Computer Act!ve articles from September 2007

Computer Act!ve archives from September 2007

Workshop intro.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Share files and more between computers Networking can seem confusing but things are generally easier than they first appear. Our guide explains all p36A Boost your notebook battery life in Vista Customise...

Share files and more between.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Share files and more between computers Networking can seem confusing but it is easier than it first appears. Our masterclass explains all Many homes have more than one computer. Rather than leaving them as...

Pinnacle Dazzle Video Creator Platinum.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Pinnacle Dazzle Video Creator Platinum Convert old collections of video tapes easily It's no longer easy to buy video recorders in the high street and VHS films languish in the bargain-bins in branches of...

Specs appeal.(Windows XP's feature shows system specifications )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Specs appeal Sometimes you may be asked the specifications of your PC, and you might not know this information. Windows XP has a built-in feature that lets you view detailed system specifications with ease....

Double-quick clicks.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Double-quick clicks A common way of opening programs from the Windows Desktop is by double-clicking on the relevant application icon. I personally find that launching programs with a single click is much easier. To...

A game of arrows.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey A game of arrows As with previous versions of Windows, shortcuts created in Vista feature an arrow overlay to help distinguish them from other icons. Many users find these arrows irritating and they can be...

Find the right path.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Find the right path It is easy to copy the name of a file to the Windows Clipboard by selecting the file and then pressing F2 followed by Ctrl and C. However, there are times when it can prove useful to copy the...

Move your music and settings.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Move your music and settings in iTunes Shifting your music to a new disk isn't always easy. Here's how to do it properly Apple's iTunes application has become a favourite among PC users, not least because...

Protect sensitive files and folders with.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Paul Wardley Protect sensitive files and folders with Truecrypt Truecrypt encodes files and folders so that only those with the right password can gain access Everybody has files they need to keep secure. The demand...

Extend PC battery life in.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Extend PC battery life in Vista Balance performance with notebook battery life and reduce electricity consumption on desktops Windows Vista includes a huge number of options that can be used to reduce the...

Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse Anyone who uses a cordless notebook mouse will be familiar with the USB receivers that go with them. Losing one leaves the mouse useless, and they can't usually be left...

Oono Transmita Vii.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Oono Transmita Vii Get music from PC to hi-fi The increasing use of PCs as home jukeboxes has spawned a huge market for related hardware and software: there are already several products that allow users to...

Canon Digital IXUS 950 IS.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Gavin Stoker Canon Digital Ixus 950 IS Upgraded Ixus includes image stabilisation The eight-megapixel Canon Ixus 950 IS is an upgrade to the six-megapixel 800 IS model released last summer. Resolution hike aside it...

Apple Mac Mini.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Apple Mac Mini A compact home computer aimed at first-time Mac users We'll admit up front that we have liked the Mac Mini for some time. It's not the most powerful computer in the world, or even the cheapest,...

The (surround) sound of music.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph The (surround) sound of music Most people buy surround-sound speaker systems as part of a home cinema setup for watching films and television. However, it's also possible to buy surround-sound versions of your...

Wifi worries.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rod Lawton Wifi worries Readers may have seen a recent BBC Panorama programme about the levels of Wifi radiation in schools. The programme made worrying viewing, especially for those with school-age children who plan to use...

Work without Wifi.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rod Lawton Work without Wifi Wifi has secured a place at the top of the must-have technology list. But it's not the only way to connect computers and peripherals together Wireless networking (Wifi) is everywhere, in...

Colin McRae Dirt.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Colin McRae Dirt The long-running rally series gets grubby Scottish rally-meister Colin McRae's lengthy career may have had its ups and downs but it has been paralleled since 1998 by one of the most...

Make a full recovery.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Make a full recovery Don't be left without a leg to stand on should your computer go wrong. Prepare for the worst with your best defence A- a recovery CD When computer problems arise, after the initial...

Paid-for recovery discs.(Norton System Works and VCOM system management softwares)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Mark Wilson Paid-for recovery discs We've shown you how to create a CD packed with all the tools needed to fix a variety of computer problems, but there are also several commercial options available. Norton System Works...

Dragon Naturally Speaking 9.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Vista upgrade for the speech recognition software If you want to dictate text, rather than typing at a keyboard, you'll need some speech recognition software. If you want to...

Vita Audio R2 DAB/FM stereo radio.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Andrea-Marie Vassou Vita Audio R2 DAB/FM stereo radio Analogue radio sets are being replaced by shiny new Dab (Digital Audio Broadcasting) ones, and some people might feel that the digital era has killed the soul and style of...

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Paul Allen Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 A keyboard and mouse designed for Vista's Media Center With sales of flat-screen television sets climbing, more people are realising that it is simple to connect a PC...

