MASTER KODI’S

SUPERB NEW TOOL

NEVER CLICK
GOOGLE ADVERTS STOP
5G
Avoid hard-to-spot scams p62
Add subtitles to all your videos
page 38
RUARY 2023
ISSUE 651 ❘ 15 – 28 FEB

KILLING
YOUR TV
Block the signal and
every issue get your picture back
Learn something new in
let – page 22
Amazon’s extra-hot tab p60

Restore Your Old

PHOTOS &
VIDEOS
Best-ever FREE tools to...
 Remove scratches and tears
 Add colour to black-and-white
 Sharpen blurry video footage
 Get rid of red
red-eye
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Digitise old photos FOR FREE!
p50

PLUS
USE WHATSAPP BROWSE THE WEB
ON YOUR TABLET p74 100% ANONYMOUSLY
It’s finally possible (but not for everyone) You just need a USB stick! p35
WELCOME NEW!

EDITORIAL
Group Editor in Chief Graham Barlow
Group Editor Daniel Booth
From the Editor
Deputy Editor Robert Irvine
Production Editor Graham Brown Not all photos from the past need to be sign of AI’s breathtaking (and sometimes
Art Editor Katie Peat
Contributors Barry Collins, Dinah Greek, Jonathan Parkyn,
restored. I’m quite content for several unsettling) potential. Expect to read much
Chris Paton, Nik Rawlinson, Andy Shaw blurred 1970s pics of me wearing bright more about this technological revolution
ADVERTISING
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Advertising Manager Alexandra Thomas many others that have scratches where By the way, you may remember in Issue
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION
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Subscriptions Juber Ahmed sitting in sunlight since the moment they 2023. Well, I’m delighted to say that for the
For subscription enquiries ring 0330 333 9493
were taken. first time we’re selling our back issues on a
PRODUCTION I’ve managed to repair most of them USB stick (pictured above), joining the CD
Head of Production
Stephen Catherall
using the new wave of AI tools – all free – that’s proved so popular for nearly 20 years.
Senior Production Manager that Robert Irvine recommends in his For more info visit www.snipca.com/44976.
Lawrence Brookes
excellent Cover Feature, and will tackle Daniel Booth
INTERNATIONAL LICENSING AND SYNDICATION loads of shaky videos next. It’s another [email protected]
Computeractive is available for licensing and syndication.
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and TV - p9 to - p7 websites themselves, which means
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Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 3

 Contents
15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

6 News Microsoft insists Office update

doesn’t spy on users

10 Question of the Fortnight

Is it time to stop using Windows 10? 1

11 Protect Your Tech

Sharp rise in Yahoo-related scams

12 Letters A
 bove-inflation broadband bills 3
damage our economy 2

14 Consumeractive
Are ‘restocking’ fees legal?
p10
16 Grow Your Family Tree
Make connections using Ancestry’s hints Turn it up to 11

18 Best Free Software

LibreOffice 7.5 Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
21 Named & Shamed p22
Opera’s (far-from) Lucid mode

Reviews
22 Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
Amazon’s latest tablet warms to its tasks

23 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6in

Gaming laptop scores high

24 Acer Swift Edge

Striking laptop is style over substance

25 SanDisk Pro G-Drive 4TB

Large external drive is heavy going Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6in

26 Ezviz DB2 Smart Video Doorbell p23

pxx
Cut-price doorbell pushes our buttons

28 Ulefone Armor 16 Pro

Rugged smartphone is hard to knock
Kemove K68 Angel
Mechanical keyboard clicks into gear

29 Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 3000

Wi-Fi extender spreads the word

30 Buy It/Competition
Win Serif Affinity Photo 2 software

4 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Subscribe now – and save 49%!
See page 58 for our special subs offer

Workshops & Tips Give web snoopers some stick

p35
35 
How to… Browse the web
anonymously from a USB stick

38 
Make subtitles easier to read
in Kodi

40 R
 eaders’ Tips
Jump to the top of long web pages

42 Browser Tips Manage all your Firefox

extensions in one place

44 Phone and Tablet Tips Make

emergency phone calls more easily

46 Make Windows Better Pin ‘Show

Restore Your Old

desktop’ shortcut to your taskbar

47 Make Office Better CO

FEATVER

PHOTOS &
Wrap text around a table in Word UR
P50 E
48 In the Club

VIDEOS
Improve your club reviews on Google

49 What’s All the Fuss About?

The Calculator Drawer Best-ever FREE tools to...
50 
COVER FEATURE
 Remove scratches and tears
Restore your old photos and videos  Add colour to black-and-white
The best free tools for repairing, colourising  Sharpen blurry video footage
and touching up your old family snaps and  Get rid of red
red-eye
-eye effect
home movies Digitise old photos FOR FREE!

60 Stop 5G killing your TV

Don’t let interference from the latest mobile-
network standard ruin your TV viewing p60

Stop
62 Don’t click Google adverts
Protect your personal information by

5G
blocking malware in fake ads at the top of
Google search results

64 Problems Solved
How do I download my AOL emails?

71 Reader Support
Should I ignore Ubuntu Touch warning?

72 Jargon Buster

74 Easy When You Know How

killing your TV
Robert Irvine uses WhatsApp on a tablet

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 5

 News The top stories in the world of technology

Microsoft insists Office

update doesn’t spy on users
M
icrosoft has denied version of Office they’ve got
that it is spying on installed.
users by releasing an The company released
update (pictured right) that update KB5021751 on 17
tells the company which January to help it “identify
the number of users running
WHAT WE THINK out-of-support (or soon to be
out-of-support) versions of
Once again Microsoft shoots Office” – in particular versions
itself in both feet through 2007, 2010 and 2013.
its kneecaps. The update Microsoft ended support for In response Microsoft details, customer content, or
gathers relatively harmless the first two in October 2017 added more information to data about non-Microsoft
data, but being forced to and October 2020 respectively, the update announcement, products”.
clarify this makes Microsoft 10 years after they were attempting to justify it by The update is optional,
look like it’s got something to released. Office 2013 will saying that unsupported meaning it will be shown to
hide. Knowing who uses old follow this lifespan trend, versions of Office “no longer users who have turned on the
versions of Office will help with Microsoft ending support receive security updates that ‘Receive updates for other
it target them with ‘update on 11 April. provide the latest protections Microsoft products when you
now’ alerts, but will these Microsoft also said that the against known vulnerabilities” update Windows’ option in
tactics drive them towards update “will run one time and that they “might face Settings.
free alternatives such as the silently without installing performance and reliability You can check this by
new version of LibreOffice anything on the user’s device”. issues over time”. opening Settings (press
(see page 18)? And how However, many users It also clarified how the update Windows key+I), then clicking
many will now turn off enquired via social media and works, saying it collected ‘Update & Security’ on the left
messages related to Office help forums why Microsoft “diagnostic and performance (Windows 10) or ‘Windows
anyway? needed to know which data to estimate the usage of Update’ (Windows 11). Now
version of Office users had. installed Office versions” so it click the ‘Advanced options’
can analyse how best to link and check whether the
“support and service” them. ‘Receive updates…’ slider is on
MICROSOFT 365 OFFER WON’T It added that the data is or off (pictured below).
TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER “gathered from registry entries Turn it off from blue to grey
Windows users have up a page titled ‘Confirm and APIs”, which are tools that if you don’t want to receive
complained about a trial your payment options’, with let two software components any further updates relating to
offer of Microsoft 365 that a box to enter your payment communicate with each other, Office and other non-Windows
apparently doesn’t give them details. The only button to and doesn’t include “licensing Microsoft products.
the option to decline. press on the page seems to
A user posted a video say ‘Start trial, buy later’.
on Reddit (www.snipca. The user who posted the
com/44995) of an offer titled video said the message
‘Access granted: We’re giving appeared “after a restart on a
you a free trial of Microsoft freshly installed” version
365 Family’, with ‘Try for free’ of Windows 10. He said he
and ‘No, thanks’ buttons at had to sign up for Microsoft
the bottom. 365, but then cancelled
Clicking ‘No, thanks’ brings immediately.

You’ll like this… National Trust has but not this… Money stolen by romance
launched a virtual beaver tour online scammers rose by 91 per cent during Covid
(www.snipca.com/44980) (www.snipca.com/44994)

6 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

Openreach to limit broadband IN BRIEF

speed as copper switch-off nears WORLD CUP HELPS

iPLAYER BREAK RECORDS
World Cup coverage helped

O penreach is limiting “around 2Mbps” from 24 the BBC iPlayer break its

2
customers’ broadband April. From 5 June it will monthly
speeds and blocking outbound prevent customers making streaming
phone calls in a move to calls from their homes except record for
“encourage” them to upgrade to call emergency services, December.
from the old copper network. internet providers and There were
It will test the measures in
Salisbury in Wiltshire and
Mildenhall in Suffolk as part
centres that monitor alarms
such as fire, intruder, panic
buttons and CCTV alerts.
Mbps 92 million
individual
streams for the tournament,
of its plan to switch off the Openreach added that contributing to 700 million
UK’s copper network by the people relying on vital in December. Total streams
end of 2025. services that use the copper the affected areas that the in 2022 hit a record 7 billion,
The company said: “By network, such as care alarms, copper network would be nine per cent higher than
responsibly adjusting the will be “exempt and switched off by 19 April 2023, in 2021. Doctor Who was
performance of the remaining unaffected by the changes”. but this deadline has now the most-streamed show,
analogue services, it’s hoped James Lilley, Openreach’s been extended to 9 October followed by Peaky Blinders.
that customers in the trial Director for Managed in order to “test the new Over 5 million people
areas will be prompted to Customer Migrations, service measures”. watched the Queen’s funeral
contact their provider and described the moves as The company didn’t say on iPlayer.
upgrade their line, preventing “gentle measures” designed to whether it would introduce
the ultimate risk of their “nudge” customers to upgrade. these restrictions across the VODAFONE STARTS
service being switched off Most homes and businesses UK as the copper switch-off SWITCHING OFF 3G
(www.snipca.com/44913).” in Salisbury and Mildenhall deadline approaches. Vodafone has become the
It will start to limit
broadband speeds for
have already switched from
copper to digital voice
• Read more in Issue 648’s
‘Ditch Your Landline’ Cover
first mobile network to start
switching off its 3G network.
customers on fibre-to-the- services, Openreach said. Feature (www.snipca. It will begin turning off the
cabinet (FTTC) connections to It initially told customers in com/44917) signal in Basingstoke and
Plymouth in February, before
ending it across the whole of
Ofcom investigates whether the UK by December 2023.
The switch-off will also
BT’s contracts weren’t clear enough affect virtual networks that
use Vodafone’s network,

O fcom is investigating
whether BT-owned
Plusnet failed to give
may examine
whether EE and
Plusnet have clearly
including Asda Mobile,
Lebara and Talkmobile. Read
more about the 3G switch-off
customers “clear and simple” explained that in Issue 650, page 60 (www.
information about their prices increase snipca.com/44912).
contracts when they every year by the
signed up. rate of inflation TOMORROW’S
It introduced rules last June plus 3.9 per cent. WORLD
requiring broadband and “We will gather
mobile providers to give further information Will ChatGPT (www.snipca.
customers a “short, one-page and provide updates com/44932) mean the end
summary of the main contract Customers with disabilities as our investigation of traditional homework?
terms before entering a contract, can also ask to receive the progresses,” Ofcom said. The AI tool is so good at
including clear examples of documents in an accessible A BT spokesperson said: generating convincing text
how any price increases will format, such as large print “We want our customers to be that Alleyn’s School in
affect the price they pay” or Braille. fully informed and we make London will now ask pupils
(www.snipca.com/44926). Ofcom said it has “reasons sales information upfront, to prepare for essays at
This summary must also to suspect” that Plusnet failed clear and transparent. We are home, but then write them
state the speed of the service, to comply with the rules. It’s fully engaged with Ofcom at school where they can’t
how much it will cost, how already investigating EE, during the course of this ask ChatGPT for help. A ‘test’
long it will last, and how which BT also owns, for investigation.” English essay written by the
much a customer must pay
for terminating the contract
breaking the same rules.
The regulator didn’t go into
• ‘Above-inflation broadband
bills damage the economy’ –
tool was good enough to
earn an A star, teachers said.
early. detail, but the investigation Star Letter, page 13

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 7

 News
IN BRIEF Microsoft forces Windows 11
SKY REJOINS BROADBAND
CODE OF PRACTICE
update on to computers
Sky has rejoined Ofcom’s
voluntary ‘Code of Practice
for Broadband ISP Speeds’
M icrosoft has started to
force computers running
version 21H1 of Windows 11 to
(www.snipca.com/44906), upgrade to 22H2.
meaning it will have to give Since the 22H2 update was
customers more information released on 20 September,
about their estimated Microsoft had been gradually
speeds and make it easier making it available on
for them to cancel a contract computers it deemed were
for free if a fault can’t be powerful enough to run it.
fixed. The company withdrew But it has now decided
2
from the code during the to update computers
Covid pandemic reportedly automatically, starting with
because of the restrictions “those devices that have been 1
imposed by lockdowns. using version 21H2 for the
longest period of time”.
GOOGLE TO BLOCK Build 21H2 was the first
COOKIES FROM JULY 2024 version of Windows 11,
Google has once again launched on 5 October 2021. Windows through automatic ( 1 in our screenshot),
pushed back its deadline Microsoft will keep supporting updates” and is using the followed by ‘Check for
for blocking tracking cookies this version until 10 October same approach for Windows updates’ 2 .
in Chrome. It now says it this year (see www.snipca. 11 “to help you stay protected The update added several
will “phase out support” for com/44974), so you should and productive”. tools to Windows 11, including
them in the third quarter of aim to update to 22H2 by It added that you have the folders in the Start menu,
2024. It initially planned to then. ability to “choose a convenient dragging and dropping to
remove them by the end On its ‘Release health’ page time for your device to restart the taskbar and live captions
of July, then by the end of (www.snipca.com/44975), and complete the update”. for videos.
2023, and more recently
by the second half of 2024.
Microsoft wrote that since the
launch of Windows 10 in 2015
You can attempt to trigger
the 22H2 update yourself by
• You can read our verdict on
the new tools in Issue 640,
Once cookies are blocked, it has been helping users pressing Windows key+I to available on our 2022 Back
advertisers should no longer “stay up to date and secure open Settings, then clicking Issue CD (www.snipca.
be able to track what you with supported versions of Windows Update on the left com/44660).
do online.

THE WORLD’S
GONE MAD!
Facebook: we’re not pro-Russia
The British Trust for
Ornithology has returned to
M eta, the company that owns
Facebook, WhatsApp and
Instagram, has denied claims
content from Ukraine
requiring language and
cultural expertise is reviewed
Twitter that it’s censoring Ukrainian by Ukrainians, not Russians.
after its content online in favour of Turowski acknowledged
account was pro-Russian information. that there’s no “perfect” way
suspended Jacob Turowski, Meta’s of monitoring content, and
for a week public policy director for there will “always be things
(see www.snipca. central and eastern Europe, we take seriously”. we miss and things we take
com/44968). Its crime said the accusations “are false Turowski added that down by mistake”.
seems to have been tweeting and there is no evidence to Facebook and Instagram have He said: “Wars are also
about a national survey of support them”. teams that review content in complex and fast-moving
Woodcocks, alerting the Writing online (www. more than 70 languages, and events where the scope for
website’s extremely twitchy snipca.com/44982), he said that sometimes only a local errors is greater. That’s why we
censors. The Cockapoo Fan that “preventing bias and can accurately judge “the have teams that work around
Club is probably best off making sure we’re applying specific meaning of a word or the clock to rectify any errors
sticking to Facebook (www. our policies accurately and the political climate in which and provide channels for
snipca.com/44970). consistently is fundamental to a post is shared”. people to appeal decisions
our approach and something As an example he said that they disagree with.”

8 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

Virgin to hike broadband prices IN BRIEF
by 13.8 per cent EE ADDS MORE PLACES
TO 5G NETWORK

V irgin Media will increase

its broadband bills this
spring by an average of 13.8
to them.
However, the rise won’t
affect Virgin’s Essential social
EE has added 19 more
locations to its 5G network,
including Basildon, Llanelli,
per cent, and will tie future tariff for customers on universal Preston and Slough, bringing
price rises to the rate of credit, nor those on the phone- other broadband providers. its coverage to 60 per cent
inflation. only Talk Protected plan. If Virgin had used of the UK. It aims to deliver
Most Virgin Media cable Virgin justified the rises December’s RPI (13.4 per 5G throughout the country
customers will end up paying by saying that “like many cent) to calculate its increase by 2028. Its 4G network
more, including both those other businesses we are for 2023 – plus 3.9 per cent – currently reaches 87 per
with a bundled deal that experiencing significantly then bills would rise by cent. For the full list of new
includes TV and a phone increased costs while investing 17.3 per cent in the spring. locations visit www.snipca.
line, and those who have just to keep pace with growing This link with inflation will com/44886.
one product. demand, as broadband usage be written into contracts, so
The company didn’t rose more than 10% last year you won’t be able to cancel PLAY AMAZON MUSIC
confirm the smallest and and speeds increased by 40%”. early without paying a fee. ON SKY Q AND GLASS
largest price increases Unlike BT, EE, Plusnet However, 2023’s increase Amazon Music is now
customers face, but said the and Vodafone, Virgin hasn’t isn’t in the contract, so you available on Sky Glass,
average will be 13.8 per cent. tied its 2023 increase to the can leave without a fee as Sky Stream and Sky Q,
The company is spreading current rate of inflation plus long as you tell Virgin Media providing access to songs,
the price rise across two dates 3.9 per cent. within 30 days of it informing albums and playlists. The
– 1 April and 1 May – in order But it has confirmed it will you about the rise. free version lets you play
to “best serve customers do this in 2024, and will use Will you stay with Virgin Media
playlists; Prime members
during this period”. It will tell RPI inflation, which is usually or switch? Let us know: can play tracks in shuffle
customers which date applies higher than the CPI used by [email protected] mode; while Amazon Music
Unlimited subscribers can
listen to any song on
Google takes down fake Bitwarden demand. You can open it
in the Apps section, or by
adverts FAKE REAL saying “Hello Sky, open
Amazon Music” to your

G oogle has removed an

advert that was tricking
people into downloading a
Sky Glass set, or “Amazon
Music” into your voice
remote control. Read more at
fake version of the password www.snipca.com/44903.
manager Bitwarden.
The advert appeared at NETFLIX CONFIRMS BAN
the top of Google’s results ON SHARING PASSWORDS
when people searched for Netflix has confirmed that it
‘bitwarden password website, and that it’s using the tool (www.snipca. will ban password sharing
manager’. It contained a an encrypted connection. com/44901). at the end of March. In a
fake URL for Bitwarden, Bitwarden users warned The scammers may have report to shareholders it
instead of the real address about the scam on the been exploiting interest in said more than 100 million
https://bitwarden.com. site’s forums (www.snipca. switching from LastPass to users share their passwords
Clicking the link took users com/44898), with one another password manager outside their household,
to a fake site that looked saying it’s “a real looking site” following a security breach undermining its “long-
identical to Bitwarden’s that could be used to “trick that saw an attacker access term ability to invest in and
genuine login page, with someone who isn’t so accounts. In Issue 650 (page improve” the streaming
the URL being the only competent”. 38) we explained how to move service. It’s expected to start
difference (see screenshot). The scam comes amid from LastPass to Bitwarden. charging a fee to share a
The fake URL even growing concern about a Security researchers have subscription across multiple
contained a bogus version of wave of fake Google adverts also recently spotted fake ads households.
the padlock logo, which for software. Another for Audacity, VLC, OBS Studio,
represents the SSL security popular password manager, 7-Zip and CCleaner.
protocol. This is supposed to
confirm the authenticity of a
1Password, warned users not
to fall for ads impersonating
• Avoid fake adverts on
Google – see page 62

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 9

 Questionof
Question ofthe
theFortnight
Fortnight
Is it time to stop using
Windows 10?
Microsoft is now shoving you towards its latest operating system

W
e think you can
guess Microsoft’s THE FACTS
answer to this
1 Be careful
question. It wanted you to
of pic box width
• Microsoft stopped selling
abandon Windows 10 on Windows 10 at the end of
and blue tag
5 October 2021, the day it January, though you can
clashing, reduce
launched Windows 11. Its 3 still buy licences for it from
policy since then has been to pic box width2 other retailers
nudge you in that direction, slightly, thank u • It will no longer release
though these are now turning >>> non-security preview
into hefty shoves. updates for some
In early February Microsoft Windows 10 versions
played its favourite game: • It will stop supporting
making it hard for you not to the screen that you’ll see a ‘Keep recommends Windows 11 for the operating system on
upgrade. It started showing Windows 10’ option 3 . If you your PC’ (as if you hadn’t got 14 October 2025
some Windows 10 users full- don’t spot that, you could easily that message already).
screen messages titled ‘Now think you have no choice but It’s obvious what Microsoft
unlocked: You’re eligible for a to upgrade to Windows 11. now wants you to click – the or 8.1 (see www.snipca.
free upgrade to Windows 11’ But clicking ‘Keep Windows bottom-right blue button com/45001), but to buy a
( 1 in our screenshot above 10’ isn’t the end of Microsoft’s called ‘Download while licence you’ll need to shop
right). mischief. Instead of going using my PC’ ( 1 in our elsewhere – such as our
It’s not clear what Microsoft back to your desktop as you’d screenshot below left). The own Store, which sells Home
means by ‘unlocked’. The expect, it takes you to a page fainter option to ‘Decline for £49.99 (www.snipca.
operating system was never titled ‘Introducing Windows upgrade’ 2 is next to it. Surely com/44996) and Pro for
‘locked’ in the first place. If 11’, which promotes several that’s enough to stop £69.99 (www.snipca.
your computer has the required benefits of upgrading (faster, Microsoft nagging? Nope! It com/44998).
specifications to run it, you’ve more secure, easier to use takes you to a page titled None of this is especially
always been able to upgrade. and more). ‘You’ll stay on Windows 10’, surprising. It makes sense for
Those restrictions are still in The only option here is a blue with a ‘Continue to Windows Microsoft to shift its focus
place, and Microsoft shows no Back button at the bottom 10’ button. Only by clicking from Windows 10 to 11. But it
signs of unlocking them. right. Where do you think this that do you finally escape doesn’t follow that you should
Under this misleading title takes you? Back to the original Microsoft’s upgrade maze. do likewise. Microsoft is
are two buttons: ‘Get it’ or ‘Unlocked’ screen? Back to the This onslaught followed committed to supporting
‘Schedule it’ 2 . It’s only if you desktop? No, it takes you to two significant moves from Windows 10 until October
look carefully at the bottom of another page titled ‘Microsoft Microsoft in January. First, it 2025, so running it until then
said that from March there will be perfectly safe.
would be “no more optional, However, after something of
non-security preview releases a false start, Windows 11 now
for the supported editions of has many useful tools missing
Windows 10, version 20H2 in Windows 10, such as live
and Windows 10, version captions for videos and tabs in
21H2”. That means Microsoft File Explorer. These are
won’t add any new features to compelling reasons to upgrade,
those versions, though it will and Microsoft is right to shout
2 1 still release security updates about them. But it should stop
for them. trying to trick people with
Then, at the end of January, confusing buttons and screens.
Microsoft stopped selling After all, nobody actually
Windows 10. It still lets you needs to upgrade for another
See that shiny blue button? Microsoft desperately wants you to click it upgrade to it from Windows 7 31 months.

10 15 –28 February 2023 • Issue 651

Protect your tech
Scams and threats to avoid, plus new security tools
WATCH OUT FOR...

Sharp rise in Yahoo-related scams

What’s the threat?
Yahoo was the company most
impersonated by scammers in the
final quarter of 2022, as millions of How can you
people were targeted by an email stay safe?
promoting a fake competition that it What’s most interesting about
claimed was organised by the company. this scam is that it exploited a
Israeli security company Check company many years past its
Point said that between October and prime, and no longer
December Yahoo rose 23 places to considered fashionable or
top its list of the most-imitated cutting edge. Indeed, the
companies, ahead of DHL in second scammers may have been
and Microsoft third. It accounted for 20 prize because of legal restrictions. using that perception of Yahoo to their
per cent of all scams during the period. Overall, technology firms were advantage. After all, people expect
The emails had a subject line most likely to be imitated in the three criminals to impersonate popular brands
suggesting the recipient had won months analysed, with Google, LinkedIn, such as Google, Microsoft and WhatsApp.
awards or prize money. They came from WeTransfer, Netflix and WhatsApp also Perhaps by mimicking the almost-
senders called ‘Awards Promotion’ or in the top 10 (see the list at www.snipca. forgotten Yahoo they were hoping to
‘Award Center’ and asked recipients to com/44880). catch people unawares.
click a link and enter their personal Another Yahoo scam at the end of 2022 In other ways, though, this is simply a
information and bank details, promising told users their Yahoo Mail accounts conventional ‘too good to be true’ scam.
to transfer the money when that was would be closed soon. The email urged You can safely ignore any emails claiming
done. The message also warned people recipients to log into their account to avoid you’ve won a competition that you have
not to tell others about winning the “service interruption” (see screenshot). no memory of actually entering.

