Table of contents for December 2015 in Tech Advisor

As part of its recent quarterly earnings announcement, BlackBerry confirmed that it would be releasing an Android phone in late 2015. The company did not provide any significant details such as specs, pricing or UK carrier partners, but it did say that the phone will be called Priv – as in privacy. “Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry’s heritage and core mission of protecting our customers’ privacy,” BlackBerry CEO John Chen said in a written statement. “Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity, with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform.” Chen’s statement makes clear that the company’s Android experiment is all about combining BlackBerry’s core appeal of security-focused apps and services, with the popularity of…

Qualcomm has announced a pair of Snapdragon processors for midrange phones, with what might be a tinge of embarrassment. Both include eight cores, a strategy derided by a senior executive just two years ago as a dumb idea. The Snapdragon 617 and 430 chips will be marketed for phones that are cheaper than the flagship devices housing the Snapdragon 820. Qualcomm has also revealed that the communications processor within the 820 will be known as the X12, and support ‘4G+’ connectivity, with bandwidth up to 650Mb/s down and 150Mb/s up. In 2013, Qualcomm senior vice president Anand Chandrasekher called eight-core smartphone processors “dumb”. Asked whether Qualcomm would follow Mediatek into the market with an eight-core chip, he replied: “We don’t do dumb things.” Chandrasekher was, however, making the point that…

During the launch of the widely leaked new Nexus phones came something of a surprise: a new Google tablet. The Pixel C is in many ways the successor to the Nexus 9 tablet, since the keyboard is optional and it runs Android rather than Chrome OS. Google’s Pixel laptops have metal designs and very decent screens. The Pixel C follows that design ideal. The C stands for Convertible, and Google claims to have reimagined the tablet, trying to come up with a design that works for both work and play. As such, the keyboard is detachable and held on by strong magnets, and adjustable between 100- and 135 degrees, so there’s no kickstand to get in the way. The keyboard has a very decent 18.8mm pitch, which Google says makes…

£640 inc VAT Contact lenovo.com/uk Specifications 15.6in (1920x1080, 141ppi) TN matt anti-glare display; Windows 7 Professional (option for 8.1); 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-5500U (3GHz Turbo) 2C, 4T; AMD Radeon R7 M265 Series with 2GB DDR3 + Intel HD Graphics 5500; 8GB 1600MHz DDR3L RAM; 1TB 5400rpm SATA HDD; gigabit ethernet; 802.11ac, 1x1 MIMO (Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160); Bluetooth 4.0; DVD±RW, tray-load, removable; 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0; HDMI, VGA; Kensington Security Slot, fingerprint sensor; SDXC card slot; stereo speakers; 0.9Mp webcam and built-in mic; 3.5mm headset jack; 48Wh lithium-ion battery, removable; 376x253x28.3–33.2mm; 2415g Lenovo has an enviable reputation for dependable business laptops, and the ThinkPad Edge E500 is a budget business machine for those looking to keep down costs. There’s just one size, a relatively solid-feeling 15-incher,…

£159 inc VAT Contact ikmultimedia.com/irig Specifications USB digital microphone, built-in low-noise high-definition preamp; frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz, -3dB Gain Range: 40dB gain range. Maximum sound pressure: 133dB Sensitivity: -42 to 3dB at 1kHz, 0dB=1V/Pa; resolution and sample rate: 24-bit up to 48kHz recording; Micro-USB; 3.5mm headphone jack; powered by connected device; built-in gain and headphone volume controls; built-in multicolour LED for status and audio level indication; iRig Mic Studio microphone Lightning connection cable; protective storage bag; top stand; 45x117mm; 218g; 1.5m cable Not that long ago, recording music was only really possible in a recording studio. Now, with the help of a phone or tablet running software such as GarageBand, you can create music or record podcasts practically anywhere. The problem is, despite great software, built-in microphones don’t…

