Lasoo Shopping and Reviews Blog

If you’re an outdoorsy person who spends a lot of time at the beach in summer or at the snow in winter, you need a waterproof digital camera.

As the name suggests, the Olympus Tough Lite 790SW is a hardy camera that can withstand some pretty harsh treatment - it’s waterproof at up to 3m, can shoot in temperatures of up to 10 degrees below zero (Celsius) and can withstand drops of approximately 1.5m.

However for all its hardiness, the Tough Lite 790SW is surprisingly sleek and compact in its looks. It’s not a heavy camera and comes with either a black, silver or orange fascia.

The 790SW doesn’t have the biggest array of features you could possibly find on a compact digital camera, however it does have some nice inclusions, such as 23 shooting modes (four underwater). There is also a movie mode and automatic flash adjustment, as well as a tool to repair red eye or images that are blurred or exposed poorly.

This is the perfect camera if you’re looking for one that will take you from the beach to the snow.

Click here to find offers on Olympus digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Warmer weather is the perfect time to get into freshly squeezed juice: it’s healthy, refreshing and it tastes great.

Though if you’re a bit of a health nut, you probably crave juices all year around, even when it’s colder. That’s where home juicers such as the Kambrook KJE40 come in.

The KJE40 is one of the more affordable home juice extractors on the market, carrying a recommended retail price of just under $100. What you get for that money is a slightly less powerful motor than some of the pricier extractors on the market. The feed chute is smaller too, which means the Kambrook KJE40 will struggle with some tougher or bigger fruit and vegetables. As a point of reference, it isn’t as simple a process to make juice with the KJE40 as it would be with the Sunbeam Cafe Series, for example, though the price tag is significantly less.

It comes with a 700ml juice jug and large capacity pulp container as well as a stainless steel filter basket and a safety locking arm.

Click here to find offers on Kambrook appliances near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The Sony A700 digital SLR (dSLR) camera is the successor to the A100, which was introduced by the manufacturer in mid-2006 with much fanfare.

Despite being Sony’s very first dSLR camera ever, the A100 performed as well as some cameras from more experienced manufacturers, and carried an extremely affordable price tag of around $1500 or so.

That being said, you should be warned that the A700 (known technically by Sony as the Alpha DSLRA700) is considerably more pricey than the A100. By comparison, Sony lists the RRP as $2249 (body only), though often you’ll be able to find it for less in-store.

If you’re ready to take the next step from the entry-level A100, then the A700 has a lot to offer, including greater configurability and features. These include a handy wireless flash transmitter, dual memory card slots and SteadyShot image stabilisation. The CMOS chip is 12-megapixels, and image quality is good.

Another nice feature is the ability to display your photos on a high-definition TV via HDMI - and if you own a Sony Bravia TV, the image quality and performance is excellent, though this feature can be used with all HDTVs.

The A700 comes in several packages, depending on your lens needs, so head in-store for more information.

Click here to find offers on Sony digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

As much as I hate to think about winter - especially in the middle of summer - let alone buying winter clothes, it’s an inescapable fact that the winter collections are coming.

Key Aussie designers will show their winter 08 collections at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival at the start of March, and clothes will start appearing in stores not long after that.

One show I’m really looking forward to is that of Aurelio Costarella, the label of Perth-born designer Ray Costarella.

Without naming any names, it’s my humble opinion that some local fashion labels are destined to be nothing more than a flash in the pan. These are the ones that shamelessly imitate the designs of each other and more established designers.

Not so with Aurelio Costarella, a label which has stood the test of time and consistently comes out with unique and dramatic designs. Ray Costarella started designing nearly 25 years ago, inspired by the likes of icons such as singer Suze DeMarchi, and these days is beloved by some of the world’s most stylish women, including Cate Blanchett and Dita Von Teese.

Although the Costarella clothes of today have evolved into high fashion, traces of edgy rock-and-roll roots are still evident. The winter 08 collection, called “Of Heaven and Earth”, will feature the likes of leather sequin dresses as well as day dresses and evening gowns with corseted and ribbed bodices.

Ray Costarella says the inspiration for the collection is the sands and water of the West Australian coastline, and the sunset over the Indian Ocean - fabrics used include diaphanous silvery hued silks and glass-beaded silk chiffon.

