Computer Act!ve articles from October 2007

Computer Act!ve archives from October 2007

Reader to the rescue.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith The Problem I have read that turning the Superfetch option in Windows Vista off can reduce the amount of time it takes to start Windows. How can I do this as I cannot find the option in Control Panel? Kia...

Securely wipe sensitive files.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Paul Wordley Securely wipe sensitive files and folders Using Eraser will help you to permanently remove personal files from hard disks Permanently deleting files in Windows is not as straightforward as it seems. Many...

Customise.(Google Maps)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Customise Google Maps Find out how to add personalised routes, photos and landmarks to Google Maps and share them with others Google Maps has rightly gained a reputation as a decent mapping and navigation...

Reorder Explorer.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Reorder Explorer My tip changes the way Windows Explorer displays the contents of your PC. Typically, Explorer launches with My Documents (XP) or the Documents (Vista) folder opened. However, this can be changed to...

Direct to Desktop.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Direct to Desktop If you ever find yourself with multiple windows open in Windows XP or Vista and need to access a file or folder on the Windows Desktop, there is a quick and easy way to do so. Rather than clicking...

Transparent taskbar.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Transparent taskbar To change the colour of Windows Vista's Taskbar and windows, right-click on the Desktop and select Personalize from the menu that appears. Click the link labelled Window Color and Appearance,...

Save logon time.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Save logon time If you alone have access to your computer, save time when starting Windows by opting to be automatically logged in to your account. Click the Start button, type 'netplwiz' (without the quotes) and...

Turn photos into impressive.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Turn photos into impressive videos Find out how Foto2Avi can turn digital images into nifty video slideshows It's not always easy to come up with imaginative ways of sharing favourite digital photos with...

Master the Windows Vista.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Master the Windows Vista Start menu Vista's Start menu works unlike previous editions of Windows. Here's how to find your programs and files Although the Vista Start menu is similar to the one in Windows...

Workshop next issue.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Super search with Copernic Make a quiz in Excel Eliminate duplicate files A better Windows Explorer Hints & Tips

The great digital TV switchover.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain The great digital TV switchover It's going to change the way we all watch TV, be it on a computer or television. We look at what the digital switchover means for you Imagine getting home tonight and settling...

Alternative TV options.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain Alternative TV options With its one-off cost, receiving Freeview via a standard aerial is by far the cheapest way to move into the age of digital TV. However, some may want or need to consider alternatives. ...

How much will it cost?(converting television for digital broadcast)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain How much will it cost? While converting your main television for digital broadcasts can cost as little as [pounds sterling]30, the reality is that most of us have more than one TV in the house. Based on Digital...

When will it be time to switch?(digital television broadcast)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain When will it be time to switch? Note: These are start dates. Some regions will complete the process the following year. The Channel Islands are due to switch over in 2013. The best way to check which TV region you...

Digital details.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain Digital details Digital UK 08456 505050 www.digitaluk.co.uk Freeview 08701 111 270 www.freeview.co.uk Age Concern 020 8765 7200 www.ageconcern.co.uk Digital Switchover Help...

Kookabonga Crazy Monkey Party.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Kookabonga Crazy Monkey Party The title of this disc reminds us of a typical day in the Computeractive office. In fact, so does the game, featuring as it does the rhythmic beating of drums. In Kookabonga,...

Finding Nemo.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Finding Nemo The idea is to help the little star of the Finding Nemo film become a super-swimmer. To do this, young players must guide him through the underwater world and complete a series of tasks and games, in...

Create Your Own 3D Arts & Crafts Deluxe.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Create Your Own 3D Arts & Crafts Deluxe Create Your Own 3D Arts & Crafts Deluxe is all about decoupage. So, just in case you haven't a clue what decoupage is about, here's Create Your Own 3D Arts & Crafts...

Threei?1/2s a crowd.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Three's a crowd Animal games and craft work abound in this fortnight's round-up of CD-Roms There is an animal theme for this issue's CD-Rom reviews, with some craft work thrown in for good measure. We...

