Computer Act!ve articles from December 2007

Computer Act!ve archives from December 2007

Get the best from broadband.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Get the best from broadband With a broadband internet connection you can download music, TV programmes, films and more to your computer in no time. Here's how to make the most of your high-speed link The...

Tag team.(using Windows Photo Gallery)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Tag team As well as offering a great way to organise pictures, the Windows Photo Gallery in Vista also takes all the hard work out of tagging images. Once you have created a new tag in the task area on the...

A bit of previous.(using Windows Vista's Previous Versions)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey A bit of previous Vista includes a handy file security feature known as Previous Versions, which makes it possible to revert to an earlier version of a document after making unwanted changes. In order for this...

Task-barred.(using Windows Taskbar)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Task-barred The Windows Taskbar makes it easy to switch between active applications but it can get in the way. To make it disappear, right-click on an empty part of the screen and select Properties from the pop-up...

Turn Google Mail into.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Turn Google Mail into free storage Find out how the email storage given away with Google Mail can be used to store personal files When in first launched, Gmail A- or Google Mail as it is known in the UK A-...

Create a Windows password.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Create a Windows password reset disk Forgetting a Windows password could spell disaster. Avoid upset with the Forgotten Password Wizard Windows offers a simple way to keep data private by providing...

Add anti-virus protection to.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Add anti-virus protection to Windows Vista Adding an anti-virus program to Windows Vista isn't as straightforward as it seems. Here's how to do it Although touted from the start as a new, more secure...

Make light work of Windows.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Make light work of Windows Accessibility The Windows Utility Manager is the fast route to accessibility. Here's our quick guide Not everyone can use Windows easily. Those with limited mobility, for...

Get the news you want with.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Get the news you want with Yahoo Pipes Yahoo Pipes can be used to build a custom mash-up of several websites. We show you how to get started Mash-up is the latest buzzword to sweep its way around the...

Sound of the.
December 13, 2007... Sound of the suburbs Digital radio offers more stations and the ability to pause or record your favourite broadcasts. We explain the key aspects to look out for when shopping for one The switch to digital television may be causing...

Checking your signal.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Checking your signal Around 15 per cent of listeners in the UK can't pick up DAB signals, either because the transmission network hasn't been built yet or because the local landscape blocks signals. As a rule of thumb if there is no FM...

Get stuck into.
December 13, 2007... Get stuck into scrapping If you have a home PC and a collection of photos, keep the memories alive by creating a scrapbook. We show you how Do you have a box in a dusty corner of the house containing old photos and other bits of...

Happy scrappers.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Happy scrappers With so many people creating their own digital scrapbooks, a huge online community has evolved with plenty of websites offering free images, templates, inspiration and more. www.digitalscrapbooking.com A commercial...

Design tips.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Design tips Once the basic elements of the page are in place, browse the scraps folder in scrapbooking software or look around your home for interesting bits and pieces, such as dried flowers, cut-up greetings cards or words from old...

Unlock.
December 13, 2007... Unlock wireless jargon There are lots of different types of wireless technology that can make your PC life easier A- we explain the tasks that each is best suited to For those who have it, wireless technology has become an...

Chips with everything.
December 13, 2007... Chips with everything Another technology you may have heard about is Radio frequency identification (RFID). This technology uses tiny computer chips, which are connected to an antenna that picks up wireless signals. When an RFID chip...

Slim down your file sizes .
December 13, 2007... Slim down your file sizes Compression can help you to download, back up and email files. We show you how to do it Using programs to make other files smaller might sound like an outdated idea. With a large proportion of internet...

Why some files cani?1/2t shrink.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Why some files can't shrink There are a number of types of file that will not compress very much, or at all. JPEG images and MP3 music files are just two examples. The reason for this problem is that both of these file types are...

Password protecting ZIP files.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Password protecting ZIP files The majority of compression tools offer password protection to help keep private files away from prying eyes. To protect files using Zip Genius, open up a compressed file and select 'Encrypt /decrypt...

