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 Homepage Issue 479

Why Chrome has lost its shine

I
t’s always difficult to give up something beast altogether – and one that shows
you’ve become accustomed to over the Google’s increasing disdain for its users and
years, whether it’s eating red meat, third-party developers. We don’t expect
watching EastEnders or wearing a spotted you to uninstall the browser forthwith, and
cravat, so your first reaction to this issue’s we won’t be scrapping the Chrome page of
cover may be “why should I?”. After all, our Best New Browser Tools section, but
Chrome is a perfectly good browser, with we hope you’ll evaluate our case against it,
thousands of useful extensions and smart and consider our alternatives. And if you
syncing abilities, so why give it up for a new already ditched Chrome a while ago, then
browser you’re less familiar with? you’re smarter than we are!
Well, as we explain in our feature on page
40, Chrome is no longer the trailblazing Robert Irvine, Editor
browser that arrived to save the web from [email protected]
Internet Explorer in 2008, but a different #webuser

5 Things you’ll
learn this issue
p46
1 How to view a side-by-side
comparison of a website to
see how it’s changed over time
page 6

2 How to celebrate
the 50th anniversary
of the Apollo 11 space
mission in real time
page 14

3 How to use a floating Start

menu to open programs
from anywhere on your desktop
page 28

p40 4 How to discover when your

house was built and who has
lived there in the past
page 50

5 How to reset a router so that

you can use it safely after it’s
been hacked page 69

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Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 3

 FREPE
AIR
P C RE

Contents
IT!
T O OL K

SUBSCRIPTIO
NS
Turn to page 62 for
special subs offers
ISSUE 479 10 - 23 JULY 2019

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GOOGLE CHROME
COVER E
We explain why you should switch browser,
how to do it and what to use instead
R
FEATU
p40

Will Google Stadia spell ‘game Protect your PC with our pick of Research the history of your
over’ for consoles? p38 the best sandbox tools p46 home for free p50

IN DEPTH Articles on the latest tech topics REVIEWS Apps, sites and products on test

38 FAQ 14 Best New Websites

Google Stadia Experience the Apollo 11 Mission in real time

40 COVER FEATURE 22 Group Test

STOP USING GOOGLE CHROME We test seven multifunction inkjet printers
Ditch the browser before Google makes it worse that also scan, photocopy and even fax

46 Best free sandbox software 28 Best Free Software

Run any software safely with our pick of the six Launch programs easily with Start Everywhere

48 Schedule all your tasks for later 32 Best New Browser Tools
Seven time-saving tasks your PC can do for you Check suspicious websites with Google

50 Research the history of your address 34 Best Free Apps

Learn about everyone who lived in your home Apple updates its iWork mobile office suite

4 10 - 23 July 2019
 Contents

www.webuser.co.uk www.facebook.com/webusermagazine www.twitter.com/webusermagazine

FAVOURITES Must-read regulars EDITORIAL

Editor Robert Irvine
Technical & Reviews Editor Andy Shaw
Features Writer Steve Clark
6 What’s New Online After Dropbox’s price hikes, Art Editor Laurence Hallam
Draw ultra-realistic landscapes Production Editor Miki Berenyi
is it time to move on? p74 Contributors Wayne Williams, Jane Hoskyn,
Roland Waddilove, David Crookes, Jonathan Parkyn,
8 Need to Know Barry Collins, Nicole Kobie, Gareth Beach
Editorial email: [email protected]
This fortnight’s top tech news stories
ADVERTISING
Tel: 0203 890 3824
12 Stay Safe Online Group Advertising Director Andrea Mason
Security advice for PC and mobile Senior Sales Executive Ashley Wood

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
18 Build a Better Site Group Production Manager
Stephen Catherall, 0203 890 4050
Expert tips, tools and practical help Production Manager Mike Hills, 0203 890 3827

MARKETING
20 What to Watch Online 60 Broadband Deals Marketing Manager Rachel Hare
Films and TV shows you can’t miss Find the best-value package for you Marketing Production Manager Gemma Hills

MANAGEMENT
26 Best Buys 72 Inbox Group Editor Daniel Booth
Managing Director John Garewal
Our pick of the best new products Tell us your views and opinions MD of Advertising Julian Lloyd-Evans
Commercial and Retail Director David Barker
37 Take a Screen Break 74 Page 404 CFO/COO Brett Reynolds
Chief Executive James Tye
Guess the TV shows from the emoji Barry considers dropping Dropbox Company Founder Felix Dennis

SYNDICATION AND LICENSING

Tel: 0203 890 4027
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Manage your digital music collection arising from it. All judgments are based on equipment
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 What’s New Online
Create stunningly realistic landscapes
C
an’t draw for
toffee? GauGAN,
a new artistic tool
from Nvidia, can
convert even the most
rudimentary drawing
into a stunning scenic
masterpiece. Rather
than selecting colours
to paint with, you
choose items from a
list of environmental
elements such as trees,
rivers, rocks, plants,
snow and sand. You then use the
drawing tools to scribble on the check how realistic it is (a
left-hand canvas before pressing a system called a Generative
button to see a realistic landscape Adversarial Network). GauGAN’s neural Once you’ve finished creating your
appear before your eyes. network fills in details based on what it landscape, you can download both
The results are impressive, given has learned from real images, to your original drawing and the
that you’re armed with only a produce unique landscapes every time. rendered result. You can also click
paintbrush and a filler tool. GauGAN You can also upload segmentation the various images and paintings
lets you alter the brush size and uses maps, landscape images, style filters below to see different AI-driven
two clever algorithms: one to make and paintings, but nothing beats the interpretations of your picture.
the conversion and the other to fun of playing with the tool manually. bit.ly/nvidia479

Compare how websites See the sun rise over

have changed over time Stonehenge
web.archive.org www.stonehengeskyscape.co.uk
The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, which lets you Stonehenge was built to align with the sun, and it attracts
see how websites looked in the past, has long been one of thousands of visitors each year. If you can’t make the
our favourite online tools, and now a new feature called pilgrimage in person, this online tool lets you enjoy a live
Changes makes it even more interesting. Enter a URL as feed of the skies taken from nearby, so you can experience
usual, then click Changes to view all available ‘captures’ of sunrise, sunset and the passage of the moon and stars from
that site over the years on one page. Select two of these a unique perspective within the iconic stone circle.
snapshots, then click Compare and the site shows you a The visuals are from
side-by-side comparison of the contents and appearance of various sources, but the
the site on those dates, with changes highlighted in yellow sky’s appearance is
(indicating deletions) and blue (additions). accurate to within five
The Changes feature is currently in beta, and can be minutes. Select the
rather slow – especially when you’re searching for sites coloured squares at the
that have been captured top of the screen to see
many times – but it’s a the monument at any
fascinating point over 24 hours.
idea, and After dark, the image
really rams switches to a computer-
home how generated depiction
much and that plots the location of the stars and five visible planets.
how quickly Tour and skyscape buttons show the names of the stones
the web has and the solar range, and you can also see the sunrise and
evolved over sunset times. English Heritage hopes the feed will make
the years. visitors feel closer to Neolithic people and their spiritual life.

6 10 - 23 July 2019
 What’s New Online

We pick the 10 best things you must do on the web this fortnight

Get guided tours of famous artworks NEW VOICE

COMMANDS
bit.ly/artworks479
Former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, Get instant translations
American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers If you want to translate a
and Canadian musician Feist explore the word or phrase, say “Hey Google,
artworks of Van Gogh, Monet and Bruegel be my [language] interpreter”, and
in a series of videos from Google Arts & the Assistant will ask what you want
Culture called Art Zoom. The paintings have to translate. It works with nearly
been captured with Art Camera, which lets 30 languages.
you view them in ultra-high resolution.
Search apps via voice
The iOS 13 beta is giving users

Send photos via Play Snake on a

a taste of what is to come with Siri
on iPhones and iPads. The app will

Google Duo piece of paper

have a new microphone icon to the
right of the search bar, allowing
queries to be made by voice.
duo.google.com teachable-snake.netlify.com
Update Google Duo to version 56 on This new version of the classic Snake Listen to classic arcade
Android and you can use the video- game made popular on Nokia phones sounds
calling app to send photos to your really is something to call home about. Say, “Alexa, open Arcade Party,”
contacts. Once Rather than bashing buttons to move and treat your ears to the sounds of
you’ve installed the snake around, the game lets you coin-operated gaming machines
the update, open draw a black arrow on a piece of white from 1981, 1983, 1986 and 1992.
the Photos or paper and use that as a controller.
Files app, choose Position the arrow in front of your
an image and tap webcam, and the game works out
Share before which way it’s pointing and sends the View Roman inscriptions
selecting Duo. snake that way. The aim is to collect bit.ly/roman479
From there, yellow blocks to expand the length of There are thousands of Roman
you’re presented the snake, but be warned: it’s not easy. inscriptions across the UK, and this
with a selection Creator Vince MingPu Shao trained map lets you find many of them.
of drawing and the game’s neural network using Click markers to see drawings of
text tools that Google’s Teachable Machine 2 and each one, along with details of
include different React.js. You can find out more about where and when they were found.
pens and it at Vince’s website (bit.ly/vince479).
colours. Once you’ve made your edits
(or just skipped through), you can Check house market fluidity
select up to five contacts and send bit.ly/house479
them the image. Recipients will see a Wondering how long houses take to
notification to view the picture, along sell in your area? Enter a postcode
with options to Call Now or Reply. into this tool and it uses data from
Rightmove and the Land Registry to
give you an estimate. It also shows

Learn more about yoga

the difference between asking
prices and the eventual sale price.

bit.ly/yoga479
As well as a brief introduction to yoga, Create a bee friendly garden
this packed cultural collection from bit.ly/beekind479
Google Arts & Culture shows the The ecological importance of bees
discipline’s five basic principles while is well known, but populations have
taking you through 12 basic postures slumped. This tool lets you look up
and exploring its different forms. Watch the flowers in your garden to see
videos that delve into yoga’s history, how bee-friendly your patch is, and
and discover what the practice can do discover which plants can help it
for you before meeting gurus and become better for pollinators.
seeing yoginis in ancient artworks.

Tell us your favourite new things at twitter.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 7

 Need to Know
You can now switch mobile
provider by text message
What happened?
Switching mobile providers is
notoriously difficult, especially if you
want to keep your phone number rather
than be given a new one. Ofcom has
introduced a new system that lets
mobile users switch via a text message.
Before now there were two ways to
switch. First, you simply cancelled your
existing service and signed up for a new
contract, but that meant losing your
phone number. To address that, Ofcom
came up with the Porting Authorisation
Code (PAC) system. If you wanted to
switch, you needed to get the PAC from
your current provider and give it to your How will it affect you? Using the PAC text-to-switch service
new one. Between them, they would The Text-to-Switch system is now live means you get to keep your existing
coordinate shifting your phone number. for customers of Vodafone, O2, Three phone number. If you’d rather have a
While the PAC system was an and EE. Smaller mobile providers are new phone number instead, you need a
improvement on losing your phone not yet required to take part in the service termination authorisation code
number just to get a new contract, system, but may well do so in the future. (STAC), which you can request by
Ofcom noted that it could lead to To use the system, text the word PAC texting STAC to 75075.
delays, and some people ended up to 65075. Your provider will reply with Ofcom has also set up an information
paying for two contracts at the same the PAC code and any contract service, so you can find out contract
time for a month. Mobile operators information, such as early termination details and potential costs of leaving
didn’t make it easy, either. Under the charges, or your pay-as-you-go balance. your provider without having to call
PAC system, you needed to call your The PAC is valid for 30 days. them and subject yourself to a sales
existing provider to tell them you were Once you have your PAC, you can pitch. For that, text INFO to 85075.
leaving, which some companies used as pass it on to your new provider. The
an opportunity to hard-sell you a better switch will happen within one working What do we think?
deal to persuade you to stay. That made day so customers won’t have to pay for Well done, Ofcom. This clever,
the process onerous and confusing. two contracts at the same time. If you consumer-friendly system will save us a
Under the new switching process, have a family package with more than lot of frustration, cost and time. Calling
mobile users can request their PAC one number linked to a contract, you’ll a mobile network to get a PAC code or
simply by texting a designated number have to request your PAC through your cancel a contract is all but guaranteed
set up by Ofcom. The communications online account with your provider – you to lead to an irritating attempt to keep
regulator’s own research suggests that a should still receive it within a minute. If your custom by offering a better deal.
third of people find it difficult to cancel you’re unhappy with your existing Providers should try offering those
their existing mobile service; 45% of service and looking for a new provider, before you’re fed up, rather than when
those who want to switch but haven’t you can request your PAC before you you’ve already put in the effort to find a
said that the process takes too long, start shopping around, so you have it to better contract.
while 39% said that contacting multiple hand and can switch immediately, even It’s often worth switching, too. New
phone providers is too much hassle. in a high-street phone store. contracts almost always offer the best
deals, so shopping around when your
contract comes up is a smart move. This
service will make that easier, so more of
us can take advantage of switching for a
Credit: Ofcom

better service or cheaper offer. Mobile

operators will have to keep customers
by delivering a good service at a fair
price, rather than placing hurdles in
their path to stop them leaving.

8 10 - 23 July 2019
 Need to Know

What we think of this fortnight’s top tech news stories and rumours,
and how they affect you

Google Maps tells you how busy your bus is

Credit: Elena Rostunova / Shutterstock.com

What happened? based services section of
Google has added a new your privacy settings,
feature to its Maps app that there’s a good chance that
predicts how busy your the tech giant is tracking
bus or train carriage will your whereabouts. Most of
be. The data isn’t live, but the time, Google does this
is based on information the not to benefit users but to
company collected collect data for advertising
previously by asking bus purposes. In this case,
passengers and train however, the surveillance
commuters if their ride was could actually prove useful
crowded and whether any and help us avoid bus and
seats were available. The train crushes.
aim is to give public How will it affect you? Liverpool, London, That said, most public
transport users more The crowdedness predictions Newcastle, Nottingham, transport users are well
information about what to will be available in both the Oxford, Reading, Sheffield aware of when their
expect on their journey. Apple iOS and Android and Southampton. The journeys will be crowded
Alongside the versions of Google Maps, for crowdedness predictions will – it’s called rush hour for a
“crowdedness” predictions, 200 locations around the show up in Google Maps reason, after all. This
Google is rolling out live world. In the UK, 18 cities and when you use the app to plan information would be more
transit updates to cities towns will support the a journey on public transport. useful if it were live, and
that don’t already share feature to start with: could tell us if a particular
such information with Birmingham, Brighton, What do we think? train was unexpectedly
commuters, letting them Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, If you have a Google product busy or if there was a seat
know when their bus is Coventry, Crawley, on your phone and haven’t on the next bus, making it
running late. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, fiddled with the location- worth the extra wait.

USB-C bug could slow down Windows 10

What happened? system wakes up, the minute. This
Microsoft has confirmed its connected device will still flaw won’t
discovery of yet another work as it should. damage your
bug in Windows 10. This PC, Microsoft
one involves devices that How will it affect you? says.
connect to PCs and This flaw only affects
laptops, such as chargers Windows 10 PCs that use What do
and docks, through the version 1809, the update we think?
USB-C port. The bug released last October. If This is a small
appeared in the Windows you’ve updated to the more flaw with
10 October 2018 update, so recent version, 1903, it won’t limited
anyone who still runs that affect you, because Microsoft impact, but
version of the operating fixed the flaw – adding it’s still annoying. Microsoft’s Updating to the latest
system is affected. It’s a another reason to update Windows updates have been version will help solve the
fairly niche bug, though: your operating system if you buggy of late, and this latest problem, and the latest
you’ll only notice it if you haven’t already. You can also issue only adds to the pile of update issued in May
connect a device to a avoid the bug easily by problems users face. Worse appears to be less buggy
USB-C port during connecting any USB-C bugs than this have been than last year’s version, so
shutdown or in sleep mode. devices before you shut discovered in the October it’s worth taking the time
If you do, Windows 10 will down. Even if you forget, update, but the fact that to download and install it.
take longer to power off, the consequences aren’t Microsoft is still spotting We only wish Microsoft
delaying shutdown by up serious, because the only real them will be frustrating to took more time to hunt for
to a minute. Once the issue is a delay of up to a those who use the software. bugs in the first place.

Discuss web news at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 9

 Need to Know

Facebook launches Libra cryptocurrency

What happened?
As we speculated in our What’s the
Rumour section in Issue 477, Facebook
is unveiling its own cryptocurrency,
Libra (libra.org). To be more precise, the
blockchain-based currency is controlled
by Facebook and other founding
members of the Libra Association,
which means the social network has a
single vote on a board that also includes
the likes of Visa and Uber.
According to Facebook’s white paper
(bit.ly/white479), the goal is to “enable
a simple global currency and financial
infrastructure that empowers billions of
people”. Globally, 31% of people have no
access to banking facilities. Libra’s Bitcoin’s own price shot up in will ensure transactions are locked away
backers are hoping to change that by response to the announcement. from social media activity, protecting
offering quick and virtually free money Investors clearly believe that Facebook’s your privacy and preventing Facebook
transfers between friends, family, move could legitimise the concept of using data on your spending habits to
businesses and anyone else. cryptocurrency, helping it to achieve target you with adverts.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that mainstream acceptance.
Libra is just another Bitcoin, however. What do we think?
While popular cryptocurrencies How will it affect you? We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it
including Bitcoin are decentralised and Despite the advanced technology again: anything that stops Facebook
free from interference, Facebook’s behind Libra, the user experience is making money from our data is fine by
crypto-experiment runs on a private expected to be similar to that of PayPal. us. And if it helps raise the profile of
ledger. This means members of the Once the Facebook currency rolls out in cryptocurrencies, that’s no bad thing
Libra Association are to Libra what the June 2020, however, you can expect either. However, we’re not sure that the
Bank of England is to the pound microtransactions to hit the site, too. Libra Association’s chosen route –
sterling: a central bank. At best, this Aware of its reputation for misusing turning itself into a central bank – is the
may undermine the core appeal of the data, Facebook intends to keep Libra right move, and may deter those crucial
cryptocurrency for many. At worst, separate from its social-media early adopters who are looking for a
critics fear it could turn Facebook and operation. By using a subsidiary true Bitcoin alternative. That could cost
its cohorts into an online nation state. company called Calibra, the company Facebook – at least in the short term.

FIRST LOOK
Kano PC isn’t something you can take for
bit.ly/kano479 granted these days).
The kit comes with everything
Kano has earned a solid reputation in you need to build your own Kano PC,
recent years for making products that including a Lego-style instruction
teach kids how to build computers book to help you put it together.
and write code. Now the company is There’s even a magnifying glass, so
moving away from its Linux-based kids can zero in on the finer parts
Raspberry Pi devices to launch a of the machine.
laptop that runs Windows 10 S. Explaining the shift from its
The chunky computer features a long-standing Kano OS to Windows,
11.6in touchscreen tablet and fold-out Kano’s CEO and co-founder Alex
keyboard that will be familiar to certainly no powerhouse, though: as an Klein said, “People want a real
anyone who’s ever used an iPad entry-level DIY kit, the Kano PC runs on computer. They want to have a
keyboard case or two-in-one device, a quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8350 device that can run Netflix, a device
such as the Surface Go. The bold processor, with 4GB of RAM. Most of its that can run Fortnite, a device that is
orange keys give it a child-friendly 64GB of internal storage will be taken comparable to the higher-priced ones,
feel that’s also attractive. up by the operating system, but this can even if they are shopping at below
The device uses custom parts that be expanded by adding a microSD card. 300 dollars”.
– in some cases, at least – can be The Kano PC is equipped with an The Kano PC goes on sale in
replaced easily if needed, which is HDMI socket, USB 2 and USB 3 ports, October – just in time for Christmas –
sensible in a device for children. It’s and a 3.5mm headphone jack (which and is priced at £299.99.

10 10 - 23 July 2019
 Need to Know

WHAT’S THE RUMOUR

WEBOMETER
Will Microsoft’s new
tablet run Android apps? WE LIKE...
Edge adds built-in
tracking protection
There’s still no sign of Microsoft is testing tracking-
Microsoft’s rumoured dual- prevention features for
screen device, but reports the new Chromium-
suggest that not only is it based version of its
happening, but it may also Edge browser. The
run Android apps. new tools offer three
In an interview with Forbes, custom levels of
Jeff Lin, Associate Director at protection, and block
IHS Markit, claimed that the malicious trackers
phantom Surface will feature and some third-party
“two 9in screens with a 4:3 trackers by default.
aspect ratio” (bit.ly/
surface479). According to his Raspberry Pi 4 now
sources further along the available to buy
supply chain, the foldable tablet runs a The Raspberry Pi Foundation
new version of Windows 10 known as LIKELIHOOD RATING has launched the
Windows Core OS (WCOS), is built ✓✓✓✓ fourth version of its
around an Intel Lakefield chip and has Given Microsoft’s trajectory miniature budget PC.
an always-on connection. over the past few years, support The Raspberry Pi 4
Most surprising, however, is his for Android apps seems highly comes with up to
claim that it will be able to run “Android likely. Windows Mobile and its 4GB of RAM, a faster
apps and iCloud service in Windows 10”. successor Windows Phone processor, dual-band
It’s thought that the new operating suffered from intense Wi-Fi and much
system will make this possible either competition both from Android more. Look out for a full
by streaming the apps through the and iOS – and a core part of review in our next issue.
cloud or emulating Android on the that failure was its desolate
device – like a built-in version of ecosystem. Its app store was a
the popular emulation software wasteland, with few developers WE DON’T LIKE...
BlueStacks (www.bluestacks.com). interested in creating apps for Vulnerability found in
If the rumours are true, it may seem the distant third-place platform. Microsoft Excel
odd that the company is embracing the Microsoft won’t want to make A security flaw found
platform of its most bitter rival, Google. the same mistake twice. Adding in Microsoft Excel
However, under Satya Nadella’s steady the option to run Android apps could allow hackers to
hand, Microsoft has already shown itself on a folding Surface device is a launch malware and
willing to embrace other platforms, unique selling-point that could take over a user’s
supporting Linux and bringing its own attract a lot of users. system. The
suite of office apps to Android and iOS. vulnerability affects
Power Query, an
Excel tool that enables

What’s new on Kickstarter

users to integrate spreadsheets
with other files.
Our favourite new project on the crowdfunding site
Alexa verbally
abuses Echo user
Lumi The owner of an Echo Dot smart
bit.ly/lumi479 | From £147 speaker claims Alexa
started to call him
“I wish I’d learnt to play the piano,” is a familiar refrain. Sadly, “s***thead” after he
time, money and the considerable effort involved are all cancelled his Prime
barriers – or they were until Lumi came along. This clever subscription. Amazon
portable gadget helps you learn how to play, thanks to its illuminated, colour- has offered the
coded keyboard and accompanying app. It’s similar to popular rhythm games customer £255 in gift
such as Guitar Hero, where you press colour-coded keys, one note at a time, as cards and a year of
they light up on the app. The interactive lessons let you learn at your own pace free Prime membership as
until you can rival Beethoven. Pledges start at £147 for the base kit. compensation.

