• Decent battery life

• No expandability through docks, odd for a business product
• Not a great screen

HP's ProBooks are non-extravagant business-orientated machines with additional diagnostic tools built in for the benefit of system administrators. This 4310s model is a perfectly serviceable machine for almost all everyday tasks; however, it will struggle to run 3D games or do any heavy-duty media creation work.

The machine runs a Core 2 Duo T6570, which contains two CPU cores running at 2.1GHz each. Complementing this is 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, wireless N networking, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, VGA and HDMI outputs, ExpressCard 34 and audio ports, SD card reader and a modem of questionable utility.

This laptop is not hugely expandable. There is no FireWire connector, no port replicator or docking port and no PCMCIA slot. All this is fine, provided you're the kind of user who won't miss the extra external connectivity.

The upshot of its modest configuration is good battery life. Even with the screen brightness at maximum, it took over three and a half hours to drain the battery from full while decoding MPEG-2 video. We repeated the test in HD using the vastly more computationally intensive VC-1 codec, and saw the battery life drop to a very respectable hour and 50 minutes.

The 1366x768 display has reasonable horizontal visibility, but the image washed out faster than you'd expect when you tilt the monitor off-axis. This isn't so much a problem with text, but images and video will appear washed out and inverted when you look at the screen from steep angles. Despite the LCD having quite a bit of flex, the notebook's construction is solid.

At the top right of the keyboard are a series of touch-sensitive hotkeys for volume controls, wireless and a HP launcher. We found the volume up and down buttons unresponsive, and occasionally the wireless would turn itself off without us touching it.

On the software side, a subtly HP branded copy of the 32-bit version of Windows XP Professional comes preloaded. Many of the recent patches to keep it stable, however, do not. XP Service Pack 3 had not been installed. IT managers will like the diagnostic tools built into the hardware that are accessible by interrupting the boot sequence.

A 60-day trial of Microsoft Office is included, as is a 60-day trial of Mcafee Total Protection Service. It's an antivirus suite with extra programs that notify you of phishing attacks in Internet Explorer. This continued to function when we upgraded Internet Explorer from version 6 to 8; however, the software added itself as a space hogging toolbar. It functions with minimal extra effort under Firefox, but does not work at all under Google's Chrome browser.

There are HP branded software helpers scattered throughout the operating system, many of which are unnecessary. After installing our benchmarking applications and several Adobe products to test real-world usage, we found the machine could not finish its restart cycle, although this problem disappeared after several Windows updates. During our battery life tests, we hit a blue screen.

If you find that the price is right and you are only planning on doing menial tasks, you could do a lot worse than the HP ProBook.

• HP EliteBook 6930p
• Acer Extensa 5635Z
• Lenovo IdeaPad U110
• Gigabyte Booktop M1022M

• Should fit most cars
• Suits all manner of iPods, iPhones
• Good transmission strength
• Four presets

• Bass lacks kick
• Light background hiss too much for jazz, classical
• Auto tune is hit and miss

Design

Cygnett's GrooveTransmit can be a bit of a bugger to set up, as its bendy arm is on the stiff side, requiring a good deal of force when configuring it to suit a car's dashboard layout. Also, it requires an incredibly firm shove to get it into the cigarette lighter socket.

The cradle features a depth adjuster and padded, moveable arms so that any type of iPod (excluding the Shuffle) or iPhone can fit. Once within the GrooveTransmit's embrace, iPods and iPhones do sway and jiggle a little bit. This is rather an issue with iPod Touches and iPhones, as their big glass displays tend to catch the eye, especially when it's busy reflecting daylight.

Whenever we packed the GrooveTransmit away, we resorted to pulling the arms apart manually, as the arm release switch, on the back of the device, is not only hard to find but finicky to use.

Features

As the cradle is fitted with one of Apple's proprietary iPod/iPhone connectors, your favourite device from the house of Jobs will be recharged as you use it. At the bottom of the cradle is a display for the current FM transmission frequency, as well as four buttons to store and recall frequencies. On each side of the cradle's base is an up or down switch for adjusting the current frequency.

By holding down both up and down switches, the GrooveTransmit will attempt to find a clear FM band to broadcast on. Unfortunately, it sometimes selects the same frequency as low powered community stations. Owners of iPod Shuffles and non-Apple MP3 players can hook their devices in via a 3.5mm auxiliary jack located on the bottom of the cradle's base. There's also a somewhat redundant power switch on the cigarette lighter attachment.

Performance

Select the right frequency and the Cygnett will provide decent performance in the suburbs, with forays into the CBD only marred by occasional occurrences of interference. If you're a jazz or a classical music aficionado, the GrooveTransmit won't do your favourite genre any justice, as there's always a slight hint of background static, most noticeable at standstill, that these more subtle forms of music can't quite overwhelm.

Conversely for R'n'B fans, the Cygnett's transmitter takes the kick and the punch out of bassy music. iPhone users will be disappointed to discover that calls taken while docked on the GrooveTransmit aren't played back on your car's stereo.

Conclusion

The GrooveTransmit FM transmitter doesn't offer the best fidelity, but it is a handy, non-invasive way of getting your MP3 collection to play through the car stereo.

• Cygnett Groove Transporter II
• DLO TransDock (2nd generation)
• Griffin iTrip Autopilot
• Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe

These might not be the cheapest GPS units out there, but their mix of features, value and performance make them our picks.

With the XL 340's faster processor, 4.3-inch screen, map correction ability, easy-to-use interface and comprehensive lane guidance, TomTom remains our first pick when we're presented with the inevitable "which GPS should I get myself/my better half/my parents?"

