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iPhone 13 review
12:47 pm | October 7, 2021
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets iPhone Phones | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: September 2021
• Launch price: $799 / £779 / AU$1,349
• Target price now: $599 / £599 / AU$1,099

Update: April 2024. Despite its age, the iPhone 13 remains a great choice for anyone in need of a reliable, no-frills iPhone. It's still available from Apple directly for just $599 / £599 / AU$1,099 (some $200 / £180 / AU$200 less than its original launch price), and Amazon often has the iPhone 13 at even cheaper prices. Thanks to its still-capable chipset and strong battery life, the iPhone 13 currently ranks as the best value phone on our best phone list, and the best value phone on our best iPhone list. It's compatible with iOS 17, and will be compatible with iOS 18, too, since Apple typically supports iPhones with software updates for five years after launch. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Two-minute review

The iPhone 13 is no longer Apple's newest smartphone, though it may well be a more tempting buy than its successor. The iPhone 14 (and 15) series is out, and the main device in the series is pretty similar to the 13 with the same cameras, display, chipset  and design. You can check out our iPhone 14 review to find our full notes on the device.

That's a shame, because in our initial iPhone 13 review, we noted that it didn't bring a huge number of features over the iPhone 12, though it did have a few tweaks here and there.

On paper, you’d be hard pressed to find a reason why Apple didn’t call the iPhone 13 the iPhone 12S. The design is largely the same, the specs don’t look hugely different, and there aren’t many headline-grabbing new features.

Jump to...

Release date and price
Design
Display
Camera
Software
Battery life
Should I buy it?
Also consider

If you do want a bigger upgrade then you might not have long to wait, as we're expecting to see the iPhone 14 on September 7, along with the iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, so bear that in mind before buying this.

That said, everything on the iPhone 13 is a touch better than before – and some elements are significantly better.

The highlight of the iPhone 13 is its battery life. Previously, iPhones haven’t been synonymous with strong battery life, but during every day of our testing we’ve been hard-pressed to run the iPhone 13 out of juice.

Apple has finally cracked it when it comes to battery life, and it's now far better than it has been on previous iPhone iterations.

The iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chipset, meanwhile, is incredibly powerful, and paired with 4GB of RAM it’s capable of running multiple apps and tasks quickly and efficiently.

An updated duo camera for the iPhone 13 improves clarity in images, while the introduction of the company’s Sensor Shift optical image stabilization (OIS) technology, previously only available on Apple’s Pro Max handsets, is a big deal for those who want to shoot quickly without losing their subject in a blur.

The iPhone 13 laying on a table

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Even the screen on the iPhone 13 is a touch better than what we’ve seen on previous ‘standard’ iPhones, and that’s a big deal if you’re upgrading from an iPhone XS or older. The OLED technology here enables a brighter picture than ever, and the picture quality is simply fantastic.

One disappointment, however, is that Apple hasn’t included a 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 13, so you’re not getting as smooth an experience as on the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max.

iPhone 13 prices start at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349 – although that gets you 128GB of storage, rather than the 64GB of the base-model iPhone 12. Since the original publication of this review, mind, those prices have plummeted.

While at first glance the iPhone 13 may not seem like a great leap forward for Apple, the improved battery life, performance, screen and camera all add up to be a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who’s coming from an older iPhone, or looking to make the switch from Android.

iPhone 13 release date and price

  • Went on sale September 24, 2021
  • Started at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349 for 128GB
  • Second most affordable of the iPhone 13s

The iPhone 13 series was announced on September 14 at the company's annual launch event, with pre-orders opening on September 17. The iPhone 13 release date was September 24, and unlike with 2020's iPhone 12 series it was possible to buy all the new handsets on the same day.

iPhone 13 specs

Weight: 174g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm
Display size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 2532 x 1170
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Pixel density: 460ppi
Chipset: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Rear cameras: 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 12MP
Battery: 3,240mAh 

The iPhone 13 starts at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349, which is the same price as the iPhone 12 in the US and Australia, and a touch cheaper in the UK. The iPhone 12 cost $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 at launch.

You’ll get 128GB of storage for that price – Apple has dropped its 64GB models this year, and not before time. If you need more storage, the 256GB iPhone 13 costs $899 / £879 / AU$1,519, while the 512GB model costs $1,099 / £1,079 / AU$1,869.

If those prices are a bit of a stretch, the iPhone 13 mini has similar specs but is a not-insignificant amount cheaper, starting at $699 / £679 / AU$1,199, while going in the other direction you’ve got the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max if you’re looking for higher specs and, in the case of the latter phone, a larger screen.

In all cases, it's worth seeing what Apple promo codes are currently available for ways to save on your purchase. 

iPhone 13 design

  • Mostly the same design as in the 12
  • Rear cameras have seen slight redesign
  • Fairly small for a smartphone

The iPhone 13 in a yard

(Image credit: TechRadar)

If you own an iPhone 12, you’re unlikely to see a big difference between that handset and the iPhone 13. If, however, you own an older iPhone, or an Android device, you’re certainly going to see some differences.

The iPhone 13features a flat-edge design, which debuted with the iPhone 12 range. That means the design is a touch more angular than the rounded finish of previous iterations, but the phone is still comfortable to use one-handed.

The front and rear of the handset are glass, but only the front panel has Apple’s patented Ceramic Shield technology, introduced on last year’s iPhone 12 . Apple says this offers four times the drop resistance of the glass on older iPhones, but we still wouldn’t recommend putting this claim to the test.

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We’ve yet to drop this handset, but it’s comforting to know that the Ceramic Shield tech is there as a safety net – although we’d be more comforted if it was on the rear of the phone too.

On the subject of durability, the iPhone 13 series is IP68 dust and water resistant, which means it can survive in up to six meters of water for a period of 30 minutes. Don’t expect this handset to be fully waterproof, but it’ll survive the odd dunk.

On the left edge of the phone are the silence switch, the volume buttons and the SIM tray. The right edge hosts just the power button, so it’s easy to find with your thumb or finger when you’re trying to wake the handset.

