30 PAGES OF WINdOWS

StEP-BY-StEP GUIdES
MAKE YOUR PC PERFECT
IMPROVE WIndOWs 10
safEly Install thE cREatORs uPdatE tOday

100 INSIDER
50 brilliant apps PLUS 50 tips & tricks
that make Windows easier to use!
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
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Welcome
Sssh! Don’t tell anyone, but we’ve and more fun to use, while also
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mission – to bring you the very you love to do.
best tips, tricks and shortcuts to In our Explore section, starting
help you make the most of your on page 27, you’ll find even more
PC. Even our Windows experts things to help you: from our
were pleasantly surprised by the in-depth guide to protecting your
treasures we uncovered and so online privacy using a VPN; to
will you be when you turn to making free voice and video calls
page 56 and discover the secrets using the new version of Skype.
that lie in store. But that’s not all. And on page 66 we’ll show
Starting on page 14, you’ll find you how to get ready for
our handpicked selection of the the Creators Update.
top 50 apps for your PC – apps Enjoy, and see you
that will help make your PC easier next month for more!

Rob Mead-Green Editor

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66 Improve Windows 10
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28 Discover the amazing things 42 Make your PC easier to use
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32 How to save web content for 46 Make the most of the free
reading later in Microsoft edge apps built into Windows 10
36 Migrate your email messages 48 Surf safely and securely with
SuPPoRt away from Windows Mail a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
70 Get answers to your 38 transform your holiday snaps 52 Remotely access another PC
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6 | | June 2017
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bundle offer
Print and digital bundle – only £14 every 3 months
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on the cover

50 essential
apps for
WindoWs
14 Try our handpicked selection of apps, games
and tools that you can get at low cost or for free

56 Discover the incredible tips and

tricks and shortcuts that will make your
PC leaner, meaner and easier to use uPGRaDe
83 our expert reviews
84 HP Pavilion 17 laptop
86 teclast x5 Pro ultrabook
88 logitech G413 Carbon
90 Parrot Bebop 2 drone
92 Soundbars mini test
95 Free uninstallers group test

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June 2017 | | 7
 NEW thiNgs to do amaziNg WEbsitEs fasciNatiNg facts

super scope The Worldwide Telescope

(WWT) is both beautiful and educational.

8 | | June 2017
 Discover
Explore space from your PC

To in fin ity an d beyon d The Knowledge…

Explore space without

leaving your computer
take a trip through the universe and perform your own
observations of our solar system and the worlds beyond
Mankind has been looking to the sky ever WorldWide Telescope (WWT). There’s a
since we first crawled out of the sea, but web version available, and a desktop
there’s never been a better time to take a application – although the latter can be
closer look. The major bodies tasked with somewhat punishing to your hardware.
exploring and cataloguing space – NASA, Using WWT, you can explore everything Project Scorpio
the ESA, et al – all have a commitment to from 3D views of the planets in our solar
What’s this, then?
share their findings openly. Open your system to high-resolution images of
It’s an early codename for Microsoft’s new
web browser and head to nasa.org, for distant galaxies to fascinating guided console. We don’t know what the eventual
example, and you can find everything tours of our universe. There are other name will be, other than it’ll likely be some
from the latest mission photos from options, too – we’re fond of Celestia, variation on ‘Xbox One’.
Cassini, Juno and New Horizons to available from www.celestiaproject.net.
astonishing Ultra HD Nothing beats a Another Xbox one?
videos of the inside Explore the universe, real telescope, It has only been a few months since the
of the International
Space Station (ISS).
from nearby planets though. There are
certainly ways to
release of the Xbox One S, a smaller, more
streamlined, and more powerful version of
On the European to far-flung galaxies control your own the original console. But where that
introduced small hardware upgrades, such
Space Agency’s site lenses with your PC
as a 4K-capable Blu-ray player and more
at www.esa.int you can explore current – automatic telescopes start from around colourful HDR graphical rendering, it was
and future missions, such as the £250, see telescopeplanet.co.uk – but we really a way of bringing the Xbox in line
forthcoming ExoMars lander. can go one better: why not take control with the latest TVs – Project Scorpio is
of an enormous scientific telescope? aiming far past that.
Looking at the stars The Harvard MicroObservatory (www.
Sadly, though, it’s unlikely many of us will microobservatory.org) lets you point its so what’s new?
make it to space in this lifetime. But that robotic telescope at your choice of target Put simply, early previews of the hardware
doesn’t mean we’re locked to Earth. Point during its nightly cycle, or join Slooh (live. suggest that Project Scorpio will boost the
your web browser to http://www. slooh.com) to tune into live feeds of majority of the console’s specifications
even from the already-revised Xbox One S.
worldwidetelescope.org/ to visit the some of the world’s best space scopes.
There’s a new processor – itself known as
Scorpio – which combines a speedier CPU

EvErything LED It’s a bright new world... and 28 additional graphics processing
units into a single central chip. This isn’t
the only upgrade; there’s expanded and
Full-colour RGB LED lighting isn’t a new faster system memory, and more.
thing, but it’s really starting to come into its
own thanks to schemes from the likes of What does this all mean?
Creative, Razer and Asus. Pick up hardware It means next generation 4K-resolution
and peripherals compatible with protocols gaming could be on its way to the home.
Microsoft and its developers have been
such as Aurora Reactive, Aura Sync, or
building games to support this potential
Chroma lighting (in that order) and you’ll be
upgrade for some time, so older games
able to synchronise the illumination of each will automatically get sharper and
of your PC components to enjoy a beautiful smoother, and newer games will have a
custom light show while you work. colourful keys every key in creative’s k08 brand new target to aim for. Those who’ve
Frivolous, but quite enjoyable... keyboard can be set to display a different colour. been privy to an early demonstration of
the Scorpio version of Forza Motorsport
(pictured) suggest spectacular results.

When can I get my hands on it?

Project Scorpio seems to be running
ahead of schedule, and we could see new
Xbox hardware hitting the market later
this year. However, we don’t imagine it’ll
be cheap – these advanced specs could
set a new benchmark for console pricing
– and may well be worth it. So if you’re
mAGIc mouse Asus’ Gladius II isn’t cheap, but it on The mAT razer’s firefly goes even further: it’s looking to upgrade, start saving now!
projects a multi-coloured halo from its base. an rGB mouse mat. Available in plastic or cloth.

June 2017 | | 9
Ev eryon e’s tal king about Download this…

An end to net neutrality?

7-Zip
www.7-zip.org
Most of us have heard of WinRAR – if you
Potential law changes in the US and the UK could lead to ever get sent an archive in the .RAR
higher prices – and the rise of “two-tier” internet access format, it’s the go-to tool to decompress
the files within. Those of us who’ve used it
The internet has been, so far at least, bound from certain websites in order to give them for any length of time will also no doubt
chuckle at its perpetual nag screens, a
by the principle of net neutrality, meaning preferential speeds to reach your home. If a
reminder that, despite it working for a
all websites are treated equally by internet site doesn’t cough up, it could be artificially seemingly infinite length of time, it’s not
service providers (ISPs). In many places this slowed down or, in extreme cases, not free software. After thirty days, you’ve left
freedom is cemented in law; the US Federal made available at all. It’s entirely possible WinRAR’s ‘trial period’ – and recent
Communications Commission’s Open that ISPs could, if they were feeling versions have begun laboriously counting
Internet rules (www.fcc.gov/general/ particularly cruel, gouge home customers up the days since install.
open-internet), for example, state that for more money; imagine, say, an ‘internet There is an alternative, and a very good
American ISPs may not establish fast or video’ tier subscription to the internet, one. 7-Zip (www.7-zip.org) is completely
slow lanes and must maintain equal access where you’re charged more if you want to free, and supports decompression of a
to all legal content. The EU’s equivalent watch content on YouTube or iPlayer, or a number of different archive types, from
common formats, such as .ZIP, .RAR and
body, BEREC (http://berec.europa.eu), does ‘social’ tier, which will be the only way to
its own .7Z, to much more obscure
the same. Now this access Facebook formats. While you can’t use 7-Zip to
looks like it may be or Twitter. create your own RAR files – though it will
about to change. Net neutrality is happily create Windows-supported ZIP
In the USA, what has made the versions – it’s one tool that everyone
recent leadership internet the force it should have to hand.
changes at the FCC is today, and we
and on internet very much doubt
privacy rules, are that any of these
leading some to possible nightmare
suggest that ISPs scenarios will come
may finally get the to pass. US net
chance to strike neutrality changes
out against net are currently
neutrality. The UK government has, at press simple speculation, and many experts
time, yet to outline its own net neutrality expect the UK to cement rules similar to Zip it RAR stands for ‘Roschal Archive’ – and
you don’t need WinRAR to open one.
plans following its exit from the EU (Brexit), those of the EU. So should you worry?
but it has made similar data collection and Even if enforced net neutrality comes to

Follow us on…
encryption rulings to its transatlantic an end, bigger companies throwing their
cousins in recent months. weight around would likely lead to much
What would an end to net neutrality fiercer competition from smaller, hungrier
mean for you? It might mean, for example, ISPs, and see contracts from unfair
that your ISP will happily accept payments providers cancelled in their droves.
www.twitter.com/windowsmag

The 60-SecondmQ uiz

e sta rts no w!
Pe ns at th e rea d y, yo u r ti
www.facebook.com/windowsmag

1 Which of these is not

a social network? 3 How many users
does Facebook say it 5 Which of these is not
an Instagram filter?
A Clarendon
has per day?
A Facebook
B Mastodon A 250 million B Gingham
C Vaseline
NEXT ISSUE ON SALE
B 4.2 billion
JUNE

23
C Chuffr
C 1.2 billion

2 What are Twitter 6 Which of these is not

owned by Facebook?
messages called?
A Twits 4 What is LinkedIn
primarily used for?
A Business networking
A Snapchat
B Whatsapp
B Tweets C Instagram
C Twoots B Sharing cat photos
C Editing links

Answers 1C 2B 3C 4A 5C 6A Friday

10 | | June 2017
DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR WITH
Order online at www.myfavouritemagazines.com FREE
or find us in your nearest supermarket, newsagent or bookstore! DIGITAL
EDITION
Rob Mead-Green reveals a
host of fascinating digital facts

1.94 billion
Number of active monthly users on Facebook
– that’s one quarter of the world’s population.
The social media giant also made $8 billion
dollars in the first quarter of 2017.
Cost, in the USA, of the new Microsoft Surface
Laptop, which is being aimed at school leavers.
The Surface Laptop runs a special educational
Number of years you
edition of Windows 10, dubbed Windows 10 S. could face in prison if
convicted of illegally
streaming copyrighted
content in UK courts.
The chances of that
happening, though, are
small: the new Digital
Economy Act’s real
target is sellers of
fully-loaded set-top
boxes that make such
illicit streaming easy.

100,000,000

17
Number of pixels available to aerial photographers in the
forthcoming DJI M600 Pro drone – an integrated photography
platform developed in conjunction with camera experts,
Hasselblad. It’s not going to be cheap though: the on-board
Hasselblad H6D-100c camera alone costs over £28,000.

1,000
Possible range, in kilometres,
of future electric cars that
Fall, in percentage terms, of sales
of ‘consumer ebooks’ in the UK in
could use battery technology 2016. The Publishers Association
being developed by the says the fall is down to screen
Fraunhofer Institute for fatigue… sales of printed books
Ceramic Studies and Systems. rose 7 percent in the same period.

12 | | June 2017
 Incoming
The hottest new Windows hardware on the horizon

Microsoft Surface Laptop

From £979, www.microsoft.com
On sale from 15 June, the Surface Laptop is a super-slim 13.5-inch notebook
designed with students in mind. It comes with a gorgeous, touch-sensitive
PixelSense Display, a choice of 7th generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processors,
up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of solid state storage – although you’ll have
to have deep pockets to afford the top-spec version, which costs £2,149.
Among the Surface Laptop’s many attributes are a claimed battery life of up
to 14.5 hours, a super-comfortable Alcantara fabric-covered keyboard and palm
rest, plus Dolby Premium audio. Weighing in at 1.25kg, it also offers a decent
range of connectivity options, including 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
But the real icing on the cake is Windows 10 S – a specially developed version of
Windows, equipped with all the apps that students are likely to need.

June 2017 | | 13
50 essential
apps for
WindoWs
Are you taking advantage of the best apps,
games and tools for your PC? Nick Peers
rounds up 50 of the very best

T
hat old adage about finding multimedia; tools and utilities; and
the right tool for the right job fun and games. Many of the apps we
has never been more apt than have chosen are completely free to
when it comes to Windows. If you’re use, while most of the others lock
not railing against missing features away additional features behind a
in a program, you finally find one subscription or one-time payment
you like only to discover it’s been – although their core functionality
discontinued. When it comes to comes with no cost and, in many
finding those apps that are the best cases, will be all you need.
fit for your needs, it can be a long, We’ve also highlighted those
frustrating experience. programs that can be downloaded
And that’s where we come in. This in portable form. Portable apps
issue, we’ve done the hard work for enable you to run the program in
you, sifting through the hundreds of question without installing it on
apps, tools and games we’ve your PC – not only can you try it out
encountered to pick out 50 of the without committing to a full-blown
very best for your PC. We’ve neatly installation, you can easily move the
split them into four categories: app (and your settings) to another
productivity, creative and computer whenever you wish.

14 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
Essential apps

01 Macrium Reflect Free

www.macrium.com/node/55
Everyone needs a fail-safe backup, and
Macrium backs up selected partitions and
even entire drives into a single image-based
file. From here you can extract individual files
or restore your entire system if things go
horribly wrong. Incremental back-up support
gives you multiple snapshots without
swallowing up precious drive space too.

02 Steam http://bit.ly/eQhtxQ
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for over
2,500 games – both free and paid-for – then you
need to install Steam. It provides a central hub for
downloading, managing and playing your games,
and works across a variety of devices as well as
your computer. It’s even optimised for playing
games on your big-screen TV.

June 2017 | | 15
 PRODUCTIVITY APPS

03 Office 365
http://bit.ly/2q2JMZN
If you frequently work with MS Office
files, you need Office 365. For just £50
a year (Personal), or £65-70 a year
(Home, covering five PCs/Macs, tablets
and smartphones) you gain access to
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook,
Publisher and Access plus 1TB of
OneDrive storage. Too expensive? Try
LibreOffice (www.libreoffice.org).

04 EditPad Lite
http://bit.ly/2q0sQVy 05 Open Live Writer
http://bit.ly/2q0cBI2 06 Microsoft Sway
https://sway.com
Plain text editing is a chore with If you’re a blogger, you need Open Live Who needs to use PowerPoint when
Notepad. EditPad Lite makes the Writer. It’s basically Word for bloggers, Microsoft’s Sway can produce similarly
process much easier. Its extensive giving you all the tools you need to slick presentations with half the effort
feature set includes editing multiple compose, publish and manage posts – and for free? You supply the basic
text files side-by-side in a tabbed on a wide range of blogging platforms, elements: text, photos and video. Then
window, support for multiple text including Blogger, Wordpress and pick a theme, add interactive elements,
snippets via the Clip collection, TypePad, even when you’re offline. Use such as maps, and let Sway transform
unlimited undo and redo, automatic it and you’ll never have to edit in your the whole shebang into a web-friendly
backups… Need we go on? web browser again. presentation you can share.

07 Nitro PDF Reader

http://bit.ly/2q0uOVT 08 Vivaldihttps://vivaldi.com 09 Thunderbird
https://mzl.la/2q0ad48
If you’re looking for a powerful tool Vivaldi is a powerful and uniquely If you’re serious about email, then the
that can create as well as display PDFs, customisable web browser that stands Windows’ Mail app just won’t cut it.
then Nitro PDF Reader is your go-to apart from the usual suspects. You get Thunderbird may be old school, but
app. It’s fast and responsive, allows you to choose exactly how it looks and development is starting to pick up
to create PDFs directly from files or where key elements such as tabs go. again and it’s packed with the features
through drag-and-drop. And enables It’s also packed with useful, innovative you need to collect, manage and reply
you to annotate PDFs with both sticky features including – in its latest version to your emails. There’s also a built-in
notes and mark-up text that you can – a novel way of viewing and calendar tool – Lightning – to help you
share with others. managing your surfing history. stay organised. For more, see page 36.

16 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
Essential apps

10 LastPass
www.lastpass.com
LastPass is your go-to password manager. You can
use it to generate strong, randomly-generated
passwords, then lock them away inside an
encrypted vault behind a single master password
that’s strong, but memorable. It works across
multiple platforms and web browsers, and all of
its core functionality is now completely free.

11 Allway Sync
https://allwaysync.com
Need to keep two or more folders in sync? Want
to sync data to and from multiple cloud services
such as OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox
without having to install a single app for each?
Allway Sync is for you. Just set up your folder
partnerships, choose your sync settings and
schedule, and you’re good to go.

12 FocusWriter
http://bit.ly/2q0Fxjb
That report won’t write itself, and FocusWriter is
here to help. It immerses you in a minimalist
full-screen environment: just you and the
keyboard cursor. Now there’s no excuse not to
make progress, with goals, timers, alarms,
spell-checking and automatic saves to help you
get the job done. Finally.

13 Retroshare
http://retroshare.net
We’ve recommended Retroshare over Skype in
this roundup because it takes encryption
seriously. Retroshare employs end-to-end
encryption and other security measures – see
page 21 of issue 131 for more details – to make
the learning curve and slightly awkward setup a
price worth paying for the privacy-conscious.

14 OneNote
www.onenote.com
Microsoft OneNote is one of the most
feature-packed and versatile note-taking
tools out there, with everything you need to
create and capture notes from a variety of
locations. You can organise your notes into
pages, folders and notebooks, plus share
and collaborate with others before
accessing on the go through your mobile.

June 2017 | | 17
 CREATIVE & MULTIMEDIA APPS

15 Photoshop Express
http://bit.ly/2q0AijN 16 Paint.NET
www.getpaint.net 17 Audacity
www.audacityteam.org/
If you’re looking for a fast, user-friendly Paint.NET takes image editing to the When it comes to recording audio –
way to improve your photos, then next level. If you’re looking for more including your growing vinyl collection
Adobe Photoshop Express is the app than a quick fix for your photos, this is – then Audacity has no peer. Its built-in
for you. Select your image, try the the tool to use. It supports multiple editing and mixing tools, coupled with
auto-fix button and if that doesn’t layers, unlimited undos and, if you a wide range of useful effects and
work, experiment with a wide range of can’t find a filter or effect to your liking, support for various output formats
photo-correct tools and filters – sign in there’s an ever-growing collection of (including, via the LAME plugin, MP3),
with an Adobe ID account to unlock all free community-built plugins for you make it an essential addition to any PC
of its features. See page 38 for more. to download and install. user’s multimedia toolkit.

18 MP3tag www.mp3tag.de/en/ 19 Phototheca

https://lunarship.com 20 AntiDupl
http://bit.ly/2q30Iz4
Windows Media Player isn’t always the Still pining for the loss of Google’s These days everybody carries multiple
best at matching your CDs with the Picasa? Phototheca is the closest we’ve copies or slight variations of the same
correct artist and track information yet come to sourcing a replacement photo. If you’ve finally decided to free
(known as metadata), which means tool that makes organising, tagging up drive space and reduce your photo
you may have to enter the correct and sharing your photos as easy as can library to a manageable number, then
details yourself. MP3tag makes it easy be. The free version is limited to 5,000 AntiDupl is the must-have tool for
to both tag and rename your music photos, but with extra features like a weeding out your duplicates. Check
files, either manually or with the help duplicate finder, the $20 asking price out page 21 of issue 132 for a complete
of databases such as discogs. for the full version isn’t too steep. guide to this brilliant app.

18 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
Essential apps

21 PhotoPageGen
www.photopagegen.com/ 22 XviD4PSP
http://bit.ly/2q0Ie4t 23 Plex www.plex.tv
This completely free tool makes it easy If you’re not getting the results you Install the Plex server on your PC or
to automatically generate a website want when converting video with dedicated device, such as a NAS or
from selected photos and videos – you Handbrake (www.handbrake.fr), then Raspberry Pi, use it to bring together
can upload it to your web space or chances are XviD4PSP will do the job your digital media, then install Plex
distribute the folder for viewing offline. – we’ve found its Interlace tools are Media Player on your computer. You
The app enables you to add your more effective at eliminating motion can run the app full-screen to enjoy
photos, choose how they’re displayed, judder, for example. Other bonuses your content in the best possible light,
pick a background, generate maps include a trimming tool, metadata or switch to windowed view and
from GPS data in photos, and more. support and a wider range of filters. manage your media server.

