Computer Act!ve articles from September 2005

Computer Act!ve archives from September 2005

From the Editor.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Dylan Armbrust. Now that more than half of all internet users have tasted the benefits of high-capacity internet connections, few of us will look back. Competition among service providers for your custom is fierce, and the range of...

Google raises the chat stakes. More choice for consumers with launch of free online voice and text service.
September 1, 2005... Google has upped the stakes in the battle for domination of the consumer Desktop by launching a free online voice and text messaging tool. Google Talk enables Gmail account holders (Google's webbased email service) to chat using text or to...

Soham inquiry leads to new offenders database.
September 1, 2005... The Home Office has unveiled a database that will enable police and probation officers to keep track of violent criminals and sex offenders. The Violent and Sex Offenders Register (Visor) will cost [pounds sterling]1 Cm and contain...

Howzat!(British Telecommunications PLC, cricket special, free calls to Australia)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BT has introduced freetelephone calls to Australia for the duration of the contest for the Ashes.The company is offering free calls of up to one hour to landlines only in Australia using its BT Communicator product. Calls must be made using the...

Delays leave PCs exposed.
September 1, 2005... Delays in the development of patches fo viruses (a malicious program that damages computer data) for several days a year leave home PCs unprotected. IronPort Systems, a company that monitors networks and puts suspect emails into...

Phishing scams target online auction users.
September 1, 2005... Ebay and PayPal users are once again the target of phishing scams. One such fraud begins with an email purporting to come from PayPal, warning of a hacking attack and urging customers to print out and fill in a form. The message reads:...

New plates to be tested.(license plates)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Government is to test new car number plates that include radio transmitters. These will contain radio frequency identification (RFID) microchips, which can transmit information about the item they are attached to a short distance. The...

Jargon Buster - Techno babble demystified.(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Emoticon: An animated graphic that denotes various emotions. Encryption: The science of scrambling data so it can only be read by the sender and recipient. Patch: A file that fixes an existing application. RSS: A way of receiving...

New address.(modem protection free software)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... It seems BT has pulled the rug from beneath our feet with regard to the Workshop on banishing rogue diallers in issue 193. The tool we recommended was available to all users as we went to press. However, the company has now changed this so a BT...

Wireless lock.(Lindy, PC lock)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Lindy has developed a USB wireless PC lock to stop unwanted access to a computer. The handy device incorporates a portable wireless transmitter, and a plug-in receiver that connects to one of the PC's USB ports. When the user leaves their desk...

Help with your homework.
September 1, 2005... Microsoft is offering a helping hand to secondary school students and parents alike with Microsoft Student 2006. This includes tutorials on how to use this program, a selection of templates and a calculator that can draw two and three...

Ebayers buy up Britain.
September 1, 2005... Ebayers are boosting the national economy and making themselves richer, according to a new report. The research, carried out by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), found that more than 50,000 Britons are now selling goods...

Internet television broadens its appeal.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Two more internet service providers are pushing the concept of television over broadband. Eclipse Internet has announced it is starting tests of a national 'triple-play' service, which will incorporate digital television, telephony and...

Burn, baby, burn.(sound recordings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has turned its eye on the hardware and software that allows CDs to be written at home. It said recent research showed that the main reason for the decline in the sale of CDs in the US is...

Spammers made to pay.
September 1, 2005... AOL is offering its customers the assets of spammer Brad Bournival as prizes in a free sweepstake. Bournival, 21, made a small fortune by sending tens of millions of unsolicited emails offering adult products. The goodies grabbed by AOL include...

Jargon Buster - Techno babble demystified.(computer related terms)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Broadband: Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. Download: Process of transferring files onto your PC directly from another computer. File-sharing: Swapping files with other people over the internet. Mb: A...

Sony warns of counterfeit camcorders.
September 1, 2005... Counterfeit Sony camcorders have been appearing on eBay. They look like authentic products, but a Sony representative said they are only stills cameras. Many of them have the model number MX-30-7000, but Sony said this is no guarantee of...

New budget notebook.
September 1, 2005... Evesham subsidiary Lowestonweb.com has added a budget Instant on DVD notebook to its range. The Quest A220 can load and run a DVD without having to switch the notebook on. Priced at [pounds sterling]699, it sports 512Mb memory and a 60Gb hard...

Websites shut out disabled.
September 1, 2005... People should report websites that flout disability laws, says the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). The call comes after a report from the charity AbilityNet revealed that most telecoms company websites made little effort to accommodate...

