Webuser (19 December 2005)

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Welcome from the Editor Innovation is alive

W

hat a year it’s been for the internet. Broadband has got cheaper and faster than anyone could have imagined 12 months ago, blogging has established itself as a common pastime, and Google has blossomed into a force that’s challenging the likes of Microsoft headon. I’ve been particularly impressed by features such as Google Earth, the Live8 webcast and ‘social bookmarking’. Innovation is definitely alive and well as we roll into 2006. With each new year comes the opportunity to expand our personal horizons, and in this issue we’ve lined up some of the best websites to inspire you in the months ahead. Thank you all for your support in 2005 and we wish you all a Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year! See you next issue! Andrew Craig Editor [email protected]

19 Dec 2005 – 4 Jan 2006 Issue 125

contents Features

12 News review 2005 The past year on the web and what to expect from 2006

20 Change your life

p26

What do you fancy from the new year? Here are 48 websites to help you achieve your resolutions

26 The web’s worst spyware… …and how to keep it off your computer for good

30 Charity begins online Great opportunities for volunteers and fundraisers

32 Can you click it?

p32

We puzzle over the best point-and-click games

52 Group Test: Free feed readers Software that gathers your favourite news and blog content

Regulars 6 News All the latest on the web this fortnight, including Unplugged and Downloads of the Fortnight

In this issue

14 Letters 16 Best New Websites 33 Broadband User 34 Sitefinder: Astronomy 35 CashPoints & Shopping Challenge Including the best price for a Samsung SM910MP TV

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Practical Web User G INSPIRYIN AR NEWLUETIONS O S E R

57 PracticalFeature ser.co.uk www.webu

& more! Music, video

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Edit, enhance and repair your digital images

60 WorkshopMasterclasses

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62 ProblemSolver 63 ReaderHelpsReader 64 Hints&Tips 65 DIY WebPages

p57

What to download and where to find it this fortnight… 37 Music 40 Sport

…and audio books …video and audio coverage

FEATURING LINKS TO 334 WEBSITES

41 Games …and game extras, previews and demos

42 Film & TV

…trailers and clips

19 December 2005

5

News

≥ [email protected]

All the latest on the web this fortnight

Sky offers film dow

≥ BROADBAND

BROADBAND PRICES DROP TO NEW LOW S T

≥ MULTIMEDIA

he average price for a 1Mbps broadband connection has dropped to below £20 a month for the first time. The price of highspeed internet has been dropping steadily since December 2002, when it was an average of £35. According to price comparison website uSwitch.com, which tracks the prices of most of the major providers, the cost of a 512Kbps line has also dropped markedly, down to an average of £16.49 a month. The developing price war is good news for consumers: the amount of extras being offered, such as spam filters, virus protection and personal firewalls, has almost doubled over the past 12 months. Blair Wadman, broadband product manager at uSwitch.com, said the price war has had a huge effect on the number of homes with broadband, which is now nearing nine million. In a separate survey, web traffic monitoring company Hitwise revealed that the term ‘broadband’ was the top product search term last month, with a 35 per cent increase compared to last year. According to Hitwise, BT is the most searched for broadband provider, while newer entrants such as Bulldog and Virgin have been gaining ground. www.uswitch.com

Latest broadband deals ■ NTL has launched a 10Mbps service with a usage cap of 75GB. Current 3Mbps customers will be upgraded automatically. ■ Namesco has launched an up-to-8Mbps service from £10.95 a month. ■ NewNet is offering one month’s free broadband to people who migrate by the end of December. 2Mbps broadband starts at £11.95 a month with no long term contracts. ■ Eclipse Internet is offering its customers £30 for each friend or family member of who switches to any of their broadband products from another provider, and £15 for people who sign up for their first broadband connection.

6

19 December 2005

ky is to offer film and sport downloads via the internet to subscribers to its premium sport and movie channels. Called Sky by Broadband, the service will offer hundreds of downloads at no additional cost, although customers are advised to check with their broadband provider for any download limits. Sky was unable to confirm a launch date as Web User went to press, but had already launched a web guide to the service and advanced registration for interested customers. Subscribers to the Sky Movies 1 and

2 TV channels will get access to a mix of over 300 movies to download including recent Hollywood hits such as Spider-Man 2 and The Day After Tomorrow, as well as cult classics such as Dr Strangelove. Eventually it is expected to include the entire Sky Movies catalogue. Subscribers to Sky Sports 1 and 2 will get access to over 1,000 downloadable sporting highlights. Sky will use peer-to-peer technology to distribute the video files, which will be up to 1,000MB in size. It estimates that with a 1Mbps broadband line the download time for a video file will be roughly the same as the running time of the film. The entire file must

Sporting and blockbuster action is available to Sky digital subscribers’ PCs

≥ SECURITY

Watch out for spyware in 2006 S

pyware looks set to become the major online threat of 2006, according to security experts. The amount of spyware threats rocketed 48 per cent in 2005, and according to antivirus firm Sophos, malware attacks have became more focused; aiming at smaller numbers of victims compared with the mass mailing worms of the past. Spyware installs itself by stealth, subterfuge or social engineering techniques, and then logs keystrokes, stealing information and sending it from that computer to a third party. Graham Cluely, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: “We are seeing hackers beginning to use zombies to install potentially unwanted software across the network. Computer users don’t have to visit

Competition Where’s Netty?

any websites or open any emails to be infected – simply plugging an unprotected computer into the internet is enough to put the PC at risk.” www.sophos.com

Last issue our feathered friend was hiding in the Gumtree screengrab on page 6.

Quentin Reade News Editor

≥ Your news team

Veronique De Freitas Staff Writer

≥ Friends Reunited

≥ EMAIL HOAX

nloads be downloaded before viewing. Video files have in-built licensing software to help prevent piracy. Once downloaded, a video will typically be viewable for 30 days and will then be automatically deleted. Copies cannot be made to DVD. Viewers must download the Sky by Broadband software and have Windows XP. Sky said there are no concrete plans to sell video downloads to other customers, but “it’s not an impossibility”. www.sky.com/skybybroadband/ home

Neo-Nazi threat

A

shocking spoof email, purporting to be from neo-Nazi group Combat 18, is poisoning Inboxes with its violent threats. By spoofing email addresses of public bodies, including the Metropolitan Police and Commission for Racial Equality, unsuspecting recipients are tricked into opening the malevolent missive. The hoax emails contain a warning of violence unless the website for anti-fascist magazine Searchlight (www.search lightmagazine.com) is obliterated. Threats include home visits, directed by Combat 18, who it warns have had “members put into prison for nail-bombs, IRA type beatings on women with baseball bats and burning homes down with people in them”. Investigations by internet security company Netintelligence, reveal the top five originating IP addresses for the emails appear to have been delivered by a zombie army of PCs. Phil Worms of Netintelligence, said: “Recipients should delete emails and not respond.” www.netintelligence.com

≥ Net preference Eighty per cent of Brits believe they are overcharged when shopping at high-street shops, compared to just 25 per cent who feel they are being overcharged for goods bought online. According to Kelkoo research, 70 per cent of shoppers consider online shopping to be a good experience and almost one in three men admit to being last-minute internet shoppers compared to one in five women. www.kelkoo.co.uk Yahoo and FIFA have revamped the official site of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which takes place in Germany. It now offers real-time scores from the tournament’s 64 matches, exclusive vintage video highlights, information about Germany and its host cities, and a new interactive chat application. www.fifaworldcup.com

The T security and stability ty of the internet are essential to the United States, the European Union and to the world.

”

US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice

Security STOP watch

≥ SHOPPING

Empty Xbox Xmas stockings

A

ITV is set to buy reunion website Friends Reunited for around £175m. ITV will initially pay £120m for the web success story, with an extra £55m to be paid if the company hits targets by 2009. Friends Reunited was started in a bedroom in 2000. www.friendsreunited.com

≥ New World Cup site

Quote of the fortnight

mazon UK has come under fire from gamers fuming over delays in fulfilling their Xbox 360 orders. Disgruntled customers, some of whom placed orders months ago, are complaining that Amazon has failed to keep them updated about shortages of the console. The Xbox 360 went on sale in Europe on 2 December, but some online retailers permitted pre-

Inbrief

ordering for eager beavers keen to get their mitts on it on the launch date. Amazon started processing preorders in August, however many early birds haven’t got the worm. Amazon spokesman Damian Peachey told Web User: “Amazon.co.uk has faced exactly the same problems as other console

O retailers with the shortages. We put a message onsite advising that it would not be possible to fulfil orders [made] after 2 November before Christmas and if orders were made before, it still might not be possible.” He said the company is “sorry for any disappointment at this time of year,” but pointed out that “with pre-orders no money is taken out of customers’ accounts.” www.amazon.co.uk

. Spot him this time round, email [email protected] and you could win a prize. (Issue 122’s winner: Mrs M Surrey, Tyne and Wear.)

nline shoppers face an increasing threat from phishing attacks over the festive season. According to email security company MailFrontier, holiday spam and phishing emails will reach a total of one billion this year compared to 750 million for the same period last year. MailFrontier warns that 25 per cent of UK computer users cannot tell the difference between criminal and legitimate emails. www.mailfrontier.com

19 December 2005

7

News UnPlugged Web on the move ■

Wap site for MTV

MTV has unveiled a new-look Wap service, which gives fans access to behind-the-scenes programming. Mobile phone users can access programme schedules, news and photo downloads, and buy ringtones at the site. http://wap.mtv.co.uk ■

Blackjack on the go

You can now play blackjack for cash on your mobile phone via a downloadable game at betting site PokerRoom. com. The Mobile BlackJack game is compatible with 100 mobile handsets including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola, but is only available for Vodafone and T-Mobile customers. You can download and play the game for free but your mobile operator will charge for any data and call time used during play. www.pokerroom.com ■

Virgin Trains 3G boost

Virgin Trains has teamed up with mobile operator Orange to offer passengers better access to data and the web via 3G networks. Orange will install small antennas on trains throughout Virgin’s CrossCountry and North Wales routes, which will help reduce interference from train carriages and windows. www.virgintrain.co.uk

8

Video calls with Skype ≥ VOIP Surfers can see who they’re talking to when making phone calls over the internet with the launch of Skype’s video phone service. The beta service, available to download at the Skype website, lets callers make free video calls and broadcast their mood and time zone. Skype, which has 70 million registered users for its free internet telephony calls, hopes the launch of Skype 2.0 will similarly stimulate live video calls. “It’s never been easier for people to talk to one another for free, and now they can see each other with video as well,” said Niklas Zennstrvm, chief executive at Skype. Ian Fogg, senior analyst at Jupiter Research, said take-up will rely on Skype “making video calls as painless as making voice calls and people buying webcams”. Microsoft’s MSN Messenger already offers video conversation, but Fogg says it and other voice-over IP services, including Net2Phone and Yahoo Messenger, haven’t performed as well as Skype because comparatively “they’re fiddly to work and their sound quality isn’t as good”. www.skype.com

≥ SEARCH

≥ MOVIES

Amateur film director rewarded

Wi-Fi in the city

New Orleans has outlined plans to be the first major city to offer free wireless internet access next year, as part of its aim to speed up the city’s redevelopment following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in August. A number of companies, including Intel, have made donations towards the Wi-Fi network, which will initially provide download speeds of 512Kbps per connection. www.cityofno.com ■

All the latest on the web this fortnight

19 December 2005

A

Yahoo’s bookmarking service

Y

ahoo has unveiled a ‘social search’ tool that it says will make searching more personalised and relevant by letting surfers share their findings with others. MyWeb 2.0 lets you mark your favourite places on the web and then share them with other users, in a similar way to social bookmarking sites such as del.icio.us. Bradley Horowitz, directory of technology development at Yahoo Search, said MyWeb 2.0 lets you glean information from people you trust and is a great way of seeing what websites your friends and friends of friends rate highly. “I have a MyWeb social network of 50 friends,” said Horowitz. “When I search for ‘bike’ I get 150 results. I can then instant messenger or email them through the system. It allows me to mine other people’s expertise.” http://myweb2.search.yahoo.com

Spam of the fortnight

n amateur filmmaker from Wiltshire has won a film distribution deal and a place at the New York Film Academy after scooping the top prize in an online movie-making competition. ISP UK Online and film company Future Shorts launched the online hunt for a budding director in August. Entrants had to create a short film based on the central theme of speed. Oscar Stringer’s winning film, Again & Again, features two women involved in a fatal car crash, and the events that led up to the accident. Chris Stening, general manager at UK Online, said: “This is the first of what we hope will become an established competition in the British film-making industry. UK Online provides fast broadband which is revolutionizing the way in which people are both making and watching films.” http://fasterfilms.ukonline.net

From: akoul garang Subject: Help. Hello, I do not know to what extent you are familiar I am Miss Akoul John Garang from the Republic of Sudan i am the Daughter of Late Mr.John

≥ [email protected] Number of the fortnight

70 million

The number of people worldwide now using Skype to make phonecalls over broadband, the company claims

Inbrief ≥ Kerio firewall saved

≥ LITERATURE

Classic poetry spoken online

Listen to Harold Pinter online

H

istoric recordings of poets, including Seamus Heaney, Alfred Tennyson and Siegfried Sassoon, reading their work have been made available online. The Poetry Archive, the brainchild of poet laureate Andrew Motion, lets you listen, for free, to voices of current poets and of poets dating back to 1889. According to The Poetry Archive, the site’s aim is to make poetry accessible to a wider audience and “preserve for future generations uniquely valuable voices which might otherwise be lost”. “Actors may, or may not, read poems well, but poets have unique rights to their work, and unique insights and interests to offer as we hear their idiom, pacing, tone and emphases,” said Andrew Motion. “They all, in their different ways, validate the intention of the Archive to preserve the mystery of poetry while tearing away some of the prejudices, which can make it appear unduly ‘difficult’ or separate from familiar life. The readings are at once instant in their appeal, and lingering in their impact.” www.poetryarchive.org

Competition

WIN!! WIN

1 of 3 Quantum Leap DVDs!!

This box-set contains all 22 episodes of the third series of the cult sci-fi show Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula as the timetravelling Dr Sam Beckett. To stand a chance of winning one of the three DVDs we’re giving away, just answer the question posed at www. webuser.co.uk/competitions. ● Quantum Leap – Season 3 is out to buy now on DVD through Universal Playback.

Fans of security software Kerio Personal Firewall will be pleased to hear that it is has been snapped up by anti-spyware company Sunbelt Software, which promises to keep it as a free service for home users. Kerio had announced plans to discontinue the firewall at the end of December, but the tool will now be rebranded as the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall. www.sunbelt-software.com

≥ Poorly PCs OnTrack Data Recovery has unveiled its annual list of the strangest and funniest computerrelated mishaps of 2005. Gaffs this year include computers hit with hammers, PCs dissected into tiny pieces, USB sticks that have been bitten by dogs and the discovery of dead cockroaches in a laptop. OnTrack says it handles more than 100,000 requests a year for help in recovering data from damaged computers. www.ontrack.co.uk

≥ MSN moves home ≥ WINDOWS

Media Center beefs up content

A

number of new content providers have taken to the stage with Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center. Media Center lets you watch and record TV through your computer as well as view New content gives photos, listen to music and Windows XP Media watch DVDs. Audiences with the 2005 edition of the Center a boost interactive entertainment platform can access services via its Online Spotlight feature for news, movies and music on demand. The seven latest content providers include BBC News, urban music channel Trace TV, Fashion TV, Easy Karaoke and a Sudoku puzzle. “We’re seeing great momentum behind our vision for cuttingedge digital entertainment on the PC,” said David Weeks, Windows client marketing manager at Microsoft. However, digital home analyst Nate Elliot said a big problem for Microsoft is the fact Media Center PCs can’t hook up with Sky. Elliot believes adding on-demand content will stimulate demand, but “the breakthrough will come when Microsoft builds Media Center into its next-generation operating system, Windows Vista”. www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx

with events and fragile political situation in my country Sudan but it has formed consistent headlines in the CNN, BBC news bulletins. Garang. My late father before his death was Vice President of Sudan. (Email received by Web User)

MSN UK has changed its domain name from msn.co.uk to uk.msn.com. According to the portal, the name change was necessary to “ensure consistency across all MSN domain names and improve site functionality for users”. All MSN UK sections will eventually follow the same address format, for example uk.money.msn.com and uk.cars.msn.com. http://uk.msn.com

≥ Broadband for fish Think you’re a comic genius? Come up with the best joke involving a fish and you could win a year’s free wireless broadband. ISP Madasafish is offering the winner its wireless 8Mbps MAX Broadband package free for a year, a prize value totalling £335.88. The closing date is 10 January 2006. www.madasafish .com/fun

19 December 2005

9

News

All the latest on the web this fortnight

COMMENT On a promise

What’s hot

≥ WEBSITE

Xbox 360

Websites raise

www.xbox.com So hot you may not be able to get it until 2006.

eBay

Richard Lloyd Senior Sub Editor It’s almost New Year’s resolution time again. Not something I really go in for, mainly because I seem to spend most of the year making half-thought-out promises to myself anyway. See that chappie plummeting to Earth on page 20? That should have been me this year (with ’chute, of course). New depths of absurdity were plumbed a couple of years ago when, inspired by David Matthews’ excellent book Looking for Fight, I decided to take up boxing. I even told everyone, so I wouldn’t be able to chicken out. Needless to say the only sparring I got round to involved a Saver Return to Bath. I’ve since come to my senses, which, as anyone who knows me will atest, is a

“

I still press the ‘on’ button in the belief that it will magically start

”

good thing, as I couldn’t fight my way out of a chocolate teapot. (I may not have mixed it in the ring, but at least I can jumble my metaphors.) One thing I should do is sort out my home computing situation. I have an ageing iMac that needs a new clutch or something. I still press the ‘on’ button every couple of days in the belief that it will magically start, but have long been dependent on my partner’s laptop PC. Which brings me to another thing: neither of us are exactly avid surfers at home, but that’s no excuse for not having upto-date anti-virus software or going online without a firewall. After all, it’s not as if I don’t have the information at my fingertips, and it’s easier than jumping out of an aeroplane – or getting my face smashed in. Maybe it’s time I made a simple resolution for a change.

10

19 December 2005

www.ebay.co.uk The most visited UK retail website, according to search statistics.

High Definition TV www.telewest.co.uk Telewest trials began in south London and may go nationwide next summer.

Online tax credit www.hmrc.gov The website for claiming tax credits is suspended amid fraud claims.

Small online retailers www.thus.net Small shopping sites lack info such as delivery times and stock levels.

What’s not

C

onsumers can make sharing their opinions of products and services count for charity through Review Centre’s Christmas fundraising campaign. The website is pledging to give 50p to Oxfam for each review by shoppers it publishes in the run-up to Christmas. Alan Cole, Review Centre’s editor, said: “We’re an ethical company and wanted to put something back with Christmas coming and so many people in need. Our visitors can make a difference.” The site, which invites opinions on everything from MP3 players to car hire companies, hopes to raise £3,000 for Oxfam by Christmas with an online Totaliser keeping track of progress. Elsewhere on the web, security-conscious internet users can raise money for two non-profit organisations, at the same time as ridding their computers of spyware. Trend Micro is calling on people who use HouseCall, its free online tool for detecting and removing spyware, to make a voluntary donation to European-based charity Close the Gap and Schools Online in the US. www.reviewcentre.com www.trendmicro.com

Downloads of the fortnight ≥ Mozilla Firefox 1.5 The Firefox browser has got even better with version 1.5 letting you surf faster, re-order tabs by dragging-and-dropping them, and quickly clean up your surfing history with two clicks of the mouse. Firefox 1.5 also includes an improved pop-up blocker and new security functions. In its first day of release it was downloaded a mammoth 1.5 million times. Download at: www.getfirefox.com Minimum requirements: Windows File size: 4.98MB

≥ FoxyTunes 1.2 FoxyTunes is an extension for Firefox that lets you control your favourite media player without leaving the browser. The controls are handily positioned on the status bar or one of the toolbars, so no extra space is wasted.

There are several nice features – you can control the playback, adjust the volume, and see what’s playing. Other features are in development, including advanced searches. Download at: https://addons. mozilla.org/extensions/ moreinfo.php?id=219 Minimum requirements: Windows 2000/XP, Firefox Browser, Mozilla Suite, or Thunderbird File size: 200KB

≥ EarthBrowser 2.8.1 EarthBrowser is an Earth simulation that combines a 3D globe with real-time weather conditions and seven-day forecasts. It also shows clouds and earthquakes, and turns into a screensaver when you are away from your computer. Other features include live hurricane and tropical storm tracking, Antarctic iceberg tracking, hundreds of webcams all

Up for grabs!!!

Better on broadband! over the globe, political borders and information on more than 15,000 volcanoes. It’s free to try; $23.95 ( £13.90) to buy. Download at: www.earthbrowser.com Minimum requirements: Windows File size: 6.08MB

≥ Skype 2.0 Skype has launched a new version of its software that includes video calling. Released in beta version, Skype 2.0 offers new features its maker says “allow people to stay in touch and express themselves online”. You can now broadcast your mood along with your online presence so you can let your contacts know whether you’re happy, sad, listening to your favourite music, available to talk or do not want to be disturbed. You can also see your contacts’ time zones. Download at: www.skype.com Minimum requirements: Windows 2000 or XP (you’ll need XP for video calling) File size: 8.4MB

Win a spa day for two; closes 2 March 2006 http://schools.dk.com/static/competitions/index.html

≥ [email protected]

WEB USER’S CLICKING ON… Sites that have kept us busy this fortnight…

charity cash

mybookmarks Each fortnight, we ask someone to pick three of their favourite places on the web.

1

Babycal Throw www.rubilon.kulichki.com/ games/brosocen.html

Suranga Chandratillake Co-founder of search engine Blinkx

Baffling game where you bounce cans on people’s heads.

