Computeractive - June 2, 2021 (True PDF)

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YCHOAURGRERISSUE607 ❘ 2–15JUNE2021
What you should use
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WELCOME
From the Editor
GEDroIuTpOERdIAitoLr Daniel Booth
CAPDroreotnpdEturudtibcyittuoiEotrdonKirtsEaodtrDieiWtinoPairlelhGaSGrttaarhepaelemky, BRorobwernt Irvine, Jonathan We’re not meant to get excited about ports. e me that I actually get pleasure from connecting
Parkyn, Nick Peers, Nik Rawlinson, Andy Shaw tech industry wants us to develop unhealthy it to my laptop.
ADVERTISING obsessions with phones, smartwatches,
DGreopuuptyAAddveMrtaisnianggeDriRreecbtoecrcAanNderewa Mason gaming consoles and foldable doo-dahs, but I But, ahem, enough of my Freudian nonsense.
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION have a hunch that many of you are more Will Stapley is far more pragmatic in his excellent
FSourbssucrbispctiroipntsioCnheanrlqinueirKieuserhinng 0330 333 9493 interested in those mysterious holes dotted Cover Feature, explaining what every port is
PRODUCTION along the back and side of your computer. used for – splitting them into audio, video and
SSHteeenapidohroefPnPrCoraodtduhcuetcriotaionllnManager data – and the best ways to use them, going
Lawrence Brookes at said, up to USB-C, computer ports were beyond the obvious. For true port connoisseurs,
MANAGEMENT asymmetrical beasts resembling grimacing the photo spread on pages 50-51 will delight
CCMMohaDmineoafmfgEAeixnrdegcvciaDeulrtiriatveinsecidntJoagRrmeJDutealhisiaalnTrDmyLireleeoscyhtdo-MrEDivsaatrvnyisd Barker mouths or eyes that refuse to blink. ey were and captivate. Does anyone else have a favourite?
Company Founder Felix Dennis ugly and intimidating. But USB-C’s reversible Daniel Booth
BRAND USAGE AND REPRINTS design is a thing of beauty. It’s just dawned on [email protected]
alqCovuogaomoitlaapabtaniolndeni.eBssufcyroaImnt! looabgrttoaic.ilnResae,pltirchienentCscoeomftoapruutistceeleraaspcatpirvreoeavlesdo
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London, WC1E 7DP
WLIAhiBleILeIvTeYry care was taken preparing this THIS ISSUE IN NUMBERS HSNOIWPCTAOUURSLEs
morerasapgnoayzncisnoiebn,lsetehfqeourpetuhnbecleiaschaceruisrrsianccgayfnronofomtthbiete.iAnhflelolrdmation
cCtjuooodnCmgtomepmnuetptneoutrfstaeecarxtraitevceetbrinvataeaskleaewdtsetohnbneoseitrtiqeemussepipwoomhnfoesresinbevtiliaieatvydwadf.iolraerbstlsheees 50GB 740msiencso, nds We use snipcas to turn long URLs that
are published in the magazine. are hard to type into ones that are
Place, LoDCbnyoEdmoDNneNp,nuIWSnteiCsPra1PUEcuBt7ibvLDleiIPsCih.sAinpTguIO,b3lNi1s-h3e2dAfolfrretndightly Maximum size of How long Virgin Media short and simple. They aren’t websites
Company registered in England. ISSN 1461-6211 Outook’s email customers have to wait themselves, which means they won’t
database - p64 on the phone to speak be recognised if you type them into
Average sales, Jan-Dec 2020 59,649 to someone - p8 Google. Instead, you need to type them
copies per issue. 333 million into your browser address bar, then
© Copyright Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. press Enter. Doing this will take you to
All rights reserved Number of transistors the correct website.
CNoemithpeurttehreacwtivheolies oafrethgisispteurbeldictartaiodnemnoarrka.ny per square millimetre
pwsyaistrhtteoomuf titotmhretarywanbrsietmtereintpteproeddrimnucaisensdyio, fsnotoromrfetodhreinbpyauarbenlitysrhimeeverasal ns in IBM’s new 2nm
Distributed by Marketforce processors - p49

PCroinmtepdutienrtahcetivUeK

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 3

Contents

2–15June2021•Issue 607

6 nNeeww2s1HM1icurpodsoatfet fixes high-pitched wail in p10
10 Qfuull-efisbtrieonbrooafdthbaenFdosrotonniegrhthtaWnilelxypoeucgteedt?
11 PFarkoetAecmtaYzooun,rATrgeocshandAsda texts Full-fibre broadband: In the pipeline
12 LfoertptheornseCnaufemrbeealrissed it was mistake to ask
14 DCoonIhsauvme teorpaucttuivpewithrepeated repairs? Dynabook Portégé
16 AGdrdowevYidoeuncreFtaompriolvyeTyroeuer data X40-J-11C
18 BBCeUstnFinrsetaellSeor 5ftware
21 JNuanmk Oeffde&ndSehr:aWmineddows10 p22

Reviews Nokia 1.4

22 Dynabook Portégé X40-J-11C p25
Solidlaptop makeseverydaytasks easy

23 HP Omen 15-en0006na
Agrandlaptop for£1,000

24 Netgear Orbi RBK352
Wi-Fi 6 mesh router covers most bases

25 Nokia 1.4
Budget phone is basically great

26 AOC Q32P2
Big-screen monitor ranges far and wide

28 Apple AirTag
Stop losing items with a winning tag
OnePlus 9
Fastphone,butfarfrom aperfect 10

29 Honor Band 6
Affordablefitness watch missesabeat

30 BBaulylisIttix/CMoAmXp16eGtiBtimonemWoinryakCitrucial

4 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

See page 58 for oSuur sbpseccirailbsuebns oofwfe!r 32GB

Workshops & Tips Make yourself heard
on video chats
35 Hinovwidteoo…cImalplsrovehowyousound
38 Addnotestoyouremails p35
40 sRheopraticruytosurbrokenWindows
42 RCheeacdkeifrsy’oTuicpasnhearlosslessaudio MPACSTPEOR RYOTUSRLeaPrnSbmrailrltiearnatundeiowPwBaeyttsertoviduesoePallFoasftethredamta FECPAO5TV0UERRE
44 PBlhoocknoeraanlldowTaapbplettraTcikpinsg
46 CMuasktoemWisienAdcotiwonsCBeentttreerbuttons eSATA ETHERNET DVI OPTICAL
47 MCspaarleckuaeldaOstheffievecisteisbBleertotwers onlyin
48 TInratnhsecrCibleumbeetingsinrealtime 3.5MM HDMI PS/2 COMPOSITE

49 2Wnhmacth’sipAsll the Fuss About? USB-C FIREWIRE VGA USB-A
50 MmaCWnOoeadsVsedttxEaoepRtfralayyFpionoEouhrAurtocsrTwoPUmtCRoppEuidoteernrt’tssifayuadniod,mvidaekeothe
60 DCfahistatcerghreaynyodouumrroporhleodencffehes,cattraivgbeelelyrtsthaanndelaveprtops YHBolauucekrtooth
62 Hwaireecrleke’ssyssootuemcrhuBnclohulomegtoyortoehttahontjhuesthsahnadryingfiles
64 PWrhoybisleOmutsloSooklpvleayding up? Give Bluetooth more to bite on p62
71 HRoewaddeorISbouoptpfroormt a USBstick?
72 Jargon Buster
74 REoabseyrtWIrvhienenrYeostuorKens oolwdpHhoowtosusingAI

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 5

News Thetopstoriesintheworldoftechnology
Mwaicilroinsonfetwfi2xe1Hs 1huigphd-aptiteched
Microsoft has fixed a
problem with the 2020, named 2004 and 20H2.
new Windows 10 Microsoft acknowledged the
Feature update that was
bug in its ‘Known Issues’ page
(www.snipca.com/38364),
causing a high-pitched noise saying it was affecting 5.1
when running certain surround-sound audio on
programs. computers. If you have an
e glitch was in the 21H1 HDMI port, then you’ll be able
Feature Update, which to play 5.1 audio through
Microsoft released on 18 May. speakers such as the Razer
It also affected both Feature Leviathan (£165 from
updates that were released in Amazon: www.snipca.
com/38376).
WHATWE THINK
Hello camera, (stopped developing) some it describes as “seekers” – in
Feature updates are normally goodbye roaming features in this update – to see other words, people who want
more likely to produce deep e 21H1 version of Windows these visit www.snipca. to manually install the update.
rumbling groans than high- 10 is one of the smallest com/38365 and look for 21H1 To do this, you need to open
pitched beeps, so at least Feature updates since the in the column on the right. It Settings (Windows key+I),
Microsoft is keeping us on operating system was released includes ‘Personalization then click ‘Update & Security’
our toes. ankfully, it quickly in 2015. Its only significant roaming’, which lets you followed by Windows Update
fixed this bug, and in any case new feature relates to synchronise your wallpaper, on the left.
not too many people were Windows Hello, which is slideshow, desktop colours Next, click ‘Check for
affected. More significant is Microsoft’s biometric system and lock-screen images across updates’ in the middle and
Microsoft’s confirmation that for letting you sign in with different computers. It’ll still wait to see if you’re given the
Windows 10X will never find your fingerprint or face. work for now, but Microsoft option to ‘Download and
its way on to your desktop. From now, it will by default will probably remove it in a install’ the update (see
It’s the right decision. We use an external camera to forthcoming update. screenshot above). You’ll need
don’t need a stripped-back sign you in (if you have one to be already running either
version of Windows; we just attached), rather than a How to install 21H1 Windows 10 2004 or 20H2.
need a system that’s easy to built-in camera. You can Microsoft hasn’t yet started to If you don’t see the option
use and can be tweaked to switch this in Settings if automatically install the to install 21H1, it’s probably
individual tastes. you don’t like it. update on computers. Instead, because Microsoft doesn’t
Microsoft has ‘deprecated’ it’s making it available to users consider your computer to be
ready for it yet. As usual, it’s
staggering the update so
WINDOWS 10X IS OFFICIALLYDEAD computers likely to install it

Microsoft has confirmed that it menu (pictured). However, it has without problems will receive
has officially scrapped plans to now decided that Windows 10X it first. It makes the update
launch Windows 10X, following shouldn’t be aimed at a “subset” available to install only when
rumours online. e system of users, and its best features it’s “confident you will have a
was meant to offer a faster- will instead be added to the full good update experience”.
booting, streamlined version version of Windows 10. Read Reports from users online
of Windows, with fewer more on Microsoft’s blog: suggest the installation is fast
programs and a slimmer Start www.snipca.com/38366. and smooth, which is to be
expected given its small size.

iPadsYAuoppupp’ollelrltiis(kwaedwtdhwiins.g…snsiigpncala.cnogmua/g3e83to6i2P)honeand alertsbStouktyTnVhoactsutnsh’ttiosb…meeenrss(ewnwdinwg.sonuitp-coaf.-ccoomnt/r3a8ct363)

6 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

iGdoeongtilfey’ssnkeinwcAoIntdoitoilownsill help IN BRIEF
Google plans to release a 1 2
tool that tries to identify EBAY NOW PAYS INTO
skin, spot and hair conditions will analyse it and then show condition might be. It will also BANK ACCOUNTS
based on photos of your body matching images 2 to help provide information from skin EBay is now paying sellers
that you take with your you identify what the experts and answers to directly into their bank
phone’s camera. commonly asked questions. account rather than PayPal,
and taking fees at the point
e ‘dermatology assist’ tool e tool – due to go live later of sale rather than in a
uses artificial intelligence to this year – took Google three monthly invoice. e new
compare the image with years to build, and is based on system, which began on 31
photos on its database. Google its previous tools for spotting May, charges sellers 12.8
said it can recognise 288 skin the symptoms of certain per cent of the final value
conditions, but added that it’s cancers and tuberculosis. fee (including delivery), plus
not a substitute for medical 30p per order. PayPal will
diagnosis and treatment. It said that each year there no longer take a cut, leaving
are more than 10 billion sellers fractionally better off.
Google explained how it searches on Google related to Buyers can still use PayPal to
works in its blog (www. skin, nail and hair problems. purchase items.
snipca.com/38346). When 77 MORE AREAS TO
you take a photo 1 , Google DITCH COPPER PHONE
Openreach has named the
TURN STILLPHOTOS INTO ANIMATIONS next 77 UK exchanges where
it will replace the old copper-
e Google Photos app will the gaps with new frames. based analogue phone
soon be able to combine two Visit Google’s blog to see this service with a VoIP network.
similar photos taken with in action, and for details of Download a spreadsheet of
your phone’s camera into more new tools - including locations by visiting www.
an animated shot. It works a Locked Folder for securing snipca.com/38315, then
by analysing two “nearly private photos: www.snipca. look for places in column E
identical” shots and filling in com/38349. marked ‘29-Apr-22’ - which
is when the copper service
sInigcnreaal sweityhonuer whobmooesptherosne will be switched off. It brings
You may soon be able to Ofcom’s standards. the number of exchanges
buy a wider range of Its Cel-Fi more important named to 297, covering
because banks and 2.9 million homes and
devices to boost your phone Prime model credit-card companies businesses.
signal indoors under new (pictured), which are increasingly sending
Ofcom proposals. is designed for flats and small two-factor authentication WTOOMROLDRROW’S
In 2018 the regulator homes and works with EE and codes to phones in order for
authorised the use of ‘indoor ree only, costs £580. e people to confirm purchases is spidery alphabet was
mobile repeaters’ – sometimes Cel-Fi Solo model, for larger and transactions created by a computer
called ‘signal boosters’ – homes, costs £1,249 and It pointed out that some decoding the thoughts
without a licence, provided works with EE, O2, ree mobile signals can be affected of a disabled man with a
they met specific technical and Vodafone. by thick stone walls and slate brain implant. He imagined
requirements. e regulator hopes that roofs, as well as glazing and writing on paper, and the
Until then, it was illegal to making more models available materials used for insulation. computer did the rest.
use a repeater that wasn’t to buy will boost competition It will now consult with It’s the remarkable work
approved by a mobile firm and drive prices down. It also interested parties until the of researchers at Brown
University in Rhode Island.
Watch it being demonstrated
at www.snipca.com/38326.

because they can interfere plans to make it easier for end of July before making
with other networks used by people to see which products a decision.
people nearby. meet the criteria. You can check which
However, at the moment Announcing the proposals networks cover your areas
only the Cel-Fi products from (www.snipca.com/38355), by using Ofcom’s postcode
US firm Nextivity (www. Ofcom said that a good checker: www.snipca.
signalboosters.co.uk) meet mobile signal is becoming com/38353.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 7

News oVnirgthinecpuhsotnoemfeorrslloenftgehranging
Virgin customers suffer
IN BRIEF the longest wait when major providers
performed last
ROYAL MAIL TESTS phoning to speak to an year. It found that
DRONES IN SCILLY ISLES assistant, Ofcom has found. broadband and
Royal Mail is On average in 2020 Virgin landline customers
testing drone Media customers waited seven waited on average four
deliveries minutes and 40 seconds, minutes and nine seconds
from the while Virgin Mobile customers to speak to someone, while
UK mainland to the Isles of were left hanging for six mobile customers waited two
Scilly, in the first trial of its minutes and 44 seconds. minutes and seven seconds.
kind. Parcels will be flown by EE had the shortest average is was reflected in the
a drone (pictured) that can waiting time, with one customer-satisfaction ratings,
carry up to 100kg of mail at a minute and 15 seconds (see with 90 per cent of mobile
time, which is about the size box for all the major customers saying they’re
of a typical delivery round. If broadband providers). happy with their service, just 10 per cent of mobile
successful, drones might be Virgin Media said the 10 per cent higher than customers.
introduced in other remote pandemic had forced it to broadband customers.
areas of the UK. change how its call centres Similarly, 26 per cent of Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s
USE 64BIT ONEDRIVE worked. broadband customers had a network and communications
FOR LARGER FILES “We’re proud of how we reason to complain about group director, said most
Microsoft has fully launched rose to this challenge,” the their service compared with companies had “adapted
a 64bit version of OneDrive, company said, adding that it well” to rising demand
which uses more processing recognises “there’s room for during the pandemic.
powerand memory than improvement”. It claimed that WAITING TIMES
the 32bit version to transfer increased investments in ••••••• However, she acknowledged
large files faster. It was customer service had created Virgin Media 7mins 40s that some have “struggled
announced in April, but is only 1,000 more roles in the UK Plusnet 4mins 52s with customer service
now available to everyone. last year. BT 3mins 28s problems”, and challenged
Microsoft said it will “silently Vodafone 3mins 25s the telecoms industry to
update” all 32bit versions to e results come from the Sky 3mins 21s become “the gold standard
64bit without users needing regulator’s annual Comparing TalkTalk 1min 46s for customer service”.
to do anything. It will work on Customer Service research, EE 1min 15s
64bit computers only. Read which compares how the How long do you have to wait
more on Microsoft’s blog: on hold? Let us know: letters@
www.snipca.com/38235. computeractive.co.uk

GTHOENWE MORALDD!’S Ofcom to remove unsafe eBay items
EBay is letting regulators
Homo sapiens remove unsafe items being around the world are involved. Lesley Rudd, chief
have had a sold on the site without For years investigators executive of charity
good run – having to consult with it first. Electrical Safety First (www.
300,000 have complained that eBay electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk),
years or so. It said officials will be able doesn’t do enough to remove welcomed the move, but said
But we’re now evolving into to take down listings “where items that pose a danger to online marketplaces like eBay
a new species: the human they have evidence of a risk to the public. Officials have “must be legally recognised as
snail. Such is the view consumer safety” in order to repeatedly found unsafe a retailer” so they’re required
of anthropologists from speed up the removal of batteries, toys and electrical to prevent the sale of
University College London “illegal or unsafe items”. appliances being sold on substandard products just like
(www.snipca.com/38236) the site. high-street shops are.
who studied how people UK regulators already
worldwide use their phones signed up to eBay’s new EBay added that the new
and concluded that we’re Regulatory Portal include scheme is in addition to its
“human snails carrying our Ofcom, Westminster City own “extensive reporting
homes in our pockets”. Council Trading Standards system and proactive efforts to
Sounds like a load of old and the Office for Product remove prohibited items and
molluscs to us. Safety and Standards, with enforce its existing policies”.
more expected to join soon. Read more on its site: www.
More than 50 watchdogs snipca.com/38233.

