Author: Stephen Fenech

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…

Allianz Stadium will next year unveil $20m of cutting-edge technology that will include the largest video screens ever seen at a rugby league, union or soccer match in Australia. The ultra wide screens are 27m wide and 10m high with an aspect ratio of 24:9 and are five times larger than the screens they’re replacing. They’re also larger than the screens at iconic sporting grounds Wembley and Twickenham. They will be activated for the start of the 2015 NRL season, the initial rounds Super Rugby and the A-League finals. The Allianz super screens will be switched on for the first…

It’s Day 7 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today we’re looking at gaming products. Computer gaming is huge and it is actually a bigger industry in Australia than the film box office and generates billions of dollars per year. And it’s not just the consoles and games that are the big money-spinner but the range of accessories that can enhance the experience and make you more competitive. Here is a full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4:…

We’ve hit the halfway mark with the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today we’re talking about gadgets. These cool products don’t fit into one particular category but they will still be popular this holiday season. Naturally there’s quite a variety of products and prices to suit all types of users so if you’re stuck for the right gift for that hard-to-buy-for person, you might find the answer right here. Here is a full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas: Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4:…

When it comes to tablets most of them look the same and that makes it harder for customers to distinguish between the many models and brands on offer. But Lenovo has taken the design outside the square with its new Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. Not only does it have a foldaway kickstand, the device also has a built-in projector to take your content beyond the device’s screen. The Lenovo tablet has a solid build quality and has a beautiful big 13.3-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 so it’s larger than any other tablet you’ll find.…

Tune in to the latest tech news, views and reviews with Episode 127 of the Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech. On this week’s show, the landmark deals that will mean a faster rollout of the NBN, Instagram overtakes Twitter in user numbers and the government proposes new content piracy laws. In the Tech Guide reviews we check out the JVC HD Everio waterproof camcorder, the Fitbit Charge activity band and our 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we offer advice on how to protect all of your devices with a single…

It’s now Day 5 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and the devices of the day are wireless Bluetooth speakers. There has been a plethora of Bluetooth speakers released this year so the good news is there is plenty to choose from. But the bad news is that not all speakers are created equal and we’ve put together this list to help you find the product that’s right for you or the person you’re buying for. Here is a full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas: Day 1: Smartphones Day 2:…

NBN Co has completed landmark deals with Optus and Telstra to pave the way for a faster rollout of the high-speed network across Australia. The agreement means NBN Co will progressively take ownership of Telstra’s copper and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) networks in parts of Australia that will allow the fastest and most cost effective ways to deliver fast broadband to Australians. NBN Co will also acquire the Optus HFC cable network – usually located in areas where there is no Telstra HFC cable – to also speed up the NBN’s rollout. The transfer of all of these HFC assets…

Day 4 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas is here and today we’re taking a look at tablets – arguably the hottest tech item this holiday season. And this is one product where customers will find plenty of variety in terms of designs, screen sizes and operating systems. Tablets are a gift that will suit people of all ages and for lots of different types of users from casual gamers to mobile professionals. Here is the full list of Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas: Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity…

Fitbit is one of the most popular brands of activity trackers in the market and the company has just released the latest version – the Fitbit Charge. We’ve been using the Fitbit Charge for about a week and it’s easily one of the best fitness bands we’ve used. The whole idea behind wearing a device like this is to get an overview of your movements, sleep quality and calorie intake. Having this information gives the user a way to monitor their fitness and a starting point to achieve a health goal. The product has a quality feel with an adjustable…

It’s Day 3 of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas and today we’re looking at one of the most popular products on the market – wearable activity trackers. The devices will definitely be in hot demand this Christmas and perfect for people who are about to make a New Year’s resolution to get into shape. Activity bands allow users to track their steps, their sleep and their calories to give them a clear view of their current health and help them to achieve their fitness goals. Here’s the full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of…

Welcome to Day 2 of Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas. Today we’ll be showcasing digital cameras for those who want to capture images better than those your smartphone can manage. These cameras offer even more modes and options to improve your photography and take more control of your shots. There is wide variety of cameras available from and these are just a sample of affordable devices that offer great value. Here is the full list of the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas: Day 1: Smartphones Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4:…

Instagram, the hugely popular photo-sharing app, has smashed through the 300 million user mark with the community sharing more than 70 million pictures and videos every day. It’s still not quite up with Facebook (which owns Instagram) with 1.3 billion active users but has actually overtaken Twitter which has 283 million users. In fact, Instagram’s user base has doubled since it passed 150 million 12 months ago. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom says there will also be renewed focus to allow users to follow authentic celebrity accounts who will now be marked with a verified badge. The company is also deactivating…

Episode 188 of Two Blokes Talking Tech, with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long, gives you an entertaining and informative look at the latest tech news, views and reviews. On this week’s show, the blokes talk about the new piracy laws proposed by the government and the reaction from the industry. While on the subject of content, we take a look at the strategic partnership between Foxtel and Channel 7 to combat the incoming threat from popular subscription service Netflix. Also on the show, Facebook’s most talked about stories 2014, Tesla opens up a store to sell…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and technology gifts are going to be high on a lot of people’s wishlists. Starting today Tech Guide is kicking off the 12 Days of Christmas series that looks at a new product category every day. Here are the Tech Guide 12 Days of Christmas. Day 1: Smartphone Day 2: Cameras Day 3: Wearables/Activity trackers Day 4: Tablets Day 5: Speakers Day 6: Gadgets Day 7: Gaming Day 8: Smartwatches Day 9: TVs/Blu-ray Discs Day 10: Computers Day 11: Sport Gadgets Day 12: Headphones Today on Day 1 we take a look…

HTC’s RE  – the stand-alone camera that looks like a mini periscope – has gone on sale in Australia through Telstra stores. The HTC RE, which will likely be priced at $249, is a small handheld camera that can capture 16-megapixel stills and full high definition 1080P videos at 30fps (frames per second). The device can also capture slow motion and time lapse as well. The periscope shape gives it a nice fit in your hands with a large capture key that’s easy to access with your thumb. One quick press and you can take a photo and a longer…