Author: Stephen Fenech

Google has cut off Huawei from updates to its Android operating system and caused a lot of confusion with customers and raised questions about the future of the company. Tech Guide was inundated with questions from readers about what this all means for customers so we’ll answer all those questions. This action came about following an executive order by the Trump administration to ban Huawei from doing business with US companies. Huawei released a statement in response to the suspension: “We want to assure Huawei customers in Australia that the US actions involving Google will not impact consumers with a…

Optus has revealed its 5G home broadband service is already achieving peak speeds of 295Mbps – nearly three times the speed of the fastest NBN connections – and also announced the next round of areas to receive 5G. Even more Australians will be able experience the speed of the Optus 5G home broadband service including customers in Bonnyrigg and Minchinbury in Sydney’s west, Niagara Park on the NSW Central Coast, Cook in the ACT and Kenmore just outside Brisbane. Optus networks managing director Dennis Wong said the first Optus 5G home broadband service in Glendenning in Sydney’s west had hit…

Alphabet Inc, the company behind Google, has cut off Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei from accessing updates to the Android operating system which powers their devices around the world. This is a major blow to the company which has become the second largest smartphone vendor in the world behind Samsung. As a result of Alphabet Inc’s decision, Huawei will no longer receive hardware, software and technical services from Google and will only have access to open source licensing, according to Reuters. In short, this means Huawei will no longer receive Android updates and will also be cut off from the Google…

Start your weekend with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, the Two Blokes Talking Tech as they present Episode 388 of their popular podcast. On this week’s show, Apple partners with Samsung for Apple TV and Alexa for Apple Music, the WhatsApp bug and what you can do to protect yourself and the new Osmo Action camera from DJI. Also on the program, Telstra launches its rewards program, Lenovo reveals a folding laptop and Optus names its first 50 5G sights in NSW and Victoria. In the minute reviews we talk about the Hisense Series 7 65-inch…

Lenovo has given us a glimpse into the future by unveiling what it is calling the world’s first foldable PC  in the ThinkPad X1 family and a whole new way of looking at the laptop computer. Lenovo has never been backward in coming forward with innovation in this preview of the folding PC is the latest example. The device can be unfolded completely flat and act as a tablet but folded in half and you’ve got a laptop with the screen in the top half and a virtual keyboard in the bottom half. And Lenovo says this is not a…

One of the greatest things about technology is its ability to unleash your creativity. A great example of this is Sphero’s latest product Specdrums – an app-enabled ring that can turn colour and the objects around you into music. Specdrums fits on your finger like a ring and has a sensor on the base that reacts to different colours and produces different sounds. It connects via Bluetooth to the free companion app. Included in the box is a rubber play pad with a range of colours so you can tap out a range of sounds and release your inner musician.…

Samsung has launched its new Space Monitor – an adjustable screen that allows users to reclaim desk space and keep their workspace uncluttered while still having the versatility of a moveable monitor. The Samsung Space Monitor has a unique stand and clamp that allows the screen to be positioned on the edge of a desk with the ability to tilt back and forth and positioned for maximum comfort. The minimalistic look is also enhanced with the monitor’s cable management which runs the power and HDMI cable down through the arm and out of sight. Samsung’s space monitor is available in…

DJI, the No 1 drone manufacturer, is edging into GoPro territory with the Osmo Action – a rugged go-anywhere camera that can capture your activities and adventures in 4K quality. DJI is building on its product portfolio of drones and gimbals with the Osmo Action which has inherited a lot of the sensor and stabilisation technology. Osmo Action has dual screens – a 2.25-inch rear screen to frame what you’re shooting and a 1.4-inch front display for the times when you want to point the camera at yourself. The displays and the lens have a special coating to repel fingerprints…

Hisense has just released its range of 2019 TVs and one of the best value models in its line-up – the 65-inch Series 7 4K ULED television which offers an excellent picture and numerous smart features. Tech Guide took a look at the TV which has an almost indistinguishable bezel around the top and sides of the screen. The thickest part of the TV’s frame is along the bottom edge which anchors the panel above short stand legs. Its minimal design means you have nothing else to focus on but the impressive picture. Hisense Series 7 includes Dolby Vision and…

Apple Music is now available on Alexa devices on Australia giving users access to more than 50 million in the Apple Music catalogue on the full range of Echo speakers. There are more than 57 million Apple Music subscribers worldwide and until now the only smart speaker that could play music and playlists with voice commands was Apple’s very own HomePod. Customers will now be able to add Apple Music to their list of services within the Amazon Alexa app. Apple Music will be able to be enjoyed with the Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Show. Users will be able…

