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Computeractive|570From the EditorFrom the moment in June when Boris Johnson, then campaigning to be Conservative leader, called for full-fibre broadband in every home by 2025, I thought the issue of broadband would play a big part in the next election. But I still wasn’t expecting Labour to respond by pledging to nationalise Openreach and deliver free internet access for all. It was a bold ambition that forced broadband on to the political agenda like never before – though it didn’t quite trump the other ‘B’ word in the concerns of the public. I read lots of contrasting opinions on Labour’s policy – some saying it would be a vital investment in future generations, others claiming it was economically unviable and would cripple Openreach’s rivals. With Labour’s heavy election loss, free broadband won’t…1 min
Computeractive|570Stop using W7’s Security Essentials after 14 JanMicrosoft has confirmed it will end support for Security Essentials on Windows 7 on 14 January – the same day it stops supporting the 10-year-old operating system.It means the antivirus program will no longer receive virus definitions, so you won’t be able to rely on it if you intend to keep using Windows 7 after the deadline.You should continue to run your existing third-party antivirus software on Windows 7, although only with specific precautions (see page 60). Eventually your antivirus will stop supporting Windows 7, but probably not for some years.Antivirus firms tend to support operating systems long after Microsoft ends support. AVG and Avast, for example, stopped security updates for Windows XP as recently as January 2019, almost five years after Microsoft ended support.Microsoft confirmed the end of Security…3 min
Computeractive|570BT to Boris: cut the broadband red tapeBT has called for Boris Johnson to cut red tape holding back broadband infrastructure, following his emphatic victory in December’s General Election. Philip Jansen, the firm’s boss, said that few things are more important to the UK than “speeding up the delivery of full-fibre broadband”. He claimed the Government could take some “simple, immediate steps” to slash regulation and help BT “build like the clappers”. In August Jansen said BT was ready to deliver on Johnson’s pledge to make full-fibre broadband available to all homes and businesses by 2025. His call to cut regulation echoes industry feeling that the law makes it too hard to lay broadband cables. Companies are currently required to obtain “wayleave agreements” to install equipment on private land, but property owners often don’t respond. The Internet…1 min
Computeractive|570IN BRIEFPIN WEBSITES TO WINDOWS TASKBAR Microsoft is testing a feature in Windows 10 that lets you pin websites to the taskbar. It’s currently being trialled in preview versions of its Edge browser, which will relaunch on 15 January. When you select the option, you see a list of Microsoft services that can be pinned, such as Bing and Office, and any websites you’ve got open in Edge. IPHONE PHOTO APP IS APPLE’S BEST OF 2019 Apple has named an app that helps you take long-exposure photos as the best iPhone app of 2019. Spectre Camera, which costs £2.99, uses artificial intelligence to perform various tricks, such as remove crowds and draw light trails. Apple’s best iPad app of the year is Flow, from notebook makers Moleskine, which lets you use…3 min
Computeractive|570Cinemas ban phones over ChristmasCinema chain Odeon banned phones over Christmas in a trial to prevent people being distracted by their devices during films. Throughout December it installed 60 lockers (pictured) at its Greenwich cinema, where filmgoers could charge their phones for free during screenings. Odeon said its research showed that despite knowing how to turn their phones to silent, 23 per cent of viewers check their phones when at the cinema, while nearly half find it difficult to fully relax. A third of people even admitted to checking their phone up to nine times during a film, which would be every 13 minutes during a two-hour screening. Odeon said that if the trial is a success it may consider hosting specific phone-less screenings around the country. The chain has 950 screens in 120…1 min
Computeractive|570Google’s top 2019 searches: a tale of two England finalsTwo England sporting finals – one victorious, one not – dominated Google searches in the UK during 2019. The company’s annual ‘Year in Search’ results showed that the Rugby World Cup was the highest trending subject for the year, followed in second place by the Cricket World Cup. England lost the rugby final to South Africa, but beat New Zealand at Lord’s to become cricket world champions for the first time. Further down the list, TV and film feature heavily. The fantasy TV series Game of Thrones came third, as viewers sought information about the final season, while the films Avengers Endgame and Joker were also popular. Only one news event made the top 10: the fire at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris in April. Apple’s launch of the iPhone…1 min
Computeractive|570Does Google’s dominance lead to higher UK prices?If Google was a board game, it would be Monopoly, with hotels aplenty piled up on Mayfair and Park Lane. In under two decades it has established one of the most brutally efficient ways to make money in business history. In 2018 it took around 90 per cent of all advertising cash spent on search engines in the UK, amounting to £6bn.This is good news for Google and its shareholders, but bad news for the rest of us. In a report published in December, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Google’s dominance allows it to continuously increase what it charges companies for adverts. With a lack of “real competition”, this cost gets passed on to customers as higher prices for goods.“Google can increase what it charges companies for adverts,…3 min
Computeractive|570Protect your techWATCH OUT FOR…Fake browser notificationsWhat’s the threat?Fraudsters have found a new way to hook victims – via fake browser notifications online that look official but are, infact, phishing scams or advertising.Research from Kaspersky (www.snipca.com/33536) shows the monthly number of victims has more than tripled this year, from 1.7 million in January to 5.5 million in September.When you visit certain sites, you may see a prompt at the top asking you to allow or block notifications from the site. Clicking ‘allow’ lets the site show you messages to alert you to new content and information.That’s fine if the site is legitimate and you want to be kept up to date. But scammers are tricking people into granting permission without them realising, such as asking them to click to confirm they’re a…3 min
Computeractive|570Consumer activeContact us so we can investigate your case Email: consumeractive@computeractive.co.uk Please include your name, phone number and address. LEAD CASE Can I cancel because Sky undercharged me? Q I have a problem with my 24-month Sky contract for TV, broadband and phone. When I took it out in March 2019, I was told it would be £42 a month for 18 months, going up to £76.99 for the final six months. In late October, I received an email saying Sky had made a mistake and I’d been underpaying, so my bill would go up to £56.15 until the 18 months was up. Can I cancel my contract without any charges because of this error? Paul Thornton A Yes, for two reasons. First, anyone who is hit with a mid-contract price…6 min
Computeractive|570Grow Your Family TreeAdd headshots to your family treeWhether you’re working on your tree or printing a chart to share with someone else, having people’s faces next to their entry helps to bring your research to life – and makes it look more attractive too.The ideal photo is a headshot, but having to manually crop photos in your image editor is time-consuming and tricky. Thankfully, a growing number of genealogy tools now let you generate headshots from your existing photos without you having to edit them.Create multiple headshots from one photoOne of the first programs to add this tool was Family Historian (www.family-historian.co.uk). This is still the best option as it lets you create multiple headshots from a single image for both individuals and family groups.You’ll be prompted to create a link when…3 min
Computeractive|570Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019)TABLET ❘ £150 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33473 At the same price as its 2017 predecessor, the Fire HD 10 costs less than half as much as a basic iPad (£349 from Apple www.snipca.com/24022) or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e (£379 from Currys www.snipca.com/33475) for a similarly sized touchscreen device. Then again, gold bullion dealers charge a lot more than Travis Perkins for a similarly sized brick. “For the price, a decent screen, long battery life and storage potential” The classiest feature is the absence of the Amazon logo previously chiselled across the back, which has been reduced to the smiley arrow symbol. It’s still a chunky plastic effort, 30 per cent thicker than the iPad, but barely heavier. The microUSB charging port has been replaced by USB-C, which feels a lot more…3 min
Computeractive|570Lexmark C3224dwPRINTER ❘ £113 from Printerbase www.snipca.com/33513Colour laser printers are traditionally in a different class from affordable inkjets, but Lexmark’s new laser range promises business-level performance at a low price, and on paper – quite literally – the C3224dw delivers. It’s rated at 22 pages per minute, much faster than most inkjets; has Wi-Fi as well as USB and Ethernet connections; and can print both sides of the paper (duplex). It’s only a printer – there’s no scanner for digitising documents and making quick copies – but at just over a hundred quid, it has to be worth a look.“A quick and high-quality printer, but running costs will prohibit regular use”Print quality is certainly up to scratch. Laser models work like a photocopier, melting plastic powder on to the page rather…3 min