Discuss web news at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 11

 Stay Safe Online
News about the latest threats and advice from security experts

SECURITY ALERT! | What’s been bothering us this fortnight

Chinese hackers spy on gained entry to the mobile networks by over their account completely without
mobile phone users exploiting a flaw in a web server product. having to obtain any login credentials.
Security “We’ve concluded with a high level of Origin is one of the biggest PC-
researchers have certainty that the threat actor is affiliated gaming platforms, with blockbuster
uncovered a with China and is likely state sponsored,” titles such as FIFA, Madden, Battlefield,
cyberspying said Cybereason’s report. “This attack The Sims and Star Wars Battlefront on
campaign dating has widespread implications, not just for its roster. It has 300 million users
back to at least individuals, but also for organisations worldwide, who could have been
2017, which and countries alike. This is another form affected by the exploits.
involved the hacking of 10 mobile of cyber warfare being used to establish Fortunately, the problems have
phone networks around the world a foothold and gather information now been patched, and there is
and invisible tracking of their users undercover until they are ready to strike.” no evidence that they were ever
for months on end. bit.ly/hackers479 exploited by attackers. “EA’s Origin
In the report published by platform is hugely popular, and if left
Cybereason (bit.ly/cyber479), 300 million gamers exposed unpatched, these flaws would have
researchers said hackers were able to to security flaws enabled hackers to hijack and exploit
extract all raw data transmitted to A chain of vulnerabilities millions of users’ accounts,” said
and received from a user’s phone, has been discovered in Check Point Research. “This shows
allowing them to track a person’s a popular PC-gaming how susceptible online applications
location and steal personally platform. Check Point are to attacks and breaches. These
identifying information including Research and CyberInt [gaming] platforms are increasingly
login credentials, call records, billing uncovered security flaws in Electronic being targeted by hackers because
information and more. Hackers in Arts’ (EA’s) gaming client Origin that of the huge amounts of sensitive
China are believed to be behind the could have allowed attackers to customer data they hold”.
years-long cyberattack, having compromise a player’s session and take bit.ly/eaorigin479

Security Helpdesk | Your questions answered by security specialists

THIS ISSUE’S EXPERT: only one in 10 of us fully
David Emm, Principal understands how they work. Only one in 10 of us fully understands
Security Researcher Everyone feels comfortable how cryptocurrencies work
at Kaspersky Lab going into any branch of a
(www.kaspersky.co.uk) bank, because we know they Consumers need to follow links to an online
are regulated and understand what they can bank or web wallet
underwritten. Most of us are do to stop cybercriminals • Double-check recipients’
happy to use the bank’s stealing their digital assets. addresses, the amount
online facilities, too, but I’d Here are some key being sent and the
Are crypto-
Q
argue that this trust stems recommendations on the associated fee before you
currencies, from the trust we have in safe use of cryptocurrencies send a transaction
such as them in the real world. I don’t from Kaspersky: • Write down a mnemonic
Facebook’s new Libra think we have the same level • Always verify a crypto phrase that lets you
(see news story on of confidence in online wallet’s address and don’t recover a crypto wallet if
page 10) safe to use? equivalents – whether it’s a you lose your password
Dave Horgan, Facebook currency exchange that holds • Install high-quality
our digital money for us, or security software such as

A
Many people are our own digital wallet. If Kaspersky Internet
unsure about using cryptocurrencies are ever to Security to safeguard the
cryptocurrencies rival real-world currencies, devices you use to access
– if they even know what a we all need to have the same crypto wallets and trade on
cryptocurrency is. In fact, level of trust in them. crypto-exchanges.

12 10 - 23 July 2019 Email us your security questions at [email protected]

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 Best New Websites
Site of the Fortnight
SPACE NEW

Apollo 11 Real-Time
Mission Experience
apolloinrealtime.org
If landing on the moon was a “giant leap
for mankind”, what are we to make of
this equally stunning feat: a website that
combines hundreds of hours of film,
11,000 hours of audio and 2,000 photos
from the Apollo 11 mission? Including all
the footage from the recent Apollo 11
documentary, the site lets you follow the
mission from 20 hours before launch to
splashdown eight days later. As you go,
you can play samples and read a
transcript, while navigating via an
interface that’s so packed with buttons
you almost feel part of Mission Control.

Our rating HHHHH

NEW
SOCIAL

Suffragette Aberdeen
suffrageaberdeen.co.uk
The history of the suffragettes is as
important as it is interesting, so this
NEW interactive project is very welcome. A
FOOD map pinpoints places associated with
National Restaurant Awards the movement in the north-east of
Scotland and, as you click, you get a
www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk strong sense of story, especially in
Looking for a restaurant that’s guaranteed to fill your stomach? You’ll find plenty of entries that contain well-chosen images.
recommendations on this website, but be warned: it may leave a gap in your wallet. We’d like to see more pictures, as well as
The site lists the top 100 eateries across the UK, as voted for by chefs, food writers follow-up links that explain the
and restaurateurs. Drawing you in with appetising example dishes, it gives a good references, and it would be nice if the
flavour of each restaurant while pinpointing its location and allowing you to check project didn’t rely so heavily on a fiddly
availability without leaving the site. You can view each restaurant on a map or filter map. Once the accompanying blog gets
by Michelin star. There’s also a list of special awards highlighting venues and chefs up and running, however, it’s sure to be
that will surely satisfy the appetite of any dedicated foodie. an invaluable resource.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

14 10 - 23 July 2019 Reviews by David Crookes

 Best New Websites

We review this fortnight’s best new and relaunched websites and

rate them for content, design and features

IN-PROGRESS AUDIO
Follow Neil
Select Mission
Armstrong and
Control Audio
Buzz Aldrin in
to hear
real time on 21
individual
July, or dive in
voices for a
a minute before
variety of
launch
perspectives

TRANSCRIPT
During the
action, you
PHOTOS
When you
can listen to
select a photo,
Armstrong
the action
talking to
jumps to that
Mission Control
moment so
and read the
everything
transcript
stays in sync

NEW NEW NEW

PRODUCTIVITY VIDEO GAMES SPEECH

What Can I Do For Dr Mario World Stamma

LibreOffice? drmario-world.com stamma.org
whatcanidoforlibreoffice.org Creating games for phones and tablets Stamma is an awareness campaign set
LibreOffice is one of the most popular must have been a hard pill for Nintendo up by the British Stammering
free office suites, but it relies on help and to swallow, given its history of making Association to help people who stammer
goodwill, so the non-profit organisation titles exclusively for its own hardware. Its get the support they need. It also aims to
behind it has set up a website explaining mobile catalogue is about to get even give the public a better understanding of
how to get involved. It highlights specific healthier, however, with the launch of Dr the causes of stammering. In some ways,
areas of interest, from documentation Mario World for iOS and Android on 10 it lacks immediacy: the carousel doesn’t
and marketing to development and July. This site explains how to play the really hammer home the issue and the
testing. You can dismiss each one to see game, and lets you read related tweets, images are rather uninspiring. Delve
the next or select Tell Me More to narrow watch a trailer and enjoy regular ‘virus deeper, though, and this well-designed
down your expertise and view wiki videos’ – short, fun animations that and easily navigable site contains a
resources to get you started. By drawing should make you smile. The colourful site wealth of information that tackles the
attention to the various disciplines, the is light on screenshots, and there are no subject from multiple angles while
organisation hopes something will catch goodies to download, but it includes highlighting events and local groups and
your eye. It’s certainly very effective. links to the App Store and Google Play. showcasing online support.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

Tell us about your website via [email protected] 10 - 23 July 2019 15

 Best New Websites

RELAUNCH RELAUNCH NEW

SHOPPING FOOD HEALTH

Go Outdoors Cranstons Sight Advice FAQ

www.gooutdoors.co.uk cranstons.net www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk
It’s annoying when you find that items Here’s a meaty treat to get your teeth Five charities that work with blind and
you’re buying online are not available for into, courtesy of traditional Cumbrian partially sighted people have joined
home delivery and have to be collected butcher Cranstons. With a new user- forces to create a new hub that answers
from a physical shop. This was the case friendly design that’s just as easy to questions about living with eye-related
with several items we tried to buy from browse on desktop and mobile, and a problems. Its vivid design uses a simple
Go Outdoors – free deliveries, it appears, revamped online shop with an improved layout and bold fonts, while the lack of
don’t always go where you want them to. payment system, the site makes it easy images reduces clutter. You can type
If you can weather that storm, however, to buy gift hampers, meat boxes and questions into the search box or use the
you’ll find that this revamped website is a individual cuts while discovering where categories in the left-hand menu, and
vast improvement over the old one. It’s the meat comes from. You can also rate answers for their usefulness. The site
cleaner, with clearer navigation options, explore the company’s local shops and covers as many bases as possible, so
and brings the products to the fore. It food halls, and learn about the Cranstons’ whether you’re looking for information
also highlights once-peripheral sections: story, complete with photos that span on a particular condition, researching
blogs, an outdoor cookbook, camping the ages. Best of all is a selection of any benefits you can claim or seeking
guides and videos now appear in their appetising recipes. There are six now, assistance with independent living,
own excellent section called Go Explore. but more are promised soon. you’re sure to find it here.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

DO
CO B E
UL TT
D ER
NEW
VIDEO GAMES

Atari VCS
atarivcs.com
The Atari VCS (later known as the
2600) popularised home video
gaming in 1977, but the 1993 Jaguar
NEW was a flop, marking the end of Atari’s
LIFESTYLE involvement in consoles. With a new
Goop modern-day VCS due next year, this
site discusses the console’s specs
goop.com/mens while briefly looking at its games
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s natural health website, Goop, has added a new section for and the inspiration behind it. It
men in the hope of widening its promotion of mental and physical wellbeing. So far, it generally scores well, with a good
offers only a small selection of articles covering relationships, men’s health issues, FAQ and developers’ blog, but we
technology, food and science, along with videos and a podcast series called could do with a better look at the
Goopfellas. There are lots of commercial promotions, too, including publicity for a retro-styled console, as well as
new range of clothes called G Label Men, which perhaps shows where this is heading. information on Atari World OS and
Even so, it’s an attractive site that offers a fresh perspective, and you can sign up for the games we can expect. Preorders
a monthly newsletter if you find yourself drawn in to the Goop way of living. are for US customers only, too.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

Tell us about your website via [email protected] 10 - 23 July 2019 17

 Build a Better Site
Specialist tips, top tools and practical help

Top Tips of the Fortnight Web-building Helpdesk

Google dispels SEO myths I like Gutenberg, the new
Q
your website reaches a certain
The Google Webmasters YouTube size, because it searches pages block-based editor in
channel continues to be essential directly from your webhost’s WordPress version 5, but while
viewing, with a new series called server. However, a new plugin it seems easy to use, I’m not sure how
SEO Mythbusters (bit.ly/ dramatically reduces the time to build a site around it. Can you help?
seom479). In each episode, a searches take, because it can Marcus Finch, via email
Google employee invites a guest return accurate results without

A
expert into the having to communicate with your There are lots of educational
Google studio webhost. Unfortunately, it isn’t resources available on the web. If
to discuss available from the WordPress site you already know your way around
topics yet, but you can download it from a WordPress website, the information at Bill
essential to GitHub at bit.ly/search479. Upload Erickson’s site (bit.ly/bill479)
building it to your website’s plugins should get you up and running
websites and helping people find directory and activate it from reasonably quickly. If you need a
them using Google’s search there. Full instructions are little more depth, consider
engine. At the time of writing, available in the readme file on the downloading Heart Internet’s
there were four episodes: an plugin’s download page. free Get Started With Gutenberg
introduction, a look at how ebook from bit.ly/gutbk479. You
Google ranks websites, an need to enter your contact
examination of structured data, Deal of the Fortnight details but the book is free. It
and help with JavaScript. Further Bluehost (www.bluehost.com) is offering its has chapters written by various
episodes will be released weekly. Shared hosting plan for £2.80 per month, experts, including a senior
down from £7.58, including a free domain developer at Automattic, the company that
Speed up WordPress search for one year and secure hosting. You need publishes WordPress.
The default search in WordPress Andy Shaw, Technical & Reviews Editor
to sign up for 36 months.
can be slow, particularly when

MINI WORKSHOP | Get feedback from your visitors using a Google Form
Google Forms: docs.google.com/forms | 10 mins | Any browser
It’s difficult to establish what visitors want from your website when you never meet them, but you can ask
them to fill in a form. Google Forms makes this process quick and easy, both for you and your visitors

1 3 4

2
1

3 2
1
3
4
5
2

1 In Google Drive, choose a folder in

which to save your form. Right-click
and select More, then Google Forms.
2 The default question type is ‘Multiple
choice’. 1 Click this option to see a
list of alternatives and select the one you
3 Click the ‘Add question’ button 1
to add as many questions as you
need. When you’re ready to share the
Google sets up an ‘Untitled form’ 1 want. Write your question in the box at form on your website, click Send. 2
containing a single Untitled Question. the top 2 and your answers, if required, To add a link to the form on your site,
2 Click the title to add a new heading, below. 3 Click ‘Add option’ 4 to include click the link icon. 3 Alternatively,
then click ‘Form description’ 3 to more answers, and use the cross icons 5 embed the form using HTML code,
give visitors some idea of what the to remove any you no longer want. which you can copy from the Embed
form is about. HTML tab. 4

18 10 - 23 July 2019 Email us your website building questions at [email protected]

 What To Watch Online
Pick of the fortnight
Watch Amazon’s digital
dystopian drama Dark/Web
From 19 July
Near-future dystopias are very “now”. The Beeb’s brilliant Years
and Years is streaming until late August at bit.ly/years479, while
Netflix’s Black Mirror has reached Season 5 at bit.ly/mirror479,
and The Handmaid’s Tale is halfway through Season 3 at bit.ly/
handmaid479. Now Amazon’s eight-part sci-fi thriller Dark/Web
goes even darker, as it imagines a future where all our lives are
online, connected and ultimately doomed.
Each episode explores a new digital danger – a bit like Black
Mirror but with the same story and cast throughout. It starts with
the disappearance of whizz-kid programmer Molly, who has
uncovered secrets about impending tech armageddon. Where is
she, and will her friends manage to decode her cryptic notes?
Dark/Web’s trailer has no answers but it gives a sense of the
show’s high-tech low-light tension: bit.ly/darkweb479.
Supporting actors include Xander and Glory from Buffy and the
opera-singing baddie from The Goonies. Writer Mario Miscione
also has a cultish CV, including the thriller Circle (bit.ly/circle479).
Dark/Web arrives on Amazon on 19 July, and gets a special
screening at San Diego’s Comic-Con, along with a cast and crew
panel. Find out more at www.facebook.com/darkwebshow.

Rip your bodice for Season 3 New episodes, as well as Seasons 1 Find out more about the comics at
of Harlots and 2, are on StarzPlay at bit.ly/ bit.ly/deadlycomic479, and watch the
From 11 July harlotsstarz479. StarzPlay costs £4.99 a show’s official trailer at bit.ly/deadly479.
This bawdy romp through the month plus £7.99 for Prime, so we hope
brothels of 18th-century London Harlots follows Hulu stablemates The Watch Netflix’s new action
has reached its third season, with Handmaid’s Tale and Brooklyn Nine- film Point Blank
new episodes arriving weekly on Nine onto Channel 4’s free All 4 website. From 12 July
Amazon’s StarzPlay channel just after Netflix’s latest film is a
they broadcast on Hulu in the US. Join a school for assassins gripping action thriller
Brit actresses Lesley Manville and in Deadly Class starring Anthony
Samantha Morton lead the cast, joined From 19 July Mackie (The Hurt
by Game of Thrones’ Alfie Allen, who Locker) as an A&E
plays an ambitious pimp. Get to know nurse whose wife is
the characters on the Harlots Wiki kidnapped, and
(bit.ly/harlotswiki479), and watch the whose only hope is
latest trailer at bit.ly/harlots479. help from a badly-
injured criminal
(Frank Grillo from
Prison Break). See the
It’s a busy fortnight for StarzPlay, which trailer for free, and
has grabbed the UK rights to this new watch Point Blank in full with a Netflix
comic-book adaptation set in a posh subscription, at bit.ly/pointflix479.
school for young assassins in the 1980s If you’d rather stick with Lee Marvin’s
(what else?). The 10-episode first 1967 classic movie of the same name,
season, which stars Benedict Wong you can watch it for free on YouTube,
(State of Play) as the mini murderers’ albeit with Portuguese subtitles:
mentor, arrives as a boxset on 19 July. bit.ly/pointmarvin479.

20 10 - 23 July 2019
 What To Watch Online

We reveal what’s new on Netflix, BBC iPlayer,

Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services

Un
Unravel the latest trailer at her 1700s beau Jamie (Sam Heughan)
bi
bit.ly/elemtrail479. as they juggle life across the centuries.
Suits has been going even Amazon Prime has the first four seasons
longer. Former star Meghan Markle (bit.ly/outlanderam479), but Seasons
isn’t in the regular cast of Season 1-3 are now coming to All 4 so you can
9, which arrives on Netflix on 18 watch them completely free. Watch
July (can’t think why). Watch the Seasons 1 and 2 in full, and Season 3
latest trailer for free, and all 134 episodes each week after they air on
episodes with a Netflix More4, at bit.ly/outlander479. Watch
subscription, at bit.ly/suits479. the Season 3 trailer at bit.ly/outtrail479.

Return to the
th Cotswolds
lds
with Agatha Raisin
From 12 July
London PR turned amateur Cotswolds
sleuth Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen
from Extras) returns for a second series
of mystery and mischief, with her
sidekick Roy (Matthew Horne from
Gavin & Stacey).
The wry comedy, based on the books Go back in time with
by MC Beaton (bit.ly/agathabooks479), Outlander on All4 – or
appears weekly on Sky One, so you fast forward with Prime Get a boost from all-new
can catch up on-demand via Now TV From 10 July Queer Eye
with an Entertainment Pass (£7.99 a This time-travel tale follows married From 19 July
month, bit.ly/nowent479), or use Sky 1960s nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and This fab show is the anti-Jeremy Kyle.
Go if you’re a Sky subscriber. Season 1 It exists purely to make people feel
is still available on Now TV at bit.ly/ be
better about themselves, using the
agathanow479, and the latest Season ex
expertise of its Fab Five to offer
2 trailer is on YouTube at bit.ly/ ma
makeovers, home improvements and
agatha479. re
relationship advice. Now on its fourth
Ne
Netflix season under its abridged
Say goodbye to Sherlock name, the show welcomes a new Fab
update Elementary and Five and goes global. Watch the
legal drama Suits latest trailer for free, and all four
16-18 July seasons with a Netflix subscription,
Two hit shows set in New York face their at bit.ly/queereye479.
final curtain, as the last seasons of Suits
and Elementary land on Netflix and Now
TV in the next few days. If you fancy Ofcom: iPlayer may keep shows for a year
watching them both from beginning to
end, clear your diary, At last there’s some good news for BBC lovers: broadcast watchdog
because they rack up Ofcom has provisionally approved the corporation’s plans to extend its
nearly 300 episodes default iPlayer catch-up limit from 30 days to a year.
between them. In a statement summing up the results of its competition assessment,
Sherlock-in-NYC Ofcom said: “With the UK broadcasting sector evolving, and audiences’
drama Elementary expectations changing, the BBC needs to keep pace.”
started in 2012 The verdict wasn’t all positive, though. A one-year catch-up limit would be
as another new spin bad news for rival streaming services from other public broadcasters, such as
on the Conan Doyle Channel 4’s All 4 and ITV Hub, the regulator
story, with Jonny Lee said. Further consultations are to take place,
Miller (Trainspotting) as while a final decision is due in August. Follow
Holmes and Lucy Liu (Kill Bill) the progress at bit.ly/ofcom479.
as Dr Joan Watson. Reviewers loved A BBC spokesman insisted the changes were
it and the show lasted seven seasons. necessary. “Having programmes on iPlayer for
The 13 new episodes will arrive 30 days no longer makes sense in a world
weekly from 16 July on Now TV at where global streaming services can offer
bit/elementary479, where you can unlimited boxsets for as long as they want.”
also watch Seasons 1-6 until November.

Tell us your favourite new TV at twitter.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 21

 Group Test
We test and compare the latest products

Multifunction
inkjet printers
We’ve tested seven all-in-one devices that combine printing,
scanning and copying, to see which one is right for you

E
verybody needs to send a formal letter now and
then, and it’s nice to be able to print some of the
HOW WE TESTED
photos that would otherwise be confined to our We tested each multifunction device by printing a selection of
phones. If you’re investing money and desk space on a photos and documents – both in colour and black and white –
printer, though, it’s worth considering a multifunction then comparing them for quality. We also measured the speed
model. This gives you the added benefit of a scanner in at which the printers produced their pages and how quickly
a unit that’s barely larger than a standard printer, so their scanning functions worked.
you can scan or photocopy documents and photos, too. Finally, we analysed each printer’s costs, working out the price
Here we’ve reviewed seven multifunction printers, per page based on the cost and lifespan of its ink cartridges.
with prices starting at £47.99.

Canon Pixma TS6250 | £114.36 | Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/cango479 VERDICT

FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★★★ ★★★★★

This three-in-one device (printer, scanner and can print on both sides of the paper It’s not the fastest device
copier) from Canon is aimed at creative home automatically (duplex printing), we tested, but the TS6250
users. It can be operated wirelessly, so you can although prints are lighter in this is quick enough across all
print from any device in your home. However, it mode because the printer tries its functions. It’s also
doesn’t have an SD card slot or USB port for to reduce smudging when the
smart to look at and easy
getting photos from older devices that lack paper is fed back through for
to use, whether from a PC,
wireless connectivity, such as digital cameras. A the second print.
7.5cm colour touchscreen offers direct control of Canon’s scanning interface
mobile device or its
mo
the printer, allowing you to scan and print has remained the same for own touchscreen.
directly to and from online services, including a decade but we think it’s With great
Wi
Facebook, Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. the best of the bunch, so results and
The device is made from smart black plastic we’re pleased to see that acceptable
and has two paper trays, each of which holds up Canon hasn’t changed it running costs,
to 100 sheets of plain paper. It uses Canon’s unnecessarily. it’s an easy home
five-ink system, which combines the usual cyan, multifunction printer
magenta and yellow with two black cartridges to to recommend.
ensure you get the best results whether you’re
printing on plain or photographic paper.
Cartridges are available in a range of capacities,
but the best price per page (using XXL
cartridges) is 8.6p for a mixed black and colour
print, while a black text page costs 2.8p.
It wasn’t the fastest printer in our test, but at
12.7 pages per minute (ppm) for black text and
3.9ppm in our colour test, it’s quick
enough. Prints look great, too. On plain
paper, black text is crisp and dark, while
graphics are bright and punchy. Crucially it

22 10 - 23 July 2019
 Inkjet printers Group Test

Epson EcoTank ET-2710 | £170.01 | HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 | £104.98 |

Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/epseco479
79 Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/hpoj479
FEATURES ★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ FEATURES ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★
EASE OF USE ★★★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★★★

This printer’s main selling Despite offering an extra

point is its refillable tanks, function that’s probably
but otherwise it’s rather superfluous for most people
basic. It’s wireless, which (the ability to send and
means it can print from a receive faxes), this office-
variety of devices, but with focused model is the
no built-in screen, you have cheapest of our three
to use buttons and lights award-winners. It has a
to control its minimal functions. It has a single
si le 100-page
100- 225-sheet paper tray in the bottom and a 35-sheet document
paper tray and will only print on both sides of the paper if you feeder in the top, which can scan both sides of multi-page
reload each sheet manually. documents automatically.
You might think filling ink tanks would be messy, but Epson It’s fast for such an affordable printer, reaching 4.7ppm in
has made the task simple, clean and difficult to screw up. The our colour test and 18.5ppm when printing black text. We
tanks are huge, with quoted capacities for 3,600 mono pages found the scanner software frustrating to use, though, with
or 6,500 colour, so most homes probably won’t need to refill limited options and a tendency to over-sharpen images.
them for a couple of years. A colour page costs around 0.5p. If you use its highest-capacity supplies, a page of mixed
It’s a bit slow, at 2.9ppm in colour and 9.6ppm in black, text and graphics should cost around 6.8p to print – a couple
although it reached 16.1ppm in draft mode. Prints generally of pence cheaper than is typical at this price. This helps make
look good, but text is slightly too faint on mixed pages. the Pro 6970 good value for a busy home office.

