Jamie's blog

Keep your personal data safe and accessible from anywhere …

Saving a copy of your personal data on the internet means you'll always have access to it and can download important files from anywhere. There are plenty of free services on offer, although these often come with restrictions, such as a limited allocation of storage space and a cap on the number of files you can upload or download at a time. If you want to back up a lot of content and be certain that it's being stored safely and securely, then a paid-for plan might suit you better. read more »

With Easeus Partition Master

Partition programs let you divide a hard disk into individual sections called volumes, and allocate each one with a separate drive letter. You could, for example, create one volume for photos, one for documents and another for your Windows installation. Easeus's free partitioning software, Partition Master, also lets you copy disks and volumes, resize existing partitions, recover data, rebuild a damaged or missing master boot record, and wipe a drive. It's not without risks, though, so back up any important data before starting. read more »

Secure your PC and protect your files and personal info

Security is an important consideration when you use a computer because thieves can use the personal information stored there - such as your name, address, and bank and credit card details - to commit identity theft and fraud. Laptops and netbooks are often the target of theft, and most of us will have at some time lost a USB flash memory drive, so it's worth making sure that the information stored on these devices is secure - just in case the worst happens. read more »

Dubbed 'Wi-Fi on steroids', white space technology has been touted as an effective way of getting fast internet coverage to rural areas. A White space is a term that describes unused radio waves that exist between the frequencies used by television channels. Each TV channel needs a specific frequency in order for its signal to be delivered to homes without interference. But this set-up leaves a lot of unused space within frequencies. Scientists hope to exploit the capability of these frequencies to send and receive wireless signals to create new, fast Wi-Fi networks. read more »

Budget Desktop Publishing Software from Serif

Creating good-looking documents is a tricky job unless you have access to the same powerful tools as professional designers. PagePlus X5 is the latest page-design software from Serif to bring some of these expert tools to our home computers at an affordable price, whether you're creating pages for print or PDFs for the web. read more »

If something goes wrong with a PC you bought, it's important to know whether the retailer or the manufacturer is responsible for solving the problem. read more »

The hassle 'makes many give up’

Many broadband customers still find the process of switching ISPs so complicated that they give up, according to new research. The comparison study claims that some broadband customers are still on "poor-value, outdated packages" as a result, despite industry watchdog introducing rules to make the switching process easier back in 2007. read more »

Rootkits are the most difficult type of malware to protect against and remove, because they install themselves at the 'roof level of a computer - normally an area only system administrators can access. They then let other types of malware bypass the checks a computer makes when software is installed and can also evade detection by disrupting anti-malware software. Anti-rootkit programs include Sophos Anti-Rootkit (http://bit.ly/antirootkit254). read more »

Launching MacDraft Pro 6, the 2D Cad and architectural drawing application, is like opening a window on the past. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into a parallel universe in which MacDraw never left us. From the single bit tool icons to the dotted grid and huge ruler labels, it all looks very 20th century. read more »

There are many options available to you online if you have a knack for humor or cartoon sketching. A common trend found across humor sites is the inclusion of an opt-in mail list—a joke of the day, quote of the week, or the like. Many sites make their money by allowing other companies to sponsor their mail list or newsletter based on a CPM (cost per thousand) basis.