Author: Stephen Fenech

A fast and reliable wireless connection in our homes is more important than ever and Netgear’s new Orbi system has come to the rescue to offer greater coverage everywhere. Orbi is the world’s first tri-band mesh home wi-fi system that creates a network that can cover up to 370 square metres. With the average size of an Australian home at about 215 square metres – Orbi offers enough range to easily reach every corner of your home and your front and back yards. With the number of connected devices in the home it doesn’t take much for a regular wi-fi…

When the iPhone 7 was revealed it didn’t have a headphone jack and to prove customers wouldn’t miss it, Apple introduced the AirPods – a pair of wire-free earphones. The AirPods look just like Apple’s regular headphones but without any cables – not even a cable joining the two earpieces. And they come in a magnetic case that not only stores them but keeps them charged. You can hear your music, talk to Siri and also make and receive calls on the move. Apple’s AirPods are now available for $229. DESIGN The AirPods like almost exactly like Apple’s regular wired…

It’s Day 9 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which gives you plenty of ideas on the right tech presents that your friends and family will absolutely love. Today we’re talking about gifts the whole family will be able to enjoy – TVs, Blu-ray and 4K players and the best new movie releases on 4K disc. At this time of year when families are taking a break over Christmas, we’ve got even more time to kick back and enjoy watching some great content. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each day in the…

It’s Day 8 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas which is our way of helping you save time and shoe leather as you try and shop for the ideal gift for friends and family. Today we’re talking about drones – a product that’s become more popular than ever and that is being featured on its own for the first time in our 12 Days of Christmas gift guide. The good news is there are plenty of choices for drones with the more expensive products designed for more skillful pilots and other cheaper options that are more…

Spend your weekend with the Two Blokes Talking Tech, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, as they discuss the week’s biggest tech news in Episode 281. On this week’s show, the landmark ruling to block copyright-infringing torrent sites, Amazon Prime Video and drone deliveries. Also on the show the updates for Foxtel Play and the Foxtel iQ3, Stephen’s thoughts on the new Star Wars movie Rogue One and Apple’s new AirPods. In the minute reviews, we talk about the Optus home wireless broadband and the Under Armour HealthBox. Click on the Two Blokes Talking Tech icon…

It’s Day 7 of the Tech Guide 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas so we can help shoppers narrow down the tech gift choices and find the right product for the right person. Today we’re talking about headphones and earphones – an excellent present to give and receive especially for your friends and family members who love their music. There are lots of different types of headphones and earphones and lots of different price points. Here is the full list of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Be sure to check back with Tech Guide each…

The reason why most people buy activity trackers is to get in shape or stay in shape and Under Armour has released a connected system of fitness products that can help you achieve your health goals. The Under Armour HealthBox is an ecosystem of devices designed to work together and provide a complete solution whether you’re an elite athlete or someone who just wants to shed a few kilos. In the box is a band to track steps, exercise and sleep, a scale to find out your weight and body fat percentage and a chest monitor to accurately measure your…

The Australian Federal Court has ordered Australia’s ISPs (internet service providers) to block several download sites that have been identified as infringing content copyright. It comes at the end of a case brought by film distributor Village Roadshow and pay TV company Foxtel where the ruling will see sites like The Pirate Bay, IsoHunt, Torrentz, TorrentHound and streaming site SolarMovie blocked within 15 days. This landmark ruling for the film producers and cable television company means website blocking laws will be enforced for the first time in Australia. Naturally Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh welcomed the decision. “Piracy does great damage…

Amazon Prime Video is now available in Australia as part of a global launch in more than 200 countries to give member access to Amazon Original Series content and other TV shows and movies. Available to Australian viewers at the introductory price of $US2.99 a month for the first six months, Amazon Prime Video will go up against Netflix and Stan as an SVOD (subscription video on demand) service. After six months, the price will jump up to the regular price of $US5.99. Customers can also try a free 7-day trial. The original content includes The Man in the High…

Welcome to Day 6 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which is designed to provide the inspiration to find the right gift for your friends and family. Today we’re talking about gaming – consoles, hardware and individual games – that are sure to provide an amazing experience. Gaming has become a massive industry in Australia that generates more revenue than the cinema box office thanks to incredible titles that are like playable movies. And gaming isn’t a pastime for children – the average age of an Australian gamer is 34. Here is the full list…

