Author: Stephen Fenech

Microsoft has transformed the computer and the way we use it with the new wearable Hololens – a self-contained holographic computer that provides incredible experiences. The Microsoft Hololens is now available to pre-order and will ship to customers in Australia and New Zealand in November. The device, which is a fully-fledged PC running Windows 10, can be worn comfortably on your head and the lenses in front of your eyes allow you to view and interact with holographic images while still seeing the world around you. This mixed-reality solution can be used in a variety of ways across a number…

Apple Store employees have been sacked after accessing personal images from customer iPhones but the company has found no evidence they were shared with fellow staff members to rank out of 10. The Courier Mail reported four male staff members at the Carindale Store in Brisbane were dismissed after looking through the private photos on customer devices. The alleged incident was uncovered after an Apple Store staff member noticed a technician looking through a customer’s personal images in a repair room. But Apple has responded to the allegations that these images were shared and that others were taken of staff members and female customers to circulate to fellow employees. “Based on our investigation…

Samsung’s decision to end the production of the embattled Galaxy Note7 was a brave one. It is foreign territory for the company which, until now, has been used to success. But where does it go from here? The birth and death of the Galaxy Note7 after such a short time has never seen before in the smartphone industry. First of all, this was Samsung, the global market leader, and secondly, it was the Galaxy Note7 – the company’s new flagship device that it was proclaiming at launch as the best mobile device it had ever made. And we agreed in our…

We’ve entered an all-new era of console gaming with the release of Sony’s highly-anticipated PlayStation VR headset which takes players to the next level of immersion and enjoyment. The world of virtual reality is here and, when you combine that with gaming, you’ve got an experience that will truly carry you away. We will look back on the release of the PlayStation VR as the time when gaming underwent one of the biggest changes the industry has ever seen. But PlayStation VR is only as good as the games that are powering it and the great news is there is…

Smartphones have become a part of our workouts to track our progress and supply the music but the devices can be hard to carry around so PocJox has come up with an interesting solution. PocJox is compression activewear for men and women that have a specially designed dual-pocket system to fit your smartphone. This hands-free solution can also extend to keeping your keys, money and credit cards safely tucked away while you’re exercising. We literally took the PocJox half-shorts for a road test and we were able to carry our iPhone 7 Plus in the deeper pocket and some change…

The Galaxy Note7 is dead. Samsung has taken the unprecedented step of ceasing production on the embattled product after two recalls and reports of battery fires and explosions. The company said it will permanently end production after reports surfaced of replacement devices deemed safe by Samsung were overheating and catching fire. “For the benefit of consumers’ safety, we stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 and have consequently decided to stop production.” the Samsung Australia statement said. Richard Fink, Vice President IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Australia said today: “The safety of our customers is our first priority, which is why…

Samsung has issued a second recall of the Galaxy Note7 smartphone in as many months while the company investigates the latest incidents with the troubled device. Loyal customers who opted for a replacement of their Note7 device instead of a refund have now been asked to return the unit for a second time. Samsung has already instructed telco partners and retailers to stop selling the device until further notice. Customers who still have the original or replacement Galaxy Note7 have been asked to power down the devices and stop using them. Samsung says customers can request a refund or a…

Episode 220 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is now available to keep you updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Samsung in crisis again after replacement Galaxy Note7 devices deemed safe catch fire in the US, Freeview to launch new app so you can watch free-to-air TV anywhere and Google unveils its new Pixel smartphones. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a listen to the Samsung Dolby Atmos soundbar, the iPocket Drive for iPhone and iPad and the Fitbit Charge 2 activity tracker. In the Tech…

Not everyone can afford a $1000 smartphone. Some can’t afford a $500 smartphone. So what are the options for customers who to spend less than $400 on a mobile device? The Australian market is second in the world to South Korea in terms of percentage of smartphone ownership. A large part of the market is in the entry and mid tiers and companies are responding with more affordable handsets to attract customers in these segments. Samsung and Apple are the number one and two brands respectively in the smartphone market. Number three in Australia by volume is Alcatel on the…

The replacement program for Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 in Australia has been put on hold after reports of replacement devices, deemed safe by the company in the US, catching fire. As a result of these incidents – there have been five thus far and all in the US – Samsung Australia has decided to halt supply of replacements to its telco partners and retailers. Samsung is now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of these latest issues. In early September, Samsung issued a recall of the flagship Galaxy Note7 smartphone after confirming a battery cell issue which caused some…

