Computer Act!ve articles from June 2006

Computer Act!ve archives from June 2006

Pure Digital One.(digital radio)(Product/service evaluation)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Jacqueline Williams Pure Digital One A no-frills digital radio that punches well above its weight If you were first among your friends to buy a digital radio and have enjoyed the prestige that owning such a pricey gadget...

Kodak EasyShare V610.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Jacqueline Williams Kodak EasyShare V610 A compact camera with a huge optical zoom range We were recently impressed by the Kodak EasyShare V570, which combines two lenses to give the effect of a 5x optical zoom. With the...

Samsung Q1.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Luke Peters Samsung Q1 The first device using Microsoft's new mobile operating system comes with a high price The Windows operating system has appeared in several mobile guises over the years, with Pocket PC and Smartphone...

Net Chart.(World Cup football on internet)(Website list)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran The world's greatest sporting contest is upon us -- try our selection of football sites for size www.fsf.org.uk For anyone who follows England at home and abroad, the Football Supporters' Federation...

Roxio Photosuite and Videowave.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Media management >> [pounds sterling]50 Roxio PhotoSuite & VideoWave A photo and video editor all rolled into one Roxio PhotoSuite and VideoWave is a cut-down version of the excellent Roxio...

No Problem.(computer problems solved)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith Called to account QThere are several user accounts on our Windows XP home PC for various members of the family. The problem is that a couple of our children, having returned from university for the holidays,...

Readers to the Rescue.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith The Problem I use Hotmail rather than Outlook Express. Is it possible to be alerted to new emails to my Hotmail account, like the yellow envelope in the Notification Area when using Outlook Express? Allison,...

Competition.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Win Take 2 products worth [pounds sterling]2,125! Explore the Da Vinci Code mystery on a Sony notebook and a 20in TV The Da Vinci Code is taking the world by storm, and as part of the fun,...

Thinkfree office.(Thinkfree Online beta suite)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith Office software >> free Thinkfree Online beta Thinkfree is an online office suite that can be used on any PC with an internet connection and the ability to work with Java. It offers word processing, a...

Genius G-Talk.(internet telephony)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Internet telephony >> [pounds sterling]18 Genius G-Talk There are several ways to make using the broadband telephone software Skype closer to the familiar experience of making a standard telephone call....

Sony SDM-E96.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Monitor >> [pounds sterling]216 Sony SDM-E96 The Sony SDM-E96 is an unconventional LCD monitor. Instead of the usual combination of distinct screen and stand sections, they are made from one piece of...

Route 66 Navigate 7.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Route planning >> A[currency]99 ([pounds sterling]68) Route 66 Navigate 7 for Pocket PC Add navigation capabilities to your handheld computer The idea behind Route 66 Navigate 7 is that owners of...

Vcom Fix-it utilities.(Utility software )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Paul Monckton Utility software >> [pounds sterling]38 V-Com Fix-It Utilities 6 Professional Fix-It Utilities is a cut-down version of System Suite 6, which we looked at in issue 215. There's no firewall or anti-spam...

Audible.(audiobook websites)(Brief article)
June 8, 2006... Byline: Marc Delehanty Service >> [pounds sterling]15 per month Audible Download audiobooks for your media player For those tired of listening to the same old music on their portable music players, or who want to fill up...

Block buster.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Iain Thomson Block buster They're everywhere these days, and a weak one can get you into some serious trouble. We look at passwords and how you can use them to better protect yourself The increasing use of...

Candid camera.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Gavin Stoker Candid camera With digital cameras available in all shapes and sizes, choosing the right one isn't easy. We test 11 options for beginners and more advanced users Whether you're after a portable, all-purpose...

Off Center.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Off Center Want a media centre PC without having to fork out for a whole new computer? We explore the alternatives Windows XP Media Center Edition is a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system that...

