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THE WAIT IS over and Windows 8 is nally here, launching on the 26th October 2012. It represents the single biggest change to the Windows operating system since Windows 95, and completely changes the way things work. While a lot of the changes are there to make touchscreen devices easier to use, the Desktop interface has received a host of improvements, too. Many of the changes are for the good, but the fact is that when you switch to Windows 8, its likely to be the rst time youve sat in front of a Microsoft PC and wondered how to do something. For this reason, weve written an extensive guide to all the new features in the operating system (see page 114). Over 28 pages, well explain how to use the new Start screen, how all the new Desktop features work, how to use all the new applications and how to do everything you could do in Windows 7. Youll be ready for the new operating system in no time, whether you buy a new computer now or in the future, or you simply upgrade
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your current computer. We also have ve pages of Windows 8 PCs, starting on page 26. These are ocially the rst Windows 8 PCs available in the UK. Desktop PCs arent the only computers available, and our ultra-slim laptop group test (see page 88) contains the fastest, lightest and best-value computers weve seen. As we went to press, these computers were only available with Windows 7, but if you buy one now you can easily upgrade it for a one-off fee of just 15. If all this Windows 8 talk is a little too much, why not relax with a good book or a thousand in your hand, with some help from our complete guide to eReaders (see page 102)? With devices from just 50 and free apps that will run on pretty much any smartphone or tablet, theres something here for everyone. Finally, we take a critical look at the EU (see page 142). We nd out if Brussels is pushing forward our adoption of technology in the UK, or just getting in the way.
WELCOME PAGE
Editor David Ludlow david@computershopper.co.uk Deputy Editor Chris Finnamore chris@computershopper.co.uk Online Editor Seth Barton seth@computershopper.co.uk News Editor Tom Morgan tom@computershopper.co.uk Reviews Editor Andrew Unsworth andrew@computershopper.co.uk Senior Staff Writer Kat Orphanides kat@computershopper.co.uk PRODUCTION Production Editor Janey Goulding Art Editor Colin Mackleworth CONTRIBUTORS
Bill Bagnall, Gareth Beach, Mel Croucher, Kay Ewbank, Steve Haines, Simon Handby, Gordon Holmes, Mike Jennings, Stewart Mitchell, David Neal, Ben Pitt, Julian Prokaza, Nik Rawlinson, Heather Reeves, David Robinson
ADVERTISING Email ads.shopper@dennis.co.uk Group Advertising Manager Andrea Mason 020 7907 6662 Account Manager Charlotte Milligan 020 7907 6642 COVER CD/DVD CONTACT Chris Wiles coverdiscs@computershopper.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel 0844 844 0031 Web www.subsinfo.co.uk DVD edition: UK 44.99, Europe 70, Rest of world 90
PHOTOGRAPHY Danny Bird, Jan Cihak, Darren Brooke, Henry Carter, Julian Velasquez
MARKETING Marketing and Editorial Executive Paul Goodhead 020 7907 6393 LICENSING AND SYNDICATION Anj Dosaj-Halai 020 7907 6132 Anj_Dosaj-Halai@dennis.co.uk Licensing, Reprints, Eprints: Wrights Media 0800 051 8327 MANAGEMENT Tel 020 7907 6000 Group Managing Director Ian Westwood Managing Director John Garewal Group Advertising Director Julian Lloyd-Evans Circulation Director Martin Belson Finance Director Brett Reynolds Group Finance Director Ian Leggett Chief Executive James Tye Chairman Felix Dennis PRINTING Printed by BGP, Bicester, Oxon Distributors Seymour 020 7396 4000 LIABILITY While every care was taken preparing this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information or any consequence arising from it. All judgements are based on equipment available to Computer Shopper at the time of review. Value for money comments are based on UK prices at time of review. Computer Shopper takes no responsibilty for the content of external websites whose addresses are published in the magazine. COMPUTER SHOPPER INCORPORATES UPGRADE SHOPPER, GAMES SHOPPER, INTERNET SHOPPER, MOBILE SHOPPER, PC SHOPPER, PORTABLE SHOPPER AND SOFTWARE SHOPPER 36,002 (average monthly sales Jan-Dec 2011) A DENNIS PUBLICATION Computer Shopper is published by Dennis Publishing Ltd, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD. Company registered in England. All material Dennis Publishing Limited licensed by Felden 2011, and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the consent of the publishers. ISSN 0955-8578
David Ludlow, Editor

david@computershopper.co.uk
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Whats the greatest thing Microsoft has ever done?

David Ludlow
david@computershopper.co.uk
MEET THE TEAM
Kat Orphanides
kat@computershopper.co.uk
Finally killing off the Oce paper clip the single most misguided product feature ever
Writing Flight Sim the best way to earn ying time towards your pilots licence without leaving your desk
Chris Finnamore
chris@computershopper.co.uk
Tom Morgan
tom@computershopper.co.uk
Inventing DirectX and turning Windows into a proper gaming platform, which meant that you no longer had to boot into DOS
Buying Bungee studios, creator of Halo, and ensuring that Windows remained the dominant OS for games
Seth Barton
THIS MONTHS COLUMNS

David Robinson
Hes on holiday this month, but a man with a potato up his exhaust desperately needs his help
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
seth@computershopper.co.uk
Making the Xbox 360, and proving in the process that you dont have to be Japanese to make a successful videogames console
andrew@computershopper.co.uk
Andrew Unsworth
With online shopping a huge part of the economy, our ex-cop warns of the dangers of websites that sell fake goods Piracy just isnt what it used to be, says our technology enthusiast, and it just isnt worth the hassle any more
Gordon Holmes
Creating Windows. It provided a consistent interface that helped ease non-techies into computing
David Neal
CALL 0844 844 0031 OR SEE PAGE 150

5
ISSUE 298 | COMPUTER SHOPPER
| DECEMBER 2012
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Contents Windo
Ultimate guide
p74 p26 p114 p88
WorldMags.net Issue 298 December 2012
p102
p34
p35 p142 p43
Learn
146 Business Help
Our resident expert answers those persistent software queries
Regulars
8 Letters
Your monthly missives of wit and wisdom
News
20 Newsle
Our round-up of the latest technological events
148 Helple
Step this way for help with all your hardware and Windows problems
David Robinson might be on holiday, but theres a man with a potato in his exhaust who desperately needs his help
11 Under Development
Features
Learn how to use the new features and shortcuts in Microsofts latest operating system with our 28-page guide
We show you how to use Windows 8s new security features, and the importance of installing security software
152 Security Expert
12 Byte Back
114 Ultimate Guide to Windows 8
Theres no point in piracy now that its so much easier to acquire copyrighted material legitimately, argues Dave Neal
Got an old PC? With FreeNAS you can turn it into a powerful media server. Chris Finnamore shows you how to use the plug-ins youll need
154 Advanced Projects
15 Cybercop
142 Whats the EU ever done for us?

Ministers in Brussels wield considerable inuence over Europes technological policy, but are they a force for good?
157 Web Expert
With online shopping amounting to billions each year, Gordon Holmes warns of the dangers of counterfeit goods and sites.
A grid layout may sound complex but it makes designing and planning your website easier. Nik Rawlinson explains the 960 Grid System
160 Multimedia Expert
Mel Croucher nds out that it was the Belgians who really invented the internet
16 Rants & Raves
Photos can often be spoiled by unwanted objects and people. Ben Pitt shows you how to clean up your pictures digitally
We look at the technologies that put man on the moon and those that have been developed from the space programme
18 Top 10
Googles hosted services provide your business with access to a sophisticated oce and communications suite thats free for up to 10 users. Simon Handby shares his knowledge
163 Business Expert
170 Zygote
Zygote discovers that it will soon be easier to get away with crime unless youre trying to rustle SMS-equipped sheep
166 Linux Expert
Email can be a source of threats, from malware to phishing attacks. David Ludlow shows you how to protect your Ubuntu computer
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DECEMBER 2012
| COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 298
to...
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p114
p102
CONTENTS
ws
p88
Reviews Revie
Weve reviewed four of the nest Windows 8 machines as well as a hardcore gaming laptop
26 PCs & Laptops
Get an SSD speed boost over a SATA2 connection with the Crucial V4 drive
57 Storage
Group Tests
88 Ultra-slim laptops
Slim, light and desirable laptops are in plentiful supply, and they dont have to cost a fortune. We review 12 beautifully made ultra-portables with hours of battery life and prices that start at just 483.
34 Handhelds
If you get lost using the Mio Cyclo 300 cycling satnav, you could always get help with LGs Optimus 4X HD
58 Components
The only motherboard youll ever need, and a powerful graphics card to go with it
Could Panasonics Lumix DMC-LX7 be the best compact camera weve ever seen?
40 Photography
44 Displays
Get your creative juices owing with two fantastic design applications for print and web
60 Software
102 eReaders
Watch TV while youre out with the Humax Tivizen Wi-Fi Freeview tuner
62 Games
The Samsung BD-E8500 is a case of style and substance
46 Home Cinema
Counter-Strike has been updated and resurrected, which means more late nights for Shopper
Fancy carrying thousands of books in your pocket on one slim and light device? Weve tested the latest eReaders and smartphone eReading apps, so youll never be without a great read, wherever you are.
50 Audio
64 Business
Let your inner-drummer get wicked with the Vestax Pad-One
Thecus continues to impress with the N5550 ve-bay, businessready NAS device
74 Your software
Make sure you never lose another le again with this powerful backup suite. It protects your entire PC, including your operating system, applications and les.
Its never been cheaper to shoot HD video in 3D
52 Video
66 Best Buys
54 Printers & Scanners
Looking for the best kit weve reviewed recently? Youll nd it all in one place in our Best Buys section
Lexmarks last-ever inkjet is also its best-ever inkjet
76 How We Test
56 Networks
Our comprehensive tests, ratings and awards explained
High-speed networking with Asuss 802.11ac router, but is it the best?
169 Product Index
All the products reviewed in the magazine
| DECEMBER 2012
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Letters
CONTACT
LETTERS
letters@computershopper.co.uk London W1T 4JD
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Windows 8 is causing some controversy this month, yet readers have still had time to explore their artistic sides and modify their PCs to cope with Spains summer heat But why has Shopper gone back in time?
Ive been a subscriber for many years, but I dont recall seeing any reviews of child-friendly operating systems or browsers. Ive looked at lots of different products, such as QIMO, KidZui and Majic desktop to name a few, but I cant nd enough information to make a good choice, and as some of them arent cheap I dont want to buy one without knowing more. It would be great if you could have a look at these sometime soon. Mike Cummins
CHILDRENS PROGRAMS
anything like this was two years ago in Shopper 274, when we ran a group test of parental control software. The products you mention are a different kettle of sh, though, and appear to be Linux-based operating systems designed to be easy for children to use. There seems to be a good variety of systems available and they would make an ideal pairing with a small, inexpensive computer. Well look into reviewing more child-oriented software in the future.
The last time we reviewed
Ive recently gone back to school to learn how to paint and draw. While using real paints has been tremendous fun, I would also like to try my hand at some computer art. Im aware that its possible to plug in a drawing tablet for better control than a mouse, but Ive no idea what to look for. Also, how do the different drawing packages compare, and will they need a particularly powerful computer? Martyn Sandford
ART SCHOOL
If youre serious about art, you need a graphics tablet
Youre spoilt for choice when it comes to computer art, whether you want to use apps such as Art Studio or Photoshop Touch on your iPad or plug a graphics tablet into your PC. Graphics tablets for PCs are still popular among designers and artists. The biggest manufacturer, Wacom, makes a range of graphics tablets for consumers and professionals.
Star letter
I have just upgraded a couple of computers from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and thought you would be interested in hearing about the experience. The rst computer was a desktop PC running Windows 7. There were no problems with the installation but the new Metro interface was a disappointment it looks like something from the 1980s. Even more irritating was having to use this interface to launch the normal Windows Desktop. The other computer was a netbook. Again, the installation went smoothly but on trying the Metro interface, I was informed that the screen resolution was too low for the Apps to work. Its a pity that this wasnt highlighted at the start of the installation. Ive now unpinned all the Metro interface icons on both installations and simply press return to get into the desktop from the Metro UI. So now I have a desktop PC, for which the simple Metro interface is totally
WINDOWS 8 WOES
irrelevant, and a netbook on which the Metro interface doesnt work. On the positive side, Windows 8 loads and shuts down much faster than the previous version. One last gripe is that the upgrade leaves a windows.old le of several gigabytes, which cant be deleted simply by using the Delete key because it is owned by SYSTEM. Im sure that deleting it by booting into Ubuntu is not the best method. The overall feeling is that Windows 8 is a dumbed-down version of Windows 7 thats been designed so that it will work on less powerful systems such as tablets. Is this progress or nostalgia? Steve Byatt
It takes some getting used to, but Windows 8 denitely isnt all bad
We agree that Windows 8 is a big change,
and were also sure that it will attract its share of detractors as well as fans. Weve been running it in the oce, and there was some denite gnashing of teeth while we were getting used to the relationship between the new Start screen and the Desktop.
We became used to it after a few days, though, and we like the quick booting and snappy performance. A couple of shortcut keys are invaluable: Windows-D takes you straight to the Desktop, and Windows-X brings up a useful menu offering all the advanced settings, such as Device Manager and Computer and Disk Management. Windows.old is there to help you roll back the operating system upgrade if you wish. If you dont want to go back to your previous installation, you can remove it by running Disk Clean-up, selecting the Clean up system les option and then choosing Previous Windows installation(s).
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DECEMBER 2012
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The last one we reviewed was the excellent Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch (Whats New, Shopper 288), which is currently available for 70 from www.ebuyer.com. For Software, try Corel Painter Essentials (a cheaper version of Painter) or ArtRage. You can download free trials of Painter and Essentials from www.corel. com, and theres a demo of ArtRage 3 and a cut-down free version of ArtRage 2 for download at www.artrage.com. Both require a fairly modest 800MHz PC and 256MB RAM. and affect the trim and defrag utilities. The reasoning behind a clean installation is that Windows 7 will correctly align the SSD and install only the required drivers. Geoff
You can clone a hard disk to an SSD if you prepare it rst Diskpart List disk Select disk n (n is the SSDs number, as shown by the List disk command) Create partition primary align=1024 Active
LETTERS
We agree that alignment
In Letters, Shopper 296, Clive Cooper questioned the need for a clean installation when tting a solid-state drive. The setup of an SSD is different to that of a spinning hard disk, as an SSD has a different alignment. If you clone from a hard disk theres no guarantee that you will get the correct alignment on the SSD. An incorrect alignment could degrade its performance
THE TEARS OF A CLONE
can cause a problem when cloning a disk on to an SSD. Mechanical disks are divided into physical sectors, and even though SSDs dont need to organise their data in such a physical way, Windows still organises its data by sector. If you clone your hard disk straight to an SSD theres a chance that the alignment will be off, which can degrade performance and shorten its life. Before you perform the cloning operation, make sure you run the following commands from Windows command prompt:
This will make sure everything lines up before you clone your old disk to your SSD.
As the temperatures outside rose above 40C here in Spain this summer, the room temperature exceeded 30C and my AMD Athlon 64 dual-core CPU neared 55C, which I dont like to see for a sustained period. For this reason, I gave some thought to installing additional
MERCURY RISING
cooling. My ATX case has a side intake with a duct leading to the fan on the CPU cooler, so I added a 12V fan on the outside of the case to boost this ow. This 12V fan is powered externally and has cut the temperature by about 2C. As I have only an onscreen temperature display, I cant see what happens after the PC is turned off, but I suspect that temperatures in the CPU can peak for a few seconds when the CPU cooler fan stops after a PC is switched off or goes into standby. My extra fan provides a constant airow on the CPU. Do your experts have any comments on the possibility of a short-duration temperature rise in the CPU immediately after turning the box off? Robin A Flood
Its an interesting thought,
but you neednt worry about the processor overheating once the fan stops. Processors are small, light pieces of metal and silicone, which means they heat up and cool down quickly they dont
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LETTERS
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tubes and into each of the heads, expelling any air from the system. Depending on the capacity of the cartridges that come with the printer, this can have an alarming hit on them, but its a one-off process and future supplies should last for the rated number of pages. The review printers we receive from Epson are usually pre-primed so we havent seen this problem. The printer probably isnt faulty, but if you have a similar problem with your next set of supplies, you may need to get in touch with Epson. 72, headed Choosing an Intel motherboard. I had to make sure time hadnt gone into reverse and we were not back in 2007. Apparently Pentium 4s are still standard and a Core 2 Duo is something to aspire to quite comforting for those of us who still struggle along with one, although it was surprising to learn that PCI-E graphics cards are not yet the norm. It would be interesting to know how such an old article slipped past editing and proof checking. Despite this, Computer Shopper is still the best computer magazine on the market and I greatly value and appreciate the coverage it gives to such a range of computerrelated equipment. One might occasionally disagree with its verdicts, but one can always take them seriously. David Dunford
store much heat. Once you turn off your PC, the small amount of heat remaining in the processor is transferred to the heatsink, which is large enough to cope. Some heat will remain in your case but, again, the components cool quickly once theyre no longer consuming 180-200W. We managed to nd a product called the Power Down Protector, which promised to keep your fans running after your PC powers down, but it doesnt seem to have been made for around 10 years, so we dont think many people have had problems with post-shutdown heat spikes.
I purchased an Epson WP-4535 inkjet printer after reading a review in your magazine (Labs, Shopper 286). Once Id installed the cartridges and initialised the printer, I was left with virtually no ink left. Epson tells me this is normal. Did this happen to you in your review of the item or do I have a faulty unit thats going to eat me out of house and home? Kevin Horne
RUNNING ON EMPTY
expert, the WP-4535 is one of a large number of current inkjets that has stationary ink tanks that are connected to the moving print heads with capillary tubes. When a printer is new theres no ink in the system, so the priming process feeds ink through the
According to our printers
Ive been buying Computer Shopper since the days when the cover disk came on a 5in oppy disk and for most of that time Ive been a subscriber, so Im not likely to change any time soon. But there are two aspects of the new issue that make me wonder whether editorial standards have slipped a little. First, I was surprised to see no reference in your review of smartphones of any products by HTC, even though it was your review of the One S that helped me make my decision to upgrade to one recently. Obviously, the consensus seems to be that the latest models are just pipped by the Galaxy 3, but HTCs range is at least worthy to be discussed in the same breath. Then I was taken aback to see the Best Buys piece on page
OLD-SCHOOL BUYING ADVICE
Do you wish your computer was faster when booting and loading applications? Thanks to Crucial, you can achieve your dream of a faster PC or laptop with the Adrenalin SSD. The writer of our Star letter will be awarded one of these solid-state cache devices, which can be installed in a desktop PC alongside a hard disk. The Adrenalin caches data to and from your hard disk, giving you the speed boost of an SSD without you having to recongure your storage. With its simple installation instructions, its the perfect upgrade to any PC. STAR PRIZE
128GB SSD
WRITE IN AND WIN
comments and feedback. The reason we didnt include HTC handsets in the smartphones group test is because we wanted the handsets to be as new as possible, and HTC hasnt released any models for a while. Apologies for the error in the Best Buys section. That was some very old copy that found its way in by mistake, and slipped through the editorial process. Weve updated Choosing an Intel motherboard and expunged the old version from our system.
Thank you for your kind
PLUS
Weve currently run out of Shopper mugs, so were offering every reader who has a letter published a 2GB Computer Shopper USB ash ve instead. drive
NEXT MONTH
WINDOWS 8 PC GROUP TEST
Microsofts new operating system is here, and weve reviewed a ne variety of PCs to show off its new capabilities. Sometimes even Linux can go wrong. We explain how to get Ubuntu back up and running after an operating system disaster.
in
N O LE SA
om fr s r nt be ge m sa ve w o ne th N 8
CREATE A LINUX RESCUE DISC
DECADES-OLD PCs
Some 30-year-old PCs are still running essential systems. We explore these engineering marvels.
CREATIVITY SOFTWARE
Unleash your creative side with our round-up of the best video-editing and photo-editing packages.
We show you how to access your tunes from anywhere using FreeNAS, and how to download les to your server over BitTorrent.
FREENAS MUSIC STREAMING
RISE OF THE HOME WORKER
More and more of us are forsaking oces for the home. Is this the future of work or, in Boris Johnsons words, a skivers charter?
10
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DECEMBER 2012
Getting away from it all

Hes nally on holiday, but David Robinson is still surrounded by people who want his help, one man with a potato shoved up his cars exhaust and a very hungry squirrel
IVE SETTLED MYSELF in the shade of a tall pine tree, just 50 metres from the Mediterranean Sea, when Reiner (the German hairdresser on the adjacent plot) starts chucking stones at his tree and shouting abuse. The object of his ire is a poor little squirrel one of the black type that apparently bullies the grey type that bullies our cute red type. The squirrel, obviously uent in German, hops into my tree. I try mapping out this months article determined to beat the deadline. My concentration lasts 30 seconds before Im bombarded with a hail of chewed-up bits of hard green stuff. The squirrel is chomping through a pine cone, spitting the detritus all over me. This detritus is just the right size and consistency to get stuck between the Lenovo keys. I consider recruiting the hairdresser to move the squirrel on again but, as my German is as poor as his non-existent English, its simpler for me to move. Just as Im getting up, Droopy pops up above the hedge. Droopy is the rather downtrodden wife of Dafydd, the guy who cling-lms his laptop (see Shopper 286). Shes called Droopy because of Wi-Fi connection? Yes, hes got ve bars. I promise to call around later. of the cling lm, which is there to protect the computer from dirt. Youre facing the wrong way, I quip. Meccas in the opposite direction. That went over his head. Cant be too careful, he says. Well, you can, I think. The logic behind kneeling down to use the laptop is that nobody can see hes got it, so they wont be tempted to steal it. Frankly, you could leave it in the middle of the road, and it would still be there tomorrow. No-one would pick it up, as it seems to date from a time when Mr Hewlett and Mr Packard were in short trousers. Everybody on the site has a laptop, tablet or iPhone, and theyre way newer. They dont have cling lm, though. I log on to the Wi-Fi using my card and browse the net. Then I place a Skype test call, which works as well. So I sign off and check the saved Firefox logins and passwords against the details on Dafydds card. The Wi-Fi provider logins all start with ccdo, followed by a number. Dafydd had typed ccd012345 (using a zero rather than a lowercase o), so he couldnt complete the connection. But Ive got ve bars he pleads, referring to the Wi-Fi signal strength. I explain that this doesnt mean he got past the gatekeeper, which only lets you in when its satised youve coughed up the appropriate fee nor does good signal strength mean youll get decent bandwidth and, at busy times, that was hardly good enough for VoIP. Finally, I ask about the potato. Thats there to stop the salty air getting into the engine and ruining the carburettor, he replies. There are two issues with that, I sigh. One, the salty air wont get past the silencer or pistons, even in a hurricane, and two, your cars a diesel it hasnt got a carburettor. I sometimes think people should be made to pass a test before being allowed to use a PC.
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UNDER DEV
DAVID ROBINSON
Software and systems developer

davidr@computershopper.co.uk
The squirrel, obviously uent in German, bombards me with a hail of chewed-up bits of hard green stuff
her resemblance to the cartoon character. Hitched to Dafydd, shes entitled to be glum. Cant Skype, she says. Dafydds sent me to see if you can Skype. The site managers have extended the wee-fee coverage and there are network antennas all over the place, so getting a signal is no problem. A quick test using the Skype Test Call facility conrms that I can Skype, so Dafydds problem is probably mental and not environmental. Has he rebooted? I ask. Yes, hes done that.
The whole holiday has been a constant stream of interruptions, starting the day I arrived, with lots of contractual issues regarding the oce. Jim has also decided that the website kit in a box has to go live. He couldnt have picked a worse time, but he was adamant it had to be live by 1st August. Then he shot off to the Seychelles and left us all to it. Thank goodness for the improved Wi-Fi, which enables me to sort the mess remotely, although doing so impinges on my mid-morning sleep, not to mention the afternoon nap. Turns out the site couldnt return any order details placed by customers, which largely defeated the object of having it in the rst place. Then Jims staff decide they want to revamp half the product descriptions. This would be ne if it were a matter of typing changes into the product le. But we store four kinds of description in our le: a Product Name, a Short Description, a Long Description and a Technical Description. These get dispatched to elds with corresponding names in the website. After ve months of testing, they want it changing so the Short Description goes to the Product Name, the Long Description to the site Short Description, and the Long Description to the Technical Description. It looks odd to me, but the customers always right I suppose. Although, strangely, the kit site doesnt show its own Long Description.
JIM WONT FIX IT
Finally, I get round to paying Dafydd a visit. Passing by his car, I notice there is a potato stuck in the exhaust pipe. I then spot him kneeling down in the corner of the caravan, bashing the keys on his laptop. Hes bashing because
VEGETABLE EXTRACT
| DECEMBER 2012
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11
BYTE BACK
Stolen moments
WEVE ALL DONE it, or at least been close to it. Im talking, of course, about piracy. My earliest memory of it involves being at a Christmas Eve party when I was still in short trousers. While the grown-ups drank, laughed and cracked walnuts, the kids were in a separate room, watching a lm. That lm was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and the copy, as far as I can remember it, was dreadful. Honestly, it was so bad I couldnt watch it, and believe me, I desperately wanted to see that lm. But even back then, when I was less than 10 years old, I couldnt really see the appeal in watching a copy of a lm that was recorded in a cinema on a camera behind someones head. E.T. may well have been the most exciting lm of the year, and I later heard that the copy set someone back about 50, but at the time, I recall quite clearly that I just wandered off to steal peanuts or stick Lego up my nose or something like that, anyway. Id be lying if I said that that was the last time I was exposed to piracy. At school, I would record songs off the radio. At university, people would trade tapes of the
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What does piracy mean to you? However benign your intentions may seem, it isnt worth risking a spell in a dank prison on the other side of the world, argues David Neal
DAVID NEAL
Freelance journalist
letters@computershopper.co.uk
and, to be honest, I really dont think its worth the trouble. This year, the war against piracy really stepped up a gear. We saw Megaupload get shut down and its boss, the cuddly Kim Dotcom, accused of everything from money laundering to racketeering. Weve seen students who are guilty of building sites that offer links to The Simpsons become the target of the USs scary legal machine. Sharing sites and torrent portals are falling like dominos. A few months ago, I could probably have named you half a dozen such sites off the top of my head now Im not even sure there are half a dozen still in existence. Look at Megaupload: on the face of it, it was just a digital locker site. The US threw its whole weight at that site, and it continues to do so. Other sites, such as The Pirate Bay, have been blocked by all UK ISPs and others, such as Filesonic, have disappeared. These sites werent all bad; many had legitimate uses and users. Megaupload, for example, was used by millions of people who wanted cloud storage for their photos, while The Pirate Bay recently launched The Promo Bay
up in the early days of the internet just like towns in the old Wild West. They lled a gap that no-one else knew how to ll, and people ocked to them. They didnt always get it right, but they were trying. But now we dont really need Napster. All kinds of sites from Apple to Amazon will let you download music these days, and for the most part they do so at fairly reasonable prices. Similarly, services such as Netix and Lovelm have stepped in to offer lm fans a place to go when they want something to watch, and to be fair to them they dont charge a lot for the experience. They might not have all the lms ever made, but they have quite a few, and they are adding to them all the time.
CANT DO THE TIME?
Even when I was less than 10 years old, I couldnt really see the appeal in watching a copy of a lm that was recorded in a cinema on a camera behind someones head
bands of the day playing live. I remember having at least one copy of Oasis playing somewhere, and a copy on vinyl of Princes Black album. It seemed kind of harmless back then. But it doesnt feel so harmless these days. as a way of exposing unsigned artists to its growing user base. We havent even mentioned Napster, which may have had its enemies but was known as the go-to place for hard-to-nd material a bit like a bootleg record market stall, as opposed to a place where people who wanted to assault Celine Dions prot margins holed up.
Im not suggesting that a copied DVD snatches any food out of Tom Hanks mouth, nor do I think that if I copy someones Best of Bowie CD, The Thin White Duke will notice the impact on his bank statements. But its still not on
PIRATE EDUCTION
CARING SHARING
These sites werent just about piracy they were a part of the internets make-up. They sprang
However, while these sites are good, I dont think that theyre responsible for stopping piracy in its tracks, or for stopping people from pirating: its fear thats doing that. When people who download or share music and lms are offered the sort of sentences that are usually reserved for people who run over cats while drunk and driving a stolen car, you realise the law really, really wants to put an end to it. It took a while for old media to get with it and launch services to truly compete with Napster and Surfthechannel, but they have. Its taken them even longer to work out how to create a deterrent for people who still pirate but, again, they have. That deterrent is to make sure that the punishment really outweighs the crime. Now that sharing songs can earn you a ne that runs into the hundreds of thousands, and sharing links can earn you the attentions of a foreign government and lose you the support of your own, you really have to face the facts. Piracy no matter how easy it is, and how often you have done it just isnt worth it.
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DECEMBER 2012
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Fake expectations
YOU HAVE NO excuse: heres an early reminder to abandon the usual last-minute panic in the search for the perfect Christmas gift. Brave the crowds and the public transport system or, alternatively, go online and shop from the comfort of your home (or oce, if the boss is away). According to gures published by the Oce for National Statistics, 837.1 million was spent online in each week of December 2011, accounting for 8.4 per cent of all online spending for the year in the UK. The predictions are that, despite the economic climate, 2012 will be a bumper year for online shopping. And guess what? The bad guys are well aware of these gures and they have been gearing up just to target you. You may be wondering what goods they will use to lure you into parting with your cash. Just about anything is fair game, although luxury handbags and accessories are particular favourites of organised criminals they have their own retail analysts at their disposal and
WorldMags.net
CYBERCOP
Yes, there is something worse than Christmas shopping. So dont put your data and credit cards at risk beware the perils of counterfeit goods, warns Gordon Holmes
that will break or wear out in no time. Theres also the danger that after giving your payment details, your card may be compromised and your personal details sold on.
GORDON HOLMES
With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, our retired cybercop gives a police ocers perspective on the sticky subject of cybercrime
letters@computershopper.co.uk
Itll be a bumper year for online shopping. And guess what? The bad guys have been gearing up just to target you
know this years hot product well in advance of the festive season. Two years ago, it was Ugg boots. Last year, it was a particular range of designer handbags. Designer products of any type are favoured. My ex-colleagues at the Police Central e-Crime Unit, part of Scotland Yards Specialist Crime Department, closed down more than 2,000 fraudulent websites in the run up to Christmas in 2011. From what I gather, they will be as busy if not more so this year. There are many scams associated with fraudulent websites, from the sale of nonexistent goods that rip the cash from your wallet to the sale of counterfeit and inferior products
So what can you do to reduce the risk? It may sound trite, but if its too good to be true then it probably is. Bargain goods sold far lower than their recommended retail price must ring alarm bells the ood of counterfeit goods from China is well documented. Before you commit to an online purchase, research any customer feedback. People tend to issue warnings after being stung; just search Google for the websites name. Dont forget to look at the websites Contact us section and check the address is a proper geographical one and not a PO box. You can always use Google Mapss Streetview to check out the premises virtually. If you wouldnt want to walk there for real, think twice before buying something from the company. Consider a domain lookup tool (use a search engine with the term whois and choose one) to see who registered the site. Small traders may have a good reason to restrict registration details, but large companies certainly wont. Be wary of offers sent via email. Sure, a lot of legitimate companies use this marketing technique, but so do the bad guys, so dont click any links within the mail. Hover over the link with your mouse to see where the link is directing you this may bear no relation to the supposed destination. Typo squatting is another method employed by criminals to trick you into visiting their fake sites. For this ploy, the scammer registers a website with a name that looks like the correct site, but with one or two letters misspelt or a hyphen that isnt part of the legitimate address such as computarshopper.com or
CHECK, PLEASE
compter-shopper.co.uk. Check the website address, and dont accept the rst thing your search engine throws at you. Dont forget, if you buy goods online with a credit card that has a value of over 100, the card company is liable for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by the company from which you purchased those goods under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. In other words, you can claim your money back in the event of a fraudulent sale. For more advice on safe online shopping, visit www.getsafeonline. org, a government initiative to assist the public and to promote safe internet use. I know the guys at this organisation and they are committed to providing relevant, up-to-date advice that includes recent scams and operates in partnership with a number of law enforcement bodies.
Finally, Id like to thank a couple of readers who contacted Shopper to share their experiences with the fake computer support scam highlighted in issue 295. They were both targeted by scamsters and tricked into signing up for non-existent computer support and had paid money via credit card. Im pleased to report that both readers reported this to their credit card providers who, in turn, refunded the money. Another reader reported the fake support site to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk. Although the reader said that this was a fairly tortuous procedure, Im pleased he made the effort. Fake websites, scam support services and the like are all symptomatic of a largely unregulated internet. The more reports of unscrupulous behaviour we are able to make to the authorities, the sooner steps will be taken to put the fear back where it belongs rmly with the online criminal.
CREDIT CHECK
| DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
15
Rants & Raves

RANTS
Tom Morgan
WorldMags.net
Whats rattled our cages or made us giddy with delight this month? Our resident technological gurus wax lyrical and vent spleen on whats hot or not at the moment
Why is it that some of our nest innovators can get the basics so hideously wrong? Tom Morgan appeals for a return to common sense and technological developments that are as useful and meaningful as they are attractive and shiny
INNOVATION IS A GREAT thing it helps to introduce new technologies to the masses, improve old technologies and drive the industry forward as a whole, plus it keeps me in a job writing about it. When something genuinely new and exciting lands on my desk, its a great feeling to be able to share it with readers. However, theres a ip side. Because theyre desperate to stand out from the competition, many companies have started to push their latest innovations in press releases and release design concepts as full products, only for us to discover they should never have left the R&D department. Most major manufacturers are guilty of this, across all areas of technology, so it seems a little unfair to pick on one brand, but this wouldnt be much of a rant unless we held a few of them to account.
Take Samsung: its latest high-end TVs have the latest in voice and motion control, which looks like a grand statement on a press release, but in practice both systems are nothing short of infuriating. Unless you enjoy ailing wildly at your TV to turn down the volume, or shouting robotic commands at it to change
CONTROL EXPERIMENT
Samsungs UE46ES7000U: a great TV, but are all its features necessary?
Many companies push innovations in press releases, only for us to discover that they should never have left the R&D department
the channel, these improvements seem counter-intuitive: we cant see why the company didnt try to perfect its remote control instead. Smart TVs have so many features now including web browsers, twitter clients and built-in games that the humble remote control isnt particularly well-suited to controlling them. Youd expect most companies would be thinking about how to x that instead, were being given different ways to carry out the same actions as we could before, only more complicated and convoluted. If this new technology made things easier we would welcome it. In its current form, it feels pretty useless when you have the remote in your hand, anyway. Elsewhere, Apple rules the roost for handsets offering rened designs, more powerful hardware and extra functionality on its iOS
operating system with every new iteration but for a device that puts such a strong emphasis on music, the bundled headphones are atrocious. We often wonder whether anyone at Apple has used public transport. If they had, they would have noticed how incredibly bad iPhone headphones are at leaking noise not to mention the terrible sound quality. If they took the time to use them every day, were sure a new pair of headphones would be top of the agenda at Apples next board meetings.
When youre caught up in a race for bigger and faster technology, its easy to overlook the basic ways your users interact with their gadgets even when youre a multi-billion dollar company with huge research and development teams. If companies looked closer at their existing products to see where the weak links were, rather than comparing clock speeds, display resolutions and megapixels with the competition, we might see better gadgets with fewer issues. In that perfect world, we might even get some peace and quiet on public transport.
BACK TO BASICS
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WorldMags.net
RANTS & RAVES
RANTS
Why do certain claims of design infringement just seem like a ridiculous stake for territorial supremacy? David Ludlow considers patents, and asks who are the real winners and losers
ITS ABOUT TIME Rob Brydon sued Anton du Beke from Strictly Come Dancing for looking like him. While were at it, John Logie Bairds family should sue anyone whos ever made a TV for, well, making their product look like a TV. Thats the world we now live in, if Apples success against Samsung is anything to go by. Apple sued Samsung for a breach of its design patents, which included the front of the iPhone, with its edge-to-edge glass and the icons with their rounded squares. Some sense was seen when a patent for the iPads shape was thrown out, as it was deemed unfair to restrict someone from making a rectangular product with rounded corners. Still, Samsung was ordered to pay Apple over $1 billion dollars, as some of its phones breached Apples patents.
David Ludlow
Mel Croucher
RAVES
Always ready to shatter misconceptions and put the world to rights, Mel Croucher asks us all to take a moment to celebrate one of lifes unsung heroes: the real founder of the internet
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT the internet was invented in March 1989 by the Great British computing visionary Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Right? Wrong! Ill now explode this myth and reveal the true originator of the web to you. Come with me to Mons, a medieval Belgium collection of narrow houses and wide occupants. Here, in a little side-street in a crumbly part of town, is a museum called the Mundaneum, dedicated to a forgotten visionary named Paul Marie Ghislain Otlet. As I gaze upon his faded photos, I see that Otlet was a dead-ringer for Doctor Harold Shipman, but his legacy to the world was far more positive. In 1892, aged 24, Otlet published the provocative notion that storing information on library shelves was a stupid idea, because individual facts are dicult to locate and their arrangement is at the mercy of opinionated authors. He said it would be more useful and a lot faster to store information as data chunks, to allow continuous manipulation and interling by linking one concept to another. By the end of 1895, hed built his rst searchable storage facility, with 400,000 entries held on individual data cards. In his lifetime, it would grow to over 15 million listings.
Traditionally, design patents were used for complicated bits of machinery, such as a new fuel injector system. However, Apple has been creating design patents for all its devices and software. The thing about touchscreen devices is that theres only one way of building them: putting a large screen in the middle of a case. If companies can come up with ways of making thinner bezels, good on them. But putting a patent on such a design just seems stupid. Likewise with icon designs. How Apple can possibly own a patent on icons with rounded corners is beyond me. Squares with rounded corners existed long before Apple made the iPhone, and can be drawn in even the worst bit of photo-editing software. Of course, companies should be free to protect their rights, but patents are often a step too far, especially as that protection already exists in the form of copyright. If Samsung made a phone that looked like one of Apples it could be sued. With a patent, Samsung can be sued because its phone uses features such as glass that reaches the edge to which Apple owns the rights. Its not just in physical design where patents are causing problems. Software patents let companies claim invention over how something works, such as how a menu opens or what happens when you scroll to the bottom of the list. But software is just a list of instructions in the processors language. Its like me patenting a sentence in English, then suing anyone else who said it. Software patents also have a tendency to bring out the trolls. These are people and companies that register patents for obvious things, watch the market for software that breaches their patent, and step in to sue. With patent cases taking years and, potentially, millions of pounds of resources, its hard to ght these trolls. Patents should be there to protect companies, but there has to be limits on what can be patented or the only people who are really going to benet are the lawyers.
PATENTLY ABSURD
In the 20th century, Paul Otlet embraced multimedia, by integrating microlm and audio into his system, now called the Mundaneum. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1913, for proposing a global sharing of his information network to prevent international conict then the First World War erupted. Undaunted, he proposed the electronic transmission of his information network via radio and television, and as there was no such thing as electronic data storage he set about inventing it. In 1934, he designed the internet as a gigantic rseau which translates as network, employing a massive number of workers operating computers, or electric telescopes linked as a mechanical, collective brain. He set out how ordinary people would use the web to browse millions of interlinked chunks of knowledge, opinions, images, audio and video les. Best of all, he described how his network could be used for a paperless future to share les, send messages and form social networks: Anyone sitting in an armchair will be able to contemplate the whole of creation. If that isnt an accurate blueprint for the World Wide Web, I dont know what is. Paul Otlet snuffed it in 1944 when the Nazis walked in to the building that housed his Mundaneum, and ripped the guts out of it. Today, he is a forgotten man, even in Belgium even in Mons where, on the day I am visiting, the Mundaneum museum is totally deserted. For shame! Stand aside, Sir Tim, and let us honour Paul Otlet, the true founder of the internet.
GREAT MYTH TAKE
| DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
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WorldMags.net
As a tribute to Neil Armstrong, who died recently, we look at some of the space race ideas and technological innovations that helped to shape todays world
Lunar mission facts

NEIL ARMSTRONG, WHO passed away on 25th August 2012, will forever be remembered as the rst man to walk on the moon. The space race of the 1960s and 1970s brought many other benets to mankind, though. It ensured huge funding for scientic research and technology, for example, helping to create our modern world. As a tribute to the man and the achievements of the space programme, this month were looking at some of the most interesting facts about the moon landings and the technology that helped us all take giant leaps. The technology to put man on the moon started development in World War II. Under the direction of Wernher von Braun, the V2 rocket (Vergeltungswaffe 2, or retaliation weapon 2) was built by slave labour and was the worlds rst ballistic missile. When von Braun surrendered to the Americans at the end of the war, the US got its hands on the technology. However, his skills werent in demand until the Russians put a satellite into space with Sputnik. With the Cold War raging, the Americans decided to use von Brauns knowledge to create a reliable space rocket. From July 1960 to February 1970, von Braun oversaw the development of the Saturn V, the rocket that carried Apollo 11 to the moon and was also used for later projects, such as launching satellites.
Rocket science
Guidance computers
Its often said that the Apollo missions had less processing power than a modern smartphone. However, they also pioneered the use of a computer for guidance, navigation and control, technology that is still used in todays mobile devices. The only time the computer caused any problems was on the Lunar Module, the Eagle, during landing. The rendezvous radar switch was placed in the wrong position, causing it to send erroneous data to the computer. This caused the computer to send an error message. Fortunately, the Apollo Guidance Computer was programmed to eliminate low-priority tasks, so the Eagle landed safely. What Apollo also demonstrated was the ability to use a y-by-wire system, which is now used by practically every aeroplane.
Felt-tip pens for take-off
Things left behind

The Apollo 11 mission and subsequent missions have left behind many objects on the moons surface. Some things, such as a Hasselblad camera, were dropped to save weight. Others were left on purpose, such as the laser ranging retrorelector thats used by the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment to measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon. As a result, we now know that the Moon is spiralling away from the Earth at a rate of 3.8cm a year. Apollo 11 also planted a specially made American ag, which was designed to look the same on the Moons low-gravity surface as a normal ag would look on Earth. Unfortunately, the thrust from the Lunar Modules ascenter (the section of the Eagle designed to leave the Moon) blew the ag over.
After walking on the moons surface, Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin climbed back into the Lunar Module, the Eagle. Unfortunately, due to the bulky suits they were wearing, Aldrin accidentally broke the circuit breaker required to arm the engine for lift-off from the moon. There wasnt particularly real danger here, as the Lunar Module could have its circuitry recongured to arm the engine. However, this was a rather complicated procedure, so the astronauts hit upon a rather less technical solution: a felt-tip pen. Using the pen, Aldrin and Armstrong managed to engage the switch and arm the engine, causing the Ascent stage to lift off from the moon, taking the astronauts back to the Command Module so they could plot a course back home to Earth.
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Going global
The Moon landing was one of the rst global televised events. By July 1969, television was the main form of media in homes all over the world. A simultaneous live broadcast of mans greatest moment was therefore bound to be a success. It has been estimated that 530 million nd Ald people tuned in to watch Armstrong and Aldrin step on to the Moon. Given that it was past midnight in Europe (the walk was shown at 2.56am in the UK), thats a pretty impressive statistic. The population of the world in 1969 was around 3.5 billion, which means that around 15 per cent of the worlds population saw the historic event live. Not only had man nally made it to the Moon, but such a globally popular event shown through the medium of television also helped make the world a much smaller place.
TOP 10
Scratch-resistant lenses
A scratch on your glasses when youre sitting at home is merely annoying; a scratch on your visor when youre on the Moon could hamper your vision and lead to serious problems. With astronauts so reliant on their specially made suits, NASA came up with a scratch-proof coating to protect the visors from damage. Its this technology that has since been licensed by the space agency to manufacturers of traditional specs and sunglasses. The technology now used makes lenses up to 10 times tougher than they would be without the coating. So, the next time you drop your glasses and they survive without a scratch, be grateful to NASA and its lunar programme.
Cordless power tools

One of the jobs of the astronauts on the Apollo mission was to take samples of rock from the Moon. On Earth the easiest way to do this would have been with traditional power tools. In a zero-gravity environment with no easily reachable power sockets, traditional powered tools werent going to be a lot of help. NASA turned to Black & Decker, which had already created a range of cordless products, to develop a special battery-powered drill for use on the Moon. With h NASAs specic requirements, Black & Decker r developed special computer software to o optimise the drills motor to ensure minimal nimal power consumption. As a result of this design, cordless power tools improved. It also led to the development of the DustBuster, the original handheld vacuum cleaner, which was released in 1979.
Skylab
After NASA put man on the moon, there was an appetite for creating a space station orbiting the Earth, giving scientists a way of observing the universe and our planet in ways that were previously unimaginable. As a result, in 1973 Skylab was put into orbit. It included the Apollo Telescope Mount a solar observatory and the Orbital Workshop. Power was supplied by solar panels. During its operation, Skylab and its crews conrmed the existence of coronal holes on the Sun (darker, colder spots on the Sun), while the Earth was monitored with sensors that recorded data from the visible, infrared and microwave spectrums. Data was also collected on the effects of the human body in space. Although Skylab re-entered the Earths atmosphere in 1979, NASA has learned a lot from its rst space station, all of which has been valuable in creating the International Space Station.
Lunar Roving Vehicle

One thing that became apparent from the Apollo 11 mission was that at astronauts couldnt get around the Moons surface on foot. NASA therefore decided it needed the ts Lunar Roving Vehicle for astronauts to use to drive around the Moon. As well as being electrically powered, the Lunar Roving Vehicle was designed to operate in the low-gravity vacuum of the Moon. It was a complex engineering task, but the rst Lunar Roving Vehicle was ready for the Apollo 15 mission in July 1971. Once on the Moon, the vehicle managed to take the astronauts 3.1 miles from the landing site, giving them the time to perform important scientic experiments. What NASA learned from developing the Lunar Roving Vehicle has helped it to develop other unmanned rovers, such as Curiosity, which is currently on Mars.
Landsat
As well as putting man on the Moon, the space race also gave the US an appetite for conducting scientic research. The Landsat is one of the most signicant studies and has given us an invaluable look at the Earth. Landsat is the longest-running een satellite imaging service, and has been taking pictures of the Earth since 1972. 972. As well as providing amazing pictures, however, it has also been incredibly useful for scientists all over the globe. sed The pictures taken have been used for cartography, geology, forestry, monitoring global climate change, regional planning and surveillance, among other things So as well as putting man on the Moon, the space race has also provided us with the technology to look more closely at our own planet.
| DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
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NEWS
4G-equipped iPhone 5 nally hits the shelves

APPLES NEWEST iPHONE was a badly kept secret, having been leaked in various forms over the weeks before its unveiling, but that didnt stop Tim Cooks ocial announcement from dominating the news when he unveiled the new phone in September. The iPhone 5 will be the rst Apple smartphone to use iOS6, support 4G networks in the UK and use an ARM-based A6 processor. The major change is the larger display. Its the same width as the screen on the iPhone 4S but is now four inches diagonally, creating a 16:9 aspect ratio thats better suited to video. Although the 1,136x640 resolution is a step up from the 960x640 of the 4S, which let Apple squeeze an extra row of icons on to the home screen, the lack of extra horizontal pixels means you cant watch 720p HD content without image scaling. With most major Android smartphones now 720p or higher, this could be a major drawback for Apple, which was renowned for its quality displays. The new aspect ratio means apps have to be written specically to use the new screen. Apple has, of course, updated all its apps, but older software that hasnt been updated will run in a letterbox mode, with black bars round the content. Wed expect most developers to update their software fairly rapidly. The touchscreen itself uses a newly designed panel that removes the air gap between the touch and LCD layers, taking up less space and providing greater colour saturation. This makes the phone just 7.6mm thick, around 18 per cent thinner than the 4S. Its also much lighter, weighing just 112g. Apple used the iPhone 5 launch to introduce a new docking connector, which it claims is necessary to pave the way for even thinner devices in the future. The thinner, smaller eight-pin connector will be known as Lightning, and is reversible so you dont have to worry which way round you plug it in. Its bad news for accessory and speaker dock manufacturers, who will have to update their products, but thankfully there will be a dock-to-lightning adaptor for anyone not yet ready to upgrade. The new iPhone will also come with the latest version of Apples own mobile operating system. IOS 6 marks the rst time Google wont be supplying data for the Maps app. Instead, Apple will be collecting its own, in addition to providing turn-by-turn navigation and a Find My Friends alternative to Google Latitude. The Camera app now has an integrated panorama mode and Apples voice assistant Siri has been updated to respond faster to your commands. Aside from a raft of improvements and tweaks, the other major addition is Passbook, an app for storing plane, train, cinema and concert tickets, as well as coupons and vouchers. Its entirely dependent on support from the companies producing the tickets, and theres no indication as to how and if this will work in the UK. Apples UK store is currently listing SIM-free handsets from 529, but youll be able to pick up a phone on contract from all the major networks. If you want a 4G model, though, youll need to wait for EE to launch ocially later in the year (see opposite).
WorldMags.net
The iPhone 5 isnt a radical departure from the outgoing 4S, but the larger screen makes more room for apps
Nokia and Motorola try to crash the launch party

With Apples announcement of the iPhone 5 dominating the news, rival companies Nokia and Motorola did their best to steal some of the limelight with a pair of new devices. Nokias Lumia 920 will be the rst smartphone to run Windows Phone 8, the latest version of Microsofts mobile operating system, as well as the rst Windows phone to use Nokias Pureview camera. The 4in, 1,280x768 device is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, supports the Qi wireless charging standard and can use NFC to stream music to compatible audio equipment, but the standout feature is the camera. Although not using the hugely impressive 41-megapixel sensor as the Pureview 808, the 8.7-megapixel camera has a unique optical image-stabilisation system that enables the shutter to stay open for longer, capturing more light and producing clearer low-light images than any other smartphone. Meanwhile, Motorolas Intel Atom-powered RAZRi is the rst smartphone to break the 2GHz barrier. The 4.3in edge-to-edge display has less than 1mm of screen bezel, making it the smallest phone available with this screen size. With Gorilla Glass on the front and Kevlar on the back, its fairly standard RAZR fare, but the Intel Atom Z2460 chipset inside makes it the fastest smartphone ever in terms of raw clock speed. However, it currently runs Android 4.0.4 instead of the latest 4.1 Jelly Bean, despite Motorola being owned by Google.
With PureView, the Lumia 920 could be one of the best smartphone cameras around
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WorldMags.net EE to launch rst UK 4G network before Christmas

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE, OWNER of the Orange and T-Mobile networks, has rebranded itself ready for the launch of its 4G service before the end of the year. The new EE service will be the rst of its kind in the UK, letting LTE-compatible handsets download data at over 30MB/s when connected to the 4G network; thats around ve times faster than conventional 3G. The new brand will sit alongside the current Orange and T-Mobile brands, which currently arent planning to announce 4G support. If youre an existing customer, youll need to move to EE and start a new contract to get a 4G connection. All Orange and T-mobile stores will eventually be rebranded to EE, but youll still be able to buy handsets on any of the three networks from these stores. Samsung, HTC, Nokia and Huawei are all working on 4G-compatible handsets, and although the announcement came a day before Apples iPhone 5 launch, it didnt stop CEO Olaf Swantee from hinting heavily that the iPhone would also be supported. As expected, Apple conrmed its latest model will support the network, although youll need to wait for EE to launch ocially if you want a 4G iPhone.
NEWS
EE CEO Olaf Swantee introduced the new brand, but wouldnt reveal prices or when to expect the service to launch
EE has already activated 4G coverage for testing purposes in 16 UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Belfast. Rollouts to the rest of the country are still in the planning stages. Theres currently no rm date set for the launch of the service, other than that it will be available before Christmas.
Amazon launches Kindle Fire HD and nally brings it to the UK

PREVIOUSLY ONLY AVAILABLE in the US, the latest addition to Amazons Kindle Fire tablet range will cross the Atlantic to the UK when it launches on the 25th October. The Kindle Fire HD is a 7in Android-powered device that runs Amazons own custom interface over Googles operating system, which lets you access the extensive library of books, music and video available from the Amazon online store. It has a 1,280x800, IPS display that uses a panel where the LCD segment and touch segments are bonded together, rather than having an air gap, reducing interior light reections and producing better image quality. This sounds identical to the OptiContrast technology that Sony is using in its Xperia Tablet S and the TruVivid system Asus built into the Google-branded Nexus 7. Another feature it has in common with the Sony tablet is limited guest accounts for children. Kindle Freetime lets you restrict not only what apps your kids have access to, but also sets time limits on usage. However, unlike the Tablet S, the Fire isnt splash-proof, so you wont have complete peace of mind when handing over your gadget to your children. The Kindle Fire HD will be the rst tablet to include dual Wi-Fi antennas that support the 802.11n 5GHz band, which should improve wireless signal and prevent drop-outs, even if it wont lead to faster downloads. The claimed 11-hour battery life is standard for a 7in tablet. Powered by a dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP4460 chipset running at 1.2GHz, the differences between it and the quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 in the Nexus 7 wont be huge. Gaming may be a different story, as Nvidia has a gaming pedigree that could make it the faster performer. One thing Amazon didnt reveal was which version of Android sits beneath the highly customised user interface. Were pretty certain it wont be built on top of the slick Android 4.1, which may give the Nexus 7 an advantage. Two Kindle Fire HD variants are available to pre-order through Amazon. The entry-level 16GB model costs 159, the same price as a Google Nexus 7, which has only 8GB of storage. The larger 32GB version costs 199, the same as the 16GB Nexus 7. An updated version of the original Kindle Fire will also be coming to the UK, but at 129 theres little point buying one when the new HD model costs only 30 more its heavier, fatter, has less memory and a lower screen resolution. A larger 8.9in Kindle Fire was also announced. Its a 4G-enabled slate with a massive 1,920x1,200resolution display that equals the Asus Transformer Pad Innity, but unfortunately it looks set to stay US-only for the foreseeable future. With both tablets battling head-to-head to become the most popular 7in tablet in the run-up to Christmas, on paper the Kindle looks to be edging ahead of its Google-branded rival. The higher storage capacity, extra speakers and extensive media library could make it a major threat Amazons custom interface to Googles tablet, which was sets the Kindle Fire HD apart from the released to rave reviews in July. hordes of other budget Android tablets
Click: dell.co.uk WorldMags.net | Call: 0844 444 3242

8am-9pm Weekdays, 9am-6pm Saturdays, 10am-5pm Sundays
NEWS
Intel reveals new processor design

INTEL USED ITS keynote presentation at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco to outline the processor architecture that will power its fourth-generation CPUs. Codenamed Haswell, the chips will make their way into PCs, laptops and tablets with a raft of new improvements designed to eclipse the current generation of processors. In accordance with Intels processor roadmaps, Haswell is a tock a brand-new architecture rather than a tick a die shrink of an existing design. The current Ivy Bridge processor range was a tick, switching from the 32nm process used for Sandy Bridge to a 22nm process. It also introduced 3D transistors, which will return for Haswell. Using the same 22nm process as Ivy Bridge, Haswell will focus on better graphics and improved power consumption rather than clock speed or raw performance increases. Key technologies such as Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading will be present, and both L1 and L2 cache sizes will remain unchanged from Ivy Bridge, but Haswell will still see performance improvements thanks to
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increased cache bandwidth and a new version of the Advanced Vector Extensions design, which potentially doubles oating-point performance over the previous generation. Two extra ports let the CPU execute eight instructions simultaneously. Perhaps more important for laptop users is the promise of reduced power consumption. Intel expects Haswell processors will almost double the battery life of Ivy Bridge, thanks to a new power state called S0ix. Whereas a current generation is either in S0 mode (active) or in S3/S4 mode (sleep/hibernation), S0ix lets the system stay active with only ve per cent of the power needed to keep a current system at idle speed. Switching between states will be instantaneous, which could lead to faster startup and resume times. Haswell could also be up to twice as fast as Ivy Bridge in terms of graphics, thanks to a new GPU core. The three variants GT1, GT2 and GT3 will dictate overall performance depending on the processor model, but all will support DirectX 11.1, OpenCL 1.2 and OpenGL 4.0. The top-end GT3 should deliver twice the
Intel vice-president David Perlmutter took to the IDF stage to show what Haswell has in store
performance of HD 4000 using the same amount of power. All variants will also support 4K resolutions. This means picking the right processor could be even more confusing, as youll have to work out which GPU core you need as well as overall performance. Intel has yet to announce much more than the overall architecture design for Haswell, so were quite a way away from knowing what processor models will be available. However, the IDF conference was a great indicator of what to expect from PCs and laptops next year. We do know that Intel is taking a mobile rst approach to Haswell, meaning laptops and tablets should be rst out of the door when the processors launch in 2013.
Wii U release date and pricing conrmed

NINTENDOS INNOVATIVE WII U console will be available to buy in the UK on 30th November. The Wii U was one of the most exciting announcements at this years E3 trade show. Although its just a small step up in terms of processing power and memory from the Xbox 360, its most exciting feature is its wirelessly connected tablet-like controller, which allows for innumerable new gameplay possibilities using two screens, one in your hand as well as your normal TV. In Japan the console will cost 26,250 (around 208) for a Basic 8GB version or 31,500 (251) for a Premium 32GB version. UK prices are signicantly higher, with retailers listing pre-orders for the Basic model at 250 and 299 for the Premium version. Both packs contain the console, Wii U controller and a copy of the Nintendo Land game. The basic pack comes with power adaptors and an HDMI cable. The Deluxe pack also comes with a vertical stand for the console and a stand for the control pad with a charger built in. If you want to buy an extra Wii U controller (up to two are supported at once), youre out of luck: Nintendo currently has no plans to sell standalone controllers in the west.
The Wii Us touchpad controller can display your inventory, leaving the main screen free
Valve adds big picture mode to Steam

VALVES STEAM CONTENT delivery service has introduced a Big Picture mode, aimed at home theatre PC owners. Big Picture mode replaces the default Steam interface with a custom skin streamlined for playback on large TVs rather than computer monitors. As well as full support for console controllers, which lets you launch games, browse the Steam store, load web shortcuts and open message windows without having to swap back to the mouse, an innovative virtual keyboard makes it easier to type with just a joypad. All the onscreen prompts appear as controller buttons rather than mouse buttons or keyboard keys, and with the option to launch Big Picture Mode automatically when Windows rst reaches the Desktop enabled, you can in effect turn a PC into a dedicated games console. The oversized text, picture-heavy layout and large UI elements are unmistakably Steam, but share a similar look to Microsofts Windows 8 Start screen. The interface is easy to read, even from several metres away, and will scale up or down depending on the size of your TV. The colour scheme is full of inconspicuous greens and greys, to let the game images speak for themselves. Now that HDMI connections are commonplace on modern graphics cards and gaming laptops, you need only a single cable to connect your computer to your living room TV. Issues such as over-scanning, resolution and refresh rate are all a thing of the past, so Steam sees this as the ideal time to try to persuade PC gamers to move out of the bedroom into the living room. Big Picture mode also provides a clue as to what Valves Steam box could look like, if the rumoured PC/console hybrid device ever makes it into production. For now, the company is strictly sticking to software, but if this new venture succeeds theres a distinct possibility Valve will reconsider its decision.
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NEWS
High-end cameras launched at Photokina show

MAJOR CAMERA MANUFACTURERS were out in force at this years Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany, where several new high-end cameras were announced. Panasonics GH3 replaces the existing GH2 at the top-end of its Micro Four Thirds range. Additional rotary controllers and more buttons have been added to the newly weather-sealed magnesium body, which creates a 10 per cent weight gain, but at 609g its still no heavyweight. The battery has seen a big increase from 330 to 540 shots. Continuous performance is up from 5fps to 6fps, but the resolution remains unchanged at 16 megapixels. Both the 3in touchscreen and electronic viewnder now use OLED technology, at higher resolutions than before. Panasonic has focused on video quality with the GH3, adding a new QuickTime mode which records at 1080/24p using an unusually high 72Mbit/s bit rate. Expected pricing is 1,099 for the body alone and 1,700 for a kit that has the same 14-140mm lens with which the GH1 and GH2 shipped. Thats a fairly big hike, but the weather-proong alone puts the GH3 into a different, more serious, category. Both Nikon and Canon released full-frame DSLRs, in the form of the D600 and EOS 6D. Based around a 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with an ISO range expandable from 50 to 25,600, the D600 also packs in an EXPEED 3 image processor and uncompressed 1080p Full HD video recording. Despite these features, the camera is Nikons lightest professional-grade DSLR at a body-only weight of 760g including the battery. Pricing is competitive, too, with the body-only package priced at 1,955 over 600 less than the top-end D800.
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All the major camera manufacturers were at the show, along with big-name lens producers such as Carl Zeiss
Sonys NEX-6 compact camera adds Wi-Fi for wireless photo uploads
Canons Wi-Fi and GPS-equipped EOS 6D is presented as a more affordable option for people who want a full-frame SLR but cant stretch to the 5D mark III. The 20-megapixel sensor is brand-new, and only a little lower in resolution than the 5D Mark IIIs 22.3 megapixels. With the same 50-102,400 (expanded) ISO speed range and DIGIC 5+ processor inside, theres every reason to expect it to deliver the same stunning image quality as the 5D Mark III. Pricing is yet to be announced, but with the 5D Mark III currently available for around 2,600 including VAT (body only), were hoping that the 6D will come in at around 2,000. Olympus introduced two new PEN Micro Four Thirds models: the E-PL5 and the E-PM2. Both cameras have received touchscreen upgrades and use the same 16-megapixel sensor as the agship OM-D EM-5, a major improvement over the previous-generation 12-megapixel sensor. The E-PM2 has a xed screen, whereas the E-PL3 can ip its display over for self-portraits. The E-PL5 now has the same removable hand grip concept as the more expensive E-P3, while the E-PM2 gains a small integral hand grip, which should make it easier to keep hold of than its predecessor. UK variants of each model will come bundled with a Toshiba FlashAir 8GB Wi-Fi memory card, which will work with the menu system to let you upload photos wirelessly. Both cameras will be available mid-to-late October, with recommended prices of 600 for the E-PL5 and 500 for the E-PM2.
Finally, Sony pre-empted the show itself, unveiling the NEX-6 interchangeable compact, Alpha 99 full-frame DSLR and RX1 full-frame compact days before it began. The SLT Alpha 99 is the most conventional of the three, packing the same three-way articulated screen, 24-megapixel resolution and magnesium alloy body as the Alpha A77, but with improved autofocus and video-recording functions that put it in direct competition with Canons EOS5D Mark III and Nikons D800. The A99 is expected in November, priced around 2,500 (body only). The compact RX1 uses the same sensor in a much smaller body. With dimensions of 113x65x70mm, its the smallest digital camera ever to incorporate a full frame sensor, albeit at the cost of interchangeable lenses. The Carl Zeiss xed lens has a 35mm focal length and f/2 maximum aperture. With lens rings for focus and aperture, and a sleek aluminium body, it will make a stylish carry-everywhere camera for those who can afford it. Expect to pay around 2,600 including VAT when it arrives in December. Finally, the NEX-6 uses the same 16.1-megapixel sensor as the recently launched NEX-5R, but incorporates the superb XGA electronic viewnder from the NEX-7, as well as a mode dial, integrated ash and built-in Wi-Fi for wireless photo uploads. Its expected in the shops in November, along with a new 16-50mm power zoom kit lens that can collapse down to a slim prole when not in use. Expect to pay 830 including VAT, or 1,030 for the double lens kit, which adds a 55-210mm lens.
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PCs & LAPTOPS REVIEWS
REVIEWS
YOUR TRUSTED GUIDE TO WHATS NEW
WIRED2FIRE Diablo Predator
VERDICT
899 inc VAT From www.wired2re.co.uk A well-specied and powerful Windows 8 PC at a good price WHEN WE ASKED Wired2Fire to submit a Windows 8 PC for review, the company took a no-nonsense approach to its design. The Diablo Predator follows the tried-andtrusted formula of pairing a powerful overclocked Intel processor with an enthusiasts Nvidia graphics card. The PC looks smart and understated in its black Xigmatek Asgard case. There are few extras on the outside but a useful panel on the top of the case places two USB ports, one USB3 port and headphone and microphone ports within easy reach.
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The rear of the PC houses two more USB3 and four USB ports, which is fairly typical. It also provides three analogue audio outputs for 5.1 surround sound and an optical S/PDIF output to connect to surround-sound ampliers and speaker systems that dont have HDMI inputs. The motherboard also has VGA and DVI inputs in case you want to remove the included GTX 660 graphics card. The graphics card adds two DVI ports, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and you can use any combination of these to run three monitors in Nvidias Surround multi-monitor gaming mode.
Express x1 or x4 cards in the spare PCI Express x16 slot if you need them. The PC has 8GB of RAM, which is enough for some serious multitasking, and has two further slots free for adding even more memory. The PC is well served for storage, too, thanks to a Blu-ray reader and DVD re-writer combo drive, a 1TB mechanical hard disk for storage and a 120GB SSD for use as a Windows 8 system drive. The motherboard has two SATA3 and four SATA2 ports. Both SATA3 ports are taken up with the hard disk and SSD, while the Blu-ray/DVD writer is plugged into one of the SATA2 plugs. Included with the PC is an AOC i2352Vh INNER STRENGTH monitor, which is one of our favourites. Its The interior of the case is reasonably tidy. The a 23in 1,920x1,080 screen with DVI, HDMI PC isnt quite as neat as Scans Value G31 (see and VGA inputs, as well as 3.5mm audio page 32), but its cables are tidy and there are passthrough sockets. Its also an IPS panel no obstructions to airow. It has a goodIPS technology tends to give more accurate quality 600W Corsair power supply and colours than the more-common TN type. theres a spare PCI Express power connector in When testing with our open-source case you want to upgrade to a more powerful Dispcalgui calibration software and a card later. Theres a large Xigmatek cooler for Spyder4Express colour calibrator, the the processor and a 120mm exhaust fan, and software reported too much green in the the PC emits only a low hum. image at its default settings. Once wed Wired2Fire has used Asuss ddled with the colour balance, ddle P8Z77-V LX motherboard as the brightness and contrast settings, bri All basis for the Diablo Predator. we managed to get the picture 8 Windows This provides a reasonable just right and the calibrator PCs will be amount of room for expansion reported that the screen was m with three free PCI slots. You within 97.2 per cent of the sRGB available fro dont get any PCI Express x1 colour standard as much as the r e b o ct O th 26 slots, but you can always t PCI best monitors weve seen.
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p32 Scan Value G31
p43 Panasonic DMC-LX7
p88 Ultrabook group test
p34 LG Optimus 4X HD
p46 Samsung BD-E8500
The manufacturer has made some tweaks to Windows 8 that may alleviate some common criticisms levelled at the operating system
The Keysonic keyboard looks cheap but is comfortable to use thanks to a well-judged level of feedback. We had no complaints with the Logitech B110 mouse in general use, either, although its a bit light for accuracy in games. The manufacturer has made some tweaks to Windows 8 that may alleviate some of the common criticisms levelled at it. Instead of the tiled Start screen, it goes straight to the Desktop view, which will be more familiar to Windows 7 users. Theres also a shutdown button on the taskbar which is useful because Windows 8s is ridiculously well hidden and a small shortcut bar that provides easy access to your document folders, hard disks, network and control panel, as well as some installed programs. It even works like Windows 7s Start menu in that you can right-click Computer to bring up the Management interface, for example. Its not the prettiest operating system mod weve seen, but it certainly makes the transition to Windows 8 a little easier.
The Diablo Predator is hugely powerful. Its Intel Core i5-3570K processor has been overclocked to an enormous 4.7GHz and it scored 150 overall in our benchmarks, which is one of the fastest scores weve seen. The graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, which is one of the companys latest. Its an impressive mid-range card that can play some demanding games at close to maximum detail levels. In our challenging Crysis 2 Ultra detail test, we saw an almost-smooth 27.2fps, so some minor detail tweaks will produce a consistently playable frame rate.
BEAT THE CLOCK
We couldnt get our Dirt 3 benchmark to run under Windows 8, so we tried the newer Dirt Showdown instead. At 1,920x1,080 with 4x anti-aliasing and Ultra detail, the game proved quite a challenge, and the resulting frame rate of 26.6fps is only just playable. Knocking the detail level down to High which still looks amazing, but doesnt have quite such impressive lighting effects resulted in a huge 111fps. If you dont need to play your games at the highest possible detail levels, youll be happy gaming on this PC. Wired2Fires Diablo Predator is a solid Windows 8 PC. Its smart and powerful, with an impressive IPS monitor, reasonable gaming power and some thoughtful Windows tweaks. Wed be tempted to nd another 100 for the Palicomp Alpha Blades extra storage and gaming power (see page 28), but this PC is still well specied and great value. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 4.7GHz Intel Core i5-3570K RAM 8GB STORAGE 120GB+1TB hard disk/SSD GRAPHICS CARD Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 23in widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8 DIMENSIONS 429x198x477mm POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 75W idle, 196W active WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE Diablo Predator DETAILS www.wired2fire.co.uk
Windows overall Multitasking Dirt 3 N/A Crysis 2

