Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from October 2008

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from October 2008

A consumer protection nightmare.(Comment)
October 1, 2008... Mobile premium services are a hot topic for many consumers: they're '19' numbers that offer ring tones, games, horoscopes, dating information or the weather. Consumers have no protection against aggressive promotion of expensive services they...

More big TVs tested: in the short time since our test published in the September issue there have been changes in the market for big TVs.(UPDATE 127-132 CM TVS)
October 1, 2008... We tested new 127 cm plasma models from PANASONIC and SAMSUNG and a i32 cm LCD SAMSUNG; and the CONIA, PHILIPS, SHARP and TOSHIBA from the September test have been discontinued. That leaves the NEC as the only model with the lower...

Health claims don't hold water: CHOICE lodges a complaint about labelling and marketing of Glaceau Vitamin Water.(MARKETING)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Snazzy, colourful and "nutrient enhanced"--these are some of the selling points of a new drinks range called Glaceau Vitamin Water. But if, like us, you read the fine print on the label, you'll discover what's...

Inroads into cancer treatment and prevention: while the terms 'good news' and 'cancer' don't often go together, interesting new developments in cancer research offer hope for preventing and treating the disease.(HEALTH)
October 1, 2008... * Prostate cancer A small preliminary trial of the drug abiraterone offers hope for a longer, better quality of life for men with prostate cancer. The UK drug trial was conducted on 21 men with aggressive tumours that had failed to respond to...

CUA cuts penalty fees: the country's largest credit union, CUA, will cut commonly charged penalty fees by 12.5% to 40%, following pressure from CHOICE's Fair Fees Campaign.(FAIR FEES)
October 1, 2008... The changes, which are effective from 1 September, include: * The penalty when a customer's account has insufficient funds to cover a direct debit to a third party is reduced from $20 to $10, a 20% reduction. * Cheque dishonour...

Name and shame: some state governments are introducing laws designed to publicly name and shame food businesses that aren't up to scratch.(EATING OUT)
October 1, 2008... Until recently, the restaurant you frequent every Friday night could have received fines for anything from rat infestations to dirty cooking equipment, but you wouldn't have known. Moves are now afoot to make public the names of restaurants...

Traffic light labelling gets the green light from consumers: new research shows that traffic lights help consumers make healthier food choices.(FOOD PACKAGING)
October 1, 2008... Kellogg's was the first to use the .% Daily Intake guide (%DI) on the front of cereal packets and now many manufacturers have started using it to inform consumers about the nutrition content of their products. An alternative system, based on...

On your bike.
October 1, 2008... If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and get fit at the same time, why not hop on a bike? This year's National Ride to Work Day is on 15 October. You can register to participate by logging on to ride2work.com.au. For more information on...

Sounds too good.
October 1, 2008... ... to be true. National Australia Bank has released a home loan without an exit fee, which usually applies if you refinance within the first three to five years. But there's a trap: you pay the standard home loan rate. With other loans...

Lens to help manage glaucoma.
October 1, 2008... About 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, so its good news that American researchers are developing a contact lens containing nanosilver particles that can conduct electricity. The electrical resistance changes with shape and this can be used to...

Alarming images.(PHILIPS PHOTO FRAME/CLOCK/RADIO)(Philips AJL308/79 alarm clock)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... PHILIPS AJL308/79 Price $230 Contact 1300 363 391 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The PHILIPS AJL308/79 combines clock, FM radio and 15.4 x 8.5 cm LCD screen for displaying photos and video. It's an improvement on some of the photo...

Blu-ray as backup: high-capacity Blu-ray drives the future of optical storage.(EXTERNAL BLU-RAY DRIVE)
October 1, 2008... LaCie d2 Blu-ray recerdable drive Price $799 Contact www.lacie.com.au [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The day of the CD as optical disc storage king is long gone and even dual-layer DVDs are following suit. The new removable storage...

Recharge anywhere: when you hit the road this little charger could become an essential travelling companion.(EMERGENCY PHONE CHARGER)(Uniross Emergency Two Way Charger)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... UNIROSS Emergency Two Way Charger Price $25 Contact www.uniross.com.au [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keeping your mobile phone or MP3 player charged when you're travelling can be a hassle, especially when you're in remote areas away from...

Fridges.(Coming)
October 1, 2008... Buying a new fridge is a major decision so you want to get it right. Our report gives you the lowdown on the best performers for temperature, energy efficiency and ease of use, plus useful information on features and specifications. ...

