Author: Stephen Fenech

Episode 243 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast is coming to you from New York where editor Stephen Fenech was in town for the launch of Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. In this week’s show, we take a look at the design and many features of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. We also talk about our hands-on review with the devices, the prices and plans and chat with Samsung Australia’s Richard Fink about the latest Samsung products and how they will be received in the Australian market. Also on the program, Microsoft’s Surface Studio desktop PC arrives…

Android has overtaken Windows as the world’s most popular operating system for the first time when it comes to internet usage across desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile combined. Researchers StatCounter, an independent web analytics company, found Android has topped the worldwide OS internet usage market share with 37.93 per cent which moved it ahead of Windows on 37.91 per cent for the first time. “This is a milestone in technology history and the end of an era,” said Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. “It marks the end of Microsoft’s leadership worldwide of the OS market which it has held since the…

CommBank has introduced new mobile functionality in response to the surprising research results that show more than a third of Australians spend more than they earn each month. The updated app will have four new features which are designed to meet the needs of the customer to help them keep track of the money that’s coming in and the money that’s going out. These will provide improved account security, real time spending reminders and helping customers pay their bills on time. Some of the key take outs of the data revealed almost half of all Australians are uncomfortable with their…

Garmin has introduced the Forerunner 935 – a new GPS running and triathlon watch that offers athletes new performance monitoring and wrist-based heart rate technology. Forerunner 935 offers new training features that allows users to fine tune their exercise program and their recovery. “With similar features to the fēnix 5 – our popular multisport GPS watch built for fitness, adventure and style – the Forerunner 935 is catered more towards triathletes looking for a slimline performance watch” said Adam Howarth, General Manager Garmin Australasia. “As a top-of-the-line GPS smartwatch, the Forerunner 935 not only provides users with insight into how…

Amaysim and Woolworths have joined the companies offering Samsung’s impressive new smartphones – the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ – on competitive deals for their customers. Amaysim, Australia’s fourth largest telco, is giving customer the chance to pre-order an unlocked Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ without being locked into a 24-month contract. And whoever takes up the offer will not only receive the same bonus – a free Gear VR headset and $50 Oculus in-store credit – but three free renewals of Amaysim’s Unlimited plan. The deal is available to new and existing customers. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy…

It happens every year on this day for some reason. Major companies patiently wait until April 1 to roll around before announcing some of their most unusual tech developments. And April Fool’s Day in 2017 is no exception. There are some amusing announcements from Ford, Travelodge, Virgin Mobile and Deliveroo. FORD: ACTIVE THANKS ASSIST As part of Ford’s future technologies, a new feature has been uncovered – Active Thanks Assist. Australian Ford engineers have come up with a way to improve the relationship between all road users with an automatic thank you wave. It’s common courtesy on the road to…

Ultimate Ears has just unveiled its latest fun portable Bluetooth speaker – the Wonderboom – which is small and waterproof but capable of producing a surprisingly large sound. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom can produce 360-degree sound with a nice dose of bass. It is IPX7 rated so it can be immersed to depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes so there’s no risk having the device at the beach, by the pool or in the shower. The speaker is only 10cm tall and the onboard battery can run for up to 10 hours so you can take it…

Microsoft’s new Surface Studio – the computer with a monitor that can fold down flat on to your desktop and be used like a huge tablet – is about to go on sale in Australia. The computer that’s aimed at creative users, artists and designers has redefined the desktop computer. Surface Studio is available to pre-order now from the Microsoft Store, JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman before it goes on sale from April 27. It has a 28-inch PixelSense Display which provides a huge working area that can be used in the upright position to sketch and edit photos and…

Episode 293 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long is coming to you live from New York at the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ launch. On this week’s show, the blokes talk about Samsung’s impressive new smartphones – the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ – moments after the event at the Lincoln Centre. Stephen and Trevor go over the new features – the Infinity Display, the Bixby intelligent user interface and Samsung DeX which means you can turn the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Also on the program, the…

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will be available for pre-order tomorrow (March 31) and the Australian carriers have already released details about the new plans for the new device. Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ were unveiled at the Lincoln Centre in New York boasting larger Infinity Displays, the fastest processor on a smartphone and an all-new intelligent user interface called Bixby. And the new devices are even powerful enough to connect to monitor and keyboard and run like a desktop computer with a new feature called Samsung DeX. Telstra, Optus and Virgin Mobile have revealed their plans…

