Hana Mori

Hana covers phones, computers and the software that connects them. She explains compatibility, useful features and the trade-offs involved in keeping, upgrading or replacing a device.

Latest

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.

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 timeline of screen snapshots stops where the Save snapshots switch is turned off, beside Reset Recall and Pause until tomorrow options.

Microsoft Recall · Nov 3

How to turn off Microsoft Recall and what its snapshots save

Switch off Save snapshots, then reset to delete what Recall stored. What it saves and how to filter it.

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 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.

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.

An options dialog with an unticked Enable Copilot checkbox, beside notes that Word, Excel and PowerPoint switch per app while Outlook follows your account.

Microsoft Copilot · Oct 29

How to turn off Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Word, Excel and PowerPoint each have their own Copilot checkbox, and Outlook has a different switch. Here is where.

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 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.

An iPhone settings screen with Apple Intelligence switches, linked to an on-device chip card and a Private Cloud card.

Apple Intelligence · Oct 18

How to turn off Apple Intelligence on iPhone, feature by feature

Switch off Siri AI, summaries and smart replies one by one, and see what your iPhone sends to the cloud.

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 cloud marked 5 GB beside a full storage bar split into photos, backups, messages, and mail and Drive, each with a way to clear space.

iCloud · Oct 15

How to free up iCloud storage before paying for more

Clear old backups, photos, Messages attachments and Mail before you pay for a bigger iCloud+ plan.

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.

Four steps for preparing a phone for sale, beside a handset showing its welcome screen

Mobile phones · Oct 7

How to wipe a phone before selling or trading it in

Back up your files, move your number and release account locks before erasing an iPhone or Android for sale.

Smartphones · Oct 6

eSIM transfer to a new phone in Australia: moving your number

Move your number to a new phone by eSIM: Quick Transfer, Android transfer and the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone apps.

Smartphones · Oct 5

How long will your phone get security updates? Check before you buy

Pixel, Galaxy and iPhone update policies compared, and how to work out the support a phone has left.

Work, study and creative tasks occupy shared space above a large RAM module.

Laptops · Sep 27

How much RAM do you need in a new laptop?

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