• Pages are quick to open and load.
• You can search the web from inside the address bar.
• You can add favourite websites to a folder or to the Favorites Bar.
• If you personalise the browser with iGoogle, you can include instant information on local news, weather, sport or virtually anything else that interests you.
• You can check your Gmail – the Google email account – from within the browser.

• There's a simple search box into which you can type your query.
• Answers are provided almost instantly.
• You can choose to search for websites, images, news, maps and much more.
• It will make suggestions for alternative search terms if you misspell a word or name.
• You can do searches just in the UK or all over the world.
• Google has also produced its own web browser, Google Chrome. The company has a huge commercial side, creating and placing the adverts you often see on websites. In addition, Google Analytics is a free service that can provide an enormous amount of information on how a website is working.

• A computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access.

• go to your browser’s address bar and type in the address of the search engine website – for instance, Google:

• Google is probably the best-known search engine, so much so that in 2006 it became a verb in the Oxford English Dictionary!
• Bing, Microsoft’s own search engine, is usually built into the Internet Explorer browser.
• Originally called ‘Ask Jeeves’, it was renamed as Ask.com in 2005. It was then relaunched recently as Ask Jeeves... again! It responds to full questions rather than to keywords.
• Yahoo! is also a popular search engine.

• A computer with internet access.

• The download speed is how long it takes for pages to appear on your screen and to download files such as music files from the internet to your computer.
• The upload speed is the opposite – for instance, how long it takes to upload photographs from your computer to an online photo album.

Today, it’s possible to connect to and use the internet in many different ways

• It’s possible to connect to the internet via a range of devices these days — though desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones and tablets are the most common.
• However, everyday items such as watches, even central heating systems and refrigerators, are now capable of using the internet.
• In order for any device to actually get online though, requires signing up for a specialised service for accessing the internet. 
• These internet access services are generally of two types: internet fixed to a specific location and provided by internet service providers, or mobile internet that can be used out and about, which are provided by mobile phone networks.
• People use one or the other (or both) types of internet access — fixed or mobile — depending on the device they’re using, their immediate environment and budgets.

The two ingredients for connecting to the internet

• A device capable of connecting to the internet.
• Access to an internet service that will allow that device to get connected.

Wifi is a technology that uses radio waves to connect our devices to the internet — wirelessly

• about the key benefits of wifi and the basics of how it works
• the general steps required for connecting to any wifi network
• how to set up and connect to a wifi network at home, using a Windows 7 computer as an example

Wifi: the key benefits and the basics of how it works

• Wifi is the wireless technology that all internet-enabled devices use to get online — without messing around with cables.
• Home wifi internet is made possible via a wireless router, which is basically a box that transmits and receives wireless signals between an internet connection and internet-enabled devices.
• To communicate with a router and connect to wifi, a device must have a wireless adaptor. Most internet-enabled devices today come with a wireless adaptor built in — but older computers may require a plug-in adaptor in order to get online wirelessly

General steps to connect to a wifi network near you

An example of how to set up and connect to wifi at home (using a Windows 10 computer)

• a wireless router
• a Windows 10 computer with a built-in wireless adaptor or a separate adaptor.

Step 1: Set up your wireless router - an example of which is on the right - (see How to connect to the internet for instructions). Most internet providers now supply wireless routers as standard. When setting up one, it’s important to provide appropriate security so that your computer can’t be entered by anyone but you. Instructions for this should be supplied with the router, but if in doubt, consult an expert.

Step 2: Check that your computer has a built-in wireless adaptor (see left). Up-to-date laptops generally have one, but most desktop computers don’t.

• Click the Start button.
• Right-click Computer.
• Click Properties.

• Click Device Manager.

• Click the arrow next to ‘Network Adaptors’ to see if there’s a wifi adaptor listed.

 

If you don’t have a wireless adaptor, you’ll need to buy one to plug into one of your computer’s USB ports. The adaptor should be supplied complete with instructions on how to use it to connect to a wireless network.

 

For laptops select the Network icon on the taskbar. The icon that appears depends on your current connection state. If you don’t see one of the network icons below or a similar one, select Up arrow icon to see if it appears there.

 

 

 

Step 3: To connect to a wireless network, click the wifi icon. You should now see a list of available networks – an example is on the left.

