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Homepage Issue 424
5 Things you’ll
learn this issue
p52
1 How to share a file with
someone over the web
without uploading it
page 28
5 How to create
personalised
covers for your Spotify
playlists page 69
Contents
S cr e w
Se t
SSU
UBBSSCCRRIP
IPTTIO
ION
NSS
TuTurnrntotoppag
ageeX62X for
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spec ia l
ecialsu subbssofoffefersrs
ISSUE 424 31 MAY - 13 JUNE 2017
COVER E
FEATU
R
The Hacker’s Guideto…
FASTERINTERNET
We reveal the tweaks, tricks and hacks
you need to make your connection faster p38
Samsung’s
g Galaxyy Tab S3
t bl t vs the
tablet iP d p20
th new iPad 20
IN DEPTH Articles on the latest tech topics REVIEWS Apps, sites and products on test
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
18 Build a Better Site Group Production Manager
Stephen Catherall, 0203 890 4050
Expert tips, tools and practical help Production Executive Lawrence Brookes, 0203 890 3794
MARKETING
24 Best Buys Marketing Manager Rachel Hare
Marketing Production Manager Gemma Hills
Our pick of the best new products
MANAGEMENT
50 Broadband Deals 71 Inbox Tel: 0203 890 3890
Managing Director John Garewal
Find the best-value package for you Tell us your views and opinions MD of Advertising Julian Lloyd-Evans
Commercial and Retail Director David Barker
CFO/COO Brett Reynolds
51 Take a Screen Break 74 Page 404 Chief Executive James Tye
Company Founder Felix Dennis
Guess the company name emoji Barry calls out directory enquiries
SYNDICATION AND USE OF LOGOS
Syndication Senior Manager Anj Dosaj-Halai
pa 16
Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3816
Email: anj_dosaj-halai@dennis.co.uk
Practical
Workshops, tips, projects and problem solving
ge
s INTERNATIONAL LICENSING
Web User is available for licensing overseas.
Licensing & Syndication Assistant Nicole Adams
Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3998
Email: nicole_adams@dennis.co.uk
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tel: 0844 322 1289
Email: webuser@servicehelpline.co.uk
52 Workshop 1 Clean up after the You can manage your existing subscription through
Discover Opera’s Reborn browser
Creators Update p54 www.subsinfo.co.uk. This should be your first port of
call if you have any queries about your subscription.
Fax: 01795 414555. A subscription to Web User for one
54 Workshop 2 year costs £52 for UK subscribers, £90 for Europe and
£146 for the rest of the world. Call 0844 322 1289 to get
Clean up after the Creators Update the next issue, delivered free to your door.
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automatically when you need them 31-32 Alfred Place, WC1E 7DP
A DENNIS PUBLICATION
68 Readers’ Tips Web User is published fortnightly by
Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, WC1E 7DP.
The best tips from our readers Company registered in England. Material may not be
reproduced in whole or part without the consent of
70 Readers’ Helpdesk the publishers. ISSN 1473-7094
We pick the 10 best things you must do on the web this fortnight
Amazon Prime
Nigella shares a tasty recipe each
www.instagram.com day, peppered with promos and
Instagram now competitions
offers eight face bit.ly/live424
filters that you In its ongoing bid to attract @bigtechquestion
can apply to your subscribers to Prime, Amazon has Incisive tech advice and opinion
selfies, Snapchat- started running and promoting its own from the experts – see our review
style. Opening series of intimate concerts, with Alison of the site on page 14
the camera Moyet, Texas and Katie Melua to look
presents a new forward to this month. Tickets are
face icon in the exclusive to Prime members and
bottom-right limited to two per person, but you’ll Pin WhatsApp
corner which, get to see the stars up close in a small, conversations
when tapped, London-based venue, followed by a www.whatsapp.com
lets you Q&A session. Don’t worry if you can’t The latest beta version of
augment your make it, though, because each gig will WhatsApp for Android lets you pin
selfie with be streamed on Prime Video. up to three of your most interesting
moving koala ears, nerd glasses and chats to the top of your list by
more. These work with your phone’s selecting a conversation and
front and back cameras, and you can pressing the pin icon.
add your augmented images to Your
Story or send them by Instagram
Direct. Instagram has also added Discover things to do
a new Rewind feature that plays with Airbnb
videos backwards, allowing you to www.airbnb.co.uk
produce some clever visual tricks. Airbnb now suggests activities for
any planned trips to London, Paris,
Barcelona, Cape Town, Los Angeles,
Wolsey Manuscripts
in advance or while you’re there.
What we think of this fortnight’s top tech news stories and rumours,
and how they affect you
FIRST LOOK
HTC U11 and water-resistant and rated to IP67,
bit.ly/htcu424 with a fingerprint reader on the front
and a microSD slot allowing the
The HTC U11 was teased with the addition of up to 2TB of extra storage.
bizarre tagline “Squeeze for the The camera specs look very
Brilliant”. The squeezable element, impressive: the rear camera has
it turns out, is Edge Sense, a series of a 12-megapixel resolution with
pressure sensors built into the lower an f/1.7 aperture and optical image
half of the frame of the phone that stabilisation, just like the Samsung S8.
lets you launch apps from the Meanwhile, the front-facing camera
lockscreen and carry out various captures images at a huge 16
actions within those apps, such as qHD LCD screen with bog-standard megapixels, has a 150-degree field of
capturing selfies. bezels above and below. view and an f/2.0 lens.
There’s nothing remarkable However, it is only the second phone So despite looking like nothing
about the appearance of the device. we’ve seen this year to run the special, there’s plenty going on within
It looks similar to the HTC U Play Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and it the HTC’s new flagship phone to make
and HTC U Ultra, although there comes with either 4GB of RAM and it competitive. The big sticking point,
are two new colours: ‘Amazing 64GB of storage, or 6GB of RAM and however – aside from its lack of the
Silver’ and ‘Solar Red’. There’s 128GB of storage. This means it ought ultra-widescreen bezel-free design of
no ultra-widescreen, bezel-free to be incredibly quick and responsive, rivals – will most likely be the U11’s
display like the Samsung Galaxy and the new processor should beef up price, which HTC has set at a rather
S8 and LG G6, but instead a 5.5in its battery life. The phone is also dust- hopeful £649 inc VAT.
A
WannaCry’s aim is to research ways of acquiring implemented to avoid
A
to infect and We have observed Bitcoins to make the future attacks. This may
propagate, then multiple ransom payment. Kaspersky also have to do with exploit
download an encryptor payments in Bitcoins wants to clarify we do not development, usage,
to lock your computer’s for the three known wallets recommend paying the safeguarding, export of
content. Most ransomware we are monitoring, which ransom because this only exploits, cryptocurrencies,
that infects a computer amounts to about 70 people encourages the criminals Bitcoins, e-payments and
with a common encryptor who have paid in total so far. to continue their activities. patch management.
Dotdash
www.dotdash.com
For 20 years, US website About.com
published online articles on all manner
of topics, but it closed on 2 May to be
replaced by Dotdash. This new hub VERYWELL
spreads its previous incarnation’s content Get health and wellbeing advice on
across six spin-off sites for health, home, topics ranging from eye strain to IBS
technology, finance, travel and learning.
