Windows 10 Fall Creators Update: the 10 best new features

Microsoft has been testing its latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update over the past six months, and it’s now ready to roll out to existing machines today. While Microsoft’s “Creators Update” naming extends to this latest Windows 10 update, a lot of the features are new additions that will be used by all Windows users. Microsoft is officially launching its Windows Mixed Reality (VR) headsets with the Fall Creators Update, and it’s finally bringing its contact integration to the Windows 10 task bar.

Most of the improvements in the Fall Creators Update are minor, and some have even been delayed until a future update. Microsoft is also starting to tweak the overall look and feel of Windows 10 with its new Fluent Design in the Fall Creators Update. You’ll see some of those subtle changes and animations if you update your PC today, and more will be coming next year. I’ve been testing Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update for the past six months, and these are my favorite new features coming to Windows.

ONEDRIVE FILES ON-DEMAND

Microsoft is bringing back placeholder files for OneDrive with the Fall Creators Update. A new on-demand feature lets OneDrive pick out data from the cloud when it’s needed, without having to sync full files and folders to a device. OneDrive Files On-Demand will only download files when you need them, and File Explorer will show what files are available locally, or if they’ll need to be downloaded from the cloud. Apps can even sync files from OneDrive, and you’ll get a notification showing their download progress.

It’s a great improvement over the old method of having to sync entire folders for offline usage, and any files you open will now be automatically synced offline until you run out of disk space.

PEOPLE INTEGRATION

My People is Microsoft’s method of making the static Windows 10 task bar a little more personal. You can now pin friends, co-workers, or family members to the task bar, for quick access to contact details. You can even use Skype to call or message a contact from the task bar, and emoji and messages will pop up during conversations. The most useful part of this people integration is the ability to drag and drop things like pictures directly onto a contact and share them easily.

WINDOWS MIXED REALITY

Microsoft’s answer to virtual reality, Windows Mixed Reality, is now available with the Fall Creators Update. To use Mixed Reality you’ll need to purchase a separate headset from PC makers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, or Samsung. The setup process just involves launching the Mixed Reality Portal app, and most modern PCs will be capable of running basic apps in Mixed Reality. You’ll need a more powerful machine to access some of the more demanding games and experiences.

Microsoft has created a Cliff House home area where you can pin apps, games, and even holograms. It’s the main portal for launching everything you’ll need in VR, and you can also watch movies and TV shows from there. Right now there aren’t too many games, but SteamVR support will be available in beta by the end of the year.

FLUENT DESIGN CHANGES

Microsoft is ushering in a new design language with Windows 10, dubbed Fluent Design. The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update introduces some parts of Fluent Design, with subtle effects and animations. Microsoft’s Fluent Design System is designed to be the true successor to Microsoft’s Metro design, and will appear across apps and services on Windows, iOS, and Android. Microsoft is focusing on light, depth, motion, material, and scale for its Fluent Design, with animations that make the design feel like it’s moving during interactions in Windows.

Most of the new changes include subtle additions like blur effects, which is a type of design we saw back with Windows Vista. The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update also makes it easier to resize apps and windows, thanks to the design changes, and transparency in the Start menu now uses a subtle new acrylic design.

MICROSOFT EDGE IMPROVEMENTS

Microsoft’s Edge browser is getting a lot of improvements in the Fall Creators Update. The software maker is bringing back pinned sites on the task bar, allowing you to pin your favorite site (The Verge) to the task bar for quick access. There’s also a new full-screen mode (F11) that lets you use most of your monitor to fully display a website fully. PDFs and EPUB ebooks are also getting some nice additions: you can now annotate ebooks, and even use ink with a stylus on them; PDFs are getting annotation support and improved viewing and navigation.

PEN AND TOUCH IMPROVEMENTS

If you’re a Microsoft Surface owner, then the Fall Creators Update will improve the touch and inking features. Microsoft has added a new touch keyboard with text prediction, and quicker access to emoji. There’s even a one-handed touch keyboard and shape writing so you can swipe over keys to type (just like Windows Phone). Microsoft has also added a dictation button so you can speak to type, or even use voice commands to navigate around Windows 10.

NEW EMOJI AND A USEFUL SHORTCUT

Everyone loves emoji and Microsoft is making sure it got the latest Unicode updates in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. New additions include dinosaurs, genies, fairies, and even zombies in time for Halloween. They’re all available in a really neat new emoji panel. You can summon the emoji panel by using Win + period or semicolon as a keyboard shortcut. The panel also supports searching for emoji, so it’s the perfect way to quickly send that ideal response during a conversation.

CORTANA IMPROVEMENTS

Cortana will now display call notifications if you’re using an Android phone. The digital assistant will sync notifications if you have Cortana installed on an Android device, and it gives you the ability to text a person if you’re busy on your PC, or decline the call. Microsoft has also moved Cortana’s settings into the main settings part of Windows 10. Cortana can now even lock, sign out, shut down, or restart your PC with voice commands.

