Author: Stephen Fenech

Tech Guide has landed in Las Vegas for the International Consumer Electronics Show where the latest tech products we’ll be using this year and beyond are revealed to the world. At CES, everyone from major global manufacturers to the newest start-ups with their first prototype have an opportunity to wow the industry and media in a town best known for making or breaking fortunes. In previous years CES has given us the first glimpse at what has gone on to become household technology including the VCR, compact disc, plasma TVs, DVDs and Blu-rays and 3D TVs. So what does CES…

LG will release a series of ultra widescreen 21:9 monitors to suit gamers, business owners and multimedia professionals at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. LG is a leader in widescreen monitor sales worldwide according to IDC with a market share of 77.3 per cent. LG will unveil four monitors at CES – the 21:9 UltraWide Gaming Monitor (34UM67), the world’s first curved 34-inch 21:9 (34UC97), 21:9 curved UltraWide Multi-Display (34UC87M) and the Digital Cinema 4K monitor (31MU97). LG 34-INCH 21:9 ULTRAWIDE GAMING MONITOR (34UM67) LG’s first 21:9 UltraWide gaming monitor is designed for graphics-heavy and…

Telstra and Optus will now be enjoying even faster and more reliable 4G connections with new mobile sites activated across Australia to kick off 2015. Both Telstra and Optus have taken advantage of the new 700 Mhz spectrum which allows the mobile signal to travel even further and faster as well as penetrate deeper into buildings. 4G 700 Mhz will offer greater bandwidth to manage the growing demand for extra data from customers as well as faster upload and download speeds. Optus started the new year with 4G 700Mhz on more than 270 sites in capital cities and regional centres…

We have so many devices that are charged with a USB cable – smartphones, tablets, wireless earphones and headphones, cameras, e-readers and portable gaming devices – just to name a few. Charging them means you need to plug the USB cable into an adaptor and then plug that adaptor into a power point. Kensington has just released the Powerwhiz 48W 4-Port USB Charger that can charge four smartphones, tablets and other USB-charged devices at the same time. It’s like a USB powerboard that takes up far less space than a regular powerboard that is usually crowded with plug-in adaptors. The…

LG will be unveiling its expanded line-up of 4K ultra high definition TVs at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas which kicks off next week. The new ColourPrime series will incorporate new designs, features and enhanced picture quality with even more depth and realism with new Wide Colour LED and Quantum Dot technologies. Wide Colour LED, which will be seen for the first time at CES, uses different phosphor-based LEDS to display even more colour depth and more realistic images Quantum Dot technology offers greater colour accuracy and an increased range of colours that can be displayed on…

There have been a few high profile hacks lately including the well-publicised Sony attack allegedly from North Korea and the interruption of the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live online gaming networks over Christmas. Unfortunately cybercrime can strike anywhere and we can only provide the best defences we have. ESET, a global provider of security solutions, has highlighted the areas it thinks will be targeted in 2015. In 2014 it was all about internet privacy and malware for Android smartphones and tablets. But in 2015 there are three areas ESET believes may be besieged by hackers – digital payment systems, targeted…

Today’s modern lounge room has a lot of entertainment products that each come with their own remote control but Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate One can rule them all. This Logitech touchscreen IR (infra-red) remote can control up to 15 devices as well as create one-touch activities. The controller itself fits nicely in your hand and has a number of physical controls along with a touchscreen. It has a motion-activated backlight with the screen positioned in the centre of the device so it’s easy to control with one hand. The device comes with a wireless hub and two IR mini blasters so…

If you’re serious about setting up a home theatre then you can’t go past a projector. And Sony’s new VPL-EW300S 4K projector should be at the top of your list. Sony has been a real pioneer when it comes to 4K and has had a hand in the technology from lens to lounge room. It’s this legacy and experience that has been poured into the latest, and more affordable, 4K projector – the VPL VW300ES. Sony’s first 4K home theatre projector was priced north of $25,000 and there were many a customer wishing the superb product was more affordable. Two…

A funny thing happens whenever I mention I’ve been using Samsung cameras. People tend to turn their noses up at the idea of a camera from a company best known for tablets and phones. Well, the NX1 might just be the camera Samsung needs to break the stigma I keep running into because this is an exciting piece of kit. The thrill of using a camera built to a new standard started when I first switched it on. There, on the rear display, was a distance scale. Some readers might wonder what the big deal is. For the greybeards among…

