Author: Stephen Fenech

Apple has brought active noise cancellation and Apple Intelligence to more customers with the launch of the AirPods 5. Apple is standardising ANC across the entire AirPods family while redesigning the open-ear experience around computational audio, adaptive controls and AI-powered features. The result will appeal to a wider range of consumers who want to enjoy the features of the AirPods Pro but don’t want the sealed in-ear design – or the higher price. AirPods 5 are also priced at $219, the same price as last year’s AirPods 4 without ANC. AirPods 4 with ANC was $299 so Apple is offering…

Apple has boldly introduced its first foldable – the iPhone Duo – which offers a stunning new expanded experience for viewing content, gaming, and multitasking. But it won’t be cheap with prices starting at $3,499. The iPhone Duo will be available in two colours: star white and night sky, with preorders kicking off on October 16 before going on sale on October 23. Prices start at $3,499 with 256GB storage and go all the way up to $5,899 for the 2TB model. New Apple CEO John Ternus introduced the iPhone Duo with a short commentary about the current state of…

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with an updated camera system, a new level of software intelligence, privacy and the longest battery life ever seen on an iPhone. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on September 12th and will go on sale on September 18. They will be available in four colours: the new burgundy and glacier, as well as silver and black. Apple has created the iPhone 18 Pro as the ultimate device for Apple Intelligence with even greater on-device AI capabilities and context and a new…

There’s an arm’s race going on in the world of robot vacuums – extendable arms. Dreame has released a new robot vacuum with a mop arm that can extend up to 18cms out from the unit to reach the nooks, crannies and spaces where other robots can’t. Tech Guide checked out the Dreame stand at IFA in Berlin and saw the X60 Ultra Extreme which has not one but two extendable arms – a brush arm that can extend 12cm and a mop that reaches 18cm. This means you don’t have to move chairs and other furniture for the robot…

MOVA is thinking outside the square with its lineup of new products with smart devices and a robot lawn mower and robot pool cleaner that both have robotic arms and hands. Tech Guide visited the MOVA booth at IFA in Berlin and in the centre was a demonstration space for its robotic arm technology. It performed a series of moves to prove its dexterity including picking up small glass jars and gently placing them back onto a flat surface. It also picking up a couple of balls that were balanced on a short stand and swapped the over to the…

Take a listen Episode 710 is of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast with editor Stephen Fenech who is bringing the latest news and products releases from the IFA tech show in Berlin. On this week’s show we’re going to take you through the biggest announcements from companies like Ecovacs, Anker, Roborock, Dreame, MOVA and EZVIZ and much more. We’ve taken a hands-on look at most of the products we’re going to be talking about. And in the Tech Guide Help Desk we’ll share a tip on how to get the best out of catch up apps on your TV and…

When connecting a security camera the usual practise is to find a spot to position it inside or outside of your home but EZVIZ has released a camera that can roam around your house because it’s on wheels. EZVIZ TAMO AIR Tech Guide took a look at the EZVIZ Tamo Air at the IFA show in Berlin. It has a large wheel on either side of the camera and is built with a self-righting design so it can never tip over. This is the sort of camera people would buy to check up on their pets. Users can log in…

In the highly competitive home robot market, Roborock – one of the leaders of the category – says it is not looking at the competition but only trying to find ways to serve their users even better. At the IFA show in Berlin, we took a hands on look at the Roborock stand where it showcased its new RockAqua P1 robot pool cleaner, Saros Series robot vacuums and the RockNeo Q2 LiDAR robot lawn mowers. When asked about the competition and what the company needs to do to stand out from all the other companies producing similar products, Roborock Product…

Step inside the new BMW iX3 Neue Klasse by pressing play on the latest episode of Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars – the EV podcast with Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long. This week, we’re talking to Brendan Michel Head of Product and Market Planning at BMW Australia about the Neue Klasse platform and their new IX3. As it happens, our first caller owns an iX3 and is buying the new one too. Plus, Stephen and Trev give their thoughts on the car after driving it recently in Byron Bay If you’ve got a question about EVs or you want to…

Dyson has unveiled a range of products incorporating advanced intelligence to deliver a new level of performance including a new robot vacuums, air purifiers, floor cleaners and hair dryers and straighteners. DYSON R3 ROBOT NUROVI SPOT AND SCRUB UV – TBC The Dyson R3 NUROVI Spot and Scrub UV can detect stains by using UV light, AI vision, and green laser illumination. You can identify around 200 types of household substances and objects and will clean repeatedly until those stains are gone. It has 30,000 PA and 65% more suction pressure for powerful cleaning across both hard floors and carpets.…