HEADPHONE AND SOUND IMPROVEMENTS

If you use headphones a lot with your Windows 10 PC, then they’ll be a lot easier to manage with the Fall Creators Update. You can now right-click on the sound icon in the notification area and enable Windows Sonic, a spatial sound feature that supports surround sound and Dolby Atmos. The new volume mixer also supports the ability to control individual app volume for Universal Windows Apps, which is useful if you want to play music from Groove Music or Microsoft Edge in the background at slightly lower than the system volume for gaming.

TASK MANAGER GPU TRACKING AND DPI IMPROVEMENTS

If you’re a PC gamer, then Microsoft is adding a nice addition for tracking GPU performance. Task Manager now has a new GPU option in the performance tab that shows GPU utilization and memory usage. Processes are also now grouped in the main Task Manager interface, making it easier to control them.

Microsoft is also addressing the issue of blurry apps when you use a monitor with a laptop, or a second screen. If you have a high DPI display like a 4K monitor, you’ll no longer have to log out to fix blurry desktop apps. It’s a good improvement that will fix most desktop apps and the majority of DPI complaints, but you might find some older apps will still run blurry at times.

What to Do with a Broken Laptop

Even If Your Laptop Is Broken, You Can Still Make Clever Use of the Other Parts.

When your laptop is busted and it’s beyond repair–or you just don’t want to pay to fix it–all hope is not lost. Even if you can’t sell the laptop as is, there are still things you can do other to either breathe new life into the laptop or salvage as much as you can. Here are a few ideas for making the most of that broken computer

Most of these suggestions require a little DIY spirit and elbow grease, but they’re better than tossing the laptop in the trash.

You’ll save money, too, by repurposing a laptop or its parts, making your investment go farther.

Turn It into a PC-in-a-Keyboard

If the main computer parts (processor, hard drive, etc.) are fine but just the LCD, hinge, keyboard, or other external parts are broken, you can take the guts out of the laptop, put it into a standard desktop keyboard, and hook that keyboard to a monitor. The MacBook Air Project shows how you can do this with a MacBook Air, but the concept is the same for any laptop: In the end, your laptop becomes a desktop PC, except its case isn’t a tower or a cube but your keyboard. [via Gizmodo]

Turn the Display into a Standalone Monitor

Additional monitors can boost your productivity, so if your laptop screen still works but the rest of the laptop doesn’t (or you have an old laptop with a perfectly good screen), use it as another monitor for your other computer. Instructables user augustoerico provides step-by-step directions for using the LCD as a second monitor.

It involves detaching the LCD panel and attaching it to a controller board, which you can buy or build yourself if you’re handy.

Salvage the Hard Drive as an External Hard Drive

If the hard drive still works but the laptop is otherwise unusable, take the drive out of the laptop and use it as an external hard drive.

It’s a good thing to try even if you’re not sure if the laptop drive still functions. There are lots of  external hard drive enclosures that fit the typical 2.5″ laptop drive; I really like the Vantec NexStar hard drive enclosures because they’re sturdy, well designed, and affordable. Just make sure you know what kind of connection (SATA, IDE, etc.) your laptop drive needs and find the case that matches.

Sell the Other Parts

If worse comes to worst. you can always just sell the parts of your laptop–the memory, screen, power adapter, and even the motherboard–or the laptop itself with a note that it’s broken and for parts only. You might be surprised how many people need and buy old computer parts. Just remember to wipe the hard drive if you can or remove the hard drive and destroy it. (See About.com’sSupport site for directions.)

If worse comes to worst, you should be able to donate or recycle the old laptop (and other electronics) and get rid of it with a clear conscience.

How to Clean Your Laptop

When was the last time you cleaned your laptop? Yeah, we thought so. This simple computer maintenance task doesn’t just get rid of accumulated dirt and dust–it keeps your laptop running in tip top shape.

Laptop Parts to Clean

The five general parts of the laptop you should keep clean are  the case, the LCD screen, the laptop keyboard (and touchpad), the ports, and the cooling vents.

You can also open up your laptop to expose and clean its cooling system (the fan and heat sink), but only attempt that if you’re comfortable opening up your laptop.

Cleaning the cooling system can help solve laptop overheating problems and related symptoms like your laptop freezing or having issues shutting down.

As always, defer to your laptop manufacturer’s manual for the recommended procedure for laptop cleaning.

Materials

You’ll need the following things to clean your laptop (click on the links to compare prices and buy them online):

  • l Isopropyl alcohol, available at drugstores and supermarkets. Because it evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave a residue, isopropyl alcohol is safe to use on electronic equipment and LCD displays. Not safe to use: ammonia, tap water, mineral water, and household window cleaners.
  • l Distilled or purified water or bottled water. Avoid tap water, which can leave permanent mineral spots.
  • l Can of compressed air, also commonly available at many types of stores.
  • l Lint-free cloth, like the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses. In a pinch, you can use a soft, 100% cotton cloth. Do not use: paper towels, facial tissues, or scratchy or abrasive cloths.

Prepare to Clean

  • l Make sure the computer is off and unplugged, and remove the battery.
  • l Make a 1:1 cleaning solution using the water and alcohol.
  • l Dampen the cloth with the cleaning solution–it should be slightly moistened rather than very wet. Also, never spray anything directly on the computer; the liquid should go on the cloth first.

Clean the Laptop Case

Use the damp cloth to wipe down the exterior of the laptop. This will help you make it look brand-new again. Then open the lid and wipe the areas around your keyboard.

Clean the LCD Screen

Clean the display using the same cloth or a newly moistened one if the original is too grimy (again, don’t spray any solution directly on the screen). Use gentle circular motions or wipe the screen from left to right, top to bottom.

Clean the Keyboard and Touchpad

Use a can of compressed air to loosen and remove dirt, crumbs, and everything else that may be stuck in the keys. Alternately, you can turn the laptop over and gently shake out any loose debris, running your fingers over the keys to aid the process.

If you have stuck keys or a very dirty keyboard (due to spilled drinks, for example), you can also remove the individual keys and wipe beneath them with a cotton swab dipped in the cleaning solution. Be sure you check your laptop manual to make sure the keys can be removed for cleaning, and, of course, put them back the right way.

Some laptops have drains built into the keyboard tray. If yours is like that, you can pour distilled water into the keyboard and let it air-dry. Check your manual to be sure.

Finally, use the damp cloth to wipe the keys and the touchpad.

Clean the Ports and Cooling Vents

Use the can of compressed air to clean the case openings: the ports and cooling vents. Spray from an angle so the debris is blown away from the computer, rather than into it.

Also, be careful when spraying the fans, because if you spray too hard liquid may get in the fan blades. To prevent the fans from over spinning while you’re blowing the air on them (which can damage the fans), place a cotton swab or toothpick between the fan blades to hold them in place.

Last But Not Least

Make sure your laptop is completely dry before turning it on.

Why Your Android Smartphone or Tablet is Running Slow

Yes, we’ve become spoiled. We carry around devices that grant access to most of the world’s knowledge, that provide entertainment and a surprising amount of computing power, and yet if that device doesn’t pop right up with answers, we become quite frustrated. But sometimes it is good to be spoiled, which is why we’re going to go over some reasons why your Android smartphone or tablet may be running slow and provide some solutions to make it run much faster.

The Quick Solution: Close Out of Apps

Mobile operating systems like Android and Apple’s iOS do a good job of managing resources, but having a lot of apps open can still cause some slow downs. The first thing to try is simple closing out of the apps you are no longer using. You can close apps by tapping the task button, which is usually a square button either at the bottom of the display or just below the screen. This will bring up all of the most recent apps in a cascading style down the screen. Simply swipe up or down to move through the list and tap the X button in the upper right corner of each window to close the app.

Reboot the Device

If closing down apps doesn’t cure the problem, a quick reboot should do the trick. It’s a common mistake to think suspending the device by pressing the button on the side is actually powering off your Android smartphone or tablet. You will actually need to press this button for several seconds until a menu pops up offering you the choice to “Power off”, or on some devices, “Restart”.

After Android powers down, wait a few seconds and then press the button again to power it back on again. This is basically a cleaning process that will refresh the memory and reload the operating system, which should cure most problems.

Check Your Internet Speed

If your Android tablet or smartphone is still running slow after rebooting it, you might need to upgrade it, especially if it is several years old.

But before we go down that route, there are a number of different options we can try to clear up the problem. And the first option might come from an unlikely source: the Internet.

We do a lot of Internet-related tasks on our tablets and smartphones. We browse the web, check Email, find out what everyone is up to on Facebook, etc. And if our connection to the web is slow, our device will seem slow.

You can download the Ookla Speedtest app from the Google Play store to check the speed of your connection. The first thing to look at is your Ping time. This measure how long it takes to send a piece of information to the server and back and can be just as important as bandwidth. Anything under 100 milliseconds (ms) should be fine, with under 50ms being preferable. If you are over 200ms, you will experience noticeable delays.

Your download speed (bandwidth) should be at least 5 megabytes-per-second (Mbps) to stream video, and at least 8 Mbps is preferable to ensure a smooth experience. Many providers now offer anywhere from 20 Mbps to 80 or more. If you are under 5 Mbps, you will definitely want to check with your provider about upgrading.

The distance to your router can also cause issues. If your Internet is running slow, try moving closer to the router and checking the speed.

If you are getting slow speeds but believe it should be faster, you can try rebooting the router. Much like your tablet or smartphone, a reboot can allow the router to have a fresh start, which can help it run faster.

Disable Widgets

We’ve closed out of apps, rebooted and check the Internet connection. It’s now time to take a look at widgets, those helpful mini-apps that can sometimes eat up too many resources. A few widgets like a clock or Chrome bookmarks can be great additions to your home screen, but remember, every widget is running in real time when you are using your device.

If you’ve installed a number of widgets, try cutting back by disabling a few.

You can remove a widget by pressing your finger down on the widget and holding it down until it move with your finger. A “Remove” section should appear on the home screen. Simply drag the widget to the remove section and drop it. If no remove section appears, try dragging the widget off the screen and dropping it, a process that works with some older devices.

Update to the Latest and Greatest Version of Android

Newer versions of the Android operating system can help out by providing fixes to security holes and correct issues with how resources like memory and storage space are optimized. If you’ve rebooted your device and checked your Internet speed with no luck, you should make sure you are running the latest and greatest version of the operating system.

  • First, launch the Settings app from the app page.
  • Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Settings and tap on “About smartphone” or “About tablet”.
  • Tap “System Upgrade”, which should be at the top of the screen. Your device will display whether or not you are on the latest version of Android and provide you with an upgrade button if needed.

Unfortunately, this can be an iterative process. Once you upgrade to a newer version of the operating system, you will want to go through those steps again to check if you have upgraded to the latest. You may need to step through several upgrades to get your operating system up to date. And while you wait for those updates to install, you can read up on some useful shortcuts for Android.

Remove Bloatware

Bloatware has become a major issue with Android, with different manufacturers adding sometimes up to a dozen or more apps to the standard ones that come with Android. If you have a Samsung smartphone or tablet, you may have a number of duplicate apps such as Samsung digital stores in addition to Google Play stores. And not all of these apps are harmless. Some may launch automatically when you boot up your device, using up memory and taking up CPU cycles.

Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to outright uninstall these apps. But you can disable them. You can do this by launching the Settings app, tapping Apps and then tapping the app you want to disable. If it is an app you downloaded from the Google Play store, the button at the top will read “Uninstall” rather than “Disable”. If you are consistently having performance issues, it is a good idea to disable any apps that came with the device that you never use.

Disable Live Wallpaper

If you have a ‘live’ or animated wallpaper, it’s a good idea to switch to a static background if you are having performance issues. You can choose your wallpaper by opening the Settings app, choose Display and then tapping on Wallpaper. It’s better to use one of the default “Wallpapers” or a photo rather than choosing something from “Live Wallpapers”.

Clear the App Cache

Apps sometimes download graphics and other bits of data from the Internet to store on your device to increase speed, but sometimes, this ‘cache’ of data can actually hurt performance. The data cache can contain temporary files that are no longer used, or worse, corrupted files that can cause disruptive issues. If you are having issues with your smartphone or tablet, it can be a good idea to clear the cache. The unfortunate side effect is that you may be asked to log into apps again, and the first time you boot into the app, it may take a bit longer to load. But clearing out the cache can result in an overall improvement to performance.

  • First, launch the Settings App.
  • Scroll down and Choose Storage.
  • You should see “Cached data” or “App cache” in the list.
  • After you tap on “Cached data”, you will be prompted to clear the data for all apps. Choose OK.

Should You Worry About Freeing Up Storage Space?

Clearing up storage space is a common bit of advice for improving performance, but in reality, this will only improve performance if you are running very low on free space for your internal storage. You can check how much free space you have by opening the Settings app and tapping on Storage. If you have under 1 GB, you may want to delete apps you no longer to use to give the Android operating system a little more breathing room. Otherwise, this isn’t something you need to worry about.

Why You Should Try to Fix Your Computer Problem Yourself

Fixing Your Own PC Will Save You Money

Saving money is probably an obvious advantage of fixing your own computer.

Getting your computer serviced at a local shop will usually run you from $40 to $90 USD per hour or more. Some are less expensive but that’s not the norm.

Remote computer support options are typically cheaper but they can only help fix some software related problems and are useless in cases where hardware is to blame.

If you fix your computer problem yourself, you can completely avoid what might end up being a several hundred dollar bill.

No matter what your financial situation, free is a pretty good deal. That’s a lot of money you can save by investing some time in trying to fix it yourself.

You Don’t Need Expensive Tools to Fix Your Own Computer

Many people think that they have to buy lots of expensive diagnostic hardware and software to fix a computer.

This is absolutely not the case. Expensive tools do exist but they’re usually used to help computer repair services test or solve things quickly or in bulk.

Chances are you already have 95% of the physical tools you would ever need to fix any computer problem in your toolbox or garage.

Computer repair services also use many software diagnostic tools to determine what might be wrong with a computer but most of the very best ones they use are available for free online!

Also, while there are a number of reasons why owning a second computer, or at least having temporary access to one, could help a lot when you need to fix yours, it’s not always necessary.

Your “smaller” computer – aka your smartphone or tablet – is often a huge help, at very least as a research tool.

You’ll Probably Be Back Up and Running Faster

You might be thinking to yourself at this point that surely it’ll take days or weeks to learn enough to repair your own computer and that it won’t be worth the trouble. You need your computer working right now, right?

First of all, unless you’re lucky, after you drop your computer off at the repair shop you’ll likely be waiting at least an entire day, usually longer, before you’ll be able to pick it back up.

You are your only client when you’ve become the repair person yourself so my guess is that you can get on it a bit more quickly.

Secondly, you might be surprised to know that most common problems are solved by relatively simple steps. The more time you spend looking for solutions to computer problems online the more you’ll see that this is true.

Finally, and I really want to stress this one, you don’t need to learn to solve every computer problem to solve this computer problem. A knowledgeable computer repair person has a lot of experience and education and can solve a multitude of problems with ease.

You don’t need to reach this level of knowledge about repairing computers.

You need to solve your single problem as quickly as possible. Well written, easy to follow troubleshooting information online will get you that.

You Know More Than You Think

If you’re having trouble using the mouse, keyboard, or screw driver then you might have a problem repairing your computer. Otherwise, you’re only a step-by-step troubleshooting guide away from solving pretty much any computer problem you might see.

If you can think logically, follow instructions in order, and ask questions when you’re not sure about something or don’t understand, then you should feel confident enough to try to fix your own computer problems before you even think about paying someone else to.

How to Fix a Slow iPad

Is your iPad running slow? Does it seem to get bogged down after a few hours? While this is more common with older iPads that don’t have the processing power of the new iPad Air line and iPad Pro tablets, even the newest iPad can bog down. There are multiple reasons why an iPad may begin running slow, including an app having issues or simply a slow Internet connection. Luckily, this is often easy to fix.

First: Quit Out of Your Current App

One common reason for an iPad to start chugging along is an issue with the app itself rather than the iPad. If you experience an app that is running slower than normal, it may sound logical to click the home button to close the app and then relaunch it. However, clicking the home button doesn’t actually close out of the app. It suspends the app, which basically keeps it frozen in the background.

Some apps even continue running in the background. These are commonly apps that stream music like Pandora, Spotify or the Music app that comes with the iPad.

If your problem is mainly with a single app, we’ll want to quit out of it using the task screen. This will properly shut the app down and purge it from memory, allowing you to launch a ‘fresh’ version of it. Please note that you can lose unsaved work by quitting out of the app. If it is currently working at a task, it can be best to wait until the app finishes the task before proceeding.

While in the task screen, it is a good idea to close out of any apps that are playing music. It is unlikely they are causing a problem, and even if the app is streaming the music from the Internet, it shouldn’t use up enough of your bandwidth to matter. However, closing out of the app won’t hurt and will ensure the app isn’t impacting anything.

To close the application, you need to bring up a list of all apps that are running in the background:

  1. Double-click the home button at the bottom of your iPad.

When you press it twice in quick succession, your most recent apps are shown as cascading windows across the screen. You can navigate through this screen by swiping from left-to-right or right-to-left. The active window will have its corresponding app icon above it.

To close an individual app:

  1. Hold your finger down on the active window.
  2. Without lifting your finger from the screen, swipe toward the top of the display.

This gesture resembles “flicking” the app off the iPad. Remember: you touch the app window, not the app icon.

Reboot the iPad

Closing apps won’t always do the trick. In this case, rebooting the iPad is the best recourse. This will flush everything from memory and give your iPad a clean start.

NOTE: Many people believe the iPad powers down when the Sleep/Wake button at the top of the iPad is pressed down or when the flap of their Smart Cover or Smart Case is close, but this only puts the iPad in suspend mode.

To reboot the iPad:

  1. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button until instructions appear telling you to slide a button to power off the iPad.
  2. When you slide the button, the tablet will shut down and the iPad’s screen will go completely dark.

Wait several seconds and then boot the iPad back up by holding down the sleep/wake button again. You will first see the Apple logo on the screen and your iPad should boot up shortly. Your iPad should run more quickly but, if it starts bogging down, keep in mind the apps that are running at the time. Sometimes, a single app can cause the iPad to perform poorly.

Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

It might not be your iPad that is running slow. It might be your Wi-Fi network.

You can check the Internet speed of your Wi-Fi network by using an app like Ookla’s Speedtest. This app will send data to a remote server and then send data back to the iPad, testing both upload and download speeds.