High society.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph High society Not all HD-Ready televisions are the same. We unravel the maze of jargon on display in your local electrical store The telly is pretty much dead and gone now. Walk into any high street shop that...

Different strokes.(High definition television formats)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Different strokes The reason there are three different HD formats is that each format works best with different types of TV programme. The progressive-scan technique of the 720p format provides smoother...

My Vu Personal Media Viewer.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester My Vu Personal Media Viewer My Vu's Personal Media Viewer lets you watch video clips from a video-capable iPod or a glasses-shaped headset. The Fully Loaded edition we're looking at offers a few extra...

Magellan 3100.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Andrea-Marie Vassou Magellan Maestro 3100 A pocket-sized navigator and guide Magellan's Maestro 3100 is an extremely small satellite navigation device, about 11cm by 9cm, which makes it a good choice for anyone who wants...

Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti wireless kit.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti wireless kit A high-speed wireless network kit for notebook PC owners Wireless network boxes are, for the most part, pretty much the same these days. They're all roughly the same...

Two Worlds.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Two Worlds Indulge in seamless swordplay in this character-building role-player Role-playing games (RPGs) aren't everyone's cup of tea. All the monsters, magic, statistics and silly names tend to put off...

Re-record, not fade away.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: NIgel Whitfield Re-record, not fade away With Digital TV just around the corner, it's time to look at recorders that do more than the old VCRs ever did A- including talking to a PC. We look at four Personal Video Recorders ...

Software updates.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Nigel Whitfield Software updates If you bought a video recorder that didn't do what you wanted, chances are the only solution was to send it back. With PVRs and set-top boxes, that's not the case A- the Freeview system provides...

The back of the box.(personal video recorder)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Nigel Whitfield The back of the box You'll find a range of connections on the back of a PVR, with all having at least a Scart to link to the TV and an aerial input. Other ports to look out for include USB master ports,...

Everything in order.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Everything in order Whether you want to categorise a collection of books or create a shopping list automatically, creating a database can help organise your life It's hard to talk about databases without...

Nowplayit.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Nowplayit Learn to play like a rock star It's refreshing to see companies using the internet to innovate, Nowplayit being a good example. The company offers music tutorials on playing rock and pop music,...

Hannspree HannsG HW223DP.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Hannspree HannsG HW223DP Like most of Hannspree's cheaper HannsG range of monitors, the HW223DP has an old-fashioned boxy look. Don't be put off, though because what it lacks in design elegance, it makes up...

Showing Off.(creating web page using Libra)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Showing Off If you want to show the world your complete collection of Charles Dickens novels, you can use Libra to create a web page showing all the books in the collection. First create a folder for the web page. Right-click on the...

Get inspired with internet recipes.(Recipe Center)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Get inspired with internet recipes If you're tired of all the recipes you cook regularly, why not look on the internet for inspiration? Recipe Center can import dishes found on the internet as long as they are stored in the Mealmaster...

Do-it-yourself database.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Do-it-yourself database The two programs described here are very good at what they do, but they are limited to specific jobs: cataloguing books and DVDs or recipes. If you want to keep track of a stamp collection, for example, they...

Hercules Mobile DJ.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Hercules Mobile DJ Instantly turn your PC into a DJ's mixing desk The term mixing desk conjures up images of unwieldy, expensive equipment festooned with dials and sockets. As with so many things in...

Behringer iAxe USB Guitar.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Behringer iAxe USB Guitar Now this is what we call 'plug and play' The iAxe is an interesting kind of instrument: it's a conventional electric guitar, manufactured by the audio company at Behringer. But as...

Mesh Elite Quad Q6600CA.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Mesh Elite Quad Q6600CA Four processors makes for plenty of horsepower For the last couple of years, it's been true that an investment of about [pounds sterling]700 in a new computer would buy a fairly...

