Author: Stephen Fenech

Mobile operator Vodafone will offer fixed broadband connectivity for consumer and enterprise customers when it launches its new service across Australia in 2017. The fixed broadband service will be delivered as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN). It was announced by Vodafone CEO Inaki Berroeta who says customers are hungry for data to stream content and stay connected between their home connections and mobile devices. “Not only are Australians consuming more and more data, they are increasingly using mobile and fixed broadband interchangeably. Consumers are converged, but the telco market isn’t and we want to change this,” Berroeta says.…

The Pixel smartphone isn’t Google’s first smartphone but it is certainly the best Google has produced and a worthy competitor for the smartphones in the top tier of the market. There are two Pixel phones in the family – the Pixel with a 5-inch display and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch screen. Tech Guide had the latter for this review and, apart from the screen size, the smartphones are basically the same in terms of features and camera quality. People we spoke to about the Google Pixel thought it was the first phone Google had produced – that was…

Independence Day: Resurgence – the long-awaited sequel to blockbuster hit Independence Day, has landed on 4K UHD, 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital packed with extra features and deleted scenes. The film is set 20 years after mankind was nearly wiped out in the “Battle of 96”. Earth has adopted the alien technology that was left behind and also set up a massive defense system – just in case they come back. David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), the brilliant scientist that saved the world in the original Independence Day film, is back again as the head of Earth’s defense. Other returning characters…

Samsung has set up service points at airports around Australia to collect recalled Galaxy Note7 smartphones after all airlines unanimously banned the device from being brought onboard. Airlines have prohibited passengers bringing the Galaxy Note7 onto domestic and international flights in both carry-on and checked luggage. This ban does not include any other Samsung devices. To make it easier for passengers who may still have a Note7 in their possession, Samsung has created airport service points before security screening areas so they can swap it for an alternative device. The service area will be open from 6am to 6pm at…

Episode 221 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, this this week brings you all the latest tech news and reviews along with a touch of Hollywood. On this week’s show, Apple rumoured to be releasing the updated MacBook Pro, Microsoft’s Hololens is now available to pre-order and the latest craze that’s taking over the internet – no-hands selfies. In the Tech Guide Reviews we check out the Samsung CF591 27-inch curved monitor and the PlayStation VR and launch games. In the Tech Guide Interview we chat with Roland Emmerich – director of Independence Day and…

LG has revealed its latest premium smartphone – the V20 – which includes high-end multimedia capabilities to create top quality video and audio content anywhere. The LG V20 has a 5.7-inch quad HD IPS Quantum display with resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 513ppi (pixels per inch) and will be running Android’s latest 7.0 Nougat operating system. It is made of lightweight aluminium alloy so it combines strength and style. It is 159.7mm long, 78.1mm wide and just 7.6mm thick. The device has two rear cameras – a 16-megapixel lens with f/1.8 aperture and OIS (optical image stabilisation) and an…

Monitors are going down the same path as smart TVs with curved designs. Samsung, a company that’s been curving its TVs for years now, has applied those smarts to the CF591 27-inch curved full high definition LED monitor. There’s nothing to say that your computer monitor has to be flat. Samsung’s CF591 is just one of a range of curved monitors that are designed to immerse you even further into whatever you’re doing whether it’s work, playing a game or watching a movie. On the design side, the CF591 has a virtually no existent bezel so all you see is…

There’s been a lot of noise about a new MacBook Pro that Apple is reportedly releasing before the end of the year but that could possibly land as soon as next week. If you’re thinking about buying a new MacBook Pro, our advice would be to wait a week or two. The MacBook Pro design has not changed for a number of years but that’s all about to change with the latest model which will definitely have a new thinner look. Apple is already pretty good at making thin laptops with the MacBook Air and the more recent MacBook. And…

A new and dangerous craze is sweeping the internet – the no-hands selfie. This involves throwing your phone into the air and timing it so it takes a photo of you while in mid-air. And if you really want to challenge yourself – try and clap your hands while the device is in mid-air. The best way to achieve this is by using the shutter timer when the phone’s camera is in selfie mode so you need to time the whole thing. Hopefully it will result in a picture of you high fiving yourself. Seth Schneider achieved what many thought…