On the bottom edge are the speakers, and the Lightning port connector for charging and data transfer.

We found the iPhone 13 was easy to use one-handed – it measures 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm – although if you want a truly one-handed device, or you have smaller hands, the iPhone 13 mini may be a better choice.

The iPhone 13 weighs a touch more than the iPhone 12, at 174g compared to 164g, but it’s not something you’ll notice in everyday use, and it’s roughly the norm for a phone of this type.

The rear of the iPhone 13 is plain, but looks sophisticated, with the Apple logo taking center stage and the camera module at the top-left. A minor change this year is that the company has opted to arrange the main lenses in the camera array diagonally, rather than vertically as on previous iPhones.

A line of iPhone 13 phones in various colors.

Every color choice for the iPhone 13 (Image credit: Apple)

There are five color options for the iPhone 13: Blue, Midnight, Starlight (a cream color), Product Red and Pink – the shade you see pictured throughout this review.

These shades are rather muted, and if you’re not a fan of any of them you may want to hang on and see if Apple introduces more colors at a later date – the company introduced a purple iPhone 12 around six months after that phone first launched.

If you own an iPhone 12, you should note that the cases for that handset won’t fit this model. 

iPhone 13 display

  • 6.1-inch screen with 2532 x 1170 resolution
  • OLED panel looks good in sun
  • Only 60Hz, not 120Hz like Pro

The display on the iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. It’s a Super Retina XDR OLED display made by Apple, and it makes for a clear and bright image – the  brightness has been improved on the iPhone 13, and it can hold its own against other smartphones in direct sunlight.

The iPhone 13 in a hand

(Image credit: TechRadar)

That resolution equates to 460 pixels per inch, which isn’t the best we’ve seen on the market but is perfectly suitable for everyday use – we didn’t find we ever needed a higher resolution, even when watching video or playing games.

There are thin bezels around the handset’s screen, and some of the display is also taken up with the notch at the top. Yes, there’s still a notch on the iPhone 13, but it’s 20% smaller than the notch on the iPhone 12, giving you a touch more screen real estate.

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iPhone 13

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iPhone 13

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It’s not a big change, but it’s noticeable when you compare the handset to the iPhone 12. It’s something you’ll quickly grow used to though.

An important note here is that the iPhone 13 display doesn’t get the new 120Hz refresh rate that Apple debuted on the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max – the displays on those phones refresh twice as fast as a standard 60Hz screen for a smoother experience when scrolling web pages or playing games.

If you’ve experienced this technology before – it’s now common now on a lot of Android phones – you’ll notice the difference here, although it’s a feature that’s nice to have, rather than indispensable.

iPhone 13 camera

  • 12MP main and 12MP ultrawide cameras
  • The front-facing camera is 12MP too
  • Digital zoom up to 5x
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iPhone 13

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iPhone 13

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Going on the headline specs, the iPhone 13 camera setup doesn’t look that different to the array on last year’s model, but you’re getting some worthwhile upgrades here, with tweaks to the cameras themselves as well as a variety of software updates.

You’ve got two cameras on the rear: a 12MP wide camera with an aperture of f/1.6, and a 12MP ultrawide camera with a f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. There’s no telephoto shooter here – you’re reliant on digital zoom, so this phone isn’t going to be the best for grabbing long-distance shots.

When not shooting at a distance, this is a fantastic and versatile experience. The main camera uses 1.7µm pixels (up from 1.4µm on the iPhone 12) that give a noticeable difference to the picture quality here.

You’re also getting Apple’s Sensor Shift OIS technology, which debuted in last year’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, and which offers the best image stabilization we’ve seen on an iPhone, enabling you to get sharp shots even when you’re not able to keep the phone perfectly still.

There’s less noise in images taken in most scenarios than in comparable shots from the iPhone 12, and there were few situations where the camera didn’t perform to the level we’d expect – it’s a great point-and-shoot experience.

The ultra-wide camera’s 120-degree field of view is useful when you want to get more of your subject or scene in, but we mostly found ourselves sticking with the main camera.

There’s digital zoom up to 5x, but the results aren’t very impressive, and you’ll find that many other smartphones are more capable in this area, although it’s by no means an essential feature.

Another new feature here is Photographic Styles, which you can access through the camera app. These enable you to apply custom looks to your images, such as Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm and Cool.

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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iPhone 13 camera samples

This Photographic Style is called Rich Contrast (Image credit: TechRadar)
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iPhone 13 camera samples

This Photographic Style is called Vibrant (Image credit: TechRadar)
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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

This Photographic Style is called Warm (Image credit: TechRadar)
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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

This Photographic Style is called Cool (Image credit: TechRadar)

These are useful if you have a particular style of shooting, and the idea is that unlike a simple filter they will allow the phone to apply adjustments to different elements of an image. We didn’t find this made a huge difference to our shooting, but it’s another tool in your photography arsenal.

On the front of the phone is a 12MP f/2.2 wide camera that we found worked well for selfies and video calls. The front cameras on iPhones have been impressive for some time now, and while there are no big improvements here you’ll be happy with the results you get.

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iPhone 13 camera samples

The portrait mode on the iPhone 13 (Image credit: TechRadar)
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iPhone 13 camera samples

Stage Light effect on the iPhone 13 (Image credit: TechRadar)

You can shoot video on the iPhone 13 at 4K at 24, 30 and 60 frames per second, as well as Full HD at 30, 60, 120 and 240fps.

The big video recording upgrade is the introduction of Cinematic Mode that allows you to film with a bokeh effect where the background of your shot is blurred. The effect also follows faces that are in the frame, so it'll switch between subjects.

We've found this to work well, but it takes some getting used to and you may need to play around with it a few times to be able to get the absolute perfect shot. This is a fun tool though, and it's something you may enjoy if you like playing around with video modes.

