Boundless

A huge, connected world that’s thinking with portals

Ambitious. There’s just no better word to describe this impressive online sandbox.

Announced for PS4 at Paris Games Week, it’s a beautifully colourful world where everyone’s connected. Yep, whether you’re on PC or PS4, you’ll share one single universe with the rest of the planet.

“We think players get excited about games that try and do something not seen before,” enthuses game director James Austin. “We wanted to create an open-world sandbox where everyone survives and thrives together. For some players this just clicks and they want it. They’re desperate for something they can put time into, and with Boundless everything they create, everything they craft, every Titan they fell will be visible to every other player. Their actions persist.”

Acer Aspire R11 (R3-131T)

Life in plastic's not fantastic

We don't often talk about the benchmark tests we use to rate computers’ performance. That's because they’re boring. Really, seriously boring. Sometimes we actually fall asleep while doing them. There’s plenty of time for sleeping when a PC comes in with a Celeron processor. The name comes from the Latin for ‘hurry up!'.  Presumably this is Intel’s little joke. We prefer to think of it as an abbreviation of ‘Cornu aspersum’, the garden snail.

Vodafone Smart Speed 6

An Android smartphone for 50 quid

There's plenty of choice when it comes to phones. Some people like iPhones; others prefer Samsungs. Google's Nexus series and Sony’s Xperias are popular. One bloke in Norwich has a Window's Phone. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Or in this case, you mostly skip the first part. At £50, the Smart Speed 6 is cheaper than phones used to be before they put computers in them. That’s on pay-as-you-go (PAYG), with no contract or obligations. The only catch is it’s exclusive to Vodafone, which isn’t the cheapest network and may or may not have good reception w'here you live.

What's the fastest browser for your tablet?

Still using Safari on iPad and Chrome on your Android tablet? Tim Danton reveals how to boost your device by ditching its default browser

Firefox fans around the world rejoiced when, on 11 November, the browser's creator Mozilla released a free Firefox app for iOS. If you own an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, you can now use Firefox as the main browser on your device.

And yet, just because the Firefox app is hot off the press, don't assume it's better than others. With more and more browsers available for your tablet and phone, this is the ideal time to “shop" around (but not pay anything - all the browsers we feature here are free).

Changing your browser could be all you need to breathe new life - and speed - into your old phone or tablet. We tested this theory by running a number of browsers on Android and iOS tablets and phones to speed-test them in everyday use. Here we reveal which browser may give your device the biggest boost.

Windows 10: The biggest controversies

Windows 10 is great - but it's not been without its clangers and scandals. Jonathan Parkyn delivers our verdict on every one

On the surface, Windows 10 feels like a return to Windows 7. But underneath the comfortingly familiar Desktop and Start menu lurk a number of radical changes - not all of which have been well received.

We've had a lot of good things to say about Windows 10, but since (and even before) its release, Microsoft’s new operating system (OS) has found itself mired in controversy.

We know from your letters that you have strong feelings about some of them. Now it’s time to tell you what we think.

Don't Get Hacked in 2016

Hackers are changing tactics in 2016 - and you’re in more danger than ever. Jane Hoskyn reveals next year's threats and what to do to stay safe

2015 was the most dangerous year in malware history. You already know that, because we told you in our article (The Worst Malware Ever). We also said “and 2016 will be worse", but you may have missed that bit - especially if you were in an understandable hurry to get on with reading the feature.

So let’s drag it up again, shall we? While you’re setting the table for Christmas dinner - or perhaps relaxing with your favourite magazine while you digest your figgy pudding - we’re here to remind you that 2016 will make 2015 look about as digitally dangerous as a festive game of charades.

Is Web Design Dead?

Conny Liegl wonders if, as the web grows up, web designers are becoming obsolete

When I was 25, I did not have my life figured out at all. I was in a state of flux, woth a mind that was constantly being filled with new ideas. Now, at 34, I see a lot of my own ‘awkward 20s’ in the development of the world wide web.