OK, you’ve got yourself a PlayStation VR – or you have plans to buy one to plug into your PS4. So what are the games you should be playing? We’ve taken a look at what’s on offer? There are a number of games in various genres that have all been transformed to put you in the middle of the action – like you’re a part of the game. And that’s the whole idea of PlayStation VR – gaming like you’ve never experienced before. The PlayStation VR can only be as good as the games you’re playing on it. Luckily there…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 273, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, brings you a fun yet informative look at the latest tech issues and products. On this week’s show – a special Phone Zone edition – we talk about the saga of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 which was pulled from production. The blokes talk about what Samsung needs to do next and what other products are available as an alternative to the Note7. Also on the show are the new Sony Xperia XZ smartphones, Motorola’s new Z and X Play devices and the best phones…

Microsoft has transformed the computer and the way we use it with the new wearable Hololens – a self-contained holographic computer that provides incredible experiences. The Microsoft Hololens is now available to pre-order and will ship to customers in Australia and New Zealand in November. The device, which is a fully-fledged PC running Windows 10, can be worn comfortably on your head and the lenses in front of your eyes allow you to view and interact with holographic images while still seeing the world around you. This mixed-reality solution can be used in a variety of ways across a number…

Apple Store employees have been sacked after accessing personal images from customer iPhones but the company has found no evidence they were shared with fellow staff members to rank out of 10. The Courier Mail reported four male staff members at the Carindale Store in Brisbane were dismissed after looking through the private photos on customer devices. The alleged incident was uncovered after an Apple Store staff member noticed a technician looking through a customer’s personal images in a repair room. But Apple has responded to the allegations that these images were shared and that others were taken of staff members and female customers to circulate to fellow employees. “Based on our investigation…

Samsung’s decision to end the production of the embattled Galaxy Note7 was a brave one. It is foreign territory for the company which, until now, has been used to success. But where does it go from here? The birth and death of the Galaxy Note7 after such a short time has never seen before in the smartphone industry. First of all, this was Samsung, the global market leader, and secondly, it was the Galaxy Note7 – the company’s new flagship device that it was proclaiming at launch as the best mobile device it had ever made. And we agreed in our…

We’ve entered an all-new era of console gaming with the release of Sony’s highly-anticipated PlayStation VR headset which takes players to the next level of immersion and enjoyment. The world of virtual reality is here and, when you combine that with gaming, you’ve got an experience that will truly carry you away. We will look back on the release of the PlayStation VR as the time when gaming underwent one of the biggest changes the industry has ever seen. But PlayStation VR is only as good as the games that are powering it and the great news is there is…

Smartphones have become a part of our workouts to track our progress and supply the music but the devices can be hard to carry around so PocJox has come up with an interesting solution. PocJox is compression activewear for men and women that have a specially designed dual-pocket system to fit your smartphone. This hands-free solution can also extend to keeping your keys, money and credit cards safely tucked away while you’re exercising. We literally took the PocJox half-shorts for a road test and we were able to carry our iPhone 7 Plus in the deeper pocket and some change…

The Galaxy Note7 is dead. Samsung has taken the unprecedented step of ceasing production on the embattled product after two recalls and reports of battery fires and explosions. The company said it will permanently end production after reports surfaced of replacement devices deemed safe by Samsung were overheating and catching fire. “For the benefit of consumers’ safety, we stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 and have consequently decided to stop production.” the Samsung Australia statement said. Richard Fink, Vice President IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Australia said today: “The safety of our customers is our first priority, which is why…

Samsung has issued a second recall of the Galaxy Note7 smartphone in as many months while the company investigates the latest incidents with the troubled device. Loyal customers who opted for a replacement of their Note7 device instead of a refund have now been asked to return the unit for a second time. Samsung has already instructed telco partners and retailers to stop selling the device until further notice. Customers who still have the original or replacement Galaxy Note7 have been asked to power down the devices and stop using them. Samsung says customers can request a refund or a…

Episode 220 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is now available to keep you updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Samsung in crisis again after replacement Galaxy Note7 devices deemed safe catch fire in the US, Freeview to launch new app so you can watch free-to-air TV anywhere and Google unveils its new Pixel smartphones. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a listen to the Samsung Dolby Atmos soundbar, the iPocket Drive for iPhone and iPad and the Fitbit Charge 2 activity tracker. In the Tech…

Not everyone can afford a $1000 smartphone. Some can’t afford a $500 smartphone. So what are the options for customers who to spend less than $400 on a mobile device? The Australian market is second in the world to South Korea in terms of percentage of smartphone ownership. A large part of the market is in the entry and mid tiers and companies are responding with more affordable handsets to attract customers in these segments. Samsung and Apple are the number one and two brands respectively in the smartphone market. Number three in Australia by volume is Alcatel on the…