Up to the.(configuring Start menu and Taskbar )
October 4, 2007... Up to the Taskbar The Taskbar A- that grey or blue strip containing the Start button at the bottom of the screen A- is vital to your computer. We unlock its hidden powers The Taskbar is the grey or blue bar which sits on the...

Mix of old and new.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Mix of old and new Vista's Taskbar is a mix of the old and the new. As with Windows XP, right-clicking on the Start button or Taskbar and selecting Properties gets you to the right menu. However, in Vista it is also possible to make...

Organise your desktop.
October 4, 2007... Organise your desktop ObjectDock is a piece of free software you can use to launch programs and manage running tasks from your desktop. One great advantage of Objectdock over the standard Taskbar and Start menu is the ability to see...

Zyxel Digital Media Streamer DMA1000.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Zyxel Digital Media Streamer DMA1000 A compact high-definition media player The Zyxel DMA1000 is a wired media streaming device that looks very much like one of the company's routers. It's one of the more...

Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite A revamp for the popular console The big difference between Microsoft's Xbox 360 Elite and the previous incarnations of the Xbox 360, which are still on sale at a lower...

Freecom Network Media Player.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Freecom Network Media Player Is this finally a streaming media player that performs? We've seen a fair few products recently that stream media files from PC to TV or hi-fi but very few have performed...

Roxio Easy Media Creator 10.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Roxio Easy Media Creator 10 From video editing to backup, all in one easy-to-use suite It's hard to categorise Easy Media Creator, Roxio's creative suite. It can manipulate photos and download them to a...

IPDrum IP Voicelink.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Nigel Whitfield IPDrum IP Voicelink Essentially, the IP Voicelink connects Skype to a mobile phone, but it does so in a slightly convoluted way. It's a compact device that has a slot for a mobile phone SIM at one end and a USB...

Crawler Spyware Terminator 2.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Cain Crawler Spyware Terminator 2 Spyware Terminator 2 is a free download for home users A- the company makes its money selling a version to businesses, and through paid internet search results (it gives the option of...

Netchart.(Website list)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Spybot Search and Destroy www.computeractive.co.uk/2128856 Protect your computer from the latest spyware Spybot Search and Destroy protects the computer and removes any existing spyware. Type: Freeware...

Netchart.(Website list)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith Check out this fortnight's top sites to find out more about broadband basics and dealing with disputes www.thinkbroadband.com Everything you wanted to know about broadband but didn't know where to ask. Anyone...

Customise Spamkiller.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Customise Spamkiller to filter incoming email effectively 1Spamkiller needs to be configured so that it can intercept email. You can filter email from more than one account: go to the Settings area and click on...

McAfee SpamKiller 7.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles McAfee SpamKiller 7 Eliminate junk mail from your inbox with this anti-spam tool information Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/mcafee/index System requirements: Windows 98SE, Me, NT, 2000 or...

Upgrade offer.(McAfee security management softwares)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles AA upgrade offer: save up to [pounds sterling]15 on the latest mcafee security suites For complete protection it's worth looking at a full security program such as McAfee Internet Security, which adds...

Fairtrade fish United Pepper has launched a range of animal-shaped fairtrade technology products. Lili, a webcam with microphone shaped like an octopus, and Oscar, a USB2 hub shaped like a starfish, are made from recycled materials in fairtrade workshops.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Fairtrade fish United Pepper has launched a range of animal-shaped fairtrade technology products. Lili, a webcam with microphone shaped like an octopus, and Oscar, a USB2 hub shaped like a starfish, are made from...

Channel 4 takes to the Sky Channel 4 has announced plans to transmit some programmes in high definition (HD) through Skyi?1/2s network from December 2007. The service will initially offer a selection of programmes rather than the complete schedule, and will b.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Channel 4 takes to the Sky Channel 4 has announced plans to transmit some programmes in high definition (HD) through Sky's network from December 2007. The service will initially offer a selection of programmes rather than...

Tiny PC runs Vista in full.(OQO Model E2)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tom Royal Tiny PC runs Vista in full PC builder OQO has launched a new version of its flagship product, the OQO Model E2. The tiny PC measures just 142x84x26mm, so it's not that much bigger than some mobile phones, but...

