PC Pro August 2022

How patient are you? I will admit to using a couple of choice words when I discovered that both the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED (see p54) and Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition (see p62) that I review this month won’t be available for sale until around September. My knee-jerk reaction was to wonder why Asus had rushed units for review. But then a voice of reason, in the form of PC Pro alumnus James Gorbold, who now works at Scan and thus has his finger on the pulse of stock levels, reminded me that component shortages are still rife. And as you’ll discover if you read those reviews, part of these laptops’ attraction is the cutting-edge nature of their components. My theory – and it is speculation, as neither James…

There is no company more notoriously controlling than Apple. Even if your device has been on your desk or in your pocket for years, if it requires repair, you almost certainly have to go back to Apple or one of its authorised service centres to get fixed up. In April, however, Apple’s new self-service repair programme finally went live in the US, and gave a glimpse of a world where anything is possible – even fixing your own iPhone. Now anyone can go to the Apple website and find repair manuals for the two most recent generations of iPhone, which detail how to take them apart and replace everything from the camera to the screen, without a trip to the Genius Bar. “Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even…

The year 1896 was arguably when modern motoring was born. It was when the infamous “red flag law” was repealed, which forced early motorists to have someone walk ahead of their vehicle, waving a flag to warn pedestrians about what was approaching. Perhaps future historians will view 2022 the same way, as the government has just taken its first tentative step towards allowing us to drive autonomous vehicles – while taking our eyes off the road. According to new plans announced by the Department of Transport, the Highway Code is to be updated to allow motorists to take their hands from the wheel and even watch video when in slow-moving traffic, provided that certain conditions are met. Under the plans, when travelling under 37mph in a single lane, vehicles capable of autonomy…

If small, readily available consumer drones can be used on the battlefield, then the obvious question to ask is: what about elsewhere? Over the past decade there has been a steady rise in drone-related security incidents around the world. The perceived threat from drones famously shut down Gatwick in the run-up to Christmas 2018, and in 2015 the White House was briefly locked down because of a rogue quadcopter. Perhaps most notably, in 2018, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was allegedly the victim of an assassination attempt with a civilian drone during a parade in Caracas. So, do we need to worry about people with nefarious intentions using drones? Reassuringly, attacks with drones in a country such as the UK might be harder than they seem. “It’s not actually about the drone, it’s the munition,”…

When the British Mark I tank rolled over the trenches during the First World War, it quickly became clear that warfare had changed forever. The mud, barbed wire and incoming fire proved no match for such a heavily armoured vehicle, and militaries around the world were forced to change how they fought with – and defended against – this powerful new technology. A century on and something similar is currently playing out in Eastern Europe, as Ukraine’s effective resistance to Russia’s invasion has surprised observers on both sides. Part of the reason why Ukraine has been so successful is because of a similar technological revolution. As the endless stream of battlefield footage emerging from the war has demonstrated, we’re now living in an era of drone warfare. What’s truly remarkable is that…

PREMIUMLAPTOPS Apple MacBook Pro 14in Stunning creative power from £1,899 from apple.com/uk Alongside its 16in sibling, this is simply the world’s best laptop for demanding users. The amount of power on tap via the M1 Pro or M1 Max processor is staggering, and it’s backed up by a terrific screen and stunning battery life. With all the ports you could ask for, the only negatives are its relative bulk (especially compared to the Air) and high price. REVIEW Issue 328, p58 ALTERNATIVES Samsung Galaxy Book Pro (15.6in) A powerful laptop with a 15.6in AMOLED screen that weighs a mere 1.05kg? And with stonking battery life too? The Galaxy Book Pro is a winner. Core i7, £1,449 from johnlewis.com REVIEW Issue 323, p50 Apple MacBook Air If you don’t need the power of an M1 Pro or M1 Max, “make do” with…