TechSmart 97, October 2011, The Security Issue

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ISSUE 97 October 2011 ISSN 1726–3358

Launching your IT career

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Internet SecurityThe best protection packages explored

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THE SECURITY ISSUE

Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved. No material, text or photo graphsmay be reproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without thewritten consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarilythose of the publisher or of the editor. We recognise all trademarks andlogos as the sole property of their respective owners. TechSmart shall notbe liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon. All priceswere correct at time of going to print.

Editor TechSmart & TechSmart.co.zaMike Joubert > [email protected] manager George [email protected] media managerSuzanne [email protected] Manager Chantell Nell-Marais > 082-780-4696 [email protected] (Agencies)Carmel Ann Singh > [email protected] Brett Wilson, Otto UeckermannContributors Mike Joubert [MJ], Hanleigh Daniels [HD], Ryan Noik [RN],Linda Pretorius [LP], Quintin van Rooyen (QvR)Accounts & subscriptionsRonel Keet > [email protected] van Vuuren > [email protected]

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1At long last we got our hands on Lenovo’s thin-and-lightThinkPad X1. It is their thinnest notebook yet, completewith a next-gen Intel processor.

» Hardware

15

Big Issue: Windows 8 Microsoft last month gave the world a sneak peak athow Windows 8 will look like. This month’s Big Issuereveals more about what lies ahead for the world’s mostimportant operating system.

» Regulars

13

17BlackBerry Bold 9900The ability to use both the touchscreen and a physicalkeyboard as input methods is pretty hot right now.BlackBerry’s Bold 9900 epitomises this in a thin new body.

» Smartphones

EDITORIAL & HIGHLIGHTS

1

9Security anti-virus round-up A number of internet security packages have recentlybeen released. We check out the important oneshere.

» Features

15

9The rise of thesmartphone

As I was playing aroundwith a number of new

entry-level smartphonesthat graced our office lastmonth, it struck me howpowerful these deviceshave become. Only a fewyears ago, you wouldhave being hard pressedto find any phone witheverything from Wi-Fi, 3G, aGPS, pushemail and a decentcamera onboard, not tomention even the ever-growing amount of apps.Now they retail forbetween R2000 andR3000, carrying almost allthe functionality of thehigher priced device, onlywith a slower processor

and lower resolution screen.I would like to believe that

tablets will soon be heading towards better prices too, and ifAmazon’s recent announcement of the 7" Kindle Fire, retailingfor a mere $200, is anything to go by, there are some difficultdecisions for a number of tablet manufacturers lying ahead.

Enjoy the issue,

Mike ([email protected])

The Security Issue ›› October 2011

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3

Hot New Products ››

Nike Air Mag shoesRemember the Back to the Future movieseries? Remember Marty McFly’s self-lacing Nike Air Mag shoes from Back tothe Future II? Well Nike has now actuallyproduced the “greatest shoe never made”,but only a limited edition 1500 pairs.Why? Well they went on saleexclusively on eBay, with allproceeds going to star of the moviesMichael J Fox’s foundation forParkinson’s Disease Research. Goodmoney was made, seeing that thevery first pair sold (to British rapperTinie Tempah) fetched a walloping$37 500 (± R284 000).

Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D ViewerThink 3D glasses are too geeky? Well,you haven’t seen anything yet. Sony’snewly unveiled HMZ-T1 Personal 3DViewer is a head mounted display that

enables users to view 2D and 3D content.Thanks to two newly-developed 0.7"(diagonal) ultra-small high-definitioncolour OLED panels it delivers 1280 x 720picture quality, and due to virtualsurround signal processing technology, it

provides the acoustical equivalentof a 5.1 channel surround-sound system. This device willallow users to create a cinema-like virtual screen andsurround sound experiencewhen it arrives Stateside inNovember for a $799 (justunder R5700).

HTC Sensation XE HTC and Beats Electronicshave revealed the firstsmartphone offering a BeatsAudio experience, the HTCSensation XE. This device

sports a 4.3" qHD (540 x 960) Super LCDcapacitive touch-screen and is powered byan upgraded 1.5 GHz dual-core processor(compared to the standard Sensation’s 1.2GHz dual-core chip). Besides the desirablespecs, the HTC Sensation Limited Editionwill also boast an enhanced audioexperience thanks to Beats Audio, as wellas an included pair of Beats headphones.

Canon PowerShot S100We are big fans of Canon’s S-seriescompact cameras, so the release of thenew S100 came as very good news. TheS100 seems like a significant step up fromthe S95, with Canon now including afaster processor, more pixels, bettershooting speed and 1080p full HD videorecording. Its minute frame also includes aGPS to geotag photos, perfect forglobetrotting. We can’t wait to actuallytest it. R4299, coming in November.

Top Tech Titbits ››

This month, after much speculation,Amazon unveiled its new Kindle

tablet, confirming many of the rumoursto be true. Amazon’s Kindle Fire tabletsports a 7" IPS display, similar to thatfound on the iPad. It is already beinghailed as being exceptionally fast, due toits dual-core CPU. The Kindle Fire has 8GB of storage space, and while Wi-Fi iscatered for, 3G is not. The Kindle Fire’sbiggest surprise though, was itsannounced price – a mere $200(R1600). Oh, it also strangely enoughdoes not have access to Android Market,although it runs on a customised versionof Android. With their own online storebehind them, Amazon is expected tomake a killing.

Nikon this month introduced its newdigital camera system, the Nikon 1,

calling it their biggest announcementsince moving to digital. This makes it thelatest company to adopt the mirrorlessstandard, which combine compact formcamera bodies with the flexibility ofinterchangeable lenses. It also introducednew cameras that take advantage of thesystem, the Nikon J1 aimed at the casualphotographer and the flagship Nikon V1.Standout features include MotionSnapshot, which simultaneously records aslow motion movie and a still image, andSmart Photo Selector, which records 20high resolution images at high speed andautomatically selects the five best shots.The big question is, what will Canon do?

Nikon now also mirrorlessKindle lights the way forAmazon’s Fire tablet

NEWS

iPhone 5 rumoursproved true?

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By the time you are reading this,Apple’s latest iPhone announcement

event has come and gone. At the timeof writing, it was speculated that twophones will be delivered – one the longawaited iPhone 5 and another apotentially lower priced model. But ifone thing is for certain though, thatthere would have been a massivemedia frenzy about what was (and wasnot), delivered. So how far off arepredictions about the new iPhone 5?These includes an edge-to-edgescreen, an eight megapixel camera, theability to accommodate a mini microSIM card and a voice reminder feature.Read all about the next iPhone in ournext issue.

Smart foam

Imagine foam that doesn’t fizzle out tosoapy strands in the tub after a while.

It’s possible, say scientists in a recentarticle in Science. Studying theproperties of a molecule derived fromcastor oil, called 12-hydroxystearicfatty acid, the team found that mixing itwith a specific salt and then adding alittle water created foam that lasts foralmost six months! By changing thetemperature of the water they couldmanipulate the stability of the foambubbles. Microscopic analysis showedthat at temperatures below 60 °C, thesalt–fatty acid mix produces rigid tube-like structures in the soapy film of afoam bubble, which keeps the bubblestable. Above 60 °C, though, the tubesmerge into tiny spheres, causing thefilm to collapse. The finding could bevery useful for cosmetics anddetergents. [LP]

Scientists on trial for not predictingearthquake: bit.ly/trialshake

The most vital scientific lessons that needto be communicated: bit.ly/mostnbq

» Weird Science

Sci News ››

Black hole jets gone wild:bit.ly/blackholejets

Mirror, mirror on the wall

According to a recent report in thescience journal Angewandte

Chemie, the surface of flat mirrorscan be manipulated to reflect weirdimages. Conventional physics lawspredict the change in the path of alight ray when it hits a new opticalmedium. Usually the surface of thenew medium is only the boundary.But when a team of physicists shonelight onto a silicon surface etchedwith gold nanostructures, they foundthat the surface itself also acts as amedium in which the light travels.And depending on the specificpattern on the surface, lightreflected in unpredictable ways. Thisled them to adapt the generalequations that describe the path oftravelling light. And you thoughtthings never change in physics.

The hand that rocked the Cradle

The world of human evolution has beenturned upside down, thanks to bones

found at the Cradle of Humankindtowards the end of 2008. In an earlySeptember issue of the journal Science, ateam of scientists describe features thatsuggest Au. sediba may be the oldestancestor of us modern humans’ genusHomo. Reconstruction of an almostcomplete hand shows that Au. sediba hadlong thumbs and fairly short fingers, andpossibly strong hand muscles. Thissuggests that although able to deftlyclamber around in trees, Au. sediba likelyalso handled tools with skill. Au. sedibalived about 77 000 years earlier than the“Handy man”, Homo habilis, which waspreviously thought to be the start of thedistinctly human line of hominins. Learnmore about Au. sediba’s striking featuresat www.wits.ac.za/sediba.

SCI NEWS ECO NEWS

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US military putting solar panels at 160 000base locations. tiny.cc/USarmygoesgreen

Electric car driver’s range fear subsidesafter three months. tiny.cc/rangefearover

Switch from coal to natural gas no boon toclimate. tiny.cc/gasnobetter

» Other interesting eco news

World’s 1st electric, mannedhelicopter takes flight

Frenchman Pascal Chretien, anelectrical/aerospace engineer and

helicopter pilot, last month took to theair in the world’s first untethered, fullyelectric manned helicopter flight.Chretien did so in a prototype machinethat he designed and built almostcompletely by himself within a yearlong development period.

During his historical two minute andten seconds long test flight, he onlymanaged a height of one meter. But hedid so beating overwhelming oddsagainst adequate power generation,also pipping aviation behemothSikorsky to this milestone, as thatcompany has also been working on itsown project to become the first toachieve a manned electric helicopterflight.

