The good: The Apple iPod Touch has a large, video-worthy screen, a cutting-edge interface, and Wi-Fi Internet and music download capabilities.

The bad: The iPod Touch may cost too much for you, depending on your needs. It has a small capacity for a portable video player.

The bottom line: The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out. Unfortunately, its lean capacity keeps it from reigning as king of the iPods.

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It is HD Ready, which means you can experience HDTV’s wide range of colours and clearer images. High Definition contains four or five times as many pixels, which makes the image clearer than standard picture.

Many LCD TVs are hampered by motion judder, especially when showing fast moving action in movies and watching football where the moving person or object often looks blurred. Samsung’s Movie Plus technology eliminates this, or certainly vastly reduces, and presents smooth action.

Three HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connections make the Samsung LE37R87 a true multimedia system. You can connect HD digital devices like game consoles, satellite dish boxes etc. into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted connection for digital cameras, camcorders and pc laptops.

Its powerful surround sound effects give you a real cinema-like experience.

The swivel stand allows you to position the TV screen to suit the layout and seating arrangements of the room.

The set-up was simple - clicking ‘OK’ to run through the Auto-setup process.

We loved the ‘game mode’ which produces a refreshingly impressive picture rather than the somewhat overexposed results of many other LCD TVs in this field.

There are many picture options available and it’s worth reading through the manual to set-up some custom views. This can make a big difference on the 37″ screen.

Verdict: Picture is extremely clear and sound is great. Plenty of connections available inc. 3 x HDMI, RGB splits, AV, twin scarts and a network slot as well as various audio connections for Dolby surround options. The Samsung LE37R87 is a winner in our book.

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The iP4500 will print a borderless 4-by-6-inch photo in only about 21 seconds. You’re always ready to print exactly what you need as you can store both photo and plain paper in the paper trays at the same time. We like the option of printing two-sided documents to save paper and the ability to print right from your infrared-enabled mobile camera phone! You can also print images from a PictBridge-ready digital camera or DV camcorder, simply connect & print.

There is a built-in automatic image-fixing feature which helps each image to be as clear as possible.

The setup software was straight forward and took approx 20-30 minutes once the parts were all out of the box and everything was connected together.

The Canon Pixma iP4500 will print up to 24 pages per minute with a colour print speed of around 2.5 seconds per page. The print resolution goes up to 600 x 600 dpi Black and 9600 x 2400 dpi for colour.

One downside for some is that the printer is on the large side and some rearranging of your office desk space may be needed to accommodate.

Dimensions are:
Length 17.5
Width 11.9
Height 6.3
Weight - 15.2 pounds

Verdict:
High-quality, high-performance printer that is a little on the large side. On photo printing alone the Canon Pixma iP4500 simply excels. It is fast, but unlike many of it’s competitors, the ip4500 backs that up with genuine quality. Highly Recommended.

(Compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X v.10.2.8 to 10.4.x6)

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As well as the usual highly impressive design from Apple, it includes many features such as a built-in Webcam & remote control. It has also been updated to Intel’s Core 2 Duo CPU and compares rather favourably with Apple’s top of the range MacBook Pro line.

RAM is easily upgradeable and also has the option to run windows XP as a second operating system.
We were also impressed with the very bright and crisp display and the use of magnetic devices for closure and power connections.

Verdict: High-end Performance for a reasonably low price.

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The Samsung 226BW has really raised the game when it comes to display design with it’s glossy black bezel and curved edges. It is beautifully complimented by a silver power switch at the bottom right with a cool blue light radiating behind it. A silver strip runs underneath with the various buttons nicely hidden from view.

The Syncmaster 226BW stand is not height adjustable. However, it is circular which means whole display can rotate. It can also tilt forward/back and is wall mountable with 100mm holes.

*The DVI port is HDCP compatible which, at time of writing, is not available from any of its competitors. So if you are planning on watching Blu-ray or HD DVD on your PC Desktop or Laptop then HDCP support is essential.

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*Jargon Buster
DVI port- Digital Video Interface is a specification created by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) to accommodate analog and digital monitors with a single connector. Many monitors now include a DVI connection. Essentially it is aimed at maximising the picture quality of LCD screens.

HDCP - High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, is the solution that allows us to have HD movies on our computers. Only a hand full of monitors are HDCP ready.

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However, LG Prada is one of the most fashionable phones available and for aesthetics alone, we found it simply irresistible!

