TECH

Practical guides to phones, computers and gaming in Australia.

Illustration of RCS messaging: a phone chat with a photo, read receipt and typing indicator, beside a table comparing SMS and RCS features, with a note that Telstra starts from 16 November.

Mobile · Nov 10

RCS messaging in Australia: what changes from 16 November

Telstra switches on RCS from 16 November. What changes over SMS and how to check your phone.

Illustration of a console with a USB drive and a Storage Expansion Card attached, beside a table showing both store any game and play Xbox One games, while only the card plays Xbox Series X|S optimised games at internal SSD speed.

Xbox · Nov 6

Xbox external storage: set up a drive and move games

A USB drive stores any Xbox game but plays only older ones. Set one up, choose install locations and move games.

An iPhone showing a padlock and a Lockdown Mode switch turned on, beside a list of what it limits: most message attachments, link previews, FaceTime from new callers and 2G and 3G, while calls, texts and SOS still work.

iPhone · Nov 5

iPhone Lockdown Mode: who needs it and what it limits

Apple's strictest security setting blocks most attachments and some web features. Who needs it and how to set it up.

A TPM 2.0 chip on a dark green circuit board beside three ticked checks: tpm.msc showing version 2.0, UEFI firmware that is Secure Boot capable, and PC Health Check.

Windows 11 · Nov 5

Check TPM for Windows 11: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and PC Health Check

Run tpm.msc to see your TPM version, then check UEFI and Secure Boot before the Windows 11 upgrade.

A laptop running a local game beside three preparation checks: save sign-in, finish updates and launch each game once

Steam · Nov 1

Steam Offline Mode: prepare your PC before you disconnect

Set up Steam Offline Mode, test your games and understand why a downloaded title can still need a connection.

Illustration of an Android phone with a locked Private Space and its key limits: apps stop and send no alerts when locked, are hidden from search and recent apps, and their data is not in device backup

Android · Oct 31

Android Private Space: hide apps and understand the limits

Set up Android Private Space, understand locked-app notifications and check backup and privacy limits.

Illustration of a Mac with FileVault turned on and two recovery routes: an Apple Account through iCloud, or a separate recovery key written down and stored away from the Mac

Mac · Oct 31

Mac FileVault recovery key: turn it on safely

Turn on FileVault, choose an iCloud or recovery-key route, and store the recovery details away from the Mac.

Illustration of Windows Nearby sharing: a file selected in File Explorer is sent over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to a receiving PC that offers Save & open or Save, with visibility set to My devices only

Windows · Oct 31

Windows Nearby sharing: send files between PCs

Turn on Windows Nearby sharing, send files over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and fix a PC that does not appear.

Six household member circles above a family library of three games, with a note that one copy allows one player at a time and two players need two copies.

Steam · Oct 30

Steam Families sharing: how many people can play?

Share eligible games with your household and understand simultaneous play limits.

Android's Private DNS settings with Off, Automatic and Provider hostname options, Automatic selected; DNS lookups are protected while other traffic is not covered.

Android · Oct 30

Android Private DNS: what it does and how to change it

Find Android Private DNS, choose a setting and understand what it protects.

A BitLocker recovery screen asks for the key, beside four places to look for it: Microsoft account, work or school account, printout and USB flash drive.

Windows · Oct 30

Find BitLocker recovery key: where it's stored and how to back it up

Where to find your BitLocker recovery key, and how to back it up before Windows asks.

Illustration of a Nintendo Switch save moving to and from a cloud on the same account, with three steps: check game support, check backup status, restore carefully.

Nintendo Switch · Oct 27

Nintendo Switch cloud saves: back up and restore safely

Check game support, protect the right user’s progress and avoid overwriting a newer save.

Illustration of a phone with a shield, next to three steps: back up first, keep your PIN private, use a separate repair session. Repair mode does not guarantee a reset can be avoided.

Pixel · Oct 27

Pixel repair mode: protect privacy before a repair

How to enable Pixel repair mode, keep your PIN private and prepare for a repair that may still need a reset.

A USB game drive branches to PS4 direct playback and PS5 copy-back before playback.

PS5 · Oct 24

PS5 USB extended storage: what you can store and play

Use USB storage for PS4 games and archived PS5 installations, with separate checks for saved progress.

A laptop screen showing Remove everything with a progress bar and Clean data on, above four numbered steps: back up, sign out, reset and remove device.

Windows · Oct 24

How to wipe a laptop before selling it, on Windows or Mac

Back up, reset and sign out: the Windows and Mac steps to clear a laptop properly before you sell or give it away.

Three phones labelled iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy, each with a battery gauge and a status (92%, Reduced, Normal), with a dashed line marking 80 per cent capacity.

Phones · Oct 23

How to check phone battery health on iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy

Where to check phone battery health on iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy, and what 80 per cent capacity means.

A game controller in the centre linked to three cards: iPhone by Bluetooth, PC by cable or Bluetooth, and a console it re-syncs to.

Gaming · Oct 19

How to use an Xbox controller on iPhone, PC and console

Pair it with an iPhone, remap the buttons, then move the same controller to a PC or back to the console.

A Windows 10 desktop at a three-way signpost for Windows 11, ESU and replacing the PC.

Windows 10 · Oct 18

Windows 10 End of Support Options: Upgrade, ESU or Replace?

Choose between Windows 11, Extended Security Updates and replacing a Windows 10 PC after support ended.

Three cards show the order for a lost phone: find it on a map, lock it with your passcode, then block its IMEI through your mobile provider.

Mobile · Oct 17

Lost or stolen phone in Australia: find it, lock it, block it

Find it, lock it, then block its IMEI: the order that protects your phone, your accounts and your bill.

A parent's phone shows switches for age ratings, play time, spending and chat beside a game controller labelled Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.

Gaming · Oct 13

Console parental controls on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch

Set age ratings, play time, spending and chat limits on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

Monitors · Oct 12

Choosing a home-office monitor: size, resolution and ports

Choose a home-office monitor by checking desk fit, native resolution, laptop output, USB-C and stand adjustment.

Laptops · Oct 11

How to check laptop battery health on Windows and Mac

Read laptop battery capacity on Windows or macOS, judge the percentage and slow wear with charge settings.

Five rising broadband speed bars connect a home router to several household devices.

NBN · Oct 8

NBN Speed Tiers Explained: Which Plan Fits Your Home?

Every NBN speed tier from 12/1 to 2000 Mbps, by technology, with Fixed Wireless speeds.

Two phones with photos and message lines, connected by transfer arrows.

Mobile · Oct 8

Moving Android to iPhone: What Transfers

Check copied data, messages and account access before erasing the old phone.

Repair or replace your phone: a checklist

Check battery health, support, storage and everyday frustrations before buying your next phone.

Explore Mobile
Laptop RAM: how much a new laptop needs

Match laptop memory to your apps, then check whether you can upgrade it later.

Explore Computing
Cloud gaming in Australia: what to check first

Compare game access, local plans and your connection before relying on a streamed gaming setup.

Explore Gaming

A useful device should fit the software, budget and habits you already have. ULKA’s technology coverage looks at phones, computers and gaming from that starting point. These guides explain the specifications that matter, compatibility checks worth making and the costs that can follow a purchase. Browse Mobile before replacing a phone, Computing when choosing or upgrading a work setup, and Gaming for hardware and services that fit the way you play.

Read about ULKA’s editorial approach or contact the editors.