Author: Stephen Fenech

Belkin will make your life easier and also tidy up your desktop thanks to the introduction of its Universal Cable – and all-in-one solution that can cover all of your synching and charging needs. The Belkin Universal Cable is actually three cables in one with the USB connection on one end and your choice of microUSB, Lightning and USB-C at the other end. The main plug has a microUSB connector but also includes the Lightning and USB-C adaptors which click into place depending on the device you need to charge or synch. Each of the adapters has a small hook…

Get updated and educated on the latest consumer tech news and reviews with Episode 320 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, it’s Stay Smart Online week and we give you some tips to help you avoid becoming a statistic, the hysteria around using the Sydney Opera House sails for the barrier draw of the Everest – the world’s richest horse race and Epson’s new FastFoto scanner that can digitise all of your photo albums in seconds. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the HyperX Cloud gaming headset,…

Dyson has today unveiled the follow-up to its successful Supersonic hairdryer, it’s latest beauty technology – the Dyson Airwrap styler which has been six years in the making. The device allow users to style their hair and look like they’ve just stepped out of a salon. The Dyson Airwrap styler uses jets of air to achieve everything from voluminous curls, waves and smoothness in the comfort of their own home. As is typical with Dyson, the project started with engineers trying to solve a problem. In this case the areas of improvement were tangled hair and temperature damage. Dyson’s team…

Google today unveiled its new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones which are powered by AI to deliver a better user experience along with the Google Home Hub, the company’s first smart device with a display. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have 5.5-inch and 6.3-inch high resolution displays respectively and will be available in three colours – Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink. Apart from the difference in screen size, both new Google Pixel 3 smartphones have exactly the same feature set and are also both IP68 water and dust resistant. The camera onboard the…

If you’re concerned about the ability to know your child’s whereabouts at any time, an Australian software platform has just been released that will enable parents to keep track of their children and young teens at any time. iStaySafe is an Australian owned and operated company which has released software that powers the child safety smartwatch called TicTocTrack. The software on board is custom-built and hosted from Brisbane in Queensland. And it not only runs on the watch but also allows parents to monitor their child’s Android smartphone or iPhone as well from the same login. So parents have the…

The second generation of Samsung’s The Frame TVs will be released in the coming weeks. The company has just revealed the pricing and availability of these versatile televisions that blend into your home’s décor. The Frame is a TV like no other and looks as much like a work of art than a television. It has customisable frames in various colours to suit your mood and style as well as the One Clear Connection cable which sends through both power and data via a slim translucent cable. The Frame can be mounted and provide all the entertainment you’d expect from…

You have to know your target audience. It is easy with the power of the internet and some powerful analytics tools. You will be able to know the habits of your customers, what they love to read, the interesting topic they engage in and when they come alive on social media. All this will play a huge part in building your marketing campaign. It goes further to helping you personalize your marketing campaigns in order to get the results you need. Below are other few tricks you can employ: Look for quality writers with high ranking articles The need for…

There’s been a lot of hysteria about the use of the Opera House sails being used to project the Everest barrier draw – an event that will last all of 10 minutes. It’s a projection – they’re not repainting the thing. Facebook has been flooded with petitions to oppose the move that was proposed more than a year ago. Let’s look at the facts: * This move to promote the Everest – the world’s richest horse race by Racing NSW – has been going on for more than 12 months. They initially asked for the Harbour Bridge but were offered…

Anyone’s who’s into online gaming – whether it’s Fortnite or Call of Duty – will identify the value of a good headset and the HyperX Cloud headset has got everything you need to keep you immersed in the game. The HyperX Cloud headset ticks all the boxes when it comes to audio quality, durability and comfort. It has a sturdy aluminium frame along with padded memory foam cushions which are comfortable even for the longest gaming sessions. The headset even has a two year warranty. The HyperX Cloud headset allows users to enjoy their games without disturbing their household and…

Some exciting Star Wars news! Production on the first live action streaming series has just kicked off. It’s called The Mandalorian and it will blast on to our TV screens in 2019. It tells the story of a lone warrior who follows in the footsteps of Jango and Boba Fett (who were also Mandalorian) and is set after the fall of the Empire in Episode VI Return of the Jedi and before the rise of the First Order in Episode VII The Force Awakens. The series follows the adventures of this lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy…

