Author: Stephen Fenech

The replacement program for Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 in Australia has been put on hold after reports of replacement devices, deemed safe by the company in the US, catching fire. As a result of these incidents – there have been five thus far and all in the US – Samsung Australia has decided to halt supply of replacements to its telco partners and retailers. Samsung is now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of these latest issues. In early September, Samsung issued a recall of the flagship Galaxy Note7 smartphone after confirming a battery cell issue which caused some…

Freeview today announced it will be releasing a world-first app in Australia next month to allow users to stream live free-to-air TV channels anywhere on their mobile devices. Freeview FV – available for free on iOS and Android in November – will be able to extend the television viewing experience outside the home. There will be more than 15 free-to-air channels available as well as catch-up content from all the networks within the same app. Users can also browse and search for programs, view a FTA TV guide and also see recommendations. “For the first time globally, an FTA industry…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 272, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, cuts through all the noise to deliver insights into the biggest tech stories and products of the week. On this week’s show, Presto is closing down while Foxtel Play is being revamped – what does it mean for the viewers, Google releases the Pixel smartphones – but have they overpriced it and Fox Vision releases an augmented reality app for the Bathurst 1000. Virtual reality is being used in real estate and Facebook MarketPlace kicks off while, in the minute reviews, we check out…

Tap and Go and PayWave technology are popular, fast and convenient ways of paying for things but it has also opened the door for criminals to steal your credit card information. These crooks are using skimming devices to scan and steal your credit and debit card and even passport information. Alarmingly this theft is incredibly fast and easy and can be achieved up to 20m away from the victim. And the frightening this is you don’t even know it’s happening. https://youtu.be/L3_XYhKFZQg Not only can this result in your accounts being cleaned out but the thief also has 100 points of ID…

Samsung has created a way to enjoy your movies at home like never before with its HW-K950 Dolby Atmos soundbar to deliver three dimensional sound and take your experience to another level. Audio quality can add so much more to your enjoyment of a movie and Dolby Atmos is the latest standard to provide not only directional sound but also sound from above you as well. Dolby Atmos (Atmos being short for atmosphere) can require an elaborate set-up with a receiver and speakers placed around the room and even in the ceiling. But with the HW-K950 soundbar, Samsung has taken…

Transferring your favourite content to your iPhone or iPad takes a bit of work but the new iPocket Drive makes it a lot easier while freeing up space on the device at the same time. iPocket Drive lives up to its name and is small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s a USB drive for your iOS device that’s just 51.8mm long, 30.6mm wide and 9.8mm thick. At one end is a regular USB 2.0 connection and on the other is a Lightning plug to plug in to your iPhone or iPad. Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities,…

To reach any level of fitness you need to know where you’re starting from and have a way to measure your progress. That’s where a device like Fitbit’s Charge 2 comes into play. Now we should stress that simply wearing the Fitbit Charge 2 isn’t going to get you fit in the same way that buying a scale isn’t going to help you lose weight. You still have to move and you still have to exercise. What the Fitbit Charge 2 will do is count everything you do – steps, calories burned, distance travelled and even the flights of steps…

Ultimate Ears speakers offer great audio quality and are also meant to be used socially but a brand new app feature has made it even easier connect more speakers together. With the addition of the PartyUp feature within the UE app, the collection of Bluetooth speakers including the UE Boom, the UE Boom 2 and the US MegaBoom can all be linked to play as one and take your music to an all-new level. PartyUp now lets users connects more than 50 Ultimate Ears speakers together for concert strength sound. Now you can invite all of your friends and tell…

Property buyers will be able to take a virtual walk through homes on the market after realestate.com.au unveiled a virtual reality property app that’s coming soon to Android devices. realestateVR will allow users to take a virtual reality tour through the property from anywhere using their VR headset to inspect the home like never before. realestate.com.au will offer selected properties to view in virtual reality and give potential buyers a real sense of the layout. This new technology will help agents in their efforts to make their properties stand out in the crowded real estate market. “As technology continues…

Google is taking the smartphone battle right to Apple’s doorstep with its new Pixel and Pixel XL devices which looks a lot like the recently released iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Pixel is the first smartphone that Google has designed both inside and out and it contains a number of features the company claims to be industry best. The Pixel smartphones will be available on October 20 through Telstra, for outright purchase at JB Hi-Fi or online at Google. Pre-orders start today. The Pixel and Pixel XL have a 5-inch and 5.5-inch displays respectively that are covered in tough…

