Table of contents for Vol 7 2023 in Mac & MacBook User

If you’re a Mac or MacBook user, you’ve come to the right place. In every issue, our team of experts bring you the best tips, tricks and tutorials for your Apple gear, as well as information-packed guides. In this seventh issue we are taking a long hard stare at macOS Sonoma to ensure that you are getting the very latest information on Apple's new OS. We do all the heavy lifting on all of Apple's latest OS updates and so much more, so you don’t have to! We aren’t stopping there as we are also looking up to the cloud to see if you are getting the best from the future of storage. If it’s gadgets you’re looking for, our in-depth reviews help you find the very best your money…

It’s the same old story. With this year’s iPadOS update, Apple’s tablet gets what the iPhone got last year. The new Lock Screen and Live Activities from iOS 16 finally arrive on the iPad with iPadOS 17, but there’s no sign of the iPhone’s latest new features such as StandBy. We are, however, getting FaceTime Messages, inline replies in the Messages app and an improved keyboard and dictation, so maybe Apple is looking to let iPadOS finally catch up over the next couple of revisions? We certainly hope so. “With interactive widgets on the Lock Screen, updates to PDFs and Notes, as well as enhancements to Messages and FaceTime, iPadOS gives users even more ways to get things done easier and faster than ever..”Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of…

GOOD FOR BUSINESS Cloud-based tools and services that are best suited for SMB/SMEs are quite varied, depending on the type of business you run. Here then are ten examples of what’s on offer. COMMUNICATIONS Voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing, email marketing and social media engagement, are an essential part of the modern business. You’re no longer limited to word of mouth within the town in which you operate, with cloud communications services you’re a part of the global market. E-COMMERCE A web-based storefront is a powerful element of the modern business, but it needs to be flexible enough to work for you and what you’re selling. Cloud computing services that cater for e-Commerce solutions are ideal in helping you win more custom and gain ground in an ever-competitive market.…

CLOUD FINANCIALS A typical cloud accounting service offers invoicing, banking, purchasing, expenses, and tax management, with the ability to integrate add-ons such as PayPal. CLEARBOOKS ClearBooks is an excellent start when researching cloud accounting for your business. With it, you can create customisable invoices, set automatic payment reminders, and schedule recurring invoices. It’s also excellent for keeping up with your tax returns and managing your banking. XERO Xero allows online invoicing, a mobile app, stock management, payroll management and bank reconciliation. It can handle multiple currencies, has a significant level of security, and customisable reporting. In short, it’s considered one of the best online accounting solutions available. FRESHBOOKS According to FreshBooks, you can save 192 hours a year just by using its software. Hailed as one of the easiest to…

GOING GREEN Fewer machines, efficient climate control, reuse of generated heat, and many more environmental benefits can be delivered from cloud computing. Here are ten cloud providers who are ‘going green’. EVRY CLOUD SERVICES Based across Scandinavia, this cloud hosting company offers many excellent services through its green datacentres. Powered by hydropower and operating in accordance with ISO 14001 Environmental Standard Guidelines, this Nordic datacentre is one of the greenest in the world. NETAPP Headquartered in California and ranked in the Fortune 500, NetApp was founded in 1992 and is a cloud data services and data management company. It recently purchased the Icelandic cloud data company GreenQloud, and as such inherited GreenQloud’s excellent environmental processes. Further to this, NetApp conforms to ISO 14001:2015, is Energy Star recognised, and holds LEEED…

THE HYBRID CLOUD An ideal hybrid cloud setup allows a business to move its workloads between in-house, private and public clouds seamlessly; giving the business a host of extra benefits. WORKLOAD FLEXIBILITY Without a doubt, the greatest benefit a hybrid setup offers is the flexibility of an in-house server setup while being able to move into private and public cloud setups. Information, according to its sensitivity, for example, can be arranged between the three models ensuring greater security. BIG DATA A business that uses Big Data – a term that describes voluminous amounts of data mined for information collectively – can utilise a hybrid cloud approach to store the vast data collection locally, while simultaneously running cloud-based analytics in the cloud. ABSOLUTE CUSTOMISATION The hybrid cloud approach also ensures that…

DESKTOP ANYWHERE What are the advantages of setting up or using a cloud-based virtual desktop, then? As it happens, here are ten examples of where a VDI will help you out. RUN LEGACY PROGRAMS One of the advantages of running a virtual desktop in the cloud, is the ability to execute old programs and apps in the operating system environment for which they were designed. For example, running a DOS 6.22, or Windows 95 virtual desktop in the cloud allows you to play all those DOS classic games and programs. VIRUS TESTING If you think a downloaded file from a website may contain a virus, you can safely experiment with it in a virtual desktop in the cloud. This way your actual PC isn’t going to be infected, and, thanks…

