Secret Tips For Firefox

Customise web fonts, create search shortcuts and access hidden settings

Hack Firefox using free extensions

Firefox supports far more – and far more inventive – extensions than Chrome or Internet Explorer (IE). This is largely due to its open-source design, which allows developers to access its source code.

Corel VideoStudio X8 Ultimate

A versatile video-editing package let down by its frustrating interface

Corel VideoStudio X8 Ultimate, the latest version of Corel’s video-editing software, could never be accused of being short of features. It gives you 21 video, four audio and two text tracks to work with, has support for 3D video and can handle resolutions up to 4K.

It also comes with a huge number of effects and transitions as well as the ability to animate clipart and text. Videos, photos and text can even be animated along curved paths.

Icontrol Piper nv

A home-security camera that sees in the dark and alerts you to any problems

Icontrol’s Piper nv must have the highest specifications of any home-security camera we’ve ever reviewed. Its high resolution and night-vision camera capabilities are only the headline acts of a list of features that includes motion, temperature and humidity sensors; a two-way intercom; and an ear-splitting siren. What’s even more impressive, it can act as a controller for home-automation devices that are compatible with the Z-wave standard. So with extra equipment you could use it to remotely control lights and other devices. Z-wave compatible devices aren’t very widespread though.

Back up your tablet & phone

Your tablet and phone hold many important photos, videos and messages, but it’s all too easy to lose them. Barry Collins shows you how to back up all your mobile devices for free

Your mobile phone is probably full of very personal information about you. It may contain your only copy of important text messages from family and friends, along with their contact details – not to mention any photos or videos you have taken using the device.

RoadHawk DC-2

A well designed dashcam that’s worth every penny

Dashcams are video cameras designed to be mounted on your car’s dashboard or rear-view mirror, guaranteeing you a record of events in case of an accident. You can also use them to record road trips through scenic countryside.

Thanks to built-in GPS, videos are automatically tagged with the location where they were shot, so you can easily prove where a recording was made.

HP Colour LaserJet Pro M252dw

A stylish colour laser printer for the home or small office

HP’s attractive and compact Colour LaserJet Pro M252dw is the laser printer-only version of the M277dw MFP. At its base you’ll find a simple 150-sheet paper tray. Above that there’s a slot into which you feed envelopes and other non-standard stationery. Sitting on top is an excellent colour touchscreen used to set up the printer and control features such as printing directly from a USB stick. Other features include automatic double-sided printing and support for printing via the internet or from mobile devices.

ViewSonic VG2437Smc

A 24in monitor with a built-in webcam

The ViewSonic VG2437Smc is a 1080p 24in monitor with a built-in webcam and microphone. If you use Skype often, then reducing your cable clutter will be an attractive proposition. The webcam’s video quality isn’t great, but it’s good enough for Skype. Unfortunately, it’s poorly positioned. In order to position your face in the centre of the frame, you’ll need to tilt the monitor forward, which makes viewing the screen quite awkward. The built-in microphone is useless – our video-chat volunteer found it almost impossible to hear us. Likewise, the speakers are unremarkable. While they’re loud enough, they sound very flat and lack bass.

Windows Hello

Microsoft wants to turn you into a walking password

What is it?

Microsoft’s new biometric-authentication technology, which lets you sign into Windows 10 using your eyes, face and fingers. It recognises unique physical characteristics, such as your iris pattern, fingerprints and facial features, thereby saving you from the tyranny of passwords. When you sign in, you’ll be greeted with a reassuring smiley face and a friendly ‘Hello’ (see image – Terry Myerson is Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Operating Systems).

HTC One M9

A powerful and classy-looking Android phone, but its beauty is only skin deep

Many new Android phones have flashy technologies like curved screens, but HTC has taken a different route with it latest phone, the One M9. It looks almost identical to its predecessor, the One M8, with HTC opting to change most of its internal components and software instead.

Like previous One phones, the One M9 looks very classy and feels exceptionally robust thanks to its brushed metal construction.

Google Nexus Player

Android comes to your TV

The Nexus Player is Google’s new set-top box for playing online video on your TV. It’s the first device to run Android TV – a version of the popular mobile operating system designed to be used on your telly. While the Nexus Player is the first of its kind, it won’t be the last – Sony’s upcoming 2015 range of smart TVs, for example, will use Android TV.

