Author: Stephen Fenech

Sony has added two new models to its Cyber-shot range of travel high zoom cameras – the DSC-HX99 and DSC-WX800 – which are designed for users who want a small yet powerful camera by the side. These new cameras are housed in the world’s smallest body with a zoom range from 24mm at the wide end to 720mm super telephoto. On top of that, these new Sony models can also capture 4K video. The HX99 and the WX800 both have the BIONZ X image processing engine combined with a front-end LSI which enables shooting at up to 10 frames per…

Amazon has unveiled an all-new Kindle Paperwhite ereader which now has a thinner and lighter design along with an IPX8 waterproof rating so you can take your reading anywhere. Also onboard the new Kindle Paperwhite is twice the storage space of the previous model. Priced from $199 and set for a November 7 release date, the Kindle Paperwhite has a slick flush front design with a soft and grippable rear panel. The device has a 6-inch glare-free 300ppi (pixels per inch) display and is just 8.18mm thick and weighs just 182g. The screen can display crisp, sharp text like you’d…

Kogan has released its latest affordable smartphone – the Agora 9 – which has an 18:9 high resolution screen and a 4000mAh battery that will easily last all day. The device, which is priced at $169, has a 5.45-inch display with a HD resolution of 720 x 1440 and is powered by a quad core MediaTek MT6739 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot to expand that capacity even further. The display is ideal for users to stream their favourite TV shows and movies and has a battery to back up that usage all day.…

Tesla has gone into production with an even cheaper version of its popular Model 3 electric car which is also likely to be offered to Australian customers when the right hand drive version of the vehicle goes into production next year. The new more affordable Model 3 will start at $US45,000 ($AUD64,000) but will be as low as $US30,500 when incentives and petrol savings are considered. There are no such incentives in Australia for electric cars apart from a higher luxury car tax threshold. The Mid-Range Battery version of the Model 3 was revealed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on…

Apple’s iPhone XR is now available for pre-order to buy outright or purchase on a range of plans ahead of its official release date on October 26. iPhone XR has an advanced 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display which Apple is calling the most advanced LCD  ever seen on a smartphone. It has Apple’s new A12 Bionic chip on board which includes next-generation Neural Engine with advanced machine learning that looks after everything from photography to augmented reality. The iPhone XR includes the TrueDepth camera system and uses Face ID to unlock the device. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are all offering competitive…

To celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90thanniversary, Beats by Dr Dre is releasing a special edition of the Solo3 Wireless headphones which are decorated with images of the world’s most famous cartoon character. The grey on-ear wireless headphones feature Mickey Mouse in his iconic pose. The special edition headphones also come with a custom felt case made from the same materials used to create Mickey Mouse ear hats at Disneyland. Also included is a collectible 90thanniversary pin and sticker. Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in 1928 in Disney’s first synchronised sound cartoon called Steamboat Willie and went on to star in…

For years Tile has helped people locate their personal items or be reminded if they’ve left something behind. Now the company has introduced two new models – the Tile Mate and Tile Pro. These new devices have a longer range, replaceable batteries and are also much louder. A Tile can be attached to anything including a bag, keyring, placed inside a wallet or your car, on your bike, in a backpack, in your luggage, on an umbrella or even your pet. The Tile Pro ($59.95) is 41.6mm wide and 6.5mm thick and has Bluetooth on board so it can link…

Tune in to Episode 364 of Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they take a fun yet informative look at the week’s biggest tech stories and products. On this week’s show, the blokes talk about the various ways customers can stream audio in their home and the devices they can use to do it. Also on the program, Stephen and Trevor spend some time discussing their favourite Seinfeld episodes before switching gears to explain the audio gear they use to record their podcasts. You can listen to the show right here…

Lenovo has launched its Smart Display with Google Assistant onboard in Australia which has a modern, minimalist design that includes a full high definition display and speaker to put all of power of Google within your reach at home. The device comes in two screen sizes – 10-inch and 8-inch. Having a speaker as well as a screen, the Lenovo Smart Display offers both impressive sound and video quality. The screen allows users to see as well as hear their information whether it’s checking a shopping list, following a recipe or watching YouTube. It’s also possible to check on the…

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 is the latest version of the blockbuster franchise but this year it’s not your typical release but it still manages to deliver exactly what the fans want. COD has been around for many years and has been shared among a small group of developers including Treyarch who has returned for this instalment. But this time out there is no single player campaign. Yes, you heard that that right, no campaign. While the campaign has been a staple of the franchise and attracted some big names and big voices – two-time academy award winner Kevin…

