sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersMain-470-75.jpgThe best free software uninstallersWhy use a third-party uninstaller?Software installers are rarely tidy - they spread files throughout your system, and their built-in uninstallers don't always clear it all away afterwards. Sometimes you'll be informed that "some elements could not be removed" as the uninstaller effectively shrugs its shoulders and leaves the mess behind - whether it's temporary files, old shortcuts or broken registry entries. All this detritus builds up over time, and can slow down your system or cause conflicts further down the line - particularly in the case of security software, which won't run properly if it detects files associated with another tool. Third-party uninstallers can clear up the mess in a few. If you're already having trouble with a program you thought you'd removed, the tool can scan your drives for files and broken links left over. If you want to uninstall a program thoroughly, the tool will run the program's own uninstaller, then perform a cleanup scan immediately afterwards. More advanced tools will monitor what happens when you install a new program - what files are created and changed - so it can rapidly reverse those changes when you want to remove it. Uninstallers can be very handy, but some try to offer too many tools at once (like watered-down versions of Piriform's excellent CCleaner), or even attempt to install additional 'optimization' software on your machine, which is the last thing you want. Keep an eye out for potentially unwanted programs while installing a new tool, or try the portable version if one is available. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersIOBit-420-90.JPG 1. IObit UninstallerThorough and thoughtfully designed - as good as many premium alternatives http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/badgesmaller-111-100.jpgIObit Uninstaller gets right down to business, scanning your system for installed software the moment it starts. Its smart, clear interface displays a list of all your installed software, with extra tabs if you're only interested in the newest programs (if you've tried something new and don't like it), and the biggest ones (which will have the greatest impact on system performance). There's a batch processing option for removing multiple programs at once. If you've already uninstalled a program but suspect it's left mucky footprints across your drive, IObit's deep scanner can hunt down junk including broken shortcuts and caches created when installing software updates. IObit Uninstaller also takes a look at your web browsers to identify any plugins that could be uninstalled to speed up your surfing. It currently supports Firefox and Internet Explorer, but not Chrome or Edge. Each extension is accompanied by a user rating to help you decide whether to keep it. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgThere's a file shredder thrown in too, which doesn't really fit with the premise of an uninstaller, but all the other tools are relevant and useful. IObit Uninstaller is well worth keeping on hand, and its thorough scanning makes it the equal of many premium uninstallers. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersWise-420-90.JPG 2. Wise Program UninstallerLight as a feather, but less thorough than IObit Wise Program Uninstaller is a portable app, so you don't have to worry about it leaving mess of its own, though it offers you a free trial of a product called Spyhunter that you might prefer to decline. It's a very quick and lean little program that scans your system for already installed programs and displays ratings to show you how other users feel about them. You probably already know what you want to erase, but it's a thoughtful touch. Your choices for each program are Safe and Forced uninstall (some also have a Repair option, but only if it's part of the software in the first place). Safe uninstall is simply a way to access the program's own uninstaller, whereas Forced performs a deep scan to track down scrap files and broken registry entries. It shows you everything it's identified before deleting them, but this doesn't serve much purpose; you're unlikely to be able to pick out an individual Registry entry and say "Hang on, I need that!" http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgThe main downside of its small size is that it can't log new programs as you install them, but it's well designed and isn't bulked out with unecessary system tools. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersGeek-420-90.JPG 3. GeekUninstallerA streamlined little app to mop up messy software GeekUninstaller is another neat portable uninstaller, weighing in at just 2.5MB. Although a 'Pro' version is advertised on developer's site, this is actually a completely different program called Uninstall Tool - GeekUninstaller is completely free, It performs a speedy system scan and provides the usual options: regular or forced uninstall. If you don't recognize something, GeekUninstaller will Google it for you - a simple but welcome addition that saves you loading up a browser. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgThat's pretty much it - there's no deep scan for remnants of previously uninstalled programs, and no monitoring for new installations, but if you're simply after something to clean up as you go, uninstallers don't come smaller and simpler than this. It comes in over 30 languages too, which is undoubtedly a bonus. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersAshampoo-420-90.JPG 4. Ashampoo Uninstaller (trial)A premium trial to give your system a thorough scouring This is a time-limited trial of Ashampoo Uninstaller rather than the full program, but is well worth considering if you need to purge your PC of one particularly stubborn piece of software, or want to give it a thorough spring clean. The basic trial lasts 10 days, but you can extend for an extra month by signing up for an account (a standard requirement with Ashampoo's free software). The uninstaller itself is impressive, as you'd expect from a premium product - it can remove existing applications, and log new ones as you add them. You can set it to start automatically at the same time as Windows, though your startup time might take a knock as a result. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgThere are also system optimization tools like a file shredder, file restorer, disk defragmenter and even a font manager, but Ashampoo Uninstaller is an excellent tool without these - they are just padding. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Uninstallers/UninstallersRevo-420-90.JPG 5. Revo Uninstaller FreeEffective, but bloated with strange and unnecessary extras Revo Uninstaller Free's icon-strewn interface is colorful but cluttered, and includes tools like a startup program manager, plus links to Windows' own system tools (including defrag and on-screen keyboard). These really aren't necessary, and just distract from an otherwise solid free uninstaller. There are four uninstall options: built-in, safe (built-in with additional registry scanning), moderate (with extra scanning of common locations for leftover files) and advanced (moderate mode, followed by a thorough scanning of your whole system). There's also a strange 'Hunter Mode', which lets you uninstall programs by dragging their icons onto a crosshair on your desktop. It's much more work than selecting the program from a list - a metaphor gone rogue. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgUnlike some uninstallers, Revo begins by creating a system restore point, which is reassuring. It can't log new installations, though - if you want that, you might like to give Revo's Pro version a whirl for 30 days. It's worlds away from the free edition's late-90s styling, and will give your drives a good scrubbing. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/rB-dIkehYkI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Google/nexus5/Nexus%205%20Review/nexus-5-review-50-470-75.jpg10 million. That's how many Android devices have been infected globally by the HummingBad malware, according to cybersecurity firm Check Point. If you haven't heard of HummingBad before, you're not alone. The malware was only discovered to be blighting Android devices in February of this year. Originating from China, HummingBad injects infected ads and installs fraudulent apps on users' devices. Check Point's security researchers found the malware created a persistent rootkit (an undetectable backdoor), which helped generate fraudulent ad revenue and plagued users with malicious apps. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Randoms/HummingBad%20Android%20versions-420-90.jpg A group of 25 cybercriminals by the name Yingmob is behind HummingBad, according to Check Point. Yingmob skirted detection by working alongside a legitimate Chinese analytics business, allowing the group to share the company's resources and technology. The analytics company has been complicit with Yingmob's malicious software in order to generate more clicks for its ad servers, reports Motherboard. HummingBad's fake ads are particularly pernicious: they trick users into clicking on them by refusing to close, resulting in an unusually high 12.5% click-through rate. Smart Insights says US users only click on 0.10% of legitimate mobile ads overall, making HummingBad's rate incredibly high. Check Point estimates Yingmob is making approximately $300,000 (about £230,203, AU$402,420) per month from this fraudulent ad revenue. How HummingBad changes the malware game HummingBad shows just how fast cybercriminals are adapting to a mobile-first world. Yingmob quickly achieved self-sufficiency, and showed that a small group of criminals could launch a widespread attack to create a large network of infected phones called "bots." These bots have the ability to generate targeted attacks against governments or businesses since infected phones are at the mercy of criminals. Yingmob also doesn't discriminate. The group is responsible for the Yispecter, an iOS malware that targeted a porn player that installed fraudulent apps to gain revenue. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Randoms/HummingBad%20install%20rates-420-90.jpg Since Yingmob works alongside a legitimate Chinese ad analytics company, the line between legitimate and fraudulent apps becomes blurred. Check Point estimates 85 million devices are running Yingmob's apps, but only about 10 million of them are malicious. What makes HummingBad so scary is that it can run undetected. Rooted users won't be able to detect if malicious software is being installed as it can be performed remotely and silently. And if you're not rooted, HummingBad will repeatedly try to get you to install apps, though it's unclear whether uninstalling the apps will remove them completely. How to protect yourself The HummingBad malware is a global one, but has the biggest hold over China and India. The US has approximately 286,800 devices running malicious apps. The UK and Australia weren't listed as being substantially affected by HummingBad. A majority of infected Android users are running the outdated KitKat version (4.4) of Android with the most current version, Marshmallow (6.0), making up only 1% of affected devices. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Randoms/HummingBad%20country%20breakdown-420-90.jpg HummingBad is certainly worrisome, but there are steps you can take to prevent yourself from falling victim. 1. Don't root your Android device: HummingBad scans if your Android device has root access and will install infected apps silently without your knowledge, if you are in fact rooted. If you don't have root access to your phone, HummingBad will try to trick you into allowing it to install software by imitating a legitimate app. This installation process will, at the very least, give you a red flag that something's wrong. 2. Don't allow installation from "Unknown Sources": Some Android users will check the option to install software from "Unknown Sources" in the settings to install apps that aren't available in the Google Play Store. Amazon's Android app store requires this option to be enabled, but it poses a security vulnerability if users aren't closely monitoring what apps are being installed. It's best to leave the "Unknown Sources" option unchecked. 3. Update your phone to the latest software: If you've been dismissing that nagging notification to update your phone's software, don't. Android's software updates contain security fixes and improvements that will help you avoid falling victim to HummingBad. Check Point's data shows most affected devices are running outdated versions of Android. 4. Install an antivirus app: While antivirus apps can't stop all attacks, they can be an additional security layer, alerting you to apps that are asking for excessive permissions or blocking app installs. HummingBad proves cybercriminals and their methods of attack are becoming more sophisticated. Phone makers and antivirus companies have an increasingly challenging task of securing our phones, but taking common-sense precautions like the ones listed above should help you avoid falling victim. Best Android apps 2016: download these apps nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9pnZ7hIT99k

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Best%20browsers/Firefox%20browser-470-75.jpgThe browser world is a fiercely fought arena, and Firefox is about to make a move in order to become more competitive with rivals like Chrome, planning to draft across some of the privacy settings seen in the Tor browser. The Tor browser is actually based on the same code as Firefox (Firefox ESR, which stands for Extended Support Release), and bounces communications through numerous encrypted nodes on the net, meaning the user can't be traced, and generally maintaining privacy (and security) to high levels. According to Ghacks, Mozilla is planning to integrate some of these privacy-preserving tricks into Firefox, with several basic features already in version 50 of the browser (which is in preview). More in the pipelineThese will eventually emerge with the full release version of Firefox 50, with plans to incorporate further measures in the future. All in all, the result will be a much tighter browser when it comes to avoiding online snooping of one sort or another. Ghacks notes that these features won't run by default in Firefox, observing that the Tor-specific settings aren't really appropriate for the mainstream audience of Mozilla's browser. Rather, those seeking greater privacy protection will have to turn the options on manually. As well as bolstering privacy, Firefox is also aiming to run more smoothly, with the recent unveiling of another fresh incoming feature by the name of Electrolysis. This effectively splits Firefox into a UI process and content process, meaning that if a web page crashes or is eating up CPU resources, because it's running separately, the browser itself will remain fully responsive. Also check out our best Firefox security add-ons of 2016http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kpRTL0tz6go

