Software : 10 ways Microsoft can improve its Edge browser |
- 10 ways Microsoft can improve its Edge browser
- MOVIE WEEK: 10 best Android movie player apps
- Mac Tips: How to change Autofill on Mac
| 10 ways Microsoft can improve its Edge browser Posted:  IntroductionMicrosoft's follow-up to Internet Explorer, uninspiringly called Edge, needs to up the ante against its rivals, Firefox and Chrome, in order to stem the gradual erosion of Redmond's browser market share. This is no easy task, though – Microsoft needs to cope with the tens of millions of legacy users who are still very much accustomed to the quirks and peculiarities of Internet Explorer, the millions of businesses that rely on IE, and a growing audience of web users who want a faster, simpler and safer, more modern version of IE. At any rate, we put our thinking caps on, and came up with 10 ways that Microsoft can enhance the new browser it unleashed with Windows 10. Make it stop crashing randomlyThe first improvement Microsoft can make is an easy one – just make sure the browser works as planned and doesn't have a life of its own. Even on the latest build (10525), Edge's erratic behaviour is likely to burn those who are enticed by promises of a faster, more user-friendly browsing experience. For now, Microsoft needs to make sure that it has got the fundamentals right. Where's the recovery mode?What makes the random crashing syndrome harder to swallow is the fact that you lose all previously browsed tabs when you restart your browser again. Chrome users are probably aware that Google's browser automatically recovers your sessions after a crash and offers a very useful option to re-open tabs that you might have accidentally closed. Such an option would certainly help bridge the feature gap between Chrome and Edge. Note that you can set Edge to open previous pages if you shut it down but this is not a widely known option, and is not selected by default in the setup menu. You can also use Ctrl+Shift+T to open the most recent closed tabs. Make shortcuts clearerCan you use shortcuts on Edge? Yes, you can, but this fact isn't as clearly indicated as it is with rival browsers. As expected, the 30 or so shortcuts available on Edge come directly from its predecessor, Internet Explorer, but they are not documented anywhere in the browser. So you're left to essentially trust your memory or try your luck. Sadly, a couple of them are not working, as well, but don't despair as we've compiled a full list of shortcuts for Edge here. No help?What to do if you want to get help from Microsoft Edge? Usually, F1 works on any browser (such as Chrome, as pictured above) but not on this one. There's nothing in the drop-down menu either, or in the About Us section. In the brand new world of Microsoft, everything is done online, and your search engine will remain your best friend. Still, it is slightly preposterous to assume that the billion-plus users of Edge will know how to navigate this new and different browser. Auto-translateChrome led the way with a seamless auto-translation feature that can be toggled from the URL bar/Omnibox at any time. That made Google's browser attractive for whoever wants to access content in other languages. The alternative route for Edge is to go to a translation website, then copy/paste the URL or the content into the appropriate box and click the "translate" button, a process that wouldn't be out of place in the 1990s. Full-screenSomehow, somebody at Redmond saw fit to remove the ability to use Edge in full-screen mode. F11 was the default key to toggle that mode but it doesn't do anything as it stands. Like many of Edge's nagging issues, this one also stems from the fact that Edge seems to be a modern app at heart, one that's geared towards a touch UI rather than a more traditional desktop-based environment. But then again, IE 11, Chrome and all other major browsers do offer a full-screen mode (oh and also note that the key combo, Alt+Shift+Enter, doesn't work). Better support for drag and dropIt is surprising that you cannot drag and drop into or out of Edge; be it files, URLs or images. You can, for example, lift an audio file from your desktop and drop it into OneDrive or Gmail (either in the body or as an attachment, as pictured above) on Chrome so there's no conceivable reason why Microsoft's browser couldn't do the same. Microsoft is working on it though and said earlier in August that: "Fixes for this issue are being treated with top priority and are in development to ship in a future update. We'll provide updates on the timeline as we know more." Note that you cannot copy the URL of a picture as well for some odd reason. Multiple instances of EdgeYou cannot open multiple instances of Edge. This is different from