Camera samples

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

2x zoom (Image credit: TechRadar)
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Camera samples from the iPhone 13 showing what the camera is capable of

5x zoom (Image credit: TechRadar)

iPhone 13 specs and performance

  • A15 Bionic chipset is very powerful
  • The phone is great for gaming
  • 4GB RAM, storage goes up to 512GB

Apple’s iPhone 13 series all feature the company’s A15 Bionic chipset, it’s 2021 attempt at making the most powerful smartphone chipset on the planet. Apple says it has a 50% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU than the competition.

Whatever the accuracy of those claims, Apple’s 2021 handset is undeniably powerful, and while everyday performance won’t be noticeably different to what you’d get from the iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, this will be a huge step up for those using an iPhone 8 or below.

During our testing we found that the iPhone 13 could launch apps in an instant, and was easily capable of swapping between apps with a limited wait for each to load.

Gaming on the handset was also a breeze, with titles loading as quickly as we’ve seen on other products like the iPad Pro (one of Apple’s most powerful devices in 2021). Games looked fantastic on the OLED display, with those GPU performance upgrades particularly noticeable.

The iPhone 13 in a yard

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Geekbench 5 scores match our testing with the phone having an average multi-core score of 4688. The iPhone 12 scored 3859 in the same test, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 scored 3367 and the OnePlus 9 Pro scored 3630.

Apple has made another big step up here, but it’s most noticeable in benchmarking results. The everyday experience is largely the same, but it’ll be a marked step up from much older iPhone models.

The A15 Bionic chipset is teamed with 4GB of RAM, and that’s enough to keep it running at full tilt. That’s less RAM than you’d see on most equivalent Android phones, but Apple doesn’t seem to need a lot of RAM to make the most of its A15 Bionic.

Your storage options are 128GB, 256GB or 512GB, and if you’re planning to load your phone up with media over a couple of years we’d recommend opting for the 256GB or 512GB variant; even with iCloud support, 128GB may prove easy to fill up.

Apple has, at least, dropped the ridiculously meagre 64GB storage option that’s been its base offering for the last few years.

The iPhone 13 series is 5G-ready, and it’s nice to know that you’re future-proofed for the next-gen tech, even if you don’t yet need it or it’s not available where you are – it’s becoming increasingly widespread, and the iPhone 13 will be compatible with any 5G carrier.

iPhone 13 software

  • Comes on iOS 15
  • Will see several years of updates
  • Focus Mode is useful for productivity

The lower half of the iPhone 13

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The iPhone 13 comes running iOS 15 out of the box, so you can enjoy all the latest software features from the company.

The upgrades for 2021 are smaller than the major overhaul we saw with iOS 14, but the new additions are interesting, and include a Focus mode that’s easy to enable through the dropdown menu.

Tapping the Focus label gives you easy access to the Do Not Disturb mode, as well as settings that you can enable for when you’re at work or you’re ready to go to sleep. Want to block your Twitter notifications when you’re at your desk? This will allow you to do that.

Other new features are more minor, but overall it’s a nice refinement of what we’ve seen before. 

A major benefit of a new iPhone is that Apple is likely to support it with software updates for many years to come; even the iPhone 6S is compatible with iOS 15, so if Apple continues to offer that depth of software support you can expect the iPhone 13 to continue receiving updates until around 2027.

iPhone 13 battery life

  • Reliable day of use
  • Charged to 51% in 30 minutes
  • No in-box charger

Apple’s handsets have never been known for strong battery life, and while the iPhone 13 doesn’t offer the best stamina we’ve ever seen in a smartphone, it’s a clear improvement on previous iPhones.

We’ve yet to find out if Apple has increased the size of the cells inside the iPhone 13, but the increase in battery life here suggests so. Rumors ahead of the iPhone 13 launch suggested that Apple would be increasing the size of the batteries in every model.

According to Apple’s estimates, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max are set to offer the better battery life in the series. We’ve found the battery life to be significantly improved compared to the iPhone 12 and what has gone before it.

During our testing time, the iPhone 13 made it through every day with enough charge in the tank to keep going for at least another couple of hours.

The iPhone 13 being charged up

(Image credit: TechRadar)

On one day, we pushed the phone to its absolute limits by ensuring the screen was on for the entire day streaming video from YouTube and other services from 10:30am until 11pm. We were unable to kill the phone, and it remained with 20% battery life. That was with the screen on full brightness for eight hours and 48 minutes.

As we’ve said, this isn’t the best battery life you’ll find in a smartphone – many Android alternatives will be able to last longer – but this is a big step up for Apple, and it’ll make the iPhone a more compelling option for many potential buyers.

The iPhone 13 is compatible with 20 watt chargers, which we found offered good fast-charging but not the best we've seen. From zero, the phone charged to 26% in 15 minutes and 51% in 30 minutes.

Wireless charging makes a return here, and if you’ve got a compatible charger you’ll be able to hit 15W charging. That’s far from the fastest wireless charging on the market, but it’s still useful to have if you don’t like having to plug your phone in, or you’re low on battery and find yourself with a Qi charger to hand.

As with the iPhone 12 series, you won’t get a charger in the box with the iPhone 13. The aim here is to cut down on e-waste, and Apple’s logic is that you’re likely to have a Lightning charger from a previous iPhone purchase.

If you don’t, you can buy a charger from Apple for $19 / £19 / AU$29, while there are also third-party options that can cost less. You may also want to upgrade your charger to make the most of that 20W charging, which many older iPhone chargers aren’t capable of.

Should you buy the iPhone 13?

The iPhone 13 being held in a hand

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

After this iPhone 13 review, we've got some more mobile phone coverage that you might be interested in checking out.

First reviewed: September 2021

Genie Backup Manager review
6:30 pm | October 6, 2021
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Many backup software suites emerge from software houses that handle loads of different tools and functionality, but that’s not the case with Genie9 – it’s built by a London-based team of specialists.

And when the developers count big names like Dell, Acer, and Canon among their partners, it immediately sounds impressive.

Genie9 is available in Home and Business versions, with various backup products in those two categories. One such backup suite is Genie Backup Manager. We've put the software through its paces with small business use in mind, and this is what we think.

