The new Nintendo DSi XL is (obviously) an update of the Nintendo DSi, however beyond larger screens, the changes are fairly minimal.

The two screens have had a significant boost from the DSi, each now measuring in at 4.2 inches. This will mostly prove advantageous for anyone who has difficulty with small touchscreens, whether that be because of larger fingers or eyesight problems.

Of course, it goes without saying that increasing the size of the DSi XL’s screens has also increased the size of the console itself, which detracts from its portability. It weighs approximately 100 grams more than its predecessor, which may not seem like much, but in the world of portable gaming, it can make a considerable difference.

However beyond the screens, other changes are few and far between. The battery life has been improved slightly, and the stylus has had a slight revamp. Nintendo also says the viewing angle for both screens has increased, though this is somewhat difficult to detect. You’ll also find three games pre-installed.

Like the DSi, the DSi XL has two 0.3-megapixel cameras. Once again, it comes with 256MB of internal storage, expandable by way of SDHC cards of up to 32GB. The console’s “engine” also remains unchanged, in the form of a 133MHz processor and 16MB of RAM, so there are no real performance benefits.

The Nintendo DSi XL’s Australian release date is April 15 and pricing has been set at $299.95. It will be available in either bronze or burgundy.

Buy a cheap Nintendo DSi XL on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

I firmly believe it pays to join any loyalty programs of shops you tend to frequent, and Witchery has once again proven me right.

Everyone who becomes a member of the new Witchery Loyalty Program will receive a free $30 voucher, which can be spent in-store on anything from the main Witchery or Witchery Man ranges. I perused the Ts and Cs and couldn’t see anything about not being able to use it on sale items, so you could pick up a real bargain.

As further incentive, members will also earn reward points plus get 5% off sale items permanently, and you can also track your purchase history online.

My favourite item from the range at the moment is this pretty violet finewool cardigan, which would be reduced to $69.95 with the discount.

To join the loyalty program and claim your reward you can either head into your nearest Witchery store or buy a copy of the latest marie claire or Men’s Health magazines.

By Caroline Warnes

You could win $50,000 cash when you purchase any Remington product from a participating retailer before May 9, 2010.

To go into the draw, you need to make a purchase from a participating retailer, then send your details with the last four digits of the barcode by either SMS or mail before May 20.

The winner of the competition will be selected on May 28.

Find Remington products on sale from retailers near you

It’s hard to believe but it’s time for another Myer mid-season sale - it starts tomorrow.

I had a look through the catalogue this morning (or here if you’re in Western Australia). As always, there are some great offers, especially on men’s and women’s clothes and shoes.

This time around, it was the cookware and appliances that caught my eye. This Kenwood food processor (here for WA) is a great buy at $99 (save $70). I’ve been thinking about buying a food processor for a while and Kenwood is great brand for small appliances.

The Myer mid-season sale ends on April 26, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

The Mio Moov 370 GPS unit has been available for over a year, but is still one of the leading products in its class.

Mio and Navman GPS units are both made by the same manufacturer (Mitac), so it’s no surprise to see cross-over between the two. The Mio Moov 370 actually uses an interface from older Navman units, which is a great plus - it makes it very easy to use the device.

It also means that performance is very good. The 370 is quick and responsive, especially when it comes to providing live traffic updates and detour options.

The feature set is also somewhat impressive, especially considering the sub-$600 price tag. The Moov 370 boats Bluetooth hands-free calls, 3D landmarks, TMC Traffic Channel compatibility plus the lateset NAVTEQ maps. At the heart of the device is a rather nice 4.3-inch anti-glare widescreen.

The Mio Moov 370’s Australian retail price is $259.

Buy a cheap Mio GPS on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Buying new glasses can be an expensive exercise, especially if you don’t have private health insurance.

Being shortsighted, I need glasses part-time for all-important activties such as watching TV, driving and reading presentations in meetings at work (though I invariably forget my glasses for that last one). I’ve been wearing the same pair of Prada frames for three years now, so when Specsavers asked me to come in and check out their range, I jumped at the opportunity.

