Neil Cumins

Neil is our resident tech expert. He's written guides on loads of broadband head-scratchers and is determined to solve all your technology problems!

Why domotics will transform our lives, homes and cities

Domotics is set to make the home of 2040 feel very different from the home of 2021, as automation evolves into every aspect of our lives

Five tips for keeping children safe online

With so much of our lives dependent on internet access, keeping children safe online is more important than ever

A brief history of the PC

Having been elevated to essential-purchase status by the internet, the history of the PC is as fascinating as the machine itself is mundane

How to share limited broadband bandwidth

There are many ways to maximise the practicality of limited broadband bandwidth, reducing stress and frustration among people living together

Switching Broadband is about to get a lot easier

Ofcom is considering ways to make the process of switching broadband provider even easier – potentially with a single mouse-click

Lockdown one year on – the mental depletion of online living

Mental depletion is becoming an increasingly well-recognised phenomenon, with the internet simultaneously helping and hindering efforts to recharge

What’s going on with Bitcoin?

Price spikes contrast against an increasingly uncertain future for the ubiquitous cryptocurrency

How broadband became the UK’s most common argument

Bust-ups over the internet have intensified during a year of lockdowns and unprecedented restrictions on personal freedom.

The best British crime dramas streaming now

As Line of Duty returns, we look at the best British crime dramas on streaming platforms here in the UK

How can you tell if you’re overpaying for broadband?

It’s often difficult to identify if you’re overpaying for broadband, but studying both your bill and your typical usage can provide useful pointers

Five things to do with an old PC

There are many things to do with an old PC, from dismantling and destroying it to refurbishing or restoring it to factory settings

Do all new homes come with full fibre broadband as standard?

An increasing number of new homes come with full fibre broadband, but it’s not something you can take for granted

How densely populated is the UK?

The question of how densely populated is the UK takes on particular significance when it comes to broadband availability

What the cancellation of Google’s Project Loon means for broadband

Google's Project Loon was a brave – if ultimately doomed – attempt to show how broadband can be distributed from the skies

What’s gone wrong with the Scottish Government’s R100 broadband scheme?

The Scottish Government's R100 broadband scheme promised to transform Scotland’s internet access, but this flagship manifesto pledge hasn’t been met

How to boost your laptop or tablet’s sound quality

Laptop sound quality is a recurring issue, as it is with many tablets, but there are ways to get closer to concert audio levels or cinema-worthy output

Why EHF bands could revolutionise wireless data transfers

EHF bands are the secret weapon underpinning the future of wireless communications, as our homes become ever more reliant on connectivity

The future of homes is automation

Future smart homes are likely to adopt ever-increasing amounts of automation to simplify our lives – when the technology works, at least

Why do broadband speeds tend to be quoted as 11, 35 or 64Mbps?

Standard broadband speeds tend to be clustered around a few key numbers, but there are good reasons for this consistency among rival ISPs

How to improve your online security in five minutes

You don’t need an IT qualification to stay safe on the internet – it’s possible to improve your online security in a few minutes with some basic housekeeping

Choosing a desk or workstation for the perfect home office

Choosing a desk or workstation can make a huge difference to your productivity, especially with millions of Brits set to work from home for many months

Which ISP has the fastest home broadband connections?

It's worthwhile to consider which providers can claim to deliver the fastest broadband connections to homes around the UK

The Broadband providers most likely to make you complain in 2021

ISP complaints in 2020 were more likely to be made about some companies than others. What does the available data tell us about likely trends in 2021?

How website design has evolved since the 1990s

Like any evolving technology, website design evolution has been bumpy and unpredictable, with today’s websites owing little to their 1990s forefathers

The best podcast sites for 2021

With so much online content to choose from nowadays, finding the best podcast sites can be difficult if you don’t know where to look

How to handle broadband billing disputes

Broadband billing disputes are relatively rare, but they have the potential to permanently sour a relationship with an ISP

How energy efficient is your broadband?

There might not seem to be many parallels between power and internet connectivity, but energy efficient broadband can be measured and analysed

The best streaming content in 2021 to watch out for

After enjoying some outstanding box sets in 2020, it’s time to consider what streaming content in 2021 might look like.

Five easy ways to improve your home broadband network’s security

In an age of endemic cybercrime and phishing, it’s vitally important to improve your home broadband security to minimise any risk of fraud or impersonation