Author: Stephen Fenech

Optus has announced a partnership with SpaceX and Starlink with the ambitious goal to provide voice and data coverage to 100 per cent of Australia by 2025. The announcement comes just a week after Telstra announced its deal with Starlink with Optus aiming to provide regional Australians with connectivity via the LEO (low earth orbit) satellite system in 2024. But for Optus it doesn’t end there. The company has also set a bold road map with 100 per cent coverage to the entire landmass rather than just where the Australian population lives. The Optus network is currently within reach of…

The new social media platform Threads, a text-based spinoff of Instagram, has hit 100 million users in just five days while Twitter’s traffic has fallen off a cliff. Threads has set a record in reaching 100 million users. It took TikTok nine months to hit that number, two months for OpenChat GPT and two and a half years for Instagram. Anyone who downloads the Threads app can use their Instagram account to sign up and be up and running within minutes. And while Threads has taken off like a rocket and continues to add users, it’s the opposite for its…

Samsung has responded to Australian customer demand for larger TVs with the release of a massive 98-inch QLED 4K Smart TV to offer a home cinema experience like never before. The 98-inch Samsung QLED Q80C 4K TV is priced at $11,649 and brings the company’s Quantum Dot technology to the largest screen in the range. A larger screen and the ability to access all the major streaming apps were the two main motivators for people to upgrade their TV according to a recent Kantor Worldpanel report. “We’ve worked hard to not only pack our premium AV technologies into a 98-inch…

Press play on Episode 559 of the top-rating Tech Guide 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: the new Threads platform is taking on and could possibly overtake Twitter, Ecovacs Robotics have revealed their Prime Day specials and we go through all the other bargains you can find this week. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new Dyson cordless vacuum, we check out the Theragun Mini 2.0 is like have a masseur everywhere you go and the…

Amazon’s Prime Day is here and there are lots of tech bargains on offer during the sale on July 11 and July 12 – and we’ve gone through them and found the best deals. Customers need to be Amazon Prime members to enjoy the discounts. For $9.99 a month or $72 annually, members receive free shipping all year round as well as subscriptions to Prime Video, Amazon Music and Prime Reading. Here are the best deals we’ve rounded up: Amazon Devices – Echo, Fire TV, Kindle and Ring: – Save 63 per cent off RRP on the brand new Echo…

It’s Amazon’s Prime Day and there has never been a better time to purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT robot vacuum/mop or the WINBOT W1 Pro window cleaner. If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing a robot vacuum or perhaps couldn’t fit one into your budget, you can now save big money on the ECOVACS Robotics models on Prime Day which will run on July 11 and 12. Customers can enjoy up to 43 per cent off the recommended retail prices of the ECOVACS DEEBOT range. There are seven models that will be available at greatly reduced prices – the T10…

Wellness brand Therabody got our attention with the Theragun massage device and now it has released its baby brother – the Theragun Mini 2.0 – which you can take anywhere with you. The Theragun Mini 2.0 is a travel-sized product that offers the same percussive therapy but in a compact form factor. And this 2.0 version is 20 per cent smaller and 30 per cent lighter than the first generation Mini. Therabody has customised its proprietary brushless motor has been shrunken down to its smallest size ever to still deliver the power you expect but from a device that fits…

There is no gene for fate. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching Gattaca starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law. Gattaca is set in the near future at a time when parents can adjust their unborn child’s DNA to rid them of human imperfections and thereby give them a superior place in society. But Vincent, who was naturally conceived, still dreams of joining the Gattaca space program and travelling to the stars. Stephen watched this movie at the cinema and has watched it several times over the years while Trevor was coming in…

Dyson has released its Gen5outsize cordless vacuum that’s been designed to deliver a bigger clean thanks to a larger cleaner head, a larger bin and a swappable battery. The Gen5outsize builds on the technology and performance of the Dyson Gen5detect and had been re-designed for wider and longer cleaning period. The Gen5outsize has a 25 per cent wider cleaner head, a 150 per cent larger dust bin and a cleaning time of up to 70 minutes. Under the hood is the fifth generation Hyperdymium motor with 250 air watts of suction power which can collect larger debris all the way…

Instagram has today launched its next text and conversation-focused platform called Threads – and it is already being seen as a direct threat to Twitter. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced the new Threads app which was created by Instagram and designed to allow its two billion plus users to connect with friends and creators. Threads has been rolled out in more than 100 countries with the app available for both iOS and Android users. The Threads interface looks a lot like Twitter and has many other similarities. Users can log in to Threads using their Instagram account and choose to…

