Your Internet Router
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Like many people, I use the router supplied by my ISP. Such devices can be a lottery and I have had some in the past that have been poor. By which I mean they did not support the latest protocols and features, had limited functionality and unreasonably restricted user access. However, I do not think that is a fair description of my current router supplied by EE. The Smart Hub Plus (Wi-Fi 6) is their standard router for FTTP plans. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) across a reasonable range (up to up to 30 meters or 98 feet). It copes well with our brick built bungalow and I get a speed of 70 Mbps in the lounge where the media player, satellite receiver and TV are based. I can access and manage the router from my phone and it allows for a degree of customisation of DNS, VPN and Wi-Fi services. However, recent problems have mitigated these benefits.
In light of the recent problems, I reported the fault to EE and an engineer came to site and tested the fibre connection. He indicated to me that the fault lay with the router and a replacement was duly ordered. I have learned subsequently that there was also a fault at the junction box on the pole in the street but this was not made known to me at the time. While waiting for the replacement router, I did consider buying a third party router and using that instead of the one supplied by the ISP. There are numerous models that are compatible with UK fibre specifications which offer improved performance, better Wi-Fi coverage, and greater control over your network. A third-party router can provide advanced features, faster Wi-Fi speeds (like Wi-Fi 6 or 7), enhanced security options and far more user customization. It can also help you avoid monthly rental fees if that is part of your contract.
However, pursuing this option would present some additional problems. Although EE does not prohibit the use of third party routers, the moment you install one you will no longer receive technical support within the confines of your premises. They will guarantee the internet connection to the point of entry but no further. The purchase cost, security and ongoing maintenance of a private router all fall to you. Going forward, there may well be compatibility issues if your ISP makes any changes to their network or security protocols. Although there is a lot of information in the public domain regarding setting such a router up, none of it is officially sanctioned. I watched a YouTube video recently in which someone replaced their EE router with one made by TP-Link. It required firmware updates and a great deal of troubleshooting to work and when it did it offered no tangible benefit.
So I have decided to stick with the router supplied by EE. A new unit arrived today and it is a later model. I installed it and then set about reconnecting all devices. This proved problematic as the router crashed twice while I was logged in as administrator. Expecting the worst, I called EE who reset my internet connection, while I rebooted the router and Openreach modem (ONT). This resolved the problem and I was able to connect all remaining devices. The internet connection and router have remained stable since then. This issue has been a timely reminder that internet technology can develop faults like any other household device. Furthermore, although domestic technology designed for customer use is often restricted in functionality, it comes with contractually mandated support. Sometimes it is preferable that someone else does the heavy lifting with regard to trouble shooting.
Taking Photos
A couple of times a year, Mrs P asks me to copy onto her laptop, all the pictures that I’ve taken over recent months, as well as those that have been shared with us via WhatsApp. She then diligently whittles them down into a manageable amount which we then print off and put in our photo album. Yes we’re of the generation that still likes to print off hard copies of photos and from time to time look at them nostalgically. We have several albums with photographs in chronological order and numerous frames placed around the house, filled with pictures of family. The bulk of the photos are 4x6 inches (10x15 cm). We use an online photo printing service for the majority of our pictures and visit a local store with a self-service photographic department to print off specific pictures for bespoke frames. The original photos, now neatly organised, are backed up and archived.
A couple of times a year, Mrs P asks me to copy onto her laptop, all the pictures that I’ve taken over recent months, as well as those that have been shared with us via WhatsApp. She then diligently whittles them down into a manageable amount which we then print off and put in our photo album. Yes we’re of the generation that still likes to print off hard copies of photos and from time to time look at them nostalgically. We have several albums with photographs in chronological order and numerous frames placed around the house, filled with pictures of family. The bulk of the photos are 4x6 inches (10x15 cm). We use an online photo printing service for the majority of our pictures and visit a local store with a self-service photographic department to print off specific pictures for bespoke frames. The original photos, now neatly organised, are backed up and archived.
I find the entire culture around “taking photos” fascinating. My father was a keen amateur photographer in the fifties, during his bachelor years. As well as recording his social activities, he also took photos for a practical reason. He was a mechanical engineer and would photograph his design plans as well as his finished work as part of his portfolio. Once married, he copiously photographed family life. In later life he diligently scanned all these pictures to preserve them. I similarly took up photography as a child, although due to changes in technology, I didn’t have to learn the technical side of things. Instead I benefitted from the convenience of the Kodak Pocket Instamatic camera and having your photographs developed at the local supermarket or pharmacy.
Over the years I have catalogued family life and our son growing up via photos. Then at some point I just stop taking such photos. I suppose it stems from children becoming teenagers and no longer wanting to be in family pictures. Curiously, the only photos that I take these days are my and Mrs P’s various travels and holidays. We seldom feature in any of these and it has become a standing joke in our family that if Mrs P appears in any photo, she is always walking out of frame, back toward the camera. Furthermore, due to the fact that it is usually me taking all the photos, I am also conspicuously absent from most “holiday snaps”. As for the pictures of the various places that we’ve visited, these mainly end up in the blog posts I write about them or on social media. In fact the more I think of it, that’s where the bulk of them go these days.
Considering that the camera that I take for granted on my phone is a singularly sophisticated piece of technology, its primary purpose on a day-to-day basis is taking pictures that aid me in various tasks. I had some technical issues with my wireless printer the other day, so I quickly took a picture of the default admin password that was on the back, along with the model and serial number. The phone is connected to my PC, so the pictures are accessible immediately on my monitors. I was then able to resolve the issue with the minimum of hassle. I often use the camera on my phone for chores like this. I’ll take a quick photo of train timetables or booking details. When out shopping, if I see a product that interests me, I’ll take a quick picture and research it later. Photographing packaging is also a great way of ensuring that you buy more of the same.
Photography remains a skill that some people still take the time to learn. By mastering the principles that underpin it, a good photographer will be able to create interesting compositions. Modern technology allows the less gifted to stand on the shoulders of such giants and take acceptable photos with the camera doing most of the heavy lifting. The ability to take multiple photographs quickly and easily also helps, due to the law of averages. Hence I have thousands of digital pictures of my life over the years, with me oddly absent from most. They are precious to me but irrelevant to pretty much everyone else. I wonder what will happen to them once I’m gone? Removed from their context they become random and inconsequential. As you can see, photographs still seem to provoke philosophical musing. Perhaps that’s why as a culture we still take pictures and document our lives. It brings a degree of validation and comfort.
Screen Capture Software and HDR
I take a lot of screen captures of video games and Windows apps, usually for blog posts. I use both Bandicam and Windows Snipping Tool to do this and have set up various hotkeys to make the process easy. Of late, the screen captures that I’ve taken have all suffered from washed out colours, regardless what tool I used to take them. I checked to see if both these apps needed to be updated but they are running the latest versions. Hence I was initially stumped as to why this problem had started happening. After some thought, I deduced that the only new elements in my PC hardware were my two new monitors. Both of which support HDR. Google Gemini quickly informed me that this was a known issue and taking screen captures from an HDR enabled device resulted in an excessively bright image that looked over exposed.
I take a lot of screen captures of video games and Windows apps, usually for blog posts. I use both Bandicam and Windows Snipping Tool to do this and have set up various hotkeys to make the process easy. Of late, the screen captures that I’ve taken have all suffered from washed out colours, regardless what tool I used to take them. I checked to see if both these apps needed to be updated but they are running the latest versions. Hence I was initially stumped as to why this problem had started happening. After some thought, I deduced that the only new elements in my PC hardware were my two new monitors. Both of which support HDR. Google Gemini quickly informed me that this was a known issue and taking screen captures from an HDR enabled device resulted in an excessively bright image that looked over exposed.
HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technology that improves image and video quality by creating a greater contrast between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. This allows for more realistic pictures with a wider range of colours, deeper blacks and brighter whites, while also preserving detail in both highlights and shadows. It is commonly used in 4K televisions and is supported by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. 4K UHD Blu-ray supports HDR but regular Blu-ray does not, instead using the older Standard Dynamic Range. HDR is also a feature on the latest Smartphones. Furthermore, HDR is common in many contemporary video game titles and as such gaming monitors now support the process. Hence capturing an image from any of these sources is potentially going to run into these issues with regard to colour balance and contrast.
Bandicam screen capture without HDR support
Why does this happen? Mainly because most screen capture software has been designed to capture content in the older Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) format and has been incrementally updated over the years. The fundamental mismatch between the wide brightness and colour range of HDR displays and the technical limitations of traditional capture methods leads to screenshots and recordings that appear dim, washed out, or overexposed. Fortunately, there are specific screen capture apps that have subsequently been designed to support HDR. Bandisoft, the software developer that makes Bandicam, has another product called BandiCamera which is HDR compliant and works in an identical fashion to Bandicam. However, it is purely a screen capture tool producing still images. At present it does not support video capture.
BandiCamera screen capture with HDR support
So far BandiCamera, which is free to download, has proven a good solution to the problem. Screen captures of both video games and websites no longer suffer from the overexposed and washed out look that previously blighted them. Screen captures can be saved in .PNG, .JPG and .AVIF formats. However, BandiCamera lacks some of the features found in Bandicam, which can be configured to take pictures of a specific monitor or any active game executable file. BandiCamera has various hotkeys that can be assigned to specific tasks, one of which allows you to “find capture target”. This works fine when you’re taking a screen capture from a website or YouTube video. However, it is not so good for grabbing a screenshot on the fly while playing a video game. Hopefully future releases will address this and add further functionality.
Update: During the course of researching this issue, I discovered after I had downloaded and installed BandiCamera, that Windows Snipping Tool already has a setting called “HDR screenshot colour corrector”. This can be toggled on or off accordingly. It does a similar job of compensating for HDR’s vivid colour palette, although the results are not quite as comprehensive as BandiCamera. The obvious benefit is that this is a tool that comes with Windows 11.
Cable Management
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
I recently bought two new monitors and a stand for my PC tower case. Today I thought I’d take the opportunity to disconnect every peripheral, clear my desk and then after a thorough clean, reassemble everything ensuring good cable management. I even went so far as to buy a new power extension lead so I could reorganise where everything was plugged in and therefore be able to isolate specific hardware. It seemed such a simple, straightforward task on paper. The reality was much different. It took me over three hours to sort out, mainly due to the fact that I don’t “bend” so well these days. During this Herculean task, my watch kept on notifying me that my heart rate was “high”. However, I regularly took breaks and fortified myself with gin for medicinal reasons. I am pleased with the results of this task.
As well as a new power extension lead, I also bought a cable management kit that came with two cable sleeves of differing diameters, both 3 meters in length. There was also a wealth of zip ties and adhesive cable clips. The kit also came with a curious tool that I deduced was used for inserting the sundry cables into the sleeves. No instructions were supplied but I quickly found a YouTube video that showed me how to use it. After a while I managed to get both DisplayPort cables along with the keyboard, mouse, AUX and ethernet cables into one sleeve which I then carefully cut for a perfect fit. I spent some further time organising power cables and carefully tying up the slack so they can’t get caught on my feet or anything else. I can now turn off my PC and monitors while still keeping my wireless charger and printer on.
Cable management is a chore and I fully understand why most people avoid it and pursue a policy of “out of sight, out of mind”. It involves fiddling about in confined spaces, be it under your desk or inside your PC case. However, spending some time to get things sorted pays dividends in the long run. I can clean under my desk now without fear of accidentally pulling out any cables. The reduced clutter around the PC base unit improves the airflow and if I need to do any maintenance, I can access things a lot easier. I can also isolate specific devices due to my fancy new power extension lead. It was also a very satisfying experience, and the hard work was mainly due to me being so out of shape. The fact that I can be a little compulsive when it comes to being tidy and organised obviously had no bearing on the matter, whatsoever.
New Monitors
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
I use two monitors with my PC, as I find having the additional screen “real estate” invaluable when writing or playing games. Both monitors that I’ve been using up to now are somewhat old and they are not exactly the same size or resolution, although both are FHD. I have previously written about the problems I’ve had trying to get certain games and programs to display on specific monitors and the lengths I’ve had to go to to resolve this issue. To cut a long story short, I recently decided to replace both monitors with larger models with a higher resolution. Mainly because my eyesight is not what it used to be. I see best when working with a bright screen that can produce clear text. New monitors would also address my ongoing screen output problem. Hence, I set myself a reasonable budget and began researching appropriate replacements.
While reading online, I learned that some people are using large screen TVs as an alternative to traditional PC monitors. This does come with some caveats. OLED TVs are particularly favoured due to the fact that each pixel is self-lit, which allows for strong blacks, an extensive contrast ratio, and superior viewing angles. They also have fast response times, making them great for gaming. 43 inch screens seem to be the most desirable choice. However, there was a lot of debate about how well the screens handle text and its respective clarity. Also, sitting in front of such a large screen is not for everyone, with some people finding it visually overwhelming. I went as far as going to an electrical retailer and actually standing close to such a screen to see if such a choice was for me. I quickly determined that it was not.
Having dismissed this option, I began looking into what screen resolutions my graphics card could comfortably handle. I have an AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT which at present handles all my gaming needs well at 1920 x 1080 FHD. Opinion seems to be mixed as to how well it copes with 2560 x 1440 QHD and what framerates it can sustain. However, the performance offered by my GPU is sufficient for my needs and if there are any problems, I can always default back to FHD and upscale to 2K. With this in mind I began looking for 27 inch gaming monitors. Fortunately there are plenty of “Black Friday” sales currently ongoing and I managed to purchase two AOC Q27G42XE Quad HD 27" IPS LCD Gaming Monitors. These usually retail at £149.00 but are on sale for £109.00 at Curry’s website. This was well within the £300 budget which I had set.
Upon delivery of my new monitors, I took the opportunity to disconnect my PC and all peripherals and comprehensively clean my desk and the surrounding area. I also removed some devices that are no longer being used, such as my Nintendo Switch along with a plethora of redundant cables. So far I have not run into any major issues with the new monitors. The screens provide excellent clarity when web browsing and working with Google Docs. Video content is also sharp, with vibrant colours, due to the HDR support. Some older video games have required some tweaking but nothing too complex. More recent titles are maintaining an acceptable framerate at 1440p, although it is pushing the GPU to its performance limit. Overall, I am happy with this upgrade. It keeps my PC setup viable and kicks any future upgrade a little further down the road.
The UK Online Safety Act: 3 Months On
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
In July the UK Government introduced the Online Safety Act which requires age checks for accessing sexually explicit content online. As a result of this, Pornhub, the 19th most visited site on the internet, has reported a 77% decline in UK traffic. Furthermore, according to the UK regulatory body, OFCOM (The Office of Communications), overall visits to pornographic websites from the UK have fallen by 33%. Naturally, those who championed this legislation are claiming a moral and political victory. However, once you consider what these facts actually mean, they paint a somewhat different and potentially more worrying picture. It would be staggeringly naïve to think that UK visitors to Pornhub have ceased visiting such sites due to the age verification requirements. The more likely explanation is that UK porn consumers are now using VPNs to circumnavigate these restrictions and that this traffic to Pornhub is now recorded as coming from elsewhere.
