Author: Stephen Fenech

If you have a car accident it’s just your word against the other driver in determining who’s at fault. But using a dash cam like the Swann DriveEye Ultra Portable HD Video Recorder can change all of that. Recording from dash cams are admissible in court and are also accepted by police for use in accident investigations. The Swann device attaches to your windscreen like a portable GPS device. But unlike a GPS, it’s quite small – 6.3cm wide, 5cm long and 1.9cm thick – and won’t block your view of the road. It can be positioned just below your…

To hear the latest consumer tech news and reviews you need to tune in to Episode 159 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, so you can stay updated and educated. On this week’s show, Optus make it easier to share data on your plans, Belkin’s WeMo Insight Switch lets you see how much power your products are using and who’s winning the smartphone battle – is it Apple or is it Samsung? In the Tech Guide interview we talk to Ford chief electronics engineer Craig Sprenger about the technology under the hood of the new…

When it comes to choosing your next car, the amount of technology literally under the bonnet is going to play a big part in that decision. This is something Ford is well aware of and the reason why the company has invested so much time and research into the technology of its vehicles. The new Ford Everest SUV (sports utility vehicle), which was completely designed and developed in Australia, is a good example of how the latest technology can be integrated into the 21st century car. And it’s not just about being able to pair your smartphone and your entertainment…

When it comes to making a good pair of headphones, Plantronics can certainly claim a level of expertise and development that not many other companies can match. It has demonstrated this with its latest wireless headphones – the BackBeat Sense. Plantronics has been in the game since man first landed on the moon. In fact, those famous words by Neil Armstrong after he became the first man to walk on the moon – “one small step for man – one giant leap for mankind” were actually spoken through a Plantronics headset. The BackBeat Sense is an impressive amalgamation of standout features including excellent audio quality, lightweight materials, subtle…

Apple, Samsung and Huawei were the big movers in the smartphone market in the second quarter of 2015 with worldwide shipments reaching more than 338 million units representing a 16 per cent year-on-year growth, according to Juniper Research. Apple and the iPhone continue to lay all before them with sales of 47.5 million in Q2 fuelled by massive growth in China. The company’s year-on-year profits increased by 112 per cent to more than $13 billion. Samsung, meanwhile, saw a year-on-year decline but still had a profitable quarter on the back of solid Galaxy S6 and S6 edge sales which are…

Belkin has expanded its WeMo home automation range with the Insight Switch that can not only let you control electronic devices but also monitor and manage how much power they use in your home. Any product connected to the WeMo Insight Switch, which is connected to a power point, can be turned on and off using the companion app on an Android or iOS device from anywhere. User can easily see the products that are being used and, through the app, switch them on and off. So the days of thinking you might have left the iron on are over.…

Episode 219 of the top-rating Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, was recorded on the shores of Sydney Harbour at the Windows 10 launch event. Microsoft’s new operating system has been officially released this week and the blokes take a look at their favourite new Windows 10 features. Also on the show, the Telstra TV in partnership with Roku, Android security concerns and the Belkin Wemo Insight Switch. Stephen and Trevor also discuss DrinkMate – the world’s smallest breathalyser and LG’s excellent new 4K OLED TV. In the minute reviews we…

Windows 10 is available today as a free upgrade across 190 countries and Microsoft says it’s the best operating system it has ever produced thanks to the number of new useful features onboard. Users running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be able to upgrade for free to Windows 10. Windows 10 will also be preloaded on new computers, Windows tablets and Windows smartphones. The new operating system will work seamlessly across all Windows devices. Here are the main new features: CONTINUUM Windows 10 Continuum is a new enhancement that helps the software detect whether your device has inputs like…

Telstra is taking on Apple TV and Google Chromecast after striking up a partnership with Roku to offer customers Telstra TV – a device that makes it easy to access subscription video on demand services and other content. Roku is a leading streaming platform in the US, UK and Canada and it has designed a streaming platform specifically for Australian customers as the basis for Telstra TV. Customers can view SVOD services like Netflix, Preston and Stan through Telstra TV along with other content from Bigpond movies and other catch up TV services. Telstra TV will be offered in addition…

Windows 10 is available now and it’s a simple and free upgrade for customers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 who want to enjoy the new features of the latest operating system. Microsoft says this update is so big and packed with so many capabilities it had to skip from Windows 8 all the way up to Windows 10. That’s why there is no Windows 9 in case you were wondering. So what do you need to do to upgrade to Windows 10? IS YOUR COMPUTER COMPATIBLE First check to see if your computer is suitable for the upgrade. If…

