Author: Stephen Fenech

Oppo has come up with an intriguing 5G smartphone in the shape of the Reno 5G which are done away with the notch and maximised screen size thanks to an innovative selfie camera system. The device has a 6.6-inch AMOLED display that is not marred by a notch or a hole punch to accommodate a front-facing camera. Instead, Oppo has included a nifty pop-up camera system which appears elegantly from the top edge of the device whenever you need to take a selfie. So you’re getting the best of both worlds. An excellent front facing camera and a screen that…

Belkin has launched a new range wireless Boost Charge solutions for the iPhone to provide a convenient way to charge the device at home, in the office and even in the car. The Boost Charge line-up includes the Wireless Charging Pad (5W), Wireless Charging Stand (7.5W) and the Wireless Charging Vent Mount (7.5W). Each product has universal Qi compatibility that has been specially optimised to wirelessly charge the iPhone even if it’s inside a 3mm thick case. The collection provides a fast and safe charge without being tangled and cluttered with cables. BOOST CHARGE WIRELESS CHARGING PAD (5W) -…

The Face App has certainly taken over social media and while we’re enjoying looking at an older version of ourselves we should answer a few questions that have cropped up about the security and privacy concerns of the app developed in Russia. The app has been around for a while but it enjoyed a resurgence recently thanks to the amazing results it delivers of turning our current images and amazingly aging them. The results are so good because the developers, based in St Petersburg, are using cutting edge AI and machine learning which examines your face and delivers a remarkable…

Lend us your ears for Episode 396 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest stories. On this week’s show, the blokes celebrate World Emoji Day, the new ZAAP digital wallet to teach your kids financial literacy and Samsung Note 10 and iPhone 11 smartphone speculation. Also on the program, DJI puts forward a 10-point plan to improve drone safety, Fetch adds catch up TV to its EPG, Huawei scores a win in the UK and we take a look at the Huawei Series 8…

If you have a HFC (hybrid fibre coaxial) connection to the NBN, you may be able achieve speeds of up to 1Gbps following successful trials of the technology recently. The in-field trial was held in Templestowe in Victoria in the home of an NBN customer with a direct link between the home and the local point of interconnect in North Balwyn. There are more than 2.5 million homes and businesses that are due to be connected to NBN HFC in the next year. DOCSIS 3.1 technology was used to demonstrate the capability over an expanded spectrum will give the NBN…

Emojis are part of our everyday lives and created a new and fun way to communicate visually so why not celebrate them? Today is World Emoji Day. And why July 17 you ask? That’s the date shown on the calendar emoji. On Facebook Messenger more than 900 million emojis are sent every day without text while 700 million are used on Facebook posts every day. The most used emoji on Twitter is the face with tears of joy emoji . Apple has unveiled 59 new emoji designs that will be available with the iOS 13, iPadOS and watch OS 6…

If you want to stay updated and educated about the latest news and reviews then you better take listen to Episode 357 of the top-rating Tech Guide hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, DJI has released a paper on increasing drone safety and we speak with DJI head of corporate communications Adam Lisberg, how to teach your kids financial literacy with the new ZAAP digital wallet and Huawei doubles down on customer service for its Australian customers. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Hisense 75-inch Series 8 ULED TV, we also check…

Vodafone has agreed to refund customers who were charged for third-party content like ring tones and games they had not agreed to buy or had purchased inadvertently. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) brought the action against Vodafone and is now responsible for enforcing this undertaking. The undertaking applies to Vodafone third-party content that was purchased over a five-year period between January 1, 2013 and March 1, 2018. The content in question was marketed and provided by third parties who paid Vodafone a commission for any sales to their customers. Among the complaints was the fact the customers had…

Huawei has scored a victory in the UK after a parliamentary committee found there was no technical reason to exclude the Chinese network company from the UK’s telecom networks. A statement from the chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee to the UK digital Minister Jeremy Wright said: “we have found no evidence from our work to suggest that the complete exclusion of Huawei from the UK’s telecommunications networks would, from a technical point of view, constitute a proportionate response to the potential security threat posed by foreign suppliers.” The report was also in direct contradiction to claims made by…

Two of the things computer users crave are storage and connectivity and with the new Minix Neo USB-C storage hub you actually get both. Onboard the device, designed exclusively for the Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, is either 120GB or 240GB of SSD (solid state drive) storage. The unit is just 11.5cm long, 4.35cm wide and just 1.1cm thick. There is a single USB-C cable to connect to your computer or laptop and the hub itself has a USB-C port to replace the one occupied by the cable along with two USB 3.0 ports and a HDMI port. Think…

