paced, modern lifestyle,” said Peter Lee, General Manager, Global Sales and Marketing at TCL…

TCL has unveiled is latest smartphones at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which includes the company’s very first 5G device – the TCL 10 5G. The TCL 10 5G will be powered by Qualcomm’s brand new Snapdragon 7 Series 5G SoC processor. Also in the new 2020 line-up is the TCL 10 Pro and the TCL 10L which will also be available around the world later this year and priced at less than $US500. “2020 will prove to be a critical year in the evolution of TCL’s business, not just as a mobile device manufacturer, but also as…

Hisense has showcased its impressive 2020 line-up of television which boast a range of new technologies to produce a stunning picture quality and a matching audio experience. The new TVs include the company’s Series X ULED XD with Dual Cell. The company has also broadened its 2020 range of Series 9 8K ULED and Series 8 4K ULED Quantum Dot TVs which will be available in several sizes including a 100-inch panel. The Hisense 8K ULED TV feature Full Array Backlight, Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range) and proprietary technology like the Hi-View Engine to produce smooth ultra high definition…

LG is taking its leadership in OLED technology to the next level with an impressive 2020 TV line-up that includes 14 new models including the art-inspired Gallery series that can be mounted flush to the wall like a painting. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the LG OLED TV line-up also includes 77-inch and 88-inch Real 8K models. Apart from stunning picture quality, the LG OLED TVs also deliver upgraded performance and AI-powered features that will make your movies, sport and games look better than ever before. LG has also unveiled an upgrade range of its NanoCell…

Samsung has unveiled its stunning new line-up of smart TVs which incorporate improvements in design, artificial intelligence, visual and audio enhancements and even better and safer connectivity. Unveiled on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show, the Samsung 2020 QLED range includes both 4K and 8K TVs in clear good, better and best categories to make it easier for customers to distinguish between the many new models. Samsung has managed to perfect its impressive QLED technology even further with numerous new features under the hood that can optimise both the visual and audio experience to your surroundings. And the focus…

The latest generation of the Suunto sport smartwatch has been revealed at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a number of new features and the integration of Google’s Wear OS. The premium Suunto 7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform so you’ve got the power of a smartphone on your wrist which means it can handle being used as a sport watch and as a smart watch. It will be available on January 31 for $799. Suunto 7, which can be paired to both iPhones and Android smartphones, has more than 70 sport modes…

Hisense has unveiled its latest ULED TV – the ULED XD – which takes advantage of the company’s new Dual Cell technology that creates black levels to rival OLED TVs. Unlike a regular LED TV, the Hisense ULED XD TV uses two LCD layers which are bonded together precisely. The first layer is greyscale or monochrome and controls the luminance while the second layer handles colour. With a full array backlight, the greyscale layer sits behind the colour layer and can more effectively block light from the pixels that need to be darker. As a result there can now be…

As a show of gratitiude Vodafone will waive volunteer firefighters mobile bills for December and January after bravely battling the raging bushfires in Australia. Vodafone follows Telstra with their show of thanks with the company wiping all mobile network usage charges for all RFS volunteer firefighters. To register for the credit on their December 2019 and January 2020 bills, national and state based firefighter customers need to call 1300 650 410 or visit their local Vodafone store and quote their official RFS ID number. A credit will then be applied to their Vodafone account. “Vodafone also has a range of…

LG will be introducing a range of premium soundbars at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show which kicks off in Las Vegas next week that provide an enhanced audio experience for TV viewers. The line-up features not only quality audio but also easy connectivity and useful functionality as well as sleek designs that will integrate perfectly with LG TVs. The 2020 range of soundbars take advantage of LG’s long-standing partnership with quality audio brand Meridian and its latest technologies. These include Bass and Space which can pump up low frequency reproduction and widen he soundstage and image elevation for a more…

2020 is going to be a huge year in technology and there is a lot of products, announcements and services we can look forward to in the first year of the new decade. Here’s a look at what we can expect to see in 2020: COMPLETION OF THE NBN The rollout of the NBN started in 2009 with a completion target set for 2020 which, at the time, seemed so far away. Well, it’s now 2020 and the good news is the NBN is on track to make this deadline. In fact, the NBN has named the date of June…

Telstra will offer free mobile phone services for registered volunteer firefighters as a thank you for their efforts battling the severe bushfires across the eastern states of Australia. Telstra CEO Andy Penn says the company will cover mobile phone bills for firefighters, who also happen to be Telstra customers for December and January, who have sacrificed their time with their families over the holiday period to fight these blazes and protect the community. Firefighter volunteers can register to receive their free calls over December and January by contacting Telstra on 132203. A number of assistance packages which were also announced…

If you’re travelling the ALOGIC USB-C Dock Wave is an ideal product to take with you. It’s a 3-in-1 device which packs in a USB-C dock, a battery and can provide wireless charging. Typically users have to carry a battery, a wireless charger and a USB-C dock separately but they’ve now been merged into a single device with the first of its kind ALOGIC USB-C Dock Wave. The product is slightly larger than a deck of cards which makes it really easy to fit in your bag to take anywhere with you. The exact dimensions are 12.5cm long, 7cm wide…

The new Beats Solo Pro noise cancelling headphones have been designed to appeal to a wider range customers and not just the die-hard fans of the brand who wanted serious street cred. The unmistakable Beats logo is still right there on each ear cup but these headphones offer a new level of sophistication that will make it attractive to men and women young and old. We’re pretty sure Apple’s ownership of Beats has been the catalyst that brought the already massive brand to an all-new level. The Beats Solo Pro headphones are a great example of how far the brand…

Vodafone customers will be able to access 5G the first half of 2020 after partnering with Nokia to commence the network build and fast-track the rollout. According to Vodafone Australia CEO Inaki Berroeta, the first group of 5G sites will be activated in the coming months in and around Parramatta. These sites were built by Nokia as a test network to demonstrate its technology and will eventually become Vodafone’s first area of commercial 5G coverage. “This is an exciting milestone in Vodafone’s 5G network rollout,” Berroeta said. “We have worked with Nokia for several years across different elements of our…