The average Wi-Fi network in the U.S. gets around 12 megabits-per-second (Mbps), although it is not uncommon to see speeds of 25+ Mbps. You probably won’t see much of a slowdown with your connection unless it gets around 6 Mbps or less. That’s around the amount of bandwidth it takes to stream movies and video.

If you are experiencing a problem with your Wi-Fi connection, try moving closer to your router.  If the speed increases, you may need to look into boosting your Wi-Fi range. This is common in larger buildings, but even a small house can have issues.

Make Sure You Are Running the Current Version of iOS

iOS is the operating system running on the iPad. While a major update sometimes will actually slow the iPad down a little, it is always a good idea to run the latest operating system. Not only will this ensure that you have the most recent performance tweaks, it also ensures that you have the latest fixes for any security issues.

You can check the version of iOS you are running by going into your Settings app, tapping General settings and tapping Software Update. If you are new to the iPad or iOS, here’s how to upgrade to the latest version of iOS.

Install an Ad Blocker

If you are primarily seeing a slow down while browsing the web in the Safari browser but your Internet speed isn’t slow, it may be more a symptom of which pages you are browsing than the iPad itself.

The more advertisements on a web page, the longer it will take to load. And if any one of those ads stalls out, you may be left waiting for the web page to pop up.

One solution to this is to install an ad blocker. These widgets enhance the Safari browser by disallowing ads to load on the web page. They make both for easier reading and faster loading. Sites like this one make money from ads, so this is a balance you have to wrestle with.

Turn Off Background App Refresh

This one could actually save you some battery life as well as keep your iPad lean and mean. Background App Refresh allows apps to refresh their content even when you aren’t using them. In this way, Facebook might reach out and retrieve posts to your wall or a news app may fetch the latest articles.

However, this uses a little bit of your processing speed and your Internet connection, so it could the iPad to run a little slower. This usually isn’t the main cause, but if you often find the iPad running slow (and especially if the battery drains quickly), you should turn off Background App Refresh.

To turn off Background App Refresh:

  1. Go to your iPad’s settings.
  2. Select General from the left-hand navigation menu.
  3. Tap Background App Refresh.
  4. Tap the on/off slider at the top of the screen.

If you’re still experiencing slow speeds, there is one more thing you can do.

Clear Storage Space

If you are running desperately low on storage space, clearing up a little extra elbow room for the iPad can sometimes improve performance. This can be accomplished by deleting apps that you no longer use, especially games that you don’t play anymore.

It’s easy to see which apps are using the most space on your iPad:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select General from the left-hand navigation menu.
  3. Tap Storage & iCloud usage.
  4. Tap Manage Storage (under the upper Storage section). This will show you which apps are using up the most storage.

You can also speed up Safari by deleting your cookies and web history, although this will cause you to log back into any websites that have saved your login information.

WHICH UNLOCK METHOD IS THE MOST SECURE FOR YOUR ANDROID?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that Android has a number of options aimed at making your device more secure. One of those features is different methods to unlock the screen: pattern, PIN, password, iris scan and fingerprint, just to mention a few. Below, we’ll explain the goal behind each one, and then you can choose the most practical unlock method for you and the most secure one for your Android.

Facial recognition

Facial recognition isn’t anything new. It first arrived on Android with the Ice Cream Sandwich version, also known as Android 4.0. This feature uses the front camera of the device to take a photo of your face and then it uses that photo as a baseline to unlock your device. It has a questionable level of security, with more cons than pros.

One of the biggest problems is that lighting has to be ideal for the front camera to be able to take a picture of your face. This all depends on the quality of the camera and how your face is placed in front of it. There’s a similar feature coming on the iPhone X, and manufacturers might repackage it and call it new, but don’t let them fool you.

Fingerprint scanner

This is my favorite option and the one I currently use on my phone. Obviously, how well it works depends on a few factors, like the quality of the sensor and its placement. Quality, in this case, means the speed that the sensor reads your finger. This varies a lot between devices, as well as its scratch-resistant surface. There are certain biometric authentication mechanisms which become faster the more you use them.

As for the placement, I prefer it on the front bottom part of the display, next to the power button, like on the Xperia line, which to me, is very practical. I’m not a fan of the ones on the back, but it’s all subjective here.

As for security, this is probably the most secure method to date. That’s because it’s quite difficult for a fingerprint reader to be easily hacked. Furthermore, the sensors are developed to recognize body heat and blood movement of the user, which means you can’t use a “dead” finger to unlock an Android.

Iris scanner

Like facial recognition, I’m still not convinced about using an iris scanner to unlock devices. It basically does the same thing as the fingerprint reader, and it requires the device to have a second, registered password in case you can’t get your phone unlocked. With the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, the fingerprint and iris scanners cannot be activated at the same time. In other words, the second unlock method needs to be a PIN or an alphanumeric password.

