Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from December 2008

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from December 2008

More to cheer about this Christmas.(Comment)
December 1, 2008... For many of us, the holiday season--the undisputed busiest shopping season of the year--is met with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As advertisers go into overdrive, you can "CHOICE it" before you buy it. We're an antidote to the...

Introducing CHOICE's new energy switching service: CHOICE Switch is an online service that can make cutting energy costs easy.(ENERGY SWITCHING)
December 1, 2008... Increasing costs have Australians looking for ways to save money and with changes to the energy sector, electricity and gas bills are now a good way to curb unnecessary spending. In many areas you're no longer obliged to stay with your original...

Whatever your dream ... Rewards cards promise to make your dreams come true, but how do they measure up?(REWARDS CARDS)
December 1, 2008... "Turn your everyday spending into anything you dream of... " promises the new David Jones American Express rewards card. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Next to the recently introduced Woolworths MasterCard and the Myer Visa card, the new David...

Clarification: ovens, October 2008.(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... On page 45 under the subheading "Bottom element and fan, or fan-assisted baking", the Last sentence in that paragraph should have read, "All the tested models except BLANCO, CHEF, MIELE, and SMEG have fan-assisted baking, and only the MIELE and...

Correction: digital SLRS, November 2008.(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... In the table on page 50 we said the Pentax K200D incorporated the liveview feature. The camera does not have this feature.

Bisphenol A: now what? New research highlights the need for caution around, and further research into, a controversial chemical found in food packaging.(HEALTH)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A recent US study has cast further doubts on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in food and drink packaging. The study linked levels of BPA in urine samples with increased rates of heart disease and...

CHOICE calls for action on imported goods: China's melamine contamination highlighted safety and inspection issues in food and goods coming into Australia.(PRODUCT SAFETY)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Australia's ad hoc approach to inspecting food imports has come under scrutiny following the recent melamine food scare. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) reassured Australian parents that no infant...

Green fun: we all love a good concert or festival, but what effect is our fun having on the environment--and how can we be sure the organisers are doing their bit to lessen the impact on the environment?(ENVIRONMENT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everywhere you look there's a concert, festival or fair advertised. Drawing large numbers of people, they have the potential to impact greatly on the environment. Fortunately, the green message is catching on and...

Avoiding email scams: there are easy ways to protect yourself against the growing phenomenon of cyber-crime.(CYBER SAFETY)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the busiest time of year fast approaching, make sure you don't drop your defences when it comes to cyber safety. In particular, look out for email scares, phishing and even identity fraud. According to the...

Alco-flops: it's been only a few months since the Rudd government raised the tax on alcopops, but already loopholes are being exploited.(ENVIRONMENT)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earlier this year the federal government increased the tax rate on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks--ready to drink (RTDs) beverages or "alcopops". They're generally part spirit and part non-alcoholic drink, and include...

Good nutrition game.
December 1, 2008... A Sydney mother has invented the Good Food Puzzle (www. goodfoodpuzzle.blogspot.com), a game that teaches children how to eat a balanced diet. Each piece represents part of the daily recommended food intake and is placed in a tray as the food...

Beware the hair ... irons.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... According to the American Academy of Dermatology, daily use of ceramic flat irons can, at the highest setting, cause massive damage to the outer part of the hair fibre. One dermatologist says they should only be used on dry hair, never more...

Talcum powder raises cancer risk.
December 1, 2008... Harvard Medical School researchers have found that using talcum powder weekly raises the risk of ovarian cancer by 36%, and 41% for daily use. Previous studies raised concerns but this study confirms it's a greater risk than previously thought,...

Modern-day photo album: this storage device is designed to take the place of a laptop or multiple memory cards for the photographer on the go.(DIGITAL CAMERA STORAGE DEVICE)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HYPERDRIVE Colorspace comprises a screen (45mm x 33mm), optional hard drive and battery in a plastic case. It has slots at the top and sides suitable for Compact Flash types I and II, a Microdrive, SD Card, MM...

Playing by ear: these headphones promise to protect your child's ears from excessive noise.(CHILD-FRIENDLY HEADPHONES)
December 1, 2008... Children grow up fast, and it's not long before they develop an interest in music, especially with the ubiquitous white cords from portable media players trailing out of many people's ears these days. So it's not surprising they may want to...

Upgrade your image: with this package you'll be confident in the director's chair for movies and the designer's studio for stills.(ADOBE ELEMENTS 7 BUNDLE)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adobe's consumer-level digital editing tools for still images and movies have had a major upgrade and can be bought in a money-saving bundle. ADOBE's Premiere Elements 7 and Photoshop Elements 7 bring a new level of...

Cordless phones.(Coming)
December 1, 2008... Despite the plague proportions of mobile phones and internet use, the humble landline is far from extinct. Models have evolved to now support features such as Bluetooth. We explain how you can extend your reach and keep in touch throughout the...