Computeractive|570Netgear Orbi RBK50MESH ROUTER ❘ £230 from Currys www.snipca.com/33546We mentioned when we tested the cheaper Orbi RBK40 mesh routers (see our review, Issue 532, page 25) that Netgear’s top-end RBK50, originally costing around £400 for a two-pack, had been discounted. At the time of writing, it had been slashed even further to £230 in many outlets and just £210 on Amazon. That offer was already finishing as we went to press, but if the price settled at about this level, the RBK50 could be five-star value. It’s going to have to be quick to take its turn in the limelight, though, because 2020 will be the year of 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6 – the new wireless protocol that’s bringing even better speed and reception to devices that can take advantage, including some…3 min
Computeractive|570Logitech Z623PC SPEAKERS ❘ £55 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33551The worst thing about working on product reviews just before Christmas, apart from people playing that Wham! song on the office stereo, is that you can’t look up prices. Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Rampant Consumerism Thursday and a general frenzy of offloading a year’s unsold merchandise on a tinsel-dazzled populace, the relationship of the cost of anything now to what you’d be charged the day you read this is anybody’s guess.At the time of writing, this beefy THX-certified 2:1 PC speaker set is on sale for just £55. Considering Logitech itself is still optimistically quoting £160, that’s a proper bargain. Assisted by a hefty subwoofer, the two reassuringly heavy satellite speakers blast out a surprisingly high volume of crisp and clear sound without…2 min
Computeractive|570Logitech Z623PC SPEAKERS ❘ £55 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33551 The worst thing about working on product reviews just before Christmas, apart from people playing that Wham! song on the office stereo, is that you can’t look up prices. Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Rampant Consumerism Thursday and a general frenzy of offloading a year’s unsold merchandise on a tinsel-dazzled populace, the relationship of the cost of anything now to what you’d be charged the day you read this is anybody’s guess. At the time of writing, this beefy THX-certified 2:1 PC speaker set is on sale for just £55. Considering Logitech itself is still optimistically quoting £160, that’s a proper bargain. Assisted by a hefty subwoofer, the two reassuringly heavy satellite speakers blast out a surprisingly high volume of crisp and clear…1 min
Computeractive|570Amazon Fire TV CubeTV-STREAMER/SMART SPEAKER ❘ £110 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33583 While updating its other TV and smart-speaker products at the end of 2019, Amazon also introduced this curiosity to the UK. Previously available in the States, the updated Fire TV Cube basically does both jobs. You could say it’s a Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD (£50 from Amazon www.snipca.com/31149, see our review, Issue 551, page 29) combined with an Echo Dot (£50 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33584, see Issue 540, page 28). And if you were wondering where your extra tenner went, it’s also a universal remote control, allowing you to operate your cable box, sound bar and so on from a single included handset. The cube looks neat, but if you prefer to hide it, an infra-red re dongle is provided that you…3 min
Computeractive|570Create your own mini Start menuWhat you need: Biniware Run; Windows 7, 8.1 or 10Time taken: 15 minutesToo big, too slow, too annoying, too much. Just a few of the criticisms we’ve heard about the Start menu (particularly the bloated version in Windows 10). There are plenty of ways to tweak the Start menu, but why not consider switching to a smaller, more customisable alternative? Biniware Run (from the same developer as Windows Firewall Control, now owned by Malwarebytes) is a terrific free tool that lets you create and quickly access shortcuts for your favourite programs, files, websites and more.STEP 1Download Biniware Run from www.snipca.com/33537 (click the Download button on the right 1). Once you’ve gone through the setup instructions, the program will launch and you’ll see a red, circular icon on your desktop 2.…3 min
Computeractive|570Sync email notes in Google KeepIt was nice to see you recommend Google Keep in your answer to Miles Jenkins’ question about which phone app could turn his device into a dictaphone (Issue 568, page 19). Google is obviously best known for its search engine and Chrome, but Keep is one of its best-kept secrets. It’s the simplest note-taking tool I’ve ever used.Gmail users may not know that as you read your emails you can make notes that sync with your online Keep account (https://keep.google.com). To see what I mean, open an email in Gmail, then look for the Keep logo on the right (the yellow lightbulb). If you don’t see it, click the ‘Show side panel’ arrow at the bottom right.Click the lightbulb, then click ‘Take a note’ (see screenshot). Write your note, then…1 min
Computeractive|570Readers’ TipsEXTENSIONSTake screenshots in Chrome using Nimbus✓ Why is taking and saving screenshots so fiddly? I’ve used and uninstalled countless programs in the past. They all ended up frustrating me. But maybe I’ve finally found something easy enough to use. It’s not a program, but a Chrome extension called Nimbus. Get it from the Chrome Web Store (www.snipca.com/33472).Click ‘Add to Chrome’ and you’ll see its icon (a blue N inside a dotted square) in your browser bar. Click it and you’ll see loads of options (see screenshot left), such as taking a screenshot of an entire page or just part of it. At the bottom there’s a dropdown menu letting you decide what to do with the grab – for example, edit it or save it to Dropbox.As a further point,…4 min
Computeractive|570Reader recommends…VueScan softwareFree from www.hamrick.com✓ Reading Susan Platter’s letter in Issue 567 about her 27in iMac not “talking to” her Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner, I wondered if she has heard about VueScan, a universal scanner program published by Hamrick Software.VueScan works with more than 6,000 scanners, which includes 16 Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners. For older scanners, it doesn’t even need a driver from the manufacturer. It’s compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac computers – Susan can try it for free at www.hamrick.com.I have been using VueScan for many years, and it’s currently installed on my 27in iMac. It gives the user extensive control over scanning, image quality and file output. It even has OCR.A superb tool.Peter ClintonWant to recommend hardware or software to fellow readers?Email letters@computeractive.co.uk…1 min
Computeractive|570Sync email notes in Google KeepIt was nice to see you recommend Google Keep in your answer to Miles Jenkins’ question about which phone app could turn his device into a dictaphone (Issue 568, page 19). Google is obviously best known for its search engine and Chrome, but Keep is one of its best-kept secrets. It’s the simplest note-taking tool I’ve ever used. Gmail users may not know that as you read your emails you can make notes that sync with your online Keep account (https://keep.google.com). To see what I mean, open an email in Gmail, then look for the Keep logo on the right (the yellow lightbulb). If you don’t see it, click the ‘Show side panel’ arrow at the bottom right. Click the lightbulb, then click ‘Take a note’ (see screenshot). Write your…1 min
Computeractive|570Why I stopped using…IP Blocker Firewall ✓ I’ve never liked Windows’ built-in firewall, so for months I looked for a tool that would help me to tweak it. I tried IP Blocker Firewall (www.snipca.com/33471), but soon wished I hadn’t. I didn’t realise the free trial only lasted five days. And what I use instead… I use Malwarebytes on my PC, and followed one of their links to their program Windows Firewall Control (https://binisoft.org/wfc). It provides different levels of control: High, Medium, Low and No (that’s no firewall at all). High blocks everything, which is too severe for me, so I keep it selected at Medium (see screenshot). This blocks outbound connections according to rules you set. Customising firewalls sounds daunting, but the program makes it easy with a clear, simple interface. It’s great…1 min
Computeractive|570Phone and Tablet TipsiOS Automatically close Safari tabs Tap the right-most icon on the mobile Safari toolbar and you’ll see all of the pages you have open at the moment. If you’re anything like us, the list of active windows is probably longer than you expected, because it’s been added to every time you’ve long-pressed a link and chosen ‘Open in New Tab’ (see screenshot right). It’s a handy way to make sure you can always get back to the page you were linked from, but it’s a bad habit to fall into, and a hard habit to break. Stacks of pages can build up, leaving you with several active tabs that not only reveal what you’ve been browsing, but also slow your phone by drawing down updates in the background when Safari…5 min
Computeractive|570Make Office BetterLIBREOFFICE WRITERSet the tab order in formsWriter lets you create fillable forms by adding fields from the Form menu (such as tickboxes and option buttons), then exporting the document as a PDF (File, Export, Export As, ‘Export Directly as PDF’). However, you may find that pressing the Tab key while viewing the PDF shifts between fields in a seemingly random order.To sort this, return to your form in Writer, then double-click one of the fields within it. In the General tab of the Properties window that appears, you’ll notice a ‘Tab order’ setting. It’s this that sets the order in which the Tab key shifts between them in the finished form. You can go through your fields and adjust the ‘Tab order’ in each, but it’s easier to get Writer…2 min
