Author: Stephen Fenech

The iPhone 7 is here and it might be wearing the same outfit but it certainly has some significant improvements across the board to make an already excellent device even better. The biggest changes for the iPhone and iPhone 7 Plus are under the hood with a new home button, a vastly improved camera, a brighter display, improved performance, longer battery life and a water resistant design. There’s also double the memory – 16GB to 32GB, 64GB to 128GB and the top model has gone from 128GB to 256GB. The enhanced performance in terms of speed and graphics performance with…

Canon has just unveiled its brand new mirrorless camera – the EOS M5 – which has all of the convenience of a compact camera while still offering the performance of a DSLR. It is the first EOS to include Canon’s latest DIGIC 7 processor along with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF for high quality results. The Canon EOS M5 offers an alternative for photographers thinking about a mid-level DSLR. The new DIGIC 7 offers improved image processing power so there is less noise in your pictures and more detail. The 24.2-megapixel sensor – which is similar…

Uber, the popular ride-sharing service, is OK when there are drivers in your area and you’re not in a hurry but now a new service – Scheduled Rides – means you can get a ride when you want. From today in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth you can schedule your ride 30 minutes or up to 30 days in advance. Uber says Scheduled Rides was the most requested feature from riders to provide that added certainty that a driver will available when you need it especially for those early morning trips to the airport. To organise a scheduled ride, simply…

The new iPhone is released tomorrow and there will be a lot of customers who will be jumping in to a new two-year contract. But is this the right move to deliver the best value and keep up with our changing needs? Economist John de Ridder, commissioned by mobile service provider Amaysim, doesn’t think so. He says customers should consider the real cost of locking themselves into a two-year contract. “The opportunity cost – or the value of what you’re actually giving up by signing up to a two-year contract – is just too high,” he said. “Because you’re committing…

Apple has released the new iOS 10 software for the iPhone and iPad that adds a host of new features including enhanced messaging, an all-new lock screen as well as improved Siri and Maps. So even if you’re not buying the new iPhone 7 this week, you can still have that new iPhone feeling with your existing device with the impressive iOS 10 update. You can install iOS 10 on your device if you’re using an iPhone 5 or later, and iPad Mini 2 or later, iPad fourth generation or later and the iPod Touch sixth generation. OK, here’s how…

Episode 216 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by Stephen Fenech, is right here for you to stay updated and educated about the biggest tech news stories and reviews. On this week’s show, we take a look at the iPhone 7 – the new features and the ones Apple has taken away and answer all of your questions. We also talk about the new Sony PlayStation 4 consoles coming our way and chat with Netgear CEO Patrick Lo about the new Orbi system and the state of Australia’s internet with the NBN rollout. In the Tech Guide reviews we…

Everyone knows the iPad Pro is a powerful device and it’s only a keyboard short of taking over from your laptop. Incipio has now provided that keyboard with the ClamCase which is also a protective case and stand in one. You can take full advantage of the iPad Pro’s power and increase your productivity, with the ClamCase which has a full backlit keyboard so you can use it anywhere. The compact and light ClamCase is made from aluminum and polycarbonate so it can provide sturdy protection for the iPad Pro and handle the day to day bumps and scrapes. The…

Electronics retailer JB HI-Fi has acquired The Good Guys chain of home appliances stores for $870m but the two brands will still continue to trade in their own names. The Good Guys CEO Michael Ford made the announcement to his staff today and assured them the deal won’t affect how the company operates. “Joining forces with JB Hi Fi makes enormous sense from every standpoint,” Mr Ford told staff and suppliers. “We are bringing together two iconic Australian retail brands that both have tremendously strong and loyal customer bases. “Our position and track record in home appliances is matched by…

What got the most attention with the launch of the new iPhone 7 wasn’t what was added to the device but rather what was taken away – the 3.5mm headphone jack. But are we really going to miss it? During the presentation showcasing the iPhone 7’s features, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said it took a lot courage to delete the jack that has been around for a century. Whether you rolled your eyes at that statement or if you completely agree – one thing we can all agree on is that it took a company like Apple to…

Sony has announced it will be releasing two new PlayStation gaming consoles later this year – the PlayStation 4 Pro and a slimmer, lighter and cheaper version of the regular PS4. The PlayStation Pro will be released on November 10 while the slimmer PS4 will be available on two models on September 16 (500GB) and September 29 (1TB). PLAYSTATION PRO The PS4 Pro will be a higher end model with a boosted processor and improved graphics so your games and content will be presented in even higher detail than ever before. It’s actually the first time Sony has introduced a…