24 VLC Media Player

http://bit.ly/dqn7vT 25 MusicBee
https://getmusicbee.com 26 Shotcut
www.shotcut.org
Windows 10 dropped support for Windows Media Player is long in the Now that Windows Movie Maker has
playing DVD videos, but VLC Media tooth, which is why you should replace gone, you should turn to Shotcut. Hit
Player lets you watch most DVDs, a it with this smart, free alternative. the Playlist and Timeline buttons when
smattering of Blu-rays and just about MusicBee doesn’t just package things you first open it, and the user interface
any other digital video format you can up in a smart, modern interface, it becomes instantly familiar. Better still,
throw at it. If you’ve been sent a video features the best bits of WMP too, Shotcut includes more advanced tools,
that no other media-player will touch, including a superior CD-ripping tool. such as chroma key compositing, to go
you can put your money on VLC being Be sure to turn to page 38 of issue 132 with the familiar selection of video
the one app that will play it. for an in-depth tutorial. transitions and filters.

June 2017 | | 19
 UTILITY & COMPUTING APPS

27 Malwarebytes
Anti-Malware
http://bit.ly/2q33J2r
The more protection you have the better,
and second layers of security don’t come
better than Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It
detects a wider range of threats – including
Potentially Unwanted Programs – compared
to other tools, and while there’s no real-time
protection in the Free version, you can still
use it to scan for, and remove, infections.

28 Windows Repair
http://bit.ly/2q30AzG 29 DMDE http://dmde.com 30 Revo Uninstaller
http://bit.ly/2q0Elwc
If your PC develops a problem, this tool While Recuva (www.piriform.com) can Programs notoriously leave parts of
could help. It first performs a series of recover deleted files, DMDE goes themselves behind after removal. Tools
key diagnostics including System File further to make it possible to recover such as Revo Uninstaller scan for
Checker, then presents you with an data from formatted, lost or even leftover Registry entries and files to
ever-growing list of repairs that you corrupt partitions. There’s a learning ensure as much of the program is
can try to resolve the issue without you curve involved, and while you can removed as possible. Upgrade to the
having to reinstall Windows. It’s an recover data for free, upgrading to the Pro edition for extra features such as
essential addition to your trouble- Express (€16) or Standard (€38) edition uninstalling multiple programs in one
shooting toolkit. makes things simpler and quicker. go. For more uninstallers, see page 95.

31 CCleaner
http://bit.ly/2q0LtsF 32 TidyTabs
http://bit.ly/2q3ah0Q 33 PortableApps
www.portableapps.com
Keeping your computer clean and tidy Why clutter up your desktops with Portable apps don’t just follow you
makes it easier and faster to use, and loads of open windows when TidyTabs from computer to computer via USB
when it comes to cleaning, you’ll be allows you to organise them into tabs flash drive, they can be used to reduce
hard-pressed to find a better suite of in the same way that your favourite clutter on your own PC and survive
tools than those provided by CCleaner. web browser does? You can combine Windows reinstalls. PortableApps
Find out how to clear out gigabytes of up to three program windows per tab, provides you with a central platform
redundant files – with care – in one go or pay $9 for the Pro version to remove for obtaining, managing and accessing
with our guide to using the app on this limit. Check out our tutorial on your portable apps from a handy
page 18 of issue 132. page 42 of issue 133. launcher. An office favourite.

20 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
Essential apps

34 7-Zip www.7-zip.org
The zip format is widely used, but it’s not
universal. If you’re confronted by an archive
sporting an unfamiliar extension such as .rar
or .gzip, then you need 7-Zip. On top of that,
it’s much more powerful than Windows’ native
zip tool with support for encryption, better
compression ratios and much more.

35 VirtualBox
www.virtualbox.org
Want to dabble in Linux? Need an old version
of Windows to run a favourite program no
longer supported in Windows 10? Install
VirtualBox to run your operating system of
choice within a window without having to
reboot your PC. Much safer than messing
about with dual-boot setups!

36 TreeSize Free
http://bit.ly/2q0EDDd
Struggling to find out where all your hard drive
space has gone? TreeSize Free makes it easy to
visualise your drive using a treemap, which lets
you view your drive or a selected folder as a
series of blocks, with the largest files quickly
identifiable. An optional touch-friendly UI
makes it especially useful for tablets.

37 CloneApp
www.mirinsoft.com
File History backs up your files, while Macrium
Reflect covers your PC’s entire storage drive
(including Windows). But what about your
app settings – perhaps you’re migrating to a
new PC? Enter CloneApp, a tool for backing
up and restoring app settings quickly and
easily. See our guide on page 17 of issue 135.

38 Lazesoft Recovery Suite

www.lazesoft.com
Lazesoft Recovery Suite 4.0 might one
day save your life. Use it to create a
bootable rescue disc that can perform
a wide range of repairs even when
Windows won’t load. And if all else fails,
you can use it to recover files from your
storage drive before formatting it and
reinstalling Windows from scratch.

June 2017 | | 21
 FUN & GAMES

39 RootsMagic
www.rootsmagic.com 40 Data Crow
www.datacrow.net 41 TripAdvisor
www.tripadvisor.com
RootsMagic allows you to record and If you want to keep tabs on a collection The free TripAdvisor app provides a
research your family history within a of items, from books or DVDs to convenient – and attractive – frontend
single program. Bring together your personal contacts or software, Data to the whole TripAdvisor experience. It
ancestors, add scanned photos and Crow is for you. This brilliant free enables you to plan holidays, look for
connect to online records – including cataloguing tool helps speed up the places to visit and book hotels and
FamilySearch and FindMyPast – to entry of data by linking into various flights with the minimum of fuss. And
discover more about the people they online databases – just pick and click once you’ve been away, you can share
were and the lives they led. The to download metadata and artwork your thoughts on your trip by
cut-down Essentials version is free. relating to your items. providing reviews for other users.

42 MuseScore
https://musescore.org 43 Audiblewww.audible.com 44 Celestia
http://bit.ly/2q3cmdd
If you’re in any way musically inclined, The free Audible app gives you access Explore the universe – in time as well
this open-source notation tool is a to all those audiobooks you’ve bought as space – in glorious 3D with this
must. Simply input your notes and from Audible.com on your PC, and lets beautifully presented app. Navigation
instruments, then listen back to the you purchase and download more. The is easy: either float, rotate and zoom in
score before printing out the finished app lets you view and organise your and out, or press a key to quickly move
piece. You can also input using your library, and choose whether to stream between the planets of the solar
keyboard or any MIDI device. The app your purchases on-demand rather system. Look further afield, discover
even allows you to add lyrics and than store the books on your man-made objects in space and more.
chords to your masterpiece too. computer. It’s listening made easy. See our guide on page 28 of issue 132.

22 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
Essential apps

45 Xbox App
http://bit.ly/2q0wdvI 46 Planetside 2
www.planetside2.com/ 47 Path of Exile
http://bit.ly/2q0JzYK
Fancy a quick blast on one of your If the thought of facing off against Path of Exile is for those who prefer
favourite Xbox games? Frustrated that hundreds of other players in a chaotic their gaming to be of the action-
someone is currently hogging the environment doesn’t put you off, then orientated role-playing variety. It’s
big-screen TV? No problem, armed Planetside 2 will appeal. This first- completely free to play, and provides
with the right settings (see page 38 of person shooter was originally released you with a large world in which to
issue 130) and the Xbox app, you can back in 2012, and remains massively explore, and endless possibilities to
stream games from your Xbox to your popular thanks to its free-to-play develop your character, obtain skills
Windows 10 PC over your network. status on the PC (you can purchase through gems and build your online
And guess what? The app is free. items to enhance gameplay). riches. Hours of fun.

48 Star Wars: The

Old Republic
www.swtor.com
49 123 Free Solitaire
http://bit.ly/2q39CN6 50 Scratch 2
http://bit.ly/2q0MLnB
Pining after the classic desktop game Scratch 2 is a programming language
Available in both free-to-play and that Microsoft dropped in Windows 8 your children will love – it encourages
premium modes, this classic game (and then 10)? Download 123 Free them to build their own interactive
takes you back into the days of the Solitaire (it’s the second link on the projects and games using instruction
Republic, giving you the choice of download page) and you can enjoy 12 blocks. But why let them have all the
taking on various missions for either different variations of Solitaire for free, fun? If you’re looking to dip your toes
the Jedi or the Dark Side of the Force. with no ads or unwanted extras. There into programming, but don’t have the
Premium upgrades unlock access to is even a free add-ons pack with more patience for complex languages, why
additional characters and adventures. backgrounds and decks. not try Scratch 2 yourself?

June 2017 | | 23
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June 2017 | | 25
Not your average technology website

EXPLORE NEW WORLDS OF TECHNOLOGY

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Fascinating reports from the bleeding edge of tech
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Join the UK’s leading online tech community

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 windows tips internet advice exciting new projects

Welcome Full listing…

In this month’s 28 Discover the amazing things 52 Remotely access another PC
Explore section you can do with the Skype app using Teamviewer for Windows
we’re going to 32 Learn how to save web content
show how to make for reading later in Microsoft Edge
the most of the
internet – whether it’s to call 36 Take control of your emails with
friends and family abroad for this alternative to Windows Mail
free, or save your favourite 38 Transform your holiday snaps
stories for reading later. with Adobe Photoshop Express
On page 28, we’ll walk you
42 Make your PC even easier to
through the new version of use with these tips and tricks
Skype – the internet telephony
app, that’s been reimagined for 46 Make the most of the free
the Creators Update. apps built into Windows 10
And on page 32, we explain 48 Surf safely and securely with a
how to use the Pocket browser Virtual Private Network (VPN)
extension to save web content
for home, work or school.
Your guide
Finally, on page 48, we’ll Ian Evenden says…
show you how to use a VPN to
protect your privacy online. “Make your holiday snaps
‘pop’ with the brilliant
Rob Mead-Green
Photoshop Express”
Editor Turn to page 38
rob.mead-green@futurenet.com to find out more

Our promise to you…

Get more from Windows, software and all your favourite sites

packed with informative tutorials get more from your favourite websites
Every issue, we guarantee to pack the We all have our list of favourite sites
magazine with great tutorials teaching but often we miss out on great features
you all the best things you can do with your PC. because they’re difficult to use or hidden from
Each article features step-by-step instructions sight. We’ll show you how to do more online,
to make learning new skills fast and enjoyable. for a more satisfying web life.

customise windows to work your way discover new programs with our help
We all know how to do the basics but From speed-up and security software
getting the most from Windows isn’t to superb photo apps, there’s always
always easy. Our dedication to the operating something new to try on your PC. The
system means you get the very best tips and Windows Store in Windows 10 and Windows
tricks for all versions of Windows. 8.1 is packed with software to download.

June 2017 | | 27
 Search
Skype now lets you
search for previous
messages using this

Learn how to…

search bar. You can
search for people
and ‘bots’ as well.

Use Skype in
Windows 10 Your guide Matt Hanson says…
recent meSSageS
“The Windows 10 Creators Update Click to view your
brings an overhauled Skype app. recent messages. If
you have missed any
Here’s how to use its best features” you have been sent
recently these will
at a glance he Windows 10 Creators

Skill level… T Update brings a wide range

of new features to Windows
be highlighted here.

Anyone can do it 10, and one of the apps that has seen contactS
Straightforward the biggest change is Skype. Ever Skype works closely
since Microsoft acquired the video with the People app,
Tricky in parts calling service in 2011, it has been an making it easy to
integral part of Windows, seamlessly find contacts you
Suitable for… integrated into the operating system know, as well as add
Windows 10 and making it incredibly easy to keep any new ones.
in touch with friends and family
Windows 8.1 around the world via free voice and
Windows 7 video calls. If you haven’t tried Skype,
then now is an excellent time to start
since it’s free to download and use.
Video and voice calls to other
Skype users are free – potentially
saving you huge amounts of money
on phone bills. You can also buy
Skype credit allowing you to phone
– and now text – mobile phones and
landlines from the Skype app on your
Windows 10 device. Read on to find
out how to get started and make use
of the exciting new features…

Step-by-step Use the new and improved Skype app

1 Download the latest Skype app

To make use of these new features (or if you’ve not used
2 Launch Skype
After making sure that the latest version of the Windows 10
Skype yet), you’ll need to install the latest version of its Windows Skype app has been installed, you can launch it by opening the
10 app. If you have the Windows 10 Creators Update, the app Start menu and typing in ‘Skype’. Once Skype has launched, a
should be updated as well, but you can also download the new window will appear listing some of its new features. Don’t worry
version even if you haven’t updated Windows. Open the Windows about reading that too carefully, since we will explain each one
Store, search for ‘Skype’ and select Skype or Skype Preview. here! Close the window and you’ll see the main Skype interface.

28 | | June 2017
 Explore
Use Skype in Windows 10

Jargon buster!
video call
Own a webcam? Windows 10
Click to start a free creators Update
This is the latest
video call with your major update to
chosen contact. If Windows 10, and it
you don’t, this icon comes with a wide
will be greyed out. range of new and
improved features,
including a new
voice call version of Skype. It’s
free for Windows 10
If your PC has a users, so keep an eye
microphone, click on Windows Update.
here to start a voice
call. Calls to other emoticons
Skype users are These are popular
completely free! icons that people
use in text and
messages to quickly
convey emotions.
Skype, like pretty
much any messaging
program, has a large
range of emoticons
that you can use.

Matt’s best tip!

skype uses a ‘dark’ theme by
default. to chanse this to a
‘light ’ theme select settings
in the bottom-left corner.
chat box
Type here to send
instant messages to
your Skype friends.
You can also use this
box to write and
send SMS texts.

3 View your contacts

Skype is all about staying in touch with people, and to do
4 Add a contact
If you want to add someone to Skype, click the icon of a
that, you need to add contacts to Skype. The good news is that person with a ‘+’ sign next to them, which is found at the bottom
the new update makes adding people to Skype even easier. If you of the Skype window. The latest version of Skype lets you see any
use the People app in Windows 10 as an address book, you should mutual contacts you have with people you search for. This makes
see your contacts are already in Skype. You can use the search bar it easier to identify the right people. Once you’ve found who
at the top of the app window to easily find who you’re looking for. you’re looking for, click ‘Add to Contacts’ to add them to Skype.

June 2017 | | 29
 5 Add a phone number
While you can make video and text calls to other Skype
6 Send a text message
One of the most useful features of the new Skype app is the
users for free, calls to other landline and mobile numbers cost ability to send regular text (or SMS) messages. Again, these are
money. Luckily, you can use Skype Credit to make these calls paid for using Skype Credit, but are still cheaper than using your
instead. Skype credits are cheap to top up and use, and cost a lot phone when texting people in other countries. To do this, select a
less than making regular international calls. To add a phone Skype contact who has a phone number. Where it says ‘Via’ in the
number, click the icon of the telephone with a ‘+’ sign next to it. chat box, select Skype SMS, type in your message and tap Send.

7 Make better group calls

Group calls are when two or more people are involved on
8 Easily switch between devices
Microsoft has worked hard to make Skype an integral part
the same call – making them ideal for virtual business meetings, of your life, and one of the ways it has done this is by adding a
or big family reunions. The latest Skype update makes group calls new feature to the latest version of the app, which lets you quickly
even easier – and more fun – than before. To add people to a and easily switch between devices while on a call. This is great if
group call, click on the icon of a person with a ‘+’ sign next to you’re at your desktop PC, but want to switch to your tablet while
them, then select who you want to join. you move around your home without interrupting your chat.

9 Search your chats

Skype works brilliantly as a free instant messaging program,
10 Don’t forget the basics
Skype remains an excellent video and voice calling app, and
enabling you to have text chats with contacts around the world. all the features that made it so popular remain. If you want to start
You can even exchange pictures, video and emoticons. For that a video call, click on the contact you want to call, then on the
reason, one of its newest features is a welcome one – the ability to Camera icon in the top-right corner of the app. To make a voice
search your messages. To do that, click the Recent Messages icon, call, click the telephone icon. Microsoft is dedicated to improving
then in the Search Skype box, type the phrase you are looking for. Skype, so keep an eye out for more new features in future! ■

30 | | June 2017
 Everything you need
to live the Apple life

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Learn how to…
Save and view
content later Your guide Nate Drake says…
“Save and categorise web content
in your browser with the Pocket
extension for Microsoft Edge”
At a glance tudents, researchers or

Skill level… S anyone who struggles to

organise the vast number of
Anyone can do it web pages they visit, can now
Straightforward breathe a huge sigh of relief.
The basic version of the Pocket My LiSt
Tricky in parts extension is now available free for Your list contains all
Microsoft Edge, enabling you to tag content you saved
Suitable for… and search through previously saved to your Pocket that
Windows 10 web content. Once added, the Pocket isn’t archived. Hover
button appears to the right of your over each item for
Windows 8.1 browser’s address bar. Click this any further options.
Windows 7 time or right-click any web content to
save it to your personal Pocket list.
You can even sync your Pocket saves
to other devices using mobile
versions of the Pocket app for iOS,
Android and Windows 10. tAgS Archive
This guide focuses on the free, When you save an Contains anything
basic version of Pocket. The Premium item to Pocket you you’ve already read.
version offers a permanent library, can add keywords You can archive
advanced search features and known as ‘tags’. Click items already in your
Suggested Tags. To use Pocket with here to filter content Pocket or by using
Microsoft Edge, be sure to install the by keyword or tag. the Pocket button.
Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Step-by-step Set up your Pocket list

1 Install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

If you plan to use Pocket with Microsoft Edge, you need to
2 Install the Pocket extension
Once your PC is up to date, launch the Windows Store using
have the Windows 10 Anniversary Update installed. Double check the icon in the Taskbar. Click the Windows Store search button at
you have this by clicking the search icon at the bottom left of your the top right and type ‘pocket’. Click the first option in the search
screen and typing ‘update’. Next, click on ‘Check for Updates’ in the results named ‘Save to Pocket – App’ to load the application page.
Settings category. If updates are available, you can click Install Next, click the Get button to download and install the app. Once
Now to continue. You may need to restart your PC to update it. completed, click the Launch button to open Microsoft Edge.

32 | | June 2017
 Pocket Button
Click to save a page,
Explore
video or image to
Pocket. You can also
Save and view content later
open your list from
here, add keywords
and archive content.
Jargon buster!
Pocket
A handy browser
extension that can
view save your favourite
web content as you
Click here to toggle browse. Click the
between Grid and button at any time to
Tile views. Select save to your Pocket.
Videos, Images or You can also save
Articles on the left to your favourite links
filter your items. to your archive.

Archive
Your Archive is used
to keep a record of
web content you’ve
already accessed,
such as articles you
have read when
doing research.

tags
Tags are keywords or
expressions that you
can add to content
saved to your Pocket
to make items easier
to find later on.

Pocket iteMS Nate’s best tip!

Hover over your pocket comes pre-installed
saved items to add with Mozilla Firefox. Google
or edit tags, archive Chrome users can also install
read items, add it via the built-in web store .
content to your
favorites or delete.

3 Create a Pocket account

On first run, Microsoft Edge will notify you that Pocket is
4 Show the Pocket button
Pocket will launch with a prompt explaining that you can
installed. Click ‘Turn it on’ to activate the extension. A new page save your first item. Ignore this for now and click on the ellipsis
will open asking you to register your Pocket account. Click ‘Sign (…) or More Options button at the top right, then Extensions.
up with Google’ or ‘Sign up with e-mail’ to enter your name, email Hover your mouse over ‘Save to Pocket’ and click the gear icon to
and password. Click ‘Sign Up’ when done. Pocket will announce enter its settings. Click ‘Show Next to address bar’ so the Pocket
you’re now ready to start saving. Click ‘Start Saving’ to begin. button is always visible. This makes saving content easier.

June 2017 | | 33
 5 Save videos to Pocket
Open a new tab by clicking the ‘+’ button at the top of your
6 Add images to Pocket
Pocket can save images as well as videos to your device so
screen and go to a video-sharing website, such as YouTube. Find a you don’t need to load the entire web page to retrieve them. To
video you’d like to save and click once on the Pocket button. A add an image, simply hover your mouse over it, right-click and
pop-up will appear saying the video has been saved. Click inside choose ‘Save to Pocket’. A confirmation pop-up will appear where
the Add Tags box to add keywords to make the content easier to you can add tags to the image as before. When you return to your
find later. To add multiple tags press [Return] after each phrase. Pocket list later, click Images on the left to display only pictures.