Campaign aims to stop illegal online animal trade.
September 1, 2005... The internet is playing an important role in bringing some endangered species to the brink of extinction. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has launched an internet campaign to protect endangered animals and plants from the...

Council tackles graffiti artists.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... People in Hertfordshire are being asked to turn into high-tech snoopers and take digital pictures of graffiti. Harlow council has started a pilot project asking people to send in images of graffiti on walls, using mobile phone picture...

Free eCards.
September 1, 2005... PhotoBox has added free eCards to its product portfolio. Customers can now design, create and send personalised messages with their own pictures using the eCard designer. These are then delivered at no cost to friends and family anywhere in the...

Top dog.
September 1, 2005... Nintendo has given birth to a virtual puppy, the Nintendog. The cyberpets will live their life on the Nintendo DS games console when the title is launched on October 7. Gamers will be able to choose from a number of dogs, including a labrador,...

Unlimited calls.(adapter from Linksys )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A new adapter from Linksys offers Vonage account holders the means to make internet calls using a normal telephone. The PAP2 adapter connects ordinary telephones to a broadband router. A Vonage account costs [pounds sterling]10 a month and...

Game, set, no re-match.
September 1, 2005... Online gamers are being kicked off gaming sites because of problems caused by anti-cheating software, and there is no fix in sight. The software, called PunkBuster, runs in the background while people are playing and looks for other...

Online marking.(student evaluation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Teachers will be able to check many of their pupils' external exam papers this year. The facility is possible because over half of the papers, including GCSE, A Level and GNVQs, issued this summer by exam board Edexcel were scanned and...

Gaming may join classes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Computer games are to be tested in schools to see if they have any educational benefits. Electronic Arts is co-operating with education IT researcher NESTA Futurelab, (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) who will...

Xbox marks the spot.
September 1, 2005... Microsoft's latest Xbox games console, the 360, will be on sale for Christmas the company said. Consumers will be able to choose one of two packages. The basic Xbox 360, dubbed the Core System, will sell for around [pounds sterling]209 in the...

Wireless games.(Gigabyte GN-MD01 )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Owners of Xbox, Playstation and GameCube gaming consoles can connect to wireless networks using the Gigabyte GN-MD01 adapter. The device has a special button to set up a secure network with other GN-MD01 adapters automatically. It will use...

On the move.(www.ononemap.com)(OnOneMap.com )(help from web site for house hunting)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... House hunting could become easier with the launch of a free website that aims to provide detailed information about properties in specific areas. OnOneMap.com asks for the area, number of rooms required and maximum and minimum price limits,...

Consumeractive! - Get Some Answers! Consumeractive sticks up for your rights. If there's an issue you want investigated, get in touch.
September 1, 2005... PROBLEM - Question A Mesh of crossed wires I ordered a Logitech cordless keyboard and rechargeable optical mouse from Mesh Computers. When the goods eventually arrived, I found I had not been given the model I had asked for but a...

Cover Story - Broadband in the UK - Spoilt for choice. Broadband speeds are up, prices are down. We show you how to pick the best deal for your needs and explain what you need to know to change service provider.(Cover story)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Nigel Whitfield. The majority of UK residents are now spoilt for choice: there's broadband from your phone company - even if it's not BT - or broadband-speed connections via mobile phones; there's wireless broadband, broadband via...

Hot New Products - Mustek R580. Record television digitally at high quality with this personal video recorder.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Will Stapley. If you like the idea of the PVR (personal video recorder) features of Sky+, but don't fancy shelling out for a Sky subscription, the Mustek R580 is an alternative. It won't give access to Sky's extensive channel...

Hot New Products - Imago TViX. Transfer your audio and video files to your TV.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Cliff Joseph. The manufacturers of the TViX call it a 'portable media player', which suggests that it's a hand-held device with a screen, along the lines of Creative's Zen Vision or the Playstation Portable (PSP). In fact, the...

Hot New Products - Microsoft Student 2006. A collection of extra software for Microsoft Office and a special version of Encarta.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. With many schools demanding that elements of homework should involve online research, computers have never been so important for students. Most courses also require printed assignments rather than handwriting. Microsoft...

Hot New Products - Toshiba Qosmio G20. A large, impressive-looking notebook with Windows Media Center.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. The Qosmio G20 is a desktop-replacement notebook computer that runs the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. It's a Centrino computer, using an Intel Pentium M-760 processor running at 2GHz,...