CREATING YOUR CLOUD We’ve pre-fitted the two IronWolf drives, and run through the initial setup process. Note: changes to NAS firmware and the OS can result in different screens from shown below. STEP 1 First we need to install the Cloud Station Server from the Package Center, located on the DSM desktop. In the Package Center, you’ll find the Cloud Station Server app in the Business section. Click on Install and agree to allow the new app to install on your Synology NAS. STEP 2 Open the Control Panel from the DSM desktop, and scroll down the side panel until you come to QuickConnect. Click the QuickConnect link, and in the right-hand main pane, tick the Enable QuickConnect box. You’ll need to enter your email and sign up for a…

The education in the cloud concept takes on many forms. Cloud technologies are used in a variety of ways throughout the education sector; from enrolling students, to providing course materials, aiding teachers in the delivery of their lessons, and even teaching entire lessons remotely over the cloud. There’s a lot the education sector can get from using cloud resources, so it seems strange that it’s taken so long to get to this point. CLOUD IN SCHOOL One of the main reasons why education is moving exceedingly slowly into the cloud is thanks to the government, in the UK at least. The formation of academies in 2000, the brainchild of former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, was to help drive up standards in schools where local authorities were struggling. However, that…

In a nutshell, the difference between a Wi-Fi extender and a Wi-Fi repeater is that an extender connects directly to your router, maybe through homeplugs, and offers a separate wireless access point. A repeater, on the other hand, latches on to the outer reaches of your existing Wi-Fi network, and rebroadcasts it, giving you extra range. These two devolo products are repeaters. The devices offer two form factors. The 5400 looks like a router, with a separate mains outlet plug and two Ethernet ports for cabled connections. The 3000 model plugs directly into the mains socket and a single Ethernet port. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a through-port for you to plug in another electrical device. They’re extremely easy to set up; using WPS, just press a button on your router…

Keyboards and controllers can be a significant investment, especially if you’re a small business owner who needs to buy in bulk. Logitech’s Signature MK650 Combo for Business offers a (relatively) low cost option instead. Available in black or white, the combination pack contains an K650 keyboard and an M650 mouse. Designed for maximum compatibility, the keyboard is printed with both Mac and Windows key layouts. It has a full set of function keys along the top, and a built-in keypad too. It feels comfortable to type on, and as it has a palm rest, it’s easy on the wrists. The mouse is equally comfortable to use. It has a tracking DPI of 400-4000, which is ideal for general use. There’s a scroll wheel with a middle button, and two side…

Philips’ 27B1U7903 4K satisfies on pretty-much every level. It’s wonderful for design. Colours are clear and bright. There’s 1.07 billion of them on offer, and they’re brilliantly reproduced. Viewing angles are excellent, with almost no colour shifting at narrow angles. The screen is backlit by MiniLEDs. There’s 2,304 individual local dimming zones, compared to 576 on most 27-inch monitors. This really helps with the contrast, making blacks darker, whites brighter and the entire spectrum more vivid. For professional and prosumer users, it’s perfect. It does a decent job with movies and games too. These should be regarded as secondary uses, of course. If you’re looking for a monitor specifically for movies and games, there are more appropriate options. But its 4K, 3840x2160 resolution, 163 pixel-per-inch density and 60Hz refresh rate…

The GorillaPod range of tripods has an enviable reputation for versatility and strength, and this new model, the PodZilla, is no exception. As well as using it as a tripod, you can hold its legs together to turn it into a selfie stick, wrap them around a branch or railing to hold your iPhone steady in unusual places, bend one leg a little more than the others to accommodate uneven surfaces and more. There’s a standard head mount screw, so you can use it with a regular camera, and a housing to hold a mobile phone. This housing can also support LEDs, microphones and other JOBY products alongside your phone, but these are not supplied. The PodZilla comes in four exciting colours. Or maybe three exciting colours and grey. The…

The ChargeTree, STM’s multi-device charger for Apple fans, reaches perfection with the ChargeTree Go. Like previous versions, it can charge an Apple Watch, an iPhone with Qi charging (iPhone 8 or later) and earbuds that offer wireless charging such as Apple’s own second-generation or later AirPods, all at once. But unlike previous versions, this ChargeTree folds down flat for travel use. You get a drawstring bag to carry it in too, which is large enough to also hold the 20W plug (not supplied) and the USB-C to USB-C cable (supplied). It has charge status lights to show you that your devices have been positioned correctly and are charging, but these go out after a brief while, so you can use it on your bedside table without having LEDs keeping you…

The Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth portable speaker makes several improvements over the previous model. It can now run for 30 hours on a single charge, is dust and water resistant and it’s now made of 50% recycled plastic from used electronics, water bottles and automotive light covers. It’s 100% PVC-free too. The speaker charges from flat to full in three hours, and it uses Bluetooth 5.1 technology for easy set-up and great connectivity. One thing that hasn’t changed is its awesome rock-star aesthetics. It looks every inch a Marshall, and will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s been to a gig and seen the band’s amps stacked high on the stage. You can now stack your the portable speakers too for an even bigger sound. Get those fists in the…

