Author: Stephen Fenech

LG has unveiled the PJ9 – a levitating portable speaker that’s one of the company’s many new products that will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. The wireless speaker hovers above a levitation station using powerful magnetic fields to hold it in place so it looks as good as it sounds. The speaker itself has grills that wrap around the top half of the device in a turbine blade design with 360-degree omnidirectional sound. It has a 10-hour battery life but when the battery starts to run low, the speaker automatically descends to the…

High performance AV product manufacturer Oppo has just launched its first 4K Ultra High Definition player – the UDP-203 – which is the successor to the award-winning BDP-103 series Blu-ray Disc player. The player, which is distributed in Australia by Interdyn, supports 4K UHD playback with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 – that’s four times as many pixels as a full high definition Blu-ray Disc. Oppo’s UDP-203 has a brushed aluminium front panel, steel chassis and gold plated connectors. It supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider colour gamut so you’re getting higher resolution along with better contrast,…

You’ve already watched Rogue One – maybe even more than once – and you might have noticed that many scenes from the trailers didn’t make it into the final cut of the movie. With any movie we see, we usually tick off in our heads the scenes from the trailer we see in the film. So you can imagine with Rogue One’s teasers and trailers we had a lot to look out for. I’m a mega Star Wars fan and I watched the trailers and teasers many, many times and noticed plenty of shots and lines that didn’t make it…

Optus has introduced a new home broadband option that’s affordable, flexible and easy to set up because it utilises the company’s high-speed 4G network to connect you to the internet. Usually it takes a lot of time and effort to organise a fixed home broadband connection – you need to have a technician around to establish the connection and connect the modem. And you need to be home for all this to happen. But Optus Home Wireless Broadband that’s not the case. Because you’re using the Optus mobile network you need to check on the Optus website to see whether…

It’s the 12th and final day of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gift guides to help you find the right last-minute present for your friends, family and loved ones. Today we’re look at computers, computer-related products and accessories which are products we use each and every day so there would be a lot of people who would be happy to receive a gift of this kind. And be sure to take a look back at the categories we’ve already covered for great gift suggestions. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Fitness wearables/smartwatches Day 4: Speakers Day…

Foxtel has just launched an all-new app designed for kids and just in time for the summer holidays that will give them a safe and ad-free way to watch their favourite programs on-demand. Available for free to Foxtel, Foxtel Play and Foxtel from Telstra customers, Foxtel Kids includes popular kids channels Nick, Nick Jr, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, CBeebies and Discovery Kids. It has been designed with a kids-friendly interface so a child can easily navigate to their favourite shows including Hey Duggee, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teen Titans, Star Wars Rebels, Adventure Time and…

It’s Day 11 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which has been designed to inspire the perfect choice of present for your friends and family this year. Today we’re looking at in-car gadgets – dash cams, GPS devices and other products that can be used in your car. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each day in the lead up to Christmas to see all the categories and take a look back at the categories we’ve already covered for great gift suggestions. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Fitness wearables/smartwatches Day…

Get updated and educated about the latest tech with Episode 229 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech and what will be the last show for 2016. On this week’s show, the Federal Courts orders ISPs to block piracy sites, Amazon Prime Video launches in Australia and what it takes to become a licensed drone pilot with a UAVAir course. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out Apple’s new AirPods, Netgear’s new Orbi wi-fi system and the Under Armour Health Box. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we talk about whether you can run an…

With the rapid growth of drones in various sectors, there are more and more people looking for employment opportunities in this exciting new category which is going from strength to strength. One way of doing that is obtaining a remote pilot’s licence which would allow you to fly a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) professionally. And that’s exactly what I did when I recently completed the UAVAir Certificate III Aviation (Remote Pilot – Visual Line of Sight) course – the only one approved by both the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Australian Quality Training Framework. My new qualifications also…

It’s Day 10 of the 2016 Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas which is offering daily tech present suggestions for you to find that perfect gadget for your family and friends. Today we’re looking at gadgets that don’t quite fit into a single category but are still cool products designed to make life a little easier. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each day in the lead up to Christmas to see all the categories and take a look back at the categories we’ve already covered for great gift suggestions. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras…

