About Gavin Phillips
Gavin is the Technology Explained Section Editor, co-host on the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent product reviewer. He has a degree in Contemporary Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, and more than a decade of professional writing experience. He enjoys copious amounts of tea, board games, and football.
Windows 10 Maintenance: What Has Changed & What You Need to Consider
In Windows 10, Microsoft seriously overhauled maintenance features. Especially Windows Update is causing some headache. We provide you with an overview of new settings and show you which third party tools you still need.
7 Free Games Where You Win By Clicking… Seriously, You Just Click
A quiet, gentle new genre is creeping toward your computer and all you have to do is click. And click.
Check Out The New Windows 10 Parental Control Options
Windows 10 parental control reports offer details of your child's online behaviour and activity. Some parents are horrified, whilst others welcome it. Let's look at how to use these settings to secure your computer.
Windows 10 Is Watching: Should You Be Worried?
Since its release, Windows 10 has been dogged by rumors concerning user privacy. Some of these are accurate, whereas others are myths. But where does Windows 10 stand on privacy, really?
Deals & Tips for Going Back to School with a Windows Device
With an abundance of back-to-school deals, the end of summer is a great time to invest in a new Windows device. We also show you which tools can help you stay productive.
Continuum: Switch Between Windows 10 Desktop & Tablet Mode
Windows 10 recognizes your hardware and instantly chooses the best display mode. When you connect your Windows 10 Mobile to a larger screen, you'll get a PC-like experience. That's the smoothness of Continuum.
Could Black Phosphorous Be the Future of Microchips?
Graphene has long been seen as the future of computer processors. However, over the last few years, a new challenger has emerged. Is black phosphorus the future of electronics? Let’s take a look.
Should You Get the Minecraft Windows 10 Edition?
If you bought Minecraft in the past, you can get the Windows 10 edition for free. Otherwise, you could use a 90 minute free trial. Meanwhile, see how we liked Minecraft on Windows 10.
What the MakeUseOf Team Thinks of Windows 10
The techsphere loves Windows 10, but many users are up in arms over serious issues with the new platform. What does MakeUseOf think? We asked our team for opinions on Windows 10 and here they are.
How to Optimize Windows 10 for Battery Life
Battery life is a pretty important factor for mobile devices. While Windows 10 does offer new features to manage power settings, the defaults are not necessarily contributing to optimal battery life. Time to change that.
Navigate Your Favorite Files Faster in Windows 10 with Quick Access
File Explorer in Windows 10 introduces a subtle change: The Favorites bar is now Quick Access, which relies on data to show your most used folders first. And you can still pin or hide folders.
Free Windows 10 Ebooks & Information Material to Prepare for the Upgrade
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The final countdown for the Windows 10 release on July 29 has begun. We have compiled a wealth of Windows 10 information to guide you through the upgrade and onto calmer shores.
This Is How Microsoft Can Monetize Windows 10
Nothing in life is free, not even Windows 10. Many millions of users will indeed have a free Windows 10 upgrade. But how are we going to pay for Windows 10 in the long run?
A Microsoft Office 2016 Preview: Smart & Subtle Changes
Office 2016 for Mac was just released and the Windows version will follow in the fall. We show you the new look and features of the world's most popular productivity suite. Will you upgrade?
Microsoft Is Nurturing Cross-Platform Productivity Tools
Microsoft's collection of productivity apps is ever growing. We have compiled an overview of the apps that keep you working smoothly. We also explore how new additions will enhance the current suite.
How Facebook & Google Website Logins Can Lead To Data Theft
Login with Facebook. Login with Google. Websites leverage our desire to sign in with ease, but at what cost? Vulnerabilities with popular website login systems by Google and Facebook have raised security concerns.
How to Read Google Mail on Your Desktop
Email is a critical feature of the working day. If you're using Gmail, you might wonder how you can get it out of the browser and onto your desktop. Here are your options.
15 Massive Online Databases You Should Know About
The Internet documents everything. Some of that data gets concentrated in massive knowledgebases. Call them online encyclopedias or databases -- the question is, do you know about the best ones?
Power Up Excel with 10 Add-Ins to Process, Analyze & Visualize Data Like a Pro
Vanilla Excel is amazing, but you can make it even more powerful with add-ins. Whatever data you need to process, chances are someone created an Excel app for it. Here's a selection.
The Mega Guide to Media File Conversion Tools in Windows
Wondering how to best convert that media file? This is your guide out of the media file jungle. We compiled the most relevant media file conversion tools and show you how to use them.