7 Add articles to Pocket

Pocket can also store news articles on your device. Simply
8 Activate Quick save services
Certain websites have integrated support for Pocket, so
navigate to a news website or similar and click the Pocket button instead of clicking the Pocket button to save an entire page, you
at the top right. As with images and videos, you can add tags to can store individual items by clicking the Pocket link next to them.
make it easier to sort through articles later. You can save other To do this, click the Pocket button then the ellipsis (…). Choose
kinds of pages as web links in Pocket, but you will need an Settings, then find the section labeled ‘Quick save services’. Tick
internet connection to load the content itself. the check box for each website that you want to use.

9 Archiving items
If you want to keep track of pages you’ve visited, simply
10 Manage your Pocket
Open your Pocket list at any time by clicking Pocket > More
click the Pocket button to save a page in the usual way and add a Options > Open Pocket. Move your mouse over items to see
memorable tag such as ‘BBC News’. Click on the More Options options such as Archive, Delete, Favorite and Edit Tags. If you need
button in Pocket to archive the page. To see the content you’ve to edit multiple items, to add a tag for instance, use the grey Bulk
saved, click on the Pocket > More Options button again then Edit button at the top right. To filter by keyword click Tags on the
Open Pocket. Click Archive on the left to view your saved items. left then on your chosen tag. Click ‘My List’ to show all items. ■

34 | | June 2017
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June 2017 | | 35
Learn how to…
Move your emails
from Windows Mail
Your guide Cat Ellis says…
“Windows 10’s default email app is very limited – make the move to
Mozilla Thunderbird instead and see how much more it can do”

At a glance hen you start using Windows

Skill level… W 10, you’ll notice that all the

default apps are Microsoft’s
Anyone can do it own creations: your new web
Straightforward browser is Microsoft Edge; your
anti-virus is Defender; your media
Tricky in parts player is Groove Music; and your
email app is Mail.
Suitable for… Most of these are perfectly good
Windows 10 programs, but Mail, sadly, isn’t. The
main problem is that unlike most
Windows 8.1 desktop email clients, it doesn’t store
Windows 7 your messages on your PC. That
means it doesn’t make backups, and
if you can’t connect to the internet
you won’t be able to read any of your
old email messages.
Mail’s only real purpose is to keep
all your different email accounts
together in one place and provide
notifications when you receive new cat’s best tip!
messages, but there’s a free program add even more features to
called Thunderbird that can do that thunderbird by installing
and much more besides. Here’s how extensions. Click the menu
to install it and move from Mail. button and select ‘add-ons’.

Step-by-step Switch to Mozilla Thunderbird

1 Get Thunderbird
Thunderbird is an email client developed by Mozilla – the
2 Set app defaults
Launch Thunderbird and it will ask if you want to make it
same team that created Firefox. It’s brilliant for anyone who uses the default app for mail, feeds and newsgroups, You definitely
more than one email account, and is easy to set up. To get started, want it for mail, and it’s good to keep your RSS feeds in one place
download it from www.mozilla.org/thunderbird and run the so keep both checked. Few people use newsgroups these days, so
installer. Choose a standard install, and make sure the checkbox leave this option unchecked. When asked if you want to create a
marked ‘Use Thunderbird as my default mail application’ is ticked. new email address, click ‘Skip this and use my existing email’.

36 | | June 2017
 Explore
Move your emails from Windows Mail

3 Add an email account

Type in one of the email addresses you want to connect to
4 Sync your messages
Your inbox will look empty, but don’t worry – click ‘Get
Thunderbird, and enter its password. Email clients used to need a messages’ and everything will be synchronised. If you use more
complicated setup process, but Thunderbird should pick up the than one email account, click your email address at the top left
settings it needs automatically. When you’re asked to choose and select Email under ‘Create new account’. Now click an email
between IMAP and POP3 settings, pick the latter to keep a copy of address and select ‘View settings for this account’. You can adjust
your emails on your PC for access when you’re offline. the spam filter, and choose where copies of emails are saved.

5 Add a calendar
Not only does Thunderbird keep all your email accounts
6 Sync your events
Click the Calendar tab, then right-click in the empty space
organised, it can also help you manage your schedule with its on the left and select ‘New calendar’. Select ‘On the network’ >
calendar features. To add your Google calendars, click the Google Calendar > Next and enter your Gmail address. Enter your
Calendar tab, then click the menu button and select ‘Add ons’ > password when asked and give the app permission to manage
Extensions. Search for ‘Provider for Google Calendar’, and when it your calendars. Choose which calendars to add, then click Next >
appears, click Install. Restart Thunderbird when prompted. Finish. You can now add, delete and edit events in Thunderbird.

7 Configure alerts
Click the Mail tab, then the menu button and select Options
8 Get news bulletins
To make Thunderbird even more useful, let’s add some RSS
> Options. Here you can change the alert you receive when a new feeds. Click an email address, then click ‘Create new account’ >
message arrives – a note on the desktop, a discreet icon in the Feeds > Next > Finish. Click ‘Manage subscriptions’ and paste in
system tray, or just a sound. It’s also worth checking the security the address of an RSS feed. Click ‘Add’, and the feed will be added,
settings. Allow your anti-virus software to quarantine suspicious so you can get at-a-glance headlines. With messages, calendars
messages, and let Thunderbird notify you of possible email scams. and news now at your fingertips, you’ll never go back to Mail! ■

June 2017 | | 37
Learn how to…
Edit images in Back Button
Always at the top left

Photoshop
of the interface, this
takes you out of the
editing mode you’re
in and back to the
main window.
Your guide Ian Evenden says…
“Improve the look of your holiday
snaps with Photoshop Express and
a few simple clicks and tweaks”
at a glance diting photos is one one the

Skill level… E best things you can do with

your Windows PC. Not only
Anyone can do it is it relatively straightforward much croP LookS
Straightforward of the time, but there are myriad apps Allows you to crop One-click filters. You
available to help you – many of which and straighten an can add all kinds of
Tricky in parts are available at low cost or for free. image, removing free effects from
Windows 10 even comes with its own pixels at the edges here, or splash out
Suitable for… Photos app to get you started, but by to more tightly on ‘premium’ Looks
Windows 10 exploring the Windows Store you can frame the centre. for a small fee.
find programs that go much further
Windows 8.1 than Microsoft’s image editor.
Windows 7 Here, we’re going to take a look at
Adobe Photoshop Express, a free app
from one of the biggest names in the
business. Adobe is the company
behind the professional Photoshop
and InDesign software we use to
create this magazine as well as a lot
of applications used in the movie
business, so it should know a thing or corrEct rEd EyE/
two about touching up your holiday Brings up sliders you rEducE noiSE
memories or fixing your Facebook can use to affect the The former fixes red
profile. Read on to find out how to do colours and contrast eye caused by a
that in the free Photoshop Express. in your image. This is camera’s flash; the
a manual process latters cuts unsightly
Step-by-step Fix your photos with no auto option. image sensor noise.

1 One-click fix?
If you’re pushed for time, Photoshop Express has an Auto Fix
2 Straighten the horizon
That horizon, caused by a wobbly boardwalk on the way
option. It’s not really why we’re here, since it doesn’t do much that down to the boats, can be sorted easily, but at the expense of
Windows’ Photos app can’t, but it shows up the limitations of such some of the edges of the image. Using Crop to straighten it out
automatic systems. In this photo, it’s lightened the dark areas and rotates the image, so the corners are moved outside the new
altered the colour of the sky to a paler blue, but has done nothing image rectangle, and are discarded. There’s nothing we can’t bear
about the wonky horizon. To fix this, we have to go hands-on. to lose, but it’s worth thinking about when you straighten images.

38 | | June 2017
 Explore
Edt images in Photoshop

Jargon buster!
noise
undo/rEdo Pixels of the wrong
Always at the top colour caused by
right, click here to over-amplification of
undo your last edit, the image signal by
and flick between the your camera sensor.
original and edited Can be reduced in
versions of an image. software, but often
at the cost of detail.

colour
temperature
Measured in degrees
Kelvin, this is a
measure of how
yellow or blue the
light in an image is.
Photoshop Express
doesn’t show you
the technicalities,
but allows you to
change this using
White Balance tools.

red eyes
Caused by light from
a flash that’s too
close to the camera
lens bouncing back
from the retina of
your subject’s eyes.

Ian’s best tip!

the View Original button , bottom right,
lets you compare your edits with the
original image . this helps ensure you don’t
get too carried away with your changes.

3 Crop further
Now let’s crop further into the image to see how if affects
4 Using Looks filters
Press the back button to reverse out of the Crop tool, and
the composition. There’s a lot of that wobbly boardwalk in the choose the one which looks like a paint roller, to access the Looks.
bottom left of the image, so by removing that we can concentrate These are one-shot filters – and you aren’t given any control over
on the boats and the water. By moving the corners of the Crop the intensity with which they’re applied, which undermines the
tool rectangle so they make a square-ish image taking in the right idea of using an editing app in the first place. That said, Looks are
side of the original, we make it more interesting to look at. capable of making some striking changes to your photos.

June 2017 | | 39
 5 Make manual adjustments
The Correct tools are the place to go if you want to choose
6 Correct some more
There’s a Reset button at the left if you change your mind.
how your image looks for yourself. Located between Crop and The next part of Correct is Exposure, which lets you to change the
Looks, Correct gives you manual control over the brightness and brightness of your image. It’s split into three: the first part works
colours of your image. Contrast covers the difference between the across the whole image; the second part only on the bright areas;
dark and light parts of the image; Clarity also tweaks contrast, but and the third only on the dark bits. The latter is useful to brighten
can make photos appear sharper; Vibrance deepens colours. shadows to reveal lost detail, or darken parts that are too light.

7 Correct even more

Besides Reset are Auto and View Diff. The former automates
8 Noise reduction
Digital noise looks like a fine scattering of wrong-colour
the process we’re trying to do by hand, while the latter shows you pixels across your image. It’s more noticeable on images taken in
the original, unedited image. The third part of Correct is White the dark, or from devices with tiny image sensors. Photoshop
Balance, which is split into Temperature and Tint. You can warm Express’s noise reduction features are ‘previews’ – which means
up a cold-looking photo by boosting the colour temperature, Adobe wants a small fee to unlock them – but they were available
which injects more yellow into the image. Reducing it adds blue. free at the time of writing, provided you sign up or sign in here.

9 Red Eye removal

If you’re unlucky enough to have taken a photo in which the
10 Save/Share
You’ll find Save/Share at the bottom right of the interface.
subject has glowing red eyes, don’t despair. What once was the This gives you the choice of saving your image to your device’s
death of a serious photograph can now be fixed rather easily. storage or sharing it to Facebook. You only have the option of
Open the tool by clicking the icon next to Reduce Noise, and saving it as a JPEG, but saving your image as a new file without
you’ll be asked to tap or click on the eyes of your portrait. It takes overwriting the original is good practice. You can always reopen
less than a second for the redness to be removed. the original PNG, TIFF or JPEG file later if you want to re-edit. ■

40 | | June 2017
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Learn how to…
Rob’s best tip!
Windows’ virtual assistant,
Cortana, can help you with
all kinds of tasks on your pC.

Make your PC
If in doubt, ask her!

easier to use Start Menu

Contains all the apps
on your PC, with
Live Tiles updated
over the internet.
Your guide Rob Mead-Green says…
Can be configured
“Take control of your PC and make however you wish.
it work the way you want to. All it
takes are a few tricks and tweaks”
at a glance ith every update, Windows

Skill level… W gets easier and easier to use,

but quite often the way that
Anyone can do it Microsoft wants you to use your PC
Straightforward isn’t always the best one for you. In
this tutorial, we’re going to explain
Tricky in parts how to bend Windows 10 to your will,
so it works exactly the way that you
Suitable for… – not Microsoft – wants it to.
Windows 10 The first place you should head to
is Windows’ Settings. From here you
Windows 8.1 can do things like change the default
Windows 7 resolution of the display to make it
easier to read, make logging into
Windows easier, and choose the
default apps for your files.
We’ll also show you how to
customise the Start menu, add your
most frequently used folders and
apps to the Taskbar and customise
File Explorer’s menu options, so no
matter what you’re doing or where
you are in Windows, everything you
need is at your fingertips. So without
further ado, let’s begin…

Step-by-step Take control of your computer

1 Create a PIN
If you sign into your PC (or other apps and services) using
2 Use your PIN
You will be asked to enter your PIN twice. You can make the
your Microsoft account, Windows will ask for its password every PIN as long or as short as you like (longer is better), but aim for a
time you login. If your password is long and/or complicated, this minimum of four digits – letters or numbers ideally. Now logout
can get old very quickly. Luckily, there is an alternative: you can of Windows. The next time you login, instead of being asked to
create a PIN. To do that head to Settings > Accounts > ‘Sign-in enter your password, Windows will ask you for your PIN. You can
options’, scroll down to the PIN option and click Add. still use your Microsoft password to login if you wish.

42 | | June 2017
 Explore
SettingS
Make your PC easier to use
Contains a wealth of
options that make
using your PC easier
and simpler. Worth Jargon buster!
taking the time to
explore in detail. Quick access
A folder pinned to
the top-left of File
Explorer’s browser
window, which
contains shortcuts to
your favourite items.

taskbar
The bar at the
bottom of your
Windows desktop,
which displays any
apps or items you
currently have open.

night Light
A new feature of the
Creators Update that
can automatically
adjust the colour of
the display at night
or in the evening by
reducing the amount
of blue-white light.

fiLe exPLorer
Your window on the
Windows world. Use
it to find, add, move,
copy and delete files
and folders on your
PC. Customisable.

taSkbar
QuiCk aCCeSS Contains all of the
Appears in every File currently open items
Explorer window. on your PC. You can
Add shortcuts to also easily pin items
your most-used files here for quick and
and folders for easy easy access.
access anywhere.

3 Choose your default apps

Windows comes with a great range of built-in apps that let
4 Change the defaults
Download an app that you want to use – in this case we
you do things like surf the web, check your emails or listen to want to use Firefox instead of Edge. While you can make the
music, but what if you want to use alternatives such as Firefox, change when you first install the app, you can also do so later.
Thunderbird or iTunes? Head to Settings > Apps > Default Apps Head to Settings > Apps > Default Apps again, scroll down to
and you’ll be able to choose which apps opens automatically ‘Web browser’, right-click on the current default (Microsoft Edge)
when you want to carry out a particular action. and choose Firefox from the pop-up menu which appears.

June 2017 | | 43
 5 Change the display
Windows is pretty good at choosing the right resolution for
6 Use a Night Light
The Windows 10 Creators Update includes a Night Light
your PC’s display, but if you find the default leaves you struggling mode, which adjusts the colour of the display to reduce eye strain
to read what’s on screen, you can change it. Head to Settings > and help you sleep better. Under Settings > Display, switch the
System > Display and look under the ‘Scale and layout’ options. ‘Night light’ toggle to On. Or click ‘Night light settings’ for further
The settings you need can be found under ‘Change the size of options – such as setting the time when Night Light mode kicks in
text, apps and other items’ drop-down and under Resolution. and to adjust the default colour it uses when activated.

7 Customise the Start menu

Windows populates the Start menu with all kinds of apps
8 Add items to the Start menu
Another great thing about the Start menu is that you can
that you may or may not use, but you don’t have to stick with the add any file, folder or app to it that you use often – giving you
defaults. You can right-click any tile to remove it – select ‘Unpin speedy access to it whenever you want. To add an item to the
from Start’ from the pop-up window that appears. You can also Start menu, right-click it, then choose ‘Pin to Start’. It will now
use this window to switch Live Tiles on and off. Or even resize tiles appear alongside the other tiles there. To move the tile, simply
so they reflect your own usage habits and priorities. click-and-drag it to its new position and then let go.

9 Customise the Taskbar

The Taskbar is one of the most useful tools in your Windows
10 Add items to Quick Access
The Quick Access menu in File Explorer is a great way to
armoury. Open apps appear here automatically, but you can also access your most frequently-used files – and its contents are there
add any others – and files or folders as well. To add an app to the to see in every File Explorer window you open. Quick Access is
Taskbar, choose it from the list of applications on the Start menu, already populated with your Desktop, Documents and other
right-click it, then choose More > ‘Pin to taskbar’ in the pop-up folders, but you can add any item you wish. To do that, right-click
window that appears. Its icon will now appear in the Taskbar. an item and select ‘Pin to Quick access’ to add its shortcut. ■

44 | | June 2017
The compleTe guide
To fixing your pc

ouT
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94 | | March 2017
Learn how to…
Discover the amazing
apps in Windows 10!
Your guide Nick Odantzis says…
“Windows 10 has a load of incredible apps built-in. In
this guide we’ll show you how to find them and some
of the amazing things that these freebies can do”
At a glance hances are you head to the

Skill level… C internet (or check the pages

of this very magazine!) when
Anyone can do it you want to find new apps for doing
Straightforward stuff on your PC, whether it’s editing
your photos or bolstering your PC’s
Tricky in parts anti-virus protection. In many cases,
you don’t need to go anywhere,
Suitable for… because they’re right under your very
Windows 10 nose – they’re built into Windows.
You may have seen some on your
Windows 8.1 travels – many are attached to the
Windows 7 desktop area in Windows 10, but
others are more hidden.
There are loads of apps available to
try, catering for a wide variety of
needs, from the very simple – the
calculator app, which lets you to do
your sums from the comfort of the Nick’s best tip!
desktop – to the more complicated, You can change the default
such as Cortana, which enables you app that is associated with
to do stuff on your PC just by using
certain files. Go to settings >
your voice. In this tutorial we’ll show
you how you can find all of them, and system > ‘Default apps’.
reveal which one is our very favourite.

Step-by-step Find all the amazing apps built into Windows 10

1 Find the apps

It’s easy to find any of the apps built into Windows 10 – just
2 Place an app
By default, Windows shows you all the apps in the Start
go to the Start menu by clicking on the Windows icon in the lower menu, but you can change this so the apps you to use most are
left corner of the screen. A menu will appear with a column of all placed front and centre, and remove any you don’t like so much. If
the available apps on the left side, and on the right side you’ll see you want to remove an app tile, right-click it (or press and hold for
tiles showcasing many of these apps, including Camera, Skype a second with your finger), and choose ‘Unpin from Start’. You can
and more. To open an app, just click (or tap) on it. also resize apps, or turn off their Live functionality.

46 | | June 2017
 Explore
Discover Windows 10’s built-in apps

3 Open apps
When you open a built-in app, you’ll see it appear on the
4 Make notes
Sometimes you need to jot something down, whether it’s a
desktop – they all have the same look and feel. Apps on the list of tasks for the week ahead, or sketching out an idea. OneNote
desktop will also have specific icons along the Taskbar, so you can lets you do just that. Click or tap the main area of the window to
keep track of which window is open at any time. If, in future, you start adding a note. First, create a new section and then add
want to download apps that are like the built-in ones, head to the pages to your note by clicking ‘+ Page’ underneath. Using the tabs
Windows Store app – you can find it in the Start menu. at the top you can insert lists, images and draw anything you like.

5 Check the forecast

If you want to check the weather while sitting at your PC,
6 Video chat with people
Skype is one of the best apps to have ever come out of
the Weather app lets you do just that. Allow the app to use your Windows, enabling millions to chat with other people around the
location and you can check the weather in your area, with hourly world using only their internet connection. A revamped version of
and long range forecasts. The Weather app gives you tons of data, the app can be found in the Windows 10 Creators Update (see
including the chance of rain and how likely you are to get burnt. page 28). Skype lets you access to all your contacts and message
You can also see the forecast on a map or look at historical info. them instantly, or even start a video call (if you have a webcam).

7 Go exploring
Windows 10 has a powerful mapping service baked in; it’s
8 That’s it!
Now you’ve followed this tutorial, you will have discovered
so good that you might never use Google Maps again. Called some of the great apps that are built into Windows 10 – to find
Maps, it enables you to look anywhere around the world – the 3D more you just need to start looking through the list of apps in the
Cities option in the top navigation bar enables you to see many Start menu, or type the name of the app into the search function.
cities in an astonishing level of detail. You can also click (or tap) Cortana – another brilliant app that’s included in Windows 10 –
the navigation arrow in the top left corner to get directions. will be able to help you in your search for more apps. ■

June 2017 | | 47
 Traffic limiT
Windscribe’s free tier

Learn how to…

offers 10GB of traffic
each month, but
when it’s gone it’s
gone – check your

Browse safely
usage here.

with a VPN Your guide Alex Cox says…

“Covering your footprints online is
an easy way to browse sensitive
information in confidence”
fireWall
at a glance irtual Private Networks, or

Skill level… V VPNs, are incredibly useful.

