Consumer Product Review

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The Apple MacBook  is the latest laptop from Cupertino, serving as the “budget” model in the lineup. While far more expensive than a comparable Windows laptop, it retains Apple’s quality and attention to detail which many feel justifies the premium price. In fact, it does this so well that it will be hard for most users to justify paying more to get an Air and Pro model.

Unlike the MacBook Pro,  the Macbook still uses a plastic case. However, it has similar seamless enclosure, all but eliminating flex while providing fewer places for a spilled drink to reach the electronics. The new MacBook also gets the Pro’s Lithium-Polymer battery that Apple claims will last seven hours on a single charge. Unfortunately, this means the battery isn’t replaceable by the user, but the stated life for this battery is about five years, so for most people this will be a non-issue.

Those migrating from Windows will be pleased to find that Apple has finally added a way to right-click, but not in the way you’d expect. The MacBook gets Apple’s new glass multitouch trackpad has no buttons, instead relying on taps and movements with multiple fingers for input. Tapping with two fingers right clicks, dragging two fingers scrolls, and dragging four fingers switches between applications.

The MacBook, 13″ MacBook Pro,  and MacBook Air all share similar components. Opting to spend an additional £100 for the base-line MacBook Pro gets you an aluminum case, slightly reduced weight, and Firewire and SD memory card ports, but it also comes a smaller hard drive. The Air may be thinner and nearly a kilo lighter, but it also costs £550 more with a slower processor. Unless you must have a larger screen or a smaller overall size, there is little reason to spend the extra money.

Prices start at £799.00 including VAT for an Intel 2.26Ghz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and 250GB hard drive. There is only one model available, and the option list is short, offering only increased RAM and hard disk space, along with a few accessories. Unlike the other Apple laptops there’s no solid state drive option to help keep costs low.

The new Apple MacBook  may not be able to match Windows machines when it comes to price, but it retains the features that people feel justify the expense of an Apple product. Features once exclusive to more expensive models such as the multitouch trackpad and Lithium-Polymer battery make it the sensible choice in Apple’s lineup.

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Choosing the Right Mobile Phone Contract

Buying a mobile phone nowadays seems more difficult than what it was five, ten, or even fifteen years ago. Yes, mobile phones bring about a degree of simplicity to our lives, but it is the choosing how we want to simplify that is so difficult. Read more

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The JVC GCFM1A Picsio Pocket Camcorder , JVC’s offering to the miniature digital camcorder scene, does everything the best cameras already do and more. It would appear that JVC held back while companies like Creative, Kodak, RCA, Sony rushed to fill the market created by Pure Digital’s revolutionary Flip micro-camcorder. The GC-FM1 is a solid piece of hardware, capable of 1080p video in 4x digital zoom as well as 8MP still shots. It saves video as .MOV files in MPEG-4, AVC, and H.254 formats. Computer upload is via HDMI cables, AV out, and USB, and the PICSIO charges via USB to the computer. SD and SDHC memory cards are compatible with the JVC GC-FM1, though the camcorder is not packaged with them.

Available in Black Ice, Blue Steel and Purple Passion, with geometric patterns reminiscent of holograms and wavy chrome accents around the edges, the GC-FM1 is the perfect choice for someone who wants a stylish, solid, inexpensive digital camcorder that makes it easy to transmit video from real life to the Internet or directly to the television via HDMI. At 97mm x 53mm x 17mm, and weighing only 95 grams, the GC-FM1 is easier to transport than many cell phones or digital cameras, barely making a bulge in your pocket.

In addition, the JVC GCFM1A Picsio  offers a 2-inch LCD screen for instant viewing, making it intrinsically useful to the budding videographer who wants to be able to take instant video whenever the inspiration hits him or her. Built-in video stabilization helps keep videos looking professional and watchable. This little dynamo may look candy-coated, but the tech it offers is undeniable. While it has nothing that isn’t also available in the other digital camcorders, the overall style and seamless integration of each element in the GC-FM1 shows that JVC did its research. Its competitors’ products had their successes and difficulties, and then consciously, purposely, JVC put together a product utilizing everything that worked, discarding everything that didn’t, all within a unique, impulse-buyable style. Looking at the holographic surface, one can’t help but want to touch it.