Microsoft has launched a range of new Surface products to offer performance and increase your productivity – these include the Surface Pro 6, the Surface Laptop 2, the Surface Studio 2 and Surface headphones. The company also announced significant updates for Windows 10 and Office 365. All of these new Surface products will be available from mid to late October. SURFACE PRO 6 The Surface Pro 6 is the most powerful Surface device to date and is powered by the latest 8th generation Intel Quad Core processor, making it 67 per cent faster than the previous model. The versatile Windows…

There are still a lot of people who have old photo albums full of pictures so Epson has created FastFoto FF-680W – the world’s fastest personal photo scanner which can handle one photo per second at 300 dpi with up to 36 photos per batch. The FastFoto High Speed Photo and Document Scanning System has Wi-Fi connectivity and can convert albums full of photos into digital files in seconds. It can handle various media types and sizes including postcards, panoramic photos and Polaroids. And the photos don’t even have to be straight as they’re going through the scanner. It can…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 362, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, take a fun yet informative look at the week’s biggest tech news and products. On this week’s show, iPhone Xs Max camera scores Apple’s biggest DxOMark score, Foxtel launches its dedicated 4K channel and Google Maps is updated to make your commute even easier. The blokes also discuss the high-tech Burcham residential development, Xbox Fortnite edition and the AR dinosaurs that come with the 4K and Blu-ray versions of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. In the minute reviews, we take a look at the Sphero…

Apple’s latest iPhone Xs Max has received the second highest camera rating by DxOMark with a score of 105 – the highest score ever given to an iPhone. But that score is still short of the 109 awarded to the triple camera of the Huawei P20 Pro. While DxOMark conducted their tests on an iPhone Xs Max with a 6.5-inch display – they did point out the 5.8-inch iPhone Xs has the same camera module and quality and would achieve the same results. “The camera’s highlight is its outstanding video quality in bright light,” the review on the DxOMark site…

Sphero has always led the way when it comes to products that are fun to use but that can teach you something. The latest version – Sphero Bolt – with a new LED matrix and advanced sensors takes it to the next level. Sphero is an amazing product that can teach users how to code, play games, take part in activities and just drive and play. This time the clear spherical robot has an 8 x 8 LED matrix which also opens up coding and gaming possibilities. The on-board advanced sensors can now even track speed, acceleration and direction. There…

One of the world’s most technologically advanced residential developments – The Burcham – has just been completed in the Sydney suburb of Rosebery with every apartment defining the essence of modern living. The 100-year old heritage listed Wrigley’s Gum factory was transformed into the state-of-the-art high end sustainable residential complex. It was designed by Allen Jack + Cottier Architects and built by the Stable Group with the smarts supplied by Clipsal by Schneider Electric. The Burcham has created a new benchmark for integrating technology into homes to offer more convenience, security and sustainability. Each one, two and three bedroom apartment…

Google has updated Google Maps and now offers commuters access to information that could greatly reduce the length of their trip and make the journey to and from work each day even easier. It is now possible in 80 regions worldwide to see exactly where the bus or train is in real-time on the map which means you don’t have to sprint to make it and maybe even have enough time to grab that morning coffee. In Sydney, Google Maps has partnered with Transport NSW to even show you the occupancy of your next bus so you can tell before…

Episode 319 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is available now to keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Google celebrates its 20th birthday, why Australian shoppers are being targeted by cyber criminals and how property developers are utilising solar and battery solutions to save residents tens of thousands of dollars. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Arlo Security Lighting System, Fantastic Furniture releases an exclusive Star Wars collection and Kogan unveils a new and affordable Windows 10 tablet.…

Great to release of Jurassic World: Falling Kingdom, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has partnered with Facebook and Messenger to create a fun Augmented Reality experience with the film’s dinosaurs. Instructions on how to interact with the dinosaurs, along with a code, is included in the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD packaging of the hit film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as a special insert. The experience is powered by Facebook Messenger and works on both iOS and Android devices with the latest version of the app. Once you’ve scanned your exclusive code through the camera within Facebook Messenger, a…

Canon has just announced its latest addition to the PowerShot series – the PowerShot SX70HS – an all-rounder that has a fixed 65x optical zoom lens, the look and feel of a DSLR and the ability to record 4K video. This all-in-one device is ideal for the photographer who doesn’t want the hassle of using extra lenses but who still wants to enjoy a wide range of shooting options. On the back is a vari-angle LCD screen so you can capture stills and video from any angle. The Canon PowerShot SX70HS is powered by the DIGIC 8 processor which can…