• Article
• Commentary

As well as showing off a load of new Windows 10 compatible hardware during its keynote at Computex 2015, Microsoft also revealed some interesting numbers relating to the new OS, and the PC market in general.

While PC shipments and sales have definitely fallen a lot over the past few years, it’s far from game over for Windows powered devices, and things have started looking up.

Continue reading →

LG's Android handsets are not the best choices for enthusiasts. Bootloaders are tightly locked, so loading a different kernel or installing another distribution is next to impossible. And there is no official tool that lifts the restrictions, even if that would mean having the warranty voided. Without getting a Nexus 4 or Nexus 5, you are out of luck. Heck, even iPhones are friendlier to the modders.

Fortunately, LG is well aware of the enthusiasts' interest in its devices, so it has finally taken the first step towards embracing the community's ways by allowing G4 users to unlock the bootloader. Here is how it can be done.

Continue reading →

After three years of hard pushing, Google has accepted the failure of Google+ and is starting to dismantle the overbearing social network.

Google’s service no longer directly links to users' Google+ profile, instead the forename and surname takes over as a placeholder, although it is unclickable. Google has not said what it plans to add in Google+' place.

Continue reading →

There are lots of nice cases available for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. I prefer Apple's Leather Case as it looks great, feels fantastic, fits the device as it's supposed to and, last but not least, offers some much-needed grip. It is a bit expensive but, in my opinion, it is worth it.

However, Apple's Leather Case, much like other iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases, needs to be handled with a bit of care, to avoid scratching and damaging the material. Accessory maker Innerexile claims that it has developed a self-healing case for the latest iPhones, which can "[heal] itself from light scratches". Offered the opportunity to try out the premium-looking Glacier (there is also a similar Hydra model), I quickly started to put these claims to the test.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 is now less than two months away, and today at Computex 2015 Microsoft unveiled the latest range of devices designed with the operating system in mind. Taking to the stage in Taipai, Microsoft's Nick Parker revealed a collection of desktops, laptops, and tablets that will run Windows 10.

The latest version of Microsoft's operating system aims to be all things to all people, and this is something that is reflected in the diversity of devices on show today. In addition to traditional PCs, the 2-in-1 convertible range continues to grow, and there are tablets from a number of Microsoft partners. There's hardware from lots of familiar names, but also from lesser-known companies.

Continue reading →

The standard Windows Ping and Traceroute tools are capable enough, but their console interface is, well, basic, and GUI versions aren’t necessarily much better. All too often you’ll need to wade through tables to find the data you need.

PingPlotter Free makes life easier by taking a graphical view of network performance, giving all the essential core data at a glance.

Continue reading →

We live in an age where people are more concerned about and more aware of privacy issues than ever before. Speaking at EPIC Champions of Freedom event in Washington, DC, Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized the government for seeking to implement backdoors into encryption techniques. He also hit out at Google and Facebook with their ad-dependant business models for infringing upon privacy.

He said that Apple wants to be different, saying: "We believe that people have a fundamental right to privacy. The American people demand it, the constitution demands it, morality demands it". Cook was at pains to stress that Apple should be viewed differently to other companies, assuring people that -- unlike others -- the company "doesn’t want your data".

Continue reading →

Tiny, portable Windows 10 PCs seem to be all the rage at the moment. During a Computex 2015 keynote, Microsoft’s Nick Parker revealed not only the Quanta Compute Plug, a mini-PC in a power adapter, but also FoxConn’s Kangaroo.

This is a petite, battery-powered PC in a box that boasts the latest Intel Cherry Trail processor and connects to your TV or monitor via HDMI.

Continue reading →

Having a website is one thing, but getting it seen is another matter. Ensuring visibility of a site involves lots of factors which in the past may have been beyond the expertise and budget of smaller organizations.

Leading European web host 1&1 Internet is launching its latest MyWebsite 8 tool which includes an Online Success Centre making it easier for businesses to be found online.

Continue reading →

Computex 2015 is well underway, and at a keynote earlier today at the Taipei International Convention Center, Nick Parker, corporate vice president of Microsoft's OEM Division, talked up the benefits of Windows 10, and also introduced various new devices designed specifically with the new operating system in mind.

One of the most interesting was the Quanta Compute Plug. This is a mini-PC housed not in a stick, but inside a power adapter.

Continue reading →

When it comes to squeezing megabytes into a tiny space, SanDisk takes the crown, as it managed to fit 128GB of storage into a dime-sized drive.

Just look at the photo above -- these two items are placed next to each other. However, the SanDisk Ultra Fit is something we’ve seen before, but never capacities this big. We’ve seen 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants.

Continue reading →

You don't get much for $20 these days, but you can pick up a Nokia 105. This is the latest budget phone offering from Microsoft which sees the company trying to get more people around the world connecting with each other.

Of course, for $20 expectations should not be set too high -- this is an extremely basic phone, but that is very much the point. This is a handset designed as an entry point into phone ownership, and it harks back to the halcyon days of the likes of the Nokia 3310.

Continue reading →

We’ve all heard of apps costing you money -- anyone who’s played Candy Crush Saga is well aware that mobile software can be a major drain on the wallet -- but what about apps that can improve your financial situation?

Although the following apps are unlikely to make you millions, they can provide you with a bit of extra spending money each month, many of which require no more work than simply interacting with your phone.

Continue reading →

Microsoft announced earlier this week that Windows 10 will be available on July 29. In less than two months, those who are using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will be able to upgrade for free to the upcoming operating system, in the first year after launch. Some have already reserved their free upgrade.

The upgrade will be delivered through Windows Update. Microsoft is making the whole process so easy that it claims that even a 10 year-old could do it. After it is done, those who may want -- or need, at least at some point -- to make a clean install will be able to do so as well.

Continue reading →

Last week it was discovered that all it takes to crash an iPhone is a text message. Send the string of characters to an iPhone-owning friend (or foe) and boom, instant restart for them.

Skype users are beginning to discover that they’re the victims of a similar bug. As originally reported by VentureBeat, and confirmed by ourselves, sending a certain 8-character message causes Skype to crash, and receiving it results in the app crashing every time you try to sign in.

Continue reading →