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The smart home is about to get a whole lot smarter. Google has finally taken the wraps off of its home assistant, Google Home, which is set to compete with the likes of the Amazon Echo. And while the Home has been designed from the ground-up to help you schedule appointments, manage to-do lists and answer any queries you might have, it’s also aimed at helping you more easily control your smart home. Considering that, you might be wondering which smart home devices Google Home works with. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a full list of such devices. Before diving into the list of actual devices that work, we should talk about standards – there are a total of five standards that work with Google Home, each covering a different set of devices, and include Google Cast, Nest, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings and IF by IFTTT. Instead of covering them platform-by-platform, however, we’ve separated the Home-compatible devices into the five categories where you’re most apt to use them: TV, Smart Speakers, Smart Thermostats, Lighting and a Miscellaneous category to catch everything else. While some devices run without any extra setup, some of the devices require a “hub” to get anywhere – for example, if you want to use a SmartThings device, you’ll need a SmartThings Hub. If you want to use Philips Hue devices, you’ll need a Hue Bridge. Those aren’t covered in detail here, but we wanted to bring them to your attention all the same. TV and video streaminghttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ccaw9nTuZUgvkTjzTYNCFT.jpg As you might expect, Google Home works with a range of TV and home entertainment devices – many of which work through Google Cast. Google Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra: These are Google’s self-built devices that kickstarted the Google Cast revolution. The Chromecast is an interface-less streaming device, while the Nexus Player is a fully equipped Android TV system to turn your TV into a smart TV. Google hasn’t given us a list of every command you can issue to Home to control your Chromecast, but one likely scenario is that you can ask your smart device you may be able to do things like ask Home to stream content to the Chromecast. Google Nexus Player: The Google Nexus Player may not have been the most well-received device ever, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer. The device boasts Android TV pre-loaded onto it, which, as you might know, means it also supports Google Cast. On top of being able to cast content, it can also do things like play certain games and run apps like Netflix. Nvidia Shield and Razer Forge TV: These two third-party TV devices may not be built by Google, but they have Android TV and cast support built right in, meaning that they act like a native Google-designed product. Both of these devices take things to the next level with better specs than the Nexus Player so, if you’re into 4K video, the Nvidia Shield may be your best bet. Sony Bravia TVs and Vizio Smartcast TVs: Forget needing a separate device to enjoy cast support – if you’re in the market for a new TV you can get one with Google Cast support built right into it. Smart Speakershttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DqEjnpLqvXzZDxosrZPggA.jpg Google Cast doesn’t just work with video – it also works with audio, and there are plenty of great devices out there that take advantage of the standard. Here are some of the best of them. Google Chromecast Audio: What Chromecast did for video, Chromecast Audio did for … well, audio. Google’s second streaming device can turn any speaker into a smart speaker. The Chromecast Audio plugs into the aux jack of your speakers, essentially allowing you to control your speakers from your phone or computer. Google Home will most likely work with a number of music streaming services, so the Home-Chromecast Audio combination could be a real winner. Vizio SmartCast Crave: You may not have known this, but Vizio makes speakers on top of its TVs, and some of them work through Google Cast – meaning they can be controlled from your smartphone and eventually your Google Home. There are a few speakers in the Crave range, including the Crave 360 – which works like the Amazon Echo and beams audio around it, as well as the Crave Pro, which is built with a more high-end audio listener in mind. LG Music Flow Products: Looking for a more comprehensive surround sound music system? LG has you covered. The LG Music Flow series of speakers has Google Cast built right in, meaning that you can enjoy high definition audio, complete with subwoofers and soundbars, and only control things from your smartphone or Google Home. Smart Thermostats and Climate Controlhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZsqRf8LrFzgAPWtzHFsXRJ.jpg Google Home isn’t just great for entertainment – it will also be a great option for the rest of your smarthome. Of course, some of its integration is obvious, like with Nest, but there are plenty of other climate control devices that should work too. Nest: Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way: Google Home will work with the Google-owned Nest, which is a smart thermostat that allows for you to set timers for your home’s temperature and control that temperature straight from your smartphone. With Google Home, you’ll be able to do all that with only your voice – forget needing to use your phone to control Nest, or even needing to go to the Nest thermostat itself. Now, all you need is your voice. Honeywell: Not sure about the Nest ecosystem? Nest isn’t the only smart thermostat on the block – Honeywell is another option that works with Google Home through SmartThings. While Honeywell’s thermostats may not have as much tech as Nest’s, they do come a little cheaper and probably offer everything most people will need, apart from Nest’s learning features. Ecobee: The third major smart thermostat company is Ecobee, and it’s a serious competitor. The device is a little smarter than Honeywell and around on par with Nest, however it’s slightly more energy efficient and boasts an innovative color touch screen. Lightinghttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6b99wQE7YmZpnmoGDtnDWd.jpg These days, more and more people are turning to smart lighting for their house, and for good reason. Smart lights connect to your home network, meaning that you can do things like turn all the lights off at once before leaving home for the evening or set the lights to turn on once you pull into the driveway. Here are a few of the top smart lighting systems. LIFX: LIFX bulbs are well-loved for one reason – they’re super easy to setup and use. No need for any smart lighting “hub,” just plug them in, set them up on your network, and you’re good to go. The trade-off is that they’re a little pricier than the Philips bulbs, however considering you don’t need to buy a Philips Bridge, if you don’t need to buy many bulbs it may end up being cheaper for you. With Google Home, you’ll be able to do things like ask Home to turn on or off all the lights or even schedule lights to turn on or off when arrive or leave your home. Philips: Philips has fast become perhaps the most popular smart lighting company, larger because of how available and accessible its light bulbs are. On top of buying the actual light bulbs, however, you’ll need to also buy a Philips Hue Bridge, which acts as a smart lighting hub and connects all your lights to your network. Misc. Google Home-compatible productshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GTCKL24uXzCXHY5229wsvn.jpg Belkin WeMo Outlet: While you could buy smart light bulbs and devices to replace all your outdated non-smart devices, turns out there’s a way to bring the smarts to all the devices you already have too –buy buying smart outlets. These outlets connect to your network, and enable you to switch devices on and off from your phone – or from Google Home. Google Home vs Amazon Echohttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/5zCba4iA7vk

With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft waved farewell to Windows Media Center. There are some excellent free alternatives around, but if you miss the classic video recorder and media player there's a free download that brings its suite of streaming and playback tools to the new operating system. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Getting Windows Media Center running on Windows 10 isn't as straightforward as using an ordinary software installer, but it's not hard either. You'll be streaming TV and movies to your desktop in just a few minutes. Prepare WindowsOnce you've downloaded the ZIP file, extract its contents to a convenient place on your hard drive. The download contains 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Media Center in separate ZIP files, so select the one that's right for your operating system and extract it. If you're not sure which one you need, open the Settings menu, then select System > About and look under the heading System Type. Now right-click the _TestRights file and select Run as Administrator. A command line window will open and a few commands will run. Once it's finished and you see a blinking cursor beside C:Windows>, close the window and reboot your PC. Install Media CenterOnce Windows has restarted, return to the extracted folder, right-click the Installer file and select Run as Administrator. Another command line window will open and the installer will begin copying the necessary files. This will take a moment, so be patient - it hasn't frozen. When it's finished, press any key to exit. A Windows Media Center icon will now appear on your desktop and you can start setting up your media collection as normal. If you can't see a desktop icon, you should be able to find the program using the search box. To make sure you're getting the most from Windows Media Center in Windows 10, check out our list of 15 essential tips and tweaks, including some superb plugins that make it a worthy rival to today's media streaming toolkits. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xVPXQRXUSjU

Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Edge are all fine browsers, but to get the most out of them you have to spend time tracking down and installing extenesions to add extra features. Chrome-based Torch Web Browser helps you avoid that hassle with a set of great preinstalled plugins that are ready to use immediately. Why you need itAs you'd expect from its origins, Torch Web Browser looks and acts much like Google Chrome, but it brings to the table a range of add-ons that allow you to grab media from a webpage, enjoy a Spotify-like listening experience, play games and even download the latest torrents without so much as a visit to the Google Play Store. You can access the Torch Music app at any time from the dedicated icon alongside the address bar. The browser can rip tracks straight from YouTube and then organise them into playlists according to artist, album or compilation. Torch Web Browser also lists suggestions, trending songs, and personalized playlists. In fact, it's so good, you might consider cancelling your Spotify subscription. You can initiate torrents directly inside the browser window by using the icon to the right of the address bar, negating the need for a separate torrent client. There's even an in-browser searching facility for torrents that appears when the program is turned on. All this is topped off with a great selection of games, which can be sorted by type, popularity or date, and a fully customizable homepage. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Torch is an excellent alternative to the big-name browsers, and its built-in media player and downloader make it a great choice for anyone with a penchant for movies and TV. Give it a try and see what a difference it makes to your everyday browsing. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mZSq6Tb6c-Y

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oUfjfeFGP3KqLBcVrndvbR.jpg Currys is another retailer that has thrown itself into the Black Friday deals mix. Where Currys is different to other retailers is its ability to offer larger home products, like white goods, for a discount during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period. As an example, last year the store sold Samsung ecobubble washing machines with a near-£100 discount. Pretty sweet if you need new appliances. BOOKMARK: The best Black Friday deals 2016Last year Currys had some deals in advance, but also added more on Black Friday itself, so it's well worth checking online to make sure that you're not missing out on the big day. Currys is arguably the best place to go for TV deals, and those made up the majority of things it was discounting last year. The classic coffee machine discounts are in effect too, so don't be buying any machinery in advance this year. "This year Black Friday hits on November 25 - be there or be square" Last year Currys even made sure that it avoided those problems of stock shortages, and people shouting at superstores by ramping up stock levels by 40%, which says a lot about the growth of Black Friday in the UK. Even so, don't miss out and make sure you check for deals early on the day - we'll be here to make that easier too. What Currys did on Black Friday last year:During the run-up to last year's sale Currys' Stuart Ramage said "We saw record-breaking sales last Black Friday so, for this year’s event we’ve worked hard to offer our biggest number of lowest-ever deals on a range of fantastic brands, starting today". This was clear from the claim that Currys made about increasing stock levels to meet demand. For customers this is a great time to snag a bargain, but it's also becoming a really important part of the retailer calendar too, which is why they are investing in promoting the event. Top 5 Currys Black Friday deals from 2015:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VfS5rZKWwaNgdY3GqZnvDL.jpg 1. HP 15-ac151sa 15.6-inch This decent laptop was going for just £200 at Currys last Black Friday - if you're old like us then you'll remember when laptops cost thousands - great deal on a nicely specified machine that comes with Windows 10 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6R2pzwi9hMvNeLSk9q8eka.jpg 2. Samsung 60-inch 4K TV This home cinema telly was on sale for just £899 at Currys last Black Friday, another reminder of just how cheap tech is these days, but one of Samsung's HDR UHD TVs is a great buy at this price. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fLjtQWocLrEakKfsh7Fhdn.jpg 3. iPad Pro 12.9 Currys also had a nice iPad Pro price drop last Black Friday, down to £799 - not the world's most enormous discount, but the iPad Pro is a great tablet and Apple discounts are rare. At the time it was the cheapest iPad Pro deal out there. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Aiys6hypj8MVtSGcm72qsM.jpg 4. Blenders! Because 2015 was the year of juice, Currys was selling the NINJA Nutri Ninja Slim QB3001 Blender for £39, which was half-price. This year you can certainly expect loads of deals on kitchen goods like blenders and bread makers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MK87um8JksQNmKtXWA6aqS.jpg 5. Dyson Animal Another great deal was the Dyson V6 Animal, a cable-free vacuum cleaner that was reduced to just £239 - over £100 off! Dysons are great but they're generally very pricey, which makes Black Friday the ideal time of year to buy one. Currys Black Friday deals to expect in 2016:1. TVs, all the TVs. Expect to see even more deals on those large ultra HD Samsung screens again as well as from all of the other big TV brands. If you're looking for 60-inch entertainment, Currys will have your back. 2. Apple might upgrade the iPad Pro soon, so perhaps more discounts on the two excellent tablets this year? The fact is that iPad sales have slowed dramatically of late so some discounting is almost inevitable to move stock. 3. This year's washing machines will likely see a discount. Keep an eye out for those from Samsung and LG, which offer big features at a low price. Always shop around, obviously, but Currys will be a good place to check first on these ite 4. Last year Currys had big PC and laptop discounts, so expect more of that this year - this is a great time to grab a bargain. 5. If you're put off by the high cost of a Dyson, then Black Friday might be the ideal event - keep an eye out for more low prices on cleaners. How to find the best Currys Black Friday deals: It's our job to make sure you get told about the best deals. We do this across the UK's leading retailers, so make sure you come back to TechRadar in advance of Black Friday. We'll be highlighting the best deals right here, so make sure you drop a bookmark. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/h1siVhsueEc