2

Monkey washing a cat www.brud.info/video/ monkey _ washing _ cat.mov

English Tea Store www.englishteastore.com

It’s a monkey washing a cat. Seriously. What did you expect?

3

The Great McDonald’s Sign Prank www.phonelosers.org/ mcdonalds Jokers wind up a multinational with a bit of board.

4

Trackmaster www.cookiedough records.com/movietrack master.htm Turn to page 30 for our guide to finding volunteering and charity work online

Cursor-based game that’s bound to give you a headache.

Sting’s Englishman in New York is surprisingly accurate at explaining the expat experience of living in the States. This site helps me get my tea (not coffee), Marmite (not peanut butter) and digestive biscuits (not Oreos).

BBC podcast www.bbc.co.uk/radio/ downloadtrial

EVERYONE’S CLICKING ON… Our guide to this fortnight’s most clickable sites THIS GAME Garage Door Tennis www.makaimedia.com/games/game _ frame.aspx?gid=41 For two weeks each year tennis fever grips this nation (until ‘Tiger’ Tim is trounced by some unseeded player) leading to local courts overflowing with fair-weather players. If you miss those two weeks of less rainy weather and tennis whites, play all day long here against a garage door.

This is the BBC’s Today programme Podcast Feed. Thanks to podcasting I can listen to Today on my daily commute in San Francisco, just as I used to in Cambridge.

Wikipedia www.wikipedia.org

THIS TIME-WASTER Brain Hieroglyphics http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/hiro.html Tired of Sudoku? Need a new mental challenge? This should see you right for a while. Using visual clues that would fit into Dingbats, all you have to do is work out the word being described. And all the words have something to do with the brain, so neurosurgeons will polish this off sharpish.

THIS BIZARRE SITE Six Degrees of Smoking www.jamesrobertford.com/works/six _ degrees _ of _ smoking We all know smoking isn’t good for you, but it does aid this type of experiment. It’s simple – take one lighter, use it, take a photo of it being used, then pass it on and repeat the process. The intrepid lighter has crossed oceans, continents and Waterloo station concourse dozens of times.

Win a £1,000 English holiday; closes 30 April 2006 www.tinyurl.com/a5hot

Win a widescreen TV; closes 9 January 2006 www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=5868

While it has the faults you’d expect from an essentially amateur knowledge source, Wikipedia is an inspiring example of what can be done with distributed technology and community content creation.

Your Bookmarks Send short reviews (30 words each max) of your favourite three sites to mybookmarks @web-user.co.uk

19 December 2005

11

NEWS FEATURE 2005 REVIEW

A YEAR

on the web It’s been another busy year online. Apart from the usual selection of viruses and worms there was a flurry of fantastic new sites – and broadband finally hit the big time. Here’s our complete review of 2005

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

What happened?

What happened?

● The Office of Fair Trading referred Apple’s iTunes to the European Commission, claiming it discriminated against UK consumers. According to a study, Apple charged UK customers 20 per cent more than French and German shoppers. ● Ofcom cut the amount telecoms companies have to pay BT to install their own equipment. We predicted broadband would surge ahead come mid-2005. How right we were. ● Apple introduced the iPod shuffle and the Mac mini. ● Google launched its shopping comparison site Froogle.

● NTL started to move customers onto 1, 2 and 3Mbps services, one of the first ISPs to introduce speeds that would become standard later in the year. ● Not to be out-done, AOL, BT, UK Online, Bulldog, Madasafish.com and PlusNet also unveiled faster broadband. ● The BBC relaunched its radio player – offering a mass of shows available on-demand for seven days after the original broadcast.

Best website

Best website

Internet Watch Foundation

Time Archive

www.iwf.org.uk Your one-stop-shop for reporting dodgy sites.

www.timearchive.com Time launched a site featuring 266,000 articles, it’s not free, however.

Predictions for January 2006

Predictions for February 2006

People start using swapping sites like swapex.com to get rid of those unwanted Christmas gifts.

The broadband speed wars continue – with many customers left wondering why they’d need such speed.

JULY

AUGUST

What happened?

What happened?

● Broadband prices dropped even further, with Eclipse, Wanadoo, Tiscali and NTL all slashing prices ● A survey by Jupiter research showed that illegal downloading is still rife in Europe, while the US Supreme Court rules that file-sharing networks may be liable if their customers swap illegal material. ● Google launches its amazing Google Earth program

● Wanadoo announced that it plans to change its name to Orange. Both Orange and Wanadoo are owned by France Telecom. The change will take 18 months. ● Bulldog Broadband was in the doghouse following an Advertising Standards Board ruling and an Ofcom investigation. ● MSN launched Virtual Earth, in competition with Google Earth.

Best website Pledge Bank

Best website Working Title Films www.workingtitlefilms.com The UK’s premier production house showcases its wares.

www.pledgebank.com Site where people promise to do something nice to change the world – provided others commit to doing it too.

12

19 December 2005

Predictions for July 2006

Predictions for August 2006

Customers can now get broadband, TV, phone and mobile from one company.

Apple releases more iPod variations, perhaps including its own range of phones.

NEWS FEATURE 2005 REVIEW

MARCH What happened? ● We reported the rise of pharming attacks. When web users type in some URLs they are redirected to bogus sites where criminals capture personal details. As ever, the advice is to make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date. ● In a bad month for security, worms that spread via instant-messaging software popped-up. But in good news, the 1861 census was made available online via www.1837online.com.

Best website

APRIL What happened? ● eBay was rammed with Doctor Who memorabilia. The Dalek teapot is a must. ● NTL started trialling broadband services on ADSL2+ lines – offering what, at the time, were almost unimaginable surfing speeds of up to 18Mbps. ● The Home Office’s Centre for Child Protection on the Internet opened in a bid to trap paedophiles ‘grooming’ children online and those downloading illegal images.

Gary Rhodes

Best website

www. garyrhodes .com While Delia Online is top of the cooking pile, Rhodes e-recipes create a decent challenge.

www.thefilmfactory.co.uk/hitchhikers Loads of things to do and laughs to be had from this, the official site for the Hitchhiker’s movie.

Predictions for March 2006 Following the trial of a service that lets web users watch BBC TV shows, Beeb governors approve a full launch.

● ISPs Be and UK Online trialled broadband speeds of up to 24Mbps. Other ISPs soon follow suit with highspeed services. However, phone line quality means that unless you live right by your local telephone exchange, your dreams of getting anywhere near 24Mbps are just that. ● New variants of the Zotob worm hammered Window XP’s security flaws . ● NASA released the first podcast from space.

Best website Hamleys

JUNE What happened?

● The Mytob worm made a reappearance – with four new variants spotted. ● Telewest launched a TV over the net service. It is something that many other ISPs will start trialling in 2005. ● Government reports identified a growing divide between middle-class kids who know their way around the web and those without internet access at home.

● It emerged that 16,000 Telewest customers’ computers had been hijacked – turned into zombies that send out spam and spread viruses. Technology experts said the problem was an industry-wide concern. The Internet Services Providers’ Association said people without firewalls and antivirus software were adding to the problem. ● The Crazy Frog’s god-awful version of Axel F was streamed 199,000 times from AOL in one day.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Best website Best website

Up My Street

Every Object Tells a Story www.everyobject.net From the V&A museum and Channel 4, a great site where you can upload your own pictures and stories.

www.upmystreet.com The local information site jazzed itself up, and proved to be a must for neighbourhood knowledge.

Predictions for April 2006

Predictions for May 2006

Predictions for June 2006

Dial-up continues its slide towards obsolesence with two-thirds of the UK’s net users surfing via broadband.

TV-over-internet services get better and better, but, nationally, take-up is still relatively low.

Several of the big internet service providers merge as the market consolidates. Less choice for consumers?

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER What happened?

MAY What happened?

What happened? ● New figures showed that 1.5 million UK homes had connected to the internet in the past 12 months. In all, 56 per cent of homes were connected. ● Internet telephony company Skype hit the headlines after eBay snapped it up for a cool £1.4bn. While take up is still relatively low, VoIP becomes a ‘hot topic’ in the national press. ● A student launched www.million dollarhomepage.com, sparking dozens of copycats and making a fortune. ● NTL and Telewest become one.

Best website

www. hamleys. co.uk London’s greatest toy store created a fantastic new-look site.

NME www.nme.com

Predictions for September 2006 The launch of Windows Vista, the new operating system, due September, is delayed until late 2006.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER What happened?

What happened?

● BT, Wanadoo, PlusNet and Tiscali all announced plans for 8Mbps services.

● High-street stores struggled owing to the intense competition from the web. However, some big suppliers such as Sony hit back by starting to charge web stores 10-15 per cent above wholesale, claiming this rewards high-street retailers who spend time and money displaying and demonstrating their products. ● Firefox launched a new version of its increasingly popular browser.

● BT announced plans to deliver broadband, telephony and on-demand television through an all-in-one set-top box. ● iTunes launched its video service. ● The government-sponsored Get Safe Online campaign got underway.

Best website Get Safe Online

www.deliaonline.com It was already a stormer, then the nation’s favourite cook updated it with better navigation, an online shop and community section. Class.

www.getsafe online.com Packed with handy tips on avoiding spyware, viruses and other nasties.

Predictions for October 2006

Predictions for November 2006

Predictions for December 2006

Wireless access is available free of charge in most metropolitan areas.

The British film industry campaigns to stop illegal downloads, which are spurred by faster broadband.

New stats reveal that 65 per cent of Christmas presents are now bought online.

Revamped music mag site offers tons of audio and video downloads.

Best website Delia Online

19 December 2005

13

Letters

Star Letter This issue’s £25 winner!

Have your say: [email protected]

Hot Topics These are some of the questions and subjects you have been debating on our forum in the last fortnight. Have your say at www.webuser.co.uk/forums.

1

What percentage of your Christmas shopping do you think will be made online this year? Do you send e-cards or e-vouchers?

I have done about 75 per cent of my shopping online this year. It makes getting the children’s presents so much easier than one of you running to the car to put things in the boot while the other distracts them so that they don’t see what Santa is bringing them. Also, it’s a lot easier than struggling with bulky items when you can get them delivered to the door. I prefer to stick with tradition for cards and vouchers though.

Maxping261, via Web User Forums

2

I’m a heavy searcher and I do perhaps 20 searches per day on Google and 600 per month easy. How many searches have you made over the last month?

BedstorfromAP, via Web User Forums I do quite a bit of searching daily and probably make between 50-100 searches on any given day. I tend to do most of my searching on Google, but I am using MSN more and more.

PortProphecy, via Web User Forums

3

Can you name a service or website that you discovered through Web User that you found hilarious or really useful?

I think probably my best find was Firefox. It was a direct link from Web User that took me to its page and I can honestly say it has transformed the way I browse. It has so many advantages over Internet Explorer that it’s difficult to list them all. Tabbed browsing is a godsend as is Adblock. The Extensions idea is brilliant as it allows me to tailor the browser to my personal requirements.

Greysts, via Web User Forums

Survey scam

Not-so-speedy broadband Your recent website poll regarding the speed your broadband service offers means nothing. A better vote would be: “What speed does your exchange currently support?” The reason I make this suggestion is that I feel like a 10,000 metre runner who is being lapped. My exchange only offers 1Mbps, and that’s with a following wind, while others offer 8Mbps and some up to 22Mbps. Stop the world while my exchange catches up.

Stuart Humphries, via email

Keep up the good work I’ve just received my fortnightly email update and am writing to congratulate you on your magazine. I look forward to its release and I am continually telling my workmates to buy it, how good it is for all sorts of help, advice, web addresses, new websites and so on. They keep saying “Yeah you’ve told us”, but I keep on at them. I tell them they don’t know what they’re missing. I would also like to congratulate you on the layout you ran on page five in the magazine – the front cover with an arrow pointing towards an article showing the relevant page. Great idea, the simple ones are always the best.

E Livingston, via email

Google lock-out In Instant Expert in Issue 123 you have an article on webmail storage which I thought I might find quite useful. I tried to sign up with Google but found that at the moment the service is by invitation only, and I’m not invited! I realise that it must be very difficult for you to ensure all your articles are 100 per cent accurate but in this case I would imagine that for most subscribers it’s a bit useless. Andy Shaw, Technical and Reviews Editor, says: You’re right, Google Mail is by invitation only, but getting an invite isn’t too difficult nowadays. Most people with Google Mail addresses can invite at least 100 other people and it’s pretty simple to do. Alternatively, if you register for a blog with Blogger (www.blogger.com), you should also see an option to try Google Mail. Searching Google for “Google Mail invite” may prove fruitful too.

I enjoyed your Soap Operas piece (Sitefinder, Issue 123) but felt you hardly even mentioned the best soap going –

19 December 2005

Emmerdale! You could have mentioned great fan sites like www. emmerdale.biz and www. emmerdale.net, not least the official site www.itv.com/emmerdale. You can even find a piece on Emmerdale at online encyclopaedia website Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmerdale.

Jacqui, Lincoln Editor replies: We’re wondering if you’re a Dingle in disguise, Jacqui? But, consider Emmerdale well and truly mentioned!

Phil, via email

Emmerdale’s biggest fan 14

I was looking for a spot of work from home as I’m retired and came across a site that seemed really good called TheSurveyZone (www.thesurveyzone .com) – you get paid to do surveys from home. I paid the one-off subscription fee, $19.95 (£11.55), but have heard nothing since. Once you pay you get an ID and password and I have tried to email the site but only got a reply saying ‘user unknown’. They have a Live Chat window but there is never anyone there. They also mention that you start earning money at once by doing surveys, yet I haven’t seen any. I was hoping you could investigate this

Your Shout!

Sony disappointment I feel you have missed a trick with the whole Sony/BMG rootkit saga. In Issue 123 (News) you stated that “The music giant introduced the software, which uses a technique called rootkits to hide itself on a computer system”, but what you didn’t say is that nowhere in the Eula [End-User License Agreement] does it state that this is being installed on the computer, Sony/BMG are installing this without anyone knowing. You did mention that a security spokesman said: “Despite its good intentions in stopping music piracy, Sony’s copy protection has opened up a vulnerability that hackers and virus writers are now exploiting”. This is an understatement.

Have you spent more than £500 on a single item online?

[email protected] site for me as others might be taken in if it is a scam. It looks a very professional site.

Mrs L Brown, via email Editor replies: It certainly does look like a professional site, but we were also unable to contact anyone via the online enquiry form or the Live Chat facility. We searched for feedback on TheSurveyZone at www.ripoffreport.com – a site that lets consumers share their online experiences – and, unfortunately, we discovered dozens of similar complaints to yours, so it doesn’t look too hopeful for a refund. If you pay for goods or services costing more than £100 online using your credit card, you may have a claim against the credit card issuer as well as the trader. Some credit card issuers may also consider claims for less than £100, so it’s worth checking. It may also be worth visiting the Department of Trade and Industry’s website, Ripoff-Tipoff (www. ripofftipoff.net), which offers help and advice on ‘e-cons’, as you can also pass on details of schemes that you think are ripping off the public and help stop other people being conned. Carole Theriault, senior security consultant at Sophos, also offers the following advice: “It is always There are no “good intentions” in installing software on someone’s computer without them knowing, particularly if it opens up a massive security hole. Not only can hackers and virus writers exploit the rootkit, anybody can. Come on Web User, there are computer users out there who rely on your magazine to keep them secure online with info you print, this should have been a full-page story letting everyone know how much of a security risk this is. More info on this threat can be found at http://www.sysinternals. com/Blog – the guys who uncovered the rootkit.

Gary, Stoke-on-Trent Editor replies: We think we gave a fair overview of the situation in the time available before going to press, but accept we could have done more and are happy to air your thoughts on the issue, Gary. You may also be interested in sharing your views on Sony with other Web User readers in our Forums – a debate is currently taking place at http://tinyurl.com/cz6d4.

recommended that people do a little research before handing over cash. For instance, has a service been recommended by someone you trust? Does it have a strong presence in the media and online? What are other people saying about it online? Does it have a legitimate postal address and contact details? Can you get anything in writing about the agreement between you and the company? Fraudsters often do as much as possible to look legitimate – otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to make much cash as people wouldn’t be as easily fooled. It would be wise not to fall for snazzy-looking sites.”

Radio jukebox

Q

Some time ago, before I had a major PC problem, I used to visit a radio site that had a jukebox that you could pick your favourite bands. For the life of me, I can’t remember the site address, any ideas?

Larry Stopher, via email

A

Web User says: We’re not sure of the exact radio website you mean, but XFM (www.xfm.co.uk) offers a Video Jukebox that lets you pick and watch promo videos from an A-Z list of artists and Last.fm (www.last.fm) is a free service that builds up a detailed profile of your musical taste and provides personalised streaming radio.

Q

Did you once feature a webcam that lets you see people in Belfast? I am sure you did. I have relatives there.

Jonni L, via email

Newsletter Sign up now for our free email newsletter – in your Inbox every fortnight. See www.webuser.co.uk/newsletter

Contact us! Letters page: [email protected] Problem Solver: [email protected] Reader helps reader: [email protected] News stories and press releases: [email protected] Advertising enquiries: [email protected] Subscriptions: [email protected]

A

Web User says: That’s right Jonni, back in Issue 110 we featured a webcam available at the Belfast City Council’s website (www.belfastcity.gov .uk/webcam), which lets you watch the day pass by at the front gates of Belfast City Hall.

Piano forte

Q

I’d like to learn the piano and wondered if you had ever done a feature on sites that provide sheet music?

Anon, via email

Web User, Room 0305, IPC Media, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford Street, London SE1 9LS. All contributions to Web User must be original, not copies or duplicated to other publications. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any letter or material submitted. IPC Media or its associated companies reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to the letters column of Web User magazine, in any format or medium.

SUBSCRIPTIONS – DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Have Web User delivered direct every fortnight for a year within the UK for £48.10, (full subscription rate). Overseas by priority mail (3-5 days Europe, other destinations 5-7 days ). Europe/Eire £88.50; North America £80.00 and the rest of the world £99.50. Cheques made payable to IPC Media Ltd. All prices include postage and packing. Credit card hotline: 0845 676 7778. For enquiries and overseas orders, please call +44 (0) 845 676 7778, fax +44 (0) 1444 445599 or email [email protected]. Alternatively subscribe online at www.webuser.co.uk GETTING WEB USER If you can’t find an issue in your local newsagent, call 020 7907 7777. BACK ISSUES Call our telephone hotline: 020 8532 3628 or fax 020 8519 3695. Or write to Web User Back Issues, PO Box 666, London, E15 1DW. Prices: UK £3.50; Europe (airmail) £4.00; Rest of the world (airmail) £5.00. Cheques/postal orders/international money orders should be Sterling and made payable to IPC Magazines.

No 64%

Got a non-technical query about the wonderful web? Email it to askwebuser@ webuser.co.uk and we’ll try to help

Belfast webcam

≥ SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Yes 36%

Ask Web User

(Source: www.webuser.co.uk) Have your say in our latest poll at www.webuser.co.uk

A

Web User says: You could try Sheet Music Direct (www.sheetmusic direct.com), which lets you view, buy and download digital sheet music for the piano, as well as the guitar. Artists range from Abba to ZZ Top and it costs around £2.25 per song. You can also download a few scores for free.

19 December 2005

15

BestNew Websites

We review this fortnight’s

SITE OF THE FORTNIGHT Tate Online www.tate.org.uk Our rating ★★★★★ The Tate family of art galleries has updated its web presence, and done a mighty good job. You can check out what is going on at each of its four galleries, look at more than 65,000 pieces of work online (whoa, that’s loads), learn about art, listen to webcasts, read about research projects, buy tickets to exhibitions or visit the online shop. In fact, if you are really keen, you could spend hours surfing around. And, despite the huge amount of information, it’s actually very easy to get about and find what you want to know. There are even details of the boat you can catch from the Tate Modern to the Tate Britain in London.

The Pub Landlord www.thepublandlord.com Our rating

Sainsbury’s Wine

You’ll need sound for this – just to hear the bigoted rants from comedian Al Murray’s pub landlord on the homepage (which get a little tired after the fourth or fifth time you’ve heard them). Still, there’s some amusing stuff on here and the site is far better put together than we would expect, featuring a blog, a quite well-used forum section, screensavers and Desktop pictures to download. There are audio insults to email to your mates (not all suitable for work, so be careful), loads of videos to watch, and a newsletter to sign up for. The merchandise section wasn’t up when we looked, but everything else was working well and looking very slick.

16

19 December 2005

www.sainsburyswine. co.uk Our rating ★★★★★

★★★★★

Love Yoga/ Love and Learn www.loveyoga.com www.loveandlearn.co.uk Our rating ★★★★★ If you are single with a passion for yoga or a student looking for romance or friendship, then these sites are for you. At both, it is free to register, build a profile and add up to three photos. To chat to other members in real time, exchange video clips, send instant messages or kisses costs from £9.95 a month to £74.95 per year. A full year’s membership is free to the first 100 people who sign up.

Wapsite of the fortnight

Now we have been known to like a quiet glass of cheap plonk or two, but ordering wine over the web can often be expensive and downright confusing. Well, things couldn’t be much simpler at this new site from Sainsbury’s. Input your choice of type (red/white, etc), region, grape, style and price, and the site presents you with a list of options. Many of the choices have to be bought in multiples of six, but it should only take you a few dark winter evenings to get through them. You get a five per cent discount by buying online and earn Nectar points on your purchases. Delivery isn’t free unfortunately, and is only available between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Bruce Lee Fan Club http://tagtag.com/bleeuk

Articles, videos,

crop of the best new and revamped websites

Paint Quality

Central Park

www.paintquality.co.uk www.centralpark.com Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

books, posters, and more from the king of kung-fu

It’s one of the largest urban parks in the world and has loads to offer as well as trees and nice landscaping. This new site, built to promote the New York landmark, is a must look for people heading to the Big Apple for a quick break. Search by date for events, pick a sport to watch or have a go at (is bird watching really a sport?), or find info about one of the other dozens of attractions. The ability to post your photos is nifty (and of course you can browse other people’s pics too), there are maps to download, and an interesting history section to boot.

