Author: Stephen Fenech

If you want to stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and the latest products then you need to tune in to Episode 260 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, we talk about the US city where crossing the road looking at or texting on your phone is now illegal, Apple discontinues the iPod Shuffle and the iPod Nano and the phone scams to watch out for. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Google Home smart speaker, the LG SJ9 soundbar and the Laser…

There have always been lots of rumours surrounding Apple products, especially the iPhone, but this week the information about the upcoming iPhone 8 has come from another source – Apple itself. A developer has dug into the iOS firmware for the Apple HomePod smart speaker that’s not due till December and uncovered clues on some of the features of the highly-anticipated iPhone 8 – due for release in late September. The firmware refers to face detection which supports the rumour that the new iPhone won’t have no home button and will rely on other biometrics – like face detection – to…

It’s taken a few months to get here but Google Home – the speaker powered by Google Assistant – was sure worth the wait and can help you in every room of your house. The speaker might be small – it’s a shade over 14cm tall – but it can be a big help every day. Think of it like a friend that knows everything that’s constantly on call. You can ask questions, get it do things, play your music, keep you up-to-date and get you ready for your day. You can even ask it to tell you a joke.…

They were once hit products – but now they are no more. Apple has decided to discontinue the iPod Nano and the iPod Shuffle, leaving the iPod Touch as the last remaining device in the category. The iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle have been removed from Apple’s online store with the remaining stock still available in Apple Stores and other resellers. The last remaining iPod is the iPod Touch in 32GB ($299) and 128GB ($449) with a 4-inch display and an 8- megapixel camera. Apple introduced the iPod Shuffle at Macworld in January 2005 which was white and the size…

The latest danger on the roads today is pedestrians crossing the road while they are absorbed with their phone but if you happen to be in Honolulu it is now illegal. Honolulu is the first major US city to pass a “distracted walking” law which means anyone looking at or texting on their phone while crossing the road is breaking the law. The law will be enforced from October 25 with fines ranging from $SU15-35 for a first offence, $US35-75 for a second infringement and $US75-99 if you’re caught a third time. Honolulu Police Department will implement a three-month training…

If you’re after an easy and affordable way to turn your existing television into a smart TV then you’ll find the answer with the new Laser MMC-X40 4K Smart TV Media Player. The small device – about the size of an Apple TV or Telstra TV unit – connects to your TV via HDMI and to the internet with a cable or Wi-Fi. There is no set up involved, you just connect the Laser 4K Smart TV Media Player to your TV or computer and you can get started. Users can access streaming services like Netflix, Stan and YouTube and…

If you’ve captured video with your GoPro camera the first thing you want to do is share it with your friends and that’s just become a whole lot easier with the new GoPro QuikStories app. The GoPro QuikStories app can take the footage from your GoPro Hero5 camera to help you select your favourite clips and create a ready-to-share video complete with titles, music and filters. Users can customise their stories by adding effects and slow motion and speed effects as well as adjusting the total length of the video. You can also add any footage and images on your…

The NBN has launched a new national campaign to address the confusion about the network after it was revealed many didn’t know the speeds they’re receiving or unaware they could choose their speed to begin with. New research has revealed that most Australians (76 per cent) weren’t aware of their current Internet speeds while more than a third (35 per cent) were in the dark about being able to choose their speed tier. In response, the NBN has launched a national integrated marketing campaign to inform Australians about the things they need to do before signing up to a service…

Samsung was just announced the Sound+ MS750 – a versatile new soundbar that provides an enhanced audio experience to make your home entertainment even more enjoyable. The sleek MS 750 can rest below your TV on an entertainment unit or be mounted on the wall. The soundbar has 11 speakers onboard including built-in woofers and upward firing vertical tweeters to provide a rich and clear sound that will fill the room. Samsung’s new Sound+ MS750 is an elegant all-in-one solution that provides impressive surround sound without the need to set up multiple speakers around the room. The sound bar even…

It’s time to tune in to Episode 309 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the biggest tech news of the week. On this week’s show, our gaming habits have been revealed, The Rock stars in a short Apple movie with Siri and Kaspersky offers free internet security software. The blokes also talk about the Samsung event we expect to reveal the Note 8 smartphone, the storm in a teacup over MS Paint and Telstra’s new vehicle to mobile technology to protect cyclists and pedestrians. In the…

