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Techradar |
- YouTube getting rid of 15-minute video limit
- Review: Dragon Dictate for Mac
- 50Mbps wireless internet trialled in rural Wales
- 50Mbps wireless internet trialled in rural Wales
- Acer Revo 100 media PC unveiled
- Wikileaks: 'We neither condemn nor applaud DDoS attacks'
- Review: Linx Commtiva N700
- Teufel signs up Raumfeld for streaming products
- Teufel signs up Raumfeld for streaming products
- Sponsored: Get the VAT back with Sony this Christmas
- Sky, ITV and Channel 4 team up against FilmOn
- LG reveals new, extra-comfortable designer 3D glasses
- The TechRadar Christmas wishlist
- The TechRadar Christmas wishlist
- Windows 7 sails past 25% market share mark
- Windows 7 sails past 25% market share mark
- Tutorial: How to install laptop memory
- Tutorial: 15 handy Excel tips, tricks and techniques
- YouTube Android app gets a spit and polish
- Intel pins hopes on smartphones in 2011
- Review: Bohemian Coding Sketch
- Google Zeitgeist 2010 shows what the UK is searching for
- Review: Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe 2011
- Rubin: 300,000 Android activations every day
- Apple's head of gaming leaves company
| YouTube getting rid of 15-minute video limit Posted: 10 Dec 2010 01:37 AM PST  YouTube has revealed that the 15-minute limit for non-premium content on the site is being lifted, with select users allowed to take advantage of the change. YouTube's time limit has been in place since the site began back in 2006 and has stopped indie filmmakers and the like from uploading movies without going through the official channels. Commercially, the 15-minute limit has been relaxed for professional outlets like National Geographic and 4OD. New YouTube limits The main reason that YouTube has been able to relax the limit is because it seems to have got its copyright problems under control, so even though it will be possible for users to upload pirated movies, measures are in place to make sure this won't happen. For the moment the new video upload limits will only be offered to those who have never flouted copyright laws. 
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| Review: Dragon Dictate for Mac Posted: 10 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST  Dragon Dictate 2.0 – an update of the product previously named MacSpeech – makes nattering at your Mac a boon to productivity. Headphones and mic are provided in the full-price package, and on installation you go through a few minutes of training the software by reading short passages. You're then ready to use Dragon Dictate, either as a substitute for typing text or to navigate your Mac. Navigation performs well. You can open apps, activate menu items and dialog buttons, create emails, go to websites, and more. For many, this is a novelty, but if you find the keyboard-and-pointer combo tough to negotiate, the commands are useful. However, Dragon Dictate must recognise any word you choose to throw at it. And this is where its limitations appear. Because of the need to speak slowly and to indicate capitalisation and so on, we found it no faster than typing; and it made more mistakes than we did, not just forgivably confusing homonyms but sometimes introducing clumps of random letters. This means you have to check its output very carefully. The issue, though, isn't the accuracy of the speech recognition – it's the quality of your typing. If you're slow with the keyboard, a hopeless speller, or if you find speaking more natural than typing, you might find Dragon Dictate handy; but if typing is second nature to you, you might not. Related Links
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| 50Mbps wireless internet trialled in rural Wales Posted: 09 Dec 2010 07:49 AM PST  The possible next generation of mobile data signal is being tested in the UK by Arqiva and Alcatel Lucent. Long Term Evolution (LTE) masts have been put up in the Preseli Mountains in Wales, and will test whether it will be economically viable to get high-speed broadband wirelessly to homes with no fast internet connection. The trial will use the 800MHz spectrum left open by the digital TV switchover, which will go up for auction to network providers next year. Theoretical speeds The LTE mast is capable of supporting speeds of up to 50Mbps, but that's only the theoretical maximum and will likely be a lot lower in real-time use.' However, the 800MHz band can also travel further distances (and more easily penetrate walls and other immobile objects), allowing more users to receive the signal, which is pivotal in rural areas. O2 is also trialling a similar service, but only in the town of Slough, where Arqiva's efforts are directed at making superfast broadband a reality for country-dwelling folk. Steve Holebrook, MD of Arqiva's Government, Mobile & Enterprise business said: "Arqiva's heritage in rolling-out projects of critical national infrastructure is matched by our long-standing commitment to providing solutions that are universal in their delivery. "We firmly believe that the combination of LTE technology, the 800MHz spectrum and a neutral-host commercial model is the best way of providing rural communities with broadband quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively." 
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| 50Mbps wireless internet trialled in rural Wales Posted: 09 Dec 2010 07:49 AM PST The possible next generation of mobile data signal is being tested in the UK by Arqiva and Alcatel Lucent. Long Term Evolution (LTE) masts have been put up in the Preseli Mountains in Wales, and will test whether it will be economically viable to get high-speed broadband wirelessly to homes with no fast internet connection. The trial will use the 800MHz spectrum left open by the digital TV switchover, which will go up for auction to network providers next year. Theoretical speeds The LTE mast is capable of supporting speeds of up to 50Mbps, but that's only the theoretical maximum and will likely be a lot lower in real-time use.' However, the 800MHz band can also travel further distances (and more easily penetrate walls and other immobile objects), allowing more users to receive the signal, which is pivotal in rural areas. O2 is also trialling a similar service, but only in the town of Slough, where Arqiva's efforts are directed at making superfast broadband a reality for country-dwelling folk. Steve Holebrook, MD of Arqiva's Government, Mobile & Enterprise business said: "Arqiva's heritage in rolling-out projects of critical national infrastructure is matched by our long-standing commitment to providing solutions that are universal in their delivery. "We firmly believe that the combination of LTE technology, the 800MHz spectrum and a neutral-host commercial model is the best way of providing rural communities with broadband quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively." 
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| Acer Revo 100 media PC unveiled Posted: 09 Dec 2010 07:20 AM PST  The Acer Revo 100 PC has been launched, billed as a "sleek contemporary design with powerful multimedia capabilities." Boasting an AMD Athlon II Neo dual-core processor and feature the Acer clear.fi application that allows easy media sharing, this is a computer built for the living room and not the office. "Slim and elegant, the Acer Revo 100 is graced by a contemporary design and matte black finish, the Acer Revo 100 may be used on its removable vertical stand or be placed horizontally in a Consumer Electronic appliance tradition," stated Acer. RevoPad "Nicely concealed within its lean body is the innovative RevoPad, a dual-mode wireless touchpad. Press the toggle button to transform the RevoPad into a touch keyboard to easily type any amount of text with your fingers," the company added. The Acer Revo 100 also boasts Nvidia Ion graphics, an internal TV tuner and can come with either a DVD or a Blu-ray player (for mo' monty of course). The computer supports up to 4GB of DDR3, and storage up to 750GB, and had Windows Home Premium. The basic model starts at £599.99 and, guess what, prices increase as you up the specs. 
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| Wikileaks: 'We neither condemn nor applaud DDoS attacks' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 07:18 AM PST  Wikileaks has issued a statement regarding the recent spate of DDoS attacks on companies who are blacklisting the whistle-blowing site, distancing itself from what is happening. In the statement Wikileaks says it has no relationship with the people behind the attacks, noting: "These denial of service attacks are believed to have originated from an internet gathering known as Anonymous. "This group is not affiliated with Wikileaks. There has been no contact between any Wikileaks staffer and anyone at Anonymous. "Wikileaks has not received any prior notice of any of Anonymous' actions." Wikileaks hit worldwide infamy in November with the publication of 250,000 US Embassy Cables. Reflections of public opinion Online group Anonymous has targeted Mastercard, PayPal and State.gov in recent days with DDoS attacks on their websites. One of the 'hacktivists' involved said about the attacks: "It is definitely an information war. The core principle behind it is [that] information is free, governments keep information to themselves, Wikileaks releases them to the general public and the war occurs." Kristinn Hrafnsson from Wikileaks said: "We neither condemn nor applaud these attacks. We believe they are a reflection of public opinion on the actions of the targets." 