Huawei has launched it new all-metal 5.2-inch flagship P8 smartphone in Australia that comes with the Huawei Screen Promise that offers a free screen replacement if the display is shattered in the first 12 months. It is the first time such a guarantee has been included with a smartphone in Australia. The Huawei P8 has an aluminium unibody with a premium finish along with a Gorilla Glass screen which can be replaced free if it breaks during the first year for customers who purchased the device between July 29 and December 31, 2015. The Australian release comes after a successful…

Computer gaming in Australia is alive and well according to the latest research from Digital Australia Report 2016 with gaming consoles in 98 per cent of homes with children under 18. The annual study from Bond University has revealed some surprising results including an increase in the number of parents who play computer games with their kids. “While the presence of video and computer games in Australian family homes remains stable, we’ve observed growth in the proportion of the population who plays, including parents who play with their children, which has increased from 86 per cent in 2013 to 90…

Tune in to Tech Guide Episode 158, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, to hear the latest news headlines and product reviews from the tech world to stay updated and educated. On this week’s show: DrinkMate – the world’s smallest breathalyser, should you be worried about your car getting hacked and STM adds power to its popular laptop bags. In the Tech Guide reviews we take a look at the LG 4K Ultra High Definition OLED TV, the Logi Keyboard case for the iPad and the Bellroy iPhone case that’s a wallet as well. In the Tech Guide Help Desk, we…

If you’re looking to buy a drone you can either buy a toy or go all out and invest in a more expensive professional model but the Kaiser Baas Alpha Drone is hoping to be something in between. Priced at $199.95, the Alpha Drone is bigger than the mini drones mainly designed for indoor use yet smaller – and a lot cheaper – than the higher end drones like the DJI Phantom. Alpha Drone weighs just 109g and measures 33.1cm wide and 33.1cm long. It is made from lightweight plastic and has a range of about 60m. Onboard is a…

The iPad Air 2 is a pretty handy device but the BLOK keyboard case from reborn company Logi makes the device even more versatile whether you’re using it as a tablet or in place of your laptop. Logi is the new brand name for Logitech which has announced a new look and a new direction. The company’s new BLOK range of iPad cases have been built with protective ribbing and square shock-absorbing corners to keep the tablet safe and sound. The case’s construction makes it strong enough to withstand a drop from a height of about 1.8m onto a hard…

STM is already known for making excellent bags for your computers and gadgets but its latest bags just became even more useful and now include an onboard battery to keep your devices charged on the move. The Energy option is now available for some of STM’s most popular bags – Drifter backpack and the Bowery and Trust shoulder bags. Each has a discreet pouch to securely hold the specially designed 3500mAh rechargeable Joey energy supply. The battery has a smart power feature for high speed charging and automatically adjusts to the correct speed to power your device. It also has…

LG’s new 4K Ultra High Definition OLED TV almost sounds too good to be true. A TV that produces perfect black and vivid colours from a gently curved screen that’s thinner than the smartphone in your pocket. This television sets a new standard for the home viewing experience. For our review we took a look at both the 55-inch and 65-inch LG 4K UHD OLED TVs. LG is the only TV manufacturer that has mastered the extremely difficult task of producing larger OLED screens. And with the addition of Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 resolution – it forms a perfect…

A product smaller than a ChapStick that plugs into your iPhone and accurately reads your blood alcohol content (BAC) has just been unveiled on the Kickstarter crowd funding site and already exceeded its goal. Developed by Edge Tech Labs, DrinkMate is the world’s smallest breathalyser and connects to your iPhone’s Lightning port and, with the help the companion app, can tell you the level of alcohol in your blood stream. Users simple blow into the end of the DrinkMate and, after a few seconds, the iPhone’s screen displays the BAC reading. Now if you’ve had a drink or two you…

Episode 218 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, provides a fun and informative look at the tech stories and products making headlines. On this week’s show, the blokes talk about the Jeep Cherokee that hackers took control of in the US, why SIM cards could be a thing of the past and Parrot’s new range of mini drones and robot for air, land and the water. Also on the program, Telstra’s 4G in-car pre-paid wi-fi dongle, Australia’s Apple Store number 22 about to open and the progress of the…

It’s one thing to have your computer hacked when you’re sitting behind your desk but imagine someone comprising the computer in your car when you’re doing 100km/h on the highway. That’s exactly what happened to Wired journalist Andy Greenberg when he was driving a Jeep Cherokee on a freeway on the outskirts of St Louis. The air conditioner started blasting cold air, his radio station was changed and blaring at full volume and his windscreen wipers were turned on before the brakes were applied and he was left stranded in a ditch. But the thing is – he knew it…