Trevor Long
Verified- Editor, EFTM
- Broadcaster and Technology Commentator, TODAY (Australia)
- Host, EFTM - Tech, Cars and Lifestyle (Podcast)
Sydney
Dad, Husband,Speaker,Broadcaster & Technology Commentator on TV & radio across Australia; podcaster & Editor @EFTM
Business: business@trevorlong.com
Articles by Trevor Long
Apple’s HomeView launches alongside updated HomePod Mini and Apple TV
Apple has kicked off their busy October with the announcement of three new products all based around the home. HomePod Mini and Apple TV get big upgrades to their core while the much rumoured “HomePod with a screen” is now real with the launch of HomeView. Apple’s smart TV box the Apple TV has gone almost four years without an upgrade yet still serves well as an outstanding and simple way to access streaming apps and content on your big-screen TV.
Sony Bravia 7 II review – Stunning picture, easy to use
Sony most certainly aren’t mucking around when it comes to their latest televisions, and the Bravia 7 II is an outstanding example of that. It’s not even their most premium TV, but with Google TV on board, stunningly integrated as if it’s Sony’s own, and outstanding RGB technology, it’s a cracking great TV.
Apple’s busy October – Two events – Taking on the home, plus new devices
As if the regular “September Event” where the iPhone is launched wasn’t enough, it seems clear now that Apple has a lot going on this October with a big device launch, plus two events announcing even more new stuff!! According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – who I’d consider to be more than 80% spot on with most of his leaks and predictions – there’s a lot to come in October. One thing set in stone is that at the end of this week pre-orders open for Apple’s most expensive phone ever, the iPhone Duo.
iPhone support for RCS Messaging in Australia still no closer to working
If you’ve bene hoping to have a richer communication with your green bubble Android mates from your iPhone, or from Android hoping to get those “now typing” notifications from your iPhone mates don’t get too excited – it seems our Telcos have put this one right down the priority list here in Australia.
The Social Reckoning – A Movie that will reignite debate about algorithms and misinformation
If Aaron Sorkin writes it then it must be worth seeing – that’s the principle from which I entered the cinema to see his latest look at Facebook sixteen years after “The Social Network” showed us the drama surrounding the formation of Facebook. The Social Reckoning is far more relevant to the social networks we see today, dramatising the famous Wall Street Journal reporting on thousands of leaked documents from the online giant.
What $157b Paramount-Warner Bros. media merger means for streaming in Australia
Analysis: One of the biggest media mergers in history completed overnight, with Paramount buying Warner Bros. for a staggering $US110 billion ($157 billion). While these companies are known for their movie studios, for the average Australian, the real question is: what does this mean for streaming? The Warner Bros. water tower is seen at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong The new company, known as Skydance, brings together everything Paramount and Warner Bros.
Five things to try first on your new Samsung foldable
So you’ve done it. You’ve bought a foldable. Congratulations, you’re now one of those people who opens their phone like a book and gets asked “is that one of the folding ones?” at every barbecue for the next six months. But here’s the thing. Most people set up a new phone, move their apps across, and never go digging for the good stuff. With a foldable, that’s a real waste, because the whole point is doing things a normal phone can’t.
Bose brings back wired Noise Cancelling earbuds – and we’re loving it!
In a world of Bluetooth and Wifi taking away the cables we used to know attached to almost every product, Bose is bringing the cable back in one of the most unexpected places – earbuds, and I couldn’t be more excited. Years ago, my travel go-to were the Wired Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC20) – these were 3.5mm connected headphones with a little box of smarts at the bottom that needed charging to keep the noise cancelling working.
Dyson's chief engineer says home robots are coming way sooner than you think
Trevor Long Dyson has just launched its most unusual product yet, a toothbrush with a built-in camera that fires a jet of water at exactly the right spot in your mouth instead of flossing. It's called the CameraJet, and it's the result of years of research, with the goal of improving our Oral care – a long way from the bagless vacuum the company made famous over 30 years ago.
I built an app using AI – I have no idea how to code!