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| Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:48 AM PST  There are those who love Apple, and those who'll never buy anything that comes from Infinite Loop. However, everyone can agree on one thing about the iPad: As wonderful as it is, it's rather expensive. Cue the rush – just in time for Christmas – of Android-based tablets that aren't the iPad. There are loads to choose from: from the high-end, high-cost Samsung Galaxy Tab to the own-brand specials that are less than a hundred pounds. Somewhere in between the two extremes, you'll be seeing a lot of this fellow, the seven-inch Linx Commtiva N700. We say that because it's also known as the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 or the Commtiva FM6, and several other retailers are known to be interesting in slapping their badge on an OEM version, too. This is important, because the N700 is £100 cheaper than the Viewpad 7, despite being absolutely identical.
On top of that, the N700 comes with a 4GB microSD card where the Viewpad 7 features no storage in the box. Even when faced with an obvious choice like that, however, bagging a bargain Android tablet still requires caution. That's partly because Google itself doesn't reckon the latest available version of the operating system is up to running on devices larger than a mobile phone. As a result, implementation of the OS varies by manufacturer, and workarounds to get Android running on a tablet change from supplier to supplier. To say the quality is variable is like saying Philip Green has a patchy record on tax. There's also the question of Market access. As essential as the Android Market is to a tablet or smartphone, it's far from guaranteed that you'll be able to use it.
Without it, you're reduced to sideloading applications onto a device, running an alternative firmware or relying on the kind of Market-redux that AppsLib run, which is almost identical to the real thing in every way except that it doesn't have most of the well-known apps in it. Fortunately, from the perspective of a potential Android tablet buyer, the N700 gets all these basics right. It's running Froyo, the latest and fastest version of the operating system, and has access to the full Android Market. What's more, it's relatively well built and has a capacitive, multi-touch screen. Throw in the fact that it also has a 3G modem and it's got pretty competitive feature list compared to the iPad. Does that make it the Android tablet to own? The blocky design of the Commtiva N700 is much thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which also boasts a seven-inch screen but rivals the iPad for slimness.
The N700 is chunky, squat and uniformly deep. It looks and feels like a large notebook of the old-fashioned paper variety, an impression that isn't helped by the fact that it comes with a black folio binder to keep it in.
It's still not huge – compared to a netbook, it's tiny, and you could easily drop it in a bag or an overcoat pocket without noticing it's even there. Plus, it has Bluetooth on board, making it easy to hook up a wireless keyboard or headset, so it's a versatile companion that could quite easily double up as both a notebook and a phone (it can make standard calls).
One thing that's instantly noticeable is that there's not a lot else in the box. Syncing with a PC and charging the battery are both done over via a mini-USB port, so there's no separate power cable or docking lead to carry around with you. When it comes to overall design, the Commtiva feels lesser quality than its more expensive rivals such as the Galaxy Tab, but not outrageously so. The worst observation is that the glossy black plastic cover on the back isn't particularly well milled, with the kind of rough edges you might expect on a school ITC project. But again, you have to look hard to spot them. It's a nicer machine to hold than other budget tablets, such as the Advent Vega. The Commtiva N700 has a seven-inch capacitive touchscreen with a pixel resolution of 800 x 480. Obviously, it won't rival the Galaxy Tab's 1024 x 600 screen for pixel density, but it's easily sharp enough for reading full-size web pages in landscape or portrait mode.
It's responsive to gesture-based commands too, although it does slow down noticeably if there are more than a couple running in the background. Inside, there's an accelerometer, which automatically rotates the screen to the orientation you're using, with the exception of the Home page, which is frustratingly locked to landscape mode. What's more, there's a strip of on-screen controls for media and mail apps down the left-hand side that you can't remove for more space.
On the right-hand side of the Home page, however, things are much better. There are three buttons for the apps library, web browser and phone, while embedded in the black trim next to the glass there are four more soft buttons for Search, Home, Back and the contextual Settings menu. It's a good layout, and the only controls that we accidentally caught more often than we'd like are the volume ones along the top of the tablet. There's just 512MB of storage built into the N700, so you'll need a microSD card for any large apps or media libraries you want to carry with you. Commtiva supplies a 4GB card, which sits under a flap next to the SIM slot in the top of the device.
There are players for music and video, but the codec support for movie files is limited. Full Market access, however, means that it's easy enough to find an alternative that can handle the relatively common XviD or Matroska files for free. It's worth pointing out that the built-in speakers aren't terrible either. You probably won't want to use them to listen to a violin concerto, but they're bearable if you're streaming online radio, for example. A fair chunk of the available storage is taken up by a three month trial version of Co-Pilot's GPS navigation software. While upgrading to the full version is only £20, you could easily remove this for more space since Froyo's native turn-by-turn directions are almost as good as any dedicated sat-nav app, so long as you don't mind the fact they stream mobile data while you're driving.
Finally, the N700 comes armed with Swype's intuitive gesture-based on-screen keyboard. It won't be quite to everyone's liking, but can speed up one-handed typing of the non-euphemistic sort dramatically when you get the hang of it.
If the N700 was just the sum of all its parts, it would be exceptional value for money. For the most part, where there are flaws they aren't devastatingly bad ones. The screen doesn't have the wide viewing angles of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but it does the job. You have to put the tablet down flat and lay down next to it before it becomes unreadable. Likewise, you'll never use the N700 for professional photo editing – as you could just about get away with on the iPad. You do get some bland colours and a noticeable flicker while scrolling around images, but it actually isn't as distracting as you might imagine.
There's seamless integration with email, calendar and contact databases and plenty of messenger apps such as Fring and Skype in the Market.
There's no forward-facing camera, mind, which is a let down for video calling – although Android won't fully support that until the next release, and it's unlikely the N700 will be eligible for an upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread because of the CPU used.
While it doesn't outright stink, there is something of an odour about the processor. It's an ARM 11-based Qualcomm MSM7227 running at 600MHz, which might be fine for a smartphone but is the root cause of any real problems you'll have with the N700. Not only is it unlikely to meet the minimum specification for Gingerbread, Google has set a barrier of 800MHz as the least amount of power that a device must have before it's allowed to run the native Flash player.
As far as online video goes, that means you can watch YouTube using the pre-installed app, but any Adobe-based animations are out. So no iPlayer, no 4oD: no nuffink, guv. There's the Skyfire browser, which is a workaround for some sites, but iPlayer simply returns a 'phone not recognised' error when you try to access it in this way. The problems don't end there, either, because it isn't just Flash and Google restrictions that hold the N700 back. The cheaper Advent Vega has a dual-core Tegra system-on-a-chip with dedicated video processing capability, but the CPU in the N700 really struggles with the moving image in all its various forms. The default Android movie player chugs along and DVD rips quickly lose voice sync, and while there are some less resource-intensive players available in the Market that can just about keep up, they aren't without the occasional frame drop, or worse.
The slow processor also means some lock-ups and freezes when something is happening in the background, such as mail downloading. In terms of battery life, the N700 exceeds expectations. In moderate use, with Wi-Fi and push mail left on, you can get several days' worth of life out of a single charge. And if you do need to top up, the standardised USB port for charging is a Godsend.
