From the Editor

I don’t think I’m especially rude (and anyone

Microsoft fixes Outlook bug that slows down computers

M icrosoft will soon update the classic version

Netflix adds dialogue-only subtitles to shows

N etflix is adding an option to see

Roku’s new small TV sticks won’t block other ports

R oku has announced its smallest ever streaming

New YouTube design gets thumbs down

Y ouTube is rolling out a new design

CREATE AI VIDEOS USING ADOBE FIREFLY

Adobe has revamped its image-creating AI tool Firefly

DON’T BUY THESE ‘ENERGY-SAVING’ PLUGS

Consumer group Which? has warned that illegal ‘energysaving’ plugs

TOMORROW’S WORLD

This is Tiangong Ultra, the first robot to

Being nice to ChatGPT costs OpenAI “millions of dollars”

P eople saying please and thank you when

AI scammers use Quick Assist to access your PC

M icrosoft has warned about a new type

VIRGIN MEDIA O2 AXES 3G IN FOUR MORE TOWNS

Virgin Media O2 has announced it will switch

NEARLY 60 CHROME ADD-ONS ARE MALWARE

Nearly 60 Chrome extensions have been detected that

THE WORLD’S GONE MAD!

This is Computeractive editor Daniel Booth as ChatGPT

Google to turn off .co.uksearch address

G oogle is ditching all country-specific domain names

Vodafone & Three ‘planning to launch TV service’

V odafone and Three are planning to launch

BUY NEW RASPBERRY PI USB-C CHARGER

Raspberry Pi has released its own 45-watt USB-C

BT HIKES COST OF SOCIAL TARIFFS

BT has increased the price of its broadband

FREELY ADDS 16 NEW TV CHANNELS

Freely is adding 16 new TV channels later

Will Yahoo or OpenAI buy Google Chrome?

Only one could seriously snap up the world’s biggest browser

‘Free bus travel’ Facebook scams

What’s the threat? There’s been a rise

New tools

Tor’s Connection Assist for Android

ScamWatch

Readers warn readers

Letters

Tell us what’s on your mind

Can I refuse delivery of laptop that took ages to repair?

Q Last November, I bought an Honor MagicBook X

Can I cancel if Virgin won’t speak to me?

Q I want to talk to Virgin Media about

MacKiev refunds reader for missing Family Tree Maker 24

We’re happy to say that MacKiev has refunded

Do we have a case against abusive Evri driver?

Q We’ve brought a complaint against an Evri delivery

Can Argos refuse a return because I’ve opened the box?

Q I bought a Sony PS-LX310BT Bluetooth Record

CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE

Currys’ Swedish store fixed problem with UK printer

Search freemason membership registers

If your ancestor was a tradesman belonging to a masonic lodge, follow Richard Holt ’ s advice to…

Best Free Software

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

Patch My PC Home Updater 5.1.3

SOFTWARE UPDATER

VIDEO CONVERTER

Any Video Converter Free 9.1

SHOULD I PAY FOR…?

Choose the right version of software

What should I download?

We advise you which software and apps

NAMED & SHAMED

Keumars Afifi-Sabet puts the boot into tech villains, jargon-spouting companies and software trying to trick you

CyberPowerPC Infinity Z890 Air

Ahead of the game

PCSpecialist 16 Fusion VI

Best of British

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

Splitting sides

Samsung Galaxy A56

Out of this world The Google Pixel 7a

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPECS

Multiple monitors

PNY Elite-X Fit

A short drive

Can you suggest a budget monitor for editing photos?

We solve your buying dilemmas

1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51

Keep the noise down

Tribit StormBox Lava

Speaks volumes

Onyx Boox Palma 2

Phone book

A foldable ebook reader?

What is it? Like Onyx’s Boox Palma

Buy It

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

Buy It

Our pick of products that have won the Buy It award

Win 1 of 8…

Majority Little Shelford Portable Bluetooth DAB+ radios

Use your smartphone to help with DIY

What you need: iPhone or Android phone Time

Master your tabs with Zen Browser

What you need: Zen Browser Time required: 30

Readers’ Tips

TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT Set tasks for

Why I stopped using…

ChatGPT, Claude and Google Gemini

Reader recommends…

Panasonic 55Z90AEB Freely TV

Browser Tips

CHROME Add page-sharing options to your toolbar

WORKSHOP

View two web pages side-by-side in Brave

BEST EXTENSION FOR…

Cleaning up your bookmarks

Phone and Tablet Tips

ANDROID & iOS Delete your backed-up photos

BEST APPS FOR...

Observing insects

Make Windows Better

Expert tips for every version

Pause Task Manager with a single key press

By default, Task Manager updates its readings every

Make Office Better

Top tips for the best office programs

Calculate compound interest of your savings

The =FV function in Excel is perfect for

In The Club

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

Windows ‘inetpub’ folder

It took Microsoft a week to explain what this mysterious folder is

Why you must use Command Palette

Microsoft’s brilliant PowerToys has just been updated with a superb new tool. Jonathan Parkyn explains what Command Palette is, how to get it and how to use it

Has your ‘new’ device been used before?

Did your new hard drive, laptop or phone have a previous owner? Robert Irvine explains how to check for giveaway signs it’s not as new as the seller claimed

Know How

Armed with a handheld scanner and a yearning to get organised, Robert Irvine tries to…

BLOCK ALL SPAM CALLS

Don’t let spammers and scammers make you dread answering the phone. Robert Irvine explains the most effective ways to detect and avoid nuisance calls and messages

How do I back up my music device?

Q I recently tried to back up my

How do I download all the images I get in Gmail?

Q After changing my internet provider recently, I started

How do I schedule recurring events in Google Calendar?

Q How do I get Google Calendar to

Problems Solved

Why won’t my in-car sat-nav update?

What’s this black box interrupting my web search?

Q Whenever I search for anything in my web

Can you downgrade from Windows 11 to 10?

Q In Issue 702’s Problems Solved (pages 65 and

Will an old laptop impact my new battery?

Q I’m thinking of buying a second-hand laptop that’s

What is this strange ‘updater’ message?

Q Recently, every time I start my PC

Can I connect two PCs to my old monitor?

Q I have an old monitor that’s still

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN...

AVIF and older image types Q I recently

Can I use my all-in-one as a screen for a new PC?

Q I was interested to read your response to

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

Jargon Buster

1080p High-definition video: 1920x1080 pixels. 2FA Two-factor authentication.