Australian PC World articles from June 2005

Australian PC World archives from June 2005

Attack of the clowns: as we pound away at the keyboard, tackle business apps, and amaze others with our PowerPoint presentation prowess, it's easy to forget the simple joy, fun and frivolity we can get from technology wrangling! So down your mice, as PC World strikes back.(EDITORIAL)
June 1, 2005... The sixth and final instalment in the Star Wars saga will soon be screening at a cinema near you--Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Many of us fondly remember travelling a long time ago, to that galaxy far, far away. The Star Wars...

Do your VoIP sums.(READERS' FORUM)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I believe in doing my homework. With VoIP, there are some really cheap services out there, but you get what you pay for. In my own case, I went for the most cost-effective, most flexible service, which at the end of the day would appear to give...

Wi-Fi defence.(READERS' FORUM)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... The April 2005 issue offers potentially dangerous advice in the "Home improvement" section by Roger Gann. Specifically, in relation to improving Wi-Fi and throughput, it states: "Turning of WEP and WPA may increase network throughput, but it...

Missive of the month.(READERS' FORUM)
June 1, 2005... Congratulations to Peter Downey! You are this month's winner of a copy of Spy Cleaner Gold, which keeps "big brother" out of your PC by scanning and removing spyware, adware and malware to protect your privacy--worth $49.95.

Dilbert[R].
June 1, 2005... WALLY, CAN YOU TEACH ME TO WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GRAB AN IMPORTANT-LOOKING DOCUMENT AND FOLLOW ME. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WALK BRISKLY AND PRETEND TO BE ANGRY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE READING. ...

Bringing notebook processors to desktop PCs: ASUS CPU adaptor brings quiet and cool performance of notebook processor to desktop computing.(ASUS ADVERTORIAL)
June 1, 2005... Ever wonder why notebooks are quieter and produce less heat compared with desktops? Bingo!! It's the different CPUs that they run on. To maintain stability in the small space of notebooks without effecting performance, notebook processors are...

Crime fighters turn to Microsoft.(new tracking system)
June 1, 2005... Microsoft, in a joint effort with Canadian law enforcement agencies, has developed a system to help track down people who prey on children online. The Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS) lets investigators spot trends and link pieces...

IBM, Sanyo show fuel cell.(new product from Sanyo Electric Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... IBM's Japanese unit and Sanyo Electric have developed a prototype direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for notebook PCs that will probably be commercialised around 2007 or 2008. Electronics vendors hope fuel cells will allow portable devices to...

Adobe to buy Macromedia.(Adobe Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Adobe's plan to acquire Macromedia for $US3.4 billion has analysts suggesting Microsoft should watch its back. Between them, Adobe and Macromedia have some of the most widely-distributed software in the world. Adobe's PDF and Acrobat Reader...

Dual-core and hyper-threading.(use)
June 1, 2005... A computer system with two CPUs (or more) is nothing new. Servers and high-end workstations use multi-CPU systems all the time as they crunch through massive amounts of data. A CPU with two CPUs is, however, a new phenomenon and Intel has...

Windows Update phishing scam.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Australians have been the target of a phishing scam that perfectly emulates the Windows Update Service as well as circumvents current antivirus, spyware and adware programs. Current heuristics and signatures used by core antivirus vendors are...

RFID will open gates at World Cup.(radio frequency identification)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... If you're planning to attend the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in Germany next year, but oppose the use of RFID (radio frequency identification) smart tag technology, you won't get past the front gate. All 2.9 million tickets currently...

GPS bundle for your Pocket PC.(QUICK TAKES)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... GPS navigation systems have been around for a while and can be indispensable for those of us who frequently travel long and unknown distances by car. Dedicated GPS navigation units can cost well over $1000. If you already own a PDA running...

M:robe tries to do too much.(QUICK TAKES)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Olympus's M:robe 500i is the first new generation player we've seen to add a digital camera to the mix. We give Olympus credit for a great concept, but it's a hat trick the company does not quite pull off. The device plays WMA and MP3 music...

Tiny hard drive and MP3 player.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... lf you need to move data between computers in a convenient way, then check out the 2.2GB Pen Drive, which is distributed by Linophir (www.linophir.com.au), and which we think hits the sweet spot between extreme portable storage and a reasonable...

