Computer Act!ve back issues from December 2005:
From the Editor.(Editorial)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Dylan Armbrust. As consumers, we spend millions of pounds every year on technology. It's fair to expect that the money we spend isn't just for the new gadgets and gizmos themselves - it's also for the after-sales service that comes with them. The problem is that too ...
Buyers need CD copy alert. Calls for CDs with copyright protection software to be clearly labelled for PC users.
Dec 08, 2005 ... A security expert has called for a simple 'traffic light' guide that shows if CDs install copyright protection software onto PCs. Greg Day, a security analyst at anti-virus company McAfee, said that the issue of copy protection software had been a quandary for anti-virus firms ...
Fears set to curb spending.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Internet security concerns are likely to have a detrimental effect on online shopping in the UK this Christmas, according to recent research conducted by the Business Software Alliance. The industry organisation reported that five out of six UK consumers believe retailers have not done ...
Price cuts for ISPs enable better service for consumers.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Cuts by BT in the wholesale prices charged to internet service providers (ISPs) are likely to lead to more people getting faster connections. Although these cuts for local loop unbundling (LLU) are substantial - falling from [pounds sterling]169 to [pounds sterling]100 per ...
New centre to tackle abuse.
Dec 08, 2005 ... The new centre to tackle online child abuse will be operational in April next year, the Government has announced. The Home Office outlined details of the new unit at the EU/Virtual Global Taskforce Conference on Protecting Children Online last month, and published new guidelines ...
ISPs take steps to regulate adware.
Dec 08, 2005 ... From next year, internet service providers such as Yahoo and AOL will refuse to promote software or services from companies that use spyware. The aim is to ensure that advertising software (adware) doesn't try and hide itself on people's PCs, is honest about its behaviour and ...
Latest worm a sobering thought.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... If you get an email from the FBI, CIA, the NHTCU or the German law enforcement agency, the Bundeskriminalamt, claiming you are visiting "illegal websites", delete it. These emails contain a worm called Sober Y (or X or Z by some companies). It is already causing mayhem and ...
JARGON BUSTER - Techno babble demystified ... .(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... - GPS A way of pinpointing an exact location on the planet. - ISP A company that provides a web connection. - LLU Allowing other companies to install their own equipment in BT telephone exchanges. - Rootkit ...
Streetwise with GPS.(Navman Wireless new GPS device)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... A new GPS device from Navman includes a hard disk, allowing it to store information for the whole of Europe, without the need for extra memory cards or software. The iCN 550 includes a 4Gb hard disk with street-level maps for 16 countries. An optional traffic module, the TM 550, ...
Compact Iomega drives.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Iomega has widened its range of USB storage devices. The 4Gb, 6Gb and 8Gb Micro Mini hard disks weigh just 50g and are smaller than a credit card. Prices start at [pounds sterling]87 for the 4Gb. For people who want to do more with their data, the Pocket-Sized ...
A site for sore eyes.(AbilityNet)(website evaluation)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... A new initiative to rate web accessibility in the UK has been launched by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and disability charity AbilityNet. Sites will be assessed by the two organisations and a panel of web users with disabilities ....
Rogue diallers at it again.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Companies running rogue diallers are exploiting loopholes in regulations to con consumers, warned Ofcom. The regulatory body now wants to extend the existing Controlled Premium Rate Services (CPRS) regulations to stamp this practice out. Rogue diallers use software ...
Membership giveaway at eBid.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Ebay isn't the only online auction site out there, even though it can seem that way. Now rival eBid.co.uk, which claims to be the second largest auction site on the market, is giving away free lifetime Gold Memberships (worth [pounds sterling]45) every Friday in December. ...
Britons embracing a culture of fraud.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Dishonesty and fraud in the UK is growing, helped by the internet, new technologies and changing social attitudes. This was the conclusion of two studies; one by identity security company TSSI, and the other by fraud protection company Early Warning. TSSI's Dishonest ...
JARGON BUSTER - Techno babble demystified ... .
Dec 08, 2005 ... - ISP Internet Service Provider. A company that provides you with an internet connection, usually for a monthly subscription. - Dial-up A component of Windows that allows PCs to connect to the internet using a modem ...
High-capacity iPod batteries.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Sonnet Technologies has created a line of high-capacity batteries for iPods. The digital music players have long been criticised for their poor battery life. Sonnet's batteries can be used with all generations of iPods, as well as the iPod mini. Sonnet claims ...
Customer satisfaction.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Following the recent demise of Tiny.com, a new online store is hoping to take its place in the market. ExciteIT has a wide range of products ...
New products from Snapfish.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Online photo service Snapfish has added additional products and services to its website. Web-to-mobile sharing, professional canvas prints and a selection of baby products are some of the new items. The web-to-mobile function takes ...