The interface is easy to navigate, without any complicated menus to scroll through. Every function the camera has is accessible by buttons, for switching between still and video mode, to scrolling through the index of files stored in the camera, to zooming in and out, to a function button for starting and stopping videos, playing videos back, or anything else. Visually, the face resembles an iPod, with its effortless, intuitive design and stylish wow-factor. People are already talking about how it’s the next step in miniature video camcorder technology. Offered just in time to garner excitement before Christmas, the JVC GCFM1A Picsio  is sure to be a staple on many lists this 2009 holiday season. 

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Sony DSCWX1S Cyber-shot Digital Camerais a sleek, quick performing snapshot camera. It has a great design with useful features.  It works well in low light conditions and provides good overall performance.  The camera is ultra compact with a resolution of 10.2 megapixels, optical zoom, and Exmor R CMOS optical sensor. It retails for GBP 183.7-GBP 212.9.  The Sony DSCWX1S Cyber-shot Digital Camera is known for its stylish, high performance advanced image shooting features. Sweep Panorama mode is a picture shooting mode in which many images can be captured simultaneously by moving the camera from one side to another. The images produced are automatically stitched together to create a single panoramic image.  The Exmos R CMOS sensor is known to create sharp and clear pictures.  It reduces picture noise, increases image resolution and improves image quality.  The Party Shot feature allows you to shoot pictures of everyone in a room including the photographer. Landscapes, building architectures, room interiors, and also family pictures are possible to be shot with this camera.  You can shoot video at 30 frames per second similar to camcorders.

  
The quality, resolution and clarity of the images are comparable to Sony camcorders available in the market.  A large and clear 2.7” LCD screen with wide viewing angle makes all this possible.  Burst shooting of up to 10 frames per second. 720p HD movie recording enables capture of detailed HD video.  Stereo sound is possible at 30 frames per second.  The Handheld Twilight mode is capable of producing low light images and combining 6 images into 1 single image with clear imagery.  Anti Blur mode reduces blur and combines 6 images into 1 with reduced image noise.  The BIONZ processor in this camera is responsible for the fast image processing, high resolution shooting and instinctive shooting capabilities.  The processor is the engine of the camera that makes it perform these functions with speed and efficiency.  The Ultra-Fast auto focus has more responsive picture shooting.  The Smile Shutter captures images by detecting facial movements and fires the shutter automatically. The Optical SteadyShot image stabilizer is designed to reduce image blur during hand held shooting of images. ISO 3200 high sensitivity is available for better images and no flash in low light conditions.

Face Detection is a feature that detects facial features of image subjects and automatically adjusts the focus as well as the white balance for clear pictures.  In Auto Mode, the camera shoots pictures in a wide range of situations.  The camera is available in a wide range of colors.  The Picture Motion Browser software is designed to view images, search for images and store them on your PC.  The camera has high quality f/2.4 Sony G Lens with 5x optical zoom with 24 mm wide angle.  The Tottenham Court Road Sony Centre has this model readily available and retails for GBP 329.99.  The camera accessories include the accessory kit, Battery chargers (BC-TRG Battery Charger and NP-FG1 Rechargeable Battery), camera cases (high grade hard carrying case LCH-TW1 and soft carrying case LCS-CSF, among others), docking stations & cables, flashes & lights, GPS, Party-Shot, Sports & Marine Packs, and Tripods.

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Garmin has been at the top of the navigation market for quite some time now and they’ve recently unveiled another product that looks poised to keep them there. The Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is aimed at the upper end navigation market and it carries a pretty hefty price tag. Though the cost might be high, the Nuvi 1450 brings a ton to the table in terms of quality. Garmin has been known for revolutionizing the way the GPS world operates and they have set the bar high for competing companies once again. So what makes this product such a good one?

The display
When you are picking out a GPS, you will want to get the one with not only the biggest screen, but also the highest quality display possible. One of the best things about the Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is that it features a really creative display design. It has a five-inch display, which is incredibly large by industry standards. That gives you a very real opportunity to pick out your locations and get there safely. The display itself is touch screen, which has been the standard for Garmin devices in the past. Its resolution is 480×272, a number that accentuates the power of the device. It also features a white backlight, which gives it much more power.

Many of today’s GPS shoppers are more interested in this type of display, because it looks good and is quite functional. Garmin seemed to focus on that with this design, and they’ve hit a home run in terms of satisfying customer needs.

