There are some simple steps you can take to limit what ends up in landfill, to increase the use of recycled goods, or help someone out.

If your tech is still fully functioning:

• Hand it down. Check if any family member, friend or colleague might be interested in your gear.

• Make a little money. Try selling it on sites such as eBay or the Trading Post. Remember to disclose why you’re selling it and if there are any known faults.

• Donate it to charities such as the Salvation Army or St Vinnies, or other local charities near your which are in specific need of tech.

If your tech no longer (or partially works):

• Check in with your local council to see what their eWaste policy is. Some might have a scheduled day and drop-off point, or might allow one free pick up a year directly from your home.

• Contact the manufacturer and see if they have a recycling program that allows you to drop off their branded gear (some allow other brands too). Dell, Toshiba & Apple have Australian programs.

• Check out www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/search.cfm to see what’s available in your local area. Some might be managed eWaste providers that will charge a fee to dispose of it correctly.

Have more questions or need help? Call gizmo 1300 275 449 or email help@gizmo.com.au. Remember that as an RACQ member you’ll save 10% off a gizmo service.

But Photoshop has a number of practical uses that range from brightening family photos to creating invitations. An image-editing program that can be used to enhance photographs, Photoshop can be used to lighten dark images, erase red eyes, crop images and also has many other applications.

Photoshop has a feature that allows users to create images in layers, much the same as creating a collage from paper clippings. This means users can create collages of their favourite shots, and use the layering function to create new images. Text can also be placed over an image, making Photoshop handy for making personalised Christmas and birthday cards, or even party invitations. For a child’s birthday party, you could take a photo of the child and include the details of the party on top of the image.

The advantages of using Photoshop over other image-editing software are that Photoshop offers a vast array of functions and is compatible with other Adobe programs including InDesign.

Click here to download a free 30-day trial of Photoshop.

Aside from using rechargeable batteries, another effective and energy-efficient means of recharging a Magic Mouse is to use a Mobee Magic Charger.

The charger is a flat pad that sits underneath a Magic Mouse and generates its power from a USB cable that connects to a computer – which means that the computer must be turned on in order for the charger to work. Should you wish to charge the mouse at a time when the computer is turned off,  another option is to plug the USB cable into a power adapter that comes with iPods and iPhones.

The Mobee Magic Charger is said to provide the mouse with up to six days of battery power after a full charge time of eight hours. Click here for more information.

Generally, headphones that sit over the ears will provide better sound quality than smaller earbuds, but the earbud style is much more portable. When looking for earbuds, you could consider canalphones or in-ear monitors. These are similar to earbuds, but sit in the ear canal, helping to deliver a clearer sound and block external noise interference. A benefit of canalphones is that they are less likely to fall out of the ears, making them beneficial for those who wear earphones whilst exercising.

Noise-cancelling headphones can also be a good way to improve sound quality. These can be expensive, but also useful when travelling or listening to music in busy places. Be careful not to get noise-cancelling headphones confused with noise-isolation headphones, which can be less effective.

Some headphones will be marketed in terms of Hertz (Hz). When considering this, remember that humans can generally hear sounds between 20–20,000 Hz, a range delivered by most headphones.

Taking care of earphones is an important part of preserving sound quality. Some more expensive brands will come with storage cases to prevent any damage caused by loose items in your bag. When the earphones are not in use, be careful not to leave them where they could become damaged.

Regular cleaning of earphones can also help maintain sound quality. Click here for an easy guide to cleaning earphones.

To increase the range of music available to you in the car, you could consider connecting your iPod to your car stereo. Listening to an iPod in the car can also allow you to listen to other content such as podcasts. Connecting an iPod to your car stereo can be done in a number of different ways, depending on the type of stereo system you have.

For cars with an older CD player, an FM transmitter can be the simplest solution. The transmitter plugs into the iPod’s headphone output and wirelessly transmits a signal to the stereo. When purchasing an FM transmitter, it can be worth opting for one of the more expensive options, as some FM transmitters can offer poor sound quality.

When shopping for a new CD player for the car, you could look for one fitted with USB ports, allowing for a direct connection from the iPod to the car’s sound system.

Many new cars are now built with several connectivity options for an iPod. Click here for more information.

When choosing a tablet computer, one of the main things to consider is what you will be using the computer for. Some tablet computers offer large amounts of storage as well as USB ports, internet connectivity and a host of other functions.

Should you be looking for something to simply read books from, you may be better off searching for an e-reader rather than a tablet computer. E-readers generally do not have back-lit screens, which helps reduce strain on the eyes when spending large lengths of time reading from the screen.

For travelling, choosing a tablet computer with a USB port or card reader and larger storage space can allow you to transfer and store photos from your camera onto the tablet computer.

Another thing to consider is connectivity. Some tablets will come with WiFi connectivity, while others will also have 3G connectivity, allowing users to connect to the internet when WiFi is not available. Connecting to 3G does cost money and you can enquire with different phone companies about their respective rates.

Finally, some tablet computers that offer a great deal of features may also have a shorter battery life. When searching for a computer to take travelling or on long commutes, you may need something with a longer battery life.

Once you have established which features are the most important to you, visit your local electronics store and request a demonstration of the different models.

For more information about the differences between tablet computers and e-readers, click here.

The prize winner will receive a RACQ motoring enthusiasts experience, including a half day road testing experience with RACQ’s two Australia’s Best Cars judges, sitting in on the complete testing process including track driving, being shown how the cars are evaluated against testing criteria and driving in different road conditions including freeway, country and city commuting; a one hour experience in the RACQ’s Mitsubishi iMiEV electric vehicle and $1500 to spend at Repco (in the form of Repco gift cards).