Computeractive|570Control your mouse with your headMicrosoft is working on eye-tracking for Windows (read more at www.snipca.com/33592), but you’ll need to buy special hardware to use it. An alternative is to use a free tool called Enable Viacam (download from www.snipca.com/33588). Instead of using your eyes to control the mouse cursor, it uses the slightly less accurate – but still impressive – method of tracking head movements. Although primarily designed as an accessibility tool to help people with reduced mobility, it’s an interesting tool that anyone can experiment with – you’ll just need a webcam on your computer. After loading the program, a toolbar appears along the top of the screen, along with a separate window showing your webcam feed (if you don’t see this window, click the far-right button on the top toolbar). In this…1 min
Computeractive|570Sync your Sticky Notes with Outlook.comTraditional post-it notes are great for jotting down quick reminders and to-do lists – until they lose their stickiness and get lost, that is. Far better to use digital sticky notes instead. Windows 10 comes with a Sticky Notes app pre-installed, which you can access by clicking Start, then typing sticky notes. A new Outlook.com feature means you can view, edit and create sticky notes while browsing email online. If you’re signed into the same Microsoft account on Outlook.com as on your PC, the two will sync, so you can see your sticky notes no matter where you are. To access sticky notes on Outlook.com, expand the Folders menu on the left, then select Notes. You can edit existing notes by clicking on them, or create new ones by clicking…1 min
Computeractive|570Scan multiple club documentsEmail, online forms and other types of digital communication all help reduce the amount of paperwork you have to deal with when running a club. But there is often still plenty of paper documents that you need to digitise. Here we look at how you can scan documents more easily. Use your phone Thanks to their high-quality cameras, smartphones can double up as portable scanners. However, if you simply take a photo of a document using your phone’s camera app, it’ll be saved as a JPEG file alongside your personal photos and it won’t always be easy to crop out the background. There is a better way. If you don’t already have a Google account, create one for free at www.snipca.com/33511. Next, install and sign into the Google Drive app…3 min
Computeractive|570Don’t Wait For… FREEBROADBANDIn the run-up to the General Election last month, Labour announced a bold plan to provide free broadband to every home and business in the UK. By nationalising Openreach (the subsidiary of BT that maintains the UK’s broadband infrastructure) and embarking on a £20 billion upgrade, it said it would provide high-speed, full-fibre broadband across the country by 2030. Needless to say, reaction was mixed (not least on our Facebook page www.snipca.com/33598). Some welcomed the idea, saying that it would bring much-needed investment into the UK’s broadband network and finally provide high-speed connections to homes and businesses in rural locations. And with the average home spending around £360 on broadband annually, it would have also represented a significant saving. Critics, however, argued that investment into the UK’s broadband service is…21 min
Computeractive|570On low income? Get cheaper broadbandIf you’re on a low income and receive benefits, you may be eligible for a cheap, no-frills broadband service from BT. It’s called BT Basic + Broadband and costs just £9.95 per month. There’s no connection charge and the monthly fee includes line rental, making it about half the price of similar deals. It’s an ADSL service, so average speeds are fairly low at 10Mbps. More concerning, however, is the 15GB data cap, so you’ll need to keep an eye on how much you’re using each month. You also need to prove you’re on a low income, such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit). See more details at www.snipca.com/33498.…1 min
Computeractive|570Deciphering my BT billBT excels in making its bills confusing. Take my most recent monthly bill. It lists my basic broadband and calls package at £29.99 1. This includes the £8 discount that I negotiated at the start of the contract 2, and line rental of £19.99. However, I pay my year’s line rental in advance, so this amount is shown as a credit further down the bill 3. Confusingly, Unlimited Anytime Calls (£9.99 a month for unlimited landline calls) is only mentioned further down the bill 4, added to my line rental credit. Finally, any calls to mobiles are added to my bill (£2.07 this month 5). All this means I pay £10 for the broadband and £9.99 for unlimited calls each month.…1 min
Computeractive|570Move your files to anew Windows 10PC!NEW!In our new Reader Offer we’re selling Laplink PCmover Professional 11 at half price – just £24.95. It transfers your software, files and personal data to a brand new Windows 10 PC.As the ONLY Microsoft-approved program for transferring your files, it’s a must-use tool for people upgrading from Windows 7 to 10. Remember – Microsoft ends support for Windows 7 on 14 January!WHAT IT DOES✓ Moves all your software, files and data from Windows 7 to a new Windows10PC✓ Transfers your files automatically✓ Works out the fastest way to transfer your filesPLUS Free advice from a UK-based support teamLaplink PCmover Professional 11 NOW ONLY £24.95**Normally £49.95Buy it on our Software Store at www.snipca.com/33470…1 min
Computeractive|570From the EditorFrom the moment in June when Boris Johnson, then campaigning to be Conservative leader, called for full-fibre broadband in every home by 2025, I thought the issue of broadband would play a big part in the next election.But I still wasn’t expecting Labour to respond by pledging to nationalise Openreach and deliver free internet access for all. It was a bold ambition that forced broadband on to the political agenda like never before – though it didn’t quite trump the other ‘B’ word in the concerns of the public.I read lots of contrasting opinions on Labour’s policy – some saying it would be a vital investment in future generations, others claiming it was economically unviable and would cripple Openreach’s rivals.With Labour’s heavy election loss, free broadband won’t be coming soon,…1 min
Computeractive|570YouTube bans videos that insult race and sexualityYouTube has banned videos that attack people’s race, sexuality and gender, after it was criticised for not taking action against hom*ophobic abuse. The decision strengthens the site’s policy on what kind of videos should be allowed. It previously banned videos that contained explicit threats of violence. This has been extended to include “veiled” or implied threats, such as saying “you better watch out” while brandishing a knife. The decision comes after US journalist Carlos Maza (pictured above left) complained last June about “clearly hurtful” hom*ophobic and racist slurs aimed at him by Steven Crowder (above right), who hosts a talk show on the website. Crowder, whose show was watched by four million people at the time, called Maza a “lispy queer” and a “gay Mexican”. Initially YouTube said Crowder hadn’t…1 min
Computeractive|570BT to Boris: cut the broadband red tapeBT has called for Boris Johnson to cut red tape holding back broadband infrastructure, following his emphatic victory in December’s General Election.Philip Jansen, the firm’s boss, said that few things are more important to the UK than “speeding up the delivery of full-fibre broadband”.He claimed the Government could take some “simple, immediate steps” to slash regulation and help BT “build like the clappers”.In August Jansen said BT was ready to deliver on Johnson’s pledge to make full-fibre broadband available to all homes and businesses by 2025. His call to cut regulation echoes industry feeling that the law makes it too hard to lay broadband cables.Companies are currently required to obtain “wayleave agreements” to install equipment on private land, but property owners often don’t respond. The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA)…1 min
Computeractive|570Police urge public to take counter-terrorism trainingYou can assess how well you’d react to a terrorist attack on a new online course devised by UK counter-terrorism officers. The training, called ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) Awareness, was previously available only to people who might have to deal with an attack, such as staff working in shopping centres and entertainment venues. It comprises seven modules and takes 45 minutes to complete. You watch videos of incidents, with actors playing the roles, and are asked to identify the risks and give an appropriate response. Scenarios depicted include a bomb-threat phone call, suspicious packages inside cars and lorries, and a firearms attack. It also features footage from the aftermath of terrorist attacks, including at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in 2017, which killed 23 people. So far 350,000…1 min
Computeractive|570Cinemas ban phones over ChristmasCinema chain Odeon banned phones over Christmas in a trial to prevent people being distracted by their devices during films.Throughout December it installed 60 lockers (pictured) at its Greenwich cinema, where filmgoers could charge their phones for free during screenings.Odeon said its research showed that despite knowing how to turn their phones to silent, 23 per cent of viewers check their phones when at the cinema, while nearly half find it difficult to fully relax.A third of people even admitted to checking their phone up to nine times during a film, which would be every 13 minutes during a two-hour screening.Odeon said that if the trial is a success it may consider hosting specific phone-less screenings around the country. The chain has 950 screens in 120 cinemas across the UK…1 min
