HP's Snazzy Kitchen PC
The TouchSmart IQ816 PC is the big brother of the TouchSmart IQ506, and like its sibling, this model is an all-in-one PC with a touch screen that can work as its primary interface—perfect for the kitchen. The 25.5-inch widescreen is primed for HDTV content, with its built-in ATSC/HDTV tuner. It's a decent performer but loses a couple of points for being loaded with crapware.
The IQ816's real strength is that it's more touch-centric than its all-in-one rivals. This system has nearly the same build as its predecessor, with all of the internals placed behind the screen. The IQ816 is noticeably more responsive, working much like an iPod touch or iPhone. Also, HP enabled the input panel for handwriting recognition and on-screen keyboard functions by default.
But loading all these extra features has downsides, such as a longer hoot time and a taskbar littered with icons. Even so, once everything is loaded, the touch interface is snappy. Of course, you can still use the included wireless keyboard and mouse if you prefer.
With the IQ816, you can surf the Web wirelessly, leave handwritten notes to family members on the screen, play a Blu-ray movie, video-chat via the webcam, and more. You also get five USB ports, a FireWire port, 5-in-1 media-card reader, and a Pocket Media Drive bay.
In testing, the IQ816 showed passable scores on Photoshop CS3 and Windows Media Encoder test. The system's Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics are competent for just about every standard task except gaming. 
If you're looking for a kitchen PC, the IQ816 is a good choice. But for the bedroom or den, the Sony VAIO VGC-LV190Y is a better, if more expensive, option.—Joel Santo Domingo.
Specs: 2.1-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor; 4GB 667-MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 750GB, 7200-rpm SATA hard drive; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics card; Bin-ray drive; integrated 25.5-inch widescreen LCD monitor; five USB 2.0 ports; one FireWire port; integrated stereo speakers; Windows Vista Home Premium.
PC Magazine February 2009
HP TOUCHSMART IQ816
Sling Media Sling Catcher
Watch video from a Slingbox, USB device or PC
Sling Media is best known for its Slingbox devices that send television over the Internet. This new product, however, plays video rather than sending it.
The Sling Catcher needs to be connected to your network using an Ethernet cable, as there's no built-in wireless. It connects to your television via composite, S-video, component video or HDMI. and supports both standard Pal and high-definition (up to 1080i) TVs.
The Catcher has three modes. The first is to watch and control a remote Slingbox. We tried this with a Slingbox Solo. itself connected to a cable set-top box The results varied massively. With a fast network connection delivering video at 4Mbits/scc. the Catcher provided an excellent picture that looked every bit as good as the original, and using the remote to control the cable box worked fine. On occasions where the video stream stuttered down to below 200Kbits/sec, however, the results were unwatchable. You'll need a good home network to get the best from this mode, but we found that Sling Media's own powerline kit did the job.
The Catcher can also watch video sent from a PC's screen using the Sling Projector software. We were sceptical, but the results were impressive: the projector is easy to use and makes it easy to select an area of the screen to send. We projected a two-hour TV programme playing in Windows Media Player, and it only stuttered twice You'll need a fairly powerful PC to use the projector, though. The Catcher can also show video files on a connected USB device. This works well, with a wide range of formats supported. 
All in all, the Catcher is a good — if expensive — product for a niche market. If you have a Slingbox or want to watch online videos on a television, it does the job well On the other hand, we wish it supported UPnP streaming, as well as Sling's proprietary systems. Tom Royal.
Contact Sling Media
http://uk.slingmedia.com
Specifications Ethernet • 2 USB • Composite • S-video • Component video • HDMI • Stereo phono and
S/PDIF connections • Projector software requires 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo or 3GHz Pentium 4/Pentium M processor • 1GB Ram
Personal Computer World February 2009
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Trucall call screener
Telephone add-on blocks call you don't want and optionnally records those that you answer 
The need to screen unwanted phone calls was once largely restricted to celebrities and victims of malicious or demented callers. Now junk calls are becoming almost as overwhelming as spam email and are equally tricky to block The Truecall system is designed to do so with the minimum of hassle.
The basic setup could hardly be simpler. You plug a lead from the little Truecall box into your main phone jack and your phone or Dect base station into the box. After a few seconds your phone rings and you are prompted to record a greeting message for callers Pressing the star button during a call to or from a number will place it on a Star list of callers you will accept and pressing the hash key puts it on a Zap list of those you won't. Starred numbers are passed straight through and zapped numbers are either left unanswered (you can't hear the ringing) or played a message of your choice
Unrecognised callers, or those without Caller ID (which include all from overseas), are asked to identify themselves so you can choose whether to answer. They can be cut off if they don't reply, eliminating automated calls, including junk faxes.
