Author: Stephen Fenech

Christmas is almost upon us and tech gadget gifts will be high on the shopping lists. Tech Guide is once again running its annual 12 Days of Christmas Gadget Gift Ideas. And today were talking about one product that is likely to be one of the most popular under the Christmas tree in 2017 – smartphones. Recently Telstra released research that revealed nearly half of all parents (45 per cent) said a smartphone was what their child wanted for Christmas. And we’re not going to fill this list with all the top-of-the-line smart phones like the iPhone X, the Samsung…

To enjoy our favourite movies and TV shows there are now a lot of viewing options and services including the new Telstra TV, Foxtel Now box and Apple TV 4K – but which one is right for you? These new products were launched in the last couple of months and allow viewers to tap into their favourite streaming services. Telstra TV, the Foxtel Now box and Apple TV 4K all connect to your television via a HDMI cable and come with their own remote controls to easily navigate the menus and applications. But which one is right for you? We…

Christmas is just around the corner and once again tech gifts will be very high on the wishlists. And we’re kicking off Tech Guide’s annual 12 Days of Christmas Gadget Gift Ideas. Today we’re talking about a very popular product – cameras. Action cameras, DSLR and mirrorless cameras are still very popular among professionals, prosumers, enthusiasts and generally anyone interested in taking a decent picture without using their smartphone. The cameras we’re showcasing are all suited to these different types of users and could very well find a home with one of your friends and family this Christmas. The Tech…

There are some big decisions you make in your life that can have a huge effect on you and your family. One of them for me was deciding to install solar panels and a storage battery in our home. That’s how significant I thought this was – it was something that will create massive change. You would have to be living on the moon not to hear all the talk and debate about Australia’s energy situation. No matter what side of the political fence you’re sitting, one thing you can’t ignore is the spiraling cost of electricity. Ironically, the day…

Vodafone today launched its NBN services with customers able to order their connection online, on the phone or through 78 stores across Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong and Newcastle. The Vodafone NBN plans will offer unlimited data as well as a backup Internet service using the Vodafone mobile network for up to 30 days during connection or during a line repair. Customers will also receive a 30-day network satisfaction guarantee as well as the freedom to change their speed plans at no cost. To celebrate the launch of Vodafone NBN in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Newcastle and Wollongong, customers connecting to…

Start your weekend with Episode 324 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long who discuss the week’s biggest tech stories. On this week’s show, Christmas is around the corner and tech will be a popular gift, eBay partners with Google to help you do your shopping with your voice while Telstra research shows that smartphones will be a popular gift for children this year. Also on the show, Samsung partners with St Vincent’s Hospital to trial VR as a cure for acute pain, Apple’s new style store opens in Chadstone,…

Can’t decide on earphones or headphones? Then why not have combination of both with the BTS Pro from 66 Audio which are stylish and comfortable – and sound great. The wireless BTS Pro sits on your ears with memory foam cushions with the thin flexible silicone band sitting behind your neck – out of the way so you can run, cycle or hit the gym. The advantage of this design is a larger earcup and therefore a larger driver you’d get from a regular pair of headphones but without the bulk and the large head band. And they’ll also appeal…

It’s been a big year for bingeing. Netflix has just released a range of stats and information about the most popular shows that had us devouring, bonding, saving and cheating. Bingeing has become a popular habit but do you know the most popular day of the year for bingeing? It’s January 1. That’s right, New Year’s Day. Evan at the very start of the year, viewers are going to town. We know there are a lot of viewers who don’t mind rewatching their favourite show or movie. Fun fact – someone in Australia watched the movie Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most…

Amazon Alexa and Amazon Echo, the smart speakers which have been available in the US for more than a year, will not make it to Australia and New Zealand until 2018. Amazon revealed the delay today while announcing the availability of the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) and the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) for local developers to create voice experiences for Australian and New Zealand customers. “The customer response to Alexa and Echo has been incredibly positive, and we’re excited to make them available for our Australian and New Zealand customers early next year,” said Toni Reid, Vice President, Amazon Alexa.…

While everyone’s been making a fuss over the iPhone X, the Google Pixel 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note8, LG has quietly released the V30 smartphone that’s in the same class as these highly-fancied competitors. Pricewise, LG’s V30 is also a few hundred dollars cheaper than its premium rivals but can still match them for features. The device has a striking design with a dazzling display, a remarkable camera and numerous other features. LG’s V30 is available now from JB Hi-Fi and is priced at $1,199. DESIGN The LG V30 has an all-screen, button-free front face, like most of the…

