Latest news with #DavidPhelan
Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
Windows 11 Latest Update Is ‘Most Reliable' Ever, Microsoft Claims
Have you updated your Windows 11 PC to version 24H2? If so, it's the 'most reliable Windows yet,' it's claimed. And the claim comes from Microsoft itself, in a blog post this week titled 'Resilience in action for Windows devices.' Windows 11 SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The company says it has two major advancements, which we'll come to in a moment, but it's the claim of being the most reliable that has drawn attention. Forbes Microsoft Just Released A Major Android App Upgrade For Windows 11 PCs By David Phelan Windows Latest calls it a 'tall claim,' and restricts its superlatives to saying 'it's not entirely bad,' as it puts it. 'Windows 11 24H2 has been a mess for many of us. It caused Blue Screen of Death errors, slow performance, cursor issues, drops in FPS, and broke drivers. But Microsoft says it was still more stable than the previous releases. As per the tech giant, Windows 11 24H2 had fewer failure rates and unexpected restarts. The numbers dropped by 24%,' the report goes on. The changes to the Blue Screen of Death referred to make up one of the two advancements. Microsoft says that unexpected restarts have a better interface that's 'more than just a color change,' which refers to the fact that that infamous blue screen is now black. It has a simpler interface and, 'instead presents a short, readable message with the stop code and faulty driver information,' as part of a move to reduce downtime and improve recovery. The second advancement is that the time spent on the newly black screen is now reduced from 40 seconds to 2 seconds for most consumer devices, the company claims. 'We wonder if those 2 seconds are enough to read the stop code, especially for those who don't have experience with Event Viewer or reading logs,' Windows Latest asks. Others have been more critical, reporting compatibility issues with drivers or legacy applications. YouTuber BrenTech says the 24H2 release has been plagued with issues since its release last October and asks if Microsoft is out of touch with its user base. Still, the new blog also announced general availability of quick machine recovery, which 'automatically detects, diagnoses, and resolves widespread critical boot issues using a secure, always-available Windows Recovery Environment,' it says. As Windows Latest explains, 'if machines encounter a crash or startup loop (occasionally or indefinitely), the logs reach Microsoft, and they can start working on a fix. Don't expect the patch to arrive soon, especially for isolated or small-scale issues, but at least the logs would go to the OS maintenance team,' which seems like a good move. But the most reliable yet? Some users seem to disagree. Forbes Apple's Surprise Free Offer To iPhone 13 Users Is Now Live For iPhones And More By David Phelan
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Here's how to get a £100 takeaway voucher when you buy a Panasonic TV
Panasonic has remained one of the biggest players in television manufacturing for decades. The brand is known across the world for a high-quality, broad range of home appliances, cameras, and, of course, TVs. If it's the latter that you're interested in, we've spotted a deal on two of the brand's TVs that you won't want to miss. Here at IndyBest, we rate Panasonic's TVs so highly that the TV-55Z95A OLED model (£1,599.99, was named our best buy in tech critic David Phelan's round-up of the best tried and tested 4K TVs. David found that 'Panasonic's OLED TVs have picture quality so rich and detailed it can take your breath away,' and praised the model's smooth and realistic imagery: 'from faithful skin tones to detailed shadowy areas – and it's still good for vibrant colours and deep black levels.' If you've been thinking about upgrading your current TV, now's the time. We've found a deal that not only gets you a discount on a 4K TV, but also grabs you a whopping £100 voucher on a takeaway or your groceries delivery. There are two Panasonic TVs with big discounts coupled with a £100 food voucher, which we've listed below. You can use the voucher on takeaways from Uber Eats, Just Eat, or Deliveroo, or on groceries from Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose, or Tesco. It's the perfect deal for a big night in with your favourite takeaway, all while watching your favourite film on a picture-perfect TV. On top of that, use the code 'Z6015' at checkout and save an additional 15 per cent off your purchase. This is in addition to the food delivery voucher and an already existing saving of £500 off. You'll need to be quick if you want to snap up this deal, as it ends on Thursday 31 July. This huge 65in TV sees a massive discount in this deal, with £500 deducted from the list price. This exceptional TV offers bright 4K clarity, and it's compatible with Dolby Vision and Atmos for the ultimate viewing experience. If the 65in TV is too large for your space, you can get a similar deal on the 55in model. Best of all, this TV is even cheaper, coming in at under £1000. If you've got your heart set on a different model, fear not, as there are other ways to save. Those who have access to Student Beans, a Blue Light Card, health service discount, defence discount service, discount for carers, discount for teachers or charity worker discounts can also enjoy 15 per cent off select purchases across Panasonic. There are big discounts on Panasonic's OLED TVs, including a whopping £1,000 off the 55in Z85 4K OLED TV (was £2,099.99, now £1,099.99, If you check out Panasonic's dedicated promotions page, you'll also find savings on everything from and wireless earphones to hair dryers and microwaves.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Apple AirPods Pro 2 have never been cheaper — be quick
If your earbuds have just given up the ghost, I've got some good news because I've just spotted Apple's best wireless earbuds at their lowest ever price of $149, thanks to Amazon Prime Day. The $100 saving takes them down to even cheaper than they were during Black Friday (when they were $153.99), so this is a very good offer worth snagging while you can. Despite being older than the AirPods 4 (was $179, now $114, and rumors circulating around the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods Pro 2 have superior noise cancellation and better sound quality. They're my go-to earbuds for everyday use, and while they pair seamlessly with Apple devices, they're compatible with Android phones and anything else with a Bluetooth connection. Keep reading for why The Independent 's tech team thinks they're a worthy investment. As well as having spectacular sound and noise-cancelling, the AirPods Pro 2 feature the best battery life on any AirPods. 'The case now includes Apple's U1 chip, which means you can use the Find My app on your iPhone to locate it when you've misplaced it,' said The Independent 's tech critic, David Phelan, in his review. Unlike the AirPods 4, there are also touch controls on the buds themselves, so you can adjust the volume without having to take your phone out of your pocket, and there's a MagSafe case with a lanyard loop for easy charging and storage. You can save $100 with this deal at Amazon, which takes them down to their lowest-ever price. reduced at Walmart.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The best Kindle deals in the Amazon Prime Day sale
