Articles by Chris Phin

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac vs Office 2016 for Mac

By Chris Phin published 28 August 15

Office 2016 for Mac is here, but what does it offer if you're using the older version – and what does it take away?

Can an Apple addict break the habit of a lifetime and switch to BlackBerry?

By Chris Phin published 6 April 15

Opinion What happens when a technology enthusiast, whose smartphone has only ever been an iPhone, swaps his SIM into a BlackBerry Classic?

Apple still hasn't 'fixed' TV, but maybe I'm OK with that

By Chris Phin published 19 March 15

Opinion 'Perhaps the future of the Apple TV box actually isn't even 'TV' at all.'

I love my smartphone's snapper, so why did I just buy a dedicated camera?

By Chris Phin published 22 February 15

Opinion Smartphone cameras are getting better every year but they still can't beat a dedicated camera.

The Withings Activité has shown me why most other fitness trackers don't work

By Chris Phin published 15 February 15

Opinion Why we need wearables that force us to confront our laziness.

Windows 10 is just what an OS should be, and that's why no one cares

Windows 10 is just what an OS should be; that's why no one cares

By Chris Phin published 25 January 15

Opinion Poor Microsoft. In tech as in politics, doing something reliably well just isn't news.

Slick, capable and connected: it's time to go back to the PowerBook Duo

By Chris Phin published 10 January 15

Opinion Apple answered the problem of the portable desktop more than two decades ago, and the concept is ripe for revisiting.

Only learning to code can stop technology from being the boss of us

By Chris Phin published 14 December 14

Opinion By supporting the Hour of Code, Obama showed the next generation that they can take charge of the machines.

The only things that can stop the Chromebook are you and Google

By Chris Phin published 30 November 14

Opinion The Chromebook has come of age, but it still has to overcome public ignorance if it's to succeed.

All crowd sourced reviews tell us is that people are jerks

The only thing crowd-sourced ratings tell us is that people are jerks

By Chris Phin published 16 November 14

Opinion When it comes to reviews, too much democracy is a dangerous thing.

Oh my Word: even when they're free, Microsoft's Office apps look depressing

By Chris Phin published 9 November 14

MacFormat Chris Phin is less than impressed with Microsoft's last ditch attempt to get us to use Office apps on iOS.

Why have apps got so boring?

By Chris Phin published 2 November 14

MacFormat A lack of ideas might stifle innovation for the Apple Watch at launch, just when we need it most.

It's time for the iPad critics to shut up

By Chris Phin published 26 October 14

MacFormat If you think that Apple doesn't know what it's doing, you're wrong.

Apple's latest thinnovations have scanty appeal

By Chris Phin published 19 October 14

MacFormat Apple is treading a thin line between stylishly portable and precariously slim - but is this brinkmanship wise?

The Apple Watch provides you with just the right amount of choice

By Chris Phin published 12 October 14

MacFormat When is having too much choice a bad thing, and is Apple making the same mistakes it made in the first post-Jobs era?

I'm finding it hard to care about Windows 10

By Chris Phin published 5 October 14

MacFormat Chris Phin tells us why he's struggling to find a reason to be excited about Windows 10, and even OS X is becoming a little stale.

This is why the Apple Watch doesn't need a killer app

By Chris Phin published 28 September 14

MacFormat In the past new tech has needed a killer app to drive sales but the Apple watch might just succeed on its own.

Apple at its best when it's being disruptive

Apple is at its best when it's being disruptive

By Chris Phin published 21 September 14

MacFormat MacFormat's Chris Phin explains that Apple is always at its strongest when being disruptive, even when it's getting into the murky world of payments.

MacOS through the ages: a visual guide

By Chris Phin published 27 June 14

In Depth 30 years of Mac operating systems revealed and what you needed to run them.

Netgear VueZone review

By Chris Phin published 25 March 14

These wireless home security cameras promise freedom of positioning, but do they record at a quality that's useful?

Logitech UE Air Speaker review

By Chris Phin published 19 April 12

By applying its UE brand, Logitech isn't shy of suggesting these AirPlay speakers are audiophile-friendly - but we are.

The Philips DS9010 Fidelio speaker dock works for iPods, iPads and iPhones

Philips DS9010 review

By Chris Phin published 7 September 11

A beautiful, iPad-capable speaker dock that sounds great? Music to our ears

Top 12 gifts for Mac users

By Chris Phin published 26 November 09

In Depth Presents guaranteed to bring a smile to any Mac fan's face