Options too numerous to list here are designed to deal with just about any conceivable type of telephone nuisance. Configuration can be done on the keypad, or rather more easily via an indirect web interface on Truecall's remote server, which carries an annual charge of £15 after the first year This also allows you to simply paste in a list of Star or Zap numbers. Holding down a button on the Truecall box sets up a dial-up link that synchronises data with the server. 
You can pick up your messages remotely by calling your own number and calls can be recorded with the aid of an optional module . Clive Akass.
Price £97.50 (70-hour recorder module £24;140-hour £40; Optional server annual charge £15 after first year)
Contact www.truecall.co.uk
Specifications Recording software requires Windows XP or Vista • USB SD card reader supplied • Web access facilitates configuration but not absolutely necessary
Personal Computer World February 2009
This article is published in More Techs, Fun of IT and More of IT.
Leave Your Laptop at Home
These supercool and inexpensive mobile apps let your phone do double duty on the road
Lugging a laptop and searching endlessly for a Wi-Fi hot spot (not to mention paying an arm and a leg for Internet connectivity) could be a thing of the past for the savvy traveler. As cell phones become more powerful, so does the software that allows them to be more complex and useful.
Whether you have an iPhone, a BlackBerry, or just a basic smartphone, there are tons of apps (many for free) that can turn your cell into indispensible, multitasking travel companion. 
iPhone
Those who own an iPhone already know how handy it is when you're on the go. But you can also use it let friends know when you're coming to town with Facebook for the iPhone (free, go.pcmag.com/facebookiphone). And check your flight before you get to the airport with FlightTrack ($4.99) or FlightStatus ($4.99). If you want to find a good restaurant, hotel, or tavern, download Zagat To Go '09 ($9.99). And Cheap Gas! (free) will help you save money by doing just what it says (finding the lowest gas prices in the area you're traveling through).
BlackBerry
Fortunately for BlackBerry users, there's a onestop app for travelers called World Mate Live (free). With this powerful tool, you can create itineraries, use the hotel booking service, check the weather, see if your Hight is on time, and use the Connections feature to find people at your destination. Poynt (free) is a handy yellow pages for finding local businesses, and Where (free) is a great resource for exploring a city. It lists restaurants, nightlife spots, tickets, people, cheap gas, and more—and even helps you get there with turn-by-turn directions.
And speaking of getting there hassle-free TeleNav GPS Navigator (free 30-day trial, $9.99 a month thereafter) will make sure you never get lost with turn-by-turn onscreen and voice driving directions. 
Windows Mobile
Having trouble keeping all your paperwork organized when you travel? Use Evernote (free) for Windows Mobile to tag and organize important travel information online, as well as write notes to yourself. Metro (free) is a must-have for traveling to urban areas, because it gives you public transportation schedules for bus, train, subway, and more for most of the world's major cities. If you're stuck in the airport on a long layover, try Pocket Live TV 1.0 ($19.99), which lets you watch TV from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and more.
—Erik Rhey
PC Magazine February 2009
This article is published on More Techs, More of IT, and More IT News.
The latest version of Symantec's award-winning virus and spyware scanner
If you're happy using the Windows firewall or have another dedicated solution you're sticking to, anti-virus and anti-malware software is a must to shore up system security. Symantec has been at the forefront of this technology for some time and Norton Antivirus 2009 (NAV2009) adds a range of new features to address criticisms of both its own software and rivals in the same market.
First up is Norton Insight, an intelligence-driven technology that aims to save time by targeting high-risk files, which not only speeds up scans but means they aren't required as often. Automatic updates have been improved with the new rapid pulse system to ensure that your definitions are never more than 15 minutes old. The software has also been generally tweaked to give a better defence against web-based attacks and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of deep-clean scans.
All these updates (and there are more, which we'll highlight below) are welcome additions to an already impressive package whose interface now shows real-time CPU usage to underline the improved efficiency of the software. The main interface displays a reassuring green tick if all is well and allows you to switch each of the components on or off, run a scan or view recent activity and quarantined files. Custom scans can be created using a wizard-based approach and can now be configured to run when the computer is idle, and a silent mode prevents the software interrupting movies or games.