New MSN Messenger!(QUICK TAKES)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Microsoft has announced its new free Messenger 7.0 software, releasing the final product along with the finished version of an online scrapbook service it has been testing, MSN Spaces. With MSN Messenger 7.0, Microsoft wants to equal and...

Smart phone slims down.(QUICK TAKES)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Nokia's new 9300 Communicator opens up to reveal a full keyboard and 640x200 pixel display. There's 80MB of built-in memory which can be expanded up to 2GB with a MultiMedia Card--we just wished this came as part of the package. The 9300...

New case + cheap LCDS.(liquid crystal displays)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... As you can see from the table (page 14), we have upgraded our case recommendation this month to a newer model Chyang Fun Industry case, the CF-7029. This case is structurally the same as our previous recommendation, the 2029, but it adds extra...

PSP impresses: playstation portable.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... It's black and shiny with clear acrylic buttons; it plays games, music, and movies. It's Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)--confirmed to launch in Australia on September 1. The PSP's 10.9cm, widescreen display is absolutely beautiful, with...

Light-speed liquid crystal: VX924.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Fast pixel response time is vital when watching high-speed images on an LCD. ViewSonic claims to have cut this down to just 4ms, but the new 19in VX924 demonstrates that this isn't the whole story. Like all sub-12ms monitors, the VX924 uses...

Gaming for the masses: GameNow.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... In the past, new PC titles have been priced around $100, but even now games are usually priced in the range of $79 to $89. The possibility a buying a lacklustre game is enough to disgust any garner. Seeking to make a market out of such...

MiniDV, maxi zoom: GR-D250AA.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... At $799, the single-CCD (charge-coupled device) GR-D250AA is an entry-level MiniDV camcorder with some interesting new features. It's extremely compact, but the key selling point has to be the impressive 25x optical zoom lens (going one better...

Epson makes small pics big: Perfection 4990 Photo.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Producing big photo prints from small pictures used to mean a trip to the photo lab, but now Epson claims you can do it at home with its new Perfection 4990 Photo scanner. The 4990 is a 48-bit colour flatbed model capable of scanning both...

Pump up your sound: Audigy2 ZS Notebook.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Most notebooks include a sound chip that can handle basic audio and music playback if pushed but it's distinctly low-fi. But upgrading the sound card of a notebook is as easy as it is for a desktop PC. The main option if you fancy pumping...

Stylish media adapter: SoundBridge M1000.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Like competing products that we've looked at in the past, Roku's SoundBridge M1000 doesn't store music. Instead it streams tracks over your home network from a Mac or Windows PC running iTunes--just select the Share My Music option in the...

Free productivity suite updates: OpenOffice.org 2.0 beta.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... If you're thrifty and you use an office suite, it's hard not to like OpenOffice. org, the open-source set of office productivity tools. Version 1.0 does most things Microsoft Office can do (including smoothly trade files with users of Word,...

New Acrobat lets readers chime in: Acrobat 7 Professional.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... If you need an easier way to share and comment on documents, take a look at Adobe's Acrobat 7 Professional. The $839 program lets you create Portable Document Format (PDF) files that users of Adobe's free Reader 7 can annotate--but only if you...

Touch screen media players: pocket media assistant PMA430, PMP1000.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Portable Media players let you stow favourite TV shows, movies, music and photos in your pocket--a mix of entertainment otherwise confined to your desktop computer. Although Microsoft is pushing players based on the mobile version of its...

Linux with strings attached: Linspire Five-O.(FIRST LOOKS: NEW PRODUCTS, HANDS-ON TESTS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Linspire Five-O is the latest edition of the Linux distribution once known as LindowsOS and it continues to target Windows refugees. I tested a beta version of the OS and soon realised why I'm glad competition exists in the Linux realm: if...

Secret tweaks: more than 15 unexpected ways to unleash the true potential of the technology products you already own.
June 1, 2005... Your neighbours are doing it. Your co-workers are doing it. There's no shame in doing it--even in broad daylight. I'm talking about hacking: your digital camera, your MP3 player, your network, and of course your PC. If it has a plug, a jack, a...