They do exactly what their
If you’re struggling
to access certain
sites with the VPN
Anyone can do it name suggests, creating a private active, switch off the
Straightforward tunnel through the internet from one integrated firewall
point to the other. The private part is with this toggle.
Tricky in parts important – when you’re running a
VPN, all of your traffic is encrypted as
Suitable for… it travels across the world, meaning
Windows 10 it’s safe from prying eyes. And then
there’s the distance. With a VPN
Windows 8.1 active and your traffic rerouted, your
Windows 7 local machine appears to be in a
different part of the world – you’ll be
given an address relative to the
machine you’re connected to instead.
Our favourite VPN is Windscribe – Where are you?
it’s free, easy to use, allows you to Use this drop-down
select between locations, and offers a menu to select
very generous data cap on its free where you’d like
tier. There are downsides to using a your computer to
VPN, particularly a slight drop in appear to be from.
internet speed, but they’re worth it Scroll to see more.
for those moments when what you’re
doing is, well, private.

Step-by-step Get started with Windscribe

1 Check your IP
Before you start your VPN, let’s see what the internet knows
2 Download Windscribe
Go to www.windscribe.com and click the green download
about you. Open your web browser and go to www.whatismyip. button. The software is available both as a standalone app and as
com. You’ll see your public IP address, its originating location, and a web browser plugin – we’ll opt for the standalone download at
(most likely) the name of your internet provider. The location may this point, as it protects all online traffic, not just that which goes
be slightly off, but it’ll be close – this info is available to every site through your browser. Scroll down slightly and click ‘Windows’ in
you visit. Make a note of your address for comparison later on. the ‘Windscribe for your Computer’ section of the page.

48 | | June 2017
 Explore
BroWSer PlugiN
Windscribe’s plugin
Browse safely with a VPN
can be found by
clicking the icon at
the top right of your
Firefox, Opera or Jargon buster!
Chrome window.
iP address
A series of numbers
which determines a
computer’s location
on a network. Think
of it like your house
address or your
phone number; all
internet-connected
machines have one.
Block iT
Use the plugin’s Plugin
A way of adding
preferences menu to extra capabilities to
prevent ads, and ad software. A browser
tracking engines, plugin might be
from following you used to block online
around the web. ads, for example.

Virtual
network adapter
A network adapter,
like your Wi-Fi or
Ethernet port, that’s
completely software
based. Used to
intercept network
connections.
SPliT PerSoNaliTy
As well as hiding
your web traffic and
re-routing it, you
can also baffle
trackers by
activating this.

ALex’s best tip!

If you only want to cover
your online tracks, just select
the United Kingdom as your
current location .

3 Install the software

Find the installer – it’ll likely be in your Downloads folder
4 Set up an account
Click ‘no’ on the initial screen, then ‘Use for free’ in the
– and run it. Accept the User Account Control prompt, then click browser window that appears. Fill in your chosen username and
Next, leave Express Install selected, click Next again to install. password and, if you want to take advantage of the 10GB traffic
Accept the Windows Security prompt which appears by clicking limit, your email. Click ‘Create Free Account’, then head to your
Install – Windscribe installs a virtual network adapter, so needs email account and click the link in the verification mail you’ve
your explicit permission – and click Finish to launch Windscribe. been sent. Go back to Windscribe, click ‘yes’ and fill in your details.

June 2017 | | 49
 5 Select a server
Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the main Windscribe
6 Watch the changes
It’ll take a couple of seconds to connect, at which point
window. Click the drop-down box to see a list of available VPN you’ll see the colour of the Windscribe window change from grey
servers (scroll down to see a larger selection) and find a suitable to blue and, all being well, the IP address will differ from the one
location that you’d like your PC to appear to be from. Bear in mind you noted down earlier. At this point you’re protected, and your
that those marked with a star are for paid-for customers only. internet traffic is shielded: open your browser and head back to
Left-click the location and Windscribe will connect automatically. www.whatismyip.com to see where your PC now purports to be.

7 Switch it off
Unless you’re a very light internet user, it’s probably not a
8 Get the plugin
While the main app provides privacy, a firewall to protect
good idea to leave Windscribe switched on all the time. You’ll against unwanted traffic, and location changing, the browser
burn through the 10GB limit quickly unless you limit it to those plugin adds ad blocking, anti-tracking tech, and the ability to
times you really want your traffic to be private. Hit the large create password-protected links to send to your friends. Go to
power button on the app to deactivate it, and a Windows pop-up https://windscribe.com/download and click the appropriate
will tell you exactly how much data you’ve expended. button beneath ‘Windscribe for your browser’.

9 Extra protection
Install the plugin through your browser’s plugin store (in
10 More settings
Click the three-line icon at the top left of the plugin, then
this case we’re using Google Chrome), then click the icon on your click Privacy Options to see which features you’d like to switch on
browser’s toolbar and log in with your details. Click the icon again or off. You’re now free to use the main app or the plugin to
to turn it off – it’s on by default. The plugin uses a ‘cruise control’ obfuscate your web traffic and change your location – your 10GB
mode to change your location to match the content you’re trying traffic allowance will renew monthly. You can get more free data
to access, although you can force a location if you wish. by referring friends at https://windscribe.com/referafriend. ■

50 | | June 2017
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digitAl edition!

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Learn how to… ConTRol RemoTe
CompUTeR
This is where you put the

Connect with
user ID of a remote
computer you want to
control. The password
pops up in a separate box.

Teamviewer Your guide Ian Evenden says…

“Work smarter, chat to friends and
family or help them with their PC
problems using this clever app”
At a glance eamviewer is an application

Skill level… T that allows you to view –

and remotely control –
Anyone can do it another computer. Not just any old
Straightforward computer, however; the machine
you’re connecting to must have the
Tricky in parts client software installed and approve
your connection – this isn’t an app
Suitable for… for hackers. The link between the two
Windows 10 computers is also encrypted, so no
one can spy on what you’re doing.
Windows 8.1 There are mobile apps too, so
Windows 7 you can complete a task on your
home computer, left running and
logged in, from a hotel room half
the world away. All you need is your
phone and some Wi-Fi.
Teamviewer is useful for training – RemoTe ConTRol UnATTended ACCeSS
you can allow your students to view This is the username If you’re setting up a
your PC as you carry out the task and password server or other
you’re teaching them. Or you can needed to connect machine that’s always
broadcast a presentation to a to your PC. You’ll on, you can configure
‘meeting’ filled with people scattered need to tell it to the this so that it doesn’t
across the world. Let’s take a look! person connecting. need a user.

Step-by-step Connect your computers

1 Remote Desktop
Before you dive into Teamviewer, Microsoft might be able
2 Never sleep
Set your PC so it doesn’t go into Sleep mode in Settings >
to help with the Remote Desktop remote-control tool that’s built System > Power & Sleep. Then make sure your PC can accept
into Windows. It’s been around since Windows NT 4 in 1998, and Remote Desktop connections in Control Panel > System
crossed over into our homes with Windows XP. In Windows 10, go Properties > Remote. If you’re on the same network, the Remote
to Settings > System > About and make a note of your PC’s name, Desktop app on the PC or phone trying to connect should scan
as you’ll need this to allow other users to connect. for you. You may need to find and supply your IP address.

52 | | June 2017
 Explore
Connect with Teamviewer

Ian’s best tip! Jargon buster!

A great use for teamviewer is
helping your family out with Unattended
their pC – they can show you Access
what they do that causes the error Set up Teamviewer
this way, and you
they’re having trouble with . won’t have to click
to accept incoming
connections.

Universal app
CompUTeRS & With version 11,
ConTACTS Teamviewer
A list of all the computers migrated to the
in your Teamviewer Universal Windows
group. They can chat, platform, which
videoconference and means it can run on
share files. any Windows PC,
tablet or phone.

AeS
Stands for Advanced
Encryption Standard.
This is used by
Teamviewer to
RighT-CliCk menU encrypt your
Right-click one of connections. There is
the PCs in your list no known practical
to get a menu way to break it.
containing all the
options you have to
interact with it. noTifiCATionS
Notifications for
things like file
transfers pop up here
in the bottom corner
of the screen. But not
for chats, sadly.

3 Enter Teamviewer
Download the application from www.teamviewer.com. If
4 Advanced options
There are some more options available during setup. You
you only want to use the program once, it’s capable of running can choose the directory the application will be installed into. The
from the .exe file rather than being fully installed on your PC. other options are for an Outlook plugin to coordinate meetings,
Select this box in the installation options if that’s what you want. plus advanced features such as a VPN (virtual private network)
The application is free for personal use, so tick the ‘Personal/non and a printing server. These are the sort of things that will need to
commercial’ box for the free version. be configured, and aren’t needed for basic use of the app.

June 2017 | | 53
 5 Basic connection
A good way to test whether it’s working is to use your
6 Mobile apps
The mobile app strips out the wallpaper from your PC
smartphone. There are free Teamviewer Remote Control apps for desktop, but you should see all the icons of your Windows
iOS, Android, Windows Mobile and Blackberry, so install it and link desktop in front of a plain backdrop. Pinch to zoom in and out,
to your Wi-Fi. Run Teamviewer on your PC and phone, and type scroll the mouse pointer around, and click to launch apps and
the user ID and password from your PC into the phone app. You open windows. The apps are useful for checking in on a relative’s
should get a good connection on the same Wi-Fi network. computer, or for administering a home server.

7 Share your screen

Now let’s try connecting with another PC. There are apps
8 Video conference
You can use Teamviewer as a video-conferencing facility to
for Mac and Linux as well as Windows, so if you have a mixture hold meetings. Everybody will need a computer with a webcam,
of computers at home they can all use the application. The grab and a decent internet connection. Now make sure the computers
above shows a Windows 10 desktop, with its blacked-out desktop, you want to include are in the Computers & Contacts list, then
in a window on a Windows 7 desktop. You can operate the remote start a video chat with one and add the others to it. If you’re using
computer just as if you were sitting at its keyboard. Teamviewer for business, you’ll need to buy a licence key.

9 File transfer
If your team is logged into Teamviewer, they can pass files
10 Instant messaging
There are more fully featured instant-messaging apps,
among one another with the File Transfer functionality. With your but if everyone’s logged into Teamviewer it saves having to use
connection established, right-click on the computer name in the a second app. It’s much like any of the other apps, but it doesn’t
Computers & Contacts list to get a menu, and select File Transfer. send notifications when someone adds a comment – this means
The person on the remote computer may have to authorise the you’ll need to keep the window in view at all times. The chat
transfer, then you can copy files from their hard drive to yours. system supports mobile devices too. ■

54 | | June 2017
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50 hidden
secrets of
WindoWs 10
Delve deep into the hidden recesses of Windows,
with a little help from treasure hunter Nick Peers
ou can spend a lifetime trying to One of the joys of researching and writing this

Y
master Windows. Just when you kind of feature is uncovering secrets that we – the
get to grips with one version, out so-called experts – weren’t aware of. You know
comes another. Things are further you’re on the right track when you stumble upon
complicated by the fact that while tips that save you time and prove useful to your
Windows 10 seems here to stay, own computing life, and more than a few of those
it’s now undergoing more frequent changes, with a revealed themselves.
succession of major updates: Anniversary last year, We’re confident that you’ll find at least one tip in
Creators last month, and another slated for the end this collection that will transform the way you use
of the year. How do you possibly keep up? your PC. But mindful of providing value for money,
The trick is to realise that the more things we’ve decided 50 isn’t enough. You’ll find three
change, the more they stay the same, with many of additional boxes in this feature, each one revealing
the best tips and tricks that were uncovered during bonus secrets you can use to save time and speed
those halcyon days of Windows XP and 7 still up the way you use your PC. You’ll discover how
relevant now. The problem is, where to find them? to quickly access system settings without wading
That’s what’s driven us to write this feature. through menus and dialog boxes and uncover
We’ve gone hunting for 50 of the most obscure – some Registry shortcuts that enable you to change
but useful – tips we can find. We’ve rooted out new the way Windows looks and behaves. We finish off
techniques for old favorites, and also uncovered by revealing lesser known – but still immensely
some new features that may not have made the useful – keyboard shortcuts.
headlines when the Creators Update appeared, but Ready? Dust down your fedora, Dr. Jones, we’re
will still help improve the way you use Windows. going on a treasure hunt…

56 | | June 2017
 Feature
Windows 10 secrets

June 2017 | | 57
 Customise the ‘QuiCk Link’ menu
You can easily add your own custom

1
shortcuts to the menu that appears
when you right-click the Start button.
Use the portable Win+X Menu Editor tool
(http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.30)
to add programs, control panel applets, and other system
shortcuts, plus organize them all into groups.

Create ‘Godmode’
Get easy access to every Control Panel

2
in Windows by evoking its so-called
‘GodMode’. To do that, create a new folder
and name it as shown below (you can
change the ‘GodMode’ part if you like):
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Doing so puts each control panel applet in a convenient
list – why not add it to your Quick Link menu?
place your own restriCt driVe usaGe
View usaGe by driVe custom shortcuts Prevent shared users from hogging all

6
on the “Quick
Windows 10 gives you with a handy way to available drive space by setting up drive-

3
access” menu.
see what kind of content is taking up space based quotas (again NTFS-formatted
on each of your drives. To do that, go to drives only). Open File Explorer > This PC,
Settings > System > Storage, and tap a drive right-click your target drive, and choose the Properties >
to see a breakdown of content by type. The Creators Update Quota tab. Click Show Quota Settings, and check ‘Enable
also introduces a Storage Sense button, which automatically quota management,’ followed by ‘Deny disk space to
clears temporary files, plus any files that have been in the users exceeding quota limit,’ and select ‘Limit disk space
Recycle Bin for over 30 days. to.’ Set your limit (probably in GB) and a warning (say 10–20
percent less than the limit), then click OK.
moVe apps to another driVe
Running out of space on your system

4
drive? Move existing Windows Store apps
to another drive or partition via Settings
> Apps – select the app, and click Move to
select your target drive. Force all new apps to install to a
specified drive by switching to the Storage section, and
tapping ‘Change where new content is saved.’

moVe any proGram

Why stop with Windows Store apps when

5
you can move any installed desktop app?
Download Steam Mover from www.
traynier.com, and run it as an administrator.
stop users of
Point ‘Steam Apps Common Folder’ to your Program Files your pC from
folders, then select an alternative folder on your target drive hogging space
(which must be formatted as NTFS). Once done, select each by setting
program you wish to move, and click the right arrow button drive quotas.
to move them across. Clever use of Junction Points ensure restriCt usaGe on per-user basis
the programs continue to work even from another drive, To set limits for individual users, leave ‘Do

7
and you can always move them back if needed. not limit disk usage’ selected, and click
Quota Entries instead. Select Quota > New
Quota Entry. Click ‘Advanced,’ then Find
Now to list all available users. Select a name from the list,
and click OK twice. Set their quota and warning limits, then
repeat for other users for whom you wish to apply limits.
Once done, close the window, and click OK twice.

take ownership QuiCkLy

Need to reclaim ownership of a file or folder?

8
Add a convenient shortcut to the right-click
menu: download www.howtogeek.com/
wp-content/uploads/TakeOwnership.zip –
open the zip file, and double-click ‘InstallTakeOwnership.
reg,’ clicking Run followed by Yes, Yes, and finally OK when
prompted. Now right-click any folder or file to find a new
Take Ownership option.
move any app to another drive using steammover.

58 | | June 2017
 Feature
Windows 10 secrets

Control playback
from the taskbar
task View shortCuts with Groove music.
Press [Win] + [Tab] to trigger Task View, where

9
you can easily move windows between
multiple virtual desktops. Press [Ctrl] + [Win]
+ [D] to quickly create (and switch to) a new
virtual desktop, and [Ctrl] + [Win] + [Left Cursor]/[Right
Cursor] to move between them.

Group windows by tab

Do you find Task View too awkward? Then

10
download and install TidyTabs (www.
nurgo-software.com/products/tidytabs).
It enables you to group multiple windows
together in a single tabbed window – just as you would
in your browser. Only TidyTabs covers all your apps, and
it enables you to mix and match different programs, too.

switCh defauLt View

When you open a new File Explorer window,

11
it defaults to the Quick Access menu. You
can change this by going to the File tab on roll your mouse over its Taskbar icon, and the Aero Peek
the Explorer ribbon, and choosing Folder & preview contains playback controls you can use without
Search Options. Click ‘Open File Explorer to…’ and choose bringing the main program into focus.
This PC to change the default action to showing your user
folders, drives, and network locations. snap app windows
Snap Assist makes it even easier to snap

15
multiple windows in place. Snap your
first window in place by dragging it to
the edge or corner of the screen, at which
point all other windows appear as they do when in Task
View. You can then drag these into place, bring them into
focus, or even close them quickly and easily.

more CoLour ChoiCes

The Creators Update gives you more

16
control over your colour scheme when
tweaking your desktop. Go to Settings
> Personalisation > Colours, and click
Custom Colour. Use the colour picker which appears
to choose your colour, then adjust it with the help of a
slider and preview (complete with a warning, should the
colours be difficult to read).

tweak the ‘QuiCk aCCess’ foLder

You can also customize the Quick Access

12
folder from here, too, by selectively
removing both recently used files and
frequently accessed folders from its view if
you wish – this leaves only those shortcut folders that you
specifically pin to the menu.

baCkGround sCroLLinG
This feature enables you to scroll any

13
program window using your mouse or
trackpad, by moving the cursor over it, even
when it’s not in focus. Toggle it on and off
via the ‘Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them’
switch under Settings > Devices > Mouse and Touchpad.

ControL from taskbar

The Aero Peek feature provides you with

14 ”Use the colour picker which

a convenient way to preview open app
and program windows, without bringing
them into focus, but it can provide other
shortcuts, too. Take the Groove Music app, for example – appears to choose your colour”

June 2017 | | 59
 tweak notifiCation settinGs
Fed up with certain apps constantly Create your own

17
badgering you with notifications through quick shortcuts to
the Action Centre? Go to Settings > System system tools.
> ‘Notifications & actions,’ then scroll down
to pick and choose exactly which apps and services send
you alerts. You can also choose whether to allow apps and
services to alert you using Banners or Sounds, or both.

remember, remember
If you frequently forget something within

18
moments of thinking it, Cortana could prove
to be your lifesaver. Simply type (or speak)
‘remember’ to set up a reminder from
scratch, or try something such as ‘remember to get milk
tomorrow after work’ to include additional details.

disabLe Cortana
The quickest way to disable Cortana

19 Shortcuts to System Settings

(although the process itself still runs in
the background) is via a security policy
setting – open Registry Editor, browse to Why go hunting for specific settings or control panel applets when – armed with the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\ right shortcuts – you can jump straight to them? The following 11 shortcuts work
Windows\WindowsSearch, and create a new DWORD value when entered in the Run dialog box – press [Win] + [R] – or when creating a shortcut:
named ‘AllowCortana.’ Leave it set to 0, restart Windows
Explorer via Task Manager, and it’s disabled.

your new searCh box Shortcut JUMPS TO

Once Cortana is disabled, the Search box

20
control appwiz.cpl ‘Program and Features’ control panel
displays ‘Search Windows,’ and you can
control date/time ‘Date and Time Properties’ window
continue to use it to find apps, settings,
and files on your PC – tap Filters to choose control desk.cpl Settings > System > Display
specific things to search for, such as folders, documents, or control desk.cpl,,2 Settings > Personalisation
music. (While we’re on the subject, right-click the Taskbar,
control folders ‘File Explorer Properties’ window
and choose Search > ‘Show search icon’ to replace the
Search box with a simple search button.) control fonts ‘Fonts’ folder
control mouse ‘Mouse Properties’ control panel applet
master fiLe assoCiations
The quickest way to change a single file control system System Properties

21
type’s association is to right-click a file in File control sysdm.cpl,,4 ‘System Protection’ tab under System Properties
Explorer, then choose Open With > ‘Choose control printers ‘Devices and Printers’ control panel
another app.’ Be sure to select ‘Always use
this app to open…’ before going through the list to find the control userpasswords2 Hidden ‘User Accounts’ dialog
program you want to use as the file’s default application –
if it’s not displayed, click ‘More apps,’ then scroll down to More examples can be found at www.lifewire.com/shortcuts-2626060, or you can
the bottom, and click ‘Look for another app on this PC’. add shortcuts directly to the Quick Access menu via Win+X Menu Editor’s ‘Add a
program’ > ‘Add a Control Panel item’ command.

switCh defauLt proGrams

There’s little choice to be had at Settings >

22
Apps > ‘Default apps,’ but scroll down and
you can choose ‘Set defaults by app’ to gain
access to a much wider range of apps. Select
one to quickly assign multiple file types to it via ‘Choose
defaults for this program.’

saVe bandwidth
There are many ways in which you can

23
stop Windows from wasting your precious
bandwidth when connected to a metered
network, all accessible via Settings. One of
the first things you should do is go to, Update & Security
save bandwidth:
stop your pC from
> Windows Update > ‘Advanced options’ > ‘Choose how
sharing updates updates are delivered’, and change the setting to ‘PCs on
over the internet. my local network,’ or even flick the switch to Off.