The XL 340 does miss out on Bluetooth hands-free and if this is a must, the friendly Garmin Nuvi 1390 should be a good companion. It too features comprehensive lane guidance and a 4.3-inch screen. The Navman MY50T may not have Bluetooth hands-free, nor lane guidance that's as comprehensive as the TomTom or Garmin, but it does come with a larger than normal 4.7-inch touchscreen and traffic messaging.

• TomTom XL 340
• TomTom Go 730
• TomTom One 140
• Top GPS features

• Simple, clean interface
• Lane guidance for almost every road

• Bluetooth hands-free just passable
• Not particularly flash

Design

There's really nothing much to say about the design of the Nuvi 1390. It's rectangular and rounded; new elements are restricted to the piano black bezel, rubberised back and an added dash of thinness. Garmin keeps on telling us that it's an engineering-led company, so it's entirely likely that the design department consists of a man who's rapidly becoming the world's greatest expert on baseball statistics.

Within the 1390's neat, but non-descript body, there's a bog standard 4.3-inch touchscreen with a matte finish. Except for the power switch along the top edge, the Garmin is controlled entirely via this 480x272 resolution screen. The windshield mount is pretty compact, easy to set up, sticks soundly to the windscreen and offers plenty of adjustability when affixed.

The interface has also only received a mild tweak or two, with the main menu gaining a few reflections and a few spiffy animations for that extra bit of spit and polish. Functionality-wise, it's the same Garmin interface that we know and love.

The main screen features two large icons (Where To? and View Map), underneath which are an array of smaller icons for the phone, volume and tools. Unlike lesser Garmins, destination entry is not hobbled by the ABCDE keyboard layout, as a proper on-screen QWERTY keyboard is provided.

Features

Bluetooth hands-free, text-to-speech, camera locations, junction view and lane guidance are standard inclusions with both the 1390 and 1390T. Priced at an extra AU$100, the 1390T sole difference is its traffic messaging hardware and lifetime subscription to the Suna traffic service.

We were able to sync up a variety of mobile phones easily with the the Nuvi. Sound quality is passable but the mic's lack of sensitivity means that raising one's voice is a necessity in less quiet conveyances. In general, it's fine for a quick status update, but not really suited to a discourse on our government's immigration policies. The text-to-speech system for pronouncing street names works OK, but does stumble from time to time with some Aboriginal, Australian and Irish names.

After ripping open 1390's box and hurriedly affixing the unit to our windscreen, we rushed (at legal speeds, of course) to our nearest red light camera and - knock us down! - discovered that Garmin has finally pre-installed speed and red light camera warnings. Visually there's a small map icon, a black warning bar, the text for which is on the small side, and a small warning chime. School zone alerts still need to be downloaded and installed manually, though; find out how by checking out our handy little guide.

We don't really care much for picture viewers, calculators, currency and measurement converts, and world clocks in GPS navigators, but they're present on the 1390 if you need them.

Performance

While its battery life benefits from not having a standby mode, the roughly 19-second start-up time is annoying if you're rushing for a quick escape. Thankfully, one of our bugbears with previous Garmins has been fixed - the 1390 no longer switches itself instantly when the car's battery power is cut, thus presenting the situation where you enter a destination, start the car and, lo and behold, the Garmin's rebooted itself, necessitating a wait and some disappointed button bashing.

The latest Garmins, the 1390 included, come loaded with Whereis' Australian maps, as well as maps for across the ditch in New Zealand. For most multi-lane roads and streets, lane guidance for the next turn appears prominently in the top left corner.

Also present is junction view, which on certain highway and motorway exits replaces the usual navigation display with a large graphic of the junction, prominent arrows for the appropriate lanes and the relevant signs. For the 1390 and 1390T, the computer-generated graphic is replaced by a photo, making it slightly easier to comprehend the fast approaching turn off.

Route calculation times and route selection are nothing out of the ordinary; respectively, they're acceptable and it will get you there, eventually. Usually we know how to get into the general vicinity of our destination and only require instructions for the final leg, so it's annoying to hear "route recalculation" every time we elect not to travel on a clogged artery, instead preferring our own tricky dicky back roads.

Garmin's ecoRoute feature is present on the 1390 and allows users to opt for routes that consume the least fuel. In our experience, though, these routes differ little from those generated with the fastest time option. Another facet of ecoRoute is a driving challenge mode that adds a leaf to the main map screen. With some slow and steady driving we were able to attain a decent score, but the immediate feedback isn't the best: the leaf is green when you're travelling at a fairly constant pace, but any mild bout of acceleration or deceleration sends it orange then red, and sitting at the lights is an instant red leaf.

Conclusion

It mightn't offer the bigger bang for buck, but the 1390 is a solid and dependable choice. Those who must have traffic messaging can splash out another AU$100 for the otherwise identical Garmin Nuvi 1390T.

• Garmin Nuvi 265WT
• Garmin Nuvi 260
• Garmin Nuvi 260W
• Garmin Nuvi 760

• Large, bright viewfinder
• Full manual controls in video recording
• Superb burst rate for a prosumer dSLR
• Excellent noise control

• AF system still feels a little cumbersome at times
• Kit 18-135mm lens isn't as impressive as expected

Design

Something is amiss in the state of Denmark. Unlike the previous iterations of Canon's high-profile APS-C sensor cameras, the 7D looks a little more, shall we say, stylish. Gone are the harsh lines of the 40D and 50D, and in its place are the sleek curves of the 500D. It's recognisably Canon, but it keeps things interesting by having a number of different stylistic elements.

Buttons are much more rounded and softer to the touch, particularly those lined up along the left side of the 3-inch LCD screen. The Canon control wheel has an inline of silver and thanks to the inclusion of HD video recording, the 7D now has a Start/Stop button to the right of the viewfinder which activates Live View, and at the top a button labelled M-Fn changes the AF selection between five options (manual select for single AF, spot, AF point expansion, zone AF and automatic 19-point AF selection). The power switch is located just underneath the mode dial, and there's a dedicated button just underneath that changes the shooting mode between JPEG and RAW. The mode dial has the same options that can be found on the 5D Mark II though, so the 7D feels like a bit of a hybrid - and is all the better for it.