8 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Ruseipnogrtthbrreoea-dwboarnddgrdiadmreafgeerence IN BRIEF
You can now use
What3words to report the service delivery, said: “Many of CURRYS TO LOSE ‘PC
our poles and overhead wires WORLD’ NAME
exact location of damaged are in areas with no easily All Currys
broadband cabinets, identifiable features nearby, so stores will lose
telephone poles and overhead it can be tricky for people to the PC World
wires across the UK. report exactly which pole has and Carphone
Openreach has teamed up been knocked over or which Warehouse
with the website, which overhead wire is damaged”. names from October in a
divides the whole planet into said What3words will prove He added that the public major rebranding exercise
57 trillion three-metre especially useful when can also report damage on announced by parent
squares, giving each a unique customers need to report Openreach’s website (www. company Dixons Carphone.
three-word code. problems in hard-to-reach snipca.com/38251), through It means all 300-plus stores
For example, Openreach’s and rural areas, helping its social media (Twitter: https:// will simply be called Currys,
London headquarters is 35,000 engineers pinpoint twitter.com/OpenreachHelp; while it will appear also on
recorded as ‘lock.factor.tall’, the location. Facebook www.facebook. staff uniforms and delivery
while Dennis Publishing, e easiest way to get a code com/WeAreOpenreach), or by vans. Alex Baldock, head of
home to Computeractive, is is through the app (www. calling 0800 023 2023 and Dixons Carphone, called the
‘fuels.rods.bolts’. snipca.com/38250). Once selecting option 1. change “a gearshift, not a
You can find your own you’re in the correct location, What3words is also being facelift”.
code by visiting https:// just tap your system’s icon: a used by 100 UK emergency AUDACITY WON’T TRACK
what3words.com, then typing target in Android; an arrow services, including mountain- HOW PEOPLE USE IT
your address in the box at the pointing top right in iOS. It rescue teams, to find people Audacity has scrapped
top left, pressing Enter, then works even if you don’t have a needing help. However, it has plans to track how people
selecting the correct phone signal. faced criticism from some use the audio-editing
suggestion (see screenshot). Peter Stewart, Openreach’s rescuers who say it doesn’t program – a process called
Writing online, Openreach UK operations director for always give accurate results. telemetry. Muse Group,
which bought Audacity in
Gflooovdtstoansedntderermoreargtteancckystexts for May, had said it would add
The Government is to start their phone number. e telemetry in a forthcoming
sending emergency text Government said this makes update, triggering a furious
messages to phones to warn the messages “secure, free to reaction from users worried
people about events that pose receive, and one-way”, and is about privacy. Muse Group
a risk to life, such as floods, not a threat to personal responded a few weeks later
fires, industrial accidents and privacy. It added that the alerts by apologising for “causing
terror attacks. don’t collect any personal data so much alarm”, and said it
ey’ll contain information and don’t reveal your location. would look at “alternative
on the incident and the area Cabinet Office minister solutions” (read its full
affected, as well as advice Penny Mordaunt called the Charities will also be statement at www.snipca.
on what to do and a link for system a “vital tool in helping consulted to ensure “the com/38303).
more details. us to better respond to needs of the elderly, YOUTUBE TELLS YOUNG
A first trial held in east emergencies”, and claimed it vulnerable, young people TO GET VACCINE
Suffolk on 25 May, when will “allow authorities to more and those with disabilities are YouTube is encouraging
residents received a test alert, quickly and effectively get fully considered”. under-35s to get the Covid
will be followed by another life-saving messages to You’ll be able to opt out of vaccination when it’s their
in Reading on 15 June. If people”. some alerts through your turn. It’s spending millions on
successful, the system will be She said the Government phone’s settings, though the a joint advertising campaign
implemented across the UK. was working with the most important messages will with the NHS to promote
It uses cell broadcasting administrations in Northern always get through. During the benefits of the jab. e
technology, which sends Ireland, Scotland and Wales to the Covid pandemic, the ‘Let’s Not Go Back’ campaign
messages to phones in a give all emergency services Government sent texts to will feature “light-hearted”
specific area without knowing access to the system. remind people to stay at home. messages and videos
aimed at the 98 per cent of
18-34-year olds who watch
YouTube regularly.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 9

QuessttiioonnooffththeeFoFortrntingihgtht

Wsoiollnyeoruthgaent feuxlpl-eficbtreedb?roadband

BT has set itself tougher new targets following recent rule changes

THE FACTS

• BT now aims to deliver
full-fibre broadband to
25 million homes by 2026,
rather than 20 million by
the “mid-to-late-2020s”.
• It’s spending £15bn on the
project and claims it could
create 7,000 jobs.
• More than 4.6 million
homes and businesses
can already get full-
fibre broadband through
There’s still plenty of “mid-to-late 2020s”, and will scheme to allow firms to Openreach’s network.
debate – not least on cost £15bn, up from £12bn. tax-deduct up to 130 per cent of full-fibre subscribers across
our Letters page - about It gives three main reasons of the costs of factories and
whether people actually need why the “conditions are right” equipment. BT said this would the continent. For the second
Gigabit broadband. Speeds of for this move. First, and significantly cut its tax bill, year running it placed the UK
1Gbps (1,000Mbps) appear probably most important, creating the right incentives to third bottom, above only
excessive to many who happily telecoms regulator Ofcom invest. e final reason was Austria and Belgium, with just
get by on 30-50Mbps, while decided in March not to the BT-owned network EE 3.7 per cent of households
winning a large slice of the signed up to full-fibre (Iceland
It’s a shot in the arm for auction for the 5G spectrum and Belarus top the table - see
the UK as we build back better in April. www.snipca.com/38263).
from this pandemic
On top of this, BT is seeing But there’s better news from
“encouraging take-up” of Ofcom on the UK’s average
full-fibre, having made it speed, which rose from
available to 1.9 million homes 64Mbps to 80Mbps in the 12
and businesses in the past 12 months to November 2020.
they must seem like a cruel impose price caps on what BT months, taking the total to 4.6 To hit its new target, BT will
joke to the 650,000 homes subsidiary Openreach can million. at means it will have to focus more on villages
stuck on a single-digit charge other providers – like need to add roughly four and market towns (most big
connection. Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone – million a year to hit the new cities are already covered),
But whatever the public to use its cable network. target of 25 million by 2026. such as the 27 named in May
demand, Gigabit broadband is BT didn’t disguise its delight e providers who use - including Leven in Fife,
coming – and you might be at Ofcom’s ruling. Its boss Openreach welcomed the Soham in Cambridgeshire and
able to get it sooner than you Philip Jansen said it was “the news, having previously Newbridge in Gwent.
thought. is is because BT green light we’ve been waiting criticised BT for dragging its To see the others, download
has said it now plans to deliver for to get on and build like feet. But TalkTalk surely spoke Openreach’s list from www.
full-fibre connections – that’s fury”, and that the resulting for them all by saying that the snipca.com/38262 (scroll to
all the way to your doorstep, network broadband will be announcement “shouldn’t the bottom for the link), then
not just ending at the street “a shot in the arm for the UK hide the fact that the UK lags look for ‘Apr-21’ under the
cabinet – to 25 million homes as we build back better from far behind other European Publish Date column. e list
by 2026, creating 7,000 jobs in this pandemic”. nations in rolling out full fibre”. also contains the other 760-plus
the process. at’s a big jump is news came on the back is was reflected in FTTH locations named so far. If yours
from its previous target of of Chancellor Rishi Sunak Council Europe’s recent annual is there, you can start thinking
20 million homes by the announcing in the budget a report measuring the number about that Gigabit upgrade now.

10 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Protectyourtech

Scams and threats to avoid, plus new security tools

WATCH OUT FOR...

Fake Amazon, Argos and Asda texts
What’s the threat?
the hackers steal passwords and other
Mobile-phone networks have warned sensitive information, including banking
about a second wave of the fast-spreading details. It also accesses your contact
FluBot malware that uses fake messages details in order to send the scam to more
from Amazon, Argos and Asda to give people, further spreading the malware.
hackers full control of your Android
phone (iPhones aren’t at risk). How can you stay safe?
Researchers at the National Cyber Delivery scams are so prevalent that you
Security Centre (NCSC) first warned should always assume any text is fake. To
about FluBot in April (www.snipca. track DHL deliveries visit https://track.
com/38257), saying it was infecting dhlparcel.co.uk. If you receive the scam,
phones disguised as a text from delivery delete it without clicking the link. If you’ve
firm DHL (pictured) that asked you to clicked the link but haven’t downloaded
install an app to track your parcel. the app, again just delete the message.
e new version of the scam, as More drastic action is needed if you
highlighted by ree (www.snipca. have installed the app. You’ll have to
com/38253), tells you to download a perform a factory reset to remove the
parcel-tracking app, but this time says it’s infection, but make sure you don’t enter
coming from Amazon, Argos or Asda. your password before doing so, or log into
Delivery scams are common, but any accounts. If you don’t know how to
they’re mostly phishing attempts to steal do this, follow Google’s instructions at
details like your email address or phone www.snipca.com/38256. It provides links
number. FluBot is more serious because to your manufacturer’s site, which you
it installs malware on your device, letting might have to visit for specific advice.

New tools Dwwaswh.dlaanshel’sanEes.csoemntials package ScamWatch

Readers warn readers

LastPass ending free syncing across across unlimited devices for free, and NDyostosnucwkiend in by
computers and phones was great news lets you share with one other person.
for rival password managers, which But the Essentials plan is a good choice I get so many scams supposedly
have come up with eye-catching if you’re an existing Dashlane Premium from Royal Mail and DHL that they’ve
packages to tempt people to switch. customer and want something cheaper. become boring now, but one that did
If you’re interested but not sure, try it surprise me recently claimed to be a
Dashlane’s response is an Essentials month by month without committing message from Currys PC World
plan that offers some features to a year – this costs around £1.75 a congratulating me on winning a new
previously found only in its Premium month. Read more on Dashlane’s site: Dyson hoover. All I had to do was
package: unlimited passwords (the Free www.snipca.com/38333. “participate” in a “Loyalty Program”
package limits you to 50), autofill (see (whatever that was) and pay £1 to
screenshot), and Secure Notes for cover delivery cost. Very suspicious! It
storing private text. also wanted my credit-card details. I
haven’t shopped in Currys for years,
What it doesn’t do is let you sync and hardly ever enter competitions,
passwords on more than two devices – so I knew it was a scam. e email
but at $23.88 a year (about £16.80), it’s was quite convincing though, with the
around £7 cheaper than Premium. genuine Currys logo.
Compare all the packages, including
Family, at www.dashlane.com/plans. David Reece

Overall, we still prefer Bitwarden Warn your fellow readers about scams
(www.snipca.com/37640 – see Issue at [email protected]
603, page 38), which syncs passwords

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 11

Letters

Tell us what’s on your mind

oCffoeurnecdillhoerlpshtoouuldse’veZoboemen and using a password manager so you likely to have no problem either using or
can avoid the annoyance of having to affording a modern phone. Yes, it does offer
I was saddened to hear about type a code sent to your phone just for a robust second layer of protection, but
Dennis Baxter the privilege of signing into many people – like Matthew – find it
being disqualified your account? Otherwise, why inconvenient or downright annoying to
from his role as a bother coming up with keep checking their phone to sign in, or,
local councillor (Star passwords like 4$!h@HH7^&V like Hugh, are unable to. It would be
Letter, Issue 606). and similar gobbledygook? I’ve interesting to hear more views on this
Having researched mastered a specific way of subject so we can tailor our advice
the background to creating passwords using accordingly.
the story, I do random characters precisely so I
wonder whether it could have been easily didn’t have to search for my phone every tPuhmonbelesdarryeefrosraprleena’sture;
prevented by following similar measures few minutes to get a code.
that my parish council undertook. Matthew Watson Liam Hughes’s question in Issue
We had a councillor who was unable 606 (‘Why are phones more
to use a PC, though she was very active in I was worried to read that Google is interesting than tumble dryers?’), while
the community. Councillors are disqualified to turn on two-factor authentication interesting and provocative, is surely no
if they go six months without attending a by default, requiring a ‘simple prompt’ more than tongue in cheek. He must
meeting, and given the exceptional from a phone. Unfortunately, I can’t afford know full well that the reason people
circumstances of the pandemic I thought a mobile phone as well as a computer. queue overnight for phones but not
it would be unfair for her to leave her role Also in Issue 606 there was an article tumble dryers is that the former are
just because she lacked Zoom skills. saying that Ofcom had noticed that the devices designed purely for pleasure.
We arranged for her to attend virtually “UK’s digital divide had narrowed during ey have inbuilt excitement.
in a parish office using a computer. ere lockdown”. Nevertheless, it also stated Unless you’re a tumble-dryer fanatic,
was somebody present – observing social that 1.5 million homes still don’t use the or just really love the smell of newly
distancing rules – to help her operate it. internet. is group is most likely to be dried clothes, your heart isn’t going to
is effectively reset the clock of meetings the over 65s, people in lower income pound so enthusiastically. Downloading
not attended, meaning that six-month households and the most “financially an app to your phone gives you a tingle of
period began again, and allowed her to vulnerable”. I tick every box. anticipation. You don’t get any such
continue. She was very grateful for this Any advice on how to use two-factor sensation opening the door of your dryer
assistance. It seems a shame that Dennis authentication for those of us who choose and shoving in wet clothes.
Baxter wasn’t also shown this courtesy. food before phones? is, simply, is why people are happy to
Ian omson Hugh Jenkins spend more money than sense upgrading
their phones every few years, while
C‘moouvneciwlliotrhstshheotuimldes’ CASAYS Google’s decision to turn on they’ll want their tumble dryer – and
default two-factor authentication was other white goods – to last for many years.
I do have some sympathy for applauded by security experts, but they’re David Sandringham
Dennis Baxter, but I don’t think it’s
too much to expect local councillors to

Spot our laptop’s feeble speakerhavetherequiredcomputerskillsto
participate in Zoom meetings. Having
that role comes with the responsibility When I bought cover to check whether
to learn modern techniques of my daughter a the speaker had failed. I
communicating with the public and Lenovo V110 laptop a was amazed to find that
colleagues. Video calls are now a few years ago I was such a feeble speaker
permanent part of everyday interaction, disappointed by the had been used (in the
just like phone calls and emails. You can quality and volume level photo it’s at an angle
either accept that and participate, or of the audio. I put this just to the left of the
reject it and be alienated from society. down to the fact that the speaker was yellow label).
Simon Kidman underneath and facing downwards, I realise laptops are meant to be
and so bought her a mini soundbar to portable and are commonly used with
Whahvyedcoomwpelnexeepdas2sFwAowrdhse?n we use with the laptop. headsets or earpieces, but I feel that
Recently, I was updating her having to carry around other items
My heart sank when I read that operating system and other software - defeats the object. Some manufacturers
Google is turning on default generally giving the laptop a spring should make more effort to incorporate
two-factor authentication (2FA) for all clean. e audio seemed to be getting better and usable audio.
accounts (Issue 606, page 7). Isn’t the even worse, so I removed the bottom David Holden
whole point of creating complex passwords