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/games/Razer/razer%20gamecaster-470-75.jpgWindows 10 continues to be very popular with gamers using Steam, with the latest figures showing a further acceleration in adoption. Last month, the total number of Windows 10 gamers (including both 32-bit and 64-bit versions) finally surpassed Windows 7 on Steam, and in Valve's new figures for June, Microsoft's most recent OS now accounts for a total of 44.46% of the user base. That represents an increase of 3.41% in the last month, a far greater rise than was witnessed in May, where Windows 10 share increased by 1.54%. This was expected though, as the deadline for Microsoft's freebie upgrade looms, encouraging fence-sitters to finally make the move. Windows 10 steams aheadIndeed, we can possibly expect an even bigger boost this month, given that the deadline for Redmond's free offer expires on July 29. If we do see a larger increase over the course of July, Windows 10 could be within touching distance of snaring half of all Steam users. As for Windows 7, that now stands on 36.97%, and is falling well behind Windows 10. It shed just over 2% of its users in the last month. Windows 8 and 8.1 gamers now amount to 12% of Steam users. As for the overall OS picture, Windows users account for 95.5% of gamers on Valve's service, with the number of OS X gamers staying exactly the same at 3.6%, and Linux gamers grabbing a thin 0.8% market share, which represented a slight drop of 0.04% for June. Also check out our in-depth guide to Steam Machineshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/G58GAoAJGoc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/portable_speakers/Amazon/Echo/review/amazon-echo-shelf-470-75.jpgAren't you sick and tired of clicking on the things you want to buy online? It's bad enough that we have to type in the URL to our favorite online store, after all. When is tech going to catch up and make sure we exhaust zero calories while shopping online? Thank the AI geniuses at Amazon for what they've bestowed upon us next: ordering things online with just your voice. Amazon has issued another update to Alexa, its virtual assistant found inside its line of Echo speakers, that enables ordering things through Amazon Prime with voice commands. And, what a coincidence that the new function has arrived just in time for Prime Day, one of Amazon's biggest deals days of the year. At this point, you're either wondering how it works or you've clicked through an online store for the last time – to buy an Amazon Echo. For Prime customers only – natchNaturally, you're going to need an Amazon Prime account to use this feature, though chances are that, if you own an Echo, you're already lining Jeff Bezos' coffers with 100 bucks a year anyway. Furthermore, to order physical products through Alexa, you'll need a 1-Click payment method and a US billing address (duh). Once you have all of that set up, buying something through Alexa is as simple as saying, for example, "Alexa, order a Tauntaun sleeping bag." Alexa's going to spit back a few items to make sure she gets the right one, including their prices, to which you reply with a simple "Yes" or "No". Naturally, there's one major flaw here: browsing Amazon through Alexa has to be nigh impossible – unless Alexa can display holograms – R2D2 style – now, too. (Fat chance.) It's kind of tough to shop for things you can't see. This function also works for ordering music from Amazon's Digital Music Store, which you can imagine is a much easier endeavor since you can't actually see music in the first place. (But, wait, people still actually "order" music?) There are a bunch more functions related to online ordering through Alexa that you can find here. Just know that there are certain items that you can't buy with Alexa's help, listed here. Finally, now we finally have somewhere to wag the finger at when we inevitably arrive at our future that Wall-E predicted years ago. Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day in one place

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/PricehawkMain-470-75.jpgGet the cheapest deals and best voucher codesThe best deals on tech and gamesFinding the best prices when you're shopping online can be a real hassle, with deals and voucher codes for the same product changing by the minute. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgPricehawk for Chrome, from the creators of TechRadar, PCGamer.com and T3.com, is a free browser extension that searches its database for shopping links in the webpage you're viewing. It finds you the best deals from reliable online stores, and scours its database for the latest voucher codes to make sure you get the best price. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Pricehawk1-420-90.jpg Pricehawk isn't obstructive and won't take over your browser – it remains tucked away as a discreet button beside the address bar until it detects a shopping link, at which point it pops up a small notice letting you know about available deals. If you're still researching your options and aren't ready to buy, you can either set the alerts to snooze temporarily, or disable them for that site. You can search for products manually if you have something specific in mind – simply click View Deals, and click the Search tab. Pricehawk will display suggested products in real time as you type. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jul/Pricehawk3-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/badgesmaller-111-100.jpgPricehawk is still in beta, and currently works with games and tech in the UK, US and Australia. Other categories are coming soon, as well as versions for other browsers. Your feedback as an early adopter is valuable – click the Options button, then select Provide Feedback to send us your opinions, and help us make Pricehawk even better. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hQ1RP6LFKxU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/High-res%20Music/TIDALHero-470-75.jpgApple is reportedly in talks to buy Tidal, the music streaming service run by iconic rapper Jay Z. Unnamed sources familiar with the matter tell the Wall Street Journal the talks are ongoing and may not result in a deal. A Tidal spokesperson denies the company is in talks with Apple. But if discussions are taking place, why would Apple want to buy Tidal when it has its own Apple Music subscription service already? By all accounts, Apple Music isn't doing too badly for itself. One obvious reason is for Tidal's technology. It's currently the only music subscription service that offers CD-quality "Hi-Fi" streaming for $19.99/£19.99/AU$23.99 a month. Of Tidal's paltry 3 million subscribers, almost half of them pay for the Hi-Fi subscription, pointing to a passionate user base willing to chip in for better sound. Apple could tap into Tidal's audio tech to offer a higher tier for its own streaming service, charging more than its standard $9.99/£9.99/AU$11.99 monthly subscription for those willing to pay it. Star powerTech and higher subscription prices aren't all Apple has to gain. It also likely has its eye on Tidal for its exclusives and influence in the always-tricky music industry. Jay Z successfully brought on big names like Rihanna and Kanye West to the service, scoring exclusive streaming rights to boot. Tidal even houses exclusive video content, like Daft Punk's Electroma film and The White Stripes' first TV appearance. Not surprisingly, Beyoncé's Lemonade was a Tidal exclusive, too. For Apple, having big stars onboard means more influence over the music biz when it comes to rights. Apple Music has already nailed down its own exclusives, like Drake's Views album, but Tidal would bring even more offerings to the table. The ability to tap artists would also be a huge boon for Apple as it looks to further its business as a lifestyle brand, not just a tech company. For its part, while it's carved out a niche in the crowded streaming market, Tidal has struggled to gain traction. Though it's managed to bring on 3 million subscribers, executive shakeups and an industry dominated by the likes of Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and countless others have likely left it with few options but to look for an acquisition. Today's rumor comes just a year after Apple launched its music streaming service, which counts around 15 million subscribers, roughly half of Spotify's numbers. Adding Tidal's members wouldn't boost Apple Music's users significantly, though exclusives would likely draw in more as time goes on. At any rate, a potential Tidal buy certainly doesn't help Apple's case that it's not trying to snuff out competition. Oops. The complete guide to Apple Musichttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Aq0higAcH5U

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/1WWDC2016/screengrabs/012-macos-sierra-470-75.jpgmacOS SierraUpdate: If you're enrolled in Apple's developer program, you can try out the company's new filesystem technology now, albeit in a limited capacity. Read on to find out more! Here's how macOS will convince you to go all-in on AppleWith Microsoft's Windows 10 heating up the PC market, Apple is bringing a free upgrade of its own with the launch of a new version of OS X for Mac packed with new features and improvements. OS X 10.12 was officially revealed and renamed macOS Sierra at the Worldwide Developers Conference(WWDC). As expected, Sierra does much more than just providing bug fixes and performance updates, as we saw with the move from 10.10 Yosemite to 10.11 El Capitan. So what's in store for Mac users? Follow along and we'll tell you exactly what you can expect from the next version of OS X – we mean macOS. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? The next version of Apple's desktop operating systemWhen is it out? Fall 2016What will it cost? Like the previous several versions, it will be a free updatehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/wwdc/2015/setup/wwdc-2015-keynote-420-100.jpg macOS Sierra release dateApple has gotten into a cycle when it comes to releasing new operating systems. Typically they're demoed and debuted during WWDC in June, a beta preview over the summer and having the final OS in our hands by November. Find out if your Mac can run macOSThe Cupertino firm's macOS Sierra seems to follow that same formula. Following its reveal in mid-June, Apple plans to release a developer preview in July and the final OS in this fall. Siri finally makes an appearanceThe biggest new feature slated for macOS Sierra is the inclusion of the Siri virtual personal assistant. Siri was launched on iOS back in 2011, and Macs are surprisingly the last platform Apple decided to bring it to. Just as with using the virtual assistant on iPhones, users will be able to simply command Siri and ask it questions with their voice. However, being on the Mac opens up a greater swath of options such as searching for files. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/MacOS%20Sierra/Siri%20Bubble-420-90.jpg At WWDC, SVP of software engineering Craig Federighi demonstrated how Siri can help with sophisticated queries for files like, "Show the files I worked on last week about the off-site." And from there users can narrow down their search based on tags. Siri also has full access to other parts of macOS' including applications such as iTunes, making her your personal DJ. Alternatively, Siri integrates with Safari to act on web searches. By adding Siri to the Mac platform, Apple hopes to offer the same services for iPhone and iPad owners with a Mac. What's more, Apple opened has issued an SDK for developers to make their own applications work with Siri. A long overdue file system upgradeSince 1985, Apple has remained complacent with its Hierarchal File System, or HFS. With macOS, however, that all changes thanks to the new APFS, or simply Apple File System. Starting with the company's 2017 MacBook lineup, all of Apple's computers will support the new filesystem on its bootup drive. And, although we'll be able to try it out for ourselves when the macOS Sierra public beta lands, developers in the preview right now are saying the new filesystem is limited to transferring files back and forth on a non-startup drive. Once Apple's hardware begins to support the new standard, it won't be long before we start to reap the benefits. These include improved flash memory optimization, faster Time Machine backups and improved space allocation letting two APFS-formatted disks act as one combined storage drive. Unfortunately, for legacy Mac users this means HFS support will be ousted in the next 25 years, though it would be a miracle if your computer could still boot up by then. Continuity gets even betterContinuity between Mac and iOS is a big deal for those engulfed in Apple's hardy ecosystem. Ever since its introduction, users have been able to pick up calls and text conversations from their phones and conveniently pull them up on their Mac computers. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/MacOS%20Sierra/iCloud-420-90.jpg With macOS Sierra, not only will you be able to access your computer from other machines including your iPhone, but if you need to copy something from one device to another, you can achieve that using the Universal Clipboard function. By copying something from one device, you can seamlessly paste it over to another. If you thought AirDrop made your life easier, this enhances the Apple ecosystem even further with yet another method of shuffling around files. And, while TouchID isn't coming to Mac anytime soon, auto-unlock is. As the name implies, this new feature will let you unlock your Mac by merely being in close proximity to an Apple Watch or iOS device. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/MacOS%20Sierra/Apple%20Pay-420-90.jpg What's more, Apple Pay has expanded beyond the restraints of a 4.7-inch screen and onto PCs by way of macOS. Making an effort to compete with ecommerce services like PayPal, a "Pay with Apple Pay" button will soon be integrated in your browser with TouchID on a nearby iPhone or iPad serving as a means of quick authentication. Better photo and video functionalityFinally we have the Photos app getting an overhaul in iOS 10, and because of the way Continuity works, the incoming features also apply to Mac. These include a new "Memories" tab for a more magazine-like viewing mode as well as an AI that automatically sorts photos either by people or topics. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/MacOS%20Sierra/Photos%20Memories-420-90.jpg Likewise, if you're a skilled multi-tasker interested in watching videos while you work, you'll be delighted to know that macOS Sierra's picture-in-picture mode allows users to take their video windows with them even as they rotate between desktop screens. Gabe Carey also contributed to this article What about that Surface Pro 5?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XJdGgx3OW1U