19 December 2005

17

Reviews by Quentin Reade,Veronique De Freitas and Toby Earle

Homeowners can get hints on how to paint their home thanks to Paint Quality. This revamped website offers independent and expert advice on all aspects of paint and painting, and has added more images, a health, safety and environment section, plus a trends section. Novice painters will find step-by-step instructions for getting the best results on interior and exterior paint jobs, and a problem-solver feature that covers different painting problems and gives you quick-fix solutions. There is also a handy glossary explaining the terminology of painting and paint ingredients.

BestNewWebsites

We review this fortnight’s

BlogOn C

Fun with Dick and Jane

Throwing Music

www.throwingmusic. com/blog/ Not too long ago the only way to read the thoughts of your favourite music artists was to pick up a copy of the NME, Melody Maker or one of the various and now mostly defunct music monthlies. We’re not so reliant on these sources anymore, especially when the artists themselves choose to publish their own blogs independently. Kristin Hersh, one of indie’s high queens, has taken her cue from blogging superstars like Moby (http://moby.com/ journal) and Limp Bizkit’s uncouth Fred Durst (http:// limpbizkit.com), and has begun writing online. Unlike some of her peers, she’s a complex and intelligent character with stories to tell and her recollections make for surprising reading. She’s fairly new to blogging, but she’s developed a fine style with a unique slant, and her experiences will appeal to both long-term fans and curious newcomers.

C

BlogOff X Factor Blog

http://xfactorblog.co.uk Oh. Dear. Lord. Someone’s taking this glorified karaoke contest very seriously and is keeping far too close an eye on the contestants. You have to concede this site looks snazzy, but does anybody really care what crooning siblings The Conway Sisters have to say for themselves? Go. Away.

18

19 December 2005

Crimestoppers

Travel Rants

www.crimestoppers-uk.org www.travel-rants.com Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Crimestoppers has launched a new website to put the spotlight on the UK’s most wanted crime suspects. To celebrate the launch of Most Wanted website, you can enter a competition and test your detective skills by solving the clues in the Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted Quiz. Click on the Local Crime feature to find out what is going on in your area. Wannabe detectives can click on the UK Most Wanted section and get the list of current police appeals across the country with photographs of the people wanted by the police for questioning.

It’s not the best-looking or easiest to navigate website, but Travel Rants has some great content for anyone nipping abroad. Essentially laid out like a blog, Travel Rants covers a wide-range of subjects – from New York bus fares, to Malta’s bid to increase tourism, and even visiting the remote Pitcairn Islands. There are some good links on the side of the page, covering things such as deep vein thrombosis and travel gadgets, but, because of the blog style, you’ll have to visit here regularly to see what pops up, rather than come here for information on a specific topic.

Girls Aloud

Corrie Blog

www.sonypictures .com/movies/ funwithdickandjane Our rating ★★★★★ If you can’t wait for the release of Jim Carrey’s new film Fun With Dick and Jane – out on 20 January – take a trip to the new official film website. The film is about a couple (played by Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni), who, ruined by the financial collapse of an Enron-like company, turn to armed robbery to maintain their cushy lifestyle. Besides the usual stuff – downloads, trailers, video footage, pictures and production notes – Jim Carrey enthusiasts can play a kickboxing game where you learn to defend yourself without being hit by the other students.

Pet Gadgets

www.girlsaloud.co.uk/ www.corrieblog.tv www.petgadgets.com new/site.php Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Coronation Street mad? Then For the Christmas present for the Girls Aloud are offering aficionados of their ‘music’ an online preview of their new album and videos. To gain full access to the site fans must register first. This lets them enjoy video – including interviews and behind the scenes footage – and chat to other fans via the forum. The shockingly pink website also offers pictures of the girls, as well as dates of their events. While this site is well made, it’s probably one just for the fans.

get along to this site. It’s packed with Corrie info – from what Corrie bits and bobs are being sold on eBay to which pantos the stars are selling their souls to perform in. It can be hard to navigate blogs, but this site is broken into sections – eBay Gum, Episode Reviews, Gossip, Music, News, Sneak Previews and Web/Tech – so it’s easy to find your way around. There really are some gems on here and the ska version of the theme tune is a must-listen.

pet that has everything, head along to this new site. From a Global Pet Finder (which uses GPS technology to report your dog’s location to your mobile, Blackberry, or computer), to a Thirst Alert Water Bowl that lights up when it needs refreshing, this site has it all. And yes, of course it’s American. Pet Gadgets doesn’t actually sell the products (it just redirects you to other sites), but it sure has collected some weird and wonderful things.

Old favourite Shockwave www.shockwave.com Great free games. Yippee, that’s what we like. There

crop of the best new and revamped websites

Giveitamiss World Chess Beauty Contest www.1wcbc.com Our rating ★★★★★

Top Cash Back

Kick Asthma

North Country

www.topcashback.co.uk www.asthma.org.uk/ http://northcountrymovie. Our rating ★★★★★ kickasthma warnerbros.com Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Take a look at this new pricecomparison website before you embark on a post-Christmas shopping spree and claw back some money. Top Cash Back promises to pay back the commission it makes from your purchases if you buy at least £25 worth of goods. The site lists retailers such as Argos, John Lewis, Boots and Shop.com and covers a wide range of products. The site is easy to use and offers plenty of choice for shoppers – you can search products by prices, brands, retailers or by categories.

are even ones to make you think

Kick Asthma is a new site designed to teach people about the small things that can trigger asthma attacks (like putting on too much perfume) as well as provide background information on the disease. Its makers have avoided the preachy route that many medical sites take, using games, message boards and FAQs to spread the word. This is a good site for children who may be struggling to come to terms with their asthma, and beneath its fun exterior is a wealth of information.

North Country, Charlize Theron’s new film, is based on the true story of Josey Aimes, who, after enduring abuse while working as a miner, filed and won a sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States. You can skirt the fancy visual elements of the site if you wish, and watch video clips, hear the soundtrack, or read excerpts from the book from which the film has been adapted. It’s an interesting subject, and no doubt the film will be a corker, but there is, however, nothing here to blow you away.

Now this is just odd. Really odd. In a bid to prove that chess is ‘sexy’ the makers of this site have created an online beauty contest to find the hottest woman chess player. Most of the entrants are from the former Soviet states and the whole thing has ended up looking like a mail-order bride site, with misty glamour shots and bikini photos. A redeeming feature is the posts that allege some of the girls have been cheating – quite classic.

19 December 2005

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FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE

O T S E SIT GE CHAN LIFE YOUR

48

evamp r o t e im t ’s it o re, s e h t s o lm n a y k ’s r s a o e H y e w n e a J n . e b h T he we t f o lp e h e h t h r year e t t e b a 6 0 your life wit 0 2 ake m l il w t a h t s e it finds 48 s

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19 December 2005

FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE

E

very headline in the land is telling you to overhaul your life, job and waistline for the new year. As ever, the internet is on hand to make things easier. Whether your finances need a

boost or you just want to drive a Ferrari, you’ll find a website to help. Read on to find out how the web can change your life for 2006.

ENJOY YOURSELF

1Gorge on exotic food www.epicurious.com

Health warning: do not visit this site when hungry. Its sumptuous pages are stuffed with recipes from the world’s every nook and cranny, plus ingredient info, menus, forums, restaurant news, videos, newsletters and all the tips you need to morph from Burger King into kitchen king. Cost: Free. Also try: 50 Things to Eat Before You Die (www.bbc.co.uk/food).

Become a wine 2connoisseur

www.wine-pages.com Does your wine rack contain a bottle of Lambrusco and two inches of dust? Then it’s time to brush up your Jilly Goolden skills. Tom

BOOST YOUR BODY to dance the tango… 6Learn

www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/ learning …or the jive, or the samba, or the headspinning Viennese waltz. You, too, can wiggle it like Darren Gough with the Beeb’s guide to ballroom and Latin dances, plus a directory of local dance classes. Cost: Free. Also try: The tutorial DVDs from www.learntodance.co.uk.

7

Enter a marathon www.runnersworld.co.uk

Click the Online Race Entry link for a comprehensive list of UK fun-runs and races of all sorts – from 5Ks to 100-mile ultra-marathons. Each race gets a user

Cannavan’s Wine Pages ooze with infectious enthusiasm and offer tasting notes, wine news, dining guides, quizzes and an excellent online wine course. Cost: Free. Also try: Finding an offline wine course (www.decanter.com).

3

Learn home brewing

www.homebrewshop.co.uk

Stocks a huge variety of beermaking kits (lager, stout, ale etc) from big names including Youngs and John Bull, along with wine-making kits and even spirit-making kits for the brave. Cost: John Bull Standard Range Lager kit (40 pints): £6.95

country’s heritage, including your own personal artefacts. The site advises on what to put in a capsule, where to bury it – and how to choose a box that won’t disintegrate after a week underground. Cost: Free.

5Find a date

www.datingdirect.com

With recent research showing that one in 10 people now meet their partner online, it’s no surprise that six million UK singles are currently signed up to online dating sites – two million of them with Dating Direct. Post an ad, lay off the raw onions and enjoy yourself. Cost: Free to post and browse profiles. To contact other members, it’s £9.95 a week or £99.95 a year.

a time capsule 4Make

www.bl.uk/services/npo/ faqtime.html

The National Preservation Office aims to save our

rating, reviews, date and course details, and a link to online entry. Cost: Free. Runner’s World magazine subscriptions cost £26.97 a year.

8Overhaul your diet www.nutrition.org.uk

lentils and lettuce, prepare to be re-educated. A searchable database of 600-plus recipes would whet even Desperate Dan’s appetite, and you’ll also find stacks of info on ditching meat and balancing your diet. Cost: Free.

The British Nutrition Foundation’s website is mercifully un-nannyish – just the facts, ma’am. Find info on what’s in our food and how much of it you should be eating, plus food science info, links and a database of registered dieticians. Cost: Free.

9Get a makeover

www.theglassslipper.co.uk

‘Overhaul your personal style’ with The Glass Slipper’s team of expert personal stylists. It’s a great confidence booster at this time of year – and the vouchers make brilliant gifts. Cost: £250 for a wardrobe overhaul in your home. Also try: The free Virtual Makeover tool at www.makeoversolutions.com.

10Go veggie

www.vegsoc.org

If you thought vegetarians survived on

19 December 2005

21

FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE

IMPROVE YOUR MIND

photo – remember those devastating underground snaps on 7/7? They’re captured by real people and uploaded onto sites like Alfie Dennen’s Moblog. It’s free, easy to join and you can post digital snaps by email or from your phone. Cost: Free.

a worldfamous photographer 15Become www.flickr.com

11

Get a degree www.open.ac.uk

The Open University is now recognised as one of the UK’s top academic institutions. Most courses require no qualifications, and there’s no upper age limit. Search the courses and apply here. Cost: Degrees don’t come cheap, but the site has details on claiming support.

12Boost your CV

www.monster.co.uk/cvchecker

You may have the greatest career history this side of Richard Branson, but if you can’t write a decent CV you won’t get very far. Monster’s professional service will help whether you’re a student, careerchanger or experienced executive. Cost: From £18.95.

13Become a blogger www.blogger.com

Join the new commentariat by starting a blog and posting your musings when you’re bored at work. In a great development for big egos, The Guardian has started quoting bloggers every day. Cost: Free.

Flickr is Moblog with better resolution. If you’ve taken a snap that captures something funny or interesting, stick it on Moblog; if you’ve taken a photograph that makes you ache with artistic pride, post it on Flickr and wait for the flattering comments to roll in. Cost: Free restricted use; £13 a year for unlimited use.

your novel 16Self-publish www.lulu.com

Step 1: Stop dreaming and write something. Step 2: Forget about agents who are only interested in chick-lit, and click here for all the self-publishing tips and resources you need. Cost: Free. Lulu (no, not the Lulu) takes a commission when your books are sold.

17

Be first with the news

www.newzcrawler.com

Download this RSS/Atom news aggregator to gain one-stop access to news content from hundreds of international sources, including newsgroups as well as websites. Also lets you browse full news articles and

search using keywords. Cost: Free 14-day trial, then $24.95 (£14) Also try: Google News email alerts (http://news.google.com).

your darkest secret 18Confess www.postsecret.com

This virtual wailing wall was born last November when artist Frank Warren asked people to send in postcards bearing guilty secrets and scanned in his favourites. Highlights include a staplecovered card bearing the confession: “I save all the staples I pull out at work. They’re in a box in my desk. It weighs over a pound and a half.” Cost: A postcard and snail-mail stamp to Washington DC.

19Make a short film

www.bbc.co.uk/films/ oneminutemovies

When One Minute Movies began a few years ago, its submissions were very hit and miss – but how quickly people learn. Watch some great short films here, and learn how to make and submit your own. Cost: Free to submit.

to Wikipedia 20Contribute www.wikipedia.org

Wiki sites are created and edited by their users – that means anyone who happens to be passing. Wikipedia has grown over the years to offer extensive entries on anything from caterpillars to Richard Whiteley RIP. If you spot a mistake, it’s yours for the correcting. Cost: Free.

14Make the news www.moblog.co.uk

2005 was the year of the camera phone

HOME

21

Sell your house without an agent

www.houseweb.co.uk

The UK’s pioneering property portal has helped people sell their homes without estate agents for 10 years. Its success is no surprise, given the OFT’s recent finding that one in 10 people now sell privately –

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19 December 2005

saving £159m in fees every year. Cost: Sales packages start at a fixed £47, with no commission.

your home decorated for free 22Have www.bbc.co.uk/homes/tv_and_radio

You know all those TV programmes where butch builders and less butch interior designers descend upon someone’s home to beautify it for the cameras? That could be your home, and you won’t pay a penny for the decorating. Try House Invaders (www.bbc.co.uk/

homes/tv_and_radio/hi_index.shtml), DIY SOS (www.bbc.co.uk/homes/tv_and _radio/diysos_form.shtml) and, if you just want your house cleaned for free, Houses Behaving Badly (www.bbc.co.uk/ homes/tv_and_radio/hbb_form.shtml). Cost: Free.

FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE HOME (continued) your living room 23Re-design www.plan3d.com

Plan 3D is the web’s leading home design software, with interior designers and building contractors among its devotees. The download includes a building wizard and thousands of 3D room models for you to dress up. Cost: $2.95 (£3.70) per month.

24

Landscape your garden

www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/ virtualgarden_index.shtml

The BBC’s Virtual Garden application for Windows or Mac is a user-friendly source of inspiration, whether you want to design a new garden from scratch or spruce up the jungle beyond your back door. Cost: Free.

your computer unwanted into a TV and PVR furniture 25Turn 27Swap www.hauppauge.co.uk

www.freecycle.org

Who needs Sky+ anyway? If your PC has a sizeable hard disk and DVD burner, it can be transformed into a Freeview PVR (personal video recorder). Hauppauge is the leading name in digital TV receivers and PVR cards that let you watch TV on your computer, pause live TV and record shows. Cost: Hauppauge WinTVPVR-350 card £113.98 (www.microdirect .co.uk); WinTV-PVRUSB2 plug-in £89.99 (www.dabs.com)

Millions of old dressing tables, beds and kitchen appliances are cluttering up the world’s landfills. Help change this by joining Freecycle (nicknamed ‘Freebay’ by devotees) and swapping unwanted goods rather than throwing them away. Cost: Free.

26

Shared ownership is the latest big noise in the property world, and it could help you if, like so many, your mortgage won’t stretch to a whole flat or house. The Housing Corporation’s site lists local authorities and talks you through the pros and cons. Cost: Free to use. The house, however, is another matter…

Turn your records into CDs

www.wavecor.co.uk Love your vinyl but wish you could add it to your MP3 collection or listen to it on your CD Walkman? The Wave Corrector offers software and instructions for digitising your LPs. Cost: £28.

Get on the 28 property ladder www.housingcorplibrary .org.uk

FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE

AWAY FROM HOME

29

Swap homes with an Aussie

www.homelink.org.uk

Sample a new life abroad with a couple of months in an Aussie house, while its usual occupants keep your sofa warm at home. HomeLink lists 13,500 registered exchange members from all over the world, and has all you need to know about house-swap etiquette. Cost: Annual membership is £115.

Britain’s countryside 30Discover www.walkingbritain.co.uk

Swap your TV remote for walking boots and explore our nation’s fantastic countryside. Walking Britain’s searchable Walks section details dozens of routes covering the UK and Ireland, from comfy urban jaunts to testing Highland treks. Cost: Free.

the world on your PC 31Travel http://earth.google.com

This wonderfully addictive download

SAVE MONEY

creates a virtual globe inside your PC. Type in any Earthly location to get satellite photos that let you explore in high-resolution detail. Cost: Free (requires Windows 2000 or XP and broadband).

32Work abroad www.ciee.org

Teach in China, attend a US high school or even work as an intern (no messing about in the Oval Office, now) with the Council on International Educational Exchange. Opportunities are broad, and they’re not just for students and new graduates. “CIEE does not discriminate on the basis of age,” it says here. Cost: The site is a free resource, but overseas studying can be pricey. Also try: Working in a ski or beach resort (www.seasonworkers.com).

round the world 33Travel

www.fool.co.uk

The polished but irreverent Motley Fool will help you manage your moolah whether you’re a student or an experienced investor. Set up a customised My Fool page, and get advice from the Fool School on matters such as switching bank accounts and remortgaging. Cost: Free. Also try: Finding an Independent Financial Advisor at www.unbiased .co.uk.

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19 December 2005

www.bbc.co.uk/languages Pick up the basics or take a full online course in Portuguese, Greek or Chinese. This excellent resource – yet another one from the Beeb – injects real enjoyment into learning languages, with local slang guides, lingo bingo and more. Cost: Free.

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Keep a travelogue www.trekshare.com

Joseph Kultgen’s site is a travellers’ version of Blogger.com. More than 15,000 members have created their own travel blogs where they share stories, snaps, movies and tips with friends and like-minded travellers while they’re on the road. Cost: Free, or $12.95 (£7) for TrekShare Premium.

www.travel-library.com/rtw/html/faq.html No-one knows round-the-world travel better than rec.travel newsgroup veteran Marc Brosius. His site is an invaluable resource for ‘RTW’ trippers, with info on itineraries, budgeting, destinations, cultures, languages, health and safety. Cost: Site access is free. Round the world tickets, alas, are not… Also try: The interactive route planner at RTW specialist www.travelbag.co.uk.

pay for Save on bills another phone call 38 37Never www.skype.com

your finances 36Overhaul

Learn a new 34 language

Cheaper broadband and user-friendly software have made ‘voice over internet’ (VoIP) an everyday reality, and Skype is king of the VoIP castle. Skype looks like a messaging window on your Desktop and uses peer-to-peer technology to link you with people around the world. Cost: Free to call a Skype contact; from 1.4p/min to any other landline (UK or abroad).

www.switchwithwhich.co.uk

This excellent online service from consumer champs Which? includes interactive tools to help you find a cheaper current account, energy supplier, mortgage or mobile tariff. The site’s mortgage search is particularly good, with constantly-updated details of over 8,000 deals. Cost: Free. Also try: Searching www.switchand give.com for local suppliers’ prices.

FEATURE CHANGE YOUR LIFE GET ETHICAL

over 30 countries – and your useless old mobile can help them. They also sell used printers and ink cartridges to raise cash. Cost: Free to donate.

a rhino 39Adopt

www.rhinos-irf.org

Adopting (well, sponsoring) an animal is an effective way to help wildlife while keeping your hands clean. Click on ‘How You Can Horn In’ (ahem) to join the scheme and help protect Sumatran rhinos from poachers, sickness and habitat destruction. Cost: Whatever you can contribute. Also try: Sponsoring a cat cabin with Cats Protection (www.cats.org.uk).

www.liftshare.com

40Go carbon-neutral www.carbonneutral.com

Now this is our kind of low-carbing. Click on Shopping for tips on energyefficient living, plus gifts including tree adoptions in celeb-endorsed forests. Cost: £10 for a tree in Dominic Monaghan’s Norfolk forest. Also try: Adopting and dedicating a tree with www.woodland-trust.org.uk.

43

www.beonscreen.com

Reality TV wannabes are getting their deserved comeuppance with Space Cadets, but not all real people on the telly are sad attention-seekers – some just fancy a spot of quizzing. This site puts you in contact with TV researchers seeking contestants. Cost: Free, including an update email.

your own radio station 44Run

Brits are reluctant to cut down on car use, but it’s good to share – and could save you lots of petrol money. LiftShare has 95,000 members, who together save 22,793,315 miles a year – that’s 236.1 trips to the moon, or 4,331 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Cost: Free.

Make poverty history with your 41 old mobile phone www.actionaidrecycling.org.uk

This charity works to relieve poverty in

AND FINALLY… LIVE THE DREAM! Be on telly

42Share a lift to work

artistes’, don’t you know. Unlike Mr Gervais you’re not guaranteed a water cooler moment with Kate Winslet, but you could earn a few bob and see your face at the pictures. Includes advice, rates and an agency database. Cost: Free.

a Ferrari at Silverstone 47Drive www.lastminute.com/site/lifestyle/ experiences

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE...

