Electronics, Comparison Shopping Australia

You may not understand every aspect of electronics, but you sure love how the industry employs the technology to make gadgets that enrich and simplify your life. Simply imagine what you would do without computers, mobile phones, home appliances, TV/DVD/VCR combos and quality audio systems. Even your vehicles have electronic components to make your rides safer and more enjoyable.

A big part of your day is spent communicating. Thanks to consumer electronics advances you are able to talk and text on Motorola, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Apple and Acer mobile phones. You can plan your day on a Blackberry Curve, Apple iPhone, Palm Pre, HTC Touch smartphone and take pictures & videos through your Samsung Memoire, Nokia Twist or LG Xenon. Many of these multi functional phones have admirable multimedia performance, keyboard and touchscreen functions and excellent call quality. The price range of mobile phones and their service plans varies widely, making them affordable to everyone. People strapped for cash can also buy prepaid phones, and those who want to accessorize their device can buy Bluetooth headsets, adapters, chargers, carrying cases, protective screens, etc.

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iPad: What the...?

The big question for Apple: can you change one letter and still rule the world?

The company behind the revolutionary iPod mp3 player has just planted its flag deep in the stagnant tablet computer market and the emerging electronic book reader landscape. But is it a tablet? Is it a laptop? Is it for e-books? Is it just an inflated iPhone? What exactly is the Apple iPad?

Announced in January 2010, to mixed reviews among IT buffs and even rusted-on Apple fans, the Apple iPad is nevertheless set to revolutionise a number of emerging product markets, including tablet computers, digital book readers and Apple’s own iPhone and iPod Touch products.

Apple iPad mobile device?

A genuinely revolutionary product, the iPad defies description. Even calling it a mobile device is controversial; at around 24cm x 19cm, there are few pockets yet invented that it would slide in to. But its almost-A4 size does point to some uses that are clearly front-and-centre in the minds of Apple’s strategists.

iPad and the Kindle e-Reader

It was well over two years after the release of the Amazon Kindle e-book reader that Apple head honcho Steve Jobs announced the imminent release of the Apple iPad. But – if previous Apple products are anything to go by – it will be a genuinely disruptive game changer.

There were mp3 players before the iPod, but after its release, that product soon became synonymous with mp3 players generally. There were 3rd-party applications written for mobile phones before, but nothing could have prepared us for the massive explosion in functionality following the release of the iPhone (and especially the SDK or Software Development Kit).

And Amazon has already created a small-but-growing market for e-books; a market that has already got sections of traditional publishing (and especially newspaper proprietors) in a fearsome lather.

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Sony Playstation - a tough market

After dominating the last two generations of gaming in the early 2000s with the Playstation and Playstation 2, Sony have found themselves in the unfamiliar 'last position' behind the Xbox 360 and the runaway Nintendo Wii in the current battle for game console supremacy. Why the slip? The Sony Playstation is a great gaming system, for sure. But Sony was late to market, exorbitantly expensive at launch (A$1000) and failed to secure enough Ëœmust have exclusive titles in the early months.

Playstation 3 rebirth

This has been changing in the last 12 months, with increased software support, a massive price drop at the controversial expense of backwards compatibility (the ability to play PS2 and PS1 games on the console) and a very recent redesign, the PS3Slim (retailing at $500).

PS3 technology

While the console has been overshadowed by the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii in terms of sales, there is no mistaking that it is certainly not overshadowed when it comes to the technology inside the box. Apart from having a built in Blu-ray player - which displays games in the highest picture and sound quality and allows you to play Blu-ray DVDs - the PS3 has numerous impressive features that make it highly versatile and take game playing to a place it has never been before.

Gaming is about more than just playing the latest titles. There are now many more options open to users. The Playstation 3 is a prime example of this. Take for example it's version of the XrossMediaBar, which gives you the option of choosing from nine categories: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends. This means you can explore photos, manage user profiles, play movies and music; it also allows you to be able to attach a storage device such as USB, Flash card or optical disc. You can use these devices to copy audio tracks or to play files from them.

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Buying a phone for your home or small office is no easy thing. Long gone are the days when the only choices were push-button or rotary dial on a phone that plugged into the wall at only one point and was connected to a handset by a curly cord.

And while the extra freedom and accelerating technical choices offered in modern telephones are exciting in many ways, they can also be difficult to get your head around. Choosing the right phone can be difficult. But, as with most purchases, selecting the right phone starts with assessing what you need from your telephone system.

Corded phones or cordless phones?