Check your speed and negotiate.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Check your speed and negotiate There are two speeds that count with broadband A- the theoretical top speed of the service, and the top speed that the connection can actually deliver. This means that it's perfectly possible to pay for...

Fair Use?
December 13, 2007... Fair Use? Although many broadband services are sold as 'unlimited', there's often a tell-tale asterisk nearby that points the careful reader to some small print at the bottom of the page. This small print usually refers to something...

Sharing access.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Sharing access Broadband is great for accessing the internet at home, but what about when you're elsewhere? One solution is to share your own broadband connection, and in turn to get free access to other people's broadband connections...

Age of stream.
December 13, 2007... Age of stream Video files on the internet come in two types: those that you can stream, and those that you must download. Streaming video files are generally smaller and of a lower quality, but they can be watched quickly as you can...

Mindjet Mind Manager Pro 7.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Mindjet Mind Manager Pro 7 Improve planning and revision with a more visual approach Many people find mind mapping helpful for study and planning, and Mind Manager does for mind mapping what Word did for written...

Canon Pixma MP210.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Canon Pixma MP210 Copy, print and scan documents without breaking the bank A combined printer and scanner at [pounds sterling]46 is not quite an impulse purchase, but the price is well below the average for...

Sony SRS-T10PC.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Sony SRS-T10PC Small speaker sets almost always suffer from poor-quality sound - that's down to physics, because the speaker cones are not big or deep enough to move the large amount of air required for loud...

Sony NWZ-A815.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Sony NWZ-A815 Sony wises up to making usable music players Sony's portable music players have not been particularly popular - certainly not when compared with the company's ubiquitous cassette Walkman. That's...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 This camera picks the best setting for each shot Most digital compact cameras have scene modes that allow the user to select a preset mode for taking photographs in snow or at night A-...

Vivitar Vivicam 6200W.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
December 13, 2007... Byline: David Phelan Vivitar Vivicam 6200W A waterproof digital camera Some cameras promise to be water-resistant, but if you're taking pictures near or even under water most water-resistant cameras won't do. They might cope with...

D-Link DNS-313.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran D-Link DNS-313 An easy-to-use network storage disk Network storage makes more sense for home users now that so many of us have two or more computers in the home, not to mention growing collections of...

Tesco Stickphone.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Tesco Stickphone Make cheap calls from any computer There are plenty of ways to save money on phone calls these days, to local numbers, mobile phones and internationally. One way is the now popular Skype...

i?1/220 off the latest verison of ashampoo powerup.(Ashampoo Powerup XP)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles AA upgrade offer [pounds sterling]20 off the latest version of ashampoo powerup The latest version of Ashampoo Powerup contains a number of improvements, in addition to working with Windows Vista. There is a...

Configure and personalise your copy of Ashampoo Powerup XP.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Configure and personalise your copy of POWERUP XP 1Powerup XP can configure almost every part of Windows. To change how the Desktop looks, click the Windows tab, then Display, and choose the icons you want to appear...

Ashampoo Powerup XP Platinum 2.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Ashampoo Powerup XP Platinum 2 Speed up your PC by optimising your Registry information Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/powerup/index System requirements: Windows XP only Contact:...

To the point.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... To the point If you have difficulty using the mouse or a notebook touchpad this tip may be useful. Instead of having to move the mouse pointer from one part of the screen to the other when selecting buttons in dialogue boxes, make it go to...

Hellgate London.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Hellgate London Dark times for the capital in this demonic role-playing game For those who are not usually into role-playing games (RPGs), Hellgate London offers something slightly different A- or at least,...

Gateway MT6724b.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Gateway MT6724b A capable family notebook from Tesco, and at a good price This 15in notebook computer is designed to be something that can be used by everyone at home, from parents emailing and working,...