The Nexus Player is a plain black device made by Asus, who made the Nexus 7 tablet (now discontinued), and is the shape and size of an ice-hockey puck. It’s very easy to set up. Connect it to your TV using an HDMI cable (not included) and then follow the straightforward instructions to connect it to your wireless network and enter your Google account details. You have to use Wi-Fi because it has no Ethernet port.

The Nexus Player isn’t Google’s first video-streaming device for the home. It comes in the wake of the now defunct Google TV set-top boxes, which were made by various third-party manufacturers. Its interface was essentially a poorly designed web browser controlled using a fiddly mini keyboard and touchpad. There is also, of course, the more popular and better Chromecast, which is still available as a cheaper alternative to the Nexus Player.

Things to do with an old XP PC. Part 3. Create your own NAS device

This issue, Jonathan Parkyn explains how to convert your spare PC into a network storage device

Why a NAS is useful

A NAS (network attached storage) device is an external hard drive that connects all the devices on your home Wi-Fi network. You can back up photos and other files to a NAS just as you would to a normal external drive, but you can then access the files from your phone or tablet, even when your PC is switched off.

You can also use a NAS to stream music, photos and videos to your PC, mobile devices and even to a smart TV. Most NAS systems also let you access your files securely over the internet when you’re not at home - like having your own personal cloud.

Pre-built NAS devices cost up to £200, but you can convert a PC to a NAS for free.

Linksys EA9200

Don’t pay through the nose

Before you spurt coffee all over the magazine after gazing at the price tag of this router, I should point out that at the time of print I only had access to the EA9200’s Recommended Retail Price. Every other router’s price tag is the street price, and there’s usually a substantial difference between the two; you can expect the EA9200 to fetch somewhere around $350 when it does show up in stores. Is it worth it?

D-Link Viper DSL-2900

Blistering performance, great design

With D-Link’s Dual-band baby impressing me so much, I was rather excited to see what its latest product could do. Gazing at the high price tag, I immediately assumed this was a Tri-band router, but it turns out I was wrong. D-Link is charging Tri-band prices for this Dual-band router, so it had better deliver some outstanding results to justify the price hike. Thankfully, it does.

D-Link DIR-880L

Dual-band at a nice price

I bent the rules a little by including this router, as it’s only a Dual-band beastie rather than a fully-fledged Tri-band behemoth. This means it only has a single 5GHz network alongside the 2.4GHz network, which is why it’s marketed as a 1900Mbit/sec device (5GHz = 1300Mbit/sec + 2.4GHz = 600Mbit/sec). For many users this won’t be a problem, as they may only have a couple of devices that can make use of the faster 802.11n or ac standards, and the cost saving is dramatic. But given that this is a slightly older product, does it have the oomph necessary to keep up with the latest Tri-band devices?

ASUS RT-AC3200

Let down by poor performance

Bristling with more antennae than an Air Warfare Destroyer, with a whopping six in total, this is one seriously aggressive router. It’s also one of the most expensive Tri-band routers around, and when combined with the fact that ASUS routers have historically performed well, my hopes were high indeed. Sadly it didn’t turn in quite the roaring performance I expected, but it makes up for this lack in performance in other ways.

LG 34UM67 FreeSync Display

AMD’s FreeSync kills G-Sync

NVIDIA’s G-synch technology launched to much acclaim back in October of 2013, but it took much longer for working monitors with this technology to arrive. The idea behind the tech was solid. Rather than monitors and GPUs operating at different refresh rates, leading to problems with frame tearing (V-Sync off) and stuttering or latency (V-sync on), G-Sync slaved the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU’s outputted frames. This removed all of the problems caused by V-Sync, and also allowed for silky smooth motion at framerates of around 40fps and above. There was one issue though; it required a proprietary scaler inside the monitor to work, and this caused G-Sync monitors to be much more expensive than their V-Sync cousins, with a price premium of $250 or more. As a result we haven’t seen many G-Sync displays hit the market, with just a handful on sale today.