Computeractive|570More than half of NHS PCs still run Windows 7More than half of NHS computers are still running Windows 7, with less than a fortnight to go until Microsoft ends support for the 10-year-old operating system. However, the NHS has arranged with Microsoft to receive free security updates for another year, giving trusts longer to upgrade. The number of Windows 7 computers has dropped sharply since July, when over a million machines were still running it. Around 2,000 were even using Windows XP, for which support ended in 2014. The latest figures come from a Freedom of Information request made by cloud-computing firm Citrix. It showed that 231,057 machines out of 447,619 are now running Windows 7. Nearly 123,000 are running Windows 10, with the remaining devices being Android and iOS phones and tablets. Citrix asked 98 NHS trusts…1 min
Computeractive|570Does Google’s dominance lead to higher UK prices?If Google was a board game, it would be Monopoly, with hotels aplenty piled up on Mayfair and Park Lane. In under two decades it has established one of the most brutally efficient ways to make money in business history. In 2018 it took around 90 per cent of all advertising cash spent on search engines in the UK, amounting to £6bn. This is good news for Google and its shareholders, but bad news for the rest of us. In a report published in December, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Google’s dominance allows it to continuously increase what it charges companies for adverts. With a lack of “real competition”, this cost gets passed on to customers as higher prices for goods. “Google can increase what it charges companies…3 min
Computeractive|570LettersEmail: letters@computeractive.co.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/computeractiveTwitter: @ComputerActivewww.twitter.com/computeractiveDon’t fall for Windows 7 ‘project fear’I find Keith Bowden’s definition of the word ‘inevitable’ highly questionable (Star Letter, Issue 569, pictured). He urges all Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 because, apparently, there’s no other choice.But I’d like to point out to Keith that back in 2014 I heard the same voices imploring us to upgrade from XP because imminent disaster awaited us all. I sensed ‘project fear’ so, while I took some precautions, I continued to use XP for a couple more years without any harm.I’m now a contented Windows 7 user. Again, I can hear the alarm bells ringing louder than they need to. Despite all of Microsoft’s warnings, around 500 million computers still run Windows 7. If there’s a serious security…8 min
Computeractive|570Consumer activeContact us so we can investigate your caseEmail: consumeractive@computeractive.co.ukPlease include your name, phone number and address.LEAD CASECan I cancel because Sky undercharged me?Q I have a problem with my 24-month Sky contract for TV, broadband and phone. When I took it out in March 2019, I was told it would be £42 a month for 18 months, going up to £76.99 for the final six months. In late October, I received an email saying Sky had made a mistake and I’d been underpaying, so my bill would go up to £56.15 until the 18 months was up. Can I cancel my contract without any charges because of this error?Paul ThorntonA Yes, for two reasons. First, anyone who is hit with a mid-contract price rise they weren’t expecting has 30 days…6 min
Computeractive|570WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?What can I use to view NEF files? Q I recently bought a second-hand Nikon 3100D camera and am enjoying experimenting with its settings. However, some photos I’ve taken are saved as NEF files, which won’t open on my ageing PC (still running Windows 7 Home Premium). Assuming these are indeed photos, what can I use to view them? Oliver Banks A NEF files are photos taken using the camera’s RAW mode. They contain the data captured by your camera’s sensor, before any adjustments such as white balance, colour balance and exposure are applied. In contrast, photos taken in JPEG and TIFF formats have these adjustments applied and are compressed, which slightly reduces their quality (though often not noticeably so). The advantage of shooting RAW photos is that you can…2 min
Computeractive|570Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019)TABLET ❘ £150 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33473At the same price as its 2017 predecessor, the Fire HD 10 costs less than half as much as a basic iPad (£349 from Apple www.snipca.com/24022) or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e (£379 from Currys www.snipca.com/33475) for a similarly sized touchscreen device. Then again, gold bullion dealers charge a lot more than Travis Perkins for a similarly sized brick.“For the price, a decent screen, long battery life and storage potential”The classiest feature is the absence of the Amazon logo previously chiselled across the back, which has been reduced to the smiley arrow symbol. It’s still a chunky plastic effort, 30 per cent thicker than the iPad, but barely heavier. The microUSB charging port has been replaced by USB-C, which feels a lot more modern, and the…3 min
Computeractive|570Microsoft Surface Laptop 3LAPTOP ❘ £999 from Microsoft www.snipca.com/33501Why can tech companies never stick to their naming schemes? Everybody knows the Microsoft Surface is a tablet – although some of us are old enough to remember when it was a prototype the size of a coffee table. Both the Surface Go and Surface Pro preserve the format of a Windows 10 computer built entirely into a touchscreen, with optional keyboard and pen. The Surface Book is also a sort of tablet, but comes with a laptop-style keyboard section that can be detached when you’re not typing.“This will do most jobs and comes with an excellent screen”The Microsoft Surface Laptop, on the other hand, is a laptop. In fairness, we can’t complain they made the name too cryptic. But they could just have called…3 min
Computeractive|570Microsoft Surface Laptop 3LAPTOP ❘ £999 from Microsoft www.snipca.com/33501 Why can tech companies never stick to their naming schemes? Everybody knows the Microsoft Surface is a tablet – although some of us are old enough to remember when it was a prototype the size of a coffee table. Both the Surface Go and Surface Pro preserve the format of a Windows 10 computer built entirely into a touchscreen, with optional keyboard and pen. The Surface Book is also a sort of tablet, but comes with a laptop-style keyboard section that can be detached when you’re not typing. “This will do most jobs and comes with an excellent screen” The Microsoft Surface Laptop, on the other hand, is a laptop. In fairness, we can’t complain they made the name too cryptic. But they could…3 min
Computeractive|570Samsung Galaxy A50PHONE ❘ £245 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33549Were Batman and Superman ever to fight, it would probably be an even match. But that doesn’t mean they’re similar. As a superhero, Batman is basically a bloke with some tools. Superman comes from the planet Krypton and can fly around the world so fast he turns back time. Off duty, on the other hand, Batman is Gotham City’s most eligible billionaire. Superman merely works on the local paper.Apple and Samsung, likewise, are rivals, but seem to belong to different universes. They both make expensive phones with astounding technology. When they’re not doing that, Apple goes back to its secret underground palace and tinkers with even more expensive stuff. Samsung – well, Samsung makes cheap(ish) phones. Like the A50.Launched at £309, it’s even cheaper if…2 min
Computeractive|570Amazon Fire TV CubeTV-STREAMER/SMART SPEAKER ❘ £110 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33583While updating its other TV and smart-speaker products at the end of 2019, Amazon also introduced this curiosity to the UK. Previously available in the States, the updated Fire TV Cube basically does both jobs. You could say it’s a Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD (£50 from Amazon www.snipca.com/31149, see our review, Issue 551, page 29) combined with an Echo Dot (£50 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33584, see Issue 540, page 28). And if you were wondering where your extra tenner went, it’s also a universal remote control, allowing you to operate your cable box, sound bar and so on from a single included handset.The cube looks neat, but if you prefer to hide it, an infra-red re dongle is provided that you can attach…3 min
Computeractive|570Buy ItFind out what other products we liked.Buy our new 2018 Back Issue CD: £15 from www.snipca.com/30307LAPTOPHP Envy 13 (2019)£1,149 from www.snipca.com/33308Tested Issue 568Thanks to eighth-gen Intel processors and dedicated Nvidia MX250 graphics, this sleek aluminium laptop offers a practical combination of all-round processing power and portability, topped off by 8 hours 30 minutes battery life – and the touchscreen is now excellent too.ALTERNATIVE Dell XPS 13 Gets the most out of Intel CPUs, now tenthgen, but there’s no GPU option and the cheapest sensible configuration is £1,199. www.snipca.com/33309DESKTOP PCPalicomp AMD Impulse RYZ7£500 from www.snipca.com/32913Tested Issue 565This could be the best £500 you’ve ever spent. It’s fast, has a powerful SSD and dedicated graphics card - something its budget rivals lack. There’s room for expansion, with two bays for internal hard…6 min