Perhaps nothing can match the feeling of a book in your hands, but Amazon's Kindles come close. The retailer's latest ereaders are lightweight, easy on the eyes, and offer weeks of battery life. But as any bookworm will know, Kindles aren't cheap – until Amazon Prime Day, that is. For its 2025 sale event, Amazon has slashed the price of the flagship Kindle paperwhite by more than 25 per cent, bringing the price down to less than £120. The cheapest Kindle in the range has also had a reduction in price, making it even more affordable. To save you lugging around War and Peace during your morning commute, or stuffing half a dozen hardbacks in your hand luggage, here are the Kindle deals worth snapping up in Amazon's Prime Day sale. Not only is it my pick for the best Kindle, but this is also the best ereader. In his review, The Independent 's tech critic David Phelan praised the Kindle paperwhite for being 'really exceptional'. A big upgrade on the original ereaders for only a modest price increase, the screen size has shot up from 6in to 6.8in, with the same 300ppi resolution as the (now discontinued) Kindle oasis. 'The design is elegant, with the screen flush to the frame (the basic Kindle display is recessed behind the frame)', Phelan added. 'The front light has also been improved recently, to make it subtler and adjustable in terms of warmth as well as brightness.' Plus, it's waterproof, with the Kindle able to withstand submersion in 2m of water for up to an hour. 'The paperwhite is the best balance of advanced features and reasonable price of any Kindle, or any other ebook reader,' he continued. 'Unlike other Kindles, this one uses a newer type of e-ink, which offers a faster page turn and smoother transitions.' In my own review, I found that it's the best choice for most readers. It does everything you need and more without juicing the price with potinless bonus features. Now's the time to buy, with Amazon reducing the Kindle paperwhite to its lowest ever price this Prime Day. Already the cheapest Kindle Amazon produces, this model has been reduced by almost 20 per cent in the retailer's Prime Day sale. In my guide to the best Kindles, I found that this offers 'Everything you need in a modern ereader with none of the frills'. There's a good (if not great) 300dpi e-ink display, about six weeks of battery life; USB-C charging; front-lighting using LEDs; and enough storage for thousands of ebooks. However, this model could be restrictive if you use your Kindle for audiobooks, too. Compared with more-expensive Kindles, the lighting is a stark blue-white when reading in the dark, rather than a warm amber, but if you're looking for a basic Kindle, this deal is worth snapping up. This 10.2in ereader comes with a stylus, so you can make notes alongside whatever you're reading. I found that its sheer size means that it offers the best possible reading experience of any Kindle, and features a 300dpi display. There's a huge library of paper types to write on, too – from plain and ruled paper to day planners, to-do lists and diaries. All of this comes at a price, though, with the device usually costing more than an entry-level iPad. A discount of almost 30 per cent for Prime Day is welcome news. Amazon Prime Day is a four-day sale event for Prime members. It's usually held twice a year – once in the summer and again in October to kick-start Christmas shopping. The event features deals across top brands, from Apple to Dyson, as well as offers on its bestselling own tech, including Kindle and Echo dot smart speakers.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
This Kindle has been reduced to a record low price for Amazon Prime Day
While nothing can match the feeling of a spined book in your hands, Amazon's Kindle paperwhite comes close. The retailer's latest ereader is lightweight with a higher resolution and e-ink that's easy on the eyes. The battery life is just as impressive (it's measured in weeks and months rather than mere hours), while functions like searching for keywords and a built-in light for using in the dark elevate your reading experience. But, as any bookworm will know, they don't come cheap – until Amazon Prime Day, that is. For its 2025 event, Amazon has slashed the price of the flagship Kindle by more than 25 per cent, bringing the price down to less than £118.74. To save me lugging around books on the commute and stuffing tomes in my hand luggage, I'm investing in a Kindle for on-the-go reading. Here's the deal I'm snapping up in Amazon's Prime Day sale. Considered the best ereader in our review, The Independent 's tech critic David Phelan praised the Kindle paperwhite for being 'really exceptional'. A big upgrade on the original ereaders for only a modest price increase, the screen size has shot up from 6in to 6.8in, with the same 300ppi resolution as the (now discontinued) Kindle oasis. 'The design is elegant, with the screen flush to the frame (the basic Kindle display is recessed behind the frame)', Phelan added. 'The front light has also been improved recently, to make it subtler and adjustable in terms of warmth as well as brightness.' Plus, it's waterproof, with the Kindle able to withstand submersion in 2m of water for up to an hour. 'The paperwhite is the best balance of advanced features and reasonable price of any Kindle, or any other ebook reader,' he continued. 'Unlike other Kindles, this one uses a newer type of e-ink, which offers a faster page turn and smoother transitions.' Now's the time to buy, with Amazon reducing the Kindle paperwhite to its lowest ever price this Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day is a four-day sale event for Prime members. It's usually held twice a year – once in the summer and again in October to kick-start Christmas shopping. The event features deals across top brands, from Apple to Dyson, as well as offers on its bestselling own tech, including Kindle and Echo dot smart speakers.