There had to be something that let the Commtiva N700 down. If you want a cheap Android tablet and envision yourself using a tablet to catch up with old episodes of Dr Who in bed, you'll want to look for something like the Advent Vega. Otherwise, the balance of judgement is generally in the N700's favour. We liked: It's small, good looking and exceptionally smart. Most of all, though, it's well-connected and cheap. Every type of wireless connection you could possibly need is on board, including a 3G modem and GPS receiver, and all for cheaper than a SIM-free smartphone! The screen isn't the sharpest or most colourful around, but it's comfortable enough on the eyes for reading email, PDFs, web pages or eBooks, and full access to the Android Market gives you a decent range of games to play on it, too. It's a lovely device for tuning in to online radio, and if you're feeling particularly brave, you could even use it as a phone – although we'd recommend a Bluetooth headset. What's more, the battery life is good and there's a 4GB microSD card thrown in where more expensive rivals are memory-free. We also like that it has the Swype keyboard pre-installed. We disliked: There's just one thing that lets down the N700, but it's a serious problem: the processor is too slow. It's not that you can't get around the tablet quickly, although it can feel sluggish if you don't close down apps carefully, but it limits what you can with video to, well, almost nothing. Not being able to use the Android Flash player is bad, since that remains the Google operating system's biggest advantage (after cost) against the iPhone 4 and iPad. But the N700 struggles with local movie files too. It's not that we wanted it to be an all-capable HD entertainment device, but not having the option to watch even basic DVD rips without some dirty workaround is a let down. Verdict: So much about the N700 fulfils our expectations of a low-cost iPad alternative that it's almost painful not to be able to fully recommend it. We don't mind that it lacks the sophisticated design of the Galaxy Tab or even that the screen could do with being a bit sharper: the crippled video capability is going to be a deal breaker for a lot of people. Realistically, though, if you're going to pay £300 or less for a tablet, you're going to have to compromise, and you've got be honest about what you're prepared to give up. If you want a large screen, the fastest performance and top notch video, then you should be looking at the Advent Vega. But you won't get a modem or GPS with that. If it's a cloud-based workhorse that can connect from anywhere and has built in GPS, however, the N700 is a tablet with which you'll be practically pleased, rather than passionately possessed. Related Links
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| Teufel signs up Raumfeld for streaming products Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:24 AM PST  German audio company Teufel has bought Raumfeld GmbH – and will begin to sell streaming products under its banner. Raumfeld has established itself as a streaming product specialist, and Teufel is keen to leverage the brand. Thorsten Reuber, Executive Director of Teufel, explains the company's motivation: "The demands of the market have changed drastically in recent years. "Digital audio formats are becoming increasingly popular amongst customers, creating entirely new listening habits, which Raumfeld has engaged impressively. "In turn, this has affected the consumer electronics market. It is our intention to work with Raumfeld's technological know-how to set new standards by combining the advantages of digital audio formats and network technologies with the reputed quality of Teufel's sound systems." Spirit of innovation The Raumfeld team joined up with their Teufel colleagues in November and have apparently "brought their expertise and innovative spirit to Teufel's development and product design departments." Which will presumably come as a bit of a blow to Teufel's development and product design departments who probably felt they had expertise and innovative spirit of their own. 
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| Teufel signs up Raumfeld for streaming products Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:24 AM PST German audio company Teufel has bought Raumfeld GmbH – and will begin to sell streaming products under its banner. Raumfeld has established itself as a streaming product specialist, and Teufel is keen to leverage the brand. Thorsten Reuber, Executive Director of Teufel, explains the company's motivation: "The demands of the market have changed drastically in recent years. "Digital audio formats are becoming increasingly popular amongst customers, creating entirely new listening habits, which Raumfeld has engaged impressively. "In turn, this has affected the consumer electronics market. It is our intention to work with Raumfeld's technological know-how to set new standards by combining the advantages of digital audio formats and network technologies with the reputed quality of Teufel's sound systems." Spirit of innovation The Raumfeld team joined up with their Teufel colleagues in November and have apparently "brought their expertise and innovative spirit to Teufel's development and product design departments." Which will presumably come as a bit of a blow to Teufel's development and product design departments who probably felt they had expertise and innovative spirit of their own. 
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| Sponsored: Get the VAT back with Sony this Christmas Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:19 AM PST  This is a sponsored article in association with Sony This winter season has been cold but the economic climate in January is set to make things colder, with a VAT increase increase slated for January 2011. Lucky, then, that Sony has introduced its Get The VAT Back With Sony campaign. If you buy selected Sony products across all categories you will not just beat the rise but beat the winter blues by getting a VAT refund. From TVs to camcorders to laptops, Sony's Get The VAT Back means you will be able to bag a bargain right away. If, say, you decide to go for the superb 55-inch Sony NX813 3D TV, then you will get a whopping £466.66 off of its Sony Store price by claiming the VAT back. There's a multitude of Bravias, Vaios and Cybershots in the offer and you will even be able to get money back on Sony Reader and a whole host of camera accessories.
Once you've chosen which product you want to buy, either online or in store, simply log on to the Sony Get The VAT Back website and complete the VAT-back claim. All you need to do is download a form and post it to Sony with your receipt and guarantee. The Sony Get The VAT Back offer ends Christmas eve, so get down to a Sony store or log on to www.sony.co.uk now. 
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| Sky, ITV and Channel 4 team up against FilmOn Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:59 AM PST  UK-based IPTV venture FilmOn is under fire again, with Sky, ITV and Channel 4 threatening the site with legal action. FilmOn has been around since 2009 and is the brain child of billionaire movie producer Alki David. In September it was celebrating being the first IPTV venture to release TV feeds in HD in the US. However, a month later the big boys of American TV networks – Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC – managed to get the site to turn off its web streams of their channels. These feeds were halted due to copyright problems. When the US networks issued a lawsuit, David said at the time: "It's all just semantics. People need to stop being afraid of opening up doors to digital technology." Not an authorised service This hasn't happened and now UK broadcasters have got involved, with ITV saying in a statement: "FilmOn is not an authorised service and we reserve the right to pursue any site or service we believe to be infringing our copyright or using our content in an unlicensed, illegal capacity." The problem seems to be that FilmOn is rebroadcasting live TV over the web without the permission of the channels. When it comes to free-to-air channels, David believes the site is doing nothing wrong, explaining: "There is no difference between the Internet and satellite. "There's little difference between having a digital television box (and having television delivered through a computer)." It's now up to the courts to decide if this is the case. 
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| LG reveals new, extra-comfortable designer 3D glasses Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:18 AM PST Next year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is just around the corner, with 3D TV manufacturer LG revealing this week that it intends to launch a new range of designer 3D specs. LG's new 3D specs will ship with its new LG 3D TV range, of which we expect to see and hear a lot more about in Vegas next month.
LG wants to make 3D TV a more stylish viewing experience, particularly for those fashionistas that might not like the nerd-core look of the current 3D specs design, by hiring designer Alain Mikli to help create its new range of 3D glasses. Mikli, for those that don't know, is a 'world-renowned French eyewear designer' with exclusive boutiques in New York, Paris and Milan. He has crafted the ergonomically designed 3D specs for LG from select metals and claims that the glasses have an optimum weight ratio which will make them far more comfortable to wear throughout lengthy 3D Blu-ray sessions at home next year. The glasses-designer has also fitted a nose pad on the front, so that the glasses sit more comfortably on the old beak, along with extra long tips so that they fit around the viewer's head more easily. Expect to hear a lot more from LG on its latest 3D TV range from CES 2011 in Las Vegas in early January. 
