Author: Stephen Fenech

With summer almost here, we’ll be heading to the beach but there are many dangers we can’t see – until now. Samsung has released a new app called Pocket Patrol that could save your life. Pocket Patrol, available from the Google Play Store, uses augmented reality to make it possible for swimmers to see exactly where the rip currents are located. When looking through the Android device’s camera and panning it along the beach, Pocket Patrol places symbols above the trouble spots like rips, submerged rocks, shallow sandbanks and stingers. So you can see what a trained surf lifesaver can…

You’ve just bought an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus but you also want to protect your investment. To do that you’ll need a case that not only adds a bit of colour but also keeps it safe. One of the worst things you’ll hear is the sound of your iPhone hitting the ground and that crunch is even worse if you don’t have a case on it. Not only will you have scratches but there’s also a chance you’ll have a cracked screen. Here is the biggest round up of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus cases. There are…

Nespresso has released a new machine that makes it even easier to create a barista-style coffee right down to the size, strength, temperature and milk texture to suit your taste. Creatista from Nespresso, made in partnership with Breville, comes in two models and offers coffee lovers even more control but without requiring the skills of an experienced barista to achieve a café-standard brew. Nespresso’s Creatista uses the well-known pod coffee system but also adds an automatic steam wand to heat up and texture the milk. And it’s all contained in an appliance that has a remarkably small footprint – much…

It’s Episode 274 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, that takes a look at the most important tech products and issues. On this week’s show, the blokes share their thoughts on the new Google Pixel smartphone, the Sony Xperia XZ and the state of the premium phone market. Also on the show, Vodafone to enter the fixed broadband market, PlayStation VR, Kogan Mobile’s enticing new offer and the Kodak Moments app. In the minute reviews we take a look at the Samsung CF591 27-inch curved monitor and the iPocket…

We take a lot of photos but we don’t print many of them but Kodak has stepped in with a new app that helps users take, store, share and order prints of your favourite images. Within the Kodak Moments App is a community of users who can share their photographs within the ecosystem which is like a mini version of Instagram. And those images can be uploaded in their full resolution and stored at that quality in the cloud. Users can add text and quotes and also choose a layout to tell their story before sharing. You can invite family…

Apple has confirmed it will be holding a special launch event at its Cupertino headquarters next week to launch what is expected to be updates to the company’s Mac computers. The event will be held On October 27 at 10am (US time) which will be 4am Thursday October 28 (Australian Eastern Summer Time). Apple will stream the event live through its website and on Apple TV. The invitation read simply “hello again” below an obscured Apple logo. The launch will reportedly be centered on a refresh of the MacBook Pro – the first upgrade and redesign since 2012. The new…

The humble doorbell is now smarter than ever before with Ring – the new device that can tell you who’s at your door no matter where you are – whether it’s upstairs or interstate. Ring is a connected doorbell and camera that connect to your home’s wireless network. When someone rings the doorbell, you get a notification on your smartphone through the Ring companion app. From here you can talk to the person at your door whether you’re sitting comfortably inside or even when you’re out. Now you don’t have to wait at home for that delivery. With Ring you…

Sony’s latest smartphone – the Xperia XZ – offers a quality experience for users with a refreshed water resistant design, an advanced camera and a smart battery that can adapt to your charging habits. Available from Telstra on a plans or outright from Sony for $999, the Xperia XZ is the company’s latest flagship device and continues the tradition of the company pouring its best technology into one product. The result is a refined smartphone that Sony hopes will compete in the top grade against the likes of Google, Apple and Samsung. DESIGN Sony has stuck with the monolith design…

Kogan Mobile is celebrating the first anniversary of its partnership with the Vodafone network with an offer to entice new customers to the 4G pre-paid SIM only mobile service. This offer is for new customers only and the discounted price will apply for the first 30 days before reverting to the regular price for as long as the user decides to stay with the service. That introductory price for the 12GB plan, which includes unlimited calls and texts, is just $4.90 for 30 days. The next 30 days and subsequent pre-paid billing periods will be at regular price of $49.90.…

Mobile operator Vodafone will offer fixed broadband connectivity for consumer and enterprise customers when it launches its new service across Australia in 2017. The fixed broadband service will be delivered as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN). It was announced by Vodafone CEO Inaki Berroeta who says customers are hungry for data to stream content and stay connected between their home connections and mobile devices. “Not only are Australians consuming more and more data, they are increasingly using mobile and fixed broadband interchangeably. Consumers are converged, but the telco market isn’t and we want to change this,” Berroeta says.…

