Author: Stephen Fenech

A new independent report from global telecoms consultant Ovum says the Turnbull Government based their decision to ban Huawei from the Australian 5G network rollout on incorrect technical information. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on August 23, 2018 that Huawei and some other foreign vendors would not be allowed to deliver 5G in Australia. This decision was made literally hours before Turnbull was ousted as Prime Minister and replaced by Scott Morrison. Turnbull was under the impression that the Core and Radio Access Networks (RAN) could not be separated in 5G mobile network deployments. The Core network encrypts data,…

Apple will be offering new augmented reality experiences at Apple Stores around the world, including Australia, with interactive walks and in-store sessions featuring some of the world’s premier contemporary artists. The in-store sessions will teach customers the basics of creating AR using Apple’s own coding software Swift Playgrounds. There will also be an AR art installation viewable with the (AR)T Viewer in the Apple Store app on the iPhone and iPad in every Apple Store worldwide. Apple has invited the New Museum, a popular contemporary art destination in New York, to select seven artists to participate in this experimental project…

It’s time to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and products with Episode 359 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, Samsung has fixed the issues with the Galaxy Fold and have set a launch date, Foxtel has included Netflix on its new entertainment interface and we go behind the scenes at Weta Digital to see how Alita Battle Angel was brought to the screen and we chat with Digital Animation Supervisor Mike Cozens. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Seagate portable…

The new Tesla Model 3, which will soon be seen on Australian roads, has achieved some of the highest ANCAP ratings in active and passive safety. The latest and more affordable Tesla electric car scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating making it one of the safest cars on the road. In the area of adult occupant protection, the Tesla Model 3 achieved a score of 96 per cent after scoring full marks in three of the four destructive crash tests. Full points were also awarded for the front passenger in the frontal offset test which simulates a head-on crash. The…

When it comes to laser projectors the word portable is seldom used – until now. Epson has just unveiled the EF-100W and EF-100B which measure just 23cm long so you can enjoy the big screen experience on the go. The projectors use Epson’s long-lasting laser-light technology which is bright enough to be used with the lights on and in the middle of the day. The Epson EF-100W/EF-100B projectors, which weigh just 2.7kg, can be used to project an image on any surface – a wall, the ceiling and even the floor. It has the capability to project an image up…

In this high-paced world we live in, we need to take a breather from time to time with a little bit of meditation to reduce stress. And there is a product that can help you do just that – it’s the Muse 2. Muse 2 is a headband that contains numerous sensors so users can see real-time feedback on their brain activity, heart rate and breathing to help you achieve a consistent meditation practice. It is an EEG device which is used by neuroscientists and uses advanced signal processing to monitor your mental activity. With the companion app, Muse 2…

Three Australians are among the winners of the 12th annual iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) which recognises the best images captured in several categories with Apple’s iPhone. The winners were selected from thousands of entries from more 140 countries in a number of categories including: abstract, animals, architecture, children, floral, landscape, lifestyle, nature, news events, other, panorama, people, portrait, series, still life, sunset, travel and trees. Sari Sutton from Canberra won first place in the Other Category with an image captured on her iPhone X. Christian Horgan from Fremantle in Western Australia ranked second in the Portrait Category with…

According to hard drive manufacturer Seagate, the data we generate and need to store is set to increase more than five-fold in the next five years so the need for reliable storage has never been greater. Seagate is answering the call with its new line-up of portable hard drives that are both small and sleek and yet boasting even higher capacities to keep your movies, music, photos and other files safe and sound. Tech Guide took a look at the Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive and the Backup Plus Ultra Touch. SEAGATE BACKUP PLUS PORTABLE DRIVE – available in 4TB…

Huawei has launched two new editions of the Watch GT – Active and Elegant – which offer classic wristwatch design, fitness and health tracking and a battery life that can be measured in weeks. The Watch GT Active and Elegant have 46mm and 42mm watch faces respectively with dual chipsets to provide power-saving technology for efficiency and performance. The Huawei Watch GT Active has a battery that can run for up to two weeks under typical use while the Watch GT Elegant offers up to one week of battery life. “Huawei is Australia’s fastest growing technology company and we are…

The ACCC has released a comprehensive report that will suggest tech giants Google and Facebook must offer more transparency when it comes to anti-competitive behaviour and privacy. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released a report addressing these leading digital platforms and their impact on Australians, the media and the economy. The report contains 23 recommendations covering areas like competition law, consumer protection, media regulation and privacy law which must come under a new level of regulation on the back of the rapid growth of these digital platforms. “Our recommendations are comprehensive and forward looking and deal with the…

