Author: Stephen Fenech

The SmartThings platform has the potential to completely change our lifestyles by offering the ability to monitor, control and automate compatible connected products in Australian homes.  And because SmartThings is compatible with smart devices from a range of popular manufacturers, the connected home suddenly becomes a reality. SmartThings connects devices like sensors, speakers, cameras, lights, door locks and appliances to each other as well as to our TVs, smartphones and tablets. Once the SmartThings hub is connected to your compatible modem, you can group these devices and create scenarios where they can work together. Here are some examples of what…

Samsung has  revealed the Galaxy Tab S5e – a 10.5-inch tablet that is slimmer and lighter but still offering top tier performance in a huge battery capacity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is just 5.5mm thick and weighs just 400g. The device has a  refreshed design and a sleek metal body that will be available in silver, black and gold. The Samsung tablet will be the first  Samsung product to feature Bixby 2.0. It will also have extended connectivity and serve as a hub to control your connected devices at home. Users will be able to switch on their TV…

Start your weekend with Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 378 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and devices. On this week’s show, a look at the most affordable smartphones, Tesla adds Dog and Sentry mode to their electric vehicles and  we take a look at the new Huawei Watch GT. Also on the program, the new Sony true 4K projector,  the Mac Mini, the new smart downloads feature for Netflix and the D-Link Omna  wireless security camera system. You can listen to the show right here on the…

Samsung and RACV have announced the nationwide availability of the SmartThings starter kit which can wirelessly connected range of compatible devices and create a smart home. With the new SmartThings Starter Kit, users will be able to link products like home appliances, smart TVs, audio systems, smartphones and tablets along with an ever expanding list of other compatible devices. The national rollout of SmartThings by Samsung and RACV comes after the platform was first made available to Victorian customers in December 2018. Now customers across the country can take their first steps to creating a smart home with SmartThings. The…

In a few days, Samsung will hold its Unpacked event in San Francisco to reveal its Galaxy S10 smartphone range along with a number of other products. So what can we expect to see? The event will be held on Feb 21 at 6am (Sydney time) at the Billy Graham Civic Auditorium – the same venue used by Apple for the Worldwide Developers Conference and two iPhone launches. The timing of the event is also interesting because it comes just days before the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona where companies make their biggest smartphone announcements. Samsung will take…

Canon Australia has just unveiled the new mirror-less camera the EOS RP – the company’s smallest and lightest full frame digital interchangeable lens camera to date. The EOS RP designed for advanced amateurs and enthusiasts and is the perfect size for travel, landscape and portrait photography and videography. It is the latest device in the new EOS R system which combines ease-of-use and amazing image and video quality in one. The EOS RP will work with Canon’s full portfolio of EF and EF-S lenses. Speaking of lenses, Canon has also announced the new RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM, an all-purpose…

D-Link has just launched its new Omna Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Surveillance Kit to provide around-the-clock smart home monitoring. The cameras have powerful lithium batteries on board to provide a significantly extended battery life so you’re not constantly up a ladder having to recharge the batteries. The D-Link Omna Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Surveillance Kit also comes with a wi-fi hub and includes a complimentary 12 month subscription to the mydlink cloud recording service for up to five cameras (usually $US49.99). The kit includes two DCS-2800LH wire-free cameras and a DCS-H100 wi-fi hub and is designed for home or small business monitoring. “Our new…

You don’t have to spend big money to buy a decent smartphone these days. With flagship devices more expensive than ever customers are looking for more bang for their buck. Recent research from Telsyte indicated the smartphone market had actually shrunk in Australia and this is due to the fact that people are hanging onto their devices a little longer because it’s just too expensive to upgrade. But the good news is there are plenty of smartphones priced below $500 that can deliver excellent features and value for money. Here is our look at the top five phones under $500.…

SmartThings is an apt name for a new smart home platform which will work with a wide range of connected devices to help make life more convenient and your home more secure. SmartThings, which is part of Samsung’s services offering, includes an app for mobile devices and connected products, as well as a set of smart home sensors and hubs. It’s designed to act like the brains of a smart home that links compatible devices and helps them work together. The idea of a smart home is the ability to monitor, control and automate a wide range connected products in your…

Want to stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews? Then you need to tune into Episode 335 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, are flagship smartphones becoming too expensive, Tesla rolls out new Sentry and Dog modes on its electric vehicles and Linksys partners with Trend Micro to create a secure home network. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Sony True 4K home cinema projector, the Razer Phone 2 smartphone designed for gaming and the Synology DS119j network attached storage,…

