Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of days, you’ve no doubt heard about the Apple iPad - the manufacturer’s much anticipated tablet.

So far, the iPad’s reception around the world has been mixed, to say the least: from people questioning the name to those asking if it’s really just a giant iPod Touch. In any case there’s no doubting the Apple Army will get behind this latest release when it becomes available.

At the iPad’s heart is a 9.7-inch LCD touchscreen display (1024×768 resolution), complete with on-screen QWERTY keyboard and an accelerometer to adjust the orientation as required - just like the iPhone and iPod Touch. The screen can play back high-definition video (720p). All models come with a 30-pin dock connector plus Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) , while a second generation of iPads will be released shortly after the first with a 3G modem also included (the 3G models will be slightly more expensive).

As for apps, the iPad will be compatible with any apps currently available for the iPhone and iPod Touch - although because the screen is larger, the resolution of these apps, which are designed for smaller screens, won’t be very good. Apple has already developed several apps specifically for the iPad, including a version of iTunes, Safari, Google Maps, YouTube, email and more. Most significant is the updated iWorks software, which comes as three paid apps. Several other developers have already produced optimised iPad applications, including the New York Times.

Last but not least when it comes to apps, the iPad will also be the first Apple device to run iBooks. iBooks is an e-reader that offers content from publishers such as Penguin and Harper Collins. You’ll be able to preview books then pay to download them if you’re interested in reading the whole thing.

The Apple iPad Wi-Fi models will be released in Australia from the end of March, with the 3G models to follow in April. Each version of the iPad will come in three capacities - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Local pricing is yet to be confirmed, but will start from $US499 overseas for the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad.

Buy cheap Apple products on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Perhaps I am a little behind the times, considering that New Year’s Eve was a month ago and the so-called “party season” seems to be over, but lately I have been obsessed with window shopping for fabulous party frocks.

I don’t really have any occasion to wear an OTT party frock coming up in the forseeable future, but when I have a whim like this, I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to feed it.

The latest party dress I’ve made a mental note to check out in-store is this Seduce Mademoiselle dress (scroll along to the very end of the collection to view). I really love the rouching on the bodice, which is very flattering on most figures.

The Seduce Mademoiselle dress also comes in black, however I prefer the white. Usually I’m a sucker for any sort of little black dress but the black-on-white makes the detailing pop.

Seduce store locations are available at the website.

By Caroline Warnes

Don’t let the name fool you. Rice cookers can do a lot more than just cook rice. In fact, some rice cookers have so many purposes, they could turn out to be one of the handiest small appliances in your kitchen.

There are two kinds of rice cookers: basic and multifunction. As well as their original intended function, most models, even the basic ones, can also be used as a slow cooker to make porridge, stews and soups - plus a lot more.

Basic rice cookers

As the name suggests, basic rice cookers are the no-frills models, and they also happen to be the cheapest. Depending on capacity, you can find one for under $30. As capacity increase, so does the price - up to around the $100 mark.

Basic rice cookers will cook your rice and automatically keep it warm once it’s cooked. As mentioned above, they can also be used to cook soups, stews and the like, and if they come equipped with a steaming basket or rack, you can use them to steam vegetables, some meats and even sweets such as puddings. However the automatic switch-off functionality will not work when using the cooker to steam food, so you will need to monitor it closely.

Multifunction rice cookers

Multifunction rice cookers are more expensive than basic rice cookers, but also offer more bang for your buck. They can be used to cook rice, steam and as a slow cooker, all with automatic settings. For this reason they are also known as three-in-one rice cookers. Individual models may also have an array of other features, such as a porridge cooking preset, delayed start, alarm, clock, programmable timer with LCD screen and more.

Prices for multifunction rice cookers start from around $90 and can cost as much as $300 for a fuzzy logic rice cooker.

Fuzzy logic rice cookers

The most expensive multifunction rice cookers use a microprocessor and something called “fuzzy logic” technology. These cookers have presets to cook perfectly just about any type of rice you can name. The cooker automatically adjusts the heat throughout cooking, depending on the type of rice.

Best rice cookers

One of the most popular brands for multifunction and fuzzy logic rice cookers is a Japanese manufacturer called Tiger. It isn’t widely available in department stores and electrical retailers, but if you can track one down at a specialty or homewares store, you’ll appreciate the difference.

Breville and Tefal rice cookers are also very good and are more widely available.

Buy a cheap rice cooker on sale

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re going to spend money like it’s going out of fashion, I’m all for shopping in the name of charity. It helps take the edge off feeling like a vacuous consumer and it’s always nice to know you’re helping the greater good in some way.

Australian cosmetics guru Napoleon Perdis has a history of supporting Ovarian Cancer Australia and the relationship is continuing in 2010. From the start of February, the net proceeds of every Auto Pilot Lip Service sold at a Napoleon Perdis concept store will go directly to the charity.

