Wednesday 28 October 2015

Add patch power to your antivirus

Add patch power to your antivirus

Your antivirus can’t work alone – it needs Windows Update. Jane Hoskyn reveals why updates are more important than ever, and what you must do now

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB

Success on a platter

After years patiently explaining that the hole in your car dashboard was originally designed for a plastic box that played magnetic tape, and the tray that pops out of your PC isn’t a cup holder, anyone over 40 will now be amused to note that the young folk are getting into vinyl. Good luck to them, but we own all the records. The only problem is finding a turntable to play them on.

Google Chromecast Audio

Google Chromecast Audio

Stream music from phone to hi-fi

There are lots of ways to get music and radio on your smartphone or tablet, but how do you listen to it? A good way is to attach something that can receive audio wirelessly to your hi-fi, TV sound bar or multimedia speakers. This is the latest example of such a device, and at 30 quid it’s got to be worth a look.

Don’t pay for Office 2016

Don’t pay for Office 2016

Microsoft Office 2016 is a fantastic program with a hefty price tag. Jonathan Parkyn reveals how to get its best features for free

If you read our review of Office 2016, you’ll know what we think about it. In short, it’s great – but it’s not cheap.

Microsoft’s new office suite will set you back at least £120 for a standalone version (Home and Student). If you opt for an Office 365 Personal or Home subscription plan, it’ll cost £60 or £80 per year respectively. But Office 2016 is far from being your only option – there are several free office suites that offer equivalent features for free. Here we reveal the best of the bunch.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0

An Android rival for the iPad mini 4

Some people say Samsung copies Apple’s products. Some of those people are even judges. But nobody can accuse Samsung of copying this tablet from the iPad mini 4. If it’s a copy of anything, it’s the iPad mini 3. It has a screen the same size and shape, with the same number of pixels; wide borders at the top and bottom, and narrow at the sides; and a Home button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor.

Sony Xperia Z3+

Sony Xperia Z3+

Not the phablet we were hoping for

Counting is harder than it looks. The French get to 69 without much trouble, then panic and say ‘sixty-ten’ before moving on to ‘four twenties’. Microsoft goes 1, 2, 3, 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10. Apple prefers 1, 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5s and 5c, 6, 6s. Google just lists snacks (KitKat, Lollipop and so on).

What you must never click

What you must never click

Phishing is still hackers’ favoured method to get malware – including ransomware – into your PC. Jonathan Parkyn reveals their latest tricks

Poor Hillary Clinton. As if running for US President wasn’t stressful enough, Mrs Clinton has reportedly been plagued by phishing emails. These included fake notifications of parking violations containing malware that could have let hackers gain access to her precious PC.

Vibox Exile

Vibox Exile

All-round desktop PC that’s beyond the ordinary

Everyone in science fiction has a silly name. It’s always Grand Phage Zebulus Ka’alantis, Fourteenth Lymptus of the Bliquity of Strope – never Emma Hodgkins. There’s a lot of fun to be had in this, of course, but it can get confusing.

Amazon Fire tablets

Amazon Fire tablets

Amazon’s latest own-brand Fire tablets look cheap, but are they any good?

When the iPad first came out, there were debates about whether it was intended for creation or consumption. All you could do with it was gawp at things and play silly games, said the doubters. But look at all the office software, music tools, photo- and video-editing, art, education and more, said its fans, as all of those apps began to appear. Once MPs, doctors and airline pilots were being equipped with iPads as standard, the argument was won. Tablets aren’t just for watching stuff on the internet.