Author: Stephen Fenech

Is this Apple’s new iPhone XI? Months before the expected September release of the device, renders have just been revealed based on reported leaks that show a new triple camera system. The CashKaro site published the accurate renders which show a triangular camera system located in the top corner of the rear panel of the iPhone. It is in the same spot as the current dual lens system with the addition of one wall ends and a repositioning of the LED flash. The camera system will reportedly be made up of three 12-megapixel lenses – a wide-angle, telephoto lens and…

Samsung’s latest tablets – the Galaxy Tab S5e and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 – are now available for customers looking for a device for work or play and for the entire family to enjoy. The Galaxy Tab S5e is the flagship Android tablet which is powerful enough for multi-tasking yet is just 5.5mm thick and tipping the scales at a featherweight 400g. The device has a 10.5-inch sAMOLED edge-to-edge display with super narrow bezels and a resolution of 2560 x 1600. Powered by a 64-bit octa-core processor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is powerful enough to use as a laptop replacement…

It’s been two and half years since Apple’s original AirPods were released and they’ve been popular since day one. Finally a new version of the AirPods is available and the good news is they’re even better. The original AirPods were one of the first wire-free earphones and designed for use especially with Apple’s devices. Today they are really easy to spot out and about with their distinct white colour. Version two of the AirPods have a number of subtle improvements. On the design side, they look exactly the same as the original. The AirPods themselves still have the same look…

Tune in to Episode 345 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, has the folding phone fallen at the first hurdle – we discuss Samsung’s woes with the Galaxy Fold, MG Motors announces its first all-electric vehicle, the predicted time when electric cars will overtake regular fuel cars on the road and the 3D scans that can help rebuild the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the LG C9 OLED TV, the Nokia…

Tesla has unveiled a new full self-driving computer and plans for driverless “robotaxis” that will challenge Uber during the company’s Autonomy Investor Day. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says by mid-2020, Tesla’s autonomous system will be so advanced owners of the company’s electric vehicles will not have to pay attention to the road. Musk predicts Tesla will have US Government regulatory approval by the end of 2020. At the heart of the system is a purpose designed chip built by Samsung focussing on autonomy and safety. The system will utilise the network of cameras which are already included on Tesla’s vehicles…

Samsung has delayed the US launch of the Galaxy Fold – its first foldable smart phone – by at least a month following reports of issues and failures whilst in the hands of tech reviewers and journalists. The device was due to go on sale in the US on April 26 but Samsung has decided to postpone the launch to “run the further internal tests” after issues with the foldable screen. Samsung says it plans to announce the new release date in the coming weeks. For Australian customers, this will surely have a knock-on effect to the launch window which…

LG is playing to its strengths again with its new 2019 C9 OLED which features the latest Alpha 9 Gen 2 Intelligent Processor and a stunning all-round entertainment experience. Tech Guide spent a night with the 65-inch LG C9 OLED which has a number of improvements over last year’s OLED models. And most of the heavy lifting is handled by the Alpha 9 Gen 2 processor that utilises AI deep learning which handles everything from upscaling content to 4K quality to real time optimisation of the picture to improve contrast and colour. It also throws into the mix Dolby Vision…

Spend your Easter Weekend with Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 385, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’ biggest stories. On this week’s show, Samsung in crisis mode after some early review Galaxy Fold review units break after just two days, Hisense releases pricing and availability for its 2019 ULED TVs, how to order a Domino’s pizza through Google Home and the 3D scans that will help restore Notre Dame. Stephen chats about the new Star Wars teaser trailer, JB Hi-Fi slashes prices on the iPhone XS Max 512GB and we wrap…

Has the folding phone fallen at the first hurdle? Samsung is in crisis mode after some influencers and US tech journalists broke their Galaxy Fold and reported issues after just two days use a week before it goes on sale in the US. Samsung issued review units of the highly-anticipated Galaxy Fold to US-based YouTubers, influencers and journalists who promptly released videos unboxing the device and giving their first impressions which were all positive But disaster struck a day later when some of the Galaxy Fold recipients started reporting issues. For some it was an error on their part after…

MG has become the latest car manufacturer to unveil its first electric vehicle – the eZS all-electric SUV – and it will be coming to Australia and New Zealand in 2020. MG Motor’s new eZS is an all-electric evolution of the company’s popular compact SUV, the MG ZS which includes pioneering technology sourced from parent company SAIC Motor. SAIC Motor is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to autonomous driving, new energy and vehicle concept integration. It has sold more than 140,000 New Energy Vehicles (NEV) in 2018 which doubled the sales of the previous year for the…

