Alan Martin
Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. He often writes for T3 and Tom's Guide. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.
Latest articles by Alan Martin
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How do you stream movies together online? These clever features make your home entertainment so much more social
Some of the biggest streamers let you watch remotely with friends and family, and there’s a workaround for the others
By Alan Martin Published
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Soundbars vs surround sound - our expert gives his verdict on which is better
Soundbars have their advantages over surround sound systems, but audio quality generally isn’t on the list.
By Alan Martin Last updated
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Five genius things Siri can do for your iPhone that you've probably never used before
Siri can do an awful lot for you if you know how. Here are some of the iPhone virtual assistant’s best functions
By Alan Martin Published
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In your smart TV spying on you? This is what data your TV collects and how can you make it more private
Internet-connected smart TVs are designed to make your life easier, but that convenience comes with a price: personal data.
By Alan Martin Published
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How to set email reminders on iPhone - the best kept secret for keeping your inbox under control
Apple Mail’s reminder function for iPhone lets you deal with emails when you’re good and ready. Here’s how to do it
By Alan Martin Published
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This iPhone shortcut is the one thing you need to have downloaded in case you ever drop your phone in water
Apple's Water Eject feature can force liquids out of your iPhone’s speaker grille to restore your phone to working order. Here's how
By Alan Martin Published
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How to use 'text replacement' on your iPhone – plus genius ideas for how this handy feature can make your life easier
Don’t waste time repeatedly typing out phrases you use all the time. With the iPhone text replacement feature, you can shortcut them for quick use
By Alan Martin Published
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How to make an iPhone's battery last longer – 12 tips to extend a charge, plus the one setting to always have turned on
As your iPhone gets older, its battery will gradually decline. Here’s how to get the most battery life out of it to spare your charger anxiety
By Alan Martin Published
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Amazon Prime's new 'Dialogue Boost' will make watching movies a million times better – here's how to turn it on
Amazon’s Dialogue Boost amplifies speech in select movies and shows, without making everything else louder.
By Alan Martin Published
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These simple setting changes will make your iPhone's speaker louder – the ideal tweak for listening to music outdoors
If your Bluetooth speaker is out of battery, here are some tips for boosting the volume of your iPhone’s built-in sound
By Alan Martin Published
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10 hidden iPhone tricks you probably don't know about – all designed to put more power in your pocket
Your iPhone can do a lot more than you think. Here are 10 skills you may not be aware of
By Alan Martin Published
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Apple's new 'Voice Isolation' will make your call quality on an iPhone a million times better – here's how to turn it on
Voice Isolation minimizes background noise to make call quality sound better than ever on iPhone. Here’s how to enable it.
By Alan Martin Published
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Are wireless chargers any good? Convenience alone isn't enough to convince our tech expert
If you’re prepared to sacrifice speed and efficiency for convenience, then you may decide wireless chargers are worth the price
By Alan Martin Published
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Is the Apple Pencil worth it? Our tech expert casts his verdict on Apple's $130 stylus for every kind of iPad owner
While the Apple Pencil won’t be an essential purchase for most iPad owners, it remains a brilliant accessory and has proved immensely useful for me
By Alan Martin Published
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Can I use a soundbar as a central speaker? Yes but you shouldn’t, says our expert – here's why
While you technically can use some soundbars as a central speaker in a surround sound system, you really shouldn’t
By Alan Martin Published
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10 genius uses for NFC tags – the Amazon buy that costs less than $10 and will make your smart home so much smarter
Make your smart home even smarter with these clever uses for NFC stickers
By Alan Martin Published
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'Avoid the "soap opera" effect' – 4 tweaks you should make to your TV settings to improve your watching experience
You may want to get stuck into your shows immediately, but take a moment to calibrate your new TV for optimal performance
By Alan Martin Published
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5 incredible things TVs can do in that will probably convince you it's time for an upgrade
Smart TVs can do some amazing things. Here’s what you can expect if you’re due an upgrade
By Alan Martin Published
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4 alternatives to AirTags with cool features that might tempt you away from Apple
Find your property without an iPhone with these AirTag alternatives
By Alan Martin Published
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5 genius things robot vacuums can do in 2024 that'll convince you to save time and go smart
The robot vacuum has come a long way since clunky early models. Here are five things they can do in 2023.
By Alan Martin Published
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Why I ditched my smart TV's standard operating system and started using Apple TV 4K instead
Your smart TV already has streaming apps built in, so why spend over $100 on Apple TV 4K? It's a worthwhile luxury, argues Alan Martin
By Alan Martin Published
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Can you use an Amazon Echo as a speaker for your TV? Yes, and it might just boost your sound quality
Your Amazon Echo speaker can offer a big improvement on your TV’s built-in sound. Here’s how to set it up
By Alan Martin Published
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How do I set up a smart home? These are the 10 steps to take to automate your house from top to bottom
Starting small, we show you the ten steps to make your house a smart home.
By Alan Martin Published
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Should I get a smart lock? 3 reasons you should, and 4 reasons why our tech expert has never been tempted
Smart locks can ensure you’re never locked out again, but should you stick with conventional keys?
By Alan Martin Published