Computer Act!ve articles from December 2008

Computer Act!ve archives from December 2008

Speed up and save time.(briefs)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Niall Magennis Speed up and save time Don't waste time waiting for your PC to deal with basic tasks A- whiz through the day with our top 10 timesavers Computers were invented to get things done more quickly, but sometimes...

How to install or uninstall these handy programs.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Niall Magennis How to install or uninstall these handy programs To install any of the applications listed here, simply download them from the Computeractive website using the link provided A- type the address into the address...

WIN one of 10 Magix audio and video conversion bundles worth i?1/21,000.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith WIN one of 10 Magix audio and video conversion bundles worth [pounds sterling]1,000 Preserve old home videos, tapes and vinyl records with Magix Rescue Your Vinyl and Tapes, and Rescue Your Video Tapes ...

Best of the web.(Website overview)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Fix a meeting point, plan your TV viewing, get free software and wander the streets of ancient Rome Meet Inbetween.us http://meetinbetween.us One of the better Google Map ideas we have seen for a while. Meet...

Video reviews.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith High-voltage cookery to rival even Gordon Ramsay, learning to speed read and much more besides Microsoft Arc Mouse Most travel mice are too small to be comfortable for long periods of use. Anthony Dhanendran...

Downloads.(briefs)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Get update reminders and a free word processor, learn how to program and organise your music Secunia PSI Out-of-date software can be a dangerous security risk. Secunia PSI scans the software on your computer and...

Add Vistai?1/2s Favourite Links bar to Windows XP.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Add Vista's Favourite Links bar to Windows XP Moving between favourite folders can be quick and easy in Windows XP with a free tool If Windows Vista has one standout feature when it comes to navigating...

Find out if your Vista PC is a polluter.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Rob Beattie Find out if your Vista PC is a polluter We explain how to calculate the annual carbon footprint of a Vista PC Tweakvista is a collection of utilities for Windows Vista that fiddles around behind the scenes...

Workshop intro.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Use free software to synchronise phone contacts Zyb is a great way to back up and synchronise mobile phones and it's free p40 Access your files from any computer on the web We show how to synchronise files...

Manage your photos more effectively.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Paul Townsend Manage your photos more effectively Windows Live Photo Gallery can help you edit and share photos More and more of us have a growing collection of digital photos, as well as the desire to show off our...

Access files from any computer on the web.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Access files from any computer on the web Synchronise files between multiple PCs and access them from anywhere Many people use more than one computer to do their work; for example, at home and in the...

Use free software to synchronise contacts.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Rob Beattie Use free software to synchronise contacts Zyb is a great free way to back up and synchronise mobile phones Some mobile phones come with software that creates backups of the address book and calendar...

Quick out of the blocks.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Quick out of the blocks Does your PC take ages to start up, or not start up at all? The System Configuration Utility could get it working again As is often the case with Masterclass, we hope you never have to...

Alternatives to MSConfig.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Alternatives to MSConfig Though not quite a last resort, we don't advise turning to MSConfig the moment a PC problem arises. If you installed a new software application just before the issue appeared, for...

how to disable a service with MSConfig.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey how to disable a service with MSConfig 1Launch the System Configuration Utility by typing 'msconfig' into the Run box from the Start menu. Click the Services tab. 2Scroll down the list of services and remove...

T-Mobile G1.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran T-Mobile G1 An impressive phone with some surprisingly clever features The T-Mobile G1 is being talked about as Google's first phone, which is not quite true. It's actually made by a Taiwanese company...

Casio EX-F1.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tom Royal Casio EX-F1 High definition and slow motion in one unusual camera Whichever way you look at it, Casio's EX-F1 is an odd camera. For starters, there's the price: it costs a whopping [pounds sterling]700. And...

Norton Internet Security 2009.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph Norton Internet Security 2009 The veteran security program goes turbo Norton Internet Security (NIS) is one of the best-known names in anti-virus and security software. However, we've often heard...

Nero 9.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Paul Monckton Nero 9 An updated release of the multimedia behemoth Long gone are the days when the name Nero was synonymous only with making CDs: with over 20 applications there's a very real chance you'll never explore...