Slingbox Pro.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou Slingbox Pro The Slingbox Pro could become many a telly addict's best friend Being stuck on a train or in a foreign hotel room can be a boring experience, unless you happen to have a Slingbox to hand. ...

MSI PR210.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou MSI PR210 A lightweight portable PC aimed at students and those who work from home The first sign that the MSI PR210 is serious about work is that it comes with a fingerprint reader, so that instead of...

iSkin Cerulean X1.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran iSkin Cerulean X1 Manufacturers of iPod accessories don't often get the best sound quality from their products, so it was a surprise to see iSkin trumpeting just that with regard to its Cerulean X1 in-ear...

Griffin iKaraoke and Tuneprompter.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Griffin iKaraoke and Tuneprompter The iKaraoke is a microphone that connects to an iPod, allowing listeners to become singers. It can lower the volume of vocals for a truer karaoke experience. It includes a...

Creative Gigaworks T40.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Creative Gigaworks T40 The Gigaworks T40 is a standard set of computer speakers without a subwoofer. The excellent quality of sound from the T40 distances it some way from its competitors. The unit is easy to...

Netchart.(websites and its services)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Three sites that are ideal for anyone considering a change from Windows to the world of the Mac www.freemacware.com There is plenty of free software available for Apple Macs and Freemacware is a good place to go...

Learn To Use Microsoft Outlook 2007.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Learn To Use Microsoft Outlook 2007 We reviewed the Excel-focused sister title to Learn To Use Microsoft Outlook 2007 recently and there's little that's new to report here. We've reviewed several of GSP's Learn To...

Scooby-Doo Frights! Camera! Mystery!(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Scooby-Doo Frights! Camera! Mystery! If you've been wondering where Scooby-Doo is then stop: he's right here in his own mystery adventure game. Along for the ride in the Mystery Machine are the rest of the gang A-...

Titan Quest.(product evaluation)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Titan Quest If imitation is the highest form of flattery, the creators of Diablo should be happy with Titan Quest. This hack-and-slash role-playing game borrows a lot from the classic game. The story is based on...

Autoplay woni?1/2t play Q For some reason I have lost Autoplay on my computeri?1/2s DVD drive. I have tried setting it up by going into the properties of the drive but I still cannot get it to recognise when I insert a disc and automatically play it. Is there a w.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith, Anthony Dhanendran Autoplay won't play Q For some reason I have lost Autoplay on my computer's DVD drive. I have tried setting it up by going into the properties of the drive but I still cannot get it to recognise...

Win Yoggie security products worth i?1/22,000.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Win Yoggie security products worth [pounds sterling]2,000! Sixteen compact and easy-to-use network security devices to be won We all accept the need for security software but even then we can leave weak...

Reader to the rescue.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran The problem I tried to remove programs I no longer need using the Add or Remove control panel but I am stopped by a message saying "Another installation is already in progress. Complete this installation...

Ofcom plans HD Olympics.
December 13, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou Ofcom plans HD Olympics Ofcom has outlined proposals that will give every household in the UK access to free high-definition television content (HDTV) by 2012. The telecommunications regulator has agreed to...

Discs scarce for new Blu-ray writer.
December 13, 2007... Byline: stafff Discs scarce for new Blu-ray writer LG Electronics has launched an upgrade to its dual- format HD DVD and Blu-ray optical drive. The Korean firm is one of only a handful of manufacturers currently selling a...

Ofcom saves FM radio.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Ofcom saves FM radio Ofcom has put its plans to end FM and AM radio transmissions on the back burner. The regulator planned to switch off analogue radio by 2012, to free radio frequencies that "could be used for...

TV project hops ahead BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV are to launch a video-on-demand service. The Kangaroo project is expected to be available to viewers next year and allow them to either stream or download shows to their PCs. The service will eventual.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff TV project hops ahead BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV are to launch a video-on-demand service. The Kangaroo project is expected to be available to viewers next year and allow them to either stream or download shows...

