Computer Act!ve articles from June 2007

Computer Act!ve archives from June 2007

Downloads.(Trillian 3.1.5.1)(CMSimple)(Directory Opus 9.0)(Google Desktop 5.0)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Directory Opus 9 www.computeractive.co.uk/2157652 Excellent alternative to Windows Explorer This file manager can do all the things Windows Explorer can, such as copying, moving files and more....

Evesham Sound Stage X1.(Home theater sound system)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Evesham Sound Stage X1 Surround sound from a single device With bigger TV screens now becoming common, the audio part of home cinema -- surround sound -- can lag behind in many homes, because of the...

Netchart.(restaurant and food advice websites)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran It's all about eating this issue, with our selection of food and foodie sites www.chowhound.com The best place to go for restaurant and food advice, Chowhound is all about people providing hints and tips...

Pass it on.(Freecycle Network's website for waste reduction services)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Guy Clapperton Pass it on Freecycle is aimed at those of us who hate to throw perfectly good things away because we no longer use them. Instead, Freecyclers can pass on things to others who want them. Freecycle is...

Organise fun stuff.(Organising group outings becomes simpler through email and sharing photos)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Guy Clapperton Organise fun stuff If organising a group seems like a thankless task, then look at the internet as a place to have some fun. Organising group outings becomes simpler through email, and sharing photos through...

Canon Powershot A710 IS.(digital camera)(Product/service evaluation)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Canon Powershot A710 IS Highly featured yet budget priced compact, offering 6x zoom with image stabilisation Canon's PowerShot range is its budget line and the A710 IS contains features that would put more...

Edit digital video files on.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Edit digital video files on the web Find out how to upload and edit short digital videos using a free web service The success of Youtube has prompted lots of websites that enable users to upload videos....

Ways to work with.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Ways to work with Vista Aero Bought a new PC with Windows Vista? We explain the basics of using Microsoft's new interface We've held off running Workshops on Windows Vista for a few issues, to allow time...

Workshop hint.(copy and paste functions in Windows)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Paste partner It seems everyone knows how to activate the copy and paste functions in Windows using either right-click context menu or using the keyboard combinations Ctrl and C for copy or Ctrl and V for...

Workshop intro.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Edit digital video files on the web Find out how to edit short digital videos using a free web service p36A Try a powerful alternative to Internet Explorer With so much time now spent online, it...

Pick up BT messages.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Pick up BT messages online Subscribers to BT's 1571 telephone-answering service can manage messages online, for free Although BT's 1571 telephone-answering service has won fans for its no-nonsense -- and...

Next issue.(Website overview)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Working with Excel PivotTables Build flowcharts with Microsoft Word Discover new websites with StumbleUpon Synchronise Firefox bookmarks Hints & Tips

Pinnacle Studio 11.(video editing software)(Product/service evaluation)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Pinnacle Studio 11 Modest upgrade for this veteran video-editing program Studio 11 Plus is an odd upgrade. In fact, we're inclined to describe it as more of an 'update' than a true 'upgrade'. The reason...

Thomson Top Up TV.(set-top boxes (Television))(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Thomson Top Up TV Many modern set-top boxes offer the Top-Up TV service, but this is the official box that comes with the monthly service (although with this standalone version, the service is an optional extra, so you're not tied in to a...

Gateway MT6839b.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Emil Larsen Gateway MT6839b A [pounds sterling]600 notebook that runs Vista Home Premium with ease Gateway has been churning out some impressive, low-cost notebook computers of late and the 6839b continues the trend. It's...

Samsung NV11.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Samsung NV11 A 10-megapixel compact with a simplified menu system Like its NV3 and NV7 predecessors the NV11 is blessed with a rock-solid build and a matt black metal finish complete with pop-up flash that's...

Casper The Magical Toy Store.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Casper The Magical Toy Store Forget giving this to the ankle biters -- keep it for yourself. Okay, let the kids have a go but be warned, they won't want to stop playing: Casper The Magical Toy Store is fantastic....