The new configuration on the back of the 7D shows the RAW/JPEG button as well as the Start/Stop button. Turn the dial to the left (to the red video camera icon) to configure the button for starting and stopping video recording. (Credit: CBSi)

In the hand this is a hefty camera without a lens, battery or Compact Flash card - that's 820g of stainless steel and polycarbonate for the record. It's sealed to an extent from moisture and dust and it feels comfortable to use despite its bulk. We tested the 7D with the 18-135mm kit lens (which we will review separately, stay tuned) and while it doesn't feel perfectly matched in terms of build quality and performance, the two counterbalance each other nicely. On the left side is input for a stereo microphone, plus HDMI output and the usual remote release, digital out and flash connections. The 7D uses Compact Flash cards to store its images via the slot on the right-hand side.

Features

Apart from the whopping 18-megapixel CMOS sensor, the 7D is HD equipped at 1080p and boasts a rather large maximum ISO of 12,800. Inside its chassis the 7D features not one but two Digic 4 processors like the professional series cameras, a 19-point AF system, all of which are cross type, and a burst rate of 8 frames per second (fps). The viewfinder is a nice update to that found on the double-digit Canon range, and even the 5D Mark II, with 100 per cent coverage.

Speaking of that viewfinder, inside is a visual indication of the battery level and exposure as is standard on Canon's range. The AF system has been completely overhauled, and from inside the viewfinder the AF points appear nice and bright. The 7D also expands the exposure compensation values, to +/-5 EV rather than the more common 3 found on many other prosumer dSLRs. JPEG and RAW shooting is available, and RAW is now available in three configurations: RAW, MRAW and SRAW which shoot in full 18-, 10- and 4.5-megapixel resolution respectively.

Alongside the built-in pop-up flash, the 7D also comes with wireless flash control. For videographers there is also a stereo input and manual control during filming, which addresses the firmware update that was required to give the 5D Mark II the same level of control. In full HD the frame rate is selectable from 30, 25 or 24fps.

Performance

The 7D is nimble on its feet thanks to the dual-Digic 4 processors, and impresses on burst performance and image processing times. Shutter lag while using Live View is just over 0.1 second (with pre-focusing) and barely discernible when using the viewfinder at just 0.05 second on average. Processing a RAW + JPEG combination took just under two seconds, a standard JPEG 0.8 second, and 1.8-second for a single RAW file. In continuous mode shooting RAW, the 7D managed to churn out the claimed 8 frames per second, and the same results emerged when shooting in JPEG as well.

The AF system, for all its improvements, still felt a little cumbersome and was a little temperamental in some situations, though it should be able to be tweaked through a firmware update. Canon has also issued a firmware update for the ghosting images that were reported to appear in burst mode; however, we weren't able to replicate this issue on our review camera.

Image and video quality

Overall it's very difficult to be disappointed with the image quality from the 7D. It renders some lovely and accurate colours, and reviewing images post-shooting is a breeze thanks to the 920,000-dot screen which is bright and allows for precise and accurate pinpointing of focus.

Click the image to view our hands on photo gallery with the 7D. (Credit: CBSi)

However, the kit 18-135mm lens we were provided with didn't deliver the sharpest results in our test shots, particularly on JPEG images straight from the camera. There's also a fair amount of barrel distortion at the wide end, more so than what we've seen on other kit lenses like the 17-85mm. White balance was also a bit of a misnomer with the 7D choosing slightly yellowish tinges on automatic settings in artificial light.

Using the kit lens, flash coverage with the in-built strobe was good across focal lengths, with no evidence of vignetting or shadowing. Noise control was also very impressive, with almost no noise discernible at lower ISO levels. At ISO 1600 there's a slight amount of grain visible, but even ISO 12,800 delivered good results at low magnification, and was really the only time when coloured noise and artefacts became visible. Certainly, a usable shot can be gathered from this high sensitivity, especially at a lower magnification. See below for a visual indication of ISO 12,800 in a 100 per cent crop.

ISO 12,800 at reduced magnification (top) and the 100 per cent crop (bottom). (Credit: CBSi)

Video quality is incredibly good, with smooth colours and very good detail throughout and hardly any evidence of digital artefacts. The audio from the built-in microphone was also good, picking up just the right level of sound. We also like the new method for shooting video involving the one-touch button rather than the slightly more cumbersome implementation on the 5D Mark II. Picture modes can also be used while shooting movies which means you can shoot in black and white if desired. Images can also be taken during filming by pressing the shutter button but it will create a gap in the resulting video. Video is compressed using H.264 and the 7D outputs MOV files.

The Canon EOS 7D is available as body only for AU$2699, as a Platinum kit with the new 15-85mm for AU$3799, a Premium kit with the 18-200mm for AU$3699 and the Super kit (the configuration which we tested) with the new 18-135mm lens for AU$3499.

Conclusion

Canon has created a proficient prosumer digital SLR with the 7D, sporting excellent specifications and performance such as burst shooting speed and HD movie recording. If you're not quite ready for the full frame 5D Mark II, or want the advantages of an APS-C-sized sensor, the 7D will serve you well.

• Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
• Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
• Canon EOS 450D
• Canon EOS 1000D

Is GPS navigation right for me?

(Square Web 2.0 Style Icon Set 1 image by Maggie Molloy, Royalty free)

Over the last few years, we at CNET Australia have fielded a lot of questions from you, our readers, as well friends and family, about GPS navigators. Australia is now definitely riding the GPS tidal wave, which has already engulfed Europe and North America. But before you make the leap, let's have a look at the pros and cons of ditching the Melway because, let's be frank, satellite navigation isn't for everyone.

