Wall mountable desktop case

The Computer Assistant writes for the Yorkshire Reporter October 2015

The Computer Assistant

As published in the Yorkshire Reporter October 2015 

Welcome to this month’s instalment of news, reviews, tips and tricks. May I start by saying a big thank you for the emails regarding last month’s article. I also hope that those who visited the shop in search of "assistance" were satisfied with services rendered!

Windows 10 Tips

The jury is still out regarding Windows 10 so this month, as promised, we'll look at a few tips to help you along. We'll also take a peep into IOS 9, the latest Apple update. 

Congratulations to those of you who ventured into the unknown and completed the Windows 10 upgrade. With blood pressure levels back to normal and all photos and files where they should be, the “exploration” begins! At this point however, it is worth mentioning activation. Many foolhardy users with a “not so genuine copy” of Windows thought they could upgrade to Windows 10 hoping that somehow old "Bill" had included them on his Christmas list! If however, after upgrading using your very genuine product number, you came up with an activation error, the issue should resolve after restarting.

For most users, the first question after installation is, “can I do everything I used to do, without hassle?” Here are a few common tasks and solutions to problems our customers have encountered. Rusty Chrome has been struggling lately, especially with video streaming and can become slow, unresponsive and boggy. Simply turning off Chrome Extensions or reinstalling Chrome itself does help.

Favourites in Edge: Edge is a massive improvement on internet Explorer (hard to make anything worse than IE!) but if your favourites have evaporated, go to settings (top right) and import your favourites from Chrome and IE. Very cool and easy when compared to other browsers.

Email issues: The default email app in Windows 10 doesn’t yet support subfolders as in Windows 8. We recommend the ever reliable Windows Live Mail or good old Outlook.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi cutting off and not automatically reconnecting? A quick reboot should resolve this. We also suggest disabling Wi-Fi sharing. Settings link: The link to settings, some strange reason does not work or opens the Store app instead. Good news! a quick fix is available as a downloadable, guns blazing, trouble-shooter, which one can safely use to resolve the problem. Mice on strike: Despite being tempted with the best cheddar, many a mouse downed tools after the upgrade. This has been very common with certain laptopbrands and desktops. There are a number of solutions available which usually entail a driver update.

Apple IOS 9 In Brief

Apple lovers have been treated to a scrumptious update and here are a few highlights: Super Powers - the ability to view details of power consumption and battery use. Video Zoom - actually zoom in on subjects while viewing your videos. Siri Gets a Makeover - and gets much more intelligent with great new search capabilities. Muti-tasking for Ipads - read your mail and watch a movie at the same time (?). As well as major updates to many core apps like Pictures, Notes, News, Maps, Apple Pay, Carplay, Health, Mail and iCloud Drive, the update only require a mere 1.3 GB of space compared to the prohibitive 4.58 GB needed for its lofty predecessor!

In response to many of the emails received, for questions and answers, think of us as your own personal IT department, on-call whenever you need us. Please visit TCAHelp for prompt answers to all your questions. 
We are well established IT support and maintenance providers and well recognised for sales, repairs and maintenance of PC's, Macs, Laptops, IPad, tablets and Game Consoles.
Please email replies, comments and responses to reviews@thecomputerassistant.com
Visit us in store at 96 Kirkgate, Leeds. LS2 7DJ or Phone 01132446460. Find us online at www.thecomputerassistant.com

Sports Direct Leeds Staff Discount Scheme

Staff members of the city centre store now have access to our Staff Discount Scheme and enjoy the full benefits of a 20% discount on all of our repair services.Sports Direct is the UK’s leading sports retailer by revenue and operating profit, with approximately 400 stores across the UK.

The Group provides an unrivalled range of products, offering exceptional quality and unbeatable value, from a wide variety of third-party and Group-owned brands, both in-store and online.

Sports Direct operates in 19 countries in Europe, including Belgium, Austria, Slovenia and France.

