Apple Obsoletes Mid 2010 15-Inch and 17-Inch MacBook Pros

Apple has updated its vintage and obsolete products list with three new products: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010), and Xserve (Early 2009).

The older notebooks and server rack hardware are now classified as vintage in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world, according to Apple.

Macs and other products on the vintage and obsolete list are generally no longer eligible for hardware service. Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years ago, while obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than seven years ago.

The new additions come less than three months after Apple obsoleted select early 2008 to late 2009 Macs, including the iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009), iMac (27-inch, Late 2009), MacBook Air (Mid 2009), Mac Pro (Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008).

The MacBook Pro models obsoleted today were originally announced on April 13, 2010. Read how to identify your MacBook Pro model.
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Top reasons why you should upgrade from Samsung Galaxy S6 to Galaxy S7

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge smartphones are great, brilliant in fact. So if you made the decision to buy one of them last April, you’ve probably been patting yourself on the back for the last year.

Their time is up, however, with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge coming in to take pride of place as Samsung’s new flagships. But should you be rushing out to upgrade from your amazing S6 to the S7 or S7 edge, even though they look very similar?

Here are a few reasons why that answer could be yes.

Samsung Galaxy S7 water resistance

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge aren’t waterproof. Drop either down the toilet or in the bath and it is game over. Our Galaxy S6 hasn’t worked since climbing Scafell Pike in torrential rain last July so a bath or a puddle really would be bad times.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are water resistant to IP68 however. That means you can actually eat the rice in your cupboard rather than save it for when your phone gets an unwanted dunk. IP68 means its also protected again dust ingress.

Samsung Galaxy S7 more storage options

The SGS6 and S6 edge might have won over hearts and minds with beautiful metal and glass designs, but they sacked off a removable battery and microSD support in the process. Not great for anyone who didn’t invest in the 128GB model.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge don’t go down the LG G5 route for a removable battery, but they have reintroduced a microSD slot. Yay. There’s no support for adoptable storage so it’s not seamlessly integrated, but you can move apps to the external storage, as well as deposit your photos and video there.

Samsung Galaxy S7 power

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are both powerful handsets. They both feature octa-core processors under the hood, supported by 3GB of RAM and there is no messing about. You want them to do something and they will do it without hesitating.

The SGS7 and S7 edge are more powerful though. They are supported by 4GB of RAM and have bigger batteries than their predecessors. Think of these devices like Blake and Bolt. Blake is fast, but he isn’t as fast as Bolt, even if the difference to the finish line is milliseconds.

Samsung Galaxy S7 camera improvements

The SGS6 and Galaxy S6 edge both have fantastic cameras. Both smartphones have been praised left, right and centre for their camera capabilities since they launched. You want a decent snap using a phone and the S6 and S6 edge are a safe bet.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge improve this already great camera experience though. Firstly, the protruding lens on the rear has been reduced for a more seamless design but more importantly, the new smartphones are all about better low light capabilities. Samsung might have reduced the rear sensor resolution but don’t be fooled into thinking it is all about megapixels. It isn’t and if you want even better snaps, the new flagship devices are there for you.

Still not convinced?

If you want to know more, read our Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 feature, or our Samsung Galaxy S6 edge vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge feature to help you find out exactly what the rest of the differences are and which it the right phone for you.

Or glance over our Galaxy S7 vs S7 edge comparison while you await the full reviews of both devices.

Apple Maps Gains 23 New Flyover Locations Around the World

Apple today updated its iOS feature availability page with 23 new Flyover locations around the world, including cities in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Flyover is an Apple Maps feature that provides photo-realistic 3D views of primarily large cities and landmarks. In satellite view, users can zoom, pan, and rotate to get a closer look at notable points of interest in supported regions.

The full list of new Flyover locations is available below, but some areas may only now be reflected on Apple’s website:

• A Coruña, Spain
• Ajaccio, France
• Archon, France
• Bastia, France
• Besançon, France
• Blackpool, England
• Bonifacio, France
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Calvi, France
• Corte, France
• Ghent, Belgium
• Guaymas, Mexico
• Messina, Italy
• Mobile, AL, United States
• Newcastle, Australia
• Nottingham, England
• Porto-Vecchio, France
• Propriano, France
• Raleigh, NC, United States
• Salamanca, Spain
• San Sebastián, Spain
• Taichung, Taiwan
• Wichita, KS, United States

Apple also confirmed that Maps traffic data is now available in Malaysia and Singapore in southeast Asia.