According to independent research by Cybernews, the UK has become one of the world’s fastest-growing VPN markets. The UK ranks eighth worldwide for VPN adoption at the time of writing and is now the leading G7 nation in terms of VPN use and one of only three European countries included in the top 10 list. Data shows the UK logged over 10.7 million VPN app downloads in the first half of 2025, surpassing countries such as the US, France, and Germany. One vendor of VPN services for smartphones saw an increase in downloads of 1,800%. All of which indicates the inherent flaw in the OSA, that it can be easily bypassed by using a VPN. Clearly this law is not supported by a substantial number of UK citizens. According to Google, prior to the OSA, eight million users from the UK visited a quarter of a million pornographic websites each month. Such a market doesn’t just vanish overnight.
The Online Safety Act is a typical piece of UK Government legislation, insofar as it is well intentioned in seeking to protect children from harmful content online. However, the parameters of this act and the manner in which it strives to enforce its mandate are ill considered. Clearly those involved have little or no understanding of contemporary information technology and infrastructure. It can also be argued that they have underestimated human nature. The result is legislation that can only deal with the symptoms of a problem and furthermore, only in a binary fashion. Any site that is deemed problematic has to implement age verification. If it will not or cannot, it is blocked by UK ISPs. At best it is a rather blunt tool. At worst, it has provided the current and all future UK Governments with the means to censor content with impunity.
I am not an absolutist libertarian but I do prefer the state to minimise its involvement in social issues. I believe that there is a duty of care to protect children from specific online content but I do not think that is the sole job of the UK Government. Parents, guardians and carers should be the first and foremost group involved in such an undertaking. Those who are legally responsible for a child’s welfare should know exactly what a child is doing online and police it accordingly. Sadly, we have a generation of parents who are just as enamoured with social media and online culture as their children and therefore are hardly best equipped to deal with this matter. Levels of IT literacy are also quite low in many adults. Despite a superficial “monkey see, monkey do” ability to use technology, there is seldom any functional understanding of how such things actually work.
Three months on from the launch of the OSA in the UK, I personally have not been greatly inconvenienced by this legislation so far. I’ve had to verify my age once for Instagram. This used an AI to look at an image of my face and determine if I am over 18. It was hardly a chore and I didn’t expect my age to be disputed. Beyond this one time, I have bypassed any issues as I have a VPN extension installed in all my web browsers and a year’s subscription to Surfshark. Outside of my personal experience, numerous websites that deal with sexual health and wellbeing have been blocked. Even Wikipedia has had to age gate certain content. All of which is troubling. Unfortunately, I can only see this matter getting worse over time and becoming more of a political football, driven by hot takes and showboating. Poorly conceived legislation often fails and brings the law into disrepute. In the meantime are children any safer? I doubt it.
PC Airflow and Dust Contamination
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
It may be a case of preaching to the Choir but dust contamination in your PC causes overheating, decreased performance, and potential hardware failure. This mainly occurs due to dust restricting airflow, impeding components such as heat sinks and creating short circuits from conductive particles. Fluff builds up and restricts cooling fans, forcing them to work harder. Heat build can lead to issues like system crashes, lagging, and even permanent damage to the motherboard and CPU. Over time, it can shorten the lifespan of the computer and in severe cases, poses a fire hazard. When I used to work in IT contracting, I used to see the effects of dust contamination all the time. PC placed on carpet tiles or on top of desks and surrounded by other objects. I remember one PC replacement project I was working on where we found an old PC with a dead mouse in it. It was desiccated by the heat.
I bought my latest PC in January 2024. It has a Be Quiet branded case with two fans in the front and back of the chassis. The PSU is installed in the base of the tower case with the fan facing downwards, over a grill with a dust filter over it. The feet on the case raise the base about 2 centimeters or so off the ground. The GPU has two fans and there is a large fan on the heatsink of the CPU. The case itself has ventilation at the back, front and in the base. The PC resides under my desk and stands on a hardwood floor. I noticed over the last fortnight that the ambient temperature of my office was getting warmer and it was clear that the PC was the source of the heat. The fans were also getting noisier when playing graphic intensive games. So I adjusted the speed of the two fans mounted in the case to cool the PC and decided that I should have a look in the case once it was turned off.
Despite having adequate ventilation in a clean room (I vacuum the floor weekly), all fans in the PC had a substantial layer of grey fluff. The base of the PC where the vent for the PSU is located was especially clogged. It was clear that all fans were being impeded by the dust contamination and that the PSU was getting especially hot. Fortunately I bought a USB air duster and vacuum cleaner recently and used this to remove all dust and fluff. After cleaning all fans appeared to be spinning unimpeded. I subsequently vacuumed the room so that the displaced dust and fluff wasn’t drawn back into the PC case. I am still surprised at how much dust was present, especially in light of the fact that we do not have any carpeting in our home but there are plenty of other potential sources both inside and outside the house. Upon turning the PC back on, the fans were noticeably quieter and the temperature remained stable.
Since cleaning my PC case I have given some thought to relocating my base unit off the floor. Unfortunately there isn’t sufficient desk space available at present. As a compromise I bought a PC stand that raises the case a further 7 centimetres off the ground and allows air to flow under the PC a lot more freely. As it’s on wheels it also allows me to pull the case out from under the desk for easy access to the various cables that connect at the back. Overall I recommend checking your PC for dust contamination at least once every quarter and ensuring that your PC case is placed for optimal ventilation. It would appear that PC’s overheating is still a common problem and can on occasions do damage to the CPU, GPU and PSU. In extreme circumstances you may even flambé a rodent, which would never do. However, 10 minutes of simple maintenance, every few months, can prevent such things.
Phone Internet Tethering
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
Usually I don’t have a problem with internet access when Mrs P and I are travelling. My phone data plan is sufficient for Google Maps and social media usage. Once we reach our hotel, it’s just a question of connecting to the free Wi-Fi or if need be, buying upgraded access. It’s seldom that expensive. When I went on holiday to Croatia this summer, I bought a bespoke data plan before arriving that granted me extra internet access. Our hotel in Makarska also had very robust internet access. Hence, regardless of being out and about or by the pool, I never had any issues getting online. The ubiquity of internet access means we often take it for granted. I seldom go to places in the UK or abroad that don’t have advanced IT infrastructure. Until this week.
I am currently in St. Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex on a 5 day break. We’re staying at Combe Haven Holiday Park for “reasons”. The caravan/static home/park home or whatever you want to call it is very well equipped with “all mod cons”. However, there is no internet access in the caravan itself. If you go to either the pub or the restaurant, there is complimentary wireless internet available. Sadly, such environments are not practical for me to sit down for an hour or so and write as they’re busy and somewhat loud. Thankfully, the 4G signal on my phone in this part of the UK is reasonably strong, so I decided to see if I could use this device for internet tethering. I have a Google Pixel 8a.
On my handset, there are specific settings for tethering that are easily accessible. There is a choice of turning the phone into an internet hotspot and connecting devices such as a laptop wirelessly. Alternatively you can attach the phone to a device via a USB cable and tether that way. I found that the wireless hotspot method was a little too unstable and the connection would intermittently drop. However, directly connecting to the phone via a USB cable has proven a far more reliable method. The internet connection is far from fast, about 3.49 Mbps, but it is sufficient for me to access my website and publish this post. Streaming media and gaming are off the table but as I’m technically on holiday, such activities weren’t part of my schedule anyway.
Although I have no immediate need at present, I have already started researching Portable Wi-Fi Routers/Mobile Hotspots. Rechargeable travel routers that can accommodate a SIM card, access the internet and act as a local hotspot for up to 10 devices. They’re ideal when travelling to locations where the only internet access available is 4G/5G via the phone network. If combined with a data only SIM package they can prove invaluable, according to consumer feedback. I read a comparison of common models on TechRadar and the reviews indicated that they can provide stable coverage within modest parameters but to to expect miracles. However, compared to Starlink they’re a far more affordable option. One I may take up in the future.