I’m not kidding, you can go to the App Store for iPhone or Google Play Store for Android and download the app “I” built right now. This is an exercise in how remarkable AI really is, and the options it presents to those who might not have the means to develop an app.
Fetch Gen 3 backlash: your 8-year-old box is costing them, and $29.99 is a bargain
Fetch is under fire from a small group of users this week after contacting owners of their older Generation 3 boxes about their options going forward to continue using Fetch. In simple terms, their oldest boxes are problematic for the company when it comes to upgrades and support, so Fetch says Pay a one-time fee, subscribe to a service, or upgrade your box.
AI didn’t break Medicare. It found a door that was already open
Look, I want to take an initial view on the widely reported “Hack” of Medicare by an OpenAI agent as revealed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today. I think we need to look into this in more detail before jumping to the conclusion that all AI is destined to bring down society and hack our personal data.
Samsung’s Smart Fridges demonstrate how AI becomes part of daily life
One of the things I love about global trade shows is getting a glimpse of what’s around the corner. IFA in Berlin is no different, and this year it reminded me that the connected home of the future has well and truly arrived. Imagine a home that helps keep your food fresh, streamlines everyday tasks and helps ensure the family stays organised. But just how smart can a home really be? Samsung’s AI Home vision offers an interesting answer.
iPhone 18 Pro review: the biggest upgrade Apple's made in years, hiding in plain sight
Trevor Long While all the attention is on Apple's new foldable form factor smartphone the iPhone Duo - we've got a month to wait to see that one in stores, so in the meantime orders will be flooding in for the upgraded Pro level phones - the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro looks almost identical to last year's model. Same size, same shape, my old 17 Pro Max case fits perfectly, with the only listed physical difference being an extra 7 grams in weight.
iPhone 18 Pro Review – Performance, Cooling and Photography
Apple’s most anticipated iPhone launch since the original in 2007 took place last week and the hype has been extreme – so now it’s time to review what is coming. Time for our iPhone 18 Pro Review – sorry, the iPhone Duo is a month away, so we’ll get to that soon I’m sure! EFTM Snapshot – Same looks, huge upgrade underneath, especially the camera: the iPhone 18 Pro is the one for anyone still on a 15 Pro or older.
We got hands on with Apple’s new iPhone Duo, so is it worth it?
Apple is very good at making headlines. No matter what product they launch, the world looks on while fans gasp in awe and critics find something to mock. This week, Apple created peak hype at both ends of that scale with the announcement of its first-ever foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. I was fortunate to be invited to Apple Park in California as a guest of Apple for the announcement.
Jake Dyson on Chinese rip-off products and appliances that fix themselves
Dyson has just launched the CameraJet, a toothbrush with a built in camera that fires a jet of water at exactly the right spot in your mouth instead of flossing. It’s the latest example of a company that spends years on research before it ships a product, the same approach it took with hair before building its haircare range. But chatting with Jake Dyson, the company’s Chief Engineer and son of founder Sir James Dyson, the conversation goes well beyond one product launch.
Apple unveils foldable iPhone - but is it worth the price tag?
Apple’s new chief executive John Ternus has hosted his first major event with milestone product announcements for the company, and all eyes are on the mix of innovation and high prices and how that will be received by consumers. Almost like clockwork, every September, Apple invites the media to their “Apple Park” headquarters in Cupertino just south of San Francisco in California. Apple has unveiled its foldable iPhone Duo.
iPhone Duo – Apple’s first Foldable revealed – $3,499
John Ternus has been Apple CEO for just over a week, and he’s fronted what is likely the biggest device announcement in a decade or more, opting for a “One More Thing” reveal of Apple’s first ever foldable smartphone – the iPhone Duo While not a surprise to anyone thanks to leaks and rumours for well over a year now, solidified in the last six months thanks to the “dummy” mock up models which case manufacturers use to plan their own product roadmap, Apple’s first foldable comes over seven...
iPhone 18 Pro revealed – Australian pricing starts at $2,099
No surprises there, Apple has revealed the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models at this morning’s event in California with the core features being camera upgrades and a focus on Ai capabilities. Available in Australia on September 18 the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are the first iPhones to suffer the price pressures of the global tech industries shortage and demand for memory as AI data centres demand more components from the supply chain.