£161 plus import duty Contact en.flying3d.cn Specifications 15 minutes claimed flight time; charging time: 60-to 100-minute charging time; spare battery costs £20; claimed range of 500m; 251x251x224mm; 880g We should start by saying the Flying 3D X8 isn’t new. It’s been on sale for roughly 18 months, but that’s no bad thing. Successive firmware updates have ironed out some issues, while a build quality issue concerning cracks in the plastic housing beneath the motors has also been sorted – we’re told. The X8 is a distinctive quad, with its GPS receiver perched on top and a ‘cockpit window’ at the front. The long landing legs arc out from the body giving decent stability, as well as good height clearance if you want to install a gimbal and camera. There…

£29 inc VAT Contact vinsic.com Specifications 20,000mAh power bank with LG battery cells; 1x 10W (5V, 2A) Micro-USB input; 1x 10.5W (5V, 2.1A) USB output; 1x 5W (5V, 1A) USB output; digital power display; auto-on/off; 173x12x120mm; 537g The Vinsic 20,000mAh Power Bank is an excellent-value, high-capacity emergency charger. The ultra-slim device is very well designed, clad in dark grey aluminium alloy, with hard plastic screwed into either end. It feels reassuringly tough, and although it’s heavy at 537g, you wouldn’t expect to cart around on your person such a high-capacity power bank for day-to-day use. Its dimensions aren’t suited to a pocket, either. We particularly like the digital power display at one end of the device, which is activated merely by touching the area to the left of the…

£16 inc VAT Contact amazon.co.uk Specifications 3200mAh lipstick-style lithium-polymer power bank; 1x 5W (5V, 1A) Micro-USB input; 1x 5W (5V, 1A) USB output; 3-LED capacity indicator; LED torch; Micro-USB cable supplied; 96x22x22mm; 77g; 12-month warranty Many Chinese-made consumer electronics are sold by multiple retailers, who simply slap their own logo on top. It’s something we’ve seen frequently with cheap Bluetooth speakers, and increasingly with power banks. This in itself isn’t a problem, so long as you make sure you’re getting the best deal at the best price. When we opened the Imneed 3200mAh External Battery, we were caught off guard by how similar it appeared to the £9.99 Intocircuit Power Mini 3000. Both are lipstick-style chargers, with an aluminium casing, plastic end caps, a large silver power button, three…

There is no excuse for not having antivirus protection on your PC. None. And don’t say you don’t need to bother, because you have Microsoft Security Essentials installed by default. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) has been shown to pay little more than lip-service to virus protection. You need a third-party service on your PC and there are lots to choose from, led by the six we look at here. The good thing about having a free product from one of the leading Internet Security (IS) companies is that they use the same AV engine as in their commercial products. What you get is a smaller feature set. Few include spam filtering, improved firewalls or parental controls. The free offerings from Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender and Panda all fit this bill,…

Windows 10 has officially been unleashed upon the world, but Insiders have lived with the operating system for months and know things the newbies don’t. Insiders have even created their own mascot, a ninjacat with a variety of trusty steeds, to symbolise their pioneering, adventuresome spirit. We’ve been playing with Windows 10 for a while now. Let’s follow the ninjacat deep within the bowels of Windows 10, where narwhal guides are eager to point out tasty bacon features you might otherwise miss. We think these 10 are some of the most useful, productive, hidden gems you’re going to find. 1 Put the web (and desktop) in your toolbar You can make your desktop toolbar even more powerful with a few tweaks in a configuration menu, adding a web address bar…

For many people, video streaming is a part of their daily life, but if you’re trying to decide between Netflix and Amazon’s service, we’re on hand to help. Our Netflix versus Prime Instant Video comparison review looks at their price, the devices they are available on, content, and more. Price Both streaming services offer a free 30-day trial, so we strongly suggest that you start with these as a way of seeing which one you prefer. If your pockets are deep enough you can, of course, sign up to both as content varies between the two. Although Netflix is still available at £5.99 per month, this is now the basic package – hobbled by allowing only standard-definition resolution and usable on only one device at a time. You’ll need to…

