Computeractive 634

2021 BACK ISSUE CD NOW ON SALE! p34 I must have YouTube open in my browser for about 40 hours a week, and yet I hardly ever visit the site. That’s because I’ve customised it to run in the background while I work, playing music to help me concentrate. My top three hacks are: one, play it in Brave to avoid adverts; two, install the Music Mode extension to ensure smooth streaming; and three, use Enhancer to control playback speed via my mouse. YouTube guru Robert Irvine mentions all three tricks in his Cover Feature, which reveals other expert tips such as bookmarking specific moments in videos, adding a download button to the player, and stopping Google knowing what you’ve watched. Actually, there’s a fourth hack I use, which is to leave Auto-play…

Microsoft has accidentally offered the first Feature update for Windows 11 to computers that lack the specifications to run the operating system. In early June it released a preview version of the update (22H2), which is due to be finalised by the autumn. Within hours, Windows 10 users who had previously been unable to install Windows 11 said they were being offered the update. It was first reported by members of Reddit’s Windows 11 page (www.snipca.com/42232), who expressed surprise that they were seeing messages from Microsoft saying ‘Windows 11, version 22H2 is ready – and it’s free’. One member, AceRimmer412, posted a screenshot of the message (1 in our screenshot above right), alongside Device Manager showing the computer running an Intel Core i5-7200 processor 2, which Microsoft says isn’t supported by Windows 11. Soon after,…

Microsoft has introduced tabs in File Explorer in a new preview version of Windows 11, meaning you can jump between folders without opening a new window. It published a screenshot of the new feature on its blog (www.snipca.com/42235), showing tabs along the top for Desktop, Download, Documents and more 1. There is also a “refreshed layout” of File Explorer’s left navigation pane 2. This lists the Home button first, followed by folders you’ve synced with OneDrive, then below that folders you’ve pinned for quick access. It’s not yet known whether these changes will appear in the 22H2 Feature update.…

Chrome will soon start automatically blocking “undesired” requests from websites if it ‘learns’ that you normally deny what they are asking for. For example, if you previously refused permission for a site to know your location, Chrome will remember this and stop that request appearing the next time you visit. When this happens, you’ll see ‘Notifications blocked’ at the far left of your browser address bar (1 in our screenshot) and a message saying that ‘Notifications were automatically blocked because you usually don’t allow them’ 2. You can click the blue ‘Allow for this site’ 3 if you want to carry on seeing notifications. In its blog (www.snipca.com/42239), Google said that while some notifications “help deliver updates from sites you care about”, they can also become a “nuisance”. It added: “To help people browse…

Dell has released the thinnest ever laptop in its XPS 13 range – just 13.9mm thick, and weighing 2.59 pounds (pictured). The most recent XPS 13 devices, released in 2021, were 14.80mm thick, and weighed 2.64 pounds. Dell said that it was able to make the new laptop so thin and light because its motherboard is 1.8 times smaller than in the previous models. It added that the smaller motherboard has also created enough space for it to build a better speaker system, with a deeper bass. The screen is 13.4in, with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. Dell claims battery life is 12 hours (www.snipca.com/42247), while it should be quieter because it has just one fan, rather than the two in last year’s range. It’s powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core processor, RAM is…

SPOTIFY PLANS TO OFFER AUDIOBOOKS Spotify has said it plans to start offering audiobooks, alongside podcasts and music. In a statement to investors (www.snipca.com/42242), Spotify boss and co-founder Daniel Ek said audiobooks “will be a massive opportunity” and that just as in podcasting “expect us to play to win”. It follows Spotify’s acquisition of audiobook company Findaway last year. FLIGHT SIM 40TH EDITION COMING IN NOVEMBER Microsoft is releasing a 40th-anniversary edition of Flight Simulator, containing aircraft from previous versions including the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St Louis and the Airbus A310. It will be available in November for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC – free to those who already have the 2020 edition. Watch Microsoft’s trailer at www.snipca.com/42248.…