Google shines spotlight on itsenergy footprint

Google is working hard to reduce theamount of energy that their services

employ. The company stated that inorder to provide a user with Googleproducts for an entire month, includingsearch, Google+, Gmail, YouTube andevery other Google product, their serversuse less energy than a light left on forthree hours. Additionally, as Google hasbeen a carbon-neutral company since2007, even that amount of energy isoffset completely, so the carbon footprintof a user’s time spent using Google’sproducts and services is zero. Thecompany also makes extensive use ofrenewable energy, such as seawatercooling systems at one of their datacentres, and solar panels at theirMountain View campus.

MTN scoops coveted GSCAaward

MTN Business’ Corporate Transport andLogistics Solution won Best Project in

the over R10 million category, at theAnnual Green Supply Chain Awards(GSCA). These awards reward companiesmaking a sustained effort to minimise theenvironmental impact of their supply chainprocesses. “Our cost effective solution is afirst for Africa. It enables totally paperlessprocesses by providing an enterprisemobility platform – bundled with cellulardata contract, providing all businessesrequirements in terms of software,hardware, data, support and services. Thissystem will literally save businessesmillions in upfront hardware and softwarecosts while increasing efficiency andproductivity, creating paperless processesand reducing waste,” explains NomalangaNkosi, GM of MTN Business Marketing.

Eco News ››

Photo by Brett Eloff, courtesy of Wits University

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TechSmart (TS): Whythe need to start anmLab here in SA?Steve Vosloo (SV):While there existsan enormous mobileopportunity in theSouthern Africaregion, there arestill challenges tocreating asustainablebusiness in mobileand often thebusiness model isnot clear, thus

requiring the services and support to beprovided by an mLab.

TS: Who is providing the funding for thisinitiative?SV: mLab SA and the recently openedmLab East Africa, in Nairobi, are the firstof a number of mLabs to be launchedaround the world as part of the CreatingSustainable Businesses in the KnowledgeEconomy programme. This is supported byinfoDev (World Bank), the Ministry ofForeign Affairs of the Government ofFinland and Nokia. mLab SA is alsogenerously supported by the South AfricanDepartment of Science and Technology.

TS: What are the benefits of mLab forcompanies that form part of the project?SV: Here are a few major benefits:• Subsidised office space with meeting

rooms and excellent internetconnectivity.

• Training and accreditation on mobiletechnologies and entrepreneurship.

• Business mentoring and coaching, e.g.assistance with a business plan ormobile app monetisation strategy.

• Business intelligence, such as privilegedaccess to market research informationand knowledge repositories.

• Testing of mobile apps and services indedicated test bays, which includehandsets and virtual emulators, SDKs,training materials, etc.

• Certification of applications on key appstores.

• Access to finance: Linkages withfunding instruments such as grantsand seed capital, angel investors andventure capitalists.

• Shared services including reception,internet, test laboratories, etc.

TS: I am a developer, how do I sign up tobecome part of mLab?SV: Go to www.mlab.co.za/membership.The mLab SA offers three types ofmembership: Community, which is freeand which anyone can join, and Silverand Gold, for which members pay a feeto access the core services of the mLabSA facilities, and receive more structuredsupport from the mLab SA team and itspartners.

TS: Why the choice of the Innovation Hub inPretoria? Would Johannesburg not be bettersuited?SV: Last year organisations had to gothrough a bidding process to host themLab Southern Africa. The successfulbidding consortium consists of fourorganisations – CSIR Meraka Institute,the Innovation Hub, InnovationLab andUngana-Afrika. Being based at theInnovation Hub was favourable forwinning the bid as it supports thebuilding of an ICT cluster in that space.Having said that, we know that themobile community is distributed acrossSouth Africa and so we will have satelliteoffices in major centres, includingJohannesburg.

With smartphones everywhere, themarket for apps is exploding.

mLab SA, a new regional lab for mobiletechnology entrepreneurs, applicationdevelopers and innovators, wasrecently launched at The InnovationHub, Pretoria. TechSmart talks to SteveVosloo, mobile impact evangelist atmLab to discuss this excellent newinitiative.

Interview: Steve Vosloo,Mobile Impact Evangelist,

mLab

The first questionoften asked abouttablets, is how willit affect notebookand netbook sales?According toFerreira, thesuccess of tabletshad not yet erodedthe market foreither, but heconceded that itcould in future, astablet adoptioncontinued toaccelerate. This

seems rather

inevitable, as the company hadwitnessed less resistance from customerstowards adopting tablets, particularly ascellular operators were introducingattractive deals that reduced the cost oftablets and smartphones, alsoaccompanying them with competitivedata packages. “While South Africa isslightly behind the US andUK in terms of tabletpurchases, it is certainlyaccelerating at a pace wedidn’t expect, so a slowinitial uptake has beensuperseded by a moreaggressive, more informedadoption,” he added.

Many sizes to fit allFerreira explained thatbecause of the portablenature of tablets, usersgravitate towards devicesthat are as light aspossible, which meant thatcompetition was drivinggreater innovation aroundreducing a device’s weightas well as increasing itsfeature set. He continuedthat the company wantedto offer users as muchchoice as possible. To thisend, Samsung’s strategywas to create a portfolio of products thataddressed a range of needs andpreferences rather than a one-size-fits-all

approach. Additionally, they aimed todifferentiate their tablets from thecompetition by striving to produceincreasingly more innovative products.

In the futureWhether for corporate use or for generalusers, Ferreira anticipates that in the

future we can expect thefeatures on offer in tablets toonly improve. Dual-coreprocessors would give way toquad-core processors, andthe inclusion of morememory, higher qualityscreens, improved batteryconsumption and fasterconnectivity are a given.However, Ferreira expectstablets to become morewidely available to a broaderrange of income groups.

To the pointWhile the debate rages onwhether we are enteringa post PC era, andwhether it is the end ofthe road for netbooksand notebooks, one

thing seems abundantlyclear: phones will only get

smarter, tablet computerswill continue to become

more powerful (and thinner) and thetechnology industry seems destined tobecome a whole lot more exciting. [RN]

We sat down with Paulo Ferreira,the head of Mobile Product and

Business Solutions at Samsung SouthAfrica, to chat about the tablet andsmartphone space and what we canexpect for the foreseeable future.

Interview: Paulo Ferreira, Head of Mobile Product andBusiness Solutions, Samsung

Samsung lifts lidon tablet strategy

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The best new internet security packages

To protectand serve online

FEATURE

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Trend Micro TitaniumInternet Security 2012

VIPREdistinguishes

itself by offeringlifetime licenses,meaning you buy itonce and it will keepon updating yoursoftware under thatlicense. Othersinclude a year longlicense, which means the software willkeep on protecting the PC, but will nolonger update its database. The Premiumedition combines anti-virus and anti-spyware features into a single tool, whilea web filter blocks annoying online adsand email scanning ensures clean andclear email. A firewall is included, whichcan be set up in either the Simple orLearning mode, depending on your tech-savviness. www.vipreantivirus.com

Kaspersky’s2012 edition

includes theirhybrid approachto PC security,which bringstogether thelatestinformationabout malwarethreats from thecloud with the security capabilitiesprovided by KIS 2012 installed on thePC. Improvements to parental controlensures safe searches and can alsorestrict the amount of time kids spendonline, while File Adviser checks thesafety of a file with one click.www.kaspersky.co.za

Read our full review: bit.ly/kasp12

Kaspersky InternetSecurity 2012

The latestBit-

defenderversion keepsyour conversationson Yahoo!and MSNMessengerprivate, whileit also filterssocial-networking specific e-threats by scanning linksyou receive from yourFacebook and Twitterstream. Also onboard is thenew Rescue Mode that re-boots your PC in a trustedenvironment when e-threatscan’t be removed in theregular Windowsenvironment.www.bitdefender.co.za

Bitdefender InternetSecurity 2012

AVGInternet

Security2012 offersnewprotectiontechnologies,computerperformanceenhance-ments andcontent downloadacceleration. It boasts multi-layered protection, utilisingsignature-based antivirus,heuristics and behavior-based threats detection,while being the lightest,fastest and smallest AVGproduct to date. An internetsecurity package well worthconsidering. www.avg.com/za

AVG Internet Security2012

R299 for two users, forone year

ESETSmart

Security 5providesreal-timeprotectionagainstinternetthreats andsocial mediaexploits via Live Grid,advanced heuristic detectiontechnology which flags never-before-seen malware, animproved firewall andantispam. The software alsoscans all USB flash drives,memory cards and CDs/DVDsfor malware and features agamer mode, which postponesall pop-up windows, updatesor other activities to conserveresources. www.eset.co.za

ESET SmartSecurity 5

R538 for one user, for oneyear

Key featuresand usability

improvements inthe new versioninclude NortonIdentity Safe inthe Cloud, whichprotects personaland financialinformation fromcybercriminals, a streamlinedinterface and a simplifiedlogin experience. New NortonManagement functionalityenables users to managetheir Norton products fromanywhere, and fix issuesremotely, while NortonInsight automaticallyidentifies and blocks neverbefore seen malicioussoftware. http://za.norton.com

Norton InternetSecurity 2012

R520 for three users, forone year

Internet security software usuallyincludes all the protection of an anti-virus package combined withfunctionality to enable a safer webbrowsing and web transactionexperience. A number ofmanufacturers have alreadyreleased their 2012 editions, andwe take a look at the best of them.

Trend MicroTitanium

InternetSecurity 2012offers anintuitiveinterface that isaimed at beingeasy to install,along with ‘set-and-forgetsecurity’ whichhas cut down on alerts and pop-ups.Additional features include data theftprotection, which prevents protecteddata from going into web pages,email messages or instantmessaging, spam blocking andcustomisable parental controls tokeep kids safe online.www.sahara.co.za



VIPRE Antivirus Premiumlifetime edition


R450 for one user, for a lifetimeversion

further give the option to add ‘trustedbuddies’ who could similarly perform thesame functions on your behalf, while youcan also choose to wipe the device of itsdata after ten unsuccessful passwordattempts.