Apple added 20 new Flyover locations in 12 countries last month.

Tags: Australia, Apple Maps, Flyover, Italy, Canada, Spain, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Taiwan
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ExxonMobil Now Supports Apple Pay in ‘Speedpass+’ App

Following an announcement in January, ExxonMobil today officially launched Apple Pay support within its Speedpass+ iOS app, letting customers pay for gas or car washes directly from their iPhone (via CNET). Although most of ExxonMobil’s stations come equipped with an RFID station for mobile payments, the company decided to focus on software within the app to further streamline the transaction process.

“Anything that involves the pump from a hardware point of view takes years to deploy and is extremely expensive,” Bryant Russell, Americas program manager for mobile payment and loyalty at ExxonMobil, said during a demo of the app at the San Mateo gas station.

The rollout today will be seen at more than 6,000 ExxonMobil gas stations in 46 states, with a goal to expand to 2,000 by the summer and all 10,000 locations across the United States by the end of 2016.

The Speedpass+ app will use GPS to check the exact location a user is at, ask which pump they are using, and confirm the purchase with Touch ID. Locations with spotty GPS will be guided through a QR code-scanning step or manual search process within the app.

Once payment in the app is finished, users have “about 45 seconds” to start pumping gas, or Speedpass+ will time out and require users to start over from the beginning. Similar to Apple’s own Wallet app, Speedpass+ will track the purchase history of every transaction at ExxonMobil locations.

Last year, Chevron launched a pilot program for Apple Pay — using NFC terminals — in a focused location within the Bay Area. ExxonMobil’s widespread introduction of Apple Pay today is the first big rollout for the mobile payment service by a gas company to date, despite its software-focused rollout. Next, the company plans to begin introducing Apple Pay into its convenience stores along with linking its Plenti loyalty program to the service.

The Speedpass+ app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: ExxonMobil
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Incipio Debuts ‘CommandKit’ HomeKit-Enabled Smart Outlet and Light Bulb Adapter

Incipio today announced the debut of its first HomeKit-enabled products, the CommandKit Wireless Smart Outlet and the Wireless Smart Light Bulb Adapter, both of which connect to other HomeKit-enabled products over Wi-Fi and work with Siri through the accompanying CommandKit app.

The CommandKit Wireless Smart Outlet, like other similar smart outlets on the market, turns any electronic device into a smart device, allowing it to be turned on or off with voice commands or through the app. The Smart Outlet also includes energy monitoring capabilities, so it can let you know how much energy a device is using.

Similarly, the CommandKit Light Bulb Adapter turns any light bulb it’s used with into a smart light bulb that can be turned on and off. If used with a bulb that can be dimmed, the dimming feature can be used with Siri and in the iOS app. Both products can be incorporated into HomeKit scenes, rooms, and more through the app, which is also compatible with other HomeKit products.

“The smart home promises to be the new standard for living and Apple HomeKit is leading the way with guiding principles such as simple set up and configuration, a secure foundation, and the convenience of voice control with Siri,” said Andy Fathollahi, Chief Executive. “Today, Incipio is proud to offer two user-friendly, cost effective home automation products that give customers the ability to control devices in their home simply and securely using their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch and Siri.”

Both the CommandKit Wireless Light Bulb Adapter and the Wireless Smart Outlet are available from the Incipio website for $39.99.

Tags: HomeKit, Incipio
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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge UK pre-orders ship today

Should you have the Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 edge pre-ordered in the UK, you’ll be receiving the smartphone today as orders commence shipping. We previously covered the promotion running that saw UK carriers and participating retailers planning to roll out pre-orders ahead of official release and now is the time for future owners to reap their reward.

Have you already pre-ordered and received your new Galaxy S7? If so, join the discussions over on our forum!

• Visit the Samsung Galaxy S7 forum
• Visit the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge forum

Samsung Galaxy S7

• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge hands-on
• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge specs
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Truecaller introduces smart calling history, availability and a brand new dialer

Truecaller, a popular dialer alternative for Android, has gained some new functionality in its latest update. You’ll now have a smart call history, the ability to change your availability, and a revamped dialer, plus much more. Truecaller has already offered the ability to block various callers, and easily identify who was calling you, and this is the next step forward for the team. The company describes the new features as:

• Smart Call History replaces unknown numbers with real names and faces in your call history, even for numbers that are not saved in your contacts. Now you don’t need to save contacts to your phonebook.
• Availability shows you if your friends and contacts are free to talk before you call. Now you’ll never get a busy signal or interrupt someone again.
• Built-in dialer allows you to make all your calls directly with Truecaller.