We've also listed the best cloud backup services right now.

Features

Genie Backup Manager offers both local backup and disaster recovery features (Image credit: Zoolz)

Plans & pricing

Head into the Home category, and you’ll find Genie Backup Home 9.0, which delivers secure offline and online backups for a one-time $50 payment per PC, with price rises deployed if you want to use those apps on up to five devices. Genie Timeline Home is a cheaper alternative, at $40, but it doesn’t include features like encryption or cloud backup.

Business users have more options. Genie Timeline Pro is a more robust local backup tool that costs $60, and Genie Backup Manager Pro (the software we’ve reviewed primarily) adds features and adds $10 to the price.

If you’re preserving and protecting data in a larger organisation, Genie Timeline Server costs $250 for each device, and Backup Manager Server costs $500 per device with SQL or $250 without.

Those are moderate prices – certainly more affordable than a rival like EaseUS ToDo – and we’re pleased to see that licences aren’t further divided into annual plans. Sadly, though, there’s no free version.

We’re also a little disappointed that Genie Backup Manager Pro peaks at five licences unless you buy multiple apps. It can get expensive if you need to manage lots of PCs in a business.

Features

Genie is designed to run in the background, backing up the contents of your entire system or whatever file types you choose. Users can choose from Full, Incremental, and Mirror backup tiers to manage exactly how Genie offloads.

Outlook Backup

Genie Backup Manager even allows you to backup your emails from Outlook (Image credit: Zoolz)

As with many apps, you’ll have to follow a Wizard-style dialog to create a new backup and, handily, a summary of the job is always visible and changes as you alter settings.

You can backup local files and folders, entire operating systems and data from individual apps using Genie, and it has a range of plugins that increase support for specific pieces of software. Once you’ve picked your backup data, it can be sent to local destinations, cloud servers, removable devices or remote FTP-based locations, like NAS drives.

Backup Process

Restoring your files is also simple process because Genie Backup Manager creates an executable (.exe) file (Image credit: Zoolz)

Compression is available for backups, AES or password protection can be used to protect files, and the app can send notifications, shut down your PC once the backup has completed or run commands before or after the backup has completed.

It’s a solid slate of features that doesn’t stand out, but we must highlight Genie’s scheduling tool – it’s one of the most comprehensive we’ve ever seen and gives you a vast amount of control over when you back up data.

Create Backup

It's also easy to keep track of your backups as they include the date and time when they were created (Image credit: Zoolz)

A similar Wizard is used to restore your backups, too, and elsewhere Genie offers customers some basic formatting and rewriting options, although you’ll find more additional tools from other backup apps.

Users can adjust resource use during backups, use a laptop-specific battery-saving mode, and use purging, file filtering and multiple compression levels to save space.

For relatively basic home and business use it’s a fine slate of features, although you’ll have to upgrade to one of the server versions if you need SQL or Exchange support.

Interface & use

Genie’s interface is fine – easy to navigate and use, with a straightforward design. In the left-hand panel, you can run backups, update the app, and change settings. Large buttons in the middle of the Home screen invite you to back up, restore, or deploy disaster recovery settings.

Create a backup, and you’ll be provided with a step-by-step process and a summary on the left-hand side. The central window is used to choose files and destinations and modify settings.

It’s similar to many other backup tools, but there’s no denying that it looks a bit dated, with its underwhelming colors and archaic fonts. It gets the job done, but that’s about it.

That’s about all we can say about Genie’s speeds, too.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

Genie’s best result came with a 6 minutes and 12 seconds average when backing up Excel files but, even then, it was a mid-table output. Its document time of 34 minutes and 55 seconds was mediocre, and it took over an hour to preserve our Media and Mixed folders – times that were among the worst in our tests.

This is clearly an app better suited to spreadsheets and documents than media or mixed groups of files, but it’s never particularly quick.

Support

Technical support options for Genie’s products are not particularly extensive – the key contact method is a form on the firm’s website.

There’s a Wiki with plenty of advice, but that’s about it. For mission-critical backup, looking into other apps that offer more in this area would be wise.

Genie Backup Manager Pro

Zoolz also offers a business package with additional features called Genie Backup Manager Pro (Image credit: Zoolz)

The competition

Genie9 is up against a solid lineup of competitors. Chief amongst them is Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. Acronis offers backup services for phones, laptops, cloud accounts, and the ability to package all these devices together for a synchronized, full-disaster recovery solution. You can also manually select files for backup, or create hourly, daily, or weekly upload schedules. There are plenty of great security features, too, including AES-256 encryption. 

EaseUS ToDo Backup is another great backup platform, especially for first-time users. Not only do you get full Windows and macOS support, users can choose from free, paid, and lifetime subscription tiers. The interface is quick and easy to navigate, and there are plenty of security features and excellent customer support to complete your backup experience.

Verdict

Genie9’s apps offer decent core backup services, and if you’re buying for home or small business use – up to and including single-server backups – then its pricing makes sense.

However, if you need to back up loads of PCs, laptops, or servers, then Genie9’s tools can become expensive, and the support options could be broader.

It’s well-suited to smaller and more conventional jobs, but power users should look elsewhere.

IDrive Remote Desktop review
11:30 pm | October 5, 2021
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Remote desktop software provides an instant gateway between you, your location, and whatever computers you want access to in a pinch -- whether there’s a file or two you want to pull up remotely, or perhaps you’re quarantining at home and need access to your work PC to kickstart your daily workflow. 

Whatever the reason, you’ll want to use remote desktop software that authentically replicates the user experience of whichever devices you want to access on-th-ego. You’ll also want to make sure that the software you choose offers security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication when logging in, as well as 24/7 support.

One such remote access tool is Remote Desktop, a Windows-only desktop client offered through IDrive. We spent some time with this great software and have plenty to say about our own experience. 

