Author: Stephen Fenech

There are phone cases for decoration and phone cases for protection and the Tech21 case for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus ticks all the boxes. If you’re investing in the Apple’s new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus or then it’s worth spending some extra dollars on a case that’s going to defend the device against accidental drops. And the latest Tech21 Impactology range can offer unrivalled protection while still offering a sleek and compact design. The Tech 21 Shell, Band, Frame and Wallet cases offer slightly different looks and styles but what they all have in common…

Episode 185 of Two Blokes Talking Tech, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, can be seen and heard now for the latest tech commentary. On this week’s show – which was broadcast live on YouTube while being recorded – the blokes talk about Nokia’s comeback with an Android iPad-like tablet and Netflix finally coming to Australia and New Zealand. Also on the program – the DJI Phantom drones and how these flying cameras have made the news for wrong reasons. The podcast is about to turn 10 years old, Jawbone’s new affordable UP Move activity tracker…

Boost Mobile is providing a big screen experience without the big price tag with its latest offering – a 5-inch Alcatel OneTouch smartphone for less than $100. Boost Mobile View 5.0 is the first device with a 5-inch display offered at this price point in Australia. The $99 Alcatel OneTouch smartphone includes a 5-megapixel camera, a 1.3Ghz quad core processor along with 4GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot to expand the memory even further. Running Android’s Jelly Bean operating system, the Alcatel OneTouch device is 9.9mm thick and weighs 160g with a screen resolution of 854 x…

Our TV viewing choices will be expanding next year after popular subscription service Netflix announced it will launch in Australia and New Zealand in March 2015. In a move that’s sure to shake things up with free-to-air TV viewing and Foxtel’s Pay TV service, Netflix has confirmed it is finally coming to Australia and New Zealand. Netflix is already available in the US, UK, Canada, Latin America and across Europe. Customers of the popular online content subscription service will be able to watch a curated collection of TV shows and movies in high definition and even 4K when available. Netflix…

Nokia has jumped back into the hardware business with the launch of the N1 7.9-inch tablet running the Android operating system. Microsoft purchased the Nokia handset and services last year for $7.2 billion but the Finnish company has decided to return to the consumer market. The N1 tablet, which looks a lot like Apple’s iPad Mini, will be built in partnership with Foxconn – the company that manufacturers Apple’s iPhones and iPads. The N1 has a 2.4Ghz quad core processor and 32GB of internal memory and will be priced at $250. http://youtu.be/IwJmthxJV5Q The device has a very similar design to…

Apple has released WatchKit, the software developers will use to create apps and experiences for the upcoming Apple Watch which will hit the market in early 2015. Apple revealed its version of the smartwatch at the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch in September. The Apple Watch will be able to link with your iPhone and also run apps right there on your wrist. With the WatchKit, developers can create apps, actionable notifications and Glances – information that’s easily accessible with a quick look at Apple Watch. These notifications will give users the option of responding right from their…

We’re closing in on the 10th anniversary of the podcast with users listening to 7 billion podcasts through iTunes and the dedicated iOS app this year alone. The format has been enjoying a resurgence of late with programs covering every subject imaginable. They can be heard at any time you want on your computer or iOS device like the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Podcasts are available in the 155 countries where iTunes has set up shop. Listeners are able to subscribe to their favourite podcasts so they are automatically pushed to the iTunes desktop app and to the iOS…

We’ve got a packed Episode 123 of the popular Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to hear about the latest tech news and reviews any time. On this week’s show we talk about Dolby Atmos – the new home theatre sound standard, Optus releases a new smartphone payment and the podcast format is nearly 10 years old and is more popular than ever. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the Logitech K480 multi-device keyboard that can link to up to three devices at once, the DJI Phantom 2 Vision + flying camera drone and…

Jawbone’s latest device – the UP Move – takes all of the best features of the UP24 bracelet and packs it into a smaller and much more affordable device. The UP Move is about the size of a stack of three dollar coins (27.4mm wide and 9.55mm thick) and can be attached to your clothing in a clip or inside a band that can be worn on your wrist like a watch. Despite being a lot smaller and cheaper than the UP band, the UP Move still has Jawbone’s typical design and range of colours. And it also has the…

Surround sound in cinemas and in our homes has been reinvented with a new audio format called Dolby Atmos to create a multi-dimensional experience. With 5.1 and 7.1 channel sound we’re already used to hearing sound all around us. But now with Dolby Atmos the sound can truly envelope the viewer and not only comes from all directions but also from above our heads. It’s being called the biggest thing to happen to home theatre in 20 years. Tech Guide had a chance to experience Dolby Atmos (short for Atmosphere) in the Onkyo offices – one of the first companies…