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| The TechRadar Christmas wishlist Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:12 AM PST  As you may have noticed from the two months of Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby being rammed down our ears by shops, Christmas is nearly upon us, so the TechRadar team has gathered together and put together our festive wish lists. We're reliably informed that Santa will only provide presents if we've been 'nice' so we're not holding out too much hope, but you never know your Christmas luck. Of course, when certain people on the team start putting massive televisions on their lists, you could accuse us off of missing the spirit of Christmas, but we'll debate that when we're trying to simultaneously unwrap a purple Quality Street and watch the footy in glorious 3D. So, without further ado, here's what each member of the TechRadar team wants to find in their (oversized) stockings ahead of the Turkey dinner and (non 3D, thankfully) Queen's speech. Patrick Goss, Editor (London)
Apple iPad The perfect present; I wouldn't buy it for myself, but it's the kind of gadget I'd be overjoyed to find in my Christmas stocking. When you factor in things like the forthcoming Virgin Media TiVo app which turns it into the ultimate remote control, and the potential advantages it will give me in Angry Birds and Bejewelled 3 then it's a winner.
Kinect for Xbox 360 The launch games may be a bit lame, but the kit itself has oodles of potential for the future. Microsoft's motion/voice controller is all about the future - and it's rightly selling like hotcakes. Plus, it should keep the in laws busy for a while as I snaffle a few more mince pies.
Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 The perfectionist devs at Polyphony may have delayed this for the best part of five years, but the end product is wonderful, and perhaps even worth the wait. The doyenne of racing games, Gran Turismo 5 is as close as you are likely to get to driving a supercar around a race track.
Google Nexus S I was still trying to decide if I preferred the iPhone 4 or the Samsung Galaxy S better when Google's latest handset popped up and dived straight into my wish list. Curvy, fast and, erm, Androidy, this could be a key handset in 2011.
Alienware M11X Obviously Santa would have to be sporting the red, fur-lined trousers with the very deep pockets if he were to provide me with this gaming notebook. But if he should happen to furnish me with this delight of portable(ish) gaming technology, then I could merrily frag my way through Team Fortress for the entirety of Boxing Day.
Dan Grabham, Deputy Editor, Bath
Samsung Galaxy S I have an iPhone 4, but the Galaxy S has given me Android envy. The hardware is superb. Android itself still has a little way to go for me – the apps are plentiful but often substandard while I think Android is becoming far too fragmented already. Still, Samsung's best-ever handset (and yes, that includes the Google Nexus S).
Apple iPad The iPad remains an expensive luxury but I still want one – though I'll probably wait for iPad 2 now of course. The bizarre thing about the iPad is that it has become even stronger since it was released – we haven't seen anything that even comes close. The Samsung Galaxy Tab was a particular disappointment, but I'm sure Android 3.0 will change things.
Revo Heritage or Axis I've got iPhone docs and I've got a digital radio. But I listen to a lot of stuff on Spotify Mobile now and listening in the kitchen is a bit of a problem – I want to replace the old DAB with one of these two excellent models so I can hook up my iPhone 4. The Heritage looks super-cool, but I'd make do with the Axis.
Samsung LED TV Now I would say I want the LED 9000 Series, but I wouldn't be that greedy, especially as I still have a massive CRT TV and would probably have to make do with a 40-inch because of the size of my room. Ideally the UE40C8000, but pretty much any of Samsung's LED ranges will do (as long as it has Internet@TV of course).
Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV I don't have Sky at the moment, so for most football, I pop to the pub or round a friend's. I'd like a sub to Sky Player so I can watch some midweek games on the web. Failing that, I'll take Sky Mobile TV instead so I can watch it on the iPad.
Marc Chacksfield, Deputy Editor, London
EA Sports Active 2 Wii Fit may have piqued most gamers' keep-fit interests with its balance board and the like, but EA Sports Active 2 takes fitness games to another level. If you can forgive the strapping on of sensors that make you look like you are on day release, EA Sports Active 2 will give you a proper workout in your front room. This includes putting your fitness data online and giving you a total workout plan. Add to that a heart rate monitor and you'll never have to run beside the smelly guy at the gym again.
Philips O'Neill Stretch TR-55LX headphones Made from material stronger than your average Schwarzenegger (pre Governator), Philips and O'Neill have put their collective heads together and come up with the toughest headphone range around. The plastic used to create companies' cans is something called TR55LX, a substance than six times stronger than your average earphone.They're like the kid in school that nobody dared look at, just in case they were in the mood to use your head as a conker.
Dave The Funky Monkey I know what you're thinking: just how funky is Dave the Funky Monkey? Is he on a par with James Brown, up there with George Clinton and ready to give Marky Mark and his bunch a run for their money? In a word, no, but he will interact with you and he can laugh, fart and burp, which inevitably means he's set to be the must-have toy for Christmas this year. Controlled electronically, Dave (yes, I am on first-name terms) has more brain power than your average TechRadar journo.
Arcam rCube The Arcam rCube has been three years in the making, with the audio company seemingly hell bent on not putting out an iPod dock until it was positive that the product was ready to blow the socks off the opposition. Lucky, then, the Arcam rCube does just that. From its brilliant block design to its meaty power, the rCube is one of the best audio player we have seen for the iPod. At £500 it's pricey, but the rCube for looks alone is deserving of every penny.
Sony Reader PRS-650 Touch The Kindle may be the ebook reader of choice at the moment, but it's the new Sony Reader Touch that's caught my eye. The ability to swipe through pages and the build of the device is far superior to Amazon's effort, but then again the price does reflect this. It's the first ebook reader – and the fact that I'm running out of space – to have me seriously considering giving up buying real books.
James Rivington, Reviews Editor, Bath
Panasonic TX-P65VT20B I want this one bad, but not because it's the best 3D TV on the market. Forget 3D, I want it because it's arguably the best 2D TV too. OK, so I haven't got room for it in my living room. I probably couldn't even get it up the stairs into my top-floor flat. But I still want it, and I'd smash out the side of the building and winch it up with my bare hands if I had to.
Kinect for Xbox 360 This one's going to be on a lot of Christmas wish lists this year. I'm still not convinced by Kinect, but I can't ignore the fact that almost every person I've played it with so far seems to think it's the best thing to happen to gaming since Mother Teresa Mud Wrestling on the N64.
iPhone 4 Noooooooo. I never thought I'd say it, but I really want an iPhone. I'm using an Android phone at the moment, the exact model of which shall remain anonymous (OK, it's a Galaxy S) and while most of the time it's a super phone, the occasional lag and lock-up issues are infuriating. It just highlights for me how great the iPhone really is.
Sky Player For anyone who lives in a listed building like I do (and are thus unable to stick a satellite dish to the side of it), Sky Player is a godsend. The service is almost bulletproof, the picture quality is fantastic – especially on a TV screen – and it's becoming available on a variety of living room devices such as Freeview+ boxes and the like.
Android tablet Last but not least, I'd love a fully-optimised super-awesome Android tablet to seriously rival the iPad for my time. Sadly, such a device does not exist yet. Roll on 2011, Android 3.0 and some interesting hardware…
Gareth Beavis, Phones Editor, London
Plantronics BackBeat 903+ Bluetooth headphones These hooked wireless headphones are the only things that I can wear that don't fall off when I breathe - and for that alone they're a Godsend. But beyond that, they're ace for controlling music and calls, and you can even be heard by your friends when they call you on the train - although you look like you're talking to yourself. I've been using the BackBeat 903's, but the 903+ versions add in some much-needed sweat resistance and can also show off its battery meter on the iPhone display - handy when you're about to run out of juice.
AR.Drone Who doesn't want an iPhone/iPod/iPad-controlled quadricopter with two cameras and augmented reality apps strapped on? You're right - nobody. Sure, it's pricey at £299, and I'll probably pitch it into the nearest duck pond on Christmas day, but this is one of those gifts that you'd actually play with all day and annoy your Nan - you know, like when we were kids.