VERDICT ★★★★ VERDICT ★★★★

Refillable ink tanks make this multifunction device great value but, more With its built-in fax machine as well as the usual printer, scanner and copier, this
importantly, it’s a reasonable printer, too. Its photos aren’t the best but if you’re device is aimed more at home office users than creative types. However, if you
looking for an affordable home workhorse, it’s a fantastic option. need decent, speedy prints at a reasonable price, it’s a good choice.

Canon Pixma TS9550 | £198.85 Epson Expression Home XP-452 | £47.99

Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/canpix479 | ★★★ Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/epsho479 | ★★★
FEATURES ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★ FEATURES ★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★
EASE OF USE ★★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★★

If you often need to produce prints that If your budget is small, this Epson
are larger than A4, this A3 printer will model may catch your eye. It costs less
come in handy. Its rear sheet feeder than £50 but comes with the usual
holds 50 A3 pages, while another at the printer, scanner and copier functions,
bottom holds 100 A4 sheets. Despite all this, it’s not too big. and a colour screen. It’s slow (at 2.4ppm in colour and
Prints aren’t particularly fast or cheap, and the device is 10.1ppm for text) but prints look good for the price. The
aimed more at home offices than artistic uses, so photo prints drawback is that it costs 11.2p per printed page, so if you print
weren’t as strong as those from our Gold Award winner. a lot, you’ll soon end up paying more than if you’d bought a
It’s not as cheap to run or as good a printer as the Gold pricier printer with better-value consumables.
Award-winning Canon model, but if you need to print A3 It’s a reasonable printer and very cheap, but it could be a
pages, it comes into its own. false economy if you produce more than a handful of prints.

Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 | £129 Brother MFC-J491DW | £89.98

Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/epspre479 | ★★★ Buy from Amazon: bit.ly/brot479 | ★★
FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★ FEATURES ★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★
EASE OF USE ★★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★ EASE OF USE ★★★ VALUE FOR MONEY ★★

This feature-packed printer lives up to The biggest disappointment with this

its name, with a smart touchscreen Brother device is its prints. Text printed
controller and paper trays for both A4 well on plain paper, but colour prints
and photo paper, so you don’t have to looked washed out and lacked punch.
keep swapping them. It also has a document feeder on the This office-focused model also has a fax function, which is
scanner, making it easy to copy multiple-page documents. It probably superfluous for most home users. It features some
prints text at 14.7ppm and colour pages at 6ppm, which is nice touches, though, including an automatic sheet feeder for
impressively fast, but it doesn’t do enough to justify the extra the scanner that folds away when not in use.
few pounds you pay above Canon’s Gold Award winner. Colour prints weren’t as good as we’d hoped from a device
With plenty of bells and whistles, it lives up to its Premium at this price, and because it’s aimed at small offices, you’re
name, but our award winners offer better value. probably paying for features you’ll never use, such as faxing.

Discuss this review at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 23

Group Test Inkjet printers

Canon Epson HP Canon Epson Expression

Pixma TS6250 EcoTank ET-2710 OfficeJet Pro 6970 Pixma TS9550 Home XP-452

WEBSITE www.canon.co.uk www.epson.co.uk www.hp.com www.canon.co.uk www.epson.co.uk

PRICE £114.36 £170.01 £104.98 £198.85 £47.99

BUY FROM AMAZON bit.ly/cango479 bit.ly/epseco479 bit.ly/hpoj479 bit.ly/canpix479 bit.ly/epsho479

MAXIMUM PRINT 4,800 x 1,200dpi 5,760 x 1,440dpi 1,200 x 600dpi 4,800 x 1,200dpi 5,760 x 1,440dpi
RESOLUTION

MAXIMUM SCAN 2,400 x 1,200dpi 2,400 x 1,200dpi 1,200 x 1,200dpi 2,400 x 1,200dpi 2,400 x 1,200dpi
RESOLUTION

PAPER CAPACITY 200 sheets A4 100 sheets A4 225 sheets A4 200 sheets A4 100 sheets A4

DOUBLE-SIDED ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗
PRINTING

DISPLAY 7.5cm colour ✗ 6.8cm colour 10.8cm colour 6.8cm colour

touchscreen touchscreen touchscreen touchscreen

INTERFACES USB, 802.11n USB, 802.11n Ethernet, USB, SD Card, Ethernet, SD Card, USB, 802.11n
802.11n USB, 802.11n

DIMENSIONS 372 x 315 x 139mm 374 x 347 x 179mm 464 x 390 x 229mm 468 x 366 x 193mm 390 x 300 x 146mm

WEIGHT 6.2kg 3.9kg 8.1kg 9.7kg 4.3kg

WARRANTY One-year return-to- Three-year One-year return-to- One-year return-to- One-year return-to-
base return-to-base base base base

OUR VERDICT
Our favourite multifunction printer was the Canon Pixma
TS6250, which duly won our Gold Award. It’s a solid
all-rounder that achieves the right balance of functions
and the ability to churn out superb prints. It’s easy to use,
whether you connect from a PC or mobile device, and
operates well as a standalone printer and scanner, too.
If running costs are important to you, consider our
Silver Award winner, the Epson EcoTank ET-2710. Ink
cartridges can be wasteful and expensive, but the
EcoTank replaces these frustrating consumables with
refillable ink tanks that are cheap to fill and last for ages.
Alternatively, if you need a more office-friendly device,
the Bronze Award-winning HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 is ideal.
It isn’t too expensive, prints nicely and has a built-in fax
machine, if you should need such a thing.

24 10 - 23 July 2019
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Web User and its sister titles test over 2,500 products every year

HARDWARE
INKJET PRINTER MINI PC
Canon Pixma TS6250 NEW! ASRock DeskMini 310
£114.36 from bit.ly/cango479 £668.70 from bit.ly/asro477
Tested: Issue 479 Tested: Issue 477

This multifunction printer looks The performance of this diminutive PC

smart and is easy to use, whether it’s from a PC, a mobile comes remarkably close to a full-size system,
device or its own touchscreen. Its results are great and once you’ve paid for and installed its
running costs are acceptable, making it easy to recommend. components. It’s compact, quiet and runs Windows well.

KEY SPECS KEY SPECS

4,800 x 1,200dpi print resolution n 2,400 x 1,200dpi scan Intel Core i5-8400 processor n 250GB SSD n 16GB memory
resolution n 200-sheet A4 paper capacity n Double-sided n Intel UHD Graphics 630 card n 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1,

printing n 7.5in colour touchscreen n 802.11n Wi-Fi n 372 x 1 x USB 2 ports n 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet n 158 x 155
315 x 139mm n 6.2kg n One-year return-to-base warranty x 80mm n 1.87kg n One-year return-to-base warranty

GRAPHICS CARD SMARTPHONE

Asus ROG Strix RX 570 OC Moto G7 Power
£189.99 from bit.ly/asusbox475 £179.99 from bit.ly/pow472
Tested: Issue 475 Tested: Issue 472

Asus’s twin-fan graphics card gets the balanc

balance perfectly Battery life is at the heart of what we love
right. It comfortably plays games that are designed to push and hate about our phones, and the Moto G7
a graphics-processing unit to the limit, and for the price it Power lasted an incredible 26 hours and 22
kicks cards with similar specifications right out of the game. minutes in our tests. Its specs and price are also great.

KEY SPECS KEY SPECS

AMD Radeon RX 570 graphics processor n 2,048 GPU cores Octa-core 1.8GHz processor n 64GB storage n 4GB RAM n
n 1,300MHz clock speed n 4GB memory n 1 x DisplayPort, 6.2in, 720 x 1,570-pixel screen n 12-megapixel rear camera,
2 x DVI, 1 x HDMI outputs n 200W power n 240mm n 8-megapixel front camera n 5,000mAh battery n 159.4 x 76
Two-year repair-and-replace warranty x 9.3mm n 193g n One-year return-to-base warranty

WI-FI EXTENDER SECURITY CAMERA

Netgear Nighthawk X6S Blink XT
£145.99 from bit.ly/ngx6s471 £149.99 from bit.ly/blink470
Tested: Issue 471 Tested: Issue 470
All prices correct at time of review

The Nighthawk X6S’s unbeatable The Blink XT can be positioned anywhere in your home,
combination of high speed and top-end indoors or out, and includes a lifetime subscription to its
features makes it the best Wi-Fi cloud-storage service. You get a couple of years’ use out of
extender available. It’s big and boxy, but its performance the camera before you need to replace the batteries.
gives mesh-router systems a run for their money.
KEY SPECS
KEY SPECS HD video n Motion and temperature sensors n Built-in
Works with 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks n 4 x Gigabit microphone n Camera mount included n Weatherproof n
Ethernet ports n Access control n Wi-Fi schedule n WPS Infrared night vision n Wi-Fi connectivity n Instant alerts to
button n 277 x 170 x 93mm n Two-year warranty your phone n Two years of battery life

26 10 - 23 July 2019
 Web User’s Best Buys

SOFTWARE & SERVICES

BACKUP SOFTWARE Web User Gold Award winners

WEB-DESIGN TOOL
Acronis True Image 2019
Basic WebPage Builder
£35 from
bit.ly/acro473 Free from bit.ly/bwpb478
NEW!
Tested: Issue 473 Tested: Issue 478
Basic WebPage Builder is ideal for budding but inexperienced
Acronis True Image web designers. Its impressive range of elements will fulfil
is a versatile backup most basic needs, with no HTML knowledge required.
tool that can do
everything from
cloud storage to PDF EDITOR
disaster recovery. It Apowersoft Online PDF Editor
isn’t cheap compared with rival software, but it’s flexible
and simple to control, reasonably fast and should cover all Free from bit.ly/apow477
your backing-up needs. Tested: Issue 477
We were gobsmacked by how much PDF content we were
KEY FEATURES able to edit using this excellent free tool. It offers several
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS n Local backup n Disc- advanced features that genuinely impressed us.
image backup n Restore from the web n Create disaster
recovery n AES-256 encryption n Continuous, daily, weekly
or monthly backups n Multiple backup sets CLIPBOARD MANAGER
CopyQ
PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE Free from bit.ly/copyq476
Tested: Issue 476
DxO PhotoLab Intuitively designed and undemanding, CopyQ delivers
everything you need from a clipboard manager. It has no
£99 from trouble with text, images or anything else you throw at it.
bit.ly/dxo455
Tested: Issue 455
TO-DO LIST TOOL
If you’re put off Todoist
by Adobe’s
subscription Free from www.todoist.com
costs, DxO Tested: Issue 475
PhotoLab is the Todoist has the tools you need for managing your daily tasks,
best alternative for managing and editing your photos. and works well across phones, computers and other devices.
Its interface is streamlined and elegant, and the editing and
image quality are exceptional. It’s also very simple to use
and comes with lots of sophisticated tools. URL SHORTENER
Kutt.it
KEY FEATURES
RAW conversion n High quality noise reduction n Optical Free from kutt.it
corrections n Red-eye correction n Advanced light and Tested: Issue 474
colour n Batch processing n Selective tone n Full-screen Free and open-source, Kutt.it offers all you need from a
mode n Spot-weighted mode URL-shortening service with none of the clutter of its rivals.

10 - 23 July 2019 27
 Best Free Software
SYSTEM TOOL

Start Everywhere
bit.ly/start479
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10
File size: 355KB

When you want to launch a program

on your PC, you have a number of
options. You can search for the
application you want, go through the
Start menu, click a pinned icon on the
taskbar or double-click a desktop
shortcut. Start Everywhere gives you
another option – a customisable Start
menu that, as you can probably guess
from the name, can be summoned from
anywhere on your desktop.
To open the menu, either click the
system tray icon (using your left or
right mouse button) or the floating
target button that sits permanently
on top of all your open windows. You
can drag this button anywhere on your screen, resize it and hide it so on. The System section gives you
when it’s not required. access to additional Windows tools
Start Everywhere’s menu gives you including Control Panel and Task
access to all your programs, either Manager, and there’s a Most Used area
grouped alphabetically or as a long list for items you use frequently.
of folders. You can also explore the Finally, Start Everywhere has a
contents of your desktop and the My section called Others, where you’ll find
Documents and User profile folders, as settings for customising the program,
well as any custom locations. changing its theme and adjusting the
The Power Off ++ section offers a size of the menu. There are links to
convenient way to shut down your download other free tools from the
computer, restart it, send it to sleep and same developer here, too.

MINI WORKSHOP | Configure and use Start Everywhere

1 1 2 3 4 5
2
2
3

3 5
4 6

1 When you run the program, a

Start Everywhere button appears
in the system tray, as well as a floating
2 Find a program you want to launch
either by browsing the folders 1 or
looking for it in the A-Z menu. 2 You
3 If you’d like to customise the
software, go to Others. Select
Settings, and a panel opens that lets
‘click button’ on your desktop. 1 can also explore your desktop 3 and you change the menu’s appearance, 1
You can drag the floating button My Documents folder from here. 4 The alter the colours 2 and fonts 3 and
anywhere you like. Click it to open Power Off ++ menu lets you shut down choose which locations the program
the Start Everywhere menu 2 and or restart your PC, 5 while System 6 includes in the menu. 4 You can
move the mouse towards an arrow on provides access to useful tools. assign a useful hotkey for the
the right to open another menu. 3 program under Advanced. 5

28 10 - 23 July 2019
 Best Free Software

This fortnight’s top new software downloads to help you make

the most of your PC, and they’re all FREE

New Windows 10 App

iCloud
bit.ly/icloud479
Min requirements: Windows 10
File size: 253MB
Rivals Apple and Microsoft have
collaborated to create this new
app, which lets you access any
photos, videos, mail, calendar
entries and other files stored in
iCloud directly through File
Explorer on your Windows 10
PC. It works in a similar way to
Microsoft OneDrive, which means
you can save copies of files to your
ANTIVIRUS TOOL computer for offline access.
Winja 7
www.phrozen.io
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 File size: 27.7MB

Winja (short for “Windows Ninja”) is a handy interface for Google’s online
VirusTotal scanner that simplifies the process of checking your files and
downloads for malware. The latest version introduces a new File Monitor tool
that provides a real-time view of files as they’re updated or created to help you
spot malware. You’ll find this under Additional Tools. Winja also adds an option to
File Explorer’s context menu, so you can scan files and folders by right-clicking.

REMOTE-ACCESS TOOL DESKTOP CLOCK

TrustViewer 2 TheAeroClock 5
trustviewer.com/en bit.ly/aclock479
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 File size: 2MB Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 File size: 1.7MB

TrustViewer lets you take control of a remote PC (with TheAeroClock is a floating timepiece that sits on top of all the
the user’s permission, of course), make changes to it, fix windows on your desktop. You can move it by clicking and
problems, chat and share files. It’s very secure and, like similar dragging, and adjust its size, transparency and texture, as
tools, uses a PIN-based authorisation system to connect to well as the appearance of the clock face. Special themes are
the remote computer. The new version has had a major available for events such as Easter and Halloween. You can
overhaul, although the interface still looks a little dated. enable or disable the second hand, lock the clock in its
TrustViewer is completely free for home use, as well as for current position and choose whether or not it should always
businesses that need remote access to four devices or fewer. remain on top of your other windows.

Recommend free downloads at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 29

 Best Free Software
SYSTEM CLEANER
Wipe 18
bit.ly/wipe479
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10
File size: 540KB (installer only)

Over time your PC gets clogged up with

temporary files, cached data and other junk
that wastes space on your hard drive and
slows down your system. Wipe 18 scans
your PC and shows you how much space it
could free up. You can then view the details
and deselect any items you don’t want the
tool to erase, or click Delete to remove all the
junk. The Settings page lets you configure
the software, delete files securely, manage
system performance and set Wipe to close
annoying programs automatically. This
version has a new customisable interface
and improved support for cleaning up after
newer programs.

CALL HELPER
Krisp
krisp.ai
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 or macOS
File size: 69MB

If you often make voice calls on your

computer while you’re out of the house or
office, background noise can sometimes be
an issue, making it hard for both or either of
you to hear what the other is saying. Even if
you’re somewhere quiet, the person on the
other end of the line might not be. Krisp aims
to solve this problem by muting or masking
background noise during calls. You have to
create an account and sign in to use the
software (which is a bit of a nuisance), and
then select Krisp as your device’s speaker
and microphone.
The program was originally designed for
macOS but is now available for Windows too.

SYSTEM TOOL
Win-X Menu Editor 3
bit.ly/winx479
Min requirements: Windows 8.1/10
File size: 239KB

When you right-click the Start button in

Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, a basic menu
opens, giving you quick access to a number of
built-in tools, including Power Options,
Windows PowerShell and Task Manager.
Win-X Menu Editor lets you customise this
menu by moving items up and down the list,
renaming them or removing them. You can
add programs and presets, including items
from Control Panel and Administrative Tools,
and create groups. You need to restart
Explorer for any changes to take effect.
The latest version replaces the separate
builds for x86 and x64 systems, and works
with newer versions of Windows 10.

30 10 - 23 July 2019
 Best Free Software

Install this program... ...Not this one

XYplorer Double
bit.ly/xypl472 Commander
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 doublecmd.sourceforge.io
File size: 3.4MB Min requirements:
Windows 8/8.1/10
Anyone who’s frustrated with Windows File File size: 7.2MB
Explorer’s clunky approach to navigation will
appreciate XYplorer, which offers a much quicker Double Commander offers
way to flit between locations. Handy tools in the a tabs-based interface and
main ribbon menu let you jump straight to recent plenty of useful tools for
locations or view folder sizes. You can search for advanced users, but it lacks
files by name, date and size or use keywords and some of XYplorer’s more
phrases within a document. However, the real universal settings, such as
GAME bonus is the ability to find and remove duplicate a duplicate file finder.
Dystopicon files that are clogging up your PC. Sadly, the free Searches can be slow
bit.ly/dysto479 version of XYplorer hasn’t been updated since and the results poorly
Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10, 2016, but it’s still an excellent tool that works displayed, while the
macOS or Linux File size: 199MB perfectly in Windows 10. interface looks as if it was
designed 20 years ago. It’s
This game, which was inspired by three also frustrating to use.
classic sci-fi novels, takes place in
a dystopian society in which you
have just been promoted to the rank
of second-class citizen. You earn money
to pay for basic services by watching
TV, while the government sends you
regular bulletins (called ‘The Truth’) and
a story slowly unfolds.

OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS What’s new for Linux and macOS

LINUX DISTRO TO-DO LIST

Zorin OS 15 Microsoft To-Do
zorinos.com bit.ly/todo479
Min requirements: 2GB RAM, 10GB storage Min requirements: macOS 10.13 or newer
File size: 2.1GB File size: 13.6MB

Based on Ubuntu (as many Linux distributions are), Zorin OS doesn’t Based on Wunderlist, which Microsoft acquired
look too dissimilar to Windows, making it a good choice for anyone in 2015, Microsoft To-Do is a simple to-do list and
who’s thinking of switching from Microsoft’s operating system. This note-taking app that helps you plan your day.
update improves the interface’s appearance, with a more welcoming The app has been available for Windows 10, iOS
desktop theme, new animations and Light and Dark modes. There’s a and Android for a while, and now Mac owners
touch interface, too, and you can even link your Android device to your can use it too. You can create lists, tasks and
PC. Zorin OS 15 uses Linux kernel 4.18 and GNOME 3.30. Several to-do items, and share lists with other users –
versions are available, but the free Core edition is the one you want. although you need a Microsoft account to use it.

GET FREE SOFTWARE FIRST subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk

Recommend free downloads at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 31

 Best New Browser Tools
CHROME

Report suspicious websites to Google

Have you ever stumbled across a website that didn’t
look or feel right? Before Google released its
Suspicious Site Reporter extension (bit.ly/
ssreport479), your only options were to back away or
continue and risk a malware infection, or worse.
Now whenever you find yourself on a suspicious
site, you can get Google on the case straight away.
The new tool links to Google’s Safe Browsing service
(safebrowsing.google.com), which warns you when a
site contains potential phishing scams or malware.
Click the extension’s toolbar button and the
reporter automatically fills in details of the site you’re
on, such as its URL and IP address, and takes a
screenshot (if you allow it). You can include the
referrer chain – if you clicked a link from another site
to arrive at this one, for example. Google’s tool is even
smart enough to recognise suspicious activity on the
referrer’s page and report that too.

Customise Chrome’s Compare prices across

appearance websites
Chrome isn’t the most exciting Shopping Helper (bit.ly/shop479) is
browser to look at, which is why we an extension that claims to be
so often recommend extensions that “bringing fun back into online
give its new tabs a facelift. Thankfully, shopping”. That may be a bit of an
Google recently updated Chrome’s exaggeration – in our experience, a
developer-focused Canary version with browser tool won’t change whether
a couple of flags that let you add a bit of you love
colour to your new tabs. You can also or hate
tweak the browser’s overall theme. shopping
To brighten up Chrome, visit Stop YouTube checking up – but it does
chrome://flags/#chrome-colors on you at least help
and set the flag to Enabled. Next Although we understand why streaming you look after
enable chrome://flags/#ntp- services such as YouTube and Netflix the pennies,
customization-menu-v2. Restart display a ‘continue watching’ prompt and saves
Chrome, then open a new tab and after a period of inactivity, it’s still you having
you’ll see the Customise option in annoying and can break your to switch
the bottom-right corner. With these immersion in the video you’re viewing. between
flags enabled, it’s a lot easier to select The creator of YouTube Uninterrupted dozens of
an attractive new background that (bit.ly/yt479) knows exactly how you open tabs
suits your tastes. feel. As the name suggests, this when
extension, which can also be found on searching for the best deal.
GitHub (bit.ly/ytg479), performs a You can think of Shopping Helper
single task: it stops YouTube pausing as the extension equivalent of
videos after a set period of time and Google Shopping. Click the
blocks that infuriating ‘continue browser’s toolbar button and search
watching?’ pop-up. for a specific item. When you find
The developer suggests this extension what you want, click to check the
really comes into its own when you’re prices at various online stores.
listening to music playlists, and we’re We’d like to see the tool integrate
inclined to agree, but it also makes with the product pages on websites,
binge-watching a series of YouTube but if it helps us save money, we’re
videos a more immersive experience. not complaining.