12 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Facebook: wEmwwawiwl.f:[email protected]:mm@p//CuccotooemmmrapppcuuuttttiveeeerrrA.aaccccottt.iiiuvvveeek

fAobrsnuordt stpooptetinnaglissceapmesople STAR LETTER

In Issue 605, Roy Drever suggested fCoarfpehreoanleisneudmitbwearssa mistake to ask
that UK banks should test how I wholeheartedly agree was so they could monitor how
security-aware their customers are by
sending them a spoof email to see if they
are taken in by it. He goes on to suggest
their bank could then consider blocking with the recent letters many people wanted to take
them from online banking. asking why so many shops part, and to alert them to
While there must be a number of insist on taking your new events. She didn’t
individuals who don’t understand how to phone number when you have an answer when I
react to spoof emails correctly, it’s absurd sign up for a service. It asked why she couldn’t
to suggest that a customer who fails a brought to mind a strange send this information by
security test should lose access to their experience I had with a email (I don’t mind them
online bank account. local cafe that also runs a having my address). I told
Online banking has not only been weekly book group. I had been her that I never give out my
beneficial for customers – it has also a member of this group in those number unless it’s absolutely
benefited the banks, who have significantly distant days before Covid, and always necessary. She didn’t seem to
reduced their presence on the high street. enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the understand why I was reluctant, and
Indeed in many rural areas finding a cafe. When it reopened last summer, I almost seemed to take offence.
bank branch is almost impossible. didn’t mind scanning the QR code as is had a happy ending. A few days
e way to combat online bank fraud was required to track potential cases. later the cafe’s manager spoke to me
isn’t by penalising those who make a At no point did the cafe ever ask for and said that so many people had
mistake and respond to spoof emails, it’s my phone number, and nor would I refused to hand over their number that
by banks investing in better security and have given it had they done so. But they’ve dropped the policy. He now
by trying to provide their customers with recently, as I was grabbing a takeaway admits it was over the top and didn’t
more information about the various ways coffee, the assistant said that the book realise it would trigger such a negative
scammers operate. club would be restarting in late May, reaction. He learned a lesson and so,
My bank, Barclays, has been doing that once they were allowed indoor seating hopefully, have we: the more people
for some time now and I suspect others again. Great, I thought. refuse to give their number, the
do too! However, she then asked for my more stores will realise they’re
Douglas McCoy phone number so she could confirm losing customer loyalty.
my interest. I asked why, and she said it Graham Pearson
WfakaernUrSeaBdsetriscknsot to buy
TheStar LetterwriterwinsaComputeractive !
I read your great article in Issue
606 (page 60) on which USB stick
to buy, but would suggest in future you your readers to buy from reputable sellers and experimenting with our fluids called
also recommend readers don’t buy fake only, and if something is too cheap to be Flutec to cool microchips.
cheap sticks from the likes of eBay. A few true (256GB for £5), then it’s fake. Over the years computer and chip
years ago I bought five cheap metal sticks Bill Gillett designers have managed to avoid doing
from China via eBay, costing around £5 this, having found other ways to cool
each for 128GB of storage. But when I CASAYS Bill’s right that you should components, despite the exponential
started to put some films on them, they never be tempted by prices on Amazon growth in computing power. It has taken
crashed after around 2GB was added. or eBay that look abnormally cheap. Like only 50 years for this technology to reach
I looked deeper into the problem using Bill, we recommend using H2testw to this realisation!
a free program called H2testw (www. check – we explained how to do this in e liquids have very interesting
snipca.com/35365), which showed them Issue 569 (page 38). properties quite apart from being inert
as fake! Sadly, certain unscrupulous dielectric fluids with good heat-carrying
people abroad had managed to fool Bsiomilminegr-ilniqgufidorteyecharhsas been capacity. One interesting characteristic is
Windows 10 into thinking the sticks had that they can carry oxygen. I recall pictures
128GB. I immediately informed the seller, I’m not sure how “groundbreaking” of mice immersed in and breathing the
and within minutes he replied that he it is that Microsoft is using boiling liquid, and there was talk of using it in
would refund me the whole amount and liquid to keep its servers cool (‘What’s all ultra-deep diving applications where the
told me to keep the sticks. Please advise the Fuss About?’, Issue 605, page 49). I diver would breathe the liquid. It all
worked in 1971 for ISC Chemical at seemed pretty scary and alien to me.
FAKE Avonmouth and can remember visiting ere was even work on using it as
many electronics companies (Texas artificial blood. Still, let’s see what
Instruments, Siliconix, IBM, and happens in the next 50 years.
Raytheon come to mind) who were using David Clow

Views expressed don’t necessarily reflect those of Computeractive Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 13

Consumeractive

We stand up for your legal rights

wDoithI hraevpeeatotepdurteuppairs? CLEAASDE dCiteeamsncIrtrihbeajeetd’sc?tnaontas
Q Last August, I paid £799 for an Q In September 2020 I bought a
Acer Aspire 5 laptop (pictured) hand-held heat press from an
from Currys PC World. It was Amazon Marketplace seller. I’ve
faulty from the start, so Acer replaced the since found that the listing regarding the
SSD. However, when they returned the maximum temperature was incorrectly
laptop the case was warped. Acer described. If I’d known this, I wouldn’t
promised another repair, but they stopped have bought it. Do I have any rights?
replying to my emails, so I took up the Miranda Apps
issue with Currys. It replaced the case
but then the laptop kept shutting off. A Mirandawouldhavehadrightshad
Currys promised me a refund, but instead could have claimed this wasn’t an she contacted the seller sooner.
repaired it again, which I believe was in inherent fault and therefore wasn’t If an item’s specifications aren’t
breach of my consumer rights. Is that covered by the CRA. is would’ve forced as described, you can return it for a full
correct? Stewart to continue dealing with Acer. refund even if more than 30 days have
Stewart Moore But by agreeing to repair the case, passed since purchase (the normal period
Currys then became liable for ensuring it for rejecting goods bought online).
A Stewart’s case is complicated by was carried out with reasonable skill and But because Miranda waited eight
the fact that he used Acer’s care. Although it appears the case was months to raise the case, the seller could
warranty for the first repair. successfully replaced, another fault – argue that she has in effect accepted the
Warranties from manufacturers aren’t repeatedly shutting down – has emerged. heat press, particularly if she has used it
covered by the Consumer Rights Act’s Currys can’t now claim that because this during this time. However, she has a
(CRA) rule limiting retailers to one repair is a different fault it’s allowed to attempt better case if she can prove that she has
only, so they can attempt repeated fixes. If another repair. e one-repair rule applies only just discovered the item doesn’t
after a failed repair from a manufacturer even if the second fault is unrelated to the match the description online. If she can
you then approach the retailer, it can first, and whether it’s inherent or was show this, she might still get a refund, or
legitimately argue that it’s still entitled caused by a first botched repair. possibly damages, which would be
to its one shot at a repair. e only conclusion then is that Currys money off the price she paid. We’ve asked
However, it could have been worse for now owes Stewart a refund. We’ve her to provide more information on how
Stewart. e laptop case only started to contacted Currys and hope it will agree she recently noticed the item wasn’t as
warp after Acer’s first repair, so Currys with our verdict. CASEONGOING described.
CASE ONGOING

CASE UPDATE

Currys lets reader spend voucher after expiry date

No matter how messy a case to spend at Currys. However for various disputing her request, and so it proved.
gets, sometimes it can be fixed reasons she has been unable to spend it, It didn’t take long for us to persuade the
with a single phone call. That’s and it eventually expired. Currys understood company it needed to stick to its word. It has
what we found with Annette her situation and said it would extend the now extended the deadline and Annette
Hudson’s complaint against Currys PC World deadline, but this never happened. intends to buy a replacement.
(see Issue 606), which hadn’t delivered on
its promise to extend the expiry date of a We suspected this was down to Currys This was a sensible decision by Currys. It
voucher issued by Domestic & General (D&G). forgetting to contact Annette rather than could have argued it wasn’t responsible for
She had bought an extended warranty the voucher and that Annette should ask
with the company when she purchased a D&G to extend it. But she could’ve countered
fridge freezer. When it stopped working two by claiming its verbal promise to extend the
years ago, D&G gave her a £249.99 voucher expiry date was legally binding. Thankfully,
we don’t need to go down that route.

14 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Contact us so we can investigateyour case
Please iEncmluadile: cyoonusrunmamerea,[email protected].

Am I too late for a refund fro

Q I bought a gas lighter from 30 days to make a claim, but this
eBay, which has turned out overlooks the Consumer Rights Act that
to be faulty. e seller said I have gives you six years (five in Scotland) to
no rights 30 days after purchase and told seek redress for faulty goods.
me to contact eBay. I want a refund, but However, even though Michael has
don’t know how to contact eBay. Can missed eBay’s deadline, he’s actually
you help? in a strong position. Because the fault
Michael Oxlade emerged within six months of purchase,
he doesn’t need to prove it’s inherent.
A ere are a few things to unravel Instead, it’s up to the seller to prove He should point out that the seller has
here. First, the seller is talking otherwise. already broken the law by not following
rubbish when they say Michael Michael paid using PayPal, so his next the correct procedure for refunds.
loses his rights 30 days after purchase. move should be to make a claim through If PayPal rejects his claim, he should
e seller may be referring to eBay’s the service, which gives buyers protection contact us again and we’ll get in touch
Money Back guarantee, which gives you for 180 days (www.snipca.com/38230). with the company. CASECLOSED

SwScoheavcorteuniroltdPnhnaa7y’tt5Pydaoolu?esn’t Shouldn’t you remind readers about described, are faulty or aren’t fit for
this when you mention PayPal as an purpose, and the seller refuses to put
Q If your credit card is linked to option for paying for goods? things right, the bank issuing the
your PayPal account, you credit card must do so.
automatically lose any Mike Burton
protection offered by Section 75 of the Using PayPal means you’ve
Consumer Credit Act (CCA). I’ve learned A Mike’s correct that if your PayPal introduced a third party into the
this the hard way because PayPal refuses payment is taken from your transaction, breaking the link between
to help me with a faulty purchase that I credit card, then you lose the the bank and the seller. is is also the
paid with my credit card. Section 75 protection of the CCA, which case if you use other payment providers
guarantees your purchases up to £100. It such as Sage and Worldpay.
means that if goods don’t arrive, aren’t as
If you’re buying goods that are covered
by Section 75, it’s worth checking
whether the seller uses a merchant
service run by a bank. ese aren’t
third-party services, and therefore are
covered by Section 75. CASECLOSED

CREDITWHERE IT’S DUE

‘Faultless’Unispectra replaced TV within 24 hours

Last October, we bought a new and turned on the TV, we noticed thin lines CUonntisacptectra
250v/12v TV from Hampshire down the screen. I phoned Unispectra to
company Unispectra (www. explain the problem. A helpful member •• Contact form www.snipca.com/38217
unispectra.co.uk) for our of staff arranged to send a replacement, Phone 02392 984254
motorhome. We couldn’t set up the TV at which arrived the next day. She also sent a
the time because Covid restrictions meant pre-paid returns label for me to return the
we were unable to use our motorhome, and faulty unit. I regard this as faultless customer
there was no signal where it was parked service and feel it should be publicised.
for the winter. We simply turned the TV on
to check it worked, and left the protective David Kemp
screen cover in place.
When we eventually got away recently Has a company impressed you with its
customer service? Please let us know:
[email protected]

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 15

GFraowmYioluyr Tree
Backing up your work with the original sources lends
credibilitytoyourresearch.FollowNick Peers’adviceto…

Add evidence to prove your data
One of the most overlooked aspects
of genealogy is providing evidence recording everything in it in a consistent
for the details you add to your tree. manner. You then use this information to
generate the facts in your tree, not the
Adding sources such as birth certificates other way around. is ensures no
and census returns ties in with the valuable information is overlooked and
Genealogical Proof Standard (read more avoids unnecessary duplication.
about this at www.snipca.com/38155), To use this method, you’ll need a program
which professional genealogists use to designed to support it – and that means
indicate their research can be trusted by buying the new Family Historian 7 (£59.95 FEanmteirlyaHllirsetloerviaann’tsinDfaotafroEmntryyoAursssiosutarcnetss into
others. Here, we’ll look at ways to add after free 30-day trial, www.family-
these sources to your work. historian.co.uk, see our review in Issue screenshot below left), followed by
602, page 29). It automatically converts Record Birth Data (UK).
Use source-driven data entry the details you enter into the relevant is will open a new template window.
As things stand, virtually all family- facts, ensuring they’re complete, Click ‘Edit’ under Principal to open the
history programs encourage you to enter consistent, and linked to your source. ‘Enter Principal’ window. Your record
facts into your tree first, then attach should already be selected, so click OK.
sources later. e danger of this is that Link birth certificate to a child Next, click Edit under Father. Click the
sources become an afterthought instead Let’s explore the feature using a birth ‘Name only’ dropdown menu and select
of being a fundamental part of the process. certificate as an example. Start by clicking ‘Use existing record’, then click the
A better method is ‘source-driven data the Source button on Family Historian’s ‘Select Record…’ button and select the
entry’. is may sound dull, but it forces main toolbar and choosing ‘Create Source father from the list. Click OK.
you to start with the source material, from Template/Prepare Citation…’ in the Fill in the rest of the form using the
dropdown menu. When prompted, click father’s details as recorded on the birth
Yes to add templates that simplify the certificate then click OK. Repeat for the
data-entry process. other sections – Mother, Informant (see
When the’Select template for new source screenshot above) and Registration
record’ box opens, select Civil Registration Information – to fill in all the information
Certificate, then click Create Source. A that’s recorded on the certificate itself.
new ‘Prepared Citation’ window will Next, click OK to return to the main
appear. Fill in all the details from the Prepared Citation window. If you now
birth certificate, then click the Data Entry switch to its ‘Text from Source’ tab, you’ll
tFhilelnincalilclkthtehedeDtaatialsEfnrotrmy tAhsesibsitrathntcbeurttitfoicnate, Assistant button at the bottom (see see Family Historian has created a
facsimile of the original certificate using
Your Genealogy Problems Solved the information you entered (you can also
attach a scanned image of the original via
the Media tab as further proof). Once that’s
I’ve imported a GEDCOM file from Family file in Family Historian. Next, switch to done, close the Prepare Citation window.
Historian into RootsMagic 7, but it doesn’t Family Historian and choose Tools, You should see the child’s birth date
showanyprimaryphotos.HowdoIfixthis? Plugins, then Export GEDCOM File. Set the and place have been filled in, complete
Alan Wilton ‘GEDCOM Export Mode’ to ‘(RMT) Roots with a link to the certificate showing this.
Magic Tree’ and click the Export button. Select either parent and then click Facts,
You’ll need to install the free Export Import this file into RootsMagic and the where you’ll see that other information
GEDCOM File plug-in for Family Historian primary photos should now appear. from the source has also been added,
(www.snipca.com/38061). It should such as father’s occupation or parents’
install automatically once you click the Have a genealogy question for Nick? marital status. ese are details that many
download button and choose to open the Email [email protected] with people overlook when adding facts
‘Grow Your Family Tree’ in the subject line. manually.

16 2 - 15 June 2021 • Issue 607 Nextissue:Track down school admissions records



BestFreeSoftware
Will Stapley recommends new programs that won’t cost you anything

UNINSTALLER

BCUninstaller 5.0

www.snipca.com/38373
What you need: Windows 7, 8.1 or 10

With so much free software available, it’s tempting to fill your Version 5.0 introduces a number of
hard drive with programs. Some you’ll use all the time, others new features, including the creation of
are left abandoned – taking up space and slowing down a system restore point during each uninstall
Windows. You can uninstall these using Windows’ built-in process, letting you roll back any changes (previously
tool (go to Settings, then select Apps), but if you’ve got a you had to select this option each time). You can also now
whole bunch to uninstall this method can take time. tell BCUninstaller to put your computer into sleep mode
once it’s finished uninstalling – tick the ‘Put PC to sleep
BCUninstaller (click the first link in the Download section when done’ box in the uninstall progress window.
at the URL above) is much faster. It scans your hard drive
for programs, then displays them in a list you can search Other updates include the removal of the Donate button
and filter (see below). Once you’ve selected the programs in the bottom-right corner and better support for high-
to remove, you can choose how BCUninstaller does this. resolution screens (the program now looks sharp on our 26in
Select ‘Uninstall quietly’ and the program will automatically display, which has a resolution of 2560x1440).
choose for you the appropriate options on any prompts that
appear in the process (‘Are you sure you want to uninstall…’ Finally, we triggered an error message when we tried to
and so on). In our experience, this works well, but it can update to version 5.0 from within the program by clicking
occasionally stall if the removal process involves a lot of Help, then ‘Check for updates’ - if you experience the same
prompts. If this happens, click Uninstall instead. problem, download the new version from the link above
(there’s no need to first uninstall the previous version).

12

2
4

3

1 Use these boxes to display 2 Tick the boxes next to 3 is section illustrates how 4 If you don’t want
the program categories you any program you want to much hard-drive space BCUninstaller to create a
want to see. You can also uninstall, then click Uninstall each program is taking system restore point each
search for specific programs or ‘Uninstall quietly’ at the up. Click any box and the time you uninstall programs,
using the search box at the top. program it represents will go to Tools, Settings, then
top. be highlighted in the top the Uninstallation tab and
section. untick this box.

