Hardware
UK Not Adopting EU’s Universal Charger
Following the recent news that the EU plans to introduce a single, universal charger for all devices, it has been reported that the UK has said that it is not currently considering copying the idea. Just One Universal Charger Cable A week ago, the EU parliament announced that by autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become…
Read MoreTech Insight – Why Is Printer Ink So Expensive?
After a recent ‘Which?’ survey found that some branded printer ink costs more than some champagnes, we take a look at the reasons why printer ink is so expensive. The Recent ‘Which?’ Survey The survey by consumer watchdog Which? asked more than 10,000 inkjet printer owners about their ink shopping experiences regarding both original-branded and…
Read MoreSafely Moving Your Tech Hardware
With many of us now owning tech items such as laptops, desktops, and printers, we look at the best ways to prepare tech hardware for a safe journey to a new home. Tech Owners An Aviva survey from 2020 showed that the average UK home now has 10.3 internet-enabled devices (286 million in UK homes)…
Read MoreTech Insight: What Are Firewalls?
In this article, we take a brief look at what a firewall is, what types there are, and the benefits and drawbacks of firewalls. Firewall A firewall is a network security system that can monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Based on these rules, it decides whether to…
Read MoreOld Router Risks Could Affect Millions
An investigation by consumer watchdog ‘Which?’ has highlighted how millions of people around the UK are using old routers with security flaws. The Investigation The Which? investigation surveyed 6,000 UK adults and, with the help of Red Maple Technologies, looked at the security aspects of 13 models of (commonly used) old routers from companies such…
Read MoreThe Risks or Benefits of Charging Devices Overnight?
Many of us charge phones and laptops overnight but is this good for the battery and is it potentially dangerous, and how can we safely get the most from our device batteries? Batteries Smartphone and laptop batteries are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion). These batteries have high energy density so they can be made small, while their rate…
Read MoreTech Insight – The Global Microchip Shortage
With the world facing a considerable semiconductor microchip shortage, we take a look at the causes and effects of the shortage plus some potential solutions. Why Is This Important? Microchips are now included in virtually everything from watches to white goods and crucially in larger, high demand, big industry items such as cars. Many products…
Read MoreTech Tip – How To Wipe Your Phone Or Laptop Before Selling It
If you would like to sell a phone, laptop, tablet, or other device, but would like to know how to completely wipe it first, here’s how: Firstly, make sure you’ve backed up things like your photos, other important files, and WhatsApp chats. Next: Windows Laptops – Type “Reset” into the Start search box and select…
Read MoreBlue Light Thinking Wrong Suggests Research
New research results from the University of Manchester suggest that the popularly accepted wisdom that the sharp blue light emitted by our smartphones and laptops is harmful to our health and disruptive to our sleep may be wrong. Blue Light The current thinking, which has led to device makers adding filters to our devices (e.g. Night…
Read MoreWindows Still Need Some Work on Tesla’s New “Cybertruck”
Tesla’s Elon Musk proudly launched the new ‘Cybertruck’ in front of the world’s media last week, only to find that the distinctly breakable difficult-to-break windows were the main focus of media reports. Cybertruck The new Tesla all-electric Cybertruck is a futuristic pickup truck / armoured vehicle which will not be manufactured until late 2021 and…
Read More