32 10 - 23 July 2019
 Best New Browser Tools

This fortnight’s most useful tips and add-ons to help you get the
most from Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi and more

FIREFOX OTHER BROWSERS

Block ads on
Shorten the URL of any page abusive sites
Ad blockers remain an
essential part of the modern
Could you imagine trying to read Web browsing experience, despite
User without Bit.ly links? Having to type Google’s recent efforts (see our
every ‘https’, string of letters and cover feature on page 40). Now
forward-slash would make visiting the Vivaldi has introduced its own
featured websites infuriating. ad-blocking feature (although
Link Shortener (bit.ly/short479) gives it’s not a full ad blocker) for
web users a savvy way to copy and ‘abusive sites’. You’ll find the
share links. When you first use the option under Settings, Privacy
extension, it’s a good idea to head into – it’s switched on by default.
the settings, where you can set a default Google defines an abusive site
shortener and add optional extras. as one that features misleading
Now you no longer need to interrupt links and adverts, auto redirects,
your browsing to access your usual link-shortening service. When you’re on a browser history manipulation,
page you wish to ‘shorten’, click the extension and select your preferred service, fake messages, or unwanted
whether it’s TinyURL, Cutt.ly or, our favourite, Bit.ly. Link Shortener generates a software installation (bit.ly/
link (which unfortunately you can’t edit), and provides a copy button and QR abuse479). Vivaldi’s new tool
code generator. This makes the process of sharing links a lot easier, and you’ll uses Google’s own list of
never have to mess around with ungainly URLs again. abusive sites to block ads on
these pages.

Add Opera’s Speed Dial to

Firefox
If you’ve ever thought “I like Firefox, but
I wish it looked a bit more like Opera”,
then we’ve got the perfect extension for
you. Yet Another Speed Dial (bit.ly/
dial479) mimics Opera’s classic speed See more with
dial set-up in a new Firefox tab. Reading View
Opera’s slick speed dial feature lets Convert currencies while Reading View has long
you jump quickly to your top sites. It’s shopping online been a popular feature in
one of many understated features in Trying to buy goods from overseas Microsoft Edge, so we’re
the browser, and we’re excited to see websites is confusing enough without delighted that it’s making a
that some enterprising developer has having to search for the exchange rate comeback in the new Edge
ported it across to Firefox. before deciding whether or not to Chromium browser. Get rid of
That’s not the only reason to install buy. That’s where the Universal the glare and clutter by clicking
Yet Another Speed Dial, though. Automatic Currency Converter the book icon in the address bar.
According to the developer, this (bit.ly/convert479) comes in. This gives your page a more
extension won’t track your browsing This extension addresses several of book-like appearance, dimming
activities and it syncs with your our biggest shopping bugbears. Once the light and moderating the
existing bookmarks. you’ve set it up to display your home white of the page, while clearing
You can even customise the speed currency, simply visit an online shop in away unwanted elements such
dial tab to make Firefox look and feel another country, and the currency as adverts. Look out for
even more like Opera. conversion happens right before your ‘Grammar tools’, too: with one
eyes. It even includes shipping costs, click, you can get help with
and you can get rid of all those pronunciation or use the ‘Parts
annoying prices ending with 99p by of speech’ option to colour-code
opting to round them up (or down). nouns, verbs and adjectives.
Clicking the extension on any
page opens a mini-converter that
you can use for on-the-fly
conversions. With support for 170
currencies, Universal Automatic
Currency Converter makes online
shopping more bearable.

Tell us your favourite add-ons at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 33

 Best Free Apps
App of the Fortnight
OFFICE UPDATED MINI WORKSHOP
iWork Use the new text tools in
bit.ly/iwork479 iWork Pages
11

Apple has invested a lot of

time in improving its core iOS
productivity apps recently.
1 To use Pages’ new ‘gradient
fill’ text styles, open a
document and select some
1

Last issue, we reviewed the text, then press the Format

updated iMovie app. Now (paint brush) icon. 1 In the
Apple has released major box that appears, scroll down
updates for its iWork apps – and tap Text Colour, followed
Pages, Numbers and Keynote by the Gradient heading. 2
– all of which receive lots of Set your gradient by selecting
useful new features. Rather a Start Colour and End Colour.
than single one of them out, 3 You can also flip the colours
2
we’ve made the whole suite 4 and alter the angle of the
App(s) of the Fortnight. gradient. 5 3
Pages, the suite’s word
4
processor, gains dozens of 5
tools, including new text
styles, customisable bullet
points, improved chart-
making tools and the ability
to copy and paste entire pages between documents.
2 To add a new word
to Pages’ built-in
dictionary, type it into a
Numbers, the spreadsheet app, has an all-new 128-bit document, ignoring any
calculation engine for improved accuracy. The update also suggested spelling corrections
adds new chart-editing capabilities that let you change the that appear in the predictive 1
style of individual elements, adjust spacing between text bar below. If your word
columns, add trendlines and more. isn’t in the dictionary, it will be
The latest version of Keynote, Apple’s presentation tool, underlined in red. Tap the
offers enhanced support for collaboration, so you can now word to reveal the Learn
edit master slides while working on Spelling option, 1 then press
your presentation with others. this to add the word to your
All three apps benefit from dictionary. The red line will
improved support for Apple disappear.
Pencil. If you have an iPad, you can
use Pencil as a drawing tool or for
selecting text and scrolling – a
quick double-tap toggles
between the two options.
A new Learn Spelling feature
3 To use Pages’ new bullet
point tools, type a list of
items into a document, then
1

lets you add words to the tap the Format (paint brush)
spelling dictionary across all icon. 1 Scroll down and select
three apps, while an interesting Bullets & Lists. Here you can
face detection feature helps you choose a preset bullet style. 2
place photos in documents, You can also tap the ‘i’ icon
spreadsheets or presentations, next to any of the bullets 3 to 4
positioning them automatically customise its size, colour,
so that people’s faces can be alignment and more. Tap Edit, 2 3
seen clearly. 4 then + to add your own
To complement custom bullet style to the
the revamp, the bullet list.
macOS versions of
all three iWork apps have been updated, too.

Our rating HHHHH

34 10 - 23 July 2019
 Best Free Apps

This fortnight’s top free and paid-for apps

for Android and iOS phones and tablets

LAUNCHER NEW MEDIA PLAYER UPDATED TOOLS NEW

Shade Scrypted
Launcher bit.ly/
bit.ly/shade479 scrypted479
5 5

Shade is a Home
brand-new automation is
Android launcher incredibly
from the MX Player handy, but you
developer behind bit.ly/mxplayer479 can easily find
the excellent (varies) yourself in a
Pixel-inspired situation where
Rootless Launcher MX Player has always been an excellent you have
(bit.ly/rootless479). It does alternative to Android’s stock movie different devices that require different
pretty much everything its player, so we’re pleased to see that the apps and hubs. Scrypted is an entire
forerunner does, and adds a few developers are continuing to nurture it. home automation platform aimed at
welcome ideas of its own. There’s Its advantages include hardware enthusiasts and developers. Once
greater scope for customisation, with acceleration and multi-core decoding installed, the app turns your Android
a choice of themes and the useful for smooth playback. The app recently device into a cross-platform home hub.
ability to categorise or hide apps in gained support for Chromecast, and Enter the IP address provided into your
the app drawer. A Smart Unread the latest update adds a picture-in- browser for access to a powerful
widget on your home screen highlights picture mode. If you enable it from the control panel that lets you set up
your most important Quick Options button schedules, write simple
notifications, while the during playback, you can scripts and more. Scrypted
app’s support for plugins watch videos in a floating integrates with Amazon
enables other developers window as you send texts, Alexa, Google Home and
to design add-ons. check emails and so on. Apple HomeKit.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

GAME NEW WEATHER NEW

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Appy Weather
bit.ly/wizardsdroid479 bit.ly/appy479
bit.ly/wizardsios479 8
5 10
One of the (few)
Potterheads rejoice! well-loved apps
A brand-new Harry for Microsoft’s
Potter mobile game now defunct
has arrived – although Windows Phone
if you’ve ever played platform, Appy
Pokémon Go, you’ll Weather makes a
find that there isn’t an belated leap to
awful lot that’s Android. The app
‘brand-new’ about gathers highly
Wizards Unite. It’s accurate weather
basically the same data from Dark
‘gotta catch them all’ Sky and presents it
formula, reskinned with characters and monsters from in a friendlier format – specifically a detailed hour-by-hour
JK Rowling’s Wizarding World. The basic premise is that forecast for the current day, a timeline with cards for
‘foundables’ – magical artefacts, creatures and people from significant weather changes, and a forecast summary for the
the Potterverse – have started cropping up in the next seven days. The only catch is that the free
world around you, and it’s up to you to find and version allows just 10 weather requests per day.
capture them using spells. It’s fun, but it can be Paying £3.99 for Appy Weather+ not only
annoying, too, unless you pay to avoid the removes this limit but gets rid of ads and unlocks
limitations of the free-to-play version. useful widgets and notifications, too.

Our rating HHHHH Our rating HHHHH

Recommend free phone apps at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 35

Best Free Apps

5 NEW APPS WORTH PAYING FOR

AR generation. But if you’re stumped, never fear – this app can
DoodleLens help you solve the cube once and for all!
bit.ly/doodlelens479
Price: £1.89 NOTES
7 Magpie
With its novel approach to homemade bit.ly/magpie479
augmented reality, this app lets you Price: £7.99
capture drawings you make on paper 11
and paste them into reality. It’s a neat If you’ve ever taken a photo to
trick and very easy to use. remind you of something, only to
forget what it was, this app is a
RINGTONES must. It lets you take ‘photo notes’,
Lord of the Ringtones which combine your pictures with
bit.ly/lotr479 times, location details and other
Price: 89p useful information.
5
This useful multipurpose app lets you GAME
set custom ringtones for individual Thinkrolls Space
callers, create ringtones from sound bit.ly/thinkrolls479
recordings, screen spam calls and, of Price: £3.99
course, download new ringtones. 8
This latest app in the educational Thinkrolls series offers
PUZZLE child-friendly logic and
DisSolve Pro 3D physics puzzles for
bit.ly/dissolve479 kids aged 5-8 years,
Price: 99p set in a variety of
4 colourful alien
A recent revival has locations and featuring
introduced Rubik’s fiendish a cast of unusual
cuboid puzzle to a new monsters and robots.

DoodleLens Lord of the Ringtones DisSolve Pro 3D Magpie Thinkrolls Space

Install this app... ...Not this one

Google Podcasts PodcastOne
bit.ly/podcasts479 bit.ly/podcastone479
4.1
While there are lots of great podcast apps
Choosing a podcast provider is a to choose from, there are plenty that are
surprisingly tricky task these days, not so great, too.
and the situation is only made worse PodcastOne falls firmly
by the fact that there are so many podcast- into the latter category,
related apps available. To help you out, with many users
we’re going to recommend our current complaining that the
favourite. Originally, we were going to app crashes constantly,
point you in the direction of our long-term won’t load podcasts and
podcast app of choice, Castbox’s Podcast has an interface that’s
Player, but recent updates seem to have verging on unusable. The
broken the app, with many users reporting developers claim this is a
strange playback issues. So instead we’re going temporary situation and
to recommend Google Podcasts. It’s free, easy to that a new version is on
use, works well and syncs your listening across all its way, but for the time
your devices. being, it’s one to avoid.

36 10 - 23 July 2019
 Take a Screen Break
WIN A
Give your eyes a rest from your browser by taking WEB USER
2018 BACK
our fiendish fortnightly challenges. Can you guess ISSUES DISC!
our US TV show emoji and our Wikipedia article? Email your answers to
editor@webuse
r.co.uk
– one correct en
try
will win a disc
CAN YOU GUESS THE US TV SHOWS FROM THE EMOJI?
1 2

3 4

5 6

GUESS THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE

Can you work out which technology-related Wikipedia entry
the following clues refer to?

1 “In its early years, the

company introduced
many innovative online
tactic was criticised for
its environmental cost,
and called the most
interactive titles and
games. It was promoted
annoying tech product.”
4
as the online service for
people unfamiliar with
computers.”
3 “In 2004, it made
available the option of
personalised greetings, 5 “It has faced a number
of lawsuits over claims
which would enable the that it has been slow to

2 “At one point, half of

the CDs manufactured
worldwide had its logo on
user to hear his or her
name while accessing
basic functions, or while
stop billing customers
after their accounts have
been cancelled, either by
them. The marketing logging in or out.” the company or the user.”

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Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 37

 FAQ Everything you need to know about the most
interesting new technology trends and events

Google Stadia
Will Google’s new “Netflix-for-games” streaming service prove to be
a console killer or a colossal flop? David Crookes takes a look
What is it?
Google Stadia (www.stadia.com) is a
cloud-based game-streaming service
that will allow you to play some of the
most cutting-edge titles available without
a console or a high-spec computer.
Instead, you simply select a game and
start playing instantly without
downloading or installing anything.

How does it work?

In the same way Netflix holds its library
of films and TV shows on its own servers,
Stadia’s games are stored in Google’s
global network of data centres. When
players choose a game, a server runs
it remotely, streaming the visual and
audio output to the player’s device.
As long as there’s a fast, reliable
connection, the player can interact with
the game as if it were running locally. to support it in the future. What’s more, Stadia offers 1080p HDR video in
Press a button on a controller to jump, Stadia should run perfectly well on low- surround sound, while at 10Mbps, you’ll
for instance, and that information is sent spec computers. Google doesn’t state a be down to 720p, which is still pretty
to the server, which then performs the minimum specification on its Stadia good. You can test your connection
action. Players will see the result on their website, so it’ll be interesting to see how speed at bit.ly/speedtest479.
device within a split second. low it can go.
How do I play the games?
Will I need special hardware? Is my connection fast enough? A keyboard and mouse are all you’ll need
You won’t need a dedicated device to run Stadia will display video at up to 60 to play most games, although you may
Stadia: you can access its library in a frames per second (fps) in 4K resolution prefer to splash out on a controller. If
Chrome tab on your desktop PC, laptop with HDR support and 5.1 surround you’re playing Stadia games on a
or Android tablet, or use a Google sound, so if you want the very best computer or mobile device, you can
Chromecast Ultra plugged into your gaming experience, you’ll need a connect any HID-compatible controller,
television. It will also be available through broadband speed of at least 35Mbps. including a PlayStation DualShock 4 or
an app on a Pixel 3 or 3a phone, and That said, you can still use Stadia if your Xbox One pad, using a USB cable. If
other Android and iOS devices are likely speed is less. At 20Mbps, for instance, you’d like to go wireless or want to play
games on your television, however, you’ll
You’ll be able to play need the official Stadia Controller, which
Stadia games on a
variety of devices

. You can use a PlayStation

DualShock 4 controller to
. play Stadia games

. 38 10 - 23 July 2019
 Google Stadia

connects directly to the game server over Will it really shake up gaming?
Wi-Fi. This is likely to be the best way to It already has. Last October, Google
control games on the platform. conducted a technical test called Project
Stream that ran Assassin’s Creed
Does the controller do anything Odyssey Fierce and sent jaws dropping.
else? More recently, console rivals Microsoft
Yes. On the face of it, the controller is a and Sony announced they were exploring
nicely designed but otherwise ordinary- the possibility of using Microsoft’s cloud
looking game pad, with a D-pad to the computing service Azure for their own
left, two thumbsticks, shoulder pads on game- and content-streaming services.
top, four function buttons and a 3.5mm Nintendo is also seeking Microsoft’s help.
headset jack. However, it also has five
other buttons that provide access to When is it due? Antstream lets you play 400 retro games
Stadia’s more innovative features. Stadia is pencilled in for a on demand for a monthly subscription fee
These include a Google November release but
Assistant button that you can preorder a and Microsoft is working on its Project
triggers the built-in Founder’s Edition kit xCloud service (bit.ly/xcloud479),
microphone, so (bit.ly/stadia479). but they are far from being the only
you can ask for This costs £119 and players in this field. Ubisoft recently
guidance to help gets you a limited- announced its own game streaming
you through a edition Night Blue service Uplay+ (uplay.ubisoft.com/en-
tricky section Stadia controller, a GB), while a new service called
of a game, for Chromecast Ultra Antstream (www.antstream.com) has
example. There’s streaming device, three finally started offering streams of retro
also a Share button months of Stadia Pro (plus games to its Kickstarter backers.
that lets you snap three months for a friend) Game streaming is clearly the future.
A Chromecast Ultra streaming
images or stream your device is included with the and a Founder’s Stadia
play to YouTube. Stadia Founder’s Edition name. Buying Stadia Pro But what happens if one of these
on its own will set you back services closes down?
Are the games any good? £8.99 per month for 4K streaming, We don’t know what would happen if,
Oh yes! As Google revealed at this year’s surround sound and access to a library of say, Google Stadia didn’t work out and
Games Developers Conference in San free games that’s updated regularly. you’d invested lots of money in it. Would
Francisco, Stadia is offering titles that You’ll also receive discounts on any you still be able to play the games you’d
would be perfectly at home on the major games you buy. If you can’t commit to a bought? That seems unlikely.
consoles and top-range PC gaming rigs monthly fee, you can sign up for the Base Some people have raised concerns
(see box below). This is no surprise given tier, which offers 1080p streaming and over the data companies will be able to
how capable the system is. If Stadia were stereo sound and asks you to pay for gather about players, too. What insight
a console, it would be more powerful games individually. Controllers cost £59. will they gain into players’ behaviour
than a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One from their in-game decisions and the
combined. That’s because, at its heart, it Are Sony, Microsoft and types of genres they enjoy, for instance?
has a custom, server-class 2.7GHz hyper- Nintendo setting up rivals? For now, though, the focus is on the
threaded x86 processor, with 16GB of Sony already has a streaming service technology – and on that front, Google
RAM and 56 compute units capable of called PlayStation Now (bit.ly/psnow479) appears to be stealing a march.
10.7 ‘teraflops’ (a unit of computing
speed equal to one million million
floating-point operations per second). WHAT CAN I PLAY ON GOOGLE STADIA?
Compare that with the PS4’s 4.2
teraflops and the Xbox One X’s six, and
you get a good idea of the power. Stadia
also uses SSD cloud storage, so if you
lose your connection, you’ll have a few
minutes to get going again.

The list of games available on

Stadia is likely to have grown by
the time you read this, but Google
had confirmed 31 titles at the time Just Dance, Metro Exodus, Mortal
of writing. These include big names Kombat 11, Power Rangers: Battle
such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, for the Grid, Rage 2, Rise of the
Borderlands 3, Baldur’s Gate 3, Destiny Tomb Raider, Samurai Showdown,
2, Doom, Doom Eternal, Dragon Ball Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Tom
Xenoverse, The Elder Scrolls Online, Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Games Developers Conference attendees Final Fantasy 15, Football Manager, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
were excited about Stadia’s teraflops

Discuss Google Stadia at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 39

 StopUsing
St
+

GOOGLE
CHROME
Chrome may be the most popular browser, but
COVER E it’s far from perfect – and it’s about to get worse.
R
FEATU Robert Irvine explains why you should switch to a
faster, smarter and more private alternative
+

W
ith more than two billion actually”, because Google has It’s not all bad
users worldwide, and a gradually transformed Chrome news, however,
69% share of the desktop from the savvy Internet Explorer because other
browser market (bit.ly/share479), alternative into a data-guzzling, browsers are
Chrome is by far the most popular web-controlling, anticompetitive available that
means of accessing the web. It’s fast, beast, much like the Microsoft offer a more stable,
easy to use, offers thousands of browser it superseded. Recent innovative and privacy-
extensions and syncs your bookmarks, ‘under the bonnet’ changes respecting online experience. In this
passwords and other important announced by the search giant feature, we explain why it’s time
browsing data across all your devices. threaten both users and developers, to ditch Chrome, what you should
What’s not to like? yet on the surface Chrome has failed use instead and how you can make
The answer is “quite a lot, to offer anything new. the switch simple and painless.

