Computer Act!ve articles from January 2008

Computer Act!ve archives from January 2008

Wills on the web.
January 10, 2008... Wills on the web Creating a will online rather than using the normal route via a solicitor may seem cheap, but is it a false economy? We investigate Writing a will may be a morbid topic but it's an essential part of anyone's life to...

Leaving a legacy.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Leaving a legacy When someone creates a legacy, they are giving a gift to a person, institution or charity through their will. There are a variety of legacies that can be included in a will. These include a residuary bequest A- a gift of...

Entertain yourself.(Product/service evaluation)
January 10, 2008... Entertain yourself Watch television and movies whatever way you want, and then impress friends with photo slideshows Windows Media Center computers prove that PCs can replace a digital set-top box, video recorder, DVD...

Streaming music and video files.
January 10, 2008... Streaming music and video files Copying a large music collection to a Media Center is not an attractive task, but thankfully there is no need for this as Media Center can play music on another computer if both are on a home network. ...

Picture post.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Picture post Having difficulty sending pictures by email because the file sizes for images are too big? Simply highlight the file (or select multiple images), then right-click and choose Send To followed by Mail...

On the Run.(usage of Windows Vista)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey On the Run With Windows Vista, it is not necessary to launch the Run dialogue box to execute certain programs and commands. Instead, click on the Start button and just start typing. The search box at the bottom of...

A cute tip.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey A cute tip Fed up with having to always go to Character Map to put an acute accent above letters such as 'e', 'i' and 'a'? Well, there's an easier way around this. Just hold down the Alt Gr key (the second 'alt'...

Get the message.(methods to use Windows Messenger)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Get the message There are many Windows processes that run in the background and slow down the computer. One of these is Windows Messenger, which is switched on by default whether you use it or not. If you do not...

Make Apple videos.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Make Apple videos Windows-friendly Turn Quicktime movies into files that can be edited using standard Windows software The AVI format used by Windows is perhaps the closest there is to a universal...

Find a web address with.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Find a web address with Bustaname Think all the catchy web addresses are gone? Bustaname can find great ones for free One of the key elements to creating a memorable presence on the internet is a good...

Move files effortlessly in.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Move files effortlessly in Windows Vista Move files to the correct folder quickly and easily with the help of this free Windows Sidebar gadget The Magic Folder gadget for Vista is one of those refreshingly...

Add memory to Vista.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Add memory to Vista with no effort If you have Windows Vista and a USB memory key, Readyboost could speed up your PC's performance Short of a new computer with a super-fast processor, the one thing that's...

Vet your emails before.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Vet your emails before downloading A lot of email is spam, fraudulent or full of viruses. Check yours before downloading messages to your PC It's a good idea to check email messages for viruses, spam and...

Control two PCs using.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Control two PCs using one keyboard Find out how to manage two computers with just one keyboard, a mouse and a program called Synergy It's not uncommon these days to run two computers side by side, perhaps...

Sony Acid Music Studio 7.(Product/service evaluation)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrew Sutcliffe Sony Acid Music Studio 7 Music-making software for hobby rockers Since Sony bought the Acid family of music software from its creator Sonic Foundry, the product range has increased and the various programs...

Open the Windows.
January 10, 2008... Open the Windows We explore how Vista makes Windows, and other software, more accessible to every user Very few of us are lucky enough to have perfect eyesight, co-ordination and hearing. In 2003 Microsoft conducted research to...

Veho VFS-001.(Product/service evaluation)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrew Sutcliffe Veho VFS-001 An easy way to scan old slides and negatives So popular and widespread are digital cameras that it's easy to forget there was once a time when photos meant a set of prints along with...

Explore sat-nav.
January 10, 2008... Explore sat-nav Your sat-nav is capable of far more than going from A to Z. Here, we show you how to customise your dashboard director and get the full benefit from these useful products To many drivers, sat-nav devices seem like a...