Net drives: got multiple PCs a network? New network-ready hard drives are a smart, affordable way to back up and share data.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Network-attached storage (NAS) sounds very big and technical--the term refers to devices that were conceived as a tool for large organisations--but this is not a geeks-only article. These hard drives with brains are now compact, inexpensive,...

Popular Phonetography: how to take amazingly good pictures, plus other slick tricks for cool phones.
June 1, 2005... "A camera phone took that?!" Small, grainy, really lame: camera phones have a rep for taking poor pics. Try these tips, though, and your friends will rave about your shots. WIDEN YOUR HORIZONS Often, finished photos don't look...

Off-camera fun: ready to go beyond the basics? Discover your phone's hidden talents.(Column)
June 1, 2005... Music to your ears Don't settle for a dull ring--customise! Ring tones are usually MIDI (.mid) or WAV (.wav) files. You can use an audio editor like the free Audacity or Roxio's $135 Sound Editor (part of Roxio Easy Media Creator 7), to...

5 minute fixes: rapid relief for cranky PCs, stuck Windows, stalled networks, recalcitrant printers, and your other everyday computing hassles.
June 1, 2005... If you ask me, the worst thing about PCs is that things go wrong more often than Paris Hilton makes the front page. The best thing? The machines are usually pretty easy to fix. In fact, you can solve the most common hardware and software...

Print-tastic.(BEST BUYS: TOP HARDWARE, REVIEWED AND RATED)
June 1, 2005... Tiny printers dedicated to printing 4x6in photos have been around for a while, but only recently have they started to become a viable option for printing long-lasting, lab-quality photos at home. If you use the services of a photo lab to...

Sub-$1500.(BEST BUYS: PCs)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Altech Gameforce Sniper 1 The Gameforce Sniper from Altech is ideally for first-time PC buyers, students and families. It won't blaze through every latest game and application at breakneck speed, but should suffice for Internet access and...

$1500-$3500.(BEST BUYS: PCs)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... APUS Universe Pro 3500A9 1 The wholly aluminium Thermaltake Tsunami case which houses the components has several security features. A large swingable door on the front can be locked at the side of the case with a key. It also has a...

Over $3500.(BEST BUYS: PCs)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Plus Corporation Altera FX-55 1 A perfect system to meet all types of computing needs, the Altera FX-55 is feature-packed and has some great expansion possibilities for future upgrades. The black Coolermaster Cavalier mid-tower case...

Sub-$2500.(BEST BUYS: NOTEBOOKS)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Pioneer DreamBook Slim 805 1 An original Centrino-branded model, core specifications include Intel's Pentium M processor running at 1.7GHz along with 512MB of DDR SDRAM, a 60GB Hitachi hard disk and a multi-format DVD writer drive. The...

$2500-$4000.(BEST BUYS: NOTEBOOKS)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Dell Inspiron 9300 1 This $3899 model included a 17in display with UXGA (1920x1200 pixel resolution) option and a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 graphics controller supplying both VGA-and DVI-external monitor outputs. Also aided by the...

Photo printers.(BEST BUYS: PHOTO PRINTERS)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... This month we turned our attention to 4x6in photo printers. We looked at dye-sublimation models as well as inkjet models and awarded a Best Buy to the one that we felt provided the best quality output and the most economical output. ...

Restoration piece: Windows me.(use of the operating system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q MY Windows Me computer has stopped creating restore points. When I try to make one, I receive the message: "System Restore is not able to create a restore point. Please restart the computer and then run System Restore again" (see FIGURE 1)....

Transfer request.(WINDOWS XP)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q I am planning to buy a new Windows XP computer. What's the best way that I can I load files, documents and Internet addresses from the old one, running Windows 98, to the new one? --Nabil Hanna A If you have always created your files...

E-mailable images.(TOP TIP)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... If it takes forever to send pictures as attachments, that's probably because your file sizes are too large. Scanned images and the pictures produced by your typical modern multi-megapixel digicam can occupy several megabytes of disk space. So...

Blank look.(WINDOWS XP)(use)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q I am using Windows XP Pro SP1. I did have SP2 but removed it in an attempt to stop windows disappearing behind the Taskbar when they're minimised. Is there a way to fix this? --Pierre Laubscher A This looks like one of the problems...

