June 2014 - Snellings Gerald Giles

Now that most of the major manufacturers have released their latest innovations and we’ve had a chance to really get to know the new features, models and systems that they have to offer, it’s time for our review of the top five TVs of 2014.

Though the competition has been fierce, we’re managed to select the TVs that offer the very best in quality, value for money and usability, plus the sets that have that all important WOW factor.

With a 40-inch screen, full HD and 3D capabilities, built-in smart hub, WiFi, Freesat and Quad Core, the Samsung UE40H7000 LED TV has all of the bells and whistles that you’d expect from the South Korean manufacturer.

The unbeatable picture quality will help to bring all of you favourite films and TV shows alive, while the intuitive smart control system makes using the TV a joy.

Slightly bigger than the Samsung at 42-inches, the Sony KDL42W829 would also make a fantastic addition to your living room.

Featuring X-Reality Pro and one flick entertainment as well as a screen capable of showing 3D images, the Sony KDL42W829 is perfect for those who like their TV to be at the centre of their entertainment set up.

If you take a lot of photos or videos on your tablet or smartphone or just want to be able to browse the web on a super-size screen, the Sony KDL42W829 is the perfect choice as its screen mirroring technology allows you to wirelessly connect your device with the TV screen.

Next up is the elegantly designed Panasonic TX42AS740 which features a 42-inch screen, Freesat and Freetime. With 3D capabilities and fantastic picture quality, this Led Smart TV is advanced without being showy.

Rated A+++ for its energy consumption and with BBC iPlayer, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Skype all built into the unit, the well-designed Panasonic TX42AS740 offers a good range of features as well as easy to use controls and a great viewing experience.

Like the KDL42W829, the 42-inch Sony KDL42W705/6 3D Led smart TV comes with built-in mirror screening capabilities allowing you to look at your photos, videos and favourite websites on the big screen.

What’s more, the Sony KDL42W705/6 also lets you use your smart phone as a remote, putting you firmly in control and enhancing your viewing experience.

Like the Samsung UE40H7000, the 40-inch Samsung UE40H6500 3D Led TV comes with full HD capabilities, a Smart Hub, built-in WiFi, Freesat and Quad Core.

Offering a fast, efficient and intuitive user experience, the powerful Samsung UE40H6500 can access all of its state of the art features quickly and effectively.

With entertainment technology moving at a staggering pace, this year’s top picks are all great examples of how innovation can be combined with style for fantastic results.

And with so many great TVs currently on the market, 2014 is set to be a fantastic year for telly addicts everywhere.

With the sun high in the sky and the summer holidays fast approaching, there’s a good chance that you and your kids are going to be enjoying the great outdoors more than usual over the next few months.

Though outdoor living is healthy, fun and full of surprises, it can also be messy. From football to paddling pools and camping to picnics, your family’s clothes are likely to take a bit of a battering this summer.

But don’t fret! The best way to combat the dirt while ensuring that your family get to enjoy the sun as much as possible, is to invest in a brand new, high performance washing machine. Giving your clothes a new lease of life and removing all the stains your kids can throw them, a good washing machine is worth its weight in gold. So to help you along the way, we have put together our favourite washing machines based on being the best, biggest and fastest.

One of the very best washing machines on the market at the moment is the Bosch WAS32760GB. Reliable, hard working and affordable, the washing machine is made by industry experts Bosch and gives busy households everything that they need to get their clothes looking great.

With an energy rating of A+++, the Bosch WAS32760GB could help to trim down your energy bills while the easy touch control buttons and speciality programs (including one just for sportswear) will make using the machine a joy. A 1600RPM spin speed means that your washing will then dry in a shorter amount of time as the machine will get as much water out of the clothes as possible – which is good news for families whose children go through endless amounts of clothes!

Next up is the Panasonic NA140VX4WGB which also boasts an A+++ energy rating. The chief reason to why this washing machine is awesome and among our top 3, is that it comes with a incredible 10kg load capacity, so is perfect for hectic households and hardworking parents who need to get a huge load of washing done regularly. Coupled with a 1400RPM spin speed, your laundry day will no longer be the worst day of the week!

With an auto stain removal function able to tackle 23 of the most common stains, a built-in 3D sensor and intelligent drum analysis, the Panasonic NA140VX4WGB takes the strain out of cleaning your clothes and gives you plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the summer.

Last but not least, the Miele WKR770WPS has built-in PowerWash technology, helping to ensure that your clothes are cleaner than ever.

The extra large drum is perfect for large families allowing you to wash up to 9kg in one load, while the intelligent washing system allows up to 19 types of garments to be cleaned in one go. The 1600RPM spin speed and A+++ energy rating make this washing machine a great contender for any family looking for a new machine and with a free five year warranty, you can rest assured that your washing machine is covered.

With all of these great, hard working washing machines available from Gerald Giles in Norwich, it’s never been easier for families (or parents at least) to get ready for summer.

So why not invest in a new machine of your own now then sit back, relax and enjoy whatever summer has in store for your family.