Travel buddies.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Travel buddies We discuss points of interest (POI) in the main feature, but though useful the odd icon signifying an interesting landmark isn't quite the same as a proper guide. If you're travelling to exotic places with your sat-nav...

Chat nav.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Chat nav Most sat-nav devices now offer audible directions, whereby a voice announces simple directions, such as: "In 300 metres turn left" or "At the roundabout, take the third exit". Usually, it's possible to select the voice type,...

Safe and sensible.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Safe and sensible Despite continuing refinements and increasing capabilities, sat-nav devices are not without their problems. For starters, they can be something of a distraction for drivers. Though all the manufacturers are at pains to...

Darkstar One.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Darkstar One Darkstar One is a game that owes a lot to that infamous space-trading game of the 1980s, Elite. Specifically, it takes the idea of an uncomplicated space-trading and combat game and dresses it up...

Family Tree Maker 2008.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Family Tree Maker 2008 In the past, drawing up a genealogy chart meant endless days in libraries and record offices trying to piece together who did what with whom, and when. These days, just tap your name into the...

You, Me And A Trumpet.(Product/service evaluation)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey You, Me And A Trumpet Firing up this disc is a bit like stepping back in time, when any rubbish piece of software that cobbled together a few video clips and audio samples was marketed as a cutting-edge offering,...

Learn To Use Microsoft Powerpoint 2007.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Learn To Use Microsoft Powerpoint 2007 If you're a regular reader of this section then you'll be well aware of our shrug-hate relationship with GSP's Learn To Use product range. On the whole, we hate the older ones...

Braintastic Maths Skills KS3.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Braintastic Maths Skills KS3 We raved over Braintastic Word Skills for Key Stage One back in issue 252. Well, we're about to do the same again with Math Skills for Key Stage Three. This fits the age range 11 to 14,...

One for all.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey One for all The Computeractive team tries out a varied selection of five new CD-Rom releases this fortnight A varied selection of new CDs this issue, beginning with Darkstar One, essentially a modern version...

D-Link DSM-330.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran D-Link DSM-330 Excellent quality, with the option of hooking it up to a flat-screen TV We've looked at plenty of media streaming devices recently - they are boxes that sit under your television and allow...

Creative Zen 4GB.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrea-Marie Vassou Creative Zen 4GB Music and film at your fingertips With the iPod's domination of video and music players it's sometimes hard to remember that there are other brands, but the Zen 4GB from Creative is...

Pinnacle Showcenter 250HD.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Pinnacle Showcenter 250HD Stream your digital content in high definition You don't have to be a couch potato to appreciate that digital photos, videos and music are more captivating when enjoyed on a large...

Canon Powershot G9.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Tom Royal Canon Powershot G9 It's not a compact camera, but it's not an SLR either Digital cameras generally fall into one of two categories. Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are bulky and expensive, but creative...

Medion 6615 PC.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Emil Larsen Medion 6615 PC A budget PC with plenty of storage space The old clichA[c] 'good things come to those who wait' can certainly be applied to the computer industry. The pace of change is continuous, and the Medion...

Simcity Societies.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Simcity Societies The new edition proves a useful resource for teaching children Previous Simcity games have concentrated mainly on the mayoral aspect of city-building A- the idea was that the player...

Top 10 games.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran 1 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare [pounds sterling]40 (shooter) Activision 2 Football Manager 2008 [pounds sterling]35 (sport) Sega 3 Crysis [pounds sterling]35 (shooter) EA 4 The...

Need for Speed: Prostreet.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Need for Speed: Prostreet The Need for Speed driving games have been getting more tech-heavy with every sequel. What started with driving fast, reasonable cars has grown to Prostreet, clearly aimed at...

Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers The Full Spectrum Warrior games differ from typical shooters in that the player doesn't directly control the characters. Instead, you control an attack team, and direct...

iSkin Cerulean TX/RX.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph iSkin Cerulean TX/RX Listen to music from an iPod without wires The iSkin's Cerulean TX/RX provides a simple method of listening to iPod music using a Bluetooth wireless connection. The package has two parts...

