Author: Stephen Fenech

Belkin has just revealed its new innovative range of wireless chargers and USB-C solutions along with new audio products at the IFA tech trade show in Berlin. On the wireless charging front, Belkin has released the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 for faster charging at up to 15W. It also has a USB-C port to attach a dongle for faster charging of newer Apple Watch models. Belkin has also unveiled the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand which can be used at home and on the go. The MagSafe compatible product has a convertible design which…

JBL has unveiled Authentics – a new series of multi-room smart speakers which offer a retro look, wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity and access to both Alexa and Google Assistant in the same unit. Unveiled at the IFA tech trade show in Berlin, there are three speakers in the range – the JBL Authentics 200, the JBL Authentics 300 and the JBL Authentics 500. The speakers have a leather retro look and are fitted with Quadrex speaker grille which draws inspiration from the iconic JBL L100 speaker which was released in the 1970s. The JBL Authentics range of smart speakers can…

ECOVACS ROBOTICS has teamed up with Aldi once again with a Special Buys offer for the DEEBOT NEO which has been slashed to half price at $399. Usually priced at $799, the DEEBOT NEO will be available at Aldi Stores on September 9 while stocks last. The DEEBOT NEO can mop and vacuum and, at this price will make an ideal first vacuum or a handy second unit for a multi-storey home. And Tech Guide reviewed the DEEBOT NEO when it was released. DEEBOT NEO includes some flagship features included on the more expensive models including TrueMapping laser-based mapping and…

Nearly half of Tesla’s Superchargers across Australia will now be available to charge non-Tesla electric vehicles which will go a long way in easing range anxiety and encouraging drivers to make the switch to EVs. Now 30 of Tesla’s 63 Supercharger sites around the country can now be used by all EVs. Until today, Tesla’s Superchargers would work exclusively only with Tesla vehicles. Tesla says it was always the company’s mission to open its wide network of superchargers to make it more attractive to driver to make the transition to electric vehicles. “I think we do want to emphasize that…

In May, Telstra launched a “dob in a scammer” scheme to help reduce the number of scam text messages getting through to customers. So how are they doing? The scheme allows customers to forward scam SMS and MMS to 7226 (SCAM) and more than 50,000 have been received – but Telstra says there’s room for improvement. Telstra’s Chief Information security officer Narelle Devine says there’s room for improvement. “While we’re receiving a large amount of reported messages, many aren’t usable,” she said. “Some, like legitimate marketing texts and unknown numbers, are sent to us in error. “Others are legitimate scam…

Apple has confirmed it will be holding a launch event on September 12 (early September 13 in Australia) at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park which will introduce the new iPhone 15. Apple sent out invitations to the event with the Apple logo made of sand above the word: Wonderlust. The immediate speculation was the different coloured sands that make up the logo – blue, silver and grey – will be the new colours of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Things will kick off at 10am in Cupertino which will be 3am Sydney time. We…

The iPhone 14 Pro Max – Apple’s most expensive iPhone – was the most shipped phone in the first half of 2023 according to the Omdia Smartphone Model Market Tracer. Coming in at second place was the iPhone 14 Pro. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, which shipped 26.5 million units in the first two quarters of 2023, starts at $1,899 in Australia and the iPhone 14 Pro, which shipped 21 million units in the same period, starts at $1,749. Rounding out the top three was the iPhone 14 with 16.5 million units shipped, which starts at $1,399. Last year in…

Bowers & Wilkins has released its new 600 Series S3 – the eight generation high performance loudspeakers which include some of the biggest upgrades they’ve ever received. The 600 Series is the second longest series in the Bowers & Wilkins portfolio after the popular 800 Series. The release of the new 600 Series S3 comes at a time when more people are demanding higher quality sound while listening to vinyl or high-resolution streaming services. The 600 Series S3 are the ideal entry point to the Bowers & Wilkins brand so customers can hear “True Sound” so you’re hearing sound as…

Streaming video, music and gaming services saw a drop in annual growth in the past year as cost of living pressures take hold in Australia according analyst firm Telsyte. The Telsyte Australian Subscription Entertainment Study 2023 revealed the number of subscription services in Australia grew by 3 per cent to 49.9 million as of June 2023 but the growth rate was lower than the double digit increase of the previous year. But Australians are still quite attached to their on-demand services with Netflix continuing to be the market leader with 6.1 million subscribers in Australia as of June 2023 followed…