Anti-malware does a background scanof your smartphone or tablet for anymalicious code, and we found nodiscernible impact on deviceperformance when running a scan,taking an impressive 17 seconds to scan197 files. The Call and SMS blockingfeature was similarly uncomplicated and

enabled you to create a blocklist, using your contacts, calllogs, SMS logs or personalinput, as the basis forwhom would be blocked.The final feature on offer,Web Protection, wasequally as straightforward,since you can turn it on to blockfraudulent sites, or leave it offand browse without thesoftware’s protection.

Installation of the application was abreeze, while downloading the

software took a few seconds, after whichit prompted us for our license key.Additionally, the software, which iscompatible with Android 2.0 and above,worked without any issues on our laterversion of Android. The clean anduncluttered interface then presented uswith several options in a list form,namely Anti-theft, Anti-Malware, Calland SMS blocking, and Web Protection.

Feature setAnti-theft enables one to send a textmessage to your device, in the event ofit being lost or stolen, with a passwordof your choosing, to locate your devicevia its GPS, lock it or wipe it of all itsinformation. Additionally, this feature

PerformanceOur biggest concern was how installing

a security suite on our device wouldaffect its performance, which luckilyremained unaffected, with no discernibleslowdown in web browsing or generalnavigation. While 16 MB is not small fora mobile app, we found Norton MobileSecurity to be a wise investment inprotecting the integrity of one’s data. Itretails though for a pricey R400.

Full review:bit.ly/norsecmob

With the proliferation ofsmartphones and tablets, thevalue of the data contained onthese devices makes a compellingargument for mobile protection.To this end, Symantec recentlyintroduced its Norton MobileSecurity software that is aimed atstopping mobile threats in theirinsidious tracks.

SOFTWARE

Norton Mobile Security ›› Your Android protected

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“You can send an SMSto your device to locate,lock or wipe it.”

Trend MicroTitaniumInternetSecurity 2012

What you need toknow:

The easy to use Trend Micro TitaniumInternet Security web securitysoftware package enables you tosafely and securely connect to theinternet.

As with a variety of otherpopular internet

security packages,Titanium Internet Security2012 offers all the benefitsof an anti-virus solution,along with additionalfunctionality. These addedextras ensure that yourfamily can navigate theworld wide web in a securefashion, with the help, forexample, of parentalcontrol functionality toensure that children cannotaccess inappropriatewebsites or spend the entire day online.

New featuresBesides the features usually included withthis Internet Security suite, such as atop-notch spam blocker, the updated2012 package also boasts some newfunctionality. This includes the Fakeantivirus cleaner, that acts as a potentdefence against malware posing asantivirus software, while at the same timeenhancing overall malware detection andclean-up.

A feature that will come in very handyfor those with lots of sensitive data ontheir PCs, is Secure Erase. This enablesyou to overwrite deleted files withrandom data. What many users may notrealise is that merely deleting files onyour PC simply results in the removal of

the directory information usedto find the file, while the actualdata remains. With SecureErase you can rest assured thatthese files have truly beenpermanently erased. For thosedoing lots of downloading fromthe net, the Trend Microbehavioural monitoring moduleprovides proactive protection bychecking running processes forunauthorised and potentiallymalicious changes.

Also interesting is the factthat Titanium Internet Security

features 2 GB worth of SafeSync onlinestorage. This, like Dropbox, allows you tosecurely store all of your work documentsand multimedia files online, or share itwith users that have web-enableddevices. Another new feature not found inmany internet security packages is thenew system tuner. This improves PCperformance by helping users to free updisk space and enabling Windows to startfaster.

ConclusionTrend Micro Titanium Internet Security2012 offers users a comprehensivesecurity solution with a number of extrasnot found on other internet securitypackages. A one PC, one year licenseedition goes for R199 (incl VAT), whichalso gives you access to free 24/7 localemail and telephonic support.

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Looking to buy a smartphone? Go to techsmart.co.za to read our reviews first!

HTC Desire Sbit.ly/desireshtc

Samsung Galaxy Gio bit.ly/giosamsung

Nokia E6 bit.ly/e6nokia

HTC ChaCha bit.ly/chachtc

LG Optimus Black P970 bit.ly/blacklg

Huawei IDEOS X5 bit.ly/x5huawei

One of the most annoying aspects ofmodern anti-virus software is the

recurring annual licenses, and this iswhere VIPRE truly stands out from the

crowd. It is one of the onlymainstream servicesoffering lifetime licenses,meaning you buy it onceand never again.

VIPRE describes itself asbeing a light-weight, highlyefficient anti-virus programthat supplies users with allthe security features theymay need, in addition to nothogging system resources. The softwareoptimises overall performance by

combining anti-virus andanti-spyware features intoa single tool. A firewall isincluded, sporting a myriadof different options whichcan be set up in either theSimple or Learning mode,depending on your tech-savviness. A web filter alsohelps block annoyingonline ads while emailscanning will ensure cleanmail at all times.

A VIPRE premiumlifetime single PC license is availablewith an RRP of R450. For more info callAfrica SD on 012-665-2513.

VIPRE anti-virus is one of thenewcomers in the field, but thishasn’t stopped the tenacioussoftware package from taking onthe big boys, and living to tellabout it.

players to links to RSS feeds. These tilesare able to provide certain informationwithout having to open it, for example aweather app will show the weatherforecast for the next three days directlyfrom the desktop.

As with Windows Phone, apps don’t runin isolation, as they are able tocommunicate with each other withinWindows 8. For instance, whilst composingan email, users can simply select photosthat they wish to attach to the email fromdifferent places, the likes of Facebook,Flickr or on their PC’s own hard drive. Interms of web browsing, Internet Explorer10 is said to deliver a fast and fluid touch-optimised browsing experience to Windows8 users, while just as Apple did with theirMac App Store, the OS will also enable

users to quench their app-appetites viathe Windows Store.

One OS to rule all form factors By offering support for ARM-basedchipsets, x86 (as well as x32 and x64)devices, touch and sensors, Microsoft hasensured that Windows 8 will operate on awider range of devices than ever before.These include the usual suspects, but nowalso welcoming new devices the likes of10" tablets as well as all-in-one PCs with27" HD displays.

If anything, Windows 8 acknowledgesthe massive influence of smartphonesand tablets in the way people want tointeract with computers. For Microsoft,Windows 8 will be more of a giant leapthan the usual one small step. [HD]

It gave a good idea of what Windows 8will look like, but more importantly, it

showed that the OS will be more touch-friendly in order to support the increasedimportance of tablets, a computingcategory that completely passed Microsoftby.

Metro Style user interfaceMicrosoft’s Windows 8 operating system(OS) introduces their new Metro style userinterface (UI) as found on their WindowsPhone smartphone. Sleek, stylish andrefreshingly modern, Metro is better suitedto touch, but can be just as easilynavigated with mouse and keyboard. Livetiles form the epicentre of the userexperience, with tiles able to includeanything from different apps, files, media

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VIPRE Antivirus Premium lifetime edition ›› Antivirus for the lifetime of your PC

TH

EBIGAt Microsoft’s Build developers conference, held last month in Anaheim, California, the worldgot its first glimpse of the next iteration of the planet’s number one operating system –Windows 8.

Windows 8

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HARDWARE

+27(0) 86-111-4428 [email protected]

www.netshieldsa.com

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Advertorial

Netshield NVIROMON-1U monitoring system

By now TechSmart readers must befamiliar with the NVIROMON-1U, a

device used to monitor and control theconditions inside a room, detectingwhether it is too cold, too hot, too wet orif there are any unwanted gasses or fire.What readers might not know is that thisversatile product can also provide fullaccess control, with complete commandover who enters the room, when and forwhat reason. There is even an option of afull security alarm system that cancapture images of people entering. Userswill be able to see and hear if anything isout of the ordinary; but best of all, it willalert you via SMS if you are not close by.

CONTROLLING ACCESS AND SECURITYIn order to restrict access to rooms wheresensitive, dangerous or expensiveequipment is housed, the NVIROMON unitcan be enhanced via certain keyequipment:

• The MULIODCBPSU controls accessthrough the main door. It allows theuser to enter with WIEGAND-basedtechnology such as fingerprint readers,WIEGAND interface keypads orNormally Open/Normally Closecontacts. This product is installed

��

Access control, environmental control and powermanagement at your fingertips

because fluctuations in these may beharmful to equipment/products/people.To this end, Netshield offers thefollowing:

• In most cases there are a minimum oftwo air conditioners in such a room.The NACCU can be used on its own orin conjunction with the NVIROMON-1U.Since it monitors the working andcycles of the air conditioners in theroom, it allows certain advantagessuch as controlling fire by being ableto cut off the air flow from the airconditioner remotely.

• The NAM-SW is mounted on the airconditioner to monitor the airflow. Itwill alert you with an SMS when the airconditioner doesn’t operate anymore.

• The NTEMPRS485 is a sensor that isconnected to the NVIROMON-1U thatcan measure temperature in the room.In some circumstances it is veryimportant to control temperature, forexample in medicine storage rooms orabattoirs. By connecting this productto the NVIROMON-1U the user will beable to receive SMSes on a regularbasis regarding temperature change.

• Furthermore there are also theNBARRS485 measuring humidity, theNH20RS485 that notices floods, andthe NPWRRELAY sensor that detectswhen the power is off.

For enquiries on any of these products,contact Netshield on 086-111-4428 or012-841-0320, or visitwww.netshieldsa.com.

inside the room above the door, sothat it is tamper proof from theoutside.

