Tags: 48, audio, home

Blu-ray: Everything you need to know

In 2009, it seems that Blu-ray is finally ready for the mainstream. But what exactly is it, what does it do, and is it right for you?

The lossless "hybrid" MP3 format not only offers the sound detail lost in a normal MP3, but remains compatible with your existing MP3 player or iPod.

LG BD370

Cheap and very cheerful, the LG BD370 Blu-ray player is a fantastically optioned piece of blue laser finery, and a new benchmark for budget players.
Denon AVR-789

The Denon AVR-789 sounds great and is fully featured, but isn't the easiest receiver to set up and use.
Denon AVR-1909

The Denon AVR-1909 sounds great and is fully featured, but isn't the easiest receiver to set up and use.
Apple iPod Touch (2nd generation)

If you've been holding back, now is the time: the second-gen Touch is an excellent media player, and the addition of third-party apps extends the fun for everyone, no matter where your interests lie.
Asus EN9600 GT

Nvidia's new GeForce 9600 GT graphics chip gives the Asus EN9600 GT some of the best bang-for-the-buck we've seen in a midrange 3D card.
Toshiba HD-XE1

For getting the very best out of HD-DVDs, you really can't go wrong with the Toshiba HD-XE1.
Alienware Area-51 m9750

Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.
LaCie Biggest FW800

If you need the fast throughput of a locally connected RAID setup, the LaCie Biggest FW800 is a good choice, but if you don't mind the slower transfer speeds of Ethernet, a NAS RAID can be less expensive and offer more features.

HDMI 1.3 - is it worth waiting for?

HDMI 1.3 is touted as a major enhancement of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification. John Falcone looks at what it offers, and whether you should hold off purchases until AV gear with this HDMI update is more widely available.
Connections in a snap

A good docking station or port replicator can make your laptop's homecoming much easier, consolidating all of your office peripherals and online connections into a single hookup. See which devices go a step further by transforming a notebook into a desktop PC.
Gadget Buzz

USB-powered noodle strainers, extreme sports skates and superheated steam ovens -- we check out some of the latest tech gadgets around the globe.
Ultimate iPod accessories

Whether you're looking to transform the iPod into a fully functional stereo or just want to wrap it in a cool, scratch-resistant casing, you'll find the answer here.

Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone 3G

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the second generation iPhone at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference and details some of the improvements over the original iPhone.
Xbox 360 unveiled, and it's coming next year

Microsoft has officially taken the wraps off the Xbox 360, its next generation console that features a sleek new design, a detachable hard drive and more than a teraflop of processing power.

DIY: How to create an MP3 CD

Got a lot of songs on your MP3 player that you'd like to hear on your PC, home stereo or car CD player? Our tutorial explains how to burn you favourite playlist to CD to get more mileage from the music on your portable player.
CNET's glossary of music terms

Confused by the jargon? Our glossary will help explain commonly used terms related to digital music.
TV buying guide

Whether you want a new bedroom set or a massive home-theatre centrepiece, our CNET editors' guide gives you the full picture on shopping for a new TV.

Beautiful Joe by Marshall Saunders (Text Synchronized Audiobook)

Beautiful Joe is a real dog, and Beautiful Joe is his real name. He belonged during the first part of his life to a cruel master, who mutilated him...
Bear Creek Collection Vol. 1 by Robert E. Howard (Text Synchronized Audiobook)

Breckinridge Elkins is the roughest, toughest, fastest-shootin, hardest-fightin feller in the Bear Creek settlement, and probably in the entire...
Bear Creek Collection, Vol. 2 by Robert E. Howard (Text Synchronized Audiobook)

Breckinridge Elkins is the roughest, toughest, fastest-shootin, hardest-fightin feller in the Bear Creek settlement, and probably in the entire...
Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Text Synchronized Audiobook)

This is the continuing story of Anne Shirley and the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series. In it Anne attends Redmond College where she is...

Get (laptop) smart before you buy

Win the numbers game and get the laptop that's perfect your needs as well as your budget!
Microsoft Windows® 7. Your PC, simplified.

Windows® 7 has been designed to be more reliable, more responsive, and to make the things you do every day easier.
Whereis® maps

If you’d like to get to know more of Australia, and do it safely, then check out Whereis® maps.