opening several browsing tabs, of course, as they stem from the same original process. Multiple instances mean that one browser crash would not affect other browsers running and that would also allow you to run browsers in different virtual desktops (known in Windows 10 as Task View). Currently, Edge will default to the desktop on which it is running when you try to run it on any virtual desktop. The same applies to any Office Mobile application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as a bunch of others (Outlook Mail and Outlook Calendar). Docking tabs verticallyThe average screen resolution as well as the aspect ratio of monitors have changed over the last decade. The bulk of screens sold with desktop PCs now come with a full HD resolution and a screen diagonal of at least 20-inches (and indeed there are some huge monitors out there, like the Samsung UD970, the 31.5-inch model pictured above). Most websites cater for the lowest common denominator user, those with a low horizontal resolution (TechRadar for example is less than 1000 pixels wide to fit comfortably on a 1024 pixel wide screen), which means that space on the side, on the browser's edge, could be used more smartly, perhaps to accommodate vertically stacked tabs (rather than horizontally as is usually the case). Where are the extensions?Perhaps the biggest flaw that Edge suffers compared to its two main competitors, Chrome and Firefox, is the lack of any extensions. While these usually add to the bloat in any browser (we're looking at you Chrome), they are an essential part of the process of making a browser as individual as its user. Like apps on mobile devices, extensions often reduce levels of defection to competitors, as their users find it difficult to move away from them. Microsoft has yet to dismiss the idea of plugins, and it wouldn't surprise us if the company starts to actively encourage developers to port extensions from rivals to Edge, in much the same way it is courting Android and iOS app developers. |
| MOVIE WEEK: 10 best Android movie player apps Posted:  Movie playback is one area where Google hasn't really done much on Android. Its standard video player is still a defiantly dull grey and lifeless experience. The software maker clearly much keener on pushing its online sales and rental channels on Google Play, rather than encouraging users to fill their mobiles with their own movie files. That said, a decent Android model - and even older phones such as Samsung's excellent Galaxy SII - have more than enough power to run today's HD video content. Although manufacturer politics can play a part in unfairly restricting video playback. Some mobiles only officially allow their users to play MP4 files, for example, as if they somehow convey more legitimate forms of media than the other movie formats available. Plus, when it comes to video playback, the dreaded (and often overstated) Android fragmentation situation really is a big issue. But it's a hardware problem in the most part. The huge variety in Android chip suppliers out there, from old handsets with single-core ARMv6 chips up to 2012's quad-core monsters, means that some phones won't work very well as media players no matter what app you use. Put simply, if your phone is still an HTC Wildfire, none of the apps here will get HD MKV files running smoothly on your phone. But, if you do have something relatively modern with a fast processor, the following media apps ought to spice up Google's rather boring movie playback options, and at least widen your options when it comes to video viewing. Our academy has seen them all. And the nominees for best app are… 1. Movies By FlixsterPitching itself as a complete package for moviegoers, Flixster lets you stream and download films, build a cloud-based library of purchased titles, check out reviews on its Rotten Tomatoes site, and find cinema listings for those times when a pocket-sized picture just isn't enough. Ad-heavy, but free and Facebook-friendly. 2. MX PlayerTaking almost any file format in its stride (and offering plugins for the rest), this is the perfect player for movie libraries amassed from a range of sources. Its also a great one to leave with the kids, as its child-lock keeps them out of your inbox and current account. Claims to "play everything" on its Google Play artwork, and with over 10,000,000 downloads, it's the most popular option out there. MX Player's big selling point is hardware support that's augmented by multi-core decoding, so if you're running a modern dual-core processor, you ought to see a significant performance boost. 3.Google Play Movies & TVWith Google making a pretty penny flogging third-party players through its Google Play store, they'd be forgiven for downplaying their own free app – but this a typically slick offering access to thousands of titles to rent or buy, all available for instant streaming or downloading to watch offline. 