Big Cook Little Cook Feast Of Fun.(computer game)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Big Cook Little Cook Feast Of Fun Feast of Fun stars Big Cook Ben and Little Cook Small, so devotees of the BBC TV show should feel at home. The game is essentially a collection of activities that revolve around...

Underground Ernie International Fun Station.(computer adventure games)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Underground Ernie International Fun Station If your youngsters are fans of the show, then they are sure to adore Underground Ernie International Fun Station. It's a collection of mini-games based around the series...

Parrot Boombox.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Parrot Boombox A self-powered set of Bluetooth speakers that offers great value for money We've seen a mixed bag of Bluetooth products from Parrot recently, often suffering from inconsistent wireless...

Spyware Doctor 5.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Spyware Doctor 5 Protect your computer from a range of nasty threats with this unobtrusive security tool Spyware Doctor 5 is the latest in a successful range of PC clean-up tools, and this version now comes...

Take it outside.(to enjoy music in outdoor recreation party)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Take it outside Planning a garden party, picnic or barbecue? We show you how to enjoy your music in the great outdoors The Great British summer is here again and many of us will be taking to our gardens or...

An apple a.(evaluating Apple computers)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rod Lawton An apple a day Apple Macs are selling in greater numbers than ever, but to most of us, they're an enigma. Don't be put off by the slick graphics -- the Mac is a very friendly little beast Most of us are...

A safer option.(Apple makes a big noise about the fact that Mac viruses are rare)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rod Lawton A safer option Apple makes a big noise about the fact that Mac viruses are rare to the point of being non-existent. That may be so, but there's no point being complacent. It's possible that the way Mac OS X...

The bad news.(evaluating operating systems for computer games)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rod Lawton The bad news There are clear downsides to moving to a Mac, make no mistake. It's not a good games computer, for a start. There are good games on the Mac, but for cutting-edge gameplay the Windows PC is streets...

Go to work on the web.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Go to work on the web It might sound a bit odd, but you can write letters, sort a spreadsheet and organise your life with just a web browser and a PC to run it on. We show you how For many of us, using...

Decision time.(evaluating system performance and upgrading systems)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rob Jones Decision time When your PC is so slow that you can make a cup of tea while waiting for it to perform a simple operation, then it may be time to upgrade Like an aging footballer, PCs will eventually start to...

Wear & Tear.(consumer electronics purchasing and product warranty)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Rob JOnes Wear & Tear New electrical items come with a warranty that provides consumers with basic protection should the item go wrong, but these are limited by time -- typically one or two years. Components with moving...

On the move.(upgrading operating systems)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn On the move Making the move to Vista? Even if you're only considering it, read on for our guide to making sure everything goes smoothly They say that moving house is one of the most stressful things known...

Back up your data.(upgrading operating systems)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Back up your data Before you even think about switching to Vista, it's important to make sure that you back up data first. Even if you're just moving data from an old PC to a new one, it's important to make...

Compatibility issues.(upgrading operating system for better performance)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Compatibility issues If a program you use starts crashing under Vista, or if you find that a peripheral, such as a scanner, doesn't work at all, the first thing to do is pay a visit to the manufacturer's website...

Expert Pdf 5.(portable document software)(Product/service evaluation)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Expert Pdf 5 Create, edit and manage Pdfs with this alternative to Adobe Acrobat The Pdf is a very popular file format. While Adobe Acrobat Reader is free, the full version of Adobe Acrobat isn't, and without it...

Swiss Security.(network security software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Swiss Security Wireless networks are convenient but there are justified concerns about security. Swiss Security looked simple to use, with a graphical menu to set everything up rather than fiddling about with...

Plantronics Audio 350.(headphones)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Plantronics Audio 350 Ear-hugging headphones such as the lightweight Plantronics Audio 350 are a comfortable alternative to in-ear models. However, this reduced weight is only possible because of the lack of padding...

