Author: Stephen Fenech

Dyson is already well known for creating high-quality and efficient vacuum cleaners but it has now gone into the lighting business thanks to a revolutionary new LED desktop task light and floor lamp. The CSYS range includes a desk light, clamp light and floor lamp which has been developed by Jake Dyson, the eldest son of James Dyson. Also introduced was the Dyson Cu-Beam suspended light. As is typical with any Dyson product, the new lighting devices includes new technology and eye-catching design. They include an all-new heat pipe cooling technology to prevent the LED lights from overheating. This cooling…

The Two Blokes Talking Tech have gone to the zoo. Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long are live at Taronga Zoo for Episode 256 for the launch of the 360Fly 4K camera. The blokes were put through the Wild Ropes course at the zoo which was captured on the 360Fly 4K camera. Also on the show, Shippit partners with Harvey Norman for deliveries in as little as three hours, the amazing robotics work being carried in Australia and GT Sport for the car-loving PlayStation 4 users has just been announced. The blokes also discuss the messaging fatigue…

Kogan Mobile has today moved its customers over to Vodafone’s 4G network ahead of the scheduled cut-over and also introduced an all-new SIM only plan with up to 12GB of data. With plans to shift its 3G customers set for June, Kogan Mobile has actually moved even earlier and offered access to Vodafone’s 4G network from today at no extra cost. And to celebrate, Kogan Mobile has also unveiled an even larger pre-paid XL SIM only plan which offers unlimited calls and texts with 11GB of data and 1GB of bonus data for a limited time when pre-paid on a…

When it was released last year, the 360Fly allowed users to film in every direction – at the same time. Now it’s even better with the release of the 360Fly 4K which adds even more resolution and a host of new features. Onboard is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a new image sensor that has nearly four times the resolution of the original HD model at 360-degrees in 4K at 2880 x 2880. But on top of the device’s higher resolution, there are a number of other enhancements. These include: FRONT FACING CAM Also known as first person POV…

Well-known camera manufacturer Olympus has entered the popular action camera market with the new Stylus TG Tracker which can not only record 4K video but also capture data from the five onboard sensors. Just one look at the device and you’ll see it means business with rugged construction as well as being waterproof to a depth of 30m without the need for an external housing. It’s also shockproof from a height of 2.1m, crushproof with up to 100kg of weight on it and also freezeproof and can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius. The Stylus TG-Tracker can shoot…

Express delivery service Shippit has announced a partnership with leading retailer Harvey Norman that means you can get your online order delivered in as little as three hours. When we order something online we want it as quickly as possible and we want to be around when the delivery is being made. That’s a reality with Shippit with this express delivery service offered for small appliances, consumer electronics – including TVs and small goods. This “Uber for deliveries” service offers stores like Harvey Norman the flexibility to offer customers a choice of when and where to receive their purchased products.…

Spotify Australia is four years old and this year has been the best year ever for the popular service with more than 1.8 lifetime’s worth of music streamed in Australia every single day. Spotify has pulled together some interesting stats about our listening habits, our differing music tastes and the most popular Australian and international artists. Since Spotify launched in Australia in 2012, we have streamed the equivalent of 1,626 lifetimes worth of music. And as a result the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced a five per cent revenue growth – the first increase since 2012. Sia was the…

Who says you can’t add a little bit of style to an external hard drive? It certainly wasn’t Seagate. The company has just unveiled a sleek line-up of portable and desktop hard drives. The new consumer products include devices from Seagate and LaCie (which is owned by Seagate) that have been created in collaboration with acclaimed industrial designers like Neil Poulton and the Porsche Design Group. The Seagate hard drives include the BackUp Plus Ultra Slim portable drive and the Innov8 desktop drive. LaCie’s new designer products are the Porsche Design mobile and desktop drives and the stylish Chromé desktop…

We’re celebrating the 200th episode of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, where we’ve kept listeners updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. The first episode of the popular Tech Guide podcast was recorded on June 17, 2012 and since then we’ve built up a loyal audience. Thanks to everyone for their support – and also a special thank you to one of our sponsors Netgear who has been with us since Episode 1. On this week’s show, young Australians suffering message fatigue, the Australian-made headphones that can adapt to the way you…

With so many free instant messaging services like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, it’s become overwhelming for almost half of Australian 18-24 year olds who admit they are suffering message fatigue. In research commissioned by mobile provider Amaysim, 44 per cent of young Australians admitted that the plethora of messaging options, and trying to work out the right communication method for different people and different situations, has caused them considerable stress. According to the study, 73 per cent of 18-24 year-olds have specific ways they communicate with particular people in their lives instead of using the same messaging platform for all.…