4. MoboPlayerMuch like MX Player, this is an all-purpose movie player designed to decode so many file formats it's tempting to start making them up (kiss my .ass file, Mobo! Wait, it can actually do that one). Offering support for subtitles, playlists and pop-out windows, this Mobo deserves its own award A comprehensive list of supported codecs makes MoboPlayer a good choice, although being entirely software based means you'll need something with some serious processor power to watch anything approaching HD resolution. Still, for getting subtitled MKVs and more exotic movie file types running on Android models that don't officially support them, it's a decent, simple and free choice. 5.CrackleFree to download and free to watch, this Flash streaming app intercuts playback with ads for an old-school, ITV feel. Movies are mostly drawn from Sony's back catalogue, so you won't find all the latest releases here (Cops And Robbersons, anyone?), but did we mention it's completely free? 6.VPlayerYours for under a fiver after a week's free trial, VPlayer promises to get the best out of your handset with a choice of hardware or software decoding. Smooth HD playback proves no problem on a dual core device, and it boasts less battery drain than its rivals to boot. 7.BigFlixIf your tastes lean closer to Bollywood than Hollywood, you could do a lot worse than check out this free repository of Hindi, Tamil and Bengali blockbusters, offering unlimited monthly streaming for a flat fee. If your tastes lean more towards Dollywood, there's nothing we can do to help you. Sorry. 8.CrunchyrollMmm… Crunchyroll. Another specialist player, this time packed full of the latest Japanese Anime, Crunchyroll offers most download content for free after its first week of release, and ad-free streaming with a paid membership. English subtitles are favoured over dubbing for a fully authentic experience, and the interface is in English, too. 9.VLC for Android BetaA much-loved (if occasionally moody) open-source player, VLC has yet to perfect its Android offering. Warning that it's liable to "kill your kitten, destroy your house and start the Mayan apocalypse", this beta version is still worth a look, handling most media files and network streams with something approaching aplomb. However, it's free, plays most media types through a home network, lets you adjust aspect ratios, and much more. It'll be great, when it's really finished. 10.NetflixLove film? Then you need… Netflix, obviously. A monthly sub gives you access to thousands of films via your phone, tablet, console or Smart TV, with the ability to start watching on one device, then pick up where you left off on another. A tempting free trial offers full access for one month. |
| Mac Tips: How to change Autofill on Mac Posted:  Got an Apple, Mac or iOS tech question? We have the answer. This time we have a reader dealing with problematic AutoFill in Safari for Mac OS X. AutoFill is a super-convenient way to get your personal information into online forms and the like, but it can be a big pain when AutoFill insists on providing the wrong info. Fortunately, there's a way to change this behavior — we'll show you how. QuestionIs there a way to control the data used for AutoFill in Safari on my Mac? For example, I want to use my personal information for AutoFill, but my work info keeps coming up! AnswerThis has been a lingering issue within OS X for many, many years (in fact, since AutoFill for Safari was introduced), and has yet to be addressed. The problem at hand is that no normal person as a single email address, a single phone number, or a single address. We all have work addresses, work phone numbers, and work email addresses. When you have multiple entries in your contact card, however, AutoFill will only grab the first of each of these entries. Fortunately, there is a way to fix this issue, even if it's a bit of a roundabout solution. Open your contact card in the Contacts app, and click the "Edit" button at the bottom of the card. (Or, from Safari, open the preferences, go to the AutoFill tab, and click Edit; you'll automatically be redirected to the Contacts app.) Ensure that the address, phone number, or email address that you want to be entered by Safari AutoFill is in the first position for each of the data types. This will likely require moving around a bit of data, since fields cannot be dragged and rearranged in Contacts. Once you do this, however, your Autofill data should come in exactly like you want. Got an Apple tech question? Email ask@maclife.com. |
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