Does the Windows 8 hybrid overcomplicate a simple problem?

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

I’m not sure exactly when I lost patience with Microsoft and Windows 8 — most likely when using the Surface for the first time. It’s always been an OS with a split personality, but from the start we were promised the hardware would make it all seem natural. It would innovate, the OS ushering in a new era of mobile computing.

With a few exceptions – touchscreen Ultrabooks are undoubtedly cool – the new era hasn’t started well. (more…)

Acer Aspire S7-391 review: first look

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

At today’s Build 2012 opening keynote, Steve Ballmer used several devices to show off Windows 8, but there was one that stood out. The Acer Aspire S7, said Ballmer, was the one device that was turning all the heads within Microsoft – but even from the second row of the auditorium it was tough to make out what was so special about this little laptop.

It took no more than three seconds with the device in the demo hall to work it out. (more…)

Mobile data survey: tell us your results

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

Last week I wrote about a feature we’re going to be running soon, in which we try to work out what mobile data allowance the average person needs on their contract. I asked you to download and run a traffic monitoring app on your phone for seven days (even if you didn’t, you can still help).

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Can a €10 ebook reader challenge the Kindle?

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Forget your Kindles and Nooks, German firm Txtr has announced an ebook reader for as little as €9.90. While Amazon and others are extending the reach of their devices, the Txtr Beagle is designed for the basics: reading books.

But what do you miss out on by buying on the cheap? Let’s put it up against the cheapest Kindle and Nook devices to find out. (more…)

How much mobile data do you use?

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

When signing up for a new phone contract, the amount of data allowed each month is often a stumbling block. Is 250MB enough for me or would I be safer with 500MB? What kind of user hits those 1GB allowances? How much data do my favourite apps even use?

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Apple iPod nano review: first look

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

The new iPod nano got a bit lost among the larger devices launched by Apple on Wednesday, but it’s actually the most dramatic redesign of the three. Whether the small touchscreen of the old model was deemed too fiddly, or Apple just fancied doing something different, the new nano now has a 2.5in multitouch display that occupies most of the length of the device – all but for a new Home button at one end.

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Apple iPod Touch review: first look

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

The attention is all on the iPhone 5, but the new iPods deserve some love too. The new iPod Touch is lengthened just like the iPhone, and in fact uses the exact same screen, which means it’s 4in across and has a resolution of 1,136 x 640. And it’s bright. Very bright.

The Touch is thin and very light, with a curvier look and feel than the iPhone 5. (more…)

Apple iPhone 5 review: first look

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

As is now customary, the internet was smoking hot with guff and nonsense this week, to the point where even the mainstream press was joining in. Thank heavens it can all stop now (at least until the next time), as the iPhone 5 is officially here, and we were at the London launch to get our hands on a brand new sample.

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Kindle Fire HD means price is now everything for Microsoft

Friday, September 7th, 2012

So Amazon has launched its Kindle Fire range in the UK, and it’s no understatement to say the two we’re getting in the UK come with sizzling price tags. A 7in Android 4 device with an IPS screen and access to all of Amazon’s various media libraries and services? That’ll be £159 for the 16GB model. Yes, £159.

If you don’t mind a lower resolution and some lesser specs, that falls to a faintly ridiculous £129 – and that’s for a 7in tablet that’s fully capable of playing video, downloading magazines and doing all the things an Android tablet normally does.

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HP teaches you Windows 8 because Microsoft won’t

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

If you’ve used Windows 8 and wondered how on earth to do the most basic tasks, you’re far from alone. It took us weeks to work out we could unlock a PC with the Space bar, and accidentally right-clicking in the bottom-left corner of the screen was a real revelation — try it and you’ll see what we mean.

These are incredibly basic things Microsoft should have taught us from the beginning, but didn’t. And with the final version of Windows — at least the RTM we’ve used — it still doesn’t. The extent of the teaching is a single animation during installation, which simply shows you how to move your mouse to the corner of the screen – with no explanation of why or when to do so.

So it’s both sad and entirely logical that third-parties educating users themselves. As reported by Windows Observer, HP has launched a free Getting Started with Windows 8 app in the Microsoft Store, which offers users text guides, video tutorials and links to forums and help pages.

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