Author: Stephen Fenech

Microsoft has unveiled the release date and the pricing for its exciting new Xbox One S console which includes a sleek new design and a huge 2TB of storage space as well. Xbox One S – in stunning white – is actually 40 per cent smaller than the original Xbox One and yet includes a built-in power supply instead of the external power bricks of past consoles. The device will be released on August 2 and priced at $549. Xbox One S will be bundled with the new Xbox Wireless controller which includes a textured grip, improved Xbox Wireless signal…

Panasonic has brought the release of its first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player – the DMP-UB900 – forward and it’s also throwing in a couple of 4K movies to kick off your ultra high definition collection. Originally due to hit stores in September, the DMP-UB900 will now be available from this month from major retailers. The Panasonic 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player will be priced at $1,099. Inside the box, as a special bonus, will be the Village Roadshow 4K titles Creed and Mad Max: Fury Road. The DMP-UB900 has a new 4K-ready engine – the 4K High Precision Chroma…

Lend me your ears for Episode 208 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to stay updated and educated about the latest tech news, reviews and opinions. On this week’s show, Telstra launched a new campaign to rebuild the brand – but is it enough, Linksys launches a new range of high-speed wi-fi products and Android Pay launches in Australia. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the 3SIXT Digital Lightning Buds and the Netatmo Welcome security camera that has facial recognition. In the Tech Guide Interview, we chat with Kevin Mitnick –…

Kevin Mitnick, recognised as one of the most famous hackers in the world, says humans are still the weakest link in the security chain when it comes to gaining access to a company’s network. “It’s much easier to hack a human,” Mitnick told Tech Guide. Mitnick is a leading authority in cyber security and an advisor to make individuals, corporations and governments aware of the online risks. He will be in Australia in August to demonstrate technical vulnerabilities and social engineering. LISTEN TO OUR COMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN MITNICK ON EPISODE 208 OF THE TECH GUIDE PODCAST “Social engineering is…

After seven outages in six months and facing the wrath of thousands customers, Telstra has kicked off a fluffy new TV campaign that’s designed to rebuild the brand to its former greatness. And on the latest Telstra Exchange Blog, written by Joe Pollard Telstra’s group executive of media and marketing, it talks about the “next evolution of Telstra’s brand”. But is this enough for angry Telstra customers to forgive the inconvenience, and in some cases, financial losses suffered during an outage this year? The blog talks about the magic of technology and how the company wants to “create world class…

Driving a car like the iconic Ford Mustang certainly turns a lot of heads. And when it’s race red and also a convertible we found out it stands out on the road even more. In fact, after a lunch I was walking back to the car where it was parked in The Rocks and, as I approached, I saw a woman taking a selfie with the car. When I unlocked the car with the remote from a distance, she was startled and ran off. That is just part of the life of being a Mustang owner. The legendary American pony…

One of the biggest rumours about the next iPhone is that it won’t have a headphone jack. Headphones and earphones, if they don’t have Bluetooth, will only be able to connect through the device’s Lightning port. It’s a bold move but a company like Apple has the courage to do it. We suspect headphones jacks will disappear from other smartphones in 2017 as well. There are already a number of headphones in the market with Lightning connections including the new 3SIXT Digital Lightning Buds. They have a flat tangle-free cable and a responsive inline controller that allows you to control…

There are plenty of security cameras on the market but the Netatmo Welcome has a point of difference by adding face recognition to the system to make it even more intelligent. The Netatmo Welcome camera is a golden cylindrical anodised device made of aluminium – the same form factor as the Netatmo Weather Station – and should be positioned in view of your front door. Initial set up involves linking the device to your wireless network before positioning it where it can easily see people as they enter your home. Unfortunately, it can’t be wall mounted which means it has…

Nintendo fans – the ones that aren’t out playing Pokemon Go – will be able to relive their favourite childhood games with the Classic Mini when it is launched later this year. The Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is a smaller replica of the company’s original home console that introduced a generation to such classic games as Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and the Legend of Zelda. It will be launched on November 10 for $99.95. The unit can be plugged directly into a high definition TV using the included HDMI cable so you can play the 30…

ANZ was the first major Australian bank to offer Apple Pay, now it has also become the first to offer Android Pay to allow customers to easily make payments with their Android smartphones. Now ANZ customers with a VISA credit or debit card and an Android device can now make payments wherever a contactless terminal is located. Other banks that are due to come onboard includes Macquarie Bank, Bank of Melbourne ING Direct, St George Bank and Sydney Credit Union. See the full list of banks here. Android Pay will work now with VISA and soon with MasterCard. Android Pay…