60 | | June 2017
 Feature
Windows 10 secrets

disable Cortana and use

the search box for local
searches only.

reduCe data usaGe

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi,

24
and click ‘Manage known networks.’ Choose
a network with bandwidth limits, and click
Quick-Fire Registry Tweaks Properties. Flick the switch marked ‘Set as
metered connection’ to On, then go to Devices, to ensure
Many of Windows’ hidden secrets are buried inside the Registry – you can access the ‘Download over metered connections’ is Off under ‘Printers
Registry Editor by pressing [Win] + [R], typing ‘regedit,’ and hitting [Enter]. Here are & scanners’ and ‘Connected devices.’
some quick-fire tweaks you can’t perform outside of the Registry.
Once there, head over to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ ChanGe printer defauLt
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, then select the subkey indicated. Once done, If you have two or more printers, go to

25
locate the value shown (create a new DWORD 32-bit value if it’s not already present), Settings > Devices > ‘Printers & scanners’,
then change its data, selecting Decimal as the Base, unless stated. You need to open and flick the ‘Let Windows manage my
Task Manager, select File Explorer under Processes (click ‘More details’ if necessary), default printer’ switch to On if you want the
and click the Restart button to apply the tweak(s). printer to always default to the last one you used.

projeCt your pC
Project your display from one wireless

26
VALUE
SUBKEY VALUE NAME OBJECTIVE PC or tablet to another – both need to
DATA
Show seconds in the support Miracast. Go to Settings > System
Advanced ShowSecondsInSystemClock 1
Taskbar clock > ‘Projecting on this PC’ to verify this, then
Increase transparency select ‘Available everywhere on secure networks.’ Now
Advanced UseOLEDTaskbarTransparency 1
of the Taskbar press [Win] + [P] on the device you want to extend, and
Speed up Aero Peek click ‘Project to a second screen.’ Select ‘Connect to a
Advanced ExtendedUIHoverTime 1
thumbnail preview wireless display,’ select your target PC, and wait for the
Click Taskbar icon to connection to be made, at which point your display can be
Advanced LastActiveClick 1 cycle through open duplicated or extended.
windows
Increase size of Aero Cast Video from edGe
Taskband MinThumbSizePX 500
Peek thumbnail preview
If you have a device capable of receiving

27
A list of previously Miracast or DLNA streams, you can cast
entered commands in
RunMRU Various Various
the Run dialog – delete media content such as YouTube videos
unwanted ones direct from Edge – navigate to the page
containing your media, then click the ellipsis […] and
choose ‘Cast to Device.’ Wait for it to appear, then select it
to switch output to that device.

tame windows update

Make sure Windows Update doesn’t

28
suddenly reboot your PC without your
permission. Go to Settings > ‘Update &
security,’ and click ‘Change active hours’
under Windows Update to set the times of day when you’re
active on your PC. Updates will be scheduled to reboot
outside this period only if you’re not using your computer.

more update options

The Creators Update introduces two new

29
update options: click ‘Restart options’ to
pick an exact time of day for Windows
Update to complete updates. Also, flick the
if your pC and another device, such as a tablet, support miracast you ‘Show more notifications’ switch to On, and you’ll be able
can project the display from one onto the screen of another. see tip 26. to snooze updates for up to three days at a time.

June 2017 | | 61
 or off.’ Select ‘Windows Subsystem for Linux (Beta).’ Click OK, and
then reboot your PC when prompted.

bash Limitations
Once enabled, press [Win] + [R], type ‘bash’, and

34
hit [Enter to install Ubuntu on Windows. You can
then run command-line Linux apps and Bash
commands via the Bash on Ubuntu on Windows
app, or by invoking Bash from the Command Prompt, like so:
$ bash ls -l

improVe battery Life

Make your laptop or tablet last longer between

35
recharges by going to Settings > System > Battery,
and switching on Battery Saver. Push the slider up
to 70 or even 80 percent, then tap ‘Battery usage
by app’ to see which apps require most power. Consider replacing
you can tweak the
aCtiVation troubLeshooter them with more power-efficient alternatives (the Opera web
Command prompt
Here’s some good news: if you took advantage of window (tip 31). browser instead of Microsoft Edge, for example).

30
the free Windows 10 upgrade, then signed in with
your Microsoft Account, your Windows license
is linked to the account (do this manually via
Settings > ‘Update & security’ > Activation > ‘Add an account’). You
can now perform major hardware surgery – including swapping
out the motherboard – without losing your copy of Windows. If
you run into problems with reactivation, click Troubleshoot on
the Activation page, and select ‘I changed hardware on this device
recently’ to resolve them.

Customise the Command prompt

Windows 10 revamps the Command Prompt

31
to provide lots of extra functionality, such as
support for clipboard keyboard shortcuts and
text wrapping. Configure these by right-clicking
the Command Prompt menu bar and choosing Properties. While
you’re here, customise the size, colour scheme, and fonts, too.

aCCess deVeLoper tooLs

Navigate to Settings > ‘Update & security’ >

32
For Developers, and select Developer Mode run Linux LoCk down wi-fi
under ‘Use developer features.’ Tweaks include commands in Make sure you’re not exposed to insecure wireless

36
windows – really!
developer-friendly options for File Explorer, such networks: go to Settings > Network & Internet >
as showing full directory paths in the title bar. Wi-Fi. Make sure ‘Connect to suggested open
hotspots’ is disabled if you don’t connect through
run bash Commands a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For more on VPNs, turn to page 48.
You can run Linux commands in Windows when

33
Check what
Developer Mode is enabled via the Bash UNIX information is run a priVaCy sweep
Shell – right-click Start, and choose ‘Programs and being shared Open your favourite web browser and head

37
Features’, then click ‘Turn Windows features on with microsoft. to http://account.microsoft.com/privacy, where
you’ll find a web dashboard providing convenient
shortcuts to reviewing and clearing personal
data stored in the cloud, including Cortana Notebook. You can
also perform a local audit via Settings > Privacy, but if this is all
too confusing, run the portable O&O ShutUp 10 tool (www.oo-
software.com/en/shutup10) for a one-click solution.

“Make your laptop

or tablet last longer
between recharges
by going to Settings >
System > Battery”

62 | | June 2017
 Feature
Windows 10 secrets

switCh reGistry hiVes QuiCkLy

Many entries in the Registry are mirrored

41
between HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Gone to the wrong
hive accidentally? Simply right-click the key,
and choose ‘Go to HKEY…’ to jump to its corresponding
entry in the other hive.

appLy poLiCy ChanGes throuGh

the reGistry editor

42
Windows 10 Professional comes with the
Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), which
is often used by IT admins to configure
security settings. If you’re running Windows 10 Home, you
can apply many of these tweaks with the right Registry
settings, which you’ll find neatly summarised as an Excel
spreadsheet – go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/
optimise onedriVe record footage download/details.aspx?id=25250 to download it.
from any app with
Next, right-click the OneDrive Taskbar

38
Game dVr.
Notification area icon, and choose Settings.
Click ‘Choose folders’ under Account to
sync selective content to your PC, and
set bandwidth limits under the Network tab if you think
OneDrive is adversely affecting your Internet connection.
Go to the Office tab and deselect both boxes if you find
Office defaulting to your online file copies instead of those
that you have stored locally.

reCord Video from any app

The Game DVR function in Windows 10

39
exists to enable you to record your gaming
exploits, but you can use it on any app you
install from the Windows Store. Simply open
the app, press [Win] + [G], and check ‘Yes, this is a game’
when prompted to open it.

ditCh the offiCe instaLL prompt

Fed up with being constantly reminded

40
to install Microsoft Office on your PC?
Open the Start menu, locate the Get Office
shortcut in the ‘All apps’ menu, then right-
click it, and choose Uninstall to remove both the prompt
and the underlying application.

Verify proGram siGnatures

How can you be sure that a program or app

43
you’ve downloaded from the internet is the
real deal? Easy! Right-click the downloaded
file, and then choose the Properties > Digital
Signatures tab to view the certificate that should help
identify its origin. If the website you downloaded it from
provides an MD5 or SHA1 hash, you can use HashMyFiles
(www.nirsoft.net/utils/hash_my_files.html) to compare
the file’s hash with that on the site.

independent dispLay sCaLinG

If you have two monitors with different

44
resolutions connected to your PC – one
that’s 4K Ultra HD, say, and one that’s HD –
then Windows 10 enables you to scale each
display completely independently of the other. To do this, go
to Settings > System > Display, select the display you want to
change by clicking it, and then use the slider to increase the
size of text, apps, and other on-screen elements. Clicking
‘Advanced display settings’ enables you to change the
selected display’s resolution. Repeat for the other
display for the best viewing experience!

June 2017 | | 63
 reduCe eye strain
Create your own
The Creators Update introduces a new

45
custom hotkeys
feature that changes the colour temperature using inhotkey.
of your screen at night-time, which should
help you sleep better and avoid eye strain.
Switch it on via Settings > System > Display. Tap ‘Night
light settings’ to set it up (flick the schedule on, and use
the recommended sunset-sunrise setting, which changes
based on your location and the time of year).

master touCh Gestures

If you have a touchpad or touchscreen,

46
you should make use of gestures. Just
like the ones you’re familiar with on your
smartphone, these enable you to control
your PC in various ways: from swiping with two fingers
to scroll, for example, to swiping with three fingers
horizontally to move between open windows, or vertically
to shift between Task View and hiding everything but the Oft-Forgotten
desktop. To use gestures, open the Mouse control panel,
and check for a tab called Device Settings, where you may Keyboard Shortcuts
find options for customising your own gestures. Touchscreens, trackpads, mice – they’re all great, but they’re no substitute for the
keyboard. Find the right keyboard shortcut and you can skip straight to the action.
speed up remoVabLe driVes We won’t insult your intelligence by revisiting well-known shortcuts (head over to
If you are willing to give up the ability to https://support.microsoft.com/help/12445/ for a comprehensive list), but here are

47
safely remove drives without ejecting them some shortcuts you may have forgotten (or never knew existed).
first, you can enable disk write caching on
the drive for a speed boost. Open Device
Shortcut what it doeS
Manager, then double-click your target drive under Disk
Drives. Switch to the Policies tab to make your choice. [Shift] + [F10] Performs a right-click at the current cursor point

“The report can help to

[win] + [Pause/Break] Accesses System Properties
[win] + [d] Minimizes all windows (press again to restore)

root out problems with [win] + [X] Opens the Quick Link menu

sleep and hibernation” [win] + [u]

[win] + [B]
Opens System > Ease of Access
Focuses on the Taskbar Notification Area – use cursor
keys to navigate, Enter to select
switCh pLaybaCk deViCe Opens Action Center (use [Win] + [V]
[win] + [a]
Most problems regarding lost sound can to cycle through notifications)

48
usually be traced to Windows switching [win] + [h] Opens Share charm
the playback device. Quickly review (and
change) the current playback device by [win] + [i] Opens Settings
clicking the Taskbar Notification area’s audio device icon. [win] + [+/-]
Zooms in and out using Magnifier
Click ‘^’ to reveal all available devices, and select the correct (use [Win] + [Esc] to close it)
one to bring your sound back.
If you’d like to create your own custom keyboard shortcuts using a
beCome a diGitaL media snob combination of the [Win], [Ctrl], and [Alt] keys, download WinHotKey from
Windows 10 now comes with native support www.directedge.us/content/winhotkey – it works fine in Windows 10.

49
for MKV, HVEC, and the lossless FLAC audio
format. Open Windows Media Player, and
click ‘Rip settings’ > Format > FLAC (Lossless)
to make it the default choice for future CD rips, ensuring
they’re stored at maximum audio quality.

Get an enerGy report

Open the Command Prompt, type

50
‘powercfg–energy,’ and then hit [Enter].
Double-click the energy-report.html file
that’s been generated (in your Windows\
System32 folder) to get an overview of the energy-saving
capabilities of your PC and its peripherals. The report can
help to root out problems with sleep and hibernation.
It’s also worth checking suspect devices through Device
Manager, where you should look for a ‘Power Management’
tab, which lets you prevent certain devices from bringing keep tabs on your pC’s energy-saving aptitude with a power efficiency
your PC prematurely out of standby. diagnostics report. see tip 50 (left) for further details.

64 | | June 2017
 FREE
Digital version
with this
book!

148
pages of
easy-to-follow
advice

Available at all good newsagents or visit

www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk
Improve Windows 10
The next step in Windows 10’s amazing evolution is out soon. We show
you how to prepare your PC for the Windows 10 Creators Update…

W
ith the release of
Windows 10, Microsoft’s
policy on new Windows
versions changed. No
longer will we see major
Windows versions like
XP, Vista, 7 or 8 that require a huge
upgrade, a massive overhaul over those
that came before. The company’s new
plan involves, instead, rolling out serious
feature updates on top of Windows 10
at reasonably regular intervals. We’ve
seen two already: the November
Update, which landed in, yes, November
2015, corrected some early bugs and
introduced improvements to Cortana,
app snapping, and media casting in the
home. The Anniversary Update –
released a year after the initial release of
Windows 10 – tweaked certain elements
of the interface and added new features ForCe the Issue Want to upgrade your pC to the Creators update now? head to http://bit.ly/2nd4GqC to
get your hands on Microsoft’s official Windows 10 update assistant.
for those using tablets. There’s another
release scheduled for later in 2017 – select it, and when you next start up
currently codenamed Neon – but for your computer the upgrade process will
now we’re getting ready for the latest begin. It may take a while, so it’s worth
version: The Creators Update. holding off until you know you’re not
going to need your PC immediately –
What will happen? once the update process has kicked off,
Before we get into the specifics of what you’ll have to leave it until it’s done.
the Creators Update does, let’s look at There’s a possibility, again depending
what you need to do. Option one is to on your settings, that Windows will
do absolutely nothing: sit tight, and the interrupt an active machine to install the
update will, unless you’re running with update – a popup alert will warn you
some unusual settings, make its way to that it’s about to happen, but if you
your PC automatically. At some point leave your machine unattended you
Make a poInt a system restore point will allow soon you’ll go to shut down your stand to lose anything that you’re
you to take back an update if it causes problems. machine and see a prompt to upgrade; currently working on.

Remove old updates

If the Creators Update (or any doesn’t only include major
other update) has landed on updates, it also covers
your PC and is causing you incremental updates and
problems, there is a way to security fixes, and they’re rarely
take a step back to a previous named anything useful.
version of Windows, although You can, however, use the
we wouldn’t recommend you date column to see those
take this lightly since removing things installed most recently.
an update also cause problems. Simply right-click on an item
Type ‘installed updates’ into and select Uninstall to begin
the search box and click the the process of removing it.
top link to see Windows’ Again, though, exercise
semi-secret uninstall screen for caution – unless you’re
updates. They’re broken down absolutely sure that the
by category and include particular update you’re
updates for official Microsoft uninstalling is the one that’s
packages such as Office – you’ll causing problems you may be
usually find Windows updates doing more harm than good
in the bottom section. The list by binning it. In order Click the ‘date’ header to sort updates by the time they were installed.

66 | | June 2017
 Windows 10
The Creators Update
Let’s be clear, though: installing the
Creators Update is entirely optional, at
least for a while after release. You’ll find
instructions for delaying updates at the
bottom of this page. But why would you
want to? If you’ve been with Windows
10 for a while, you’ll have probably
noticed the rather aggressive way these
updates get applied to your machine.
You may even have noticed a few
teething troubles; the Anniversary
Update, for instance, didn’t play nicely
with certain hardware until a corrective
patch was issued a few weeks after its
release. While we’d advocate getting on
board with exciting new Windows
features as early as you can, affording
them time to bed in does make sense.

Proper preparation BaCk to the Future Make sure you back up all the files on your pC before you upgrade. Built-in tools,
such as Backup and restore help make this easy. Consider cloud services such as onedrive too.
With the potential for instability in mind,
any time a major update is about to heading to System & Maintenance > low. Restore points take space, the
make its way onto your PC we’d suggest Backup & Restore. If you’ve not used it update will need space to download,
you take a few precautionary steps. The before, click ‘Set up backup’ and follow and your Windows installation will grow
first is to make sure you’re fully up to the steps to make a backup onto an in size once it’s applied. Aside from
date with all your backups – it’s unlikely external storage drive. deleting old files – in your Downloads

“While we’d advocate getting on

board with exciting new Windows
features as soon as you can, allowing
them time to bed in makes sense”
that something catastrophic is going to We’d also recommend, while we’re
happen, but now is as good a time as backing things up, creating a system
any to ensure that everything you restore point before installing any major
treasure is copied over a number of update. This ensures that if something Get CreatIve the Creators update includes apps
different devices and locations. does go wrong, you can roll back the and features that make Windows more fun to use.
There are various ways to go about state of your computer to a point before
this, from dragging and dropping your the update was applied. Type ‘System folder, for example – Windows’ Disk
files onto an external drive to uploading Restore’ into the Cortana search box, Cleanup tool (search Cortana for ‘Disk
them to cloud services, such as Google click the first link which appears, and Cleanup’) will remove a certain amount
Photos or OneDrive. Windows includes click Create to begin the process. of unwanted, and generally unnoticed,
its own backup system, found by You may also wish to consider freeing stuff. Be careful, though, that you don’t
right-clicking the Start button and up some drive space if you’re running remove your latest restore point.

Stop unwanted updates

1 The trick 2 Cut it off 3 Cancel restarts

If you’re using Windows 10 Home Select Wi-Fi from the left menu, To stop Windows automatically
(and you probably are) you’ll need to then select your wireless network. Scroll restarting to update while you’re hard at
cheat a little to stop updates downloading down slightly, and switch on ‘Set as work, go to Settings > Updates and
automatically. Click the Start button at the metered connection’ – this stops data Security, scroll down, and select ‘active
bottom left of your screen, click the cog to transfers, including large updates, from hours’. Set the start and end time – make
reach the Settings menu, then head to coming through automatically; switch it your active hours as long as you like – and
Network & Internet. off when you’re ready to update. you won’t be bothered during those times.

June 2017 | | 67
What’s in the Update?
The Creators Update is packed with new features, new apps, new toys,
and plenty to make Windows 10 more awesome than it was before...

W
hen the Creators Update
lands, you may not
immediately notice the
difference. It doesn’t
make any massive
changes to the Windows
interface, unlike the forthcoming Neon
update, which is due to tweak the look
of the desktop significantly. Dig around
the Start menu, though, and you’ll find a
few cool new apps.

New dimensions
As you might expect, given the update’s
name, Microsoft is seeking to enhance
your creative possibilities. You’ll find play WIth Clay paint 3d is fun to experiment with – check www.remix3d.com to see some examples.
new app Paint 3D sitting alongside its
2D cousin, and while it’s possibly of and offers much lower latency (one any windows you have open – ideal for
limited usefulness for most of us, it’s a second) than the likes of Twitch (30 keeping tabs on Skype chats, or your
great way to play with 3D objects and seconds), meaning you’ll be able to favourite TV show, without needing to
provides a stack more artistic tools than interact with those watching you play at make space for a specific window.
you’ll find in the basic Paint. a much faster rate. If you work in the evening, Night Light
Gamers receive a pretty huge The same shortcut also enables you to (found in System > Settings > Display)
enhancement this time around, with activate a dedicated game mode, which automatically tweaks the colour output
integrated game streaming through drops certain background processes to of your screen to reduce the amount of
Microsoft’s new Beam system (www. improve game performance. There’s also blue light it outputs. This is scientifically
beam.pro) accessible by selecting [Win] a whole new page of gaming options in proven to improve your brain’s ability to
+ [G] on your keyboard when you’re the Settings screen. sleep, and is barely perceptible in use.
playing. It’s the same system recently If you’re a Skype user, the Creators Digital assistant Cortana has been
implemented on the Xbox One console, Update offers up the very latest version. updated in a number of ways, and now
Specifically built for Windows 10, it supports music control in some audio
includes features like a mini view, SMS apps, while integrating natural language
integration if you also use Windows compatibility in TuneIn and IHeartRadio.
Phone, and even a live translation If you’ve set it up to use audio input, you
option for use when calling other can now take full-screen control when
countries. See page 28 for more. your PC is unlocked, making it easier to
use Cortana from across the room.
Other updates There are also upgrades to Microsoft
While there’s no major interface Edge, as well as audio improvements
overhaul, there are a few minor tweaks thanks to a Windows Store-based Dolby
in the Creators Update that will make Atmos app, support for 360-degree
your life more pleasant. Mini view video on the Movies & TV app, and
Broadcast media Beam enables you to stream your enables you to dock certain apps in a mixed-reality features that you’ll be able
gameplay online with a couple of clicks. small window that remains on top of to play with once you get a HoloLens. ■

Stay super secure

Fancy hardening up your PC security? The Creators Update
brings the Windows Defender Security Centre to Windows 10, a
brand new dashboard which helps you manage your anti-virus,
firewall, networks and family settings all from one place.
Advanced privacy settings also mean you can more accurately
control what data gets shared where.
There’s also a smart lock feature included. Pair your phone
with Windows – doesn’t matter if it’s an iPhone, Android, or
Windows Phone device – and you can quickly access your
computer when it’s present. When it leaves Bluetooth range,
Windows will automatically lock, preventing unwanted access.

