Author: Stephen Fenech

Sony has a rich heritage when it comes to audio products and it has poured all of those smarts along with the latest technology into its impressive MDR-1000X noise-cancelling headphones. Sony, the company that invented the Walkman and re-defined portable audio, has always been a strong player in the headphone market and the new MDR-1000X is one of its best ever. Noise-cancelling wireless headphones are something discerning audio fans don’t mind spending a few bucks on. To get your hands on the Sony MDR-1000X will cost customers $699.95 which is $200 more than rival Bose’s excellent QC35. But is it…

Optus has launched a new service called Wi-Fi Calling which will allow customers to make and receive calls over wi-fi when there is limited mobile coverage. This means Optus customers can use accessible wi-fi services like your home broadband or public wi-fi to make and receive calls if the network signal isn’t strong enough. So now if you’re connected to wi-fi and don’t have any reception with the Optus network, you can still make a call or take that call you might be expecting. And to the person on the other end of the line, on a mobile or a…

Samsung has put the dramas of the Note7 behind it and will finally be updating its Galaxy tablet line-up with a new device that looks set to challenge Apple’s popular iPad and iPad Pro. The electronics giant was due to unveil the highly-anticipated Galaxy Tab S3 at the IFA trade show in September last year. And it was at that time when the Note7 issues were beginning to surface. But now the company is ready to move forward with the Galaxy Tab S3 which is expected to be Samsung’s main offering at the upcoming Mobile World Congress which kicks off…

Find out the inside story of the biggest tech news and products with Episode 284 of Two Blokes Talking Tech with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Samsung unveils cause of the Note7 issues and what it means for the electronics giant, the worrying trend for cyberbullying and what parents can do about it and are VPNs safe? Also on the podcast, the new features coming with iOS 10.3 and Apple’s Music’s top 100 Australian songs for Australia Day. In the minute reviews, we take a look at the SCOTTeVEST to carry all…

If you own an iPhone, you want to look after it with a cover. Now you can do it in style with an Element luxury case that combines great design, craftsmanship and performance-engineered materials. Made exclusively for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Element’s ultra-premium cases are the Rolls Royce of device protection. Element has released two collections – Luxe and Adrenaline. The Luxe collection has stylish designs and are made from premium materials but that still provide high-impact protection. The Adrenaline collection has a more aggressive and performance-inspired design and are made from state-of-the-art materials and meet military…

Apple latest version of the iPhone operating system will offer several improvements including locating a lost AirPod and asking Siri about one of Australia’s favourite sports – cricket. The iOS 10.3 update has just been released to developers and will available to use with the iPhone and iPad. A new Find My AirPods option will be included in the Find My Phone app so if you happen to misplace one of the wire-free earbuds you can track it down within the Bluetooth. You can also get it to play a sound to make it easier to find. READ TECH GUIDE’S…

It’s time to tune in to Episode 233 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the biggest tech news and products. On this week’s show, Samsung reveals the reasons why the Note7 exploded and taken off the market and what the company does next. We also talk about the drone that can go underwater and change fishing forever, the jacket which can carry your laptop and your other gadgets, the Withings smart hair brush and the app that can help your kids create and animate their stories. And…

After enduring several woeful (and costly) months dealing with the Galaxy Note7 issues, Samsung revealed the causes and can now put the episode behind it – but where does the company go from here? The Galaxy Note7 was hailed as the most advanced smartphone ever produced when it was launched in August but it wasn’t long before the battery overheating issues began and eventually doomed the device. Samsung’s global press conference outlined not only the company’s exhaustive investigation but also the investigations by three other independent companies. What we discovered was Samsung’s plain bad luck with two batteries made at…

After months and months of speculation, the official title for Star Wars Episode VIII has finally been revealed ahead of the film’s release in theatres on December 16, 2017. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Episode VIII will be the first Star Wars film to pick up directly from the previous film. The next chapter, which will be called Star Wars: The Last Jedi, kicks off with Rey (Daisy Ridley) handing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) the lightsaber he lost (with his hand) in his duel with Darth Vader in Cloud City in Episode V: Empire Strikes Back. The Force Awakens…

We saw lots of new smart products at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but this one can tell if you’re having a good hair day – it’s the smart hairbrush from Withings. The Hair Coach is the world’s first smart brush with built-in sensors that can track the health of your hair and suggest ways to improve it. The Withings device looks like an ordinary hairbrush but upon closer inspection you will see a sensor at the centre of the product which is a collaboration between well-known beauty brands Kerastase and L’Oreal. With Withings bringing tech expertise…