Listen up! Episode 348 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech is now available so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Optus has named the first 50 5G sites in NSW and Victoria, Dyson reveals the first details about electric car and Huawei launches the new dual camera mode with its P30 smartphones. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Meural Canvas – the digital frame that brings the world’s most famous works of art into your home, we’ll take a look…

Samsung has become the first TV manufacturer to launch Apple TV and AirPlay 2 on its 2019 smart TVs and select 2018 models so viewers can access their iTunes movies and TV show purchases. The new feature will be available to the Samsung TVs after a firmware update. Once the compatible TVs are updated, the Apple TV app will be installed to give viewers access to more than 100,000 iTunes movies and TV shows including 4K HDR titles to utilise the 4K resolution of the Samsung TVs. Customers will also be access the numerous channels available within the Apple TV…

Telstra’s new loyalty program – Telstra Plus – has just kicked off and will reward customers with points for what they spend on their monthly bills which can then be exchanged for entertainment, services and products. Like an airline’s frequent flyer program, Telstra Plus has clear benefit tiers – Gold, Silver and Member – based on the previous 12-month spend. Typically a $1499 annual spend – based on Telstra services like mobile, home broadband and Foxtel – will get you the Member status. Customers spending between $1,500 to $2,499 a year will be silver while those spending more than $300o…

Ever needed a place to hang your coat but couldn’t find a hook? A clever new product called Coat has solved that problem – it’s a useful hook you can take anywhere. Coat is small enough to fit in your pocket and has been designed to attach to smooth gloss surfaces like glass, mirror, tile, stone and polished metals. When attaching Coat to a surface users simply pull down on the lever to activate solid suction. That lever then becomes your hook to hold your coat, clothing, bag or anything that weighs up to 2kg. Tech Guide took a look…

The Optus 5G rollout  has just begun with the telco revealing the first 50 sites that will be built by Ericsson in the coming weeks and months as part of its multi-vendor 5G strategy. Optus has identified 50 areas across Sydney and Melbourne which will be connected to 5G ahead of the other 1200 5G sites across the country which will be completed by March 2020. “This is another significant milestone for Optus as we continue with our customer focused 5G roll-out plan,” says Kent Wu,  Optus head of network access planning and quality. “We are continuing to deliver a…

If you have a real love for art then you need to take a look at the Meural Canvas – it’s a smart frame that allows you to enjoy the best art and photography from the world’s most famous galleries and museums. What we’re looking at here is a 27-inch matte screen surrounded by a white border and a white, black or walnut frame. Naturally there is wi-fi on board to connect Meural to the companion app on your smartphone and link it to a world of art and photography which you can appreciate in your own home. Meural’s patented…

Start your weekend with Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 387 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest stories, announcements and products. On this week’s show, all the announcements and products announced at the Google I/O including the Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones, Dyson unveils the first details about its electric car and the rise of e-sports in Australia. Also on the program, Samsung’s new Galaxy A Series smartphones, Facebook’s new Oculus Quest VR and the Lumen over 50s dating app. In the minute reviews we take a look at the…

Dyson is best known for its excellent vacuum cleaners and hairdryers but the company is also developing an electric car and for the first it has released some of the tantalising details. Innovative engineering is a central principle for the company and it is bringing experience in design, manufacturing and operations knowledge to the automotive space. Dyson is on track to release its electric vehicle in 2021. Usually ultra-secretive to protect its many patents, Dyson will this time make some of its patents covering its EV public. “18 months ago we submitted our first patents covering some of the developments…

It’s back to the future when it comes to vinyl records with the format enjoying a resurgence. And as a result there are a number of turntables that have been released to keep up with demand. Vinyl sales accounted for one of every 10 physical music formats sold in 2018 and grew by 23 per cent in the same period. Artists are also re-releasing their albums on vinyl to meet demand. Audiophiles will swear vinyl sounds a lot better and warmer than the cold and sterile digital sound. They call it “perfectly imperfect” which refers to the amazing high fidelity…

Huawei has just announced new camera capabilities for its excellent P30 and P30 Pro smartphones including a new dual view mode to shoot split screen videos through its multiple real lenses. Customers who have already purchased the P30 and P30 Pro outright can update their system software from today to enjoy these new features. Those who bought their device through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will have to wait till May 15. The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro have already won acclaim for the camera systems with the P30 Pro judged the best smartphone camera by DxOMark. The new Dual-View Camera…