My Pet Hotel.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James My Pet Hotel My Pet Hotel is a people simulation that replaces most of the human characters with pets. The purpose of the game is to take care of animals for their owners -- from cleaning and feeding the animals to...

Don't miss.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith Don't miss a kick! With the World Cup 2006 set for kick-off we show how your PC can help keep you up to date on all the latest action, statistics and results, and provide a bit of extra fun Nothing...

Roxio MyDVD 8 Premier.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Chris Cain Roxio MyDVD 8 Premier The latest version of Roxio's DVD creation software is its best yet Windows' answer to Apple's much-hyped iDVD software, Roxio's MyDVD is now on version 8. The Premier release brings a...

Terratec Noxon 2.(Product/service evaluation)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Will Stapley Terratec Noxon 2 Stream your digital music collection and internet radio stations straight to your hi-fi Terratec's Noxon 2 aims to take advantage of the increase in the number of internet radio stations by...

Hints and tips.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Scott Colvey Get with the program Sometimes a newly installed software application will impose itself as the default launch application for a specific file format over existing favourites. This can prove frustrating but...

Safe and send.(Letter to the editor)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Scott Colvey Safe and send In Outlook 2003, I've accidentally sent an incomplete message prematurely by pressing the Alt and S shortcut. However, I've come up with a safety net using the 'Always check spelling before sending'...

Hints and tips.(extracting images in Word or PowerPoint )(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Scott Colvey Picture this There is an easy way to extract all the images in Word or PowerPoint documents. This tip is useful if you have lost the original source files, or are working with a file created by someone else. Simply...

Hints and tips.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Scott Colvey Know the odds Did you know the odds of winning the National Lottery are 13,983,816 to 1? In all there are 49 numbers and you've got to pick six of them, so the odds are computed by determining how many unique...

Set up an advanced.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Mark Wilson Set up an advanced weblog If you're going to maintain a blog, why not host it on your own web space? Find out how with WordPress Over the past couple of years, the internet seems to have gone crazy for...

Remember logins with a password.(password-management software)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Scott Colvey Remember logins with a password manager Too many passwords and logins to remember? Use free software to help bolster your bursting brain As an adult living in the modern world it's all but impossible...

Work through long files using.(Document Map)(Product/service evaluation)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Sheila Hill Work through long files using Document Map It can be difficult getting around long documents. See how Word's Document Map can make things easier Reviewing and editing lengthy Word documents can be tricky....

Organise events with Google.(Google Calendar)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Rob Beattie Organise events with Google Calendar Keeping on top of a busy schedule can be tricky. We show you how a free internet-based calendar can help In this Workshop we're going to explore Google Calendar, a...

Red alert.(interactive television)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jane Hoskin Red alert That little red button on the remote is like a secret door into your television. Find out how interactive applications can change the way you watch the box Whether you want to replay Frank...

Special.(webmail evaluation)
June 22, 2006... Special delivery Want to access your email from any PC in the world? Then find out how to choose a webmail service Webmail is a convenient way of accessing your email any time, any place -- all you need is a computer with an internet...

No problem.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran THE PROBLEM When I click on a photo in My Pictures, my PC no longer displays the photo in Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, and instead uses Microsoft Photo Editor. I can override this but it is tedious. ...

Samsung competition.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Win Samsung products worth over [pounds sterling]2,000! Make music CDs, home movie DVDs and keep data safe with Samsung external disc drives Computeractive, together with Samsung, is giving 30 lucky...

Navman iCN 720.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Paul Allen Navman iCN 720 The first sat-nav device with a built-in camera for saving destinations by photo The iCN 720 has a photographic memory for places, made possible by the 1.3-megapixel camera mounted on the front...

T-Shirt Factory Deluxe.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James T-Shirt Factory Deluxe The science behind T-shirt printing packages is fairly simple. Once a picture or logo is created on a computer, it is printed on special transfer paper, which is then ironed onto a...