The comprehensive range of security on offer includes advanced heuristic protection, rootkit and stealthed item scanning and sonar protection which detects threats based on application behaviour without the need for a specific definition from an update.
Along with email, instant messaging, browser and intrusion protection it's a very reassuring collection of tools to guard against the latest threats. For those running a network in the home, the software will also monitor your wireless connection and provide remote monitoring for other computers on the network.
Scan results offer plenty of information on exactly what's been detected and why. and the security history dialogue offers further details for those who want to know more. Along with impressive usability and a nicely streamlined interface, Symantec offers both phone and online support if you get stuck or encounter a technical issue.
In terms of performance we did notice an improvement in both scan times and the load the software puts on your CPU when it's running. Though there were still some occasions when applications started to chug during a scan, the progress should make the software more appealing to those with older machines. The anti-virus tools are predictably top-of-the-line and have been certified by independent bodies VB100, W.C.L 1 and 2, and ICSA.
The rapid pulse feature also seemed to work well — rarely straying over 10 minutes and never past the quoted 15 minutes during our tests.
Overall, it's difficult to criticise any particular area of the software. While there are a few minor holes, such as the lack of parental control, it covers all the main requirements. However, it's the price that may put off those who prioritise value for money. While it is one of the best solutions of this type, NAV2009 costs around the same as some of the cheaper all-in-one suites out there. Paul Lester.
Contact Symantec
System requirements Vista Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Ultimate • XP with Service Pack 2 Home/XP Pro/XP Media Center Edition • 300MHz or faster processor • 256MB of Ram • 150MB of available hard disk space
Personal Computer World February 2009
This article is published on Software Review, More Techs, and More of ITs.
AMD Phenom II
The latest processor from AMD, in a PC near you soon
AMD's original 65nm Phenom CPU and Spider platform launches were a bit of a damp squib, neither really performing as well as they should. Much better things are expected from the desktop version of the new 45nm Shanghai server processor.
The new desktop part — codenamed Deneb — has a the size of 258mm containing approximately 758 million transistors, comprising four cores and will be better known as the Phenom II X4. It offers far better overclocking potential than the original Phenom. At launch in early 2009 there will be two speeds of processor, with many more set to come later in the year, forming part of AMD's new Dragon enthusiast's platform for 2009, which replaces the older Spider.
The faster of the two new processors is the Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition, which has a clock speed of 3GHz, while the slower Phenom II X4 920 runs at 2 8GHz. Both will fit in existing AM2+ motherboards with a Bios upgrade.
The new processors come with 512KB of L2 cache per core, for a total of 2MB. and there is a 6MB L3 cache shared between the four cores. The integrated 128-bit memory controller can be configured to read/write simultaneously for dual 64-bit channels and can run at speeds of up to 1.8GHz, supporting DDR2 memory up to PC2 8,500 (DDR2 1,066MHz).
Both the new processors have a voltage range of between 0.875 and 1.5V, and a quoted TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 125W. For a platform to earn the Dragon label it must contain an AMD Phenom II processor, an AMD 790 series chipset and ATI H04800 series graphics. Simon Crisp
Price Phenom II X4 940 £257.31, Phenom II X4 920,£220.89
Contact AMD
Specifications 2MB L2 cache • quad core • 128Mbits/sec memory controlled • 3GHz or 2.8GHz clock speed • TDP 125W • 45nrn process • Socket AM2+
Personal Computer World February 2009
This article ispublished on More Techs, More of ITs and More IT News.
Acer Aspire 6935G-844G32Bn
Launched in early 2008, Acer's Gemstone Blue range of notebooks has recently been refreshed to include Intel's Centrino 2 technology. The first example of the updated line-up we have seen is the Aspire 6935G-844G32Bn. a stylish 16in desktop replacement notebook that is crammed with features —and at an attractive price, just under £1,000.
The Gemstone Blue design results in a stylish notebook. The lid has a dark blue, high-gloss finish that is set off by a gloss black bezel and keyboard surround, with a matt black chassis bottom and grille above the keyboard. The wnstpad with its textured coating has been changed from the light grey finish of earlier models to a darker finish, making the whole thing look much classier when you open the lid.
Powered by an Intel Corc 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz) processor, backed by 4GB of 800MHz DDR2 memory, the 6935G has plenty of power to deal with everyday tasks and scores a creditable 5,862 in PCmark05 and 3,822 in the PCmark Vantage benchmark.