• The NIPC930 is an Internet Protocol(IP) Camera that can take photos orvideos on demand, for instance everytime the push button is pressed or theinfrared sensor picks up movement. Ithas the option of being installed as awired or a wireless device.

• The NKPPCR1 device can be installedto read an access card, or an accesscode can be typed in on the keypad, inorder to allow access to the room.

• For more sophisticated technology theSGMOPTO device scans and readsfingerprints in order to allow certainpeople access to the room. ThisSagem device is installed next to thedoor to also allow access throughfingerprint scanning. With itssophisticated software, SGMINT4, itallows personal record management,image capture, finger registration,reports, etc.

• Door latching mechanisms, such as theNVMAGLOC300KG with its Z-bracket,NMAGLOCZ300, is used to determine ifa door is open or not.

• The break glass switches and fireman’sswitches allow entry into the access-controlled area during or after anemergency.

CONTROLLING THE ENVIRONMENTIn some rooms it is important to manageand control the conditions inside theroom such as detecting gasses, managingtemperature and managing humidity,

If protection of a specific room is apriority, the versatile NVIROMON-1Umonitoring system should be numberone on your list. We delve into itsaccess control, fire smothering andenvironmental monitoring features.

70 million. G

lobal milestone for B

lackBerry subscribers that Research In M

otion surpassed last month.

The thin-and-light notebook market iscurrently experiencing a bit of a

boom, thanks to machines that do notsacrifice performance despite having askinnier frame. Joining these is theThinkPad X1, Chinese computer giantLenovo’s thinnest notebook yet,measuring 17 mm and weighing a verymanageable 1.72 kg. Although it’s notthe lightest of thin-and-light out there,Lenovo has managed to trim enough ofthe excess fat that can turn a notebookbag on the shoulder into a medievaltorture device.

Despite its thin frame the X1 feels likea solid device, featuring roll-cageprotection and now also a 13.3" CorningGorilla Glass protective screen.Although slightly more reflectivethan we would have liked, thisscratch-resistant enhancedglass does make one feela bit more relaxedabout those bumps andbruises that can oftenlead to a very expensiveto replace cracked screen.

thanks to Dolby Home Theatre V4onboard. One of the strong points of anyThinkPad is some of the best keyboardsyou’ll ever have the priviledge to type on.Exactly the same is true of the newredesigned chiclet-style keyboard, whichis not only a joy to make use of, but isspill-proof and now also backlit.

Despite a solid offering of ports, Lenovoopted to include the majority of them onthe back of the machine, making it verydifficult to quickly access these whenneeded. The company’s decision to go fora built-in battery instead of a removableone also hinders, since in our experiencea battery is one of the first things to bereplaced on a notebook.

ConclusionDespite these shortcomings, we wouldfeel more than comfortable with theThinkPad X1 in our notebook bag. It

might not be the lightestthin-and-light on themarket, but with a very

solid feel, uncompromisingperformance, a damage-resistant

screen and one of the best keyboardson market, the X1 did much to impress

us. Our version with Intel Core i5processor retails for R14 999.

Full review: bit.ly/x1lenovo

Core i5 means businessIn the engine room of our test machineis the Intel Core i5 2520M dual-coreprocessor running at 2.5 GHz. Thisprocessor is very suitable for multi-tasking and a broad range of highperformance tasks. That said, it’s not assharp on the gaming side,although the machineoffers very goodsound

Thin and light, but with a definitebusiness edge. That’s a prettygood description of the newLenovo ThinkPad X1.

met by a firm but satisfying press. The company makes a big deal of its

IceCool palmrest feature, in which theinternal components of the notebookhave been positioned to keep heat awayfrom the palmrest. It certainly works well,since even as we engaged highperformance mode for hours on end,neither the keyboard, the ideally placedlarge trackpad, nor the base of thecomputer showed any sign of heating up.

Power suitableAnother noteworthy feature on the K53SCis Asus’ Power4 Gear software, which

enables one to readily switch betweenone of four modes – high performance,entertainment, quiet office and batterysaving, in which the notebook variesthe maximum processor state, screenbrightness and camera devicesaccordingly. Altec Lansing speakers,two USB 2.0, one USB 3.0 and anHDMI port are along for the ride, alongwith a DVD drive.

ConclusionWhile weighing in at 2.6 kg, thenotebook was not unbearably heavy tocarry in our notebook backpack, and at

R10 499 the K53SC won’t break thebank or your back, while proving tooffer an all-round enjoyablecomputing experience. [RN]

The first aspect of the K53SC thatcaught our eye was the solidity of its

aluminum frame, which immediatelylends the notebook a sense of durablequality. Beyond this, some subtlepatterning on the lid and discretesplashes of brown and silver give thenotebook a somewhat formal butnonetheless attractive appearance.

SpecificationsOur K53SC review unit sported Intel’ssecond generation Core i7, running at2.0 GHz, 4 GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. The notebook offeredgeneral all round admirableperformance, proving fast andresponsive in our use of it. Also worthmentioning is its bright and sharp15.6" screen, with a resolution of1366 x 768 as well as a Nvidia GeforceGT 540 M graphics card, which has 1GB dedicated video memory formoderate gaming.

FeaturesHowever, as the old Cremora adgoes, the notebook’s charm is not(just) inside, it’s (also) on top.

The K53SC boasts a full chicklet keyboardwith a numeric pad that proved apleasure to type on. Despite not beingbacklit, which would have beenimmensely welcome, our fingersnonetheless found the keys easily, to be

The aluminium styled K53SCbrings a touch of distinction toAsus’ mid-range offerings.

Asus K53SC ›› Medium weight all rounder

15

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 ›› For serious businessHARDWARE

“Neither the keyboard,the ideally placed largetrackpad, nor the base ofthe computer showed anysign of heating up.”

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compared to PS One titles, and we foundthe gaming experience smooth and thecontrols intuitive, as expected from adevices with a PS pedigree. However, wealso found ourselves wishing that Sonysqueezed in a mini analogue stick, whichwould’ve enabled better 360° movementwithin games such as FIFA 10, insteadthere are touchpads included.

Other featuresAlso onboard is an auto-focus 5.1 MPcamera that captures gorgeous lookingphotos, but strangely doesn’t record HD-Ready videos. It also features aGPS,Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, 802.11n Wi-Fiand only about 400 MB of internalstorage space, with an 8 GB card

included in the box.

ConclusionThe SE Xperia Play is areally capablesmartphone anddelivers an improvedmobile gamingexperience thanks to itsdedicated controls. Thissmartphone will enableyou to replace your oldsmartphone and PSPwith just one device,but for a pricey

R6000. [HD]

FeaturesIt further boasts a dual-core 1 GHz ARMCortex-A9 processor and 512 MBmemory, which accounted for a faultlessresponsiveness when navigating theinterface. Internal storage of 8 GB isalso included, but this can be expandedby 32 GB with a microSD card. Thephone further features a Micro HDMIport (to connect it to an HDTV), Wi-Fiand aGPS. The only weakness of what isyet another solid phone in LG’s stable,is the LG 3D’s battery life, which randown faster than we would have liked.

ConclusionThe LG Optimus 3Dwill retail for R5499,which whileexpensive, is a fairprice in our opinion,considering thequality of the phoneand the range offeatures on offer. Thefact that it enablesusers to view, capture

and share their owncontent, all in 3D, makes itan awesomeoffering.[RN]

Full review:bit.ly/lgop3d

capturing in 2D, or 720 at 30 fps whenrecording in 3D. Once a 3D video hasbeen captured, it can be uploadeddirectly to a dedicated YouTube 3Dchannel from the phone’s ‘Share’ menu.

As LG’s flagship device, the Androidrunning Optimus 3D boasts a

glasses-free 3D display and can captureand display 3D images and video. With abright and sharp 4.3" 3D LCD capacitivetouchscreen (480 x 800), it is one of thebigger smartphones you’ll come acrossthis year.

On to the 3DIt’s clear that the 3D functionality is thephone’s predominant “wow factor” andalso an impressive conversation starter.It certainly made us eager to playaround with the phone and see what itcould offer, which turned out to be quitea lot. The phone boasts a 2D and 3Dmode, enabling one to view images andplay games in 2D or 3D, both of whichcertainly looked compelling.

Two five megapixel cameras situatednext to each other make it possible tocapture both 3D videos and images. Andthis worked extremely well, especially3D video recording, which enables videocapture at full HD 1080p at 24 fps when

SMARTPHONES

16

1 GHz CPU and embedded Adreno 205GPU graphics processor. Together with512 MB of RAM, this SoC duo delivers 60frames per second 3D mobile gaming(although not viewable in 3D like the LG3D), via the Play’s excellent 4" (480 x854 pixels, 245 ppi pixel density)touchscreen.

We go gamingThe Play will have access to PlayStationgame content provided through thePlayStation Suite, which will be launchedby Sony Computer Entertainment laterthis year. Six preloaded games ensurethat you keep your gaming fingersoccupied until then, including CrashBandicoot, Bruce Lee: Dragon Warriorand FIFA 10,with more

gamesdownloadablevia Google’sAndroid Market.

The graphicscan be

Donning a stylish ivory and silverClark Kent business suit, the Play fits

in neatly with the rest of Sony Ericsson’s(SE) Xperia Android devices. Itmeasures 119 x 62 x 16 mm and weighsa noticeably chubby 175 g, but thisbulky exterior hints at the fact thatthere’s more to this device, becomingevident when you slide out its hiddenPSP Go-esque gamepad fromunderneath the display to reveal its

Superman gaming persona.Keeping the performance Kryptonite

(aka lag) at bay and delivering a super-smooth gaming performance, is thePlay’s optimised Qualcomm SnapdragonMSM8255 system-on-a-chip, sporting a

“This bulky exterior hints at the factthat there’s more to this device,becoming evident when you slide outits hidden PSP Go-esque gamepad.”

