Author: Stephen Fenech

We all spend a lot of time sitting down and have been told this is an unhealthy practice. Standing desks were the first solution for that but now there’s another – it’s the Salli saddle chair. The Salli saddle chair allows you to combine sitting with standing and also allows you to avoid the negative aspects of both. Whether at work, driving our car or on public transport – we spend hours on end sitting down. The medical community illustrated the detrimental effects this can have on our bodies no matter how fit we are. Many people found the solution…

Join the Two Blokes Talking Tech, Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, in Episode 331 as they go through the week’s biggest stories and products in a fun and informative way. On this week’s show, the Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone launch date has been announced and the rumours are going into overdrive, Apple announces HomePod pricing but where does it fit in the market and DJI unveils the new Mavic Air drone. The blokes also talk about Audible kicking off its new campaign with Michael Bolton and the Sensibo device that can turn your air conditioning system…

When DJI releases a new drone it’s a big deal. And the Mavic Air is no different. But it’s not that big. The foldable drone is actually surprisingly small but it can still shoot incredible video and capture incredible stills like its big brothers. The Mavic Air packs a lot into its small body which, when completely folded down, is no bigger than a smartphone. And it fits inside a case not much bigger than the one you use to store your sunglasses. It’s smaller and lighter than the Mavic Pro and yet still includes a 3-axis gimbal, a remarkable…

We’ve already seen mini retro products like the Nintendo NES and Atari console but the latest vintage tech to hit the market is the mini Commodore 64 computer which includes all the games original users loved. The C64 Mini will be available on March 29 and will be priced at $149. It’s available now for preorder from EB Games and JB Hi-Fi. Back in 1982, after it was first released it went on to become the world’s bestselling home computer. Those old enough to remember the Commodore 64, like me, will recall the device as their first experience with video…

If you’re stumped for a Valentine’s Day gift for him or her, Andatech has come up with the answer that can keep your loved one safe and still be able to drive – the AlcoSense personal breast tester. Forget trying to guess whether you’re under the limit when you get behind the wheel, now you can get accurate blood alcohol level readings with AlcoSense. The personal breath tester is suitable for all drivers and has a simple one button operation to provide accurate readings. There are seven models in the AlcoSense range priced between $199 and $490. With the AlcoSense…

Oppo has played to its strengths once again with the release of its brand-new R11s smartphone with an even better camera, built-in intelligence and an improved and sleeker design. This is a device for those who want something better than an entry level product but aren’t prepared to go to the top tier. The R11s has a six-inch full high-definition display while the R11s Plus has a slightly larger 6.43 inch screen. It is priced at $659 (R11s) and $779 (R11s Plus) DESIGN The Oppo R11s has a metal unibody design with sharper less rounded edges than its predecessor. There…

With Valentine’s Day two weeks away, Virgin Mobile has decided to show the love to its customers with new deals on phone plans and 12-month SIM-only plans. All Virgin Mobile phone plans will be reduced by 10 per cent which would add up to a saving of up to $240 over the life of the plan. It gets even better with the 12-month SIM-only plans which have been reduced by 20 per cent. Phone plans priced at $40 or above on a 24-month contract will receive the 10 per cent discount off the monthly access fee until you change or…

Ransomware is alarmingly on the rise in the Asia Pacific with a report revealing a 1000 per cent increase in detections in 2017 and with no signs of slowing down in 2018. The Malwarebytes Global State of Malware Report has detailed the methods of attack and the changing development and distribution techniques used by cyber criminals. The report also revealed a 1000 per cent rise in ransomware in our region, including Australia, which had not been a major target until 2017. “It’s clear that cybercriminals are becoming more strategic as they pick the most effective form of attack,” Jeff Hurmuses, Area…

Security company Norton has warned of the dangers of sharing information with ride-sharing platforms after personal customer data from GoGet car-sharing service was exposed by a hacker. The GoGet system breach occurred on June 27 last year after an individual tried to access the company’s fleet booking system in a bid to use the company’s shared vehicles for free. But in the process the hacker was also able to access personal data belonging to GoGet customers. A 37-year-old man has been arrested over the breach with allegations he accessed the company’s system more than 30 times between May and June…

Legendary singer Michael Bolton is the new face for audiobook provider Audible in a video campaign featuring a humorous rework of his hit song Said I Loved You – But I Lied. The lyrics of his smash song were rewritten for the video with the title changed to Said I Read You – But I Lied. The award-winning crooner filmed the new music video in Sydney before performing at the Audible launch event for competition winners and the media at The Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills. Tech Guide was in the audience for the performance which was preceded by a…