Googlei?1/2s Mac gadgets Google has released a Mac OSX version of its Gadgets utility. The software allows users to install and manipulate small utility programs, such as clocks and weather reports. Google Gadgets had been available to Mac users through the s.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Google's Mac gadgets Google has released a Mac OSX version of its Gadgets utility. The software allows users to install and manipulate small utility programs, such as clocks and weather reports. Google Gadgets had...

British gadget goldmine.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou British gadget goldmine Britons could be raking in the money and helping the environment if they sold on their unwanted gadgets, according to personal finance website Fool. But a survey conducted by the...

Users prefer free content.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Users prefer free content PEOPLE are accessing increasing amounts of digital content on a range of devices but research shows that they are still reluctant to pay for it. The third annual Convergence Consumer Survey...

Unii?1/2s unique fundraiser Exeter University has tried out a novel way of raising funds by selling old university signs on Ebay. The Exeter University Campus Signs auction was designed to raise money for the universityi?1/2s foundation, which supports scholarsh.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Uni's unique fundraiser Exeter University has tried out a novel way of raising funds by selling old university signs on Ebay. The Exeter University Campus Signs auction was designed to raise money for the...

Mario maker not super, says report.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Mario maker not super, says report Video game giant Nintendo has scored the first ever zero rating for environmental friendliness in the Guide to Green Electronics, published by Greenpeace. Greenpeace included TV and...

Computer kit for photos HP has launched a kit to create photo albums. The hardback album contains 12 sheets of Advanced Photo paper and a software CD. It is possible to personalise album pages on a PC by adding text and themes.HP Photo Books cost i?1/215 for.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Computer kit for photos HP has launched a kit to create photo albums. The hardback album contains 12 sheets of Advanced Photo paper and a software CD. It is possible to personalise album pages on a PC by adding text and...

Telephone fraudsters pose as public advice service.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Telephone fraudsters pose as public advice service Consumers are being conned over the phone by fraudsters claiming to be calling from Consumer Direct. The callers pretend they are carrying out a survey on...

Wabbadabba do Search engine Wabbadabba is giving users the opportunity to win a Nintendo Wii games console from now until Christmas. The website, which was officially launched in September, uses the same search technology as Yahoo but as an added incentiv.(Website overview)
December 13, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou Wabbadabba do Search engine Wabbadabba is giving users the opportunity to win a Nintendo Wii games console from now until Christmas. The website, which was officially launched in September, uses the same search...

Child database put on hold.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Child database put on hold A proposed database containing personal details of every child in the UK, has been put on hold while a security review is carried out. Children's minister Kevin Brennan said the...

Never get caught short Westminster City Council has launched a mobile text service to inform users of the nearest public toilet. Users text i?1/2toileti?1/2 to 80097 and the service determines their location and automatically finds the nearest public toilet. The.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Never get caught short Westminster City Council has launched a mobile text service to inform users of the nearest public toilet. Users text 'toilet' to 80097 and the service determines their location and automatically...

MPs invite disc writer ban.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek MPs invite disc writer ban Employees of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) should not have access to CD writers at work, according to MPs. The call to prevent staff from burning data to disc was made by...

Check the new cheque clearance rules.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Check the new cheque clearance rules Changes to the cheque clearing process in the UK could help to end pervasive fraud and bring clarity for consumers. The changes came into force on 1 December and mean...

Taxing times for customs The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that a desktop computer and 26 notebook PCs worth i?1/250,000 have gone missing this year. Last year departments lost a total of 1,987 computers, many from the Home Office and Ministry of Def.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Taxing times for customs The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that a desktop computer and 26 notebook PCs worth [pounds sterling]50,000 have gone missing this year. Last year departments lost a total of 1,987...

Windows Watch E-books look set to remain a novel idea in the absence of an e-book reader good enough to push the medium into the mainstream. Amazoni?1/2s Kindle electronic book reader (not yet launched in the UK) has produced a huge volume of press, much of.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Windows Watch E-books look set to remain a novel idea in the absence of an e-book reader good enough to push the medium into the mainstream. Amazon's Kindle electronic book reader (not yet launched in the UK) has...