40 10 - 23 July 2019
 COVER E
Stop using Google Chrome FEATU
R

WHY YOU SHOULD STOP USING CHROME

Chrome may seem like a pretty good browser, but some of its flaws are more serious
than others. Here we present the case against Chrome, and explain why the changes
Google is currently proposing are proving so controversial

Chrome may stop your ad

blocker working
The latest and arguably biggest concern
for Chrome users is that popular
ad-blocking tools such as uBlock Origin,
Adblock and Ghostery will soon stop
working properly. This is because of an
upcoming update to the browser called
Manifest V3, which will change the
Google banned AdNauseam from Chrome
permission system for Chrome
for undermining its business model
extensions and significantly limit their
ability to block online content. billion revenue from ads – around 85%
Currently, most ad blockers use an – so the fewer tools that can block them,
application programming interface the better. Google has banned many ad
(API) called WebRequest to filter blockers from the Chrome Web Store
certain content on web pages. Google and Google Play Store in the past, most
plans to phase out, or “deprecate”, this notably AdNauseam (adnauseam.io),
in Chrome in favour of a new API, known which not only filters ads but fake-clicks
Chrome will limit ad blockers to 150,000
as DeclarativeNetRequest (bit.ly/ them to stop advertising networks
rules, which isn’t enough for some tools
declarative479). Google says this will tracking its users. The extension is still
fix a number of alleged security and auto-playing videos with sound and available for Firefox and Opera, and you
performance problems caused by overlays that count down before the can install it in Chrome via its GitHub
WebRequest, but developers believe page content loads. Could the page (bit.ly/adnauseam479).
it will cripple the ad-blocking introduction of DeclarativeNetRequest There are other reasons for
capabilities of their add-ons. give Google even greater control over suspecting that Google’s motivation for
online advertising? After all, in 2018 the implementing Manifest V3 is business-
search giant received the bulk of its $116 related rather than for the benefit of

HOW TO SWITCH FROM CHROME

One thing that might put you off moving from Chrome to another browser is
the prospect of losing your bookmarks, passwords and autofill data, and
having to start all over again. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you
can take to avoid this hassle and make the transition as smooth as possible.
To migrate your data from Chrome to Firefox, open Mozilla’s browser,
Planned changes to Chrome have alarmed click the Library icon in the top-right
privacy-tool developers such as Ghostery
corner (which looks like four books on a
Initial fears stemmed from the news shelf with one at an angle), and select
that DeclarativeNetRequest would Bookmarks, Show All Bookmarks. When
support a maximum of 30,000 ad- the Library window opens, click the
blocking rules – far short of the 91,000 ‘Import and Backup’ button and choose
rules required by EasyList, the filter list ‘Import Data from Another Browser’.
that most content blockers use. Google Select Chrome, click Next and choose
has since relented and raised the new the items you want to import, such as
API’s limit to 150,000 rules, stating that cookies, browsing history, saved
the changes in Manifest V3 were never passwords and bookmarks. Click Next
designed to “prevent or weaken ad again and Firefox will perform the
blockers” (bit.ly/google479). However, migration. Once it’s done, click Finish to
developers will still need to rewrite the return to the browser.
code of their extensions for them to The process is similar when moving from Chrome to other Chromium-based
work effectively, and some believe that browsers. In Vivaldi, click the main menu and go to File, ‘Import Bookmarks
even 150,000 filtering rules may and Settings’. In Brave, you’ll find the same option under Bookmarks, while
eventually prove too limited (uBlock in the new Edge, you should go to Favorites, Import.
Origin uses nearly 147,000). Annoyingly, you can’t import all your extensions from Chrome to a new
Last year Chrome introduced its own browser, even a Chromium one, so you’ll need to open the Chrome Web
ad blocker, but this basic tool filters only Store (chrome.google.com/webstore) or the Firefox Add-ons site (addons
adverts that don’t meet its “standards”, .mozilla.org) and install them manually.
such as those that use pop-ups,

10 - 23 July 2019 41
 Chrome users. The WebRequest API will Naturally,
still be available in the Enterprise edition many website
of the browser, which businesses pay owners will
Google to use, raising doubt over why it welcome the
has to be deprecated in the free version. news that
If Google’s main reason for their visitors
implementing Manifest V3 is to will be unable
safeguard (and increase) ad revenue by to block all
making ad blockers less effective, the ads, but the
company seems to be conveniently increased
ignoring the fact that most ad-blocking threat to
tools do much more than merely strip privacy and
adverts from web pages. They also security,
intercept, modify and redirect network coupled with
requests, blocking harmful and dubious Chrome’s
connections, and protect your privacy removal of Chrome has finally added a simplified ‘reader mode’ but has
by refusing unnecessary third-party choice, may tucked this useful option away in its Experiments page
cookies. They even disable dodgy simply leave
JavaScript and social-media buttons, users looking for a safer, more flexible ‘Dark mode’, previously seen in Firefox
and much more. By limiting these browser that isn’t affected by the and Edge, while the latest version,
extensions, Google’s heavy-handed changes. In fairness to Google, the Chrome 75, adds a ‘reader mode’ for
tactics could transfer control of online company says DeclarativeNetRequest simplifying web pages – just like every
content from you to Chrome, potentially and Manifest V3 are still in development, other browser. You’ll need to find it first,
making the web a much more annoying and that it’s listening to community though, because Google has hidden this
and dangerous place in the process. feedback, but it only issued these mild handy feature on Chrome’s Experiments
reassurances in response to a backlash page (chrome://flags). To use it once it’s
from developers. enabled, click the main ‘Customise…’
menu and choose ‘Distill page’.
Credit: blog.chromium.org

Chrome is no longer The sad truth is that Chrome stopped

innovative innovating a long time ago, and any
When was the last time Google added a improvements it has introduced recently
feature to Chrome that you hadn’t have either been copied from other
already seen in another browser? For browsers or hidden ‘under the bonnet’.
example, Chrome 70 introduced Picture Chromium, the Google-owned
in Picture mode for watching videos in a open-source project on which Chrome
floating window – two years after Opera is based, is undoubtedly cutting-edge in
Google dismissed concerns over its API and Safari offered that option. Chrome the technology it uses to deliver a fast
DeclarativeNetRequest, illustrated here 74 added support for Windows 10’s and reliable browsing experience.

WHY YOU SHOULD STICK WITH CHROME

Before you ditch Chrome for a better browser, it’s worth considering what problems you might
experience by doing so. Here are some of the main ones
n SOME WEBSITES MAY NOT WORK version of Google Earth (earth cases – such as Vivaldi, which doesn’t
Most websites load perfectly no .google.com/web) in Firefox or Edge, have one yet – this isn’t possible.
matter which browser you use, but while in Vivaldi and Brave it just hangs
some – especially those from Google on the welcome page. On the other n SLOWER SECURITY UPDATES
itself – only work in Chrome. For hand, we’ve found that most Chrome Google is usually quick to issue
example, you can’t view the online Experiments (bit.ly/chrome479) work patches for reported vulnerabilities in
perfectly well in other browsers! Chrome, which the browser then
installs automatically. However,
n YOU’LL LOSE MOBILE Chromium doesn’t have its own
SYNCING built-in auto-update mechanism, so
If you switch to a different other browsers that are based on it
desktop browser but continue to won’t necessarily receive security
use Chrome on your mobile fixes as soon as Google releases
device, you won’t be able to sync them. Responsible developers will
data between the two. The update their browsers as quickly as
obvious answer is to install your they can, but it’s still essential that
new browser’s app on your you make sure you’re running the
phone or tablet, but in some latest version at all times.

42 10 - 23 July 2019
 COVER E
Stop using Google Chrome FEATU
R

You can find some of these by baggage, but we’re surprised that
going to Settings, ‘Sync and Google Chrome hasn’t fixed this issue after 11
services’, ‘Other Google services’. The years. Instead, it seems that the more
options you should disable include RAM our PCs have, the more it guzzles.
‘Show suggestions for similar pages
when a page can’t be found’, which Google forced Chrome on
sends the web address you’re trying to Android users
reach to Google, and ‘Make searches According to recent figures from
and browsing better’, which shares StatCounter (bit.ly/market479), Chrome
details of all the pages you visit. ‘Help has a 59.4% share of the mobile-
improve Chrome’s features and browser market, while its closest rival,
performance’ automatically sends Safari, lags far behind on 20.8%. On
Chrome’s automatic spell checking is Google statistical data about how Android phones, Chrome’s dominance
useful but hardly innovative you use the browser. rises to more than 80%, not because it’s
Also go to ‘Privacy and security’ and the best choice but thanks to Google’s
However, whereas other Chromium- switch off ‘Allow Chrome sign-in’. This bullying business tactics.
based browsers, such as Vivaldi and controversial feature, which Google Last July, the European Commission
Brave, build on its underlying added to the browser last year, (EC) fined the company a record €4.34
technology to offer their own privacy, automatically signs you into Chrome billion for violating antitrust laws and
security and customisation features, when you use Google services such as “illegally tying” Chrome and its search
Chrome remains comparatively ‘vanilla’. Gmail, Maps or YouTube – thereby app to the Android operating system.
Fans of the browser say this is all part gathering all your data in one place. This meant that handset manufacturers
of its appeal: Chrome is easy to use, isn’t Additionally, bear in mind that while were forced to install those tools if they
cluttered with unnecessary tools and Chrome’s incognito mode stops the wanted to offer the Play store on their
performs everyday tasks such as browser storing details of the things you devices, which meant that many users
spell-checking, managing passwords search for and the sites you visit, this never thought to use alternative
and entering form information data is still visible to Google. If changing browsers and search engines. Microsoft
automatically. But as Mozilla proved all these settings sounds like hard work, faced similar antitrust allegations 15
with the release of Firefox Quantum in switch to a more private browser! years ago for bundling its Internet
2017, it’s possible to make a browser feel Explorer browser with Windows, so it’s
fresh and modern without reinventing Chrome is a notorious telling that Google has followed in the
the wheel. Chrome is now approaching memory hog monopolistic footsteps of its arch-rival.
its 76th version, and it’s definitely It’s no secret that Chrome uses a lot of In 2009, the EC ordered Microsoft to
showing its age. memory. Open Windows Task Manager offer users a ‘browser ballot’ in the form
and you’ll inevitably see Chrome at the of a screen that let them choose their
Chrome shares your data top of the usage list – on our PC, it’s default web
with Google currently consuming nearly a quarter of browser.
We’re sure we don’t need to remind you the available RAM and 28 separate This
that Google harvests your data, but you processes. That’s because Chrome uses undoubtedly
may not realise how much information a separate ‘sandboxed’ background helped
Chrome secretly shares with its parent process for every tab, plugin and boost
company. Even if you don’t use the extension, which is handy if one crashes, Chrome’s
browser’s Sync mode, which saves data because it won’t affect the others, but popularity,
including your bookmarks, browsing adds up to a big strain on your system. so it’s ironic
history, passwords and open tabs to Other browsers (such as Firefox) can that Google
your account on Google’s servers, also be memory hogs, and those based is now
Chrome sends lots of other information on Chromium suffer similar problems appeasing
in the background – unless you change unless they dump a lot of Google’s the EC by
specific privacy settings. offering a
similar ballot
screen on
Android
devices,
inviting
users to
Google must now offer
choose a Android users a choice of
different browsers besides Chrome
browser and
search app. It’s a step in the right
direction, and Google says it will
“support choice and competition in
Europe”, but the company should never
You need to tweak a lot of privacy settings Chrome tends to guzzle more memory have promoted Chrome so aggressively
to stop Chrome sharing data with Google than any other program on your computer in the first place.

10 - 23 July 2019 43
 WHAT YOU SHOULD USE INSTEAD
Here we recommend three brilliant alternatives to Chrome and explain their benefits.
We’ve also tested how well they handle the latest web technologies using the
benchmarking tool Basemark 3.0 (web.basemark.com) and its 20 ‘rendering’ tests

VIVALDI
Why not?
Vivaldi comes with several bookmarks
www.vivaldi.com and Start Page tiles preinstalled, for
companies including Amazon, eBay and
Why use it? Booking.com, which you need to
After the news emerged that Manifest remove manually if you don’t want
V3 might stop ad blockers working in them. This is presumably how the
Chrome, the team behind the browser earns the money to fund its
Chromium-based Vivaldi published a development, so don’t judge it too
blog post addressing users’ concerns harshly. It’s also one of the few major
(bit.ly/vivaldiblog479). While browsers not to offer a mobile version,
acknowledging the importance of free, although the Vivaldi team say an
Vivaldi’s colourful interface is packed with
ad-supported content on the web – tools you won’t find in other browsers Android app is on its way soon.
which is why the browser doesn’t offer

BRAVE
its own full ad blocker – the post tabs for ease of use, the ability to
emphasised that Vivaldi is “all about control the browser using mouse
giving you choice” and promised to find gestures and keyboard shortcuts, a www.brave.com
a workaround for the proposed changes built-in screen-capture tool, thumbnail
to Chromium. “The good news is that previews of tab contents, a choice of Why use it?
whatever restrictions Google adds, at colourful themes and much more. Brave switched to using Chromium code
the end we can remove them,’’ said the In our Basemark 3.0 performance last year, boosting its speed by up to
company. Now that’s music to our ears. test, Vivaldi scored 561.27, comfortably 22% and allowing you to install
Vivaldi is a much more innovative, beating Chrome’s score of 465.66. If extensions from the Chrome Web Store
customisable and versatile browser than Vivaldi ever starts using too much (before the switch, it offered only nine
Chrome, constantly refining its interface memory, you can set tabs to ‘hibernate’ approved tools). This may seem an odd
and adding useful new features, while until you need them. decision for a privacy-focused browser
allowing you to install all your favourite
extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
Last October, it added Sync, which lets WHAT ABOUT THE NEW EDGE?
you synchronise your bookmarks,
passwords, extensions and history Microsoft surprised everyone
securely across devices using Vivaldi’s at the end of last year when
own end-to-end encryption system it announced plans to rebuild
rather than Google’s sync server. You its Edge browser from scratch using
can also delete your private-browsing Chromium, the open-source project
data for the past hour, day, week or owned by its nemesis, Google. The
longer, with a single click. software giant cited the need to
Vivaldi looks more like Opera than “create better web compatibility”
Chrome, so it may take a little getting for its customers and reduce
used to, but its tidy menus, handy side fragmentation for developers.
panels and comprehensive help pages Although Microsoft hasn’t yet The new Chromium-based Edge is fast
(help.vivaldi.com) make its impressive announced a release date for its new and works with Chrome extensions
array of tools easy to master. These Chromium-based browser, preview
include options to stack and tile open versions have been available for Windows 10 since April and, as of last month,
for Windows 7 and 8.1, too – the first time the browser has been available for
those platforms. You can try it for yourself by downloading the Microsoft
Edge Dev Channel from www.microsoftedgeinsider.com.
The redesigned browser is much more customisable than Chrome
and retains the best features of the old Edge, including reading view, read
aloud, Android sync and media casting, while adding new ones. Notably,
you can now install extensions from the Chrome Web Store as well as the
Microsoft Store, which offers add-ons that Google forbids, such as YouTube
downloaders. Microsoft has also disabled or replaced other Google services.
Most importantly, the new Edge is considerably faster and less bloated than
both its previous incarnation and Chrome (Edge squeaked past Chrome in our
performance benchmark with a score of 471.65). As Chromium Edge is still at
the development stage, we wouldn’t recommend using it as your main
Vivaldi lets you sync your data across browser just yet, but we reckon Microsoft has finally got it right.
computers without using Google’s servers

44 10 - 23 July 2019
 COVER E
Stop using Google Chrome FEATU
R

Brave is an impressively quick browser that Brave’s private mode goes further than Firefox won’t be affected by the changes
offers powerful built-in privacy options Chrome by letting you browse using Tor Google is planning to make to Chromium

but, unlike Chrome, Brave doesn’t security warning saying that “Brave manager (previously one of its weakest
connect to Google in the background or hasn’t reviewed this extension yet – it tools), protection against cryptomining
use it for search suggestions, and has might be malicious”. This is a and a revamped add-ons manager.
disabled Chromium features that track commendably cautious approach (and As Mozilla is a non-profit organisation,
your data. It also uses its own Sync you can ignore the warning if you wish), it doesn’t use Firefox to harvest your
system, which works across Windows, but we wonder when Brave will get data as Google does with Chrome, and
Linux, macOS and its apps for Android round to reviewing such popular tools its privacy controls are enabled by
and iOS, although it’s currently limited as OneTab, Awesome Screenshot and default. It’s a bit of a memory hog, even
to syncing bookmarks. uBlock Origin. after its Quantum revamp, but we find it
Brave keeps features to a minimum, Also, the browser isn’t averse to ads: less resource-intensive than Chrome.
but no other browser comes close for its optional Rewards scheme lets you
built-in privacy and security options, earn tokens by viewing “privacy- Why not?
which protect you from the moment you respecting ads” from its partners. Firefox’s Add-ons store is packed with
run it and save you weighing it down useful tools, but it’s had a bit of trouble

FIREFOX
with third-party tools. The browser’s recently. In May, reports emerged that
‘shields’ block ads (and will continue to malicious extensions with names similar
do so regardless of Manifest V3), www.getfirefox.com to genuine ones had infiltrated the site,
tracking cookies, social-media buttons, while a few
harmful scripts and fingerprinting Why use it? weeks earlier a
(which lets websites identify you), and The Firefox versus Chrome debate has bug disabled
automatically redirect you to the secure raged since the latter launched 11 years many users’
HTTPS versions of sites. Best of all, you ago, but we think Mozilla’s browser is add-ons for not
can browse the web anonymously by now a better option. For a start, it’s built being “verified”.
opening sites in Tor, encrypting your using a Mozilla-developed engine called Mozilla fixed
connection so nobody can see what Gecko rather than Chromium. This both problems
you’re doing – a far superior option to means it isn’t affected by Manifest V3, quickly (and
standard private-browsing modes. so all ad-blocking extensions will Chrome has also
With an incredible score of 606.33, continue to work perfectly – and more suffered its Firefox protects your
Brave beat every other browser in our are available for Firefox than Chrome. share of dodgy privacy by blocking all
Basemark 3.0 tests, although we had to We’re also impressed by the many extensions), but third-party tracking
cookies by default
disable its shields to perform the tests. improvements Mozilla has made to the two incidents in
browser over the past year, such as a month is disconcerting.
Why not? blocking autoplay content, enhanced Also, in our Basemark 3.0 test,
Although you can install Chrome tracking protection to block third-party Firefox’s score of 338.02 fell way behind
add-ons in Brave, most display a cookies, a beefed-up password those of Chrome and Vivaldi.

NEXT ISSUE on sale Wednesday 24 July 2019

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10 - 23 July 2019 45
Best free sandbox
software
Microsoft included a handy
sandboxing tool in the
latest Windows 10 update,
but inexplicably left it out
of the Home edition that
most of us use. Don’t worry,
Home users, because
Andy Shaw has tested six
of the best alternatives that
even Windows 10 Pro and
Enterprise users may prefer

Sandboxie | www.sandboxie.com | ★★★★

FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★

What
Wh we liked: When you
If you’re a regular Web download
User reader, you could be Sandboxie,
forgiven for rolling your you may
eyes at the fact that get the
we’ve recommended impression
Sandboxie
Sa again – as we that there
have in every round-up of isn’t a free
sandbox software since the program version. The
was released in 2004. However, the fact single home
is that there’s still nothing out there that user licence
can rival it. Our Silver and Bronze Award costs $20.95
winners have their merits but they can’t (around
hold a candle to Sandboxie. £16.53) per
So what makes it so good? For year, and
starters, Sandboxie is a proper sandbox while we love
tool. Once you’ve launched it and Sandboxie, that’s a lot of money for find its constant presence annoying if
chosen which program to run in it, something you may use only you don’t use the tool very often.
anything that program does is safely occasionally. However, the 30-day trial
contained in the sandbox where it can’t version continues to work beyond the
affect the rest of your PC. You can use 30 days, with just a few limitations and a OUR VERDICT
Sandboxie to test software you’re not nag screen, which is fine if you don’t use Even if you use Windows 10 Pro or
sure about, and take your browser to it often enough to justify paying for it. Enterprise and have Microsoft’s
dodgy corners of the web without built-in sandbox tool, Sandboxie is
having to worry that something nasty How it can be improved: worth considering. It’s the most
will infect your PC. There are a few Sandboxie’s interface hasn’t changed thorough software for running
preconfigured options that you can much in all the years we’ve been using programs in a fenced-off
launch quickly, such as one that opens a it. From its Windows 95 menus to its environment where they can’t harm
browser within Sandboxie, but the tiled wallpaper, it hides its quality and the rest of your PC. However, it isn’t
software is easy to use, with a tool that usefulness behind a façade of old- perfect: its interface looks dated
lets you explore your Start menu items fashioned design. Also, the icon in the and you may feel guilty about
or your entire PC for things you can run notification area that you use to control stretching out the trial version.
within its confines. Anything goes. it launches with Windows, so you may

46 10 - 23 July 2019
 Best sandbox software

Shade Sandbox | www.shadesandbox.com | ★★★★ BEST OF THE REST

FEATURES ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★
Turbo.net
Wh
What we liked: turbo.net
Shade Sandbox’s Turbo.net is a different
blank, featureless and rather brilliant
interface looks a little way of doing
intimidating at first. sandboxing. It
However, once you provides access to
re
realise you’re supposed programs that are
to drag application icons into hosted safely on a
the empty box to run them in an server somewhere
isolated environment, everything else, so running them
slots into place. has no impact on your
There are no obvious signs that How it could be improved: PC. The problem is
Shade Sandbox is protecting a Dragging and dropping icons into that the free version
program until you hover over its title Shade Sandbox seems logical, but it provides only four
bar, when it surrounds the window isn’t always obvious where your minutes of access to
with a bright blue glow. You can run a program files are if, for example, you each program before
browser or any other program in the want to add a program that you usually it shuts down, so you
sandbox, and nothing can escape from access from the Start menu. have to be quick or
it without your permission. However, if pay an eye-watering
you want to save any downloads you’ve $99 (around £77.93)
made in your sandboxed browser, for OUR VERDICT per month for five users.
example, you’ll find them in an isolated Shade Sandbox came a solid second
folder that you can access from in this group, but that’s partly VirtualBox
Windows File Explorer. because its rivals don’t quite fit the www.virtualbox.org
Once you’ve placed an application in sandbox description. Shade can run Rather than sandboxing your
Shade, it stays there even if you restart any software in its isolated zone but programs, VirtualBox lets you run
your PC. To let it run normally again, not as well as Sandboxie does it. an entire virtual operating system,
you have to remove it from the box. from
Windows to
Linux. This
R&S Browser in the Box | bit.ly/bitx479 | ★★★ is a good
FEATURES ★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★★ option if
your PC can
handle it,
What we liked:
Wh because
If all you want to do is run anything
a browser in a safe you do is
environment, Browser in truly contained but you can still
the Box can handle it. The install and run any program you like.
tool takes a fairly extreme
to However, you need a powerful PC
approach, though, because
ap with a fast processor and plenty of
it installs a version of Chrome or memory to run one operating
Firefox (depending on the version you system on top of another.
download) and runs it within a virtual
operating system (a cut-down version ToolWiz Time Freeze
of Linux, by the look of it). This made you’d get if you downloaded Chrome bit.ly/twtf479
the download bulky and the software today. This doesn’t really matter, since ToolWiz Time Freeze is a sandbox
slow to launch and run. your PC is protected from everything masquerading as a backup tool. In
When we tested the Personal Edition that goes on in the browser, but it looks effect, it freezes time on your PC so
for Chrome, we found that it’s possible old-fashioned with its angular tabs. that nothing you do has a lasting
to download files to our PC. They ended effect.
up in our standard Windows Downloads When
folder, although the software did at OUR VERDICT you’ve
least ask us to confirm that we wanted Since most of the things we do on finished
to download the file and told us where it our computers involve the web, using it, any
was going. Malicious attacks should be and most threats come from the changes
easily thwarted as long as you pay internet, running a protected made to
attention to incoming messages. browser seems like a sensible your system
choice. However, while this is a are rolled back, as if they’d never
How it can be improved: neater concept than running a happened. It’s good, but it could
We were slightly disturbed to find that browser in a standard sandbox, it’s expose your PC to malicious
the tool uses version 66 of Chrome a clunky way of going about it. software, even if it’s only temporary.
– nine versions behind version 75, which

Discuss sandbox software at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 47

 Schedule
everything
Our time is precious, so why
waste it on tasks that could be
performed automatically?

for later
Steve Clark explains how to
schedule things for while
you’re away – or asleep

SEND EMAILS LATER

Scheduling an email used to mean from the preset options, or click ‘Select
typing it out and saving it to your Drafts date and time’ to set your own. You can
folder, then finding it and pressing Send also access this feature in the Gmail app
when you were ready. Then came tools on your phone by pressing the three
such as Email Studio (emailstudio.pro), dots on the Compose screen.
which automated the process – for a Scheduling an email from a Microsoft
price. Finally, Gmail heard our pleas and account is trickier because you can’t use
made it easy to schedule emails for free. Outlook.com or the Windows Mail app.
Open Gmail and click Compose. Write Instead, prepare your email using the
your email as usual, add the recipient(s), Outlook 2010-2019 mail client. Go to
then click the arrow to the right of the Options, select Delay Delivery, then
Send button. This reveals the option to check the box marked ‘Do not deliver Compose your email now and send it
‘Schedule send’. Choose a date and time before’ and set a date and time. automatically when you’re ready

POST ON FACEBOOK
Despite being the world’s most Write your post as usual, adding any
popular social network, Facebook photos or media you like, then click the
doesn’t let you schedule posts on three dots below the text field. Press the
your personal account. However, you arrow next to ‘Share now’ to choose
can automate posts on pages if you’re when you want followers to see your
an administrator. This is great if you post. You can also select ‘Stop News
run a company because it allows you Feed Distribution’, which sets a cut-off
to interact with your followers even date after which your post is no longer
outside business hours (no, companies visible in news feeds.
aren’t paying someone to come in Interestingly, you can also backdate
on 25 December and write those Schedule Facebook posts so they reach your post, which may be useful if you
‘Merry Christmas’ posts). the biggest audience at the right time want to pretend you’re psychic.

POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Just because Facebook won’t let you available here too, but don’t expect
schedule personal posts, it doesn’t Photoshop-level options – it’s strictly for
mean it’s impossible. Postfity (postfity making basic tweaks to photos. If you’re
.com) lets you connect up to five social suffering from writer’s block and need
media accounts for free – including some inspiration, click the Post Ideas
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and tab to see recent successful posts from
LinkedIn. It also comes as a Chrome different websites.
extension (bit.ly/post479). When you’ve finished your post, press
Start by connecting your social-media the arrow beside the Schedule button
Postfity is handy for scheduling
heduling and profiles, then compose your post under and pick a date and time. The post is
managing posts across social channels the Create tab. An image editor is moved to the ‘Scheduled posts’ section.

48 10 - 23 July 2019
 Schedule everything for later

DOWNLOAD FILES AND SOFTWARE

A particularly annoying aspect of download manager, but you can edit the
modern computing is when your PC settings to prevent automatic
starts downloading files and software at downloads or set them to continue
an inconvenient moment. Maybe you’re when you restart your computer.
in the middle of something important or Open Settings, Monitoring and you’ll
you’re running on limited bandwidth. see a section labelled ‘Automatically
EagleGet (www.eagleget.com) is a start downloading the following file
free program that automatically adds types’. Delete every file extension and
an extension to your browser and steps click Done. You can also switch on file
in whenever you download a file. It categorisation, which creates new
works with Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi and Seize control of your downloads by folders based on the type of file you’re
Firefox. On the surface, it’s a simple installing EagleGet in your browser downloading for easier management.

SHUT DOWN YOUR PC

There are two ways to shut down your The second method requires
computer without having to click your timing to be a little more
shutdown manually. The first uses the precise and is best reserved for
Windows Task Scheduler. Search for it one-off occasions. Open the Run
using the Start box and, once it’s app and type shutdown –s –t
loaded, select Create Basic Task, which into the text field. Then enter
opens a separate window. Give the task the number of seconds Windows
a name (‘Shut down’, for example) and a should wait before shutting
description (‘Shut down my PC’). Click down your computer. This
Next to specify how often the task may have you scurrying for
should be triggered, then set the date Windows’ Task Scheduler lets you automate many a calculator, but if you
actions on your PC, including shutting it down
and time. On the Action screen, check wanted to shut down in an
the box next to ‘Start a program’. On the add -s in the ‘Add arguments’ field. hour, say, your command would
following screen, browse the System32 Click Next once more to review the read shutdown –s –t 3600. Click
folder for the shutdown application, and command before activating it. OK to start the timer ticking.

TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON AND OFF SCHEDULE A FAKE PHONE CALL

The voice assistants in devices from Have you ever been somewhere you wish you weren’t,
Google and Amazon can do so such as a boring meeting or a bad date? One tried and
much more than wake you up with tested way of bailing out is to get a friend to phone
an alarm or play a Spotify playlist. with a supposed emergency – and now you can do it
If you use Google Home, open automatically.
the Home app and go to Profile, Fake Call on Android
Settings, then tab across to (bit.ly/fake479) and
Assistant. Choose the Routines iTunes’ Fake Call Plus
option and press + to create a new (bit.ly/fakecall479) let
routine. ‘Add commands’ lets you you schedule a bogus
enter a voice command that call to help you out of a
activates your routine (for example, sticky situation. You
‘Goodnight’). Next, use ‘Add action’ can make it look as if
to tell Google what to do. This can it’s from a real person,
be a single action, such as turning complete with profile
off the lights, or a string of actions, picture and voice. Just
such as telling you tomorrow’s remember to make
weather forecast, then turning off your side of the
the lights and playing some conversation sound
relaxing sounds to help you get to convincing!
Google and Amazon’s sleep. Select ‘Choose popular You can also
Routines are as smart as
actions’ to browse through a range schedule text
their AI assistants
of common routines for inspiration. messages using Textra
To operate your lights with an Amazon device, open the Alexa for Android (bit.ly/
app on your phone, press the Menu button and select Routines. textra479). It won’t
Tap +, followed by ‘When this happens’. Choose Schedule to help you get out of a
specify a date and time, or Voice to set a phrase. Then, under bad date, but it might When you need an excuse
‘Add action’, go into Smart Home and select your smart lights. save you some time. to leave, fake a phone call
Finally, tap Save.

Discuss scheduling tools at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 49

Discover the
history of your
home online
Who used to live in your house? What stories could
its four walls tell? Jane Hoskyn reveals the best web
tools for digging up your property’s past

dataset’ tool (bit.ly/land479). Enter a

Find out when your house street name and house type to compare
was built the value of your home with those of
The first stop in your quest to uncover your neighbours over the past 24 years,
your home’s history is the decidedly then use the tags under ‘Search results’
unromantic Land Registry (bit.ly/ to narrow or broaden the comparison.
landreg479). Enter your address, then You can then download the data as a
cough up £3 for a PDF of your home’s CSV spreadsheet file for free.
title register. This legal document lists
all your home’s sale dates, the names of
previous owners and details of major Find out who lived in
changes such as conversion from a shop your house You have to pay to see detailed records of
to a dwelling. The first registered date Get to know your home’s previous your address in UK Census reports
gives you the best indication of its age. occupants through census records and
A more creative way to date your the electoral register. Historical records Wales electoral registers 1832-1932 are
home is to look up its architectural of both are available online, but you available at bit.ly/elecreg479, while
features on www.howoldismyhouse have to pay to dig into the detail. London’s electoral records 1832-1965
.com, which offers an enjoyable You can find names for free at can be found at bit.ly/londonreg479.
overview of British home styles. FreeCen (www.freecen.org.uk), which You’ll need to stump up some cash
covers UK Census records from 1841 to to view the digitised details, however,
1891. You can also do a basic free search including census reports of your
Track the value of of the National Archives’ UK Census predecessors’ occupations and scans
your home collection (bit.ly/census479), which of household inventories. Findmypast
A property’s title register provides covers 1841 to 1911. The England and (www.findmypast.co.uk) hosts the
details of its sale prices since April
2000, and market-tracking sites such
as www.onthemarket.com/sold-prices BEST FREE APPS FOR HOUSE DETECTIVES
let you track the price of any UK
property since 1995. Find A Grave bit.ly/grave479
There’s no data before 1995, but you Who’s buried near your home?
can console yourself by studying the Find out with this free app from
fascinating Land Registry ‘price paid Ancestry.co.uk.
Old Maps bit.ly/mapsdroid479,
bit.ly/mapsios479
Get a bird’s eye view of your street
through the centuries.
Nearby Wiki bit.ly/nearby479 Blue Plaques of London bit.ly/
Discover the history and geography bluedroid479, bit.ly/blueios479
of your current location. A great new app from English
Hidden History Heritage that reveals famous former
bit.ly/hiddendroid479, residents as you walk.
bit.ly/hiddenios479 Fossil Explorer bit.ly/fossil479
Get a guided tour of London’s Go back even further in time and
bomb sites and plague pits as you discover the fossils that lurk beneath
Export a 24-year history of your home’s walk the streets. your kitchen.
value from the Land Registry

50 10 - 23 July 2019
 Discover the history of your home online

1901 and 1911 census data and charges There’s a free (if less comprehensive)
£7.95 per month, while Ancestry. collection at Old Maps Online (www
co.uk adds census data from 1891 .oldmapsonline.org). And if you’re in
and earlier, plus electoral registers, the heart of central London, check the
and charges £10.99 per month. Medieval Murder Map (bit.ly/murder479)
to see the grisly events that happened
down your street.
Discover your home’s The Gazetteer (www.gazetteer.co.uk)
wartime history offers a range of old maps, too, but
Findmypast’s 1939 Register (bit.ly/ where it excels is in explaining the
39reg479) reveals who was living in origins of UK place names. This fabulous
your house on the eve of World War II. site also tracks the history of county Was your corner shop previously a
workhouse? Find out from Old Maps
You can also begin your search at www boundaries and ‘police areas’. Most of
.findmypast.co.uk/maps. The site gives the information is available to view for collections such as the National Library
you the owner’s name and year of birth free, but you can pay £15 to download of Scotland (bit.ly/scotarchive479),
for free, but you’ll need a FindMyPast an entire database of place names. where you can read the Edinburgh
subscription to ‘unlock’ census details, Wikishire (wikishire.co.uk) reveals the & Leith 1909 Post Office Directory,
as well as local maps and the area’s origins of your county, with free articles and British Non-Parliamentary
wartime demographic statistics. and local links. There’s also a ‘Data Publications (bit.ly/britnon479), which
Very little data was collected about lookup’ page with postcode lists, includes such gems as a town planners’
homes and people during the war itself, population stats and map coordinates, draft for expanding Ipswich and a 1968
but bombing raids were recorded in all of which you can export for conservation study of York. Scottish
detail. If your family or home were in spreadsheets and databases. local historians should visit the Scottish
the Greater London area during the Blitz Archive Network (www.scan.org.uk), a
of 1940-41, we urge you to visit the small but fascinating collection of
superb interactive map at Bomb Sight See your home’s vintage scanned property documents that date
(bombsight.org). Meanwhile, the paperwork back to 1500.
National Archives keeps written WW2 The 1862 Act Registers (bit.ly/
records at its public offices – find out actreg479) is a free, searchable record
more at bit.ly/bombs479. of land and property paperwork (some
Perhaps the best way to learn about on wax parchment!) collected in 1862
the war is to hear people’s experiences. and now free to download in JPEG
The British Library’s Listening Project format. Annoyingly, you have to fill in
(bit.ly/listening479) is an archive of every search field to get a result, which
conversations recorded by the BBC, means you’ll need to know your home’s
including first-hand wartime testimony, title number (from the title register),
all available for free. Also try the Sound parish (town) and 1862 resident’s name.
and Moving Image Catalogue (bit.ly/ There are no such limitations in the
sound479)– click ‘Advanced search’ Internet Archive (archive.org). Search Look for your house in Edinburgh’s 1909
then choose ‘Oral history’ from the for mentions of your town or browse Post Office book on the Internet Archive
‘collection’ drop-down menu.

RUMMAGE THROUGH RECORDS IN PERSON

The British Library and National
Archives have done sterling work
in digitising their collections of
newspapers, books, letters, journals
and more. But when you search their
databases – the National Archives’
Bomb Sight’s heartbreaking map reveals Discovery site (bit.ly/discovery479),
the scale of destruction during the Blitz and British Library’s Explore page
(bit.ly/explore479) – you quickly
realise that most of the best stuff is
See how your street still locked away in buildings, and in
evolved some cases you have to apply to view
Enter your postcode into Old-Maps them. The web can at least show you
(www.old-maps.co.uk), then use the how to do this.
thumbnails to switch between Ordnance • To view material at the British
Survey maps going back around 150 Library, apply online for a Reader property documents, find your
years to see how your street has Pass at bit.ly/reader479 local records office in the list at
evolved over the decades. It’s free to • To browse National Archives bit.ly/offices479
use, and you can zoom in far enough material locally, enter your postcode • To search the digitised and
to see that your local supermarket used at bit.ly/archives479 and search physical collections of more than
to be a workhouse, although the site bit.ly/archive479 300 UK universities, visit
charges £9.99 per month for finer detail • To see electoral registers and archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk
and map downloads.

Discuss the history of your home at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 51

 Practical
16 pages of workshops, tips, projects
and problem solving

Manage and edit your photos OPTIONS

Configure the program by
using IrfanView’s new tools selecting ‘Properties/
Settings’ in the Options
menu. You can even
The popular image browser, converter and choose which buttons
editor has recently been updated with a number appear on the toolbar
of new tools and effects. Here’s how to use it
IrfanView: www.irfanview.com | 20 mins | Windows 7, 8, 10

I
rfanView is one of Web User’s effects, borders and frames. It even plays
favourite image editors. It’s tiny but videos and animated GIFs, and because
it’s surprisingly powerful and packed it supports plugins, you can expand its
with features. As well as browsing capabilities further. IrfanView recently
thumbnails of images in folders and received its first feature update of 2019,
viewing full-screen photos, you can use adding new image and border effects,
it to set pictures as wallpaper, create along with new options in the Capture
panoramas and slideshows, and add and Advanced Batch dialogue windows.

1 2 3

2
1
MOUSE ZOOM
3
MAGNIFIER
The latest version adds a
handy magnifier: hold
down Ctrl+Shift and
move your mouse over
the area you want to see

1 There are two parts to the program –

IrfanView and IrfanView Thumbnails
– both of which you can launch through
2 To open a photo in IrfanView, either
drag it to the viewer or click the
Open button. 1 You can flick back and
up close. Use the scroll
wheel to zoom in and out

the Windows Start menu. Thumbnails is forth between images in the same folder
the photo manager. When you select a by clicking the arrow buttons. 2 The Edit
folder, 1 the images it contains appear menu 3 contains tools for adding text,
as thumbnails. 2 Hover your mouse over overlays and watermarks to your image.
one to view its details. 3

1
1 2
2 3
3 4
5
4 2
5 3

3 IrfanView also has a Paint palette

you can open for quick access to its
image-editing tools. To open it, go to
4 From the Image menu 1 you can
create a panorama, rotate and flip
your image, resize it, add frames, adjust
5 To add shapes or shadows, click the
relevant option and a new window
opens. Select the shape you require,
Edit, ‘Show Paint dialog’. From here you colours automatically and more. The such as a star. 1 You can change the
can paint on your picture, 1 erase or latest version lets you add shadows, background colour 2 and adjust the
clone part of it, 2 replace colours shapes and rounded corners to the shadow size. 3 Click ‘Apply to current
and add text, 3 draw shapes, 4 fill outside of your images, 2 as well as image’ 4 to preview the effect, and
selected areas and match colours. 5 hexagons, stars and hearts. 3 Undo 5 to remove it.

52 10 - 23 July 2019
 Workshop 1

CUT/COPY/PASTE
These buttons let you cut,
copy and paste portions of
your image. Use your mouse
to select part of the image
by clicking and dragging

STATUS BAR
The Status Bar, which you can
toggle on and off in the View
menu, shows the dimensions
of the image, its file size and
the current zoom percentage

1
1 3 2
2 1

4 3
4
5

6 Click Effects in the Image menu to

open the ‘Image effects’ window.
This reveals all of the available effects. 1
7 Another new effect is Insert Speech
Bubbles, which you’ll find in Image,
Effects. You can adjust the bubble’s
8 The Options menu 1 contains tools
for manipulating JPEG images
losslessly and changing your Windows
Select one, and you’ll see a preview in the shape, 1 size and background, and the wallpaper. There’s also an optical
thumbnail on the right, 2 next to the size and colour of its border. 2 You can character recognition (OCR) plugin that
original image. 3 Some tools, such as the also customise the bubble’s tail. 3 Click finds text in images. If a plugin won’t
new Radial Brighten, have filter settings Preview 4 to see what it looks like and, load, download it from bit.ly/iv32479
that you can adjust. 4 if you’re happy with it, click OK. 5 (32-bit) or bit.ly/iv64479 (64-bit).

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 10 - 23 July 2019 53

 Workshop 2

Control online storage with

Cyberduck FTP software
Cyberduck: cyberduck.io | 20 mins | 7, 8, 10 macOS 10.7+

EXPERT TIP
C
yberduck is a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) tool of the
type web designers use to move files to and from their
web host’s servers. Don’t let that put you off, though,
Steve Clark says
As well the standard Cyberduck tool with
because even if you’re not a web designer, this multifaceted
graphical interface, there’s a command-
software has plenty to offer, thanks to excellent support for
line version for those who prefer using
cloud storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive.
Command Prompt. You’ll find details of
Perhaps its most useful feature is the ability to transfer files
how to download it for Windows, macOS
and folders directly from one online storage service to
and Linux at duck.sh. The standard
another without downloading them first. What’s more,
version also has a File Explorer-like
after a recent major update, you can create temporary
navigation system under the ribbon that
sharing links when saving to Dropbox, Google Drive
lets you see your Bookmarks and History,
and OneDrive. Cyberduck is free, too, although
and provides an address bar and arrows
you can support the developers by donating or
to help you move easily between folders.
buying its app from the Windows Store.

1
2
3
4 1

5 2

1 2
Before you can use Cyberduck, you need to configure it. Most readers will find Cyberduck’s cloud storage
Click Open Connection 1 and choose a connection type connection more useful, however. This supports many of
from the drop-down menu. 2 If you’re uploading files to the big names, including Google Drive, OneDrive and
your own website, select FTP. Type your domain into the Server Dropbox. Choose one from the drop-down menu 1 and click
field, 3 then add your Username and Password. 4 You Connect, 2 which opens a new window. We’re using Google
shouldn’t need to change the Port number. Click Connect. 5 Drive here, but the steps are similar for other cloud services.

1
2

4 2
1

3 4
Select your account and click Allow 1 to give Cyberduck You can also use Cyberduck as a local File Explorer,
access to it. Google generates a code, 2 which you then which you may find useful if you’re thinking of setting
copy and paste into Cyberduck’s authentication box. 3 up FTP on your home network or you want to share the
Press Continue 4 to connect. Once connected, you can files on your computer easily. In this instance, click Open
right-click any file and select Share to generate a share link. Connection 1 and select your computer from the list. It’s the
Copy this and send it to anyone who needs access to the file. last option in the drop-down menu. 2

54 10 - 23 July 2019
 Workshop 2

3
2 4

1
1

5 6
Adding files to Cyberduck is incredibly easy. When you’re Downloading files is just as easy. Right-click the file and
ready to upload some files, you can click File, Upload 1 or select either Download, Download As or Download To 1
use the dedicated Upload button. 2 However, an even from the context menu. Alternatively, double-click the file
easier method is simply to open the folder you want to add the to open the Transfers window, 2 where you can manage your
files to, then drag and drop them directly from File Explorer. download. 3 Double-clicking a downloaded file lets you edit it:
select overwrite, resume, rename and so on from the menu. 4

1 1 2
3

2
4

7 8
One of Cyberduck’s best features is its ability to move files Another excellent feature is the Encrypted Vault. To
directly from one cloud storage platform to another. When activate it, find a folder you want to install the vault in,
connected to Google Drive, for example, click File, New then right-click and choose New Encrypted Vault. 1
Browser. 1 Follow Steps 2 and 3 to sign into another cloud Name your vault, 2 then choose and confirm a passphrase 3
storage service, then simply drag and drop files between the and click Create. 4 When first logging into your vault, untick
two. Progress is displayed in the Transfers window. 2 Save Password or your passphrase will be redundant.

2 4 3

2
1
5
1

9 10
Clicking Edit, Preferences, 1 lets you access a host of No matter which type of connection you make, when
options, so we recommend exploring them. In the you’ve finished managing your files, it’s important
Browser tab, 2 for example, ‘Show hidden files’ is that you disconnect from the server or cloud storage.
unticked by default but is well worth ticking. Editor 3 lets you To do this and save your changes, click Disconnect. 1 Folders
choose a default text editor. Finally, click Transfers, 4 then the and files are then greyed out one by one. 2 When it has
General tab 5 to redirect downloads to a specific location. finished, you can safely close your Cyberduck window.

Get more practical advice at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 55

 Workshop 3

Identify and search for text in Android screenshots

M
ozilla’s Firefox ScreenshotGo app is a smart free tool searching for their contents. The app also helps
that locates text in images at the touch of a button. you manage your screenshots by organising them
This means you can photograph reminders or take into collections for easy retrieval. Just be aware
screen grabs of text messages, then find them later by that, while the app ran well for us, it is still in beta.

Firefox ScreenshotGo: bit.ly/screenshot479 | 10 mins | Android 5+

1 2
First give ScreenshotGo Select a screenshot,
1 access to your photos then tap the T button
by tapping Allow. The 1 to activate text
2 app then whisks you to the recognition. The app
homepage. This has a search 2 highlights any text it finds
bar at the top, 1 where you in the screenshot. 2 Tap a
can enter any text you piece of text to display it at
want to find in your the foot of the screen, 3
screenshots. Below this is a where you can press and
3 list of recent screenshots, 2 hold to copy, share or search
and at the bottom are your online for it. 4
ScreenshotGo collections. 3

1
3
4

3 4
There are two ways to Alternatively, if you’re
1 organise screenshots viewing a screenshot in
into collections, whether 1 Quick Access, press the
you use the preset options or three dots and select ‘Move
make your own. The first is to 2 to’, 1 then follow Step 3 to
open the app and select an add your screenshot to a
existing collection from the 3 collection. The three-dots
homepage, or choose Create menu also lets you view
New Collection, then select a screenshot info 2 or delete
screenshot and press the the image. 3 Next to the
folder icon. 1 Tap the three-dots menu is a Share
appropriate folder to save the icon that you can use to
screenshot there. 2 distribute your screenshots far
2 and wide.

5 6
The easiest way to The second method is
1 capture the contents of to open the app and use
your screen is to pull 3 the Lens icon that
down the notification area, 1 hovers permanently on the
where you’ll find a permanent right of the screen. 1 Press
ScreenshotGo notification. 2 and hold to drag it into
2 Tapping this immediately position, then tap to take a
takes a screenshot, even if the screenshot. This opens the
app isn’t open. 1 ‘Move to’ tool, 2 so you can
quickly add the screenshot to
a collection or click the X 3 to
2 Delete or Save it. 4

56 10 - 23 July 2019
 Workshop 4

Remove sites you don’t like from search results

G
oogle’s powerful search engine is pretty good at unbiased information. Thankfully, you can
filtering out trashy websites. However, it still delivers block these annoyances from your searches
results we may not want to see, such as sites that put
up paywalls or don’t have the best reputation for reliable or
by installing the uBlacklist extension for
Chrome and other Chromium browsers.
?
uBlacklist: bit.ly/ubl479 | 10 mins | Chrome

2 1
2

1 2
The easiest way to block sites is to do it as you go. Install The box contains a web address with ‘wildcards’ (the
the extension, then search for something in Google. 1 asterisks) to account for variations, such as whether it’s
When the results appear, you’ll see a ‘Block this site’ link ‘http’ or ‘https’. 1 Click OK 2 to block results from this
2 next to each URL. Click it to open a dialog box. In our site. If you click a link but then decide you want to block the
example, we’re blocking a result from the Daily Express. site, click the extension’s toolbar icon to open the same box.

2 1
1 3
3
2

3 4
The next time you perform the same search, you’ll see To configure the extension, right-click its toolbar icon 1
that uBlacklist has hidden the results from the site and choose Options. 2 A window appears containing a
you’ve blocked. 1 It also removes the site from any list of all the sites you’ve blocked so far. 3 This list is
‘Top stories’. 2 If you want to see which sites the extension editable, so you can modify it by clicking and typing.
has removed, click the Show link. 3 Highlight an entry and press the Delete key to remove it.