I’ve already fallen in love with the “Midnight in the Garden” dress (which captures the mood of the atmospheric novel/movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” perfectly), pictured here, which is one of the most interesting and dramatic little black dresses I’ve seen in a long time. It would look fantastic with Spencer & Rutherford’s Esta Eternal sequined clutch, which will be available to purchase next month.

By Caroline Warnes

Some mobile phones are exceptional for their array of high-tech features. Others can be appreciated for their simplicity. The Nokia 3110 Classic is one such phone.

Yes, that’s right: some people want their mobile phone to make and receive calls and handle basic SMS - and not much else. And while the 3110 Classic has nowhere near the range of features that you’ll find on today’s new multimedia handsets and smartphones, Nokia has still thrown in some extras.

For example, the 3110 can also play music in MP3, WMA and AAC format, and there’s a built-in FM tuner as well as a very basic camera. Connectivity is good, too, with the handset boasting Bluetooth, infrared and mini USB for transferring between your phone and your PC. However, no mini USB cable is included in the box, so you’ll need to buy one separately.

The Nokia 3110 Classic isn’t the smallest phone around, so if you’re looking for something extra small, you’ll need to look elsewhere. However if you want a basic phone that won’t break the bank, it’s worth considering this phone.

Click here to find offers on Nokia mobile phones near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Many of us were eagerly awaiting the launch of the latest and greatest games console early in 2007 - the PlayStation 3 (PS3).

And the PS3’s launch title, Resistance: Fall Of Man, left gamers salivating. This first-person shooter in the vein of Halo is a visual gaming feast.

Resistance: Fall Of Man is exclusive to the PS3 (as Halo is to Xbox) so you’ll need to have the PlayStation console to play it. The graphics in the game are incredibly impressive, though we must warn that you’ll need a high-definition (HD) LCD or plasma screen connected to your PS3 to truly appreciate them.

Movements of the characters are smooth and almost realistic: when playing Resistance: Fall Of Man, you could almost be forgiven for thinking you were watching a World War II movie rather than playing an animated game.

The storyline is also strong and imaginative. Resistance takes place in a hypothetical world during a time of conflict. In fact, World War II didn’t happen, though the setting does resemble that time in history. Instead, a breed of monsters called the Chimera took over parts of the world, originating in Russia. The game is set in England just after the Chimera have taken over the country, with the US deciding to intervene. You play as a sergeant in the US army who decides to save the world.

Resistance: Fall Of Man is an impressive game for the PS3. If you liked games such as Halo, Call Of Duty and F.E.A.R., you’ll love this game.

Click here to find offers on PS3 games near you.

By Caroline Warnes

It’s always nice to hear an Aussie success story, and local organic skincare range Stem Organics is hitting the big time in the US.

The brand is celebrating the news that its Intensive Eye Serum will be included in the gift bags given to award winners, nominees and presenters at the prestigious Golden Globe Awards, to be held in Hollywood next Sunday evening (Monday, Australian time).

Making it into the Golden Globes or Oscars gift bag is big news for any brand during the Hollywood awards season. The stars who present and receive awards are often photographed using the products in the bag, giving the brand visibility better than any other advertising. This year, stars who will be receiving the bag include Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp.

The Stem Organics range features products made from certified organic and natural ingredients - and, wherever possible, Australian ingredients. The Intensive Eye Serum’s formula includes ingredients such as Fringed Violet for fine lines, organic Ginseng to firm and lift the eye are and Hibiscus Peptide, which beauty experts call a natural form of Botox.

You can buy Stem Organics products online, or at retailers such as Myer.

By Caroline Warnes

Hiptop mobile phones took their time coming to Australia.

Better known in the US as the Sidekick, the fashion-conscious amongst us were eagerly awaiting this celebrity favourite. And the third incarnation of this mobile phone to arrive in Australia, the Motorola Hiptop Slide, doesn’t disappoint.

Available on the Telstra network, the Hiptop Slide is definitely targeted at younger mobile phone users - young females if you want to get specific - thanks to its communication functionality. As well as the regular SMS and MMS that most of today’s mobile phones boast, there’s also access to Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger and push email as well as regular Internet access.