Hot New Products - Hush E2 MCE. A near-silent Media Center PC for your living room.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Simon Williams. Media Center PCs have carved themselves a position in the computer market and in the living rooms of those who appreciate convenience and enjoy digital media at their fingertips. With facilities to view, record and...

Hot New Products - Serif PhotoPlus 10. Serif's latest enhancements keep it in the running against other budget photo packages.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Simon Williams. PhotoPlus has been creeping up on its better-known rivals in the photo-editing arena for a while now and with version 10, Serif has got even closer. It can handle all the obvious things, like touching up photos...

Hot New Products - Sony SDM-X75K. An LCD screen for most computer occasions.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. The SDM-X75K is one of the latest additions to Sony's range of 17in flat-panel monitors for the home office. According to its makers, it is designed to offer users a more comfortable viewing experience, which is crucial...

Hot New Products - Cellink BTST-9000D. Stereo headphones without all the wires.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Luke Peters. If untangling twisted headphone cables isn't your idea of fun, then a wireless pair, such as the Cellink BTST-9000D, might be a better option. It uses Bluetooth to transmit sound from a music player to the...

Hot New Products - CyberLink Power Producer 3 Encore. Create DVD video discs that contain home movies or digital photographs.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendram. CyberLink's PowerProducer 3 is primarily a DVD creator but it also includes the software to create photographic slideshows and distribute them on disc. It includes templates for creating disc menus, and will...

Hot New Products - AverMedia DVB-T STB7.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. If space is tight, using a monitor as a television is a clever solution and the AverMedia DVB-T STB7 does this without having to install any software or open the PC's case. The STB7 sits in between the computer and...

Hot New Products - Archos Gmini XS 100.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. The Archos Gmini XS 100 looks too small an MP3 player to have a hard disk inside it, but that's what gives it an impressive 3Gb of storage space. The disadvantage of hard disks over flash memory is that they are more...

Hot New Products - Netgear TA612V Voice Adapter. Use the internet to call friends and relatives.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. The premise of internet telephony is that we can all ditch our phones and call people using the internet instead. The TA612V allows just that - plug it into an ADSL modem and sign up for an account on the...

Hot New Products - Kodak Security CD-R.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. The premise of the Security CD-R is that should you have files that need to be securely stored, simply insert the disc, drag and drop the files or folders in question on to it, and they will be encrypted and...

Hot New Products - Philips Brilliance 190P6.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Will Stapley. This 19in monitor sits at the top of Philips' Professional range. The design will suit most environments, while the screen can be swivelled and tilted as well as raised and rotated. Stereo speakers are built neatly...

Hot New Products - eTrust PestPatrol. Prevent spyware from attacking your computer.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. PestPatrol is a spyware killer - it will search a PC for traces of any programs designed to either spy on users, display unwanted pop-up ads, or anything else designed to impede productivity. There are perfectly...

Feature - Creating databases - On the record. Databases are a great way of storing all the details of your daily life. We show you how to get started creating your own.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Tim Smith. The word database can be intimidating, conjuring up images of tape-driven computers from the 1970s, but the reality is that they can be both simple and very useful. Databases are the electronic equivalent of index cards...

Feature - Customise your Desktop - Windows dressing. Say goodbye to that stale Windows Desktop. We show you how to modify every aspect of your workspace.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Will Stapley, If you find yourself staring at the standard Windows wallpaper, listening to same dull jingle each time your PC starts up and using run-of-the-mill screensavers, it's time for a change. In this feature, we'll not only...

On Test - USB keys - The key to success. USB keys offer more benefits than simple data storage. We look at the choices available to see which is best for you.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. It's not easy to find floppy disks on sale any more, and most PC manufacturers no longer include them with new computers. This is mainly because of the rise of a faster, more reliable, easier to use and - per...

Feature - Computing for kids - Techno tots. You can give your child a head start in life by helping them get to grips with computing and luckily there is loads of fun and free software out there to help. We investigate.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Alvira Khan-Gordon. Happiness is a habit best learned young they say, and in today's techno-happy world, the same can be said for computing. There's much to gain by introducing kids to technology because like reading, writing and...

