Author: Stephen Fenech

Optus has launched a bold multi-billion dollar rollout plan to offer customers fast and reliable 5G coverage on their smartphones and in their homes with speeds far superior to the NBN. The telco will increase the number of 5G sites from 290 today – located in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and other regional locations – to more than 1,200 sites by March 2020. Optus customers with a 5G handsets will now be able to access the network in capital cities and major airports around Australia with that footprint set to grow as more sites come online. But the…

If there’s one thing you need when playing a competitive online game it’s focus. You need to keep your eyes open and your ears open. What really helps with the latter is the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Headset. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Headset offers DTS 7.1 Surround Sound as well as Active Noise Cancellation. And these gaming headphones are also wireless and connect to the PS4 (there’s a version for Xbox One as well) via the Bluetooth dongle which plugs into one of the console’s USB port. For our review we got hold of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700…

Sonos has launched a new upgrade program aimed at customers with older wireless speakers who want to trade up to the latest Sonos audio products. The Sonos Trade Up program will allow customers who own Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP80, ZP90, ZP100, ZP120, and the first generation Play:5 to trade in these units for a 30 per cent discount on any new Sonos product for each original product replaced. Some of these products are more than 10 years old and the Sonos line-up in the interim has advanced significantly. There have been upgrades with the Sonos Amp, Sonos Port and the second…

The new Apple TV+  streaming service launches in Australia tomorrow with a range of exclusive new original programs  for you to enjoy on your Apple devices.  Here is what you need  to do to be able to watch it. The service will launch with an exciting line up of new programs including  what looks like the latest water cooler show – Morning Wars starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell. Customers can sign up for a free seven day trial that will auto renew into a monthly subscription that will cost you $7.99 per month. Up to six family…

Sit down with Episode 411 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they go through the biggest news and products of the week. On this week’s show, Stephen and Trevor deliver their verdicts on the Samsung Galaxy Fold,  the new Apple AirPods Pro and Call of Duty Modern Warfare. They also talk about the new DJI Mavic Mini drone that weighs less than your smartphone and fits in the palm of your hand, the Foxtel First loyalty program and the digital drivers licence now available for NSW drivers. You…

DJI has just released the Mavic Mini –  a new entry-level easy-to-fly drone that fits in the palm of your hand and weighs less than your smartphone. The DJI Mavic Mini weighs just 249g and folds down a surprisingly small size. This makes it easy to take with you anywhere to experience the fun of flying and to capture some breathtaking shots. DJI has packed in some professional grade features into the light frame including remarkable stability and a battery that lasts for up to 30 minutes. “To design a drone as lightweight, compact yet capable as Mavic Mini was…

Apple didn’t make a big song and dance about the release of the AirPods Pro. But it had every right to. The new AirPods Pro offer remarkable audio quality, impressive active noise cancellation and are a huge improvement over the regular AirPods. They certainly deserve the Pro tag. But they are also more expensive at $399. That $80 more than the AirPods with a wireless charging case and $150 more than the AirPods with a regular charging case. For your money you get the AirPods Pro and a wireless charging case. DESIGN Both the AirPods Pro and the charging case…

Foxtel really values its long-term customers and it wants to reward them. To do this the company is launching its very first customer loyalty program called Foxtel First. The program is based on the length of time you have been a Foxtel customer. Unlike other loyalty programs, customers do not have to collect points or spend more money. The rewards are based on four levels based on the number of years a customer has been with Foxtel. There’s Bronze (0 to 3 years), Silver (3 to 8 years), Gold (8 to 15 years) and Diamond (15+ years). With each level…

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a really impressive product. It’s the first foldable smartphone to hit the market at everyone we showed it to was absolutely amazed. But there is a difference between taking a casual look and actually taking it on as your new mobile device. Tech Guide spend a few days using the Samsung Galaxy Fold as our daily driver and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Yes we did love impressing people when we showed it to them – it was doing a little magic trick every time we opened up the device to reveal the larger 7.3-inch screen…

Episode 372 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech brings the very latest news, reviews and opinions of the world of consumer technology. On this week’s show, we’ve just returned from the Tokyo Motor Show and go through the announcements from Lexus and Toyota, Tesla Solar Roof turns your entire roof into a solar panel and telco complaints have actually ….. dropped. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Google Pixel 4 smartphone, we give you our verdict on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and we also share our thoughts on the latest Star…