Restart your computer There’s a reason that Roy in The IT Crowd is famous for his catchphrase: “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” In a large number of cases this is all you need to do in order to fix problems with your laptop or PC. It’s also by far the easiest method. Try restarting your PC, maybe even a couple of times, and see if that cures the problem. Obviously you don’t want to do this regularly, but if it works, then you’ll be off and running within a few minutes. Create a new user profile Another temporary workaround that has worked for some people is creating a new user account. Again this isn’t ideal, but if you don’t want to mess around with the command…

Windows 10 has brought with it some impressive new features, including Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant. Using this service you can control your PC via voice commands, search the web, and even have your life organised by the handy digital PA. But what if Cortana isn’t springing into life on in Windows 10? The digital assistant can be activated by saying “Hey Cortana” or clicking on the search section of the task bar, but if you’re in the UK, you may find the message ‘Cortana is not available in your region’ keeps popping up. This isn’t true, but you need to ensure that a few settings are correct before it will appear on your PC. Mind your language As Cortana utilises complicated language recognition processes to communicate with users and PCs,…

With Windows 10 clocking up a staggering 75 million installations within its first month, Microsoft can now focus on its other favourite child, as Office 2016 makes its debut. With Office 2016 for Mac, and Office Mobile versions for iOS and Android already available, Office 2016 for Windows completes the set, and brings a unified feel to the software thanks to the new visual design. You can buy a subscription to Office 365 Personal for £5.99 per month or an annual payment of £59.99, which entitles you to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, OneDrive, and Skype on one PC or Mac and one tablet. The package also comes with 1TB of OneDrive storage, 60 minutes of Skype calls per month, regular updates, and customer support. If you…

Although Microsoft’s latest operating system initially tempted Windows 8.1 users, it has increasingly grown its usage share at the expense of the much more widely used Windows 7, an encouraging sign for Microsoft’s efforts to convince the old guard to switch. Using data from analytics company StatCounter, our sister title Computerworld calculated the changes in usage share – a measurement of desktop-and-laptop-driven online activity – of the various editions of Windows since 10’s debut on 29 July. For the first four weeks after Windows 10’s release, Windows 8.1 led in losses, beating Windows 7 by a wide margin. During that month-long span, Windows 8.1 accounted for 67 percent of all declines by it and Windows 7 – those two editions are the only versions of the operating system eligible for…

£430 inc VAT Contact toshiba.co.uk Specifications 15.6in (1366x768, 100dpi) TN gloss glare display; AMD A10-8700P (4C, 4T) processor; AMD Radeon R6 graphics; Windows 8.1; 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM; 1TB 5400rpm SATA HDD; gigabit ethernet; 802.11n (Realtek RTL8723BE); Bluetooth 4.0; tray-load DVD±RW; 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0; HDMI; Kensington Security Slot; SD card slot; stereo speakers; 0.9Mp webcam and mic; 3.5mm headset jack; UK tiled keyboard with numberpad; buttonless multi-touch, 106x66mm; 44Wh lithium-ion, non-removable; 65W mains adaptor with IEC C5 inlet; 380x260x24.1mm; 2.2kg From Toshiba’s L Series and the new collection for 2015 comes the Satellite L50D-C, a 15in budget laptop with an AMD processor. There’s also an Intel-powered counterpart, the L50-C. The A10-8700P processor continues AMD’s reputation for hiding its clock speed (baseline 1.8GHz, and overclock capable to…

£289 inc VAT Contact oneplus.net Specifications 5.5in IPS Full HD (1920x1080, 401ppi) display Oxygen OS 2.0 based on Android 5.1 with Android M features; 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 1.8GHz Octa-core CPUs; GPU: Adreno 430; 3/4GB LP-DDR4; 16/64GB, available capacity varies; fingerprint, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and ambient light sensors; embedded rechargeable 3300mAh battery; dual-SIM connectivity; 4G/LTE support; dual-band Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1; Internal GPS antenna + GLONASS; USB Type-C; rear camera: 13Mp, dual-LED flash, f/2.0; Front camera: 5Mp, distortion free; Video: 4K resolution video; 151.8x74.9x9.85mm; 175g Few smartphone launches get fans as excited as a OnePlus event. Ignoring for now the fact that it happened to be the world’s first product launch in VR, it’s not difficult to see why there’s so much enthusiasm toward the growing Chinese company.…