0% -50
150 156
27.2fps
Reference
+50 +100
See page 76 for performance details
Click: dell.co.uk | Call: 0844 444 3242

| DECEMBER 2012
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27
PALICOMP Alpha Blade
1,000 inc VAT From www.palicomp.co.uk
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The Alpha Blade has it all, from storage to desktop and gaming performance THE FIRST WINDOWS 8 PC weve seen from Palicomp is a real powerhouse. Its Intel Core i5-3570K processor has been overclocked to 4.6GHz, and the PC even has an overclocked AMD Radeon HD 7950 graphics card. Its not pretty, particularly when compared with the Windows 8 PCs weve seen from Wired2Fire and Scan. The Thermaltake case has rather too much glossy plastic to look particularly classy. The case doesnt have any soundproong, either, and the PC makes a slight rushing sound, which seems to come mainly from the graphics card. The case is ne from a practical point of view, though. It provides four free 3in drive bays and three 5in bays for expansion. Theres also a SATA docking connector on top of the case, which means you can plug a 3in hard disk straight in. This is useful for transferring les from your old PCs disk. While theres nothing to obstruct airow and the PCs cables are neatly tied up in bunches, theyre not hidden behind a false side panel as they are in some of the neater PCs weve seen. The motherboard is the same Asus P8Z77-V LX we saw in Wired2Fires Windows 8 Diablo Predator. This means you get a fairly modest range of ports on the rear, including four USB, two USB3 and 5.1 analogue audio outputs and optical S/PDIF. The front of the case has two USB ports but unfortunately no USB3, although you could always add another USB3 port using a backplate and the header on the motherboard. The motherboard has three PCI expansion slots and a spare PCI Express x16 slot, which you could also use for PCI Express x1 or x4 cards.
VERDICT
The 120GB boot SSD and large 2TB hard disk take up both of the motherboards SATA3 ports, while two of the SATA2 ports are occupied by the Blu-ray reader/DVD rewriter drive and top-mounted hard disk dock. This leaves two free SATA2 ports for extra storage. The Intel Core i5-3570K processor has been overclocked to 4.6GHz. Thats a hefty overclock, if not as sky-high as the Wired2Fire Diablo Predators 4.7GHz. A large Thermaltake cooler keeps the processor cool, and its score of 148 in our application benchmarks puts this PC right at the top of our performance charts.
A MIGHTY WIND
The Alpha Blade is fast in games, too. The Radeon HD 7950 graphics card may require two PCI Express power connectors and make a bit of a whoosh, but you cant argue with its performance. It has been overclocked from the standard 800MHz to 950MHz, which led to a smooth 36.1fps in our demanding Crysis 2 test at 1,920x1,080 with Ultra detail and the high-resolution texture pack installed. We couldnt get our normal Dirt 3 test to run under Windows 8 (in previous tests, the Radeon HD 7950 has achieved 90fps in this benchmark), so we switched to the newer Dirt Showdown. This is a much more challenging benchmark than Dirt 3, but even at 1,920x1,080, 4x anti-aliasing and Ultra detail the Alpha Blade managed 41.1fps in this test. This PC will have no problems with current games at maximum settings, and the power supplys twin eight-pin power connectors and 850W rated capacity mean you wont have a problem if you need to upgrade the graphics card in the future. Games look great on the PCs Asus VS247H display, thanks to the high brightness levels and punchy contrast of its TN panel. Its glossy chassis also makes it
look smarter than many budget screens, and the stand lets you tilt the screen. Horizontal viewing angles are wide, but theres a distinct colour shift when you move vertically, so youll need to use that tilt adjustment. The monitor could display 98.4 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut before calibration, and 98.8 per cent after wed run our Dispcalgui calibration program with a Spyder4Express colour calibrator. However, we were less convinced in our subjective tests, as reds appeared to have a slight orange hue. Its a fun monitor to use, but weve seen better image quality from IPS panels such as the AOC i2352Vh included with the Wired2Fire Diablo Predator and Scan Value G31. Palicomps rst Windows 8 PC may not look great, but it gets the components right. Its seriously powerful, with excellent desktop and graphics performance and 2TB of storage for les. If you want a better monitor and a smarter chassis, you should opt for Scans Value G31, but if performance is your priority, the Alpha Blade is the PC to buy. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 4.6GHz Intel Core i5-3570K RAM 8GB STORAGE 120GB SSD + 2TB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD AMD Radeon HD 7950 3GB OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 24in widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8 DIMENSIONS 425x475x188mm POWER CONSUMPTION 5W standby, 86W idle, 240W active WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE IVY8 DETAILS www.palicomp.co.uk
Windows overall Multitasking Dirt 3 N/A Crysis 2

0% -50 Reference
148 154
36.1fps
+50 +100
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Fujitsu recommends Windows 7.
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dLAN 500 triple your network options

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CHILLBLAST Fusion Accelerate
VERDICT
1,049 inc VAT From www.chillblast.com
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A thoughtfully designed PC that is created to take full advantage of Windows 8 WHILE THE OTHER Windows 8 PCs weve seen so far have been performance-oriented models, Chillblast has tried something a little different with the Fusion Accelerate. Its a quiet PC with an Iiyama touchscreen. While Windows 7 wasnt easy to navigate with a touchscreen, Windows 8 is designed with touch interfaces in mind. The new Start screen offers chunky, nger-friendly icons, and many of the new apps are optimised for touch. The Accelerates Iiyama ProLite T2451MTS screen supports multi-touch gestures, and it works brilliantly with some of Windows 8s built-in apps. We particularly liked icking through news articles in the full-screen News app, scrolling side to side as if we were turning pages in a glossy magazine.
TOUCH OF CLASS
The touchscreen also works well in the Maps application thanks to pinch-to-zoom, and we had fun with touchscreen games such as pinball and managed some casual web surng with the onscreen keyboard. However, instead of responding to touch as the capacitive touchscreens of mobile phones and tablets do, the T2451MTSs system uses optical sensors around the edge of the panel. This means you need a rather thick bezel, which can make Windows 8s touch gestures, most of which involve swiping from the edge of the screen, tricky to do. We found we mainly used the mouse to launch and close programs, and switched to the touchscreen once we were in one of Windows 8s touch-optimised apps. The monitors glossy nish makes colours look pleasingly punchy but presents the usual problems with reections from overhead lights. Our colorimeter reported the screens
colour balance as almost perfect out of the box, and we managed to get it exact with a couple of tweaks. After calibration, the colorimeter reported the screen as within 98 per cent of the sRGB standard, which is what weve come to expect from a quality TN monitor. We noticed some light leaking at the bottom of the screen, which made blacks look slightly grey. If youd rather not have a touchscreen, Chillblast will supply the Fusion Accelerate with an Iiyama ProLite X2377HDS 23in monitor for 949 including VAT. The X2377HDS has an IPS panel, and our calibration tests showed it to have similarly accurate colours but without the light leakage.
OPEN AND SHUT CASE
The Accelerates matt black Cooler Master case feels very well made. It has USB and USB3 ports at the front, alongside an SD card reader. The optical drive is hidden behind a magnetic door, and sound-insulating foam lines the door and side panel. The foam, the quiet processor cooler and the rear exhaust fan make this an extremely quiet PC. Its also fairly power-ecient, drawing just 55W when idle. This is due in part to the processor instead of the overclocked Intel Core i5-3570K chips we usually see, Chillblast has tted a relatively low-powered Core i5-3450 running at just 3.1GHz. This led to an overall score of 87 in our benchmarks, which is ne for desktop applications but far behind the fastest PCs in intensive tasks. The PCs Radeon HD 7850 graphics card is a ne mid-range model and ran our Crysis 2 Ultra detail benchmark at a just-smooth 29.9fps. We usually test graphics cards with Dirt 3, too, but as it wouldnt run under Windows 8, we upgraded to the newer and more graphically challenging Dirt Showdown. Even when we ran this at 1,920x1,080 with Ultra detail and 4x
anti-aliasing, the PC managed a smooth 38.5fps, so modern games arent a problem. The PC is extremely tidy inside, with most cables routed behind the motherboard tray. Four spare 3in drive bays and two spare 5in bays should be enough for most upgrade needs, although theres only one free SATA2 port the other two SATA2 ports are taken up by the PCs Blu-ray reader/DVD rewriter and its 1TB hard disk, while the single SATA3 port is taken up by the SSD boot drive. This is the PCs main problem with only a microATX motherboard, its expansion options are limited. It has only one PCI and one PCI Express x1 slot, and we wouldnt want to use the PCI Express x1 slot because of its proximity to the graphics cards fan. Chillblast has taken the time to make a PC that aims to make the most of Windows 8s capabilities. Its also quiet and fast in games, but it loses out to some other Windows 8 PCs in terms of desktop performance and expandability. Still, if you want a competent desktop PC with the added fun of a touchscreen, its a good buy. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 3.1GHz Intel Core i5-3450 RAM 16GB STORAGE 120GB SSD + 1TB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD AMD Radeon HD 7850 1GB OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 23in widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8 DIMENSIONS 445x190x475mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 55W idle, 190W active WARRANTY Two-year collect and return PART CODE Fusion Accelerate DETAILS www.chillblast.com
Windows overall Multitasking Dirt 3 N/A Battery life

0% -50
87 74
29.9fps
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| DECEMBER 2012
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VERDICT
SCAN Value G31
1,000 inc VAT From www.scan.co.uk
This is a classy and fast PC thats full of high-quality components THE VALUE G31 is the best-looking PC weve seen in a while. Its black-andwhite NZXT case gives it a sense of style we dont often see in desktop PCs and is ideal for showing off Microsofts Windows 8 OS. Its just as impressive inside. We dont often see PCs that are untidy inside, but rarely is everything so neat as in the Value G31. Its also full of high-quality components, such as a 600W Corsair power supply, OCZ SSD, EVGA graphics card and an enormous Thermalright processor cooler. It has more cooling than many PCs, with an extra top-mounted 120mm fan to assist the rear 120mm fan, and its quiet. The Core i5-3570K is the most popular Ivy Bridge chip among PC manufacturers, and its not hard to see why. Its fast, and its unlocked multiplier makes it ripe for overclocking. Scan has pushed the G31s up to 4.5GHz, which is a respectable rather than spectacular overclock, but its score of 148 overall in our benchmarks shows that the G31 will have no problem with any Windows application, and its 8GB of RAM is plenty for multitasking. The graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, which runs 66MHz faster than the cards stock 980MHz. The added Megahertz gained an extra 3fps in our 1,920x1,080 Ultra detail Crysis 2 test over the stock GTX 660, pushing the game up to a playable 30fps. Our Dirt 3 benchmark wont currently run under Windows 8, so for a second game test we ran Dirt Showdown. This newer title is much more demanding of a PC than Dirt 3. At 1,920x1,080, 4x anti-aliasing and Ultra detail, it ran at only 24.5fps, which is too jerky to be properly playable. However, at High detail the G31 delivered 119.7fps, so youll be able to play the latest games at decent detail settings. The graphics card also adds a wealth of ports, with twin DVI outputs and HDMI and DisplayPort sockets. The motherboards rear panel has four USB and four USB3 sockets, and there are USB and USB3 ports on the front panel. Scan has tted Asuss high-quality Xonar DG sound card, too, which gives you 5.1 audio outputs as well as optical S/PDIF, and has a built-in headphone amplier. A dedicated sound card can make a real difference to how much you enjoy music and games, and its good to see one included. A 120GB SSD boot disk and a 1TB hard disk take care of storage. The combination of an SSD, a modern UEFI BIOS and Windows 8 leads to very fast boot times. Windows 8 was fully booted just 16 seconds after we pressed the PCs power button. We usually see Blu-ray readers in PCs at this price, but the Value G31 makes do with a simple DVD rewriter.
Theres plenty of room for storage upgrades. It has two free 5in drive bays and six free 3in bays, as well as three free SATA2 ports for storage. SATA2 is quick enough for hard disks but not SSDs. There are two spare USB headers for adding four more USB ports, and a couple of free memory slots. The dedicated sound card uses one of the two spare PCI slots, but there are also two free PCI Express x1 slots and a PCI Express x16 slot, which also takes PCI Express x1 and x4 cards. Scan hasnt skimped on peripherals, either. The Logitech MK120 is a perfectly acceptable wired keyboard and mouse set, and we like the AOC i2352Vh monitor with its 23in, 1,920x1,080-pixel IPS panel, which offers impressive colour accuracy and wide viewing angles. Our Dispcalgui calibration software reported slightly too much green at rst, but once calibrated the monitor came within 97.2 per cent of the sRGB standard. Scans Value G31 is a classy PC with an attractive case and high-quality components. Its quick in desktop tasks and has reasonable gaming performance and a useful dedicated sound card. Its just pipped at the post by Palicomps Alpha Blade (see page 28), which has faster graphics and 2TB of storage. However, Palicomps PC doesnt have such a classy case and has a slightly inferior monitor, so if games are less important to you the Value G31s a great buy. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 4.5GHz Intel Core i5-3570K RAM 8GB STORAGE 120GB SSD + 1TB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 23in widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8 DIMENSIONS 430x194x486mm POWER CONSUMPTION 4W standby, 83W idle, 215W active WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE Value G31 DETAILS www.scan.co.uk
Windows overall Multitasking

N/A Dirt 3 FAIL
148 149
Crysis 2
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30.6fps
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SCHENKER XMG P502
1,265 inc VAT From www.mysn.co.uk
WorldMags.net
VERDICT
Tremendous power at a reasonable price all it lacks is the styling UNLESS YOUVE SPENT time in Germany, you probably havent heard of Schenker. The brand has only just made its way to the UK, so we looked at one of its top-end laptops to see what it could do. The XMG P502 can be congured up to an eye-watering 3,000, but weve taken a more sensible approach and opted for a mid-range setup that costs 1,265. You get a lot for your money, including a quad-core Intel i7 processor, both SSD and hard disk storage, Blu-ray playback, a 1080p display and seriously powerful dedicated graphics. The Core i7-3610QM runs each of its four cores at 2.3GHz and can use Intels Turbo Boost technology to reach 3.3GHz in certain circumstances. It also supports HyperThreading, so Windows sees eight processor cores. This, along with 8GB of RAM, helped the P502 achieve an impressive 89 overall in our multimedia benchmarks. Thats only 10 per cent behind a full desktop PC, so youll have no trouble running applications, even heavily multithreaded ones such as videoediting applications. The only downside to this much power is the way it affects battery life. The P502 only managed a little over three
two documents or browser sessions side by side, or watch Blu-ray lms at their native resolution. It isnt perfect, as the TN panel suffers from colour shift at anything more than a face-on viewing angle, but theres plenty of screen tilt and the matt nish reduces reections. In everyday use, the P502 fared very well. You cant make a gaming laptop these days without adding a backlit keyboard, and Schenker has equipped the XMG P502 with blue LED lights. Due to the almost complete proliferation of chiclet-style keyboards, you may need a few moments to familiarise yourself with the traditional layout used here, as theres very little space between the keys. However, each one is springy, with just the
The Schenker XMG P502 can be congured up to an eye-watering 3,000

hours in our light-use test, and less than an hour when playing games. As this is primarily a gaming laptop, Schenker has opted for a powerful dedicated graphics chip. The GeForce GTX 675M is Nvidias second-fastest laptop GPU and has 2GB of dedicated video memory and access to a further 2GB of system memory. It scored an amazing 113.6fps in our standard Dirt 3 laptop test, so we cranked our gaming benchmarks up to their maximum settings and ran them again. Even at 1080p with 16x anti-aliasing and all details set to Ultra, it still breezed through with 45.6fps. Our ultra-demanding Crysis 2 test is normally used to test desktop graphics cards, but the GTX 675M achieved an impressive 23.6fps. Without anti-aliasing, youll be able to play most modern titles at 1080p, and have no trouble playing at 720p. Such power would be wasted on a low-resolution screen, so the addition of a Full HD display is welcome. Its 15.6in size is a perfect match for the 1,920x1,080 panel, which makes everything look pin-sharp without forcing you to squint at unreadable text. Theres more than enough room to open right amount of travel and tactile feedback. Theres also very little ex in the keyboard tray and you get a full-size numeric keypad. The compact touchpad felt cramped when navigating the desktop at 1080p because its not sensitive enough to cover it completely in one swipe. You can change this on the drivers settings page, but its no replacement for a larger touchpad. Its made of the same rubberised plastic as the rest of the chassis, but is smooth to the touch and doesnt create unwanted friction. Sadly, were not keen on the position of the ngerprint reader because it means the touchpad buttons are half the size they could have been. Built into an off-the-shelf Clevo chassis, the XMG P502 isnt the epitome of style, and isnt particularly portable, either. Given its 3.1kg weight even without its bulky charging adaptor the XMG P502 isnt something youd want to carry around on a daily basis. With HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort video outputs at the back and three 3.5mm audio input jacks on the side, the XMG 502 is clearly intended as a desktop PC replacement. It also has four USB ports two of them USB3
Gigabit Ethernet, a four-pin FireWire port and a multiformat card reader. The Blu-ray optical drive lets you watch lms or install games. The integrated speakers were developed in partnership with Onkyo. As well as a pair of up-ring stereo drivers above the keyboard, theres a bass speaker in the bottom of the laptop. We hesitate to call it a subwoofer as it struggles to produce desk-shaking bass, but it adds a welcome low-end to music and lms that would otherwise be missing. With gaming laptops from Alienware and Gigabyte costing between 1,500 and 2,500, its easy to assume you must spend a fortune for playable frame rates at Full HD resolutions. However, Schenkers XMG P502 shows this isnt true. Its powerful enough to run the latest games and any desktop applications, but it costs signicantly less. With some tweaks to the conguration, you could reduce the price further, but the system we reviewed represents the best value. Its not perfect, but you get a fantastic system for your money. Tom Morgan
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM RAM 8GB STORAGE 750GB HD + 64GB SSD GRAPHICS Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 15.6in widescreen LCD (1,920x1,080) OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 35x376x256mm, 3.1kg POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby, 21W idle, 97W active WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE P502 DETAILS www.mysn.co.uk
Windows overall Multitasking Dirt 3 Battery life

0% -50
89 94 113.6fps 3h 6m
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| DECEMBER 2012
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HANDHELD REVIEWS
LG Optimus 4X HD
WorldMags.net
455 inc VAT SIM-free, free on 15.50-per-month 24-month contract From www.unlocked-mobiles.com (SIM-free), www.mobiles.co.uk (contract)
VERDICT
It may seem strange to give a top-of-the-range handset a Budget Buy award, but the powerful Optimus 4X HD is a real bargain on contract LGS OPTIMUS 4X HD is the companys new agship handset, and its certainly not messing around with the specications. Theres a 4.7in, 1,280x720 IPS screen, an Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera with a backlit sensor. This puts it up against HTCs and Samsungs top-of-the-range phones, the One X and award-winning Galaxy S3. The 4X HD doesnt look as fancy as the One X and S3; instead of a curved screen and rounded pebble shape, you get a more standard rounded rectangle. Its easy to maintain a solid hold on the phone thanks to a textured back, and two parallel chromed plastic ridges around the edge provide grip for your thumb and ngers. The outside of the phone is sparse, with just a power button, volume rocker, headphone jack and micro USB port; theres no dedicated camera button, and you have to take off the back cover to get at the microSD card slot. lets you play media les stored on DLNA servers, and also control playback on other DLNA devices from the phone. The only app we didnt get on with was LGs own email app; it wouldnt let us connect to our company Exchange server due to a problem with SSL certicates. Most Android email apps have the option to accept all SSL certicates, thus getting around our Exchange servers quirks, but this is absent from LGs app. The Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset has four cores running at 1.5GHz and a fth low-power core that takes over tasks such as music and video playback, letting the other cores power down. It feels perfectly snappy in everyday use, but the Sunspider JavaScript benchmark showed a performance decit versus its main rivals; we saw 2,181ms from the 4X HD compared with 1,581ms from the One X and 1,459ms from the Galaxy S3. This didnt make much difference when rendering web pages; the 4X HD could render the BBC News homepage in ve-and-ahalf seconds, compared with ve for the One X and four-and-a-half for the Galaxy S3.
The impressive 4.7in screen takes up most of the front of the phone. Theres no AMOLED technology, as on the S3, but it is a superior IPS-type LCD. Theres slightly less contrast than on the Galaxy S3, but the operating system, photos and videos still look great; the screen is denitely a match for the IPS model on the HTC One X. The 1,280x720 resolution is the same as that of the One X and Galaxy S3 and gives a pixel density of 313 pixels per inch, which is comparable to the 312 of the One X and 306 of the Galaxy S3. You cant see the pixels, and we cant imagine anyone having any complaints about the display. LG has heavily customised the Android 4.0 operating system. Many of the icons are LGs own, theyre big, bright and colourful, and they work well with the large, high-resolution screen. Like stock Android 4.0, the main app screen is divided into Apps and Widgets, but the 4X HD also gives you a separate section for the apps youve downloaded. As for pre-installed apps, LGs own video player has a preview that lets you scan through videos with a picture-in-picture box without leaving your current place. You can also pinch-to-zoom and pan around while a video is playing. The SmartShare DLNA app
DISPLAY TIME
The 4X HDs camera has an 8-megapixel back-illuminated sensor. Back-illuminated models are designed to perform better in low light, and the combination of this and the 4X HDs bright LED ash meant that indoor shots were impressive, as long as we composed them carefully and our subjects were fairly still. Indoor videos were also remarkably free of noise, although the noise-reduction algorithms caused some interference when panning across large areas of solid colour, such as carpets. Outdoor shots were reasonable, with accurate colours, but focus wasnt particularly sharp, especially at the edges of the frame. Its not a bad camera, but we much prefer the shots taken with the Galaxy S3. However, LG does have one cracking camera feature: Time Catch. This lets you scroll back through four previous shots that were taken before you pressed the shutter as the phone is essentially recording images all the time to make the viewnder live view, these images are already in the buffer. We found it eliminated many just missed it moments, as well as making it
SENSOR SENSIBILITY
impossible for subjects to cover their face at the last moment to avoid being photographed. LGs Optimus 4X HD is an impressive phone. The design, screen and operating system all make it feel like a premium handset. It isnt quite up there with Samsungs Galaxy S3, though: its screen isnt quite as good, its not quite as fast, and its camera doesnt take such impressive outdoor shots. If youre buying SIM-free, theres no contest because both phones are around the same price, but the 4X HD is seriously good value on contract. The cheapest we could nd the Galaxy S3 was free on a 26-per-month deal, but the Optimus 4X HD can be had for free for 15.50 per month (if youre buying from www.mobiles.co.uk, make sure you cancel the insurance and tech support add-ons). This makes it a bit of a bargain, and a Budget Buy. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.0 PROCESSOR SPEED 1.5GHz NUMBER OF CORES 4 RAM 1GB MOBILE DATA GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA DISPLAY 4.7in, 1,280x720 LCD CAMERA 8-megapixel INTERNAL STORAGE 16GB MEMORY CARD SLOT microSD CLAIMED BATTERY LIFE 9 hours talktime, 30 days standby DIMENSIONS 132x68x9mm, 133g PART CODE P880 DETAILS www.lg.com
Battery life
0%
6hr 49m
-50 Reference
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ARCHOS 101 XS
VERDICT
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HANDHELD REVIEWS
299 inc VAT From www.expansys.com
A slender, capable and cleverly designed tablet for those who also want a physical keyboard THE ARCHOS 101 XS is a tablet with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 16GB of storage, a 1,280x800 screen and Android 4.0.3. It also comes with the Coverboard, which is a screen cover and keyboard in one, making this a competitor to Asuss Transformer range of tablets, but its much cheaper than any current Transformer. To attach the tablet to the keyboard, you ip up the stand on the Coverboard and dock the tablet into it. The Coverboard attaches to the tablet with magnets. You can remove it with a twist of the wrist, but you wont detach it by accident; you can pick up the tablet and wave it about and the keyboard wont come off. The angle of the tablet can be adjusted, but its rather limited. Thankfully, viewing angles are wide, so typing is comfortable if you position the tablet on your knees. Theres no battery built into the Coverboard as there is on Asuss Transformers, but it does mean the Coverboard is a light 200g, making it very portable. There is a Micro USB port on the Coverboard so you can charge the tablet or connect it to your PC. The battery in the tablet lasted for just six hours and 25 minutes in our continuous video playback test.
The keyboard has been designed for Android use, with Home, task-switching and Menu buttons along the bottom. Typical shortcuts such as Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V for copy and paste work ne, and typing on the home screen automatically opens a search page listing apps and web results. Theres also a set of media shortcuts along the top and a range of other useful keys such as brightness controls, which help compensate for the lack of an automatic brightness setting. It doesnt have a built-in light sensor, though.
RESOLUTION CONFLICT
The Archos 101 XS tablet itself is also quite light at 600g, and its just 8mm thick. Together, the tablet and Coverboard are just 13mm wide, which is only 1mm more than an iPad with a Smart Cover and 10mm slimmer than the thickest point on an Asus Transformer. We cant think of a more compact way to carry a tablet and keyboard. Compromises have been made to the keyboard to keep it slim. The keys lack of travel is unsurprising, but theyre also a little spongy, which further reduces feedback. Its ne for emails and short documents, though. One sticking point is the space bar, which we found hard to reach over the slim, rubbertopped rim around the edge of keyboard.
SLIMLINE TAB
The display is probably the least impressive thing about this tablet. It isnt bad; it just isnt particularly inspiring. Colours lack punch, and it isnt particularly bright. Theres a reasonable amount of contrast, but the relatively low 1,280x800 resolution means Android looks soft compared to tablets with Full HD screens. A microSD card slot lets you add up to 32GB of storage for less than 15. The USB port can be used as a USB host (with the correct cable, sold separately) so you can transfer les without a PC. Inside the Archos 101 XS is a Texas Instruments OMAP4470 chipset. This contains a dual-core processor running at 1.5GHz. The chipset proved fast in the SunSpider JavaScript test, managing an incredibly rapid 1,552ms one of the quickest scores weve ever seen, and faster than any Tegra 3-based tablet. We also ran the Quadrant benchmark to compare the chipset with Nvidia Tegra 3-equipped devices, such as the Google Nexus 7 and Transformer Innity. The 101 XS scored 3,853 overall, compared with 3,368 for the Nexus 7. Its dicult to translate that into everyday performance, but its interesting to note that Archoss 101 XS makes up for having half the number of cores as the Nexus 7 with its quicker memory and strong 3D performance. The Nexus 7 feels smoother to use thanks to the
interface improvements in Android 4.1, but that advantage wont last long. Archos has released the 101 XS with Android 4.0.3, but its an unaltered version of the operating system, which means an update to Android 4.1 shouldnt be far off. Archos claims a November release date for 4.1, and it has hit its targets for software updates in the past. Another advantage is that you can uninstall any application you want on the tablet, so if you dont like something Archos has pre-installed you can get rid of it; this isnt the case with most tablets. Archos supplies OceSuite Pro 6 for free, so you can create, open and edit Microsoft Oce les. Archoss 101 XS has its imperfections, chief among them the unexciting screen and below-average battery life. However, its slender, very fast in our benchmarks and its good value at 299. The Coverboard is well designed and feels like an integral part of the device, and an update to Android 4.1 is certain to arrive in the next couple of months. Archoss 101 XS is a good buy if youre looking for a slender Android tablet with a physical keyboard. If not, we strongly recommend spending an extra 100 for the excellentquality, Full HD display on Asuss Transformer Pad Innity TF700T. Seth Barton
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU 1.5GHz TI OMAP4470 RAM 1GB STORAGE 16GB flash memory GRAPHICS PowerVR SGX544 DISPLAY 10.1in, 1,280x800 widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.0.3 DIMENSIONS 273x170x8mm, 600g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE 502126 DETAILS www.archos.com
Battery life
0%
6hr 25m
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| DECEMBER 2012
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HANDHELD REVIEWS
ZEO Sleep Manager Pro+
VERDICT
119 inc VAT From http://myzeo.co.uk
WorldMags.net
If you want to optimise your sleep or are simply a data junkie, this gadgets for you, but it can be ddly to operate WEARING A HOME version of a medical electro-encephalogram (EEG) while you sleep sounds like something from a mundane 1950s vision of the future, but thats pretty much what the Zeo Sleep Manager is. It doesnt have the wealth of recording sensors used by medical-grade EEGs but, according to Zeo, the conductive sensors on the headband collect the tiny electrical signals naturally produced by your brain, muscle tone and eye movement. Like an EEG, the Sleep Manager then amplies and analyses these to work out roughly when in the night you were awake, in REM sleep, light sleep or deep sleep. Whats remarkable about all this is that the analysis is carried out in real time by an limitations of Bluetooth also mean its advisable for the paired devices to stay within a metre of one another, so your device will need to be on your bedside table. A further upshot of this is that if you need to get up for a glass of water in the night, you should take the headband off before leaving the room. Otherwise, it will unpair from your phone or tablet, and getting them to talk to each other again doesnt always go smoothly and can interrupt the recording of your sleep data. You also need to be careful when clipping the headband into the charging dock
we woke up after a dream-lled night, the Sleep Manager had recorded signicant periods of REM sleep. We experimented with meditation techniques designed to trigger REM sleep, which was recorded as we expected. Its reports are much more detailed and accurate than the sleep-monitoring functions of gadgets such as the Fitbit Ultra, which relies purely on motion sensing.
WAKE-UP CALL
The Sleep Manager analyses the electrical signals produced by your brain to work out when youre awake, in REM sleep, light sleep or deep sleep
Android or iOS app over Bluetooth, and the results are displayed in numerical and graph format in the app and in Zeos web interface. It took us a while to get our hardware and software working properly together, and once we had everything running we had to keep the phone or tablet that was running the app plugged in, as using a constant Bluetooth link is more than a little power-hungry. The to ensure that the contacts line up otherwise, it wont charge properly and will run out of power at some point in the middle of the night. The Bluetooth signal can also be interrupted if a cat decides to sit on your head while you sleep, but were fairly sure that isnt a typical usage scenario. After several nights of trial and error, we were unsure if we could get it to work satisfactorily. If you keep an eye on all these issues, the Sleep Manager works brilliantly, but making sure everythings in working order is more grief than youd want before bed. While its impossible to measure the sleep monitors absolute accuracy regarding our various sleep states, we did notice that when
The Sleep Manager can also serve as a demonstrable eye-opener when illustrating the way in which coffee and alcohol can affect sleep. If you upload your data to the web interface you can access quick questionnaires about how you feel when you wake up and what you consumed before bed in order to help illustrate why drinking a bottle of Shiraz isnt really conducive to a good nights rest. The alarm feature is also very useful if you need to get up at an unusual hour. It attempts to wake you when your sleep is at its lightest, making it less likely that youll feel groggy or simply turn over and go back to sleep. If you have anything approaching a natural circadian rhythm, youll usually tend towards light sleep at the time you normally wake, but if youre a shift worker, naturally nocturnal or have an unusual sleep/wake cycle, the Sleep Manager can be a big help when it comes to re-acclimatising yourself to a normal sleep cycle. You can also choose to use any music on your device to wake you up. If you suffer from serious sleep problems you should see the doctor rather than buying a Bluetooth gadget to pair with your phone. Weve spoken to high-level sportspeople who swear by the Zeo Sleep Manager to get them up for early morning race meetings, but most people dont really need special monitoring hardware to tell them theyve had a poor nights sleep. Still, if you enjoy analysing data about your life, want something to help keep you motivated while trying to cut down on coffee or alcohol, work irregular hours, or are just interested in your sleep habits, this is a unique, if rather expensive and occasionally unstable, way to do it. Kat Orphanides
Zeos reports are much more detailed and accurate than the sleep-monitoring functions of many other gadgets
Magnetised contacts clip the monitor on to the charging dock, but you have to position it carefully to make sure it charges properly
SPECIFICATIONS
PART CODE ZEOMBL1-EU DETAILS http://myzeo.co.uk
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no.1
ESET, 25 yEarS of provEn ExpEriEncE