Of the three feature-rich and competitively-priced design packages in the Affinity range, it’s Affinity Photo that impressed us most. A powerful image editor, it rivals Adobe Photoshop for versatility but costs a single, affordable fee with no monthly subscriptions. Affinity Photo 2 is a major overhaul, with a new user interface, non-destructive RAW editing, live masks and more. There’s no upgrade discount for existing users, but a free 30-day trial is available so you can try before you buy. Custom settings can be imported from the original Affinity Photo, so if you’ve set up custom brushes, adjustments and more, you won’t have to do it all again when you upgrade. Like the other Affinity apps released as Version 2, Photos 2 benefits from a greatly revised user interface. The workspaces,…

A new phone in five exciting colours As expected, the Autumn refresh also brought us a regular iPhone 14 model with a 6.1-inch screen (measured corner to corner), but we also got an iPhone 14 Plus, a larger model with a 6.7-inch screen. This is a first for the regular iPhone – previously, only the iPhone’s Pro models came in regular and larger sizes. One thing we didn’t get is an iPhone 14 mini. This is surprising considering the iPhone 12 and 13 series enjoyed a smaller version, but perhaps they weren’t selling. Whichever size of iPhone 14 you buy, it retains the ‘notch’ housing the TrueDepth camera. No Dynamic Island here. Five Exciting Colours The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in five different colours; midnight, blue, starlight,…

New Faces One of the best things about Apple Watch is the way you can change and customise the watch face, so it always looks new and fresh. Apple Watch is the world's best-loved smartwatch, as It helps you stay connected, active and healthy. With the next release of the watch’s operating system, watchOS 9, you get four new faces to add to your already-impressive co11ection, The new-look Astronomy face has been remastered to take advantage of the expanded display and shows current cloud coverage around the world. The Lunar watch face lets you see the moon phase on specific days. It lets you observe traditional holidays and special events that are based on the moon cycles. It supports Chinese, Islamic and Hebrew calendars. The artist Joy Fulton designed the…

Western Digital’s My Cloud series of network attached storage (NAS), drives are highly respected. With support ending for older versions of the My Cloud operating system, and therefore My Cloud NAS drives that cannot be updated beyond them, it might be time to update to a modern release, such as this My Cloud Home single-drive device. It’s available in capacities from 2TB to 8TB, or 4TB to 20TB if you opt for the dual drive version. Here we’re reviewing the 6TB model with a single hard drive. The idea behind a NAS drive means instead of connecting it directly to your computer, you attach it to your network. As is typical for such a drive, you connect it to your router using the bundled Ethernet cable, after which you can…

We’ve all seen these devices before – gaming controllers that sandwich your smartphone between two sets of controls, effectively turning it into a mobile console. But the Backbone One is a controller with a difference. As well as being compatible with your smartphone games, including those downloaded with Apple Arcade, it also supports Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Google Stadia and GeForce Now. Subscribers to these services can stream games directly to their smartphone without needing their console or PC to be on. It also supports Xbox Remote Play, PS Remote Play and Steam Link, so you can stream your purchased games from your console or PC too. Backbone One is compatible with all smartphones running iOS 13 or later, and you can even connect a cable to any USB-C screen…

Netatmo’s Smart Video Doorbell has been around for a couple of years now, but thanks to two new transformers, designed and built to accompany it, the doorbell can now be installed in a wider variety of situations. These transformers, sold as separate items or in a pack with the doorbell, come in two varieties: a plug-in transformer that simply needs a wall socket, and an in-wall transformer that’s a little more demanding regarding installation. If you’re not a talented DIYer, you’ll need a professional electrician for the latter. Whichever transformer you use, the video doorbell can be used with or without a chime. When someone rings the bell, you get an alert on your phone. If you wish, you can also have it ring on your smart speaker. It’s compatible…

This year’s update to macOS is a useful mix of exciting new features and improvements to what’s already there. It has some great new ways of personalising your Mac experience, with stunning new screensavers and interactive desktop widgets. There’s new video conferencing features, Safari updates such as Profiles and Web Apps, and the Mac’s gaming capabilities get a boost too. “macOS is the heart of the Mac, and with Sonoma, we’re making it even more delightful and productive to use. We think users are going to love macOS Sonoma and the new ways it enables them to personalise”Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering Sensational Screensavers Screensavers have come on a long way since the flying toasters (remember those?). Sonoma brings some amazing new ones to the Mac,…

watchOS 10 takes the Apple Watch a significant step further, with redesigned apps, a new smart stack, additional watch faces, new cycling features and tools to support mental health. For hikers, there are new Compass Waypoints and Maps features, and the Mindfulness app offers new ways to look after yourself. “watchOS 10 is a major milestone and an energising new approach for Apple Watch, introducing a fresh new design for quickly viewing information, delightful new watch faces, new features for cyclists and hikers and important tools for health.”Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of Technology The Widgets Smart Stack Until now, setting up a watch face has involved compromises. You might really like an arty or photo-based face, but are you prepared to sacrifice the on-screen complications to make room for…