Telstra has delivered a state of the union update about its network and future features and enhancements that will make 5G even faster and accessible to even more customers. These improvements include Cloud RAN, satellite back up for outages and even better cyber security and blocking of scam text messages and calls. Telstra is in its fifth year offering 5G to customers with more than 80 per cent now using a 5G compatible device. Telstra’s 5G network is already accessible by 85 per cent of the population and will move to 95 per cent by 2025. In the process, Telstra…

It’s time to listen to Episode 592 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide Editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they bring you the biggest tech stories of the week. This week: Telstra lays out the state of affairs with its 5G network along with its partnership with Starlink to bring voice services and high speed broadband to remote areas, Twitter sets a limit on the number of tweets people can see while Instagram warms up his own text-based social-media platform Threads and EV sales looking very healthy for June with Tesla coming out on…

Who said computer accessories couldn’t be colourful? Certainly not Bon.elk – it has just released a range of colourful and stylish products that can be used every day on the go. Whether you’re a creative, a student or a professional, the Bon.elk accessories can add a splash of colour to your workflow. Bon.elk has released a 3-in-1 USB-C Hub and a Slim 4-port USB-A Hub which are both available in five colours – black, blue, green, spade grey and white. They are made from premium grade aluminium and allows users to accommodate more peripherals and USB devices. They connect to…

It’s time to press play on Episode 558 of the top-rating Tech Guide 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: Apple is rumoured to be working on a 30-inch iMac, Peloton has launched new gaming-inspired fitness content and Meta rolls out new parental supervision tools for Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the new device that turns any laptop into a dual monitor set-up, Samsung has released is smart Bespoke AI laundry appliances and…

The saying is “don’t cry over spilled milk” but with the new Tineco Floor One S7 Pro, which has just arrived in Australia, you’d almost welcome a spill to put the new wet and dry vacuum to the test. The Tineco Floor One S7 Pro can easily handle all kinds of spills whether it’s a drink, a bowl of cereal or a dropped egg thanks to its balanced-pressure water flow system. Onboard is an intelligent self-cleaning system for easy maintenance to ensure it performs at its best every time you use it. Under the hood is a SmoothPower bi-directional self-propulsion…

Telstra has partnered with Starlink to become the first provider in the world to offer voice and broadband services through the satellite system to rural and remote customers in Australia. Starlink has a network of LEO (low earth orbit) satellites that can offer high speed internet anywhere on the globe. The benefit of LEO satellites is that they are much closer to earth and can send and receive signals faster than traditional satellites making them a great option for providing backhaul to mobile networks and other services. Starlink will be able to offer users in remote areas with a range…

Apple is reportedly working on a 30-inch iMac – which will be its largest all-in-one computer – according to the latest rumours about the company’s product roadmap. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a reliable source of Apple rumours, claims the company is in the early stages of development for a 30-inch iMac. Apple has a 24-inch iMac in its current line-up powered by its own M1 chip. It discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac at the start of 2022 when it released the standalone Mac Studio and Studio Display. Now if a customer wants a Mac with a 27-inch display they can either…

There are times when we just need extra screen space when we’re using laptop. One solution is the Duex Max which can turn any laptop into a dual-screen set-up. Created by Mobile Pixels, the Duex Max attaches to the lid of your laptop and can slide out and provide an extra 14.1 inches of screen real estate. The Duex Max is ideal for a busy mobile professional but it would also suit a user who has set up a home office to work remotely. The display on the Duex Max is full high definition and offer 300 nits of maximum…

I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more. This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen we’re watching The Wizard Of Oz – the all-time classic that many believe has been the most watched movie in history. Released in 1939 and starring a 16-year-old Judy Garland, The Wizard Of Oz is a colourful tale that’s appealing to movie lovers of all ages. Stephen saw this for the first time as a 6-year old and it scared the hell out of him, but he’s been a lot more comfortable rewatching it for decades. Trevor has never sat through the…

Samsung has revealed his 2023 Bespoke AI laundry range which includes and AI Washer and Dryer and the new mirror finish AirDresser. Samsung’s 2023 Bespoke laundry range offers not only intelligent laundry solutions but also large capacities, efficiency and stunning design. They provide smart home convenience through SmartThings so you can access automated features that can streamline a customer’s daily routines. “Our new Bespoke AI Laundry range uses AI innovation to learn your usage patterns and provide recommendations to help care for your clothes and reduce your mental load,” said Jeremy Senior, Vice President-Consumer Electronics, Samsung Australia. “The new laundry…