 

Step 4: To connect to a network, just click on its name. If it’s a secure network and it’s the first time you’ve used it, you’ll need a password. If it’s your home network, your internet provider will have given you a password – sometimes it’s printed on a sticker attached to the router.

 

If you’ll be using the same connection regularly, you can tick the box to connect automatically.

 

Step 5: The first time you connect to a network, you’ll be asked to choose whether it’s a home, work or public network.

 

Warning: Be very careful if you connect to unsecured wireless networks such as wifi ‘hotspots’ in public places. While on them, it’s important not to use websites that require you to enter personal or financial details as other users of the network could gain access to these details.

 

Fiona Syrett is a Digital Unite tutor.

Cortana is a clever little personal assistant that helps you to find things, complete tasks and organise your calendar

• set up and personalise Cortana
• use Cortana to set up a reminder
• use Cortana to search your computer

1. To set up Cortana, click on the Cortana icon   in Start   or click on Start > All apps > Cortana. This will open up the Cortana window. 
2. Type in the name you would like Cortana to call you by. You can also fill in details about your preferences, but you can do this later if you prefer. 
3. If you would like to use voice commands with Cortana, you will need to calibrate the microphone. Click on the microphone icon to the right of Cortana’s search bar and read through the sentences to set up your microphone.
4. Cortana will now automatically open whenever you log on. 

How to personalise Cortana using the Notebook

1. Click on the Cortana search bar at the bottom of your screen. This will bring up Cortana’s window. Then click on the Cortana icon   to bring up your Notebook. 
2. The more information you provide Cortana with, the more personalised your experience will be. Click on ‘About Me’ to change the name Cortana calls you and to fill in your favourite places, such as home and work.
3. Work your way down the list of categories, such as events, finance, and news, and update your information for each one. If you don’t want to receive updates about a subject, you can turn them off by clicking on the top button in each topic and you can turn them back on at any time. For example, you might choose to switch on travel updates if you’ve got a trip planned and want to make sure your flight is on time or there aren’t any traffic delays. Once you’re happy with your changes, click ‘save’ before moving on to the next category.
4. If you would like to link Cortana to your LinkedIn, Xbox Live, Office 365 or Dynamics CRM, click on ‘Connected Accounts’ and then ‘Connect.’ This will synchronise your accounts across different devices.
5. If you decide you want to turn off Cortana, click on the Cortana icon and then go to ‘Settings’. Click on the top button to switch it to ‘off’. Disabling Cortana will not erase the information Cortana has about you, so you can turn it back on again at any time without losing anything.

How to use Cortana to set up a reminder

1. Open Cortana and click on the lightbulb icon at the top left.
2. Click on the plus sign at the bottom of the window to set up a new reminder.
3. Type in what you want to be reminded about in the “Remember to…” box. You can also add a person from your contacts list by clicking on the ‘Person’ box, add a place by clicking on ‘Place’ and set a time by clicking on ‘Time’ and selecting the hour and minute.
4. You can also set up a new reminder by typing in the Cortana search bar or talk into the microphone, starting with “Remind me to.”
5. If you are signed into your Microsoft account on your phone, any reminders you set on your phone will automatically be synchronized across all the devices your Microsoft account is connected to.

Using Cortana to search your computer

1. Click on the Cortana search bar at the bottom left of your screen or click on the microphone icon.
2. Type or say the name of what you’re looking for. You can include details such as date or location, for example ‘photos from June’ or ‘photos from London.’
3. Click on ‘My stuff’ to see the results for files, apps, photos, videos and music across your PC.

Watch the below to see how it works:

Find and install apps with ease in the new Windows store

• Enhance your computer with apps
• Use the Windows store to access new apps, games and entertainment

How to access apps in the Windows store

1. Windows 10 comes with some apps already built in, such as Skype and OneDrive, but there are a lot more available in the Windows store. Whatever you want to do with your computer, there’s an app for it.
2. To access the Windows Store, click on the Start button   and then select ‘Store.’ Alternatively, click on the Store icon in your taskbar. 
3. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, type the name of the app in the search bar at the top of the Store window. You will get a number of results related to the term, sorted into apps, games, artists, albums, songs, films, and TV shows. You can filter the results by clicking on the relevant category on the left. 
4. If you don’t have something specific in mind, you can browse top apps, games and collections by clicking on the different buttons on the Store home page.
5. Once you’ve found the app you want, you can download it. If it’s a free app, simply click on ‘Free’ to download it. If it’s a paid app, you can either click on ‘Free trial’ to see if you like it or pay to own it. 
6. Once you’ve purchased or downloaded an app, you can use it on any compatible device you use your Microsoft account to log into, including your phone, laptop, desktop or Xbox.

