Netflix's past record for parental controls has been lackadaisical at best. While the streaming platform added PINs to keep kids away from certain shows in 2018, it was applied to all the profiles on that account and adults would have to constantly unlock their profiles each time they wanted to stream something.
That has now changed, with Netflix rolling out another batch of parental control updates. This time, individual profiles can be locked down with the use of PIN codes, keeping not just kids away from adult shows but also keeping other adults' (like your roommates, perhaps) prying eyes from your Netflix profile.
Adding a PIN to your profile has two advantages, according to Netflix: it will stop the platform's algorithm from recommending content based on someone else's viewing choices in case you're all using the same profile, and you'll be able to pick up where you left off if you've left watching an episode or movie midway.
Setting up a PIN for individual profiles is easy, although there are a few steps you'll need to follow to get it done. You can also only set this up via the Netflix streaming site on a browser – you cannot do this through the mobile app (Android or iOS), at least for now.
To set up a PIN:
Sign in to your Netflix account
Select the profile you want to lock down
Click 'Account' from the dropdown menu under the profile in the top right-hand corner
Scroll down to the Profile & Parental Controls section and select the appropriate profile
Click 'Change' beside 'Profile Lock' and this will take you to a different page
Enter your account password
Check the 'Lock this profile by creating a 4-digit pin' box
Enter your PIN and save
Fine filter
Adding a PIN for individual accounts isn't the only update Netflix has rolled out to improve parental controls – parents will now be able to apply filters for age-inappropriate content based on country ratings.
This allows users to remove series and films individually from the Netflix Kids experience – so your five-year-old won't accidentally watch a John Wick flick or a episode of The Witcher, or even shows like Stranger Things which push the boundaries a little.
You'll also be able to keep tabs on what your kids have been watching via their own profiles, and turn off auto-play videos as well. All this is also available in the Profile & Parental Controls section.
Serif has been in the business of making creative software for decades and while its biggest competitor has made the jump to a subscription model, it has stuck ardently with the lifetime license.
In these difficult times, Serif has slashed its prices to make it easier for the creative community to sample its platform. Right now, its photo editing software (Affinity Photo), DTP software (Affinity Publisher) and graphic design software (Affinity Designer) are available for $24.99/£23.99 (about AU$40) each on macOS and Windows. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer also have an iPad Pro version that costs only $9.99/£9.99 (about AU$16).
That’s a 50% saving on the usual price and you can even trial the applications for three whole months without any commitments.
Affinity Photo’s toolkit includes RAW processing, panorama stitching, warping tools, a healing brush, and all the advanced color-refining tools you’d expect from a premium image editor.
Affinity Designer is ideal for illustrators and web designers, with unlimited artboards, non-destructive effects and adjustment layers, RGB, CMYK, LAB, Pantone and ICC color management, and 10 million+ percent zoom.
When we reviewed Designer last year, we found out it demonstrated “immense promise, and if your workflow doesn’t require compatibility with InDesign files, then you should definitely give Publisher, and its two companion apps, a serious look.”
VPNs were created back in the late 1990’s to allow site-to-site connection by virtualizing network access at the TCP/IP level. The primary use-case at the time was to connect various corporate offices into a unified network. Since then, VPNs have grown in popularity and have been used for many more use-cases - many of which depart significantly from the original intent and function of the technology. So much so that the average person likely associates VPNs with anonymous Internet access.
Even within the IT circle, VPNs have become the default choice for many use cases, often due to a lack of a better solution. Remote work is a popular use case, and in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, many companies are rushing to deploy VPNs to enable employees to work remotely.
But depending on the scenario for remote work, VPNs are not always the right approach, especially if users are not using IT-managed and hardened devices - which is increasingly common. In fact, for many companies, VPNs can mean higher risk, degraded user experience, and loss of productivity. For these scenarios, let’s examine a new approach named NoVPN. But first, let’s take a look at the traditional role of VPNs.
When users authenticate into their company’s VPN, a virtual network interface is created. Traffic from the user’s device is then redirected into & from the company’s network. Any application on the user’s device can then access the company’s network - including printers, files shares, servers & databases, intranet-based web apps, and legacy apps.
