Google isn't giving up on its Chrome OS-powered vision of a life spent completely in the browser, but how easy is it to ditch your trusty laptop for a Chromebook?

We've taken a look at some of the key apps and services you'll need to switch to for a cloud-only life, and assessed some of the obstacles you'll come across along the way. In each area, you'll see a 'switchability' rating, summing up just how simple (or otherwise) it is for the average user to make the leap as the technology stands...

Apple's Smart Cover for the iPad mini is a recommended option to house your beloved iOS device, but when it comes to keeping it in good condition, you might want to look at a more comprehensive alternative.

The most popular cases come in the form of folios, which protect the front and back of your iPad and usually fold to create a stand, ideal for watching films or typing on.

Then there are the sleeves, which are perfect as carry cases. Rugged cases are for extreme use (or to keep your iPad...

Listen up, nerds. You want to access the system management controller (SMC) chip on a Mac, you've gotta have got at least an E in your OWLS at Hogwarts.

SpecialisRevelio are the magic words that Apple's engineers decided would get you into the SMC's undocumented code - in the Harry Potter books, it's a charm used by wizards and witches in the know to reveal any sneaky hexes or charms on an object.

Its proper name is Scarpin's Revelaspell and it's pretty advanced stuff, Hermione Granger-grade...

Another new batch of patents have been granted to Apple - 35 to be exact - but there's one in particular that's caught our eye.

The "Electronic device housing as acoustic input device" patent, issued by those great people over at the USPTO, details a technology that would let us interact through taps, scratches and other actions we're not used to using on our iDevices.

The microprocessor will interpret the type of input, picked up by the transducers or microphones, and turn it into a...