Features

Despite being a relatively new offering, IDrive Remote Desktop is packed with useful features (Image credit: IDrive)

Features and user experience

It’s clear right off the bat that Remote Desktop aims to be one of the most intuitive remote desktop clients on the market. The key services on offer are bountifull, so it’s worth it to start with the basics. 

Agent and Viewer

You'll need to download the Remote Desktop agent on the computers you want to access remotely and the Remote Desktop viewer on the computers you want to view them on (Image credit: IDrive)

Like many competitive remote desktop clients, Remote Desktop relies on two major downloads to kick things off - a remote desktop agent to be installed on the computer(s) you wish to access, and a remote desktop viewer for the devices you’ll be using to tap into your remote PC. Do keep in mind that the desktop agent is only compatible with Windows-based computers. That being said, you can use both PCs and Mac computers to pull up your remote PC. 

Once your remote session goes live, you’ll have plenty of tools at your disposal. For starters, you’ll be able to quickly transfer files between the agent-hosted device and whatever hardware you’re using for remote viewing. This can be anything from images and documents to music and video files. Additionally, you’ll also be able to launch software that’s installed on your agent PC from your viewing device, even if some of your agent computer’s programs are Windows-only applications.

On top of that, let’s say you have accessories like printers, video-capture devices, and specific drivers installed on your agent PC. Yes, you guessed it - you’ll be able to tap into these ancillary devices from your remote viewer, too.

If you plan on using your Remote Desktop membership for business purposes, whether for individual needs or team-based workflows, you’ll be glad to know that the remote agent allows you to set up multiple users for one account. Once you’ve added one or more additional users, the agent software lets you choose what devices your teammates can tap into. And with the built-in activity log, you’ll be able to see when your companions are logged in and what applications they’re using on the agent-PC. 

Security

IDrive secures all communication between computers using end-to-end encryption (Image credit: IDrive)

Privacy and security

On top of its feature-rich palette of access tools, we love that Remote Desktop prioritizes safety for your every remote session, for both the agent and view-only computer(s). Protection starts the moment you log into the agent PC from a new device, where you’ll be required to authorize the remote-viewer as a trusted device for your Remote Desktop subscription. Only authorized computers will be able to interact with the host PC. 

Furthermore, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds another buffer between you and the host PC by requiring you to input your email address to log into your Remote Desktop account. Once a connection is established, rest assured that Remote Desktop cares just as much about the hardware-handshake. 

Employing end-to-end encryption, each session is TLS and 256-bit AES encrypted. And when it comes to working with data you want to keep under lock-and-key, you’ll be able to turn on a Lock Screen from your view-device, keeping your most vital info safe and secure.

Pricing

IDrive even offers a 7-day free trial so you can test out its remote desktop software for yourself (Image credit: IDrive)

Plans and pricing

Remote Desktop subscriptions run $9.95/month. While you can add as many agent-computers as you want to your account, do be aware that you’ll need to pay the $9.95 for every PC you want remote access to. 

If you want to try out Remote Desktop, the company offers a seven-day free trial that grants you access to every tool you would normally be able to use under a fully-paid subscription.

The competition

There are numerous remote software packages available, giving Remote Desktop a decent amount of competition. RemotePC is one of our favorite remote desktop suites, offering customizable pricing options that cover at least two computers. RemotePC operates smoothly, offers multiple ways to connect with your hardware (including a mobile app), as well as top-notch encryption and security.

Zoho Assist is another big name in the remote desktop marketplace, offering some of the most competitive prices around, a grand suite of features, solid performance, and plenty of other add-ons. The only downfall is that the standard plan doesn’t come with mobile app support. That being said, Remote Desktop is browser-based only, with not even a paywall to break to get you into a mobile app.

Final verdict

In our opinion, Remote Desktop provides all the necessities for a well-balanced remote desktop suite experience. While it’s a bit limiting to only be able to install the agent on Windows machines, being able to access your Windows content through Mac and Linux hardware (and as smoothly as Remote Desktop does so) helps to soften the blow.

If we had to zero in on a target group, we would recommend Remote Desktop to the Windows users of the world that have never used a remote-access platform before. It gives you everything you need (and more) to get a taste for what remote agents can do. Once you’ve been using it for a while though, you may have the itch to switch to another remote package with more pricing options and multi-OS support.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 review
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: October 2021
• Launch price: $399 / £369 / AU$629
• Surface Go 4 is available - but there's a catch

Update – August 2024: Unsurprisingly, Microsoft has followed up the Surface Go 3 with the Surface Go 4 - but what is surprising is that the Go 4 is aimed at businesses, unlike previous models which were mainly targeted at budget-conscious consumers. Because of this, and the fact that the Go 3 is now three years old, if you're looking for a cheap Windows 11 2-in-1 device, Microsoft doesn't currently have a product for you. A very odd choice. Instead, I would recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook for pure value for money. If you don't want a Chromebook, then the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 is a good Windows 11 2-in-1 laptop, though it is more expensive.

Original review follows.

Two-minute review

The Surface Go 3 is Microsoft’s latest attempt to bring its line of Windows tablets and laptops to a more budget-conscious audience, especially now that learning and working from home is becoming so prolific. And, even for people that don’t have to do much serious work from home, having a small Windows 11 device like this that you can easily bring with you wherever you go is pretty appealing, and could serve as a good competitor to the iPad mini. 

However, while the introductory price of just $399 / £369 / AU$629 may sound appealing, you’re going to have to add at least $99 / £118 / AU$199 to the equation if you want the keyboard, and even then you’re left with a $500 device that has hardware that’s barely capable of handling all the best parts of Windows 11 – 4GB is not going to cut it anymore on anything but a Chromebook. 

You can get it with up to an Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, but with a price of $629 (£569, about AU$870) – again not including the price of the Type Cover – it starts making less sense when compared to other budget Windows laptops, Windows laptops that will have hardware that is way more adept at the multitasking that we all need these days. 

