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About Owen
Owen McCarthy
Reviewer
Owen McCarthy has had a long love affair with all things technical since the dawn of the computer age. A child of the 1960’s, he agrees with legendary author, Douglas Adams, that digital watches were a pretty neat idea. By the 1980’s Owen was learning how to code using C and by the turn of the century, he was teaching HTML to enthusiastic youngsters. These days, Owen can be found pestering editors for new technology to review on an annoyingly regular basis. In his spare time, he rides motorcycles of the three-wheeled variety, studies theology, aqua-jogs, and works hard to honour his late wife’s request to live a joy-filled life.
Stories by Owen
Hands-on Review: Arlo Pro 5 2K Wire-Free Spotlight Security Camera
Tue, 25th Jul 2023
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smart home
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cloud services
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pc hardware
The Arlo Pro5S2K Spotlight Camera promises great video quality and peace of mind for the security-conscious. Here are my thoughts about it.
Hands-on Review: Samsung S22 Ultra
Tue, 14th Jun 2022
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gaming
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martech
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partner programmes
Samsung's S22 Ultra phone offers impressive camera capabilities and a stylus with multiple uses, but lacks some expected features.
Hands-on Review: JBL Live 660NC Adaptive Noise Cancelling Headset
Thu, 18th Nov 2021
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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headsets
JBL's Live660NC headphones deliver high-quality sound and comfort, with noise-cancelling features for a distraction-free experience.
New Dyson air purifier attacks indoor pollutants
Tue, 23rd Mar 2021
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smart home
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hybrid & remote work
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wfh
Dyson introduces new Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde range to tackle indoor pollutants, including formaldehyde, for improved air quality.
Hands-on Review: BenQ ZOWIE XL2411K Esports gaming monitor
Tue, 16th Mar 2021
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gaming
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digital signage
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digital entertainment
This is a great middle-of-the-road option, well worth a look for those of us constrained by space and budget but with an eye for ergonomics.
Hands-on Review: Jabra PanaCast & Jabra Speak 750
Tue, 2nd Mar 2021
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gaming
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uc
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digital entertainment
Jabra's PanaCast and Speak 750 are the ultimate tools for online collaboration and conferencing, providing versatility and high-quality sound and video.
Hands-on Review: Jabra Evolve2 65 Headset for business UC
Wed, 14th Oct 2020
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gaming
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uc
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digital entertainment
Jabra offers solutions for remote working, with tools to keep you connected. Their blog offers insights into unified communications.
Hands-on Review: The Jabra Elite 45h headphones
Thu, 24th Sep 2020
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gaming
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uc
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digital entertainment
For a headset coming in at under $200, Jabra has packed in an array of features that appeal to the budget-conscious that demand a quality sound experience.
Hands-on Review: The Nokia 5.3 smartphone
Tue, 25th Aug 2020
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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nokia
Nokia's latest mobile phones stand out for their build quality, ease of setup, battery life, car connection, camera, and sound quality.
Sony announces the WF-SP800N Sport headphones
Fri, 8th May 2020
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digital entertainment
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sony
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digital music
Sony unveils the WF-SP800N Sport headphones, promising noise-cancelling, EXTRA BASS, and advanced features for active users, available in NZ for NZD $499.95.
Hands-on Review: D-Link COVR 2202 - Mesh your home network
Wed, 6th May 2020
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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d-link
D-Link's COVR mesh Wi-Fi system provides seamless coverage and protection, making it ideal for busy home networks.
Hands-on Review: Arlo rings my bell and offers Ultra + Security
Mon, 4th May 2020
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gaming
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surveillance
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smart home
With an easy-to-use interface and a variety of choices in settings, you'd be well advised to examine Arlo's range of home security offerings.
Hands-on Review: Visme, a graphics design tool for creating awesome content
Mon, 13th Apr 2020
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gaming
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martech
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digital entertainment
Visme, the versatile graphics tool, has transformed into an even more powerful resource for creating professional, brand-friendly content with ease.
Hands-on Review: Wacom One graphics tablet
Tue, 24th Mar 2020
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gaming
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martech
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digital entertainment
With the current climate encouraging social isolation, I've been spending several hours a day searching out and embracing my inner artistic muse.
The Motorola razr returns - to Australia anyway
Wed, 29th Jan 2020
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digital signage
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displays
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motorola
The iconic Motorola razr flip phone makes a stylish return to Australia as a high-tech foldable smartphone, priced at AUD $2699. Pre-order now!.
Hands-on Review: Sennheiser Ambeo Sound Bar
Tue, 14th Jan 2020
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gaming
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data analytics
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martech
The thirteen drivers will have your sound bouncing off your walls while placing you in the centre of all the action.
Year in review: What 2019 brought to the world of technology
Tue, 31st Dec 2019
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wireless networks
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cloud services
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gadgets
2019 saw an explosion of tech innovations, from foldable phones to smart home gadgets, each leaving a significant mark on enthusiasts and users alike.
Hands-on Review: BackBeat FIT 6100 Wireless Sport
Fri, 20th Dec 2019
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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headphones
The BackBeat FIT 6100 Wireless Sport by Plantronics delivers superior sound, noise-cancelling capabilities, and ergonomic design, all for under USD $300.
OPPO confirms Find X2 flagship to be unveiled Q1 2020
Mon, 16th Dec 2019
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oppo
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tablets
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technology gifts
OPPO confirms the Find X2 flagship will debut in Q1 2020, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 and next-gen gaming, sound, and 5G innovations.
Hands-on Review: Corsair K57 RGB Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Mon, 9th Dec 2019
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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corsair
Corsair's K57 RGB Wireless Gaming Keyboard brings the mechanical touch to wireless gaming, with robust features and notable performance, priced at USD $230.