Author: Stephen Fenech

With the highly-anticipated The Force Awakens about to open in cinemas there will be a lot of newcomers to the Star Wars universe who will want to catch up on the older movies to get ready. But with six episodes to get through which movies should people watch and what order should they watch them? As a die-hard (some say tragic) Star Wars fans ever since I saw the original Star Wars film as a wide-eyed 9-year old in 1977 – I think I’m qualified to advise newbies about what they need to do to be prepared for Episode VII.…

We’re up to Day 6 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas to help you find the right tech present to give to your friends and family. We’re at the halfway point with our guide and today we’re looking at gadgets – those products that don’t fit one particular category and some that fit more than one category. But one thing they all have in common is that they’re cool and they will be popular this Christmas. Here are the categories we’re covering in the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas: Day 1: Smartphones Day…

Action cameras are all the rage at the moment but they can only record in one direction at a time. But what if you could record a 360-degree video with one device? With the 360Fly you can. The 360Fly is a camera that can capture whatever you’re doing in a 360 degree interactive and immersive video. Watching these videos can make you feel like you’re there. It literally covers all angles so you can relive your favourite moments and see everything was that was going on in all directions. The camera is ball-shaped – bigger than a golf ball but…

We’re up to Day 5 of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas that are designed to give you a clear direction when it comes to buying tech products for your family and friends this holiday season. Speakers are the subject of today’s guide –  a gift idea that is appropriate for men and women young and old. There’s no age that doesn’t love music and a Bluetooth or wireless speaker will make it easier for them to hear their favourite tunes in higher quality. Here are the categories we’re covering in the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas…

The world is in the grip of Star Wars fever ahead of the release of The Force Awakens and one of the characters that captured our imagination is the spherical BB-8 droid. Tech Guide got a chance to get up close with a life-size replica of the loveable robot. We also met up with the people from Sphero the company behind the BB-8 toy which has been an absolute blockbuster ever since it was launched in September. Tech Guide spoke with Sphero CEO Paul Berberian and CTO and Sphero co-founder Ian Bernstein. https://youtu.be/TPgW5z8TRh8 The BB-8 droid was conceived and created…

It’s Day 4 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas – a guide that looks at a different category each day to help you find the ideal tech gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Today we’re talking about tablets – an item that has become powerful enough to replace our laptops. We’ll look at Apple’s iPads, Android tablets and Surface tablets running Windows 10. Here the categories we’re covering in the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift guide: Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4: Tablets Day 5: Speakers Day…

PlayStation is celebrating its 20th anniversary of taking players on amazing journeys across two decades and four consoles and it also used the occasion to announce the launch of Presto on the platform. With the addition of Presto on the PlayStation 4, it makes the console the only entertainment system to offer all subscription video on demand (SVOD) services and all of the catch-up TV services. Since it’s launch in Australia in 1995, PlayStation has pushed the technology of the time to the limit to deliver a gaming experience that transformed the Australian household. PlayStation was one of the main…

Apple has announced its best of 2015 from iTunes, the App Store and the iBook Store across music, movies, TV shows, apps, books and podcasts to reflect the top sellers and editor’s picks in each category. And there are a few Australian artists and developers who have figured in these rankings. The editors’ picks reflect the content handpicked by Apple staff as the best of the year. And then there’s the list of top sellers determined by users and the content they’ve downloaded. Here are Apple Editors’ Picks for the Best of 2015: Music  Artist of the Year – Drake…

It’s a special edition of Two Blokes Talking Tech’s Episode 236, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, which was recorded at the AACTA Awards – the Aussie Oscars – at The Star where they were a guest of Presto subscription streaming service. On this week’s show we talk about the hottest Christmas gifts and the perils of one of these products – the self balancing scooter or hoverboard – which resulted in Trevor breaking his arm. Also on the show, eBay’s biggest shopping day of the year and the tips to staying safe while shopping online. Also on…

Welcome to Day 3 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas to help you come up with the best tech product to give to your loved ones. We look at a different category each day. Today we’re looking at wearables and activity trackers – one of the most popular categories this Christmas. We’ll feature the devices whose main purpose is to track your steps, distance travelled and calories burned. What we won’t include today is smartwatches – they will be featured on Day 8 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Day 1: Smartphones…