That being said, the Surface Go 3 does do some things incredibly well. The hinge on the back is still as sturdy as ever and it has one of the best webcams we’ve used in a laptop of any price point – let alone one that starts at just $399. If the main thing you’re going to be using your computer for is video calling and you want a device that can do it on the go, you can’t really go wrong with the Surface Go 3. Just don’t expect to do much else while you’re talking. 

But this all adds up to a device that’s kind of hard to recommend. It definitely works, and Windows faithfuls that don’t want to learn ChromeOS or iPadOS will be able to get some work done. But, at this price point, a Chromebook or an entry-level iPad is simply going to be better for most people, as those operating systems are way better at performing on the low-end hardware found here.

Price and availability

Spec sheet

Here is the Surface Go 3 configuration sent to TechRadar for review: 

CPU: 1.3GHz Intel Core i3-10100Y (dual-core, 8MB Intel Smart Cache, up to 3.9GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
RAM: 8GB LPDDR3
Screen: 10.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,280) touch
Storage: 128GB SSD (PCIe, NVMe, M.2)
Ports: 1x USB-C 3.1, microSD card reader, combi audio jack, Surface Connect port
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 1080p IR Webcam
Weight: 1.2 pounds (544g)
Size: 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches (245 x 175 x 8.3 mm, W x H x D)

The Surface Go 3 is available today starting at $399 (£369, AU$629). For that entry-level price tag you’ll get an Intel Pentium 6500Y processor, 4GB of RAM and a 64GB eMMC drive. That is incredibly affordable, especially for a Surface device, but our advice is to, well, not buy that one. 

At a minimum, you should probably go for the mid-range spec, which will get you the same processor, but with 8GB of RAM and an actual SSD – with 128GB of storage. Not only should you have 8GB of RAM at a minimum with Windows 11, but that SSD is going to load programs so much faster than the eMMC drive found in the starting tier. 

You can max it out with a dual-core Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM and the same 128GB SSD for $629 (£569, about AU$870). And, well, if you need something more powerful than that, you should just go with the Surface Pro 8, which is so much better in every conceivable way – it almost feels like the two devices were made by different companies. 

Throughout our time with the Surface Go 3, we keep asking ourselves why anyone would buy this thing when something like the Asus Chromebook Flip is about the same price, and will just be a better experience all around. Chromebooks sometimes get a bad rap, but devices like the Surface Go 3 are probably the best advertisement that Google could get for its laptops. 

Design

Surface Go 3 on a blue table outdoors next to a cup of iced coffee

(Image credit: Future)

Just like any Microsoft Surface device, the Surface Go 3 is truly a gorgeous little laptop, rivaling that of the iPad, especially the iPads available at this price point. It’s incredibly thin at just 0.33 inches thick, and weighs just 1.2 lb, making it the ideal device to carry around if you don’t want to go out with a hulking backpack every time you just want to get some work done at the coffee shop. 

The model we have in has the classic silver Surface aesthetic, with the Windows logo in a gorgeous chrome finish on the back of the device, on its hinge, where it’s going to get the most attention. From behind, this is one of the more attractive devices you’ll probably see in a café, but it’s a different story from the front. 

Not a lot has changed in the Surface Go’s design since the Surface Go 2, which means the chunky bezels are back again. It is a tablet, which means people will need a little bit of space for just holding the device, but there are so many tablets out there that have solved this problem already – including Microsoft’s own Surface Pro 8 – that it really feels like a relic. But, again, this is a budget device, so we’re not expecting a truly extravagant piece of tech here. 

Between the bezels is a 10.5-inch 1,920 x 1,280 display. A 1280p display isn’t exactly impressive on its own, especially in 2019, but given its price point, Microsoft could have easily given this a 720p display and called it good, and we’re glad it didn’t. But don’t expect a totally beautiful display, either. 

Surface Go 3

(Image credit: Future)

The screen isn’t especially bright, and color accuracy is a bit lacking. Watching animated shows like Sailor Moon or Bob’s Burgers clearly reveals how lacking this display is in this area. Neither of these shows really need a high-resolution display, but they are extremely colorful and show how shallow the color representation here is. Colors appear a bit washed out and bland, which isn’t the end of the world but it is a bit disappointing in a ‘PixelSense’ display. 

Speakers are similar. They’ll provide a pretty decent experience if you just want to watch the odd YouTube video or watch some Netflix in your downtime, but they’re not exactly great for listening to music. Though they are positioned near the top of the screen when the Surface Go 3 is in its laptop mode, which means there is minimal distortion. One of the benefits of a tablet. 

Surface Go 3 on a blue table outdoors

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of laptop mode, the Surface Go 3 does not come with the Type Cover – which is definitely a knock against its value – but especially if you’re going to be doing some schoolwork, it’s essential for this device. Call us old-school but we still think that a keyboard and mouse is still the best way of navigating Windows, and that includes Windows 11, even with all of the improvements that Microsoft has included.

As for the Type Cover itself, it’s as good as ever, and has not changed. It’s still surprisingly comfortable to type on given its low profile, with plenty of key travel. However, with a keyboard made for a device this small, it will take some getting used to how close the keys are together. We have pretty small hands, and even we still find ourselves making mistakes when trying to touch-type. 

The Type Cover also has a trackpad, and it’s passable. But this device excels when you use the touchscreen instead, especially if you just need to scroll down a document or web page or hit a quick button. Although, we find the gestures on the trackpad to be indispensable, so we still can’t see ourselves seriously using this device for work without the Type Cover – another reason Microsoft should just include it as standard. Microsoft stopped including it years ago and we will absolutely not stop complaining about it being sold separately until they include it again. Admittedly, this probably won’t happen, but we can dream, can’t we?

While we do think that the Type Cover is indispensable for using the Surface Go 3, that’s not the only accessory that’s core to the Surface experience – there’s also the Surface Pen. This is also not included, but it’s honestly one of the biggest selling points for any Surface device and it feels excellent, whether you’re writing down notes or doing some sketching in Photoshop. Yes, the Surface Pen is an incredibly expensive addition and we wouldn’t say you need it, but it is a nice-to-have if you can afford the extra $99. 