Tech Guide went hands on with Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ and from the minute we got hold of them we quickly realized they are a huge improvement over last year’s models. The S8 and S8+ have bigger screens than ever before – 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch respectively – yet they don’t feel like huge devices in your hand. The display goes nearly to the top and bottom edges of the device – the home button is gone and there’s not even room to fit the Samsung name on the front panel. The branding is now on the back. There…

Samsung has put the Note7 woes that plagued the company for six months behind them and come out swinging with the exceptional new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones that include innovative features and a stunning design. The whole tech world was waiting for Samsung’s next move after the company showed grace under fire in dealing with the Note7 recall just weeks after it was launched last year. That reply came in the form of a smartphone that raises the bar even higher with not just a new design but with new intelligence that redefines the idea of a digital…

Federal MPs got their first look into the future of driverless cars with a demonstration by Volvo Australia in Canberra today while they conduct a national inquiry of the technology. Volvo executives showcased their autonomous drive technology to the members of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources which is looking for ways driverless vehicles can improve the lives of Australians. The committee members were driven around Canberra for an hour in two Volvo XC90 SUVs which have autonomous drive technology onboard. It was the first driverless demonstration ever held in Canberra and it gave…

We’re in the middle of an entertainment revolution with a massive switch from broadcast TV to broadband TV with subscription video on demand services expected to more than double in Australia by 2022. Ovum’s OTT (over the top) Video Forecast has predicted seven million Australians will have an SVOD account in five years – that’s an increase of 170 per cent on the 2.6 million currently subscribing with revenues hitting more than a $1 billion. Netflix and Stan are expected to take 70 per cent of that profit. Ovum’s findings match up with Telstye’s 2017 Digital Consumer Study which shows…

Tune in to Episode 242 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast where editor Stephen Fenech will keep you updated and educated about the latest tech news, views and reviews. On this week’s show: LG’s stunning wallpaper OLED TV has arrived in Australia, Epson and Hisense launch new products at the Australian Grand Prix and why laptops and tablets will be banned from some flight into the UK. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the HTC U Ultra smartphone, the Garmin Dash Cams and the latest Square tap and go products for tradies and small businesses. In the Tech…

IKEA is moving into the smart home market with the launch of a lighting solution that can be controlled remotely, automated and adaptable to create the mood and atmosphere for your home. The IKEA Smart Lighting collection will include smart globes that can dim and switch between warm and cool light with a controller or through the TRADFRI app for smartphones and tablets. And there’s no need to re-wire your home. IKEA Smart Lighting is a plug and play solution that’s as easy as screwing in a lightbulb. Customers simply swap out a regular globe for a TRADFRI globe which…

BY CHRIS OATEN Just by coincidence, a Facebook friend asked for a suggestion for a Micro Four Thirds camera with 4K capability in a compact form factor and, being familiar with the Lumix line of products, I suggested the G85 might be worth a look. After having a loaner for a short while, I think I can upgrade the suggestion to a recommendation. While it’s by no means the most compact camera in the MFT field, the G85’s 4K capability, along with its many other features, packaged into a body priced under $1500, offers a pretty tasty deal. Before going…

HTC’s attempt to stand out in the Android smartphone market continues with the U Ultra and it has a number of features and design elements that help the device achieve this. Three years ago, HTC was riding high and their flagship devices were all about premium materials and a serious design attitude. But offering minor changes to its hero smartphones since then has seen the company fall back into the pack. Now the company is trying to differentiate itself again with an eye-catching design, a second display and enhanced audio quality. It is now available outright from JB Hi-Fi and…

Episode 292 of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is coming to you from the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. On this week’s show, the blokes are in Melbourne for the Epson launch of its new WorkForce Enterprise printer and the Hisense event to reveal the Series 8 and Series 9 ULED TVs. Also on the show, LG reveals pricing for its OLED wallpaper TV and the rest of its television range, laptops and tablets banned from some flight into the UK, Apple releases new red iPhone…

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t buy an impressive smartphone and the new Huawei GR5 fits the bill with top-line features offered for less than $400. Huawei’s GR5 (it was called the Honor 6X in other countries) has a 5.5-inch full high definition screen and a smooth uni-body design. The device has inherited some premium features from Huawei’s flagship models including a dual lens camera and a fingerprint reader. In fact, it’s the first dual lens camera on the market available for less than $400. The 12-megapixel and 2-megapixel rear cameras combine to autofocus in just…