Ever wish you could take your 27-inch screen with you? LG will let you do just that with the new StanbyME Go which includes a 27-inch touch display that’s neatly integrated into a rugged carry case. The LG StanbyME Go, which will be officially unveiled at the IFA 2023 trade show in Berlin this week, allows users to stream movies, mirror their smartphones, play games and more. The sturdy case that houses the display can be opened and used as a base as the screen is tilted up out of the case ad angled for comfortable viewing. The display can…

Don’t you get it? We’re under attack! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg. War of the Worlds is the modern remake of the HG Wells classic novel about an invasion that threatens mankind told through the eyes of Ray Ferrier who is trying to protect his family and get them to safety. Stephen watched War at the World at the Sydney premier and has watched several times since then while Trevor is experiencing it for the first time. We go through the…

Press play on Episode 599 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they discuss the week’s biggest tech stories and product reviews. On this week’s show: Foxtel’s customer base and how it has changed, 7-Eleven creating grab and go stores, Apple Maps vs Waze, the Rode Pro microphone and what to look for when buying a dash cam. You can listen to the show right here on Tech Guide site using the audio player below. It is also possible to subscribe to the popular weekly tech podcast on Apple Podcasts.

When it comes to earphones one size doesn’t fit all so JBL has launched its new True Wireless range which gives customers the choice of form factor and features and with prices to suit all budgets. So how do customers know which JBL True Wireless earphones is right for them? JBL has created a grid with three different series which have three different form factors and three different price points. The three series are Wave, Tune and Live and each come in three different design options  – bud, stick closed style with tip and stick open style to suit your…

Samsung has just unveiled the Odyssey Neo G9 – a monstrous 57-inch gaming monitor that’s the world’s first dual UHD display – to take your gaming experience to all new heights. The Odyssey Neo G9 (C95NC) has 1000R curvature in the 32:9 screen which is just as wide as two 32-inch monitors. It is the world’s first DUHD (dual ultra high definition) screen so users can enjoy pin sharp picture quality and wide wrap-around field of view. “As we stride forward as pioneers in the global display industry, Samsung consistently seeks to redefine the boundaries of excellence, particularly in response…

Dash Cams are quickly becoming a must-have product for vehicles to document what happens on the road in the event of an incident or accident – but not all dash cams are the same. Tech Guide has spoken to Navman Australia’s product manager Elvis Tran about what customers should look for in a dash cam and how the technology has evolved. Navman sold more than 3 million sat nav products across Australia and New Zealand but has decide to focus solely on dash cams and develop new models of the MiVue dash cam range and develop connected dash cams for…

If you want to go to the top of the class then you need to tune in to Episode 565 of the top-rating Tech Guider podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: Samsung has beaten Apple for the first time for an important consumer award for its tablets, the small affordable Australian-made product that lets you breath underwater and Kobo’s new all-you-can-read and listen book subscription. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at Panasonic’s first six-blade electric shaver, the…

Rode has unveiled a new wireless microphone system – the Wireless PRO – which is designed to meet the needs of filmmakers and content creators. The new compact wireless system is the most powerful Rode has ever created and delivers both versatility and high-quality audio to satisfy the most demanding filmmakers and creators. The Wireless PRO has an impressive set of features not found in any microphone and Rode has managed to pack them in to this compact wireless system. And Rode has still managed to offer the same pocket-sized design as the rest of the company’s range with a…

To breathe underwater usually requires very expensive SCUBA gear but an Australian company has come up with the world’s first portable, and more affordable, underwater breathing device. The SCORKL 2.0 is a portable electric SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) which offers easy and endless refills. With the SCORKL 2.0, users can enjoy 10 minutes underwater without having to lug heavy and expensive equipment. The product is available for pre-order via the Kickstarter platform which has just kicked off with availability in March 2024. The SCORKL 2.0 is basically a mini SCUBA tank that is about the size of a large…

Aspera Mobile has raised the bar for entry level smartphones with the release of the AS8 which includes features usually seen on devices with much higher price tags including face and fingerprint recognition and NFC to enable contactless payments. Priced at $149, the 4G AS8 has a 6.3-inch display with a resolution of 1600 x 720. The device is running Android 13 and is powered by an octa-core 1.6GHz CPU with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal memory. It can also allocate 1GB from the main memory as virtual RAM to improve performance and allow users to switch between apps even…

It was a run-by fruiting! This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen we’re watching Mrs Doubtfire starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. Mrs Doubtfire tells the story of voice actor Danial Hillard who is facing a divorce and separation from his kids. He comes up with an unusual way to spend time with his children. Stephen watched Mrs Doubtfire in the cinema and has experienced it several times since while Trevor is watching it from start to finish for the first time. We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes…