Table of contents for Vol. 460 in Computeractive

Lists of ‘worst ever’ things can sometimes be more fun than ‘best ever’. Savouring the awfulness of certain films, sitcoms, footballers, jokes and so on can be highly enjoyable. But there’s no ironic pleasure to be taken from our list of the worst malware ever. In our Cover Feature we explain why 2015 is set to be the deadliest year on record, as cyber-criminals find lethal new ways to infect PCs, tablets and phones. Hackers always seem to be one step ahead of antivirus companies, so staying safe isn’t easy. But following our advice is a good start. We’ll never stop trying to protect you. On a happier note, I’d like to thank the thousands of readers who have bought our new book The Definitive Guide to Windows 10. It…

WATCH OUT FOR… Facebook ‘Dislike button’ scams What happened? Facebook users were warned about scams claiming to offer an early look at the site’s forthcoming ‘Dislike’ button. In September, Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the site was working on a button as an alternative to ‘Like’. This was widely reported as a ‘Dislike’ button, though Zuckerberg said that it would actually be used to show sympathy or empathy with a post expressing sadness, such as “My cat has just died”. It hasn’t taken long for scammers to exploit the huge interest in this news. They have plastered Facebook with posts containing the heading: “Get newly introduced Facebook dislike button on your profile” below an upside-down version of the site’s ‘Like’ thumbsup icon (see screenshot left). The scammers appeal to…

TABLET £203 from BT Shop www.snipca.com/17931 When Apple first launched the iPad in 2010, it was years ahead of the competition, and it’s managed to stay ahead of the pack not just at the high end, but at the low end of the price range too. Every year, a new crop of iPads arrive with hugely improved specifications, and still-capable older models are reduced to a budget price. “The ZenPad doesn’t feel slow and can handle most games ” When Asus stepped back into the ring with the ZenPad S 8.0, it must have hoped Apple would finally put the iPad mini 2 out to pasture in its autumn product refresh. Instead, Apple has cut its price again, to just £219. Even so, the ZenPad is still a few pounds…

SMARTPHONE £129 from Amazon www.snipca.com/18035 Settle down children and Grandad will tell you a story. Once upon a time, all over the United Kingdom there were these things called ‘factories’. Every day, British people would ‘clock in’ to them and operate machines that made things. Not things such as ‘financial services’ and ‘marketing communications’ but real things, that you could buy in shops, made of steel and glass and wood. Like in China, Grandad? (Grandad sighs a faraway sigh.) Yes, my darling. Like in China. “You can tinker with the settings more than other Android smartphones allow ” This new smartphone is, of course, made in China. Dream on. But it’s a product of Wileyfox, a new company based in London. Apart from the embossed fox logo on the back…

Eamil us your tips: letters@computeractive.co.uk TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT Use Chromecast’s new features Following Google’s announcement about changes to Chromecast on September 29, I noticed that the Chromecast app on my Android (www.snipca.com/18112) and iOS (www.snipca.com/18113) devices had received a significant update, with a redesigned interface and new options. Connect the app to your TV, then tap ‘Browse your Cast Apps’. You’ll be taken to the new What’s On tab, where you’ll see a list of apps installed on your device that work with your Chromecast. Tap the Get Apps tab to bring up a list of other Chromecast-compatible apps you can install. You can now customise Chromecast’s background images on your TV screen, using photos from your Google Photos and Facebook account. To do that, tap the Devices tab,…

WORD Create attractive tables with shading and borders We usually associate tables with Excel, but Word - rather surprisingly - has some very good tools to help you create better-looking tables. To do that, you first need to select how many rows and columns you want, so click Word’s Insert tab, then click the Table dropdown menu (at the top left) and select your cells and columns by clicking them. Now click inside the table and you’ll see many different styles you can apply to it courtesy of the Design tab that’s selected by default. Because Excel’s primary purpose is creating table-based data, it doesn’t have a similar tab. Now expand the Table Styles menu by clicking the arrow at the bottom right (see screenshot) to see more styles, then…

Will upgrading to Windows 10 wipe Movie Maker? Q I have Windows 7 and use Movie Maker a lot as I find it very simple and it does everything I need. I’ve been told that it is not available in Windows 10. As I have Windows Live Essentials installed on my computer, will Movie Maker still work when I upgrade? John Henry A You’re right that Windows 10 doesn’t include Movie Maker, but if you already have it installed on your Windows 7 PC and you install Windows 10 as an ‘in-place’ upgrade, then Movie Maker will remain untouched. However, if you perform a ‘clean’ install of Windows 10 then everything on your PC will be erased, and Movie Maker will not be reinstalled. Microsoft is not offering support for…

Microsoft has angered many Windows 10 users by adding adverts to the Start menu. They are appearing in the Preview Build 10547, which was made available in mid-September to users signed up to the Windows 10 Insider Program (http://insider.windows.com). Microsoft launches Preview Builds of Windows 10 to test new features. If the adverts are deemed a success, it seems likely they will soon appear in the mainstream version of Windows 10, which has now been downloaded 100 million times worldwide. The adverts were first spotted by Bogdan Popa, a journalist on the website Softpedia (www.softpedia.com). So far they are mostly recommendations for apps you can download from the Windows Store. They appear on the left-hand side of the Start menu under the heading ‘Suggested’. One advert is a link to…

Tell us what’s on your mind Email: letters@computeractive.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/computeractive Twitter: @ComputerActive www.twitter.com/computeractive Windows 10 is like a ‘bad sports car’ Dhanag In his verdict on Windows 10 (Issue 459), Stuart Andrews has nailed it once again. His main point is that it doesn’t matter how good an operating system’s tools are if it keeps conking out every hour. Spot on. It’s like buying a sports car that has enough gadgets to keep James Bond and Jeremy Clarkson happy, and goes from 0-60 in three seconds, but only lasts 30 minutes on each drive before breaking down. Until Windows 10 becomes more reliable, it’s like a sports car that looks great, but performs badly. Eric Bremner Yes, Windows 7 is popular – but so what? Ian O’Sullivan may well be proved…

EBOOK MANAGER/CONVERTER Calibre 2.39.0 www.snipca.com/18078 What you need: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1 or 10 Whether or not you prefer ‘real’ books to their electronic counterparts, there’s no doubt that ebooks have certain benefits. They’re convenient, simple to manage and easy to share between devices – or at least they are if you use Calibre. For anyone with even a modest ebook library, Calibre is a must. Not only does it let you manage your entire ebook collection in one place, but it also converts ebook files from one format to another, and provides an astonishingly comprehensive set of tools for syncing, downloading, sharing and editing ebook files. If you’ve never used it before, grab the latest version from the link above. There’s no hidden junk to watch out for…

The iPad mini is basically a scaled-down iPad. It doesn’t do anything different – and that’s the point. Its 7.9in Retina display packs in the same amount of detail as the 9.7in iPad Air, making its 2048x1536-pixel resolution even sharper, and it’s now even easier to hold. To this point, the iPad mini had just one flaw: put it next to the Air, and you’d see straight away that its smaller screen was also duller. Well, Apple’s gone and fixed that. The new iPad mini 4 has an LCD panel that’s not only vibrantly colourful when images demand it (pale and dark colours remain appropriately understated), but is wedged right up against the glass, so you really feel as if you’re touching what’s on screen. The main camera also gets…

Find out what other products we liked in 2014. Buy our Back Issue CD (now only £12.16*): www.snipca.com/14981 *At time of press LAPTOP Asus X555LA-XX290H £300 from www.snipca.com/18151 Tested: Issue 446 Asus has made all the right choices with this budget Windows 8.1 laptop. Its comfortable keyboard, fast performance, respectably lengthy battery life and bright screen are all the more impressive given its low price. ALTERNATIVE Asus Chromebook C200 A cheap Chrome OS ultra-portable laptop with a bright screen, lengthy battery life and a great keyboard. £208 from www.snipca.com/17296 PHONE Motorola Moto X Play £270 from www.snipca.com/17934 Tested: Issue 459 This chunky 5.5in phone, with its coloured rubber back, has a bright, well-balanced screen and a decent 21-megapixel camera. It’s powerful enough to run Android 5.1.1 smoothly, and battery life is good.…

Moving your data from your old device to a new one can be cumbersome, especially if you’re switching mobile operating systems. Apple has now made this process much easier by releasing its first Android app ‘Move to iOS’. The free app helps you move all your Android data (Gmail messages, Chrome bookmarks, Google calendar events and all the photos, videos and contacts stored on your device) seamlessly to iOS. At the end we’ll show you how to get the data from your other free Android apps on to iOS. STEP 1 If you have a brand new iOS device that you haven’t set up yet go to Step 2, then Step 3. To transfer Android data to an existing (second-hand or inherited) iOS device, you first need to erase all…

ANDROID Quickly find any app on your device If you have a lot of apps on your device, then searching for the one you want can be fiddly. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to speed up your search. The quickest method is to swipe up from the bottom of your device to activate Google Now. Next, tap the mic icon, then simply speak the name of the app you want to open. For example, say ‘Open Evernote’. Another method – which works on Nexus and some other Android devices – is to press the app drawer icon (the circle with six dots at the bottom of your screen). Your cursor will now appear in the search field on your app drawer screen. Start typing the name of the…

See websites in full on your iPhone and iPad Lots of web designers helpfully provide mobile-friendly versions of their sites, which appear automatically when you visit from an iPad or iPhone (or indeed from any tablet or smartphone). The trouble is that some of these mobile sites just aren’t very good – they don’t provide all of the options of the full site, and can be awkward to navigate. iOS 9 gives you the option to see the full version of many sites rather than the default mobile version. When visiting a cut-down mobile site in Safari, long-tap (press and hold) the refresh icon to the right of the address bar at the top, then tap Request Desktop Site at the bottom of the screen. Annoyingly it doesn’t work on…

NEW! THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO WINDOWS 10 This 148-page book is the only guide you need on Microsoft’s new operating system. You’ll learn how to master all the new tools, lock Microsoft’s weak privacy settings and prevent future updates from wrecking your PC. It includes fixes for all the problems and bugs that have appeared in Windows 10 since it launched. Plus, you’ll discover how to make Cortana understand you, remove the apps you hate, fix the dreaded Reboot Loop problem, master the new Edge browser, and stop Microsoft sharing your personal info. Don’t use Windows 10 without this book by your side! BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON at www.snipca.com/17716 THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO FREE SOFTWARE In our new 148-page book, we recommend only the very best free programs that…

Spreadsheet won’t open If a spreadsheet stops opening properly – or even at all – launch Excel and click File, then Open (or File, Open, Computer, then Browse in Excel 2013). Locate the problematic spreadsheet file and click it, but instead of clicking Open, click the down arrow next to the Open button and select ‘Open and Repair’, then click Repair when prompted. With any luck the file will open and you’ll see a message showing a link to a log file with more details about the repair. If this doesn’t work, try the instructions above again, but this time choose the Extract Data option when prompted, then select ‘Convert to Values’. Bear in mind that some data may be missing. Save the recovered file with a new name. Excel…

32bit A measure of how much data a computer can process at once. Most older PCs are 32bit, more modern ones are 64bit. 4K Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels 64bit A technology that processes information in larger chunks. Most modern computers are 64bit. 802.11ac A standard for wireless networks that allows for higher transfer speeds than 802.11n. 802.11n A standard for wireless networks that allows for high transfer speeds. Add-in Microsoft’s name for tools that can be added to Office software. Add-on See Plug-in. Beta A version of software that’s being tested, often released so problems can be ironed out. Bitcoins A type of digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently…

WARNING: Junk ahead Junk offender: Skype Skype’s built-in Translator tool now “unveils the magic” in dozens more languages, according to the program’s official blog (www.snipca.com/18157; see News, page 8). If the prospect of talking face-to-face to your Norwegian niece or your Klingon cousin (www.snipca.com/18158) has finally tempted you to install Microsoft’s famed video-chat program, beware. Multi-lingual subtitles are not the only magic it’s about to “unveil” in your PC. Pack of PUPs Skype’s installer wants to take over your browser with all the Microsoft tools you don’t want. The first thing you’re offered is ‘Skype Click to Call’. Actually, “offered” isn’t the right word; you’re given it, because it installs automatically as a toolbar in Internet Explorer (IE) unless you untick it. The next two horrors you’re given without asking…

How long must a warranty last with a replacement device? Q How long must a warranty last with a replacement device? Clive Bonner A Yes, it is correct. Most manufacturers offer a free 12-month guarantee because it’s a way of saying ‘we stand by the quality of our goods and if something goes wrong we’ll put it right’. This 12-month period doesn’t change, no matter how many replacements you receive. Clive is worried that he will lose any rights to a refund once the guarantee ends, but this isn’t the case. His rights are covered by statutory law and aren’t affected by a guarantee. Companies don’t have to offer a guarantee, but must stick by it if they do. Guarantees represents a legally binding promise to carry out what is…

WI-FI MUSIC PLAYER £44 from gramofon.com www.snipca.com/18086 Described as a ‘modern cloud jukebox’, this beautifully made little cuboid has a simple purpose: it gets music from the internet and plays it in your house. There’s no screen or buttons to press because everything is controlled from your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Spotify is the world’s most popular music-streaming service, giving you access to millions of tracks old and new with a £10-a-month Premium subscription (the free version contains adverts). Gramofon comes with Spotify Connect, a feature that sends music straight from Spotify’s servers to any compatible device. You plug Gramofon into the mains and connect its stereo jack (no fancy hi-fi sockets here) to an amplifier or a set of powered speakers. Using the Gramofon app on your device,…

What you need: Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 Time required: 30 minutes After we included Java in our ‘Software you must Uninstall Now’ Cover Feature in Issue 458, a lot of readers emailed us to say they are happy to install the latest version of the plug-in (and live with the security risks) if they can continue to use some of the brilliant programs that require Java. One such program is DocFetcher, which searches your PC much faster than Windows. Advanced tools include the option to search for content within zipped, Outlook, PDF and Notepad files, and the ability to use refined search criteria to get more accurate results. STEP 1 One of our main gripes with Java is the way it installs new versions alongside existing versions. Most…

WINDOWS 8 Learn how to mix the perfect cocktails The Food & Drink app in Windows 8 has a selection of cocktail recipes that can help you give any bartender a run for his money. Open the app and scroll to the Cocktails section. In the Browse Cocktails area on the left, you’ll see a list of five spirits – Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, Rum and Tequila. Select the spirit you want as your basis to see relevant cocktail recipes as tiles. If you’ve never mixed cocktails before, you might find some of the recipes quite challenging, but there’s an easy way to change the level of difficulty. Click Difficulty at the top left to see three options – Easy, Moderate and Complex (see screenshot above). Start with the easy recipes…

What is it? A “free” mobile service that has just launched in the UK, after proving a success in the US. Once you pay £6.99 to join, you can make calls, send texts and browse the web for free. What’s the catch? Calls, texts and web access are limited. The most basic plan gives you 200 minutes of calls, 200 texts and 200MB of mobile data per month, completely free. Would that be enough for me? Depends how much you use your phone. We’d expect the average phone-addicted teenager to bust that limit within 48 hours, but anyone who uses their device more sparingly should be fine. That’s true of texts and calls, anyway. Internet use is a different matter, because you need to visit around only 500 web pages…

In Issue 458’s Cover Feature I lined Thunderbird up against a wall, alongside usual suspects Flash, Java, Hola and iTunes, and told you to uninstall it forthwith. Mozilla’s venerable email program has suffered multiple vulnerabilities in recent years and I just didn’t think it was worth the risk or hard-drive space. Several readers emailed to say I was wrong. Well, you’re right to say that Thunderbird has not been shot down – it’s been passed successfully into the hands of its open-source community. But is it the best choice for managing your emails? That’s another matter. Let’s look at the pros and cons. Note: no one wrote in to defend iTunes, by the way. Thunderbird: the case for In spring 2015, the Thunderbird community launched version 38 (38.3.0 at the…

STUART ANDREWS is Computeractive’s Mr Angry Gigantic gadgets Inow look back with nostalgia on the days when we used to joke that if mobile phones got any smaller we wouldn’t be able to find them in our pocket. These days the damn things are only getting bigger. The same thing is happening to our tablets and even to our monitor screens. It seems we like our technology super-sized, as if bigger automatically means better. I’m not so sure. “Your fingers can’t wrap around the phone and hit the virtual keys unless they are longer than ET’s ” With some high-tech gizmos, going large makes sense. Take TVs, for example: the bigger the screen, the more immersive your programmes and films, and were it not for my wife’s concerns about interior…