Content is knowledgeably written and
presented in easily digestible chunks,
and headlines from the individual sites – THE
which look fresh and engaging, and a BALANCE
world away from About.com’s dated old Find out how
to manage
design – are gathered together on the
your money
homepage in a smart, minimalist layout.
better and
Overall, Dotdash is the shot in the arm further your
that About.com sorely needed. career
NEW
GIFTS
THE SPRUCE
This site offers
DIY tips,
recipes and
other advice for
a happy home
LIFEWIRE
Useful hacks
for getting
more from
technology and
fixing problems
DO
CO B E
UL TT
D ER
RELAUNCH
ARCHAEOLOGY
Archaeology Ireland
archaeologyireland.ie
Delving into this relaunched site
without splashing the cash won’t
unearth many archaeological gems,
NEW but it’ll give you a flavour of what
PHOTOGRAPHY the accompanying magazine has
Apple Photography to offer. You can read just three free
articles and grab a list of published
bit.ly/applephoto424 heritage guides while discovering
If you want to make better use of your smartphone’s camera, shoot over to Apple’s the contents of the most recent
new website. It’s aimed primarily at iPhone users but those of you with Android quarterly issues. Buy a subscription,
phones will also find many of the bite-size videos useful for improving your however, and you can search the
photography skills. You may prefer to visit the site with the sound off – the music entire archive and read as many
is rather annoying – but you’ll find tips on capturing portraits, close-ups, panoramic articles as you like. The site is smart,
verticals, action shots and perfect selfies. There are also tutorials on shooting without fast and uncluttered, but a few more
a flash, taking bold images and capturing unique angles. Hovering over a subject freebies and online archaeological
lets you click and play instantly, and you can share the videos on social media. links would make it better.
A
which takes you has been improved, To avoid receiving a lot of spam, it’s
through your first steps in as has its ‘new tab’ page, and you better not to have your email
programming in Python. The book can now also choose a dark address posted on your website as
breaks the main concepts of colour scheme. text, for example yourname@yourbusiness
programming into digestible You can find a Mini Workshop .com, because spammers and cybercriminals
chunks, and explains how they on using Blisk with your site in trawl the web looking for the @ sign. If they
can be applied to Python, starting Issue 398’s Build a Better Site come across yours, you might find your
with the basics and progressing (bit.ly/webuser398). mailbox full of unwanted correspondence.
to making simple games and Instead, either write your email address in
writing your own database. full, as you would speak it: ‘yourname at
You can buy it from Amazon for Deal of the Fortnight yourbusiness dot com’ or include a contact
£13.62 at (bit.ly/code424). CyberHostUK (www.cyberhostuk.net) is form on your website. You could also add a
offering 25% off any of its hosting packages. Captcha (www.captcha.net) that asks users
New Blisk enhancements Use the code 25OFF during signup. to type the text seen in an image.
Blisk (blisk.io) is a browser tool
1
1
2 2
3 2
Mid Mid
Low
A A A
Optical Aux-in BLASTERX ACOUSTIC
FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY TRI-AMPLIFIED, ENGINE FOR PC
USB, Optical-in, Bluetooth 4.2, USB ONE-PIECE DESIGN Customizable enhancements for
flash drive, Aux-in, Mic-in, Headset For uncompromised clear, unprecedented levels of audio realism with
well-balanced, room-filling audio 7.1 virtual surround and clear cues
http://uk.creative.com/cs #GAMERSFORLIFE
Product Test
We test and compare the latest products
V
Samsung
Galaxy
Tab S3
Both Samsung and Apple have produced new 9.7in tablets.
We test them both to see which one you should buy
T
he proliferation of so options have clearly been £119 it’s an expensive add-on. the iPad trumps the Samsung
many great-value designed to rival Apple’s This is further proof that it’s model’s maximum brightness
laptops has impacted 9.7in iPad Pro. chasing the iPad Pro (£549 with 520cd/m2 (candles per
on tablet sales, so in an Meanwhile, Apple has for the basic 32GB model), square metre) to Samsung’s
effort to turn the tide, both bucked its usual trend of which also works with a stylus 301cd/m2. However, the new
Apple and Samsung have improving on existing models (the Apple Pencil costs £99) iPad’s screen doesn’t have
upped their game with their by producing its cheapest- and a detachable keyboard the iPad Pro’s special
latest models. Samsung’s ever 9.7in iPad. With the (Apple’s model is £149), both treatment, which reflects
Galaxy Tab S3 is easily the basic 32GB model priced at of which are available as light in a way that makes it
best 9.7in tablet we’ve seen £339, it currently costs less optional extras. However, easier to read in bright light.
from the manufacturer, than the cheapest iPad Mini. Apple’s input devices won’t The S3’s screen is therefore
but it’s expensive, starting work with the new iPad, only better for using outdoors.
at £599. Its price and Build and accessories with Apple’s more expensive Moreover, Samsung’s
Superficially, neither product Pro models. AMOLED screen has a better
looks particularly different to contrast than the iPad’s
PRODUCT INFO its predecessor. The Samsung Screen and display and can produce 100%
has the same gorgeous 9.7in Both the new iPad and the S3 of the colours in the sRGB
Samsung Galaxy AMOLED display as the Tab have an identical screen size standard, although the iPad
Tab S3 S2 and is impressively slim of 9.7in and resolution of is no slouch and manages
Price: £599 (6mm) and lightweight 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, although a superb 96.5%.
Buy from Amazon: (429g). The new iPad, on the
bit.ly/sam424 other hand, is fatter (7.5mm)
and heavier (469g) than the Performance in Geekbench 4 benchmark test
FOR iPad Air 2, which it’s
✓ Gorgeous AMOLED screen replacing. However, the
✓ Brisk performance overall look and feel of the
✓ S Pen included in the box iPad remains the same, Multiple-core
Apple iPad (2017) 4204
✗ Pricey incarnation.
The biggest difference
★★★★★ between the new Samsung Single-core
Apple iPad (2017) 2490
VS
New
Apple
iPad
Performance suggests that the iPad’s want an Android device, the
Internally, the Galaxy Tab power-efficient dual-core Tab S3 is the top of its class. PRODUCT INFO
S3’s specification includes processor might be a better It gives the iPad Pro a run for Apple iPad
a quad-core Qualcomm bet, particularly if you are its money and the bundling Price: from £339
Snapdragon 820 processor. after a tablet to accompany of the S Pen is more than Buy from Apple:
In our Geekbench 4 tests, you on frequent travels. worth the small increase in bit.ly/ipad424
it managed an excellent price. But with Apple
multi-core result of 4,208 Value for money providing an affordable FOR
and a single-core score of All this brings us round to alternative for those people
1,751. The iPad has a dual- value for money. Apple now who want a great tablet
✓ Cheap (for an iPad)
core A9 processor, which has a better range of options without the fussy extras, it’s a ✓ Great performance
you’d expect to be slower, than Samsung, with its shame that Samsung doesn’t ✓ Generous storage
but it runs at a faster clock top-of-the-range 9.7in model currently have its own AGAINST
speed than the S3’s in the iPad Pro and this cheaper 9.7in option.
processor and achieved very
✗ Screen isn’t as good as iPad Air 2
impressive scores of 4,204
and 2,490 respectively –
If you can live without a stylus and ★★★★★
almost as fast as the
FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Samsung processor in the detachable keyboard, the new iPad makes the
multiple-core test and
PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
running on a single-core. we’re used to saying in Apple reviews! VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
M
ost of the routers number with the Archer
we’ve tested lately VR2800. It’s a top-of-the-
are Ethernet-only range model with a hefty
devices. If your internet £199 price to match, but it’s
connection enters your replete with features and
property via a telephone line, stacked with the very latest
as most ADSL and fibre technology the Wi-Fi world
connections do, you still has to offer.
