Author: Stephen Fenech

D-Link has just launched its new AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender which is designed to optimise coverage and maximise your wireless range in your home to eliminate dead spots. The D-Link DAP1860 connects to your existing wi-fi router to increase the range of your network, But, when paired with a D-Link PowerZone-enabled router or modem router, it creates a mesh network solution and retains a single network name across your entire home. The DAP1860 has dual band connectivity with speeds up to 2600Mbps along with advanced AC SmartBeam to enhance signal strength. Also on board, is a Smart Signal Indicator which…

Telstra has been slapped with a $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for charging mobile customers for content without their knowledge. The Federal Court ordered Telstra to pay $10 million for making false or misleading representations to customers in relation to a third-party billing service. This service, known as Premium Direct Billing, was applied to more than 100,000 customer accounts and charged them for digital content including games and ring tones which they had purchased unknowingly. It was found that in 2015 and 2016, Telstra had set the Premium Direct Billing service as a default…

Amazon has been busy releasing its new range of Echo speakers and it’s at it again with the launch of its latest creation – the Echo Spot – which includes a small circular screen so you can see as well as hear the information. The orb-shaped device is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and has a flat base which gives it the perfect angle to view on a desk, a bedside table or a kitchen counter. Users can personalise the screen with a clock face or their favourite photos. And, of course, the Echo Spot…

Crumpler is well known for producing functional, sturdy and long-lasting bags for our gadgets, including the brand new Mantra Travel, but some people may not realise it is actually an Australian company. The company has also just rebranded itself with a new logo and a new range of bags including the Mantra Travel. The Mantra Travel, which is priced at $349, is designed to be used every day and, as its name suggests, on your travels as well. The backpack has 30L of space on board and plenty of room for a change of clothes, chargers and accessories, a laptop,…

Sit back, relax and listen to Episode 296 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, when we can expect landlines to disappear, the smartphone watch designed in Australia just for kids and the stoush between Amaysim and Huawei over the launch of the P20 smartphone. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Fitbit Versa, an affordable BenQ 4K projector and the luxury Logitech Craft keyboard. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we chat about the latest…

It is estimated there will be more than 10 million 5G phone connections in Australia by 2022 with parts of the 3G network expected to be shut down in 2020, according to tech analyst firm Telsyte. Australians will get their first taste of 5G in 2019 with fixed mobile broadband solutions. But the first 5G handsets are not expected until the second half of 2019 but more likely well into 2020. Telsyte says 5G will also shift the current market driven by price competition and enable innovations in mobile plans and the services bundled in with them. And our adoption…

Bose is the latest audio company to abandon the cables with the release of its new SoundSport Free wireless in-ear headphones which still retain the sound quality of its wired products. There is a lot of technology built into the SoundSport Free in-ear headphones to not only make them sound great but also comfortable to wear as well. Design-wise, the earphones look similar to the other Bose Bluetooth earphones but minus the cable. A lot of work went into fine tuning the product to improve the sound and also to maximise Bluetooth signal strength so they will still connect to…

If you love your movies, there’s nothing better than creating cinema conditions in your home to enjoy them. The BenQ W1700 4K projector can help you do just that and at an affordable price. The BenQ CineHome W1700 4K projector is priced at just $2,499 and also adds in HDR (high dynamic range) to provide surprisingly high picture quality. For our review, we set up the BenQ W1700 in our home theatre and aimed it at our 150-inch screen. Our daily drive projector is a Sony 4K non-HDR model that produces absolutely superb results – even without HDR. So you…

Samsung is still hanging in there with its curved TVs. The company is the only major brand to offer curved screens as part of its new 2018 4K UHD range. Curved TVs were introduced back in 2013 and was supported mainly by South Korean rival companies Samsung and LG. LG pulled out of the curved TV market three years ago, but Samsung has stuck solid a new curved model. Samsung’s last remaining curved TV in the 2018 range is the Series 8 NU8500 Premium UHD LED TV in 55-inch ($2,599) and 65-inch ($3,699). But, as we saw on Samsung’s website,…

Amaysim has jumped the gun and is now offering the highly-anticipated Huawei P20 and P20 Pro smartphones ahead of the official launch which is expected sometime in mid-May. Huawei has responded to Amaysim’s early move and specified it will officially release the device to Australian customers on May 18 The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro will be priced at $975 and $1,195 respectively when purchased outright and will be shipped directly to the customer for free. The devices Amaysim will be offering are “grey imports” which means they are shipped in from overseas. But Amaysim says the new Huawei devices…