Sumo Gigantor Stuff all the HD TVs and Blu-rays and all that - they're worth nothing if you're not lounging in comfort (and preferably wearing only underwear) while using them. The best way to do that? A bean bag - and Sumo's Gigantor is not only named like a Transformer villain but is absolutely massive, measuring seven feet across.
Logitech Harmony 1100 Universal Remote The need for a dedicated universal remote in my house is horrendous - remotes for a TV, PS3, AV receiver, Archos and projector litter the place, and that's just the front room. Logitech's touchscreen devices are just the ticket for such a situation - not only can they handle up to 15 units, but a touchscreen also allows you to navigate through different functions. Both the Harmony One and Harmony 1100 were up for a space under the tree, but it was the 3.5-inch touchscreen than swung it for me - plus it just looks more like something a gadget fiend should own.
Dell Streak As Phones Editor, I had to include at least one mobile phone - in honesty, I could have filled all five slots with 2010's hottest handsets. But I think I've gone for a very left-field choice here - the simply ginormous Dell Streak has somehow snuck its way into my affections and won't leave. The five inch screen is perfect for viewing videos, playing Angry Birds and browsing the web - it's like a tablet that's (just about... sort of) small enough to fit in the pocket. I could have chosen the Galaxy S, HTC Desire or even the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini - but I can't help but love the Dell Streak now it's up to Android 2.2.
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| The TechRadar Christmas wishlist Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:12 AM PST As you may have noticed from the two months of Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby being rammed down our ears by shops, Christmas is nearly upon us, so the TechRadar team has gathered together and put together our festive wish lists. We're reliably informed that Santa will only provide presents if we've been 'nice' so we're not holding out too much hope, but you never know your Christmas luck. Of course, when certain people on the team start putting massive televisions on their lists, you could accuse us off of missing the spirit of Christmas, but we'll debate that when we're trying to simultaneously unwrap a purple Quality Street and watch the footy in glorious 3D. So, without further ado, here's what each member of the TechRadar team wants to find in their (oversized) stockings ahead of the Turkey dinner and (non 3D, thankfully) Queen's speech. Patrick Goss, Editor (London)
Apple iPad The perfect present; I wouldn't buy it for myself, but it's the kind of gadget I'd be overjoyed to find in my Christmas stocking. When you factor in things like the forthcoming Virgin Media TiVo app which turns it into the ultimate remote control, and the potential advantages it will give me in Angry Birds and Bejewelled 3 then it's a winner.
Kinect for Xbox 360 The launch games may be a bit lame, but the kit itself has oodles of potential for the future. Microsoft's motion/voice controller is all about the future - and it's rightly selling like hotcakes. Plus, it should keep the in laws busy for a while as I snaffle a few more mince pies.
Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 The perfectionist devs at Polyphony may have delayed this for the best part of five years, but the end product is wonderful, and perhaps even worth the wait. The doyenne of racing games, Gran Turismo 5 is as close as you are likely to get to driving a supercar around a race track.
Google Nexus S I was still trying to decide if I preferred the iPhone 4 or the Samsung Galaxy S better when Google's latest handset popped up and dived straight into my wish list. Curvy, fast and, erm, Androidy, this could be a key handset in 2011.
Alienware M11X Obviously Santa would have to be sporting the red, fur-lined trousers with the very deep pockets if he were to provide me with this gaming notebook. But if he should happen to furnish me with this delight of portable(ish) gaming technology, then I could merrily frag my way through Team Fortress for the entirety of Boxing Day.
Dan Grabham, Deputy Editor, Bath
Samsung Galaxy S I have an iPhone 4, but the Galaxy S has given me Android envy. The hardware is superb. Android itself still has a little way to go for me – the apps are plentiful but often substandard while I think Android is becoming far too fragmented already. Still, Samsung's best-ever handset (and yes, that includes the Google Nexus S).
Apple iPad The iPad remains an expensive luxury but I still want one – though I'll probably wait for iPad 2 now of course. The bizarre thing about the iPad is that it has become even stronger since it was released – we haven't seen anything that even comes close. The Samsung Galaxy Tab was a particular disappointment, but I'm sure Android 3.0 will change things.
Revo Heritage or Axis I've got iPhone docs and I've got a digital radio. But I listen to a lot of stuff on Spotify Mobile now and listening in the kitchen is a bit of a problem – I want to replace the old DAB with one of these two excellent models so I can hook up my iPhone 4. The Heritage looks super-cool, but I'd make do with the Axis.
Samsung LED TV Now I would say I want the LED 9000 Series, but I wouldn't be that greedy, especially as I still have a massive CRT TV and would probably have to make do with a 40-inch because of the size of my room. Ideally the UE40C8000, but pretty much any of Samsung's LED ranges will do (as long as it has Internet@TV of course).
Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV I don't have Sky at the moment, so for most football, I pop to the pub or round a friend's. I'd like a sub to Sky Player so I can watch some midweek games on the web. Failing that, I'll take Sky Mobile TV instead so I can watch it on the iPad.
Marc Chacksfield, Deputy Editor, London
EA Sports Active 2 Wii Fit may have piqued most gamers' keep-fit interests with its balance board and the like, but EA Sports Active 2 takes fitness games to another level. If you can forgive the strapping on of sensors that make you look like you are on day release, EA Sports Active 2 will give you a proper workout in your front room. This includes putting your fitness data online and giving you a total workout plan. Add to that a heart rate monitor and you'll never have to run beside the smelly guy at the gym again.
Philips O'Neill Stretch TR-55LX headphones Made from material stronger than your average Schwarzenegger (pre Governator), Philips and O'Neill have put their collective heads together and come up with the toughest headphone range around. The plastic used to create companies' cans is something called TR55LX, a substance than six times stronger than your average earphone.They're like the kid in school that nobody dared look at, just in case they were in the mood to use your head as a conker.
Dave The Funky Monkey I know what you're thinking: just how funky is Dave the Funky Monkey? Is he on a par with James Brown, up there with George Clinton and ready to give Marky Mark and his bunch a run for their money? In a word, no, but he will interact with you and he can laugh, fart and burp, which inevitably means he's set to be the must-have toy for Christmas this year. Controlled electronically, Dave (yes, I am on first-name terms) has more brain power than your average TechRadar journo.
Arcam rCube The Arcam rCube has been three years in the making, with the audio company seemingly hell bent on not putting out an iPod dock until it was positive that the product was ready to blow the socks off the opposition. Lucky, then, the Arcam rCube does just that. From its brilliant block design to its meaty power, the rCube is one of the best audio player we have seen for the iPod. At £500 it's pricey, but the rCube for looks alone is deserving of every penny.
Sony Reader PRS-650 Touch The Kindle may be the ebook reader of choice at the moment, but it's the new Sony Reader Touch that's caught my eye. The ability to swipe through pages and the build of the device is far superior to Amazon's effort, but then again the price does reflect this. It's the first ebook reader – and the fact that I'm running out of space – to have me seriously considering giving up buying real books.
James Rivington, Reviews Editor, Bath
Panasonic TX-P65VT20B I want this one bad, but not because it's the best 3D TV on the market. Forget 3D, I want it because it's arguably the best 2D TV too. OK, so I haven't got room for it in my living room. I probably couldn't even get it up the stairs into my top-floor flat. But I still want it, and I'd smash out the side of the building and winch it up with my bare hands if I had to.
Kinect for Xbox 360 This one's going to be on a lot of Christmas wish lists this year. I'm still not convinced by Kinect, but I can't ignore the fact that almost every person I've played it with so far seems to think it's the best thing to happen to gaming since Mother Teresa Mud Wrestling on the N64.
iPhone 4 Noooooooo. I never thought I'd say it, but I really want an iPhone. I'm using an Android phone at the moment, the exact model of which shall remain anonymous (OK, it's a Galaxy S) and while most of the time it's a super phone, the occasional lag and lock-up issues are infuriating. It just highlights for me how great the iPhone really is.