Price
The GPS market has matured and evolved remarkably in the last couple of years. Factory or third-party in-dash units for cars cost north of AU$1000. Brand name portable navigation units have RRPs that start from around AU$250, while there are a wide variety of options available to those with GPS-equipped mobile phones. Most of these options are still more expensive than a capital city road map from UBD, Gregory's or Melway/Sydway/Brisway, which will only set you back between AU$15 and AU$45.

What a GPS won't do
Some people purchase a GPS unit thinking that it will unlock the secrets of city navigation - show them hitherto unknown backstreets to avoid choke points, and road blocks - and come away profoundly disappointed. Pit a GPS navigator against an experienced city driver and 99 times out of a 100, the city driver will win.

That's because GPS devices will route via either the shortest path or through as many main roads as possible - or a combination thereof - without taking into account things like traffic lights, traffic restrictions, speed humps, difficult to perform turns and short turning bays. Thanks to the roll out of the Suna traffic messaging network across major capital cities many mid-range and above models now come standard with the ability to either route around traffic or alert the driver of any possible traffic delays.

Satellite navigators also struggle in the crowded concrete catacombs of the CBD, as well as in heavily wooded areas. That's because they rely on a strong satellite signal to pinpoint your position on the planet, so in these conditions GPS devices often get confused or lose track of your position completely. This is especially true of many mobile phones - we're looking at you iPhone - that moonlight as GPS units.

Plus points
Having said all that, sat nav is useful for a great many of us. For example, if you and your partner have no sense of direction, and the latest argument about directions has brought you to the brink of breaking up then a GPS may be your ticket to relationship bliss. Many weekend escapees from the big smoke find shelling out for a form of GPS preferable to scabbing yet another tourist map from the NRMA or RAC.

Frequent interstate business travellers, for whom hiring a car is more cost efficient than catching a taxi everywhere, will also appreciate the ghost in the shell guiding them around. And those who drive for a living - like field service and delivery personnel, taxi drivers and travelling salesmen - have been early adopters of GPS technology.

Types of GPS

Once you've decided it's time for some sat nav action, your next decision is which type of system is best for you: a mobile phone application, a portable unit or an in-dash unit? Each solution has benefits and drawbacks.

(Credit: HTC)

Mobile phones
Many higher-end mobile phones and smartphones come equipped with GPS technology built into them. Some, like Nokia 6710 Navigator, come bundled with navigation software, while others, like the iPhone, require you to purchase the software separately. This is usually the cheapest way to hop on the sat nav train, with most nav apps priced at under AU$100.

There are some things to keep in mind though. Firstly, most of these phones don't come with a windshield mount, so you'll need to purchase one of those. Without one, being guided around town by a GPS-equipped mobile phone is not only downright dangerous, it's illegal. Even after you've bought your mobile companion a cradle, many mobiles feature screens that are just too small or too reflective to be used in-car on anything more than an occasional basis.

Check out our round-up of the best GPS-enabled mobile phones, as well as our round-up of iPhone navigation applications.

(Credit: TomTom)

Portable units
In the last few years portable units have not only become more affordable and feature rich, they've also styled themselves up a bit. Their biggest plus points are affordability and the ability to move them from car to car. Maps which cover our entire dry, dusty land are stored in flash memory.

All brand-name models now sport colourful, user-friendly touchscreen interfaces. They are usually ready for use right out of the box, with installation only taking a minute or two - stick the suction cup windscreen mount on, place the unit in the mount, connect the in-car charger and voila!

(Credit: Volkswagen)

In-dash units
Many of today's new cars - including Corollas and Commodores - offer in-dash GPS as an option, while more expensive luxury models offer it as standard equipment. While in-dash systems are considerably more expensive than their portable counterparts, they usually feature larger screens and integrate better with other vehicle electronics - for instance, most will turn down the music volume when instructions are given or there are incoming calls. Some luxury car makers even offer navigation systems with voice recognition.

Even if you don't order your new car with a GPS option, aftermarket in-dash models are available. They can be just as expensive as the factory models but are a good option for either older cars or models without the option of factory-fit sat nav.

The beauty of an in-dash system is how it integrates with the rest of your car's interior. Additionally, there are no wires or 12-volt power adapters to contend with, nor will there be suction cups adorning your windscreen. After-market units are still somewhat susceptible to theft and you can't take them with you to use in other vehicles.

Further reading
For more information on the ins and outs, pros and cons of each type of GPS, check out our comprehensive portable versus in-dash GPS feature.

Features to look for

When shopping for a GPS, salesmen, marketers and makers alike will bombard you with features which they say will rock your world. Here's a cold hard look at what's available.

Screens
As far as displays go, bigger is generally better, although the clarity and aesthetic appeal of the on-screen graphics plays a big part too.

Screen size will be primarily determined by which type of GPS you plump for. Phones with GPS typically have screens between 2 and 2.5 inches, while smartphones go from about 3 to 3.5 inches. If you're looking for a phone that will spend a lot of its time navigating, try to find one with a big, but not too glossy screen, and that's capable of working in landscape mode.

If you decide on a dedicated, portable nav device, there are four screen sizes currently being offered: 3.5-inch on entry-level models, 4.3-inch widescreen on most units, with 4.7- and 5-inch units rounding out the list.

Most factory or aftermarket in-dash GPS units sport large screens ranging from 5 to 7 inches diagonally. Factory-fit units are often integrated with the car's stereo and either mounted flush along the dash, in a recessed cubby atop the dash or, even, as pop-up unit. Generally, aftermarket devices come as either double-DIN units with front-mounted screens or single-DIN units with pop-up screens.