You can find all the details about the update below, and you can grab the latest update from Google Play.

Press release:

Say Hello to your New Phone App with the Most Useful Truecaller ever.

Introducing Smart Call History, Availability, and a brand new Dialer.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, March 8th 2016. Today, Truecaller introduces the most intelligent way to communicate by integrating new features to revolutionize the way people make and take calls: Smart Call History, Availability, and a brand new dialer.

Making your communication safer and more delightful, by giving you more information about those you communicate with, is core to Truecaller’s mission. With the integration of the new features, Truecaller becomes an essential app for anyone looking to have more control over their incoming and outgoing calls.

Integrated new features:

• Smart Call History replaces unknown numbers with real names and faces in your call history, even for numbers that are not saved in your contacts. Now you don’t need to save contacts to your phonebook.
• Availability shows you if your friends and contacts are free to talk before you call. Now you’ll never get a busy signal or interrupt someone again.
• Built-in dialer allows you to make all your calls directly with Truecaller.

“Truecaller has become a necessity for hundreds of millions of people in their daily communication by always knowing who’s calling them and protecting them against spam calls. We are now taking this to the next level by changing the way people make phone calls with our integrated dialer and adding more context to your contacts that has never been seen before.” said Alan Mamedi, Truecaller co-founder & CEO. “Now, you can completely replace your existing dialer and only use Truecaller for all your calls. We are also very pleased to see our OEM partners being so supportive of our mission.”

In 2014, Truecaller launched Truedialer to bring similar improvements to the dialer, which had not evolved since the introduction of the smartphone. After overwhelming demand from users, Truecaller are now bringing many of the great features from Truedialer and integrating them into Truecaller, giving you full control your entire calling experience with just one app.

The latest update will begin rolling out to users on Android today, and will reach all users in the coming weeks. Existing Truedialer users will be gradually upgraded to the new Truecaller experience.

Save $100 on the HTC One A9 for today only

HTC really wants you to buy the One A9 and is taking $100 off the asking price to entice you to place an order. For today only, March 8, you’ll be able to pick up the smartphone for just $399, which is a solid deal thanks to the decent display, speedy performance and attractive design.

Ordering direct through HTC will allow you to choose between unlocked, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Carbon Gray, Opal Silver, Topaz Gold, Deep Garnet options are available, and prices will reflect today’s promotion when you view the cart and check out.

See at HTC

What is Elon Musk’s 700mph Hyperloop? The subsonic train explained

Tesla and SpaceX’s Elon Musk has started the building revolution for a new train system dubbed Hyperloop. It will mean getting from London to Edinburgh or LA to San Francisco in under 30 minutes. But what is it and how does it work?

The Hyperloop is essentially a futuristic train that Musk calls “a cross between a Concorde, a railgun and an air hockey table”. It’s based on the very high speed transit (VHST) system proposed in 1972 which combines a magnetic levitation train and a low pressure transit tube. It evolves some of the original ideas of VHST, but still uses tunnels and pods or capsules to move from place to place. Musk has likened it to a vacuum tube system in a building used to move documents from place to place.

Companies have sprung up from the proposed idea and are now working to make Hyperloop a reality. A 5-mile test loop track will start this year in Quay Valley on a site owned by Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.

So how does the Hyperloop transit system work?

Air bearings

One of the biggest problems with anything moving, is friction, both against surfaces and the environment the pod is moving though. Hyperloop proposes to move away from traditional wheels by using air bearings for pods instead. This will have the pod floating on air.

It’s similar to maglev in which the electromagnetic levitation of the train means there is no friction like a traditional train that runs on tracks. This is how current maglev trains can achieve super speeds, like the 500km/h maglev train in Japan.

The Hyperloop will take this to the next level by travelling through low pressure tubes.

Low pressure

The Hyperloop will be built in tunnels that have had some of the air sucked out to lower the pressure. So, like high altitude flying, there’s less resistance against the pod moving through the tunnel, meaning it can be much more energy efficient, something that’s highly desirable in any transit system.