Baylis Eco Media Player EMP-MX71.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Simon Williams Baylis Eco Media Player EMP-MX71 A media player that never needs batteries Inventor Trevor Baylis created the first wind-up radio 16 years ago for areas where mains electricity was intermittent or...

T-Mobile Ameo.
January 10, 2008... Byline: David Phelan T-Mobile Ameo A chunky smartphone and a tiny computer The strange-looking Ameo certainly catches the eye, with a large, colourful touchscreen and a keyboard that clings to the screen by magnets. When open it...

Incomedia Website X5 Compact.(Website overview)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Incomedia Website X5 Compact Easy web design without the cheesy templates Anyone who has used web design software that uses templates to speed things along will know that they can restrict creativity....

Screen readers.
January 10, 2008... Screen readers Those with limited sight might benefit from one of the many specialist 'screen reader' programs, all of which are more advanced than the Narrator included with Windows. Two popular programs are Window-Eyes (www.gwmicro.com)...

Other tools.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Other tools The accessibility tools included with Vista can be very helpful, but some users will need extra equipment to get the best from a PC. There's a good range of ergonomic keyboards and mice at www.kinesis-ergo.com, including foot...

Broken Sword: The Angel of Death.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Broken Sword: The Angel of Death G eorge Stobbart, hero of the Broken Sword games, first appeared on our screens in 1996 as a befuddled tourist thrust into a mystery caper. He's back in Angel of Death,...

Win Microsoft products worth over i?1/22,000.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Win Microsoft & Alienware products worth over [pounds sterling]2,000! Race in the Red Bull Air Race or just hone your flight skills with Flight Simulator X: Acceleration and an Alienware PC Microsoft Flight...

Paragon Hard Disk Manager Suite 2008.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Chris Cain Paragon Hard Disk Manager Suite 2008 Backing up your PC's hard disk only really hits home when a disk fails. Hard Disk Manager 2008 is a backup tool, that includes utilities for moving data from disk to disk and...

Logitech Harmony 1000.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph Logitech Harmony 1000 Logitech's Harmony remote controls are a nice idea. Able to control several devices with a single unit A- unlike cheaper ones A- they have a programmable screen that changes depending on which...

Magix Mufin.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Magix Mufin A playlist generator A- which creates lists of your music so you're not stuck listening to the same old thing A- is a great idea, but most such programs rely on the tags given to music tracks. Mufin...

Childproof.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Nigel Whitfield Childproof computing Kids love using PCs, but their inexperience can put them A- or the computer A- in danger. We explain how the adults can take charge There's no doubt that the internet is a great...

Canon EOS 40D.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Canon EOS 40D The EOS 40D is the most expensive and, so far, most impressive of Canon's consumer-level digital SLRs (though the professional range goes higher). The 40D is bigger than many, but it's still...

Serif Drawplus 6.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Chris Wiles Serif Drawplus 6 Design and create graphics for print or your website home page information Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/drawplus/index System requirements: Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 or XP...

Learn to use Serif Drawplus.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Chris Wiles Learn how to use Serif Drawplus 6 to create your own graphics 1 On starting Serif Drawplus 6 for the first time you can create a drawing from scratch, import previous work or create an animation from a collection of...

Save 50 per cent on Serif Drawplus 8.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran AA Upgrade offer Save 50 per cent on Serif Drawplus 8 Move up to Serif Drawplus 8 to discover new features such as extra brushes, including pastels, watercolour and charcoal. These work well with the...

Fear and loathing?(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Fear and loathing? Given the relish with which some newspapers talk about the threats found online, you could be forgiven for thinking the internet is far too scary for children. But when you consider the sheer number of people using...

The mobile web.
January 10, 2008... The mobile web It's all very well using parental controls on a home computer, but many children carry a mobile phone. Many mobile phones can also access the web, so what can you do to protect them from seeing things they shouldn't when...

