New Reviews on Kickstartnews - October 2007

System Suite 7 Professional - security and system maintenance Registry Booster 2 - clean and optimize the Windows registry SplashTravel Professional Edition for Palm Treo - comprehensive travel organizer and utility DVD Factory DVD Burner with Irodio Photo & Video Studio - 1 or 2 click DVD maker Nikon D40x Digital SLR Camera - powerful entry-level digital SLR Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers - comprehensive user guide

Spotlight On . . . ImageRescue 3

Some of the multimedia storage card makers bundle lite versions of image recovery software utilities with their storage cards—the software is usually found on a mini-CD. If you've ever tossed one of these little discs into the garbage, bad on you. ImageRescue 3 is the full version of Lexar's utility. It's designed specifically to save the sanity of digital photographers by recovering lost or deleted image files on storage cards, repairing corrupted cards, formatting cards, securely erasing them, and even checking the Lexar web site for updates to the firmware in the storage card and automatically updating it if new firmware is available. Who knew? People do funny things with digital camera storage cards including attempts to format them, delete files, and move things around on them while they're jacked into a multimedia card reader attached to a PC. That's all well and good, but these cards often work much more reliably if you just leave them in the camera and use a cable to connect the camera to your computer. If you use only the camera to format your storage cards, it's unlikely you'll ever lose a file. But if you regularly move cards back and forth without reformatting them when they're put back into the camera, chances are you'll eventually need ImageRescue 3 or something like it. The interface is simple, offering an appropriately short list of options, which is a good thing because in an emergency the last thing you want to see is a user interface full of choices. We tried ImageRescue 3 on half a dozen corrupt and otherwise flaky cards ranging from some older 256MB SD cards to an 8GB CF card and everything in between—MMC, miniSD, MS, and so on. The photo file recovery rate averaged about 60% — not great, but worlds better than 0% recovery in the absence of any other utility to do this kind of butt-saving work. We got the best overall results using the Low Level Search option. At US$30 ImageRescue 3 is a bit pricey, and it's designed mainly just for Lexar cards, but we still say that no digital photographer should be without it. 4 out of 5 stars

Boynq Wakeup - iPod Lovers Alarm Clock

So as an ipod lover you may have been looking for a cool dock with alarm clock capabilities. Unfortunately most of the solutions out there are pretty dull looking. However, fear not, Boynq, have announced a new iPod clock stereo with a cool design. The device features three beautifully integrated LCD displays, which show the time, radio stations and input channels in a soft white light. The Boynq Wakeup supports iPod Minis, standard 4G, 5G and Classic iPods, all generations of the Nano, and the iPhone as well as the iPod touch. iPods are docked on top of one of the panels. Devices can be charged and synched at the same time, and other audio sources are supported via line-in. No price or release date as yet, but black and white models will soon be available. Visit Boynq for more info

Dell To Release The XPS One

Dell have joined both Apple and Gateway in creating a media centric PC which echoes to form factor made popular by the Apple G5 iMac. This unit is looking to outclass the Gateway One interms of it's performance and specs. The One will feature a 22-inch display framed by stereo speakers and topped off by a webcam. It will also feature a slot-loading Blu-ray burner along the right bezel, and support at least a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo, a Mobility Radeon HD 2400 graphics processor and up to 4GB of RAM, Wi-FI, Bluetooth, a memory card reader, and connectors for S/PDIF audio output and a TV dongle. The machine will also feature a wireless mouse, a compact wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad, and a remote. No firm news on pricing but it is expected to be in the $2K range...

Vista Deactivation Bug

It seems that doing something as simple as changing your video card may cause Vista to de-activate. This deactivation will place Vista into into reduced functionality after a couple of days requiring that you reapply to Microsoft for a new activation code. Microsoft have confirmed this bug to the folks over at APC Mag. The article where they have reported their experiences with this bug is a good read and details the real problems with the Activation system being used by Windows Vista.