Most phones these days are cordless, with many models offering up to 6 additional handsets. But is a cordless phone right for you? For enhanced security, added clarity and reliability, a corded phone might be just what you need. Some users report distortion on cordless phones in areas likely to have high interference (although the common cordless DECT digital system suffers less form these issues than the alternative DSS system did).

And then there's price. A basic corded phone can be picked up for as little as $20. Corded phones for business (featuring speakerphone, headphone jack, caller ID and other features) are available from brands like Doro for around $70. And the classic Telstra corded phone can be picked up for about $40, or even less at your local op shop!

One phone handset or multiple handsets?

In most homes and small businesses, multiple cordless phone handsets are a convenient option. A phone in the bedroom (with the ringer turned off) is always handy, as are handsets in the kitchen and lounge.

Just phone calls?

The primary function of most phones is to make calls, obviously. But along with this core functionality, many phones have additional uses:

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PSP's big leap

The PSP was Sony's first foray into the handheld gaming market, released after the Nintendo DS, and with that system squarely in its sights. Flashy, bold, sleek and sexy, it was a very impressive piece of tech when it launched in 2005. Initial sales were good off the back of the 'wow' factor, greater computing power, and some genuinely cool games, but a subsequent lack of support software-wise has seen sales slow considerably.

Feature packed handheld device

The Playstation Portable features a glorious widescreen display (just be careful not to scratch it), a mini USB port, wi-fi, proprietary MD drive (Universal Media Disc) and a memory card slot. The PSP is compatible with the Playstation gaming consoles (PS3), meaning you can download and play PS1 games on it. The PSP unit also has a fully functioning - but notoriously clunky - internet browser, an analogue control nub, and the XMB (cross media bar), which is the same user interface as featured in the PS3.

PSP revisions and improvements

Since the initial successful launch of the PSP, the system has had two major revisions. The PSP Slim and Lite " released in 2007 " featured (obviously) a slimmer and significantly lighter design, with enhanced features including USB charging, a doubling of the RAM and a noticeably brighter screen.

Less than a year later, additional features, including a microphone and improved video-out options, were added, and the unit named the PSP-3000. These enhancements have made the device smaller and lighter and faster, while still maintaining the kick-arse screen which the device is revered amongst gamers for.

PSP games and more!

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The Nintendo Wii has revolutionised video game consoles and the way people play games. No longer the domain of dextrous geeks playing first-person shooting games with hand-held controls of ever-increasing complexity; video games are now accessible to virtually everyone.

The Nintendo Wii's revolutionary motion control, recently improved with the addition of Wii Motion Plus, means that games can be played by gamers using natural movements. Take a swing and you'll hit the ball!

Other peripherals have also been a huge success, including a balance board shipped with 'lifestyle' game WiiFit, which allows people to exercise while playing games. Could this be the answer to the childhood obesity epidemic?!

Cube to Wii - console games success

Many were suspicious when Nintendo announced the release of it's new console. Then codenamed 'Revolution', the Wii had many hurdles to overcome; not least of them being Nintendo's own plummeting reputation in the gaming market.

After the disastrous reception to and sales of the GameCube (which saw many pundits predicting the 'Revolution' (as the Wii was then known) would be Nintendo's last foray into the home console market), Nintendo stunned everybody by unveiling the Wii Motion Controller at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show. It marked a radical rethink of traditional video game control methods.

However, even with the (suspiciously gameplay-free) videos that Nintendo pumped out in the lead-up to the console's release creating decent hype, most people thought the console would be a total flop. They were just a little bit wrong. It is the current leader in terms of sales this generation, almost double its nearest competitor.

New and old favourite video games

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Buying a new TV these days can be a harrowing experience! Just 10 years ago, the choice was a simple one – you just needed to decide what size and what brand you wanted.

Now, with LCD and plasmas, HDTV, digital televisions and set-top boxes, gaming consoles and an intimidating array of sizes and shapes, buying a new television demands lots of homework before you actually splash the cash.

Internet forums can be a great place to get advice of televisions, but – as with in-store sales people – be careful that the advice isn't coming from someone with a vested interest in you buying a particular model (or spending more money).

Of course, the best way to select the right television for your needs is to test them out in real life. Spending time in a shop comparing colours and contrast (especially skin tones and night scenes) and playing with the controls and settings will give you a good understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different models. Look at the screen from various angles, and try to replicate your home environment as best as possible.

Once you've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 models, jump online and search for the best deals. Remember that warranties and after-sales service might be required, so pay attention to the different offers out there.

What to look for in a new television

New model televisions come with a huge range of features. Deciding on the features you want, and the relative importance of each one, is a great way to narrow down your search for a new TV.