I haven’t tried this product before, but it appears to be some sort of lip balm with vitamin E and menthol to moisturise and soothe dry lips. It comes in Original (clear), Hush (pale pink) and Cherry (bright pink) and sells for $28.

Plus… there’s more. On February 12, Napoleon Perdis stores around Australia are holding a special makeover day to raise more funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia. Get a half-price makeover for $40, with $20 of that going towards the charity. More information and store locations are available at the site.

By Caroline Warnes

And the winner is:

K. Slater, 2082.

The Samsung B3310 is yet another mobile phone aimed at any teenager who wants to access social networks such as Facebook and MySpace on their handset.

For anyone older than this demographic, the feature set and design of the Samsung B3310 is unlikely to appeal. But with a recommended retail price of just $149, it offers an affordable option for teens who want a phone with basic functionality with an emphasis on social connectivity. The home screen comes with icons for Facebook and MySpace access, and you can access icons for other popular social networks via the Applications menu.

The Samsung B3310 doesn’t offer the super-fast connectivity of higher-end smartphones but it does have support for quad-band GSM plus Bluetooth and a microUSB connection. There’s a 2-megapixel camera, which can capture both video and still images, plus a music player. Content can be stored on a microSD card up to 8GB.

It features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, which is something of a necessity if you’re going to be spending a lot of time typing out messages on Facebook and so on, plus a 2-inch screen with navigational buttons and numeric keypad underneath. The numbers aren’t presented in the traditional mobile phone arrangement - instead they run vertically down the length of the screen.

The Samsung B3310 is available in two colours, grey and green.

Buy a cheap Samsung phone on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Usually the words “floral dress” are enough to strike fear into most people’s hearts, but in the case of this Portmans floral dress, I think I’m a convert.

Usually floral dresses are something best left to the blue rinse set, but the cut, colour and fabric pattern (not to mention the short hemline) are enough to make this floral dress one for a younger market.

Given that the dress is quite busy, I think it would be best work with basic accessories and jewellery - I’d skip the bead necklaces and bangles as shown in the picture and team it with really basic peep toe heels and casual hair.

The dress sells for $129.95 and is available now.

By Caroline Warnes

The Kodak Zi8 is an impressive mini-camcorder that’s small enough to fit in your pocket yet capable of capturing Full HD (1080p 30 frames-per-second) footage.

Weighing in at just over 100g, the Kodak Zi8 is relatively compact. It’s not the smallest mini-camcorder on the market, but given its ability to film Full HD footage, this is to be expected. You should be aware however that Full HD footage filmed on a mini-camcorder won’t be quite up to the standard of Full HD footage filmed on a fully-featured camcorder, though of course these models cost considerably more.

Image quality on the Kodak Zi8 is exceptional for a mini-camcorder, thanks to the 10.2mm 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. You can also capture still images in 5-megapixel resolution. Because this is such a small camera, there’s not much on-board memory but you can store all your footage on SDHC cards of up to 32GB.

Kodak has bundled the Zi8 with its MediaImpression software, which allows you to upload your footage to YouTube and perform editing such as splicing, trimming and adding music and titles. It also allows any 1080p footage to be played back smoothly on a PC, though unfortunately it’s not Mac-compatible. You can also watch your footage on the camcorder via the 2.5-inch LCD and built-in speaker.

The Kodak Zi8 mini-camcorder is available in Australia now with a recommended retail price of $299. It comes in a choice of three colours: black, aqua and raspberry.

Buy a cheap camcorder on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Another great sale is happening at the moment for anyone who loves their OTT diamonds and bling but doesn’t have the cash to pony up for the real thing.

Ella Bleau is an Australian online jewellery shop that does costume jewellery versions of the real stuff and the site is having a small online sale at the moment.

Rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets are all included so if no one ever buys you diamonds, I strongly suggest you treat yourself to something a little more affordable.

This cocktail ring is my favourite from the sale - canary diamonds are just gorgeous - and it’s quite reasonably priced at $50.

By Caroline Warnes

In an effort to trim the fat from my spending budget during January, I’ve made it my mission to try less expensive versions of my everyday essentials.

I was on a mission to find a new, inexpensive body lotion the other day and stumbled across a brand called Pure Innosense, which caught my eye mainly because it had the bargain price tag of $2.

Unfortunately I accidentally picked up the gradual tanner body lotion instead of the straight formulation (unfortunate because I’ve sworn off all forms of self-tanning). I gave it a go this morning anyway because I figure if I exfoliate everyday, then I won’t suffer any gradual tanning.

I’m pretty pleased with the results. My skin feels suitably moisturised and the smell is quite inoffensive. If there are no adverse effects from prolonged use, I may have a new favourite here. Of course next time I will invest my $2 in the lotion WITHOUT self-tanner in it.

Plus, some good news for anyone who is into natural products - this New Zealand brand only uses plant-derived ingredients, essential oils and extracts. That means no parabens, artificial colourings and other nasties that most supermarket brands have in them.

By Caroline Warnes