18 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

NETWORK TOOL IWDHOAWTNSLHOOAUDL?D

ManageWirelessNetworks 1.00 We tell you what software & apps to use

www.snipca.com/38378 pWohinattsciannaIuudsieo tfiolems?ark
What you need: Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 Q I used to use Sony MiniDiscs for my dance
is new tool from
NirSoft (scroll to the recordings and found the track-marker facility
bottom of the page at essential as it allowed me to backtrack to the start
the URL above for the of a sequence or a particular point. Can you recommend a
download link) lets Windows tool that can do a similar job?
you view details of the
Wi-Fi network your Barry Pugh
computer is currently
connected to, as well A Audacity (www.audacityteam.org) is the best tool
as all those it has for this. Open your audio track in the tool, then
connected to in the move the playhead to the point you want to go
past. Each network includes details such as its profile name, back to either by pressing Play from the start then Pause
SSID and passcode (look in the Wireless Key column). To when you reach that point, or by clicking the appropriate
edit details for any of the networks, select it then press F2 – point in the timeline. Now press Ctrl+B – this adds a ‘label’,
this opens the Network Properties screen for that network which will appear in a new Label track below the timeline
in Windows. (see screenshot). Give
your label a suitable
ManageWirelessNetworks can also generate QR codes for name, then press Enter.
each network, which is useful if you want to quickly connect You can repeat this
to the same network on your phone. To enable this, click the process to add as many
View tab, followed by Display QR Code (see screenshot). labels as you like. To start
playback from a label,
VIDEO EDITOR click its name on the
timeline (or press Tab to
DaVinci Resolve 17.2 cycle through your
labels), then click the
www.snipca.com/38379 Play button. If you want to loop playback from that point,
What you need: Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 hold down the Shift key while clicking Play.
Davinci Resolve is a You can also use Audacity to create regions – in other
powerful free words, a section bracketed by a start and end point. To label
video-editing tool a region, click and drag your mouse over the section you
that lets you apply want to play, then press Ctrl+B and give the label a name.
professional-grade When you play a region, Audacity will stop playback when
filters and effects to it reaches its end point (as before, you can press Shift+Play
your home videos. To to loop playback).
install from the URL When you’ve added your labels, click File, Save Project,
above, scroll down and then Save Project again (this saves both your audio file and
click the red Download Now button, then the Windows the labels within an Audacity project).
button below Resolve 17 (the program downloads You can also export each labelled section as a separate
immediately and you need to register, but whatever details file, letting you play each one individually outside of
you provide won’t be checked). Audacity. To do this, click File, Export, then ‘Export
Multiple…’. Choose where to save your files and select a
Version 17.2 makes several improvements, most notably format. Next, make sure ‘Split files based on’ is set to Labels
on its startup times – on our computer Resolve took just then click Export.
15 seconds to start, compared with over a minute with the
previous release. You can also now organise your clips more Do you need our advice on what software to use? Just email us at
effectively by renaming them (right-click one, select ‘Clip [email protected]
Attributes…’, then the Name tab – see screenshot), while the
Live Save feature is now switched on by default, meaning you
won’t lose anything if your computer crashes while editing.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 19

BestFreeSoftware

Ublock OriginHOWIUSE...
Will Stapley reveals how he’s redesigning the web, one site at a time

Websites from the late 1990s (like those
classic GeoCities sites, which you can
revisit at www.snipca.com/38370)
might have looked garish, but I’d much
rather browse them than some of 1

today’s monstrosities. It’s not just the
bombardment of adverts, but also the
insistent way which modern sites try to
prevent you from leaving.
YouTube is a prime example. Unless 2
I’m watching a video in full screen, it
inflicts upon me a list of ‘watch next’
suggestions down the right-hand side
of the page – often entirely unrelated
to what I’m actually watching. It’s a
distraction I could do without.
To take these sites to task, I use
uBlock Origin (UBO) - not to be
confused with an inferior extension
simply called uBlock. As well as
blocking ads and cookies, this amazing Select sections of a web page you don’t want to see (left) to create clutter-free sites (right)
open-source browser extension (visit
https://ublockorigin.com, scroll to Platforms at the bottom and choose your thumbnails disappeared. I also took
browser) has a secret tool that lets me the opportunity to get rid of the
create ‘filters’ to hide unwanted sections comments section at the bottom. Best
of websites. of all, these sections remain hidden
To get rid of the offending video if I watch another YouTube video or
suggestions on YouTube, I opened the reload the website.
UBO extension, selected the Element UBO adds all my blocked sections
Picker mode (pipette icon 1 in our to the ‘My filters’ tab on the settings
screenshot above), then left-clicked my page (click the cog icon to access
mouse over the ‘watch next’ thumbnails. this). Each is listed under a heading,
UBO then highlighted sections of indicating the date it was added and
the page as I hovered over them 2, which site it relates to. I can then
indicating what will be removed. I then temporarily disable filters by placing
tTehexemcl‘aMpmoyraaftiriliotleynrdsmi’staaarbbkleiantasthefietltteisnrtgabsryt otyfpitisnglinaenin clicked Create in the box that appears an exclamation mark at the start
at the bottom of the window, and the of each line (see screenshot left)
or remove a filter permanently by
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE IN UBLOCK ORIGIN deleting the relevant line.
Be warned: once you’ve started using
When I first started using UBO, I filters. I’d like UBO to include an automated UBO to blitz unwanted sections from
spent hours creating filters to remove backup feature that would ensure this websites, it’s hard to stop. I’ve created
annoying elements from websites. en never happens again. As it is, I have to filters even on relatively uncluttered
I accidentally uninstalled UBO during a remember to create my own backups by sites like BBC News, getting rid of its
purge of my Chrome extensions and regularly exporting my filters – go to ‘My ‘Must see’ and ‘Most watched’ video
lost all its settings, including my list of filters’ (see above), then click Export. suggestions, along with some of the
toolbars at the top.

20 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607 Nextissue:How I use... Kindle Bookmarks

Named&Shamed
sJpoonuattihnagncPoamrpkyannipesutasntdhseobfotwotairnetosttueffcehdvwilliatihnjsu,njakrgon-

WARNING: JUNK AHEAD
Junk offender: 1 2
IWindows 10
’m not normally one for aTnicdko‘Ttuhrenroinfffo’ tcolosgtogpinsgeuepinygonuerwdes,swkteoapther
bashing Microsoft, but I do sometimes hopelessly inaccurate, assuring me of
wish the company would ask before sunny skies, rather than the torrential
loading my PC with stuff I don’t want. I rain that was lashing at my office
was pretty annoyed when I booted my window at the time. In fact the only
computer recently only to discover that good thing about it is that it’s reasonably
half my taskbar had been randomly taken straightforward to disable – simply
up by a weather forecast. right-click the taskbar, select ‘News and
Okay, ‘half’ is a bit of an exaggeration. interests,’ then click ‘Turn off’ (see
But the offending article – Microsoft’s screenshot 2).
new ‘News and Interests’ widget – takes
up a decent whack of the right-hand side
of the Windows 10 taskbar and seemingly
arrives on your PC uninvited and without
any apparent way to opt out.
Microsoft is rolling out the widget to
customers over the coming months (see pMaicnreolstoofttaisskabdadrisngwaith‘Noeuwt ysoaunrdpIenrtmeriesssitosn’
www.snipca.com/38286), presumably via
a Windows update, though it’s hard to personalise this content by clicking
work out which one. Confusingly, I have ‘Manage interests’. But for me, it’s just a
two PCs with exactly the same Windows waste of space and a potential drain on
build number (19042.964) – one has the system resources that I don’t need. Most
widget installed, the other doesn’t. of all, though, I don’t appreciate that it
Some people may find this new widget was installed and enabled without asking
useful. Clicking the weather icon brings my permission.
up a pop-up panel of news stories, stocks It probably doesn’t help that the
and more (see screenshot 1 ). You can weather data offered by my widget was

WTAHLAKTINAGREATBHOEUYT? JONATHAN’S VILLAIN OF THE FORTNIGHT

WHAT THEY SAY West Midlands Railway
Twitter on its new ‘Tip Jar’
www.snipca.com/38252 How’s this for an exercise sent by the
“We $ee you – sharing in corporate stupidity? railway’s IT team as a
your PayPal link after your Last month West test to assess staff
Tweet goes viral, adding your $Cashtag Midlands Railway sent awareness of phishing
to your profile so people can support emails to 2,500 scams. It’s hard to
your work, dropping your Venmo handle employees promising a imagine that a company
on your birthday or if you just need some bonus for their hard would authorise such a
extra help.” work during the Covid pandemic. shockingly crass, tone-deaf stunt at
WHAT THEY MEAN Rewarding your staff’s dedication the best of times. But during an
Yes, we really did use ‘$’ as an ‘S’ to with a cash bonus is hardly villainous actual pandemic, when so many staff
appear cool and trendy. What absolute behaviour, you might think. Except have genuinely put their own
nons£ns£. that in this case, there was no bonus. wellbeing on the line for their
e emails were fakes, intentionally employers? Simply staggering.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 21

Reviews Newproductstestedbyourexperts
LAPTOP ❘ £1,013 from Box www.snipca.com/38227

Dynabook Portégé X40-J-11C

True blue

Toshiba’s laptop division turned into
Dynabook a couple of years ago, but the
X40-J range is the first to introduce a
change in the overall design. It retains an
attractive if understated dark-blue finish,
but there are now thin silver outlines on
the power key and trackpad. ese match
the silver metal hinge, which stretches
almost the entire width. Also, while it
sticks to a familiar aluminium chassis,
the plastic base has a classy pinstripe
effect.

A solid, quiet laptop office work and web browsing it’s which measures 100x58mm, is too small
that makes light work perfectly adequate. for the way you work.
of everyday tasks
However, it didn’t fare so well in e 720p webcam comes with a privacy
For a 14in laptop, it’s compact, thin and our gaming tests, despite using Intel’s Xe shutter and is built into the top of the
reasonably light at 1.4kg. It performed graphics hardware, which offers decent screen. Like the screen, its colours lack
well in our Windows-based tests, which gaming performance on other laptops. punch, but the overall quality is
was something of a surprise because it We found that frame rates were around impressive and the dual microphones do
comes with only 8GB of memory (we’d half of what we’ve seen on similarly an excellent job of capturing voices. e
usually prefer 16GB). We also tested the priced rivals. speakers are also far better than you
speed of the SSD in isolation and, while it might expect from a laptop that isn’t
proved perfectly fine at reading data (ie, e touchscreen bends back 180 specifically designed for entertainment.
opening it) it was a little slow when degress (though not 360 degress for a However, they are built into the front
writing it (ie, saving). is didn’t slow it full tablet-type experience) and benefits underside of the chassis and we found
down in everyday tasks, however. from an effective anti-glare coating, that our wrists smothered their output
which cuts out refelections. What you when we were typing.
Better still, this solid performance don’t get is anything close to the full
isn’t accompanied by the constant sound range of sRGB colours, with only 54 per e laptop has two USB-C ports on the
of noisy fans, which kicked in rarely cent displayed during our tests. As a left, along with an HDMI output and
during our tests and remained pretty result it looks drab when placed next to microSD card slot. ere are two USB 3.0
quiet when they did. is may not superior screens, though it’s fine in ports on the right edge. ere’s no
provide enough cooling if you’re going to isolation, helped by decent levels of Ethernet port but hopefully the built-in
put huge demands on the laptop, but for contrast and brightness. Wi-Fi 6 will make up for that.

e keyboard is backlit, well designed VERDICTA competitively priced
and quiet to type on. Touch typists will laptop that, a drab screen apart,
have no problem, but we found the keys provides quality in all the right places
to be a little light on resistance. However,
the spacebar is a little too short – ★★★★★
occasionally we missed it while typing
– and you might find that the trackpad, ALTERNATIVE
Lenovo Yoga
SPECIFICATIONS Using an A D processor
instead of a Intel one
Quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor • 8GB makes thi significantly
memory • Intel Xe graphics • 14in 1920x1080-pixel more afford ble 14in
IPS touchscreen • 256GB SSD • 720p webcam • laptop
Wi-Fi 6 • Bluetooth 5.1 • 1x HDMI port • 2x USB-C
ports • 2x USB 3.0 ports • Windows 10 Pro •
17.9x323x220mm (HxWxD) • 1.4kg • One-year
warranty www.snipca.com/38227

22 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

LAPTOP ❘ £1,000 from HP www.snipca.com/38234 HOW WE TEST
Computeractiveis ownedby Dennis
HPOmen Publishing,whichemploys a team of
specialist technicalreviewers. You’ll
Perfect performance often read referencestoour benchmark
testing,which isa method ofassessing
e 15-en0006na is the cheapest laptop productsusingthesame criteria. For
in HP’s Omen range, which is primarily example,we testthe speed ofevery
aimed at gamers who also want to browse PCand the batterylifeofeveryphone
the web and work with Windows. and tablet in exactly the sameway. This
While the black laptop case looks makes ourreviewsauthoritative,
smart, it’s mostly made of plastic. rigorousand accurate.
e screen lid is particularly flexible,
which does make us doubt how robust Dennis Publishingalso owns
it is, particularly if you’re likely to use it themagazine PCPro and thewebsites
on the move. Its aluminium palm rest well as two M.2 SSD slots and the two Expert Reviews(www.expertreviews.
and keyboard deck add a touch of fans, should they need a clean. co.uk) and ITPro (www.itpro.com).This
quality, though. e whole thing is e 1920x1080-pixel 144Hz matte- means we can testthousands of
around average size and weight at finish IPS screen offers decent levels of productsbefore choosingthemost
22.5x358x240mm and 2.3kg. brightness, but poor colour reproduction relevant for Computeractive.
(though it’s better than the Dynabook FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
Its performance Portégé opposite) and adequate contrast. Our writers follow strict guidelines to
e internal components, however, ensurethereviewsarefair andimpartial.
level and connectivity make up for the disappointing screen. The manufacturer has no involvement in
make up for a poor ese include a 2.9GHz AMD Ryzen 7 our tests.
screen 4800H processor and 8GB of RAM, along OUR AWARDS
with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti
graphics card, which has its own 6GB Weaward everyproduct
of dedicated memory to help games that gets fivestars our
skip along. It also comes with a generous Buy It! stamp of approval.
Connectivity is comprehensive, with 512GB SSD. It meanswe were
three USB 3.0, one USB-C, a mini is helped the laptop perform well in extremely impressed by the product, and
DisplayPort and an HDMI port. It also our tests, with impressive benchmark wethink youwillbetoo.
accommodates a Gigabit Ethernet results in both our Windows and gaming Every product that gets a
connector, an SD card reader and a tests. While you can push the hardware four-starreviewisgiventhe
3.5mm audio jack (all pictured below). hard and get good results, the fans often Recommendedaward.We
Wireless connections include Wi-Fi 6 kick in to keep things cool, and these highly recommend these
and Bluetooth 5.0. create an audible whoosh of air. You can products, although they just fail to meet the
e Omen’s keys are solid, quiet and tone this down using installed software, high standard of our Buy It! winners.
precise. Rather than a fully customisable but this leaves the PC feeling hot. PRICES
keyboard backlight, the Omen offers a Our reviews contain a link to the best price
four-zone system that lets you assign SPECIFICATIONS wefound onlineatthetimeofpress.
different colours to the left, right, centre
and WASD keys. It looks impressive and is Octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor • 8GB VERDICTA powerful gaming laptop at
easy to customise. RAM • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics card • a decent price that doesn’t compromise
15.6in 144Hz 1920x1080-pixel screen • 512GB SSD • on components
You need to undo only eight screws to Wi-Fi 6 • Bluetooth 5.0 • 1x USB-C port • 3x USB 3.0
detach the bottom cover, which gives you ports • 1x 3.5mm audio jack • 1x HDMI port • 1x Mini ★★★★★
easy access to the two RAM modules as DisplayPort • Windows 10 Home • 22.5x358x240mm
(HxWxD) • 2.3kg • One-year warranty www.snipca. ALTERNATIVE
com/38234 Asus TUF Dash F15 £1,400
If you can stretch your budget a little
LEFT EDGE further, this
has similar
RIGHT EDGE performance
levels and has a
better screen
and build quality

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 23

Reviews

MESH ROUTER ❘ £270 (3 pack) fromAmazon www.snipca.com/38254

Netgear Orbi R

Another fine mesh

e Orbi RBK352 is Netgear’s new,
low-cost Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. At least, it’s
low cost compared with the company’s
previous Wi-Fi 6 mesh offerings. e
high-end Orbi RBK852 (www.snipca.
com/38245) costs £645 for a two-node
kit, while the mid-range RBK752
(reviewed in Issue 603, www.snipca.
com/38246) will set you back £437. e
RBK352, by contrast, starts at £195 for a
kit with two units, or £270 for three,
which is the version we’ve reviewed here.

Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 better location, away from your opposite end of the adjacent bedroom,
mesh system reaches phone socket. e primary unit has three while the third was positioned in the
into every corner Gigabit Ethernet sockets (pictured below living room below.
left) alongside the WAN port, which
Inevitably, however, the lower price tag connects to your ISP’s router. Even with the benefit of three nodes,
comes with a trade-off. e RBK352 the dual-band RBK352 couldn’t rival the
hardware isn’t as powerful as Netgear’s e system is set up using an app. We tri-band Orbi systems, but it holds up
premium models, and this results in a tested it on an Android phone and found well when compared with similarly
poorer (though still good) Wi-Fi it was almost foolproof. ere’s a clunky priced alternatives. Everywhere in the
performance. moment when you need to jump into house, the test laptop (also equipped with
your phone’s Wi-Fi settings to manually Wi-Fi 6) switched seamlessly between
For starters, this is a dual-band system, connect to the Orbi network, then find nodes to keep the connection fast and
where the more expensive versions are your way back into the Orbi app to stable, and download speeds never fell
tri-band (the third band is reserved for continue the setup process, but you only below 160Mbps.
sending data between the nodes). is need to do this once.
model shares that job with the Wi-Fi However, if you’re being drawn to the
channels you use to connect your gadgets After that you can use the phone app RBK352’s relatively low price, an even
to, so there will always be less bandwidth or the web portal (on your PC) to manage cheaper solution may do what you need.
available on a busy family network. your mesh system. e app is well e Honor Router 3 (see our review, Issue
designed with a handy set of features, 603, £80 from www.snipca.com/38248)
As with all Wi-Fi 6 equipment, the including tools that make it easy to access managed speeds of 128Mbps all around
RBK352 is backwards-compatible with your home network over the internet. It our home.
Wi-Fi 5 laptops, tablets and smartphones, integrates with Amazon’s Alexa and
but you can’t just add these as extra units Google Assistant so you can control the VERDICT A reasonably priced Wi-Fi
to any existing Orbi devices you may guest network and reboot the router with 6 mesh system that delivers a strong
have. e Orbi is designed to completely your voice. It doesn’t include Netgear’s signal throughout the home, though not
replace your existing router, although if Armor security package, which for as fast as tri-band routers
your internet connection requires you to £59.99 a year scans for vulnerabilities,
keep your ISP’s router in place you can blocks dangerous sites and adds ★★★★★
Bitdefender protection.
ill use the Orbi as an ALTERNATIVE Honor Router 3
access point by We tried the Orbi in our usual three- £80 is Wi-Fi 6 rout r
linking it to your bedroom, two-storey test house, with is a single device rat r
existing router. the primary unit located in a study. than a mesh network,
e secondary node was placed at the but is much cheaper
is works well, SPECIFICATIONS and should be all a
particularly if you smaller home needs
can use an Ethernet Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router • 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports
cable to move the (including 1x WAN) • 178x61x145mm (HxDxW) • 530g
main Orbi unit to a • One-year warranty www.snipca.com/38244

24 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

PHONE ❘ £90 from Nokia www.snipca.com/38279 CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPECS

Nokia1.4 gBruaiplth-iincs

Four score and ten What do they do?