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary.(computer adventure game)(Product/service evaluation)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Eddie Henderson Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary Legend returns in this action gem that's a Lara fun A decade ago a young, smiling politician was kick-starting the New Labour movement, The Spice Girls were storming the...

Creative Live Cam Optia AF.(webcams)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Creative Live Cam Optia AF Creative says a high-resolution and autofocus is what everyone needs from a webcam Creative's latest webcam is trumpeted as the first of its ilk with a two-megapixel resolution and...

Create Your Own Family Tree.(Create Your Own Family Tree Genealogy Suite)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Create Your Own Family Tree Create Your Own Family Tree Genealogy Suite includes Family Tree Legends Deluxe edition as well as other genealogical resources. The software was easy to use with an interface that...

Tesco IPA 1000.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou Tesco IPA 1000 Make and receive internet calls using a standard home telephone and this adapter With recent research from Ofcom showing that a fifth of people in the UK are now using VoIP, it comes as no...

Starry Night Complete Space and Astronomy Pack 2006.(science education software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Simon Wiliams Starry Night Complete Space and Astronomy Pack 2006 Plenty of scope with Starry Night Starry Night is a combination of three pieces of software. There's a DVD movie giving an overview of our solar system, its...

System Mechanic 6.(Iolo Technologies L.L.C. launched systems management software)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles System Mechanic 6 www.computeractive.co.uk/systemmechanic6/index information System requirements: Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 or XP. 25MB hard disk space Serial code from: www.iolo.com/vnusm6 ...

What's your IT IQ?(information technology intelligence quotient)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: staff What's your IT IQ? The way people handle technology problems, such as setting a DVD player, varies depending on their age, according to a survey carried out for technology education website What is your tq. Up to...

Bamboo shoots Wacom has launched a new graphics tablet as an alternative to the mouse for controlling Windows. The [pounds sterling]70 Bamboo tablet has a wider-than-usual control area so it will work with widescreen monitors. The pen requires no battery as it is powere.(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: tim smith Bamboo shoots Wacom has launched a new graphics tablet as an alternative to the mouse for controlling Windows. The [pounds sterling]70 Bamboo tablet has a wider-than-usual control area so it will work with...

When to call the helpline.(internet service providers)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... When to call the helpline If none of this has helped, then it may be time to call your ISP's technical support line. Before you start, get a notepad and pen, and have a bit of a think. You may be convinced that the problem is down to a...

Nibs.(customer service sales lost and pay price)(British Telecommunications PLC contracts with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: staff Customer service suffers Many global consumer technology companies alienate customers by providing only average customer service, new research claims. A study by Accenture found wide-reaching disparities in the perception...

Gearing up for better things.(Google has launched software to allow online services to function offline)(Brief article)
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Gearing up for better things Google has launched a tool to make it simpler to use online applications such as email and calendars without an internet connection. Google Gears allows access to online data and...

Cap agreed on roaming fees The European Parliament has approved plans to cap mobile roaming costs abroad. Although this must still be approved by the European Commission and member governments of the 27-nation bloc, this is considered a formality. Brito.
June 14, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou Cap agreed on roaming fees The European Parliament has approved plans to cap mobile roaming costs abroad. Although this must still be approved by the European Commission and member governments of the...

Wow factor fights back.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Wow factor fights back CD Wow, which was fined [pounds sterling]41million last month by the UK High Court, has vowed to fight on in a bid to overturn the judgement. The online retailer said the fine awarded to...

Win online security gadgets worth [pounds sterling]2,000.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Win online security gadgets worth [pounds sterling]2,000! Complete online protection with no software to install with the compact Yoggie Pico No-one denies the need for comprehensive security when going online...

MPs urge veto over DNA plan.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek and andrea vassou MPs urge veto over DNA plan Genetic records kept on more than one million people with no conviction for an offence MPS and civil rights groups are asking the public to urge the Government to...