WorLD'S
coMpUTEr proTEcTion
Fast, simple installation Low maintenance Online renewals and upgrades Free support 24/7
www.eset.co.uk
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HANDHELD REVIEWS
MIO Cyclo 300
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
234 inc VAT From www.merlincycles.com
The hardwares great, but this cycle satnavs route-planning hasnt yet got to grips with the ner points of British cycleways MIOS CYCLO 300 is one of the rst cycle GPS units from the company best known for its NavMan range of car GPS devices. Its a really well-made bit of hardware, with a reinforced IPX7 weatherproof body that survived with just a little surface damage even after an impact, and stood up well to the soggiest weather the British summer had to throw at it. Its battery life is good, too. We used it for well over nine hours in the course of a week before the battery indicator got low enough to make us feel that a recharge was advisable. We also liked the handlebar mount. The Cyclo has a grippy rubber disc that ts into a socket at the back of the GPS unit and is held on to your handlebars by a cable tie. The main body of the GPS unit clicks securely in place. With the cable tie properly tightened, the mount feels far more secure than traditional clips. We attached it to our stem and it tted securely, slipping only in a torrential downpour. Even then, the unit as a whole remained safely attached to our bike. cycle tourists may have to divide their journeys into sections because of this. You can also choose to visit local places of interest, including restaurants, bicycle shops, cashpoints and medical services. We found the list for our local areas of London to be comprehensive and handy. An in-depth settings menu lets you choose between Ordnance Survey and TeleAtlas map displays, congure the screens brightness and set details such as your preferred units of measurement. The navigation screen shows your position on the map and your directions, but because of the maps scale it can be hard to get a sense of your surroundings. We had trouble with roundabouts. Instead of telling us to take the third exit, we were repeatedly told to make a slight right until we reached the exit we needed. Another problem here is that sometimes the GPS wasnt able to track our movement fast enough, leading us to miss turns when moving at speed. Central London is a challenge for any navigation tool, but the Cyclo became lost when we tried to navigate our way through Soho. The GPS then whines at you for going the wrong way until you turn around, but does eventually plot you a new route as youre moving. It took a while to lock to a GPS signal, but this is a fairly common problem if youre in a city with a lot of overhanging buildings. Sadly, the Cyclo 300 isnt very good at plotting effective cycle routes, routinely ignoring streets with cycle lanes in favour of those that lack them. Its also unaware of most off-road cycle paths and took us via steeper and longer routes than necessary. We couldnt choose alternative options. The Cyclos PC interface isnt great, either. The web-based application relies on IE and ActiveX if you use Windows. A Mac equivalent is also available, but support for other browsers hasnt been implemented. It takes ages to transfer a handful of journeys to MioShare, as its not just a matter of dumping the data to your PC; it must be uploaded, too. Whether uploaded or on the device, clicking a journeys entry lets you view your route in a Google Maps window. It also provides you with an elevation graph and
ON REFLECTION
The touchscreen display is a little more reective than wed like, but its anti-glare shield means we could view it in all but the brightest direct sunlight. Keeping your eyes xed on a satnav while youre cycling isnt a good idea, so the Cyclo provides you with voice cues when you reach junctions. The main screen is occupied by six colourful touch buttons. One activates the Dashboard, which lets you track and record your route, speed, total active time, elevation and more. The Navigate screen is where you ask the Cyclo to plan your route. It lets you enter your home address as a shortcut and also has an address book for any other addresses you choose to enter. The Cyclo has a 22-region Western European map set, and you cant enter an address that isnt in it. We found that the database doesnt recognise some valid postcodes and, as a result, wont let you enter them. Its worth noting that you can only calculate routes of under 200km in distance. Thats long enough for most cyclists, but more adventurous
data including your average and maximum speeds, total altitude gained and so on. All this information is interesting, but theres not much you can do with it and there are no options for exporting data to other services such as RunKeeper. You cant even export a route as a track for future use.
You can use the online MioShare interface to create tracks to follow and then upload them to your GPS unit to follow in future. There are a few options you can use while plotting your route, including a manual planner that lets you place route nodes anywhere. There are also two modes that instruct the track creator to plot the best bike route to your destination automatically, either including or not including unpaved pathways. Mios Cyclo 300 is a great dashboard and tracker, but its ability to plot cycle-friendly routes is less than ideal. At 234, its rather expensive given its limited range of features. A more sophisticated version, the Cyclo 305, includes heartrate monitoring and cadencesensing features, but wed recommend shelling out an extra 32 on Garmins outstanding Edge 800 cycle GPS instead. Kat Orphanides
INCOME TRACKS
SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLAY 3in, 240x400 pixels RECEIVER Integrated SOFTWARE Not disclosed MAPS UK, Europe WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE 5262N4020012 DETAILS http://eu.mio.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS
VERDICT
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-GF5
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519 inc VAT From www.jessops.com
Impressively small and light, but the slim lens raises the price too much for what is ultimately a point-and-shoot camera COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERAS (CSCs) are still in their infancy, but Panasonics GF range is already starting to feel like a familiar friend. The DMC-GF5 is the fourth incarnation, but the differences to last years (see Whats New, Shopper 284) are relatively minor. The screen resolution is up from 460,000 to 920,000 dots. The handgrip is more substantial, and its textured rubber design is easier to hold. The buttons are made of metal rather than plastic, and theres an additional one marked Display for toggling onscreen information on and off. The maximum ISO speed has doubled to 12,800, but the resolution remains 12 megapixels. Most functions are accessed via the touchscreen. Its one of the better systems weve seen, having a physical Quick Menu button that reveals ve commonly used functions across the screen. These can be The microphone is now stereo rather than mono, but its location isnt ideal and we sometimes covered it with a nger while recording videos. The camera automatically turned the volume up to compensate, and the resulting interference that it picked up sounded like the workings of a 1970s supercomputer. Otherwise, this is a superb point-and-shoot video camera. The 1080p videos are extremely sharp and clean, even in low light, although the 16Mbit/s AVCHD les sometimes displayed compression artefacts in fast-moving clips. The lenss zoom and focus motors are nearly silent, and a motorised zoom function gives smoother results than a mechanical lens ring would.
The Lumix DMC-G5 is a superb point-and-shoot video camera the 1080p videos are extremely sharp and clean, even in low light
customised if theyre not the functions you want, and a second page of ve functions can be added. The touchscreen makes it effortless to move the autofocus point. Wed have liked a physical mode dial, but were not sure where it would have tted. The currently selected mode is shown in the top-left of the screen, and pressing it turns the wheel on the back of the camera into a mode dial. The biggest change over the GF3 is the availability of a new kit lens that provides a 3x zoom function and collapses down to 31mm when not in use. The DMC-GF5 is unusually small and light for a CSC too; together, theyll slip into all but the tightest of jeans pockets. This is in keeping with the spirit of the GF series, providing SLR-like image quality in a small point-and-shoot package. Its not a cheap lens, though. The DMC-GF5 is available with the older, bulkier version of the Panasonic 14-42mm lens for 400, but its more expensive with this Power Zoom lens. Its also less satisfying to use than the bulkier lens, having levers rather than rings to control zoom and focus. Sonys similar 16-50mm lens, recently unveiled alongside the NEX-6, includes a single lens ring that timeshares between zoom and focus duties and is far more rewarding to use as a result.
started at 4.1fps, but slowed to 2.1fps after 13 frames. Sonys NEX-F3 (see Whats New, Shopper 297) was a little faster. CSCs usually excel for low noise thanks to their large sensors, but the DMC-GF5 is lagging behind the pack. Panasonics GX1 (see Whats New, Shopper 290) exhibited less noise, despite its higher resolution, and Sonys NEX cameras exhibited far less. This had obvious implications when shooting in low light, with a distinct lack of ne details at ISO 1600 and ugly noise-reduction artefacts at ISO 3200 and above. Still, it was impossible to escape the clutches of noise reduction, even in brightly lit scenes, with a smudged appearance to ne details even at the slowest ISO 160 setting. We have no qualms about the 12megapixel resolution of this sensor, but it should be managing lower noise than this. Panasonic made the wrong decision by not including the GX1s sensor here.
The DMC-GF5 is expensive, but comparisons with Sonys NEX-F3 are fairer when the GF5 is paired with its bulkier zoom lens. This puts both cameras on a level playing eld for size and price. Still, the DMC-GF5s compactness is, for us, its strongest attribute. With the bulkier lens, it fails to stand out. Those who want an entry-level CSC should get the NEX-F3, and those after a high-quality, truly compact camera are better with Panasonics LX7. Ben Pitt
CLOSE CALL
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR SIZE 12 megapixels (4,000x3,000) ZOOM 3x optical (28-84mm) LCD 3in (920,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (none) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 67x108x65mm, 362g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMC-GF5XEB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk
Autofocus performance was extremely quick. This is one area where Panasonic still holds a comfortable lead over Sonys NEX cameras. Rapid-re shooting in the Single drive mode started enthusiastically, providing just 0.6 seconds between shots, but the camera couldnt save them as fast is it captured them. After four frames, it slowed to 1.8 seconds The older, bulkier lens is still available and is more satisfying to use between shots. Continuous shooting
VISUAL PROWESS
Battery life
0%
330 shots
-50 Reference
+50 +100
40
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SONY Alpha SLT-A37 with 18-55mm lens
419 inc VAT From www.jessops.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS
VERDICT
Its designed to a budget, but theres a lot to like about this unusual SLR-like camera THE SLT-A37 IS Sonys latest entry-level Alpha camera, but some of its specications suggest a higher level. Continuous shooting is 7fps, and the video mode captures 1080p videos with full-time autofocus, which few SLRs can do. It even has full manual control in video mode, as well as a microphone input. The SLT stands for single-lens translucent. The A37 uses a translucent mirror that sends light to both the autofocus system and the sensor at the same time. That effectively prohibits the use of an optical viewnder, so the A37, like all cameras in Sonys SLT range, uses an electronic viewnder (EVF) instead. That shouldnt be seen as a bad thing, though. An SLRs optical viewnder may seem more upmarket, but the A37s 1.44-million dot EVF is bigger than any SLRs optical viewnder at this price, and to our eyes its just as detailed. Its picture struggles in dimly lit scenes, but thats because of the sensor rather than the screen. We nd it useful to see a live preview that reects how well the camera is coping with the current lighting conditions. This is the third generation of Sonys SLT cameras, and its good to see that some of the problems we had with the rst-generation A33 (see Labs, Shopper 278) have been ironed out. There was no sign of the sensor overheating after recording an hour of video. You can also now choose whether or not the LCD and EVF screens reect exposure settings in their live previews; on the A33, this caused problems when using off-camera ash systems, as the screens became pitch black. Battery life is also up from 340 shots to 450. focus by highlighting parts of the image that are sharply focused in the live preview, and its available while composing photos and during video capture. There are also the usual advanced shooting modes weve come to expect from Sony, such as automatic panorama stitching in 2D and 3D, automatic HDR, multi-exposure noise reduction and a wide array of creative effects. Theres barely any change to the layout of controls compared to the A33. The button to change the dynamic range settings now accesses the digital zoom function. For us, this is a step in the wrong direction, but overall the controls remain well laid out and compare well with entry-level SLRs. We like the Help button, which imparted informative, context-sensitive advice. Its nice to have this information within easy reach, and it doesnt come at the expense of quick access to the most commonly used controls. ISO speed, white balance, drive mode, autofocus point, exposure compensation, exposure lock and depth-of-eld preview have dedicated buttons. The A37s screens articulated, but only to tilt up and down, and the size and resolution is 2.6in and 240,300 dots respectively. This was apparent as soon as we picked up the camera. The picture looked course and its colours were washed out, except when viewed head on. Its unfortunate because Sonys SLT cameras are perfect for people who want the ergonomics and image quality of an SLR but prefer to compose shots on the screen rather than the viewnder. Thankfully, the EVF is far better quality, and theres a sensor just below it so the camera switches from the LCD to EVF when its raised to the eye. Its a little slow to respond, though, taking around 0.6 seconds. Video quality was excellent, although its best to avoid the 1080/50i mode, which gave the same strange take on interlaced footage we saw from Sonys NEX-F3 (see Whats New, Shopper 297). The 1080/25p mode was better, and delivered rich colours and crisp details. The lenss focus motor spoiled the soundtrack a bit and zooming was clunky, but with full-time autofocus and clip lengths up to 30 minutes, its in a different league to consumer SLRs video modes. Its great to see priority and manual exposure modes for video, but theyre not available at the same time as autofocus. In our image quality tests, brightly lit shots were packed with detail, and colours were rich
and punchy on default JPEG settings. The translucent mirror means not all of the light entering the lens reaches the sensor, so noise levels are a little higher than they would be if this were a true SLR or a compact system camera (CSC). Comparing it with the NEX-F3, noise levels were a little higher, but we had to hunt for differences to nd them. More importantly, noise was lower than from Canons EOS 1100D (see Whats New, Shopper 281), and signicantly lower than from the Nikon D3200 (see Whats New, Shopper 296).
BASIC TRAINING
SHOT NEWS
Shot-to-shot times are much improved over the A33, down from 1.3 to 0.5 seconds for JPEGs. Full-power ash shots are over twice as fast, being 2.5 seconds between shots. Theres a speed-priority continuous mode on the mode dial, which delivered 15 frames at 7fps before slowing to 3.5fps. Its a ne achievement, but its disappointing that the image is cropped to 8.4 megapixels. The A33 managed 7fps shooting at its full 14-megapixel resolution. Outside of this dedicated mode, continuous shooting was at 5.5fps, but slowed after just six frames to 2.7fps for JPEGs and 1fps for Raw. However, disabling lens distortion correction in the menu gave a massive boost to the continuous JPEG modes staying power, lasting for 20 frames at 5.5fps before slowing to 4.2fps. Sonys excellent Peaking feature makes a welcome appearance. This assists with manual
This Sony SLT camera demands that users take the rough with the smooth. Image and video quality are as good as youll get for the price, and compare well with SLRs costing twice as much. Continuous performance is way beyond any entry-level SLR, although you have to jump through hoops to make the most of it. People upgrading from compacts will appreciate the ability to use the LCD screen without the lethargic autofocus of most SLRs live view modes, but its frustrating that screen quality has been downgraded. The controls are a resounding success, though, catering well for beginners and more experienced users. Its not the most lovable camera, but it gets the basics right and has plenty of extras to keep users entertained. Its the best SLRlike camera currently available for under 500. Ben Pitt
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR SIZE 16 megapixels (4,912x3,264) ZOOM 3x optical (27-82.5mm) LCD 2.7in (230,400 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo card (none) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 93x124x155mm, 716g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE SLT-A37K DETAILS www.sony.co.uk
Battery life
0%
450 shots
-50 Reference
+50 +100
| DECEMBER 2012
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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS
OLYMPUS OM-D EM-5 12-50mm kit
VERDICT
1,149 inc VAT From www.jessops.com
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One of the best compact system cameras to date, but there are some weaker areas that we struggle to accept at this price THE OM-D EM-5 HAS a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 1.44 million dot electronic viewnder (EVF) and articulated OLED touchscreen. Its also the rst CSC to be fully weather-sealed. Sadly, you cant take it swimming, but its magnesium alloy body can cope with splashes and dust, as can the new 20-50mm lens. This lens also has a dual zooming mechanism with motorised movement for smooth zooms while shooting video, plus a direct mechanical control to jump quickly to the desired focal length when taking photos. The upmarket features continue with an optional battery grip (Olympus HLD-6, 230 including VAT), which comes in two parts. The rst provides a more substantial handgrip, while the second (which screws into the rst) holds a second battery and has extra controls for more comfortable portrait-orientation shooting. As with the PEN cameras, optical stabilisation is built into the sensor, but this one is considerably more sophisticated, compensating for movement in ve axes. It fared well in our tests but wasnt in a different league to more conventional designs. Not all the E-M5s features are so positive. Battery life without the grip is short at 330 shots, and may not be enough for a days shooting. Theres a detachable ash unit included in the box, but it sits quite far back on the accessory shoe and gets in the way of the viewnder a little. Theres a sensor to switch automatically from the screen to the viewnder when the cameras raised to the eye, but it takes half a second to react and even longer when switching the other way. The video mode produced some beautiful footage and the lens focused and zoomed smoothly, but its not possible to move the autofocus point while recording. Priority and manual exposure modes are available for videos, but exposure controls cant be adjusted while recording, either. preview, manual focus and a digital magnify function (to help with focus) for the remaining button. There are masses of options in the menu, ranging from the frame rate of the EVF to the ability to add copyright information to photos meta data. However, there are quite a few unexplained phrases and acronyms, such as Level Adjust, Rls Priority C and Live SCP, which stands for Super Control Panel and turned out to be a really useful feature that presents photographic functions in a grid across the screen. This was much easier to navigate than the scrolling column of icons that otherwise appears. We wonder how many users will ever nd it. Its a treat to have dual command dials on such a slim camera, and theyre substantial metal dials, too. However, people who favour their left eye may nd that their forehead hampers access to the rear dial when using the viewnder. The customisable function button on the barrel of the kit lens is a smart move. Setting it to One Touch WB allowed us to calibrate the white balance simply by holding down this button, pointing the camera at a white object and pressing the shutter button. Technically, thats two touches, but its still faster than any other custom white balance function we can think of.
Our biggest grievances concern the controls. The buttons have a vague, spongy feel and there are no single-function buttons for direct access to photographic controls, unless you count the shutter release. Theres a pair of assignable Function buttons, and its possible to reassign the navigation pad away from focus point duties to gain another two congurable controls plus exposure compensation. No functions are labelled, though, and there arent quite enough buttons to go around. Having assigned ISO speed, white balance and drive mode, we had to choose between AE lock, depth-of-eld
UNDER PRESSURE
Another thoughtful touch is that the screen and EVF dont have to show the same thing. You cant look at both at the same time, but theres an option to show settings on the screen and a live view on the EVF when the cameras raised to the eye. Meanwhile, Olympus has resolved the issue of whether photos should be shown in the EVF directly after capture or whether the live view should continue. The former happens by default, but holding down the shutter button after capture returns you almost immediately to live view. Its a shame this behaviour doesnt extend to continuous mode. 9fps shooting is a superb achievement, but its hard to follow moving subjects when youve only got a succession of captured photos to look at. The buffer was full after two seconds and performance fell to 2.6fps for JPEGs and 2fps for Raw, but there was still no live view. A slower continuous mode proved more useful, running at 4.3fps and lasting for 30 frames before decelerating. This mode offered a sporadic and strangely low-resolution live
VIEWING ANGLES
view, but it was enough to help us frame shots. The camera also updated the autofocus between shots in this mode. Autofocus performance in general was extremely impressive. Were not in a position to test Olympuss claim that its the worlds fastest authoritatively, but its certainly up there with SLRs and the best CSCs. The E-M5 sailed through our image quality tests. Theres something subtly brilliant about colour processing in Olympuss PEN cameras, and the E-M5 was no different, giving JPEGs a rich, almost radiant glow. Details were crisp, but we saw some evidence of noise reduction smoothing over subtle textures, even in brightly lit shots. The lack of in-camera chromatic aberration removal is disappointing, especially as Panasonics Micro Four Thirds cameras routinely employ it, but there was rarely any sign of chromatic aberrations from the kit lens. Noise levels at fast ISO speeds werent as low as from the Sony NEX-7 (see Whats New, Shopper 291), which uses a bigger APS-C sensor, but they were signicantly lower than from Olympuss E-PL3 and Panasonics GX1. This is without doubt the best Micro Four Thirds camera to date for image quality. We cant remember the last time a camera has been so eagerly anticipated, so we feel like killjoys for saying were a bit disappointed by the E-M5. Theres a lot that we love about it, but it was awkward to use. Sonys NEX-7 remains our favourite premium CSC. Ben Pitt
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR SIZE 16 megapixels (4,608x3,456) ZOOM 4.2x optical (24-100mm) LCD 3in (610,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (none) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 90x122x131mm, 636g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE V204045BE000 DETAILS www.olympus.co.uk
Battery life
0%
330 shots
-50 Reference
+50 +100
42
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DECEMBER 2012
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-LX7
399 inc VAT From www.cliftoncameras.co.uk
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PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS
VERDICT
Exceptional photo and video quality, nippy performance and lots of creative control as close to perfect as weve seen from a compact THE PANASONIC LX7 is a pocket-sized camera for keen photographers. Its 1/1.7 in sensor is only slightly larger than the 1/2.3in sensors used in most compact cameras, and is much smaller than any SLR sensor. However, features such as a wide-aperture lens, fast performance and lots of physical controls distinguish this premium compact camera from cheaper point-and-shoot snappers. The lens protrudes 20mm from the camera body when switched off and the lens cap adds 4mm, but it could still t into jeans pockets. The slim rubber handgrip and contoured rear are just enough for a secure grip. As with its predecessors, the LX7 has a switch on its lens for different focuses and another for aspect ratio. In most digital cameras, this would mean simply cropping the image, but the LX7s sensor is designed for multiple aspect ratios, so 16:9 photos are both shorter and wider than 4:3 images. A 3:2 option is there for those who like photos to resemble an SLRs output, as is 1:1 for Instagram fans. The LX7 also has a lens-mounted control for setting the aperture. With aperture controlled on the lens and shutter speed on high-dynamic-range (HDR) scene preset combines three shots at different exposure settings to capture high-contrast scenes. Although theres no control over the process, the results looked more natural than other cameras HDR modes. This is a fast camera, taking just 1.2 seconds to power up and shoot, and 0.7 seconds between subsequent shots, even in Raw mode. Full-power ash shots were 3.8 seconds apart. The continuous shooting modes include the ability to shoot 11 shots at 10 megapixels or 40 shots at 5 megapixels in a second. Best of all is the ability to shoot at 5fps with continuous autofocus. This lasted for 23 frames before slowing to 2.3fps. Panasonic has cut no corners with the LX7s video mode. 1,920x1,080 capture is at a choice of 50p, 50i or 25p frame rates, and theres a 100fps 720p mode that plays back at 25fps for quarter-speed slow motion. Its great to have slow-motion footage at such a high resolution. The video setting on the mode dial
results up to ISO 1600. Processing Raw les in Lightroom 4.2 (Release Candidate) extended the usable range to ISO 3200. Noise was never absent, though, with a slight turbulence in areas of dark, smooth colour even at ISO 80. Still, we appreciate the gentle approach to noise reduction, where a little noise is let through to preserve as much detail as possible. Details were often startlingly sharp. There was occasional evidence of insucient antialiasing. High-contrast diagonal lines had a pixelated appearance, and there was swirling moir interference on repeating patterns and discoloration on very sharp details. They were rarely serious, though, and processing Raw les in Lightroom provided a cure.
SMALL WONDER
Panasonics Lumix DMC-LX7 is our favourite premium compact camera, and it surpasses any CSC weve seen at this price, too
the rear dial, manual exposure control is extremely uid. Theres another control for manual focus adjustment, but this rocker lever isnt as quick to use as a dial or lens ring. Still, a momentary 5x digital magnication makes it possible to adjust the focus with condence. Meanwhile, pushing the focus lever enables a three-stop neutral-density (ND) lter, which reduces incoming light by a factor of eight. This is perfect for slow shutter effects such as turning owing water into ethereal bres. Its also useful for controlling motion blur in videos. AE/AF lock, ISO speed, white balance and drive mode have dedicated buttons. Theres a customisable Fn button that controls autofocus area by default, and pushing the command dial accesses exposure compensation. A Q.Menu button gives quick access to other key settings. Rival cameras have more buttons and dials, but the LX7 delivers comprehensive, ecient control. offers priority and manual exposure control, with the ability to adjust the aperture and shutter speed while recording. The autofocus point cant be moved, though the camera seems to switch to multi-AF mode as recording commences. Video quality was outstanding, with rich colours, crisp details, a clear stereo soundtrack and a smooth zooming action. The LX7 was just as impressive in our image quality tests. The f/1.4 lens captures twice as much light as rival cameras f/2 lenses, and almost seven times as much as CSCs f/3.5 zoom lenses. Certain rival cameras arent so impressive at the long end of their zooms, but the LX7 manages a wide f/2.3 aperture here, too. This means it can afford to use much slower ISO speeds in low light. We compared it with Sonys NEX-F3 and Panasonics GF5 two CSCs with 3x zoom kit lenses, and set them all to a 1/200 s shutter speed. Despite its smaller sensor, the LX7 came top for detail clarity, thanks to a wide aperture that allowed a much slower ISO speed. When very low light demanded faster ISO speeds, the camera still produced acceptable
We cant remember the last time a camera was so consistently impressive. An articulated screen would have been benecial to video and macro modes, and wed also have liked a touchscreen for moving the autofocus point, particularly during video capture. Even so, the LX7 is our favourite premium compact camera, and it surpasses any CSC weve seen at this price, too. Admittedly, it cant deliver the high-resolution, noise-free images of the best CSCs in bright conditions, and it lacks the shallow depth-of-eld effects that come from a big sensor. Still, no entry-level CSCs can match the LX7s controls. This camera brings the battle to CSCs, and overall it comes out on top. Ben Pitt
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR SIZE 10 megapixels (3,648x2,736) ZOOM 3.8x optical (24-90mm) LCD 3in (920,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (70MB internal) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 66x111x50mm, 298g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMC-LX7EB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk
NATURAL HIGH
Theres no shortage of creative effects and advanced shooting modes, including automatic panorama stitching and 3D capture. The
Battery life
0%
330 shots
-50 Reference
+50 +100
| DECEMBER 2012
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DISPLAY REVIEWS
ASUS VG278HE
VERDICT
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395 inc VAT From www.scan.co.uk
Its expensive, but this monitors high refresh rate and great contrast make it perfect for gaming ASUSS VG278HE COULD lay claim to being the ultimate gaming monitor. Its a 27in 1080p LCD with Nvidia 3D Vision support and a fast 144Hz refresh rate for super-smooth visuals. Its certainly an expensive screen, but it looks classy. Were fans of the glossy bezel and stand (if not the cheesy 3D sticker), and the monitor adjusts for height. You get VGA, HDMI and DVI inputs on the rear as well as a linelevel audio input and output. Youll need to use the included dual-link DVI cable to take advantage of the monitors high refresh rates. The VG278HE has a TN rather than IPS LCD panel. Although IPS screens tend to have superior colour accuracy, IPS monitors with 120Hz refresh rates exist only as Korean imports in the darker recesses of eBay. The monitor had good, rather than outstanding, image quality in our calibration tests. The screen came within 95.7 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut after calibration, which isnt far off the 97 per cent weve seen from the best IPS and TN screens. Its easy to tweak the monitors image with the logical onscreen menus, and we liked its contrast levels. Our test photo of a sunlit beach hut showed plenty of detail in both light and dark areas.
settings. Unfortunately, these settings are locked in the preset modes. Colours were generally accurate, but whites looked a little off-colour towards the top of the screen and large areas of black showed some light leakage at the bottom of the display.
REFRESH PERSPECTIVE
The monitors party trick is its high refresh rate. Most PC screens have a refresh rate of 60Hz, which means they can display a maximum of 60 frames per second. If your
as the Half-Life 2 Black Mesa mod, turning on vsync led to a 144fps frame rate and smooth gameplay with no tearing artefacts. Higher refresh rates also help with 3D. As active shutter 3D systems such as Nvidias 3D Vision rely on alternate frames being shown to the left and right eyes to create the stereoscopic 3D effect, you need twice the frame rate to maintain the same smooth motion as in non-3D mode. We experienced some immersive 3D gaming on the VG278HE, but we struggled to see any difference when
There are some special preset modes, too, including Game and Scenery. Game adds punch to colours at the expense of colour accuracy, and it was fun to use in the articial reality of 3D titles, but Scenery made colours so overblown as to be almost uorescent. We preferred to leave the monitor in Standard mode most of the time, which also let us tweak the brightness, contrast and colour
FALSE PROMISE
The VG278HE has punchier colours and better contrast than the Iiyama display, as well as classier looks and support for Nvidias 3D Vision system
graphics card is putting out more than 60fps, it can lead to graphical artefacts known as tearing, where vertical lines break up as you pan from side to side. To solve this, you can turn on vertical sync (vsync), which locks the graphics cards maximum fps to the refresh rate of the monitor. In most cases, this is 60fps. While 60fps is very smooth, it isnt as silky smooth as a game could be, and restraining your graphics card in this way is a waste of its power. The higher refresh rates of 120Hz screens, such as Iiyamas G2773HS (Whats New, Shopper August 2012), mean that your frame rate will top out at 120Hz even if you enable vsync, leading to much smoother gameplay. Asuss screen, with its 144Hz refresh rate, goes one better. Once wed set the screen to this refresh rate in the Advanced section of Windows Screen Resolution settings, everything was smoother. Comparing the screen side by side with a 60Hz model on the Windows desktop, the animation when maximising, minimising and dragging around windows was signicantly slicker. When playing a game with an older engine, such running the screen in 120Hz or 144Hz mode. This was also the case in non-3D mode; we couldnt see any difference between 120Hz and 144Hz. Although the VG278HE is a superb gaming monitor, you shouldnt spend the 70 extra over the 120Hz 27in Iiyama G2773HS just for the Asus monitors extra Hertz. However, Asuss VG278HE has punchier colours and better contrast than the Iiyama display, an adjustable stand, classier looks and support for Nvidias 3D Vision system. Its expensive but, given all its advantages, its still the best 1080p gaming screen weve seen. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
SCREEN SIZE 27in widescreen RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 CONTRAST RATIO 5,000,000:1 dynamic BRIGHTNESS 300cd/m2 PORTS VGA, DVI, HDMI POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 31W on WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE VG278HE DETAILS www.asus.com
The screen comes close to the sRGB colour gamut, but its not the best TN panel weve seen
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HUMAX Tivizen TV
VERDICT
79 inc VAT From www.humaxdirect.co.uk
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DISPLAY REVIEWS
A simple way of getting TV on your iOS device, but its expensive and streaming TV generally gives you more options ALTHOUGH THERES A world of entertainment to download or watch online, good old-fashioned TV hasnt fallen out of fashion just yet. But how do you get it if youre away from home? Humax thinks it has the answer: the Tivizen TV. This is a batterypowered Freeview tuner (not Freeview HD) with built-in Wi-Fi. Using it couldnt be easier. Just connect your iOS device to the Tivizens internal Wi-Fi network, re up the app (its a free download from the Apple App Store) and follow the wizard to tune in to TV and start watching your favourite shows. Using Wi-Fi for the connection is a clever idea, as it means you can place the tuner where it gets best reception while still being able to watch comfortably from your device. The downside is that you have to disconnect your device from any Wi-Fi routers youre using, removing internet access while youre watching TV. Theres also no security on the Tivizens Wi-Fi network, although the app only allows a single iOS device to connect at once. This is a limitation of the version sold by Humax, but theres also a German import version available, the Elgato Tivizen TV (119 including VAT from www.store.apple.com/uk). This has a different app that lets you set a network password and connect the Tivizen TV to your home network. We tried this app with our Tivizen, but it refused to connect. We dont consider the more restrictive app a big problem, as the main reason for a product like this is that you can watch TV when youre out and about, and not near a Wi-Fi network. strong colours. We compared the Humax Tivizens footage with the BBC iPlayer apps footage. The quality is similar, but the BBC loses out on detail, particularly in areas such as foliage and grass. To be fair, you probably wouldnt notice the difference in a moving image. Bizarrely, the Tivizen TV shows a picture with thin black bars around it, whereas the iPlayer app shows the image full screen. Theres no way to pause live TV, but you can record shows to watch them later. You can only record what youre watching and theres no scheduling, but it lets you catch up with a programme later. A basic TV guide enables you to ick through whats on TV by channel, but we couldnt get a full guide on the iPhone. The iPad app lets you browse a list of TV shows by channel, but a full guide would have been nice. Inside the case is a Nokia BL-5C 3.7V 1,050mAh battery, charged via the Tivizen TVs MicroUSB connector. It should last three-anda-half hours on battery charge alone, although replacements costs just a few pounds and you can charge the device while you watch. Your decision to buy the Humax Tivizen TV will depend on where you want to use it. At home, the free CatchUpTV app, which streams all the Freeview channels for free over your internet connection, is the best bet. Its handy if you go camping a lot, but youll need a decent Freeview signal to get the most out of it. David Ludlow
The quality of the TV stream depends on the strength of the signal it can receive. Because your iOS device is connected via Wi-Fi, you can place the receiver in a different location to your device to get a better signal, and the extendable antenna helps. Ultimately, though, youre at the mercy of the Freeview signal strength. In our tests, this varied from no signal at all, unless we stood outside and held the Tivizen TV in the air, and full strength. Generally, placing the Tivizen TV in a window gets you a good signal, and youll get the best image quality in an unobstructed eld. When you have a strong signal, the image quality is really good, with a sharp image and
SIGNAL SERVING
SPECIFICATIONS
PART CODE Tivizen TV
The Tivizen (left) has slightly more detail particularly in the grass than the BBC iPlayer app (right)
DETAILS www.humaxdirect.co.uk
BYTE SIZE
SWISSVOICE ePure Mobile Bluetooth
123 inc VAT From www.ilgs.co.uk After looking at the wired version of the Swissvoice ePure last month, we felt a Bluetooth version would be a far more useful mobile handset. As if answering our prayers, a model has launched. The battery-powered Bluetooth handset has the same styling, but the darker colour scheme is more attractive. Once its paired to your smartphone, its buttons let you answer calls, control volume and enable music playback. Set it on its side, and its a portable speaker. Its powerful, but its no replacement for a dedicated speaker dock. The Android model has a USB port on the rear for charging your phone. The iPhone version is undeniably neater because it has a pop-out dock in the front, but both require USB power before theyll charge your phone or the handset. If your house doesnt have a landline, the ePure Mobile is a great alternative. Just pair it, and itll reconnect whenever your mobiles in range. Its quite expensive, but its a useful addition to a modern home. Tom Morgan
| DECEMBER 2012
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SAMSUNG BD-E8500
VERDICT
270 inc VAT From www.johnlewis.com
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A Blu-ray and PVR in one sleek package that has all the high-end features youd expect SAMSUNGS 2012 BLU-RAY line-up has impressed us so far thanks to a whole host of connected features, DLNA support and great picture quality, but until now we hadnt seen any multifunction players. The BD-E8500 is the rst, a hybrid Blu-ray/PVR with twin tuners, a 500GB hard disk and Samsungs Smart Hub online portal. Its a little larger than the average Blu-ray player, but thats something we can forgive based on its extensive feature list, and you wont struggle to t it in an A\V rack. From the front, the combination of silver and black mirror-nish plastics give the player a sleek look, as do the touch-sensitive LED buttons. Theres no disc tray instead, Samsung has opted for a slot-loading mechanism, leaving the USB port as the only break in the otherwise at front panel. Its a shame the plastic ap covering it feels so imsy. If it snaps off, theres no way to get it back on again. assuming you have a large enough ash drive or external had disk. We had no problems with our usual DivX, MKV or MP4 test les. Naturally for a connected player, you get access to Samsungs Smart Hub online portal, which is packed full of extra content. Beyond Samsungs own Family Story, Kidz Zone and Fitness apps, you also get access to a fully featured web browser and social networking via Twitter and Facebook. Rather than use the ddly onscreen keyboard and hopeless Directional-Pad remote control for moving the mouse, you can connect a mouse and keyboard to the USB ports. Most third-party devices are supported, but the best setup would be to use a wireless mouse and keyboard set that uses a single USB dongle, leaving a second free for multimedia playback. Samsungs store is surprisingly well stocked with a range of different apps from news,
channels and watch a third simultaneously so you dont have to miss a thing. The only downside is that you cant view the onscreen program guide when recording two channels because at least one tuner is required for the live preview window.
PLAY AWAY
Switching to Blu-ray playback, the BD-E8500 coped admirably. Discs took 35 seconds to load on average. You also get Blu-ray menu support, which means you get the full experience, unlike some cheaper players. Picture quality is impressive for the most part, with precise edges, no discernible noise and accurate colours. Our only criticism was the slight lack of detail in darker scenes, which were visible on other Blu-ray players but not here.
The minimalist approach is applied to the back panel, too, with the BD-E8500 having a small scattering of ports. It has a single HDMI and one composite video output, digital optical and analogue RCA audio outputs, an Ethernet port, a second USB port and an aerial input and output. Theres also a rather large cutout on the side for a Common Interface card so you can add subscription-based channels. If you prefer not to run a cable from your router to the BD-E8500, youll be pleased with its integrated Wi-Fi capabilities. New for 2012 is Soft AP, which lets you connect other devices directly to the player rather than through your router. Its simple to set up and ideal if you dont already have Wi-Fi in your house or want to extend the signal to other areas of the house with a HomePlug. Once connected, youll be able to use the AllShare Play DLNA streaming function to access content from any connected PC, laptop or NAS device. You can also play the same les locally using either the front or back USB port,
MINIMAL CONTACT
The BD-E8500 is a little larger than the average Blu-ray player, but thats something we can forgive based on its extensive feature list
weather and sport brands such as Transworld, AccuWeather and EuroNews, as well as a host of games. The most useful are the video on-demand apps. BBC iPlayer, LoveFilm, NetFlix and AceTrax are all present, and theres always something to watch, even if theres nothing on the integrated Freeview HD tuner. The internal hard disk has room for up to 124 hours of high-denition footage or 199 hours of standard-denition content, so youre unlikely to run out of room in a hurry. If that isnt enough space, the BD-E8900 (which costs 298 including VAT from www.amazon.co.uk) comes with a larger 1TB disk. Samsung has rectied an issue from last years model that prevented you recording two channels at once, and has gone one step further with the BD-E8500. Now you can record two Its a real shame that the BD-E8500M doesnt have much in the way of picture quality options. You can only choose between enabling 24p playback, HDMI Deep Colour and whether or not it should upscale digital TV. Theres no option to change how DVDs are upscaled, but thankfully it does a very good job, smoothing edges without losing too much detail or generating signicant noise. If you dont have a satellite or cable subscription but want to record multiple TV channels, a Freeview HD PVR makes the most sense. Buying a unit with a built-in Blu-ray player not only saves space, but should work out cheaper in the long run. Samsungs BD-E8500 is well priced and packed full of features, which only add to its value if you dont own a Smart TV. Sky or Virgin subscribers would be better off getting a bespoke Blu-ray player, but everyone else should denitely think about the BD-E8500. Tom Morgan
SPECIFICATIONS
PROFILE 5.0 CONNECTIONS 1x HDMI, 1x composite, 1x stereo RCA POWER CONSUMPTION 12W on, 0W standby WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE BD-E8500M DETAILS www.samsung.co.uk
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SAMSUNG HW-E551
VERDICT
280 inc VAT From www.richersounds.com
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The HW-E551 provides decent sound is ideal for small rooms TO ENJOY FILMS at home, you should invest in a set of speakers because the ones built into your TV or projector simply wont be up to the task. Youll have no problem if you have room for all the satellites, but if you lack space Samsungs HW-E551 sound bar could be just what you need. It can switch from a single sound bar to two satellite speakers. The HW-E551s brushed metal and glossy black plastic give it a stylish and ultra-modern appearance. Its cylindrical, so youll need to position it on the included stand or wall mount if youll be using it in sound bar mode, or on the provided oor stands if youve split it into two speakers. In sound bar mode, you only need to worry about hiding the power cable from view, but in free-standing mode youll need to use speaker wire to connect the satellites. port for local music playback. The HDMI output is Audio Return Channel (ARC) compatible, so you can use the speakers even when youre watching TV using its integrated tuner. The system is also Bluetooth compliant, so you can stream audio straight from a smartphone or tablet. The bundled remote control is roughly half the size of the average TV remote but still has room for all the usual buttons, including power, volume, input selection and limited TV controls. With no onscreen interface, the only visual feedback comes from the single-line LCD display hidden behind the speaker grilles. The lack of an interface isnt much of a hindrance, because there arent many settings to change. Apart from volume, you can also control subwoofer levels, equaliser modes and audio sync, as well as enable or disable the 3D sound mode. Few of these modes made much difference to sound quality, so we tested using the default values. For the most part it worked well, easily lling a medium-sized room with audio. Even with the 3D sound mode enabled, theres no believable sense of surround sound, but its a major improvement over the basic audio youd get from your TV.
SUB STANDARD
LOOK, NO WIRES
The rear-ring subwoofer continues the same design approach and is compact enough to place in a room easily. Its wireless, so you dont need to connect it to the speakers, but bear in mind that it also contains the video inputs so you must place it relatively close to your A\V rack. As well as a single HDMI output, it has two 3D-compatible HDMI inputs, digital optical and analogue 3.5mm audio inputs and a single USB
Our main criticism is with the subwoofers frequency response; it simply doesnt go low enough. It provides reasonable levels of bass at the lower-mid range, but real thumping rumble was missing from the most explosive of our test scenes. The high-end is also a little too sharp, so its less than ideal for complicated audio. We love the HW-E551s design, even though its audio quality didnt blow us away. It isnt designed to compete with dedicated surroundsound systems but, even so, the HW-E551 is still a huge improvement over your TVs integrated speakers. Its a great system for anyone who lacks the room for a full speaker system but wants to have decent sound. Tom Morgan
SPECIFICATIONS
INPUTS 2x HDMI, 1x optical S/PDIF OUTPUTS 1x HDMI POWER CONSUMPTION 46W on, 0W standby WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE HW-E551 DETAILS www.samsung.co.uk
BYTE SIZE
SCOSCHE reVOLT C2
24 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk There are many compact USB car adaptors, but not many are suited to heavy-duty use. Scosche says its reVOLT C2 can charge two iPads at once, making it one of the most powerful small chargers available. It ts in a lighter socket but the smart design is so low prole it can be dicult to extract again. It remained remarkably cool in use but, unlike other chargers weve tested, power delivery was momentarily interrupted when the engine stopped. We connected two barely charged smartphones, each running satnav software. The displays remained lit. The iPhone 3G charged slowly, while a Samsung Galaxy S discharged very slowly. Though expensive, this is a powerful adaptor, but some devices may still need to be switched off to recharge. Simon Handby
PART CODE USBC202M DETAILS www.scosche.com
| DECEMBER 2012
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PANASONIC TX-L32X5B
VERDICT
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352 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk
An IPS display makes all the difference to this great-value budget TV EXTRA-LARGE TVs arent for everyone, particularly if youre looking for something for a second bedroom or small at, but buying a smaller TV doesnt mean you have to sacrice image quality. Panasonics 32in TX-L32X5B strikes a ne balance between a budget price and premium features with its IPS panel, which creates fantastic viewing angles not normally seen in TVs costing 350. You get an awful lot for your money, such as a Freeview HD tuner, USB multimedia playback and recording, and network connectivity, but there are some noticeable omissions. Theres no Full HD 1080p support, for example, as the resolution is limited to 1,366x768. This means you cant play Blu-ray lms at native resolution, but youll still notice the difference compared with standard-denition footage and DVDs. Panasonic has also jettisoned its Viera Connect online services to keep costs down, so you dont get any catch-up TV services or web connectivity. The Ethernet port on the back of the set is reserved for system updates, so you dont even get DLNA streaming support.
Also on the back of the set are three HDMI ports, component and SCART video inputs, a Common Interface slot for subscription-based TV channels, digital optical audio and a 3.5mm audio output. It isnt the most comprehensive selection, but it should be enough for most people using the set in a second bedroom.
Thankfully, its image quality is good. Panasonics Cinema and True Cinema modes are yet again the presets of choice. Both produce accurate colours, with the latter suiting nighttime viewing so it can really bring out the detail from darker scenes. Even though the resolution is limited to 1,366x768, and the panel has a 50Hz
Even so, you can play your own multimedia les from a USB ash drive or external hard disk using the single USB port on the side of the set. We could play almost all our test les, including MP4, DivX HD, MKV, AVI and WMV videos, MP3, AAC and WMA audio, plus JPEG picture slideshows. AVCHD video is also supported, but our les only played correctly from an SD card. The card reader is intended for direct playback from a digital camera, so this isnt an issue.
PLAY YOUR OWN
Like all Panasonic TVs, the onscreen interface is visually simplistic yet sensibly laid out and easy to navigate
Like all Panasonic TVs, the onscreen interface is visually simplistic yet sensibly laid out and easy to navigate. The onscreen programme guide stands out as a weak point, not only because it takes up the whole screen, obscuring your view of whats currently playing, but also because it mutes the TV. The remote control is straightforward, although picking out advanced features can be a little tricky. The menu system has more image and audio quality settings than you might see in other TVs at this price, but they still feel a little limited compared with Panasonics other models. Beyond contrast, brightness, colour and sharpness sliders, you can also pick between three colour temperature modes, enable or disable vivid colour and set the level of noise reduction. refresh rate instead of the 100Hz or higher you might nd on more expensive TVs, static shots and most motion looks surprisingly good at either standard or high denition. Its only when watching fast-paced action such as a Formula 1 race or football match that youll notice any major motion blur. We like the TX-L32X5B. Its undoubtedly a budget set, but the IPS display makes a huge difference to image quality when you cant facilitate a perfect face-on viewing angle. Other 32in TVs costing a similar amount dont have any additional features, so it doesnt feel as if youre missing out by choosing this model. It would have been nice to get BBC iPlayer thrown in but, given its overall quality, this is a great budget TV. Tom Morgan
Audio quality is basic at best. The TX-L32X5B coped well with the BBC news channel and the occasional soap, but it struggled with music and failed completely at producing powerful bass. This is a little disappointing, because previous Panasonics TVs have performed well in this area.
SOUND ADVICE
SPECIFICATIONS
TV TYPE LCD RESOLUTION 1,366x768 CONNECTIONS 3x HDMI, 1x SCART, 1x component, 1x composite inputs TUNER Freeview HD POWER CONSUMPTION 58W on, 0W standby WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE TX-L32X5B DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk
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Heres a sad truth. Most people who suffer from an online attack actually have some kind of security software already running on their PC. It just isnt good enough. Trend Micro is different. We stop threats in the cloud before they reach you. So your entire digital life can be protected. What a relief.
Stop the Nooo! Face before it starts. trendmicro.co.uk/noface
2012 Trend Micro, Inc. All rights reserved. Trend Micro, Titanium and the t-ball logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Trend Micro, Inc.
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ON DEMAND DETECTION TEST
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AUDIO REVIEWS
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Traktor Kontrol S4
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Excellent faders, jog wheels and software make this a fantastic buy for all DJs THE TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 is an incredibly versatile DJ MIDI controller that lets you mix and scratch tracks together, loop portions of a track, jump straight to a specic place using hot-cue buttons and even control the included Traktor Pro 2.5 software with timecode CDs and vinyl records. In fact, the Kontrol S4 has enough features to become the centrepiece of your DJ setup and replace older vinyl and CD-based equipment. The Kontrol S4 is well laid out, with an uncluttered and attractive fader area. Theres plenty of space between each fader, which means you can adjust track volumes without accidentally nudging the others. The faders move fairly smoothly but offer quite a lot of resistance. Wed have preferred smoother faders, but you can still move them quickly and easily without impediment. Each channel fader has its own peak meter to represent the tracks level visually. These are pretty accurate, which makes them a valuable feature. With a lesser controller you have to look at your software to check levels, which takes your focus away from what youre doing. The Kontrol S4s peak meters let you keep your attention on the job at hand. The crossfader is great for mixing or scratching. It presents quite a bit of friction compared with scratch-oriented crossfaders such as the Ecler Eternals or DJM-T1s, but we had no trouble performing scratch techniques.
VERDICT
Thankfully, the Kontrol S4s are excellent. Because NI makes the Traktor software as well as the Kontrol S4, the integration between the two is extremely tight. The jog wheels communicate with the Traktor software using a special protocol rather than the older MIDI so that moving the jog wheel has an almost instantaneous effect on a track. This responsiveness means you can perform your scratches and beatjuggles naturally without having to compensate for latency. You can also use the jog wheels to speed up and slow down tracks momentarily to synchronise them, and the very low latency and responsiveness helps here, too. Our only criticism is the size of the jog wheels. Larger jog wheels would allow you to perform scratches more naturally, but you should quickly get used to the size, and you can always attach a regular turntable or CDJ to the Kontrol S4 if you want a larger platter.
JOG WHEELS
Modern DJ controllers only require jog wheels for scratching, but they need to be good.
An important part of digital DJing is the ability to use hot-cues, loops and samples. The Kontrol S4 provides an effective array of
HOT-CUES AND LOOPS
controls for these functions, including four hot-cue buttons, four sample buttons and two loop control buttons. It also has one rotary pot that lets you set the loop size and activate the loop, and another that lets you move the position of the loop. The loop in and out buttons are great for setting irregularly sized loops for effect, but perhaps the most useful loop control is the rotary auto-looper. This is especially handy if you need to create a panic loop because youve lost track of time and one of your songs is eight beats away from silence. The auto-looper is also brilliant for decrementing a loop, so that you can progress from a loop of half a beat to an eighth of a beat, for example. The hot-cue buttons are large and are made of rubber rather than plastic, which makes them easy to hit and stops your ngers becoming fatigued if you press them often. Their size also makes them great for hot-cue drumming, where you set hot-cues on drum beats or special sounds and then trigger them as if you were using a drum machine.
The Kontrol S4 is one of the best DJ MIDI controllers weve ever used, and is certainly the best controller weve seen for the Traktor software. It has everything you need to make the most of this powerful program, and the fact that you can attach regular turntables and CDJs further increases its versatility. If anything, NI has perhaps packed too much into the Kontrol S4, and many people would be better off with the Kontrol S2, a two-channel version that doesnt let you use external CDJs and turntables. Even so, if you want to get into DJing or to integrate a digital controller into a more traditional setup, this a brilliant piece of equipment. Andrew Unsworth
SPIN THAT WHEEL
SPECIFICATIONS
PART CODE 20900
The Kontrol S4 integrates effortlessly with the Traktor software, making it the best way to use this tool
DETAILS www.native-instruments.com
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VESTAX Pad-One
VERDICT
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AUDIO REVIEWS
An incredibly tough and versatile MIDI controller THE VESTAX PAD-ONE is a USB-powered MIDI controller that lets you control DJing and music production software. With its 12 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads, an X/Y pad and an extensive collection of buttons and dials, you can use it to play drum sounds in your digital audio workstation, trigger hot-cues in your DJing software or control any other elements of the particular software you use. The Pad-One is incredibly versatile. Each pad can be edited so that it emits a specic MIDI control signal or note, and the device has four separate banks of controls, giving you up to 48 different MIDI controls. If you want to assign a bass drum sound to the rst pad, for example, and your software wont let you do that because it demands a specic MIDI signal, you can edit the pads MIDI signal using the Pad-One hardware so that it emits the appropriate signal. You really can customise the Pad-One to organise your controls exactly the way you want them. The drum pads are large enough to hit easily and offer a lot of resistance, but theyre soft enough to cushion your stabs and wont fatigue your ngers when youre playing for extended periods. You can just hit the pads as you wish, but the Pad-One also has a number of other features that let you get creative without having to change your software settings constantly. One example is the Pad-Ones Hold and Roll features, which repeat a pads note every beat. Simply engage the Hold and Roll buttons and press a pad to have its note repeated. You set the tempo using the tap button, which isnt a particularly precise way to set a specic BPM, but is great for generating a groove quickly and makes the experience more natural and human. The Hold and Roll features make it easy to tap in regular instruments, such as bass drums, hats and tambourines. All pads light up in green by default and turn orange when you hit them or when theyre selected in Roll mode, so its easy to see which is in use. The Roll feature can also be used in conjunction with the Pad-Ones X/Y pad to
bass and snare drums to adjacent pads for ease of use, the Pad-One lets you do this. To set velocity, MIDI note and MIDI control data for a pad, simply press Select to choose which of the three you want to change, and press the Edit button followed by the pad you want to change. You then twist the rotary encoder until you reach the MIDI code you want to assign to the pad. Press the Edit button again, and its set. Another neat editing feature is the ability to play the note youve selected before you commit it to the pad, so you can be sure that youve chosen the correct setting.
MODULAR CONTROL
Unlike many compact MIDI controllers, the Pad-One has a solid aluminium casing and is extremely tough. The pads are constructed from durable silicon and the pots and other controls are also well built. This controller is designed to be used, abused and taken to gigs, so you can be sure that itll survive the rigours of your home studio for many years. Although the Pad-One has a connector for an external power supply, it doesnt actually come with one youll have to buy this separately if you want one. This wont be a problem for most people because the Pad-One can be powered over USB. You might encounter problems if you connect it to a non-powered USB hub, as it wont be able to deliver enough power, but if you plug the Pad-One into your computer directly and most users will youll be ne. The Pad-One also has a MIDI output for controlling older equipment. Youll need to use a six-pin-to-ve-pin DIN MIDI convertor cable, but one of these is provided with the unit, so you can incorporate the device into your setup straight away.
HARD CASE
We also tested the Pad-One with Traktor, and it proved incredibly useful. We set it up so that we could set loops, change the size of loops and set loops of specic sizes
This controller is designed to be used, abused and taken to gigs, so you can be sure that itll survive the rigours of your home studio for many years
create some funky drum-rolls. The X-axis controls the speed of the drum-roll, with the far-left of the pad triggering a single drum sound on each beat, while swiping your nger to the far-right of the pad creates machinegun-quick drum-rolls. The Y-axis controls volume touch the bottom of the pad and you can hardly hear the drum roll, but swipe your nger to the top and you increase it. using the pads. As an example, we had a specic pad for setting a 18-beat loop, another for a -beat loop and so on. This meant we could quickly set stutter loops for effect when needed. With four banks at your disposal, the Pad-One makes a great modular controller for Traktor Pro 2.5, and its excellent build quality means you can take it to gigs with you without worrying about it breaking in the middle of your set. We really like the Pad-One. Its an incredibly versatile unit, allowing us to create beats in our music production software one minute and trigger hot-cues in DJing software the next. The ability to assign specic MIDI codes to specic pads increases its versatility. If you need a modular controller thats robust and easy to congure, the Pad-One is perfect. Andrew Unsworth
A major feature of the Pad-One is the ability to edit the velocity, MIDI control code and note of each pad. This makes it highly congurable. If you were using Ableton Live, for example, and you wanted to assign your
IN THE EDIT
SPECIFICATIONS
PART CODE Pad-One DETAILS www.vestax.com
| DECEMBER 2012
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VIDEO REVIEWS
SONY HDR-TD20VE
VERDICT
1,158 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk
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This is a great 3D camcorder with lots of connectivity and a magnicent touchscreen monitor SONYS HDR-TD20VE IS a 3D camcorder with two 13.91in CMOS sensors, two Bionz image processors, a 10x optical zoom and a massive 64GB of built-in ash storage. You change between 3D and 2D camcorder modes using a switch on the back of the HDRTD20VE. Dont worry if you inadvertently record videos in 3D, as you can still view your videos in 2D if you dont have a 3D TV. The HDR-TD20VE is squat and wide and looks a little like a monksh. Its quite heavy, but it has a strong wrist strap and feels balanced in your hand when youre shooting. Even so, those with small hands may nd it uncomfortable to use. We have medium-sized hands and found that all the main controls, such as the zoom lever and record button, were just within easy reach of our digits.
TOUCH AND GO
The HDR-TD20VE has a very high-quality touchscreen. It displays 1,229,000 pixels and can display 2D and 3D images, with a convenient switch to change between the two modes. The 3D effect doesnt require glasses, and for the most part it looks fantastic, although you sometimes get crosstalk an effect where you see two overlapping 2D images instead of one 3D image. Crosstalk is at its most noticeable when using the zoom in 3D mode. The HDRTD20VE has a 10x optical zoom, a 17x
extended zoom for 2D, a 12x extended zoom for 3D and a 12x digital zoom. Although we experienced crosstalk when zooming, it shouldnt be a problem if you keep the zoom within the rst half of its full extension. We had no trouble using the zoom in 2D mode, and although the HDR-TD20VE doesnt have the large optical zoom ranges of other camcorders, we found the 10x optical zoom perfectly adequate. Itll be ne for most users. The HDR-TD20VE works well in low light, especially if you activate the built-in lamp. Theres a little noise and colours are fairly well reproduced, but footage looked a little over-exposed to us. The camcorder works as well indoors as it does outdoors and we were happy with its image stabilisation. Our main criticism is that it took too long to refocus when we moved to a different room or panned quickly. When viewed on a TV, we found the 3D footage natural rather than gimmicky and overstated. Closer objects had a greater 3D effect and, unlike the touchscreen, we only saw crosstalk when objects were incredibly close to the lenses. Colours and detail were just as good in 3D as in 2D. As good as the HDR-TD20VE is, though, we were far more impressed with footage from Sonys 2D HDR-CX730E (Reviews, Shopper 295), which was sharper and more detailed. The HDR-TD20VE is well equipped with connectors. It has a Mini USB port, a Mini HDMI port, an A\V multi-out port and separate microphone and headphone ports, as well as an active accessory shoe thats hidden beneath a pop-up cover. Once youve captured your footage, youll want to export it to your TV or
PC, and the HDR-TD20VE provides many options to do this. You can connect the HDR-TD20VE directly to your TV using the Mini HDMI port, but you can also copy videos from the built-in ash storage to an SDHC or Memory Stick Duo card to use on any computer with a card reader. This is extremely handy if you use the camcorders internal storage, because we had trouble copying les and viewing videos on our test PCs when we attached the HDRTD20VE over USB. Our PCs recognised the camera and loaded its built-in utility, but when we tried to copy or view videos, we were told that they were in use and couldnt do either. Annoyingly, it also took around 28 minutes to copy an hour and 35 minutes of video from the internal storage to an SD card. We had better luck when we used the connected HDR-TD20VE as a Mass Storage device rather than the default MTP. This way we could view and copy video to our PC easily.
For convenience, the HDR-TD20VE has a built-in USB cable that tucks in to the wrist strap. This is handy, but the cable is incredibly short. The HDR-TD20VE comes with a USB extender, but then youll need to keep it with you at all times, which defeats the object. The HDR-TD20VE is perfect if youre an enthusiast who wants to dabble in 3D lm-making. If youre strictly 2D, Sonys HDR-CX730E is a better option, but theres no doubting that the HDR-TD20VE is wellequipped, high quality and, above all, fun. Andrew Unsworth
SHORT SHRIFT
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR 13.91in CMOS STORAGE Flash memory, Memory Stick Pro Duo and SD card ZOOM 10x optical DISPLAY 3in LCD PC CONNECTIONS Mini HDMI out, Mini USB AV INTERFACES Mic, Headphones DIMENSIONS 29x48x81, 460g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE HDR-TD20VES DETAILS www.sony.co.uk
Battery life
0% -50 Reference
4hr 30m
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52
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DECEMBER 2012
TOSHIBA Camileo Z100
154 inc VAT From www.pixmania.co.uk
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VIDEO REVIEWS
VERDICT
The horrible touchscreen menu doesnt ruin this fun and good-value 3D camcorder THE TOSHIBA CAMILEO Z100 is a 3D camcorder with a 2.8in colour 3D touchscreen and Full HD resolution. It also takes 16-megapixel still images in 3D and has a Mini HDMI output so that you can plug it straight into your 3D TV, but perhaps the best thing about the Z100 is that it costs just 154. It has two 5-megapixel CMOS lenses, but by default the Z100 shoots in 2D using the left lens. To record in 3D, you must press the 3D button. The colour touchscreen displays 3D images, too. Understandably, the quality of the touchscreen isnt going to be fantastic on a camera at this price, but its adequate. Theres quite a bit of icker when panning, and theres a tremendous amount of crosstalk on objects that are within one metre of the lenses, which means you see ghost images that cause even more icker and blur the touchscreen. Given the price of the Camileo Z100, our expectations werent high, but after viewing
Thankfully, the Camileo Z100 feels pretty tough. Its basic in appearance and lacks any elegant design features, but its touchscreen hinge feels strong and durable and the plastic doesnt ex. You also get a detachable lens cover. Wed have preferred a switch-operated cover, but this is another acceptable compromise given its price. To record footage, youll need an SD card. The Camileo Z100 comes with 128MB of built-in storage, but this is shared with its rmware, and youre left with only enough for 30 seconds of video. This makes it
of options that let you delete videos, choose between movie and still modes, and open the full menu. The icons are low-resolution and chunky, but their meaning is mostly obvious.
We like the Z100s chunky record button, and it even has a pre-record function that captures those precious few seconds before you press it
our 3D footage on our reference Samsung ES7000U 3D TV, we were pretty impressed. Objects within six metres of the lenses had a real sense of depth and didnt just look like cardboard cut-outs arranged at various distances from the camcorder. The effect isnt overly pronounced, but it adds value to your footage and is more than just a novelty. largely redundant unless you just want to take a few still images. As this is a fun, general-purpose camcorder, it lacks a lot of manual functions, such as focus, but you can choose between four different white balance settings. We like the Z100s chunky record button, and it even has a pre-record function that captures those precious few seconds before you press it to ensure you dont miss them. The touchscreen monitor provides a minimum of information, which is sensible as it prevents the low-resolution screen becoming cluttered. By default, it displays the battery life indicator and the amount of recording time remaining, as well as a zoom meter that appears when the zoom lever is moved. Pressing the touchscreen reveals a set
As youd expect, the inclusion of 3D technology on such a cheap camcorder means it lacks other key features, such as an optical zoom. Instead, you get a 10x digital zoom in 2D mode and 4x digital zoom in 3D mode. Predictably, footage soon deteriorates into a sea of noise and blurred images when you use the digital zoom. Theres no image stabilisation technology, either, so footage suffers from quite a bit of shake.
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
Sadly, its the full menu that threatens to ruin the Z100. Although you only need to tap the touchscreen once to bring up the basic menu and activate the various modes, you must double-tap the icons on the full menu. This inconsistency takes some getting used to, and we never really liked double-tapping icons on the full menu because it often meant that we accidentally activated options we didnt want. This made us paranoid, and we often found ourselves going back in to the menu to check that we hadnt altered anything. The Z100 provides its best image quality in daylight and has good colour reproduction for a cheap camcorder. Footage looks a little compressed, but it isnt so bad as to ruin your video. The lack of image stabilisation makes footage jerky, but this isnt a camcorder for taking smooth, sweeping pans of landscapes its for having fun at family events. Sadly for clubbers, its low-light footage isnt very good, as it shows lots of noise and grain. Still, its good enough for hastily shot Facebook and YouTube videos. The Camileo Z100 3D camcorder is fun and easy to use in spite of its annoying touchscreen. The lack of an optical zoom is a real drawback, but if you can live without it youll nd the Z100 an inexpensive way of recording those fun family moments. Andrew Unsworth
OFF THE MENU
SPECIFICATIONS
SENSOR CMOS Size not disclosed STORAGE SDXC and flash memory ZOOM None DISPLAY 2.8in LCD PC CONNECTIONS Mini HDMI out, Mini USB AV INTERFACES 3.5mm microphone input DIMENSIONS 62x120x62, 286g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE PA5012E-1C0K DETAILS www.toshiba-europe.com
Battery life
0%
1hr 42m
-50 Reference
+50 +100
| DECEMBER 2012
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53
PRINTERS & SCANNERS REVIEWS
LEXMARK OfceEdge Pro5500
177 inc VAT From www.printerbase.co.uk
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VERDICT
Lexmark may be leaving the inkjet market, but its doing so on a high THE OFFICEEDGE PRO 5500 is bigger and heavier than a typical entry-level device. Its built for demanding use, with a maximum monthly duty of 30,000 pages, although the recommended level is 500-1,500 pages. Heavier duty users will benet from Lexmarks 210XL range of high-capacity cartridges, the colour versions of which last for 1,600 pages, while the black cartridge is rated for 2,500 pages. A page of black text should cost a penny to print. The Pro5500s high build quality is soon apparent. Its heavy, which is often a good sign, and its plastic panels are ex-free. The paper tray feels a cut above what wed expect from a consumer device, with authoritative paper guides we expect to withstand years of heavy paper being loaded in a hurry. This printer couldnt match Lexmarks ambitious speed claims, but it was extremely quick when printing text. It almost reached 19 pages per minute (ppm) over 25 copies of our formal letter, and in draft mode this accelerated to almost 28ppm. Its comparatively slow colour printing came as a surprise; it couldnt manage 4ppm over our mixed colour graphics test. Fortunately, this lack of colour-printing speed was the Pro5500s only real weakness. The quality of its plain paper prints was exceptionally good. Text printed at the default quality could pass for laser-quality output. Its scanner was quick to preview and capture documents at resolutions up to and including 600 dots per inch (dpi), and the captured images were true to the colour of the originals. Their wide dynamic range also impressed us, with differences preserved among the very darkest and lightest shades. Given its good printer and scanner, we werent surprised that its photocopies were also above average quality. It was also fast, with the automatic document feeder dispatching a stack of 10 originals in just 55 seconds when making greyscale copies. Slow colour prints aside, the OceEdge Pro5500 is ideal for a busy small oce. Simon Handby
SPECIFICATIONS
MAXIMUM RESOLUTION 4,800x3,600dpi QUOTED SPEEDS 40ppm mono/36ppm colour SCAN RESOLUTION 1,200x4,800dpi INTERFACES USB, PictBridge USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11bn wireless DIMENSIONS 300x400x527mm POWER CONSUMPTION 5W standby, 12W idle, 41W active WARRANTY One-year carry-in PART CODE 90P0007 DETAILS www.lexmark.co.uk
Mono costs Colour costs Draft speed Normal speed Photo speed Scan speed
0%
1.1p 4.9p 27.8ppm 18.8ppm 1.6ppm 3.3spm

-50 Reference
+50 +100
VERDICT
PLUSTEK MobileOfce D412
215 inc VAT From www.tradescanners.com
This portable document scanner is thrashed by the competition PLUSTEKS D412 IS a portable scanner. Theres no automatic document feeder (ADF); its a sheet-fed scanner capable of processing multiple pages one after the other. Its maximum resolution is 600dpi, and it can capture both sides of an original in a single pass. The D412 is a highly compact device. It feels rugged and dense, but it doesnt have a protective case. On its left-hand side is a power switch, and you can trigger scans to PDF or image les using two buttons at the right of the top-panel. At the front of the feed slot is a lever to choose between paper and card inputs. It also opens the mechanism for removing paper jams, but pivots by only 30. The D412 comes with one USB cable for data and one to supply additional power from the host PC and needs both to function. Before you can start work, it needs to be calibrated with a supplied white card target. On the rst attempt we experienced a jam, and that set the tone for the rest of our experience. Plusteks software comes congured with some sensible defaults, but sets the PDF scan settings to expect multiple pages and use a 150dpi resolution to t in with our tests. After scanning a page, the process failed with the message Generic error! This same message cropped up a few times after that. The D412 sometimes seemed reluctant to detect the presence of paper and get ready
SPECIFICATIONS
SCANNER TYPE CIS OPTICAL RESOLUTION 600dpi COLOUR OUTPUT 24-bit INTERFACES USB DIMENSIONS 50x295x70mm POWER CONSUMPTION N/A WARRANTY One-year carry-in PART CODE N/a DETAILS www.plustek.com/uk
A4 scan 300dpi
0% FAIL -50 Reference
11spm
+50 +100
for scanning. Many sheets were snagged on the rear of the mechanism and got jammed, denting the leading edge and picking up marks from the rollers. We avoided this by ipping the media lever to its card setting, but doing so moved the scanners upper image sensor, which caused one side of duplex scans to be softly focused. A better solution was to curl paper upwards with a pencil before feeding it, but weve never had to do this when scanning. The D412 was fast when scanning images, particularly for 600dpi photo scans, and the quality was acceptable for oce purposes. It was less swift when capturing documents to PDFs with searchable text, with 10 doublesided pages taking two minutes to scan and a further minute and half to process. Ultimately, there are better scanners we recommend Canons excellent ImageFormula P-215. Simon Handby
54
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DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
Stunningly beautiful - The new Philips Blade 2 monitor with stylish, ultra slim design and AMVA display is ready for brilliant performance. Features:
- 24 AMVA LED for wide-view, Super high contrast viewing - HDMI-ready for Full HD entertainment - SmartContrast 20,000,000:1 for incredible rich black details - VGA and 2 x HDMI input connectivity - Superb glossy polish with distinctive features Price
Philips Blade 2 249C4QHSB
199.99 inc VAT

Features:
- 24 W-LED-backlit panel - Full HD LCD display with a 1920x1080p resolution - SmartResponse 2ms - SmartContrast 20,000,000:1 for incredible rich black details - VGA and 2 x HDMI input connectivity
Features:
- 22 LED-backlit panel - Full HD LCD display with a 1920x1080p resolution - Fast 5ms response time - SmartContrast 10,000,000:1 for incredible rich black details - DVI-D and VGA input connectivity
Philips Lightframe 2 248X3LFHSB
Relax your eyes - the innovative Philips LightFrame 2 display with its unique bezel emits specific wavelength cool blue light, which reduces your eye fatigue and improves concentration.
Philips V-Line 226V3LSB

Price
185.00 inc VAT
This attractive, slim display is a delight to use. Essential features such as SmartContrast that ensure rich bright images, make it an outstanding choice and excellent value for money!
Price
99.00 inc VAT
The Philips range of monitors for both home and office effortlessly combines style, performance and good value. Built with Award-winning features such as SmartContrast for vibrant images and rich black details and eco-friendly materials, Philips is the choice of the connoisseur.
See the complete range of Philips monitors at http://www.philips.com
Available from the following reseller partners:
Design and Performance perfected to an art.
www.lcdmonitors.philips.com
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NETWORK REVIEWS
ASUS RT-AC66U
VERDICT
173 inc VAT From www.ebuyer.com
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Decent 802.11ac data transfer speeds and two USB ports make this a really great router ASUSS RT-AC66U IS an 802.11ac dual band Gigabit Ethernet router that promises high data speeds. It also has two USB ports so you can connect to the internet even if your main connection goes down. The unit is similar to other Asus routers weve seen. Its stylish, slim and wont look too conspicuous in your living room, although it does have three upgradable antennas popping out of it. Its also informative at a glance, with a line of easily seen and recognisable icons along its front lip. Blue LEDs illuminate to indicate data transfer over wireless or Gigabit Ethernet, and even though theyre bright, the LEDs dont obscure the icons. at 10m and a mind-blowing 195.7Mbit/s at 25m. The RT-AC66Us transfer speeds are similar to those of Buffalos WZR-D1800H 802.11ac router (see Reviews, Shopper 296). Buffalos unit provided data rates of 209.7Mbit/s at 1m and 10m, and 104.8 Mbit/s at 25m. We have to wonder if the WLI-H4-1300H media bridge is holding the RT-AC66U back. Even so, its clear Netgears R6300 is way ahead of the RT-AC66U and WZR-D1800H in 802.11ac performance. One benet of 802.11ac is improved Wi-Fi range, as is borne out by the transfer speeds detailed here, but thanks to 802.11acs use of the 5GHz band, you can still benet from TRANSFER WINDOW increased range if you use 802.11n devices in Due to the scarcity of 802.11ac USB Wi-Fi the 5GHz band. When we connected to the dongles, we had to connect our test laptop to a RT-AC66U via our Centrinos built-in 802.11n Buffalo WLI-H4-D1300 802.11ac media bridge Wi-Fi adaptor on the 5GHz band, we achieved and use that device as an 802.11ac dongle. data transfer speeds of 70.8Mbit/s at 1m, However, with that job done, were happy to say 93.2Mbit/s at 10m and 47.6Mbit/s at 25m. that the RT-AC66U certainly didnt disappoint This is fast enough to stream HD content to when it came to performance. When we your device. Even though this 25m gure is connected our test laptop to the RT-AC66U via nowhere near as fast as 126.5Mbit/s, its more 802.11ac, we achieved data transfer speeds of than twice what wed typically achieve with a 209.7Mbit/s at one and 10 metres, and a highly regular dual-band 802.11n router. So even if impressive 126.5Mbit/s at 25 metres. you dont have any 802.11ac-enabled devices For those of us still accustomed to a basic yet, you can still benet from a speed increase. 802.11n Wi-Fi connection on the 2.4GHz band, The RT-AC66Us performance is more pedestrian on the 2.4GHz band, with data these data transfer speeds seem lightning fast. However, they arent as good as those provided transfer speeds of 28Mbit/s at 1m, 29.6Mbit/s by Netgears Ultimate award-winning R6300 at 10m and 18.9Mbit/s at 25m when we used 802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit Router (see Reviews, our Centrinos built-in Wi-Fi adaptor. These Shopper 297). The R6300 provided phenomenal speeds are in keeping with the performance of the R6300 and WZR-1800H. Again, transfer rates of 279.6Mbit/s at 1m, 288.9Mbit/s Netgears R6300 is the faster router, transferring data at 24.7Mbit/s at 25m. The WZR-D1800H is slower, transferring data at 23.5Mbit/s at 1m and 23.7Mbit/s at 10m. The RT-AC66Us data transfer speed of 18.9Mbit/s is still quicker than 802.11n routers at 25m on the 2.4GHz band, and we could view Full HD video from an attached USB drive at 25m. This is an almost unheard-of level of performance at 25m on the 2.4GHz band, and makes the RT-AC66U perfect for media fans, whether theyre using the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands. The RT-AC66U has a very attractive setup wizard and web interface, although its not The RT-AC66U certainly has a good-looking user interface always easy to nd the setting
you want to change. Also, you can only have one user logged in to the routers web interface at a time. If your PC is logged in to the web interface in another room, you cant then connect with your laptop or iPad to change a few settings. The USB ports are extremely convenient, as they let you connect USB drives and printers. Netgears R6300 provides better control and conguration of USB drives; however, it doesnt have a built-in print server. The RT-AC66U also comes with DMZ, port forwarding and Dynamic DNS, so you can congure it for online gaming and remote access over the internet. You can even download iOS and Android apps to connect to the router. Unfortunately, we found the iPhone app crashed when we tried to access certain network PCs.
Asuss RT-AC66U is a great 802.11ac router. Its insanely fast when compared with 802.11n routers, although its no match for Netgears excellent R6300 802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit Router. If speed is your prime concern, pick the R6300. However, if you want a fast 802.11ac router that also lets you connect USB printers, the RT-AC66U wont let you down. Andrew Unsworth
SETTING THE STANDARD
SPECIFICATIONS
WIRELESS STANDARD 802.11ac dual band (1,300Mbit/s) CONNECTIONS 4x 10/100/1000Mbit/s LAN ports, 1x WAN port FEATURES UPnP, QoS DIMENSIONS 36x207x149 POWER CONSUMPTION 10W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE RT-AC66U DETAILS www.asus.com
Centrino 2 1m Centrino 2 10m Centrino 2 25m 802.11ac 1m 802.11ac 10m 802.11ac 25m
0%
28Mbit/s 29.6Mbits 18.9Mbit/s 209.7Mbit/s 209.7Mbit/s 126.5Mbit/s

-50 Reference
+50 +100
56
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DECEMBER 2012
CRUCIAL V4
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
STORAGE REVIEWS
125 inc VAT From www.crucial.com/uk
Quick enough for SATA2 connections, and cheap enough for those using older computers SOLID-STATE DRIVES (SSDs) are great for speeding up your PC, but not everyone can afford to spend a few hundred pounds on the latest drive. Neither do many people have a SATA3 interface to enable the best speeds. Crucials new V4 drive is designed to bring hard disk-beating SSD performance to those who dont have fast SATA sockets on their motherboard or a big budget. Rather than use familiar controllers from Marvell, Indilinx and SandForce to create the V4 range, Crucial has instead turned to little-known rm Phison and its PS310 controller. This is paired with 25nm MLC NAND chips and, even though thats what we expect for quick drives, the controller is designed for slower SATA2 PCs. We tested the Crucial V4 when connected to both SATA2 and SATA3 connections, and saw virtually identical results. We also tested our favourite SSD, the Corsair Performance Series Pro 256GB, using a SATA2 connection. The V4 returned a score of 232MB/s in our large-le write test and a score of 214MB/s in our large-le read benchmark. The Corsair, meanwhile, scored 298MB/s and 241MB/s. In the small-le write test the V4 scored 109MB/s, dropping to 42MB/s when reading small les. The Corsair ran through the same tests at 134MB/s and 75MB/s. It cant match the fastest drives, then, but the V4 comes into its own at the checkout. Corsairs Performance Series Pro 256GB costs
SPECIFICATIONS
CAPACITY 256GB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 238GB WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE CT256V4SSD2 DETAILS www.crucial.com/uk
Large les Small les

0% -50
223MB/s 76MB/s
Reference
+50 +100
273, or 93p per gigabyte. Crucials V4, meanwhile, offers the same capacity but costs just 125, or just 48p per gigabyte. Its not an out-and-out bargain, though. Crucial has included nothing in the box apart from the drive, so youll have to buy a 2into-3in bracket before you install the V4 in a PC. However, these cost only around 10. The three-year warranty is also nice to see. Crucials V4 is extremely cheap and, while not able to compete with the fastest drives, it has the grunt to deliver a signicant boost to those struggling with obsolete hard disks in ageing PCs. If you cant afford a motherboard upgrade and all the hassle that entails but you still want to experience solid-state speed, this is a ne option. Mike Jennings
INTEGRAL Crypto SSD 128GB
VERDICT
277 inc VAT From http://uk.insight.com
A neat and effective solution for encrypting SSD content, but its far too slow and much too expensive SSDs TYPICALLY FOLLOW the same blueprint: drive, desktop upgrade kit and, if youre lucky, some le-migration software. Integrals Crypto SSD is different, due to one unique feature: encryption that promises to protect your most important les. The encryption comes courtesy of the 256-bit AES standard, which is used by the US military. Its enforced at the hardware level, so any data transferred to the drive is encrypted by a chip instead of software. It complies with the FIPS 197 standard, which Integral claims is more secure because software cant tamper with data. Integral includes a 2in-to-3in bracket and the relevant screws, so its easy to slot the SSD into an expansion bay. The Integral Crypto SSD 128GB uses the SATA2 interface, which isnt as theoretically quick as the newer SATA3 interface, and this was apparent in our benchmarks. In our large-le write test, the Crypto SSD transferred data at a rate of 242MB/s, and in our large-le read benchmark it returned a score of 211MB/s. Thats around half the speed were used to seeing from our favourite drive, the Corsair Performance Pro 256GB, and its still slower than the Corsair when its connected to SATA2. Using the SATA2 interface, the Performance Pro scored 298MB/s and 241MB/s. The Integral didnt pick up the pace in our small-le tests, either. It returned a score of
SPECIFICATIONS
CAPACITY 128GB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 119GB INTERFACE SATA2 WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE INSSD128GS25MCRYPTO DETAILS www.integralmemory.com
Large les Small les

0%
227MB/s 73.5MB/s
-50 Reference
+50 +100
104MB/s when writing small les and a meagre 42MB/s when reading them; the Corsair Performance Pro, meanwhile, scored 134MB/s and 75MB/s when connected to the slower interface. Its not fast, then, and it isnt cheap. At 277 for just 128GB of space, the Integral weighs in at a hefty 2.16 per gigabyte. Thats far more than the Corsair, which serves up 256GB of space for just 93p per gigabyte. If thats the price youre willing to pay for security, the Integral could be worth it. However, the warranty lasts for only two years, and the expense and lack of speed make us think that its a software solution rather than hardware encryption that would do the job for most people. Mike Jennings
| DECEMBER 2012
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57
COMPONENTS REVIEWS
ASUS P8Z77-V Premium
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
This Ivy Bridge motherboard has everything youll ever need, but its overkill unless you need Thunderbolt THE P8Z77-V PREMIUM is a hugely expensive motherboard for Intel Ivy Bridge processors, but it has certain features that help to justify the expense. It has a 32GB mSATA SSD plugged in to it that operates as a cache, and this is the rst motherboard weve seen with a Thunderbolt port for super-fast le transfers to external devices. Thunderbolt was previously only available on Apple products, so we were interested to see how well the new interface would work on a PC. We tested it using an Elgato Thunderbolt external drive, which contains a SanDisk SSD. The Thunderbolt interface is certainly quick; 184MB/s when writing large les is what wed expect to see from internally mounted SSDs, and large-le read speeds and small-le read and write speeds are also very quick indeed. Thunderbolt isnt hugely faster than USB3 in
speed boost and still have a large and inexpensive system disk. With modern games such as Mass Effect 3 taking up 15GB of disk space, youll soon run out of room on a 120GB SSD, so the benet of caching is obvious. The board comes with Asuss own SSD caching utility, which promises to make setup easy. However, this works only with SSDs plugged into the Marvell controllers SATA3 ports, and it doesnt recognise the onboard SSD. To use the onboard drive, we had to plug our mechanical hard disk into one of the Intel SATA ports and then set the SATA ports to RAID mode in the boards graphical EFI BIOS. Once wed booted back into Windows and run
Asuss P8Z77-V Premium is a top-specication Ivy Bridge motherboard with every feature you could possibly need
everyday use, though, and Thunderbolt devices are very expensive. The board also comes with a USB 3.0 Boost application, which promises to speed up USB3 transfers by up to 170 per cent. Sadly, USB 3.0 Boost didnt make a difference in our benchmarks when testing with a Buffalo Extreme USB3 external hard disk. the Intel Rapid Storage utility, we could set up caching with the onboard SSD without issue. This made a big difference to performance. As measured with the free Bootracer utility, booting into Windows 7 took 49 seconds with a normal hard disk, while the cache took us to the Desktop in a swift 18s. The cache didnt make a difference to write speeds in our benchmark tests, but it improved large-le read speeds from 52MB/s to 192MB/s, and small le read speeds from 28MB/s to 76MB/s. It denitely makes programs load faster and Windows feel snappier. The Asus cache program also worked ne with a mechanical hard disk and an SSD plugged into the Marvell SATA ports. We couldnt understand how to work the application at rst, but once wed deleted the cache the program had set up and re-enabled it, caching worked perfectly.
CACHE IN HAND
We found the onboard SSD cache useful, though. Using an SSD as a cache for a mechanical disk means you can get an SSD
ports, and HDMI and DisplayPort graphics outputs. The board comes with a box to t in your 3in drive bay, which has a couple of USB3 ports, and theres also a Wi-Fi module and antenna. You have plenty of expansion options, thanks to two SATA3 and two SATA2 ports on the Intel controller and four SATA3 ports on the Marvell storage chip. There are four PCI Express x16 slots, and the board supports four-way SLI or CrossFire. There are also a couple of PCI Express x1 slots. When tted with an Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770K processor, we saw an overall score of 115 in our benchmarks, which is what wed expect from this chipset and processor. Asuss P8Z77-V Premium is a topspecication Ivy Bridge motherboard with every feature you could possibly need. For most people, though, it will be overkill. The SSD caching function works on any motherboard with an Intel Z77 chipset, so if youre willing to nd somewhere to mount a separate SSD youll still able to take advantage of the chipsets caching functions. If youre desperate for Thunderbolts high speeds, this is the only board that currently has the port, but most people will be ne with USB3. That said, if you want the most feature-packed Intel board there is, the P8Z77-V Premium is the model to have. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
PROCESSOR SOCKET LGA1155 CHIPSET Intel Z77 Express/Intel Z77 Express MEMORY SLOTS 4x DDR3 1066, 1333, 1600, 1866, 2133, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2800 EXPANSION 4x PCI Express x16 slots, 2x PCI Express x1 slots, 3x SATA2 ports, 8x SATA3 ports WARRANTY Two-year RTB warranty PART CODE P8Z77-V Premium DETAILS www.asus.com
The P8Z77-V Premium has everything you could possibly need, including Thunderbolt
This board really is packed with features. On the rear, you have two USB and four USB3 ports, as well as a couple of eSATA and Thunderbolt ports. There are 7.1 analogue surround-sound outputs and an optical S/PDIF output, two Gigabit Ethernet
PORT AUTHORITY
Shopper overall Shopper video encoding Dirt 3 Dirt 3 (integrated)

0%
115 103 32.3 fps 25fps

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PNY GeForce GTX 660 Ti
240 inc VAT From www.dabs.com
WorldMags.net
COMPONENTS REVIEWS
The stock GeForce GTX 660 Ti has plenty of power, and room for overclocking, too; its an excellent enthusiast graphics card LAST MONTH, WE saw the rst card based on Nvidias new GeForce GTX 660 Ti chipset Asuss GeForce GTX 660 Ti DirectCU II TOP. That card performed very strongly in our benchmarks and, in many tests, was faster than the GTX 670, the next model in Nvidias range, thanks to its 79MHz core overclock. However, the Asus card is expensive, and you pay around 25 for that overclock when compared with a standard GTX 660 Ti. For this reason, we were keen to look at a card running at Nvidias reference speeds, and PNYs GeForce GTX 660 Ti is the rst to arrive. The stock card has 1,344 CUDA cores and a core clock speed of 915MHz, boosting to 980MHz when required. It also has 2GB of GDDR5 RAM running at 1.5GHz and a 192-bit memory bus. Asuss card has a huge twin-fan cooler, but the PNY model has a standard single-fan heatsink. Its slightly louder than the Asus TOP, but not so much as to bother you. On the rear are two DVI ports, a HDMI output and a fullsize DisplayPort connector. Youll need a power supply with two six-pin PCI Express connectors. Even running at its stock speeds, our benchmarks indicated that the GTX 660 Ti is an impressive card. In our 1,920x1,080 Ultra quality Dirt 3 test, we saw 97.5fps, which is not far off the 102.1fps of the overclocked Asus card and the 98.5fps of the 305 GTX 670.
VERDICT
When we ran Dirt 3 on three monitors in Surround mode, with a total resolution of 5,760x1,080 and Ultra detail, we saw a smooth 40.7fps and a minimum frame rate of 34.6fps from PNYs GTX 660 Ti, showing the game was playable at all times, and only a couple of frames per second slower than the more expensive cards. Crysis 2 is a far more challenging graphics test, but even here the GTX 660 Ti kept up with the more expensive Nvidia cards; an average of 40.6fps at 1,920x1,080 and Ultra detail levels puts it less than 1fps behind the GTX 670 and Asuss overclocked GTX 660 Ti TOP. When we tested Asuss GTX 660 Ti TOP, we thought it made the more expensive GTX 670 redundant, as it could almost match it for performance while being signicantly cheaper. However, Asuss card is also in danger of being shown up by PNYs stock version. PNYs card comes so close in our games tests that it makes no real difference to gameplay.
per cent the card ran all our tests. The overclock had just the result we expected, and brought the card up to the speed of Asuss GTX 660 Ti TOP, with a huge 102.1fps in Dirt 3, 42.2fps in Crysis 2 and 44.9fps in Dirt 3 on three monitors at 5,760x1,080. The card wasnt as quiet as the Asus TOP, but it didnt annoy us. It also didnt get very hot, even when we ran our benchmarks on a loop for half an hour to check stability.
MORE POWER TO YOU
Nvidias GeForce GTX 660 Ti chipset impresses us because it has better performance than its AMD rivals, and frame rates in games that are close to Nvidias more expensive cards. We especially like PNYs stock version, as its quick at standard speeds, but has the overclocking headroom to add a ve per cent frames-persecond speed boost in games. Theres a lot of power here for 240, so its a Best Buy. Chris Finnamore
SPECIFICATIONS
CHIPSET Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti CORE SPEED 915MHz RAM 2GB GDDR5 (1.50GHz) WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE GF660IGTX2GEPB DETAILS www.pny.com
TAKE IT TO THE LIMITS
The GTX 660 Tis predecessor, the GTX 560 Ti, was an overclockable card, so we were keen to see how much we could boost the performance of the new version. Using MSIs Afterburner utility, we pushed the core clock up by 79MHz, which is the same overclock we saw on Asuss TOP version of the GTX 660 Ti. At rst, this overclock wasnt stable, but once wed increased the maximum voltage ceiling to 120
Crysis 2 Dirt 3 3DMark 11