The Group has an extensive brand portfolio, comprising 28 internationally recognised sport, fashion and lifestyle brands including Dunlop, Slazenger, Everlast, Lonsdale and Karrimor.

The Computer Assistant writes for the Yorkshire Reporter

Windows 10 introduces a number of new and improved features in an effort to catch up with other application providers and take back its position as a pioneer developer. First on the list is the controversial Start Menu. Many users disliked Windows 8 purely because the changes to the start menu were too radical, unfriendly and unfamiliar. Windows 10 offers the best of the old and the new. Users now have a simple list on the left hand side of the menu and tiles on the right. The menu can be resized and the tiles configured according to one’s preference.

Windows10 Task View

The Taskbar has also been updated so that active apps and windows are simply underlined instead of highlighted and the icons have been given a new look. The best taskbar feature we found is the Task View feature. Open applications and windows could always be accessed using Alt-Tab on the keyboard but not many users were aware of this. To make things easier users can now view all open windows with a single click. Furthermore, the task view reveals the ability to simultaneously use multiple desktops. Quite handy for multiple screen users but more importantly it facilitates much better multi-tasking.

Say Hi to Cortana! Microsoft brings voice commands and search 

assistance from it mobile phones to Windows 10. Users are now able carry out an array of tasks based on the apps installed on the device. If Cortana can’t carry out your wishes it will search the internet on your behalf. Windows 10 introduces users to Microsoft Edge, a faster, slimmer and sleeker internet browser designed to match its rivals Chrome and Firefox. Its keynote feature is the ability to write directly on webpages for sharing, bookmarking and note taking. Together with Cortana the overall browsing experience has been improved. If however you can’t live without Explorer it’s always there in your apps list!

Another key feature of Windows 10 is the ability to work on and across several devices. The app Continuum, which is already built in, allows the same document to be used and updated on your laptop, tablet and PC with very little or no delay in synchronisation. You will also be able to, play games and stream video from your games console to your laptop or PC. Furthermore, in its attempt to play catch up with stores from Apple and Android, Microsoft has integrated the Windows Store into Windows 10 where users can obtain their music, games, TV shows and films. 

Windows 10 provides a plethora of developments and built in applications that are guaranteed to keep users occupied for months to come. If you’re thinking of upgrading to Windows 10 the choice is entirely yours. There are plenty of new features to experience and enjoy. Any initial bugs and glitches will, like any new software, be eventually resolved with updates, patches and fixes so if you don’t want to wait, go for it. In our article next month we will delve deeper into more Windows 10 features and share our experiences in resolving some of the common issues we see every day. Till then it’s Adios from The Computer Assistant.

We are well established IT Support and Maintenance providers and well recognised for the sales, repairs and maintenance of PC’s, Macs, Laptops, IPads, Tablets and Game Consoles. We take great pride in our reputation for prompt completion, fair pricing and technical capability. If you own any number of computing devices at home or at work we can solve any of your repair problems. Or if you are experiencing problems updating your laptop or PC to Windows 10 from earlier versions just pop in to the shop or give us a call.

Here's what 3D Touch can do on the iPhone 6S

The new cameras on the iPhone 6S are nice, but the biggest technical innovation Apple crammed into the thing is the screen. Actually, it's just underneath the screen: the sensors that enable 3D Touch.

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Microsoft begins worldwide release of Office 2016

Microsoft Corp said it began the worldwide roll-out of Office 2016, the latest addition to its cloud-based subscription service Office 365, on Tuesday.

How to Play Android Games on a PC

Maybe you want to prop up your terrible Clash of Clans team by running an alternate account on your laptop. Maybe your addiction to Candy Crush Saga has grown to the point that your poor phone’s battery life just can’t hack the kind of binges you need nowadays to get your fix.

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YouTube Kids adds Chromecast support

Back in February Google formally announced YouTube Kids, a special version of YouTube designed to isolate kid-friendly music, shows, and more. In addition to catering the library towards kids, the UI was also built to be simple and intuitive.

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Apple will finally replace blurry iPhone 6 Plus cameras

It wasn't your imagination. That iPhone 6 Plus you purchased that seemed to produce oddly blurred images may have been defective, and now Apple is offering to replace the back camera in the device.

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The Computer Assistant

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Microsoft seeds new update for Xbox One to prepare for Windows 10 UI experience

Microsoft is rolling out a new operating system version 6.2.13326.0 (xb_rel_1508 13326.0.150810-2029) for the Xbox One.

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You Can Now Run Windows 10 On Your Mac

Thanks to Apple updating Boot Camp, that is. If you have had a hankering to try out Microsoft’s latest operating system — and I can recommend at least taking it for a spin — now’s the time.

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Sony wants you to delay upgrading your old VAIO PC to Windows 10

Sony might not be making PCs anymore, but it's still on the hook for supporting its older systems -- and that's creating a big problem for Windows 10 upgrades.

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Microsoft just fixed Windows 10’s first problems

In its monthly round of security fixes, Microsoft has included five bulletins that address Windows 10 issues, and one that covers the new Edge browser included in their newly-launched operating system. These patches include addressing vulnerabilities in the .

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How to extend your Wi-Fi network with a power line adapter

Power line adapters are a cheap and easy way to create a wired network throughout your home, and some models include Wi-Fi capability. I recently installed the latter variety in the form of the TP-Link TL-WPA4220KIT and now have a strong Wi-Fi reception in every corner and both floors of my home.

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Your smartphone and laptop battery life could endanger your privacy

Think your private browsing session is really private? A new paper shows how your smartphone or laptop's battery can be used to compromise your privacy.

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Liking Windows 10 so far? Here’s how to make it even better

Windows 10 is great; if you’re on a Windows 7 or 8 PC, there’s virtually no reason not to upgrade. That said, there are so many new features and settings that sorting through them all can become overwhelming, and you could be missing out on making the most of your Windows 10 experience.

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Researchers create a worm that infects Macs silently and permanently

Macs have typically been heralded as the more secure of the two main operating systems. But according to researchers, at the firmware level, that's not necessarily true.

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​How to take a screenshot in any version of Windows

Taking a screenshot is nothing new. The feature has been available across numerous platforms and devices for well over a decade. How to actually take a screenshot, however, remains one of the most frequently asked questions.

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What to do if your PC doesn't have enough space for Windows 10

You’ve read the reviews and made the decision: You want Windows 10 on your PC. The brand new operating system brings with it a host of improvements, including a new web browser, Microsoft Edge, the return of the Start Menu, better built-in apps and the chatty Cortana.

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Windows 10 Updates Will Be Mandatory for Home Users

Windows 10 isn't going to allow its home users to skip updates, which is great if you like to keep your system constantly updated. For those of you who like to download and install things at your own pace? Too bad.

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Here’s how you can see who deleted you on Facebook

Who Deleted Me on Facebook is an app available for Android and iOS devices that lets you keep track of your friends list. Similar to Who Unfollowed Me for Twitter, it tells you when friends have disappeared from your list and whether they’ve deactivated their accounts or just deleted you.

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Malwarebytes offers pirates and duped customers 12 months of its premium antimalware product for free

Malwarebytes, a security company best known for its Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) product, has debuted an Amnesty program for Windows users.

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Tip of the Day: How to Reset Your Forgotten Apple ID Password

Master your iPhone and iPad. Sign up here to get our Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox. The most important thing to any Apple user (besides her iPhone of course!) is an Apple ID.

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What to do if your computer is taken over by ransomware — a form of malware taking over the internet

Ransomware is evolving and that’s bad news for just about everybody except cyber thieves. Ransomware, which is a form of malware, works by either holding your entire computer hostage or by blocking access to all of your files by encrypting them.

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These 8 characters crash Skype, and once they’re in your chat history, the app can’t start

Skype users have discovered a rather nasty bug in the app. Sending the characters “http://:” (without the quotes) crashes Skype, and receiving a message with those characters makes it crash any time you try to sign in again. The bug works as described on Windows, Android, and iOS.

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iOS bug lets anyone crash your iPhone with a text message

The bug – discovered by several Reddit users – means that when the message is received it instantly crashes the iPhone and causes it to reboot, as long as the recipient is not viewing their message history at the time.

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You should be using these browser extensions to keep yourself safe online

The invention of the internet made it easy to do amazing things online, like buying junk in a single click, but unfortunately that also came with consequences, like companies being able track your every move as you browse.

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One in 20 web users infected with ad injection software

More than one in 20 web users are infected with ad injectors, a type of malware that puts unwanted adverts on web pages, according to new research from Google.

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How to build an iPhone projector for less than $10

It's incredibly easy to build a projector for your smartphone. All you need are a few household items and a magnifying glass. We needed a box that was at least 17 inches long for our 2X magnifying glass, so keep that in mind when selecting a box to use.

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What is Wi-Fi calling and will it solve my mobile phone black spot?

Mobile phone signal not quite as reliable as it should be? Getting a signal strong enough to make a call outdoors normally isn’t a problem, but indoors can be a completely different matter?



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How to Get Wall USB Ports Without Wiring Anything

You may have seen those electrical outlets that incorporate USB ports, allowing you to charge your mobile devices without the blocky adapter. The new SnapPower Charger on Kickstarter makes this tech much simpler to install.



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How to disable Protected View in Microsoft Word

If you're routinely on the receiving end of Word documents and have a current version of Microsoft Office, you may have noticed something: Whenever you open one of these file attachments or downloads, Word opens in something called Protected View.



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Parents who let kids play Call of Duty could be reported to police

Primary school headteachers have warned parents who allow their children to play video games such as Call Of Duty and Grand Theft Auto will be reported to police and social services for neglect.



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Microsoft warns Windows PCs also vulnerable to 'Freak' attacks

BOSTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of millions of Windows PC users are vulnerable to attacks exploiting the recently uncovered "Freak" security vulnerability, which was initially believed to only threaten mobile devices and Mac computers, Microsoft Corp warned.



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Meet The Cyberweapon You Can’t Get Rid Of Without Smashing Your Hard Drive

There’s a shadow war unfolding on the internet, as various groups jostle for control and develop new, refined software to steal data and damage systems.



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Salient Eye: Turn your spare Android smartphone into a free home security camera system

Startup Salient Eye has developed an app that turns Android smartphones into security cameras that can instantly report back to you if anyone enters your home while you're away. The app is available for free via Google Play and works on any phone running at Android 2.2 and above.



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How to Recover Deleted Photos From Your Memory Card or Smartphone

“Oh, no. Oh, nonononono. S#@$*!” — You, after realizing you just accidentally deleted all of your vacation photos from your camera’s memory card. Or maybe your child somehow got his grubby little hands on your smartphone and wiped your camera roll clean. It sucks, and I sympathize.



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This List Of 2014’s Worst Passwords, Including ‘123456,’ Is Embarrassing

The year of 2014, in many respects, was all about digital security. It wasn’t just tech pundits or early adopters who were victimized – Snapchat, Target, and Sony Entertainment all showed us that no one is immune. And don’t get me started on the NSA.



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How can I make my PC completely secure?

How can I make my PC completely secure from any type of virus and hacking? Juzer You can’t, because of the old computer industry phenomenon known as PEBCAK, or “Problem exists between chair and keyboard”.



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Microsoft Windows 7 mainstream support ending 13 January: What you need to know

Microsoft's popular Windows 7 computer operating platform is to exit the mainstream support phase and enter the extended support stage in January 2015.



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Apple laptops vulnerable to virus that 'can’t be removed'

A security flaw in Apple laptops could leave users vulnerable to infection by malicious software that hackers could use to steal data and which is virtually impossible to remove A security expert has found a way to install malicious code on a tiny chip built into Apple laptops which woul



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