Maps
Many Australia-bound GPS devices come with maps from Whereis - the mapping service owned by Telstra's Sensis arm that also controls the Yellow and White Pages. Navteq - a wholly owned subsidiary of mobile phone maker Nokia - is the other mapping provider in Australia and is currently available in many factory-fit sat navs, some apps, as well as Mio and Navman's portable devices.

Spoken instructions
Most brand-name GPS devices will provide directions via voice prompts and on-screen instructions (both graphical and textual). Nowadays most portable devices ship with text-to-speech technology to deliver specific street names rather than more generic instructions, so "turn right in 400 metres" becomes a more helpful "turn right in 400 metres on to George Street". Many of these text-to-speech units stumble with some Australian pronunciation and street names.

Points of interest
Many GPS devices tout the comprehensiveness of their point-of-interest (POI) database. Most will feature airports, hospitals, dining options, shopping, petrol stations, and more, which is useful if you're travelling in unfamiliar territory. However, there's usually little difference between brands because most of the POIs are provided by the map makers. Many GPS devices and applications feature red light and speed camera alerts, which is especially useful in states, such as Victoria, where fixed cameras are not signposted.

Try before you buy
Regardless of what type of GPS you're looking at purchasing, be sure to go to a store or a mate's place and check out the ones that you're interested in. With portable and in-dash units, get the sales staff to put those models into demonstration mode - this way you can see route graphics and listen to direction instructions. You might discover that certain brands appeal to you more than others.

Bluetooth hands-free
Many portable and in-dash units now offer Bluetooth. This allows you to pair up a Bluetooth-equipped mobile phone with your GPS navigator, allowing for hands-free usage. Be careful, some devices have Bluetooth profiles which aren't compatible with some phones - again a case of try before you buy.

Multimedia
A lot of portable navigators proudly extol their multimedia credentials. If it's a portable device that you're looking at, make sure that it's got an FM transmitter so you can listen to your tunes on your car's stereo, as a portable device's tinny mono speaker is unsatisfying in the extreme. Video and photo playback on these units usually suffer from a lack of screen resolution and processing power.

On the other hand, when these same features are offered in an in-dash model they're often quite compelling. Being part of the stereo system, MP3 playback should be almost on par with listening to CDs. And the big screens of in-dash systems should provide a much more satisfying movie watching experience - when you're parked, of course.

Traffic messaging
Some mid-range and high-end portable GPS units have traffic messaging receivers built-in. Currently, Suna's traffic messaging service is available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. At the time of writing, Ford is the only manufacturer to offer traffic messaging on its GPS-equipped cars, and only on Falcon sedan and ute models. However, many cars fitted with an in-dash GPS unit, especially European models, have a built-in traffic messaging receiver but lack the requisite map upgrade and Suna subscription - hassle your dealer at service time to see when, or if, traffic messaging will be made available as a retro-fit option to your current ride.

Accessories
Most in-car navigation systems are ready to use right out of the box and come with everything you need to get up and running in a matter of minutes. Still, there are accessories available that will help you get the most out of your investment, including auxiliary antennas that can be mounted at the base of your windshield to improve signal reception and carry cases to protect your GPS unit when not in use. You can also pick up various mounting devices, including motorcycle-mounting kits and low-profile external antenna mounts that adhere to the boot of your car. Additionally, you can purchase overseas maps.

How GPS mapping works

Now that we've run through the pros and cons, and ins and outs, of purchasing a GPS system, let's a have a look at how it works. Originally developed in 1973 by the US Department of Defense for military purposes, the Navstar GPS network consists of upwards of 24 satellites orbiting the earth every 12 hours and five ground stations that monitor the satellites' position in space and operational status. In order to accurately determine your location and other data such as current and average speed, directional heading, and elevation, GPS devices use a receiver to acquire signals from at least four of these satellites. This is known as a 3D fix, and it's why GPS antennas require an unobstructed view of the sky to work correctly.

Armed with your precise latitude, longitude and other location data, the GPS receiver can overlay this information onto map files stored on the unit, revealing your current position on the map as well as where you've been. Since the receiver is constantly recalculating your position relative to the satellite's position, the GPS unit can track your location in real time. A typical GPS device contains a 12-channel receiver and an antenna to capture satellite signals, as well as a CPU to process the data. The quality of the receiver and your geographic location will determine how long it takes the device to acquire a 3D fix. For example, it's harder for the receiver to lock onto and hold a signal if you're travelling through a dense forest or an urban area with tall buildings.

The first time you fire up your GPS, it collects certain satellite information to determine your whereabouts. In this state known as a cold start, the receiver is essentially blank and needs to know what time it is, where the satellites are in their orbital patterns, and where it is in relation to the satellites. Most systems take around 30 to 45 seconds to acquire a 3D fix during a cold start, while others can take several minutes. Thereafter, it can take as little as three to four seconds to lock in since the unit already has your coordinates and a general location of the satellites. A good receiver will instantly recover from a complete signal loss when you drive through a tunnel, for instance, while weaker units will require more time to reacquire a 3D fix. In some cases, you'll have to stop the car to give the receiver a chance to lock on to the requisite signals.

How well a GPS unit works in your car depends on the location of the antenna. If your vehicle has a factory installed in-dash unit, chances are the antenna is integrated into the dashboard in a place where it has an unobstructed view of the sky, which is ideal. Many portable models are designed to be positioned directly on the windshield via a suction-cup-mounting device, giving the antenna a wide sky view. There are also add-on antennas available for GPS units that allow you to keep the receiver close to the front seat for easy viewing without sacrificing signal quality.

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• Classic gameplay is still intense and satisfying
• Opponents have new strategies the second time you face them
• Ridiculous two-player mode
• Goofy visuals exude charm

• Balance board support is lousy

Editor's note: this title is available in Australia only at JB Hi-Fi.