For companies whose remote workers use personal devices and/or only need to access web & legacy apps to be productive, VPNs are often a mismatch. They introduce higher costs, more complex infrastructure, and a larger surface of attack. And when it comes to remote work, people usually don’t need access to the other items (beyond web and legacy apps) because:
Company printers are usually not needed by remote workers
File shares have other options for remote access, including cloud storage & app-based access
Sensitive servers are more vulnerable when the network is accessed by remote employees using personal devices
“One security decision I've seen is allowing the installation of your organization’s virtual private network (VPN) software on an employee’s home computer for remote access. While some security professionals may think of this as an acceptable practice, this policy is high risk with an undesirable attack vector when permitting access into your environment,” said Morey Haber, of the Forbes Technology Council, in an article prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Hence for many companies, enabling remote work - securely - is about providing access to the business-critical Intranet web apps and/or legacy apps employees need to be productive. In these organizations, the NoVPN approach may be a better fit.
NoVPN: remote app rendering
In 2020 - unlike the late 1990’s when VPNs were created - many apps are web-based. Virtualizing TCP/IP just for redirecting HTTP traffic becomes ineffective and costly. As for legacy apps that serve TCP/IP clients, their delivery to remote locations can be simplified too, as proven by virtual application delivery platforms that provide access to Windows apps from the browser.
NoVPN is a modern approach for securing the delivery of apps by providing remote app rendering in a simple, secure, and user-friendly way. A server (virtual or physical) is installed within the company’s premises, allowing workers to remotely access the required applications, starting with the browser. The browser is published for remote access. NoVPN then renders a remote session onto this browser, through HTML5. In other words, the company’s browser is rendered inside the end-user’s browser, allowing users to browse as if they were inside the company’s network. Sessions are rendered through HTTPS, hence secured with multi-session concurrency support.
Non-disruptive workflow
With NoVPN, users simply go to a dedicated URL provided by their IT team. This begins an HTML5-rendered RDP session of the company-hosted web browser, taking them to the company’s web app or portal page. The user navigates through the remote browser, which looks like a normal browsing session. The browser’s clipboard access is enabled so that users can copy and paste between their computer and the remote session. Similarly, files can be transferred to and from the user’s device in a controlled way (based on IT preferences and policies).
From a user experience perspective, NoVPN is better than VPN because there is no need to connect / disconnect to a VPN session each time they need to access critical apps. The rest of the user’s Internet use goes through their regular browser (not the company-hosted one), meaning faster Internet access for the user and lower network overhead for IT.
From a security perspective, NoVPN has significant advantages. Unlike VPNs, apps on the user’s device don’t have access to the company’s network. This reduces risks related to personal apps, exploits, and malware on the users’ personal devices, which are not managed by IT. Browsers are inherently isolated from the user’s device and file system. Whether the user has malware, Trojan horses, vulnerable apps or is targeted by hackers, the company’s network assets remain safe.
Also, deploying a VPN is similar to opening all of the company network’s ports to any application on the remote user’s device. Hence it requires a full-blown network security audit and hardening. From dividing the network into subnetworks to reinforcing passwords, closing unnecessary ports and more, the security preparations for deploying VPNs is a considerable project in and of itself. With NoVPN this isn’t required as only the accessible apps & web apps are published, requiring just an HTTPS port forwarding to the internal host.
NoVPN for legacy TCP/IP apps
Despite web apps, companies may think they need VPNs to enable legacy TCP/IP client-server apps. Such apps have their own servers which open a TCP/IP port within the company’s network, into which dedicated desktop apps connect and work with. But just like with the web browser, these applications can easily be rendered by the user’s browser remotely instead with NoVPN.
VPNs and remote working
The COVID-19 outbreak has put pressure on an unprecedented number of companies to establish remote work policies. Most of them haven’t had a chance to consider all the issues and security risks involved - like the fact that it is easier for hackers to attack a home user than a corporate network.
