Author: Stephen Fenech

Lend us your ears for Episode 584 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 releases. On this week’s show: Google’s new folding smartphone and other announcements from Google I/O, Ford and MG Motors release pricing for their lastest EVS, we share our Samsung Galaxy A54 reviews and Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps come to the iPad. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the Two…

MG Motors Australia has announced official pricing for the variants of the eagerly awaited MG4 EV hatchback starting at well under $50,000. MG4 EV variants will include the 64kWh Excite, the 64kWh Essence and the 77kWh Essence. The 64kWh Excite will be priced at $44,990 plus on-road costs while the 64kWh Essence will be $47,990 plus on-road costs. The 77kWh Essence will be $55,990 plus on-road costs. Range of the models will be 530km (77kWh Essence), 450km (64kWh Excite) and 430km (64kWh Essence). The 64kWh battery can also be charged at up to 138kW which means it can go from…

Google has officially unveiled its first folding device – the Pixel Fold – which is both a smartphone and a tablet in one. But the bad news is it is not coming to Australia at launch, and it won’t be cheap. Also unveiled at the annual Google I/O event overnight was the Pixel 7a smartphone and the Pixel Tablet. The Pixel Fold will be released next month in the US, Japan, Germany and the UK and will be priced at $US1,799. That’s more than $2,650 Australian dollars. Google is now going up against Samsung in the folding market with Samsung…

Ford Australia has confirmed pricing and opened orders for the new Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle which is expected to hit Australian roads before the end of the year. Customers can reserve a vehicle with a $1000 deposit through the online portal. There will be three variants for the Mustang Mach-E – Select, Premium and GT. Here’s an overview of the Mach-E line-up: – Mach-E Select: Priced from $79,990 (MLP), this model features a 71kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, providing up to 470km of driving range1 and an output of 198kW and 430Nm of torque. – Mach-E Premium: Priced from $92,990 (MLP),…

Popular editing applications Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro have come to the iPad. Apple unveiled the new video and music apps which will allow creators to work on their content anywhere. Naturally, the new iPad apps have all-new touch interfaces that can speed up workflows. They will be available on the App Store as subscriptions on May 23. Final Cut Pro for iPad includes a powerful new set of tools for video creators to record, edit finish and share their content on the move from the iPad. Logic Pro for iPad is like a mobile studio with tools for…

Navman has released its new range of MiVue ALTA dash cams which are designed to blend into your vehicle while still offering great features and clear footage of anything that happens while you’re driving. For a customer who wants the dash cam to look like a factory-fitted accessory, the Navman MiVue ALTA is the perfect choice. ALTA is a first of its kind vertical front camera that can be integrated discreetly in the centre of the windscreen and out of sight from the driver. The Navman ALTA starts at $329 and can be fitted too new and older cars thanks…

Stay updated and educated with Episode 550 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech as he discusses the latest tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: Bing’s AI-powered search is now open to all, smartphone shipments continue to slump according to the latest Omdia figures, Nokia has released one of the world’s toughest smartphones, we take a look at the Samsung A54 5G smartphone, Anker launches a new portable power station and Jura releases a sweet new automatic coffee machine. In the Tech Guide Help Desk we explain how you can watch NRL games while…

Belkin has released the BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 5K + Stand which can charge your iPhone on the move and position it comfortably when you want to enjoy some content or jump on a video call. The Belkin power bank has a 5,000mAh capacity and offers 7.5W of wireless charging power. It will work with the iPhone 12 or later as it requires MagSafe compatibility so the Belkin BoostCharge power bank can attach itself magnetically to the iPhone, so you won’t need any cables. The metal fold-out stand is built into the back of the power bank which offers…

Global smartphone shipments are still stuck in a rut with figures down 12.7 per cent from last year – and Samsung has taken one of the biggest hits while Apple remains steady. In the first quarter of 2023 there were 268.5 million units shipped according to the Omdia smartphone preliminary shipment report. That’s a year on year decline of 12.7 per cent and 11.1 per cent down from the previous quarter. Two of the biggest manufacturers, Samsung and Xiaomi saw the biggest declines at 18.3 per cent and 22 per cent respectively year on year. But despite the year on…

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 5G is a mid-tier smartphone with the design, display and features that makes it feel like a flagship product. No, Samsung isn’t trying to put itself out of business – the A54 5G is no Galaxy S23 but the mid-tier device can still hold its own. It’s ideal for the customer who wants something better than an entry level smartphone but that doesn’t want to shell out thousands of dollars for the top of the line products. You can describe Samsung’s A54 5G as the Goldilocks smartphone – not too cheap, not too expensive – it’s just…