365 amazing websites for 2006!

www.live365.com/help/studio365-win Create your own Live365 broadcast using your audio files and this simple drag-and-drop download. Tools include daily listener logs and the ability to import your Winamp playlists (www.winamp.com). Cost: $9.95 (£5.50) per month.

a street magician 45Become

www.howtodotricks.com/street-magicsecrets.html This site can’t teach you how to make the Statue of Liberty disappear, but it can reveal the secrets of Blainesque street magic tricks like the Card Through Window trick and the masterful Fly Resurrection. Cost: Free.

a film extra 46Become www.hiddenextra.com

Extras? They’re called ‘supporting

Or take the wheel of an F1 racing car, Lamborghini Diablo or championship stock car if you prefer. Lastminute’s Experiences section offers a wealth of life-changing days out – including flying lessons and shark diving if motors aren’t your bag. Cost: From £20 for a makeover to £899 to fly an RAF jet.

48Be a scriptwriter www.simplyscripts.com

This site’s main job is to stock hundreds of free, downloadable movie and TV scripts, but it also lets writers publish their scripts online and gain free exposure. Click Submit Your Script and wait for Spielberg’s call. Cost: Free. Also try: C4’s www.ideasfactory.com for scriptwriting tips.

In a special bumper feature to celebrate the new year, we give you 365 essential websites – one for every day in 2006 ON SALE THURSDAY 5 JANUARY 19 December 2005

25

FEATURE SPYWARE HALL OF SHAME

MOST THE WEB’S WORST

SPYWARE Robert Irvine names and shames the top 10 worst parasites that can infect your PC, and explains how to banish them for good

Image: Warner Bros/The Kobal Collection, Nuts

M

ost web users are now aware of the dangers of spyware and the measures they can take to fight it. Removal tools like Spybot – Search and Destroy (www. safer-networking.org) and AdAware SE Personal (www. lavasoft.com), and programs that prevent installation such as SpywareBlaster (www. javacoolsoftware.com) and Windows AntiSpyware (www. microsoft.com/athome/ security/spyware/software) do a sterling job of keeping our PCs safe. Even so, it’s useful to know of the biggest threats currently lurking on the web, what they can do to your system and what can be done to remove them, should they slip through your security net. We’ve rounded up the 10 nastiest spyware threats to watch out for, some new, some still in circulation after several years. We’ve compiled our findings using information from the Computer Associates Spyware Center (www3.ca .com/securityadvisor/pest), Spyware Guide (www. spywareguide.com), Webroot Software (www.webroot.com), PC Hell (www.pchell.com) and Dox Desk (www.doxdesk.com).

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1 CoolWebSearch How you get it: The most malicious and persistent spyware menace, CoolWebSearch installs itself on your system via websites and pop-ups, especially those of a pornographic nature. The name covers dozens of different browser hijackers, including the notorious About Blank. What it does: Hijacks your web browser, resetting your homepage and adding links to your Favorites list. When you surf the web, it redirects you to its affiliate sites, bombards you with ads and

slows your connection. It can also prevent some anti-spyware software from running on your PC, and causes system errors and crashes. How to remove it: CoolWebSearch’s many variants make it a tricky one to erase with standard anti-spyware tools, but a dedicated removal tool is available called CWShredder. Free to download from www.trendmicro.com/ EVIL cwshredder, this will purge your RATING: system of all traces of the pest and is updated regularly to address new variants as they emerge.

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2 Lop aka C2 How you get it: This nasty family of spyware programs can be installed through ActiveX components in pop-up ads, software downloads such as Messenger Plus and key generators from software piracy sites. What it does: Sets your Internet Explorer homepage to use the site Lop.com (Live Online Portal) or one of its clone sites. May also install an Accessories toolbar, add shortcuts to the Favorites menu, monitor online activity, install a porn dialler, and load other

spyware onto your system. How to remove it: Ad-Aware and Spybot should both remove Lop and its clan from your PC. If you’ve installed Messenger Plus, you may be able to uninstall it via Add or Remove Programs in the EVIL RATING: Windows Control Panel. More info is available at www.doxdesk.com/ parasite/lop.html.

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FEATURE SPYWARE HALL OF SHAME 3 Ezula aka TopText How you get it: Included with downloads of file-sharing programs such as Kazaa and iMesh, and offered as an optional installation by other free software. What it does: Ezula alters all pages viewed in Internet Explorer, adding extra links to words and phrases targeted by advertisers – these are noticeable by their odd colour.

It can also download further spyware and reinstall if not properly removed. How to remove it: Ad-Aware can usually remove Ezula, while you can sometimes uninstall individual components such as TopText, HotText, or ContextPro from the Add or Remove Programs panel. To

clean up the mess Ezula has left on your hard disk and prevent it reinstalling, run Spybot and then follow the instructions EVIL RATING: on this web page: www.whirlywiry web.com/ removeezula.htm.

What it does: Silently monitors your web activity, reporting the pages you visit and information you enter into online forms to its controlling server. It then delivers targeted advertising to your computer in the form of pop-up ads. How to remove it: As

Transponder has many variants and installs itself in your Windows system folder, it is very difficult to remove and requires unregistering and deleting EVIL RATING: specific files. Detailed instructions are provided at www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ transponder.html.

9

4 Transponder aka VX2 How you get it: Also known as VX2, Transponder spreads in a number of ways, though most commonly via pop-up ads, including a certain strain that invites you to click on them in order to download a pop-up killer.

8

5 ISTbar How you get it: As ISTbar is an ActiveX control, it can install itself automatically on your PC when you visit one of its affiliated sites. Variants and aliases include TinyBar, SearchBarCash and AUpdate. What it does: Hijacks your browser, adding its own toolbar and search engine and resetting the homepage. It also

generates pop-up ads, often containing porn, and installs additional spyware. How to remove it: You may be able to uninstall ISTbar via the Add or

Remove Programs panel. In any case, besides running Ad-Aware and Spybot, download and run the free tool FxIstbar (with a capital i) EVIL from http://security RATING: response.symantec. com/avcenter/ FxIstbar.exe.

components in pop-up adverts. What it does: Looks for known keywords in the web pages you visit, and opens targeted pop-up ads based on them from its server. Also adds shortcut icons to the Start menu and Desktop, and allows your web activities to

be monitored. How to remove it: N-Case is a real pain to uninstall as it runs automatically on Windows startup. Follow the instructions at www. pchell.com/support/ncase .shtml to send this gremlin on its way.

8

6 N-Case How you get it: This annoying piece of adware is bundled with a large range of programs, including file-sharing software and free games. It can also be installed by ActiveX

EVIL RATING:

8

7 Gator aka GAIN aka Claria How you get it: Gator – also known as GAIN Network or Claria – is usually bundled with free software, especially peer-to-peer programs, but can also be installed by clicking on affiliated websites

and pop-up adverts. What it does: Displays pop-up ads in your browser and opens additional windows as you surf the web, as well as monitoring your web activity.

How to remove it: Ad-Aware and Spybot will both blitz this pest from your PC, whatever name it goes by. You may be able to uninstall some of the products it contains, such as eWallet and EVIL RATING: Weatherscope, via Add or Remove Programs.

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19 December 2005

27

FEATURE SPYWARE HALL OF SHAME

8 Look2Me

Hijack This How to remove it: Download and run Symantec’s Look2Me removal tool from http:// securityresponse.symantec .com/avcenter/FxSpL2Me .exe. You should also run Spybot and EVIL RATING: Ad-Aware to clean up any other malware it may have installed.

How you get it: Installs itself on your system when you visit any site affiliated with the Look2Me Advertising and Information Network. What it does: Monitors the websites you visit and submits the logged information to a server. It also downloads several other adware and spyware threats.

7

9 Internet Optimizer aka DyFuCa What it does: Hijacks the error page that appears when you mistype a web address or a page is not available, redirecting you to its own controlling server. It also opens pop-up windows to display ads from affiliated sites. How to remove it: If you’re lucky, you might be able to uninstall EVIL Internet Optimizer via the Add or RATING: Remove Programs panel. If not, see the in-depth solution outlined at www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ internetoptimizer.html.

7

10 WebHancer How you get it: Reportedly installed on 10 million computers worldwide, WebHancer is usually bundled with free music or filesharing software and lets you choose whether to install it. What it does: Should you install, you’ll be rewarded with a delightful program that not only tracks and reports back on every site you visit but will destroy your web

Where does spyware come from?

Russia 18%

‘Other’ includes: UK 3%, Germany 3%, Netherlands 2%,Brazil 2% and France 1%.

Other 26% Source: Webroot (www.webroot.com)

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Worldwide average 17.4

Source: Webroot (www.webroot.com)

UK 18.1

Poland 12%

Countries with most spyware infections

US 24.4

China 13%

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(spies per PC)

US 31%

connection if you remove it incorrectly. How to remove it: The latest version of Ad-Aware should be sufficient to uninstall WebHancer safely. You can also download a removal EVIL tool from http:// RATING: securityresponse. symantec.com/ avcenter/ FixWebHancer.exe.

Thailand 18.7

How you get it: This irritating error page hijacker is downloaded to your computer through ActiveX objects embedded in web pages and pop-up ads.

The ever-evolving nature of spyware means that one solution rarely applies to every computer, with the level of infection differing greatly between PCs. However, a program called Hijack This from www. tomcoyote.org/hjt can tell you exactly which rogue items are lurking on your PC, including those undetected by Spybot or Ad-Aware. As Hijack This looks deep into your computer’s Registry and has the potential to remove important system files, it’s wise to seek expert advice before making any changes. You can do this by posting a log of what Hijack This finds on your computer to a dedicated web forum, such as our own board at www. webuser.co.uk/hijackthis.

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FEATURE CHARITY AND VOLUNTEER WORK

CHARITY begins online

More and more people are turning to volunteering and charity work to boost their career, enrich their soul – or just give them something to do in their spare time. Jane Hoskyn reveals the sites that will get you started

BEST SITES FOR... Finding local voluntary work

Do-It www.do-it.org.uk If you ever thought volunteering was drudge work for bored housewives, Do-It will put you straight. This lively site was launched in 2001 as the first UK-wide database of volunteer jobs, and has since helped thousands of people of all ages to learn a new skill and give something back to the community. To find out what’s available in your area, just enter your postcode and select an interest, from Animals to Women’s Groups. It’s all free, including the online e-zine and info for newcomers to volunteering. And if you really get the bug, click Volunteering Overseas for advice and links to agencies including Médecins Sans Frontières and Raleigh International. TimeBank www.timebank.org.uk Click the Volunteer link, register for free, and TimeBank

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will match your skills and interests to local posts. Once you’ve signed up you can chat online with other volunteers, ask the TimeBank experts to answer your questions and track the progress of projects you’ve signed up for. This is a vibrant, friendly site that makes you feel as though you’re needed, whatever your skills.

Community Service Volunteers www.csv.org.uk CSV was founded in 1962 by Mora and Alec Dickson, who also founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Among this site’s hundreds of volunteering opportunities are placements in areas of special interest, such as the environment or media, whether you have previous experience or not. Click Volunteer for full-time, part-time or weekend opportunities in whichever area takes your fancy.

BEST SITES FOR... Finding voluntary work abroad Volunteering England www.volunteering.org.uk Like Do-It, this site from England’s volunteer development agency offers both UK and overseas opportunities. Despite its name, it’s very useful for finding placements abroad, with a Volunteering Overseas section that includes a database of around 100 UK agencies. For each agency there’s a brief description of the work offered, and a quick browse reveals a whole range of short- and long-term placements on projects as diverse as wildlife conservation in South Africa and construction work in Bangladesh.

VSO www.vso.org.uk Competition for placements with Voluntary Service Overseas is fierce, and you need a proven skill such as nursing or teaching IT. The two main volunteer sections are Volunteer Jobs (professional

placements of around two years) and Youth Volunteering. You can apply online, and if you fit the bill you could work in one of over 30 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. The site also has an events diary and a Giving section for donations. Oxfam International www.oxfam.org/eng The Get Involved section lists all current opportunities to work abroad for Oxfam. As with VSO, a proven skill is a big advantage. If there are no placements available when you visit, sign up for the e-newsletter to be first in line for any new opportunities. To find volunteer work in the UK, go to www.oxfam.org.uk and click What You Can Do.

FEATURE CHARITY AND VOLUNTEER WORK

BEST SITES FOR... Raising money online and invite people to donate online. JustGiving will collect the funds and dispatch them to your chosen charity. Over 95,000 people have raised more than £30m for 1,200 charities this way.

JustGiving www.justgiving.com This site is the biggest thing to happen in fundraising since Sir Jimmy Savile took up running. If you’re up for a sponsored event, build your own page here

eFundraising www.efundraising.org This site, run by the Charities Aid Foundation, is designed to help fundraisers raise taxeffective cash online and reach a potential audience of millions. Register to create a free profile on GiveNow.org (www.givenow.org) and AllAboutGiving.org (www. allaboutgiving.org), where your listing will include a mission statement, your contact details

and any news updates that you want to share with the world. FunderFinder www.funderfinder.org.uk IT-savvy FunderFinder creates software to help individual fundraisers and non-profit UK organisations find sources of cash. The site also has loads of info about online fundraising and donations.

HOW TO...

VOLUNTEER TO TEACH ABROAD Teaching and Projects Abroad (www.teaching-abroad.co.uk) Includees places paying volunteers in work experience projects in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Programmes cover a large number of specialities including teaching, medicine and archaeology.

VOLUNTEER FROM HOME Online Volunteering (www.onlinevolunteering.org)

Provide hands-on help in a developing country – without leaving your desk. This UN-run site recognises that vital work such as translation, research and even mentoring can be done from your own PC. Simple but brilliant.

FIND CHARITY EVENTS CharitiesDirect (www.charitiesdirect.com) Searchable calendar of UK fundraising events, with links to host charities. Also try

BUY A CHARITY E-CARD CharitEcards (www.charitecards.com) Send an unlimited number of e-cards for £10 a year – and your chosen charity will receive a donation of £7.80 (or the full £10 if you tick the gift aid box).

Runner’s World (www. runnersworld.co.uk), which has a massive database of global charity sports events.

VOLUNTEER FOR FESTIVALS – AND GET IN FREE

Tickets sold out, can’t afford it or just want to see your favourite festival from a new angle? Festivals are full of volunteering opportunities, and you get a free ticket in return. A cash deposit is normally required. A few festivals, such as the Hay literary festival (www.hay festival.com/2005/friends.asp), appeal for volunteers online. But Glastonbury (www.glastonbury festivals.co.uk), the V Festival (www.vfestival.com) and others tend to recruit trained stewards from Oxfam (www.oxfam.org. uk/stewards) and Cafod (www. cafod.org.uk). Thirsty workers may prefer the Workers Beer Company (www.workersbeer. co.uk). The Samaritans (www. samaritans.org) also provides training for festival volunteers, and trained first-aiders should try Festival Medical (www.festivalmedical.co.uk) or St John’s Ambulance (www.sja.org.uk).

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FEATURE

T N I

POINT-AND-CLICK GAMES

O P

CLICK ADVENTURES AND

As the craze for point-andclick games spreads across the web, Nik Taylor tackles eight of the best

Point and what? Point-and-click games are puzzle-solving adventures that require you to click around for clues to help you progress. Solving the best games involves logical deductions, but you can also adopt a random-clicking, trial-and-error approach (that’s what we do, anyway). These are our favourite eight games, in order of the time it took us to complete.

1 The Mystery of Time and Space

2 The Casino

www.albartus.com/motas Time taken to complete: 120 mins This headscratcher plays upon a popular point-and-click riff – escape from a room in which you’re inexplicably locked. The twist here is that once you manage to get out, you find yourself in another room, and yet another…

www.anodeetcathode.net/ games/casino Time taken to complete: 90 mins A superb slice of Gallic oddness from expert developers Anode and Cathode. This challenges you to piece together the clues lying around a casino populated by monkeys and Frenchmen.

5 Swan’s Room

6 Shift

http://mofuya.com/flash/ swan _ en.htm Time taken to complete: 35 mins Gah! Stuck in a room again! Swan’s Room gives the old ‘escape the room’ theme something of a makeover with a collection of conundrums that manage to avoid falling too far into the bewilderingly cryptic category.

www.hot.ee/playshift/extreme1.htm Time taken to complete: 30 mins This is a deeply strange little game that’s also plenty of fun. Your central character is a small, blue fellow who flies around an enchanted garden. The rather trippy puzzles involve tasks such as playing tunes on magic mushrooms in order to turn on the lights.

Still want more?

Sites that list point-and-click games: Lazylaces www.lazylaces.com/ default.asp?c=Games Links to loads of games can be found tucked among all the other bloggy stuff.

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Gamershood www.gamershood.com/ list.php?id=4&p=1 Spectacularly long list of games. Fasco-CS www.fasco-csc.com More adventures from the makers of Crimson Room.

3 Submachine: Extended Version http://freegameplayer.com/ games/submachine Time taken to complete: 80 mins Beneath the blocky graphics of this submarinebased puzzler lie some brainteasers of real complexity.

4 The Goat in

the Grey Fedora www.otterarchives .com/bounty2/ bounty2.html Time taken to complete: 45 mins A stylish effort, with some comic-style graphics and a ‘private dick’ story. However, a fair bit of time is taken up by listening to the characters talking.

7 La Piedra De Anamera www.minijuegos.com/juegos/html/ index.php?id=2299 Time taken to complete: 30 mins Creep around an abandoned children’s asylum in an ill-advised attempt to uncover its dark secrets. Turn down the lights and turn up the

atmospheric sound effects for this one – it will make you jump…

8 Crimson Room

but newcomers will still find it devilishly tricky.

www.fasco-csc.com/works/ crimson/crimson _ e.php Time taken to complete: 25 mins The point-and-click game that started the craze, Crimson Room has been the inspiration for all the later puzzlers that contain everything within a single room. This one’s a few years old now,

Mybroadband By Andrew Ferguson [email protected]

Broadbanduser News, views and reviews from the world of broadband

New year, new broadband? broadbandbookmarks

C

hristmas is upon us and it’s time to reflect on 2005, a year during which the UK saw massive progress in the broadband arena. Many more phone exchanges now offer ADSL compared to last year, with the 100 or so remaining ones slowly being enabled. Of course broadband is far from being just ADSL supplied by BT Wholesale. The two cable providers NTL and Telewest have merged in the last 12 months, and now offer up to 10Mbps connections. Providers installing their own kit in the BT exchanges such as HomeChoice, Bulldog, Be and UK Online are offering speeds of up to 8Mbps and even 24Mbps in some cases. To realise how different things in the UK are now, look back to 12 months ago when BT Wholesale was in the middle of its Home 2000 (2Mbps) product trial, then look at this Christmas when BT is testing services running at up to 8Mbps. This trial may also bring slightly higher speeds to people who can only get 512Mbps and 1Mbps connections at present. However, this still leaves us some way behind countries such as South Korea and Japan where 50Mbps and 100Mbps connections are not uncommon, and we’re unlikely to see that kind of speed on offer in the UK during 2006. As for myself, I enjoyed a 2Mbps connection for most of the last 12 months, with my old exchange offering HomeChoice and its higher speeds. Alas having recently moved to a much smaller exchange area – 3,000 telephone lines as opposed to 20,000 lines – it is unlikely providers such as Be and Bulldog will spend the money bringing these faster services to my new location. This picture is likely to be the one repeated all over the UK: those living in large towns and cities will have the choice of several connection types, but millions will be left with BT-based services as the only option. So I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Good New Year and look forward to more progress on broadband speeds in 2006.

COMEDY WEBSITES

It’s cold, dark and the weather is miserable. If you’re suffering from the winter blues, enjoy a good, hearty chuckle with help from these comedy websites

BBC Comedy www.bbc.co.uk/comedy The BBC is really spoiling us with its Comedy website, offering tons of video clips from its comedy classics. Snippets feature from more than 100 TV shows including Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Dad’s Army, Little Britain and The Office and you can also find interviews with some of the stars and audio clips of theme tunes.

The BBC’s bustling Comedy site features clips from its classic shows

Jongleurs

Comedy Central

www.jongleurs.com

www.comedycentral.com

Watch an array of audio and video clips of performances at Jongleurs Comedy Clubs on subjects ranging from drink to animals. Shame the clips are squashed into a small TV screen.

US cable TV channel Comedy Central has a busy website offering a good smattering of clips and games, from shows including South Park. Some clips will not be to everyone’s tastes.

A - Z of broadband ISPs Nildram www.nildram.net Broadband 500

Broadband 2Go

Broadband 2

500Kbps, £19.99 a month, includes 25GB ‘fair use limit’ at peak hours, free set-up and onemonth contract.

2Mbps, £15.99 a month, includes 2.5GB monthly download limit, £47 set-up fee or free if migrating from other ISP.

2Mbps, £25.99 a month, includes 25GB ‘fair use limit’ at peak hours, £47 set-up fee or free if migrating from other ISP.

OneTel www.onetel.uk Standard

London Underground map www.jstott.me.uk/ googlemaps/tubemap Showing the real layout of the Tube on a Google Map, this is a great way to see where the trains are rumbling away beneath your feet.

What On Earth? Our regular pick of the best extras for Google Earth and Google Maps

Leisure

Total

2Mbps, £19.99 2Mbps, £24.99 a 2Mbps, £29.99 a month, no month, no a month, 2GB download limit. download limit. monthly Unlimited phone Unlimited download limit. calls at all times.* weekend and Unlimited weekend phone evening phone calls.* calls.* *To UK landlines beginning with 01 or 02.

Get the full A-Z at www.webuser.co.uk/broadband

For the latest broadband deals turn to page 72

19 December 2005

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Sitefinder

SEEING STARS?

By Jane Bamforth

Is there something out there? Yes! Lots of fascinating astronomy websites

Just star-ting out?

www.bbc.co.uk/science/space If you’re not sure what astronomy is (the scientific study of the individual celestial bodies and of the universe as a whole) then this is the place to find out more. There are sky maps and accompanying notes to keep you updated every month, plus a detailed constellation guide to help explore the shapes and stories behind them. There’s also a fascinating space gallery to view pictures from all over the world. If you’re tempted to buy a telescope check out the advice from one of the world’s most famous astronomers, Patrick Moore. And if you get lost then simply click on the A-Z guide to find your way back. Also includes details of clubs and planetaria in the UK.

