Author: Stephen Fenech

It’s one month since I bought my Tesla Model S and there have been a lot of questions from family and friends about why I decided to buy an electric car – so here are my top 10 reasons for making the move. Before I got my Tesla Model S 75D, I was a Mercedes-Benz driver. In fact, the last four cars I owned were Mercs. So why the change? From the first time I got to drive a Tesla almost a year ago, it felt like the future to me. The car was packed with technology, offered incredible performance,…

Razer, the company responsible for impressive gaming laptops and accessories, has just released its first smartphone with an impressive list features and specs for on the go gaming and entertainment. The Razer Phone has a 5.7-inch IZGO LCD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. This is also the world’s first 120Hz UltraMotion smartphone display which delivers the fastest refresh rates and smoothest graphics of any smartphone. It offers accurate touch response so there is zero lag resulting in smooth and clear motion for all your games. On the audio side there is also Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers,…

Tune in to Episode 349 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the week’s biggest tech news and products. On this week’s show, the latest chapter in the Optus World Cup streaming saga, Vodafone’s new simpler NBN plans and features and Oppo unveils the Find X and R15 Pro smartphones. Also on the show, parents allowing kids to play computers games online unsupervised and Facebook toying with paid access to groups on its platform. And you can also download iOS 12 now for your iPhone and…

Kmart will no longer sell DVDs and Blu-ray discs in their stores with the remaining stock heavily discounted in a massive clearance sale to create extra space for more kids products and homeware items. Even the company’s website says “this product is no longer available”. At our local Kmart at Westfield Eastgardens, all of the remaining DVDs and scare Blu-ray discs were now down to 50 per cent off. That meant you could have bought Star Wars The Last Jedi on Blu-ray disc earlier this week for $17.50. Other DVD titles including recent releases were as cheap as $3. But…

There are strict road rules about using your mobile device while driving so the new Baseus phone holder can not only prevent you getting a fine but it can wirelessly charge your device as well. The Baseus 10W Qi Wireless Car Charger Phone Holder can be used with any Qi-enabled device including the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note8., The holder clips into your car’s air vent so it can be conveniently position in your car. Its unique linkage design means the sides and base will automatically grip…

Vodafone has just rolled out a range of new features to make its NBN plans even simpler and attractive to new customers so they can enjoy a positive broadband experience. One thing Vodafone has set out to do was to eliminate the complexity for customers who are connecting to the NBN for the first time. The three features include simpler month-to-month plans, a Vodafone mobile landline and a Wi-Fi booster. SIMPLE MONTH TO MONTH PLANS Choosing an NBN internet service provider can be confusing, let alone trying to work out the plan that’s right for you. To reduce the confusion,…

Optus today announced it will hand over the remaining games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be simulcast with SBS following the telco’s disastrous start to its streaming broadcast of the world’s largest sporting event. For viewers, this means the upcoming Round of 16 and all of the finals will be available to view for free on SBS and on Optus Sport. Last week, Optus decided to offer free access to the Optus Sport service this until August 31 which will also include the first three rounds of the English Premier League. Optus CEO Allan Lew says the company’s…

There are plenty of companies that are trying to cut Dyson’s grass with a high performing vacuum but Chinese brand Roidmi has come up with a competitive solution. The Roidmi F8 Storm is a light and compact cordless smart vacuum that offers remarkably powerful suction for its size. Roidmi F8 Storm is actually a product created by a member company of the well-known Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi. It is currently available through its Indiegogo page where it exceeded its $10,000 crowd-funding target by 3,245 per cent. Tech Guide was lucky enough to receive a review device and put it to…

Parents know they have to keep an eye on their kids while they are using the internet but many are unaware that their child can be a risk while playing their favourite computer games. A new study by McAfee has revealed two thirds of Australian parents believe their child may be at risk of online grooming while gaming. The research also found 13 per cent never monitor what their children are doing online while five per cent have no idea their children are speaking to people online at all. According to the study, parents allow their children to play between…

If you want to stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews then you need to listen to Episode 305 of the top rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, the battle for your online shopping dollars with the launch of Amazon Prime, the new smartphones – the R15 Pro and the Find X – from Oppo and why Apple was fined $9 million in the Federal Court. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the TCL X4 4K smart TV, we run our eye over the…