New tools Clear your Chrome

history by typing
ScamWatch
Readers warn readers

1 2 ‘Restore Your McAfee’

scam email
I use McAfee antivirus software, so I
nearly fell for a scam email that asked
me to check whether my subscription
was up to date. The message had a
yellow button at the bottom saying
‘Restore Your McAfee’, but then I
spotted some grammatical errors,
such as “Your subscription of McAfee
for your computer may ended soon”.
Google has added a third way to open images and files.
Perhaps it had been automatically
the options for wiping your browser This is a handy method for opening
translated from Chinese or Russian?
history – by typing clear browsing data the history-wiping settings, but it’s
I was also dubious about the
into Chrome’s address bar then not quite as fast as pressing the
70-per-cent discount it was offering
clicking the ‘Clear browsing data’ keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Del.
me. I had a look online for similar
button that appears (see screenshot 1 ). Another way to get there is to click
scams, and found an image of the
This brings up the menu in screenshot Chrome’s top-right menu (three
email at www.snipca.com/44874.
2 , letting you delete history across a vertical dots), then select ‘More tools’
Paul Hayter
range of periods – from the last hour to followed by ‘Clear browsing data’.
‘All time’. There are also options for Brave is the only other browser to have Warn your fellow readers about scams
clearing cookies, as well as cached all three methods. at [email protected]

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 11

 Letters
Tell us what’s on your mind

‘Unfair’ contracts: what do CA SAYS Nicola’s right that providers motorways in the 20th.
campaigners actually want? now expect you to haggle, and this must Ron Shackleton
Since providers play a part in their pricing
announced their price strategies. They have large YouTube ads ‘destroy the flow’
rises, there’s been much talk teams trained to handle of videos
from consumer groups about customers who phone asking I’d have more sympathy for John
how unfair they are. But if for a better deal. But it’s hard Young’s plea to stop blocking
they’re going to campaign to know how the rise of adverts on YouTube (Letters, Issue 650)
against them, people leading haggling has influenced the if they didn’t appear so frequently. I’m
these campaigns must decide standard prices that providers prepared to sit through a couple of
specifically what to argue advertise. Do other readers 30-second adverts at the start of a video,
against. Is it prices rising suspect that haggling has led or maybe one every 20 minutes. But
mid-contract that they to a “cycle of rising prices”, instead they pop up every five minutes,
object to, or the fact they’re as Nicola claims? destroying the flow of what you’re
increasing by so much above inflation? watching. All the time Brave blocks ads
Campaigning against both won’t wash. Let’s be proud of on YouTube, why would anyone use
Ian Heritage ‘phenomenal’ Gigabit rollout another browser to watch videos?
Nick Symes is spot on when he Damien Sharpe
CA SAYS Ian makes a great point. We implores readers to stop moaning
often hear consumer champions saying about the rollout of Gigabit broadband HP turned my PC
‘unfair’ contracts should be banned, but (Letters, Issue 650). If we only stopped to into a has-bean
they rarely go into detail. They should notice it, the UK is currently seeing an Congratulations to HP for adding
explain their position more clearly, and engineering project on a scale that some coffee grounds to their
be honest about the potential negative would have made the Victorians proud. plastic (Issue 649, page 8). That’ll save
side effects of banning certain business Somehow, amid the worst pandemic the planet.
practices – such as providers raising for decades, the number of homes that I ordered a new HP all-in-one PC
prices in other areas. can get Gigabit has risen from 10 per cent from Currys recently. I couldn’t get the
in 2019 to nearly 70 per cent in 2022. specification I wanted: the one with the
Is Martin Lewis to blame That’s a phenomenal achievement, decent processor had only 8GB of RAM
for rise of haggling? though you wouldn’t know it from the and the one with 16GB of RAM had an
I agree with little attention it gets in the media. inferior processor. So I decided to buy
recent I accept that millions of people don’t the former because, for about £50, I
letters lamenting need Gigabit speeds at the moment, but could add the extra 8GB myself.
the rise of you need to lay the infrastructure so I went to the HP Support YouTube
haggling for a technological advancements aren’t held channel (www.snipca.com/44883) to
better broadband back in future. I hope that soon we’ll check that accessing the motherboard
deal. It’s all a come to appreciate the UK’s Gigabit would be straightforward, and it was.
cynical pricing network as being as important to Except that I had stumbled upon the
ploy from 21st-century economic growth as video that applied to an earlier model,
companies, and railways were in the 19th Century, and with screws in the back. Screws have
the public have fallen for it. Companies
increase their prices by more than they
What’s the Issue…?
?
have to, knowing that customers will
accept this because they have the power
to haggle a cheaper deal. But not I’m thinking of buying the CA SAYS That was
everyone does haggle, and providers £199 Geekom MiniAir 11 mini in Issue 644, page 35.
make vast profits from them. PC. Can you tell me when you reviewed
I know MoneySavingExpert’s founder it? I want to save money by
Martin Lewis (pictured above) is Anthony Macwhirter switching to a mobile virtual
considered a national hero, but I get tired network operator, but can’t find your
of his endless urging to haggle. It’s CA SAYS We gave it four stars in Issue feature on how to do so.
created a cycle of rising prices that suits 641, page 22. Clarissa Jones
businesses and ultimately works against
the customer. He’s not to blame, but I When did you explain how to CA SAYS You’ll find that in Issue 632,
wish he would point out some of the locate ‘phantom loads’ around page 60. Read all the above articles on
unintended consequences of consumer your home? our 2022 Back Issue CD: www.snipca.
tactics he recommends. Paul Saunders com/44660.
Nicola Fraser

12 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/computeractive
Twitter: @ComputerActive
www.twitter.com/computeractive

now gone out of fashion.

When the PC arrived, I discovered that STAR LETTER
the case was completely sealed. When I
tracked down the correct video, I learnt
that to access the innards you have to
Above-inflation broadband bills
prise the screen away from the back
using multiple screwdrivers or wedges
damage the economy
until numerous click-lock catches are One point you added – 3.9 per cent –
released. The instructor admitted that the missed in Issue was double the inflation
first time he performed this operation, he 650’s ‘Question of the rate at the time.
cracked the screen. Fortnight’ on rising There’s no point
I sent the computer back. To be fair, broadband bills switching because all
Currys refunded my money promptly. In (pictured) is that the providers, bar some
the end I bought an altogether more above-inflation small local firms, are
upmarket model costing a lot more increases are themselves doing the same. It’s as
money, but with the right processor and inflationary. Every close to a cartel as you
the right amount of RAM. But I now increased bill adds to the average can get in today’s Britain. There’s also
realise that I have a computer that is both person’s monthly spending, which is no point Ofcom threatening to ban
unrepairable and non-upgradeable. If my then fed into inflation statistics. This is mid-contract above-inflation rises
CMOS battery dies after a few years, I what makes them deeply unfair and because providers will respond by
won’t even be able to replace that. damaging to the economy. hiking bills at the start of contracts.
So well done, HP. You’ve recycled I’ve heard it argued that providers If Ofcom told BT it can’t raise prices
some coffee grounds, but you’ve built have to tie their increases to inflation in by 14.4 per cent in April for existing
obsolescence into my PC. order to stay in business, but that customers, it would instead make new
Roger Hughes overlooks the extra 3.9 per cent they or renewing customers pay 14.4 per
whack on top of the increase. It cent more.
Landline means we can hear shouldn’t be forgotten that they The depressing conclusion then is
phone ring around our home implemented this policy when inflation that a lack of competition and the
I read Issue 648’s Cover Feature was around two per cent. Linking it to relative cheapness of broadband –
(pictured below) on ditching your such a low rate of inflation wouldn’t compared with gas and electricity –
landline with interest. A few months ago have delivered large increases every means prices have much
we switched to BT’s Digital Voice service year, so they had to add more. What’s further to rise.
because we have fibre-to-the-premises truly audacious is that the amount they Stuart Crowther
(FTTP) broadband in our house, which
has three floors. We use a Panasonic The Star Letter writer wins a Computeractive mug!
wireless phone base station linked to the
BT router via the digital adapter, which
BT provided free of your feature on ditching landlines. The companies are a complete rip-off, priced
charge. We also router supplied by my ISP appears to to dissuade people from having a line that
have four wireless have a number of problems. Primarily must go in a few years even. For the time
extensions, and it’s meant to be used for browsing the being then, I suggest don’t just assume
when the landline internet, and one of the company’s the phone will work well.
rings all four engineers told me that the phone element Tim Todd
extensions ring as is an add-on from a third-party. He said it
well. This means we should work through the router – except 3G is the only mobile signal
don’t have to carry it often doesn’t. we can get
around a mobile I’ve been through three or four routers I read Issue 650’s feature ‘Beat the
phone all the time since signing up in May 2022, but the 3G Switch-Off’ (page 60) with
or race around the phone element has regularly failed. In interest and trepidation. In our area we
house to find it if it rings, assuming we their efforts to sort it out my internet have Gigabit broadband – it’s fantastic!
can hear it. settings have been messed up at times. But, if we step outside, it’s a different
It seems that the move to ‘ditch your They tell me it’s very rare for anyone picture.
landline’ has missed the disadvantage of to have such trouble – and I believe it. Large parts of our modern and rapidly
mobile phones not having extensions like But as more people get full-fibre expanding village in Kent – including the
we have for our landline. broadband, I expect more will experience shopping centre – have only a 3G mobile
Richard Aust similar problems. It may not be a fault signal. I’m with O2, but anecdotally it
that is easily spotted. Though we want a seems to make little difference which
Not all routers work well landline for some callers, we don’t often supplier you are with. What on earth is
with VoIP use it, so we sometimes don’t notice a going to happen here when 3G is
My experience suggests an fault for weeks. switched off?
important area was overlooked in Landline-only deals from other John Ray

Views expressed don’t necessarily reflect those of Computeractive Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 13
 Consumeractive
We stand up for your legal rights

Are ‘restocking’ LEAD Can I get refund

fees legal? CASE for second-hand
camera lens?
I ordered a Dell computer from I bought a camera lens from
Q an eBay seller, paying £339.29
plus an extended warranty for
Q Cash Converters (www.
cashconverters.co.uk) last
£66. I used my credit card for both December for £69.99, plus £6.99 postage.
transactions. The computer wasn’t what The lens was clearly faulty and I told
I expected so I returned it under the Cash Converters, but they have ignored

£66
Consumer Contract Regulations (CCRs). my emails. Can I get a refund even
The seller has refunded me what I though the lens was second hand?
paid for the computer, but they’re Eric Beaton
withholding the £66 I paid for the
warranty as a fee for “restocking” the Yes, Eric is entitled to a refund
computer. Is that legal?
James O’Connor
A from Cash Converters. The
Consumer Rights Act (CRA)
covers second-hand goods as well as
No, it isn’t legal. The computer brand new, so they have to be fit for
A and warranty are two separate
products, and the seller isn’t
purpose, of satisfactory quality, and as
described. This means you can return
allowed to mix up the refunds. James is “restocking” as a reason to cut the any inherently faulty second-hand goods
entitled to the full £66 back because, refund for physical goods returned under within 30 days of purchase for a full
under the Supply of Extended Warranties the Consumer Contract Regulations, refund. Be aware though that you can’t
on Domestic Electrical Goods Order because such charges are illegal. make a claim for a fault caused by an
2005, customers have 45 days to cancel We suspect the seller is confusing imperfection that the seller told you
a warranty that lasts longer than 12 this with its right to legitimately charge about when you bought the item. It’s
months and costs more than £20, customers for returning items that can’t worth getting this in writing so you can
providing it hasn’t been used. be resold as new. But James hadn’t even refer back to it should any other faults
After 45 days, the seller can deduct opened the computer packaging, let arise.
money from the warranty refund even alone used it, so it remained in perfect Cash Converters can ask Eric to return
if it’s been used – unless the terms and condition. the lens to check whether the fault is
conditions specify otherwise. We’ll contact the seller to explain it must inherent, but first it needs to acknowledge
At no point can the seller use a fee for refund James in full. his complaint.
CASE ONGOING CASE ONGOING

CASE UPDATE

Reader may have to use tort law against Electronic Arts

Naomi Ward’s case against £500, only for EA to later admit it had made agreed as a goodwill gesture to refund
games manufacturer Electronic a mistake and her son hadn’t cheated. Despite £79.99 in vouchers for in-game purchases.
Arts (EA) and game-streaming this, Steam didn’t refund Naomi for the cost But we think Naomi might have a case
service Steam (https://store. of the original game. Naomi then wondered against EA under tort law, which states that
steampowered.com) - see Issue 647 - is whether she might persuade either EA or no direct contract needs to exist between
rare because it may end up involving tort Steam to give money to cover the cost of the consumer and manufacturer for the consumer
law, not consumer law. Xbox and the second purchase of the game, to have a case for damages. Naomi could
Soon after Naomi’s son bought EA’s game arguing that she bought them only because argue that by wrongly accusing her son of
FIFA 23 from Steam, EA told Steam to ban her son had been wrongly banned. Naomi’s cheating, EA breached its duty of care towards
him for cheating while playing it. Naomi then contract was with Steam, but it banned him him and the losses they suffered were a
bought another copy of the game and an only because EA told it too. So we told EA it foreseeable consequence. If Naomi pursues
Xbox for him to play it on, costing nearly had some moral responsibility to act, and it this path, we’ll let you know how EA responds.

14 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Contact us so we can investigate your case
Email: [email protected]
Please include your name, phone number and address.

Am I due refund if tablet can’t get Android 12?

Last July, I bought a Neocore E2 partial refund.
Q tablet (pictured) from https://
neocore.store, and checked
Second, Gerard could claim under the
Unfair Trading Regulations that Neocore
that it could be updated from Android misleadingly stated that the tablet could
10 to 12, as was advertised on the site. be upgraded. He should point to the fact
It’s now the end of January and there’s he checked this before buying.
still no sign of the update. Neocore isn’t However, that assumes the tablet
responding to my emails. Can I get a can’t be upgraded, and we won’t know
refund if the update doesn’t appear on that until we speak to Neocore. The
the tablet? company is based in Tooting, south-
Gerard Livesey west London, so we hope it won’t be
hard to get hold of.
Gerard might be able to use two If it tells us that the tablet can be
A laws to pursue a refund. First,
if it turns out that the tablet
could claim under the Consumer Rights
Act for “goods not as described” and ask
upgraded, we’ll ask why it hasn’t
happened yet given that Android 12
can’t be upgraded to Android 12, he for damages. This could be a full or was released in 2021.
CASE ONGOING

Can Zoom refuse Zoom says I can’t cancel this because

it’s a subscription.
a refund for Do I have to accept this?
Antony Hoy
subscription? (music, games, TV etc). Zoom told Antony
No, Antony doesn’t have to accept that a clause in its terms and conditions
During the Covid lockdowns I A it, and he should keep chasing means it doesn’t have to refund him. This
Q took out a subscription for
Zoom One Pro (www.snipca.
Zoom for a refund. Under the
Consumer Contract Regulations you have
isn’t true. A company must abide by its
terms, but these aren’t allowed to break
com/44934) on behalf of my Rotary Club. 14 days to cancel a subscription, whether consumer law.
Unknown to me, I was put on an it’s when you first sign up or when it’s A point to remember is that even though
automatic annual renewal, so I was automatically renewed. the subscription was used by Antony’s
surprised to find that £143.88 had However, this applies only if you Rotary Club, he acted as the consumer by
been taken from my credit card at the haven’t ‘used’ the service during this paying for it and taking out the contract
end of January for another 12 months. period, such as by downloading content in his name.
CASE ONGOING

CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE

Amazon refunded me when price fell after purchase

On 26 November last year account.
I bought a game for my That’s obviously not an earth-shattering
granddaughter during Amazon’s amount, but it was a lovely surprise and an
Black Friday sale. A week later unexpected Christmas Bonus.
Amazon emailed me to say that because Well done Amazon. I was particularly
the game had been further reduced I was impressed that they refunded me
entitled to more money off. unprompted. I wouldn’t have known the Contact
The email appeared to be genuine, price had fallen otherwise.
quoting my order number and listing the John Cuthbertson
Amazon
items I’d purchased. I thought it was a little Has a company impressed you with its • Online help www.snipca.com/44966
strange, but I later checked my bank account customer service? Please let us know: • Phone 0800 279 7234
and Amazon had indeed paid £3 into my [email protected]

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 15

 Grow Your
Family Tree
If you have an Ancestry account, look for ancestors in records
and other people’s trees. Chris Paton explains how to…
Make connections using Ancestry’s hints
A
ncestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) 1936, correctly
automatically searches its records identifies a court case 2
3 4
and family trees created by users dealing with his estate
for everyone named within your own after he died in 1916.
family tree. It shows matches – which it The other, an entry
calls ‘hints’ – on a family-tree diagram. from 1890 in the
These are illustrated with a small green ‘Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
leaf icon at the top-right of each family Scotland, Electoral 1
member’s box ( 1 in our screenshot Registers, 1857-1962’ 5
right). Here, we’ll show you how to dataset, is for a ‘David
use the hints to boost your research. Paton’, a joiner, but
this isn’t him.
Check Ancestry’s This demonstrates Ancestry carries out automated searches, but manual searches
might produce better results
automated results the pros and cons of
I’m going to investigate hints Ancestry Ancestry’s hints: they’re wrong just as icon at the top 3 . This brings up more
suggested for my great-grandfather often as they’re right. A hint is merely a recent hints found by Ancestry 4 , but
David Hepburn Paton. Clicking the box possibility that your ancestor has been ignore those for now and instead click
with his name brings up a larger box found, not confirmation. ‘See all recent hints in’ and the relevant
containing some basic information about This is particularly true for finds tree name below 5 .
him. The leaf icon now shows the within other family trees, which may not This brings up the main search page
number 3 2 , which is how many hints have been researched methodically. Some for ‘All hints’, where I can search for an
(ie, matches) Ancestry has found through users may simply have looked through individual or family by name ( 1 in our
its automated search. other people’s trees for names, adding screenshot below), then filter the results
Clicking this box takes me to a page them to their own tree without checking by type, such as records, photos, stories
listing the hints, showing that David whether they’re the correct person. and member trees 2 .
might have been found in two other You can ignore any hint presented, or
family trees. They also link to two record Search manually for more review it by clicking the blue button at
sets – one of which, the ‘Scotland, accurate results the end of each entry 3 . This opens a new
National Probate Index’ covering 1876- For more accurate results, click the leaf page showing how the suggested match
agrees or conflicts with the information

Your Genealogy Problems Solved

in your tree. You can then integrate it
into your tree or reject it.
Viewing any record you incorporate
I’m trying to find a death record for my www.snipca.com/44717. into your tree requires an Ancestry
great-grandfather James Douglas, who If he died at sea near Jamaica, his subscription (www.ancestry.co.uk/offers/
was a seaman. He was mentioned in the death should have been reported by the subscribe).
1891 census, but his wife was listed as a Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen
widow in 1901. He may have died in 1894 to the relevant office for England and
in Saint Andrew, Jamaica. How can I Wales (www.gov.uk/general-register- 2
confirm this? office), Scotland (www.scotlandspeople.
Peter Carr gov.uk) or Ireland (www.snipca.com/44718). 3
Also search for death notices at www.
You can try the ‘Jamaica, Civil Registration, britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
1880-1999’ collection on FamilySearch 1
Have a genealogy question for Chris?
(www.familysearch.org), or the Email [email protected] with
Jamaican Register General’s Office at ‘Grow Your Family Tree’ in the subject line. Make more specific searches in Ancestry’s ‘All
hints’ section

16 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651 Next issue: Search for Quaker ancestors
 Best Free Software
Robert Irvine recommends new programs that won’t cost you a thing
OFFICE SUITE

LibreOffice 7.5
www.snipca.com/44985
What you need: Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or 11, macOS or Linux

One of our favourite free office suites has received its first big processor, Writer, to identify typing
update for six months, which includes a raft of new features errors more effectively, check the spelling
and enhancements. of words in URLs and store details of corrected
LibreOffice 7.5 further improves its compatibility with words rather than remove them without notifying you.
Microsoft Office, so you can import files in formats such as The Bookmarks feature, which lets you save your place in
DOCX (Word), XLSX (Excel) anď PPTX (PowerPoint) with long documents, has also been refined to make bookmarked
fewer formatting errors, and seamlessly share files you create sections more visible.
in LibreOffice with Office users. It also boosts the software’s Spreadsheet tool Calc now supports data tables in charts
support for dark and high-contrast themes – to make it easier and lets you use ‘spell out’ number formats and currencies.
on your eyes when working at night – and gives its icons a This means it will recognise, for example, ‘One hundred
more vibrant appearance. dollars’ as well as $100 as a numeric currency value.
The Start Centre (the screen that opens when you launch LibreOffice’s presentation tool, Impress, has a new set
LibreOffice) has a new Filter menu, which lets you filter of default table styles and lets you drag and drop objects
recent files by type, such as Text Documents, Spreadsheets from the Navigator window. Additionally, you can now crop
or Presentations. It’s also now possible to customise each videos in slides without affecting playback, and preview
program’s toolbar to display all its tools in a single row, rather presentations in a normal-sized window instead of full screen.
than multiple rows, which is useful on smaller screens. We’ll be covering other tips and tools for LibreOffice 7.5 in
Spell-checking has been improved in LibreOffice’s word our Make Office Better section over the next few months.

2
1

3 4

1 One of the most useful 2 You can condense 3 LibreOffice Writer’s spell- 4 To add bookmarks to long
new options in LibreOffice LibreOffice’s toolbar to a checking tool has been documents in LibreOffice
is the addition of a Filter single row to make it easier improved to detect more Writer, highlight a section
menu to the Start Centre. to access tools on a small typing errors and make of text then click the Insert
This lets you filter your screen. Click the View menu it easier to undo wrongly menu and select Bookmark
recent files by type, such in any program, choose User corrected words. Switch on followed by Insert. You can
as Text Documents or Interface and select Single Automatic Spell Checking by rename and delete your
Spreadsheets, so you can Toolbar. Click either ‘Apply selecting that option in the bookmarks, and click ‘Go to’
find the items you need to All’ or ‘Apply to [current Tools menu or by pressing to jump to that point in the
more quickly. program]’. Shift+F7. document.

18 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 PDF TOOL
SHOULD I PAY FOR…?
PDFsam Basic 5 Choose the right version of software
www.snipca.com/44978
What you need: Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or 11, macOS or Linux
EaseUS Todo Backup Home
PDFsam Basic isn’t a PDF www.snipca.com/44983
viewer or editor, but a tool Price: $39.95 (£32) a year or $59.95 (£49) lifetime licence
for managing the pages Free trial period: 30 days
within your PDF files. It What you need: Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or 11
lets you split documents
by extracting pages or EaseUS recently released new 2023 editions of the Free and
dividing them at specific paid-for Home editions of its Todo Backup software, so now
points; merge two or more is the perfect time to decide which one is best for you.
PDFs into a single file; and The same updates have been applied to both programs,
rotate pages to switch but these aren’t particularly exciting, other than faster
them between portrait and landscape view. This new version backup and restore speeds, and the option to back up
redesigns the program’s interface to make it easier to use, Outlook data to
with all the controls now available in a sidebar. There are two the EaseUS Cloud
new dark modes to reduce eye strain at night, plus an storage service.
additional light theme – click the Settings button to choose You get a generous
which theme to apply in the Appearance section. The Extract 250GB of free
tool (see screenshot) now lets you create separate PDF files for online storage in
different page ranges, and there’s a new option for inserting either version, so
pages multiple times. When you install PDFsam Basic, untick it’s not an incentive
the box to also install PDFenhanced, unless you want a free to pay for Home.
trial of the paid-for program. Todo Backup
benefits from
SYSTEM TOOL a streamlined
interface that
Microsoft PowerToys 0.67 makes backing
www.snipca.com/44979 up files, folders and drives – or your entire system – very
What you need: Windows 10 or 11 straightforward. Simply choose what you want to back up
and where to, then click the Backup Now button. To restore
The latest update to a saved backup, simply click ‘Browse to Recover’. You
Microsoft’s brilliant free can also compress, split and encrypt your backups, and
system-utility suite greatly schedule them at a time and frequency of your choice.
improves how you launch its Those features are offered by both editions, but Todo
individual tools. Previously, Backup Home has several extra tools to justify its price.
you needed to right-click the These include cloning partitions, drives and your operating
PowerToys icon in the system system, and transferring a backup of your whole PC to
tray on your taskbar, select another hard drive, a NAS or EaseUS Cloud. There’s also
Settings to open the an option called Security Zone (see screenshot), which
PowerToys Settings window, creates an encrypted partition to keep your backups safe
and choose a tool there. But from malware. These tools are undoubtedly useful, but
with the new ‘Quick access there are free programs available that perform the same
system tray launcher’, you can jobs – and how often do you really need to copy your
simply click the taskbar icon to display a pop-up panel entire system to a new PC?
containing shortcuts for PowerToys apps such as FancyZones
Editor, Text Extractor and Screen Ruler. Click the More button OUR VERDICT: Don’t pay for it
(see screenshot) to view the full list and enable and disable We like EaseUS Todo Backup a lot, but the differences
specific tools without opening PowerToys first. There’s also a between the Free and Home versions don’t justify paying
handy Shortcut Guide that summarises the main keyboard £50. If you clone a lot of partitions, you may think
shortcuts for Windows, such as Windows key+L to lock your differently, but the free version offers enough options for
screen. Other additions include the ability to browse most backup needs.
PowerToys Run results by pressing Tab.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 19

 Best Free Software

What should I download?

