Computer Act!ve articles from July 2005

Computer Act!ve archives from July 2005

From the editor.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Dylan Armbrust. No matter how long you've been using a computer, there is always something new to learn about it. Whether it has to do with installing and using new software or hardware (and the drivers that go with them), or...

Fraud register to foil fleecers. New service aims to help consumers avoid dishonest users at online auctions.(Early Warning)
July 7, 2005... Consumers can check the honesty of buyers and sellers at online auctions through a new service from Early Warning. The organisation, which monitors online and credit card fraud and advises banks, retailers and the police, said that one in...

ISP deals something to phone home about.(internet service provider )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Pipex has become the latest internet service provider (ISP) to offer a calls-and-broadband package. For [pounds sterling]4.99 per month on top of their broadband subscription fee, users can subscribe to Pipex Talk, which includes up to...

Faulty batteries.(notebook computers, product recalled)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... PC manufacturer Maxdata is offering a free exchange of the batteries supplied with certain models of the ECO 4000 notebook series. The recall comes after concerns that around 10,000 computers in Europe were supplied with faulty batteries that...

Big win for music industry.(illegal downloading)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... A ruling by the US Supreme Court could have far-reaching global consequences for software and gadgets that allow people to copy music and movies. The latest decision ends a three-year battle between movie studios, MGM and Grokster, a...

Computeractive serves up bargains online.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Finding a bargain online is now even easier following a revamp of services on the Computeractive website. Our price comparison service, Active Prices, has been overhauled for faster access to an even wider range of PCs and peripherals. ...

Google improves online maps.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Google has integrated satellite imagery into its Google Maps UK service. Users can now view maps and directions using satellite and high-resolution digital aerial photos. The new service is also available on the maps shown through Google Local...

JARGON BUSTER. Techno babble demystified ...(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... - Broadband: Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. - ISP: Internet Service Provider. A company that provides you with an internet connection, either for a monthly fee or the cost of calls. - Mbit/s: Megabits per...

Virgin fee.(Virgin.net Broadband)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... New Virgin.net broadband customers will have to pay a fee if they cancel the service within 12 months of it being activated. Until now, the company did not charge cancellation fees but it has recently backtracked and new customers will be...

Firefox floored.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... One in 10 UK websites are incompatible with Firefox, the second most popular web browser, according to research from web-testing firm SciVisum. The company found that three per cent of sites turn away non-Internet Explorer (IE) users, and seven...

Police e-complaints.(Independent Police Complaints Commission, website enhanced)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... It is now easier to make a complaint about the police in England and Wales, after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) overhauled its website. The new site offers details on where to go to make a complaint, including a list of...

UK to ponder web symbols.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Consumers are being urged to take part in a consultation on whether domain names and email addresses should be permitted to use non-English characters. Nominet, the body in charge of website addresses ending in '.uk', is weighing up the...

BT cross-breeds mobile with landline.(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... BT is to launch a telephone service that lets users switch between landline and mobile networks using a single handset. The BT Fusion service, which uses broadband and Bluetooth technologies, is the first to allow people to access both...

ICSTIS issues guide for teens.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Premium-rate line watchdog ICSTIS has issued a guide on premium rate mobile phone subscription services. Targeted at teenagers, the guide will be distributed at schools and warns about premium rate text subscriptions, giving clear...

Jargon buster. Techno babble demystified ...(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... - Bluetooth: A technology that allows devices such as computers or phones to communicate with each other wirelessly. - Broadband: Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. - Phishing: Internet fraud that attempts to...

Crime podcast.(Macavitys adds regular podcasts to its website)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Macavitys, a UK-based bookseller specialising in crime fiction, true crime and crime reference, is to add regular podcasts to its site. Now as well as a monthly newsletter, up-to-date lists and reviews of new crime books and interviews with...

Protection insured.(power stabilizers, APC BE-325 )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... The latest power surge protection from APC comes with its own insurance. The BE-325 is designed to protect a computer from power cuts and sudden surges of power. If damage does occur when using the device, an equipment protection policy...

Free music.(Wippit Ltd. partners with Heineken UK)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Music download site Wippit has teamed up with Heineken to offer drinkers music over the summer. Packs of the beer - cans and bottles - will include an insert giving details of the Heineken World Gigs promotion and offering the chance to win a...