The Pixel smartphone isn’t Google’s first smartphone but it is certainly the best Google has produced and a worthy competitor for the smartphones in the top tier of the market. There are two Pixel phones in the family – the Pixel with a 5-inch display and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch screen. Tech Guide had the latter for this review and, apart from the screen size, the smartphones are basically the same in terms of features and camera quality. People we spoke to about the Google Pixel thought it was the first phone Google had produced – that was…

Independence Day: Resurgence – the long-awaited sequel to blockbuster hit Independence Day, has landed on 4K UHD, 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital packed with extra features and deleted scenes. The film is set 20 years after mankind was nearly wiped out in the “Battle of 96”. Earth has adopted the alien technology that was left behind and also set up a massive defense system – just in case they come back. David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), the brilliant scientist that saved the world in the original Independence Day film, is back again as the head of Earth’s defense. Other returning characters…

Samsung has set up service points at airports around Australia to collect recalled Galaxy Note7 smartphones after all airlines unanimously banned the device from being brought onboard. Airlines have prohibited passengers bringing the Galaxy Note7 onto domestic and international flights in both carry-on and checked luggage. This ban does not include any other Samsung devices. To make it easier for passengers who may still have a Note7 in their possession, Samsung has created airport service points before security screening areas so they can swap it for an alternative device. The service area will be open from 6am to 6pm at…

Episode 221 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, this this week brings you all the latest tech news and reviews along with a touch of Hollywood. On this week’s show, Apple rumoured to be releasing the updated MacBook Pro, Microsoft’s Hololens is now available to pre-order and the latest craze that’s taking over the internet – no-hands selfies. In the Tech Guide Reviews we check out the Samsung CF591 27-inch curved monitor and the PlayStation VR and launch games. In the Tech Guide Interview we chat with Roland Emmerich – director of Independence Day and…

LG has revealed its latest premium smartphone – the V20 – which includes high-end multimedia capabilities to create top quality video and audio content anywhere. The LG V20 has a 5.7-inch quad HD IPS Quantum display with resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 513ppi (pixels per inch) and will be running Android’s latest 7.0 Nougat operating system. It is made of lightweight aluminium alloy so it combines strength and style. It is 159.7mm long, 78.1mm wide and just 7.6mm thick. The device has two rear cameras – a 16-megapixel lens with f/1.8 aperture and OIS (optical image stabilisation) and an…

Monitors are going down the same path as smart TVs with curved designs. Samsung, a company that’s been curving its TVs for years now, has applied those smarts to the CF591 27-inch curved full high definition LED monitor. There’s nothing to say that your computer monitor has to be flat. Samsung’s CF591 is just one of a range of curved monitors that are designed to immerse you even further into whatever you’re doing whether it’s work, playing a game or watching a movie. On the design side, the CF591 has a virtually no existent bezel so all you see is…

There’s been a lot of noise about a new MacBook Pro that Apple is reportedly releasing before the end of the year but that could possibly land as soon as next week. If you’re thinking about buying a new MacBook Pro, our advice would be to wait a week or two. The MacBook Pro design has not changed for a number of years but that’s all about to change with the latest model which will definitely have a new thinner look. Apple is already pretty good at making thin laptops with the MacBook Air and the more recent MacBook. And…

A new and dangerous craze is sweeping the internet – the no-hands selfie. This involves throwing your phone into the air and timing it so it takes a photo of you while in mid-air. And if you really want to challenge yourself – try and clap your hands while the device is in mid-air. The best way to achieve this is by using the shutter timer when the phone’s camera is in selfie mode so you need to time the whole thing. Hopefully it will result in a picture of you high fiving yourself. Seth Schneider achieved what many thought…

OK, you’ve got yourself a PlayStation VR – or you have plans to buy one to plug into your PS4. So what are the games you should be playing? We’ve taken a look at what’s on offer? There are a number of games in various genres that have all been transformed to put you in the middle of the action – like you’re a part of the game. And that’s the whole idea of PlayStation VR – gaming like you’ve never experienced before. The PlayStation VR can only be as good as the games you’re playing on it. Luckily there…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 273, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, brings you a fun yet informative look at the latest tech issues and products. On this week’s show – a special Phone Zone edition – we talk about the saga of the Samsung Galaxy Note7 which was pulled from production. The blokes talk about what Samsung needs to do next and what other products are available as an alternative to the Note7. Also on the show are the new Sony Xperia XZ smartphones, Motorola’s new Z and X Play devices and the best phones…