Computeractive|570HOW TO… Block ads from your browser, PC and routerWhat you need: a web browser Time required: 30 minutesOnline ads aren’t just annoying: they can also be a security risk. Aside from displaying text and pictures, and linking through to something for sale, ads are underpinned by cookies. These help advertising networks build a comprehensive profile about you.Changes to EU and British legislation make it easier to opt out of this – if you know where to look and who to contact. Instead, why not just block the ads yourself? Web pages will load more quickly and you’ll enjoy a greater degree of privacy and anonymity.Here, we’ll show you how to block ads at three levels: on your browser, on your computer, phone and tablet, and across your network via your router. Make sure you do all three. Barring…9 min
Computeractive|570Make all your audio files play at the same volumeWhat you need: MP3gain; Windows 7, 8.1 or 10Time required: 20 minutesIf you've taken time to digitise your old cassette or record collections, you can end up with hundreds of MP3 tracks that all play at different volume levels. If you’re fed up having to adjust the volume each time a new track starts, the solution might be easier than you think. Using the free program MP3gain, you can ‘normalise’ your MP3 files so they all play at the same volume level. MP3gain lets you undo any changes you make to your audio tracks if necessary, but we still recommend making sure your backups are up to date before you start.STEP 1Download MP3gain from www.snipca.com/33518 (using the first download link). Open the program, then load the audio tracks you want…3 min
Computeractive|570HOW TO… Block ads from your browser, PC and routerWhat you need: a web browser Time required: 30 minutes Online ads aren’t just annoying: they can also be a security risk. Aside from displaying text and pictures, and linking through to something for sale, ads are underpinned by cookies. These help advertising networks build a comprehensive profile about you. Changes to EU and British legislation make it easier to opt out of this – if you know where to look and who to contact. Instead, why not just block the ads yourself? Web pages will load more quickly and you’ll enjoy a greater degree of privacy and anonymity. Here, we’ll show you how to block ads at three levels: on your browser, on your computer, phone and tablet, and across your network via your router. Make sure you do…8 min
Computeractive|570Create your own mini Start menuWhat you need: Biniware Run; Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 Time taken: 15 minutes Too big, too slow, too annoying, too much. Just a few of the criticisms we’ve heard about the Start menu (particularly the bloated version in Windows 10). There are plenty of ways to tweak the Start menu, but why not consider switching to a smaller, more customisable alternative? Biniware Run (from the same developer as Windows Firewall Control, now owned by Malwarebytes) is a terrific free tool that lets you create and quickly access shortcuts for your favourite programs, files, websites and more. STEP 1 Download Biniware Run from www.snipca.com/33537 (click the Download button on the right 1). Once you’ve gone through the setup instructions, the program will launch and you’ll see a red, circular icon…3 min
Computeractive|570What you should install this fortnightHaloPDFFreeiOS www.snipca.com/33526PDFs can be opened on any device, and look the same in any compatible app, whether that’s a browser, ebook reader or dedicated PDF program. HaloPDF converts photos to PDF, so you can snap a document and send it to a contact with the certainty that it will be accurately reproduced on their tablet, phone or computer. It’s quicker and easier than using dedicated page-layout software.Own ItFreeiOS www.snipca.com/33527Android www.snipca.com/33528The BBC’s Own It app, aimed at kids, replaces a phone’s default keyboard with something smarter, giving speedy access to icons and GIFs and, more importantly, help. If a kid types ‘I’m being bullied’, it will offer assistance, with tips on dealing with the problem. Type ‘I hate you’, and it will suggest you think twice before tapping send. Aside from…1 min
Computeractive|570Phone and Tablet TipsiOSAutomatically close Safari tabsTap the right-most icon on the mobile Safari toolbar and you’ll see all of the pages you have open at the moment. If you’re anything like us, the list of active windows is probably longer than you expected, because it’s been added to every time you’ve long-pressed a link and chosen ‘Open in New Tab’ (see screenshot right). It’s a handy way to make sure you can always get back to the page you were linked from, but it’s a bad habit to fall into, and a hard habit to break.Stacks of pages can build up, leaving you with several active tabs that not only reveal what you’ve been browsing, but also slow your phone by drawing down updates in the background when Safari is running. So,…5 min
Computeractive|570Control your mouse with your headMicrosoft is working on eye-tracking for Windows (read more at www.snipca.com/33592), but you’ll need to buy special hardware to use it. An alternative is to use a free tool called Enable Viacam (download from www.snipca.com/33588).Instead of using your eyes to control the mouse cursor, it uses the slightly less accurate – but still impressive – method of tracking head movements. Although primarily designed as an accessibility tool to help people with reduced mobility, it’s an interesting tool that anyone can experiment with – you’ll just need a webcam on your computer.After loading the program, a toolbar appears along the top of the screen, along with a separate window showing your webcam feed (if you don’t see this window, click the far-right button on the top toolbar). In this window, click…1 min
Computeractive|570Voice recordingVoice Recorder Free (£2.99 to remove ads) Android www.snipca.com/33530 Voice Recorder gets straight down to business: its home screen is a mic button and a soundwave. Tap to record, tap again to stop, and the result is added to the app’s internal library. You can export the recording to online storage, other apps or contacts, and even set it as your ringtone, alarm sound or notification alert. Best for Fuss-free recordings Voice Record Pro Free (£6.99 to remove ads) iOS www.snipca.com/33531 Set bookmarks as you record so you can jump straight to them when playing back; save your files to online storage including Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive; share recordings by email and text, or download them from your phone over Wi-Fi. It’s packed with features but has an easy-to-use…1 min
Computeractive|570Scan multiple club documentsEmail, online forms and other types of digital communication all help reduce the amount of paperwork you have to deal with when running a club. But there is often still plenty of paper documents that you need to digitise. Here we look at how you can scan documents more easily.Use your phoneThanks to their high-quality cameras, smartphones can double up as portable scanners. However, if you simply take a photo of a document using your phone’s camera app, it’ll be saved as a JPEG file alongside your personal photos and it won’t always be easy to crop out the background. There is a better way.If you don’t already have a Google account, create one for free at www.snipca.com/33511. Next, install and sign into the Google Drive app on your phone…3 min
Computeractive|570Make Office BetterLIBREOFFICE WRITER Set the tab order in forms Writer lets you create fillable forms by adding fields from the Form menu (such as tickboxes and option buttons), then exporting the document as a PDF (File, Export, Export As, ‘Export Directly as PDF’). However, you may find that pressing the Tab key while viewing the PDF shifts between fields in a seemingly random order. To sort this, return to your form in Writer, then double-click one of the fields within it. In the General tab of the Properties window that appears, you’ll notice a ‘Tab order’ setting. It’s this that sets the order in which the Tab key shifts between them in the finished form. You can go through your fields and adjust the ‘Tab order’ in each, but it’s easier…2 min
Computeractive|570Cancel your contract early – without paying a feeYou can cancel a new broadband contract within 14 days, but in most cases you’ll be well into your contract before being tempted by deals elsewhere.Last year, the six biggest ISPs (BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin) signed up to an Ofcom code of practice that lets you terminate your contract if your speeds drop below what was advertised when you signed up. Once you’ve flagged up the slow speeds to your ISP, it will have 30 days to resolve the problem. If it fails, you’ll be able to leave immediately without having to pay any early-termination fees. If you plan to switch ISP during your contract period, it’s therefore worth running a speed test (as explained on page 51) and comparing it with your promised speeds.Poor speeds aren’t…1 min
Computeractive|570Deciphering my BT billBT excels in making its bills confusing. Take my most recent monthly bill. It lists my basic broadband and calls package at £29.99 1. This includes the £8 discount that I negotiated at the start of the contract 2, and line rental of £19.99. However, I pay my year’s line rental in advance, so this amount is shown as a credit further down the bill 3.Confusingly, Unlimited Anytime Calls (£9.99 a month for unlimited landline calls) is only mentioned further down the bill 4, added to my line rental credit. Finally, any calls to mobiles are added to my bill (£2.07 this month 5).All this means I pay £10 for the broadband and £9.99 for unlimited calls each month.…1 min