need to use an Ethernet A black slab with four
modem or your existing antennae at the back, the
router with the Wi-Fi VR2800 has four Gigabit
switched off to bridge the Ethernet ports and a VDSL2/
gap to your phone line. ADSL2+ compatible socket,
To replace your existing plus a couple of USB 3
router altogether, you need sockets on the left-hand edge. it managed to return USB3 memory stick reaching
to get a ‘gateway’ router, There’s a line of bright a respectable average a heady 41.8MB/s, which is
which does everything a status LEDs ranged along the download speed of 10.8MB/s. absolutely fine for file sharing
normal router can but also centre of the router’s body This is slower than the mesh and occasional backups.
plugs into a phone socket. but these can be disabled systems we’ve tested recently, Setting up broadband
This kind of router is less if you don’t want to be such as Google Wifi (Issue connections is a doddle:
widely available, but TP-Link distracted by flashing lights. 423, bit.ly/issue423) and BT simply run through the
has just added to their Over 5GHz, it’s capable Whole Home Wi-Fi (Issue 419, router’s Quick Setup routine,
select your provider from the
list (which includes all the big
PRODUCT INFO
TP-Link Archer Downloads speeds were the fastest at UK ISPs, although Sky is
problematic), pop in your
VR2800 close range of any router we’ve tested username and password and
Price: £199 the router does the rest.
Buy from Amazon: TP-Link’s Tether app
bit.ly/tp424 of delivering speeds up to bit.ly/issue419), but is enough (available on iOS and
2,167Mbps thanks to its 4x4 to deliver full bandwidth of Android) is also excellent.
SPECIFICATIONS stream MIMO (Multiple Input most broadband connections It gives access to most of the
■ 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, 802.11b/g/n Multiple Output — a way of in most parts of the home. tools available via the router’s
2.4GHz Wi-Fi streaming several Wi-Fi USB transfer performance web-based admin pages,
■ WPS signals at once). You won’t was just as impressive, with including firmware updates
■ 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, be able to connect at those sequential reads from our and parental controls.
WPA-PSK/WPA-PSK2 security speeds with any single device,
■ 4 x Ethernet ports simply because there isn’t one
(1 x WAN/LAN, 3 x LAN only) that supports 4x4 MIMO yet. OUR VERDICT ★★★★★
■ 1 x RJ11 port However, when we connected
■ 2 x USB 3 ports to the 3x3 adapter in our test If you live in a modestly FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
■ 264 x 198 x 37mm laptop – an older MacBook sized home with an ADSL PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pro 15in – we found or fibre broadband EASE OF USE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
performance was excellent. connection, and you want
FOR VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In our close-range tests, to replace the free router
✓ Fast 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi we saw download speeds you got from your ISP,
✓ Top-of-the-range features reach 109MB/s (872Mbps), the Archer VR2800 provide a better connection
✓ Easy to use which is almost as fast as is easily the fastest at long range, but they are
Gigabit Ethernet and the alternative we’ve ever seen. more expensive and you
AGAINST fastest close-range speed For larger households, would have to continue
✗ Not as fast at long range as of any router we’ve tested. mesh systems such as using your old router as a
mesh Wi-Fi It wasn’t quite as impressive those from Google and BT bridge to your phone line.
at long range, although
HARDWARE
TABLET SMART ASSISTANT
Apple iPad NEW! Google Home
From £339 from bit.ly/ipad424 £129 from bit.ly/home422
Tested: Issue 424 Tested: Issue 422
Apple has reduced the price of its new Google Home is a remarkable home helper and
standard 9.7in iPad, making the tablet the we can’t recommend it more highly. It can already control
cheapest it’s ever produced. Battery life is excellent, a variety of apps and services, with more to come, and has a
performance is swift and the screen and build are top quality. good-quality speaker. It’s simply designed to enrich your life.
This graphics card provides enough power to The TP-Link RE450 provides a strong signal at
make less challenging games run smoothly in 1080p a price that’s hard to resist. It’s better at extending
resolution with high-detail settings enabled. It’s very cheap the 5GHz network than the 2.4GHz, but it also acts
and benefits from plenty of speedy stream processors. as a bridge to transfer older devices to the newer network.
RAM ■ Supports up to six displays ■ 4,096 x 2,160 pixels Wi-Fi ■ WPS button ■ Repeater and access point modes
resolution ■ DisplayPort, DVI-D and HDMI video connectors ■ 163 x 76 x 37mm ■ Three-year return-to-base warranty
This good-value monitor offers impressive image quality, a For its low price, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is a pleasant surprise:
lovely design and 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing it’s great for media streaming and web browsing, its battery
angles. You won’t need to calibrate it, either. If you’re after life is exceptional and it’s easy to use. Once it’s integrated
a monitor with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, buy this. with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, it will be even better.
REMOTE-DESKTOP SOFTWARE
INTERNET SECURITY TeamViewer
Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 Free from www.teamviewer.com
Tested: Issue 420
£19.95 from bit.ly/kaspersky2017 This powerful free remote-desktop program has an
Tested: Computeractive Issue 493 impressive array of features that raises it well above its rivals.
MINI WORKSHOP | Edit and convert videos using Free Video Cutter Expert
1
3 2 3
3
1
4
1 2 4
Accent Applicator
bit.ly/accent424
Min requirements: Windows 10
File size: 500KB
This app lets you change the colour
of selected text and some other
interface elements in desktop
applications. It’s easy to use and
produces good-looking results.
ANTI-MALWARE TOOL
SanityCheck Home Edition
bit.ly/sanity424
Min requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 1.5MB AccuWeather
bit.ly/accu424
We wouldn’t say that the fear of malware infection is enough to drive you insane, Min requirements: Windows 10
but it’s certainly a cause for concern. SanityCheck is an advanced tool that aims to File size: 52.4MB
allay your fears by scanning your PC for threats and irregularities that indicate This weather app was designed for
malware or rootkit behaviour. It doesn’t remove the problems but it provides a Windows 10 and provides the latest
detailed report containing suggestions on how to solve them. SanityCheck is free news and forecasts. The automatic
for home use, and the latest version has been updated to work with Windows 10. theme changes from light to dark
depending on the time of day.
FILE-SHARING TOOL
O&O FileDirect
bit.ly/oofd424
Min requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10
File size: 9.46MB
FILE MANAGER
Saladin
bit.ly/sala424
Min requirements: Windows XP/
Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 8.4MB
UPDATED | New tweaks and fixes for your favourite free programs
This fortnight’s most useful tips and add-ons to help you get the
most from Chrome, Firefox, Opera and more
F
FIREFOX OTHER BROWSERS
Remember to
Copy and paste multiple sit up straight
items at once
It’s easy to get into bad
posture habits when browsing
the web, slouching in your chair
With its ‘one item at a time’ or hunching over your desk,
approach, the Windows which places undue pressure on
clipboard is pretty limited, your poor old back. A new
especially if you use copy and Opera add-on called Quasimodo
paste a lot. Text Multicopy (bit.ly/ (bit.ly/quasimodo424), after the
text424) solves this problem famous hunchback of Notre
by letting you copy as many Dame, helps you improve your
items as you want from different posture by reminding you to sit
locations, then paste them all in up straight at regular intervals.
one go. Simply highlight some text, right-click You can choose the frequency of
and choose Save Selection from Text Multicopy’s these notifications – from every
side menu. Repeat for as many pieces of text as minute to every half hour – and
you want, then choose ‘Copy Saved to clipboard’ select one of three different
and paste the lot wherever you like. Text Multicopy saves your content until sounds, while a ‘silence mode’
you’ve transferred it to the clipboard – even if you restart Firefox – and pop-up lets you shut Quasi up for set
notifications tell you how many items you’ve saved so far. Each item includes periods during the day.
a location URL for your reference, but you can disable this option if you prefer.