Wearable M.D.

Forget just staying in shape. Activity trackers, heart rate monitors, and other wearable fitness devices are about to change medicine and health care as we know it. By Jill Duffy

What if you could buy an over-the-counter genome testing kit, just as you can buy a pregnancy test today, then take it home and know within a matter of minutes whether you’re at risk for cardiac arrest? What if, as a result of taking that test, your doctor prescribed a regimen of diet, exercise, and stress reduction, monitored by your Internet-connected refrigerator, sensor-laden workout clothes, and an fMRI headband that dimmed the lights when it noticed increased brain activity associated with stress? What if you could upload a copy of your brain to a hard drive so that doctors could reinstall your memories if a disease or accident wiped them out?

The death of the web design agency

A few high-profile acquisitions coupled with a downturn in business has led to speculation that we are witnessing the end of an era. Tanya Combrinck asks: is the web design agency dead?

Adaptive Path was acquired by Capital One. Happy Cog shut its office in Austin. Teehan+Lax closed its doors and its founders went to Facebook. In the UK, Mark Boulton Design has been acquired by Monotype. These are leading web design agencies; the stars of our industry. So it’s not surprising that these events have been a shock for the community - especially at a time when the business climate is in a state of flux. Last year was tough. In a recent net interview, former Happy Cog man Greg Storey described 2014 as “apocalyptic” for web design in the US, with many agencies failing to attract the levels of business they’re used to.

Nikon D750

If the D810 is just a bit too much D-SLR for you and the D610 just not quite enough, then the D750 could be just right. Has Nikon built the perfect enthusiast-level D-SLR?

While it's always tempting to think that too much resolution is never enough, there are some practicalities to consider with cameras like Nikon's D810 or the EOS 5DS duo from Canon. Namely that big image files have a variety of logistical implications... they'll slow you down if you don't have sufficient computing power and they take up a lot more space both on your working drives and your storage devices. Yes, the image quality is stunning, but the question to ask yourself is whether you'll really ever be able to take full advantage of it. The honest answer for many non-professional photographers is, probably not. Yet there are lots of other features of the D810 that are worth having, no matter what or why you shoot.

Fujifilm X30

Its predecessors were top of the class in high-end fixed-lens compacts, but there's a bit more competition around now, so how does the X30 stack up?

While interchangeable-lens compacts - such as Panasonic's GM5, for example - have undoubted attractions, there's still something very appealing about the fixed-lens option. Perhaps it's because you don't have to make any choices about lenses. Perhaps it's because it eliminates any problems with dust on the sensor. Perhaps it's simply because it's actually quite fun to try and make one lens work for everything... and you'd be surprised how inventive you can get here.

Browser tools you should stop using

Outdated plug-ins and add-ons compromise the security and stability of Chrome and Firefox. Robert Irvine explains why and how you should remove them

FLASH

What's wrong with it?

Barely a week goes by without another security flaw being discovered in Flash, which leaves Adobe doing more patching than a patchwork-quilt factory. In 2012, the company had to introduce its own ‘Patch Tuesday-style monthly security update just to fix frequent vulnerabilities in Flash. And earlier this year, three serious ‘zero-day exploits’ (previously unknown security holes), which allowed hackers to infect your PC with Trojans, were discovered in the space of a month (bit.ly/flash369).

Add to this the well-known performance problems - such as Flash crashing and taking your browser with it - and it’s clear why you should opt out of this buggy old plug-in.

10 reasons to switch from Google to Bing

Just because nearly 90 per cent of us use Google to search the web, doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice. Rob Beattie reveals 10 brilliant things that Bing does better than its rival

Bing can predict the future

While most of us use a search engine to find out about stuff that’s already happened, Bing Predicts (www.bing.com/explore/predicts) tries to foretell the results of events that have yet to occur - such as football matches, horse races and TV talent shows. It makes its educated guesses by analysing the popularity of a particular outcome - the preferences of pundits, news outlets and analysts and of people on social media - and then combines them to estimate the likely result. To see these frequently accurate estimates in action, just add ‘predictions’ to your search query - for example, ‘European Champions League predictions’ - to see what Bing thinks will happen. Apparently Real, Juventus, Bayern and, surprisingly, PSG are all set to go through (you’ll know if they did by the time you read this). Try the same thing with Google and it merely takes you to the official UEFA match predictor.

