Monthly Archives: June 2007
Apple – AirPort Extreme
The Apple AirPort Extreme is just about as different from your typical wireless router as it is possible to imagine. On the visual side of things there aren’t any external aerials to sully the clean lines of the shiny white casing, which makes it look similar to the new Apple TV device. It’s a compact…
Woolworths – Braintastic: Maths And Word Skills Ages 4-7, Internet Security and Childguard
Tesco started this off. Early in 2007 it unleashed a range of software – rebadged Ability products – adorned with its logo and quite low price tags. Woolworths clearly thought that it’d have a bit of that, and thus the Woolworths Software collection was born on much the same principle. So we’re taking a look…
LogMeIn – Ignition
As an alternative to VPN remote access, hosted remote control services from companies such as LogMeIn have a lot to offer, enabling you to connect to a home or office PC from anywhere with Internet access. And now there’s LogMeIn Ignition which eliminates the dependence on browser plug-ins and automates the connection side of the…
Codemasters – Lord of the Rings Online
Veteran MMORPG developer Turbine (previously responsible for the likes of Asheron’s Call and Dungeons & Dragons Online) has a new massively multiplayer game in town, and this one’s a big licence. Translating such an epic tale must have been a daunting prospect, but fortunately Lord of the Rings Online manages to capture an enticing whiff…
BHV Software – Homepage Maker 5
There’s no way to dress it up: Homepage Maker 5 is not a very pleasant piece of software. Even before the program had run for the first time, alarm bells had gone beyond ringing and entered complete and utter meltdown. The setup and installation flipped between English and German, the insistence on form-filling was grinding…
Brother – MFC-845CW
If you’re looking for a multifunction inkjet, then Brother’s MFC-845CW has a lot to recommend it. For just under £170 (plus VAT) you get a colour printer, scanner, copier and fax machine all-in-one, with both wired and wireless network interfaces plus facilities to copy, scan and fax remotely over the LAN. You even get a…
Corel – Ulead VideoStudio 11
Now under the stewardship of Corel, Ulead’s competent VideoStudio product nonetheless faces some familiar problems. Firstly, it has at heart a relative simplicity, which it fails to offset properly against more advanced tools for experienced users (although it does try). This instantly slims down its market. And secondly, while a fine product in its own…
Sharp – Aquos LC52XD1E
The pundits were right. The prices of high-definition televisions seem to be almost in free-fall at the moment, and at the top end of the market, that means a 1080p, 52-inch display such as Sharp’s Aquos LC52XD1E can be picked up for just shy of £1,800 at the time of writing. At its best, it’s…
Activision – Spider-man 3
Every now and then in Spider-man 3, there are real signs that the game is close to clicking. Swinging through the streets of New York, for instance, is a bit of a hoot, and zipping around the various side missions does occasionally lead you to think “They might be onto something here.” But sadly, it’s…
Novastor – NovaBackup Server Edition
Ask most people why they don’t take backups and they’ll tell you they either can’t afford the software involved or don’t understand it. Or both, especially where servers are concerned. In which case NovaBackup Server Edition could be a breath of fresh air, being both amazingly affordable and easy to use. The NovaBackup package really…