Where our parents and grandparents have us to turn to for tech support, sometimes we need some assistance ourselves. There are occasions where we need something that tells us what is wrong with our machine. This is where diagnostic tools such as those from www.eurosoft-uk.com come in.

Anyone that has used a computer for any length of time will have come across an issue where it doesn’t do exactly what you expect it to do – yes, even Macs can get testy.

Diagnostic software was once the reserve of IT professionals and computer builders/ makers but there is a whole range of tools to choose from now and it all depends on what you need at the end of the day.

What is diagnostic software?

Diagnostic software is used to identify problems on a computer or any other piece of equipment, for that matter.

These programs test the on-board systems for issues and will alert users of potential problems or breakdowns.

These programs have evolved alongside computers and have similarly gone from being quite basic to becoming complex and highly specialised.

As with a lot of technology, the smarter the tool, the skill required to use it has actually decreased to the point where most people can use this software with little or no training.

You may be surprised to discover that you are surrounded by these clever little things in your day-to-day life. If you drive, for example, there’s the dashboard warning lights which these days run via a piece of diagnostic software.

Basically, these diagnostic tools will monitor one specific part of a larger piece of equipment and typically are always running in the background looking out for something that’s not working as it should.

When people think of diagnostic software, they usually think of the types used on computers. These programs monitor the computer for problems – not only the software but it will also monitor the machine’s hardware such as processor speeds, RAM usage, graphics card temperature, and so on.

Back in the not-so olden days, there were the small built-in programs which were used to check the computer’s Disc Operating Systems, commonly known as DOS – called Checkdisk (CHKDISK). These allowed users to perform basic diagnostic routines on their systems.

Those early programs would often output technical information and error codes which would then require the user to interpret what it all meant. Thankfully these tools have moved on and the output reports have changed considerably. Not only are they understandable by most users, they often contain tips or warnings telling users what they should or shouldn’t do, all in plain language.

Be careful

Technological advances have even made Web page-based diagnostic software available for home users.

A quick web search will return you with a stack of results which will offer to speed up your computer, diagnose problems, search for viruses, or provide a full range of assistance.

Be careful though, many of these sites are scams, so you should always perform proper research before using them.

You can always cross-reference your results with feedback on the internet but I would suggest that you go by personal recommendations.

The post What are computer diagnostic tools? appeared first on GadgetyNews.

You now have the chance to win the fantastic Inferno gaming headset thanks to those nice folks over at Creative!

When I reviewed the Inferno I felt that:

The Creative SB Inferno is priced extremely competitively and with that keen pricing matched by the Inferno’s good quality sound and comfort I can see many a gamer falling in love with these headphones.”

[youtube id=”5CgIEp7JwHw”]

Just enter your deets below and then leave it to luck

Update!

Congratulations to David Toth! Check your email

The post Creative Sound Blaster Inferno gaming headset giveaway appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Size doesn’t matter. No matter how much I want that to be true you can’t help but notice how most consumer electronics companies vie for the position of producing either the thinnest, smallest or biggest in their field.

Now, surely the ideal would be to pack the most tech in to the smallest gadget.

It seems that small and mighty is the way forward.

This becomes apparent when looking at the world of cameras currently available out there. Sure, you could opt for an expensive full-size Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) unit – but most of us would find the new breed of compact system camera (CSC) more than enough.

The main benefit of the CSC over DSLR is that they are smaller and lighter. And because they house a significantly larger sensor than most compacts, image quality is far above that of a point-and-shoot. In many ways they really do offer the best of both worlds.

For example, the NEX 5T fits a mega DSLR-sized 16.1MP APS-C sensor in the confines of a pocket-sized body, ensuring fine details and high contrast images even in low light.

Boasting interchangeable E-mount lenses, the NEX hybrid cameras are able to pack professional quality into a pocketable package.

As well as providing most of the functionality of a full-size DSLR in the body of a compact, the ease of use of a point-and-shoot as well as the flexibility of a larger snapper is there too.

Sony’s vast NEX compact system camera  range is certain to have one that suits your needs.