Reach for the stars

The main man

Why not become an astronomer? From which GCSEs to choose to the best university courses, there’s plenty of useful career advice here.

Patrick Moore is a television legend and has been presenting The Sky at Night since 1957. Read an interview with him here.

For professionals…

Total eclipse 2006

www.ras.org.uk

http://tinyurl.com/cqq8d

The Royal Astronomical Society is the UK’s leading professional body for astronomy. Worth looking at even if you’re new to the subject for the ‘library information sheets’.

On 29 March 2006, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible from Earth. NASA has it fully covered here, with maps, diagrams and loads of technical info.

And for amateurs…

The Royal Observatory

The British Astronomical Association’s site has plenty to offer. Sections range from news and views to countrywide meetings – a must for keen amateurs.

Find out what’s happening at The Royal Observatory, Greenwich. There are also fact files, an astronomy information service and details of learning opportunities.

www.schoolsobservatory.org. uk/astro/career/

www.zone-sf.com/patrickmoore .html

www.britastro.org

www.rog.nmm.ac.uk

Observations listings

For younger astronomers

www.theastronomer.org/ whats_new.html

www.dustbunny.com/afk

There’s plenty to keep young stargazers (‘and supervised adults’) interested here. From sky maps to constellations and the planets, plus astronomy postcards to send.

Find out what’s been spotted and where – the Astronomer Group aims to publish all astronomical observations as soon as possible.

On the other hand…Look down not up

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A great day out

Get into geology

www.jb.man.ac.uk/viscen

www.bgs.ac.uk/britainbeneath

Find out more about the Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre in Cheshire, home to the world famous Lovell Radio Telescope and the Jodrell Bank Observatory, at this website.

Find out about what’s happened beneath your feet to form Britain as we know it today, at this site from the British Geological Survey.

Sainsbury’s addicts, pay attention: a new card from American Express rewards you with Nectar points every time you use it, even when you’re buying from non-Nectar outlets. I thought Barclaycard did that already? It did, but not any more. Amex has swooped into the gap left by Barclaycard’s withdrawal from Nectar to offer a better deal than its rival did. Now you get four points for every £1 spent in a partner or online store – two points from Amex, and two points from the retailer. What about if you use the card in other shops? You still get points, but it’s only one for every £1 spent. What’s the interest rate like? Its annual percentage rate (APR) is 12.9, which is extremely competitive – Barclaycard, the Halifax One Card and Virgin Retail Card all have a standard APR of 15.9 per cent. However with Amex Nectar you don’t get a 0 per cent transfer offer. The transfer rate is 5.9 per cent for the life of any transferred balance. Any disadvantages? Amex still has a long way to go before it’s as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. But I always shop at Tesco. Then this may not be the card for you. If you don’t use Nectar outlets very much, you’re better off with a cashback credit card that rewards you with pounds rather than points.

Cashpoints We comb the web for tips on stashing, splashing and making more cash

shoppingchallenge What we’re shopping for

Samsung SM910MP TV Each issue we scour the net to find the best deals on a popular product such as this HD-ready LCD. If you’ve got a challenge, let us know The Samsung SyncMaster 910MP, to give it its full name, is a beautifully lightweight 19in LCD TV and PC screen that’s all ready to display High Definition TV pictures when they arrive next year. The screen is very slim and lightweight, weighing in at under 6kg, but has an integrated TV tuner and stereo speakers, as well as Teletext and a remote control. Find out more at www.samsung.co.uk.

Currys www.currys.co.uk

Brightspark

SAVED MONEY

£87.76

Great business ideas online

Love Horse www.lovehorse.co.uk Love Horse is one of five dating sites set up by amateur pilot Ben Lovegrove, who wanted to bring like-minded obsessives together. “What all horse lovers want is someone who truly understands their passion,” says Ben. “Someone whose favourite shop is the local agricultural store, and who’ll take it for granted you’ll march with the Countryside Alliance.” Ben’s other dating sites are www.lovesail.co.uk, www.loveair.co.uk, www.loveyoga. co.uk and www.loveandlearn.co.uk.

9 9 . 9 9 £2

WE T S BE

winner

E RIC P B

£38 7.75

AMEX NECTAR CREDIT CARD www.americanexpress.com/uk/ nectar

HIGH -STR EET PRIC E

Moneysaver

Komplett www.komplett.co.uk Basic price: £309 Delivery charge: £6 Claimed delivery time: 2-3 days How to pay: Visa/Delta/ Mastercard/Maestro/Solo

TOTAL PRICE: £315

This quality website from the high-street electrical giant has a huge range of stock, from tiny MP3 players to American enormo-fridges. Navigation and check-out are quick and easy, and in our experience customer service is excellent. The site also includes buying guides, 29-day home trials on selected products and a money-saving partnership with Napster. Basic price: £299.99 Delivery charge: Free Claimed delivery time: 5 working days Returns: 14 days from delivery How to pay: Visa/Delta/Mastercard/ Maestro/Amex/Diners

Ebuyer www.ebuyer.com Basic price: £314.54 Delivery charge: £6.49 Claimed delivery time: 3 working days

Savastore www.savastore.com Basic price: £323.83 Delivery charge: £5.70 Claimed delivery time:

How to pay: Visa/Delta/

3 working days

Electron/Mastercard/ Maestro/Solo TOTAL PRICE: £321.03

How to pay: Visa/Delta/

Next issue: The best price for a Lord of the Rings Trilogy DVD box set

Mastercard/Maestro/Solo TOTAL PRICE: £329.53

19 December 2005

35

Make it a PIPEX Christmas Make PIPEX Broadband top of your list of Christmas essentials this coming season! From FREE home phone calls to a FREE Golf lesson, the PIPEX Christmas Special has something for all the family. This superfast 2Mb broadband package is just £14.99 a month and includes 2 months of free broadband, a free modem, free set-up and 500 minutes of inclusive home phone calls every month.* And if that's not enough, we have also included some great stocking fillers:

• Free Golf lesson • Free Makeover • Free Family Portrait • Free Anti-virus and Firewall for 12 months 1 month’s unlimited access to 1.6m+ music tracks • Free So get your Christmas wrapped up early and order your own PIPEX Special today, offer ends 23rd December.

www.pipex.com Orders for broadband placed after 10th December may not be activated in time for Christmas. Free gifts are subject to promotional availability. 12 months minimum contract required. Broadband is subject to availability. BT or similar line required. Free set-up and modem applies to new customers only. Prices include VAT and are for payments by Direct Debit (otherwise add £1). Terms and Conditions apply, see www.pipex.com. * Local and national numbers starting with 01 and 02.

This fortnight’s new music, film, TV, games and sport downloads Edited by Daniel Booth ([email protected])

19 Dec 2005 – 4 Jan 2006

What to download and where to find it Kylie Minogue Download-only single (audio) Available: Christmas Day From: www.kylie.com How’s this for an overload of Christmassy campness? On 25 December Kylie is releasing a live version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, that show-stopping highlight of the yuletide perennial The Wizard of Oz. It was recorded earlier this year at London’s Earl’s Court during her Greatest Hits tour, with Kylie singing while perched on a glittering crescent moon suspended above the audience (we did say it was camp). The single, which costs 99p to download, is backed by Kylie’s version of Marilyn Monroe’s festive classic Santa Baby. Video clips and audio excerpts of the show – each costing 99p to download – are already available from Kylie’s official site, including performances of Better the Devil You Know, Spinning Around and Can’t Get You Out of my Head

Music

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Download 12 special podcasts by Ricky Gervais, watch online Christmas Day concerts by The White Stripes and U2, plus unsigned bands

Sport

40

Follow live video coverage of Boxing Day horse-racing, catch up on the Dakar Rally and watch highlights of non-league football online

Games

41

Play downloadable demos for Quake 4 and TOCA Race Driver 3, plus new game Beseiger and the latest extras for Doom 3 and Codename: Panzers

Film & TV

42

Watch interviews and clips from movies The Producers, Brokeback Mountain, and Just Like Heaven, plus the best short films online

19 December 2005

37

MUSIC

Where to find this fortnight’s best music do downlo wnloads ads

Ricky at the ready Ricky Gervais Podcasts (audio) FREE Available: Now From: www.guardian.co.uk/ rickygervais If you’ve ever listened to Ricky Gervais’s XFM radio shows, you’ll know how hilariously he can dissect life’s big questions, treating the trivial and the serious with a surreal, infectious humour. His most recent XFM shows, broadcast this summer, have already been available as podcasts, and now 12 specially recorded 30minute podcasts have been made exclusively for the Guardian Unlimited website. In the run of weekly shows, which started earlier this month, Gervais is joined by his long-term collaborator Stephen Merchant (co-writer of The Office) and hysterically deadpan radio producer Karl Pilkington.

Audio books New spoken-word highlights from Audible (www.audible.co.uk)

£24.99

£6.49

≥ Fiction The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown (read by Jeff Harding) 17hr The mega-selling book phenomenon, soon to be a film starring Tom Hanks. ≥ Autobiography No Room for Secrets – Joanna Lumley (read by Joanna Lumley) 2hr 40min Experimental account of the star’s life, with each chapter set in a room of her house.

Unsigned bands ZUCCHINI – Nick Berry FREE www.zucchinimusic.com From: Hastings Sounds like: A head-banging, cider-guzzling rocker having his heart broken for the first time. No idea what it’s got to do with the Heartbeat actor, though. It’s far too noisy for the residents of Aidensfield. Sample lyric: “It feels like I’m born again / I’ll fly on broken wings for you ”

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19 December 2005

Get the latest

Christmas Day Concerts Live gigs (audio) FREE Available: 8pm-9pm, Christmas Day From: www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/mdh If you need rescuing from an evening of James Bond movies and family arguments, check out this hour-long live double-header. First up is The White Stripes’ sensational headline performance from the Pyramid stage at this summer’s Glastonbury. Trying to follow the ferocious Detroit duo will be U2, with a live performance recorded during their 1993 Zooropa world tour, when Bono would cavort onstage in his full MacPhisto pomp. Both gigs will be remain online for a week after broadcast, so don’t worry if you miss them by slumping asleep in a sherryinduced haze.

updates at www.webuser.co.uk/downloaded

MUSIC Blast from the past Music on the move DEAN MARTIN – For Once in my Life (video) FREE www.deanmartin.it Hit the ‘Dino On Television’ link to watch several vintage clips of the legendary singer crooning through the classics, including this duet with Smokey Robinson. Suggested by Web User reader Tony Dawson, from Northampton. If you’ve spotted a Blast From The Past online you want to share with the world, email us at [email protected]

Not everyone has the time to burn their favourite MP3s onto CD so they can be played out loud on a hi-fi. With this new accessory from Belkin you can stream songs directly from your iPod to your stereo, wherever you are in the house. The TuneStage uses Bluetooth technology to transmit music from up to 10 metres away from the receiver, regardless of walls, ceilings or windows. Wirelessly connected, the iPod then serves as a remote control and, as the unit draws power directly from the player, no extra batteries or cables are needed. Priced at £99.99, you can find out more about the TuneStage at www.belkin.com.

Podcast pick MuggleCast www.mugglecast.com When Muggles start talking about Harry Potter, not even Lord Voldemort can stop them. These podcasts contain infectiously enthusiastic babblings from Potter fans at MuggleNet – one of the best sites for Hogwarts information. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of debate and reviews on the current movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Also online CAT POWER Available: Now Hear the title track from Cat Power’s new album The Greatest, out early next year. From: www.filter-mag.com/ media/interior.505.html FRANZ FERDINAND Download-only tracks (audio) FREE Available: Now Download two live versions of Franz Ferdinand’s latest single Walk Away from their official site. The tracks were recorded at gigs in Glasgow and London. From: www.franzferdinand.co.uk MARTHA WAINWRIGHT Live session (audio) FREE Available: 1pm-3pm, Christmas Day The cult singer-songwriter performs tracks from her eponymous debut album and a selection of Christmas carols. The session will be available online for seven days after the broadcast. From: www.bbc.co.uk/6music

Get the latest

GORILLAZ Mix session (audio) FREE Available: 9pm-11pm, Christmas Day A two-hour DJ mix from the cartoon phenomenon. Stays live online for a further seven days. From: www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ shows/6mix THE STROKES Album preview FREE Available: Boxing Day Hear the New York band’s third album, First Impressions of Earth, a week before it hits the shops. Only available to Napster subscribers. From: www.napster.co.uk

updates at www.webuser.co.uk/downloaded

19 December 2005

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SPORT

Where to find this fortnight’s best sports downloads

Boxing Day Racing Live video coverage Available: Mon 26 Dec From: www. attheraces.com Boxing Day is, of course, a time for leftover turkey and old James Bond films. However, in the sporting world 26 December is famous for its horseracing, with meets taking place all over Britain. You don’t have to head to a freezing cold racecourse to have a festive flutter though. Instead, gather the family around the PC to watch live coverage from Sedgefield, Towcester and Wolverhampton on At The Races. It costs £9.99 per month.

Non-league football

Dakar Rally

Video clips FREE Available: From Sat 31 Dec From: www.eurosport.com/ rallyraid While the rest of us are sleeping off our New Year’s Eve over-indulgences, a brave legion of off-road drivers will be embarking on the gruelling Dakar Rally. Kicking off in Lisbon on 31 December, the epic driving

event passes through seven countries before reaching its destination on 15 January. Eurosport pulls out all the stops for its TV coverage of this, and a trip to its website will find free video clips of race highlights and driver interviews. Check the official Dakar website (www. dakar.com) to access an interactive route map.

WORLD OF SPORT

Injury time

Handball FREE www.eurohandball.com Somewhere between basketball and football lies the sport of handball, which is popular throughout Europe (give or take the British Isles). A stack of videos here will get you up to speed on how the game is played. Banish those winter blues by checking out the latest version of the game – beach handball.

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19 December 2005

Get the latest

Video highlights FREE Available: Now From: www. conferencefootball.tv The football programme goes into overdrive during the festive period, with matches coming thick and fast for all teams. Get a taster of life beyond the football leagues by visiting the official site of the Nationwide Conference. Video highlights of the latest games are on the front page, but you can also watch footage from any Conference match going back to the start of last season in the archive. Best of all, none of it will cost you a bean.

Le Parkour FREE www.screwgravity .com/videos Le Parkour – more commonly known as free running – involves various energetic types running around town centres and pulling off the kind of acrobatics rarely seen outside the circus. These videos are of excellent quality – keep an eye out for the gravity-defying wall running.

updates at www.webuser.co.uk/downloaded

GAMES

Where to find this fortnight’s best games downloads

Quake 4 From: www.3dgamers.com/games/quake4/ downloads (Demo) FREE There’s been lots of debate about the recently released fourth installment of Quake – is it a gloriously simple old-school shooter, or a dull and linear throwback? Now you can find out for yourself by downloading the demo, which includes a single-player mission lifted from the beginning of the game, along with two multiplayer maps.

Besieger

TOCA Race Driver 3 From: www. worthdownloading .com/game.php?gid =1613 (Demo) FREE TOCA 3 is aiming to be the complete racing simulation when it’s released on Friday 24 February. It tackles everything from go-karts through to F1 cars, with realistic physics and a detailed damage model to produce those allimportant spectacular crashes. This demo lets you qualify and race three laps in a Honda Civic at Donnington.

From: www.metaboli.co.uk (Full Game) Fee: Available as part of a £12.95 monthly subscription Besieger is a real-time strategy (RTS) game with a difference – as the name suggests, it’s all about siege mechanics. The idea is that you build up your home fortress, while recruiting an army to besiege the opposition’s. It’s a decent attempt at a variation on the typical RTS, with a considerable level of strategic depth that will keep you playing.

Game extras New levels, gameplay, content

CODENAME: PANZERS PHASE TWO V1.06 www.worthdownloading.com/game.php? gid=1169 There’s lots to get excited about with this patch, which offers eight new multiplayer maps and a co-operative play mode for the single-player missions.

FREE

DUNGEONDOOM 7.0XP (for Doom 3 Resurrection of Evil) http://dungeondoom.planetdoom. gamespy.com/download.htm Described as Diablo meets Doom, this RPG mod lets you boost your character rating by exploring randomly generated dungeons.

Game previews

SPELLFORCE 2 FREE www.3dgamers.com/games/spellforce2/ downloads This sequel to SpellForce is a strategy and role-playing hybrid that is shaping up to be even more polished than the original. The latest trailer boasts two minutes of highresolution footage.

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FILM & TV

Where to find this fortnight’s best film downloads

All Reich on the night The Producers (interviews and clips) FREE Available: Mon 26 Dec From: www.mymovies.net Zany is a much-maligned word, but it’s really one of the few adjectives that can be used to describe Mel Brooks’ comic masterpiece about two crooked Broadway producers (Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) who stage a Nazithemed flop to make a quick buck. The leads reprise their roles from the awardwinning musical and are joined by Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell to power this deranged and deeply funny comedy to new heights. Rude, politically incorrect and all the better for it.

Top Trailer TOP FILM TRAILERS Jarhead FREE UK release date: 13 Jan, 2006 www.jarheadmovie.com Set to be this generation’s Full Metal Jacket, Sam Mendes (American Beauty) directs Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx in this tale of a young man’s experiences in the US Marines during the first Gulf War.

Online TV treats Banana TV FREE www.bananatv.com Take your pick from a range of shows from this online broadcaster that includes topics as diverse as UFOs, Shakespeare and dog training. There’s even a video diary by one of Ozzy Osbourne’s kids – well, he says his dad is Ozzy.

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Brokeback Mountain (interviews and clips) FREE Available: Fri 30 Dec From: www.mymovies.net A heavyweight drama directed by Ang Lee ( The Hulk, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as two gay cowboys who share a complex, forbidden relationship.

NEXT ISSUE Woody Allen’s new film Match Point and Stephen Rea in Breakfast on Pluto

Get 6 issues of Web User for only £1 – see page 54 for details

FILM & TV Short films FREE & Bullwinkle: 1Rocky Completely Lost

www.atomfilms.com/af/content/ rocky_bullwinkle_2?afhomeclick track=FS2 US cult cartoon starring Rocky, a squirrel in a flying helmet, and Bullwinkle, a gullible moose. This sends up the smash-hit TV drama Lost by staging a version that pokes fun at the show’s daft plot lines.

2Offside

www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2410847

Just Like Heaven (interviews and clips) FREE Available: Fri 30 Dec From: www.mymovies.net Brush your teeth after seeing this, because this romantic comedy is highly sugary. It’s not your normal love story, as a young man (Mark Ruffalo) moves into a flat, only to find it occupied by the ghost of a young doctor (Reese Witherspoon).

Managing to be both funny and emotional, this dramatises the famed Christmas truce of 1914 between British and German soldiers in which the opposing armies played football. The authentic sets and costumes add to this impressive short.

3In Search of Johnny Dean www.resolvefilms.com

A tribute to those hucksters and shysters who call themselves showbiz agents. You’ll be glad you don’t work in the world of entertainment when one young hopeful meets a fast-talking schmoozer with delusions.

4My Parents

www.channel4.com/film/reviews/ film.jsp?id=141460

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (interviews and clips) FREE Available: Mon 26 Dec From: www.mymovies.net Steve Martin returns with his enormous brood of children in this comedy sequel. A holiday descends into a series of competitions against an equally large family, headed by patronising dad Eugene Levy ( American Pie). Knockabout family fare.

Get the latest

It’s every kid’s nightmare – bringing their new squeeze home to meet the parents for the first time. A daughter who’s utterly embarrassed by her dowdy folks tries to jazz them up for when her fellow comes over, prompting even more embarrassing scenes.

5Lunchbreak

www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/ A4882566

Four entrepreneurial rascals hit upon a successful but strange money-making scheme that nobody’s considered before. That’s because it takes the essence of Fight Club and merges it with the antics of Amsterdam’s seedier clubs. Expect some adult scenes.

updates at www.webuser.co.uk/downloaded

19 December 2005

43

INSTANT EXPERT GRAPHICS CARDS

INSTANT EXPERT

GUIDE TO...

Graphics

cards

Wayne Williams lifts the lid off his PC to unravel the mysterious secrets of the graphics card

E

1

What does a graphics card do?

The role of a dedicated graphics card is to take processor-intensive tasks – such as moving polygons around the screen, calculating lighting, shading and rendering 3D objects – away from your PC’s main processor, leaving it free for other tasks. A graphics card works like a mini-computer within your PC, so the more memory it has and the more powerful its central processing chip, the faster it will be.

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19 December 2005

Credit: Disney/Pixar

very PC comes with a graphics card (or adaptor) inside. Without one your computer would be unable to display anything on your monitor. Your system may have a dedicated card or, if it is of a lower specification, its graphics capability might be built-in to your motherboard. If you only use your computer for browsing the web, email and word processing, your current set-up will probably be fine. If, however, you want to use it for more visually demanding tasks such as video editing or playing 3D games, it may be worth considering an upgrade.

2

Do I need to upgrade?

If your computer is running slowly, buying a new graphics card won’t speed things up significantly – you’d be better off upgrading your memory as a starter, then maybe your motherboard or computer’s main processor. If on the other hand graphics performance is the one thing that is letting your system down, adding a new card will definitely improve matters. It will also let you play games at a much higher screen resolution. The type of graphics card you buy should match the specification of your computer (see ‘How much to spend?’).

3

ATI or nVidia?