Digital seals to guard work.(Icreateditfirst launches new service)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... A new online copyright service borrows a trick from the IT industry to give copyright owners an added level of protection. Icreateditfirst claims to be the first online copyright company to incorporate a digitally generated seal to help...

Web wheels.(online courier service launched)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... An online courier service that doesn't require the user to set up an account has been launched for individual consumers as well as businesses. Consumers can use their credit or debit card to pay for the courier online. Every package is insured...

What's on the telly-phone?(British Telecommunications PLC launches new service)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... BT has launched a trial to deliver live television to mobile phones. The BT Livetime project with Virgin Mobile will give users access to three live TV channels: Sky Sports News, Sky News and new music channel Blaze. In addition, people...

Get your hard disk in order.(Perfect Disk)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... The Perfect Disk software from Raxco has been updated and it claims to make Windows more efficient. Perfect Disk is able to defragment a hard disk in one go. It requires less disk space than the standard defragmentation software supplied with...

Set yourself free from iPod.(cordless headphones)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Music lovers can cut the wires tethering them to their iPods thanks to newly developed wireless headphones from Logitech. The headphones claim to let iPod users roam as far as 30ft from the devices and not miss a beat once they have plugged in...

Star gazing.(EOS 20Da digital SLR camera)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Canon has launched a camera that is perfect for budding astronomers. The EOS 20Da digital SLR camera is specially modified for astrophotography and connects to a telescope so pictures of the cosmos can be taken. A filter is available for use...

BBC aims for broadband.
July 7, 2005... The BBC is working on a number of innovations so it can offer viewers high-quality television and radio content over internet broadband connections. One of the areas is the development of a new higher-quality format for transmitting video...

Hybrid TV card.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Hauppauge Digital has developed a hybrid TV card that supports both analogue and a digital television. The TV WinTV HVR-1100 is compatible with Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005. According to Hauppauge, the card is designed to...

DAB hand.(digital radio launched)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Morphy Richards has launched a DAB radio with an electronic programme guide that allows users to access and control radio broadcasts. It works in the same way as a personal video recorder such as the Sky+ does, so users can create their own...

More TV via broadband.(service introduction)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Two more television providers are moving towards offering TV content over a broadband connection. Sky is to offer two channels of movies and sport, which can be downloaded via a broadband connection, on a TV-on-demand basis. The service...

Baby boomers lead revolution.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... The home office revolution in the UK is being lead by the baby boomer generation, according to a survey from Lexmark. The printer manufacturer, which conducted a survey of 1,000 home office workers in Britain, found almost half (46 per...

Forum for the future.(Generation Nation forums )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... HP is hosting a series of nationwide public forums to discuss how technology could be used to improve the quality of life. The Generation Nation forums will be held in London, Manchester and Glasgow over the coming year. HP said each forum...

JARGON BUSTER. Techno babble demystified ...(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... - Broadband: Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. - DAB: Digital Audio Broadcasting. Radio transmitted by a digital, rather than analogue signal. - Defragment: To reorganise the data stored on a hard disk so...

Consumeractive! - Get Some Answers! Consumeractive sticks up for your rights. If there's an issue you want investigated, get in touch.
July 7, 2005... PROBLEM - Missing money a question of Symantec My Norton anti-virus software was due to expire in February this year, so just before this happened I went to the Symantec online store to order it again. On 2 February, Symantec's payment...

Cover Story - 50 Windows XP tips - Perk up your PC. We show you 50 ways to make using Windows a breeze.(Cover story)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Computers are supposed to make life easier but all too often you find yourself waiting for Windows to complete a simple task or getting frustrated because things aren't working as they should. Wouldn't it be...

Hot New Products - Apple G5. Apple seeks to tempt the Windows faithful away from their lacklustre PCs with this white-hot siren.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Paul Allen. As we discussed in our feature on Apple computers in the last issue, the company has been showing a bit of leg to Windows PC users lately. With Apple dropping its prices, consumers are now faced with an intriguing...

Hot New Products - Goodmans GPDR40. Affordable, compact and versatile, this gadget is one to pack for your holidays.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Cliff Joseph. There are a number of portable media players around but Goodmans' GPDR40 is one of the better ones. It's a small handheld device, measuring just bigger than a pack of cards, so it can be held quite easily in one...