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play,otherwise known as thePlayStation phone, is the firstPlayStation Certified device andlooks like the lovechild of asmartphone and PSP Go.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play ›› The Clark Kent of smartphones

It was surely only ever a questionof time before 3D made the movetowards our smartphones, withLG’s Optimus 3D being the first3D devices to land on SA’s shores.

LG Optimus 3D P920 ›› 3D everywhere

“It’s clear that the 3Dfunctionality is thephone’s predominant‘wow factor’ and also animpressive conversationstarter.”

2nd. Vodacom Tanzania is the 2nd largest operation outside S

outh Africa for the local m

obile operator, with over nine m

illion customers.

Navigation, HSDPA connectivity,Bluetooth 3.0 and the ability to includemicroSD cards (2 GB card included inbox). A few years ago this would neverhave been the case.

Final wordHTC’s Wildfire S features a stylish lookand feel and a gorgeous, user-friendlyinterface, but does unfortunately sufferfrom some lag. It comes with an RRP ofR2888, slightly more thansome of the competition. [HD]

Full review:bit.ly/htcwilds

processor trend, this BB is no slow-poke. It’s powered by a single-core 1.2GHz QC 8655 processor and sports 768MB of RAM, keeping any hint of lag atbay. Also onboard is 8 GB of internalstorage space, Wi-Fi 802.11 n,Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and a 5 MPcamera that can record HD-Ready(720p) videos.

RIM’s new BlackBerry 7 OS debuts onthe 9900, with RIM proclaiming a 40%increase in speed to the previous OS dueto Liquid Graphics technology. This newOS also enables some additional featuresincluding a faster browser, Near FieldCommunication and a voice-activatedsearch. We found it noticeably quicker toutilise compared to BlackBerry 6-operating smartphones, although it looksvirtually identical to the previous OS.

ConclusionThe Bold 9900 sports some excellentspecs, while being RIM’s thinnestBlackBerry handset and the best lookingBold device to boot. It goes for an RRP ofR7694, making it a lot more expensivethan the outgoing Bold 9780 and othertouch-and-type devices such as Nokia’sE6 (R4499) and HTC’sChaCha (R2350). [HD]

Full review: bit.ly/newBoldreview

In contrast to the small step fromthe BlackBerry Bold 9700 to theBold 9780, RIM took a moredramatic leap forward with theBold 9900.

SMARTPHONES

As we’ve come to expect from the Boldseries, the 9900 offers one of the

best QWERTY keyboards available, butnow also offers a responsive 2.8" LCDcapacitive touchscreen to go along withit. Much like the BlackBerry Torch, thisallows you to use the keyboard, trackpador touchscreen to easily navigate yourway round the menus.

RIM’s Bold 9900 sports the familiariconic BB design, enhanced by a brushedstainless steel frame that’s nicelycontrasted by the black glossy plasticbody. It incorporates a stylish high-glossglass-weave backplate, covering thebattery and slots for the SIM and non-hotswoppable microSD memory card(supports cards up to 32 GB). Measuring

BlackBerry Bold 9900 ›› Best Bold ever

17

115 x 66 x 10.5 mm and weighing 130g, the 9900 is extremely comfortable tohold and pocket-friendly seeing that itsthe thinnest BB model available. Thishigh pixel density (pixel per inch count)of the touchscreen (640 x 480, 287 ppi)still doesn’t match that of the Nokia E6(328 ppi) or the iPhone 4 (326 ppi)though.

BlackBerry 7 OS and featuresDespite foregoing the current dual-core

“This allows you to use thekeyboard, trackpad ortouchscreen to easily navigateyour way round the menus.”

Sensible SkinAs a boon to users, Google’s latestAndroid 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS features,as well as HTC’s Sense 2.1 skin runningatop of it (same as on the Desire S).We are avid fans of the HTC Senseinterface that flies between integratedsocial feeds, the best appsarrangement in the business andintuitive accessibility to numerousfunctions, all while still retainingAndroid’s familiarity. Our only realgripe with the device is that HTC hasopted to power it with a 600 MHzSnapdragon processor, unlike forexample the ChaCha or Samsung Giothat includes speedier 800 MHzprocessors. It unfortunately resulted inthe interface becoming noticeably laggyon occasion, detracting from the

coolness factor that this fantastic skinbrings to this budget smartphone.

Every time we use one of theseentry-level devices it amazes us thatmost of the functionality on higher-enddevices also features here. Thisincludes Wi-Fi, aGPS with voice guidednavigation thanks to Google

The sturdily constructed and robust HTCWildfire S is extremely comfortable to

hold and almost unnoticeable in yourpocket, as it measures in at a 101.3 x 59.4x 12.4 mm, and weighs a mere 105 g. Itswhite back-cover is nicely contrasted by asilver plastic finish around thesmartphone’s edges and camera, much likeHTC’s Flyer tablet. This allows it to comeacross as a more stylish and upmarket

device than the rather plain black design ofthe Samsung Galaxy Gio. The Wildfire S’sscreen is also much better than theprevious Wildfire, now boasting 320 x 480pixels instead of 240 x 320, while alsoimpressively sporting the more resistantGorilla Glass, an excellent addition to whatis basically an entry-level device.

“Every time we use one of these entry-level devices itamazes us that most of the functionality on higher-end devices also features on here.”

Smartphone buyers looking for abudget-friendly mobile device nolonger have to settle forunderpowered devices withunimpressive displays, as thisprice category is inhabited bysome capable performers.

HTC Wildfire S ›› S is for souped-up Wildfire

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The Air Sanitizer uses NCCOtechnology that reduces airVolatile Organic Compounds(VOC) with 99.6% efficiency ina 200 ft. range, and alsoreduces the presence ofallergens and viruses.

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Utterly astounding, this beautifully crafted gizmo looks like the kind of thing youmight find in Diagon Alley. The difference is you use it to control your telly, DSTV,stereo or any other infra-red device via various abracadabra-ish gestures. Thereare no buttons, so to change the channel or the volume you’ll have to wave itaround in the air, like a wizard.

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5 cores. Nvidia’s Project Kal-El (Tegra 3) system

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panion core.

19

However, like with most pieces oftechnology, a little bit of thought

goes a long way, and users areencouraged to identify their personalhome networking needs before buying arouter.

Hooked up via ADSLAn option always worth considering is anWi-Fi ADSL router, such as HuaweiHG520c ADSL Router router, which plugsinto one’s ADSL line and offers four LANports, a built-in antenna, wireless802.11b/g/n and a Wi-Fi rate up to 150Mbit/s. This is valuable for users whotend to do a lot of their internet andonline browsing on their wireless devices,such as tablets and smartphones, andrequire fast wireless speeds that cantransfer data efficiently rather thansending them running back to their PC.

3G at homeAnother option, of course, are 3Gmodems. These are particularly relevant

wired Ethernet ports are in use. With fourEthernet ports available, it’s also possibleto connect via LAN to the device.

3G On the GoFor a truly mobile connectivity optionthough, a 3G mobile Wi-Fi router isideal. Case in point Huawei’s Mobile Wi-Fi E5830, which is not only a pocketfriendly portable solution, but alsoforms a mobile hotspot which anyonewith the correct password can use toconnect to the internet. At a minisculeweight of 90 g, it is ideally suited forroad warriors who want to travel lightas much as they need to stayconnected.

For more information on any ofthese products, or where to buy them,call Huawei SA on 011-517-9800.

In terms of computing peripherals,routers are much like printers inthat they aren’t the most alluring ofdevices, but they are essential togeneral connectivity, which meanstheir reliability is crucial.

ROUTERS

in the South African market in areaswhere fixed line access is limited orimpossible. It is here that pairing ofwireless technology and 3G coveragecome into their own, and can be a boonfor those who want connectivitywherever their 3G provider grantscoverage. Instead of plugging into anADSL line, these rely on a SIM card forconnectivity.

Huawei’s stylish white B660 3Gwireless gateway is one of the bestlooking routers available. Unlike 3Gdongles one plug into a notebook, theB660 provides internet access to anyoneconnected via Wi-Fi to this device,thanks to the strong 802.11b/g/n signal.It further features a circular panel on itstop, which lights up to indicate power,signal strength and which of the four

Huawei B660 3G Wireless GatewayHuawei E5830 Portable Router

Wireless networking the Huawei way ›› Different strokes for different folks

The Canon EOS 1100D is aimed at thosestarting out on their photographic

journey, or simply the mom-dad lookingto capture high quality pictures of thekids. Granted, it does not contain as muchfunctionality as the larger cameras, butdepending on where you want to go withyour photography, you might never feelthe need to step up.

Easy to useWhen you first look at the back of this12.2 megapixel camera, the amount ofbuttons can be confusing. It’s notnecessary to hit the manual right away(but recommended), since on the top ofthe camera you’ll find your mode dial.Many people, even on higher-endcameras, never move away from thesimple options provided by this, with thedifferent scene modes (portrait, sport,macro, etc.) almost ensuring you get agood quality picture. Canon has alsointroduced a Creative Auto mode wheresome manual adjustments can be madeto your picture, explained in an easy tounderstand fashion. For example, the

the higher quality 1080p full HD. If the photography bug has bit you

either via your compact camera or yoursmartphone, the Canon EOS 1100D willprovide a massive improvement in picturequality. It’s a step in the right direction,thanks to a whole ecosystem of lensesand accessories available, and of coursethe benefits involved of a larger sensor,interchangeable lenses and fasterprocessor. It retails for R6080 with 18-55IS II Lens Kit. [MJ]

As their low-cost entry-level model,Canon’s EOS 1100D will do a lot tomake amateur shooters lovephotography.

Canon EOS 1100D ›› A good startDIGITAL CAMERAS

camera does not ask you if you want toadjust your aperture; instead it will giveyou the option to select your backgroundblur – from a sharp background, ideal forlandscapes, to a blurred background thatis most suited for portraits.