Two companies make the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) chips that nearly all of today’s graphics cards are built around. The processor range from ATI (www.ati.com) is known as Radeon, while nVidia’s (www.nvidia.com) is called GeForce. These chips are used on boards from a variety of manufacturers including Gainward, Sapphire, Asus and MSI. Choosing whether to go for an ATI card or an nVidia model is largely a matter of a personal choice.

INSTANT EXPERT GRAPHICS CARDS

8

6 4

Slot types

There are two types of motherboard expansion port designed expressly for graphics cards. If your computer is new, it could well have a PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slot – the fastest, most modern option. These come in different sizes with the graphics cards fitting into the long x16 slot (the purple section in the picture above). If it doesn’t support PCI Express then it will most likely have AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) instead. Older or very basic PCs may only have straightforward PCI slots (white in the picture above). It’s important to find out which type you have, as a card designed for one port won’t fit into another.

5

Before buying

You should check to see what space you have inside your computer’s case. Many new cards are bulky and may not fit inside your PC if space is restricted. Also, some high-end cards need connecting to your PC’s power supply. If you don’t have a spare Molex connector (large, white, square head) you’ll need to buy a Y cable splitter/extension cable (see picture, left).

Where to buy

You can, of course, walk into any computer shop and buy a graphics card. However, you’ll find significant savings by shopping online – possibly enough for you to buy a higher-spec card than you would otherwise have been able to afford. Try doing a search on price-comparison sites such as Froogle (http://froogle.google.co.uk), PriceRunner (www.pricerunner.co.uk) or Ciao (www.ciao.co.uk).

7

How much to spend

This is a tricky one and depends on how fast your computer is, what you use it for, and what you hope to gain from the upgrade. If you have a very fast computer, which you use to play 3D games like F.E.A.R. or Quake 4, then a high-end card (up to £500) may be worth considering. If you have a midspec machine that you want to use for some 3D games or video editing, a midrange card for around £70-£130 will prove a more appropriate purchase.

This card built around the nVidia GeForce 7800 chip will set you back £320

Next issue: Instant Expert guide to domain names

How to upgrade

Installing a graphics card is easy. Turn off your PC and unplug it. Earth yourself by touching an object such as a metal radiator. Open the case and locate the graphics card inside (the monitor cable plugs into it). Unscrew the card and gently prise it out of the socket. Then put your new card in the vacant slot, pressing it gently, but firmly until it clicks into position. Screw the card in, put the case back on, re-connect the monitor and turn on your PC. Although you will see a picture when Windows loads (presuming the card is seated properly), you will need to install the supplied drivers to get the most from it.

9

Latest drivers

It is important to keep your graphics card drivers – the software that drives the hardware – up to date as new versions are frequently released. These may improve performance, stability, and/or enable new features. You can download the current drivers for your card from the ATI or nVidia websites (see step 3).

10

Jargon explained

Modern graphics cards can do lots of clever tricks, but what does it all mean? ≥ Alpha blending – Used to create transparent or translucent visual effects such as water, glass or smoke. ≥ Anisotropic filtering – A method to enhance the quality of textures used on 3D objects. ≥ Anti-aliasing – Reduces jaggies, the ‘stair-step’ effect you see on the edges of bitmapped graphics. ≥ Fill rate – The speed (in megapixels per second) at which your graphics card can get pixels on the screen. ≥ Frames per second (FPS) – The higher a card’s frame rate, the smoother and more fluid a 3D game will appear. ≥ Polygon – All 3D objects are made of these (usually triangles or rectangles).

19 December 2005

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The latest hot kit on the net

By Robert Irvine

Jabra BT500, £80

Stylish Bluetooth headset Bluetooth headsets are undoubtedly a fantastic idea, offering a convenient means of conducting phone calls while keeping your hands free for other tasks. But many models have been criticised for being fiddly or uncomfortable to use and providing poor reception. This certainly isn’t the case with the Jabra BT500, which is even slimmer, lighter and more straightforward to use than its predecessor, the BT250, the world’s best-selling Bluetooth headset. No more messing around with complicated configuration settings, the BT500 can be paired with your phone at the touch of a button. It works over a distance of 30 feet (about 10 metres) and boasts eight hours of talk time, with the ability to charge it from your PC via USB. The device is contoured to your ear for optimal comfort, letting you communicate naturally and freely.

Where to see it: www.jabra.com

19 December 2005

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The latest hot kit on the net

Neuros MPEG-4 Video Recorder, £150

Watch TV on your PSP If Santa has been thoughtful enough to slip a Sony PSP into your Christmas stocking, this clever gadget from PSP World will make the ideal accompaniment. It lets you record television programmes and films, which you can then watch on the handheld games console while on the move. All you need to do is insert your PSP’s memory card, plug the device into your set-top box, DVD player or PVR and press the record button on the bundled remote control. Video is saved in the compressed MPEG-4 format, so you can cram plenty of content onto an SD or CompactFlash card and easily transfer it to a PC, PDA, mobile phone or portable media player. Even if you don’t have a PSP, you can connect the Neuros Video Recorder to your home cinema system and view digital photos on your TV or play MP3 files through your hi-fi.

Where to see it: www.pspworld.co.uk

SkipDR Automax, £40

Repair scratched CDs, DVDs and games From music CDs and DVD movies to PlayStation, PC and Xbox games, chances are that at least one of your Christmas presents will be in disc format. As this makes them susceptible to scratches, which can render their content unreadable, it might be wise to invest in a SkipDR Automax. This unusuallooking but incredibly handy device will restore any type of scratched disc to perfect working order. Simply spray the damaged disc with the resurfacing fluid provided, and insert it into the vertical loading area, and the SkipDR will clean and repair it in under a minute. No chemicals are used so there’s no risk of losing the onboard data; instead the surface of the disc is evened out to prevent the laser refraction that causes skipping. 50 discs can be repaired before the resurfacing wheel needs replacing, with additional cleaning kits available for £5 each.

Where to see it: www.pinpointce.co.uk

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19 December 2005

comingsoon Goodmans GCR1930DAB, £50

Egg-shaped digital clock radio Digital radios now come in all shapes and sizes, providing crystal clear reception for over 400 local and regional stations now broadcasting in the UK. Still, few can rival the egg-cellent design of the Goodmans GCR1930DAB, which combines a DAB radio and alarm clock in a stylish oval-shaped body, complete with a shiny chrome and frosted glass sheen. Standing just 16cm high, this groovy device features stereo speakers, 10 station presets and a bright two-line LED display showing track, artist and programme information. Alarm clock functions include an adjustable sleep timer, three volume settings and that all-important Snooze button, with the option to wake either to the soothing sounds of the radio or the blaring buzzer. Best of all, as this digital egg costs a mere £50, you won’t have to shell out much for it (sorry).

Where to see it: www.goodmans.co.uk

Animatronic chimp head WowWee, the company behind the Robosapien phenomena, has come out with a brand new concept called the Alive Chimpanzee. This animated chimpanzee head is bound to raise a few eyebrows as its eyes track your movements around the room and its emotions change depending on how you treat him. It’s only available in the US at present, but you can import one from www.sharperimage.com for just $150 (around £86).

Miniscule MP3 player Another year gone by, another MP3 player claiming to be the world’s smallest, only this time with the bonus of a colour screen. The Klegg Mini measures a mere 48 x 38 x 17mm yet offers up to 512MB of storage and an impressive 26 hours of battery life. You can even squint at photos on its tiny display. Buy one for $160 (roughly £94) from www.kleggusa.com.

Ultra-slim digital camera If you don’t receive the digital camera you wanted for Christmas, why not console yourself with the ultra-slim, ultra-stylish snapper Sony has lined up for January. The Cybershot DSC-T9 is only 0.8in (20mm) thick and sports a six-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom lens and Super Steady Shot image stabilisation. It will cost around £300; see www.sony.co.uk for full details.

Buy the latest gadgets online at www.webuser.co.uk/firebox

19 December 2005

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NEW PRODUCTS EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R340 By Andy Shaw

Photo efficiency

Print your snaps at home with this six-cartridge photo printer

P

rinting photos at home has created fierce competition between printer manufacturers, with prices tumbling as features soar. This photo printer from Epson costs less than £150 and includes all the functions a home-printing digital photographer might want.

Features

★★★★★

There are two ways to print with this device: either via your PC or direct from

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your camera. If you have a PictBridgecompatible camera you don’t need to have your PC turned on – just connect the camera to the printer and find the photos you want from the printer’s built-in screen. Even if your camera isn’t PictBridge compatible you can stick your memory card straight into the included card reader, which can read images from Compact Flash, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, xD or SmartMedia cards.

As well as printing on standard paper an adapter is also supplied to let you print straight onto blank CDs to give them a professional finish.

Performance

★★★★★

The printer is fast and quiet. Turn your head back to your PC while you’re printing and you’d hardly notice it was doing anything. The results are good too, offering bright, vibrant photos on Epson’s

Compare this to other printers at www.webuser.co.uk/products

NEW PRODUCTS NETOBJECTS FUSION 9

own photo paper. This is helped by its six-colour system, which has lighter shades of cyan and magenta on top of the usual cyan, magenta, yellow and black colours, for more subtle photo shading. Each colour is stored in individual ink cartridges (costing sround £10), which means you can get 100 per cent efficiency out of them without having to throw away a half full cartridge just because one of the colours has run out.

Ease of use

★★★★★

Using the printer is simple, whether you’re printing with your computer or not. From the built-in screen we found it easy to get good results, choosing options like borderless printing and changing paper sizes without having to think too hard about it. From your PC it’s even easier, with well set out print menus that integrate smoothly with Windows to ensure your software printing tasks are completed seamlessly.

Value for money ★★★★★ For what you get this is great value for money. You could get the screen, direct printing and memory card reader functions on rival printers for less, but the addition of the economic individual cartridge printing should make this better value in the long run, especially if you print a lot of pictures.

Verdict

★★★★★

With good printing, a great range of easyto-use features and economical running, this printer is a top choice at the price. Anyone who likes to take and print a lot of photos should be happy to have one of these on their desk, whether they like to rattle prints straight off their cameras or partake in computer-based imageediting activities.

EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R340 £149.99 inc VAT

For Packed with features ■ Economical to run Against There are cheaper printers available with many of these features included if you want to pay less Specifications 2.4in colour screen ■ borderless printing up to A4 ■ six ink cartridges ■ maximum 5,760dpi ■ integrated memory card reader ■ PictBridge/USB Direct Print compatible ■ CD print adapter ■ pass-through USB port ■ optional Bluetooth adapter for printing direct from phones Contact Epson, 08702 416900, www.epson.co.uk

NetObjects Fusion 9 By Andy Shaw

Site specific The latest version of NetObjects Fusion can help build the website of your dreams

O

ne of the biggest problems with building complex websites is that it’s a resoundingly technical process. The latest version of NetObjects Fusion aims to make it a bit more straightforward, with all the tools you’ll need to create and manage a website of your own.

Features

★★★★★

Fusion 9 isn’t just a page builder – it’ll The software can help you design a simple website create and organise an entire website. Starting from either a blank page or one of quickly but is best used for larger online projects the software’s many templates, you can even if you go on to develop the design drop new pages into your site’s structure and automatically build navigation buttons further once you’ve mastered the basics. so your future visitors can find them. It has a range of tools that can be dropped ★★★★★ Value for money straight into pages, from visitor counters to There are cheaper ways to design a simple e-commerce functionality, and you can website, but if you’re looking for something have as much or as little control over the that will grow with you and handle larger design of your site as you want. sites as you expand, then this software should cope with your needs. It compares ★★★★★ well with similarly priced rivals like Performance The provided templates use nested HTML Microsoft Frontpage. tables to create their layouts, which is a bit old-fashioned and somewhat inefficient. Verdict ★★★★★ The upside is that it provides you with a This latest version of NetObjects Fusion very precise way to control the layout of hasn’t veered far off the path trodden by your pages and you can drag and drop previous editions of the software but has elements around your designs – the brought about a few useful updates. It’s software will do the hard work of making probably overkill for developing a small site HTML out of it. This WYSIWYG (what you but if you plan to build a web empire some see is what you get) approach makes day, this software could handle it. Its drag designing and building a website lots and drop WYSIWYG interface is simple to easier for the non-technically minded, but use and there are wizards for getting a site those with some knowledge of HTML may started, but HTML gurus may find the be disappointed with the results. underlying code a bit over-weight.

Ease of use

★★★★★

Because of the underlying power of the software it can be used on various levels. It’s possible to use NetObjects Fusion 9 to make a personal homepage with a few simple elements such as a photo album and so on, and there’s a wizard that can step you through the process. It’s more geared up to creating larger sites though, as it can help you keep track of complicated page structures and can let you add pages quickly and easily. Although there’s a significantly steep learning curve to getting the most out of the software, its wizards should give you the power to get something up and running quite quickly,

Subscribe to Web User, see page 54

NetObjects Fusion 9 £133.50 inc VAT For Quick and simple route to getting a nicely designed site online ■ Plenty of room for your site to grow if it takes off Against Produces table-based HTML code that lacks efficiency of hand-coded sites and some cutting-edge tools What you need 660MHz Intel Pentium III or better ■ Windows 98 SE or better ■ 250MB of hard disk space ■ 256MB of memory Contact Website Pros, www.websitepros.com

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GROUP TEST FREE FEED READERS By Robert Irvine

Feeding FRENZY Gather all your favourite news and blog content into one place without needing to visit individual sites. Robert Irvine checks out the best free feed readers. BLOGLINES www.bloglines.com Bloglines employs a completely different approach to most feed readers, which gives it greater flexibility and increased usefulness in terms of monitoring web content. Rather than downloading and installing a program that requires its own Desktop window, you can simply log into the Bloglines website to check your feeds from any computer with an internet connection. Besides gathering RSS and Atom news feeds into its streamlined, intuitive interface, Bloglines can track a wealth of other information from a wide variety of online sources. You can monitor Google and Yahoo Groups, read Blogger, Xanga and Live Journal blogs, download podcasts, view your horoscope and get the weather forecast for your area. Items of particular interest can be ‘clipped’ to save for later, sent by email from your preferred account, or posted to your Bloglines blog (tools for creating a blog are provided by the site).

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A

s more and more orange Subscribe buttons appear on websites and blogs, it’s clear that feeds are revolutionising the way we browse the net. Rather than performing a daily trawl through your bookmarks to check for fresh and updated information, feeds provide basic versions of their source containing summaries of newly added content. All you need to enjoy these time-saving information streams is a simple feed-reading program. Feed readers now come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny Desktop utilities to browser plug-ins and sophisticated web-based services. We’ve rounded up six of the best free programs and compared them for features, ease-of-use and performance.

GOOGLE READER www.google.com/reader

Despite its huge range of features, Bloglines is very simple to use, although it’s not quite as strong on feed organisation as some of its rivals. Considering the time it saves you visiting individual sites, it’s amazing that this fantastic feed reader is free.

Features Performance Ease of use

OVERALL

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

It’s officially still in its beta (test) phase, but Google Reader is already gobbling feeds like a pro, offering a webbased alternative to Desktop readers. With nothing to download, all you need is a Google or Google Mail account and an up-to-date browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari) to start subscribing to RSS or Atom. As you would expect from Google, the interface is a perfect blend of simplicity and convenience, letting you search for and subscribe to content without knowing the precise feed URLs. You can also enter web addresses manually or import them from other programs. Both feeds and the items they contain can be tagged with labels to make them easy to browse and organise, while important articles can be marked with

stars for future reference. Although Google Reader lacks the advanced features offered by downloadable reading software and the additional frills of Bloglines, it gathers content very quickly and provides a host of keyboard shortcuts for speedy navigation. There are also handy tools for sharing items, posting them directly to your Blogger blog or sending them as email messages via Google Mail.

Features Performance Ease of use

OVERALL

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

GROUP TEST FREE FEED READERS OMEA READER www.jetbrains.com/omea/reader Letting you manage web bookmarks, browse newsgroups and search your Desktop, Omea Reader is more an all-in-one organisation tool than a mere feed reader. Still, the ability to subscribe to, update and view RSS and Atom feeds provides the heart of the program, with plenty of options for presenting stories and articles in whichever way you please. Particularly useful is Omea’s capacity to find feeds

SHARPREADER www.sharpreader.net

automatically when you type in a web address, rather than needing to know the exact URLs. You can also create as many categories as you wish to keep your feed list tidy, prioritise items with a choice of six different coloured flags and easily share selected articles via email or blog. Omea works equally well with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, and lets you import existing subscriptions from other feed readers, including Bloglines. Our only complaints are that the feature-packed interface takes a while to get used to, and that the software is a real system resource hog, using twice as much memory as the average feed reader.

Features Performance Ease of use

OVERALL

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

AWASU PERSONAL EDITION www.awasu.com It’s not often you have to criticise a program, especially a free one, for having too many features, but such is the case with Awasu. Its overcrowded, overwhelming interface may prove too much for those unfamiliar with feed readers, with toolbars crammed with advanced

OVERALL

intervals. For example, you may want to refresh an important news source every 15 minutes, but a less timesensitive feed such as Dilbert once a day. SharpReader operates very quickly and lets you import and export subscriptions with ease.

Features Performance Ease of use

OVERALL

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

RSSREADER www.rssreader.com

functions that you’re never likely to need. In fairness, Awasu does give beginners a leg-up by providing channel packs for categories such as technology, entertainment and sport, as well as podcasts, from which you can choose your initial feeds. But the BBC aside, these sources are mostly USbiased, while the updating process is noticeably slower than in rival software.

Features Performance Ease of use

Feed readers don’t come much more simple than SharpReader, whose minimalist interface sports just two buttons on its toolbar: Refresh and Subscribe. This makes adding new feeds extremely easy, whether you enter the web addresses manually, or drag-and-drop links into the window. You can filter articles according to age, keyword or read status, and check individual feeds for fresh items at different

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

A basic but perfectly serviceable program, RssReader does exactly what it claims. It lets you gather and read feeds in both RSS and Atom format, adding addresses manually or from its built-in directory. You can then view the full articles within the software’s preview window or open them in your web browser. Customisation options include the ability to vary the frequency at which you update specific feeds, from every 10 minutes to once a month, and to filter items by date, type and keyword. Unfortunately, there isn’t much scope for

organising your feeds, as categories are limited to one folder level deep, which is likely to frustrate feed junkies.

Features Performance Ease of use

OVERALL

★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

VERDICT As all these feed readers are free, there’s nothing to stop you trying them all. We like Bloglines as it’s crammed with features and can do almost anything you want it to. But

it can be a bit overwhelming – if you want something simpler to handle a manageable number of feeds, Google Reader might be better. If you fancy something even more

comprehensive, that’ll also do things like manage your bookmarks, try Omea Reader. But be warned – it could hog a lot of your computer’s resources.

Next issue: Compression software on test On sale 5 Jan

19 December 2005

53

WIN WIN!

1 of 2 stylish Nikon Coolpix digital cameras!

We’ve got two all-new Nikon cameras up for grabs. One lucky winner will nab the Coolpix P1, while one runner-up gets the Coolpix P2 2ND PRIZE

1ST PRIZE

The Coolpix P1 and P2 are part of Nikon’s amazing new generation of compact digital cameras featuring built-in Wi-Fi technology for wireless transfer of images to your computer or printer. Other advanced features include aperture priority mode, a 3.5x zoom lens, a 2.5in LCD screen and in-camera image

FEATURES BUILT-IN WI-FI! correction. And to ensure quality, supersharp pictures every time, the P1 features 8.0 megapixels while the P2 an impressive 5.1. Both cameras are available exclusively from Jessops. For further information on these and other Nikon products, visit www.nikon.co.uk.

To enter, simply answer the question below by visiting www.webuser.co.uk/competitions or send your completed entry form to Web User/Nikon Competition, IPC Media, Room 0417, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LS. The competition closes on 19 January 2006.

TO ENTER THE COMPETITION, JUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Question: What is the size of the Coolpix P1 and P2 LCD screen? Answer: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Name:.........................................................................................................Address:................................................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................Postcode:.....................................Daytime telephone number: ........................................................ If you would like to receive emails from Web User containing news, special offers and product and service information, and take part in research, please write your email address below: Email:..................................................................................................................................................

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Practical WebUser Web User’s Practical pages help you get the best out of the web – whether answering your queries or showing you new techniques. PracticalFeature

57 ProblemSolver

How to edit your festive snaps for free

62 DIYWebPages

Q&A/ReaderHelpsReader

WorkshopMasterclasses 60 Hints&Tips Create a homepage / Make a photo CD

64 Essentials

The best tips sent in by readers this issue

PracticalFeature

Edit, enhance and repair your digital images from the festive season using Serif PhotoPlus 6

reduced red-eye

added caption

removed glare

brightened sides

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The web’s best products and services

For an index of previous Practical Features, visit www.webuser.co.uk/practicals

Fix your Christmas photos cropped picture

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Readers’ websites/web-building advice

C

hristmas is traditionally the peak time of year for home photography, and 2005 will see more digital cameras given as gifts than ever before. But even experienced snappers can’t avoid taking the odd dodgy shot, be it spoiled by the flash ‘red-eye’ effect, which makes people look like zombies, or unwanted elements in the background. Fortunately, it’s easy to fix minor problems in your pictures without splashing out on expensive imageediting software. Serif PhotoPlus 6 is free to download yet provides all the tools you need for enhancing and improving your photos to a professional standard. It’s a featurepacked application that scooped a Web User Silver Award in Issue 117, but relatively straightforward to use once you know where to locate individual functions. So if you want to remove that devilish glow from the baby’s eyes, snip sleeping relatives out of a shot, or make your turkey look larger and tastier, PhotoPlus is the festive program for you. Here we walk you through its main fixing features.

About Serif PhotoPlus 6 Serif PhotoPlus 6 is a free 19.4MB download from www.freeserifsoftware .com. You can also upgrade to a later, more advanced version of the program, PhotoPlus 8, for £6 or buy the new commercial edition PhotoPlus 10 for £46. To use PhotoPlus you’ll need a PC running Windows 95 or later, 32MB of memory and 40MB of free hard disk space.