2 1
2

3
3

5 6
If you sync your list using Google Drive, you can use it For more options, right-click the uBlacklist icon and
on multiple devices. Click ‘Sync with Google Drive’, 1 choose ‘Manage extensions’. 1 Here you can switch the
then click Permit 2 and sign in. Tick the box next to extension on or off 2 and limit which of Google’s
‘Enable sync’. 3 You can also click the Advanced Settings regional search engines it can access. 3 Scroll to the very
option to hide the “Block this site” links, if you wish. bottom of this page if you want to uninstall uBlacklist.

Get more practical advice at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 57

 Weekend Project MTWTFSS

Get to grips with some serious tech tinkering to

boost your computer and other devices

How to
... Create and manage a
digital music collection
Spotify isn’t for everyone, especially if you have a huge CD collection.
Wayne Williams explains how to organise and play your music

S
potify, Apple Music and other At its recent Worldwide Developer Windows version of its software just
streaming services may have Conference, Apple announced that it yet, but it’s surely only a matter of
declared themselves to be intends to kill off iTunes on macOS, time. With that in mind, we’ve
the future of music, but there are replacing it with three new apps: devoted this Weekend Project to
still plenty of people who prefer Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple guiding you through the best tools
to own their music rather than Podcasts. The technology giant you can use to rip, organise and play
stream it. hasn’t pulled the plug on the your music collection on your PC.

said that, there are a number of excellent set it to watch folders so that any new
THE BEST iTUNES alternatives you can use instead. Here tracks you add are imported to your
ALTERNATIVES are a few of our favourites, along with library automatically.
some tips on how to use them. You can use the program to rip and
Apple’s iTunes has attracted its share of burn CDs, manage duplicates, convert
criticism over the years – particularly the MusicBee tracks from one format to another, create
PC version, which is often viewed as getmusicbee.com party playlists, stream songs from
slow, bloated and hard to use. However, MusicBee helps you find, organise and popular web-radio stations and tag your
it’s actually a very powerful piece of play songs on your computer, and can tracks automatically to help you organise
software that’s packed with features, import tracks directly from iTunes or a your music library (although manual
even if you don’t need them all. Having music folder of your choice. You can also tagging is also available).

58 10 - 23 July 2019
 Weekend Project

AIMP is an excellent music player that can handle any audio format, Strawberry is a music player and organiser based around
and can even shut your PC down when a playlist ends the now-discontinued Clementine software

Excellent plugin support means you large music library, you can hold down organise music, edit tags, transfer your
can add to MusicBee’s extensive list of the Ctrl key to scroll through it faster. music to iPhone or other USB music
features, and there’s a portable version AIMP includes a useful timer that players, stream Tidal and scrobble tracks
that you can install on a USB flash drive can shut down your PC when the music to Last.fm. It can also fetch tags from
when you want to take your music with finishes (or at a given time). It also works MusicBrainz, lyrics from AudD and
you. If you use Windows 10 and as an alarm clock to wake you up in the ChartLyrics, and album art from Last.fm,
download MusicBee from the Microsoft morning. Set the time and choose the Musicbrainz, Discogs, Tidal and Deezer.
Store (bit.ly/mbee479), you’ll also benefit music you want to wake up to.
from automatic updates. The software supports plugins, too, Groove Music
We explain how to use MusicBee to and comes with a handful preinstalled. bit.ly/groove479
manage your music collection in our Originally bundled with Windows 10 as
Mini Workshop below. Strawberry Microsoft’s answer to Spotify, Groove
www.strawbs.org Music is now optional and no longer
AIMP Clementine (www.clementine-player.org) offers a streaming service or apps for iOS
www.aimp.ru is an excellent iTunes alternative that’s and Android. You can still use it to
Available for Windows and Android, based on AmaroK, a music organiser for manage and play music saved on your
AIMP is an audio player that supports all Linux. Although you can still download PC or stored in OneDrive, Microsoft’s
the main music formats, including AAC, and install Clementine, the software has cloud storage service, however. It sorts
APE, FLAC, MIDI, MP3, OGG, WAV and been discontinued, and hasn’t been your music by Song, Artist, Album and
WMA. You can use it to convert tracks updated for three years. Strawberry is a date added, and you can view recently
from one format to another, rip CDs and fork of Clementine that was first released played content and build playlists.
auto-fill or edit track information. To add in 2018 and has been updated regularly There’s also an equalizer that you can
files and folders, simply drag and drop ever since. It’s available for Windows, use to customize the sound depending
them on to the interface. If you have a Linux and macOS, and can play and on the type of music you’re listening to,

MINI WORKSHOP | Manage your music collection with MusicBee

1
1 2
1
3
2

2 3

1 When you first open MusicBee, it

gives you the option to import your
music and artwork. You can add
2 MusicBee adds your tracks to its
database. Use the menu bar at the
top 1 to switch between Music, Now
3 You can fix any missing or incorrect
tags by clicking the MusicBee
arrow and selecting Tools, then
content from Windows Media Library Playing, Playlists, Music Explorer and Tagging Tools. Try either ‘Auto-Tag by
or iTunes, 1 or point the program in Podcasts. Click the plus button 2 to Album’ or ‘Auto-Tag by Track’. To use
the direction of your music collection. create a new tab – Radio, Audiobooks or the former, fill in any missing details,
Click Choose Folders 2 to add more History, for example. Click a track to play then click the Find button, 1 select a
locations. Click the Scan Now button 3 it. Track information and artwork appear result 2 and click Apply Tags. 3
to import your music. in their own panel. 3

Subscribe Web subscribe.webuser.co.uk 10 - 23 July 2019 59

 Broadband Deals
Call FREE on 0800 083 2357 to switch your broadband
Contract Broadband First-year
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Data supplied by www.broadbandgenie.co.uk. Correct as of 24 June 2019. is powered by Simplify
Digital, the Ofcom-accredited
switching service

xt issue of our sister title

In the ne
Computeractive… SNEAK PREVIEW!

• 30 BIGGEST MISTAKES YOU MUST STOP • RUN COMMAND PROMPT IN TABS

MAKING ON YOUR PC And what you should Master the new Windows Terminal
be doing instead • PLUS: GET MORE STORAGE FOR
• REMOVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER FROM YOUR PHONE Make room for
THE WEB To stop scammers pestering you more photos, videos and apps
On sale
Subscribe at www.getcomputeractive.co.uk Weds
17 July
 Weekend Project

Groove Music can display artist artwork as wallpaper on your MediaMonkey makes it easy to convert your audio files from one
Windows desktop and lock screen format to another

and a mini-player that can stay on top of add tags, album art and other missing Convert tracks in MediaMonkey
your open windows. information, and synchronise with iOS MediaMonkey is great for converting
Our favourite Groove Music feature is and Android devices. The developers say audio tracks from one format to another.
the ability to display artist artwork on the it can handle libraries of over 100,000 Select a song, then go to Tools, Convert
Windows 10 desktop and lock screen, songs without slowing down. Format and choose whether to replace
changing it automatically with the song. There’s even an Auto-DJ and Party the original files or save the new ones to
To enable it, click the settings gear and Mode, which finds and plays additional a different location. Select the new
switch on ‘Display artist art’ on the lock tracks when the current playlist ends. format you require from the drop-down
screen or desktop (or both). While the free version should be good menu – options include MP3, WMA, OGG,
enough for most users, a Gold edition is WAV, ALAC, FLAC, and AAC. You can
MediaMonkey also available. This has extra features change the naming style, as well as the
www.mediamonkey.com including bit-perfect audio rips and bitrate, variable bitrate (which aims to
MediaMonkey is probably the best known on-the-fly conversions. It costs £26 for maintain sound quality while removing
of the iTunes alternatives. It allows you to the current version or £52 for a lifetime data that shouldn’t matter too much),
organise and play your digital music licence that includes all future updates. and mode (stereo, mono and so on). You
collection, create and export playlists, We explain how to use MediaMonkey can also normalise the track to reduce
convert tracks from one format to to rip and burn audio CDs in our Mini extreme changes in volume, and add your
another, rip and burn CDs, automatically Workshop, below. converted tracks to your library.

MINI WORKSHOP | Rip and burn CDs in MediaMonkey

2
2 1 1
2 3

5 3

3 4

1 To rip tracks from an audio CD, first

insert the disc into your drive. A
new window should open with a list of
2 Now you can listen to any of the
tracks in the player. To rip the
songs to your hard drive, click Rip
3 To write audio files to disc, select
the tracks you want and click Burn.
1 This opens the Disc Burning Wizard.
the songs on it. 1 Select the correct Audio CD. 1 You can change the Choose the audio CD option, then step
album (sourced from Freedb) at the destination 2 and choose which through the wizard until you reach the
top. 2 You can swap the artist and title format to save your tracks in. 3 Tick authoring screen. Insert a blank disk,
information if they’re the wrong way Level Track Volume 4 if you want to making sure your drive is selected, 2
round. 3 Click OK, 4 and the software keep the audio level consistent across and tweak any final options. Click
will add your album to its database. your tracks, then click OK. 5 Burn 3 to create your audio CD.

On sale
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esday
24 July

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 Web User Masterclass
Get more battery life from
your laptop, phone or tablet

Prepare your devices’ batteries for long breaks

I
f you won’t be taking your tech devices
with you on holiday, make sure you
prepare them for your absence. The
worst state for a battery to be left in is
either fully charged or completely empty:
both 0% and 100% charge put your battery
under stress and shorten its life, while a
charge of around 50% causes the minimum
stress. With this in mind, make sure you
charge any devices you’re leaving behind to
around 50-60%. If the device doesn’t have
an indicator to show the percentage
charge, plug it in until the battery is full,
then use it for a while so the battery isn’t at
100%. Finally, power off the device – don’t
just leave it in Sleep mode.

Don’t charge devices to 100% if you’re

leaving them behind while you go on
holiday. Leave them closer to 50%

Charge and use charge at night – you can then just

The batteries in laptops, phones, tablets top it up to 100% after you wake up.
and other devices deteriorate over time This may become an automatic
and, as pointed out in the tip above, it’s feature in the next generation of
best to avoid the two extremes of 0% phones, but for now you’ll have to
and 100% charge. It’s therefore carry out the task manually. Charge
important that you charge your device, the phone to 80% in the evening, then
then unplug and use it to allow the unplug it at bedtime. When you wake
battery to run down. This is especially up in morning, plug it in and top it up
important for laptops, which shouldn’t to 100% before you leave home.
be permanently plugged into the mains
power with the battery at 100% for Avoid complete rundown
weeks or months. Make sure you As well as leaving a device charged at
regularly unplug your laptop and run it Don’t keep your laptop permanently 100% for long periods, you should
off the battery to keep it healthy. plugged in at 100% – unplug it and use it also avoid runing down the battery
Phone batteries get progressively completely and then leaving it
worse at holding a charge, which means best to unplug a phone as soon as it has discharged. When the battery level
their capacity decreases over time. It’s charged and use it straight away. drops below 20%, recharge it.
If you leave any battery-powered
Don’t charge overnight devices at home when you go on
Many of us plug in our phones at holiday, make sure they’re not in Sleep
If you see words that look like bedtime to charge overnight so the mode – as happens when you close
they’ve been typed in a battery is at 100% when we wake up. the lid of a laptop – because the
typewriter, follow the instructions The problem is that a phone quickly device will continue to draw power
and type them exactly as they reaches 100%, so it remains at maximum and eventually reach 0%. If you won’t
appear, paying close attention to power for the rest of the night. be back from your holiday for another
spaces and punctuation. There is talk of modifying phone week, leaving the battery discharged
chargers so they’re limited to an 80% could diminish its lifespan.

64 10 - 23 July 2019
 Web User Masterclass

Keep your battery cool

Batteries generate heat while charging TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
– especially when fast charging – but More advanced tips for when you’re feeling brave
overheating damages them. Remove a
phone’s case or cover while charging,
and avoid putting a laptop under the Stop background apps
sofa or bed, or on a carpet. Don’t place Batteries last longer when devices
devices on top of each other, either, have less work to do. If you see any
and make sure air can circulate so any programs you’re not using when you
heat can escape. look in the pop-up panel at the right
A laptop cooling pad is usually side of the taskbar, right-click them
unnecessary, but it may be beneficial if and quit. Postpone any virus scans
you have an old laptop that overheats. and backups, avoid syncing OneDrive,
There may be a lot of dust inside, too, Google Drive or Dropbox, close
which you can remove by blowing air unused tabs in browsers and so on.
into the vents or sucking the dust out. Some phones can stop apps
running in the background. Android
Turn down the brightness phones vary, but you may have an
Modern screens use a lot of power. Always Sleeping Apps function that
Configure the power plan in the Control
Simply turning down the brightness puts apps to sleep when not in use.
Panel for battery savings
reduces the power requirement, which On some phones, for example, you go
helps the battery last longer. Laptops, to Settings, Device Maintenance, Power Options in the Control Panel
phones and tablets all have brightness Battery, Always Sleeping Apps. that provide many more choices.
controls, so make the screen as dim as In iOS, go to Settings, General, If there is a Power Saver plan, select
possible while still being readable. Background App Refresh and use it. If not, click ‘Create a power plan’ to
the switches to stop unimportant make one, then select it. This extends
Switch to silence apps updating in the background battery running time, but even greater
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile connections when not in use. power savings may be possible.
and Near Field Communication (NFC) Click ‘Change plan settings’ next to
all use power, so a device’s battery will Hibernate, don’t sleep the Power Saver plan, then ‘Change
last longer if you switch these off. Click Start, Power and you may see advanced power settings’. The next
Putting your phone, laptop or tablet in options to Sleep, Hibernate and Shut window lists various PC components,
flight mode turns off all radio functions. down your device. Although some such as the hard drive, Wi-Fi adapter,
You can’t make calls or access the laptops and tablets can sleep for USB ports and so on. Expand each
internet while in flight mode, but at least weeks, this option slowly drains the section to see an ‘On battery setting’.
you can preserve the last remnants of battery, so it’s best avoided. If you Check that the maximum power
charge for when you really need it. want be able to resume quickly, select savings are selected for each one.
One of the quickest ways to drain a Hibernate instead. This is like Sleep Don’t use the Power Saver plan all
phone’s battery is to go to an area with but doesn’t use any battery power. the time because it reduces your
poor mobile coverage, because your laptop’s performance. Just enable it
phone searches for a signal constantly. Optimise video playback when you need the battery to last as
If you’re in the countryside, up a In Windows 10, open Settings and long as possible.
mountain or anywhere else where click Apps, then ‘Video playback’.
there’s no signal, enable flight mode. Halfway down you’ll see options to Use battery saving mode
If flight mode is too restrictive, just ‘Optimise for battery life’, disable Many devices have a battery saving
disable the connections you’re not video processing and use a lower mode that you can turn on manually
using, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or NFC, resolution. Each of these extends or set to kick in when the charge falls
to get more from the battery. Windows battery life when watching videos. below a certain value. In Windows 10,
10’s flight mode and the Bluetooth click the icon to the right of the
controls are in Action Centre. Click the notification area, then ‘Battery saver’
icon to the right of the notification area. to enable it. Click Expand if the button
isn’t visible.
Android
phones vary,
but you may
find a power-
The video playback options in Windows
saver button if
10’s Settings can reduce battery drain you pull down
from the top of
Configure the power plans the screen or
In Windows 10, you can click the look in Settings.
battery button on the taskbar and Go to Device
drag the slider to the left to reduce Maintenance,
power and increase battery life. It’s a Battery on Enable power saving
simple process, but how effective is some phones, on your phone and
Turn Bluetooth off and ‘Battery saver’ on it? All versions of Windows have for example. put apps to sleep
to save power while you’re out and about

Send your tips to [email protected] 10 - 23 July 2019 65

 Ask the Expert
Roland Waddilove, computer programmer and PC
journalist since 1981, answers all your technical questions.
Email us for help at [email protected]

GENERAL PC

Should you defrag

mystery partitions?
Q I’ve read conflicting views on
defragging in Web User and
elsewhere. Some say you should avoid
defragging unnecessarily, but how do
you know when that necessary point
is reached?
As you can see from the screenshot
(right), most of the drives on my PC
are only 5% fragmented or less
(marked OK). However, the last drive is
92% fragmented, which means it must
need to be defragged urgently, but I
don’t know what this drive contains or It’s safe to ignore any oddly named drives listed in the Optimize Drives tool
what it does, so I’m not sure whether
to proceed or not. taken to find the fragments is This is fine and shows that Windows is
Alan S, via email insignificant compared to the time taken keeping the drive optimised, but if
to read the whole file. In fact, when you’d like even less fragmentation,

A If automatic defragmentation is
enabled, Windows should be left
to manage itself so you don’t have to
fragments are over 50MB, Windows
may not even bother to defrag them.
As small files become more
select the drive, click ‘Change
settings’, enable ‘Run on a schedule’
and set the frequency to Daily.
defrag manually. The default setting is fragmented, the PC slows down. The oddly named ‘\\?\Volume
for it to run once a week when the However, this is less noticeable with (977a81’ drive in your screenshot is
computer is idle. modern drives because they are faster not a regular drive that is used for
There isn’t a fixed fragmentation than they used to be. A drive needs Windows or your files, so its 92%
percentage where defragging defragging when you notice your fragmentation is not important. It is
becomes necessary because it computer becoming slower. most likely a hidden recovery partition
depends on different factors. For In the screenshot you attached (see created by Windows or backup
example, if a large file such as a 4GB above), the C: drive containing Windows software that exists in case of
video is in 10 fragments, then the time and your files is only 5% fragmented. disaster. Just leave it alone.

SOFTWARE
Move VirtualBox to a new PC
Q I recently upgraded from an old and
very slow PC to a faster laptop, and
transferred all my data including my
VirtualBox operating systems. However,
while I can run Linux systems without
any problems, Windows 10 Professional
refuses to boot. Is this something to do
with the hardware change?
Sirus Laia, via email
Use Export

A There may be some licensing and Import

problems, but this still wouldn’t stop Appliance to
move virtual
Windows booting up: it would start and machines
say the licence is invalid, then prompt with
you for a new code. There are many VirtualBox

66 10 - 23 July 2019
 Ask the Expert
SECURITY
Protect stolen files
Q My laptop has been stolen. Can the
thief access my files and passwords?
Jane Berry, via email

A It depends. The hard drive in a PC

can be accessed by utility software
and booting up with a Linux disc or USB
drive will do it. This is handy for
recovering files on a PC that won’t boot
but it means thieves can also access
your files.
If the drive is encrypted – with
BitLocker, for example – there is no
way to access it. However, this isn’t
available in Windows 10 Home, only in
the Pro and Enterprise editions. While
it’s too late for you to use this, other
The easiest way to share photos is to use a hosted photo-sharing service, such as
Google Photos readers can find out if they have
BitLocker by opening Settings and
kinds of Windows licences and those them in an online album is better clicking Update & Security, then ‘Device
bought directly from Microsoft are the because the size of the photos won’t be encryption’. If you don’t have BitLocker,
most flexible and should easily transfer a concern. one alternative is to create an encrypted
to a new computer; OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturer) licences that
come preinstalled on a PC do not. But GENERAL PC
the boot problem is something different.
How did you transfer the virtual Find a missing file
machine? Copying the folders from one
computer to the other may not be
sufficient. The best way to do it is to
Q I was writing a book of sorts in
Microsoft Word on my Windows
10 computer. I would write few pages
select the virtual machine in VirtualBox then save it in a folder, which had the
and use File, then Export Appliance on title of the book as its name. The next
the old computer. On the new one, use day, I would write again and save it in
Import Appliance. This transfers all the the same folder. This went on for
settings used by the virtual machine. several days.
One day, by accident, I rested my
PHOTOS elbow on the keyboard and the screen
Share your photos turned white with a small ‘v’ at the top.

Q I have transferred a lot of photos

from my digital camera to my
computer. How do I copy the photos to
I may have panicked, and possibly
deleted or saved – I can’t remember
exactly what happened. The upshot is
Right-click a folder and select ‘Restore
previous versions’ to find lost files
send to someone? that my folder has disappeared. I have
John Eaves, via email tried to recover it using third-party right-click Book; but if Book is
software from the internet, but it didn’t missing, right-click Documents. Select

A There are lots of ways to do this. If

you have a Google account, go to
photos.google.com and click the Upload
work. Is there a way I can retrieve it?
Shantanu Ghosh, via email
‘Restore previous versions’ from the
menu to see backups of the folder
listed. You can restore it by selecting
link to store them online. Click Albums,
‘Create album’ and add the photos to it.
Open the album and click Share on the
A There are several ways to recover
lost files, but it’s impossible to
predict whether they will work. Open
one from before the file or folder went
missing.
It’s possible to sync the Desktop
left. You can invite people by using their the Recycle Bin, select the View tab and Documents folders with
email address or generate a link that and click Details. Click the Date OneDrive, and if the missing file or
you can then send to them. This will Deleted or Name column header to folder was in a synced folder, they
provide access for them to view the sort the contents. If the file is there, may be in the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
photos online. you can right-click it and select Go to onedrive.live.com in a browser
If you use Outlook or Gmail in a Restore. and sign in. Click ‘Recycle bin’ on the
browser, click ‘New message’ then drag Windows makes automatic backups left, and see if the lost file is there.
photos from an Explorer window and of certain folders, such as the If nothing has worked, install the
drop them on the email. Alternatively, Documents folder and any subfolders free version of Recuva (bit.ly/
use the Attach button or click the ‘Insert within. It’s possible the file is in a recu479) and scan the hard drive. It
pictures inline’ button. backup. Open Explorer and find the lists every file ever deleted, so finding
Digital camera photos can be large, so parent folder of the item that was lost. the one you want can be like looking
you may not be able to send more than For example, if the file was in for a needle in a haystack, but you
a few at a time unless you’ve shrunk Documents\Book\MyBook.docx, may get lucky so it’s worth trying.
them in a photo editor first. Sharing

Find more solutions at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 10 - 23 July 2019 67

 Ask the Expert

VeraCrypt creates secure containers. It can even encrypt Your SSD may support encryption for added security –
whole drives, but run a backup first check the specifications on the manufacturer’s website
SECURITY
store for valuable files and data using
encryption software such as VeraCrypt Secure an SSD drive A SSDs don’t last as long as hard
drives and they spread the wear
(www.veracrypt.fr).
Most PCs run Windows Home without
encryption, so if someone has access to
Q I recently had my computer’s hard
drive upgraded to a solid-state drive
(SSD) and the increase in speed is
across the whole drive by avoiding
writing the same part over and over.
New information is written to a new part
your PC, they can read your files. remarkable. It’s like owning a of the drive, which is a problem if you
Passwords aren’t stored as plain text on completely a new computer! try overwriting a file to erase it. Don’t
the hard drive and will be encrypted, I previously used a file shredder to use file shredders on SSDs, encrypt
even if the drive isn’t – however, you securely overwrite files when deleting them instead. In fact, the drive might
should still change the passwords on all them. Will this still work on an SSD? have encryption built in, so check the
your sites and services as a precaution. T Hicks, via email specifications.