Drivers in NSW  are now able to obtain a digital version of their drivers licence which can be stored on their smartphone and accepted by NSW Police along with pubs and clubs. This new digital licence won’t replace your plastic card so keep your card as a backup. Drivers can obtain their digital licence through the Service NSW app which is free to download on iOS and Android. Users need to log into their MyServiceNSW account and follow the prompts which will lead to you being asked to provide your surname, license number and a secondary number located on the…

Xbox All Access, described as Netflix for games, has just been launched in Australia by Microsoft and with Telstra as its exclusive Australian partner. Starting at $27 a month over 24 months, Xbox All Access will make more games available to customers on demand. The package includes an Xbox console and the Xbox Games Pass Ultimate which includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold. Users will have access to more than 100 high-quality console and PC games which will include of the latest titles. Australia became one of three countries around the world to launch Xbox All Access alongside…

Apple has just launched a brand new version of its AirPods – the AirPods Pro – which now include Active Noise Cancellation, improved immersive sound quality and an all-new design. AirPods Pro take their place alongside the existing AirPods range and will be available to buy from October 30. Apple’s AirPods Pro have a new design with a slightly larger bud complete with three different sizes of silicon tip to find the perfect fit as well as a shorter stem which accurately picks up your voice for calls or interacting with Siri. A special algorithm can measure the sound level…

It’s one of the biggest game franchises of all time – and it’s back. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a rebooting of the original 2007 game that sent the first person shooter into the stratosphere. It might have the same name as the 2007 blockbuster but the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare takes the brand to a whole new level. There are some familiar elements and characters that return but all in all – it is a brand-new campaign. And the extremely popular multiplayer modes that set Call of Duty above the rest also delivers quite a punch.…

Tesla boss Elon Musk has announced the latest, and best, version of the Tesla Solar Roof so customers won’t need solar panels on their roof – the roof tiles are the solar panels. This is actually the third version of the Tesla Solar Roof which the company says is cheaper and easier to install. Each tile is a mini solar glass panel which means your home would not need solar panels installed on its existing roof so it can retain its existing architectural style. Users can customise the amount of electricity the Tesla Solar Roof can produce to fit their…

Ecovacs Robotics has just launched its latest robot vacuum and mop – the Deebot OZMO 950 –  can now also operate  on two and three story Australian homes thanks to its multi-floor mapping. A global leader in home robotics, Ecovacs is packed with numerous features into the Deebot OZMO 950 but has  remarkably managed to keep the cost under $1000. “Ecovacs Robotics designed the Deebot OZMO 950 to meet growing consumer demand for a smarter, more affordable vacuum robot with premium features that include vacuuming, mopping and smart-home capabilities,” said Karen Powell, Head of Australia and New Zealand for Ecovacs…

The TCL PLEX, the smartphone that incorporates advanced display technology and a cutting-edge camera system is now available to purchase for Australian customers through JB Hi-Fi. It is the first TCL-branded mobile device to be released in Australia and is priced at $499. “The TCL PLEX offers Aussie consumers excellence in display technology, camera and design, and it is pleasing to be launching such a well-specified phone into Australia so close to its initial unveiling at IFA this year,” said Sam Skontos, VP & Regional Managing Director South East Asia & Pacific, TCL Communication. “With Australians consuming more video content than…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 410, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is coming to you live from Tokyo. Stephen and Trevor are in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show and they talk about the new Mazda electric cars, the Lexus Electrified concept car and Toyota’s vision of our driving future. Also on the show, Samsung has announced pricing and availability of the Galaxy Fold, we give our verdict on the Google Pixel 4, the GoPro Max and we talk about the latest Star Wars Episode IX Rise of Skywalker trailer. You can listen to the…

Walk on to the Toyota stand at the Tokyo Motor Show and you won’t see a single car. That’s because the motoring giant is focusing on its vision of mobility for society. Of course it will still be producing cars, SUVs and utes but the focus for Toyota in Tokyo was the future and the part the company will be playing as it looks at artificial intelligence, robotics, electrification, automation, productivity and sharing. The global carmaker wants to go beyond traditional auto manufacturing and has come up  with some remarkable new vehicles which will become the intelligent people movers of…

Lexus has outlined a bold vision of what it sees as the future of driving with the LF30 fully electric concept car which was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show today. The “Lexus Electrified” vision is the forerunner to the range of electric cars the Japanese carmaker will roll out over the next 10 years starting with the first model that will hit the road in 2020. The Lexus brand launched in 1989 with a mission deliver luxury and innovation. At the Lexus press conference at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show, the company said it wants its vehicles to stimulate…