£149 inc VAT Contact umiiron.com Specifications 5.5in full-HD (1920x1080, 403ppi) LTPS display Android 5.1 Lollipop; 1.3GHz MediaTek MTK6753 64-bit octa-core processor; 3GB RAM; 16GB storage (plus microSD support up to 64GB); Mali T720 GPU; 13Mp rear- and 8Mp front cameras; dual-SIM dual-standby (both Nano-SIM); 2G: GSM 900/1800/ 1900MHz, 3G: WCDMA 900/1900MHz/2100MHz, 4G: FDD-LTE 1800/2100MHz/ 2600MHz; Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11b/g/n; Wi-Fi hotspot; GPS; A-GPS; OTG; 3350mAh battery; Micro-USB charging port; headphone jack; Texas Instruments Directpath audio; 152.3x76.5x7.9mm; 148g The UMI Iron is the Chinese manufacturer’s latest Android phone. It has some high-end specifications but, most notably, eye-scanning security that aims to make this Android smartphone almost impossible for prying eyes to infiltrate. Design The UMI Iron is a good-looking phone. It’s something of a cross between an HTC, Samsung Galaxy and…

£79 inc VAT Contact asus.com/uk Specifications 7in (1024x600, 170ppi) IPS LED display; Android 5.0 Lollipop; Intel Atom x3-C3200 processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB storage plus microSD support; Mali-450 MP4 graphics; 802.11b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.0; GPS, GLONASS, A-GPS; Micro-USB charging port; 3.5mm headphone jack; 2Mp rear-, 0.3Mp front cameras; 3450mAh battery (8- to 9 hours battery life); 108x189x9.1mm; 265g At £79, the ZenPad C 7.0 is one of the cheapest named-brand tablets you can buy. Twenty pounds cheaper than the Hudl 2, the Asus matches the Amazon Fire HD 6’s price, but with a larger screen and full Google Play support. Although plastic, the ZenPad is good-looking for such a cheap tablet. The glass runs almost edge to edge, with a silver chrome-effect trim, creating a stylish look. This trim is slightly…

£53 inc VAT Contact sandberg.it/en-gb Specifications 1x 5W (5V, 1A) Micro-USB input, charges in 11-12 hours with 5W adaptor; 1x 10.5W (5V, 2.1A) USB output; 1x 5W (5V, 1A) USB output; max total output 10.5W (5V, 2.1A); IP54 rain- and dustproof; four-LED status system; LED torch; Micro-USB cable supplied; no passthrough charging; no auto-on/-off; no carry case; 5-year warranty; 124x78x25mm; 279g The Outdoor PowerBank from Sandberg won’t suit all tastes, but we love its military design. This green plastic power bank feels extremely durable, and its ribbed edges and rubberised camo vest aid grip in the hands even when wet. Don’t go dunking it in a river or anything, but the Sandberg’s IP54 rating means that it’s both rainproof and dustproof. With rubber flaps protecting its ports, this power…

£14.90 inc VAT Contact amazon.co.uk Specifications 10,000mAh lithium-polymer power bank; 1x 7.5W (5V, 1.5A) Micro-USB input (cable supplied); 1x 10.5W (5V, 2.1A) USB output; 1x 5W (5V, 1A) USB output; max output 10.5W; auto-on; no passthrough charging; no carry case; four-LED status system; 133x67x16mm; 262g; 18-month warranty Don’t assume that this iHarbot is identical to the smaller PC Advisor Recommended award-winning iHarbot 5000mAh power bank (opposite), but with higher capacity. Despite the fact it is necessarily larger, given the increased capacity, it also features dual-USB outputs and a chunkier design. It’s still reasonably attractive, mind, and like the smaller version is available in black, silver or gunmetal grey aluminium alloy. There’s no carry case supplied in the box, but the iHarbot feels tough and durable, and comes with a…