Gaming tips for parents.(askaboutgames.com)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Parents concerned about unsuitable content that may be contained in video games their children play can get online advice and information from the games industry. In an attempt to combat what it believes is misinformation about the games industry in some sections of the media, ...
Legal pressure grows on file-sharing sites.
Dec 08, 2005 ... File-sharing service BitTorrent has made a deal with Hollywood's major movie studios in a bid to stop people using the service to offer illegal copies of movies. As legal pressure on file-sharing sites grows, BitTorrent founder Bram Cohen has agreed to stop providing links on ...
The trials of school exams.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Schools around the country are being asked to participate in the next round of trials of electronic examinations for pupils. In Spring 2005, 45,000 school pupils took part in a pilot scheme that saw them complete an examination on screen rather than on paper. The ...
JARGON BUSTER - Techno babble demystified ... .
Dec 08, 2005 ... - Broadband Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. - File sharing Swapping files with other people over the internet, using a service such as Kazaa. - Spreadsheets A software ...
Apple offers Office rebate.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Apple is offering a rebate on half the cost of Microsoft Office when bought with a Mac computer. Anyone who bought an Apple desktop or notebook with Microsoft Office between 19 November 2005 and 31 January 2006 can apply for the cash-back. The total rebate is between [pounds ...
Turtle time.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Franklin the Turtle: Triple Pack is a collection of three educational titles written for pre-school children. Franklin the Turtle Goes to School, Franklin the Turtle After School and Franklin the Turtle's Clubhouse ...
Bulldog portal.(Bulldog Lounge)(entertainment portals)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Bulldog Lounge is a new entertainment portal for broadband users that is freely available to all, not just Bulldog subscribers. The site includes television clips with news from Associated Press, as well as music videos and movie trailers. The Bulldog lounge also offers a digital ...
Parents in console control.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Manufacturers of game consoles have taken note of concerns over children playing violent video games and introduced parental controls. Sony has become the latest manufacturer to say it will incorporate parental controls in its latest console, the Playstation 3, which is expected ...
Television on the web.
Dec 08, 2005 ... The controller of BBC Two has said he wants it to be the first mainstream TV channel to appear over broadband. With selected viewers already testing the download technology as part of the BBC's Integrated Media Player trial, it is expected further trials that will allow people ...
Most wanted.(UK Most Wanted launched)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... An American-style website listing the UK's most wanted criminals is now online. Crimestoppers added the 'most wanted' list to its website last month, and despite some teething troubles, which saw it crash on its first day, it is now fully up and running. UK Most ...
Trade-in movies.
Dec 08, 2005 ... A website that offers an alternative to buying or renting DVDs and video games has been launched by Swopex. The scheme doesn't use a straight swap format but the company claims people can trade items "for a fraction of the cost to rent or buy". Every DVD or game ...
JARGON BUSTER - Techno babble demystified ... .
Dec 08, 2005 ... - Bluetooth A technology that allows devices to communicate wirelessly. - Broadband Refers to high-bandwidth internet connections, such as ADSL. - Download Process of transferring files onto your PC ...
Google space.
Dec 08, 2005 ... The search engine Google has set up Google Space, a cluster of notebook PCs with free access to certain Google features, in Heathrow's Terminal One. The zone will be open until 17 December, ...
It's criminal.(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... The television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has been rapped by forensics experts for not being accurate when dealing with computers. Joel Tobias, managing director of UK-based forensic investigator CY4OR, said that CSI's detectives ...
Consumeractive! - Get Some Answers! Consumeractive sticks up for your rights. If there's an issue you want investigated, get in touch.
Dec 08, 2005 ... PROBLEM - Pop goes the PC I bought a Medion PC from Aldi in August and have had nothing but trouble with it. There were no problems initially and it worked for about four hours. I installed a favourite database, address book and so on and set up the FM radio ...
Cover Story - Beat rip-off Britain. Are you fed up with dodgy dealers, ropey goods and sub-standard customer service? Follow our guide to enforcing your consumer rights.(Cover story)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Paul Allen. Patience is a virtue, but even the most virtuous of us can be left foaming at the mouth when faced with some of the buck-passing, denial of responsibility and downright chicanery that seems to pass for customer service in the UK. We assume the law is there to ...
Hot New Products - Mesh Matrix Xtreme Immense. A sleek silver case, but are the contents as impressive?(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Mesh has come out with a sleek silver case for Christmas, and the first PC to go inside it is a cracker. It contains an AMD Athlon64 X 2 4400+ dual-core processor, and 1Gb of memory. The processor is both 64-bit and dual-core, meaning that it will be ...
