Author: Stephen Fenech

Samsung has announced the highly-anticipated new Gear S2 smartwatches will be available to purchase in Australia from today in Samsung Experience Stores in Sydney and Melbourne. They will be available from a wider number of retailers in November. The Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch has had a complete makeover with an all-new design, classic round watch face and modern styling. It is Samsung’s first circular smartwatch and the 1.2-inch screen, which has a 360 x 360 resolution, can be customised with beautiful interfaces. The device has a rotating bezel which also acts as a way to scroll through menus and zoom…

Internet threats are still on the rise and are targeting not only our computers but also our smartphones as well and the new Norton Security Premium has been designed to provide protection across all our devices. The new service shields users from these dangers that are always evolving and changing. It’s not just viruses that we have be worried about. Threats like ransomware where your computer and its files can literally be held to ransom and phishing where cybercriminals try and trick you into sending them your vital information are just other examples of what these hackers are prepared to…

Tech21 – the company boasting unique smartphone protection using a patented shock-absorbing material – has released a new range of cases for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. At the heart of all of the Tech21 products is FlexShock – a material injected into the edges of the cases. FlexShock has remarkable shock absorbing properties and enables the iPhone cases to withstand a drop from a height of two metres. The material absorbs and dissipates the force of the impact and keeps the device safe. The advantage FlexShock provides for Tech21 cases is the fact they are 30 per…

Sony Mobile has this week launched its new Xperia Z5 smartphones boasting market-leading features like a 23-megapixel camera with the world’s fastest auto focus and a completely waterproof design. Available from this week will be the Xperia Z5 Compact (4.6-inch display, 1280 x 720 resolution) and the Xperia Z5 (5.2-inch display, 1920 x 1080). From next month, customers will be able to get their hands on the top of the line model – the Xperia Z5 Premium – the world’s first smartphone with a 4K display. The device’s 5.5-inch display has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and, like the…

It’s a packed Episode 169 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show, Norton’s new Security Premium service to protect ourselves online across all our devices and Android market share slumps in Australia. In the Tech Guide Interview, we talk to Sony Mobile’s Australian managing director John Featherstone about the new Xperia Z5 range of smartphones and how they will take on Apple and Samsung. In the Tech Guide Reviews, we check out the Bose SoundTouch 10 wireless…

Bose has released a new wireless speaker to join its existing range of SoundTouch products that take advantage of the growing customer trend of streaming music via Bluetooth and around the home’s wi-fi network. The SoundTouch 10 is Bose’s new entry level wireless speaker and has both Bluetooth and wi-fi onboard to enjoy your favourite songs or radio stations anywhere in your home. When using Bluetooth, listeners are able to stream content from their smartphone or tablet to a single speaker. But because the Bose SoundTouch 10 can also connect through wi-fi, that same content is able to be streamed…

Sales of Android-powered devices have slumped in Australia in the last year with Apple picking up most of that loss to achieve significant year-on-year growth according the Kantar World Panel which measures mobile operating system adoption around the world. In Australia, Android market share stands at 53.1 per cent as of the end of August 2015 – a significant drop from the 64.3 per cent slice it held 12 months earlier. That’s a drop of 11.2 per cent. Meanwhile Apple continues to go from strength to strength. In that same time frame Apple has increased its iOS footprint in Australia…

Two Blokes Talking Tech are back! Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long take you through the week’s biggest tech news and reviews in Episode 227 of the popular podcast. On this week’s show, Microsoft’s new hardware including the Surface Book, the Surface Pro 4 and a new Lumia range of handsets, LG extend the sales of its 4K UHD OLED TVs to more stores and also drop the price. The blokes also talk about Telstra’s new LTE-B technology for live events, the real problem of visual hacking and Jarryd Hayne’s new role as a Norton ambassador. In…

If you use an iPhone and also wear an Apple Watch then Belkin’s latest product will be ideal. It’s an elegant first-of-its-kind stand that can charge both of your devices at the same time. The Belkin Charge Dock was created in collaboration with Apple to ensure the functionality and design fits with the Apple ecosystem. It has a sleek look with a rounded base and a solid metal arm with a chrome finish to support the iPhone and the integrated magnetic Apple Watch charger. It has a Lightning connector for the iPhone that can be adjusted with a dial on…

LG has expanded the rollout of its excellent 4K Ultra HD OLED TV to even more retailers around the country and has also reduced the price of the 65-inch model that offers unrivalled black levels and stunning colour. Originally available through Harvey Norman stores, the 65-inch and 55-inch LG 4K UHD OLED TVs will now be sold through Retravision, The Good Guys, Bing Lee, JB Hi-Fi, Radio Rentals, RT Edwards, Dick Smith and Betta Electrical stores. Tech Guide reviewed this TV earlier this year and awarded it 5 stars. LG’s TV combines both 4K Ultra HD resolution with remarkable OLED…

