Author: Stephen Fenech

With the rise in the number of smart TVs there are now more opportunities to interact and now that’s been made even easier with the Logitech K600 TV Keyboard. The K600 connects with the latest smart TVs from Samsung and LG which already have Bluetooth on board. But it’s possible to link other televisions using the included Bluetooth dongle to connect the keyboard. It can also be used like a regular keyboard with your laptop, desktop computer and mobile devices well. Over Bluetooth, the K600 will work with Windows and Mac computers along with the Tizen operating system of a…

Foxtel has relaunched its popular Foxtel GO app which will now allow subscribers watch their live and on demand service in high definition and also stream it to their televisions at no extra cost. Foxtel GO is designed for mobility so subscribers can enjoy their favourite content anywhere on their mobile device. Now users can also stream from the app on their mobile device to their television using Chromecast or AirPlay. But this will only be possible if they already have a Foxtel multiroom subscription. It’s already possible to register Foxtel GO on up to five mobile devices and watch…

Apple has launched a new feature in Apple Music – the Top 100 which will show listeners the most played songs on the music service in Australia and globally. This all-new playlist series will allow music lovers to see the most popular songs by country and around the world. Apple Music subscribers can find these Top 100 in the Browse tab inside the Top Charts section. These charts can be streamed or added to your library and downloaded so you can listen to them offline. These new Top 100 charts have already begun appearing within Apple Music so you can…

Tesla drivers will have an added layer of security with an optional PIN to drive feature and will also be given a free 14-day trial of Enhanced Autopilot so they can experience their car’s self-driving capabilities. The company is pushing out a software update which will allow all Tesla drivers to enable the added security of a PIN number before they can drive the vehicle. When this is activated, the keypad appears on the main screen when the driver hits the brake pedal to turn on the car. When the four-digit code is entered, the Tesla is ready to drive.…

Oppo has released its latest entry level smartphone – the AX5 – which includes flagship features like face recognition technology, an impressive camera and a huge battery. The Oppo AX5 has a 6.2-inch high definition screen with a small notch at the top of the display. It also has an 88.8 per cent screen-to-body ratio and will be available in two colours – Diamond Blue and Diamond Pink. Priced at $379, the Oppo AX5 has a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual rear camera module with AI-enhanced portrait mode. On the front is an 8-megapixel f2.2 aperture front camera with Oppo’s Beautify…

LG has released the Q Stylus smartphone – a mid-range device that offers an impressive set of features and a stylus so you can write and draw directly on the screen. The device has a metal frame and a 6.2-inch full high definition FullVision display with an 18:9 screen ratio, thin bezels and curved tempered glass to give it a rounded look. And with the stylus on board, users are able to switch to handwritten input for the times when writing would be faster and more expressive than typing. The LG Q Stylus can recognise and record hand written notes…

Canon has opened up your photography options with the release of its new EOS R which blends optical, mechanical and electronic design into an all-new system. It’s been 30 years since Canon introduced EOS and this new EOS R takes it in an exciting new direction. The EOS R is a mirrorless full frame camera which offers typical Canon ergonomics with a comfortable handgrip and intuitive layout which will suit professionals and amateurs alike. It has a weather sealed rugged magnesium alloy body which means it’s designed to be used on the go. It also has an always on Bluetooth…

Mercedes-Benz is going electric. The prestigious German carmaker has revealed its first production electric vehicle – the EQC – a mid-size SUV which will hit Australian roads at the end of next year. The vehicle, which is based on a similar wheelbase as the C-Class and GLC, will have an 80kW battery on board which will give it a range of about 450km. The Mercedes-Benz EQC will have dual motors and can go from 0 to 100km/h on in 5.1 seconds. Inside, drivers can expect the usual luxury from Mercedes-Benz including digital screens and an infotainment system that uses AI to…

Is this the new iPad Pro? Supposed leaked images of the device have surfaced and show an all-new design that reflects the buttonless look of the iPhone X. High resolution renders from the tech blog MySmartPrice, based on leaked CAD images, show a redesigned iPad Pro with a screen that goes from edge to edge and top to bottom. There is no home button and also no notch to be seen in the design. Without a home button we can only assume there will be Face ID included to unlock the device. Rumours suggest Apple are working on two new…

Ring has certainly expanded its range of products from its successful doorbell and now includes a range of cameras including the Spotlight Cam that helps you keep an eye on every corner of your home. While the doorbell showed us the “always home” connectivity and the ability to talk to whoever was at our front door, the Spotlight Cam lets you extend the vision and security beyond the front door. Tech Guide took a look at the battery-powered version of the Spotlight Cam which we were able to position and install in a matter of minutes. The product is available…