Hot New Products - AG Neovo M-19. Not all TFT monitors look the same, especially if it's one from Neovo's multimedia range.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Simon Williams. You might think the design of a TFT monitor was pretty well established; a TFT panel on a stand, with a row of buttons underneath to control it. Neovo thinks differently. Its 19in M-19 monitor, available in black or silver, is a radical departure in looks ...
Hot New Products - Microsoft Autoroute 2006. Find your way from A to B while on the move.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Autoroute's crown as the king of route-planning software was stolen a couple of years ago; firstly by the advent of free online mapping services, and then by handheld GPS devices. Microsoft has attempted to regain its former glory by selling Autoroute ...
Hot New Products - Pinnacle Studio Plus 10. A home video-editing package that prepares you for high-definition TV.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Simon Williams. Editing home video is a popular pastime and Pinnacle is one of the best-known names in such software. Now owned by Avid, which sells applications for commercial TV and film editing, the new version of this consumer program continues to simplify the often ...
Hot New Products - Hi-Grade Notino C2400-1700. Small and light but lacking in the latest hardware.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Tim Smith. The HiGrade Notino C2400-1700 is a well-designed notebook that strikes a balance between portability and computing power for day-to-day tasks. At its heart is a 1.73GHz Pentium M processor, which is backed up by 512Mb of memory. Although 8Mb of ...
Hot New Products - Morphy Richards EPG DAB radio. A digital radio that works a little bit like Sky+.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Jacqueline Williams. Morphy Richards isn't a brand name we necessarily associate with digital radio innovation, but its Ordio EPG DAB may well change our expectations of radio sets. As the product's name suggests, it has an EPG (electronic programme guide) ...
Hot New Products - Microsoft Xbox 360. The most advanced games console ever - if you've got the hardware.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Luke Peters. The Xbox 360 is the first of a new breed of games consoles to be launched over the next 12 months. Sony and Nintendo have their own devices waiting in the shadows but it's Microsoft who has managed to get its 21st century gaming box out first. ...
Hot New Products - Evesham V32ELCB. A very low price for such a large television.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Flat-panel LCD televisions are now starting to outsell old-fashioned CRTs, but be careful. Many of the cheaper models have sub-standard screen resolutions, don't support future formats, like HD, or don't come with the right connections. Fortunately, ...
Hot New Products - Motorola Homesight. Monitor and protect your home against intruders.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Will Stapley. Motorola is attempting to bring computer-based home security to the masses with Homesight. The package consists of an access point, known as the system controller, and a wireless camera and wireless door sensor, both of which connect to the ...
Hot New Products - Commodore 64 Direct to TV Joystick.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Dinah Greek. Twenty years is a long time in computing and the games of today bear little resemblance to the ones we used to play. But amid all the new technology many of us hanker for a blast from the past; so it will probably delight many dads to find Toy ...
Hot New Products - Wacom Graphire 4 Studio XL A5.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Tim Smith. The Wacom Graphire 4 Studio XL A5 is a graphics tablet for anyone who is serious about editing graphics. Unlike cheaper tablets it has a couple of buttons at the top of the pad and a scroll wheel, the lack of which is apparent on cheaper tablets. ...
Hot New Products - Sanyo Xacti E6. A compact digital camera sporting a large screen.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Luke Peters. When choosing a digital camera, it's not always best to go for more megapixels. Other attributes such as sensor size, focal length and the quality of the optics all play a part in making a good camera. The Xacti E6 is a 6-megapixel model with a 3x ...
Hot New Products - McAfee Wireless Home Network Security 2006. Protect a home wireless network from hackers and unauthorised access.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Tim Smith. McAfee Wireless Home Network Security takes the grind and worry out of making a wireless network safe. With an unsecure network other people can use your internet connection for free or even steal personal data. Wireless Home Security takes care of creating ...
Hot New Products - Philips SPC 900NC.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Paul Allen. Video messaging is free using instant messaging applications, and Philips' latest webcam is aimed at those who want the best possible quality from such services. Many webcams can't be attached to TFT monitors or notebook PCs because the differing ...
Hot New Products - Logitech DiNovo Laser.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Logitech's DiNovo is right at the top of the company's range of desktop sets. It's smart and stylish, with clean, neat lines and the keyboard is much smaller and slimmer than other wireless keyboards. Like all DiNovo sets, this one has a ...
Hot New Products - ZicPlay MiniKey 512Mb. A bulbous but compact music player.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. While portable music players may not yet be ten-a-penny, they're popular enough to be sold on the shelves of your local supermarket and it can be hard to distinguish one player from another. The MiniKey is fairly eye-catching. It comes in a ...