Screenshot advice QI am trying to take screenshots of a home movie playing in Windows Media Player. Regardless of whether I take a screenshot of the full screen or the active window (by pressing Alt and PrtScn) there is a black square where the video shou.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith, Anthony Dhanendran Screenshot advice QI am trying to take screenshots of a home movie playing in Windows Media Player. Regardless of whether I take a screenshot of the full screen or the active window (by pressing...

HP makes a point with healthcare.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek HP makes a point with healthcare Technology developed for inkjet printers has been used to give injections to humans. The technology uses micro-needles embedded in a patch which puncture the outside layer of...

Students should study costs.(broadband internet service)(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Students should study costs Students returning to university are paying more than they need to for their broadband contracts. Price comparison site Uswitch said that when students leave halls of residence and...

Fighting the e-waste war.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Fighting the e-waste war HP will launch a project this year to help developing countries in Africa deal with discarded electrical goods. Electrical waste in Africa is a big concern for environmentalists. IT...

Consumers voice anger over iPhone.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Tom Royal Consumers voice anger over iPhone Apple's much-hyped iPhone will debut in the UK on 9 November, but many UK consumers have already voiced anger about its price. The phone and music player will be available...

Fake goods are not worth it Li?1/2Oreal has initiated legal action against Ebay, claiming the auction site is doing too little to stop the sale of counterfeit goods. The cosmetics manufacturer said its action is the result of an increasing volume of illicit t.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Fake goods are not worth it L'Oreal has initiated legal action against Ebay, claiming the auction site is doing too little to stop the sale of counterfeit goods. The cosmetics manufacturer said its action is the result of...

Call to censor web searches European Union justice and security commissioner Franco Frattini has called for internet service providers (ISPs) to censor internet searches to stop terrorists gathering information. He said freedom of information should take.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Call to censor web searches European Union justice and security commissioner Franco Frattini has called for internet service providers (ISPs) to censor internet searches to stop terrorists gathering information. He said...

Reader to the rescue.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran The problem I find that I am unable to play AVI video files in either Windows Media Player or Realplayer on my computer. In both cases, the sound is fine and plays normally, but I see no video at all. ...

Sony launches movie memory Sony will introduce two Memory Stick packs for the Playstation Portable (PSP) games console this month. The new capacity Entertainment Packs will include a 2GB or 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo and will come with a DVD loaded with fo.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Sony launches movie memory Sony will introduce two Memory Stick packs for the Playstation Portable (PSP) games console this month. The new capacity Entertainment Packs will include a 2GB or 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo...

Crackdown on cyberbullies.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Crackdown on cyberbullies A renewed attempt to crackdown on cyberbullying could see parents of bullies fined up to [pounds sterling]1,000. An online campaign called 'Laugh at it and you're part of it', set up...

Multi-format music player Yahoo Music has launched its new Music Video Player. As well as working with Internet Explorer, the new player is compatible with Applei?1/2s Safari browser and Firefox. It enables music fans to access more than 6,500 videos and navi.
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff Multi-format music player Yahoo Music has launched its new Music Video Player. As well as working with Internet Explorer, the new player is compatible with Apple's Safari browser and Firefox. It enables music fans to...

EC debates legal protection against faulty software.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek EC debates legal protection against faulty software Software and other digital products may be reclassified under UK consumer law to give consumers the same rights they have when buying tangible goods. The...

Get started with Linux with our guide.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Get started with Linux with our guide The latest in our expert Computeractive Ultimate Guide To series looks at the Linux operating system. Although most computers come with Windows installed, Linux is a free...

