Author: Stephen Fenech

Actor and gadget lover Greg Grunberg from Star Wars The Force Awakens and Heroes, is our special guest in Episode 185 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. We ran into Grunberg at the Consumer Electronics Show – he made an appearance at the Sphero stand where they were demonstrating the hugely popular BB8 toy and Force Band. And he promised to come on the Tech Guide podcast – and he is a man of his word. In our chat we talk about his pivotal role in Star Wars The Force Awakens, what it was like…

Cash by Optus is an easy way to access your money with compatible smartphone instead of carrying cold hard cash but today it got even easier with new a sticker and wristband payment accessories. Customers have a mobile payment solution using an Android smartphone with a Cash by Optus SIM card onboard and the companion app. Users simply link the app to their bank account and then use their NFC (near field communications) enabled device with Paywave terminals to make payments of up to $100. But now, with the introduction of the new sticker and wristband, those payment options just…

Many of us spend most of the day in front of a computer with a mouse that can cause wrist pain and discomfort from moving it back and forth across the desk. The innovative alternative is to use a trackball instead. Tech Guide decided to take the challenge and replace our mouse with a trackball. For our review we used two trackballs from Kensington – the Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball ($149.95) and the SlimBlade Trackball ($159.95) Each has a snooker ball-sized trackball inside which is used to move the cursor around the screen and it is surrounded by four programmable…

To celebrate the release of the hit film The Martian, a replica of the HAB occupied by Matt Damon’ character Mark Watney as he fights for survival on Mars will be located at Circular Quay in Sydney from Monday. And inside the HAB for five days will be Australia’s Mars One candidate, ex-army soldier and comedian Josh Richards. Richard will be completing challenges all week while Australia watches live at Circular Quay or through a live web stream at www.bringhimhome.com.au The Martian tells the story of Mark Watney (Damon) who is stranded on Mars and must use all of his…

Fitbit has unveiled the Alta – an activity band with a new look and feel along with a larger screen and a number of additional features designed to keep you moving and keep you motivated. Fitbit is one of the leaders in the fitness tracker category and the Fitbit Alba is the latest in its popular line of products. It has slim look and a satin finish with the tracker module made of stainless steel. Users can even change the bands to match what you’re wearing or suit what you’re doing with a number of choices of colours and materials…

Twitter has opened up its brand new Australian offices this week and Tech Guide was given a guided tour through the space in the Sydney CBD which was designed to have a distinct Australian feel. NSW Premier Mike Baird officially opened the Twitter Australia offices in a ceremony today. The lobby and waiting area is decked out with sandstone floors and louvres that gives it the look of a beach house. Even the meetings rooms are named after beaches like Bondi, Coogee and Tamarama. The views out of the Park St building are breathtaking with the beaches to the east,…

If you want to get the latest tech news and reviews in a fun and informative way, then tune in to Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 241 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long. On this week’s show, Vodafone’s new global roaming deal and the rewards the telcos are offering to attract customers and Apple’s wall plug adaptor recall and how the company is viewed by customers and analysts. The blokes also talk about the Qwerkywriter old school typewriter-style Bluetooth keyboard and the KitchenAid range of coffee machines. In the minute reviews we take a look at…

If you’re still a fan of vinyl records and also a fan of legendary rock band Queen, then you’re going to love the limited edition Queen by Rega turntable which features the band’s logos. There are only 100 of these Queen by Rega turntables that have been brought in to Australia and are available now through Synergy Audio’s specialist audio retail partners. The band’s logos, designed by frontman Freddy Mercury, can be seen on the custom designed high-gloss acrylic laminated plinth. Designed for audiophiles and lovers of vinyl, the Queen by Rega turntable has been released to coincide with the…

We’re always carrying our devices around with us but carrying around the cable to connect for charging or sharing data has never been convenient – until now with the Echo Connect Plus key. The Echo Connect Key is the world’s first dual charge key for all of your mobile devices and is small enough to fit on your keyring. The key fits in the palm of your hands and has a USB, Lightning and microUSB connection for all of your devices and can replace every cable you could want. It’s handy for those times when you want to connect your…

KitchenAid has expanded its impressive coffee machine portfolio so customers can bring the café culture into their very own home with the same precision and care as an expert barista. The three new products are: the Siphon Coffee Brewer, Precision Press Coffee Maker and the Burr Grinder. These devices join KitchenAid’s existing coffee products including the KitchenAid Espresso Machine and the Nespresso by KitchenAid. These new KitchenAid products are for craft coffee lovers who like to grind and brew the coffee themselves to suit their own taste. KITCHENAID SIPHON COFFEE BREWER – $279 The Siphon Coffee Brewer is an attractive…

To stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news, reviews and opinions  tune in to Episode 184 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, Apple issues a recall for its wall plug adaptors, Tourism Australia embraces virtual reality for its latest campaign, Garmin releases its latest golf devices and Star Wars The Force Awakens Blu-ray Disc release date is announced. In the Tech Guide Reviews, the Samsung R Series speakers and Kensington’s new range of SecureTrek laptop bags. In the Tech Guide Interview, we chat to Logitech’s CEO Bracken Darrell…

One distinguishing sound in the offices and newsrooms of old was the clickety clack of typewriter keys and now you can recreate that with the retro Qwerkywriter Bluetooth keyboard. The device has been designed to look – and sound – like an old school typewriter that you might find in an antique store. For those of a certain age it will no doubt give them a terrific sense of nostalgia. The Qwerkywriter has raised mechanical keys for a great tactile typing experience and even has a carriage return that can be used instead of the return key to take you…

Vodafone Australia has announced customers on its Red and SIM only plans can now use their mobiles when they’re travelling in New Zealand as if they were still at home with no roaming charges. Vodafone customers can already roam in more than 50 countries for $5 a day and use the existing call, text and data allowances of their plan. But now being in New Zealand and using your smartphone on the Vodafone network won’t incur any roaming costs and will be treated as if you’re still in Australia. More than a million Australians travel across the Tasman to our…

Not all wireless speakers are created equal and Samsung has demonstrated a number of differences from the competition both in terms of design and audio quality with its R Series of multiroom speakers. Samsung has gone away from the traditional box-shaped speaker for the R Series and adopted a cylindrical shape that allows the music to be enjoyed in equal quality no matter where you happen to be in the room. The R Series consists of the R1 ($299), the R3 ($499) and the R5 ($649) and for this review we took a listen to the R1 and the R5.…

The release date for the Blu-ray Disc version of the blockbuster film Star Wars The Force Awakens – which set records at the box office around the world – has been announced. Directed by JJ Abrams, The Force Awakens – Episode VII – is set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Force Awakens, which is now in its last days in cinemas, will be released on Blu-ray Disc on April 5, 2016 – according to Amazon. We can only assume the release date on DVD and Blu-ray will be similar around the world including Australia.…

There were plenty of 360-degree cameras at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month and one that caught our eye was the latest version of the 360Fly which is capable of shooting in 4K resolution. The 360Fly 4K – we reviewed the original – is a single lens video camera that can capture 360-degree video. The latest model is now able to capture video in 4K Ultra High Definition resolution – that’s four times the resolution of full high definition. Also on display at CES was a prototype of the 360Fly 4K that can fit neatly on…

We carry our computers and other devices in our bags when we’re travelling or commuting but three quarters of people, according to a study by Kensington, take no precautions to secure them. There are plenty of victims with research showing 35 per cent of business travellers’ have had a bag stolen. Kensington, the market leader when it comes to physical device security, has extended its security expertise to its range of bags and backpacks called SecureTrek. These stylish bags can not only secure the contents but can also be anchored to a fixed object to deter thieves trying to walk…

Apple has issued a recall of AC wall adaptors used in Australia with Macs and certain iOS devices which, in rare cases, may break and pose a risk of receiving an electrical shock. The wall plug adaptors in question were shipped between 2003 and 2015 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adaptor Kit. The recall affects wall adaptors, also called duckheads, used in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea with Apple offering a free replacement. There are a few ways identify if your Apple wall adaptor is affected. First up if the plug…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 240, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, bring you the week’s biggest tech news and product reviews in a fun and informative way. On this week’s show, the Mitchell Pearce scandal and how someone is always watching thanks to smartphones and security cameras that are trained on our every move. With Australia Day earlier this week, the blokes also talk about the biggest Aussie tech inventions – some impressive achievements that will surprise you. Optus partners with Usain Bolt for its new ad campaign, BMW’s high tech luxury cars, our week…

Roosters captain Mitchell Pearce is once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after being filmed attempting to kiss a girl, performing a lewd act on a dog and then urinating on a couch. When are NRL players going to learn that they can’t act like morons in public because every single person with a smartphone is a potential journalist who could end their career. They can not only easily capture video and pictures in an instant but they can also just as easily share it. Unfortunately for Mitchell Pearce that’s exactly what happened when he was filmed…