Author: Stephen Fenech

Netgear has just released its latest high definition security camera, the Arlo Q, that links to your home wi-fi network so you can keep an eye – and an ear – on your property. The Arlo Q joins the popular Arlo wire-free battery powered weather proof camera that can be used inside and out. Arlo Q is designed to be used inside only and it also needs to be plugged in to a power point. So with that constant supply of power, there’s no need to conserve the batteries as it would be with the Arlo wire-free cameras, so it…

Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are the best smartphones the company has created and combine sleek design, a range of remarkable features and excellent performance into each device. Unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, the S7 and S7 Edge go on sale in Australia on Friday after enjoying healthy pre-order sales. The world’s number one smartphone maker had found its mojo again after the disappointment of last year’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge which were not waterproof and had no expandable memory. These were the features that endeared customers to the…

Tech Guide Episode 189 is right here, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news, reviews and opinions. On this week’s show, Freeview developing a mobile app to watch any channel anywhere on the go, dealing with the issue of pedestrians distracted by their mobiles, strong pre-sales for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge and the high cost of some virtual reality devices. In the Tech Guide reviews, we talk about the new LG 4K flat OLED TV and the new drones from Parrot – the Bebop 2 – and DJI…

The notion that decent active noise cancelling headphones have to be expensive has been shattered by Philips who has come up with a quality wireless pair for less than $200. Active noise cancelling headphones can set you back up to $500 and they are usually the wired versions. But Philips has come along with a value pair –  the SHB8850NC – which have a comfortable design with soft earpads and a padded headband. There are 32mm neodymium drivers onboard plus a closed-back acoustic design and a soft seal for passive noise cancellation when you put them on. At the press…

There are strict laws for drivers when it comes to smartphone usage but the laws are about to shift to include pedestrians to clamp down on mobile distraction when crossing the road. The Australian Pedestrian Council is looking to double the penalty for people who cross the road without “due care and attention” to $200. The reason they don’t have that “care and attention” is because often they are looking down at their phone or typing instead of looking at the traffic situation around them. According to a new national road safety report there was a 40 per cent increase…

Soon you’ll be able to take all of the free-to-air TV channels anywhere with a new FreeviewPlus mobile app to live stream your favourite shows or catch up on content on your smartphone. Freeview announced a new program of innovation which will kick off with upgrading Freeview Plus to give viewers even more features and functionality which will be rolled out this year. And in a world-first, all of the free-to-air networks will work together to produce the new FreeviewPlus mobile streaming app. “We have an exciting year ahead in free-to-air television and the spirit of progress and collaboration will…

LG’s range of 4K OLED TVs has been a huge hit but the line-up just received a boost with the launch of the impressive EF950T series that has made an already truly excellent TV even better. It is the first flat OLED TV the company has released and the first OLED with HDR (high dynamic range) onboard. OLED (organic light emitting diode) has been LG’s trump card in the competitive TV market with the technology providing a truly stunning picture. Blacker blacks, bright and accurate colours and amazing contrast that adds up to a picture that you have to see…

Parrot has revealed the latest Bebop 2 drone that’s a vast improvement over the original with new features and sensors that will making flying it easier – even if you’re a beginner. The Bebop 2 is 38.2cm wide and 32.8cm long with a robust body and flexible arms and it has an embedded fish eye camera in the nose that’s capable of capturing full high definition video and 14-megapixel images which are stored on the internal 8GB memory. The camera lens has a neutral angle which has been adapted to shoot more ground and less sky. It offers a lot…

Star Wars The Force Awakens will be hitting Blu-ray Disc and DVD in April and Disney has released the list of extra features list which will include a full-length documentary and deleted scenes. The film will be available in Australia from April 1 on Digital HD and on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on April 13. Directed by JJ Abrams, The Force Awakens set box office records in the US and around the world and home viewers will not only be able to see the movie but also a host of extra features including behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes. There is…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 245, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, delivers all the latest tech news and views in a fun yet informative way. On this week’s show, the DJI Phantom 4, Telstra’s bonus online storage for customers and Amaysim adds data to its plans – but there is a catch. Also on the program, rumours about a cheaper iPhone are growing, Telstra’s streaming bonus for NRL and AFL fans, 7-Eleven’s Fuel app and the new Tesla feature that Australian drivers won’t be able to use. In the minute reviews, we take a look…