Our guide to OpenCandy

One name that frequently crops up as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) is OpenCandy, although its makers strongly deny that it’s malware. David Crookes takes a closer look

What is it?

OpenCandy (opencandy.com) is an advertising plug-in that many software developers now include within their installers. It allows them to recommend other developers’ tools during the installation process, and give users the option of accepting or declining the additional software. If a user decides a recommended product looks interesting and accepts it, the extra program is then automatically installed.

Download Free Software With NO Catches

Are you getting more than you bargained for from free software? Wayne Williams explains how to download the programs and apps you want, without any nasty surprises

When we look for programs to include in our Best Free Software section each issue, we endeavour to find software that is new, free and not dangerous to your PC’s health. Unfortunately, these days a lot of free downloads come bundled with ‘crapware’ or have limitations that might not be immediately obvious at first glance. A system tool might, for example, find problems with your PC, but require you to upgrade to a paid-for ‘pro’ version before it can fix them. Is it unreasonable to expect something that is described as ‘free’, to actually be free? We think not, but fortunately there are ways of avoiding the various tricks and traps to ensure that you only download ‘pure’ free software and apps.

In this feature, we provide tips and advice on avoiding unwanted extras, look at how ‘free’ apps might end up costing you a small fortune, and reveal how to find out if a program is clean or not, before you download it.

What's so bad about violence?

From Mortal Kombat X to Hatred, violent games what’s so bad about are back in the headlines. Is it time to own up to how much we love them?

We love violent games. There's no point in trying to deny it. They’ve formed the backbone of our favourite gaming experiences over the last couple of decades. From the moment blood and gore could be depicted in pixelated form, we’ve lapped them up (if you’ll forgive the rather gruesome image). They may be attacked and maligned and often used as the scapegoats of all our ills, but we have no shame in admitting our adoration.

eSports Are Changing Game Design

With their popularity growing each year, we discuss and discover how eSports are influencing the wider world of game design.

Not all that long ago, ‘eSports’ conjured up visions of otherwise derelict basements and LAN-cafes playing host to small numbers of dedicated clans vying for personal satisfaction and micro-scale fame. These were the early proving grounds across which the likes of Counter-Strike, Team Fortress and any number of RTS title would thrive. Such dens, with an almost prohibition-grade aura of suspicion and mystery to the outsider, were the haven of the hallowed few – the originators of a dedication to digital competition that is influencing, with greater regularity each year, the economics and culture of gaming as a whole.

The VR verdict

The HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift and Sony’s Morpheus - the three of them are taking gaming towards virtual reality enlightenment. With the Samsung Gear protecting the mobile VR vanguard, the industry is ready to be taken into a virtual world.

We’ve just been skydiving. Except, we haven’t; we’ve been lying on our chest, over a chair, looking down, with an Oculus Rift strapped to our head. “You’ve got to step over the edge,” Patrick O’Luanaigh tells us, he’s the CEO of nDreams (more on that later) and used to be creative director at Eidos Interactive, and head of external development at Codemasters. He’s watching us on-screen, not that we know that, of course, since we’re very much embroiled in this terrifying virtual experience.

Armikrog

Breaking the mould

When you’re creating a game using stop-motion animation, you can’t afford to run at 60 frames per second. The standard rate for point-and-click games is a steady 30 frames; adhering to the new industry standard of 60 frames per second literally doubles the workload. But Armikrog actually looks better for running in 30 frames, because of the way it’s presented. Character animations seem stronger and more solid, and the hyper-realism of the tracking takes away from the more detached impressions videogames like Armikrog try to achieve.

Remembering... Windows NT 4.0

One of David Hayward's Microsoft operating systems gets a look in this week

Mention Windows Me, Vista, Windows 8 or whatever to most users of technology, and you'll probably get one of 'those looks', a kind of cross between don't remind me of that and utter disgust.

Granted, Microsoft has come up with a few duff operating systems in its time; although it's fair to say that once you've mastered Vista and 8.1, there's a good operating system hidden in there. Windows ME, on the other hand, well, we won't even go down that road.