PC13000  £26 inc VAT PC15000 £29 inc VAT Contact amazon.co.uk Specifications 13,000mAh/15,000mAh capacity; 1x 7.5W Micro-USB input; 1x 10.5W USB output with SmartID, 1x 5W USB output; auto-on/-off; no passthrough charging; LCD display; LED flashlight; carry case; 128x71x22mm; 308g (13,000mAh), 323g (15,000mAh); 12-month warranty Larger-capacity, upgraded versions of the PC Advisor Recommended PC11200, the Intocircuit Power Castle just got even better with the PC13000 and PC15000 power banks, which are ideal emergency chargers for your phone or tablet away from the mains. These two power banks are identical to each other in every way other than their price, capacity and weight. With one rated at 13,000mAh capacity (expect around 70 percent efficiency, so 9100mAh) and the other 15,000mAh (10,500mAh), you’re talking about a difference of whether you can charge…

£14 inc VAT Contact xiaomi-mi.co.uk Specifications Wireless gamepad; Bluetooth 3.0; 2x AA batteries required; 156x104x65mm; 220g There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a touchscreen for gaming on an Android phone or tablet, and in most games the onscreen controls will be placed so as not to obscure the action. But when it comes to driving-, shooting- and action games, a proper controller makes it much easier to get stuck in. Wireless controllers for Android are nothing new, but they recently caught our eye when Xiaomi decided to join the party. Its Wireless Bluetooth Gamepad is a mash-up of an Xbox One and a PS4 controller, very Xbox in its design and key button placement, but its triggers are PlayStation all over. That’s not a bad thing. The Xiaomi Wireless…

Windows 10 is infused with data-tracking elements and hooks into Microsoft’s online services. Handing over all that data has some tangible benefits though, such as its OneDrive integration and the Bing-powered brains behind the Cortana digital assistant, but not everyone is thrilled with the idea of Microsoft constantly looking over their digital shoulder. This guide will show you how to disable Windows 10’s integration, as well as provide tips on what those features actually do. That way you can decide whether you want to keep any of it active or just shut the door on Microsoft’s cloud altogether. Advertising One setting you should consider disabling is Windows 10’s advertising integration. While we don’t mind seeing ads on websites, since that’s what pays for most of the free content we see…

Android phones are, on the whole, hugely powerful devices. Whether it’s the Sony Z5, Samsung Galaxy S6 or LG G4, these phones have the capability to be customised and tailored to their owner’s will. What they often lack is the opportunity. Bloatware, heavy UI skins, and other limitations can stop you from using them to their true potential. There is a solution though, and here we’ll explain how to root your Android phone or tablet. Rooting will give you back control over the look, feel, and behaviour of your device. You don’t have to be a geek, a hacker or a tech expert: this guide is for beginners, and it’s not (that) difficult. You just need to be aware of the potential risks and consequences. We’ll get to those shortly,…

Customise quick actions Quick actions are the most useful feature of the Action Center. Thanks to these, you can quickly and easily adjust your screen brightness, turn Wi-Fi on or off, switch on Quiet Hours (Windows 10’s notification-silencing feature), and more. You can collapse this pane, and when you do, only four quick actions will be visible, but you can choose which four appear here. Open the Settings app, click System, and then Notifications & actions. Under the Quick actions heading, you’ll notice four boxes, each representing one of the four actions that remain visible at all times. Click the boxes to get a menu that lets you pick and choose which actions will get one of the coveted four slots. Toggle notification options Under the Notifications subheading on the…

We’ve heard from a number of readers who love having the Start menu back, but don’t like how the left side is filled up with the ‘most used’ apps that are anything but, or the ‘recently added’ section. If you feel the same way, you can turn all that off and fill it up with items you actually might use. To begin, hit Start and open the Settings app. Go to Personalization > Start and slide to Off the options for Show most used apps and Show recently added apps. Once you’ve done this you’ll see there’s a big empty hole on the left side of the Start menu. While you can’t fill it up with anything you want, you do have a few options. In the Settings app, go…