I visited the Warringah Mall store over the weekend and was so impressed with the service. You can book an appointment to get an eye test done online, which is free on presentation of your Medicare card. You can then choose from frames including the in-house Specsavers brand, plus designers such as Missoni, Austin Reed, fcuk, Jasper Conran, Osiris and Red or Dead.

Best of all is the price - you can pick up a pair from the Specsavers in-house brand for as little as $59 - and that’s the price for the frames and the lenses. The designer frames are more expensive, but if you’re a health fund member, your out-of-pocket expenses will be minimal.

Other special offers include 30% off for the over 60s from Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) and two pairs of designer single vision glasses from $199.

I ended up choosing a frameless pair from the Specsavers brand and am picking them up after Easter. Can’t wait!

By Caroline Warnes

Camcorders are the best way to capture your memories, but what should buyers be looking out for? Our guide will take the stress out of choosing a new camcorder.

Not all camcorders are created equal. In fact, there are several different methods of recording digital video in today’s consumer camcorders.

MiniDV camcorders

Camcorders that use MiniDV cassettes used to be the most common kind on the market. They offer over 500 lines of resolution and are suitable for a whole range of camcorders, from entry-level models to more high-end versions. This recording format is used in Canon, Hitachi, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony camcorders.

Digital8 camcorders

This format can be used to record digital video to Digital8 tapes as well as analog 8mm and Hi8 cassettes. Although it’s also capable of delivering over 500 lines of resolution, it’s not as possible as MiniDV as the camcorders that use this format tend to be bulkier. Sony is the only major camcorder manufacturer to use this format.

Mini-DVD camcorders

Camcorders that use the Mini-DVD format record footage in MPEG-2 straight to a mini DVD. While this format does have some advantages, including the fact that DVDs can be played in most home DVD players, it also has its disadvantages. For example, the footage can’t be edited once it’s recorded on a DVD. Manufacturers who produce Mini-DVD camcorders include Canon, Hitachi, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.

Flash camcorders

Flash camcorders use memory cards (such as SDHC and Memory Stick) to record digital video and are very common, particularly for high-definition (HD) camcorders. This is because the format compresses the footage for use online and so is more suitable for HD footage, which tends to produce files of large sizes.

HD camcorders

Since this guide was originally published, HD camcorders have become more affordable, weighing in at well under the $1000 mark. Our HD camcorder buying guide can help if you want to be able to record your own high-definition footage.

Mini-camcorders

One trend that has emerged recently is mini-camcorders. As the name suggests, these are pocket-sized camcorders - many of which can actually capture HD footage. These cost as little as a few hundred dollars and are handy for filming on the go and uploading straight to Internet services such as YouTube. The Sony Bloggie is one such mini-camcorder.

Best camcorders

Canon (pictured here is the Canon Legria HF11), Panasonic and Samsung and JVC are all popular camcorder manufacturers.
Sony camcorders (also known as Handycams) also come highly recommended.

Buy a cheap camcorder on sale

Guide originally published June 4, 2009; updated March 26, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

Just a quick note to let you know that Cincotta Chemist is having free shipping on all Australian offers for today only.

So if you need to stock up on any beauty, skincare, haircare or other pharmacy-type products, do it today. Cincotta Chemist is one of the cheapest around, so when you take away the shipping, you’ll definitely be saving money.

Cincotta Chemist stocks Neostrata skincare very cheaply so if, like me, you’re a devotee, get in quick today. Plus there are some other great offers - 50% off the entire Dove range, 50% off all Heinz baby food jars and a buy one get one free offer on the new Berocca Twist and Go drinks.

By Caroline Warnes

And the winner is:

R. Graham, 3030.

I did mention it last week, but just a quick note to let you know that the Peeptoe Shoes clearance sale is now continuing online, for anyone who missed out on the Sydney sale.

I’ve had quick flick through and there are some good buys, but unfortunately I can’t afford to shop at the moment. It’s not just Peeptoe Shoes on sale either - you’ll find some jewellery for under $10 plus other accessories as well.

I quite like the Miss SJP style, which is reduced to $82.50 - but it’s only available in sizes 38 and 40 (so run, don’t walk to your computer to buy them. You won’t be doing much running once you get these shoes on your feet anyhow).

By Caroline Warnes