We're kicking off the weekend with another great deal on the V3 Software Store. From now until Monday 8 February you can get a copy of Acronis True Image 2010 for only £17.98, 55 per cent off the RRP.

Better still, it's an instant download, so you'll receive your software and serial code within minutes of placing your order.

With Acronis True Image 2010 backup software, you can schedule a regular backup of your drive, partition, or files and folders. Using differential support, each time you run a backup, only the files you have updated since the last backup will be stored. If you suffer from a system crash or buy a new PC, you can simply restore your data back to your computer.

If you're seeking drive backup software, you could also take a look at O&O DiskImage 5 Professional, which was released last week. This drive and partition backup software competes directly with Acronis True Image 2010 and is available for only £14.99 at the V3 Software Store, 50 per cent off the standard RRP of £29.99.

Posted by Madeline Bennett on February 5, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keyboard veteran KeySonic has recently expanded its extensive range with a wireless mini keyboard that's big on versatility and small in stature. The KSK 3200RF offers a full Qwerty layout with a built-in numeric keypad, accessible via the Num Lock or Fn controls, and trackball mouse control, as well as the option to connect it directly via USB for wired operation or to charge the twin AAA batteries required if need be.

Setup is as simple as plugging in the wireless receiver, with options present to change channels if other competing equipment is within range.

A device this slim and compact - it measures 293x28x101mm and weighs 245g - would obviously raise concerns over usability, but we were pleasantly surprised by how responsive the keys are and how easy it is to type at a reasonable speed.

Something called X-type membrane is used here to allegedly provide silent strokes and tactile feedback. While we're not sure about the former claim, as it can make a bit of a noise when placed on a hard surface such as a desk, though it's quieter in a lap, we're certainly on board with responsive, tactile operation.

Mouse control is similarly effective and the fact that the trackball and selection keys are placed at the top corners makes it very nice to use when held in both hands. Cursor control is smooth, accurate and responsive and most users should have no trouble quickly navigating around a screen.

Of course it does take a little while to get used to the keyboard layout, and the fact that your fingers must remain quite tightly bunched together to achieve faster typing speeds means you won't be transcribing War and Peace any time soon, but that's not the 3200's intended use anyway.

Business settings where a user needs a little more control over a slideshow or presentation and home media control would be the most likely environments, and in these situations we think its works very well. Gaming is also cited, though in this case we can see people getting plenty frustrated at hitting the wrong keys in the heat of battle, so we wouldn't recommend it for this purpose. The 3200RF is wireless up to 10 metres and though we could only confirm operation at around a 7m distance from the receiver, this should still be plenty for most.

At £44, the 3200RF isn't exactly cheap, but as far as these wireless miniature keyboards go we think KeySonic has done a very nice job. It's solidly built, versatile and extremely usable, even if it will take a bit of practice before you're up to speed.

Posted by Madeline Bennett on February 4, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Google has updated its email offering Gmail to allow users to search the web while composing messages.

In the Compose Mail section of Gmail, a Web Search box has quietly appeared on the left hand side of the composition space which previously was only available to Labs users.

While the web giant did not publically announce the new functionality, a Google UK spokesman confirmed it was new and introduced over the weekend.

When a user searches for a term in the box, the results pop out in another box at the bottom of the page with links that can be copied and pasted.

The functionality will allow users to easily add links to their email without opening a second browser window.

Posted by Rosalie Marshall on February 1, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2)

CyberLink recently released a brand new version of its Media Suite, and the Ultra edition is currently available at a discounted price from the V3.co.uk Software Store. Until 31 January, you can purchase CyberLink Media Suite 8 Ultra for £89.95, and receive a Holiday DVD Menus Pack volume two, worth £19.99, at no extra charge. If you add Extended Download Insurance to your order, you also receive a free copy of AVG AntiVirus 9 [1-PC, 1-Year], worth £27.99.

CyberLink Media Suite 8 Ultra is a complete media solution, consisting of everything you need to edit your videos and photos, compile them and then burn to disc.