Tech Guide has introduced a new feature to the re-designed site – Tech Guide Trade Ins – which is an easy way to convert your old devices to cash. Created in partnership with Alegre, Tech Guide Trade Ins makes it possible for you to sell your unwanted phones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles and more. Once you click through to Tech Guide Trade Ins from the Tech Guide site you can choose the type of device you have, the brand and then the model. Then simply fill in the check boxes to describe the device’s condition and whether you have the…

It’s the 12th and final day of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and we’ve saved one of the most popular categories for last – headphones. We’re taking a looking at on-ear headphones and in-ear headphones as well and noise-cancelling models as well. Music is enjoyed by people of all ages so a pair of headphones is a gift that will appeal to a wide range of men, women and children. And there are models to suit people want to listen to their music while they’re exercising while the noise-cancelling versions will suit frequent travellers. Here is the…

Episode 128 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast, hosted by editor Stephen Fenech, is available now and is your last chance this year to be updated and educated about the latest tech news and reviews. On this week’s show we take a look back at the standout products of the year, Google’s most popular and sometimes unusual search results that were the moments that defined 2014 and the new $20 high tech revamp of Allianz Stadium. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out LG’s 40-inch 4K TV that’s under $1000, Lenovo’s new Tablet 2 Pro tablet which also has…

We’re nearly at the end of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today we’re focussing on the sporting gadgets that can help you get fit or shave off a few shots on the golf course. This a growth area of the market as technology has improved the accuracy and quality of the devices while at the same time prices have come a long way down. With summer and daylight saving already here for most Australians it is the right time of year for people to get out into the sunshine to play golf or go for a…

Just in time for summer, Australian company Dog and Bone has released the world’s first topless direct touch waterproof case for Apple’s new iPhone 6. The Wetsuit has a triple layer of protection to allow users to take their iPhone 6 down to a depth of two metres. But it’s not only waterproof – it’s also shockproof  and can handle a drop from a height of two metres. Throw in the fact its snowproof and dustproof and you’ll see the Dog and Bone Wetsuit lets users take their iPhone 6 anywhere. In fact, it has an IP68 rating which is…

We’re in the home straight on Day 10 of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today we’re featuring computers and accessories. There are laptops, desktops, ultrabooks and convertibles on the market and any of these would be an excellent gift whether it’s for work or play. We already covered tablets on Day 4 of the Tech Guide 12 Day’s of Christmas gift ideas but if the person you’re buying for needs more then the best option is a computer. There is wide variety of computers that are available at a number of price points. But the things…

Welcome to Day 9 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today’s product is televisions and Blu-ray Disc. We’ll take a look at affordable TVs and a projector to get the big screen experience at an affordable price. On the Blu-ray Disc front we’ll also include a player than can play discs from any region. Here is a full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift idea. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4: Tablets Day 5: Speakers Day 6: Gadgets Day 7: Gaming Day 8: Smartwatches Day…

Fancy a 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) for less than $1000? That’s exactly what you’ll get with LG’s 40-inch 40UB800T smart TV. Priced at $949, the TV gives you plenty of bang for your buck. Yes it is only 40-inch but it is still a decent size to enjoy your content. At this size the TV would be ideal for a small room, a bedroom or as a multimedia set-up for gaming and watching movies. You can even connect it to your computer as a large monitor. The LG 4K TV has a minimal design and two small stand legs.…

Google is the most popular search engine in the world and it has just released its most popular searches of the year. And we’re not talking just straight searches for information on the latest news but searches on everything from how to do things, to people, recipes and even internet lingo. Naturally the biggest Google searches coincide with the biggest news stories of the year including Malaysia Airlines, Robin Williams and the World Cup soccer. The most popular news items were the missing MH370 flight and the death of Peaches Geldof. http://youtu.be/Hs5IuUOs2y4 The highest trending searches for Australians were for…

We’re up to Day 8 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today’s product category is smartwatches. If there were one segment that’s seen plenty of movement this year it would be smartwatches with major companies releasing devices this year. Even Apple announced its own smartwatch but you won’t be able to buy it this Christmas. It’s due for release early in 2015 with many people predicting February as the likely release time. Here is a full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas, Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3:…

It’s the last episode of Two Blokes Talking Tech for the year with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long take a look back at the year that was and what’s hot for Christmas. In Episode 189 the blokes talk about the standout products of 2014 in all the major categories and also point out some value tech gifts for the holiday season. On the agenda are smartphones, games and tech toys, wearables, activity trackers and smartwatches. Stephen and Trevor also talk about headphones, earphones, tablets as well as accessories, cases and battery packs. And the blokes also…