MultiMonitorTool
Back in January, I was very pleased because I had finally found some open source software, DisplayMagician, which allowed me to quickly and easily alter my display profile and run specific games and applications on my second monitor. Prior to this I would find that some programs just wouldn’t stay put, once they were dragged or otherwise cajoled to display on the monitor of my choice. They would continuously snap back to the primary display, regardless of my actions. DisplayMagician solved this issue and did so with aplomb. Or it did, until last weekend when I upgraded my PC from Windows 10 to 11. Then it stopped working. I therefore did some digging online and it became apparent that this is a known issue that is currently being addressed by its creator, Terry McDonald.
Back in January, I was very pleased because I had finally found some open source software, DisplayMagician, which allowed me to quickly and easily alter my display profile and run specific games and applications on my second monitor. Prior to this I would find that some programs just wouldn’t stay put, once they were dragged or otherwise cajoled to display on the monitor of my choice. They would continuously snap back to the primary display, regardless of my actions. DisplayMagician solved this issue and did so with aplomb. Or it did, until last weekend when I upgraded my PC from Windows 10 to 11. Then it stopped working. I therefore did some digging online and it became apparent that this is a known issue that is currently being addressed by its creator, Terry McDonald.
I hope all goes well with Mr McDonald’s troubleshooting but as there is no timeframe for a fix, I found myself today back where I had started at the beginning of the year, with regard to looking for a suitable tool to change primary monitors on the fly. Which then led me to discover MultiMonitorTool by Nirsoft (Nir Sofer). According to the developer “MultiMonitorTool is a small tool that allows you to do some actions related to working with multiple monitors. With MultiMonitorTool, you can disable/enable monitors, set the primary monitor, save and load the configuration of all monitors, and move windows from one monitor to another. You can do these actions from the user interface or from command-line, without displaying the user interface”. It is also free (although you can make a donation) and is regularly updated.
I am happy to report that MultiMonitorTool works and works well. However, having previously used software for this task that simply required me to click on an icon, I found swapping display profiles from a command line, or clicking on the MultiMonitorTool application window somewhat fiddly. Like so many PC users, I like my desktop and icons laid out just so and I’m fussy about how I do things. Therefore, I decided to write a batch file that could toggle between making monitor 1 and monitor 2 the primary display. It took me a while to remember how to do this but I got there eventually. I then created a shortcut but pinning it to my taskbar proved problematic. Once I got around this, I then encountered an error when running the batch file via the shortcut. Possibly due to permissions and the fact that the MultiMonitorTool was outside of the system32 directory. My simple task was getting steadily more complex.
I next decided to create a script to run the batch file for me and then pin a shortcut to the script to my taskbar. However, my memory of .vbs files is worse than my memory of .bat files. So this time I turned to Google Gemini for assistance which produced a simple script according to my needs. All that was required after this, was a custom icon for the .vbs file shortcut. I possibly spent more time perusing icon files than I did actually resolving the problem. Needless to say, I now have a convenient icon on my taskbar that I can use to change my primary display designation, prior to launching certain games and applications. It works quickly and with minimal hassle. Furthermore, I saved myself $40 by not buying the Steam version of DisplayFusion which does the same thing as MultiMonitorTool.
Software Updates
As part of our increasing dependency upon software, we have also grown accustomed to its associated foibles, especially the negative ones. Today, I upgraded my blog from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1 and my PC operating system from Windows 10 to 11. I started early in the morning and ensured that all my personal data was backed up. My default expectation was that both processes would go wrong in some way, shape or form. Let’s take a moment to consider this mindset, which is born out of experience. It is now taken as read that whatever you upgrade, be it an app on your phone or a program on your PC, that it’s going to be problematic. It won’t be a seamless transition and you’ll end up having to do some sort of troubleshooting. Despite our lives becoming more dependent on such software, the quality of these products seems to be deteriorating. What a sorry state of affairs.
As part of our increasing dependency upon software, we have also grown accustomed to its associated foibles, especially the negative ones. Today, I upgraded my blog from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1 and my PC operating system from Windows 10 to 11. I started early in the morning and ensured that all my personal data was backed up. My default expectation was that both processes would go wrong in some way, shape or form. Let’s take a moment to consider this mindset, which is born out of experience. It is now taken as read that whatever you upgrade, be it an app on your phone or a program on your PC, that it’s going to be problematic. It won’t be a seamless transition and you’ll end up having to do some sort of troubleshooting. Despite our lives becoming more dependent on such software, the quality of these products seems to be deteriorating. What a sorry state of affairs.
Setting aside the failures of the tech industry, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that both upgrades went well, with no major fallout. With regard to Contains Moderate Peril, I am quite happy how individual posts are displayed. I just need to determine whether from now on, I can include images that scale to the width of the page (but display at full size when clicked on), rather than having to set them to a standard resolution. I also have to fix the main blog page, as it is currently showing each post in full, rather than just the first paragraph along with the option to “read more”. However, these are not deal breakers. The site is still functional for both PCs and mobile devices. Similarly, the Windows upgrade went well. I was interested to see that some of the formatting aspects of Windows 10 were carried over and as a result, I have not had to excessively tinker with the visuals of Windows 11.
Oddly, because things appear to have gone relatively smoothly, I cannot help but feel somewhat disconcerted. Mainly because, as mentioned earlier, we are so used to things just not going to plan these days with regard to the software we use. Hence for the next few days, I will remain prepared for some unforeseen technical issues to manifest themselves. If they materialise, so be it. If they do not, then it’s an added bonus. Hopefully, there’s nothing else on my PC that requires a major update, for the immediate future. That being said, I rebooted my phone earlier today and it has obviously installed an Android update. I only spotted this when I received a phone call and was furiously trying to swipe upwards to answer it. Turns out I now have to swipe to the right. Oh the pleasure of software upgrades! The tech companies obviously think that daily life just isn’t interesting enough.
Screen Capture Software
The ability to take a screen capture of a video game that you’re playing, or an open application or browser tab, is just something we take for granted. Windows 10/11 have a built-in tool called Snip & Sketch that is simple to use. Most of the games that I play have a specific hotkey for taking screenshots and a default directory to store them. Similarly, the latest builds of Windows also include the Xbox Game Bar software, which allows you to capture video from any application that you’re running on your PC. You can then edit via Clipchamp which is the successor to the old Windows Movie Maker. I believe the macOS comes with comparable default software. The absence of such apps today would be noticeable. However, there was a time when such things were not considered standard features.
The ability to take a screen capture of a video game that you’re playing, or an open application or browser tab, is just something we take for granted. Windows 10/11 have a built-in tool called Snip & Sketch that is simple to use. Most of the games that I play have a specific hotkey for taking screenshots and a default directory to store them. Similarly, the latest builds of Windows also include the Xbox Game Bar software, which allows you to capture video from any application that you’re running on your PC. You can then edit via Clipchamp which is the successor to the old Windows Movie Maker. I believe the macOS comes with comparable default software. The absence of such apps today would be noticeable. However, there was a time when such things were not considered standard features.
It was around the early 2000s’ while I was creating fan websites based on particular video games, that I became aware of a need for specific screen capture software. The single player games in question had no native screen shot option. So I was using the Print Screen button on my keyboard and then pasting the content into Microsoft Paint. As a process, it broadly worked and indeed still does to a degree but was not exactly convenient. It was about this time I discovered Fraps. Software that could capture both screenshots and as well as providing a benchmarking service. For $40 you could purchase a lifetime subscription, which I duly did. It proved to be a very useful app and was continuously supported and revised up until 2013. I continued using Fraps until 2019 and only stopped because some contemporary games were not compatible, resulting in screenshots of a black screen.