Surface Go 3 on a blue table outdoors

(Image credit: Future)

As for ports there isn’t much here, as to be expected in a device this small. On one of the narrow sides of the tablet are all 3 ports, and you’ll get a Surface Connect port, a USB-C (Thunderbolt 4?) and a combo 3.5mm audio jack. Honestly, it’s not a lot, but with a device like this, that’s to be expected. On the side of the laptop, you’ll find a power/lock button and a volume rocker. The volume buttons are likely just there to be used when the Surface Go 3 is being used as a tablet, but even in laptop mode, they’re super nice to easily reach up and adjust the volume. 

Performance

Benchmarks

Here’s how the Surface Go 3 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Cinebench R20 CPU:  1,277 points
3DMark Time Spy: 322; Fire Strike: 789; Night Raid: 3,584
GeekBench 5: 907 (single-core); 1,546 (multi-core)
PCMark 10: 2,596 points 
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 6 hours 25 minutes 
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 4 hours 39 minutes

The Surface Go 3 we’re reviewing here has an Intel Core i3-10100Y processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. So, needless to say, it’s definitely not the fastest device in the world. That processor is a 2-core, 4-thread fanless chip with a base clock of just 1.3GHz, which means it will absolutely start to struggle as soon as you ask it to do any kind of multi-tasking. And don’t even think about trying to do any kind of heavy creation workloads on this thing. 

In Cinebench R23, the Surface Go 3 scores just 1,277 points which is nearly four times slower than the Surface Pro 8, and this SKU is a little over half the cost. And in PCMark 10, we get a score of just 2,596 points, which is the lowest score we’ve ever seen in that test. But laptops are one thing, it’s also important just how this laptop handles day-to-day.

And, well, that’s not great either. Whenever we’re just looking at, like, one webpage and chatting in Slack, the Surface Go 3 holds up alright. But as soon as you try installing an app or running any kind of media – like Spotify – in the background, you can start to run into slowdowns. This wasn’t such a big deal a couple years ago, before we all started having to work and learn remotely, but if there’s anything these last couple of years has taught us, it’s that hardware that’s easily able to handle multitasking is invaluable. 

Because now that our PCs are one of the main ways we interact with the world, they just can’t be single-purpose devices anymore, and that goes for pretty much everyone. The pandemic has made multitasking so important, and it really is a shame that this device puts so much emphasis on the design instead of the internals. We would much rather have seen a less flashy aesthetic if it meant that it didn’t slow down when doing simple everyday tasks that everyone is going to have to do. 

We don’t know if this is an issue with Windows 11, but it’s not exactly new. Windows has become more and more hardware intensive as time goes on to power flashier animations, but it means that low-power devices like the Surface Go 3 simply don’t work as well as they have to. And that’s one of the reasons that if you’re looking at a device in this performance tier, we wouldn’t recommend the Surface Go 3, we’d recommend a Chromebook – those might have similar specs, but the software is so much more adept at operating with it. 

Camera and microphone

Surface Go 3 on a blue table outdoors next to a cup of iced coffee

(Image credit: Future)

Microsoft has clearly put a lot of thought into making the video calling experience excellent on the Surface Go 3, which isn’t too surprising given how central Microsoft Teams is to Windows 11 in general. The webcam on this thing is absolutely amazing, easily capturing all the detail in our face without washing out colors or catching extra bloom in the background. 

We’ve been taking a lot of video calls with the Surface Go 3, both through Teams itself and through Google Hangouts and Discord, and we haven’t heard a single complaint. The microphone is also simply excellent, capturing our voice without any distortion, and we don’t have to repeat ourselves because something wasn’t picked up. 

And of course the webcam supports Windows Hello, and it is the best integration we’ve seen yet. It logs us in incredibly quickly, even when we have a facemask on our chin while we’re sitting outside a coffee shop or when we’re wearing a ton of eyeliner after a night out. 

Video calls are a huge part of all our lives these days to be sure, and Microsoft has knocked it out of the park here. This is the one area that the Surface Go 3 truly excels at its price point. If you’re doing a lot of video calls and you want something portable that has a webcam that doesn’t suck, the Surface Go 3 is going to be an excellent choice. 

Battery life

The Surface Go 2 didn’t exactly have the best battery life in the world, but it was fine. But the Surface Go 3 is a massive disappointment and has gone completely backwards in this regard. In the PCMark10 battery test, which emulates a bunch of real-world workloads like text editing and video calls, the device lasts just 6 hours and 25 minutes. 

That’s usually what we see in a gaming laptop with super high-power graphics and a high resolution display, not in a tablet with a low-power fanless chip and a 1080p display. Battery life this short is frankly embarrassing for a tablet like this, and it’s not just the benchmark, either. Just taking an hour at our local coffee shop to write out this review in Microsoft Word saw our battery drop from 100% to 70% in just around 35-45 minutes. 

We had the screen at full brightness  because we were working outdoors, but still this is a Y-series chip and should absolutely have longer battery life. One of the main selling points of this series of Intel processors is its power efficiency, so we simply cannot wrap our heads around why the battery life is so bad here – and it’s not a Windows 11 thing because the other Surface devices last much longer. 

The Surface Laptop Studio, for instance, lasts nearly twice as long as the Surface Go 3, and that laptop has a high-performance Tiger Lake H35 processor. There is simply no excuse for battery life this short. Period.

Software and features

One of the major reasons to buy a Surface device in the first place is that you’re kind of getting a pure version of Windows that you really won’t find elsewhere unless you build a PC yourself. There is no bloatware here, just a pure and simple Windows 11 installation. It’s something we’ve always loved about the Microsoft Surface lineup, and especially at this price point it’s not something you should take for granted. 

Usually when you buy a Windows laptop for this cheap, you’re going to be inundated with a load of useless bloatware that will fill your screen with pop-ups and ads – it’s simply be a headache to deal with, especially if you’re not super familiar with digging around the Windows 11 settings app. 