1
unless you’re a particularly address bar and three-dot
voracious reader. Chrome has icon), then tap the plus
even started offering mobile- symbol to open a new tab.
friendly versions of many Swipe up to see
sites, much like Pocket’s Downloads, including
readable layout. It can’t offline versions of pages
match Pocket’s unlimited you’ve saved. 1 Tap one
online storage, but if your to open it. To delete one,
main concern is to keep long-press it and tap
things simple, Remove. To explore more
Chrome is now of your downloads,
the only offline tap More 2 or use the 2
reading app search box. 3
you need.
This shameless but slick cash-in from After a stressful day, what better way City Mania harks back to games such
Disney combines the simplicity of to relieve your frustration than to as SimCity, in which you build a
match-three puzzle games – in which crush a succession of objects using an metropolis from scratch, although
you make rows of matching jewels, industrial hydraulic press? That’s the here the focus is more on fun than
fruit or whatever – with characters concept behind this game, which is complex municipal matters. Construct
from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. inspired by the popular Hydraulic hundreds of unique buildings, expand
The graphics and gameplay are Press Channel on YouTube. You start your streets with homes, shops and
impressive, especially if you’re a fan of by squashing easy items, such as essential services such as a hospital
cute rolling robot BB-8, and there are a balloon and a light bulb, for an and fire station, and then populate
plenty of obstacles, collectables and (imaginary) video that you post on your city. You can decorate your
power-ups to keep things interesting. YouTube to attract views, comments skyline with famous landmarks – so
But in-app purchases, which cost up and likes. The objects get tougher to you could have Big Ben sitting next to
to £71.99(!), and adverts crush as you progress, the Eiffel Tower (Brexit
keep us from endorsing and you need to ensure be blowed!) – and visit
the game unreservedly you don’t damage your your friends’ cities to
– especially for cash- equipment. It’s oddly see how their efforts
strapped parents. addictive and satisfying. compare. Awesome!
Recommend
Recommend games
free phone
at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine
apps at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 35
FAQ Everything you need to know about the most
interesting new technology trends and events
Our guide to
Microsoft has unveiled
its rival operating
system to ChromeOS,
but do you really need
it if you already have
Windows 10 Home or
Pro? David Crookes
explains all
What is it? life of your laptop, Microsoft claims, with apps from its official online store.
Windows 10 S (bit.ly/w10s424) is a new allowing the computer to run for an This means that software available from
version of Microsoft’s operating system entire working day on a single charge. elsewhere will not install or run, so a huge
that’s been designed for the educational What’s more, you’ll still be able to use number of PC programs that are only
market and lower-cost computing. It most peripherals that are compatible available directly from the developer
promises to be “streamlined for security with other Windows computers. or download sites can’t be used. This
and superior performance” – which may will affect software including Adobe
explain the ‘S’. Although it will be offered Does it look any different? Photoshop, Chrome, Steam and many
alongside Windows 10 Home and Pro, No. On the face of it, Windows 10 S will other popular titles.
it will be more locked down than either look and feel just like the Windows 10
of those, making it feel more restrictive. versions you’ve come to know and even Why has Microsoft done this?
love, so switching to it will be virtually Microsoft says that forcing people
What are the benefits of using it? seamless. That said, anyone moving from to download all their apps from the
Microsoft is promoting the new version’s Windows 10 Home will get the benefits Windows Store removes the risk of
faster speed, claiming that it will boot of Pro features such as Azure Active users installing dodgy software from
15 seconds faster than a machine running Directory, BitLocker encryption and unsafe places. That’s partly because
Windows 10 Pro. It also says the OS won’t Mobile Device Management. It’s by no the company requires developers
slow down over time because it is more means a cut-down OS in that respect. to fix security vulnerabilities in any
lightweight than the other versions – applications they sell on the store or
something that will ensure it runs very So how is it more restrictive? else risk having them removed. By
well on less powerful hardware. Such The biggest difference is that – as with eliminating the underhand traps in
improvements will prolong the battery ChromeOS - Windows 10 S will only work software installers that trick users
into downloading junk programs, they
can also dramatically lower the risk
of malware and intrusive pop-ups.
from the Windows Store and neither are in the future, but this feels like
Firefox, Opera or any of the other major a retrograde step.
brands. Until they are, you’re stuck with
Microsoft’s Edge browser. But even when So there’s no way out of
(if?) those rivals come on board, Edge Windows 10 S?
will always be the default browser for There is one: you can upgrade to
Windows 10 S and there’s no getting Windows 10 Pro. This will be free until the
around that – anything you try to open end of 2017, after which the upgrade price
will always activate Edge. In fairness, has been set at $49, so expect to pay
Edge is faster, slicker and more secure around the same in pounds. Following
than Internet Explorer ever was, but this path would let you use apps from
This student can’t believe that GIMP isn’t Microsoft is still depriving users of outside the Windows Store again – but it
available in the Windows Store a choice of browser – an arrogance also means you’ll need a computer that
that has got it in trouble before. can comfortably handle Windows 10 Pro,
But what if I want an app that’s and you’d lose the speed, security and
not on there? I’m happy with Edge – so all’s battery perks of 10 S. Also, once you’ve
Tough. You’ll have either to forget it well, then? upgraded, you can’t go back.
exists, wait until the developer releases Not quite. Any search queries you type
an app version or look for an alternative. in the address bar will be handled solely Ignoring all that, how can I get
The problem is that free software such as by Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, and Windows 10 S “for a friend”?
GIMP (www.gimp.org) – which is a great you can’t change that either. Microsoft Various machines will come with it pre-
substitute for Photoshop – are unlikely is locking you into its own services by installed from the summer while schools
to reach the Store, which could leave you preventing you from using Google and will be able to swap Windows 10 Pro for
bereft of good options. Still, with a bit other rivals by default. This could easily 10 S, with the bonus of getting Office 365
of luck, the restriction should eventually be a deal breaker for many users. Education thrown in. The first available-
boost the number of apps available in to-buy computer is the new Surface
the Store, especially if Windows 10 S Isn’t there a workaround? laptop, which comes with a 13.5in
becomes a roaring success. Given the If you wanted to use an alternative search touchscreen, up to 16GB of RAM and
relatively poor number of apps in there engine to Bing (and let’s face it, you will), a solid-state drive of up to 512GB.
at the moment, that would certainly then you’ll have to visit www.google.co.uk This will last for up to 14.5 hours of video
please Microsoft and would also make (or whatever your preferred search playback thanks to the way Windows 10
the Windows 10 platform more secure. engine is) by manually typing its URL S is built. Other computers with the OS
in the address bar. You could bookmark installed will be sold by Acer, Asus, Dell,
So what apps can I use? such sites to make them easier to visit Fujitsu, HP, Samsung and Toshiba.
Microsoft’s full Office suite will be
available and you can use popular tools
such as Facebook, Netflix, Kodi, Dropbox,
Adobe Photoshop Express and Autodesk
Sketchbook. Spotify will also
be bringing its app to the
Windows Store, while
Windows 10 S will
integrate with OneDrive,
letting you save and
sync files to the cloud.
FASTER
INTERNET If you’ve tried everything to speed up your
COVER E Williams and Edward Munn present the best
connection, but to no avail, never fear. Wayne
R
FEATU new tricks to make your internet faster
I
nternet providers now offer faster speeds than ever but if you know how. This feature rounds up the sneakiest
the fact remains that many of us never get the service and most effective hacks to help you beat restrictions
we signed up for. This is true whether you’re using and get the internet you pay for.