In 2019, after researching a suitable replacement, I decided upon buying Bandicam. I used the free demo version for a while and found that the app was easy to use, especially with regard to switching between two monitors. It also had a more robust video capture facility, taking advantage of more contemporary codecs such as HEVC, affording smaller output files. As recording video footage was both watermarked and restricted to 10 minutes in the demo version, I bought a full license and have been using Bandicam ever since. I use it prodigiously from taking screenshots in-game to taking captures of open web pages and apps. I do the latter for things like bookings or timetables. Information that I can quickly post into a WhatsApp group discussion. The video capture facility is adequate for taking short clips for subreddits etc. It also comes with Bandicut bundles with it, which provides simple editing services.
However, due to many games now shipping with anti-cheat software, even Bandicam can be blocked on occasions from taking screenshots or video capture. This happened to me recently during the first Battlefield 6 Beta test. It was at this point, I started experimenting with the AMD Adrenalin software that accompanies my graphics card. It does so much more than just manage driver updates. It can fine tune game graphics, such as sharpening images and upscaling. It can also take screen and video captures and being integral GPU software, can often bypass anti-cheat related problems. Furthermore, it can screen capture in a variety of image formats and be configured to take a series of pictures, with minimal impact to the running of the game. My only complaint is that the default hotkey combination for a screen capture requires three keys to be pressed.
Recently, I’ve dabbled with posting video game footage to YouTube. This introduced me to such software as OBS and Xsplit Broadcaster. Recording a video game or other activities from your Windows desktop provides me with the option to take screencaptures directly from the video file. This is useful as it affords me a lot more time to be able to select the content that I wish to screencapture. This can be something simple like choosing an appropriate picture for a YouTube thumbnail or taking a series of screenshots to document a specific task or process. It is interesting that in the space of just two decades, the idea of being able to take pictures or video of as you work or play on your PC, has gone from being a specialist requirement, to just an everyday tool. But such is the pace of change in the twenty-first century.
My First PC
30 years ago, in early 1995, I bought my first PC, a second hand Compaq Prolinea 4/33. It had an Intel 486 DX processor, 340MB HDD, 4MB RAM, 3½-inch floppy disk drive and a 14-inch monitor with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. It ran Windows 3.11 installed via MS-DOS 6.22. It didn’t come with a soundcard or a CD-ROM drive. I believe I paid around £750 or so at the time, which was approximately half its original retail price. This model was 2 or 3 years old when I bought it. However, at this time, PC specifications did not change as quickly as they do these days. Hence, this was a good starting point for someone new to computing. I subsequently upgraded the processor to a 486 DX2, increased the RAM to 16MB and installed a Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE32 soundcard and CD-ROM drive.
30 years ago, in early 1995, I bought my first PC, a second hand Compaq Prolinea 4/33. It had an Intel 486 DX processor, 340MB HDD, 4MB RAM, 3½-inch floppy disk drive and a 14-inch monitor with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. It ran Windows 3.11 installed via MS-DOS 6.22. It didn’t come with a soundcard or a CD-ROM drive. I believe I paid around £750 or so at the time, which was approximately half its original retail price. This model was 2 or 3 years old when I bought it. However, at this time, PC specifications did not change as quickly as they do these days. Hence, this was a good starting point for someone new to computing. I subsequently upgraded the processor to a 486 DX2, increased the RAM to 16MB and installed a Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE32 soundcard and CD-ROM drive.
Windows 95 launched on 14th July 1995 and I became an early adopter. At the time home PCs were still not that common and I was fortunate to have two work colleagues that were similarly learning on the fly, like myself. We would often swap information or share news of a successful project or a failed experiment. This coupled with the wealth of PC related magazines that were available at the time, made me feel part of a very modern and dynamic community. Another invaluable source of information and place to hang out was the local PC repair shop. Whenever I visited, the owner would be holding court behind the counter with various acolytes hovering in the aisles asking questions about new products and each other’s latest upgrades. It was a great way to learn, free from the formal restrictions of the classroom.
I quickly began using my PC for both business and leisure. Formal letters and business correspondence were all now typed and saved as files. Finances were tracked via spreadsheets. As internet access was still rare, I had a copy of Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia for reference. I used to enjoy playing Mindmaze, which came with it. I also bought my first game, Doom, which I played excessively. Overall, my initial purchase and upgrade was a major success. My PC did everything that I required and I was content. Until Quake was released the following year and I realised that my PC could not run it. Furthermore, the Compaq Deskpro M could not be upgraded any further. If I wanted to play Quake, it would require the purchase of a completely new PC based around a Pentium processor and a 3D graphics card. So began a decade-long struggle to try and stay up to date.
Today, my relationship with my PC has somewhat altered. It is still an invaluable tool that I use every day but it has lost its novelty and mystique. I have also elected to get off the neverending upgrade treadmill. I now buy what I can afford, as opposed to what I may like. The internet has gone from being a new frontier filled with promise, to just another commercial outlet and a source of irritation. Games are no longer things of wonder but disposable entertainment. The fact that they give them away after a short commercial lifecycle further enforces their sense of being ephemeral. It’s all a far cry from those early days of home computing. Memories of my first PC evoke a sense of nostalgia. Even the Windows 95 startup sound still resonates with me, as it always seemed to be the prelude to an adventure. Mainly because owning a home PC was still novel back then, as were all activities associated with it.
Phones and Battery Bulge
Three months ago, I wrote a blog post regarding how I wasn’t going to replace my phone because I was pretty much done with the endless treadmill that is “upgrade culture”. At the time my Google Pixel 6 was three years old but continued to serve all my smartphone needs. So I signed up for a new “SIM only” contract with Vodafone and went about my business, feeling somewhat pleased with myself. However, “needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle”, to quote Blackadder. I recently noticed that the screen on my phone was coming away from the main enclosure. There was a distinct curve along the right hand edge, as if there was something inside the phone applying pressure outwards. Sadly, that is precisely what was happening. I searched online to see if this was a known issue and was subsequently introduced to the problem known as battery bulge.
Three months ago, I wrote a blog post regarding how I wasn’t going to replace my phone because I was pretty much done with the endless treadmill that is “upgrade culture”. At the time my Google Pixel 6 was three years old but continued to serve all my smartphone needs. So I signed up for a new “SIM only” contract with Vodafone and went about my business, feeling somewhat pleased with myself. However, “needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle”, to quote Blackadder. I recently noticed that the screen on my phone was coming away from the main enclosure. There was a distinct curve along the right hand edge, as if there was something inside the phone applying pressure outwards. Sadly, that is precisely what was happening. I searched online to see if this was a known issue and was subsequently introduced to the problem known as battery bulge.
Battery bulge, often referred to as “swelling”, is a condition where a lithium-ion battery case expands or deforms due to the build-up of gases inside. This is a result of the battery's internal components degrading over time or being damaged. It can also occur if the battery becomes excessively hot. The most common reason is overcharging. Since the advent of wireless induction charging, phones often spend time being charged regardless of whether the battery is fully drained. This continuous process can accelerate the battery's deterioration. Although any device powered by a lithium-ion battery can suffer from this problem, it would appear that the Pixel 6 is particularly prone to it. Furthermore, the process cannot be reversed and the only solution is to replace the battery. If left, the swelling can potentially damage components within the phone or crack the screen. The faulty battery is also a fire hazard.
When I investigated having my phone repaired, the overall cost was sufficiently high to make it more economically prudent to buy a new handset. Hence, I ordered a new unlocked Pixel 8a, which arrived today. I have already wirelessly migrated all my apps and data onto the new phone, which was a very straightforward and easy process. Reconnecting my Google Watch was not so seamless. Despite a transfer option being available, it failed and I had to do a hard reset of the watch and reconnect to the Pixel 8a from scratch. It is also worth noting that although apps are copied over, you have to log back into them all before you can use them. I have three banking apps, 10 email accounts and a dozen or so other services that are password protected. Hence migrating to a new phone is not quite as easy as the marketing claims. However, compared to setting up a new PC it’s a walk in the proverbial park.