We've also got a special deal on Webroot security products this weekend. We're offering 50 per cent off all Webroot products at the V3 Software Store. Webroot Spy Sweeper 2010 is available for only £9.98 instead of the regular £19.95, and you can buy the complete Webroot Internet Security Essentials 2010 for £19.95 rather than £39.95.

Hurry though as this Webroot 50 per cent offer ends 24 January.

Posted by Madeline Bennett on January 22, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the news, I reported on Nokia's unveiling of the new Ovi Maps, which is essentially free for consumers to use - so long as they have a Symbian-based Nokia phone, of course.

I speculated in the story that this might hit the makers of standalone navigation kit such as TomTom and Garmin, but further consideration has made me rethink this.

The fact is that standalone kit tends to ship with a larger, more readable screen than your average smartphone, and this is quite important when you are trying to use the device while driving. Phones also tend to go into power-saving mode if you haven't pressed a button for a few seconds, even when connected to an external power source. And what happens if you have an incoming call just as you reach a critical junction?

Interestingly, analyst firm Canalys thinks that Nokia's mobile operator partners stand to lose from the move, since they offer their own paid-for navigation tools to customers. These often download map data on-the-fly thereby driving up mobile data use as well, whereas Ovi Maps comes with the map data for all of Europe pre-installed on new Nokia phones.

Thinking about it, I can't see why you would want to use a mobile phone for in-car navigation rather than a device custom-made for the purpose, so perhaps TomTom and Garmin are safe.

Then again, I'm sure others will disagree. Is there something I'm missing?

Posted by Daniel Robinson on January 21, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (5)

V3.co.uk is offering its readers a special software deal this weekend. If you visit our download store between now and 19 January you can get a full copy of Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact, worth $39.95, for free.

Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact is Windows 7 compatible and ships with both 32-bit and 64-bit editions. It is designed to back up and restore your most important files.

The Paragon full download is available until 19 January 2010, so if you find the servers slow (it's a big download), try again soon.

Posted by Madeline Bennett on January 15, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kingston Technology's Flash memory subsidiary has introduced a solid state drive (SSD) upgrade kit designed to let desktop PC users get a boost in performance.

The Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Boot Drive is available separately, or as part of an upgrade kit including cloning software, disk mount brackets and cable extenders for serial ATA (Sata) data and power.

According to Kingston, the cloning software lets users move their operating system and applications over to the Flash SSD, which then becomes the system boot drive, while their old hard disk can be used just for storing data such as music, video, document and photo files.

Step-by-step instructions are included in the kit, which is backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, Kingston said.

It is due to go on sale by late February for less than £90.

Posted by Daniel Robinson on January 13, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Google's official unveiling of its own-brand phone has finally brought to a halt the seemingly endless speculation over the device, the existence of which was long denied by the company, but which soon proved to be more than mere vapourware as the name and images of it eventually leaked onto the web.

The Nexus One, which can be ordered today from a new online store hosted by Google, has met with a mixed reaction from commentators and industry experts. Some have hailed the device as the only worthy challenger to Apple's iPhone, while others said that it renders other Android-based devices obsolete. Many, however, have expressed indifference to the Nexus and the "superphone" tag that Google has labelled it with.

Indeed, a glance at the specifications shows that the Nexus One, with its 1GHz Qualcomm SnapDragon processor, large touch-screen, Wi-Fi and 3G wireless support, plus built-in GPS, is very similar to other handsets such as HTC's HD2. This should come as little surprise, since the Nexus is actually manufactured for Google by HTC.

But it is the available software and services that set any mobile apart from the competition, as Apple has demonstrated with the iPhone, and the Nexus includes one or two surprises here.

As well as a newly minted version of Google's Android platform, the Nexus features speech recognition throughout, dynamic noise suppression on voice calls, and is also said to support automatic synchronisation of photos to the web.

However, in other respects the Nexus seems to have little to offer that consumers cannot already get with other Android-based handsets, such as access to Google Maps, Google Mail, Google Talk, and Android Market for downloading applications, so it is difficult to see justification for claims that the Nexus is the first in an emerging category of superphones.

Then there is the question of why Google has chosen to compete against its own partners, such as Motorola. The Android platform might be open, which is why it has attracted a number of handset vendors and carriers, but the fact that Google has been the first to market with an Android 2.1 device could easily convince its partners that they are not in an equal partnership.