How to purchase music and movies in the Windows store

1. You can buy music, TV shows, and movies in the Windows store. Simply type in the name of the artist, film or programme into the search bar and click on the one you want from the search result.
2. Click on the button to purchase it and then fill in your payment details. Your content will be immediately available.

Get yourself set up for ultimate productivity with your email inbox and calendar in Windows 10

• Locate Mail and Calendar and pin them to your Start
• Set up Mail and Calendar
• Get started with Mail and Calendar

Where to find Mail and Calendar

1. You can find Outlook Mail and Calendar in your Start menu. Click on Start   and select ‘All apps’ at the bottom of the menu.
2. Calendar is located under the section headed ‘C’ and Mail is found under ‘M’.
3. Right click or press and hold the app you want to pin and select ‘Pin to Start.’ They will now appear as part of your main Start menu so you don’t have to search for them every time you want to open them.

Watch the below to see how it works:

How to set up Mail and Calendar

1. When you open up Mail or Calendar for the first time, click on the button marked ‘Get started’.
2. Mail and Calendar will automatically input all the information from your Microsoft account, but you can also include details from other accounts, such as Google and Yahoo. When prompted to add an account, just input your email address and password to log in and synchronise your information across accounts and you’re all done. 
3. If you’d like to add an account later to Calendar, click on the settings button on the bottom left (a cog wheel) and select ‘Manage Accounts’ on the right. Click on ‘Add Account’ and select the type of account you want. Type in your email address and password and it will be included in your Calendar information.
4. If you’d like to add an account later to Mail, click on the three lines in the top left hand corner and then select ‘Accounts.’ Then click on ‘Add Accounts’ and select the type of account you want. Type in your log in details and it will now be included in your Mail.
5. Note that you do not have to update account information separately for Mail and Calendar. Once you’ve updated one, the other will automatically synchronise.

See how quick it is to set up your calendar:

 

How to start using Mail and Calendar

1. You can switch between Mail and Calendar by clicking on the envelope and calendar icons at the bottom left of the window.
2. To write an email, click on the icon of three horizontal lines at the top left and then select ‘New mail.’ Alternatively, just click on the cross below the three lines. This will open up an email for you to fill in the recipient’s details, title and body of the mail. Once you’ve finished, click ‘Send’ in the top right.
3. Any emails you receive will be displayed in the Inbox. Click on the folder icon at the top left side of the window to switch between your ‘Inbox’, ‘Drafts’, ‘Junk’, ‘Sent’ and ‘Deleted Items’.
4. To input an appointment in calendar, use the options at the top of the screen to take you to the date you want and then click on the box for that date. Fill in the details and when you’re finished, click done to add it in to your schedule.
5. If you need help at any stage, you can always click on the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) then Settings > Help > Open Help. 

Understand how to log in to Windows in new ways via Windows Hello

• Windows Hello and how it works
• How to set up Windows Hello and picture passwords on your device

How Windows Hello works

1. Windows Hello is the latest innovation in protecting your devices. Instead of using a password to sign in to your devices, apps, online services and networks, it uses ‘biometric authentication’. This means that you sign in with your face, iris or fingerprint. You can also use a PIN or even a picture if you prefer.
2. The Lumia 950 and 950 XL are currently Windows Hello ready, with more devices supporting Windows Hello due to be available in the future. However, even if you don’t have a Lumia 950, you can still set up a unique picture or PIN to log in.
3. If you decide to stop using Windows Hello, the identifying features of your face, iris or fingerprint will be deleted. This information never leaves your device and Windows does not store it anywhere.