Consider all the video game advances that have taken place since the first Punch-Out was released over 20 years ago. You might think that going back to the pattern-based brawls would feel archaic in the modern era, that punching King Hippo in his fat belly would lose its charm and that Doc Louis would just seem like a chocolate-obsessed crazy. Except for that last part, you would be wrong. Although the Wii version of Punch-Out plays almost identically to the NES original, the formula is still as intense, addictive, and fun as it ever was. The roster is mostly composed of fighters from the earlier games, but they are as exhilarating to fight now as they were the first time and come with a number of new moves and techniques that will flummox even the more hardened Punch-Out veterans. Some missteps with the balance board aside, this is a great update to the classic franchise.

The structure is the same as it was in the very first Punch-Out. You play as Little Mac, a scrawny 17-year-old from the Bronx. He's 5 feet 7 inches tall, 107 pounds sopping wet, and doesn't seem like he should be legally allowed to enter a ring. Your opponents are gargantuan monsters, towering over you as they try to pummel you with powerful punches. There are 13 boxers in the game, and most of them have been pulled from the NES original. You get to rekindle your rivalries with Great Tiger, Soda Popinski and Bald Bull, among other favourites, and though they reuse many of their vintage moves (watch out for Bald Bull's terrifying charge attack), your opponents are still fun to fight against, and have enough new tricks to keep you on your toes. There are also a couple of boxers borrowed from Super Punch-Out. Aran Ryan is a crazed Irishman who has no qualms about using his head to attack, and Bear Hugger is a 400-pound Canadian with a love for maple syrup and tiny woodland rodents. The lone new challenger is Disco Kid. He doesn't have the charm of the returning entrants, but his flashy style makes him fun to pop.

The combat will evoke a sense of deja vu for anyone who has played a previous entry in the series. The two boxers stand facing each other with no opportunity to circle around, jockey for position, or perform other such manoeuvres typical of the actual sport. Instead, you focus on dodging and countering, using fast reflexes and a sharp memory to lay your foe on the mat. Although your towering opponents are far stronger than you could ever be, they aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and will happily telegraph all of their punches. Don Flamenco will flash red before he swoops in with a punishing right uppercut; Bear Hugger will yell "Catch and release!" before trying to crush you with his massive frame; and Great Tiger's turban will flash before he jabs at your head. Before they take your head off, you have to dodge or duck out of the way and then counter-attack when they are stunned.

The formula is exceedingly simple but eminently engaging. Winning matches is not just a matter of memorising your opponent's attacks, though that is still a large part of your success. Boxers will mix up moves during the course of a match, changing their timing or chaining a few punches together, so you must constantly adapt or you will wind up with an ugly black eye and one more loss on your record. You could win by just dodging every punch and landing healthy counters, but there's no honour in a victory without style. Every boxer has various weak points, and if you hit your opponent at the perfect time, you earn a bonus. For instance, when Disco Kid strikes a taunting pose, you can pop him in the mouth to earn a star punch. This leaping uppercut can rattle your opponent's spine, and saving up a few of these powerful blows for one big wallop is a blast. Most of your opponents can also be knocked down with one well-timed punch, and trying to figure out the opportune time to unleash the fury is challenging and rewarding.

Super Macho Man is just asking for a beating. (Credit: GameSpot)

Anyone who is familiar with the Punch-Out series will be able to blow through the 13 challengers with little effort. It's after you hoist the championship belt that things really pick up. Once you're crowned champion, you have to defend your title, and facing off against boxers that you already defeated is a lot more difficult than you would initially imagine. The scorned fighters are angry that they were so thoroughly embarrassed by your tiny hands and have spent their free moments devising plans to counter your cruel wrath. Glass Joe, for instance, identifies that he has a rather weak chin, so he enters the ring with a protective helmet, forcing you to take him out with body blows. He also has become significantly stronger, learned a few new punches, and changed the timing on all his old moves. The sad fact is that you will lose to Glass Joe, for maybe the first time in your life, until you find and exploit weaknesses that will take you to the next round. The second match-ups against your defeated rivals are refreshing and challenging, conjuring the old joy that made initially figuring out these classic boxers rewarding so many years ago.

For the first time in the Punch-Out series, there is a two-player mode, and though it isn't quite as amazing as the single-player competition, it is utterly bizarre and offers some ridiculous fun. Two Little Macs square off against each other, using the same dodges and punches from the single-player tournament. When you land enough blows, you transform into the oversized Giga Mac. The person in control of the hulking monster gets to feel what it's like to manoeuvre one of the single-player opponents. You can no longer dodge attacks. Rather, you unleash furious punches or, if there's an opening, taunt Little Mac to earn a star. What this mode lacks in depth it makes up for in excitement. Squaring off against your friend when he's a rippling beast is intense and chaotic, so the matches are filled with yelps of joy and disappointment.

What exactly is wrong with Doc Louis anyway? (Credit: GameSpot)

Further adding to the replay value are challenges for every boxer. If you face off against them in Exhibition mode after defeating them in a championship bout, there are three challenges you can meet to earn unlockable goodies. Some of them are fairly easy to earn, such as landing every punch against Piston Hondo, but many of them are much more difficult. Can you find five different ways to earn a star against Bear Hugger? Or defeat Von Kaiser with only five punches? The challenges can be difficult but rewarding, forcing you to try new strategies to defeat your opponent. The visuals are also awesome. The cartoony look of the original Punch-Out has been updated in impressive fashion, giving the game a lot of personality. From King Hippo's rotund face to Bear Hugger's adorable furry friend, the charming visuals add a lot to the experience.