Google Images

The original VHST proposed using a vacuum, but there’s an inherent difficulty in creating and maintaining a vacuum in a tunnel that will have things like stations, and any break in the vacuum could potentially render the entire system useless.

For Hyperloop, the idea is to lower the air pressure, a job that could be done by regularly placed air pumps. Low pressure, however means you still have some air in the tunnels.

The air bearing idea is designed not only to levitate the pod, but also see the pod moving through the air, rather than pushing the air infront of it and dragging it along behind. The air cushion will see the air pumped from the front of the pod to the rear via these suspension cushions. 

The tunnels envisioned are metal tubes, elevated as an overground system. Musk has suggested that solar panels running on the top of the tunnels could generate enough electricity to power the system. It could also run as an underground system too.

What speeds are proposed?

Hyperloop is being proposed as an alternative to short distance air travel, where the system will be much faster than existing rail networks and much cleaner that flight. Hyperloop isn’t about going as fast as possible, because you’ll have to deal with high G forces when it came to turns, which isn’t ideal for passenger travel.

Speeds of over 700mph are suggested for journeys, but there are practical implications that have to be considered on a short stop-start journey, such as the acceleration and deceleration sensation that passengers would go through. 

When will the Hyperloop arrive?

At the moment Elon Musk has merely announced the Hyperloop is going to be made. There is going to be a 1-mile track built by SpaceX adjacent to Hawthorne, its California headquarters. The plan is to have a competition for students with their various pod designs in the summer of 2016.

Google Images

The planning documents that have already been shown off planned a route between LA and San Francisco, a 354-mile journey, that would cost around $6 billion in construction. This is based on a passenger-only model whereas one that can also transport vehicles too would be $7.5 billion. This extra expenditure would be worth it since more people could use the system, offering potentially larger returns.

Initially there will be pod testing from student candidates in the proposed competition. Musk is even thinking of having pod races.

Shervin Pishevar, co-founder and chairman of Hyperloop Technologies, aims to shuttle passengers and cargo in high-speed pods that are smaller than most planes and trains and designed to depart as often as every 10 seconds. He told CNBC: “Hyperloop will be operational, somewhere in the world, by 2020.”

READ: Elon Musk’s Hyperloop able to do London to Edinburgh run in 30 minutes

Sky Q tips and tricks: Getting the most from Fluid Viewing and your Sky Q box

You’ve got the latest television system from Sky, Sky Q, but how the heck to you use it? And are there any secrets hidden in the settings that will make your TV viewing experiences better or easier?

We’ve been using Sky Q for several days ourselves now – deep diving into every facet – so are able to put together all the tips and tricks we’ve found so far for you to follow. Hopefully, these can help you get the most out of your own Sky Q system. 

Whether that’s finding out that a long press on the remote control power button turns off your TV, or how you can stream your music from your iPhone to the Sky Q box, we’ve got you covered.  

We will be updating this feature as we find more tips and tricks for Sky Q so bookmark this page. Additionally, if you’ve found any we’ve not listed below, let us know in the comments and we’ll check them out.

READ: What is Sky Q, how much does it cost and how can I get it?

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Setting up your Sky Q box

The new Sky Q box offers plenty of customisations when it comes to picture and sound quality. Here’s how to set the box up to get the most out of it.

How to change the picture resolution

To change the picture resolution press the Home button on your remote, go to Settings and then Audio Visual. You have four picture resolution options, ranging from 576p to 1080p, to choose from. Once you select one, the screen changes for 15 seconds to make sure it has worked. If it hasn’t, don’t panic, it will revert to the previous setting.  

How to change to Dolby Digital output via HDMI

Go to the Settings page, then Audio Visual, and change the “Digital Audio Output HDMI” setting from Normal to Dolby Digital.

How to fix lip sync issues on Sky Q

If you are using an optical cable you might encounter lip sync issues on your videos. To solve this, go to Settings > Audio Visual > Digital audio output delay and change the millisecond delay.

Making your TV turn on and switch the right HDMI input when you power up Sky Q

If you want your TV to spring into life and go to the right channel when you turn on Sky Q go to Settings > Audio Visual and set HDMI control to be “on”.

How to set HD downloads as standard

Go to Settings, Preferences, and then set “HD demand default download format” to HD. Now when an HD recording is available, the box will automatically download in high definition.  

