Author: Stephen Fenech

Smartphone sales in Australia have slowed down considerably because were holding on to our existing phones longer and also holding out for 5G devices, according to research by Telsyte. The Telsyte Australian Smartphone and Wearables Devices Market Study 2019-2023 revealed just over 4 million smartphones were sold in Australia in the first half of 2019 – that’s down six per cent compared to the same period last year. The drop has been attributed to customers holding on to their phones even longer. This extended replacement cycle is now almost 3 years with iPhones enjoying a 25 per cent longer replacement…

Hisense has released the 100-inch 4K UHD smart dual colour laser TV –  a product for customers who want to take their viewing experience well and truly to the next level. The new Hisense Laser TV, which is priced at $19,999, is actually a short-throw projector that meets the market demand for a larger screen that can occupy the same space in your home as a regular TV. And unlike a regular projector, the Hisense Laser TV includes a number of features you’ll find on a TV including a built-in TV tuner, speakers plus a subwoofer. It also comes with…

The Australian state of NSW will become the first place in the world to rollout cameras to detect mobile phones being used illegally by motorists while they are driving. The $88 million project follows a six month trial period where cameras were set up in two locations. From December when the rollout is completed there will be 45 high definition cameras across NSW that use a special algorithm and artificial intelligence to recognise mobile phones in the hands of drivers. Most cameras will be fixed while others will be mobile and mounted on trailers. In Australia it is illegal to…

iPhone 11 is the most affordable new iPhone but it packs in a host of new and upgraded features to make it one of the better value devices Apple has offered. The iPhone 11 is the replacement for the iPhone XR – the model that sits just below the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max in price but also between them in screen size. And it is actually slightly cheaper than the iPhone XR as well. iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display while the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch…

Huawei has unveiled its impressive new smartphone –  the Mate 30 Pro – which features a sleek design and cutting-edge technology but what it won’t have any of the Google services or the Google Play Store. The flagship Mate 30 Pro was revealed in a global launch event in Munich but won’t have the full Android operating system, Google Maps, the Google Chrome browser or the Google Play Store. The device will be running Android open source software along with Huawei’s own EMUI 10 user interface. Users will be able to download apps from the Huawei AppGallery which includes more…

It might not look it, but there have been quite a few changes to the iPhone 11 Pro which all add up to a decent improvement over last year’s excellent iPhone XS. Customers may take one look at the new iPhone 11 Pro and not see much difference at all apart from an extra camera and a new lens arrangement. But that would be selling the device short. Yes, most of the improvements are under the hood. Yes, the shape and design are identical to last year’s iPhone. READ TECH GUIDE’S iPHONE 11 REVIEW But the power, performance and quality…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech – EFTM’s Trevor Long and Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech – give their verdicts on the iPhone 11 in Episode 405 of the popular podcast. On this week’s show, Stephen and Trevor, who have been using the iPhone 11 before its release this week, reveal their pros and cons on Apple’s new device and also run their eye over the Apple Watch Series 5 as well. Also on the program, the Facebook Portal, Foxtel launches 4K channel for the Rugby World Cup and retire the Foxtel Now app, the new Milo kids wearable and Fitbit…

HP has unveiled the HP Elite Dragonfly – its lightest and most compact convertible laptop ever that gives mobile professionals performance and security while making a design statement at the same time. The HP Elite Dragonfly has a 13-inch display with a screen to body ratio of almost 86 per cent and weighs less than 1kg. It can switch from laptop to tablet mode in an instant The device owes its lightweight construction and durability to its precision-crafted body made from CNC-machined magnesium. Elite Dragonfly as up 24.5 hours of battery life so it will keep up with your busy…

Apple Watch already dominates the smartwatch market and the latest version – Apple Watch Series 5 – will not only maintain that dominance but also convince plenty of potential customers to finally take the plunge. The versatility of Apple Watch has increased significantly since the cellular version was introduced two years ago and gave users the option to leave their iPhones behind and still receive calls and messages and use their apps on the move. Apple Watch Series 5 looks exactly the same as last year’s model but there are a couple of new finishes – titanium in silver and…

Fitbit has just released its latest device – the Versa 2 Watch – which can track your fitness, your health and your sleep and now includes Amazon Alexa on your wrist. The health and fitness watch has an always-on display so you can always view the time, your stats and your workout. The device actually has a larger display area so you can fit more information on the screen. The strength of the Fitbit Versa 2 is not only tracking your health and fitness but also offering guidance and insights to help you improve and reach your fitness goals. Users…