How to set up Windows Hello

1. If you’d like to set up Windows Hello on your phone, swipe to the ‘All apps’ list from Start   and then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. If you don’t see an option for Windows Hello, your phone doesn’t support it. You may need to input your PIN to continue. Select ‘Set up’ under Windows Hello and follow the instructions.
2. If you’d like to set up a picture password or pin on your computer, click on Start   and then go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. If you don’t see Windows Hello as an option, but you’d like to set up a picture password, click on ‘Add’ under picture password.
3. If you are setting up a picture password on a computer, type in your Microsoft account password and then browse to find the picture you want to use. 
4. Use your mouse to draw three gestures (circles, straight lines or taps) on the picture. These gestures will become your log in password. You will then be asked to repeat these gestures to confirm. You can start again or cancel at any time.
5. Once you’re happy with your picture password, click on ‘Finish’.
6. To turn off Windows Hello, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and deselect ‘Automatically unlock the screen if we recognise you’ or ‘Remove’ to get rid of a picture password.
7. If you want to remove your identification data, go to Settings  > Accounts  > Sign-in options and select ‘Remove’ under Windows Hello, select Remove.

 

Set things up in Windows 10 to look and feel exactly as you want 

• Change the background image on your desktop
• Change the colour of the Start menu, the taskbar and other items

How to change the background image on your desktop

1. You will need to go into the settings menu to change the background image on your desktop. Click on the Start button  and select Settings. This will open up a window with a number of options for you to choose from. 
2. Click on ‘Personalisation.’ This will take you to a window that allows you to change the background of your desktop.
3. The top image gives you a preview of how your desktop will look once you’ve finished making your changes. 
4. The top drop down list lets you choose between a fixed image, a single colour or a slideshow of pictures as your desktop background. If you choose ‘colour’, Windows 10 will show you a number of shades and all you have to do is pick the one you like.
5. If you want a picture, select the picture option and choose from one of the available Windows 10 images or click on ‘browse’ to select an image from your pictures folder. Once you’ve found a picture you want to use, click on ‘fit’ to adjust the way the image appears on your screen. 
6. Alternatively, if you’d prefer a slideshow with the pictures changing, click ‘slideshow.’ This automatically defaults to your picture folder, but if you’d like to use a different source, click on ‘browse’ and choose the folder you want Windows 10 to use. You can then set the frequency you want the pictures to change, from every 1 minute through to once a day, set the images to shuffle randomly or rotate in order and, if you’re using a laptop, switch off the slideshow when your machine is running off battery power to save energy.
7. Finally, you can choose how you would like the images to appear on your screen by clicking on ‘fit’ and selecting an option from the drop down list.

Watch the below to see how it works:

How to change the colour of Start and other items

1. If you want to change the colour of your Start, taskbar and other items, go to Start > Settings > Personalisation and click on the ‘colour’ tab.
2. If you want to let Windows 10 pick a complementary colour from your background image to use in the Start window, switch the top button to ‘On’ or leave it ‘Off’ to select your own from the options provided. 
3. If you would like to colour your Start, taskbar, action centre and title bar, click on the button to turn it ‘On’ and select the colour you want. 
4. If you prefer your Start, taskbar and Action Centre transparent, click on the button to turn it ‘Off.’
5. Windows 10 automatically updates your machine according to your selection, so once you’re happy with its appearance, simply close the settings window and your changes will have taken effect.

A run-through some of the key features found in Microsoft Edge

• search the internet using the address bar
• set up and access reading lists
• simplify the appearance of a web page for easier reading

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How to search faster from the address bar

1. To open Microsoft Edge, click on the  icon on your taskbar or desktop.
2. If you want to carry out an online search, simply type in the topic in the address bar (where you write the name of the site you want to visit). This will give you a range of answers without your having to visit a search engine.

Watch the below to see how it works:

How to set up and access reading lists

1. If there’s an article or web page you’d like to read, but you don’t have time right now, you can set up a reading list in Microsoft Edge. This will synchronise across all your Windows 10 devices if you’re signed in with your Microsoft account. 
2. On the top right hand of the Microsoft Edge window, click on the star. 
3. Click on the right hand icon labelled ‘Reading list.’ 
4. Give the web page a name and then click ‘Add.’ 
5. When you want to read an item in your reading list, click on the icon with three lines in the top right hand of the screen. This will display everything you’ve added to your reading list.

How to simplify the appearance of a web page

1. If you prefer a clean, easy to read layout for your web pages, click on the icon of a book   in the top right hand corner of Microsoft Edge to turn on reading view. This will bring the text to the front and centre of the page, making it easier to read.
2. Adjust the reading view style and font size to suit your needs by clicking on the icon with three dots (‘More’), selecting ‘Settings’ and scrolling down to the reading options.
3. To exit reading view, simply click on the book icon again.