Amazon Underground is an Android app that is in essence a third-party app store that can complement Google Play on your device. It’s the regular Amazon shopping app with extras, and having installed it on your device you’ll be able to access a new Amazon Underground apps and games menu that lists for download a selection of genuinely free premium apps and games. Developers of free apps make their money through in-app purchases and in-app advertising, so what’s changed? The difference here is that Amazon is paying those developers to waive their fees, so you can benefit from free premium apps such as OfficeSuite Professional 8, Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions, Frozen Freefall, and more. You can download these apps and games from Google Play, but by downloading them through…

Graphics card maker nVidia has reported that it has hit a milestone for portable gaming with its new GeForce GTX 980 laptop GPU – true 1:1 performance with its desktop counterpart. The new GPU is in essence the same as putting a desktop GeForce GTX 980 into a laptop. It has the same 2048 CUDA cores, the same memory bandwidth, and the same 256-bit memory bus. With the laptop GeForce GTX 980, it says that a consumer can now buy a single-GPU laptop or desktop and get the same graphics performance. Why this matters: Never before has single-GPU performance ever been at parity between laptops and desktops. That meant consumers who needed to take their gaming on the go have always had to compromise. That ends with the new GPU.…

While anti-virus firm AVG congratulates itself over a new easy-to-read privacy policy, users are up in arms over what that it spells out. The new policy, which at the time of writing was set to take effect on 15 October, makes clear that AVG will collect non-personal data such as “Browsing and search history, including meta data.” AVG says it collects this data “to make money from our free offerings so we can keep them free.” It’s rare to see a privacy policy that so plainly points out a company’s data collection methods and motivations, but that’s the point. AVG recently put out a press release to celebrate its new document, which indeed uses lots of plain English and includes brief summaries of each section at the top. CEO Gary…

£1,150 inc VAT Contact uk.gigabyte.com Specifications 15.6in (1920x1080, 141ppi) IPS matt anti-glare display; 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-5700HQ (3.5GHz Turbo) 4C, 8T; nVidia GeForce GTX 970M + Intel HD Graphics 5600; 8GB (1x 8GB) 1600MHz DDR3; 128GB SSD + 1TB 7200rpm SATA HDD; gigabit ethernet; 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 4.0; DVD±RW DL, tray-load; 4x USB 3.0; HDMI, VGA D-Sub; Kensington lock slot; SDXC card slot; stereo speakers; 3.5mm headphones, S/PDIF optical; UK tiled keyboard with white backlight and numberpad; buttonless multi-touch trackpad; 150W mains adaptor with IEC C5 inlet; 377x268x5.6mm; 2615g Gigabyte is better-known for PC motherboards, but the Taiwan company is bringing gaming laptops to the UK under its own name and the upmarket sub-brand Aorus. While the Gigabyte P55 V4 is an otherwise unremarkable 15in gaming laptop, its…

£199 inc VAT Contact toshiba.co.uk Specifications 14in (1366x768, 112ppi) TN gloss glare display; 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3050 (2.16GHz Burst) dual-core; Intel HD Graphics; 2GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM; 32GB eMMC (Toshiba 032GE4) SSD; 802.11n Wi-Fi (Broadcom BCM43142); Bluetooth 4.0; 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0; HDMI; Kensington Lock Slot; SD card slot; stereo speakers; 0.9Mp webcam; mic; 3.5mm headset jack; UK tiled keyboard; two-button multi-touch trackpad, 92x54mm; 32Wh lithium-ion, non-removable battery; 45Wh mains adaptor with IEC C5 inlet; 343x243x23.5mm; 1.7kg Toshiba has a most affordable laptop for you if you can’t spend a penny more than £200. Like other lowest-budget laptops we’ve tested, the Satellite C40-C-10K is built out of the cheapest components that together just about runs Windows, with one concession to latest mod-con spec – a brand-new 14nm…