Thanks to battery bulge, I had to spend £380 on a new handset and Spigen case, which wasn’t something I was anticipating. However, I am sufficiently old enough to have learned that all technology has a shelf life and often it is a lot shorter than you expect. So there’s no point crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. My Pixel 6 lasted two and a half years. However, I have learned a lesson and as a result I shall now only be charging my phone when the battery is exhausted. I suspect that the habit of constantly topping it up via a charging cradle, when the battery is over 50%, contributes to reducing its overall lifespan. In fact, I think I shall be reviewing the charging habits of all of the electrical items that I own. Devices that run on lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our homes these days. Although broadly safe, they all have the potential to be a fire hazard if managed incorrectly, so more care is needed.
When Technology Fails
I had a novel experience (at least for me) this morning. I went to the cashpoint (that’s an ATM for those outside the UK) at my local supermarket, only to find it out of service. I had an imminent haircut appointment and no cash to pay my barber, who doesn’t take card payments. Fortunately, the supermarket did “cashback” so I bought a loaf of bread and some milk, paid £23 for them and was given £20 in cash. It’s a useful facility that I have never used until today. Usually I just make sure that I have a float of cash available but today the cashpoint being unavailable threw a spanner in the works. If the store did not do “cashback” then I would have had to reschedule my haircut. This minor hiccup got me thinking about our dependence on technology in our daily lives. A point that was further brought home, as my barber told me he had recently visited Spain and was affected by the national power outage.
I had a novel experience (at least for me) this morning. I went to the cashpoint (that’s an ATM for those outside the UK) at my local supermarket, only to find it out of service. I had an imminent haircut appointment and no cash to pay my barber, who doesn’t take card payments. Fortunately, the supermarket did “cashback” so I bought a loaf of bread and some milk, paid £23 for them and was given £20 in cash. It’s a useful facility that I have never used until today. Usually I just make sure that I have a float of cash available but today the cashpoint being unavailable threw a spanner in the works. If the store did not do “cashback” then I would have had to reschedule my haircut. This minor hiccup got me thinking about our dependence on technology in our daily lives. A point that was further brought home, as my barber told me he had recently visited Spain and was affected by the national power outage.
If you weren’t aware, on Monday April 28th, at 12:33 PM, a blackout caused widespread disruption across Spain and Portugal. Although the exact cause is still unclear, the incident occurred when approximately 15 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity, representing 60% of Spain's power demand at that moment, was lost within a mere five seconds. This outage resulted in millions being left without electricity, affecting trains, traffic signals, ATMs, phone services, and internet connectivity throughout the Iberian Peninsula. By Tuesday morning, nearly all electrical services in Spain and Portugal had been restored, yet inquiries into the underlying cause have continued. Just take a moment to consider the ramifications of such a blackout and the impact it would have on your life, if such a thing happened to you.
Let us not forget the faulty patch that was released last July by cybersecurity vendor Crowdstrike, that crippled countless Microsoft Windows computers across the globe. Like the power outage in Spain, it shutdown everything from airline travel and financial institutions to hospitals and businesses online. Crowdstrike quickly deployed a fix, but the recovery from the outage took considerable time, as Crowdstrike’s solution needed to be applied manually on a per-machine basis. I was going for a meal with my sister that day and had booked a table in advance. The restaurant was very shrewd and called me along with every other customer as soon as the outage hit their payment system, to inform me that they were dealing exclusively with cash payment that day. Fortunately my “belt and braces” approach to money saved me any inconvenience.
Legitimate technical problems notwithstanding, we have to be cognisant these days of the very real threat that cyber terrorism poses, utilizing technology to cause harm, inspire fear, and potentially disrupt critical infrastructure. Most countries have already experienced cyberattacks for political or ideological purposes. So far such attacks have been contained and hence have not had as much media attention as perhaps they should. However, it seems inevitable that a major attack is due, especially in the current global political climate. As and when it does occur I suspect that the UK population is ill equipped to deal with the consequences. Not that there is much one can do anyway. Beyond keeping a supply of cash and maintaining a stockpile of essential items. All of which raises the question about our societal dependence on technology. Sadly such a debate will only occur after something catastrophic happens.
New Phone? No Thanks
I last bought a new phone in March 2022. At the time I decided to move away from Samsung after a decade of brand loyalty and try the Google Pixel 6. Let it suffice to say that I have found this handset to be most satisfactory. I like the size. It fits into the front pocket of my jeans. Its overall performance is very good and it has no issue running any of the apps that I regularly use. Subsequent software updates have improved some aspects of the camera, which initially had a poor zoom. Overall the good points of the Google Pixel 6 outweigh its flaws. Hence despite being 3 years old I am happy to keep using it. I have looked at what the subsequent iterations of the Google Pixel have to offer and I really don’t see any significant improvements or benefits. So despite being offered a handset upgrade by Vodafone, I have decided against one.
I last bought a new phone in March 2022. At the time I decided to move away from Samsung after a decade of brand loyalty and try the Google Pixel 6. Let it suffice to say that I have found this handset to be most satisfactory. I like the size. It fits into the front pocket of my jeans. Its overall performance is very good and it has no issue running any of the apps that I regularly use. Subsequent software updates have improved some aspects of the camera, which initially had a poor zoom. Overall the good points of the Google Pixel 6 outweigh its flaws. Hence despite being 3 years old I am happy to keep using it. I have looked at what the subsequent iterations of the Google Pixel have to offer and I really don’t see any significant improvements or benefits. So despite being offered a handset upgrade by Vodafone, I have decided against one.
I cannot see any sense in just getting a new phone for the sake of it. Why saddle myself with a £500 debt, spread out over 3 years for something that isn’t required? Phones no longer hold any appeal for me beyond their inherent functional purpose. The handset I currently have does the job and therefore it will suffice for another year or so. Hence, I called Vodafone and negotiated a new tariff. I’ve increased my data allowance to 5 GB, while retaining the unlimited calls and texts. I still have access to 5G and the benefits of Vodafone Secure Net. After obtaining a 30% discount the monthly cost is £12.60, just 0.30 pence more than what I was previously paying. The only extra cost I foresee in the immediate future is an ad hoc data package when I travel to Croatia, in June for my holiday.
I grew up in the seventies and eighties, in a world where you replaced electrical devices when they stopped working. You seldom replaced something just because a better version became available. Perhaps if your family grew in size, you may consider buying a larger freezer but the benefits of such a decision were easy to evaluate. Such a mindset is now obsolete. Phones and other devices are no longer marketed based upon their purpose. They’re aspirational, lifestyle accessories that apparently say something about you. Exactly what that is, other than you have a line of credit, I have yet to determine. It all seems to feed into that great myth of capitalism that conspicuous consumption will somehow make you happy. It doesn’t. However, we all have to determine this for ourselves. Fortunately I have, which is why I got a new tariff and not a new phone.
Nothing is Ever Easy
Have you ever embarked upon a tech related task that you consider to be a relatively simple undertaking, only to find it slowly becoming more complex and more involved as you progress. For instance, configuring software, upgrading your PC or changing internet service providers. I’m sure the answer is yes, because this seems to be life’s default position these days. Every endeavour starts with a simple premise, only to become bogged down in additional requirements and unforeseen issues that weren’t apparent at the beginning. The icing on the cake is often a cost that hadn’t been anticipated. To get the job done you have to put your hand in your pocket and pay someone or buy something. It is a pain in the butt, annoying and sadly, all too common these days.