Dial-up dialogue.(use of email software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q When I start up my PC, the dial-up window appears on my desktop. Why does this happen? I don't always want to go online when I start my computer. --Keith Norton A Without knowing exactly what's installed on your computer, Keith,...

Spellcheck headache.(INTERNET)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q I have never been able to use the Outlook Express spellchecker since upgrading to Windows XP from 98. When I select ToolsSpelling in my copy of Microsoft Word 7.0, I receive the message: "An error occurred while the spelling was being...

Status symbol.(use of email software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q How do I enable the "My Online Status" option in the Outlook Express Tools menu? --John Evans A This facility is enabled if you use MSN Messenger. The MSN Messenger service is available at http://messenger.msn.com. --PC World...

Forgotten password.(use of web browser)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q After reading your recent recommendation of Mozilla Thunderbird, I downloaded it. However, I have a problem with importing my mail as I have forgotten the password for Outlook Express. How can I find out what it is? --Nick Corck A...

MyWebSearch?(use )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q In a recent Helpscreen response, you mentioned that Any-Find.com is related to CoolWebSearch. I have a MyWebSearch toolbar on my PC, which I use to find images for wallpaper and mouse pointers. Is MyWebSearch spyware? It claims that it isn't....

Delete dialler.(use of anti virus software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q I use AVG Free edition 7.0, which has found what it describes as an "embedded object", a Trojan horse Dialer.13.L, in C:\explorer. cab:\explorer.exe. It seems to be unable to do anything about it, and the object is not detected by...

External influence.(use of hard disk drive)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q The hard drive of my Windows 98 SE PC is starting to play up, and I've been advised to back up everything and replace it. As the computer is quite old, I wonder if this might be throwing good money after bad. If I bought an external hard...

Down to earth.(personal computer components management)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Q After seeing last month's Back To Basics video on installing a new sound card and speakers (see April's cover CD), I bought myself a new sound card and speakers. I've never upgraded an internal PC component before, and see that you advocate...

Keep it handy.(use of some menus)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Rather than constantly messing around looking for the program you need to open a file or a folder you store particular items in, associate them with Windows "Send To" menu. June Bowyer wrote in to tell us about Send To Toys which boosts...

Power supplies: an old or underpowered PSU can cause all kinds of trouble, but replacing it is a lot easier than you might think back to basics shows you how.(HERE'S HOW: BACK TO BASICS)(power supply unit)
June 1, 2005... When keeping our PCs up to date with current requirements, we tend to concentrate on components like graphics cards, memory or even motherboard and CPU upgrades. And while it's true that this will usually provide an immediate improvement in...

Fully functional: knowing your program shortcuts will make you more productive. And if you know where to look, you can even create some of your own into the bargain.(HERE'S HOW: OFFICE)
June 1, 2005... Do you ever bother using the row of function keys at the top of your keyboard? I thought as much. You might know for Windows help or to start spellchecking, but there are plenty more useful function key features hidden in Microsoft Office....

Cutting edge effects: who needs industrial light and magic? Laurence Grayson shows you how to create a lightsaber with a broom handle, some tape, a consumer editing package and a healthy serving of patience. Teach you he will, yes?(HERE'S HOW: DIGITAL VIDEO)
June 1, 2005... With the release of Star Wars Episode III, there's going to be an upswing in people wanting to be Jedi Knights or Dark Lords of the Sith. If this includes you (and it's nothing to be ashamed of), here's a quick guide to creating lightsaber...

Getting a bit vocal: using your PC to record acoustic sources can be tricky, but needn't cost you an arm and leg.(HERE'S HOW: AUDIO)(Column)
June 1, 2005... I've used this column in the past to cover off some of the more popular audiophile pastimes--particularly converting vinyl to MP3s. With a little know-how, this soon becomes quite straightforward; as does recording electric guitars, keyboard...

Running Linux on a shoestring: part two of Matthew Newton's recommendations for the Linux neophyte covers the best distro for the more confident operator.(HERE'S HOW: LINUX)(Column)
June 1, 2005... Last month, I waxed lyrical about the benefits of paying for Linux and recommended Xandros Desktop 3.0 Deluxe, but this probably had the die-hard Linux users out there casting their hands up in horror. Of course, you don't have to pay for Linux...