Important additional features
Many users have commented on the decently long battery life that comes along with the Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS. It can last up to four hours without being recharged, which obviously gives you a measure of flexibility in terms of what you can accomplish. In addition to that, it has some of the newest technologies in the market that have been developed and perfected by Garmin. The lane assistance technology is one of those features, and that’s not all. You can save as many as ten journeys on your Garmin, which should be more than enough to keep your favorites at the touch of a button. Likewise, you can select special routes such as eco-routes to save fuel on your journey.

Cost considerations
As mentioned previously, The Garmin Nuvi 1450 GPS is an upper end device, and it’s meant for those people who want serious GPS power. The price tag reflects that, as it retails for between £250 and £330 at most locations. Though this might seem like a high cost, it is actually in line with the quality of product that you’re getting. When Garmin puts all of its resources into designing something new, you can bet that it is going to have some exciting features. This not only has those features, but it also runs smoothly and reliability. Add to that its durability and you have a complete GPS device.

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Energy costs are rising and taking a bigger bite from household budgets each year. Fortunately, there are steps you may take today to help maximize each pound spent on energy in your home and to curb your energy usage.

Switching Providers

In the UK, domestic energy consumers may choose to purchase their gas and electricity from a variety of energy suppliers. Energy suppliers are competing for your business, so shopping around for the best deals makes sense and could save you loads of money each year. It is important to realize there is paperwork involved in making a switch, as well as communication with the various providers, but do not let that deter you. Switching your energy provider could be a smart change your budget needs.

Dual Fuel

If your home uses both electricity and gas, it is worth investigating whether you would save money by having a single provider for both fuels. Often, energy suppliers will offer you a substantial discount if you sign up to a dual fuel tariff with them. This usually saves you money on your monthly bills or could net you an annual discount off your energy bills.

In addition to the savings, you will receive bills from only one energy supplier and some suppliers even offer a combined bill for your gas and electricity. This is more convenient for you, since you are only tracking a single bill and making a single payment.

Should you have an outage or problem or need to make an inquiry about your bill or service, with a dual fuel supplier you have only a single point of contact. Dealing with a problem once is always better than doing it twice. A single provider could greatly simplify your interactions with your energy supplier.

Comparison Websites

Energy suppliers in your area may be compared via a plethora of energy comparison websites. These websites claim you could save from £140 to £380 per year on average simply by switching energy suppliers. You provide the site with your postal code and answer questions concerning your current energy provider, the type of fuel currently used, your average usage and the sort of tariffs you are on. Most sites will compare either gas or electricity alone or will give you dual fuel comparisons.

The websites collect information about your needs and quiz you about the sort of tariffs you would like to consider and how you would like to pay each month. You receive information about rates from different providers in your area so you can make an educated decision as to whether there is a benefit in switching suppliers.

Some sites will even complete the paperwork to make the switch for you, so you do not have to deal with filling out forms or spending time ringing suppliers and waiting to speak with someone about the switch.

Regular Meter Readings

It is a good idea to get your gas and electricity meters read regularly. If they are not, bills may be based on estimated readings and you could end up paying for much more gas or electricity than you actually use in a month. You may read your own meter regularly and update your energy supplier with the information. In that way, you are able to keep track of your usage and make cutbacks when necessary.

Cutting Energy Usage

Even if you decide to stick with your current forms of fuel and your old, familiar provider, there are steps that may be taken each day to cut your energy usage.

Turn down the thermostat on your heating system by 1°C and set your water heater cylinder thermostat at around 60°C.
Install a programmer on your thermostat and set it to cut energy usage when no one is home.
Close the curtains when night falls to trap heat in the house. Check doors and windows for draughts and repair any leaks.
Replace high-energy incandescent bulbs with energy-saving fluorescents. Though the efficient bulbs cost more, they will more than pay for themselves in cost savings.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
Fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher before running whenever possible. Use a half-load or economy setting when possible.
Fix dripping hot water faucets.
Do not leave electronic appliances in ’standby’ mode. Also, do not leave cell phones or laptops on charge unnecessarily and unplug wall chargers when not in use.
Get an energy survey of your home for a full report of what changes could be made to make your home more energy efficient.

There are many ways to cut both energy costs and usage and one or more are bound to fit your needs and your situation. Do not wait for another high energy bill before you make changes in your energy plans – start saving money today.

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It is a law in the UK that when goods are purchased by a consumer either online, by way of fax or phone, mail order, or digital TV there must be a cooling off period provided in which the customer has the right to cancel the contract.