We advise you which software and apps to use
How can I grab screenshots
What’s the best from videos?
alternative to iTunes? Q
Can you recommend a free tool that
will let me capture images from my
Is there an alternative to iTunes? I love my iPhone videos? I’d like to print the images, so
Q 7 and iPad Pro, but hate using iTunes. All I want is
to add a few albums or videos to my devices.
I need them to be fairly large.
Simon Arnold
Vince Vincent
Google Photos (https://photos.google.
The Apple iCloud app for Windows is a good tool A com/apps) lets you export high-
A for quickly transfering files to and from your
iPhone and iPad. Once installed on your computer,
resolution images from videos on
your phone. Open the video, then tap Edit at
it adds an iCloud folder to File Explorer, letting you sync the bottom. Now drag the slider until the
files from your PC via your iCloud account. You can then frame you want to export as a still image is displayed. Tap
access these files on your iPhone and iPad. ‘Export frame’ (see screenshot) and the image will be saved to
To install the Apple iCloud app, go to www.snipca. your Google Photos library.
com/44788, click the blue ‘Get in Store app’ button, then Using your phone to select a precise frame can be tricky.
click Open Microsoft Store. In the window that opens, click For more exact control, transfer the video to your computer
Install. Once installed (it can take a couple of minutes), and use VLC (free from www.snipca.com/44789 – click the
open the app, then enter your Apple ID and password. orange ‘Download VLC’ button). Open your video in VLC (press
The configuration screen will now appear. Make sure Ctrl+O), go to the section immediately before the frame you
iCloud Drive is ticked ( 1 in our screenshot). By default, want to export, then repeatedly press E to advance one frame
the app will upload all photos on your PC to your iCloud at a time. Once you have the frame you want, open the Video
account – if you’d prefer to choose which photos you want menu (press Alt+V), then select Take Snapshot. VLC will now
to upload, untick the Photos box 2 . Now click ‘Apply’, then save the image to your Pictures folder.
Close.
Open File Explorer
2 (press Windows Can you recommend safe
key+E) and you’ll see
a new iCloud Drive sudoku and solitaire apps?
folder in the left- Can you suggest safe apps for
hand pane. All files
that you copy to
Q sudoku and solitaire that I can
download to my tablet? I’ve had
1
this folder will trouble with other apps recently popping up
automatically be strange messages telling me the memory is
synced with your full and my tablet needs cleaning.
iCloud account, Janet Hiscocks
which means you’ll
be able to access For these games, we recommend
them via the Files app on your iPhone and iPad (if you don’t
have this app installed, download it from the App Store:
A two Microsoft apps: Sudoku
(Android www.snipca.com/44790;
www.snipca.com/44800). iOS www.snipca.com/44791) and Solitaire
Although you can play audio files directly within the Files Collection (Android www.snipca.com/44801; iOS www.snipca.
app, you can’t transfer them to your iPhone or iPad’s main com/44793). The background music in Sudoku is a little
Music app (for this, you will need to use iTunes). However, irritating, but you can turn it off by tapping the cog button (see
you can save photos and videos to your mobile device, screenshot), then dragging the Music Volume slider to the left.
making them viewable from the Photos app. To do this, tap Although both apps are free and perfectly safe, they do
Select (top right), choose the files you want to copy, then contain a small number of ads. You can remove these by
tap Share followed by ‘Save items’. upgrading to the premium versions (for each app, this costs
£1.89 a month or £9.49 a year).

20 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651 Email us your questions at [email protected]

Named & Shamed
Barry Collins puts the boot into tech villains, jargon-
spouting companies and software trying to trick you

SOFTWARE WARNING!
Opera’s (far-from) Lucid mode

A
fter 25 years writing Pete &
about tech, my ‘too Dud’s wit
remained
good to be true’ sharp but
sensors are more finely tuned 1 the video
than the London Philharmonic’s fiddles. stayed the
same
So when I read Opera’s claim that its
new Lucid video-editing tool transforms
“your fuzzy holiday classics into crisp,
clear content that the whole family
can enjoy”, I was on it like a rat up a
drainpipe.
We were sceptical when writing about
Lucid In Issue 649’s Browser Tips (page
2
43). Can it really turn VHS-grade online
footage into stunning Blu-rays? Turns out
that, no, it can’t. It makes about as much
difference to video quality as I make to
the fashion industry.
I tested it on a variety of old TV top right 1 then turning on ‘Sharpen videos we tested. Or maybe this is
programmes that had been uploaded to videos on all sites’ 2 . Can you see any another one of the increasingly gimmicky
YouTube, including a classic sketch from difference in quality with this setting features that Opera has added to its
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and activated? There’s a very slight change to once-admired browser in recent years.
recorded the results on my screen. Visit the colour profile of the video, but that Either way, if you’re looking for video-
www.snipca.com/44868 and you’ll see doesn’t justify Opera’s hype. enhancing tools that do work, turn to
me clicking the ‘Easy setup’ button at the Maybe we were just unlucky with the page 50.

WHAT ARE THEY BARRY’S VILLAINS OF THE FORTNIGHT

TALKING ABOUT?
Blackpool’s Bitcoin millionaires
WHAT THEY SAY
Microsoft on the
future of cars James Parker was the Only Fools and
“Differentiation is critical Blackpool’s very own Robin Horses character. It
when options abound. Brands that invest Hood. He nabbed £21m was when another
in knowing their customers and providing worth of credits after co-conspirator, Kelly Caton,
specialised experiences throughout discovering a glitch in a rang police to report her
the customer lifecycle will excel, and cryptocurrency-trading daughter had stolen 15
we’re going to see a new emphasis on website, and then gave much Bitcoin worth £75,000
personalisation in the automotive space. of it away, buying cars for from her!
No longer are buyers ‘stuck’ with the strangers, handing out gift As Lancashire Police
static experience delivered upon vehicle vouchers, and tipping taxi drivers noted, Caton lived in a council flat.
purchase.” ridiculous amounts. Where would she get £75,000 of
Credit: Lancashire Police

However, it wasn’t Parker’s lavish cryptocurrency from? Parker died

WHAT THEY MEAN handouts that alerted police to the before he could be prosecuted, but
Yes, we know driving a car isn’t a static scam. Nor was it his association Boys, Caton and two others all
experience, but we had run out of other with co-conspirator Stephen Boys received jail sentences. Just think, this
jargon to use. (pictured), nicknamed ‘Rodney’ after time last year they were millionaires!

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 21

 Reviews
New products tested by our experts New products tested by our experts

TABLET | From £120 from Amazon www.snipca.com/44847

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus

Extra hot

We reviewed the latest version of the

Amazon Fire HD 8 in Issue 645, but
we were a tad disappointed by its
performance. This new Fire HD 8 Plus
model looks the same, but – as its
name suggests – offers a few worthwhile
extras.

Improved
performance and extra
features make it worth
paying more for
Predictably, it’s more expensive than
the basic model. The lowest-specification device’s battery in three hours rather volume controls, an on/off button, a
Plus model costs £120 for 32GB of storage than five. The Fire HD 8 Plus is also charging port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
and Amazon adverts on its lock screen. capable of wireless charging, although The screen is exactly the same as the
You can upgrade to 64GB of storage for you’ll need to buy a separate Qi-certified panel on the basic model, with a
another £30, and remove the ads for wireless charger if you don’t already resolution of 1280x800 pixels and a
an extra £10. This means the most have one. pixel density of 189ppi. That said, the
expensive model (64GB storage and no Most people rely on their phone’s picture is bright and colourful for the
ads) costs £160. The cheapest standard camera rather than using their tablet’s, price, making it a fine device for
Fire HD 8 we reviewed previously is but the 5-megapixel rear camera on the watching TV and movies.
currently £99 (32GB with ads). Plus at least looks attractive compared We don’t want to end on a downer, but
The main difference between the two is with the 2-megapixel abomination on the it would be remiss of us not to emphasise
that all Plus models have 3GB of RAM basic model. However, it still doesn’t the major drawback of Amazon tablets in
(rather than 2GB) which helps them run produce the kind of high-resolution general – despite running a version of
more smoothly. When testing we noticed images created by modern smartphones. Android, you can’t download or run apps
a marked improvement in performance, The Fire HD 8 Plus’s appearance from the Google Play Store. Amazon’s
with everything feeling a bit zippier, remains relatively plain – a black own App Store locks out many popular
while carrying out several tasks at once rectangle with thick bezels and a 16:10 apps, including Google’s.
didn’t slow it to a crawl. display. If you hold it in landscape mode,
This faster processing means it’s easier you’ll see a selfie camera at the centre of
to take advantage of Amazon’s new the top bezel, and a main camera in the VERDICT Not Amazon’s cheapest 8in
multitasking features, including split top right on its rear. At the top you’ll see tablet, but worth the extra money for
screen and picture-in-picture. We didn’t two speaker grills on the left and right. the improved performance
find these particularly easy to use at first, On the bottom right there’s a slot for a
but once we’d got to grips with how they microSD card. The edges accommodate
★★★★★
worked, we were able to check an email ALTERNATIVE Nokia T10 £100
while watching an episode of a favourite SPECIFICATIONS A similar specification but comes
TV show, for example. It’s never going to Six-core MediaTek MT8169A processor • 3GB RAM with all the
be an amazing visual experience, given • 8in 1280x800-pixel resolution IPS touchscreen usual Google
it’s only an 8in screen, but it’s useful to • 32GB or 64GB storage • MicroSD card slot • services,
5-megapixel rear camera • 2-megapixel front camera
have that level of versatility. • Wi-Fi 5 • Bluetooth 5.2 • USB-C port • Fire OS 8
including the
It comes with a superior 9-Watt • 202x137x9.6mm (HxWxD) • 342g • One-year Play Store
charger. This lets you fully charge the warranty www.snipca.com/44847

22 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 HOW WE TEST
Computeractive is owned by Future PLC,
LAPTOP | £878 from Lenovo www.snipca.com/44845 which employs a team of specialist
technical reviewers. You’ll often read

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6in references to our benchmark testing,

which is a method of assessing products
using the same criteria. For example, we
Game for anything test the speed of every PC and the battery
life of every phone and tablet in exactly
the same way. This makes our reviews
authoritative, rigorous and accurate.
When buying a laptop, you essentially Future PLC also owns the magazines
have two choices. If you don’t mind Maximum PC, PC Pro and T3, and the
sacrificing a bit of power, you can get websites Laptop Mag (www.laptopmag.
yourself a slim, lightweight model, with com), TechRadar (www.techradar.com)
an up-to-date processor that does and Windows Central (www.windows
everything, including managing the central.com). This means we can test
graphics. However, this arrangement thousands of products before choosing
takes its toll on performance, especially if the most relevant for Computeractive.
you like to make the most of 3D graphics,
perhaps by taking a Cessna out for a spin benchmark tests, it ran about 40 per cent FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
in Microsoft Flight Simulator. slower than the Swift 3 in everyday tasks. Our writers follow strict guidelines to
However, it certainly came into its own ensure the reviews are fair and impartial.
when gaming, running our suite of games The manufacturer has no involvement in
Runs games at at 1080p resolution with the graphics our tests.
settings turned up to an average of 44fps,
1080p resolution and which is excellent for a machine at this OUR AWARDS
price. The Acer Swift 3 14in, with its We award every product
44fps, which is excellent built-in graphics hardware, can’t rival that gets five stars our
Buy It! stamp of approval.
for the price this level of gaming performance.
There have been sacrifices made with It means we were
screen quality to keep the cost down. extremely impressed by the product, and
If you need more graphics muscle, you We’re starting to see OLED screens we think you will be too.
should look for a laptop with separate on several reasonably priced laptops
Every product that gets a
graphics hardware – and these usually now, but this luxury hasn’t been
four-star review is given the
more expensive. Bucking this trend, this included here. In our tests the IPS
Recommended award. We
relatively affordable laptop from Lenovo screen managed a maximum brightness
highly recommend these
is built around the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H of only 262cd/m2, which should be fine
products, although they just fail to meet the
processor and comes with Nvidia GeForce indoors away from sunlight, but starts
high standard of our Buy It! winners.
RTX 3050 graphics. This is backed up by looking washed out in brighter conditions.
8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It only reproduces 42.3 per cent of the PRICES
In terms of performance, AMD’s chip DCI-P3 colour standard, which is a little Our reviews contain a link to the best price
isn’t as powerful as the 12th-generation disappointing, but no great surprise given we found online at the time of press.
Intel Core i7-1260P processor in our how dull the screen looks.
current favourite laptop – the Acer Swift 3 The full-sized keyboard has a number
14in (see page 30). Accordingly, in our pad and stretches almost the entire
width of the case, leaving plenty of VERDICT A decent gaming laptop
space for all the keys. The trackpad is if you’re looking to spend a bare
slightly off-centre, sitting a little to the minimum
left. There is a generous collection of ports,
including a USB-C, an Ethernet and an
★★★★★
HDMI port at the rear, and two USB 3.0 ALTERNATIVE Acer Swift 3 14in
ports on the edges. 2022 £783 A similarly priced machine
that’s better suited to those looking for
SPECIFICATIONS general Windows
Six-core AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor • 8GB performance
RAM • Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics • 15.6in
1920x1080-pixel IPS screen • 512GB SSD • Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth 5.1 • 1x USB-C port • 2x USB 3.0 ports •
1x HDMI port • 1x Ethernet port • Windows 11 Home
• 23x361x267mm (HxWxD) • 2.3kg • One-year
warranty www.snipca.com/44845

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 23

 Reviews
LAPTOP ❘ £1,299 from Currys www.snipca.com/44862

Acer Swift Edge

If looks could thrill

As with books and their covers, you

should never buy a laptop based solely on
how good it looks. But if you’re likely to
be swayed by a sleek, slim and attractive
laptop, the Acer Swift Edge 16 will
definitely catch your eye.
While Acer’s Swift range has been
around a while and includes multiple
models, the Swift Edge is a brand new
design. The chassis is an ultra-thin 14mm
at its thickest point, and made of a
reinforced aluminium alloy that’s lighter
than previous Swift models (at just Ryzen 7 6800U processor and 16GB of for its OLED screen.
1.17kg) but no less robust. That’s lighter RAM. This chip has only eight cores And while the whole thing looks the
than the latest MacBook Air, despite rather than the 10 you’ll find in similar part, the overall design is far from perfect.
Apple’s laptop having a 13.6in screen laptops that use Intel’s 12th-generation i7 Considering the size of the chassis, the
compared with 16in here. processors, such as the Huawei MateBook keyboard is just too small with plenty of
14s we reviewed in Issue 650 (www. wasted space either side. A number pad
snipca.com/44690) and our current would have been a sensible addition, but
An eye-catching favourite laptop the Acer Swift 3 14in there isn’t one, while the left-Shift and
(see page 30). Ctrl keys are unnecessarily compact.
design and gorgeous In benchmark tests that simply push Thankfully, the trackpad is a nice
the processor to its limits, the reduction wide rectangle that offers excellent
screen can’t mask its of cores shows, with the Edge running at responsiveness and a pleasingly tactile
around two-thirds the speed of the click. The glassy material lets your
so-so performance MateBook. You’d only notice this when finger glide effortlessly across its
using very intensive software, such as surface and uses the same antimicrobial
Most slim laptops have smaller screens video or image editors. In general coating found on other premium Acer
than this, with 16in screens typically Windows use it actually performed better laptops.
reserved for chunkier gaming or work than Intel chips in our tests, running The Acer Swift Edge was launched at
models. However, the space is used well everyday office and browser tasks almost £1,599 but its price is falling, so it’s worth
here, with a 16:10 aspect ratio that’s a 10 per cent faster than the MateBook. shopping around. We found it at Currys
little taller than regular widescreen Where it falls down is in gaming. You with a significant saving of £300. Given
panels. Besides being large, the Swift could turn down the resolution to the OLED screen and decent Windows
Edge’s screen – a 4K OLED panel – is improve performance, but you wouldn’t performance, it’s a reasonable price,
simply stunning to look at. In fact it’s then be making the most of that gorgeous though you are paying a lot for its looks.
one of the best displays we’ve seen in a screen. We advise looking elsewhere for
laptop, with impressive contrast, a gaming laptop, such as the Lenovo
excellent colour reproduction and Full IdeaPad Gaming 13 reviewed on page 23. VERDICT An eye-catching design
HDR support that make films and TV Other downsides include a distinctly but it doesn’t quite deliver a knock-out
programmes leap out. average battery life. It lasted just under performance, unless you’re sticking to
The Swift Edge is powered by the AMD nine hours in our tests, whereas the basic Windows tasks
MateBook went beyond 10 hours.
However, that’s largely the price you pay
★★★★★
ALTERNATIVE Acer Swift 3 14in
SPECIFICATIONS £899 A smaller machine with an
Eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor • 16GB inferior screen, but its
RAM • 16in 3840x2400-pixel resolution OLED 12th-generation Intel
screen • 1TB SSD • 1080p IR webcam • Wi-Fi 6E • processor helps it carry
Bluetooth 5.2 • 2x USB-C ports • 2x USB 3.0 ports
out tasks quicker for a
• 1x HDMI port • 1x 3.5mm audio jack • Windows 11
Home • 14x357x242mm (HxWxD) • 1.17kg • One-year lower price
warranty www.snipca.com/44862

24 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE | £188 from Western Digital www.snipca.com/44910
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPECS
SanDisk Pro G-Drive 4TB Phone screen
refresh rate
Back off
What does it do?
As phones have become faster, phone
screen quality has also improved.
Higher resolutions have made phone
screens more detailed, while increased
refresh rates make phones feel more
responsive to touch.

How does it work?

Everyone knows it’s sensible to back because it’s not a difficult task. A phone’s refresh rate is a measure
up your PC, but few bother to do it One thing that did surprise us was of how often the screen is refreshed
regularly. One way to make the whole that it doesn’t come with its own each second, and is measured in Hertz
process easier is to buy an external backup software. Instead you’ll need to (Hz). As with TV screens, the on-screen
hard drive that’s large enough to provide your own. There are plenty of image is redrawn numerous times a
accommodate everything on your free options around, such as Hasleo second as we interact with it, to provide
internal hard drive, and set it to regularly (see Issue 649, page 38, www.snipca. us with the illusion of movement.
copy everything across. This is the kind com/44927), but some included software
of job that the SanDisk Professional would have been a useful addition. What are the specs?
G-Drive range has been built for. The drive is reasonably quick for a The cheapest phones have a refresh
Available in a range of capacities from mechanical model, but don’t expect to rate of 60Hz, which means the screen
4TB to 22TB, there’s a model with see SSD-level speeds. In our tests it is redrawn 60 times a second. Phones
enough storage for everyone. managed to read and write from the with the best screens may boost this to
drive at around 250MB/s. That’s fine 90 or 120Hz, such as the 120Hz Google
for backing up data in the background, Pixel 7 Pro (pictured below). The higher
Lacks software, or for keeping large files off to one side, the refresh rate the smoother any
but we wouldn’t recommend it for onscreen movement will look.
so you’ll have to everyday use.
The USB-C connection and the metal
provide your own chassis add a significant chunk to the
price of the drive. A quick search on
To deliver this much storage, the hard Amazon shows smaller, more portable
drives inside the enclosure are all 3.5in 4TB drives are available for less than £80,
units, which is as large as hard drives almost a third of the cost, if all you need
come at the moment. The case is mostly is the storage space.
metallic and makes the device fairly hefty.
This means it’s best kept on a desk next SPECIFICATIONS
4TB-22TB capacities • 250MB/s read and write
to your PC, rather than carried around speeds • USB-C port • USB-C-to-USB-C cable
with you. included • 41x133x210mm (HxWxD) • One-year
The connection on the back of the drive warranty www.snipca.com/44910
is a USB-C port (pictured below), and
comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. It
will also work with PCs that lack USB-C VERDICT A sturdy and reliable
ports, but you’ll need to supply your own external hard drive, but without enough
adapter. The drive itself is formatted to additional features to justify its price
work with Apple Macs, and won’t be
recognised by a Windows PC until it’s
★★★★★ Can I change it later?
been re-formatted. This is a bit of a ALTERNATIVE Toshiba 4TB Canvio The refresh rate is determined by the
nuisance but shouldn’t be a deal-breaker Basics Portable External Hard Drive nature of the screen and the phone’s
£79 A smaller, graphics hardware. While you can often
more affordable reduce the refresh rate of a phone
hard drive that to preserve its battery life, you can’t
can perform a upgrade a phone to improve the
similar job refresh rate.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 25

 Reviews
VIDEO DOORBELL | £100 from Very www.snipca.com/44894

Ezviz DB2 Smart Battery Video Doorbell

Rings true

A video doorbell is an attractive in the dark. It includes human-shape and

proposition for security-conscious infra-red heat detection up to five metres
homeowners, but many people are put away, meaning that alerts start to come
off by the price of the hardware and the through before someone has reached
cost of subscriptions to store captured your door, and you’ll be notified if a
video footage. The DB2 from Chinese person is hanging around outside
manufacturer Ezviz could be the perfect without ringing the bell.
alternative to Amazon’s Ring or Google’s Another great feature is its ability to
Nest Doorbell, as it’s cheaper and needs save video recordings on a microSD card,
no subscription. rather than being tied into an online-
storage subscription. This can use cards
with a capacity up to 256GB, though it
An affordable option doesn’t include one in the box. The card
slots into the side of the chime that’s
with sharp footage and included in the kit, so it’s safely inside
your home and can’t be removed by
no subscriptions anyone outside.
During testing, we found the DB2
It’s a battery doorbell so is wire-free worked well, with no delay between the
and simple to install. It comes with two doorbell being pressed and notifications VERDICT Offers the best features
mounting plates, one flat and the other coming through on our smartphone. of more expensive video
angled downwards, so you can choose Recorded video was clear in both daylight doorbells for a fraction of
the one that provides the best view. These and at night, and sound came through the price
screw on to your door frame, then the clearly. At just under £100 and with its
doorbell is clipped on. It needs removing ability to store footage offline, it’s ideal if
★★★★★
to recharge, which is done using a you want the features of Ring and Nest ALTERNATIVE Google
supplied tool, but the battery can last up doorbells at a more affordable price. Nest Doorbell (Battery)
to 115 days, depending on which £180 More expensive, but
recording settings you choose. SPECIFICATIONS works seamlessly with
2000x1504-pixel video resolution • Built-in
The camera records sharp 2K video microphone • 4GB storage • MicroSD card slot •
Google Nest devices, such
during the day and at night, though it Weatherproof • 150x58x32mm (HxWxD) • 24g • as smart speakers
changes from colour to black and white Two-year warranty www.snipca.com/44894

WHAT SHOULD I BUY? We solve your buying dilemmas

Can you suggest a £500 laptop for everyday tasks?

I am looking to replace my be used for general browsing, emails, which is available from Amazon (www.
Q Compaq 6910p laptop with
something costing around
family-history research and watching TV.
At the moment I link to a second monitor
snipca.com/44895) and Currys (www.
snipca.com/44896) for £499.99. It has
£500. I don’t play games, so it will only using a VGA cable, but it also has a DVI a 512GB SSD, so shouldn’t run short on
socket. I would like to continue using it. space.
Stuart Baker It also has an HDMI port, which can
be used with a monitor that has a DVI
Shopping around it’s quite port, as long as you have an adapter or
A difficult to find a £500 laptop
that comes with more than
a conversion cable. The latter are
available from Amazon for around £7
256GB of storage, which is cutting it a bit (www.snipca.com/44897).
fine for Windows 11. However, we found Do you need advice on what you should buy?
the Asus Vivobook 15 X1500EA (pictured), Email us at [email protected]

26 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Reviews
SMARTPHONE | £145 from Amazon www.snipca.com/44870

Ulefone Armor 16 Pro

Tough calls

Not everyone wants to spend several thing weighs a whopping 405g and its
hundred pounds on a smartphone protective case makes it feel chunky in
only to worry constantly that it’s going the pocket.
to get damaged. The Ulefone Armor 16 It also doesn’t have the processing
Pro is a tough and sturdy model that power you might expect, with a
you can keep on you while you’re MediaTek Helio G25 chip that’s over four
working in the garage or garden, or years old and only 4GB of RAM. It’ll keep
out and about on adventure holidays, up with your messages and get you on
without having to wrap it in cotton wool. the internet, but don’t expect it to play
Its relatively affordable price only adds demanding games at a decent speed. VERDICT A smartphone tough
to its appeal. However, there’s still a lot going for it. enough to take a few knocks, but don’t
There are a few downsides, however. It can be safely dropped from a height of expect great performance
For starters, it’s heavy. The 5.93in screen 1.5 metres; it’s water- and dust-resistant
isn’t particularly unusual, but the whole up to the IP68 rating; and it has a beefy
★★★★★
9.600mAh battery that can keep going ALTERNATIVE Motorola
SPECIFICATIONS long after other phones have conked out. Defy £190 Not quite as well
Eight-core MediaTek Helio G25 processor • 4GB RAM It also has a built-in speaker that can be protected, but still stronger
• 64GB storage • 5.93in 1440x720-pixel IPS screen • turned up surprisingly loud. If you like to than most, and its superior
16-megapixel rear camera • 8-megapixel front-facing
camera • Wi-Fi 5 • Bluetooth 5.0 • Android 12 •
listen to the radio while you work on a internal components make
173x83x18.3mm (HxWxD) • 405g • One-year noisy job or hobby, this could come in it a better performer
warranty www.snipca.com/44870 particularly handy.

KEYBOARD | £84 from Amazon www.snipca.com/44877

Kemove K68 Angel

Finger clickin’ good

The click-clack of the keys on a mechanical decide you want to try something and software installed, you can unlock
keyboard like this makes typing a strangely different at a later date. a new range of personalisation, key
satisfying experience. If you spend a lot of The cool white exterior combined with mapping, and lighting configurations
time at your PC and do a fair bit of typing, its RGB backlighting gives the K68 Angel to suit your particular mood.
this is an upgrade that’s well worth a clean, sophisticated look. It’s fairly
considering. We’ve been using this model small, though, and not suited to those
for a few weeks and have found it to be with larger hands. It lacks a number pad, VERDICT A clean, eye-catching
an absolute pleasure to work on. but does have dedicated cursor keys. mechanical keyboard that can instantly
The model we reviewed comes with It can operate in either wired or switch between devices and is a
brown Gateron mechanical switches, wireless modes, so it’s easy to share pleasure to type on
though you can also find it with more between multiple devices, or to pack into
expensive Cherry switches. We were a rucksack and use when you’re out and
★★★★★
happy with the feel of the keys, though, about. It has three dedicated wireless- ALTERNATIVE Logitech G413 £70
and you can replace the switches if you connection settings, so can seamlessly Softer backlighting, but has more
switch between three computers and/or features and better software
SPECIFICATIONS tablets without having to dig into the
Gateron G Pro brown switches • Removable switches
Bluetooth settings.
and key caps • 19 RGB light effects • Wired, Bluetooth
or 2.4GHz wireless connection • 30x295x130mm The battery can last up to six months if
(HxWxD) • 1.07kg • One-year warranty www.snipca. you don’t use the lighting, or 12 days with
com/44716 the lights continually on. With the driver

28 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Reviews
Wi-Fi RANGE EXTENDER ❘ £70 from Amazon www.snipca.com/44937
DO I REALLY NEED...
Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 3000 A laptop with
Home stretch a second E Ink
screen?
Although Devolo has chosen to call
this device a Repeater, it’s no different What is it?
to what we’d more commonly refer The Lenovo
to as a Wi-Fi range extender. It’s a ThinkBook Twist
sensible option if you’re looking to (pictured) is a laptop
improve your Wi-Fi signal in just one with two screens. The
or two rooms within your home, main one is a 13.3in OLED panel. On
because it can take that signal from the back of that is a second 12in screen,
your router to an area that wouldn’t which uses the E Ink technology used
otherwise get it. by ebook readers.

