You can listen to or watch Episode 613 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they dissect the week’s biggest tech stories and product launches.

This week – we take a look at the most popular Google searches, the most popular Apple apps this year, the most watched movies and TV shows plus we look back at the biggest news stories and product launches of the year and check out the LG Gram laptop.

You can listen or the watch show right here on Tech Guide site using the audio player below or by pressing play on the YouTube player.

It is also possible to subscribe to the popular weekly tech podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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If money is no object, you might want to consider taking a look at the world’s most expensive TV – the 137-inch Unfolding C Seed N1 TV – which can transform from a sculpture to a huge 4K MicroLED screen.

The luxury TV – which likely to be priced at more than $350,000 – will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Word is C Seed is also likely to produce a massive 165-inch model.

The C Seed TV is the world’s first product of this kind and uses cutting edge technology to go from an aluminium minimalist sculpture to rise and unfold into a stunning TV in just 60 seconds.

The MicroLED panels unfold quietly to form a seamless picture with stunning picture quality thanks to Advanced Gap Calibration.

Customers who have a multi-million dollar views they want preserve are the most likely C Seed TV customers.

The TV could be placed in front of their giant window without blocking the view – but then when it’s time to watch TV the N1 would unfold into its massive size and then fold down again after your viewing session is complete.

The N1 used MicroLED technology and offers impressive contrast, brightness and tremendous colour.

MicroLED offers twice the colour accuracy and purity of conventional LED TVs.

Also onboard is 16-bit colour depth processing and advanced HDR and HDR10+ processing to enjoy a stunning viewing experience.

On the audio side, the N1 it has a built-in pre-amp, speakers and an independent subwoofer.

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Do not hesitate to press play on Episode 580 of the Tech Guide podcast hosted by Stephen Fenech so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews.

On this week’s show: what is the world coming to – product proposed to prevent people being injured texting and walking, Vodafone and CommBank team up to combat SMS scams and more than 2.6bn personal records have been compromised in the last two years – what is the solution?

In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Hisense Mini LED X TV, Withings has released the ScanWatch Nova Smartwatch and we go through our Christmas Gift Guide suggestions.

In the Tech Guide Help Desk we speak about the benefits of tank printers.

You can listen to the Tech Guide podcast right here using the podcast player below.

Tech Guide’s podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts here.

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What is the world coming to when there is a need for a product like the Scroll Shades to help people keep an eye on their device and the path ahead of them to prevent scroll and stroll injuries.

Decluttr, rather than warning people that they shouldn’t walk and text at the same time, has decided to come up with one of the most ridiculous products ever created.

Declutter has proposed the Scroll Shades after a surge in texting injuries has increased by 20 per cent since 2020 and 28 per cent in the last decade.

The Scroll Shades – which is not an early April Fool’s Day joke – have been designed by Decluttr using a periscope-style mirror on the lens to refract the light so we can see our smartphone’s screen while still looking straight ahead.

People’s heads buried in their devices while they are walking has caused injuries ranging from lacerations and sprains to contusions and fractures.

“These figures are truly eye-opening and underscore a trend that’s been building for some time now,” says Liam Howley, Chief Marketing Officer at Decluttr.

“With technology becoming deeply entrenched in our day-to-day lives, it’s no surprise that accidents happen, however, we need to be more conscious of how our tech habits could cause a risk to ourselves and others.”

“What’s encouraging to see is that some easy fixes can be made to ensure our tech is just that little bit more safe – sitting up in bed when texting, waiting until we are firmly on stop when out walking to check our devices, or using accessories like scroll shades – these may seem obvious but a more mindful approach to technology will go a long way to reduce injury.”

The planned tech specs feature a prism on the left lens so the light from the smartphone can still be seen even when they are walking and looking forward. This will enable the user to text and walk at the same time.

If we resort to creating idiotic products like Scroll Shades – we are doomed as a species.

How’s this for an idea – stand still to finish your text message.

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Lend us your eyes and ears for Episode 612 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast hosted by Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long.