Instead, the Surface Go 3 provides you an essentially blank canvas to let you choose how you want Windows to work for you. That’s Microsoft’s whole thing, after all, and the reason why Windows 11 is still as open as it is. Now, the model we’re reviewing here is the commercial version, which ships with an unlocked version of Windows 11 Pro, which means we’re able to install whatever we want without having to disable anything. 

For most people that buy this tablet off the shelves of their local Best Buy (or regional equivalent), the laptop is going to ship with Windows 11 Home in S-Mode. This is probably for the best, as it will help with the low-end hardware, and will be safer for students that probably aren’t as jaded by the internet as we are at this point. That does mean that you won’t be able to install things you download online right out of the box, but it’s relatively easy to disable S-Mode in the Settings app, and we have a guide here. 

Surface Go 3

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Zenfolio website builder review: Dedicated portfolio website builder
3:10 pm | October 4, 2021
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Website Building | Comments: Off

Our Zenfolio review delivers all the information, insight, pros and cons you need to make an informed decision on whether this is the right portfolio website builder for you. 

Finding the best website builder for your portfolio is a crucial step in showcasing your work, demonstrating your talent, and getting in front of a new and potentially profitable audience. Which is best for you will depend on several factors ranging from your technical skills to how you want to represent yourself online. 

Zenfolio is one of the best portfolio website builders on the market, offering a host of tools built specifically to help photographers get their work online and grow their photography businesses. 

Our experts have tested the Zenfolio portfolio website builder, assessing areas including ease of use, tools, and features to help you make an informed decision on whether it might be the best option for you. 

Zenfolio portfolio website builder pricing page screenshot

Prices start at $9 per month (Image credit: Zenfolio)

Plans and pricing

Zenfolio offers three paid plans with both monthly and annual payment options. There’s also a 14-day free trial that you can use to test the platform and get a feel for its features and tools 

Portfolio plan

At the cheaper end of the spectrum sits the Portfolio plan. This plan includes a great selection of templates, 15GB of photo storage, and the ability to connect your own domain name. 

PortfolioPlus plan

Upgrading to the PortfolioPlus plan and you will have access to everything in the Portfolio plan, along with a more powerful site editor, 150GB of photo storage, and the ability to sell directly from your website. 

ProSuite plan

Finally, the ProSuite plan gives you everything in the PortfolioPlus plan, plus you will gain access to a suite of powerful features designed for professional photographers, including automated client campaigns and an all-in-one booking, invoicing, and payment solution.

Zenfolio Website Builder Review

Zenfolio boasts an excellent list of photo-specific features (Image credit: Zenfolio)

Zenfolio features

Zenfolio’s photography portfolio website builder is backed by a suite of advanced features to help you get the most out of your site. Below we list some of the most noteworthy.

When you sign up for a new Zenfolio account, you will have access to a suite of free photography website templates, mobile-friendly themes, a drag-and-drop editor, and more. 

Showcase your work through public galleries to help you gain more clients. Then, you can create custom photo galleries complete with password protection to help you share work with existing clients. Alternatively, set up a simple online store to sell photos, videos, or other content. 

You will also have access to a suite of advanced marketing tools, with a focus on helping you grow your social followings. Integrations are available for all major social media platforms, and there’s even a range of SEO tools to help you increase your organic search traffic. 

Zenfolio also offers BookMe, an advanced tool that automates booking, scheduling, gallery creation, and commerce for professional photographers.

BookMe streamlines and simplifies a photographer’s daily workflow by automating a multitude of functions that traditionally added hours to a photographer’s workday. The BookMe feature comes as standard on the ProSuite plan or can be added at an additional cost to other plans. 

Zenfolio Website Builder Review

The Zenfolio editor is simple and intuitive (Image credit: Zenfolio )

Interface and in use

To get started with Zenfolio, you can either sign up for a premium plan or take advantage of the 14-day free trial. No credit card information is required to begin the free trial, and the only things you need to provide are a name and email address. 

Once you’re signed up, you will be guided through a simple four-step setup process. Here, you will be able to specify the type of site you want, select an initial design, upload a few photos, and add SEO information. 

The website editor itself is quite simplistic, but it does come with enough tools for you to customize your design. Change color schemes, rearrange or re-order design elements, and add your own content for a truly personalized portfolio. 

Finally, there’s an impressive media management area that lets you upload and organize your photos and videos. Create custom galleries on different pages, add password-protected client galleries, and showcase your work for prospective customers. 

Zenfolio Website Builder Review

There are various support options available (Image credit: Zenfolio)

Support

Zenfolio offers numerous support services, including live support and a range of self-help resources. Reach out to the customer service team via live chat, online ticket submission, or email, and expect an answer quite quickly.

You can also book a free one-on-one setup session to get connected with a Zenfolio expert who can help you get your site started. 

Or, take advantage of the great range of self-help resources, which include detailed guides, full webinars, and more.

Zenfolio competition

As far as portfolio website builders go, Zenfolio certainly isn’t a bad option. However, there are some alternatives that are certainly worth considering. 

For example, Wix is known as the world’s most powerful website builder. Take advantage of the platform’s power to build a highly functional, personalized portfolio. It’s similarly priced to Zenfolio, and there are numerous add-ons available through the Wix App Market that you can use to add extra portfolio functionality to your site. 

Squarespace is another decent option, particularly for those who value high-quality designs over all else. It’s known for its excellent portfolio templates, highly attractive designs, and impressive editing tools. And while Squarespace certainly isn’t the easiest website builder to use, its section-based editor allows a passable amount of design flexibility. 

Zenfolio review: Summary

At the end of the day, there’s a reason why Zenfolio is one of the world’s top-rated portfolio website builders. It offers an array of tools to help you showcase photo and video content, along with eCommerce features to help you sell your work, a beginner-friendly editor, and more. 

On top of this, Zenfolio is very competitively priced, has great customer support, and boasts a noteworthy media organization portal. 

The bottom line: If you’re looking for an affordable, highly functional portfolio website builder, Zenfolio should certainly be among your top options. 

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