Netgear has expanded its consumer portfolio with its fastest wireless products ever – the Orbi Wi-Fi 6 and Nighthawk AX8 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender – which are designed to keep up with your connected life. The Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6 system is designed for the modern home and can support the numerous connected devices in  every corner of the home. The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 8-Stream Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender can  sold your network’s challenges and expand your home or office’s wireless footprint. NETGEAR ORBI WI-FI 6 MESH SYSTEM (RBK852) This is the next generation of the successful Netgear Orbi range…

Episode 366 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by Stephen Fenech, unpacks the Apple event and takes a look at all the products announced including the iPhone 11. On the show, we talk about the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, the Apple Watch Series 5, the new iPad and the Apple TV+ streaming service. Also on the program, the best smartphones under $700, HTC launches the Vive Cosmos VR system and Hisense enters the Australian air conditioning market. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we discuss what sort of money you should spend on a decent drone. You…

Foxtel has launched a new dedicated 4K Ultra HD channel so subscribers with an iQ4 set top box can watch every game of the Rugby World Cup 2019 live in glorious 4K. RWC 4K Ultra HD will go live on Wednesday September 18 and will be Foxtel’s second 4K channel. The 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off in Japan on September 20 with the opening ceremony. Foxtel viewers can watch all 48 games in 4K Ultra High Definition including the Final which will be played in November 2. RWC 4K Ultra HD will be available to Foxtel Sports HD subscribers…

Telstra has enabled the eSIM technology on the upcoming iPhone 11 to allow customers to run their Telstra plan or add a second number without the need for a physical SIM card. An eSIM is a digital technology embedded in compatible devices which can be imprinted with the information usually stored on a physical SIM card. Telstra’s service launches on Friday, September 20 – the same day the iPhone 11 goes on sale in Australia – and will allow customers who have a dual SIM or an eSIM-enabled device to activate a second service or replace their current physical SIM…

We’ve well and truly embraced wire-free earphones and the improvements just keep on coming as we can see with the JBL Reflect Flow sport earphones which are designed to go where you go. Users can enjoy this wireless freedom through Bluetooth 5.0 whether they’re in the gym or on the go. The JBL Reflect Flow have an IPX7 waterproof rating which provide an impressive 10 hours of continuous playtime. And there’s another 20 additional hours that comes from the charging case. A quick 10 minute charge is enough to get you an hour of playback. The earbuds come with interchangeable…

The Foxtel Now app will be retired and customers will be redirected to the Foxtel GO app from tomorrow (September 17) to enjoy their live TV and catch-up content. This will affect customers who are enjoying their Foxtel Now service on their mobiles and tablets. The Foxtel Kids app will also be absorbed into the Foxtel GO app before it is closed  in January. Foxtel GO will now feature a dedicated kids homepage and include parental control options. The rest of the Foxtel Now device apps on gaming consoles, smart TVs, Telstra TV and the Foxtel Now Box will be unaffected…

Not everybody can afford a flagship smartphone like the latest iPhone or Samsung devices  that are priced well over $1000. The good news is there are plenty of feature-packed options for well under $700 with most actually under $500. Recently the mid-tier has been energised with a number of products that are packing a number of features normally seen on high-end devices but at half the price. Here’s a look at the top smartphones under $700. iPHONE 7 (32GB) – $649 Apple is just about to release the Phone 11 but you can still buy an iPhone under $700. The…

HTC has announced pricing and availability of the Vive Cosmos – the latest premium PC-based virtual reality system – that offers new levels of performance and versatility. Cosmos will launch in Australia on October 4 and will be priced at $1,299. Customers can preorder the system now. The HTC Vive Cosmos was designed to adapt to the needs of users and has an all-new simplified set up and tracking system which means you can enter the VR world faster and easier than ever before. There are six camera sensors for wide and accurate inside out tracking. The Vive Cosmos has…

There’s been a lot of reaction to the iPhone 11 since its launch this week – and while there is been a lot of praise there has also been some mixed reactions to Apple’s latest hero product. There weren’t too many surprises when Apple finally revealed the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro at the launch event at the Steve jobs Theatre earlier this week. There were plenty of leaks and rumours that were pretty much spot on about the upcoming iPhone but still the expectations were high. The iPhone 11 and, in particular, the iPhone 11 Pro have now…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 404 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long is coming to you from inside the Apple Park campus building. The blokes were lucky enough to be asked into the Apple mothership and the podcast studio to record the latest episode a day after Apple held its launch event to reveal the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. Stephen and Trevor go through all the major announcements including Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, the latest iPad, the Apple Watch Series 5 and the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. You can listen to…