Linksys has raised the bar in home wireless connectivity with the release of its latest family of 802.11ac products that boast a number of world firsts for a faster and more robust connection in your home. The trio of products include the EA9500 – the first tri-band router that’s capable of up to eight MU-MIMO (Multiple User-Multiple Input, Multiple Output), the RE7000 MU-MIMO Range Extender – the first with seamless roaming, and the WUSB6100M – the world’s first MU-MIMO USB adaptor. They are all available from leading retailers and online from today. These products are the first to feature the…

The Pokemon Go app has literally become an overnight sensation and combines GPS with augmented reality but with its sudden popularity there are also some dangers users should be aware of. From using excess data, exposing your data, becoming the victim of a cyber criminal and putting yourself in physical danger. Here are some of the things you need to know to stay safe while hunting creatures with the Pokemon Go app. DOWNLOAD THE RIGHT VERSION Would you believe there is already a trojanised version of the app that can provide a back door into your device and expose your…

LG’s latest addition to its CordZero vacuum range has arrived – it’s the Roboking and can be controlled with your smartphone to not only keep your home clean but also monitor it through the device’s built-in cameras. The Roboking robotic vacuums are set and forget devices that sweep your floors and vacuum your carpet even if you’re not there. The Roboking Turbo + Homeview is the top-of-the-line model of the three products in the range and includes three cameras to improve its navigation of the rooms of your home. The upper camera creates a map of your house so the…

Boost Mobile has responded to the demands of pre-paid customers who want more data included in their plans with a range of new offers that will easily meet their smartphone needs. The new Boost UNLTD+ plans now offer the largest total data allowance of any pre-paid plan in Australia. They are priced at $25 (1.5GB data), $40 (5GB data) and $50 (7GB data) over a 28-day period and, with the $40 and $50 recharges, include unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers and mobile along with international numbers dialed from Australia to Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand,…

It’s time to tune in to Episode 207 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Telstra hits back at Choice’s report on claims customers are being slugged with a “Telstra Tax”, Pokemon Go sweeps the world and LG partners with Volkswagen to create a connected smart car platform. In the Tech Guide reviews, the Huawei P9 smartphone with a dual-lens camera, the smart trampoline that combines screen time with exercise and the Logitech K780 multi-device wireless keyboard. In the Tech…

Just how good could a $119 smartphone be? The answer is surprisingly good when you’re talking about the new Alcatel Pop 4 – a device that offers plenty of features and incredible value. The Pop 4 – available from Optus now – has a 5-inch high definition screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 along with a 1.1Ghz quad core processor and the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. Design-wise, the Pop 4 is thin (7.99mm) and light (134G) with a gently curved textured rear panel that rests nicely in your hand. Don’t forget, this is a $119 smartphone…

Not everyone can afford a high-end smartphone and that’s created some competition at the entry and mid-level of the market. The latest is LG’s K10 which has a number of impressive features and a slick design. The LG K10, priced at $299 and available now from JB Hi-Fi and Big W, has a 5.3-inch high definition (720 x 1280) display that’s covered by the new 2.5D Arc Glass. The rear panel of the device has a glossy pebble design so it has a premium look and feel without the premium price tag. On the camera side, there’s a quality 13-megapixel…

Telstra hasn’t had the happiest of years after seven major outages in six months and now it has come under attack from consumer crusaders Choice who claims customers are being slugged with higher prices being called a “Telstra Tax”. Choice analysed 280 telco products to find out how much more Telstra customers were being charged when compared to rival telcos offering identical services. After this study 53 like-for-like services were found with Telstra products attracting between a 6 per cent and 92 per cent price premium. “There’s only so much free data Telstra can offer before they have to admit…

If you haven’t already noticed, there’s a bit of craze happening with a new app called Pokemon Go that has users hitting the streets in droves as they try and find their favourite monsters. The free app, developed Niantic on behalf of Nintendo, is available for iPhones and Android device has gone viral. Just a day after its July 6 release, the app was installed on 5.16 per cent of all Android phones in the US and now has more daily users than Twitter. It uses a combination of GPS and augmented reality that turns your surroundings into an animated…

There are plenty of smartphones on the market and the big point of difference for most is the quality of the camera. Huawei’s new P9 stand out from the crowd with not one, but two cameras on the device. The Chinese company has cleverly partnered with Leica – a company with more than 100 years of experience in photography – to create the impressive dual lens camera on the P9. It is fair to say that smartphones are judged by customers more on the merits of the camera than on their ability to make phones calls and connect to the…