Navigation systems.(Coming)
October 1, 2008... In our latest car GPS test we put 14 models through their paces in the city and the country, then assessed their screen quality, how easy they are to use, how well they give verbal instructions and whether they can find points of interest. The...

Health grills.(Coming)
October 1, 2008... These kitchen appliances can cook meat or double as a sandwich press. The eight models tested all have non, reduce the amount of oil you use in cooking, and one of our top performers was the least expensive model in the test.

Bells on bikes.(Emails Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... * In your article on bikes for transport in the July 2008 edition, listed under Bike transport essentials is a bell. Where are they, and who uses them these days? 'Nonexistent' and 'nobody' in my experience. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Credit card scanned twice.(Emails Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... * I went to a BP petrol station in the eastern suburbs of Victoria. I paid with my credit card, which was swiped, but then the attendant swiped it again on a small skimmer-like machine attached to the cash register, in full view of me. ...

Refund or replacement?(Emails Letters)
October 1, 2008... * I'm concerned about advice currently being given to consumers and retailers by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT). I had only worn a garment once when the seam tore, so I contacted the retailer for a refund. They told me that...

Robbert Kuppers is very impressed with the prompt service he received from Rest Rite in Archerfield, Queensland.(Thumbs up!)
October 1, 2008... Robbert Kuppers is very impressed with the prompt service he received from Rest Rite in Archerfield, Queensland, which picked up, fixed and returned a three- or four-year-old latex mattress that had developed a sagging problem--all within a few...

What do you do when you can't assemble a lamp, but the shop you bought it from is more than 600 km away?(Thumbs up!)
October 1, 2008... What do you do when you can't assemble a lain p, but the shop you bought it from is more than 600 km away? Beacon Lighting at Hornsby, Sydney, made do with an emailed photo of the assembly problem and promptly delivered a new lamp to Gwen and...

Paul Gioia gives a Thumbs up! to the double-glazing window company Rylock.(Thumbs up!)
October 1, 2008... Paul Gioia gives a Thumbs up! to the double-glazing window company Rylock, which fixed and serviced--free of charge--all his windows that were five years old and out of warranty.

About a year ago, Maxwell Electronic Service of Kirrawee, Sydney, managed to repair Murray Scott's five-year-old JVC video camera after it had been dropped on the ground.(Thumbs up!)
October 1, 2008... About a year ago, Maxwell Electronic Service of Kirrawee, Sydney, managed to repair Murray Scott's five-year-old JVC video camera after it had been dropped on the ground. But he feared "the end was nigh" when the recorded picture recently...

Eggs: the forgotten heroes.(LETTER OF THE MONTH)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2008... * Great egg story (CHOICE, July 2008), but there's a valid option you didn't provide--backyard chickens. I've had four chickens now for five months and have received enough eggs each week (it's slowed down in winter) to keep a family of four...

10 threats to your good name: nearly half a million Australians were victims of identity fraud last year, and the threats--especially online--are multiplying. So how can you protect yourself?(Privacy: Identity fraud)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Anne (not her real name) tried to renew her passport recently, she found that someone else had already obtained one in her name. "1 had to go through the process of proving that I was the real Anne," she says....

Emissions trading: a beginner's guide: most of us believe a carbon emissions trading scheme is necessary, but don't know what it will mean to our wallet.(Environment: Emissions trading scheme)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The concept of an emissions trading scheme (ETS) has been on the edge of consumer consciousness for the past year. In a July Herald/Nielsen opinion poll, 68% of respondents said they were prepared to pay more for...

Best restaurant guide websites: deciding where to eat on Friday night? Wondering if that Italian bistro on the corner is any good? CHOICE presents the inaugural Mouse Awards for the best restaurant guide websites.(Food: Online restaurant guides)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A vast improvement on trawling the phone book, online restaurant guides can be a great help when planning a meal out. Some give you not only names, addresses and cuisine, but also menus, ambience photos and reviews....

Hyped to the max: they're selling just a dream. Unless you're an athletic superstar, sports drinks won't make you run faster. They'll merely make you fatter.(Health: Sports drink)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sports drinks come with promises that are hard to resist: "Gives you greater energy for a longer more effective performance"... "Perform at your peak for 10% longer"... "Formulated to deliver what you need to play...

Consuming for a cause: when you buy a bottle of water or a pair of earrings where a portion of the sale price goes to a good cause, are you donating to charity or are you being 'causewashed'?(Charities: Cause-related marketing)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's early Saturday morning when Ms A hits the mall on a mission to do some serious shopping. List in hand, her first stop is the supermarket, where she picks up pancake mix, marshmallows and chocolate for her...