Ricoh R10.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Ricoh R10 Ricoh's 10-megapixel R10 camera follows on from earlier models in the R series, notably the recent R8 which sought to move towards a more flowing, curvy design compared to the boxier design of older...

Lacie USB speakers.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea-Marie Vassou Lacie USB speakers We're not sure about the design of these speakers: instead of looking sleek and stylish, they actually look like a pair of ship's funnels. The white housing surrounds a black speaker unit,...

Dell Inspiron Mini 9.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Dell Inspiron Mini 9 The biggest name in notebooks goes small There has been an absence of the biggest names in the mini-notebook market. Now, late to the party, Toshiba and Dell have both announced...

Zoom lens cameras.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Zoom lens cameras Our pick of the best compact cameras with long zoom lenses, for those who want to bring the action closer but still want a camera that's easily portable and affordable 1 Casio Exilim...

Make room for more files.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Make room for more files Are you running out of space on your computer to store your documents, music and photos? You can add loads more space with a second hard disk No matter how large the hard disk in a new...

Laptop limitations.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Laptop limitations Fitting a hard disk to a laptop or mini desktop PC poses a few extra challenges. For a laptop you will usually need to buy a smaller 2.5in hard disk. Both Sata and Pata models are available, so...

a new type of hard disk.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith a new type of hard disk While shopping for a new hard disk you may notice a new technology A- solid-state disks, or SSDs for short. This is a new kind of disk that uses memory chips, such as those found in a USB...

Medion Akoya Q6600.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Medion Akoya Q6600 Blu-ray on the (relatively) cheap Blu-ray, the 'next-generation' disc format, hasn't really taken off yet. It offers huge capacities (25-50GB) on a disc, which is great for backup, and...

Far Cry 2.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Far Cry 2 More open-ended action in a sequel that's far from the original Info: www.snipurl.com/618n2 PEGI age rating: 18+ Also consider: Crysis Warhead; Call of Duty: World at War Overall:...

Crysis Warhead.
December 11, 2008... Crysis Warhead Get a fresh perspective on the events of last year's sci-fi-shooter PEGI age rating: 16+ Info: http://crysiswarhead.ea.com Also consider: Far Cry 2; Gears of War Overall: HHHHH Retail Price: [pounds...

Asus EEE Box B202.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Asus EEE Box B202 A tiny desktop PC The Asus Eee PC marked a new phase in laptop design: it proved that many people will sacrifice power to have a cheap computer that's easy to carry. With the Eee Box,...

get started with ashampoo photo commander 6.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran get started with ashampoo photo commander 6 1Download and install the program as explained above under 'How to download'. Follow the prompts to go through the process. When you get to the screen above, leave...

Save 75 per cent on Ashampoo Photo Commander 7 Ashampoo Photo Commander 7 is the latest version of the Photo Commander software. Iti?1/2s so new that even we haveni?1/2t seen what it includes, but details about the new features will be available from the Ashampoo.
December 11, 2008... Save 75 per cent on Ashampoo Photo Commander 7 Ashampoo Photo Commander 7 is the latest version of the Photo Commander software. It's so new that even we haven't seen what it includes, but details about the new features will be available...

Ashampoo Photo Commander 6.
December 11, 2008... Ashampoo Photo Commander 6 Manage your photo collection System requirements: Windows XP or Vista Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/ashampoo/index Registration: Required A- see instructions below File size: 23MB...

Who needs a mouse?
December 11, 2008... Byline: Rob beattie Who needs a mouse? It can be easier to control your PC without a mouse A- find out how the keyboard can transform the way you move around Windows Although it may be hard to believe now, there was a time...

Using the Windows key.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Rob Beattie Using the Windows key By holding down the Windows key and pressing other keys, it's easy to get at all sorts of useful Windows features. Try these: l Instead of minimising every open program to get at the...

Brother DCP-6690CW.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Brother DCP-6690CW The Brother DCP-6690CW is a multifunction device (MFD) that includes a scanner, copier and printer, but its important feature is that it can do all that with A3 paper. The scanner and...

