APCSeptember 2025的目錄

Hi readers! Welcome to another issue of APC, packed as usual with good words from our many experts to help you stay on top of the ever-changing world of tech. It’s been a little while since we put together an article recommending the best free apps out there, so that’s what we’ve done for this issue. We’ve kept it to a reasonable number that’ll be actually useful, and added in some important ‘avoid’ recommendations so you know what to stay clear of. There’s been little bit of APC evolution too in this issue, as we’ve added a couple of new pages to the mag. First up we’ve given our Zac Kelly a column of his own so he can share his thoughts of the moment outside the scope of a…

We already know that the next-generation Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) specification is not meant to improve performance, but rather to boost reliability of wireless connections as they become even more ubiquitous. Since improving reliability is a pretty vague description, the IEEE has issued a scope document that quantitatively defines these enhancements. According to a new post by Qualcomm (which is a contributor to the standard), the IEEE wants Wi-Fi 8 devices to offer a 25% improvement across a number of metrics, under the umbrella of Ultra High Reliability, or UHR. Just like Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 is set to offer a peak physical layer (PHY) rate of up to 23 GT/s, though it remains to be seen whether such rate will be achievable in real-world conditions. The UHR goals in…

It’s an exciting time for the Australian internet. NBN providers are getting ready for the biggest speed boost for Australian broadband since the network was first created. The coming speed boosts leave some internet alternatives in the dust, with the increased speeds set to deliver on the NBN’s true potential, improving our place on the broadband world stage. But I’m worried that many homes across the country – such as those with gamers playing on a budget – might have tech that leaves them hopelessly behind. After all, the problem with the wider NBN network having been behind on internet speeds compared to fibre networks in other countries is that our devices may also be ill-equipped for a speed boost. For example, the best experience with the new NBN 2000…

WHAT YOU CAN DO Receive phone alerts when someone’s at your door Monitor movement on your doorstep 24 hours a day Watch and speak to unexpected visitors remotely Get notified as soon as packages are delivered Set ‘motion zones’ to limit the number of alerts Make your doorbell’s rechargeable battery last longer It’s nearly 10 years since Ring launched the first video doorbell. Back then, they seemed like an ostentatious gimmick, installed by people who wanted to draw more attention to their luxury homes than to stop them being robbed. There were also concerns they could be used to spy on passers-by. Nowadays, video doorbells are almost as familiar a sight as the traditional ‘ding-dong’ chime style, and at least one of your neighbours probably has one. But if you’ve…

Microsoft Designer is a quick, simple and free way to create high-quality images and designs that are ideal for sharing online. Since it’s underpinned by OpenAI’s DALL-E image engine, it can generate custom visuals representing anything you care to type in. However, it’s more than just an image generator – you can upload and edit your own photos too, and optionally combine them with AI-generated elements, to produce original, eye-catching content. How do I access it? Designer can run entirely in a web browser – just hop over to designer.microsoft. com to try it out – so you can use it on almost any platform, including macOS and Linux. If you prefer a native app, however, you can download a Windows-based front-end to Designer from the Microsoft Store, or install…

BPC TECH KRAKEN POWER ANESTO $1,999tinyurl.com/APC549bpc Showing what can be done for two grand these days, this system hits all the normal beats for this segment, focusing on gaming as the main use case with the venerable Ryzen 5 7500F. Good for regular gaming and light work, its lacklustre multicore performance is traded to fit the GPU into the budget, and a solid GPU it is. Slightly beating out the 9060 XT found in the similarly priced Scorptec system, the DLSS and RTX features offered here will give you an overall more enjoyable gaming experience. The 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage sizes are as expected, though the SSD at Gen3 speeds is a tad slow these days. An unremarkably decent system overall. CPU AMD Ryzen 5 7500F; COOLER…

EDGE Find and install extensions more easily Microsoft has redesigned the Edge Add-ons Store (tinyurl.com/APC549store) with a more modern look that makes it easier to find and install new extensions. As well as browsing categories such as Photos, ‘Search tools’ and Shopping, you can now explore themed collections of add-ons from the store’s home page. These include ‘Ad blocking’, ‘Secure browsing’ and ‘AI-powered extensions’, in addition to the most popular Edge extensions. Themes for the browser have been similarly grouped into logical categories and collections. The store’s search tool has also been improved to autosuggest extensions as you type. The top suggestions have a handy Get button you can click (see screenshot below) to install them instantly. BRAVE Switch on accessibility tools Brave has added an Accessibility page to its…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC, Mac, browser WEB tinyurl.com/APC549ants The Spirit of the Ants is a walking sim, in that it simulates the experience of walking around. By holding down the mouse button, you will slowly shuffle down the street, staring at your feet and the detritus around them. The game is exciting simply because it’s a view we’re not normally given in games, which understandably want to show us that impressive vista or that photorealistic NPC – not the paving stones or mud we’re thoughtlessly squelching underfoot. However, by not showing us the wider environment it allows our imaginations to pick up the slack. Do you really feel like you’re present in the city when you’re sliding Watch Dogs Guy along the street? On the other hand, every step in…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC, browser WEB tinyurl.com/APC549stealth While Stealth Crossword isn’t a particularly good stealth or crossword game, it does commit to the comedic ridiculousness of its premise, piling on punchlines and over-the-top set pieces until the whole thing collapses, grinning, under the weight of its own stupidity. Stealth Crossword is a Metal Gear Solid parody, complete with guards with big vision cones that you have to sneak past to… well, here comes the crossword bit. Each level is also a crossword grid, and you have to fill in the letters, by sneaking A or Q or whatever past the guards and to the square they’re supposed to go in. I can see how another game might expand upon the concept, giving you more tools to play around with, more…

Download these APC exclusives free from: www.apcmag.com/exclusives ASHAMPOO MUSIC STUDIO 2025 MUSIC SOFTWARE FOR EDITING, ORGANISING, AND BURNING SONGS AND AUDIOBOOKS. Ashampoo Music Studio is a comprehensive program for editing, converting, and burning audio files. It supports fast CD ripping, automatically retrieving missing title information from an online database. The software features a secure burning option and the ability to convert files into various formats. Users can easily edit music files in MP3 and other formats by removing unwanted sections or splitting songs into multiple tracks. The intuitive design for moving and combining audio clips simplifies editing. The software facilitates organising music files by editing metadata, normalising volume, and renaming tracks uniformly, transforming disorganised music collections into orderly libraries. The track mixer allows users to create seamless song mixes with…

Intel continues its path to stop the money haemorrhaging, and major efforts are underway to regain some semblance of market leadership. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan has been in the job for over five months now, and he’s made some stark admissions and big changes to correct the big boat that is Intel. Despite last quarter’s revenue exceeding guidance, Intel will remain on shaky ground if nothing is done. The company’s staff is still top-heavy. After former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s prior cuts brought staffing from 131,000 to 100,000, Tan has announced a further reduction to 75,000 employees by year’s end. For context, AMD and Nvidia have about 28,000 and 36,000 staff, respectively, while TSMC, its main fabrication rival, employs 84,000. Tan’s push to also eliminate work-from-home is aimed at restoring profitability,…

PRICE 512GB, $2,899 WEB samsung.com/au I’ve used many foldable phones over the past couple of years, but none has tempted me to buy one myself. Until now. For the Galaxy Z Fold7 is not just another iterative upgrade. Thanks to aggressive slimming down and re-engineering, Samsung’s latest folding design finally manages to feel like the best of both worlds, not a clunky trade-off between a phone and a tablet. It’s deliciously thin and light, yet offers masses of screen space, excellent cameras and no compromise in raw power. Now, let’s get the difficult part out of the way. At $2,899, this is one of the most expensive phones you can buy. And that price is for the model with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM; you’ll pay $3,349 for…

It’s always exciting to discover a free PC program that offers advanced features you usually have to pay for. It’s also interesting to try new open-source tools from independent developers on GitHub (www.github.com). But that buzz can quickly drain away after you download and install a program only to find it bewildering to use. Common obstacles include cluttered interfaces, unlabelled toolbar buttons, mysterious menu options, settings that require configuration, and a lack of helpful guidance, such as tooltips or setup ‘wizards’. Whereas most paid-for software is thoroughly tested and documented to ensure users are satisfied with their purchase, some free tools have a steep learning curve. With no manual or customer support, you may end up uninstalling the program before giving it a chance. Thankfully, not all free software is…

‘‘I would like to make my own witness statement,” said Christopher Pelkey as he stood before Judge Todd Lang in Arizona’s Maricopa County Superior Court, dressed slightly incongruously in a green hoodie and wearing a grey baseball cap, as if he were taking the dogs out for a walk. “To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me, it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances. In another life, uh, we probably could have been friends. I believe in forgiveness and in God, who forgives. I always have and I still do.” The judge thanked Pelkey as he finished his near four-minute statement, praising the forgiveness he’d shown. “I love the beauty in what Christopher... and I call him Christopher... I always call people by their…

Unlike its fibrous counterpart, ePaper is a slow burner. Although Amazon’s Kindle and other ebook devices have been with us for almost 20 years, the ePaper technology has largely been confined to such readers – at least until the past couple of years. Suddenly, ePaper is everywhere. In smartphones, tablets, laptops, monitors, smartwatches and other displays. And now that colour ePaper has entered mainstream production, it’s likely we’re going to see the technology further spread its wings. There are many advantages that ePaper (often incorrectly referred to as E Ink, which is an ePaper brand) has over conventional LCD displays. It’s low power, much easier to read in sunlight and relatively inexpensive. It has its drawbacks, too, of course. Snail-like refresh rates, ghosting and a lack of vibrancy when it…

WINDOWS 10 & 11 Dual-boot Windows with Linux Microsoft has fixed a problem that since last August was preventing users from dual-booting Windows 10 or 11 with Linux. The fix is part of Microsoft’s latest ‘Patch Tuesday’ security update, released on 13 May, and titled KB5041585. It confirmed the fix online (visit tinyurl.com/APC549boot and look for ‘Resolution’ in bold). Microsoft had previously suggested turning off Secure Boot updates as a temporary solution, but this new fix should solve the problem permanently. Check whether the update has been installed by opening Windows Settings (Windows key+I) then clicking Windows Update followed by ‘Update history’ and looking for KB5041585 (see screenshot below). WINDOWS 10 & 11 Change scroll-bar size with one click You can change the height of horizontal scroll bars and width…

Everything you need to know from the month in tech The U.S. is weighing a new approach to protect its lead in artificial intelligence: embedding location-tracking technology directly into high-end chips. The move comes as years of export controls – and recent escalations – have failed to fully stop smuggling into China, leaving policymakers looking for solutions that go beyond paperwork. This involves leading-edge AI GPUs such as Nvidia’s H20, which are otherwise already permitted to be sold in China following lengthy bans. Talking to Bloomberg, Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and one of the architects of the administration’s AI action plan, confirmed that both software-based and physical tracking solutions are being discussed. “There is discussion about potentially the types of software…

Late July saw a minor apocalypse hit major digital games storefronts, though you may not have noticed. Waves of NSFW adult content was suddenly removed from Steam and Itch.io, with both citing pressure from payment processors who had, it seemed at the time, all decided at once that it didn’t want to be involved in the trade of adult games. Steam’s new rule was vague. It forbade “content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers.” In other words, payment processors were now the arbiters of acceptability and not the platform holders themselves. Suddenly it was the rules and standards of payment processors – and not Valve – that mattered most. The games that disappeared…

PRICE 512GB, $1,799 WEB samsung.com/au While it doesn’t have the high-end internals of the Fold7, the Z Flip7 is a compelling phone in its own way – and far more affordable. The standard model comes with 256GB of storage, with the price yet to be announced at the time of writing, with the 512GB version costing $1,799, so it’s very much on a par with its arch rival, Motorola’s Razr 60 Ultra. The Flip7 comes in four colours, including vibrant Coralred; you can choose the same elegant Jetblack and Blue Shadow options as the Fold7, or Mint if you buy from Samsung’s website. Like its predecessors, the Flip7 has flat edges that dig into your hand, and it remains tricky to open one-handed, but there are welcome changes. For a…

From AI-written articles on news websites to deepfake videos on social media and fake songs on streaming services, the web is awash with content created using artificial intelligence. The trouble is that a large proportion of this is, frankly, rubbish. There’s even a term for it: ‘AI slop’, defined as “filler content produced by AI tools that prioritise speed and quantity over substance and quality”. Now that anyone can generate text, pictures, video and audio at the click of a button, the slop floodgates are well and truly open. Thankfully, there are still lots of good AI tools that provide reliable information, produce high-quality content and perform genuinely useful tasks. Although you sometimes need to pay for their premium features, you’ll be surprised and impressed by how much you can…

Find the best deals on new gear at getprice.com/au Premium laptops Apple MacBook Pro M4 ONE OF THE BEST LAPTOPS THAT’S EVER BEEN MADE. This M4 update to the already brilliant MacBook Pro line is an easy recommendation, so the big question becomes do you choose the 14in version or 16in. But whatever you choose should last for years, and look great while it’s doing it. From $2,499, apple.com/au THE ALTERNATIVES ASUS ZENBOOK A14 This affordable and super-slim laptop with a 14in OLED panel has all the performance most people need at a very competitive price, and it boasts fantastic build quality. $1,999, asus.com APPLE MACBOOK AIR M4 If you don’t need the all-out power of the Pro, this is a brilliant, cheaper alternative despite the unchanged chassis and screen.…

CHATGPT View a library of your AI-generated images OpenAI has made it much easier to find, view and edit the images you create in ChatGPT. Previously, you had to go back into the original chats to see the images you’d generated, but you can now browse them all in a dedicated Library section. This new Library option is available in the left-hand menu on the ChatGPT website (see screenshot above) and in its mobile apps – tap the menu button in the top-left corner to open the menu. The Library displays your AI-generated images chronologically, and gives them titles based on their content. Select an image to open an enlarged version and click or tap the arrow button to download it. Click ‘Edit image’ or tap Edit to ask ChatGPT…

ONLYOFFICE Add or remove spreadsheet scrollbars OnlyOffice 8.3, released in February, has added options to show or hide the vertical and horizontal scrollbars in spreadsheets. Open a spreadsheet, then click File followed by Advanced Settings at the bottom. Now look for the Workspace heading, then tick or untick ‘Show horizontal scroll bar’ and/or ‘Show vertical scroll bar’ as required (see screenshot 1 below). Click Apply to confirm. In our example we’ve chosen to keep the horizontal scrollbar 2, but lose the vertical. MICROSOFT EXCEL Change the colour for formula errors By default, Excel shows a green triangle in the top-left corner of a cell when it detects an error with a formula. You can change this colour by clicking File, Options, then Formulas (1 in our screenshot above). Now click…

ANDROID Block specific page elements in Brave Brave’s Android browser (tinyurl.com/APC549brave) automatically blocks ads, trackers and third-party cookies through its Shields feature. This can also block scripts and fingerprinting, and Brave has now added the option to hide unwanted page elements as well. These include annoying promotional banners, sidebars of clickbait articles, irritating images and anything else that clutters the page and distracts you from the main content. The feature is already available in Brave’s desktop browser, but is even more useful on your phone or tablet, where screen space is more limited. To use the new option, tap the Shields (lion’s head) button in the top-right corner of the browser to open the Shields panel. Tap ‘Advanced controls’ ( 1 in our screenshot left) and select ‘Block element’. Press…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC WEB tinyurl.com/APC549triage The town of Stagmarch is subject to a horrifying plague. Most of the townsfolk are dead, but three of the infected have ended up in your clinic, each bearing different symptoms of an illness that, if left unchecked, may cause them to transform into monsters. Like any doctor, you can only do so much, and your method of helping people in triage is to jumble up some herbs. Handily, there are loads of herbs in your garden. Unhandily, you can only prepare one vial of treatment a day, so you have to choose which of your patients to give it to. Anyone who receives the tincture will survive for another night – but then so will your other patients, confusingly. The outcomes of your…

RELEASE 2017 DEVELOPER Dice PUBLISHER EA WEB ea.com Old games, new perspectives Rebel hero Lando Calrissian leads a handful of troopers through the gloomy corridors of an imperial base, backgrounded by wailing sirens, blaster fire and the odd Wilhelm scream. He vanishes around a corner, from which emerges a volley of lasers skittering over the polished floors and up the walls like confetti, and then nothing at all. I glimpse a heap of corpses, Lando among them, before a red lightsaber flies out and shreds me too. I don’t remember this bit in the films. I’ve re-enlisted in the Star Wars. Specifically those underway in Star Wars: Battlefront II, Dice’s 2017 shooter which in 2025 has seen a surprise revival. Its launch was rocky to say the least. Controversy over…