Media players.(Coming)
December 1, 2008... Getting your head around the growing number of portable media players, MP3 players, MP4 players and video players on the market is easier said than done. To help you out, we test a bunch of the latest players for battery life, sound and video...

Car cleaners.(Coming)
December 1, 2008... In a time where water conservation is now more important than ever before, we investigate the range of options available for cleaning your car, including the so-called "waterless" car washes, to see which are kindest to the environment and the...

Kind to the Earth? Mean to chooks.(Emails Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... I'm writing about the Wattle Ridge brand eggs on supermarket shelves. "The environment egg" is just below the name as part of the branding. This has to be one of the most blatant examples of greenwashing I've ever seen. Despite the...

Solar output discrepancy.(Emails Letters)
December 1, 2008... I was disappointed to note in the otherwise excellent feature on solar panels (CHOICE, September 2008) that you failed to mention the major and admitted discrepancy between the wattage output seemingly (and in most cases actually) claimed for...

Lights off.(Emails Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... Recently the light bulb in my six-year-old Sharp microwave oven blew. I pulled the cover off and extracted the broken halogen bulb. A trip to the hardware store and electrical wholesaler proved futile as it was an uncommon type of globe. ...

Promotion overdose.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... Congratulations on your article on prescription drug promotion (CHOICE, September 2008). I am a clinical pharmacologist (a doctor specialising in drugs and how they work and should be used) who also teaches undergraduate medical students. I...

Rachel Appleby would like to offer a Thumbs up to Virgin Blue for its no-fuss and prompt service.(Thumbs up!)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Rachel Appleby would like to offer a Thumbs up to Virgin Blue for its no-fuss and prompt service. After taking a flight to Melbourne, upon collecting her bag she discovered a wheel missing from her expensive new suitcase. Virgin Blue provided...

Paul Burton would like to thank Canon for its recent no-charge repair to his IXUS500 camera, despite it being more than four years old.(Thumbs up!)
December 1, 2008... Paul Burton would like to thank Canon for its recent no-charge repair to his IXUS500 camera, despite it being more than four years old. Canon repaired the optical unit at no cost and without hesitation.

Wendy Harper wants to compliment DeLonghi.(Thumbs up!)
December 1, 2008... Wendy Harper wants to compliment DeLonghi. When the beaters on her Kenwood electric hand mixer broke after almost 10 years she made enquiries about a replacement set. After speaking to a customer service representative the beaters were posted...

Ben Campbell says Fisher & Paykel turned around what was starting to be a bad consumer experience.(Thumbs up!)
December 1, 2008... Ben Campbell says Fisher & Paykel turned around what was starting to be a bad consumer experience when it replaced his new fridge after the water dispenser started playing up and couldn't be fixed by a technician.

Green is the new red: celebrate Christmas with a green conscience.(Christmas Sustainability)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The festive season is almost here and most of us are in the full swing of shopping. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians spent more than $2.7 billion in department stores in the month...

The 2008 CHOICE Shonkys: who takes home our most coveted yearly awards?(CHOICE AWARDS: The Shonkys)(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been another really good year for the CHOICE Shonky Awards, with manufacturers, service providers and especially the marketing and advertising industry providing a fine list of nominations. Regular award...

Closing the deposit gap: the government's First Home Saver Account scheme provides incentives for those trying to break into the property market. CHOICE tells you the seven important steps to take before deciding whether it is right for you and which are the best accounts.(Money: First Home Saver Accounts)
December 1, 2008... Expensive housing and home loan high interest rates are a crippling combination for anyone trying to get on the property ladder in Australia. Add in the soaring cost of rental accommodation and it's a wonder anyone can save for a home deposit....

Taking the Next G step: readers asked CHOICE to look into the Next G network and its phones, so we tested 13 of the latest and most popular handsets in the bush and city. We've identified a variety of models to suit all types of users.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Until recently, Telstra's main argument for going with the Next 6 mobile phone network was coverage, coverage and coverage. This was understandable, as even Telstra's competitors acknowledged the Next (3 network was...

Should your food be less travelled this Christmas? CHOICE weighs up both sides of the 'food miles' debate so you can make informed decisions about your shopping habits.(CHOICE Green: Food miles)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Kettle Chips packet says "made in Australia", with a Sydney address, but the ingredients come from everywhere: the potatoes are sourced from along Australia's east coast, the salt from Price, SA, and the...

Cheers! It's time to celebrate--CHOICE's wine experts give their verdict on top-scoring bubblies for every-budget.(Taste test: Sparkling wines)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When the number of sparkling wines in bottleshops suddenly increases, you know the festive season must be close. CHOICE tested 68 of the best-selling drops, including champagne, so you can buy the best value for any...