Formac Disk Maxi 500GB.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Paul Lester Formac Disk Maxi 500GB High capacity external storage with an Apple twist Formac's new Disk Maxi is the high-capacity upgrade to its successful Disk Mini line, offering increased storage up to 750GB while...

Advent T9509.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Emil Larsen Advent T9509 A fully fledged fast desktop computer at a low price There's no beating about the bush: a computer with four processors for [pounds sterling]700 sounds like fantastic value for money. The idea of...

Philips SHE9700.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Elliott Finch Philips SHE9700 The SH9700 earphones use a design that fits inside the user's ear canal. Three sets of soft silicon ear caps are provided, to fit the buds to various ear sizes. When testing the earphones on...

Jufsoft Badcopy Pro.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Jufsoft Badcopy Pro Floppy disks are unreliable and easily damaged, which is why the best way to carry documents around nowadays is on a USB key. But if you've still got files on a floppy, it's important to...

Who do you think YOU are?
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Who do you think YOU are? If you're curious about your family's past, your computer can help. We're going to show you how to work with friends, family and helpful experts to unearth your family tree Everyone...

The National Archives.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie The National Archives The purpose of the National Archives is to 'bring history to life for everyone' and, by combining the Public Record Office, the Historical Manuscripts Commission, the Office of the Public...

Physical archives.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Physical archives If approaching a council office or parish church, it's fine to simply phone and ask to speak to someone who looks after their records and arrange your visit. It's permissible to photocopy some...

Posting a family tree online.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Posting a family tree online We've touched on this briefly elsewhere in this feature but posting a family tree is a fantastic way to attract the interest A- and possibly the help A- of other people who are...

Networking in Vista.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Ben Tudor Networking in Vista As you might expect, Windows Vista behaves in a similar way to XP on a network. But there are some significant differences, that can catch out the unwary. The workgroup set by default in XP is...

PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 5 Starter Edition.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 5 Starter Edition Protect your PC from viruses, Trojans and the latest spyware with this free security information Download from: ...

Spyware Doctor upgrade.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles AA upgrade offer Save 20 per cent across the entire PC Tools range We've given away the Starter Edition of Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 5 but the full version comes with more Onguard modules to protect...

Spyware Doctor tutorial.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Chris Wiles Use Spyware Doctor to run a system scan and schedule tasks 1 When you start Spyware Doctor, the first thing to do is run a full system scan. This will check files, cookies, your Registry and more. To run a full...

Let your PC do.(using personal computer to prepare tax return)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Guy Clapperton Let your PC do the taxes If you worry about completing tax returns, you're not alone. Luckily, your PC can help shoulder the burden A- and it even helps push back a few key deadlines The end of September is...

Other programs to use.(tax preparation softwares)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Guy Clapperton Other programs to use The Government's HMRC website will do all the calculation anyone needs to get their tax return sorted out and assess what's owing without any problem. However, there will be people who...

The role of accountants.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Guy Clapperton The role of accountants People with more complex tax affairs will find the online facilities described in this article invaluable but they still might be well advised to consult a professional accountant. ...

Your Place For Myspace.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Your Place For Myspace Ah, Myspace. Isn't that, like, so last year? Now, it's Facebook or nothing. Still, if you're an unreconstructed type intent on foisting gaudy web pages onto the world, then Your Place For...

Photocard Master.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Photocard Master This is just awful. Photocard Master is the kind of product that warrants the introduction of a zero-star rating. In fact it's so poor that it's hard to know where to begin with our bile. ...

Variety pack.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Variety pack Five more CD-Roms from this fortnight's of new releases Consider our first review this issue as a warning: GSP's Photocard Master is a jack of no trade, and master of nothing. On the other hand,...

MotoGP 3 Ultimate Racing Technology.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey MotoGP 3 Ultimate Racing Technology MotoGP 3 is the official game of the motorcycle grand prix. Even though it's three years old, this version manages to hold its own s an impressive game. Being an...

Hollywood Pets Pup Idol.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Hollywood Pets Pup Idol We bet that developers of this title took at least five seconds to come up with the name 'Pup Idol'. A waste of effort, really, as 'idle pap' might've been more appropriate. This sounds...

The Ship.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey The Ship This game is an unexpected triumph. We expected it to be a point-and-click game. What we didn't expect A- but what we got A- was a first-person-perspective shoot-'em-up that employs croquet mallets and...

Websites lose the plot Q I use www.bbc.co.uk as my internet home page. On the right-hand side there is a Where I Live box, into which Ii?1/2ve typed my postcode to see local news and weather. Whenever I leave the site and return again later, the location has.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Tim Smith, Anthony Dhanendran Websites lose the plot Q I use www.bbc.co.uk as my internet home page. On the right-hand side there is a Where I Live box, into which I've typed my postcode to see local news and weather. ...

RTTR.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran The problem In the past I have saved my files to a floppy disk, but now I'm saving documents to CDs using Nero. The first file saves fine but then the CD closes and will not accept further files. Is it...

