TechDay New Zealand - Aotearoa's technology news network

About Owen

Owen McCarthy mugshot photo
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 - Page 3

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Hands-on review: Lenovo Smart Display 7 and Lenovo Smart Clock
Thu, 19th Nov 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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smart home
Fashionistas will rejoice at the clever use of the cloth-covered units which mean they blend into any environment with ease.
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Hands-on review: Vivo X50 Pro 5G
Thu, 15th Oct 2020
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gaming
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smartphones
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reviews
I’m already convinced that I want to be the next stellar movie director to come out of New Zealand when I grow up.
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Hands-on review: Jabra Evolve2 65 Headset for business UC
Wed, 14th Oct 2020
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uc
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gaming
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voip
Jabra offers solutions for remote working, with tools to keep you connected. Their blog offers insights into unified communications.
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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 music
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.
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Hands-on review: The Amazon Echo Auto
Mon, 14th Sep 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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cartech
Coming in at well under $100, the Echo Auto may well be that auto accessory that keeps you company on those long road trips.
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Hands-on review: The Nokia 2.3 smartphone
Mon, 7th Sep 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
Nokia's latest entry-level phone, the Nokia 2.3, offers a large screen, face unlock, and dual-camera setup for just $219.
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Hands-on review: The Nokia 5.3 smartphone
Tue, 25th Aug 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
Nokia's latest mobile phones stand out for their build quality, ease of setup, battery life, car connection, camera, and sound quality.
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OPPO Watch debuts featuring a 'world-first' 3D hyperboloid screen
Mon, 24th Aug 2020
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smartphones
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monitors
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pro av
With OPPO’s growing reputation for style, reliability and innovation, I confidently think they’re onto a winner.
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Hands-on review: TCL QLED Android 55C815 TV
Thu, 20th Aug 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Since installing this 55-inch behemoth in our modest living room, I’ve come to appreciate just how hard Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Jacinda have been working.
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Hands-on review: JBL Bar 5.1 Surround
Mon, 3rd Aug 2020
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digital music
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reviews
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gaming
The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround provides a user-friendly setup and impressive sound quality, making it a great addition to any home entertainment system.
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Hands-on review: Realme X3 SuperZoom
Mon, 20th Jul 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
You will have fun customising your screen to your own preferences and adding those personal tweaks to make the Realme X3 truly your own.
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Hands-on review: EKSA E900 Pro gaming headset
Wed, 15th Jul 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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technology gifts
Built for gaming, it promises to give that authentic gaming experience, so you’ll know if that character behind you is making threatening noises.
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Hands-on review: Ultimate Ears Hyperboom - it’s all about that bass
Tue, 30th Jun 2020
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digital music
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reviews
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gaming
If life for you is a party just waiting to happen, you will find the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom an indispensable piece of kit.
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Trend Micro Home Network Security - giving frazzled parents everywhere just that much more peace of mind
Thu, 18th Jun 2020
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firewall
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network management
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network security
Trend Micro launches Guardian, an app that enhances parental controls and extends coverage outside the home to protect children's internet access.
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Hands-on review: The Nokia 1.3 mobile phone
Tue, 16th Jun 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
The Android 10 OS has proved to be a very stable and reliable system, meaning that even if you take a wrong turn, it’s not the end of the world.
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Review: Dyson V11 Outsize: A vacuum cleaner that really sucks
Wed, 3rd Jun 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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technology gifts
Dyson's new vacuum turns chores into joy, battling allergens with ease and making couples fight to clean!.
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Sony announces the WF-SP800N Sport headphones
Fri, 8th May 2020
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digital music
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sony
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sport earphones
Sony sets May 8 for WF-SP800N launch: Active wearers rejoice!.
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Teaching remotely in a COVID-19 world
Fri, 8th May 2020
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lms
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early education
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spectrum
The principles of blended learning means that meaningful learning can take place at home, and allow the students and teachers to interact and collaborate.
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Hands-on review: D-Link COVR 2202 - Mesh your home network
Wed, 6th May 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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technology gifts
D-Link's COVR mesh Wi-Fi system provides seamless coverage and protection, making it ideal for busy home networks.
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Hands-on review: Arlo rings my bell and offers Ultra + Security
Mon, 4th May 2020
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surveillance
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gaming
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reviews
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.
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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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reviews
Visme's latest update transforms graphic design, making pro-level visual tools accessible for all.
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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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reviews
With the current climate encouraging social isolation, I’ve been spending several hours a day searching out and embracing my inner artistic muse.
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Hands-on review: Zebra L10 rugged tablets series adapt to any industrial setting
Mon, 10th Feb 2020
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pos
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gaming
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reviews
Zebra's L10 rugged tablets thrive in the extreme, built for industry's toughest environments.
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OPPO voted Consumer NZ’s top mobile phone brand
Thu, 30th Jan 2020
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cx
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smartphones
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martech
OPPO awarded 2019 Top Brand in Mobile Phone Category by Consumer New Zealand, highlighting their success in the local market.