Tech Guide has taken a hands-on look at the Mate 20 Pro – which has just been unveiled alongside the Mate 20 at a global launch event in London. The new flagship device has a 6.39-inch AMOLED display and includes a notch to make way for the front camera and sensors. The screen is sharp and bright and has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 so its slightly thinner and longer than a regular smartphone. https://youtu.be/Iyf29zUQUZg On the design side the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a similar curved look as the Samsung Galaxy S9 including a curved edge on the…

Huawei has introduced the Mate 20 and the Mate 20 Pro – among the most advanced smartphones ever which include world-first technologies and advanced AI that combine to deliver a powerful experience. Both the Mate 20 and its stablemate the flagship Mate 20 Pro are powered by Huawei’s Kirin  980 –  one of the world’s most powerful smartphone chipsets available today. The devices were launched at a global event held in London. “Our mantra has always been to create products with innovations that enrich the lives of our users and the new Huawei Mate 20 Series is a true reflection…

It’s time to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews with Episode 321 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week show, Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 3 smartphone, Dyson has launched its latest beauty technology – the Airwrap Styler and Hisense releases its Designer Collection of affordable 4K TVs. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Amazon Echo Show and LG WK7 smart speakers and also discuss an Australian-developed device that can help track your kids. In Tech Guide Help Desk, we…

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL offer significant improvements over the previous model –  the popular Pixel 2 –  including a better camera and more intelligence across the board. Tech Guide has had the Pixel 3 XL for a few days now and our first impressions of the product are quite positive. We will publish our complete review closer to the November 1 release date. The main thing we focused on in our initial look at the device was the on-board camera. There is still only one lens –  a defiant stand against its competitors which now have…

This post was sponsored by Hisense You want to put together a mancave? Your own personal sanctuary where you can retreat from the worries of the world. And if you are going to the trouble of creating a room like this you should make it really special. Here are the essential items you’ll need in there. ELECTRIC RECLINER There are recliners, and then there are electric recliners. What’s the point in skimping on the piece of furniture you will be spending the most time using while inside your mancave. Having an electric recliner adds a touch of luxury to the…

Tesla is taking its upcoming Model 3 electric car on a national tour after a successful showcase in its retail stores for reservation holders in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It was so popular some locations had more than a two hour wait to see the vehicle. But from this week until early January, the Model 3 will be showcased at key Westfield locations across Australia’s east coast. This will allow the wider public to see the Model 3 up close along with either the current Model S or Model X. The Tesla Powerwall will also be on show to educate…

LG has released a speaker – the XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7 – which delivers with the smarts and the audio quality so it offers the best of both worlds in this already crowded market. For its first journey into the smart speaker category, LG has partnered with the British audio company Meridian brings years of experience to the table to tune its new speaker to impressive levels. The cylindrical speaker is fairly unassuming in terms of design with a rounded base at a flat top. It’s meant to blend into the background in your home rather than stand out. On…

What do you get when you combine a tablet with a smart speaker? Answer: Echo Show – the latest Amazon device which can both show AND tell thanks its 10.1-inch display. This device combines the usual audio elements of an Echo product and complements that with a vibrant screen so users can see and hear their information. Design-wise, the Echo Show only presents the display to the user but tucked in the back is an impressive speaker as well which makes this product looks good and sound good as well. The screen has a resolution of 1280 x 800 which…

Tune in to Episode 363 of Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they go through the week’s biggest tech stories, products and tips. On this week’s show, the blokes share their insights on the best tech to take when you travel and also reveal how they roll with their devices on their many international trips. Also on the program Stephen and Trevor discuss their streaming set ups at home and share their thoughts on their favourite shows to binge. Also on the show, Stephen and Trevor talk about the tech that…

Hisense has just unveiled its Designer Collection which features an all-white range of 4K televisions which will be offered in three sizes – 65-inch, 55-inch and 43-inch. Now available exclusively through Harvey Norman stores, the Hisense Designer Collection blends the company’s proprietary ULED technology with a style that will complement any living space. The standout design feature is the all-white colour which offers a new and refreshing look for a product that’s usually black or silver. The new Hisense TVs still feature premium technology including Ultra Local Dimming, wide colour gamut, HDR Plus, the VIDAA U 2.5 Smart TV platform…