Archive for the ‘Software reviews’ category

Manage your downloads from your iPhone or iPod Touch

February 13th, 2010

Manage your overnight downloads without running up the electricity bill!

Do you ever find it annoying when you know you’ve got so much overnight download allowance with your broadband, but don’t want to use it because you’re computer uses so much electricity.

I have that problem regularly. It’s all very well having tonnes of usage allowance between midnight and 9am, but I don’t really want to run my computer overnight as a) it’s a fire hazard and b) it consumes a large amount of electricity.

So, yesterday, I found a solution to the issue. I found an app that will download your files for you and store them on the iPod. Then, when they are done, it will open up a port (8080) that you can browse to on your computer and download the files back locally.

The screenshot below is the file server page that can be browsed to in any web browser on your local network once it is activated within the app (click to see larger size):

I find this app so useful because I can run it all night and it won’t make a sound and won’t cost the Earth. Perfect!

You can get the full version here at £1.19, or get the free version here – but bear in mind that with the free version you can only store 10 files at a time.

Nokia Ovi Suite launched – presumably replaces Nokia PC Suite

February 11th, 2010

Is Ovi set to take over the world? OK maybe that’s overreacting a little…

Nokia PC Suite today notified me that a new update was available, so I checked it up and realised that a final version of Ovi Suite is now available.

The new Ovi Suite brings a brand new interface that seems to work really well.

Nokia Ovi Suite

It replaces the rather tired and limited interface from Nokia PC Suite, and seems to bring a couple of new features that work well.

For example, it now fully integrates with Ovi accounts and synchronises your photos, contacts and messages instantly.

So far, I really like it. It brings a new tidy look to my phone management, and seems to be fully compatible with Windows 7.

You can go ahead and download it from here, or do an update check from PC Suite and it should come up.

Internet Explorer users are (yet again) at risk

February 5th, 2010

Will Internet Explorer ever be safe to use?

Once again, users of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser are at risk. Microsoft recently discovered a vulnerability that could allow a user to turn your system in to a fileserver for your private documents.

Most versions of Internet Explorer are affected. Microsoft has said that any system with a version of Internet Explorer lacking “Protected Mode” is at risk. The user is also at risk if “Protected Mode” has been disabled.

Microsoft are yet to release a fix for this vulnerability. They have said that they are unaware of any hacker currently making use of this potentially disastrous hack.

It’s looking as if Microsoft will (at the earliest) release a patch for this problem next Tuesday (the second Tuesday of each month is the day Microsoft usually release their regular patches and updates). However, I doubt they’ll release an update that soon.

Having not used Internet Explorer in a long time, I would suggest you move away from IE as soon as possible if you can. Try something like Google Chrome or Firefox.