What does it do?

An effective way A 360-degree hinge connects the
double-sided screen to the keyboard.
to make your Wi-Fi You can use it in laptop or tablet mode,
but also rotate the screen horizontally
access parts your on its central axis, choosing between
is a pass-through socket, which would let the OLED screen for Windows work,
router cannot reach you plug something else into the wall or the E Ink screen for reading and an
socket being occupied by the device. increased battery life.
If you know the Devolo brand, you When using Ookla’s speed test (www.
might be surprised to learn that this unit speedtest.net), our broadband service What’s the catch?
doesn’t use the electrical wiring in your typically provides a consistent 150Mbps Lenovo expects the cheapest version to
home to transfer data from one plug download speed for devices that are close cost $1,649 (around £1,338) when it’s
socket to another. Instead it simply boosts to our main router, along with 19MB/s for launched in June.
the Wi-Fi in a similar manner to many Steam downloads. But the router’s Wi-Fi
other extenders. This makes it more signal doesn’t reach all the way to our So can I do without it?
affordable because it doesn’t require a back office, where we have to rely on Yes. It’s a novel idea but we think you’d
second device to convert the signal back Powerline adapters to provide a wired be better off buying a laptop and a
to standard Wi-Fi at the other end as connection instead. separate ebook reader.
home plugs do. To test the extender, we plugged it into
As its name suggests, the extender a wall socket in a connecting hallway,
supports Wi-Fi 6 and offers a theoretical about halfway between the office and NEXT ISSUE
top speed of 3Gbps. It has a conventional our router. This provided an impressive
design, looking like an elongated white Wi-Fi signal in the far room, maintaining On Sale Weds 1 March
plastic plug that you insert into a mains the speed at 150Mbps and downloads at
power socket. 19MB/s during our testing.
Intel NUC 11 Essential
This extended size is partly down
Affordable
to the four internal aerials it has to mini PC sails
accommodate to recieve and spread the VERDICT A solid extender that can through basic
signal. There’s an LED status light on the push your Wi-Fi 6 signal into the far Windows tasks
front that indicates the strength of the corners of your home
Wi-Fi signal coming into the unit. You Mercusys Halo H80X
can use this to help you find the best
★★★★★ Great-value mesh
position for it during setup. There’s also ALTERNATIVE router for
an Ethernet port underneath to provide a TP-Link RE505X £50 If you strong Wi-Fi
wired connection. The only thing missing don’t have lots of devices around your home
on your network extension,
SPECIFICATIONS this 1.5Gbps alternative is These and much more...
Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 • 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks •
1x Gigabit Ethernet port • Supports speeds up
more affordable but still Subscribe to Computeractive at
to 3Gbps • 149x45x71mm (HxDxW) • One-year sufficiently speedy www.getcomputeractive.co.uk
warranty • www.snipca.com/44937

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 29

 Buy It
NEW
Find out what other products we liked.
Buy our new 2022 Back Issue CD:
£17 from www.snipca.com/44660

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

LAPTOP P DESKTOP PC APPLE iPAD
DRRIC
OP E
Acer Swift 3 14in Palicomp Apple iPad 10.2in
£899 from www.snipca.com/44367 AMD Cobra £369 from www.snipca.com/36178
Tested Issue 648 £400 from www.snipca.com/43515 Tested Issue 623
Tested Issue 643

Comes with a powerful 12th-generation

Intel processor and 1TB SSD to make
Windows tasks feel incredibly fast. The 9th-generation of the basic iPad,
Also has a decent 2560x1440-pixel This fast PC is a mouth-watering released in 2021, is now the best-value
IPS screen and comes with plenty bargain, with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD Apple tablet. The 2022 version looks
of ports, including two Thunderbolt and a six-core processor - though it better and has a faster processor, but
4-compatible USB-C. lacks USB-C ports and built-in Wi-Fi. it’s not worth paying £130 extra for.

ALTERNATIVE Lenovo Yoga 6 Gen 7 ALTERNATIVE Wired2Fire Ultima WS ALTERNATIVE iPad Mini With an even
Also has a fast processor, long battery Home Office Workstation Blisteringly better, but smaller, screen than the
life and plenty of ports, but not as cheap fast PC, powered by an overclocked 10.2in iPad, the Mini also supports
as it once was. £799 from www.snipca. eight-core processor and 1TB SSD. the Pencil and has 64GB of storage.
com/44950 £752 from www.snipca.com/41500 £569 from www.snipca.com/33050

ANDROID TABLET APPLE iPHONE ANDROID PHONE

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Apple iPhone 13 Realme GT 2

£529 from www.snipca.com/42211 £749 from www.snipca.com/43498 £549 from www.snipca.com/41667
Tested Issue 634 Tested Issue 627 Tested Issue 631

Now £30 cheaper than its 2021 launch China’s Realme has made a phone with
Samsung has replaced its own Tab S7+ price, the iPhone 13 has a superb screen, a powerful processor, excellent battery
to become our favourite Android tablet. long battery life and an excellent camera - life, bright screen and a 50-megapixel
It’s fast with a stunning 11in screen, and particularly for taking quick snaps without camera that takes great photos. It’s
has a longer battery life than the iPad. blurring. You could pay £100 more for the more expensive than our former
This model gives you 128GB – you’ll newer iPhone 14, but we’re not convinced favourite (below), but its superior
need to pay £699 for 256GB. it’s worth the extra money. performance justifies this extra cost.

ALTERNATIVE Lenovo Tab P11 Pro It’s ALTERNATIVE iPhone SE With a single ALTERNATIVE Xiaomi Poco F3 This
slower than the Tab S7 and the screen is camera and smaller screen but the remains an excellent phone, with 6GB
duller, but has a detachable keyboard so same powerful A13 processor and 64GB RAM and 128GB storage. The only phone
you can use it as a laptop. £600 from storage as the iPhone 11, it’s great value. under £400 that’s faster is the iPhone
www.snipca.com/44774 £449 from www.snipca.com/34773 SE. £349 from www.snipca.com/44553

30 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Buy It
Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award
EBOOK READER SECURITY SOFTWARE WEBCAM P
DRRIC
OP E
Kobo Libra 2 Norton 360 Premium Logitech C925e Business
£169 from www.snipca.com/40645 £19.99 from www.snipca.com/33247 Webcam
Tested Issue 624 Tested Issue 629 £73 from www.snipca.com/41104
Tested Issue 608

Norton has always performed

strongly in our antivirus tests,
A fantastic 7in screen, 32GB of storage regularly making the top three. Despite the name, this webcam is also
and Bluetooth connectivity make this a Owned by US firm NortonLifeLock, great for home users. Its standout
rival to Amazon’s Oasis ebook reader, it’s available at a discount on our feature is automatically adjusting itself
yet it’s £70 cheaper. Battery life is Software Store. Click the link above to keep your picture looking sharp. It
superb – we managed 54 hours of use for a 10-device, two-year licence. offers a 78-degree field of view, which
per charge. It supports OverDrive, so Other versions are available, including is fine for everyday video chats with one
you can borrow ebooks from libraries. Norton 360 for Gamers. person in front of the camera.

ALTERNATIVE Amazon Kindle This low- ALTERNATIVE Bitdefender Total ALTERNATIVE Anker PowerConf C300
cost option is a good choice, especially Security Another top performer that Good image quality, crisp audio and
now it has 16GB of storage. £85 from we’re offering at a discount. £19.99 lots of features. £90 from www.snipca.
Amazon www.snipca.com/44221 from www.snipca.com/41141 com/41105

PC MONITOR ROUTER PRINTER

Iiyama ProLite Synology WRX560 Epson EcoTank ET-1810

XU2492HSU-B1 £213 from www.snipca.com/44696 £150 from www.snipca.com/41232
£120 from www.snipca.com/39701 Tested Issue 650 Tested Issue 627
Tested Issue 618

This 23.8in screen is superb value, With a blistering top speed of 791.5Mbps, An inkjet printer that comes with
with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. this is up there with the fastest routers enough ink to print 4,500 mono
Colour is good, covering 88 per cent of we’ve ever tested. Even two rooms and 7,500 colour pages, making it
the sRGB colour range. Connect your away, it managed an exceptional exceptionally cheap to run. It’s not
computer via HDMI, DisplayPort or 375Mbps. You can add more units to the fastest printer, but quality is good,
VGA, and there’s a USB hub to connect set up mesh Wi-Fi around your home. especially on photo paper – we’ve
your mouse and keyboard. never seen better on an inkjet.
ALTERNATIVE Netgear Nighthawk
ALTERNATIVE AOC 27P2C RAX80 Our previous favourite remains ALTERNATIVE Brother DCP-J1140DW
This also has a 1920x1080 resolution but extremely fast, delivering speeds of Compact multifunction model with rare
it’s 27 inches, so pixel density is lower. But 520Mbps. Has four spare Ethernet features at this price, including
you’ll only notice if you look really closely. ports and two for USB. £220 from double-sided printing. £146 from
£249 from www.snipca.com/41609 www.snipca.com/42896 www.snipca.com/43670

32 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Buy It

COMPETITION

Win 1 of 4
Serif Affinity Photo 2
downloads
Winner of a Recommended award in paintings and so much more. Publisher and Affinity Designer on
Issue 649 (page 29), Serif’s new It comes with hundreds of Mac, Windows and iPad. To enter,
Affinity Photo 2 software has timesaving tools and a completely answer the question at www.snipca.
everything you need to edit and redesigned interface to make your com/44929 and submit your details.
retouch images, create multi-layered editing experience more seamless It runs until midnight Tuesday 28
compositions, beautiful raster than ever. You can choose from an February. Good luck!
enormous library of brushes, enhance
pictures with Dodge, Burn, Clone, You can buy the Universal Licence
Patch and Blemish Removal tools, and from Serif’s website (https://affinity.
make your work look amazing using a serif.com). Affinity Photo 2 is also
range of blend modes. available as either a Windows
In this competition we’re offering or macOS version for a one-off
four Affinity Version 2 Universal payment of £59.99, or for iPad
Licences, worth £144.99 each. It for £17.99. There are no monthly
covers Affinity Photo, Affinity subscription costs.

SMART TV SOLID-STATE DRIVE SMART SPEAKER

Toshiba 50UK4D63DB Corsair MP600 Pro LPX Google Nest Audio

£329 from www.snipca.com/44951 500GB £90 from www.snipca.com/36475
Tested Issue 650 £68 from www.snipca.com/41547 Tested Issue 593
Tested Issue 630

Produces a rich, clear sound, and better

understands your questions than
You’d normally struggle to find a 40- In our tests, this M.2 SSD hit speeds of Amazon’s Echo devices. You can use
43in TV at this price, so this is a fantastic 7,364MB/s and 6,870MB/s when Google’s app to control audio from
bargain. Picture quality is boosted by reading and writing data – astonishingly other units around your home (pair two
a 4K VA panel with direct LED lighting. fast scores. It’s compatible with the of them for £130). The clever Ambient
Includes all the UK’s free streaming new PCIe 4.0 standard, which is twice IQ tool increases the volume if it detects
services through Freeview Play. as fast as PCIe 3.0. The 1TB model external noise, such as a hairdryer.
costs £132; 2TB costs £220.
ALTERNATIVE LG OLED42C2 ALTERNATIVE Amazon Echo (4th
LG’s 42in TV is more than double the ALTERNATIVE Crucial MX500 500GB generation) The latest version of the
price, but unlike Toshiba’s model it As fast as an SSD can get in the Echo changes the shape from a cylinder
has an OLED screen, boosting picture traditional 2.5in SATA format, this to a ball, which improves sound quality
quality considerably. £929 from www. is a great-value upgrade. £54 from – though the Nest’s is still superior.
snipca.com/43718 www.snipca.com/37304 £80 from www.snipca.com/41111

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 33

Computeractive 2022
Back Issue CD

LE NOW!
ON SA
CON
T
AL AINS
L
ISSU26
FROM ES
2
022

Buy it from us now at

www.snipca.com/44660
 Pull Out
& Keep

Workshops & Tips Issue 651

14 pages of easy-to-follow workshops and expert tips

35 B
 rowse the web 40 Readers’ Tips PLUS
from a USB stick 44 Phone & Tablet Tips 47 M
 ake Office Better
42 Browser Tips
38 M
 ake subtitles easier Copy clean links from 46 M
 ake Windows 48 In the Club: Improve
to read in Kodi web pages Better your club reviews

HOW TO...
Browse the web anonymously
from a USB stick by Nik Rawlinson

What you need: 8GB or larger USB stick; Tails operating system; Balena Etcher Time required: One hour

T
ails is a privacy-focused operating Now in its 13th year, it’s and can be reused every
system. Its name stands for The just undergone one of its time you log in.
Amnesic Incognito Live System most significant updates, Here, we’ll show you how
and it lets you go online anonymously bringing improvements to to install Tails so you can
(hence Incognito), making it harder for its Persistent Storage feature browse the web anonymously
companies and scammers to track you. that lets you save settings and explain how Persistent
Then, when you log off, it forgets (hence and files so they aren’t Storage can make using it a
Amnesic) everything you’ve just been affected by the operating more productive and
doing, leaving no traces behind. system’s Amnesic aspects, smoother experience.

Download Tails and and if it’s not already empty, you’ll Install Tails
1 Balena Etcher
There are two ways to use Tails:
need to back up any data on it that you
want to keep, because the installation
2 Your next job is to install (or
‘flash’) Tails to the USB stick.
you can either boot your computer into process will wipe it. Click ‘Flash from file’, then navigate to
it, in which case you won’t have access Download Tails by visiting www. your Downloads folder and select ‘tails-
to Windows until you next restart your snipca.com/44809 then clicking the amd-5.9.img’. If Tails has been updated
PC. Or you can install it in a virtual green Download button at the top, under since we wrote this, the 5.9 might be a
machine, where Tails will run in a the ‘1/4 Download Tails’ heading. Save higher number. Now click ‘Select target’
separate window within Windows. the downloaded file to your Downloads and tick the box beside your USB stick
This lets you browse securely whenever folder and, when that’s done, download ( 1 in our screenshot below).
you’re in that window, while still having Balena Etcher, which you’ll use to set up
access to all of your regular Windows your USB stick. 1
programs and files. There are two versions of Etcher for
The latter option is more flexible Windows: the standard installable one
because it lets you use both Tails and and the portable version. We opted
Windows at the same time. However, for the latter by clicking the second 2
it doesn’t work with the Persistent Download link – beside ‘Etcher for
Storage feature we’re exploring here – Windows (X86|X64) (Portable)’ – at
so we’ll choose instead to install it www.snipca.com/44821. Again, save
on a USB stick. the file to your Downloads folder. Insert Click ‘Select target’ then tick the correct USB
Your stick will need to be at least 8GB, your USB stick and launch Etcher. stick

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 35

 If several drives are shown on this
screen, double-check that you’re
selecting the correct one. If you select
the wrong one and proceed, you could
How I use Tails
end up losing important data that you’d I don’t often use Tails, but it’s handy to have it to hand for those
otherwise want to keep. odd occasions when I want to browse a site that I suspect may be
There are two ways to make sure tracking what I do online. Using ‘Persistent Storage’ to save my
you make the right selection. One is to network settings is a significant time-saver that makes switching
check the capacity in the Size column, to Tails for a few minutes less of a chore.
which should be very slightly less than Nik Rawlinson
the capacity of the drive you’ve inserted
How do you use Tails?
(we’re using a 32GB drive, and Etcher Please let us know: [email protected]
reports the size as 30.8GB). The other
is to check its address in the Location
column. In our case, it’s been mounted UEFI, check through the various pages Persistent Storage’ (see screenshot
as drive D. We can navigate to drive D until you find a boot order, boot priority, below), followed by Start Tails.
in File Explorer to check the drive’s or similar option. On our PC, we click Persistent Storage is where you’ll save
contents, which will act as the second the Boot tab at the top of the screen documents, Wi-Fi passwords, browser
verification we need. Once you’re sure ( 1 in screenshot below left) by pressing bookmarks and any other items that
you’ve ticked the correct destination, the right-arrow key. We can then use the you want to be able to use every time
click Select 1 2 . down-arrow key to access Boot Option you run Tails. The folder in which they’ll
Finally, click ‘Flash!’ to write Tails to #1 2 , press Enter, and select ‘[UEFI USB sit will be encrypted and can only be
the USB stick. Windows’ User Account Device]’ 3 . unscrambled by correctly entering a
Control may appear asking if you’re sure As the USB stick had originally been passphrase you create.
you want to allow the program to make listed as Boot Option #4, selecting it here Click ‘Continue’ on the following
changes to your computer. Click Yes. has demoted our internal hard drive to screen, then type the passphrase that
When it’s finished, close Etcher but leave slot four 4 , so our computer will always you want to use. Tails recommends
your USB stick plugged in. check for a connected USB drive, CD/ using between five and seven random
DVD or SD card before resorting to the words. We also suggest using a mix
Boot into Tails internal hard drive. of upper- and lower-case characters
3 You now need to restart your
computer and tell it to boot from
Save your changes (often this is done
by pressing F10 but check the on-screen
and perhaps a few numbers and
punctuation marks. Just make sure that
the USB stick rather than the internal instructions) and allow your PC to restart. the sentence isn’t something anyone
hard drive. The process for doing this This time, it should boot from the USB who knows you is likely to guess, or a
varies between different PCs, but it starts stick and load Tails rather than Windows. famous saying like ‘We shall fight on the
with accessing the BIOS or UEFI, which Don’t worry: Windows is still safely beaches’.
tells your computer how to start up and installed on your hard drive and will start Keep an eye on the strength graph and
sets its initial options. You can access this the next time you reboot without the USB keep typing until it turns green, then
by pressing a specific key during the boot stick connected. repeat the passphrase in the Confirm box.
process, which is usually displayed on On the ‘Welcome to Tails’ screen, click Make sure you remember your
screen. If it isn’t, check your manual or Language and select ‘English – United passphrase, although you should avoid
online forums. Common keys include F1, Kingdom’, which will simultaneously the temptation to write it down. Once
F10 and F12. change the Keyboard Layout and Formats you’ve created your passphrase click
When you’ve accessed the BIOS or to use UK settings. Next click ‘Create Create Persistent Storage.

1
2
3

Set your PC to prioritise booting from the USB stick Click ‘Create Persistent Storage’ for items you’ll need in Tails

36 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Browse the web anonymously from a USB stick

Select
what you
want Tails
3
Copy files from
to save
to your 2 1 Persistent Storage
Persistent
Storage Because ‘Persistent Storage’ is
encrypted, you can’t simply plug
your Tails USB stick into another
computer and copy its contents. The
1 simplest way to retrieve its files for
use on another PC, therefore – even
Files saved to the regular Documents folder one running Windows – is to insert a
2 will disappear between sessions second USB stick into a different USB
port and copy them to it. You can then
Save files to eject the second drive, plug it into your
6 Persistent Storage
You can also save files to
other computer, and access the files.
Whatever you do, don’t eject the stick
Persistent Storage so that they appear from which you booted into Tails, or
Define your Persistent when you next return to Tails. For even temporarily remove it to make
4 Storage content
By default, Tails only stores your
example, click Applications at the top of
the screen, hover over Office, and click
space for the second stick. Doing so
could cause the operating system to
saved documents and optional programs LibreOffice Writer in the menu (Tails crash.
in Persistent Storage. In the screen that doesn’t work with Microsoft Word).
appears next, Persistent Folder ( 1 in When it loads, type a few words in the
our screenshot above) and Additional new document, then press Ctrl+S to ( 1 in our screenshot below left), then
Software 2 are the only options save the file. click Persistent 2 on the dropdown menu
selected. You can, if you choose, enable If you look at the file path immediately to open it in the Tails file explorer.
other features, like your Tor Browser below the Name box at the top of the File
Bookmarks, network connection settings, Explorer window, you’ll notice that it’s Delete your
or Thunderbird email settings.
We recommend enabling Network
set to save your file in the Documents
folder ( 1 in our screenshot above), on a
7 Persistent Storage
Every time you start Tails,
Connections and Tor Bridge here at the drive called ‘amnesia’ 2 . If you click Save, it will ask again which language you
very least 3 . Once you’ve enabled the you’ll be able to carry on editing, opening want to use, and for the passphrase to
settings you want, close the Persistent and saving the file the whole time you’re unlock your Persistent Storage. If you
Storage window. using Tails. However, if you shut down ever want to delete that storage space so
or restart, the next time you come back the operating system doesn’t remember
Browse anonymously to the operating system, the file will have anything about you between sessions,
5 Click ‘Applications’ at the top of
the screen, then hover over
disappeared. The same goes for anything
else you save in a regular folder.
don’t type anything into the ‘Encrypted
Persistent Storage’ box on the loading
Internet and click Tor Browser in the menu To make sure it’s still available the next screen: just click Start Tails.
that appears. Next, click Open Tor time you return to Tails, click Persistent Tails will launch in the usual way, but
Connection in the box that appears, in the sidebar, then save the document you’ll notice that Persistent no longer
followed by Open Wi-Fi Settings. Select there. If you need to create a new folder appears when you click the Places menu
your wireless network from the list, enter within Persistent Storage, do so by at the top of the screen.
your network password, then click Connect. clicking the folder icon immediately Next, click Applications at the top
If you told Tails to save your Network below the Save button. of the screen, hover over Tails in the
Connections in Persistent Storage, you When you want to access the Persistent menu, and click Persistent Storage. The
should only need to do this once. Close Storage area without going through window that appears gives you the option
the Settings window and in the Tor LibreOffice, click Places on the top menu to restart Tails so you can enter your
Connection window that’s sitting behind passphrase and connect to Persistent
You can
it click ‘Connect to Tor automatically’. access the Storage again, or to ‘Delete...’ (this won’t
Tor stands for The Onion Router, 1 Persistent work if you supplied the passphrase
and it’s a clever piece of software that Storage area when starting up).
bounces your browsing activity between through the If you want to wipe your Persistent
Places menu
multiple different routers dotted around Storage and all the files and settings it
the internet. This makes it very difficult contains, click ‘Delete…’, then confirm
for anyone to track who or where you that you want to wipe the data (which
are. What’s going on in the background can’t be undone) by clicking Delete
shouldn’t make a huge difference to your 2 Persistent Storage. When the prompt
experience, though, so browse in the ‘The Persistent Storage was successfully
usual manner. deleted’ appears, click Close.

Next issue: Use smart plugs to cut your electricity bills Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 37
 Workshop
Make subtitles easier
to read in Kodi
What you need: Kodi 20
Time required: 30 minutes

S ubtitles aren’t only useful for foreign-language films. If you also use
them to display hard-to-hear dialogue in English-language films,
you’ll love the new version (20) of media player Kodi. With new features
that make subtitles easier to use and read, you can now decipher
content from the numerous free Kodi add-ons more than ever.

STEP To download the latest version of Kodi, go to www. STEP To use Kodi’s new subtitle features, you need to

1 snipca.com/44918, click ‘Installer (64BIT)’ 1 , then run

the EXE file that downloads. If the installer fails to run,
2 download a video add-on. In the main Kodi menu,
click ‘Add-ons’ from the options on the left-hand side,
it could be because you’re running a 32bit version of Windows, then click Download. In the list that appears, click ‘Video add-
so try the ‘Installer (32BIT)’ option instead 2 . Don’t worry if you ons’ 1 (you may need to scroll down to see this option). You’ll
already have a previous version of Kodi installed – during the now see a long list of Kodi add-ons. Scroll through the list,
installation process, Kodi scans for existing installations and, if select the one you want, then click Install. Most add-ons take
it finds one, it will retain all your media files, add-ons and other only a few seconds to install, though depending on which one
settings. Follow the installation process, then open Kodi. you choose, you may be prompted to install additional add-ons.

1
2 1

STEP Once you’ve installed a video add-on, return to the

2
3 main Kodi menu (press the Esc key repeatedly to do
this), then hover your cursor over Add-ons. Click
the icon for the add-on you installed, then select a video to
watch. Once the video starts playing, click the subtitle
button (with a square speech bubble 1 ). If you can’t see this
button, move your cursor over the video to reveal it. In the
window that appears, click the ‘Enable subtitles’ slider so it 3
moves to the right 2 . If multiple subtitle languages are
available, these will be listed next to Subtitle 3 . To return to
watching the video with subtitles, click Close.

38 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 3

1
4

STEP Kodi also lets you adjust the timing of subtitles, so you STEP To change more subtitle settings, return to the main

4 can set them to appear just after or just before the

spoken dialogue. To do this, click the subtitles button
5 Kodi menu (by pressing Esc key repeatedly), then click
the cog icon (top left) and select Player. Now click the
again, then click ‘Subtitles offset’. Your video will now play, cog icon (bottom left) until it’s labelled Advanced 1 , then select
complete with a bar at the top of the screen 1 . The further you Subtitles 2 from the list on the left. You’ll now see several
drag this slider to the left, the longer the delay between dialogue options, including one to change the on-screen location of
and subtitle (we find a delay of around 1.5 seconds works best). subtitles. To do this, click ‘Position on screen’ 3 , then choose
Alternatively, if you want subtitles to appear before the spoken from the options (note that we found this setting didn’t work on
words, drag the slider to the right. When you’ve found your all videos). Below that you can also change the font of the
ideal timing, press Escape, then click Close to return to your subtitles 4 .
video.