WORKING TOGETHER There are countless cloud collaboration services available, which can be quite bewildering. Here are ten proven business solutions to help you fine-tune your choice of provider. DROPBOX BUSINESS One of the more popular cloud collaborations services available for businesses is from Dropbox. With companies such as National Geographic, University of Cambridge, AA and more, the service is designed to scale and grow as your collaboration with others does. CITRIX SHAREFILE Citrix has a long history of working with collaboration services. The company’s newest cloud-based resource is ShareFile, which provides a simple, secure way to collaborate with teams from around the world. HUDDLE Huddle offers a secure cloud collaboration service for customers such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the NHS, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.…

DATA CLOUDS Cloud storage can greatly improve a business’s operation by offering unlimited access to its data, from anywhere and at any time. There are countless services available, so here are ten for your consideration. DROPBOX The business side of Dropbox is one of the top, cloud storage choices for the SMB user. It’s priced competitively, offers storage, centralised administration and better management of your online documents. SUGARSYNC SugarSync has been a great value cloud storage provider for many years. The company offers a range of flexible features and solutions for the end-user, along with the usual collaboration, syncing across devices and operating systems, and disaster recovery. BOX Box offers the SMB user a great cloud storage platform. Collaboration, file sharing, security, content management and mobility are all catered for…

THE PUBLIC CLOUD So, what are the benefits of using Public cloud computing over traditional setups, private or hybrid clouds? Let’s have a look at what the public cloud model has to offer the SMB user. PAY AS YOU GO One of the main benefits of the public cloud is that it’s decidedly cheaper to set up than dedicated, in-house hardware, software and everything else. Public cloud servers and space is rented, and therefore you’ll only pay for what you use. Plus the initial investment is very low, even zero in some examples. CHEAPER ENERGY COSTS To expand the Pay as You Go benefit, if you’re considering a traditionally installed server, with other hardware, then you’ll also need to factor in climate control and upkeep for that server, and possibly…

YOUR VERY OWN CLOUD In such circumstances, having your own cloud is preferable to that of using one of the current solutions. A home user, for example, can set up their own cloud with the computer hardware they already own; making it available for friends and family to access, or just for their own private use. Likewise, a business can opt for their own cloud, again using available computer hardware connected to the company’s router and providing as much storage as needed for home workers, or those on the road. Taking a few points into consideration here, let’s see what advantages and disadvantages a DIY cloud can offer both the home and SMB user: SECURITY A DIY cloud may not have the backing of the likes of Google; however, it…

DESKTOP AS A SERVICE For business, many of the benefits of virtualisation in the cloud cross over with those of the home user; however, for a business, those benefits can yield great advantages over the competition. REMOTE WORKING Remote workers can help make substantial savings across the entire business. You don’t need to provide office space, or the power costs therein, and you can reduce software and hardware costs. Aside from these savings, your workers can access their desktops from anywhere in the world. EASIER SUPPORT Using a virtual desktop hosting service ensures that you receive the highest possible support, 24/7, without the need to have an extensive in-house IT team. Any issues with the virtual desktop setups are quickly resolved, and broken images easily replaced with a previous snapshot.…

CREATING YOUR CLOUD The Buffalo TeraStation we’re using is updated to the latest firmware and has cycled through the initial set up process. Note: Changes to models can alter the screenshots and steps below. STEP 1 Log in to the Buffalo TeraStation admin page. When loaded, click on the File Sharing link in the left-hand sidebar, followed by the link button to the far right of the Web Access entry. Enable HTTPS/SSL Encryption, enable Access via BuffaloNAS.com, click the Generate Random Key button, and enter a name for the cloud server in the BuffaloNAS.com Name box STEP 2 Once you’ve named the cloud server, click OK to save the details. Still in the File Sharing section, click on the Folder Setup link button, located at the top of the screen.…

RISE OF THE MACHINES Big Data, AI, Machine Learning, cavernous datacentres and quantum computing are all terms bandied about when it comes to discussing the future of the cloud. In truth, no one really knows which direction cloud technologies will take over the next five to ten years. However, it’s generally agreed that the aforementioned terms will play a big role in defining what the future of the cloud will look like. Cloud technologies are still in their infancy, in technical terms at least. As consumers, we’ve only just started to use the cloud for everyday tasks. Equate to physical technology, and we’ve just reached the point in the early ‘80s when the home computer became accessible and popular. While it’s a little disconcerting to think that we’re putting our…

If you’re addicted to all things Apple and use an Apple Watch and AirPods alongside your iPhone, this is a comprehensive charging solution. It can charge all three of your devices at once, from a single power outlet. It comes supplied with a USB-C cable, but not the 20W USB-C power adapter you need for fast charging. Your MagSafe iPhone fits magnetically to the front of the HiRise, while your Apple Watch sits atop the device facing the ceiling. This means you can’t see the charging watch’s face if you’re lying in bed and have the HiRise your the bedside table; forget Nightstand Mode. The AirPods (wireless charging cases only) rest on the base. If your iPhone supports wireless-charging but not MagSafe you can charge it on the base instead,…

AVM’s updated flagship router has all the features you’d expect from a top-of-the-range FRITZ!Box, and it’s now WiFi 6 compatible too. The FRITZ!Box 7590 AX is a powerful ADSL modem router that can be used with any DSL- and IP-based Internet connection. It’s extremely fast. Even on conventional phone lines, it can achieve speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s. Obviously, what speed you actually get is dependant on your phone line, its distance from the exchange and the service you pay for with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), but whatever your situation and contract, you can bet the 7590 AX can get the most from it. The FRITZ!Box 7590 AX’s main advantage over its predecessor is that it’s Wi-Fi 6 compatible. As regular readers know, Wi-Fi 6 is the latest…

This home karaoke machine is surprisingly comprehensive for such an affordable device. It’s bundled with two mics so it’s ideal for duets, there’s flashing coloured LED lights for that on-stage feel and it connects to your phone or tablet through Bluetooth so you can sing along to your favourite songs. Top tip; there are plenty of songs on YouTube with vocals removed and lyrics on display. It supports the CD+G format, so a karaoke CD can output lyrics to your television for you to follow as you sing, and you can play CD-R/RW disks on it too. Talking of CDs, there’s a ten-track karaoke disc bundled, offering tracks such as Dancing Queen, Living on a Prayer and Valerie. You wouldn’t expect audiophile quality playback and studio-quality mics from a karaoke…

The Melomania Touch is Cambridge Audio’s second true wireless earbuds release, following the respected, well received Melomania 1. The new buds have been redesigned from the ground up, and have little in common with their predecessor. Featuring 7mm Graphene drivers for enhanced bass, the Melomania Touch offers a nine-hour continual play, with a 50-hour battery life when you throw in the case. It has a Unique High Performance Audio Mode for hi-fi quality sound and a Transparency Mode to let in ambient sounds, but no noise-cancelling feature to keep them out. It comes with six sets of silicon earbud in small, medium and large sizes, and three pairs of fins to keep them in your ear, again in small, medium and large. A USB-A to C cable is included for…

How’s that for an arty drive case? This portable SSD has a real cubist vibe to it, and it’s made using a high-end IML (in mould labelling) process so the colours won’t fade over time. It’s the 1TB version we’re looking at here, but it’s also available at all the usual sizes from 256GB to 2TB. As you’d expect for a modern storage drive, it features an on-board USB-C port. It includes both USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables so you can plug it into either. In use, it’s very fast. The SSD itself offers speeds of up to 20Gbps, and data transfer is based around the USB3.2 GEN2X2 chip, giving it reading speed up to 2060MB/s in perfect conditions. In our tests, using a USB-A port in…

This very focussed photo editing application does one job, and does it well. Available as a stand-alone app or as a plug-in for Photoshop, PS Elements or Lightroom Classic, DxO Labs’ ViewPoint 4 is designed to correct issues with a photograph’s perspective. However good your lens, imperfections due to distortion might creep into your pictures. With ViewPoint 4, you can fix barrel, pincushion and fish-eye distortion with a single click. For stronger changes, the app’s powerful perspective tools can give you exactly the effect you want. A matter of perspective… It’s an in-depth, capable app, but also fairly easy to use. A toolbar across the top is mainly for guides, resizing, flipping and rotating. The clever stuff is in a right-hand sidebar. It’s there you use the dedicated tools for…

These Affinity Version 2 apps are really knocking it out of the park. Publisher 2 is no exception. For the first time, it’s available on the iPad as well as the Mac, bringing it into line with Affinity’s Photo and Designer apps. The original Affinity Publisher was highly respected, and the new release makes significant advances on it with some great new features. Like all the Affinity apps, Publisher 2 is very affordable. On both the iPad and Mac you pay a single fee and buy the apps outright – there’s no monthly subscription. Best of all, there’s a universal licence that gets you all three Affinity apps on the Mac, Windows and iPad. It’s amazing value for money. Interesting interactive interface The interface is as instinctive and intuitive as…

iPhone 14 Pro Models 1 In the very latest Pro-level iPhones, the 12MP TrueDepth camera, infrared projector and proximity sensor are housed in a pill-shaped space called Dynamic Island. This island can also carry information gleaned from apps, show incoming messages and more. It’s very interactive too. 2 This is the Ring/Silent switch. Click it to turn Silent Mode on and off. 3 These are the volume buttons. The upper one increases the volume, and the lower button lowers it. In Apple’s Camera app, and many third-party photography apps, you can also use the volume buttons to take a photo, instead of the on-screen shutter button. 4 This is the side button. On some iPhones, this button is located on the top instead of on the side. It’s a multi-function…

There are changes coming to CarPlay, Apple's excellent iOS feature that lets you use your iPhone in your car from a touchscreen built into the dashboard. These days, many cars have more than one screen, so as well as the standard CarPlay home screen, information is displayed on the other monitors too. Deep integration with the car's hardware lets you tune you rear's radio or change the temperature directly from the CarPlay screen. You can also display widgets on one of the secondary screens, powered by your iPhone and perfectly designed to fit your screens. Vehicles compatible with the next generation of CarPlay will start to be announced from late next year.…

You can use this double-ended flash drive to transfer files between devices, and back up your photos and videos from your tablet or smartphone. Available in 64GB, 128GB or 256GB capacities, it has a USB-C 3.1 plug on one end, and a Lightning connector at the other. You can only copy media and contacts from an smartphone or tablet, using the iXpand app, but plug it into a Mac and you can copy any file. Transferring files to the flash drive is super speedy; it’s certainly faster than its predecessor, the iXpand Flash Drive Go. The iXpand app is easy to use too. It’s a great way of getting more from your mobile device’s internal storage, without clogging it up with things that could be stored elsewhere. Info// SanDisk www.westerndigital.com…

The iPhone’s most important function is communication, and this is where this year’s operating system update is targeted. In iOS 17, you can send audio and video messages with the FaceTime app, the Messages app’s stickers feature has been overhauled and a new Check In feature automatically sends a message when you’ve reached your destination. Look out too for Journal, a brand new app that (according to Apple) offers ‘a new way to appreciate life’s moments’. “With iOS 17, we’ve made iPhone more personal and intuitive by deeply considering the features we all rely on every day. Phone, FaceTime and Messages are central to how we communicate, and this release is packed with updates we think our users are going to love.”Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering…

On 5th June at the WWDC, Apple lifted the lid on its much-rumoured augmented and virtual reality device. According to Apple, the Vision Pro is ‘a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.’ Based on visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro features a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by your eyes, hands and voice. But what is it? “Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before. With a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations, it unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO A New Kind of Computer Apple Vision Pro changes the…

CLOUD SALES Businesses need to consider many aspects when it comes to choosing the eCommerce platform that best suits their needs. Out of the many, here are ten excellent examples to investigate. SHOPIFY Hailed as one of the best eCommerce cloud services available, Shopify covers pretty much every aspect of sales for your business. It’s easy to use, has a vast range of services, and can be customised for your company. BIGCOMMERCE Another of the top names in e-Commerce cloud computing is BigCommerce, a company that prides itself on handling huge volumes and more web traffic. With an average uptime of 99.99%, BigCommerce is an ideal solution for those businesses that can see significant growth in their sector for the future. YAHOO AABACO SMALL BUSINESS Using Yahoo! as an e-Commerce…

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF EMAIL The importance of finding a good cloud-based email provider goes without saying. There are plenty of services to research before choosing, which can be time-consuming. Here’s ten to help start you off. GSUITE Google’s Gmail for business is an obvious first choice for most small business users; there’s a good chance you and your workforce already use the personal version. Gmail for business offers 30GB of storage, compatibility with MS Outlook, and a personalised email address for your company. MICROSOFT EXCHANGE ONLINE The competitively priced Microsoft Exchange Online offers the business user premier, disaster recovery solutions, global server coverage, anti-spam and anti-malware filtering, and a range of plans from which to choose. It’s easy to use, familiar with its users, and easy to maintain…

THE PRIVATE CLOUD While public and private clouds share many benefits, opting for a private cloud can yield better results for a business – depending on what the business wants from its cloud service. CONTROL A private cloud setup gives more control to the business over the cloud’s servers and configurations. In a private cloud, the servers are dedicated to the business therefore you can tailor it to your own company specifications. IMPROVED SECURITY Sensitive data such as banking, medical or other confidential material, requires a higher level of security than that of so-called non-sensitive data. Using a private cloud solution means that your company, and your company alone, has access to your data. REDUNDANCY More often than not, a private cloud setup factors in better redundancy than that of…

If you’re interested in making a cloud storage solution at home, or the office, then you’ll need to factor in a few elements first. Some work better than others; some can be quite tedious to set up and get going, whereas others are really very simple. Either way, here are some examples of what you’ll need to begin. COMPUTER A fairly obvious component, in this case. The computer itself doesn’t need to be the most powerful PC available, so don’t go spending thousands on a new PC for a cloud at-home project. Nevertheless, you are going to need a few extra components to make it work better. STORAGE Inside the computer, you’re going to need ample storage for you, and your friends and family if you want, to which content…

NAS BENEFITS NAS technology has come a long way in the last few years. No longer the monolithic boxes dominating the room, in fact, they’re now quite discreet, media-type installations hidden away in the corner of a living room or office. They are remarkably powerful these days too. With specifications that surpass those of a top of the range PC from not so long ago, a modern NAS is a far more capable ‘computer’ than some of the PCs found on desks. This improved processing power allows more services to be run simultaneously, and with support for more users. In terms of service and software, many modern NAS units run a customised version of Linux, which serves as the backbone to their file and media sharing capabilities. There’s also a…

SAFE CLOUDS Ensuring Cyber security is often endeavoured by having multiple layers of security in place. Here then are ten golden rules for cloud security. RULE 1 Always use a cloud service that offers full encryption for your data. Ideally, the cloud service should offer 256-bit AES military-grade encryption across all its communications and storage. This way, it’s going to be exceedingly difficult for a hacker to gain entry through brute force alone. RULE 2 Encrypting your data before uploading it to a cloud service is a highly sensible idea. Providing you take steps to ensure the encryption keys are safe then, should someone ever gain entry to your account, all your data appears as a jumble of characters. RULE 3 If you’re going to use a cloud service to…

This inexpensive gadget designed for phone and tablet selfies is clearly aimed at teenaged social media content creators. a range of colours, Pivo Pod is a palm-sized, drum-shaped device with a vice-style clamp on the top to hold your smartphone in portrait and landscape orientation. When in place, the Pivo Pod can rotate the phone through 360 degrees, but there’s no native way of tilting it backward or forward. Pivo Pod connects to your Apple device using Bluetooth, and is controlled with free apps. There’s a standard tripod screw hole on the base, so you can fit it to a regular photography tripod if you wish. As well as making it easy to raise or lower the camera perspective, a decent tripod lets you tilt it too, giving back a…

This is awesome. While a fixed-position notebook raiser holds your MacBook at a set height, the Curve Flex goes a step further and lets you adjust it. It can lift the top of your screen up to 22 inches, and set your keyboard angle to between zero and 45 degrees. Available in matte black or white, it also folds flat so you can take it with you when on the move. It even comes with a neoprene sleeve for transportation, which has a little pocket to hold the supplied Allen key used to tighten it up if things get loose over time. It’s easy to set up. Put it on your desk, place your hand on the base and pull it up to the height you want. It’s a little…

512 Audio’s latest microphone is a decent price. It’s certainly not cheap and nasty, but nor is it a pro-level beast with a price tag to match. Instead, it’s a decent mid-range device that’s perfect for broadcasters, vidcasters and podcasters who want a quality mic but don’t need something the BBC might use while interviewing a politician near a busy motorway. Tempest is a true large-diaphragm studio microphone with the convenience of modern USB-C connectivity. It has a 34mm gold-plated condenser capsule and 24-bit/48kHz resolution. It has a single cardioid recording pattern, and doesn’t process the signal itself. This, of course, gives you the flexibility of doing your own processing at a software level. Not as straightforward as a mic with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), but you can get some…

How cheap can a Bluetooth speaker set be, without sounding horrible? This one is less than 30 quid, and it certainly doesn’t sound horrible. Not stellar either, but definitely not horrible. groov-e’s Soundbar 20 has two 5W drivers. It plays your tunes through Bluetooth 5.0 or a 3.5mm AUX cable, and it’s powered through USB or a ten-hour battery that takes a couple of hours to recharge. For that disco feeling, there are coloured LEDs around the speakers that flash when music is playing. You can turn them off if you’re using the soundbar under your TV or computer. Inevitably for the price, Soundbar 20 lacks the high-end audio you’d prefer for music. Its bass is solid, but the high ends sound a little tinny and the sound stage is…

Would you use something like this? Or would it end up in a drawer after a month or so, untouched and unloved? It’s a decent enough product. In the box, you get a vegan leather scratch-resistant hardcover, a pack of 20 reusable pages, a Pilot FriXion pen and a microfibre cloth. Use the pen to write on the waterproof, tear-resistant paper and you can wipe it clean with the cloth afterwards. The paper can be used again and again, and you can buy extra packs offering templates for to-dos, planners, meetings and more from the Rocketbook website too. Cloud connection When you’ve made your notes, you can scan them with an iPhone app, and store them on the cloud. There are seven icons at the foot of the page; you…

It’s interesting what you find bundled with tech products these days. This two-camera wireless security system comes with a USB mouse and a HDMI cable. Why? Because you must connect the supplied NVR (Network Video Recorder) unit to a TV or monitor to set it up. This isn’t as scary as it sounds. It’s a simple job, and after a few easy steps, your security hub is soon up and running. This particular pack offers two wireless cameras, replete with brackets that let you screw them to a wall or a flat surface. Naturally, there’s a useful iOS app you can use to monitor your cameras in real-time, and receive alerts when they detects heat or motion if you wish. Candid cameras The cameras, being wireless, are powered by removable…

Serif’s Affinity series of apps has really shaken up the design world, and their second versions look set to continue the trend. And it’s no wonder. They’re approaching their industry-leading Adobe rivals in power and versatility, and are available for a much lower price. They’re a once-only purchase with no subscription fees, and if you buy a Universal Licence, you can get all three Affinity v2 apps for Macs, Windows and iPads for a bargain once-only payment. Unfortunately, there’s no upgrade discount for existing users. Affinity Designer 2 is Serif’s answer to the much more expensive Adobe Illustrator, with a little Photoshop thrown in. It’s raster and vector drawing we’re dealing with here. This second release, a very considerable update, offers significant upgrades to the well received original. A feature…

As regular readers know, French company DxO’s PhotoLab is a powerful alternative to Adobe’s Photoshop, with the emphasis firmly and unapologetically on photo editing. This new edition is the sixth major release in five years, and offers discounts for those upgrading from a previous version. We’re covering the ELITE app here, but there’s also a cheaper ESSENTIAL version for those who don’t need the high-end options offered by this premium suite. A new feature in the ELITE edition lets you simulate papers and inks when soft proofing, further expanding the performance of DxO Wide Gamut. The app’s noise reduction and detail recovery capabilities take a step forward with DeepPrime XD, which is now available for Fujifilm X-Trans cameras along with the rest of the roster. Other ELITE-only features include the…

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max Apple’s flagship phones To no one’s surprise, the iPhone 14 range includes an iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. These are Apple’s high-end models, top-of-the-range models for top-of-the-range needs. As expected, there was a price increase over the launch prices of the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, but this wasn’t as hefty as we thought it might be. So let’s take a look at the iPhone 14 Pro, and its larger stable mate, the iPhone 14 Pro Max. New Colours iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are made from surgical grade stainless steel, and are available in four new colours, namely space black, silver, gold, and a gorgeous deep purple design that looks far better than the more…

The Lock Screen No one pays too much attention to the iPhone lock screen these days. It’s just there, whenever your phone is locked and needs a passcode or a biometric to open it. Sure, it gives you the time and date, a few recent notices and easy access to the Camera app or Torch feature, but it that’s all it’s good for. But all this is going to change in iOS 16. The new operating system offers a complete overhaul for the iPhone's lock screen. A new multilayered effect makes the subjects of photo wallpapers sit in front of the time, offering a sense of depth. If you press and hold the lock screen you get a screen selector, where you can swipe left and right through lock screen…

According to Apple's Corey Wang, the smart home is still in its early days, and the company wants to bring its benefits to as many people as possible. In order to give users the best available choice of connected home gadgets, Apple has partnered with other industry leaders to create a new standard - Matter. This standard lets smart home accessories work together across platforms, including HomeKit gadgets. In fact, HomeKit underpins the framework of the Matter standard. With the next versions of Apple's operating systems, the Home app is reimagined from the ground up. It's more efficient and reliable, especially in homes with many accessories. The Rooms and Favourites sections are integrated into the main app tab, giving access to your entire home in a single screen. New categories…

Unlike most of AVM’s range of wireless routers, the FRITZ!Box 4060 lacks a built-in modem. This means regardless of how your network interacts with the Internet, you can use the 4060 by connecting it to your existing modem, which was probably supplied by your ISP. Whatever your type of Internet connection (be it ADSL, fibre, cable or mobile data), even if your Internet Service Provider forces you to use their own modem hardware, you can switch off the router section of your ISP-supplied device and connect the FRITZ!Box 4060 instead. But what advantages does this bring? As you’d expect, the router’s wireless capabilities include compatibility with the new Wi-Fi 6 protocol, which gives faster speeds, and is much better at dealing with multiple, simultaneous connections. If you’re working on your…

The tablet has really come on as a go-to machine for both business and leisure. Today’s tablet is so versatile it can replace your notebook when you’re out and about. It’s with this in mind that Birmingham, Alabama startup Fledgeling built the Hubble for tablet. Available for the tablet Pro 12.9” and 11”, and the fourth-gen tablet Air, the Hubble connects to your tablet’s USB-C port. It’s not available for any tablet with a Lightning port or 30-pin dock. It greatly expands the tablet’s connectivity options, offering (from left to right): a headphone socket, HDMI port, SD and microSD card readers, a USB-A port, two USB-C ports (one for charging and one for data), and a travel switch for saving energy when you’re not using the tablet. The whole truth……

This handy, mains-powered device is more than just an tablet stand. Sure, it can hold your tablet Pro (2018 or later, either size), or tablet Air (2020), in Landscape or portrait mode, so you can watch media, draw with your Apple Pencil or type comfortably by connecting a keyboard and mouse. But it’s also a wireless charger for your smartphone and/or AirPods. Just place them on the pad at the foot of the stand. You can also buy an optional Apple Watch charger that fits on the side of the device. The stand connects to your tablet’s USB-C socket, and you can plug in peripherals using the ports at the back. There’s three USB 3 ports, a HDMI port and an Ethernet port. There’s an SD Card reader and headphone…