ADSL, fibre, cable or mobile internet. Factors such as slow Over the following six pages, we show you how you can
DNS servers, signal black spots and the settings and boost your connection by tweaking your DNS and other
hardware you use can all slow you down and prevent you settings, look at ways to hack your router and boost your
from enjoying a smooth, fast and reliable service. browser, and reveal the best solutions for upgrading your
Thankfully, there are several actions you can carry out to network. Additionally, on page 44, we explain how to
improve the speed and reliability of your connection, speed up your connection on your phone.
1 3
4
1
2
to block it see which areas offer faster mobile data on devices running older versions of
from using connections. Android – if your phone is a recent
the internet One of the app’s standout features is model, you’re less likely to encounter
altogether. a compass that tells you which direction problems related to memory.
Tap your signal is coming from, so when your
‘Manage signal starts dropping in and out, you Change your DNS server without
apps’ from know which direction you should move rooting
Opera in to get a more reliable connection. The As we explained on page 39, changing
Max’s main app also displays the location of all your DNS servers can produce
menu, then nearby cell towers in a map view and significant speed benefits. Doing this on
follow the lets you check which networks have your phone usually requires you to ‘root’
instructions better 3G and 4G reception. it, but DNS Changer (bit.ly/
on screen. dnschanger424) offers a simple
Next, while Clear your app cache workaround and operates on both Wi-Fi
the Mobile It’s possible that the reason for your and mobile data connections. Simply
Access tab slow internet has nothing to do with install the app, pick a DNS provider from
is selected, your connection but is the fault of your the drop-down list and tap Start to
tap any apps you want to block from Android device and the apps installed connect to the servers.
accessing the internet while you’re on on it. Indeed, if one app is hogging too You may or may not notice speed
a mobile connection. There’s a separate much memory, it can cause everything improvements from the app, but it is
tab for Wi-Fi Access, so you can ensure to slow down – including the speed at totally free to use, so there’s no harm in
your apps continue to sync properly which you load web pages. To see how trying it. One caveat is that DNS
when an appropriate connection much cache an app is using, open Changer cheekily asked us to give it a
is available. Settings, then Apps and tap the app you 5-star rating in order to carry on using
want to check. Next, tap Storage and the service. We were able to bypass this
Find the best area for 3G or 4G you’ll be shown how much cache the by tapping OK and then selecting Back
Sometimes a slow internet connection app is using. Tapping ‘Clear Cache’ after the Google Play Store loaded.
is purely down wipes it.
to poor This is an especially common problem
reception.
Speed Test
(bit.ly/
speedtest424)
is a handy
Android and
iOS app from
OpenSignal
that not only
tells you how
fast your
mobile
network is,
but also maps
this data
anonymously
so you can
What we liked:
Wh devices.
If you’re forever making These sync
lists of things you have to immediately,
get done – whether you so if you make
you use random scraps changes on the
of paper or an organised, web interface
digital system – Todoist will
dig then switch to
make the job easier and more
mak a mobile app,
efficient. This finely tuned tool provides for example,
you with the basic equipment for the changes
creating simple tick-lists but also will sync
harbours the power to turn you into straight away.
a super-human task manager if you
unleash its full capabilities. How it can be
When you first open Todoist, it improved:
presents you with some basic questions Todoist tracks
to get your first few tasks set up, then the number of
encourages you to transfer all your things you’ve
tasks over to the system, starting you ticked off your
off with handy preconfigured projects lists and twists
for you to fill, including Personal, Work the data into
and Errands. Click a project, click the a mash-up of ‘karma’ and gamification.
plus button or the ‘Add task’ link and It then encourages you to beat your OUR VERDICT
type in the details. productivity score to achieve task- Whether you want to organise
You then have the option to based enlightenment, which is all a bit small projects or need a serious
customise your tasks further, adding much. However, this is well hidden away organisation tool that can track
priorities, deadlines, labels and filters. so you won’t notice it if you don’t want and manage several large projects,
Some filters are already set up, so you it. The Premium version costs £21.99 per Todoist is the ultimate to-do list
can see tasks that are due today or in year (£1.83 per month) with a few tools tool. Adding new tasks is simple
the next seven days. – such as reminders – available only to and straightforward, and doesn’t
The main interface is web-based so paying customers. However, most get in the way of actually getting
you can access it on any computer, but people will find the free version the tasks done.
it also provides apps for all your mobile perfectly sufficient.
Wh
What we liked:
If you’re happy to manage
your to-do lists while
sitting at your Windows
10 PC (or any other
Windows 10 PC that’s
log
logged into your Microsoft
account), then Microsoft’s new TickTick
software could be all you need. ticktick.com
Compared to the likes of Todoist, that Microsoft has halted all future If, for some strange reason, you
To-Do is disconcertingly simple. You development. However, Wunderlist isn’t don’t get on with Todoist, try
just type in your tasks to add them and dead yet – Microsoft has claimed that TickTick instead. It’s so similar it
organise them into folders. If you want it won’t shut the service down until could almost be a clone of our Gold
to work on them today, you can drag this new app can do everything that Award-winner, but it looks and feels
them into the My Day section, which is Wunderlist can. That’s great news, a little different and has a few extra
handy for focusing on urgent jobs. You but frankly it still looks a long way off. tools. The free version has some
can also defer tasks for tomorrow but limitations, though, and the paid-for
no further, so any tasks you need to version is more expensive at $2.79
complete in the fututre can’t be hidden OUR VERDICT (£2.16) per month.
from your current list of jobs. Microsoft bought Wunderlist but
Despite such limitations, To-Do is slick has sadly ceased development
and easy to use, and if Microsoft follows and moved its engineers over to
through on its promise to turn it into the Microsoft To-Do. While this is good
next Wunderlist (www.wunderlist.com), news for To-Do, it’s bad news for
it’s sure to become more popular. Wunderlist. To-Do is a simple and
effective tool but has a long way
How it can be improved: to go before it can rival Todoist.
We loved Wunderlist so it’s a real shame
your area
£28.99 12 17Mbps ∞
1 Sky: Broadband (£18.99 for months max speed unlimited £227.88
12 months)
£25.50 12 17Mbps ∞
2 TalkTalk: Broadband (£20.00 for
12 months)
months max speed unlimited £240.00
£28.50 18 17Mbps ∞
3 EE: Broadband (£21.00 for
18 months)
months max speed unlimited
*
£252.00
£45.00 12 100Mbps ∞
4 Virgin: Broadband (£32.00 for
12 months)
months max speed unlimited
*
£384.00
3 4
5 6
COMPETITIONS
WORT WORT
H H
£40 £139
WIN 1 OF 4 E AC H WIN 1 OF 2 E AC H
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T
he new update introduces some messages. The sidebar itself is new, and your favourites so
of the best features from Opera’s you can customise it by adding any they’re always visible
concept browser, Neon. One shortcuts you like. Other improvements
standout feature is the ability to browse include the option to choose which
and chat at the same time. Shortcuts for ad-blocking lists the browser uses and
WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to pick from a range of themes and SIDEBAR
appear in a sidebar, and you can resize wallpapers. The browser also warns you The new
and pin them so you don’t have to switch if you try to enter private information in sidebar lets
between tabs when responding to a non-secure web form. you quickly
access your
bookmarks,
extensions
and history
2
3
1
1 2
1 3
2
2 2
3
DARK THEME
Opera Reborn’s new
dark theme turns the
browser’s toolbar black
WALLPAPERS
The update lets you
choose from a range
of new, modern-
looking wallpapers
1 2
2
1
4
3
5
EXPERT TIP
T
he Creators Update introduced some major changes to
Windows 10 and it’s a big download – but did you know
that the files Microsoft saves to your PC don’t get removed
Wayne Williams says
If upgrading to the Creators Update is
once the installation is complete? On top of that, the upgrade
causing you major problems and none
backs up the previous version of the operating system,
of the steps below help, rolling back
so it can be restored if you encounter problems. Altogether,
to the Anniversary Update (for now
this could hog a massive 20GB of space. In this Workshop,
at least) is the best solution. Click Start,
we show you how to reclaim this space, and our first three
open Settings, select ‘Update & security’,
steps tell you how to tackle any common problems
and click Recovery on the left. Click
you may have encountered with the update.