Computeractive|570Cancel your contract early – without paying a feeYou can cancel a new broadband contract within 14 days, but in most cases you’ll be well into your contract before being tempted by deals elsewhere. Last year, the six biggest ISPs (BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin) signed up to an Ofcom code of practice that lets you terminate your contract if your speeds drop below what was advertised when you signed up. Once you’ve flagged up the slow speeds to your ISP, it will have 30 days to resolve the problem. If it fails, you’ll be able to leave immediately without having to pay any early-termination fees. If you plan to switch ISP during your contract period, it’s therefore worth running a speed test (as explained on page 51) and comparing it with your promised speeds. Poor…1 min
Computeractive|570Will your antivirus keep you safe?Many readers have asked us whether their antivirus software will keep them safe after Windows 7 ends. It’s a great question. After all, the inherent effectiveness of security software doesn’t depend on whether an operating system is supported.But all antivirus has its limits. With support axed, Microsoft won’t automatically fix new flaws found in Windows 7 (though it may do so if the threat is severe enough). This leaves parts of the system forever broken, beyond the reach of antivirus programs to fix. Hackers will still look for such flaws, and exploit them if found.Keeping to the house analogy we started this feature with, if Windows 7 is a neglected but still-inhabited house, then the paint might crumble or tiles might fall from the roof, but those things can be…1 min
Computeractive|570Reader SupportWhy does Everything request permission to run?Q I installed the Everything search tool from www.voidtools.com, as suggested in Issue 566’s Cover Feature. It’s a brilliant program that finds files instantly, like magic! What you failed to mention, though, was that as it launches when Windows starts, it triggers the ‘Are you sure you want this program to make changes?’ box. In my case it also minimises this so it sits on the taskbar, waiting for a reply. I often don’t notice it for ages. Is there any way round this without reducing the security settings?Alan BaileyA Everything doesn’t actually need administrator privileges to run, but it will demand them if during installation you selected the ‘Run as administrator’ option. This option does have its purposes – for people that also…4 min
Computeractive|570Stop using W7’s Security Essentials after 14 JanMicrosoft has confirmed it will end support for Security Essentials on Windows 7 on 14 January – the same day it stops supporting the 10-year-old operating system. It means the antivirus program will no longer receive virus definitions, so you won’t be able to rely on it if you intend to keep using Windows 7 after the deadline. You should continue to run your existing third-party antivirus software on Windows 7, although only with specific precautions (see page 60). Eventually your antivirus will stop supporting Windows 7, but probably not for some years. Antivirus firms tend to support operating systems long after Microsoft ends support. AVG and Avast, for example, stopped security updates for Windows XP as recently as January 2019, almost five years after Microsoft ended support. Microsoft confirmed…3 min
Computeractive|570YouTube bans videos that insult race and sexualityYouTube has banned videos that attack people’s race, sexuality and gender, after it was criticised for not taking action against hom*ophobic abuse.The decision strengthens the site’s policy on what kind of videos should be allowed. It previously banned videos that contained explicit threats of violence. This has been extended to include “veiled” or implied threats, such as saying “you better watch out” while brandishing a knife.The decision comes after US journalist Carlos Maza (pictured above left) complained last June about “clearly hurtful” hom*ophobic and racist slurs aimed at him by Steven Crowder (above right), who hosts a talk show on the website.Crowder, whose show was watched by four million people at the time, called Maza a “lispy queer” and a “gay Mexican”.Initially YouTube said Crowder hadn’t broken its rules, but…1 min
Computeractive|570IN BRIEFPIN WEBSITES TO WINDOWS TASKBARMicrosoft is testing a feature in Windows 10 that lets you pin websites to the taskbar. It’s currently being trialled in preview versions of its Edge browser, which will relaunch on 15 January. When you select the option, you see a list of Microsoft services that can be pinned, such as Bing and Office, and any websites you’ve got open in Edge.IPHONE PHOTO APP IS APPLE’S BEST OF 2019Apple has named an app that helps you take long-exposure photos as the best iPhone app of 2019. Spectre Camera, which costs £2.99, uses artificial intelligence to perform various tricks, such as remove crowds and draw light trails. Apple’s best iPad app of the year is Flow, from notebook makers Moleskine, which lets you use Apple’s Pencil stylus…3 min
Computeractive|570Police urge public to take counter-terrorism trainingYou can assess how well you’d react to a terrorist attack on a new online course devised by UK counter-terrorism officers.The training, called ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) Awareness, was previously available only to people who might have to deal with an attack, such as staff working in shopping centres and entertainment venues.It comprises seven modules and takes 45 minutes to complete. You watch videos of incidents, with actors playing the roles, and are asked to identify the risks and give an appropriate response.Scenarios depicted include a bomb-threat phone call, suspicious packages inside cars and lorries, and a firearms attack. It also features footage from the aftermath of terrorist attacks, including at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in 2017, which killed 23 people.So far 350,000 people from 6,000 companies…1 min
Computeractive|570Google’s top 2019 searches: a tale of two England finalsTwo England sporting finals – one victorious, one not – dominated Google searches in the UK during 2019.The company’s annual ‘Year in Search’ results showed that the Rugby World Cup was the highest trending subject for the year, followed in second place by the Cricket World Cup.England lost the rugby final to South Africa, but beat New Zealand at Lord’s to become cricket world champions for the first time.Further down the list, TV and film feature heavily. The fantasy TV series Game of Thrones came third, as viewers sought information about the final season, while the films Avengers Endgame and Joker were also popular.Only one news event made the top 10: the fire at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris in April. Apple’s launch of the iPhone 11 also made the…1 min
Computeractive|570More than half of NHS PCs still run Windows 7More than half of NHS computers are still running Windows 7, with less than a fortnight to go until Microsoft ends support for the 10-year-old operating system. However, the NHS has arranged with Microsoft to receive free security updates for another year, giving trusts longer to upgrade.The number of Windows 7 computers has dropped sharply since July, when over a million machines were still running it. Around 2,000 were even using Windows XP, for which support ended in 2014.The latest figures come from a Freedom of Information request made by cloud-computing firm Citrix. It showed that 231,057 machines out of 447,619 are now running Windows 7.Nearly 123,000 are running Windows 10, with the remaining devices being Android and iOS phones and tablets.Citrix asked 98 NHS trusts for information, receiving responses…1 min
Computeractive|570Protect your techWATCH OUT FOR… Fake browser notifications What’s the threat? Fraudsters have found a new way to hook victims – via fake browser notifications online that look official but are, infact, phishing scams or advertising. Research from Kaspersky (www.snipca.com/33536) shows the monthly number of victims has more than tripled this year, from 1.7 million in January to 5.5 million in September. When you visit certain sites, you may see a prompt at the top asking you to allow or block notifications from the site. Clicking ‘allow’ lets the site show you messages to alert you to new content and information. That’s fine if the site is legitimate and you want to be kept up to date. But scammers are tricking people into granting permission without them realising, such as asking them…3 min
Computeractive|570LettersEmail: letters@computeractive.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/computeractive Twitter: @ComputerActive www.twitter.com/computeractive Don’t fall for Windows 7 ‘project fear’ I find Keith Bowden’s definition of the word ‘inevitable’ highly questionable (Star Letter, Issue 569, pictured). He urges all Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 because, apparently, there’s no other choice. But I’d like to point out to Keith that back in 2014 I heard the same voices imploring us to upgrade from XP because imminent disaster awaited us all. I sensed ‘project fear’ so, while I took some precautions, I continued to use XP for a couple more years without any harm. I’m now a contented Windows 7 user. Again, I can hear the alarm bells ringing louder than they need to. Despite all of Microsoft’s warnings, around 500 million computers still run…8 min
Computeractive|570Grow Your Family TreeAdd headshots to your family tree Whether you’re working on your tree or printing a chart to share with someone else, having people’s faces next to their entry helps to bring your research to life – and makes it look more attractive too. The ideal photo is a headshot, but having to manually crop photos in your image editor is time-consuming and tricky. Thankfully, a growing number of genealogy tools now let you generate headshots from your existing photos without you having to edit them. Create multiple headshots from one photo One of the first programs to add this tool was Family Historian (www.family-historian.co.uk). This is still the best option as it lets you create multiple headshots from a single image for both individuals and family groups. You’ll be prompted…3 min