Australian Government vs Social Media – “My Feed, My Way”: Another Slogan, Nothing Solved
The Australian Government seems hell-bent on wasting public resources and time on legislation that has little or no impact on anyone other than to give them headlines as if they are taking on Big Tech. Which they aren’t. This afternoon, the Albanese Government announced it will take legislation to the House called the “Digital Duty of Care”.
How F1 levelled up with a Kimi Antonelli Podium POV Video using an Insta360 GO 3S
F1 fans were treated to a pretty awesome race last weekend in Monza with Italian youngster Kimi Antonelli coming from the back of the grid to clinch the win as the first Italian to do so at his home race in 60 years, but it was the Social Media video posted in the day after that took my interest.
TCL companion robot AiMe is cute as a button!
I’m not obsessed with robots, they are just everywhere you look in Berlin at the annual IFA showcase of gadgets and home appliances. TCL though didn’t have a boxing humanoid or an advanced robot lawnmower, their robot is AiMe – a cute little companion robot. TCL call it a Family Companion Robot, and this is by no means the first of it’s kind that I’ve seen. Some of the biggest and smallest brands have presented this concept before, but the difference is – this seems ready for market.
Ecovacs CEO Says Humanoid Robots Are Coming To Our Homes Within A Decade
Every year at IFA Berlin someone tells you the future has arrived. This year, walking the halls, I actually believed it. Robots mowing lawns. Robots cleaning pools. Robots washing windows. And parked in the middle of a few stands, robots that walk and move like us. EFTM Snapshot: Forget the sci-fi hype, Ecovacs’ CEO says humanoid robots are a real five to ten year prospect, arriving alongside, not instead of, the vacuums, mowers and pool cleaners already doing the job in Australian homes.
A Dyson Toothbrush? The Dyson CameraJet can see between your teeth and floss!
Nine out of ten people do not floss their teeth as regularly as they should, and the average time we spend brushing our teeth is 45 seconds – well below the two minutes recommended. So what’s this got to do with Dyson? Enter the all-new Dyson CameraJet – the toothbrush designed to solve those problems and more. James Dyson hasn’t really ever sat still, moving from his successful vacuum business into everything from bathroom hand dryers to hair dryers and curlers among many other things.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N review – The modern dream car.
Do kids today put posters on their wall of great cars they love? Where do you even get a poster today? Anyway, if there was a place to get posters of amazing cars, I could imagine the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N standing out on many a teenager’s wall. The EFTM Snapshot: The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is a $150,000 electric sports sedan with fake gears and a fake exhaust, and it’s the most fun I’ve had in a car all year.
Why Meta’s Settlement Does More For Kids Than Australia’s Ban
Meta has agreed to $17 billion worth of penalties to settle a court case brought against it by individual US states over its addictive technologies and the dangers they pose to children. In simple terms, the states claimed that Meta was exploiting kids for profit, wasn’t being truthful about how it operated with its younger users, and most importantly, was not prioritising the safety of those users on its platforms. This is a landmark decision.
Apple reveals date for major new launch as ‘Ultra foldable iPhone’ rumours surface
Apple have sent out invitations to an exclusive event inside the company’s global headquarters in California to be held at 3am AEST on September 10. Annually, the September event is when the tech giant announces its next generation of iPhones, but this year there’s a twist. The Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park in California.
Rumours swirl Apple to unveil ‘foldable’ iPhone
Apple on Thursday sent out invitations to an exclusive event inside the company’s global headquarters in California to be held at 3am AEST on September 10. Annually, the September event is when the tech giant announces its next generation of iPhones, but this year there’s a twist. The Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park in California.