When those home users are connected through VPNs, the company’s data is at risk of theft and more. If your remote workers use personal devices, operating on an unsecured home network, you should reconsider the approach. The shift to remote work is here to stay and will outlast the COVID-19 outbreak, so it is critical that you weigh your options and determine if VPNs truly solve the security, user experience, and productivity issues of your new remote workforce.
While gaming laptops used to be niche enough that it was a little easily to search for the one that happened to be packing the best processor, GPU and RAM assortment, the field has exploded since then and it can be a little harder to determine the best gaming laptop.
The gaming laptop we're used to seeing – thick chassis with RGB and tapered flares – isn't the only option any more, with a variety of advancements (such as Nvidia's Max-Q technology) allowing the sleeker ultrabook form factor to harbour some incredible grunt as well.
Regardless of if you're in it for the stealthy, sleek numbers to slip in your satchel on the go, or an all-in-one replacement for a desktop rig, we've sifted through what's on offer to bring you the best gaming laptops available in Australia.
While the Aero 15 range from Gigabyte is aimed at designers, it makes for the best value gaming laptop on the Australian market right now due to its powerful internals, brilliant display, and sleek, stylish chassis. This year's model comes packing a new 15-inch 4K HDR screen ideal as a high-resolution on-the-go gaming monitor, media machine, or its intended design-centric use. Considering it's also packing the latest Nvidia RTX series GPUs and 9th-gen Intel Core CPUs.
Considering the huge 17.3-inch display, it's amazing that this laptop manages to be at once compact and sleek while still packing the latest GPU and plenty of gaming power to boot. It's an improvement on the GS65 in most ways (but it's certainly still great - see below), although the most significant bump is the inclusion of Nvidia's RTX 2080 GPU and a stupendous 32GB of RAM. The Samsung SSDs come in a RAID configuration for ultra-fast speeds, and the screen has tiny thin bezels on all four sides. There is no doubt that this is a premium beast.
These days, the best gaming laptop manufacturers are scrambling to craft the thinnest gaming laptop packing raw power. Right now, the one that might be leading the charge is the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX701. At just 0.7 inches thick, this beast of a laptop boasts an Intel Coffee Lake Core i7 chip, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and 16GB of RAM. That means you can play any PC game under the sun on Ultra, and also take it with you wherever you go – ideal for travelers with a penchant for gaming. Plus, it’s packed with RGB lighting that’ll dazzle just about anyone.
If you want to play some of the best PC games on the move, but you don’t want everyone to know you’re playing games, the MSI GS65 Stealth is the best gaming laptop for you. Coming in at just 17.5mm thick and featuring impressive hardware like Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series – refreshed with RTX 20-series graphics at CES – the MSI GS65 Stealth packs a ton of power into a very svelte package. There’s nothing you won’t be able to throw at this thing that’ll slow it down. And, thanks to the subdued design, you’ll be able to bring this beefy rig everywhere you go, making it on of the best gaming laptops on the market right now.
The 15.6-inch Razer Blade might look a lot like its 2018 predecessor, but the RTX upgrade marks a significant improvement to this gaming powerhouse. Beyond its insanely high-end specs and beautiful (and slightly tweaked) chassis, it can fit up to a 4K Ultra-HD display, with the specs to actually back it up. It might be expensive, but if you’re a Razer fan looking for the best gaming laptop, or simply want a portable way to experience the cutting edge of Nvidia's latest RTX cards, it might just be for you.
The Alienware Area-51m is a strong contender for the best gaming laptop of 2019, and earns that place in other markets (such as the UK and US) due to its relative affordability. Down under, it's a little more expensive and doesn't quite earn that spot, but it's still absolutely worth considering (especially if it's on sale). With an eye catching design and brilliant build quality, which we've come to expect from Dell's Alienware brand, this is an incredible performer, offering a choice of some of the very best gaming components on the market right now, including 9th generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia's latest RTX range of GPUs. Sure, it's pretty expensive, but if you're serious about getting the best gaming laptop money can buy in 2019, then you'll need to expect to splash out a little bit, and the Alienware Area-51m really is worth every penny.