How to set your box automatically when not in use

With the Sky “classic” box, the company allowed you to automatically turn the box off at night if it wasn’t being used. With Sky Q, Sky has gone a step further; you can now set it to go into standby at any time when it’s not in use. To change the standby mode settings go to the main Settings page, Preferences and opt to have your Standby mode as either Eco, Active or none.

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Using the Sky Q Touch Remote and Sky Q Remote

The new Sky Q Touch Remote is very different from the Sky Remote that came with your Sky HD box. Here are a number of Sky Q Touch Remote tips and tricks to get more from the controller.

How to navigate around Sky Q quicker

With the Sky Q Touch Remote you can use the touchpad to swipe up, down, left and right through the menus. Rather than scrolling with your thumb over and over again to go through the menu options, you can swipe and hold and the menu choices will scroll automatically.

How to select with the Sky Q Touch Remote

Press the touchpad on the Touch Remote to select.

Long press the power button to turn off your TV

If you press the power button quickly on the remote the Sky Q box goes off as you would expect, but if you’ve programmed the remote to work with your television, a long press will now turn off your TV as well.

Use the Dismiss button to cancel anything at any time

No matter what you are doing, you can dismiss it and go back to live TV at the press of a button. It is the button on the remote that looks like an arrow coming out of a square. The Dismiss button also gets you back to live TV if you’ve paused at any point or are in the home screen pages. It basically works like the old “Sky” button on Sky HD. Don’t confuse it for a back button though. 

How to go back a step in the Sky Q menu

To go back a step in the menu system either swipe from right to left on the Touch Remote, or press the left arrow on the standard remote. Do not use the Dismiss button. 

Press the Home Button to access Sky Q Homescreen

Rather than having a button for the planner, a button for Sky Box Office, or a button for Settings for example, you now just have to press the Home button to get to the main home screen and in particular “Top Picks”.

What is the three dots button for?

Sky Q offers a number Sky apps that can run at the same time as you are watching television. The three dots button brings up the apps bar. At the moment that’s Sky News, Sky Sports News HQ, My Photos, Weather and Help.

How to change input sources

On the old remote it used to be hidden behind the “Help” button and even then it didn’t always work if your TV wasn’t setup right. Now input sources gets its own button at the bottom of the remote next to the “0” button.

How to turn on subtitles or audio description

You can quickly turn on subtitles or audio description where supported by pressing the “?” button at the bottom of the remote when watching live TV.

How to get help with Sky Q

If at any point you don’t understand what a menu option is, the “?” button takes you to the Sky Q help pages where it will explain what something means.

How to record a show on Sky Q and set a series link

To record a show, you can press the red “R” button on the remote at any point. Sky Q will automatically record the show and add a series link to record all future episodes. If you only want the one recording, press the “R” button again. Press the button a third time and you remove the record request altogether.

How to fast rewind and fast forward on Sky Q

With the old remote you would have to tap the fast forward and rewind buttons to spin through the 2x, 6x, 12x and 30x speed options. Here there are two choices, one is to tap the rewind and fast forward button to select the speed you want. The second is to put your finger on the play/pause button and then slowly swipe left or right to select your speed. It’s worth noting that the rewind/pause/fast forward part of the remote is touch sensitive so you don’t have to press anything.

How to get straight to your Sky Q recordings

Press the Sky logo button at the top of the remote to take you straight to your recordings.

How to stop watching a recording

Press the Dismiss button and you’ll go back to the the information page of the show or movie that you were watching.

How to pair your Touch Remote

If you’ve added a second Touch Remote to your Sky Q system you’ll need to pair it with your box. To do this, point the remote at the box and then press the 1 and 3 buttons together. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the setup, including selecting your TV and your speakers if you have them.

How to find your Sky Q Touch Remote

If you’ve lost your remote down the back of the sofa, don’t panic, you can find it by pressing the Q icon on the Sky Q box. That sends out a signal to the Touch Remote which will then beep until you find it. Pressing any button on the remote will stop the beeping.

How to control your TV with your Sky Q Remote

To control your TV with your Sky Remote or Sky Q Touch Remote press the Home button on the remote to access the EPG. On the home screen scroll down to Settings, then across to the right and scroll down to Setup, then across to the right to Remote Control. Select the remote you have and press Select. Now opt for “Control your TV”. If you also want to set up a speaker system you can to that here as well.