Apple iPhone Event confirmed for September 10 – “Surprise and Shine”
Apple fans and iPhone curious, set your alarms for 3am on September 10 Australian Eastern Standard Time, that’s when Apple’s new CEO John Ternus will take the stage at Steve Jobs Theatre for the company’s next “special Apple Event”. Inside the company’s HQ in California, the Steve Jobs Theatre sits underground but for the stunning circle entry building with walls made just from glass and it’s beneath that where all Apple’s major product announcements have been made for the last ten years.
Apple targets AI use with new desktop Mac models that cop a solid price hike
Apple has revealed new processors and two updated desktop computers carrying them, both landing with a significantly higher price tag than when last launched. The refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio arrive just weeks out from the launch of the next iPhone, where attention is squarely on the price rises expected across that range after demand for memory from AI data centres upended the global computer market.
Apple Sneaks Two New Macs In Before the iPhone — Faster, Smarter, Not Cheap
Apple has dropped some nice new updates to the Mac lineup with an all new M6 and M5 Ultra Silicon coming to power the refreshed desktops. An all-new M6 will power a refreshed Mac Mini while the Mac Studio gets an all-new M5 Ultra which joins the Pro and Max in the M5 linuep. Both devices and all the chips are designed with the usual bumps in performance for both the CPU and GPU, but also a real focus on capability with Neural accelerators allowing for strong on-device AI performance.
A new microphone stand is about to start appearing in podcasts everywhere – RØDE DS3
Aussie company RØDE has today revealed a new generation pro desktop studio arm made for holding those podcast microphones on desk setups where a full articulating arm isn’t possible. The new DS3 has a capacity of 1.5kg, meaning it won’t just support microphones. You could also use it for cameras – whatever you need.
GTA VI Leaks – Frustrated gamers holding Rockstar Games to ransom over the future of gaming
Months out from the release of the most anticipated and most delayed game in history and what will be the biggest entertainment release in history, a group of leakers is throwing a spanner in the works releasing actual gameplay from a reportedly leaked version of Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto Six – GTA VI.
Alan Joyce Ran the Worst WiFi in the Sky. Now He’s Bagging Starlink
I had to laugh on the weekend. Alan Joyce, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald warning airlines across the world not to rely on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service and open their airlines to possible alternatives. Alan Joyce? The man who ran Qantas for fifteen years with literally the worst WiFi in the sky! His basic concern for airlines is that they rely entirely on Elon Musk’s Starlink and exclude the option for either a simple switch to an alternative, or a secondary redundant network.
After Optus and Telstra outages, telcos issue new advice on calling Triple Zero
Trevor Long Millions of Australians will receive communication from their mobile telco starting today as the industry unites together to educate the public on how to reliably connect to Triple Zero when needed. The campaign will see information on the telco websites, as well as email communication and social media, and it comes in the wake of serious network outages in the last 18 months which have resulted in issues with hundreds of Australians trying to call Triple Zero.
Optus and Telstra outages force telco industry to issue new 000 calling advice
Millions of Australians are about to get a text, an email, or see a social post from their telco explaining how to actually get through to Triple Zero (000) if something goes wrong. It’s part of a new industry-wide campaign, and it comes after some genuinely serious network outages over the past 18 months left hundreds of Australians unable to connect to emergency services when they needed to most.
Blown away by MOVA – Hitting Australia with everything but the kitchen sink
Have you heard of MOVA? I hadn’t, until a Robot Lawn Mower showed up at my place. Turns out that’s not even the half of it. This week at a glitzy launch event in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the company really put themselves on the map here in Australia. What I learnt was very simple.
Advinsys TerraMow V600 Robot Lawn Mower Review – sensational, it just works
The battle of the backyard is on in earnest. Robot lawnmowers are the new focus for robotics companies. Having mastered the art of vacuuming and mopping inside our homes, it’s now time to master the backyards and get those lawns looking spectacular. In our latest review, we’re testing out the TerraMow V600 robot lawn mower from Advinsys.
Roblox to do more to protect Aussie kids under eSafety court ruling
Popular gaming platform Roblox has agreed to a court-enforceable undertaking with Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, and in doing so has committed to a range of new measures designed to protect children from grooming and sexual exploitation within Roblox games. eSafety accepted the undertaking after ongoing dialogue with Roblox and several high-profile claims by the regulator over the last 12 months.