Hot New Products - Readiris Pro 10. Clutter free and environmentally sound, Readiris will bring order to your printed matter.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Cliff Joseph. Optical character recognition (OCR) is a process that uses a scanner to read text within printed documents, and convert it into a text file that can be stored on your computer's hard disk. You can then edit that text...

Hot New Products - Packard Bell iPower 6800 SLI. A PC with two graphics cards and hard disks to improve performance.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. Whoever designed the Packard Bell iPower 6800 SLI had obviously heard of the phrase'two heads are better than one,as several parts of this computer are doubled up to improve performance. At the heart of this desktop...

Hot New Products - Canon IXUS 50. Stylish 5-megapixel compact with a robust all-metal chassis.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Will Stapley. Canon's IXUS 50 is the latest in this impressive range to leave the factory floor.The all-metal casing not only makes it an attractive camera, but also one that will withstand the occasional knock. Inside the...

Hot New Products - Evesham Quest Roma T37. An affordable all-rounder that uses the latest AMD mobile processor.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Luke Peter. If you're buying a notebook for its portability then you should consider two main factors - its size and battery life. Alternatively, if you're looking for a notebook to replace your desktop computer then performance is...

Hot New Products - Epson Stylus Photo R1800. One of the best inkjet printers we've seen, but you'll need deep pockets for the best prints.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Luke Peters. If you want to print traditionally sized 10x 15cm photos from your digital camera,then compact printers such as those reviewed in our feature on page 56 are practical and economical. However, if you want to step up a...

Hot New Products - MyWebExPC. Access your home computer from all over the world.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. The ability to access your PC when you are away from your desk is more useful than you might think. It means not having to remember to copy files to a USB key or upload them to an online file storage service. ...

Hot New Products - BenQ FP937s. A sturdy 19in flat screen, but little in the way of extras.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. This 19in flat screen from BenQ could probably best be described as 'no-frills'. While that, correctly, suggests that it has little to distinguish it in terms of design, or added extras, it doesn't disappoint...

Hot New Products - SumVision FM MP3 Player.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anna Lagerkvist. Sumvision has crammed a multitude of features into this little device, which about the size of a pack of chewing gum. Its 1Gb digital music player has space for roughly 16 hours of MP3 files, and there is also an...

Hot New Products - Philips SPC 600NC.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Paul Allen. All instant messaging programs now offer free video chat but to take advantage you will need a webcam. The Philips SPC 600NC is sturdier than many we have seen but does not swivel from side to side, although this is...

Hot New Products - Freecom MediaPlayer-3. Watch videos directly using this external hard disk.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Even in the digital media age, most PCs are set up for work, rather than entertainment, and so are not particularly conducive to playing downloaded media. It's normally far better to watch or listen using the...

Hot New Products - Allume icSpyware & Anti-Phishing Suite.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Why should anyone pay for internet security when it's possible to get it for free? There are so many freeware security programs that paid software needs to offer something more than its free competitors. ...

Hot New Products - PodGear Shuffle Station.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. This small set of battery-powered speakers is designed to be plugged in to an iPod Shuffle. The Shuffle has to be sat upside down in the headphone jack socket on top of the unit, so the controls are reversed....

Hot New Products - APC Biometric Mouse. Keep your computer safe and secure at the touch of a finger.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Luke Peters. Believe or not, early biometric technology was so easily fooled that you could use a finger imprint from a piece of sticky tape to trick a sensor into granting you access. However, fingerprint technology is now...

Feature: Podcasting - Pod life. The advent of podcasting brings more choice and control over your radio listening. We explain what it's all about and how you can enjoy the benefits.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. Listening to radio stations on a computer is easy but the broadcast schedule doesn't always fit with our own. But listening to programmes at a time that suits you is, thankfully, getting easier with the advent of...

On Test - Photo printers - Snaps on the spot. The days of waiting about for prints to be developed or having to use a computer to print photos are over. We test the best in compact, portable photo printers.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. If you like the idea of printing photos at home but already have a perfectly good printer for running off basic documents, a compact photo printer is a great addition to your home computing kit. It will allow you to...

Feature - Enhance your website - Spice up your site. Is your website getting lost in the crowd? Take our cue by applying a few easy steps that will transform your site from a chorus liner to a star.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Susan Houghton. Everyone and their dog seems to have their own website these days, but there's one easy way to make a site stand out from the crowd - by adding multimedia. If you know how, it's easy to incorporate all sorts of...

