Lasoo Shopping and Reviews Blog

I love Wednesdays just about as much as I love people who call Wednesdays “hump day”, so this morning I’m cheering myself up with the under $20 jewellery sale at Ella Bleau.

There’s a decent range of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces reduced across the site, with no sale item priced at more than $20.

Take for example this pearl and diamond pendant, which is going for just $10. They may only be simulated diamonds, but that’s a real freshwater pearl so it’s great value for money.

(Don’t forget to factor in shipping.)

By Caroline Warnes

We are giving away five double in-season movie passes to the new movie “The Killer Inside Me” in this week’s free Lasoo competition.

From director Michael Winterbottom and based on the classic novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, “The Killer Inside Me” tells the story of handsome, unassuming small town sheriff’s deputy Lou Ford (Casey Affleck). A quiet charmer of his idyllic West Texas town, Ford has a simple life and a pretty girl (Kate Hudson) to come home to. But when the job brings him face to face with a gorgeous prostitute (Jessica Alba) on the edge of town, Ford’s fragile world cracks – unbridling his own dark urges.

To enter this week’s competition, tell us in 25 words or less using the form below why you want to see this movie. The competition closes next Thursday.

Competition terms and conditions

The Myer fashion catalogues are always a treat for all of us - the girls get to drool over the latest Australian designer fashion while the blokes get to drool over Jennifer Hawkins and other assorted glamours who grace the pages.

And the current summer catalogue is no exception - I want at least half of the outfits featured inside (especially the pantsuit featured on the cover, but I know if I wore it that would inevitably lead to comparisons with Hawko, and let me just say that I really don’t need that).

There is also some really gorgeous lingerie featured inside. I love this Pleasure State Aether set pictured here, which is available for $59.95 for the bra and $39.95 for the bottoms.

By Caroline Warnes

The new Nokia 7230 is an affordable basic handset that packs in more features than your average entry-level phone.

It’s a simple and stylish slider phone that manages to look more expensive than its $149 price tag would suggest, thanks to the use of a faux stainless steel finish. The 2.4-inch QVGA colour screen is also an attractive addition. The phone slides out to reveal the T9 numeric keypad, which is thankfully well spaced out and easy-to-use - perfect for anyone with larger fingers.

As mentioned above, the Nokia 7230’s feature set is pretty impressive for a sub-$150 mobile phone. On the media side of things, the list includes a 3-megapixel camera plus built-in music player with support for MP3, AAC and WMA files. Nokia has also thrown in a 3.5mm headphone socket and external speaker grille, depending on how you want to play your music, plus a microSD slot for storage (a 2GB memory card is even included in the box to get you going). Rounding out the package is Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP to share your media or connect wireless headphones.

Buy a cheap Nokia phone on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

I’m currently on the lookout for a pair of shoes to wear for a stint as a bridesmaid in October, and so far am having little to no luck in that department.

Most heels designed for brides and bridesmaids are way too bedazzled for my liking, and don’t even get me started on white shoes (I find them incredibly tacky). I don’t really want to spend my money on a pair of shoes I’ll wear once then never again.

So far, the frontrunners are these Tony Bianco Rajani heels, which are thankfully light on the rhinestones and other frou frou, plus the champagne satin colour is so much more palatable than pure white.

For $129.95, they’re not a bad option - and if you’re a fan of the style but not the colour, they’re also available in black.

By Caroline Warnes

We are giving you the chance to win one of three 2GB Apple iPod Shuffles valued at $79 each simply by sharing your shopping experiences in the latest Lasoo survey.

Complete the survey and tell us in 25 words or less where your favourite place to shop is and why. The best three responses will win.

The competition closes on September 30, 2010.

Competition terms and conditions

You know I like a cheap and cheerful buy to celebrate Friday, and Diva is an invaluable source when it comes to cheap and cheerful.

So if you’re near a Diva store today, I suggest heading in to pick up a pair of these peacock feather earrings, which will only set you back $13 (if you’re prepared to wait, you can also order them online).

These babies are obviously a bit of a statement piece so I think they’d work best with the rest of your outfit toned right down - such as basic black.

