Firstly, I want to pause for a second to reflect on the exorbitant cost of universal remote controls.

Okay.

Now, here is the One For All Universal Remote Control I bought for $59.95 (!?!?!?!?!?)



Note that the catchphrase of this remote is "keeping it simple..."

At the time I found that statement reassuring.

And they are simple.

If you categorise simple as straining your eyes for 30 minutes trying to read the multitude of codes listed for your brand of television. And trying to keep the murder out of your voice when you say "Nope. Must be the next one."

If you have a Teac TV, for example, and you don't have an owners manual - you are pretty much stuffed.

Oh, the simplicity of leafing through what looks like 500 4-digit codes, diligently programming each one in, clutching to the vain hope that THIS one might be "the one"....

And finally, the magic code clicked into place. But instead solving a rubix cube, I ended up opening the box from "Hellraiser".



You see, if in a moment of distraction, you don't press the button marked "TV", you can make the video recorder go crazy.

I remember looking up to see something like "ARGH19273" flashing in the display panel.

So then you finally get it back on "TV" and the mute button doesn't work.

The most important button on a TV remote control is the mute button, so you can block out the ads. Now I was at the mercy of advertisers.

"How do I know if my health insurance is right for me?"
"Incontinence is a problem that is often hidden..."
"Kids love the goodness of sugar cream fizz puff breakfast cereal..."

ARGHGH!!

But this is all easily fixed of course.

All you have to do is find some toll-free number (I think it is in the manual
but it could be on the packet?!?!), call them up and tell them the code that you used
(er...I can't remember!) to activate the control and they will tell you the code for the
mute button.

So now I have a $59.95 TV ornament. Or a paperweight.

The solution is simple.

Don't lose / break / let your dog eat your remote. Then you won't need to buy one of these contraptions.

Panasonic DVD Player
(Model No: DVD-S32)
RRP $139 AUD

I got this DVD Player for $128.00 at Dick Smith Electronics. It’s pretty lightweight so I decided to carry it disguised in a large plastic bag for a nervous peak-hour journey on the train.

Here are my thoughts on the features:

Multi Format Playback: DVD +R?RW,-R?RW, CD-R?RW, MP3,WMA & JPEG
It does have its limitations – it won’t play DVD-Rs recorded on a computer, just DVDCamcorder recordings


Easy to Operate
I can attest to this. It was amazing. This DVD player works the way all electronic appliances should work. You plug it in, turn it on, and it works!!

Honestly, in the past I have needed some kind of post-graduate degree in advanced electronics to tune in the video player, or get the dang thing to record! @$#^%#$%!


108MHz?12-bit Video DAC & PAL Progressive
Ok, I don’t know what this means, but I know progressive scan is good.


High quality picture
The picture is crystal clear!


Increased functionality through revised remote control
It’s great. I like the way you can switch from letterbox format, zoom in. It’s pretty cool.


Dimensions (WxHxD): 430mm x 43mm x 248mm
Yep, it’s thin and unobtrusive. I was worried about how it would look because it was competing for space with a video recorder and a PlayStation 2. Don’t know why I worried because you can hardly tell it’s there.


Colour: Silver
Hi-yo Silver away!!

...sorry about that last one.

I took the Canon Digital IXUS 55 for a test drive at the Melbourne Zoo.



The camera retails for around $300-400 AUD

I am not going to go into specs here - all I wanted to know was...

1. Does it take good pictures?
2. Can you make videos on it?
3. How long does the battery last?
4. Is it easy to use?

The answers, thankfully, were easy.

1. Yes, here is an example of one:



2. Yes, here is a cute one I filmed featuring Fairy Penguins and a cameo by a Gannet:



3. The battery is not the longest lasting in the world, but it lasts for enough time, just remember to turn it off when you're not using it. If you recharge it the morning you are going to use it, you should have no problems.

The screen is clear and easy to use. The size of the screen is a big plus.


My verdict - SUCCESS!!

This would be my choice for a digital camera - easy to use, good photos and with a big enough memory card, good videos as well.