Author: Stephen Fenech

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…

It’s time to get updated and educated about the latest consumer tech with Episode 122 of the Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s packed show, the WireLurker malware that can infect your iPhone through your Mac, the Kogan 65-inch 4K TV at a rock bottom price and Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge release date is delayed – again. In the Tech Guide reviews, the LG G Watch R smartwatch, the Garmin Vivosmart activity tracker and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare starring Kevin Spacey. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we answer a reader’s question about giving…

If you’re going to commit to wearing an activity tracker it needs to perform a few functions and Garmin Vivosmart fits the bill as a fitness band and a smartwatch. The device looks like a regular fitness bracelet but it’s only when you see the OLED display shine through that you can really see it is anything but regular. The screen is only visible through the black plastic when active. When it’s inactive all you see is the same plain black colour on your wrist. The Vivosmart can capture information like steps, distance, calories and monitor sleep and relay them…

Apple customers have been warned of a new malware threat called WireLurker that can infect iPhones if connected to a compromised Mac computer. WireLurker is the first know malware that can infect an iPhone that hasn’t had its original operating system altered or jailbroken. The threat has mainly been seen in China where it infects Mac computers downloading apps through a third party app store called Maiyadi. Once installed, these apps are then transferred to the iPhone or iPad when they are connected to the infected computer with a USB cable. Once on the phone, Wirelurker has been observed accessing…

Samsung has delayed the released of the Galaxy Note Edge smartphone – the device with the curved screen – for the second time in a month. Samsung didn’t provide a reason for the delay but simply released a short statement announcing the deferred release which will now be November 25. The statement said: “Samsung Electronics Australia wishes to advise of a revision to the on sale date for the Galaxy Note Edge. “The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge will commence shipping from 25th November. We apologise for any inconvenience.” The Galaxy Note Edge, unveiled at IFA in Berlin back in August,…

HP has entered the computer gaming market with a new laptop that offers the sort of high performance PC players crave and all housed in a sleek and compact unit. The HP Omen is a Windows notebook PC that was designed to deliver on all the requirements for the competitive player including a powerful processor and slick graphics performance. And the HP Omen delivers just that along with a high quality full high definition touch-enabled 15.6-inch screen. For avid gamers, which stats have shown include men and women across a range of ages, the computer screen is still favoured by…

Kogan has once again applied the blowtorch to its competitors with the release of a new 65-inch 4K smart TV that’s a fraction of the cost of similar TVs from the big brands. The Kogan 65-inch Agora smart TV has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 which puts the set into the 4K or Ultra High Definition (UHD) class. But the figures that will impress customers most are the ones in the price which – at $1,599 – is thousands of dollars cheaper than similar sized TVs from the major manufacturers. While there is no suggestion the vastly cheaper is…

Vodafone has kicked off a special offer for new and upgrading customers with free premium accounts for Spotify’s popular streaming music service. Now any customer connecting to a 12 or 24-month Vodafone Red Plan will also receive a Spotify Premium subscription valued at $11.99 per month. There are more than 20 million tracks to enjoy in the Spotify music library with users able to follow their favourite artists, create their own playlists and also download tracks to play offline. The length of the free Spotify Premium subscription is determined by the type of Vodafone Red Plan the customer chooses. On…

Of all the Call Of Duty games over the years, Advanced Warfare has the closest feel to an action movie that drops you right in the middle of the mayhem. You’ve got a huge Hollywood star as one of the main characters and an accomplished Hollywood writer penning the story. And to top it all off  some of the best cinematic action sequences ever seen in a game. Yes, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is a blockbuster – and you’re the star of the show. The franchise has always been a behemoth – cracking the billion dollar mark in a…

Jawbone has unveiled its latest wearable activity trackers including one with multiple sensors to provide even deeper analysis of our health. The Jawbone UP3 wristband is the new hero product with the capability to provide in-depth information about every aspect of our health and wellbeing. And the Jawbone Move is a new affordable entry-level model that can be worn as a clasp or as a watch. JAWBONE UP3 The activity tracker has gone to the next level with the Jawbone UP3 at a time when the wearables market is exploding. Jawbone has been a leader in this category with Australians…