Google's ultimate goal, as some observers have maintained, is probably to boost web advertising by getting its platform used by as many people as possible. Perhaps the company is hoping that it can follow Apple's example and use the cachet associated with the Google brand to draw consumers to the Nexus One instead of rival phones.

Whatever Google's motives for marketing its own-brand handset, the Nexus One seems a little disappointing after all the hype and rumour that preceded the launch. It certainly does not seem to be the "iPhone killer" that some observers have labelled it, especially as many buyers are drawn to Apple's handset because of its close integration with the iTunes music service and the huge number of available applications as much as for its slick design and touch-driven user interface.

However, here at V3.co.uk, we will reserve ultimate judgement until we have had a review model to test out for ourselves.

Posted by Daniel Robinson on January 6, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mozilla is all set to launch its brand new mobile web browser to the market, although when exactly remains a mystery.

Today V3.co.uk tracked down (well, phoned) head of mobile at Mozilla Jay Sullivan, to speak about the new Firefox for mobile web browser.

Sullivan told us the browser was currently in release candidate format and was going through the necessary testing for any bugs before it could be launched - and although he apologised for the vagueness of this he did say it seemed most likely it will be launched at some point next week. Next week...isn't that Christmas? A present from Mozilla? How kind.

Whenever it is released, though, it looks as if it could be worth the wait. Screenshots seen by V3.co.uk show the browser has a nifty set of features including tabbed browsing that, instead of sitting on top of the browser, sit to the left hand side and are visible while you browse, allowing for efficient web use and easier switching between sites. No having to slide around to see what other windows you have open as you do on the iPhone.

Another interesting development offered by Mozilla is an application called Weave Sync. The app allows users to sync their desktop computer and their mobile phone device - as long as it's the Nokia N900, the only device to currently run the browser - so that, rather than having to type in all web addresses as new on the search bar, they can be imported from the desktop machine.

"People are very impatient to type in web addresses, log-in details, passwords and so forth on mobile devices," said Sullivan. "But by allowing syncing between computers and phones we can offer a far more efficient, simple browsing experience as all previous history and information can be uploaded and memorised by the device instantly."

This information is all stored in the browser's modestly named Awesome Bar that remembers all web addresses from both the phone and the computer, including closed tabs and history. This allows users to retrieve information when out and about they have already accessed on the desktop device, such as street addresses, names of restaurants or, indeed, awesome bars.

Currently the browser will only be available to download but Sullivan confirmed the company was not averse to having the browser coming pre-installed on handsets. He also said the browser would be available to Windows Mobile devices in the first quarter of 2010 and to Android devices by the middle of the year - and this time on more than one device.

Sullivan also praised the developer community that works on the open source code integral to FireFox's success and helping them compete with rivals like Apple or Microsoft. But they probably won't be getting any Christmas presents, other than the new mobile browser.

Posted by Phil Muncaster on December 15, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)

As today is Black Friday, we thought we'd get in on the act at V3.co.uk and alert you to some extra special deals lined up for you on our new and improved Software Store.

From now until Monday 30 November, you can purchase Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 1-PC, 1-Year for the low cost of £16.49, 60 per cent off the normal price.

Also from today until Monday, you can get your hands on NitroPDF Professional 6 at a massive discount of 50 per cent off the list price - so £48.27 instead of £96.37.

Nitro PDF Professional is designed to offer a complete Adobe Acrobat alternative, with a whole range of tools to create, convert, edit, combine, secure and annotate PDFs.

PCmover Professional will also be available over the latter half of the weekend for £19.95, instead of the list price of £49.92.

Finally we'll be offering AVG AntiVirus 9, the 3-PC, 1-Year version, for the low price of £14.99 over the weekend, a huge discount on the retail price of £46.99. You'll also be able to purchase AVG Internet Security 9, 3-PC, 1-Year, at 60 per cent off the list price at £19.99 instead of £54.99.

These promotions will run for 24 hours at a time, between Friday and Monday, so keeping checking the store for the current promotional discount.

Posted by Madeline Bennett on November 27, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)