On this week’s show, ACMA slams Telstra after the telco self-reported an over-billing issue, Elon Musk lets loose at a conference, what old school things do we still do, new ScanWatch from Withings and Ford slashes prices on its electric Mustang.

You can listen or the watch show right here on Tech Guide site using the audio player below or by pressing play on the YouTube player.

It is also possible to subscribe to the popular weekly tech podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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Withings has unveiled its latest hybrid smartwatch – the ScanWatch Nova – which offers a traditional design while still including the latest digital technology.

ScanWatch Nova has a luxury diver-style design which can provide a range of information including health metrics and an on-demand ECG, respiratory system assessment and sleep tracking.

“ScanWatch Nova makes continuous measurements autonomous and effortless with an extraordinary 30-day battery life,” says Etienne Trégaro, Product Manager at Withings.

“The splendid timepiece imperceptibly embeds a powerful health scan, with all the cutting-edge innovations to enhance your health, wrapped in a stylish aesthetic inspired by the timeless tradition of diver-style watchmaking.”

The ScanWatch Nova has a luxurious design crafted with precision and attention to detail.

It is water resistant and includes a ceramic and stainless steel rotating bezel.

It also has laser engraved markings, a refined sunray dial as well as full Luminova hollow watch hands indicators and thick raised indices so you can still easily tell the time in low light.

The watch face is also made of premium sapphire glass and includes an anti-reflection coating.

On the digital side, the ScanWatch Nova has an OLED high resolution grayscale screen where viewers can view their essential notifications.

On board the ScanWatch Nova are numerous sensors and health tracking features including:

– On-demand medical-grade electrocardiogram: Detect potential heart anomalies at any time such as atrial fibrillation, one of the most prevalent forms of arrhythmias characterised by irregular heart rhythms. Nearly 2 million signs of AFib have been identified on ScanWatch since 2020. By simply touching the bezel, users can launch an ECG reading with live results on the Withings app in just 30 seconds.

– Indication of onset of an illness: Track baseline fluctuations of day and night body temperature which may indicate the onset of an illness or other health conditions. Its revolutionary TempTech24/7 module technology combines miniaturised heat flux sensors (measuring energy transit) with a high-accuracy temperature sensor (measuring ambient & skin temperature), alongside heart rate and accelerometer input calibrations to deliver best-in-class body temperature variation assessment.

– Respiratory system assessment: Track on-demand blood oxygen (SpO2) and overnight breathing disturbances. Good blood oxygenation is necessary for optimal muscle function.

– Advanced sleep metrics: Wake up to a Sleep Quality Score and explore advanced sleep metrics (phases, depth, duration, interruptions) which can help improve your sleep.

– Seamless tracking during physical activity: Track parameters such as steps, calories, elevation, workout routes (via in-app connected GPS) and the automatic recognition of 40+ activities.

– Leading-edge technology: Utilising MultiWave PPG sensors and HealthSense – Withings’ proprietary operating system, ScanWatch Nova can track advanced cardiovascular vitals including heart rate, heart rate variability, and ECG. It also measures SpO2 and breathing disturbances and tracks sleep patterns.

– Intuitive connection to the Withings app: The Withings app allows users to customise the screen and the information they can see on the watch display such as the heart rate variability³, the number of steps taken, the variation of the baseline body temperature, activities and much more. To take things to the next level, a long press on the dial can launch your preferred feature and its ‘quick look option’ activates the watch display with a lift of the wrist. Through the app, users can also receive personalised insights, trends, and recommendations to improve their health journey.

“With ScanWatch Nova, we have created an extraordinary heart health hybrid smartwatch that is as clinically powerful as it is beautiful,” said Eric Carreel, Founder and President of Withings.

“By seamlessly merging luxury design with the power of health technology, peoples’ health journeys can now be as stunning as they are effective.

“It brings amazing, concrete health benefits such as a medical grade ECG and aesthetic allure in one astonishing package.”