How to do voice search on Sky Q

You can’t yet, which is why the button hidden on the side of the Sky Q Touch Remote doesn’t do anything at the moment. Sky has promised the feature in the future, hence the button, but it doesn’t work at present. Panic over, you aren’t going mad.

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Making more of your Sky Q recordings

Whether you are watching live TV or downloading box sets to binge on, Sky Q now makes it even easier to watch your favourite TV shows. You’ve got to know the tricks to get the most out of the experience though, otherwise you could be missing out. 

Continue where you left off

Rather than going straight to the Recordings section on Sky Q, you can speed up the process of accessing things you are half way through watching by going to the Continue option in the My Q section. To access the My Q section press the Home button and go to My Q before selecting Continue.  

How to find something new to watch on Sky Q

Sky Q, like Sky HD, highlights new shows you can watch. There are two ways to get inspiration. The first is Top Picks and the second is the New Series option in My Q. To get to Top Picks simply press your Home button on your remote. To get to New Series in My Q select My Q from the home page.

How to Fluid View live TV on Sky Q

Fluid Viewing only works with recorded or on demand content. If you are planning on heading to bed to finish that TV show on a Sky Q Mini box elsewhere you can’t just pause live TV and then hope that you can pick it up where you left off. It doesn’t work. The trick is that you’ll need to record it first so the system knows what’s going on. That way you can continue watching it where you left off in another room.

All you have to do is press the red Record button twice on your Sky Q Remote – pressing only once will automatically series link it and you might not need that. Doing so saves the recording to your Sky Q box, and in turn allows the other boxes or tablets to access it. It means that by the time you’ve gone upstairs, the Sky Mini box or your tablet will have registered the show to let you carry on where you left off.

How to find more episodes of the show you’ve just watched

You can find out if more episodes are available of your favourite shows by going to the individual info pages for a show and then selecting the “more episodes” button at the top-right of the main information. Here you can see what’s “On this week” or what’s available to download “On demand”.

How to undelete a show or movie

If you’re over keen and you’ve pressed the delete button by mistake, but hadn’t finished watching an episode yet, you can undelete shows by pressing the Sky button on your remote and going to recordings. Once here scroll down to “Deleted”. Sky Q shows you all the content you’ve previously deleted and allows you to “undelete” them if you’ve made a mistake. You can also “delete forever” any shows you don’t want others to find out about or clogging up the storage. Yes, your Home and Away secret is still safe.

How to see what scheduled recordings you have on Sky Q

Press the Sky button on the remote. Go to Scheduled and it’s here you can see what shows you’ve planned to record in the future. If you see something you don’t want you can cancel the recording from this page as well.

How to manage your HDD storage on Sky Q

With the ability to record lots of things at once, as well as download loads of shows and movies, you might run out of hard drive space fairly quickly. You can manage your disk space by pressing the Sky button on your remote and then selecting Disk space. Here you can see what’s taking up the space and delete the content you don’t want any more.

How to highlight audio description and subtitled programmes

The Sky Q EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) can be set to highlight all programmes that have subtitles or audio description available in the TV Guide. To turn this on press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Accessibility and select Highlight programmes. You can then chose to either highlight Audio desc. or Subtitles, but sadly not both.  

How to quickly jump back to the previous channel you were watching 

Using the Sky Q Touch Remote you can quickly return back to the last channel you were watching by swiping left to right on the Touchpad on the Touch Remote. It’s really handy if you are hoping to hop between two programmes at the same time.

How to scroll through channels while watching something else

While watching one TV channel, you can scroll through to see what’s on on other channels. To do this press the Touchpad on the Sky Q Touch Remote and then start swiping up or down. If you pause for a couple of seconds the image that accompanies the listing will spring into life and show you what’s happening. 

How to see what’s on next 

Either press select on the Touchpad or the “i” button on the remote and then swipe right to see what’s on next on that channel. 

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Sky Movies on Sky Q

If you subscribe to Sky Movies there are plenty of tips and tricks to get even more out of Sky Q. 

How to find movies by actor

Press the Home button on the remote, scroll down to Sky Movies, and then scroll down to Actors. Here you’ll find a list of names like Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts, for example, and all the movies Sky has available to watch with those actors in them

How to find 3D movies

Press the Home button on the remote, scroll down to Sky Movies, and then scroll down to 3D to get a full list of 3D movies available on Sky Movies at the moment. There are surprisingly a fair few if you can still find those 3D glasses.