Spotlight On . . . Total Commander 7

The best don't always get better, but it's nice to know that old expression is true at least some of the time. Total Commander 7 is a case in point. As a file management utility, essentially a replacement for the unalterably rudimentary Windows file selector/My Computer combination, Total Commander 7 remains the stalwart, stable and vastly powerful file manager it has always been. New in v7 however are some changes, including full compatibility with Windows Vista, which truly help Total Commander step up into the top three utilities in this software category. New features abound. The Compare by Content functions now lets you edit files and re-synchronize manually. Tree panels are available for both of the master file panels. The Lister now supports a text cursor, and you can also center and resize images. File operation logging has been added (a very nice touch, especially for project and research work). Drive letters can be shown in folder tabs. File system plug-ins are now available which support custom columns and thumbnails. The multi-rename tool has been tweaked so you can now edit target names. The copy/overwrite dialog has been beefed up to include compare content, rename target, auto rename, copy all smaller and copy all larger actions. Sorting functions have been expanded. Search on FTP servers has been added. The overwrite dialog now displays preview images and custom fields. If you try to perform a file action which requires Administrator rights, you have the chance to enter the appropriate permissions, password and so on. Even some high-end niceties have been refined, e.g., the addition of Alias commands through the command line for internal work or when calling external programs. There's tons more. The whole idea seems to be to provide all computer users at all skill levels with a robust file manager that can be used at any level of need. After three weeks of absolutely beating up on Total Commander 7, we have to admit that this release seems to be the best version ever. That's quite an accomplishment. If you regularly handle lots and lots of files of any kind, you owe it to yourself to give Total Commander 7 a long look.

SATA HDD Stage Rack

I have long had a preference for devices which make it easy for me to store my data. The new dock from geekstuff4u is the perfect device for those of you who want to plug in just a raw 2.5" or 3.5" SATA drive into an easy to use interface. The device quite simply allows you to plug a SATA based drive into this docking station as simply as you were plugging your iPOD or PDA into your computer. Simply brilliant...

Apple To Unlock iPhone

It seems that Apple are waking up to customer demands and have realized that they have won no friends with the locked phone issue. They are going to be releasing an unlocked version of their iPhone. They are also going to be releasing an SDK for third party developers. I'll wait to comment on the last issue, as I have no idea what form the SDK will take, but on the unlocking issue, it can only bode well for Apple as many more people will buy their "new cool" thing. I still think the phone sucks in two key areas ... The removable battery (or lack of one) and the lack of support for 3G.

The Cult of Mac

Jason Cross, over at ExtremeTech has published an article on his experiences with Mac User and also very briefly on his Mac. Many of his sentiments are sound and echo my own feelings about Mac Zombies and Apple worshippers. One of the cool things he mentions is that he actually spends equal time in Mac OS and Windows via BootCamp on his Macbook Pro. Before you decide to take a shot at me or Jason, let me tell you that I've worked with Macs since the days of the Mac Classic. I like Macs, I just don't like the uneducated and idiotic blatherings of the "Apple did it first and best" crowd. Pop on over to ExtremeTech and have a read.

I-O Data Announce 8GB USB Stick

I-O Data have added a new version of their 8GB Totebag Memory Stick. This new version supports ReadyBoost and thus Vista too.

Microsoft iPhone Like Interface...

According to i4u.com and Dial a phone, Microsoft have file a patent for a UI which may be designed for Windows Mobile devices and which looks very similar to that of the iPhone.

Hitachi Announce 100GB Blu-Ray Disc

Hitachi has announced that it has created a 100GB blank Blu-ray disc. They have achieved this by creating a disk that has four layers. This doubles current Blu-ray capacities and takes back the HD storage crown from the triple-layer, 51GB HD-DVD blank disc. The new Blu-ray disc will apparently be compatible with existing Hitachi Blu-ray players and burners after a firmware upgrade. Hitachi is also working on an eight-layer, 200GB disc.

Sony Promise Blu-ray Update for PS3

Sony are promising a new firmware update for their PS3 which will update the units Blu-ray functionality. Although many sites are speculating on what the improvements will be, but I'm guessing that it won't improve the much need deregionalisation of the standard.

Belkin's N52te Gaming Pad

Belkin and Razer have teamed up to release an update to the N52 Gaming Pad. This new unit looks very cool and should appeal to hardcore Gamers. The new device is kitted out in cool black and Blue LED backlighting. The n52te also features the addition of hot-swappable profiles and an improved 8-way directional pad. Due out in November, it should retail for around £50.

Sony Reduce UK Pricing Of PS3

Sony have announced a price frop for the existing 60GB PS3 to £349 and have also announced the introduction of a £299 40GB model which features no memory card readers and only two USB ports. The new model is "no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles", which means no support at all ... how confusing is that going to be to parents looking to buy a PS3 for Christmas. When is a PS3 not a PS3 ... I smell lots of product returns after christmas.