Happy Birthday, Zzap!64

David Hayward pays homage to one of the greatest computer magazines of all time

Thirty years ago the UK enjoyed a golden age of computer magazines. Sinclair User, Your Sinclair, Personal Computer Games, What Micro, C&VG (Computer & Videogames) and (of course) Crash were the highlight of the month for many teenager who visited the newspaper shops.

These magazines were more than just words on paper, they were a part of our lives and we absorbed every page as if it were a religious text in front of us.

If then these publications were our religion, the high temple was that of Newsfield Ltd, located in sunny Ludlow. With its ever-impressive Crash selling in excess of 100,000 copies a month to eager Spectrum users - informing us, keeping us up to date and helping us get the best from our tiny rubber keyboard machines - it was inevitable that the Newsfield editorial team of Roger Kean, Oliver Frey and Franco Frey would turn their sights to the other great 8-bit machine of that time, the Commodore 64.

Replacing the cooler on your graphics card

It's not as difficult as you might think, as James Hunt explains

Although it's common to want a more efficient cooler for your CPU or better extractor fans for your case, most people would never dream of taking their graphics card to bits to improve the cooling. Yet it's entirely possible to do just that.

In a way, it's understandable. Graphics cards are expensive and don't seem to be user-serviceable: unlike processors, the cooling systems come pre-attached. But like CPUs, if you improve the cooling on your graphics card, you might find that you get better performance out of the hardware. Overclocking a GPU is easier than overclocking a CPU, such that you can do it in software, and if anything goes wrong, it's easier to recover from as well. The performance hike you get will also be far more relevant to gaming than an overclocked CPU would be.

Recovering deleted files

Aaron shows you how to resurrect lost files and data, saving a lot of headaches in the process

We've all been there, that moment when you realise a needed file or folder has mysteriously vanished. The last time you remember, it was there, waiting for you to peruse the file or folder contents, but when you come to actually look at it, it's gone. You could have accidentally deleted it, or it could have been removed by another means, such as a system clean. Either way, it was data you needed, and it's now gone. Is there anything that can be done? Can you get this data back, saving you a lot of time and effort, or is it gone forever?

With a little luck and the right tools and know-how, no, all is not lost. It is possible to recover data, and there are a number of ways you can go about it, ranging from the simple to the complex. Whatever method you need to employ, aside from the harshest of scenarios, there's usually a way to recover your lost data. So without further ado, let's take a look at some free options open to you.

YAC 6.0

Clean up, tune up and protect your PC from malware with YAC. Roland Waddilove tests this popular tool

YAC stands for Yet Another Cleaner, and it's one of many clean-up and tune-up utilities for Windows PCs. YAC is different to rivals, though, because when the free tool is downloaded and installed, there's an option to include YAC Anti-Malware Premium. This costs $29.99 for three PCs, which works out at around £7 per PC.

The clean-up tools included in YAC include the usual system and software junk files that build up on the disk drive and the settings in the registry. There are several levels of registry cleaning, depending on how aggressive and risky you want to be, such as 'Cleanable registry' versus 'Cleanable registry with caution'.

Mydlink Home Monitor HD

D-Link adds an even more interesting device to its Mydlink Home range

A few weeks ago, I covered the D-Link Mydlink Home Smart Plug, and almost immediately it sent me more of this range to explore, including this surveillance camera.

The DCS-935L or 'Monitor HD' is much like a dozen other 720p web cameras that I've seen in the past few years on one level. A significant number of them are made of shiny white plastic, can be wall mounted or free standing, use a USB power supply and offer a fixed focal length lens.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Can this streaming device fire its way to the top?

Amazon has a long history of releasing hardware in the US first and making the rest of the world wait. It did it with the Kindle, the Kindle Fire, the Fire TV and now it's done it again with the Fire TV Stick. Released in the UK on 15th April, it's actually been available to Americans since November last year. Still, better late than never, we suppose.

But what does it actually bring to a party that already has Google's Chomecast and the Roku Streaming Stick as guests of honour? Can it be the one everyone wants to be friends with, or will it be universally shunned, before slinking off home early?