Every time your phone rings it could be someone trying to scam you out of your money thanks to the recent increase in the number of people being ripped off by shrewd criminals. Customers have been warned about the potential dangers and asked to exercise extreme caution before sharing any information over the phone. The latest scam involves people impersonating the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and demanding payment with iTunes cards to cover outstanding tax payments. Here are the phone scams to watch out for: ATO iTUNES CARD SCAM A warning has been issued to Australians not to fall for…

The Nikon Corporation is celebrating its 100th birthday and its incredible journey from the manufacturer of precision optical glass to one of the biggest camera brands in the world. Nikon Australia has released commemorative anniversary products and collectors’ items, including a Swarovski crystal replica of the Nikon Model 1, that will available until August 31. These include: – D5 100th Anniversary Edition – NIKKOR 70-200E 100th Anniversary Edition – NIKKOR Triple F2.8 Zoom Lens Set 100th Anniversary Edition – 8×30 E II 100th Anniversary Edition And these collectors’ items: – Nikon 100th Anniversary Crystal Creation Nikon Model I – Nikon 100th Anniversary…

Telstra has successfully conducted the first test of vehicle to mobile technology that could provide early collision warnings to pedestrians and cyclists through an application on their smartphones. The test of Telstra’s V2P (vehicle to pedestrian) technology was run in partnership with Cohda Wireless over a mobile network in South Australia. The technology was used to simulate some real-world scenarios like a car approaching a pedestrian at a crossing, a car and a cyclist approaching a blind corner and a car reversing out of a driveway. There is already an issue with pedestrians being so absorbed by their smartphones that…

When it comes to the home viewing experience, sound plays a big part but with TVs getting thinner it’s hard to get that big sound which is why a sound bar like LG’s SJ9 can make a huge difference. The SJ9 can immerse the viewer in sound without having to connect several individual speakers around the room. In fact, the SJ9 also packs Dolby Atmos sound – a three-dimensional soundscape with sounds coming from around and above the viewer. The soundbar has a total power output of 500W RMS which adds quite a punch to the movie or TV show…

Let Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news, reviews and opinions in Episode 259 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast. On this week’s show, The Rock stars with Siri in a short movie for Apple, our gaming habits revealed and Samsung announces an August event for what we’re expecting to be the Galaxy Note 8. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Sony Mobile XZ Premium, the new Panasonic 4K OLED TV and Netgear’s Arlo Baby – the 21st century baby monitor. In the Tech Guide Help…

D-Link has announced its Wi-Fi Smart Plug will now work with Google Home and Google Assistant so users will be able to turn their devices on and off using their voice. The D-Link Smart Plug (DSP-W215) plugs into the wall with the product you want to control then being plugged into the D-Link’s power point on the front of the device. Not only can you turn the connected product on and off, you can also monitor its power consumption. The D-Link Smart Plug can also automatically turn off overheating appliances thanks to its built-in thermal sensor. With Google Assistant and…

Western Digital has launched its fastest portable drive ever –  the My Passport SSD –  a palm-sized storage device that offers incredible speeds and the ability to carry massive files anywhere. The portable drive houses an SSD (solid state drive) which is capable of read/write speeds of up to 515Mbps, making it WD’s fastest My Passport device. It is designed for content creators, photographers and video editors along with anyone else who needs to carry large files with them. Users can rapidly manage large photo and video files, back-up files fast and store important documents. And it won’t take up…

Action movie superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is co-starred with the iPhone’s Siri in a light-hearted short Apple movie to showcase the personal assistant’s abilities. In the movie, which runs for three minutes and 45 seconds, we follow The Rock in a number of scenarios as he tries to fit more into his already busy schedule. The film is called The Rock x Siri Dominate the Day and was released today on Apple’s YouTube channel. In the movie, The Rock sees a news report about himself on the TV wondering if he can do more despite having so many projects…

Australia has always been a nation of gamers but new research has revealed we love gaming even more than we thought with 97 per cent of households with kids owning a gaming console. The latest study by Bond University in partnership with the Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) studied 1,234 Australian households along with 3,135 individuals and came up with a surprising snapshot. “The fun continues through interactive games, but the research shows that games increasingly serve other uses,” said Dr Jeff Brand, professor at Bond University and lead author of the report. “Australians are playing for social connectedness, whether that…

The Sony XZ Premium certainly lives up to its name with the premium display, a premium camera and premium audio quality as well as a premium design so it will attract a premium customer. If you want to enjoy 4K content, like to listen to Hi-Res audio and want a mobile camera like no other, then the Sony XZ Premium is the device for you. Sony Mobile has cherry picked the company’s best technology and placed it aboard its new flagship smartphone. It’s an ambitious device that doesn’t try to hide the fact it is designed for customers who appreciate…