Computeractive! Latest software

M-Audio Pro Tools Keystudio

Cliff Joseph — 2009-11-05T11:55:00.000Z

Cliff Joseph, Computeractive, Thursday 5 November 2009 at 11:55:00

An affordable music keyboard-and-software package

M-Audio is well known in the music business for its music keyboards and other recording devices used in studios around the world.

Its new Pro Tools Keystudio is an attempt to make a more affordable music product for home users and less-experienced musicians.

The Keystudio package is good value. For just £79 it includes a music keyboard that plugs into a USB port on your computer (PC or Mac) and a powerful piece of recording software called Pro Tools Essential.

The keyboard is excellent. It has 49 keys covering four octaves (groups of eight notes), and it has an Octave button that raises or lowers notes by an octave at a time to cover a much wider range.

It’s also pressure-sensitive, which means that, like a piano, the keyboard produces notes more loudly or quietly depending on how hard the keys are hit (cheaper keyboards play at the same volume regardless).

If you don’t want a keyboard there is a Vocal Studio version for the same price that includes a high-quality microphone instead, or the Recording Studio package that provides a gadget for recording guitars and other instruments.

Unfortunately the software is not as attractive. The Pro Tools Essential program is very powerful but it’s also complicated.

When the program opens you are presented with two overlapping windows that contain an intimidating selection of controls and menu commands.

Matters are not helped by the half-a-dozen different manuals included on the disk in PDF format and people who have not used recording software before may struggle.

You also need to attach a special adaptor into a USB port to use the Pro Tools Essential Software. If you lose or damage this you will not be able to use the software.

We like the idea of combining music hardware and software into an affordable package, but the complexity of the Pro Tools Essential software and the need to plug in the adaptor before running it means that Keystudio is not user-friendly enough for newcomers to digital music.

Norton Internet Security 2010

Cliff Joseph — 2009-11-05T10:15:00.000Z

Cliff Joseph, Computeractive, Thursday 5 November 2009 at 10:15:00

A new approach to eliminating internet threats

Anti-virus companies such as Symantec employ large teams to monitor new viruses and other types of malware as they appear on the Internet.

However, Symantec says the virus threat has now reached the point at which it’s almost impossible to keep up with the thousands of new viruses that appear every day.

So, for its Norton Internet Security 2010 suite, the company has developed a new system called Quorum.

In effect, this is a huge database compiled using information drawn from the PCs of millions of people who already use Norton software

This information is provided on a voluntary opt-in basis, so users don’t have to provide any information if they don’t want to.

Whenever you download a file from the Internet, or open an email attachment or load a file from anywhere else, Norton 2010 checks the Quorum database to see if the same file has been found on any other users’ PCs, and whether or not the file has caused any known problems.

If the file has a bad ‘reputation’ on the Quorum database then the security software will automatically attempt to remove the file before it can do any harm.

If there is no record of a particular file on Quorum then it can use another new feature called Insight to analyse the effect the file has on the computer.

The software can remove files that appear to be slowing the computer down or taking up large amounts of memory.

And to avoid affecting the computer’s performance, Norton 2010 uses less memory for itself – just 10Mb – and can scan the computer’s hard disk more quickly to ensure it doesn’t slow you down while you are trying to work.

The Quorum system may take a little while to prove its worth, but Norton 2010 ran very efficiently on our test PC. Its quick scan took just a few seconds to run and managed to pick up a few worrying cookies that were attempting to store information about our web browsing habits.

As with most modern security software the £50 price includes a licence for protecting three separate computers, making it good for families or small businesses that need to protect all their computers.

Apple OS X Snow Leopard

Cliff Joseph — 2009-11-03T14:35:00.000Z

Cliff Joseph, Computeractive, Tuesday 3 November 2009 at 14:35:00

The latest Mac update adds little gloss but plenty under the bonnet

Sometimes, as the saying goes, less is more.

Like the new Windows 7, the latest version of Apple’s OS X operating system for Macintosh computers focuses on better performance rather than the eye-catching features we normally expect from Apple.

After you install Snow Leopard on your Mac the display on the screen will look the same as it did before – in fact, you might be wondering why you bothered to pay £25 for the ‘upgrade’ at all.

But while it looks the same on the surface, Apple has completely rewritten the Finder, the part of the operating system that displays the contents of the hard disk on the computer screen, in order to make it run much more smoothly.

The main area in which we noticed an improvement was when using the Quicklook option that allows users to quickly peek inside files and preview their contents without actually opening them.

When a user hits the space bar to activate Quicklook the preview window pops up more quickly, even with complicated files such as video clips.

It can also browse through long documents containing multiple pages, which is handy when you are looking for specific information. Other options, such as Exposé, which neatly organises all the open windows on the screen, also respond more quickly and smoothly.

There is one big new feature but it’s mainly suitable for business users. Snow Leopard now allows Macs to work with the PC-based Microsoft Exchange Server e-mail system that is used by many businesses.