How to find similar movies to what you want to watch

Sky Q lists movies that are similar to the one you’ve selected in a section called “More like this”. On the individual movie listing for the movie you’ve found, scroll to the right and below “Start download, cancel download” select “More info”. On this screen scroll down to the “More like this” option to find other similar movies that are available. That could be sequels, prequels or just other movies in the same genre.

Watch a movie trailer before downloading any film

It only works for the films where trailers are available, but you can the trailer before you watch the movie to see if you can be bothered to continue. Press the Home button on the remote, go to Sky Movies and find the movie you want to watch. To the right of the main image is a “Watch trailer” button. Press that and you’ll see the original trailer.

How to speed up movie download times

If you’ve not got a fast connection you can chose to download the standard rather than the high definition version of the movie. Go to the movie you want to watch in the EPG and then select the “All formats” button to the right of the main movie info on the individual page. Select either SD or HD. SD will be a smaller file size and therefore quicker to download, but the picture quality won’t be as good.

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How to listen to music on Sky Q

The Sky Q boxes enable you to stream music via a dedicated Vevo app or you can listen to your own music on your phone via AirPlay for iPhone users or Bluetooth for everyone else.

How to listen to radio on Sky Q

You’ve always been able to listen to the radio on your Sky box, but Sky Q makes it easier once you know where it is. Press the Home button on your remote, go to Music > Radio. Here you can select from around 25 different stations and start listening straight away. You can record individual shows, but you can’t Series link.

How to listen to non-stop Vevo

Sky Q comes with music video channel Vevo. There are two ways to access Vevo on Sky Q. The first is to press the Home button on your remote and scroll down to Online Video. The second is to go to Music. Here you can choose from three channels: Hits, Rap and R&B, and Country. Within the app selecting menu allows you to access much more based on your music tastes with the app creating a number of playlists based on curated suggestions or centred on the first track you play.

How to play your music on Sky Q via AirPlay

Sky Q enables you to share music via AirPlay via your iPhone, iPad or iTunes on your Mac. You can enjoy your music through your TV speakers or sound system connected to the TV. The device has to be on the same network as the Sky Q box, but you can stream to either one Sky Q box or all of them.

How to listen to your music via Bluetooth on Sky Q

If you’ve got a PC or an Android device you can still stream your music to your Sky Q boxes. Simply pair your device with the Sky Q box by pressing Home on the remote, then going to Settings > Music. Add a new Bluetooth device. Once you’ve found the device, pair, type in the pairing code, and then connect. You can list up to 12 devices at once.

How to turn off the streaming music option on a Sky Q box

If you want to stop your teenage kids streaming all types of music you don’t understand through your shiny new Sky Q box you can turn the feature off altogether. Go to the Home screen > Settings > Music and then turn off “Allow music to be sent to this box”. Peace and quiet will quickly resume once again. Until they find the Vevo channels, that is.

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How to manage parental settings on Sky Q

You can manage the family settings per box in Sky Q, so if you’ve got more than one Sky Q box in your house it’s advisable to make sure you check the settings for all devices. Press Home on the remote, then go to Settings > Parental. Type in your pin. To begin with, it will either be 0000, what you’ve had previously with the Sky “classic” box, or the last four digits of your viewing card. Here you have a number of options.

How to turn on PIN purchase

Press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Family and select whether you want to the Sky Q box to ask you for a PIN when you purchase anything in Box Office or a rental in Sky Store. Regardless of what you set, a PIN will always be required for Buy & Keep.

How to hide adult content from the EPG

Press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Family and select whether you want to “Hide adult content”. If set to on, all adult channels will be removed from your TV Guide and all adult recordings will be hidden from recordings. This does not affect 18-rated content.

How to stop kids watching 12-rated programmes before 8pm

Sky Movies plays plenty of films throughout the day that aren’t suitable for some younger audiences, and the last thing you want is to hear that your school holidays have been ruined by a traumatised child watching American Psycho at two in the afternoon. To stop this, press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Family and turn on PIN on pre-watershed playback. Now anything rated 12-years or over shown before 8pm will require a PIN to view it.