The Withings ScanWatch Nova goes on sale on January 8, 2024, and will be priced at $799.

It will be available in blue, black and green with an oyster metal wristband and FKM wristband which are easily swappable.

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Make the smart move and listen to Episode 579 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 App Economy is thriving in Australia, Sony has released a slimline PlayStation 5 and Epson has launched a short-throw home theatre projector.

In the Tech Guide reviews, we get behind the wheel of the new Tesla Model 3, we check out the new Ember mugs that can keep your tea and coffee warm and Laser launches an affordable range of smart decorative lights.

In the Tech Guide Help Desk we talk about the fall detection feature on smartwatches.

You can listen to the Tech Guide podcast right here using the podcast player below.

Tech Guide’s podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts here.

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Watch or listen to Episode 611 of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long as they go through the week’s biggest tech topics and issues.

On this week’s show, fake news about new tech features, impersonation scams, Hisense TV review and recycling your old mobile devices.

You can listen or the watch show right here on Tech Guide site using the audio player below or by pressing play on the YouTube player.

It is also possible to subscribe to the popular weekly tech podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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The App Economy in Australia – the workforce creating and working on mobile apps – has grown by 61 per cent since 2017 according to a report from the Progressive Policy Institute.

Apple has also revealed the App Store Award winners – rewarding the best apps and games in 2023.

Australia is playing an important role in evolving the app economy with Australian apps among the best in the world including Sydney-based Canva, Tasmanian-based Savage Interactive – the company behind art app Procreate – and Melbourne-based fintech company AfterPay.

15 years ago, when Apple’s App Store kicked off on July 10, 2008, none of these jobs existed.

Today more than 182,000 people (as of August 2023) work in Australia’s App Economy – that’s 61 per cent more than the 113,000 from 2017.

And if you break things up based on operating systems, there are 174,000 employed in the iOS ecosystem – that’s an 81 per cent increase from the 96,000 from 2017.

There are also 166,000 jobs in the Android ecosystem which has grown 90 per cent since 87,000 in 2017.

Apple has also unveiled the list of winners for the 2023 App Store Award winners.

The 2023 winners include developers from all parts of the world.

Their apps were chosen by the App Store’s Editorial team for offering users meaningful experiences and inspiring cultural change.

“It’s inspiring to see the ways developers continue to build incredible apps and games that are redefining the world around us,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“This year’s winners represent the limitless potential of developers to bring their visions to life, creating apps and games with remarkable ingenuity, exceptional quality and purpose-driven missions.”

THE 2023 APP STORE AWARD WINNERS

Apps

iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails, from AllTrails, Inc.

iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup, from Prêt-à-Template.

Mac App of the Year: Photomator, from UAB Pixelmator Team.

Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI, from MUBI, Inc.

Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym, from Mateus Abras.

Games

iPhone Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail, from COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.

iPad Game of the Year: Lost in Play, from Snapbreak Games.

Mac Game of the Year: Lies of P, from NEOWIZ.

Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure, from Sunblink.

The post Apple names the best apps of 2023 as the app economy continues to grow appeared first on Tech Guide.

Do yourself a favour and take a listen to Episode 578 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: Australians are paying some of the highest prices for home broadband in the world, only one per cent of Australians are recycling their old mobile devices and Telstra releases new speed and latency optimiser packs on its network.

In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max, we check out the Journey laptop sleeve that’s also a portable workstation and Panasonic has unveiled its new wearable gaming speaker.

In the Tech Guide Help Desk we discuss the best ways to roam and pay with your smartphone in China.

You can listen to the Tech Guide podcast right here using the podcast player below.

Tech Guide’s podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts here.

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Vodafone has released new data which shows that just 1 per cent of Australian customers are taking the trouble to recycle their old mobile devices.

This alarming news has forced Vodafone into action to persuade Australians to make a change and dig out old and unused phones to trade them in for a new model or recycle them.

According to Vodafone’s research, there are more than 22.3 million old smartphones rolling around in desk drawers and cupboards around Australia.

