Author: Stephen Fenech

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,…

Stay updated and educated about the latest and most relevant tech news and reviews with Episode 219 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, you’re not going to believe what an angry customer did inside an Apple Store, ASUS reveals its latest super slim laptops and convertibles and the Game of Thrones novel is re-released in an enhanced digital 20th Anniversary Edition. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Sony Z9D 4K UHD TV and the Dyson line-up of new air purifiers. In the Tech Guide interview,…

English, Maths, History – and Drones. That will soon be a high school student’s subject choices to give them the best chance for their careers to literally take off in a growing industry. Leading drone pilot training company UAVAir is Australia’s only organisations approved by the NSW Department of Industry’s Smart and Skilled program and can provide students with subsidised Certificate III aviation training as part of their Higher School Certificate. That means school leavers would be qualified for a career in an industry that is already being utilised by more than 500 Australian companies. A number of schools have…

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Game of Thrones novel by George R. R. Martin and to celebrate, the worldwide bestseller has been re-released in an enhanced edition exclusively on Apple’s iBook Store. It was the novel that kicked off the Songs of Ice and Fire series that has now become the basis for the hit TV show that is enjoyed by millions of fans around the world. A Game of Thrones Enhanced Edition provides an incredible interactive reading experience to enjoy the story and characters and explore the wondrous world of Westeros like never before. This enhanced content can…

An angry customer who was refused a refund in an Apple Store has proceeded  to destroy numerous iPhones, iPads and a MacBook Air causing more than $50,000 of damage. The French customer is believed to have walked into the Dijon Apple Store and asked for his money back. The fuming customer claimed his European consumer rights had been violated by the refusal before pulling out a steel ball and smashing new iPhones that were displayed on the wooden tables. In French the man is believed to have said: “Apple is a company that ‘violated’ European consumers’ rights. They refused to reimburse…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 271, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, dissect the biggest tech issues and product announcements of the week. On this week’s show, the drone laws have been relaxed but what does this mean, Telstra reveals the most streamed AFL and NRL teams and matches and an NBN survey reveals just how long and where we connect to the internet. Also on the show, Dyson’s new air purifier range and the RagTagd technology that will help reunite schoolchildren with lost items of clothing. In the minute reviews we take a look at…

Sony has just released its latest flagship 4K HDR Ultra High Definition television that incorporates the best of the company’s technology into one impressive product. Sony’s Bravia Z9D is a 65-inch LED TV which has taken a significant step forward with improved black levels, brighter whites and remarkable colours. Not only are you getting the increased 4K UHD resolution – that’s four times more pixels than full high definition – but there’s also HDR (high dynamic range) onboard as well so there is more detail in the darker and lighter areas of the screen. So it shows Sony isn’t just…

New relaxed drone laws which are now in effect have the potential to pose an even greater danger to aircraft according to a commercial airline pilot who experienced a near-miss with an unmanned craft during a flight. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will now allow users to fly drones weighing less than 2kg for commercial purposes without a license. Most of the popular drones on the market today, including the DJI Phantom 4, weigh less than 2kg and can produce cinema quality footage and high-res still images. These new laws are expected to attract even more people to take…

A keyboard and mouse that are both dishwasher safe? That exactly what you get with the latest addition to the Kensington computer accessories range of products. Kensington’s new keyboard and mouse are both water resistant with an IP68 rating so it can not only handle spills and thorough cleaning but it’s also dishwasher proof. New research from the University of San Diego shows work place offices often have a higher level of bacteria than a toilet seat. Regular keyboards catch all kinds of debris between the keys including food crumbs and dust. The Kensington IP68 Dishwasher Keyboard and IP68 Dishwasher…

ASUS has revealed its sophisticated new range of products that include a wafer-thin laptop, a versatile tablet and a handy convertible with all of them designed to appeal to a wide range of customers. ASUS unveiled the ZenBook 3 laptop, Transformer Pro 3 and the ZenBook Flip UX360 which all boast the latest Intel Core processors and USB-C connectivity. The company says each of the products are the result of years of research and development to achieve the svelte form factors while still delivering high performance. ASUS ZENBOOK 3 – from $2,699 The ASUS ZenBook 3 is just 11.9mm thick,…