Paws for thought: getting a new dog can be an exciting time for the family--but how can you be sure your purchase is an ethical one?(Pets: Ethical purchasing)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unlike the cute, fluffy animals we see in pet shop windows, when Louise first met her dog Keeper (pictured above) at an animal shelter, she was malnourished, scarred and still lactating from what was estimated to be...

'Do you want an extended warranty with that?' Are you being served or served up with this question? CHOICE finds some retailers might be capitalising on consumer confusion.(Investigation: Extended warranties)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You've just made the big decision; the salesman grins and leads you to the cash register under bright store lights. You produce your credit card, gulp and get ready to pay for thousands of dollars worth of TV. Just...

On test: home entertainment, whitegoods, household and personal appliances--they're all tested here.(INDEPENDENT PRODUCT TESTING FOR SMART SHOPPERS)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "CHOICE it" before you buy it www.choice.com.au CHOICE has its own testing laboratories, where experienced technical staff put products through their paces. We use test methods from Australian standards, as well...

Size matters: when a salesperson tells you a higher resolution TV is worth the extra money, should you believe it? Our tests showed not with 80cm televisions--keep your cash in your wallet.(Test: 80cm TVs)
December 1, 2008... There's an assumption in the marketplace that higher resolution equals better picture performance. But as the song says: "It ain't necessarily so." We compared the performance of seven lower resolution 80cm TVs against three high...

Preventative measures: with the move away from video tape to removable storage and hard drives, it's now more important than ever to keep your digital memories safe.(Test: Camcorders)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the past, almost all video cameras recorded to tape. Even when we moved into the digital video (DV) age, we still captured the video to tape. But as the latest roundup of camcorders shows, tape-based models are...

Barbecues for the balcony: you don't need a big backyard--we put eight small barbecues to the test, and investigate whether gas or electricity is best.(Test: Small barbecues)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once a nation of quarter-acre blocks, Australia is rapidly becoming a country of townhouse and apartment living, especially in our bigger cities. But while many of us may no longer be living the big house and...

Weigh it up: we put electronic and mechanical kitchen scales to the test.(Test: Kitchen scales)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you like to cook from a recipe, a good set of kitchen scales is necessary. Rather than trying to convert grams to cups, or hazard a guess at the amount or weight of ingredients needed, a kitchen scale will make...

Charged and ready: just in time for 'new toys', we put 10 NiMH rechargeable AA batteries to the test.(Test: Rechargeable batteries)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The holiday season is a great time for taking lots of photos with your new digital camera, playing with new electronic gadgets and toys... and needing new batteries to run them all. Rechargeable batteries are the...

Getting the oven sparkling clean: we tested 12 oven cleaners to uncover the most effective for the dreaded job of cleaning the oven.(Test: Oven cleaners)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you don't wipe your oven regularly after each use, then it's all down to elbow grease or a specially formulated oven cleaner. To see which brands are best at delivering a squeaky clean oven without back-breaking...

Tapping into filters: to make drinking water safe it has additives. So what can you do if your tap water smells or tastes strange?(Home: Water filters)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you've ever wondered about the quality of the water coming out of your taps, you can be confident it's been thoroughly tested before it reaches your house. In fact, your water supplier's website should carry...

Recalls & bans.(List)
December 1, 2008... N'owadays there are so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Product Recalls Australia website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Product...

Making a list, checking it twice.(CAMPAIGN SUCCESSES)
December 1, 2008... One year ago, CHOICE put forward our Top 10 list of consumer priorities for the new federal government (CHOICE, December 2007). Using our original wish list, here's how consumers fared. 1 A fair go for consumer contracts Everyday...

Rather spoils the fun of entering.(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... We can't reproduce these terms and conditions in a readable size--it's an A4 sheet of paper--but you get the drift. On the upside, if you bothered to read them you might be one of the few who did, thereby increasing your chances of winning. ...

Maths lessons.(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... Apparently "750mL is 50% more than other [?] 500mL's" [sic], while 50m of dental floss is twice as much as 25m packs. Indisputable, yes, but useful? Perhaps these guys could give a few pointers to the service station mob (below). ...

A Clayton's discount?(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... The discount you have when you're not having a discount. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hamming it up?(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When CHOICE investigated packaged ham in October, we found a large range in the amount of actual ham in the products. But this example, with no pork and 80% beef, takes the cake.

Sponge installation quandary.(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... It's almost tempting to ring our local Roads and Traffic Authority to see what they'd say if we asked them about the use and correct installation of this "expaning [sic] sponge". But we rather suspect they wouldn't take us very seriously. ...

Boozer's dozen.(Hard word)
December 1, 2008... A baker's dozen is 13, but a boozer's dozen only 10. Or 11, if you count the case of beer. Or 34, if you count each beer bottle separately.