Spring cleaning tips to make the most out of your tech this Easter

Owning so many gadgets, gizmos and bits of electronic kit often means we never make the most of them.

So with no work, school or college, it's the perfect opportunity to tweak, tune, trade-up or tackle all those tech jobs you've been putting off.

To help you, here's our five point guide to making the most of - and getting the most out of - your technology over the Easter break.

Spring Cleaning

How often do you clean out your hard drive and back up precious data? A packed drive full of files you never use can slow down your machine and failing to back up can mean tears if the computer breaks. Find a few hours to sort through photos, music, videos and documents deleting all the duplicates and those you no longer need. Consider uploading everything to a cloud-based storage solution such as Dropbox. It's simple to use and will keep everything secure if the worst happens. You can even access your files from any web-connected computer, your smartphone or iPad.

Still using the standard Internet Explorer on your PC or Safari on your Mac? Consider switching to another browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Opera. They generally run faster, have a better functional design and can be connected so your favourite sites and bookmarks all update on any computers you use.

There's one other job tech users often put off and that's updating. Whether it's downloading and installing additions to your operating system, security/virus software, browsers or your smartphone and tablet OS, it's an easy one to ignore. But it could leave your machine open to attacks from cybercriminals, hackers or malware. Spend time updating, stay secure and run free download Ad Aware on your PC to clear it of Spyware.

Going Out

You don't need to pay a fortune for sat nav in the car to get out and about this Easter. That smartphone in your pocket is just as capable of guiding you from A to B. Google Maps is free and installed on all Android handsets while the likes of TomTom and CoPilot have decent apps to buy. If you're heading onto the motorways for a long weekend away, download RAC Traffic for free to ensure you know where the jams are.

Keeping the kids quiet in the backseat is key on a long drive. So for younger ones, try these Peppa Pig apps to prevent a chorus of 'Are we there yet?' Sesame Street's Grover and Elmo have a new storybook for the iPhone and iPad which will occupy child minds while older kids and teens will love Infinity Blade II, one of the hottest games out right now.

Stuck for somewhere to go? Try the AA Days Out Guide 2012 packed with details of more than 1,800 attractions. Urbanspoon is still one of the best eating out apps filled with tasty places to go and grab a bite but being a Bank Holiday weekend, it's best to keep one eye on the skies with the official Met Office Weather app.

Staying In

If your iTunes library is packed full of TV and movie downloads but you only ever watch them on a small screen smartphone or iPad, then consider a £99 Apple TV. Connect it to your HD telly and you can stream content from your computer to the big screen using Wi-Fi. It's a breeze to set up and lets you access iTunes to rent films. You can also use it to browse your photos, view videos or play music. The new version just released has been upgraded to work with 1080p Full HD content ensuring the highest quality pictures.

If you own an Xbox 360, then the long Easter weekend is the perfect chance to realise it's not just for playing games. The new-style dashboard that appeared recently has just added BBC iPlayer alongside versions for Channel 4, Five and Sky. There's also movie downloads from LoveFilm, music streaming service Last.fm and if you own the Kinect accessory, it all works through voice commands and hand gestures.

For technophobes these four days could open up new horizons for getting to grips with tech. The BBC offer tips, advice and online courses to follow, assisting with the most basic of web skills to social media and staying secure. Investing a few hours could soon turn you or someone you know who needs help into a pro.

Fun With Friends and Family

Wii all play together: Games with friends

The Xbox 360 Dashboard mentioned above may be great if you're staying in alone, but when the family are around, that's when you need to Kinect. Movement-sensing gaming began with the Nintendo Wii - itself still a great buy - but just released is the Star Wars Kinect title. With the chance to wield lightsabers, become a Jedi Master and use the Force - all without a controller or pressing buttons - this will get the whole clan moving around the living room. Just watch the china with that imaginary weapon in your hand.

Not heard of Draw Something? It's the hottest new tech craze right now, an app for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Facebook that allows you to compete against friends and family at sketching. One person draws and the other player has to guess what the picture is – and you can play online from two sides of the world if you want. It's as addictive as it is simple and you don't have to be Van Gogh to put virtual pencil to paper.




If your kids spend 18 hours a day on phones, tablets, computers, games consoles or in front of a TV, then maybe it's time to understand how they use technology. Sitting down with youngsters and teenagers and chatting about the dangers of tech is as important as enjoying the positives. Chatrooms, webcams, online forums, sexting and cyberbullying are all potential issues for today's young people. Consider setting parental controls for young ones to prevent them accessing certain websites. You can do this through most security software while also setting time limits on computer use. You'll find lots of advice and support for both parents and children about these difficult issues at Think You Know.

Trading Up And Clearing Out

It's inevitable that every time we buy a new gadget, the old one tends to go in the back of a cupboard or drawer. So use these days off to get it all out and make some extra cash. We all know auction site eBay is the perfect place to flog off your unwanted goods but if you want to go old school, then Car Boot Junction is a comprehensive list of boot sales across the UK.

Old mobile phones can also prove to be a goldmine. Check out how much they are worth at Compare Mobile Phone Recycling and then pick the site offering the best price and/or easiest way of sending the handset in to them. Many of these sites now offer the chance to trade-in other gadgets but you will often get a lot more selling the goods privately.




Your old computer games are also worth cash at a site like Music Magpie or PlayTrade. You can find out their worth simply by entering the barcode number or scanning it with a smartphone.

If you're feeling charitable, many charities accept mobile phones to raise funds through their recycling or Freecycle is the most common way of getting rid of unwanted technology to someone who may need it.

And if you have an old desktop computer or laptop, don't smash it up and throw it out. Wipe the hard drive securely and offer it to Computer Aid. They will refurbish it and ensure the machine goes to a good home, often abroad in the third world, ensuring those living there can make the most of the same kind of technology many of us take for granted each day.