DJI has fired back in the battle of the drones a week after GoPro revealed Karma with the new Mavic Pro which can be folded down to the size of a bottle of water. The DJI Mavic Pro has four folding arms and propellers that tuck neatly into the side of the drone’s body so it’s compact enough to carry anywhere in a backpack or small bag. When it’s folded up the Mavic Pro is just 19.8cm long, 8.3cm wide and 8.3cm high. But despite its relatively small size it still offers a range of powerful features including a camera…

To stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews tune in to Episode 218 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, just how much time do we spend on the internet according to an NBN study, Samsung partners with Woolworths so you can now do your grocery shopping right from your fridge and which NRL and AFL teams were the most popular on Telstra’s live streams. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out the Panasonic DMP-UB900 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc player and the Apple Watch Series 2. In…

There are lot of micro particles in the air that can make people sick and not only outdoors but also inside our homes so Dyson has turned its engineering expertise to literally clearing the air. Dyson has created intelligent purifiers that can improve the air quality in your home as well as heating or cooling or both and combined that into three new products. These include Dyson Pure Cool Link Tower ($699), the Dyson Pure Cool Link Desk ($549) and the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link ($749). Tests have shown the air inside our homes can be up to…

A prank video showing a man drilling a hole in his iPhone 7 to have some where to fit his headphones has gone viral – and led to some viewers taking the instructions seriously and destroying their new phones. The video, which has had more than 10 million views, was put together by Ukranian Taras Maksimuk – known as TechRax by his 5.1 million YouTube subscribers – and it shows the prankster putting an iPhone 7 in a vice and drilling a 3.5mm hole on the bottom edge. And when he finishes he plugs in his earphones into the newly-created…

Australians love being online. A lot. That’s what one of the most extensive new studies has uncovered and you’ll be surprised how much we like being connected at work, at home, in bed, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the garage, in the backyard and in front of the TV. The Broadband Index commissioned by NBN show we’re spending more time online than ever before. The study surveyed 10,348 Australians across metropolitan, regional and remote areas and included NBN and non-NBN customers. Households connected to the NBN are online for an additional 1.7 hours every day with the biggest…

The long wait to enjoy 4K content on our 4K TVs is over and now we can watch the latest releases on 4K Ultra High Definition discs thanks to a player like the Panasonic DMP-UB900. 4K provides four times the resolution of full high definition that we see with Blu-ray Disc. The Panasonic DMP-UB900 is not the only 4K player on the market – Samsung’s UBD K8500 was released earlier this year for $599. Panasonic’s DMP-UB900 is priced at $1,099 and has plenty of features under the hood to justify its higher price. And with the growing number of new…

It wasn’t just the iPhone 7 that Apple released recently but also the Apple Watch Series 2 as well which has stepped up to the next level in a number of areas to make it even more attractive. Ever since Apple put its considerable weight into the smartwatch category it has caused a rising tide that has lifted all boats. As a result, the smartwatch/fitness wearable category has moved forward significantly. But when the original Apple Watch was released in 2014, there was plenty of attention about what it could do – and what it couldn’t do. As impressive as…

Samsung has partnered with Woolworths in an Australian first to make it possible do your grocery shopping right from a connected smart refrigerator’s screen. And one of those fridges is the new Samsung Family Hub which includes a 21.5-inch LCD touchscreen where you can connect to the internet, write notes for other family members, share calendars and display your digital photos. Also onboard will be the Woolworths app which allows customers to create a shopping list which can be viewed on the fridge’s screen or on a compatible mobile device. Then, when you’re ready, you can go ahead and order…

Alcatel, the third largest smartphone brand by volume in Australia behind Samsung and Apple, has formed a partnership with the world famous Liverpool Football Club. This means Alcatel will become the official smartphone of Liverpool FC in Australia and New Zealand and see a number of marketing activities to take advantage of the popularity of the mighty Reds. Alcatel customers will also be able to enjoy some money-can’t-buy moments involving the iconic team. Liverpool FC is one of the most followed English Premier League clubs in the world and sold out the MCG in 2013 for an exhibition match. The…