Recognition varies according to lighting conditions and where the user’s eye is positioned. The better readers won’t slow down when recognizing a user’s eye, even in low-light conditions.

The system that scans your iris also needs to be fully integrated into the reader so it reacts quickly and can’t be hacked. Technically, this system is on par with the fingerprint reader in terms of security but loses out when it comes to usability.

Smart Lock

Smart Lock was introduced on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and it’s been updated throughout the latest versions. I don’t really see it as a method to unlock your device but rather as a compliment to the one that you’ve already chosen. What the Smart Lock does is very simple, it unlocks – or better said, keeps your device unlocked – according to where you are, your voice, a device or a presence.

Choose your trusted locations, like your house or work, and when you get to those places, your device will be unlocked without having to use any of these methods. You can even use Bluetooth devices as trusted locations.

Currently, Smart Lock can also be set up so that it keeps your phone unlocked even when it’s in your pocket. As I said, it’s not really a method of unlocking your phone, but rather a compliment to one. Keep in mind that anyone can access your phone when you’re in one of your trusted locations, or even connected to a Bluetooth device.

PIN

A PIN is the traditional combination of numbers, and the length depends on which version of Android you have. It’s probably the main security option, distinct from the rest of the options presented here. PINs are also limited in their recovery if you happen to forget it. You’ll probably have to spend hours and hours trying to unlock your device. I use a PIN on my Android as a compliment to the fingerprint scanner.

Pattern

The pattern, or design, is a unique feature on Android phones and it’s been around for a while now. You can use it combined with the PIN if you’d like, but it really is a decent security system by itself. There’s only a certain number of times that you can try it until it locks you out for few seconds. However, on some interfaces, a certain number of wrong attempts can lead the device to erase user data.

Something else that’s curious about the pattern, and might be seen as a problem, is that your finger leaves the pattern on the display, which makes it easy for anyone to trace it. A combination of a greasy finger and a matte film will tell the world your password.

Password

A password is the oldest unlock method there is, and it’s seen as the most secure by many users. You can use any combo of numbers and letters to unlock your device. Recovery systems vary a lot but, in general, it can be just as hard to recover a password as it is a PIN.

Which method is the best to unlock your Android?

The iris scanner, Smart Lock and facial recognition are all complimentary or secondary security methods, and as of right now, they aren’t good enough to be used as the sole method of protecting your phone. This means that you’ll have to register a PIN, pattern or password as your primary option. The iris scanner has another aggravating feature as well: restriction and availability. There are only a few models on the market right now that come with this feature.

The fingerprint reader is also a complimentary feature, but it’s a feature which is available on most mid-range models, and its usability is very attractive. It also has fewer recognition errors. Nevertheless, you can count on the more traditional options, which are also the most secure, since they don’t need a second layer of protection. In terms of both practicality and security, I’d stick with the PIN, password or pattern if I were you.

FACIAL RECOGNITION: ANDROID MANUFACTURERS ARE CHASING AFTER APPLE

The iPhone X has yet to hit the market, so nobody knows how well Face ID actually works. However, buzz around 3D facial recognition is making the vast majority of Android manufacturers nervous. This is only to be expected, given what we know about how the industry works.

As the experts at KGI have found out, face recognition using special 3D sensors is the current hot topic of the smartphone industry. According to the survey, since the presentation of the iPhone X, the search queries for the new 3D sensors used for face recognition have tripled. At the same time, interest in the “traditional” fingerprint sensor – which has only been used in smartphones for four years – is also declining rapidly.

It was obvious at the time of the presentation how this would go. It’s the same old story. The face recognition technology that – remember – has been available on smartphones for years, is presented by Apple and will then be adopted by the Android manufacturers. Like the fingerprint sensor, face recognition will be seen on an increasing number of Android smartphones in the coming months. That’s not very creative, but companies feel that their hands are forced by Apple’s market power and popularity.

Technology has got to be fun

By the way, Face ID is not just about facial recognition. The Animojis introduced by Apple with the new iPhones may seem silly at first, but they show that the technology can also be used for a lot of other things, even if it’s something silly-sounding like animated animal faces with their own facial expressions. Let’s face it: if a technology does not promise the masses a bit of fun, then it won’t make a splash in the market.

However, there is another side to this story: the unfulfilled hope of a breakthrough in some technologies, such as the “under-display” optical fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S8 was already supposed have a sensor like this, but the engineers couldn’t implement it in time for release. As a result, Samsung users have to contort their fingers in search of the poorly placed sensor on the back – a lazy compromise. Similarly, Apple wanted to include a under-display fingerprint sensor in the iPhone X in order to offer an alternative to Face ID, but also ran out of time before their release deadline.