On Test - Colour laser printers - Laser days. To print documents quickly you need a laser printer. But are the new breed of cheap colour lasers as versatile as their inkjet brethren?(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Tim Smith. If speed is the priority when printing, laser printers are hard to beat. Historically the cost of colour laser printing has been far too high for most home users but things are changing and they are now affordable enough to merit consideration. ...
Feature - Benchmark your PC - Test drive. Testing a PC's performance can help diagnose problems and highlight upgrade requirements. We show you how.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Have you ever wondered just how good your computer is compared with the latest and greatest, or perhaps your friends' and neighbours' computers? Here at Computeractive, when we review computers we subject them to a battery of tests to work out just ...
On Test - Sat-Nav devices - Streets ahead. If you could do with a bit of help finding places, satellite navigation might just be what you need. We compare the latest GPS devices.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn. Once upon a time, in-car satellite navigation was something you'd have only found on the dashboards of the most expensive luxury automobiles. But, like many technologies, GPS devices have plummeted in price and you can now pick up a complete product for ...
Feature - Unexpected uses for USB keys - I'm all keyed up. A USB key has the potential for doing a lot more than storing data. We show you how to make the most of these tiny devices.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran. Most of us are familiar with USB keys - the keyring-sized devices that can hold as much data as thousands of floppy disks. But their simplicity makes them suitable for more jobs than you'd expect. By adding a few applications and your own data, you ...
Digital home - Flat-panel TVs - Flat's the way to do it. Now within the financial reach of us ordinary folk, flat-panel TVs are all the rage.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Niall Magennis. If your old telly is on its last legs or you just fancy upgrading to a bigger screen, this Christmas may be a good time to invest in a big flat-panel television, especially as the World Cup is coming up in 2006. After years of being a rich ...
On Test - CD-Roms - Time out. Our offerings this issue will help you make the most of your free time, from puzzle solving to creating a family tree.(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Martin James. With any luck, this time of year gives us a bit of time to ourselves. It's a great time to get back to those hobbies and interests that have been neglected for too long, and we've got five packages that cater for a variety of interests. ...
On Test - Games - Quake 4. All you need to get the most from Quake 4 is a decent PC and a very strong stomach.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Eddie Henderson. Quake has become something of a gaming brand name, with iD Software's franchise (and its other notable series Doom) becoming synonymous over the years with the first-person shooter genre. This version runs as a sequel to Quake 2 - the third in ...
On Test - Games - Moto GP URT 3.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Eddie Henderson. Motorbike racing has never quite achieved the glamour status of Formula One, and this is also true of the sport's computer gaming equivalents. Hopefully the excellent Moto GP URT3 will do something to restore the balance. We wouldn't call you ...
On Test - Games - Age of Empires 3.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Byline: Mike Anderiesz. Fans of the Age of Empires (AoE) series will know what to expect from this third release; bold, vivid graphics, lashings of historical detail and fun, if slightly shallow, gameplay. The latest version takes the saga to the new world with Native ...
On Test - Games - Everquest 2: Desert of Flames.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005; ... Byline: Eddie Henderson. Since its release at the end of 2004, online role-playing game Everquest 2 has become a global phenomenon, with thousands of followers. This add-on brings new worlds and creatures to the fray, as well as gameplay tweaks such as new ...
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.
Dec 08, 2005 ... 1. Football Manager 2006 [pounds sterling]35 (football management) Sega 2. Quake 4 [pounds sterling]45 (first-person shooter) Activision 3. F.E.A.R. [pounds sterling]30 (first-person shooter) Sierra 4. The Sims 2: ...
Net Chart - FREE Downloads. We've trawled the internet to test what you can get for free ...(Energy Spy)(Winzip 10)(Follow the race)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Winzip 10 www.computeractive.co.uk/2128706 Compress files to save space This new version of Winzip can now compress files further and has a new interface to make viewing compressed files easier. Type: Shareware File size: 5.57Mb ...
Net Chart - Site seeing ...(case studies on internat browsing)(Brief Article)
Dec 08, 2005 ... Don't get lost when setting off for those Christmas visits - take a look at our directions sites www.streetmap.co.uk Streetmap is well known for finding places by postcode but there are many other search options available. It can display maps based on Ordinance ...
No Problem! Q&A - Answers to ... PC problems. Our resident technical doctor is here to cure your PC ailments.
Dec 08, 2005 ... Netmeeting Q: I have recently upgraded my computer to Windows XP. On the old PC I used a program called NetMeeting, which allowed me to chat to other people on my home network. But it does not seem to be available on the new computer. Do you know whether I can get it for Windows ...
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.(internet services)
Dec 08, 2005 ... THE PROBLEM Every time I try to open a link in an email the PC bleeps a couple of times and the email stays closed. What is wrong? John, Computeractive forum YOUR ANSWER You could try repairing Internet Explorer. One of the ways to do this is ...