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/EverNoteMain-470-75.jpgFree Evernote alternativesThe best free note-taking appsThis week, Evernote's developers announced that the free note-taking app is undergoing significant changes. Controversially, these include limiting the Basic (free) account tier to just two devices, and raising the prices of Plus and Premium accounts to US$3.99 (about £2.96, AU$5.37) and $7.99 (about £5.93, AU$10.75) per month respectively. That's disappointing news for anyone who uses the app on their desktop and mobile devices to keep track of thoughts, gather resources for projects or jot down ideas throughout the day. Evernote has vowed to give current users time to adapt before the new limits kick in, but if you're looking for an alternative, here are your options. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/OneNote-420-90.JPG 1. Microsoft OneNoteText, drawings, web clips, audio – OneNote stores it all Price: FreeStorage: Through OneDrive (5GB as standard)Devices supported: Unlimitedhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/badgesmaller-111-100.jpgIf you use Evernote as a multimedia pinboard or to manage projects, OneNote is an excellent alternative. The OneNote app comes pre-installed with Windows 10 as part of the updated Office suite, and is available to download for earlier versions of Windows. There are mobile apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone too, plus a web app. OneNote synchronizes your data through your Microsoft account, and uses OneDrive to store everything you save. Earlier this year, Microsoft cut the standard OneDrive storage limit from 15GB to 5GB, which is worth bearing in mind if your notes tend to contain a lot of images and other media. Like most note-taking apps, OneNote lets you gather and organise links, text, images and drawings in tagged notebooks, but it also has a few extra tricks up its sleeve. You can also import text and tables from other Microsoft Office apps, record audio, and email content straight to a notebook (a very handy option for working on fiddly smartphone screens). It can also record audio There are optional extensions, too: OneNote Web Clipper lets you capture and clip sections of web pages, and Office Lens (for Windows 10 Mobile) captures pictures of handouts, whiteboards and other meeting-room paraphernalia, turns them into editable documents and saves them to a notebook. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgThanks to Microsoft's business clout, other developers are falling over themselves to integrate OneNote into their apps. WordPress, IFTTT, Feedly and Livescribe are just a few with OneNote compatibility now built in. Convinced? Shift your clips and notes across using Evernote to OneNote Importer and you're ready to go! http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/Simplenote-420-90.JPG 2. SimplenoteText-only notes for pretty much any device with a screen Price: FreeStorage: UnlimitedDevices supported: UnlimitedYou can use Simplenote on as many devices you like, with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Kindle Fire, Android and Linux, plus a web version for good measure. There's unlimited storage too (as long as you don't go mad with it), and it's completely free. The catch? It's text-only – no images, web pages or doodles. That won't be to everyone's liking, but if you never bother with Evernote's fancier options and just want a cross-platform notebook with automatic syncing, it's perfect. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgSimplenote is so small, you might as well install it on everything you own, just in case. You never know when inspiration might strike – or you need to jot down the registration number of a van that took your wing mirror off in a car park. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/CintaNotes-420-90.JPG 3. CintanotesA lean note-taking app with handy shortcuts Price: Free; Pro US$39 (about £29, AU$52); Lifetime Pro US$119 (about £88, AU$160)Storage: 100MB for synchronized attachmentsDevices supported: Unlimited (Windows only)Cintanotes is Windows-only, and although it's also available as a portable app so you don't have to install it, there's no online version. There's no limit on the number of devices though, so if you're dedicated to Microsoft's OS that will be no obstacle. Cintanotes comes in three flavors: free, Pro and Lifetime Pro. The free version is a straightforward affair offering text clipping, search, backup, customizable hotkeys and three sections to store your notes. It's nicely designed, and the keyboard and mouse shortcuts make it feel like a natural extension of Windows. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-266-100.jpgNotes created in Cintanotes are synchronized using Simplenote (above), so it's worth trying both programs to see which suits you best. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/GoogleKeep-420-90.JPG 4. Google KeepQuick reminders to jog your memory Price: FreeStorage: Unlimited (attachments stored in Google Drive)Devices supported: UnlimitedGoogle Keep is available for Android and iOS, as a Chrome browser plug-in, and as a web app. As you'd expect. it uses your Google account to sync across devices, making it a particularly useful option for Android users. However, despite this convenience, Google Keep is quite limited compared to Evernote and OneNote. Although useful for keeping your own thoughts in order, it's not built with collaboration in mind. You can share individual notes with contacts one at a time, but that's the extent of it. There's no convenient way to work with teams, so you're better off using a Google Doc. You can't attach files directly to notes in Keep, either; they must come from Google Drive. This is particularly irritating if you want to add an image from a website – you need to save it locally, then re-upload it. Not ideal. Ultimately, Keep's little notes are essentially a portable alternative to a collection of Post-it notes orbiting your monitor reminding you to make a phone call at 3pm, or pick up cake ingredients on Wednesday. They serve a definite purpose, but you wouldn't use them to gather ideas for a novel or manage a project. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/divider-420-90.jpg http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-Jun/Evernote%20alternatives/DropboxPaper-420-90.JPG 5. Dropbox Paper (beta)Wave goodbye to the office whiteboard Price: FreeStorage: Unlimited (for now)Devices supported: Unlimited (online only)In contrast to Keep, Dropbox Paper (initially known as Note) is serious business. With support for images, tables and tasks (which can be assigned to people using their Dropbox usernames), it makes a great replacement for the usual handwritten minutes, hastily scrawled, then transcribed by an unfortunate soul and sent as a mass email. We're sure you've been there. There's currently no size limit on notebooks created using Paper, but you can't insert documents directly; instead, the document must uploaded to your Dropbox account, then linked. Paper will display a small preview of the document, so teammates can see if it's relevant before adding it to their own Dropbox folder. The interface is straightforward, and everything can be clicked and dragged around the page. Paper is still in beta, so its features are subject to change, but if you already use Dropbox for filesharing at work then it's definitely worth a look. Bear in mind that it's still undergoing stability and security testing. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/m41Zy3RnpIY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Miscellaneous/10%20ways%20to%20improve%20Wi-Fi/10%20Ways%20To%20Improve%20Your%20WiFi%20Hero-470-75.jpgWireless routers are about to get a lot faster thanks to the Wi-Fi Alliance. The group, which certifies Wi-Fi enabled product interoperability around the world, is expanding its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac spec to include more features like Multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) and support for four spatial streams. If you don't know what any of that means, just know that Wi-FI CERTIFIED ac routers will be a lot faster and better at "talking" with multiple devices. MU-MIMO routers offer the benefit of allowing routers to have "conversations" with multiple devices at the same time. Older routers can only communicate with one device at a time, but at such a high rate of speed that it's imperceptible to users. But, if you ever noticed your network slowing down or even dropping altogether when too many devices were downloading data, that's because the router couldn't keep up with all the devices. MU-MIMO solves that. A better Wi-Fi futureAdditionally, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac spec will include support for 80 to 160 MHz channels, which means potentially doubling wireless speeds. The updated spec will also expand 5 GHz channel support, making more efficient use of the spectrum. Expect to see less interference and congestion. Last but not least, the new ac spec will include support for up to four spatial streams. This means Wi-FI CERTIFIED ac routers can transmit multiple data streams simultaneously from different antennas to increase data speeds. Look for "4x4" in a router's specs to see if it supports a quartet of streams. Still confused about these new Wi-Fi technologies? Check out our Wi-Fi explainer. All of this means little now, but the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac standard will eventually make it to the routers you'll be buying in the future. As we connect more and more devices to our home networks, we'll need routers that can keep up, which is precisely why we need these new specs and features. There are already routers on the market with these features like the new ASUS RT-AC87U flagship router. Yes, they're expensive, but the price will go down as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac routers become the norm. 10 best wireless routers to make your internet fly

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Android/New%20TouchWiz%20header-470-75.jpgIt's been a couple of years since Samsung overhauled its custom Android skin, TouchWiz, but a new video shows off a massively overhauled version of Samsung's software. Italian tech blog, HDblog.it, posted a walkthrough video of the new interface detailing every change in the new TouchWiz interface. Overall, Samsung's design language has matured with less cartoony colors and slick customization options that were previously only available from third-party launchers. " width="420">YouTube : The notifications pull down has also been massively overhauled, and you'll now have a drop down menu to quickly access settings. For example, you'll be able to switch Wi-Fi networks from just the notification shade without hopping into the settings app. This could previously be done in the expanded notification shade but the new interface allows drop down menus from the non-expanded shade, requiring one less swipe. On the home screen, you'll be able to swipe up from an app icon to bring up a menu of options without going into the app itself. I can see this feature utilizing a pressure sensitive screen, like Apple's 3D Touch, that's rumored to be coming to the Galaxy Note 7. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Android/TouchWiz%20folder%20view-210-100.jpgTaking a note from Apple's iOS, the new TouchWiz UI will feature tons of blurring of the background when tapping on a folder. Apps within the folder take over the center of the screen and blur out the background, just like in iOS. Samsung's Gallery app has also been updated to look and feel more like Google Photos. You can still pinch to zoom in and out to see more or fewer photos at once, but the app's layout no longer buries view options in the menu. There's a lot more changes detailed in the video so check it out even if you don't understand Italian. Keep in mind that these changes in TouchWiz are still in beta so there will probably be changes made before it rolls out with the Galaxy Note 7, which is expected to arrive early August. Via SamMobile Samsung Galaxy Note 7 reportedly includes an iris scannerhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/72woUNyRa_w