Sky Player For anyone who lives in a listed building like I do (and are thus unable to stick a satellite dish to the side of it), Sky Player is a godsend. The service is almost bulletproof, the picture quality is fantastic – especially on a TV screen – and it's becoming available on a variety of living room devices such as Freeview+ boxes and the like.
Android tablet Last but not least, I'd love a fully-optimised super-awesome Android tablet to seriously rival the iPad for my time. Sadly, such a device does not exist yet. Roll on 2011, Android 3.0 and some interesting hardware…
Gareth Beavis, Phones Editor, London
Plantronics BackBeat 903+ Bluetooth headphones These hooked wireless headphones are the only things that I can wear that don't fall off when I breathe - and for that alone they're a Godsend. But beyond that, they're ace for controlling music and calls, and you can even be heard by your friends when they call you on the train - although you look like you're talking to yourself. I've been using the BackBeat 903's, but the 903+ versions add in some much-needed sweat resistance and can also show off its battery meter on the iPhone display - handy when you're about to run out of juice.
AR.Drone Who doesn't want an iPhone/iPod/iPad-controlled quadricopter with two cameras and augmented reality apps strapped on? You're right - nobody. Sure, it's pricey at £299, and I'll probably pitch it into the nearest duck pond on Christmas day, but this is one of those gifts that you'd actually play with all day and annoy your Nan - you know, like when we were kids.
Sumo Gigantor Stuff all the HD TVs and Blu-rays and all that - they're worth nothing if you're not lounging in comfort (and preferably wearing only underwear) while using them. The best way to do that? A bean bag - and Sumo's Gigantor is not only named like a Transformer villain but is absolutely massive, measuring seven feet across. I'm not sure if the bean bag comes complete with the lounging model - but I'm praying Santa thinks I've been good enough to add her in too.
Logitech Harmony 1100 Universal Remote The need for a dedicated universal remote in my house is horrendous - remotes for a TV, PS3, AV receiver, Archos and projector litter the place, and that's just the front room. Logitech's touchscreen devices are just the ticket for such a situation - not only can they handle up to 15 units, but a touchscreen also allows you to navigate through different functions. Both the Harmony One and Harmony 1100 were up for a space under the tree, but it was the 3.5-inch touchscreen than swung it for me - plus it just looks more like something a gadget fiend should own.
Dell Streak As Phones Editor, I had to include at least one mobile phone - in honesty, I could have filled all five slots with 2010's hottest handsets. But I think I've gone for a very left-field choice here - the simply ginormous Dell Streak has somehow snuck its way into my affections and won't leave. The five inch screen is perfect for viewing videos, playing Angry Birds and browsing the web - it's like a tablet that's (just about... sort of) small enough to fit in the pocket. I could have chosen the Galaxy S, HTC Desire or even the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini - but I can't help but love the Dell Streak now it's up to Android 2.2.
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| Windows 7 sails past 25% market share mark Posted: 09 Dec 2010 04:57 AM PST  Microsoft is celebrating this week, after new stats show Windows 7 is rapidly increasing its presence on the PC market. Windows 7 has now nabbed 25 per cent of the PC market, with Windows XP slipping to 50 per cent. The new stats are from Statscounter.com and its inevitable that Windows 7 adoption will just keep growing. All systems are go It's estimated that Windows 7 will reach 300 million licenses by the end of the year, having sold over 240 million back in October. Add to this the fact that 93 per cent of all new PCs will have Windows 7 pre-installed on a whopping 93 per cent of all new PCs. 
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| Windows 7 sails past 25% market share mark Posted: 09 Dec 2010 04:57 AM PST Microsoft is celebrating this week, after new stats show Windows 7 is rapidly increasing its presence on the PC market. Windows 7 has now nabbed 25 per cent of the PC market, with Windows XP slipping to 50 per cent. The new stats are from Statscounter.com and its inevitable that Windows 7 adoption will just keep growing. All systems are go It's estimated that Windows 7 will reach 300 million licenses by the end of the year, having sold over 240 million back in October. Add to this the fact that 93 per cent of all new PCs will have Windows 7 pre-installed on a whopping 93 per cent of all new PCs. 
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| Tutorial: How to install laptop memory Posted: 09 Dec 2010 04:50 AM PST  Upgrading your laptop memory is the easiest way to get a real and relatively cheap performance boost. If you're struggling along with a system running 1GB or less then dropping in extra memory will help it run a lot more smoothly and finish tasks faster. The reason is that extra memory helps cut-down unnecessary hard drive access. When Windows runs out of real-memory to store application and system data it has to resort to temporarily using the hard drive. This takes hundreds of times longer and is a key reason you can end up sat there twiddling your thumbs when switching between tasks. As we're going to show you, a laptop memory upgrade can be easy and relatively cheap to do, starting at under £15. One important issue is the 4GB limit of some Windows versions. We'll explain - Windows comes in two different types, 32-bit and 64-bit versions. For a system to fully access more than 4GB it has to use the 64-bit version of Windows. Read this from Microsoft for more details. So, on with the upgrade! 1. Find what you want
Before you can buy a memory upgrade you need to know what type and how much memory you need. The internet makes this easy thanks to the raft of memory selectors. These reduce the process of finding out what memory you need to entering the type of device to upgrade, the manufacturer and model. You'll then be told what type of memory it takes and how much you can install. But there's more. 2. The jargon
The search will return a number of useful bits of information such as the maximum total memory support, the number of memory slots and the number that are free. Also important is the type of memory you need. However, most memory selectors will suggest compatible upgrades, so that's less vital at this stage. 3. Making a choice
The confusing part at this stage is knowing which memory slots may or may not be available. You could just open up the memory panel and look. Alternatively, download CPU-Z and use its SPD tab to check the state of each memory slot. If you just want to find the maximum installed memory, open the Start Menu, right-click the My Computer item and select Properties to see how much is already installed. 4. Single vs Dual
When choosing how much memory to add, it's worth keeping in mind that many newer Intel-based laptops can use dual-channel memory, this means adding 'matched-pairs' - two separate bits - of memory gives you extra performance, as they can work in tandem. For example, instead of buying a single 2GB memory stick, you would buy two identical – matching-pairs – of 1GB memory sticks, adding up for a total upgrade of 2GB. 5. Know your enemy
So now you should have an idea of how much memory you need. If you have an unknown system you can still work out the type of memory from the installed SODIMMs and buy similar memory. Laptops use the physically smaller SODIMMs and the most common technologies are DDR2 and DDR3. Outdated models you may still come across are DDR(1) and SDRAM. Each type is physically and electrically incompatible, keyed notches prevent installing the wrong type of memory so don't even try it! 6. Installing the memory
To start disconnect the laptop from the mains and remove its battery (obviously shut down the laptop properly first). An antistatic wristband is preferable but touching a radiator or any large metallic object will discharge static from your body. Locate the memory panel on the base of the laptop and remove its screws. 7. The memory slots
SODIMM slots have to metal clips at either end to secure the memory in place. If you're replacing existing memory, gently push both of these back and the memory will pop up and can be removed. 8. Insert the new memory
Match the notch on the memory stick with that of the slot. The SODIMM is gently inserted at around a 30 degree angle to the laptop's base and once in place can be gently pushed down. The two clips either side should pop into place to secure it. 9. Test it out
If everything has gone well your PC will happily reboot into Windows. To see if the memory has been detected and is working open the Start Menu, right-click the My Computer item and select Properties to check it has. If you are running a 32-bit OS with 4GB it's possible this will report around 3.5GB. In this case you need to upgrade to a 64-bit OS to get access to all of the available memory. 