4
3
1 1
5
2

STEP You can tweak further settings by clicking the cog icon STEP As well as streaming content from online sources, Kodi

6 until it’s labelled Expert 1 . To make subtitles bigger,

click Size, then select a size from the list 2 . You can
7 lets you access media stored on your computer. To do
so, in the main menu, select Pictures, Videos or TV
also make subtitles easier to read by changing the style (bold, (depending on what you’re adding), then click Files followed by
italic and so on) and colour 3 of the text. If you’re really ‘Add…’. Now click Browse 1 , select the folder containing your
struggling to read the subtitles on your video, it’s best to add a files, give the source a name 2 , then click OK 3 . In the window
solid background. To do this, click ‘Background type’, then that opens, click ‘This directory contains’ and select the type of
select Box 4 . If you find the background blocks out too much of files you’re adding (such as Films). Kodi will attempt to
the video, you can make it semi-transparent – drag the download extra information (including thumbnail artwork for
‘Background opacity’ slider 5 to the left to increase the each film). If you’d rather it didn’t, click ‘Choose information
transparency level. provider’ and select ‘Local information only’. To view the
content, click the relevant option in the main Kodi menu, then
click Files.

Next issue: Use GlassWire’s new free tools to protect your computer Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 39
 Readers’ Tips
TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT

Jump to the top of long web pages

As my fingers age and ache more, I
look for ways to minimise my mouse
scrolling. One trick is to use the browser
extension Scroll To Top, which adds
an arrow to the bottom of web pages 1 2
that you can click to instantly return
to the top.
Install it from the Chrome Web Store
(www.snipca.com/44859) and you’ll again to shoot back to the top. heading then pick an arrow (or other
see a white arrow in a blue circle at the To change this arrow, right-click the symbol – see screenshot 1 ) and click
bottom right of any web page you’re extension’s icon in the browser, then Select. I chose a red circle
on. Click it to go to the bottom of all select Options. Now click ‘Choose Other with a chevron inside 2 .
the pages at that URL, then click it Icon’ under the ‘Toolbar & Scrolling’ Lawrence Barnard

Lawrence wins a copy of our 2022 Back Issue CD Buy it from us at www.snipca.com/44660

BROADBAND broadband bills reminded me of an SOFTWARE

Calculate the increase online calculator I used to work out how Use PDF Joiner to create PDFs
on your bills much extra I’ll pay this year. It’s been Recently, I had to tidy up little bits
Issue 650’s ‘Question of the created by Hyperoptic, one of the smaller of paper and various articles out of
Fortnight’ (page 10) on rising internet providers you mentioned in a genealogical magazine I had kept –
your article. many of which were longer than one
To use it, visit www.snipca.com/44848 page. I used the excellent online tool PDF
then select your current provider ( 1 in Joiner (https://pdfjoiner.com) to do this.
our screenshot left), when your contract It has all kinds of combinations you can
ends 2 , and how much you pay at the convert from and to, and is wonderfully
1
moment 3 . Click the ‘Calculate’ button 4 easy to use.
to see the results. Of course, it’s a After scanning the articles as separate
marketing tool from Hyperoptic, and PDFs, they showed up as image files in
they suggest switching to them. But you XYplorer (www.xyplorer.com), which is a
2 don’t have to hand over any personal superior alternative to File Explorer. I
information to see your results. didn’t even bother to rename them - if
What’s interesting is that for Sky and they were one article I dragged and
Virgin Media, it “estimates” the price
increase. I assume this is because unlike 1
4 the other providers, they don’t have
above-inflation rises written into their
3 contracts. 2
Shaun Robertson

Why I stopped using…

My default phone charger while browsing online. It’s proved to be an excellent
I don’t own a laptop, so the only It has one USB-C port, purchase. I’ve now bought
devices I need to regularly charge where I stick my Samsung several chargers and cables from
are my phones and tablets, both Galaxy S10 phone, and a the Electronics section in the
running Android. I got fed up having to USB-A where I stick an Amazon Basics store (www.snipca.
use two different plug sockets for this. assortment of old tablets. com/44856), and they’ve all worked
When using both ports, the a treat.
And what I use instead... USB-C charges faster because it’s 45 Brian Thomson
I came across the Amazon Basics Watts, compared to the USB-A’s 18 Watts.
Two-Port Wall Charger (£22 from The USB-C increases to 60 Watts when Tell us why you stopped using a website, app
www.snipca.com/44854, pictured) charging by itself. or program: [email protected]

40 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Handy hints and tips from your fellow readers
Email us your tips: [email protected]

dropped them into PDF Joiner ( 1 in our

screenshot below left), then clicked Join Reader recommends…
Files 2 and – voila! – it was saved as one
file on my desktop. I then renamed it Arteck 2.4G keyboard
Lynnette Hammet £24.64 from www.snipca.com/44732

SOFTWARE I was interested in Leigh

Use SteadyMouse to make Treymaine’s quest for a wireless USB cable, which lasts weeks (more
cursor movements smoother keyboard with a light to show when than 250 hours Arteck claims in the
Thank you for answering my the Caps Lock is on (Issue 649, page manual), and has its own Bluetooth
question about curing hand 26). In your response you mentioned dongle. I bought it because I wanted a
shakes when using a mouse (Issue 650, the Arteck 2.4G wireless keyboard, wireless keyboard and because I prefer
page 68). One program I’ve recently which has worked faultlessly for me low-profile keys like those on a laptop.
found that works is SteadyMouse for over two years. I thoroughly recommend it.
(www.steadymouse.com). I was initially As well as an indicator for Caps Lock, Geoff Long
sceptical about its claims, but its 70-day it has lights for the NumLock and Fn
Want to recommend hardware or software
refund policy gave me the confidence to keys, and a full complement of to fellow readers?
buy it ($43, about £35). multimedia keys. It charges through a Email [email protected]
The software has transformed my
computer use. Previously, my cursor
would jiggle all over the place, and the while it’s not as interactive as a DVD
more I tried to place it accurately the menu, it should do the job.
worse my hand tremor would become. Some people find interactive menus too
However, SteadyMouse makes my mouse confusing, so plain old JPEGs might be
movements smooth and accurate. easier anyway.
You have to get used to your mouse Simon Tompkins
reacting a bit more slowly to your hand
movement than it would otherwise, but OFFICE
once you become familiar with this it’s Get spreadsheet information
no problem. You can easily fine-tune the read aloud
software so it behaves to suit your specific Your tip on inserting spreadsheets
needs (see screenshot below). You can into OnlyOffice’s Document
also switch on/off a function that gets the editor was most welcome (Issue 650,
cursor to jump to a program’s launch page 47). One extra tip I’d like to suggest
icon when the mouse gets close to it. is adding text that can be read aloud to
David Penrose visually impaired people accessing the
document. It tells them what the
spreadsheet contains.
You need to insert the spreadsheet as
you described, then click ‘Show advanced
MEDIA settings’ in the panel on the right ( 1 in our
Add video files to a USB stick screenshot below). Now click Alternative
as alternative to DVD menu Text on the left 2 , add a title 3 and
I’d like to suggest an alternative description 4 in the boxes, then click OK.
solution to your answer to Jim Rupert Collins
Harper in Issue 648 (page 67), who
4
APPS wants to create an interactive menu on a
Print wirelessly using USB stick for video DVDs to be inserted
Canon’s iOS app into smart TVs.
I was interested in Bill Green’s To solve this, you really need to think
problem about adding Apple’s about what you want to achieve. Jim 3
AirPrint to his Canon MG6150 printer wants to create a way for people to be
(Issue 649, page 67). You suggested able to view their videos in a particular
printing from SD cards, but another order. Simply put the video files in
option is to use Canon’s free iOS app folders with names on and then create a
(www.snipca.com/44813 – see screenshot document listing where and in what 2
above right). It states that MG printers are order is best to view the videos. Then
compatible, letting users print from their save the document as a JPEG file or
iPhone or iPad. I do this with an old take a screenshot of the document and 1
Brother laser printer, and it works well. save it as a JPEG.
John Knights I think all TVs can display JPEG files, so

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 41

 Browser Tips
FIREFOX tweak its settings or pin it to the toolbar
Manage all your extensions separately. When you unpin an extension,
in one place it will automatically be added to the
Firefox 109, released in January, Unified Extension list.
is the first version of the browser If you preferred the old way of
to support Manifest V3, Google’s managing extensions, you can disable
controversial new cross-browser the new button. Type about:config
extensions system, which has been into Firefox’s address bar, then press
criticised for making content blockers Enter and click ‘Accept the Risk and
less effective. You can still install older Continue’. Search for the preference
Manifest V2 add-ons in Firefox, but the extensions.unifiedExtensions.enabled
update ‘future-proofs’ the browser and double-click it to change its value
against the changes planned by Google. to ‘false’.
Mozilla says that Firefox’s version of
Manifest V3 will differ from Google’s BRAVE
by allowing privacy extensions to Copy clean links from web pages people in countries where the internet
continue blocking the same ads, trackers In Issue 645 (page 42), we covered a is censored. This involves enabling a
and other annoyances that they do now new feature in Brave called ‘Copy tool called Snowflake (www.snipca.
(see www.snipca.com/44838). clean link’. This lets you strip the com/44846) – see our Workshop below
On a more practical note, Firefox 109 extra characters from the end of URLs, to find out how it works.
also adds a new Unified Extensions so you can copy and paste links without
button to the browser’s toolbar. This these unnecessary elements, and EDGE
looks like a jigsaw piece ( 1 in our prevent websites from identifying and Stop Edge creating
screenshot below) and clicking it lists all tracking you. Brave 1.47, which was desktop shortcuts
the add-ons you have installed and their released in January, improves the Some programs ask if you want to
respective permissions. Click the cog icon ‘Copy clean link’ option so that it also create a desktop shortcut when you
next to an extension 2 to remove it, works when you right-click a link on a install them, but Microsoft Edge doesn’t
web page – previously you could only bother to seek your permission. The
use it to copy URLs from the browser’s browser adds a shortcut to your desktop
1 address bar. every time it’s updated, which is
Simply right-click a link on a page frustrating when you’re trying to keep
and choose ‘Copy clean link’ (see your workspace tidy, or if – like us – you
screenshot above right) instead of ‘Copy have several versions of Edge installed
link address’. When you paste the link (Stable, Beta and Canary).
elsewhere, it will only contain the main Thankfully, there is a workaround that
part of the URL and none of the added stops Edge automatically creating desktop
elements. shortcuts, though it involves tweaking the
2 Brave 1.47 also expands the browser’s Windows registry. Type regedit into the
use of the Tor network to let you Windows search box, click ‘Run as
anonymously share your connection with administrator’ under Registry Editor and

WORKSHOP Share your Brave connection with censored users

2
1

1 1
2
2

1 To share your Brave connection with

web users in censored countries, click
the three-dot menu button in the top-right
2 Switch on ‘Volunteer to help others
connect to the Tor network’ 1 to enable
the Snowflake extension. Brave users in
3 Click the Snowflake toolbar button to
see how many people you’ve helped to
circumvent censorship by anonymously
corner of the browser and choose Settings censored countries can then choose ‘Private sharing your connection via Tor 1 . You can
1 . Click ‘Privacy and security’ 2 then scroll window with Tor’ and select ‘Use Bridges’ 2 also disable the extension or keep it
down to the ‘Tor windows’ section. to browse via your connection. running when Brave is closed 2 .

42 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Secret settings and the best extensions

BEST EXTENSION FOR… Viewing works of art

Google Arts & Culture Arts & Culture website. Here you can read
Chromium information about the artist and see where
www.snipca.com/44844 the piece hangs in its gallery or museum
Enjoy works of art from museums and by clicking ‘View in Street View’.
galleries around the world from the
comfort of your browser by installing If you don’t like that, try…
the official extension from Google Arts New Tab with MoMA
& Culture. This displays a different Chromium
masterpiece on your New Tab page www.snipca.com/41955
every day, or you can refresh the picture This extension displays a work of art from
manually by clicking the Change button in button, choose Options and select ‘In every the Museum of Modern Art in New York
the bottom-left corner (see screenshot). new tab’. To learn more about the painting or every time you open a new tab, which you
To see a new artwork every time you other artwork shown in your browser, click its can click to learn more about the subject
open a tab, right-click the add-on’s toolbar title to visit the relevant page on the Google and the artist.

2 BEFORE AFTER

click Yes when prompted. Find the Currently, you can revert the site to its searching for before you click through
registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ previous, ‘classic’ design by creating a to the relevant web pages, and you can
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\ free Wikipedia account. Click your ask ChatGPT follow-up questions about
EdgeUpdate ( 1 in our screenshot above), profile icon, select Preferences, then your query. You can also highlight and
right-click it and select New, then Appearance and choose ‘Vector legacy right-click text in a search result to send
DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the value (2010)’ under Skin. it to ChatGPT as a prompt – the response
CreateDesktopShortcutDefault 2 , then However, an even simpler option is to will open in a new tab.
double-click it, set its ‘Value data’ to 0 install Old Wiki (www.snipca.com/44841) Click the Settings cog in the ChatGPT
and click OK. This will prevent Edge in your Chromium browser. This new search box to choose a Trigger Mode
from adding unwanted shortcuts to extension instantly restores Wikipedia’s (see screenshot below), such as only
your desktop. old layout (see AFTER picture above activating the tool when your query ends
right) without you needing to click in a question mark.
CHROMIUM anything, or sign up for an account.
Restore Wikipedia’s
classic design CHROMIUM
Add ChatGPT to search results

In a textbook example of ‘if it ain’t

broke, don’t fix it’, Wikipedia has been The AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT
redesigned for the first time in 12 years, (www.snipca.com/44678) is continuing
and many regular visitors aren’t happy to delight internet users with its clever
with the result. Although the streamlined responses, and lots of new browser
new look (see BEFORE picture above extensions are taking advantage of the
right) is intended to make the online technology.
encyclopedia easier to browse, it also One of the most useful is ‘ChatGPT for
leaves a lot of white space and removes Search Engines’ (www.snipca.com/44842),
visible borders from articles. “It’s which displays information from the tool
genuinely awful and makes the experience alongside your search results in Google,
actively worse”, said one disgruntled user Bing and DuckDuckGo. This gives you a
(www.snipca.com/44840). clearer understanding of what you’re

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 43

 Phone and Tablet Tips
iOS emergency calls by rapidly pressing the incognito tabs when you leave Chrome’
Make emergency power button five times. option (see screenshot below left) and
phone calls more easily either touch your device’s fingerprint
Apple’s latest update to its mobile ANDROID sensor or enter your PIN.
operating system (iOS 16.3) updates Lock Chrome’s incognito tabs When you try to return to an incognito
the Emergency SOS feature to make it with your fingerprint tab, you’ll now be prompted to tap
easier to call the emergency services on When you want to browse the web ‘Unlock Incognito’ and verify your
your iPhone. Previously, you needed to privately on your phone or tablet, identity using your screen-lock method
use a fiddly slider to start an emergency Chrome’s incognito mode prevents – nobody else will be able to access the
call, but the new ‘Call with Hold and details of the sites you visit from being private page. Bear in mind that Google
Release’ option ( 1 in our screenshot stored on your device. However, nosey and your mobile provider can still see
below) lets you access Emergency SOS by people can still peek at your screen to see which sites you visit in incognito mode.
holding down the power button and which sites you’ve been viewing. A new
either volume button. Your iPhone will option in the Android version of the ANDROID & iOS
then begin a countdown and sound an browser (it’s been available in the iOS app Track your package deliveries
alert. When you release the buttons after for a while) stops this happening by within Gmail
the countdown ends, your iPhone will letting you lock incognito tabs so they When you’re eagerly awaiting
automatically call the emergency can only be unlocked using your a delivery, you can end up
services. fingerprint or screen-lock PIN. frequently reopening the order-
Also new in To use the feature, tap the confirmation message and tapping ‘Track
iOS 16.3 is a Call three-dot menu in the top-right package’ to find out where it’s got to. A
Quietly option 2 , corner of Chrome, select new feature in Gmail saves you the trouble
which lets you Settings then tap ‘Privacy and by letting you track the delivery status of
make emergency security’. Switch on the ‘Lock packages directly from your inbox,
calls without without needing to open any emails.
triggering an Instead, you’ll see the dispatch
alarm or making or arrival date of the item below
your iPhone flash, the sender’s name and the subject
in case this would 1 line, highlighted in green and
endanger you accompanied by a lorry icon. If you
further. To access need more information, you can
both these open the message to view a
features, open the summary of your order. When
Settings app and there’s an important update to the
select Emergency status of your package, Gmail will
SOS. You can also
2 automatically move the email to the
choose to start top of your inbox, so you can see the

BEST NEW APPS What you should install this fortnight

Pocket Rewind ThingstoDuo

Free Free Free
Android www.snipca.com/44933 Android www.snipca.com/44935 Android www.snipca.com/44938
Mozilla has updated its Pocket app iOS www.snipca.com/44936 iOS www.snipca.com/44939
for Android to make it easier to find Rediscover great music from yesteryear If you’re looking for ideas for things to do
interesting articles to read. The new using this app, which highlights the most now the weather is getting warmer, this
Home tab includes popular songs, app can help. It
recommended albums and artists detects your location
stories about your from years gone by to suggest nearby
favourite topics, and lets you listen to activities across
while the Saves tab 30-second previews categories including
lets you browse, (to play whole tracks, ‘Food & Drink’,
filter and archive you need a Tidal Outdoor and ‘Museum
content you’ve subscription). Rewind & Art’. Select two
saved. The iOS also includes news or more ideas and
version will be stories, reviews and tap Coin Toss to
similarly updated charts relating to decide which things
later this year. each year. to try first.

44 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Brilliant things to do on your device

choose Widgets. Scroll down mode lets you capture clips

to the Chrome section, select hands-free.
the ‘Chrome dino’ widget and To use the new option, tap
tap Done. You can also add the camera icon in a chat and
the game to your iOS device’s select Video at the bottom of
Lock screen. your screen (see screenshot
left). Switch between your
ANDROID phone’s front and rear camera
Record WhatsApp if necessary, then tap the
videos hands-free white circle button to start
WhatsApp has updated recording. You can put your
its Android app with the phone down or prop it up
useful option to record videos somewhere to capture your
change at a glance. without holding your phone. video, then tap the stop button
The feature works by scanning your Previously, you needed to keep pressing when finished. Videos can be previewed
Gmail inbox for tracking numbers, then the camera button in the app until you’d and edited before you send them to your
sharing the details with delivery finished recording, but the new Video WhatsApp contacts.
companies to retrieve status updates. The
scans are performed by AI rather than
humans, and the option is disabled by
BEST APPS FOR... Earning rewards
default to avoid privacy concerns.
To turn it on, tap the three-line menu Google Opinion Rewards
in the app, choose Settings and select Free
your Gmail account. Swipe down to the Android www.snipca.com/44945
General section and tick the box next to iOS www.snipca.com/44944
‘Package tracking’ (see screenshot above). Apps that let you earn money by answering
Note that tracking info may not yet be surveys are typically an ad-stuffed waste of
available for all UK delivery companies. time, but Google’s app is one of the better
options. It offers regular surveys tailored to
ANDROID & iOS your interests, which are easy to complete
Play Chrome’s dinosaur game and pay up to 60p each. You can cash in your
from your home screen earnings as Google Play credit or via PayPal.
Chrome’s dinosaur game, which Best For Earning money from surveys
you can play in the browser
when you lose your internet connection, Bing – Search and earn
is now available as a widget on both Free
Android and iOS mobile devices. This Android www.snipca.com/44946
means you can play the game directly Microsoft is so keen to tempt you away from
from your home screen without needing Google, that it will reward you for searching
to open the browser first, whether you’re with Bing. Collect points from Microsoft
offline or online. Rewards as you search the web and answer
To add the widget on an Android phone quizzes, then redeem them for gift cards or
or tablet, long-press an empty area of donate the cash equivalent to charity. Your
your screen and select Widgets. Swipe search points are synced across all your
down to the Chrome section, press the devices.
‘Chromium dino’ widget (see screenshot Best For Getting rewarded for searching
below) and drag it to the desired position
on your home screen. Launch the game Airtime Rewards
by tapping the widget to open Chrome, Free
then tap the Android www.snipca.com/44947
dinosaur to start iOS www.snipca.com/44948
playing and Save money on your mobile-phone bill using
jumping cacti. this app, which pays you cashback when you
Similarly, on an shop online or in-store at more than 150 UK
iPhone or iPad, retailers, including Argos, Boots and Wilko.
long-press an There are no voucher codes to enter – simply
empty area of your link your bank card and mobile account to
home screen, tap claim credit off your bill with EE, O2, Three or
the plus sign that Vodafone.
appears in the Best For Reducing your mobile-phone bill
top-left corner and

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 45

 Make Windows Better Expert tips for every version

WINDOWS 10 & 11
WINDOWS 10 & 11
See the number of pages
in Word docs
With a few clicks in File Pin ‘Show desktop’ shortcut
Explorer you can see
how many pages are in to your taskbar
multiple Word documents. Place all the There are several ways the shortcut, such as ‘Show Desktop’.
documents in a folder, then click the to show the desktop You can now drag it to your taskbar,
View tab at the top. Next, in the Layout from wherever you are where clicking it will reveal the
section, click Details ( 1 in our screenshot in Windows. One is to press Windows desktop. By default, it has the same
below). Now right-click one of the key+D, while another is to click at the yellow-folder icon as File Explorer, so
headings above the files (Name, ‘Date furthest-right point of your taskbar. If consider changing this to make it stand
modified’ etc), then select More. Scroll neither of those methods appeal, you out. Right-click the icon on your
down the menu that appears, then tick can instead create your own shortcut desktop, then click Properties, followed
Pages 2 and click OK. You’ll then see the and pin it to your taskbar. by Change Icon at the bottom. Choose
number of pages appear on the right First, visit our Pastebin account at an icon to use, then click OK, Apply.
next to each document 3 . www.snipca.com/44928 and copy the For a wider choice of icons, type
file path there. Now right-click your C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll in
desktop, then click New, Shortcut, and the ‘Look for icons in this file:’ box and
paste the file path into the box that click OK. From this bigger collection
1 appears ( 1 in our screenshot). Click we chose the green tick and pinned it
‘Next’, then type a suitable name for to the taskbar 2 .

2
3

WINDOWS 10 & 11
Move Sticky Notes to a
new computer
You can easily move 1
Sticky Notes you’ve saved
to a new computer using
a USB stick. First, insert the stick then
press Windows key+R to open the Run
box. Now paste the command we’ve
saved at www.snipca.com/44891, then 2
click OK. You’ll be taken to Windows’
LocalState folder ( 1 in our screenshot
below). Drag the ‘plum.sqlite’ file 2 on to
your drive and disconnect it. Plug it into
the other computer, then paste plum.
sqlite into the LocalState folder on that
machine. Click ‘Replace the file in the
destination’ when prompted then open
Sticky Notes to see your saved notes. 2
WINDOWS 10 & 11
Change the Registry Editor’s font
It’s easy to try different
fonts in the Registry
Editor if you don’t like
1 the default of Segoe UI. First, search for
regedit then click Open to launch the
Registry Editor. Now click View at the
top, then Font. Select a font in the box 1
that appears ( 1 in our screenshot right)
and you’ll see what it looks like in the
2 Sample box 2 . You can also change the
style (Regular, Italic, Bold or Bold Italic) Registry Editor in Century Gothic, in a
and the size. Our example shows the Regular style, size 14.

46 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

Make Office Better Top tips for the best office programs

MICROSOFT WORD & ONLYOFFICE

Wrap text around a table

When you create a table in Word any text you write on the
same page appears separated from it, not wrapped around.
You can change this by selecting the table, right-clicking it, 2
then choosing Table Properties. Now click the Table tab ( 1 in our screenshot)
and select the Around option 2 in the ‘Text wrapping’ section. Click OK and
Word will wrap any text you’ve already written. If you want to move the table,
1
simply select and drag it. Adjust the wrapping by dragging and dropping the
table, or by clicking Positioning in Table Properties.
To do the same in OnlyOffice’s Document editor, select the table, then
right-click it and choose Table Advanced Settings. Click ‘Text Wrapping’ on the
left, then choose one of the two options under Wrapping Style on the right –
Inline or Flow table.

ONLYOFFICE (based on Microsoft’s DOCX) is more Now right-click inside the box, then
Fill in and download forms versatile, letting you add extra fields and select Text Attributes followed by the Text
Visit https://oforms.onlyoffice. change its appearance. The idea is to Columns tab. In the dropdown menu
com and you’ll find a selection make changes to a form in DOCXF then choose the number of columns you want
of form templates that you can download and save it in OFORM. Visit ( 1 in our screenshot below left), and the
use in OnlyOffice. To find one you like, www.snipca.com/44861 for more on the amount of space between them 2 , then
either browse through them (there are difference between the two formats. click OK. In our example, we’ve divided
160, stretching over seven pages), or the text into three columns, each two
search by category on the left – sections LIBREOFFICE WRITER centimetres apart.
include weekly planners, checklists, Add columns to text boxes
travel itineraries, tax documents and One trick LibreOffice Writer has MICROSOFT EXCEL
certificates. that Word lacks is the ability to Find the most commonly
Double-click the template you want arrange words inside a Text Box used number
and you’ll see two options: ‘Open And into columns. First, click Insert at the top, With Excel’s MODE.SNGL
Fill’ ( 1 in our screenshot below) and a then select Text Box and draw your box. function you can find the most
‘Download As’ dropdown menu 2 . commonly used number in an
Click the former and the template will 1 array of cells. To do this, highlight the
open, ready for you to fill in. As you do cells, then click where you want the
so, click the Next Field arrows at the top answer to be shown. Now type =MODE.
left to speed things up. When done, click SNGL(XX:XX), where XX:XX are the first
Download at the top right to create a PDF. and last cells you want to include – that’s
Alternatively, click Download As and A1:F12 in our screenshot 1 . Press Enter
choose to save the form as a PDF, or in 2 and the answer will be shown in the cell
one of OnlyOffice’s own formats: OFORM you chose – it’s 6 in our screenshot 2 .
or DOCXF. The former is OnlyOffice’s This function works in exactly the
default format for forms, while DOCXF same way in both LibreOffice Calc and
OnlyOffice’s Spreadsheet editor.