Have you ever embarked upon a tech related task that you consider to be a relatively simple undertaking, only to find it slowly becoming more complex and more involved as you progress. For instance, configuring software, upgrading your PC or changing internet service providers. I’m sure the answer is yes, because this seems to be life’s default position these days. Every endeavour starts with a simple premise, only to become bogged down in additional requirements and unforeseen issues that weren’t apparent at the beginning. The icing on the cake is often a cost that hadn’t been anticipated. To get the job done you have to put your hand in your pocket and pay someone or buy something. It is a pain in the butt, annoying and sadly, all too common these days.
With this in mind, let me return to my recent aspiration to divest myself of Microsoft software. Specifically Microsoft Office. My plan hinged upon finding a replacement for Microsoft Outlook and I had decided on Mozilla Thunderbird. Everything seemed quite straight forward until it came to exporting my existing mailboxes from Outlook to Thunderbird. Outlook uses a proprietary file format, the Personal Storage Table (.pst) which is incompatible with Thunderbird. It needs to be converted to the .MBOX format before it can be successfully imported. However, conversion tools and apps tend to be mainly designed for corporate mail migration projects. Hence they have limited free access and often rename header details as part of the “free trial” restrictions. Full licences tend to cost several hundred dollars. Let it suffice to say that this development stopped my plans dead in their tracks.
Ringo Starr has wise words about things not being easy
So rather than waste time trying to work around the above solution, the path of least resistance has led me to another approach. I shall see if I can find a lifetime license key for Microsoft Outlook and negate the need for a subscription. Then I’ll uninstall the remainder of Microsoft Office. I may have to roll back to an older version if necessary. It’s not an ideal solution as such keys can be “questionable” in provenance and you can on occasions find them being blacklisted. Alternatively, I could just use Gmail to handle all my mail related requirements but that is basically just swapping one corporate behemoth for another, which doesn’t ultimately resolve the issue. The Mozilla Thunderbird option would be fine if I was starting from scratch but I have quite a substantial archive of mail that I don’t want to have to abandon.
Tech problems are often rabbit holes, as I found out recently with video editing and the problem of “variable frame rates”. I can think of no other industry where known bugs, incompatibility issues and paid service gating are just an accepted part of the associated landscape. Mind you, it’s not exactly plain sailing everywhere else. Our family car recently had some tire related issues. As a result we discovered how wheel nuts are not a common standard and there is often an adaptor required by independent garages before they can remove a wheel. The UK is also still debating whether to introduce legislation for standard USB-C chargers across a range of electrical devices. So it would appear that from a business perspective, it is financially lucrative not to make things easy for customers. However, this is a status quo that the public is far from happy with.
Goodbye Microsoft Office
Humans are creatures of habit. Often we find it easier to stick with the status quo, rather than try something new or make a change. I have used Microsoft Office throughout my career and it is a habit that has persisted into my retirement. However, overtime I have ceased to use much of the functionality Microsoft Office offers. Google Docs adequately caters for my needs. Yet I still subscribe to Microsoft Office, due to my affection for Outlook and the fact that I have 10 email addresses to manage. However, I don’t use half of the functionality that it provides, so it’s a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Furthermore, the monthly subscription for Microsoft Office is increasing due to the inclusion of Copilot AI assistant. So I’ve decided that it is time to say goodbye to Microsoft Office and to find myself a new email client. I shall also say adieu to the email archive I’ve been hoarding since 1997.
Humans are creatures of habit. Often we find it easier to stick with the status quo, rather than try something new or make a change. I have used Microsoft Office throughout my career and it is a habit that has persisted into my retirement. However, overtime I have ceased to use much of the functionality Microsoft Office offers. Google Docs adequately caters for my needs. Yet I still subscribe to Microsoft Office, due to my affection for Outlook and the fact that I have 10 email addresses to manage. However, I don’t use half of the functionality that it provides, so it’s a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Furthermore, the monthly subscription for Microsoft Office is increasing due to the inclusion of Copilot AI assistant. So I’ve decided that it is time to say goodbye to Microsoft Office and to find myself a new email client. I shall also say adieu to the email archive I’ve been hoarding since 1997.
I am currently testing Mozilla Thunderbird as a replacement. At present I have added 5 email addresses and it is handling things in a satisfactory fashion. The interface is somewhat spartan compared to Outlook but the “no frills approach” of the Map View with three columns is easy to navigate and take in. However, the email addresses I’ve currently connected are all free accounts without any complex logon requirements. I suspect things may become more difficult to configure, when I add several domain specific email accounts. In the meantime, I am going through my email archives deleting large swaths of messages from former places of employment or pertaining to purchases and services made over a decade ago. I have a calendar that goes back nearly twenty years but I’m reluctant to purge this as there’s a great deal of nostalgia associated with it.
Saying goodbye to Microsoft Office has given me reason to review a lot of the software that I regularly use. I think, as a society, that we rely too much upon “free stuff” provided by tech giants and seldom consider the consequences if the arrangement that we currently enjoy changes. IE We start getting charged or the software is withdrawn. I am also ambivalent regarding the AI gold rush that is currently occurring and find its inclusion in all the latest apps worrying. I recently started removing a lot of the “bloatware” that comes with Windows 10, from my PC using Powershell scripts that were created specifically for this task. I intend to make 2025 the year where I run a lean, uncluttered and better performing PC. My maxim shall be “if it isn’t used, it gets uninstalled. If it isn’t required, it doesn’t get installed. “If you can’t buy it, don’t use it”.
DisplayMagician
I recently wrote about the problems I was having trying to play several MMORPGs on my second monitor. The games in question do not have any settings to output to display number 2 and if you drag the game window from the primary monitor to the secondary, then the game either snaps back immediately to its original location or returns there after closing the client. As I suspected, I’m not the only person to be inconvenienced by this issue. A Google search found a cunning piece of open source software called DisplayMagician that resolves the problem. Written by Terry McDonald, DisplayMagician is designed to change your display profile and then run the game or application you select, on the monitor of your choice. It can also select specific audio devices and start extra programs, if required. It will then reset your settings back to the way they were, once you close the game or application.
I recently wrote about the problems I was having trying to play several MMORPGs on my second monitor. The games in question do not have any settings to output to display number 2 and if you drag the game window from the primary monitor to the secondary, then the game either snaps back immediately to its original location or returns there after closing the client. As I suspected, I’m not the only person to be inconvenienced by this issue. A Google search found a cunning piece of open source software called DisplayMagician that resolves the problem. Written by Terry McDonald, DisplayMagician is designed to change your display profile and then run the game or application you select, on the monitor of your choice. It can also select specific audio devices and start extra programs, if required. It will then reset your settings back to the way they were, once you close the game or application.
DisplayMagician allows you to create multiple display setups using Windows 10/11 and save them as profiles. These profiles can then be associated with various games, ensuring they are output to the preferred monitor. Furthermore, when associating a profile with a specific game, additional commands can be added such as launching Steam or switching audio to a headset. Once all the desired data has been entered, DisplayMagician can create a game shortcut library for your favourite games, making the entire process convenient and easy. Upon exiting the game or application, DisplayMagician restores your default monitor settings and will even run an additional command to reset any peripheral settings, such as steering wheels and game controllers, if a bespoke configuration has been used.
So far, I have successfully set up game shortcuts for Fall Guys, Guild Wars 2 and Sniper Elite Resistance. All of which now display on my second monitor which is a FHD display. This is far more convenient for screen and video captures, as the monitor has a 16:9 aspect ratio. My primary monitor, which I use for writing, has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which confuses YouTube and other content sharing services. Hence, I am very pleased with DisplayMagician as it does exactly what it purports to do, with the minimum of hassle. It is easy to configure, unobtrusive and isn’t resource hungry. I just have to launch an app and then click on a game shortcut and a problem that has bugged me for years, is resolved. Furthermore, DisplayMagician is free of charge, although I do think it is worthwhile to make a donation to its creator, to ensure that they continue development.