You’ve heard of Uber – the popular ride-sharing service. Well get ready for Ola – it’s one of the world’s largest ride-sharing platforms and it’s coming to Australia and looking for new drivers. Ola was founded in 2011 in India and has become the go-to transportation solution for more than 125 million users with the platform handling more than a billion rides annually. The company is inviting vehicle owners in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to register as drivers by visiting drive.olacabs.com. The Ola site promises freedom of work and daily payments for drivers with the promise of low commissions and…

It’s a huge show for Episode 284 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s program, rumours start to fly after the launch date of the Samsung Galaxy S9 is revealed, Aussie Broadband shakes up its NBN plans with flexible data and DJI unveils its brand new drone – the Mavic Air. We also talk about Apple’s AirPods – and what you can do if you lose one, Whirlpool’s new smart appliances and how they work together and Garmin’s…

Successful Australian company STM Bags has come up with an app using augmented reality technology that will allow shoppers to try on and take a look inside their range of backpacks and shoulder bags before they buy. The STM Goods app, available for iOS and Android, allows customers to interact with the products like never before. Customers can scan a code with the app to trigger the augmented reality images through their smartphone’s camera which will allow them to look at the bag from any angle as if they are holding it in their hand. Users can then explore the…

Aussie Broadband has announced new NBN plans which now offer even more data flexibility for its customers instead of paying for more data than they are likely to use per month. In what the company is calling an Australian first, these new plans allow the customer to not only select their speed tier but also the amount of data that goes with it. Aussie Broadband managing director Philip Britt says these changes will give residential and small business users the ability to tailor their data allowances to suit their needs. “We believe this is a first among Australian telcos,” he…

Samsung will unveil its new Galaxy S9 flagship smartphone on February 26 in Barcelona during the Mobile World Congress and has teased details about some of its new features. “Reimagined” is the buzzword the company is using about the new device with the word centred inside the number 9 on its launch announcement. The event will begin at 4AM AEDT on February 26 and will be streamed live. There have been a number of rumours and reported leaks about the new Galaxy S9 so here’s what we know. The popular consensus is the S9 will include a 5.8-inch display while…

Apple’s AirPods are great – until you lose one. That’s exactly what happened to us in an elevator of all places. Our left AirPod fell out – bounced once and slipped straight into the crack between the floor and the elevator. If I sat there and had 100 attempts at that shot I would have missed the 3cm gap every time. But not this time, we were riding the elevator down to a train station and wiped our brow with our hanky which dislodged the AirPod and sent it on its death drop. I was absolutely devastated. I called the…

Garmin has introduced a new simple and intuitive GPS golf band – the Approach X10 – which is like having your very own caddy providing precise distances on the course. The device comes preloaded with more than 41,000 golf courses around the world (with free lifetime updates) so players can see exact distances to the front, back and middle of the green on the bright 1-inch touch-screen display. The device has a water-resistant design so it can handle the rain and sweat and has a battery that lasts up to 12 hours in GPS mode. The Approach X10 can also…

Apple has provided a sneak peek at its upcoming iOS 11.3 update which will have a number of new features including the ability to check your iPhone’s battery health and choosing whether to accept Apple’s power management system. This update will also include for new animojis – a dragon, bear, skull and a lion. Emilia Clarke, the Game of Thrones star who plays the “mother of dragons”, has already taken to Instagram with one of the latest animojis. Naturally, she chose the dragon. There will be even more augmented reality experiences thanks to the update with ARKit which will power…

Whirlpool has showcased how technology can be used to help families cook, clean and wash smarter than ever before with a range of new appliances which were unveiled at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Tech Guide took a tour of the Whirlpool booth at the tech tradeshow to see these impressive new products in action. These include smart refrigerators, stoves and ovens, microwaves, a new cooking app and a washing machine. A big part of the Whirlpool story is the Yummly recipe app the company developed which can use the camera in your smartphone or tablet to…

Take a fun and informative look at the biggest tech news and products of the week with Episode 330 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Amazon Alexa has been launched and the skills that go with it, Google Home usage tripled over the holiday period and Vodafone reduces its NBN plan pricing. Also on the show, Westpac lets you do your banking with iMessage, Apple CEO Tim Cook opens up about the iPhone slowdown controversy. On the product front, Canon’s new compact PowerShot and the…