Table of contents for July 2020 in Tech Advisor

With dual-screen Windows devices seemingly off the table for 2020, Microsoft’s Windows 10X has to find a home. Will it become a replacement for Windows 10 S on low-cost single-screen devices instead? According to ZDNet, the delays associated with the coronavirus have pushed back the launches of Surface Neo and other dual-screen PCs, past their expected Christmas 2020 debut and into 2021. Microsoft’s Android-powered Surface Duo has not been affected. Sources close to the company had told our colleagues at PCWorld that the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 launch was being delayed until the end of April. That delay was due to concerns that Microsoft simply wouldn’t have enough devices to put in stores, they said. Microsoft is also wrestling with the reality that audiences might not want…

When you’re working from home for the first time, you quickly realize that it requires more thought than plunking your laptop on the coffee table. Nailing down the tech is a large part of it. But we realize, too, that there’s a ‘softer’ side: what hours you keep, how to stay in contact with colleagues and friends, and even what to wear. Our editors are ready with all the tech tips we’ve learned from years of working from home ourselves. Define your workspace First things first: as we’re learning, there’s no ‘normal’ with the coronavirus. You’ll have to figure out what works for you, within your own unique environment. Still, some rules apply to just about everyone. Establish a workspace. Our first tip is to claim a physical working space.…

By now, a dual-monitor set-up has become commonplace. Multitasking on a single screen is far too confining. But why stop at two displays? I can speak from experience: having multiple monitors (and I’m talking three, four, five or even six) is just… awesome, and something you need in your life. Right now, my main PC has a triple-monitor set-up: my main 27in central display, with a 24in screen on either side. I use my extra monitors for a number of things, such as comparing spreadsheets side-by-side, writing articles while also doing research, keeping tabs on my social media feeds and watching Netflix. Using one of your monitors in vertical orientation can make a big difference for scrolling long documents. If you’re a gamer, well, surely you can see how great…

In an age where your virtual background says more about you than actually being in the call, static backgrounds in Zoom are just plain boring. While Zoom supports video virtual backgrounds, finding an appropriate video can be challenging (although not impossible), due to the length and work it takes to trim out just the section you want. Because the animated GIF is the new third language behind Emojis, it can easily communicate your thought of the day. Unfortunately Zoom doesn’t support animated GIFs and lets you add only static PNG, JPG and BMP files to use with its virtual clipping background. But there is a workaround, so keep reading to find out. Why use an animated GIF? To get started, you’ll want an animated GIF of choice. The Graphics Interchange…

Microsoft is launching a redesigned Microsoft News app, now dubbed the Microsoft News Bar, in conjunction with a new Windows 10 Insider build that tidies up your PC’s storage. Windows 10 Insider build 19603 is part of the Fast Ring, a sort of repository for ongoing code that Microsoft hasn’t formally slated for any particular release. (The Slow Ring, by contrast, is code that will appear in the upcoming release.) Build 19603 contains several new features, a change from a recent run of bug fixes: better file integration within Windows Subsystem for Linux, improvements to the Storage settings, the News Bar, and support for the Canon CR3 format within Microsoft’s RAW image extension. Meet the Microsoft News Bar Many people don’t know that Microsoft curates – and pays for –…

Maintaining your home office tech is just as important as maintaining your garden or your car, but we often zoom right past it in the rush to get the next task done. Don’t do that. We’ve compiled a list of to-do items for you to check off to keep you, your PC, and other devices running smoothly. There’s an economical side to this, too. In certain situations, working from home effectively may mean buying new equipment to fill the gaps. But before you decide you need something new, making the most of what you already have might be a better idea. The device everyone forgets about: the router As with our work-from-home tips guide (see page 17 ), we’re not going to begin with the PC, as it’s the most…

Testing your Internet connection’s performance is even more important with millions of extra workers working from home. You don’t need any extra software – a web browser will do. But there are also a few things you can do to make sure you are getting the most accurate reading of your Internet connection. Here’s what to do. Get ready Essentially, what we’re trying to do is compare the amount of bandwidth that’s coming into your home with what your ISP is promising you. First make sure that you know what your Internet plan is, and what your ISP promises is the minimum connection speed. Consult your bill or your ISP’s website for that. Let’s turn to the PC. For the best results, you’ll want to use a wired connection if…

Price: £999 (inc VAT) from fave.co/2V5GDcy The Samsung Galaxy Book S is worth a look for several reasons: This ultralight, fanless 13.3in clamshell combines superb battery life with WWAN connectivity that compels you to work on the go. Priced at £999, it’s affordable, too. The Galaxy Book S boasts Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8cx chip, an ARM processor that trades middling performance for a crazy 16 hours of battery life. Samsung’s learned what users like: The laptop adds a decent fingerprint reader, USB-C ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s the best Qualcomm-powered PC we’ve seen in some time, including the Microsoft Surface Pro X, but the standard performance caveats of Snapdragon notebooks remain. Meanwhile, some X86-based machines have improved so much in battery life that they’ve stolen Qualcomm’s claim to…

Many updates have passed since Chrome OS introduced a proper tablet mode for convertibles with version 70, and while Google has certainly refined the system, it’s done little to fix its core navigation issues. The main problem: it’s confusing. But the next Chrome OS update will go a long way to fix that. With the upcoming version 81, Google is bringing a new way to navigate when you’re not using the trackpad. It’s similar to both Apple’s new gestures on the iPad Pro and the latest Android 10 navigation with three main components: Swipe from the bottom of the screen to get to the home screen. Currently, you need to bring up the shelf and use the button on the far left or minimize your current window to return to…

Find yourself suddenly needing to be more productive? Good news. Windows 10 comes loaded with all sorts of tools designed to help you Get Things Done, along with deeper tweaks that can optimize the operating system for productivity even more. Now for the bad news: all those excellent productivity-boosting Windows tools and tweaks aren’t immediately obvious, with many of the most useful settings buried deep inside a maze of options menus. We can help. Taking five or ten minutes to tinker with Windows 10 can supercharge your set-up, regardless of whether you’re trying to keep at work while stuck at home or setting up something more permanent. Let’s dig in. Get rid of interruptions If you want to stay focused on a task, reducing your interruptions is key. That can…

With the whole country under lockdown, many people are having to work from home. This has suddenly made videoconferencing apps essential. Indeed, Skype and Zoom, the two most recognized names in this category, have seen their usage numbers spike. Given that both platforms have made changes to their apps recently – Zoom to crack down on bad actors disrupting meetings and Skype to make it easier to start using its product – we thought it a good time to look at how they compare. Here’s what you need to know before your next meeting. What is Skype? Skype ( fave.co/2V5gomG is Microsoft’s telecommunications tool that allows multiple people to remotely interact in real time. Initially, the app was designed to make voice calls over the Internet. While that’s still its…