Powering the graphics is a 512MB Nvidia 9600M GT, which does give a fair bit of games playing potential (6,321 in 3Dmark06), albeit at lower resolutions and detail setting, but the 6935G is aimed more at being a multimedia notebook than a gaming one and in this respect the 16in 1,366x768 pixel resolution screen, with its 16:9 aspect ratio, is just the thing for watching movies on. It may not be full HD, but it's still good enough to watch DVD or Blu-ray movies using the built-in Blu-ray drive, or to watch TV on through the analogue/digital TV tuner card.
Aiding the movie or TV watching expenence is the audio subsystem. Two speakers are hidden under the grille above the keyboard, while the subwoofer is cleverly built into the screen hinge and the system supports Dolby Home Theatre.
The keyboard has good responsive keys, but the controls for the Acer Cine Dash force it off centre — and for the most part the jury is still out on the Cine Dash. While it does a good job of controlling your media content with responsive, touch-sensitive controls, we would prefer the space to be taken up by moving the keyboard to the left and using the space on the right-hand side for a full numeric keypad.
The touchpad features vertical scrolling and is pleasantly responsive to use, something that is aided by using the same textured coating as the rest of the wristpad. Sitting under it are two fairly small mouse buttons separated by a small fingerprint reader.
Storage is provided by a 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive, which sounds a lot but once you start downloading TV programmes you will soon find that filling up fast, so it's a good job the Blu-ray drive is also a DVD burner Built into the underside of the front panel is a 7-in-1 Flash card reader for easy access to your photos.
In terms of connectivity, all the usual suspects are there to help connect the 6935G to the outside world:
802.11a/b/g/Draft-N wireless networking via an Intel Wifi Link 5100 card, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR — and a good old-fashioned modem.
Battery life is disappointing, but it's debatable whether something that weighs 3.8kg (including power
brick) will be carried around all day. When we tested with the latest version of Mobilemark 2007, the six-cell 4,400mAh battery gave a life of one hour, 51 minutes for the DVD Playback test, two hours, 34 minutes for the Productivity test and three hours, two minutes for the Reader test. Simon Crisp
A laptop feast for movie buffs
Price £949.97
Contact Laptops Direct www.laptopsdirect.co.uk 0870 167 0818
Specifications Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2 26GHz) • 4GB 800MHz DDR2 Ram • Nvidia Geforce 9600GT graphics with dedicated 512MB video Ram • 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive • Blu-ray/DVD combo drive • Digital/analogue TV tuner • 7-in-1 card reader • HDMI out port •
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VIZIO SV42OXVT
Cheap Yet High-Tech HDTV
It is now common knowledge in the HDTV world that LCDs with fast 120-Hz refresh rates produce a better picture than those with the standard 60. Problem is, you usually end up paying a lot more for that better picture. But Vizio is bringing 120 Hz to the masses with the 42-inch SV420XVT. one of the most affordable LCDs of its kind on the market. You also get stylish modern design and a bundled HDMI cable. Aside from one notable flaw in the 120-Hz technology this HDTV is otherwise a winner.
A glossy black bezel surrounds the set's impressively thin ant ireflective screen (1.3 inches). With the stand attached, the set measures 27.2 by 39.4 by 9.5 inches (FIWD) and weighs 46.3 pounds. The bundled remote, which has a narrow baton-style design, can control a wide variety of VCRs, DVRs, cable and satellite set-top boxes, audio amplifiers, and additional televisions. This LCD's selection of HD video connections is similar to those of other premium HDTVs. but the location of some of its ports is a bit inconvenient for some home-theater configurations.
The 42-inch screen provides full 1080p resolution (1,920-by-1,080),and I was pleased that the VGA, HDMI, and component video ports were compatible with 1080p60 video signals. The set's HDMI ports also support 1080p24 input from compatible Blu-ray players. Al its highest resolution settings. 1080 i/p for increased detail and clarity, the set had no problems with overscan. However, I found the TV's out-of-the-box picture quality to be slightly off. Manually calibrating the TV's color temperature and other video menu settings resolved these problems.
The120-Hz LCD technology enhanced the detail and clarity of the rest it i ng picture, but jagged edges and related interlaced video artifacts remained visible. Also, in the Blu-ray version of Iron Man, several scenes caused the TV's interpolation function to fail, resulting in some obvious. distracting image corruption. Finally, if you fast-forward on a DVR. you'll find that the set will occasionally hiccup as the DVR returns to normal playback speed.