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-2-470-75.jpgNASCAR TechA line of cars as far as the eye can see snakes between the big rigs that carried them to the race. It's inspection time for all 40 cars for the weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Sonoma Raceway in California. The smell of ethanol and diesel waft throughout the pits. There's a buzz of excitement as crews scramble to make last minute adjustments as officials begin measuring every inch of each car to make sure no one is cheating. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-4-420-100.jpg Frank Prendergast, a NASCAR engineer working on vehicle inspection tools, pulls out a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and calls up the Mobile Inspection app. The app, also developed by Microsoft, collects and verifies visual inspection data. It's cut down a process that typically takes six hours to just three, and Microsoft claims the app has already saved 20,000 sheets of paper. In addition to ensuring an even playing field, the Mobile Inspection app helps NASCAR officials verify decal and paint scheme information, cutting 10 hours from each race weekend. "We had a slow, rigorous paper process and lost a lot of information," says Prendergast. "Microsoft created a whole paperless system where we could look at the history of infractions and real-time telemetry." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-3-420-100.jpg Microsoft's apps integrate with NASCAR's other data gathering technologies, like pit lane cameras. "What they used to do is literally put a human official in every single stall. So you have an official standing there with his helmet and race suit, and he would eyeball the car coming in and eyeball the crew jumping over the wall," says Mike Doney, Principal Architect of Microsoft's Race Management app. "So they switched to a camera-based system and, holy shit, their infraction rate just up like this," Doney says with an upward gesture of his hands. Although Microsoft didn't develop the camera technology, it was able to tap into it and bring it into its own Race Management app. In the past, it would take some time to discover and report on pit lane infractions, but with these new technologies, it happens instantaneously. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/Race%20Management%20app-420-100.jpg In addition to the Mobile Inspection app, Microsoft worked with NASCAR to develop the Race Management application, which brings live data across six different screens into a single app. "It gives officials and teams a more precise view of what's going on during the race," says Doney. The Race Management app is a powerful tool. It allows tracking of each car on the race track, using transponders. Race officials and team managers now have a centralized, bird's eye view of what's going on around the track in real time. The app pulls in multiple camera feeds from around the track and teams can quickly share screen captures of events in real-time. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-9-420-100.jpg "For our sport, every second of every race is under replay," says NASCAR Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell. "Building the race management app on Windows 10 is a game changer for us. By digitizing the video feeds we're able to analyze calls and send data to the pit box in real-time.The Race Management app allows us to make calls more quickly and confidently." Driving towards the futurehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-5-420-100.jpg Beyond making NASCAR more efficient, Microsoft hopes to increase safety as well. "Safety is our first priority," says Stephen Byrd, Director of Technology Integration and Development at NASCAR. "Fast, real-time access to information gives race officials a better understanding of what's happening in the race car and on the track." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-7-420-100.jpg But it's still early days for Microsoft's NASCAR apps and technology. NASCAR only began aggressively pursuing technology with Microsoft in the last 18 months, and the apps are still in a trial period. NASCAR officials and teams still use the tools they always have, but they are experimenting with adding the Race Management and Mobile Inspection apps to their arsenal. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-6-420-100.jpg NASCAR is cautious about adopting new technologies, as it could change the competitive nature of the sport and can even impact safety. "We're deciding what data we need to keep from the teams to keep competition fair," says NASCAR's O'Donnell. Microsoft and NASCAR also need to present the enormous amount of data collected in a way that's meaningful yet not overwhelming. "How do we increase the usability? What information do we give to users at what time? We have to be careful about how we present the information," Doney emphasizes. "The real art is how do you best present information to create drama." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-8-420-100.jpg Microsoft's technology is just the start for NASCAR as the motorsport adopts different technologies for racing and fan engagement. A few cars on the grid are testing the new Digital Dash, which gives teams a customizable dash interface that captures much more data than what the old analog gauges could provide. In the past, teams would have to communicate via radio to let drivers know about lap times, which can now be easily shown on the dash. Microsoft didn't develop the Digital Dash, but the company is excited about integrating data collected from it into its Race Management app. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR%20Digital%20Dash-420-100.jpg And if you needed more proof that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to take over our lives, Microsoft plans to leverage AI to analyze everything about NASCAR races. "What [AI] will allow us to do is take race data and put it into a model and start making predictions about things," says Doney. "That can be about safety issues. For example, given a certain scenario, what's likely to happen? We're just starting to dabble with these things." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/NASCAR%20Microsoft%20Tech/NASCAR-10-420-100.jpg Helping fans get more engaged with NASCAR will be the next step. Microsoft has helped NASCAR collect all of this data, but it still needs to figure out how to present it to fans in a meaningful way. Having all data channels visible at all times isn't compelling, but giving fans data in the context of what they're seeing will make the sport more engaging. Some may think NASCAR is a low-tech sport because it follows the simple formula of big V8 engine in a light car, but there's more than meets the eye. There's technology running behind the scenes that's helping the sport remain competitive, and that means a more exciting experience for fans, present and future. The next-gen tech FOX Sports is using in its golf broadcastshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Fj-XRYT4Uos

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_comodo-470-75.jpgIntroductionhttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/2016-May/Office%20alternatives/LibreOffice-420-100.JPG Setting up a small business is hard enough without the extortionate costs associated with modern software licenses. Set up a number of seats with full-price software and you could be looking at monthly bills nearing the salary of an employee. Now, we wouldn't advise that you start cutting corners – a creative business trying to survive on Gimp and Inkscape rather than ponying up the cash for Creative Cloud isn't going to remain a creative business for very long. But there are some business functions that you can reasonably hand off to free software without too much difference, and there are certain pieces of free software that can make your business more efficient. We've compiled this slideshow based on ten key business functions. Whether you're a design studio or a gas fitter, there's software here for you. So let's begin! Also check out: Top 10 web design packages for small businessBest office software: Google Docs/LibreOfficehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_libreoffice-420-90.jpg Your choice of office suite really depends on your specific requirements, so we'll recommend a pair of packages here. If you require compatibility with Microsoft Word and Excel, open source OpenOffice successor LibreOffice is probably your best choice since it's very similar in terms of interface to those paid-for packages. It also includes a presentation package similar to PowerPoint, a drawing package perfect for flowcharts, and its own database software. Document collaboration is an increasingly important requirement. It's certainly possible with LibreOffice, but we'd lean more towards the multi-user world of Google's web apps – Docs and Sheets – for items that teams might need to work on simultaneously. Changes are visible as they happen, they can be rolled back, and there's even in-document chat for complex collaboration. There are other obvious advantages to using a web app, not least of which is cross-platform compatibility with basically no IT costs. There's no need for any installation, and no upgrades to worry about, just hop online and you're connected to your documents wherever you are. Best email software: Thunderbirdhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_thunderbird-420-90.jpg While Microsoft and Apple have their own options for managing email for free, neither has the sophistication or advanced features of Thunderbird, a well-trodden email package from Firefox's parent company Mozilla. Now, you may choose to have all mail managed online through services like Gmail, which is certainly useful if you have a distributed team, no definite hardware ownership, or need frequent access to mailboxes remotely. There's nothing stopping you – you can integrate web mailboxes with Thunderbird using IMAP, and the changes between them will be synchronised. The big advantage to using an email program is redundancy. If a rogue digger slices through the fibre to your building, at least you won't be without your email records – and let's face it, sometimes email is the only place a critical piece of business info lurks. Thunderbird makes it easy to search and manage your messages, so it's well worth installing. Best project management software: Trellohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_trello-420-90.jpg Keeping tabs on what needs to be done, who's doing it, and what's being done at any given time is the central pillar of good project management. Trello uses the Kanban technique, originally created as part of Toyota's ultra-efficient just-in-time manufacturing process – think a whiteboard covered in sticky notes and you won't be far off. Create your tasks, and as users move them into the different columns, you'll know their status and who's taken charge. Trello's just as useful if you're using it on your own, and since each task card – which is simple on the surface – can contain all the information you need to store about each task, it's a great way to keep your projects in order. The free version offers unlimited boards and projects but only 10MB of file attachments – this won't go an awfully long way, but for small projects it should be adequate. Best team communication software: Slackhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_slack-420-90.jpg Make no mistake about it, chatting with co-workers on Slack is one of the best sanctioned ways there is to procrastinate. But the online business communication tool du jour is not just about flinging the latest memes and cat pictures around the office, and there's a reason so many businesses have come to rely on it as the backbone of their working environment. Firstly, it's an absolute breeze to administrate – if you're working on a new project, you can create a new chat channel in seconds and invite everyone involved to share status updates, ideas, and even related files. It's fully integrated with Google's office suite, so you can attach related documents to each channel for ease of access, and you can even install bots in each channel to perform various business functions or connect with other services. And if you're working with a geographically-distinct team, it's a great way to keep them connected with all the relevant business banter without resorting to the clutter of email. Best accounting software: Adminsoft Accountshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_adminsoftaccounts-420-90.jpg Look after your money and… well, you know the rest. Adminsoft Accounts may be a little clunky to look at (okay, a lot clunky) and somewhat tricky to get to grips with, but it offers a massive amount of functionality that can manage most aspects of your financial business for you. Made by a small business owner for other small business owners, it's currency independent and perfect for managing a growing customer base. You can do full stock control, purchase ordering, deal with various HR functions, manage your cash-flow and budgets – basically everything important. We leave it here with a small caveat, though: you may have to put some work in if you later want to export Adminsoft Accounts' data and import it into a paid-for package like Sage 50, but that would be true whatever accounts package you were using. Best payroll software: HMRC Basic PAYE Toolshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_hmrc-420-90.jpg As long as you're running a truly small business of fewer than 10 employees, there are a number of packages that will deal with paying them. For the UK we lean towards the HMRC's own Basic PAYE Tools package which, while it's as basic as its name suggests, offers all the tools you'll need to pay proper taxes for your employees. It also includes calculators for sick and maternity pay, and issues advice when you're nearing critical dates for, say, expenses and benefits. The only thing it doesn't deal with is workplace pensions: you'll need to administer them before you run your salaries through payroll. Those forced to deal with the IRS are slightly less fortunate – while your employees' taxes are their responsibility, you'll still need to file your business and state taxes, and there's not much in the way of free software to help you manage that. We'd recommend a service like TaxAct – you can use the software for free, and pay only when you need to actually file. Best invoicing software: Wave Invoicinghttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_wave-420-90.jpg Proper invoices are important. If you're demanding payment you want to look professional, you want to be quick, and you want to make it as easy as possible for your payees to get you the funds. Wave accomplishes all of these tasks within a free, cross-platform app so simple that you can even issue invoices from your phone. If you choose, you can also use it to accept credit card payments – Wave makes its money by charging a small fee on payments made, and in all other respects it is free. You can use invoice templates to speed things up even further, and