Author: Stephen Fenech

LG has launched its new G8S ThinQ smartphone which includes advanced optics, audio and security features through Telstra with the first 1000 customers receiving a bonus LG 43-inch UHD Smart TV. From today anyone purchasing the device through Telstra on an eligible plan before August 6 will receive the 43-inch LG TV as a bonus. The device includes an innovative Hand ID feature which can unlock your device by reading the veins in your palm. The technology can recognise the shape, thickness and other characteristics of the veins in your palm. The LG GS8 ThinQ also has a rear fingerprint…

Boost Mobile has always offered great value pre-paid mobile plans but now they are also offering customers refurbished smartphones to go along with their updated Anytime Plus plans. The company has partnered with leading refurbished device seller Alegre to supply Boost with smartphones to offer to its customers. Customers who choose a refurbished phone will receive a free $30 Boost Mobile Prepaid SIM to use on the Telstra network. These phones go through an extensive 72-point check and also include a 12-month warranty they’re just like new. Customers can purchase a refurbished iPhone for as little as $249 and a…

TV manufacturer Hisense has entered the soundbar market in Australia to enhance the home viewing experience for customers with the same approach of offering innovation and value. There will be two Hisense soundbars that will be available from this week – a flagship model at $999 and an entry level unit at $349. “Australians are increasingly seeking to enhance their at-home entertainment experience and we are thrilled to offer two high-quality audio solutions in our 5.1.2 and 2.1 channel Sound Bars,” says Andre Iannuzzi, head of marketing for Hisense Australia. “At Hisense, we pride ourselves on creating innovative products that…

Sony has launched the new WF-1000XM3 wire-free earphones which takes the audio quality and noise cancelling technology from the market-leading headphones and packs them into this smaller form factor. Onboard the Sony WF-1000XM3 earphones is dual noise sensor technology which works in conjunction with the new HD noise cancelling processor QN1e to sense ambient sound and then block it out. There is one feed-forward microphone and a feed-back microphone on the surface of each earbud to hear more of the outside noise before the QN1e comes into play to generate a reverse sound wave so all you hear is the…

The Kathmandu Connect Smart Pack can safely carry your computer, your tablet and other mobile devices but it also has another feature – it can charge them on the move as well. There is plenty of room for your gadgets and laptop but the innovative backpack also includes the Joey T3 smart unit that connects to an app on your smartphone. The onboard battery, located in a discreet pocket inside the backpack, has a 6,200mAh capacity – that’s almost twice the capacity of your smartphone battery. That’s enough charge to completely recharge your phone and other USB-powered devices like tablets,…

Take a listen to Episode 394 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM editor Trevor Long as they dissect the week’s biggest tech issues, news and products. On this week’s show: NBN floats the idea of a Netflix Tax, Samsung to defend ACCC claims it ran misleading ads regarding its phones’ water resistance and Apple Watch being used by the Australian Women’s cricket team. Also on the program, the Commodore 64 is being re-released, how you can access your Uber rating and designer Jony Ive has left Apple. In the minute reviews…

Connecting more than one monitor to your PC or Mac is a great way to increase your virtual desktop and that makes it easier to multitask and tackle large projects. Kensington has a range of products to suit any solution. Tech Guide took a look at the Kensington SD5200T Thunderbolt 3 Dock and the SD4800P which can not only connect multiple monitors but also increase connectivity and power delivery. It’s suitable for business professionals, designers, video editors and gamers who want more room to move. KENSINGTON SD5200T THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCKING STATION – $299.99 The docking station works with Windows and…

LG is one of the first brands to launch a 5G smartphone – the V50 5G – in Australia and customers are fortunate enough to also receive the device’s standout accessory – a second screen. The LG V50 has a 6.4-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 so you’re presented with beautiful quality. There are two front facing cameras above the screen and users have the choice of squaring off the display or having a notch at the top. We chose the notch to make the screen appear larger. The device doesn’t look much different to its…

Samsung will vigorously defend itself in the Federal Court against claims from the ACCC that it allegedly made “false, misleading and deceptive” claims in its advertisements about the water resistance of its Galaxy smartphones. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) case will bring into evidence more than 300 ads dating back as far as 2016 showing the Galaxy phones being used in swimming pools and in the surf. “The ACCC alleges Samsung’s advertisements falsely and misleadingly represented Galaxy phones would be suitable for use in, or for exposure to, all types of water, including in ocean water and swimming…