Threat looms over war of the computer worlds.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou and dinah greek Threat looms over war of the computer worlds Cyber warfare will increasingly be waged over the world's computers and will be one of the biggest threats to security in the next decade, according to...

Spam woni?1/2t go away UK PCs are now more likely to be deluged with spam than ever before and are likely to be targeted at individuals in the future, according to a new report from web and email security vendor Ironport. The firmi?1/2s 2008 Internet Security Tr.
December 13, 2007... Byline: staff Spam won't go away UK PCs are now more likely to be deluged with spam than ever before and are likely to be targeted at individuals in the future, according to a new report from web and email security vendor Ironport. ...

i?1/2No demandi?1/2 for fast broadband.
December 13, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek and Andrea Vassou 'No demand' for fast broadband Industry says lack of high-quality video online means no need for new network Britain's broadband industry has said there is no need to push for next generation...

Call security.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Call security The Windows Security Center is worth a regular visit to ensure that your PC has all the necessary protections in place. In Windows XP, open the Start menu, then click Control Panel followed by the...

Control freak.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Control freak Windows Vista's User Account Control (UAC) feature forces users to confirm actions that could potentially harm the PC or otherwise make important changes. This is sensible but can be infuriating,...

Blocked route.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Blocked route If you run a wireless network, either at home or in the office, it is vital to ensure that the right security is in place. To do this, log into your router (check the manufacturer's website for...

Family affair.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Family affair In a situation where many family members share access to the same computer it makes sense to set up user accounts for each person. In Windows XP do this by following the User Accounts link in Control...

Protect your PC from.
December 27, 2007... Byline: Nick Peers Protect your PC from viruses Just bought a new computer? Then be sure to install anti-virus software. Here's how to do it If you believe all the internet horror stories then you'd be forgiven for avoiding...

Workshop intro.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Protect your data Private data could be exposed if your PC gets stolen. Discover how to keep it safe p36A Protect children from inappropriate websites Make sure young family members aren't exposed to...

Protect children from unsuitable.
December 27, 2007... Byline: Nick Peers Protect children from unsuitable websites Make sure young family members aren't exposed to inappropriate websites with K9 Web Protection Fending off viruses and hackers is only half the battle when it comes...

Protect your PC from.
December 27, 2007... Byline: Nick Peers Protect your PC from data thieves Private data could be exposed if your PC gets stolen. Discover how to keep it safe Have you ever stopped to consider what might happen if your PC or notebook was stolen?...

Put your PC behind a.
December 27, 2007... Byline: Nick Peers Put your PC behind a firewall Firewalls are an essential part of a PC's armoury. Discover how to boost your defences with Zonealarm A firewall is a vital application to protect any PC that goes online....

Get a second life.
December 27, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Get a second life Virtual worlds are big news and big business A- we explain what all the fuss is about Thanks to broadband internet access and powerful computers, online gaming has finally come of age....

Online world, but real money.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Online world, but real money As mentioned elsewhere in the article, it is possible to make real money through online worlds such as Second Life. If you can create virtual items that other users want to buy it may be possible to create...

Online worlds.(Brief article)
December 27, 2007... Online worlds Early online worlds got around the limitations of slow internet connections by making use of text rather than graphics. They may look basic, but the quality of storytelling more often than not makes up for this. ...

Protect your identity.
December 27, 2007... Protect your identity Incompetence at Revenue and Customs has put 25million people at risk of ID theft A- we explain how this emerging crime could affect you and show you how to use a world exclusive download for Computeractive readers to...

More info.
December 27, 2007... More info Advice from the Home Office www.identity-theft.org.uk Online safety tips www.getsafeonline.org Advice from the UK payments association http://tinyurl.com/2qwf2o Notes on scams ...