39 Days To Mars

To infini-tea and beyond

If the Mars One mission involved a ship called the HMS Fearful, we’re guessing there would be fewer people signing up to spend the rest of their lives on the red planet. However that’s exactly what a pair of 19th century Victorian explorers are doing in this Kickstarted project from one-man development team Philip Buchanan.

In a charmingly hand-drawn style full of pistons and cogs, you must aid the hapless Sir Albert Wickes and The Right Honourable Clarence Baxter in their quest through space.

Monstrum

You cruise you lose in this permadeath horror

It’s dark and we don’t know the difference between our breath and the terrified panting of the man abandoned on a cargo ship with only a monster for company.

We managed to slam the locker door closed but it’s out there. Somewhere. We can hear it thundering through the corridors. Peering through the slats doesn’t help. Maybe we’ll just wait in here a little longer…

13 Things Facebook Would Rather You Didn't Think About

What's on your mind? Maybe it's the latest meme you've discovered or a piece of news you would love to share. But perhaps it's what is on Facebook's mind that really matters, as David Crookes explains

Facebook has 1.39 billion users, around five times the number of people using Twitter. It is the most successful social network in the world, an essential go-to each day for the latest happenings in your friends' circles. It lets you catch up with people who may have otherwise drifted, and it allows you to become aware of news you could so easily have missed. It introduces you to perfect family lives, gives you inspiration via lots of shared peppy quotes, and it can make you laugh and cry in equal measure.

Celestron NexStar 5SE GoTo Computerised Telescope

Viewing the universe has never been easier or as much fun

We had a group test recently on computerised telescopes and how they have now matured into almost mini-home observatories. A modern GoTo telescope is an extraordinary device with the ability to connect to a computer regardless of the operating system, to allow the user a greater degree of control and to upgrade the scope's abilities when necessary.

OneClick Intelliplug AVC014

Mark celebrates the return of the even smarter Intelliplug

Way back in late 2006 I reviewed the original OneClick Intelliplug and called it "A simple but effective means of electrical power control."

What it did was provide a means to slave the power of one device to others, so that when you turned off your PC, for example, all the peripheral devices had their power chopped too.

However, a couple of years later, I ran into problems with my Intelliplug, because as my PC became more power efficient, it started thinking it was turned off when I was still using it.

Netgear EX7000-100UKS Nighthawk Wi-fi Range Extender

Another Nighthawk device has flown the coop from Netgear

The last Netgear Nighthawk hardware I saw looked like it was inspired by Darth Vader's Imperial Transport. Thankfully, those aesthetics have been toned down somewhat in this new EX7000-100UKS wi-fi range extender.

It retains the wedge profile, but the three antennas are less wing-like. But the EX7000-100UKS is much more about what is inside, and that's pretty impressive on paper.

Microsoft Band

David Briddock explains why the Microsoft Band has plenty of potential

These days, Microsoft is keen to drop surprises. A recent example was its new Microsoft Band wearable product and associated Health app.

The marketing blurb states that the Microsoft Band is a fitness and activity tracker with GPS, basic smartwatch functionality, multi-platform app support and much more. But what's the reality?

Get The Most For Your Money

The road to good value starts here

When you're putting together a system, there's a trick to finding the best bargains. Shopping around can save you a little bit of money -maybe a quid here, two quid there - but if you want to get the most power for your pound, the trick is simple: side-step the hardware arms race of getting your hands on the latest, fastest components and instead look for products that are in the pricing sweet spot. The place where the trade-off between age, price and power reaches its optimum point.

Hardware that isn't brand new but is instead towards the middle of its life-cycle is often heavily discounted, while retaining competitive performance, so you save a lot of money and get a system that's still above average. Of course, this doesn't apply to every type of product. Sometimes the best value products genuinely are the newest or the most expensive. So to help you find the best bargains for your system, we've combed the market and compiled the information into this - our guide to buying PC components that have hit the pricing sweet spot.

The KVM

Mark Pickavance examines the many KVM options, as well as the alternatives and why some choices are better than others

Anyone who works with more than one computer rapidly runs into the problem of finding space for everything, thanks to the fact that PCs need a screen, a keyboard and mouse.