Running an old program Q Some years ago I was given a copy of Steganos Security Suite 4, but I have never used it. Could this software still be used on my computer or should I forget about it and buy something more up to date? Is there any part of the so.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith, Anthony Dhanendran Running an old program Q Some years ago I was given a copy of Steganos Security Suite 4, but I have never used it. Could this software still be used on my computer or should I forget about it...

Reader to the rescue.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran The problem My daughter uses MSN Messenger on my PC (Windows XP, Service Pack 2). She is getting a notebook computer and will be using that in future. She has an MSN account, but Messenger doesn't seem to be...

Online giving gets easier.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek and Andrea Vassou Online giving gets easier A website described as the charity equivalent of Facebook will let people make donations online to their favourite UK charity. Mycharitypage, which launched this...

Library site updated Process Library, a free website from Uniblue, that allows people to see what tasks a PC is running, has been relaunched. Uniblue said the website has a new interface and improved features. These include Process Scanner, a download th.(Website overview)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Library site updated Process Library, a free website from Uniblue, that allows people to see what tasks a PC is running, has been relaunched. Uniblue said the website has a new interface and improved features....

Gamers touch a new base.
January 10, 2008... Byline: staff Gamers touch a new base A new gaming zone, dubbed Gamerbase, has been created in HMV's flagship Trocadero store in London, thanks to a partnership with Dell, HMV and Intel. The 2,300sq ft trading space packs in a...

Phone firm to launch TV on the net.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Phone firm to launch TV on the net O2 is predicted to launch a UK internet-based television service next year, according to media reports. The company has already launched the service successfully in the...

Camera to aid memory patients.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Camera to aid memory patients A small digital camera developed by scientists at Microsoft Research in Cambridge could help people with short-term memory loss. The Sensecam is worn around the neck and...

Leaving tracks The tracking of people via their mobile phones is set to increase as concerns over safety outweigh those about privacy, according to a new study by Juniper Research. The analyst said that personal security applications in the private sector.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Leaving tracks The tracking of people via their mobile phones is set to increase as concerns over safety outweigh those about privacy, according to a new study by Juniper Research. The analyst said that personal...

Google has the Knol-edge Search giant Google is set to compete with the worldi?1/2s most popular encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, with the launch of Knol, a user-generated and edited learning resource. Users will have access to easy editing tools with Google hosting.
January 10, 2008... Byline: iain Thomson Google has the Knol-edge Search giant Google is set to compete with the world's most popular encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, with the launch of Knol, a user-generated and edited learning resource. Users will have...

Tweak a Beeb Visitors to the BBCi?1/2s website can tweak the homepage and tailor it to their interests. A link on the homepage takes the surfer to a trial version of the new BBC homepage. Developed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the website, the hom.(Website overview)
January 10, 2008... Byline: staff Tweak a Beeb Visitors to the BBC's website can tweak the homepage and tailor it to their interests. A link on the homepage takes the surfer to a trial version of the new BBC homepage. Developed to coincide with the 10th...

Word tool to aid the blind.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Word tool to aid the blind A new plug-in for Word 2007 will help visually-impaired people navigate complex documents. The free utility will allow documents based on Microsoft's new Open XML format to be...

Manhunt row rumbles on British censors are seeking a judicial review after a ban on selling the controversial video game Manhunt 2 was overturned last month. The move from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) came after developer Rockstar Games.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Manhunt row rumbles on British censors are seeking a judicial review after a ban on selling the controversial video game Manhunt 2 was overturned last month. The move from the British Board of Film Classification...

Call of Duty 4.
January 10, 2008... Call of Duty 4

Dance to a new download tune A new music download site claims to undercut HMV and Apple iTunes. The company, 7digital.com, sells single tracks from 50p and albums from i?1/25 and says the quality and value of its DRM-free music downloads match or exceed conte.
January 10, 2008... Byline: staff Dance to a new download tune A new music download site claims to undercut HMV and Apple iTunes. The company, 7digital.com, sells single tracks from 50p and albums from [pounds sterling]5 and says the quality and value of...