Pocket money in the 21st-century takes on all new shape with the introduction of ZAAP which can teach the young digital savvy generation how to manage their money. According to the OECD, more than 60 per cent of Australian parents think cash is going to play a much smaller role in their children’s lives with digital money to eventually take over. But without physical cash in hand, how do you teach teens and tweens the true value of money. This is where ZAAP comes into play. It’s a digital pre-paid Mastercard wallet for children aged between 8 and 17 which…

Drones are more popular than ever and, as the technology improves, they will be play an even bigger part in our lives and not just as flying cameras but in agriculture, building and industry as well as for police, fire and rescue. What’s carried the drone industry so far in such a relatively short time has been its strong safety record. Recently, drones have been used to help Parisian fire fighters control the blaze at Notre Dame, to map the radiation at Chernobyl where humans cannot enter and saved more than 230 lives in emergency situations. Drone manufacturers, pilots and…

The Hisense Series 8 75-inch ULED television offers an impressive home entertainment experience and continues the company’s commitment to offer customers the latest features and technologies. Tech Guide took a look at the Hisense 75R8 which has a sleek and minimal design that just fades into the background the second you turn it on. Hisense has raised the bar for this model with the sheer number of new features and capabilities on board. At a time when there is so much good 4K content to stream and view on disc, the Hisense 75R8 delivers the features to make it look…

Amazon’s Prime Day kicks off on Monday and will offer customers some impressive discounts across a range of categories including TVs, smart devices, kitchen and toys. The sale kicks off at 12:01am on July 15 and will run for two days thanks to an extra 17 hours of deals from the US to Prime members in Australia through Amazon.com.au. Amazon Australia has already kicked off some early deals which include exclusive offers and savings for Prime members in the lead up to Prime Day. These include: Amazon Music – Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get four…

Tune in to Episode 395 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, as they discuss the week’s biggest stories and products. On this week show, Boost Mobile expands into selling refurbished smartphones, Sony releases its new noise cancelling earphones and Hisense enters the soundbar category in Australia. Also on the program, LG releases the G8S ThinQ smartphone with Hand ID, Huawei expands its customer service footprint across Australia and Apple updates the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro and discontinues the MacBook. In the minute reviews we take a look at…

Huawei Australia has ramped up its commitment to customer service after partnering with trusted mobile and tablet repairer Happytel which has 56 locations across Australia. The new deal will allow Huawei customers to troubleshoot technical issues and organise repairs on their device if needed. One of the reasons behind Samsung and Apple’s success is its after sales service that provides customers with peace of mind when purchasing one of their products. Huawei, which has set new sales records since the launch of the P30 Pro in March, can now offer that same comfort so future customers can buy with confidence.…

Oppo has just launched the latest device in its Reno series – the Reno Z –  which is a more affordable device yet offering innovative features and a flagship design. The device has  inherited a number of high-end features found in the more expensive Reno 10x Zoom and Reno 5G smartphones. Priced at just $499, the Reno Z has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a screen to body ratio of 92 per cent. Also on board is a 48-megapixel rear camera with Ultra Night Mode 2.0  which enables impressive night-time photography. The powerful AI chip and noise reduction algorithm allows…

The Samsung Space Monitor can completely change your workspace – not only for providing a clear and sharp screen to keep you productive but because it can also get out of your way when you need more room to move. Tech Guide took a look at the 32-inch 4K Samsung Space Monitor and used it in a variety of scenarios. And in each one – it was able to be used like no other monitor. What stands the Samsung Space Monitor out from the crowd is not just the screen it’s the incredibly adjustable arm and stand. It doesn’t just…

Apple has updated its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with new and updated features including more powerful processors for a noticeably improved performance. There is also special pricing for university students with the MacBook Air already the most popular laptop among students. But Apple has also quietly discontinued the 12-inch MacBook – the smallest laptop in the Apple range. The thin and light MacBook Air has been updated with True Tone to its Retina display for a more consistent and natural viewing experience. True Tone adjusts the colour temperature on the 13-inch display depending on light conditions and the content…

Episode 356 of the top rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech is now available to make it easy for you to stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Samsung to defend claims by the ACCC its ads were misleading about the water resistance of its smartphones, Sony has launched its new noise cancelling earphones and the NBN floats the idea of a Netflix Tax. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the LG V50 5G smartphone, the Kathmandu Connect Smart Backpack and the Pure Evoke…