Your Top Tips
Our pick of the best advice from our
readers. Please send questions and answers
70 5 - 18 February 2020
MOBILE
Try Microsoft’s new Android
launcher
I’m a big fan of Microsoft Launcher – it’s
quick, has all the features I need and,
best of all, it’s free to install and use, and
doesn’t show any adverts. Microsoft has
just launched a new preview version,
available for download at bit.ly/
mslauncher494. This is a ground-up
reworking of the Android launcher, so
you’ll need to download it separately to
the existing version. Among other things,
it now has a new dark mode and a clever
landscape mode (see below).
Naturally, because it is still in beta,
there’s a chance of instability but, so far,
I haven’t run into any problems.
Jim Glazier, via emailSOFTWARE
Print folder contents
Issue 492’s Ask the Expert (bit.ly/
webuser492) includes advice on how to
‘Print a list of files’. For many years, I’ve
been using a free tool called Karen’s
Directory Printer, from Karen’s Power
Tools, which readers may find easier to
use. This, and many other useful tools,
can be found at bit.ly/karen494.
Mike Smith, via emailMOBILE
Check when you’ll get 5G
I’ve been very excited about the prospect
of 5G since it was first announced and
have been fervently checking when my
area, in far-flung Lancaster, will receive it.
Type your postcode into the website
5g.co.uk/coverage to see the current
status of 5G, and which networks are
rolling it out. Not long now!
Marcus Philbin, via emailSECURITY
Recover deleted passwords
If you’ve ever regretted deleting a
password in LastPass (www.lastpass
.com), don’t worry – it can be recovered.
Click the LastPass icon in Chrome and go
to Open My Vault (or visit the website).
Click More Options in the bottom-left
corner of the page and open Deleted
Items. Here, you can select a password
and, using the Actions menu, reinstate it
or completely delete it.
Mark Walsh, via emailEMAIL
Search for Gmail stars
Every message you receive in Gmail has
a tick box on the left for selecting it. Next
to that is a star-shaped outline that turns
yellow when clicked, to mark the email as
important. Keep clicking the star and it
cycles through a variety of colours, ticks
and symbols. If you don’t see this, click
the top-right cog icon and select
Settings. On the page that loads, underTOP TIP
Did you know that you can type on
iPads and newer iPhones using your
Windows 10 computer? I didn’t, until I
accidentally stumbled on the AirType
app (bit.ly/airtype494), which
connects your computer to your
mobile device. It only works if they are
both running on the same Wi-Fi
network.
To get it working, open Settings and
tap General on your mobile device,
then go to Keyboards. Add AirType as
the keyboard option, then open your
text messages, email, WhatsApp or
any other app that lets you type, and
switch from your default keyboard to
AirType. You’ll see an IP address – type
it into the browser on your computer.
A text box appears, and whateverUse a PC keyboard on iPhone and iPad
MOBILE
you type in it will show up on your
iPhone or iPad. I find this makes
composing text messages much easier
than using the touchscreen.
Jim Carew, via emailMicrosoft’s new Android launcher has lots
of new features, such as landscape mode
Print the contents of folders – download
Karen’s Directory Printer for freeAirType lets you use your PC keyboard
to send text to an iPad or iPhone appBack
Issues
disc
winnerFind out when your area is due to get
5G coverage