Burn after reading.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Will Stapley Burn after reading Optical discs are a great way to store backup files and videos A- and the latest Blu-ray discs can hold more than ever. We explain how Blank CD and DVD discs have been around for some...

Upgrading to Blu-Ray.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Will Stapley Upgrading to Blu-Ray If the thought of being able to create your own high-definition discs has captured your imagination, you'll probably need to start thinking about what steps to take to upgrade your PC so that...

create your own hd discs.(high definition)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Will Stapley create your own hd discs High definition, or HD, is a term that's bandied around by marketing people for everything from televisions and projectors to printers and even spectacles. In terms of video, high...

How to create a DVD with Windows Movie Maker.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Will Stapley How to create a DVD with Windows Movie Maker 1Windows Movie Maker is included in the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Vista. Start it by typing 'movie maker' into the Start menu search bar and pressing Enter....

New gear for the new year.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Niall magennis New gear for the new year As the curtain comes down on 2008, we take a look at the new technologies heading our way in the coming year Home computing technology is advancing faster than ever before and...

New processors.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Niall Magennis New processors The big processor makers will also be busy in 2009 as both Intel and AMD have major launches planned. Intel will be concentrating on its new processor platform, which is called Intel Core i7....

Sitecom WL-308.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Sitecom WL-308 When you can pick up a router for less than [pounds sterling]60, why would you pay double that for the Sitecom WL-308? It's billed as a gaming router, which explains the overblown and enormous...

BBC channels go live online BBC One and BBC Two are now live online and can be watched via the BBCi?1/2s website, as well as via the broadcasteri?1/2s iPlayer service. Other BBC TV channels, including BBC Three, Four, News, CBBC and CBeebies, are already availabl.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tom Royal BBC channels go live online BBC One and BBC Two are now live online and can be watched via the BBC's website, as well as via the broadcaster's iPlayer service. Other BBC TV channels, including BBC Three, Four, News,...

ngoogle closes virtual world Google is to shut down its Lively virtual environment in December, according to the team behind the virtual world. The competitor to Second Life was a Google Labs project that allowed users to interact online with friends or c.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: staff ngoogle closes virtual world Google is to shut down its Lively virtual environment in December, according to the team behind the virtual world. The competitor to Second Life was a Google Labs project that allowed users to...

Readers to the rescue.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Readers to the rescue Q|I use a Microsoft Works database for my Christmas mailing lists but now that I have Microsoft Word I want to use this database for the mail merge. Sandra Painter A|To use a Works...

Delivery and insurance for online transactions.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Delivery and insurance for online transactions In the current economic climate Brits are learning fast that one person's junk is another person's treasure. According to Ebay, the average UK household is sitting...

Better wallpaper If you have dual monitors on your computer you might want to have different wallpaper on each. This isni?1/2t possible with Windows, but there is a clever utility called Displayfusion that can help. It appears as an icon of a monitor in the.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Better wallpaper If you have dual monitors on your computer you might want to have different wallpaper on each. This isn't possible with Windows, but there is a clever utility called Displayfusion that can help. ...

Speedy boot For those of you who have dual or quad-core processors, there is a way you can speed up the boot-up process. By default Windows Vista is configured to use just one processor during boot up, even if you have more than one. This can be changed.(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Speedy boot For those of you who have dual or quad-core processors, there is a way you can speed up the boot-up process. By default Windows Vista is configured to use just one processor during boot up, even if...

Compound interest.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Compound interest There is no function in either Openoffice.org or Microsoft Excel for calculating compound interest on an investment (or loan). There is a simple formula to work this out that needs three...

Too much Java When you install an update to the Java software on your computer, the old versions are left and not removed. As each one can be over 100MB, this can start to take up a lot of space and potentially leave security vulnerabilities from the old.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Too much Java When you install an update to the Java software on your computer, the old versions are left and not removed. As each one can be over 100MB, this can start to take up a lot of space and potentially leave...

The portable touchscreen PC returns.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Clive Akass The portable touchscreen PC returns HP has launched a laptop with touchscreen control . This type of PC has been around for more than a decade, with HP introducing its first in the early 1990s. However, their...