Sound:

• Do you want your television programs in stereo, or are you happy just with stereo from components like DVD players and video games?
• Are you happy with pre-set sound settings, or do you want graphic-equaliser-style control?
• Do you want a mute button?

Picture:

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The television revolution is truly upon us. Large flat screen TVs - reserved for the super-rich less than a decade ago - are now selling at prices most of us can afford. LCD televisions dominate this flat-and-widescreen TV market.

But buying a TV is a big step. We want something that'll last us a decade, and - given the amount of time we'll spend looking at it - we want something that looks good too.

And if you're into gaming or you want to network your TV or even connect it to the Internet, you'll need to know exactly what you're doing before you whip out the credit card and wait for the big box to arrive.

Which TV should I buy?

The first choice, of course, is what type of TV to get. But how do you choose a TV ? In the old days, this wasn't an issue. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) were the one and only option for TVs. Your choice was really just about size and style.

Now, you need a degree in audio-visual technology and a diploma in LAN architecture to work out all the options and assess all the specifications. Luckily, though, you can still make an informed decision with just a little bit of homework.

The most popular televisions on the market are LCD televisions (or Liquid Crystal Display televisions), although Plasma - and now LED - are still popular options.

LCD TVs and Plasma TVs

Much has been said and written about the differences between Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) televisions and Plasma televisions . While it's impossible to state which is best overall, a few features might assist in making a decision about which type is right for you. Keep in mind that the severity of these differences vary widely from model to model:

• LCD televisions are generally cheaper than their plasma cousins.
• LCD TVs tend to be lighter, which makes them easier to move and to mount on a wall.
• Plasmas tend to lead the way with the largest screens.
  

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Digital Cameras - a digital photography revolution

Digital cameras have changed the way people take, store and view their precious memories. An expensive novelty just a decade ago, digital cameras have secured their place as the new standard for photographic equipment.

The presence of 35mm film cameras is all but non-existent in the low and mid-range camera market, and even high-end professional photographers are taking advantage of the phenomenal leap in the quality of digital equipment, from expanded megapixels to top quality lenses and digital SLR control.

The digital camera landscape

New technologies that make a sudden and significant impact are often called 'disruptive' technologies. And there are few examples of a disruptive technology as successful as digital photography.

In a matter of a handful of years, digital cameras have made 35mm film redundant, replaced expensive, specialist photo development labs with cheap desktop printers and gloss printer paper, and placed the art of photography squarely in the hands of the everyday snap-happy user.

Photo albums have been replaced by digital photo frames and expanded memory capacity on home computers, and the old-fashioned notion of 'multiple prints' has been replaced by limitless copies and instantaneous worldwide distribution through email attachments and photo sharing websites like Flickr and Picasa.

Internet-connected smart phones mean you can take a photo of little Jane playing on the swings, send it across the world to grandma, and it can be displaying in a standard or digital photo frame just a minute after it was taken. Eat your heart out Kodak Instamatic!

How to choose a digital camera

Choosing a digital camera is tricky. Just like trying to pick a mobile phone, different models are not easily comparable, with many variations in specifications. The main things to look out for are as follows:

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Initially conceived of as a niche device for specialist use in industries such as the military, cheap laptop computers are now a cornerstone of business, student and home computing life.

A laptop is, of course, a self-contained computer, featuring a flip-top screen. They're small enough to carry around and - as the name implies - operate while sitting on your lap. The truth is that hardly any of us actually use laptops on our laps - they work well on a desk too! The benefit is that they're portable, self contained and battery powered.

Commonplace laptops

As computer prices fall, the spread of laptops increase. Only a decade ago, laptops were still unusual in university lecture theatres and on desks in office workplaces. By 2009, however, annual sales of laptops caught up with, and then eclipsed, the sale of desktop computers worldwide.

Business laptop use - liberation!

It's not unusual in modern business to see employees carrying laptops and setting up where it makes the best sense: in a project team, next to collaborators, outside under a tree or in the local cafe. Using wi-fi connections, workers can now 'hot desk' with ease, and always have the main tool of their trade - a computer - with them.

These laptops, operating as desktop replacement machines, have transformed some workplaces from old-fashioned Dilbert-style cubicle farms into vibrant, energetic workplaces where idea sharing and collaboration are more possible than ever.

The rise in casual and freelance work, and the ability of people to work from home or while away on business trips has also added to the rise in popularity of laptop computers. With wi-fi hotspots popping up everywhere, many information workers can do their jobs anywhere. The laptop has liberated many people from being tethered to their workstations.

Home laptops - convenient and fun

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