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BYTE SIZE
SANDBERG Bluetooth Link for iPhone Dock
n.co.uk 36 inc VAT From www.amazon.co.uk Sandbergs latest connection trickery is a small all Bluetooth receiver that plugs into your iPhone or iPod dock and lets you stream audio from any Bluetooth device to your dock. It shows up p as a Bluetooth headset when you search for devices, and you connect with a 0000 code. It worked awlessly with an iPhone and an Android mobile, and a connection was stable from one end of our at a to the other around 12 metres distance. Many Man iPod docks have remote controls that let you skip tracks t and change volume, but holding the phone in your hand means you can browse through all you your music, as well as internet radio stations, without leaving the sofa to go to your dock. Its wit ab beautifully functional and useful bit of kit. Chris Finnamore
PART CODE 450450-03 DETAILS www.sandberg.it
| DECEMBER 2012
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SOFTWARE REVIEWS
XARA Photo & Graphic Designer MX 2013
69 inc VAT From www.xara.com/uk
WorldMags.net
VERDICT
Excellent value and a fantastic photoediting and design tool AS TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOP they tend to get more complicated, and rarely get faster. This is especially true for creative software, which often strains under the weight of new features. Xara has never suffered this fate, though. A key selling point has always been its unwaveringly fast performance. Not only do adjustments appear on screen as soon as theyre made, but the program constantly updates while adjustments are made. Thats useful when dragging the mouse across the colour wheel to change an objects colour, and its liberating when adjusting properties such as bevel, drop shadow or 3D extrude. This update brings welcome improvements without compromising that eciency. The Designs Gallery (Xaras bank of clip art and design templates) has lots of new content, and as it comes directly from an online database its easier for Xara to add further content. Text Styles mean its now possible to save combinations of font, colour, justication, emphasis and spacing to apply elsewhere in a document. Its one of the more straightforward implementations weve seen, and it behaved impeccably when we tried to trip it up. As an example, an Update Style command rippled changes throughout the document, but when we applied a style to a paragraph and changed its colour, updating the style elsewhere changed its other properties but not its colour. The only disappointment is that there isnt a central database of styles, so its not so easy to re-use them in other documents.
Theres a strong collection of templates and clip-art hosted from Xaras servers
straight through a shape creates two discrete objects. However, using this tool on text or grouped objects creates a non-destructive opacity mask. A Softness slider gives a feathered edge to eraser strokes, whereupon the tool always works non-destructively, regardless of whats being edited. Once created, this opacity mask is a little awkward to edit, as its only possible when you view it in isolation. However, youre not limited to making, deleting or modifying the eraser strokes. The full range of editing tools TOOLS FOR THE JOB can be used, from gradient lls to bitmaps. The Shape Eraser Tool provides a new way to Opacity masks arent new to this version, but edit objects, taking chunks out of them with the Shape Eraser Tool provides a more direct freehand strokes. Using the tool on a vector way of getting started with them. shape edits it destructively, and slicing The Shape Eraser Tool is a useful addition, but the Shape Builder Tool, which adds rather than subtracts areas from a shape, is reserved for Xara Designer Pro X (249 including VAT). We prefer the Smear, Twirl, Repel and Attract tools added to CorelDraw X6 (see Reviews, Shopper 295), which sculpt vector shapes like putty. Xaras photo-editing features are better than ever. A Colour Select/Erase tool acts like Photoshops Magic Wand, selecting areas of similar colour. Its easy to select a range of colours and soften the edges of the selection. This selection can be Using the Shape Eraser Tool on simple shapes bevels and drop shadows update as you erase hidden or have colour correction
applied, which is ideal for bringing out colours in the main subject without affecting background.
HUE DONE IT
The new Hue control adds a colour tint, using a colour spectrum control and a Strength slider to vary between unprocessed and monochrome. Its a different approach to the Hue controls in most other software, which rotate colours around the colour spectrum. Xaras is more of a colour lter control, but its no worse for it. Xara still lags far behind Photoshop Elements for photo-editing prowess, but theres increasingly less need to run both side by side when combining photos and vector graphics in design projects. There are so many things we love about this software. The performance comes top, but its ability to tackle vector drawing, photo editing, desktop publishing and simple Flash animations is a close second. There are lots of thoughtful touches for instance, it opens documents from the last session, including those that were not saved, when launched and lots of inspiring drawing tools. CorelDraw goes further for creative tools, but theres plenty in Xara to re the imagination, and the price is right for home users. Its a Best Buy. Ben Pitt
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP/Vista/7, 700Mhz processor, 500MB RAM, 300MB hard disk DETAILS www.xara.com/uk
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SERIF WebPlus X6
VERDICT
82 inc VAT From www.serif.com
WorldMags.net
SOFTWARE REVIEWS
Still brilliant for creating sites quickly and easily, but it needs up-to-date templates and more comprehensive mobile features WEBPLUS X5 WAS our favourite userfriendly web creation tool of last year, and beyond a need for some more up-to-date templates there wasnt much we felt was missing. Perhaps Serif feels the same, because the new WebPlus X6 is more of a nip and tuck than a radical overhaul, although this will probably please anyone accustomed to the familiar interface thats shared with the applications siblings. Anyone who doesnt want to use one of the site templates in WebPlus X6 can create a site from scratch, but blank site creation has been improved. A new wizard requests elementary information about the planned site, such as the name, page width, colour scheme and so on, to help novice designers. This creates a bespoke template that makes it much easier to maintain a consistent design as the site is assembled. The fundamental process of building a web page in WebPlus X6 has changed little from the previous version, and it follows the familiar process of placing the text and image frames that hold most of the web content. Adding more sophisticated content is equally straightforward, and anything from a navigation bar to a photo gallery can be created by dragging the appropriate icon from the QuickBuild bar at the left of the main window. Many more assets are available here than in WebPlus X5, and many existing options are also much easier to manage. Rollovers, for example, can now trigger a number of actions, including changing object opacity and adjusting Z-Index order, which is used to WebPlus X6 comes with a wide selection of templates that have multiple colour schemes bring an object in an overlapping stack to the front of a page. QuickBuild Bar in X6, but the selection is the Also new is drag and drop for embedding same as before. As with WebPlus X5, theres Google Maps and content for a range of social limited scope for creating pages in HTML in media services, both of which are easier to X6. New pages can be created as HTML, but deploy than the chunks of HTML required in from then on its HTML or nothing. You cant WebPlus X5. Content can be shared with use WebPlus X6s other design tools, and the Facebook, Twitter and Google+, and there design of the new pages can be seen only by are share buttons for Delicious, Digg, Reddit using a preview button. While the source code and other social bookmarking sites. WebPlus for standard WYSIWYG pages can be seen, it X6 also adds the long-overdue ability to see a cant be edited, but user-dened snippets of sites structure as a WYSIWYG layout that can HTML code can be embedded on the page. be dragged and dropped to rejig its hierarchy. X5 was stuck with a text list in a tiny dialog. TEMPLATE AGENCY Serif has made few changes to the site SMART THINKING templates supplied with WebPlus X6, but A key feature in WebPlus X5 was its range there are 10 more than X5, which gives you of Smart Objects that could be dragged on to 30. Many are showing their age and none the page to create dynamic blogs, forums and offers the slick, modern appeal of those e-commerce sites with very little effort, albeit available for WordPress or Tumblr, but they with a reliance on Serifs WebPlus.net for do come with dozens of colour schemes and hosting. Otherwise, sites can be hosted sympathetic designs such as home page, anywhere. These have been relocated from product list, Contact Us page and so on. a toolbar to a more logical position on the WebPlus X6 also adds a couple of template variations for viewing on mobile devices. These can be used to create standalone sites or inserted as pages into a standard site structure so that visitors can be redirected accordingly, depending on browser type and screen resolution. Sadly, this approach involves creating two separate versions of the same site: one for desktop use and one for mobile. Its a shame Serif didnt include a simpler theme-based solution that can automatically reformat desktop pages for mobile browsers. Even though its still the best web-creation tool for those more interested in designing sites than writing HTML code, its disappointing that Serif WebPlus X6s templates arent more up to date and its mobile features more exible. Its still terric for new users, but those with X5 have little reason to upgrade. Julian Prokaza
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows 7/Vista/XP, Pentiumclass CPU, 512MB RAM, 434MB disk space, 1,024x768 display PRODUCT CODE WebPlus X6 DETAILS www.serif.com
Page creation is a simple matter of dragging and dropping objects on to the page
| DECEMBER 2012
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GAMES REVIEWS
NCSOFT Guild Wars 2
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
Familiar yet completely different, Guild Wars 2 is a breath of fresh air for MMO players TAKING ON WORLD of Warcraft is no mean feat, but NCsoft managed to nd a niche with the original Guild Wars an MMO that was as playable when attempted alone as when played with others. A sequel has been a long time coming, and its arrival signies a huge shake-up of traditional MMO tropes. The most noticeable change is in the real-time combat: rather than being locked to the spot when casting a spell or activating a skill, youre free to move about the battleeld. Its practically encouraged, as you can dodge attacks and get the upper hand, even if youre out-matched in terms of level or ability. To make combat as uid as possible, abilities are limited to a single row of 10. The rst ve change automatically when you equip a different weapon and the rest can be swapped with others you buy with skill points. You can swap weapons quickly, which means your role on the battleeld can change. You might start a ght with a mle weapon, only to drop back when you take damage to heal your party and attack from range. This open-ended combat lets you devise new strategies on the y.
Tricking enemies as the Mesmer class helps you avoid danger
Battles can quickly escalate to epic proportions
THE EYES HAVE IT
Typical MMO classes and races are present, but there are welcome additions for anyone whos tired of playing the same warrior, mage and thief characters. The Mesmer is an illusionist that can create phantasms to confuse enemies, while the engineer can deploy turrets and throw grenades. Guardians can use staffs and staves, which create magical barriers to slow enemies, sword and shield combinations, which let them survive multiple hits, and two-handed swords that deal heavy damage at the expense of protection. Whatever your choice of class, ability and weapons, combat takes more care and attention than the usual click-fest. The lack of in-game tutorials makes this tricky for new players, and the freedom of movement will feel alien to Warcraft veterans.
So too will the quest system. Rather than directing you down a linear path, Guild Wars 2 scatters each area with story-related quests, which you can complete in any order you choose. Each zone has anywhere from 10 to 15 quest areas, each of which adds quest trackers to the mini-map. On completion, rewards are dispensed through the in-game mail system, so you dont have to trek back to where you rst received the quest.
The quests rarely require you to defeat x number of enemies, instead charging you with xing broken machines and delivering baskets and of fruit. Theres plenty of variety, which is expanded greatly by the dynamic quest system. When alert messages appear during general exploration, you can join events that are already in progress; teaming up with other players nets you huge gold and experience point rewards that make it well worth getting involved. Success or failure in a mission almost always has consequences, opening new quest arcs that shape the surrounding area and its NPCs. The diculty depends on the number of nearby players, but youll rarely get to a point where you cant proceed without asking for support. With so much on offer, and a high level cap of 80, youll want to take your time exploring rather than rushing to hit the level cap. Even high-level characters face a challenge, as the diculty adjusts, so you cant return to early level zones and breeze through them just to show off.
GET A JOB
Regardless of your level, you can take part in player-versus-player combat, which pushes your character to level 80 and provides a full complement of weapons, armour and abilities. This might not appeal to raid-hardened MMO veterans, but having everyone on the same level makes PvP surprisingly accessible. Battles vary from ve-minute skirmishes to hours-long epic battles set among massive zones that pit servers against each other in a war for territory. Rewards for doing well are mostly visual, so its not obvious whether this will be enough to keep players coming back. A few teething problems, such as a glitchy auction house and poor social features, and the limited tutorial system detract from the experience, but Guild Wars 2 still impresses, even against MMO heavyweights such as World of Warcraft. Its as playable alone as with friends, thanks to the rich story and varied gameplay, and it rewards skill and achievement rather than grinding repetition. If youre still playing Warcraft, this is unlikely to convince you to jump ship, but if youre intrigued by MMOs but didnt like the idea of subscribing, Guild Wars 2 is the perfect introduction. It does things its own way to create a rich, rewarding game that you can also play with friends if you wish. Tom Morgan
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Dual-core 2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 7800/AMD Radeon X1800, 25GB hard disk space, broadband connection PRODUCT CODE B007YZ5B0I DETAILS www.guildwars2.com
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VALVE Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
GAMES REVIEWS
12 inc VAT From store.steampowered.com
Evolution rather than revolution, but its one thats been a long time coming COUNTER-STRIKE IS synonymous with the multiplayer rst-person shooter genre. Its been around since 1999 and is still played by millions of people every day. Although the gameplay is still as tight as ever, the dated graphics werent going to cut it for todays demanding gamers: enter Global Offensive. Its a complete overhaul of the game we know and love, with a new game engine, redesigned maps, character models and sounds, new weapons and more accessible game modes. Valve tried to update Counter-Strike once before with CS:Source. It was popular but also inconsistent much of the ne detail crucial to competitive play was lost, so many players stayed with the older game rather than learning new recoil patterns and grenade physics. This latest version avoids the pitfalls of the past, combining the graphics of an updated Source engine with the ne-tuning and precision of the original 1.6 release.
The new game modes are fast-paced and packed with choke points
As most of Valves employees are working hard on DOTA 2 (and, we hope, Half-Life 2 Episode 3) a third-party developer has been drafted to help nish Global Offensive. The franchise is in the good hands of Hidden Path Entertainment, which worked on Left4Dead 2, and has already written several updates based on feedback to the open beta. Counter-Strikes two main game modes can be found, in one form or another, in
PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
almost every team-based FPS available today. The most popular is defuse mode indicated by a maps DE_ prex which pits a team of terrorists, tasked with planting a bomb in one of two locations, against a team of counterterrorist soldiers who must stop them. Each match is split into a series of rounds, and dying means sitting out for the round while your teammates ght on without you. As there are always two bomb sites to choose from, the counter-terrorists must balance their forces between them to defend them. If the bomb is planted and you fail to defuse it before it blows, the terrorists win the round. Less popular from a competitive viewpoint are the hostage rescue maps (indicated by the CS_ prex). These put the terrorists on the back foot, as they must defend a group of AI-controlled hostages from the assaulting counter-terrorist forces. There are two new game modes in Global Offensive, providing extra replay value beyond the gameplay weve come to expect from the series. Both are variations on existing user mods made for the original Counter-Strike. Arms Race is an action-packed instant
adrenalin rush, which puts one weapon in your hand and then rewards you with a different one after every kill. Its a race to the nish that can make for some hectic and fast-paced games. If youre killed, you re-spawn instantly, so theres no waiting around. Demolition combines the weapon awards of Arms Race with the objective-based gameplay of the defusal game type. Here, the challenge is to defeat the enemy team with a series of progressively weaker weapons.
What makes the game is the maps. Classics such as Dust, Aztec, Oce, Nuke and Inferno have been lovingly recreated, with more detail than ever. New maps share the same design ethos, with large open areas reserved for the demolition game type and tighter, more compact levels for Arms race. Series veterans will love the new looks, as the game feels more lifelike and less like an arena. Counter-Strike has always required thought, even if it doesnt appear so on rst inspection. Getting past the rst hurdle of online play requires teamwork, so you might not get the most out of Global Offensive unless you invest the time. Although Counter-Strike introduced many people to online multiplayer games, the refusal to add any signicant changes to Global Offensive also makes it feel rather simplistic compared with todays shooters. Aspects such as rank progression, character customisation and weapon unlocks are rejected in favour of old-school action. However, if youre yearning for a game that puts more emphasis on tactics and teamwork than lone wolf gung-ho chaos, this is well worth your attention. Tom Morgan
MAP HAPPY
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2.4GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 2400 / Nvidia 8600M, 8GB hard disk space PRODUCT CODE 1800 DETAILS www.steampowered.com
Updated maps and a few new additions make the world feel more real and less like a closed arena
| DECEMBER 2012
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BUSINESS REVIEWS
THECUS N5550
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
439 inc VAT, 367 exc VAT From www.micom.co.uk
The N5550 provides excellent data-transfer speeds and many different server modules, making it perfect for small businesses THECUSS N5550 IS a standalone NAS enclosure with an Intel Atom D2550 processor, 2GB of RAM and the capacity to take ve hard disks. This means it can support RAID5 arrays with a hot spare, which is a feature lacking in many smaller NAS devices. It has a mono LCD status screen at the bottom that displays errors, the NAS devices IP address and other information. It has a single USB3 port at the front, as well as four USB ports, an eSATA port and HDMI and VGA ports at the rear, so you can connect a monitor directly. You can also control the N5550 with a USB keyboard and mouse rather than a network-connected PC. You must install the local display module to do this, but its a free download of almost 400MB. The N5550 supports the usual range of JBOD, RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, RAID6 and RAID10, although it defaults to RAID6 and the ext4 le system. RAID6 offers signicant advantages over RAID5 when it comes to minimising wear on disks. If one of your drives fails and the others are of the same age and brand, the stress of rebuilding the RAID5 array can take down your remaining drives. RAID6 has its disadvantages, though. It requires two entire redundant drives, versus RAID5s single redundant disk, and it also has slower write speeds due to the way it arranges its data on the disks. This particularly affects tasks that write lots of small les to disk. (101.5MB/s read, 64.1MB/s write). In our more challenging small-le transfer test, les wrote at 14.4MB/s and read at 17.9MB/s, producing an average of 16.2MB/s. For comparative purposes, we recongured our drives as a RAID5 array, created an SMB share and ran the same tests. This time, we saw transfer speeds of 92MB/s when writing and 73.5MB/s when reading large les, and 13.5MB/s when writing and 17MB/s when reading small les. Although the chances of drive failure at RAID5 are still very low, you probably better off with RAID6. For our next test, we created a RAID5 iSCSI target instead of an SMB share. An iSCSI LUN is a logical device. Its a portion of space on your NAS device that your PC can address as if it were a local hard drive. This allows faster access speeds because your PC is responsible for more of the processing load than the NAS device. Windows built-in iSCSI Initiator program makes it easy to attach a NAS-based iSCSI target to your PC so you can format it and treat it like a standard hard disk. This is one of the fastest and most ecient ways of using a NAS device for data storage. We found it easier to set up iSCSI targets on Synology and QNAP devices than the N5550. When we ran our speed tests on an N5550-based iSCSI, we saw average speeds of 98.2MB/s for large les and 32.2MB/s for small les. Using a RAID6 conguration, we saw 91.5MB/s and 28.8MB/s in large and small le tests respectively.
We tested the NAS enclosure using a matched set of four 3TB Western Digital Red hard disks. For our initial test, we used the N5550s default RAID6 conguration and mounted a directory on the NAS device as an SMB share. In our large-le transfer test, this produced an average speed of 83.2MB/s
TESTING TIMES
Thecuss interface isnt as elegantly designed as those of QNAP and Synology, but its reasonably clear and easy to use. Its a simple window manager with most functions accessible via a stack of tabs at the right-hand side of the screen. The web interface can sometimes get rather cluttered with multiple layers of menus and pop-up conguration windows. Annoyingly, to exit the windows without making changes, you have to click an X in one corner. It looks rather drab, too, but everything you need is in there. System-management tools allow you to upgrade your NAS devices rmware and congure admin controls, while the storage tab gives you access to everything you need to congure the RAID array and add network shares or iSCSI targets. Other menus let you create and control the access permissions of users and groups, and several tools help you
INTERFACE OFF
back up and restore the contents of your NAS device. The N5550 comes with a copy of Acronis TrueImage, and you can set it up as a backup target for networked PCs. The NAS devices main home screen is the most approachable, with colourful icons that take you to the features youre most likely to need. The N5550 lets you install extra modules for additional features. These include an interface for up to ve IP cameras, a mail server, web server, MySQL server, anti-virus software, a Dropbox client, utilities that let you schedule regular backups to a connected USB or eSATA external hard disk, and much more. This wealth of features, combined with the ability to connect the NAS device to a monitor and input devices for standalone use, make it an excellent alternative to traditional server types. Although the interface isnt as slick as Synologys DSM4.1, its mostly clear and easy to use, while transfer speeds mean this NAS device easily holds its own against the competition. At 367 excluding VAT, its very reasonably priced, too, with features that make it eminently suitable for use as a small oce server. Thecuss N5550 is a much deserved winner of our Business Buy award. Kat Orphanides
SPECIFICATIONS
STORAGE Hard disk/SSD CONNECTIONS 10/100/1,000Mbit/s Ethernet, 5x USB ports EXTRAS UPnP media, iTunes, print, USB disk, web, FTP servers WARRANTY Two-year RTB DIMENSIONS 230x190x240mm POWER CONSUMPTION 44W active PART CODE N5550 DETAILS www.thecus.com
Large les Small les

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SAGE Sage One Accounts
VERDICT
WorldMags.net
BUSINESS REVIEWS
12 inc VAT per month From www.sage.co.uk
An easy-to-use accounts service for business newcomers, but its too simple for bigger rms THE LEARNING CURVE involved in setting up and running a limited company can be steep and intimidating for those whove never done it before. Accounting software has never been particularly helpful in this regard, bombarding the hapless entrepreneur with questions about charts of accounts and year ends before theyve even raised their rst invoice. Fortunately, Sage has come up with a big improvement in Sage One Accounts an online accounts package aimed at business owners who just want to get on with doing business. Its part of a small suite of products that also include Cashbook, a cheaper service designed for the self-employed, and Payroll, which integrates with either Cashbook or Accounts and supports payments for up to 15 staff members. A free version allows accountants to access their clients data directly. The signup process for Sage One Accounts involves nothing more taxing than providing basic company details, but you can enter a year-end date if you already know it. With this done, the service is ready to use. Its web-based interface is pleasingly sparse. The initial screen displays a summary of the businesss current position, including the primary bank balance, the sales, expenses and prot to date and the top unpaid invoices. Other details are accessed via tabs that cover incoming and outgoing funds, banking and the contact details of customers and suppliers. Theres a welcome minimum of distracting text, with short, useful help provided throughout. The overall feel is one of the friendliest weve encountered. Theres also a lack of jargon that makes this far more intuitive than most accounts packages weve used. Raising an invoice,
Bank balances are the only data thats graphed in Sage One Accounts
for example, is done via the Sales tab where theres a big Create Invoice button to start the process. It couldnt be simpler.
ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Sadly, the same isnt quite true when it comes to lling in the details, as Sage One Accounts is a little stricter about data entry than rival service Xero (see Whats New, Shopper 294). While the latter simply lets you type a name when raising an invoice so you can dene the other contact details later or not at all, Accounts asks you to select an existing
Creating a sales invoice is easy, though it could be slightly more uid
contact or enter a new one in full. Its easy to do this, but we skipped entering a contacts email address, and when we later entered the email and sent the contact the invoice, a duplicate contact was created. This is a deliberately simple service, and as such it isnt suitable for more advanced or experienced users. Only ve reports are available, for example, and these cant be customised. Its also not possible for users to access or modify their chart of accounts (the detailed ledgers that keep track of how money moves in, within and out of the business), but accountants can do this. Bearing the target market in mind, both are sensible simplications. Other omissions are less welcome. While we like Sage Ones clear presentation, data is presented almost entirely as text. There are no charts or other elements to provide insight into key business indicators such as aged debtors or cashow. It also lacks the e-banking support found in many other Sage products, such as importing bank data, which can help reduce the tedium of reconciliation. Sage One Accounts does a commendable job of simplifying bookkeeping without skipping vital items. Demanding or accountsliterate users would be better served by Xeros 23-per-month Medium service, but Sage One is a cheaper and better choice for novices. Simon Handby
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Web browser PRODUCT CODE None DETAILS www.sage.co.uk
Sage One can submit VAT returns directly to HMRC
| DECEMBER 2012
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WorldMags.net Choosing a ... CHILLBLAST Nautilus

PCs
BEST BUYS
PC system
01
A basic PC costing around 350 will be capable of running everyday oce, multimedia or education software, as well as anything on the internet It wont cope with modern games, though. Many PCs are available with or without monitors; if you dont like the display that the manufacturer is offering, use your old one or choose one from our Displays section.
1,599 inc VAT www.chillblast.com
The Nautilus is the most unusual-looking PC weve ever seen. Its also beautifully made, quiet and hugely powerful, thanks to an overclocked Ivy Bridge processor. An Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 graphics card takes care of gaming, and an SSD boot disk gives snappy performance while leaving plenty of room on the 1TB hard disk for all your les.
CPU 4.2GHz Intel Core i7-3770K RAM 16GB STORAGE 120GB SSD + 1TB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 OPTICAL DRIVE BD-RE + DVD+/-RW +/-DL OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 495x192x412mm POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 81W idle, 240W active WARRANTY Two-year collect and return PART CODE Nautilus DETAILS www.chillblast.com FULL REVIEW Sep 2012
CHILLBLAST Fusion Vantage
The Fusion Vantage provides incredible PC performance thanks to an overclocked 4.8GHz i5-3570K processor, a Radeon HD 7950 graphics card and 16GB of RAM among many other items. Its faster than some overclocked i7 systems weve tested, too.
CPU 4.8GHz Intel Core i5-3570K RAM 16GB STORAGE 120GB SSD + 2TB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD 3GB AMD Radeon HD 7950 OPTICAL DRIVE BD-RE, DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 23.6in widescreen LCD OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 425x180x490mm POWER CONSUMPTION 4W standby, 80W idle, 285W active WARRANTY Two-year collect and return PART CODE Fusion Vantage DETAILS www.chillblast.com FULL REVIEW Nov 2012
999 inc VAT www.chillblast.com
If youre interested in playing games, upgrade to a decent graphics card. Mid-range cards such as the AMD Radeon HD 7770 will cope with this years games, but to play next years just as smoothly (and enjoy gorgeous graphics today) its worth upgrading to a more powerful card such as a Radeon HD 6790.
02
ORANGE AMPLIFICATION OPC
785 inc VAT www.orangeopc.com
03
All modern PCs come with at least a dual-core processor, so theyre capable of taking on most tasks. Anyone who regularly undertakes demanding tasks such as video editing and encoding should seriously consider a quad-core processor.
Iconic stage amp maker Orange has turned its hand to audio production PCs with great success. With a built-in guitar amp, dedicated sound card, 6GB of RAM, a Core i5-2500K processor that scored 101 overall in our tests and a wealth of music production software, its ideal for guitarists and songwriters. Theres even room for a dedicated graphics card if you fancy playing games between recording sessions.
CPU 3.3GHz Intel Core i5-2500K RAM 6GB STORAGE 500GB hard disk GRAPHICS CARD Intel HD Graphics 3000 OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY None OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 320x350x240mm POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 40W idle, 82W active WARRANTY One-year RTB (free extension to 18 months RTB with registration) PART CODE OPC DETAILS www.orangeamps.com FULL REVIEW Apr 2012
04
There are lots of reasons to upgrade the memory or hard disk. If youll be using your PC for gaming, video-editing or other demanding tasks, youll want 8GB of RAM and a large hard disk; 1TB should suce. Many new PCs come with SSDs, some of which work alongside a standard hard disk as the boot disk. These are smaller than normal hard disks but make your PC boot and load programs incredibly quickly.
LAPTOPS
HP Envy 6 Sleekbook
The AMD Trinity-powered Envy 6 Sleekbook from HP is a great gaming laptop for those on a tight budget. The processors powerful integrated Radeon HD 7500G graphics provide smooth frame rates in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and even the new Streetghter X Tekken was playable at high detail levels. It also has a battery life of almost nine hours for light use.
CPU 2.1GHz AMD A6-4455M RAM 6GB STORAGE 500GB hard disk GRAPHICS AMD Radeon HD 7500G OPTICAL DRIVE None DISPLAY 15.6in widescreen LCD (1,366x768) OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 19x373x252mm, 2.1kg POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby, 12W idle, 31W active WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE Envy 6 1006sa DETAILS www.hp.co.uk FULL REVIEW Nov 2012
500 inc VAT www.currys.co.uk
05
The standard connectors can be improved with extra USB ports, to which most PC gadgets attach. Some newer PCs have USB3 ports, which provide faster data transfers with supported devices. Look for a memory card reader if you have a digital camera, and make sure your cameras memory card is supported. Most new PCs at the moment come with Windows 7 Home Premium. Dont be too easily swayed by the inclusion of other software with your PC. It may be that youll never use it. Still, if you nd a PC that includes software youd otherwise pay for, youll save money if its preloaded.
ALIENWARE M17x
1,839 inc VAT http://congure.euro.dell.com
06
The Alienwares M17x gaming laptop has recently been upgraded with an Intel Ivy Bridge processor and your choice of AMD or Nvidia graphics. The addition of solid-state storage reduces startup times and the Full HD screen lets you enjoy 1080p video in all its glory. This is the next-best thing to a desktop PC.
CPU 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM RAM 8GB STORAGE 60GB SSD + 500GB hard disk GRAPHICS AMD Radeon HD 7970M OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM + DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 17.3in widescreen LCD (1,920x1,080) OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 45x410x304mm, 4.3kg POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 38W idle, 186W active WARRANTY One-year onsite PART CODE M17x DETAILS www.dell.co.uk FULL REVIEW Aug 2012
ACER Aspire V3-571
400 inc VAT www.saveonlaptops.co.uk
07
While most PCs come in cases of a fairly similar size, some have more compact mini tower or mini-PC cases. These smaller PCs are more compact so will t under your TV or on your desk, but bear in mind that they are signicantly harder to upgrade than full-size machines.
For just 400, this laptop nds the sweet spot between power and portability. It may use an older Sandy Bridge Intel processor, but its very fast in everyday applications and has an impressive battery life for a 15.6in laptop. The comfortable keyboard and great-quality screen make it a joy to work on, and the 500GB hard disk provides plenty of room for your les.
CPU 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-2450M RAM 6GB STORAGE 500GB hard disk GRAPHICS Intel HD Graphics 3000 OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL DISPLAY 15.6in widescreen LCD (1366x768) OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit DIMENSIONS 32x383x250mm, 2.6kg POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 11W idle, 23W active WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE V3-571-5246G50Makk DETAILS www.acer.co.uk FULL REVIEW Oct 2012
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DECEMBER 2012
HANDHELDS
WorldMags.net Choosing a ... GOOGLE Nexus 7

159 inc VAT https://play.google.com
BEST BUYS
The Nexus 7 is beautifully made, fast, runs the latest version of Android and has a gorgeous IPS screen. The only downsides are the lack of a microSD card slot and a 3G option, but this tablet is still astonishing value.
CPU 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 RAM 1GB STORAGE 8GB ash memory GRAPHICS Nvidia Tegra 3 DISPLAY 7in widescreen LCD (1,280x800) OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.1 DIMENSIONS 199x120x10.5mm, 340g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE ASUS-1B16-CB DETAILS www.google.com/nexus FULL REVIEW Oct 2012
TABLET
Smartphone
01
A smartphones operating system (OS) dictates its basic features and also which third-party software you can install. There are three main contenders: Apples iOS, which is found in the iPhone, Googles Android, which is used by various handset manufacturers, and Windows Phone 7, which is becoming more widespread and has replaced Symbian as Nokias smartphone operating system. Apple iOS and Google Android have the most apps available, although Windows Phone is slowly catching up.
APPLE iPad
TABLET
399 inc VAT www.apple.com/uk
The latest iPads 1,536x2,048 screen resolution makes it impossible to see individual pixels, and the displays IPS technology leads to saturated colours and great contrast. The iPad still has great battery life, too.
CPU 1GHz Apple A5X RAM 1GB STORAGE 16GB DISPLAY 9.7in IPS OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 5.1 1,536x2,048 LCD (IPS) DIMENSIONS 241x186x9mm, 652g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE iPad DETAILS www.apple.com/uk FULL REVIEW Jun 2012
ASUS Transformer Prime
TABLET
499 inc VAT www.saveonlaptopts.co.uk
Asuss top-of-the-range Android 4.0 tablet has a detachable keyboard dock that adds six hours to the battery life. It has incredible graphics and processing power, and the Super IPS screen is a delight to use.
CPU 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 RAM 1GB STORAGE 32GB GRAPHICS Nvidia Tegra 3 DISPLAY 10.1in 1,280x800 widescreen LCD (IPS) OPERATING SYSTEM Android 4.0 DIMENSIONS 180x263x 8.3mm, 586g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE TF201-1B002A DETAILS www.asus.com FULL REVIEW Apr 2012 DISPLAY 6in mono touchscreen STORAGE 1,400MB MEMORY CARD SUPPORT microSDHC eBOOK FORMATS ePub, PDF, HTML, RTF, MOBI, TXT IMAGE FORMATS BMP, TIFF, JPEG DIMENSIONS 114x10x165mm, 185g CLAIMED BATTERY LIFE One month WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE N905 DETAILS www.kobobooks.com FULL REVIEW Dec 2012 DISPLAY 6in mono touchscreen STORAGE 4,096MB MEMORY CARD SUPPORT None eBOOK FORMATS PDF, HTML, Microsoft Word, MOBI, Amazon AZW, TXT IMAGE FORMATS BMP, JPEG DIMENSIONS 172x120x10.1mm, 213g CLAIMED BATTERY LIFE Two months (wireless off) WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE B005890FUI DETAILS www.amazon.co.uk FULL REVIEW Dec 2012
KOBO eReader Touch

EREADER
80 inc VAT www.whsmith.co.uk
An intuitive touch-based interface, rich text-formatting options and social networking features make the Kobo eReader Touch a great alternative to the Kindle.
AMAZON Kindle Touch

EREADER
109 inc VAT www.amazon.co.uk
02
The Kindle Touch was a long time coming to the UK, but the touchscreen was worth the wait. It makes it much easier to buy books and organise your collection than the standard model.
PHOTOGRAPHY
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-GX1
CSC
Compact system cameras (CSCs) deliver SLR-quality photos and SLRbeating videos in pocket-size dimensions. The GX1s fast performance, elegant controls and wide choice of lenses make it our top pick.
SENSOR SIZE 16 megapixels (4,592x3,448) ZOOM 3x optical (28-84mm) LCD 3in (460,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (none) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 71x116x65mm, 413g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMC-GX1XEB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Apr 2012 SENSOR SIZE 12 megapixels (4,000x3,000) ZOOM 8x optical (28-224mm) LCD 3in (461,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (none) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 57x95x22mm, 140g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE 5270B006AA DETAILS www.canon.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jan 2012 SENSOR SIZE 10 megapixels (3,648x2,736) ZOOM 3.8x optical (24-90mm) LCD 3in (920,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (70MB internal) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 66x111x50mm, 298g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMC-LX7EB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Dec 2012 SENSOR SIZE 12 megapixels (4,000x3,000) ZOOM 26x optical (24-624mm) LCD 3in (460,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (26MB) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 107x136x155mm, 945g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE P10NC06400A DETAILS www.fujilm.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jul 2012 SENSOR SIZE 12 megapixels (4,000x3,000) ZOOM 16x optical (24-384mm) LCD 3in (460,000 pixels) STORAGE (INTERNAL) SDXC card (70MB internal) BATTERY Li-ion DIMENSIONS 61x105x34mm, 208g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMC-TZ25EB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Aug 2012
CANON Ixus 230 HS

COMPACT
All smartphones have a colour screen, but resolutions vary. Budget models have 240x320 pixels, but these can make text look indistinct. Look for a display with at least 480x800 pixels to make it easy to browse web pages on your smartphone. Dont worry too much about the built-in media players or Oce document editors you can always install apps to replace these with better versions. Cameras are common in smartphones, and resolutions have increased to as much as eight megapixels. However, the sensors and lenses cant compete with those of even budget digital cameras.
171 inc VAT www.morecomputers.com
Its not bursting with extras, but this little point-and-shoot camera takes attractive photos and videos with the minimum of fuss. It copes admirably in low light, and the 8x zoom helps to frame shots creatively.
03
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-LX7

COMPACT
399 inc VAT www.cliftoncameras.co.uk
The DMC-LX7 is a pocket-sized camera for keen photographers. Despite its size its packed full of features that enthusiasts will love, and surpasses any CSC weve seen at this price. Its our favourite premium compact camera.
Nearly all smartphones have touchscreen interfaces, and some have a physical keyboard for entering text quickly and accurately. Although physical keyboards are desirable for heavy emailing, touchscreen keyboards also work well, and Android smartphones let you install a variety of custom onscreen keyboards so you can nd the one that suits you. Be careful when choosing a mobile contract. Look for one with a large data allowance if you want to use the internet regularly or youve set your phone to synchronise your contacts, calendar and email with online services such as Googles. Built-in Wi-Fi can help you avoid high data charges by allowing you to connect to the internet using wireless hotspots, or your router when youre at home. The iPhone and Android handsets enable you to turn your phone into a wireless hotspot and connect your laptop to the internet over this connection. Bear in mind that there may be an extra charge for this.
FUJIFILM X-S1
ULTRA-ZOOM
04
494 inc VAT www.play.com
This ultra-zoom camera has lots of controls for quick access to manual settings, an outstanding electronic viewnder, fast performance and the best image quality in its class. Video capture is the only let-down.
PANASONIC DMC-TZ25
ULTRA-ZOOM
A pocket-sized camera with a big zoom is ideal for travelling, and the TZ25 is an excellent example at a competitive price. It excels for video and for continuous shooting where it can shoot and refocus ve times a second.
| DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
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WorldMags.net Choosing an ... AOC i2352Vh

DISPLAYS
BEST BUYS
HD TV
01
A 32in Full HD TV will cost around 400 and will suit smaller living rooms. TVs tend to look much smaller in the shop than they will in your home, so make sure you measure the space available before you buy. Prices increase rapidly as screens go beyond 47in.
MONITOR
123 inc VAT www.scan.co.uk
This IPS monitor has a Full HD resolution and VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs. It displays deep blacks and has very little colour cast, while its wide viewing angles and natural colour reproduction add up to impressive image quality.
SCREEN SIZE 23in widescreen RESOLUTION 1,920x 1,080 CONTRAST RATIO 1,000:1 (20,000,000:1 dynamic) BRIGHTNESS 250cd/m2 PORTS VGA, DVI, HDMI POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby, 31W on WARRANTY Three-year collect and return PART CODE i2352Vh DETAILS www.aoc-europe.com FULL REVIEW Jul 2012
SAMSUNG Series 9 S27B970D

MONITOR
800 inc VAT www.overclockers.co.uk
The S27B970D is a 27in monitor with a huge 2,560x1,440 resolution. This gives you a huge amount of room to work and makes images look fantastic. The screens image quality is superb and it looks stylish, too.
SCREEN SIZE 27in widescreen RESOLUTION 2,560x 1,440 CONTRAST RATIO 1,000:1 BRIGHTNESS 285cd/m2 PORTS DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby, 62W on WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE S27B970D DETAILS www.samsung.co.uk FULL REVIEW Oct 2012 SCREEN SIZE 27in widescreen RESOLUTION 1,920x 1,080 CONTRAST RATIO 1,000:1 (30,000,000:1 dynamic) BRIGHTNESS 300cd/m2 PORTS VGA, DVI, HDMI, POWER CONSUMPTION 36W standby, 1W on WARRANTY Three-year onsite PART CODE HL272HPB DETAILS www.hannsg.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jul 2012 NATIVE RESOLUTION 1,280x800 CONTRAST RATIO 2,000:1 RATED BRIGHTNESS 250 ANSI lumens LAMP COST (ECONOMY) N/A DIMENSIONS 32x130x126mm, 1.2kg POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 35W active WARRANTY One-year collect and return, three-year RTB PART CODE PLED-W200 DETAILS www.viewsonic.com FULL REVIEW Sep 2012 NATIVE RESOLUTION 1,024x768 CONTRAST RATIO 3,000:1 RATED BRIGHTNESS 2,600 ANSI lumens LAMP COST (ECONOMY) 0.03 (0.03) inc VAT DIMENSIONS 77x295x228mm, 2.3kg POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 231W active WARRANTY Three-year onsite (lamp one year) PART CODE V11H435041 DETAILS www.epson.co.uk FULL REVIEW May 2012
HANNSG HL272HPB
MONITOR
02
A 1,920x1,080-resolution TV will be able to display a 1080p image. You can still buy TVs with a 720p (1,366x720) resolution, but theyre no cheaper and images wont be as sharp. Even so, it can be dicult to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on smaller screens wed recommend at least a 37in model for 1080p.
The HL272HPB is a 27in monitor at a bargain price. Its controls are easy to use and it has VGA, HDMI and DVI inputs. Its contrast isnt the best weve seen, but colours are accurate.
VIEWSONIC PLED-W200
PROJECTOR
354 inc VAT www.lambda-tek.com
This miniature LED DLP projector is designed to be carried around with you. It has a variety of PC and AV video inputs, and it can display oce document les from an SD card. The image quality is also impressive.
Carefully consider the number of inputs you need for connecting all your equipment. Two HDMI ports should be the minimum, and most models come with four. Dont forget other devices, such as games consoles and PVRs, and if you have any legacy equipment, make sure your TV has enough SCART and component sockets to accommodate them. If you want to plug your PC into your TV, youll need to use either HDMI or VGA. Some TVs will only let you use a PC on an analogue input, while others wont display the Windows Desktop at the TVs highest resolution. The contrast ratio tells you the difference between how the TV displays blacks and whites. The higher the number, the darker the blacks and the lighter the whites. A screen with a high contrast ratio is also more likely to show a wider range of detail. Plasma TVs generally have much higher contrast ratios than even the best LCD TVs can manage. There are several ways to receive HD content. Sky HD has the widest selection of channels but requires a Sky HD box and a monthly fee. Both Freesat and FreeView HD bring you HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. There are no monthly subscriptions all you need is a compatible receiver. A Blu-ray player lets you watch movies.
PROJECTOR
03
EPSON EB-X11
This oce projector has a bright 2,600-lumens lamp, so its well-suited to projecting high-contrast images, charts and graphs under oce lighting. It can also accept video from a PCs USB ports.
HOME CINEMA
PANASONIC Viera TX-P50VT50
TV
1,699 inc VAT www.very.co.uk
The best TV of 2011 only gets better in 2012. Panasonic has upgraded its agship TV with superb 2D and 3D image quality, internet connectivity and more adjustment options than you could ever hope to need.
TV TYPE 3D Plasma RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 CONTRAST RATIO 6,000,000:1 native BRIGHTNESS CONNECTIONS 4x HDMI, 1x SCART, 1 component, 1x composite inputs TUNER Analogue, Freeview HD, Freesat HD POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 317W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE P50VT50 DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Aug 2012 BLU-RAY PROFILE 2.0 CONNECTIONS 1x HDMI, 1x composite, 1x stereo phono POWER CONSUMPTION 0W standby, 9W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DMP-BDT220EB DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Aug 2012
BLU-RAY PLAYER
04
PANASONIC DMP-BDT220
149 inc VAT www.dixons.co.uk
This Blu-ray player is packed with features, including 2D and 3D Blu-ray support, local and network video playback and internet connectivity. If you dont have a smart TV, this is the next best thing.
TANOY TFX 5.1

SPEAKER SET
200 inc VAT www.richersounds.com
05
For 200 the TFX 5.1 speaker set pumps out an unbelievable amount of sound power. Paired with an amplier and turned up to full, itll soon be provoking complaints from the neighbours.
SPEAKER CONFIGURATION 5.1 POWER RATING 600W RMS CONNECTIONS SATELLITES: binding posts, subwoofer: stereo phono, stereo binding posts POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 62W active WARRANTY Five-year RTB PART CODE TFX DETAILS www.tannoy.com FULL REVIEW Jul 2012 NATIVE RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 CONTRAST RATIO 5,000:1 RATED BRIGHTNESS 2 ANSI lumens LAMP COST (ECONOMY) 0.03 (0.02) inc VAT DIMENSIONS 150x330x247mm, 3.6kg POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 225W active WARRANTY One-year collect and return, twoyear RTB (lamp 12 months or 2,000 hours) PART CODE 9H.J5777.27E DETAILS www.benq.co.uk FULL REVIEW Mar 2012 INPUTS 2x HDMI, 1x stereo phono, 1x optical S/PDIF OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x composite, POWER CONSUMPTION 73W on, 0W standby WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE BH7420P DETAILS www.lg.co.uk FULL REVIEW Oct 2012
BENQ W1060
PROJECTOR
This is one of the cheapest DLP projectors weve tried that can project 1080p images without signicant rainbow artefacts. If youre on a budget, its one of the best ways to bring the big screen home.
06
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HOME CINEMA SYSTEM
LG BH7420P
Extra features, such as a network port, can be worth paying for as they may allow you to access online content, as well as media from a DLNA or UPnP server on your network.
Powerful yet rened, and packed with extensive connectivity and Smart TV features, LGs all-in-one home cinema system is perfect for anyone who wants an easy way to improve their movie-watching experience.
WorldMags.net
DECEMBER 2012
MP3 PLAYER
WorldMags.net Choosing a ... APPLE iPod Touch 32GB (4th Generation)

AUDIO
210 inc VAT www.argos.co.uk
BEST BUYS
Two cameras, a 640x960 touchscreen and a mic for video and VoIP calling supplement top-notch audio and video playback in Apples agship MP3 player, while the interface and app support are second to none.
STORAGE 32GB ash memory DISPLAY 31/2in 640x960 resolution LCD AUDIO SUPPORT AAC, Protected AAC, Wav, MP3 VIDEO SUPPORT MPEG4 MP4 IMAGE SUPPORT BMP, TIFF, JPEG INTERFACES USB DIMENSIONS 58.9x7.2x111mm, 101g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE A1367 DETAILS www.apple.com FULL REVIEW Dec 2010
Camcorder
IN-EAR HEADPHONES
SOUNDMAGIC E10
25 inc VAT www.iheadphones.co.uk
These reasonably priced earplug-style headphones sound loud, clear and balanced, with rich bass tones and plenty of natural character. Theyre a great buy if you add a 10 set of T-400 sound-isolating ear tips.
CONNECTION 3.5mm stereo jack plug CABLE LENGTH 1.20m IMPEDENCE 16 ohms WEIGHT 11g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE E10-BKRD DETAILS www.soundmagic.com.cn FULL REVIEW Apr 2012
PHILIPS Fidelio DS3020

IPOD DOCK
78 inc VAT www.viking-direct.co.uk
Despite its compact size, this mid-priced iPod docks clear and balanced sound makes it a pleasure to listen to. You can also run it off batteries, connect it to your PC and use an app to stream radio.
SPEAKER CONFIGURATION 2.0 POWER RATING 8W RMS CONNECTIONS 3.5mm stereo, USB inputs, iPod dock POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 3W active WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE DS3020 DETAILS www.philips.co.uk FULL REVIEW Sep 2011 CONNECTION 3.5mm stereo jack plug CABLE LENGTH 1.50m WEIGHT 138g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE CS-HP600 DETAILS www.cresyn.com FULL REVIEW December 2012
MIDI CONTROLLER
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Traktor Kontrol S4
If you want to shoot simple home movies, you should get a basic ash memory camcorder, which should cost around 140. It will produce decent results in most lighting conditions. Check the battery life, which should preferably provide at least 90 minutes of power.
01
The Traktor Kontrol S4 provides everything you need to mix different tracks, create live remixes and connect other audio equipment. It also comes with the full version of the excellent Traktor Pro 2.5 software.
02
AUDIO INTERFACE
ARCAM rPAC
This USB audio processor may lack traditional sound card features, but if youre after unparalleled stereo sound for the best possible reproduction of high-quality audio les, its exactly what you need.
DAC Texas Instruments Burr-Brown PCM5102 MAX SAMPLE RATE 96kHz MAX BIT DEPTH 24-bit SOUND OUTPUT stereo PORTS 3.5mm headphone out, stereo phono out SIZE 25x62x100mm WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE rPAC DETAILS www.arcam.co.uk FULL REVIEW Oct 2011
VIDEO
PANASONIC HC-X900
CAMCORDER
This camcorder feels well balanced and delivers fantastic image quality and colour reproduction thanks to its 3MOS sensor, Hybrid OIS image stabiliser and Full HD resolution. Its touchscreen is clear, informative and responsive.
SENSOR 3x 1/4.1in CMOS STORAGE SDXC ZOOM 12x optical DISPLAY 3,050,000-pixel, 31/2in LCD PC CONNECTIONS Mini HDMI out, Mini USB AV INTERFACES AV out DIMENSIONS 67x72x150mm, 482g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE HC-X900EB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW May 2012 SENSOR 1/2.88in CMOS STORAGE SD/SDHC/SDXC ZOOM 10x optical DISPLAY 6,650,000-pixel, 3in LCD PC CONNECTIONS Mini HDMI out, Mini USB AV INTERFACES AV out, 3.5mm microphone input, 3.5mm audio output DIMENSIONS 74x68x138mm, 645g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE HDR-CX730E/B DETAILS www.sony.co.uk FULL REVIEW Sep 2012 SENSOR 3x 1/4.1in CMOS STORAGE SDXC ZOOM 12x optical DISPLAY 3,050,000-pixel, 3in LCD PC CONNECTIONS Mini HDMI out, Mini USB AV INTERFACES AV out DIMENSIONS 26x52x86.3mm, 460g WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE HC-X800EB-K DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jun 2012 CONNECTIONS 1x stereo RCA output, 1x optical S/PDIF output, 1x HDMI output AUDIO SUPPORT WMA, AAC, Ogg, Wav, MP3, AIF, AIFF, AC3, FLAC VIDEO SUPPORT MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, WMV9, XviD, DivX, VC-1, FLV, F4V, M4V, TS, AVI, MKV, MOV, M2TS, MP4, DAT, MPG, MPEG, VOB, TP, ISO, IFO, ASF, DVR-MS POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 12W on WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE DSM-380 DETAILS www.dlink.co.uk FULL REVIEW Apr 2012 CONNECTIONS 1x optical S/PDIF output, 1x HDMI output, 1x composite output AUDIO SUPPORT WMA, AAC, Ogg, Wav, MP3, FLAC, MKA, AIF VIDEO SUPPORT MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, APC, H.264, x.264, AVC, VC-1, XVID, AVI, MPG, MPEG, VOB, MKV, TS, TP, M2T, MP4, MOV, M2TS, WMV9, FLV POWER CONSUMPTION 6W standby, 6W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE WDBGXT0000NBK DETAILS www.wdc.com FULL REVIEW Apr 2012
Most camcorders are described as being HD, but this is no guanantee of image quality. You should ignore the number of pixels the sensor has, and concentrate on the size of the sensor itself. The smallest sensors are usually 16in and go up in fractions to around in. A larger sensor improves video quality and enables you to shoot better footage in poor lighting conditions. An alternative, commonly used by Panasonic, is a camcorder that uses three small sensors instead of one large one to produce excellent image quality. Most camcorders rely on ash memory or memory cards to store your video. Many manufacturers make a range of near-identical models, although the more expensive ones have additional ash memory built in. Generally speaking, its cheaper to buy the card-only version of the camera and a couple of 16GB memory cards than to invest in a model with built-in ash memory. DVD and hard disk camcorders are out of date and will probably be discontinued models.
03
SONY CX730E
CAMCORDER
The CX730E camcorders high-resolution touchscreen monitor is clear and responsive, and it also has a digital viewnder should you prefer to use it. Its SteadyShot optical stabilisation makes footage extremely smooth.
PANASONIC HC-X800
CAMCORDER
This camcorder doesnt have a viewnder or microphone output, but it has the same high-quality 3MOS sensor as the more expensive HC-X900 and the same ultra-smooth Hybrid OIS image stabilisation system.
04
MEDIA STREAMER
D-LINK Boxee Box
If youre planning to shoot something more than just a family holiday, youll want extra features. A good manual focus control allows for more exible camerawork, while an accessory shoe and microphone input lets you use an external microphone, improving audio quality greatly. If youre really serious about lm-making then buying a few additional accessories will make all the difference to the results. A tripod will improve your footage more than splashing out on a big sensor would. Spare batteries are essential for longer shoots, and some decent video-editing software will help you to produce a more polished result.
This media streamer has an attractive interface that is easy to use. You can view BBC iPlayer or Channel 4s 4oD catch-up TV service, among others. Its remote control makes it easy to browse the interface.
05
MEDIA STREAMER
WESTERN DIGITAL WD TV Live
The WD TV Live media streamer supports a variety of media formats and can output video at resolutions up to 1080p. Its interface is intuitive, and you can even control it with iOS and Android apps.
| DECEMBER 2012
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WorldMags.net Choosing a ... SAMSUNG ML-3710ND

PRINTERS AND SCANNERS
MONO LASER DOCUMENT SCANNER
BEST BUYS
Wireless router
A basic wireless router will cost around 40. Even budget routers offer 802.11n technology now, but they dont have as many features as their more expensive counterparts. It wont have a built-in modem, so youll have to use it with a broadband modem that has an Ethernet port. For this price, you can also get 150Mbit/s N-lite routers. These have fewer antennas but are often as fast as 802.11n devices in practice. You can expect a transfer speed of around 30Mbit/s at a distance of 10m from any modern 802.11n router. The very latest routers adhere to the faster 802.11ac standard, but these are currently rare.
182 inc VAT www.misco.co.uk
The ML-3710ND mono laser is rated to print up to 80,000 pages each month and has low running costs, so it should be ideal for even a busy oce. We couldnt fault its text prints, although graphics arent its forte.
MAXIMUM RESOLUTION 1,200dpi MAXIMUM SPEED 35ppm INTERFACES USB, 10/100/1000 Ethernet DIMENSIONS 253x366x368mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 3W idle, 980W active WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE ML-3710ND/SEE DETAILS www.samsung.co.uk FULL REVIEW Dec 2011
CANON ImageFormula P-215
01
This portable A4 scanner is perfect for mobile workers who need to capture multi-page documents. You can load a stack of paper, press the button and quickly turn a document into a PDF with searchable text.
SCANNER TYPE CIS OPTICAL RESOLUTION 600dpi COLOUR OUTPUT 24-bit INTERFACES USB DIMENSIONS 40x285x95mm WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE 5608B003 DETAILS www.canon.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jun 2012
EPSON WorkForce Pro WP-4535 DWF

INKJET MFP
This inkjet MFP has a full set of business-friendly features, including a fax. Its fast and produces great plain-paper prints, and its copies and scans are excellent. It also has lower running costs than a laser.
MAXIMUM RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi QUOTED SPEEDS 16ppm mono/11ppm colour SCAN RESOLUTION 1,200x1,200dpi INTERFACES USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 801.11n wireless DIMENSIONS 341x460x420mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 3W idle, 22W active WARRANTY Oneyear onsite PART CODE C11CB30301BY DETAILS www.epson-europe.com FULL REVIEW Dec 2011 MAXIMUM RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi QUOTED SPEEDS 16ppm mono/11ppm colour SCAN RESOLUTION 1,200x1,200dpi INTERFACES USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 801.11n wireless DIMENSIONS 341x460x420mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 3W idle, 22W active WARRANTY Oneyear onsite PART CODE C11CB30301BY DETAILS www.epson-europe.com FULL REVIEW Jun 2012 MAXIMUM RESOLUTION 5,760x1,440dpi QUOTED SPEEDS 40ppm mono/40ppm colour SCAN RESOLUTION 2,400x4,800dpi INTERFACES USB, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11n wireless DIMENSIONS 150x445x458mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 5W idle, 34W active WARRANTY One- year RTB PART CODE C11CB18301 DETAILS www.epson.co.uk FULL REVIEW Mar 2012
EPSON AcuLaser C1750N

COLOUR LASER
130 inc VAT www.pixmania.co.uk
The AcuLaser C1750N colour laser is designed for light personal use, and is cheap to run. Printing 67 mono and 33 colour pages a month for three years will cost you just 325, and the print quality is great.
INKJET MFP
02
EPSON Stylus Photo PX730WD
WIRELESS ROUTER
If you have ADSL broadband, you should buy a wireless router with a built-in ADSL modem. It will cost more than the equivalent cable router, but it lets you connect your router directly to your broadband connection without using a separate modem. ADSL2+ modems support broadband connections up to 24Mbit/s with an appropriate ISP.
This inkjet MFP is aimed at creative users. Its six-ink print engine excels at printing photos and it has a quick scanner, which captures brilliantly detailed images and helps to make good-quality copies.
NETWORKS
AVM Fritz!Box 7390
03
Most 802.11n wireless routers use the 2.4GHz frequency. This has good range but can be prone to interference if its near a lot of other 2.4GHz devices, such as other routers and baby monitors. If you have trouble getting a consistent wireless signal or you want faster transfer speeds for video streaming, its worth buying a dual-band router that can use both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Alternatively, a high-gain antenna can boost signals and improve ranges and throughputs to the whole house. You can also add a high-gain antenna to a PCs network adaptor. If wired network speeds are a priority, look for a router with Gigabit Ethernet.
The Fritz!Box 7390 ADSL2 router combines wireless internet access with NAS storage and USB printer support. It broadcasts on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously and has a brilliant built-in web interface.
ADSL WIRELESS ROUTER 802.11n dual band (300Mbit/s), 4x 10/100/1,000Mbit/s LAN ports, 1x WAN port (ADSL2+ modem), UPnP, QoS POWER CONSUMPTION 9W on PART CODE 20002484 DETAILS www.fritzbox.eu FULL REVIEW Jun 2011
POWERLINE PLUG
SOLWISE Piggy HomePlug adaptor
31 inc VAT www.solwise.co.uk
This HomePlug adaptor lets you network your PC using your home or oces electric cabling without using up a mains socket. Its rated at 500Mbit/s, and we saw fast transfer rates of 139Mbit/s.
NUMBER OF ADAPTORS 1 Homeplug Standard (Speed) HomePlug AV (500Mbit/s) PORTS 1x 10/100/1,000Mbit/s Ethernet ports POWER SOCKETS 2 DIMENSIONS 62x42x116mm POWER CONSUMPTION 3W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE NET-PL-500AV-PIGGY DETAILS www.solwise.co.uk FULL REVIEW Nov 2011 WIRELESS STANDARD 802.11n dual band (450Mbit/s) CONNECTIONS 4x 10/100/1,000Mbit/s LAN ports, 1x WAN port FEATURES UPnP, QoS DIMENSIONS 31x223x153 POWER CONSUMPTION 6W on WARRANTY Two-year RTB PART CODE WNDR4000-100UKS DETAILS www.netgear.co.uk FULL REVIEW Aug 2011 WIRELESS STANDARD 802.11ac dual band (1,300Mbit/s) CONNECTIONS 4x 10/100/1,000Mbit/s LAN ports, 1x WAN port FEATURES UPnP, QoS DIMENSIONS 210x255x40mm POWER CONSUMPTION 12W on WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE R6300-100UKS DETAILS www.netgear.co.uk FULL REVIEW Nov 2012 WIRELESS STANDARD 802.11n CONNECTIONS 1x 10/100Mbit/s LAN port PART CODE WNCE2001 DETAILS www.netgear.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jul 2012
WIRELESS ROUTER
NETGEAR WNDR4000
This dual-band router broadcasts on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. It also allows you to use connected USB devices as NAS storage so they can be used over your network, too.
WIRELESS ROUTER
04
Many routers have built-in USB ports that let you connect a USB drive and use the router as a network storage device. If you want to share a USB printer on your network, look for a wireless router with a USB print server. Alternatively, you can add a dedicated wireless print server later. Finally, if youre interested in making voice calls over the internet, look for a router with built-in VoIP support (and phone sockets) because this can save you money.
NETGEAR R6300
This 802.11ac dual-band router is the fastest weve ever tested, transferring data at an astonishing 280Mbit/s. Its Wi-Fi signal covers a wide area and its easy to set up. Its perfect for home cinema, gaming and oce setups.
WIRELESS BRIDGE
NETGEAR WNCE2001
This wireless adaptor provides Wi-Fi connectivity to smart TVs, Sky boxes and other devices with an Ethernet port. It only works on the 2.4GHz band, but it produced fast data rates that let us stream HD movies.
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DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net Choosing an ... CRUCIAL Adrenaline

STORAGE
SSD CACHE
BEST BUYS
This clever SSD cache works alongside your existing hard disk, so you get the speed boost of an SSD with the full capacity of a mechanical hard disk. Its a brilliant upgrade for any PC.
CAPACITY 50GB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 46GB INTERFACE SATA3 NOISE WHEN IDLE None WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE CT050M4SSC2BDA DETAILS www.crucial.co.uk FULL REVIEW Jul 2012
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
SSD
The Vertex 4 solid-state drive is extremely quick when writing both small and large les. Its not the quickest drive for reading les, but its excellent value at just 78p per gigabyte.
CAPACITY 256GB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 238GB INTERFACE SATA3 WARRANTY Five-year RTB PART CODE VTX4-25SAT3-256G DETAILS www.ocztechnology.com FULL REVIEW Sep 2012
Internal hard disk

A basic 500GB internal hard disk should cost around 40. Its fast enough for general use and provides enough storage space for an average user. Make sure you get the interface type that matches your PC. Most disks are SATA2, but some newer models have the faster SATA3 interface, for which youll need a SATA3-equipped motherboard. SATA3 disks will work with SATA2 ports but wont transfer les as quickly.
01
CORSAIR Force GS 240GB
SSD
This SSD produces excellent speeds for relatively little cost. It isnt as fast as the pricier Ultimate-award-winning Performance Series Pro, but we saw excellent transfer speeds for both large and small le transfers.
CAPACITY 240GB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 223 INTERFACE SATA3 WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE CSSD-F240GBGS-BK DETAILS www.corsair.co.uk FULL REVIEW Nov 2012 STORAGE None as standard CONNECTIONS 10/100/1,000Mbit/s Ethernet, 3x USB ports EXTRAS UPnP media, iTunes, print, USB disk, web, FTP servers WARRANTY Two-year RTB DIMENSIONS 165x100x225mm POWER CONSUMPTION 11W standby, 24W active PART CODE DS212j DETAILS www.synology.com FULL REVIEW Apr 2011 CAPACITY 1TB FORMATTED CAPACITY (NTFS) 931GB INTERFACE SATA2 SPINDLE SPEED 7,200rpm CACHE 32MB SEEK TIME 8.9ms NOISE WHEN IDLE 25dB(A) WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE HD103SJ DETAILS www.samsung.co.uk FULL REVIEW Oct 2009
SYNOLOGY DiskStation DS212j
NAS
160 inc VAT www.ebuyer.com
With its Linux GUI-style interface and wide range of features, this NAS device is one of the easiest to use and most feature-packed on the market. Simply add your own hard disks, and youre ready to go.
SAMSUNG SpinPoint F3 1TB

HARD DISK
02
It may be relatively old, but this is still the best-value hard disk you can buy, and 1TB of storage is plenty for all but the biggest le hoarders. If you want the capacity of a mechanical disk at a good price, the SpinPoint F3 is ideal.
SOFTWARE
Normal hard disks arent fast enough to take full advantage of SATA3, but solid-state disks (SSDs) can use the extra bandwidth for faster le transfers. SSDs, which use ash memory similar to that found in USB ash drives, have less capacity than mechanical hard disks and are more expensive, but are signicantly faster.
ADOBE Photoshop Elements 10

IMAGE EDITING
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP (SP2)/Vista/7, 1.6GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 3GB disk space DETAILS www.adobe.com/uk FULL REVIEW Dec 2011
This is the most famous consumer photo-editing package and also the best. Whether you want to give your photos a simple tweak or perform some advanced editing, Photoshop Elements 10 is the package for you.
OPERATING SYSTEM
CANONICAL Ubuntu 12.04
FREE www.ubuntu.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 700MHz processor, 385MB RAM, 5GB hard disk space DETAILS www.ubuntu.com FULL REVIEW Aug 2012
Buy a hard disk that offers the capacity youll need, but aim to leave a little breathing room, as youll always need more storage. A 1TB disk strikes the best balance between capacity and low cost per gigabyte, but in general you should aim to buy the largest disk you can afford. If you want more disk space or you want to protect your data, think about buying several hard disks to create a RAID array. These use multiple hard disks to create one large logical disk with better performance, or to duplicate your data for better protection. RAID arrays require hard disks of the same size. Technically, they can be from different manufacturers, but try to get identical disks if you can. A hard disks spindle speed governs how quickly the disk can transfer data. A spindle speed of 7,200rpm is common in desktop drives and fast enough for most purposes. Desktop hard disks with 5,400rpm spindle speeds are quite slow, but they use less power and generate less heat and noise, so they could be a good choice if youre building a small, quiet PC. For the ultimate in speed, make your boot disk an SSD and store your les on a larger, less expensive mechanical disk.
03
This free operating system is the best version yet. Canonical has made Ubuntu easier than ever to use, making it a credible rival to Windows. Unlike Microsofts operating system, itll run well on old computers.
04
SERIF PagePlus X6
DTP
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP or later, 512MB RAM, 566MB hard disk space DETAILS www.serif.com FULL REVIEW Apr 2012
This desktop-publishing application gives you full control over the layout and appearance of all your documents. Its great value, and a big improvement over the previous version.
ACRONIS TrueImage Home 2012
BACKUP
Windows backup is a good entry-level tool, but this full suite provides image-based backups for a complete copy of your PC, including the OS, programs and les, and incremental backups for daily use.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP/Vista/7/ Home Server 2011, 1GB RAM, 120MB hard disk space, 1GHz processor DETAILS www.acronis.co.uk FULL REVIEW Mar 2012
05
XARA Photo & Graphic Designer MX 2013

GRAPHICS
69 inc VAT www.xara.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP/Vista/7, 700MHz processor, 500MB RAM, 300MB hard disk DETAILS www.xara.com/uk FULL REVIEW Dec 2012
This extremely fast and versatile design suite can turn its hand to vector drawing, photo editing, desktop publishing and even simple Flash animations. Given the price, it really is an excellent buy.
| DECEMBER 2012
WorldMags.net
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WorldMags.net Choosing a ... INTEL Core i7-3770K

COMPONENTS
PROCESSOR
BEST BUYS
PROCESSOR
Graphics card
The new Ivy Bridge processors have a smaller 22nm process and improved graphics hardware. They can apply Turbo Boost for longer than previous Sandy Bridge processors, improving performance in intensive applications.
CORES Four CLOCK SPEED 3.5GHz SOCKET LGA1155 CACHE 4x 256KB L2, 8128KB L3 TDP 77W WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE i7-3770K DETAILS www.intel.com FULL REVIEW Jul 2012
AMD A8-3850
The top of AMDs range of Llano desktop processors isnt as quick as the Intel competition but it can play modern games at medium-detail settings without requiring a separate graphics card. Its also very well priced.
CORES Four CLOCK SPEED 2.9GHz SOCKET FM1 CACHE 4x 1024KB L2 TDP 100W WARRANTY One-year RTB PART CODE A8-3850 DETAILS www.amd.com FULL REVIEW Sep 2011
INTEL MOTHERBOARD
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro
01
AMD MOTHERBOARD
A basic graphics card such as an AMD Radeon HD 6450 will cost around 30. It can support two monitors at high resolutions, which means you can easily add a second monitor to your PC and have lots of room on the Windows Desktop to play with. This kind of setup is ideal if you regularly use two applications at once.
The P8Z77-V motherboard is designed to work with Intels latest Ivy Bridge processors. Its loaded with expansion options and has a full complement of video outputs on the rear. The boards performance is impressive, too.
PROCESSOR SOCKET LGA1155 CHIPSET Intel Z77 Express MEMORY SLOTS 4x DDR3 1066/1333/1600 EXPANSION 3x PCI Express x16 slots, 1x PCI Express 1x slots, 1x PCI slots,4x SATA2 ports, 4x SATA3 ports WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE P8Z77-V Pro DETAILS www.asus.com FULL REVIEW Aug 2012 PROCESSOR SOCKET FM1 CHIPSET AMD A75 MEMORY SLOTS 4x DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600(OC)/18 66(OC)/2250(OC) EXPANSION 2x PCI Express x16 slots, 2x PCI Express x1 slots, 3x PCI slots, 6x SATA3 ports WARRANTY Three-year RTB warranty PART CODE F1A75-V PRO DETAILS www.asus.com FULL REVIEW May 2012 CHIPSET Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti CORE SPEED 915MHz RAM 2GB GDDR5 (1.50GHz) WARRANTY Three-year RTB PART CODE GF660IGTX2GEPB DETAILS www.pny.com FULL REVIEW Dec 2012
ASUS F1A75-V Pro
02
Youll need to spend more money if you want to play games, as the card above isnt powerful enough to play the latest 3D titles. Look for a card with at least an AMD Radeon HD 6770 chipset. High-powered cards tend to be more expensive, so expect to pay around 100 if you want to play games at 1,920x1,080 at high-quality settings. You should also check that the card has the graphics outputs you need. Only low-end cards now have VGA outputs, but most come with a DVI-to-VGA adaptor. Depending on your monitor, you may also want an HDMI output or even DisplayPort. Bear in mind that AMDs Eyenity triplemonitor gaming mode requires at least one DisplayPort monitor, but you can buy DisplayPort-to-DVI adaptors for around 20. Nvidias Surround three-monitor mode needs only DVI and HDMI ports. The amount of memory is important if you want games to look their best at high resolutions. If possible, get a card with 2GB of RAM this should allow you to select the highest quality textures in games. The size, noise and power of a card are the nal considerations. Make sure your PCs case is big enough to accommodate your chosen card. Cards with large fans and double-slot designs tend to be quieter than single-slot cards with small fans but will block expansion ports on your motherboard. Check how much power the card draws and make sure your power supply has the right power connectors. Many cards require a six-pin PCI Express power connector, and some also need an additional eight-pin connector.
This socket FM1 motherboard is designed to work with AMDs Llano processors. It has all the features and expansion options you could need, as well as comprehensive overclocking options and excellent performance.
PNY GeForce 660 Ti