‘Get started’ under ‘Go back to the
Bear in mind, though, that once you’ve reclaimed
previous version of Windows 10’. This will
the hard-drive space, there’s no way to go back,
only work if you haven’t yet removed
so make sure you make a full external backup
the ‘Previous Windows installation’ files.
before you remove anything permanently.
1 2
Installing the Creators Update may have interfered with Under ‘Update settings’, click ‘Advanced options’ 1
the existing software and hardware on your PC. It’s worth and make sure ‘Give me updates for other Microsoft
checking whether Microsoft has issued any fixes that solve products when I update Windows’ is ticked. Under
any problems you may be having. Click Start, open Settings ‘Choose when updates are installed’, select ‘Current Branch’.
and go to ‘Update and security’. Click ‘Check for updates’. 1 This will ensure you get all of the updates as soon as they
Windows will install any that are listed. become available.
1
2
3 4
If you’re having a problem with a particular program, check Once everything is working, you can start removing the
the developer’s site to see if there’s a newer version that’s update’s files. Almost everything you need is available
compatible with the Creators Update. Hardware drivers in the operating system itself. Click Start and type disk
can cause problems, too. Install Driver Booster (bit.ly/driver424, cleanup. Launch the Disk Clean-up app that appears in the
taking care not to install any unwanted extras) and scan menu. Make sure your system drive is selected in the drop-
existing drivers. In the Outdated tab, 1 click ‘Update now’. 2 down box (if you have more than one drive) 1 and click OK. 2
1
2
5 6
The Disk Cleanup tool scans your hard drive and calculates You’ll see a new ‘Previous Windows installation(s)’ entry 1
how much space can be regained. 1 However, this first which includes the files created by installing the Creators
count doesn’t include any Windows files. For that option, Update – in our case, a whopping 35.2GB. Removing this
click the ‘Clean up system files’ button. 2 Select your system will free up all that space, but also means you can’t roll your PC
drive, as before, and click the OK button again. The tool will back to how it was before the upgrade, so make sure you’re
recalculate your space savings but include additional options. happy with your current setup before you proceed.
1
1
2
7 8
You’ll also want to tick the box to remove ‘Temporary You can also free up hard-drive space through the
Windows installation files’. 1 These are files that were Settings app. Press Windows+i and click System, then
downloaded in order to upgrade your old version of click Storage on the left. 1 This will display all your
Windows 10 to the Creators Update. Click OK 2 to remove connected drives 2 and show the amount of free space you
the selected files and regain your missing hard-drive space. have remaining on each one. 3 Click a drive to get more details
Be patient because the process may take a while to complete. on its usage.
9 10
If you click the Temporary files entry, 1 you’ll have the It’s a good idea to do a spot of general tidying up
option to remove junk files. The list of options varies and remove any unwanted bundled apps. Open Start,
depending on what is on your system, but may include find an unwanted app in the list of applications on
temporary files, old downloads, Recycle Bin contents and the the left 1 – Get Office, for example – then right-click it and
previous version of Windows (which makes this another handy select Uninstall. 2 Repeat the process for any other apps
way of cleaning up after the Creators Update upgrade). you no longer need.
1 2
Install Cortana for ‘Low battery
Android and follow the notifications’ 1 is
instructions on screen, 2 enabled by default and
allowing any permissions the options for ‘Missed call
it requests. Next, tap the notifications’, 2 ‘Call
Account icon and open the
3 notification’ 3 and ‘Incoming
app’s Settings menu. Tap message notifications’ 4
‘Sync notifications’ and allow 4 (the latter option is only
the further permissions 1 compatible with Windows
that the app requests. Insider preview builds) are
1 activated by the permissions
approved in Step 1.
3 4
Tap ‘App notifications After choosing the apps
sync’ and ‘Got it’, then whose notifications you
tap the slider to give want to see on your PC,
Cortana notification access type Cortana into the PC’s
and tap OK. Tap back, press Start menu, then click
the slider again and you’ll see ‘Cortana & Search settings’.
an option letting you choose
1 Scroll down to the option
which apps to sync with ‘Send notifications and
Cortana. 1 information between devices’
1 and click to enable it. 2
2
1
1
1
5 6
At this point, you might be asked to sign into your When you reopen the Cortana settings menu in
Microsoft account again. Click Sign in, select the Windows 10, click ‘Edit sync settings’ to choose whether
appropriate account and click Continue. Then enter your notifications from your PC are also sent to the
your password 1 and click ‘Sign in’ again. 2 mobile app. A message may appear in Action Center asking
you if you trust the PC you’re using 1 before notifications
start appearing.
3
4
2
1 2
5
4 3
1 2
Go to a page you want to open regularly and click the Click the clock 1 to set a time for the page to open.
Open Me Later icon. 1 Click the days on which you want Clicking the hours or minutes lets you type in the time
it to open. 2 This automatically puts a tick in the ‘Every or you can click the up and down arrows instead. 2
week on these days’ box. 3 If you want to open it every day, Choose whether you want the website to open in a New Tab
both weekdays and weekends, tick the Daily box instead. 4 3 or a New Window. 4 Click the Open Me Later button. 5
2
1
1 2
3
4
3 4
If you want a site to make a one-off appearance later Your scheduled site appearances are listed below the
today because, for example, you know it will have some main window. 1 Click the plus button 2 to manually
updated sports results at a particular time, just set the add a new event, then click the Date, Time and Website
clock 1 to the time you’d like the page to reappear and click URL box 3 to edit it. Click Add 4 when it’s ready.
the Open Me Later button. 2
3 1
2 3
2 1
5 6
The time and date can also be adjusted from the list You can make sites appear as far into the future as you
– just click the relevant section, make your changes and like. This is handy if you spot, for example, a Christmas
click the Save button. 1 You can remove sites you no gift you want to earmark for a future purchase. Use the
longer want to appear by ticking the boxes next to them, 2 calendar’s arrow buttons 1 to find a future date 2 and click
then clicking the minus button. 3 it. Click the Open Me Later button to confirm. 3
How to
... Create your own
personal cloud storage
Wayne Williams shows you how to turn a spare PC into an unlimited
cloud-storage server you can access from anywhere
T
here are numerous cloud-storage services you can sign up
to and use for free, including Dropbox, Google Drive and
OneDrive. They all offer lots of features and are (for the
most part) very reliable. However, they have one restriction in
common, and that’s the amount of storage you get for free.
If you’re storing or sharing a lot of files, you’ll soon find yourself
reaching these limits, at which point you’ll either need to delete
some files or upgrade to a paid-for plan.
Another more pressing concern is security.
Using a cloud-storage service
means entrusting your
personal data to a
company, which can leave
it vulnerable to snoops
and hackers.
By creating your
own cloud storage,
you can avoid these
problems and,
because you have
unlimited space
available, you could
also use it as a way
to back up your PC,
so you don’t lose access
to your files if you ever fall
victim to a ransomware attack.
