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Patrick Pilcher

Former TechDay team member

Read the latest stories by Patrick Pilcher across the TechDay network.

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Kiwi Stories

Written by Patrick

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacement stock hits NZ
Power / Energy

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacement stock hits NZ

Samsung says Note 7 customers who returned their devices should get in touch to arrange a pick up for their new Note 7.

By Patrick Pilcher • 2 min read • Fri, 23rd Sep 2016
Grumpy tech guy: Shock collars shouldn't be on shop shelves
Opinion

Grumpy tech guy: Shock collars shouldn't be on shop shelves

I love it when my two biggest passions (that's gadgetry and my two greyhounds) come together. Unfortunately, technology and pets don't always mix.

By Patrick Pilcher • 9 min read • Mon, 19th Sep 2016
Worried your phone is about to blow? Samsung launches software fix for Note 7
Power / Energy

Worried your phone is about to blow? Samsung launches software fix for Note 7

After a huge launch, the Note 7 was labelled by many (myself included) as Samsung's best phone yet - now they've launched a fix for the fiery issue.

By Patrick Pilcher • 2 min read • Thu, 15th Sep 2016
Air NZ bans the note 7 amidst safety fears
Air New Zealand

Air NZ bans the note 7 amidst safety fears

Air New Zealand joins others in banning the Samsung Note 7 on flights due to fiery battery hazards, echoing global safety concerns.

By Patrick Pilcher • 3 min read • Wed, 14th Sep 2016
Grumpy tech guy: Top tech annoyances and their solutions
Software Updates

Grumpy tech guy: Top tech annoyances and their solutions

Grumpy Tech Guy divulges today's tech irks and fixes, from bogus free apps to fanboy follies and the plague of cable clutter.

By Patrick Pilcher • 9 min read • Wed, 7th Sep 2016

Global Stories

Written by Patrick

Hands-on Review: Huawei P9 Lite - the perfect balance of price and features
Gaming

Hands-on Review: Huawei P9 Lite - the perfect balance of price and features

Huawei P9 Lite strikes the sweet spot between cost and features, a worthy contender in the budget phone arena.

By Patrick Pilcher • 6 min read • Mon, 17th Oct 2016
What does it take to become a Call of Duty, Infinity Ward game developer?
Gaming

What does it take to become a Call of Duty, Infinity Ward game developer?

Ever wondered what goes into designing the look & feel of a game? Curious to know what skills are needed to score a job as a game developer? Read on..

By Patrick Pilcher • 5 min read • Fri, 30th Sep 2016
Vocus launches gigabit UFB plans aimed at gamers
Unified Communications

Vocus launches gigabit UFB plans aimed at gamers

First or not, gigabit broadband is fast. It isn't so much a matter of watching characters appear – blink and you'll miss the entire site.

By Patrick Pilcher • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Sep 2016
Hands-on Review: Microsoft Surface Book a 'pretty special piece of gear'
Gaming

Hands-on Review: Microsoft Surface Book a 'pretty special piece of gear'

Microsoft's Surface Book dazzles with its clever design and premium build, proving to be a savvy investment for Windows loyalists.

By Patrick Pilcher • 6 min read • Tue, 27th Sep 2016
Fujifilm's latest camera packs a new image Sensor - it's a whopper!
FujiFilm

Fujifilm's latest camera packs a new image Sensor - it's a whopper!

Fujifilm unveils GFX 50s with a gigantic 51.4MP sensor, towering over typical DSLRs and bringing portability to medium format.

By Patrick Pilcher • 2 min read • Thu, 22nd Sep 2016
Hands-on Review: D-Link Powerline AV2 1000 HD Gigabit
Gaming

Hands-on Review: D-Link Powerline AV2 1000 HD Gigabit

For a near bomb-proof means of filling in that pesky WiFi coverage hole, this offering from D-Link will be exactly what the doctor ordered.

By Patrick Pilcher • 3 min read • Thu, 22nd Sep 2016
First impressions of macOS Sierra: Destined to fly or fated to pie?
Apple

First impressions of macOS Sierra: Destined to fly or fated to pie?

Today macOS Sierra is finally available as a free download for Mac users. It is still only early days, but here are my first impressions.

By Patrick Pilcher • 3 min read • Wed, 21st Sep 2016
Hands-on Review: Sony MDR1000x Bluetooth Headphones
Gaming

Hands-on Review: Sony MDR1000x Bluetooth Headphones

​Sony have an impeccable sense of timing. Almost straight after Apples headphone socketless iPhone 7 launched, their new Bluetooth headphones arrived.

By Patrick Pilcher • 4 min read • Mon, 19th Sep 2016
Grumpy Tech Guy: Isn't that ironic - Adblock to display adverts
Marketing Technologies

Grumpy Tech Guy: Isn't that ironic - Adblock to display adverts

Despite the fact you downloaded Adblock to block adverts, you're now back at square one, as they will soon display ads they deem as 'good'.

By Patrick Pilcher • 2 min read • Wed, 14th Sep 2016
Grumpy tech guy: Welcome to Transylvanian tech support hell
Unified Communications

Grumpy tech guy: Welcome to Transylvanian tech support hell

Frustrated by a phone glitch, a journalist's call to tech support takes a bizarre turn as he's connected to a call centre in Transylvania.

By Patrick Pilcher • 4 min read • Tue, 13th Sep 2016
Grumpy tech guy: Apple, this isn't courage - it's arrogance
Bluetooth

Grumpy tech guy: Apple, this isn't courage - it's arrogance

Tech veteran slams Apple over iPhone 7's 'courageous' jack removal, calling it a profit-driven insult to users' intelligence.

By Patrick Pilcher • 4 min read • Fri, 9th Sep 2016
A Silicon Valley CEO's presentation notes
Digital Entertainment

A Silicon Valley CEO's presentation notes

Peach CEO's latest presentation left audiences baffled with bizarre boasts of 900,000,000% more innovation and offers to trade kidneys for new X-Phones.

By Patrick Pilcher • 2 min read • Thu, 8th Sep 2016
Grumpy tech guy: Are smart appliances aimed at dummies?
Bluetooth

Grumpy tech guy: Are smart appliances aimed at dummies?

If opening the fridge door to see what's in the fridge is too much of a chore then great, you've saved yourself 15 seconds.

By Patrick Pilcher • 4 min read • Tue, 6th Sep 2016