PC Pro June 2015

With this new breed of budget laptops, the PC industry is finally delivering what the netbook always promised: an affordable, lightweight computer that’s ideal for everyday tasks. For a while, it might have seemed there was no need for such a thing; tablets are cheap, speedy and versatile, and you can always add a keyboard if you need to type. But anyone who has tried to get serious work done on a basic tablet will know that sometimes you pine for a proper keyboard that doesn’t flap around on your lap, a screen that stays up of its own accord, and a way of selecting tools or tapping on a web page that always gets you the result you’re looking for. In these respects, the new budget laptops have their…

Resis Tracker Another workout wearable? This isn’t a fitness band in the usual sense. Rather, it’s a device that turns regular “dumb” resistance bands and suspension trainers into smart workout devices, tracking your training data to help you set goals and keep your exercise balanced. How does it do that? The ResisTrack is a small handheld device that uses Bluetooth and a pair of sensors to measure and record the muscle force exerted by your arms and legs through a resistance band. You don’t need any additional equipment: you can simply attach an existing band, select a workout plan in the mobile app, and get moving. The device measures the force you’re applying, counts your repetitions and tracks your progress, which its developer claims make it easier to stay motivated. And it tells you when…

I was interested to hear your comments on the PC Pro podcast about Apple TV. While I don’t think it’s a perfect system, it does a good job of letting me keep my videos and music in iTunes on a PC, to watch on my TV via Apple TV, or on my iPhone or iPad with the Apple Remote app. The bit that’s missing, in my view, is an easy way to convert my collection of DVDs and Blu-ray discs into a format that can be stored in iTunes. I’m far more likely to watch rubbish off Netflix – simply because it’s so easy and convenient – than the shows I love, which are stuck on DVD. Some searching online will point you to format-shifting tools, but they’re a bit fiddly…

Whether you’re running a personal homepage or a corporate website, Google Analytics is a powerful tool for monitoring the number of visitors to your site. It doesn’t matter if your site gets one hundred or one million impressions per month – Google will record what every single visitor gets up to, helping you to understand and improve their experience. Indeed, we use Google Analytics on the PC Pro website, to gain a real-time overview of how the site is performing, and to examine how individual pages and sections of the site are doing. If you’re new to online analytics then the Google Analytics interface can seem daunting at first. But as we reveal below, you need to learn only a few simple techniques to start working out what is or isn’t…

PRICE £833 (£999 inc VAT) from apple.com/uk (pcpro.link/248mac) The new 13in MacBook Pro looks identical to last year’s model, down to the last millimetre. But looks can be deceiving: this updated laptop quietly debuts Apple’s brand-new Force Touch trackpad. It’s a simple idea. Press gently and the pad responds with a solid click, the touchpad moving just the tiniest bit under your finger. Apply a little more pressure, and embedded electromagnets provide the feel of a weightier “Force Click”. It’s perfectly convincing, but it’s generated via haptic feedback rather than physical movement, which means it’s possible to adjust the pressure required between light, medium and firm. This may not sound hi-tech, but it adds a new dimension to desktop interaction. Force-Click on a file and a preview springs up; try it on a…

PRICE £150 (£180 inc VAT) from store.hp.com/ukstore (pcpro.link/248hpstream) Even were there nothing else to recommend the Stream 11, its eye-catching design would win it many fans. HP’s 11.6in, Windows 8.1 with Bing budget laptop comes in a choice of vibrant blue or magenta, with a chassis measuring just under 20mm thick and weighing 1.29kg. It isn’t as slim and light as the Asus EeeBook X205TA, but the plastics have been treated with a powdered matte finish that give it an expensive look. The Stream 11 feels solid and robust, and is well balanced, both on the desk and on the lap. While we’re not wholly sure about the graduated colours on the keyboard surround, there’s a sense of fun to the styling. The good news continues when you power it up. The Stream…