68 | | June 2017
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 WINDOWS HELP HARDWARE FIXES SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INTERNET TIPS

Internet Nick P’s solution Most sandbox-related problems

GREy ScREEN IN We traced Bill’s problem are often traced back to security
WEb bROWSER to the Chromium software. Bill was running Norton
Do you have a Q Every time I launch Opera it sandbox, which is Internet Security and Malwarebytes
PC problem? opens to a grey screen. And if I present in both Chrome and Opera. Premium. We instructed him to
Get in touch… open Chrome, I get the same grey Pressing [Win] + [R] and typing temporarily disable Norton’s
Email complete details screen plus a list of messages about ‘chrome -no-sandbox’ or ‘opera auto-protect feature, to no effect,
of your problem to the add-ons crashing on startup. I can’t -no-sandbox’ enabled us to launch but after he’d disabled all four
support team and we’ll access settings, extensions or find a working version of either browser layers of Malwarebyte’s real-time
do our best to help any way to relaunch either with (Chrome warned us about the flag protection, Bill’s browser problem
windowsmagazine@ extensions disabled. What can I do? we’d invoked, while Opera simply disappeared. He then re-enabled
futurenet.com bill Graham functioned as normal). them one at a time, and the
problem resurfaced only when
Malwarebytes’ Exploit Protection
module was switched back on.
We checked the Malwarebytes
forums (https://forums.
malwarebytes.com/) where a
number of other users reported the
same problem. This is likely to be
resolved in a future fix, but for a
temporary workaround switch
Exploit Protection back on under
Settings > Protection, then click
Manage Protected Applications to
Exploit disable Exploit Protection for both
sElEction Opera and Chrome, both of which
You can exclude
certain apps from
should be listed. This will allow you
anti-exploit to run them with the sandboxing
protection. features enabled.

70 | | June 2017
 Find the solution! Windows 10 Help (Official)
Support
Now the Creator’s Update is out, visit https://support.microsoft.
com/en-gb/products/windows for troubleshooting help. Technical help
printEr woEs
if your printer has Quickfire questions
stopped working
after upgrading
windows, reinstall I’ve set up a virtual machine in
its printer drivers. VirtualBox, but can’t get it
connected to my home
network to share files.
Piers younger
Close the virtual machine, go
to Settings > Network and
made sure it’s attached to
Bridged Adapter and not NAT.

I’ve read on the internet I can

free up gigabytes of space
after installing the Creators
Update. Is it that large?
Tom Revie
No – the files you can free up
are your previous Windows
installation, allowing you to roll
back if you run into problems.
After 30 days, all of these files
will be deleted.

Hardware
changes I’d made in the previous
half hour. Can you help?
“That ASD file contains
my PRINTER WON’T
WORk IN WINDOWS 10
Louise Taylor most, if not all, of your
Q After Microsoft sneaked Alex’s solution unsaved changes”
through Windows 10 on to my That ASD file contains
system when I wasn’t looking, my
HP OfficeJet 3830 printer has
most, if not all, of your
unsaved changes. First,
Jargon buster!
stopped printing from my PC. It let’s back up that file – just in case. NAT
scans happily enough and will print Press [Win] + [R], type ‘%appdata%\ Network Address Translation.
a diagnostic page, but despite Microsoft\Word’ and hit [Enter]. You Enables VirtualBox to give
consulting with HP I can’t get should see the file in question – an virtual machines internet
anywhere. Any ideas? AutoRecovery save of <filename>. access without exposing them
Alan Puffett asd. Ordinarily when you reopen to the internal network.
Word the AutoRecover dialogue
Rob’s solution should appear with this file, so you DocumEnt Sandbox
Given that the problem you can restore your changes. rEcovErY
Any unsaved Isolated environment in which
began after Windows 10 For now, copy – don’t move – this information in apps can be run, reducing the
was installed, we told file to a convenient location, such word is stored risk of infection or crashes.
Alan to go to Start > System > as your Documents folder. Now in hidden files.
Devices, click the HP printer to
highlight it and then click ‘Remove
device’. Once the printer was
removed, the next step was to try
reinstalling it from the same
Settings option. Click ‘Add a printer
or scanner’ and follow the prompts
to see if Windows 10 detects the
printer and downloads the latest
driver for it; if not, HP does provide
a Windows 10 driver on its website.
After following this procedure, Alan
was happy to report the printer was
now working again.

Microsoft Word
ADvANcED DOcUmENT
REcOvERy
Q Wouldn’t you know it? Word
has just crashed and when I
reopened it, it told me it can’t open
an ASD file because it’s already
open in Word. As a result, I end up
with a read-only copy of the file I
was working on, with none of the

June 2017 | | 71
 reopen Word to the File screen.
Quickfire questions Click the Manage Document
button and choose Recover
I made some bespoke tiles for Unsaved Documents. You’ll be
my Start menu using Tile Genie dumped inside a different folder –
from the App Store, but now it C:\Users\nickd\AppData\Local\
keeps crashing a few seconds Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles. If a
after launch. Can you help? duplicate of the ASD file isn’t here,
bryan Little navigate to where you copied it,
This was fixed simply by select the file and click Open. The
uninstalling and reinstalling file will open in a separate window
the app via Start > Settings > – verify it’s the version you want,
Apps – Bryan had previously then click the ‘Save as’ button at
recorded his settings, so the top to save a copy.
nothing was lost.
Email
I’ve started receiving a warning QUIckLy REDRAFT
in Firefox about compromised AN EmAIL
Q Occasionally, when I send an know if I can migrate my existing
ssD clonE
logins on certain web pages. make sure your
Should I be concerned? email it’s not sent because I drive is big enough
Windows system drive to the new
Fran Warnock misspelled the recipient’s email to accommodate a drive using Macrium Reflect Free in
address. Is there any easy way to windows install. conjunction with a rescue disc. I’m
This is a new feature that alerts correct this without having to thinking of imaging the Windows
you to insecure web pages. rewrite the whole email again? system drive to DVD.
The problem was always there, Jim Duncan Peter claxton
but now you’re being alerted
to it. We recommend using cat’s solution Nick O’s solution
secure (https) connections The quickest thing to do While it’s possible to do
where possible. is locate the email in what you want using
your Sent folder, then DVDs, we don’t
I have a dual-boot setup, but open it and click the Forward recommend it, Peter. The size of
for some unknown reason my button. Remove the email header your Windows system drive means
ageing HP 2180 printer prints information from the body of the a minimum of four discs – and
differently in Windows 10 than email itself, and amend the subject probably many more – will be
it does in Windows 7. line to remove any reference to required. Furthermore, it’s a slow
Tony Shaw forwarding (typically ‘Fwd:’). Then process and you’ll need to be on
It sounds like only the basic it’s simply a case of entering the hand to swap out the discs. Instead,
printer driver has been correct address and hitting Send. back up to an external hard drive or
installed in Windows 10 – open Going forward, try to make use of large (64GB or 128GB) flash drive
your web browser and search your email program’s contacts – following the guide at www.
for ‘F2180’ at http://support. Jim’s a Gmail user, so when he techradar.com/1319885.
hp.com where you’ll be able to starts typing a name or email Once backed up and verified,
replace the driver with a full address, a list of previously entered swap out your old hard drive for
software package, and so addresses (and stored contacts) your new one. Then boot from the
ensure consistent results. should appear. Macrium rescue media and choose
the Restore option. If your image
Disk cloning isn’t detected, click ‘Browse for an
mIGRATING TO A NEW image file’ to manually select it.
SOLID-STATE DRIvE When you come to restore the
image, Macrium should detect that
Q I’m planning to buy a
solid-state drive and want to your new SSD drive is probably

SHARE yOUR kODI

mEDIA LIbRARIES
Q I enjoyed your Kodi tutorial
from issue 134 (page 48), but
I’d like to be able to share my media
directly from Kodi without having
to use another program such as
Plex. What must I do?
Gerry bukowski

Nick P’s solution

Good as it is, Kodi simply
doesn’t provide as slick a
1 Switch on server
Open Kodi and click the Settings
2 Access your media
You can access your shared media
user experience as Plex button followed by Service Settings. Select libraries from another computer, iPhone or
or Emby, but its DLNA-compatible UPnP/DLNA in the left navigation pane, then Android device by installing Kodi on there.
server is widely accessible from a flick the ‘Share my libraries’ switch to On to Once done, navigate to Service Settings >
range of other devices. Here’s how share your media. Kodi should show up as a UPnP/DLNA on there and flick the ‘Allow
you set it up… DLNA/UPNP source on compatible devices. remote control via UPnP’ to gain access.

72 | | June 2017
 Support
Technical help
smaller than your old hard drive would enable the child to upload mayank’s solution
and offer to resize the partitions and download with no limits until Later versions of
during the restore process. other devices come online, at which Microsoft Excel than you
Some further considerations: point their web demands would have do open each
make sure that your SSD drive is take precedence. Consult your worksheet in its own window, PC problem?
large enough to comfortably router’s manual or support website enabling you to easily drag one to Get in touch…
accommodate your current C drive, for specific instructions. another display. In Excel 2010, Email full details of
and be sure to choose the option to however, you’ll need to open your your problem to the
support team and we’ll
image all the partitions required to Microsoft Excel first document as normal in Excel, do our best to help:
back up and restore Windows. DISPLAy EXcEL then press [Win] + [R], type ‘excel’ windowsmagazine@
We usually recommend you hive DOcUmENTS ON and hit [Enter] – this should open a futurenet.com
off your data to a separate drive mULTIPLE mONITORS new instance of Excel containing a Or write to :
when upgrading to a SSD to give Support Squad,
Q I’m running Excel 2010, and I blank document. Choose File >
Windows Help &
Windows room to breathe – check want to display two separate Open to load in your second Advice magazine,
out last month’s Reinstall feature spreadsheets on different monitors, document, and then drag Future Publishing Ltd,
(issue 135, page 14) for a detailed but I can’t get the files to open in whichever window you want to the Quay House,
step-by-step guide to doing so. separate windows. Can you help? second display. It’s a slightly The Ambury,
Greg Scowen inelegant solution, but it works! ■ bath bA1 1UA
Network
STOP INTERNET HOGS
Q One of my children is
constantly downloading and
uploading to the detriment of the
rest of our household. What steps
can I take to apply limits so the rest
of us get a reasonable speedy
internet connection?
Xavier Rodgers

matt’s solution
If the problem is linked
to a specific app or
program, and your child
co-operates, check its settings for
an option to limit upload and
download speeds – try the
automatic setting if it exists,
otherwise check your router for
your upload and download speeds
and set limits accordingly – say 50% BAnDwiDth hog
of the total available bandwidth. Your router can
If they refuse to help, log into balance competing
your router’s configuration utility in internet demands.
your web browser and see if you
can find a Bandwidth Control or
QoS section. Options vary
according to your router, but you
should be able to create rules for
“Log into your router’s configuration utility
your child’s specific IP address, then
either set specific limits in Kbps or
in your browser and see if you can find a
look for a Priority setting. This Bandwidth Control or QoS section”

Jargon buster!
DLNA
Stands for Digital Living
Network Alliance and is a
standard used for sharing
digital media (including video)
between devices including
your PC, TV and/or a tablet.

QoS
3 Add content
Next, you need to physically add the
4 consume media
You can now access your shared media
Stands for Quality of Service,
and is a tool used by networks
shared content to your client device – from libraries – they won’t show up on the main to prioritise internet traffic and
the home page, select your target library and screen, instead, select Movies and click ‘Enter reserve internet resources on a
enter the files section. Click ‘Add videos…’ files section’ to manually browse your libraries device-by-device basis to
followed by Browse, UPnP devices and select using the same navigation tools as found in balance competing demands.
your PC. Click OK twice. Kodi itself.

June 2017 | | 73
The home of technology

techradar.com
 Welcome to…

WindoWs 10 tips
Windows 10features explained neW tips and tricks

Welcome Featuring…
Just starting your 76 How to master the 78 Change the way 80 Discover the ways
Windows journey? Windows 10 desktop the Start menu works Cortana can help you
Confused by the
changes Microsoft
has made to the
Creators Update? Maybe you
just want to learn something
new about Windows 10. Well,
this is the section for you!
There’s not enough space to
tell you absolutely everything
you need to know here, but
Windows Help & Advice always
has your back. In our essential
Basics section, we’ll show you
how to: master the desktop and
make it work for you; customise
the Start menu and quickly
access favourite items using
tiles; and how to get the best
from Windows 10’s virtual turn to
personal assistant, Cortana. page 46 to
get started
windows 10’s
Matt Hanson built-in
Associate Editor apps
www.facebook.com/windowsmag

Windows 10 tip of the month Back up all your important files

Create and use a backup drive

One of the most important things you
can do with your PC is make regular
backups of all the files you have stored
there – after all, you wouldn’t want to
lose your precious photos, videos and
documents in the unfortunate event
that you lost your PC or it got trashed for
some reason. Luckily, Windows 10
makes backing up your files easy to do.
To do that, plug in a PC-formatted USB add a drive Head to Settings > ‘Update & security’ > USe File HiStory Click ‘+ add a drive’, then choose the
drive. Then follow these simple steps… Backup, then choose ‘Backup using File History’. drive you want to use for the backup process to begin.

June 2017 | | 75
Master the desktop
You’ll spend a lot of time there, so here are
some great ways to make it work for you…
hen not actually using pastime that’s all but dead now

W applications, the Windows

desktop is where you’ll
spend much of your time,
moving files about, hunting for that
thanks to window snapping).
In Windows 10, the desktop and the
taskbar get a few new tricks that
make working with files and folders
obscure application you installed six even easier, and the new search bar
months ago and suddenly need, or means pulling up an application you
lining up your windows so that they don’t use often is a breeze. Follow
fill the space perfectly (a time-wasting these tips to a happy start…

1 Show desktop/peek
The Show Desktop button isn’t marked, and some people
2 Virtual desktops
If you find your desktop frequently getting overcrowded as
don’t even know it exists. Press this anonymous section at the you work, why not offload some of the mess onto another one?
extreme right of the taskbar, and all your open windows will Click the Task View button to the right of Cortana’s search box on
minimise. Hover the mouse pointer over it, and you’ll get a the taskbar, and you’ll be taken to a screen that shows your open
preview ‘peek’ at the desktop that reverts when you move your apps, and also your desktops. Add a new one, or even more, and
mouse pointer away. It’s very useful when you’ve got a chaotic you’ll be able to flick between them with different apps open on
number of windows open on your desktop. each. It’s a great way to stay organised on your PC.

3 Scroll inactive windows

An annoyance for anyone who’s come to Windows from
4 Window snapping
A real godsend for those who used to tease their window
using the Mac, the ability to scroll the window your pointer is edges out until they exactly matched the edge of the screen,
currently over – instead of the one that’s currently active – is new snapping in Windows 10 enables you to have two or more
in Windows 10. So, if you have a browser and a word processor windows open that completely fill their areas of the screen. Pick
open, and are reading one while typing in the other, you can now up a window and move it to the extreme left or right edge of the
scroll down in the browser without having to take your focus desktop to try it (you’ll see it ‘snap’ to the new half screen format).
away from your text document. You can adjust how much of the screen they take up too.

76 | | June 2017
 Welcome to Windows 10
Master the desktop

5 Desktop icons
The Windows 10 desktop icons have a pixellated look, and
6 Shake to minimise
This may sound like something left over from a tablet build
if this offends you it’s easy to change them. Luckily, there are icon of Windows that needs a built-in accelerometer, but picking up a
packs available online – including the shinier Windows 8 icons. window with your mouse pointer and shaking it back and forth
Download the icon pack you want to use, then go to Start > will minimise every other window, leaving you with a clear and
Settings > Personalisation > Themes. Click the ‘Desktop icon uninterrupted view of the one you want to work with. It’s much
Settings’ and select the icons you want to place on the desktop, faster than clicking several minimise buttons, and it’s a fun little
then use the Change Icon option to change their look. quirk that’s a good one to remember.

7 Notifications
The notifications panel – or Action Centre – slides in from
8 Window management
In addition to window snapping, you can arrange your
the right of the screen, with a button in the system tray, and will windows in some other ways too. Right-click on the taskbar to
house any messages that apps or Windows components want to reveal three window arrangement schemes: ‘Cascade windows’;
send you. It’s where you’ll find links to details of Windows updates ‘Show windows stacked’; and ‘Show windows side by side’. These
that have been installed on your machine, and any social media are similar to the Window menu’s functions that have been
messages or upcoming calendar events. You can customise it so available all the way back to Windows 3.1, and can make it quick
it’s as intrusive as you can deal with. and easy to find what you’re looking for.

June 2017 | | 77
Customise the Start menu
The Start menu in Windows 10 is more powerful than
ever – here are some easy tips to make it work for you
he Start menu’s return was big news install of Windows 10, it doesn’t have to stay that

T when Windows 10 launched, and it

has evolved as the operating system
has been updated. It’s become a fast,
way. It’s fully customisable in ways that were
never possible in earlier versions of the
operating system, and can be made to work in
and efficient way to access apps and settings – just about any way you want, standing out from
Windows 8’s full-screen monstrosity is now a its background for ease of reading, or
distant memory, thankfully! automatically blending in with the colour
However, if you don’t like how the Start menu scheme of whatever theme you have currently
looks when you first pop it up on your fresh set on your desktop.

1 Colour
Your Start menu’s background can be any colour you like
2 Size
To make space for all the customising you can do to the
– all you have to do is untick a box. Open up Settings, then Start menu, you can easily resize it to your liking. Just move your
Personalisation and finally Colours. Untick the ‘Automatically pick mouse pointer to the top-border or right-border of the Start
an accent colour from my background’ option and you’ll be able Menu, the pointer will change into arrows, and you’ll be able to
to pick a colour from the palette. So your Start menu can be a increase or decrease height and width, dragging it out to
contrasting red or yellow rather than a dull blue or grey. Play completely fill the screen if you want to. This is particularly useful
around to find a combination that works for you. if you have a PC filled with programs that you access regularly.

3 Folders and tiles

Your Start menu is made up of lists and tiles, and some of
4 Hide program lists
By default, the Start menu will show you lists of both your
these can be shortcuts to folders such as Documents. Settings > most used programs and the most recently opened ones. This can
Personalisation > Start enables you to tinker with this, so if you end up repeating itself, so if you want to get rid of one or the
never shoot videos you can stop the empty Videos folder from other of the lists, or both, open up Settings > Personalisation >
taking up space on the menu. You can turn the links to the Start, from where you’ll be able to toggle the lists on or off. You
Settings window, and the one that opens an empty File Explorer can also prevent apps from appearing on the lists so you only get
window, on and off too. a view of the things you really need from day to day.

78 | | June 2017
 5 Use it to search with
Hitting the [Win] key on your keyboard to pop up the Start
6 Live tiles
Live tiles are tiles that are constantly updated with data,
menu’s Search box is one of the fastest ways to look for anything usually gleaned over the internet to make them up-to-date.
in Windows 10. Just type a few characters and you will get There’s one for the Mail app that shows your most recent
suggestions for applications and documents stored on your messages, one for the Weather app that uses your PC’s location to
computer that match your initial query. You can also use the tell you what’s going on outside the window, and so on. If you
arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate the Start menu, if you’d find them distracting, you can turn them off by right-clicking
rather not use the mouse. them and choosing the appropriate option.

7 Pin tiles and shortcuts

If there’s something you need to be able to find quickly, but
8 Bring back the Start screen!
It may have been almost universally mocked and reviled in
which gets lost in the lists of the Start menu, you can pin and Windows 8, but the fullscreen Start menu is still there in Windows
reposition it so it’s always prominently placed. To do that right- 10, ready to block out all your work at a single press of the
click an item and choose ‘Pin to Start’. It will now appear in tiles. Windows key! But, if you liked it, go to Settings > Personalisation >
Now click and drag the tile to where to want to move it to. To Start and tick the box marked ‘Use full-screen Start when in the
resize the tile, right-click, choose Resize then the tile size you desktop’. Note that wording: it now won’t actually cover up your
want. You can pin shortcuts to the Taskbar for easy access too. apps like it did in Windows 8.