Roxio.(Easy Media Creator 9 Suite)
September 6, 2007... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Win Roxio products worth over [pounds sterling]1,800! Create, edit and share your digital media with Easy Media Creator 9 Suite Easy Media Creator 9 Suite from Roxio is a complete collection of...

Google expands its galaxy.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Google expands its galaxy Users of Google Earth can now take a tour of the universe. The new Sky feature allows users to zoom through more than 200 million galaxies and 100 million stars, and connect the points of...

Spook speak online.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Spook speak online The CIA is to create a social networking site to allow members of the intelligence community around the world to converse and swap ideas and information online. The A-Space site, set up by the US...

Sure bet for ads William Hill is to transfer its online gambling operation from the Caribbean Dutch Antilles to Gibraltar and Malta. The gambling giant said that the move will help it conduct i?1/2business as usuali?1/2 and comply with amendments to the Gambling.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Sure bet for ads William Hill is to transfer its online gambling operation from the Caribbean Dutch Antilles to Gibraltar and Malta. The gambling giant said that the move will help it conduct "business as usual" and...

next issue.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Ben Tudor Give spam the heave-ho Fed up with junk mail cluttering up your inbox? We show you how to get spam under control. Fix your car with a PC Modern cars are stuffed with microchips A- we explain how to use your...

Super cures Computer analysis of drugs could revolutionise the fight against new infectious agents and superbugs, according to Canadian scientists. A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia claimed that computer-based emergency discover.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Super cures Computer analysis of drugs could revolutionise the fight against new infectious agents and superbugs, according to Canadian scientists. A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia claimed that...

Sony adds console power.
September 6, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou Sony adds console power Sony is adding new features to its Playstation consoles in an effort to fend off stiff competition from Microsoft and Nintendo. The company said that from 2008 it plans to expand its...

Ofcom i?1/2softi?1/2 on ISP bullies.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Ofcom 'soft' on ISP bullies Ofcom has been accused of failing to protect consumers from "broadband bullies". The criticism comes from telecoms comparison site Firsthelpline, which said that although the...

Experts laud PC World child safety plan.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou Experts laud PC World child safety plan retailer PC World has been praised by children's charities for launching a scheme to teach parents how to keep children safe online. The Children's Charter has been...

HD disc race Paramount is to be paid by Toshiba and other companies to produce content exclusively for the HD-DVD format. The deal proves the format war is far from over. It was always felt that the winner would be decided by the movie studios but the lat.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek/staff HD disc race Paramount is to be paid by Toshiba and other companies to produce content exclusively for the HD-DVD format. The deal proves the format war is far from over. It was always felt that the...

BBC over to 02 Video clips from popular BBC television shows will be sold to O2i?1/2s mobile phone customers, the two companies have agreed. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, will provide access to shows such as Little Britain, The Office and The.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff BBC over to 02 Video clips from popular BBC television shows will be sold to O2's mobile phone customers, the two companies have agreed. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, will provide access to shows such as...

Drug roulette Consumers who go online to buy medicines run the risk of being ripped off or worse, a new report has found. The Summer 2007 Brandjacker report by fraud adviser Markmonitor suggested that many popular brands of prescription drugs on sale at.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Andrea Vassou Drug roulette Consumers who go online to buy medicines run the risk of being ripped off or worse, a new report has found. The Summer 2007 Brandjacker report by fraud adviser Markmonitor suggested that many...

Call-centre ordeals inspire phone recording service.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Call-centre ordeals inspire phone recording service The launch of a telephone recording service has given consumers useful ammo in the fight against bad service from a call centre or company. Easycallrecording...

Plusnet users minus emails ISP Plusnet has apologised to customers after it accidentally deleted around 10 per cent of their emails. The mistake was made last month when delayed messages built up into a queue following the installation of a new anti-spam.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Plusnet users minus emails ISP Plusnet has apologised to customers after it accidentally deleted around 10 per cent of their emails. The mistake was made last month when delayed messages built up into a queue following...

Data discussion heats up.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Data discussion heats up UK data security laws have come under discussion as the issue of data protection rises up the political agenda. A Conservative Party policy review last month recommended the repeal of the...

Experts slam ID theft risk.
September 6, 2007... Byline: andrea vassou Experts slam ID theft risk credit agency Experian has been accused of playing on the public's fears of identity theft and making up "nonsense" to generate publicity and money. Richard Clayton, a security...

Windows watch Server computers that run Microsofti?1/2s Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) system crashed for about 19 hours during last monthi?1/2s bank holiday weekend, causing havoc for thousands of legitimate Vista users. They not only experienced reduced functi.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Windows watch Server computers that run Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) system crashed for about 19 hours during last month's bank holiday weekend, causing havoc for thousands of legitimate Vista users....