Its new ‘autodiscovery’ option allows the Mac’s Address Book, Mail, and Calendar programs to automatically connect to Exchange Server running on an office network.

That means people can take their Macs to work – as long as their IT departments allow it – and easily exchange emails, contacts and calendar details with PC-using colleagues.

Snow Leopard requires at least 1GB of memory before it can be installed and it will only run on Macs that use Intel processors rather than the old PowerPC processors that Apple used until about three years ago.

But if you have a Mac that fits the bill then Snow Leopard is a worthwhile upgrade that will make your Mac run more smoothly and efficiently.

F-Secure Internet Security 2010

Anthony Dhanendran — 2009-10-29T13:04:00.000Z

Anthony Dhanendran, Computeractive, Thursday 29 October 2009 at 13:04:00

Comprehensive security and parental controls

Keeping a computer secure online is an ever-more-complex job.

The days of merely needing a firewall and anti-virus program are now over – with its various components F-Secure Internet Security is a good example of these changes.

The main screen is fairly simple with a large icon showing whether the computer is safe or not, accompanied by shortcuts to three main sections – status, tasks and statistics – and smaller icons for updates and settings. The large green tick denoting a safe computer still appears if scheduled virus scanning is disabled, although we would recommend running regular scans.

The Status screen gives an overview of the different kinds of protection offered. Virus and spyware protection are bundled together, while the firewall keeps an eye on what programs are trying to talk to the internet as well as keeping hackers out, and dial-up protection prevents modem users being scammed into dialling premium-rate numbers. A toolbar in Internet Explorer gives a warning of anything untoward in websites and checks search engine results and webmail, there is email spam filtering and, finally, parental controls.

The Deepguard protection is an interesting solution to the problem of malicious software being released much more often. Deepguard decides whether or not software should be allowed to run based both on lists created by F-Secure and on what the program is trying to do. Behaviour such as trying to change the Windows Registry would trigger an alert unless it is on a list of approved software, in which case there is no interruption to the user. Likewise, if the software is on a list of known miscreants it is blocked without question.

The parental controls have two levels of protection, for small children and teenagers. Each has separate limits for time spent online, though the restrictions don’t apply to chat or online games. Children are only allowed to browse sites in an approved list, whereas teenagers are restricted the other way round with full access except to some blocked sites.

There are free security tools available, but the full-on F-Secure package keeps everything simple and working properly. F-Secure Internet Security 2010 includes some useful tools and is easy to use.

Puzzle Kingdoms

Jonathan Parkyn — 2009-10-25T09:30:00.000Z

Jonathan Parkyn, Computeractive, Sunday 25 October 2009 at 09:30:00

This genre blender proves that looks aren’t everything

Take a spot of Bejeweled-style puzzling, then tack on an element of role playing and, by rights, you should end up with some kind of hideous hybrid aberration.

In fact, the relatively recent trend for mashing up these genres has produced several enjoyably addictive games such as the supremely popular Puzzle Quest.

Though not a direct sequel, Puzzle Kingdoms proudly professes to come from the same development team as Puzzle Quest and shares several characteristics with its forebear.

There’s a familiar fantasy setting, for example, and a similarly massive map to explore. More importantly, Puzzle Kingdoms has a similar focus on puzzle-based ‘battles’ against the computer’s AI, with the objective here being to match three coloured tiles on the board by moving rows to line up the colours.

Kingdoms goes one further than its predecessor, though, by adding elements of another genre: real-time strategy. It does this by providing simple army-building and troop-management features. The cash earned in battle pays for extra troops, while uncovering new areas unlocks different troop types and hero characters, both of which can use their unique skills to help you win in battle.

The battles themselves take on a strategic element too, since you need to try and prevent your opponent from amassing resources. Different colours represent power-ups for troop attacks – as well as powering up your own army.

Relatively crude graphics and low presentation values are the only things that let the game down. But what it lacks in visual finesse, Puzzle Kingdoms more than makes up for in originality and playability.

PEGI age rating: 3+

Section 8

Orestis Bastounis — 2009-10-24T09:30:00.000Z

Orestis Bastounis, Computeractive, Saturday 24 October 2009 at 09:30:00

Squad-based multiplayer shooting

Section 8 resembles old squad-based multiplayer shooters such as Starsiege: Tribes and Planetside.

The single-player campaign is no more than a tutorial that introduces the game’s concepts, and is quite boring when compared with playing against up to 32 human players.

Section 8 tries to emphasise good team play rather than accuracy and reflexes. When players zoom in, they automatically lock onto a target, removing the need for precise aiming. Some might consider this a dumbing down of shooting games, catering for console players who can’t aim as precisely with gamepads as PC gamers can with a mouse.

The game doesn't use pre-set character classes, but instead lets players customise their own combinations of weapons and equipment. Players are split into squads, and are dropped onto the battlefield in pods. Every player has a jetpack to leap over high walls and into enemy fortresses.

