The most recent News from Computeractive

Apple iPhone 3GS users report overheating problems

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:09:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Friday 3 July 2009 at 16:09:00

Some users complain about overheating and burn marks

Some owners of the Apple iPhone 3GS model have had trouble with the model overheating and becoming discoloured. Details of the problems, which also plagued the older model, have been...

Dell ordered to honour £9 monitors

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:14:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 17:14:00

Taiwan consumer protection body steps in after website pricing error - talks continue

Dell has been ordered to honour an online pricing error that gave Taiwanese consumers 19in LCD monitors for only £9 (NT$500)....

PC makers under fire from Greenpeace

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:35:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 16:35:00

Slammed for broken promises over hazardous materials in PCs, but Apple and Nokia are praised

PC manufacturers have been criticised by Greenpeace for breaking their promises to reduce hazardous materials in their products. “There are no excuses for backtracking, and no reason for these companies...

Microsoft prevents European users doing an 'upgrade install' of Windows 7

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:06:00 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeractive, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 14:06:00

Windows XP or Vista computers will need to be fully backed up so a clean install can be done

Microsoft has confirmed that customers in Europe will not be able to easily upgrade Windows XP or Vista computers to the new Windows 7 operating system....

Huge drop in mobile phone services complaints

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:16:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 12:16:00

Regulator puts decrease down to new rules

The number of complaints about mobile phone services has decreased, according to a report by Payphoneplus. The regulator of phone-paid services said the total complaints regarding mobile services are down...

Mobile phone roaming charges cut from today

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:16:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 12:16:00

"Roaming rip-off" comes to an end, says EC Telecoms Commissioner

People travelling in Europe will be able to call, text and browse the internet from their mobiles at cheaper rates than before....

Football social networking site launched

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:15:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 11:15:00

Site lets fans communicate with each other

A social networking site for football fans has been launched. Extrafootie lets football supporters read the latest news about their teams and communicate with other fans through team forums....

Majority of Brits have digital TV

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:57:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 16:57:00

But sales of set-top boxes have slowed

Ofcom claims that almost 90 per cent of UK households now have the equipment to receive digital TV. Since the Freeview service launched in 2002, more than 23 million set-top...

Instant message dangers 'growing'

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:02:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 11:02:00

One in 78 links sent via IM is now to malicious content

One in 78 links sent via instant messaging (IM) programs is to malicious content, according to security company MessageLabs. The company said this was an increase of 78 per cent...

Government changes game classification system

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:50:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Monday 29 June 2009 at 12:50:00

New classification aims to help consumers understand video game content

The Government has announced plans to change the way video games will be rated in the UK. It has said it will now use the Pan European Game Information (PEGI)...

Bunch of fives: Tech firms' bitter rants

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:37:00 GMT

Computeractive staff, Computeractive, Friday 26 June 2009 at 17:37:00

Fury over nifty footwork behind the scenes

Once the initial shock over the death of Michael Jackson has dissipated, we suspect a certain bitterness will linger among some....

Google aims to thwart malware in ads

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:51:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Friday 26 June 2009 at 16:51:00

Google releases tips to fight against malware in online ads

Google has revamped its anti-malvertising site, which was launched in February this year, by adding new educational content for all internet users, to address the problem of malicious software being...

Ministry of Defence blocks access to Wikileaks

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeractive, Friday 26 June 2009 at 15:26:00

MOD claims block is for business not privacy issues

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has blocked access to Wikileaks “because there is no compelling business reason to have the facility.” The Guardian reported earlier in the week that the...

Consumers debate Digital Britain report

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:58:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Friday 26 June 2009 at 12:58:00

Government asking for comments on Digital Britain report

The Government is encouraging the public to comment on proposals outlined in last month’s Digital Britain report by Lord Carter....

Metaboli launches online games package with parental controls

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:51:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Thursday 25 June 2009 at 16:51:00

Chill-out games for hot summer days and nights

Metaboli has launched a package of online family games that include a new parental control system. The distributor of online games said its Chill-Out pack includes more than 200 games...

European Commission probes privacy concerns over tracking technologies

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:25:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Thursday 25 June 2009 at 14:25:00

EC calls for privacy and data protection measures

The European Commission is to investigate whether or not people have the right to ‘disappear’ from the ever-more pervasive digital networks that surround them....

Windows 7 to cost from £50

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeractive, Thursday 25 June 2009 at 14:00:00

No cheap upgrades available in the UK, but price of full version is slashed

Microsoft has announced that it will be slashing the price of its Windows 7 operating system in the UK when it launches in October, and selling it for just £50 to...

Web browsers to become main target for malware attacks

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeractive, Wednesday 24 June 2009 at 14:16:00

Attackers to reduce focus on Windows operating system, says Symantec

Creators of malicious software are likely to move away from targeting the Windows operating system and focus on web browsers instead, according to Symantec....

HP Researching 'Touch Dialects'

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:44:00 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeractive, Tuesday 23 June 2009 at 17:44:00

How you touch the screen points to where you live

Computer firm HP is currently researching ‘touch dialects’ – the different ways that people around the world like to interact with touch screen PCs....

Social networking sites must protect users' privacy

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:14:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Tuesday 23 June 2009 at 16:14:00

Sites such as Facebook and Myspace must ensure users' data is kept safe

Social networking sites (SNS) are legally responsible for their users' privacy, even if their headquarters are based outside the EU, Europe's privacy watchdogs have said....

Kodak kills off iconic Kodachrome film

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:48:00 GMT

Paul Allen, Computeractive, Monday 22 June 2009 at 14:48:00

Camera giant 'retires' iconic stock

Kodak released a statement today confirming that it is discontinuing Kodachrome, the first commercially successful colour film when it was first introduced in 1935....

Ispa internet heroes and villains shortlist announced

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:58:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Friday 19 June 2009 at 15:58:00

Brickbats and bouquets

Internet service provider's trade body Ispa has announced the shortlist for its Internet Villain and Internet Hero awards. The Hero award is given to an organisation or individual who has...

Apple iPhone 3GS launches in UK

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:17:00 GMT

Paul Allen, Computeractive, Friday 19 June 2009 at 15:17:00

Video, voice recognition and cut-and-paste among new features

The latest model in Apple's iPhone series has gone on sale in the UK. The Apple iPhone 3GS introduces a range of new features, such as an improved camera that...

Google translates Persian language

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:46:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Friday 19 June 2009 at 12:46:00

Tool opens up communication between Iran and English speakers

Google has added Persian (Farsi) to its Google Translate tool. Users can now translate any text from Persian into English and from English into Persian - whether it's a news...

Brits find mobile phones too complicated

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:29:00 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeractive, Thursday 18 June 2009 at 15:29:00

Mobile phones have changed people's lives but many of the features never or rarely get used

Six in 10 mobile phone users say today’s handsets have too many features, making them over-complicated and unreliable. Although a mobile phone is considered an essential gadget by most people,...