Author: Stephen Fenech

Why decide on only one direction to shoot when you can shoot all directions at once. That’s exactly what you can do with the 360Fly 4K camera so you won’t miss a thing no matter the angle. This is the second generation 360fly following the original high definition camera. But this time out you’ve got 4K quality. Not quite the same 3840 x 2160 shape of your 4K TV but 2880 x 2880 which actually adds up to the same number of pixels. It has a compact ball shape that’s slightly larger than a golf ball. It is almost identical…

Uluru is an iconic landmark of the Australian outback and its size and majesty can only be appreciated in person but new drone footage shows the 600-million-year-old monolith like you’ve never seen it before. For the first time, a drone was able to operate with special permission inside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the footage it captured was amazing. What many people don’t realise about Uluru, unless they are standing in front of it, is how big it is. It is actually 9km around the base, 3.6km long and, at 348m high, it is 43m taller than Sydney’s Centrepoint…

The Australian Communication Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) wants internet service providers (ISPs) to give their customers clearer information about their broadband speeds. ACCAN, in response to an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has called out ISPs to provide accurate and easy-to-understand information about broadband speeds to allow them to compare services and how it will work for them. Broadband performance issues have become the fastest growing area of complaints from customers to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) as claimed speeds frequently don’t match reality. “Broadband speed claims are often confusing or misleading for consumers with the use of terms…

Apple’s Music Festival returns to London’s iconic Roundhouse for its 10th anniversary celebration in September and some of the world’s best musical artists will be performing. Kicking off on September 18, the Apple Music Festival can be enjoyed by fans around the world live or on-demand. The festival will run for 10 nights and will include performances from Elton John, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Robbie Williams, Calvin Harris, One Republic, Michael Buble and Chance the Rapper. The concerts can be viewed through Apple Music in more than 100 countries around the world on the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, PC,…

Ford has launched its all-new SYNC 3 system that makes it easier than ever to put communication, navigation and entertainment at the driver’s fingertips while staying safe at the same time. Five of Ford’s most popular models, including the Focus, Mondeo and Mustang, will include SYNC 3 when they hit the road in the coming months. The system includes a responsive touchscreen, Bluetooth to connect to your mobile devices and an easy to read user interface. It also includes more conversational voice recognition technology as well. Also onboard is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means drivers have the choice…

The NBN – National Broadband Network – on the back of a better than expected year has set an ambitious plan to compete the nationwide rollout with the next four years. NBN has released its Corporate Plan 2017 which outlines the completion of the network and integrated business plan. The plan states the NBN is on track to complete the network build – that’s eight million homes – by 2020 and stay in sight of the peak funding of $49b. Revenues are also predicted to hit $5b by 2020 and ARPU (average revenue per user) forecast at $52. Data consumption…

Apple has issued a software update for the iPhone after security vulnerabilities were uncovered that would allow intruders to read emails and messages, listen to calls and access contacts. According to the New York Times, an Israeili surveillance company called the NSO Group were able to hack the iPhone through a link sent via a text message. If the target clicks on the link, the NSO Group’s sophisticated software called Pegasus installs itself on the iPhone so it can intercept calls, messages and emails and even FaceTime calls. The exploit was uncovered by Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights activist in…

Garmin has added a touch of luxury to its hero fenix multisport watch with Chronos – a premium version of the product made with jewellery grade materials but also retaining its trademark performance. The fenix Chronos will be available in three versions – titanium with brushed titanium band, steel with brushed stainless steel band and steel with vintage leather band. Each fenix Chronos also comes with an interchangeable silicon sport band as well. Garmin wants to offer customers a product that can provide a seamless transition between their training or hiking and their usual daytime and nighttime activities. The fenix…

If you want a fun and informative look at the biggest tech topics and products of the week, then tune in to Episode 267 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, the streaming wars have begun with Telstra and Optus and how the subscription video on demand (SVOD) services are shaping up. Netgear unveils its new Orbi wireless system, PlayStation to roll out VR demonstrations at Westfield Centres, how Facebook is using your phone contacts and Samsung’s new audio system with Dolby Atmos on board. In…

Apple is reportedly due to release the new iPhone – presumably called the iPhone 7 –by the end of September and, as usual, there has been no shortage of rumours and speculation about what we can expect. New iPhone season – the end of September/early October – is rapidly approaching and we know this not only by looking at a calendar but by the number of our readers and listeners asking us about it. Earlier this year, Apple released the iPhone SE although the product was basically an update of the iPhone 5S in terms of design. But it’s the…