Samsung Australia has been busily pressing on with its recall of the Galaxy Note7 smartphone and the company has announced when the replacement units will arrive. Customers who haven’t returned their Galaxy Note7 for a refund or a replacement are urged to do so immediately after saving their data and performing a factory reset on the device. For those customers who have opted for a replacement device, Samsung has confirmed replacement stock of the Note7 will arrive in Australia on September 21. “We would like to thank our loyal customers for their patience, and apologise for the inconvenience,” said Richard…

Without a headphone jack on the iPhone 7, users can connect their headphones to the Lightning port. But what do you do if you need a charge? Belkin has come up with the solution with the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar. Developed in conjunction with Apple, the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adaptor can turn that single Lightning port on the iPhone 7 to two. One can be used to plug in your Lightning headphones (there’s no headphone jack remember) and the other to charge the iPhone 7. Of course, you can also plug the iPhone 7’s Lightning to headphone…

Optus, Telstra and Virgin Mobile have opened up pre-orders for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and also released its plans and pricing for Apple’s new devices which go on sale on September 16. Apart from offering competitive plans and data allowances, Optus have also sweetened the deals with the ability to stream music and TV shows data free on selected plans. Also included on plans that cost $65 and above are international minutes as well as unlimited standard national calls and texts. Both new and existing customers can also receive up to $400 credit toward their new iPhone…

Apple has unveiled the new iPhones and the updated Apple Watch with water resistant designs and with one less headphone jack. But there have also been lots of questions from our readers that Tech Guide is going to answer for you. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were revealed with a slightly tweaked design and better camera, longer battery life and with a water resistant IP67 rating. But what has got a lot of people worked up was the fact that Apple killed the headphone jack – that 3.5mm hole on the bottom of the device. A few iPhone updates ago…

Vodafone has already released its plans and pricing for Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which go on sale in Australia on September 16 with pre-orders kicking off today. Plans for the iPhone 7 32GB start at $36 per month on the $40 Red Plan (total of $76 a month) over 24 months with the iPhone 7 Plus 32GB available from $45 on the $40 Red plan (total of $85 a month) over 24 months. Vodafone is also introducing two new plans built especially for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – a $90 Red Data plan with…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 269, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, takes a look at the announcements at the Apple event including the new iPhone 7. This week’s show takes a look at the iPhone 7 – did it meet expectations or exceed expectations? The blokes give their verdict on the device and the new features including the improved camera and the decision to kill the headphone jack. Also on the agenda is Apple’s new Apple Watch Series 2 and also the wireless and wirefree AirPods plus all the other announcements. You can listen to…

Apple says it took a lot of courage to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 but at the same time it is offering a stunning new way to listen wirelessly with its new AirPods. The AirPods are wireless and wirefree so the earbuds not only connect to the iPhone via Bluetooth there isn’t even a cable between the buds. Apart from listening to music, the AirPods can be used to make calls, watch your video content, play games and interact with Siri. There are dual optical sensors and an accelerometer onboard the AirPods so they know when they…

Apple has announced its next generation Apple Watch, the world’s most popular smartwatch, which has been upgraded with built-in GPS and a water resistant design. Apple Watch Series 2 will be available from September 16 with pre-orders kicking off on September 9. Apple CEO Tim Cook says Apple Watch is now the second most popular watch brand behind Rolex. With Apple Watch Series 2, the design is identical to the original model but there are plenty of enhancements under the hood. The biggest change is the fact it is now water resistant to a depth of 50m so you can…

Apple has unveiled the new iPhone 7 which not only has a new refined and water resistant design but is packed with a host of features including a new camera system and home button. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in Australia on September 16 with pre-orders kicking off on September 9. The new iPhone has a striking new design with a highly polished bead-blasted aluminium chassis that merges seamlessly with the device’s Retina HD display. Apple revealed a new high gloss jet black model which will also be available alongside a regular black model plus silver, gold…

It really is quite an achievement when a company can improve an already excellent product and that’s precisely what Dyson has achieved with its brand new V8 cordless vacuum. The new Dyson V8 is the culmination of 10 years of motor design and cord-free technology and it has improved across the board. And 18 months after releasing the V6, Dyson has managed to raise the bar even further with the V8. It is available in two models – V8 Animal ($749) and V8 Absolute ($849). Design-wise, there are plenty of subtle differences including a larger bin and larger battery. The…