1 2
1

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 47

 In The Club
Run a club or society? Here's how your tech can make it easier

Improve your club reviews on Google

O ne of the most effective ways to
promote your club online is to
encourage your members to write a
1 Reviews for
your club
will appear
when people
Google review of it. These appear on search for it
Google Maps and in Search results (see on Google
screenshot 1 ) and are highly influential.
Plenty of surveys show that most people
check reviews on Google before using a
business or joining a club.

Add your club to Google Maps

First, you need to make sure your club
appears on Google Maps. Visit www.
google.com/maps then search for the
name of your club. If it’s not there,
right-click the club’s location and
click ‘Add your business’, then follow
the instructions. It should take only a
matter of minutes.
It’s important to remember that the
Google account you’re logged in with a new page listing your business profile. unprofessional, so always try to reply
when you create the listing becomes the Scroll down then click the ‘Get more as quickly as possible. Often, an angry
‘owner’ of the business – or club – on reviews’ button 3 . reviewer just wants to have their point
Google Maps. This is also the only person This opens a window that contains a of view acknowledged. Doing this in a
who can reply to a review. It might be shareable link to where members can sincere way, in plain English (don’t hide
worth setting up a Business Profile on write a review. There are buttons for behind jargon), helps build trust with
Google before adding your club to Google sharing this via WhatsApp and Facebook, your members. Apologise to the reviewer
Maps, so that you can reply to reviews but we’d recommend that for now you if you are in the wrong, then try to
using a profile with the name of your just copy and paste the link into an email resolve the matter privately.
club. To do this, visit www.snipca. and send it to your members. If a review breaks Google’s posting
com/44785 then type your club’s name You should also add this review link to guidelines then you can request its
to claim it. your club’s website. Make sure you write removal. As you’d expect, it prohibits
something accompanying the link that hate speech, harassment, offensive
Create review links you can share encourages your members to review your content and comments that contain
Once you’ve added your club, you should club. You should also include the link in personal details (see www.snipca.
create a link that goes straight to your any newsletters you send to members. com/44786). To request a review’s removal,
reviews page. To do this, click ‘Manage How you deal with negative reviews is click the More icon (three vertical dots)
your Business Profile’ 2 . This takes you to very important. Ignoring them looks then click ‘Flag as inappropriate’.

2 3

Add your club to Google Maps, click ‘Manage your Business Profile’… …then scroll down and click ‘Get more reviews’ to create a link to share

48 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651 Next issue: Use WhatsApp's new Communities tool
What’s All the
Fuss About...
The Calculator Drawer
The Internet Archive wants you to “go forth and literally multiply”
What is it? press the number keys on your
A new collection of 14 classic calculators keyboard to make them appear
on the Internet Archive that you can run in the calculator’s screen, and
online. Enter and arrow keys to move
down and across lines, though you
So you can perform can’t delete numbers using your
maths on them? keyboard. However, the most
Yes – very advanced maths on some. realistic experience is using the
The calculators have been reborn as calculators on a touchscreen
emulators, which is software that lets one computer, where you can press the
operating system behave like another, buttons by touching the screen.
and has been used to bring many old
computers back to life, including assorted Which calculator
Amigas, Commodores and Spectrums. should I try first?
Perhaps the TI-81, which entered
How do you use the calculators? classrooms and offices in 1981,
Start by visiting the main page (www. and was the first graphing
snipca.com/44942) then browse the calculator released by Texas
calculators on display, which were all Instruments. It was powered by the
made by Hewlett-Packard (now known 8bit Zilog Z80 microprocessor, had
simply as HP) or Texas Instruments in the 2400 bytes of RAM and could draw
Eighties and Nineties. As you’ll see, two-dimensional graphs and
they’re all graphing calculators with perform trigonometry in units of
advanced functions (well, all but one degrees or radians, which felt
– which we’ll come to later). Click one revolutionary at the time. That was
you want to use then click the green ‘on’ followed by the TI-82, which
button to launch the emulator. It’ll take a added two new types of graph
few seconds to load. Now look for and (polar and sequence – options
press the calculator’s own ‘on’ button – three and four in the menu
these are normally at the bottom left. pictured above right) and increased
RAM by more than tenfold – from
So you just press the 2400 to 28734 bytes. If graphing
buttons like you would is beyond you, launch the TI-85
on a real calculator? which added the games Tetris and
Yes. The Archive has recreated the whole Boulder Dash.
device, not just the screen. You can also
What if they’re all
beyond me?
You have two options. One is to read the Are there other emulators
original manuals, which the Internet on the Internet Archive?
Archive helpfully provides as PDF Yes, loads. Visit its Software section
downloads (www.snipca.com/44943). (www.snipca.com/44949) and you’ll find
Though given that they’re on the long over 950,000 results, including old
side (there’s 527 pages for the TI-89), games, simulators, Windows desktop
you’re better off trying the Vtech themes and over 2,500 calculators that
Number Muncher (pictured left) – a were originally available online or
bright yellow machine released in released as programs.
1989 for young children. Not only does Not everything in the Software
it have a smiling elephant and big collection can be run in an emulator, so
green buttons on the front, but it also it’s a bit of a lucky dip. But none require
You can’t draw graphs on Vtech’s Number makes sounds – albeit basic beeps you to read 527 pages in order to master
Muncher, but the elephant looks friendly that quickly get annoying. them.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 49

 COVER FEATURE

Restore Your Old

PHOTOS &
VIDEOS
Don’t pay to repair
damaged photos and
poor quality videos.
Robert Irvine reveals
how to master the most
effective free methods,
to preserve your precious
memories forever

T
here are few things more videos captured by old camcorders that
heartwarming than looking are considerably lower quality than the
WHAT YOU CAN DO through old photos of family footage shot by modern smartphones.
members and friends, particularly This is because a growing number of
• Apply realistic colour to old black-and- when the people in them are no longer online tools can repair your old snaps
white photos with us. But these memories can be and videos using AI technology, while
• Remove scratches, rips and blemishes marred by the poor condition of those powerful PC software lets you perform
from pictures pictures that have become faded and finer adjustments on your desktop.
• Enlarge small images without damaged over the years. In this feature we reveal how to use
distortion by ‘upscaling’ them Digitising your precious photos by new, free tools to restore your old photos
• Scan old photos for free using your scanning them into your computer and videos, and explain the pitfalls you
phone’s camera allows you to preserve them against need to watch out for.
• Remove unwanted people and objects further damage and loss, but it won’t fix To illustrate our advice, Deputy Editor
from shots wear and tear, or address problems with Robert Irvine rifled through several
• Sharpen blurry and grainy old videos the original shots. shoeboxes of old family snaps that
for free Thankfully, it’s now easier than ever to needed restoring, and dug out some old
• Reduce background noise in your restore your old photos without needing holiday home movies shot on a cheap
home movies to pay for a professional retouching digital camcorder. Please let us know the
service. The same applies to vintage results of your own free fixes.

50 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Restore Your Old
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
RESTORE OLD PHOTOS USING FREE AI TOOLS
Colourise black-and-white photos BEFORE AFTER
Some people regard colourising old
black-and-white photos as needless
modernisation. But as the world has
always been in colour, it’s interesting to
see an approximation of how our
ancestors really looked – from their skin
tones to the shades of their clothes.
There are lots of online tools that use AI
to colourise old photos with a single click,
but most require you to buy credits or a
subscription to download the processed
image without a watermark.
One of the best free services is Colorize Colorize transforms your old black-and-white photos to colour versions for free
(www.snipca.com/44849), which has
fewer restrictions than many paid-for limits you to processing low-resolution a slider to compare the changes. Click
options and produces decent results very photos of 0.5 megapixels – higher ‘Download Restored Photo’ to save the
quickly. It lets you colourise JPEG and resolution images require you to buy image – there are no limits on the file size
PNG photos of up to 5MB in size – with a credits, which cost around 50p each. or the number of photos you can fix.
maximum resolution of 3000x3000 However, you do get one free HD download If RestorePhotos.io can’t unblur your
pixels – without creating an account. when you sign up for an account. photo, try Vance AI Image Sharpener
Simply upload the image (see the (www.snipca.com/44857). Although this
Before photo of my family on holiday in Sharpen blurry faces in photos requires you to register for an account to
Weymouth in the 1950s, above right), One benefit to using a digital camera, download processed images, it gives you
click Start to process it – or Edit to tweak including the one in your smartphone, is a few free credits before you sign up for a
it first – then click Download to open the that if unexpected movement or your monthly plan or buy credits. The site
result (see the After photo) in a new tab. shaky hand makes someone appear offers Sharpen modes for different types
Right-click this and choose ‘Save image blurred in a photo, you can quickly take of blurring (motion, lens and soft) and its
as’ to download the colourised photo another shot. With older photos, when results are pretty impressive – though
(without a watermark) to your PC. Colorize the blur would only be evident once the they’re watermarked unless you pay (100
Credit: Suzy Hazelwood, Pexels

also offers free apps for Android and iOS film was developed, this obviously wasn’t credits costs $4.95 – about £4).
(www.snipca.com/44851), but to colourise possible, but it’s now easy to fix the
more than five images you need to pay a problem using AI. Clean up blemishes
$6 (4.85) a month for a subscription. Launched in January, the new online and scratches
An even better AI tool, which launched tool RestorePhotos.io (www.snipca. Some old photos are marred by physical
last year, is Palette.fm (https://palette.fm). com/44855) sharpens blurred faces in damage rather than problems with the
This offers more than 20 colour filters to pictures for free. Click the ‘Restore your shot, including tears, stains and scratches.
experiment with and produces incredibly photos’ button (see screenshot below) Although AI can’t repair these blemishes
vivid and accurate results. It also identifies then ‘Upload an image’ and select the on the original prints or negatives, it can
the subject of your shots to apply the blurry shot. The site will then use AI to work its magic on the digitised versions.
most suitable colours, and lets you edit its detect and sharpen the subject’s face, and One of the simplest tools to try is
text prompts if it gets any details wrong. display the result next to the original Hotpot’s AI Picture Restorer (www.
On the downside, Palette.fm’s free option photo. You can also click Compare to use snipca.com/44858), which is free for
non-commercial use. This promises
RestorePhotos.io
uses AI to sharpen to “automatically remove scratches,
blurred faces in old transforming damaged photos into
pictures for free cherished memories”, and works with
both colour and black-and-white snaps.
Click ‘Upload’ to select a picture, specify
whether it has a scratch then click
Restore. After 30 to 90 seconds, a small
preview of the repaired photo will be
displayed, which you can click to
download the full-size version.
If you’re unhappy with the result,
another good free option is GFP-GAN
(www.snipca.com/44860), which stands
for Generative Facial Prior – Generative
Adversarial Network. This new online
tool uses the latest AI technology to fix

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 51

 GFP-GAN restores damaged photos for free
but leaves skin looking unnaturally smooth

blemishes and other problems in photos

by identifying and replacing anomalous Upscale.media enlarges old photos without sacrificing quality but limits file size
pixels. You can try it with example images
before uploading and restoring your own, cleaned most of the creases and scratches, are comparatively small – often only 2.5
and download full-resolution versions and sharpened and brightened the image, by 3.5in. Scanning vintage pictures – or
without watermarks or restrictions. but it also made my grandfather’s skin ideally their negatives – at maximum
Be aware that severely damaged and look unnaturally smooth. resolution will preserve most of their
low-resolution photos may result in the quality, but if you obtain them from other
tool’s AI – which is still being developed Resize images without sources they may become blocky when
– altering the subject’s facial features. losing quality you enlarge them.
In our restored picture above (my Another problem you may encounter There are several AI tools that can
grandfather in the Royal Navy), GFP-GAN with old photos is that the original prints increase the resolution of old photos
without sacrificing their quality – a
process called ‘upscaling’ – but again you
Digitise your old photos for free typically need to pay for unlimited use.
The best free option we’ve found is
The traditional way to digitise Once this is done, you’ll see ImageEnlarger.com (www.snipca.
old photos is to use a flatbed a green tick confirming that com/44863), which looks a little rough
scanner or all-in-one printer, the photo has been scanned. but is simple to use and doesn’t require
and either the software it Tap the thumbnail image in an account. Upload an image of up to
came with or a third-party the bottom right to view the 5MB then specify how large you want to
program such as VueScan result. All scanned pictures make it – the easiest way to do this is to
(www.snipca.com/44867). are automatically saved to enter a zoom factor. The site can upscale
But if you don’t have access to Google Photos, so you can photos to a width or height of up to 4,500
one, and can’t afford to pay for edit them on your phone or in pixels, which should be enough for most
a professional scanning your PC browser. pictures. It displays six results, each with
service, you can digitise your It’s also possible to digitise a different filter applied – click the one
photos for free using your old negatives and slides using you like best to download the enlarged
smartphone’s camera. your phone’s camera. The photo in JPEG or PNG format.
Google’s excellent free PhotoScan app best completely free app (as opposed to a A slicker if more limited alternative is
for Android (www.snipca.com/44869) free trial) is Kodak Mobile Film Scanner for Upscale.media (www.upscale.media),
and iOS (www.snipca.com/44871) makes Android (www.snipca.com/44875) and which offers paid-for plans for
scanning photos incredibly easy and iOS (www.snipca.com/44876). professionals but is free for personal use.
produces impressive results. It removes It’s designed to be used with Kodak’s Upload an image of up to 1500x1500
glare from glossy prints, detects the lightbox of the same name, but you can pixels, choose to make it up to four
edges of images and crops them cheat by displaying a bright white times larger and flick the switch to
accordingly, and applies smart rotation to background on your laptop, tablet or Improve Quality.
keep your pictures the right way up no another phone to use as a light source. The results are excellent, and comprise
matter which way you scan them. Place the slide or negative on the screen Normal Upscaling and AI Upscaling
To use PhotoScan, hold your phone over a of the device (or preferably just above to versions, which you can hover your
photo until it fits in the onscreen frame, then avoid pixelation), select the type of item to mouse over for closer inspection (see the
press the shutter button. Four white circles scan and press the shutter button in the app. photo of my Dad – he’s on the right – and
will now appear on your screen. Move your Kodak Mobile Film Scanner offers basic some friends above). Downloaded images
phone so that the selection ring (see editing functions for cropping your scans aren’t watermarked, but the output
screenshot) surrounds each one in turn. and adjusting the colour and contrast. resolution and size are restricted to
1500x1500 pixels and 25MB.

52 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Restore Your Old
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
RESTORE OLD PHOTOS USING FREE SOFTWARE
Although the online tools we’ve Paint.NET makes it easy
recommended delete your photos to fix colour and lighting
problems in your old
automatically after a set time, you may photos
feel uncomfortable uploading personal
photos – even if they’ll only be seen by
AI. Also, as we’ve explained, many ‘free’
image-restoration services restrict what
you can do without paying. Using a free
image-editing program gives you greater
control over the adjustments you make
and keeps your pictures private until
you share them.
Paint.NET (www.snipca.com/44794),
which was recently updated to version
5.0 (see Issue 650, page 18), is one of the
most versatile yet easy-to-use image editors,
and – unlike Adobe Photoshop, which
costs £20 a month – it’s completely free. Clone Stamp tool. Click this option in crease or blotch.
Here’s how to use the software to restore the Tools toolbar on the left ( 1 in our An easier option is to use the plug-in
your old photos to their former glory. screenshot below left), then click an area Content Aware Fill, which you can
of your photo that looks very similar to a download from www.snipca.com/44864.
Improve brightness, damaged section. Select a Brush size of Extract the contents of the ZIP file and
contrast and colours around 40 and a hardness of about 80 in drag the ‘ContentAwareFill.dll’ file to the
Whether a photo has been affected by age the toolbar across the top of the main C:\Program Files\paint.net\Effects folder
or poor storage, or it hasn’t been scanned window. Now click the damaged area on your PC. Restart Paint.NET, open the
at optimum quality, Paint.NET offers of your photo and you’ll see that the photo you want to edit and select the
plenty of tools for making the picture blemish is painted over. object or person you want to remove
look its best. The quickest way to fix If the damage to your photo is severe, it using the Rectangle, Lasso or Ellipse
problems such as unnatural colours and may be obvious that you’ve simply cloned Select tool. Click the Effects menu and
poor exposure is to click the Adjustments one part on top of another. If this is the choose Selection then the new Content
menu and choose Auto-Level, but the case, press Ctrl+Z to undo the initial Aware Fill option.
results aren’t always great. change, then click the More button in the In the window that opens, specify
It’s better to use specific options in that Colors panel (press F8 if you can’t see the ‘Sample area size’ in pixels and
menu, including Brightness/Contrast, this) and change the ‘Opacity – Alpha’ whether to sample from the sides, top
Exposure and Hue/Saturation, which setting to 60 2 . This will make cloned and bottom, or all around the unwanted
offer sliders for fine-tuning the lighting pixels more subtle when you use Clone element. Choose a ‘Fill direction’ –
and colour of your images, and the Stamp again. To make even finer random, inward toward centre or
contrast of faded shots. Particularly adjustments, try reducing the brush size. outward from centre – and either tick
useful is Paint.NET’s new Temperature/ ‘Render automatically’ (see the photo of
Tint option (see screenshot above right), Remove unwanted my Dad and grandparents, below left) or
which lets you fix the yellow and blue objects and people click Apply then OK.
tints that often plague old colour photos. You can also use Paint.NET’s Clone The person or object will now be
Stamp tool to remove unwanted objects removed from the photo and the area
Repair your damaged photos and people from pictures. This is handy filled in with similar surrounding pixels.
Rather than hope that AI can repair for airbrushing strangers and estranged The rendering process can take a while,
creases, scratches and rips, you can fix relatives from history, but the process and you may need to apply the effect
damaged photos yourself using Paint.NET’s is more delicate than getting rid of a more than once, but it’s easier than using
Clone Stamp.
1
Remove dust from old photos
Dust is another problem that affects old
photos, whether it’s on the actual prints,
the scanned copies or the original
camera lens. Paint.NET offers a simple
option for reducing the amount of dust
2 – or ‘noise’ – in your pictures. Click the
Effects menu and select Noise then
Reduce Noise. Move the Radius slider to
Use Paint.NET’s Clone Stamp tool to remove Paint.NET’s Content Aware Fill plug-in specify how many pixels will be sampled
blemishes from old photos removed the dog from this old photo to determine the amount of noise, then

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 53

 use the Strength slider to set the power of Upscale small photos settings will adjust accordingly, with the
the effect. The higher the value, the more without distortion new file size shown at the top of the
noise will be removed. Although Paint.NET doesn’t use clever window. Click ‘OK’ to enlarge the image
If that doesn’t work, download the new AI techniques, it does a good job of with minimal loss of quality.
BoltBait plug-in pack from www.snipca. enlarging photos without distorting them
com/44866, extract its contents and run and – unlike online tools – there are no Remove red-eye from photos
the EXE file – click ‘More info’ then ‘Run limits on the image size or resolution. One advantage of smartphone cameras
anyway’ if you get a SmartScreen security To upscale an old picture, either click over traditional ones is that the weaker
warning. Select the effect ‘RemoveDust.dll’ the Image menu and choose Resize or flash means red-eye is less common in
(you can deselect the other options), press Ctrl+R to open the Resize window. photos. Nothing ruins an old family
agree to the terms and conditions and Select ‘Adaptive (Best Quality)’ in the picture like someone looking demonic,
click Install Selected. Resampling menu (see the photo of me but thankfully Paint.NET makes red-eye
Reopen Paint.NET, click the Effects and my godmother below) and ensure the easy to fix. Select a red pupil using the
menu and select Photo then Remove options ‘By absolute size’ and ‘Maintain Ellipse Select tool, click the Effects menu
Dust. You can then choose whether to aspect ratio’ are enabled. Specify a new and choose Photo then Red Eye Removal.
remove white or black specks of dust width or height for the photo in the ‘Pixel Set the strength of the effect (see screenshot
from the picture (see screenshot below). size’ or ‘Print size’ boxes and the other below) and click OK to apply it – for
extreme cases you may need to repeat this.

If Paint.NET can’t remove dust from old Enlarge images while preserving quality using Remove red-eye from people’s pupils in old
photos, install the Remove Dust plug-in Paint.NET’s Resize option photos using a Paint.NET effect

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that’s £140 cheaper than
Microsoft’s full price of £219.99.

To buy Windows 11 Pro, visit

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click the red Buy Now button
on the right.
JUST SO YOU KNOW…
This offer can be used by one person only, and expires at midnight
on 1 March, 2023. It’s a lifetime licence for one computer.

54 00 – 00 Month 2023 • Issue xxx

 Restore Your Old
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
RESTORE OLD VIDEOS USING FREE TOOLS
Colourise old
black-and–white videos
Transforming videos shot in black and
white into realistic colour versions is
much trickier than colourising photos,
because it involves a moving target and
multiple frames per second. AI makes the
process easier and cheaper than manual
colourisation, but there currently aren’t
any tools that colourise videos for free.
The closest we’ve found is Pixbim Video
Colorize AI (www.snipca.com/44879), Pixbim Video Colorize AI transforms your Clideo Video Cleaner lets you adjust various
which offers a fully functional free trial. black-and-white videos into colour sliders to reduce blur in videos
Enter your email address on the
website to access the download page and the hopefully sharpened video. This right-clicking a filter and choosing
click the appropriate link, depending on includes a ‘Clideo.com’ watermark in Remove.
whether your PC has an Nvidia GPU. the bottom-right corner, which isn’t You can also use Avidemux to remove
Once the 1.2GB file has downloaded, too obtrusive – you can remove it by noise from old videos and make them
install and launch the program, and subscribing to Clideo Pro for $9 (£7.27) a look less grainy. Open the Video Filter
either drop your video into the area on month. Manager, select Noise and choose a filter
the left or click Load Video to select it. A more powerful solution for removing – we recommend ‘Wavelet denoiser’.
Click the ‘Start Processing Video and blur is to use the free video editor Adjust the Threshold and Softness sliders
Save’ button in the bottom-right corner Avidemux (www.snipca.com/44892). to smooth the picture quality of your
(see screenshot above right) and click Download the Windows installer (64bit video, without making it look washed
Save to colourise your video. You can only) from www.snipca.com/44893, and out. Try combining a Sharpness filter
adjust the colour factor and reduce red install and launch the program. with a Noise one to achieve the right
tones using the sliders at the top right. Click ‘File’ then Open to select your balance of grain-free detail.
The results are impressive but your video, and choose an encoder format in When you save the sharpened video in
colourised videos include a Pixbim.com the Video Output dropdown menu, such Avidemux, be sure to select the correct
watermark. To remove this and keep as ‘Mpeg-4 AVC (x264)’. Click the Filters video format in the Video Output menu,
using the software beyond the seven-day button to open the Video Filter Manager, for example MP4 Muxer for MP4 videos.
free trial, you need to buy a licence for select Sharpness ( 1 in our screenshot
$60 (£48). below) and choose a sharpening filter Stabilise camera shake in videos
– Asharp and ‘Wavelet sharpener’ are the Unless you position your camera on a
Sharpen blurry and grainy videos best options. Right-click it then click Add tripod or have a very steady hand, it’s
As we warn in this issue’s ‘Named & to open a window that applies the filter to hard to avoid a certain degree of shake
Shamed’ (page 21), Opera’s new Lucid your video - click the Play button to see it when shooting videos. It’s a particular
Mode for sharpening blurry videos in action. Experiment with the Strength 2 problem with old home movies, and
doesn’t work as promised. Indeed, you and Radius sliders, and tick the ‘High can make you feel a bit queasy when
should be sceptical of any free tool that quality’ box to get the sharpest picture watching them.
claims to make videos clearer in one click possible – click the Peek Original button 3 Oddly, YouTube – where you’re most
– for reliable ‘unblurring’, you inevitably to compare the changes with the original likely to see shaky videos – removed its
need to pay for professional software. video. Click OK then Close to save and picture-stabilisation feature a few years
One simple free option is the online exit, or undo your adjustments by ago, but there are lots of free tools that
tool Clideo Video Clearer (www.snipca.
Use Avidemux
com/44881), which admits that it “isn’t a filters to sharpen 2
miracle formula”, but does make a old videos and
noticeable improvement to picture quality. make them less
Click ‘Choose file’ to upload a video grainy
from your PC or phone, or import one
from Google Drive or Dropbox. Use the
sliders to the right of the video to adjust
the brightness, contrast and saturation,
and apply a fade or vignette effect, to see
what difference it makes. The site 1 3
suggests that increasing the brightness
level and bringing the contrast down a bit
is the best way to reduce blurriness, but
it’s worth experimenting. Click ‘Export’
(see screenshot top right) to download

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 55

 can reduce camera shake. For example, OpenShot’s
you can upload your video to Online 1 2 new
Stabiliser
Converter’s Stabilize Video page (www. effect
snipca.com/44889) – provided it’s less detects and
than 200MB in size – then choose a Stable reduces
level and click Stabilize. The site will camera
shake in
quickly convert the clip to a less shaky videos
version and provide a download link. It
supports most video formats and deletes
uploaded files after 24 hours.
If that doesn’t work, try downloading
the free program Video DeShake (www.
snipca.com/44890). This hasn’t been 3
updated for a few years and doesn’t
support mobile video formats such as
3GP, but it’s easy to use and has no file-size
limits. Simply click the plus sign to add
your shaky video, select the format to
convert it to and click the Deshake button. quicker to use a desktop video editor, numeric values.
You can convert several videos at once especially with large files, as it will save Options include ‘Brightness & Contrast’,
and go into the tool’s Options (via the File you uploading and downloading. Hue and Colour Saturation (see screenshot
menu) to specify the shakiness level and OpenShot includes a range of tools for below left), and you can switch between
how much smoothing you want to apply. improving the look of off-colour home them using the Selection dropdown
Alternatively, one of our favourite movies, which you can access on its menu. Revert a video to its original state
free video editors, OpenShot (www. Effects tab. Drag an effect to the title of a by right-clicking the effect’s letter and
openshot.org), now includes an option video on the timeline and a letter choosing Remove Effect.
for eliminating camera shake. To use it, representing it will appear next to the
click the Effects tab ( 1 in our screenshot name. Right-click this and choose Improve the audio quality
above right), choose Stabiliser 2 and drag Properties to fine-tune the effect, either of old videos
the effect to the start of the clip on your by dragging the sliders or by entering Old videos often suffer from background
timeline. Specify the strength of the noise that makes it difficult to hear
smoothing then click Process Effect 3 . what people are saying or produces a
You may need to adjust the borders of the humming or buzzing sound. Many
processed video if the Stabiliser effect has paid-for video-editing programs include
realigned the picture. an option for reducing this noise, but the
Avidemux also has a stabilise feature best way to do it for free is to use the
– select Transform in the Video Filter popular audio editor Audacity (www.
Manager, right-click the Image Stabilizer snipca.com/44899). You’ll first need to
filter and choose Add to experiment with it. install the FFmpeg Library plug-in, which
allows Audacity to open video files
Correct the colours in old videos – download it from www.snipca.
Although you can use an online tool to Tweak the colour in your old videos using a com/44900 and double-click the EXE file
adjust the colours in old videos, it’s much desktop program such as OpenShot to install it. Launch Audacity and choose

Convert old videos from obsolete formats

2
Before everyone started recording videos this) to select a video and HandBrake will
on their smartphones, many of us used show you preview images of the contents.
digital camcorders. Unfortunately, some of Click the Preset menu ( 1 in our screenshot)
the video formats used by these devices to choose a format and quality to convert
are now obsolete, which means you can’t to – if you’re confused by all the options,
open them in many video editors. choose the type of device you plan to watch
Thankfully, help is at hand from the the video on, such as Android 2 or Apple, or
1
versatile free program HandBrake (www. what you plan to do with it, such as Email or
snipca.com/44905), which can convert Social. Hover your cursor over an option for format to convert to – options include AVI,
virtually any old video, including movies a full description. Specify the folder to save FLV, MKV, MOV and MP4 – and click the
captured by camcorders and ripped from the converted video to and click Start Encode. spanner button to specify the resolution
non-copyrighted DVDs and Blu-rays, to the Alternatively, you can use the free and other options. Click ‘Convert’ to
popular modern formats MP4 and MKV. online tool CloudConvert (www.snipca. upload and convert the file, then play the
Click ‘File’ on the Source Selection com/44931) to convert old videos into processed video in your browser before
screen (click Open Source if you don’t see modern formats. Select a video, choose the you click Download.