Feature - Art class part 2 - Art for art's sake. We show you how to put your talents to good use and make gifts with a personal touch.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Martin James. In part one of our art class in the last issue, we looked at using Paint Shop Pro 9 (PSP) to create unique and individual pieces of art. As a starting point, we focused specifically on the artistic tools in PSP, but...

On Test - CD-Roms - Artistic licence. We bring you a selection of CD-ROMs that will help you express your creative side.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Martin James. Your computer is a powerful aid to artistic design. Whether it be creating artwork from scratch or editing digital photos for a slide show or invitation, read on and you'll find something for you. TV Photoshow is...

On Test - Games - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It's rude and violent but utterly addictive. Another class game from the GTA stable.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. Eight months after making its Playstation 2 and Xbox debut, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has finally been released for the PC. The game uses the same successful formula as the massively successful Grand Theft Auto 3...

On Test - Juiced.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Luke Peters. Entering the crowded video game genre of street-racing, Juiced attempts to squeeze something new from the familiar cars, locations and characters. Unfortunately, it utilises cliches that even the director of The...

On Test - The Bard's Tale.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. In The Bard's Tale, players take control of a reluctant hero who cares more for wine, women and song (in that order) than taking risks for others. Unlike the original Commodore 64 outing, this action role-playing...

On Test - Lego - Star Wars.(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Byline: Luke Peters. Of all the Star Wars cash-ins out there, and there are certainly many of them, this is the most entertaining one we've come across. If you've played previous Lego games, you'll know what to expect, but the timeless...

On Test - Games Top 10.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Here are the top 10 games according to the official UK Leisure Software chart. (C)ELSPA. Compiled by Chart Track. 1 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas [pounds sterling]35 (adventure game) Rockstar 2 Guild Wars [pounds sterling]30...

Digital home - Home cinema - It's show time. It's now easier than ever to transform your living room into a home cinema, but deciding on the right hardware for your needs can be tricky.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Niall Magennis. If you want to watch a movie the way it was intended to be seen you go to the cinema, right? Not always. More and more people are deciding that the best way to enjoy movies is in the comfort of their own homes. That...

Net Chart - Site seeing ... Use our collection of sites to do some good in the world in a more practical way than just giving money.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... Go to www.computeractive.co.uk to find quick links to all these featured websites www.timebank.org.uk TimeBank is a national charity that aims to inspire people to give their time to local projects. Registration is very quick and easy...

Net Chart - Site of the fortnight.(www.smallanimaladvice.com)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2005... www.smallanimaladvice.com Pets are the source of a lot of fun and affection, but it is important to care for them properly. Small Animal Advice has a wealth of information about lots of different pets from rabbits to ferrets with links to...

Net Chart - FREE Downloads. We've trawled the internet to test what you can get for free ...(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2005... Zenkey www.computeractive.co.uk/download/1163677 Quickly access regular programs ZenKey is a convenient shortcut menu started with a special key-press. You can use it to open documents and start programs. Type: Freeware ...

No Problem! Q&A - Answers to ... PC problems. Our resident technical doctor is here to cure your PC ailments.
July 7, 2005... MOVING HOME Q: I use Windows XP Home edition, with AOL as my internet service provider. I am about to move to a broadband service and I want to use Microsoft Outlook as my email program. I have started to put people's details into the...

READERS TO THE RESCUE ... Can you help your fellow readers? Do you need a problem solved? Join our forum dedicated to PC trouble-shooting at www.computeractive.co.uk.
July 7, 2005... THE PROBLEM Is there a way of creating a slide background in PowerPoint using a photograph, faded like a watermark. If so, could I then make the slide into a template to apply it to slides throughout a presentation? Sioux...

Letters - Your say! We want your opinions! Write to us on any of the topics covered in Computeractive.(Letter to the Editor)
July 7, 2005... ELUSIVE MAC I cancelled my internet connection through Tiscali and gave them 30 days notice after being with them for over a year. I want to move my service to another ISP before the 30 days run out. For this I need to get the Migration...

From the deputy editor.
July 21, 2005... Byline: Paul Allen. Completing a project using a PC gives a double burst of pleasure: the knowledge of a task well done and that of mastering technology. This process is made easier with a little help and guidance, and our 28-page...