You won’t get anywhere without OLEDs

Such newfangled fingerprint sensors would probably not be available for the mass of consumers anyway, as the technology can only be used with OLED panels. This makes it difficult to provide mass-produced solutions outside of expensive, high-end smartphones, especially as Samsung enjoys a very dominant position in this area.

But fingerprint authentication, OLEDs displays, only serve to demonstrate once again what has always been reliable in the past: Apple doesn’t set any technical records on paper, but it sets the actual market trends. No matter what the Android competition does, if Apple starts off in one direction, then the others are compelled to follow.

Apple is technically ahead this time

This will not necessarily change if Samsung succeeds in actually getting the under-display fingerprint sensor to debut on Galaxy Note 9 for the first time, as a report by Business Insider suggests. It seems that facial recognition in the Samsung devices is much less advanced and less secure than in Apple. Business Insider states that Apple has an advantage of 18 to 30 months over Samsung when it comes to facial authentication. The new fingerprint sensor would thus only be a transitional solution until Samsung can catch up to Apple’s solution – which was also the case with the introduction of Touch ID.

It’s going to work like this: Samsung does it first, then Apple will make it better later, and only then does everyone else have to have it.

What do you think? Does the Android competition really have to follow every Apple trend? Or would a little more self-confidence do good here?

All you Need to Know About QC4.0+

Last year, Qualcomm Technologies released QC4.0, the most advanced charging technology that is likely to change the charging ability of future Smartphones. At the same time, the company also released the Snapdragon 835 processor which they say will be the next generation Smartphone processor. At the moment, there is no device that supports Quick Charge 4.   The company revealed that their advanced charging technology will be available with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.

There is one handset announced,  the Nubia Z17 however at this time there is not a QC4+ charger available.

QC4.0+ benefits

What are the benefits of Qualcomm Quick Charge 4?  Basically, QC4.0+ charges up to 15 % faster compared to previous releases. This latest technology will be also 30 % more efficient and will run up to 5-degree Celsius cooler compared to previous releases.

For instance, five minutes of charging will guarantee you more than 5 hours of battery life. Your Smartphone’s battery will attain 50 % of charge in less than 15 minutes of charging. This means that future Smartphones with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 will charge like they are connected to two high-powered chargers. Their batteries will have increased efficiency and the Smartphone themselves will stay cooler.

Key features of QC4.0+ and how they work

Quick Charge 4 has a wide range of advanced features compared to prior releases. Here are the key features and how they work.

Battery Saver

This feature was included in this latest generation not only to provide comprehensive safety while charging but also to extend the battery’s charging cycle life. A protection feature is implemented at various stages of charging in order to keep accurate records of temperature, current, and voltage while protecting various components of the Smartphone such as connectors, cables, systems and the battery itself.

USB Power Delivery and USB Type-C

The two technologies were incorporated in QC4 adapters to ensure that there is consistent charging performance. These technologies will also ensure that one accessory supports a variety of mobile devices and charging implementations.

Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV)

Quick Charge 4 is incorporated with this latest algorithm to help your Smartphone determine the amount of power to request at a particular point. This not only maximizes charging efficiency but also enhances optimum power transfer.

Dual Charge

A second power management IC is also incorporated in Quick Charge 4. Charging your Smartphone using two power management ICs has many benefits. For instance, the charge current is divided into two which reduces charging time and promotes more efficient thermal dissipation.

This latest and the most advanced 4+ charging technology is expected to be released on the market as from next month.

How to fast charge your iPhone 8

Apple has launched the iPhone 8, it brings a line of new features and one is its ability to rapidly charge to 50%, but you don’t get a fast charger in the box.

If you bought the iPhone 8 and want the promised fast charging, the standard iPhone 8 package does not come with a fast charger, to get the advertised fast speed you need a new charger. Apple likely did this to keep packaging size smaller and also to make users buy their accessories.

What is PD charging?

There are many fast charging protocols, such as QC3.0, Pump and Apple also have their own for iPhones and iPads, if you have a few different devices, you will need a different charger to fast charge each one. There are some chargers with multi protocol, but not one charger that will fast charge everything.

PD changes all that, it is a universal charging protocol so any brand can use it. It is designed to charge fast and to unite all brands in one fast charging system. It brings the promise of one fast charger for every device.

Fast charging with the new iPhone

If you stick with Apple, the original chargers are $50, a fraction of the price of a new iPhone, but, just like their cables, they are overpriced. Alternatives are available.

Are third party iPhone PD chargers safe?

PD is open to all manufacturers, so the exact same protocol is in other chargers. Provided you grab a genuine PD charger, the performance will be identical. As this is a tech not controlled by apple, these chargers do not need to be MFI certified. However, this is only for PD chargers, you should still check all lighting cables for certification.