That can be super-annoying if you only have limited desk area and/or you need to access the second system only occasionally. You're cramped by equipment you only need to use maybe a couple of times a day, restricting the space you use all day. Surely there's a better way, right? Indeed, there is, and it's called a 'KVM'.

Microsoft’s Surface 3

David Briddock investigates the new Surface 3 tablet and the demise of Windows RT

For decades, Microsoft has been viewed as a software-only organisation. It relied on other companies to create the hardware to host its operating systems, applications and development tools. Only occasionally did it reveal a Microsoft-branded mouse or other computer accessory.

Today, things are very different. It has decided to push the boundaries of hardware technology by exploiting innovations from its Microsoft Research Labs to build a range of industry-leading products. Examples include the Kinect gaming technology, the upcoming HoloLens augmented-reality headsets, the health and fitness multi-sensor Microsoft Band and its Surface range of Windows tablet/laptop devices.

Improve Your Storage

James shows how to get the most from your hard drives and SSDs

Storage is a constant concern with any system. If you're not worried about the amount of space you have, you might be worried about the speed it runs at or the gradual effects of aging - not to mention the ever-present, unpredictable threat of a catastrophic drive failure.

For those reasons, improving your system's storage should never be too far from your mind. And in case you're not sure how much thought to give it, we've put together this collection of our tips and expert advice for making storage upgrades.

Remembering... The Amstrad Mega PC

David Hayward like his PCs to be a little different

Back when 16-bit consoles were still king of the hill in terms of gaming,and the PC was only just starting to emerge as a gaming force to be reckoned with, there came along a bizarre marriage of both forms of entertainment. A kind of Jekyll and Hyde of systems, if you will.

The Amstrad Mega PC had all the look of a slimline PC. The familiar beige exterior, full-sized keyboard, mouse, and 14" monitor spoke of a smaller, new breed of personal computer. However, the Mega PC had a secret.

Graphics Cards: Old vs. New

Upgrading a graphics card could make a real difference to your system, but knowing if you need a new GPU and how much to spend can be tricky

If any part of your system costs more than the processor, it's a safe bet that it's the graphics card. That makes choosing a the right GPU a particularly important (and expensive) part of any upgrade plan. Should you go straight for a new card, though, or will an older one deliver better value? if you're putting together a new system, how bad does your graphics card have to be before replacing it makes more sense than keeping it? We'll answer those questions, and more, as we try to find out how you get the best value out of a new graphics card purchase - and whether you need to make one at all.

Repurposing Old Hardware

Don't just throw out your old parts. They might be more useful than you think

When you upgrade your system, it can be tempting to just chuck the parts you've replaced in a skip, or give them to someone else. After all, second-hand computer hardware is usually difficult to sell on, and there's no sense leaving it in a cupboard somewhere to gather dust.

But before you get rid of your old components, think for a moment about what else you might do with them. An upgrade isn't just about adding new hardware to your system; it's also about extending your system's capabilities, and with a few tweaks that's exactly what old hardware can do.

Obviously some components are single use. You won't find many ways to incorporate an old CPU or motherboard into your system, and your RAM either fits or it doesn't, but there some components and peripherals that can be reused in unexpected ways. Before you throw anything away, read through our guide so you know exactly what can be salvaged from obsolescence and how.

Budget laptops: the processors behind the new breed

Architectural improvements by both Intel and AMD will ensure we continue to see increasingly powerful devices, but without increasing costs

Intel’s Atom processors were always intended to expand the potential of compact, low-cost PCs, but it was only with 2012’s Clover Trail platform that the processor really began to deliver on its promise. Today, Clover Trail’s successor, Bay Trail, brings us fully capable laptops at remarkably low prices.

That’s thanks to the underlying Silvermont architecture, launched in 2013, which represents a few firsts for the Atom line-up. For a start, it’s the first Atom processor to embrace the 22nm 3D Tri-Gate technology introduced in Intel’s mainstream Core line with 2012’s Ivy Bridge processors. What’s more, it’s Intel’s first low-power SoC (system on a chip) to have out-of-order execution (OoOE).