ISPs urged to block threats. Internet service providers must do more to protect consumers from internet attacks.
July 21, 2005... Consumers should no longer be expected to cope unaided with the increasing number and sophistication of internet attacks. This was the conclusion of a report from Preventon, a company that sells security software for ISPs to sell on to...

BT has knuckles wrapped over misleading advert.(British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... BT has been given a slap on the wrist by the UK advertising watchdog over a recent advertising campaign. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received compaints about how the company sent out direct mail promoting its BT Communicator...

ICE cool in an emergency.(In Case of Emergency campaign by Vodafone PLC and East Anglian Ambulance Trust)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... A national campaign to get people to store details of their next of kin in their mobile phone has been launched by Vodafone and backed by ambulance services around the country. The In Case of Emergency (ICE) campaign was initially thought up by...

VAT to end cheap imports.(value added tax)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... The legal loophole that allows retailers to sell cheaper DVDs and CDs from the Channel Islands may soon be closed. The islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark are self-governing and European Union VAT rules do not currently apply...

Patients given veto on central NHS records.(National Health Service, UK)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... The public can opt out of having their medical records stored on a central computer planned for the NHS, the government has said. Previously, the government said this option would only be available in 'extreme circumstances'. The decision...

More savvy about spyware.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... More than 90 per cent of internet users have changed their habits to try to reduce their exposure to spyware, according to a study from the Pew Internet Project. The survey of 2,000 users found that more than 80 per cent no longer open...

Wanadoo turns into Orange.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... Wanadoo is to change its name to Orange early next year. France Telecom owns Wanadoo and the mobile network operator Orange, and wants to integrate services between the two. Among proposed services is a fixed line and mobile combination package...

WEEE wheelie marks the spot.(Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... From 13 August, retailers and manufacturers must ensure they mark any electrical or electronic goods they sell with a special logo. Although some of the requirements of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) have...

E-learning for parents.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... The Department of Trade and Industry has launched a free e-learning course to ensure parents are aware of their rights and opportunities in relation to flexible working. Published by the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service, the course...

Jargon Buster. Techno babble demystified ...(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... - ISP: A company that provides you with an internet connection, either for a monthly fee or the cost of calls. - Malware: A generic term for software designed to perform harmful or surreptitious acts. - Phishing: Internet fraud that...

Payout for Skybiz victims.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... More than 25,000 UK victims of an illegal international pyramid fraud could receive compensation as part of a US redress scheme. As part of the settlement of a case with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), $20m ([pounds sterling]12m) has...

Microsoft backtracks on password advice.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... People are being told it is alright to write down their computer passwords as long as they keep the information safely locked away. The advice, which contradicts previous security measures, came from one of Microsoft's chief security...

Trust Trust for more power.(power supply units)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... Trust's new power supply units are aimed at users who like to plug a lot of add-on cards and other equipment into their PC. The PW-5200 is a 450W unit that replaces the PC's power supply and gives extra power for all those cards and other...

Rogue diallers face stiff fines.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... Firms who dupe consumers into using premium rate internet connections are to face increased fines. The Department of Trade and Industry has given ICSTIS, the premium services regulator, the power to fine companies that run scams such as rogue...

Yahoo takes to the roads.(expands search service)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... Following Google's lead, Yahoo has extended its search service to allow mobile phone users to receive query results via text messages. The services allows users on the road to quickly find services by using shortcuts, which lead to popular...

Postcards from the edge.(Photobox's new service )(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... People can now take a picture with their mobile phone camera and have it delivered as a postcard the next day. The service from Photobox uses a phone's MMS function. The user simply takes a snap with their phone, adds a message and sends the...

Jargon Buster. Techno babble demystified ...(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... - MMS: Sending and receiving pictures to and from a mobile phone. - PCI Express: A high-speed connection that allows components such as graphics cards to be added. - Rogue diallers: Re-routes your dial-up connection to a premium-rate...

Consumers have their say.(Department of Trade and Industry, UK consults consumers on settin up new Consumer and Trading Standards Agency )(Brief Article)
July 21, 2005... Consumers are being given the chance to say how they want a new consumer protection body to be run. They have been invited to participate in a public consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as it considers advice and...