Dreame has unveiled its new smart home products at IFA in Berlin under the banner “Redefining Tomorrow’s Home” including the X60 Ultra Extreme and Aqua20 Ultra Roller robot vacuums and the T16 Series of wet and dry vacuums. The goal for Dreame is to deliver even smarter cleaning experiences for Australian households by creating a connected smart living ecosystem that cover floor and garden care along with other emerging lifestyle categories. “Dreame’s focus has always been on solving everyday household challenges through meaningful innovation, whether it’s reaching previously inaccessible areas, reducing manual cleaning effort or delivering smarter decision-making through advanced…

Tech Guide has taken a hands on look the Ecovacs booth at IFA in Berlin where it had on display the latest robots for inside and outside of your home. We saw an excellent demonstration of all the new features on the GOAT T Series robot lawnmower, the DEEBOT X12S OmniCyclone, the ULTRAMARINE L1 Pro and the new WINBOT W3 Omni. https://youtu.be/TsEVlE7ND2I?si=Eb7Npkpn0UmnhxLZ ECOVACS GOAT T SERIES ROBOT LAWN MOWER The GOAT GT series is an AWD robot lawnmower can handle rough terrain and even traverse steep slopes. One of the standout new features was the TruEdge trimmer – it’s actually…

Tech Guide has taken a closer hands-on look at the new Anker MindBase AI-powered hub at the IFA show in Berlin and in particular its new that can unite your connected devices and add a layer of intelligence like never before. To explain MindBase simply it is like the AI traffic cop of the house that can keep an eye on all the connected devices, work out ways they can work together more efficiently and how they can improve the household’s efficiency, security and storage. https://youtu.be/0u_DVkxMyWo?si=jQOl-RV0n7vUGFeE The onboard EasyOmni Link connects Anker devices but can also link Matter compatible devices…

Smart home technology has made everyday life more convenient than ever. From security cameras and smart speakers to connected TVs, thermostats, doorbells and lighting systems, more devices are now connected to the internet and capable of communicating with each other. But convenience comes with a downside. Every connected device can potentially become another entry point for cybercriminals. While people often focus on protecting their computers and smartphones, smart home devices can receive considerably less attention when it comes to security. That makes it important to look beyond passwords and antivirus software and consider the security of the entire home network.…

EZVIZ has showcased its new products at the IFA tech show in Berlin that offer home security with a new level of smarts and innovation so they can all work together more effectively. The company has developed smart home security and home entry products and introduced next-generation devices that are powered by local-first EZVIZ AI. At IFA EZVIZ has also unveiled brand new smart cleaning robots and even wearable devices that can be meet our needs when we’re at home and on the go. “EZVIZ has prepared a technological feast, with each line-up full of hardcore innovations,” said Chris Xu,…

MOVA has introduced a series of new products at the IFA show in Berlin which it is calling “the AI MOVAment” which adopt a range of technologies that can be used across the entire home. These run across smart outdoor, home cleaning, smart kitchen, pet care and embodied AI. Included in the line-up is the Astra X, the first robotic lawnmower equipped with a robotic arm. There is also a robot vacuum with electronic skin to give it a sense of touch while the Knot 80 dextrous hand points to new possibilities for intelligent manipulation. The AI MOVAment is MOVA’s…

This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast, we’re watching What Lies Beneath starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford and directed by Robert Zemeckis. What Lies Beneath tells the story of a woman recovering from a car accident who begins to see visions of a woman and a presence in her home before making a staggering discovery. Stephen watched What Lies Beneath in the theatres and has re-watched it several times while Trevor is watching it for the very first time. We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits, trivia, fact…

Ecovacs, named the global number one home robotics brand in recently released research by Forbes China, has revealed its latest products that expands from floor care to windows, lawns and pools at the IFA show in Berlin. The company has demonstrated how it’s in-house research and development and scalable technology can adapt to people’s needs. “The future of home robotics is not about adding more products. It is about giving people more freedom from everyday tasks,” said David Qian, CEO of Ecovacs Robotics. “By reusing around 80 per cent of our core technologies and adapting 20 per cent to each…

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 748 is coming to you live from Berlin where Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long are attending the IFA tech show. On this week’s show, we discuss what we can expect to see at IFA – and no surprise it will be robots, robots and more robots. Dyson has released the CameraJet which reinvents the sonic toothbrush, Uniden has launched a series of affordable rugged Bluetooth speakers and Meta is fined billions of dollars for admitting its platform is addictive – should that have been the way Australia approached the social media ban? You can listen…

Leading consumer electronics brand Belkin has released new portable charging solutions powered by solid-state technology. The new UltraCharge Pro with BoostSolid Cell lineup is Belkin’s first range to feature semi-solid state technology. It is the next generation of battery that offers improved durability, longer battery life, and a slimmer design and all without affecting performance. The new UltraCharge Pro with BoostSolid Cell how are banks have set a new standard in portable power. Unlike conventional liquid cell batteries, the BoostSolid Cell adds a gel-like layer alongside the liquid electrolyte to allow for a slimmer and more compact design while still…