Episode 315 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is coming to you from the IFA tech trade show in Berlin where we saw the latest products unveiled. On this week’s show we talk about the biggest announcements including 8K TVs from Samsung, LG and TCL, Huawei’s major announcement in preparation for its Mate 20 launch next month, the new BlackBerry, the affordable Alcatel tablet, Netgear’s new Orbi system and Ecovac’s robotic vacuum’s AI technology. In other tech news, we talk about Apple’s iPhone launch confirmation, Tesla opens a new service and delivery centre in Sydney…

Bose has launched a new wireless smart speaker and soundbars which are designed to deliver a big sound from single enclosure and offer voice control through Amazon Alexa. The Bose Home Speaker 500 and Bose Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700 have been engineered from the ground up to deliver superior audio performance for your music and movies. Each of the new products have Bluetooth, wi-fi and Alexa onboard so they can easily access your music and other content and also work alone or as part of a multiroom system. They will be available on October 11. “Voice-controlled speakers aren’t new,…

The introduction of USB-C comes with many advantages including connectivity and speed but there are some disadvantages if you need to connect other cables and devices which is where Satechi comes in with its impressive adapters. The Satechi range includes chargers and adapters which can be used with the iMac, MacBook Pro laptops and the latest PC laptops. Each is designed to expand the connectivity of a single USB-C port and provide other connections for cables, Ethernet and memory cards. SATECHI TYPE-C USB PASSTHROUGH HUB – $69.99 This is Satechi’s smallest and sleekest solution and connects directly through your computer’s…

The new 8K TVs that were unveiled at IFA in Berlin really need to be seen to be appreciated. Samsung, LG and TCL were the first companies to reveal their products at the popular tech trade show. While most are still trying to come to grips with 4K, these new 8K TVs, due for release in Australia in 2019, are aimed at customers who like bigger screens (and that’s most people now) and will be offering such high resolution that they can sit even closer for that big screen experience in their home. WHAT IS 8K? It is the new…

Robotics company Ecovacs has showcased its latest innovation in floor cleaning technology at the IFA tech trade show in Berlin which will change the way we look at robotic vacuum cleaners. The new technology – Ecovacs AIVI (artificial intelligence and visual interpretation) will make the company’s robotic vacuum cleaners even smarter. AIVI, which was unveiled at IFA for the first time, will introduce object recognition and spatial recognition to the company’s current robotic cleaners. This means the unit, through a front-facing camera and sensors, can recognise and avoid objects on the floor to better adapt to a user’s home environment…

Gaming laptops are essential for players all over the world. Luckily, these days there are many gaming laptops available that are in the $1200 to $2000 price range, which makes it much more accessible, especially to those who are just starting out.  This will only help to make games more accessible, enjoyable and engaging. It will also ensure that gaming brands like mFortune who build their own online slots games, will be forced to push the boundaries to ensure players are having the best gaming experience possible. So with more and more companies are using Nvidia GTX 1060 Max-Q GPUs in…

Episode 358 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is coming to you live from the IFA tech tradeshow in Berlin. On this week show, the blokes chat about the highlights of the show including the introduction of 8K televisions, the Huawei announcement regarding its latest processor plus new products from Sony and the introduction of Netgear Voice. Also on the program, the Pocket Talk translator, new devices from BlackBerry and Alcatel and Apple confirms its iPhone launch event. You can listen to the show right here on the…

Netgear has launched the world’s first mesh Wi-Fi system that includes a built-in smart speaker so you can enjoy a better wireless network an impressive audio quality. The Orbi Voice Smart Speaker and Wi-Fi Mesh Satellite has Amazon Alexa built-in. Orbi Voice can cover more than 186 square metres with combined Wi-Fi speeds of up to 3Gbps. The system is comprised of one satellite unit that connects directly to your modem and a second satellite which is not only the backbone of the Wi-Fi mesh system but also features premium Harman Kardon audio. And with Alexa on board, users can…

Huawei’s biggest announcement at the IFA tech trade show in Berlin wasn’t a product but a next-generation processor – the Kirin 980 – that will power its products well into the future. This first will be the upcoming Mate 20 flagship smartphone which will be launched in London in October. It will be the first Huawei device with the Kirin 980 SoC (system on a chip) onboard to enable an all-new level of mobile AI. With the Kirin 980, which will be even more powerful than the popular Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, it will be able to recognise 4,600 images per…

Apple has confirmed it will be holding a launch event on September 12 to announce the latest range of iPhones and possibly a new version of Apple Watch. Invitations were sent to the media with the event to be held at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park in Cupertino. On the invitation there was a circular image which represents the Apple Park main building and the words “Gather round”. The event will kick off at 10am on September 12 (3am Sept 13 Sydney time) and will be live streamed. There has been strong speculation that Apple will introduce three…