Author: Stephen Fenech

TV quality continues to improve and in 2019 we will see it reach an all-new level when 8K TVs are introduced in Australia. It will offer even higher resolution than the current 4K TVs on offer and usher in a new era in large screen TV viewing. Samsung unveiled its first 8K QLED TVs at the IFA trade show in Berlin earlier this year. The Samsung 8K QLED TVs are already on sale in the US and Europe with Australia on track to receive them in early 2019. But to appreciate 8K and what it can offer, we must first…

If you have a podcast or are thinking of starting one, the Rodecaster Pro literally puts a professional recording and production solution at your fingertips. Rode’s Rodecaster Pro is the first device of its kind that integrates in one package the essentials for producing polished and great sounding podcasts. Trying to achieve this level of production requires a lot of know-how and a lot of equipment. We know, we’ve been producing podcasts for more than seven years and can attest to the level of simplicity the Rodecaster Pro has brought to the table. But don’t for a minute think that this…

A vulnerability in the hugely popular online game Fortnite enjoyed by 80 million people worldwide has been revealed that could compromise the user ‘s account, personal information and credit card details. Researchers at Check Point Software revealed details of the vulnerabilities which would provide full access to a user’s account and even allow them to listen in on in-game chatter as well as conversations with the victim’s home. This isn’t the first time the popular game has been targeted by scams. Previous threats put  Fortnite’s in-game currency at risk. In the past, players had also been tricked into logging into…

Recently we reviewed Nuraphone – the headphones that adjust to the way you hear sound. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the Australian company unveiled its latest product – the NuraLoop – wireless earphones that offers the same personalised sound. Nuraphone uses Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) – the sound your ear makes in response to audio mapping – to create your own listening profile. It’s like creating a pair of glasses for your ears. The new NuraLoop will employ this same principle to provide you with audio output designed just for you. NuraLoop has an in-ear bud with an…

We’ve already heard about electric cars but what about electric bikes? They are becoming more popular than ever with major brands releasing their own version. Panasonic has just launched its own version in the US and already has 40 per cent of the market in Japan. Some of the biggest bicycle brands in the world have now released electric versions including Bianchi, Canonndale, Crescent, Apache, Gitane and Scott. Even car manufacturers are making electric bikes including BMW, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Porsche Range Rover, Audi and McLaren. So what’s so good about electric bike? An electric bike still has regular…

Samsung has confirmed its new Galaxy S10 smartphone will be unveiled on February 20 in a global launch event which will be held in San Francisco with the device expected to go on sale in early March. It’s the tenth year of the Galaxy and Samsung has no doubt got something special in mind. There have been plenty of rumours about the device which will reportedly be offered in three versions. They will have even slimmer bezels and a screen that goes edge to edge and top to bottom without a notch. Leaked images have shown the new S10 will…

Get the complete wrap of the Consumer Electronics Show with Episode 331 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast , hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, and stay updated and educated. On this week’s show we cover all the major announcements including from companies like LG, Samsung and Hisense. We also go through all of the coolest and quirkiest gadgets who found in the halls of CES including the Foldimate robot to fold your laundry, the airbag for cyclists and the Bell Nexus passenger drone/helicopter. We also discuss the Hupnos sleep m ask which can stop you snoring and robot you take to…

Arlo has showcased its range of connected cameras and doorbells  at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as well as announcing  the Australian pricing and availability of these highly anticipated products. The Arlo Ultra 4K Wire-Free HDR Security Camera System was named as the CES 2019 Innovation Award Honouree. The Arlo features 4K HDR quality audio with colour night vision and a 180-degree panoramic field of view as well as an integrated spotlight and clear two-way audio. https://youtu.be/Gsr4V-MZ9VM And it is still wire-free and weatherproof. Pricing for Arlo starts at $1049.99 for the two camera system which comes with…

Netgear has unveiled its full 2019 range of wi-fi and 5G devices which are heading to Australia this year along with an all-new product that is being described as the Spotify of art and photography Tech Guide took a tour of the Netgear products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. https://youtu.be/2KfhW0ZFxXc ORBI Orbi is one of the most popular Netgear products and is going to get even better in 2019. We’ve already seen Orbi Voice – a satellite that includes a high quality Harman Kardon smart speaker – and Orbi Outdoor to extend your connection into the backyard…

Alcatel has introduced the 2019 edition of its popular affordable entry-level 1 Series smartphones – the 1X and 1C – which offer incredible value to the customer. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, both of these devices include the TCL-made FullView display along with the design and build quality that would make you think it costs hundreds of dollars more. The Alcatel 1X has a 5.5-inch display with all new textured feel that is both scratch and slip resistant. Also on board is a camera that will provide real-time bokeh as well as new capture modes that…

