Author: Stephen Fenech

Tech Guide has spoken exclusively with Coby Persin – the prankster whose video showing how easy it is to lure underage girls on Facebook went viral and was watched more than 30 million times. We caught up with Persin, in New York as he was struggling to cope with his new-found fame and his media commitments since his YouTube video exploded a few days ago. Persin has been making prank videos for some time and he has more than a million subscribers on YouTube. But it’s his most recent video – the Dangers of Social Media (Child Predator Social Experiment)…

Star Wars fans – the Force is strong with this eye-catching product – an original trilogy lamp with a drawing of the film’s characters and vehicles by renowned Star Wars artists Steve Anderson and supported by three lightsabers. Officially licenced by Lucasfilm and available in a limited edition exclusively from Bradford Exchange, the Star Wars original lamp is 46cm tall. It has a custom made barrel lampshade with a picture that includes Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia that rests on a hand-sculpted base. The base also features the Star Wars logo on a silver plaque. And the…

Samsung has teased its latest Gear S2 smartwatch at the launch of the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note5 smartphones with a sizzle video ahead of the new device’s official unveiling at the IFA tech show in Berlin early next month. As Samsung was wrapping up the launch at the Lincoln Center in New York, Allana Cotton, Samsung vice president for product marketing, took the stage for the last time for one final reveal. From the teaser video which was shown, we were given a glimpse at the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch’s design. It has a circular touchscreen with no other…

The first word that comes to mind when you’re using the Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Note5 is power. The new devices have raised the bar for smartphones in terms of design and performance. Tech Guide was in New York for the launch of the S6 edge+ and Note5 smartphones and we had a chance to get up close to the devices for a hands-on review. Samsung has adopted a “go big or go home” attitude with these devices. With Apple’s launch of its latest iPhones rumoured to be less less than a month away, Samsung needed a…

Samsung has upped the ante in the smartphone market with the launch of its two most powerful devices ever – the Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Galaxy Note5 – which were unveiled at a global launch in New York City. Each device, expected to be released in Australia before the end of August, is as much about design as it about power and functionality. The timing of the event held at the Lincoln Center was also significant for Samsung as it gets in ahead of a rumoured Apple event on September 9 which will see the introduction of the new…

Tune in to the international edition of Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 221, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, for a fun and informative look at the latest tech news and products. On this week’s show, Stephen is in New York for the Samsung Unpacked event where two new smartphones will be released. Also on the show, Optus Wi-Fi calling, the latest iPhone leaks and rumours, Laser battery for to charge your devices and jump start your car, the Buddy smart dog collar  and the high tech Volvo XC90 luxury SUV. In the minute reviews we…

If you love movies and also love getting a great deal, then you have to check out the Movie of the Day app from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment which offers a digital high definition movie each day priced at up to 75 per cent off. The app is available now for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users and it offers the chance to add to your iTunes movie library every day. Movie fans can get a great deal on some of the biggest movies of all time including Die Hard, Alien, Planet of the Apes, The Sound of Music,…

Optus has introduced a new way for its phone customers to stay in touch with the launch of a new app that enables users to make and receive calls and text messages over a wi-fi connection. WiFi Talk makes it possible for users to stay in touch as long as they are connected to a wireless network. This is suitable when cellular coverage is limited indoors whether you’re at home, in your office or in a shopping centre. And, unlike some other apps, WiFi Talk lets customers still use their existing Optus mobile number. WiFi Talk users can use a…

Tune in to Episode 160 0f Tech Guide, the top-rating podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech that’s designed to keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and the latest products. On this week’s show, ransomware malware could target smartwatches, Telstra creates a dedicated area for wearables in their stores and Facebook takes on eBay with its new Buy and Sell section. In the Tech Guide, reviews we take a look at the Zagg foldable pocket keyboard, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse and the Swann DriveEye Ultra in-car dash cam. In the Tech Guide Help Desk…

Your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus already have great cameras to capture excellent quality images but now there is a product called the OlloClip that can make them even better and more versatile. The OlloClip Active Lens ($154.95) has two lenses (2x zoom and ultra wide) and is designed to slip over the top of the iPhone and rest over either the front or rear camera. And each of the products come with inserts to ensure a perfect fit whether you’re using an iPhone 6 or an iPhone 6 Plus. The OlloClip 4-in-1 lens ($154.95) – ultra wide, fish…

