Friday 29 January 2016

Empty your mind. And search it

Empty your mind. And search it

Memory full? Download more, as Chris Salter explains...

To me, the Harry Potter films and books were an impressive production - well put together and with some well, magical, ideas. One of the ideas that sticks out to me was the Pensieve. For those unaware or who managed to avoid the Harry Potter phenomenon, the Pensieve was a magical device that allowed the user to siphon off thoughts from their mind and view them externally within the device, with the aim that viewing them in this way made it easier to view patterns and links and freed up some of the grey matter for other things. To me, such a device would be amazing and should greatly aid in my ability to recall information and help in my daily life and my main job of research!

Web Browser Synchronisation

Web Browser Synchronisation

Save time setting up browsers on multiple devices with options that can synchronise your data

Now that most people use more than one device to browse the internet, such as computers and mobile phones, sharing data between platforms is a very useful ability. Previously, information like favourites, logins and passwords needed to be set up separately on each device, but now there are options that can automate this for us, providing already entered information or set up preferences to other devices. This avoids repeated data entry and makes using multiple devices much easier and more convenient.

Get ready for WiGig and HaLow

Get ready for MIGIG and HALOW

Mark Pickavance covers some important wi-fi standards announcements that could address many problems with the existing technology

For those who still haven't transitioned to 802.11ac or maybe even 802.11n, a raft of recent announcements and product releases might just complicate their available choices.

Mobile Phone Buyer's Guide

Mobile Phone Buyer's Guide

Are the latest phones really worth the cost, or should you go for a cheaper option?

Despite some models costing a small fortune, mobile phones are worryingly disposable these days, with many users opting to upgrade their handsets annually in favour of the newest models. Some phones quickly become obsolete, lacking in essential features, while others may suffer from malfunctions. You may simply have the option of upgrading to a new handset via your carrier's contract and want to keep up to date. Whatever the reason for an upgrade, the mobile phone is one of the most disposable pieces of technology around, and the market is constantly changing, with new models replacing old mere months after launch.

The Best New Features in Windows 10

The Best New Features in Windows 10

There's plenty of great new stuff to discover in Microsoft's latest OS

The size of Windows 10 means that discovering its new features isn't necessarily as easy as it might seem. You could have been using the software for months and still not have noticed some of the best new features in it. Similarly, if you've not used Windows 10 at all you might not realise, based on screenshots alone, what the full extent of its capabilities are.

So whether you're a new Windows 10 user who wants to find out what's available, a potential one who wants an advance look at what's in there, or a seasoned pro who could do with a refresher, we've compiled this list of the best new features in Windows 10 to help you figure it all out.

Cortana Vs. The Competition

Cortana Vs. The Competition

How do the big three digital assitants compare?

The rollout of Windows 10 brought with it the release of Microsoft's natural-language digital assistant, Cortana. There's been long enough since then, we would hope, for it's bugs to have been worked out, so how does it compare to the competition? We tested Cortana, Siri and OK Google - all three major digital assistants - with a spread of questions to see what happened. It's not completely scientific, as Cortana was tested on a desktop PC and Siri/OK Google on their respective iPhone apps, but we do think this should give some insight into how each one behaves.

Hidden Windows 10 Secrets

Hidden Windows 10 Secrets

Windows 10 has more to it than meets the eye...

Windows 10 is a surprisingly secretive operating system. Considering it looks a lot like Windows 8, you might be surprised to learn about all the things it does different under the hood. Some of these things are good, some you might think are bad - but Microsoft, perhaps not surprisingly, didn't go to great lengths to make it clear which are which.

That's where we can step in, though, because we've got all you need to know about the hidden machinery of Windows right here. What's it doing? What's it not doing? And why should you care?

Windows Tips & Tricks

Windows Tips & Tricks

Here are our favourite under-used Windows 10 features...

Windows 10 is a huge piece of software, and even if you think you're well versed in the ways of Microsoft's flagship operating system, there are enough new features and options to mean that you're almost certainly missing out on some useful and interesting features. So, whether you're new to the latest incarnation of Windows or a seasoned user who thinks they know it all, we’ve put together this selection of tips and tricks that should give you something new to try. And maybe it'll even be useful too.