Amazon is about to release the Echo Spot – the latest addition to the Echo family – which also includes a small circular screen so you can see as well as here information from Alexa. Pre-orders for Echo Spot have already begun ahead of its April 26 release date. It will be at priced at $199. Echo Spot is ideal for a desk, kitchen bench or bedside table thanks to the size and viewing angle of the screen. Users can still use their voices to turn compatible smart products on and off, book a table a restaurant as well as…

SpaceTalk – an Australian designed and developed smartphone watch for kids to help parents keep in touch with their children – is about to go on sale through select Telstra stores. SpaceTalk was created by an Adelaide-based technology company MGM Wireless and allows parents to keep in touch with their child through calls and SMS and also has built-in GPS tracking so they can see their child’s location at all times. The device can also send alerts to parents when their child leaves a designated area like a school or their home. The child wearing the SpaceTalk smartphone watch can…

Fitbit, already a household name when it comes to activity trackers, has ventured again into smartwatch territory with the Fitbit Versa and is trying to poach customers away from the popular Apple watch. The company’s first attempt was last year with the release of the Fitbit Ionic which was priced almost in line with the Apple Watch – the runaway leader in the category. Now Fitbit is attacking from a different direction with the more affordable Versa. This latest smartwatch is priced from $299.95 and is a stylish addition to your wrist. Naturally the device can keep track of all…

Tune in to the Two Blokes Talking Tech, Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, for Episode 339 of the popular podcast which covers the biggest tech issues and products of the week. On this week’s show, the increased complaints to the TIO about the telcos and the latest news from the NBN. Also on the show – we take a look at all the new TVs which have been launched from Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Hisense along with the new Optus unlimited data mobile plan and eBay’s new QuickList feature. In the minute reviews we check out…

Luxury is not usually a word you associate with a computer keyboard but it definitely comes to mind when using the new Logitech Craft keyboard which offers a premium typing experience. We spend a lot of time in front of our keyboards so having a high-quality product like Craft makes working and playing a pleasure. The wireless Logitech Craft keyboard has an impressive design and solid build quality which is not only a pleasure to use but also a pleasure to look at. It can be used with a Mac or PC with dual labelling on some keys so users…

Tune in to a special Episode 295 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by Stephen Fenech, that looks at all the latest TVs from Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Hisense. We’ll go through all the latest televisions and talk about all the features, models, sizes and pricing. Each company – Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Hisense – has introduced new innovations to make their televisions better and smarter and we explain each of them on the show. Also on the podcast, Optus has announced a plan with unlimited mobile data and in the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at…

LG has launched its new range of stunning OLED TVs which not only look good but are intelligent as well thanks to built-in artificial intelligence. The LG 2018 range includes OLED, Super UHD and 4K UHD TVs which will be available in stores in the coming days. The viewing experience will be smarter than ever thanks to LG ThinQ AI embedded across LG’s entire television line-up. Viewers can use the Magic Remote as their microphone to take advantage of the voice assistant technology. The LG TVs use Natural Language Processing (NLP) to deliver voice activated control and connectivity. It will…

JBL has launched a new voice-activated portable speaker – the JBL Link 300 – that brings together the company’s signature audio quality with the intelligence of Google Assistant. The JBL Link series is already led by Link 10 and Link 20 and the Link 300 joins the family and brings with it a full audio range, a larger but still portable form factor and the added feature of being waterproof. The Link speakers have best-in-class audio quality and can enable high definition music streaming with Chromecast built-in so users are able to access their music from multiple sources while enjoying…

Australian consumers and small businesses made 84,914 complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) in the last half of 2017 –  an increase of 28.7 per cent compared to the previous year. In its Six Monthly update, the TIO said complaints about landline, mobile and Internet services were on the rise. The NBN was also hit pretty hard with complaints about services delivered over the network increasing by 203.9 per cent to 22,827 over the same period in 2016. “The telecommunications industry in Australia continues to experience significant change,” says Ombudsman Judi Jones. “An increasing range of products and services…

Hisense has unveiled its new 2018 range of ULED TVs which include several improvements and innovations and follows the strong Australian sales the company enjoyed in 2017. Hisense, one of the major sponsors for 2018 soccer World Cup, has responded this year with a strong line-up of models that provide both value and quality. The new Series 7, Series 8 and Series 9 Hisense TVs will arrive in retail stores in the coming weeks. Pricing for the Series 7 starts at $1,499 (50-inch), Series 8 at $3,699 (65-inch) and Series 9 at $4,499 (65-inch). “We’ve experienced the strongest demand ever…