Windows Watch Microsoft has lost its appeal against the European Unioni?1/2s 2004 antitrust ruling. The original judgement, in March 2004, ruled that the software giant must pay a fine of almost E500million and strip its Windows Media Player software from ver.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Windows Watch Microsoft has lost its appeal against the European Union's 2004 antitrust ruling. The original judgement, in March 2004, ruled that the software giant must pay a fine of almost E500million and strip...

iPod winners We are pleased to announce the winners of an iPod Nano MP3 player following our Computeractive reader survey in issue 240. All the readers who took part in our survey, published on 3 May, were entered into the prize draw and the names drawn.(Brief article)
October 4, 2007... Byline: staff iPod winners We are pleased to announce the winners of an iPod Nano MP3 player following our Computeractive reader survey in issue 240. All the readers who took part in our survey, published on 3 May, were entered into...

Are you a cybercriminal?
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Are you a cybercriminal? Organised criminals are using people's greed to turn them into cyber criminals and ID fraudsters, said a new report. Typical hooks for money-grabbing or unsuspecting consumers are to...

Web force field Check Point Software Technologies has released a free test version of a security tool that protects users from phishing attacks and spyware. Zonealarm Forcefield warns of dangerous downloads and stops keyloggers from stealing keystrokes an.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Web force field Check Point Software Technologies has released a free test version of a security tool that protects users from phishing attacks and spyware. Zonealarm Forcefield warns of dangerous downloads and...

BT pushes for better data security in commerce.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek and Andrea Vassou BT pushes for better data security in commerce Companies and organisations are still failing to put in place adequate procedures to safeguard the personal details of employees and customers,...

MPs back our web campaign.
October 4, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek and Paul Allen MPs back our web campaign Support for clearer contracts grows as Ofcom welcomes research Members of Parliament have added their support to Computeractive's Crystal Clear broadband campaign, which...

Apple iWork i?1/208.(Product/service evaluation)
October 4, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Apple iWork '08 Apple adds a spreadsheet to its low-cost office suite for the Mac There's been a Mac version of Microsoft Office for years, but Microsoft doesn't make a Mac version of its less-expensive Works...

Canon Selpy CP-750.(Product/service evaluation)
October 18, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Canon Selphy CP-750 An update to Canon's small photo printer Canon's range of dye-sublimation printers A- which print using rolls of film rather than jets of ink A- is being updated. Although the new models...

Apple iPod Touch.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Apple iPod Touch Touchscreen, wireless networking: what can't the new iPod do? From the moment Apple unveiled its iPhone a few months ago, it was clear that the phone's innovative touchscreen control system was...

Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 7.1.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 7.1 Can Zone Alarm move from firewall to all-round security? Zone Alarm has built a reputation as one of the best software firewalls available, partly because since 1999 it...

Terratec Cinergy Piranha.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Terratec Cinergy Piranha Digital television and radio in one device The Cinergy Piranha is a USB device, no bigger than your thumb, which effectively turns a PC into both a digital TV and a digital (DAB)...

Pentax K100D Super.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Pentax K100D Super Cheap but clever digital SLR Want to take more professional pictures without having to empty your bank account? Last year's beginners' digital SLR from Pentax has been spruced up and given a...

Fujifilm Big Job.(Product/service evaluation)
October 18, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Fujifilm Big Job HD-3W A camera that won't fall apart easily Digital cameras may have taken over from their old film counterparts as far as most amateur snappers are concerned, but they can still be fragile...

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Upgrade to the veteran image editing program Paint Shop Pro has been around for a long time and, as the name implies, it started life as a paint program that allowed users to...

Burning studio 08 upgrade.(Brief article)
October 18, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles AA upgrade offer save 50 per cent on ashampoo burning studio 7 The latest version of Ashampoo Burning Studio can burn home videos to disc by creating an SVCD, which can be played on most computers and DVD...

Burning studio tutorial.(Brief article)
October 18, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Use Burning Studio to rip tracks, copy discs and burn disc images 1Go to 'Burn or Rip Music' and insert an audio CD. Wait for Burning Studio to pick up the track names from the internet, select the output folder,...

Ashampoo Burning Studio 2008.
October 18, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Ashampoo Burning Studio 2008 Complete, easy-to-use, disc-burning software information Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/burningstudio/index System requirements: Windows 2000, XP or Vista ...