1.     Half a day road testing experience with RACQ’s two Australia’s Best Cars judges.

2.     Have a preview of and drive in RACQ’s Mitsubishi iMIEV electric vehicle.

3.     $1500 worth of Repco car products (via Repco gift cards)*

The competition commences at 8.30am on Wednesday February 1, 2012 and closes at 5pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.The competition will be drawn at 10am on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Winners will be notified by phone or email.

*For specific Terms and Conditions click here to find out more. General Terms and Conditions will also apply, click here to find out more. Complete entry form by clicking below to go into the draw to win. Entry will automatically provide you with subscription to the monthly Road Ahead Motoring e-newsletter.

The pathway to the Sunshine Coast’s myriad of private and public art galleries can now be found in one convenient brochure, the Art Gallery Trail. The free fold-out brochure lists 15 private and five public galleries along with four premier accommodation options for visitors and is available from any of the galleries and other businesses listed below.

An easy to read map guides visitors to each gallery and its selection of works: oil and watercolour paintings; bronze, sandstone and marble sculptures; porcelain and handmade blown glass; silk and textiles; jewellery; wood; photography; and more.

Montville motelier and popular local identity Angus Richard is one of the prime movers behind the initiative to help promote the area and assist day trippers and holiday makers to get the most out of their visit.
We took Angus up on his invitation to ‘road test’ the Art Gallery Trail by using the guide to check out a sample of the many diverse galleries and lap up a little of the local hospitality.

The most direct and quickest route to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane, of course, is to head north along the Bruce Highway. But if time is on your side, a far more scenic and enjoyable drive is to go through Samford, Dayboro and Mt Mee to where contented cattle graze among the lush green hills and the trees grow straight and strong.

At D’Aigular, turn left onto the highway of the same name and in no time the thriving little town of Woodford comes up. This is a timely spot to stop, stretch your legs and enjoy a coffee and pastry before pushing onto Maleny via Cedarton.

At Booroobin is the Maleny Arts Retreat, gallery of the renowned Gary Myers which showcases his and other talented local artists’ works.  Open from 10am-4pm daily, the retreat also has for sale a diverse selection of limited and open edition books and prints, smaller unframed works including art cards and 3D art.

Continuing on through Maleny and the acclaimed Art on Cairncross is our next call. Art on Cairncross combines the galleries of its owners – Jane Caraffi of Caraffi’s and Tony Gill of Tony Gill Galleries of Montville – and is renowned for the calibre of fine art which includes ceramics, glass and sculpture. Open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday, a good look around is a must.

For something different again, we continue our drive along the picturesque Blackall Range and onto beautiful Buderim to call in on Tiffany Jones Fine Art Gallery. Situated on a superbly-landscaped corner block in a house featuring some of Buderim’s best traditional timber architecture, this is where you can marvel at the work of such icons as Norman Lindsay and Hugh Sawrey. The gallery is open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Clouds of Montville is our final destination for the day and a chance to settle in for the evening. Along with Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Secrets on the Lake and Lillypilly’s Country Cottages, ‘Clouds’ is one of the area’s premier places to stay.

Ideally located among well-established selective plantings on what was a former pineapple plantation, our fully self-contained cottage (complete with spa bath) is superbly appointed for overnight or extended stays.

Host Angus is not just extremely hospitable, he’s also a great raconteur and fountain of knowledge of where to go and what to see anywhere in the district. Attention to detail is his and wife Margaret’s forte, thus it’s not really a surprise to find a selection of magazines of your particular interest on the bookshelf.

A good night’s sleep is assured in such a quiet and relaxing setting and we awake refreshed and ready to tuck into the sumptuous breakfast basket Angus has delivered. Suitably sustained, we look forward to where we left off on our Art Gallery Trail.

And there’s still plenty more to choose from: Lasting Impressions Gallery, The Gallery Eumundi, Tina Cooper Gallery, Red Desert Gallery, Yandina Historic House, Art Nuvo Gallery, Montville Art Gallery, Nature’s Image Photography, Bold in Gold – Montville, Illume Creations, Main Street Gallery, The Secret Gallery, David Linton Furniture & Timber Works, Peace of Green, Landsborough Galleries, Caloundra and Noosa regional galleries, Butter Factory Arts Centre, Art & Ecology Centre and University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery.

•    For more on the Art Gallery Trail or to plan your Sunshine Coast hinterland escape, go to www.montvillegetaways.com.au

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease affecting thousands of young Australians. At the moment there isn’t a cure, however initiatives such as the Big Dinner Party hope to change that.

The concept behind the Big Dinner Party is simple – rather than going to a restaurant, invite friends and family over for dinner during March. Guests donate the money they save to the MS Society.

The MS Society provides essential support to MS sufferers to enable them to live as full a life as possible at home and work.

Whether it’s a three-course meal or a simple barbecue, by donning an apron and entertaining friends during March you can join the fight against MS.

To register click here.

Dubbed the ‘Moreton Movement’, the Facebook campaign and online petition is aiming to raise tourism on the island by increasing the island’s exposure during weather forecasts.

The campaign aims to put Moreton Island on the map, both literally and in the minds of Australians planning their next vacation.

“Moreton Island is only a 75 minute trip from Brisbane, yet many Australians tend to overlook the island when planning their holidays,” Moreton Island Adventures Chief Executive Officer Roz Shaw said.

“With this campaign, we want to remind people just how accessible beautiful Moreton Island is and why it should be on every Aussie’s ‘to do’ travel list.”

Although tourism to Queensland’s urban areas is on the rise, visits to regional areas, such as Moreton Island, are declining. This campaign aims to change that, and so far it seems to be working, with over 2100 people showing their support for the cause in just the first two weeks of the campaign.

The campaign aim is to achieve 40,000 petition signatures by March 12 this year.

Find out more by searching ‘Moreton Movement’ on Facebook.