Why create your own cloud For example, Google charges $10
storage? (around £8) per month for 1TB of space,
By setting up your own cloud storage, but you could buy a 1TB hard drive to
you no longer need to worry about install in your own PC for around £40.
storage limits because you’re the one in Using your own cloud storage makes it
charge of how much space you have at completely private, so you don’t have
your disposal. If you need more, just add to worry about snoopers and, because
it. Installing a large hard drive will provide it’s yours, you can choose to use it for all
you with terabytes of storage space,
which would cost hundreds of pounds Free cloud services become expensive
per month from the professional services. if you need a lot of space
3
1
1 1
Click the Select link in the client to sync When you click a photo, video or To create a new library, click the New
a folder on that computer to your server document, it opens in a preview window Library button in the server, then name it
to get started with Seafile in our Mini protection and/or an auto-expiration or read-only. You can also share
Workshop at the bottom of this page. date to a download link, and you can the folder with a group.
also password protect upload links.
Share using Seafile Additionally, you can share the library Mobile clients
Once your server is up and running, you with a particular user (search for the user Like all good cloud-storage services,
can begin using it to share files. Your files by name or enter their email address), Seafile has apps for Android and iOS that
are stored in libraries, each of which can and specify the permission – read-write, let you access and share your files and
be synced and shared individually. folders from a mobile device and
Like Dropbox, anything stored in your join in group discussions. Search
personal library is synced to a folder on for Seafile on Google Play or the
your computer. To view this, open File Apple App Store (there are also
Manager and you’ll see a My Library entry links on the download page
on the left-hand side. You’ll recognise it at bit.ly/sf424).
because it displays the Seafile logo. You When you launch the app,
can copy content to and from this folder. you should choose to add an
To share a library or some folders, account, select Other Server
you have two options. You can create and enter the IP address of your
a shared library in a group, or you can personal server (toggle HTTPS
click the Share icon next to the library off first), followed by your email
on the My Home page or the Share address and password. The client
button in a folder. A box will appear that will now connect to the server
provides options to create a download Seafile’s mobile apps let you browse files and folders and you’ll be able to access
or upload link. You can add password on your server, and also share items your libraries.
3 4 5
1
1 1
2
4
3 2
2
3
4
On sale
NEXT ISSUE How To... Create and set up your own VPN server Wedn
esday
e
14 Jun
Y
our Desktop can become a
dumping ground for all sorts of
files, folders, program shortcuts
and links to websites. You can easily
reduce some of this clutter by moving
your program shortcuts to the taskbar.
When a program is running in any
version of Windows, right-click the icon
in the taskbar and select ‘Pin to taskbar’.
The icon then remains in the taskbar
after the program has closed, and you
can reopen it with one click. You can
also right-click a Desktop shortcut and
select ‘Pin to taskbar’ to add its icon,
then delete the Desktop shortcut to
clear some space.
If the taskbar becomes crowded with
icons, open the Windows 10 Settings
app and click Personalisation, then
Taskbar. Turn on the switch labelled
‘Use small taskbar buttons’. Clear Desktop space by pinning programs to the taskbar and deleting the shortcuts
Tidy icons into folders Create custom organised resolution, but most people tend to
Folders on the hard drive are used to wallpaper stick with the same resolution, so this
organise files into Pictures, Documents, If you’d still rather keep all your shouldn’t be a problem.
Videos and Music, and you can use the shortcuts, files and folders on your
same technique with Desktop shortcuts. Desktop, you can at least organise them Create tiles for shortcuts
Right-click the Desktop (if you can find so the screen doesn’t look such a mess. Another way of keeping program
an empty space) and select New, then Find an image you’d like to use as shortcuts off the Desktop is to add
Folder. Give the folder a short but Desktop wallpaper, such as a photo tiles to the Windows 10 Start menu.
descriptive name. you’ve taken or downloaded. Open it Right-click any shortcut or program,
Drag all your web links into one folder, in Paint.NET (www.getpaint.net) either on the Desktop or in an
your Word documents into another or another photo editor and use the Explorer window, and select ‘Pin to
and so on. Organising your Desktop selection tool to allocate areas on the Start’. Open Start, find the tile and
clutter into folders makes things easier image where you can place icons. click and drag it to the top-left corner
to find and keeps your Desktop tidy. Drag your Desktop icons to the of the tiled area. Add all your favourite
You may find you can manage with designated areas to organise them. programs as Start-menu tiles and then
a handful of folders instead of 50 Windows rearranges Desktop items delete the shortcuts on the Desktop.
or more icons (yes, some people’s whenever you change the screen Windows 7 users can also pin items
Desktops really are that cluttered).
Visit our Hints & Tips forum at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 65
Ask the Expert
Roland Waddilove, computer programmer and PC
journalist since 1981, answers all your technical questions.
Email us for help at webuser@dennis.co.uk
GENERAL PC
GENERAL PC Stop windows popping up
Switch off Q I have a problem on my Windows
10 PC. Sometimes, when I’m using
background apps either Gmail or Word, a program
from my Desktop opens up over
Q A message appeared on my
Windows 10 laptop saying:
“Too many background apps can
whatever I’m doing. I close it, only
for it to pop up again. I then have to
restart my PC and hope the problem
drain your battery. Select here to goes away. It’s very annoying.
improve your battery life.” I have Also, when I type in Word, the letters
a number of apps on my taskbar, don’t always appear on the screen, so I’m
including TripAdvisor, Amazon and wondering if it’s something to do with
Stop apps running unnecessarily in the
Dropbox. I don’t use these, so should background to improve battery life my keyboard, which is relatively new.
I remove them to make more room Edward Turner, via email
on the taskbar? How do I do this? Only software that’s running affects
Darren, via email the battery life, but some apps run in
the background. Press Windows+i, A Budget keyboards start at around
£5, so it wouldn’t cost much to try
This fortnight Roland has set up his own cloud storage on a spare PC. Try it yourself on page 58
Find more solutions to PC and web problems at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 67
Your Top Tips
Our pick of the best advice from our
readers. To get help or offer it to others,
visit forum.webuser.co.uk
Mug
TOP TIP winner
HARDWARE
very often. Sometimes they’re a week exceed 25 attachments and that the total
or a month old, but this is still useful file size is less than 50MB.
if you’ve run out of other options. FratPark, Web User Forums
Michael Godwin, via email
BROWSERS
EMAIL Access additional settings in
Stop sorting Outlook mail Edge
I logged into Outlook.com today and Did you know that you can access some
found that my mail was sorted into two experimental settings and configurations Access thousands of hidden genres in
lists: Focused and Other. This means that in Microsoft Edge? Type about:flags Netflix
rather than seeing all my messages in in the address bar and press Enter.
one place, I have to look in two places. You can fiddle with any of the settings available categories, visit bit.ly/
I’m not sure this is an improvement. and if you don’t like them, just reset them netflix424. Click a link on this page
To change the inbox back to how it to the default configuration by clicking to open the category directly in Netflix.
was, click the gear icon in the bar at the ‘Reset all flags to default’. Bedstor, Web User Forums
top and select ‘Display settings’. Click Stewart40, Web User Forums
Focused Inbox at the top and select WEBSITES
‘Don’t sort messages’, then click the WEBSITES Find overwritten files in
OK buttons to close the settings. Unlock hidden Netflix genres Google Drive
Gary Griffiths, via email I recently discovered a handy way of Yesterday, I added a file to a folder
browsing for films in Netflix. The service in Google Drive and was dismayed
has thousands of categories, ranging to discover that it had overwritten
from ‘Mind-bending movies’ and ‘Cult a file with the same name. However,
horror movies’ to ‘Movies starring I remembered seeing a pop-up a few
Matthew McConaughey’, but only shows days before that said if you add a file
25 or so by default. Each category has of the same name as an existing one,
a four- or five-digit code and if you know Google Drive adds it to the version
this, you can see all the films in that history rather than creating a duplicate.
category by typing the standard genre With this in mind, I right-clicked the file,
URL into your browser and adding the selected ‘Manage versions’ and found
Do you prefer your email automatically code to the end, so it looks like www the overwritten version, which I then
sorted or not? Choose at Outlook.com .netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX downloaded. Note that previous versions
(substituting XXXX with the identifier are only available for 30 days.