£49 inc VAT Contact imation.com Specifications 3000mAh power bank; 16GB storage; requires Imation Link app on iOS 7 or later; supports iPod touch 5th-generation, iPhone 5/5c/5s/6/6 Plus and iPads with a Lightning connection; 1x 5W (1A, 5V USB input); 1x 5W (1A, 5V) Lightning output; built-in Lightning and USB cables; four-LED status system; no carry case; no passthrough charging; no auto-on/off; no LED torch; two-year limited warranty The Imation Link Power Drive is one of the most useful iPhone accessories we’ve come across, offering extra- and secure storage for your photos, video, music, documents and more, and boosting iPhone battery life by providing a full charge away from the mains. When Apple introduced its iPhone 6, it removed the 32GB storage option, and the same is true for the…

£299 inc VAT Contact vectorwatch.com Specifications Compatible with iOS, Android and Windows Phone; stainless steel case; 22mm leather strap; LCD screen; 50m waterproof; 30-day battery life A lot of new tech brands are popping up and London-based Vector Watch is one of them, aiming to take on the likes of Android Wear smartwatches and the Apple Watch. A key element to any smartwatch is the design – it’s sitting on your wrist on constant display and is arguably more of a statement than your phone, which spends much of its time hidden away in a pocket or bag. There are a number of designs, such as the Contemporary model (see above), which comes with a stainless steel or matt black case, and either leather or metal straps. Meanwhile the…

£979 inc VAT Contact 3drobotics.com Specifications 20 minutes flight time (25 without gimbal); 14.8V, 5200mAh battery; £140 for spare battery; 7.2V, 2600mAh controller battery (4 hours’ use); 0.5 miles (400ft ceiling per CAA rules) claimed range; GoPro optional (works with Hero 3, 3+, 4); stills resolution dependent on GoPro; 1.5kg (1.8kg with gimbal) Compared to some quadcopters, the Solo has a more purposeful – almost military – look about it. It’s roughly the same size as a DJI Phantom 3 and also has self-tightening props which are quick to unscrew for easier transport. And like the Phantom 3 Advanced and Professional, the Solo comes with a smart controller that will accept an iPad mini, giving you a large display for composing shots. The controller takes certain cues from gamepads and…

£53 inc VAT Contact sandberg.it/en-gb Specifications 12,000mAh power bank; 1x 1A (5W) Micro-USB input; 1x 1A (5W) USB output; 1x 2.1A (10.5W) USB output; max total output 3.1A (15.5W); LCD screen; LED torch; Micro-USB cable supplied; auto-on/-off; no passthrough charging; no carry case; 5-year warranty; 10x75x20mm; 236g At 10x75x20mm and 236g, Sandberg’s PowerBank 12000 is a small power bank, given the capacity on offer. With 12,000mAh inside (expect no more than 70 percent to be available to your devices) the Sandberg can charge a Samsung Galaxy S6 three times or an iPhone 6 4.5 times, yet it’ll still slide into a pocket or bag. Made entirely from plastic, a simple grey strip runs around the edge, and is sandwiched inbetween a matt black front and back. The Sandberg has…

£11 inc VAT Contact tronsmart.eu Specifications In-car USB charger; 2x USB outputs – 1x 12W (5V, 2.4A) output, 1x 18W (12V, 1.5A) Qualcomm-certified Quick Charge 2.0 output; max total output 30W; VoltIQ technology; over-current, over-charging, short-circuit protection; 1m USB- to Micro-USB cable supplied 32x20x60.5mm; 25g; 18-month warranty Before you write off the Tronsmart USB Rapid Car Charger as just another in-car phone charger, know that it is probably one of the best in-car USB chargers you’ll find today. It feels well built, is no larger than it needs to be, poking out the top of our cigarette lighter port by no more than an inch, and its glossy black finish looked nice against the black interior of our car. The supplied USB- to Micro-USB cable is also a handy…