How to age restrict all content no matter what time it is

If you want to restrict everything based on age you can, although this will, in practice, mean you pretty much have to type in your PIN every time you watch anything. Press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Ratings and then select the “Age restriction” you want to lock down. You can chose from none, U, PG, 12+, 15+ and 18+.

How to block YouTube on Sky Q

Endless Stampee videos getting you down? No problem. You can block all of YouTube in one go on any individual box. Press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Apps & Video and set “Block access to YouTube” to on.

How to block Vevo on Sky Q

Fed up of too much pop music? You can block Vevo on any individual box too. Press the Home button on the remote, go to Settings > Parental > Apps & Video and set “Block access to Vevo” to on.

How to block all Online Video on Sky Q

If you don’t like YouTube, Vevo or any online video (there are more services promised in the future) you can block everything in the same place as above.

How to watch Sky Q on your iPad 

You can turn your iPad or an Android equivalent into a Sky Q box, with some but not all the same functionality as the Sky Q Mini boxes. Here are some tips for watching Sky Q on the go. 

How to watch your recorded shows from your Sky Q box on your iPad or Android tablet

Start the Sky Q app, go to recordings, and chose what you want to watch. You will need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to access your box. 

How to watch your Sky Q recordings on the go

Some programmes, but not all due to rights restrictions, can be downloaded to an iPad or Android device to watch when you are offline. You have to download them before you leave the house though. To check which shows or movies you can download or have downloaded, on the app go to Recordings and then Download.

How to watch live TV on the go on Sky Q

Although you can’t access your Sky Q box recordings on the go you can still watch live TV or on demand shows and movies via the Sky Q app. Open the app, go to TV Guide, and then select the channel you want to watch. The first time you do it you will be asked to enter your SkyID and password and then you are good to go. 

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Getting more from apps on Sky Q

Sky has introduced a number of new apps that can sit in a side bar while you watch television. At the moment that’s just Sky-powered apps, but there is promise that the choice will grow over time. 

Changing the default location in weather 

Press the three dots on your remote control, then select Weather. Scroll down to Locations and then add a location. You can have multiple locations as well as set which city you want to be your default. 

How to see the weather for the next 10 days on Sky Q

To see the weather for the next 10 days press the three dots button on your remote, then go to Weather and then either swipe right, press the right hand arrow on your Sky Q Remote, or press Select. You can then scroll through the next 10 days of weather forecast.

How to see your Facebook pictures on Sky Q

You can view all your Facebook pictures on your Sky Q box if you connect the box to your Facebook account. To do so go to Sky.com/myphotos and select the box you want to connect. When you go back to your Sky Q box you’ll be able to see your Facebook photos by pressing the three dots button then selecting My Photos. You can have up to five different accounts connected, but be warned all the images are viewable, including those of you drunk at that party. 

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General Sky Q tips and tricks

When you aren’t trying to squeeze the most out of the box to help you watch movies and TV shows, you can use it to do other things, like check your Sky bill or change your payment details. 

How to update your Sky Q box software

Sky Q is still really new and new software updates are coming out thick and fast. To make sure you are on the latest software version, press Home on the remote, then go to Settings > System info. Scroll down to Software version and then across to Setup.  Select Software download and wait for the software update to finish – if one is available. Once the update has finished put the Sky Q box into standby for the update to take affect.  

How to check your Sky bills

At any point you can now check how much your bill is or what you’ve subscriptions you’ve got. Press the Home button on your remote, scroll down to My account and then select Bills. Here you can see your latest bill, the usage since your last bill, as well as your bill history.

How to change your payment method or due date

You can change when and how you pay your Sky bill from your Sky Q box. Press the Home button on your remote, scroll down to My account and then select Payments. Here you can change when and how you pay for Sky Q.

How to change your Sky Q PIN

Press Home on the remote, then go to Settings > Parental > Type in your PIN number and then scroll down and select Change PIN. Here type in what you want the new PIN to be twice and it will be changed.  

How to reset your Sky PIN

If you’ve forgotten your PIN, or your kids have sussed it out (more likely the case) you can reset it by pressing the Home button on your remote, scrolling down to My account and then select Reset PIN. You are then prompted to create a new 4-digit code.

How to get further help

Go to the home screen, and then scroll down to the Help section. Swiping or pressing the arrow to go right takes you to a Help page that will give you one minute video tutorial clips on areas like how to record, play music, or manage family settings.