GENERAL PC

Prevent your PC from freezing

Q After an apparently random
period of time, my PC freezes and
nothing works – not even the mouse
adaptors’, then right-click the adaptor
and select ‘Update driver’. If no newer
versions are found, right-click it and
or keyboard. I can’t even press select Properties. Select the Driver tab
Ctrl+Alt+Del, and I have to hold the and, if the Roll Back Driver button is
power button down to turn off. I can enabled, use it. This reinstalls the
then restart it, but eventually it previous driver from a backup Windows
freezes again. Any suggestions for has automatically made, but not all
solving this would be appreciated. drivers can be rolled back.
William Doyle, via email Repeat this with other common
devices, such as Bluetooth, Human

A Drivers can sometimes cause

problems like this and it may be a
bug or an incompatibility. Updating an
Interface Devices, ‘Mice and other
pointing devices’, Keyboards and
‘Network adapters’. Tools such as Some drivers can be rolled back to their
old driver to a newer version might fix DriverMax (www.drivermax.com) and previous versions using Device Manager
it but, equally, the solution may be to Driver Booster Free (bit.ly/drbo479) can
roll back a new driver to its previous find and update many more drivers. Manager. Look at the items listed on
version. To make matters even more Software doesn’t usually make the the Startup tab and disable anything
complicated, there are often no clues whole computer freeze but it’s certainly that isn’t essential. Right-click the
as to which driver is causing the possible. If it happens when you’re using icons at the right side of the taskbar,
problem and you just have to work a particular program, try updating or including those in the pop-up area,
through the most likely suspects. Our uninstalling it. Random freezing when and close anything that’s not
advice is to start with the video driver. different programs are being used could essential. If you’re using security
Open the Device Manager by typing be down to something running in the software, try disabling it or
it into the search box, then click it background. uninstalling it and using Windows
when it appears. Expand ‘Display Right-click the taskbar and select Task Defender if you have Windows 10.

This fortnight Roland has been freeing up space on his cloud storage services, which are perilously close to being full

68 10 - 23 July 2019
 Readers’ Helpdesk
Can you help your fellow readers with their
computer problems? Send your questions and
answers to [email protected]

Back
Issues
READERS RESPOND disc
winner
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
Talk to people using speech- How to reset a
to-text software hacked router
Q My 90-year-old aunt is profoundly
deaf. She can talk, but now we have
to communicate with her using a A I had a similar problem to Patrick
Francis (see Issue 477) when my
whiteboard and pen. In a world of Alexas router was hacked last year. I suggest
and Siris, you’d think the technology disconnecting it from the internet and,
would exist to provide her with a if it has Wi-Fi, disabling that too. Then
real-time speech-to-text unit. However, all unplug any devices that are attached Reset your router and change its
password to recover from a hack attack
the options use online services and are to the router and reset it using the
either slow and limiting or work on a factory reset button. Next, connect a numbers. Before you connect any
smartphone with tiny writing. Worse, malware-free PC to the router so you other devices to the router, check that
some of the tools need you to upload a can access its settings. Change the they are free from malware. You can
file to a website, which isn’t exactly username from ‘admin’ to something also block the hacker’s IP and MAC
real-time. Is there a way to turn a tablet else and set a secure password that addresses in the router’s settings.
into a hardwired speech-to-text unit? uses upper and lowercase letters and JE, via email
Tim Roberts, via email

CAN YOU HELP? [email protected]

A We covered speech-to-text tools

way back in Issue 457 (bit.ly/
webuser457), and we’ve yet to see a
You can seek help or suggest solutions to other readers’ problems
by emailing [email protected] or via www.facebook.com/
service that can outperform Google webusermagazine or twitter.com/webusermagazine.
Docs. Depending on the device you’re
using, download the HARDWARE GOOGLE
app or head to
docs.google.com.
Click the microphone
Q Virtual reality seems to have come
a long way since the Eighties and
Nineties. I’m intrigued and would like
Q I’ve been receiving constant
notifications recently telling
me that Google Play can’t log me in.
icon and speak. to try it out, but it’s very expensive. Do Has this been happening to anyone
All speech-to-text any readers know the best way to try else? The notifications are driving
converters can be hit VR without spending a fortune? me to distraction!
and miss, but Google’s Christopher Andrew, via email Gillian Fields, via email
is by far the best.
Alternatively,
download and
install SwiftKey
(bit.ly/swke479)
A There are a couple of services that
let you perform a visual search online
– first, go to Google Images (images.
and drop an image saved on your PC,
paste an image or URL, or take a photo.
When you perform a visual search, the
Smart devices can or Gboard (bit.ly/ google.com and click the Images link, site displays similar images, or you can
translate your gband479). Press which is in the top-right corner. Once click elements of your photo to specify a
words into text
the microphone icon you’re there, click the Camera button and particular part of it.
and speak. Both apps are available for either paste a link to a photo or upload Steve Clark, Features Writer, Web User
tablets as well as smartphones. an image from your computer. If you’re
Steve Clark, Features Writer, Web User using your phone, you’ll have to enure
you’re using the desktop version of the
SEARCH site. Head to google.com, then click the
Search for photos online three dots and select the ‘Desktop site’

Q Is it possible to search the internet

using an image rather than typing
words? I’ve found out how to search my
option before following the steps above.
Bing (www.bing.com) also offers a
good visual search feature. When you
PC using a photo but not the web. click the camera icon in the search bar, it Bing’s Visual Search feature lets you upload
John AC Beattie, via email gives you three options: you can drag an image to find out more about it

Can you help? Email [email protected] – win a Back Issues disc! 10 - 23 July 2019 69
Your Top Tips
Our pick of the best advice from our
readers. Please send questions and answers
to [email protected]

Back
TOP TIP Issues
disc
GENERAL PC winner
Limit the size of Windows 10 updates
If you have limited internet If you open a web page in Chrome,
bandwidth and you’re then right-click and select Print, Chrome
worried about how much of prints the whole page. However, if you
it Windows 10 updates are click and drag to select part of a page,
using, there’s a nifty way to then right-click and choose Print,
limit their size. Download Chrome prints only the selected part.
and extract the Mach2 Zip This works whether you select text,
file from bit.ly/mach479. images or both, and prevents waste.
Run Command Prompt as Bill Tate, via email
Don’t let Windows Updates use up your bandwidth
an administrator, then
paste in the location of the .exe file. It Press Enter and restart your PC. Finally, BROWSERS
should look something like this: open Settings, Update & Security, then Enable Hover Cards to
C:\Users\username\Downloads\ Delivery Optimisation. Click ‘Advanced preview Chrome tabs
mach2_0.3.0.0_x64/mach2.exe options’, and you can limit bandwidth As you know, hovering your mouse
Press space, type enable, then usage under ‘Absolute bandwidth’. pointer over a tab in Chrome reveals the
press space again and type 21425853. Brodie Macmillan, via email name of the page, but I’ve discovered an
even better way of checking what a tab
contains without opening it. You’ll need
PRIVACY paying it much attention. However, if left Chrome Beta (www.google.com/chrome/
Delete recent purchases from alone it only performs quick scans of the beta) for this because the feature isn’t
Google’s tracking tool places malware is most likely to lurk, so available in the standard version yet.
Google tracks everything you buy online, it’s worth updating the virus signatures Open chrome://flags/#tab-
and then uses this information to manually and performing a thorough hover-cards and select Enabled from
advertise ‘relevant’ products to you when scan every now and then. the drop-down menu. Next, go to
you’re next browsing the web. However, Right-click the Windows Defender icon chrome://flags/#tab-hover-
you can delete this information from your in the taskbar and select ‘View security card-images and Enable that too. Once
profile by visiting myaccount.google dashboard’. Click ‘Virus & threat you’ve relaunched the browser, you’ll find
.com/purchases, clicking any purchase protection’, then check for updates by that hovering over a tab reveals a card
and selecting Remove Purchase. Simple. clicking the link near the bottom. Click containing an image of what’s on the
Martha Mortis, via email ‘Scan options’ and choose a ‘Full scan’, page. It’s ridiculously useful.
followed by ‘Scan now’. Paul Sterling, via email
You shouldn’t need to update
Windows Defender’s virus definitions
manually, but if you do, you can
download them from bit.ly/wddef479.
Even if you use other security tools,
it’s still worth doing a thorough manual
scan once in a while.
Chris Mahon, via email

Remove details of items you’ve purchased BROWSERS Hover Cards lets you vi
view th
the contents of
from Google’s database
Print selected text unselected tabs in Chrome
In the past, when I wanted to print
SECURITY something from a web page, I’d print the GENERAL PC
Update and scan with security entire page. Sometimes it came out on Add more time zones
software more than one sheet, which was a waste Did you know that you can add two more
If you use Windows Defender for security of ink and paper. However, I recently clocks to the clock in the taskbar so you
in Windows 10, it’s easy to leave it discovered that you can choose how can see what time it is in different parts
running in the background without much of a web page you want to print. of the world? This could be handy for

70 10 - 23 July 2019
 Readers’ Tips

subject, which you can adjust using the

scroll wheel. I find this method easier to
use than Tiltshift Maker when sharing
photos online from my phone.
Jack Upton, via email

GENERAL PC
Manage your windows better
I hope other Web User readers find
Add extra clocks to the taskbar clock for
this tip useful. I’ve just downloaded Use the BookmarkSheet extension to
places around the world
WindowGrid (windowgrid.net), which is create a bookmarks file in Google Sheets
people who have friends living abroad, or designed to help you manage the way
to check the start time of international open windows are arranged on your BROWSERS
sporting events. screen. It can seem a little finicky at first, Save your bookmarks to
Open the Control Panel and click ‘Date so be warned. Google Sheets
and Time’. On the Additional Clocks tab Run the program, then as you move a I’ve found an interesting browser
you’ll see two drop-down time zone window by clicking and holding down extension for Chrome called
menus, one for each clock. These offer a the left mouse button, press the right BookmarkSheet (bit.ly/bookmark479),
long list of places, including Sydney, the mouse button too. This reveals a grid which lets you save details of your
East and West coasts of the US, various that maximises the screen space for each favourite web pages in Google’s online
European cities and Hawaii. Tick the window without covering any of them spreadsheet tool, Google Sheets. This is
appropriate boxes to show both clocks up. Release the right mouse button and great for me, because I absolutely hate
and choose a time zone for each one, you can begin to ‘fill’ the grid by managing my bookmarks in Chrome – it’s
then click OK. Click the clock on the arranging your windows. just so clunky and annoying.
taskbar to see the time in your chosen James Pike, via email BookmarkSheet can’t import your
cities – the additional clocks appear at bookmarks from Chrome, so you’ll need
the top, above the calendar. to visit your favourite websites again and
Peter Sullivan, via email press the extension button. You can
choose which info to save into Google
EMAIL Sheets and where to save it. I like the
View Gmail attachments fact that the extension saves bookmarks
It’s possible to view email attachments in in a useful format that I can share –
Gmail without opening the message which will be handy if I ever switch to
itself, which is useful if you receive a lot another browser but don’t want to
of attachments. Open Gmail in a browser WindowGrid makes resizing and import old bookmarks.
and click the gear menu, then ‘Display repositioning your windows a lot easier Colin Mortiarty, via email
density’. In the window that appears,
select Default and click OK.
Your email attachments appear as BLUNDER OF THE FORTNIGHT
buttons beneath messages in your
inbox. Click a button to open the SOFTWARE
attachment in your browser. You can use
this method to view images, PDFs and
Keep any window on top
even ZIP files. It’s a quick way to find a When I’m working on my laptop, I tend
file when you can’t remember which to have lots of browser windows open.
email it was attached to. It’s not ideal, but needs must. However,
Jon Perez, via email I end up spending almost as much time
switching between my main window
MOBILE and all my other programs as I do
Add depth blur to your working. It used to annoy me that I
Android photos couldn’t just set my main browser
I was interested to window to ‘Always on top’, as you can
read your article with other software. Luckily, before I
about free photo- lost my marbles and my valuable time,
editing software, I found Pennywise. Yes, for some Keep your most important websites in
plain sight with Pennywise
especially Tiltshift reason it’s named after the clown from
Maker (tiltshiftmaker Stephen King’s It, but it’s also a Pennywise browser window remains
.com), which ridiculously useful tool. Download it on-screen and within sight, even if
recreates the famous from bit.ly/pennywise479, open the you’re working in other windows. As
‘bokeh’ effect. Did application and enter the URL of the long as you don’t mind a creepy-
you know that you page you want to ‘float’ – which is the looking clown staring at you from the
can achieve the same app’s way of saying ‘Always on top’. taskbar, it’s ideal.
effect on Android Now, no matter what else you do, the Elton Kassam, via email
using an app called
Create the
DepthBlur (bit.ly/
‘miniature Have you managed to fix a PC-related disaster?
illusion’ with your blur479). This adds a
If so, please send your story to [email protected]
phone’s photos blur around the

Send your tips to [email protected] – win a Web Back Issues disc! 10 - 23 July 2019 71
 Inbox
You can let us know your views via:
[email protected], www.facebook.com/webusermagazine
and www.twitter.com/webusermagazine

Back
Star Email Issues
disc
winner
Spotify is a musical revelation

I
was pleased to see an article reconstruct my iTunes seems very Facebooky
about Spotify in your recent issue, playlists. Best of all, I’ve to me, although I
because I’ve just started using it connected Spotify to my suppose Spotify uses
myself and now I can’t believe it took Google Home speaker, your ‘likes’ to build a
me so long. I’ve even signed up for the which means I can now profile of your musical
Premium version, which at £9.99 a play music simply by tastes, so it can
month is no more expensive than saying “Hey Google, play recommend tracks
buying the occasional CD. Elton John”, without and create playlists for
I’ve spent the past 10 years building having to fiddle around you. At least the app
up a large MP3 collection that includes searching for songs. It’s isn’t doing this to target
songs I’ve ripped from my own CDs made Google Home my you with adverts – or
and tracks I’ve bought from iTunes. I de facto music system, not in the Premium
didn’t see the need to use a streaming and the sound quality is version, anyway.
service too, but Spotify has proved to excellent. I’d recommend anyone
be a revelation. The only thing that who has resisted Spotify
Virtually every artist and song I’ve bothers me is that you have to ‘like’ because it’s ‘trendy’ or ‘not the same
looked for, aside from a few obscure songs rather than ‘save’ them to your as owning your music’ to give it a go.
remixes and live versions, has been music library – this is apparently a You won’t regret it.
there, and I’ve quickly been able to recent change to the Spotify app. It just Brian Daniels, via email

Credit: B.Zhou / Shutterstock.com

We mustn’t take Huawei risk blasé about this sort of problem. To think
lying down no government would carry out such
In your Star Email in Issue 477, James things is the height of naivety.
Quinn states “I believe that Huawei is Mark, via email
innocent of espionage until it can be
proven guilty” and that “the technology Suspicious about Apple’s
industry should be ashamed of its hidden iPhone costs
knee-jerk response”. over fibre cables, and in its broadband With reference to Barry Collins’ column
Although I agree that we shouldn’t network gateways, which handle in Issue 476 regarding shenanigans over
react in a knee-jerk manner, we also subscriber authentication and access Apple’s products and services (‘Apple
have to be wary of possible infiltration to the internet. needs a dose of nan’s medicine’), I’d like
by third parties who don’t have our It may be wrong to have knee-jerk to add one more thing that many Apple
interests at heart. China’s National reactions, but it’s equally wrong to be so customers may not know about.
Intelligence Law from 2017 requires
organisations and citizens to “support,
assist and cooperate with the state
Quiz Answers: Issue 478
intelligence work,” which is clearly a
concern. Vodafone has previously
WINNER!
1
William Well done
identified hidden backdoors that could Shakespeare to Kim
have given Huawei or the Chinese Willing who
government unauthorised access to 2 Mary Shelley wins a Web
Vodafone’s Italian fixed-line network. User Back
In 2011, Vodafone reportedly asked Issues Disc
Huawei to remove backdoors from 3 Oscar Wilde
its home internet routers. Huawei
offered assurances to Vodafone that 4 Anton Chekhov
it would comply and said it had fixed
WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE
the issues, but when Vodafone analysed
the software, it found that the 5 CS Lewis
Computer
vulnerabilities remained.
What’s more, Vodafone discovered
6 Barbara Cartland
mouse
hidden backdoors in its optical service
nodes, which transport internet traffic

72 10 - 23 July 2019
 Inbox

Since the introduction of iOS 9, the

default toggle switch enabling ‘Wi-Fi- The worst investment Microsoft ever
only’ downloads and uploads was
switched off on many iPhones. This What you made was buying and destroying the
Nokia brand.
meant users were breaching their mobile
data allowances, generating lots of extra say... Brian Brown

money for participating mobile networks. The Zune MP3 player. I had a tiny one
It’s no secret that Apple has a very that could hold 250 tracks. It was
cosy relationship with many of these never going to compete with the iPod.
companies. Just look at the amount of
joint media advertising
that appears when a new
G OOGLE HAS STOPPED
MAKING TABLETS (bit.ly/
tablets479). HOW LONG HAVE
Caroline Chapman @cantstopthesgnl

Windows ME.
iPhone is released. No YOU HAD YOUR CURRENT Anthony Higham
wonder the cost of TABLET?
owning Apple’s products Clearly the answer is Clippy the
has passed the £1,000 I still use a Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (2014), office assistant.
mark recently. Could it be which Samsung eventually stopped Rich Grove
that these companies have so much updating. There was nothing on the
influence with Apple that to increase market of a similar size that I fancied,
profits they can insist on their own
settings? Once again, it appears that
regulators have just let this happen.
so I rooted it, installed Lineage OS
and now it’s faster than ever. I also
replaced the battery, so I have a
W ILL YOU DITCH CHROME IF
IT DISABLES YOUR AD
BLOCKER (see page 40)?
As a footnote, please tell Barry that the speedy tablet that’s as good as new.
word ‘gotten’ doesn’t exist in the English Gary Olsen Yes, although it won’t come as a blow
vocabulary, and as a UK-based because I mainly use Firefox. I only
professional journalist he should know I’ve bought a number of tablets over use Chrome occasionally as a backup.
better. American slang words may be the years from Tesco (a Hudl), Ideal Lynn Sharpe
acceptable in some parts of the globe, World (an Apple iPad Mini) and QVC
but not here! (a Lenovo device). I’ve discovered Yes. Fortunately there are many other
Roger T, via email from reading Web User that there are options available. I use a multitude of
lots of uses for an old tablet, such as a different ad blockers for a reason.
Try my new online second PC monitor, a photo display Gavin Green
budgeting app and even a security camera.
I would like to let you know about my Lee Morris Very likely, but I’d still use Chrome for
new website, Money-Go-Round paying bills and using Google Drive.
(moneygoround.info). It’s an online I’ve had my BlackBerry Playbook for a Martin Phillp
budgeting app that lets you enter details good eight years. It’s a bit limited now
of your income and outgoings, and in what it can do, but it still plays I stopped using Chrome ages ago. It
outputs a running total, with a savings movies and I completed Angry Birds never seems especially stable.
calculator and cash-flow forecasts. on it. Maybe it’s time for a change. Lee Dodgson
The running total report also works out Colin Leonard
a piggy bank total, the amount you need I don’t use Chrome. It’s too nosy. I use
to put aside to pay for expenses and Less than 12 months. I am never an Vivaldi instead.
your disposable income. The savings early adopter. Jason ‘Boz’ Bowyer
calculator was born out of a habit of Dave Spinks
putting any money left over at the end of I don’t use Chrome, but do use Vivaldi
the month into a – and yes, I would.
savings account. The
report calculates
how much you could
W HAT DO YOU THINK IS
MICROSOFT’S BIGGEST
MISTAKE (bit.ly/mistake479)?
Mike Collum

I binned Chrome off ages ago. It’s like

potentially save. Big Brother is watching you.
I coded Money- In 2004-05, I was part of a team of Geoffrey Boow
Go-Round myself users testing Microsoft’s MSN Music
using open-source service, which was designed to I already have.
software. The presentation could be compete with iTunes. I urged them to Jayme Carne
better (something for the future), but it’s drop their digital-rights management
functional and free, with no adverts. The and move to an open system. They I like Edge but I hear it’s changing to
site is currently at the alpha stage and delayed and missed the boat. be more like Chrome. Why bother?
available for user testing and feedback. Chris Armstrong Simon Batt
Gareth Osler, via email

Air your views, write to us at [email protected] 10 - 23 July 2019 73

 Page 404
Barry Collins fears he’s being strong-armed
into paying for a Dropbox subscription

Is it time to drop
Dropbox?
L
ike the 20-goal-a-season striker Well, step right over here and take out files and demand you immediately
who turns up in the manager’s one of Dropbox’s subscription plans, shuttle £500 to Sergei in Moscow to
office asking for a new contract, from the bargain price of £5.99 per get them back.
Dropbox is good – and it knows it. month. Except that price didn’t last That Dropbox is brilliant is not in
That’s why it’s turning the screw on free long. Last month, Dropbox imposed question. I’ve used it for personal and
users, enforcing significant price rises on 20% price rises across the board, business files for years and I can count
subscribers and doing its level best to meaning the on the fingers of
turn the red ink on its profit-and-loss cheapest subscription one hand the
sheet to black. plan now costs just Almost any app you number of times it’s
The warning signs literally started shy of £100 a year, or can think of integrates with let me down. And
appearing in March, when free users £7.99 per month. If because I’ve
suddenly received alerts that they you don’t want to pay Dropbox – no other service managed to harvest
couldn’t install Dropbox on new devices a year’s subscription offers the same carefree chunks of extra
because the company had imposed a in advance, that’s storage by
strict three-device limit. Any devices hiked up to £9.99 per
file syncing recommending
you had linked to Dropbox prior to month or £120 a year. Dropbox to friends
March would remain so, but if you To be fair to Dropbox, it has increased and buying certain devices over the
subsequently tried to add a new one, the amount of storage available to years, I’ve not had to pay for it.
you couldn’t just swap one of the old paid-for subscribers. Plus users have But now I feel like I’m being boxed in
devices out – you had to reduce the seen their storage quota double from by Dropbox. The three-device limit will
number of devices on your account to 1TB to 2TB, and the service has rolled eventually bite me (I currently have it
two and then add the new one. out several new features, including the installed on no fewer than 21 devices,
Want the freedom to install Dropbox ability to “rewind” your entire Dropbox although a good chunk of them are
on as many devices as you like again? should ransomware encrypt all your sitting unused in my kit cupboard)
and Dropbox is so firmly integrated
into my work and personal life that I’d
struggle to get by without it. Almost
any app or productivity software you
can think of integrates with Dropbox
– no other service offers the same
carefree file syncing.
So at some point soon I’m going to be
faced with a choice. Do I pay up and
tether myself to Dropbox and its price
rises for the foreseeable future? Or jump
ship before I’m in too deep? You might
reasonably argue that I’ve had a good
Illustration: Andrew Torrens

run on a free service, and I should be

prepared to pay for something that’s so
valuable to my business. But there’s
something about being strong-armed
into subscribing that leaves a bad taste.
It’s nowhere near as malicious as the
ransomware it guards against, but it’s
not entirely dissimilar, either: it’s got my
data, now it wants my money.

74 10 - 23 July 2019 Do you agree? Let us know at [email protected]

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