PC Pro December 2019

highlights this month

REVIEW OF THE MONTH Apple iPhone 11 Pro While we’re not convinced about the new iPhone’s looks, we’re convinced about its merits as a phone. But we use that word advisedly. If anything, the iPhone 11 Pro is a high-end camera first, with a trio of large lenses. As ever with Apple, it isn’t just a matter of stuffing in as much expensive hardware as it can, but making the most of it with intuitive software and neat extra features. Here, the headline is simultaneous video streams, so you can capture what’s happening with two different viewpoints: one close-up, one wide (expect to see a lot of these mini videos in your social media streams soon). The question is: has Apple also solved the iPhone’s battery life woes and are you…

why do we still not have printers that just work?

WHETHER YOU LOVE or despise Apple, you have to admit this: its products just work. As Tim Cook said prior to the launch of the iPhone 11 Pro (see p52): “At Apple, we put the customer at the centre of everything that we do… Through the deep integration of hardware, software and services, these products empower people to do incredible things every day.” And bingo, there’s the key phrase: “deep integration of hardware, software and services”. It’s a closed system. It works because no one else can pollute the water. And while I’ve always been a PC guy rather than an Apple guy, there are times when I wish I’d never heard the name Microsoft. In particular, I wouldn’t have to cross my fingers every time I pressed Print. We have three…

contributors

Jon Bray At first, Jon wasn’t a fan of the Apple iPhone 11 Pro’s looks, but time spent in its company won him around. To find out why, read his full review on p52 Nathan Spendelow Sticking to the phone theme, Nathan attended the launch of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro in Munich. Is this the best phone you shouldn’t buy? See p74 Darien Graham-Smith Darien explains how to recover from a data disaster (including rescuing lost files) and preventing loss in the first place. See p44 Paul Ockenden Dig out your Physics revision guide as Paul goes back to basics with an in-depth explanation of how SSDs work, right down to subatomic level. See p113…

we bowners charged for. uk domains they didn’t know they had

Background and analysis on all the important news stories TWO OF THE biggest web domain registrars have been accused of trying to charge customers for domains they didn’t even order. Customers of 123 Reg and Namesco were shocked to see they had been automatically allocated additional domain names, and in some cases were asked to pay for them. The issue follows the introduction of the second-level.uk domain, which Nominet launched back in 2014, adding to the third-level .co.uk and third-level .org.uk domains that were Britain’s go-to addresses. Amid fears that domain owners could be targeted by cybersquatters gobbling up the .uk version of their brand, Nominet allowed anyone with a domain .co.uk to register the .uk version of their name for free for two years. Both 123 Reg and Namesco took this as a…

five stories not to miss

1 Facebook suspends thousands of apps Facebook has been forced to suspend “tens of thousands” of apps amid data sharing issues uncovered in the investigation into Cambridge Analytica. Facebook said the apps came from 400 developers and that it had outright banned apps that shared data inappropriately. Thousands more face further investigation. 2 Windows update wrecks Wi-Fi Windows users faced yet more update misery when version 1903 disrupted Wi-Fi access for customers using Intel and Broadcom Wi-Fi adapters. “If these devices are updated to Windows 10, version 1903, they will no longer be able to use any Wi-Fi connections,” Microsoft said, adding that disabling and re-enabling the adapters may fix the issue. 3 LastPass bug leaves security codes exposed Password management firm LastPass was forced to patch its system after a security flaw meant hackers…

unveiled special best of ifa

Asus ProArt StudioBook One PRICE To be confirmed AVAILABILITY Late 2019/early 2020 The StudioBook One looks set to be the world’s most powerful workstation laptop and its key component is Quadro RTX 6000 graphics. So how do you keep such a powerful component cool? Asus has worked with Nvidia to ensure there’s enough airflow, with the innovative solution being that all the components are crammed into the lid–which then opens up to give breathing space. With a Core i9 processor and 15in Pantone-certified screen, complete with 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, this was the most impressive laptop to be unveiled at IFA. Dell Inspiron 14 5000 PRICE From £619 AVAILABILITY Now The Inspiron 5000 is the unsung hero of Dell’s laptop range, selling by the bucketful as it attempts to strike the right balance between premium…