If you want to enjoy a cinematic experience at home that includes the latest Dolby Atmos technology then take a look at the new Samsung HW-K950 audio solution that will surround you with sound. The Samsung system – made up of a soundbar, two wireless speakers and a subwoofer – can deliver a 5.1.4 channels which includes sounds that appears to come from above the viewer. Dolby Atmos, available as one of the soundtracks on the latest blockbuster movies on Blu-ray and 4K UHD disc, can deliver the five regular channels (front left, centre, front right, right rear and left…

Time to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews with Episode 213 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s packed show: Telstra launches new home wi-fi technology, do we want wi-fi aboard our aircraft when we fly and the new Kobo Aura ONE e-reader. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a deep dive into the Samsung Galaxy Note7 and the hidden features of the device and we check out the CulCharge 3-in-1 Powerbank – a smartphone battery small enough to fit on your keyring. In the Tech…

Optus has recognised the popularity among customers to stream movies, TV shows and music to their mobile devices and introduced new plans that will now make it all a data-free experience. Selected Optus mobile and mobile broadband plans will now allow users to stream content to their devices without it impacting on their monthly data allowance. Many customers are using SVOD (subscription video on demand) services on the move and averaging eight hours of content a week. But watching an hour of video content every day can use more than 10GB of data per month. “Our customers tell us they…

Netgear has just revealed Orbi – a new home router that can provide fast wi-fi and solve one of the biggest problems – giving you consistent and reliable coverage in all parts of your home. The Netgear Orbi is not just one device but actually two. One is the Orbi Router and the other is the Orbi Satellite and together they can cover up to 4,000 square feet of your home through barriers like walls, stairs and doors. The big difference with Orbi is the slick new design. Gone are the flashing lights, antennas and rectangular shape and in its…

Telstra has launched new home wi-fi technology to keep pace with our growing appetite for streaming and on-demand content and ensure a faster and more reliable connection. The Gateway Max 2 will increase speeds and improve wi-fi coverage within the home. According to Telstra’s research, customers are streaming outside the living area including rooms like the bedroom (60 per cent), the kitchen (20 per cent), out in the garden (17 per cent) and the bathroom (12 per cent). Also unveiled were new home internet bundles that will include bonus three month access to subscription video on demand services Netflix, Presto and…

The Martian, starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott, was a hit in cinemas and now it’s back with a special extended with brand new scenes and more than two hours of extra features. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, The Martian tells the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his fight for survival as NASA tries to work out how to rescue him. The Martian Extended Edition has an added 10 minutes of footage not seen on theatres and it fleshes out the story which was based on Andy Weir’s excellent novel. On top of that, there…

The Samsung Galaxy Note7 is now available and while we know about all of the main features of the new flagship device, there are a few hidden features that we’ve uncovered. The device has a gorgeous 5.7-inch HDR Super AMOLED quad HD display, an S Pen that does a lot more than just write on the screen and an iris scanner so you can unlock the device with your eyes. They’re the topline features that we all know about. But take a closer look at the Galaxy Note7 and you can find plenty of other hidden features as well. Here…

Wouldn’t it be great to be have battery to charge up your phone that’s small enough to fit on your keyring? Well, that’s exactly what you get with the new CulCharge 3-in-1 Powerbank. This device is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and is about the same size as a car key. Onboard the CulCharge is a 1000mAh hour battery along with a USB connector cord that snaps into place on top. On the end of the battery is your choice of either a Lightning connector for iPhone and iPad users or a microUSB connector for…

Episode 266 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, is right here to bring you the biggest tech stories of the week. On this week’s show, Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 is available now and we share our thoughts on the device, Optus EPL woes as live streaming doesn’t go to plan and Telstra shares insights into our streaming habits on our smartphones and tablets. Also on the agenda, the Kobo Auro ONE e-reader, the new Navman range of MiVUE dashcams and how to sort out your digital TV reception issues. In…

Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note7, is available to purchase from today and there are already a number of cases and covers available to protect your investment. The Galaxy Note7 has a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen and a sleek curved design along with a new iris scanner so the device can be unlocked simply by looking at it. Also included is the S Pen which allows users to write, draw and paint on the screen as well as magnify portions of the display and even translate text. READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 The…