Bueller….Bueller…..Bueller?? This week on The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen podcast we’re watching the comedy classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starring Matthew Broderick and released in 1986. It tells the story of high school student who fakes an illness and hatches an elaborate plan to enjoy the ultimate day off school with his best friend and girlfriend and a certain rare Ferrari. Stephen watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in the cinema with his mates while Trevor has actually seen this movie but doesn’t remember it. We go through the memorable scenes and share some interesting facts, behind the scenes tidbits,…

You’re missing out if you’re not tuning in to Episode 583 of the popular 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 products releases. On this week’s show: Is AI already going too far, Apple and Google join forces to prevent unwanted tracking, PayID scam uncovered, more folding phone speculation from Google and Samsung and the work from anywhere study from Espresso Displays. You can listen to the show right here on the Tech Guide site using the audio player below. Click on the…

The new AI-powered Bing and Edge browser is now available to all to reinvent search for users in a powerful and more visual way after a successful limited preview. The goal with the AI-powered Microsoft Bing and updated Edge browser was to address the issue that nearly half of all web searches actually go unanswered. Bing has moved from a limited preview to an open preview which means users no longer have to sit on a waiting list to use the platform. The other huge change is the ability to create and compose using powerful language models like open AI’s…

Jura has launched its new J8 fully automatic coffee machine that can prepare a full range of your favourite brews and even different flavours at the touch of a button. The J8 now comes with a range of new features and more specialties including the Sweet Foam function that can add flavour to the milk foam and take your love of coffee to a whole new level. Users can adjust the type and amount of syrup and customise this flavour and strength to suit their taste. With this new feature it’s possible to create trendy drinks like a sweet latte…

Nokia has released the XR21 – which could be one of the world’s toughest smartphones. The device is drop, dust and waterproof and even has a two-day battery life. It is ideal for customers who have a fear they might drop and break their phone and perfect for those who work and play in the great outdoors. According to Nokia’s research, 62 per cent of Australians have dropped their phone and smashed the screen. And we put up with a smashed phone screen for up to four months before we decide to get it fixed. Naturally, 74 per cent of…

Apple and Google are working together with other tech companies to combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices like AirTags and Tile when they are used to stalk individuals. The two tech giants have jointly submitted an industry specification which can help prevent misuse of these tracking devices – usually used to keep track of keys, bags and other personal items – from being used to unknowingly track people. This first-of-its-kind specification will make the Bluetooth location-tracking products like AirTags to work with unauthorised tracking detection and alerts across both iOS and Android platforms. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and…

Taking your power with you just got easier with the release of the Anker PowerHouse 767 – it’s the world’s first portable power station to incorporate GaN (gallium nitride) technology for longer battery life and lifespan. The Anker PowerHouse 767 can power up to 10 devices if you’re living and camping off the grid as well as offering hours of power during a blackout. The 767 has a 2048Wh battery with 2300W AC power which can power all essential electronic equipment for days including home appliances, camping gear, power tools and mobile devices. The product is 52.5cm long and 25cm…

It’s time to press play on Episode 549 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by editor Stephen Fenech as he keeps you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews. On this week’s show: TikTok launched an investigation – into itself, we take a look at the report card on the Australian 5G networks and how a smart speaker can get you back on track and motivated to achieve your goals. In the Tech Guide reviews, we check out at the Arlo Pro 5 2K wire-free security camera, DJI has released a drone with a triple…

Australian start-up Espresso Displays has released a new survey showing how our work habits have changed and the expectation of flexibility to do our job from anywhere. If there’s one thing the COVID pandemic taught us, it’s that work is a thing you do – not a place you go. Espresso’s excellent 13-inch and 15-inch portable displays can plug into a laptop and provide even more workspace to get things done anywhere. A new survey of 1,116 corporate workers from more than 60 different companies has revealed an interesting snapshot of our work habits and work from anywhere dreams. The…

Ecovacs Robotics has made a price breakthrough with its new Deebot N10 Plus robotic vacuum and mopping cleaner which offers a range of high end features and power that’s available for under $1000 for the first time. The Deebot N10 Plus includes most of the features Ecovacs is well known for including strong suction power of 4300Pa, advanced TrueMapping navigation technology, up to five hours of runtime and an auto-empty charging station that can hold up to 60 days of dust. For customers who want to take back some of their valuable time, the new Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus can…