Digital home New wireless networking standards - No strings attached? The latest wireless technologies are all touted as having faster data transfer speeds and greater ranges - just don't expect them to work with future devices.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Niall Magennis. Over the past few years it has become so much easier to set up a wireless network than in previous times. Manufacturers have cottoned on to the fact that it's not just tech-heads that want to share an internet...

On Test CD-Roms - Game on. Inject some fun and frivolity into your time spent in front of the computer with our selection of games and puzzles.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Martin James. For all their practical uses, computers are also perfect for fun and games, and this issue we have brought together a group of programs with a focus very much on entertainment. Puzzler Sudoku Volume 1 is a set of...

On Test - Games - Chaos League: Sudden Death. A brutal yet enjoyable sports game that will remind older gamers of the classic Speedball.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. Chaos League: Sudden Death is an update to the highly unorthodox Chaos League - a game that blended real-time strategy (RTS) action with sport. The game pits two teams of fantasy characters (goblins, orcs and so forth)...

On Test - Games - Big Mutha Truckers 2: Truck Me Harder.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. Truck Me Harder follows the story of Big Mutha Truckers Hauling Inc., whose owner, Big Ma, has been arrested for tax evasion. It's up to you, as one of her children, to embark on a series of trucking missions to raise...

On Test - Games - ER.
September 1, 2005... Byline: Rory Reid. ER puts you in the gown of a doctor from TV's most well-known hospital drama. Rather than playing as an existing character from the television show, players create a unique physician, with the ability to customise...

On Test - Games - Aurora Watching.(aurora games)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Byline: Mike Anderiesz. We expected Aurora Watching to be a top-notch game, comparable to the excellent Splinter Cell series. However, this third-person espionage yarn proved otherwise. It's a sneak-and-shoot game that requires...

On Test - Games - Games Top 10. Here are the top 10 games according to the official UK Leisure Software chart. (C)ELSPA. Compiled by Chart Track.
September 1, 2005... 1. Battlefield 2 [pounds sterling]35 (first-person shooter) EA Games 1. The Sims 2 [pounds sterling]35 (add-on pack for The Sims) EA Games 2. The Sims 2: University [pounds sterling]20 (add-on pack for The Sims) EA Games 3. Half...

Net Chart - Free Downloads. We've trawled the internet to test what you can get for free.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... MEDIAMAN 2.2 www.computeractive.co.uk/2140355 Organise music CDs and videos MediaMan keeps track of videos, books, CDs and DVDs. It can import details from Amazon using the ISBN, making entry very quick. Type: Freeware ...

Net Chart - Site seeing. The school year has just begun so we've rounded up some websites to help with the homework blues.
September 1, 2005... Go to www.computeractive.co.uk to find quick links to all these featured websites www.ngfl.gov.uk: The National Grid for Learning may not sound exciting but it is full of information and links to other websites. The website is organised...

Net Chart - Site of the fortnight - www.displaycalibration.com.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... This might not sound like the most exciting website on the internet, but a well set up monitor reduces eyestrain. DisplayCalibration includes a selection of images to help properly set up the brightness and contrast settings on your monitor....

No Problem! Q&A - Answers to ... PC problems. Our resident technical doctor is here to cure your PC ailments.(personal computers)
September 1, 2005... Game screenshots Q: I enjoy games like Microsoft Train Simulator and Silent Hunter 2. How can I take screenshots in the game without having to quit to save them, like with the PrtScn key? Martin Sanderson, Birmingham A: There is a...

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.
September 1, 2005... THE PROBLEM How do I change the website that is displayed by default when I connect to the internet? Dave Wright, issue 196 YOUR ANSWER You can select whatever default homepage you want in Internet Explorer by opening the...

Letters Your say!
September 1, 2005... Cars aren't computers It seems that the Consumeractive section is increasingly given to non-computer related consumer problems. Some are associated, such as cameras, while others, like cars, are not. As someone who wrote to Consumeractive...

From the Editor.(personal computers)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 15, 2005... Byline: Dylan Armbrust. Despite their many benefits, PCs can be infuriating. Errors and faults seem to arise without explanation or cause, and getting answers from manufacturers can be an email lottery. Much better then to take charge of...

Credit card fraud rife in UK. Burgeoning internet use is fuelling the UK's unenviable reputation for credit-card fraud.
September 15, 2005... Britain is fast becoming 'the Nigeria of Europe' for credit card fraud thanks to the increasingly popularity of internet and mail order transactions. The warning came from anti-fraud company Early Warning. It said the UK has earned this...