GRAPHICS CARD
236 inc VAT www.dabs.com
This incarnation of the GeForce 660Ti delivered frame rates of 41fps in our Crysis 2 benchmark at Ultra settings, so itll play any modern game. It has plenty of power, plenty of memory and a great price, making it a Best Buy.
03
GAMES
DIABLO III
38 inc VAT www.zavvi.com
After more than a decades absence, this classic RPG series returns with Diablo III. The game looks great and is incredibly addictive, whether you play it alone or online with friends.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2.8GHz processor or higher, 1GB RAM, Nvidia 7800GT/AMD Radeon X1950 or higher, 12GB hard disk space DETAILS www.diablo3.com FULL REVIEW Aug 2012
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
Arkham City is the evolution of possibly the best Batman game ever made. Letting the caped crusader loose in an open-world Gotham was an inspired decision, and ensures that every minute of gameplay is an absolute riot.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP/Vista/7, 2.5GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM, 17.5GB hard disk space, Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 or ATI Radeon HD 6850 with 768MB+ RAM DETAILS http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com FULL REVIEW Mar 2012
04
MINECRAFT
17 inc VAT www.minecraft.net
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, Intel HD graphics or better DETAILS www.minecraft.net FULL REVIEW Apr 2012
An unbelievably simple concept, well executed and incredibly popular, Minecraft is the denition of a gaming phenomenon. You absolutely have to try it if youve missed out so far.
05
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION
The original Deus Ex is arguably one of the best games ever made, so its a huge compliment to say that Human Revolution is a worthy sequel. Its an excellent blend of action, stealth and story.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS WIndows XP/Vista/7, 2GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 8000 series/ATi Radeon HD 2000 series or higher, 8.5GB disk space DETAILS www.deusex.com FULL REVIEW Nov 2011
ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
The fth instalment of Elder Scrolls (or Skyrim) is an absorbing tale of adventure and exploration that opens a world of possibilities. Every player experiences Skyrim in a different way what will your story be?
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP/Vista/7, dual-core 2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 6GB disk space, DirectX 9 graphics card with 512MB RAM, internet connection DETAILS www.elderscrolls.com/skyrim FULL REVIEW Feb 2012
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w Available no
STYLE
ULTIMATE MONITOR
for iPod/iPhone-Fans
The AOC myStage monitor is an intelligent display providing the Apple fan community with the ability to listen to music or view their pictures, videos and YouTube content from numerous iPhone and iPod devices on a stylish 23 (58.5 cm) monitor, with or without the need for a PC. Connect a PC to synchronise music, downloads and ofce applications or simply work on your PC applications and listen to great music through the powerful 5 W in-built speakers. A complete multimedia solution for Apple users.
Easy accessible menu/buttons Stylish design with 1.29 cm prole Dock your iPhone/ iPod directly into the socket
Monitor specication : e2343Fi, 23 LED backlight monitor, 50,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 5 ms response time Connections : VGA, HDMI connection, audio input, audio output, USB 2.0, iPhone docking station
www.aoc-europe.com
iPod and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. WorldMags.net
COVER GIFT GUIDE
Cover gift guide

Your free gifts are now even easier to enjoy. Just download all the software at www.computershopperdisc.co.uk/december and register with your unique coupon code
WorldMags.net
Ashampoo Slideshow Studio 2012

WEVE ALL GOT massive collections of digital photos sitting on our computer. But what do you do if you really want to show off some of your favourites to wow your friends and family? Luckily, Ashampoo Slideshow Studio 2012 is there to help free your photos from your computer. This easy-to-use software lets you drag in collections of photos and create stunning automated slideshows. You can choose your own opening and closing credits, so your audience knows exactly what theyre about to watch. A choice of picture transitions lets you dene exactly how one image turns into the next one, allowing you to vary the look and feel of each slideshow and image to keep people interested in your photos. Background music helps in this regard, too, letting you add ambient music to the results to DVD, so you can view your photos on your mix so you can set the mood and feel for each slideshow. TV using a regular DVD player. If youve got friends and You neednt worry that people wont be able to family that cant be with you, you can tell whats going on in a particular picture simply send them a copy of the disc you can add comments and subtitles to SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, Vista or 7, 30MB hard disk space so they can watch in their own time. each image, so your audience can get INFORMATION www.ashampoo.com All Ashampoos controls are easy extra information about each picture. REGISTRATION Follow the instructions to use, so youll be able to create Once youve completed your within the application engaging slideshows in no time. masterpiece, youll be able to burn the
GETTING STARTED
Insert the disc into your optical drive. If the Computer Shopper browser does not start automatically, double-click the icon. To install a program from the browser, follow the onscreen instructions.
ANY PROBLEMS?
If you need help with your cover disc, please visit www.computershopper.co.uk and check the Cover Disc forum in the IT forums section.
DEFECTIVE DISCS
AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro 5.1

GETTING YOUR HARD disk set up the way you want is really straightforward with AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro Edition 5.1. This easy-to-use application lets you take complete control of your hard disks partitions, organising your storage the way you want it. Basic features allow you to create and format partitions on a new hard disk, as youd expect. If you already have a running hard disk, more advanced tools let you recongure your storage, so you can copy, resize, merge and split existing partitions to organise your hard disk the way you want it. These features may sound complicated, but AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro Edition makes them easy to use. Just choose a partition, and the Partition Operations panel will show you exactly what you can do all you need to do is select a function. The only thing that you miss out on with this software is the ability to undelete a partition, so youll need to make sure youve backed up all your data before you make any changes to your hard disk. Whether you want to install multiple operating systems,
If your disc is physically defective, please return it to the following address, enclosing your name and address: Dovetail Services, 800 Guillat Avenue, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU. Please enclose stamps to the value of 38p to cover postage and packing.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
These discs have been thoroughly tested at all stages of their production. Dennis Publishing Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system that may occur while using either the discs or the programs and data on them. Due to restrictions on the distribution of certain software and selected offers undertaken by Computer Shopper or Dennis Publishing, please also note that readers outside the UK will only receive selected cover gifts.
recongure your storage to have a backup partition or simply split your data storage from your Windows installation, AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro 5.1 is the truly easy way to take control of your storage.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, Vista or 7, 50MB hard disk space INFORMATION www.novapdf.com REGISTRATION Get your registration code at http://aomei.disc.expertreviews.co.uk
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Chat and Communication
Digsby Build 92 Access all your instant messaging services from a single application; support for Windows Live!, Yahoo!, AIM, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber. UPDATED Evernote 4.5 Store your notes, ideas and plans in the cloud and synchronise them between computers. UPDATED Mozilla Thunderbird 15 Final A powerful email client from the organisation better known for the Firefox web browser.
COVER GIFT GUIDE
Resources
Postbox Express 1 An email client that provides a comprehensive array of tools to help you manage your messages more easily. Skype for Windows 5.10 Make internet voice and video calls for free. You can also buy credit to make calls to mobiles and landlines. Trillian 5.1 Use all your instant messaging accounts with one application includes support for Windows Live!, AIM, Yahoo! and Google.
Customisation
UPDATED 7 Taskbar Tweaker Customise the Windows 7 taskbar so that it works to your liking. Metro UI Tweaker for Windows 8 Tweak the new user interface for the Windows 8 beta version. Mosaic Desktop Beta 1 Refresh Add Windows 8s mosaic-tiled Desktop to your computer without having to upgrade.
Rainmeter 2.3 Cover your computer desktop with your choice of information, tools and shortcuts. Windows 8 Transformation Pack 5 Emulate the look of Windows 8 on an earlier version of the operating system. UPDATED Windows 8 UX Pack 5.0 Give Windows 7 an interface upgrade so it looks like Windows 8.
General
UPDATED Free Studio 5.7 This software provides an easy way to convert your video and audio les into different formats. Paragon Partition Manager 12 Create, format, split, merge and re-organise your hard disks partitions. UPDATED PeaZip 4.7 A powerful archivemanagement tool.
Screenshot Captor 3.08 Create and manage screenshots the easy way. UPDATED SUMo 3.4 Quickly scan your PCs installed applications and nd any updates available for them. ZipGenius 6.3 A exible le-compression tool with support for a huge number of compressed le formats.
Internet and Network

CrossLoop Free 2.82 Control another computer remotely over the internet, and even charge for the time you spend xing a problem. Cyberduck 4.1 A very powerful but easyto-use FTP client. Easy WiFi 4 Find free Wi-Fi hotspots while youre out and about with the help of this free tool and its comprehensive database. LogMeIn Free 4.1 Control your PC over the internet for free, wherever you are. UPDATED NetBalancer 5.2 Make the most of your internet connection by assigning download and upload priorities to your web applications. Vuze 4.7 A powerful BitTorrent client that makes it very easy to locate, share and download les.
Tweaking and Performance

UPDATED CCleaner 3.2 Remove unwanted information, temporary les, browsing history, huge log les and even the settings left behind by uninstalled software. Defraggler 2.10 Ensure that your system is defragmented and improve its performance. Finestra Virtual Desktops 2.5 Set up four or more virtual desktops on your PC so you can organise the way you work.
IObit Advanced SystemCare 5.4 A complete computer security, maintenance and optimisation suite. Revo Uninstaller Free 1.94 Remove installed applications completely, including all their folders, system les and Registry entries. Simple Performance Boost 0.9 Tweak the Windows Registry to give your PC a performance boost.
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REVIEWS
How we test
COMPUTER SHOPPERS REVIEWS use some of the most exhaustive testing procedures youll nd in any PC magazine. Every product is subjected to qualitative and quantitative tests that show how it performs in practical use. Graphs for performance, battery life scores and costs are used in the Reviews section, as shown on the right. Look in the Summary of tests box (below) for details on each test we run. For PCs and laptops, we evaluate performance using our own custom benchmarking suite. See below for a brief description of our benchmarking software and game tests.
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Find out how well products perform with the help of Computer Shoppers comprehensive tests
Bigger is better for all bars except the red ones, which show running costs
Mono page Colour page Draft speed Normal speed

0% -50
2.2p 6.7p 11ppm 12ppm

Reference
+50 +100
The actual scores in each test are shown inside each bar
A product hitting the +100 per cent mark performed twice as well as our reference
This line represents the performance of a reference product in each test. All graphs for components and systems are relative to our reference PC (see below for specications)
SUMMARY OF TESTS
PC SYSTEMS Windows overall Average speed across numerous demanding tasks Multitasking Speed when running simultaneous applications Dirt 3 Frames per second at 1,920x1,080 4xAA, Ultra detail Crysis 2 Frames per second at 1,920x1,080, Ultra detail LAPTOPS Windows overall Average speed across numerous demanding tasks Multitasking Processor-intensive multitasking test Dirt 3 Frames per second at 1,280x720 4xAA, High detail Battery life Run time in minutes for web browser use HANDHELDS/PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYERS/TABLETS Battery life Run time in minutes for continuous video playback PRINTERS AND MFPS Draft speed Pages per minute for draft-quality inkjet text Normal speed Pages per minute for correspondence-quality text Greyscale speed Pages per minute for presentable text and graphics Mixed colour speed Pages per minute for presentable text and graphics Photo speed 6x4in photos per minute at top quality setting Scan speed A4 scans per minute at 300dpi Mono costs Running costs expressed as pence per page Colour costs Running costs expressed as pence per page DIGITAL CAMERAS Battery life Number of shots from full charge CAMCORDERS Battery life Run time in minutes for recording MP3 PLAYERS Battery life Run time in minutes for continuous playback ROUTERS Centrino 2 1m Mbit/s at 1m with Centrino 2 adaptor Own brand 1m Mbit/s at 1m with own-brand adaptor Centrino 2 10m Mbit/s at 10m with Centrino 2 adaptor Own brand 10m Mbit/s at 10m with own-brand adaptor Centrino 2 25m Mbit/s at 25m with Centrino 2 adaptor Own brand 25m Mbit/s at 25m with own-brand adaptor NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE Large les Average MB/s for read/write of 100MB large les Small les Average MB/s for read/write of 100MB small les HARD DISKS Large les Average MB/s for read/write of 100MB large les Small les Average MB/s for read/write of 100MB small les PROCESSORS Windows overall Average speed across numerous demanding tasks Multitasking Speed when running simultaneous applications MOTHERBOARDS Windows overall Average speed across numerous demanding tasks Multitasking Speed when running simultaneous applications Dirt 3 Frames per second at 1,920x1,080 4xAA, Ultra detail GRAPHICS CARDS 3DMark 11 Performance settings, 1,920x1,080, 4xAA, 8xAF Crysis 2 Frames per second at 1,920x1,080, Ultra detail Dirt 3 Frames per second at 1,920x1,080 4xAA, Ultra detail
BENCHMARKS
SHOPPER BENCHMARKS
Our benchmark suite uses opensource software that runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux systems. This lets us use objective results to compare PCs and laptops, no matter which operating system they run. Its designed to test each computer to its limit, using a combination of intensive image-editing, video-encoding and multitasking tests. We ran the tests on our reference PC, which has an Intel Core i5-2500K processor and 4GB of DDR3 RAM. We normalised our results so this PC had a score of 100. This makes it easy to draw comparisons between test systems. The resulting overall score is shown at the bottom of every PC and laptop review. As we use the same tests in our standalone and group test reviews, you can compare the performance of any computer, whether its a netbook, laptop or desktop, from both sections of the magazine. To see how your computer compares with those weve tested, you can download the suite from http://bit.ly/ shopperbenchmarks. Versions are available for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
RATINGS & AWARDS

Computer Shopper rates products out of ve:
Avoid
Below average Good Very good Excellent
The best products can win the following awards:

BEST BUY Products with outstanding quality and performance for the money win our Best Buy award.
BUDGET BUY The very best products for those on a tight budget win our Budget Buy award.
3D BENCHMARKS
CRYSIS 2 With full DirectX 11 support and high-resolution textures, Crysis 2 will push any PC to the limit. Youll need at least 30fps for smooth gameplay. DIRT 3 Dirt 3 is a cracking racing and rally title from Codemasters, and a true DirectX 11 game. Youll need at least 30fps for smooth racing. 3DMARK 11 Futuremarks latest synthetic 3D benchmark tests the latest DirectX 11 graphics features. Its representative of current and future titles.
Business Buy The very best products for work win our Business Buy award.
ULTIMATE The very best products, when money is no object, win our Ultimate award.
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25 years of British built award winning PCs utilising the latest in AMD and Intel technologies. The ideal systems for another generation.
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Elite 3570K MKW Gaming PC

Intel 3rd Generation CoreTM i7 3570K Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 640 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 1TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD 24 Widescreen LCD Monitor Fast Wireless Card + Logitech Wireless Keyboard & Mouse
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mesh Elite 3220

An ideal PC for everyday applications and tasks.

Intel 3rd Generation CoreTM i3 3220 Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Integrated Full HD Intel Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 500GB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
mesh Matrix 4100 PC

AMD FX 4100 Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 1GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 620 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 1TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
A superior performance PC with AMD FX unlocked processor.

Delivers a powerful entertainment experience. Now with free double memory.
mesh Elite 3450 PC
Intel 3rd Generation CoreTM i5 3450 Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 1GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 620 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 1TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
399
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Great performance with Intel Core i7 processor and stunning GTX graphics.
With AMD 8-Core FX processor and stunning graphics this is an awesome performance PC.
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Intel 3rd Generation Core i7 3770K Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 1GB nVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 1TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD

AMD FX 8120 Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 640 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 2TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD 120GB Solid State Drive (SSD) 24 Widescreen LCD Monitor Fast Wireless Card and Logitech Keyboard & Mouse
mesh Elite 3770K GTX

Intel 3rd Generation CoreTM i7 3770K Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 660 Ti Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 2TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
769
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For the latest Mesh offers on new technology call or go online 020 8955 0731 | www.meshcomputers.com Please Read: Sales subject to terms & conditions (copy available on our website). Advert does not form part of a contract. Pictures shown for illustration purposes only - colours may vary. PC 3 Year Warranty - 2 Years parts & labour, 3rd Year labour only - return to base (UK WorldMags.net Mainland only). Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. All trademarks are acknowledged. Sales line open Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm. Online ordering 24x7. Prices and specification correct at time
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Buy a Mesh Windows 7 PC today and get Windows 8 Pro for only 14.99 but use voucher code 15WIN8 when buying and get 15 off the price of the PC - thats the cost of your upgrade! All Mesh PCs come with 24x DVD RW optical drive as standard unless stated otherwise.
Powerful gaming system with leading graphics performance.
Use the leading technology to power all your apps and gaming activities.
mesh Matrix 8120 Gaming PC

AMD FX 8120 Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 640 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 2TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
mesh Elite 3570K Gaming PC

Intel 3rd Generation CoreTM i5 3570K Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GeForce GT 640 Graphics 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory 1TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD
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mesh Slayer 3930K Gaming PC

Intel CoreTM i7 3930K Processor Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 2GB nVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Graphics 16GB DDR3 1866MHz Memory 3TB SATA III - 6GB/s 7200rpm HDD 240GB Solid State Drive (SSD) Blu-Ray Writer (read and write Blu-ray, DVD & CD)
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
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Getting carried away

Laptops have never been thinner or lighter than they are today, thanks to Intels Ultrabook standard. Weve put 12 mobile machines to the test this month to find the best portable solutions for working on the move
CONTENT REVIEWS
Page 90 Page 93
ULTRABOOKS
ASUS ZenBook UX32A DELL XPS 14

Page 91
SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultrathin SAMSUNG Series 9 (15in)

Page 94
HP Envy 4 HP Envy 6
Page 92
SCHENKER XMG A102 SONY Vaio T13

Page 97
LENOVO IdeaPad U310 LENOVO IdeaPad U410
TOSHIBA Satellite U840W TOSHIBA Satellite Z930
THIN AND LIGHT laptops used to be prohibitively expensive, but Intels Ultrabook specication has changed that. The company designed a set of high-power low-voltage processors for ultra-thin laptops, and added a set of specications that compliant models must meet to be branded an Ultrabook. The result is the best range of ultra-portable computers the PC market has seen. In the short time Ultrabooks have been available, weve already seen a host of new designs and features make their way into the platform. In this Labs test, weve also looked
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
The benets of an Ultrabook computer are obvious: theyre thin, light and powerful
at a few traditional ultra-portables to see if they still have what it takes to compete. With Intel dictating the specication, theres less room for manufacturers to separate their laptops from the competition. However, that doesnt mean every Ultrabook is the same. There are lots of things other than price to consider before you buy one.
WEIGHT YOUR TURN
Battery life and weight are important considerations for any laptop, but especially so in an ultra-portable. A few hundred grams KEY TO THE CITY can make the difference between a portable Theres little point having a laptop with a machine and a brute that drags you down. 12-hour battery life if it has an uncomfortable None the models here is heavy, but for a keyboard or touchpad that leaves you sore laptop you carry around all day, around 1.5kg after an hour. Keyboards should be responsive or lighter is preferable. For shorter journeys, a and provide enough feedback to make typing laptop of around 2kg is ne. Generally, the comfortable and accurate. Because of their lighter the laptop, the more expensive it is. size, ultra-portable laptops often have a few Its almost impossible to judge how long a half-size keys, or layouts that differ from that laptops battery will last based on specications alone, as it DISK AND REWARD depends on how you use it. If The Ultrabook standard youre only editing text les Theres little point having a laptop with a species a maximum time and browsing the internet, 12-hour battery life if it has an uncomfortable for a laptop to boot into youll use less power than Windows and resume from you would editing video or keyboard or touchpad sleep mode, which generally playing games. Wed expect means using either a standard laptops to provide solid-state drive (SSD) or a combination of of a standard desktop keyboard. Our reviews at least four hours of use, but lightweight ash storage and a mechanical hard disk. mention any deviations in layout. machines such as these should be able to last These resulting hybrids cost less than a single A laptops touchpad should be accurate, for a minimum of six, but preferably longer. SSD, but normally perform more slowly. with large buttons that click consistently Most Ultrabooks come with a 128GB SSD, when pressed. A few laptops mainly SCREENING PROCEDURES but ultra-portables with hard disks tend to business models from Lenovo or Dell have Buying a laptop with a good screen is crucial. have much larger capacities. an extra touchstick, which looks like a pencil Our reviews tell you if a display is easy on the eraser nestled in the middle of the keyboard. eye or more likely to burn your retinas. A WINDOW ON THE FUTURE A touchstick can be a useful second pointing larger screen is easier to work on, while a Most laptops come with Windows 7 Home device, but it can take some getting used to. smaller screen means a more portable device. Premium, although some have Windows 7 A screen size of around 11.6in is great for Professional. Both include Media Center THANKS FOR THE MEMORY the smallest laptops, but youll want an software for browsing media les, as well as Almost all laptops now come with a minimum external monitor or second computer when viewing and recording TV programmes (with a of 4GB of RAM, which is enough for most youre at a desk. For all-round use, a 13.3in or suitable USB TV tuner), but Professional also everyday tasks. Fitting extra memory is larger screen is ideal. Most Ultrabooks have includes more business-oriented features usually simple on a full-size laptop, but widescreen 1,366x768 resolutions. There are a such as built-in disk encryption. Ultrabooks often have their memory soldered few exceptions, but all will be able to play You can upgrade to Windows 8 for to the motherboard, preventing an upgrade. 720p high-denition content and should give just 15 by registering your computer at In this case, its worth paying for as much you enough room for full-page web browsing, www.windowsupgradeoffer.com. memory as you can afford before you buy. email, documents and spreadsheets.
Most laptops have a glossy nish, which helps increase brightness and contrast but also causes reections under oce lighting or in direct sunlight. Many laptops now use matt displays, which are less reective but usually dimmer than their glossy counterparts. A laptops screen usually dictates its overall size, so those with smaller screens are generally more compact and easier to carry. However, text can be dicult to read on small screens, so its important that you strike a balance between portability and ease of use.
To meet Intels Ultrabook specication, a laptop must use a low-voltage Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. These use less power than other mobile processors but still provide plenty of performance. All Core processors support Hyper-Threading technology, which improves performance by making the processor appear to have twice as many cores. Some also support Turbo Boost, which overclocks one or more cores to boost performance in certain applications when thermal limits allow. Very few Ultrabooks use dedicated graphics chips. Most rely on Intels HD 4000 GPU built into the processor, which shares the main system memory, leaving less for your programs. Its less powerful than a standalone graphics processor, so it will struggle with modern 3D games, but Intels latest Ivy Bridge chip variants can handle older titles quite well. This setup produces less heat and uses less power, so youll be able to work for longer without having to look for a mains socket.
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
ASUS ZenBook UX32A
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VERDICT
A well-built laptop, but the screen is a little disappointing ALTHOUGH THE ZENBOOK UX32A has the same design as Asuss previous Ultrabooks, a few concessions have been made to make this model cheaper. Primarily, the case is a little thicker to squeeze in the 500GB mechanical hard disk, although at 18mm its still slim. Despite the slightly thicker case, Asus has still opted to bundle adaptors for VGA and Ethernet, rather than squeeze them into the chassis. There are three USB ports, a multiformat card reader, 3.5mm headset audio jack and an HDMI video output. Underneath the brushed metal lid lies a chiclet-style keyboard, an all-in-one metal touchpad and a 13.3in display with a 1,366x768 screen. Viewing angles are limited, but the matt nish helps diffuse light reections, and both brightness and contrast are respectable. Colours appear slightly too vibrant, with an unwanted slight blue hue. Theres not a huge amount of screen tilt, which could make it dicult to work on in cramped locations such as in a plane seat. The original ZenBooks keyboard was something of a stumbling block, but Asus has rectied that here. Each full-size key has a springy action and plenty of travel. The keyboard is backlit, making it easier to work on in the dark, and the function keys behave as you would expect. Less impressive is the touchpad. The smooth surface creates very little friction and is sensitive enough to span the whole desktop in one movement, but the integrated buttons occasionally interfere with cursor movement, particularly when dragging icons around the screen. However, for the most part it works well, so you shouldnt have too many issues. In terms of performance, the UX32A is a fairly standard mid-range Ultrabook. Powered by an Intel Core i5-3317U processor running at 1.7GHz and paired with 4GB of RAM, it managed a respectable overall score of 51 in our multimedia benchmarks. It was slightly hampered by the mechanical hard disk, which cant match an SSD for le transfer speeds,
although the presence of a ash-based caching disk helps keep startup and resume times well within the Ultrabook specication. With the processor also handling graphics duties, you shouldnt expect stellar gaming performance from the UX32A. Intels HD 4000 can handle older games, but more modern titles such as Dirt 3 struggle to achieve a playable frame rate. Even so, 20.9fps is one of the fastest results weve seen from an Ultrabook with integrated graphics. A battery life of a little under seven hours puts this laptop mid-table, and you can get better battery life at the same price. The UX32A is a decent laptop, but the basic screen is a little disappointing. For 750 including VAT, other Ultrabooks such as HPs Envy 6 are better buys.
DELL XPS 14
VERDICT
1,129 inc VAT From www.dell.co.uk
You get decent gaming performance and a high-resolution screen, but its heavy and comparatively expensive DELLS XPS 14 is an Ultrabook thats capable of blasting through the latest games. With a 14in screen its slightly larger than other Ultrabooks, but it has built-in Nvidia graphics. Its aluminium case gives the XPS 14 a passing resemblance to Apples MacBook Pro. Its a little heavier than most Ultrabooks at 2.1kg, but it falls within Intels specications and is compact enough to take on the move. There are two USB3 ports, HDMI and Mini DisplayPort video outputs, an Ethernet port, multiformat card reader and 3.5mm headset jack. The lid design prevents relocating any of these to the rear of the chassis, but as some 13in Ultrabooks have three or even four USB ports, two feels a little limiting. Lifting the lid reveals a display covered by edge-to-edge scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. Viewing angles are fairly standard, with colour shift appearing beyond anything more than a face-on angle, but theres plenty of screen tilt to make up for it. Colour temperature and image sharpness at the native 1,600x900 resolution are spot on, but the low contrast ratio limits black levels to the point that its dicult to pick out details in darker lms. The full-size chiclet keys are all reasonably spaced, with a sensible layout and helpful white backlight that makes working in poorly lit rooms easier. Theres not a lot of travel, but each key is bouncy and responsive enough to make typing a breeze. The all-in-one touchpad is large and in proportion to the 16:9 display, so we had no trouble navigating around the Windows desktop. Powered by an Intel Core i7-3517U running at 1.9GHz, on paper the XPS 14 is one of the most powerful Ultrabooks weve seen. Turbo Boost can push the clock speed up to 3GHz, and 8GB of RAM is enough for multitasking. It managed to score 54 overall in our multimedia benchmarks, which proves opting for a Core i7 in an Ultrabook wont necessarily get you signicantly more performance than an i5. The Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics chip means youll be able to play games, although
youll still have to make some sacrices when running the latest titles. An average of 32.8fps in our Dirt 3 test is great for a laptop of this size and, without anti-aliasing, youll be able to play at the native resolution, but the system fan has to spin up to very noticeable levels to keep the system cool when playing. Despite the presence of a dedicated graphics card, the XPS 14 still manages to last an impressive seven hours on battery power alone. Nvidias Optimus technology switches over to Intels integrated GPU when away from the mains, so it doesnt lose out to other Ultrabooks when away from the mains. The XPS 14 is a well-built, fast and good looking ultra-portable computer. Its not the smallest or lightest laptop, but its dedicated graphics card could be worth the trade-off if you want to play the latest games.
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HP Envy 4
VERDICT
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
700 inc VAT From www.currys.co.uk
Stylish, compact and well priced, although its a little slow compared to the competition HPS ENVY 4 is a compact Ultrabook with a 14in screen. It retains the same black brushed metal and red plastic styling as the rest of the Envy range, giving it a luxurious look and feel. Open the lid, and the colour scheme continues. Theres no keyboard backlight, but the full size chiclet-style keys are comfortable to type on thanks to sensible spacing and a springy action. HP has re-assigned the function keys to proprietary shortcuts, but they can be disabled through the BIOS so you can use Windows shortcuts if you prefer. The touchpad is accurate and responsive, recognising multitouch gestures and comfortably navigating the Windows desktop. A double-tap to the top left corner disables it if youd rather use a mouse. The 14in chassis is well matched with a 1,366x768 display. HP has prioritised colour vibrancy rather than reection reduction by using a glossy screen nish. This certainly makes images look bright and colourful, but in a bright room or direct sunlight it can be dicult to see whats onscreen. Theres a fair amount of tilt, but poor viewing angles mean you have to sit straight-on. Sound quality is more impressive, as HP has paid more attention to its speakers than other Ultrabook manufacturers. A small low-frequency speaker produces better bass than the competition, but its still not as good as dedicated speakers or headphones. Even with smaller dimensions, the Envy 4 manages to t in the same connectivity as the 15in Envy 6; three USB ports, a multiformat card reader, HDMI, Ethernet and twin 3.5mm audio jacks are all present, with two of the USB ports being faster USB3 variants. The internal components are the same, too, suggesting Intels Ivy Bridge processors are excellent at dealing with heat. The dual-core i5-3317U runs at 1.7GHz and 2.6GHz using Turbo Boost. The 6GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD cache helped it score a decent 50 in our multimedia benchmarks, as well as boot into Windows in around 15 seconds. The 500GB
mechanical hard disk still has plenty of room for all your les. Away from the mains, the Envy 4 is just as impressive as its bigger brother. In our light-use test, it managed a sterling eight hours on battery power. Graphics performance comes from Intels HD 4000 integrated GPU. Its almost capable of playing modern games, but youll need to turn down detail settings and disable anti-aliasing our Dirt 3 test produced 17.9fps. The Envy 4 costs the same as the larger Envy 6, so choosing between the two will depend on whether you want optimum portability or a larger screen. With only minor differences in performance, battery life and usability, its really up to personal preference: for that little bit of extra power pick the Envy 6, but for portability choose the Envy 4.
HP Envy 6
VERDICT
700 inc VAT From www.currys.co.uk
An Ultrabook with a 10-hour battery life and superb desktop performance, the Envy 6 is a great bargain THE 15.6in ENVY 6 provides Ultrabook performance for a reasonable 700. Adorned in a mixture of black brushed metal and red rubberised plastic, the Envy 6 looks expensive. Despite being just 20mm thick, it still has room for plenty of ports, including three USB, a multiformat card reader, HDMI, Ethernet and twin 3.5mm audio jacks. Two of the three USB ports are the faster USB3 variant. The all-black keyboard and metal-effect touchpad look great, but its a shame the keyboard isnt backlit. The chiclet-style keys are all full-size and well spaced, with a reasonable amount of travel. The Envy 6s touchpad is responsive and accurate, recognising multitouch gestures and comfortably navigating the Windows desktop. A double-tap to the top left corner will disable the touchpad if you want to use a mouse. The 1,366x768 TN panels glossy nish gives colours plenty of pop, but also makes reections an issue. Viewing angles are tight, so you need to sit facing the screen. Sound quality is great thanks to the addition of a small subwoofer. Bass has more presence, although its still no match for a dedicated subwoofer. Powered by an Intel Ivy Bridge processor, the Envy 6 is more than capable when it comes to desktop applications. The dual-core i5-3317U normally runs at 1.7GHz, but Turbo Boost lets it reach 2.6GHz when temperatures allow. Paired with 4GB of RAM, it completed our multimedia benchmarks with an overall score of 51, meaning you should be able to run all your everyday applications smoothly. HP has installed a 500GB mechanical hard disk. This is great if you have lots of les to store, but means le transfers and boot times wont be as snappy. Theres also a 32GB SSD cache to speed up Windows and application loading time, meaning we got to the Windows desktop in a little under 20 seconds. In our light-use test, it managed almost 10 hours on battery power, so if you stick to light tasks youll get a full days work out of it.
Our Dirt 3 test was a little too taxing for the Intel HD 4000, managing only a stuttering 16.3fps. However, with anti-aliasing disabled and with a few tweaks, we managed to get a playable frame rate. High-denition video is nowhere near as challenging, so we had no trouble playing 1080p video on the laptop itself or on an external display. At 700, the Envy 6 is a fantastic general-purpose laptop. It lacks dedicated graphics, even if Intels integrated GPU is an improvement over last years design, and the screen is its main weakness, but the phenomenal battery life and excellent desktop performance make this a serious contender for the best mid-range Ultrabook weve seen. Other 15in ultra-portables, such as Samsungs Series 9, cost more, so if you have a rm budget this is a superb choice.
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LENOVO IdeaPad U310
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VERDICT
An everymans 13.3in Ultrabook, with a great price to boot RATHER THAN USE the same wedge-shaped chassis as many other Ultrabooks, Lenovos IdeaPad U310 is 18mm thick all the way round. This makes room for extra ports, including an Ethernet port. Two USB3 ports, one USB, HDMI and 3.5mm audio and a multiformat card reader complete the selection. The lid and chassis bottom are made from aluminium, but the U310 is mostly made from plastic. It comes in a choice of three colours: aquamarine blue, cherry red and graphite grey. Lifting the lid reveals a startlingly white keyboard tray with contrasting black keys. Lenovo usually makes fantastic laptop keyboards, but the one used here is something of a disappointment. The chiclet-style keys are ne for the most part, but theres a huge amount of ex. The all-in-one glass touchpad is excellent, thanks to its large size and responsiveness. The buttons dont have much travel, however. The 13.3in display is very bright, although tight viewing angles mean you need to be straight-on to get the best image quality. Its 1,366x768 resolution is standard fare for most mid-range Ultrabooks. The glossy screen coating helps produce vivid colours, but doesnt help reduce screen glare; in bright light it becomes almost impossible to see whats on the screen. Audio from the weedy integrated speakers is tinny, with a dominating high-end, but clear enough for the occasional YouTube video. The i5-3317U processor normally runs at 1.7GHz, but Turbo Boost can push this up to 2.6GHz, and with 4GB of RAM on board it should handle all your everyday tasks without any slowdown. The IdeaPad U310 coped reasonably well with our multimedia benchmarks, scoring 48 overall. Intels processor also provides the graphics power. The integrated HD 4000 chip is capable of playing older games at medium to high detail settings, but it struggled with our Dirt 3 test. Its score of 14.7fps is one of the lowest weve seen from an Ultrabook.
Theres a 500GB hard disk, which provides plenty of storage space. Its paired with an 8GB SSD cache, which helps speed up boot times: from a cold boot we were at the Windows desktop in less than 20 seconds. Battery life is slightly disappointing. The U310 only just broke six hours in our light-use test, meaning youll need to keep the (admittedly rather small and light) power adaptor close by if youre planning to spend all day out of the house or oce. As one of many second-generation Ultrabooks aimed at the mainstream rather than the high-end market, the IdeaPad U310 gets a lot of things right. Its low price and small form factor are certainly attractive, but if you want a bit more power and better battery life, HPs Envy 6 is the better choice.
LENOVO IdeaPad U410
VERDICT
Dedicated graphics at a great price, but the screen quality and ex in the keyboard detract LENOVOS IDEAPAD U410 14in Ultrabook is available in a range of colours, from hot pink to aquamarine blue, although a more sensible graphite grey is also available. Like the U310, the case is a uniform thickness throughout, leaving ample room for ports. As well as two USB ports, there are two USB3 ports, HDMI video, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5mm combination audio jack and a multiformat card reader. Inside, the dedicated GeForce GT 610M graphics chip managed 25.9fps in our Dirt 3 test, an impressive feat for such a slim machine. Disabling anti-aliasing should help boost frame rates to a playable 30fps. Despite the graphics card, the U410 still managed to last over seven-and-a-half hours in our light-use battery test. Nvidias Optimus graphics-switching technology disables the GT 610M in favour of integrated graphics, meaning you dont miss out on battery life compared to other Ultrabooks. Desktop performance is supplied by a dual-core i5-3317U processor running at 1.7GHz. Intels Turbo Boost technology can increase this up to 2.6GHz in certain applications. With 6GB of system memory it completed our multimedia benchmarks with an overall score of 48, so its easily powerful enough to run everyday applications such as a web browser or word processor. We had no trouble working on the U410, thanks to its spacious chiclet-style keyboard and sizable all-in-one touchpad. Each key has plenty of travel and a springy action. The keyboard layout is fairly standard, although the function keys have been remapped to perform multimedia and system shortcuts. It was a little disappointing to see so much ex in the keyboard tray; it bounces up and down with every key press, becoming quite distracting once you notice it. The glass touchpad is better and lets you glide your ngers across its surface. Its both responsive and accurate, with the left- and right-mouse buttons integrated into the bottom of the pad.
The 14in screen is a little disappointing. Its 1,366x768 resolution is fairly standard but brightness is disappointingly low. With a glossy nish that makes light reections troublesome, it can be dicult to see whats on the screen in direct sunlight or under bright overhead lighting. At least colours are vibrant and contrast reasonable. Tight viewing angles mean you have to sit straight-on to get the best image quality. Although its one of the few Ultrabooks with a dedicated graphics card, the basic screen and a few issues with build quality mean the IdeaPad 410 falls a little short. Its powerful, able to play certain games at reasonable levels of detail and has a fantastic battery life, but youll have to learn to live with the keyboard ex. At the same price, HPs Envy 6 is the better choice.
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SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultrathin
VERDICT
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
The best value ultra-portable weve seen, thanks to its AMD processor BY USING AN AMD processor instead of an Intel one, Samsung has managed to keep the price of its Series 5 Ultrathin below 500. Technically speaking, it isnt an Ultrabook, as thats an Intel brand name, but its similar. The Series 5 Ultrathin uses the same chassis as the 13in Series 5 Ultrabook. Even the ports around each edge are the same: you get one USB3, HDMI video out, a 3.5mm headset audio jack and a full-size Ethernet port on one side, and two regular USB ports and a multiformat card reader on the other. Inside the Series 5 has an AMD Trinity A6-4455M processor at its core, along with 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard disk. The dual-core chip usually runs at 2.1GHz, but can use Turbo Core technology to boost this up to 2.6GHz in certain applications. Its easily fast enough for everyday tasks, although it still struggled with our multithreaded application benchmarks. An overall score of 18 puts it signicantly behind Intels Ultrabooks in terms of raw performance. Battery life is also a little behind the Intel-based machines. In our light-use test, the Series 5 lasted ve-and-a-half hours away from the mains, which is around two hours less than most Ultrabooks. The processors built-in Radeon HD 7500G graphics chip should be able to play older games at reasonable detail settings. At our standard 720p setting with 4x anti-aliasing, it produced 20fps, which is a few frames faster than Intels Ivy Bridge integrated graphics, but still not fast enough to play newer games. The 13.3in display has a standard 1,366x768 resolution. The matt nish is a nice addition, as it helps diffuse light reections, making it easier to view the screen in direct sunlight or under bright overhead lighting. The backlight is a very bright 300cd/m2, which again makes it easier to use during the day. Unfortunately viewing angles arent particularly impressive, so youll need to sit straight on to the screen. Samsung has squeezed in a comfortable keyboard with a regular layout. Each full-size
chiclet-style key is responsive, making for fast typing. The oversized touchpad is a good match to the widescreen display, as you can span the Windows desktop in a single swipe. It responds well to multitouch gestures and has a smooth plastic nish that lets you glide your ngers across it with minimal friction. Compared to Intels Core i5 processors, AMDs Trinity is quite far behind in terms of raw performance, but unless youre running processor-intensive applications youre unlikely to notice the difference in everyday use. The main reason to choose a Trinitypowered laptop is price. The Series 5 Ultrathin costs just 483 and is one of the cheapest ultra-portable machines you can currently buy without dropping down to an underpowered netbook. It wins a Budget Buy award.
SAMSUNG Series 9 (15in)
VERDICT
This ultra-portable is expensive, but its in a eld of its own when it comes to features AT JUST 15mm thick and weighing just 1.7kg, the Series 9 is one of the thinnest and lightest 15in laptops weve seen. Built from tough yet lightweight metals, its wedge shape has room for two USB3 ports, a mini-VGA port and a multiformat card reader on one side, and a USB port, micro-HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack and proprietary Ethernet port on the other. The 400cd/m2 display is not only incredibly bright, but its 1,600x900 resolution is also a welcome step up from more budget-oriented 15in laptops. A matt nish keeps reections to a minimum, and colour reproduction is superb. A pair of speakers in the underside of the chassis produce surprisingly capable audio, as long as you sit the laptop on a solid surface. Samsungs SoundAlive equaliser lets you choose from a range of bass- and trebleboosting effects, but our test tracks sounded clean and crisp at the default setting. The full-size chiclet-style black keyboard continues the colour scheme set out by the metallic chassis, with a blue tinged LED illuminating each key from below. Unfortunately, we immediately noticed how shallow the keys were when typing a consequence of the incredibly thin dimensions. They spring back quickly, but the lack of travel takes some getting used to. Thankfully, the all-in-one touchpad worked perfectly, including for multitouch gestures. Inside, the Intel Core i5-3317U processor is a dual-core, low-voltage model running at 1.7GHz. With Hyper-Threading, Windows sees four separate cores, and Turbo Boost can increase the clock speed to 2.6GHz for certain applications. It certainly helped in our multimedia benchmarks, where the Series 9 achieved a score of 49 overall. With its 8GB of RAM, multitasking wont be a problem, either. Samsung has improved the already fast 128GB SATA3 SSD with its own boot optimisations, making it incredibly quick when powering on from standby. It displayed the Windows desktop in under 10 seconds, and resumed from sleep in less than two.
Intels Ivy Bridge processors provide more graphics performance than desktop power, which makes them considerably more capable than previous models when it comes to playing games. It managed a jumpy 19.8fps in our Dirt 3 test, but disable anti-aliasing and youll get reasonably playable frame rates at 720p resolutions, even in modern titles. We were impressed with how well the Series 9 did in our light-use battery test. Despite the large screen, it still managed to last almost seven hours away from the mains. This is great to see on a 15in laptop. The Series 9 certainly isnt cheap, but considering there are no 15in ultra-portables as light as this, its a reasonable premium to pay. However, if you dont mind a bit more weight and are on a tight budget, HPs Envy 6 is a great choice.
| DECEMBER 2012
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SCHENKER XMG A102
VERDICT
799 inc VAT From www.mysn.co.uk
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Perfect for gaming on the go and excellent performance, but battery life is poor THE SCHENKER BRAND has been going strong in Germany for many years. Its rst UK product is the diminutive 11in XMG A102. Schenker has managed to t an Nvidia GeForce GT 650M chip inside the tiny chassis. With 2GB of dedicated video memory its easily powerful enough to play the latest games at 720p. Our Dirt 3 test proved no challenge, where it achieved a very impressive 77.3fps. Desktop performance is equally impressive thanks to the Intel Core i5-3320M processor. This is a standard mobile chip, rather than the low-voltage model found in other Ultrabooks, and it runs at a hefty 2.6GHz, or up to 3.3GHz with Turbo Boost. Paired with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB Crucial SSD, it achieved an overall score of 63 in our multimedia benchmarks, which is around 20 per cent faster than the average Ultrabook. It also loads Windows in under 20 seconds, so you wont have to wait long to start work or boot up a game. On the downside, the XMG A102 managed under three-and-a-half hours in our battery test, so youll need to keep the power adaptor close to hand for all-day working. Schenker doesnt build its own cases, and has opted for an off-the-shelf Clevo design. Its incredibly compact, although the 31mm thickness excludes it from being classied as an Ultrabook. Such a compact chassis means the keyboard has small keys, but its easy enough to get used to them. The wrist rest isnt quite long enough to make typing for long periods comfortable unless you raise your wrists into the air, and even that isnt much of an improvement. On the plus side, theres very little ex from the keyboard tray and the keys are quite responsive, bouncing back into place quickly after each press. The touchpad is made of the same rubber material as the wrist rest, which is less than ideal for quick movements. Its a decent size, but isnt as responsive as we would have liked. The buttons below it are an improvement, as they are springy and responsive.
Our review sample came with a matt screen nish, although you can opt for a glossy panel and save 40. Both options use a 1,366x768 resolution panel, which looks pin-sharp at 11.6 inches. Viewing angles arent all that great and theres not a huge amount of screen tilt, but the matt nish certainly helps keep light reections to a minimum. It also doesnt dim colour vibrancy too much either, so images look vivid, although brightness is only average. The A102 is a bit of strange laptop. Its got great gaming potential in a small chassis and performance is excellent, but the battery life is quite disappointing for an ultra-portable. If you can cope with that its a great choice, but HPs Envy 4 is better if you want longer battery life and dont mind about games.
SONY Vaio T13
VERDICT
860 inc VAT From www.dabs.com
Ivy Bridge and an SSD make a world of difference, but its comparatively expensive WEVE SEEN THE T13 before, but this updated version has an Ivy Bridge processor and an SSD. It has a relatively thin chassis built from a mixture of metal and plastic. The silver colour scheme certainly looks the part. Theres an average collection of ports, with only two USB ports, one of which is USB3. HDMI and VGA video outputs, Ethernet, a multiformat card reader and single 3.5mm audio jack complete the limited line-up. The Ivy Bridge Core i5-3317U processor has been paired with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. Running at 1.7GHz and using Turbo Boost to reach 2.6GHz, its no slouch, scoring 53 in our multimedia benchmarks. Intels HD 4000 integrated GPU provides a welcome boost in graphics performance over Sandy Bridge chips, but dont expect miracles: it managed only 15.8fps in our Dirt 3 test, which suggests that playing newer games at higher detail settings will result in a jerky slideshow. With integrated graphics, a new processor with reduced power consumption and an SSD with no moving parts, we were expecting the Ivy Bridge-powered T13 to outperform its Sandy Bridge sibling in our battery test, and it didnt disappoint, lasting for nearly 10 hours an excellent result for any Ultrabook. The 13.3in display has a 1,366x768 resolution and uses a TN panel. Viewing angles go from ne at face-on to completely illegible very quickly. The glossy screen nish gives colours more pop than a matt panel, but also makes light reections an issue. Brightness is reasonable and theres a great amount of screen tilt although you wont be blown away by its image quality. Typing on the full-size chiclet-style keyboard is fairly comfortable. Theres not a lot of travel in each key, but they are at least very springy, bouncing back into place almost instantly. Theres no room for a numeric keypad, and theres also no backlight, so you might struggle to work in dark environments, but its otherwise perfectly usable.
The all-in-one touchpad didnt pose any problems, though we prefer physical buttons on Windows-based laptops. Multitouch gestures work well and a two-nger tap triggers a right-click, meaning you rarely have to press the corners unless thats how you prefer to use laptop touchpads. Its more than large enough to navigate the 13.3in desktop, with a matching widescreen layout. When it rst went on sale, the T13 was one of the cheapest Ultrabooks around, but thats no longer the case prices elsewhere have fallen through the oor in a few short months. The T13 may be portable, powerful and up to date, but it also has below-average connectivity and middling image quality. It isnt as slick as more expensive systems and not particularly good value compared to the competition, making it dicult to recommend.
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For QUALITY and PERFORMANCE choose
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iiyama ProLite G2773HS

The 27 ProLite G2773HS is a real game changer. The use of a high quality 120Hz panel with a blistering 1ms Response Time offers you an amazing gaming experience. The screen offers crystal clear, smooth and judder free graphics during fast paced games and beautiful quality HD video. Hardcore gamers will really appreciate the few milliseconds advantage this screen gives you, allowing split second game changing decisions. The screen comes equipped with stereo speakers and a headphone socket as well as HDMI, VGA and Dual Link DVI connections and boasts a 1920 x 1080 Resolution.
iiyama ProLite E2273HDS 22
Features include: 22 LED-backlit Full HD 1080p, 1920 x 1080 resolution (2.1 megapixel) 2ms response time 5 000 000:1 ACR DVI-D, VGA (D-Sub), HDMI
Features include: 24 LED-backlit Full HD 1080p, 1920 x 1080 resolution (2.1 megapixel) 2ms response time 5 000 000:1 ACR DVI-D, VGA (D-Sub), HDMI x 2
Features include: 27 LED-backlit Full HD 1080p, 1920 x 1080 resolution (2.1 megapixel) 1ms response time 5 000 000:1 ACR DVI-D, VGA (D-Sub), HDMI
Extended Warranty Options available! See the complete range of iiyama displays: www.iiyama.co.uk uksales@iiyama.com Tel: 01438 745 482
iiyama monitors available from the following reseller partners:
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TOSHIBA Satellite U840W
VERDICT
900 inc VAT From www.dixons.co.uk
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
A great high-resolution screen makes this laptop stand out, but its keyboard and touchpad slightly detract TOSHIBAS LATEST PREMIUM Ultrabook is the rst weve seen with an ultra-widescreen 21:9 display ratio, which is the same shape as the cinema screens in your local multiplex. The 14.4in, 1,792x768 resolution display is guaranteed to turn heads, but it has an incredibly glossy nish that makes it dicult to see whats on the screen under bright light. However, nd a comfortable position and youll soon notice the high resolution. Colours look vibrant and brightness is reasonable. We were able to t two Word documents onscreen at once comfortably, so the U840W is certainly suited to multitasking. For lms, it depends on the aspect ratio. A lot of lms are shot at 21:9, so these can be viewed fullscreen; for content shot at different aspect ratios, such as 16:9 1080p footage, you end up with black bars at the side of the picture. The case has room for a multiformat memory card reader, three USB3 ports, an Ethernet port and two 3.5mm audio jacks. Toshiba has also made space for a pair of Harmon Kardon speakers, which produce surprisingly capable audio. Build quality is a mixed bag. Initial impressions are positive, with a sturdy chassis built from a combination of brushed metal and rubberised plastic. The slightly bronze tint looks sleek and gives the laptop a unique look, but there are problems beneath the lid. The keyboard is our major area of concern, with noticeable ex in the keyboard and keys that are often completely unresponsive. The backlit chiclet-style keys are easy to spot in the dark, but they arent very comfortable to type on, as they lack any tactile feedback and have very little travel or bounce. We felt the touchpad could be better, too. Its not particularly sensitive, often struggling to pick up tap-to-click motions unless you stick to the upper left corner of the pad. As you would expect, performance is in line with almost every other Intel Ivy Bridge Ultrabook. The dual-core i5-3317U runs at 1.7GHz and up to 2.6GHz with Turbo Boost,
theres 6GB of available RAM and the 500GB hard disk is paired with a 32GB caching SSD for faster boot and sleep times. Scoring 51 overall in our multimedia benchmarks, its about on par with the competition. Graphics performance was a little underwhelming, even for Intels integrated HD 4000 GPU. It managed only 12.9fps in our Dirt 3 benchmark. At least battery life was a respectable seven-and-a-half hours. At rst glance, the Satellite U840W looks ideal for lms with its 21:9 display, but with no Blu-ray player and lots of lms not shot in 21:9, thats a bit misleading. However, the high-resolution screen is brilliant for working on Windows applications and the price is attractive. Only the keyboard and touchpad detract from it. If size isnt so important, HPs Envy 6 is a better all-round laptop.
800 inc VAT From www.dixons.co.uk
TOSHIBA Satellite Z930
Its very thin and light with decent performance, but you can buy similar laptops for a lot less THE TOSHIBA SATELLITE Z930 has a sleek, ultra-thin chassis. Theres a USB3 port on the right and two 3.5mm audio jacks and a multiformat card reader on the left, but youll need to reach around the back for the HDMI and VGA video outputs, full-size Gigabit Ethernet and two regular USB ports. Inside is an Intel Core i5-3317U processor, 6GB of RAM and a 120GB SSD. Its overall score of 51 in our tests means the Z930 offers similar performance to the competition. The lack of moving parts helps keep power consumption down, so it should come as no surprised that the Z930 lasted over seven hours in our light-use battery test. Its not the best result weve seen from an Ultrabook, but its enough to get you through the working day without having to nd a mains socket. Another reason for the great battery life is that Toshiba has opted for integrated graphics. Unfortunately, Intels HD 4000 GPU will take you only so far, and it managed just 19.8fps in our Dirt 3 test. The downside with such a thin laptop is that theres little room for a keyboard with a comfortable amount of travel. The Z930 has a full-size keyboard, but the keys themselves have almost no travel. The keyboard is backlit, making it easier to work on in dark environments, but its not the best weve seen. We had a better time with the touchpad, which has separate physical buttons rather than an all-in-one design. Again, button travel is limited, but they feel much more responsive in use. The touchpad is a decent size, using the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the 13.3in screen, although its not quite sensitive enough to cover the entire desktop in a single swipe. Typically for a mid-range Ultrabook, the 13.3in display has a 1,366x768 resolution that looks sharp, but not spectacular. A matt nish helps keep light reections to a minimum and theres plenty of screen tilt, but thats where the positive points end. The screen isnt particularly bright, with washed-out colours,
VERDICT
and viewing angles are hopeless. Anything less than a direct-on angle results in washedout colours. We also noticed that the screen wobbles alarmingly on its hinges with only minimal force, which is disappointing in an 800 laptop. At 800, the Z930 is slightly more expensive than other mid-range Ultrabooks currently available, and although it has the benet of solid-state storage, it falls down in other areas and struggles to justify the extra expense. They keyboard isnt particularly comfortable to type on and the screen is disappointingly loose. Its not a particularly high-quality panel, either, and although we appreciate the matt nish, it noticeably affects colour reproduction. HPs Envy 4 is a better buy overall, even if it isnt quite as thin or light, and it costs 100 less.
| DECEMBER 2012
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BENCHMARKS
2D performance
Overall
63 54 53 51 51 51 51 50 49 48 48 18
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3D performance
Multitasking
60 49 48 48 47 47 46 45 43 43 42 12
20.9 20 19.8 19.8 17.9 16.3 15.8 14.7 12.9 32.8 25.9
Dirt 3
77.3
Image editing
81 80 77 51 73 51 73 51 71 51 71 49 71 48 69 48 69 39 18 38 66
Video encoding
57 52 48 48 48 47 46 46 46 45 44 16
Our laptop Dirt 3 test shows how well a laptop copes with light gaming.
Settings 1,280x720 resolution, 4x AA, high detail
Battery life
Light-usage test (hours)
9h 49m 9h 47m 8h 7m 7h 40m 7h 39m 7h 17m 7h 16m 6h 55m 6h 37m
Our new benchmark suite allows us to compare Windows, Mac OS X and Linux PCs. The tests use open-source applications to gauge a PCs performance, and comprise image-editing, video-editing and multitasking elements. These scores are added to produce the overall score. Our reference PC is tted with an Intel Core i5-2500K processor and 4GB
of DDR3 RAM. We normalised all its results to 100, which makes it easy to draw comparisons. We use the same tests in all our reviews. You can download the tests for free from http://bit.ly/shopperbenchmarks.
SETTINGS We run our application tests at native resolution and in 32-bit colour WEB http://bit.ly/shopperbenchmarks
6h 8m 5h 36m 3h 17m
Our battery test involves light browser use with the screen at its medium brightness setting.
Settings Native resolution, screen at half brightness
VERDICT
We were impressed with a number of laptops in this test. Dells XPS 14 and Lenovos IdeaPad U410 manage to squeeze dedicated graphics into the connes of the Ultrabook specication, while Samsungs incredibly thin Series 9 is one of the most portable 15in laptops around. Ultrabooks used to cost upwards of 1,000, but HPs Envy 6 marks the platforms entry to the mainstream. For 700, you get a 15.6in display, great desktop performance, gorgeous styling and a phenomenal 10-hour battery life. It earns a Best Buy award. Its impossible not to see Samsungs Series 5 Ultrathin as a bargain. Its AMD Trinity A6 processor can still perform everyday tasks smoothly, including web browsing and multimedia playback. With a ve-hour battery life, you wont spend all day looking for a mains socket, and its compact chassis is identical to its Ultrabook counterparts. It wins a Budget Buy award.
HP Envy 6
SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultrathin
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ULTRA-PORTABLES
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BEST BUY
ASUS DELL ZenBook UX32A XPS 14

Rating
Processor Speed Number of cores Memory installed Memory slots (free) Maximum memory Dimensions (HxWxD) Weight Sound Pointing device Power consumption standby Power consumption idle Power consumption active DISPLAY Screen size Native resolution Graphics adaptor Graphics outputs Graphics memory STORAGE Hard disk capacity/ capacities Optical drive USB ports FireWire Bluetooth Networking PC card slots Memory card reader Other ports None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100 via adaptor, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro Mini-jack headset port, 2x USB3 MISCELLANEOUS Carrying case Operating system Operating system restore option Software included Other standard accessories Optional extras (price inc VAT) BUYING INFORMATION Parts and labour warranty Price including VAT Details Supplier Part code 750 www.asus.com www.amazon.co.uk UX32A-R3007V 1,129 www.dell.co.uk www.dell.co.uk N00X1421 Two-year RTB One-year RTB None None Microsoft Oce 2010 Starter Edition 1.3-megapixel webcam Microsoft oce 2010 Starter Edition 1.3-megapixel webcam No Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Restore partition No Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Restore partition None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo 3.5mm audio output None 2 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n 500GB 500GB 13.3in LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI, VGA via adaptor 384MB shared 14in widescreen LCD 1,600x900 Nvidia GeForce GT 630M HDMI 1GB dedicated 10W 29W 14W 57W
HP Envy 4
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 6GB 2 (0) 8GB 19x340x235mm 1.8kg IDT HD Audio Touchpad 0W 19W 36W
HP Envy 6
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 4GB 2 (0) 16GB 20x374x253mm 2.2kg IDT HD Audio Touchpad 0W 9W 29W
LENOVO IdeaPad U310
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 4GB 2 (0) 8GB 18x333x225mm 1.6kg Conexant SmartAudio HD Touchpad 0W 9W 29W
LENOVO IdeaPad U410
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 6GB 2 (0) 8GB 21x344x235mm 1.9kg Conexant SmartAudio HD Touchpad 0W 12W 49W
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 4GB 2 (0) 8GB 18x325x223mm 1.5kg Realtek HD Audio Touchpad 0W
Intel Core i7-3517U 1.9GHz 2 8GB 2 (0) 16GB 21x336x233mm 2.1kg Realtek HD Audio Touchpad 0W
14in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI 384MB shared 500GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo 3.5mm audio output
15.6in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI 384MB shared 500GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDXC, Memory stick Pro, MMC Mini-jack audio output, mini-jack microphone input, 2x USB3
13.3in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI 384MB shared 500GB None 3 0 No 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo 3.5mm audio output
14in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Nvidia GeForce 610M HDMI 1GB dedicated 1TB None 4 0 No 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo Mini-jack audio output, mini-jack microphone input, 2x USB3
PORTS AND EXPANSION
No Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Restore partition Microsoft Oce 2010 Starter Edition 1.3-megapixel webcam None
One-year RTB 700 www.hp.co.uk www.currys.co.uk Envy 4-1020E
One-year RTB 700 www.hp.co.uk www.currys.co.uk Envy 6-1010sa
One-year RTB 650 www.lenovo.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk MAG66UK
One-year RTB 700 www.lenovo.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk MAH63UK
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BUDGET BUY
ULTRA-PORTABLES
SAMSUNG SAMSUNG Series 5 Ultrathin Series 9 (15in)
AMD A6-4455M 2.1GHz 2 6GB 2 (0) 8GB 20x333x230mm 1.9kg Realtek HD Audio Touchpad 0W 12W 37W
SCHENKER XMG A102
Intel Core i5-3320M 2.6GHz 2 4GB 2 (0) 16GB 37x287x207mm 1.7kg Via HD Audio Touchpad 0W 31W 87W
SONY Vaio T13
Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz 2 4GB 2 (0) 8GB 18x323x216mm 1.6kg Realtek HD Audio Touchpad 0W 12W 27W
TOSHIBA Satellite U840W
TOSHIBA Satellite Z930
13.3in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 AMD Radeon HD 7500G HDMI 512MB shared 500GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro Mini-jack headset port, 1x USB3
15in widescreen LCD 1,600x900 Intel HD 4000 Micro-HDMI, mini VGA 384MB shared 128GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000 via adaptor, 802.11n None SDXC, MMC Mini-jack headset port, 2x USB3
11.6in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Nvidia GeForce GT 650M HDMI, VGA 2GB dedicated 120GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro Mini-jack audio output, mini-jack microphone input, 2x USB3
13.3in LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI, VGA 384MB shared 128GB None 2 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo Mini-jack headset port, 1x USB3
14.4in widescreen LCD 1,792x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI 384MB shared 500GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100, 802.11n None SDXC, Memory Stick Pro, MMC Mini-jack audio output, mini-jack microphone input, 3x USB3
13.3in widescreen LCD 1,366x768 Intel HD 4000 HDMI, VGA 384MB shared 128GB None 3 0 Yes 1x 10/100/1,000, 802.11n None SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick Pro/Duo Mini-jack audio output, mini-jack microphone input, 2x USB3 No Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Restore partition Microsoft Oce 2010 Starter Edition 1.3-megapixel webcam None
No Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Windows disc None 1.3-megapixel webcam External DVD optical drive 39, external Blu-ray optical drive 95
One-year RTB 483 www.samsung.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk NP535U3C
One-year RTB 931 www.samsung.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk NP900X4B
Two-year collect and return 799 www.mysn.co.uk www.mysn.co.uk XMG A102
One-year RTB 860 www.sony.co.uk www.dabs.com SVT1311W1ES.CEK
One-year RTB 900 www.toshiba.co.uk www.dixons.co.uk U840W-107
One-year RTB 800 www.toshiba-europe.com www.dixons.co.uk Z930-10X
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Prices correct at time of going to press
eREADERS
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eREADERS
CONTENT REVIEWS
Page 104
Reading frenzy
With an eReader you can carry a huge number of electronic books with you and buy new titles instantly. We review 10 of the best, plus the top eReader apps for your tablet and smartphone
WHEN CHOOSING AN eReader there are a number of factors to consider besides its specications. You need to nd out how easy it is to buy new eBooks for the device, which bookstores you can use, how easy those books are to read on a specic device and whether you can read the books youve bought on multiple devices.
AMAZON Kindle AMAZON Kindle Touch
Page 105
KOBO eReader Touch

Page 110
PRESTIGIO Nobile PER5162 TREKSTOR eBook Reader Pyrus

Page 111
BINATONE Kidzstar eReader BINATONE ReadMe Colour

Page 106
AMAZON Kindle app APPLE iBooks

Page 112
BOOKEEN Cybook Odyssey ICARUS eXceL

Page 109
GOOGLE Play Books KOBO eReading app
ICARUS Pocket
At the moment, the market is divided between Amazons Kindle range and the rest. Amazons proprietary AZW le format has its own digital rights management (DRM) scheme, which means you cant easily convert Kindle eBooks for use on other devices. Meanwhile, the rest of the market uses Adobes Digital Editions software, which also uses DRM. The preferred format for eBooks that use Adobes DRM is ePub. Free eBooks were available for download long before the arrival of the Kindle. Project
FORMAT WARS
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Gutenberg, for example, has been going since 1971 and offers over 36,000 free titles that are in the public domain. Some of these are in text or HTML formats, which are easy to convert, but others have been formatted for use on a variety of devices such as PDAs. Another site that offers a huge collection of books in different formats is http:// manybooks.net. If you plan to download a lot of free eBooks, its worth choosing a reader that supports a wide range of different formats or you can use a utility such as Calibre (calibre-ebook.com) to convert them. purchases. Both the Amazon and Kobo eReaders allow you to synchronise your bookmarks, so you can save your position in a book when reading it on one device and then resume from the same place on Amazons or Kobos apps, for example, which run on everything from iOS and Android devices to BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. Even though some eReaders have built-in Wi-Fi, we recommend loading your device with eBooks before you go abroad rather than relying on Wi-Fi hotspots. Many eReaders have web browsers that can access hotspot landing pages, but theres no guarantee youll be able to enter a username and password and log on to the service. It all depends on how the web page is written, as some use JavaScript or Flash, which the eReaders browser might not support.
eREADERS
TRANSFER SEASON
The ease with which you can transfer eBooks from the bookstore to your device is another consideration. Services such as Amazon and Kobo make this as simple as possible, allowing you to choose a book from a web page on the device and delivering it over a wireless connection directly to your eReader. If you prefer to browse catalogues from the comfort of your computer screen, you can still order books through websites and have them delivered to your eReader. Before you can read eBooks that use Adobes DRM system, you need to create an Adobe account. You do this before you buy your eBooks, and must also use Adobes Digital Editions software to register your device. Most online bookstores that use this system require you to create an account using the same email address you used for your Adobe ID. You can then buy books and store them on up to six different devices, including PCs, laptops, mobile phones and eReaders. If your eReader doesnt support Wi-Fi, youll have to plug it into a USB port on your PC or laptop to synchronise your
While Kindle users can only buy books from Amazons (admittedly vast) catalogue, other eBook owners have a wider choice. Some manufacturers, such as Kobo, offer their own catalogues, but all the eReaders we tested, except the Kindle, also support the ePub book format, so you can buy eBooks from shops such as Waterstones and WH Smith. If you have an Apple device, you can buy books from Apples iBooks store, while Android users can purchase titles for their devices from Google Play. If your device or app allows you to buy eBooks from a range of bookshops, its worth shopping around or using a price-comparison website such as Luzme (www.luzme.com), which compares UK and US eBook prices and warns you of any restrictions there might be on how and where you can use your eBook.
BUYING BOOKS
Although the screens of most eReaders use the same E Ink technology, theyre not all of the same quality. Some have better contrast, while others have higher resolutions. Very few readers with colour E Ink screens are available the two colour readers in this months group test have tablet-style LCD screens. E Ink screens have to reset themselves after every few page turns to ensure that the black and white particles dont get stuck. If a page isnt properly refreshed, youll see a ghosting effect as the remains of the previous page are left onscreen. Some eReaders let you specify the number of page turns before a full refresh, so you can nd the right balance between quick page turns and clear pixels. A screens readability is also determined by other factors, such as the font face, font size and line width. In each review, we point out how easy it is to adjust the text to suit your tastes. Generally speaking, serif fonts are easier on the eye, while sans serif fonts look cleaner. Some eReaders can embolden the text to increase legibility without making characters bigger, which means you dont have to turn the page more often.
SCREEN TEST
While most eBook formats allow you to change the look of the text, and many eReaders can reow it to t the screen, some formats such as PDF treat text as an image. These are often pages that have been scanned directly from the original book, so you cant change the font or the spacing between lines. Instead, you have to zoom in or out. This is ne if the original text is well laid out, but some books have multiple columns, so youll have to move around the page to read it all.
FLOWING TEXT
Adobe Digital Editions