Apple has released the Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 6/6S that can not only protect the device but can also recharge the battery on the move so you’re never without power. Available in charcoal grey or white, the silicone case has a soft microfibre lining and a built in battery pack that can be seen on the rear of the case. This is the first time Apple has created an iPhone case with a built-in battery following numerous other third party manufacturers who have made power cases. The Smart Battery Case is only available for the iPhone 6/6S but…

It’s Day 2 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas where we take a look at a different category every day so you can find the ideal tech present for your friends and family. Today we’re looking at a gift that will provide so many memories – cameras. We’ll take a look at your traditional point and shoot cameras and even the popular action cameras. And we’ve got plenty in store with our other categories so check back with Tech Guide in the coming days. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4:…

To stay on top of the latest tech news, reviews and opinions you need to tune in to Episode 177 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech who always keeps his listeners updated and educated. On this week’s show, Audi reveals its latest in-car innovations, Apple kicks off the Hour of Code with free coding lessons for kids and Microsoft announces the top Bing searches of 2015. In the Tech Guide reviews, the D-Link Taipan Modem Router, the LG CordZero HandStick Vacuum and the new Lumia 950 smartphones running the Windows 10 operating system. In the…

Christmas is nearly here and Tech Guide has kicked off its annual 12 Days of Christmas gifts ideas with one popular category each day that includes recommendations and products we’ve reviewed during the year. Technology gifts are going to be popular this Christmas but where do you start? Tech Guide’s 12-day Christmas gift guide kicks off today with one of the most popular products we use every day – smartphones. We’ll also include some smartphone accessories to give you even more choice when looking for the ideal Christmas present. Here are the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas: Day 1:…

It’s the busiest time of year for online shopping as we approach Christmas but while we are enjoying the convenience, shoppers need to exercise caution so they can stay safe online. Online sales are thriving with year-on-year growth in Europe and the US at 18.4 per cent and 13.8 per cent respectively. This volume is expected to double worldwide in the next three years. But while online stores prepare for the rush, cyber criminals are also seeing the rise in shopping numbers as an opportunity to steal financial details. There are a number of ways hackers can steal your data…

Microsoft’s highly-anticipated new flagship mobile devices – the Lumia 950 and the Lumia 950XL, the first to come preloaded with Windows 10 – are now available in retail stores and online. Both devices have impressive high definition displays, a 20-megapixel camera that’s capable of shooting 4K video and are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processors. The Lumia 950 has a 5.2-inch quad HD screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a pixel density of 564ppi (pixels per inch). The Lumia 950XL has a 5.7-inch quad HD screen with a 2560 x 1440 resolution and 518ppi. Each has 32GB…

When it comes to cleaning, any product that can make the task easier and quicker is welcomed and LG’s new CordZero HandStick Vacuum certainly ticks those boxes in your home. The LG CordZero HandStick Vacuum is actually two products in one – an upright vacuum cleaner and a handheld mini vacuum – so there’s no limit where you can use it in your home and even in your car. The slender product weighs just 2.8kg and has a long handle so there’s no need to bend your back while using it. Under the hood is an 18V motor that’s located…

The busiest shopping day of the year will take place tomorrow (December 7) but don’t worry about finding a parking spot or battling the crowds – it’s online and all you need is your mouse. It’s predicted more than 2.6 million people will visit www.ebay.com.au with an average of six gifts purchased per second. Traditionally Australia’s busiest online shopping day has been on a Sunday but, according to eBay’s research, Monday has taken the crown with more than half a million items expected to be purchased in a 24-hour period. The shift to smartphones has also affected the way we…

Kids can get a headstart on the jobs of the future and learn coding when Apple hosts The Hour of Code in all of its Australian stores as part of Computer Science Education Week. The Hour of Code is a campaign by Code.org aimed aimed at getting millions of students around the world to take part on a one-hour introduction to computer science and, in particular, coding. The sessions are designed to show students, and anyone else for that matter, they can easily learn the basics and get started. All 22 Australian Apple Stores will have sessions on Thursday December…

It’s time to tune in to Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 235, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, as they take a look at the tech issues and products of the week. On this week’s show, the Black Friday sales set the tone in terms of the most popular tech products while Dick Smith prepares for the mother of all sales to clear some old stock. Also on the program the blokes discuss how more people are using Tap and Go instead of cash while research indicates the internet is spoiling kids’ belief in Santa Claus.…