Infographic source

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The post Size matters – the beauty of a small and mighty camera appeared first on GadgetyNews.

OK – you can only imagine the amount of smartphone cases I get contacted about. Some of them are great and others are… well, just cases. Recently a cool product has come to my attention which is not only great looking but kind to the planet. Let me introduce you to Shootcase.

Shootcase is a new smartphone case made from laser cut bamboo that can be easily customised to the owner’s taste and requirements.

You spend a lot of time choosing your new, cutting-edge mobile phone that has been designed by the best tech artists and then, chances are, go and grab the default case to wrap it up in. Why not protect your smartphone in something that’s not only practical but also beautifully environmentally friendly?

Shootcases are made from ecofriendly, natural bamboo and can be customised with graphics and text.

Practically anything can be etched or cut from the bamboo cover, resulting in surprisingly detailed graphics with gradations of wood tones. Businesses or individuals can customise cases with logos to make memorable and unique gifts.

Shootcase currently produces phone cases for iPhone models 4, 4s, 5, 5s and 5c. However, they say that they can also create a phone case for other phones by request, and so I have done just that for my HTC One. Expect a review once it arrives

Whilst chatting with Shootcase’s Ben Eadie (fans of ‘Canada’s Greatest Know It All’ might recognise his name – as well as the fact that he holds four world records for human powered vehicles) he has told me that iPad and other tablet cases are also under development.

I like the way the cases fold over an makes your chunk of tech look like a naturally covered pocket book

They are indeed a smartcase for your smartphone.

Shootcase giveaway

There’s currently a campaign to get these Shootcases out in the wild running on Indiegogo – http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/shootcase/

Go go there and help Ben and the team as well as getting a cool case too.

If you share the Shootcases Indiegogo campaign using the links on the project page amongst your social networks Ben has promised that one lucky sharer will get a case for their iPhone absolutely free!

Get sharing, support the campaign and help make this happen. Check out the video below and see just how cool these cases are.

[youtube id=”7raV4ip0e9A”]

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Recently, social media has been buzzing with incredible street illusions of giant holes opening up in the earth, people walking across glass bridges above sweeping cityscapes or even hands jumping out from the centre of the page. On a more practical level, the markings on roads often appear elongated so the driver can see them properly from a distance. This popular technique, known as Anamorphic Design, has been used for years on the roads, but it is now taking the artistic world by storm.

It was popularised in the 1920’s by two cousins from Cottingley, Yorkshire, who created paper cut out fairies that when photographed looked so realistic their authenticity wasn’t questioned until the 1970’s!

Put simply, anamorphic design uses perspective to make an image look 3D, tricking the viewer into thinking it’s ‘popping out’ of the page (or street, wall, whatever you like!). This deception only occurs when the viewer looks at the image at the right angle, or with a lens. It has gained great popularity on the street art scene in recent years with artists such as Julian Beever, Kurt Wenner & DALeast producing bold designs, as well as being used by Renault to advertise its range of trucks.

Print specialists instantprint have launched a new section of their website (Outside the Box) showcasing some of the most creative examples of anamorphic design which are scarily realistic! To help promote this, we’re collaborating with them to run a competition where one of you guys can win a cool 3D Street Art book, £25 Amazon voucher and one of instantprint’s anamorphic designs.

All you need to do is leave a comment or tweet your ideas on what you would like to see as an anamorphic design using the hashtag #printoutsidethebox and tagging @GadgetyNewsCom.

The competition is open to UK residents only, starting on the 23^rd September 2013 and closing on October 7^th 2013, so get entering as soon as you can!

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Ever wondered what it is like to work for national security and information systems?

A mere 60 years have passed since Alan Turing managed to decipher the encrypted messages sent by the German Enigma machine in WWII. Technology hasn’t stopped evolving since then and the Government needs more brilliant people to follow in Turing’s footsteps in order to support the national cyber security agenda.

Are you a computer fanatic with a passion for problem-solving? Does number-crunching give you the warm and fuzzies? Are you known for your razor-sharp thinking and love for unravelling complex patterns?