Roblox forced into court-enforceable safety deal, and it’s yet more proof our age verification obsession isn’t working
Roblox has been forced into a court-enforceable undertaking with the eSafety Commissioner, agreeing to a raft of changes after the regulator’s own testing found serious gaps in how the platform protects kids from being contacted by adult strangers. It’s a big deal. Roblox is the second most popular gaming platform with kids in this country, with an estimated 1.7 million Australian children using it.
Samsung’s Smaller Fold8 Is Matching Its Ultra Big Brother, Almost Sale for Sale
Samsung is rightly celebrating the hugely successful launch of the latest foldable series with records set and a surprising device split between the all-new Fold8 and its premium big-brother the Fold8 Ultra. Last week, before the new Galaxy Z Series went on sale, Samsung reported they were on track to achieve the most successful pre-order result for their foldable series to date thanks to a positive response to the all-new form factor of the passport-sized Fold8.
Almost Half of iPhone Pro Owners Would Buy an Apple Foldable
Australians don’t mind shelling out the cash for a new smartphone, according to new research from Telsyte more than half of all smartphones sold in Australia before July were premium devices worth over $1,000. According to Telsyte’s Australian Smartphone & Wearable Devices Market Study 2026, 3,870,000 smartphones were sold in the first half of the year, a small jump on 2025.
TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV review – Premium style and picture power by Google TV
At almost $8,000, there’s no question the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV is the pinnacle of TCL’s range in 2026. This is their best attempt at picture quality. This is their best attempt at colour reproduction. This is the TV they want you to aspire to, but there’s something missing from the TCL range in 2026. The question is, do we notice?
Trevor Long’s top Afterpay Day deals
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to shop, this could be it - Afterpay Day is here, bringing some serious savings across thousands of products. I’ve been diving through the official Afterpay Day lists and there are some best bargains to be found across tech, home, and even travel to add to your cart. NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing. Top Tech Deals Dreame Aqua 10 Roller AE Robot Vacuum Cleaner Was $2399, Now $899, 60% off.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Review – Love the form factor, still not perfect
There’s a lot of pressure on this device, Samsung has re-imagined the smartphone entirely – but what’s it like to live with? Three weeks into using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, I’ve got thoughts! Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 review: a passport-shaped foldable with a sensational inner screen for video and reading, all-day battery life, but a cramped front-screen keyboard and app quirks. Is it worth buying?
Amazon offers five hour delivery times in Sydney and Melbourne
As if shopping wasn’t already easy enough these days, Amazon has stepped things up again with faster and tighter delivery windows in Australia’s two largest cities. It’s now possible to get delivery in as little as five hours at no extra cost for Prime Members on Amazon’s Free Same-Day service with new options for delivery windows available in Sydney and Melbourne.
How Optus Keeps Your Phone Working When 52,000 Fans Turn Up at Once
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes When a whole city of people moves into one location that’s normally empty there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure everything just works. And that’s true of our telco networks when it comes to major sporting stadiums. This last few days I’ve spent time at Optus Stadium looking behind the scenes at things like Network Slicing and checking out just how much data we’re all chewing through at a big game.
Amazon's Alexa gets smarter: Alexa+ launches in Australia today
Trevor Long After launching in Australia eight years ago, Amazon's Alexa smart speaker assistant is getting a big upgrade from today with the local launch of their latest Alexa+ system, bringing generative AI conversations to your Amazon Echo smart speaker.
Mercedes-Benz All-Electric CLA Review – It’s got a frunk!
Mercedes-Benz is not new to electric cars. I was at the launch of their EQC in Sweden in late 2018 and then drove that very car when it arrived in Australia around a year later. It was an impressive car, but electric cars have come a long way since then. This week, having driven the Mercedes-Benz CLA all-electric, I can tell you Mercedes has not taken their eye off the road. Over 660 km range in itself is a significant improvement from Mercedes.
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