If you can’t wait until Spring to enjoy the new features of iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad, you can join Apple’s Beta Software Program and download the new software today. When you join the program, you get a chance to enroll your device to download the beta software, try out the latest features and also provide feedback directly to Apple using a dedicated app on your device. To get started head over to the Apple Beta Software page using the device you’d like to use and sign in with your Apple ID. Both the program and the software are free.…

NVIDIA has announced its Android-based NVIDIA Shield TV system, which can stream TV shows, movies and games, is coming to Australia and New Zealand next month. The device can support 4K HDR which means users will be able to enjoy Netflix, Stan, Amazon Video and YouTube in crisp ultra-high definition. On the gaming side, Shield also delivers through its GameStream technology which will bring games usually only playable on your PC to the biggest and best screen of your house – your 4K TV. “Shield TV combines upgraded performance, 4K HDR entertainment and GeForce GTX gaming to deliver an incredible…

Oppo has launches its latest devices in its R Series smartphones – the new R15 and R15 Pro which not only come with new features but also with trip to Bali staying in a luxury villa. Both devices have a 6.28-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 and a screen to body ratio of 89 per cent. The R15 Pro has an improved dual lens camera (20-megapixel and 16-megapixel) with AI and a brand new Sony IMX519 sensor plus a 20-megapixel front camera with Sensor-HDR technology to dramatically improve your selfies in any conditions. The R15 has…

All dog owners will agree, their pet is a part of the family and they miss them when they’re away from them. But the new Furbo Dog Camera can now help you keep in touch and even give them a treat or two from anywhere. Furbo features a full high definition camera with a 160-degree wide-angle lens that connects to your home wireless network. Pet owners can log into Furbo remotely to see a live view from the camera to find out what they are up to and talk to them as well thanks to the two-way audio. Now instead…

eBay Australia has kicked off an enormous shopping event with up to 72 per cent off 15 million new items including products from Samsung, Dyson, GoPro, Nintendo and Phillips. The Plus Weekend event is available exclusively to eBay Plus members and will run until midnight Sunday June 24. During the Plus Weekend, eBay will also announce 12 “mega deals” hourly while Australians signed up to the program will receive 15 per cent off 15 million eBay Plus items. These include products from more than 30,000 retailers including Myer, Target and The Good Guys. On the tech side the Plus Weekend…

Alcatel has announced the pricing and availability of its latest range of high quality smartphones which are loaded with flagship features without the flagship price. The four devices across the Alcatel Series 1 and Series 3 will be available to Australian customers in August. The company is the first brand to deliver 18:9 displays across its entire portfolio, including the cheapest device priced under $100 courtesy of its parent company TCL’s award-winning technology. This 18:9 screen means the customer will have a larger screen occupying a smaller space and therefore a smaller form factor overall. The three Alcatel Series 1…

There are lots of Bluetooth keyboards around but there are none quite like the Rymek which draws its inspiration from a typewriter from the 1950s complete with the loud clack of the keys. The device exceeded its initial target on Indiegogo by more than 500 per cent and is now available to purchase. Tech Guide was lucky enough to get hold of a unit to review. Using the retro device was like stepping back in time. When we placed the iPad into position on the metal stent like you would a piece of blank paper on a real typewriter back…

Take a listen to Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 348 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech news and products. On this week’s show, we talk about the Optus World Cup streaming debacle and what lies ahead for the telco and the future of streaming. Stephen and Trevor also talk about Telstra’s decision to shed 8,000 jobs and the company’s restructuring, the launch of Amazon Prime and Apple’s $9m fine for breaching Australian Consumer Law. Also on the program, Circle by Disney parental controls, scams at tax time and we…

Oppo has launched its latest smartphone at the Louvre Museum in Paris – the Find X – a flagship product that brings together numerous innovations and bold design choices to push the envelope in what’s possible with a mobile device. The Find X has introduced numerous industry firsts including a slide up camera that emerges from the body of the smart phone, improved 3D camera technology and Artificial Intelligence. It has a 6.42-inch Panoramic Arc 19.5:9 screen with that display taking up 93.8 per cent of the device. Find X is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with a…

Following its streaming debacle, Optus has decided to allow SBS to continue to simulcast the FIFA 2018 World Cup until the end of the Group Stage on June 29 and will also offer the Optus Sport service to fans for free. Optus managing director Allan Lew made the announcement in a conference call to media. Customers who paid $15 for access to the World Cup matches through the Optus Sport will now be offered a full refund. “We have listened to the feedback from the fans and from tonight they will have a choice,” Mr Lew said. The choice he…