Freeview today announced it will be releasing a world-first app in Australia next month to allow users to stream live free-to-air TV channels anywhere on their mobile devices. Freeview FV – available for free on iOS and Android in November – will be able to extend the television viewing experience outside the home. There will be more than 15 free-to-air channels available as well as catch-up content from all the networks within the same app. Users can also browse and search for programs, view a FTA TV guide and also see recommendations. “For the first time globally, an FTA industry…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 272, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, cuts through all the noise to deliver insights into the biggest tech stories and products of the week. On this week’s show, Presto is closing down while Foxtel Play is being revamped – what does it mean for the viewers, Google releases the Pixel smartphones – but have they overpriced it and Fox Vision releases an augmented reality app for the Bathurst 1000. Virtual reality is being used in real estate and Facebook MarketPlace kicks off while, in the minute reviews, we check out…

Tap and Go and PayWave technology are popular, fast and convenient ways of paying for things but it has also opened the door for criminals to steal your credit card information. These crooks are using skimming devices to scan and steal your credit and debit card and even passport information. Alarmingly this theft is incredibly fast and easy and can be achieved up to 20m away from the victim. And the frightening this is you don’t even know it’s happening. https://youtu.be/L3_XYhKFZQg Not only can this result in your accounts being cleaned out but the thief also has 100 points of ID…

Samsung has created a way to enjoy your movies at home like never before with its HW-K950 Dolby Atmos soundbar to deliver three dimensional sound and take your experience to another level. Audio quality can add so much more to your enjoyment of a movie and Dolby Atmos is the latest standard to provide not only directional sound but also sound from above you as well. Dolby Atmos (Atmos being short for atmosphere) can require an elaborate set-up with a receiver and speakers placed around the room and even in the ceiling. But with the HW-K950 soundbar, Samsung has taken…

Transferring your favourite content to your iPhone or iPad takes a bit of work but the new iPocket Drive makes it a lot easier while freeing up space on the device at the same time. iPocket Drive lives up to its name and is small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s a USB drive for your iOS device that’s just 51.8mm long, 30.6mm wide and 9.8mm thick. At one end is a regular USB 2.0 connection and on the other is a Lightning plug to plug in to your iPhone or iPad. Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities,…

To reach any level of fitness you need to know where you’re starting from and have a way to measure your progress. That’s where a device like Fitbit’s Charge 2 comes into play. Now we should stress that simply wearing the Fitbit Charge 2 isn’t going to get you fit in the same way that buying a scale isn’t going to help you lose weight. You still have to move and you still have to exercise. What the Fitbit Charge 2 will do is count everything you do – steps, calories burned, distance travelled and even the flights of steps…

Ultimate Ears speakers offer great audio quality and are also meant to be used socially but a brand new app feature has made it even easier connect more speakers together. With the addition of the PartyUp feature within the UE app, the collection of Bluetooth speakers including the UE Boom, the UE Boom 2 and the US MegaBoom can all be linked to play as one and take your music to an all-new level. PartyUp now lets users connects more than 50 Ultimate Ears speakers together for concert strength sound. Now you can invite all of your friends and tell…

Property buyers will be able to take a virtual walk through homes on the market after realestate.com.au unveiled a virtual reality property app that’s coming soon to Android devices. realestateVR will allow users to take a virtual reality tour through the property from anywhere using their VR headset to inspect the home like never before. realestate.com.au will offer selected properties to view in virtual reality and give potential buyers a real sense of the layout. This new technology will help agents in their efforts to make their properties stand out in the crowded real estate market. “As technology continues…

Google is taking the smartphone battle right to Apple’s doorstep with its new Pixel and Pixel XL devices which looks a lot like the recently released iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Pixel is the first smartphone that Google has designed both inside and out and it contains a number of features the company claims to be industry best. The Pixel smartphones will be available on October 20 through Telstra, for outright purchase at JB Hi-Fi or online at Google. Pre-orders start today. The Pixel and Pixel XL have a 5-inch and 5.5-inch displays respectively that are covered in tough…

Subscription video on demand service Presto is shutting down. But Foxtel – one of the Presto partners – will be relaunching its Foxtel Play streaming service to offer viewers easier access to exclusive content and live sports. Foxtel and Seven West Media – the partners in the Presto joint venture – announced the service will cease on January 31, 2017. Current Presto subscribers will be invited to move to the revamped Foxtel Play service from December 1, 2016. “It has been great working with the team at Seven on Presto and we look forward to future collaborations,” said Peter Tonagh,…