File-sharing networks to be driven underground.
September 15, 2005... Recent legal action against file-sharing networks will drive this activity underground, making them even riskier for users, a lawyer has warned. Last week an Australian court outlawed Kazaa, one of the world's largest file-sharing...

Pocket money.
September 15, 2005... PayPal, the online payments system owned by eBay, is to start processing micropayments. The new pricing will enable online retailers to let consumers pay for low-cost digital content such as ringtones or online greeting cards. The system is...

Ban on violent web porn.(Brief Article)
September 15, 2005... The government has unveiled plans to ban the possession of "extreme pornographic material" in digital form. Home Office Minister Paul Goggins has published a consultation paper inviting views on the proposals, which would make it an offence...

Patent battle threatens to push up iPod cost.
September 15, 2005... Creative Technology has joined the list of companies that owns patents which could force up the price of Apple's popular iPod music player. Creative, which makes the Zen and Nomad Jukebox portable music players, was awarded a patent...

Canon extends camera range.
September 15, 2005... Canon has added a host of new digital cameras to its range, along with a number of photo printers. A new addition to the PowerShot line is the 8-megapixel PowerShot S80, on sale from October for [pounds sterling]499. Also new are the...

Auction sniper.
September 15, 2005... The eBay sniping device Buyertools Reminder 1.5 is now available free online. The automatic program can deal with any number of eBay domestic accounts and most international branches of the auction website. The AutoBid function automatically...

[pounds sterling]10 broadband.
September 15, 2005... Broadband provider V Two One has launched a 2Mbit/s service priced at [pounds sterling]10 per month. It enables users to download 2Gb of data each month, access premium-rate, 24-hour technical support and the company's telephone service,...

Wireless boost.
September 15, 2005... D-Link has launched a tool that extends the reach of wireless networks with capabilities of up to 54Mbit/s. The DWL-G710 Wireless Range Extender enables the wireless communication of routers and access points set up in locations with dead spots...

Jargon Buster - Techno babble demystified.
September 15, 2005... - Mbit/s: Megabits per second. A measure of data-transfer speed. - Megapixel: A measure of the level of detail recorded by digital cameras. - Router: A device used to connect computers together or to the internet. - Server: A...

PCs divide boys from girls.
September 15, 2005... Computers are widening the gap between girls' and boys' performance at school, a new Government report has claimed. Researchers found that boys were more likely than girls to play games on a home computer at least once a week. This pattern,...

Intel launches multimedia PC quality badge.
September 15, 2005... Intel has launched a brand that it hopes will do for home entertainment PCs what Centrino did for notebooks. The new Viiv badge will indicate that a PC includes specific technologies so consumers do not have to remember a list of technical...

Google goes to the cinema.
September 15, 2005... Google has added a web-search feature that enables cinema-goers throughout the country to quickly find movie times in their local area. Information such as critics' reviews, and the ability to search for films by plot, genre or character,...

Microsoft talk.
September 15, 2005... Microsoft is planning to boost its internet telephony service following the announcement of Google's free voice-chat tool. Microsoft's service will allow PCs to make and receive phone calls from standard or mobile handsets, something its rivals...

PC life saver.(computer controlled closed circuit cameras, Poseidon Computer Systems)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2005... A 10-year-old girl has been saved from drowning thanks to computer-controlled underwater cameras in a swimming pool in Bangor. The girl became unconscious and sank to the bottom of the pool but was detected by underwater CCTV cameras linked to...

Wireless work.
September 15, 2005... Social workers in the London Borough of Barnet are using wireless technology to speed up communications on the front line. The council's Children and Families service has issued handheld computers to 240 social workers, which will allow staff...

'Matrix' schemes are illegal.(Brief Article)
September 15, 2005... Websites that promise high-value 'free gifts' in exchange for buying a cheaper item are continuing to appear - despite a government crackdown. Following action taken against two sites, Pulsematrix.com and Phones4everyone.com in June, the...

Best of business sets up website.(thebestof.co.uk )(Brief Article)
September 15, 2005... People all over the UK have a chance to set up their own business thanks to a new website for local services. Thebestof.co.uk invites local entrepreneurs to buy a licence to run a local directory marketplace website to serve the area in...

Watchdog is winning battle against rogue diallers.
September 15, 2005... Figures from ICSTIS (Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services) show it is winning the battle against rogue diallers. The premium-rate telephone number watchdog said that complaints have...