Ecovacs already make high-quality robot vacuum cleaners and have unveiled a brand-new product at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – the Atmobot – a mobile air purifier. Unlike other air purifiers on the market, the Atmobot doesn’t just sit in one place. Like its robot vacuum cleaner brothers, the Atmobot can also map the most efficient path around your home. https://youtu.be/krF4N2EzoZM The device will scan each section of a user’s home and automatically pick out a purification spot in each room. It will filter in that part of the room until air quality reaches adequate levels before moving…

It’s Episode 374.3 of Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long coming to you from the show floor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The blokes were at the Sands Exhibition Hall on Day 3 of CES and talked about the big items at the show including the Bell Nexus Helicopter, the huge luxury yacht and massive combine harvester. Also on the show, Telstra’s 5G announcement, the Intel AI on show at CES, autonomous driving, a chocolate 3D printer and the world’s first foldable smartphone. You can listen to the show…

Samsung once again had the largest booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – but it needed that much space to fit in its range of products and technologies that can be used everywhere from the living room to your car. Samsung, while introducing incredible TV quality and new 8K TVs, have outlined its vision of a connected lifestyle and the way it can be integrated into the cars of the future. https://youtu.be/AebKavpCWCE Tech Guide took a tour of the Samsung CES 2019 booth and here’s what we found: 8K TV Samsung was one of the first companies…

Foldable smartphones will be a reality in 2019 and we found one of the very first at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – the Royole FlexPai which has a large display but that also folds in half like a wallet. FlexPai is the world’s first commercially available foldable smartphone with Royole’s second generation Cicada Wing fully flexible AMOLED display. And the good news for customers is that the FlexPai screen is virtually unbreakable and durable and is able to bend freely from 0 to 180 degrees. https://youtu.be/ndEa4AKQPRM In fact, it can be bent more than 200,000 times without…

The future of public transport has been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – it’s the Bell Nexus autonomous pod transport. The full scale air taxi was unveiled at CES and features six tilting ducted props that can also provide vertical take-off and landing. “As space at the ground level becomes limited, we must solve transportation challenges in the vertical dimension – and that’s where Bell’s on-demand mobility vision takes hold,” says Bell president Mitch Snyder. https://youtu.be/pWUIq6PPCL4 “The industry has anticipated the reveal of our air taxi for some time, so Bell is very proud of this…

Tech Guide has taken a hands-on tour of the LG Booth at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show where got to see LG’s latest range of products including the OLED R – the world’s first rollable OLED TV. https://youtu.be/_9n5_QBlgiA THE OLED WATERFALL The entrance to the stand was once again a feast for the eyes – the OLED Waterfall. There were more than 260 OLED panels used to create this amazing effect which is made even more spectacular because the OLED panels are bendable and can be curved. The image on the waterfall would change every few seconds from the night…

Telstra customers will be able to access the 5G network with commercial smartphones from the world’s biggest vendors, including devices from LG and HTC, in the first half of 2019 according to Telstra CEO Andy Penn who is attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Under the partnerships, these devices will be available exclusively through Telstra ahead of any other Australian telco. LG made no secret of the fact they would be one of the first smartphone vendors to release a 5G handset in 2019 during its CES press conference which includes representative from Qualcomm. LG hasn’t confirmed a…

Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you take a sleeping tablets to help you get a good night’s rest? If so you might need to try Somnox – it’s a robot you take to bed with you that can help you fall asleep. Somnox is slightly larger than a football and is designed for you to hug it in bed like you would with a teddy bear when you were a child. And when you’re holding it in your arms it will play soft sounds and let you feel the rhythmic movement of breathing –  exhaling and inhaling slowly. https://youtu.be/FsRPAUcV7Sw…

Hisense has used the Consumer Electronics Show to announce it will be moving into a brand-new category in 2019 with the launch of its very first soundbar range. The company, already enjoying success with this stunning television line-up, is now focusing on the audio experience. The new Hisense 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar has 11 built-in speakers including for upward firing drivers to offer three-dimensional sound coming in all directions, including from above. Also included is a wireless 8-inch subwoofer  that completes the sound experience. The Hisense soundbar supports DTS.X, 4K and HDR passed through so the sound absolutely complements…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 374.2, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, comes to you from Press Day at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. On today’s show, the blokes break down what was announced at all the big press conferences from LG, Hisense, Samsung and Sony. Who has the best and most exciting products –Stephen and Trevor break it all down for you. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech link at the top of the…