Online Services, Mail Order, or Orders by Phone

When ordered by one of the above methods, Distance Selling Regulations apply. In the case of services there is a seven day cooling off period from the time the order was placed. The day after the seventh day will mean the cooling off period is over and the customer’s right to cancel under this law will no longer be valid. When talking about goods that have been purchased, the cooling off period will end seven days after the goods were received. When filling out orders online, be sure to check the terms of service for the goods or services that are purchased, as the supplier will likely indicate there who is responsible for postage should any items need to be returned. The decision to cancel must be provided in writing. This means the company must receive the cancellation notice by email, fax or letter. Once they receive the cancellation notice, a refund must be provided within 30 days of the receipt of such notice.

If you do not receive a written confirmation of the order at the time you receive the product or service the cooling off period will be extended until 7 days after such receipt, or up to another 3 months. There are exceptions to the cooling off period and cancellation rules, however, that one should be aware of. Timeshare arrangements or package travel as well as transport, catering and leisure services, and accommodations do not apply to these rules. Any custom made products or perishable goods also will not be included as cooling off period items. Any magazines or newspapers, premium-rate website or telephone services, or services that begin prior to the cooling off period being over will not be taken into account either. Any computer software, videos, or audio recordings that have been opened will not fall under cooling off period cancellation rules. Any goods regularly delivered to a home or workplace as well as any gaming, lottery, or betting services or goods do not fall under these rules either.

Doorstep Seller

“The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008″ are also known as Doorstep Selling Regulations. For any purchase made of over 35 pounds from a trader who has sold you goods either at your workplace or home there is a 7 calender day cooling off period in which you can get a full refund by canceling the contract. These rules also apply to goods purchased at trade fairs or marketing presentations. Timeshare agreements fall under the same rules as a doorstep seller with one exception. The cooling off period for a contract that is signed in the UK is 14 days.

Financial Products and Services

When it comes to credit agreements one can only get the benefit of a cooling period if the agreement was made somewhere other than the creditors place of business or if the transaction was done by post, online, or by phone. Any agreement signed outside the creditor’s place of business is subject to a 5 day cooling off period, while others are subject to a 14 day cooling off period. The cooling off period will only begin after the creditor advises you of the information.

Any credit, insurance, pension, banking, or investment services or products are subject to a 14 day cooling off period, or 30 days in the cases of personal pensions and life insurance. Regardless of whether you had signed the contract in front of the salesman or not, these rules will be in effect.

No matter what category a purchase falls under, a notice of the cooling off period and steps that are needed to be done to complete any cancellation must be given to you in writing by the merchant or the contract will be considered unenforceable. Any cancellation request you need to send should be sent by recorded delivery as it is not the date the notice is received that counts, but the date the notice was posted. As long as it is within the cooling off period the cancellation notice must be honored.

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Though T-Mobiles G1 and AT&Ts I-phone have ruled the smart phone market, the new HTC Magic Mobile phone is just the second Google android phone every created. The new HTC Magic provides everything you could possibly want from the internet right at the touch of your fingers with the built in Google search function. Complete with a 3.2 megapixel camera, built in GPS system, 3.2 inch touch screen, and built in Wi-Fi connection, the HTC Magic definitely provides some impressive features.

A very light and smooth design, the HTC Magic left out the QWERTY keyboard, making the phone only 14 millimeters thick, and a nice fit for any pocket. Many of the previous kinks in the Android software has been worked out and re-modified, improving the internet quality and touch screen responsiveness of the phone. An improved security feature keeps the phone locked at all times while in your pocket or purse. To lock or unlock the handset, a pattern must be drawn using a system of nine dots on the touch screen. The applications are easy to use, and shortcuts can be created for your favorite online apps, making them quicker to access for anyone on the go. Your email can be synced with the phone, making receiving and responding to emails a quick and easy task. Obviously improved from the last Google android phone, the HTC Magic offers many great mobile features for just about any consumer.

Though the HTC Magic is quite remarkable, there are still some questionable aspects to the device. The lack of a QWERTY keyboard miffs some consumers; however the touch screen keyboard is actually quite responsive, and the handset is made to fit comfortably in two hands, improving typing ability. The only primary set back would be the 3.2 megapixel camera, which does not have a flash function. Although some pictures come out very nicely, others are often blurred, or very dark due to no flash function. If a nice camera is important to you on a mobile phone, then there are other models that can provide better than this handset. The lack of a standard head phone jack is a little bit confusing; however not very surprising after noticing how average some of the multimedia functions were. Despite these minor downfalls, the HTC Magic is still a state of the art internet smart phone.