Feed your face: Jason Whittaker picks up from where will head left off last month, and shows you how to apply RSS feeds to your web site.(really simple syndication)(Column)
June 1, 2005... The dark art of XML has really begun to change the way we use the Web. While creating an extensible markup language document is more complex than HTML, its virtue is that files marked up this way are much easier to share. As a consequence,...

In my element: Photoshop Elements is a great image editor and, with the inclusion of album, anyone can cobble together a slideshow.(HERE'S HOW: IMAGING)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... Even before its recent update, there was no disputing that Photoshop Elements was one of the best budget-priced image editors around. Version 3.0 is a great upgrade that has rightly drawn plaudits. Most praise has centred on the program's...

World of Warcraft.(BACKBYTES)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... [PC] In World of Warcraft, Blizzard hasn't reinvented the wheel for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). Agro, tanking, mobs, grouping, phat loot and all the other MMO building blocks are still here. It's just that...

Top 5 PC games to watch for in 2005.(BACKBYTES)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... (1) Battlefield 2--A sequel to the blockbuster Battlefield 1942, this game is set in the present day. It revolves around massive, team-based online firefights and includes drivable vehicles. (2) Age of Empires II--The latest entry in one of...

Wireless access in your pocket.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... This lightweight, compact wireless pocket router from ASUS can slip easily into your pocket to give you network access anywhere you go. The WL-530G has four 10/100 Ethernet ports and is compatible with 802.11b/g standards and top security...

Gran Turismo 4.(BACKBYTES)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... [PS2] Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo titles are widely perceived as being the best driving games for the Sony PlayStation and PS2, and Gran Turismo 4 is no exception. I harboured an unhealthy obsession with its predecessor (Gran Turismo...

Private showing for audience of one.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... Heads up! If you want the ultimate in on-the-go video entertainment, look no further than the Eyetop DVD, for your own one-man show. The spacey-looking glasses, with portable earbuds, include a mini-LCD screen attached to the right lens--so you...

LOTR: Battle for the Middle Earth.(BACKBYTES)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2005... [PC] EA's The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth offers a real-time strategy game that lets players fight it out in the familiar terrain of Middle Earth--from the beginning of the quest to destroy the ring, right through to the...

Improve your image.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... Got a load of old 35mm slides or film that you want to convert to digital format? For high quality you'll need a dedicated film scanner. The Dimage Scan Elite 5400 II from Konica Minolta scans at up to 5400dpi (dots per inch) resolution and can...

Style with change to spare.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... TDK could be giving Bang & Olufsen style pointers with this new slimline sound system that even non-B&D afficionados can afford! The distinctive clear panels on either side are actually flat-panel speakers which, with the integrated subwoofer,...

The right kind of cool.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... The two biggest problems with CPU coolers are 1. finding exactly the right one for your PC, and 2, not destroying the rest of your gear trying to install it. Gigabyte has solved both problems! It is the first to release a CPU cooler for both...

Media muncher.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... Are the copyright cops pounding on your door? Quick, put that suspect CD or DVD into Primera's DS360 Disc Shredder, which obliterates optical media--reducing it to thousands of small, useless and totally non-incriminating pieces so it can never...

Quick draw texting.(BACKBYTES)
June 1, 2005... Thumbs up for the new Siemens x2type (cross-to-type) mobile, which rotates open to a cross formation. Hold it in both hands like a control pad and start texting and e-mailing in a flurry of thumbing. The Bluetooth-enabled $65 phone includes...

When clocks strike....(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... It's not a pretty sight: Dr Backbytes arising in the early morning. Let's just say it's not only the clock that's alarmed! The usual scenario goes like this: 1. Alarm goes off 2. Reach over and smack the snooze button. Remain prone and...

Robotic roundup.(humors)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Despite the best predictions of sci-fi buffs for the past 50 years, there's still no "real" C3PO, HAL or Johnny 5 hanging 'round--but the robotic race IS growing. Computerised critters are now being used for everything from general household...