Rode Microphones has just released Wireless GO – the world’s smallest and lightest digital wireless microphone system which ideal for content creators on the go. It is so small it can be used as a clip-on microphone or as a belt pack for a lavalier microphone through the 3.5mm TRS input. The transmitter and receiver both weigh just 31g and pair in three seconds. Each unit measures 44mm x 45.3mm x 18.5mm. Wireless Go has 2.4Ghz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption so you have a clear transmission and therefore clear audio even when you’re surrounded by other wi-fi networks. It…

Nokia was once the biggest mobile phone brands back when most customers were buying their first device. Today the brand is enjoying a comeback of sorts and it’s thanks to products like the Nokia 8.1. The Finnish company now owned by HMD Global has made it into the top 10 smartphone brands in the world after spending a number of years in the wilderness. The Nokia 8.1, priced at $699, offers a lot of bang for your buck starting with the 6.18-inch full high definition PureDisplay with HDR10 support as well as a dual lens Zeiss camera system. The screen…

Episode 344 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech has just dropped so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, the top 10 questions we’ve been asked about electric cars since Labor announced its ambitious plan to make half the new cars sold in 2030 electric vehicles, IKEA and Sonos join forces to create functional audio furniture and how your Samsung phone can replace your Opal card. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a complete look at the Huawei P30 Pro smartphone, Amazon releases…

If you’re in the market for a new iPhone you better head on in to your nearest JB Hi-Fi store –  they’ve slashed the price of Apple’s flagship iPhone XS Max 512GB by more than $300. The iPhone XS Max was introduced last year with the top of the line 512GB version priced at $2,369. Now JB Hi-Fi has cut $320 off the price and is offering the iPhone XS Max 512GB for $2,049 – the same price as the iPhone XS Max 256GB model. No other retailer and Apple itself still have the iPhone XS Max 512 at its…

The hopes of rebuilding the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after being devastated by fire have been boosted thanks to some highly accurate 3D scans of the iconic building which were recently completed. Fire broke out in the landmark 850-year-old building and caused the spire and part of the roof to collapse. More than 400 firefighters battled the Notre Dame blaze and it was their quick action that stopped the fire reaching the north tower belfry and saved the interior along with the priceless artworks and artefacts inside. It is believed the blaze originated in the area where renovation works…

Hisense has just revealed the pricing and availability of its impressive 2019 range of ULED TVs which includes new proprietary technology and the VIDAA U operating system powered by AI. The new ULED TVs also include Dolby Vision HDR so they look great as well as Dolby Atmos so they sound great too. “At Hisense, we’re committed to bringing Australians the highest quality televisions that are packed with the best technology and features,” says Andre Iannuzzi, Head of Marketing at Hisense Australia. “To this end, we’re proud to be offering Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos across our suite of…

If you’re an Apple Music customer or are thinking of subscribing, there are numerous ways for you to get the most out of the service to enjoy the vast catalogue of music that is literally at your fingertips. Sometimes the problem of having so much choice is working out where to start. Music is a constant companion for many people but it’s not just about listening to your favourite music and artists but also discovering new music and rediscovering the hits from the past. Here are seven ways you can get the most out of Apple Music: 1 CREATE A…

Huawei is on a roll at the moment. The company sold more than 200 million smartphones in 2018 and is on track for a big 2019 on the strength of its latest product – the P30 Pro. The Chinese company’s smartphones sales grew by an impressive 35 per cent in 2018 while shipments from Samsung and Apple actually shrank in the same period. Samsung is still the No 1 smartphone brand in the world but Huawei has leapfrogged Apple to take the No 2 spot. It was on the strength of the P20 Series (released in March 2018) and the…

We got our first glimpse of Star Wars Episode IX – which will be called The Rise of Skywalker – with the release of the official teaser trailer which was revealed at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago. Late Night Show host Stephen Colbert hosted the Episode IX panel which included Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy, director JJ Abrams and the film’s cast. During the discussion it was revealed that the new film does not pick up where the previous film left off which indicates some passage of time. https://youtu.be/adzYW5DZoWs Abrams also mentioned he was able to utilise unused scenes from The…

There has never been more talk about electric cars – and never has there been more questions about them. Tech Guide will answer all your burning questions as well as dispel a few myths. Ever since the Labor Party announced its goal to have electric vehicles make up half of all new cars in 2030 there has been plenty of talk on the subject – and not all of it has been accurate. And there are many who think this goal is unrealistic while, not surprisingly, the Greens want to aim for 100 per cent of new cars as electric…