The new challenge set by GCHQ could be your door-opener to tap into a career combating threats from cyberspace.

The UK GCHQ has launched a Can You Find It challenge which is designed to help the government agency find and recruit the next generation of cyber security code experts. This could see you become a real James Bond type!

Can You Find It is part of the UK’s wider cyber security strategy and follows on from 2012’s Can You Crack It campaign. The Can You Crack It campaign ran throughout 2012 and attracted over 95 million hits to its website from over 3.2 million unique users. The campaign also resulted in 170 participants being considered for roles within intelligence agencies.

The race will task participants to crack a series of cryptic codes to find and follow clues littered around the internet to discover “the ultimate final answer”.

The challenge is open to anyone and offers a variety of prizes to those who solve the riddle including access to a prize draw to win a Google Nexus 7 or a Raspberry Pi and, for very skilled participants, a potential job offer from a security agency with a salary between £26,000 and £60,000.

The complex codes have been created by a GCHQ team of top mathematicians and the spy bosses say they are looking for the most curious, tenacious and creative candidates who have the intellectual ability, though not necessarily the practical experience or qualifications, to join GCHQ and support the Government’s national cyber security agenda.

This is your best way to discover whether you have the right skills to be employed by a national intelligence and security agency that works in partnership with the Security Service (MI5) and Secret intelligence Service (MI6).

GCHQ’s head of resourcing, Jane Jones, says that initiatives like Can You Find it and Can You Crack it are essential steps in the UK’s ongoing bid to recruit the next generation of security professionals.

Jones stated that “The twenty-first century is confronting us with online threats that are difficult and dangerous, so we want employees who have evolved with the ever-changing digital world and therefore have the right skills to combat these challenges. It’s a puzzle but it’s also a serious test – the jobs on offer here are vital to protecting national security”

Recruiting skilled cyber professionals has been an ongoing goal of the UK government since it launched its cyber strategy in 2011. Despite the success of cyber strategy initiatives, many private and public sector bodies have warned that the UK is still suffering a major cyber skills shortage. The UK National Audit Office (NAO) issued a report warning despite the government’s efforts, the skills gap will last a further 20 years and cost the nation £27bn per annum.

Are you up for it? Have you got the skills? To answer the question: ‘Can You Find It?’ go online to www.canyoufindit.co.uk

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Hello there Gadgety faithful. In recognition of the new-look GadgetyNews and the new iPhones I thought that I might give some freebies away.

I have in my possession not one, not two, but three iPhone cases from White Diamonds.

These cool cases have that extra bling factor thanks to the embedded Swarovski elements in the bad boys.

So, whether you want to refresh how your iPhone 4, 4S, or 5 looks or looking to protect your iPhone 5S when you get it, why not do so for free thanks to your friends at GadgetyNews and Phones4U?

I have iPhone 5 cases in rose and jade – these will also wrap around your new iPhone 5S. As these cases are also transparent you still get to see the Apple logo through the back.

I have a black Sash iPhone case which will fit an iPhone 4 or 4S which can be seen in the headline picture.

So, what do you have to do to become the proud owner of one of these? It’s quite simple really.

All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Like on the GadgetyNews Facebook link or…

…head over the the Facebook page and click Like – and, once there, just leave a comment under the article link as to which case you would like me to send you.

One of you lucky people will be selected to recieve the case you preferred.

Three cases = three winners and triple the chances of winning!

This offer will be running from now until Saturday September 21st and the winners will be selected at random and then announced shortly after. This, unfortunately, is only open to UK readers. Sorry.

So here it is again.

• Like the Facebook Page.
• Leave a comment below the article on the Facebook Page stating which case you would like me to send to you for free.

Easy.

Why not get your friends and family in on it to increase your chances?

Good luck!

The post White Diamonds iPhone cases giveaway appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Some years ago a men’s survival guide would have looked very different to what’s about to follow. Today, our lives have gadgets incorporated into just about every nook and cranny. Whether you’re away for a few days on business or are taking a short holiday with friends, there are a few items that no man can do without.