Tesla will this week release a software update to enable to new modes for its electric vehicles – Dog Mode and Sentry Mode – in response to driver requests which have been answered by company CEO Elon Musk. These new modes will become features in Enhanced Autopilot in an over-the-air software update which is expected this week. They will work with Tesla Model S and Model X models with AP2+ hardware and the Model 3. DOG MODE We’ve heard the stories of dogs being left in cars on a hot day – some with tragic results. In October, one Twitter…

When it comes to projectors, there are 4K models and True 4K models. The excellent Sony 4K SXRD Home Cinema VPL-VW570ES falls into the latter category and brings a truly cinematic and immersive experience into your home. This latest model is a massive jump from the previous version – which we own – so we’re in a good position to notice the many improvements. It’s going to be hard to go back to watching our VPL-VW300ES Sony 4K projector now that we’ve laid eyes on the latest VPL-VW570ES. For a start the new projector is brighter at 1,800 lumens compared…

Nokia has unveiled the latest in its value flagship range – the Nokia 8.1 – which includes an advanced camera with Zeiss optics and PureScreen display technology with support for HDR (high dynamic range). The device has a 6.18-inch full high definition edge-to-edge display and is housed within a stylish two-tone chassis that contrasts curved glass, polished metal, diamond cut edges and with a sand-blasted finish. The frame is made from aluminium with a diecast centre for added strength and durability. Nokia 8.1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 Mobile Platform with twice the AI power thanks to the…

The Reed Gift Fair kicks off on February 23 at the ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre and, for the first time, will introduce two new categories – tech and travel. This is Sydney’s largest annual gift and homewares event which has now been expanded to include two very popular new areas – tech and travel. The Read Gift Fair, which runs February 23-27, has been held annually for more than 50 years and offers retailers an unparalleled experience to discover and source thousands of new products to stock in their stores. Technology is playing a larger part in our lives and…

Optus 5G has arrived in the Sydney suburbs with a new live site coming online in Kellyville in Sydney’s north-west. This is one of 50 sites to be built across Sydney and Melbourne by Ericsson over the coming months as part of the Optus multi-vendor approach to its 5G rollout. The site was tested and deemed active after third party customer premises equipment (CPE) test on the Optus 3.5GHz spectrum with a channel bandwidth of 60MHz. Recently, Optus had also enlisted Nokia as a partner when it activated the first three 5G sites – two in Canberra and one in…

Apple has released iOS 12.1.4 software update which will patch the Group FaceTime privacy bug that allowed users to listen in on the person they were calling before they picked up. The issue, which was discovered by users and shared on social media, prompted Apple to shut down Group FaceTime. The company also issued an apology to users before getting to work on the fix. The iOS 12.1.4 software update was released today. To run the update, simply go to the settings on your iPhone or iPad and go to General > Software Update and you should find the 334.9…

When it comes to smartphones there are lots of choices. Finding one that exactly suits your needs is another challenge. If you’re a dedicated gamer and want to be able enjoy that passion anywhere then you need the Razer Phone 2. This is an Android smartphone with premium flagship features and the technology under the hood to deliver an unrivalled experience for mobile gaming. True gamers require dedicated gaming PCs which are powerful enough to offer the look and performance a player expects. The Razer Phone 2 is the smartphone version of that gaming PC. And like a gaming PC…

Netflix has launched Smart Downloads for iPhone and iPad users which can automatically download the next episode of the series you’re watching and delete the one you’ve just seen. Smart Downloads will only work on wi-fi so it’s not going to burn up your mobile data and by deleting the episode you just watched before getting you the next one your device’s storage is going to be impacted. This is designed to make the mobile experience more fun for users and to access their content even easier. This feature, which was introduced last year for the Android app and computers…

Episode 377 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, takes a look at the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show, is Apple pricing itself out of the smartphone market as Android extends its lead and phone sales slump, Facebook turns 15 years old and the Stan streaming service puts its prices up. Sonos partners with Sonance to launch in-wall, in-ceiling speakers and outdoor speakers and Audible has launched a new audiobooks campaign. In the minute reviews, we take a look at the Uniden App Cam…

Linksys and Trend Micro have partnered to deliver a security solution for home networks to give families an added layer of digital projection. Linksys announced a software update for its Velop tri-band mesh wi-fi system called Linksys Shield – a subscription service powered by Trend Micro, one of the leaders in cyber security solutions. With this update it will be possible to filter sites that contain adult, violent or any other inappropriate content. The software will also enable advanced browsing protection by checking sites you visit against the reputation database of millions of known threats that can prevent you and…