Samsung will be conducting new clinical trials with St Vincent’s Hospital where patients will take part using virtual reality to evaluate the potential use of the technology to treat acute pain. The partnership was announced at Samsung’s inaugural Healthcare Smart Summit which aims to develop healthcare and wellness services by bringing together software developers, healthcare providers and medical experts. The objective is to explore how technology can be used to improve patient care, clinical care and wellness. “We strive to develop technology that improves the lives of Australians, and this is never more important than when it comes to health…

Christmas is less than a month away and people are ramping up the Christmas shopping that’s a lot easier now thanks to a partnership between eBay and Google and the launch of a whole new experience. From today, Australian customers will be able to use Google Assistant to access eBay’s incredible range of products simply by saying “Ask eBay” or “Talk to eBay” to search for a gift. There is also a new “What’s it Worth” feature where Australian shoppers can ask what something is worth on eBay – an easy way to get started for them to turn their…

Lend me your ears for Episode 276 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 show, NBN delayed again – this time to bring HFC connections up to speed, Apple opens its new Chadstone store with an all-new design and a snapshot of online dating is revealed – and it’s not all pretty. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new tech products from AH Beard that can help you get a better night’s sleep,…

Epson, the creators of the Moverio augmented reality smart glasses, has partnered with global drone leader DJI to create a realistic drone flight simulator app so pilots can fly a virtual unmanned aerial vehicle. Using the Epson Moverio BT300 FPV (first person view) smart glasses, it is now possible to fly a 3D digital drone in the real world using the DJI drone’s flight controller. Pilots can choose from the latest DJI drones including the Mavic Pro, Phantom 4, Inspire 2 and Spark. The simulator overlays the 3D digital drone into your surroundings and mirrors the natural movements of the…

Samsung has released the second generation of its Galaxy Tab A 8.0 tablet with a sleek updated look and designed it to be an everyday device used by the entire family. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 has a metal body and rounded edges to not only give it a more refined look but also make it easy hold. It has a bright 8-inch WXGA display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 and is powered by a 1.4Ghz quad-core processor. It has 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory but a memory card slot allows users to expand the…

About three million Australian homes waiting to be connected to the NBN will now face even further delays after work on the HFC (hybrid fibre coaxial) rollout was halted to improve the service and resolve existing issues. Also known as the Pay TV network, HFC connections to the NBN have been problematic and NBN Co has decided undertake fieldwork to ensure the quality of connection and customer experience is significantly improved. NBN was connecting almost 80,000 new premises each month to HFC but now any new orders have been temporarily paused. “So we can provide a better experience to our…

Australians are always on the lookout for lower cost mobile plans which is why MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) are having a boom year in 2017 with more than 200,000 new connections collectively. This figure is actually beating the individual performance of Optus, Vodafone and Telstra (in that order) according to Telsyte’s Australian Mobile Services Market Study. In the first half of 2017, the market grew by 444,000 to reach 33.7 million connections. The most successful MVNOs in the first half of 2017 were ALDImobile, Amaysim and Kogan Mobile. Telsyte’s research shows price has now overtaken network performance as the…

The Apple Store is like a massive Apple product. And it’s treated just like its other products – it’s popular, updated regularly and at some point – it’s completely redesigned. That’s what we saw today as the company opened the doors to its new Chadstone store in Melbourne. It is the first Australian Apple Store to adopt the new store design. Tech Guide saw Apple’s updated approach to retail for the first time when we visited Apple’s San Francisco store in Union Square in 2016. At the store opening inside the massive Chadstone shopping centre, Apple still drew quite a…

Paramount has just released a new augmented reality experience for iPhone and iPad so fans of all five Transformers movies can bring the exciting characters and adventures into their world. The free app for iOS users includes content from the most recent film – Transformers: The Last Knight – which has just been released on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD and 4K HDR Digital. The app overlays 3D content into a user’s surroundings and makes it look like Cade Yeager’s junkyard. Players will also be able control fan-favourite BumbleBee and direct his movements to hit, blow up and interact with objects in…

A new consumer electronics brand has been launched in Australia. It’s CHiQ – an offshoot of the strong ChangHong company – which will be offering intelligent 4K TVs and quality white goods. Building on ChangHong’s legacy of innovation and research and development, CHiQ will offer high quality products at affordable prices. Another focus of the company will be making their products, which are filled with the latest technology including artificial intelligence, easy to use for customers of all ages. “Today we’re excited to launch our new brand into Australia. We are delighted to present a concept and brand – and…