The ecosystem is often quoted as one of the main reasons people buy Apple products. The iPhone, iPad, Mac and many other devices can all seamlessly share information. But on the Windows/Android side, things are much more complicated. With so many laptop and phone makers running the software, it’s difficult to optimise for all of them. However, that hasn’t stopped Microsoft trying. The company launched the ‘Your Phone’ companion app in 2018, before rebranding it as ‘Phone Link’ four years later....

TikTok has become something of a sensation recently. The fun, short-form mobile video app has quickly built a massive community of creators and viewers thanks to its easy-to-use but powerful features. In fact, TikTok says that in 2018 it was one of the most downloaded apps in the world across both iOS and Android. So, if you want to get to grips with how it all works, here’s a guide to the basics of TikTok....

Most of us don’t think twice about using a laptop or desktop PC every day, but that’s not a simple task for everyone. According to the World Health Organization , around one billion people worldwide live with a visual impairment that could’ve been prevented or is yet to be addressed. For those who are blind or partially sighted, that makes using a computer in the traditional sense almost impossible. Fortunately, plenty of companies are designing software with these people in mind....

Google announced at Google I/O 2017 that it was developing a standalone VR headset with HTC, negating the need for a smartphone, PC and even wires to enjoy virtual reality. HTC then announced a standalone VR headset offering Viveport content in China months later, while making no comment on how progress was going with the Daydream-themed headset. Then, in November 2017, HTC revealed the HTC Vive Focus – a standalone VR headset for the Chinese market – while also announcing that the Google Daydream headset would no longer be released....

At its launch event in Berlin, Huawei has announced, among other things, its latest flagship wireless earbuds. The FreeBuds Pro 2 have been co-engineered with Devialet and contain world-firsts for earbuds. The follow-up to Huwaei’s original FreeBuds Pro earbuds are here and they are the firm’s “most advanced in-ear headphones yet” thanks to developments like the use of planar magnets and improved active noise cancelling (ANC). Headlining the feature list is the use of dual-drivers....

Huawei unveiled its first folding phone in February at MWC in Barcelona. The Mate X differs from the Samsung Galaxy Fold mainly in that the screen is on the outside, rather than the inside when folded. But following the problems with the Galaxy Fold’s screen Huawei also opted to delay the launch until it is happy that there won’t be any premature failures of the folding mechanism and screen. With the Galaxy Fold now available in the UK (it launched on 18 September) with an upgraded CPU, Huawei has decided it will also upgrade the CPU in the Mate which – according to CEO Richard Yu at IFA – will mean two versions of the phone will be sold....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Detailed, vibrant display Spacious 3:2 aspect ratio Powerful AMD chipset Stylish design Cons Awkwaqrd 720p webcam No discrete GPU Spongey keyboard No touchscreen support Our Verdict The AMD-powered MateBook 16 and its large boxy 3:2 display is perfect for split-screen multitasking, dealing with emails, spreadsheets, coding and video calls (as long as you can get past the terrible angle from the built-in webcam) but the lack of a discrete GPU means it’s not quite as an attractive proposition for creatives....

At a Glance Our Verdict The MediaPad X1 is a really nicely designed 7in tablet from Huawei. However, we wish it was simple a tablet with a Nexus 7 rivalling price tag. Not a confusing ‘phablet’ with its phone functions. Best Prices Today: Huawei MediaPad X1 Huawei normally launches cheap, cheerful and plastic devices but it has step things up a level with the new MediaPad X1. The Chinese firm claims it’s the most slender tablet in its class so we’ve taken a look at MWC in Barcelona....

I’ve been hooked on The Traitors since day one, and in that time, I’ve noticed a pattern in the type of people who are targeted by both the murderers and the Faithful during banishment. Their shared trait is obvious: it’s their intelligence. Based on that, there’s one standout contestant that I believe won’t be sticking around in The Celebrity Traitors , which kicks off in a few weeks. Why Stephen Fry won’t last long in The Celebrity Traitors It’s no secret that Stephen Fry has built a career for himself based on his intellect....