New keys to fighting cyber crime.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek New keys to fighting cyber crime The battle against cyber crime could be given a boost with the development of the first affordable consumer appliance to block attacks. Security appliances are usually bulky,...

Win an ipod in our survey.
June 14, 2007... Byline: Paul Allen Win an iPod in our survey We need your help to plan the future of Computeractive. Complete our survey online at www.computeractive.co.uk/ survey to tell us what you like or would like to see more of in the...

Turn spreadsheets around with.(Microsoft Excel)(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Paul Warldley Turn spreadsheets around with Pivot tables Pivot tables provide a fascinating way of analysing lists to see the data hidden within them Many Excel worksheets are little more than lists with totals at the...

Access web favourites from.(Website overview)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Mark WIlson Access web favourites from any computer Install the Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer add-on for Firefox to store favourites online In the previous issue we took a look at switching to the Firefox web...

Create charts from data in.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Paul Wardley Create charts from data in Microsoft Word Microsoft Word includes a number of chart-making facilities that can add flair to documents Despite its name, Microsoft Word has always done more than processing...

n/a.(using Microsoft Word's Print Preview option)(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Previews to you Before printing a document it is often a good idea to see how the document will look on paper. In Microsoft Word, this can be done by clicking the Print Preview icon on the toolbar or opening the...

Don't wanna lose it.(using Microsoft Word's Cut and Paste operation)(Brief article)(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Don't wanna lose it One of the problems with the standard Cut and Paste functions in Microsoft Word is when there are multiple pieces of text to move. An answer to this problem can be found in the spike feature....

Slide into view.(Microsoft Windows XP's Slide Show option)(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Slide into view When trying to find a particular image or photograph on a hard disk it can be quite a chore if the files aren't properly labelled. To find a desired image quickly and easily, make use of Windows...

Workshop intro.(using pivot tables for spreadsheets)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Turn spreadsheets around with PivotTables PivotTables provide a fascinating way of analysing lists to see the data hidden within them p36A Discover online gems with a free toolbar Use the Stumbleupon...

Discover online gems with a.(Website overview)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Discover online gems with a free toolbar Use the Stumbleupon browser toolbar to home in on websites likely to be of interest The internet is such a huge resource that looking for useful websites using any...

Casio Exilim EX-V7.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Casio Exilim EX-V7 This slimline compact squeezes in a powerful zoom Taking their cue from camera phones, digital compact cameras -- on which the user simply slides open the lens cover to take a snap --...

Trekstor Vibez.(portable media player)(Product/service evaluation)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Trekstor Vibez A portable player that concentrates on music When portable players are getting more jack-of-all-trades, it's good to see one that concentrates on the basics. Trekstor's Vibez can display...

Samsung U600.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: David Phelan Samsung U600 The SGH-U600, the latest in Samsung's Ultra range, is exceptionally thin (10.9mm). This trick is achieved partly by flattening the buttons: the traditional number keys are hidden inside the slide...

Philips X200.(laptop computer)(Product/service evaluation)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Philips X200 Notebook PC's design isn't just an open and shut case If you were to pay [pounds sterling]850 for a notebook computer, you'd probably expect either a desktop replacement or an ultraportable. At...

Creative Zen.(Creative Zen Stone mp3 player)(Product/service evaluation)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Creative Zen Stone Small and Shuffle-like, Creative's cheap, screenless music player has all the essentials This is Creative's smallest music player yet. It's also one of its cheapest, costing less than...

Sony Ericsson K810i.
June 28, 2007... Byline: David Phelan Sony Ericsson K810i The latest Cyber-shot cameraphone is a slimmer version of Sony Ericsson's earlier hit The K800i was a great phone -- the first one labelled Cyber-shot to show how seriously Sony's digital...

Nokia E65.
June 28, 2007... Byline: David Phelan Nokia E65 Need a phone with powerful features that doesn't look boring? Nokia hopes the E65 will fit the bill Take no notice of the faux-leather adorning the back of the Nokia E65, it's the only slight...