Wave can automatically hound those who are late with your money to make sure they know it's time to pay up. It covers sales taxes, gives you 'read' reports on invoices you've issued, can issue estimates and quotes as well as full invoices, and you can customise its templates to match your logo or colour scheme. It's basically a one-stop invoicing shop. Best backup software: Duplicatihttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_duplicati-420-90.jpg Backing up your data is crucial to the security of your business. If you've ever lost a hard drive, you'll know how catastrophic it can be. To do it right, you'll want to follow the rule of three: you should have three copies of critical data stored in at least two places, at least one of which should be off-site in case of environmental disaster. Duplicati is the perfect choice – it's free, open source, encrypts your data before backing it up, and you can choose for your backups to go to a number of locations. That could mean a local drive, a fileserver you've set up yourself, or even a cloud service. It can take incremental backups, meaning that – after the initial backup – it needs only send a small amount of data each time it runs to keep its archives up-to-date. Yes, it's not pretty, and it might take a bit of technical knowledge to get it (and whatever backup targets you've designated for it) going, but once it's up and running you'll be safe. Best free firewall: IPFirehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_ipfire-420-90.jpg IPFire covers a number of critical business roles: it's a firewall, a content filter, and an activity logger amongst other things. You can even use it as a VPN gateway for your business, allowing remote users to log in as if they were in your office. It's cheating the theme of this list, admittedly; it's a suite of programs and modules contained within a completely bespoke Linux installation. This non-reliance on a core distro means you won't be waiting for updates from, for example, Fedora to keep it up to date with the latest security threats. IPFire needs to be installed on its own machine, ideally located between your modem and network switch to intercept rogue traffic going in and out. You can also use it to separately administer wireless networks or create an additional network with looser controls. It may seem intimidating, but with a straightforward browser interface and good documentation, even the meekest sysadmin should be able to handle it. Best SMB antivirus: Comodo Internet Securityhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20free%20SMB%20software/bizapps_comodo-420-90.jpg We're ending this gallery with an antivirus choice that wouldn't normally be high on our list, but the realities of license agreements have forced our hand somewhat. You might think that installing something like Avast, AVG or Avira on your users' machines would do the trick and, technically, we're sure they'd be fully protected. But delve into the small print and you'll realise their free versions are not actually licensed for small business use – and you wouldn't want to get your business into legal hot water. Instead, turn to Comodo Internet Security, which has a license agreement that specifically states it's valid for small business use. It's a fine, no-nonsense package valid for both Windows and Mac devices – there's the usual free AV upgrade hassle, and you'll certainly get more features and stronger security for your business if you do make the leap, but for cash-free protection it's entirely adequate. The best free Microsoft Office alternatives 2016http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bPyrTQAXXxE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/IBackup-470-75.jpgIntroductionhttp://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/MacLifeWebContent/HowToMoveiPhoneBackup/Backup_hero-420-100.jpg Note: Our best business online backup round-up has been fully updated. This feature was first published in November 2013. If running regular backups is important for home users, it's essential in business: losing even a small fraction of your most important data, for a brief period of time, could still be a real disaster. You could try to protect yourself by copying files to local drives, but that takes time and effort. It also leaves you vulnerable to fire, theft and hardware failure, which is why automatically uploading your files to a cloud backup service is often a better idea. Choosing the right backup solution can seem tricky, as there's a lot to consider. How much storage space do you really need, for instance? Some accounts cover one person or computer only, while others support as many as you need – which is right for you? File access is important. How do you access your data? Is there mobile support? Do you get file sync, or file sharing options? Does the service handle just about everything itself, or would you like to fine-tune it with backup scheduling, bandwidth throttling and more? You're probably not going to get by with a free Dropbox account, but there are plenty of business providers ready to deliver the extras you and your company need. Here, in alphabetical order, are eight of the best. Also have a look at the best free PC backup softwareBackblaze Businesshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/Backblaze-420-90.jpg Price: $50 (£36, AU$68) per computer per year Backblaze has been delivering easy, low-cost backup services to consumers for years, so it's no surprise that its business products have the same focus on simplicity and value. There are no limits on capacity, for instance, or bandwidth. There's no need to browse multiple service levels and try to figure out what's right for you. Backblaze Business is just a single plan which offers unlimited backup space for one computer, at a flat rate of $50 (£36, AU$68) per computer per year. The backup process is just as straightforward, with the program initially backing up all your data – which can even be on external disks and USB keys – and then backing up individual files as they change. Your data is then accessible online via a web interface and mobile app. Bonus features include versioning, where file changes are kept for four weeks. An anti-theft feature records the IP address of your computer when it connects, and backup data can be sent on a flash drive or USB hard drive for speedy restores (in the US, anywhere). In our experience Backblaze has relatively slow backup speeds, and it doesn't have the control or advanced features you'll get elsewhere, but the service is great value and delivers on the backup basics. Carbonite PRO Basichttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/Carbonite-420-90.jpg Price: 250GB for $270 (£180, AU$360) per year At first glance Carbonite PRO Basic seems vastly more expensive than value providers like Backblaze, but wait – it's not that simple. The base price looks high, but it covers you for as many computers, users, NAS or external hard drives as you like, and if you can live with the 250GB limit then that could work out to be very cheap. Carbonite can manage just about every aspect of your backups, keeping training and other hassles to a minimum. Even the initial backup is largely automatic, and incremental backups then upload changed files only. Encryption is vital in keeping data safe once it's left your system, and Carbonite uses multiple technologies, including TLS during transfer and 128-bit Blowfish when stored. All your files are visible from a web interface, iOS and Android apps, and there are various ways to restore them: individually, or all, everything in-between, deleted files or previous versions (for up to a month), or everything that's changed after a point in time (handy if you've been hit by ransomware). If your business grows and you need more, upgrading to Prime for $600 (£420, AU$810) gets you 500GB, server backup, and remote deployment and management of your computers. Put it all together and Carbonite PRO Basic is an appealing package, especially if you've got several computers to protect. CrashPlan PROhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/CrashPlan-420-90.jpg Price: $120 (£80, AU$160) per computer per year While many business backup providers try to compete on value alone, CrashPlan PRO also delivers on functionality, with features and backup controls that you won't always find elsewhere. The package works on Linux, as well as PCs and Macs, for instance. There's support for multiple backup sets, and you can use this to back up some files locally, handy for very sensitive data or anything you need available immediately. By default, CrashPlan PRO uploads changed files almost immediately, while other services may wait for an hour or two, so protection is a little better. But if this isn't convenient, you can pause backups in certain situations (low battery, selected networks), or maybe schedule backups to run when you're not using the system. CrashPlan PRO also offers plenty of control over file storage. You're not stuck with arbitrary limits on file versions or deleted files, for example – these are unlimited by default, or you can set whatever figure you need. The plan also provides a user account system to control who can access your files, and keeps them all safe on the server with 448-bit Blowfish encryption. CrashPlan PRO isn't the cheapest of packages at $120 (£80, AU$160) per computer per year, but if you'll use its high-end features then the plan deserves a closer look. IBackuphttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/IBackup-420-90.jpg Price: From 10GB for US$99.50 (£66, AU$33) per year "Unlimited" backup plans have a lot of appeal, especially if you're unsure how much space you need, but choosing a more flexible account can save you time and money. For example, IBackup's base plan offers a mere 10GB of storage, which doesn't seem too impressive. But if that's all you need, it's not bad value, and this isn't a hard limit – you can overshoot, although you'll pay $2 per gigabyte monthly. IBackup's core feature set is reasonable, too. This isn't some rebadged consumer product: there's support for multiple computers and devices, server backups (Microsoft SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, Oracle Database), backup and restore scheduling, web/iOS/Android access, and permission-based sharing for more control. Despite that, the product remains straightforward and generally easy to use. Backups are automatic, file changes uploaded as they happen, and smart bandwidth control – including a bandwidth throttle – keep IBackup's impact on other applications to a minimum. IBackup could be a useful service for some people, but we do have one reservation: there are a lot of poor reviews online. Some of these are old, and they don't match our experience, but be sure to take the full trial and test it for yourself before you sign up. IDrive Businesshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/IDrive-420-90.jpg Price: 250GB + 250GB sync space for US$99.50 (£66, AU$33) per year IDrive Business is a versatile cloud backup service which does its best to cater for just about every possible need. The baseline 250GB storage gets the plan off to a good start, with overuse charges a fraction of IBackup ($0.50 per GB for every month you're over). There's 250GB available to use for file syncing, too, and hybrid backup support – the ability to save some files locally – allows for keeping your most important files nearby. IDrive can be used to protect as many computers and drives as you need, including Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint, Oracle Server, VMWare, Hyper-V and more. It's all accessed from the web, iOS and Android, and if you enable sync then your devices will always be up-to-date. That could be complicated, but the ability to create subaccounts for your storage space and a web-based management console helps you keep track of what's going on. Overall it's a likeable package, and if your budget is non-existent then also consider IDrive Personal. There's no server backup or subaccounts, but the basic features and 5GB of storage plus 5GB sync space can be yours for free. MozyProhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/MozyPro-420-90.jpg Price: From 10GB for £77 ($115, AU$148) per year MozyPro is a small business-oriented cloud backup plan from Mozy, one of the most long-standing and popular backup providers. As you've probably noticed from the headline price, MozyPro isn't cheap, but the company does offer plenty of licencing flexibility. If 10GB isn't enough you could get 50GB for £13.99 ($20, AU$27) per month, or £147 ($200, AU$280) for a year (which works out at £12.25 per month) if you sign up for two years. Whatever you choose, backup is a largely automatic, set-and-forget process. But there is also some configurability if you need it, including backup scheduling and even a choice of encryption (a 256-bit AES personal encryption key, or a managed key for 448-bit Blowfish). Files can optionally be synced across all your hardware, including iOS or Android devices. Alternatively, you're able to access them all from a web interface. If you've opted for the baseline 10GB account, this won't give you much space to play with, but MozyPro's admin console offers some handy controls. Set up individual users and you're able to set the number of devices they can back up, optionally set a limit for their total storage space, and enable or disable the sync feature. MozyPro's high price will be a problem for some, but we've found the company provides a fast and reliable service. If you've had problems with cheaper products, give it a try. SpiderOak Groupshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/SpiderOak-420-90.jpg Price: From $1,080 (£780, AU$1,460) per year for 10 users SpiderOak Groups is the team edition of SpiderOak One, a very secure backup system for groups of 10 or more users. The product is based on the principle of 'Zero Knowledge' which means nothing leaves your computer until it's encrypted, and SpiderOak has no more access to the data than anyone else. You don't have to trust them, or worry about the server being hacked, because it won't make any difference: no-one's getting in unless they know the password. The backup process offers more control than some of the competition, as you can define exactly what you'd like to protect, but once that's done the program will generally look after itself. There's very basic one-way sync available for your files, while a 'Shareroom' system gives password-protected access to selected files only. A web interface provides access to your current files, previous versions and deleted files, and there's an account management system to define exactly what your users can do. It's a reasonable feature set, and if you have a large team which really needs a Zero Knowledge service then SpiderOak Groups will appeal. But the high price, average performance and relatively weak file sharing and sync means most people will be better off elsewhere. SugarSync Businesshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/businessbackup/Jun%2016%20Update/SugarSync-420-90.jpg Price: 1TB and up to 3 users for $660 (£440, AU$890) per year SugarSync Business is a convenient file sync and cloud backup service with one or two handy enterprise-friendly extensions. The core of the package is its powerful and configurable sync service. You choose your folders, and they're uploaded then backed up in real-time, giving easy access to your data from PCs, Macs, Android or iOS devices. There's considerable control over file sharing. You can create public links to share data, invite specific people only, allow file viewing only, or give them editing permission, too. SugarSync's key advantage over similar services is it's not just based around a single folder. You're able to choose any folder or folder tree, and have everything backed up and synced in the same way. Opting for the Business plan takes the package further with 1TB of storage space for up to three users. Remote management enables the creation of user accounts with storage limits and permissions, and there's a bonus option to remotely wipe one of your systems. On balance, SugarSync Business still doesn't have quite as many features as other products, but the strong sync and file sharing technologies have kept it on our shortlist. Also check out: How to backup your PC before upgrading to Windows 10http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/cIQf4WhC1wI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20Lenovo/Embargoed%20until%209PM%20PDT%20on%2028%20JULY/Cortana-470-75.JPGMicrosoft has pushed out a new tool which will help ensure that Windows 10 users won't run into any activation issues with the OS going forward. The new Activation Troubleshooter has been delivered to testers with the latest preview build of Windows 10, and will likely be arriving in the full release of the desktop operating system with next month's Anniversary Update. The tool is designed to deal with activation issues which may crop up for Windows users, most commonly when they perform a major hardware upgrade such as swapping out the motherboard (a big change like this could potentially mean the PC is detected as a 'new' machine). Redmond has decided to allow users to link their Microsoft Account with their digital license for Windows 10, and in a blog post, the company notes: "You can use this MSA [Microsoft Account] linked digital license to re-activate your Genuine Windows 10 device by running the Activation Troubleshooter, if you run into Activation issues caused by hardware changes." Painless reinstallationThe troubleshooter utility will also help in cases where a user has to reinstall the operating system, and installs the wrong version – for example, someone might use Windows 10 Home when their license is for Windows 10 Pro. In this case, the tool will detect the errant version and automatically guide the user through the process of upgrading to Pro and ensuing activation. All in all, the tool should make things much easier for those upgrading their PC or reinstalling on the software front. Note that if you haven't upgraded to Windows 10 yet, the free offer (for Windows 7/8.1 users) expires at the end of next month, so if you're still on the fence, you've not got long to make the decision now. Mind you, you're probably well aware of that thanks to the many pop-ups Microsoft has been spamming your desktop with for the best part of a year, urging you to make the move. Also check out: How to install Windows 10http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bupQ9-Mgcfw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerMain-470-75.JPGPiriform CCleaner reviewPerformance and securityThe premise of CCleaner is simple: improve your PC's performance by deleting unnecessary files (including temporary files, cookies and the contents of your Recycle Bin) and protect your privacy by wiping your web browser's search history and recently typed URLs, and eliminating tracking cookies that report your online activities back to advertisers. In theory that could all be done using Windows' own optimization tools, the Task Manager and your browser settings, but that would take time that many of us simply don't have to spare. CCleaner's clear, well designed interface makes it incredibly simple to keep on top of the housekeeping it's easy to ignore (even though you know you shouldn't). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/DownloadButtonSmall-226-100.jpgEach element is explained clearly and you can deselect anything you don't want to be cleaned up so you don't accidentally remove anything that you might later need. For example, CCleaner can erase usernames and passwords saved by your web browser, but only if you explicitly tell it to. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerResults-420-90.JPG CCleaner versionsThere are four versions of the CCleaner desktop software: FreeProfessional - £19.95, US$24.95, AU$29.95Professional Plus - currently discounted to £29.95, US$39.95, AU$39.95Business - £29.95, US$39.95, AU$35.94All four will clear your PC of clutter for a speed boost and improved privacy, but the Professional version also includes real-time monitoring, scheduled cleaning, automatic updates and premium support. If you spend a little more on Professional Plus, you not only get CCleaner, but also superb file-recovery tool Recuva, disk defragging software Defraggler and system information program Speccy. CCleaner Cloud puts all the features of the desktop software in your browser, and once you've installed the client software, you can use it to clean up multiple PCs remotely. It's available in three versions, depending on your requirements: FreeProfessional - US$5 (about £3.41, AU$6.69) per month or US$50 (about £34.14, AU$66.88) per yearBusiness - US$2 (about £1.36, AU$2.68) per endpoint per month.All versions are free from spyware and adware. CCleaner FreeYou'll be keen to dive in and begin optimizing your PC straight away, but before analyzing you drives it's a good idea to take a look at CCleaner's settings. Some of these are only accessible to Pro users, but others (such as 'Only delete files in the Recycle Bin older than 24 hours' and any specific cookies you'd like to keep) are worth looking at before you begin your first scan. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerSavedPasswords-266-100.JPG The main CCleaner screen contains two tabs - Windows and Applications - displaying all the temporary files and other potentially unwanted clutter it can remove from your system. You'll notice that some options are unchecked by default; these are ones you might want to keep for the sake of convenience, and CCleaner will let you know the risks if you select any particularly significant ones so you can make an informed decision. When you've made your choices, click 'Analyze' and CCleaner will scan your system to see how much drive space you could save by clearing those items. This scan may take a couple of minutes depending on how cluttered your drives are. Once it's finished its scan, CCleaner will show you what it's found. If you're happy to go ahead and delete those files, click 'Run cleaner' and the program will do its work. If it's removed a significant amount of junk, you should see a noticeable improvement in speed. Our review PC (formerly a mess of temporary files and cookies) definitely felt less sluggish after CCleaner swept away over 2.4GB of clutter.. After it's deleted temporary files, CCleaner can take a look at your Windows Registry. This is a database that stores information about the operating system itself and your installed programs. Over time, it can become populated by unused entries, broken links and missing data, all of which can affect your PC's performance. To give it a spring clean, select 'Registry', take a look at which CCleaner is going to scan for, and click 'Scan for Issues'. If you're happy to let CCleaner correct the problems it's found, click 'Fix selected issues'. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerRegistry-420-90.JPG You'll be prompted to make a backup before proceeding, which is a very good idea - the Registry is a fundamental part of your operating system, and there's a chance (albeit small) that cleaning it up could cause damage. CCleaner will then begin running through each issue it's found, explaining why it's been flagged up and giving you the option to fix it, skip it, or go ahead and fix everything. Once that's done, the Tools option lets you uninstall programs, and decide which launch automatically when Windows starts. Stopping non-essential programs starting themselves can dramatically improve your PC's boot times, so it's definitely worth checking out your options here, but take care not to disable anything important. It sounds obvious, but if you're not sure what a program does, Google it first. CCleaner can also check for plug-ins in all of your browsers, and analyze your drives to see what type of files are taking up the most room. If most of your space is occupied by photos. For example, you might choose to shift them to an external drive. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerSystemRestore-266-100.JPGThe Duplicate Finder is self-explanatory, and System Restore lets you choose to delete older saved recovery points. You can't delete the most recent Restore Point, but be careful with this option; older Restore Points can be very useful if something goes wrong with your PC's software and you need to turn back the clock. The final tool is Drive Wiper. You're unlikely to need this, but if you want to make sure nothing can recover your deleted data, it's the tool for you. When a file is deleted, it isn't immediately removed; instead, the space it occupied on your drive is marked as available to be overwritten. That's how file recovery programs like Recuva are able to dig out files that have been emptied out of the Recycle Bin. The Drive Wiper will write over all the 'available' space on your drive with other data (up to 35 times), making it nigh-on impossible for anything to be recovered. Be extremely careful with this option. If you're selling your PC, you might choose to wipe an entire drive this way to avoid leaving sensitive information behind (not the one containing your operating system, naturally). How often you run CCleaner is a matter of personal choice; its settings give you the option to run it every time your PC starts, but you may prefer to run it manually from time to time instead for faster boot times. The free edition of CCleaner doesn't include automatic updates, so it's worth clicking 'Check for updates' in the bottom right periodically. CCleaner ProfessionalThe Professional version of CCleaner includes all the features of the free edition, with the added ability to schedule scans on a daily, weekly or monthly basis - whatever is most convenient for you. You can also ask CCleaner to update itself automatically when new bug fixes or features are added, and do so silently in the background to avoid disturbing you. Both of these settings can be found under the 'Options' tab. When you buy CCleaner professional, you'll be sent an email with instructions explaining how to log in to Piriform's website for Priority Support. This lets you send a ticket directly to the support team, who will aim to answer it within four hours during their working day. Users of CCleaner Free can still find support in Piriform's knowledge base of commonly asked questions and submit requests for help. Professional users will be given priority, but it's still very rare for a free program to offer such comprehensive support. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerProfessional-420-90.JPG CCleaner CloudIn addition to the desktop versions, CCleaner is also available as a cloud-based web app for cleaning up all of your PCs remotely. After signing up online you'll be prompted to download the installer. Once that's done, your PC will be connected to your account and you can log in using your email address. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerCloudConnected-266-100.JPG Further PCs can be connected the same way - visit the CCleaner Cloud website, select 'Log in' and download the software. They will all be connected by your master account, and you can use any one to scan and optimise the others remotely (provided they're all turned on and have the client software installed - more on that in a moment). The free version is limited to three devices, whereas the Professional edition covers your whole household. The Professional version also gives you two-factor authentication for extra security, access to a year's event history (compared to the free version's two months) and no event limit. Once you've added a device, CCleaner Cloud will show its specifications, as well as its resource usage including bandwidth, memory and CPU. Click any of these to see more information about the programs and processes running, and their resource use. The CCleaner tab offers all the features you've come to expect from the desktop program to clean and speed up your PC. Simply select the areas to check from the list on the left, then click 'Analyze'. Once it's done its work, you'll be shown how much space you can clean up, and a button to do just that. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/featured/CCleaner/CCleanerCloudAnalysis-420-90.JPG One particularly interesting feature is the ability to install software; if you've downloaded any software installers, but not used them, CCleaner Cloud gives you the option to do so without having to hunt the installer down yourself (it's probably hidden in the depths of your Downloads folder). The cloud edition of CCleaner also includes a cloud version of Piriform's Defraggler for defragmenting your hard drives remotely. It works in much the same way as Windows' built-in Defrag tool, but with the added ability to defrag empty space to help prevent fragmentation in future, and select certain areas to be scanned. Conclusionhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/DOWNLOADS/roundups/badgesmaller-111-100.jpgCCleaner is superb - a quick and easy way to keep on top of the regular housekeeping tasks we know we should be doing to keep our PCs running smoothly and protect our privacy, but don't always make time for. The free download offers pretty much everything you need to keep your PC free of clutter, but the extra convenience of the Professional edition's automatic updates and scheduled scans may win you over. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pV4aZUAgv74