£14 inc VAT Contact psyonix.com Specifications PC; sony PlayStation 4 This year has been full of big name titles including Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Project Cars and GTA V (for PC) but one of the best games we’ve played is Rocket League, a remote control car version of football. Although Rocket League has a simple premise, it’s very difficult to play at first. There are tutorials to teach you the controls and various manoeuvres, which will come in handy, but some of these can be hard to get your head round. We found the best way to learn is on the job; after completing the tutorials, simply playing matches will enable you to discover how the game works. Pick a car and join a match and you’ll be put…

We think that Windows 10 is one of the best operating systems Microsoft has ever produced, and it’s worth downloading. If, however, you’re new to the new OS, it can feel a bit daunting. Luckily, it’s more familiar than you think, and we can help walk you through your first 30 minutes with the new operating system. Preloading and installation If you’ve purchased a new Windows 10 computer, you have the easiest road. You can skip this section. But for most of us, the OS came via an upgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1. And if you’re in this camp, read on. If you reserved Windows 10, you’ll have it by now. If you have a piece of hardware that lacks a signed, approved driver, Microsoft won’t deliver its operating…

With Windows 10, Microsoft has added a ton of new keyboard shortcuts to give you easier access to the new Action Center, Cortana, Task View, and virtual desktops. So much so, in fact, that the tech giant has released a Word document with its new operating system’s key shortcuts to aid in your study. If you’re new to keyboard shortcuts, however, one glance at that list can be overwhelming. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of 20 must-know shortcuts. This isn’t just a list for Windows 10, though. Many of these shortcuts work with older versions of the OS, and you’ll find a few standard browser shortcuts, too. If you’re on Windows 7 or 8.1 but new to shortcuts, the list will also help you take control…

Adjust the amount of Virtual Memory your PC uses The virtual memory settings in Windows 10 are a little on the frugal side. This is fine is you have plenty of RAM in your machine, but for others this can become something of a bottleneck and affect performance. Thankfully fixing it is easy. Open the Start Menu, select Settings, then type Performance. Now choose Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows > Advanced > Change. Check at the bottom of the Window what the Recommended value is and how it compares to Currently allocated. If the recommended is less, click Automatically manage paging file size for all drives > Custom Size, then enter the Recommended value into the Initial Size box, and a larger figure in the Maximum box. Click…

Windows 10 is software just like its predecessors, so from time to time a few things will go wrong. This is not unexpected for such a complex piece of software, so we’ve put together this short guide to help you get back up and running if you ever see the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in Windows 10. There’s no magic bullet solution that fixes all ills, but if you work through the following guidelines you should be able to diagnose, and hopefully fix, your particular issue. We think that Windows 10 is an excellent version of the operating system, with a lot to offer and it will just take a little time for all the kinks to be worked out. Make a backup We store many important files…

The release of Windows 10 has brought with it some exciting new features for gamers, such as GameDVR, Direct X12, and the soon to be available ability to stream games from your Xbox One to your PC. One surprise addition though, is that any older games you have that use SecuROM or SafeDisc DRM will struggle to run on the new operating system. SecuROM and SafeDisc are both forms of Digital Rights Management (DRM) designed to prevent the piracy of software. They were used on a number of games, some high profile, mainly during the 2003 to 2008 period. SafeDisc was involved in something of a scandal in 2007 when it was discovered that the DRM could be used as an attack vector for hackers. This enabled them to remotely…

First off, it’s important to understand how the tech works, since not all chargers are created equal. You’ve probably noticed that your phone or tablet will charge much slower when it’s connected to a PC or laptop’s USB port than when it is to a mains power adaptor. And you may have seen that your phone charges faster when connected to the charger that came with your tablet. That’s because different chargers have different power outputs. While a PC’s USB port is specified at 2.5W for USB 1.0 and 2.0 and 4.5W for USB 3.0 (so always use a USB 3.0 port in preference to USB 1.0 or 2.0 when available), a phone charger might be rated at 5W and a tablet charger 10W, for example. We calculate the wattage…