The real worry with limited repair options and shorter device life cycles is that they may end up in landfill.

E-waste is already one of the fastest growing waste categories in Australia, but this can be reduced if people take a more responsible approach with their old unused devices.

“We are facing a growing e-waste problem in Australia, but together we can make a positive change,” a Vodafone spokesperson said.

“MobileMuster simplifies phone recycling, helping the environment by saving energy, reducing landfill e-waste, cutting carbon emissions, and reusing valuable materials — all at no cost to you.”

MobileMuster is a not for profit recycling programme and it costs you nothing to recycle your old devices.

When a phone is received by MobileMuster all personal data is completely wiped and more than 89 per cent of the materials are recycled.

In 2023, MobileMuster collected 96 tonnes of mobile phones and accessories and achieved a recycling rate of 89 per cent.

More than 96 per cent of manufacturers and 94 per cent of carriers already participate in the MobileMuster program which helps maintain high collection rates and create an accessible network with 94 per cent of the Australian population within 10km of a drop off site.

But if there’s still life in your device you can save some cash when trading in to buy a new device.

“There’s a treasure trove of old phones and devices tucked away in drawers and cupboards of homes all around the nation,” the Vodafone spokesperson said.

“With Vodafone, you can trade in your old device for a new upgrade or a credit on your bill.

“Every phone that can’t be re-used will be recycled with MobileMuster – and yes, that even means your phone from 2010 with a broken screen.”

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Watch or listen to Episode 610 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 issues and products.

On this week’s show, we discuss the resignation of Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin and what we would do if we were in charge, Gina Rhinehart takes on Facebook over scam ads and Apple adopts RCS to create message equity between iPhone and Android users.

You can listen or the watch show right here on Tech Guide site using the audio player below or by pressing play on the YouTube player.

It is also possible to subscribe to the popular weekly tech podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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Telstra is offering mobile customers and avid gamers with a need for speed a way to find faster download speeds and lower latency even during periods of high network traffic.

The Telstra Mobile Speed Optimiser delivers faster typical download speeds when compared to the standard plans without this feature activated.

This means customers can download large files even faster and hotspot multiple devices that will benefit from the faster speeds to improve their work or video streaming experience on the go even during busy times.

And for online multiplayer gamers – and there are plenty who play on their smartphones – the Mobile Latency Optimiser reduces the time it takes for data to travel while playing competitive and multiplayer games.

Any online gamer will tell you, a fraction of a second could mean the difference between winning and losing and they try and take every advantage they can find.

Mobile Latency Optimiser can be that advantage.

Telstra says there are more than half a million gamers that use its network for gaming with more than a third having significant monthly data usage that will allow them to benefit from the Speed or Latency Optimiser.

Telstra did a thorough test of their network to ensure the Speed and Latency Optimizer add ons would perform at their best and provide that improved network experience.

Telstra says to ensure the products don’t impact other users and take away from their experience, the Speed and Latency Optimisers will only work in prescribed network traffic levels.

In other words, these customers who choose to pay an additional $10 a month for these Optimiser products will be given priority when performing tasks that require faster downloads and lower latency.

But Telstra says if the network congestion goes above optimal levels, the Optimisers will not provide any improvement to ensure there is no impact on other customers.

The Speed Optimiser and Latency Optimiser from Telstra will be attractive to a small core group of customers who already have high network activity and whose needs require extra speed or lower latency when they are not typically delivered at times of peak usage on the network.

Customers can access a one month free trial of either product before being charged $10 per month and they can cancel at any time.

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The Journey NEXA laptop sleeve can actually do a lot more than just protect your laptop – it can also double as a mouse pad and even wirelessly charge your phone and earphones case.

It’s really a workstation that can go anywhere with you.

The laptop sleeve is made from vegan leather and has a soft-quilted interior to protect your laptop.

It is available in two sizes to fit 13 and 14-inch and 15 and 16-inch laptops and comes in two colours – black and dove grey.

