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Internet Explorer 8

Posted on 6 Nov 2008 at 15:41

Jon Honeyball casts a critical eye over the latest version of ie, and discovers if ashampoo core tuner can boost his processor power.

So, the best bit about Ashampoo Core Tuner is its name, but I'm far from convinced that this is worth $14.99 (£8.50). If you want to fiddle with thread priorities and affinities go ahead, but just be ready to hit the big red switch and remember that you can play very nicely using the standard Task Manager tool.

Programmable remote controls

I decided it would be fun to try to get my spaghetti-like mess of television, DVD and PlayStation/Xbox all working from one remote control. So I bought a Logitech Harmony One, which sounds more like a hair care product than a remote control. This is a large but sculpted device that sits well in the hand, and has a touch-sensitive LCD screen at the top. The basic idea is that you work out everything you need to do using your computer with a huge wizard-based application, and then all the definitions and flow control get downloaded into your remote.

I have to say that I'm somewhat blown away by the capability of this software. Logitech has done an amazing job in getting product definitions nailed down, so you can just choose a manufacturer and product, and it then knows everything that device can do, together with the relevant IR codes. Things get even more involved when you start to define workflows - so "watching a DVD" might include turning on the TV, choosing the right video input, turning on the amp, choosing its input, and so forth. Sounds simple in theory and the wizard makes it a very logical step-by-step process.

The only downside is that you have to go through the thing to get the initial settings all done, and to get the best out of this gadget takes time, and by that I mean several evenings if you have an even moderately complicated setup. Maybe I'll have a medicinal gin and tonic before having another go - the basics are in place, now I need to make it rock and roll.

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