Just because it’s the World Cup doesn’t mean there won’t be ugly scenes on Sunday 15th when Fathers Day comes around. Choose the wrong Fathers day gift and you could be looking at Vader Skywalker style show down.

So we’ve been looking through some of the brilliant tech gadgets available right now that would make perfect Fathers Day gifts.

Firstly for the film buff, or just TV lover we’ve got a couple of brilliant Blu Ray players. The BDPS4200B Blu Ray player from Sony supports 3D and comes with access to the Sony Entertainment Network which means your Dad can stream movies, TV shows and music. He can also watch Netflix, YouTube and LoveFilm while keeping in touch with his friends on Facebook. Just £89.99!

For an extra £10 you could opt for the DMPBDT160 Blu Ray player from Panasonic. At just £99.99 this Blu Ray also supports 3D (and you can even watch 2D films in 3D). He can play music and films direct from his PC or Laptop – and the Panasonic supports who host of different file formats.

Ok moving on from the TV – how about a DAB radio that allows you Bluetooth music straight from your old mans iPhone. With an amazing sound quality and from a brand that was around when you’re Dad was a nipper.

The Blutune DAB radios from Roberts is perfect for the bedroom. Not only can it play hundreds of DAB stations, you can stream music to it wirelessly and it has 2 alarms that feature “humane” wakeup. So if you’re Dad likes his music, but struggles to get out of bed in the morning. Then this is just the ticket. Especially as we’ve got £10 off the price right now. The Roberts radio could be yours (his) for just £89.99.

If your Dad is already blasting his tunes through out the house and they’re are not exactly to yours or the rest of the families taste, then we have the solution (PLEASE NOTE: it won’t stop any ‘Dad dancing’). Meet the MDRRF865RK Wireless headphones from Sony. What’s great about these wireless headphones is that they have a 100m reception range which means that your Dad can be pottering around in the garden or his shed and still be listening to his favourite tunes. Plus they have a 25 hour battery life. Just £99.99. A small price to pay for a bit of peace and quiet.

For the budding David Bailey’s out there we have another product from Sony that would make the perfect Fathers Day gift. This is the Sony DSCW630B digital camera with Cyber-shot. For just £89.99 you get a camera that is really easy to use, with 16.1 mega pixels and Carl Zeiss lens. It’ll let you record 720p HD video and 360 sweeping panoramas and features Optical SteadyShot to help reduce camera shake. This is a great present. But be warned – it’s perfect for taking those embarrassing pictures of you that you DO NOT want to be shown the first time you bring your first boyfriend or girlfriend home.

Finally in our collection of the best Fathers Day presents of 2014, but only if your Dad has half decent music taste, then the RDPM5IPW Sony speaker dock for his iPhone or iPod could be just the job. Neat and compact, this dock delivers impressive sound quality and has an impressive 10 hour battery life or can run off an AC Adapter. This normally retails at £69.99 but you can get £30 off right now.

There you go, hopefully some great Fathers Day gift ideas for 2014, all under £100. Holster the Light Sabre, my Jedi warrior.

Great news for busy viewers who would like all their favourite viewing available from one piece of equipment. Panasonic have just announced that their new Viera series of Smart TV’s, from the mid- range AS600 series and above will have built-in Freeview Freetime, removing the need for a separate box.

Consumer studies have shown that Freetime boxes are purchased by just over 40% of the viewing public and that this figure is set to rise so Panasonic want to bring the benefits of Freetime viewing to its customers sooner rather than later.

The Freetime homepage should put an end to time-consuming and frustrating programme searches, with its search functionality, together with the on demand services of BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, Demand 5 and 4oD, everything is neatly in one place. There is also a showcase section which will send you daily recommendations, picked for viewers by the Freesat Editorial team.

Thanks to Freetime, the Viera televisions will support satellite and terrestrial free- to- air programming, so you can enjoy Freetime whether you view using an aerial or satellite. You can also use the BBC News or BBC Sports apps with the YouTube app and the Freesat app for tablets and mobiles are coming soon.

Although previously Freesat has been available on Panasonic Televisions, this is the first time any television company has included Freetime as well.

The TX50AX802 50” screen television is ready for ultra 4K HD, and when it comes you’ll have the technology that will give you four times the resolution of 1080p and a sharper, clearer, more detailed picture.

Meanwhile, the TX50AX802has a 3840 x 2160 picture resolution which is perfect for Blu-ray viewing and gaming. It also features sub field drive control with a short light emission which creates clear, crisp moving images of sports and fast action shots and improved pre-discharge control making dark scenes appear in deeper black shades with greater detail, no matter how much light is in the room.

Freesat have confirmed that their close working partnership with Panasonic and the fact that this large global brand has chosen to use their technology is positive proof of the company’s belief in Freesat’s service as a benefit to the consumer; starting six years ago when Panasonic introduced their IDTV’s with built-in Freesat and including the new Viera launch, which Freesat has said is a natural and exciting evolution of their partnership.

With its WiFi connectivity, LED edge lit screen technology and VR- Audio Pro sound surround, this television has everything you need for comfortable, high quality viewing and gaming.