If youre not buying the Amazon Kindle, youll need an alternative way to buy and store your eBooks. The rival method is Adobes Digital Editions software, which youll need if you want to read eBooks bought from online bookstores. Once youve downloaded and installed the software on your PC, you must register for an Adobe ID, which will let you follow the setup process and authorise your computer. From then on, any eBooks you buy from book shops that support Adobes ID system, such as eBooks in ePub or ACSM formats, will open automatically in Digital Editions, and youll be able to transfer them to your eReader.
The Digital Editions interface

The book youre currently reading is displayed here. You can read it on your PC using Digital Editions, or you can transfer it to your eReader You can sort the books in your library according to a number of criteria using the drop-down menu
The menu on the left lists collections of books. Your eReader will appear at the bottom of this list when you plug it in
All the eBooks youve bought are displayed in the library. You can organise them into smaller groups by creating new Collections
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eREADERS
AMAZON Kindle
VERDICT
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Little has changed in the new Kindle, but then little needed to change WHEN AMAZON INTRODUCED its entry-level eReader at the end of last year, it took a minimal approach, removing the keyboard and leaving a handful of buttons to navigate menus and turn pages. This didnt really matter, though, as most of the Kindle users we know buy their books through Amazons website rather than through the Kindle. The new 2012 model continues the same formula but has a new dark grey nish and, according to Amazon, 15 per cent faster page turns. The Kindle is Wi-Fi only, so if you want to buy a book while youre away from home, youll need to nd a wireless hotspot, enter its password using the directional keypad to control the onscreen keyboard and then do the same to search for your book. Entering one letter at a time with the keypad is a little tedious but its hardly a disaster if you only do it once in a while. The Kindle is highly portable and even slips easily into the back pocket of a pair of jeans. It measures just 166x114x9mm and weighs only 170g, so its well under half the weight of a typical paperback book. It contains a reasonably sized battery, which Amazon claims will last a month with Wi-Fi turned off, although the company doesnt provide a gure for the number of page turns. Its no surprise to see that Amazon has kept the same 6in E ink Pearl screen. Its still the best screen weve seen in an eReader, with great contrast for easier reading. Amazon claims to have increased the speed of page turns by 15 per cent, but we didnt notice any practical improvement when we compared them head to head. The device still has a pair of page-turn buttons on either side of the screen. These are neatly integrated into the bevelled edges and give excellent feedback. The Kindle is denitely a cut-price reader, but the only areas in which its specication doesnt match up to the competition is in its memory capacity and audio playback. It has just 2GB of storage, 1.25GB of which is available for books, but thats still enough for around 1,400 books according to Amazon. Unlike most non-Amazon readers on the market, theres no microSD or SD card slot for expansion. Audiobooks are also off the menu, as theres no audio output although that makes the smaller memory capacity less of an issue. At this price, the Kindles main rival is the Kobo eReader Touch, which costs 11 more. The Kobo reader has a touchscreen and allows you to buy books from other stores such as WH Smith and Waterstones, but the Kindle has the edge for screen quality. If youre prepared to stick with Amazon, the new Kindle is an excellent device at a very competitive price. Anyone who just needs the basics, or who wants the lightest Kindle on offer, should buy one without hesitation.
AMAZON Kindle Touch

The touchscreen adds more to the Kindle than just an easy way to turn pages. Its an excellent eReader THE KINDLE TOUCH uses the same 6in E Ink Pearl display as the other Kindles and has all the usual benets, such as great contrast, good visibility in most light conditions and a reasonable resolution for smaller fonts. The big difference is its touch capability. An optical sensor around the edge of the display detects where your nger lands on the screen. The touchscreen works well for reading. Tapping in most places turns the page, while tapping on the far left-hand side goes back a page and tapping the top of the screen brings up the menu bar. You can also swipe from right to left to turn to the next page and from left to right to turn back. The touchscreen provides little advantage over the standard Kindles buttons when youre reading books in portrait orientation, but in landscape mode the touchscreen buttons change their function to suit the new reading position. The touchscreen shows its worth when using the Kindles other functions. Buying books on the eReader is a breeze, but if youre planning on travelling with your Kindle, you should note that the 3G version of the Kindle Touch costs a huge 60 more than the basic Wi-Fi version. The touchscreen also makes managing the books on your Kindle far easier. You can now press and hold to bring up a menu with options for deleting unwanted samples, reading the books description or viewing notes youve made. The Kindle Touchs onscreen keyboard works well for making annotations too. It offers to complete words as you type, but doesnt correct mistakes automatically as a smartphone does. Theres also a headphone port, and the Kindle Touch retains the keyboard models audio capabilities. These let you listen to Audible audiobooks and MP3s, although the latter is still positioned under the Experimental menu alongside the limited web browser. There are a couple of small speakers on the rear, but theyre very weak and suitable only for use in the quietest environments. The text-tospeech feature is also present if you fancy having your bedtime story read to you by a robot. The Kindle Touch has 4GB of storage space and can hold approximately 3,000 books, twice as many as the basic Kindle. It also has the same battery as the older model, which is twice as big as the basic Kindles. No page turn gures are provided, but Amazon says it should provide two months of light use if Wi-Fi is disabled. The Amazon Kindle Touch costs 50 more than the standard Kindle but it has more memory and a bigger battery. The touchscreen works awlessly, not just for turning pages but also when navigating your books and helping you buy new titles without using a PC. We feel that the touchscreen makes the Kindle Touch worth the slightly higher price. Its still our favourite eReader.
VERDICT
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BINATONE Kidzstar eReader
VERDICT
70 inc VAT From www.argos.co.uk
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eREADERS
This cheap, tough eReader can take a few knocks, but its child-friendliness is patchy and its features sparse THE KIDZSTAR BRAND is owned by Binatone, and a graphic on the box implies that this eReader is suitable for children younger than four. At rst glance, it certainly looks child-friendly. The device is encased in a removable silicone rubber bumper that protects it from knocks. Theres no screen guard, however, and its not splashproof. Under the bumper the eReader is almost identical to Binatones ReadMe Colour which isnt necessarily good. The control layout is frustrating: the right-hand bezel contains up, down and right arrows, while the left bezel has only a left arrow, so you cant change pages or navigate the menu when using it left-handed. The reader weighs nearly half a kilogram, though, so youre unlikely to want to hold it in one hand for long. Switch the reader on and there are signs that the child-friendliness is more than skin deep. The Kidzstars menu looks like a cartoon bookcase and displays the current book, history, favourites and the library. The foot of the page offers cute icons for the audio, video and photo functions, and technical features are sensibly tidied away behind a More icon. The graphics are appealing, so its a shame that Binatone couldnt think of more child-friendly labels than Continue Reading or Read Records (which displays recently read eBooks). Its also unfortunate that selecting any of the media playback features displays a dry le list. While the library view offers fun graphics, having to trawl through it by lename isnt much fun you cant list books by author or title, or do a keyword search. The Kidzstar supports a reasonable range of formats, the only notable omission being HTML. TXT les were typically quick to open, but ePub and particularly MOBI les were quite slow the latter isnt listed among the supported formats, but our test le was displayed with no errors. The options for displaying a book are limited. A Zoom button cycles through four magnication levels, while a Menu key lets you mark a page as a favourite, set the brightness, jump to a specic page or in non-reowable documents zoom out to show the whole page. You cant change the font and theres no support for keyword searching or annotations, but there is an accelerometer that changes the screen orientation automatically. The screen may be a colour LCD, but its not as crisp as an E Ink screen and isnt easy to see in sunlight. The backlight also reduces battery life to hours rather than weeks. There are things to like about the Kidzstar, but its not completely child-friendly and not as easy to use as it should be. For younger kids wed suggest supervised reading with a tablet or smartphone, while older children could probably live without colour pictures and be trusted with a regular mono eReader.
BINATONE ReadMe Colour

50 inc VAT From www.maplin.co.uk
Incredibly cheap for a colour eBook reader, but it feels it. Serious readers should spend more for something with an E Ink screen THE README COLOUR has an LCD screen with a backlight rather than a greyscale E Ink screen. This means its easier to read in the dark, but the battery life is far shorter youll only get four hours of use on one charge. The screen has a lower resolution with less brightness and contrast than a typical tablet display. The lack of brightness means its not too tiring to read under moderate lighting, but its no good in sunlight. The resolution also means it isnt as sharp as an E Ink display, which makes it less comfortable to read. This device may be cheap but its also extremely basic. It has no touchscreen or Wi-Fi, and it even lacks less exotic features such as a music player. You can expand the available storage with a microSD card, and this is an absolute necessity: the reader has just 128MB of storage, only 10MB of which was available for use on the sample we tested. The ReadMe Colour also feels cheap. While many other readers have bevelled edges and a soft nish thats easy to grip, the ReadMe is made from hard plastic thats not particularly pleasant to hold. The bezel at the bottom of the screen can also cause distracting reections. The controls are no better. The buttons let out a brittle click when pressed and arent placed very conveniently. Instead of grouping the up, down, left, right and action buttons together, left is on the left bezel, while right, up, down and an action button are on the right. Menu, Zoom and Back buttons are at the foot of the screen, which makes it impossible to use the device when holding it in your left hand. The position of the controls also makes using menus more frustrating than necessary, as it takes time to get used to the various positions of the up, down, left, right, select and back controls. We quite like the bookshelf graphics and the way items are highlighted by switching on the virtual light above them, but the library view is poor books cant be searched by title or author, or sorted by anything other than lename. Their cover images also dont appear until after theyve been opened. Opening a book on the ReadMe can be quite slow, and turning the page takes about a second. Good E Ink readers are much quicker. You cant change the font, search by keyword or add annotations, but theres a simple favourites system and you can jump to a particular page number. Theres a choice of four brightness levels and the screen can be manually re-orientated between portrait and landscape. This eReader might be tempting to those on a tight budget, but its cheap feel and basic features mean its best avoided unless you absolutely need to have the cheapest possible colour eReader. If youre not worried about colour, youd be much better off spending 20 more on the Icarus Pocket or Amazons Kindle.
VERDICT
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eREADERS
VERDICT
BOOKEEN Cybook Odyssey

125 inc VAT From www.pixmania.co.uk
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Despite some unusual features, this eReader is too expensive to recommend over its very competent rivals THE CYBOOK ODYSSEY is Bookeens rst touchscreen eReader. It feels sturdy and has a black, brushed metal back. Buttons set into the left and right edges of the reader allow you to turn the page if youd rather not touch the screen with wet or greasy hands. The 600x800 display is the usual E Ink version youll nd on most eBook readers, but rather than the infrared touchscreen system used by rivals from Kobo, Sony and Amazon, the Odyssey has a capacitive touchscreen. This makes little difference except that you cant turn pages when wearing gloves. The Odysseys 2GB of built-in storage is enough to hold around 666 eBooks at a typical size of 3MB. You may need extra capacity if you also want to use the Odysseys built-in MP3 player to listen to audiobooks, but theres a microSD card slot for this. Theres no dedicated software, but the Odyssey is compatible with Adobes Digital Editions. It can handle ePub, PDF, HTML, FB2 and TXT document formats, as well as JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, ICO, TIF and PSD images. The device cant reow PDF les as you zoom into them, so you may nd that you have to scroll around the page if you need to zoom in to read a PDF comfortably. This situation can be improved slightly by using the Odyssey in landscape mode. Unlike most eBook readers, the Odyssey has an accelerometer that lets it rotate the page depending on whether youre holding it in portrait or landscape mode. Unfortunately, the reader sometimes rotated its display at random during our tests. On one occasion the page-turning function also got stuck, causing the reader to turn page after page without any interaction from us. Both issues occurred in slightly damp conditions, so they may have been caused by moisture. The onscreen keyboard makes entering Wi-Fi passwords and search terms easy, but the default font size is too large for the screen. You can avoid a lot of unnecessary page turning by adjusting this in the settings menu. You can even change the font family, which is helpful if you nd serif fonts easier to read. As with most eBook readers, you can add and edit highlights, bookmarks and notes. You can also jump between pages and access the eBooks contents in a menu rather than returning to the main contents page. The Odyssey is surprisingly expensive for a touchscreen eBook reader. It costs more than both the outstanding Kindle Touch and the budget 80 Kobo eReader Touch. Bookeen has incorporated some unique features, most notably the capacitive touchscreen and the accelerometer. However, during our tests the capacitive touchscreen made little difference and had some possible drawbacks. If you want an ePub reader, which lets you shop around for eBooks, we prefer Kobos device.
ICARUS eXceL
350 (around 277) inc VAT From www.icarusreader.com/store
This huge eReader has some great features, but they arent all easy to use and its very expensive THE HUGE ICARUS eXcel is certainly packed with features. The vast screen has twice the area of a typical 6in display, and its 1,200x825 resolution gives it twice as many pixels, resulting in huge, crisp documents. The screen helps in the menu system, too, which has room for plenty of icons, a progress display for the most recently read title and even an analogue clockface. While its not a touchscreen as such, a stylus system lets you select, navigate and make onscreen annotations. Theres also Wi-Fi, and support for a wide range of le formats including Microsoft Oce documents. The eXceLs screen may be large, but its quite a slim device and its slim bezel means its not too huge. This contributes to a smart look that continues with its controls. On the left of the screen are home and back buttons plus left and right navigation, while on the right is a joystick with a centre push for select. Their positioning makes one-handed use easy, but the half-kilogram weight means youre better off using both hands. Disappointingly Icarus hasnt made a place to stow the stylus, which you need to operate the touchscreen. The eXceL opened all our test les including Doc and Docx Word documents, although page turning was inconsistent in both types, and we sometimes had to hunt backwards for skipped parts of the document. Our test HTML le opened in a browser and switched on Wi-Fi unnecessarily. When viewing a document, the stylus lets you select hyperlinked chapter headings if there are any, or you can gesture up and down to turn the page. The screen was slower to update than a Kindles, even when we turned off the default full refresh with each page turn. With full refresh disabled, ghosting became visible after a couple of turns. A huge range of options are available, from comprehensive annotation and highlighting features to bookmarking, searching and dictionary queries. Notes can be written using the onscreen keyboard or entered using handwriting recognition, although we found the latter unreliable. Its possible to zoom in up to 500 per cent, which might make this a great reader for people with impaired sight, but getting text-to-speech working was tricky, and when it worked it pronounced common contractions such as wont incorrectly. Given the sophistication elsewhere its a pity that you can only browse content on the eXceL through a folder structure. Theres no library listing books by title, author or genre. Fortunately there is a search function that matches by author, title or lename, so its not the hindrance it could be. This is a good reader, but its size wont appeal to all users, and it isnt as impressive as it needs to be to justify its price. If you have this much to spend on a large device, an iPad or Android tablet is a more exible choice.
VERDICT
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ICARUS Pocket
VERDICT
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eREADERS
90 (around 71) inc VAT From www.icarusreader.com/store
An eReader thats as easy to use as it is comfortable to hold. Its just a little too expensive to be a winner ICARUSS ENTRY-LEVEL Pocket eReader looks smart and makes a great rst impression. Its about the same size as the Kindle Touch, and is nished in a soft plastic thats easy to grip. It weighs just 214 grams and has left and right navigation buttons on each side of the screen, so its perfect for comfortable one-handed use. Although this is a basic eReader, Icarus hasnt cut important corners. It has a 3.5mm headphone socket for audio playback, a generous 4GB of onboard storage (about 3.2GB of which is available) and a microSD card slot for adding more. Theres also an intuitive set of controls comprising a four-way rocker with a central OK button, home, menu, back and refresh buttons. The refresh button seems an odd addition until you begin to use the Pocket, as the screen quickly begins to show the ghosts of previous pages. The refresh button triggers a full redraw, and theres also a menu option to refresh the screen each time the content is updated. We prefer slightly slower update times over distracting ghosting, but its good to have the choice. The menu system is generally good, with an attractive homepage that displays the most recently read title along with icons for other recent reads, the entire library, a le manager and other key functions. The dedicated navigation buttons make it easy to move around, and the reader and screen respond quickly. Its not perfect, however. In the library, the default, icon-based menu crams the book title and author of PDF books on to the icon on a single line: Dracula, by Bram Stoker is just legible, for example, but eBook of Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte isnt. Switch to the list view and the situation improves greatly. A books key details are easy to see and you can sort by name, author or type, or search for titles although sadly not the author name. The Pocket was slow to open some le types and our Oce documents were displayed with imperfect kerning, but otherwise it coped well with all our test les. While reading, you can search the text, add bookmarks and jump to a page number, as well as control background MP3 playback, which sounded particularly clear. The screen can be rotated manually through four positions, and theres a comprehensive set of font, spacing, margin and zoom options. Its an impressive set of useful features, although text-to-speech and annotations are notable omissions. We found that the Pocket was sometimes reluctant to switch on, requiring several presses of the power button, but this quirk aside its a great eReader. However, at just 9 less than the much more sophisticated Kobo eReader Touch, it misses out on an award.
KOBO eReader Touch

80 inc VAT From www.whsmith.co.uk
VERDICT
A touchscreen interface, rich text-formatting options and social networking features make the Kobo eReader Touch a great alternative to the Kindle KOBOS BOOK STORE, eReaders and mobile phone apps form the most comprehensive alternative to Amazons Kindle eBook system. With ePub support, the range also enables you to buy books from retailers such as Waterstones and WH Smith. The eReader Touch is Kobos touchscreen model, and at 29 less than the Kindle Touch its a bargain. A single button under the screen takes you back to the Home page, but otherwise the device is operated entirely through the touchscreen. Books can be transferred to the eReader Touch over USB or Wi-Fi. The device supports text, HTML, RTF and ePub and MOBI eBook les and can even read Amazons AZW les, although not those with DRM protection only those downloaded from Project Gutenberg. We found that HTML les caused the device to slow down but otherwise all our test les loaded correctly. The Home screen displays the covers of recently opened books. This works for formats such as ePub that have a cover image attached, but our HTML eBooks simply displayed a generic book icon. A menu at the top of page links to your library, the Kobo book store and Kobos Reading Life section, which is a social networking add-on that lets you unlock achievements, as you would in a game. Reading books on the eReader Touch is one of the best eBook experiences weve had. Page turns are snappy, and you can either swipe to turn the page or simply tap on one side of the screen. Tapping in the middle of the page brings up a menu, which you can customise. Its possible to make the tapping areas on either the left or right side larger so that the device is easier to use in your left or right hand. You can change not only the text size but also the font face (theres a choice of seven fonts, both serif and sans serif), line spacing, margin size and justication. You can use a slider to scan through pages, with arrows for ne adjustment and an undo button that takes you back to the page you were reading. You can also use the menu to look up or translate words, although its easier simply to press and hold on a word, which brings up an adjustable box that you can use to select a phrase. Sadly, this doesnt work in all eBook formats. Closing a book adds a bookmark, but you have to press the sync button on the homepage to synchronise your bookmarks with your other devices. When you consider its wealth of features, including social networking and an intuitive touchscreen interface, the Kobo eReader Touch is a bargain. Its also signicantly cheaper than Amazons Kindle Touch. If you dont want to be tied to Amazons system, its the best alternative, and it wins a Best Buy award.
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eREADERS
PRESTIGIO Nobile PER5162

119 (approx 94) inc VAT From www.prestigioplaza.com
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VERDICT
A premium reader that, despite some strengths and a decent case, isnt especially good value WHEN YOU BUY an eReader theres usually little else in the box, but Prestigios Nobile PER5162 comes with a nicely made portfolio case and a pair of earphones. Thats not the only way it stands out either. As well as the usual navigation buttons it has a full keyboard like that of the (discontinued) thirdgeneration Kindle. It supports a wide range of formats and has Wi-Fi, stereo speakers and even an FM radio. Were not keen on the way the PER5162 looks or feels. At 241g its not too heavy, but its made from shiny black plastic that lacks the soft touch of other readers, and has a chrome-coloured plastic line around the edge. Its looks may be a matter of taste, but were not convinced by other elements of the design, either. We like the muted click of its buttons, but as there are none on the left-hand side of the screen, you can only read one-handed if you use your right hand. Turn the reader on and you see an icon-based desktop with the key functions, such as the reading history and book library, near the top. This is just as well, as the full menu comprises 16 icons spread over two pages. It would be better to group less frequently used items together in submenus. Selecting the Books option takes you to the library view, where you can sort by lename, size, date or le type but not by author or book title. Oddly, this view doesnt include eBooks bought online and transferred to the device over Adobe Digital Editions. To nd these, you must select Folders from the desktop, select the device memory and open the Digital Editions folder. Once youve factored in the process of using Digital Editions to copy eBooks to the reader in the rst place, the PER5162 is nowhere near as easy to use as the Kindle or Kobo readers. You have the usual zoom, bookmarking and annotation options when reading, although the latter extends only to underlining rather than adding notes. A setup submenu lets you change the line spacing, text-to-speech and screen refresh settings. The PER5162 seemed less prone to ghosting than other readers when using the default partial refresh, although page turns werent especially snappy. Its accelerometer re-orientates the page automatically to match the reader, so at a push you could invert the reader to use it with your left hand, but the page numbering and title bars remain stubbornly at their original orientation. If you can live with this eReaders unlovable looks and annoying menus, it turns out to have quite a few strengths. It supports one of the widest ranges of le formats weve seen, for example, and displayed each of our test les perfectly. It costs signicantly more than Kobos eReader Touch, however. If you can live without audio playback and text to speech, Kobos reader is a much better choice.
TREKSTOR eBook Reader Pyrus
VERDICT
It may be inexpensive, but this eBook reader falls down on design and screen quality compared with its rivals WHILE MOST OF TrekStors eBook readers have colour LCD screens and can double as media players, the 6in Pyrus is a more traditional reader with an e-paper display and few extras. Theres no integrated MP3 player for your audiobooks, for example. Weve seen much better e-paper displays than the Pyruss 6in version. We dont seriously object to the slightly yellowish background, but the soft edges to text and slow refresh rate dont compare well to most rivals. The design isnt brilliant, either. Its a little too wide to hold comfortably in one hand, particularly if your hands are small. The page turn buttons are well positioned though, and with forward and back buttons on each side of the display, you can easily reach them both whichever hand the device is in. Four labelled control keys at the bottom of the reader take you home, open the settings menu for the current screen or document, go back a step and open the search box. In the centre is a four-way navigation pad with a centre button with an uncomfortable spike in the middle. These controls let you move around your library, select letters for text entry and navigate menus. The software gives you access to TrekStors bookshop and lets you authorise your reader for eBooks encrypted with Adobe Digital Editions DRM. The rst time you run the program, youre prompted to download and install Adobe Digital Editions. If you already have an Adobe account, you can log into it through the Digital Editions software to access any titles youve already bought. The Pyrus is compatible with a wide range of eBook formats, including the ubiquitous ePub format sold by online retailers from Foyles to WH Smith, and you can also buy ePub books directly from many publishers websites. We tested the Pyrus with various other le formats, including HTML, MOBI, TXT and PDF, all of which worked. We were pleased with the readers ability to reow and resize the text even from a heavily illustrated PDF while still leaving the illustrations in a sensible position. Its not perfect but its good enough for reading product manuals, for example. With other formats, we had occasional problems with the default size and margins of the text. Our test ePub les were rendered with inordinately large lettering, but we were able to change the font size from large to the more readable medium size in the settings menu. The Pyrus has 4GB of internal storage and a microSDHC card slot that accepts up to 32GB of extra space, so you wont run out of room for books. At the low price of 68, the readers lack of features is forgivable, but its awkward size and mediocre screen made it rather uncomfortable to use. Both the Kobo eReader Touch and Amazon Kindle Touch are worth the extra cost.
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AMAZON Kindle app

Free From www.amazon.co.uk
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eREADER APPS
VERDICT
With Amazons app, the Kindle experience is almost as good on a smartphone or tablet as on a Kindle eReader THERE ARE SEVERAL reasons why Amazons Kindles are popular eReaders, but the main one is that the technology doesnt get in the way of reading. This seamlessness extends to the entire Kindle system, where books, notes and reading progress are synchronised between all the Kindle devices registered to a users account. The Kindle app is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Android and BlackBerry devices and Windows Phone 7 a uniquely wide range among the apps weve reviewed. There are also versions for the PC and Mac, and a browser-based version that should work on almost any other platform. We found the app comparatively slow to load, taking almost 10 seconds on an Android phone or a rst-generation iPad. On Android phones, the initial view is of any items that are already on the device, with recommendations for new books appearing beneath. As with the Kindle eReaders, its possible to browse and buy books directly from the app. The reading view is similar to those of other eReader apps. You can customise the Android version with white, black and sepia themes, and change the font, margin size and line spacing. A slider at the bottom of the screen helps you navigate, along with a text-search box and a Go to menu, which includes links to the cover, contents and specic pages or locations. You can also navigate to previous notes or bookmarks. The iPad version is similar, although the terminology is slightly different; publications are kept on the Device or Cloud and the initial screen does away with the recommendations. Buttons at the top let you lter between books or periodicals. On either device, a long-press on the documents text allows you to add a note or highlight. While theres nothing exceptional about the interface, it does everything well and comes without the chintz of iBooks wooden bookshelves. Like the Kobo Reader, it lets you post extracts of a text or your reading progress to Facebook or even Twitter, but the option is hidden discreetly within the menu system; theres no pressure to share if youd rather just sit down for a quiet read. All Kindle users get an email address to which they can send documents or images to be synchronised with all their Kindle devices. This service supports a wide range of le types, so you can view Oce documents, text, HTML or PDFs as well as eBooks. What lifts this app above the competition, however, is its integration with Amazons huge store and any other Kindle devices you may have. If you dont mind only being able to buy content from the Kindle store rather than independent booksellers, nothing gets close to the integrated Kindle system.
APPLE iBooks
VERDICT
Free From www.apple.com/uk
A slick reading system, but there are more titles on Kindle and more freedom with Kobo IBOOKS IS BOTH a reader and a gateway to Apples iBookstore, which offers a large library of eBooks, some of them free. Unlike most reader apps, its only available for iOS devices theres no Mac, PC or Android version. This might suggest that iBooks and the iBookstore are no use for iPad owners who also have other devices, but the app is more versatile than it seems. While titles bought in the iBookstore cant be transferred to non-Apple platforms, its possible to import PDF and ePub les obtained elsewhere by syncing the app with iTunes. Unfortunately, iBooks wont work with DRM-protected titles from other stores, so if you want to buy books youll need to get them from Apple. This last restriction means that iBook users who buy a third-party eReader wont be able to access their library on it, so its a good thing that iBooks is an excellent reader app, particularly when paired with an iPads large colour screen. The main screen presents an attractive wooden bookshelf on which various titles are stacked. These are initially grouped in collections of books and PDF les, but you can add others for genres, such as crime ction, or for themes, such as holiday reading. The Store makes it easy to search for a book or author, or to browse by category or through bestseller charts. As with other Apple stores, youll need an Apple ID to buy books, but we were prompted to supply one even when downloading free books. Once authorised, book icons appear immediately in the library view and are downloaded within a few seconds. Tapping a book opens it in an interface that mimics the spine curvature and pages of a physical book its easy to use but perhaps a little chintzy compared with the uncluttered view in other apps. Fortunately, you can switch to a full-screen view and select other viewing options such as night or sepia themes. From the reading view you can navigate by chapter, bookmark or notes or search by text or page number. Text can be highlighted, annotated or copied to the clipboard, looked up in a dictionary or used to search the rest of the publication. Like other eBook reading apps, iBooks silently synchronises your reading progress, bookmarks and any notes between devices, which is ideal if you read on an iPhone while commuting and an iPad at home. Apples iBooks is an attractive reader app that provides a slick shopping experience and access to a wide range of books. The catalogue isnt as comprehensive as Amazons, however, and the Kindle app is close to iBooks for features and ease of use. For us, Kindle has the edge, but if you want the freedom to buy eBooks from more than one retailer the Kobo app beats both.
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eREADER APPS
GOOGLE Play Books

Free From www.google.co.uk
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VERDICT
A good start for Google, but Amazon, Apple and Kobo offer a more cohesive package GOOGLES PLAY BOOKS reader lets you read eBooks from the Play store. Its available for Android and iOS devices, including the iPhone and iPad, while a browser-based version should work with almost any browser. Youll need a Google account to use it. Opening Play Books on an iPad takes you to your library, which displays any titles youve bought or sampled. Theres no attempt to emulate iBooks slick bookshelf look titles are presented on a simple grey tray. These can be sorted by date, title and author, and they slide around obligingly when you switch between each. Once youve nished reading a publication, you can tidy it into an archive, leaving the main view for more relevant titles. Those who use Play Books on more than one device will nd that their reading progress is saved and synchronised automatically, as well as any notes or bookmarks. The default reading view is a full-screen white-on-black page with a progress slider and page count at the foot of the display. Tapping the document brings up a range of options that include navigation by chapter, adding bookmarks or notes, a text search feature and book information. The display options include day and night themes and a choice of fonts, line spacing and text sizes, but you can also abandon owable text and view a books original page layout the iPads large screen makes this viable, but its less practical on a smartphone. A long press brings up a text selection tool that offers four highlighting colours and lets you enter notes, perform translations, look up words or search online or within the document text. The Android app looks and works a little differently. The default carousel view displays books with their title and author, and our Galaxy Ss screen had room for only two titles, or four when viewing in landscape orientation. Theres also a list view, but with no sorting options this isnt ideal, either. It supports bookmarks, but you cant add notes and it doesnt support the quick bookmark, note and chapter navigation of the iPad version. Fortunately the page slider displays page and chapter information as it moves, so its still possible to navigate by chapter. The Play Books store sells protected books in ePub format, so you can transfer your purchases to a compatible eReader if you have one. The app doesnt support other le formats, however, so you cant use it to read PDF les; its a bit of an oversight compared with iBooks and the Kobo reader app. This isnt a bad reading app, but its not as slick or full of features as some of the competition and is only useful if you plan to buy or download free books from Google. We recommend Kobos app, which has more features and can handle content bought from stores other than Kobos own.
VERDICT
KOBO eReading app

Free From www.kobobooks.com
A great alternative to Kindle that gives you a wider range of bookstores to choose from LIKE THE KINDLE, Kobos reader and bookstore system includes a range of free apps for various computers and other devices. The Kobo app is available for Macs, PCs and devices that run Android or Apples iOS. Unusually, its also available for the BlackBerry Playbook tablet and BlackBerry smartphones. Just in case that doesnt cover your particular device, theres also a beta release of a web-based instant reader for everything else. Kobos readers and apps include Reading Life a social networking feature thats designed to stimulate sharing, discussion and debate among readers. This has many good points, as it lets you keep track of interesting stats about your reading and allows users to compare notes and share their opinions of various works. For those whod rather keep their reading private, though, it gets the Kobo experience off to a slightly intimidating start. Although integrating your reading with Facebook is optional, Reading Life can be somewhat invasive when left to its own devices, ashing up book recommendations in the Android notications bar and giving patronising awards for doing things as simple as viewing your library of books. Fortunately, most of this behaviour can be turned off, after which you can get on with using the app. On the comparatively small screen of an Android smartphone, the app presents an initial view of recently read titles, with icons beneath to view the full library, access Reading Life or browse the Kobo store. This screen isnt available in landscape mode, and neither view displays the title and author separately. If it isnt visible in the cover art, youll need to switch to the Librarys list view. When reading, you have a choice of day, night and sepia themes along with different font sizes and typefaces. The app shows a useful preview of your changes on some sample text, but theres no option to change the line spacing. The app also lets you mark a section of text and highlight it or add a text note. The iPad version is much the same but as youd expect it has a more graphics-rich interface that offers a choice of themed bookcases. These are divided into shelves that show your entire library or subsets such as books, periodicals or local documents. The iOS version can import ePub and PDF les through iTunes, while the Android app can scan your device to nd and import ePub les automatically. Kobos app is an excellent alternative to Kindle. While we think that the Kindle app is slightly better, this is a great reader if you want to remain free of Amazons system. That said, it would be better still if it had a single menu option that removed all the social features for those who dont want them.
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BEST BUY eReaders BEST BUY BEST BUY
eREADERS
AMAZON Kindle
Rating HARDWARE Screen size and type Screen resolution Total capacity Memory card support Dimensions WxDwH Weight Battery type and charging options Battery life/ page turns Wireless networking 3G Ports 6in mono 600x800 2,048MB None 166x114x9mm 170g Li-ion, USB
AMAZON Kindle Touch
BINATONE Kidzstar eReader
BINATONE ReadMe Colour
BOOKEEN Cybook Odyssey
ICARUS eXceL
ICARUS Pocket
KOBO eReader Touch
PRESTIGIO Nobile PER5162
TREKSTOR eBook Reader Pyrus
6in mono touchscreen 600x800 4,096MB None 172x120x101mm 213g Lithium ion, included USB cable Not disclosed 802.11n No Micro USB, 3.5mm headphone
7in colour 480x800 2,048MB microSD 135x21x217mm 480g Lithium ion, included USB cable Four hours N/A No Mini USB, 3.5mm headphone
7in colour 480x800 128MB microSD 124x13x195mm 290g Lithium polymer, included USB cable Four hours N/A No Mini USB
6in mono touchscreen 600x800 2,000MB microSD 166x9x120mm 195g Li-ion, USB
9.7in mono stylus 1,200x825 4,096MB SD 179x12x243mm 520g Lithium ion, included USB cable 8,000 turns 802.11n No Mini USB, 3.5mm headphone
6in mono 600x800 4,096MB microSD 128x8x174mm 214g Lithium ion, included USB cable 8,000 turns N/A No Mini USB, 3.5mm headphone
6in mono touchscreen 600x800 1,400MB microSDHC 114x10x165mm 185g Battery type not disclosed, included USB cable Not disclosed 802.11n No USB
6in mono 600x800 2,048MB microSD 125x11x192mm 241g Lithium polymer, included USB cable 15,000 turns 802.11b/g No Mini USB, 3.5mm headphone
6in mono 800x600 4,096MB microSDHC 124x9x167mm 216g Lithium ion, included USB cable not disclosed None No Micro USB
Not disclosed 802.11g No USB
25,000 turns 802.11n No USB, 3.5mm headphone
FORMAT SUPPORT Supported audio formats Supported image formats Supported eBook formats None BMP, JPEG PDF, HTML, Microsoft Word, MOBI, Amazon AZW, TXT Audible, MP3 BMP, JPEG PDF, HTML, Microsoft Word, MOBI, Amazon AZW, TXT MP3 JPEG ePub, PDF, TXT None BMP, JPEG ePub, PDF, TXT MP3 BMP, TIFF, JPEG ePub, PDF, HTML, TXT Wav, MP3 BMP, JPEG ePub, PDF, Microsoft Word, RTF, MOBI, TXT WMA, OGG, Wav, MP3 BMP, TIFF, JPEG ePub, PDF, HTML, RTF, MOBI, TXT None BMP, TIFF, JPEG ePub, PDF, HTML, RTF, MOBI, TXT WMA, OGG, Wav, MP3 BMP, TIFF, JPEG ePub, PDF, HTML, Microsoft Word, RTF, MOBI, TXT None BMP, JPEG ePub, PDF, HTML, RTF, MOBI, TXT
BUYING INFORMATION
Prices correct at time of going to press
Price inc VAT Warranty Supplier
69 One-year RTB www.amazon. co.uk www.amazon. co.uk B0051QVF7A
109 One-year RTB www.amazon. co.uk www.amazon. co.uk B005890FUI
70 One-year RTB www.argos. co.uk www.binatone telecom.com 1000351
50 One-year RTB www.maplin. co.uk www.binatone telecom.com 2285
125 One-year RTB www.pixmania. co.uk www.bookeen. com 11538276
350 (around 277) One-year RTB www. icarusreader. com/store www.icarus reader.com E1050BK
90 (around 71) One-year RTB www. icarusreader. com/store www.icarus reader.com E601GY
80 One-year RTB www.whsmith. co.uk www.kobo books.com N905
119 (around 94) Two-year RTB www. prestigioplaza. com www.prestigio. com PER5162BEN
68 One-year RTB www.amazon. co.uk www.trekstor. de 4016998920165
Details Part code
VERDICT
This group test shows the dominance of the big players in the eReader market. Despite the charms of some of the competition, such as the inexpensive Icarus Pocket and feature-packed Icarus eXceL, Amazons Kindle readers and the Kobo eReader Touch come out on top thanks to their comprehensive bookstores and ease of use. The Kindle has the edge for features, but if you dont want to be tied to Amazons system the Kobo is a worthy alternative. Theyre both Best Buys. As we went to press, Kobo and Sony were about to launch new readers. By the time you read this, there should be reviews on our sister site at www.expertreviews. co.uk, so you may want to check those out before you buy. If you have a smartphone or tablet, youre spoilt for choice. Amazons slick Kindle app comes up trumps with its effortless all-round usability and wide platform support, but theres strong competition from Kobos eReading app and Apples iBooks. The apps are all free, though, so youve nothing to lose by giving them a try.
AMAZON Kindle
AMAZON Kindle Touch
KOBO eReader Touch
AMAZON Kindle app
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Ultimate guide to...
With its brand-new interface and a new way of doing things, Windows 8 is something of a departure from previous versions. David Ludlow explains how to use its new features
IF THERES ONE aspect of Windows that has remained consistent, its the interface. Even if youd only ever used Windows 95, you could probably sit in front of Windows 7 and use it without a single problem. That all changes with Windows 8, as its the biggest shake-up to the operating system since Microsoft introduced the Start menu in Windows 95. In fact, Windows 8 doesnt even have a Start menu, as it has been replaced by the brand-new Start screen. This means that the rst time you sit in front of Windows 8, you may be a bit confused. We certainly were as we struggled to nd out how to do things that were so easy in Windows 7. This is no criticism of Windows 8, but a realisation that this new operating system does things differently. Fortunately, weve had time to go through the entire OS to bring you this guide on each of Windows 8s new features.
Windows
all-in-one PCs, touchscreen monitors and tablets. With its big Start screen and new apps, Windows 8 is ideal for touch control. Even the Desktop been overhauled to make it more touch-friendly, with hotspots to bring up settings, the Start screen and more. Its also easy to use the new interface with a keyboard and mouse, although it takes some getting used to. Fortunately, there are a lot of shortcuts. We show you all the important shortcuts, and all the touchscreen gestures youll need to navigate through the new OS. One problem with previous Windows releases was the sheer number of versions available. Windows 7 came in Starter, Home, Professional and Ultimate versions, with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of each. For Windows 8, Microsoft has simplied this to just two retail versions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. The main difference is that Windows 8 Pro has some extra business features, including the BitLocker drive encryption tool. For most people, Windows 8 will suce. No version of Windows includes Windows Media Center, as this has been removed from the OS. It will be offered as an optional upgrade through the Windows Store, although it wasnt available at the time of writing. Upgrading is now easier, too. At the moment you can upgrade from any version of Windows XP to Windows 8 Pro for just 25. If youve just bought a new Windows 7 computer, you can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just 15 by registering at www.windowsupgradeoffer.com. One of the big differences with Windows 8 compared with previous versions is that its available as a download from the Windows Store (www.microsoftstore.com) from the launch date of 26th October. You can still burn an installation DVD or create a USB key for installation, though, so the only thing youll miss out on is a box.
VERSION AVERSION
START SCREEN
The biggest change in Windows 8 is the new Start screen. This was originally called the Metro Interface, but the German supermarket of the same name didnt like that, so Microsoft renamed it Windows 8 and the Modern UI, both of which are confusing. For this reason, were calling it what the OS calls it: the Start screen. Whatever you call it, the Start screen uses the same interface as Windows Phone and the Xbox. Tiles is the new name for shortcuts, but applications can also have Live Tiles, which update to give you the latest information from the app, such as a list of recent emails. As well as Live Tiles, the Start screen provides access to a range of full-screen apps. These are separate from the usual Desktop applications and run full-screen. They dont need to be shut down, as they pause themselves to save resources when you move to a different application. To go with its new apps, Microsoft has introduced the Windows Store, which lets you buy and download apps from one place. Well show you how it works and how to use it. Of course, the old Desktop is still available for regular Windows applications, although it has also had an overhaul, making it easier to use on multiple screens.
TOUCH ME
One of the main reasons Microsoft has completely changed the way Windows looks and feels is to cater for touchscreens. This includes
Whether or not you like the new look, this is the direction Microsoft has taken, and if you buy a new PC, tablet or laptop, Windows 8 is the operating system youll get. We think that once you get used to its idiosyncrasies, Windows 8s faster boot times and improved Desktop make it a great upgrade from Windows 7, so its worth taking the trouble to learn how to use it. Over the next 26 pages, well show you how to use all the new features and help you to become an expert.
GETTING TO GRIPS
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WINDOWS OWS 8
CONTENTS
Install Windows 8 Use the Start screen Use Windows 8 search Use Side-by-side mode Use Desktop mode Use Windows 8 Charms Windows 8 Shortcuts Change Windows 8s settings Congure Libraries Congure user accounts Set up a home network Congure your Desktop Alter the look of the Desktop Congure the Start screen Use the Photos app Use Mail, People and Calendar Set up SkyDrive Use the Windows Store Back up your computer Congure default programs Use Task Manager 116 119 120 121 122 123 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 136 137 138 140 141
ISSUE 298 | COMPUTER SHOPPER PPER
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How to...
Install Windows 8
INSTALLING WINDOWS 8 on a computer is a mostly pain-free task, thanks to Microsofts excellent installation routine. There are a few things to watch out for, however, particularly if youre using an Upgrade version of the software, which can replace an in situ version of Windows 7 with Microsofts latest OS. Its generally advisable to avoid such upgrades. An operating system installation is always better when its done fresh, as it gives you a good excuse to clear out the clutter on your old computer. Make sure that you back up all your important les and applications before you start. If you have software such as Adobe Lightroom that has to be deregistered so you can install it on a new computer, make sure that you do this rst. Thanks to modern browser-centric computing and cloud storage, backing up is far less hassle than it used to be. Its worth downloading all the drivers you need for your hardware from the manufacturers websites, saving them to a USB ash drive, just in case. Windows 7 drivers should work with Windows 8 if you cant nd the latest version. Once you have everything you need, you may have one more job, as Windows 8 is the rst version of Microsofts operating system that has a downloadable version available from the Windows Store. If you go down this route, youll need to create your own boot media, so that you can install the OS on your computer. The only exception to this is the Upgrade version, which should download and install in one go; however, we still recommend downloading the Upgrade ISO le, which you can then burn to DVD or copy to a USB ash drive. If youve bought a retail copy of the software, you can skip this section and jump straight to the installation instructions. You have two choices for creating installation media: a blank DVD or a USB drive. If you want to go with a USB drive, youll need one with at least a 4GB capacity. It will be wiped when you put the software on it, so insert it into a USB port and make sure youve
Microsoft has worked hard to make its new operating system easy to install, but you could still get it wrong unless you follow our step-by-step guide
copied everything you want from it rst. Leave the USB drive inserted. If youre going to use a DVD, insert a blank disc into your drive. Next, download the Windows 7 USB/ DVD Download Tool from http://tinyurl.com/ win7downloadtool and install it on your computer. Run the software and click Browse, then navigate to your Windows 8 ISO le. Click Next, and you can choose DVD or USB as the installation method. If you click DVD, youll need a blank disc in your optical drive; click Begin Copying when your blank disc is detected. If youre using a USB drive, select the right one from the dropdown list and click Begin Copying to wipe the drive and copy the les. Once the process has completed, your boot media is ready for use. Whether you install from a DVD or a USB drive, make sure your computer is connected to the internet before you start the process. You can do this via an Ethernet cable to your router if you have a wired connection, while wireless users will be prompted to connect to a network during the installation process.
01
04
The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool lets you create a bootable ash drive for installing Windows 8 on your computer
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Insert your Windows 8 boot media (either a DVD or USB drive) into your computer and restart the machine. Make sure that your BIOS or UEFI, if you have a newer computer is set to boot from the correct media rst. For USB drives, this could either be a generic USB option, or you may nd that your USB drive appears in the list of hard disks. For the latter, make sure your USB drive is rst in the list. Some modern UEFI motherboards have a boot menu; open this and click on your USB drive. Look out for a message telling you to hit any key to boot Windows 8; you may not see this if youre booting from a USB drive. Check your motherboard or laptop manual for specic information on booting and your BIOS or UEFI.
WINDOWS 8
01
the Unallocated Space option and then click Next. Windows will automatically create the necessary disk partitions and perform the installation.
04
02
When the Windows 8 installation screen appears, make sure that your language is set correctly and click Next, then Install Now. Enter your licence key into the box provided and click Next. Select the I accept the licence terms tickbox and click Next. Youll see a choice of Upgrade or Custom. Custom is the better choice, and this guide is based on a clean install of Windows. Click Next when youre done.
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Windows 8 should detect your hard disk automatically. If it doesnt, click on the Load Driver button and insert the CD, USB key or oppy disk with the relevant driver. You should need to do this only if youre using RAID or you have a brand-new motherboard that Windows doesnt recognise. If youre using an old hard disk, its best to start afresh. Select the partition that contains your old operating system, select Advanced and click Delete. You can also delete any other unwanted partitions this way. Youre now ready to continue, as if you had a new computer with a fresh hard disk. If youre installing Windows 8 on a new hard disk or an old disk on which youve already wiped any partitions, you can simply select
After a process where the Windows 8 les are copied to your hard disk, your computer will reboot. If youre booting from a USB drive, you may have to remove the drive, or your computer will try to boot into the setup program all over again. Let the installation do its thing and youll get to the setup wizard. First, pick the colours you want the operating system to use and then enter a name for your computer. Click Next and, if youre not already connected to a network, youll be asked to join a wireless network. Select your Wi-Fi network from the list and enter your username and password, then click Connect. Windows 8 will ask if you want to use Express settings or customise them. Click Customise, so you can choose exactly how Windows 8 sets itself up. First, youll see the security settings. The default options are good, with important and recommended updates downloading and installing automatically; theres no option to warn only of new Updates. Click Next. You can then choose whether to send information about the operating system to Microsoft to help it make the software better. If youre happy for this anonymous information to be sent to the company click Next otherwise, you can choose to turn off the parts you dont want to share. Next, youll be asked about online services, such as checking online for solutions to problems. Unless you have a specic reason to turn these settings off, we recommend leaving them alone.
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You need to enter your email address to access your PC, which will let you download apps from the Windows Store and access your online content. You can enter any email address, although you will have to enter a new password and set up some
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graphics driver has installed. Right-click on the desktop, select Screen Resolution and adjust the resolution to match your monitors native resolution.
security questions if this address isnt registered as a Microsoft Account. Follow the wizard through to congure your account and your computer will start for the rst time. Log in with your new account details. Although Windows is now working, you still need to install all the relevant drivers to make sure that everything works smoothly. The trick here is to install drivers that are specically for Windows 8; only install Windows 7 drivers if a component isnt working, such as a printer or scanner. The rst place to start is with your motherboards drivers. If you downloaded these earlier, insert the USB drive or disc to which you saved them. If you couldnt do this, insert the driver disc that came with your motherboard and follow the onscreen instructions. Youll need to download the updated drivers later, and then go through the following process. For each driver you downloaded, run the associated le. Its best to start with the chipset driver, but the order afterwards doesnt matter. If Windows displays any warning messages, just click OK. Be careful, as some les you download are actually just archive les that extract the actual driver les to your hard disk. If this is the case, navigate to the folder to which the les were extracted and run the Setup program that you nd there. Youll probably need to restart your computer after each driver installation.
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You can now install the other peripherals that youve added to your PC. Install the relevant driver les for each device thats plugged into your motherboard. For USB devices, you need to install the driver le rst and, when prompted, connect the device to a USB port. If youre in any doubt, you should read the manual that came with your peripheral. Windows 8s installation routine only lets you choose to install updates automatically. To change this, press Windows-X and select Control Panel. Type Windows Update into the search bar and click Windows Update. Click Change Settings and you can use the drop-down menu to select Check for updates but let me choose when to download and install them. This lets you choose when its convenient to update. You can choose any other setting that suits you, but this is our favoured option. Click OK when done. Press the Windows key, type Windows Update and click Windows Update. Click Install to install the latest updates and make sure your computer is up to date.
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Windows will install its own graphics drivers for any onboard or dedicated cards that you have. These are ne for running Windows, but you wont be able to play games properly. For this, youll need to install the latest graphics drivers. Both AMD and Nvidia provide a single driver, so just run the le that you downloaded. If you couldnt download the drivers earlier, you should do so now. Restart your computer after the
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Windows 8 has an option to let you create a recovery drive, which you can use if you have any problems with your computer. Press the Windows key and type recovery, click Settings and then click Create a recovery drive. Click Next, insert a 256MB (or higher) USB ash drive when prompted and select this drive from the list, using its drive letter. Click Next, and youll see a message warning you that everything on your drive will be deleted. Then click Create. It will take a while for the process to complete, so sit back and let it do its job. Click Finish when done, and keep your USB drive safe.
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How to...
Use the Start screen

WINDOWS 8 HAS two interfaces you can use to control your computer. As well as the Desktop, there are also Live Tiles. Microsoft refers to this interface simply as Windows 8; as this is a little confusing, well call it the Start screen. The Start screen is used to access your applications. Some programs, such as Internet Explorer, have two versions: a standard Desktop version and a Start screen version. Windows chooses which version to use based on where you launched it from: click an icon on the Desktop, for example, and you get the Desktop version.
Live Tiles These show you updated information from the relevant software, such as snippets from new emails. Drag and drop to rearrange them.
The old Start menu has been replaced by the Start screen, which can also run its own applications. Heres everything you need to know about using it
You can launch the Start screen by pressing the Windows key; pressing the Windows key again switches to the last application you had open. The new interface will appear on the last display you used it on; to move the screen on which it appears, select the Start option on that screen (see How to Use Windows 8 Charms, page 123). Start screen apps often have extra features available if you right-click on them or swipe in from the top of the screen on a touchscreen device. You may be able to get the same result by swiping in from the edges of your touchpad.
Standard Tiles Regular tiles are just shortcuts for your applications. Click one to launch the relevant application, and drag and drop to rearrange them.
These buttons come up when you right-click a regular tile. For touchscreen devices, hold and drag a tile upwards. Unpin from Start This removes the icon from the Live Tile screen. Pin to taskbar This pins the icon to the taskbar on the Desktop. Its useful if you have both a Desktop and Start screen version of a program. Uninstall Takes you to the Control Panels Uninstall an Application for Desktop applications. Open new window Launches a new instance of the application. Run as administrator Forces the program to run as in Administrator mode if youre having problems with it. Open le location Opens an Explorer window, with the executable le highlighted, so you can perform advanced features such as changing compatibility mode settings.
These buttons come up when you right-click a Live Tile or a Tile for a Start screen app. For touchscreen devices, hold and drag a tile upwards. Smaller This shrinks the size of the Live Tile; if its already small, youll see the Larger option. Turn live tile off This stops the Live Tile from updating; if a Tiles off, youll see the Turn live tile on option. All apps Right-click anywhere or swipe upwards on a touchscreen device to show the All apps icon, which gives you access to all the installed apps on your computer. Scrollbar minus button (not shown, bottom-right of screen) Use the scroll bar to move round the screen (swipe on a touchscreen or use the mouses scroll-wheel) and click the minus button to zoom out to get an overall view (pinch to zoom on a touchscreen or use Control-mouse-wheel).
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How to...
The powerful search feature makes it easy to nd applications, settings and les, and you can even search inside apps for information
Use Windows 8 Search

WINDOWS 8 HAS ditched the Start menu, and replaced it with the Start screen instead. This comes complete with built-in search capabilities. You can either press the Windows key to reveal the new interface and start typing to search, or you can press the Windows-Q keys to bring up the search interface.
By default, the search feature just shows you the results for Apps, but you can click Settings or Files to nd other things on your computer. Underneath these options is a list of the other apps and services that can be searched: just click one to use your search term in that category.
Files lter You can lter Files by type, including by Documents, Picture and Other.
Search results Click a search result to open it. Note that les open in the default application only.
Search bar Type your search term here.
Open le location Right-click on a File search result or hold and drag upwards on a touchscreen device and click here to open the le in an Explorer window.
Search services Select what you want to search for by clicking one of these icons, which includes parts of your computer and other services and apps.
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How to...
Use Side-by-side mode

START SCREEN APPS are designed to run in full-screen mode. While this can make the OS easier to use, particularly on a touchscreen or tablet device where screen space is more limited, sometimes you want to see a bit more. Side-by-side mode lets you set up an app so that it takes up one-third of the screen space, and have a second app take up the remaining space. The app that you
Start screen apps are designed to run full-screen, but you can run two of them in Side-by-side mode if you want to make more of your screens resolution
set as one-third of the screen stays that way until you remove it, but the main app changes each time you click on a launcher from the Start screen. The Desktop counts as a Start screen app, so you can have old and new Windows styles side by side. The only restriction is that you must have a screen resolution of 1,366x768 or higher to use Side-by-side mode.
App on the side This app takes up one-third of the space and is displayed permanently.
Small app in the middle Put the mouse at the top of the screen so it displays a hand cursor (or swipe in from the top on a touchscreen device) to grab an app, making its window shrink. Move it to the bottom to shut it down, or move it to either edge to make it a Side-by-side app.
Black bar Grab this and slide it to make the smaller one-third app become the main app; move it all the way across the screen to display only a single app onscreen.
Charms Move the mouse cursor to the top or bottom right (swipe in from the right on a touchscreen device) to display the Charms. Settings displays the preferences for the main app only, not the smaller app.
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How to...
Although the Desktop will look familiar to anyone thats used a recent version of Windows, there are some subtle differences that dramatically improve it
Use Desktop mode
IN WINDOWS 8, Desktop mode is pretty much how youd expect Windows to be. Its here that you use all your regular applications, and it feels very much like Windows 7, down to the ability to snap windows into position; slide an application to the side of the screen,
App switcher Available throughout Windows 8, not just on the Desktop. Move the cursor to the top-left of the screen to display a thumbnail of the previous app you used, and slide the cursor down to display all open Live Tile apps (you can also swipe in from the left on a touchscreen device). Standard switching between Desktop applications is still done using Alt-Tab.
for example, and its resized to take up half of the display. There are a few differences, however, the main one being that theres no longer a Start menu, so you have to use the Start screen interface to nd applications.
Windows Explorer This is largely the same as it was in Windows 7, with a Search bar for nding les. It uses the same Ribbon interface as Microsoft Oce applications, which means you have to click the tabs (Home, Share, View, Manage and so on) to access the features youd normally nd in the menus. For example, the View tab lets you see hidden les. Copying dialog File copying is very similar to Windows 7, only now its quicker and you can hit Pause to suspend the operation temporarily.
Start Move the cursor to the bottom left (swipe in from right on a touchscreen interface) to bring up the Start icon and click to launch the Start screen.
Thumbnails Hover the mouse over an icon to get a thumbnail preview of the application. You can also access features specic to that application, such as skipping and pausing tracks in Spotify, for example.
Charms Move the mouse cursor to the top- or bottom-right of the screen to bring up the Charms bar, which lets you adjust settings and access other features.
Taskbar icons These display your open applications.
Menu bar Right-click on an icon and you can pin it to the taskbar as a shortcut, as well as access extra features specic to that application, such as opening a new window in Chrome.
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How to...
Charms are the new way to access program settings and more, and are used throughout Windows 8. Here we explain what they do and how to use them
Use Windows 8 Charms

THE NEW CHARMS bar gives you quick access to a range of different features. The exact options differ from application to application, and some serve no purpose in some applications, but
the general way that they work remains the same. Its worth getting to grips with them, as you can often do a task much quicker using Charms, rather than reverting to your old way of doing things.
You can bring up the Charms menu (displayed on the right-hand side of the screen opposite) at any time by hovering the mouse cursor at the top- or bottom-right of the screen, then moving the cursor down or up. You can also swipe in from the right if youre using a touchscreen device, or press Windows-C. Just select the icon you want. Most are obvious Search, which searches within the selected app, and Start, which launches the Start screen but the remaining three options well cover in more detail below.
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Share is designed to let you share the data in the application with other people. The options change depending on the application, and you can currently only use this option in Start screen apps. For example, open Photos and a picture, and you can select Charms, Share, Mail to send the selected image to a friend. This pops up the Mail app in a side-bar, so its slick and smooth to share this way. The other default option is to share via SkyDrive, Microsofts cloud storage service. New apps will include new ways of sharing.
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Devices also depends on the application. It lets you send the document youre viewing to hardware connected to your computer. For example, in Photos, you can bring up Charms, Devices to bring up a list of printers to which you can send the selected photo.
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Settings brings up the preferences for the application that youre currently using. For example, in the Mail app, you can use Settings to add a new account or modify or delete an existing one. This option also brings up some system-wide defaults, so you can access your Network and Sound settings and shut down your computer. You can also select Change PC settings to alter the way that your computer works.
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Windows 8 shortcuts
ALTHOUGH YOU CAN do most things with a mouse, Windows 8 also has an advanced touchscreen interface as well as a healthy number of shortcut keys. Keep these for reference and youll nd that you can zoom around the Windows 8 interface in no time.
You can do everything in Windows 8 with the mouse or touchscreen, but learning a few shortcuts will make using the operating system even faster
Note that all the shortcuts on these pages work on systems with multiple monitors, so if we say hover the mouse at the bottom-left corner of a screen, it can be the bottom-left corner of any display installed in your system.
There are a variety of ways to bring up the Start screen, depending on your input method.
Start screen
Charms is a new toolbar that contains shortcut icons to Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings.
Charms
Hover mouse at bottom left of the screen, click Start. Start screen
Swipe in from right edge, tap Start.
Move the cursor to the top- or bottom-right of the screen, then click the icon you want.
Swipe in from the right, then tap the icon you want.
Switch between Start screen apps
+ + + +
All Charms
Windows has two methods of switching between apps, with one method for Start screen apps and one for standard programs on the Desktop. Heres the Start screen method.
All Charms (set apps as default)
Search settings
Search les
Swipe in from left-hand side until you see a thumbnail of an app, then slide back. Drag thumbnail of app into middle of the screen. slide Hover top-left corner, s mouse down, then choose app.
Settings Charm
Windows Start screen
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Select
WINDOWS 8
Selecting multiple icons, Live Tiles or thumbnails on the Start screen lets you perform the same task on multiple you do it. items simultaneously. Heres how h
Snapping a full-screen Live Tile app to either side of the screen, so you can display two apps side by side, is a great trick that lets you put more information onscreen at once.
Side-by-side mode
Right-click.
Tap and hold, drag slightly up until a border appears around the item. Space.
Standard keyboard shortcuts

Move cursor to the top of the screen, click and drag app to left or right. Drag app to the bottom of the screen to shut it down. Swipe in from left-hand side until you see a thumbnail of an app, then slide back. Drag thumbnail of app to left or right of screen.
You can perform some tasks far more quickly using the keyboard. In many cases you can use the touchscreen or mouse to do the same things, although youll typically have to select the correct icon on the Live Tile interface.
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Zoom
SHIFT
Cycle through an apps available positions (right, left or full-screen)
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alt
D E L R X
TAB
Display the Desktop. This minimises all open windows if youre already on the Desktop. Open Windows Explorer.
Lock the computer.
Bring up the Run dialog box. Open Desktop quick menu, which gives you access to the Control Panel and other settings. Switch between open Desktop applications.
Windows 8 lets you zoom in and out to get more information or display more onscreen. This option works in a lot of different places, from Windows Explorer to show bigger thumbnails, to the Photos app, where you can zoom into a picture.
+ + +
Snap the selected Desktop window to the left- or right-hand of a display so it takes up half the screen space. Repeat to move a window to another display.
SHIFT SHIFT
CTRL
Pinch to zoom.
+ + + +
BACKSPACE
+ +
Move the selected Desktop app to the next display.
Zoom in and out.
Maximise a window.
Minimise a window.
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Go back one page. Works in Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer and Start screen apps.
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Change Windows 8s settings

There have been some major changes to how settings are adjusted. The key is knowing where to look which, with our guidance, should be easy
THE WINDOWS INTERFACE hasnt actually changed that much since Windows 95. If you knew how to get to the Control Panel in Windows 95, you would probably have had no problem doing the same thing in Windows 7. In Windows 8, however, its a bit more complicated, as the operating system now provides a number of different ways to change settings. On top of the old-fashioned desktop settings within the Control Panel is the new Start screen PC Settings app, which is easier to use but has a reduced number of options. Knowing exactly where to look is the important thing. Heres how to nd the right settings.
How to...
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You can search for Settings using the standard search facility, which you get to by pressing the Windows key, then starting to type, remembering to click on Settings to lter your results. Alternatively, you can press Windows-W to jump straight to Settings search. Type in your term and youll see a list of options appear. Just click on the one you want and youll jump straight to the correct setting. However, the option you select may take you to the new PC Settings app, rather than the older desktop version, which may limit your choice of options. Keep reading and well show you how to skip to the options you really want.
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You can access the new easy-to-use PC Settings which replicates a lot of the features in the Control Panel, only in a cleaner interface by accessing the Charms bar (see page 124) and clicking Settings, PC Settings (the last choice is at the bottom of the screen). The new app is split into categories, letting you personalise the way Windows looks, create users, install updates and manage notications. Its pretty straightforward, using simple on/off switches for most settings, so we wont cover it in depth. Its main problem is that it doesnt give you access to the full range of options that the old Control Panel did.
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The good news is that the old way of doing things still exists in Windows 8. To get to the Control Panel, just press the Windows key and type Control Panel. Click the App search result and the old Control Panel appears. Its default view is the Category view, but you can click the drop-down menu and change it to Large or Small icons. Youll nd all the tools that youre used to here, and Windows 8 is exactly the same to use as Windows 7 once youre in the Control Panel.
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Windows 7 had some tools that were easier to access by right-clicking Computer and selecting an option, such as opening the hard disk manager. By default, Computer isnt displayed on the desktop, although as we show you on page 130, you can easily add it. However, an easier option is to press Windows-X to bring up the Desktop menu. This lets you jump to specic parts of the Control Panel, start Task Manager, run a Command Prompt and access the Disk Management options. This menu works from anywhere within the Windows 8 interface, so youll have no problems nding a tool when you need it.
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How to...
Configure Libraries
WINDOWS 7 INTRODUCED the concept of Libraries, which are a collection of folders, irrespective of location, that house related les. So, the Documents Library could be multiple folders spread over your hard disk, rather than being limited to the C:\users\<username>\Documents folder, for example.
Libraries are collections of related folders and are an important part of the way Windows 8 works. Here well show you how to manage and edit them
Libraries also play an important role in Windows 8. In fact, some components rely on them; the new backup system, File History, for example, requires you to use Libraries to back up les and folders. Its easy to manage and update Libraries, but its important to get everything congured in the right way.
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Windows 8 has four built-in Libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. These include the standard user folders, such as C:\users\<username>\Documents for your work documents. These Libraries appear in every Windows Explorer window, including save dialogs, and are on the left-hand side beneath Libraries. Just click on the one you want to access. If you scroll through the list, youll see that the view is organised by the folders in the Library, such as My Music and Public Music.
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To change which folders a Library uses, open a Windows Explorer window from the Desktop, right-click on the Library you want to change and select Properties. Click Add and browse to the folder you want to include in that Library, then click the Include folder button. This will add this folder to the Library and tell Windows to index it so you can search its contents quickly.
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You can select folders under Library locations and click Remove to delete them. This is particularly useful if youre using an SSD to boot and a hard disk for le storage, so have no need for the default folders. You can also select a folder under Library locations and select Set save location. This will make that folder the default save location when you select the Library in a save dialog box. When youre done, click OK. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for all the Libraries you want to modify.
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Youre not limited to the default Libraries, as you can also create your own. Right-click on Libraries in an Explorer window and select New, Library. Type in a name for your Library and press Enter. Right-click on your new Library and select Properties. Click Add to add any folders you want to the Library. You can choose the type of le the Library will contain, including Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents and General. This denes the default view and le attributes that you see. Click OK when youre done to save the changes.
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How to...
Rather than just using local user accounts, Windows 8 can use Microsoft accounts, which let you synchronise data over the internet. Heres how to congure them
Configure user accounts