Laser has just released a versatile new 12,000mAh battery pack with enough power to not only recharge all of your mobile devices but also with enough punch to jump start your car if it has a flat battery. The Laser PB-CJ12000 Portable Power Bank and Car Jump Starter weighs in at just 400g and is small enough to fit into a small carry case complete with car jumper cables. The lithium battery also comes with a multi-tip cable so it can recharge smartphones and tablets and any other USB-powered device so you’ll never be short of power in the go.…

Since it was formed in 1927, Volvo has always been a car company that was known for its leadership in safety, design and innovation and that legacy has continued with the XC90 luxury SUV (sports utility vehicle). The seven seat vehicle has a head-turning look with a premium interior finish and a new range of technologies and leading safety features. Volvo is calling the XC90 the world’s safest SUV with two world-first safety features – the run-off road protection and the auto brake at intersection capability. The Swedish car maker has gone as far to say that by 2020 no…

Ransomware – the threat that can lock your computer and its files until you pay the hacker to release them – looks set to spread to our smartwatches, according to security experts. Cyber criminals are always on the lookout for new opportunities and, according to research from security company Symantec, the smartwatch could be the new frontier. Other things that could be targeted are other wearable devices and the connected Internet of Things products that are used in a smart home. The increased interest in smartwatches has captured the attention not only from customers but also from hackers. https://youtu.be/shn3OM0hwwM There…

Our smartphones are quite capable computing devices but they’re not designed for us to type out long emails and documents unless you have a product like the Zagg Pocket Keyboard. The Bluetooth keyboard folds up into a compact size that’s small enough to fit into a jacket pocket or bag. When it’s folded the device measures 22.35cm long, 5.4cm wide and 1.45cm thick. It weighs just 194g. And when it’s unfolded the Pocket Keyboard is 85 per cent the size of a full size keyboard. It has good size keys that are big enough for comfortable typing so you can…

Logitech knows everything about making a great computer mouse and they’ve taken all of that knowledge and all of those features and packed them into the MX Anywhere 2 – a smaller device you can take anywhere. For those who like using a mouse when they are out and about like us, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 brings desktop control when you’re using your laptop. The device uses Darkfield laser tracking which means the mouse can be used on just about any surface including glass and high-gloss surfaces that usually bamboozle other models. It’s small enough to fit in the…

Wearables have become such a popular part of consumer technology, Telstra has decided to create a dedicated area in its stores for the many devices now available in the popular and growing market. Telstra is the first Australian telco to offer this option in its 370 stores across Australia. Australians have truly embraced wearables that can track our activities, our sleep, calories burned and the distance we’ve travelled. Now customers visiting Telstra stores can see them all in one place and compare all of the features and prices side by side. The range include devices from leading brands including Samsung,…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 220, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, wraps up the week’s biggest tech news and product releases in a fun yet informative way. This week’s show was recorded live at the Text100 Christmas in August event where companies were displaying current products and also showcasing upcoming devices in the run up to Christmas. On the program, Facebook takes on eBay with a new Buy and Sell section, Optus streamlines their data sharing options between plans and Telstra offers 12 months free Apple Music. Also on the agenda Skylanders unveils a new…

If you’ve got something to sell now you’ve got another option other than eBay. Facebook is now taking on the popular online auction site to help users sell their unwanted items on the huge social media site. Facebook users, take a look on the left side if the site and you will notice a new section called Buy and Sell. Here Facebook members can list their items for sale free of charge and take advantage of finding a buyer from the the social network’s huge audience. The listings are easy to create – it’s just like sharing a set of…

If you like your music and you’re a Telstra customer there’s some good news. Telstra will shout you a 12-month subscription to the new Apple Music service to give you unlimited access to more than 30 million tracks. The offer is only available to Telstra post-paid customers using an iPhone on a 12 or 24-month Go Mobile Plan This is a saving of $143.88 or actually $107.91 if you take in to account that Apple Music offers a free three-month trial for new sign ups. At the end of the 12-month offer, a monthly $11.99 membership will be billed to…

If you have a car accident it’s just your word against the other driver in determining who’s at fault. But using a dash cam like the Swann DriveEye Ultra Portable HD Video Recorder can change all of that. Recording from dash cams are admissible in court and are also accepted by police for use in accident investigations. The Swann device attaches to your windscreen like a portable GPS device. But unlike a GPS, it’s quite small – 6.3cm wide, 5cm long and 1.9cm thick – and won’t block your view of the road. It can be positioned just below your…