A fast and reliable wireless connection in our homes is more important than ever and Netgear’s new Orbi system has come to the rescue to offer greater coverage everywhere. Orbi is the world’s first tri-band mesh home wi-fi system that creates a network that can cover up to 370 square metres. With the average size of an Australian home at about 215 square metres – Orbi offers enough range to easily reach every corner of your home and your front and back yards. With the number of connected devices in the home it doesn’t take much for a regular wi-fi…

When the iPhone 7 was revealed it didn’t have a headphone jack and to prove customers wouldn’t miss it, Apple introduced the AirPods – a pair of wire-free earphones. The AirPods look just like Apple’s regular headphones but without any cables – not even a cable joining the two earpieces. And they come in a magnetic case that not only stores them but keeps them charged. You can hear your music, talk to Siri and also make and receive calls on the move. Apple’s AirPods are now available for $229. DESIGN The AirPods like almost exactly like Apple’s regular wired…

It’s Day 9 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which gives you plenty of ideas on the right tech presents that your friends and family will absolutely love. Today we’re talking about gifts the whole family will be able to enjoy – TVs, Blu-ray and 4K players and the best new movie releases on 4K disc. At this time of year when families are taking a break over Christmas, we’ve got even more time to kick back and enjoy watching some great content. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each day in the…

It’s Day 8 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas which is our way of helping you save time and shoe leather as you try and shop for the ideal gift for friends and family. Today we’re talking about drones – a product that’s become more popular than ever and that is being featured on its own for the first time in our 12 Days of Christmas gift guide. The good news is there are plenty of choices for drones with the more expensive products designed for more skillful pilots and other cheaper options that are more…

Spend your weekend with the Two Blokes Talking Tech, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, as they discuss the week’s biggest tech news in Episode 281. On this week’s show, the landmark ruling to block copyright-infringing torrent sites, Amazon Prime Video and drone deliveries. Also on the show the updates for Foxtel Play and the Foxtel iQ3, Stephen’s thoughts on the new Star Wars movie Rogue One and Apple’s new AirPods. In the minute reviews, we talk about the Optus home wireless broadband and the Under Armour HealthBox. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech icon…

It’s Day 7 of the Tech Guide 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas so we can help shoppers narrow down the tech gift choices and find the right product for the right person. Today we’re talking about headphones and earphones – an excellent present to give and receive especially for your friends and family members who love their music. There are lots of different types of headphones and earphones and lots of different price points. Here is the full list of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each…

The reason why most people buy activity trackers is to get in shape or stay in shape and Under Armour has released a connected system of fitness products that can help you achieve your health goals. The Under Armour HealthBox is an ecosystem of devices designed to work together and provide a complete solution whether you’re an elite athlete or someone who just wants to shed a few kilos. In the box is a band to track steps, exercise and sleep, a scale to find out your weight and body fat percentage and a chest monitor to accurately measure your…

The Australian Federal Court has ordered Australia’s ISPs (internet service providers) to block several download sites that have been identified as infringing content copyright. It comes at the end of a case brought by film distributor Village Roadshow and pay TV company Foxtel where the ruling will see sites like The Pirate Bay, IsoHunt, Torrentz, TorrentHound and streaming site SolarMovie blocked within 15 days. This landmark ruling for the film producers and cable television company means website blocking laws will be enforced for the first time in Australia. Naturally Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh welcomed the decision. “Piracy does great damage…

Amazon Prime Video is now available in Australia as part of a global launch in more than 200 countries to give member access to Amazon Original Series content and other TV shows and movies. Available to Australian viewers at the introductory price of $US2.99 a month for the first six months, Amazon Prime Video will go up against Netflix and Stan as an SVOD (subscription video on demand) service. After six months, the price will jump up to the regular price of $US5.99. Customers can also try a free 7-day trial. The original content includes The Man in the High…

Welcome to Day 6 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which is designed to provide the inspiration to find the right gift for your friends and family. Today we’re talking about gaming – consoles, hardware and individual games – that are sure to provide an amazing experience. Gaming has become a massive industry in Australia that generates more revenue than the cinema box office thanks to incredible titles that are like playable movies. And gaming isn’t a pastime for children – the average age of an Australian gamer is 34. Here is the full list…