Samsung Electronics has finally revealed the faults that forced the company to recall and eventually discontinue the flagship Galaxy Note7 smartphone during a global press conference in South Korea. The problems were the result of not one battery issue but an issue with a second replacement battery as well. This second battery had resolved the first issue only for another unrelated issue to be found. The extraordinary turn of events is basically like a person being struck by lightning and then being struck by lightning again the next day. DJ Koh – president of Samsung’s mobile communication business – kicked off…

We carry a lot of gadgets around with us and usually that means we need a bag to fit all that stuff. But not anymore thanks to the SCOTTeVEST jacket which has numerous pockets to store all your items. SCOTTeVEST makes jackets and vests for men and women that addresses the fact that 21st century customers have more devices than ever before. Regular apparel manufacturers haven’t altered their clothing to accommodate our use of mobile devices – until now. SCOTTeVEST was founded in 2000 by Laura and Scott Jordan. Scott got tired of having to put all his gadgets in…

The Two Blokes, Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, are back in town talking tech after attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to discuss the hottest tech topics. On this week’s Episode 283 blokes talk about drones – losing an expensive rescue drone, Star Wars Battle Drones and the drone that can take a passenger – plus back to school technology and the Toontastic 3D animation app for kids. Stephen and Trevor also talk about the Huawei Mate 9, the new Fitstar personal trainer app from Fitbit and Google Sky. In the minute reviews, we…

Samsung Electronics will hold a global press conference next week to reveal the cause of the Galaxy Note7 issues that forced the company to halt production on the flagship smartphone. The Galaxy Note7 was launched in New York in early August 2016 and was hailed one of the most advanced smartphones ever to be released. But in late August reports began to surface with Note7 customers experiencing overheating batteries and explosions. A few days later after an initial investigation, Samsung decided to issue a recall and give customers the option of a refund or an exchange. But the battery problem…

Are you having trouble charging your smartphone? Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android device, it is common for users to experience issues getting their charging cable to connect securely to recharge. We’ve heard from users complaining that their charging cable can’t connect properly to charge their battery. They’ve had to jiggle the cable and hold it at a certain angle to make proper contact with the terminals. The result is the phone being propped up into various positions so the cable can be held in place long enough to get a full recharge. And just the slightest bump…

There were all kinds of drones and all shapes and sizes at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas including the PowerRay which, unlike all the others, is designed to go underwater. PowerRay, which looks like something Captain Nemo would steer, is used beneath the water surface to offer a completely new fishing experience. Traditional fishing would have the person with a fishing rod above the water line and dangling a line with a hook and bait (and a lot of patience) to catch a fish. PowerRay can literally turn that scenario on its head and get into the…

It wasn’t that long ago that kids needed a pencil and paper and a healthy imagination to create their own story but now it’s a lot easier and a lot more powerful with the new Google Toontastic 3D app. Available now for free on both Android and iOS, Toontastic 3D is a storytelling app that allows kids to create their own animations. The app encourages children to be creative and sparks their imagination with some impressive tools. Toontastic 3D makes it possible for kids can turn their ideas into 3D cartoons they can save and share with their friends. Users…

If you’re into making music, you’ll be thrilled to know Apple has made some major changes to GarageBand and Logic Pro X to give enthusiasts and professionals some powerful new features. Music makers using the iPhone, iPad and Mac will see a new creative synthesizer called Alchemy in GarageBand and an all-new modern interface on Logic Pro X. “Music has always been part of Apple’s DNA, and we are excited to deliver yet another fun and powerful update to our music creation apps, GarageBand for iOS and Logic Pro X,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “These…

It’s the new year and there are plenty of people who made resolutions to get into shape. That just got a little easier with the release of the new Fitstar personal trainer app by Fitbit. Fitstar can help you achieve your fitness goals by creating personalised workouts and making recommendations based on your Fitbit activities. Now instead just counting steps, a Fitbit user can be guided through an exercise program anywhere and anytime that will match your fitness, strength and stamina levels. Fitstar Personal Trainer has four exercise programs plus dozens of freestyle sessions. To kick things off, you can…

Backup and storage are essential in the digital age we live in and the Seagate Backup Plus Hub can tick the boxes for your computer and also all of your mobile devices. Having backups of all of our documents, photos and videos is a must and a drive like the Seagate Backup Plus Hub is a reliable product to ensure the safety of your precious memories. Available in capacities up to 8TB, the Seagate Backup Plus Hub also has two USB 3.0 ports on the front of the device so it can also work as an all-in-one data hub and…