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| Tutorial: 15 handy Excel tips, tricks and techniques Posted: 09 Dec 2010 03:18 AM PST  Getting the most from Excel is a vocation – there are books bigger than concrete blocks on the subject. If you're dedicated enough to read one or two, the passage to an Excel black belt is assured – as is the loss of weeks or maybe months of your life. Instead, try our Excel tips – they should ensure you're getting more from Excel in next to no time. 1. Master the clipboard pane The clipboard can be very useful when using Excel, as you often need to cut or copy and paste information from one part of a sheet to another, or between different sheets and workbooks. The chances are that you'll need to repeatedly copy and paste different items at different times, depending on the complexity of the task in hand. You can make this easier by opening the clipboard pane as it enables you to handle multiple clipboard items at the same time. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click the arrow button to the bottom right of the Clipboard group to toggle it open or closed. 2. Open ribbon dialogs You'll find similar buttons in the bottom right of numerous different ribbon groups on various different tabs. Clicking one will open a related dialog that includes each of the tools in that group, plus a few more for good measure. If you've used Office in a version prior to 2007, you may recognise many of these dialogs as they're identical to ones that used to be launched from Excel menus in Office 2003 and before. Where a ribbon group doesn't have a dialog button, it has no more hidden tools. 3. Update calculations manually By default, Excel performs calculations in real time, updating each value as you input numbers or as the data changes. This is a handy feature because you can be sure that all your values are up to date. However, as spreadsheets become more complicated and include thousands of values or more, automatic calculation can cause a significant lag after each keystroke. You can disable this feature by going to the Formulas tab of the ribbon and choosing 'Calculation Options | Manual' from the Calculation group. Now you need to press [F9] to update calculations after inputting any new data. 4. Lock copy formatting If you need to apply the same formatting to a number of different cells, you can do so quickly by locking the Copy Formatting tool. Apply the formatting options that you want to the first cell – for instance, bold red text with a yellow background. Select this cell and double-click the 'Format Painter' button in the Clipboard group of the Home tab. This is now locked on. Any cell that you click into will take on the formatting of the source cell. Click each cell you want to format in this way and then double-click the 'Format Painter' button to turn the lock off . 5. Customise the Quick Access Toolbar The Quick Access Toolbar appears in the top left-hand corner of the Excel window in Excel 2007 and 2010. By default, it contains buttons to save your work and undo or redo/repeat the last action. You can customise what appears here, and it's a very useful place to dock your most commonly used tools. Click the 'Office' button followed by 'Excel Options' and 'Customize' in Excel 2007. In Excel 2010, choose 'File | Options | Quick Access Toolbar'. Select a tool that you want to add in the left-hand column and click 'Add'. Change the available commands using the dropdown list labelled 'Choose commands from'. Click 'OK' to save your changes. 6. Move the Quick Access Toolbar When you're customising the Quick Access Toolbar, you can opt to have it displayed at the bottom of the ribbon instead of at the top of the window. This means you won't have to move the mouse pointer as far to access each tool in the Quick Access Toolbar. Tick the box marked 'Show Quick Access Toolbar below the Ribbon' in the 'Customise Quick Access Toolbar' dialog. You can opt to apply your customisations to the current file or to all Excel files. 7. Increase compatibility There are plenty of people still using Office 2003 and earlier. If they haven't kept up to date with updates and import filters, there's every chance that they won't be able to open '.XLSX' files without going to some trouble. Remove this potential hassle by setting your default save format as Excel 97-2003. Click the 'Office' button and choose 'Excel Options | Save'. Under 'Save Workbooks', choose 'Excel 97-2003 Workbook' and click 'OK'. In Excel 2010, simply choose 'File | Options | Save | Excel 97-2003 Workbook'. 8. Copy as a picture
If you need to copy a chart or a set of cells to a new location outside Excel, consider doing so as a picture. You won't be able to further process the data, but all your formatting options will be preserved. Select the chart or cell range and then click the downward arrow below 'Paste'. Choose 'As Picture | Copy As Picture'. You can now paste the image file wherever you like. 9. Name a range Quickly create a named range of cells that you can return to later by selecting the cells you want to name and then clicking in the cell name bar directly to the left of the formula bar. Enter the name you want to give to this range of cells and press [Enter]. You can now quickly return to this cell range by clicking the arrow to the right of the cell name bar and choosing the range that you previously saved. You can store several cell ranges. 10. Change the editing order When you're entering data in a set of cells and you press [Enter], by default you move down to the next cell in the column. If you're entering data across rows, you can change this behaviour. In Excel 2007, click the 'Office' button, followed by 'Excel Options', or in Excel 2010, choose 'File | Options'. Now select 'Advanced' and tick the box marked 'After pressing enter move selection'. Change the direction in the dropdown list. 11. Compress pictures If you have pictures or other graphical elements embedded in your Excel spreadsheet, they can greatly increase the document size. If you need to email the spreadsheet or post it online, you can make the size much smaller simply by compressing all the pictures in the sheet. Select one of the pictures and you should see the Format tab under 'Picture Tools'. In the 'Adjust' group, choose 'Compress Pictures'. Click 'Options' and ensure that the options to delete cropped parts of the picture and to apply basic compression when saving are both enabled. Below these, select the level of compression you want to use and click 'OK' twice. 12. Prevent error checking Formula error checking is very useful – for example, when it spots an inconsistent formula in a particular region. However, there are times when you might need to leave out a few cells in a particular region and Excel will flag the error. You can get rid of this annoyance by turning off the error check. Go to 'Excel Options | Formulas' and clear any of the error-checking rules that you need to turn off . 13. Create custom autofills Autofill helps you complete columns or rows of sequential data. Enter the first two values in the initial cells to establish a pattern, then select the cells and drag the fill handle to extend to the rest of the cells you want to fill with that pattern. You can add your own custom lists by choosing 'File | Options', or press the 'Office' button and select 'Excel Options | Popular | Edit Custom Lists'. Select 'New List' and click in the 'List Entries' column. Type each entry in the list, followed by [Enter]. Click 'Add' to finish. 14. Autocorrect hacks You can save time typing by entering shortcuts for commonly used terms in Autocorrect. In 'Excel Options', choose 'Proofing | Autocorrect Options'. On the Autocorrect tab, enter the shortcut you want to type, followed by the phrase you want to automatically replace it with. Make sure your shortcut isn't a number or letter combination that you're likely to use in your spreadsheets as it will be replaced automatically each time you type it. To apply your shortcut, click 'Add', followed by 'OK'. 15. Create keyboard shortcuts
Press the [Alt] key and you'll be able to see all of the keyboard shortcuts that are available for each visible tab on the ribbon. Press the key that's related to that tab to go to it, and to see a map of the keyboard shortcuts for that tab. This is very handy as you can use it to remind you of the available keyboard shortcuts whenever you want to use them, saving you time and eff ort and maximising your efficiency as you work. 