WINDOWS HAS BEEN a great multi-user operating system for a long time, but with Windows 8 theres been a change to the way that accounts work. Instead of having just local accounts that are xed to your computer, you have Microsoft accounts, such as the one you created when you were setting up your computer for the rst time.
With Microsoft accounts, you can synchronise data between all your Windows 8 computers, even sharing networking passwords over the internet, as well as wallpaper and theme settings. For protection, only the Microsoft accounts that youve certied to work with your computer can be used. Here well show you everything you need to know about managing accounts.
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Go to PC Settings, Users. If youre using a Microsoft account, youll already be synchronising wallpaper and theme settings with other computers on which you use the same account. However, your saved passwords for applications, websites and networks wont be synchronised until you say that you trust this computer. Click the Trust this computer link, which will take you to your Microsoft account online. Youll be asked to enter the security code Microsoft has sent you (if you didnt get one, you can click the I didnt receive the code link to choose a different delivery method, such as text or email). Enter the code in the box or, if it was sent to you via email, click on the link in the message. Repeat this step for all your computers.
You cant change your Microsoft password from your computer, only online. Go to PC Settings, Users and click More account settings online. Once youve logged into your online account, click on the Change password link and you can update your password. Note that this will change the password you need to log in to all your computers.
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To add a new account, go to PC Settings, Users and click Add a user. Enter the email address of the Microsoft account that you want to allow access to your computer and click Next. Youll be asked if this is a childs account and if you want to turn on Family Safety. Choose the right option and click Finish. The rst time the person with the new Microsoft account wants to access your computer, theyll need to be online.
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You can also create a local account, which is like the old-style Windows accounts. These dont have access to the Windows Store although you can add a Microsoft account to this at a later date and dont synchronise information between PCs. However, they can be useful for setting up le sharing, particularly with older computers. Go to PC Settings, Users and click Add a user. Click Sign in without a Microsoft account and then click Local account. Enter a username and password, and click Next.
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You cant edit an accounts type, delete it or make other changes from the PC Settings, Users page. To make advanced changes, youll need to go to Control Panel, User Accounts. Click Manage another account and select the account that you want to change. Click Change the account type to make an account an Administrator or Standard account, where the latter cant install software or access sensitive system settings. Click Delete the account to remove it from your computer.
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WINDOWS 8
How to...
Set up a home network

WINDOWS 7 INTRODUCED the concept of HomeGroups, which was supposed to make it easy to share les and printers between computers on the same home network. Unfortunately, however, it didnt particularly work out that way, and HomeGroups werent
Windows 8 has updated the HomeGroups feature for sharing les and printers over your network, and its now more capable and easier to use than ever before
always as easy to use or as accessible as they were meant to be. Windows 8 has updated the way that le and print sharing works, making it easier to use home networking. Well show you how to get your HomeGroup congured in Windows 8.
All the computers you want to share les with must be on the same HomeGroup. If you have an existing Windows 7 HomeGroup, youll need to know the existing password. On a Windows 7 PC, go to Control Panel, type HomeGroup in the Search bar and click HomeGroup. Click View or print the HomeGroup password and note it down. If you dont have an existing HomeGroup on your network, go to PC Settings, HomeGroup and look under Membership. You may see that a HomeGroup has been created, so note down the password. If not, click Create, let the HomeGroup be created and then note down the password.
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You now need to join your HomeGroup on another computer. To do this on a Windows 7 computer, go to the Control Panel, type HomeGroup in the Search bar and click HomeGroup. Click Join now, then Next, choose which Libraries you want to share and click Next. Enter the password from Step 1 and click Next. To join your HomeGroup on a Windows 8 computer, go to PC Settings and click HomeGroup. Enter the password you noted down in Step 1 and click Join. You can now choose which of your Libraries you want to share, and select if you want to share your printers and other devices.
To share a folder, open a Windows Explorer window, right-click on the folder you want to share and select the Share with option. You can select Homegroup (view), so other users can view but not delete or edit les, or Homegroup (view and edit) to give other users full access to your les. Your les are now accessible through all other computers on the network, using the HomeGroup expandable menu in Windows Explorer.
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HomeGroup sharing cant be used with pre-Windows 7 PCs or those running other operating systems, such as Mac OS X, but you can share les to specic user accounts. For the best results, create the same local user accounts and passwords on your Windows 8 computer as those on the other computers. Right-click on a folder and select Share with, Specic people. Choose the user from the menu and click Add. For each user, you can set the permission level as Read/Write or Read.
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To connect to a share as a specic user, rst note down your current computers IP address. To do this, press Windows-X and click Command Prompt. Type ipcong and hit Enter, then note down the IPv4 address. Go to your remote computer and open up Network, and your Windows 8 computer should appear. Double-click it. If you added a Windows 8 local user with the same details as your remote computers current account, youll get access. If not, youll need to type in the username and password of a valid account on your Windows 8 computer. If youre using a Microsoft account on your Windows 8 computer, type in its email address and password otherwise, type in the name and password of the
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local account your created. If you cant see your Windows computer, press Windows-R and type \\<IP address of Windows 8 computer> and hit Enter. Follow the password instructions above. This will also work if youre connecting from a Mac or Linux computer just enter the IP address as the server address.
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The Windows 8 Desktop is similar to Windows 7s, but there are some important differences. Heres our guide to making it behave the way you want
Configure your Desktop

ONCE YOUVE SET up your computer, probably the rst thing youll want to do is congure your Desktop so that it works the way that you want it to.
How to...
The good news is that Windows 8 introduces some new features that make using the operating system easier than ever before. Here well show you how to congure them.
Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties. In the dialog that pops up, you can change how the taskbar appears, including whether it auto-hides. Theres also a section on this tab for multiple displays; you can choose to show the taskbar on all your screens, or just the main one. The default option for all displays is to show all the icons on all taskbars, but we prefer the Taskbar where window is open option under the Show taskbar buttons on menu. Each display then gets a custom taskbar with just the icons for the apps running on that screen. A hybrid option shows all icons on the main taskbar and the taskbar where that application is running.
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You can adjust how applications are displayed in the Notication Area by clicking Customise under the Taskbar Properties. The next dialog box gives you a list of applications and lets you select whether you want to show each programs icon and notications, show only notications or hide the icon and notications. If you have an annoying application that keeps popping up unwanted messages, this is the place to control it.
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Click the Toolbars tab under Taskbar Properties and you can add new menus, which appear next to the Notication Area. The Desktop toolbar is handy, as it displays a menu showing all the les on the desktop and saves minimising windows to nd them.
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By default, the Desktop doesnt display some of the icons you may be used to from previous versions of Windows, such as Computer, Control Panel and Network. However, this is easy to rectify. Right-click on the Desktop and select Personalise, Change Desktop icons. Tick the boxes next to the icons you want to see. If you leave the Allow themes to change Desktop icons box ticked, you may nd your icons disappear or change appearance if you change the theme. Click OK when youre done and the icons you selected will appear on the Desktop.
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How to...
Alter the look of the Desktop

With new wallpaper tools and a wider choice of theme colours, Windows 8s tools let you customise your Desktop to your hearts content
WINDOWS 8 PROVIDES many more customisation options over how it looks and feels compared to Windows 7, including better wallpaper management. The only thing that it misses out on is Windows 7s Aero transparency setting. This has been removed in Windows 8, although were not sure why. Otherwise, however, there are plenty of ways you can change the way your Desktop looks.
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Right-click on the Desktop and select Personalise. Click Desktop Background at the bottom of the page to choose which picture you want to show in the background. You can use the Picture location drop-down menu to select the location of your images, including your picture library, and the built-in Windows Desktop Backgrounds. You can also click Browse to navigate to a folder. Hover over a picture and tick the box to use that particular image. If you select multiple images, the wallpaper will change automatically. You can adjust how often it changes using the Change picture every drop-down menu.
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Multiple monitor support has been much improved in Windows 8. If you have a panorama or high-resolution picture that you want to display across more than one monitor, select Span from the Picture position drop-down menu. This will make the image you choose ll the entire resolution of the screen.
You can also choose to display a different image on each monitor. Click Clear all to wipe your selection of pictures. Right-click on the image you want to display, and from the menu select which monitor you want to display it on or choose to display it on all monitors. Repeat for all your monitors and the pictures you want to use. This disables the Span option mentioned in Step 2. Click Save changes.
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Youll have an unsaved Theme on the Personalisation screen, so right-click it and select Save theme. Type a name for it and this theme will be replicated to all your other Windows 8 computers that you log into with a Windows Live ID. You can also select Save theme for sharing, which saves everything into a le that you send to someone else. They just have to double-click the le to install it on their computer.
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Click Colour at the bottom of the Personalisation dialog box. This lets you choose the colours of the title bars and the taskbar. You can either set your colour manually and select the intensity using the slider, or you can click the Automatic box. This picks up the dominant colour in your main monitors wallpaper and sets the colour accordingly. Click Save changes when youre done.
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Configure the Start screen

WEVE SHOWED YOU how to congure your Desktops appearance and set its wallpaper, but this doesnt change or alter how the new Start screen interface looks and works. To change this, you need to
How to...
The new Start screen has completely different customisation options to the Desktop. Here well show you what they are and how to change them
go into a different part of Settings and alter it there. Here, well show you how you can customise the appearance of the new interface, so that you can get it working the way you want.
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Get up the Charms bar and select Settings, Change PC Settings, Personalise. The rst thing you can do is select the picture you want for the Lock screen, which you access by hitting Windows-L. Theres an immediate choice of images you can use on this screen, but click Browse and you can navigate to an image of your choice. Select the one you want and click Choose picture.
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Click Start screen and you can choose how you want this to appear. Youve got a choice of pre-set backgrounds just click the thumbnail of the one you want. Theres no way to use your own picture for this, so youre stuck with the default choices. You can also change the colour of the Start screen by using the colour picker box at the bottom of the screen.
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You can also change which apps display information on the Lock screen. For example, the Mail app can show you how many unread emails you have. You can have up to seven apps displaying information on the Lock screen. The Instant Messaging, Mail and Calendar apps are all turned on by default, but you can add new ones by clicking the Plus icon and choosing from the available list, which will include Start screen apps that specically support this feature. To remove an app, click its icon and select Dont show quick status here. You can also have one app that displays a more detailed status, such as your next meeting. Click the icon and choose the app you want from the list, or select Dont show detailed status on the lock screen if youd rather not see this information.
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Finally, you can congure your user account so that you have an image attached to it. Click Account picture and you can either click Browse to nd an image on your computer or click Camera to take a snap using a connected webcam.
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How to...
Use the Photos app

WINDOWS 8 HAS introduced a brand-new Photos app, which is designed to pull in all your pictures, whether theyre stored on your hard disk, on Facebook or in the cloud via SkyDrive. Its quite a nice
If you want to view your digital photo collection, the brand-new Photos app is the way to go. Heres how to organise your pictures and view slideshows
way of icking through your photos and it lets you share them easily with other people. Here well show you how it works and how you can use it to view your pictures.
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Photos pulls in all your photos from a range of places. At the bottom of the main screen, youll see the different sources, including pictures in your Photo Library on your hard disk, those stored in SkyDrive or on your networked computers and those on Facebook and Flickr. Click either of the last two options, and youll be prompted to log into your account, if you havent already. Your latest pictures will then be downloaded. Make sure all your image folders are in the Pictures Library (see page 127) or you wont be able to view them.
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Regardless of where the photos are stored, click on a source and you can browse through your pictures by album or folder. Tap a picture to view it full screen, and use the cursor keys, mouse, scroll-wheel or swipe a touchscreen to move between pictures. Right-click on any thumbnail (slide up from the bottom on a touchscreen) and you can view pictures in that album or folder as an automatic slideshow. If you go to the main Photos screen, you can hit the Play button to have a medley of images displayed onscreen all at once.
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Once youre viewing a picture full screen, right-click or swipe up on a touchscreen device and you can select Set As. This lets you set the image for the Lock screen, the Live Tile image or the background of the Photos app. You cant select a desktop wallpaper from this screen, although you can do this by right-clicking a photo in Windows Explorer.
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While youre viewing images as thumbnails, you can right-click on an image to select it (long press on a touchscreen device) and put all the selected images into a quick catalogue. You can then use the Share option from the Charms bar to send the pictures to friends via email or to your SkyDrive cloud storage account.
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How to...
The Start screen has new apps for your email, contacts and appointments. Here we show you how to set them up and use them
Use Mail, People & Calendar

WINDOWS 8 HAS email, contacts and calendar apps built into the Start interface. Called Mail, People and Calendar, these are designed to be incredibly simple to use, and their big and bold interfaces make them particularly attractive to use on a touchscreen device or tablet. Even if youre using a traditional PC, the bold, full-screen interfaces can make these applications a lot easier to use than regular Desktop programs. Its easy to think of these three applications as completely separate, but they actually use the same information, so adding one account will pull in all your email messages, contacts and appointments, displaying them in the relevant application.
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You can add an account when in any of the three applications, with the only difference being that Mail can also be used for IMAP email accounts, whereas Calendar and People require you to use an Exchange, Gmail or Hotmail account. For simplicitys sake, well start with Mail, which you can launch from the Start screen. Select Settings from the Charms bar. Choose your account type from the list, then follow the instructions to connect to your account. For Hotmail and Gmail, youll need to provide your username and login only; for Exchange accounts, youll need to know the name and address of your server, plus your account details, domain name and password. Follow the wizard through and make sure youve ticked the right boxes to pull in your contacts and calendars if you want them. Click Connect when done.
If you havent set up your account properly or want to turn part of it off, click Settings from Charms and select Accounts. From the list of accounts, click the one you want to change. Youll see
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options for the account name, how often it should check for new email, if it should automatically download images and which content to sync. Click the Remove account button to delete the account. You can also add an IMAP email account, such as the one from your ISP. Start Mail and choose Settings from the Charms bar. Click Accounts and select Add an account, Other account. Click Show more details and ll out your account details and the server details as provided by your email provider. Note that this client supports only IMAP servers, which leave the email on a central server, not POP3 servers, where you download the email. Click Connect when youre done.
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You can use the Search option from the Charms menu to nd a person, or just scroll through the list. When you click on a contact it will bring up a list of their recent Tweets or Facebook messages (if youve added these accounts), and you can even reply directly. People is quite smart and will automatically put people with the same name into the same contact, regardless of which account youve added them from. It may get it wrong, but you can right-click inside a contact (slide up for touchscreen users) and select Link, then select the other contact to link the information, too. Creating a new contact is just as easy. Click on the People app and right-click anywhere (slide up if youre using touchscreen) and click New. Choose the account to which you want to add the contact, ll out the information and click Save when youre done. The Calendar app works only with certain email accounts, including Outlook, Google and Hotmail. Provided youve set one of these up, it will pull in all your appointments. This app is simple to use, colour-coding appointments by account, so you know which appointment belongs to which email address. Right-click on the calendar (slide up from the bottom on touchscreen devices) to change the view (Day, Week or Month) or to jump directly to Today. You can click any appointment to view it in more detail or make a change. To create a new appointment, right-click on the calendar (slide up from the bottom on touchscreen devices) and select New. You can also select a blank part of the calendar to create an appointment at that time and date. Use the drop-down menu to select which account you want to create the appointment under, then ll out the date and time information, how long it is, where it is and any extra information. Click the save icon and the appointment will be added to the relevant account.
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Using the Mail client is really easy. Just choose your folder on the left, the message you want to read in the middle and read the message in the main section. You can use the simple icons to reply to, forward or delete a message. Switch between accounts by clicking the big buttons at the bottom-left of the screen. Click the plus (+) icon at the top-right to start a new message. By default, the message is set as coming from the account youre currently viewing, but you can use the drop-down menu to change accounts. To send a message to someone in your contacts, click the plus icon next to the mail message to open the People app and choose them from there. You can search your email by selecting Search from the Charms bar. Right-click a message (tap a message and slide up from the bottom on the touchscreen) to bring up options to mark a message as unread or move it to a new folder.
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The People app gives you access to all your contacts. Run this from the Start screen to view them. As well as pulling in contacts from your email accounts, you can also add socialnetworking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Click on Settings from the Charms bar and select Accounts. Click Add and you can also add Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
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Microsofts cloud storage service is built into Windows 8, giving you a way to save les and folders online. Here we show you how to use it and how to share your les
Set up SkyDrive
SKYDRIVE, MICROSOFTS CLOUD storage service, provides 7GB of free online storage if you have a Microsoft Account. The company has built a SkyDrive client into Windows 8, which you can use to
How to...
upload and manage your cloud storage. Its a little clunky in places, but it can be useful for sharing larger les or making sure you can access your important documents from anywhere.
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Launch the SkyDrive app from the Start screen and youll be taken to your storage space. Youll see three folders: Documents, Pictures and Public. Theres no difference between Documents and Pictures, as you can upload any le type to either of them; these are just to help you get organised from the start. The Public folder is shared publicly on the internet, so be careful what you put in there, as other people will be able to see it.
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To upload les or manage your les on SkyDrive, open a folder and right-click anywhere (slide up from the bottom if youre using a touchscreen device). Youll see options to create a new folder, upload les (a le browser is launched) or change the view between Details and Thumbnails. SkyDrive works like a normal le-storage device, so you can quickly organise all your data into the folders you want, choosing the les you want to upload and sending them over the internet in the background.
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To manage your les, right-click on those you want (long press for touchscreen devices) and youll see a choice of icons at the bottom of the screen, including the option to delete or download them. Click Download and you get a le browser view just navigate to the folder where you want your les and click Choose this folder. Theyll then be downloaded to your computer.
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One of the benets of SkyDrive is that you can share your les and folders. Sadly, this is something that Microsoft hasnt integrated into the app, and you can only upload, download and organise your storage. If you want to share a le or folder, youll need to use a web browser and go to http://skydrive.live.com. Log in with the same username and password you use for your computer, and youll be able to browse all your les and folders. Right-click on a le or folder and select Share to send someone a link to the le or folder. Anything stored in your Public folder can be accessed by anyone, as can any les you choose to make public through the Share menu. By default, your other folders are hidden from prying eyes.
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How to...
If you want more Start screen apps, go to the Windows Store. Well show you how to download, update and remove apps, as well as set up payment details
Use the Windows Store

APP STORES ARE all the rage; users love the convenience of being able to buy an app with a couple of clicks, and their owners like the ongoing prots, taking a percentage cut of each sale. Microsoft has nally joined Apple and Google with its Windows Store, which is where you need to visit to get hold of more Start screen apps.
The Windows Store houses both free and paid-for applications and requires a Microsoft account to use. If you log into your computer with a Microsoft account, you dont need to do any more, but if youre using a local account, youll be prompted to register for an account when you rst use the Store.
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Open the Start screen and click on Store to launch the Windows Store. You rst need to add a payment option. This isnt required to download free apps, so you can skip this step if youd rather not add a credit card to your account. Open Settings from the Charms bar and click Your account. Click Add payment method, ll out your card and billing details and click Submit. We recommend enabling the option to prompt for your password when buying apps. You can register up to ve PCs on your account, so use this page to remove old PCs youre no longer using.
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Once youre in the main Store, you can scroll left and right to see all the available categories. Each category shows you a few selected apps, but you can click Top free and Top paid to view the charts. To browse through a category, click its header. You can use the drop-down menu to lter by price and by rating, helping you nd the applications you want. To search, bring up the Charms bar and select Search. Type in your search term and all relevant results will be shown onscreen.
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To install an app, click its link in the Store and youll be taken to its page. Click the Install button and the app will be automatically downloaded to your computer. Updates will be downloaded automatically, and youll see a notication of updates on the Stores Live Tile; simply open the Store to install them. To nd apps youve installed on other devices, right-click in the Store (slide down on a touchscreen) and click Your apps. Then click on Apps not installed on this PC in the drop-down menu, select an app and click Install.
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To remove an app youve installed, go to the Start screen, right-click its icon (tap, hold and move the icon up on touchscreen devices) and select Uninstall. Youll see a warning; click Yes and the app will be removed from your computer. If you do the same thing on an application that wasnt installed through the Store, youll be taken to the Desktops Uninstall a program option instead.
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Need more Windows protection?
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See Security Expert, page 152
How to...
Back up your computer

Although Windows 8 is reliable, theres always a risk of errors and data loss. Heres how to back up your les or your entire computer, and recover after a problem
ALTHOUGH WINDOWS HAS been getting more reliable over the years, theres still the risk of hardware failure, re and theft to your data, not to mention software crashes breaking your computer. As with Windows 7, Windows 8 has advanced backup and recovery tools built in, although theyre located in different places and work in a slightly different way. Here well show you how to back up your entire computer, regularly back up your important les and how to recover when things go wrong. To use this guide, youll need to have made a recovery drive, which we showed you how to do in the installation guide (see page 116). We still think that dedicated cloud storage is the way to go, as this will automatically back up your les to a secure location as you work, but the built-in tools are useful if you want to back up for free. Theres also the System Restore tool, which remains the same as in Windows 7 and lets you roll your computer back to a previous state, undoing recent changes. Its always worth taking a complete backup of your computer as a system image, so that you can ash it back to a working state when things go wrong or you want to perform a hassle-free re-install. Windows 8 hides this utility, so go to the Start screen, type Windows 7, click Settings and select Windows 7 File Recovery. This will bring up the old Windows 7 backup screen, where you can schedule a backup or create a system image. Dont click Set up backup, as this will disable Windows 8s new backup software; we only want to use this utility for a system image. You can also use this application to create a system repair disc on DVD, whereas the new recovery drive works on USB only, which is the preferred option.
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To create a complete backup of your computer, click Create a system image. Youll be given a choice of backup locations: On a hard disk (fast and convenient, but a separate hard disk or external drive is safer than a separate partition), One or more DVDs (not recommended, as its less convenient to update), and On a network location, which is handy if you have a NAS device. If you go for Network Location, youll need to click Select, then Browse to nd your network storage before entering the username and password to choose where you want to save your backups. Once youve made your choice, click Next and Windows 8 will show you which drives its backing up. Click Start backup to complete the job. This could take a while to nish, depending on the number of les and applications you have installed.
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For le backup, Windows 8 has replaced the old system with a new application called File History. This is similar to Apples Time Machine feature, keeping multiple versions of your important les so you can jump back to a previous version when you want. Press the Windows key to open the Start screen and type File History, then click Settings and select File History. File History will work only if you have an external hard disk connected or you specify a network share, following the instructions in Step 2 to connect to one. If you want to use an external disk and dont have one connected yet, insert the drive and press F5 or hit the refresh icon (the circular arrow at the top of the screen).
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To restore les, open File History and click Restore personal les. This will open to the last backup made, showing the date and time at the top of the screen. You can use the navigation icons at the bottom of the page to move backwards and forwards in time, while the big green arrow icon is used to restore all les from the selected date and time. You can also browse through your les and folders. Right-clicking one gives the option to preview, restore or restore as; the third option lets you choose where to put the backup le, leaving the current version intact. If something more serious goes wrong, you may want to restart your computer in Safe mode, so you can uninstall software, reinstall drivers and so on. The problem with Windows 8 is that its fairly dicult to do this, as theres a window of 200 milliseconds or less in which to hit the required Shift-F8 key combination. Using the key combination method will usually require a few reboots until you get it right. If theres a major problem and your computer wont boot, Windows will reboot into an Automatic Repair mode and attempt to x boot problems, giving you the option of using System Restore to go back to an older version. Alternatively, if you can get into Windows, go to PC Settings, General and click Restart now under the Advanced start-up option. When you see the menu options, click Troubleshoot, Advanced options and Start-up settings. This will bring up a boot menu with Safe mode on it.
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File History automatically backs up les in your Libraries and on your Desktop, as well as your Contacts and Favourites. You can add new folders into Libraries using the instructions on page 127, but les outside of these locations wont be backed up. If you want to exclude a folder, click Exclude folders, click Add and browse to the folder that you dont want to back up. This can be useful if you have big project les that you back up separately, for example, and you dont want to keep multiple versions. Click Advanced settings to control exactly how the software works. You can choose how often to save copies of your les. The default is every hour, but you can increase the frequency if youre working on important les. Next, you can select the size of the oine cache: this is the amount of storage space used on your hard disk to save le versions when your backup location isnt available. This is particularly useful on laptops, where youll be out and about without access to your external hard disk or network. Finally, you can choose how long to keep versions of les. The default is forever, but you can choose your own timeframe using the drop-down menu. You can click Clean up versions here and choose to remove le versions from before a date you choose, such as les older than one year. Click Save changes, then, in File History, click Turn on. Windows will ask if you want to recommend your hard disk to other members of your HomeGroup so they can use it over the network, but we think its better to congure each machine individually. Your les will be backed up automatically in the background.
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When things go really wrong, insert your recovery drive USB key into your computer and make sure your BIOS is set to boot from it. When it restarts, choose Troubleshoot. The Refresh your PC setting will replace key system les to get your computer to boot. System Restore lets you ash your computer back to a previous point. If youd rather restore your computer from an image le, click on Advanced Options and select System Image Recovery. It should pick up your system images, but you can browse physical disks and network locations to point the software at your image. Follow the wizard through and let Windows restore itself.
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How to...
Configure default programs

With a choice between Desktop and Start screen apps, your les may not open where you want them to. We show you how to change the default applications
ALTHOUGH THE NEW Start screen apps are really user-friendly and easy to use, theyre not necessarily better than other applications you might already have on your computer. For example, Photos, the new Start screen app, lets you open a single picture, but you cant browse through the rest of the pictures in the pictures folder. Windows Photo Viewer, on the other hand, lets you open a picture from any folder, then browse through the entire contents of that folder. Fortunately, Windows 8 lets you change and congure which applications are used by default. Here well show you how to make the changes you want.
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If you want to be a bit more picky about what a program can do, select an application and choose Choose defaults for this program. This gives you a list of le extensions that application can open, such as .jpg, and Protocols. The latter option is for things such as web addresses, so that your default browser is opened if, for example, you click a link in a Word document. Put ticks in all the boxes where you want the selected application to be the default.
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Go to the Start screen and type default programs, then click the corresponding search result. This launches the Control Panel app that keeps track of which applications should be used for which le types. There are two methods of changing the details. First, you can choose Set your default programs, which lets you set an application so that its the default for all the le types it can open. This option displays a list of the applications on your computer, and you can select each one in turn. This will tell you how many defaults that application has set. If you want to use that application for everything, select Set this program as default.
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If you go back to the main Default Programs screen, you can also click Associate a le type or protocol with a specic program. This gives you a long list of le extensions and the application that currently opens that le type. Click the one you want to change, select Change program and choose the application you want to use from the list. You can also do a similar thing from Windows Explorer: right-click on a le and select Open With, Choose default, then select the application you want to use to open that le type.
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Finally, if you want to change what happens when you insert external media, such as a USB drive or a DVD, you need to go back to Default Programs and click Change AutoPlay settings. Here you can choose what to do by media type (Removable drive, DVD and so on), and by type (such as Pictures, Videos and Music). The advantage of this system is that you can do something different if, for example, you insert a removable drive full of pictures or full of videos. For each option choose what you want to do, such as opening the les in Explorer.
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How to...
Windows 8 dramatically overhauls the Task Manager, so its easier to use and better for troubleshooting. We explain all its new features and how to use them
Use Task Manager
ALTHOUGH WINDOWS HAS become more reliable over the years, there are still times when youll have to close down a problem application manually. Task Manager is still the best way of doing
this, but its had a dramatic overhaul in this version of Windows. Here well show you how to use it, as well as the differences that make it a far better tool than the old one.
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To launch the Task Manager, you can press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and select Task Manager or just press Ctrl-Shift-Escape. The rst thing that youll notice is that the Task Manager has a much simpler interface than it did previously. Select the problem program from the list and click End Task. The application will be terminated and shut down.
Click on More details and youll see the new Task Manager. To help you troubleshoot, it splits the list of running processes into Apps (those running in the foreground), Background processes (the parts of apps you cant see) and Windows processes (the bits you probably shouldnt touch). You can expand anything with a triangle next to its name, so you can see the sub-processes that are also running. For each running process, you can see how much of the CPU, Memory, Disk and Network its using, and its all colour coded, too. A column turns red if your computers suffering and highlights the offending application. This level of detail is great, as you can see exactly whats causing a problem; an application hogging all your network availability, for example, could be responsible for slow browsing.
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If youve had a lot of problems, click on App history and you can view the total CPU time and Network usage for all the programs on your computer. This list shows you anything thats been hogging resources so you can deal with it accordingly.
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The Start-up tab is useful, as it tells you which programs are set to start with Windows and the impact they have on your computer. Windows measures how each application affects your PCs performance and then tells you its startup impact: Low, Medium or High. You can right-click any item and choose Disable, but be careful: our PC told us that SugarSync had a High impact, but as its our online backup utility we dont mind about this. Before you start disabling services, make sure this information is as accurate as possible by letting Windows 8 bed in for a few weeks.
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THE EU AND YOU
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WHAT HAS BRUSSELS

For good or ill, the EU wields considerable inuence over the technological lives of its citizens. Stewart Mitchell weighs up the issues
the UK going to France or Germany for a week three times a year, the EU believes that its clampdown would save 1,083.60 a year. Its good news for travellers, although cynics expect operators to raise other prices to compensate for the loss of this cash cow.
e may hear more about EU farming than technology legislation, but Brussels is dipping its oar into the world of the web more and more. From broadband funding and privacy issues to the way copyright laws are applied online, EU ocials are ever-more inuential in the digital world, doling out funding for projects that could shape future technologies on the one hand while issuing nes to companies such as Microsoft and being overly zealous when protecting intellectual property on the other. Ocials are also trying to balance the commercial needs of businesses with the privacy and consumer rights concerns of Europes 500 million inhabitants. Sometimes the Eurocrats make sensible decisions that, for example, reduce the cost of data roaming for consumers, while at others their policies seem to benet neither industry nor users. We take a tour of some of the major areas in which EU policy has made or will make a difference to our lives online.
Perhaps the most recent EU contribution for the digitally connected citizen is its belated move to stamp out the scandalously high prices mobile companies were charging for using the web while abroad. Smartphone users who were used to browsing the web, posting photos to Facebook and using Twitter freely in the UK had been returning from holiday to shocking bills sometimes amounting to hundreds of pounds. Its hardly surprising when data can cost up to 4 per megabyte with Orange, for example. In these circumstances, uploading a picture of a chocolate-smothered toddler could easily rack up an eye watering charge. All that changed last summer when the EU put its foot down. The EUs digital tsar Neelie Kroes said, This ends the roaming rip-offs once and for all in the EU. Although the initial 0.70/MB cap that came into force in July is unlikely to please social networkhungry teenagers, its a step in the right direction, and the top price is scheduled to fall futher over the next two years, rst to 0.45 in July 2013, then 0.20 in July 2014. Based on an average business user from
NO PLACE LIKE ROAM
As the web is controlled by a relatively small number of high-powered network providers and is full of content from powerful media companies, controls are needed to protect independent trac. Carrying trac costs the network operators money, and severe conicts of interest can arise that threaten the concept of net neutrality, where each packet of data is treated equally. Think, for example, of mobile phone companies that make their money from telephone calls but also offer web access as part of a tariff. They have little incentive to provide access to voice-over IP (VoIP) services such as Skype over 3G, which would both incur trac costs and cut into their call revenues. As such, companies including T-Mobile, Orange and Vodafone have come under criticism for including clauses in their terms and conditions that let them block access to VoIP services. A similar conict could arise if a company such as BT, which is a network provider and part of the YouView television group alongside producers such as the BBC and ITV were to limit access to YouTube, because it competed with its own video services. This is just the sort of consumer issue that European regulators might want to take a hard line on. Indeed, Kroes initially indicated that she was hugely concerned about the situation, but the latest noises from Brussels suggest that there wont be a blanket ban on blocking content, despite an acknowledgement that a real problem exists. For the rst time, we know that at least 20 per cent, and potentially up to half, of EU mobile broadband users have contracts that allow their provider to restrict services such as Skype or peer-to-peer le sharing, says Kroes. But I do not propose to force each and every operator to provide full Internet: it is for consumers to vote with their feet. That may be true consumers can switch to another provider when their contract expires but if all the big mobile providers
NET NEUTRALITY GONE FISHING
act together, consumer choice could quickly evaporate. After all, competition did nothing to prevent sky-high European roaming prices. According to the EU, ISPs are perfectly entitled to block content provided they are clear in their contracts that they will do so. UK regulator Ofcom, which takes guidance both from Europe and Westminster, looks likely to take the same stance and ask for little more than transparency. However, critics say the moves dont go far enough and are seeking legislation that forces ISPs to treat every byte equally something that only the Netherlands has done so far. Critics believe that if left to their own devices, network operators will introduce a two-tier internet, with more expensive services offering access to everything on the web and more basic services pushing the websites and content that ISPs have been paid to deliver as a priority. EU lawmakers must recognise the necessity of legislation on net neutrality and act, said Monique Goyens, director general of the European Consumer Organisation. The only way to protect fundamental rights online and investment in networks is to enshrine net neutrality into EU law, and provide strong legal protections for the free internet.
RESHAPING BROADBAND
The EU has taken a stronger stand on broadband competition. Traditionally,
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THE EU AND YOU
EVER DONE FOR US?

The World Wide Web could be constrained by service providers unless the EU acts
network. Europe and, by proxy, regulators such as Ofcom in the UK, have been pushing for open access. Edicts from Europe led to the creation of a wholesale market, which meant rival operators were able to compete with the old state-owned incumbents. Ofcom enforced the EUs plans in the UK to ensure, for example, that BTs Wholesale division cant charge its ISP arm, BT Retail, less than it charges, say, Sky or TalkTalk to sell broadband. It paved the way for the local loop unbundling that has driven down ADSL prices. While the EUs push for open competition has shaped the broadband market in the UK, there are still issues to tackle. Next, the EU wants BT to offer rivals access to its dark bre the unused capacity that exists in most bre-optic networks. However, offering access to other companies must be balanced against the investments being made in the network to ensure both competition and the continued development of the system.
of levelling the playing eld for companies and consumers in non-urban areas. Local, national and European funding has been bundled together in nearly 40 UK projects, and although its the local councils and BT that are sending out press releases and patting themselves on the back, the projects would have been signicantly less ambitious without the funding from Europe. In many cases they wouldnt have been able to meet their target of extending access to bre to 90 per cent of people. Take Lancashire, for example, which recently awarded BT a contract to supply a revamped infrastructure. The deal relies on 30m from BT, while the government is contributing 10.8m, and county coffers are making up 5.2m. The 16.5 million from Europe is therefore a substantial slice.
VISION EXPRESS
BROADBAND MONEY TALKS

state-run systems have slowly been privatised in many countries, and the telecommunication companies that carry our broadband have been forced to open up and become more competition-friendly. Incumbent companies such as BT were understandably reluctant to open their networks to rival operators, who can offer cheaper services over the existing national
While the UK government has boasted about its 530m investment to improve broadband and bring 90 per cent of connections up to at least 24Mbit/s, theres actually more funding coming from the EU. Broadband is at the centre of the EUs vision of a modern, connected society, and the digital leaders in Brussels see universal high-speed connections as crucial to the continents future, and particularly as a way
This funding isnt the only contribution from the EU. Ocials are setting far more ambitious targets than the UK government. Whitehall is only planning for 90 per cent bre coverage and these bre connections are only to the cabinet and not the faster bre connections that go directly to homes. Meanwhile, anyone outside those areas is left behind with a paltry 2Mbit/s service. Brussels, by contrast, is seeking to develop networks that compete with those in emerging areas such as Asia. According to the EU, at least half of its 500m residents should be able to access the web at
PROBLEMATIC PRIVACY
One area in which Brussels has taken a strong stance is that of human rights, which includes questions of privacy. The EU has pushed for greater controls on how websites can gather information on you. In January, the EU Justice Commissioner repeated calls for a right to be forgotten. This would enable consumers to ask companies such as Facebook to delete all records and data stored on them. The proposals have already had some impact and Facebook has nally started to delete photos when members take them down but with so much personal data on the web, the EU believes legislation might be needed to make companies conform. Vast amounts of personal data are transferred and exchanged across continents and around the globe in fractions of seconds, said EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding. The protection of personal data is a fundamental right for all Europeans, but citizens do not always feel in full control of their personal data. Although consumers might agree with the EU on the issue of privacy, it seems at odds with the way the web works. Much content is free, funded by advertising that uses cookies and other data sources to help advertisers target specic users. E-commerce companies and publishers fear that measures to control how they use data would hamper online business, even if theyre popular with consumers. Such concerns are largely academic, as the UK Information Commissioners Oce recently admitted that it still didnt have any staff in place to investigate breaches of the cookie laws more than a year after the regulations came into force. UK businesses didnt bother to implement changes to their sites until a year after the cookie laws had come into effect, largely as everyone except privacy campaigners thought it was ill-conceived. Even the ICO said it wouldnt take action against anyone in the rst year after the directive had come into effect. In the end it was implemented a year late and in such a watered down form with a persons use of a site taken as informed consent that it was a waste of time and money, and brought little additional protection for consumers.
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THE EU AND YOU
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Try to use your UK Spotify account in France, for example, and it wont work, while several online services are available in some countries but not others. Consumer groups believe that this inconsistency has been a real factor in holding back a digital economy, with rights holders keener on restricting how content can be used geographically than making new services available. The result is that consumers often have very few rights despite having paid for the content. Consumers interests have not been taken into account with copyright, said Kostas Rossoglou, senior legal ocer for the European Consumers Bureau (BEUC). Despite the increasing relevance of copyright for peoples daily lives and the fact that consumers are the ones who rip and mix content, they do not have any rights under existing copyright laws. A number of permitted uses (such as copying a CD for private usage) are only allowed as exceptions and limitations to right holders exclusive rights. However, there are moves within Europe to standardise policies, which could open up new possibilities for subscription services or other creative ways of paying for or sharing content. As Consumer Focus copyright expert Saskia Walzial put it, the Directive on Collective Rights Management should massively improve the availability of copyright-protected content through legal services across the EU. Brussels wanted to bring in tighter controls, but MEPs were unwilling to support an agreement that was widely seen as giving too much weight to the interests of big business. It was a victory for rights campaigners, but it came in spite of, rather than because of, European policy makers. The MEPs overwhelming vote of 478 to 39 against the legislation dealt a blow to the Commissions pen pushers who were trying to force the agreement into EU law. This move by MEPs to go against the administrators wishes goes some way to justifying the time-consuming checks and balances that come with a multi-layered legislature. It also showed that at least some in Europe want to side with consumers over corporate interests. On the ruins of ACTA, we must now
100Mbit/s by 2020, and there should be a universal service provision of 30Mbit/s. While these targets may prove too costly, they at least suggest a level of ambition far beyond the UKs and would make a signicant difference to users. In its push for higher speeds, the EU has also committed 9.2bn in funding for major infrastructure projects, and although these are by no means all earmarked for the UK, MEPs believe the UK will receive a fair slice. Many projects funded through this scheme will be cross-border in their nature, said Graham Watson MEP. As the UK is the fourth biggest contributor to the EU, it would be only reasonable to expect Britain to receive a large proportion of the pot.
While Europes broadband intentions might be good, the process is predictably pedestrian. Although the UKs broadband plans are nally taking shape after years of protracted debate over procurement, they have hit a roadblock. As the projects are part-funded by public money, they must be signed off by competition regulators in Brussels to ensure they dont breach rules on state aid subsidies to private companies. At the time of writing, more than 30 projects had been put on hold since the beginning of summer while the process of UK nancing was being reviewed, and no decision was likely to be made during the EUs long summer recess. Although its impossible to know who to blame EU ocials blame the UK government for not providing enough information the EU doesnt have a great record for getting on with things, and in this case it appears to be holding back projects in which everything else is ready to go.
SPANNER IN THE WORKS
OPTING OUT OF ACTA
COPYRIGHTS AND WRONGS
The music and lm industries are quick to argue that the internet has crippled their
From a consumer point of view, the biggest stand European ocials have made was voting against the unpopular Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a global agreement led by the US and multinational companies. The initial
Europeans took to the streets over ACTA and, surprisingly, politicians took note
Brussels wanted tighter controls, but MEPs were unwilling to support an agreement that was seen to give too much to big business
business. Rampant piracy and illegal downloading have no doubt hit sales of music and lms, but while record companies have sought punitive measures through laws and private action, theres a real issue with the way copyright protections have been implemented in Europe. For example, format shifting (such as burning CDs to hard drives and other copying) has technically been illegal in the UK, although generally tolerated. With policies that vary widely across the EU, many digital services cant work across borders. negotiations for the agreement were conducted behind closed doors with strong involvement from major media companies and included provisions for packet snooping, which led to a real mistrust in ACTA. The Commission signed the agreement, which would have left the continents residents cut off from the web if they habitually infringed copyright. However, the European Parliament rejected ACTA at the eleventh hour, thanks in part to the high level of protests as vocal activists took to the streets.
build a positive copyright reform, taking into account our rights instead of attacking them, said campaign group La Quadrature du Net at the time. Fundamental freedoms, as well as the free and open internet, must prevail over private interests.
The EU has a double-edged remit when it comes to regulating web companies. On the one hand, it aims to create an environment in which businesses can thrive and make money from e-commerce, while on the other its responsible for protecting consumers. This is a ne line, and it is one that ocials have yet to tread with any consistency. In 2009, the EU ned Intel 1.06bn, ruling that the company had abused its dominant position in the chip market to restrict choice and manipulate the market. The EU decided that consumers had lost out because Intel had squeezed AMD out of the market by offering computer manufacturers bonuses for not using AMD chips.
FIGHTING BIG BUSINESS
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RESEARCH BONANZA
It may seem to some that the EU spends all its money on farmers and human rights legislation, but Eurosceptics might be surprised to nd that the EU has cash left to nance major technological research. The EU has a war chest of 80bn for projects running up to 2020, and is pouring money into a bewildering array of research projects, funding schemes as diverse as quantum computing and new materials such as grapheme a carbon-based substrate just one atom wide that could be used for touchscreens and solar cells. The projects are funded across borders, with collaboration between European wit universities, but they share a common goal uni to improve society through technology. t Some may end up as expensive follies, but Som ocials say the research is key both to o staying competitive and improving welfare. sta The Robot Companions for Citizens is a typical example of research thats too avant-garde for private companies but could pay dividends in the future. The project aims to design robots that can help around the home, providing care and company, as well as monitoring health and administering medicines. The basis of the research lies not only in technology but also in n sociological disciplines with the aim, researchers say, of creating robots that are aware of their physical and social surroundings and respond accordingly through understandings of the behaviour of sentient living creatures. The researchers say that the project will radically change the way humans interact
THE EU AND YOU TH
Researchers are trying to improve robot intelligence and emotive skills to make them better companions
with machines by developing communications methods and improving human-like expressions, textures and synthesised emotions. Care homes for the elderly may never be the same.
Intel came under re for abusing the market and harming consumer choice
Intel gave wholly or partially hidden rebates to computer manufacturers on condition that they bought all, or almost all, their x86 CPUs from Intel, the ruling said. Intel also made direct payments to a major retailer on condition it stock only computers with Intel x86 CPUs, it continued. Such rebates and payments effectively prevented customers and ultimately consumers from choosing alternative products. Such practices would inevitably lead to more expensive computers for users and less choice. Its hard to know whether Intels actions can be blamed for AMDs current woes, with an ever-shrinking share of the market, but the EUs decision was intended to redress the balance and protect choice.
Microsoft has also had its fair share of trouble with EU regulators. Brussels has acted against the software giant on two occasions to give smaller operators a chance to compete. In 2004, the company was ned 500m for not licensing its software fairly to rivals a move that ultimately led to changes in Microsofts business practice. Linux platform Samba, for example, emerged into the server market once it was given a licence in the wake of the EUs ruling even if the decision came too late for other competitors. By the time Microsoft agreed to carry out the remedies, its illegal practices had driven commercial rivals from the market. But Microsoft could not kill the open-source community entrant Samba, said European Committee on Interoperable Systems chairman, Thomas Vinje. Samba now has a licence from Microsoft and runs on millions of machines around the world. Consumers will be more familiar with the Browser Ballot ruling, which in 2008 forced Microsoft to offer a choice of web browser when they start Windows for the rst time. Again, the idea was to foster competition, as ocials were concerned that rivals who
CLOSED WINDOWS
werent bundled with Windows would lose out. It worked up to a point, with Opera claiming that downloads of its browser jumped threefold after the process came into effect. However, the fact that it took effect years after the browser wars made it seem a little late. By the time the legislation was put into effect in 2010, rival browsers such as Firefox and Googles Chrome were already established, leaving the actions looking like unnecessary meddling. As we went to press, EU regulators were considering claims that Google was abusing its position as the dominant search engine by promoting its own sites at the expense of others, with regulators considering action that could lead to a $4bn ne.
Its easy to criticise the EU for its slow processes, but it has real uses when it comes to technology. As demonstrated by the big nes handed out to dominant companies, it has shown more teeth than many governments and has helped keep big businesses on the straight and narrow, which should mean cheaper data, software and even hardware. The EU is by no means perfect, and the cookie directive asco (see box on page 143) showed just how awed its thinking can be, but at least it raised the issue of privacy, which online businesses and the likes of Google had no intention of doing. Perhaps the EUs biggest contribution, however, is to put technology and the internet at the centre of its plans for the future. While the UK is proposing to spend 32bn on just one train line and only 530m on broadband provision, Europe is committing nearly a third of its infrastructure investment to the internet.
WHATS THE VERDICT?
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Business Expert, page 163
The right sort

I run a football sweep where participants pick 12 teams from each of four leagues. I give each team a number. For each person in the sweep, I enter the numbers of the teams they pick, using a simple formula to total the number of points their chosen teams have accumulated. I now wish to sort the result, so the person with the highest total is at the top. When I sort the cells, the formulae seem to go haywire, and the result is wrong. Is there a way of sorting the list so all the names, team numbers, and result stay together on the same line and descend from top to bottom, highest total at the top? but things go wrong when you ask Excel to sort the table containing the participants names and team choices, including the formulae to calculate the totals. The rows (including the formulae) are moved around, and Excel alters the relative formulae to point to new locations. It keeps the relative bit (23 columns to the left, six rows up), and changes the formula to refer to whichever cell that would be from the new position. Use absolute references to point to specic cells in Excel If the cell that was =C4+G8+K5 has Graham Armitage moved up four rows, the new formula will be =C0+G4+K1. This means Excel is looking at incorrect references or, with C0, non-existent rows. So use absolute cell references rather than relative The reason your formulae go haywire lies in the difference cell references. If you enter the formula as =$C$4+$G$8+$K$5, Excel between relative and absolute cell references. To understand knows you want it to always point to cells C4, G8, K5 and so on, even if relative and absolute references, think about how youd give you move the cell containing the formula somewhere else. In your case, directions to someone. Imagine saying, Go down the road, turn left at replace all the formulae in column AL to have absolute cell references. the third turning, then right after 100 yards. Thats the relative address method, and it works ne, but if you were moved two miles down the Making these changes is quite a lot of work. Fortunately, Excel has a road and carried on using the same directions, it wouldnt work. Using keyboard shortcut that will make the changes for you. Click on one of an absolute reference is more like saying type this postcode into your the cells containing the formula. Then click in the formula bar to see sat nav, which should work no matter where you are. your formula and select all the text. Press function key F4. Youll see the If you enter a cell reference such as C4, Excel treats that as a relative formula change to absolute rather than relative. Keep pressing function cell reference. In other words, it works it out as the value in the cell xxx key F4 to see the reference cycle round to absolute, absolute for the columns right or left from the current cell, and yyy rows up or down. row but relative for the column, absolute for the column but relative for So, if you enter =C4 into cell Z10, then Excel returns the value in the cell the row, relative, then back to absolute. Once youve got it as absolute, that is 23 columns to the left of and six rows up from Z10. This is ne, press the Enter key, move to the next formula in the list and repeat.
Using colour in PowerPoint

Im creating a presentation in PowerPoint, and Id like to cycle a button through a range of colours when people click on it. Ive been trying to achieve it by having a sequence of objects in the same place that are shown or hidden using appear and disappear animations, but Im not having a lot of success. Adam Khalil You need to use an animation trigger. Start by drawing your button try a rounded rectangle shape. Give it a ll colour of the colour you want to appear rst. Click on the shape, then choose Custom Animation from the Animations tab. Click on the shape, then click the button labelled Add Effect. The option you want is Emphasis,
Change Fill Color. Pick the colour you want the button to change to the second time its pressed. Youll see an entry appear in the box for actions in the Custom Animation pane, called 1 Rounded Rectangle 3 (depending on which shape youve used and how many other shapes youve got in your presentation). Click the down-arrow next to the new entry and choose Timing. Change the speed to Very Fast, then click the button labelled Triggers. Change the setting to Start effect on click of Rounded Rectangle 3 (or your equivalent). Then click again on the button shape on the slide, and click Add Effect in the Custom Animation pane for a second time. Repeat the process above, choosing a different colour for the ll. Repeat this as many times as you need. When youve added all the animations to
Use Custom Animation triggers to show a repeated sequence in PowerPoint
show all the colours, alter one setting on the nal animation effect. Click on the drop-down arrow next to the animation in the list in the panel and choose Effect Options. Change the After animation setting to the colour you chose for the rst colour used for the button. If you test the animation, you should see the button cycle through the ll colours in a loop.
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WorldMags.net How do I order data in Access?

I need some help with sorting data into order in Access. Ive got a table that I want to sort into order on two elds: Grade and Subject. When I use ORDER BY Grade, Subject, it puts any records that have Null values in the Grade eld at the top, but I want them to be at the end of the list. In other words, I want to see all those students who have achieved particular grades at the top of the list, with
BUSINESS HELP
students who havent been awarded a grade in subject order at the end of the list. Mary McNiven Use ORDER BY (Grade Is Not Null), Grade, Subject. This ensures that this list is rst sorted by people with a Grade entered (Grade Is Not Null), then sorts by Grade, then by Subject. You should see the students shown in the order you want.
Change the sort order in Access using a check on whether the grade is Null
Changing Outlook appointment view

I use Outlook, and my appointments are pretty crowded. Is there a way to change the view so I see only the start time when printing my monthly calendar to save the space? Id also like to be able to see both the start and end time if I choose to print the daily view. Sometimes I see the start time, sometimes I see both, and sometimes I see neither. Joel Halligan It does depend on which template youre using, and how its been dened. First, you need to check that youve actually congured Outlook to show the end times. To do this, right-click in the body of the calendar and choose Other Settings. Make sure theres a tick in the box labelled Show End Time. The problem with printing end times in the Daily views is that if youre using Outlook 2007, the only view that shows
Key: HKey_Current_User\Software\ Microsoft\Oce\12.0\Outlook\Printing Value name: ShowStartEndTime Value: 1 As always when editing the Registry, you should be very careful, as you could render your computer unusable. Take a system restore point and back up the Registry before starting the process. To edit the system Registry, type Regedit in the Run option of the Start menu. Outlook 2010 is better at handling end times, but has a limited Daily style that prints only the start times if the appointment ends outside working hours. Add a Registry key to sort out the end times: Key: HKey_Current_User\Software\ Microsoft\Oce\14.0\Outlook\Printing Value name: ShowStartEndTime Value: 1
Make sure Outlook is set to not show the end time for appointments
end times is the Calendar Details Style except if the end time falls outside the time youve specied as your working day. You can force Outlook to show the end times by using a Registry Key setting. Youll need to add this Registry key by using Regedit:
Problem with Word 2010 mail merge

I have a problem with Word 2010 when doing mail merges on data from Access. I format the text as Calibri, 12 point. The text for <membername> shows correctly, but when I tell Word to complete the mail merge and check the results, the name appears as Times New Roman with a 16-point font size. Whats going on? Jules Kent Word doesnt use the formatting from the source document, so that shouldnt be causing you the problem. It might be happening because the formatting for the Normal font of the document template youre using has been set as a different font, and the merge eld is using that font style rather than the one youve selected for the rest of the document. Check the eld has the Mergeformat switch in it. Press Alt-F9 to reveal the eld codes, and look at the membername eld. If it
has \*Mergeformat in the eld, take it out. Fields that have been inserted using the Field dialog should have Mergeformat included by default. If the eld doesnt have Mergeformat included, its worth adding it to see if that gets rid of your problem. If your eld shows { MERGEFIELD membername} try changing it to { MERGEFIELD membername \*Mergeformat }. If you update the eld then apply formatting to the result returned by the eld rather than the eld code, the formatting should be retained the next time the eld is updated. Word also has another option called Charformat, which can also be used to manage the formatting of the results returned in elds. If you apply formatting to the rst character of the eld type while viewing the eld codes rather than the results, that formatting should be used for the results when the eld is updated. To see whether Charformat solves your problem, add
Add a Mergeformat switch to specify formatting in Word mailmerge
\*Charformat to the eld while viewing the eld codes. Charformat and Mergeformat are alternatives, so dont try using both together. You should also look at how formatting is treated during updates. Right-click on the eld thats causing the problem, and choose Edit eld from the options youre offered. At the bottom right of the dialog box that appears, theres a box labelled Preserve formatting during updates. If this has a tick in it, try taking it out. If it hasnt got a tick in it, put one in.
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Helple
Ive been given an old HP Laserjet 1160 printer, which Ive connected to my NAS device and shared over the network. Ive been able to set it up on a Windows Vista laptop and a Windows 7 desktop without a hitch, but Im having problems with my netbook, which runs Windows 7 Starter Edition. Windows can see the printer but, when I go to install drivers, the Laserjet 1160 isnt listed and there isnt a Windows Update button as the HP support website suggests there should be. I visited the Windows 7 Compatibility Center, which tells me that a free download is necessary and directs me to the HP website to get it from there, I just end up back at the support pages where I started. Do I need to upgrade to a different Windows edition to be able to add a network printer? Neil Raymond
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Whatever your general PC, hardware and software woes, Simon Handby is here to help. Send your problems to help@computershopper.co.uk
Wheres the driver for my printer?

Q
You can use network printers with Windows 7 Starter Edition, although its trickier if theyre part of a businesss Windows domain. In your case, the easy x is to open the Start menu and search for Hardware, then select Change device installation settings in the results. In the resulting dialog box, ensure that Yes, do this automatically is selected or that, if No, let me choose what to do is selected, one of the top two radio buttons is selected. Ensure you have an internet connection, connect the printers USB cable to the The easiest way to get some drivers is to let Windows netbook and wait while Windows detects, look for them online downloads and installs the necessary drivers. Then connect the printer back to the installed correctly, return to Devices NAS device and install it as before the and Printers, remove the USB version of LaserJet 1160 will now appear in the list of the printer and check the correct version available drivers. With the networked printer is the default.
How do I organise my backups?

My three-year-old laptops hard disk recently died. Fortunately, Id been following your advice and using Acronis True Image Home to make regular backups to a network drive. After replacing the disk and restoring the computer, I was able to retrieve all the les and folders I needed from the backups. As an extra precaution, Id been using a free SugarSync account to back up all my critical les, but it turned out that everything I needed was in the local backups. However, Im not sure how to organise my backups for the new PC. I was assuming Id just carry on from where I left off, continuing both existing backup arrangements, but now Ive got a new PC without all my original data on it, I realise it might be best to start anew with both services. Whats your advice? Jerry Lawson Youve chosen to re-install your PC from an as-new state, so its probably best to start with new backups that contain only the data and programs you actually need and continue
to use. However, provided you have enough space on your network drive, wed recommend you keep your old backups for at least a couple of months; it may take time to discover if you havent restored something vital. Wed suggest creating a new folder for the new backup, and moving the old backup to a suitably named folder to keep things tidy. Create a backup with the same settings as you used before, as these clearly worked. For similar reasons, its best to hold on to the existing data thats been synchronised to
Its ne to merge the les restored locally with those synchronised online; Sugarsync wont restore duplicates
SugarSyncs servers, particularly as this could contain any very recent les or changes that werent yet included in your network backup. The best option is simply to synchronise the data with the equivalent folders on your re-installed PC SugarSync will only restore any les that arent already on the PC. Where it has a different version of the le, perhaps because it was backed up more recently, this will be restored with a modied lename alongside the existing le. To do this, run SugarSync Manager from the Start menu and click the Manage Sync Folders button. Under Other Computers, you should see the folder or folders you previously synchronised drag each and drop it on to the column for your re-installed computer, then conrm or change the suggested location as necessary. When youve done this for all the folders, click OK and SugarSync will begin synchronisation; this may take a while. It isnt likely that there will be many les to download, but you can view detailed progress by clicking View, selecting File Transfer Status and clicking the Downloads tab.
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WorldMags.net Can I transfer my OS?

I recently broke the hinges on my laptop, and Ive been quoted more for the repair than a new one would cost. I also have a desktop PC thats still running Windows XP, which is no longer supported by Microsoft. Can I transfer my copy of Windows 7 from my laptop to the desktop, making a bootable disk or USB drive? George Bagshaw, george.bagshaw@sky.com In theory, you might be able to extract the hard disk from the laptop, t it to the desktop and use it as a boot disk. However, we wouldnt recommend it, as the desktops hardware is very different and may not be compatible with Windows 7.
HELPFILE
An OEM Windows licence is only valid for the PC with which it came
A better alternative would be to create a fresh Windows 7 installation on the desktop, but theres no way to do this from your original installation without a Windows disc. In most cases, manufacturers dont supply this with off-the-shelf computers, instead opting for a recovery partition. Even if you do have the original disc, your original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
Windows licence is valid only for the original PC on which it was installed in this case, your laptop. Using it on your desktop breaches the licence terms and could get you in trouble. The cheapest legitimate way to put Windows 7 on your desktop is to buy an upgrade edition, which for Windows 7 Home Premium costs around 83 on Amazon a 20 discount on the full licence. If searching for this, be careful to avoid Anytime Upgrade products; these are for people who already have Windows 7 but wish to upgrade to a more comprehensive edition (see below).
Do I need to upgrade my home studio PC?

I have an ageing desktop PC with a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 and 1GB of RAM, running Windows XP SP3. Ive previously tried to use it for home recording using Magix Studio and a Creative Labs Live! 24-bit external sound card, but I had major latency issues, even using ASIO4ALL; I had to chop up the tracks and manually re-align them in software, which was infuriating. Recently, I decided to give it another go, and wondered if a budget of 300 could get me a working setup? Ive decided on an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card, with which I expect Ill use Magix Studio or Reaper. Im not sure whether to buy a refurbished, higher-spec PC or upgrade the RAM and graphics card of my existing one. I just want to record acoustic guitar via a Samson CO1U USB mic or a 3.5mm stereo item with a pre-amp. I also need latency-free headphone playback so I can layer up my songs without re-aligning tracks to x timing. It would be nice if I could also watch HD video my current graphics card produces a jerky frame rate. Stuart Mitchell, stuart.mitchell79@live.co.uk We havent reviewed a recent version of Magix Studio, but past experience with Magixs audio editing software isnt encouraging. In Shopper 290, Ben Pitt encountered poor synchronisation using ASIO drivers with Magix Music Maker MX. Wed suggest you try again with different software before deciding that a PC upgrade is necessary. Both Reaper (www.reaper.fm) and Cubase
Will Windows 7destroy data?

