Computer and internet briefs

Dec 18, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Google doing away with black navigation bar

Berlin (dpa) - Say goodbye to the black navigation bar as Google has announced a fundamental re-design of its website. The black navigation bar across the top of the screen through which users navigate the various Google services will disappear.

Instead, the Google Bar opens by rolling over the Google logo, sparking a menu to drop down with links to the services. Google wanted to unify the navigation of the various services as well as simplify the sharing of content through its new social network Google+. The company did not say when the design change will be implemented.

The tablet computer as groove machine

Berlin (dpa) - The tablet computer is becoming a music instrument as a number of apps allow it to be used as a keyboard and synthesizer. Many of the apps support Audio Copy & Paste (ACP), allowing for electronically produced music to be copied and used in another application, for example to mix other music tracks. If musicians would like to record the music live, the tablet can be connected by double jack plug to the audio port of a computer. Then music software on the PC or Mac can be started and the sound recorded, turning the tablet into a groove machine.

Nocturnal surfing and aggressiveness: Signs of computer addiction

Berlin (dpa) - If children spend a lot of time playing computer games, it doesn't necessarily mean there is a case of addiction. But if time in front of the PC exceeds other interests, then parents should take notice. If the child surfs the internet long into the night or foregoes meals to remain on the computer it could be a sign of computer addiction, according to the German organisation Klicksafe.

Should parents have the impression that their child uses playing on the computer as a way to work through feelings such as anger and rage, then they should seek out professional help.

To help prevent addiction, parents can set usage schedules including on devices such as smartphones. Klicksafe suggests that children between 11 and 13 years should not be allowed to sit in front of the computer for more than 60 minutes per day.

Router the best measure of connection speed

Berlin (dpa) - A router best measures the speed of the internet connection at home. However, very few of the many speed tests on internet sites are reliable, according to German telecommunication portal Teltarif.de.