Our laptops are valuable and usually expensive items that we need to protect especially in these times when we are working on the move and working from home.

And the NEXA’s additional features can help keep you productive and keep your devices charged.

When you open the sleeve and remove your laptop, the sleeve’s smooth and flat vegan leather surface can be used as a mouse pad.

We prefer using a mouse with our laptop when we’re out and about and this provides an excellent surface.

Inside the flap of the Journey NEXA sleeve is the charging panel that can accommodate your iPhone and AirPods – but it will work with other wireless capable smartphones and earphones.

The panel has distinct sections to let the user know exactly where they need to place theirt devices to charge.

There is a USB port at the top of the panel that will naturally need to be connected to power.

There is no battery inside this panel – although that would be a great idea but it would add weight and cost to the product.

If you can connect that USB cable to a charger, then you’re able to top up your devices.

The flap also has a magnetic closure, so it stays securely in place and holds the laptop in place as well.

The Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging is available now and is priced at $129.95 – it’s the same price for the 13-14-inch sleeve and the 15-16-inch sleeve.

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Go to the top of the class with Episode 577 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 Optus CEO has resigned after the outage and following a senate inquiry, Apple to adopt a new standard to bring messaging equality between iPhone and Android and we go behind the scenes at Oppo to see how their devices go from concept to reality.

In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Uniden Pano security camera, Samsung has launched a new Shop App and the tech products that are causing the most injuries.

In the Tech Guide Help Desk we discuss why it’s important to share your passwords with your loved ones.

You can listen to the Tech Guide podcast right here using the podcast player below.

Tech Guide’s podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts here.

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It takes a lot to make a smartphone – and we found out through Oppo’s eyes as we went behind the scenes in Shenzhen, China and toured the company’s research and test labs and its smartphone production line.

Oppo was founded in 2004 and has expanded to more than 60 countries employing more than 40,000 around the globe.

The first product the company released in 2005 was a small MP3 player and by 2008 it had made its first mobile phone, its first smartphone in 2011 and the world’s slimmest phone in 2012.

In 2013, Oppo released ColorOS – the software layer that today runs on top of Android in more half a billion devices worldwide.

Oppo also pioneered fast charging with its proprietary VOOC Flash Charge which made fast charging a reality.

Today Oppo’s latest devices are eye-catching folding smartphones – the latest being the Find N3.

Tech Guide got a chance to go behind the scenes to see the development and testing that goes into creating smartphone before the finished product at the end of the production line.

PHOTOGRAPHY LAB

One of the most important features of a smartphone is the camera and Oppo has a large testing lab to improve the quality and colour accuracy of their images and videos.

We visited a facility which included mock ups of various scenarios and locations including a hotel lobby, a restaurant, a supermarket, a lounge room, karaoke bar along with a small roadway and athletic track outside.

These have been built to test the Oppo smartphone cameras in several different situations and lighting conditions.

The smartphones are mounted on a robotic arm which can move freely throughout these environments that looked like movie sets to test the use of the device in everyday scenarios.

We were told each robot takes more than 70,000 images per session before being analysed.

Selfies are an important part of smartphone photography today and that was also part of the testing process.

To enable this, Oppo created an ultra-real dummy head which was mounted on one of the robots to provide the face to test the selfie camera in these different environments.

The dummy head we saw was actually modelled after a staff member with a likeness that was 96 per cent accurate.

The robot would take photos of the dummy head against the various backdrops available and in varying lighting conditions to recreate how a customer would shoot a selfie in the real world.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Another big part of photography development for Oppo is augmented reality and we were shown a preview of a new technology called CyberReal which could place objects within the cameras view and allow users to walk around that object like it was physically present.

We tried CyberReal for ourselves and found Oppo had placed large Oppo smartphones which appeared to hang in mid-air as well as giving us a bit of the ability to interact with the company’s bear mascot.

We also tried on a prototype Oppo AR/VR headset which allowed us to see the outside world and write and create shapes and release snowflakes and bubbles in our environment.