Computeractive|570WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?What can I use to view NEF files?Q I recently bought a second-hand Nikon 3100D camera and am enjoying experimenting with its settings. However, some photos I’ve taken are saved as NEF files, which won’t open on my ageing PC (still running Windows 7 Home Premium). Assuming these are indeed photos, what can I use to view them?Oliver BanksA NEF files are photos taken using the camera’s RAW mode. They contain the data captured by your camera’s sensor, before any adjustments such as white balance, colour balance and exposure are applied. In contrast, photos taken in JPEG and TIFF formats have these adjustments applied and are compressed, which slightly reduces their quality (though often not noticeably so).The advantage of shooting RAW photos is that you can apply your own adjustments…2 min
Computeractive|570HP Envy x360 13 (2019)LAPTOP-TABLET ❘ £799 from HP www.snipca.com/33478The Envy x360 13 is not to be confused with the Envy 13 (from £849, www.snipca.com/33477, see our review, Issue 568, page 23). But let’s take the similarities first. Both come in a slim aluminium chassis that feels far more expensive than it is – the x360’s even more so, thanks to a dark anodised finish. And both run Windows 10 on a 13.3in touchscreen.“For build quality and screen you won’t find better at this price”Having seen the latest Envy 13 cover all but a whisker of the standard sRGB colour space with extraordinarily high accuracy, we found almost exactly the same with the x360. The gloss finish might produce some unwanted reflections, but good brightness and high contrast will help it cut through them.…3 min
Computeractive|570HP Envy x360 13 (2019)LAPTOP-TABLET ❘ £799 from HP www.snipca.com/33478 The Envy x360 13 is not to be confused with the Envy 13 (from £849, www.snipca.com/33477, see our review, Issue 568, page 23). But let’s take the similarities first. Both come in a slim aluminium chassis that feels far more expensive than it is – the x360’s even more so, thanks to a dark anodised finish. And both run Windows 10 on a 13.3in touchscreen. “For build quality and screen you won’t find better at this price” Having seen the latest Envy 13 cover all but a whisker of the standard sRGB colour space with extraordinarily high accuracy, we found almost exactly the same with the x360. The gloss finish might produce some unwanted reflections, but good brightness and high contrast will help it…3 min
Computeractive|570Lexmark C3224dwPRINTER ❘ £113 from Printerbase www.snipca.com/33513 Colour laser printers are traditionally in a different class from affordable inkjets, but Lexmark’s new laser range promises business-level performance at a low price, and on paper – quite literally – the C3224dw delivers. It’s rated at 22 pages per minute, much faster than most inkjets; has Wi-Fi as well as USB and Ethernet connections; and can print both sides of the paper (duplex). It’s only a printer – there’s no scanner for digitising documents and making quick copies – but at just over a hundred quid, it has to be worth a look. “A quick and high-quality printer, but running costs will prohibit regular use” Print quality is certainly up to scratch. Laser models work like a photocopier, melting plastic powder on to…3 min
Computeractive|570Netgear Orbi RBK50MESH ROUTER ❘ £230 from Currys www.snipca.com/33546 We mentioned when we tested the cheaper Orbi RBK40 mesh routers (see our review, Issue 532, page 25) that Netgear’s top-end RBK50, originally costing around £400 for a two-pack, had been discounted. At the time of writing, it had been slashed even further to £230 in many outlets and just £210 on Amazon. That offer was already finishing as we went to press, but if the price settled at about this level, the RBK50 could be five-star value. It’s going to have to be quick to take its turn in the limelight, though, because 2020 will be the year of 802.11ax, aka Wi-Fi 6 – the new wireless protocol that’s bringing even better speed and reception to devices that can take advantage, including…3 min
Computeractive|570Samsung Galaxy A50PHONE ❘ £245 from Amazon www.snipca.com/33549 Were Batman and Superman ever to fight, it would probably be an even match. But that doesn’t mean they’re similar. As a superhero, Batman is basically a bloke with some tools. Superman comes from the planet Krypton and can fly around the world so fast he turns back time. Off duty, on the other hand, Batman is Gotham City’s most eligible billionaire. Superman merely works on the local paper. Apple and Samsung, likewise, are rivals, but seem to belong to different universes. They both make expensive phones with astounding technology. When they’re not doing that, Apple goes back to its secret underground palace and tinkers with even more expensive stuff. Samsung – well, Samsung makes cheap(ish) phones. Like the A50. Launched at £309, it’s…1 min
Computeractive|570Win a Linksys AC5400 Gigabit Wi-Fi RouterPurpose-built as a router to use for entertainment and the home office, Linksys’ MAX-STREAM AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router (EA9500) delivers Wi-Fi to multiple users on multiple devices at the same time and speed.Featuring MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) technology, it treats your devices – PCs, Smart TVs, streaming devices, smartphones – as if each has its own dedicated router. You’ll enjoy seamless video calls and fast file transfer even while the rest of the family is streaming 4K or HD media in the living room.It also has Seamless Roaming as you move around your home when linked with a Linksys MAX-STREAM Range Extender, automatically switching your devices to the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Pair a MAX-STREAM range extender such as the RE7000 with the AC5400 for more efficient home Wi-Fi that…1 min
Computeractive|570Buy ItFind out what other products we liked. Buy our new 2018 Back Issue CD: £15 from www.snipca.com/30307 LAPTOP HP Envy 13 (2019) £1,149 from www.snipca.com/33308 Tested Issue 568 Thanks to eighth-gen Intel processors and dedicated Nvidia MX250 graphics, this sleek aluminium laptop offers a practical combination of all-round processing power and portability, topped off by 8 hours 30 minutes battery life – and the touchscreen is now excellent too. ALTERNATIVE Dell XPS 13 Gets the most out of Intel CPUs, now tenthgen, but there’s no GPU option and the cheapest sensible configuration is £1,199. www.snipca.com/33309 DESKTOP PC Palicomp AMD Impulse RYZ7 £500 from www.snipca.com/32913 Tested Issue 565 This could be the best £500 you’ve ever spent. It’s fast, has a powerful SSD and dedicated graphics card - something its budget…5 min
Computeractive|570Win a Linksys AC5400 Gigabit Wi-Fi RouterPurpose-built as a router to use for entertainment and the home office, Linksys’ MAX-STREAM AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router (EA9500) delivers Wi-Fi to multiple users on multiple devices at the same time and speed. Featuring MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) technology, it treats your devices – PCs, Smart TVs, streaming devices, smartphones – as if each has its own dedicated router. You’ll enjoy seamless video calls and fast file transfer even while the rest of the family is streaming 4K or HD media in the living room. It also has Seamless Roaming as you move around your home when linked with a Linksys MAX-STREAM Range Extender, automatically switching your devices to the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Pair a MAX-STREAM range extender such as the RE7000 with the AC5400 for more efficient home…1 min
Computeractive|570Why I stopped using…IP Blocker Firewall✓ I’ve never liked Windows’ built-in firewall, so for months I looked for a tool that would help me to tweak it. I tried IP Blocker Firewall (www.snipca.com/33471), but soon wished I hadn’t. I didn’t realise the free trial only lasted five days.And what I use instead…I use Malwarebytes on my PC, and followed one of their links to their program Windows Firewall Control (https://binisoft.org/wfc).It provides different levels of control: High, Medium, Low and No (that’s no firewall at all). High blocks everything, which is too severe for me, so I keep it selected at Medium (see screenshot). This blocks outbound connections according to rules you set. Customising firewalls sounds daunting, but the program makes it easy with a clear, simple interface. It’s great that something so complex…1 min
Computeractive|570Make all your audio files play at the same volumeWhat you need: MP3gain; Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 Time required: 20 minutes If you've taken time to digitise your old cassette or record collections, you can end up with hundreds of MP3 tracks that all play at different volume levels. If you’re fed up having to adjust the volume each time a new track starts, the solution might be easier than you think. Using the free program MP3gain, you can ‘normalise’ your MP3 files so they all play at the same volume level. MP3gain lets you undo any changes you make to your audio tracks if necessary, but we still recommend making sure your backups are up to date before you start. STEP 1 Download MP3gain from www.snipca.com/33518 (using the first download link). Open the program, then load the…3 min