Samsung has revealed pre-orders for its highly anticipated Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones ahead of their March 11 launch date are the highest ever for a Samsung device. Pre-orders kicked off last week with plans revealed from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile. Tech Guide understands orders for the S7 and S7 Edge are more then double the pre-orders Samsung received last year for the S6 and S6 Edge. One thing that has helped increase pre-order sales was the offer of a bonus Gear VR headset for every customer who reserved their device. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy…

Amaysim has come out swinging and added even more data and international calling to its SIM only plans for customers who already own their smartphone – but there is a catch. The company was trumpeting the fact that users would get even more data – up to 2GB extra – with no lock in contracts as well as unlimited calls from Australia to China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the UK and USA. And while Amaysim clearly stated the new plans would now renew every 28 days instead of 30 days – it didn’t point…

We all like to save money on fuel when we can and 7-Eleven has made that a little easier with a world-first app that lets you search local stores to find best price in your area. The new 7-Eleven Fuel app, available on iOS and Android, gives drivers the ability to check out the 7-Eleven stores near them to find the lowest price. Customers can then lock in that price and then fill up their car within seven days – at that price – at any 7-Eleven store in Australia. The app, which uses a unique algorithm and geo-location technology,…

DJI has unveiled the latest Phantom 4 drone which is packed with new features that make it easier to fly, easier to shoot stunning video and with the intelligence to avoid obstacles and track subjects. The DJI Phantom 4 has had its biggest redesign and now has a sleek look with a shiny exterior and graphite undercarriage. Its new shape makes it even more aerodynamic and it can now handle strong winds and gusts from any direction to maintain its flight path. Also onboard is a new three-axis gimbal to keep the camera stabilised for even smoother shooting. It also…

Episode 188 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is now available so you can stay updated and educated about the latest tech news, reviews and opinions. On this week’s show, the smart, connected and self-driving car of the future, Qantas to roll out free high-speed wi-fi to passengers and Samsung S7 and S7 Edge plans announced. Also on the program, Facebook unveils Reactions and Oppo reveals a battery that can charge your smartphone in just 15 minutes. In the Tech Guide Reviews, we check out the Noke smart Bluetooth lock and take a look at…

If you’re a Telstra customer, you can now take up a generous offer of free additional cloud storage on Microsoft’s OneDrive so you can safely store all of your important files online. Existing Telstra customers with pre-paid and post-paid smartphone plans along with mobile broadband and home broadband accounts will be eligible for 200GB of OneDrive storage – at no extra cost. This additional cloud storage now means users can free up their device’s memory and store their photos, videos and music on OneDrive. And they can be shared with other people and accessed from any device. OneDrive also allows…

The rumours are getting stronger about Apple unveiling a new entry-level iPhone this month to attract a wider range of customers who can’t afford the current iPhone models. The device – reportedly called the iPhone 5SE – is said to have a four-inch screen with an updated metal design that includes the Touch ID fingerprint reader. Apple is said to be planning a launch event for the iPhone 5SE for March 21. According to reports, the iPhone 5SE will have an 8-megapixel camera and will have support for Live Photos but will not have the 3D Touch Display that was…

Noke is a smart Bluetooth padlock that lets you use your smartphone to open it so you don’t have the hassle of carrying keys and remembering combinations to get through your gate, get to your bike or get into your shed. Noke is pronounced “no key” and that’s exactly how it works – there is no key. The Noke padlock has a boron-hardened shackle and is sturdy enough to secure your property and your belongings. And it’s also built to go anywhere and be used in any weather conditions thanks to watertight O-rings that will keep water and mud out…

1986 was a big year in technology and featured a number of new devices, applications and events that paved the way to the products and software we are today 30 years later in 2016. It was a time when companies like Microsoft and Apple were gaining strength and growing its customer base. The personal computer was the hottest new item with the product in the process of moving from the office into the home. In 1986, we saw the Space Shuttle Challenger explode 73 seconds after launch, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, we were keeping an eye out for Halley’s Comet…

Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is all about networks, smartphones and connectivity but another area highlighted this year was the connected car and what that vehicle of the future might look like. Harman was one company showcasing the possibilities of the ultimate car of the future that will not only keep you just as connected as your smartphone but would also drive itself. On the stand at MWC in Barcelona was a self-driving connected concept car that had a large touchscreen and a steering wheel that can alternate between the left side of the car and the right side of…