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It may be relatively easy for a professional who knows what to look for but for the average person looking to invest in diamond jewellery it can be daunting. So how can an inexperienced person evaluate the value of a diamond? Although there are many diamond buying guides that can help you identify prong settings or discreet symbols, some say that choosing a diamond ring is really a choice taken by following ones heart. There is certainly something that makes a diamond distinguishable from any other type of gift.

The thought of purchasing diamond earrings can be overwhelming but you don’t need to be an expert to make an informed choice. By reading over our quick guide to certificates, inclusions, grading scales, colours and the various jargon associated with diamonds, you will soon know the key elements when it comes to evaluating the price of diamond earrings. Put simply, a good understanding of diamonds is essential before you begin shopping.

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Diamond Earring Buying Guide

4 Cs Of Diamonds
Diamonds are graded and categorized by the diamond industry as follows:

-Cut
-Clarity
-Colour
-Carat weight

This is the criteria that jewellers use when grading diamonds and understanding the 4 Cs will help buy the right diamond for you.

There is a Fifth C, Certificates, but we’ll come back to that.

Cut
The Cut is probably the most important of the four Cs to understand as the brilliance* of a diamond depends on its cut.

*Brilliance is created when light enters through the table (the flat facet on the top of the diamond which is the largest facet on a cut diamond), reaches the pavilion facets (the smooth flat faces on the surface of a diamond), and is then reflected back out through the table where the light is most visible.

Clarity
Most diamonds contain some inner flaws or inclusions. The visibility, number and size of these flaws determine the clarity of a diamond. Put simply, diamonds that are clear create more brilliance and more highly priced.

Colour
Colourless diamonds are the most expensive and sought after as they allow the most refraction of light, or sparkle if you prefer. For example, off white diamonds absorb light which effects the brilliance by prohibiting the light passing through. The result would be less ’sparkle’.

Carat Weight
A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Large diamonds are rare and therefore the price of a diamond rises in accordance to its size.

Fifth C, Certificates
The diamond certificate, often referred to as a grading report, is a complete evaluation of your diamond performed by a qualified professional, with the help of special instruments. Each stone will have its own recognisable characteristics which will be listed on the certificate.

Other Terms You Should Know Before Buying Diamond Earrings…

AGS: The American Gem Society
Essentially they are an independent grader that standard in the jewellery industry as the recognized authority for grading diamonds and gemstones.

What is a Blemish?
A flaw on the diamond’s surface usually caused by a scratch or abrasion. Blemishes are often so small they can only be detected by professional graders with the right equipment.

Blue-White
This is a particular diamond that glows under ultra-violet light.

Brilliance of a Diamond
Essentially amount of light reflected through the surface of a diamond.

Brilliant Cut
A style of diamond cutting that creates many facets of different shapes and sizes. This increases a diamond’s brilliance by restricting the amount of light that can escape through the bottom of the gemstone.

Carat
The unit of weight by which a diamond is measured and equals 200 milligrams

Carbon Spots
Black spots in diamonds that are usually caused by the presence of transparent crystals.

Clarity
The measure by which a diamond is graded for purity or “whiteness”. The diamond is checked for blemishes on the surface or inclusions within the diamond itself.

The professional grading scale is: flawless; internally flawless; very, very slightly included; very slightly included; slightly included; imperfect.

Colour Grading
A system of grading diamonds on the quality of their tint from colourless to a more pronounced yellow hue.
Modern methods use letters to designate differences in colours. They are as follows:

D-F - colourless
G-J - nearly colourles
K-M - faintly yellow
N-R - very light yellow
S-X - light yellow
Y-Z - yellow.

The traditional method uses names to the variations in tint:
pure white (extra river; river)
top-white (wesselton)
off-white (silver cape, tope cape, cape, dark cape)
yellow
brown

Colours
Completely colourless stones are as valuable as they are rare and generally a stone will range from white to bluish to shades of yellow and brown.

Rare colour diamonds have been found in variations of blue, violet, pink, yellow, brown, rose, green and even black. The red diamond does exist but is extremely rare.

Crown
The upper portion of a cut gemstone above the girdle.

Cut
This refers both to the proportions of a gemstone and how the rough stone is finally shaped. The most recognised cuts are the round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart, emerald, princess, trilliant and radiant.

Depth
The height of a gemstone from the culet to the table.

Diamond
A diamond is a stone of pure crystallized carbon and the hardest substance known. It has a high refractive index which essentially means that light passing through is easily dispersed, depending on the brilliance of the diamond. If you must know, refraction is the change in direction of a light wave due to a change in its speed. Dispersion is the coloured light that is reflected from inside a diamond.