If your ebook library has become a bewildering mess, give Calibre a try – it'll get your virtual shelves organised in no time, and has some nifty extras too. Why you need itWith so many ebook readers on the market today, all with their own proprietary file formats - keeping your library organized is more important than ever. Thankfully, Calibre makes it simple to keep tabs on your collection. Calibre lets you convert your ebooks to a large range of formats, ensuring you'll be able to read your ebooks even if you change devices. You can create libraries and group books into themes or categories, access your books online and edit ebooks in the most popular formats. But it's more than just a simple ebook organiser. Calibre allows you to 'fetch' news stories from the internet and convert them into an ebook format, ready to browse at your leisure. It's almost like having your own news and current affairs magazine on your ereader, and comes in very handy for when you don't have time to read the news but want to catch up later. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Whether you simply want to get your library in order or need a more powerful tool for all your reading material, Calibre has something to suit you. Download it free now and give it a try! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/4jqPAeoch5s

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FicPXQiKfeue3jLM93PZ5W.jpg John Lewis is, without doubt, Britain's most relaxing retailer. It's not like those other shops, John Lewis is the place you go to when you want to browse at your leisure. But even so, that doesn't stop the John Lewis from chucking itself into Black Friday week with all the vigor of any internet shop. Last year John Lewis, understanding its middle-class audience perfectly, did a deal with a Nespresso machine that had £75 worth of coffee included. BOOKMARK: The best Black Friday deals 2016Black Friday starts for John Lewis on the 25th of November this year, and the online store is already making mention of the upcoming sale, but reminding customers that it price matches other stores all year round. Last year was a roaring success for the John Lewis partnership too, with its best ever sales week and a 15.5% increase in online takings. That in itself was an increase of nearly 5% over 2014's Black Friday - the company will no doubt have some big ambitions for 2016. John Lewis also sees a lot of demand for Dyson cleaners, and last year said that wearable tech sold incredibly well. Who knows what discounts will appear, but these are two areas where John Lewis seems to have seen enormous demand last year - so expect more deals to lure you in on Black Friday 2016. What John Lewis did on Black Friday last year: One of the big deals last year was on an OLED TV. This is really worth looking into again this year, because OLEDs are stunning, but expensive. If you can snag one for a massive reduction, then we'd urge you to go for it. Also look out for good deals on laptops, tablets and computers - John Lewis is a smashing place to get computers and the like because of their generous warranty terms. Top 5 John Lewis Black Friday deals from 2015: http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qyQaRbDizAN7sKwLbKPBoW.jpg 1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 This is still Samsung's flagship Android tablet and ranks highly in our list of the best Android tablets. It was down £50 to £299 last year at John Lewis - that's now the standard price so we'll likely see an even better deal this year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ozGCwjc9j3EqSb65kUbWo5.jpg 2. LG 65-inch OLED TV Those who covet OLED got a good deal last year - £1000 off, down to £2999. That was still expensive, but this is just about the best quality picture you can get on a TV and likely worth the money - if you have it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6ngReJcHihP6jKmcVnxHcC.jpg 3. Bose QC20 noise cancelling headphones These headphones are the darling of many tech reviewers for their amazing noise cancellation and sound quality, John Lewis knocked £110 off the price, down to £149.50. Look out for more deals like that this year. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wAozv5MjAJ2fzYtouFwPGL.jpg 4. Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Every version of the Surface Pro 3 was reduced to £929 with a two year warranty. This was a great machine then, and still is today. A good saving makes it even more attractive though today John Lewis only sells the Surface Pro 4. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ScSbWp6BXzFBfnWvh8NoMU.jpg 5. Withings Activité This wearable was reduced by 25% down to £240 - one of the truly beautiful and smart watches on the market. There have been a lot of smartwatch releases since then so expect a good variety of deals from John Lewis and others this year. John Lewis Black Friday deals to expect in 2016: 1. Perhaps the Surface Pro 4 will see a big discount in 2016 - if not, expect even better pricing on the Surface Pro 3. 2. Another big OLED deal? With LG's TVs winning plaudits for their picture quality it's worth trying to snag a bargain, but this isn't going to be cheap, even in the sale. 3. Expect another good deal on a coffee machine. If you're blessed with children then you also need the blessing of incredibly good espresso. 4. John Lewis is a popular destination for iPad and tablets, so there will likely be some discounts here, don't expect massive cuts on Apple hardware, but there will be savings. 5. Dyson - this was a huge area last year, so perhaps some more generous discounts in 2016 - plus there's a lot of margin on these items that can give generous price reductions. How to find the best RETAILER Black Friday deals:As with all the major retailers, we'll be keeping a close eye on what John Lewis has on offer during the Black Friday period this year. We'll do the hard work to find the deals that we think you'll love, so keep an eye on this page, and pop over to the others for Currys, Amazon and Argos. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Uj3i8MwNG2g

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jwfiVfSRJQF3ZsFfk78EaA.png Black Friday in the UK was, basically, an invention of Amazon's to bring the US price-drops to the UK. You could be cynical about it, and sometimes we are, but anything that drops prices is surely welcome. Amazon's price drops are sometimes astounding, but there are also severe restrictions on the availability. A limited amount of price-reduced merchandise will be available and it usually fits into Amazon's flash sales, where the company has time-limited sales. These tend to be as diverse as Amazon's catalogue and mean that you'll pick up up all sorts of bargains. BOOKMARK: The best Black Friday deals 2016Last year Amazon offered some 7000 total deals during its Black Friday season. Don't forget there's also Cyber Monday too, which adds additional deal into the mix. "This year Black Friday falls on November 25th and you can bet Amazon will be in the thick of it" Amazon's Christopher North said last year "Customers love Black Friday. Every year we see more excitement and more demand for great deals. That is why we now have more than 20 times the number of deals than we had back in 2010 when we first introduced Black Friday to the UK.” It stands to reason that 2016 will be the company's biggest Black Friday yet. What Amazon did on Black Friday last year Last year Amazon offered the Fire TV stick with a £10 discount, taking it to £24.99. It's quite likely that there will be savings on both the Stick and Fire TV box this year to get people interested in subscribing to Prime to watch the Clarkson, Hammond and May show The Grand Tour. So expect to see £20 or even less deals on the Stick. There's a real likelihood that Amazon will do a massive clearance on the old Xbox One and the original PS4, console bundle deals always make a strong showing in these deals, but this year both these consoles are being replaced with newer models making it even more likely. Top 5 Amazon Black Friday deals last year:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a153bfdbe66adb078a09dcae31b25d1c.jpg 1. Sony PlayStation 4 (Graded) Amazon was one of a few sites selling refurbished PS4's for £199 which at the time was the cheapest PS4 price ever. This year you can expect even cheaper PS4 deals, and look out for bundle deals with games too. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9RC94nADEiNKM8SdGkwgMQ.jpg 2. Amazon Fire TV Stick Many of Amazon's biggest discounts came on its own 'Fire' and 'Kindle' products. The Amazon Fire TV Stick was £24.99 last year, and it's well worth that price because it gives you access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and loads of games and apps. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WFKNx3fkRLoJFWBobNa2SV.jpg 3. Kindle Paperwhite Amazon's awesome ebook reader was reduced to just £79.99 last year - it's Amazon hardware, so it's beautifully made and works really well. If you have an old kindle an upgrade is always worthwhile. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g5wSPj9Sj8vsKxHKR9oNiN.jpg 4. HD TV's galore One of Amazon's best Black Friday deals was a 42-inch 1080p LG LCD TV for just £295, this was 40% off and a really great TV. This year expect 4K TVs to get some price drops as 1080p screens are dying out. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GoxShdq9wmndGh3BmBocG3.jpg 5. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Samsung's excellent flagship phone of last year was going SIM-free for £343.99 on Black Friday last year, a smashing phone even this year and sure to be discounted again - look out for S7 deals too. Amazon Black Friday deals to expect in 2016:1. Xbox One - with Microsoft's console getting a new version this year called the One S you can expect the original model to be discounted. Expect great bundled deals and cheap prices on the console itself 2. Sony PlayStation 4 - because the PS4 Pro launches around Black Friday it's super-likely that there will be massive price-drops on the original machine. Again, games bundles will offer some great discounts. 3. Amazon Fire Tablets and TV devices - Amazon often does big price drops on its own hardware for Black Friday, so expect amazing deals this year too. 4. Amazon Prime - it's not often Amazon does a deal on Prime membership, but this year is the debut of Clarkson, May and Hammond's Grand Tour. A lot of money has gone into this show, Amazon will want lots of people watching it. 5. Home and Kitchen - it's hard to be specific here but Amazon often has killer deals on things like electric razors, cooking appliances and other domestic devices, it's fair to say this will also be true this year. How to find the best Amazon Black Friday deals:As always we'll be keeping an eye on Amazon's deals to direct you to the best deals on offer. We'll give you as much notice as we can as well, because Amazon's fast-moving sales require that you'll on the ball to get those reduced prices. Remember, the key with Amazon is to have a list of things that you want or need in advance - don't let sales mania ruin you with the tempting prices on things you don't actually want. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/_NZ5svDOiGw

Microsoft has just unleashed a new preview build of Windows 10 which incorporates a number of smart embellishments for Windows Ink, including a new Stencils feature and integration with the Photos app. Yes, you can now Ink up your images in Photos using either a pen, pencil, or a fresh addition for those who feel like a bit of fancy scribing: a calligraphy pen. After you’ve saved the modified photo, you can share it as a still image, or even as a video which replays the process of you drawing on the pic. As for the aforementioned new Stencils tool, Microsoft explains that this combines the functions of the protractor and compass, making it a breeze for users to draw a circle or precise arc. You get a degree readout as you draw, so you know exactly where you are in terms of your arc’s degrees, and the protractor can be resized with a simple two-finger pinch gesture. Ruler has also been updated so you now get a numerical degree readout to make drawing precise angles easier. Microsoft has done a bit of tweaking to pen drop-down menus in Windows Ink Workspace, as well, so it’s now possible to modify both color and width, without having to go in twice to do so. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y4enTt48GWdWA2Xy434JTm.jpg More touchpad tweaks Aside from the work on Ink, preview build 14951 also made further adjustments for precision touchpads, which saw a raft of customization options arrive last week. The latest tweaks involve the introduction of a keyboard shortcut picker which allows you to bind favorite key press combinations to gestures, and a ‘Change audio and volume’ option has been added to the basic swipe gestures present. Furthermore, the camera app has been revamped with interface tweaks like being able to access Settings straight from the camera UI, and a new zoom slider for easier, er, zooming. You can set a photo timer from the dashboard, too, and on the PC, a tap of the spacebar now takes a picture. The Windows Subsystem for Linux also got some attention with Ubuntu 16.04 replacing version 14.04 when it comes to new Bash on Ubuntu on Windows instances – although existing instances won’t be upgraded automatically. For more details, and the full list of changes and known issues to be aware of, check out Microsoft’s blog post announcing this preview build. Here are all the latest details on Microsoft’s rumored Surface PChttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ublfhpCJ1gs

Virtual DJ is much more than a simple music player or audio editor – it puts you behind the virtual decks and lets you mix multiple tracks, matching their speed, crossfading and adding special effects. You can also scratch songs and perform all the other actions you’d expect from a real DJ deck, and it’s complete’s free for home use. Why you need itWith VirtualDJ, you can mix, sample and add effects in real time without any specialist hardware. All you need is your ordinary music library, which VirtualDJ will organize in a logical way so you can easily find tracks with matching tempos for better mixing. Standard effects like echo and flanger are accompanied by modern additions like slicer and beatgrid, which automatically detect the beat of your chosen track. Unlike some professional DJ software, which focuses on surgical precision and creating a perfect simulacrum of vinyl mixing, VirtualDJ’s aim is to let you exercise your creative and artistic muscles to give your audience the best possible experience. It’s a practical tool, not an attempt to preserve traditional DJing in aspic, and it’s so much better for it. It’s not just live music mixing, either – you can also use VirtualDJ to create podcasts, broadcast your own internet radio station. It can also play karaoke tracks, and even video. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Even if you don't have a house party to host or a radio station to produce, VirtualDJ is great fun to just play around with and experiment. Get it now and start mixing! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nvNHKrOQzGE