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/AU%20News/telstra-logo-470-75.jpgWith smart home devices constantly increasing in popularity, Telstra has opted to join the digital home revolution by announcing a new platform focusing on smart security, energy, automation and more. Working in conjunction with the leading global smart home solutions provider, Icontrol Networks, Telstra is looking to "build a simple, flexible platform that will work across multiple devices and operating systems to deliver a single solution for the home," said John Chambers, Executive Director Home and Premium Services. This all-in-one solution is being prepared for a late 2016 launch, and is being designed to support a huge range of Internet of Things products. Home is where the smart isTelstra Smart Home will encompass two packages: the 'Watch and Monitor' option will let people keep an eye on their homes with cameras, sensors and alerts, while the 'Automation and Energy' option will allow customers to tailor their own energy consumption with smart power plugs and motion sensors. Right now, Telstra is focused on what its customers want out of smart home integration, with Chambers stating that the company is "keeping an eye on the future so that we can integrate with emerging technologies and services, such as in-home health care, dynamic energy management and entertainment." If you live in Melbourne and are curious about what the telco has up its sleeve, you can check out Telstra Smart Home's first public display at the Technology and Gadget Expo happening this weekend at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Alternatively, you can also check out the Telstra Smart Home introduction video below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qBW2kPJPgPretend money's no object. Now, look at your new smart home

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20Mobile/microsoft-wallet-hero-470-75.jpgMicrosoft finally has its own tap to pay solution for some Windows 10 Mobile users. Microsoft Wallet will allow Lumia users to add their credit, debit and loyalty cards to use at stores that support near field communications (NFC) payments. This isn't the first NFC payment solution available on Windows 10 Mobile. Softcard supported NFC payments on Windows Mobile, but the service was discontinued in March 2015 after Google purchased the company. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20Mobile/Microsoft%20Wallet%20loyalty%20cards-250-100.jpgSince tap to pay is a standardized feature, Microsoft Wallet should work everywhere Apple Pay and Android Pay are available. This is different from Samsung's Magnetic Secure Transmission technology, which allows Samsung Pay to work with older terminals without NFC. In addition to checking out at physical stores, Microsoft Wallet will allow users to pay in Microsoft's digital stores as well. This means you can purchase things in the Xbox, Office or Microsoft Stores using your mobile wallet. Microsoft Wallet is available now, but only in the US for the Lumia 950, 950XL and 650. The list of supported banks is small, with only Bank of America and three credit unions being supported right now. Chase and US Bank are listed as "coming soon." An additional caveat is that it's still being tested, so it's only available to Windows 10 Mobile users who've signed up for the experimental updates. It's unclear when Microsoft Wallet will become available to all Windows 10 Mobile users, but it's likely to come with Windows 10's huge Anniversary Update which is expected to arrive late this summer. Although Microsoft Wallet is a neat feature, it likely won't stop the freefall of Windows Phone sales. Be sure to read our full Windows 10 Mobile reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nTa6h1aoh3k

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Home%20Tech/Google_Home/Google_Symptoms-470-75.jpgYour throat is scratchy, you've got a cough, and your chest aches. Do you just down some orange juice and go to bed - or rush yourself over to the doctor's office as soon as possible? Google is making that distinction easier thanks to improving its search results for symptoms, helping narrow down the potential causes of your sore throat before jumping to the scariest conclusions - looking at you, WebMD. Rolling out on mobile devices over the next few days, Google's amped-up symptom search will show related conditions to help specify what you're feeling. For example, an ailment like "headache on one side" could lead to suggestions like migraines, tension headaches, and even congestion from the common cold as possible causes. In addition to branching out how users search through their sickness, Google will also provide simple self-treated remedies or notify the user if the symptoms are serious enough to warrant a trip to the clinic. A doctor in every Google HomeAnother potential boon of Google's new symptom search is how it could interact with its upcoming Google Home smart speaker, which is powered by the company's powerful search technology. The digital assistant could moonlight as a makeshift medic - able to diagnose illnesses on the fly, or even possibly learn to administer first-aid instructions in case of emergencies. While purely theoretical, we wouldn't be surprised if the feature makes its way to Home to help it stand out from Amazon's competitor, Echo. Despite the sheer number of searches Google receives related to investigating symptoms - about 1% of searches ever made - the company stresses that it is "for informational purposes only," recommending that actual doctors still take precedence when it comes to dispensing medical advice. Five reasons Amazon Echo should worry about Google Home

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Edge%20TR-470-75.jpgMicrosoft's own testing, and claimed the real-world figures, show that Edge is a battery powerhouse. Microsoft reckons that you'll get more battery life out of your notebook when browsing the web with Edge in comparison to rivals such as Google's Chrome or Firefox. Obviously this is when running Windows 10 (the only OS in which the Edge browser is available), and Redmond's tests show that the average power consumption under an identical workload was 2,068mW for its own browser, compared to 2,819mW for chrome and 3,161mW for Firefox. Opera, with Battery Saver mode enabled, came in at 3,077mW. Edge is the clear winner when it comes to power sipping, then, and Microsoft says that its testing shows that you'll get between 36% and 53% more battery life with Edge, which is a very serious boost for those surfing on the go. These were lab tests conducted using a Surface Book hooked up to power monitoring equipment which measured the amount of juice being used across a range of typical tasks – opening sites, new tabs, scrolling down web pages and watching videos. As mentioned, Redmond says that the browsers were tested under an identical workload. Chrome didn't shine with videoMicrosoft also set up a straight video streaming test running these browsers with the same clip on identical laptops (the Surface Book again), and found that Chrome actually flaked out first at the 4 hours 20 minutes mark. Firefox lasted for 5 hours 9 minutes, with Opera managing 6 hours 18 minutes, and Edge coming top of the tree with 7 hours 22 minutes. So Microsoft's browser actually outdid Chrome by 70% and Firefox by 43%. As well as these various laboratory-based battles between the browsers, Redmond also pointed to data collected from Windows 10 devices which backs its own conclusions up, and rates Edge with the lowest power consumption. These aggregated telemetry figures (which have been a source of controversy for some, and a reason to avoid upgrading) show that Microsoft's browser is again in pole position, although it's actually not too far ahead of Firefox in this case, hitting 465mW for power consumption per browser compared to 493mW for Mozilla's effort. However, Chrome was again considerably off the pace at 720mW. If there's one browser that gets a fair battering in these tests, it's Google's – and we're sure the search giant will have something to say about that. Beating the drum Microsoft doesn't stop its Windows 10/Edge drum-beating there, though, with the company noting that next month's Anniversary Update will see more power efficiency tweaks, and its browser will use less memory and CPU cycles still. This big update will also see further new features being introduced to Edge, including Flash content automatically getting paused unless it's central to the web page (the user can opt to play said content if they wish, but by default, it won't be running – minimizing potential security and performance issues). Also check out: Windows 10 Anniversary Update's big secrethttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/srdKNNNo8LU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/gotomypc-470-75.jpgAt the weekend, it emerged that Citrix's GoToMyPC service has been hit by some form of attack, necessitating all users to reset their passwords to ensure accounts aren't compromised. News of the incident first emerged on Saturday, and there was a further update from Citrix yesterday, with the company announcing that its remote PC access tool had been hit by a "very sophisticated password attack". Whether this was an outright hack of the firm's own systems, or spillage from a third-party breach wasn't made clear, although you can only assume it was the former – because if there was any suspicion of the latter, it would probably have been mentioned. No indication of how many users were potentially affected was given. Citrix's security team called for a password reset across the user base, so if you've not logged in since the weekend, you'll need to perform the reset before you can use the service again. Strengthen that passwordCitrix advised: "To reset your password please use your regular GoToMyPC login link." Furthermore, the firm noted that you should use a strong password for the new one, including a mix of characters preferably with some capital letters and symbols. It's also worth noting that GoToMyPC offers two-step verification, so it might be worth setting that up with a view to protecting your account against similar attacks in the future. In all honesty, wherever some form of two-factor authentication is offered, you should really set it up, what with the increasing amount of hack attacks and breaches happening these days. Back at the start of this month, TeamViewer users also suffered compromised accounts, although in this case the company claimed a hack was definitely not the cause, and rather the breaches were down to the same passwords being reused across online accounts (with the password being discovered via a breach of another company). Via: PC World Flexible and remote working will fully take off in 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/C5wqC6ha_p8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/best%20business%20ios%20apps/Slack-470-75.jpgIntroductionhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20business%20ios%20apps/Slack-420-90.jpg Technical management is a different beast compared to business leadership. For technical folks, you have to know which tools are available in an organisation and have a way to manage the operation beyond the ledger and the employee org chart. In many ways, it's all about having the right tools to manage effectively rather than relying only on your personality and mentoring skills (although it's still important as ever to have people skills in any business). To find out which mobile apps are the most critical in IT today – the ones that provide what technical managers need to get the job done in a complex IT environment – we asked several leaders to share what they keep on their home screen at all times. Some of the apps are highly technical, a few are used in all areas of business, and some are completely indispensable. These apps are available on Android, iPhone and iPad as well. Also check out: Top 7 best business Chromebooks and Netbooks of 20161. Jenkinshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/jenkins-420-90.jpg This continuous integration platform has an associated app you can run on a smartphone. Theo Schlossnagle, founder of the analytics and monitoring software company Circonus, says his team uses the Jenkins app and it's like having a huge staff of testers because of how it tracks all engineering changes before they go into live production. "Every change made by anyone in engineering is put through the ringer and all of the processes required are automated," he says. 2. Google Authenticatorhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/authenticator-420-90.jpg IT execs are champions of good security. Because mobile devices are so easy to leave on a plane or at a coffee shop, there should be a way to protect IT systems from your phone. Gene Richardson, the COO of Experts Exchange, an online community of IT professionals, told techradar pro that their team uses the Google Authenticator app (see here for Android, here for iOS) as the second factor in two-factor authentication because it generates new keys every 60 seconds. It's the basis of a good security infrastructure in many ways because of how it controls access to the other apps used in IT. 3. Trellohttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/Adds/trello%202-420-90.jpg Task management is a critical part of IT leadership. Dimitris Athanasiadis, the General Manager at Megaventory, an online inventory management system, uses this app to keep track of projects and, in his words, make sure nothing is ever forgotten. One of the key features is the ability of the Trello app to split discussions into boards for easier management. Task assignments help team members know who is doing what, and they can comment on other tasks. As part of the project cycle, employees can also attach files from services like Google Drive and Dropbox. 4. MobileDayhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/mobileday-420-90.jpg This handy app can read your Google Cal conference call data so that you can press one button to join. Bask Iyer, the CIO of VMware, told techradar pro he uses the MobileDay app for conference calls throughout the day as a way to avoid having to look up the information and type it in manually. The app has its own conference bridge capabilities to create a call, but it also reads data from popular services like WebEx, GoToMeeting, Google+ Hangouts, and Lync. The app further unifies communication between call participants by sending notifications and reminders. 5. Slackhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/slack%202-420-90.jpg Easily one of the most mentioned apps for IT execs, Slack now has millions of users. As an email replacement, the app is intended to give employees a way to open up their communication in a forum where anyone on the team can participate and avoid threaded messages. Schlossnagle uses it as the de facto comms tool. He observes: "Using Slack ties the engineering team together and binds them to the rest of the organisation. Slack's superb mobile experience makes it useful for road warriors and executives that find themselves away from the keyboard. All of the tools we use tie into slack to provide a cohesive real-time conversation about business." 6. Freshdeskhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/freshdesk-420-90.jpg Customer support is vital in any company. Depending on your company size, you may not have a full staff working at a helpdesk. Freshdesk is one option because it essentially takes all of the disparate communication about tech support from emails and combines that information into one portal. "Freshdesk is very helpful in that it includes a full-blown ticketing system complete with Knowledge Base so it's a full support suite for our subscribers. Localisation capability is a significant asset too, as well as integration of phone support," says Athanasiadis. 7. PagerDutyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/pagerduty%202-420-90.jpg Incident response requires that an 'agile organisation' actually becomes agile. The idea is to remove the lag between an IT services issue and the resolution – and PagerDuty is a powerful app because it fills this void. You can respond to incidents in IT with a quick swipe. You can also review incident history and see details. "With PagerDuty, IT operations teams can minimise business-disrupting events," says Ryan van Biljon, the Director of Technical Services at Samanage, an IT service management company. "It allows us to centralise alerts from any monitoring stack or service, ensuring that we have visibility into our entire infrastructure. The smart scheduling tool allows us to send alerts to the right teams, and wake the right people." 8. Robin Roomshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/TRBC/Software/best%20biz%20apps%20IT%20leaders/robin-420-90.jpg It's not an IT leader's job to manage conference rooms, right? That's why Van Biljon from Samanage uses Robin Rooms, a way to book and monitor conference rooms. Teams can quickly find out if a room is big enough for the meeting, if it has the right amenities, and if it is available. Samanage mounted tablets next to each room so the team can book right at the door. The alternative is to use a much more expensive conference room booking system that uses its own LCD touch panels, a proprietary app, and a backend that also adds extra complexity. How to future-proof your businesshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kiK8_7gZLnc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/deals/Black%20Friday%202015/Black%20Friday%20deals%202015/black_friday_graphic1-470-75.jpgBlack Friday 2016This year Black Friday 2016 falls on November 25For tech fans, the Black Friday deals period is bigger than Christmas: it's the day, weekend and increasingly week when electronics retailers go crazy and slash the prices of pretty much everything. Black Friday has been a big deal in America for decades, but it didn't really take off in the UK until 2013, largely because the Walmart-owned ASDA chain went crazy for it. But in 2015 ASDA decided not to take part - and firms that did, such as Tesco and Currys, found their shelves largely empty. After a blockbuster Black Friday 2014, many retailers found that Black Friday 2015 didn't live up to their expectations - and many shoppers found that the bargains they found weren't anywhere near as exciting as they'd hoped. Has the Black Friday boom turned to bust already, or will Black Friday still be Gadget Christmas? When and what is Black Friday?Black Friday is the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving, so Black Friday 2016 will fall on the 25th of November. It's when the US holiday shopping season really kicks off, and it's usually marked by "doorbuster" bargains that cause the kind of shopper misbehaviour that ends up on YouTube. While it started as a US-only event the global reach of American companies - Amazon, Walmart and so on - has brought Black Friday and its doorbusters to shoppers worldwide. These days Black Friday is largely an online event, with UK online sales up by 36% year on year to £1.1 billion on Black Friday 2015. " width="420">YouTube : BT Expedite reports that UK retailers received 16.5% more orders over the Black Friday period in 2015 than they did in the same period in 2014, and revenues were up by 19%. However, it also noted that many retailers achieved sales boosts by making Black Friday last longer than a few days. Amazon's fortnight of deals was longer than most but spreading deals over a week rather than just Black Friday and the following Monday, Cyber Monday, was a key retail trend in 2015. Are Black Friday deals bad for business? For consumers, Black Friday is brilliant because it happens just before Christmas and crashes prices at the perfect time. For retailers, though, it's more problematic: is it really wise to slash prices at the beginning of the busiest shopping period of the year? Many retailers and retail analysts say that it isn't wise at all. When marketing experts Verdict Retail analysed the effect of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2014, they found that there was "no evidence that it stimulated demand"; by discounting their products, retailers sold stuff they would have sold anyway but for less money. Consumer spending isn't infinite, so if we splurge our Christmas cash on Black Friday bargains we won't be back to buy more profitable things in December. That's led retailers such as UK shopping giant John Lewis to say "we've got to ask if it's right to concentrate trade so much in that one period", and other retailers such as Next and Jigsaw decided not to take part in Black Friday 2015. Some analysts feel the event has distorted Christmas spending, pulling it forward at a time when retailers traditionally charged full prices. James Miller, senior retail consultant at Experian Marketing Services, told the BBC that "there is little doubt Black Friday has dramatically changed the way people shop in the run-up to Christmas and has created an expectation of deep discounts that arguably did not exist before," while a report by LCP Consulting found that nearly one-third of UK and US retailers believe that Black Friday is "unprofitable and unsustainable." Black Friday may be a big deal online, but it doesn't seem to be very good for high street shopping. Research by shopping analysts Springboard and Footfall reported falls in high street shopper numbers of 4.5% and 4.0% respectively. The fall in footfall might also be due to the relatively restrained nature of Black Friday 2015, which didn't have the panicky discounting that caused fisticuffs in shops the previous year; some shoppers may have stayed at home because the bargains weren't big enough, while others may have been put off by the possibility of getting punched. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/deals/Black%20Friday%202015/CHAOS10-420-90.jpg Black Friday 2016: the cost of missing outASDA may have brought Black Friday to the UK, but it decided not to take part in 2015. Instead, it planned to offer a more sensible discount programme over the Christmas shopping period. The results? Like for like sales in the 13 weeks to January 1 were down 5.8%, the firm's worst quarterly sales ever. ASDA said that roughly one third of that decline was due to its own discounts, and that 0.4% was due to not taking part in Black Friday. 0.4% doesn't sound like much, but when your quarterly revenues are measured in billions it represents a large sum of money. Even retailers that do take part in Black Friday can find themselves losing money. In 2014, many UK retailers' websites experienced the equivalent of Denial of Service attacks as bargain-crazed browsers crashed their servers. The same happened again in 2015, albeit on a lesser scale, with websites such as Tesco.com buckling under the demand. That's an expensive problem, because if people can't access your website they can't buy anything. John Lewis reported that on Black Friday it would be selling £45 million worth of goods via its website, so just one minute of downtime would cost it £75,000 in lost sales. Black Friday 2016: what to expectWhen you look at the retailers who don't like Black Friday, they tend to have the same thing in common: they aren't electronics and gadget businesses. Those retailers generally had a brilliant Black Friday in 2015, and there's no reason to think they won't be offering door-busting bargains again in 2016. The discounts will be carefully planned and negotiated with suppliers in advance - retailers learned their lesson in 2014, when they lost a fortune slapping discount stickers on everything in sight - but they'll still be there. You'll also see fewer websites falling over like fainting Victorians, because after a couple of years of experimentation the big retailers now have a better understanding of how Black Friday demand works - so they know that there's a big surge of demand at midnight and another first thing in the morning, and can plan accordingly. It's not just the retailers that need to plan, though. We do too: like any big sales event we'll see all kinds of exciting deals, but a bargain's only a bargain if it's something you actually want. Otherwise you're just helping a shop shift surplus stock. If you know what you want, know what it's worth and are flexible on the details - so for example you want a TV with X features and a screen this big, but you don't care whether it's Samsung or Sony - then you're perfectly placed to bag a Black Friday bargain on Black Friday 2016.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/iOS%209/download-iOS-9/download-ios-9-beta-5-470-75.jpgOne of the most exciting announcements from Apple's WWDC conference was that iOS 10 would finally let you delete apps that come preinstalled on your iPhone or iPad. However, Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi clarified on the Daring Fireball podcast that you'll be able to hide the apps, but not delete them. You'll be able to "delete" preinstalled apps the same way you delete other apps (hold down an app icon until it jiggles and tap the "X") but the apps will remain on the phone. Apple's preinstalled apps only take up 150MB of space on the phone, but that's quite a lot for iPhone users who only have 16GB of space. While you can hide the pre-installed apps, you should be aware than uninstalling some may break some features. For example, if you delete the Calendar app, Siri won't be able to add an event to the Calendar since it's been hidden. However, iOS 10 will warn you that the app is uninstalled and gives you the option to restore it. The option to delete Apple's own apps is great news for updates too. Since its apps are now separate from the core operating system, they can be updated more frequently via the App Store. Google does the same thing by allowing core applications like the dialer, keyboard and Google Now to be updated independently from the Android operating system. iOS 10: We rank the 10 best features from Apple WWDChttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/3TR3mA1oSL0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows%2010%20on%20Dell/Start-470-75.JPGAnnoying pre-installed software (aka bloatware) isn't just annoying; it can be a security disaster waiting to happen. Bloatware has been a problem for the Windows operating system for a long time, but Microsoft finally has an answer. The latest Windows 10 beta now offers a new refresh tool in the settings that allows users to install a clean version of Windows. Window 10 already has a number of "Refresh and Reset" options in its settings, but the new tool is unique in that it doesn't restore non-Microsoft apps after a system reset. The tool works by fetching a copy of Windows from the internet, a huge 3GB download, and performing a clean install. Users will still have the option to choose between keeping personal data like photos, documents and music, or to wipe everything altogether. Keep in mind that this tool will remove all applications that don't come standard on Windows so you'll have to reinstall all your personal apps afterward. The tool is currently only available to Windows Insiders, an opt-in group of beta testers, and currently has a few bugs. For example, the tool may fetch an older version of Windows that's currently installed, at which point users will not have the option to retain their personal data. The new refresh tool will most likely be bundled as part of a huge update for Windows 10 called the Anniversary Update. The update is expected to come sometime in July to celebrate the one year anniversary of the operating system. If you can't wait until then, here's how you can try the Windows 10 Anniversary Update before it's release. Microsoft backtracks on controversial Windows 10 upgrade tactics (again)http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/aIonSbi3WXw