SOFTWARE code). For a comprehensive list of the Neil Bowler, via email
Customise Spotify playlist
covers
Did you know that you can add custom
BLUNDER OF THE FORTNIGHT
artwork to your Spotify playlists rather
GENERAL PC Windows
than using the default covers generated 10 lets you
from the songs it contains? It’s best to
use a square image, otherwise it won’t
Stop Windows 10 set any
Wi-Fi
display correctly. To add your image, wasting data network as
metered
click a playlist in the PC version of
Spotify, then click the three-dot button Last week, my home broadband
and select ‘Edit details’. Click Choose stopped working. While I was waiting
Image and select the appropriate file for BT to fix it, I decided to connect
on your PC. Note that the image must be my PC to the internet using my
a JPEG and less than 4MB in size. smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Jack Gold, Web User Forums Unfortunately, because I hadn’t used
my PC for a while, Windows Update
EBOOKS started downloading some large files If you want to keep an eye on how
Reboot Kindle to fix problems and now I’ve all but used up my entire much data you use, open Settings,
If you are having problems with a Kindle, mobile data allowance for the month. click ‘Network and Internet’ and
you can restart it as you would I’ve since learned a simple way to choose ‘Data usage’ from the sidebar.
a misbehaving PC. Press and hold the avoid this problem in Windows 10, Make a note of the Wi-Fi total so you
power button for seven seconds until which is to set the hotspot as a can calculate how much data you’ve
the power box appears, then tap Restart. metered connection. To do this, click used during a given period.
If the power box doesn’t appear, the network’s name in the Wi-Fi You can also monitor your usage on
press and hold the power button for settings menu, select Properties and your Android device. On my Samsung
40 seconds to restart your Kindle. turn on ‘Metered connection’. Now Galaxy S6, I open Settings, then ‘Data
Another quick tip for Kindle users is when I use my phone as a personal usage’. The total for ‘Mobile hotspot
that if you have a lot of ebooks or PDFs hotspot, my PC no longer downloads and tethering’ is in the application list.
that you want to send to the device, you software updates automatically. Ed Wright, via email
don’t have to send them one at a time.
You can add multiple attachments to the
Have you managed to fix a PC-related disaster?
email you send to your ‘Send to Kindle’
If so, please send your story to webuser@dennis.co.uk
email address. Just make sure you don’t
Send your tips to webuser@dennis.co.uk – win a Web User mug! 31 May - 13 June 2017 69
Readers’ Helpdesk
Our pick of the best solutions posted on our
reader forums. Visit forum.webuser.co.uk
– it’s friendly and free!
GENERAL PC
Inbox
You can let us know your views via:
webuser@dennis.co.uk, www.facebook.com/webusermagazine,
www.twitter.com/webusermagazine and forum.webuser.co.uk
Mug
Star Email winner
Google will never block its own ads
R
eading your lead news story in they stil
still
till d
distract you from genuine
Issue 422 (bit.ly/webuser422)) search re
results and creepily seem to
about Google adding an know w
kno what you’ve been looking at.
ad blocker to Chrome, I have to If Google is to build its own ad
wonder if we’re all being taken blo
blocker into Chrome, I think it’s
for fools. After all, Google is the hig
highly unlikely that we’ll be able
biggest advertising network on to use it to block Google’s own
the web – indeed, in the world adv
adverts, or it will be cutting off
– and has built its fortune mainly its nose to spite its face. It’s
on getting web users to view and mor
more probable that the blocker
click online ads. Now we’re will o
wil only filter the ads from
supposed to believe that it’s made com pan
companies that aren’t signed up
a U-turn and decided that ads are with Goog
oog Adwords, to wipe out its
Google
a bad thing after all, and is giving compet
petiti
competition.
us an easy way to block them. isi sites
challenge anyone to visit ite such
uch as Per
Personally, I will stick with using
Well, forgive me while I stroke Mail Online or CNN without being driven uBlock Origin, which I find is perfect
my chin in a sceptical manner. doolally. To be fair to Google, its own ads for my needs and doesn’t take
I have found that using the web are less intrusive than those awful video backhanders from advertising
without an ad blocker is nigh on pop-ups that start playing automatically, companies. If I don’t want to suffer
impossible these days, such is the and the fly-out banners that obscure the ads online, then why should I have to?
prevalence of annoying ads, and I’d articles you’re trying to read. However, Spencer O’Neill, via email
Confuse phone scammers they should already have access to my …or by being completely
by asking for specifics… computer and be able to provide a bit bonkers
I agree with David Barton-Smith more detail. I read with interest your Star Email from
in Inbox, Issue 422: Web User is worth The phone tends to go dead at that David Barton-Smith, but I wonder why
every penny. point. If it doesn’t, I ask them – less than he wasted his time explaining his
I just wanted to share a tip I use when politely – not to try scamming me again, situation and past experience to a caller
I get obvious scam calls such as the and then I put the phone down myself. who already knew that, and couldn’t care
famous Microsoft tech-support scam or It’s funny how few of these calls I get less anyway.
the BT call that David describes – I ask these days. Is there a central I find that a good way to deal with
the operator the make and model of knowledgebase perhaps? these scam calls is to say something
the particular piece of equipment they Jeff Hurst, via email completely bonkers, that has nothing
are referring to.
In the case of the Microsoft scam,
where you are told
that software on
Quiz Answers: Issue 423
your computer has WINNER!
been infected with 1 Bath Jaso n Crouch
viruses, I ask which was the first
computer and to email us
2 Dartmouth the correct
which piece of
software. They’ll answers and
wins a Web
reply with 3 Hornsea
User mug
something generic
like “your Windows
computer” and
4 Cambridge
have a guess at some popular software WORD PUZZLE
application. I usually stop them there by 5 Belfast
telling them I know it’s a scam because Boot disk
I use a Mac but if I’m feeling playful, I ask
them to be more specific. After all, if they
6 Windsor
know I have a virus and can fix it for me,
stream TV
channels and The priority is to ensure everyone is
films illegally.
Fortunately, What you connected. Some people in my area
(rural north Wales) still have dial-up.
most of them
are so fiddly say... Anne Blackwood
are transparent and fair games of open your web browser or Google app
to consumers.” Talk about shutting Cut The Rope on her iPad. She rings and search for the details you need.
the stable door after the horse has them because the telephone is her main It’s a 10-second job that will save that
set up a premium-rate phone line. connection to the outside world, and person a tenner. How good will that
Meanwhile, the Department For because she’s seen their silly ads on the minor inconvenience make you feel?
The Bleeding Obvious at consumer telly during Coronation Street. And now Plus, you’ll get the satisfaction of
watchdog Which? says: “Our advice to we know how they pay for them. watching the greedy 118 merchants
consumers looking to avoid being hit Regulators and watchdogs aren’t the tumble out of business, which is no
with these exorbitant charges is to solution to this problem: we are. You more than these shysters deserve.