The SV420 XVT represents a solid improvement in HD picture quality for Vizio, even though the TV's full potential is realized only after professional video calibration. Overall, this HDTV offers a definite bargain for cutting-edge LCD technology—Robert Heron
PC Media January 2009
This article is published here, here and here.
PIONEER XMP3
To-Go Satellite Radio
Pioneer's XMp3 is the sequel to the Inno, XM Radio's laudable stab at integrating its satellite radio service into an MP3-player-size device. It was a terrific concept. and now Pioneer and XM have upped the ante with the XMp3, which is smaller, lighter, and features a microSD slot and new recording features. As its name suggests, the player also handles MP3s (and unprotected WM A files), but the screen has no video or photo capabilities—other than displaying station graphics. The XMp3 isn't without its flaws—spotty reception (especially indoors) and a jumpy control wheel, for example—but it's worth considering if you're into satellite radio.
Looking like a cell phone with a stubby, oldschool antenna, the 3.1-ounce XMp3 measures 3.6 by 2 by 0.6 inches (HWD). Its 2.2-inch screen displays still graphics only. The player conies with mediocre earbuds. a dock with an attaching antenna and a line-out-to-RCA cable, a remote control that's larger than the player itself, and a USB cable for PC file transfers. You get only 2GB of integrated storage. but there's a microSD slot on the top panel.
The controls and user interface are simple and intuitive, and the recording features are top-notch. The player can record up to five channels simultaneously and has a built -in DVR-like function to pause a live radio program and replay up to 30 minutes of it. One drawback is that you can't move recorded content from the player to your PC. Another shortcoming is that indoor reception is very poor unless you use the dock and external antenna. But for outdoor use it's an ideal choice for XM subscribers—albeitan expensive one. -Tim Gideon
PC Magazine January 2009
This article is published here, here and here.
How to Repair Optical Disc
CDs and DVDs are surprisingly tolerant of abuse, but there comes a time when your game, audio or movie discs simply won't play at all due to dirt or scratches. Here's how to repair minor glitches
In many cases discs can't be read simply due to an accumulation of dirt, grease and scuff marks caused by careless handling, as in the image above This stops the laser in the CD/DVD player being able to read the data through the transparent plastic layer that's on the data side of the disc. Luckily. light scratches and abrasions on the data side of a disc can usually be repaired. However, scratches on the label side of a disc (see picture above right) are irreparable.
The first thing to try when you're having disc problems - even if you think they're caused by a scratch or scuff mark - is a simple clean. Cleaning and lightly polishing the play side of a disc is often all that's
needed Inexpensive kits, such as Maplin's CD & DVD Cleaner & Restorer Polish (L4.99 from www.maplin.co.uk), work well, but there are plenty of others. Don't be tempted to wash the disc with detergent or tap water as you could make the problem worse, or even damage the label side.
The Maplin kit contains a cleaning spray of ispropyl alcohol that you spray onto the play side of the disc You should never use household cleaners or abrasives After 30 seconds or so the alcohol dissolves grease and grime, and you then simply wipe it off with the circular chamois pad. Alternatively, you can use a clean, dry lint-free cloth. It's very important to wipe the disc from the centre to the outside - don't wipe it in a circular motion as this can make matters worse. 
If cleaning doesn't fix the problems, polishing is the next stage. The Maplin kit contains polish plus an application cloth and chamois Apply a few drops of the special polish and rub it in radially with the cloth, let it dry and then buff the disc with the chamois. This will restore most light scuffs and abrasions. For deeper scratches you might need to resort to a cleaner such as the Skip Dr (around £14). This is a contraption that uses distilled water and a special resurfacing wheel that rubs the disc radially.
After spraying the disc with the cleaning fluid, pop it into the Skip Dr and turn the handle clockwise until the disc has turned through a complete revolution. Take it out, spray it again and repeat the process. Afterwards take the disc out and dry it with the microfibre cloth provided. You need to use the small buffing pad supplied to polish the disc. When buffing, make sure the disc is resting on a clean, soft surface. If the disc is badly scuffed you might need to repeat this process.
If none of these tips works, it's time for desperate measures. Brasso metal polish has been used for polishing plastic for many years, and it does work although it's a bit smelly. Using either the wadding version or liquid with a soft cloth, rub the offending scratches with Brasso in a radial direction from the centre of the disc until they smooth out. Let the Brasso dry before polishing it off with a microfibre cloth. If you can feel a scratch with your nail, then you probably won't be able to fix it.
Personal Computer World Febuary 2009
This article is published here, here and here.