19 December 2005

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Practical WebUser 1

Before you can start using Serif PhotoPlus you’ll need to register the product online. Launch the program and, when the Registration Wizard opens, click the Start Registration button. 1 Fill in your details and a registration key will be sent to your email address.

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Enter the licence key and click Next then Finish, completing the registration process. You’ll now be presented with the Startup Wizard. To edit a photo already on your 1 hard disk, click Open Saved Work. 1 If the photo you want to use is still on your digital camera or scanner, first click ‘Import from TWAIN’, 2 select the name of the device from the list 2 and click OK. Follow the instructions to copy the image to your PC.

3

Click Browse and then navigate your folders to find the picture you want to use. A preview will appear in the box on the right. 1 Click Open 2 to select the file and open the image in the main PhotoPlus window.

1

5

Once selected, double-click within the rectangle to remove the parts of the photo outside its borders. 1 If you’re not happy with the outcome of the crop, click on the Edit menu and choose Undo Crop 2 then reselect the area and choose Redo Crop.

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Next, you can correct poor light in the image, if it seems too dark or too bright. Click on the Image menu, then move the mouse pointer to Adjust 1 and select Brightness/Contrast from the side menu. 2

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You can now start editing your photo. One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve a substandard image is to crop it, removing unwanted elements. To do this, click on the Crop tool on the left-hand toolbar 1 and then use your mouse to drag a rectangle over the area of the photo you want to keep. 2

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The Brightness and Contrast Filter box will now appear onscreen. Adjust the Brightness 1 and Contrast 2 slider bars and the light in the picture will change accordingly. When you’re happy with the image, click OK 3 to confirm the changes, or else click Cancel 4 to return it to its previous state.

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19 December 2005

4

Practical Feature

8

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At this point you may want to save your corrected image before making further changes. Click on the File menu and either choose Save As 1 to save the picture as a Serif PhotoPlus file, or select Export 2 to save it as a JPEG or Bitmap file. In either case, find a suitable folder on your hard disk for the file and click Save.

You can also use PhotoPlus to add captions to your photos. Click on the Text tool on the left-hand toolbar 1 and your cursor will turn into a letter A. 2 Now click on the photo in the approximate place that you’d like the caption to appear.

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Next you can address that perennial problem with flash photography: red-eye. Click on the Image menu and highlight Other 1 from near the bottom of the list of options, then choose Fix Red Eye from the side menu. 2

13

The Add Text box will now open. Type the text that you wish to appear in your 3 caption into the white box, 2 1 then select a font style and size from the drop1 down menus above. 2 Now click on the colour icon on the toolbar. 3

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When the Adjust Colour box opens, choose an option from the Custom Colours palette 1 that will ensure your text shows up against the photo’s background. So if you’re adding your caption to a dark area, select a light colour and vice versa. The Current and Old colours will be shown in the bottom-right corner. 2 Once you’ve made your selection, click OK, 3 then OK again to close the Add Text box.

2

10

When the Fix Red Eye window opens, move your photo into a position where the red eye is clearly visible – you may need to enlarge the view by clicking the Zoom In button. 1 Click the Select Area eye button 2 and then click on one of the red eyes in the photo. 3

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The redness should disappear from the eye instantly. However, you may get a pop-up telling you that the selected pixel is not sufficiently red. 1 In this case, drag the Redness Tolerance slider bar to the left towards Loose. 2 You can also choose to make the black pupil of the eye larger by dragging the Blur Amount slider bar towards Soft. 3 Repeat the process for the other eye if necessary, and then click OK. 4

1

The caption will now be added to your photo. 1 To move it to a different position, click on the Move tool on the left-hand toolbar 2 and drag it to the desired spot. Finally, click on the File menu and select Export to save your edited picture.

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Practical WebUser

WorkshopMasterclass

Website: www.live.com Time: 10 mins

Make a personalised homepage T

he default homepage offered by your ISP as the starting point for every web session often includes a useful tool such as a search facility, news summary or the ability to check your emails. However, it’s likely that the website also contains information you never look at, or lacks several functions that would prove handy. With Microsoft’s new Windows Live service you can build your own start page from scratch that

STEP 1

STEP 6

1

Log onto www.live.com and you can set up your personalised homepage straight away. There are two simple ways to add content to the page. The first is to click on the Categories option in the sidebar on the left 1 and then click on the name of a category to view the sites within it. 2

STEP 2

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1 Click on the name of a site and a preview of its 1 feed will open in the centre of the Live page. You can view all the articles listed by clicking the ‘expand all’ link 2 or just display the title of each one by clicking ‘collapse all’. 3 If you want to include the feed on your homepage, click the ‘add to my page’ option in the top-right corner. 4 TIP: You can also add feeds by dragging them from the sidebar onto the page. 1

STEP 3

2

3

The feed will now appear on your Live page. The second way to add feeds is to search for them. In the Add Content section on the right-hand side of the page, 1 type a keyword relating to the type of feed you want to add into the search box 2 and click the Search button. 3 TIP: You can also access the Add Content box from the sidebar on the left of the page.

4

STEP 4

3

A list of results matching your keyword 1 will now be displayed. Click on the name of a feed 1 for a preview, and 2 then click the Subscribe link next to it 2 if you want to add the feed to your Live page. You can also view websites and news stories relating to the keyword you entered by clicking the Web or News options under the ‘search for’ heading. 3 When you’ve finished adding feeds, click on the ‘back to my page’ link. 4

STEP 5

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The feeds you’ve subscribed to will appear under My Web in the left-hand search bar. 1 If you want to add the content of a feed to the main page, so you can read it instantly whenever you log on, simply drag-and-drop it from the sidebar into the desired position. 2

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19 December 2005

features only elements of interest to you. These can include news feeds that keep you updated on your favourite websites, handy information such as stock quotes, horoscopes and the day’s weather forecast, and direct access to your Hotmail Inbox. Windows Live is still in its beta (test) phase, but also promises integration with MSN Messenger and PC protection tools in the near future.

2

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You can also customise your page with ‘gadgets’ – Microsoft’s version of widgets – which are little blocks of useful information. Click on the Gadgets category in the sidebar 1 to view the available options. Clicking the name of a gadget will give you a preview in the centre of the page. 2 You can then add it your page permanently either by clicking the Add to My Page link or dragging-and-dropping it from the sidebar.

STEP 7 If you know the exact web address of a news 1 feed or gadget, you can add it directly to your 2 Live page. Click on the Add Content section and then click Advanced 3 Options. 1 Either type in or copy and paste the URL of the feed or gadget into the relevant box and then click Subscribe 2 or Add. 3

STEP 8

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One particularly useful gadget provides the weather forecast. To customise this for your page, type the name of your town into the Weather Forecasts box 1 and click ‘add’. 2 A four-day forecast will now appear. You can decide which format the temperature is displayed in by clicking the Fahrenheit (°F) or Centigrade (°C) options. 3

STEP 9

5

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2 Once you’ve customised the content of your Live Page, you can also change its appearance. Click on the ‘settings’ link in the top-right hand corner 1 for the range of options. You can choose the number of columns, 2 the colour scheme 3 and the language 4 of your page. Also, click on ‘what’s new’ 5 to explore new and forthcoming features. 6

3

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Practical WebUser

WorkshopMasterclass

Software: Picasa 2 Time to complete: 5 mins

Create a photo CD I

t’s incredibly easy to make a CD or DVD of your images to share with friends or family. Picasa 2 includes a handy tool for burning a slideshow of your pictures onto a CD with just a

STEP 6

STEP 1 Browse the lefthand menu in Picasa and left-click an entry to select a folder of photos you’d like to add to the disc (for example Desktop 1 ).

Use the arrow button 1 to access the menu and set a standard display size for the images – or choose to show them at their original size.

1

STEP 2

1

STEP 7

Click the Gift CD 1 button at the top of the Picasa window.

1

STEP 3 If you want to add more photo folders to the disc, click the Add More 1 button in the options box at the bottom of the following screen.

1

1 In the second section of options, type a name for the disc in the space provided 1 (using a maximum of 16 2 characters). If you want to include a copy of the Picasa software on the disc, so the person you’re sending it to can edit or view their own images without having to download it, leave a tick in the box. 2

STEP 8

STEP 4 The menu on the left now includes a checkbox for each folder. Click the box next to any folder you want to add to the disc, for example Webwatch. 1

few clicks and it’s free to download from http://picasa.google .com. Before you start to select your pictures , make sure there is a writable disc in the appropriate drive.

1

STEP 5 Once you’ve added all the pictures you want, return to the options box at the 1 bottom of the screen. If you want the pictures to appear as a slideshow on the disc leave a tick in the box, 1 otherwise click it to remove it.

2

To change the disc you’re about to burn for a different CD, press the Eject button 1 and insert a different disc in the drive. Otherwise press the Burn Disc button 2 to begin creating the disc.

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STEP 9

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Once the disc has been created you can press the Eject button 1 to remove it from the drive. Or you can click the Show button 2 to view a slideshow or the individual images, depending on the options you chose when creating the disc.

19 December 2005

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Practical WebUser

ProblemSolver

Each fortnight our experts answer your technical questions about the internet. If you’re puzzled by a problem, we’re here to help. Contact us at [email protected]

ASK OUR EXPERTS

Andy Shaw

newdotnet.com. To be on the safe side, it is also recommended that you download a utility called LSP-Fix, from http://cexx.org/ lspfix.htm, which will repair any damage caused by the program. You can read more information about NewDotNet at http://cexx.org/newnet.htm.

Robert Irvine

EMAIL

Transfer your AOL address book to a new ISP

BROWSERS

Application error in IE

Q

We are changing our internet service provider from AOL to ToucanSurf Broadband. We have about 200 email addresses in our AOL address book, which we don’t want to lose. Is there any way of transferring them to our email account with the new ISP? Or will we have to do it the hard way and write them all in again?

Q

Use ePreserver to copy your AOL address book, email and Favorite Places if you change accounts

Peter Daley, via email

A

As AOL uses its own email software to store addresses, transferring them to a new account isn’t as simple as with other ISPs, which tend to use standard POP3 software such as Outlook Express. However, if you don’t mind paying, there is a program called ePreserver that will do the job for you. It costs £14.95 from www.connectedsw

SECURITY

Safely removing NewDotNet

Q

I have been using Spybot – Search & Destroy and have detected NewDotNet. There are 4 entries and one is located in C:\programFiles\ NewDotNet. When I double click on this it takes me to the location in Program Files, but when I try to delete it, it says ‘Cannot delete newdotnet_98: It is being used by another person or program. Close any program that

NewDotNet is very tricky to remove, but detailed help is provided by the website Cexx.org

.com and will copy your AOL email, address book and Favorite Places into Outlook or Outlook Express in a mere five mouse clicks, even if you’ve already cancelled your AOL service. From the same site, you can also download Address Magic Personal Edition for £18.95, which can copy your address book into Hotmail, Mozilla Thunderbird and other email clients. might be using the file and try again.’ Can you please help me remove this pest?

Mark Phillips, via email

A

I keep getting a pop-up message every time I close a web page. The main line at the top says: ‘Acrobat IEHelper: iexplorer.exe. Application Error’. In the body of the message it says: ‘The instruction at 0x7c9105f8 referenced memory at 0x00bc0010. The memory could not be read.’ Then at the bottom it says: ‘Click OK to terminate the program.’ Can you please tell me what’s wrong?

Alan, via email

A

This problem is caused by a tool called Solid Converter, a Microsoft Word plug-in that converts PDF files into Word documents. The error message relates to changes made to your system by Windows XP Service Pack 2, which altered the way add-ons such as Solid Converter are managed by Internet Explorer. To fix the problem, you can disable the plug-in by clicking on the Tools menu in IE and selecting Manage Add-Ons. Highlight Solid Converter in the list of add-ons, then select Disable and click OK. Alternatively you can download a new version of Solid Converter that addresses the issue from www.solidpdf.com/download.htm.

NewDotNet has been dubbed ‘foistware’ because it arrives on your PC without your knowledge, bundled with programs such as Kazaa, Grokster and iMesh. Once installed it silently downloads and executes code from its controlling servers and, if removed incorrectly, can break your internet access. The safest way to get rid of it is to go to Start, Settings, Control Panel and select Add/ Remove Programs, and then remove NewDotNet from the list. If this entry doesn’t appear, you can try using the uninstaller and following the step-by-step instructions Solid Converter can cause an error in Internet found at the company’s website at www. Explorer owing to changes made by SP2

Helpline... Open 7 days a week 8AM – 11PM Got a technical problem that’s frustrating you and there’s no one around to help? Then call Web User’s helpline for an immediate solution. Our dedicated and trained staff will be on hand to give you the advice and support you need on any problems – from setting up your connection to sorting out difficulties with your software. No Call Waiting: You only pay for the technical help you receive – there is no queuing system. A message will be played before the call is answered.

HELPLINE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8AM – 11PM Limited Call Duration: If your problem is complicated and can’t be solved immediately, you can leave it with our staff and then call us back later for the solution. Customer Service Hotline: 0870 739 7602 during normal office hours.

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19 December 2005

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Practical WebUser

ReaderHelpsReader

Please send your questions and answers to [email protected] or join in the ReaderHelpsReader discussion online at www.webuser.co.uk/forums BROADBAND

Broadband slow-down I

am complaining to Tiscali about my bandwidth speed, which is really low, currently averaging around 300Kbps (though it has dropped as low as 175.8Kbps). The connection is supposed to be 1.1Mbps and I would have thought it not unreasonable to expect at least 600 or 700Kbps. Or am I being unrealistic?

Percy99999, via Webuser.co.uk/forums I am with Tiscali as well, but am stuck on the 512Kbps package for the present due to my distance from the exchange. I get 468.50Kbps from a good site working flat out. That’s good for me on a 512Kbps package, so with 1Mbps you should get double that speed on good sites.

SECURITY

Stopping spyware I’ve had Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster for sometime now and I’m currently looking for something more proactive than just scanning after the event. I’ve tried SpywareGuard too, but I am looking for the best spyware protection that will work like Norton AntiVirus. I don’t mind paying a reasonable fee for a good product.

m4rk, via Webuser.co.uk/forums I use Prevx Home (www.prevx.com/prevx home.asp) which is free. It blocks malware, adware and Trojans from getting on your computer in the first place.

Bricat, via Webuser.co.uk/forums BROWSERS

Computer clean-up My friend is having page-loading problems with Internet Explorer. They load very slowly considering he’s on broadband, but he says

Unfortunately, not all sites give you flat out speeds, so you check to see what you can get at the Tiscali Speedcheck You can check the speed of (http://speed your internet connection with check.isp connect.co.uk). Tiscali’s testing software If you are not getting at least 960Kbps you are not receiving the bandwidth speed you deserve. Your options are to leave Tiscali or wait until it upgrades the exchange.

Bravebryans, via Webuser.co.uk/forums it’s only in the evening when it runs slow, and that in the mornings it’s pretty quick. Of course, you have to contend with more traffic in the evenings on certain websites, but he says it happens with every site he visits. He downloaded Firefox to try something different but says it has the same problem. Although the web pages are slow to load, he says he can download files without trouble. He’s had a word with his ISP and they say his connection is fine, and he runs Spybot and Ad-Aware programs frequently for spyware. He also has Norton AntiVirus and Windows XP.

Mobe, via Webuser.co.uk/forums He needs to download CCleaner (www. ccleaner.com) and once opened, click the Options button on the left and then Advanced. Remove the checkmark from ‘Only delete files from Windows Temp Folders older than 48 hours’, click the Cleaner button on the left and look on the Windows tab under Internet Explorer. Uncheck Cookies if you do not want them

removed or you’ll need to re-enter all passwords for any sites you automatically log in to. Alternatively, you can leave the Cookies box checked for removal but individually retain auto login cookies via Options then Cookies. If using either the Firefox or Mozilla browsers, the box to uncheck for Cookies is on the Applications tab, under Firefox/Mozilla. Now click Run Cleaner to run the program. Be careful though – it’s not recommended that you use the Issues feature unless you are very familiar with the Registry, as it has been known to find legitimate items. After CCleaner has completed its process, click Exit. Then defrag your computer, using the instructions at http://helpdesk.its.uiowa .edu/windows/instructions/defrag.htm.

EMAIL

Hotmail log-in messages In the last few days after logging on to Hotmail I get a security warning saying: “This page contains both secure and non secure items. Do you want to display the non secure items?” When I click ‘No’ the connection goes no further. Sometimes if I try again from the beginning I am logged in without this message. Why has this started?

John Liverpool, via Webuser.co.uk/forums When you tell it you do not want to proceed it’s just doing as you tell it. It will probably be linked Moving from a secure to your settings. website (like a log-in page) Try going to Tools, to a non-secure site can Internet Options, throw up a warning message Advanced Tab and scroll down to the option “Warn if changing between secure and nonsecure mode”. It should be ticked by default. Unticking the box will stop the alert. It is generally safe to click ‘Yes’ to proceed. It is alerting you that you are not in a secure area so you should be extra careful about typing in personal details.

Alex Maclean, via Webuser.co.uk/forums

Can you help? I recently downloaded Picasa (http:// picasa.google.com), one of Web User’s top choices. It looked great and I was very pleased with the features. However, each time I open the software it downloads all my photos again. Having used it half a dozen times, it now displays half a dozen of each picture

folder. How do I stop this happening? I use Windows XP Home edition.

Pam, via email I am a little confused by Spybot and AdAware. When I run these scans the list comes up with critical malware and such like. When the list is shown, is there any way

Get more advice at www.webuser.co.uk/forums

I can find out what it is that the scan has found before I remove it? On several occasions I have lost items from my toolbar, such as Cursor Mania and any screensavers I have installed. I am particularly fond of one of the clocks I downloaded and I lose it every time.

Alan, via email

19 December 2005

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Practical WebUser

Hints&Tips

Send your tips to [email protected] – we pay £25 for the best tip we receive each fortnight. Or visit the Hints & Tips forum at www.webuser.co.uk/forums

£25 Winner!

then close down again. If you don’t see the document you want to print, click on the My Documents options instead (assuming that’s where you save your work). Then you can follow the steps above for right-click printing.

WEB

File sharing I

’d like to point other readers towards Folder Share, which creates a sort of private peer-to-peer network that you and your friends can use to share files. This used to cost money but Microsoft bought the company and now it’s free. It’s a great way of keeping your files synchronised on more than one computer, or sharing files that you want to collaborate on with others. The only limit is that files can’t be any bigger than 2GB – it’ll even work on both Windows and Mac computers.

William Thomas, via Webuser.co.uk/forums WEB

Bookmarks to go

Use Folder Share to keep your files synchronised

Matthew Chalfont, Kent and available to share with your friends WEB FILTERING

Keeping your kids safe online

If you want to protect your children from net nastiness, try the free Naomi filter My eight-year-old’s been pestering me for ages to get his PC connected to my internet connection. Like most parents I was a bit concerned about letting him have unlimited access to the internet. So I have installed a free filter called Naomi from Radiant (www.radiance.m6.net), tested it with many search engines and it has blocked every bad site and search word I’ve used. It’s a great free filter.

hard disks and some modems. This is basically to ensure that the device isn’t in the process of transferring data to or from your computer, which could result in losing the file. Look in the System Tray (by the clock) and you should see an additional icon with a green arrow over a grey object. Left-click on it and choose the Stop or Unplug option and it will automatically shut the device down and let you know it’s ready to uninstall. If you right-click and select the ‘unplug hardware’ option you can choose which device you want to disable from a list.

Mike Lawler, Wigan GENERAL COMPUTING

Speedy printing

Maxping, via Webuser.co.uk/forums

Sometimes I access the internet from a public computer at the library, at work or at college, but I cannot remember some of the links I have bookmarked at home. I’ve discovered various ways to solve this. One is to email to yourself your bookmarks as a webpage and store them in your webmail account. Even better is to use a free online service that stores bookmarks, such as www.bookmarkcommando.com, www.znail.com or the Amazon websearch at www.a9.com.

Jordi Barnes, London WEB

Search options I spent some time recently scouring the internet to find search engines that I’ve never come across before. I know, I’m a nerd. But anyway, here are a few I found that I thought I’d share with you. DumbFind (www.dumbfind.com) uses two search boxes so you can reorder your search based on your general topic of choice. Myriad Search (www.myriadsearch.com) is a meta search engine that pulls its results from Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Ask Jeeves and allows you to set the bias of each. Vezto (www.vezto.com) is a rather odd beast. The site claims it’s a meta search engine, but it really isn’t, as its results come from just one engine, Google. The innovation is how this site presents the data it gets from Google. Check it out, it’s weird. BoardTracker (www.boardtracker.com) searches forums and provides a tracker so you needn’t miss out on important threads.