The Lenovo Legion Y740 packs a lot of muscles inside its stylish yet accessible chassis, combining a very high refresh rate, Nvidia Turing graphics and a powerful processor with a gloriously effective thermal cooling, a nifty cable management system and a number of applications to make it truly yours. It’s as close to a complete package as you can get, wrapped in a beautiful chassis that you’d be proud to show off to friends and strangers. It still has the remnants of that gaming aesthetic, but it’s made classy so that you could be gaming in public without anyone knowing. Despite its shortcomings – unfortunate keyboard and webcam placement, as well as its subpar battery life – it’s still one of the best gaming laptops to date.
If you want one of the best gaming laptops, but don’t want to miss out on the ultra-portable craze, you need to consider the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1. Packed with an Intel Kaby Lake G-series processor, this gaming laptop can keep up with its competitors rocking a GTX 1050 without featuring truly discrete graphics. And, when you combine that gaming horsepower with a chassis that looks this good, it’s a total win – even if you have to endure some fan noise to get there.
Dell has reinvented its flagship gaming brand. The Alienware m17 (2019) touts more powerful internals and a bold new design you won’t see on any other gaming laptop of its caliber. This Alienware gaming laptop looks good inside and out, so you can have the most immersive gaming experience of your life and look good while gaming, whether you’re at home on your couch or at a cafe. That’s not all; it’s impressively portable as well, with a thin and light chassis that’s ideal for gaming on the go. This is a well-rounded gaming laptop that is worth every penny you spend on it, though you will be spending a hefty amount.
When you’re setting out to buy one of the best gaming laptops, one of the first things you’ll likely notice is how expensive they can get. Luckily, the Dell G3 15 is not just extremely affordable, but it punches above its weight class with great 1080p gaming performance. With up to an Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU, you’ll be able to play all the latest games at 1080p without breaking a sweat, even if it’s not at max settings all the time. And, that blue on black color combo is quite a looker, if that’s your aesthetic.
While this is certainly not the most recent gaming laptop on our list, the HP Omen 15 can be found for a good price now and still offers up some solid performance. Sporting a solid, sturdy chassis and some seriously solid performance to back it up. In fact, for the price, the Omen 15 performs remarkably well with either its GTX 1060 or 1070, and all of its configurations will offer up something of value to those who buy it.
Out of nowhere, Sony has lifted the curtain on its brand new PlayStation 5 controller, the DualSense. It's the most drastic ergonomic change the company has made with its controller in many years.
If you want the Goldilocks of notebooks, the best 15-inch laptop is the perfect fit. The not too big, not too small display and form factor allows them to have that size that’s just right for most users. Sitting between the massive 17-inch notebooks to the more compact 11 to 13-inch portables, these 15-inch laptops are, in fact, the most popular – especially among professionals and content creators.
That’s because the best 15-inch laptops offer just enough display area for productivity tasks, while still staying slim and lightweight – portable enough for those on the go. Their size also affords another advantage: they have a decent amount of room under the hood to accommodate more powerful components like high-end processors and the best graphics cards. And, that gives them more than enough juice for intensive tasks like video editing and gaming.
We gathered the best 15-inch laptops 2020 has to offer, each one of which we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves. Whether you’re looking for a versatile hybrid laptop, a tough business machine or a lightweight Chromebooks, you’ll find the perfect 15-inch notebook for you on this list.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 delivers incredibly long battery life and boasts a gorgeous display.
Microsoft produced something pretty special with the Surface Book 2. It’s an extremely versatile machine being a 2-in-1, and it has a ton of power packed into its relatively slim convertible form factor. Thanks to its discrete GTX 1060 graphics, its Core i7 configuration can even tackle newer games at Full HD resolution and showing off decent details so you want to kick back and relax.
But, there are a few more reasons why this Microsoft laptop gets the top spot on our best 15-inch laptops list. For instance, it delivers incredibly long battery life, as we discovered in our testing, and boasts a gorgeous display that’s impressively light when detached as a tablet.