Angelina Ballerina Activity Pack.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James Angelina Ballerina Activity Pack Based around the small cartoon mouse Angelina Ballerina, this activity pack is aimed at children as young as three years old. At this age, activities should focus on developing...

Swamp Monster Blues.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James Swamp Monster Blues The title of this game raised a few eyebrows in the office and prompted some clichA[c]d observations about 'kids these days'. On closer observation, it is rather more practical and...

Select Desktop Publishing.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James Select Desktop Publishing While software such as Microsoft Word is quite capable at helping you create letters, pamphlets and invitations, to do the job properly you really need a dedicated package. ...

Marcus Trescothick's Cricket Coach.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Martin James Marcus Trescothick's Cricket Coach As a nation, we may be gripped by World Cup fever this summer, but this time last year it was England's cricketers that were doing us proud, and the Ashes success did wonders for...

No problem.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith Anthony Dhanendran Inappropriate pop-ups QI am constantly being bombarded by pop-up messages in Windows, advertising all sorts of products, sometimes even pornography. Where are they coming from and how do I get...

Net chart.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Tim Smith Summer is a good time to take care of DIY projects. Here's a list of sites to help get your hands dirty. www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk This website has an impressive breadth of information, with over 400 pages of...

Commandos: Strike Force.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Mike Anderiesz Commandos: Strike Force For what it's worth, both Commandos 1 & 2 remain right up there in our top 10 games of all time, having singlehandedly created the genre of squad-based sneak-em-ups. Sadly, after...

Hitman: Blood Money.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Eddie Henderson Hitman: Blood Money This fourth installment in the Hitman series sees the enigmatic codename 47 return to polish off more dubious types and immoral sinners. Playing as a third-person offering, the...

Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Eddie Henderson Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends In 2003, Rise Of Nations was one of the finest PC titles to hit the shelves. As a real-time strategy offering, it captivated gamers and has since built a huge online multiplayer...

Sin Episode 1: Emergence.(Product/service evaluation)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Eddie Henderson Sin Episode 1: Emergence Emerging from a seven-year hiatus, Sin has made a return, and it reappears offering more carnage than ever Although this is a sequel of sorts, you could be forgiven for not...

Call to clarify copyright law.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Call to clarify copyright law Consumers must be given clear information on exactly what they can and can't do with music and movies purchased online. This is the view of the All-party Parliamentary Internet...

BBC nets World Cup matches.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran BBC nets World Cup matches The BBC is showing a selection of World Cup matches live on its website. The corporation has the rights to televise 23 games in the group stages as well as in the later part of...

Bulldog closing gate on broadband service.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Bulldog closing gate on broadband service Internet service provider (ISP) Bulldog is to close its consumer broadband service. Bulldog, which is owned by Cable & Wireless, will not actively seek to sign up any...

Disabled lack IT tools.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Disabled lack IT tools A huge proportion of people with mild disabilities are unaware of specialist equipment to help them make better use of technology. This was the finding from Ofcom's Consumer...

Quieter PCs in the offing.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek and staff Quieter PCs in the offing Computer manufacturers are increasingly taking account of consumers' desires for quieter PCs. With computers becoming an integral part of home entertainment systems, the need...

Blind inventor sheds light on web access.(A-Technic)(SpeakOn)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anna Lagerkvist Blind inventor sheds light on web access A blind entrepreneur has developed a device that he claims would make internet content available to blind people who have no computer skills. SpeakOn, developed by...

Data back from the dead.(data recovery service launched)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anna Lagerkvist Data back from the dead PC World has launched an in-store data-retrieval service. The high-street retailer's Data Recovery Service aims to reunite home computer users with data they thought had vanished,...

Nibs.
June 22, 2006... Byline: staff Recover from the crash Tiscali has launched downloadable software from technology company Phoenix that will protect data on users' PCs in the event of a system crash. Users of Recover Pro 6 can set system updates by the...

