What's in the mag?
* Google Earth
* Intel vs AMD
* Internet Security
* Macbook vs Sony VAIO
* Smartphone megatest
What's on the DVD?
* Kaspersky Internet Security 7
* Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10
* Universal Combat
* AV Music Morpher 2.0
* Indie games pack
Hello! We’ve got a packed issue for you this month. First up is Google Earth. Even aficionados will learn something from our massive 11-page, in-depth feature.
Last month we noticed that AMD’s new processors and graphics cards were somewhat underwhelming. Tech hero David Fearon has moved heaven and earth to get all the most cutting edge parts possible to see which company is making the processors worth buying.
It’s also the perfect time to look at internet security suites: the only applications that everyone really needs to buy. Now that all of the major players have released their 2008 product versions we’ve tested 12 of the best to show you where to spend your money.
Not so long ago PC Authority was regarded as anti-Mac. But over the past year Apple has consistently wowed us, and the new MacBook Air continues this tradition. While we haven’t yet scored a review sample to put through our punitive benchmarks, Tim Danton did get his hands on one at the launch.
In recent issues various contributors have questioned the logic of having a cover disc on the magazine. Please tell us at
inbox@pcauthority.com.au
FULL VERSIONS
AV Music Morpher 2.0Create amazing music effects with this one-stop audio editor software
Kaspersky Internet Security 7Top notch protection for your PC – six month subscription free!
O&O Disk Image 2 SEBackup or restore an entire drive or drive partition, free
Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10Try Linux with the latest version of user-friendly Ubuntu
Universal CombatBlast the universe in this single-player shoot’em up
FREEWAREAbiword 2.5.2
Ambient Design Artrage 2.5 Starter Edition
Audacity 1.2.6
DeepBurner Free 1.8.0.224
GIMP helpfiles 2.4
GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment 2.10.13 (required for installation of the GIMP)
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
Open Office 2.3.1
PDFCreator 0.9.5
The GIMP 2.4.2
EDITORIAL 3D Graphics Part 1
Creating a burned CD-R from an ISO image using Deepburner
Download - Vista sidebar gadgets
HTML basics
Indie Games Pack:
Mr. Robot, Argmageddon Empires, Kudos: Rock Legend, Aquaria, Threadspace
Real World Benchmarks
WINDOWS Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
Adobe Reader 8
AVG 7.5.503
Editpad Pro 6.3.2
Explorer XP 1.07a
Foxit Reader 2.2
Google Desktop Search
Google Earth 4.2
LP Recorder 8.7
Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
RocketReader 8.2
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.5.1
True Launch Bar 4.2
Tweakui
Winrar 3.71
Winzip 11.1
Zonealarm firewall
GAMES Sam and Max: Moai Better Blues demo
Universal Combat
Warhammer 40,000 Soulstorm demo
LINUX Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10
INTERNET AOL Instant Messenger 6.5.4.16
Crazy Browser 3Beta 2
CWShredder 2.19
Diino 4.1
FileZilla 3.0.3
Google Toolbar
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.11
Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.9
MSN Messenger 7(98/ME)
Portable Firefox 2.0.0.9
Remote Administrator 3.1
SpamBayes 1.0.4
Trillian Basic 3.1.9
Windows Live Messenger
PATCHES (XP and Vista) ATI Catalyst 7.11 Control Center Package (XP)
DirectX 10
NVIDIA Forceware drivers (for FX, 6000, 7000 and 8000 series GPUs) 169.21; 169.25
NVIDIA Forceware drivers (for laptop; 7800 and 7900 GO Series) 84.63
Realtek AC'97 Codec 4.03
Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs 1.82
VIA HyperionPro drivers 5.13A
We've put AMD and Intel’s new processors to the test, and there's one clear winner.
Beautifully designed with a clear interface, but format support is limited
A teaser of a great workhorse PC, we just hope Asus can get the price down on release.
Is it worth paying for the full version of AVG Internet Security?
Few products that come through our Labs leave us amazed but Celestron’s Skyscout managed it.
Speed up your home network with these wireless routers, including faster speeds, better gaming and VoIP handling and automatic security.
Clean, clear and light on its feet, but with few extras.
Pocketable, but expensive and lacks high-speed internet access.
A superbly packaged do-everything mobile workhorse that will appeal to business users and gadget freaks alike.
Innovative, solidly engineered and packed with features – an almost perfect smartphone
A winner on the strength of its excellent protection, coming first or equal-first in our malware and firewall test.
A Media Center Extender, upscaling DVD player and great games console
Play your video, photo and music files on your TV from a networked PC. We put five network players to the test
A bit large for our liking but the price makes it tempting.
Fantastically engineered, but a bit too bulky for comfort.
Poor value and lacks a few high-end features.
A snappy performer, but let down by a fiddly keyboard.
A reasonable option if your budget is tight, but you get what you pay for
A little large and lacking in superfast data connectivity, but unrivalled as an email tool.
Not the most useable email tool, but very sleek.
Slim and well connected, but ease-of-use issues limit its appeal.
We test 11 keyboard-based smartphones to find the best tools for staying connected on the move
A compact keyboard can’t make up for the confusing interface.
Video support isn’t the best, but the PS3 remains a superb piece of kit
Great performance, fantastic value and near silent operation makes this our new A-List mid-range PC winner.
Still the easiest GPS to use, the new third generation TomTom trounces the competition.
Packed with features, but too bulky and expensive to compete.
A mixed performance undermines an otherwise good-value product.
A big improvement from Microsoft, but there’s still some way to go. OneCare can now call itself a serious security contender.
It lacks Wi-Fi, but is otherwise an excellent budget video-streaming choice
