About Christian Cawley
Former Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, Christian has extensive experience as a writer and editor and has been published in Computer Weekly, Linux Format, Tech Radar, ComputerActive, and other titles.
Christian also produced MakeUseOf's weekly show, the Really Useful Podcast, from 2018-2024.
His current passions are his cigar box guitar, his retro gaming site (retrogamerbase.com), and his family.
Latest Articles
Share Movies, Photos, And Documents From Windows Phone With SkyDrive
One of the improvements delivered with Windows Phone 8 is enhanced support for SkyDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage system that enables users to upload and sync photos, music, video and more between different devices. Up against competition from cloud storage services such as Box, Dropbox and Google Drive (although of these, only Box has an official app), how does SkyDrive stand up?
Acer Iconia W7 Windows 8 Tablet PC Review and Giveaway
Slimline, sleek, sexy and silver - but you can’t have everything. The Acer Iconia W7 is a Windows 8 tablet priced between $799 and $999 (depending on the chosen model) that looks as though it should be running Windows 8 RT, but is equipped with a Core i3 CPU, 4 GB RAM and a 64 GB SSD, thereby trouncing the majority of similarly-sized devices in the spec stakes. Realistically, this isn’t a perfect computer. It has some faults, some in the design, others in the execution. But it remains a fascinating piece of equipment, as I’m about to explain. We're also giving a brand new one, so if you're looking for sub-$1000 Windows 8 tablet PC, be sure to join the giveaway!
The Raspberry Pi Home Theater: What You Can And Cannot Do
If you’ve been following our recent articles about the Raspberry Pi, you’ll know that it can be set up as a media streaming client with a dedicated XBMC build and you should also be aware that by teaming the device up with any additional hardware (external hard disk drive, cables and adhesives), it can become the complete media center.
Win Auctions From Your Pocket With Windows Phone's eBay App
Winning an auction that ends when you’re away from your keyboard has proved much tougher – which is where mobile apps come in. Available free from the Windows Phone apps + games service, the eBay app doesn’t only let you purchase, however. With eBay installed on your device, you can browse, buy and sell, making great use of your handset’s camera and keyboard!
3 Ways to Boot Multiple OSes on a Raspberry Pi
Running multiple Raspberry Pi projects can require multiple operating systems. Is there a way to "dual-boot" a Raspberry Pi?
The Hardware You Will Need To Build A Raspberry Pi Media Center
With so many ways of using it, you shouldn't be surprised to find that the Raspberry Pi has sold over 1 million units. Although designed for one key purpose (programming) this small credit card-sized computer is capable of so much more – which is why it seems to have become a popular choice as a home media centre solution.
How to Get Free Wi-Fi Almost Anywhere
Public wireless networks are becoming more and more popular as a means of attracting people to a particular business or service, and this is just one of the many ways in which free (or almost free) Wi-Fi can be accessed. It seems, in fact, that there are many ways in which you can connect wirelessly to the Internet, almost anywhere…
Enjoy Podcasts, Music, Talk & Sport On Windows Phone With TuneIn Radio
Aware that I should probably listen to the occasional contemporary sound, I became a convert to the BBC's 6 Music channel, which plays an astounding mix of great tunes from the 1950's to the 2010's. Now able to get my fix of good music, it suddenly occurred to be one day when I was heading out that I would be unable to listen to this digital-only radio station in the street – without a suitable mobile app with which to do so.
How To Minimize The Cost of PC Upgrades
Just like a full desktop, a new PC build can be expensive. The best way to minimize the cost while focusing on the most suitable components is to upgrade your unit, rather than start from scratch. Various cost-saving options are open to anyone building a brand new computer or upgrading an existing device.
The Latest Internet Security Threats That You Should Be Aware Of
Security threats have increasingly come from new directions and that isn’t looking set to change in 2013. There are new risks you should be aware of, exploits of popular applications, increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks, malware, and scams targeting our love of social networks and photo sharing, and threats associated with viewing online videos.
How To Build a Media Center That Will Play Anything
I've been building a media centre recently. Actually, scratch that – I’ve been building two. One is a compact device (my Raspberry Pi) running the RaspBMC distribution of XBMC, while the other is a traditional HTPC home build - a media centre in a slimline PC case with added TV card. At this stage I haven’t quite decided which system I’m going to stick with long term, so I have a sort of competition running between the two.
4 Smartphone Security Risks To Be Aware Of
There seems to be a sort of general malaise among users – the tech savvy and everyday users alike – that because your computer fits in your pocket, it can’t be infected by malware, Trojans, worms or other threats. This is, of course, ridiculous, and perhaps stems from the age-old misunderstanding of the nature of malware transmission.
Are You Sure It's Bricked? How You Can Fix Your Broken Smartphone
Back in the day, a bricked device would be very tough to recover, but over the years some resilience has been built into smartphones and tablets. These days a few clever button presses, useful additional software, a USB cable and a few prayers (the prayers are optional, of course) will sort out many bricking issues. But as it turns out, you don’t even need to go as far as that!
Identify The Guy Who Stole Your Phone, Tablet Or Laptop
After spending hundreds of dollars on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops, we all try to be vigilant when it comes to thieves. In most cases you can walk down a street without any trouble; most days your briefcase or satchel won’t be stolen when you put it down beside you in a restaurant or railway station. Most days, your home or office won’t be broken into and your computer stolen.
Rearrange The Windows 8 Start Screen With Registry Tweaks & Utilities
As befits a new operating system, over the past few weeks we’ve featured many articles about how to use and tweak Windows 8. With the focus largely on tweaking. After all, when so many developers have gone to the lengths of making tools to make the new operating system more customizable, it would be a shame to overlook this, especially when so many potential Windows 8 users seem to want to make changes.
Forget Your Laptop - You Can Word Process On Your Android Tablet With These 4 Superb Apps
As mobile devices become more and more prominent as productivity tools, so an increasing number of apps offering solutions become available. Earning my living as a freelance writer, I’m particularly interested in word processing on my Android tablet, which I use as a proxy laptop computer. Thanks to a selection of useful apps – native and third party – I’m able to work from just about anywhere!
Windows Phone 8 vs Windows Phone 7.8 – What’s the Difference & Should You Upgrade?
As a long term user of Windows Phone 7, the decision to upgrade to Windows Phone 8 was made all the more difficult by Microsoft’s revelation that they wouldn’t be completely abandoning the older release. Instead, the older devices would be receiving an upgrade to what is called Windows Phone 7.8, an update that begins rolling out in December 2012.
HP TouchPad Not Charging? Don't Worry, It's Probably Not Bricked!
The HP TouchPad is a remarkable piece of kit. This tablet computer with its dual core CPU was released with a buggy version of the webOS operating system back in mid-2011 and failed to capture the imagination of app developers, leading to HP dropping the device within weeks of its launch. The ensuing firesale resulted in tablets being picked up brand new for under $100 on both sides of the Atlantic.
Email Goes Modern: Three Windows 8 Email Apps
With your shiny new Windows 8 device or upgrade booted up, tiles gleaming at you and winking with useful information, you might take a few moments having a look around before you get the chance to look at the email client. I should add here that not all versions of Windows 8 come with the Microsoft Mail client pre-installed. It really depends on the version and the manufacturer of your Windows 8 computer.