By Caroline Warnes

The HTC Wildfire is set to launch in Australia this week, and as expected, it’s the ultimate in budget Android phones.

It will be made available on August 24, exclusively on the Telstra network - pre-paid customers can purchase the Wildfire for $349 outright or post-paid customers can get it for $0 upfront on the $49 cap plan over 24 months.

However, naturally the lower price point will be reflected in features and performance, so don’t expect the Wildfire to be a top-notch Android phone. For starters, the screen is smaller than its predecessors, measuring in at 3.2-inches with a 240×320 QVGA display. If you have bigger fingers, this could offer some usability issues. It uses the manufacturer’s proprietary Sense user interface.

It features a 528MHz processor, which isn’t terrible, but should mean performance will be slightly slower than HTC’s other Android phones. It comes with 384MB of RAM plus a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, which is similar to the HTC Desire, as well as similar connectivity and media features.

Buy a cheap HTC phone on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

And the winner is:

D. Willis, 5255.

These days it seems everyone is buying a GPS unit for their vehicle - but do you need one, and if so, which one is right for you? Our GPS buying guide will help you decide.

Do I need GPS?

Not everyone requires a GPS device for their car, motorcycle or other vehicle to get them from A to B. If the majority of your driving is around areas you are already very familiar with, then you won’t get that much benefit out of one. GPS is intended mainly for drivers who require directions with at least moderate frequency.

Do you do most of your driving in the city CBD? If so, GPS may not be worth it. Many GPS units struggle in high-rise areas, although some are better than others - so make sure you read expert reviews of the latest devices before purchasing.

Then there is the issue of tech-savviness. If you are at least somewhat proficient with gadgets then you will be able to use most GPS devices with ease. If, however, you struggle to program your 20-year-old VCR, then you may not be the ideal candidate (let’s not forget that everything seems ten times more frustrating when you’re in the car or in heavy traffic).

Last but not least, price is also a consideration. GPS units cost upwards of around $100 for the most basic units, all the way up to several hundred dollars (although if you’re lucky, you may get a very basic unit for under $100, but don’t expect miracles). So if you’re happy with your old street directory and generally stick to your local area, consider whether it’s worth investing in GPS.

Which GPS?

GPS devices come in three flavours: dashboard, portable and handheld. Dashboard units are the ones that are incorporated into the vehicle’s actual dash - usually during the manufacturing process, though they can also be installed later. Dashboard GPS units tend to be more expensive, however they look neater than the portable kind and tend to work better with other devices installed in the car. Maps for these units are usually stored on either SD card or hard drive.

Portable GPS devices meanwhile can be attached to the interior of your vehicle via suction cups and are powered by a car charger. They are cheaper than the integrated dashboard models and are usually either SD card or flash memory-based.

Last but not least, GPS is also available on handheld devices, both standalone units like as well as smartphone-type devices such as the iPhone. These tend to be smaller and less powerful than the two types mentioned above.

Screen size

Generally with GPS units, bigger screens are better, given that you’ll be reading from the screen in the car. Portable devices usually have either a 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch widescreen, which will of course cost you more.

Voice navigation

Many devices today offer voice navigation as well as on-screen instructions, though some entry-level models will only provide on-screen instructions. Be careful with GPS units offering voice navigation, however - some overseas software struggles with Australian accents and pronunciations so it’s a good idea to listen to a demonstration before you buy.

GPS maps

Australian GPS devices are generally powered with maps provided by Whereis, with updates available periodically via the manufacturer’s website. It’s important to update your map information regularly to account for any road changes.

Other GPS features

Some of the more expensive units offer other features, which aren’t really necessary to the function of getting you from A to B, but can be a nice add-on. These features include Bluetooth, MP3 playback and more.

Best GPS devices

There are several manufacturers of quality devices, including Garmin GPS units (such as the model pictured here). Also worthy of consideration is Navman and TomTom GPS devices, especially the ever-popular TomTom ONE and TomTom GO units.

Buy cheap GPS devices on sale

Guide originally published June 3, 2009; updated August 12, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes