Table of contents for Volume 1 Revised Edition in Windows 10 Tips, Tricks & Apps

Though in many ways Windows 8 was an extremely forwardthinking operating system, many users found it too much of a radical departure from the Windows experience they knew and loved. Thankfully Microsoft was listening, and with Windows 10 it has created an OS that feels both familiar and futuristic. From the return of the Start menu to the introduction of the new Edge web browser, Windows 10 is packed with brilliant features, abilities and apps that aim to make your computing experience as compelling as possible. But while Windows 10 is absolutely accessible to newcomers and veterans alike, some of its more powerful settings and features may not be immediately apparent. That’s where this revised edition of Windows 10 Tips, Tricks & Apps comes in. In this bookazine we’ll teach…

Each new release of Windows is more secure than the previous one and if you have upgraded from a very old version like Windows XP then the difference is huge. Windows 10 is the most secure yet, but that does not mean that you can forget security issues. Security features like Windows Defender and Windows Firewall must be enabled to boost the PCs protection. The question is, are they turned on? Our guides show how to check that everything is safe. Windows Defender is used to scan the disk for malware like viruses and spyware. Windows will remind you when you need to scan and reminder messages appear in Action Centre. Windows Firewall is a feature that prevents unauthorised access to your computer through the internet by hackers and malicious…

OneDrive is a special folder on the PC’s disk that can be used to store documents, pictures, music and videos. Anything you put in the OneDrive folder on the PC’s disk is also stored online and Microsoft provides private and secure storage space. Online is an exact copy of everything in the PC’s OneDrive folder. What’s more, every Windows computer you own has a OneDrive folder and the contents are kept in sync. Save a file in the OneDrive folder on one PC and it appears in the OneDrive folders of your other PCs. Desktop and laptop computers for example, are kept in sync, and all have the same files. Files can also be accessed from any computer through a web browser, even if it does not use Windows, like…

Microsoft’s plan with Windows 10 was to develop an evolving platform that will support both consumers and businesses alike. From a consumer point of view we are talking about entertainment. Now, Microsoft Edge is one default example that can keep you entertained by allowing you to find web content and then tap into a Reading viewer to strip away the ads to concentrate on the article. Likewise you can use the browser to enjoy TV and Movie streaming services from the BBC, Amazon and Netflix. However this is just a standard way of keeping yourself entertained and Windows 10 offers a lot more variety thanks to its core apps and services. One in particular is the integration of Xbox Live and its accompanying Xbox app, which provides a useful platform…

With an active user-base of over 110 million, Windows 10 is certainly a popular operating system, given that it had only been available for a few months at the time of writing. Mind you this is partially due to the free upgrade – available on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 machines – that Microsoft is running from 29 July 2015 until the following year. However, we can hazard a guess that there are still a lot of people who are unaware that an upgrade even exists! So in one of the tutorials we will take a quick look at how watch out for the freeupgrade and start the ball rolling; plus more importantly showcase how to roll back to your previous copy of Windows if you can’t get on with…

Windows is a pretty complex operating system, and can handle an awful lot of tasks going on in the background at the same time. You don’t need to know anything about what’s happening behind the scenes, as Windows just works. But sometimes, you need to take control. Windows has had a Task Manager for a long time now, and in Windows 10 it has had a spruce up and been made more user friendly, so that when you do need to spend some time with it, the process isn’t too daunting or difficult. Task Manager can help you boost your computer’s performance by controlling what runs automatically when you switch your computer on. You can use it to force applications that are hogging space to shut down and free up…

Each new version of Windows has increased the level of its built-in security. But even with the extra improvements, it isn’t completely safe to use without additional security software. To ensure that your machine is safe and sound, it is best to download and install a third-party program. There are many to choose from and AVG, explored in this tutorial, is just one example. AVG protects the computer as you use it, but it is a good idea to perform a full system scan once a week to make sure nothing has slipped through. Full scans take a long time to complete, but right-clicking a folder enables you to perform a quick scan of the contents and can be performed at any time, and it is a good idea to…

Mail is a very straightforward app from an aesthetic point of view, and this is certainly an advantage, because the main task here is to create and respond to emails in the most efficient way possible. Once you have set up your account, or accounts if you would rather have everything in one place, you will be able to deal with all of your communications in real time, and make sure that what you are saying is considered. It is not often talked about, but the presentation of Mail is so professional and simple that it actually makes organisation much easier, and you are therefore far more likely to send clearer emails that have not simply been rushed out of your inbox. We will highlight the changes that you are…

It’s very rare that a photo should turn out just as you want it. There are so many factors to consider, and sometimes it’s impossible to ensure that they’re all working in your favour. However, it is possible to edit a photo so that it re-creates a memory more accurately, and so that it is more visually pleasing. You could spend a lot of money on an expensive photo-editing app for this purpose, or you could use the free Photos app that is bundled with Windows 10. The good news is that the Photos app is fully featured and, as such, offers all of the features that you will need to make minor and wide-ranging adjustments with just a few clicks. What’s more is that it does not take long…

T he Calendar app in Windows 10 is pretty basic, but armed with the right tools you can make it easier to read and more useful to boot. The Calendar app syncs in with your online Microsoft calendar – since the release of Windows 8.1, support for all other calendar services has been discontinued. The trick to making the calendar easier to use is to take advantage of how it works: rather than provide a single catch-all calendar, you’re expected to set up and use multiple calendars, each one dedicated to serving a specific purpose. Managing these calendars can’t be done from within the Calendar app, so first you need to log on to your Microsoft account through your web browser. In this tutorial we’ll reveal everything you need to…

At one time PCs used to suffer from performance issues as they grew older, and this was partly due to fragmented files on the disk. Files literally become broken into small pieces, and when they need to be accessed it takes time to find all the pieces. The solution was to manually defragment them by running Disk Defragmenter. This finds files split into several pieces and puts them back together, making them faster to access the next time you need them. With most modern computers disk defragmentation is automatic, but there may still be occasions where it is beneficial to run it manually. We will show you how to accomplish this in the following tutorial. Defragmentation occurs according to a schedule and this can be changed to make it more…

Unlike other recent app-based platforms, the PC has a rich history of creating games that reaches back towards the dawn of computing. There are millions of the games available to play, with new titles being created all the time. Similarly, the type of games available for the user is quite staggering. From the shoot-’em-up, mindless action-type apps to the role-playing games that often combine action with a measure of puzzle solving. There are also the puzzle-based titles that require serious thought. The PC has a wealth of examples on offer that will appeal to all ages and all interests. The following list of titles doesn’t even scratch the surface of what’s available, but it does provide a flavour of the sort of games that you can download – often for…

Photography is one of the most vibrant sections of the app store. There is a gamut of impressive cameras and technology out there: from specialist digital cameras or the increasingly complex phone-based affairs. Along with digital technology, modern photography also takes advantage of cloud technology (like OneDrive), syncing photos snapped on a phone, for example, to virtual storage, as well as to a Mac or PC, streamlining the process of backing up photos or sharing them with friends. It’s another convenience that makes the new breed of smart cameras a killer type of technology. Using this kit, users often build some wildly inventive images. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a just complete beginner, you can’t help but appreciate the variety and quality of photography apps that are on offer…

The benefit of blending Windows 10 with the vast resources of the internet is that if you want to read a book or research information within a reference section, then you are more than likely to find what you are looking for. Books can range from the literary classics such as the likes of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to more modern fare. There are also both paid-for and free titles – these are either out of copyright or are tomes that are privately pressed and have been issued freely to gain publicity. Research can be done at sites that provide a wide, catch-all service bringing you information from all areas of interest. More specialist research areas can provide information from science to history and from astronomy to gastronomy. Whatever…

Are you the type to spice up your gastronomical experience by trying out new food recipes every now and then? Do you enjoy a little bit of adventure, trying new tastes, new techniques and venturing forth into an unknown world of cultural delicacies? There are food magazines all over newsagents with a gamut of food channels splintering all over your TV. The internet is similarly awash with foodie ideas and suggestions bursting with recommendations, but you can also check for recipes right from the comfort of your Windows 10 device. Take a look at the Windows Store and you’ll find lots of downloads that can help you out with your food adventure, whether you like to cook things on your own or try new restaurants. We have listed a selection…

All great travel apps have one thing in common: they all solve a problem you didn’t realise you had. That said, with app stores bursting at the virtual seams with software claiming to make your life easier, being simply useful is no longer enough for app developers aspiring to greatness. Whether they’re cutting down journey times on your plane, train or car ride, or pointing you in the tight direction for authentic local nosh in Morocco, New York or somewhere in Italy, there's something for you. Each and every one of our travel apps has earned its place in this list by virtue of being innovative, quirky or just darned useful. So have a browse, take your pick and get globe-trotting. With a few of these on your PC, you…

The star programs of the PC world grab all of the headlines. That is true. Microsoft Office is one of the heavyweights of the computing universe, while eBay is a shopping capital and the BBC’s iPlayer is a media hub packed with entertaining fare. None of these major apps would get very far, however, without those tools that ease the pain of day-to-day computer use. Their task might only be small and, quite possibly, rather one-dimensional, but many of these tools do their own niche job well. So well that many of us simply wouldn’t use a computer without them. This section gives you a brief idea about what kind of tools are available for use, and you'll be pleased to learn that many of them are free too. Take…

The wave of the future is here, in particular for education and learning. Terms like 21st Century Computing, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and Cloud Computing have now become mainstream. The introduction of mobile devices and tablets has brought technology to more students than ever before. A one-to-one computing environment is not only a possibility but also a reality in more schools than people realise. Teachers can use apps for everything from communicating with students to dissecting virtual frogs. Whether you’re currently in school or just seeking a little self-improvement, a whole host of Windows apps are just waiting to enhance your knowledge base. We’ve picked a few of the top applications in a number of categories but they are but a mere taster of what’s available within the Windows…

Windows 10 is the brand new and most exciting version of Microsoft’s operating system yet. It is designed for multiple devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and hybrid devices, such as the Surface. It is an impressive blend of old and familiar features, and new and interesting ones, and this means that you will instantly feel at home whether you have used Windows 7 or 8, but there are also lots of great new features to discover and use. An example of this can be seen when browsing the internet. There is the old and familiar Internet Explorer, but also a new browser called Edge that is fast and packed with innovative and useful features that take it beyond the capabilities of the previous browser. Edge is the…

Use virtual desktops The desktop is back and there is not just one of them, but as many as you want! Windows 10 has made virtual desktops, previously only available with third-party software, a feature that everyone can use. With a keypress, you can easily create new desktops or switch between existing ones. Now you can spread out your apps, and each one can be on a different desktop. Talk to Cortana The personal digital assistant is now in Windows 10, so you are able to issue commands to your computer using Cortana. It can be manually activated when needed, or it will cleverly listen for the wake-up call “Hey, Cortana!” You can then ask it for information about pretty much anything, or ask for actions to be carried out.…

Windows 10 has more features and settings than ever, and this is great because it means that you can customise it in a variety of ways to make it work the way you want it to. There are many settings and configuration options that change the way Windows 10 works, and we explore some of these in our collection of top tips. For example, you can choose what is displayed when the computer starts, and either the new Start menu or the old Start screen can be used. You can change File Explorer’s view and how it responds to clicks; Cortana can be customised and trained to provide a better understanding of your needs; and there is much more. The tips explore new and better ways to work with your…

In business being more productive will allow you to get work done faster and more efficiently! Windows 10 was released to tap into this ethos as it brings to the table a lot of productivity tools that are built directly into the OS. In particular, one of its standout features is its universal appeal, which means that whatever platform you run Windows 10 on, if it’s the desktop, tablet or Windows Mobile, the core experience will be the same. This also translates to its app support, but sadly the number of universal apps is still thin on the ground at the time of writing. However, the new Windows store is still a useful place to visit if you want to install third-party productivity tools. In this series of tutorials we…

Edge is the name of Microsoft’s new web browser and it is the best way to access the web. Anyone that has used Windows before will be familiar with Internet Explorer because it has been around for decades. The most recent version is IE11 and it is still in Windows 10 if you want to search for it on the Start menu. However, it is based on old technology and Edge is a brand new start for Windows 10. It has features that are not in Internet Explorer 11, for example, there is a reading mode available that makes web pages easier on the eye by removing distracting content like adverts. Edge and Cortana work together and text can be highlighted on the page and then Cortana can find answers…

There are countless sources of software on the internet and tens of thousands of applications, utilities and games that can be downloaded. Although there are some great programs around, there are also viruses, spyware, and types of malware. In contrast, the Windows Store is a safe place to find and download software. There are many fantastic apps and it is very easy to navigate, find apps and install them. It takes the hassle and risk out of getting software for your computer. There are lots of free apps in the store, but if you choose to buy some, payments are safe and secure. The Windows Store is recommended because of its ease of use and safety compared to the wild west frontier of the open internet where many dangers lurk.…

The Windows 10 Start menu looks and feels familiar to anyone who used Windows 7 and strips away the full-screen tiled effect that Windows 8 brought in to varying degrees of success. In actual fact, it does a lot more than that because you can now set it up to fit the way you work, whether that will look more like Windows 8 or 10, and you can then change other aspects until you are happy with the end result. It feels as though Microsoft has finally got the design of the Start menu right in Windows 10 by making it all things to all people and the end result is a flexible feature which can be tailored to look completely unique. Even better, it is not difficult at all…

It used to be the case that setting up and managing devices within Windows took forever and the process was also fraught with unreliability and random errors, but this has all changed now. Once the setup process has been completed for each of your devices, you can leave them alone to perform the tasks they need to and not worry about anything else. Drivers are still needed for some devices, but it is fast becoming the norm for devices to work via a plug-and-play setup, which means that you have to tweak no settings at all. We will guide you through the process of troubleshooting devices that are not behaving as they should and also show you how to access every setting you could possibly need. The real surprise is…

Is your computer protected from malware on the internet? Is it protected from hackers that might try to gain access through a wireless or wired network? Are you receiving important updates to Windows that contain patches and new features? The answer to these questions and many more can be found in the Security and Maintenance settings screen – where Windows collates all sorts of useful and important information to ensure that your computer is running smoothly. When you switch to the desktop you might occasionally see various messages pop up at the right-hand side of the screen. If the message appears above a small white flag, then that is your Security and Maintenance settings notifying you of a potential problem with the computer. Don’t panic because many of the problems…

Skype is understandably hugely popular, and with very good reason. Video and audio calls can be made anywhere in the world for free and so can sending messages, but with a few simple tweaks you can make the experience even more productive and enjoyable. A lot of what you can change will depend on the type of camera your computer uses and with some you really can tweak every part to make your video calls look like you are in the room with the other party. Even if you cannot do this on your computer, you can still manage audio quality with ease and change a variety of smaller settings to speed up all of your communications in Skype. It won’t take long to find the settings that work best…

Microsoft Office is the standard productivity package on the PC, used by businesses and individuals everywhere. It is a powerful suite of applications, but if you do not need to create complex documents, presentations or spreadsheets, the webbased version could be all you require. When using Office web apps, there is no need to buy a subscription and the apps themselves run in a web browser. Just go to onedrive.com in Edge. You might need to sign in with your Microsoft account the first time you access the website, but from then on you will be able to dive straight in. A list of your OneDrive files and folders will be displayed, and this is a direct mirror of OneDrive on the disk drive. Click the menu button in the…

We keep so much information on our computers these days that it can sometimes get a bit out of hand. Files can be really large, and that can mean we can run out of space to store them. Some email accounts have a ceiling on the size of file attachments which can make sharing difficult. A lot of us also use cloud-based storage such as Dropbox, and again there are limits. Zipping files is one way to overcome file size limitations, because zipping can reduce file sizes considerably. You could zip a large file or group of files to email to someone, or to cram them onto a memory stick or memory card for sharing. Zipping can be useful in other ways too. If you like to archive old data,…

If you want to increase the amount of space available for storing videos, photos, music and documents, a simple way to do this is to add an extra disk drive. Although drives can be added internally to desktop PCs, the easiest option is to plug in a USB drive. Windows 10 offers a different way to use extra disk drives through a feature called Storage Spaces. A virtual disk drive of any size can be created, then you can add physical drives to provide the space. Normally each drive appears as a different drive and letter, E, F and so on, but when used as a storage space, there is just one virtual drive with one letter. Extra drives can be added at any time. This is a simple and…

One of the great things about recent software and hardware developments is the ever-increasing progress in the field of communication. The computer has become a force for good in communications, in terms of keeping you in touch with people you love, making friends, forging links with like-minded individuals and hobbies and bringing down the costs of telecommunications. Technologies like Skype have forced phone companies to look again at their tariffs, which have produced far more competitive and enlightened price points, especially when communicating abroad. Add immensely popular services such as Facebook and Twitter and you can see how complex our communications are today and, with the continuing ‘Arab Spring’ movement, for example, how much it has changed the entire world. “The computer has become a force for good, keeping you…

Both of these app genres ask you to search for downloadable files or provide the option to load up and play such content. Some of them allow you to handle both data types from one app. Hence both variants being bundled together into one section. Both music and video have, like much of the other data content types, been evolving at a tremendous pace, becoming more sophisticated with new features hanging off them like fruit from a tree. Some offer official video or music from major record labels or broadcasters, others give independent content creators a look-in. Some ask for money to experience the full experience while others give away their files free. Whatever the deal, be sure that, no matter what genre of music or video you enjoy, there…

Combine the best in fast computing technology with an internet connection via a sprightly broadband link and you have a wealth of information at your fingertips. There are two distinct categories of information, however, that depend on speed to remain relevant: news and weather. Maintaining the latter can mean that you can successfully plan your day. Friends and family may or may not have to make journeys to meet up depending on weather-based information, while the threat of extreme weather conditions has made such reports less a figure of amusement and fun and more of a serious matter. Similarly, keeping in touch with the news via computer and the internet means that you can follow breaking stories on a minute-by-minute basis, monitoring a changing situation which, again, might have repercussions…

The lifestyle genre of any app collection is a bit of a strange one. It tends to feature all of those tiny little useful apps we use every day, which are hard to categorise but can sometimes be attributed to more leisurelike activities. This category often features apps that focus on how we live and why. So you will often find unique but also crossover subjects in this category. Explore apps for sports activities, healthy and balanced dieting, managing household duties, fashion and style, and also apps for favourite hobbies such as gardening, cooking and similar areas. Apps relating to these subjects can be quite wide-ranging, from those that seek information in order to do the activity and those that help you to manage information while you are within that…

A wealth of financial apps on the market give you plenty of options to learn how to be more responsible with your personal finances. Are you trying to handle your own income and expenses, manage an entire household or run a small business? Whatever it is you're doing or want to do, there’s a program that can help get your finances in order. Thanks to these apps, managing money and potential savings is easier than ever. Which app should you use to ensure you’ll always be within your spending limit, always have that holiday fund and always be on top of your finances? Although there are plenty of options, we’ve narrowed the list down to the top five apps to help keep you focused on your hard-earned cash without giving…

Computer security issues make the news just about everyday, from malicious apps to malware. While Windows is a flexible and easy-to-use operating system available on a wide variety of devices, the threats make it extremely essential for users to install extra security options. Keep in mind that the most basic security precautions, like passwordprotecting your device and setting it to auto-lock after a period of time don’t require a separate app. But don’t stop there. From anti-virus apps (crucial at this point) to enhanced password protection, it’s worth looking at more advanced options. The vast number of security apps available for the platform makes it impossible to cover them all, but this should give you a good idea of what's available to protect your Windows device and the data that…

You hear a lot about the appropriate size of government. But one type of smaller government that all sides can agree on is moving helpful applications, or apps, to computing devices, where they can be used by the public for free at any time and almost any location. One thing to note is that most (not all) government apps today are rather primitive compared to private sector offerings. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re trying to find your embassy in a foreign country in a hurry, you probably don’t want to have to tackle a level of Angry Birds first. The second thing to note about today’s crop of government apps is that almost all of them act as a mobile gateway to information stored in other forms.…

The Windows desktop has been a feature of the operating system since the earliest days, and everyone loved it because there was so much great software for it. It was familiar and easy to use, and whether you wanted to work on your computer or just use it for entertainment, there was a desktop application that enabled you to do it. Everything changed with Windows 8; the Start menu was removed and the Start screen replaced it. Start was the first thing Windows users saw when the computer was switched on. It introduced the Windows Store and the concept of apps, which are a special type of software that is more like the apps found on tablets and mobile phones. Apps are small, easy-to-use, lightweight programs that can be fun,…

“Some PCs can be upgraded, but others require a clean install” Most PCs running older versions of Windows can run Windows 10. Some can be upgraded, but others require a clean install. So, should you upgrade or clean install Windows 10? Windows XP and Vista users cannot upgrade; a clean install is the only option. Many Windows 7 and 8 users can upgrade, but it depends on several factors. For some, a clean install is a must. A clean install erases everything on the disk before installing Windows 10. This clears out junk files that have accumulated, and afterwards the computer will run better than before. The disadvantage is that your files are erased. Before starting, plug in a USB drive and copy your Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music folders…

If you are upgrading from an older operating system or starting from scratch, Windows 10 offers plenty of ways to personalise your experience. You may be wondering why you would want to do such a thing. Well, think of Windows 10 as a new house: you move in and want to add your own touch, such as new wallpaper in the form of a background image, or new furniture in the form of managing desktop icons. The personalisation side of Windows 10 is simply setting the operating system to how you want it to look. In the series of tutorials below we will cover the basics, such as setting new wallpaper, and expand upon this by showing you how to adjust your Lockscreen image (where you sign in), add a…

Cortana is one of the major new features in Windows 10 and it is an exciting new digital personal assistant that can carry out your commands, perform a variety of actions, and generally save you from tedious typing at the keyboard. You just say what you want and Cortana does it, whether it is setting an alarm, looking up information on the internet, or getting driving directions from one place to another. Try talking to Cortana and say things like “Tell me a joke”. There are often very entertaining responses to questions like these and you can have a lot of fun. Cortana can also perform serious tasks as we will show in the tutorials. For example, it can create calendar appointments, show you your schedule for the next day…

Times have certainly changed when it comes to keeping up to date with current events. In the past, we tended to rely on the television and newspapers to learn about breakingnews stories. Now, with the boom of social media, a news piece can start to trend within seconds of a story happening! However, social media is just one of the many ways to find out about the latest goings on. Similar to previous versions, Windows 10 has plenty of default apps or third-party apps that you can tap into from the Windows Store to give that instant current-event fix. In the following tutorials, we will look at a few of these apps. For example, the Sport app will enable you to add and track a favourite sport or team. Alternatively,…

Microsoft has always been keen on tapping into the tablet market by providing an OS that could blend the desktop with a tablet experience. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, their last attempts with Windows 8 and 8.1 were not that popular, primarily because they tried to add a Metro-style Start interface with a desktop experience tagged on at the back. However, with Windows 10 the OS has been built around its continuum feature where the entire operating system can intelligently switch from a tablet to desktop experience when you plug the latter into a docking station and switch back afterwards. On top of this you have a lot of universal apps, which are designed to scale depending on your screen-size. From a desktop point of view you can still…

In recent times, we have reached a point where speech recognition is now usable to a point that you can talk at a natural pace and have almost every word recognised perfectly. It used to be the case that a keyboard was by far the quickest data-input method, but with Windows 10, there is enough intelligent software running in the background to make this feature feel completely natural every single time you use it. We will show you how to set it up, which is a very quick and logical process, and also some of the benefits that can be gained if you use it in every app that it is compatible with. Over time, you may find that it becomes your preferred way of inputting data in most of…

Set up a homegroup on your home network to enable files and devices connected to one PC to be accessed from another PC. It only takes a minute and then everyone can share their photos, videos, music and other files over a wireless connection. Windows has had networking capabilities built in since its early days and sharing files and printers has always been possible. However, it was often difficult to set up, so recent editions of Windows have included a super-easy sharing feature called homegroup. This provides simple controls for connecting computers over a network and choosing exactly what you share with other people. One computer creates the homegroup, and it does not matter which one it is, then all the other computers can join it. Once a homegroup has…

Device Manager is a useful tool that can solve certain types of PC problems. When the computer is not working properly, when it has strange error messages and faults, when you have tried every other way to fix it, Device Manager might be able to do the trick. It will not repair every type of problem, but programs crashing or freezing and becoming unresponsive, the PC running very slowly for no obvious reason, screen issues, troublesome mice, webcam and touchpad issues can sometimes be fixed using Device Manager. When everything else fails, it can offer a solution to whatever the problem may be. There are thousands of different types of computer because they can be built from hundreds of different components. Instead of Windows accessing the hardware directly, an intermediary…

The Camera app in Windows 10 is designed to let you capture photos whenever the time is right and to work as a basic tool for this process. Most computer setups nowadays involve a camera of some sort, Microsoft understands though that most computers do not come with great quality cameras built in and are used most often for menial tasks where quality isn’t an issue. The Camera app provides options that will help you improve any photos that you do take. You can change the aspect ratio, deal with flickering and also decide what resolution you want videos to be captured in. Once you have captured the images, you can then jump over to the Photos app to add fine adjustments in order to make them look exactly as…

OneNote is by no means a new piece of software, but it is one that has been gradually improved over time to the point that we now have a solution that is not only reliable, but also fast and incredibly flexible. It is capable of dealing with simple text notes, as well as complex pages with images and tables embedded, and it is also accessible from many other apps within Windows 10. Indeed, if you are looking for one place to store every piece of information that is important to you, there are very few rivals to OneNote. It can be used on smartphones, tablets and multiple computers. What’s more is that the notes will always be kept in sync and backed up online, so you need not worry about…

On the whole you should not need to mess around with power settings too much, because Windows 10 does a very good job of working efficiently even when pushed, but there will always be times when your own usage will require the need for a personal profile which may better suit your needs There are a couple of simple options that you can manage within the standard Settings screens, but if you delve a little deeper you will find a lot more, all of which will let you tailor the power management of your machine in a variety of ways. As is standard, you will see the traditional presentation for the advanced power management settings. Windows 10 does an excellent job of reassuring however, because it immediately lets you know…

Anew computer is fast and responsive, and works brilliantly, but after it has been used for some time it will inevitably begin to slow down. What can you do to solve this perpetual problem? As a matter of fact there are a number of things! Here is a collection of speed tweaks that will restore lost performance for your PC. They can rejuvenate an old computer and they keep new computers running smoothly – all of which prevents them from slowing down. For example, there are lots of special effects used by the Windows 10 interface, such as animations in the taskbar, fading or sliding tooltips into view, and so on. They look great, but turning these effects off enables the computer to run faster. The files on the disk…

Your computer is made for productivity. From word processors to databases, it has helped businesses become more efficient and industrious. Furthering business, after all, was one of the main reasons for creating the personal computer in the first place. Yet, as technology has progressed, PC productivity is also doing a terrific job of delivering an unwelcome by-product: stress. Therefore, entertainment on that same platform has been recognised as a salve to the user’s sanity. More than a counter for over-working, though, the PC has now been welcomed into the living room, becoming more widely accessible and is now offering a realistic way to integrate entertainment within the home. From movies to music, the PC has become an essential friend of the family to not only escape a hard day’s work…

The crack of the cricket bat, the roar of the rugby crowd, the heckling of the football referee… Sport – you can’t beat it. No matter which sports or team you follow, there is bound to be an app that covers it. What role can your Windows 10 device play in a professional sports setting? The possibilities are limitless. Whether you’re tracking the statistics on your favourite players or lining up the bet that will make your fortune, download a few of the best sports apps onto your Windows 10 PC, laptop or tablet and you’re sure to have an edge on the competition. The apps themselves range from batting-average calculators to statistics databases and up-to-the-minute news trackers. Sports apps can definitely add a new dimension to a favourite pastime…

Need a nutritionist to answer questions at the supermarket? Perhaps a personal trainer for running a first-time 5K? Often, we need an added push to go the extra mile with exercise. For some, that extra push comes in the form of an overzealous spin instructor or passionate personal trainer. If your Windows 10 device isn’t already your best workout buddy, it could be. Tracking your progress on an app makes it easier to eat right, sleep well and push a workout harder. The availability of health apps is climbing fast and the industry expects the number of health and fitness apps to quadruple between 2010 to 2016. For those who like exercising solo or individuals who prefer being outside the gym – whether you’re a runner or need help tracking…

Technology has fundamentally changed society in many different ways. One of those has to be found within the shopping category. Shopping on a computer has been accused of destroying the High Street (although the major supermarkets have to take most of the blame) but it also has given an immense of degree of choice to people in small towns and rural areas. Before, hard-to-find and niche goods could only be sourced after a pre-planned and very expensive trip to larger cities. Now, with online shopping, all that is required is a quick peruse on the web to source even the rarest of items. This sort of shopping doesn’t stop within the boundaries of this country either. Europe and the USA are popular shopping destinations. Couple that with largely efficient delivery…

It is the productivity element of software where the PC has been rightly lauded. If you want to be productive in any serious endeavour then the PC has always, from the dawn of computing, been the platform that has been the ‘go-to’ system. All of the top quality, most well-known and fully featured packages have all appeared on the PC, at one time or another, in some guise. Of course, Microsoft’s own Office suite of programs have been the stars of the show for some time now but there are plenty of other apps on the market that are just as accomplished an offering, in some cases, unique features and for free. These programs range from word processors, databases and presentation software to complex lifestyle planning, translation and mailing software.…

The featured apps listed here represent a wide variety of software. What they all have in common are ways to enhance your business. Some of the apps focus on financial aspects, allowing you to easily manage a general ledger, accounts payable and receivables. Other apps focus on productivity. They allow the creation and management of documents that comprise your business data, help you keep sensitive data protected and retained within company walls and aid communication and collaboration among employees, customers and external contacts. As apps become more prevalent and more powerful, entrepreneurs and small business owners are relying on these savvy tools to help their businesses grow and run more smoothly. These top five apps can get you organised, connected and help you succeed. “Some of the apps focus on…