Here, we look at a run-down of those gadgets which are – let’s be honest – completely essential.

The Smartphone

Straight in there is one of the biggest game-changers of the 21st century – the smartphone. The market for smartphones continues to grow and not without good reason. Smartphones not only keep us in touch with our mates but they ensure we’ve got all the music we need at the touch of a button, not to mention internet access.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the office or on a weekend getaway with a partner, there are few times when we don’t appreciate instant access to sports, news and – of course – the latest gadgets.

Beard Trimmer

A decade ago, a few days away from home wouldn’t be enough to pose a problem for facial hair. A standard razor from any corner-shop could rustle up a relatively clean shave. Today, things are a little different. Not only are men more careful with their appearance than ever before but facial hair is often considered an asset.

Rather than rooting for a clean shave or an all-out beard, most men appreciate shavers that can help them achieve the perfect amount of facial hair – not too long, not too short, and extremely tidy. This brings the beard trimmer to our cutting edge survival guide.

Nintendo 3DS

We’re never too old for a bit of gaming to pass the time. While your smartphone might give you access to a world of basic games, there’s no alternative to a purpose built portable games console.

The Nintendo 3DS is affordable, powerful and boasts a wide variety of games to keep you busy on those long and boring commutes.

The post Men’s Gadgets: The Survival Guide appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Apparently Spring is just around the corner. If you’ve been caught out by the weather changing from warm and sunny when you leave home to Baltic blizzards at home-time then one solution to returning to a cold home could well be the clever Remote Heating Control app from British Gas.

Remote Heating Control customers get the power to adjust the heating temperature, set specific times when they want the heating to come on and even switch the boiler on or off with a simple text message.

Not only is this handy for our confusing climate but also for those that have a tendency to forget to turn the heating off when they go away on holiday.

According to British Gas, the remote heating control app could save customers more than £100 a year. Looking at homes that left their boiler on while out at work or away for the weekend (as indicated by all of their electricity being off, but their gas still being on), British Gas claims an average of £140 a year could be saved on energy bills.

Remote Heating Control (RHC) enables you to turn off (and switch on) your central heating system via your phone or online, from anywhere, at anytime. This means that you’re in constant control of your home’s heating.

The wireless thermostat control can be set-up and operated remotely online and using a smartphone, connecting with your boiler via your normal broadband Internet router.

You’ll not only have increased comfort and control, but you could also save energy and money by only heating your home when you need to.

British Gas Remote Heating Control – Getting started

British Gas will send out experts to fit a smart thermostat to your boiler and hook up a widget to an Ethernet port on your router. Once all that’s done you’ll be able to login to the main Home Hub website, download the iOS or Android app and you’re good to go.

British Gas Remote Heating Control – Mobile, web, text and hands-on

RHC gives you four ways to control your heating. The smartphone app allows you to turn your heating to On, Off or Auto, set the temperature and view some simple graphs. It looks uncluttered and gives you the basics.

The web app, however, is fully featured. This gives you everything the mobile app does plus set an automatic schedule as you might do on your existing boiler.

You can also control it by sending a text message which I think is pretty cool – or warm depending how you look at it ;).

Naturally you can go old skool and use the controls on the real life physical smart thermostat. Handy should your network go down. ~shudder~

App control

Once you’ve set your main automatic schedule via the website then you’ll probably use the mobile app as your main controller. Imagine the futuristic feeling of reaching for your phone to turn the heating up when you’re halfway through your box set marathon.

SMS control

If you feel like bossing your heating about you could text your orders. There’s not strictly any need for SMS control unless you don’t own a smartphone but you do have the option of sending a text such as ‘HEAT ON 20’ to make it do your bidding.

Texting is a two-way street with Remote Heating Control, though. Turn on the Alerts option on the web app and the system will send you an SMS when the temperature goes above or below a certain level. So, should your home drop below the optimum level, even if you’re elsewhere, you will get a text that your house is about to become an igloo. To rectify this, all you have to do is squirt off a text to turn on the heating for a bit.