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| YouTube Android app gets a spit and polish Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:58 AM PST  The YouTube Android app has been given a significant makeover this week, with Google offering up a slathering of new changes to the service. The update also marks a significant change for the application as it is now available on the Android Market and not just bundled with devices. Google has announced that its app has been built from the ground up and is said to mirror the desktop experience of YouTube. Unbundled release "Following our famous mantra 'launch early, iterate often', we first released an early version of the unbundled app a few of weeks ago, collected user feedback, and addressed the key user requests in version 2.1," said Google on its blog. The app only works for Android 2.2 and above and will be pre-installed on the Nexus S. The new features of the app are listed below:
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| Intel pins hopes on smartphones in 2011 Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:01 AM PST  Intel is pinning its hopes on the tablet PC and smartphone markets in 2011, hoping to sell more of its chips to phone and slate computer manufacturers next year. Intel hopes to follow the success of Apple and Google in the mobile and tablet PC markets. Laptops, tablets, smartphones "The consumer (tablet) products will roll out over the first half of next year," Chief Executive Paul Otellini told analysts this week. Otellini outlined that tablet manufacturers including Dell, Asus, Lenovo and Toshiba have agreed to use Intel chips in 35 tablet models in 2011. Intel has been incredibly successful in the netbook market with its Atom chips, yet has so far failed to make considerable business in the fast-growing tablet PC or mobile phone markets. "Intel is moving in the right strategic direction but they still have a long way to go," said Hendi Susanto, an analyst at Gabelli & Company. "They're late into the game. There is no clear visibility on what the products look like." Medfield chips on the way Intel's share of the world semiconductor market fell to 13.8 per cent in 2010 from 14.2 per cent in 2010. Otellini said that Intel's move into the smartphone market was "a marathon, not a sprint," and that Intel's Medfield chip should ship next year and in 2012. "You will see smartphones from premier branded vendors in the second half of 2011 with Intel silicon inside them," said Otellini. Intel has started shipping its Sandy Bridge chips, which should be in new notebooks early in 2011. 
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| Review: Bohemian Coding Sketch Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:00 AM PST  As the need for resolution-independent graphics increases,designers are looking for alternatives to the weighty, pricey Adobe Illustratorand its web oriented cousin, Fireworks. Sketch seemingly aims to supplant both,but at a fraction of the cost. Sketch's sparse interface is surprisinglyflexible, cleverly utilising pop-up hints and an inspector that disappears whennot in use. The workspace is 'infinite', but optional rulers and a fantasticgrid (along with Option-hovering to access distances between objects) are availablefor working on structured documents (websites, print adverts). Tools and effectsare fewer than in Illustrator, but the shapes and boolean operations are sufficient,and the ability to define symbols and text styles is a time-saver. But Sketchbetrays its 'version 1' status with occasional instability. The lack ofnine-slice scaling limits Sketch's scope for interface design, and its inabilityto import editable EPS files is disappointing (although we found EPS export toIllustrator more successful). It's worth remembering Sketch's focus and lowprice – Illustrator CS5 costs over 15 times more. This release is a bit buggy,but it's also in many ways brilliant, with tons of potential. So while Sketchdoesn't get our highest rating, we urge anyone who regularly works with vectorsto at least check it out. Related Links
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| Google Zeitgeist 2010 shows what the UK is searching for Posted: 09 Dec 2010 01:41 AM PST  Google has released its Zeitgeist lists of the most searched for and fastest rising terms in the UK in 2010. The biggest searches in any given year tend to be people typing in the name of the website they want to go to and clicking on the link rather than typing in the full url. To that end, Facebook tops the list for 2010, followed by the BBC, YouTube, Hotmail, Ebay and – brilliantly – Google. The remainder of the top ten is made up of 'you' 'games' 'mail' and 'news'. Fastest rising Of much more interest are the fastest rising searches, which really get to the heart of what the UK has been interested this year. And, frankly, it makes for depressing reading: random video chat site Chatoulette tops the list, with Formspring, a service that lets you ask questions of your friends through social networking sites, in second place. Encouragingly, iPad is the third most popular term, but the dismay creeps back in when Justin Bieber rears his irritating head in fourth. The World Cup in the summer picked up the fifth spot, with FB, Santander, Hotmail sign in, YouTube and weather service Metcheck gave us a glimpse into out weather obsessed British psyches in tenth place. Fastest rising searches of 2010 Chatroulette Top news and current events Election 2010 Fastest rising people kristian digby Top divorces cheryl cole divorce Top tickets take that tickets Bargain hunting (top cheap searches 2010) cheap flights Fastest rising lyrics no love lyrics "i love" searches (fastest rising) i love dance "i want" searches (fastest rising) i want popcorn "who is" searches (fastest rising) who is salt i feel (fastest rising) i feel better 2010 overall most searched Facebook Top food and drink Tesco High street most searched argos 
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| Review: Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe 2011 Posted: 09 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST  We've been able to archive and decompress simple zip files in Mac OS X for some time now. Still, even with super-fast broadband, sending large files can be a pain. Add to that the fact that files are getting larger all the time and the problem gets worse. It's occasions like this that the simple archive function in OS X no longer delivers. Stuffit Deluxe 2011 is the latest version of the compression tool that takes basic file zipping to the next level. Rather than simply create a zip file, Stuffit enables you to streamline your workflow in one step. It's easy, for instance, to compress and upload a folder to an FTP site or MobileMe; you can automatically add archives to emails too. You can add passwords and encrypt them all on the fly. Stuffit Deluxe also decompresses zip files that have been split, as well as almost any other compression format available. The floating interface makes setting up workflows easy and the entire process smooth. Simply drag your folder or file over the relevant tile, and the whole archive-and-send operation is managed by Stuffit from then on. As for compression and speed, Stuffit makes slightly smaller files at a marginally faster pace. The main benefit is certainly the extra workflow options. If you use large files a lot and send them to different places, then Stuffit may just well be indispensable. At about £30, it's a steal too. Related Links
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| Rubin: 300,000 Android activations every day Posted: 09 Dec 2010 12:50 AM PST  Andy Rubin has revealed that there are now a whopping 300,000 Android activations a day. The Android chief tweeted the news out of the landmark figure, further underlining the growing power of the mobile OS, which is beginning to have a real impact in not just phones but also the wealth of tablets that are arriving on the market. Of course, when Rubin announced that Android was getting 200,000 activations every day, Apple's Steve Jobs took exception to the figure. Disparaging Jobs made a number of disparaging remarks about the way in which the total had been arrived at and insisted that Apple's iOS was more successful. Regardless, that Android will (or already has) surpassed iOS seems inevitable given the sheer number of handsets that are being produced with the Google-powered operating system. The likes of Samsung's Galaxy S, the HTC Desire HD and, of course, the just-announced Google Nexus S, are providing real competition for the Apple iPhone, with iOS present in only Apple-made devices. Rubin recently stated that Android is making money for Google, despite being offered to manufacturers for no cost due to the advertising revenue generated. 
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| Apple's head of gaming leaves company Posted: 09 Dec 2010 12:49 AM PST  Apple has lost its internal games man, with Graeme Devine, the man responsible for the massive growth of iOS gaming over the last few years, heading to pastures new. Devine was also Apple's only internal games development rep, so it may seem strange that he has decided to quit the company, following the immense success of iPhone and iPod touch gaming in his tenure at Apple. There's nothing like leaving a company on a high, on the other hand. Devine told gaming site Kotaku: "My job there was basically to make gaming on the iOS devices fantastic. "Basically that meant looking at the technologies involved and making sure the software played well with the hardware, to look at upcoming hardware/API and say 'Yup, that is a good thing'. Kick Ass iOS gaming "Apple didn't have an in-house game designer before me so I think it was pretty unique, game technologies touch everything from the graphics stack to touch latency to push notifications," Devine explained. "No other app type covers so many technologies and having someone there to validate and help shape that was basically my day job. It was pretty kick ass." Which still begs the question: "If your job was so 'kick ass', then why leave?" "I wanted to get back to the actual business of making games and while I loved my time, the people, and the platform I worked on at Apple I am ultimately a game designer that wants to make games. "When I first got an iPad I was sold on it being the ultimate piece of science fiction technology for gaming. I think it is the most interesting new technology product I've worked on in years and I really wanted to make games for it." Fair enough. Let's just hope that the former-iOS gaming boss can come up with the next Cut The Rope or Angry Birds in 2011. 
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