I want to upgrade from the Windows 7 Home Premium supplied with my computer to Windows 7 Professional. If I do so, will I lose all my folders, data, photos and programs that I currently have installed? B Brody, bpbrody@hotmail.com You can upgrade editions without losing any data or installed programs if you use the Windows Anytime Upgrade feature. This allows you to buy an upgrade directly from within Windows and have it applied to your system, or to enter an upgrade key you buy elsewhere to enable the upgrade. The result is identical whichever method you use. The retail price of the upgrade is 30 less than buying from within Windows, but the latter ensures you get the right upgrade. Make sure you start with a full backup. Then open the Start menu on your PC, search for Windows Anytime Upgrade and click it in the results. When the program starts, click Enter an upgrade key if youve already bought a licence from a retailer, and follow the prompts. To buy the upgrade directly from Microsoft, click Go online to choose the edition of Windows 7 thats best for you, click the Buy button under the Professional edition and complete the purchase process.
Elements (www.steinberg.net) have fully functional 30-day trials. We expect you know that the Samson CO1U is accessed directly as a USB sound device, rather than via the computers existing sound card. As it has no output, recording entails input on one device (the mic) and output on another, ruling out the use of ASIO unless you add the complication of using ASIO4All; as youve discovered, this wont always work. If your current setup doesnt work well with different software, it might be best to switch away from using USB mics. The most cost-effective option may be to buy an audio interface with one or more phantom-powered XLR inputs (rather than buying the M-audio card and a pre-amp). Unfortunately, these are a little more specialised than we usually cover in Shopper, so were unable to provide a specic recommendation. We also cant advise whether you need to upgrade your PC hardware, so check the minimum system specications of any device carefully. We can say that while a graphics card upgrade might be desirable for watching HD video, it shouldnt have any bearing on audio performance, so its not essential to this project. For the best sound, buy two identical microphones and use one each near the bridge and neck of the guitar to achieve a wide stereo stage. The Samson CO1 is identical to the CO1U but has an XLR connector, so two of these are ideal if you do choose a suitable dual-XLR audio interface.
Samsons CO1U is a good USB mic, but using an audio interface with XLR mics eliminates latency for music production
Buying an Anytime Upgrade within Windows is foolproof, but prices elsewhere are lower
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ADVERTORIAL IN ASSOCIATION WTH
Windows 8 security
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Microsofts new OS may be the most secure yet, but dont take chances. We show you how to maximise the security offered by Windows 8s new features
With Eset, cloud technology ONE OF THE key things Microsoft is used so your computer gets wanted to address with Windows protection from the latest threats 8 was security: it has focused on immediately. Meanwhile, heuristics making the core more secure than can spot virus-like behaviour from earlier versions of the OS. A lot of brand-new threats and stop them work went into ensuring that the from infecting your computer. An new OS wouldnt fall prey to the intrusion prevention system blocks same range of attacks as previous access to your PC, and the rewall incarnations of Windows. is automatically controlled to block The company has also added harmful software from accessing new security features, designed to your computer. With spam ltering protect you from a wider range of built in to block phishing and threats than ever before. This malicious emails, Esets Smart effort is laudable, but it doesnt mean you should sit back and Windows Defender now offers anti-virus protection, but a full security Security 5 offers far more protection suite will offer more comprehensive protection than the free built-in tool. consider yourself safe. Microsofts measures are crucial, but the fact SMARTSCREEN PROTECTION DEDICATED SECURITY remains that Windows 8 will be a big Once youve got a full security suite Windows 8 now ships with an updated target for cyber-criminals and theyll try installed, youll nd that the new features version of Windows Defender, which is everything they can to compromise it. of Windows 8 offer a useful second line turned on by default. In previous editions In our own independent tests, of defence against threats. One of the key of Windows, this was anti-spyware only, performed by Dennis Technology new tools is the improved SmartScreen but the new version has anti-virus, too. In Labs, weve already seen Windows 8 Filter. This tool checks the software you effect, Windows Defender is the same as compromised by malware. Thats not to download against an online list of safe Microsofts Security Essentials. It gives mention all the software installed on your programs and warns you about any you some protection the rst time you computer that may have its own gaping potentially dangerous software. turn on your new Windows 8 PC or install security holes to let cyber-criminals in. SmartScreen Filter comes in two parts, the OS. However, its basic, and doesnt All computer security should be with one set of protections built into thought of as layers of protection, and offer the protection of a full security suite. Your rst job, therefore, should be to Internet Explorer (IE) and one set built the more layers you have, the better. In install some third-party security software. into Windows itself. The IE protection this months Security Expert we look at A full security suite such as Eset Smart monitors les as you download them, Windows 8s new security features and Security 5 combines a range of powerful blocking anything it considers unsafe. how to use them, plus the other steps you tools designed to give you comprehensive You may never see this in action, as should take to protect your computer protection from all kinds of threats. your security software should block the from the cyber-criminals.
SmartScreen Filter displays as a message bar at the bottom of the Internet Explorer window
You can override Microsofts protection if you believe the le youre downloading is safe
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download rst, before SmartScreen Filter is required; however, should your security software miss the le or deem it safe, IE gets its chance. When SmartScreen Filter steps in, youll see a warning message at the bottom of the IE window that tells you the le youre trying to download is unsafe to download and was blocked by SmartScreen Filter. This can happen with les that are downloaded only rarely, such as those from a small developer. If you think the software is safe, click View downloads, right-click the blocked le and select Download unsafe program. This forces SafeScreen Filter to re-run the check on the le; if the le is marked as unsafe by Microsoft, youll be completely blocked from downloading it. If you know that a le is safe, you can right-click it and select Report that this program is safe. This will send you to a website, where you can ll in a simple form asking for the le to be unblocked. Microsoft will then inspect the le and, if its deemed virus-free, add it to the list of safe programs. You can disable SmartScreen Filter from the Settings menu to download anything you want, but wed recommend that you leave it enabled. Other browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox, have similar technology built in, monitoring what youre downloading and blocking the les that are found insecure. With Chromes protection, you can override each download if you think its safe.
SECURITY EXPERT
Once your security software is in place, test its working by using a EICAR test le. This is harmless, but all security software is programmed to recognise it as a threat to prove the system is working. Go to www.eicar.org/85-0-Download. html and select any le. Your security software will step in and block the le from downloading. To test SmartScreen Filter, disable your security software temporarily. For Eset, you can right-click the icon in the Notication Area and select Temporarily disable protection. For security, we recommend you shut down unnecessary browser windows and all other applications.Go to the EICAR site and download the eicar.com le using Internet Explorer. Your browser will block it, with IEs SmartScreen Filter stepping in. IE wont let you override SmartScreen Filter for this le, so download it using Chrome or disable SmartScreen Filter on IE. When youve downloaded the le, run it and Windows SmartScreen Filter will step in. Re-enable all protection once youve veried everything is running.
TESTING YOUR PROTECTION
You can log into your computer using a pre-dened gesture on a picture instead of a password
SmartScreen Filter will warn you about unknown applications, although you can manually override the protection
SmartScreen Filter in Windows 8 works when you rst run an application, no matter which browser you used to download the le; it also doesnt matter whether you copied the le from a network share or were sent it in an email. Again, SmartScreen Filter comes into operation only after your security software has passed the le as safe. When Windows SmartScreen Filter kicks in, a blue bar appears over the screen warning you that the le youve downloaded is unknown and may harm your PC. If you click the OK button, the le is blocked from running. If you want to override the system, click More info and Run anyway. Your choice of action is sent to Microsoft. By gathering results from lots of PCs, SmartScreen Filter can be updated so that new applications particularly from smaller developers can be added quickly to the safe list.
FILTER CAPACITY
System and Security, Action Center and click Change Windows SmartScreen Settings. Youll see a choice of three options. The rst is the best, as it means that only a user with an administrator account can overrule SmartScreen. The second option lets anyone overrule SmartScreen, while the third disables the protection entirely. We recommend leaving the rst option enabled, so your computer has the highest level of security.
To change the operation of the SmartScreen Filter in Windows, press Alt-X and select Control Panel from the menu. Select
CHANGING SETTINGS
Windowss built-in protection can mean an unrecognised le is sometimes blocked from running. Where the le is a Zip le, this means all the les inside the archive are blocked our benchmarks are blocked automatically, as theyre not recognised by Microsoft. If you want to unblock the le so you can run it, navigate to it in Windows Explorer, right-click it and select Properties. At the bottom of the General tab, click Unblock to remove any restrictions set by Windows.
UNBLOCKING FILES
As well as boosting internet security, Windows 8 introduces two new methods
USING NEW PASSWORDS
of signing in to your PC: PIN entry and a picture password. This is in addition to a traditional password, which must still be used to make certain system changes. This means you can set your account with a long and secure password for the maximum security while using one of the other methods on a day-to-day basis. To set up the new forms of password, press Windows-C to bring up the Charms bar and select Settings, Change PC Settings, then click Users. If you want to use a fourdigit numerical PIN, click Create a PIN and follow the wizard. To use an image, click Create a picture password. Click Choose picture to select an image of your choice, then select Use this picture. Draw three distinct gestures using your touchscreen or mouse circling your pets eye could be one. Repeat all three gestures again, and your picture password will be set. Next time you log on to your computer, you can use your picture password or PIN. For convenience, you can also switch back to conventional password entry from the Login screen.
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Sharing media with FreeNAS

IN ADVANCED PROJECTS, Shopper 288 and 289 (both of which are on the cover disc in PDF format), we showed you how to turn an old PC into a home server using the open-source FreeNAS operating system. This month, well show you how to expand the capabilities of the FreeNAS box using plugins, so you can access all the music, videos and photos stored on your server on any DLNA-compliant device, such as a modern Smart TV.
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A DLNA server stores your media les and shares them between all your devices. Chris Finnamore explains how to set one up using FreeNAS
Before you begin, youll need to install FreeNAS and get the box up and running on your network. You can nd details on how to do this in the FreeNAS Advanced Projects article on the cover disc. You can use any old PC you like, but it should ideally have at least 2GB of RAM for optimum performance, and it will need to be plugged into your home network with at least a 10/100 wired Ethernet connection. The guide on the cover disc explains how to install FreeNAS from a CD to a USB ash drive, but weve recently found an easier way that doesnt involve burning a CD and will install the OS straight to a USB drive (2GB minimum). Download FreeNAS-8.2.0RELEASE-p1-x64.img from http://tinyurl.com/ freenas82. This le is an xz archive, so youll need 7-Zip from www.7-zip.org to extract the FreeNAS-8.2.0-RELEASE-p1-x64.img le. Download the Image Writer binary Zip le from https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer,
PREPARING YOUR FREENAS BOX
As long as it has a hard disk and network connection, any old PC can be used a media server
extract the folder within to your computer and run Win32DiskImager. Then click the folder icon to browse to the FreeNAS image le, select your USB ash drive letter from the Device drop-down menu (double-check its the letter of your USB ash drive, as youll lose all the data on the drive) and click Write. Once its nished, youll be able to boot straight from the ash drive into a working FreeNAS system, with no further installation necessary.
Go into your FreeNAS boxs web interface by typing its IP address into your web browser (if youve forgotten the IP address, its listed on the boxs display). Type in your username and password to gain access; the default username is admin. The rst step is to create a user. Expand the Users section and click Add User. Type in the username (such as chris), enter the full name and add a password. Leave the other options alone and click OK to create your user. Youll then need to create a shared volume for all your media les. In the left-hand tree, select Volumes, then click Volume Manager. In the window that appears, type storage in the Volume name eld and, in the Member disks section, select the hard disk you want to use for storage. Now select ZFS as the le system type, and click Add Volume. The new volume will appear in the View Volumes section under Active Volumes. Youll now want to create a ZFS dataset on your storage volume, which youll be able to mount in Windows to copy les across. Click View Volumes, and then click the Create ZFS Dataset button next to the storage volume you created. Enter media in the Dataset Name eld, leave all the other options alone and click Add Dataset. To give the user you created access to the dataset, go to the View Volumes view and click the Change Permissions
SETTING UP USERS
Youll need to set up several different datasets for your media and plugins
Set up permissions so that you can access your shares from Windows
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
Youll need to turn on CIFS sharing to access your shared datasets from a PC
Mapping the Windows share as a network drive makes it easy to copy all your media les to your NAS device so you can access them quickly from your PC, tablet or Smart TV
want to put the PBI le temporarily during installation; the default is the root of your NAS devices storage, which is ne. Click OK, then in the next page click Browse, and browse to the jail dataset you created, so its path shows up in the Plugins jail path eld (such as /mnt/Storage/jail). Under Jail name, ENABLING WINDOWS SHARING put plugins. This means that you will have a Before the media dataset will be accessible in plugin jail called plugins located in a ZFS Windows, youll need to set it as a Windows dataset called jail. share. Expand the Sharing section in the You also have to give the jail an IP address left-hand tree, then expand Windows (CIFS) that the FreeNAS box will be able to access. Shares. Click Add Windows (CIFS) Share. In The plugin jail is essentially a different system, the box that appears, enter media in the so the IP address needs to be different to that Name eld, then click the Browse button. of your FreeNAS box. In our previous FreeNAS Browse to your media ZFS dataset, which will guides, we recommended you give the box an IP address 10 higher than the highest number be in /mnt/storage/media. Click OK and enable the sharing service when prompted, and you your router assigns using DHCP, to make sure will see your share listed in the Windows youre well clear of other IP addresses on (CIFS) Shares section. If it doesnt appear, your network. For this reason, its safe just check the CIFS service is enabled under to give it the next IP address up, so if your Services Control Services. FreeNAS box had 192.168.1.60, Youll now be able to mount give the plugin jail 192.168.1.61. your media volume as a The Jail IP Netmask should network drive in Windows. be the same as your home Open Computer, click Map network, and is most likely to network drive, give your drive be 255.255.255.0 (you can run a letter and under Folder enter ipcong from the Windows the FreeNAS boxs IP address command line to check). The followed by your media dataset, Plugins archive path is where such as \\192.168.1.60\media. your plugins will be stored, so The username and password is click Browse, nd the plugins the one you set up earlier in dataset you created and select FreeNAS. You should now it the path should now show create folders in the media /mnt/storage/plugins. share for your media les, Then click Upload Jail PBI. In such as Music, Videos and the next screen, click Browse, Pictures, and copy your then nd your PBI le and click media les over in Windows. Upload Jail PBI. You should see a PBI successfully installed GETTING READY message at the top of the FOR PLUGINS screen. Before you can use the The procedure for installing plugins jail, you need to enable plugins under FreeNAS is it. Expand Services, click on complicated. Plugins run under Control Services and ick the Plugins run in a separate virtualised operating system, which must be accessible on the network from the FreeNAS operating system something called a FreeBSD jail, Plugins slider to On.
button next to the media dataset. From the Owner (user) drop-down box, select the user you created, then click the Change button. Theres more about setting up users and volumes in the Advanced Projects article on the cover disc.
which is essentially a virtualised FreeBSD operating system. Youll need to create two ZFS datasets for the plugin jail: one for the FreeBSD operating system and one for the plugins themselves. In your FreeNAS interface, expand the Storage section of the tree in the left-hand pane. Now expand the Volume tree and click View Volumes. Under the main volume (called Storage), click the Create ZFS Dataset icon, name this new set jail and click Add Dataset. Now, again under the main volume, create another dataset called plugins. Youll now need to download the plugins jail PBI le (FreeNAS-8.2.0-RELEASE-x64. Plugins_Jail.pbi) from http://tinyurl.com/ freenasplugins. Save it somewhere convenient. To create the plugin jail, in your FreeNAS web interface expand Services, Plugins, then Management, and click Settings. The wizard will run. It will ask you where you
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ADVANCED PROJECTS
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Thanks to a bug in FreeNAS 8.2 , you have to use the command line to set up media sharing properly
After youve used the command line to set up your virtual directory within the plugins jail, you need to point the MiniDLNA plugin to the right place
Youll now need to install the MiniDLNA plugin, for DLNA media streaming to smartphones, tablets, TVs and set-top boxes. Go to http://tinyurl.com/freenasplugins and download minidlna-1.0.22_3-amd64.pbi. Go to Services and Control Services, then at the top click the Plugins button. Click the Install Plugin button and browse to the plugin you downloaded, then click Upload. The plugin will install. Youll need to congure the plugin before you start it, so dont ick the Service status slider to On just yet. Now comes the tricky bit. As the plugins software runs in a jail, its separate from your main FreeNAS operating system so cant access the media les stored there directly. To get around this, you need to create Mount Points that point from a directory on your
INSTALLING THE MINIDLNA PLUGIN
FreeNAS boxs operating system to a directory within the jail. Mount Points let the plugin access your media les without them having to be physically present in the plugin jails storage.
WORKING AROUND THE BUGS
Unfortunately, at the time of writing the Mount Point GUI doesnt work properly, so you have to use the command line in this step. Select Shell from FreeNASs menu (its near the bottom). Type jls, and note the ID number (JID) of your plugins jail. Then type jexec u root [your jail ID number] csh and press return. You will now be inside the plugins jail, and the text by your cursor should have changed to Plugins. Type mkdir /sharedmedia to create a directory in the jail called sharedmedia. To
Your server will show up as a DLNA and UPnP share in compatible clients, such as Windows Media Player or your Smart TV or media streamer
make sure you dont have any trouble with permissions when accessing your media, use the chmod 777 /sharedmedia command to open your media les up to all. Type exit to leave the jail, then close the Shell. Now, under Plugins/Management/Mount Points, click Add Mount Point. Under Source, click Browse, and browse to the media directory on your main FreeNAS storage (or just type in /mnt/storage/media). Under Destination, type in /sharedmedia. Click OK, and your mount point will be created. To tell the minidlna plugin where to look for your les, click MiniDLNA under Plugins. Give the DLNA server a friendly name; this will appear in your DLNA client, such as your TV or tablet. Under Media directory, dont click Browse; just type in /sharedmedia. Tick the Rescan on (re)start box, to make sure the plugin always scans your media directory for new les. Then click OK. Finally, go to Services/Control Services and click the Plugins button next to Core at the top of the right-hand pane. Flick the Service status to On to start your media server. Your server will now show up as a DLNA and UPnP share in compatible clients, such as Windows Media Player or XBMC on the PC or your Smart TV or media streamer, and youll be able to play your media les directly from the FreeNAS box.
STREAMING TO iPHONE AND iPAD
There are other plugins available for FreeNAS, including the Firey Media Player, which has been designed to stream music to Apple devices. Unfortunately, its out of date and, while it can stream to PCs running iTunes, it no longer works with modern iPhones and iPads. Instead, we recommend using the 8player app to stream your media les from your FreeNAS box over DLNA.
NEXT MONTH
ENJOYING MUSIC WITH FREENAS
We show you how to stream your music over the internet and download from BitTorrent.
To stream media to the iPhone or iPad, youll need to use the 8player app, which costs 3
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Designing layouts on grids

IN RECENT MONTHS, Web Expert has focused on how you can cut corners and save time without negatively affecting the nal look or overall compatibility of your site. Weve explored ways in which you can simplify the process of specifying colours, make your site more accessible through exible sizing and incorporate externally hosted font libraries to create more visually appealing typographic layouts that stay fully compatible with all leading browsers. This month, were looking at what could be the biggest time-saver of all: the grid system. Were going to show you how the 960 Grid System can signicantly reduce the amount of time it takes to translate complex page layouts from back-of-an-envelope sketches into nished sites, and how to do it all without ever specifying a single pixel dimension.
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WEB EXPERT
Grids are commonly used for laying out print documents and are now being used for web design. Nik Rawlinson explains how to use the 960 Grid System
A grid makes it easy to lay out your page with a high degree of consistency. It also lets you spend less time thinking about specic element dimensions and more about the overall look of your page. Print designers have known this for years, and have long used invisible grids to lay out their pages. Flick through this copy of Shopper although you wont see the underlying guides used to keep everything in line, you can work out where each guide ran down or across the page. Youll see how images and boxed-out sections are allowed to span multiple columns, while their edges still line up with the margins of the text. Youll also see the
GOING OFF THE GRID
The 960 Grid System is well established and easy to implement. The quickest way to get started is to download the free templates from http://960.gs or use the online grid creator to construct your framework
grid-based layouts seriously, with several competing frameworks emerging, but the 960 Grid System is the one thats gained the most traction to date. Most modern monitors can comfortably display a layout thats 960 pixels wide and still accommodate browser furniture such as window borders, menu bars, status line and so on. Likewise, tablet devices and an increasing number of smartphones can display 1,024
A grid lets you spend less time thinking about specic element dimensions and more time thinking about the overall look of your page
inviolable space that surrounds each page into which only page numbers, folios and full-bleed graphics are usually allowed to stray, and a direct relationship between the horizontal and vertical blank spaces. Each element is balanced and kept in proportion with its neighbours, similar elements elsewhere, and the bounding page as a whole. Its only in the last couple of years that the web design community has started to take pixels across their display when turned to landscape orientation. Most devices can also handle a 1,000-pixel layout if youre happy to sacrice a little padding and spacing on either side. As were used to working in base 10, it would seem that 1,000 pixels is a more sensible starting point until, that is, we consider the second advantage that a 960-pixel layout has over its plumper cousin: exibility.
If we were to design our layout using a grid that is 1,000 pixels wide, we can subdivide it without leaving any remainders or fractions by two, four, ve, eight, 10, 20, 25, 40, 50, 100, 125, 200, 250, and 500. That gives us 14 different ways to chop it about to build our design. However, chopping off 40 pixels from the width gives us far greater exibility, with 26 break points almost twice as many at which we can place our column margins, padding and borders (a 960-pixel layout is divisible into two, three, four, ve, six, eight, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20, 24, 30, 32, 40, 48, 60, 64, 80, 96, 120, 160, 192, 240, 320 or 480 columns). In most cases, we wouldnt want to dice our layout into 480 separate columns, as it would be dicult to keep track of so many ne divisions, each of which are just two pixels wide. However, by mixing and matching the various measurements, we can build a exible layout with different sized elements that line up to t our grid.
PRACTICE RUN
Its often easiest to visualise the 960 Grid System when you see it in practice, and usually best if you start by setting aside your keyboard and mouse and sketching out your
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WEB EXPERT
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Hidden grids have long been used in print layouts to ease the design process and apply a uniform feel to pages in newspapers, books and magazines
Each column in our grid layout has a uniform margin on either side that serves to keep our on-page elements evenly spaced
design on paper. The system homepage (http://960.gs) offers a range of downloadable templates for InDesign, Photoshop, Quark and so on, but if youd rather start with pen and paper you can use the schemas PDF outlines or create your own using Excel. In a fully implemented 960 Grid System layout, each column in a 12-column conguration is 60 pixels wide. In a 16column layout its 40 pixels wide. In both instances, there are 10 pixels of padding on either side of a column, which effectively doubles up between internal columns to provide a 20-pixel buffer. To the left of the rst column and the right of the last column in the grid, theres a 10-pixel gap between the column and the edge of an overall bounding box, which serves to centre the whole layout within the browser window. You dont need to maintain the same proportions as your screen if youre creating your own printed sketch sheets, but you should still add padding to either side of each column. Weve created a multi-page Excel spreadsheet that you can download from www.computershopper.co.uk/december to print and use for your own sketches.
also stacked boxes in three-across and four-across congurations through the centre of the page, and a fat block below these in which half of the page is given over to a blog of company news, while two skyscraper blocks, each three columns wide, handle a revenue-generating ad and the site navigation. They may look very different, but in actual fact they share several common features. There are only ve distinct box sizes, covering 12, eight, six, four and three column widths, and the padding or margin attached to each one is the same on all sides: 10 pixels. To translate our design to the web, we need only concern ourselves with six measurements, so what might have been a fairly complicated task has been simplied enormously.
<!DOCTYPE HTML> <head> <title>Styled using the 960 Grid System</title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="960.css" /> </head> <div id="container" class="container_12"> <div id="homelink" class="grid_8 alpha">Title goes here</div> <div id="searchbox" class="grid_4 omega">The search box</div> <div class="clear"></div> <di class="grid_12 alpha">Top story box</div> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_4 alpha">Photo story 1</div> <div class="grid_4">Photo story 2</div> <div class="grid_4 omega">Photo story 3</div> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_3 alpha">Advert 1</div> <div class="grid_3">Story highlight 1</div> <div class="grid_3">Story highlight 2</div> <div class="grid_3 omega">Advert 2</div>
USING THE SKETCH SHEET
The sheet may look rigid, but its incredibly exible because of all the different divisions, we can mix and match various element sizes on the same page in a way that can be quickly and easily translated to CSS when we want to reproduce the design on the web. As you can see in the picture on the page opposite, weve sketched out a fairly complex frame for our homepage, which mixes eightand four-column blocks at the top of the screen to handle the site title, search box and quick links. Theres a full-width layer below this and again at the end of the page to handle the top story and footer. There are
Well start by downloading a basic CSS le that will enable us to implement a 12-column version of the 960 Grid System from http:// grids.heroku.com. Weve chosen the xedwidth version and left all the defaults as they are, with 12 columns of 60 pixels each and 20 pixels of padding between each one. Having downloaded the CSS source, weve saved it in a new style document, which weve called 960.css, and we are using it in our web pages with the following line:
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="960.css" />
IMPLEMENTING THE SYSTEM
Well keep all our other CSS styling, handling fonts, colours, rules and images in a separate stylesheet so we dont need to trawl through the positional elements in the 960 stylesheet every time we want to make a change. Then we just need to start calling the styles as we build our page. Heres the full page, as it stands:
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<div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_6 alpha">This is the blog box</div> <div class="grid_3">Skyscraper</div> <div class="grid_3 omega">Navigation </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_12 alpha">This is the footer bar</div> </div>
WEB EXPERT
The 960 Grid System is not the only CSS framework available, but it is a good starting point as its widely adopted and very easy to get to grips with
omega, one example being the photo story blocks. By appending alpha to the rst block weve specied that it should have no left margin, and so be aligned with the container. By appending omega to the third, nal block, weve wiped out the right margin, and thus given our content blocks sucient space to t within the overall container. However, the 960 Grid System offers more than this fairly crude set of alignment tools and will let you push and pull individual content blocks around the page regardless of the order in which they appear in your code. Returning to our sketched outline, we might want to re-order the header and search blocks so that the search box appears in the top left-hand corner of the page, and the title that links back to the homepage sits to its right. While this might be aesthetically effective for our particular layout, it wouldnt be so good for SEO, as a fairly irrelevant element (so far as search engines are concerned) would be sitting at the very top of our page hierarchy. Fortunately, with 960 we can leave these elements in their current position within the code, with the home link appearing rst and the search box second, and tell the browser to literally push the title to the right by four columns and pull the search box to the left by eight columns, as follows:
<div id="homelink" class="grid_8 push_4">Title goes here</div> <div id="searchbox" class="grid_4 alpha pull_8">The search box</div>
Weve specied the width of each block of content using grid_ followed by the number of columns it should span. Our blog section, which spans six columns, is grid_6, while the three photo stories stripped across the centre of the page are styled using the class grid_4. These classes are contained in the 960.css le. In each instance, weve lled the whole of the width by specifying grid values that add up to 12 (the number of columns) but we havent always used blocks of the same width side by side, as you can see from the blog/skyscraper/ navigation section that mixes one grid_6 and two grid_3s (6+3+3=12). Between each row, theres an empty layer styled using the class clear, which breaks one row of content from the next. This is all wrapped in a parent layer, which is styled using the container_12 class.
This is sleight of hand, as youll see if you examine the 960.css stylesheet; push_4 only moves the starting point of a layer to which its applied the equivalent four columns widths to the right, while pull_8 applies a negative value equivalent to the width of eight columns. In a similar manner, you can apply a sux or prex (sux_3, prex_5, sux_8 and so on) that applies padding to the left or right side equal to the number of columns specied. This makes it possible to put, say, two twocolumn blocks on a single line, starting at the left margin and half way across the width of the container respectively by styling them so:
<div class="grid_2 sufx_4">box1</div> <div class="grid_2">box2</div> <div class="clear"></div>
Youll see that the styling for some of our blocks has been appended with alpha or
ALIGNING ELEMENTS
The rst layer consists of a two-column box (grid_2) plus a four-column spacer (sux_4), which, when added together, will move the next element the following layer a total of six columns across the page so it starts half way across the 12-column layout.
ALTERNATIVE GRID RESOURCES
The 960 Grid System isnt the only CSS framework available, but its a good starting point as its widely adopted and very easy to get to grips with. Still, if it doesnt meet your needs, you could try the 978 Grid System (http://978.gs), which has grids for mobile (300 pixels), small screens (748 pixels) and larger monitors (1,218 and 1,378 pixels). Alternatively, the 1KB CSS Grid (www.1kbgrid.com) lets you use sliders to adjust the number of columns, column width and gutter size between columns, then download the result as a stylesheet. Blueprint (www.blueprintcss.org) encompasses far more than just a grid: it offers a browser reset, form styling, print styles, plug-ins and typography settings. Finally, Grid Calculator (www.29digital.net/ grid) isnt designed to provide a downloadable grid, but it does help you understand the relationship between font sizes, columns, column and gutter width, and how they will affect your nal layout.
NEXT MONTH
Find out how to take the feeds from other websites and incorporate them into your own sites.
USING RSS FEEDS
The wireframe sketch for our proposed site. Without using a grid system, translating this into its digital equivalent would take a lot of work the 960 Grid System breaks it down into just ve block types
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Tidying up your photographs

BOLD SHAPES AND clean lines make for a strong composition, but its not easy to nd them when youre out and about with your camera. Strangers, vehicles, signposts and other random objects have an annoying habit of spoiling your beautifully composed shots. If youre not pressed for time, you could nd a vantage point or wait for the right moment so the scene is right. However, if you have friends or family waiting, youll probably have to snap what you can and x the shot in Photoshop. Photoshop and Photoshop Elements are well equipped for removing unwanted objects and people from photos. The Content-Aware Fill feature is dedicated to this task, although its implemented in slightly different ways in each package. Here, well look at how ContentAware Fill works in Photoshop Elements, then consider what other tools are available when a more hands-on approach is required.
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Photoshop Elements Content Aware Fill can remove unwanted objects, but a more hands-on approach can lead to better results, as Ben Pitt explains
Content-Aware Fill is rather less useful when it comes to tackling man-made structures
Content-Aware Fill was unveiled in Photoshop CS5 with much fanfare and gasps of disbelief. It lets the user lasso an offending object in a photo, hit the delete key and watch it magically disappear. More accurately, Photoshop clones textures from the surrounding area to ll in the deleted area. Rather than clone a nearby area wholesale and risk obvious repetition of recognisable shapes, the software pieces together smaller sections from here and there, building up what looks like new material. A similar function has been available in Photoshop Elements Spot Healing Brush since version 9. Type J to select the Healing Brush, and J again (if necessary) to switch to the Spot Healing Brush its represented by a
Photoshop Elements Content-Aware Fill function can perform miracles on irregularshaped subjects
THE FILL GOOD FACTOR
sticking plaster with a circle beside it. Once selected, various options will appear at the top of the screen. Make sure Content-Aware is selected and choose a brush type. Weve found it works best when a hard-edged brush is used, so click the solid black circle with 19 written underneath and increase the brush size to 100 pixels. You might need to adjust it up or down, depending on the size and shape of the area you want to remove. Then just apply the brush to the offending area. The software will clone elements from surrounding areas, so its important to apply the brush to the entire area you want to remove rather than build it up in small strokes. You must completely cover the area to be removed, but you neednt meticulously trace the contours you can go over the edges to select a bigger area than you need. Content-Aware Fill can produce startlingly convincing results. It recognises when shapes
and textures need to traverse the area being removed, and joins them up at either side. The example opposite (top of page) is an example of Content-Aware Fill working at its best. The three areas rock face, vegetation and gravel have all been handled correctly, and even the crack in the rock face has been extrapolated across. The colour gradient in the gravel has been carefully matched, too. Although Content-Aware Fill sometimes works brilliantly, it can ll the gap only if theres suitable material in the rest of the photo. If theres a car parked in front of the only tree in a photo, Content-Aware Fill cant conjure up the base of a tree from nowhere. Its also more effective on material with irregular shapes such as vegetation and rocks than on shapes that are more structured and familiar.
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Before, during and after with Photoshop Elements Spot Healing Brush it really is this easy
Man-made objects such as buildings bring extra challenges there are lots of regularly repeating patterns, subject to perspective, and doors and windows need to be in convincing places. Here, the technique of building up a patchwork of similar textures doesnt work.
There are two other brushes for replacing areas from a photo, and theyre much more controllable than the Spot Healing Brush. The simplest is the Clone Stamp Tool; select this by typing S. This makes a direct clone from one part of the image to another. Hold down the Alt key and click to dene the source area, then brush elsewhere to clone it. The brush size and type is important here, too, but you might nd that a soft-edged brush works better as it avoids a harsh edge between the original and
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
One way to avoid this is to isolate the source material on to a separate layer. That way, you wont end up blending colours into parts of the image youre trying to remove, and accidentally use unwanted areas as the source. Type L to select the Lasso Tool and draw around the area you want to clone. If theres more than one area, hold down Shift to add areas to the selection. Then hit Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V to copy and paste the selection to a new layer. The Healing Brush Tool should work more effectively on this dedicated layer, untroubled by unwanted material on the Background layer. This also means you can build up the cloned area using multiple brush strokes. Keep an eye out for visible repetitions in the cloned area, though. Its often worth making regular changes to the source point so you dont end up with the same small area cloned lots of
looks too bright or too dark, the Dodge and Burn Tools are a better option. Select these by typing O, and toggle between them by holding down the Alt key. Dodge brightens the image and Burn darkens it, although it also tends to make colours too vivid. Its best to err on the side of caution with Dodge and Burn; reduce the Exposure setting at the top of the screen to 10 per cent, use a large, soft-edged brush and build up the effect in multiple strokes.
Although Content-Aware Fill sometimes works brilliantly, it can ll the gap only if theres suitable material in the rest of the photo
cloned areas. Softer brushes blend the areas more subtly, but they can also create a sludgy effect with a lack of textural denition. The Healing Brush Tool is the sidekick to the Spot Healing Brush Tool; toggle between them by typing J. Like the Clone Stamp Tool, it lets the user dene the source area unlike the Clone Stamp Tool, it adjusts colours to help the material blend into its new surroundings. This is great for objects with a gentle brightness gradient across their surface. The problem with the Healing Brush Tool is that you must cover the offending area in its entirety in a single brush stroke, or it will blend colours to match the remaining part of material youre trying to remove Thats not always so easy when you have a limited amount of source material to clone from. The Healing Brush Tool often produces a garbled mess of the original unwanted area, a discoloured cloned area and bits of source image you didnt mean to clone. times. If you do get repetitions, go over them again, sampling from a different source area. You might also need to do this for any areas that come out looking blotchy. However, for persistent problems where a cloned area
When youre tackling objects with repetitive structures and clearly dened perspective such as buildings it can get ddly trying to extrapolate lots of converging lines using only the Clone Stamp and Healing Brush Tools. Its usually easier to copy and paste a source area, move it, and resize and skew it so it maintains the correct scale and perspective. Once you have something in place thats the right size and shape, you can return to the Healing Brush Tool to ll in the gaps. This is the technique weve used to extend the courtyard, copying the agstones from the foreground on the right and pasting, resizing and skewing them so the lines between the agstones t in with the geometry of the area being covered. Type V to select the Move Tool, and Photoshop Elements reveals handles to resize the selected layer. Hold down the Ctrl key as you adjust these handles and the layer will be skewed rather than resized. Once youve started this process, youll also be able to rotate the layer by clicking and dragging outside the box. We nd that matching
RESIZE, REMODEL
Separating an area to be cloned on to its own layer means it wont be contaminated with unwanted colours
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An area of courtyard is copied and skewed to t the geometry of a new position
A mask sets the boundary for the courtyard area
The mask makes it easy to clone the existing material to t the area
An Adjustment Layer gives a graduated tint to the newly created courtyard so it ts its new surroundings more convincingly
Polygon Lasso Tool and then click Add Layer Mask at the bottom of the Layers panel. This way, its easier to make adjustments to the cloned area without having to redo the edges each time. Its also easy to soften the FINISHING TOUCHES edges of the area. Photos are rarely pixelIn our example, we need sharp, straight edges sharp, so a sharp edge to the cloned area can to our courtyard. This could be achieved by look articial. Applying some blur to the mask using the Healing Brush Tool to extend the courtyard beyond the required area, then softens the edges of the layer without blurring the image data. Click the mask thumbnail in the using the Polygon Lasso Tool to select and delete along the edges of the desired area. Layers panel, go to the Filters menu and select However, its useful to create a mask to dene Blur, Gaussian Blur. A radius between 0.5 and a boundary to the courtyard area rst. Then 1.5 pixels is enough to give a convincing edge. we can use the Healing Brush Tool to extend There were no harsh shadows in our photo, the courtyard until it reached the edge of the but the new courtyard looked a little bright. mask. To do this, make the selection with the From what we could see of the original, the building cast a shadow towards the back of the courtyard. This can be replicated with the Burn tool, but youll get more control by using an Adjustment Layer. Adjustment Layers apply effects non-destructively, so you can tweak settings to your hearts content and remove the effect at any time. Normally, theyre applied to all the layers below them in the Layers panel, but you can add an Adjustment Layer to a specic layer. Locate the Adjustments panel The image with new courtyard, windows, plinth, tables and chairs you may need to enable it from perspective is largely trial and error. By adjusting the handles in small increments, you should get something thats pretty convincing.
the Window menu. Click the icon in the top-right of the panel, select Brightness/ Contrast and, in the dialog box that appears, tick the option marked Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask. You can adjust the Brightness and Contrast of the selected layer only. Its also possible to apply the Brightness/ Contrast effect to a limited portion of the layer, as this Adjustment Layer has its own mask. Click the white box in the Layers panel, type E to select the Eraser Tool, choose a large, soft-edged brush and create a graduated tint to the Brightness/Contrast effect. To nish off, we created the left edge of the plinth using a similar process of copy, paste, resize, mask and heal, shuing textures so the left and right sides of the plinth werent identical. Creating the windows was ddly because of the vertical bars and reections, but it boiled down to the same techniques. This is true for any photo where artistic license is required. It was once said that the camera never lies but Photoshop has other ideas!
NEXT MONTH
Find out how to create huge panoramic images by stitching together hundreds of high-resolution images.
GIGAPIXEL PANORAMAS
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Making the most of Google Apps

LAST MONTH, WE discussed the pros and cons of using cloud apps for business, and gave an overview of using free Google services for email, calendaring and oce documents. This month, were going to take a look at more advanced ways to use Googles services, and show you how Google Apps could form the backbone of your business.
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BUSINESS EXPERT
Want access to a sophisticated ofce and communications suite thats free for 10 users? Simon Handby explains how to set up Googles hosted services
While anyone can sign up and use Google services such as Gmail or Drive, Google Apps is specically designed for business use. Its a package that includes Googles free services, but comes with additional features such as Sites an online workspace for multiple collaborators and the ability to use a domain that you own for email addresses and branding, so your business emails wont be from gmail.com addresses. The basic product is free for up to 10 user accounts, beyond which it costs 3.30 per user per month or 33 for a year up-front; its double this if you sign up to Vault, which provides increased archiving and information management services. The free product is a good starting place for a small rm, but it comes without the telephone support and 99.9 per cent uptime guarantee available to paying customers, and its users will also see some adverts. If thats unacceptable, remember that the paid service is just 33 a month for 10 users. Its also worth mentioning that Google has, in the past, reduced the number of supported users for
A NEW PAGE
free versions (the free version used to support up to 50 users), although no reductions have been applied to existing customers. Whichever version you use, Google counts each distinct email inbox as a user. With the use of email aliases, a single staff member can maintain more than one email address, allowing them to monitor additional company accounts such as support@yourdomain.com, for example. To get started, visit http://bit.ly/ GoogleAppsUK where you can choose the
address, click the Find domain button and use the text box and Check Availability button to nd an unused domain, then follow this guide. If you need a different top-level domain, its best to register with a UK registrar and return to the Google Apps setup later. If you own a domain, enter it in the box and click the Submit button. Provided the domain is recognised, the remaining elds on the page should become enabled after a brief pause. Fill in the remaining information and take time to read the terms and conditions
While anyone can sign up and use Google services such as Gmail or Drive, Google Apps is specically designed for business use
free service or one of the paid versions. For the purposes of this article, were using the free service. Click the Start Now button to begin the sign up. before clicking the I accept! button at the bottom of the page. Note that the additional terms state that Google may store and process data in the US or any other country; if you intend to use the service to store sensitive customer data, this could conict with European data protection laws. For more information, visit the Information Commissioners Oce at www.ico.gov.uk. The next screen gives you a choice of how to set up your Apps account. Click Custom, and click Next on the following screen to begin the process of verifying that you own your domain you wont need to do this if you registered the domain through Google at the start of the setup. Click Next again to view the verication options. If you dont yet have web space, you may be able to verify your domain by clicking the Alternate methods tab and signing into your domain name provider, if its listed. If you already have a website, following the recommended method will guide you through downloading the verication HTML le from Google and uploading it to the root of your domain. If you dont have FTP software, open Windows Explorer, click the le icon at the left of the address bar and overwrite the displayed address with ftp://example.com (remembering to substitute your domain name and the correct top-level domain). When prompted, provide the login name and password provided by your website host then, once logged in, drag the downloaded le into your site's web folder on most hosts, this is
DOMAIN EVENT
Youll need your own domain to use Google Apps, but if you dont already own one for your business, you can register one directly with Google for $10 (around 6) a year. Google doesnt offer the .co.uk or .ltd.uk top-level domains (TLDs), which could be restrictive for a UK company, but if youre happy with a .com, .net, .org or .biz
If youre registering a .com domain for use with Google Apps, its best to do it through Google
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called public_html, or there may be a shortcut labelled www. Return to your browser and click the link to conrm youve uploaded the le, then click the red Verify button. If the verication is successful, click Continue to return to your Apps dashboard.
Youre ready to add other members of staff. Scroll down the page if necessary and click Create a new user, then ll in that users name and the email address you want them to have. Clicking Create new user will allocate the user a temporary password. The next screen shows a getting started summary for that user, which you can email or print before quitting or creating more users. Add all the users you need, remembering that the free account has a limit of 10. You then need to set up the apps youre going to use. Click the blue Setup link near the top of the page, then click Set up your apps. Ensure that Gmail, Calendar, Drive and Docs are ticked and then click Next, before clicking Next again when the Gmail conguration page loads. We dont have room to describe all the options, so well just show you how to set up the default access to Gmail via a web browser. Click Next, choose to route your email through Google servers and click Next again. On the next screen, Google will display the current mail exchange (MX) record in the
STAFFING UP
Depending on your domain hosts software, the DNS MX records may be alongside the mail options
While the setup is a little involved, Google Apps is a good way to minimise the cost and complexity of essential ofce software
domain name system (DNS) entry for your domain; it needs to be changed to point to Googles servers. Bring down the list at the bottom of the page and select your domain host if present; otherwise, select Other, then click Next. If Googles list included your domain host, follow the displayed instructions to change the records. If not, log into your domain control panel you should nd instructions in the details they emailed to you when you registered the domain. Once logged in to your domain control panel, look for the DNS settings. In some systems, all the DNS options are displayed together in a group, but on others an MX Entry applet appears grouped with other Mail options. Once you nd the settings, refer to Googles instructions to add the ve MX records dont include the full stop at the end of each address. Once youve added each one, make a note of any previous MX entries, including their priority, then delete each of them. Look for an option to route the domains email to a remote mail exchanger, and enable it if present.
With Apps set up on your domain, its time to add the team
Conrm ownership of an existing domain by copying the Googleprovided HTML le
Once youve made the necessary changes, return to the Google instructions and click Next at the bottom of the page, then conrm that youve made the changes. Click Next again and see if Google can detect the updated records. DNS changes take time to propagate, during which time Googles status page will display an unchanged MX record. If this persists beyond 48 hours, or if the displayed record updates without the status page conrming that youve been successful, you should return to your domain control panel to double-check your changes. If youre not successful or youre worried about messing things up, contact your web hosts and ask them for help or to make the changes for you. Once the changes have been recognised and accepted by Google, click Setup to return to the setup process, then click Next and follow the instructions to nish setting up Gmail. By default, all your Google Apps addresses follow the pattern http://APPNAME.google. com/a/YOURDOMAIN.TLD but if you feel
MAIL ORDER RESTORED
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The Google MX records have been added. If you dont see this conrmation after 48 hours, youll need to double-check your MX record changes
comfortable making further DNS changes, switch to http://APPNAME.YOURDOMAIN. TLD this looks more professional and is easier for staff to remember. Click the blue Settings heading in your Apps dashboard, then click the Email link at the left and Change URL in the Web address eld. On the next page, select the custom URL option. You can change the recommended prex to almost any word you wish, but we recommend you stick with http://mail.yourdomain.tld. Click Save Changes, repeat the process for Drive and Docs, then do the same for Calendar and for Sites; in both cases, youll nd the option on the General tab of their settings pages. Once youve created custom URLs with Google, access your domain hosts control panel, as you did before, and nd the DNS or Domains settings, then nd an option to
Register a domain Sign up to Google Apps Set up your staff Congure Gmail to servcice email @YourDomain. om Create custom App URLs (opt ional)
TO -D O LI ST
manage CNAME records. Google provides instructions for domain providers at https:// support.google.com/a/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic =1615038, but if yours isnt covered, or if your host uses the cPanel interface, contact them for help. Create a CNAME record for each URL where the host name (or alias) matches the prex (mail or docs), and the destination (or value) is ghs.googlehosted.com. Not everyone is a fan of Gmails browser interface. Google provides POP3 and IMAP access to Gmail mailboxes, so you can work in conventional email software such as Outlook Express, Thunderbird or Windows Live Mail if you prefer. Alternatively, Chrome users can install an app that provides oine email access through the browser. Visit www.google.com/ sync/index.html for conguration details.
Google Apps is a good way to minimise the cost and complexity of oce software. For the smallest companies, its even free. With the hard part out of the way, youre ready to make the most of its collaborative features well look at these in more detail next month.
LOOKING FORWARDS
NEXT MONTH
GOOGLE APPS, PART THREE
In the nal part of the series, we explain how to make the most of the productivity and collaboration features within Google Apps and extend them to a smartphone.
Going beyond Google Apps

For paid users, Google Apps is able to scale to almost any size of enterprise, but not all businesses grow in a predictable way. If you have uctuating staff numbers perhaps to service various unpredictable contracts Google recommends choosing a exible plan. This alone could provide big savings when compared with conventional volume licensing, thereby ensuring youre not buying services for staff you no longer have. Over time, changing business, technology or legislation might mean that a cloud-based system no longer makes sense. If you need to stop using Google Apps altogether, youll need to be able to extract your domain, users and data. The rst step is to source and congure suitable alternatives for document editing, email and le synchronisation (if applicable) and then to export your documents from Google. You can do this in Drive by clicking More in the links on the left of the page, clicking All items, ticking the global selection box at the top of the item list, then clicking More at the top of the page, selecting Download, choosing the export options and clicking the Download button to export everything in a Zip le. Youll need to repeat this for each user bear in mind that youll need to sort out duplicate copies of shared les later. Many other Google products let you export data but some, such as Gmail, are more tricky. You can nd more details at www. dataliberation.org. Finally, youll need to undo the changes you made to your domain MX records. This should be a simple case of accessing the control panel as you did before and adding the correct entries for your new service before deleting all of the Google records.
You can download a copy of all your Google Docs at any time
Its important to ensure that the new service is up and running rst, though. Only once youve exported your information and veried that you can send and receive emails correctly should you stop your Google Apps subscriptions.
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Protecting your email from attacks

IN SHOPPER 297, we showed you how to protect your Linux computer from viruses and congure a rewall to help protect against internet threats. This month, were looking at how you can protect your email, ltering out the bad stuff while letting through all your important mail. This is a crucial part of protecting your computer, and should be run in conjunction with our security tips from the previous issue. Luckily, as with everything on Linux, you can lter your email for free.
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Email is a constant source of threats ranging from malware to phishing attacks. David Ludlow shows you how to keep your Linux computer free from threats
To add spam ltering to your system, you need an email client. In all iterations of Linux from Ubuntu 11.10 onwards, the default email client is Thunderbird. This client is written by Mozilla, the creator of the Firefox web browser. Well assume youre using this and have an email account correctly congured in it. You may have heard about SpamAssassin, which is a powerful spam-ltering tool. It has a dedicated plug-in for Evolution, the old default Ubuntu email client. However, theres no plugin for Thunderbird, which leaves SpamAssassin as a command-line tool. Its no longer worth worrying about this application, unless you still use the Evolution email client. For Thunderbird users, this client will work with SpamAssassin email headers, which will be generated by a mail server using the spam-ltering technology. Given that most commercial email servers, such as those provided by your ISP, dont actually have SpamAssassin, its safe to ignore this.
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB
Thunderbird is the default email client in Ubuntu its really easy to use and it lets you easily add in spam ltering
Instead, you should focus on using the tools that are built into Thunderbird.
Start Thunderbird from the Ubuntu Dash. Open Thunderbirds Preferences from the Edit menu and click on the Security tab. Youll be presented with the softwares overall Junk email settings. First, tick the When I mark messages as junk box. This will give you two options that tell the software what to do when you manually select a message as being spam. The rst option is Move them to accounts junk folder, which moves the messages into the default spam folder but doesnt excise them. The second option is Delete them, but we dont recommend this option, in case you realise youve made a mistake and you wish to reverse your action at a later date. Next, theres the Mark messages determined to be Junk as read option. This is useful, as it stops any messages you mark as junk from appearing in unread messages searches. Its particularly useful if youre using IMAP and a webmail service such as Gmail, because using the web interface You need to tell Thunderbird what to do with Junk email
SORTING THROUGH THE RUBBISH
and selecting unread email often brings up mail in all folders. You can also select the Enable the adaptive junk lter logging option. This lets you check the log to nd out which messages are being blocked, and why. This feature is intended for troubleshooting, so we recommend that you leave it alone. Finally, theres a button marked Reset Training Data. This resets Thunderbird back to its spam-ltering defaults, which means that it wont detect much spam. You should use this option only if youre having persistent problems with the spam ltering after youve followed our guide here and want to start from scratch. Next, click on the Email Scams tab and make sure that the Tell me if the message Im reading is a suspected email scam box is ticked. Then you will be automatically warned if Thunderbird believes you have received a phishing email. Its no guarantee that all emails of this type will be detected, but its an extra level of security.
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Thunderbird is able to look out for phishing attacks and warns you if it thinks youre about to get scammed
The previous settings congure Thunderbird for spam ltering, but you also need to individually congure each account you have. To do this, click Account Settings in the Edit menu. Each email account youve got will be listed on the left-hand-side panel. Expand the settings and click the Junk Settings option to edit each accounts spam ltering. Make sure the Enable adaptive junk mail controls for this account option is enabled in each account. This will allow Thunderbird to learn and make its junk ltering more accurate. Under the Do not mark mail as junk if the sender is in box, you should also check that youve selected Personal Address Book. This means that people in your address book will automatically bypass the spam ltering. Its useful to know, as you can add people and businesses that you converse with regularly to ensure their emails always come through. The next option is Trust junk mail headers set by. From this drop-down list, you can select commonly used spam ltering programs such as SpamAssassin. However, unless you know which spam ltering technology, if any, your ISP uses, you wont need to use this option. Finally, you need to choose what to do with spam messages. You can use the Move new junk messages to option to
ACCOUNTING FOR SPAM
tell Thunderbird what to do with your mail messages. The rst option Junk folder Youll need to train Thunderbird to spot junk and clean email, so that it can automatically categorise these items later on: lets you select Local Folders (the spam messages are stored solely on your the messages window. Messages you mark as computer) or the name of your mail account. Junk are moved automatically into the Junk The second option works if youre using IMAP folder that you specied using the mail, and lets Thunderbird move Junk messages instructions above. into a folder on your mail server. Alternatively, For messages that you want to mark as you can select Other and choose where to put clean that are in your normal inbox, you can the spam folder. This is useful if you already press Shift-J or right-click and select Mark, As have a junk mail folder or your email service Not Junk. If you look in your Junk folder and uses a specic folder for example, if you nd messages that arent Junk, you can follow connect Thunderbird to a Gmail account, the the instructions above for clean messages, [Gmail], Spam folder is used by Gmail. click the Not Junk button or remove the Junk
You need to train Thunderbird to spot good and bad emails. It needs a fair number of both in order to get its spam ltering up to scratch
Finally, you can also tell Thunderbird to automatically delete junk mail that is older than a certain number of days. The default is 14 days with the option disabled, but you can tick the box to enable it and choose how long you wait before a message is deleted. icon from the Junk As column. Any message you mark as clean will be moved back to your main inbox. Repeat these steps for a few weeks until youve marked roughly 100 clean and 100 junk messages. From this point on, Thunderbird will carry on the job automatically for you, although you may need to step in at certain points to help tidy up any misidentied email.
TRAINING DAY
You have to congure the junk mail settings for each account in Thunderbird
Once your settings are in place, you need to train ThunderBird to spot good and bad emails. It needs a fair number of both at least 100 of each in order to get its spam ltering up to scratch. This may sound like a lot of email to categorise, but the process should be fairly rapid, particularly for the messages that arent spam. To mark messages as junk, select each in turn and then either press J, right-click and select Mark, As Junk, or click the grey dot icon in the Junk status column in the main window (this column has a ame icon). If a message is currently marked as being clean, you can click the Junk button in
Youre not bound by Thunderbirds automatic lters and you can take manual control of your ltering. If you want to make sure that emails get through every time, youve got two options. The easiest is to add the person or company to your personal address book, so their emails are white-listed. If you dont want someone in your address book for whatever reason, you can create a rule to always let them through; a similar method lets you always mark messages from a particular person as junk. Select a message, then click Create Filter From Message from the Message menu. This will bring up the Filter Rules dialog box. The rst part of this box works out if a rule applies or not. If you create a rule from a message,
MANUAL LABOUR
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You can specify your own ltering rules to block or allow email addresses that you choose
JunQilla is an add-on that gives you more information about Thunderbirds spam ltering
the default settings are From, is, <email address>. This means the rule applies to that email address. If you want to set the rule for the entire domain to hit messages from an entire company, say change is to contains and delete the bit before the @ in the address. Next, you must work out what you want to do with the matching messages. Were talking about Spam here, so under Perform these actions select Set Junk Status to, then select Not Junk or Junk, depending on whether you always want to keep or hide the messages. Click OK when youre done, and you can then create rules for any other addresses.
GOING FURTHER
JunQilla graphical shows a messages spam rating and why its being marked the way it is
Thunderbird doesnt give a lot of information about its spam ltering, but there is a handy add-on that does. Click Add-ons from the Tools menu and search for JunQilla. Click the Install button next to this add-on, then click Restart when prompted to get it working. Once Thunderbird has restarted, go to your Inbox and right-click the status bar, and
youll see a list of ltering options appear. Clicking one adds this ltering option to the inbox view. Add Junk % and Junk + to the list. The Junk % column tells you, as a percentage, the spam rating of a message. If a message has a high percentage rating, but you know its
Youll need to mark roughly 100 clean and 100 junk messages over a few weeks from this point on, Thunderbird will carry on the job for you
clean, you should mark it as Not Junk in order to keep similar messages from being ltered. The Junk + column tells you why a message was marked as Junk or as clean, using the following key. This is handy as you can nd out if one of your rules is marking a message as clean, when its Junk, or why a dirty message is being let through. You can then decide what you want to do about future messages. A ame icon will indicate that the message is marked as Junk, while a green icon shows that a message has been marked as Not Junk: The automatic lter has marked the message. Youve marked the message as Junk or Not Junk the email has been used to train Thunderbird. Message passed because the sender is in your address book. Classication was set by your IMAP mail server. A lter youve created has classied the message.
Filtering on the side

ALTHOUGH ITS GOOD to lter at the application level, you should also be aware of server-side ltering, such as that provided by your ISP. Using this technology, you may nd that email comes in with the subject changed to SPAM <original subject or similar. You can choose to lter these messages any way you see t, or you can ignore them and mark them as Junk or Not Junk. Some ISPs and mail services also use online spam ltering, which prevents you getting the junk messages in the rst place. If this happens to you, youll need to follow the instructions given to you by your ISP or email provider to access the online service, and then release any messages thats been accidentally caught there. Gmail also has built-in spam ltering, so any messages that it detects as junk are added to the Junk folder. If youre using an IMAP connection from Thunderbird to Gmail, you can install the Gmail Buttons add-on. Once youve added this, click Tools, Add-ons and then click Extensions. Click the Preferences button for Gmail buttons and select Show Delete button for Gmail messages. Then restart Thunderbird. Click on a message, then go to the message window and right-click near the buttons (Reply, Forward and so on) and click Customize. Drag the Spam and Deleted buttons on to the toolbar. If you click these buttons, the selected message are moved to the Gmail Spam folder and the Gmail Deleted folders, so you can access them when you use the web interface.
NEXT MONTH
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Product index
PCs and Laptops 26 Chillblast Fusion Accelerate Palicomp Alpha Blade Scan Value G31 Schenker XMG P502 Wired2Fire Diablo Predator Ultra-slim laptops 88 Asus ZenBook UX32A Dell XPS 14 HP Envy 4 HP Envy 6 Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Lenovo IdeaPad U410 Samsung Series 5 Ultrathin Samsung Series 9 (15in) Schenker XMG A102 Sony Vaio T13 Toshiba Satellite U840W Toshiba Satellite Z930 Handhelds Archos 101 XS LG Optimus 4X HD Mio Cyclo 300 Zeo Sleep Manager Pro+ 34
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PRODUCT INDEX
Our guide to all the products reviewed in this months Shopper

Icarus eXceL Icarus Pocket Kobo eReader Touch Kobo eReading app Prestigio Nobile PER5162 TrekStor eBook Reader Pyrus
61 R
Networks Asus RT-AC66U
Photography 40 Olympus OM-D EM-5 12-50mm kit Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Sony Alpha SLT-A37 with 18-55mm lens Displays Asus VG278HE Humax Tivizen TV Home Cinema Panasonic TX-L32TXB Samsung BD-E8500 Samsung HW-E551 Audio Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 Vestax Pad-One Video Sony HDR-TD20VE Toshiba Camileo Z100 44
eviews inside!
56
Storage 57 Crucial V4 Integral Crypto SSD 128GB Components Asus P8Z77-V Premium PNY GeForce GTX 660 Ti Software Serif WebPlus X6 Xara Photo & Designer MX 2013 Games Counter Strike: Global Offensive Guild Wars 2 Business Sage One Accounts Thecus N5550 58
46
60
50
62
eReaders 102 Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle app Amazon Kindle Touch Apple iBooks app Binatone Kidzstar eReader Binatone ReadMe Colour Bookeen Cybook Odyssey Google Play Books app
52
64
Printers & Scanners 54 Lexmark OceEdge Pro5500 Plustek MobileOce D412
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8am-9pm Weekdays, 9am-6pm Saturdays, 10am-5pm Sundays
169
PARTING SHOTS
Zygote
EWE TURN
Packs of wolves are on the rampage in Switzerland, but Alpine farmers no longer need Little Bo Peep to look after their sheep. They have tted their ocks with motion-detector collars to send out a warning text if the mobile mutton is panicked into running. Although cutesy little baa-lambs run around all the time, adult sheep only run a few steps unless they are spooked by rustlers, hustlers or slavering wolves, that is. The sheep-generated SMS messages also tell the farmer in which direction the woolly wanderers are headed. Chop-chop!
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Given recent psychiatric studies, wireless beermats and motion-detection collars for farm animals, Zygote suspects we are a nation of inebriated, sheep-stealing gadget addicts
The UK continues to slip down the rankings to 21st place, managing a miserable average connection speed of 5.6Mbit/s. The statement on the ocial UK government website has this to declare: Our ambition is to provide superfast broadband to at least 90 per cent of premises in the UK and to provide universal access with a speed of at least 2[Mbit/s]. The Minister responsible is Maria Miller, her email address is maria.miller.mp@parliament.uk and her telephone number is 020 7219 5749, and you are invited to express your appreciation.
BERK ETHIC
TOILET TRAINING
made on all ages by phones and tablets. Always-on machines are controlling the behaviour of more and more human beings as we spew and ingest texts and check out Facebook and Twitter, along with a myriad other repositories of rubbish, in a growing pattern of obsessivecompulsive behaviour. Every additional hour spent involved with machines is an hour less involved with living esh, and new portability means that humanity is tethered to mobile devices at work, at leisure, in transit, at home, on holiday, and the increasingly favoured location of sitting on the toilet.
It seems that the unemployed youths of Berkshire are having trouble locating the nearest Job Centre. Even if they do arrive, they nd it hard to ll in an application form. However, the unemployed youths of Berkshire are expertly adept at fondling their smartphones. This is why Reading Borough Council has blagged 125,000 funding from O2 to develop a job-nder app. The idea is to help 16-to-25-yearolds tap into social media such as Facebook and Twitter in order to gain training or employment. Alas, it would seem that Reading Borough Council has no idea of how social media really works. Zygote weeps at the thought of spending this sort of money on a useless app, instead of using the generous funding to create real jobs for a couple of dozen youngsters.
The Peoples Republic of China was the rst nation to recognise internet addiction as a clinical disorder and a genuine psychiatric illness. Next year, the USA will make an ocial statement about how online addiction is a serious problem. Yes, folks, the internet really is driving us all mad. However, although internet obsession has been regularly treated on both sides of the Pacic since the late 1990s, the focus of psychiatric attention is now shifting towards the demands made on children, as well as teenagers and adults. This is largely due to the move away from the obsessive behaviour of desk-bound surfers, towards the continual demands
In a cost-cutting exercise that is even more idiotic than most, the Government is closing down the computer archive of the Forensic Science Service. The archive holds more than 1.7million English and Welsh case les going back 30 years, and it is a vital tool for investigating unsolved crimes as well as examining appeals against unsafe convictions. Far from cutting costs, Zygote reckons it is simply shifting them from the government on to local authorities, because each of the 43 police forces across England and Wales must now store their own forensic records, and the logistics are farcical. In the past, if the Felixstowe Filth
CUT SHORT
needed to check up on a Swansea scumbag, they simply logged on to the central archive. But from now on, this will be impossible. If they want to check all areas, they will either have to generate 42 separate queries or issue one general enquiry that needs to be answered by 42 separate police forces. This is completely bonkers, and the only winners will be undetected criminals. Everyone else is clearly going to lose out, as eciency is decimated and the unjustly accused get swamped by technical glitches. And dont forget who is paying for all this. Whereas we used to stump up income tax for one database, we will now be paying council tax for 43 of the buggers.
BEER AND CHIPS
Advertisers are hoping to reel in the drinking classes by embedding near-eldcommunications chips in beer mats. RapidNFC has signed a deal with Rutland Print to produce the necessary electronic gizmos. Each beer mat is printed with the advertisers logo, and the computer chip is laminated under the surface, ready to transmit a URL to the unsuspecting boozers handset. So next time youre told its the drink talking, just blame it on the slop-mop.
Zygote has no wish to bore you by banging on yet again about the false promises made by the government concerning UK broadband speed so lets keep this short. Hong Kong has just knocked South Korea off the global top slot for both mobile and xed connectivity, with an average speed of 49.2Mbit/s.
AVE MARIA
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Paragon Backup & Recovery 11

PARAGON BACKUP & Recovery 11 Compact is a comprehensive backup tool that has professional disk management built in. The software is designed to back up every aspect of your computer, including the hard disks master boot record, individual partitions and every single bit of data, including your operating system and applications. In day-to-day use, Paragon Backup & Recovery 11 Compact will save all the les and folders that you specify, so youll never lose an important le again. Theres even an email backup facility to save your messages, accounts and address book if youre running Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail. You can run full, differential or incremental backups. Choosing incremental backups means that only new or modied les are included in the backup, resulting in improved performance and saving disk space. A scheduler allows backup jobs to be run when youre not around, and your backup les can be saved to local, external or remote drives or FTP servers, or burned to CD, DVD or Blu-ray discs. Virtualisation support allows you to copy your entire system to a virtual drive, ready for use in your virtualisation tool of choice. This is a great way to build a virtual test machine on which to try out new software. Restoring data from backups is easy. You can selectively restore just the les and folders you need from within the program, even if theyre held within a complete hard disk image. There are lots of useful extras, too, including hard disk partitioning tools, an Undelete Wizard to recover les, and a secure drive-wiping option so your data cant be recovered.
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COVER GIFT GUIDE
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, Vista or 7, 32/64-bit, 400MB hard disk space INFORMATION www.paragon-software.com REGISTRATION Get your registration code at www.paragon-software.com/registration/brcompact11.html
www.computershopperdisc.co.uk/december
SOFTWARE MANUFACTURERS HAVE been requiring us to use online registration for some time now, but increasingly were being asked to provide the program as a download. In order to continue bringing you the best free software, weve revamped our download site. Youre going to need to use the unique cod printed in the box below to register and download the software in this issue. Using a unique code means we stop the deals leaking online, so only Shopper readers get the software. Youll also enjoy a smoother registration process. Each coupon is valid for single software registration, where we handle the registration process. Go to the web address printed above, which is unique for this months software. Click the Register link and enter your email address and your unique coupon code and press Submit. For future use, just enter your email address and click Login. Browse through this months choices and follow the online instructions to download and register the software. You may need to register a user account for our software store, and enter your unique coupon code when prompted. The registration process varies from program to program, so read the instructions carefully they explain what to do for each program.
Download instructions
TO DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE:
Some software requires you to enter your unique coupon to get a licence key, so make sure you read the online instructions carefully
If you have any load our down queries about contact us at service, please per.co.uk
shop letters@computer
Your unique coupon code
Register your software by 15th November to avoid disappointment
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Laplink PCmover 7
Laplink PCmover 7 provides an easier way Just remember to exercise a bit of to migrate to a new PC. Theres no need to caution with Laplink PCmover 7. If you manually reinstall all your applications, add forget to tell the program to transfer a updates, nd extensions and x numerous particular application, and you dont notice issues. PCmover will take the programs you until the process is complete, then you cant specify and transfer them, their settings and try it again without buying another licence. other data from one That said, this program computer to another. really takes the hassle out SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, Thanks to slick wizards on of a transfer. If you want to Vista or 7, 32/64-bit, 100MB hard disk space your source and destination move everything from your INFORMATION www.laplink.com REGISTRATION No registration required PCs, you denitely wont old computer to the new RESTRICTION Will only transfer three have to spend long setting one, Laplink PCmover 7 is installed applications from your old PC up the transfer. essential software.
Ashampoo Photo Converter 2

and there are also a range of colour Ashampoo Photo Converter 2 lets you enhancement settings that you can use process entire folders of photos in a ash, to make pictures stand out. applying the same settings to each image Its worth pointing out that the in rapid succession. installation process will attempt to change You can choose to add an entire folder your default search engine and home page as of images or, if you prefer, you can pick well as adding a toolbar to your web browser. and choose pictures from different If you would prefer that this didnt happen, locations. You can then set about the task take care to select the Custom Installation of selecting the settings youd like to use. option and deselect anything with which Basic options include rotation, mirroring youre not happy. and ipping, but there are With that taken care of, plenty of other settings to SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, if you need to batch-process choose from as well. You Vista or 7, 32/64-bit, 20MB hard disk space INFORMATION www.ashampoo.com a large number of images, can also resize images using REGISTRATION Followthe instructions Ashampoo Photo Converter specic widths or heights, within the software 2 is the tool for you. or based on percentages,
Auslogics BoostSpeed 5
When it comes to performance, nothing Auslogics BoostSpeed 5 is a comprehensive slows down a PC quite as much as a poorly suite of tools that is sure to improve optimised hard disk. BoostSpeed 5 makes performance in just about every area of it easy to get your system back into shape. your computers operations. If your system is There are plenty of tools to remove junk and slow to boot, for example, then you can use leftover les, clear your web, Windows and the Startup Manager to locate and disable application histories, and explore your drive unnecessary Windows startup programs. to see which folders are consuming the most Youll also benet from optimising space. Then theres the excellent Auslogics your Windows services, and Auslogics Disk Defrag, which will rearrange your les BoostSpeed 5 makes this task extremely to deliver the best possible performance. straightforward. You dont need to browse At the simplest level, you can just lengthy lists of possibilities, wondering launch a System Scan, and BoostSpeed 5 whats safe to turn off and what isnt. will quickly identify Registry problems, Just choose a prole that best describes leftover hard disk junk, le your PC, such as Home fragmentation, and more. computer with networking SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows XP, Vista or 7, 30MB hard disk space The program can then x or Oce computer, and INFORMATION www.auslogics.com all these issues in just the program will make the REGISTRATION Includes a six-month licence one click. appropriate choices for you.
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152 Security Expert

114 Ultimate Guide to Windows 8

154 Advanced Projects

142 Whats the EU ever done for us?

157 Web Expert

160 Multimedia Expert

16 Rants & Raves

163 Business Expert

166 Linux Expert

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26 PCs & Laptops

The Samsung BD-E8500 is a case of style and substance

Let your inner-drummer get wicked with the Vestax Pad-One

Its never been cheaper to shoot HD video in 3D

54 Printers & Scanners

Lexmarks last-ever inkjet is also its best-ever inkjet

Our comprehensive tests, ratings and awards explained

High-speed networking with Asuss 802.11ac router, but is it the best?

169 Product Index

All the products reviewed in the magazine

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If youre serious about art, you need a graphics tablet

We agree that Windows 8 is a big change,

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