Get ready to organise your TV viewing: what's an EPG and do you need one anyway?(TV: Electronic program guides)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An electronic program guide (EPG) is just a TV guide y another name. It's different because it isn't on paper and it comes direct to your digital TV, set-top box or PVR, rather than you having to go out and buy it....

Shade by shade: moisturising tanning lotions promise a hint of colour for pale legs before summer arrives, but do they live up to their claims? We sent them to CHOICE's Home Testers to find out.(User trial: Moisturising tanning lotions)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the last vestiges of winter creep away it's time to pack up your winter woollies and get into summer clothes. But months of hibernating in front of the heater have left you pasty pale with skin like a lizard. ...

Paying extra for extras: don't get taken for a ride with expensive or unnecessary new car options. Aftermarket purchase are usually a much better option.(Car: New car options)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you've ever bought a new car, you'll have experienced the hard sell from the dealer, pushing you to add options to the vehicle. Some options are just a matter of taste and budget, such as premium paint colours,...

Pumped up: there's no champagne in 'champagne ham'--but you can pay champagne prices for the water that's been added to the meat.(Food: Packaged ham)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one expects pre-packaged and pre-sliced ham to be a gourmet's delight, but it's convenient for making sandwiches or a pizza topping. You might be surprised, though, at just how much added water these products can...

Sound in your pocket: carrying music about is getting easier all the time, but some players make it simpler than others.(Test: MP3 players)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's no shortage of choice when it comes to portable music. Apple has the bulk of the market with its very successful iPod range, but many other MP3 players do a good job. CHOICE tested 12 new players and carried...

Blowing off steam: a canopy rangehood can rid your kitchen of steam and cooking smells. We tested 10 of them to help you choose the right one.(Test: Canopy rangehoods)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Canopy rangehoods are usually more expensive than their retractable cousins, but they're an increasingly popular way of removing cooking smells and steam from your kitchen. A third alternative is an island rangehood,...

Baker's delight: modern ovens do a lot more than just bake a cake.(Test: Electric ovens)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you haven't been in the market for a new oven for a while, you might be surprised to discover what they can do these days. CHOICE tested 10 multifunction ovens this time around, ranging in price from $849 to...

Cooling down and heating the planet: keeping cool is getting easier, but avoid the inefficient options.(Test: Reverse-cycle air conditioners)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inverter air conditioners, such as the ones in this test, can vary their heating or cooling output to adapt to room conditions. This is more energy-efficient than older models, which essentially have two settings:...

Taking the plunge: do automatic pool cleaners really take the hard work out of cleaning your pool?(Test: Pool cleaners)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... There are three types of pool cleaner on the market: suction, pressure and robotic. Most pool cleaners you'll come across are suction models--they're the most visible in the market, cost less than other types and are easy to install. We tested...

Fiddling on the roof: a car roof box is great for increasing your car's storage capacity, but it can increase fuel consumption by 11%.(Test: Car roof boxes)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Car storage space can be difficult to find on a road trip, with your boot stuffed to the brim or certain items that just don't fit. Car roof boxes are designed to fit onto the roof rack of a car to solve this lack of...

Play it safe: CHOICE testers found just one playpen they considered completely safe--is it time for Australia to develop a standard for these children's products?(Test: Playpens)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It comes as quite a shock to parents when their formerly immobile baby becomes a fearless little explorer--who can one second be playing contentedly on the lounge room floor and the next be emptying the kitchen...

Recalls & bans.
October 1, 2008... Nowadays 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...

Food regulation under the microscope.(+ FOOD REGULATION)
October 1, 2008... While the Productivity Commission reviews red tape in the food industry, CHOICE doesn't want public health compromised. In its latest report on the Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Manufacturing and Distributive Trades, the...

Banking code of practice.(+ BANKING CODE)
October 1, 2008... CHOICE is calling for major improvements to the Code of Banking Practice, aimed at reducing the number of penalty fees and giving consumers greater control of their bank accounts. The Code of Banking Practice is the banking industry's customer...

Hard word.
October 1, 2008... The prize for best entry goes to R McKenzie for the aromaless aromatherapy products. Thanks also to N Moore, K & D Blichfeldt, F Ong, O Manor, I McDonald, R&J Parker, K Shaz and P Mathers for their contributions to this month's Hard Word. ...