June 2017 | | 79
Get to know Cortana
Meet the digital assistant that’s here to help you
– she can even recognise the sound of your voice
icrosoft’s virtual personal assistant The Windows 10 version is perhaps a little less

M takes its name from a character in the

Halo series of videogames. That
incarnation of Cortana – an AI who is
powerful, but comes in useful all the same. She
can search using natural language terms, and by
using voice activation just like Siri does on your
outwardly female (having been created from the iPhone. And if the idea of voice controlling your
brain patterns of a female scientist) and never PC alarms you, or perhaps your computer isn’t
seems to have been provided with quite enough equipped with a mic, then you can still interact
clothes – can hack alien computer encryption with Cortana through the keyboard, typing your
and fly captured spaceships. queries for Cortana to answer.

1 Set up
Depending on how your PC has been configured, you may
2 Personalise Cortana
To make Cortana as useful as possible she needs to address
need to switch Cortana on in order to work with her. The first time you personally. Tell Cortana your name and where you live and
you try to search your PC, she’ll ask if you want to use her. Say no, she can adapt herself to you. If you’ve opted for her to speak
and the search box remains functional, but without the extra results back to you, she’ll call you by name and allow you to
features that Cortana brings. You’ll need to be connected to the correct her pronunciation if she gets it wrong. Tell her your
internet to use Cortana of course, because that’s how results are interests, and appropriate news snippets will appear when you
queried and returned to you, just like Apple’s Siri. open Cortana’s panel. You can do all this from the settings.

3 Narrow down your search

To stop Cortana searching things she doesn’t need to, and
4 Use Cortana for tech support
If there’s something you want to know how to do in
speed up the return of those internet results, you can tell her Windows 10, a publication like this one can help of course. If you
exactly what you’re looking for, which is great when it comes to need to know really quickly, try asking Cortana instead. Type your
finding apps and files in particular. So if it’s definitely an app you query in, and it will appear in the list of results under ‘Can I help?’.
need, rather than a picture or video, start your search query with Clicking this gets you the Microsoft help files, and in the case of
‘app:’. If it’s a setting, type ‘setting:’. For a document... you get the many common tasks a walkthrough will show you how it’s done.
idea. You can force a web search with ‘web:’ too. Don’t forget the tips on these pages though!

80 | | June 2017
 5 Use Cortana in Edge
Cortana can also help you as you browse the internet. To
6 Use voice commands
Click the microphone icon next to the search box, and you
enable it in Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > can speak your questions and instructions to Cortana. You must
View Advanced Settings and under ‘Privacy and Services’ enable have ‘Search online’ enabled in Cortana settings to use voice
‘Have Cortana Assist Me in Microsoft Edge’. Now, as you explore search, otherwise the mic icon disappears. If you select the
the web, you’ll get helpful additions such as song lyrics if you’re option, she will respond to a cheery ‘Hey Cortana’ – but this will
listening to music, or links to apps if the site you’re using has one. increase battery usage on portable devices, so is only worth
turning on if you’re sure you’ll use it.

7 Train Cortana to only reply to you

It’s hilarious to shout ‘Xbox off!’ at someone else’s Xbox with
8 Use natural language to search
If you want to set yourself a reminder, you don’t need to find
Kinect voice control switched on, shutting the box down in the a calendar app and input what you want to do, and when, just
middle of what its poor user was doing, so train Cortana to type or speak it into Cortana as you would when talking to
respond only to your voice by selecting the ‘Learn my voice’ someone. Saying ‘Remind me to take a screen break in an hour’ or
option in Settings and speak the test phrases. You’ll find that ‘Remind me to buy flowers on the way home’, for example, will
Cortana keeps learning anyway, so over time the more you use trigger a notification at the appropriate time. Now there’s no
Cortana the better she will be at just about any task! excuse to forget that meeting or important date again!

June 2017 | | 81
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 new hardware essential accessories latest gadgets

Welcome This issue’s highlights

if you’re in the
market for a new
Pc, you have two
choices: either go
for a product
from a tried-and-trusted,
big-name brand or go for
a feature-packed, but
affordable alternative
from emerging tech
countries such as china. 84 HP Pavilion 17 laptop 86 Teclast X5 Pro ultrabook
In this issue we’re looking at The student favourite has been updated The ultra-thin laptop from China that’s
both options with student for 2017, but is it still top of the class? playing the big brands at their own game
favourite, the HP Pavilion,
in one corner (page 84);
and the Teclast X5 Pro on
the other (page 86).
We also test Logitech’s
G413 Carbon keyboard
(page 88) and Parrot’s
Bebop 2 drone (page 90).
Plus, on page 95, the best
free uninstallers 2017.
88 Logitech G413 Carbon 95 Best free uninstallers on test
Nick Odantzis Deputy Editor Is there more to this gaming keyboard Which of these apps is best at cleaning
windowsmagazine@futurenet.com than meets the eye? We decide… up the mess that others leave behind?

Our promise to you…

The Upgrade section is your key to finding out about the latest
products, all designed to help you get more from your PC

You can trust our reviews we choose the best products how we review
Our reviewers are 100 per cent Thousands of new PC products Our expert reviewers guarantee
independent, with years of are released every year and to test every piece of hardware
experience in the world of computing. choosing between them can be an rigorously and thoroughly, using
Our rigorous testing procedures mean impossible task. Our experts select only only acknowledged experts to
that only genuine, high-quality the best hardware and software to establish the worth of a product.
products are awarded high star ratings. feature in this magazine. Even better, We always review from the viewpoint
If you see an item of hardware bearing our star rating system makes it simple of our readers; the day-to-day
a high score, you can be confident that to find the best products, giving you practicality and quality of a product
it is an excellent product. a fast, trustworthy guide. is paramount.

rating exPlained Superb Very good Good Disappointing Poor

June 2017 | | 83
 HP Pavilion 17
£899.99-£999.99 | $729.99-$1,099.99 www.hp.com
The archetypal student laptop is back – and better than ever!

W
hen it comes choosing the company’s higher-end Envy family. colours are available on all model
right laptop for school, Most notably, the Pavilion laptop’s sizes, as we note later. You can
college or university, the classically plastic body has been choose the colour you prefer when
HP Pavilion is often at the top of infused with 3D metal to make it you place your order online –
many student wishlists. Why? look more visually appealing. although since the lids aren’t
Because this popular range of Then there’s the addition of the interchangeable you’ll be stuck
budget laptop PCs have proved, proprietary Lift Hinge, which you’ll with the colour you’ve chosen for
over the years, that they are both find drooping over the rear of the as long as you own the laptop. That
tough and reliable; while keen new Pavilion clamshells. Open up said, the colours do look classy and
pricing and flexible configuration the screen and this rear extension give the Pavilion extra appeal for
options mean there’s a model to props the entire machine at a slight anyone who wants to make their
suit almost any need or budget. slant for a more comfortable typing laptop that bit more personal.
For 2017, though, HP has adopted experience. At the same time, the Other welcome changes to the
a slight change of tack. The Pavilion Lift Hinge helps raise the bottom of 2017 Pavilion include drastically
range is still sensibly priced; but has the notebook above surfaces for narrower bezels – 51% at the sides
also been given a makeover, giving better airflow. and 19% top and bottom – around
the line a more premium look and The 2017 Pavilion frames also the laptop’s display. This helps the
feel, while also making each model look noticeably less like they’re screen pop and look as if it simply
thinner and smaller. The 17-incher, made of plastic thanks to a new falls off to nothing rather than
seen here, is also incredibly cheap silver paint job, with the option to being encompassed in large strips
– with prices starting at £899.99 choose a different coloured lid on of plastic. The 17-incher’s smaller
($729.99) and rising to £999.99 the back of the display. There are 14-inch sibling is slimmer for
($1,099.99), depending on model. five different colour options another reason: HP has kicked out
available across the range – its optical drive, enabling it to drop
Design Opulent Blue, Silk Gold, Orchid the laptop from 22mm to 19mm in
The 2017 HP Pavilion borrows much Pink, Mineral Silver and Empress thickness. If you still need an optical
of its classier design from the Red – although not all of the drive (for games and other media)

84 | | June 2017
 Upgrade
HP Pavilion 17

KEY FEATURES

HP Pavilion 17-ab201na
Supplier www.hp.com
Operating system Windows 10 Home
(64-bit)
Processor Quad-core 2.5GHz Intel Core
i5-7300HQ (Kaby Lake), up to 3.5GHz with
Turbo Boost, 6MB cache)
Storage 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
RAM 8GB DDR4-2400 SD-RAM
(upgradeable to 16GB)
Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4GB
of dedicated GDDR5 RAM)
Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2x2);
Bluetooth 4.2; 1x USB 2.0 port; 2x USB 3.0
ports; 1x HDMI port; 1x Ethernet port; 1x
headphone socket
Optical drive SuperMulti DVD burner
Webcam HP Wide Vision HD with Dual
Digital Microphone
Battery 6-cell, 62WHr Lithium Ion
Weight 2.85kg
Screen size 17.3-inch
Display resolution 1920x1080 Full HD

HP Pavilion 17-ab200na
Supplier www.hp.com
Operating system Windows 10 Home
(64-bit)
Processor Quad-core 2.8GHz Intel Core
i7-7700HQ (Kaby Lake), up to 3.8GHz with
Turbo Boost,6MB cache)
Storage 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
then it remain as an option on the nothing else, so if you want an RAM 16GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM
15-inch and 17-inch Pavilions. This, Orchid Pink one? No dice. Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4GB
of course, means that the 17-inch One thing that all of the new of dedicated GDDR5 RAM)
Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2x2);
model sports larger dimensions, laptops share is HP’s new Wide Bluetooth 4.2; 1x USB 2.0 port; 2x USB 3.0
measuring 27.1mm thick and Vision camera, which is located ports; 1x HDMI port; 1x Ethernet port; 1x
weighing in at 2.8kg. above the display. This introduces headphone socket
Optical drive SuperMulti DVD burner
new lenses that capture a wider Webcam HP Wide Vision HD with Dual
Specifications than normal field of view. With this, Digital Microphone
The huge range of customisation you can have a bigger group to Battery 6-cell, 62WHr Lithium Ion
options HP offers on its Pavilion has their whole family in frame during Weight 2.85kg
Screen size 17.3-inch
always been once of its strongest video calls. Optional IR cameras Display resolution 1920x1080 Full HD
suits. As well as a line-up that also add the ability to login with
encompasses 14-inch, 15.6-inch your face through Windows Hello.
and 17-inch screen sizes; you can HP says that the Pavilion should
also choose to equip your laptop get a maximum of 10 hours of continuing popularity: firstly, it’s
now possible to buy Chromebooks
“HP says that the Pavilion should get a maximum equipped with Full HD screens for
half the money that the HP Pavilion
of 10 hours battery life between recharges” costs. And there are some things
about the Pavilion line-up that
with a choice of AMD or Intel Core battery life between recharges, remain stuck in the early years of
processors; find room for all your although, in our experience we the 21st Century: limited battery life
stuff with storage options that wouldn’t put much faith in these and a lack of configuration options
include up to 2TB of hard drive claims. This time around HP is also on some models among them.
storage; a 512GB SSD, or a 256GB introducing Fast Charge, which Having said that we still think,
SDD/1TB hard drive combo. Gamers brings a system’s battery back up the HP Pavilion is tremendous value
and photo/video enthusiasts will to a 90% charge in 90 minutes. – and remains the archetypal
love the choice of AMD Radeon or workhorse for students of all ages.
Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics Summary
– and the ability to upgrade to There’s no doubt that the 2017 The HP Pavilion is slimmer and
1920x1080 Full HD displays. Pavilion is the best iteration of HP’s more premium, but some of its
The only catch is that some of entry-level laptop yet. It retains the options don’t go far enough.
HP’s configuration options seem long and popular tradition of
rather arbitrary. We’ve already combining both the affordable with
explained that there’s no optical the upgradeable, and the addition
drive option on the 14-inch model; of a thinner chassis, slimmer bezels
while 4K Ultra HD displays aren’t an and a more premium feel – taken
option on any of them – not even from the higher-end HP Envy – are
the 17-incher. Even the colour undoubtedly a welcome touch.
choices are limited: the 17-inch However there are also some
model comes in Mineral Silver and reasons to doubt the Pavilion’s

June 2017 | | 85
 Teclast X5 Pro
£474 | $585 www.teclast.com/en/zt/X5Pro/
Microsoft’s Surface devices are an inspiration for other 2-in-1s

N
othing in tech stays the same But the Tbook 16 Power isn’t the massive 12.2-inch display with a
for long, so it was only a top-of-the-range model from the thick black frame, and a Windows
matter of time before Chinese company – that honour belongs to logo that betrays its origins, while
vendors, buyoed by success at the the X5 Pro, a Kaby Lake-powered the rear of the device consists of a
budget end of the market, started tablet that goes head-to-head with magnesium alloy enclosure with a
pushing their products upstream the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. kickstand that opens at up to 90
towards more profitable sectors. However, at £474 (around $585) degrees (in 22.5-degree steps).
What started as a flood of cheap at the time of writing at Gearbest Like the Surface, the edges of the
knockoffs has slowly turned into a (www.gearbest.com), the X5 Pro X5 Pro are slightly tapered, which
steady stream of better quality isn’t cheap, although it is often helps stability when held in your
products that tend to get their available for less in one of hand or placed on a surface.
inspiration from Microsoft rather Gearbest’s frequent flash sales. The power button is located on
than Google or Apple. These costs, though, are exclusive one edge of the tablet; next to it on
Chinese vendors are now bolder of any taxes that may be levied by the shorter edge are a volume
and no longer as hesitant when it HMRC or the courier companies rocker, an audio socket and a
comes to taking on the big brands. used by the vendor. microUSB port.
The Xiaomi Air 12 is one of many The cheapest Surface Pro 4, The latter is the odd one out. It is
devices that have attempted to meanwhile, costs around 60% more electrically active and we managed
carve a niche at the top-end of the with a worse set of components to successfully read a microSD card
market with mixed results. But that – although it does come with a free using an adaptor, although we
won’t prevent others, such as Surface pen and Windows 10 Pro. couldn’t use it to charge either a
Teclast, from trying. This little- phone or the laptop. The X5 Pro’s
known manufacturer impressed us Design keyboard connector is located on
with the Tbook 16 Power earlier this The Teclast X5 Pro embraces a the other longer edge with a
year – a powerful device aimed at tried-and-trusted design, one made proprietary power connector, a
the Surface 3, but at a fraction of popular by Microsoft: it’s a large mini-HDMI port, a full-size USB port
the cost of its Microsoft rival. slab of glass and metal. You get a and a USB Type-C connector.

86 | | June 2017
 Upgrade
Teclast X5 Pro

KEY FEATURES
Teclast X5 Pro
Processor: Intel Core m3-7Y30 (dual-
core, 1GHz with turbo up to 2.6GHz)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Screen: 12.2-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200,
10-point capacitive display
Storage: 240GB SSD
Ports: USB 3.0 port, USB-C port,
micro-HDMI, microUSB, microSD slot,
headphone jack
Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi;
Bluetooth 4.2
Camera: 5MP rear-facing,
2MP front-facing
Dimensions: 299x202x8mm
Weight: 911g

The keyboard cover is a good

compromise between the basic
models that are usually bundled
with entry-level 2-in-1s, and the
beefier, more feature-laden, ones
that come with higher-end models.
The keys are surprisingly springy
and provide a nice bit of ‘oomph’
when typing, especially with big
Shift keys and reasonably-sized
function keys. The touchpad was a
different story though – in fact, it
The X5 Pro includes a front-facing that boasts 1920x1200 pixels, and a almost seems like an afterthought.
2MP camera and a rear 5MP one. All 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio. The keyboard attachment for the
in all, it feels solid and very well The rest of X5 Pro’s specification X5 Pro is based on the Microsoft
made – the choice of magnesium includes 8GB of RAM (dual-channel Surface Type Cover. It’s less
alloy for the chassis makes sense LPDDR3), a Forsee 240GB m.2 SSD, rectangular than the X5 Pro it’s
since it’s light, scratch-resistant and an Intel Wireless-AC 3165 Wi-Fi partnered with, leading to a smaller
an excellent heat conductor. module with Bluetooth 4.2, a space for the touchpad. As such,
Our sample also came with a microSD card slot (located under this input peripheral felt cramped,
type cover, an almost perfect copy the stand) and a 38Whr battery. with a lack of adequate feedback
of the one that accompanies the Note there are two speakers, from the left-click area.
Surface Pro 4, an active stylus and a located near the hinges of the
24W (12v, 2A) power supply unit. kickstand, and a microphone. Don’t Summary
The proprietary keyboard, which is expect miracles from the speakers. There’s a lot to love about the X5
magnetically docked, costs £34 Although the sound was average Pro. It is good value for money and
(around $42) while the active stylus and (undistorted) on maximum delivers the sort of performance
pen retails for £12 (around $15). volume, it lacked clarity at times. you’d expect from a mid-to-high-
end Core M device.
“It feels solid and very well made – the choice of However, there are also things
that irritate, the touchpad being
magnesium alloy for the chassis makes sense” the biggest culprit, while the
Chinese version of Windows 10 is a
Specifications The tablet on its own measures no-no. The X5 Pro also faces stiff
The X5 Pro is powered by an Intel 299x202mm and is only 8mm thick competition from similarly-priced
Core m3-7Y30 processor which has with a weight of 911g. Adding the rivals such as the HP Pavilion x2
a 1GHz base speed and can turbo keyboard cover bumps that up. 12-b100na and Lenovo IdeaPad
up to 2.6GHz on demand. Based on Miix 700. Sure, the hardware specs
the Kaby Lake architecture, it has In use on both are sub-par compared to
two cores and four threads, and Surface-like detachable models are the X5 Pro, but they’re also backed
reaches a TDP of only 4.5W in perfectly usable when you have a by global, recognised brands. ■
normal usage. Unlike entry-level flat surface, but using them like a
processors, the 7Y30 offers two laptop (that is, on your lap) is best The X5 Pro is a fantastic product
memory channels, which should described as awkward, not least at a sensible price, but it lacks the
improve memory bandwidth. The because of the discomfort caused finesse of big-name rivals.
integrated graphics have been by the kickstand. If you can live
beefed up as well with the 24 with that, the Teclast X5 Pro is a
Execution Units (EU) of the HD perfectly capable PC. The hardware
Graphics 615 hitting between shines brightly and this device is
300MHz and 900MHz. even faster than the Xiaomi Air 12.
The GPU is powerful enough to Battery life was good with the X5
drive three separate displays hitting 5 hours 20 minutes, playing
including the one that comes with a count-up timer on YouTube with
the tablet, a 12.2-inch IPS screen brightness set on 50%.

June 2017 | | 87
 Logitech G413 Carbon
£99.99 | $89.99 www.logitech.com
Is this super-thin mechanical keyboard a compromise too far?

W
hile RGB lighting and Corsair Strafe (£109.99/$99.99), and which adds to its rigidity while
macro keys might seem the Roccat Suora (£79.99/$99.99). elevating it slightly above a basic,
like all the rage in gaming plastic base. The only thing some
keyboards, the cost of all those Design users might not love is how the key
extra features adds up. Between When compared to most gaming caps basically hover right above the
the Roccat Suora (http://roc. keyboards – or even most other PC base board without any protection
gg/2pSA8M3) and HyperX Alloy FPS keyboards come to that – the on the sides. We personally love the
(http://bit.ly/2qzoMst), it’s clear Logitech G413 looks a little naked; simpler design, and cleaning the
there’s a demand for an affordable since it lacks a plastic fairing, you keyboard is easier too.
keyboard with a straightforward can see the keyboard’s underlying Ever since Logitech introduced
design and fewer gimmicks. base plate in all its glory. the ostentatious G910 Orion Spark
Meet Logitech’s first affordable While we dig the painted black (http://bit.ly/2qzqHxf), the
mechanical gaming keyboard: the metal and red backlighting on the company’s keyboards have grown
G413. Available in separate Carbon Logitech G413 Carbon model, progressively thinner and more
and Silver versions, the Logitech tested here, we love the brighter sophisticated. The Logitech G413
G413 ditches the usual media and steel panel and white backlighting feels like the last major step in that
macro keys, along with fully- on the Silver version even more. direction with a completely bare
customisable RGB backlighting, in Luckily, losing the external shell frame that measures just one
favour of a frameless design and a hasn’t cost the Logitech G413 any centimetre thick.
full set of Logitech’s proprietary sturdiness at all. You’ll certainly
Romer-G switches. have a tough time bending or Performance
Priced at £99.99 ($89.99), the finding any points of flex on the Rather than going with membrane
Logitech G413 is competitively G413, thanks to its solid, aluminium- keys or Cherry MX switches like
priced, costing the same or less magnesium alloy plate. And even Logitech’s last few budget
than other similarly specified the plastic underside of the keyboard offerings, the G413 comes
keyboards, including the HyperX keyboard feels tough, thanks to a with a full complement of Romer-G
Alloy FPS (£99.99/$99.99), the set of diagonally moulded lines, switches. If you haven’t had the

88 | | June 2017
 Upgrade
Logitech G413 Carbon

KEY FEATURES
Logitech G413 Carbon
System requirements: Windows 7/8/10;
USB port (for keyboard); Second USB port
(for USB passthrough port); internet
access for Logitech Gaming Software
Switch type: Romer-G Mechanical
Durability: 70 million keypresses
Actuation distance: 1.5mm
Actuation force: 45g
Total travel distance: 3mm
Indicator Lights (LED): 2
USB Ports (Built-in): 1x USB 2.0
Backlighting: Yes; Single colour (5 fixed
brightness levels)
Special keys: Backlight Toggle: [FN] +
[F7]; Game Mode: [FN] + [F8]; Media
Controls: [FN] + [F9]/[F10]/[F11]/[F12]
Cable length: 1.8m
Dimensions: 445x34mmx132mm
Weight (without cable): 1105g

mouse – making it less likely that

you’ll accidentically disconnect it
when frentically battling baddies or
simply doing some work.

