Author: Stephen Fenech

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…

Episode 167 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is available for you to hear right now so you can stay updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. If you’ve 30 minutes to spare on your drive or on a run or a walk do yourself a favour and tune in to see what all the fuss is about. On this week’s show, the new iPhones have been released and they are already breaking records, how mobile technology has turned work into a thing we do rather than a place we go and…

Anyone who’s ever bought a printer will tell you the number one pain point is having to replace expensive ink cartridges all too often but Epson’s new EcoTank printers have changed all that. Epson’s ET-2500, ET-2550 and Workforce ET4500 and ET-4550 are wireless all-in-one printers that have integrated high-capacity ink tanks and supplies that can last for up to two years. This new feature means ink is supplied continuously to the printer and with no cartridges to replace. With other printers when they run out of ink, a customer is required to buy a new cartridge which not only contains…

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have just gone on sale and they’re already breaking records with Apple announcing a new sales high water mark being reached just three days after launch. Apple says it has sold more than 13 million devices in the opening three days smashing the previous record. “Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple’s history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Customers’ feedback is incredible and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos, and we can’t wait to bring iPhone 6s and…

iPhone users who keep a close eye on how much mobile data they use may be caught out by a hidden feature in the new iOS 9 update that taps into that vital data pool even when they’re on wi-fi. Wi-Fi Assist is switched on by default in iOS 9 and is designed to revert to the cellular network automatically if you’re connected to a slow wireless network. Apple’s intention here is to make your experience faster by tapping into the fastest network that’s available. But downside of that scenario is that a user may get caught out while they…

They say good things come in small packages. The new Logitech X50 Mini Wireless speaker certainly fits that bill and, despite its tiny proportions, it can still deliver a surprisingly big sound. The Logitech X50 Mini Wireless speaker, available in grey, blue or orange, is small enough take anywhere with you. The device is 9.75cm wide, 8.57cm long, 3.83cm thick and weighs just 142g. It has a Bluetooth connection range of up to 10m but can also be connected directly to your smartphone through the AUX IN port with a cable and control the volume through the built-in buttons. The…

Many people can’t understand why a customer would camp outside the Apple Store to buy a new iPhone. That’s a question we asked self-confessed Apple fan Jarrod Gardiner who spoke to Tech Guide about his experience. This wasn’t Jarrod’s first time experiencing an overnight wait outside Apple’s Sydney store in George St. Here’s how the night progressed for Jarrod. 3AM The area in front of the Apple Store and King St is filled with tents with early customers trying to stay warm on a cold and rainy might. “I didn’t line up last year because I didn’t have the money…

Episode 226 will be the very last episode of Two Blokes Talking Tech, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long – for the month of September – so you need to listen in this week to get the tech lowdown. Next week the blokes will be taking a break and bringing you Episode the following week. But this week we’ll be chatting about the record-breaking iOS 9 iPhone and iPad update and the amazing feature that’s now a part of it – low battery mode plus watchOS2 for Apple Watch and how long it took to download…