Superhero sequels are everywhere this year , from the mega mash-up of Avengers: Infinity War to the crude crusade of Deadpool 2 , and we still have Ant-Man and the Wasp to look forward to, along with Justice League spin-off Aquaman. But there’s one big super squad that made a long awaited return to our screens in 2018: the Incredibles. Yup, Pixar’s mightiest heroes are finally getting a sequel, a mere 14 years after their incredible (ahem) debut....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Easy to use Classy retro design Produces good photos overall Cons Auto-exposure is inConsistent Outpriced by the Mini 11 Film is expensive Our Verdict The Instax Mini 40 may look great and produce reasonably good photos, but it’s outpriced by the Mini 11 – which is essentially the same camera without the retro aesthetics. Best Prices Today: Instax Mini 40 The Instax Mini 40 is the latest instant camera from Fujifilm, with a retro-inspired square design....

Apple lifted the lid on iOS 14 at its all-digital WWDC 2020 keynote back in June, giving us a sneak peek at what to expect from Apple’s next big operating system update, and then released a Public Beta weeks later for curious Apple fans. New betas were pushed throughout the Summer, each a little less buggy than the one before, and then Apple released iOS 14 on 16 September 2020....

Haier’s latest cooling appliance is a freezer that can be quickly and simply converted into a fridge. The InstaSwitch uses Haier Switch Zone tech that can change compartments from freezer (-26°C) to fridge (0°- 4°C) temperature. When we’ve seen it before, the Switch Zone has been limited to a compartment inside the appliance that can be converted from fridge to freezer and back, depending on what food you want to store....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict It’s hard not to like the Isaw Extreme when you see how much is included in the package – both in terms of its functions and the accessories. The big advantage over the GoPro is the built-in LCD and the Considerably lower costs. The market leader is still the best all-rounder for serious action photographers but it’s time for GoPro to start glancing over their shoulder....

Samsung just unveiled its new flagship tablets, which, as with its last generation, feature top-tier internals across two distinct sizes. And the highlight of the Galaxy Tab S11 series , the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra gives us more of what the line has come to be known for. But I feel that one of its defining traits, if transposed elsewhere within the company’s tablet portfolio, could be a success story of its own....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros 11 fast ports 180W power supply Quality build Cons Upstream port at front 4.5W USB-A ports Our Verdict The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a quality Thunderbolt 4 docking station that boasts 11 top-rated ports and a pumped 180W power supply. Best Prices Today: Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is a full docking station with 11 ports, including the latest Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 connectivity standards....

Wearable tech just hit the kids market as market-leading children’s tech company LeapFrog has announced the first activity tracker for children, LeapBand LeapBand takes its inspiration from the growing trend of adult fitness wearable technology. It encourages kids to get active in a fun way and learn about healthy lifestyle choices via their own personalised virtual pet. Read our Leapfrog LeapBand review . Sales of adult activity trackers from the likes of Fitbit , Nike FuelBand , Jawbone , Misfit Shine , Polar Loop and Samsung are booming, and kids are already begging for their own devices....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Impressive performance Clear and sharp display Versatile Cons Large and heavy Several minor issues with interface and features Unimpressive sound Our Verdict The Lenovo Legion Go has an excellent display, a steady kickstand and feature-rich, versatile controls. However, it has a confusing and cluttered platform. If you can look past that, it’s brilliant for gaming and even more. Best Prices Today: Lenovo Legion Go After the Nintendo Switch proved that users wanted to be able to take their gaming with them on more than just their mobile phones, handheld gaming devices got a new lease of life....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Lenovo N20p is a bit of a disappointment. Visually it’s a very attractive, compact, and smart machine. The touchscreen is useful, and the specs make for a decent experience. This is all ruined by the poor keyboard which proved a Constant frustration. Fix that, and this would be a great device. Best Prices Today: Lenovo N20p Lenovo first introduced the idea of a laptop that could convert into a tablet style device, when it released the Yoga series a couple of years ago....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Pros Door-in-door feature InstaView door pane with knock lighting Water dispenser with crushed and cubed ice Smart features Cons Very basic owner’s manual Mechanical humidity switch Noisy ice-maker Our Verdict A fantastic appliance packed with fun features that will delight any busy household. Best Prices Today: LG InstaView Door-in-Door GSX961MCCZ American fridge freezer LG InstaView Door-in-Door American Fridge Freezer doesn’t quite seem like a fridge freezer at all....