The only thing that may dissuade potential buyers with is that high price tag. Yes, this is one pricey 15-inch laptop. On the upside, there’s decent discounts popping up regularly – and Microsoft has also manufactured a significantly cheaper Core i5 version, though this configuration has no discrete GPU.
As usual, if you want the best, it will cost you – but check out our next entry for a great alternative that won’t damage your wallet to anything like this extent.
The Acer Swift 3 is an excellent alternative if affordability is a priority.
If you don’t want to shell out a lot of cash for the Surface Pro 2, then consider the Acer Swift 3. It’s an excellent alternative if affordability is a priority. This laptop is not a hybrid, but it is feature-rich and can turn its hand to pretty much everything as a result.
Bear in mind that there are a number of different configurations and models of the Acer Swift 3 on hand, including 14-inch and 15-inch models that we reviewed, and loved. What we are referring to in this list, however, are its 15.6-inch variants that rock 8th-gen Intel processors, and pack impressively powerful components given their price tags. Some configurations even offer both hard drives and SSDs, giving you space and speed, as well as Intel Optane options.
These laptops will see you through any everyday computing task without breaking a sweat, with a spot of light gaming on the side. You also get an impressive selection of ports, along with great input peripherals (including a large trackpad and backlit keyboard), a fingerprint scanner, and sterling battery life.
At first glance, Acer’s Swift 3 might look like a bland budget portable, but don’t judge a laptop by its cover. This is a great all-rounder with some tempting deals to be had online.
The HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) delivers versatility in spades.
If you want a 15-inch convertible with versatility in spades must consider HP’s popular Spectre x360. It’s a gorgeous-looking laptop with an elegant design, albeit with a few oddities, including an awkwardly positioned trackpad. However, this laptop isn’t just pretty – it backs these good looks with enough power to cut through any computing task you might wish to tackle. Of course, it helps that the very latest incarnation of this hybrid has updated its hexa-core CPU to a 9th-gen Intel Core i7-9750H.
Creative types will also appreciate the bundled Tilt Pen that can be used for drawing and designing on its exquisite 4K IPS touchscreen display. This 2-in-1 also packs a discrete GTX 1650 graphics card, which means it can even tackle 1080p gaming to boot.
As we said, this 15.6-inch laptop delivers versatility in spades, but it also doesn’t come cheap. At least, it’s more affordable than Microsoft’s Surface Book 2.
This year, Apple has boosted the power of the MacBook Pro 15-inch.
If you’re after a powerful notebook in a 15-inch form factor which is ideal for creative usage – such as video editing or Photoshop – then you’ll be well served by taking the macOS route rather than Windows, with the larger MacBook Pro.
This year Apple has boosted the power of the MacBook Pro 15-inch with new 9th-generation Intel processors, with options that run up to a mighty 8-core Intel Core i9. So you most certainly won’t be left wanting on the performance front, with our review benchmarks showing that this 2019 incarnation is a considerably more powerful MacBook than its predecessor.
This 15-inch laptop is ideal for heavyweight editing with a choice of AMD Radeon Pro graphics solutions and the possibility to spec up the notebook to 32GB of RAM. And don’t forget the high-quality Retina display along with that improved Touch Bar which can certainly prove a very useful tool with creative applications.
The Asus VivoBook S15 (S532F) boasts a 15-6-inch display without compromising its slimline design.
While Asus VivoBook S15 has been designed to become among the best ultra-portables on the market this 2020, it also aims to provide a large enough display for those who need it. That’s a hard undertaking, but one that this top-performing laptop has achieved with high marks. It boasts a 15-6-inch display and a solid performance without compromising its slimline design. You might not be able to do some heavy gaming on this, but you should get some photo editing done.
The Dell G5 15 could easily deal with 1080p gaming.
If your budget won’t stretch to something like the MSI laptop above, then this more affordable gaming laptop from Dell makes a great choice for a 15-inch model that won’t make such a hole in your bank balance.