Summary
With the G413, Logitech has
introduced an inexpensive and
gorgeous, fully mechanical gaming
keyboard that’s well worth your
chance to use them yourself, the omission when they’re available on attention. It’s certainly one of the
only thing you need to know is that the even-lower-priced G213 Prodigy most competitively-priced
they’re responsive and relatively Gaming keyboard (£59.99/$69.99) frameless options on the market,
silent mechanical switches. from the same company. going head to head against the
There’s a strong tactile bump We have a similar issue with the HyperX Alloy FPS and the Roccat
when you hit the bottom of the G413’s USB passthrough feature. Suora keyboards in price; and
2.5mm of key travel on the While it’s undoubtedly a neat thing beating both in responsiveness.
Romer-G mechanisms. Despite the to have – you can use the provided Unfortunately, the Logitech
long actuation distance, we got port to connect and charge your G413 isn’t without its flaws. While
into cover faster and more reliably smartphone or tablet; or plug a the presence of USB passthrough is
when than with other keyboards. mouse directly into the keyboard welcome, the fact that it’s limited to
This is due to Logitech nailing – the fact that it’s limited to USB 2.0 USB 2.0 seems like an oversight; as
down response times to a science. limits its effectiveness when it does the lack of dedicated media
These Romer-G switches should comes to syncing or transferring keys. However we think both
also last you a while, since they’re data between devices. compromises are a relatively small
price to pay given the G413’s price.
“There’s a strong tactile bump when you hit the The Logitech G413 also feels like
it makes total sense compared to its
bottom of the 2.5mm key travel on the Romer-G” rivals – less so when it comes to
Logitech’s other offerings. It
rated for 70 million actuations. Still, this level of connectivity is certainly seems like an odd
Logitech also includes a set of 12 comparable to the Corsair’s Strafe step-down from the company’s
faceted key caps that you can use keyboard (http://bit.ly/2pSxYvL) own entry-level option, the G213
to replace the [W], [A], [S], [D] and and is a step up from the sole Prodigy, despite that keyboard’s
first five number keys, plus a few charging port you’ll find on the lower price tag.
others. They’re a welcome touch for HyperX Alloy FPS. The Logitech Regardless, the Logitech G413 is
differentiating the gaming-specific G413 also does a fine job of one of the best sub-£100/$100
keys from the rest of the keyboard. supporting wireless peripherals, gaming keyboards you can buy. ■
such as the Logitech G900 Chaos
Features Spectrum wireless gaming mouse. Compromised it may be, but the
There is a downside to Logitech’s Another more useful feature can G413 is one of the best budget
minimalist approach, however – as be found on the bottom of the gaming keyboards around
evidenced by the G413’s limited G413 keyboard: a cable pathway
feature set. that you can use to route your
Unlike every one of Logitech’s headphone cable along and keep it
other keyboards, this one doesn’t out of the way – a feature we’ve
include any dedicated media only seen on the Corsair K95 RGB
playback buttons. Sure, you can just Platinum so far. In addition, the
hit the function buttons to toggle G413 also includes a ‘U-shaped’
shortcuts attached to the F-keys channel that can be used as an
instead, but it seems like an odd anchor point for a wired gaming

June 2017 | | 89
 Parrot Bebop 2
£439.99 | $549.99 www.parrot.com
A drone that – for a little extra – will make you think you can fly

T
he Parrot Bebop 2 is a Design and handling balls, and they reduce the impact of
smartphone-controlled drone You’d be forgiven for thinking the vibration on the camera itself.
with a 14-megapixel camera, Bebop 2 is modest upgrade over While the Bebop 2 feels a little
which offers 1080p video recording. the original Bebop, purely becasue flimsy in the hand, it means video
The successor to the original Parrot they look so similar. Thankfully, recording is less prone to shaking
Bebop model, it features a fisheye Parrot hasn’t been that lazy; the from the rotors on each arm.
lens which allows for surprisingly Bebop 2 boasts a more robust The plastic rotors are removable,
judder-free footage and even design and a larger-capacity and have to be fitted to the drone
boasts user-serviceable rotors. battery, addressing two of the big itself using a special tool. The rotors
The USP of the Bebop 2 is the problems with the first model. are colour-coded – white for the
optional FPV pack, which includes a The bodywork is almost entirely front, black for the back – and have
headset and professional-style plastic, save for some deformable to be fitted to the correct arm
flight controller, complete with polystyrene-type material around before flying. There’s a spare set of
sticks and buttons. Using this setup the camera. Each rotor has three rotors in the box, and it’s possible
it’s possible to get a first-person blades, and these can be removed to order replacements if they get
view of what the drone is seeing – a when the drone isn’t in use. The damaged. In fact, much of the unit
surprisingly immersive experience. massive 2700mAh battery slots is modular – it’s possible to buy
The catch is that, when you add onto the back of the unit itself, and new motor units for the arms, too.
the cost of the FPV pack to the price has to be detached for charging The Bebop 2’s motors are pretty
of the Bebop 2 itself, you rapidly The Bebop 2’s design is unique in powerful, and it’s able to hold its
approach the kind of money you’d that it’s not a single solid unit, but position even when being buffeted
expect to spend on a more capable two main elements which are by relatively strong winds. Take-off
drone. The Bebop 2 is available for connected via a series of shock- and landing are easy, and the unit is
£439.99 ($549.99) on its own. Or for absorbing rubber balls. The main clever enough to know when
£599.99 ($699.99) with the body – which houses the camera there’s an issue which could cause
additional Parrot Controller 2 and and electronics, and onto which the problems – for example, if you try
Parrot Cockpitglasses headset. battery clips – sits on top of these to take off in long grass that

90 | | June 2017
 Upgrade
Parrot Bebop 2

KEY FEATURES
Parrot Bebop 2
Camera: 14-megapixels CMOS with
Sunny 180° fish-eye lens (1/2.3” aperture)
Video: 3-axis, 1080p Full HD @ 30fps
Video encoding: H264
Photo format: JPEG, RAW, DNG
Stabilisation: Digital
Battery life: 25 minutes flight time (max)
Built-in GPS: Yes
Processor: Dual-core; quad-core GPU
Storage: 8 GB flash storage
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

compensate, resulting in silky-

smooth footage. Video is captured
at 1080p/30fps rather than 4K, but
recording quality is decent. The
only negatives are that the fisheye
lens is susceptible to lens flare in
certain lighting situations, and
when you’re flying even at close
range the video feed is glitchy.

FPV bundle
While the standard Bebop 2 can be
controlled using your smartphone
and the Freeflight Pro app, the FPV
bundle adds the Cockpitglasses
headset and the SkyController 2,
catches one of the rotors, the wireless signal to ensure the drone which features physical controls.
motors will turn off and you’ll get is always under control, but should The Cockpitglasses unit doesn’t
an error message until you move the link drop then the drone will have its own screen or hardware,
the drone to a clear space. Some stay stationary until you reconnect. but instead uses your phone to
other drones lack this feature, and The working range is said to be 300 display what the drone is seeing.
can flip over as a result. metres, but we struggled to get One of the big issues with flying
When the drone’s in the air that kind of distance, since the a drone is having to constantly look
there’s a small amount of drift in connection would often drop off. down at your phone’s screen to see
positioning, but unless you’re in a Most of us probably wouldn’t be the drone’s view of the world –
cramped space – which is never comfortable with flying a drone so something that isn’t always easy.
recommended when flying a drone far away that it can’t be seen, so it’s Parrot’s FPV solution removes this
– it’s not too much of an issue. The not a major issue, but if you’re keen issue, as you’re always seeing the
Bebop 2 is fast and responsive on putting some distance between drone’s viewpoint, so you’re not
when airborne, and is capable of yourself and the unit then it’s worth tempted to switch from your phone
some surprisingly swift turns. noting that the FPV bundle’s to the drone itself. As an immersive
experience it’s stunning; it really
“The drone connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, feels like you’re flying.
and a set of controls appears on the touchscreen” Summary
The Parrot Bebop 2 is a great
Performance physical controller increases the entry-level drone for anyone fancies
Out of the box the Parrot Bebop 2 operational range to 1.24 miles. trying aerial photography and
is controlled via Parrot’s FreeFlight The Parrot Bebop 2 can reach video capture, and cuts the cost by
Pro app, which is available for iOS speeds of 37.28mph horizontally enabling you to use your phone as
and Android. The drone connects and 13.05mph vertically without a controller. If you can afford it, you
to your smartphone via Wi-Fi, and affecting image quality. The battery should fork out for the FPV bundle
a set of controls appears on the is quoted as offering 25 minutes of – the experience of flying from a
touchscreen. From here, you can flight time, but 20 is more realistic. first-person viewpoint is worth it. ■
use a twin-stick setup to
manoeuvre the drone in the air; Video capture If you’re looking to get into drone
there are autonomous flight The Bebop 2 uses a fisheye lens, flight videography, the Parrot
commands such as turns and loops, complete with 170-degree field of Bebop 2 is a great way to start.
and you can get the drone to follow vision, on its 14-megapixel camera,
a particular subject as well. If you’re which allows for smoother video
feeling fancy, you can create a flight recording than on other drones.
plan for the drone, but both this The unit doesn’t record all of this
and the ‘follow me’ functionality image, but instead uses software
cost extra – which is rather cheeky routines to anticipate movement
given the cost of the drone. and keep the image steady. When
The app automatically toggles the drone is performing a turn the
between a 2.4GHz and 5GHz software moves its focus to

June 2017 | | 91
SoundbarS
Want multiplex movie audio without the
multi-channel faff? We test six seriously
cinematic Bluetooth soundbars

1 3

Winner!

1 Q Acoustics M3 2 LG SH6 3 Bose

£299, qacoustics.co.uk £230, lg.com
SoundTouch 300
If you can live without Wi-Fi, Q Acoustics The LG SH6 is a bafflingly good value £600, bose.co.uk
has your ear. This metre-wide soundbar Bluetooth bar that slams like a barn door
offers a decent spread of inputs: HDMI, in a hurricane. Wide at 1,060mm, it’s best The Bose SoundTouch 300 is cut from
stereo phono, optical digital audio and partnered with 50-inch-plus screens. designer cloth. Build quality is supreme,
3.5mm line-in. Connections include two HDMIs, digital with a tempered black glass top plate
There are no on-body controls and it optical audio and a 3.5mm line input. and wraparound aluminium grille. It’s
comes with an ugly credit card remote, The HDMIs don’t support 4K Ultra HD, wide at 97cm, and doesn’t lack for welly.
but the design aesthetic still has a techy but Google Cast is built in, and Twin HDMIs support 4K HDCP 2.2
appeal – a metal brace provides performance is outstanding for the cash. sources, and there’s also an optical
clearance for the downward subwoofer, The SH6 delivers a wall of sound, with digital audio input. The Bose ADAPTiQ
while the grille is aluminium. clean dialogue and excellent mid-bass. room calibration system, with a mic built
The key attribute is wide-dispersion Rated at 150W, it has volume in reserve, into a plastic headband, is used for setup.
BMR drivers, which give a pronounced and also functions perfectly as part of Once tuned, performance is excellent.
stereo effect. Bass response is good too. LG’s multi-room MusicFlow ecosystem. A The Bose does big cinema brilliantly well,
A soundbar to play loud. stone cold bargain. and is also wonderfully musical.

92 | | June 2017
 Upgrade
Soundbars

a
long time ago in a galaxy Kick-ass digital amplification, lows in a single enclosure. all promise
far, far away, you needed ingenious drivers and sophisticated face-slapping audio.
an aV receiver and a dSP audio processing mean a sound Throw in bluetooth and multi-room
battalion of speakers to system no longer needs to take over audio streaming, and the right
bring convincing movie sound home. your living room to sound good. Some soundbar will do more than just
now a single premium soundbar lets bars come with wireless subwoofers scratch your cinematic itch. bring on
anyone get rowdy with Rogue One. for deep bass, others handle highs and the movie stars…

6
5

4 Philips Fidelio B1 5 Sony HT-NT5 6 Yamaha YAS-306

£450, philips.co.uk £599, sony.co.uk £350, yamaha.co.uk

The Fidelio B1 is a mere 41cm wide and It may look like a film star, but this Available in black or silver (actually grey
comes with a wireless sub, which at just 2.1-channel audio package turns out to fabric), the YAS-306 is a mid-ranger that
86mm deep is able to slide beneath your be tuned for audiophiles. The 108cm bar wants to do more. As part of Yamaha’s
sofa. You get two HDMIs, a 3.5mm boasts a pair of mid-range drivers, MusicCast system, it can stream content
line-in and an optical digital jack, but flanked by a gold-ringed high-frequency across other MusicCast kit. It’ll also play
there’s no 4K support. The rolled super tweeter and a secondary tweeter hi-res audio. But there are caveats.
aluminium and fabric design is cute. on the edge of the unit. Audio quality is Offering very little below 100Hz, it’s light
For such a shorty, the B1 delivers an smooth and articulate, although it on bass, which removes heft for action
engaging, panoramic soundstage. The doesn’t quite have the bass wallop that movies and diminishes deep beats from
wide sweet spot comes from four you might be expecting. music. Arguably the best reason to
microbeaming drivers in a cross-firing There are four HDMIs, all 4K Ultra HD audition the 950mm YAS-306 is its brilliant
configuration. A pair of additional soft friendly, plus an optical digital audio Air Surround Xtreme virtual surround
dome tweeters on top function as a input. The HT-NT5 can also be used as mode, which effectively recreates a
virtual speaker array. Over-priced but part of a Sony multi-room system. One cinematic soundstage from its tweeter/
always entertaining. for the fashionistas. woofer array.

June 2017 | | 93
The compleTe guide To
building your own pc

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94 | | March 2017
 Software Test
Free uninstallers

The besT Free

UNINSTALLER 2017
Purge unwanted programs from your PC

W
hen you want to Once they’ve been purged, the
remove an app or software will then perform
program from your another scan to track down and
PC, you probably wipe out temporary files and old
reach for Windows’ built-in ‘Add registry entries, freeing up
or remove programs’ option. It’s valuable space and ensuring you
okay for removing the odd don’t run into problems when
program here and there, but all installing a newer version of the
too often you’ll be presented same software later on.
with a message telling you that The best free uninstallers also
some components couldn’t be provide a handy way to manage
removed, or that the uninstall has browser extensions and plugins,
failed in some way. and remove any you don’t use.
That’s why you need a You’ll also be able to empty your
dedicated third-party uninstaller recycle bin with a single click, and
– and some of the best tools delete your browser history.
around are available completely If you like to experiment with
free. These uninstallers will new software, or just want to
quickly scan your system for all keep your computer tidy, a free
installed programs, and let you uninstaller is essential. Presented
select several at once for removal. here is our pick of the best.

June 2017 | | 95
 1 IObit Uninstaller
www.iobit.com/en/advanceduninstaller.php

IObit Uninstaller (available for like it), and the biggest ones
Winner! IObit Uninstaller also takes a
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10) (which will have the greatest look at your web browsers to
gets right down to business, impact on system performance). identify any plugins that could be
scanning your system for installed If you’ve already uninstalled a uninstalled to speed up your
software the moment it starts. Its program but suspect it’s left surfing. Version 6 supports Firefox,
smart, clear interface displays a list mucky footprints across your Internet Explorer and Edge. Each
of all your installed software, with drive, IObit’s deep scanner can extension is accompanied by a
extra tabs if you’re only interested hunt down junk including broken user rating to help you decide
in the newest programs (if you’ve shortcuts and caches created whether to keep it.
tried something new and don’t when installing software updates. IObit Uninstaller also throws a
file shredder in too, which doesn’t
really fit with the premise of an
uninstaller, but all the other tools
are relevant and useful.
All in all, IObit is the best
uninstaller you can download, and
its thorough scanning makes it the
equal of many premium programs.

IObit Uninstaller
searches your PC
for apps and
makes removing
them a breeze. Its RATING
powerful scans
ensure no traces
are left behind.

2 Wise Program Uninstaller

www.wisecleaner.com/wise-program-uninstaller.html

Wise Program Uninstaller is a displays ratings to show you how but only if it’s part of the software
portable app for Windows XP or other users feel about them. You in the first place).
later, so you don’t have to worry probably know what you want to Safe uninstall is a way to access
about it leaving a mess of its own. erase, but it’s a thoughtful touch. Having a dedicated the program’s own uninstaller,
uninstaller is wise,
It’s a very quick and lean little Your choices for each program and this free tool
whereas Forced performs a deep
uninstaller that scans your system are Safe and Forced uninstall removes even the scan to track down scrap files and
for already installed programs and (some also have a Repair option, trickiest programs. broken registry entries. It shows
you everything it’s identified
before deleting them, but this
doesn’t serve much purpose;
you’re unlikely to be able to pick
out an individual Registry entry
and say “Hang on, I need that!”
The main downside is that it
can’t log new programs as you
install them, but as an uninstaller
it’s well designed and not bulked
out with unnecessary tools.

RATING

96 | | June 2017
 Software Test
Free uninstallers

3 GeekUninstaller
www.geekuninstaller.com

GeekUninstaller is another free Tool – GeekUninstaller is you – a simple but welcome

portable uninstaller for Windows completely free. addition that saves you having to
XP or later, weighing in at just It performs a speedy system load up your web browser.
2.5MB. Although a Pro version is scan and provides the usual Just like the IObit and Wise
advertised on the developer’s site, options: Clean or Forced Removal. uninstallers, GeekUninstaller also
this is actually a completely If you don’t recognize something, offers a deep scan option to help
different program called Uninstall GeekUninstaller will Google it for clean up the remnants of
previously uinstalled programs.
However, unlike IObit it doesn’t
automatically monitor your PC for
new installations. Instead it
highlights any programs you’ve
recently installed the next time
you run it. GeekUninstaller is
offered in over 30 different
languages too, and since it’s
portable can be easily run from a
USB stick hassle-free.

GeekUninstaller is
a portable app RATING
that’s ideal for
mopping up after
messy software.

4 Revo Uninstaller Free

https://revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

Revo Uninstaller Free’s icon- However, Revo Uninstaller Free There’s also a strange Hunter
strewn interface is colourful but does offer four uninstall options: Mode, which enables you uninstall
cluttered, and includes tools such built-in, safe (built-in with programs by dragging their icons
as a startup program manager, additional registry scanning), onto a crosshair on your desktop.
plus links to Windows’ system moderate (with extra scanning of It’s more work than selecting the
tools, including defrag and the common locations for leftover program from a list – a metaphor
on-screen keyboard. These aren’t files) and advanced (moderate gone rogue.
necessary, and just distract from mode, followed by a thorough Unlike some rival apps, Revo
an otherwise solid free uninstaller. scanning of your whole system). Uninstaller Free begins by creating
a system restore point, which is
reassuring. It can’t log new
installations, though – if you want
that, you might like to give Revo’s
Pro version a whirl. It’s worlds
away from the free edition’s
late-’90s styling, and will give your
drives a good scrubbing. Prices
start at £33.33 for a single PC.

Look past Revo

Uninstaller’s busy
interface and you’ll
find a handy tool
that makes light RATING
work of purging
unwanted apps
from your PC.

June 2017 | | 97
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