If you’re one of those tech types who has to stay in touch with your friends at all times, there’s a mobile version of social networking site MySpace included on the handset (this costs an additional $5 per month on top of Telstra’s standard $30 per month plan, which includes unlimited data).

In terms of other features, there’s also a 1.3-megapixel camera and a 2.4-inch screen, as well as a QWERTY keypad.

Click here to find offers on Motorola mobile phones and accessories near you.

By Caroline Warnes

SanDisk was the first manufacturer to seriously challenge the Apple iPod’s stranglehold on the portable music market.

The SanDisk e250 is the 2GB model in the series, and thus sets itself up as a replacement to the ever-popular 2GB iPod nano (the latest incarnation of the nano doesn’t come in 2GB, only 4GB and 8GB versions. However you can still find some older-style nanos in-store).

The e250 is cheaper than the last generation of 2GB iPod nanos, yet also boasts several functions that that version of nano doesn’t. For starters, the e250 can play video, unlike the old nano (although you will have to convert all video to a file that the Sansa can recognise, but the software for this is provided in the box).There is also voice recording and FM radio - two other features that are glaringly absent on the iPod nano.

However it’s obvious that SanDisk has taken its design cues from Apple with the e250. It even features a scrollwheel that is suspiciously reminiscent of the iPod, though it isn’t as touch-sensitive. The e250 isn’t quite as easy to use as the iPod, although you may be able to overlook this given the extra features you get for your money.

If you’re already an Apple and iTunes loyalist, you may need extra persuading to switch over, however if you’re new to portable music and want a quick (and cheap) fix, the features and performance of the SanDisk Sansa e250 MP3 player make it an option worth considering.

Click here to find offers on SanDisk MP3 players near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Summer is the best time to get out of your house and do something fun - and the good news is that there are lots of outdoor (and indoor) events taking place around the country in the coming months. Here’s the best of them…

Catch a movie

Summer isn’t the best time to be sitting inside a darkened cinema while everyone else enjoys the sunshine… so that’s what open-air cinemas are for. Nissan Moonlight Cinema is screening both new releases and some classic films through the summer months in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney (I can’t wait to see Apolcalypse Now in the picturesque surrounds of Sydney’s Centennial Park). The St George OpenAir Cinema runs for a month throughout January and February, kicking off on January 11 at Sydney’s Fleet Steps.

Meanwhile, if you’re in Melbourne, check out the Rooftop Cinema, which runs throughout January in Swanston Street. January 12 to 13 is an Alfred Hitchcock weekend - exciting news for suspense fans!

Flickerfest

Still on movies, the internationally renowned Flickerfest short film festival takes place at Sydney’s Bondi Pavilion until January 13. People in other states don’t have to miss out, either - the festival tours nationally after that date.

Sydney Festival

The Sydney Festival has become an institution for Sydneysiders over the years, and in 2008 it kicks off on Saturday, January 5, running through to January 26.

The month is marked by heaps of free and cheap cultural and arts events around the city, with the big attraction being First Night on Saturday, January 5. This year there will be free music and attractions around the city, including the Uber Lingua Sound System in Angel Place and a host of top DJs playing in Martin Place.

More free DJs

The Sunday Sol Sessions is another great free event that’s touring the country during summer, kicking off at the Miami Tavern in Queenland on Sunday, January 6 and finishing up at Perth’s St George Hotel on March 9 (check out the website for the full list of dates).

Sponsored by Sol Beer, the Sol Sessions features a mix of hot local and international acts, including Alex Taylor, Peyton (Hed Kandi UK), Mojada and Martini club. And did I mention it’s free?

Australian Grand Prix

OK, the Grand Prix may not be until March, but if you’re planning to travel to Melbourne for it, it’s time to start organising now.

Need an extra incentive? Rocker legends KISS are performing a free concert for racegoers on March 16, which is included in the price of your entry ticket. Otherwise you can pay an extra $50 on top of your ticket to reserve your seat right in front of the stage.

Andy Warhol Exhibition

Last but not least is something special for Queensland art fans. Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art presents Australia’s first major Andy Warhol retrospective, featuring more than 300 of his most important works. It runs until the end of March.

By Caroline Warnes