Rogue One! Wow!! The first standalone Star Wars movie is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that will make you cheer, make you laugh, keep you on the edge of your seat and amaze you. This is a SPOILER FREE review – we will not give away any plot points or any information that you haven’t already seen in the trailer. Even if you have never see a Star Wars movie before, Rogue One is still an enjoyable experience that’s filled with excellent performances and special effects that will have you picking your jaw up off the floor. And if you are…

Apple’s highly-anticipated AirPods – revealed with the iPhone 7 in September – are now available online and will be in stores by next week and just in time for Christmas. With the iPhone 7 no longer sporting a headphone jack, Apple introduced AirPods which look like Apple regular earbuds – but minus the cords. There isn’t even a cable connecting each of the earbuds. The AirPods come with a charging case and are held inside with magnets. And to pair them, all you have to do is hold them close to the iPhone and you’ll see picture of the AirPods…

It’s Day 5 of the Tech Guide 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas to help steer you towards the right tech present for the right person on your shopping list. On this day, we’re presenting the products that will be in high demand this Christmas – tablets and e-readers. Tablets have become powerful enough to take the place of your laptop and provide amazing versatility whether you’re being productive or relaxing. And e-readers are more popular than ever especially in this holiday period when people have more time to read the latest bestsellers. Here is the full list…

If you want stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews then you need to tune in to Episode 228 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show: how to stay safe while you’re doing your Christmas shopping online, Bluetooth 5 is coming to your next gadget but what can it do and the Amazon Go store with no lines and no checkout. In the Tech Guide reviews, we run our eye over the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, the GhostDrone 2.0 VR from EHang and the redesigned Apple Music app.…

It’s Day 4 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas to spark your imagination and come up with the ideal gifts to buy your loved ones this holiday season. Today we’re looking at a popular category and therefore a popular gift idea – Bluetooth speakers. These devices come in various shapes, sizes and prices so there is sure to be one – or two – that could make it onto your Christmas shopping list. Here is the full list of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Be sure to come back to Tech Guide…

Apple has announced there are now more than 20 million paid subscribers to Apple Music just 18 months after the service kicked off with 3 million coming in the last three months. And more than 50 per cent of Apple Music listeners live outside the US in countries like Australia, Canada, China and South Africa. The service is also sporting an all new design and an easier way to navigate the menus to find exactly what you want. Apple Music has a library of more than 40 million songs which is a lot to choose from. Apple Music has a…

There’s still time to do your Christmas shopping online and receive your goods before the big day which is why today (December 12) will be busiest online and mobile shopping day of the year. eBay is one of the biggest online shopping destinations and it says more than 2.7 million people will visit ebay.com.au alone with 1.7 million doing so on a mobile device. That’s an increase of 11 per cent over last year with the peak periods expected to be between 8pm and 9pm on desktop and 9pm and 10pm for mobile visitors. During this period, there will be…

It’s Day 3 of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas which is a great way for you to find inspiration and ideas so you can buy the perfect presents for your loved ones. Today we’re looking at wearables, activity trackers and smartwatches – which will be one of the most popular gift categories this Christmas. There are plenty of choices here to suit all kinds of users and many different budgets. Here are the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas. Make sure you come back to Tech Guide every day to see all of our categories…

It’s Day Two of Tech Guide’s 2016 12 Days of Christmas gadget gift ideas to give you the best ideas for the ideal presents for your friends, family and loved ones. Tech gifts are always a popular option and you can be sure the person who receives it will love it! Today we’re looking at digital cameras including action cameras and 360-degree cameras. Here are the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas. Make sure you come back to Tech Guide every day to see all of our categories and great gift suggestions. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3:…

Bluetooth 5 has just been officially adopted as the latest version of the wireless technology by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) with significant improvements to performance and capacity. Expected to appear in the next wave of devices within two to six months, Bluetooth 5 will enable wider range, faster speeds and larger broadcast capacity. These new features will benefit Internet of Things (IoT) smart products with simpler and more efficient interactions between wireless devices. Bluetooth 5 will also maintain it low power functionality, will reduce the amount of potential interference and offer even more flexibility for developers. It will…