While manufacturers like Apple and PCs are designed to be modular, and
Samsung charge hundreds of pounds for one of the key components is the
their latest models, it’s still possible to get graphics hardware. In most desktop
a new smartphone for less than £100. e PCs this comes on a separate card that
new Nokia 1.4 is a good example. Of connects directly to the motherboard,
course there are compromises involved at containing everything that the PC needs
this price, but if you don’t want to spend to process what should be appearing on
more, it’s a perfectly capable smartphone. screen and sending it to your monitor.
e design is eye-catching, with a However, because graphics cards are
robust plastic chassis. e bezels around expensive and take up a lot of room,
the edge of the screen are reasonably they aren’t used in laptops and small
thin, with a neat hole-punch notch at the PCs. Instead, processor manufacturers
top-centre of the screen for the front- with its predecessor, occasionally from around 2010 Intel and AMD
facing camera. running twice as fast. started to build graphics hardware
In everyday use, it keeps the phone directly into the main processor.
feeling relatively slick and responsive. It
A surprisingly undoubtedly helps that the phone is How do they work?
decent screen and running Android 10 Go, which is a
tweaked version of Google’s mobile OS Manufacturers are constantly
performance level and is designed for low-end phones. In looking for ways to miniaturise the
for the price Go, the core Android apps are trimmed components on their chips so they can
back so they take up less space but still squeeze more on. Adding the graphics
run at a reasonable speed. hardware to the processor gives you
Unsurprisingly, it struggled with a smaller, thinner laptop. However, it
e two rear-facing cameras are neatly games. You might be able to run also removes some of the benefits
arranged, sitting just above a sensibly something simple, such as Solitaire, but of keeping graphics separate, such as
placed fingerprint sensor that unlocks don’t expect it to manage much beyond having its own memory and cooling
the device. ere’s a 3.5mm headphone that. Battery life is reasonable, though, system. Until recently this has hindered
jack on the top edge and it uses a lasting 14 hours 16 minutes in our performance and given laptops a poor
microUSB charger rather than the more video-playback test. reputation for gaming.
common USB-C. e cameras are basic, with an
e large 6.52in IPS screen has a 8-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel What are the specs?
resolution of 720x1600 pixels, which is macro camera and a 5-megapixel selfie
pretty generous at this price – especially camera on the front. ey take reasonable e latest 11th-
when you also get 85.5 per cent coverage pictures, but you shouldn’t opt for this generation Intel
of the sRGB colour standard, and decent phone if you want high-quality snaps. processors have
brightness and contrast levels. changed our view
e Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 of built-in graphics.
processor is the same chip that was used VERDICTis is a remarkable ese are built
in last year’s Nokia 1.3, though the RAM phone for the price – it has modest around a new design called Iris Xe (logo
has been increased to 2GB and the specifications, as you might expect, but pictured), which has vastly improved
internal storage to 32GB. ere’s also a it makes the most of what it has the graphical performance of laptops.
slot for a microSD card if you need more ★★★★★ If you have Iris Xe graphics, your laptop
space. ese upgrades seem to have will be capable of playing the latest
improved performance levels compared ALTERNATIVE games reasonably well.
Samsung Galaxy A21s
SPECIFICATIONS £148 For better Can I change it later?
Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 • 2GB performance and the full
memory • 6.52in 60Hz 1,600x720-pixel resolution Android experience, it’s Graphics hardware is built into the
IPS screen • 32GB storage • 8-megapixel rear worth paying more for processor but can always be overridden
camera • Wi-Fi 4 • Bluetooth 4.2 • Android 10 Go • Samsung’s budget marvel if you want to upgrade it with something
166x77x8.7mm (HxWxD) • 178g • Two-year warranty better, which can improve the
www.snipca.com/38279 performance of your PC. If you have a
laptop, however, you may need to add
an external graphics card to upgrade it.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 25

Reviews

PC MONITOR ❘ £300 fromAmazon www.snipca.com/38301

AOCQ32P2

The bigger picture

Size isn’t everything, but when it comes AMD graphics card. O e
to monitors, a big screen can come in rear, you’ll see two HDMI
very useful. It lets you spread out and ports, a DisplayPort, a
do more things at the same time, as well headphone jack, and four
as enjoy films, games and other USB 3.0 ports to connect
entertainment in a more immersive way. your peripherals.
e AOC Q32P2 is 31.5in across the Unfortunately it lacks a
diagonal, so this is a hefty beast, around USB-C port, which wou
the same size as a modest living-room TV. have been a useful addit n.
However, it comes at a very affordable It’s mounted on a rem vabl stand
price: as we write, Amazon is selling it that has 150mm of heigh adj stment,
for around the £300 mark. 175 degrees of swivel, 2 degrees of tilt
and can be rotated into rtrait mode.
A huge screen that is is rare for a monito this ize, and
is a welcome touch. To a hiev this
adjusts to your needs, level of flexibility, the m nitor takes
but it’s a bit dim up a significant amount ,
so don’t consider it if your desk is
already cramped. VERDICTA huge 31.5in monitor for
Unfortunately, the screen itself isn’t the an affordable price, though we found
It also looks the business, clad from best we’ve seen. Viewing angles are fine, the screen a little too dim, especially in
head to toe in classy black finish and so it can accommodate several people for bright conditions
solidly built. It uses an IPS panel with a group video call, but it’s disappointingly
a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, a dull. Our measurement of the peak ★★★★★
maximum refresh rate of 75Hz, a brightness reached only 248cd/m², which
response time of four milliseconds and is the kind of level that makes it difficult ALTERNATIVE Iiyama ProLite
FreeSync support for those who use an to see things in brightly lit conditions. It XUB2792QSU-B1
reproduced 87.3 per cent of the sRGB £259 A smaller 27in
SPECIFICATIONS colour standard in our tests, which isn’t monitor, but it’s much
terrible, but you might want to look brighter and offers
31.5in IPS screen • 2560x1440 pixels • 2x HDMI elsewhere if displaying more accurate more accurate colour
ports • 1x DisplayPort • 4x USB 3.0 ports • colours is important to you. reproduction
651x730x275mm (HxWxD) • 9.5kg • Three-year
warranty www.snipca.com/38301

WHATSHOULD I BUY? Wesolveyourbuyingdilemmas

What’s the best printer for eBay and Royal Mail labels?

Q I enjoyed your feature about and stick my online postage labels with and works with labels produced by the
label printers in Issue 604 tape on to parcels and wouldn’t mind Post Office, eBay and many more services.
(page 62). As someone who paying for greater convenience and
often buys and sells things on eBay, I’m less waste. If you shop around you might be
wondering if any of the models you able to find something more affordable.
featured would be able to print the Hefin Davies For example, we spotted the Munbyn
eBay or Royal Mail postage labels? Both eBay and Royal Mail use Label Printer (£145 from Amazon,
If not, can 6x4in (150x100mm) labels, so www.snipca.com/38304, pictured),
you recommend you just need a printer capable which prints 6x4in stickers. ere’s a
the cheapest of nting at that size. In Issue 604 we video in the Q&A section of the
model that re mmended the Dymo LabelWriter Amazon listing that shows you exactly
does? I currently L (£232 from www.snipca. how to use it.
print, cut out m/37769), which can print these
Do you need advice on what you should buy?
Email us at [email protected]

26 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Eternal Spring of the Mind by Elena Paraskeva

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Reviews

SMARTTAG ❘ £29 fromJohn Lewis www.snipca.com/38259

Apple AirTag

Lost and found

If you’re an iPhone user and tend to is is where AirTags are its rivals – on Amazon a Tile Mate costs
lose things, such as your keys or wallet, better at finding lost items £20, or £45 for four (www.snipca.
AirTags can help. ey’re Bluetooth than Tiles and Chipolos. ey can com/38260).
tracking devices, similar to those made communicate with any passing iPhone,
by companies such as Tile (https://uk.tile. whether its owner uses AirTags or not. VERDICT ese are are a little pricier
com) and Chipolo (https://chipolo.net). Because iPhones are so common, you are than rivals but they work brilliantly – so
more likely to track down your lost item. if you have an iPhone, you’ll never lose
If you’ve lost an item with an AirTag Worldwide, this puts an army of about a your keys again
attached nearby, you can make the tag billion iPhones at your disposal, whereas
emit a beep that will help you locate it. Tile has just 26 million users. ★★★★★
If your item is lost further afield, the tag
will communicate with nearby iOS Each AirTag is a small disc – 31.9mm in ALTERNATIVE TileMat
mobile devices (including other people’s) diameter and 8mm thick, with glossy £20 Tile’s trackers are
and your Find My app will show you on a white plastic on one side and polished cheaper and have an app
map where your item was last detected. metal on the other. ey take a CR2032 that works with Android
SPECIFICATIONS battery that lasts up to a year, and can and iOS devices
survive being immersed in water up to
IP67 • Bluetooth • Compatible with iOS devices • one metre deep for 30 minutes.
Some advanced tracking tools only compatible with
iPhone 11 and 12 • 31.9x8x31.9mm (HxDxW) • 11g • However, at £29 each (or £99 for a pack
One-year warranty www.snipca.com/38258 of four), it’s much more expensive than

PHONE ❘ £629 fromAmazon www.snipca.com/38258

OnePlus9

Fast, but may make you furious

OnePlus made its name with affordable e processor does a lot of heavy lifting OnePlus pattern of undercutting its
mid-range smartphones that had many here, and when we ran our performance rivals, we might have forgiven its flaws,
of the features of pricier flagship phones and gaming tests the OnePlus 9 proved to but at this price we’d expect a phone
from Apple and Samsung. At £629, this be as fast as any phone we’ve reviewed to that’s closer to perfection.
latest model is slightly more expensive date, except for the iPhone 12.
than its previous models, edging OnePlus VERDICT We expect OnePlus phones
closer to those rivals it has previously Its 6.55in AMOLED screen has a to offer more features for less money,
undercut. resolution of 2400x1080 pixels and a but this latest model has a higher price
maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. without adding enough extras
As you might expect then, the phone is Moreover, it’s incredibly bright (peaking
equipped with an impressive selection of at a sunlight-friendly 744cd/m²), while ★★★★★
high-end components, including the contrast is perfect. Its colour accuracy
latestQualcomm Snapdragon888processor. was excellent in our tests, too, recreating ALTERNATIVE
It comes with only 8GB of memory and 96.6 per cent of the sRGB standard. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
128GB of storage, though, which is £465 is brilliant phone
increasingly common on cheaper phones. However, it has significant flaws. was similarly priced
SPECIFICATIONS For the price we’d expect IP-rated at launch, but is now
waterproofing and a build that’s more available with discounts
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 • 8GB sophisticated than the plastic case here.
RAM • 6.5in 2400x1080-pixel AMOLED screen • Its camera is also mediocre, producing
48-megapixel main rear camera • 50-megapixel photos with colours that were not quite
wide camera • 16-megapixel front camera • Android right, while portrait shots were
11 • 163x74x8.7mm (HxDxW) • 197g • One-year uninspiring.
warranty www.snipca.com/38258
If this phone had followed the classic

28 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

FITNESS WATCH ❘ £45 fromAmazon www.snipca.com/38332 Reviews

HonorBand6 DO I REALLY NEED...

Wide open face Asm‘trair-tfoplhdo’ne?

Despite costing less than £50, the Honor What is it?
A foldable Samsung
Band 6 has the styling of a more device with two
expensive smartwatch, with a wider, hinges that split it
squarer face than most of its rivals. e into three screens
screen’s dimensions of 0.8x1.6in make (pictured).
using its touch controls a little less fiddly
than slimmer rivals. What does it do?
However, there’s still a physical menu In its folded state, you can use it as a
button, which is more reliable when smartphone, to make calls, browse the
rain and sweat are involved. e screen web and run apps. When the screen is
is a colourful AMOLED panel with a unfolded it becomes a larger device,
resolution of 194x368 pixels, but it isn’t measuring 7.2in across the diagonal,
all that bright, which can make it tricky approaching the size of a small tablet.
to read in sunshine. e larger screen is better for watching
It tracks steps, heart rate and exercise, Android-owning fitness enthusiasts. video, browsing websites and running
as most fitness watches do, but adds You can still record your exercise route any other apps that might benefit from
the less common options of tracking using GPS on a non-Honor Android having more screen space.
stress (through heart rate), sleep and phone, but you have to launch it from
blood oxygen (SpO2) level. It’s relatively the phone, rather than the watch itself, What’s the catch?
basic next to a smartwatch, but can still which is exactly the kind of workaround It’s still only a prototype, with no
display notifications and be used to that this kind of watch is supposed to promise that it will ever be available to
control music apps. make easier. Once operating, however, we buy. is probably won’t be your next
It also promises a 14-day battery life, found the GPS to correctly measure smartphone, but something similar
which matched our findings while testing distance travelled, though it didn’t might arrive in the next few years.
the device. is is a decent length of accurately report the pace on our test
time between charges. runs until after we had finished. So can I do without it?
You may think it offers good value for e general fitness features work well, Yes, but it could be a game changer,
money, but there’s one major drawback however. e sleep tracking, for example, essentially offering a small tablet
– the only Android phones its GPS tracks your deep, light and REM sleep, experience that can be folded to fit in a
tracking works with are those made by and plots it in a graph. pocket or handbag.
Honor and Huawei. It works fine with Where Honor stands apart from its
iPhones. is is a serious annoyance for rivals is its helpfulness in explaining what
each metric means, what the average NEXT ISSUE
should be, and what you can do to
improve things. OnSaleWed 16June

SPECIFICATIONS VERDICTAn affordable fitness watch Intel NUC Pro Mini PC
with a larger, easier-to-use screen than A tiny
1.47in 194x368 pixels AMOLED touchscreen • Only most rivals, but it has significant flaws tPhCewlaittehst
fully compatible with Honor, Huawei and Apple with Android phones that aren’t made Intel processo
smartphones • 102x152x102mm (HxDxW) • 105g • by Honor or Huawei
Two-year warranty www.snipca.com/38332 W bca1m08g0rpoup test
★★★★★ wt bbceasmtppircotuvirdeefsor
vi calls?
ALTERNATIVE
Huawei Band 4 Pro £47 An These and much more...
older fitness watch with a
smaller face, similar price wSuwbws.cgreibtceotmo Cpuotmerpauctteirvaec.ctoiv.eukat
and fewer functions, but its
GPS tracking works well
with any Android phone

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 29

BuyIt PRSIIENSATSREUCVEHER&Y

FB£i1un5ydfooruourmtnwwehwwa2two0.t2shn0eirBppacrcaok.dcIuoscmstus/ew3Ce8Dl1ik6:e4d.

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

LAPTOP DESKTOP PC APPLE iPAD

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 PInatelilcMomercpury Apple iPad 10.2in

£799from www.snipca.com/37348 £600from www.snipca.com/34223 £329from www.snipca.com/36178
TestedIssue 601 TestedIssue 576 Test

Weighing just 1.16kg, this is an If you don’t need advanced gaming, e basic iPad is great value, especially
excellent lightweight laptop with a your money’s well spent here on a now it’s been updated with a powerful
great screen and an AMD processor six-core Intel i5-9600K processor A12 processor and iPadOS 14. It includes
faster than many Intel rivals. It has two overclocked to 5GHz. 16GB of memory Scribble handwriting recognition with
USB-C ports, two USB 3.0 ports and and a full terabyte of fast SSD storage the £89 Apple Pencil. Storage isn’t
a microSD card reader. Battery lasts round off a powerful PC with good expandable; consider 128GB at £429.
nearly 16 hours. expansion potential. ALTERNATIVE iPad Mini With an even
ALTERNATIVEDell XPS 13 New Intel ALTERNATIVE Chillblast Photo Zen Fast better, but smaller, screen than the
CPUs and a taller screen make this a Ryzen 7 CPU plus adequate GPU makes 10.2in iPad, the Mini also supports the
more powerful, all-round slim laptop. a superb work PC. £1,800 from Pencil and has 64GB of storage. £399
Prices start at £949 from www.snipca. www.snipca.com/35840 from www.snipca.com/33050
com/36642
APPLE iPHONE ANDROID PHONE
ANDROID TABLET
Apple iPhone 12 Realme X50 5G
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
£799 from www.snipca.com/36582 £264 from www.snipca.com/36037
£299 from www.snipca.com/35795 TestedIssue 595 Tested Issue 590
Tested Issue 582

Competing with Apple’s cheapest e latest iPhone has a modest increase in Amazing value for a big 5G phone
10.2in iPad, this slim aluminium alreadyexceptionalprocessing power with three rear cameras (including
tablet comes with an S Pen stylus pluseven better photosandvideos from ultra-wide and macro), a pretty quick
and a generous 64GB of storage at a the front andtwin rear cameras.It comes Snapdragon 765G processor and a
reasonable price. It’s less powerful, but in a redesigned casewithaluminium decent IPS screen. ere’s a fingerprint
a great buy if you prefer Android. frame and even tougherglass.Consider reader, but no wireless charging or
ALTERNATIVE Amazon Fire HD 8 paying the £50 extra for 128GB of storage. waterproofing.
Now with USB-C and 32GB of storage, ALTERNATIVE iPhone SE With a single ALTERNATIVE Google Pixel 5 Cheaper
this plastic-cased tablet is more camera and smaller screen but the than previous Pixels, this has great
limited, with no stylus option, but same powerful A13 processor and 64GB cameras, wireless charging and a
good for the money. £90 from storage as the iPhone 11, it’s great value. superb screen. Battery life is 23 hours.
www.snipca.com/35336 £399 from www.snipca.com/34773 £599 from www.snipca.com/36586