A night in at.
June 28, 2007... Byline: NIall Magennis A night in at the movies For most of us a night out at the movies will always be something special. However, it's becoming easier and easier to recreate some of the magic of cinema in your own home Modern...

10 tips for buying budget home cinema.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Niall Magennis 10 tips for buying budget home cinema n On TV sets that are 32in or smaller, there's little visible difference between a resolution of 720p and 1080p. Often it's best to go for a 720p screen as it is likely to...

Downloads/net chart.(copying large files)(creating macros(computing))(using Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Adobe Reader 8.1 www.computeractive.co.uk/2129117 Latest version of the PDF viewer This free program lets you view and print files created in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF). This version has...

Downloads/net chart.(websites)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran It's time to go global this issue, with our selection of world reference sites www.timeanddate.com Time and Date is a very useful site that shows times and dates for almost any city on the planet....

The Net, the law and you.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Iain Thomson The Net, the law and you Just as in any other area of life, the law governs what you can and can't do on the internet. But how do you know what is and isn't legal online? While using the internet may make...

Privacy is dead.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Iain Thomson Privacy is dead Everyone online leaves a variety of digital footprints when they go onto the internet, including login details, IP addresses or records with your ISP, and this is all available to the...

Dealing with offensive emails.(Column)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Iain Thomson Dealing with offensive emails While email has revolutionised how we communicate, it has its pitfalls. Offensive emails are becoming more common and have led to employment dismissals and even court cases. In March...

Vivanco Easy Transfer Cable.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Emil Larsen Vivanco Easy Transfer Cable Take the pain out of a Vista upgrade Most computer users, it's fair to say, will upgrade to Vista by buying a new computer, rather than by upgrading an existing one running Windows...

Roxio Copy and Convert 3.(systems management software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Roxio Copy and Convert 3 Copy and Convert is a cut-down version of Roxio's Easy Media Creator suite and is more about converting between formats and copying files to CD and DVD. All the basics --...

Serif Albumplus X2.(image processing software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Serif Albumplus X2 There are plenty of programs around to manage a digital photo collection, both free downloads and commercial products, so Albumplus X2 is the latest in a long line. The X2 is Serif's way of...

Iriver Clix2.(mp3 player)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Iriver Clix2 The front of the slimline Clix2 is occupied almost entirely by the 2.2in screen. To navigate, press down on one of the edges. It's an effective way to get through a music collection, and there are...

Hannspree Hannsvaas.(liquid crystal display)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Hannspree Hannsvaas Recreate the 1950s with a veneer of class Those who find modern LCD TVs a bit samey will find something of interest in this television from Hannspree. The Hannsvaas is reminiscent...

Medion Rim 1000.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Emil Larsen Medion Rim 1000 Medion tries Microsoft's vision of miniature computing For a while now, Microsoft and Intel have shared a vision of the future of computing that hangs on the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) -- devices...

Steinberg Sequel.(audio software)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Karl Foster Steinberg Sequel Music creation for beginners Historically, it's not been easy to make music on a computer -- the complexity of the software and getting all the equipment to talk to each other, can make the...

Shoot, print and share.(printing and sharing digital photographs)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Shoot, print and share It has never been easier to take a quality picture with a digital camera, edit it on a PC and share it with others either online or as a print. Here's exactly how to go about it The...

Revive old snaps.(Brief article)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Revive old snaps Now that most of us have digital cameras and hard drives full of hundreds of files, we've largely forgotten about the shoeboxes full of prints or rolls of film stuffed into the sideboard. ...

Cameras we rate.
June 28, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Cameras we rate Here are three models for photographers of varying experience and wealth that we recommend as the very best in their particular class of camera Best compact: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 ...

Halo 2.(computer war game)(Product/service evaluation)
June 28, 2007... Byline: Eddie Henderson Halo 2 An abundance of cannons mean this game conversion makes plenty of noise It shouldn't be a colossal leap to convert an Xbox game to work on a Windows PC, but it has taken three years for Halo 2 to do...