Logitech’s new K480 Bluetooth keyboard works with all of the devices we use every day – smartphones, tablets and computers – to make typing even easier. Whether you need to type out a document on your computer, write a tweet on your smartphone or update your Facebook status on your tablet – the Logitech K480 can connect to all three. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re using a PC, Mac, iOS device, Android or Chrome OS or a mixture of them all. An Easy-Switch dial located on the left edge of the keyboard makes it easy to switch between three…

More than 90 per cent of Australians have social media accounts plus lots of digital files but have we thought about what happens to them when we die? With our digital footprints expanding it is something NSW Trustee and Guardian – which has been making wills and administering estates for 100 years – people should consider. Anyone with a will knows it is designed to offer a legal plan about how their assets are distributed once they are gone. But what about your digital assets? Things like your files stored on your computer, photos and music collections, loyalty club membership…

If you’re looking for a camera that takes better pictures than your smartphone but without the bulk of an SLR then the Canon PowerShot SX400 IS fits the bill. The Canon PowerShot SX400 IS is a fairly compact camera with 30x optical zoom lens that’s capable of 60x ZoomPlus. On the back is a 3-inch LCD screen that makes it easy to frame your pictures and review the pictures you’ve already taken. The right side of the device has a grip that allows users to hold the camera securely with one hand while still having easy access to the zoom…

If you literally want to take your photography to new heights and capture breathtaking pictures and videos you’ll need the DJI Phantom 2 Vision + drone. The quad-copter is a lot of fun to fly and, thanks to the built-in full high definition camera onboard capable of taking 14 megapixel stills, you can capture angles that would have previously required a helicopter to capture. Tech Guide’s reviews unit was supplied by Sphere – Australia’s largest drone retailer – and they got us up and running with some flying lessons before we took off on our own. The DJI Phantom 2…

Optus has launched a new app that will allow customers to leave their wallets at home and make payments below $100 using nothing but their smartphone. Cash by Optus is a contactless payment app which was created in partnership with Heritage Bank and Visa. It uses the NFC (near field communication) feature on Android smartphones and Visa PayWave technology to make purchases under $100. Optus is the first Australian telco to offer a contactless mobile payments app which can be linked to any Australian bank account. Cash by Optus works like a Visa pre-paid credit card with customers able to…

Episode 184 of Two Blokes Talking Tech is a show with a difference this week – you can see it as well as hear it after being broadcast live on YouTube. The show, recorded on Wednesday night with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, was also broadcast live on YouTube. And that YouTube video can now be seen at anytime and it has been embedded below. Of course the show will still be available to be heard right here on Tech Guide and through iTunes. http://youtu.be/UmD2mX8V8e8 On this week’s show: Huawei launches the Ascend Mate 7, Canon…

Huawei has unveiled the Ascend Mate 7 – its new flagship smartphone which boasts a large screen and set of features to challenge the likes of Apple and Samsung. The device has a huge 6-inch full high definition screen that’s housed in a body that’s just 7.9mm thick and weighs only 185g. From a design perspective, Huawei has once again come up with a stylish look and premium feel for the Ascend Mate 7. It is constructed from a lightweight aluminium alloy that offers strength and reduces heat. Despite having a larger 6-inch screen, the Huawei smartphone – at 157mm…

Canon has launched Irista – an online photo storage platform that can not only manage and organise our precious images but also keep them safe Photos have a lot of sentimental value and if we lose them we’re devastated – a feeling experienced by more than 7.25 million Australians. And with our photos now in the digital world 76 per cent have memories and snapshots scattered across a number of devices including memory cards, USB drives, external hard drives, smartphones and on social media. If just one of these storage options is lost, stolen or crashes the pictures onboard are…

Telstra has released its latest mobile hotspot – the Wi-Fi 4G Advanced II – that can tap into the latest 4GX network to enjoy faster internet on mobile devices. Up to 10 devices can connect to the Telstra Wi-Fi 4G Advanced II hotspot at the same time including smartphones, tablets and laptops. The device – actually built by Netgear (Aircard AC790S) – is 11cm long, 6.8cm wide and weighs just 136g so it’s no effort to take the device everywhere with you. The Wi-Fi 4G Advanced II hotspot has a 2930mAh rechargeable battery that can run for up 11 hours…

LG has released its new G Watch R that delivers the best of both worlds – a device that brings the latest technology but with a classic design and style. Released just a few months after LG’s first smartwatch – the square G Watch – the G Watch R has an impressive 3.5cm wide circular P-OLED screen. And because of its traditional look, it isn’t immediately obvious that the G Watch R is actually a smartwatch. It has a diamond cut brushed metal construction and a PVD coating along with a leather strap that is interchangeable with other standard 22mm…