Model maker PC maker Acer has agreed to acquire rival Gateway for $710m (i?1/2353m) in cash. The company told Computeractive that it hoped the transaction will be legally sealed by the end of the year. The deal propels Acer to the number three spot in the ran.
September 6, 2007... Byline: staff Model maker PC maker Acer has agreed to acquire rival Gateway for $710m ([pounds sterling]353m) in cash. The company told Computeractive that it hoped the transaction will be legally sealed by the end of the year. The...

Wireless broadband thief to face court.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek Wireless broadband thief to face court Scotland Yard has warned internet users tempted to access unprotected wireless networks to reconsider after arresting a 39-year-old man on suspicion of unauthorised use of a...

F-Secure reveals Sony USB key security risk.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek , staff F-Secure reveals Sony USB key security risk An older model of Sony's Microvault USB key contains software that could leave users vulnerable to a malware attack, anti-virus company F-Secure has claimed. ...

Call to action We invite you to complete our survey on broadband providers. It will take less than two minutes and will help us with our broadband campaign, the results of which will be revealed in the 250th issue of Computeractive. If you haveni?1/2t taken p.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Paul Allen Call to action We invite you to complete our survey on broadband providers. It will take less than two minutes and will help us with our broadband campaign, the results of which will be revealed in the 250th issue of...

Kidsi?1/2 groups damn database.
September 6, 2007... Byline: Dinah Greek, Andrea Vassou Kids' groups damn database A proposed online database of kids' details has been accused of breaching rights A computer record that will contain the details of every child in the UK has been...

jargon.(Brief article)
September 20, 2007... Byline: Jacqueline Williams ADomain The name used to identify a site on the internet: in the address www.computeractive.co.uk, the domain is 'computeractive'. AInbox The folder in your email program that stores your incoming...

Zombies!
September 20, 2007... Byline: Jacqueline Williams Zombies! It might not be as gruesome as the name suggests, but if you fail to protect your computer from hackers, you run the risk of spammers hijacking it to send out junk mail, entirely without your...

Stamp out spam.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Jacqueline Williams Stamp out spam Fed up with unsolicited email? We're going to show you how to reduce that flood of spam to a trickle Every now and again, new technology throws something unimaginably irritating into the...

The only way.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph The only way is up Got an HD television? Boost the quality of your DVD viewing by using upscaling It's taken a while, but high-definition (HD) television is finally starting to take off in Europe. Widescreen...

Taking sides.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Taking sides On paper, the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD technology looks pretty one-sided. Sales of Sony's Playstation 3, which has a built-in Blu-ray player, may have been disappointing for the company, but...

Youi?1/2ve got the power.(Brief article)
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey You've got the power If you have bought a PC with Windows Vista, you may find that the default setting for the power button on the Start menu only puts the PC to sleep, rather than properly shutting down and...

Information revelation.(Brief article)
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Information revelation Ever need to look up information on your networks quickly, without having to bring them all up separately? Well, there's a quick way to view pertinent information about all your networks...

Iti?1/2s a fit up.(Brief article)
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey It's a fit up When browsing files in Vista, Windows Explorer has a tendency to truncate file names so that they can't be seen in their entirety without manually expanding columns. To save having to manually resize...

Out of control.(Brief article)
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Out of control User Account Control helps protect Vista by forcing users to confirm actions that could potentially harm their PC or make important changes. If you feel you can live without this layer of security,...

Next issue.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Master Vista's Start menu Personalised routes with Google My Maps Safely erase private files and folders Turn photos into a video slideshow Hints & Tips

Workshop intro.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Scott Colvey Secure your network and share files It is important to ensure that your network is properly secured. Here's how p40 Get organised with Windows Vista Calendar Windows finally includes a free diary tool...

Secure your network and.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Mark WIlson Secure your network and share files It is important to ensure that your network is properly secured before sharing files. Here's how Last issue we looked at how to set up a home network, explaining both...

Add a Vista-style.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Add a Vista-style Sidebar to XP Recreate Windows Vista's Sidebar in Windows XP using free software Windows Vista contains many key new features, including Sidebar, which sticks to the side of the screen...

Play video as your Desktop.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Cliff Joseph Play video as your Desktop wallpaper The priciest version of Windows Vista offers video wallpaper. Here's how to get it for nothing Many computer users personalise their Windows Desktop by setting a...

Get organised with Windows.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Rob Beattie Get organised with Windows Vista Calendar Windows finally includes a free diary tool A- and it's rather good. Here's how to use the Vista Calendar Microsoft has finally included a calendar application with...

Avanquest Identity Protector 2007.
September 20, 2007... Byline: Simon Williams Avanquest Identity Protector 2007 Browse the internet without disclosing personal information Spyware can be more damaging and threatening than a virus attack. It can monitor everything you do on a PC and...