30 2 - 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

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Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

EBOOK READER SECURITY SOFTWARE PHOTO EDITING

AmazonKindle (2019) KSeacsupreitrys2k0y2I1nternet Serif Affinity Photo

£70 from www.snipca.com/31621 £14.99 from www.snipca.com/21532 £24 from www.snipca.com/23739
Tested Issue 555 Tested Issue 564 TestedIssue 498

Now with built-in light and audiobook Kaspersky Internet Security has won Designed for both full-time
support, this budget model is fine for our past nine antivirus tests and the professional image retouchers
most users, though limited by its 4GB 2020 version is now available at and the rest of us keen amateurs,
of storage. e Paperwhite (£120) is an exclusive reader discount on our this is a beautifully designed and
even sharper, waterproof, and has Software Store. Go to the link above comprehensive program for both
bigger storage options as well as a for a one-year, one-device licence or Windows and Mac users, although so
cellular data option (£100 extra). buy a two-year, two-device licence for far it performs better on Macs.
ALTERNATIVE Kobo Clara HD just £32.99. ALTERNATIVE Xara Photo & Graphic
Not waterproof, but has more lighting ALTERNATIVE Norton 360 Deluxe Designer For all-round design and
options to avoid blue light. £110 from Almost as good as Kaspersky, but drawing plus photo filters, this
www.snipca.com/32586 blocks more legitimate software. affordable app has a lot to offer.
£15 from www.snipca.com/32069 £45 from www.snipca.com/26514
PC MONITOR DRPORIPCE
ROUTER PRINTER
BenQ GL2780
£135from www.snipca.c / 4 4 D-Link DIR-1960 Canon Pixma TS8350
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Te ssue TestedIssue 606

is budget 27in screen offers accurate Gi i us down oa and upload speeds For an affordable general-purpose
sRGB colour with good contrast, plus of 460Mbps and 375Mbps respectively, printer, its photo prints are stunning.
auto brightness and low blue light this is phenomenal value. Even two ey come out in phenomenal detail,
modes. Speakers are built in. Using floors away we got 329Mbps and with rich, bold colours and deep
TN LCD rather than IPS, it needs to be 284Mbps. It has four Ethernet ports for blacks. It uses six cartridges, so stick
viewed straight on, but works well for wired devices and a USB 3.0 socket to to Canon’s own reasonably priced XXL
games too. share storage via your network. cartridges to reduce running costs.
ALTERNATIVE Philips Brilliance ALTERNATIVE Synology RT2600ac ALTERNATIVE Epson Expression
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design and speakers, this 24in Full HD IPS controls and plenty of add-on apps scanner/copier is a good choice for
is an excellent smaller screen. £190 from complement excellent long-range photos first and text second. It’s easy
www.snipca.com/37096 performance. £212 from www.snipca. to use, but ink costs can be high.
com/30710 £90 from www.snipca.com/37995

32 2 - 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

BuyIt

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Crucial’s Ballistix gaming memory is modules. ey’re DDR4 modules, w
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to push beyond standard limits. matte black extruded aluminum midnight 15 June.
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each pack contains two 8GB memory temperature in real time. You can snipca.com/38138. It’s also

control the LEDs using software. available in a 32GB pack, comprising
We’re giving away black kits, two 16GB modules, for £373.19:
though the modules also come in http://www.snipca.com/38139. For
white and red. more details on Crucial’s products
To enter this competition, email your visit https://uk.crucial.com and
home address to [email protected]. follow @CrucialMemory on Twitter.

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BT Whole Home Wi-Fi 5S0am0GsBung 970 Evo Plus Google Nest Audio

£200from www.snipca.com/26990 £74from www.snipca.com/31265 £90 from www.snipca.com/36475
TestedIssue 496 TestedIssue 552 TestedIssue 593

BT’s set of three discs, managed Although its price has fluctuated since Produces a rich, clear sound, and better
from an Apple or Android app, we tested it at £99, this is a very understands your questions than
connects to your broadband and fast (over 3GB per second) M.2 SSD Amazon’s Echo devices. You can use
spreads high-speed Wi-Fi all around unfazed by tests that make others Google’s app to control audio from
the house. Reception is far better slow to a crawl. Also consider the other units around your home (pair two
than a single router, and the price is Adata XPG SX8200 Pro if you find it a of them for £160). e clever Ambient
lower than any rival. bit cheaper. IQ tool increases the volume if it detects
ALTERNATIVE Zyxel Multy X ALTERNATIVE Crucial MX500 500GB external noise, such as a hairdryer.
ese two pillow-shaped boxes are As fast as an SSD can get in the ALTERNATIVE Amazon Echo (4th
powerful enough for most homes and traditional 2.5in SATA format, this generation) e latest version of the
provide four Ethernet ports apiece. is a great-value upgrade. £58 from Echo changes the shape from a cylinder
£255 from www.snipca.com/27309 www.snipca.com/37304 to a ball, which improves sound quality
– though the Nest’s is still superior.
£90 from www.snipca.com/36602

Issue 607 • 2 - 15 June 2021 33

Computeractive 2020

ON SALE NOW!

FICRSAOOSLMNUL2T0EA22IS60NS

or searchBfwuoywr i‘wtco.nsmonwippucftraoe.rcmaocmAtmi/v3ea8zco1d6n’4oant Amazon

You can still buy our 2019 CD at www.snipca.com/33711

P&uKlleOeupt

Workshops &Tips Issue607

14 pages ofeasy-to-followworkshopsandexperttips

35 Improve how you sound 40 Repair your broken
in video calls Windows shortcuts 44 Phone & Tablet Tips 47 Make Office Better

38 Add notes to your 42 Readers’Tips 46 Make Windows 48 In The Club:
emails Better Transcribe meetings
HOW TO...
iInmvpirdoevoe chaolwls you sound

by Will Stapley

TWimhaettyaokuenne4e5dmZionoumtesor Skype; Blue Snowball Ice microphone (optional)

We all know how frustrating explain the steps you can take to
it can be when the person improve its sound quality in Skype,
you’re video calling is using a Zoom and other video-chat tools.
substandard microphone, making it We’ll also recommend our favourite
almost impossible to understand standalone mics and headsets should
what they’re saying. But what if that your current mic fail the test. And
person is you? even if your mic is working well, you
can use our advice to help your call
Over the next three pages, we’ll show recipients improve their audio.
you how to test your microphone and

1 Test your microphone hSokwypyeoleutrsmyiocuromphaokneeaitsepset rcfaolrlmtoinsgee
Before changing any audio recording back to you.
settings, it’s a good idea to test
how well your microphone is currently Alternatively, you can just use the
performing. Most video-chat tools let Voice Recorder built into Windows
you carry out a test call, whereby you (search for it in the Start menu). Click
can hear how you sound to people the microphone button, make your
you’re calling. recording, then press the stop button.
In Skype, click the menu button (three To hear it back, double-click the top
dots, top centre), select Settings, then entry in the list of recordings on the left.
the ‘Audio & Video’ option in the menu
on the left. Next, scroll down the right- 2 ZAodojumstsSetktyipnegsand
hand side of the window and click ‘Make If your test reveals that you
a free test call’ (see screenshot right). sound too quiet or too loud, you can
You’ll then be connected to Skype’s test change the microphone’s volume level
service, which will prompt you to speak a within most video-chat tools. Skype
message, then listen back to it. automatically adjusts the volume as
Zoom offers a similar service. Sign select Audio. On the right-hand side, you speak, so as you get closer to the
into your account, then click the click Test Mic then start talking.
Settings button (cog icon, top right) and When you stop, Zoom will play the Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 35

microphone it will reduce the level, and
vice versa. It doesn’t always get it right,

How I improved my microphonehowever,oftenreducingthevolume
unnecessarily.
To take back control of this, return to I like my Dell XPS 13 laptop. It’s Reducing the microphone’s
the Audio section of the Skype settings small, light and fast. However, volume in Zoom helped reduce
window and click the ‘Automatically its video-chat hardware is the hissing, but also made it
adjust microphone settings’ button something of a letdown. harder for people to hear me.
so that it turns grey. A slider will now e quality of the webcam I therefore decided to ditch
appear that lets you adjust the volume of is fine, but it’s positioned at my Dell mic for something
your mic. You can then repeat the test call the bottom of the screen, so better. Not keen on wearing a
to find the ideal level or simply use the unless I put the laptop on a headset for video calls, I settled
microphone-level bar, which shows in stand the poor unfortunates I call often on a Blue Snowball Ice microphone (see
real time how your voice is being picked end up getting a view up my nostrils. opposite page), and it’s dramatically
up (we recommend adjusting the level so Even more disappointing is the laptop’s improved the audio. Compare them
that this bar stays at around the halfway built-in microphone, which adds a nasty yourselfatwww.snipca.com/38350.First
point while you speak). mechanical hiss to my dulcet tones person to email editor@computeractive.
Skype will also attempt to block out and even occasionally chops off the co.uk naming the book I’m reading from
background noise during your calls, but ends of words (the audacity!). I hadn’t wins a Computeractive mug.
this can distort your voice (particularly if realised just how bad it was until a friend Will Stapley
there’s a lot of intermittent background pointed out that he was struggling to
noise). To fix this, click ‘Auto (default)’ hear me on a call. How do you improve your video calls? Let
(to the right of the ‘Noise cancellation’ us know: [email protected]

label), then select Low for minimal noise
cancellation or Off to disable it entirely tab and double-click your microphone.
(see screenshot below). In the Microphone Properties window
To adjust your microphone levels in that appears, select the Levels tab, then
Zoom, go to the Audio section of settings adjust the slider – your video-calling tool
as explained earlier, then untick may override this setting, but it’s useful
‘Automatically adjust microphone if you want to control how sensitive your
volume’ and move the volume slider microphone is when recording a voice
accordingly. As with Skype, your memo in Windows’ Voice Recorder app.
microphone levels will be shown in the Depending on your microphone,
bar above the slider as you speak. you may also see a Microphone Boost
You can also adjust how Zoom slider (see screenshot below). If people
deals with background noise. The complain they can’t hear you in a call,
default setting (Auto) blocks out most this can increase your volume level,
noises nearby, but as with Skype can bEancakbglerotuhnisdonpotiisoenstoupqpuriecksslyiotnurdnuorifnfgZoaocmal’ls but can also add distortion, so we don’t
sometimes cause distortion. If so, try recommend setting it too high.
selecting Medium or Low. in the middle of a call, but to do this
Zoom even lets you temporarily turn you first need to tick the ‘Show in-
off all audio processing (background meeting option…’ box in the Audio
noise reduction and more) when you’re settings (see screenshot above). When
you do this, three further options will
appear, letting you choose whether to
also turn off echo cancellation, enable
the high-fidelity music mode (useful if
you want to play a musical instrument
over the call) and switch to stereo audio
(you’ll need a stereo microphone to take
advantage of this). When you’re next in
a video call, you can enable this feature
by clicking the ‘Turn on Original Audio’
button in the top-left corner of the
Zoom window.

fReeadtuurceeiof ritt’surcnauosffinSgkdyipseto’srtnioonise-cancellation 3 Tweak Windows’ settings vSoolmumeem,ibcurotpdhooinngessolemt yaoyucbaouosestdtihsetoirrtion
You can also adjust your mic’s
levels in Windows. Right-click
the speaker icon in your system tray, then
click Sounds. Next, select the Recording

36 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Improve how you sound in video calls

4 Use a virtual microphone THE BEST HEADSETS FOR VIDEO CALLS
If your mic is picking up
background noise during video
calls, try installing Krisp. This tool takes Not everyone wants a bulky microphone like the Blue Snowball Ice (see below) sat on
your audio, cleans the background noise their desk. Here are our top three recommendations for those who prefer headsets
from it, then outputs it through a virtual
microphone (Windows treats this like any JabraEvolve265 Sennheiser/ Jabra Talk 25
EPOS Adapt 135
other microphone, so you can use it in £146 £29
your video calls). www.snipca.com/38340 £46 www.snipca.com/38342
The free version gives you 120 is Bluetooth headset www.snipca.com/38341 One of the cheapest
minutes of audio-cleaning per week. keeps going for 35 hours If you don’t like the idea Bluetooth earpieces, the
Once you’ve created your free account of calls on a single charge, of having to charge your Talk 25 performs well
at https://krisp.ai, click the purple and with comfortable headset, consider this and, thanks to its omni-
Download button, open the file that memory-foam cushions on single-earpiece Sennheiser directional microphone, it
downloads and follow the installation the earpieces it’s perfect set, which connects via picks up only your voice,
instructions. When the Krisp window for long video chats. Its mic USB-C or 3.5mm audio. not those of people in the
appears in the bottom-right corner of mutes when you flip it up, We found the microphone background. Unlike most
your system tray, click Get Started, and the headset displays a captured high-quality audio wireless earpieces, it has
Start Setup, then make sure your red light when you’re on a and did impressively well at a hook to go over your
preferred microphone and speakers call so people know not to blocking out nearby noise. ear to prevent it falling out
are selected. disturb you.
To use Krisp in your video-chat
tool, you need to set that program to
use it as its microphone. In Skype,
go to the ‘Audio & Video’ section of
the settings window, scroll to the
Audio section, then click the option
next to Microphone and select ‘Krisp
Microphone (Krisp)’.
In Zoom, go to the Audio section,
click the dropdown menu next to Test
Mic then select the Krisp Microphone 5 Buy a separate cTscoaehbpnelaneBrealacutnteesdpStdoonowoyeowesurnbrs’atPulrlCpeIpcqveluyiirecSaB
option (see screenshot below). We microphone
found Krisp worked well at removing No matter how much you
constant noises (such as fans and air-
tweak the settings in Skype and Zoom,
conditioning units), but struggled to sometimes your microphone simply isn’t
eliminate sudden loud noises like a up to the job – a common problem with Alternatively, you
phone ringing. cheap microphones built into laptops. If might consider som thing
this sounds familiar, it’s like the InnoGear
time to buy a separate mic. Microphone Stand
Our favourite mic for Set (£15 from
video calls is the Blue www.snipca.com/38343). Once you’ve
Snowball Ice (£55 from attached it to the tripod, you can tilt the
www.snipca.com/38344, microphone to angle it towards your face.
pictured right). At The Blue Snowball Ice has a miniUSB
12x21x25mm, it’s fairly port, which attaches to a USB-A port on
bulky but pleasingly your computer via the included cable. The
quirky. mic gets all the power it requires via
Setting it up takes a USB, so there’s no need for a separate
seconds. It comes with a power supply (a red LED on the top
small tripod that screws lights up when it’s connected to your PC).
directly into the bottom There’s no software to install.
of the microphone, with Once you’ve plugged the microphone
the three legs spreading into your computer, Windows will
out to form a stand. The automatically install a driver and set it
socket on the underside as your default microphone. We found
is a standard-sized tripod the mic worked well when we placed it
mount, so if you have a up to around one metre away from us,
larger tripod (such as one but it’s when you get close to it (around
for a camera), you can use 10cm) that it really shines, picking up
tToouusseeiatsudviiort-ucalel amniicnrgoptohoolnKerisp, set your video-chat program that instead. and sending clear, rich audio.

Nextissue:Boost your computer’s audio with a speaker Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 37

Workshop1
Add notes to your emails

What you need: Gmail account; Simple Gmail Notes;Windows 7,8.1 or 10
Time required: 15 minutes

How often do you receive an important Your notes will only be visible to
email, then completely forget to respond you, and you’ll be able to view them
to it or act upon it? Here, we’ll show you how no matter where you log into your
to quickly apply notes to your emails in Gmail Gmail account. We’ve also got a
that can act as a prompt to action using a free bonus tip at the end explaining how
extension called Simple Gmail Notes (SGN). to add notes in Outlook.com.

1STEP The SGN extension works on all major
browsers. To install it on a Chromium-based
browser such as Chrome, Edge or Brave, go
to www.snipca.com/38242 and click ‘Add to…’ 1
(if a blue bar with a button labelled ‘Allow extensions
from other stores’ appears at the top of Edge, click this,
then Allow), then ‘Add extension’. To install the 1
extension for Firefox, go to www.snipca.com/38243.
Once this is installed, log into your Gmail account at
www.gmail.com.

1 5 1 234

2STEP Open any email and you’ll see a new section at the 3STEP When creating a note, you can change its background
top. Click the Login link 1 , enter your Gmail address colour by clicking the palette icon 1 . You can also
and password, then click Allow. The section at the top search for other notes (magnifying-glass icon 2),
of the Gmail window will now turn yellow, indicating that create an entry for the email in Google Calendar (calendar
you’re signed into SGN. To create a note on the email you’re icon 3) – useful for setting reminders to reply to an email, and
currently viewing, type your text into the yellow box. There’s delete the note (bin icon 4). Gmail doesn’t let you use
no Save button – your notes are saved automatically. You can extensions on mobile devices, so you won’t be able to see your
now repeat this process on other emails. When browsing your notes when viewing your inbox on your phone or tablet.
inbox, those with notes will display the first few characters of However, you can view them in a separate SGN app – click the
the note to the left of the subject line. To view a note in full, phone icon 5, then follow the instructions.
simply open the relevant email.

38 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

1
32

21

3

To further tweak how the SGN extension You can also create a template for your notes (such as a series
works, click settings (cog icon to the right of of headings with specific information). In the settings window,
4 5STEP STEP

the note box). The first few options adjust scroll to the Template section, then type whatever you want in
how note previews appear in your inbox – the Note your template 1 . Click the Save button at the bottom. When you next open
Abstract Style box 1 , for example, lets you set how an email, you’ll see a new Template button 2 in the toolbar to the right of
many characters of each note are displayed. Further the notes box (second from the left) - click this and your template text will
down, you can adjust where the note box appears appear in your note 3.
within each email (‘Note position’ box 2) and the
size, style and colour of the text 3.