Like most Wii games, there are a number of control options, but only one is ideal. You have four different choices: the Wii Remote turned on its side NES style, the remote combined with the nunchuk, and either the remote or the nunchuk in combination with the balance board. The Wii Remote by its lonesome is the best method, because the precision needed against the overbearing enemies is perfectly suited for digital controls. When you use the nunchuk, you must swing your arms to punch. Although this works well enough, it can be tiring after a while and lacks the perfect timing of its digital counterpart. It's when you use the balance board that things fall apart, because it doesn't work right. You use it to dodge and duck, but it doesn't always register your movements. Sometimes you'll try to sway left and Little Mac either won't respond at all or will sway right instead. It's maddening and pointless, but given that it's purely optional, you won't have to worry about it sapping the fun.

Giga Mac is one fine dancer. (Credit: GameSpot)

Punch-Out is a great update to the classic boxing franchise. Although it is largely the same game that it was more than 20 years ago, it's still fun and charming. The fights are still so intense and rewarding that you'll want to see all the different tricks the boxers have up their sleeves. The silly visuals exude charm and offer a few laugh-out-loud moments. Even the two-player mode, which is utterly ridiculous, is fun, letting you gleefully bash your buddy. The motion controls are too tiring and the balance board support is a mess, but everything else about this game is pure entertainment.

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The perennial complaint about the E-P1 was its lack of viewfinder and the E-P2 addresses this by having an electronic viewfinder (EVF), but it's not part of the camera body. Instead, it slots into a dedicated position on the hotshoe with a port that Olympus hinted at as having additional uses in the future (can we hear GPS expandability, anyone?).

Speaking of that EVF, it has 100 per cent coverage of the scene and unlike the optical viewfinder that was provided as an optional extra with the E-P1, there is no parallax error so you see exactly what the final image will be. It's also very high resolution, packing 1.44 million dots inside. We had a brief play with the unit at a media briefing and have to say the viewfinder was lovely and sharp, bright too, with a refresh rate of 60 frames per second.

The viewfinder, which comes with the E-P2 in its kit configuration. There are four (yes count them, four) aspherical lenses inside this thing. (Credit: Olympus)

The E-P2 also features two new art filters, bringing the total to eight - the additions are "Diorama" (or tilt-shift) and "Cross Process", the latter of which, we've been told, produces a similar effect to that when cross-processing E-6 slide film in C-41 chemicals.

Apart from what we've listed here, nothing much else has changed with the E-P2 from its predecessor (unless you count the colour, which now shows off the more serious side to the camera being decked out in black). Some of the complaints consumers and reviewers had with the camera, such as AF speed, haven't been significantly improved either. Olympus told us that the algorithm has been tweaked though, so we'll of course reserve judgement for a final review sample.

Olympus has also strengthened the E-P2's appeal to budding videographers, with full manual control in HD movie recording, as well as an external mic adapter that can be attached via the port to allow a stereo microphone (3.5mm) to be used. Olympus is also trading on its heritage in the voice recording industry with extra expandability using a range microphone that can be attached via cable or through the 3.5mm jack.

Announced at the same time as the E-P2 are two new lenses, an M. Zuiko ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 and an M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6, scheduled for release in the first half of 2010. Pricing for the E-P2 in its various kit configurations (body only plus EVF, zoom kit plus EVF) have not been announced yet, but the camera will be available from December.

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While our American and European cousins have been able to purchase PlayStation Network Store credit from brick-and-mortar retailers for a while now, the options have been more limited down under. All of that is about to change very soon. From mid-to-late November this year, gamers who don't have access to a credit card - or simply don't like giving their details out online - will be able to purchase PlayStation Network Store prepaid credit.

Epay will be providing the infrastructure to power the transactions, and once purchased, consumers will receive 2-digit codes to redeem either AU$30 or AU$50 worth of PSN credit. Epay will be the exclusive distributor across the Australian and New Zealand market, with national retailer Game set to sell the vouchers later this month. No other Aussie retailer has confirmed it will sell the product, but it will be interesting to see if EB, who turned its back on Sony's PSP Go, will jump on the bandwagon to sell PSN funny money.

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Joe gets a crush on a new Sony Ericsson, Derek sacrifices a year's worth of football simulators to save his pennies for the new Rolls, and Ty takes us through the process of installing Windows 7 on a Mac.

Your companions this week are Ty Pendlebury, Joe Hanlon, Derek Fung and Lexy Savvides.

Full links to what we talked about are below - don't forget to leave us your comments in the talkback below or in the forums. Plus, competitions! Win an AU$1000 Game voucher, or a huge Star Trek TV and DVD pack.

No more N-Gage

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is official

Mashing Street View, photographer style

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Sony PlayTV and Aino

Run Windows 7 on a Mac

Total time: 27min 3sec

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• Quick loading
• 7.1 analog outputs
• Slick menus
• Decent picture
• Easy to region unlock
• Good sound
• Cheap

• Some jerkiness in playback
• Unable to read even small scratches

The first Kogan Blu-ray player was released early in 2009 and we thought it was a solid player for a good price. However, only six months later it has been replaced by an upgraded model: with better features and a sturdier construction.

Design

While the first Kogan Blu-ray player was quite distinctive with its capacitive blue play controls the new machine is a little more conservative looking. It features the black and silver look that's been popular for several years - even if it means that the controls are now a little harder to spot. While its predecessor was plastic the revised version is metal and features ventilation holes and a stamped Blu-ray logo.

The remote bundled with the player isn't too bad. It may be a little ugly, but most functions are placed within easy reach.

Features

The new Kogan Blu-ray player is what appears to be a brand new design and features several new functions. Most importantly it now supports the "final" version of the Blu-ray Profile: BD-Live. While this interactive protocol has yet to pique the public's interest in new developments such as the IMDB-like movieIQ to make support for it a little more compelling. To support this the player comes with an Ethernet port and a USB drive for storing BD-Live info on, which is mounted on the front. While putting the port on the front makes it easier to access we would have preferred two ports - one on the back for BD-Live and one on the front for plugging in external media drives.