Oppo took us into a lab next door which had the VR headset on a robot arm that was testing its distance accuracy against an angled wall filled with markers that were different shapes and sizes.

NETWORK TEST

Oppo’s labs include a room filled the network equipment from various manufacturers like Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Huawei so its smartphones can be tested for compatibility for various mobile networks around the world.

They also had a chamber that eliminates all outside interference so the engineers can test the pure connection between the devices and antennas and cells used by telcos around the world.

FITNESS LAB

Next stop was the Oppo fitness lab which was used to test the accuracy of its exercise tracking and heart rate monitoring.

We saw one person hooked up to equipment while running on a treadmill beside the engineer who was seeing the results coming in in real time on his computer.

Also being examined here was things like stride length, time of contact on the ground and leg speed.

In another section a woman was running on a treadmill with motion trackers on her legs to fully track her motion and match that to the accuracy of other readings.

Oppo does have health features on their smartphones and released a smartwatch last year – but unfortunately this won’t be available in Australia.

NFC LAB

Oppo’s testing even extends to the NFC (near field communication) chip and each responsiveness to various payment terminals and other products.

In the lab there were numerous terminals and payment devices being tested with Oppo phones.

The engineers said the tests were used to determine the speed of responsiveness and the distance between the phone and terminal when the connection is made.

NFC is also used on door locks, and we spotted a few of these in the lab which are used in various markets around the world and the engineers have to ensure the Oppo devices sold in those regions will work effectively.

THE FACTORY

And it all culminates at the factory where the Oppo smartphones are produced in a high tech production line.

The factory was a nondescript building that looked like an office block but inside across several levels were pristine production lines and more testing labs.

We had to put covers on our shoes – we think this was for hygiene – before we could make our way inside.

Unfortunately we were not permitted to take any photos or video inside the lab.

The production process began with the motherboard and circuitry which were printed hyper accurately before moving along to receive its components including transistors, resistors and memory chips.

At the end of this process the brains of the smartphone were completed before being inserted into the middle frame.

Up until this point the process was largely automated with hardly any human interaction.

But the next steps, which included inserting camera modules and other components, were completed by a number of people on the production line.

These steps included adding the front display, the front and rear camera lenses and the rear panel.

Part of the assembly phase is also testing the device before it’s sent off for packaging.

Oppo does this by inserting a chip into the SIM card reader that does a system wide diagnostic check that everything is working as it should.

Then further down the line the devices that pass these tests has this chip removed and a regular SIM card tray inserted in its place.

We were told that each production line, and there are about 10 in the facility, can produce up to 3,000 devices in a day.

And if there is a failure rate of five per cent and above – every product on that line that day is scrapped before starting again.

DURABILITY TESTING

Once the smartphones come off the line, random samples are chosen to undergo durability testing.

This includes drop testing and we saw phones being tumbled in large boxes and smashed into the ground by robotic arms.

These devices are then examined to track any weaknesses and whether the phone is still functional.

In the drop tests we saw the phones get slammed from a height of 1.5 metres and each of the devices were still working and with the screen intact.

Other durability tests include simulating the wear and tear on a device whether it’s in your front pocket or back pocket.

There was even one machine that was twisting the device to test the strength of the frame and the screen.

Other stations were being used to simulate day-to-day usage of inserting the charging cable and headphone jacks.

The Oppo devices were also being tested for water resistance. There was a 1.5m deep tank that could test the IP rating of devices for up to 30 minutes.

We also saw Oppo’s latest Find N3 foldable smartphone inside a chamber and being sprayed with water.

At the very end of the production process the completed devices were placed in their packaging and boxed to be shipped out to one of countries around the world selling Oppo smartphones including right here in Australia.

When we see a smartphone, we tend to take the technology used to build it for granted but we could see there was a lot of work that went into it, a lot of research and even more testing before the devices could meet Oppo’s extremely high standards.

* Stephen Fenech travelled to China as a guest of Oppo

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Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 609 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor Long is coming to you way from Shenzhen in China.