Derek Taylor, via Webuser.co.uk/forums

GENERAL COMPUTING

Unplug and play Did you know there is a way of stopping and removing USB devices safely? You can pull the majority out while the computer is still running with no issues, but there are a few devices that must be stopped before removal, such as memory drives, external

Be sure to stop your USB device before you unplug it, especially if it’s designed to carry data

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19 December 2005

Right-click on a file to get an option to print it quickly Need to print a recently used document? Don’t waste time opening the application it was created in, I’ve got a faster way. Click the Start button then select My Recent Documents. Right-click the document you want and select Print from the menu. The document’s application will run, open the document, print it for you automatically,

Using a different search engine, such as Myriad Search, might produce better results

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Practical WebUser

DIYwebpages

Useful advice to help you start and improve your website from Andy Shaw

Readers’ websites Corewar http://corewar.co.uk

S

ome people do the strangest things in search of entertainment. If you thought TV’s Robot Wars was technical, check out John Metcalf’s hobby. Corewar is a similar concept except it’s played with computer programs and has been around for 20 years. You write code that’s designed to enter a special virtual arena and destroy opposing programs written by other people. John’s Corewar site aims to be an introduction to the game, though it’s probably not worth thinking about getting involved unless you can knock together a simple computer program. As you might expect from a programmer, the HTML code that makes up the site is as clean as a whistle – all the styling is done with CSS and each page is essentially plain text. This has paid dividends in terms of John’s Google position – he’s currently second out of 147,000 sites on a search for ‘Corewar’. It isn’t the most dynamic looking of websites but it does the job, and is fine for a target readership that probably isn’t overly concerned by aesthetics. Perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of information for people new to the hobby. We think that John’s first page should have a bit more information for the newbie, explaining in

John’s Corewar site is functional and uses plain text with a little decoration to keep things simple

This simplified approach helps with search engine rankings – John is number two in Google for a search on ‘Corewar’ more detail what Corewar is and how you play, even if it means referring them to another page that holds more detail.

Email details of your not-for-profit website to [email protected] Find more tips on web building at our Readers’ Websites forum at www.webuser.co.uk/forums

Crawl control

If you struggle to get your website listed in search engines like Google, it may be that the search engines’ spiders – the software programs used to catalogue the web – can’t read your site properly. We’ve spoken about Google’s Sitemap tool (www.google.com/ webmasters/sitemaps) before, but it’s just had its interface revamped and includes extra tools that help webmasters check their sites are crawlable and let them know of any errors encountered. You don’t have to have a site Google Sitemap now tells you map to make it if your site can be crawled work – just go to the Sitemap page to register. You may be asked to put a blank file onto your website in order to establish that it belongs to you.

Blogger beater?

It’s been a long time coming but there’s a new kid on the block (or should that be blog?) that looks set to give Blogger a run for

its money. Blogging software WordPress (http://word press.org) has been around for At last – a worthy rival for Blogger a while but you needed a hosting account with PHP and a MySQL database to install it onto. Now you can have a WordPress blog hosted for you free of charge at http:// wordpress.com. It’s a cut-down version of the main software so you can’t do things like edit the HTML in your blog. But it does do things that Blogger sorely lacks, including categorising your posts. If you want more, you’ll have to get a webhost with the required features and host a full WordPress blog from there.

Online CSS builder

No matter how much web design you undertake, you can’t hope to remember all of the commands available to you by heart. With something like CSS

(Cascading Style Sheets), which you probably only fiddle with when Create style sheets for your web you’re page with a few simple buttons tweaking the general design of your site, learning the options may be counter-productive. To help you out there’s a great page called the CSS Font and Text Style Wizard (http://somacon .com/p334.php), which will help you get the right look for your text and output the required CSS code with a few button clicks. From the same stable you’ll also find a Border Style Wizard (http://somacon.com/ p141.php) and a host of other handy links by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

Competition Win! 1 of 3 hosting plans and a domain name Web User and Future Internet Services (www.futureinternetservices.com) have teamed up to offer you the chance to win a full year of web hosting with your own unique .com, .biz, .info or .net domain name. Three lucky winners will each receive the Standard hosting plan, which boasts 200MB of disk space and 2,500MB of bandwidth allowance. This plan normally costs £22.99 per year. The prize also includes a domain name of the winner’s choice. Future Internet Services offers reliable web hosting, domain names and security products at exceptionally low prices. Future Internet Services offers short or long-term hosting, and allows payment via PayPal (monthly or quarterly) or debit and credit card (yearly hosting only). To enter, simply log on to the Web User website at www. webuser.co.uk/competitions/?id=386 and answer the question. Closing date is 12 January 2006.

Top 5

web-design discussion topics

1 Website promotion 2 Drop-down menus 3 Guestbooks 4 Music downloads 5 Dreamweaver help From Reader-helps-reader at www.webuser.co.uk/forums Share your site with other readers in our Readers’ Websites forum

19 December 2005

65

UCALL EMAIL OR FAX TO PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY

Head of Sales Chris Templeman, 020 7261 5634 Sales Executive Alan Clarke, 020 7261 2933 [email protected]

Phone 020 7261 2933 • Fax 020 7261 5353

WIN 1 of 5 Wedding Crashers DVDs! Starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as two bridesmaid-chasing philanderers, Wedding Crashers was one of the comedy hits of 2005. This DVD release comes with loads of extras, including commentaries from both actors.

The UK’s favourite online shopping search engine

www.shopping.net www.shopping.co.uk

To stand a chance of winning one of five copies we're giving away, just answer the question posed at www.webuser.co.uk/ competitions Wedding Crashers is out to buy from Wednesday 28 December through Entertainment In Video

Party Time!

PUT ON YOUR GLAD RAGS CHRISTMAS IS about eating and drinking too much and doing inappropriate things in front of your workmates, relatives and friends. There’s no party quite like a Christmas party, and here No longer just for brides and grooms, are some top sites to help you Confetti can help cater for any party organise your bash. Click on Celebrations for an imagination-boost from the site that has long since gone beyond its 'wedding stuff' remit. Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties get their own sections, crammed with checklists, entertainment tips and food and drink guides.

Cocktail UK www.cocktail.uk.com Don’t just serve mulled wine and mumsy eggnog at your party – click here for hundreds of cocktail recipes. The searchable database is easy to navigate, but if that’s too

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much trouble you could hit the Random button and hope for the best.

Kids' Party www.kids-party.com Home-grown site with loads of party ideas for games and themes to keep the anklebiters happy. Includes a search facility that covers venues, cinemas, entertainers, photographers and more.

Please mention √

Confetti www.confetti.co.uk

Change your life Your fortune starts here Visit www.fhtmuk.com/networking

when replying to adverts

$354,810.75 FROM TWO websites in 12 months! Copy the simple secrets of the marketers making thousands a month online . Free report www.copythegurus.com

WebUser TOP 10: ESSENTIAL PARTY CDs

1.Whatever You Want:

The Very Best of Status Quo •

2.60 Number Ones of the Sixties •

3.I Love the 90s •

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19 December 2005

4.Elv1s: 30 No. 1 Hits – Elvis Presley •

5.1 – The Beatles•

6.Divine Madness – Madness•

7. School Reunion – The 80s •

19 December 2005

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19 December 2005

8.I Love the 80s •

9.Abba Karaoke •

10.The Number One Swing Album •

(Source: www.amazon.co.uk Listmania)

19 December 2005

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Updat every isesude

user Webuser

≤

ESSENTIALS Our regular guide to the web’s best products and services

hardware ≥ USB MEMORY DRIVES

Corsair Flash Voyager, £43 (online price) www.corsairmemory.com

you can chat for free while you recline on your sofa.

Our rating ★★★★★ Firebox VoIP Cyberphone, £30

This 1GB device comes with a 10-year warranty, a neck strap, www.firebox.com a USB extension cable and is one One of the first consumer VoIP of the fastest drives around. handsets to arrive in the UK is ★★★★★ also one of the best, combining a Our rating simple yet attractive design with excellent value for money. Imation USB 2.0 Swivel

Flash Drive, £73

www.imation.co.uk This most diminutive of 1GB memory devices has an integrated top, so you’ll never lose it, and handy software for managing and protecting your data.

★★★★★ Our rating PDT VoIP Cyberphone Speakerphone, £40

Top choice ≥ VIDEO-EDITING SOFTWARE

Ulead VideoStudio 9, £49.99 www.ulead.co.uk With simple wizards for instant editing and a powerful set of tools offering more control, VideoStudio has most of the options you’ll need to get your video off your camera and into a format you can share with others, whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate home movie editor. Most of the elements are very easy to control. The instant-editing software speaks for itself, but unless you’re in a real rush or can’t be bothered, you’ll probably want to tackle the main editing software. This is broken down into stages so you can concentrate on one thing at a time. Though you’re

bound to spend the majority of your time in the editing section, it can help reduce other distractions when you’re simply trying to pull together a basic cut. Ulead has a habit of producing great software and positioning it at the lowest prices points. This videoediting software is no different, offering great functionality at a smashing price.

Our rating

★★★★★

www.pmctelecom.co.uk This silver Cyberphone provides the same functionality as the original handset, along with – you guessed it – a speakerphone.

Micro beats all competitors.

combines a PDA, a

but still provide excellent quality shots, you need look no further.

a random fashion.

www.flybook.biz

www.canon.co.uk

Slightly larger than its rivals but the H10 weighs a mere 96g and is slim enough to slide into the tightest of pockets.

Our rating ★★★★★ phone and a camera (still and video) in Our rating ★★★★★ Apple iPod Nano, £139 (2GB), one, but the pricing might put it out of ★★★★★ £179 (4GB) Our rating ≥ DIGITAL CAMERAS some people’s league. www.apple.com/uk Buffalo FireStix USB 2.0 Flash Kodak EasyShare LS753, £250 Like a Shuffle with a screen, ★★★★★ Our rating Apple’s Nano music player is Drive, £70 www.kodak.com small and sexy. Its flash memory Palm Treo 650, £199 with www.buffalo-technology.com The winning element of this comes in either 2GB or 4GB Although not the smallest of 1GB camera is its usability, which is contract capacities. second to none, though it also USB memory drives, it’s one of http://euro.palm.com/uk takes rather good snaps. the fastest, and has a switch Our rating ★★★★★ Bigger and bulkier than a letting you lock its contents to standard mobile phone, but so Our rating ★★★★★ avoid accidental deletion. crammed full of features you Apple iPod Shuffle, £69 could forgive it for being twice Our rating ★★★★★ Konica Minolta DiMAGE www.apple.com/uk the size. X60, £230 The top-selling musical marvel from Apple. No bigger than a Our rating Sony Micro Vault 1GB www.konicaminolta.co.uk ★★★★★ USM1GE, £85 If you’re after something that will pack of gum, these sleek, stylish slide into the smallest of pockets, devices play up to 240 songs in www.sony.co.uk Flybook, £1,399 Sony is known for quality and this memory drive reeks of it. It’s fast, it looks great but it’s got a high-end price tag to match.

★★★★★

Our rating

≥ VOIP HARDWARE

Olympia Cordless DUALphone, £74 www.dabs.com/3l27 Connecting to both a wall socket and your PC’s USB port, the DUALphone lets you make and receive calls to and from Skype users, landlines and mobiles.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating iRiver H10, £179 Canon PowerShot A520, £239 www.iriver.com A great camera, but you have to trade-off its size and shortage of megapixels with its extra optical zoom and high-quality snaps.

A cordless VoIP phone that isn’t tethered to your computer, so

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19 December 2005

The Flybook is an ultra-small (235 x 155 x 31mm) and ultra-light (1.2Kg) notebook you can take anywhere and can be flipped back on itself to turn into a Tablet PC.

★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ PSP, £175 Our rating ★★★★★ www.yourpsp.com Our rating Toshiba Gigabeat F20, £230 The latest must-have gaming gadget, the PSP can play HP Photosmart R817, £220 www.gigabeat.toshiba.co.uk www.hp.com/uk Excellent features and simple operation make this an ideal camera for the casual snapper.

Our rating

★★★★★

★★★★★ Our rating ≥ MP3 PLAYERS Linksys Internet Telephony Creative Zen Micro, £150 Kit, £100 http://uk.europe.creative.com www.linksys.com

★★★★★

It may not have the fashion icon status of the iPod, but for value and versatility the Zen

This is a handy 20GB player, especially if you’re looking for an iPod-like device that can be controlled from the likes of Windows Media Player.

Our rating

★★★★★

≥ GADGETS

T-Mobile MDA Pro, from £100 with contract www.t-mobile.co.uk This insanely useful piece of kit,

games, movies, music, pictures and even hook up to the net.

★★★★★ Our rating Motorola ROKR E1, £189 www.virginmobile.co.uk A mobile phone that integrates with iTunes, so you can listen to music, but is hampered by lack of storage capacity.

Our rating

★★★★★

Find the cheapest deals at www.webuser.co.uk/prices

websites

software ≥ VIDEO-EDITING SOFTWARE

Ulead VideoStudio 9, £49.99

≥ TRAVEL

Cybersitter 9, £22

handle a family’s worth of different email demands.

www.cybersitter.com

Our rating ★★★★★ Cybersitter sets up a powerful system shield, and scans for and removes objectionable material Our rating ★★★★★ Incredimail, free present on your hard disk. www.incredimail.com Pinnacle Studio Plus 10, Incredimail is simple to use and ★★★★★ Our rating it’s certainly lots of fun if you like £69.99 ≥ BLOGGING TOOLS to personalise everything. www.pinnaclesys.com This software is easy to use and ★★★★★ Blogger Our rating it can make editing video as easy www.blogger.com or as powerful as you want. Eudora, free Blogger’s main strength is its flexibility: your blog can be as ★★★★★ www.eudora.com Our rating simple or complex as you want. There are two free versions of Microsoft Movie Maker, free Eudora, one with adverts and the Our rating ★★★★★ other without. If you choose to go www.microsoft.com without adverts, however, you Stitch together basic video MSN Spaces

Pricebookers

www.ulead.co.uk

www.pricebookers.com

(See Top Choice, left)

A travel website that aims to make it easier for holidaymakers to find the best deals online.

straight to PC, without shelling out any cash.

lose some of its better features.

★★★★★

Our rating

★★★★★ Our rating ≥ WEB FILTERING Roxio Easy Media Creator 8, SurfControl CyberPatrol 7, £59.99 £22 per year www.roxio.co.uk

www.cyberpatrol.com

A massive suite of programs that also includes the latest version of VideoWave, Roxio’s video-editing software.

Packed with features, yet simple to use, CyberPatrol ensures safe surfing for all users of your PC.

★★★★★

Our rating

≥ FREE EMAIL SOFTWARE

★★★★★

Our rating

www.contentwatch.com

www.mozilla.org

Behind its simple interface, ContentWatch has a strong set of options for monitoring your family’s web activity.

Our rating

www.microsoft.com/uk The free email software that’s already on your PC and can

Our rating Xanga Classic

★★★★★

★★★★★

Our rating

www.xanga.com

Our rating JubiiBlog

The blogging service from Lycos is simple to use and designed for those looking to easily share their thoughts and feelings.

UK Online LLU Broadband 1000 with modem www.ukonline.net

Speed Service restrictions Set-up cost 1Mbps

2 PlusNet Broadband Plus (12-month contract) 2Mbps www.plus.net

Monthly rate

1st year cost

Unlimited Use

£29.99

£9.99

£149.87

30GB bandwidth

Nil

£14.99

£179.88

3

Tiscali 1Mb Broadband www.tiscali.co.uk

1Mbps

Unlimited Use

Nil

£15.99

£191.88

=

ToucanSurf 1Mb Unlimited www.toucantele.com

1Mbps

Unlimited Use

Nil

£15.99

£191.88

5

ToucanSurf 2Mb Unlimited www.toucantele.com

2Mbps

Unlimited Use

Nil

£16.99

£203.88

6

Tiscali 2Mb Broadband www.tiscali.co.uk

2Mbps

Unlimited Use

Nil

£17.99

£215.88

Data based on users paying by Direct Debit and requiring a broadband modem.

≥ Next Issue: Best broadband deals for light users

★★★★★

www.travelodge.co.uk The hotel chain’s website has special offers available for as little as £10 a night, as well as useful maps and route planning to your destination.

Our rating

★★★★★

Gain access to many key records needed for genealogical research – you could find 150 years’ worth of skeletons online.

Our rating

★★★★★

★★★★★ Google Local www.google.co.uk/local

Best broadband deals for heavy users (surfing 24 hours per day, file sharing, downloading and online gaming) 1

Our rating Travelodge

≥ INFO/EDUCATION ★★★★★ Ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk

broadband Package name

Another site to browse when you’re looking for holiday bargains offering flights, hotel bookings, package holidays and insurance.

Next time you go abroad why not take in a bit of culture? This guide has information on top events across the globe.

★★★★★ Our rating

Our rating

www.asda-travel.co.uk

www.whatsonwhen.com

www.jubiiblog.co.uk

Brightfilter is relatively new, but has the advantage over rivals of being UK-based.

★★★★★

★★★★★ Our rating What’s on When

Good new innovations and community features, but some of the best features cost money.

★★★★★ Brightfilter, £25 per year www.brightfilter.co.uk

Outlook Express, free

Easy to use and impresses through its integration with other Microsoft services, but there’s no scope for fine-tuning the appearance of your space.

ContentWatch ContentProtect, £17 per year

Mozilla Thunderbird, free Thunderbird takes the familiar look of Outlook Express and streamlines it, adding important, useful features without cutting back on anything.

http://spaces.msn.com

Our rating Asda Travel

Correct as of 6 December 2005 Data supplied by www.uswitch.com

A directory of business listings from Yell.com, linked with Google’s familiar interface and handy mapping.

Our rating Food4Thought

★★★★★

www.bhf.org.uk/food4thought A site for kids from the British Heart Foundation takes on the impossible task of suggesting that greens are good and chips are bad.

★★★★★ Our rating Get Safe Online www.getsafeonline.org A collaboration between various government agencies and companies, this site has loads of hints and tips to help you stay safe online.

Our rating

★★★★★

19 December 2005

73

EDITORIAL Editor Andrew Craig + Deputy Editor Claire Woffenden + Technical & Reviews Editor Andy Shaw + Features Editor Daniel Booth + News Editor Quentin Reade + Staff Writer Veronique De Freitas + Art Editor Jann Fabia + Senior Designer Sam Dorrington + Staff Photographer Alan McFaden + Production Editor Anthony Green + Senior Sub Editor Richard Lloyd + Editorial Tel: 020 7261 7294 Sorry, no technical or buying advice, for subscriptions call 01444 475675 ADVERTISING Email: advertising@web-user .co.uk Advertising Director Jean Christie + Advertising & Sponsorship Manager Nicola Ponting, 020 7261 6597 + Senior Sales Executive Lucy Ferguson, 020 7261 7539 + Sales Executive Paul Briggs, 020 7261 5605 + Advertising Production Stephen Turner, 020 7261 5513 CLASSIFIED Head of Classified Sales Chris Templeman, 020 7261 5634 + Sales Executive Alan Clarke, 020 7261 2933 INSERTS Innovator Sales Nick Barnard, 020 7261 7498 PRODUCTION Production Director Richard Hill + Production Manager Peter Wesson MARKETING & CIRCULATION Marketing Manager Mary Decinque, 020 7261 7615 + Circulation Executive Katie Sharp PUBLISHING TEAM Marketing/Publishing Director Angie O’Farrell, 020 7261 7294 + Managing Director Paul Williams + Origination FE Burman Ltd, Crimscott St, London SE1 5TF + Printers Southernprint, Upton Industrial Estate, Poole, Dorset + Cover printed by Wyndeham Litho, Grafton Way, West Ham Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, Hants

A look at the lighter side of the web www.webuser.co.uk/seenthis

CREATURE CAMS

Bullseye http://bullseye.itv.com Stay out of the black and keep in the red, there’s nothing in this game for two in a bed. Yes it’s an online version of the classic darts-themed TV quiz Bullseye. Bullseye Broadband, created to coincide with ITV’s 50th anniversary celebrations, features the opening credits and clips from the original show, with Jim Bowen uttering his famous catchphrases. At the moment, you can only attempt Bully’s prize board, but a ‘beefed-up’ version of the game, with real prizes, is due to launch this month. You can’t beat a bit of Bully!

Sudoku Challenge Here’s the latest grid in our series of Sudoku puzzles. You can also tackle a new Sudoku every day at www.webuser.co.uk/sudoku. ● The answer to this issue’s puzzle can be found at www.webuser.co.uk/answers

GIANT PANDAS

http://animal.discovery.com/cams/pandavidr.html Meet Mei Xiang and her five-month-old cub Tai Shan, much-loved residents of Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington. They looked a bit sleepy when we visited, but at other times you can catch them eating bamboo, scampering around and just looking pretty damn adorable.

BEAT WEBUSER: INFECT www.mindistortion.net/games/infect Can you beat our score of 20,046? If so, email the proof to daniel_ [email protected] and we’ll honour the best in Issue 127. Congratulations to Paul Fleet from Woking whose 561 was the highest score we received for Yahtzee (www.wartoft.nu/yahtzee), featured in Issue 123. ● Revisit previous Beat Web User games and high-scores at www.webuser.co.uk/beatwebuser.

THE

WHACKING CHALLENGE This issue’s challenge is to find a new Googlewhack containing the word: SASKATOONS

When you’ve found one, email it to [email protected]. Five randomly chosen Googlewhacks will be honoured at www. webuser.co.uk/googlewhack. In Issue 124 we asked you to find a Googlewhack containing the word ‘neatnik’. Our favourite was ‘neatnik saskatoons’.

Web User™ is an IPC Trade Mark © IPC Media 2005 Published on the Thursday as coverdated by IPC Country & Leisure Media Ltd, a part of IPC Media, a Time Warner company. Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford Street, London SE1 9LS (Tel: 020 7633 3333). © IPC Media ISSN 1473-7094. © Copyright IPC Media Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or system or in any means without the prior written permission of the publisher or the editor. This is considered a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs. This magazine must not be lent, sold, hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any authorised cover by way, or by trade, or annexed to any publication or advertising matter without first obtaining written permission from the publisher. IPC Media Ltd. does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited photographs, manuscripts and product samples.

Next issue on sale Thur 5 Jan 2006 ! SPECIAL ISSUE

74

19 December 2005

Don’t miss it!

■ Swap shop revival Sites for swapping unwanted gifts!

■ Phone a website We hunt down website contact numbers

WEBSITES

■ File squeezers Compression software on test

■ Domain names explained Know your .com from your .tv

Contents subject to change

Let us guide you through 2006 with a brilliant website for every day of the year

Plus:

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