Life library now online Google is putting a library of 10 million images from Life magazine online. The Life library includes some of the iconic images of the 20th Century. Around 97 per cent of the images have never been seen before with about two milli.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Clive Akass Life library now online Google is putting a library of 10 million images from Life magazine online. The Life library includes some of the iconic images of the 20th Century. Around 97 per cent of the images...

nvirgin launches 30p mobile tariff Virgin Mobile has launched a mobile internet tariff for 30p per day. The new rates take effect from 8 December and apply to both contract and pre-pay customers. However, while the 30p per day rate is billed as offering u.
December 11, 2008... nvirgin launches 30p mobile tariff Virgin Mobile has launched a mobile internet tariff for 30p per day. The new rates take effect from 8 December and apply to both contract and pre-pay customers. However, while the 30p per day rate is...

Teens wanted for ID pilot.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Teens wanted for ID pilot The Government wants young people to test the national ID card scheme. However, privacy pressure group No2ID has warned that young people signing up to the scheme will risk a...

Firm offers laptops for life.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Tom Royal Firm offers laptops for life Fujitsu-Siemens has announced a scheme that enables some customers to claim a replacement laptop every three years for the rest of their lives. Under the Lifebook 4 Life scheme,...

nFinal curtain for onecare Microsoft is to cancel its all-in-one security product, Live Onecare, from 30 June, 2009. It will replace it with a free tool currently known as Morro, which Microsoft claims will be more effective in protecting consumers agains.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou nFinal curtain for onecare Microsoft is to cancel its all-in-one security product, Live Onecare, from 30 June, 2009. It will replace it with a free tool currently known as Morro, which Microsoft claims will be...

ASA seeks power on the web.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea vassou ASA seeks power on the web The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) wants its powers widened to cover misleading adverts on company websites. At the moment, a company can make wild advertising claims on...

Lessons in science online.(Training and Development Agency)(YouTube Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Lessons in science online The Training and Development Agency (TDA) is asking teachers to host science classes on Youtube in an effort to make the subject more exciting. The move follows research by the TDA,...

Shop early Consumer Direct is urging people to do their online shopping early to make sure presents are delivered in time for Christmas. During last yeari?1/2s Christmas period, the Government advice service received more than 4,000 complaints about online.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Shop early Consumer Direct is urging people to do their online shopping early to make sure presents are delivered in time for Christmas. During last year's Christmas period, the Government advice service...

OFT updates consumer law guide.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek OFT updates consumer law guide The Office of Fair Trading has updated a guide so that businesses can understand and comply with new and existing consumer laws. Earlier this year the government agency found that...

Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet Video and music player, now with added internet Archos is well known for making portable video players, such as the 605 model which we looked at last year. The new...

HP HDX16.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Simon Williams HP HDX16 A stylish, powerful entertainment PC Laptops now come in all shapes and sizes A- at one end of the spectrum are humble mini-notebooks, while at the other end are all-singing desktop...

Fluenz.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Paul Lester Fluenz A new approach to language learning If you're serious about learning a new language, you'll find that phrasebooks and limited learning tools will only get you so far. A complete language course is a far...

Zepto Nox A15.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Zepto Nox A15 Style and substance, but at a cost Zepto's Nox A15 is quite a stylish number, with more than a little of the Apple Mac about its design. The case is sleek, compact and curvy at the edges,...

Check your cheques online.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Check your cheques online Free tool could help combat fraud The Cheque & Credit Clearing Company has introduced an online tool to help customers understand clearing times. The industry body that manages the...

Peers left searching for the right Word.(United Kingdom. Parliament. House of Lords)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Peers left searching for the right Word Members of the House of Lords are having trouble opening Word 2007 documents because they are incompatible with their current software. The House of Lords Information...

MPs mull ban on ID sales.(members of parliament)(Brief article)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek MPs mull ban on ID sales Ministers are considering stopping local authorities from selling information on electoral rolls to marketing firms. If a ban is implemented it would cut the amount of junk mail and...

nie8 to launch in first half of 2009 Microsoft has announced that Internet Explorer 8 will be released in the first half of 2009. Developers said in a blog posting that the browser is expected to enter its final testing stages in the early months of next.
December 11, 2008... Byline: staff nie8 to launch in first half of 2009 Microsoft has announced that Internet Explorer 8 will be released in the first half of 2009. Developers said in a blog posting that the browser is expected to enter its final testing...