6STEP The SGN extension saves all your notes to 1
your Google Drive account. You can view 2
them within Google Drive by logging into
your account at www.google.com/drive, selecting
My Drive 1 in the menu on the left, then opening the
‘_SIMPLE_GMAIL_NOTES_’ folder 2. Each note is
saved as a separate Google Docs file – click one to
open it, or select it then press Delete to remove it
(doing this means the note will also disappear from
your inbox).

7STEP There isn’t an equivalent extension for
adding notes to individual emails in
Outlook.com (Microsoft’s online version
of Outlook). However, you can create general
notes in Outlook.com, then sync them with
your PC. To do this, log into your email account at
www.outlook.com, then click Notes 1 in the menu
23 4 on the left-hand side. If you can’t see this, click the
1 menu button (three horizontal lines, top left 2).
Next, click New Note 3 to create your note. To view
your notes on your PC, open Sticky Notes (search for
it in the Start menu), click the cog icon (top right 4),
then sign into the same account you use for Outlook.
com. All your Outlook.com notes will now sync with
the app (and vice versa).

Nextissue:Share your passwords securely with friends and family Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 39

Workshop2

Repair your broken Windo

What you need: ShortcutsMan; Everything;Windows 7,8.1 or 10
Time required: 30 minutes

Many of the icons on your desktop file they point to is moved or renamed.
will probably be shortcuts, which When you click a damaged shortcut
are links to files or programs elsewhere Windows will display an error message.
on your hard drive (you can spot a In this Workshop, we’ll show you how to
shortcut icon by the small arrow in the identify broken shortcuts, then delete
bottom-left corner). Over time, these those you no longer need and fix those
shortcuts can break, such as when the you want to keep.

1STEP You may already have a specific broken shortcut that 2STEP When the tool opens, you’ll see a long list of all the
you want to fix, but it’s worth finding out if there are shortcuts on your hard drive. To make it easier to
any others that need attention. For this, download identify those that are broken, open the Options menu,
NirSoft’s ShortcutsMan (www.snipca.com/38237 - scroll to the then select Mark Broken Shortcuts so that a tick appears next to
bottom of the page for the download links). Run the ZIP file that it 1 . Next, click the Broken Shortcut column header 2 twice –
downloads, click ‘Extract all’ 1 in the File Explorer window that this re-orders the list so that all broken shortcuts are at the
opens, then follow the instructions and choose where to save top (they’ll be highlighted in red).
the files. Once complete, a second File Explorer window will
open - double-click ‘shman.exe’ 2 to run ShortcutsMan.

1 2
2 1

3STEP The name of the program or file each 4 3
shortcut links to is listed in the 2
Shortcut Name column 1 , while the
Link To column 2 shows the folder that the
shortcut points to. It’s also worth looking at
the Location column 3, which tells you where
the shortcut is located (those listed as being in
the Common Start Menu appear in the Start 1
menu for all user accounts, not just the one
you’re currently using). First, we’ll deal with
the 4K Video Downloader shortcut 4, which is
a remnant from a tool that we’ve previously
uninstalled.

40 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

4 1
3 2

1
2

4STEP The Location column says this broken shortcut is in the 5STEP Windows 10 has a feature called Distributed Link
Windows Start menu, and typing 4k video downloader Tracking that attempts to update shortcuts when the
in the Start menu confirms this. Like most broken files they link to are moved or renamed. However, it
shortcuts, it has a generic Windows shortcut icon 1 instead of doesn’t always work. On our PC, we have a broken shortcut for
the icon of the program itself. Clicking ‘Uninstall’ 2 takes us to the portable version of the ebook software Calibre 1 . To find out
the ‘Uninstall or change a program’ section of Control Panel, more about the shortcut, right-click it, then select Properties.
but the program isn’t listed because we’ve already uninstalled The file the shortcut is trying to open will be listed in the Target
it. Instead, to remove this shortcut we have to run it 3. box 2. In our example, it’s looking for Calibre in a partition on
Windows will now display an error message, prompting you to our hard drive that no longer exists.
delete the shortcut. Click ‘Yes’ 4 and the shortcut will disappear
from your Start menu.

6STEP If you already know the location of the file the shortcut
should be pointing to, you can update the shortcut
yourself. To do this, delete the text in the Target box,
then type the program’s full file path (including its file name) –
if the file path or file name includes spaces, enclose the entire
text in double quote marks 1 (press Shift+2). Next, enter the
same text in the ‘Start in’ box, minus the file name 2. Click OK
to update the shortcut.

21

7STEP If the shortcut still doesn’t work, or you don’t know 1
the new location of the file it links to, it’s time to do a 2
bit of investigative work. Install the free search tool
Everything (www.voidtools.com), which is faster and more 3
accurate than Windows’ search tool. Once installed, run
Everything then type the file name linked to the broken Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 41
shortcut in the previous step (calibre-portable.exe 1 in our
example). Everything will now scan your hard drive for the file
and, if it finds it, will list it in the results pane 2. Double-click
this entry to make sure it launches your program, then return to
the Everything window, right-click the file entry, select ‘Send
to’, then ‘Desktop (create shortcut)’ 3. The new shortcut will
now appear on your desktop (you can delete the broken
shortcut).

Nextissue:Annotate your videos with labels that follow objects

Readers’Tips

TIP OFTHE FORTNIGHT

Check if you can hear lossless audio

My hearing has slowly deteriorated click ‘X is A’ or ‘X is B’ at the bottom (see
with age, so I’ve often wondered screenshot), then ‘next’. You’ll now hear
whether my ears can still tell the the same track a further four times, so
difference between lossless audio and make your decision on each. Repeat this
normal. I checked using a clever site for four more tracks, so in total you’ll be
that plays you tracks from Spotify. tested 25 times. You’ll then see your
Visit www.snipca.com/38062 and results. When I first took the test I was
click Do e Test. Read the instructions, convinced I couldn’t tell the difference,
then click the ‘I’m busy, do 5 trials’ and so it proved. e site said that it was
button. On the next screen click the X unlikely I could tell the difference
in the middle. Now click the A and B between lossless and non-lossless. It
buttons and listen carefully to work out didn’t really bother me – just one less
which sounds the same as X (only one thing to worry about as you get older!
of them does). When you’ve decided, Simon Crystal

Simon wins a copy of our 2020 Back Issue CD Buy it on Amazon www.snipca.com/38164

RUbbOoeseoUerTsa!tE)cRyciodaunerrtWo(oir-Fi can the signal is a lot stronger
I made a Wi-Fi and faster even with the door
closed. anks, Robert!

Brian Brown

booster out of a iHEnMidGAeImLGaoilogle Meet
cider can just like
Robert Irvine did in
Issue 604 (page 74), A few months ago Google
though he chose a beer added a Google Meet button
can. Being careful not as an option in the left-hand top right of Gmail’s main page, then ‘See
to cut off my fingertips, menu of my Gmail account. It all settings’. Now click the ‘Chat and
I placed it around the sat there doing nothing except Meet’ tab at the top and select ‘Hide the
wireless security taking up space and making it Meet section in the main menu’ (see
camera in my kitchen (pictured above). hard for me to see and click the folders I screenshot above). Finally, click Save
My router is in the living room over 20 needed to access every day. Changes. You’ll no longer be plagued by
feet away. Before, I had to leave two doors After some toil, tears and sweat this pointless option – well, it was
open to send a signal from router to (thankfully no blood), I discovered how pointless for me anyway!
camera. But now that I’ve added the cider to remove it. Click the Settings cog at the Raymond Eves

Why I stopped using…

Google Chrome while listening to music on YouTube. at
I was getting ready to listen to a compares to about five an hour on
Beethoven symphony on Chrome.
YouTube in Chrome when once again I still use Chrome for other types of
my anticipation was punctured by an browsing, partly out of habit and partly
advert. But rather than close it, I looked because I’ve got years of bookmarks
again. It was an ad for the browser stored on it. But these days I always have
Brave, urging me to switch because it Brave open in the background playing tells me how many ads and trackers it
doesn’t show ads on YouTube. How’s YouTube. Over time I suspect I’ll gravitate has blocked (see screenshot).
that for irony? towards Brave. I’m probably not brave It’s a simple download from
enough (sorry) to switch everything right https://brave.com.
And what I use instead… now, but I’ll certainly be using it more Terry Gibbon
I’ve been using Brave for three weeks and more.
now, and I’ve not heard a single advert Also, every time I open a new tab Brave Telluswhy you stopped using a website, app
or program: [email protected]

42 2 - 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Handy hints and tips from your fellow readers
Email us your tips: [email protected]

CyAoUouDnrItOrhoelaTdVpshpoenaeksers from Reader recommends…

In Letters, Issue 604, Chris Innes Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab
raised a question about why his
TV’s speakers disconnected as soon as the £177 (32GB) £199 (64GB) fromAmazon www.snipca.com/38173

headphones were plugged in. When looking for a new A roid
In 2019 we purchased a Sharp LC- tablet to replace an old Nex s 7,
40UI7552K TV, and later bought a I found this Lenovo model that’s
Bluetooth transmitter (around £5 from aimed squarely at entertainment
eBay) to try listening to it with wireless use.
headphones. I came across an unusual ‘Yoga’ is a strange name, and the
functionality of this TV – the internal tablet is a strange shape, but for
speakers did not turn off when I plugged very good reasons. e base is
in the transmitter, allowing me to have shaped like a tube that looks like
both options at the same time. I could it might hold AA batteries, but
control the TV speaker’s volume actually houses two small, round
separately from the headphones, and by JBL speakers. e sound is hugely Assistant is on board. Inside is a huge
turning the TV volume right down I superior to normal flat tablets that have 7000mAh battery that promises to run
could listen using headphones only. squashed, tiny and tinny speakers. for 10 hours of video. I haven’t
I don’t know if this is a function of the e tube at the bottom is also a very managed to run it down in one go yet.
TV or whether the transmitter has been useful hand-hold, stopping the tablet I keep asking myself why I waited so
designed to keep the speakers playing, slipping through your fingers. e back long to upgrade that old Nexus 7.
but this set-up does the job admirably. has a sturdy multi-position kickstand Phil Hughes
Brian Windsor which doubles as a wall hanger.
e 10.1in IPS screen is very crisp, Want to recommend hardware or software
PStoHreOGsRosTofCgoUlreTwSsaeradrsclhasbhoxto leap back to fellow readers?
there are two cameras, and Google Email [email protected]

Few things in computing give me tPArUaaDucIskOes ruescinogrdAinugdbaceittwyeen the track finishes, rather than making a
as much pleasure as learning and I read your Workshop in Issue 604 huge file you have to split into tracks.
then memorising a keyboard shortcut. It
proves to me that you can teach an old Bill Power

dog (69 years old, to be exact) new tricks. (page 38) about using Audacity to mBTVuuyltaipnleeiFgrhete-swaatysLeNtuBpsfor
My latest favourite is pressing / (the split recordings of LPs into individual Following your interesting How To
forward-slash symbol) to return to the songs. I’ve done this myself using the
Google search box. headphone jack socket of an LP deck.
If you’ve searched for something on I have an older PC with a 3.5mm feature on Freesat in Issue 604
Google, you’ve always had to use your audio input socket, so I plugged one end (page 35), I thought I’d share my own
mouse to get back to the search box to of a 3.5mm aux cable into it, and the Freesat setup. We’ve just moved from
type something else. Now you just need other end into the LP deck’s socket. Kent to a mid-Wales village, which has
to press / and your flashing cursor will I attached a pair of headphones to a limited Freeview (just 15 channels).
shoot back to that box (see screenshot headphone splitter so I could hear Fortunately, the previous owner had
below), no mouse required. After a few what I was recording. installed Sky, so I ordered an eight-way
days I was doing this instinctively. Now fire up Audacity (www. low-noise block (LNB) – such as this
Gerald Curtis audacityteam.org). One thing to watch pictured £29.99 model: www.snipca.
carefully is the recording volume. As com/38114 – to replace
long as the waveform is between the the original four- ay
upper and lower limits, your recording unit, and proceed d
won’t be distorted. If you think the to hook up a H ax
volume is too low, select the whole track HDR box with
using Audacity, then click the Effect two outputs and
menu and select Amplify. is will a Samsung smart
automatically increase the selection to TV with two out fo ow
the maximum possible volume without that with a Manhattan TV box in
distortion. Now you can go to File, then the kitchen, another doubling up with a
‘Export as wav’ or whichever file type Samsung TV/PC monitor, and finally a
you require. seventh one in the garage to watch while
e advantage to this method is that on the exercise bike. at leaves a spare
you can hear what you’re recording, eighth one, for another day!
and then stop Audacity exactly when Colin Pengelly

Issue 607 • 2 - 15 June 2021 43

PhoneandTabletTips

iBOlSock or allow app tracking because it stops apps like Facebook from iFAOopSlplolew’sannedwsaPvoedschaoswtssaipnp
tracking users’ activity across the internet.
e next full version of Apple’s iOS e new iOS 14.5 update also makes
isn’t due until later this year but To use App Tracking Transparency, some big changes to the way Apple’s
the operating system’s recent 14.5 update you’ll first need to make sure you’ve Podcasts app looks and works. After
has added a surprisingly wide selection updated your device to the latest version installing the latest iOS update (see
of new features, including a handy new of iOS (currently 14.5.1). Tap Settings, previous tip), launch the Podcasts app
way to control your privacy. It’s called General, then Software Update to check and you’ll notice the layout is different.
App Tracking Transparency and has which version you’re using – if you Tap the Podcasts tab, for example, then
been causing a certain amount of haven’t got the latest update yet, tap tap a show and you’ll notice there’s no
consternation among big tech companies ‘Download and Install’ and follow the longer an option to subscribe to it.
instructions to complete the process. Instead, you can tap the plus sign (+) in
the top-right corner to ‘follow’ the show.
Next, tap Settings, Privacy, then Doing so adds all existing and future
Tracking. You’ll see a new ‘Allow Apps to episodes of the show to your library,
Request to Track’ option here. By default, though it doesn’t download them to your
this is disabled, which means that device unless you tap an individual
tracking is already blocked for all apps. episode, then tap the down arrow in the
If you’re happy with that, you can leave top-right corner (see screenshot below).
this setting as it is. For more control over If you don’t want to add an entire show
which apps are blocked, tap the slider to your library, you can use the Save
next to ‘Allow Apps to Request to Track’. option to add individual episodes. Tap
the Podcasts tab,
Now, whenever you open an app that then tap a show
wants to track you, you’ll see a new and scroll through
notification to ‘Allow App to track your the episodes until
activity across other companies’ apps and you find the one
websites’ (see screenshot left). To block you want. Tap it,
the app, tap ‘Ask App Not to Track’, then tap the
otherwise tap Allow. bookmark icon in
the top right to save
Return to Settings, Privacy, then it for later. Episodes
Tracking to see a list of apps you’ve you’ve saved can be
allowed or blocked. To allow an app found by tapping
you’ve previously blocked, tap the slider the Library tab,
next to it in the list. then Saved.

It’s worth noting that blocking apps
from tracking you won’t block adverts
altogether – it means you’ll see generic
adverts, rather than ads targeted to your
online behaviour.

BESTNEWAPPS What you should install this fortnight

Typewise DrawPortal Splice
Free* Free* Free
Android www.snipca.com/38210 Android www.snipca.com/38209 Android www.snipca.com/38221
iOS www.snipca.com/38211 DrawPortal is a fun new way to connect Until recently, this award-winning video-
Typewise has released a new version of its with people online. It’s a drawing app that editing app was exclusive to iOS, but
highly customisable keyboard for Android lets you sketch with other users over the has now been released for Android. At
and iOS. e update internet – perfect launch, the Android
introduces a fresh for enjoying time version seems
interface, improved with far-flung slightly more basic,
autocorrection and grandchildren. but updates are
an option to protect ere’s even a promised. It’s very
your privacy by simplified Baby easy to use and
switching to offline Mode for younger lets you trim clips,
mode. Unlocking all users. DrawPortal add music, adjust
of the Pro version’s is free to use but speed and is (for
advanced features, in-app purchases the time being, at
will cost you £5.99 unlock additional least) free with no
per year. features. adverts.