Diamond Cutting
The method by which a diamond is shaped into a finished stone.

Emerald Cut
A rectangular-shaped diamond with cut corners. This is often known as a step cut because the flat planes resemble stair steps.

Facet
The small, flat and polished surface on a cut diamond. Facets come in various shapes, sizes and arrangements all depending on the actual cut of the stone.

Heart Cut
A pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top.

Inclusion
An inclusion is a flaw found within a diamond or on the diamond’s surface which would have happened when the diamond was first formed in the earth.

Marquise Cut
An elongated shape with pointed ends.

Oval Cut
An elongated and symmetrical oval design.

Pavilion
The lower portion of the diamond, just below the girdle (the outer edge or outline of the diamond’s shape).
More commonly known as the base.

Pear Cut
Shaped like a sparkling teardrop and combining the Marquise and Oval cuts.

Princess Cut
A square cut with varying number of sparkling facets.

Quadrillion Cut
A square diamond with twenty one facets on the crown, twenty four on the pavilion and four on the girdle.

Radiant Cut
This is a brilliant-cut square or rectangular diamond with seventy facets and clipped corners, much like that of an emerald cut.

Sparkle
This is the reflective light of a diamond produced by its brilliance and its fire/dispersion.

Table
This is the large, flat top facet of a diamond. Each specific cut of diamond has a table ratio as follows…

Round brilliant - ratio of 52.4 % - 57.5 %
Princess/Radiant cuts - ratio of 65 % - 80 %
Marquise/Oval and Pear - ratio of 50 % -62 %
Emerald - ratio of 50 % - 75 %.

Tiffany
This is a famous ring setting of 2mm to 3mm, which holds a single diamond.

Trilliant Cut
A rounded triangular shape with twenty five facets on the crown, nineteen facets on the pavilion and a polished girdle

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Sony DAV-IS10
Fantastic sound and style for the price. An excellent system for a small room like a bedroom or home office.

Quick Specs:
Speaker system, AV receiver with DVD player
DVD type: DVD player

Media Format: CD, DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R DL, Video CD
Sound output mode: Surround Sound
Amplifier total output power: 450 Watt
Remote control type: Remote control (Infrared)

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Sony DAV-DZ230 - DVD Home Cinema System with Bravia Theatre Sync
The best value Home Cinema System you can buy today? It’s certainly a contender.
The 5.1 and DTS sound is out of this world for the price. It’s whilst watching action movies or battle scenes that the DAV-DZ230 really comes into it’s own. The sub woofer will have the room shaking without compromising on quality.

Quick specs:
HDMI OUTPUT (UPSCALE TO 720P/1080)
Bravia THEATRE Sync
Digital media port
S-master digital amplifier (total 850w)
RDS tuner FM20/AM10 presets
PAL progressive scan
Movie/music mode
Portable audio enhancer
Auto calibration (DCAC)
A/V sync
multi speaker formation
MP3/JPEG playback

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Samsung HT-AS1T Home Theatre Kit
This system is the one for you if you already have a DVD Player and wish to complete your cinema system.

With the amplifier built into the subwoofer, The HT-AS1T offers a compact solution that really saves space.

Optical and coaxial digital inputs for connection of digital equipment is not a standard feature on home cinema systems and this sets the 600W 5.1 channel surround sound Samsung HT-AS1T apart from many of it’s competitors.

Quick Specs:
600W RMS total output
Dolby Digital, ProLogic II and DTS surround output
58 key universal remote control
2x Composite video inputs/outputs

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The S70 which boasts superb widescreen display that really brings text and European maps to life. It has an easy-to-use interface with large icons and is ready to use straight from the box. Each POI (point of information) selected contains detailed information inc. address, map location and contact numbers. The integrated hands-free Bluetooth option with SMS integration is also a very useful feature.

Navigation is enhanced with Navman’s NavPix technology which allows you to access to millions of images and drive to that selected image. Routes are calculated quickly with the maps aided by a colour-coded system to help identify standard roads and your main route.

The S70 comes with Navdesk 2008 software which is easy to use and provides easy downloads, updates, backups and security PIN options for theft control.

Any downsides?
If we are being picky, there is no MP3/video player and the option to speak letters back whilst entering destinations can become rather annoying if using the device daily. However, you can turn this option off!

Other than that, the Navman S70 Europe is an excellent, affordable sat nav system.

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Where to Buy?
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