Computeractive|570Readers’ TipsEXTENSIONS Take screenshots in Chrome using Nimbus ✓ Why is taking and saving screenshots so fiddly? I’ve used and uninstalled countless programs in the past. They all ended up frustrating me. But maybe I’ve finally found something easy enough to use. It’s not a program, but a Chrome extension called Nimbus. Get it from the Chrome Web Store (www.snipca.com/33472). Click ‘Add to Chrome’ and you’ll see its icon (a blue N inside a dotted square) in your browser bar. Click it and you’ll see loads of options (see screenshot left), such as taking a screenshot of an entire page or just part of it. At the bottom there’s a dropdown menu letting you decide what to do with the grab – for example, edit it or save it to Dropbox.…4 min
Computeractive|570Voice recordingVoice RecorderFree (£2.99 to remove ads)Android www.snipca.com/33530Voice Recorder gets straight down to business: its home screen is a mic button and a soundwave. Tap to record, tap again to stop, and the result is added to the app’s internal library. You can export the recording to online storage, other apps or contacts, and even set it as your ringtone, alarm sound or notification alert.Best for Fuss-free recordingsVoice Record ProFree (£6.99 to remove ads)iOS www.snipca.com/33531Set bookmarks as you record so you can jump straight to them when playing back; save your files to online storage including Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive; share recordings by email and text, or download them from your phone over Wi-Fi. It’s packed with features but has an easy-to-use interface.Best for Sharing your recordingsRevFreeiOS www.snipca.com/33532Android www.snipca.com/33533Rev’s simple…1 min
Computeractive|570Reader recommends…VueScan software Free from www.hamrick.com ✓ Reading Susan Platter’s letter in Issue 567 about her 27in iMac not “talking to” her Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner, I wondered if she has heard about VueScan, a universal scanner program published by Hamrick Software. VueScan works with more than 6,000 scanners, which includes 16 Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners. For older scanners, it doesn’t even need a driver from the manufacturer. It’s compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac computers – Susan can try it for free at www.hamrick.com. I have been using VueScan for many years, and it’s currently installed on my 27in iMac. It gives the user extensive control over scanning, image quality and file output. It even has OCR.A superb tool. Peter Clinton Want to recommend hardware or software to fellow readers? Email letters@computeractive.co.uk…1 min
Computeractive|570What you should install this fortnightHaloPDF Free iOS www.snipca.com/33526 PDFs can be opened on any device, and look the same in any compatible app, whether that’s a browser, ebook reader or dedicated PDF program. HaloPDF converts photos to PDF, so you can snap a document and send it to a contact with the certainty that it will be accurately reproduced on their tablet, phone or computer. It’s quicker and easier than using dedicated page-layout software. Own It Free iOS www.snipca.com/33527 Android www.snipca.com/33528 The BBC’s Own It app, aimed at kids, replaces a phone’s default keyboard with something smarter, giving speedy access to icons and GIFs and, more importantly, help. If a kid types ‘I’m being bullied’, it will offer assistance, with tips on dealing with the problem. Type ‘I hate you’, and it will suggest…1 min
Computeractive|570Sync your Sticky Notes with Outlook.comTraditional post-it notes are great for jotting down quick reminders and to-do lists – until they lose their stickiness and get lost, that is. Far better to use digital sticky notes instead. Windows 10 comes with a Sticky Notes app pre-installed, which you can access by clicking Start, then typing sticky notes.A new Outlook.com feature means you can view, edit and create sticky notes while browsing email online.If you’re signed into the same Microsoft account on Outlook.com as on your PC, the two will sync, so you can see your sticky notes no matter where you are.To access sticky notes on Outlook.com, expand the Folders menu on the left, then select Notes. You can edit existing notes by clicking on them, or create new ones by clicking New Note (see…1 min
Computeractive|570Microsoft 365 LifeWhat is it?The new version of Microsoft’s Office 365 Personal and Home suite of tools, rumoured to launch in the spring.Remind me, what’s Office 365?Launched in 2011, it’s a subscription service to online versions of Office tools. You can use these only for as long as you pay the subscription. This is the main difference compared with the traditional Office versions named after years (2013, 2016, 2019, for example), which you download to your PC after paying a one-off price and can keep for as long as you like.What do I get in Office 365?Everything that’s in Office 2019, plus some tempting extras. So as well as online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, you’ll get 1TB of storage space in OneDrive and 60 minutes of Skype calls every…3 min
Computeractive|570Don’t Wait For… FREEBROADBANDIn the run-up to the General Election last month, Labour announced a bold plan to provide free broadband to every home and business in the UK. By nationalising Openreach (the subsidiary of BT that maintains the UK’s broadband infrastructure) and embarking on a £20 billion upgrade, it said it would provide high-speed, full-fibre broadband across the country by 2030.Needless to say, reaction was mixed (not least on our Facebook page www.snipca.com/33598). Some welcomed the idea, saying that it would bring much-needed investment into the UK’s broadband network and finally provide high-speed connections to homes and businesses in rural locations. And with the average home spending around £360 on broadband annually, it would have also represented a significant saving.Critics, however, argued that investment into the UK’s broadband service is already underway,…22 min
Computeractive|570On low income? Get cheaper broadbandIf you’re on a low income and receive benefits, you may be eligible for a cheap, no-frills broadband service from BT. It’s called BT Basic + Broadband and costs just £9.95 per month. There’s no connection charge and the monthly fee includes line rental, making it about half the price of similar deals.It’s an ADSL service, so average speeds are fairly low at 10Mbps. More concerning, however, is the 15GB data cap, so you’ll need to keep an eye on how much you’re using each month. You also need to prove you’re on a low income, such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit). See more details at www.snipca.com/33498.…1 min
Computeractive|570Microsoft 365 LifeWhat is it? The new version of Microsoft’s Office 365 Personal and Home suite of tools, rumoured to launch in the spring. Remind me, what’s Office 365? Launched in 2011, it’s a subscription service to online versions of Office tools. You can use these only for as long as you pay the subscription. This is the main difference compared with the traditional Office versions named after years (2013, 2016, 2019, for example), which you download to your PC after paying a one-off price and can keep for as long as you like. What do I get in Office 365? Everything that’s in Office 2019, plus some tempting extras. So as well as online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, you’ll get 1TB of storage space in OneDrive and 60…3 min
Computeractive|570KEEP USING WINDOWS 7 SAFELYBefore we explain how to continue using Windows 7 safely, we should make one thing clear: it will never again be as safe as Windows 10. There’s no getting around this uncomfortable truth. Microsoft providing security support for an operating system is the single biggest factor determining how safe it is, regardless of which antivirus or other security tools you use. By removing support, Microsoft is sending an unequivocal message: you should upgrade to Windows 10.However, computing-like most things in life - is a constant compromise between risk and convenience. When we go to bed at night, most of us are happy to spend a few minutes double-locking doors and windows, but wouldn’t waste hours building a brick wall outside our front door, knowing we’d have to demolish it the…8 min
Computeractive|570Your most popular programs of 2019Some website URLs are impossibly long to type, packed with numbers, dashes, forward slashes and general gobbledegook you don’t need to understand.We shrink them using our Snipca.com service, adding a unique five-digit code to the end so your fingers won’t get into a twist typing them. Because we own Snipca, we can track how often a URL is typed, giving us an insight into your favourite programs. Here are the 10 you downloaded most in 2019.1 CrystalDiskInfowww.snipca.com/31407This was the SMART choice for 2019. It lets you assess your hard-drive’s performance using techniques agreed by the computing industry (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology methods). We recommended it in Issue 555’s Cover Feature (page 51), explaining how you can use it to spot signs that your hard drive is failing. Thousands of…4 min
Computeractive|570Problems SolvedPROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHTIs my upload speed substandard?Q Broadband providers rarely mention upload speeds. I’m with TalkTalk, receiving its basic fibre connection. This gives me around 17-19Mbps for downloads. However, when uploading I get only about 0.8Mbps, maximum. In addition, if I send an email with an attachment of, say, a few megabytes, then my internet slows to around 3Mbps until the email is sent. This can take several minutes. Should I be getting a faster upload speed or am I doing something wrong? TalkTalk’s technical lot seem useless, with a total lack of continuity between calls. My PC has an Intel i7-2600k processor with 12GB of memory, and is connected to the TalkTalk router via a Category 6 Ethernet cable.Howard AngelA Are you certain that you’re really on a…16 min