Ofcom investigates premium TV channel competition.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Ofcom investigates premium TV channel competition Broadcaster BSkyB could eventually be forced to open up its premium channels to rivals after Ofcom warned that the pay-for TV market may be limiting consumer choice....

Ofcom to probe web speeds.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Ofcom to probe web speeds Consumer body demands clarity in broadband contracts following our campaign Internet service providers (ISPs) should be forced to abide by a code of practice to stop consumers being...

Protect your PC presents.(Brief article)
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Protect your PC presents Thousands of people will buy a new PC this Christmas without installing the necessary protection against web threats, security company Bluecoat has warned. Security experts estimate the...

Safe key first Security firm Steganos has launched a secure email service that encrypts communications to ensure that the contents can be read only by the intended recipient. Users of the Secure Email service are provided with free guest access in order.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Safe key first Security firm Steganos has launched a secure email service that encrypts communications to ensure that the contents can be read only by the intended recipient. Users of the Secure Email service...

Give up the Qhost A Trojan that hijacks Google text ads and replaces them with ads from a different provider has been picked up by Bit Defender. The anti-virus company has identified the threat as Trojan.Qhost.WU. The infected PCi?1/2s browser reads advert.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Staff Give up the Qhost A Trojan that hijacks Google text ads and replaces them with ads from a different provider has been picked up by Bit Defender. The anti-virus company has identified the threat as...

Protect your intellectual property online.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Ian Williams and Dinah Greek Protect your intellectual property online The UK Intellectual Property Office has launched a range of new services via its website. Customers can now request an online certified copy of a patent...

MPs call to scrap ID cards.
January 10, 2008... MPs call to scrap ID cards MPs have called on the Government to scrap its ID card plans, saying that a year of disastrous data breaches shows it cannot be trusted to handle the public's personal information. Leader of the Liberal...

Pleased with your new PC? If you have bought a new PC or received one as a Christmas gift, wei?1/2d like to find out how happy you are with it, particularly if you have switched from XP to Vista, or are running PCs with different operating systems. Answer the.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Pleased with your new PC? If you have bought a new PC or received one as a Christmas gift, we'd like to find out how happy you are with it, particularly if you have switched from XP to Vista, or are running PCs with...

AOL axes Netscape and leads surfers to Firefox.
January 10, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek AOL axes Netscape and leads surfers to Firefox Netscape Navigator, one of the internet's first web browsers, has been dropped by AOL. Security patches and active support for the current version, Netscape 9,...

Pass on the word.(Brief article)
January 24, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Pass on the word Documents and spreadsheets created in Microsoft Word and Excel can be password-protected easily. To do this in Excel, open the relevant document, then click File, followed by Save As. In the Save...

Sounds off.(Brief article)
January 24, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Sounds off The volume level of your PC's speakers can be controlled using the speaker icon located at the far right-hand side of the Taskbar. If this isn't displayed, XP users should click the Start button, select...

Iti?1/2s a lock out.(Brief article)
January 24, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey It's a lock out You may well be familiar with some of the keyboard shortcuts that involve the Windows key. For example, the Windows key and F will start the Windows Find function or the Windows key and E will start...

Keep your printer clean and.
January 24, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Keep your printer clean and working Printers need occasional care and attention. Learn how to maintain yours for optimum performance If you've got a computer then you've probably got a printer to go with it....

Workshop intro.(Brief article)
January 24, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Keep your printer clean and working Printers need occasional care and attention. Learn how to maintain your printer for optimum performance p40A Explore Linux safely and easily Linux is a popular...

Inspect data stored.
January 24, 2008... Byline: Joe Cassels Inspect data stored within files Your PC keeps lots of information in the files it stores. Here's how to put it to good use Every file stored on a computer contains information. However, they also contain...

Make your notebook PC.
January 24, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Make your notebook PC easier to use Change the way you use your notebook computer by customising Touchpad input Every notebook computer is fitted with a pointing device that takes the place of a mouse....