*Contains in-app purchases

44 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

Brilliant things to do on your device

recent update, YouTube Wi-Fi connection. In both cases,
now offers a new way to you’ll see three options – Auto,
customise your playback ‘Higher picture quality’ and
quality settings. ‘Data saver’. Auto is selected by
default here, but you might
On the YouTube main choose to change the mobile
screen, tap your account icon option to ‘Data saver’ and the
in the top-right corner, then Wi-Fi option to ‘Higher picture
select Settings. Now tap quality’ (see screenshot left).
‘Video quality preferences’. at way, you’ll always get
e next screen is divided higher resolutions by default
into two sections – in the top when you’re at home but
section you can choose YouTube will play lower-quality
quality settings for when versions of videos while you’re
you’re streaming over mobile out and about, to avoid eating
data, and in the bottom for into your mobile-data allowance.
when you’re viewing over a
Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 45
BESTAPPS FOR... Tying knots

tUAoNsDeeRnGOhoIaDongcleeyPohuortsohso’ntsew tools Knots 3D

Google has updated its Photos app £5.49 (Android), £5.99 (iOS)
with two new tools for improving Android www.snipca.com/38212
your images: Sharpen and Denoise. To iOS www.snipca.com/38213
find them, launch the app, open a photo At just over a fiver, this app might seem
you’d like to improve, then tap Adjust in relatively expensive, but it provides an
the editing options below and scroll to exhaustive reference, with more than 150
the right. e Sharpen tool can be used to different knots detailed and displayed in
improve shots that look soft or blurry. Tap 3D, all of which can be rotated, zoomed,
it, then use the slider that appears below slowed down and viewed from every
to set the intensity of sharpening you angle to help you learn how to master
require. Tap ‘Done’ when you’ve finished. them.
e Denoise tool (see screenshot above) Best ForA more comprehensive selection
can reduce graininess, noise and other
distortions in your shots. As with What Knot To Do
Sharpen, tapping Denoise brings up a
slider that you can use to adjust the Free
strength of the effect. Once you’ve got it iOS www.snipca.com/38214
how you want it, tap Done. is wittily named app is a bit more
To take advantage of these new back-to-basics compared with Knots
features, make sure you’ve updated your 3D above, with straightforward step-by-
Photos app to the latest version via the step guides to tying more than 70 knots.
Google Play app. Usefully, however, the app arranges knots
by activity – fishing, sailing, camping and
SAinNeYDtoRyuOoTIuDurb&deieOfSault video quality so on – as well as by name.
Best For Identifyingknots forspecific
For some time now, the YouTube activities
mobile app has defaulted to Auto
mode when it comes to video-playback Tangle Master 3D
quality. Auto mode attempts to
intelligently select the appropriate Free*
resolution and bitrate, depending on the Android www.snipca.com/38215
type of connection you’re using. It’s iOS www.snipca.com/38216
possible to select a higher or lower is app takes the humble knot and turns
resolution while playing a video by it into a fun puzzle game, where you’re
tapping the menu button (three dots), tasked with untying various tangled ropes
then tapping Quality and selecting the in the correct order, over the course of
resolution you require. But, thanks to a hundreds of increasingly challenging
levels. e game itself is free, though
there are adverts and in-app purchases to
unlock extra lives.
Best For Knot-based puzzles

*Contains in-app purchases

MakeWindowsBetter Expert tips for every version

OWIpNeDnOfWoSld7e, 8rs.1 i&n1n0ew windows WINDOWS 10

When you double-click Customise Action Centre buttons
a folder in File Explorer
(which you can open Windows 10’s Action Centre
by pressing the Windows key+E), the lets you review recent
contents of that folder will appear in notifications and turn on
the same File Explorer window. settings including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and
Sometimes, however, you’ll want to Windows’ mobile hotspot tool. ere
open it in a new window, such as when are two ways to open the Action Centre.
you want to compare the contents of One is to click its icon (a square speech
two folders or drag and drop files bubble) on the right of your taskbar – if
between them. you can’t see this icon, right-click an
To do this, hold the Ctrl key when empty section of the taskbar, select
double-clicking a folder. e folder will ‘Taskbar settings’, then scroll down the
then open in a separate File Explorer ‘Notification area’ section, click ‘Turn
window, allowing you to place it and the system icons on or off’ and click the
original File Explorer window side by slider next to ‘action centre’. buttons (and get back ones you’ve
side. Windows 7 doesn’t have the same Alternatively, you can open it using the previously removed), click the Add
shortcut, but you can open a new File Windows key+A keyboard shortcut. button at the bottom, then select from
Explorer window by pressing Ctrl+N – You can also customise the options in the list (see screenshot). When you’ve
the new window will be set to the same the bottom half of the Action Centre. To added your chosen buttons, click Done.
folder as the original File Explorer do this, right-click one of the buttons You can also use the buttons to access
window (this also works on Windows 8.1 and select ‘Edit quick actions’. To the relevant section in the Windows
and 10). Finally, if you prefer using your remove a button for a setting you don’t Settings app – right-click a button, then
mouse, you can simply right-click a need, click the circular pin icon at the click the ‘Open…’ or ‘Go to Settings’
folder, then select ‘Open in new window’ top-right of the button. To add new option.
(see screenshot above).
other open windows. A better way is to
hold Ctrl, then left-click the program’s
icon on the taskbar. is will display each
of your open windows for that program
in turn, even if they were previously
minimised.

You can also use the taskbar to quickly
minimise all the open windows for a
specific program. Hold Shift, right-click
the program’s icon, then select ‘Minimise
all windows’ (see screenshot below left).

WAcINcDeOssWtSa1s0kbar programs quicker EWaINsDilyOWseSt7,d8e.1fa&u1l0t programs program listed for this file type next to
‘Opens with:’ at the top of the window.
When you’ve got multiple Windows 8.1 and 10 let
windows open for the same you set the default To change it, click ‘Change…’ (see
program (such as a collection of programs for specific screenshot above), then select a program
Edge windows), navigating between files in the Settings app (press the from the list. If the program you want to
them isn’t always easy. One option is to Windows key+I). Next, go to Apps, use isn’t shown, scroll to the bottom of
use Alt+Tab, but you’ll need to locate the ‘Default apps’ and click ‘Choose default this list and select ‘More apps’, ‘Look for
Edge window you want among all your applications by file type’. In Windows 7, another app on this PC’, then navigate to
you’ll find similar options by clicking the the EXE file for your chosen program.
Start button, then Default Programs. Select it and click Open.
If that sounds like too much of a faff,
there’s an easier way. Press the Windows To save your changes, click OK in the
Key+E to open File Explorer, then Properties window.
right-click the file that you want to
change the default app for and select
Properties. Make sure the General tab is
selected in the Properties window that
opens. You’ll see the current default

46 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607

MakeOfficeBetter Top tips for MS Office & LibreOffice

MICROSOFT EXCEL& LIBREOFFICE CALC

Calculate visible rows only

Both Excel and Calc let (this lets you control how the values are
you temporarily hide calculated).
specific rows simply by To calculate the sum total of visible
selecting the relevant rows, right- cells only, you need to use the function
clicking that selection within the rows number 109. In our example, cells B2
column, then clicking Hide (Excel) or to B10 all contain numbers, but within
Hide Rows (Calc). However, if you want that region we’ve hidden rows 3,4,6,7
to calculate the sum of only visible cells and 8. When we type the formula
in a single column using the standard =SUBTOTAL(109, B2:B10) into cell B11
SUM formula, you’ll find both programs (see screenshot), it ignores the three
include visible and hidden cells. hidden cells within the range B2 to B10,
e solution is to use the SUBTOTAL returning a sum total based on the
formula. Unlike SUM, this requires you visible cells only.
to insert a function number before the To reveal your hidden rows, select the selection in the rows column and select
range of values you want to calculate rows either side of them, right-click the Unhide (Excel) or Show Rows (Calc).

AMdICdROtiSckOFbToExXeCsEtLo Excel... relevant cell (use your arrow keys to holding down the Alt key to make precise
make precise adjustments). Finally, click adjustments). Once you’ve done this, you
Tick boxes in documents are very elsewhere on the spreadsheet to save the can copy and paste the cell with the tick
handy for recording attendance tick box. You can now select the cell box to other cells in your spreadsheet.
at a meeting, marking items that containing your new tick box, then copy Finally, return to the Form Controls
are out on loan and for many other lists, (press Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) it into toolbar window and click the Design
but you may struggle when trying to use other cells. Click any of the boxes to add Mode button. You’ll now be able to add
them in spreadsheets. or remove the tick. and remove ticks from each box.
In Excel, you first need to enable the
Developer tab. Right-click anywhere .L.I.BaRnEdOtFoFICCaElCcALC MInIsCeRrOtSdOoFtTteWdOlRinDes
within the top toolbar (such as over the You can also insert tick boxes into When you’re writing a long
File menu), then select ‘Customize the
Ribbon’. In the window that opens, locate Calc spreadsheets. Open your document, you may want to
the Developer option with the ‘Main tabs’ spreadsheet, then click View, separate certain sections using
pane on the right and tick the box next to Toolbars, then Form Controls. In the full-width lines. Word has some handy
it (see screenshot below), followed by OK. Form Controls toolbar that appears, select shortcuts that let you do this. First,
You’ll now see the Developer menu in the Design Mode button (a set-square navigate to the point in your document
the toolbar. Click this, select Insert, then icon, see screenshot below), then the where you want to insert the dotted line
click the tick-box icon within the Form Check Box button just below it. As with and press Enter to start a new line. What
Controls section. Next, click and drag to Excel, use your mouse to place the tick you type next depends on the type of line
place the tick box on your spreadsheet box on to your spreadsheet. Right-click you want. For a standard line 1 , type
(don’t worry about its precise location the box, click ‘Control Properties…’, then --- (three minus signs) and press Enter.
just yet). When you’ve done this, select select the General tab. You can now edit For a double line 2, type ===. For more
the tick box’s label and edit it or just or delete the label for the tick box. Close impact, type ### to produce a thick black
delete it. Next, resize the border so that the Properties window, then resize the line between two thinner lines 3. Finally,
it’s only slightly larger than the tick box, border around the box and move it into type ~~~ (three tildes, usually typed by
then drag the box so that it sits over the position (use your arrow keys while pressing Shift+#) for a jagged line 4.

1
2
3
4

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021
47

In The Club
Run a club or society? Here's how your tech can make it easier

Transcribe in-person meetings in real time

In Issue 604 (page 48) we explained how ask for permission to use your tflilTWGmctcsnoarohhairramnoreeahnroanegekneatuiasielasustgtapplvislcaannarpeArtgtgntiienmbopesdepse
even the most advanced transcription microphone – click OK and your meeting
tools struggle to accurately detect what’s window will open. As you speak, your
being said in online meetings, such as on words will appear on screen in a slightly
Zoom and Skype. Microsoft’s new Group greyed-out font. When you pause,
Transcribe app (launched in March this Group Transcribe analyses the words,
year) is different in that it performs then applies what it believes to be
real-time transcription during in-person appropriate edits, such as adding
(ie, not video) meetings – something that capitalisation and punctuation. is
clubs are finally starting to do again as takes only a few seconds, after which
lockdown restrictions are being eased. It’s the text will appear in bold.
also useful if you have members who are
hard of hearing since they can follow Invite others to join
what’s being said on their device. In our Although it’s possible to share a single
tests, the app worked impressively well, device between all members in the
with almost flawless speech-to-text meeting, it’s not ideal. e transcriptions someone else happens to be using Group
performance. for all people will appear under a single Transcribe within Bluetooth range of the
To use it, you’ll need an iPad or iPhone name, and the app will have trouble meeting (around 5-10 metres), they will
running iOS 12 or higher (that’s the recording what’s said when two or more be able to search for and join your
iPhone 5s, 5th generation iPad, iPad Mini people speak simultaneously. Instead, you meeting. To disable this feature, tap the
2 or later); there’s no word yet as to can invite the other people to join the Nearby Session button at the top of your
whether Group Transcribe will be made meeting (they will also need compatible meeting window (it will then have a cross
available for Android devices. Download iOS devices) by tapping the silhouette through it to indicate it’s turned off).
the app either by searching for group icon in the bottom-right corner. ey can You can invite as many people as you
transcribe in the App Store or going to then join by scanning the QR code (tap like and will be notified as they join. As
www.snipca.com/38354 in the browser the camera icon in the Group Transcribe people speak, the transcription of what
on your iPhone or iPad. Once installed, window) or entering the five-character they say will appear in the app on all
run the app, skip through the intro code (see screenshot below left) into the participants’ devices, much like in a
screens then enter your name in the Enter Code box. WhatsApp chat. If someone has selected
Display Name box and choose from the People can also join the meeting by a different language to you, Group
list of languages. Click ‘Done’ to continue. tapping the Nearby Session button Transcribe will automatically translate
(similar to a Wi-Fi symbol – see what they say (see screenshot above).
Start a new meeting screenshot below) in the main Group At the top-right of the window you’ll
To start a new meeting, tap the Start Transcribe window, which uses Bluetooth see how long your meeting has been
button (bottom-right corner). e first to perform a search for nearby meetings. running and a silhouette icon with a
time you do this, Group Transcribe will Note that anyone can do this, so if number, indicating how many people are
signed into the meeting (tap this icon to
cPjmstcmuohoocseieeeaddnioneeneeQpygttnliiooRennitnurhggcgreabny bmTsnaeeuepaatetrrotcbthinhynisgtfoosr see all participants’ names).

Rtreavnisecwriapntdioenxport your

To end your meeting, tap the left-facing
arrow (top-left), followed by Yes. To
review the transcription, tap the meeting
in the main Group Transcribe window.
You can then share the transcription by
tapping the Export button (icon of a box
with an up arrow, top right), then
choosing whether to send it to another
app (such as the Mail app), copying it
to the clipboard or saving it as a file on
your device.

48 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607 Nextissue:Collaborate on spreadsheets in real time

FWhuat’ssAllstheAbout...

2nm chips Honey,IBMhasshrunkthechips(again)
What are they?

e smallest microchips ever made,
created by IBM in its test labs in Albany,
New York state. It announced the
breakthrough in May, predicting that it
will lead to a boost in computing power
while using less energy.

How small are they?

e ‘nm’ stands for nanometre, which is a
billionth (0.000000001) of a metre, so
the chips (or semiconductors) are almost
unfathomably small. ey’re narrower
than a single strand of human DNA.
However, the name ‘2nm’ itself doesn’t
specifically refer to the size of the chip.
Instead, it’s a marketing term used to
describe the power and performance of
chips, with smaller being better.

Is that them in the main photo? wWoilrlkthfiassmtear?ke devices Other benefits include “slashing” the
carbon footprint of data centres, which
Yes. We know it looks like an X-ray taken Yes, dramatically so, according to IBM. account for one per cent of global energy
at a dentist for robots, but it’s actually a Compared with the 7nm chips use. ey might also make self-driving
row of 2nm chips. More attractive is the currently used in devices, the new cars appear sooner.
silicon wafer (pictured below) being ones will boost performance by 45 per
demonstrated by an IBM researcher. cent. It should also quadruple the Why’s that?
ese wafers are used to manufacture battery life of smartphones currently
chips. is close-up photo is lovely too: powered by 7nm chips (including iPhone Because they’ll help the AI used in those
www.snipca.com/38247. 11, Samsung Galaxy S10 and Google Pixel vehicles to detect objects faster, and react
5), meaning they’ll need to be charged more quickly. It may still be decades before
Aimepsothretatnictsaabsoiduet ,thwish?at’s so just once every four days. they’re driving on our roads, though,
because convincing the public that
It’s significant because it sets a new What about laptops? self-driving cars are safe will be much
record for how many transistors can be tougher than actually making them safe.
crammed into the chip. Around 333 IBM didn’t mention their battery life, but
million transistors can fit into a square it did say that 2nm chips would speed Iwwt aohlnel’rsteobyueonrudesatedelyxlcmfioteirnytghe,aabtrustth?iescthhiisps
millimetre or – as IBM puts it – 50 billion up a laptop’s functions, making it faster
can fit into “a chip the size of a to use software, quicker to access the Afraid so. It’s just a proof of concept at
fingernail”, up from 30 billion when it internet and better at translating languages. the moment, which means it’s been
announced 5nm chips in 2017. shown to be feasible. at’s a big step for
cw2Wdainsiamlmclfeuetcorsrhaefmoi:ptrIahsBtkihMsee sure, but actually manufacturing the
chips is another challenge entirely. To give
you an idea, current 7nm chips didn’t
become widely available until 2019 – four
years after IBM announced them. e
same timescale is possible for 2nm, but
IBM would need to tackle the problem of
‘interconnect scaling’, which makes it
harder to wire together transistors as they
get smaller. If all goes well though, by
2025 we could be getting some chips off
the new block.

Issue 607 • 2 – 15 June 2021 49

COVER FEATURE

MPACSTPEORRYOTUSR
Wireless might be convenient, but – as WillStapley
explains – the dizzying array of ports on your desktop PC,

laptop, monitor and TV can let you do so much more

WHAT YOUCAN D O Take a look at the back of your and TVs, explaining what they do and
PC. Can you name all those how you can make the most of them.
• Connect and configure multiple weird and wonderful ports?
speakers and headphones And more importantly, what do Some of you might still be using PCs
• Attach multiple monitors using they all do? Even those you might be from the mid-to-late 2000s, albeit ones
‘daisy-chaining’ familiar with – such as USB and HDMI – that have since been upgraded. As you’ll
• Check whether your Ethernet port is have hidden features that will transform see from the gallery of ports below and
slowing your network how you use them. opposite, we look at modern ports as
• Identify your fastest USB port well as those from yesteryear – and as
Over the next few pages, we’ll identify we’ll explain, with the help of a few
VIDEO PORTS the most common video, audio and data inexpensive adapters you can still put
ports found on PCs, laptops, monitors many of these vintage ports to good use.

Composite DisplayPort DVI

An analogue port is often found on computers Outputs digital video and audio and Launched in 1999, DVI outputs digital and
built 10 or so years ago. Mostly used to similar in appearance to HDMI (see analogue video (but not audio) and is still
carry video signals from a graphics card below). It can handle higher resolutions found on modern PCs and monitors along
to an older CRT TV. Not to be confused and frame rates than HDMI and supports with HDMI.
with coaxial audio (see page 51). ‘daisy-chaining’ (see page 55).

HDMI VGA S-Video
e most popular video port for A popular analogue video port found on
computers. Like DisplayPort, it can carry computers built around eight or more is is an analogue video port that
high-quality digital audio alongside video years ago, but still common even now on was commonly found on graphics cards
and lets you connect your computer to TV sets and monitors. Like other from around 10 years ago. It’s capable of
monitors, TVs and projectors. analogue video ports, it can’t output producing higher-quality video than
audio. composite and can match the resolutions
of VGA.

50 2 – 15 June 2021 • Issue 607