At the start of next month, Microsoft is holding a big press event in New York focused on Office and where it’s going on the productivity front. Invitations for the press shindig have just gone out as VentureBeat reports, with the event happening on November 2, at 16:00 BST (11:00 ET). It’s evidently an important one as CEO Satya Nadella will be headlining along with Office corporate vice president Kirk Koenigsbauer. As to what they’ll be talking about, a Microsoft spokesperson said that they will be discussing “the changing nature of collaboration and how we can empower every team to achieve more”. So we could be looking at new collaboration features for the Office suite, and perhaps Skype Teams – Microsoft’s Slack rival – will get an airing, given that the rumour mill insists we’re looking at a January launch for this product. Skyping is my business Skype Teams will be part of Office 365, although it will obviously be pitched at business subscribers; possibly only those on enterprise plans, though. At any rate, we could know a lot more about it in just a fortnight’s time. Microsoft also has a major launch event taking place in New York next week, in which the company will talk about the future of Windows 10, and speculation holds that we’ll see a new Surface PC along with Surface-branded accessories such as a keyboard and mouse (which would fit well with an all-in-one PC). Clearly, there will be no shortage of Microsoft news over the next couple of weeks, and fingers crossed that there are equally exciting revelations in both the hardware and software arenas. Here’s our roundup of all the latest Surface PC rumourshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/5cEDLv-5Xgo

It's coming! Black Friday is America's foremost shopping event and has now firmly established itself as a sales bonanza across Europe and particularly in the UK. And while it's possible to be cynical about Black Friday, it's also worth remembering that there are some seriously good deals out there during this magic weekend, and with the pound sinking lower than Donald Trump on Twitter we can use the financial help. View Argos' Black Friday 2016 pageSo what can we expect from Argos' Black Friday deals in this year's post-halloween, pre-christmas sales bonanza? "Last year Argos went live with its Black Friday deals one week early and was rewarded with record traffic" Well, it's likely to be things that have been available for a while, and might soon be superseded by newer products. Electronics are the cornerstone of Black Friday and with lots of lovely new TVs and similar being announced in January, November is a good time to start offering deals. It's also worth remembering that with Christmas coming Argos will want to make some room in those stores for new lines that will sell well in the festive period. Prepare yourself for good deals on the stuff that didn't sell over the summer. If you're keen on a paddling pool, Black Friday might be the perfect time to grab a cheap deal. Last year Argos did a really decent job with Black Friday too. It released its deals a week early, but promised the prices wouldn't go lower on the big day itself. It also backed that promise up by refunding any difference in price consumers did notice. What Argos did on Black Friday last year:Last year Argos did some pretty interesting deals on Black Friday - in fact it was going deals crazy for almost the whole of November and December. There's a good one that comes up every so often that reduces a Tassimo coffee machine down to almost nothing - it's usually a £70 discount on the list price. These coffee machines are excellent, and although they lock you into a proprietary T-Disc system, those are widely available and not too expensive. The company also cut the price of GoPros, refurbished iPhones and 70 quid off an iPad Air. This sort of stuff is ideal to hoard as presents for Christmas gifts. Top 5 Argos Black Friday deals last year:http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UX5e6Xr8V5y5WjoX8D78fn.jpg 1. Sony PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 500GB with Uncharted bundle was £249.99 at Argos.co.uk on Black Friday last year. Right now that bundle will cost you £269.99 on Amazon, so you can see this was a rock solid deal you wouldn't be regretting nearly a year later. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7pB6yVjDXB3bSFabEw3u48.jpg 2. Nintendo 3DS On Black Friday last year Argos was selling the Nintendo 3DS handheld games console for £70 - the price of this handheld console has dropped again since then, so perhaps we'll see even better deals this year. It's a lot of fun for the money! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g5wSPj9Sj8vsKxHKR9oNiN.jpg 3. Philips 4K TV A fantastic Philips 55-inch 4K TV was reduced to £650 on Black Friday last year, which isn't so surprising now, but with 4K TV prices falling there's sure to be some amazing offers, and Philips TVs are excellent. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uwkLXpcT6ARNqM4U8tcCyR.jpg 4. Apple iPhones Argos also sold refurbished iPhone 4S phones for just £99.95 in November last year, even then it was an older model but absolutely ideal for someone young or those who don't want the latest and greatest handset. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qWFDAog7gnh8tmXzMGGDsk.jpg 5. GoPro The GoPro Hero 3+ was going for just £150 at Argos on Black Friday last year and these little cameras are in-demand and really excellent for outdoor activities. The Hero 3+ is not the latest model now but it's still a brilliant action cam. Argos Black Friday deals to expect in 2016:1. PS4 is going to be the hottest deal, that's our prediction. Why? Because there's a new PS4 coming, the Pro, which will mean interest in the older console will dwindle. If you're not interested in VR, grab a bargain on the original PS4. 2. Expect laptops to get the usual price slashing too. There were some nice deals last year and because PC tech moves so quickly there are sure to be some bargains. 3. It's a bit unimaginative. But there will be plenty of discounted TVs this year too. These days 4K is cheaper, but new tech like HDR TVs mean that older stuff doesn't sell as well - this means deep discounts. 4. Samsung phones should see a discount too - with the Note 7 recall the company will want to shift some S7s, so perhaps there will be some real price-drops. If not, keep an eye out for a cheap S6 Edge, one of the best phones ever. 5. Apple Watch - the first generation might get some sort of price drop for Black Friday, with the new model out it seems quite likely so do keep your eyes peeled. How to find the best Argos Black Friday deals: To locate all of the best Argos Black Friday deals this year, stay right here on TechRadar. We've got you covered for the very best deals. We are quite literally scouring the net to get you the lowest prices on everything we think you might want. We'll be using this page to keep you updated so do a bookmark (are bookmarks still a thing?) and keep checking back as Black Friday approaches. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/QIHneqOnWEw

It's hard to imagine anything less child-friendly than an uncensored internet. A rabid wolf, maybe, or a playground floored with broken glass and razor wire. The more connected we become the more we need everybody online - and that means trying to ensure that our children aren't exposed to the very worst content, ideas and behaviour that exist online. Software can't do everything, of course, but it can help to make parents' lives much easier. These are our picks of the best parental control tools. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K4TYQEUCk6a4CZ6HU9Hjvi.png Protect your kids on Windows, OS X and mobile devices with Qustodio's free app1. QustodioA full suite of parental control tools to protect your children Most parental control software is aimed at Windows, but Qustodio (think 'custodian') is also available for Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle and (weirdly) Nook. The free version covers the basics, enabling you to set rules and time schedules, block pornography and other unsuitable content; if you go for the paid-for version that adds SMS monitoring, social media features and per-app controls. But even the free version is one of the most comprehensive parental control apps around. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Its raft of features and support for a wide range of platforms make Qustodio our top recommended parental control software, but there are some other excellent free programs available, some of which may be better suited to your individual needs as a parent. Read on for our top choices. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nAbNTaM8GZ6YoCbjswgvWc.png Family Shield can run on your router, applying filters to every device on your Wi-Fi network2. OpenDNS Family ShieldBlocks dangerous domains, and can be used on your whole network FamilyShield is a free service from OpenDNS. Its parental control tools automatically block domains that OpenDNS has flagged under the headings "tasteless, proxy/anonymizer, sexuality, or pornography". One of the big pluses here is that while FamilyShield can run on PCs and mobile devices, you can also apply it to your network router and filter all the traffic that passes through it - it's just a matter of changing the DNS server numbers in your control panel. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png This has the happy benefit of improving DNS lookup speeds on some ISPs. By filtering everything at the router level, every device on your network benefits from the filters. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6xXzgZKGWQLebUmhkqfJe.png Cross-platform parental control app Kidlogger lets you monitor everything your child types and what they're doing3. KidloggerComprehensive parental controls and activity logging Nothing gets past Kidlogger. This free parental control software not only tracks what your children type and which websites they visit - it also keeps a record of which programs they use and any screengrabs they take. If you're concerned about who your kids might be talking to online, there's even a voice-activated sound recorder. If your children are a little older and more responsible, you can pick and choose which options to monitor and give them a little privacy. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png The free software only covers one device and lacks some of the sneakier features of the premium editions (including silent monitoring of WhatsApp conversations and the ability to listen to phone calls), but it's still a well-rounded tool if you're concerned about your kids' safety. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G6BFZUcnLiRfNTB3DCYtM7.png Spyrix Free Keylogger won't block access to unsavory content online, but will let you see what your kids have been up to4. Spyrix Free KeyloggerTake a virtual peek over your kid's shoulder as they surf Keyloggers have something of a bad reputation online, as they're often used by villains, but they can be a force for good too, and Spyrix's features enable you to see what your children have been up to. Although it's dubbed parental control software, it's really a monitoring program; it doesn't stop the kids getting up to no good, but it does let you see exactly what they've done. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png That means it isn't really appropriate for younger children's computers, but it may be appropriate for older children if you suspect online bullying or other unpleasantness. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8rpdNFQHeVgv7zS4XD2wih.png Zoodles is ideal for younger children, with a specialised browser to keep little ones safe from anything unsavory or frightening5. ZoodlesA whole browser designed for younger kids The problem with many parental control apps is that they're most effective for older children: while filtering adult content and other unpleasantness is obviously a good thing, there's plenty of stuff that isn't adult that can still scare younger children silly. Zoodles addresses that by combining filtered browsing and a dedicated web browser to create a walled garden: everything in it is safe for kids and there's no risk of anything awful popping up. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png In addition to Windows, Zoodles is also available for Mac, Android and iOS, and a brand new version is currently in development. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pHf_gqiQ8sw

With free web design software, anyone can create their own great-looking website, regardless of their level of experience. If you're a keen coder, specialist software can speed up your coding with auto-completion and macros; if you preferred to design visually, your software would turn your designs into code and stick them online. Although more and more web building platforms are online and based around fairly inflexible templates, web design software still has a key role to play - especially if you like to get things done when you're far from a data connection. So which web design apps are the best? Let's find out. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3d6d78e483854078053c6bce834af6c6.jpg CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor includes a code editor, plus a simple WYSIWYG interface, templates and wizards to make website building a breeze1. CoffeeCup Free HTML EditorMake your own professional-standard website in minutes CoffeeCup's paid-for products are excellent, and CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is great too. It combines coding and WYSIWYG design in an app that runs quickly, is easy to learn and can produce some stellar sites. It lacks some of the features of its paid-for siblings - features such as the useful Color Schemer and built-in FTP uploading are reserved for the paid products - but unlike some rivals it's in continual development to keep it current. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png If you're looking for a do-everything app on Windows then look no further. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/24ef47ad8ad15083eac79a51566feb7b.jpg PSPad is a text-based rather than WYSIWYG editor, designed for more experienced web developers2. PSPadA powerful text-based editor packed with extra tools for web developers PSPad might not be pretty, but it's pretty good. Inside the defiantly old-school Windows interface is a powerful programmer's editor that includes an FTP client for on-server editing, templates for common languages such as HTML, PHP, VBScript and many others, multiple document editing and macros that you can use to create and trigger commonly used code. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png It's not an app for people who prefer a WYSIWYG interface that's more like desktop publishing or word processing, but if you're a keen coder it's an excellent tool. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2d44d5c6acaebd1cf8b3dddd1c686518.jpg Google Web Designer is a tool for creating HTML5 elements rather than whole websites. The animations it produces look very slick and professional3. Google Web DesignerCreate stunning HTML5 animations for your own site Google Web Designer's name is a little misleading, because it's really an advert and animation designer: it's best suited to people who need to create animated, cross-platform elements that they'll then use in another program (or add to their otherwise hand-coded sites). But if you're one of those people there's lots to like including Google Drive integration, 3D objects, layers and events. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png As Google's showcase of animations created using Web Designer demonstrates, the app is capable of creating some really impressive results. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6e53884e1662e91db09e8d8f5a1c667d.jpg It's starting to show its age, but KompoZer has maintained its popularity for good reason - it's still an excellent website builder, after all these years4. KompoZerAn older website builder, but still a favorite We have a soft spot for KompoZer, which is a spin-off from the same Mozilla that created Firefox - but where Firefox has been in constant development from day one, KompoZer hasn't been updated since 2010. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png That's a problem, because the languages used on the Web haven't stood still: while it's still possible to create sites in KompoZer, we think there are much better and easier ways to do it - such as the BlueGriffon app, which is based on Firefox and offers a more modern approach. Unlike KompoZer, however, BlueGriffon requires a paid licence for its most useful features. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c2282067faf52261a3836ad85e617b83.jpg SynWrite is packed with tools to make coding easier, and is small enough to fit on a USB stick5. SynWriteA text-based editor for more experienced web developers It's overkill for beginners, but if you're a keen coder then SynWrite is well worth a look, and not just because it's small enough to carry around on a modest USB flash drive. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png It's a fully featured code editor with macro recording, plugins, clipboard history, text clips, stacks of coding helpers, colour pickers and previews, search and replace across multiple files and code templates too. It's been designed for every kind of web work from layout to coding, and it's a good choice for expert users. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7e69eecb36e513813482330b4b2e9a00.jpg Mobirise is a user-friendly website builder based around blocks of content6. Mobirise Website BuilderCreate responsive websites that look great on desktop and mobile devices You've got to love an app whose sales blurb says "creating well-designed websites is a real fun" (sic), especially when it actually is. Mobirise can create good looking, responsive websites with the minimum of fuss. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png It's all about blocks: you choose the type of block you want, drag it to where you want it and change the default content to suit your own requirements. It's easy to see how your design will work on desktop, smartphone and tablet, and you don't have to use the pre-defined styles if you don't want to. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d233539d72f34a3f00459614e7d9bf98.jpg TOWeb's free edition is a good choice for small sites, but the free version only gives you 10MB to play with7. TOWebAnother responsive design tool, but keep its limitations in mind The free version of TOWeb is there to promote the more powerful paid-for versions, so as you'd expect, its features are limited: you can only create one website, the size is limited to 10MB and TOWeb will put ads in the website. It's simple, based on customisable and generally good looking templates, supports multiple languages and enables you to publish automatically to a wide range of web hosts. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png The results are responsive too, which means they should work just fine on mobiles and tablets. If you can live with the limits TOWeb's free app is a decent option for simpler sites. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8a6949f75b32f40dcc0631ab7671ad05.jpg Weebly Free lets you drag and drop elements to build your site8. Weebly FreeA simple drag-and-drop editor that's ideal for making your first site We've steered clear of online-only services in our round-up as they tend to be template-based web builders rather than web designers, but Weebly is a little bit different as it enables you to design the content of your pages by dragging and dropping. You get free hosting and unlimited pages, and while you can't remove Weebly's branding - that's £5 per month for the Starter package, which enables you to use your own domain name - it's a great starting point if you want to make something that looks good without taking forever to build. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1dadc96f37d7d95df0dd99f656c918af.jpg openElement is an online-only website builder that's surprisingly powerful9. openElementA web-based site builder that's very capable, but intimidating for beginners The dark, dense interface might be a little off-putting for absolute beginners and it isn't as easy to use as some rivals, but there's no doubt that openElement offers a lot of power for more confident designers. It does much more than most other WYSIWYG apps, and in the right hands it's capable of great things, but we think the interface is a little confusing compared to similarly useful apps like CoffeeCup Free. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7cd0c1c2a805a3d08d8f89b0d4612a31.jpg Webflow is easy to use and highly configurable if you don't mind the ads 10. WebflowA stylish online web builder if you don't mind the ads and limited page views Like Weebly, Webflow is an online app that's part of a suite of paid-for services - and like Weebly, that means there are limits on what you can do with it. The free edition won't let you export HTML/CSS code for use outside Webflow's own hosting (although you can prototype your site for free with a webflow.io subdomain), your free site is limited to two pages and tech support is online-only via a busy discussion forum. If those limitations are okay, however, Webflow is a really great app for designing pages that pop. Have we missed your preferred web design software? Share your recommendations in the comments below. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/mV1T6N4SGsE

A Sharper Scaling does one job extremely well: it increases the size of images while preserving an impressive amount of detail. The results are often considerably better than could be achieved with a regular photo editor, which tend to produce blurry snapshots. Why you need itA Sharper Scaling can’t create additional detail that isn’t present in the original photo, but the results it produces are consistently crisper than bicubic interpolation – a technique used by most photo editors that involves simply repeating pixels, then smoothing out the results. A Sharper Scaling is extremely easy to use. Simply paste in an image from your clipboard or open one from your PC, set the target size (and crop area, if you like), and click the Preview button. You’ll be presented with a side-by-side comparison showing A Sharper Scaling’s results compared to bicubic interpolation (with out without sharpening), simple pixel repeat, and bilinear interpolation. It can’t rotate or skew images by itself, but A Sharper Scaling can help you get better results when you perform these actions in a different program. Upscale the image in A Sharper Scaling before rotating it, then resize it back down to preserve as much detail as possible. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png If you’re happy, the resized image can be saved as a new file or copied to your clipboard with a single click. A Sharper Scaling is incredibly straightforward and brilliantly executed. A great addition to your photo-editing arsenal. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/47SHXOpugBU

VSDC Free Video Editor for Windows has just received a major overhaul, with a new suite of vintage filters that replicate Instagram’s best vintage effects. Simply download the software, import your video and you’re ready to get creative. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png Unlike Instagram itself, which only lets you upload a minute of footage at a time, VSDC Free Video Editor can tackle videos of any length and export them in a format of your choice. You can also create slideshows from photos, or projects using a combination of still images, video and audio, all arranged using the software’s intuitive non-linear editor, then give the whole project a retro twist. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aignwxEkuJXVK8F3yL5f5M.jpg You can import and convert a single video, or combine multiple clips, still photos and audio filesTo give a video a quick vintage makeover, click ‘Import content’ and select the file. Give the new project a name, enter some basic details (including the copyright holder’s name and a description), and take a look at the video format settings. The default options will be fine for most purposes. Once your video has loaded, click the Video Effects button towards the top left and select Quick Styles. Here you’ll find a set of filters to make your clip look its best, including automatic levels adjustment to enhance shadows and highlights, and temperature controls to eliminate color casts. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hd4NNcoiMpkvu9vj88D9uA.jpg VDSC Video Editor's filters include all the classic Instagram effects you know and loveThe Quick Styles list also includes all the classic filters you know and love from Instagram, including Earlybird, Toaster, and Hefe. Simply click your preferred effect and it will be applied to your whole video immediately. To see how it looks, hit the ‘Preview’ button underneath the playback window. Once you’re happy, click the ‘Export Project’ tab and pick a file format or playback device. If you’re planning to upload your video to YouTube, pick AVI, MPG, MOV, or WMV. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9oMzbjk9z5Mh6Fdyj2yr6M.jpg VSDC Video Editor Pro supports hardware acceleration for faster video encodingVSDC supports hardware acceleration to dramatically improve the speed of encoding, but this feature is only available in VDSC Video Editor Pro; to disable it in the free edition, select the cog icon in the top right, click Acceleration Options and uncheck the box marked ‘Use hardware acceleration for encoding video’. VSDC’s developer Flash-Integro has made its own video tutorials to show off some of the updated app’s other new features, including a guide to creating a stunning ghost effect in color. Give it a try! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Ptr6IikruXQ

Our computers are more secure than they’ve ever been, but unfortunately the threats they face are more sophisticated than ever too. That means security software isn’t just a nice thing to have; it’s essential, especially on Windows PCs. As more of us move to multiple platforms, security suites have moved too – and you’ll find that some big-name suites now offer to protect not just PCs, but Macs and mobile devices too. It’s hard to buy a bad security suite these days, but with wildly differing features and pricing it can sometimes be tough to pick the best one. These are our current favourites. Don’t want to pay a penny? Here’s the best free antivirus softwareBitdefender is a regular visitor to the top of the security charts, and with good reason – it’s lightning fast, exceptionally accurate and boasts a range of tools including secure browsing, a password manager and a very effective spam filter. In its Total Security guise it also delivers password management, secure browsing, battery management, Wi-Fi protection, ransomware protection, system optimisation, file encryption and shredding, and a licence for five PCs, Macs or Android devices. Not bad for £59.99 (around $75, AU$95) per year. Bitdefender’s secret is simple: it’s very, very good at what it does. Click here to buy Bitdefender Total Security Multi-Device 2017Kaspersky is another name you’ll hear mentioned when talking about the top security players, and with good reason. The company’s Total Security product starts at £32 (around $40, AU$50) for one device, rising to £48 (around $60, AU$75) for five devices, with support for 10 devices setting you back £64 (around $80, AU$100) for a year’s coverage in each case. Pay for two years and you’ll get a bit of a discount at the lower-end of the scale, or a substantial one for the top-tier offerings. Total Security protects PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices, with very solid security scanning supplemented with file backup and encryption, password management, parental controls and child safety measures, along with privacy protection, including a VPN for trace-free browsing. Click here to buy Kaspersky Total SecurityAt £89.99 (around $110, AU$145) per year the Intel-owned LiveSafe isn’t the cheapest product out there, but it’s particularly user-friendly. There are parental controls and anti-spam, password management and identity protection, website scanning and a guaranteed 100% virus removal or your money back. The licence covers unlimited PCs, Macs, phones and tablets, although as with any such suite the PC gets all the toys while Macs and mobile get a subset of the main package. Click here to buy McAfee LiveSafeNorton Security Premium is usually £59.99 (around $75, AU$95) per year for up to 10 PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices, but at the time of writing it’s just £39.99 (around $50, AU$65) – making it less than half the price of other premium suites. Once again we have parental controls, identity protection and excellent malware scanning, and there’s also a useful Android feature that warns of dodgy apps – the biggest current source of Android malware. There’s a 100% virus removal guarantee, 25GB of cloud backup and a network firewall, but you don’t get a password manager or any system optimisation tools. Click here to buy Symantec Norton Security PremiumHere’s another security suite with big discounts: BullGuard is usually £69.96 (around $85, AU$110) per year for 3 PCs, but it’s currently £27.98 (around $35, AU$45). Once again the basic antivirus protection is enhanced – you get parental controls, anti-spam, identity protection, 25GB of online backup and automatic upgrades, and BullGuard also offers to warn you about inappropriate content on your children’s social media. There’s no password manager or support for mobile devices, but BullGuard is a solid offering for protecting PCs. Click here to buy BullGuard Premium ProtectionOh look! Trend Micro is on sale! We’re starting to detect a trend here, and that trend would make us very wary of signing up for any security suite that isn’t currently offering a big discount on the RRP. You don’t want to be the only person who paid full price for a sofa, after all. Trend Micro’s Maximum Security protects up to five PCs, Macs or mobiles for £41.97 (around $50, AU$65) per year (it’s usually £69.95 – which is about $85, AU$110), and the suite includes ransomware protection, identity protection, parental controls and a password manager. It also offers PC optimisation tools to speed up sluggish computers. Click here to buy Trend Micro Maximum SecurityAvast is well known for its excellent free antivirus product, and its paid-for Internet Security starts at $49.99 (£40, AU$65) per year for one PC. In addition to the core antivirus/antimalware product you get router security, browser clean-up, password management, sandboxed downloads, DNS hijacking protection, secure browsing and anti-spam. It’s a very good product but it can’t help but look awfully expensive when everybody else appears to be offering double-digit discounting. Click here to buy Avast Internet SecurityPanda Internet Security starts at £39.99 (around $50, AU$65) per year for one device, although inevitably it’s on sale: the current price is £29.99 (around $35, AU$50), rising to a discounted £97.49 (around $120, AU$155) for unlimited devices. As with most security suites the main tools are for Windows, with additional apps for Mac, iOS and Android; although unusually the three-license option only allows one Mac installation. At this level you get antivirus, Wi-Fi protection, parental controls, backup and data protection as well as smartphone location and Android antivirus – but if you want file encryption, file shredding and PC tune-up tools you’ll need to move up a level to Global protection. That starts at £38.49 (around $50, AU$60) for one PC, rising to £129.49 (around $160, AU$210) for unlimited devices. Click here to buy Panda Internet SecurityAVG has done well from the freemium model, offering a very good antivirus package for nothing in the hope that it’ll drive sales of its paid-for products. At £69.99 (around $85, AU$110) per year for unlimited Windows, Mac and Android devices, AVG Ultimate is good value for money, especially if you’re a small business with lots of different devices. The suite also boasts one of the fastest malware scanners around – although in independent testing that speed meant it was found to be missing some potential threats. There’s no password manager, secure browser or parental controls, but it’s a good option for protecting multiple PCs, Macs and Android devices. Click here to buy AVG UltimateF-Secure’s flagship product has three pricing options, to cover three, five or seven devices at £79.99 (around $100, AU$130), £99.99 (around $120, AU$160) and £119.99 (around $145, AU$190) per year respectively. That’s at the higher-end of the market, but you do get a lot of tools for your money including a private VPN for encrypted connections to Wi-Fi hotspots and to evade geoblocking. In actual fact, Total Security and Privacy is two products bolted together: the F-Secure SAFE security suite and F-Secure Freedome VPN. The suite covers Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices, although the Mac component is just antivirus. Click here to buy F-Secure Total Security and Privacyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Vc-D7-9zz8U

PhraseExpress works as a universal autocomplete tool, saving you time and effort by inserting commonly used phrases and other text into any program when you type a particular shortcut. You can also use it to complete forms automatically, and to create macros that automate repetitive tasks. PhraseExpress has dozens of possible uses: you can enter whole boilerplate emails with just a few keypresses, choose from a list of email signatures, complete forms, and write letters using ready-made chunks of text. Why you need itPhraseExpress is designed to make your life as simple as possible. Simply let it run quietly in the background and it will learn phrases or chunks of text that you use frequently, and suggest continuations when you begin to type them – like predictive texting on your phone, but much more accurate and for far larger sections of text. PhraseExpress can work systemwide – for websites as well as software – or you can restrict it to certain applications if you prefer. The main program window lets you manage your phrases (including those created automatically as well as manually), assign shortcuts (with optional hotkeys), and import and export phrases – ideal if you use multiple PCs and want to share settings across them. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7gaReKkHGknFTR36uCQpEH.png PhraseExpress's macro creation tool is particularly impressive, recording your mouse actions and reproducing them on command. You can also create autotext that will open a certain program, file, directory or webpage instantly. It's an amazing timesaver, and we think you'll love it. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/sQsAXXwr4gU

Another preview of Windows 10 has rolled out, and this latest incarnation (build 14946) brings forth some nifty changes for notebook users who have a precision touchpad, allowing for the customization of various gestures. For those of you wondering what on Earth said touchpad is (a precision what-now?), these are more advanced and accurate touchpads (first introduced with Windows 8) which you’ll find on some modern laptops including Microsoft’s own Surface Pro and Surface Book. With the last preview build of its desktop OS, Microsoft improved the performance of precision touchpads when it came to detecting two-finger taps and performing pinch-to-zoom operations. But now the company is going further with the introduction of a new section under Windows 10’s settings which allows the user to configure what each gesture does, with a range of customization options available for three- and four-finger gestures as well as taps. So you can change a three-finger swipe to either switch apps or switch virtual desktops, for example, and tapping on the touchpad can be set to bring up Cortana, or the Action Center, or it can act as the middle mouse button, or a play/pause toggle for media usage. You’ll find these options under Settings > Devices > Touchpad, in a section labelled Other Gestures. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xMtQb76vaD5bB9Y3ZGvMP6.jpg Getting advanced However, at the foot of the Touchpad settings menu, you’ll also find an option for Advanced Gesture Configuration. This lets the user perform further tinkering, allowing for the specifying of gestures for other elements such as skipping to the next song, snapping windows, or creating/deleting virtual desktops. All these new features are a considerable boon for those who have a laptop with a precision touchpad, and doubtless there will be more customization options in the pipeline. Note that there is one minor gremlin which has been introduced, and some touchpads might mistake a click-and-drag operation for a right-click. If you find this is affecting you, Microsoft should have a fix soon enough, with any luck. As ever, with preview versions, you can expect to encounter glitches. So what else is new with build 14946? There’s a tweak to Wi-Fi settings so that if you turn it off, there’s an option to automatically turn wireless connectivity back on after a set period of time (an hour, a few hours, a day etc). And there are some important little fixes, too – one being that the bug whereby the Xbox Live sign-in failed to work in games has now been remedied. An issue which caused touch scrolling to be overly sensitive in apps such as Edge has been fixed, plus some crashes related to Microsoft’s browser have also been cured. We’ve rounded up all the latest Surface Pro 5 news and rumorshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/btNsp1EsQjQ

Thanks to advances made in mobile technology over the last few years, more businesses are turning to devices like smartphones and tablets to help them in managing their operations. Generally speaking, the days of relying on a PC to do everything are over. When you're running about in meetings all day, have hundreds of emails to read, and must meet tight deadlines, the attraction of mobile is undeniable. Apps, in particular, are changing the way we live and work in so many different ways. And if you download the right apps to fit your business needs, then you can easily improve productivity. There's an app for almost every task and area, from accounting to product management. In this article, we've highlighted the very best business productivity apps – and in some cases web-based tools which you can use on your mobile – that are currently available. Also have a look at our 10 best office apps for AndroidImage Credit: ymgerman/iStock There are a ton of web conferencing and collaboration apps out there, but they aren't always mobile-friendly. Enter Join.me, an online meeting tool that's easy to set up and can be used from any device – there's a web version which means you don't have to download anything if you don't want to. It provides free screen sharing and unlimited videoconferencing. There's a handy whiteboard feature as well, letting everyone contribute ideas virtually. The app is available on iPhone, iPad and Android. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free When you have so many things to do and not enough time to play with, you can easily become overwhelmed and fall behind. Gyst is the app that wants you to stay organised and get more done. It consolidates texts, contacts, calendars and to-do lists into one place. Because of this, you don't need to keep dipping into different apps and it will help you stay on top of things. You can also use the software to prioritise text messages, schedule meetings and communicate with your colleagues. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Basecamp is a veteran piece of project management software in the business world, having been around for ten years. Features include the ability to keep and track client feedback, chat with your colleagues, set up work-related reminders, praise co-workers and give them tasks to complete, and share documents. Like Gyst, you're also able to create to-do lists, although you can easily pre-order them based on their priority and relevance. An internal message board plays a big role in the app too. With it, you can post announcements, proposals and ideas. You can sign up and get your first outing for free, but beyond that you'll have to pay. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free/From $29 (around £20) per month Diary clashes are annoying but pretty common in the business world. This is where Doodle comes into the picture. It's an app that helps you streamline meetings and stay productive. How does it work? You sign in, set up an event and suggest times to your colleagues. They then choose the times that work for them, and the app tries to find the best slot for everyone. What's great is that your colleagues don't even need to be signed up to the app in order to participate. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Trello is another great app worth checking out if you have a busy life with your work or business commitments. Aimed at helping you to get things done and stay organised, the app lets you create boards for all the projects you're working on. You can work on these individually or add colleagues so they're kept up-to-date with the tasks they're undertaking. As well as this, you're able to add to-do lists on boards, assign tasks, comment on items, upload files and videos, and attach files. It's free to use, although you have the option to upgrade for added functionality. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free You could spend a good deal of cash on a package like Microsoft Office, or you could stick with Google Drive and pay nothing. Drive offers you a full suite of word processing, database and presentation applications. The great thing about them is that they're cloud-based, so you can work on documents and files from any device – be it a laptop, smartphone or tablet. Everything is saved as you left it, and you have the option to view revisions. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free The market for communication apps is quite fragmented, but when it comes to keeping up-to-date with your colleagues and in-work teams, Slack is a no-brainer. It offers real-time messaging, and you can share files in one-to-one and group conversations. The app is known for its powerful search and archiving functionalities, so you'll always be able to find past files and conversations easily. And there are also integrations with apps and services such as Dropbox, Asana, Google Drive, Twitter, Zendesk and more. Slack syncs across all devices, from smartphones to computers, and it's free with certain limitations (which you can rid yourself of if you upgrade to a paid subscription). Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Peakon is a new web platform with an iOS app dedicated to maximising productivity within companies. It provides automated employee feedback and measures engagement to help firms create happier, more sustainable working environments. Sounds good, right? But you're probably wondering how it actually works. That's pretty simple to explain. Peakon constantly asks you questions to build a coherent, realistic analysis of how you're feeling at your company. While you have to pay for a basic subscription, you can have a free 30-day trial to test the service out (no credit card details needed). Platforms: iOS Price: From £2.60 ($3.50) per user per month Omnifocus claims to be a PC-grade, in-depth task management solution that you can use on your iOS device. While it costs £30, the app offers flexible viewing options, location awareness and on-the-fly task entry features to help you get through a busy day. You can assign tasks based on location, people and energy level to accomplish jobs. Every task or piece of work you add to the app shows up in the iPhone's Notification Center, so you don't have to worry about missing deadlines. Platforms: iOS Price: £30 (around $40) If you feel unmotivated, stressed or unwell, it's likely your work will suffer. And in an ideal world, that's something you'd like to avoid. Fortunately, online platform Nudjed is on a mission to boost employee health. It collects data across key areas of health to help employers build a picture of how their staff are feeling. Using this information, they can then step in and develop work-based health programmes so all employees are happy and thriving. The company was set up in 2013 by Welsh designer and entrepreneur Warren Fauvel. Platforms: Web only Price: Varies Scoro is a worthy end-to-end work management solution. Soon to be launched in app form, it allows professionals and businesses to control their entire workflow from one place. The tool also aims to streamline work and eliminate unnecessary processes that may affect productivity. Scoro's features include calendars, task and project management, quoting and billing, enterprise-level reporting and a real-time dashboard. While it costs to subscribe to Scoro, there is a free 14-day trial available. Platforms: Web only (app coming soon) Price: From £8 ($11) A simple pen and paper is always a great way to stay productive, and this aptly named app digitises the process. With Pen and Paper you can create handwritten notes and documents on your trusty iPhone or iPad. You draw with your finger or a stylus, and can doodle away if you wish and easily pull off tricks like resizing, adding text boxes or creating diagrams. The app works with Dropbox too, so you can import and annotate PDF documents and other files. Platforms: iOS Price: £2.29 ($2.99) If you deal with a ton of social media feeds at work, then you ought to have a look at Buffer. It's one of the best tools you can get for scheduling posts on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The platform is easy to use, too. You simply link your company accounts to one email, and you'll be able to push out tweets and status updates in a matter of seconds. There are apps for iOS and Android, although you can use Buffer on the web too. An individual account with one social profile is free, but if you have multiple profiles or team members who want to use the service, you'll need to pay for a subscription. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Evernote has been around for a good few years and is one of the safest bets when it comes to using apps to boost productivity. It offers a variety of note-taking tools so you can change the way you work on and organise your personal and professional projects. You can write, analyse and store ideas in the form of notes, notebooks, checklists and to-do lists. Notes can be taken in a plethora of formats, including text, sketches, photos, audio, web clippings, PDFs and more. The app syncs across all your devices, so you never have to worry about losing your precious notes and documents. It's free to use, although there's the option to upgrade to a pro version with more features. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free When it comes to working on projects with a large team, things can get pretty hectic. Allocating tasks ends up taking forever, and soon everyone's confused. The solution? DropTask. It offers a vibrant, colourful interface that delivers an enjoyable but effective task management experience. The main feature here is a customisable workflow board, where team members can allocate tasks and check what they're expected to do. You can invite up to five colleagues to work on tasks in real-time, and you can assign items under multiple categories. Like many of the other apps listed in this article, DropTask is cloud-based and syncs across devices. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free It's easy to fall behind when you have so much work to do, and it doesn't help when there are so many distractions to deal with. If you suffer with these sort of issues, Be Focused Pro could help you. This iOS app lets you focus on your work and get things done by splitting individual tasks into intervals, separated by small breaks. This, the creators claim, will help you retain motivation while you work. As well as being able to create and configure tasks, you can also track your progress throughout the week, month or year. Platforms: iOS Price: £1.49 ($1.99) One of the banes of running a business is having to deal with time and expense sheets. Unless you're willing to shell out for an accountant, this is something you're going to have to tackle yourself. But Harvest makes the task a lot simpler. The app is a way for you to track time, log expenses and manage invoices on-the-go. You can use the app to send invoices to clients and track when they've paid, add, view and edit time entries, take photos of receipts and upload them, monitor mileage, and much more besides. There is a basic free plan but it restricts the number of clients and projects available, so you'll need to fork out for a paid subscription if you want to unlock those limits. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Are you a business owner? Then you'll understand the importance of knowing how your employees are feeling. After all, if they're not happy at your firm, then the chances are they're going to underperform – or go elsewhere. TinyPulse is an app that lets you get to know your staff, giving you the ability to set them questions and analyse their feedback. Using this data, you can then make changes if they're needed. You can also share virtual suggestions with your team, ensuring they're always included in strategic decision-making. And hopefully the result of all this will be a happier, more democratic working environment. You can get a free trial to test the system out, although you'll need to contact the company for details of pricing plans when it comes to the full service. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Varies Bria is a business-grade communication app available on iOS and Android as well as BlackBerry. It creates a SIP-based softphone client using Wi-Fi or a cellular data network that can make and receive calls over the net. The service uses the phone's existing contact list and has been designed to facilitate easy, effective communication management. There's an intuitive interface that accommodates multiple calls, and functionality includes the ability to swap, merge and split calls, plus you can perform attended and unattended transfers. You needn't worry about security either, as it boasts built-in audio encryption. Platforms: Android, iOS and BlackBerry Price: £6 ($7.99) There's certainly no shortage of to-do list apps out there, but equally there's no denying that Wunderlist is one of the best. The app allows you to create as many task lists as you want and share them with your colleagues. They sync across devices, so you'll always have them to hand. Note that the app is free, but there's a pro version that'll cost you a few quid a year. You can delegate tasks, set deadlines, add notes, create reminders and split items into sub-tasks – and the interface is easy-to-use, and looks good, too. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free When you have an incredibly busy home and work life, it’s easy to come across great articles or videos online but not have the time to enjoy them. Pocket lets you save items like videos, articles and e-books so you can access them when you have a spare few minutes at some point in the future. It’s a great way to stay organised too. Depending on the version you have, you can create tags to keep everything neat and tidy, or listen to articles with text-to-speech. There’s unlimited storage on offer as well. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free As they say, time is money, and you can easily waste both by spending most of the day staring at social media feeds and watching videos on Facebook. RescueTime aims to get you to change your ways and avoid bad working habits. It analyses the apps and websites you view the most, and breaks them down into a list so that you know where your time is going. The idea is you can then use this information to set productivity goals. The app is free, but the pro version lets you go a step further by blocking specific sites and setting up notifications. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Toggl is similar to RescueTime in that it wants to help you better utilise your time at work and stay productive. It lets you track multiple projects and clients to build a picture of your daily activities. With this information, you can then view graphs and timesheets, which is extremely handy if you work on a ‘per hour’ basis. All members of a team can use the app and split items into different categories to avoid confusion. The basic plan is free and caters for teams of five members or fewer, but if you need more than this, you’ll have to pay a subscription for the pro version or better. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Asana is another well-known business app. If you’re not using it already, then you probably should be. It’s like Trello (which we’ve already mentioned) and will help you stay on top of things in general, but it’s a lot more text-centric. You can set up tasks, to-do lists, reminders and requests about pretty much anything, and you can comment on items and send images within the app. There’s functionality that lets you track progress, too, and you’re able to communicate with staff directly. Asana works across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets and computers. It’s free for teams of up to 15 members, but beyond that you’ll need to stump up for a premium subscription. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free If you like the idea of having a communications app like Slack but need something a little cheaper when it comes to paid-for options, you’ll want to have a look at HipChat. It may not be as complex or well-known as Slack, but HipChat boasts a free service for unlimited users which offers group chat and file sharing. Upgrade to HipChat Plus for a couple of pounds a month, and you also get group video chat, screen sharing, and unlimited file sharing and storage. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps available, although it’s not just for personal use. It’s also a handy communication tool for businesses, allowing you to communicate with colleagues in real-time. Using your Wi-Fi connection, it lets you send and receive text messages, calls, images, photos, videos and voice messages for free. You can also set up and participate in group chats, which is handy for team meetings and delegating tasks. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Freelancers are always looking for more work – and when it comes to that quest, Konsus could be a big help. It’s an on-demand freelancer platform based within the Slack app (which we covered in a previous slide). The app assigns projects to top-talent sole traders based on their skills and availability. For example, a user could request edits to a PowerPoint presentation or Word document, expecting to get it back by the next morning. There’s a team of project managers too, responsible for vetting freelancers and ensuring projects are completed to the brief. Platforms: Slack Add-on Price: Varies Unless you’re the next Einstein or have loads of research time on your hands, it can be pretty impossible to work out the most complex equations. This is where Wolfram Alpha can help – using a vast collection of algorithms and data, it can produce answers and generate reports for almost any question, not just limited to maths but covering a whole range of topics. The app isn’t free, though, and it’ll set you back £2.29. You also have the option to pay a monthly fee and get added capabilities, should you need them. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: £2.29 ($2.99) It’s always a good idea to have a PDF reader at your disposal, and Adobe is arguably the best out there. The Adobe Acrobat Reader app, which you can get on both Android and iOS for free, lets you edit and add comments to PDFs. If you have an Adobe account, you can benefit from even more features. For instance, you can convert PDFs into various different formats and store them in the cloud. There’s the option of connecting the app to Dropbox too, and if you have an iPad Pro, you can use the Apple Pencil to annotate documents. Platforms: Android and iOS Price: Free Not all businesses and sole traders have the funds to splash out on accountants, although keeping everything tracked and in order is essential. Wave, a free web-based accountancy platform complete with mobile apps, has been designed for small businesses, individuals and contractors. Using it, you can track your expenses, send and manage invoices, scan receipts, get expert accounting reports and more – and it doesn’t even cost a penny. There are various apps available for different functions on iOS (and one Android app – Receipts by Wave), although note that you can’t get the Payroll app outside of the US or Canada. Platforms: iOS Price: Free http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Jd00LV0xAaM

Update: New iOS 10 update features make your iPhone and iPad dramatically different, and Apple's iOS 10.1 beta 3 is already available to further change the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Here's what's new. Apple's iOS 10 and iOS 10.1 updates for your iPhone and iPad live up to the milestone software version number, with major changes to your daily phone and tablet routine. You won't recognize portions of the interface, it's that different. But don't worry, almost all of the new iOS 10 features are for the best - and absolutely free to download today. It launched alongside watchOS 3 for the Apple Watch in September and macOS for Macs in October after they all made their big debut at WWDC 2016 in June. We've been playing with them since the beta stage and are still discovering new features. You'll need time to wrap your head around the new functionality of this mobile operating system, so we went ahead of broke it down for you. Here's what we've learned about iOS 10. Watch our hands on review of the iPhone 7 iOS 10.1 updateiOS 10.1 beta 3 is available nowRelease date expected to be late OctoberYou're able to download the iOS 10 update to your iPhone and iPad today, as Apple hit its release date right on the nose: Tuesday, September 13 at 10am Pacific. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ea81577d04123eb55b404af41930a7d2.jpg It's technically iOS 10.02 now. Apple fixed a handful of iOS 10 problems, and its updates won't stop there within the one-month launch window. iOS 10.1 beta 3 is already available. You can download iOS 10.1 public beta if you sign up for the Apple's Developer Preview program on its official website. It's a 1.95GB over-the-air update and mostly brings new features to the iPhone 7 Plus. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/739ff2ecefc6913727ac31c84ba344c4.jpg View side-by-side photos in their original sizeA full list of iOS 10.1 changes isn't available from Apple yet, but we know that it adds Portrait Mode using the iPhone 7 Plus dual-lens camera and all devices can now replay message animations. We'll report back with the complete release notes soon. If there's an Apple launch event for the new MacBook Pro 2016 and Apple Watch 2 Nike+ Edition at the end of October, expect it to be timed with that big spectacle. Want it now? How to download iOS 10 right nowiOS 10 compatibilityWorks with iPhone 5, iPad 3, iPad mini 2 and iPod touch 6th gen or higherAll 30-pin dock devices are out. Lightning or nothing!iOS 10 is available on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, unless of course you have an age-old phone or tablet that still uses the 30-pin dock connector or an older iPad mini or iPod touch. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1f853480d1dbd2946118414fa7a6e978.jpg It's lightning or NOTHING!That's where Apple draws the new line in the sand for 2016. Its forthcoming mobile operating system update won't support for iPhone 4S and iPad 2. The iPad mini and iPod touch 5th gen are the outliers that won't work either despite having Lightning. Time to upgrade. It's not a big surprise. In addition many of them not lightning connections, these devices include 512MB of RAM and it's miraculous that they even supported iOS 9 when we thought they'd be axed from that update last year. iOS 9.3 is their software swan song. iOS 10 raise to wakeJust pick up your iPhone and it'll wake upNotifications don't vanish when brushing up against Touch ID Apple redesigned the iPhone and iPad lockscreen, giving us the biggest revision since the first iPhone nine years ago. Slide to unlock is gone and replaced with simple instructions: "Press Home to open." http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/365c03a7a21f5a736b2c783b3b70f15d.jpg What's been added is the ability to raise your iPhone to wake it, fixing the all-too-common issue of blowing past lockscreen notifications when you hit the fast TouchID home button. This is a great solution that we have seen on a select number of Android phones, like the Google Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, and it almost reminds me of flicking my wrist to light up the Apple Watch. This is the sleeper hit of iOS 10 that is going to change your daily iPhone routine. TechRadar's take: This is the best new iOS 10 feature. It makes reaching for the tiny, side-mounted sleep/wake button a thing of the past. iOS 10 is worth downloading for this reason alone. Rich lockscreen notificationsNo need to exit the homescreen for quick reads and repliesWorks with third-party apps like Uber and Apple Home devicesYou'll see that notifications are broken up into bubbles now and use 3D Touch to show hidden menu actions - just hard press on a calendar invite alert and you'll be able to accept or decline it. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6c0b318f5a7dce8f391e7b17bfedac48.jpg 3D Touch-enabled iOS 10 notifications work even better for Messages. You can immediately respond to messages as soon as you pick up your phone, without ever leaving the lockscreen. It's all done inline. No more digging around the home screen and layers of app menus to check vital information. If you have a doorbell camera notification, you can see who's at the front door, use the intercom or unlock the door. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/79df91eb2546b71cba09520c25fcc717.jpg This "peeking at apps" capability via the lockscreen isn't limited to Apple's first-party apps. Uber is just one third-party app maker that allows you to hard press on notifications. You'll get live updates on where your driver is on a map - usually headed in the other direction. TechRadar's take: You don't really need to open your phone to do half of your daily tasks anymore. Replying to messages, accepting invitations or seeing where your Uber driver is (answer: circling the wrong block a third time) can all be done from the lockscreen. Clear all notifications buttonVanquish all notifications at once with 3D Touch. That's it.What may be the best change to iOS 10 notifications is the ability to clear all of your old notifications with 3D Touch. Swiping them away one by one or dismissing them in groups is a time-consuming mess in iOS 9. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0ba58b90b3813b7cb56123d0ca2bf8e2.jpg Just hard press that little "x" icon within the redesigned (and now dedicated) notifications pulldown menu and tap the "clear all" box that pops up. Tap it once to just dismiss the group of notifications. It's super easy to clear away expired alerts with iOS 10 and it will please everyone inflicted with phone notification-clearing OCD. TechRadar's take: Being able to clear all notifications has been a long time coming. Our only complaint is that it didn't arrive sooner. Water detectioniPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are water-resistant, but all other iPhones are notiOS 10 will warn of possible water damage and provide instructionsOnly the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are water-resistant, but Apple hasn't made a fully waterproof iPhone. So it's making it easier to avoid potential water damage with the iOS 10 update. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/978677f8586fdbf8af551fb41edd11ee.jpg Source: EverythingAppleProAs of iOS beta 2, the software reportedly includes a warning message to unplug the lighting cable at the bottom of a device if the phone and new software detect water. Whether or not the iPhone 7 is waterproof, as some have speculated, this iOS 10 message is a handy tool because water and a turned-on iPhone don't mix very well. Let is sit first (in rice, if you believe that myth). TechRadar's take: This is peace of mind that we never want to actually see on our screens. Powering down a phone is important – we know from experience – and this message is literal damage control. Control Center is declutteredSwipe-up-from-the-bottom menus is now split into several panelsBroken into: quick settings, media playback and Apple Home Touch detection issues for brightness slider vs sliding between panelsThe swipe-up-from-the-bottom Control Center overlay menu has a brand new look that helps declutters the layout in iOS 10, and it's something Apple users have been asking for. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5568cc49f99726eb727c88c6976c98d2.jpg It once again features four app shortcuts along the bottom (flashlight, stopwatch, calculator and camera app) and moves the fifth Beatle, Night Shift, to a new, bigger spot above the quartet. That fixes an issue where people said having five app shortcuts in that bottom row, a short-lived idea that came about when Night Shift debuted in iOS 9.3, made the buttons a tad too small. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a76597921991abf5978b6bc6dc3eddde.jpg Bigger AirPlay and AirDrop buttons appear above Night Shift, too, while toggles for Airplane mode, WiFi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb and Orientation lock are unchanged (except for their new blue hue when on). But what happened to the music controls? Slide right on the Control Center, and there's a dedicated pane for the volume, playback and device output controls, and even music album cover art. TechRadar's take: Control Center is simpler on each pane, yet more complex because there are multiple panes to slide through. Overall, it's a wise design move by Apple, though there are flaws. The touchscreen gets confuses our when we want to engage the brightness slider, switching the pane. It's a pain! Also, Night Shift gets too big Control Center real estate. It would be better served by adding a toggle for Apple's clutch Low Power Mode to half of Night Shift's space. Lockscreen camera and 'widgets'Slide left to reveal the new spot for the Today widgetsIt's not as customizable as Android widgets, but closerToo much empty space when widgets have no contentSlide right to reveal the new camera shortcutIt's easier than ever to flip on the camera with iOS 10 because sliding the lockscreen right (when Control Center isn't open) automatically transitions to the camera app. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/476aab65a98b6b9f4531480ec682f984.jpg This is a camera app shortcut we've seen on several Android phones and it beats reaching for the bottom right corner, where the camera shortcut remains in iOS 9. You use the camera app everyday, why not make it easier to access? What happens when you swipe to the left on the lockscreen? Glad you asked a second question. It reveals a new spot for Apple's Today menu "widgets." It's not as customizable as Android widgets, but it's new location a big improvement. TechRadar's take: The lockscreen is now very busy. But the Today menu is in a much better space than it was in the pulldown notifications shade, that's now dedicated to notifications. We still see a problem with widgets not being dynamic. Boxes still show if you have no OpenTable reservations, flights on an airline or upcoming calendar appointments. These boxes should be hidden rather than taking up space telling us "we have no content to show." Graphical 3D Touch shortcuts3D Touch (pop) your way to more detailed information (peek)Activity and sports score apps like ESPN provide colorful statsWithin the home screen, 3D Touching app tiles like Activity gives you a more graphical account of your fitness goals. You'll know faster than ever that you have to close those daily activity rings. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e062b97468e7b9c143daee0ddd567cfd.jpg ESPN had even richer shortcut information within its 3D Touch menu. It runs scores and there's a button to easily add a widget. It's even more graphical, throwing up a drawn out play-by-play interface and video of in-progress games you're following. All of this peeking at apps can be done without leaving the home screen, and it means that 3D Touch is becoming a little more relevant in iOS 10. TechRadar's take: More developers need to take advantage of 3D Touch's new graphical capabilities, but from the apps we've played with, it makes the "right click of mobile" seem less plain. Talk to Siri normallyYou don't have to talk like a robot to your robot phoneTwo billion requests a week go through Siri, and it's now going to do "so much more," according to Apple. With that, they announced that iOS 10 will open up Siri to third-party developers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/74f449975a0b4e76149f079a43e2d850.jpg Now you'll be able to ask Siri things like, "Send a WeChat to Nancy saying I'll be five minutes late.'" It can be said variety of ways and still understood by the now-smarter Siri. In (very literal) other words, Siri also works just fine if you say it like "Tell Nancy I'll be five minutes late with WeChat," and even "Siri, can you shoot a message on WeChat and say I'll be five minutes late?" Siri for iOS 10, all of a sudden, is going to be a whole lot less "Sorry..." for miscues. This is thanks to what Apple calls an "intense API," which even functions in this new way in its multiple languages. TechRadar's take: Siri is less frustrating to use in iOS 10. Saying what you want however you want to your personal assistant means you're likely to get results the first time around. Siri third-party appsSiri now works with more third-party apps, not just Apple's appsWhatsApp, Uber and MapMyRun can now use Siri, for exampleBesides WeChat, Siri is ready for other chat apps, like WhatsApps and Slack, and ride hailing services like Uber, Lyft and Didi in China (which Apple invested in recently). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a35e2d380f42c3e459411fd4f4eabf14.jpg Searching photos through apps like Shutterfly and Pinterest can be done with your voice thanks to Siri, and you can start, pause and stop fitness workouts with MapMyRun, Runtastic and RunKeeper. Siri can also help you send money to friends with Number26, Square and Alipay, or start a VoIP call to tell your friend why you're not paying them on time via Cisco Spark, Vonage and Skype. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/24e91997808b001e7709da61a9783510.jpg This makes Siri much more useful now that Apple's personal assistant has broken free of pre-loaded apps, and makes driving a tiny bit safer thanks to messaging and VoIP integration for Apple CarPlay. TechRadar's take: Developers are just starting to take advantage of Siri, and it's beneficial. It's not game changing just yet, but has the potential to drive more voice-controlled automation by the time iOS 11 launches. Siri-influenced QuickType keyboardMakes next-word suggestions based on whole sentence contextSuggests address, calendar appointments and current locationsApple's on-screen QuickType keyboard can intelligently tell the difference between what you're saying and what computers usually think you're saying (but not) thanks to more advanced Siri intelligence. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/26057df3a67275d7e0fd5d0a5e633fac.jpg Using deep learning kept locally, or what Apple calls "differential privacy," iOS 10 understands the wider context of what you're typing, influencing the words in the suggestion bar above the keyboard. It has better context by taking into account the whole sentence, not just spitting out the next guess based on the previous word. This will be completely opt-in, masked and stored on the device, according to Apple. That's different from Google's data-harvesting using its online servers. QuickType is also adding a handy button for your current location whenever someone asks "Where are you?" or requests someone else's contact information. That Contacts app will go further unused. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8e448dde3b0fecc59de7605fff876bb6.jpg Locally, Siri uses deep learning to analyze a conversation and is able to pick up on you and a friend talking about food, a proposed time and resturant address, and then pre-fill in Calendar event when you go to add it to the Calendar app. "Look at that, it's already halfway filled in," you'll say. Rounding out the QuickType iOS 10 features is the ability to paste a recent address you looked up without having to copy it to the clipboard, do the same for movies and restaurants you've searched and adjust to your multilingual typing. It's Apple new "easy button" for iOS 10, and it's all about shortcuts to everyday activities. TechRadar's take: Apple's QuickType keyboard always gets a little better. It's never been as smart as the one from Google, but the layout is ingrained in iPhone users brains, so the more improvements it sees, the better. Photos with advanced computer visioniOS 10 automatically pieces together photo albums for youCreates mini-movies filled with video and photos, complete with titles http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ccdbf93b3f2ba6d9a9f733cdb54cde13.jpg iOS 10 is going to make use of deep learning so that it'll be easier to organize photos with what it calls "advanced computer vision." This is how Apple plans to rival Google Photos. Again, stressing that it's done locally, Apple touts the Photos app's ability to create albums based on face recognition, and can do the same for object and scene recognition thanks to 11 billion computations. It also serves up a way to see photos overlaid on a map based on where they were taken. Apple plans to take Photos to the next level with Memories, which are supposed to remind you of events in life by clustering together photos into trips, people and topics. It seems to have a nice magazine-style interface I can get behind. iOS 10 will also let you assemble your captured photos and videos of a particular memory with a special movie that's cut automatically. It's customizable, with a number of mood choices and three length options, just in case you don't want to fine tune it yourself. Despite the AI-infused deep search and facial recognition capabilities, Apple promises privacy protection. TechRadar's take: You'll actually be inspired to look back at photos and videos when Apple's Photos app puts them together automatically. It's not perfect, but this feature has huge potential down the line. Apple Maps is way betterLook ahead to the next turn without springing back into placeFree to pan, zoom and explore nearby points of interestStill can't compete with the juggernaut that is Google MapsiOS 10 fixes my biggest complaint about Apple Maps - its inability to scroll ahead on a route. Right now, Maps annoyingly springs you back to your current location whenever you try to look anywhere else. You'll be free to pan and zoom around the map with the new Apple Maps update and the navigation software is also dynamically zooming in and out of long stretches and complex interchanges. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/476eee77416529a76019417a48010886.jpg Maps for iOS 10 is adding traffic on route to better compete with Google Maps and expanding its Nearby functionality with more points of interest that you can find along your route. Vehicles that supports Apple CarPlay not only get suggested alternate routes based on traffic conditions, Maps' turn-by-turn directions can pop up on the instrument (if they have a screen next to the odometer). Apple is weaving iOS 10 information from other apps into Maps, like if it knows you go to work at a certain time, it'll make a suggestion for the route, or make one based on a calendar event address. That's just the start. It's also opening up Maps to third-party developers, so Uber riders can call, follow and pay for their ride without ever leaving Apple's app. It's getting there. TechRadar's take: Apple Maps will still get you lost at times. Sorry. But it's now usable with fixes to the broken functionality that didn't make any sense before. Seriously, you couldn't look ahead on your route before. That's fixed. Apple MusicCleaner interface for APple's paid music streaming service Lyrics for songs, and New tab replaces BrowseApple Music with iOS 10 is being redesigned for its 15 million paid subscribers, and it "allows the music to be the hero," according to Apple. It lets the cover art stand out. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/daf37c97be7e1809d3b21122174884b2.jpg It looks to be a much cleaner design, highlighting cover art properly and suggesting music that you'll like in a more logical fashion. But it's not going to excite you for iOS 10 if you're not a paid subscriber. The Apple Music refresh does add some more depth by way of lyrics (though it doesn't seem to follow along with the words like other apps do, like SoundHound does). The For You tab is does a better job at curating your personal playlists and it absorbs the Connect tab that we previously heard was getting a diminished role. Likewise, the 'New' tab has become 'Browse.' TechRadar's take: The changes here are minimal, and you need to pay for Apple Music to get any use out of them. It still needs work to beat Spotify. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/358d43e2273671a5d19063e760e1d1bb.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5e328825a666d22d260e74b74fd35d22.jpg Apple NewsMagazine and newspaper subscriptions incorporatedNew 'For You' tab filled with personalized topicsBreaking news notificationsApple News is reaching 60 million people every month with 2,000 publications and it's in for a redesign, too. The For You tab now breaks news into personalized topics and hand-picked stories by editors. News for iOS 10 will also introduce subscriptions so that you can see every issue of National Geographic or read the Wall Street Journal, periodicals usually behind a paywall. Breaking news notifications have been added to this pre-loaded app so that big stories appear right on the iOS 10 lockscreen. TechRadar's take: Apple News is a worthy Flipboard alternative. It's biggest issue it's tucked away in an app, with a small box in the Today menu for a few story snippets. That's how we access Apple News 90% of the time, and this should have a much bigger, graphically rich presence, like Flipboard on Samsung devices. Home appNew app that ties together all of household devicesControl lights, door locks, alarms and even blindsSiri and Control Center menu allow for quick accessApple's developer-focused HomeKit is coming to end-users with iOS 10 (and also Apple Watch), and the new app appears right on the homescreen unsurprisingly called "Home." http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1edbaa28ce608ca8995d90c6afbc46b9.jpg It'll tie all of your home-based IoT gadgets together into a simple interface and include Scenes to change the mood of rooms in a pinch, no matter who makes your home's previously fragmented smart tech. Siri acts as a shortcut to interact with your home accessories, and Control Center does too. Two swipes to the right in the Control Center menu brings up a grid of home accessory toggles. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3e47f38c791ba9574df716d5e1744b60.jpg Also from the lockscreen, you can peek at home notifications, say, if you get a doorbell alert. Peek into the notification by hard pressing on the bubble and a video doorbell like Ring will give you a live camera view. TechRadar's take: Home automation is a tough category. That's because houses, apartments, condos, etc are all designed differently, and it's hard for companies to make a one-size-fits-all gadget, like a smart door lock. That leads to a lot of options out there. Apple is at least doing its part by tying everything together, and whenever Apple gets into a new category, it instantly does better. Hopefully that's the case here. PhoneTranscriptions now available in Visual Voicemail tabCould warn that incoming calls are 'Possible Spam'Contact information shortcut could point to VoIP and WhatsAppIt's based on how you most frequently contact that userHate listening to voicemails? Never actually check them? Me too. That's why I'm excited that the rumored voicemail transcription idea made it into iOS 10. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/78db04bdc6d3c3ecca20982b7e162e9a.jpg It'll let you know what a voicemail message says via more convenient text right within the visual voicemail. Apple is also partnering with Tencent in China to alert iPhone owners there that an incoming call might be spam. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/13eed9848bf8b0a91127666d461ae080.jpg VoIP is no longer going to take a backseat, as a WhatsApp call, for example, can be answered right from the lockscreen, just like a normal incoming call. They'll also be part of your recent and favorites lists. TechRadar's take: You're probably still going to go to WhatsApps to call friends with WhatsApp, but the fact that the contact shortcuts can be switched out to other apps is a great sign that Apple is willing to let other developers be front-and-center within its native app space. More of this, please. MessagesEmojis are three times bigger and it's easy to replace words with emojisAdds invisible ink, tapbacks, bubble effects, digital Ink and stickersMessages is introducing rich links within a conversation and a live camera view as soon as you press the camera button. Like emoji's? You're going to love iOS 10. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c9d8ac33bba495ad50b0da82293cba1f.jpg Apple is making bigger emojis that are now three times as large as before, and the keyboard can now identify words you can easily replace with emojis via a single tap on each word. Apple will include the 72 new emojis developed by the Unicode Consortium. They're already in the company's emoji style and Android Nougat uses them. Hop (kangaroo) to it, Apple (apple fruit) and Android (robot) fans. Expressions don't stop there. There'll be bubble effects so you can "say it loud" with a bursting bunch of text, or say something "gently" with slow-to-exist texts. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/de4e5763a98f26acff68d32e31d3c371.jpg You can also use "Invisible Ink" that requires the message receiver to slide their finger over a text or photo. It'll either be a nice surprise, or horrific shock to your friends. Apple showed off an Invisible Ink demo in which a blurry photo turned out to be a bride-to-be's hand with a wedding ring on it. I'm pretty sure there are going to be a lot of appendages sent using Invisible Ink. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3b19e4372a1081e5073f871a5e50ea8c.jpg You can react to individual messages with expression-driven Tapbacks (reminds me of Facebook reactions) and write out meaningful messages with handwritten "digital ink." http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3cefb892ecbe92aaa8971a44ce29fda.jpg With club disco lights, big emoji and full-screen fireworks for iOS 10, Messages is one crazy app. But it'll get even more insane in the future because Apple is opening up Messages to developers with an SDK. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/02b9056709e9b00ca73b1cebffa7d440.jpg So far, Apple has shown off integration for licensed Disney stickers, food ordering services and bitmoji-like expressions provided by JibJab. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6ca5685e85a419ffc42097920100f6dd.jpg TechRadar's take: Messages is now ridiculous and fully competes with Facebook and its apps. That's good and bad. There's a lot to learn here, and it's only going to be more enjoyable over time if you're not scared off. iMessages is the best combined SMS and internet messages app out there, with Mac and iPad support for easy, cross-platform messaging. You'll have to update your Mac to Sierra to get many of the effects, but it's well worth it. More to come from iOS 10Rounding up iOS 10, Apple Notes can now have multiple users editing a document, the ability to edit Live Photos without annoyingly relegating them to stills, and see threaded emails in Mail. On the iPad, Split View support for two Safari windows has been added, finally letting you open up dual Safari windows at once on your tablet, you multitasker, you. Apple said that despite the deep learning capabilities of iOS 10, it'll keep that to the silicon on your device and not invade your private data thanks to "differential privacy." We'll have more feature explains since the full iOS 10 update is out. We'll certainly discover additional features to talk about in the lead up to the eventual iOS 10.1 update and iOS 11 in 2017. Watch this space: Apple Watch 2 and watchOS 3http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/d9yEh8Fh8us

Netatmo, makers of smart thermostats and security cameras, has announced a smart indoor climate monitor, which it claims will allow you to ‘coach’ your home into being a healthier environment. The monitor works as a Wi-Fi connected smart sensor. It’s able to sense air quality, humidity, temperature and noise, although it doesn’t have any built in means to solve any problems that you might discover. It just notifies you of them. Instead you’ll have to buy further products such as dehumidifiers and air purifiers to address any issues that the Healthy Home Coach alerts you to. HomeKit enabledThe sensor’s HomeKit compatibility should allow it to act as a helpful trigger for other HomeKit-enabled devices. Netatmo gives the example of having HomeKit automatically open a window when indoor air pollution gets too high, but equally Apple’s smart home infrastructure should allow you to turn on a smart air conditioner if the temperature in a room gets too high. The Healthy Home Coach is available now in the UK for £99.99 (around $120, AU$160). We have contacted Netatmo to confirm international pricing and availability. Every single home appliance that works with HomeKithttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/AFvnz6ZHdF8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/YouTube/yt%20director%20app-470-75.jpgRemember back in the summer when YouTube launched its suite of products which aims to let SMBs produce professional-looking video adverts without having to pay out big money? Well, the good news is that these offerings are now available in the UK (to begin with, this was a US and Canada-only thing). The main element of this initiative is the YouTube Director for Business app, which is now available to download on iOS devices in the UK (an Android version is apparently close to hand, and to be honest we're surprised it hasn't been made available yet – after all, it is Google's own mobile OS). The app requires no filming or editing expertise to use, offering a range of templates (there are now over 130 of these) to get you started quickly, and easy-to-follow instructions to help you polish your video ad. Once the video is finished, the app will automatically upload it to YouTube, and the user can speak to a Google AdWords expert if they want further help to set up and refine their advertising campaign. http://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/TRBC/Software/YouTube/yt%20director%20pro-420-100.jpg Pro filmmaker for hireThere's a second service available for those who wish to spend a bit more, called YouTube Director onsite, which arranges for a pro filmmaker to come over and shoot, then edit, your video ad. But you can only avail yourself of this if you're prepared to spend at least £350 to advertise your clip on YouTube. Said filmmaker will help with other parts of the process such as writing the script for your video, but the other catch is that onsite is only available to small businesses in two UK cities right now: London and Manchester. That may well expand to other major cities soon (when launching in the US, the service was available across six cities). Alice Mansergh, Director of Google Marketing Solutions for UK and Ireland, commented: "With the YouTube Director App we want to make it easier for businesses everywhere to be able to find new customers and engage with their audience through high quality videos. Now, small companies can tap into the power of video advertising and content marketing, and therefore compete with larger brands on the world's biggest online video destination." We've got a whole raft of tips and tricks for YouTube beginnershttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/n-6EuzSzotU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/Daily%20download/dd-peazip-470-75.jpgDownload of the day: PeaZipPeaZip is one of the best free tools around for unpacking, managing and creating compressed file archives. It can extract archives in over 150 formats, including RAR, and compress to 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, PAQ, PEA, SFX, TAR, UPX, WIM, XZ, and ZIP. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgSome free file archiving tools are designed to be as small as possible, but PeaZip is focused on security, with a whole toolkit to keep your important data safe. It's fully functional – not just a taster of a premium paid-for product – and completely free to use on as many devices as you like. Why you need itCompressed file archives are great for sharing files – whether it's by email, FTP, P2P or cloud storage – enabling you to package several documents together and minimize their overall size. Another very useful factor is security, and this is where PeaZip outshines its rivals. PeaZip is capable of reading and creating encrypted file archives using two-factor authentication, which requires both a password and a randomly generated key file to unlock. This makes the archives much harder to crack using brute force or dictionary-based attacks. PeaZip includes its own built-in password manager, which keeps your credentials encrypted until a master password is entered, and a secure file shredder to permanently erase any data you no longer need. There's also a comprehensive set of non-security features. These include a file organizer with built-in image editor, options for splitting and joining archives, the ability to find duplicate files, and a tool for optimizing image compression. If you share file archives regularly, you need PeaZip. Key featuresExcellent format supportTwo-factor authenticationSecure file shredderDrag-and-drop interfaceFile viewer and organizerWorks onWindows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 PriceFree http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/lUF00wq0wKk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/Daily%20download/dd-gadwin-470-75.JPGDownload of the day: Gadwin PrintScreenGadwin PrintScreen is a cut above most screen capture tools – not only can it grab the whole screen, the current active window or a manually selected area, it's also packed with tools to automate the process as much as possible, applying watermarks, formatting and saving the grabs to suit you. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgGadwin PrintScreen is perfect if you're writing documentation for an app you've developed yourself or preparing a software tutorial. You'll be amazed how much time and effort you can save. Why you need itGadwin PrintScreen can capture your screen in two ways: via the PrintScreen key, or using a small on-screen remote control that's great for touchscreens. The remote won't appear in your grabs unless you want it to, and is tucked neatly away at the side of your screen when not in use. Gadwin PrintScreen's options let you decide what happens to your grab once it's captured. You can either see a preview and decide whether to save it or not, or have it saved automatically in your chosen location (try saving them to your Dropbox folder for instant access on any device) and in your preferred format. Files can be named manually as they're saved, or automatically using your preferred naming format. You can also have grabs sent straight to your printer. If you want to watermark your grabs, Gadwin PrintScreen can handle that too, without the need for any additional software. Watermarks are fully customizable, with adjustable text, fonts, size, positioning and opacity. Gadwin PrintScreen can be set to load automatically when you start Windows, and will remember your preferences from your previous session. Just set it up once and you're ready to go. Key featuresCaptures the whole screen, active window or custom areaAutomatic image conversion and resizingGrabs saved to custom locationOptional custom watermarksWorks onWindows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 PriceFree http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hIWVENT7IV8

Google has yet another router, but this time it's more affordable. Meet Google Wifi, which starts at just $129, significantly lower than Google's other, pricier line of OnHub routers. You'll be able to pre-order Google Wifi in November from the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart and the devices will ship in December. UK and AU pricing have not been announced yet. So why did Google decide to release another router product when it already has OnHub? Whereas OnHub served as a single point of access to your home's wireless network, Google Wifi forms a mesh network using multiple routers to cover your entire home. Since you'll need multiple Google Wifi devices to take advantage of its mesh capabilities, Google will sell a 3-pack of Google Wifi discs for $299. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/678379879d7738a4564b290d1840f54f.jpg "We launched the OnHub router last year to solve many of the everyday problems people encounter with home Wi-Fi," Google wrote in a blog post following Wifi's announcement. "With Google Wifi, we're building on that technology to create a system that provides seamless coverage for homes of any shape or size. OnHub and Google Wifi will work together, and we'll continue to add new features to all of our Wi-Fi devices via automatic updates." Strength in numbersIf you already have an OnHub router, you can strengthen and extend the range of your network by adding on Google Wifi routers. The result is that you can move freely through your home and always have a solid connection, even when video chatting. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/33ec793de2d3f2a6fe7f5f6fab12e562.jpg Control your Google Wifi via an app on your phoneOne of Google Wifi's biggest selling points is its ease of use. Like the OnHub routers, Google Wifi intelligently analyzes your network quality and strength to offer you the best connection. For example, Google Wifi will constantly monitor network congestion and move devices to other channels for the fastest performance. Best of all, you can control Google Wifi via an app, making managing your home network a breeze. You won't need to navigate to a specialized site just to change a few settings like with traditional routers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2c40d25de9a141a3dd45b102ba2d969a.jpg Google Wifi supports Wireless AC1200 2x2, which means the router can maintain fast speeds by utilizing multiple channels simultaneously. Each router features 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports so you can have a wired connection for a faster, more reliable connection if needed. So far, Google Wifi looks like a great option for those who want consistent download speeds without the hassle of routine router management. However, we'll give you the full scoop when we get our hands on the router later this month. Looking for more ways to stay connected? Check out Google Homehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/IXXsKIRmnLg