Also manualIf you want to go into more detail, thenthe Manual setting allows for full

control over different settings, includingISO (in the 1100D’s case a very good6400, allowing you to shoot indoorswithout flash for example), shutter speed(up to a very high 1/4000 of a second),aperture and more. The camera will also,by way of a short description, explainwhat each of the functions mean – a goodway to learn about photography. Althoughthe 1100D has a lovely viewfinder, its LCDscreen at the back is smaller than thecompetition, measuring 2.7". You canalso record high quality video, in the1100D’s case the HD-ready 720p and not

“Depending on whereyou want to go withyour photography, youmight never feel theneed to step up.”

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custom-developed web apps that arerife with vulnerabilities that can’t beprotected with commercially availablesecurity products.

• The number of attacks on webapplications is growing exponentially.HP DVLabs compiled attack data fromits network of HP TippingPointIntrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) todetermine the danger these webapplications vulnerabilities pose toinformation security. For 2011, attackson web applications have increased by26% over the same time period in2010. Looking at all these data pointstogether, it’s clear that attackerssimply do not need to rely on new webapp vulnerabilities to launch theirexploits. They are able to executesuccessful and profitable attacks usingolder information and techniques. This report is intended for IT, networkand/or security administrators that areresponsible for securing the publicfacing communication with anorganisation’s customers, partners andemployees. In addition to data onvulnerabilities and attacks, the reportoffers mitigation and risk managementstrategies for helping organisationsaddress key business objectivesincluding customer privacy concerns,service levels and compliance.

Download the full report here:bit.ly/hpentersec

What’s your next enterprise securitymove?Now that you’ve read about all of themost current risks and vulnerabilities,what do you need to do to protect yourorganisation from them? Get acquaintedwith HP’s Enterprise Security Solutionshere: bit.ly/hpesecsol

Not only can an attack on a webapplication affect the back end

systems and impact your organisation’scompliance posture, it can also put yourcustomer data at risk which can in turncause a public relations nightmare.

Newly released mid-year CyberSecurity Risks Report 2011 offers insightsThe HP 2011 mid-year edition of the bi-annual Top Cyber Security Risks report(bit.ly/hpentersec) features in-depthanalysis on web application vulnerabilitiesand attacks using data from HP DVLabs,Application Security Center and Fortifysecurity units as well as vulnerabilitydisclosure data garnered from the OpenSource Vulnerability Database (OSVDB).Key findings from this report include:

• The numbers of new vulnerabilitiesbeing reported is declining. There wasa time when zero day attacks –exploits that leverage newlydiscovered vulnerabilities before theycan be patched – were at an all-timehigh. However, this report shows aninteresting and disturbing trend: thenumber of new vulnerabilities beingdiscovered in commercial webapplications is declining rapidly.OSVDB data reports just over 3000new vulnerabilities disclosed fromJanuary – June 2011, which is downabout 25% from the same time periodlast year.

• The number of vulnerabilities found inactual, production web applications isextremely high. At the same time,data from customer web applicationscans has shown the number ofvulnerabilities found in theseapplications is still extremely high. Forexample, the Application SecurityCenter Web Security Research Group(WSRG) conducted scans on 236 staticweb applications and found that 69%of these contained at least one SQLInjection vulnerability. What’s more,42% contained persistent cross-sitescripting vulnerabilities. But if thenumbers of new vulnerabilitiesdisclosed is declining, where are thesevulnerabilities coming from?

1. Organisations aren’t patching pre-existing vulnerabilities in commercialweb apps leaving low hanging fruit forattackers to exploit; and/or

2. There are a growing number of

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Web applications are a necessary toolfor conducting business in today’sconnected world – commonexamples include online banking orretail websites. At the same time,these applications can be a significantliability to enterprise security. Usingjust one vulnerability in the publicfacing interface of a web application,an attacker can devastate a business.

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HP Enterprise Security Solutionsprovide a layered system of defence forthe enterprise. HP can help you assess,transform, manage, and optimise acrossyour risk strategy and security operations.

By Jennifer Lake, Security Product MarketingManager, HP Networking

Web App attacks at the mid year

Disclosed vunerabilities

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22

70 million. Predicted 2011 tablet sales according to G

artner Research Group. 62.5 m

illion. Predicted 2011 tablet sales according to IDC.

BlackBerry9900

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R6 899Incl VAT

Samsung 55" LCD TV

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Motorolaex115Dual SIM card

R599Incl VAT

BlackBerry 9520Storm 2

R2 499Incl VAT

Nokia E63

R1 399Incl VAT

Apple iPad2Samsung 32" LCD D4000 TV

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Samsung Star Tv phone

R799Incl VAT

16GB

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Nokia6700 Gold

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Nokia 5230 Driver Edition

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SamsungSeries 9 laptop

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R14 999 Incl VAT

10.1 inch

R6 899 Incl VAT

working much like a glue gun. Once themachine has constructed a “raft” at thebase (a flat sheet of plastic filament thatcan be torn off once done), work on theactual product can start. The machine“prints” via an adaptive layering process,building the 3D product layer for layerstarting from the bottom up.

It’s an extremely interesting procedureto witness, and for TechSmart’s visit, theRapMan was busy with a blowablewhistle. It deftly constructed the whistlelayer upon layer, taking close to 45minutes to “print” the unit.

Print in 3DThe RapMan 3.1 3D printer can printprojects 275 x 275 x 210 mm in size,with some of CAD House’s clients using3D printers to construct conceptarchitectural models, engineering parts,parts for model airplanes and toys.Demonstrating its versatility, a Pretoria-based artist also creates amazingsculptures and jewellery with it.

For those looking to build the RapMan3.1 3D printer from scratch, the devicecosts R9900, which includes a detailedset of instructions as well as a one yearwarranty on the product. Call CADHouse for more information on theRapMan (or a fully constructed version),on 087-944-2072/3, or visit www.3d-printer.co.za.

AUTHORISED RESELLER

137 Mopani RoadHennopsparkCenturion

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Get ready for the revolution in printingThe BFB 3000 has a maximum build area of 275 x 275 x 210mm and a layerresolution of only 0.1mm. Materials include super strong ABS material in avariety of colours, solid and translucent, PLA, HDPE, LDPE, uPVC and PP.The perfect 3D printer for Education, Hobbyists, Enthusiasts and Professionals.

BFB 3000 Plus Single Head

R25 700

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23

Printing ink on paper is a commonenough occurrence in many homesand offices around the world. But howabout printing a 3D architectural scalemodel, or a spare part for a machine, orsimply a new-fangled 3D sculpture?

3D PRINTING NOW FOR EVERYONE

3D printing is not a technologydestined for the future, in fact you

don’t need to travel further thanCenturion to come across CAD House, acompany specialising in 3D printers. Bestof all – you can actually build oneyourself.

The company is an authorisedimporter of UK company Bits FromBytes’ RapMan 3.1 3D printer (see adbelow), and as far as keeping theTechSmart crew enthralled, this printerwas up there with any of this year’s bestgadgets.

Meet the RapManThe RapMan 3.1 3D printer looks a bitlike an oversized Meccano project. Withfour motors, a controller board and theprint head, the RapMan prints whateverCAD (computer-aided design) drawingit’s provided with via the SD card slot.

For the RapMan the actual “printing” isdone via plastic filament that gets fedand melted into malleable “strings”through the 0.5 mm heater nozzle,

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24

GADGETS

We’re not big fans of in-earearphones when it comes to

exercising, mainly because they havetendency to drop out as soon as we hitthe road. The Philips ActionFit Sports inear earphones actually sticks and nomatter the distance, they are still in atthe end of the run. There are a numberof very nice features to theseearphones – the most important beingthat the silicone covers that fit over the

earphones are washable and containsan anti-bacterial agent. Sweatassociated with exercising has atendency to creep into the earphones,so it’s excellent that you can cleanthese. The earphones also comes witha clip so that the cable does not get inthe way, while a handy travel pouchmade from breathable material is alsoincluded. Three sizes of the siliconecaps are include, and while the soundcould have done with a little morebass, the Philips ActionFits Sportsearphones come highly recommended.It retails for R199.

Going jogging and need music?Try these on for size.

Philips ActionFit Sports in ear earphones ›› Sound on the move

The P14 is exceptionally bright,offering a light output of 210 lumens,

easily illuminating a large garden atnight and even handling completedarkness of Hartbeespoort with aplomb.Additionally, the P14 offers the benefitsassociated with LED light, namely of alonger life of the bulb as well asimproved power consumption, whichmeans having to replace the batteriesless frequently. The flashlight alsoprovides a telescopic design andfocusing prism, which enables one toopen it to its full extent to illuminate awide area, or narrow the beam down toa small spotlight with one hand. Eitherway, the beam’s range encompasses280 m.

But what about Maglite?While the Maglite flashlights are solidand durable enough to seemingly

Not all flashlights are createdequal. Some offer averageillumination, others are heavy,bulky and frequently a nuisanceto transport. The P14 LED Lensersuffers from none of thesedeficiencies

Monitoring your showering times morestrictly makes for a useful and easy

first step into curbing a much widerproblem. The Efergy Showertime is ahandy monitor that can curb excessive

On average, some 40% of ahousehold’s water usage stemsfrom the bathroom, with anaverage five-minute shower usingmore water than a person froman impoverished community usesin an entire day.

time spent under the shower. Once the device is calibrated after a

simple enough process, users can startmonitoring their water usage and takecontrolled showers. Simply press the‘tick’ button as you enter the shower tostart the timer and once you havereached the set amount of water thealarm on the Showertime will sound. Thealarm can be cancelled by pressing thebutton again if you so wish.