VPNs, Web Browsers and Synchronising Bookmarks
I tend to compartmentalise my online activities. I use different browsers and apps for specific tasks. For example, I specifically use Opera to access websites that are geo-blocked in the UK. This is because it has an integral VPN that up until today, has been free. Sadly, it is now disabled by default and requires a subscription to activate. I’m not really surprised by this move. It was free while being developed and tested and naturally during this period of time, many users have become reliant on it. The cost of a subscription from Opera is no different to that of any other established VPN provider, although they offer a lot more functionality. So I decided to take advantage of the current Black Friday sales and bought an18 month subscription to Surfshark, which comes with a lot more bells and whistles. This includes extensions for all the main web browsers along with more complex VPN tools.
I tend to compartmentalise my online activities. I use different browsers and apps for specific tasks. For example, I specifically use Opera to access websites that are geo-blocked in the UK. This is because it has an integral VPN that up until today, has been free. Sadly, it is now disabled by default and requires a subscription to activate. I’m not really surprised by this move. It was free while being developed and tested and naturally during this period of time, many users have become reliant on it. The cost of a subscription from Opera is no different to that of any other established VPN provider, although they offer a lot more functionality. So I decided to take advantage of the current Black Friday sales and bought an18 month subscription to Surfshark, which comes with a lot more bells and whistles. This includes extensions for all the main web browsers along with more complex VPN tools.
As a result of this change, I no longer have any need for Opera and so I have uninstalled it. I use Chrome and Firefox for everyday use. I run Chrome on my primary monitor for general browsing and Firefox on my second screen specifically for Twitter/X, Mastodon and Blue Sky. I like to keep an eye on my various social media timelines for breaking news and to see what my internet chums are up to. Both browsers have AdBlocker Ultimate and Adblock for YouTube extensions installed. I simply wouldn’t browse the internet without them. I have some additional quality of life extensions installed on Chrome, such as an audio recorder and a Flash emulator. I also have a very useful add-on called New Tab Draft which allows you to write in plain text on any new tab opened. These are kept permanently until deleted. It’s very useful for quickly copying and pasting information or writing some notes on the fly.
For convenience, it is useful to synchronise bookmarks between web browsers. Until recently, this was something I did manually but it was a pain in the butt. I would often forget to copy links over, so there were frequent discrepancies between browsers. However, like so many online “problems”, you can always find someone who has already encountered it and addressed it. xBrowserSync is a free service that allows for seamless synchronisation of bookmarks via a simple extension. It is quick, easy and password protected. Having such a facility also encourages me to undertake regular housekeeping with regard to bookmarks. I recently purged several dozen, many of which were for obsolete services or for websites that don’t even exist anymore. Bookmarks are a worrying catalogue of all my passing interests and I had many for video games and TV shows that have “been and gone”.
After 30 years plus of internet access, it is nice to finally have my browsing requirements so well catered for on PC. It is a shame that the same cannot be said for web browsing on a phone or tablet. I may be incorrect but there just doesn’t seem to be the same ecosystem of extensions and add-ons available. I tend to avoid web browsing on my phone as it quickly becomes a hellish nightmare of pop ups, autoplaying videos and pervasive advertising. Combined with the ongoing “enshittification” of apps, the whole matter gets worse over time. I will look for workarounds in the New Year and see if internet access via your phone can be made more manageable. I suspect it may well be a harder problem to solve than PC web browsing but again, I’m sure some smart people have already taken steps to address the matter.
Password Managers
As we get older, we acquire more of the following three things. Keys, items that need charging and passwords. All of which are a pain in the butt. Your key collection grows mainly because you’re an adult and someone thinks you’re responsible. Hence you not only have your own keys but a set for work and possibly spares from members of your family. As for items that need charging, that seems to be pretty much all technology these days. It’s why power sockets now come with a USB option. But this is the world that we live in and until it changes, we just have to try and get by the best we can. Today I want to talk about passwords. The fact that we have so many of them and what is the best way to manage them. But before I move on to the subject of password management, let’s go over the basics of what is actually considered to be a “good” password and by good, I mean one that is hard-to-crack.
As we get older, we acquire more of the following three things. Keys, items that need charging and passwords. All of which are a pain in the butt. Your key collection grows mainly because you’re an adult and someone thinks you’re responsible. Hence you not only have your own keys but a set for work and possibly spares from members of your family. As for items that need charging, that seems to be pretty much all technology these days. It’s why power sockets now come with a USB option. But this is the world that we live in and until it changes, we just have to try and get by the best we can. Today I want to talk about passwords. The fact that we have so many of them and what is the best way to manage them. But before I move on to the subject of password management, let’s go over the basics of what is actually considered to be a “good” password and by good, I mean one that is hard-to-crack.
Let’s not bullshit each other, most of us do not follow a good password policy. Lots of us favour a combination of letters and numbers that we can remember easily and simply use various permutations of it across multiple sites and apps. These tend to be the names of children and pets, dates of birth or some sort of pop culture references. However, they are not that secure and therein lies the problem with them. Furthermore, people (and I include myself in this) are inherently lazy. We consider the risks to be minimal and assume that nothing bad will ever happen to us. As a result, we will use the same password or variations of them, again and again just to make our lives easier. The problem with such an approach is that if one of your passwords is compromised, it leaves you exposed across multiple applications and websites.
According to Microsoft “a strong password is at least 12 characters long but 14 or more is better. It should be a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It should not be a word that can be found in a dictionary or the name of a person, character, product, or organisation”. Now that’s all tickety-boo in principle and the underlying logic is clear. Such a complex password is a lot harder to crack. However, what it means in reality is that you’ve got a password that looks something like this. o96sj=Y@)l;^1mb. It is highly unlikely that you’ll be able to remember a string of characters and symbols like that, let alone a dozen or so of them. Which means that you’ll need to write it down in a log book or something similar. I know several people that use a rolodex. Alternatively, if you don’t like such an old school solution, you can use a password manager
I have used LastPass as a means of storing and managing all my online passwords for over a decade. The account is protected by a master password and several other authentication requirements. A browser extension then allows me to access my password directory while online. It can autofill both username and password fields on a logon screen if directed. LastPass can also generate secure passwords for you if required and can also store other details that you may use online regularly, such as payment and address details. Hence it makes all aspects of password management a lot easier. There is a free version available for a single user or you can pay a subscription to have access across multiple devices. However, despite the benefits of this software there is still a requirement for the user to do some “housekeeping” from time to time. It is also worth noting that password managers are not bullet proof.
As you can imagine, after a decade plus of use, I have built up quite a lot of passwords in LastPass. So today I logged into my vault and manually trawled through all the passwords that were stored there. I deleted about 50 or so old and obsolete passwords. Many were for services that are no longer available, such as old forums and websites. I renamed some entries to make them more intuitive and then I took the precaution of exporting all password details as a CSV file. This is because I cannot upgrade my LastPass account any further due to legacy issues and I am considering moving to an alternative password manager such as Bitwarden and using it across all my devices. Out of all the companies providing such a service, Bitwarden seems to have the best track record and to date, hasn’t been hacked or compromised in any fashion.
Passwords management is a loaded subject. It is something we all tend to approach through a haze of cognitive dissonance. We know exactly what we should do but more often than not do the complete opposite. Then we whine when things go wrong. I’m sure I’m not alone in having a prodigious quantity of passwords. The current count is 282. Admittedly if some were lost it would not be a big deal. But there are some where it would be a real inconvenience to have to reset them. Which is why I force myself to be organised and stay on top of this issue. Mrs P handles things differently and uses a password log book which she scrupulously keeps up to date. Whether your solution is high or low tech, it is better to have some sort of system in place, rather than having to start one from scratch after some catastrophic disaster.