Microsoft has rolled out an impressive line up of new hardware that take advantage of the latest Windows 10 operating system including the Surface Book – a re-invented laptop – and the all-new Surface Pro 4 tablet. Also unveiled were three new Lumia smartphones – the Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and the Lumia 550 – along with the Microsoft Band 2 wearable device. And the common thread for these new products is Windows 10 which brings with it a number of new experiences including secured login with Windows Hello and digital assistant Cortana. SURFACE BOOK The Surface Book is…

Want to get the latest tech news, reviews and opinions in plain English then you need to listen to Episode 168 of the Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to stay updated and educated. On this week’s show, students about to start end of year exams – is it better to study from a screen or from a printed page, Australians putting themselves at risk from visual hacking and Microsoft announces the grand opening date for its flagship Sydney store. In the Tech Guide reviews, a thorough look at the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, Google’s new…

NRL to NFL convert Jarryd Hayne has partnered with internet security company Norton to help build awareness about issues like cyberbullying and educate customers about online crime. The former Parramatta Eels superstar now San Francisco 49ers rookie will become a Norton ambassador and use his now considerable profile to raise awareness about these urgent online issues. “The online world is a big and enjoyable part of my life,” Hayne said. “Being so far away from home, the internet and social media is a great way for me to keep in contact with my family, friends and supporters, and stay informed…

Humax’s new 2Tune HDR-3000T is a quad recorder that makes it easy to enjoy your favourite free-to-air TV programs when and where you like so you’ll never miss a thing. The HDR-3000T has tapered edges and a curved design – a refreshing look that’s a lot more interesting than a plain box. And even though the Humax unit has the looks – it also has the brains. This PVR (personal video recorder) has two tuners on board which means you can record up to four programmes from two different networks and even stream one live channel to your mobile device.…

We’ve all heard about online hackers and how people’s documents and information can be compromised. But Australians are blind to another low tech risk – visual hacking – where some can literally see and potentially steal sensitive they see on your smartphone or laptop. Many Australians work on the move on our devices but that freedom brings with it a new risk – visual hacking. Those glances on the street, in a café, on public transport or on a plane from the people and passengers around you could result in someone gleaning sensitive information from your tablet, smartphone or laptop.…

We’re in an “S” year for the iPhone – that’s when the outside doesn’t change but when there’s plenty of changes under the hood. This year’s iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are probably the best “S” models Apple have ever released. But cast your mind back to previous “S” models and the features they introduced. Siri was first seen in the iPhone 4S, Touch ID fingerprint reader made its debut with the iPhone 5S and now there’s 3D Touch with the iPhone 6S. So it seems the Apple’s pattern with its iPhones is to change the design one year…

The Microsoft Store being built at Westfield Sydney in the Pitt Street Mall – the first flagship store the company has built outside North America – has announced the date of its grand opening. The Sydney store will span two levels and will have more than 500 square metres of floor space with staff from more than 11 countries able to speak 21 languages. Sydney’s Microsoft Store, which will open its doors to the public at noon on Thursday November 12, will include display tables for customers to try the products along with an Answer Desk where customers can troubleshoot…

Apple’s latest OS X operating system El Capitan, which has numerous new features, is now available to download and install on iMacs, MacBooks, MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros as a free update. This latest release of the Mac software has had a design makeover and makes Apple’s computing experience faster and smarter with a noticeable improvement in performance across the board. To install the OS X El Capitan update you need to the Mac App Store. You can find the update in the new apps section or the top free apps section. You can also do a search in the…

The HSC exams starts on October 12 and some timely research has just been revealed showing the best way to retain information. But the question is – is it from a screen or from printed notes? Canon Australia in association with Griffith University and Art of Smart Education launched a new student research project in a bid to uncover the most effective study methods. The study, conducted among more than 500 students, revealed that learning from printed notes was more effective for retaining information than trying to revise from a screen. Nearly all students (93 per cent) say they experience…

Google has unveiled two new smartphones – the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X – that are among the most advanced smartphones to date and the first to feature the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. LG and Google have joined forces to create the Nexus 5X while Huawei partnered to produce the Nexus 6P. These smartphones are the first to feature the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and also include the new USB-C connector. The USB-C plug is reversible so there’s no more guessing which side is the right side up. It also provides faster charging that Google…