56 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Restore Your Old
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
Animate old family photos using AI
Genealogy service DeepStory (www.
MyHeritage offers snipca.com/44914,
several clever tools see screenshot), which
for bringing photos of uses AI to add audio
your ancestors to life. to your photos so your
Our favourite is Deep ancestors can tell their
Audacity can reduce background noise in the Nostalgia (www.snipca. stories by speaking
soundtrack of your old videos com/44911), which biographical information
uses AI to animate still images of family you provide, complete with matching
File then Open, and select your video to members and make their faces move mouth movements. Again, you can create
import its audio track. realistically. Click ‘Upload photo’ and download up to five animations for free.
When Audacity opens the file, you to select a picture, then register for a MyHeritage’s latest AI addition is AI
should be able to tell from the waveform free MyHeritage account. Your photo Time Machine (www.snipca.com/44915),
where the noisiest parts occur, or you can will be animated in your browser and which invites you to upload between
click Play to listen to the audio. Select one you can download the amazing result 10 and 25 photos of yourself or a family
of the sections with background noise as an MP4 video. To create more than member, to generate historically themed
then click the Effect menu and choose five animations, you need to pay for a avatars such as Vikings and top-hatted
‘Noise Removal & Repair’, then Noise monthly subscription. Victorians. It’s fun but not as impressive
Reduction. Click the Get Noise Profile Also worth trying is MyHeritage as the AI animations.
button (see screenshot above) so Audacity
can sample the unwanted portion of
sound, then click OK. Now press Ctrl+A doesn’t give you as much control over 1
to select the whole track, choose the noise reduction as Audacity, but it did
Noise Reduction effect again and either dampen background distractions in the
use the sliders to adjust the level of videos we tested. Just upload your file or
reduction, sensitivity and frequency, or enter the URL of an online video and
stick with the default settings. Click ‘OK’ select a video format to save it in. Click
to apply the noise reduction, then save Process and wait for the site to enhance
the edited audio track by clicking the File the video and give you a download link.
menu and choosing Export then ‘Export
2
as MP3’ or ‘Export as WAV’. Blur faces and sensitive details
Next, open your original video in a If you want to share an old video online
YouTube lets you blur people and objects in
video editor such as OpenShot, add it to without compromising the privacy of old videos before you share them
the timeline and separate the existing individuals who appear in it, consider
audio track – in OpenShot, right-click the blurring their faces. YouTube offers a free You can also choose ‘Custom blur’ to
video and choose Separate Audio then tool for this purpose, which identifies disguise a specific item in a video, such as
Single Channel. Right-click the separated faces in videos and lets you blur people a car registration plate, house number or
audio track and choose Remove (or Delete). who might not want to be recognised, something embarrassing. Find the
Import your noise-reduced audio track without affecting the rest of the content. element you want to blur in the video,
into the program and drag it to the To use the option, open the YouTube select a blur shape and specify the blur
timeline aligned with the video track. Creator Studio (https://studio.youtube. behaviour – choose ‘Track object’ 2 to
When you play – and save – the video, it com), click Content and select a video keep the item blurred wherever it or the
will now feature your improved you’ve uploaded. Click ‘Editor’ then camera moves. Repeat this for as many
soundtrack. choose Blur ( 1 in our screenshot above elements as you want to blur.
If that sounds like a lot of work, you right) and click ‘Face blur’. YouTube will Even if you don’t make the processed
can try a quick fix from Aspose’s Remove detect all the faces that appear in the video publicly available on YouTube, you
Background Noise tool (www.snipca. video and let you choose which people to can still download the result with all the
com/44902). This free online service blur – click Apply then Save to confirm. blurs intact.

NEXT ISSUE On sale Wednesday 1 March

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Weds
1
PLUS Mar

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• Hidden settings to tweak

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Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 57

 Stop
5G
killing your TV
5G is 10 times faster than 4G, but it’s interfering with TV reception.
Daniel Booth explains how you can diagnose and fix the problem

T
he 5G rollout accelerated greatly 5G may not be
last year. Ofcom says that more the problem –
you might need
than 70 per cent of UK households to retune your
can now get a 5G signal, up Freeview box
from about half a year ago (check if it’s instead
available near you at https://5g.co.uk/
coverage). Networks aim to cover the
whole country by 2028. But they can’t do
this without building thousands of masts,
and these can interfere with TV signals
coming through an aerial, such as for
Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView
(it doesn’t affect cable or satellite TV).
The problem is that some mobile
signals occupy frequencies in the radio signal when there was no need to. If a TV link for a postcode-checker to see if
spectrum that are close to those used by tuner is overwhelmed by these signals it there’s a fault with your local transmitter.
TV. The more masts that are built nearby, can power down to standby.
the greater the chance your TV will be Another problem that’s probably not Ask Restore TV for a filter
affected. Banging your TV won’t help, caused by 5G is missing Freeview or If none of the above applies to you and
but there are other things you can try, YouView channels. It’s more likely that the problems began when a mast was
as we’ll explain. they’ve moved to a different channel built nearby, then 5G is highly likely to be
number, which means you’ll have to
Eliminate other problems first retune your box (follow the instructions
There’s no certain way of determining at www.snipca.com/44989, pictured Do you already
whether TV interference is being caused
by 5G, but common symptoms include
above).
The channels you can receive
have a filter?
blurry and pixelated images, and audio depends on where you live and which Restore TV used to be called at800,
cutting in and out. transmitter serves your address, which named after the filter (pictured) it sent
A ‘No signal’ message on screen might you can find out on Freeview’s site: www. in 2013-14 to homes affected by 4G
also be a sign, but often it simply means snipca.com/44957. You can check on signals at 800MHz (see www.snipca.
that your digital TV recorder (DTR) or Downdetector whether Freeview viewers com/44962). This
set-top box is connected but is on have reported the service not working in filter can’t block 5G
standby or out of power. This means it’s the past 24 hours. For help with YouView signals, so you need to
unable to receive signals from your aerial. boxes visit https://support.youview.com. replace it with the
‘No signal’ can also mean you have too You should also visit www.bbc.co.uk/ new one now
much signal strength. This happens when reception for news on engineering works available.
you’ve amplified an aerial to boost its that might affect your signal. It contains a

60 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 How to install your filter
1 Switch off your TV and the amplifier,
booster or set-top box if you have one
2 Unplug the aerial cable from your TV or
set-top box
3 Plug the hollow end of the short cable
(labelled A) into the solid end of the filter
(labelled A) – see picture for comparison into your TV or set-top box
Restore TV will send you a filter to fix of hollow and solid ends 5 Plug your aerial cable into the other end
interference – it’ll look something like this 4 Unplug the aerial from the first piece of of the filter (labelled B)
TV equipment it runs to, then pick up the 6 Switch on your TV and check your
the cause. To fix it, you’ll need to contact filter and plug the other end of the cable channels
Restore TV, which is run by the Digital
Mobile Spectrum Ltd (owned by EE, O2
Three, Virgin and Vodafone) – see box signals are causing your problems, they’ll cable with two connectors, and two
bottom right. send you a filter (it’ll look similar to the Velcro pads for attaching it to the TV or
Restore TV may already have sent one pictured above left) that you can plug set-top box. The filter is smaller than a
you a postcard warning about possible into the lead between your TV/set-top pack of cards and doesn’t require
interference caused by masts nearby. Find box and your aerial. This blocks the batteries or an external power supply.
out whether postcards have been sent in mobile signals that your TV receives. If the filter doesn’t work you can ask
your area, by visiting Restore TV’s site Note that you may also get interference Restore TV to send an engineer to
(www.snipca.com/44940) then typing if you watch TV on your computer using investigate, though only if you’re
your postcode and clicking Check. a TV tuner, or use a portable DVB-T TV. In eligible. Restore TV will consider this if
You should also answer the site’s addition, portable receivers attached to you’re over 75 or visually impaired. You
questions to eliminate other sources of omnidirectional aerials are more likely to can also ask an engineer to visit if you
the problem: www.snipca.com/44941. suffer problems. However, Restore TV’s have a signal amplifier in your loft, and
These include some factors you can filter can’t be fitted into an aerial therefore need an outdoor weather-
control such as mains-powered connected to a DVB-T receiver, and it proofed filter.
appliances like washing machines, doesn’t offer an alternative solution. Every engineer will carry a card to
fridges and tumble dryers, and other confirm their identity, and you can ask to
factors you can’t, including nearby Install the filter get their name before they visit. Restore
roadworks, tall buildings and extreme Restore TV provides instructions with the TV pledges to fix your problem within 10
weather (watch BBC weather presenter filter, so installing it is straightforward days of you contacting the company.
Matt Taylor explain this at www.snipca. and quick – you can see these at www. You can request a filter if you’re
com/44984). snipca.com/44960. They explain the six suffering interference in a caravan or
When you phone Restore TV, they’ll steps you need to carry out, as explained mobile home, though engineers won’t
run through similar questions that you in the box above. You can also watch a be able to visit. Restore TV will also help
answered online and also ask about the video (pictured below) by visiting www. you if you live in a communal property
position and age of your aerial as well as snipca.com/44988 and clicking ‘How to such as a block of flats and share an
the condition of your cable running into fit your filter’. aerial. Get in touch and they’ll contact
the home. If they conclude that 5G Each pack contains one filter, one short the landlord or property manager.
If you have more than one TV receiving
signals through an aerial, they’re
probably connected to a distribution
amplifier or splitter that sends the signal
to different locations. You’ll still need
only one filter for these TVs – just fit it
between the TV aerial and the amplifier
or splitter. You’ll only need extra filters
if you have separate aerials for each of
your TVs.

Contact Restore TV
• P hone 0808 13 13 800
(Mon-Sat, 9am to 5pm)
• Email [email protected]
•O nline form
https://restoretv.uk/contact-us
Watch Restore TV’s video for help installing the filter

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 61

 O
nline ads are often annoying,
but now they’ve become
dangerous as well. In the past
six months, Google search
results have been invaded by fake adverts
that infect your computer with malware
and steal your private data, and the
problem appears to be getting worse.
Even searching for the latest versions of
your favourite programs puts you at risk
from these increasingly sophisticated and
convincing scams. Here we lift the lid
on this fast-growing threat, and explain

Don’t click
how to avoid clicking malicious ads.

What’s gone wrong

with Google adverts?

Google
Last July, cybersecurity company
Malwarebytes reported that fraudsters
were abusing Google’s advertising
network to run ‘malvertising’ campaigns,
which trick web users into clicking

adverts
fake ads for well-known brands (www.
snipca.com/44952).
Since then, the hijacking of Google
search ads for malicious purposes has
escalated, and gone beyond the usual
tech-support scams to fool users into
downloading malware that steals their
personal data. The most common fake Fake ads in Google search results are infecting
ads are for popular programs including
7-Zip, Audacity, CCleaner, LibreOffice, internet users with malware and stealing their
Rufus (see screenshot below), VirtualBox,
VLC Media Player and – most recently –
personal data. Robert Irvine explains how
the password managers 1Password and to avoid this fast-growing phishing scam
Bitwarden (see page 9).
Scammers pay for these ads to appear
at the top of Google search results, and hacker’s server and downloads malware
give them convincing titles, descriptions to your computer. According to security
How to avoid Google
and URLs, so that unsuspecting users news site Bleeping Computer (www.
ad scams
click the links, believing they’ll be taken snipca.com/44953), this malware “collects Install a reliable ad blocker
to genuine software websites. sensitive data from browsers (credentials, Ad blockers make the web less annoying
credit card, autocomplete info), details and intrusive by removing adverts and
What happens if I click these ads? about the system (username, location, trackers from sites. But in the case of
Clicking a fake advert typically takes you hardware, security software available), phishing ads in search results, they
to a mock-up of the software’s official site and cryptocurrency”, while other sources boost your security too, because you
that contains an apparent download link have reported ransomware being installed won’t be tempted to click what you
for the program – or the download link on victims’ PCs. can’t see.
may appear in the ad itself. When you The best ad blockers, such as uBlock
click this, it installs a malicious script in Is it easy to spot fake Google ads? Origin (www.snipca.com/44958),
your browser that connects to the These ads take advantage of the fact that automatically hide ads in Google search
many Google users click the top results results – and in other search engines
for their searches without checking them – with no need to configure any settings.
first. Although some contain tell-tale Not only will this protect you from
spelling mistakes or use obviously fake malicious links masquerading as ads, but
URLs, many look almost exactly like the it will also clean up your search results so
real thing and use descriptions copied the most relevant sites for your queries
from legitimate software websites aren’t given less prominence than those
Particularly devious scammers ‘cloak’ that have paid to be included.
domain names, so the web addresses in There is an ethical argument that ad
ads look like the authentic sites but blockers deprive websites of the revenue
Google’s search results displayed several fake redirect you to phishing pages when they need to provide content for free, but
ads for the free tool Rufus clicked. it’s easy to disable them on sites where

62 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 What is Google doing about fake ads?
Google’s ‘Prevent malware in ad content’ protection’ in Chrome, is catching some,
support page (www.snipca.com/44967) but far from all, of these threats, and users
states that “any ad distributing malware are spotting the ads long before Google.
is pulled to protect users from harm” and You can help by reporting phishing pages
that Google uses malware-detection at www.snipca.com/44969.
tools to identify rogue ads. In 2021, it Google is also planning to add a feature
Use an ad blocker such as uBlock Origin to blocked or removed more than 38 million to Chrome that blocks all ‘insecure’
hide all adverts in Google search results ads for “misrepresentation”. downloads. This will help combat fake
However, the scale of current malvertising ads that redirect you to files and pages
ads are necessary and unobtrusive. With campaigns suggests Google needs to hosted on unencrypted HTTP servers. The
uBlock Origin, for example, simply click improve its detection software to keep new ‘Block insecure downloads’ option
the extension’s toolbar button, then click up with the scammers’ increasingly recently appeared in Chrome Canary
the large power icon (see screenshot sophisticated tricks. Its Safe Browsing (the version of the browser aimed at
above) to turn ad blocking off or on for technology, which is part of ‘Enhanced developers) as an experimental ‘flag’.
the site you’re currently visiting.
Even the FBI now recommends you use
an ad-blocking extension when carrying browsers (www.snipca.com/44963) and
out internet searches, to hide malicious Firefox (www.snipca.com/44964). This
ads that “appear at the very top of search lets you right-click links in search results
results with minimum distinction and choose ‘Scan selected link’ in the
between an advertisement and an actual VT4Browsers menu (see screenshot
search result” (see its announcement at below) to check the destination site for
www.snipca.com/44961). threats using dozens of security engines.
If your active ad blocker is showing It’s not completely failsafe, because it
adverts in search results, it may be set can’t scan – for example – downloads
to allow ‘acceptable’ ads, even though hosted in online-storage services, but it Switch on Chrome’s ‘Enhanced protection’ to
some of these are now dangerous – could prevent you from blindly clicking block malicious downloads and sites
such is the case with AdblockPlus. To into dangerous territory.
stop this happening, open the extension’s The privacy-focused Brave Search
settings and untick the option to ‘Show Switch to a different (https://search.brave.com) now includes
acceptable ads’. search engine ads in its search results (unless you use it
Google isn’t the only search engine being in the Brave browser), but these are more
Scan search results targeted by malvertising – fake ads have clearly labelled and closely vetted than in
before you click them also been spotted in Bing and DuckDuckGo Google and Bing, and less likely to be
As we mentioned earlier, scammers try to results. Although an ad blocker is the best targeted by hackers.
replicate legitimate URLs as closely as way to combat the problem, switching to
possible, and the links in fake ads may an alternative search provider will also help. Enable enhanced protection
only differ by a letter or two, or an Neeva (https://neeva.com), which in your browser
alternative domain extension, such as launched in the UK last October, is Keeping your antivirus software up to
‘.site’ instead of ‘.com’. If you’re unsure one of the few search engines to be date, and always installing the latest
whether a web address is genuine, it’s completely free of ads, and promises not Windows security updates, is essential
best to avoid clicking it altogether, but to store or sell details of your search for safeguarding your system against
this is easier said than done when you’re queries. Its homepage claims that, in a malicious ads, but it’s also worth
in a hurry to download a program and blind test, nine out of 10 users preferred enabling ‘enhanced protection’ in your
can’t see an alternative link. its results to Google’s, but it will browser. This warns you about dangerous
One solution is to install VirusTotal’s eventually limit some features to a websites before you click through to
VT4Browsers extension for Chromium paid-for subscription. them, and blocks some – though not all
– risky downloads.
Scan links in
search results In Chrome, open Settings, click ‘Privacy
before you click and security’ and select ‘Enhanced
them using the protection’ in the Safe Browsing section
VT4Browsers (see screenshot above). In Edge, click
extension
‘Privacy, search and services’ in Settings,
switch on the ‘Enhanced security on the
web’ option and choose Strict to block
security threats and add ‘security
mitigations’ for all sites. And in Firefox,
go to Settings, then ‘Privacy and Security’
and select ‘Block dangerous and
deceptive content’.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 63

 Problems Solved
Our experts solve all your tech problems

PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT

How do I download my AOL emails?

I’ve been using AOL email for 3
Q a long time, and have around
15 years’ worth of messages
saved online. Is there an easy way to
download all those messages from
AOL’s servers to my PC so I can access
them when I’m not online?
Paul Rowe

Yes – and it’s not particularly

A difficult. In fact, there’s little
more to it than installing an
email program on your computer,
then setting it up to access your AOL
email account (see screenshot 1 ).
Thunderbird is a popular choice with
our readers, and it’s a free download
from www.thunderbird.net. For more
information about this and other email Select this option in Thunderbird to download all your messages to your computer
tools, read our Cover Feature in Issue
644, and the Workshop in Issue 638 1 2
(both available on our 2022 Back Issue
CD: www.snipca.com/44660).
Thunderbird is easy to set up, but
you’ll need to tweak a few settings to
achieve your goal. First, when following
the instructions to set up the program,
make sure you choose the IMAP option
2 . This in effect creates a synchronised
copy of your email account on your PC,
so the same folders and messages
appear in the same way in Thunderbird
and AOL online. This also means your
messages remain available online
unless you delete them – but more on Type your AOL credentials into Thunderbird, then use IMAP to sync the account to your PC
that in a moment.
Next, you need to ensure that other setting, Thunderbird will download in your account online is reflected on
Thunderbird is configured to download all your messages. Bear in mind that 15 your PC, and vice versa. So, if you
all messages to your PC, so they’re years’ worth of messages could take up a delete a message in Thunderbird, it also
available to read offline. Press Alt to lot of storage space. So, if that’s a disappears from AOL’s servers. If you
reveal Thunderbird’s menu bar, then problem, use the Disk Space options to want to delete messages from AOL’s
click Tools followed by Account filter messages by age and size, or delete servers but not your PC, you’ll need to
Settings. This will open the Account them automatically. save them manually. To do this, click to
Settings tab 3 . On the left of the tab, Return to the Inbox tab, then simply select them (or press Ctrl+A to select
click ‘Synchronisation & Storage’. The wait for the first synchronisation to everything) then right-click and choose
options on the right control which complete. With such a big archive, this Save As. Choose a folder on your PC to
messages the program will download. could take a long time, so be patient. save them in, and you’ll have a separate
If you tick the ‘Keep messages in all Now, remember that we said IMAP copy of those messages, even if you
folders for this account on this synchronises messages online and on delete the copies in Thunderbird or
computer’ box and don’t change any your PC? This means everything you do your AOL account online.

64 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 Email us your problem and we’ll try to help:
[email protected]

Why can’t I install Microsoft’s PC Manager?

I read Computeractive every 1 3
Q fortnight and follow many of
your useful suggestions.
Recently, I decided to try Microsoft PC
Manager (www.snipca.com/44746). I
downloaded it but couldn’t get past the
Install page. I clicked to accept the terms,
then clicked OK, but the Install button
was still greyed out. I know it’s a beta
version and may contain glitches but I’d
still like to try it. My PC runs Windows 10 Tick the tiny box (top left) to accept
Pro version 22H2. Any suggestions? 2 Microsoft’s terms, then click the Install button
Jeff Owen
However, clicking the OK button
We think this is due to some is not how you indicate that you
A very poor design decisions on
Microsoft’s part. When you
accept the conditions. It merely
closes the box. That’s why the Install
launch PC Manager’s installer, you see a button is still greyed out. But if you
little message asking you to accept the look closely, just to the left of the link
licence agreement (see screenshot 1 ). (and honestly, you may need to squint,
This is a clickable link, and clicking it because the contrast is so poor) you’ll
opens a box containing details of the would be reasonable to assume that by see a light-grey tick box. Click this to
terms and conditions 2 . The box has a clicking this you’re agreeing to those accept the terms, and the Install button
prominent OK button at the bottom, so it terms and conditions. will become active 3 .

Why do my emails contain weird code?

