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 - Page 3
Hands-on review: OPPO A54 5G and OPPO A94 5G
Mon, 31st May 2021
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smartphones
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gaming
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digital signage
OPPO A94 5G vs OPPO A54 5G: Choosing between these mid-range beauties is a feat even King Solomon would struggle with. Let's dive into the specs for a clue.
Hands-on review: JBL Go 3 - the ultra-compact portable with punch
Wed, 19th May 2021
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
The JBL Go 3 is a compact and stylish speaker that delivers impressive sound quality. It's perfect for on-the-go music lovers.
Hands-on review: OCULUS Quest 2
Tue, 11th May 2021
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
The Oculus Quest 2 is my first and long overdue foray into the world of virtual reality, and I've been having fun.
Hands-on review: Huawei Band 6 and FreeBuds 4i
Thu, 29th Apr 2021
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Huawei's Band 6 and Freebuds 4i offer a plethora of features, comfortable wear, and quality sound at a competitive price.
Hands-on review: OPPO Find X3 Pro
Mon, 12th Apr 2021
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
The Find X3 Pro has a juicy set of specs. After a week of playing with some of the features, they have hooked me.. again!.
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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reviews
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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reviews
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: Swann Enforcer Security System
Mon, 25th Jan 2021
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gaming
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surveillance
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reviews
Swann's Enforcer Security System offers wired home security with police-style flashing lights and full HD resolution. It works with Google Assistant and Alexa.
Hands-on review: JBL PartyBox On-The-Go
Mon, 7th Dec 2020
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Some of us love to celebrate through singing and playing music. The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go is designed for just such occasions.
ReedPop reaches $100k fundraising target for Cure Cancer
Fri, 4th Dec 2020
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gaming
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digital entertainment
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ar, vr & metaverse
Let’s hope that more of us are inspired to encourage the researchers who will face life-long challenges to unwrap the mysteries surrounding cancer.
Hands-on review: OPPO Reno 4 and Reno 4 Pro 5G
Tue, 24th Nov 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
If you use a phone for professional-looking photos and great video content, both these models deserve your attention.
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.
Hands-on review: Vivo X50 Pro 5G
Thu, 15th Oct 2020
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smartphones
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gaming
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digital signage
I’m already convinced that I want to be the next stellar movie director to come out of New Zealand when I grow up.
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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reviews
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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reviews
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 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.
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.
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.
OPPO Watch debuts featuring a 'world-first' 3D hyperboloid screen
Mon, 24th Aug 2020
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smartphones
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wearables
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digital signage
With OPPO’s growing reputation for style, reliability and innovation, I confidently think they’re onto a winner.