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 6
Hands-on review: The OPPO Reno Z in gorgeous Aurora Purple
Wed, 7th Aug 2019
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smartphones
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gaming
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digital signage
The OPPO Reno Z in Aurora Purple impresses with its standout design, high specs including 128GB storage and 8GB RAM, and affordable pricing under NZD $700.
Forget the lag - we go hands-on with the ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 router
Mon, 5th Aug 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Say goodbye to lag with the ROG Rapture GT-AC2900. This gaming router, priced at USD $600, transformed my laggy home office into a high-speed haven.
Hands-on review: The LIFX Tile's amazing colour combinations
Mon, 5th Aug 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
I can creep quietly into bed after a late night on my computer, without disturbing my significant other. No more bashed big toes for me!.
Hands-on review: The OPPO Reno 10x Zoom - no fumbling around for the right lens
Tue, 16th Jul 2019
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
OPPO's Reno Series dazzles with top-notch camera tech and user-friendly features, set to innovate NZ's mobile scene.
Hands-on review: The 6th Gen Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Thu, 11th Jul 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Lenovo’s 6th Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a portable powerhouse, boasting sharp imagery, robust connectivity, and a featherweight design at just over 1kg.
Hands-on review: The Harman Kardon Allure Portable Speaker
Tue, 2nd Jul 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Harman Kardon's Allure Portable marries quality sound with Amazon Alexa's voice control, offering both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Hands-on review: LIFX A60+ LED Smart Light brightens the day
Thu, 27th Jun 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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smart home
LIFX A60+ smart bulb dazzles with colour, mood settings & app ease, enhancing homes sans hub. #SmartLighting #Review.
Hands-on review: Edifier S880DB Active Speakers are little with big sound
Wed, 12th Jun 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Edifier's S880DB active speakers deliver big sound in a tiny package, with superb bass and treble tones. Just beware, Windows users need a special driver.
Hands-on review: The illuminating TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulbs
Mon, 27th May 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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smart home
ve been feeling somewhat in the dark with developments in the growth of the ‘smart home’, so it was a great opportunity to find out how things work.
Hands-on review: MiniTool Power Data Recovery Software
Tue, 21st May 2019
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gaming
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dr
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reviews
MiniTool earns high marks for data recovery, with robust features for Windows users but a steep learning curve.
Hands-on review: Visme transforms you into a graphical presentation guru
Mon, 13th May 2019
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gaming
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martech
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reviews
Versatile design tool Visme wins praise with templates, webcasts, and a user-friendly experience for creators.
Hands-on review: The Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Thu, 9th May 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
The Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard delivers top-notch engineering, comfort, and style, ideal for serious gamers and avid typists alike.
Hands-on review: The beauty of Adobe Premiere Rush
Thu, 9th May 2019
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gaming
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martech
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reviews
A good photographer will tell you that you need to follow the four main principles; lighting, lighting, lighting and lighting.
Hands-on review: The ruggedly tough CAT S61 smartphone
Thu, 18th Apr 2019
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
The driveway beckoned me, so I dropped the phone several times. Back in the study, close examination has failed to reveal a single scratch.
Hands-on review: ASUS Mini PC PB60G
Wed, 17th Apr 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
ASUS’ new Mini PC PB60G defies its size, delivering a powerhouse performance for office and professional environments, priced from USD $1,999.
Hands-on review: The sleek The ASUS ProArt Series PA27AC monitor
Mon, 8th Apr 2019
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gaming
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digital signage
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reviews
The ASUS ProArt Series PA27AC dazzles with its frameless design, HDR-10 precision, and versatile connectivity options, priced at USD $1278.
Hands-on review: The Dyson Pure Hot and Cool Air Purifier
Thu, 4th Apr 2019
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gaming
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reviews
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digital entertainment
Dyson's Pure Hot and Cool revolution for asthmatics; 99.95% of fine pollutants trapped, fostering a sneeze-free home.
Hands-on review: The Samsung Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy Buds
Wed, 27th Mar 2019
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smartphones
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gaming
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digital signage
For those of us who demand high quality performance and durability, this model will have you drooling with delight. I'll see you down at the phone shop.
Hands-on review: D-Link DCS-2802KT Wire-Free Camera Kit
Tue, 26th Mar 2019
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gaming
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surveillance
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reviews
Why settle for blurry security footage? The D-Link DCS-2802KT offers crystal-clear 1080p HD images and a host of smart features to secure your home.
Hands-on review: The Huawei Y7 Pro 2019
Wed, 13th Mar 2019
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smartphones
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gaming
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reviews
Huawei's Y7 Pro smartphone impresses with its AI camera, long battery life, expandable storage, and user-friendly interface.