Stephen and Trevor travelled to Shenzhen as guest of Oppo and we toured their testing labs, development centres and even saw their smartphone production line.

Also on the show we reflect on the latest news from Optus and what the future holds for the telco and their customers and Google launches Indoor Live View for Sydney Airport.

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.

The post Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 609 coming to you live from China appeared first on Tech Guide.

Samsung has launched a new Shop App across Southeast Asia and Oceania, which includes Australia, as part of a strategy to simplify the online shopping experience for customers.

The Samsung Shop App comes at a time when nearly half of respondents (42.6 per cent) in the region have bought electronic devices or home appliances online in the last three months.

Within the Samsung Shop App, customers are also able to access exclusive offers and stay on top of the latest deals on Samsung products by setting notifications within the app.

There are also flexible payment options including installment payments to simplify the purchase process.

The app also provides clear delivery details as well as real time tracking for orders. Customers can see real time delivery notifications with most purchases coming with free shipping to certain locations in Australia.

The Samsung Shop App will only be available on Android and has been optimised for the mobile user experience with an easy to navigate interface and a curated selection of the latest Samsung consumer electronics products available through the app along with a catalogue of products that will be available to purchase in the months ahead.

Personalization is a big part of the Samsung Shop App with users able to tailor content recommendations and make easy comparisons between their current devices and the latest models and accessories on offer.

Students will also be able to save on Samsung devices within the app with exclusive discounts and offers.

Customers who download the Samsung Shop App will also receive 10 per cent off their first purchase.

Samsung Shop App is available now on the Google Play Store and the Samsung App Store.

The post New Samsung Shop App streamlines online shopping for customers – and helps them find a bargain appeared first on Tech Guide.

Do yourself a massive favour and press play on Episode 576 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast hosted by Stephen Fenech to keep you updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews.

On this week’s show, the fallout from the Optus outage continues – what does the future hold for the telco, Laser has released a product that brings CarPlay and Android Auto to any car and Apple TV+ comes to the Fetch TV box.

In the Tech Guide reviews, we take a look at the Pantheone Obsidian speaker that looks like a work of art, Rode released the Signature Edition of its iconic NT1 microphone and Samsung offers affordable luxury with its latest smartphone.

In the Tech Guide Help Desk, we take a look at some of the best value plans for those thinking of making the switch from their current plans and telcos.

You can listen to the Tech Guide podcast right here using the podcast player below.

Tech Guide’s podcast is also available through Apple Podcasts here.

The post Do yourself a favour and listen to Episode 576 of the two-rating Tech Guide podcast appeared first on Tech Guide.

Samsung has released an impressive new Galaxy A05s smartphone priced under $250 which offers a notable line-up of features and an upgraded camera system.

This new product demonstrates that customers don’t have to break the bank to buy a decent smartphone especially at a time like this with rising interest rates and cost of living pressures.

Parents might also see the device as an ideal first smartphone for their child.

The Galaxy A05s has a slick design with a 6.7-inch Infinity-U display with FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400) and fast reactive 90Hz refresh rate to make viewing high definition content an even better experience.

On the camera side, there’s a triple lens system which includes a 50-megapixel main camera alongside a 2-megapixel macro sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

And on the front, the selfie camera Has been boosted to 13-megapixel so your selfies will look great.

The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage with an option of 128GB onboard storage.

The AO5s also has a microSD card slot which means you are can expand the memory up to 1TB, so you’ll have plenty of room to store photos and videos and all your other files.

And you don’t have to worry about running out of battery during the day thanks to the large on board 5000 mAh battery which is backed up with enhanced 25W Super-Fast Charging capabilities to get you back to 100 per cent in no time.

And Samsung has built longevity into the Galaxy A05s with the promise of four years of security updates and up to two generations of OS upgrades.

This means users will have access to the latest software and features that come with One UI Core 5.1 along with privacy, security and stability improvements until the end of 2027.

The Samsung Galaxy A05s is available now for $249 at selected retailers. The 128GB model is $299.

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