Currys feels heat of crunch DSG International, owners of PC World and Currys, is the latest company hit by the economic crisis. The group has reported a half-year loss of nearly i?1/230m compared with a i?1/252.4m profit in the same period last year. It also rep.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Currys feels heat of crunch DSG International, owners of PC World and Currys, is the latest company hit by the economic crisis. The group has reported a half-year loss of nearly [pounds sterling]30m compared...

Stolen credit card details worth i?1/25.3bn to fraudsters.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Stolen credit card details worth [pounds sterling]5.3bn to fraudsters The online black market in bank account and card details is worth billions to cybercriminals, according to security firm Symantec. The...

iStudio 3.(Product/service evaluation)
December 11, 2008... Byline: Paul Lester iStudio 3 All the tools you need to convert music and video for the iPod Getting video onto Apple devices can be a pain because the iPod, iPhone and AppleTV require files to be in a specific format before they...

EU cuts mobile internet costs.
December 11, 2008... Byline: David Neal EU cuts mobile internet costs The European Union (EU) will make it cheaper for people to access the internet on their mobile phones when abroad. Luc Chatel, French minister for industry and consumer affairs,...

nvat cut passed on to our readers Following the announcement of a cut in the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT), Computeractivei?1/2s online store is set to pass the savings on to readers. Your savings have already been calculated and are reflected in the prices.
December 11, 2008... Byline: Paul Allen nvat cut passed on to our readers Following the announcement of a cut in the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT), Computeractive's online store is set to pass the savings on to readers. Your savings have already been...

Best of the web.(Website overview)(Brief article)
December 24, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Find music you're going to like, sound effects you can share and a temporary email you can use Keyboardr www.keyboardr.com Most of us start browsing the web with a search of some description. Keyboardr...

Open Office discs Q/I have a slow dial-up internet connection but would like to use Open Office software for Windows. As downloading the software is out of the question and I doni?1/2t know anyone with a broadband connection, is there a way to order the softw.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith, Anthony Dhanendran Open Office discs Q|I have a slow dial-up internet connection but would like to use Open Office software for Windows. As downloading the software is out of the question and I don't know anyone with...

Web downloads.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
December 24, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Fit Desktop wallpaper just the way you want, and chat online whatever the instant messaging service DisplayFusion The Display Fusion utility offers you greater control over the wallpaper on your Windows Desktop,...

WIN an iPod Touch and copies of Roxio Creator worth i?1/2700.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith WIN an iPod Touch and copies of Roxio Creator worth [pounds sterling]700 Organise and edit your multimedia files, then enjoy them on the move Computeractive has teamed up with Roxio to give one lucky winner a...

Make the most of your email account.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Make the most of your email account Check that emails are delivered, and much more There are two broad categories of email. With webmail, such as Hotmail and Google Mail, once you've signed up all you need...

Protect your privacy by removing spyware.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Protect your privacy by removing spyware Prevention is always better than cure, but if your PC has a spyware infection, here's what to do With spyware-protection software installed on your PC, potential...

Free online protection for your PC.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Free online protection for your PC Keep hackers, viruses, spyware and other undesirable elements out of your computer Without getting into the differences between viruses, malware, spyware and all the...

Manage programs in Windows XP.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Manage programs in Windows XP If you can never find the program icon you want, it's time to declutter your Desktop Windows XP offers its users the freedom to configure the way it works to suit their...

Fix computer problems with Safe Mode.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Fix computer problems with Safe Mode Bypass Windows startup to access a special problem-solving mode There are times when computer problems can lead to Windows constantly crashing, or even not launching at...

Bring on the clones.
December 24, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Bring on the clones Whether you want to simply create a backup or transfer files to a new hard disk, cloning is one of the best ways to safeguard data Here at Computeractive, we write regularly about the...