Brother is already well-known for its label makers but it has taken that to the next level with the brand new VC-500W – a full-colour direct label printer that makes it easy to customise your labels and enhance your home projects. The VC-500W can produce full colour glossy labels from 9mm up to 50mm wide using ZINK Zero-Ink printing which uses heat to activate colour crystals in the paper and create full-colour labels with no ink in sight. Not only can it be used for labels you can also print out images as well. In fact, there are numerous uses…

Samsung has announced it will finally launch its Galaxy Fold in selected countries in September after delaying the product’s release in April to address some technical issues. It is unknown at this point, whether Australia will be included in the September release window of the Samsung Galaxy Fold. Samsung unveiled the new device at its Unpacked event in San Francisco in February which included a unique design with a front 4.6-inch display and a larger 7.3-inch screen when opened like a book. The problems with the Galaxy Fold arose when it was given to early reviewers and influencers in the…

Every parent knows protecting their young children from harmful content is a full-time job but a new product called Birde just made it a whole lot easier. We want our kids to enjoy audio and video content that’s appropriate to them but if left to their own devices they could easily stumble across inappropriate material. Birde is a brightly-coloured (available in blue or purple) portable smart speaker system that makes it possible for young children to safely access music, audiobooks and videos on their own. The Birde company was founded by Australian couple Daniel and Leah Corkin who were worried…

Get expert commentary on the latest tech news and products with Episode 397 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Foxtel includes Netflix in it’s all new interface, the NBN has crossed over the 10 million home mark and a look at the level of adoption of smart speakers in our home. Also on the program, a snapshot of Australia’s gaming habits  and we take a look inside Weta Digital to see how Alita Battle Angel was brought to the screen. In the minute reviews we talk…

Foxtel has completely revamped its user interface for its iQ3 and iQ4 customers to make it even easier to access their content and has now included Netflix as part of the enhanced entertainment experience. From today, Netflix will be accessible directly from the new look Foxtel menu so iQ4 customers can enjoy the popular streaming service without switching sources or leaving the Foxtel environment. Foxtel is offering a deal with the Sports, Entertainment and Drama pack for $58 a month with a bonus six-month Netflix subscription. The redesigned Foxtel interface helps viewers see the new programs on offer and makes…

The NBN has announced it has now connected more than 10 million homes and businesses to the access network and will complete the national rollout in less than 12 months. With most of the country connected, the NBN is also embarking on a campaign to help connected households and businesses get the most out of their connection. NBN recently commissioned some research and discovered that only 42 per cent of customers are confident their home set up is optimised to deliver the best speed and performance. And 86 per cent of Australian customers are aware that at least one factor…

Alita Battle Angel originated as a manga comic with a cult following and it has made a long and remarkable journey to the big screen thanks to epic filmmaker James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez. It also took the incredible talent of Weta Digital and its talented artists and animators to bring the ambitious story to life. Tech Guide stepped inside Weta Digital in Wellington for a behind-the-scenes look at how Alita was transformed from drawings on a page to a lifelike character on the big screen. Alita tells the story of a discarded cyborg discovered in a scrapyard who…

Lend me your ears for Episode 358 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, the smartphones we can expect in the second half of 2019 from Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Google, the NBN achieves 1Gbps on HFC and the new Xbox has been unveiled – and it doesn’t take discs. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Sony WF-1000XM3 noise cancelling earphones, the RHA Wireless Flight Adapter that allows you to use wireless headphones with…

There are lots of quality wireless Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones and earphones on the market which are great when paired to a mobile device but how can you keep using them wirelessly on a plane? With the RHA Wireless Flight Adaptor – that’s how. The RHA Wireless Flight Adaptor is slightly smaller than an Apple AirPods case. It contains a transmitter that can turn any audio signal from a device with a 3.5mm headphone jack or double 3.5mm in-flight entertainment socket into a high-fidelity Bluetooth signal. That means it will work with any pair of wireless headphones and earphones and…

The second half of 2019 will see some massive smartphone releases from Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Google that will take the device to an all-new level – and here’s a sneak peek of all of them. The next six months we’re going to see smartphones with improved camera systems, with 5G connectivity, with larger screens and some that can fold. Here’s what we can expect: SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD The Samsung folding device was unveiled back in February and has been delayed to address some issues which came up when they were placed in the hands of early reviewers and influencers.…