Subscription video on demand service Presto is shutting down. But Foxtel – one of the Presto partners – will be relaunching its Foxtel Play streaming service to offer viewers easier access to exclusive content and live sports. Foxtel and Seven West Media – the partners in the Presto joint venture – announced the service will cease on January 31, 2017. Current Presto subscribers will be invited to move to the revamped Foxtel Play service from December 1, 2016. “It has been great working with the team at Seven on Presto and we look forward to future collaborations,” said Peter Tonagh,…

Stay updated and educated about the latest and most relevant tech news and reviews with Episode 219 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, you’re not going to believe what an angry customer did inside an Apple Store, ASUS reveals its latest super slim laptops and convertibles and the Game of Thrones novel is re-released in an enhanced digital 20th Anniversary Edition. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Sony Z9D 4K UHD TV and the Dyson line-up of new air purifiers. In the Tech Guide interview,…

English, Maths, History – and Drones. That will soon be a high school student’s subject choices to give them the best chance for their careers to literally take off in a growing industry. Leading drone pilot training company UAVAir is Australia’s only organisations approved by the NSW Department of Industry’s Smart and Skilled program and can provide students with subsidised Certificate III aviation training as part of their Higher School Certificate. That means school leavers would be qualified for a career in an industry that is already being utilised by more than 500 Australian companies. A number of schools have…

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Game of Thrones novel by George R. R. Martin and to celebrate, the worldwide bestseller has been re-released in an enhanced edition exclusively on Apple’s iBook Store. It was the novel that kicked off the Songs of Ice and Fire series that has now become the basis for the hit TV show that is enjoyed by millions of fans around the world. A Game of Thrones Enhanced Edition provides an incredible interactive reading experience to enjoy the story and characters and explore the wondrous world of Westeros like never before. This enhanced content can…

An angry customer who was refused a refund in an Apple Store has proceeded  to destroy numerous iPhones, iPads and a MacBook Air causing more than $50,000 of damage. The French customer is believed to have walked into the Dijon Apple Store and asked for his money back. The fuming customer claimed his European consumer rights had been violated by the refusal before pulling out a steel ball and smashing new iPhones that were displayed on the wooden tables. In French the man is believed to have said: “Apple is a company that ‘violated’ European consumers’ rights. They refused to reimburse…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 271, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, dissect the biggest tech issues and product announcements of the week. On this week’s show, the drone laws have been relaxed but what does this mean, Telstra reveals the most streamed AFL and NRL teams and matches and an NBN survey reveals just how long and where we connect to the internet. Also on the show, Dyson’s new air purifier range and the RagTagd technology that will help reunite schoolchildren with lost items of clothing. In the minute reviews we take a look at…

Sony has just released its latest flagship 4K HDR Ultra High Definition television that incorporates the best of the company’s technology into one impressive product. Sony’s Bravia Z9D is a 65-inch LED TV which has taken a significant step forward with improved black levels, brighter whites and remarkable colours. Not only are you getting the increased 4K UHD resolution – that’s four times more pixels than full high definition – but there’s also HDR (high dynamic range) onboard as well so there is more detail in the darker and lighter areas of the screen. So it shows Sony isn’t just…

New relaxed drone laws which are now in effect have the potential to pose an even greater danger to aircraft according to a commercial airline pilot who experienced a near-miss with an unmanned craft during a flight. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will now allow users to fly drones weighing less than 2kg for commercial purposes without a license. Most of the popular drones on the market today, including the DJI Phantom 4, weigh less than 2kg and can produce cinema quality footage and high-res still images. These new laws are expected to attract even more people to take…

A keyboard and mouse that are both dishwasher safe? That exactly what you get with the latest addition to the Kensington computer accessories range of products. Kensington’s new keyboard and mouse are both water resistant with an IP68 rating so it can not only handle spills and thorough cleaning but it’s also dishwasher proof. New research from the University of San Diego shows work place offices often have a higher level of bacteria than a toilet seat. Regular keyboards catch all kinds of debris between the keys including food crumbs and dust. The Kensington IP68 Dishwasher Keyboard and IP68 Dishwasher…

ASUS has revealed its sophisticated new range of products that include a wafer-thin laptop, a versatile tablet and a handy convertible with all of them designed to appeal to a wide range of customers. ASUS unveiled the ZenBook 3 laptop, Transformer Pro 3 and the ZenBook Flip UX360 which all boast the latest Intel Core processors and USB-C connectivity. The company says each of the products are the result of years of research and development to achieve the svelte form factors while still delivering high performance. ASUS ZENBOOK 3 – from $2,699 The ASUS ZenBook 3 is just 11.9mm thick,…