The other important inclusion is the provision of a 7.1 channel output, which is unheard of at this price. With on-board decoding of HD audio codecs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio this means you can use an older receiver to enjoy lossless audio. The Kogan will also allow you to stream these out to be decoded by a modern receiver as well.

As with many other Blu-ray players, the Kogan will upscale DVDs to full 1080p-ness, and will also support the Blu-ray standard of 24p - which aims to reproduce films at the same frame rate they are shot for reduced judder. As an addendum to this the Kogan will also playback titles from overseas.

Lastly, the Kogan Blu-ray discs claims to be able to load discs in an average of 24 seconds, and while we didn't get to officially test this we found that multimedia-heavy discs such as Spider-Man 3 did load relatively quickly.

Performance

Kogan products have so far been hit and miss, but we're happy to say we were quite impressed with this one. For the price it delivers features and performance you'd have to pay a lot more for in a "name" brand.

The user interface is one of the most important aspects, and while some products can make do without one, it's vital that a video device has one. We were delighted to find that the menu system of the Kogan was slick and easy to use.

But what matters is if the disc player can actually play discs right? Well, we found that yes it could. Very well in fact - especially given the paltry asking price. Slinging a Blu-ray such as Mission Impossible III in the player and we found that the Kogan reproduced it with a minimum of additional noise and an eye for detail.

We followed this with another JJ Abrams blockbuster, Star Trek, and found that it was able to reproduce the movie's moody colour palate and frenetic action sequences faithfully. One thing we noticed, though, is how the player handled movement.

DVD replay was also handled well, and scene 48 was replayed with deep blacks and natural colours, and yet there was still the faint stuttering on tracking shots such as the planes flying over the Empire State Building that we saw with Blu-ray.

We've had horrible experiences with the audio performance of budget players in the past: while they can usually do vision, stereo audio is often forgotten. We were pleasantly surprised to find this is a capable CD player. It may lack some of the bass that a dedicated unit like the Cambridge Audio DacMagic, the stereo focus is good and rhythm is snappy.

Soundtrack audio was also well-handled and if you have an old receiver you may find the 7.1 out handy, although you may want to reduce this to 5.1 compatibility because when it's set to 7.1 it didn't play through the centre channel for some reason. Our Sony 5400 receiver decode sounded better as there was a lack of response from the LFE when the Kogan did the duties, but it was able to handle surround effects.

Having been impressed with the original's multi-region playback we tested its replacement's capabilities. To get it to multi-region you need to have the tray ejected and then press "9113" on the remote. A menu then appears asking which region you'd like for either DVD or Blu-ray which you select using the number keys. Unfortunately, your choice is stored in volatile memory so if you turn it off you have to repeat the process. The function wasn't always foolproof as on one or two occasions the player refused to accept a disc, simply spitting it out again with a "REGN ERR" message.

Though performance was generally good, there were still some rough edges on the way the player operated. It was generally noisy, and with even a mildly scratched disc the player would audibly tick and burp, and sometimes plain refuse to play it. Playback of digital files was also a little loose - for example, we found it wouldn't play more than four minutes of our test Red Right Hand 320k MP3. We were unable to replicate the problem with another file, but have never had problems with this file on other players.

The player also likes to throw up a "prohibited" icon at odd times, even when you're trying to do something innocuous like pressing stop during the Spider-Man 3 BD menu, for example. To get out we had to press the Eject button to then enter the Set-up menu.

• Blu-ray players with 7.1 audio outputs
• Kogan Blu-ray player
• Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player
• Sony BDP-S5000ES

• Good, loud sound
• Decent bass
• Wall mountable

• Large, heavy unit
• Only compatible with iPod/iPhones

While searching for details about the TDK iVibe we came across some saucy and unexpected Google search results, so for the record, if you've clicked on this link and were expecting a personal electric appliance other than an iPod dock we apologise (though we blame TDK and its one-track mind!).

Design and features

All the predictable hallmarks of an iPod dock are here: the product name that begins with a lower-case "i" and the black plastic finish with stainless steel trim. TDK has done an admirable job of imitating the dozens and dozens of iPod docks we've tested over the last few years. The iVibe's flat plastic speakers aren't particularly attractive, the solid rectangular shape reminds us of a piece of a Scalextric race car track.

On the top of the iVibe you'll find an iPod docking station, though the iVibe doesn't have any other input ports so it isn't compatible with any other portable MP3 players. Our review unit also came without docking station covers for securing iPods smaller than an iPod Classic - the iPhone 3GS we reviewed sat loosely in the cavity. It does come with an integrated FM radio tuner so you aren't completely restricted to listening to your own collection of tunes. The iVibe unit is wall mountable, which would suit teens with race car beds, and comes with a remote control.

Performance

To be honest, we were surprised by the quality of sound we got out of the TDK iVibe. Playing tracks off the iPhone, we heard loud, clear audio and although there is no obvious space for a subwoofer, the iVibe thumps out quite a nice range of bass. It also performs reasonably well when heard from an angle. This is important if you plan to wall mount the unit as you'll likely sit in a position other than directly in front.

Like many iPod docks we have reviewed in the past, the iVibe doesn't include a complex EQ system to tweak. Instead TDK has four preset EQ options, which can be helpful depending on the music you like. The iVibe has alarm clock features, but its large size probably precludes it from being the unit you place on your bedside table, and we found the sleep button hard to distinguish when we were wide awake, let alone what it would be like to find it with sleep in your eyes.

Overall

The TDK iVibe is an iPod speaker dock with an identity crisis. Is it a bedside alarm clock? Probably not, it's way too big. Is it a wall-mounted living room hi-fi? Its limited range of input suggests otherwise, plus it's a bit ugly for that job. If you can find a place for the iVibe in your home then you'll be happy with the sound it produces, especially if you overlook its various shortcomings.

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