I use Outlook 365 on my
Q Windows 10 PC to access my
main email account. I also
have other accounts that I access using
Microsoft’s built-in Mail app. Recently,
some of the messages I’ve received
through one of my Mail accounts have
contained lots of weird-looking code.
Emails sent to other Mail accounts are
not affected. This is definitely a Mail
problem, because when I access the
same messages using webmail or an
Android device, they appear as normal.
Any thoughts?
David Jones
If your Mail app is corrupting messages, try
This is a known bug with resetting the ‘Mail and Calendar’ configuration
A Mail. Unfortunately, there’s no
official fix, and nor is there configuration using Windows 10’s reset
likely to be. Microsoft is rumoured to option. Once Windows has reconfigured
be working on a replacement for Mail, the Mail app, the problem may have
called One Outlook, so the company is resolved itself. screenshot above left) then click
unlikely to address any but the most To try this, click Start followed by the ‘Advanced options’. Finally, scroll down
serious flaws in Mail. Settings cog, then Apps followed by ‘Apps to the Reset section and click Reset
However, one trick that has worked & features’. Now scroll through the list to (see screenshot above), then Reset
for some people is to restore the app’s find the ‘Mail and Calendar’ entry (see again to confirm your decision.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 65

 Problems Solved
How do I copy my Notepad files?
How do I keep
my old drive?
I’ve just bought a new Windows of the folder’s contents should appear in
Q 11 desktop PC. My old computer
runs Windows 10, and I have a
the right-hand pane. If you’ve only ever
used Notepad to create documents, you’ll
I want to use my PC’s 2TB number of Notepad documents on it that see a collection of text files, with a .txt file
Q hard drive as an external
drive. How do I do this?
I’d like to transfer to the new computer.
I’m not sure how to do this, but I have a
extension. You can select them all by
clicking in the right-hand pane and
Ann Campbell USB memory stick. Can you explain pressing the Control key (Ctrl)+A. If you
how I go about copying my Notepad only want to select particular files, hold
To use a PC’s internal documents to the memory stick, then down Ctrl and select each in turn by
A hard drive as an external
one, you need to fit it into an
transferring them to my new PC?
Peter Hallifax
clicking it with the left mouse button.
To copy your selected files, left-click
enclosure, or ‘caddy’, that’s designed any one of them and, with the mouse
for that particular size and type of This may seem like a very button held down, drag the selection to
drive. Desktop PCs typically use 3.5in
drives, while modern laptops contain
A straightforward process, but
what’s simple for some can be a
your USB stick (identified by its drive
letter) in the left-hand pane (see
smaller, 2.5in variants. Almost all complete mystery to others. Whether screenshot below). Release the mouse
internal hard drives connect to the you’re a digital expert or a total novice, button to ‘drop’ them on to the stick. If
computer using a SATA interface. we’re happy to help. there are lots of them, you may see a
So first you need to buy a suitable To begin, plug your USB stick into the progress bar, but text files tend to be very
enclosure, such as the 2.5in Sabrent PC, then press Windows key+E to launch small, so the process is likely to be quick.
model pictured below (around £14, Windows 10’s file-management tool, Having copied the files to your
www.snipca.com/44744). In Issue which is called File Explorer. Next, on the USB stick, you can transfer them to
650’s How To page, we explained the left, click the heading This PC. You’ll see your new computer. This process is much
setup process in detail, but to recap, that Windows has given your USB stick the same but in reverse. Open File
you simply remove the drive from a drive letter (such as D: or E:). Make a Explorer in Windows 11, then click your
your PC and slot it into the enclosure. note of this for later. USB stick to view its contents, press
This is usually no more difficult than Next, on the left, click Documents. By Ctrl+A to select all the files, then drag
sliding it in so the caddy’s SATA plug default, Notepad saves your documents to and drop them into the Documents folder
connects with the drive’s socket. this Documents folder on your PC. A list on your new computer.
Then reassemble the enclosure and
Use File Explorer
connect it to your new PC using the to locate your
supplied USB cable. Notepad notes and
The drive should work without copy them to a
you having to do anything else, USB stick
but if you want to erase its contents,
press Windows key+E to open File
Explorer, then right-click the new
drive and select Format.

Q: Why can’t I open my old Word

documents?
A: Issue 642, page 65 – find it on
our 2022 Back Issue CD
A caddy such as this Sabrent model turns Buy it from
an old hard drive into an external drive www.snipca.com/44660

66 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 How do I get rid of Dell Digital Delivery pop-ups?
Ever since I bought my Dell Block Dell’s pesky
Q Inspiron laptop a couple of
years ago, I’ve been plagued
pop-ups by using
Task Manager
to uninstall its
by a pop-up headed Dell Digital components
Delivery that appears in the bottom-
right of the screen. This prompts me
to download my ‘software purchases’,
even though I’ve never bought any
software from Dell. The pop-up offers
Snooze and Open options, but as I’ve
always been slightly worried that it
might be a scam, I’ve never clicked
either. Instead, I click the cross to close
it, but then it comes back the next day.
I’ve tried to ignore it but I would really
like to get rid of it. Can you help?
Bill Wallace

From Dell’s perspective, So this is in fact a legitimate message. (Ctrl)+Shift+Escape (Esc) to open
A you probably did ‘buy’ some
software with your PC, such as
However, it’s also sneaky, because that
free software is typically a subscription
Task Manager. In the Processes tab,
locate the ‘Dell.D3.WinSvc’ entry (see
a subscription to an antivirus tool, for service that you will start paying for once screenshot above). Right-click this,
example. The company will almost the free period has elapsed, perhaps then choose Stop. Next, click Start
certainly have included this with your earning Dell a small percentage. followed by the Settings cog, then Apps
laptop, but it accounts for a small part This ‘purchase’ message won’t just go followed by ‘Apps & features’. Scroll
of your overall purchase. As you haven’t away, because it’s not in Dell’s interests through the list to find Dell Digital
yet downloaded this ‘purchase’, the for it to do so. Thankfully, you can stop Delivery Services, then select it and
Dell Digital Delivery service keeps the pop-up by uninstalling Dell Digital click Uninstall. Do the same for
pushing it at you. Delivery. First, press Control Uninstall Dell Digital Delivery.

Did Microsoft Emptying your

Outlook inbox

withhold my prompts this

presumptuous
message from
emails? Microsoft

When I checked my Hotmail

Q (Outlook.com) mailbox one
recent morning, I found that it
was empty. In the centre of the screen
was a picture of a hot-air balloon with
the message: “All done for the day.
Enjoy your empty inbox” (see screenshot
right). Sure enough, I didn’t receive
any more messages for the rest of the day.
So how did Microsoft know I wouldn’t perhaps you wouldn’t have written
get any more emails? the morning, during lunch or just to us to ask this question.
Ian Fairclough before you go to bed, but you’d see the So we’re confident that Microsoft
same message. wasn’t withhold your incoming
There’s nothing more to this We say it’s careless because, of course, messages for 24 hours. There’s a slim
A than a bit of careless writing
and some good old-fashioned
there’s no way of Microsoft knowing
that you’re “all done for the day”. A new
chance that some temporary glitch
with Outlook.com or your email
coincidence. The message you saw is email could arrive seconds after you’ve account caused a delay, but a much more
simply the one Outlook.com displays cleared your inbox, and this celebratory likely explanation is that it was just a
whenever your inbox is empty. You might message would be shown for the empty coincidence, and no-one sent you any
achieve this admirable feat first thing in promise that it is. If that had happened, new messages until the following day.

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 67

 Problems Solved
1 2 You can delay
updates for up to
five weeks

Pausing Windows updates for a few weeks

can give Microsoft time to fix any bugs

Is it sensible to
pause Windows
updates? A
You’ve been burned before, so
we understand your concern.
Otherwise, you can pause updates for
up to 35 days. To do this, click Start
Indeed, we think this is a followed by the Settings cog. Then, in
Windows updates have reasonable strategy, because there Windows 10, click ‘Update & Security’
Q caused problems for me in
the past, so whenever I receive
are numerous examples of Microsoft
issuing broken updates then hurriedly
followed by Windows Update, then
‘Advanced options’ (see screenshot 1 ).
the message that there are updates to withdrawing and fixing them (see www. Next, under ‘Pause updates’, open the
install, I always choose the option to snipca.com/44745, for example). dropdown menu and select your
pause for seven days. My logic is that Of course, some updates are so critical preferred date. To do the same in
after a week, any problems are likely that we’d advise installing them right Windows 11, click Windows Update then,
to have been discovered and fixed by away. Those tend to be the ones that under ‘More options’ to the right of
Microsoft. Do you agree? Is there generate international headlines because ‘Pause updates’, open the dropdown
anything else I can do? they involve a major security flaw, and it menu and specify how many weeks
Ray Swinner would simply be too risky not to update. you’d like to wait 2 .

Why won’t my 64bit Windows update?

Click ‘Update
I have an old mini PC
Q
now’ to
with an Intel Atom D510 manually
processor and 4GB RAM, update to
running Windows 10 Pro. I use Windows 10
22H2
this with two drives that I swap as
needed. One is a mechanical hard
drive and the other is an SSD. The
hard drive has the 32bit version of
Windows 10 Pro installed and is
updated to 22H2. The SSD has 64bit
Windows 10 Pro but is still on update
21H1. I’d like to update the SSD
version to 22H2 but Microsoft isn’t
offering it. Any idea why?
Pete Gee

First, the rollout of any

A Windows update means that
some PCs get it before others, edition of Windows, and the other a 64bit If you can’t wait any longer,
and the process can take weeks or version running on an SSD. you can always perform the upgrade
months. So it’s not unusual to have to The 22H2 update has now entered what manually. There is a risk that it’ll
wait for an update to become available. Microsoft calls the ‘final’ rollout phase, fail for your particular setup, but at
While we can’t explain Microsoft’s so we’d expect it to be offered soon. To this stage in 22H2’s rollout it’s very
logic here, it’s reasonable to assume check for any known issues that might small. If you’re prepared to accept the
that, from the perspective of its servers, be holding it up for your PC, visit the risk, visit www.snipca.com/44743,
you’re using two different PCs: one Microsoft page at www.snipca.com/44742 click the ‘Update now’ button, then
with a hard drive running the 32bit (see screenshot above). follow the prompts.

68 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

 ?? WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN...
Backups and copying?
For years I’ve been using the
Q free Aomei Backupper (www.
snipca.com/44814) software to
back up various folders to an external
drive once a month. Recently, I tried
copying and pasting a folder of files to
the drive instead – all 152GB of it – and
it appeared to work. This made me
wonder whether there’s any difference
between copying files using the copy
and paste functions in Windows and Creating backups using a dedicated tool has many advantages over copying and pasting files
doing it using a backup program. I’m
not sure I’ve ever seen anyone ask or mode (see screenshot above) creates a backed up. You need to restore them
answer this question. disk-image file, rather than simply using the program’s Restore option.
George Chappell copying every file. This means you end up Aomei’s ‘Sync’ mode is closer to
with one big file containing all the files copy and paste. This option ensures
It’s a very good question, and and folders you’re backing up. The image that files in any synced folders are the
A we can’t remember anyone
asking it before either. So, let’s
file is then compressed, so it takes up less
drive space than your original files and
same, and is generally quicker than
copying and pasting, because it copies
address it now. folders. You can adjust the compression only files that have changed since the
The answer is that it depends. As you level by clicking Options followed by last backup. What’s more, you can
use Aomei Backupper, we’ll talk about Advanced, then opening the dropdown access files on your backup drive
that, but other backup programs have menu under Compression (see screenshot without having to use the Restore
very similar features. That’s to say, they above right). function, as you would with Disk
offer a variety of backup options, many So, using Aomei saves space compared Backup.
of which are not the same as simply with copying and pasting files, and it’s Want to know the difference between
copying and pasting files. typically quicker, too. However, you can’t technical terms? Email noproblem@
In particular, Aomei’s Disk Backup immediately access the files you’ve computeractive.co.uk

How do I open my old Lotus Word files? into DOCX files, which are compatible
with most modern word processors,
I recently found some text There are plenty of free online including Microsoft Word and LibreOffice
Q files I’d created in Lotus Word
Pro around 30 years ago.
A tools that will let you convert
Lotus Word Pro files, which end
Writer. Just click Select File, then choose
an LWP file from your computer before
Unfortunately, I no longer have the with a .lwp file extension. So, given that clicking Convert. Next, click Download
original disc for this software. I’ve you say you’ve been looking for a solution (see screenshot) to download the
spent a long time searching the internet for some time, we wonder if the files are converted document.
for help but haven’t got anywhere. perhaps from a different program, or If that doesn’t solve your problem, get
The files contain family history so you’ve simply been unlucky. in touch and we’ll try to help some more.
I’d like to be able to open them. Can you If you are indeed trying to open LWP
help me please? files, we’d suggest using Cloud Convert ON SALE

Cloud Convert is just

Don Robinson (https://cloudconvert.com) to turn them
Next Issue Weds
1 Mar
one of the many free
online tools that can • Has my TV killed my
open old Lotus Word hard drive?
Pro files •W
 hat’s stopping my
Windows 11 upgrade?
•W
 hat’s this new Alexa
noise? ...And many more

Subscribe to Computeractive at
www.getcomputeractive.co.uk

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 69

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Problems Solved
Reader Support
Having a problem with our recommended software or expert tips?
Email [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help

Should I ignore
Ubuntu Touch warning? 3
Having read Nik Rawlinson’s 1
Q How To feature in Issue 642
(‘Install Ubuntu on an old 4
Android tablet’), I checked to see
whether the 2013 Nexus 7 is suitable for
an upgrade to Ubuntu Touch using the 1 2
link you provided: www.snipca.
com/43327. It said that it’s still in 2
‘development’ mode. Did Nik proceed 3
regardless of the warning?
John Croft Use Hasleo to set up your backup schedule Click ‘Restore to’ in Hasleo to bring back
then choose Incremental individual files
You’re correct – the 2013 Nexus 7
A is currently listed as “still in
development” on the Ubuntu
instructions up to Step 3. At this point,
you’ll see several options below the
Can Files 2.4 report
a folder’s disk space?
Touch web page. In fact the entire section with the tick boxes for selecting In Issue 648 (page 18), Robert
Ubuntu Touch project is currently in a
beta testing phase, so nothing is
the folders you want to back up. You’ll
need to click the ‘Backup schedule’
Q Irvine suggests trying Files 2.4
(www.snipca.com/44503). I’ve
guaranteed to work – apologies if we option. A new window will open, letting sideloaded it and installed it on my
didn’t make this clear. you select the frequency of your backup Windows 10 PC. It looks nice and seems
We did mention that the 2013 Nexus 7 schedule on the left. to work well, but there’s a glaring
is among the currently ‘unsupported’ From here, select how often you omission – it doesn’t report the disk
devices, but that you can still install want the backup to occur (Weekly, for space occupied by a particular folder
Ubuntu Touch on it. We also mentioned example – 1 in our screenshot above). (one of File Explorer’s weaknesses too). Is
that by installing Ubuntu Touch on an old You can then set the time and day for there any way to do this using the program?
tablet, you might end up with a device your schedule on the right-hand side 2 . Chris Rogers
that no longer works. If you have an old Now select Incremental from the ‘Set
device gathering dust, Ubuntu Touch the default backup mode as’ dropdown There is. Click the Settings cog,
offers a way to get more from it – as long
as you’re happy to take the risk and back
menu 3 . Click OK to confirm.
You can also restore individual files,
A followed by the Folders tab.
Scroll all the way to the bottom
up everything first. which we explained in Step 6, but and switch on the ‘Calculate folder sizes’
here’s another way to do it. In the main option (see screenshot below). You’ll see
Can I run incremental backups Hasleo Backup interface, click Restore, a message explaining that this is resource
on Hasleo? then select ‘Browse image to restore’ intensive and may affect CPU usage. Click
I tried your suggestion of Hasleo and select the backup you need from the X in the top-right corner to close the
Q Backup (Issue 649, page 38
www.snipca.com/44245), but I
the list. In the window that opens,
navigate to the folder containing the files
Settings window and you’ll now see
figures in the Size column next to folders.
noticed that it doesn’t do incremental you want to restore, then tick the boxes
backups, which is so useful on a daily next to them.
basis. Also, you can’t restore individual Below these, select ‘Restore to’ (instead
files, only a full folder. Is that correct, or of ‘Restore to original location’) – 1 in our
have I misunderstood the instructions? screenshot above right – then click the
Mike Williams small folder icon on the right 2 . Browse
to your desktop and click Select Folder.
We didn’t cover making Now click Proceed 3 and the files will be
A incremental backups in our
Workshop, but you can make
restored to your desktop, appearing
inside an otherwise empty copy of the Turn on the ‘Calculate folder sizes’ option in
these using Hasleo. To do so, follow our original folder structure 4 . Files 2.4 to see disk space used by folders

Issue 651 • 15 – 28 February 2023 71

 Jargon Buster
1080p Of the common types of Cookie A small text file stored on FLV A video file saved in the JPEG Joint Photograph Experts
high-definition video, this is the your computer by a website. Used Adobe Flash Video format. Group. A common type of image
best quality: 1920x1080 pixels. to store browsing preferences, file created by most digital cameras.
website log-in details and so on. Fps Frames per second. Used to
32bit/64bit A measure of how indicate gaming performance. Key mapping Changing what keys
much data a PC can process at Core Units on a processor that do on your keyboard when pressed.
once. Most older computers are carry out program instructions. FTTC Fibre to the Cabinet. A
32bit, more modern ones are 64bit. broadband technology that uses LED Light-emitting diode. An
Cryptocurrency An online fibre-optic cable between a phone electronic device that emits light.
3G/4G/5G Technologies that currency not backed by any country. exchange and residential streets
deliver faster mobile broadband. The most popular is Bitcoin. before transferring to the normal MicroSD card A small type of
telephone wires. memory card. Can be converted to
3GP A type of video file recorded Dark mode Showing white text SD size using an adapter.
by many mobile phones. on a black background. GIF Graphics Interchange Format.
A type of image file often used MKV Matroska. An open-source
AI Artificial Intelligence. DCI-P3 A colour space that has a on the web, but now largely type of video file. Matroska is a
Intelligence demonstrated by a wider spectrum than sRGB. Used superseded by PNG. container format so it can contain
machine rather than a human by US film industry. many types of audio, video and
being. Often used to describe Gigabit Internet connection even text for subtitles.
technology that can perform Disk image A file that’s an exact offering speeds of at least 1Gbps
human-like tasks. copy of a physical disc or hard drive. (1,000Mbps). Mobile virtual network
operator A mobile provider that
Aspect ratio A measurement of DOCX The default file format used GPU Graphics Processor Unit. piggybacks on another network
the shape of a display. Traditional by Word 2007 and later. A chip designed to create 3D rather than its own. Lebara for
PC screens are 4:3. Widescreen graphics, but which can also be example uses Vodafone’s network.
displays are 16:9 or 16:10. Domain These are used to used for other computing tasks. Usually abbreviated to MVNO and
identify one or more IP addresses. ssometimes called a virtual network.
Avatar A graphic or icon used to HDMI High-definition media
represent a computer user, either Driver A file that tells Windows how interface. A type of connection that Mount The process of making an
online or in a video game. to work with an external device. transmits high-definition video and external storage device such as a
audio signals. hard drive accessible through your
AVI Audio Video Interleave. A DVB-T Digital Video Broadcasting computer’s file system.
type of video file. AVI is known as – Terrestrial. A format for sending HDR High-dynamic range. A
a container format, as it can hold digital TV signals. camera that takes more than one MOV A type of video file that can
many types of audio and video. photo with different levels be played using Apple’s QuickTime
DVI Digital Visual Interface. A of colour and contrast. These software.
Benchmarking Comparing common type of display connector images are then combined to
software and products with an that can carry a digital signal. create a better-quality image. MP4 A type of digital movie file
accepted standard. often used for portable players.
E Ink Electrophoretic ink. A special HTTP Hyper Text Transfer
Beta A version of software that’s type of ink used to display content Protocol. The technology that NAS Network-attached storage. A
being tested. Beta versions are in electronic devices. sends data between your browser hard drive attached to a network
often released so problems can be and the web. that can be shared with other PCs.
ironed out. Emoji A small graphic that can be
inserted into a text or email. Hz Hertz. Measures the frequency Noise Visible dust-like speckles
BIOS Basic Input-Output System. something happens: 1Hz equals that appear in some camera and
Software built into every PC that Emulator A program that makes once a second. TV images.
connects the vital components. It’s one computer act like another,
visible for a few seconds when the allowing it to run that computer’s IMAP Internet Message Access OLED Organic light-emitting
PC starts. software. Protocol. A method for email that diode. A thin-film organic light-
lets the user manage messages emitting diode used in computer
Cache A temporary space for Encoder A piece of software that stored on a remote server. displays and television screens.
storing information. Can be converts media files to a new
memory used on a computer format, such as converting WAV IP68 International Protection Omnidirectional aerial Receives
processor, or space on a hard drive audio files to MP3. marking. The ‘6’ denotes that a all the available signals throughout
used by a web browser. device is resistant to dust, general 360 degrees. Normal ‘directional’
Ethernet A standard used dirt and sand. The ‘8’ indicates that signals receive signals between 45
cd/m2 Candela per square metre. for almost all wired computer it can be placed underwater for 30 and 90 degrees.
Standard unit of brightness. networks. minutes at depths of up to 1.5m
without effect. Partition A large hard drive can be
CMOS Complementary metal- EXE A program file designed split into two or more partitions or
oxide semiconductor. A battery to run in Windows. Has the file IPS A screen technology. Monitors ‘virtual’ drives.
that powers the BIOS firmware extension .exe. that use it have wider viewing
in your laptop. When a laptop angles and better, more accurate Passphrase A selection of
is unplugged, BIOS relies on the File path Shows the location of a colours than monitors that do not (usually) random words to use
CMOS battery for power. file within Windows. use this technology. instead of a password.

72 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651

Phishing A form of internet Ransomware Malware run by Social tariff Discounted USB-A The original type of USB
fraud that tries to trick you into hackers who lock files on your PC broadband package available to connector, released in 1996.
revealing personal details. and demand a payment to release customers on benefits.
them. USB-C A new connector that’s
Picture-in-picture Shows video SSD Solid-state drive. Storage that, reversible.
in a small moveable screen while Read To access data saved on a unlike a hard drive, uses no moving
you browse the web or watch TV. computer. parts. VGA Video Graphics Array. An older
standard socket for connecting a
Plug-in A small program that Refresh rate Measured in Hertz Steam A service for streaming monitor to a computer.
adds extra features to software. (Hz), the number of times per computer games.
second that the image on your Virtual machine A software-
PNG Portable Network Graphics. A monitor is redrawn. Switch Mechanism under a based computer running inside
format for images that shrinks file keyboard that determines whether another computer. Often used to
sizes using compression. RGB keyboard Advanced type a key has been pressed. emulate another operating system
of LED backlit keyboard that – for example, running Windows
ppi Pixels per inch. Measure of generates colours by projecting Tor Browser A web browser 7 as a virtual machine inside
screen resolution. simultaneous combinations of red, designed for anonymous surfing. Windows 10.
green and blue lights.
Qi Pronounced ‘chee’, it’s the main TV tuner An expansion card that, Waveform An image that represents
standard for wireless charging. Script A short program that is when fitted into a PC, receives TV an audio signal or recording.
stored on a web server to control signals.
QR code Quick Response code. part of a website. For example, a Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi standard with
A barcode that can be read using script could check that a date you UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware speeds up to 10 times faster than
smartphones and dedicated QR- have entered is valid. Interface. A modern replacement 802.11ac. Also called 802.11ax.
reading devices. for the BIOS, designed to get a PC
SD card Secure Digital card. A into a state where it can launch an Widget A small program such as a
RAM Random-access memory. popular type of memory card. operating system. calendar that runs on the Windows
The computer’s working area, desktop.
used for data storage while the PC Sideload To install apps without USB 2.0/3.0/3.1 Faster successors
is switched on. using the official Android store. to USB. Write Save data to a hard drive.
 Easy when you
Know How
Tired of squinting and fumbling when messaging
friends, Robert Irvine tries to…

Use WhatsApp on a tablet

E
veryone I know now uses 1 2
WhatsApp, from my mother to
the Gas Safe engineer who inspects
my boiler. Nobody says “I’ll text you later”
anymore, but “I’ll WhatsApp you” or –
if they won’t use the name as a verb until
it’s been approved by the Oxford English
Dictionary – “I’ll send you a message on
WhatsApp”. It’s the little green app
that’s quietly revolutionised our
communication, and I much prefer it to
its boorish cousin, Facebook Messenger,
with its invasive ‘who’s active now’ strip
and chat-head bubbles.

Curling up with a PC
to read WhatsApp By linking the WhatsApp apps on his phone and tablet, Robert was able to chat on a bigger screen
messages in bed isn’t a the app worked in exactly the same way
program (www.snipca.com/44822), like
comfortable option me, at the end of last year – and may be as on my phone, only with a more
available for everyone by the time you finger-friendly keyboard for making
read this – but I’d yet to test if it worked. fewer typing errors and extra space to
To get started, I downloaded WhatsApp show the contents of recent messages.
Messenger from the Google Play Store To test the tablet app, I started a
My only problem with WhatsApp is (www.snipca.com/44819) on my Android WhatsApp chat with myself and the
that I find it fiddly to use on my phone’s tablet and installed the app. I didn’t even messages were successfully delivered to
tiny on-screen keyboard, and often tap know this was possible, so I assume that both devices. It was also easier to find
the wrong key by mistake. I once either it’s a privilege limited to beta and select emojis, GIFs and stickers 2 ,
responded to a friend’s horrifying story testers or something has changed since I reducing the risk of me sending an
about being mugged with a GIF of a last tried. I opened the tablet app, chose inappropriate one and upsetting more
cartoon dog saying ‘Happy popcorn day!’, English as the language and tapped ‘Agree friends.
which didn’t go down too well. I’m sure & Continue’. WhatsApp now displayed a Flushed with success, I also tried to
such accidents are more to do with my ‘Link with your phone’ screen containing install the WhatsApp app on my iPad, but
clumsy fingers and poor eyesight than a a QR code (see screenshot 1 ), which it it wasn’t listed in the Apple App Store.
design flaw in the app, but it would still told me to scan using my phone’s camera. Presumably, the tablet-linking feature is
be easier to use WhatsApp on a large I obligingly opened WhatsApp on my currently limited to the Android app, and
screen. I know you can access it on your (also Android) phone, tapped the iOS users will have to keep waiting. In
computer through WhatsApp Web or three-dot menu button and chose ‘Linked the meantime, you can use WhatsApp
WhatsApp Desktop, but curling up with a devices’. I then tapped ‘Link a device’, Web to link your devices, but it’s not as
PC to read messages in bed isn’t really a touched my fingerprint sensor to verify slick and convenient as the proper app.
comfortable option. my identity and used the ‘Scan QR code’ Now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to bed
So I was pleased to learn that WhatsApp viewfinder to scan the QR code shown in with a bad cold and my big tablet, where
is finally offering a way to link a tablet the tablet app. After a few seconds, the I’ll be able to chat on WhatsApp without
with your account, so you can chat on a two devices were linked and I was signed needing to squint and fumble.
bigger screen. The option was introduced into WhatsApp on my tablet. All my chats Need help using WhatsApp on your tablet? Let
for members of the WhatsApp Beta appeared on the capacious 9in screen and us know: [email protected]

74 15 – 28 February 2023 • Issue 651 Next issue: Robert tries to boost his typing speed
9000