We reviewed the Dell G5 15 5590 and found it could easily deal with 1080p gaming, while giving you a pretty incredible level of battery longevity (around 10 hours for movie playback, which is remarkable for a gaming portable).
Overall, it’s a really well-balanced machine with a reasonable price tag, and the latest versions of the Dell G5 15 have been refreshed to include 9th-gen Intel Core processors (up to six-core models).
The Razer Blade 2019 one of the best gaming laptops on the market.
Rocking 8th-generation and 9th-generation Intel Core processors – not to mention, powerful graphics and a gorgeous display to boot, the Razer Blade isn’t just one of the best gaming laptops on the market. It’s also one of the best 15-inch laptops to consider, if you’re seeking to update your aging gaming laptop. That’s more than impressive for a laptop this thin that is also upgradeable. Expect to pay a lot for all that, but you’re paying for style and power that will last you a while.
The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED delivers incredible RTX gaming experience and touting a reasonable price to boot.
We didn’t think that gaming ultrabooks were ready for RTX graphics until the Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED proved us otherwise. This isn’t just a solid gaming laptop; this is a solid gaming laptop that delivers incredible RTX gaming experience and touting a reasonable price to boot. It’s not that it’s cheap, especially at higher configurations. However, for what you’re paying, you’re getting a lot of power for your gaming needs.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (15-inch) will last you the whole work day on a single charge.
We hoped for great things in the next Surface Laptop model. However, when the 2019 installment of this 15-inch laptop came out, it fell a bit short on both power and versatility. However, if it’s spec above are satisfactory to you and you require a device that will last you the whole work day on a single charge, then the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (15-inch) might just be the best 15-inch laptop for you. During our review, this device lasted 10 hours and 18 minutes in our TechRadar battery test. As long as you can forgive the lack of ports.
The good news for those after a business laptop in the 15-inch form factor is that there’s an incredible machine available in the form of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme. The bad news, though, is that the price tag is as extreme as the superb performance levels you’ll get with this portable.
It’s difficult to know where to start in describing just how good this machine is. Maybe the 15.6-inch multi-touch display, which in the 4K HDR option is simply stunning and benefits from top-notch color accuracy? Or the speedy performance driven by a six-core CPU, GTX 1050 Ti graphics and superfast NVMe SSD? Or just the little things, like the well-featured connectivity, the refined keyboard, or the potential for upgrades with this laptop?
As we already mentioned, the price may cause the odd eyebrow to rise or jaw to slacken – possibly both – but some corporate users will doubtless want to own the ultimate business laptop for their mission-critical tasks. And the ThinkPad X1 Extreme definitely fulfils that ‘ultimate’ billing, and arguably not just in the 15-inch world.
If you’ve been looking for a free TV streaming service to fill up those long days and weekends, look no further: Roku has now launched a free, ad-supported TV platform in the UK.
The Roku Channel isn’t a new enterprise, having first launched in the US back in 2017. The service aggregates free content from a variety of sources and publishers into the simple and easy-to-navigate Roku OS, giving those hankering after free TV a handy place to browse all sorts of films, TV shows, documentaries, and the like.
You’ll find over 60 live TV channels on the service, as well as around 10,000 TV episodes and films available to stream on demand. They include home renovation shows, cooking shows, kids TV shows, family programming, true crime, and plenty more besides.
The Roku Channel is coming to Roku streaming devices, including the Roku Express, Roku Premium, and Roku Streaming Stick+ – though you’ll also find it on Samsung smart TVs and the Hisense Roku TV that launched in late 2019. It’s on Sky Q boxes and Now TV streaming sticks too.
Exciting times for UK viewers
Roku has been pushing further into the UK market as of late, with a great budget television set – the Hisense Roku TV – now on UK shores, and the recent Roku OS 9.3 update bringing Alexa and Google Assistant support to Roku streamers too.
The Roku Channel may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer paying for ad-free content rather than having their viewing experience continually interrupted (though kids shows will receive significantly fewer ads). But for those after free TV shows, or just a supplement to their existing TV streaming service subscriptions – Netflix, Disney Plus, and the like – the Roku Channel is here.