The device is powered by a standardLithium battery and is (quite obviously)water resistant. The Efergy Showertimeretails for a recommended R135 from

Efergy Showertime ›› Every drop countsEfergyTechnologies.Visitwww.efergy.co.zaor contact MarkCorry on 011-367-0626.

withstand any fall, we found our threebattery model to have a dark spot in thecentre, which only magnified when thetelescopic feature was used, whichproduced a ‘ring’ of dimmer light.Additionally, the P14 offers two settings,a high and low beam, which is activatedby pressing the power button once andtwice respectively. Rather than theexpensive large A size batteries, theflashlight requires four penlight (AA)batteries, but generously comes withtwo sets (eight batteries) included.However, the LED Lenser does not havethe same heft as a Maglite, nor can itdouble up as a baton in a pinch in thesame way the Maglite can.

At 205 mm in length and 383.5 g inweight, the P14 is also pleasingly

transportable, while an included strapfurther ensures the flashlight won’t beaccidentally dropped. The P14 alsocomes with a nifty nylon pouch that canbe strapped to one’s belt and whichkeeps the light protected when not inuse.

To the pointThe P14 LED Lenser is possibly the best,and the brightest LED flashlight we haveused to date. It cleaves it way throughdarkness, shines with a pleasingly‘clean’ white light, and is one gadgetthat has earned its place in our arsenalof gear. The P14 LED Lenser has an RRPof R600. For more info contact Drew on082-871-9488 or visitwwwledlenser.co.za. [RN]

P14 LED Lenser flashlight ›› Time to lighten up

You can now protect your stuff with Norton Mobile Security. If yourmobile device is lost, stolen, or its SIM card removed, you can remotelydisable your mobile device to prevent thieves from using it or accessingyour private information.

What we said: “Norton MobileSecurity is one of those apps that weconsider a wise investment inprotecting the integrity of one’sdata.”

3 x copies of NortonMobile Security areup for grabs, worthR399 each!

Trend Micro Titanium InternetSecurity provides advancedprotection for your family so youcan connect with confidence.Titanium uses cloud technology toproactively stop viruses andspyware before they reach yourcomputer, so it won’t slow youdown.

To enter go to www.techsmart.co.zaand find the competition on the righthand side. The competition runs from1 to 31 October 2011. Terms and conditions apply.

Sahara and TechSmart are giving away 5 x full copiesof Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security 2012!

Win! Win! Win! Win! Win!

Not one, notthree, butfive copiesup for grabs!

Titanium protectionfor a virus-free PC!

Win with TechSmart and NortonMobile Security for Android!

Go to www.techsmart.co.za and clickon the Norton competition on the righthand side to enter. The competitionruns from 1 to 31 October 2011. Termsand conditions apply.

25

The Kymera Wand is a TVremote that Harry Potter fans

in particular will no doubtappreciate. Shaped like amagical wand, the 355 mmKymera enables one to controlthe TV, DStv, stereo system orany other infra-red device viaone of 13 gestures.Additionally, various moves caneach be assigned a particular function, suchas upward and downward flicks to changechannels, while ‘pulses’ confirm gesture recognition. RRP: R799.

Both these products are available from The G.A.D.G.E.T. Shop on 012-346-2726.

Kymera Wand Remote Control GADGETS

The Boogie Board 10.5" LCD Writing Tablet is a paperless,electronic alternative to memo pads, sticky notes, sketch

books, dry erase boards and other writing or drawing mediums.The board, which is powered by two AAAA batteries, enablesusers to write and draw on the LCDscreen with the includedstylus, while varying thethickness of the linesdrawn according tothe pressure applied.It is also available in8.5" models. RRP: R599(10.5") and R399 (8.5").

Boogie Board Writing Tablet

Looking to enhance your security surveillance in the dark? ThePhase 2 IR-60M infrared security camera is capable of

capturing video in the dark up to 60 m in light levels of 0 LUX (pitchdark), while its smaller brother,the IR-40M’s infrared range is 40m. Furthermore the IR-50M canalso withstand the elements thanksto being able to operate intemperatures from -10 degreescentigrade up to a blistering 50 degreescentigrade. The IR-40M’s price is R625, while theIR-60M goes for R853.

All these products are available from Phase 2 Direct on 011-444-5956.

IR-60M Infrared Camera

The 16 Channel Embedded DVR (R2844) builds on the eightchannel (R1599) DVR’s ability to do real time surveillance and

record from multiple surveillance cameras. It converts analoguevideo (NTSC or PAL) received from surveillance cameras andmicrophones into digital video and records them onto a hard-disk drive, with this being done either manually, timed, or viamotion detection. There are 16 channels available for inputpurposes, which should be able to take care of many officesurveillance needs. Thedevice can of course beaccessed from a PC overthe network or theinternet.

16 Channel Embedded DVR

100

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When it comes to computer security,what should the end-user keep in mind?The internet is a vile place full of shadycharacters that can’t wait to penetrateyour beloved PC. You can’t just sit backand relax thinking that because youhave some anti-virus software of sortsloaded on your unit that all will be okbecause a “buddy” or “neighbour” saidthat it will work fine. Some anti-viruspackages actually provide very littleprotection.

What kind of anti-virus / internetsecurity protection is recommended?If you want to take the protection ofyour unit seriously, then stick to thetried and tested anti-virus / internetsecurity software out there. Theseinclude Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Norton,F-Secure, Panda, McAfee, Trend Micro,CA and Zone Alarm. Which one do youchoose? The answer is entirely up toyou. These days as far as the removaland protection capability is concerned,there is little to no difference betweenthese and it comes down to whichinterface you find more pleasing to use.

Incredible Connection started partneringwith CompTIA two years ago, and whatstarted off as a partnership to improvethe skills of their technical workforcethrough CompTIA certifications, such asthe CompTIA A+ and Network+, soonevolved into a longer-term vision. Itincludes improving sales and service, butmore importantly, enhancing IncredibleConnection’s offering to their customers.

Incredible Connection earned theCompTIA A+ Authorized Service Center(ASC) trust mark, the only retailer inAfrica to achieve this status. Eachapplicant to the CompTIA ASC trustmark is required to undergo ameticulous verification process. TheCompTIA ASC credential requires aminimum of 50% and up to 80% of thecompany’s technical workforce to beCompTIA certified. A manual credentialcheck is performed to ensure accuracy.Incredible Connection has achieved inexcess of 90% CompTIA A+ certificationof their technical workforce. For theIncredible Connection customer thismeans quality technical service.

What are the risks of having noprotection?The cost may be far greater than thephysical loss of your cherished picturesand all other data, which in most casescannot be recovered. These days thecriminals are after your banking details,even if you have not physically savedthose details on your unit. They havemeans and ways of getting those detailsby you simply doing a transaction online.

Any other advice with regards to computersecurity?To move forward, you must backup.Backing up your data to an external deviceshould be your number one priority if thedata on that unit is of any value to you. Ifyou don’t do this, then you only haveyourself to blame if the unit crashes andthe data is lost.

Which CompTIA certifications have beenselected to up skill your technical andsales staff? CompTIA certifications such as theCompTIA A+, Network+ and STRATA ITfor Sales meet all our needs for our staffemployed to provide in-store and on-sitetechnical support and services to ourcustomers.

How has CompTIA certification benefitedyour technical staff?The technical skills in the CompTIA A+ andNetwork+ certifications makes ourtechnicians experts in their field. TheCompTIA STRATA IT for Sales training andcertification has also been extremelyvaluable, teaching and coaching ourtechies how to gather information from thecustomer, enabling them to recommendthe best solution for the customers’ needs.At Incredible Connection, making ourcustomers feel important and “special” isthe real difference.

TRAININGAdvertorial

We talk to Basil Arundel, regionaltechnical supervisor (Cape Townregion) at Incredible Connection,about computer security and stafftraining received from CompTIA.

Computing tips forthe laymen

Behind the CompTIA /Incredible Connectionrelationship

The CompTIA / Incredible Connection relationship

About CompTIA

CompTIA is the voice of the world’sinformation technology (IT) industry.As a non-profit trade associationadvancing the global interests of ITprofessionals and companies, theyfocus their programs on four mainareas: education, certification,advocacy and philanthropy. For moreinformation on CompTIA or any of theircourses, visit www.comptia.co.za orcall 011-787-4841.

27

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28

PC MEDIC INTERNET

on “Manage Blocking”. Enter the nameor email address of the person you wishto block in the appropriate field andclick “Block”. And don’t worry, peoplewon’t be notified that you’ve blockedthem.

Hi PC Medic. Is it possible todownload from PC and upload the

TechSmart Mag to my iPhone 3GS andread it on the go? I would like to dothat, but don’t know which app to useto read the Mag on the go. TONevhulamba

Hello TO. Youcan download

the free and easy touse PDF Reader Liteapp from Apple’s AppStore. It will enableyou to download (almost 10 MB) thelatest magazine from our site and thenread it on the go at your leisure.

PC Medic ›› October issue

Hi PC Medic. On Facebook there isone annoying person that keeps

sending me spam and posts rudecomments. Is it possible to block themas opposed to simply just unfriendingthem? Lionel

Hi there. You can indeed blockthat person on FB, preventing

them from viewing your profile or yourpage from appearing in their searchresults or friend lists. All you have to dois to go to the “Account” dropdownmenu, and select “Privacy Settings” andnext to “Blocked People and Apps” click

» Tips for Windows 7: Reducing eye strain via ClearType

Reading through all your emails,websites and documents can placeunwanted stress on your eyes. Otherthan eating a bunch of carrots, you canalso turn on the ClearType tool toimprove the readability of the text on

your PC’s LCD display. Open theClearType Text Tuner by clicking on the“Start” button and then typing “cleartype”in the search box. Click on “AdjustClearType text” and then on “Next”. Onthe first page of the tuner, select the

“Turn on ClearType” check box, click“Next” and on the next four screens pickthe most legible text box and click “Next”each time until the final page. Afterclicking “Finish”, you’ll get to read textthat is a lot more legible.