With only the I-Phone for a rival, the HTC Magic adds some freshness to the smart phone market. Complete with state of the art design, user friendly applications and functions, and improved security, the HTC Magic is capable fitting the needs of almost any consumer. If you are in the market for a new phone, and want to upgrade from standard to state of the art, you cannot go wrong with the updated HTC Magic, only the second Google android phone ever placed on the market.

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Changes have been made to the Consumer Credit Act to be more relevant for today’s consumers

The Consumer Credit Act for the UK was updated in 2006 from it’s 1974 version with laws making business dealings with consumers more relevant in today’s society. This new act has various changes to the old one and went into full effect on 1 October, 2008.

In April of 2007 the Financial Ombudsman Service(FOS), which settles disputes between customers and businesses providing financial services, was extended to also cover consumer credit. The Unfair Relationships Test was also introduced at this time,replacing the existing “extortionate credit” test. Under this part of the Consumer Credit Act, borrowers are allowed to challenge unfair credit agreements and seek redress, in addition to being able to bring disputes before the Financial Ombudsman Service. The 2006 act also provided court procedure for a borrower to seek more time to pay off a debt with the right to apply for a time order. An unfair relationship between the borrower and lender can be determined by any of the terms or related terms of the agreement with the borrower, the way in which the lender exercised or enforced it’s rights under the agreement, or any other thing done or not done by the lender either before or after the agreement. Courts have the power to alter the terms of the credit agreement, reduce the amount payable by the consumer, ordering the lender to provide a refund to the borrower, removing any duties of the borrower under said agreement, or imposing requirements on a lender.

In April of 2008 the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal was developed for appeals against any OFT(Office of Fair Trading) licensing decision. The Unfair Relationships Test was extended for all existing credit agreements and the limit of 25000 pounds was also nullified.

On 1 October, 2008 it became a requirement for businesses to provide account information to consumers on a more regular basis, such as statements and default notices. OFT regulation was extended and any business dealing in credit repair or debt administration now needs to have a consumer credit licence. At this time it was also enacted that consumers could now ask for a time order once they received an arrears notice rather than a default notice.

This is a summary of changes in the Consumer Credit Act 2006. Following will be a summation of the other acts that were previously established which people still have rights to under both the new act and the 1974 Consumer Credit Act.

The Alternative Relief Resolution Scheme gives people the right to use the FOS to deal with complaints against any business or person licensed under the Consumer Credit Act. The ombudsman can only deal with a complaint if the event in which the complaint transpired has taken place after 6 April, 2007 or the trader was licensed under the Consumer Credit Act at the time of the complaint. The ombudsman can only act after the business has had a chance to respond to the complaint or more than eight weeks has gone by since the business received the complaint.

Indefinite licences simply states that consumer credit licences will be issued on an indefinite basis. These licence holders must report any changes to the licence and to get the licence there will be an initial fee and periodic maintenance charge. Any group licence will not be indefinite and will have to be renewed every five years.

The Information Sheets section states general information sheets need to be provided with any default or arrears notice. These sheets provide key rights as well as where someone can go if they need help.

There is also a section of the Consumer Credit Act that covers Investigation and information gathering powers. This gives the OFT the right to gather relevant information for licencing of businesses and individuals. It also gives them the right to enter the premises to search and seize information. They can also delegate these functions to the Local Authority Trading Standards Services.

The Reformed Fitness Test is for credit competence of the licence holder. Once a licence is granted the holder must maintain the standard of fitness upon which it applied for the licence under. When considering fitness relevant circumstances can be taken into account, such as a licensee or applicant being convicted of fraud or engaging in improper or unfair behaviour. They also will take into account the credit competence of a licensee in regards to business practices and procedures as well as all credit activity to ensure that it complies with any legislation.

The Requirements and Penalties section covers the OFT rights to revoke, suspend, or vary existing licences, refuse applications for new licences, grant licences, and impose requirements on both new and existing licences. The maximum penalty for any licensee not following any requirement is 50000 pounds.

The Consumer Credit Act was put in place to protect consumers from unfair lending and business practices. The new revisions to this act increases the consumers rights to act against such companies as well as gives them more rights to settle a debt when dealing with any of these companies. Knowing about these changes can help borrowers in their decision to act if they feel they have been treated unfairly by any lending institution or other licensee. Moving forward consumers now have more options at their disposal if they feel they are met with any unfair practices.

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