From the Editor

By ditching old TV habits, we don’t mean

Will foreign TV companies start blocking your VPN?

Legal action in France threatens your ability to watch anything from anywhere

Fake QR codes in email scams

WATCH OUT FOR...

Bitwarden’s codes for ‘unrecognised devices’

Many people dislike two-factor authentication . It can

‘Register to vote’ email

Readers warn readers

Letters

Tell us what’s on your mind

Consumeractive

We stand up for your legal rights

Search the 1921 census on Ancestry

One of the most important records of recent years is now available to more people. Follow Richard Holt’s advice to…

Best Free Software

Robert Irvine recommends new programs that won’t cost you a thing

SOFTWARE WARNING!

Copycat AI tool impersonating ChatGPT

What’s All the Fuss About...

Human-level AI

Is your phone screen MAKING YOU ILL?

A flickering screen can cause headaches, nausea and other health problems. Robert Irvine explains the dangers of PWM and how to reduce its effects

BUY FIX-IT KITS FOR YOUR DEVICES

You no longer have to trudge down to a repair shop to sort out tech problems –there are plenty of DIY kits online with the tools and parts you need. Daniel Booth explains where to find them

Jargon Buster

1080p High-definition video: 1920x1080 pixels. 32bit/64bit A measure

Test DeepSeek AI safely

Intrigued by the controversial new Chinese chatbot, Robert Irvine tries to…

Microsoft adds more pinned apps to Start menu

M icrosoft is testing a feature that shows

You’ll like this…

Microsoft will redesign Clipchamp to make editing videos

But not this…

Microsoft wants Copilot to load on your PC

Map shows when (or if) you’ll get gigabit broadband

A new map shows whether your home will

BT customers won’t be compensated for ‘overcharged’ landlines

B T landline customers won’t receive compensation after

PLAY BLOCK BREAKER GAME IN GOOGLE

Google has added a modern equivalent of the

MICROSOFT UPDATES MIDI AFTER 30 YEARS

Microsoft is working on the first major update

TOMORROW’S WORLD

Welcome to series 87 of Strictly Come Dancing

AMAZON BRINGS AI TOOLS TO UK KINDLES

Amazon has updated its Kindle Scribe e-reader (pictured)

OPENREACH TESTS FIRST 50GBPS CONNECTION

Openreach and Nokia have tested the UK’s first

THE WORLD’S GONE MAD!

Credit: Lil Golo/Instagram If you ever doubt

Man who lost Bitcoin fortune wants to buy rubbish tip

A computer engineer who lost £620m worth of

Sky hikes prices by 6.2%, so check if you can cancel for free

S ky is raising its broadband and TV

Search in ChatGPT without having to sign into account

Y ou can now search the web using

BUY OUR CHATGPT BACK ISSUE

Issue 702’s Cover Feature (‘Why you must use

Netflix raises UK prices for all its subscribers

N etflix has raised prices for all UK

CASIO HACKERS STEAL PAYMENT-CARD DETAILS

Casio customers have been urged to change their

GOOGLE ADDS ‘VERIFIED’ LABEL TO VPNs

Google is showing a ‘Verified’ label on its

MICROSOFT AXES VPN FOR 365 SUBSCRIBERS

Microsoft is removing the VPN from its 365

Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 4

New products tested by our experts

Acer Aspire Vero 16

LAPTOP | £799 from Currys www.snipca.com/53704

HP Envy 6530e

PRINTER | £100 from John Lewis www.snipca.com/53723

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro

PHONE | £269 from Xiaomi www.snipca.com/53782

Colourful USB ports

What are they? We’re all familiar with

PNY Pro Elite V3

USB DRIVE | £85 from Amazon www.snipca.com/53762

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad

COOLING PAD | £30 from Amazon www.snipca.com/53736

Logitech G309 Lightspeed

MOUSE | £69 from John Lewis www.snipca.com/53735

Roberts Rambler Classic

DIGITAL RADIO | £179 from Amazon www.snipca.com/53795

Buy It

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

Win 1 of 4… Netac ZX20L 2TB portable SSDs

COMPETITION

HOW TO...

Use Clipchamp's new tools to improve your videos

Create the perfect widget setup

What you need: Windows 11 Time required: 30

Readers’ Tips

TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT Set a timer

Browser Tips

Secret settings and the best extensions

Phone and Tablet Tips

ANDROID Hide clutter from other apps in

Make Windows Better

Expert tips for every version

Make Office Better

Top tips for the best office programs

In The Club

Run a club or society? Here's how your tech can make it easier

DITCH YOUR OLD TV HABITS

Enhance your streaming and downloads by embracing the latest innovations in TV viewing. Robert Irvine reveals amazing new ways to watch anything, anytime and anywhere

PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT

Can I run Windows 95 software on my Windows 10 laptop?

Why can’t I write data to my memory stick?

Q One of my memory sticks is warning

Where is the hidden Ad Crusher slider in Windscribe?

Q Back in Issue 694’s Problems Solved section

Can I wipe my laptop without Microsoft account details?

Q I’m looking to do a clean install

Can I switch on my laptop without a power button?

Q My Asus Vivobook Pro 14 laptop’s power

Can I restore the ‘import picture’ option to AutoPlay?

Q Until recently, inserting a memory card into

Can I control two PCs with one monitor and keyboard?

Q My PC has plenty of storage space

How can I get back into my old Google account?

Q I’m trying to regain access to a

Why is my laptop making this noise before freezing?

Q My Windows 11 laptop has developed a

Captive and open Wi-Fi hotspots?

Q Whenever I’m out and about I sometimes

How do I standardise my videos’ volume levels?

Q I have a 1TB hard drive containing

Reader Support

Having a problem with our recommended software or expert tips? Email editor@computeractive.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help