Some say he can buy iPhone appsfrom Android Market, while otherbelieve his Twitter handle containsno @. We call him the PC Medicand he’s here to answer your PCrelated queries.

Q

A

Q

A

Send your questions to:

[email protected]

This site can easily be filedunder fascinating. It shows

a variety of information aboutthe all-pervasive andubiquitous internet as awhole, and graphicallydisplays facts that you haveprobably never considered.These include the socialnetworks that are racingagainst each other for internetdomination, the hot spots inthe world that are bothfriendly to and enemies of theweb, random facts relating tothe net and how many tweetsare being published in a day.It is, in short, eye-opening,and gives a staggering view ofhow much the internet hasbecome part of our lives.

Web Time Wasters ›› Selected sites to spend some quality time with

EarthCam

If you have everwondered what life on

the other side of the worldlooks like, or simply dreamof faraway places,EarthCam is a fantastic siteto visit to answer yourcuriosity or foster youryearning. The site offerslive city views fromwebcams around the world,and at particular landmarkslike the Eiffel Tower and theStatue of Liberty. It furthergroups webcams by editor’schoice, most popular, andthe top ten webcams, aswell as within categoriessuch as weather, animalsand zoos andentertainment.

Brainsync

Home to brain wavesynchronisation

technology, the site explainsthat it uses sound to guideone’s brain into one of avariety of frequencies –Gamma (to heightenalertness for studying, forexample), Alpha (for stressreduction and increasingcreativity), Theta (formeditation) or Delta (forfacilitating deep sleep).While the site has severalrecordings available forpurchase, it also has somefree recordings on stressreduction and experiencingtotal relaxation, for example,to download and try out atyour leisure.

World of Inspiration

World of Inspiration is asimple enough site at

first glance. But spendingsome time with it can bethought provoking and darewe say it, inspirational. Thesite is a collection of quotesfrom people both famous andless well known, organisedby categories, such asAttitude and Outlook,Character, Enthusiasm,Friendship, Happiness, Hopesand Dreams, Leadership,Success, Life and Love.Additionally, its front pagehighlights the most recentadditions. If quotes offerfood for thought, then this isone site that could well belikened to a buffet.

bit.ly/interwebnow www.brainsync.com www.worldofinspiration.com www.earthcam.com

The Internet Worldwide

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& 375 m

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of these logging on to the social network daily.

Pre-register online for the Seminar or Webinar here:www.webcafemarketing.co.za/seminar

Alternately contact Webcafé Marketing: 012 644 2679

Learn how toinstantly boostyour business theeasy way.

It's time that youlearn how toadvertise yourcompany on:FACEBOOK /LINKEDIN /GOOGLE

All Business Owners!

How about havingBatman, Superman, Lobo

and a number of otherheroes from the DC Comicsconveniently on your Androidhandset? DC Universe is anawesome app allowing for anew comic readingexperience on yoursmartphone or tablet. Thereare enough comics todownload for free, while anumber can be purchasedfor as low as $1. This is amust have for superherofans.

Robo Defence FREE

Tower defence gameshave been around since

the days of Atari and it wasonly a matter of timebefore they made it ontoAndroid. Robo Defence isarguably one of the bestexamples, and the freeversion is crammed withenough gameplay to keepcasual gamers happy. Amixture of gun, missile andslow-down towers are thereto kill the enemy beforethey manage to reach yourbase. [QvR]

Wikidroid

Wikidroid is the bestWikipedia app available

for Android at the moment,allowing for the power ofWikipedia in your pocket. Itis cleverly formatted forsmall devices by making thevarious headings in an articleexpandable on demand,allowing you to take in eitherthe summary of a subject orthe whole article, withoutneeding to zoom or scroll allover the page. Unfortunatelyit does not support adding orediting content.

Vlingo Virtual Assistant

The Vlingo voice controlapp makes it possible to

do almost anything on yourphone with only your voice.Using the large “Speak it”button, you can sendmessages, call people andsearch the web using onlyyour voice. If you say“Reply”, for instance, it willreply to a text message withanything you say after thekeyword. Also included is anInCar option that helps youmanage calls and navigationwhile driving.

DC Comics

Android Apps of the month With over 100 000 apps available for Androidsmartphones at the Android Market, TechSmartwould like to help you get to the good ones first.Here are our top Android Apps of the month.

29

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FOLLOW US

• Yes, webOS has a lot to offer,especially on tablets.

• No, the future belongs to iOSand Android .

• It will continue. Look at all theunits they shipped with the“Fire sales”. Well done HP!

38%

38%

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TechSmart.co.za online poll results

Do you think HP pulled their TouchPad too soon?

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY To advertise in the Business Directory please email [email protected]

30

©2011 DYMO, a Newell Rubbermaid company

We are currently acquiring new dealers. Call Business Data Communication – Distributor on 082-859-1984, email us [email protected]

or visit our website www.businessdatacom.com

By using the MimioPad you are free to move around the meeting room and still able to work interactively with your screen or board.

Turn your whiteboard or flipchart into an interactive presenting tool with the Mimio. Capture yourflipchart or whiteboard notes to your PC and turn them into text. Used for meetings, conferences,planning and training.

Capture your business brilliance Multi-functionAudienceVoting Keypads

Used for team work,promotional discussions,presentations, conferenceevaluation, demographicallyprofiled data, real time feedback,corporate training, customersurveys, shareholders meetings,risk management workshops.Rental and sales.

2013. Expected date for online game sales to surpass physical retail sales.

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[email protected] www.thefillingstation.co.za

31

BUSINESS DIRECTORYTo advertise in the Business Directory please email [email protected]

arch

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Resistance 3 beginswith a world that

is teetering on thebrink of its own end.After the events ofthe first two games(skillfully depicted onthe game’s installationscreen), Joseph

Capelli is trying to rebuild his life. Hewants nothing more than to stay with hiswife and child, but instead he’s asked tocross the ravaged country to New York tostop the parasitic invading aliens, theChimera, from opening a wormhole thatis freezing the planet and, if leftunchecked, will spell humanity’s end.

Always outnumbered, neveroutgunnedApart from a whispered urgency andbuilding suspense there’s always thegrowing sense of danger just around thenext corner. This familiar element of theResistance franchise quickly erupts intoan equally well-known frantic battle forsurvival, and immediately drew us furtherinto the game’s bleak but arresting world.

Although the Chimera is still a force to

As one of the most anticipatedPS3 titles of the year, Resistance 3does not disappoint.

Resistance 3 ›› Killing the alienbe reckoned with, players have more thana few deadly toys to deal with them. Thetrusty Bullseye features the familiartagging alternative fire as before, whilethe Magnum’s alternative fire consists ofexplosive rounds that can be detonated atopportune moments to deadly effect.These are quickly supplanted with EMPgrenades to handle enemy shields, scrapmetal grenades to deal with groups of theenemies and the Chimeran Hedgehog,which we hated running into but loveddeploying. All these are but a taste ofweapons on offer, as half the fun isprogressing through the game and findingthe next best way to deal damage.

Production ValuesThe game boasts crisp, hyper-realgraphics, as well as top-notch sound andsmooth gameplay. Resistance 3’sstorytelling was further enhanced withaudio logs of survivors and those fightingagainst the Chimera, as well as severalpoignant letters scattered through thegame’s world, which, along with anaddictive multiplayer component, kept ourhands firmly glued to our controller.

ConclusionResistance 3 is one of those games thatbegs to be played if you have theslightest interest in sci-fi, action or top-notch entertainment. [RN]

Full review:bit.ly/resis3

GAMES

32

Take two staple ingredients offantasy and science fiction,namely Orks and space, mix in athree meter super soldier namedTitus and some bone-crushing,brutally satisfying combat withboth melee weapons and guns,and you have Warhammer 40000: Space Marine.

The game beginswith a rather

simple premise – theUltramarines aretasked with quellingan Ork invasionagainst Graia, anImperium ForgeWorld, and preventing

the Orks from taking control of theworld’s weaponry.

Built to blastSpace Marine effectively mixes up meleecombat with guns, while the game’sappeal is heightened by the fact that anew weapon or piece of gear alwaysseems to be around the next corner.Although you start the game with the BoltPistol, you quickly discover the Bolter, orequivalent of an assault rifle; the Stalker

Warhammer 40 000: Space Marine ›› Giant footsteps of a super-soldierBolter, which is a long range sniper rifle and the Vengeance launcher,which shoots fusion charges that stick to walls or enemies. Equallyworth mentioning are the melee weapons, most particularly the gorybut highly effective Chainsword and the bone-crushing Thunderhammer.

Power up!Another nifty addition to combat comes from successfullydispatching your foes, which fills up your Fury meter. Oncefull, you can activate special abilities or power ups, such asFury mode, which grants you temporary invincibility, increasedstrength and has regenerative benefits as well. There’s also theMarksman mode, which slows time down and enables you to moreaccurately place your shots. This adds a certain amount of finesseto combat, because the Orks can quickly overwhelm you whenin vast numbers. Despite being a super-soldier, Titus can dieand he does take hits to his health. This can be replenishedby stunning and then executing an enemy. The gamedoes have one Achilles heel, and that is the voiceacting of the Orks, who so frequently extort “It’sSpace Marines! Kill the Space Marines!” that itbecomes tiresome. Luckily theenvironments are often sumptuous andoccasionally grandiose, and on thewhole, were more than good enoughto make us want to continue cleavingour way through them.

ConclusionKudos have to be given to the developers for both marrying aspace and fantasy setting, and combining melee weapons andguns together so artfully. It is a large part of what makes Space Marinesuch a pleasure to play, despite its small flaws. [RN]

Contact Jayson Mac GregorTel: 011 796 4889 | Cell: 082 557 6490Email: [email protected] www.toshibasa.co.za

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Documents

TechSmart 97, October 2011, The Security Issue