British Gas Remote Heating Control – Money saving

Remote Heating Control isn’t just about being able to alter the temperature of your home without having to get out of your chair, it could well save you money.

The temperature graphs on the web app give you an instant snapshot of how warm your house has been over a set period. From this you can deduce whether your home has been heated more than it should have been and if that even happened at the relevant times.

I think that monitoring your usage will soon make it apparent if you’re not being sensible with your heating. A small change in behaviour could well add up to money in your pocket.

It’s not only me that thinks that the RHC is a good idea and a sweet bit of kit. It was awarded as WINNER of the Stuff Home Gadget of the Year!

Remote Heating Control managed to come top leaving the likes of the Dyson Digital Slim DC44 Animal, iRobot Roomba 600, Belkin WeMo, amongst others.

Will Findlater, editor of Stuff Magazine, said: “We felt British Gas Remote Heating Control deserved to win our Home Gadget of the Year award, not just because of how useful it is but also because of the movement it’s representing towards connected homes and smart appliances.”

Visit the RHC Facebook tab and enter a competition to win your very own RHC system plus £100 worth of cinema vouchers for a ‘last minute change of plan’: www.facebook.com/britishgas

For more information on Remote Heating Control visit the webpage

This is a sponsored post on behalf of British Gas

The post British Gas – Remote Heating Control appeared first on GadgetyNews.

With the Great British Digital Switchover already finalising in 2012, now is the time to put those old analogue TV sets out to pasture and find the best digital TV package to revolutionise the viewing experience.

Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it. Well, that’s because the improvements enabled by digital technology really are pretty spellbinding, especially for viewers used to all that fuzziness and ghosting that is part and parcel of analogue TV viewing. With digital TV, that is all history – crystal clear images, superb sound and a wide variety of different channel options are the order of the new digital age. Moreover, analogue sets just won’t work when the switchover is completed, and they don’t make very attractive objets d’art.

Sky TV

For those willing to pay a little extra for cutting-edge viewing technology, the largest digital TV provider in the UK – Sky TV – offers enhancements to its standard packages such as HD (High definition) channels and even 3D TV (as does Virgin Media). But as Digital catches on, the number of providers is also increasing and not all of them require a monthly fee. Much depends on two factors: budget, and viewing references.

Freeview

Freeview Digital TV is the most popular free digital service in the UK, offering around 50 different digital channels without charge (all that’s required is a digital set-top box). For viewers who want the HD experience, a little extra cost will be necessary but the Freeview+ High Definition box allows pausing, rewinding and recording of live HD programmes with a casual tap of the remote.

Freesat

Freesat Digital TV is the new kid on the digital block after its launch in 2008 and, like Freeview it doesn’t require monthly fees and contractual subscriptions. It also offers recording on its HD option.

The widest choice

By far the most spectacular diversity and technological options, however, undoubtedly come from the industry titans, Sky and Virgin Media. Before opting for either, it’s important to work out exactly what one’s viewing preferences are – why sign up to a package including sports if you would rather watch paint dry? Depending on how many channels consumers want (and what type) the subscription to these services varies – in general, the more comprehensive the package, the greater the monthly subscription fee will be.

Both Sky and Virgin Media offer excellent and responsive customer support, efficient pricing and highly reliable service provision. Sky remains “the daddy” as far as market share is concerned and is unique in that it offers not just incrementally more channels in its deals, but distinct packages which can be clumped together or omitted, such as children’s channels, entertainment, news, movies and, of course, sport. It has by far the greatest range of HD and 3D TV channels available in the UK, although customers do have to pay a little extra for these. For those whose budgets can stretch to it, though, the HD and 3D options are well worth it.

It’s probably wise to “shop around” before selecting a digital provider and make sure the service under consideration ticks the boxes as far as budget and channel range are concerned. But the days of being stuck with a handful of grainy channels that shimmer and frizzle every time an aeroplane flies overhead are well and truly over.

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