Charities to benefit from photo website.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Anna Lagerkvist Charities to benefit from photo website A student at Brunel University has developed a website that allows people to buy or sell photos while raising money for charity. Photos on the Big White Box website...

nib.
June 22, 2006... Byline: staff Crucial Mozilla updates The Mozilla Corporation has recommended that users of its Firefox web browser and Thunderbird email program upgrade to the latest versions to avoid security problems. Some versions of the programs...

HP recalls cameras.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek HP recalls cameras Hewlett-Packard has recalled more than half a million digital cameras because of a fire risk. The company said one customer had reported the Photosmart R707 digital camera had caught fire...

nib.
June 22, 2006... Byline: staff Microsoft can't fix it Microsoft will not develop a critical security update for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Millennium Edition. These operating systems are at risk because of a flaw that...

US law threatens internet neutrality.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Paul Allen US law threatens freedom of choice on the web Politicians in the US have blocked a measure aimed at ensuring everyone is treated equally on the internet. The House of Congress voted against an amendment to a...

Beware 'ghostly' emails.(Pandalabs warns)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Clive Akass Beware 'ghostly' emails A spate of 'ghost mail' email messages worldwide may indicate that hackers, crooks or virus writers are preparing an attack. This was the warning from security firm Pandalabs, which...

Cash for shopping online.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Cash for shopping online A UK company has come up with a way consumers can earn money as they shop online. With nearly [pounds sterling]80-billion of annual consumer spending either done online or influenced by...

Microsoft to ease validation checks.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Microsoft to ease validation checks Software giant backs down from daily checks of Windows following widespread complaints Microsoft is to change the frequency of the anti-piracy checks it performs on home PCs...

Tiscali pulls plug on music streaming.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dinah Greek Tiscali pulls plug on music streaming Internet service provider (ISP) Tiscali has blamed the European recording industry's "short-sightedness" for the closure of its recently launched online music service. ...

In brief.
June 22, 2006... Byline: staff Cinema now at home CinemaNow has signed a deal to distribute Warner Bros TV and movie titles in the US, offering downloads that users can watch as many times as they want. TV series such as the Dukes of Hazzard will...

Toxic shock.(Greenpeace Foundation Inc. protests)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Rob jones Toxic shock Greenpeace made its presence felt by holding a demonstration outside a major computer and consumer show earlier in June. Using the main Computex exhibition hall in Taiwan as its forum, the...

In brief.
June 22, 2006... Byline: staff Know whether or not to go out Netweather.tv is a website that offers subscribers SMS text warnings of imminent downpours for specific UK locations. The user types in a postcode into the search engine on the website. The...

Apple MacBook.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Ben Tudor Apple MacBook Apple's Intel-powered replacement for the iBook and PowerBook With two exceptions, Apple has always made excellent notebook computers. Ignoring the Apple Portable (at over 10kg) and the 5300 (some...

Net chart new panel.(www.tate.org.uk)(Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Win an [pounds sterling]80 Freeview receiver! We may not know much about art, but we know what we like -- free equipment and digital television. Our competition offers both, with Tate Online and BT offering an iPlayer + Freeview receiver...

Trendnet Clearsky.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Will Stapley Internet telephony >> [pounds sterling]89 TrendNet ClearSky With the huge success of the internet telephony service Skype, several companies are looking for a piece of the action. Trendnet's ClearSky...

Moving memories.(digital cameras)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Nigel Donnelly Moving memories It's all too easy to run out of memory for holiday photos before you've even unpacked the suitcases. We look at ways to store your precious pics,so you can keep snapping away Not that many...

The search is on.(computer files)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jacqueline Williams The search is on Can't find that letter? Mislaid the holiday snaps? Don't panic. We explain how a desktop search program can help keep computer files right at your fingertips Even if you pride yourself...

Music.(digital music)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Xxx xx x xx Digital sound has revolutionised the way we use music. Here's all you need to know about buying, keeping and using digital music Almost all the music we listen to these days is digital, whether...