Woolworths has partnered with Samsung to unveil a line-up of smartphone plans that are competitive and simple with greater value and including one of Samsung’s latest devices. The plans, which are available in selected stores and online, are available in small, medium and large with 1GB, 3GB and 8GB of data respectively. The small plans have $1000 of calls included while the 3GB and 8GB plans have unlimited calls. All of the plans, which start at $38 a month on a 24-month contract, have unlimited SMS. Customers also have the choice of the latest Samsung Galaxy smartphones including the S7,…

Sony has just released a new HT-RT3 easy-to-set-up home cinema soundbar that can provide 5.1 channel surround sound and make your movie-viewing experience come to life. The HT-RT3 consists of a soundbar, two wireless rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer. It is ideal for customers who want to enjoy a multi-speaker set-up without the need for a complicated set-up and without breaking the bank. Setting up the system takes minutes via colour-coded connections for the front speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. And then it’s a single HDMI connection to your TV and you’re ready to go. There’s also an optical input…

The Fitbit Alta is the company’s best ever fitness band that can be worn 24/7 to count your steps, track your sleep, help count your calories and give you an excellent overview of your activity level. For anyone who wants to get into shape or stay in shape, you need to work out where you’re at with your fitness. The Fitbit Alta is an ideal device to give you an idea of your current activity levels and set your goals. The device has a small easy-to-read screen that comes to life when you lift your wrist or when you give…

It turns out your ears and the way you listen to music are as unique as your fingerprints and an Australian company has created a pair of headphones that can learn and adapt to your hearing. Nura is the new headphone that came through the University of Melbourne’s accelerator program before launching a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $130,000 in 24 hours. The device uses unique soundwave technology to measure your outer ear all the way to your brain to determine the way you hear and adapt your music perfectly for you. There is a wide difference between our…

The latest global smartphone figures have uncovered some interesting brand movements, including Apple’s sharpest ever sales decline and a year on year overall market increase of 3.9 per cent. According to research company Gartner, there were more than 349 million handset sales in the first quarter of 2016 with smartphones making up 78 per cent of total mobile sales. But the news wasn’t good for Apple which saw its first double digit decline year on year with iPhone sales down 14 per cent. Samsung increased its lead over second-placed Apple with 23 per cent market share which Apple slipping from…

Children are the weakest link in a family’s online security and they are also causing the most concern in the online world with the rise in cyberbullying and predators, according to the latest Norton Cyber Security Insights Report. The report showed 52 per cent of parents surveyed thought their children were more likely to be bullied online rather than in a playground while 48 per cent were concerned their kids were giving out too much personal information online. Another fear from parents (46 per cent) is the risk of their child being groomed by an online predator and lured into…

Garmin has just launched an attractive new vivosmart HR+ fitness band which now includes a wrist-based heart rate monitor along with built-in GPS to keep track of all your activities. The device is designed for users who want to get into shape and maintain a level of fitness as well as track their progress. The vivosmart HR+ is a great starting point. It has a slim design and an easy-to-read screen which can display the time, steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed and activity intensity. And with the Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology, the vivosmart HR+ provides 24/7 monitoring…

Laser has released the Navig8r Crash Cam Pro X which is designed to help Australian drivers avoid fines and also provide video evidence in the event of a traffic dispute or accident. The device, which fits on your windscreen, has a high definition 16-megapixel 165-degree camera to capture the road ahead of you and a 2-inch screen on the back to give you a view of your location on a map. On the screen, drivers can see their actual speed – as measured by GPS – along upcoming speed cameras and red light cameras. It even shows Australian school zones…

Episode 255 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, was recorded at the eBay and Myer event at the Museum of Contemporary Art. They announced the world’s first virtual reality department store that allows you to shop using a VR viewing device, your smartphone – and your eyes. Stephen and Trevor were there to try it out. Also on the show, why your 4K TV might not be able to play back 4K discs, Huawei unveils the Mate 8 smartphone and Periscope now works with drones for live video streaming.…

When it comes to powerful suction, it’s hard to match the power and the design of a Dyson vacuum and its new Cinetic Big Ball has raised the bar with numerous improvements and new features. This rolling barrel vacuum is the result of customer feedback and design improvements to deliver the best possible experience. And Dyson has nailed it once again. The problem with a regular barrel vacuum cleaner is they don’t always want to follow you. And when they do they often topple sideways and it just makes your cleaning even harder and more frustrating. That’s not the case…