Support for Windows 98 users about to dwindle

Technofile: Still using Windows 98 SE and ME? Then you may like to upgrade your Windows operating system to the latest version, since as of July 11th Microsoft support for the operating system comes to an end. Online self-help support will continue until at least July 10th next year, writes Mike Butcher

Check the Microsoft Lifecycle Information website for details on all versions of Windows. In fact, Microsoft was still officially Windows 3.1 right up to the end of 2001!

Just like the weather, computer viruses blow in from all over the place. So IT security firm F-Secure.com has created a World Map of Viruses that shows, in real time, the current viruses and where they are blowing hot and cold on the planet. The Alert Level display goes from "Quiet" to "Epidemic". You may like to check out how your region is withstanding the buffeting of these unseen digital clouds.

Although the Slingbox has been making waves in the US for a while, it's yet to hit these shores. But that date is closer now - it is launching in the UK this month. Slingbox is a black box that redirects the live TV stream from your TV's set-top box to your PC, wherever it is, via the internet. Yes, it does sound crazy doesn't it? However, that means all those programmes you recorded on your digital hard drive need not sit there waiting for you to be at home to view them. Slingbox will initially be available at PC World's website for £180 (€262).

Fidelityelectronics.net has released a series of digital photo picture frames that accept most digital storage cards. You can thus slot in a selection of favourites and watch as your memories glide gracefully by.

The DPF-8000F and the DPF-5600F, have an 8in and 5.6in frame, respectively. The 8in model will also display MPEG1/2/4 videos and MP3s. The larger frame costs around €200, the smaller €160.

JVC has launched the alneo XA-F107 and XA-F57 digital music players. The former has 1GB of storage, the latter 512MB. They play MP3, WMA and WMA-DRM files. The top price is €145 for the F107.

Google has inked a deal with PC maker Dell to pre-install Google's toolbar, desktop search and a co-branded homepage into its consumer and small business machines. The move sparks a far hotter war with Microsoft, since pre-installed packages create a default market for users and mean Google will not have to rely so much on people downloading its software. However, Dell's biggest market is still larger businesses, which won't get the Google package on their machines.

TravelLink and TravelSync are handy devices that enable you to transfer digital data between PCs or USB flash drives without the need for a computer. They are powered by three AAA batteries and both feature a simple screen that enables you to control which files to move around or delete. They retail for around €60 and €40, respectively.