Stories by: Chris Jager

Some of these games were overlooked by the buying public, while others were unfairly dismissed by critics. Some were overshadowed by a rival in the same genre. Whatever the reason, they all share one thing in common -- they should have been bigger hits!

When most people think about video cameras, Sanyo is not the first company that comes to mind. For the past decade, the Japanese manufacturer has been content to sit in Sony and Canon’s shadow, producing cheap and basic alternatives to its elite rivals.

Despite the proliferation of webcam-equipped notebooks, Microsoft has continued to harry the market with a steady stream of portable Lifecams.

Online mapping service to offer detailed beach information. From 4 December Australian beachgoers will be given access to detailed beach information through the Whereis mapping Web site. The maps, which were compiled in association with Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), will encompass a variety of information, including the best surf and fishing locations, hazardous swimming beaches, beach patrol times and turn-by-turn directions to the beach.

There was a time when the thought of karaoke in the living room filled regular, right-minded people with the utmost dread. With the exception of masochists, why would anyone want to subject themselves to the unmusical warbling of their friends and family when they could just gouge out their eardrums with a fork instead? Given a choice between these two extremes, any normal individual would be rummaging through their cutlery drawer within the first song’s opening drum roll. (Especially if your family sounds anything like ours.)

The Flip Mino is the latest addition to Firebox’s range of miniature Net-focused camcorders. Like its popular predecessors, it combines basic video functionality with an affordable price tag, making it an ideal gadget for kids, high school drama departments and skint bloggers. On the other hand, if you especially care about video quality you'd be better off buying a fully fledged camcorder (which in some cases will be nearly as cheap).

In many ways, a camcorder is the perfect Christmas gift. In addition to being a great product that will last for years to come, it also lets you capture the day’s yuletide festivities from start to finish. Whether you dream of making the next Australia or just want to stick a video of your dog on YouTube, there’s a camcorder to suit nearly every taste and budget.

As we stride purposefully into the 21st century and beyond, more and more people are storing digital content on their computers -- especially when it comes to home entertainment. After all, why subject your living room to a tottering mountain of burnt DVDs and CDs when you can keep everything on your PC instead?

The YP-U4 is the latest cut-price miniature MP3 player from Samsung. Combining sleek good looks, 4GB of storage, plug-and-play functionality and an integrated USB plug, it has clearly been designed with user-friendliness in mind. It also includes additional features like nine EQ settings, FM radio, an inbuilt voice recorder and WMA/OGG file format support. With an RRP of $99, it remains an excellent value choice despite some dodgy design choices.

Despite having been all but abandoned by the consumer-level camcorder industry, HDV remains the high-definition format of choice for serious videographers. No other codec offers the same level of support and reliability, nor the comforting familiarity for those reared on digital tape. The HDR-FX1000 continues Sony’s commitment to this veteran format, offering professional HD video in a MiniDV-sized package. While it lacks some of the high-end features needed for broadcast-quality productions (most notably XLR inputs and an interchangeable lens) it remains a solid entry-point for budding freelancers. From its user-interface to its video performance, every facet of this camera is steeped in sheer class.

iiNet customers to receive quota-free Xbox Live downloads