Author: Stephen Fenech

Kogan has always provided good value with its products and it has done it again with the release of the new Agora Go smartphone which has a range of features but it’s still priced under $100. The device has a 5.45-inch 18:9 HD+ display with 720 x 1440 resolution and is powered while quad core processor and running the Android Pie Go operating system. Despite its low price tag, the Agora Go has artificial intelligence built in to adapt to the way you use the device and Google Assistant is there to help you as well. On the rear panel…

In this digital world we live in, more people type on glass than write on paper but the Montblanc Augmented Paper has managed to combine the digital world and the tactile act of writing. Montblanc is known the world over as one of the finest producers of writing instruments and has a vested interest to keep people writing. Their customers who shell out hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a Montblanc pen certainly want to keep writing. The Montblanc Augmented Paper is an impressive piece of technology that allows users to write on paper in this elegant leather folio…

It’s Stay Smart Online week – a time raise awareness about cyber safety – but staying safe online should be a daily exercise and here are some tips to help protect yourself. Staying safe online includes having strong passwords, protecting your privacy and identifying threats and dangers. Don’t think you’re not important enough to be hacked. Cyber criminals don’t discriminate when it comes to targeting their victims. Everyone is a target. To make yourself more conscious of online dangers, assume it’s not a matter of if you will be hacked but rather when you will be targeted. Those who don’t…

DJI, the company best known for drones and gimbals, has now entered the world of robotics with the RoboMaster S1 which is now available to buy in Australia. The S1 has been released to introduce users to robotics and to explore all the possibilities the technology has to offer. It is a highly-advanced rover which can work as an easy introduction to AI, engineering and robotics. The robot has brushless motors and a chassis that can move in all directions along with a high precision gimbal. The S1 has four Mecanum wheels which are commonly found on competitive robots and…

Seagate had made even more room for your memories with the release of is latest external drives – the stylish One Touch SSD and One Touch SSD Special Edition. They are not only functional – they can store and back up your data – but they also look great too with either black or white woven fabric of the One Touch SSD or the camouflage patterns (red, green, blue and white) of the One Touch SSD Special Edition. And they are the size of a credit card and faster than regular portable hard drives. Every single day, five billion people…

To get a clear picture of the latest tech news and products you need to turn to Episode 408 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Telstra to shutdown its 3G network and expand 4G and 5G, Bose discontinues it Sleepbuds, tablets sales drop as customers embrace 2-in-1 devices, new Tile trackers released, Foxtel to start loyalty services but no 4K for Bathurst and the best new features of macOS Catalina. In the minute reviews, we check out the Alcatel 3T 10 Station and the new…

The tablet market in Australia has dropped according to tech researchers Telsyte with customers moving towards to 2-in-1 devices that can also function as a tablet and a laptop. The Telsyte Tablet Computer Market Study showed that 1.44 million tablets were sold in the first half of 2019 – a decline of 2 per cent from the same period in 2018. But Apple and Windows based tablets both saw an increase – 5 per cent and 3 per cent respectively. The news wasn’t so good for Android which dropped 28 per cent in the first half of 2019. Apple, Samsung…

ASUS has celebrated its 30th anniversary by unveiling its new ZenBook Pro Duo laptop which features two displays – the 15.6 inch 4K OLED screen and a secondary 14 inch-LED display. The company was founded in 1989 and became the world’s number one motherboard manufacturer for 20 years. Today ASUS is the world’s number three consumer laptop brand number one in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the August 2019 GfK report. ASUS showcased the 15.6-inch ZenBook Pro Duo laptop and a smaller 14 inch ZenBook Duo with the dual screen design made to give creators, designers, programmers and multitaskers an…

The PlayStation 5 next generation console will be launching in a year to deliver an unprecedented gaming experience in time for the Christmas 2020 rush. PlayStation confirmed the launch window for the new console which was originally announced back in April. New details have also emerged about the new features of the console and its new controller. The console itself is said to include a solid state (SSD) drive to speed up loading times and game installation. The new controller that will ship with the PlayStation 5 has been redesigned to increase the feeling of immersion when you play games.…

Bose, one of the world’s leading audio brands, has taken the dramatic step of discontinuing its Sleepbuds because of inconsistent battery performance that didn’t meet the company’s standards. Bose says most owners had reported no issues with the product and use them regularly to get to sleep. But others have had a different experience with the device not charging fully or powering down unexpectedly or both. The Bose Sleepbuds look like a pair of earphones and use noise masking technology to help people fall asleep and stay asleep. Bose will be discontinuing the product because they say it can’t be…

Telstra has today announced it will be switching off its 3G network in June 2024 to expand its 4G and 5G footprint and provide better coverage for customers across Australia. From now until June 2024, Telstra will be upgrading and expanding its 4G coverage to match the size and reach of the 3G network. Telstra was the first telco to roll out its 5G network and says the continuing expansion of the network will mean older technology like the 3G network will need to be switched off. The Telstra 3G network, named Next G at the time, was switched on…

Tile, the company behind the small devices that help you find your things, has just released a new range of products that make it even easier for customers to keep track of their stuff. The new line-up offer even more form factors and improvements to allow users to locate their belongings in a variety of situations. Tile’s new products include Sticker – the smallest Tile ever made, Slim – the Tile in the shape of a credit card that can easily slip into your wallet and new versions of the original Mate and Pro. Tile uses Bluetooth so you can…

Take a listen the hugely informative Episode 369 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Plantronics, whose technology made it to the moon and back, have released new earphones and headphones, Microsoft unveils new Surface products including dual screen devices and Apple launches its Apple News+ subscription service. In the Tech Guide reviews, will take a look at the Alcatel 3T 10 Station which includes a tablet and a speaker, GoPro launches a new Hero8 Black camera…

The latest Mac operating system Catalina is now available for iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro users and with it comes several new features and enhancements – and it’s available for free. Before starting the upgrade it’s important to back up your Mac – just in case. The install could take up to an hour. To begin go to the Mac App Store and you’ll find the macOS Catalina in the Utilities section. Click on the Get button and follow the instructions. Your Mac will download the upgrade which is about 5GB and then install it. It’s a good idea,…

The first step on the journey to achieving a smart home is with a smart plug that will give your existing appliances and electrical products the ability to be monitored and controlled remotely. We will show you how easy it is to set up a smart plug. Tech Guide partnered with Jaycar to shoot a video to demonstrate the ease in which customers can set up the Powertech smart plug using Google Home or Amazon Alexa. But these instructions would apply to any other smart plug you would like to connect in your home. Plugs are a great way to…

If ever there was an argument for returning to having just one on-field referee in the NRL it was the Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and the Canberra Raiders which descended into farce after a crucial refereeing error. Many are arguing the blunder may have robbed the Raiders of a premiership. Sportsbet has even refunded punters who backed Canberra to win – a total of $1.35 million to more than 38,000 customers. With less than 10 minutes to remaining, the Raiders contested a bomb on the Roosters’ line which bounces back into the arms of a Canberra player. Referee…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 407, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and product announcements. On this week’s show, Microsoft’s new Surface products including new dual screen devices, the new GoPro Hero8 Black, what your second hand phone is worth according to eBay and Apple News+ launches for access to newspapers and magazines. Also on the program, the new Arlo Pro 3 wire-free security cameras, cyber criminals targeting Instagram users, the new JBL wire-free earphones and Kensington’s ergonomic products for the workplace. You can listen to the show right here…

Alcatel has always been a brand that offers great value and its latest product – the 3T 10 Audio Station – delivers once again. It includes both a 10-inch tablet and a Bluetooth speaker for the one low price. The Alcatel 3T 10 Audio Station includes a 10-inch high definition tablet and a Bluetooth speaker that acts as the charging stand as well. It is priced at just $324 and available now from Telstra. When connected users can enjoy an immersive cinematic experience at home and on the move. And, of course, each product can be used separately as well…

Plantronics has a rich heritage when it comes to audio. Not every company can say their product has travelled to the moon and back. 50 years later it is pouring its latest technology into an attractive range earphones and headphones. When Neil Armstrong uttered his legendary phrase “one small step for man” he was talking through a Plantronics headset. Fun fact – that actual headset is now on display at the Plantronics office in Amsterdam. The new line-up includes the BackBeat Pro 5100 wirefree earbuds, the BackBeat Fit 3200 and BackBeat Fit 3150 wireless sports earbuds and the BackBeat Fit…

Have you got any old mobile phones laying around? You could be sitting on a gold mine as eBay Australia revealed more than $8 billion worth of devices are laying unused in Australian homes. In Australia 69,269 pre-loved mobile phones have been sold so far in 2019 along with 5.2 million mobile phone accessories on eBay.com.au alone. Tech is a popular category on eBay with mobile phones one of the bestselling items. After the recent release of new devices from Samsung and Apple, customers have been selling their old phone to help them upgrade to the new model. eBay has…