Money and victory points are earned for each round, from scoring kills and hacking into control objectives. This is then spent on vehicles and upgrades, such as a two-legged walker, a tank, or to deploy a sentry turret. Additional points can be earned by completing challenges within a set time limit, such as escorting a convoy or planting a bomb.

Section 8 won't be to everyone's taste: the visuals are fair, with some levels looking breathtaking and others merely bland. With good players, the multiplayer mode is great fun, requiring plenty of coordination and different tactics.

However, if you don’t have a good internet connection, avoid Section 8 as the single-player campaign is dull.

Wolfenstein

Jonathan Parkyn — 2009-10-24T08:15:00.000Z

Jonathan Parkyn, Computeractive, Saturday 24 October 2009 at 08:15:00

An old classic gets an added dimension

Remakes, along with 'reboots' and ‘reimaginings’, are all the rage these days and the latest in line for the modern makeover treatment is Wolfenstein, the forefather of all first-person shooters.

Given that fact that the original Wolfenstein 3D game was released way back in 1992 and effectively invented an entire genre single-handed, a revisit to Wolfenstein is probably easier to justify than most – although it could be argued that 2001’s Return to Castle Wolfenstein already achieved this with some success.

For those unfamiliar with Wolfenstein’s premise, the game takes place in a fictionalised version of World War II Germany, where US special agent BJ Blazkowicz finds himself up against a group of Nazi soldiers who have been busy meddling in the dark arts.

The new game takes a slightly different angle on the story but, after a couple of initial levels that are relatively realistic in terms of the types of enemies and weaponry you encounter, things quickly take a more fantastical turn.

In 2009, Wolfenstein's main new hook is The Veil. It’s basically an alternative dimension that can be accessed through a magical artefact – a medallion that is gradually upgraded with various powers as the game progresses. While within The Veil, your hero gains unique advantages, such as the ability to move faster than his enemies, see in the dark or discover secrets that are invisible in ‘normal’ mode. BJ can slip in and out of The Veil at will, but requires energy to do so. This starts to run out as long as BJ remains in the spirit plane but can be topped up by sucking in Veil juice from various deposits found throughout the levels.

It’s a handy trick, but it’s not exactly original – similar mechanics can be witnessed in other recent games, such as The Darkness and Prey.

Indeed, Wolfenstein brings remarkably little to an already fairly crowded table and, in terms of gameplay, it doesn’t particularly improve on either Wolfenstein’s 2001 sequel or even the 15-year-old original.

As well as slightly dated visuals, single players will have to put up with frequent frustrating sections and recurring cheap deaths. The game’s cheerfully tongue-in-cheek tone and lively multiplayer help to make up for it, though.

PEGI age rating: 18+

Corel Digital Studio 2010

Will Stapley — 2009-10-22T17:07:00.000Z

Will Stapley, Computeractive, Thursday 22 October 2009 at 17:07:00

Edit and share music, video and pictures

Until now, when it came to affordable programs for editing, organising and sharing your files, Roxio Creator and Nero have been the two main choices. Now Corel has thrown its hat into the ring with Digital Media Studio 2010.

The suite comprises four separate applications: Paintshop Photo, Videostudio, DVD Factory and WinDVD. From the outset, it's clear that Corel hasn't just cobbled together a group of existing applications: each one has the same simple and intuitive design. Throughout the editing applications, Corel makes it easy to share your music, video and pictures, either over email or by directly uploading them to Facebook, Flickr or Youtube.

Paintshop Photo is the image editor, and as with the other programs in the collection, when it is loaded for the first time it scours the computer’s hard disk for suitable media and adds it to the library. Tags can be applied to help organise photos, and the thumbnail view can be smoothly resized using a slider bar. Double-click a photo and you're taken to the Express Edit screen in which a variety of effects can be applied, including a Makeover tool that lets the user airbrush those faces that aren’t quite perfect. Collages and impressive-looking photo books can also be put together.

As for moving images, the Videostudio application is the thing to use. Videos can be quickly split or trimmed, while a selection of effects can also be applied. Alternatively, provide it with a set of clips and it's able to automatically cobble them together to create a video complete with menus and a soundtrack.

DVD Factory looks after video conversion and the burning of files to CD or DVD. Advanced options include the ability to burn discs in high definition using the AVCHD format, as well as converting video for iPods and mobile phones. However, it can't burn files to Blu-ray discs.

WinDVD is the final part, providing video playback. It offers several enhancements, including the rather interesting Time Stretch to speed up video without the audio getting high-pitched – the idea being that you can watch to the end of a film even if you're running out of time.

The suite also features support for Windows 7's new touch capabilities, allowing users to browse and manipulate media using finger gestures. However, you will need a touch-screen computer to take advantage of this.

Corel Digital Studio 2010 doesn't offer anything particularly advanced, nor does it bring many new features. And given the similarity of each part it's a surprise that Corel didn’t bundle everything into a single application. Where it excels is in providing basic image, video and disc burning tools that are very easy to use.

Rival products might be cheaper and have more features, but Corel Digital Suite is intuitive and better suited to beginners.

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