Can you believe NBN Co is thinking of charging customers extra for using the connection they are already paying for if they want to stream video content through Netflix or Stan? I looked at the calendar and was shocked when I saw it wasn’t April 1. NBN is understood to be floating this “Netflix Tax” to its retail service providers in a proposal and trying to take their temperature to see whether they’d support such a move. That section apparently read something like this: “Would your organisation support the development of a price response whereby charging of streaming video could…

Amazon’s new Echo Show 5 – the smart speaker with a 5.5-inch display – is what we’re calling the Goldilocks product. It’s just the right size to be used in any room in your house. The compact device allows users to listen to music, watch content, plan your day, set alarms and timers, communicate with family and friends and control all your smart home devices. It has a high-resolution 5.5-inch screen, an impressive speaker and the front facing high definition camera. The device itself is just 14.8cm wide , 8.6cm tall and 7.3cm deep – which means it takes up…

If you want the convenience of wireless charging combined with fast charging that’s exactly you get with the latest EFM wireless charge pad that works with the latest Apple, Samsung and Huawei smartphones. The device, which is roughly the size and shape of a drink coaster, provides 15W of charging power which will charge your Qi-compatible devices 30 per cent faster than standard wireless charges which have a 5W output. The phones which can be charged quickly on the EFM wireless charger include Samsung Galaxy S8 onwards, iPhone 8 onwards and the Huawei Mate 20 Pero and the Huawei P30…

Tune in to Episode 355 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, Apple designer Jony Ive is leaving the company, say goodbye to the notch – Oppo has invented the under-screen camera and Telstra unveils its new mobile plans but with an added 5G tax. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, the Mighty Pet LED light up dog collars and leashes and we take you inside the re-designed Apple Store…

The classic Commodore 64  – at one time the world’s most popular computer – is being re-released so customers can relive the retro computer of their childhood. The C64 was released back in 1982 and dominated the home computer scene after millions of units were sold. Back then it included a full-size keyboard and needed to be connected to a colour TV which became the monitor. And like the original the new C64 will have that full keyboard as well as a micro switch classic joystick that connects to one of the four USB ports. It can connect to your…

The Australian Women’s cricket team will be hoping technology will give them the winning edge when they kick off their Ashes campaign after using the Apple Watch with an activity monitoring app to optimise their performance. Using an app developed by the Australian Institute of Sport, the team has been able to track and share their all-day activities so coaches can monitor and modify their workload. The information is gathered by the Apple Watch in real time and includes training load, heart rate, mood and sleep data. The coaches then use this data to make meaningful modifications to help each…

There is no shortage of speakers and digital radios on the market but there would be few that could match the features you’ll find on the Pure Evoke F3 which is an internet radio, digital radio, FM radio and also a Bluetooth speaker. This versatile products puts a whole world of radio stations at your fingertips as well as easy access to favourite Australian stations. And, with Bluetooth on board, you can also enjoy your own music. It‘s even better if you have a Spotify account thanks to Spotify Connect which gives you access to millions of tracks through the…

If you want to make your dogs stand out from the pack then you have to kit them out with the new Mighty Pet LED light up dog collars and leashes which offer cool lighting effects. Mighty Pet, a sub-brand of Laser, has come up with these collars so dog owners can keep an eye on their pooches even at night and make them even more visible in the street and when crossing the road. They can also be easily seen when the dogs are running free in the park even after dusk. View this post on Instagram …

Jony Ive, the designer who had a hand in making Apple the powerhouse it is today, has announced he is leaving the company to start his own design business. Ive, who joined Apple in the early 90s, has been the company’s chief designer since 1996 when the company was struggling. The turnaround began in 1998 when company founder Steve Jobs returned to Apple as CEO and made Ive his right-hand man. Jobs once referred to him as his “spiritual partner at Apple”. But the market reacted sharply to the news of Ive’s departure with Apple shares falling 1.5 per cent…

Oppo has made a smartphone breakthrough by creating the world’s first under-screen camera which eliminates the need for a notch and offers a true full display experience. The Under-Screen Camera (USC) technology was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Shanghai. The innovation integrates the front facing camera with the screen and provides users with a complete view of the screen. The customised camera module sits behind a redesigned screen pixel structure and uses the highly transparent screen to enhance that transmittance of light while customised haze removal and white balance algorithms enable a complete photography experience. And the camera is…

Tech Guide took a step inside the redesigned Apple store in Bondi for a sneak peek ahead of its official reopening to the public at 9:30am on Saturday. The popular Bondi store has been completely revamped with everything but the tiled floor being replaced to give it a fresh new look and feel. The renovation has taken more than two months to complete. Customers will still see tables full of products at the front of the store which will lead them further inside past the Apple devices, to accessories and experiences in the normal way to the forum area at…