Alan Martin
After a false career start producing flash games, Alan Martin has been writing about phones, wearables and internet culture for over a decade with bylines all over the web and print.
Previously Deputy Editor of Alphr, he turned freelance in 2018 and his words can now be found all over the web, on the likes of Tom's Guide, The i, TechRadar, NME, Gizmodo, Coach, T3, The New Statesman and ShortList, as well as in the odd magazine and newspaper.
He's rarely seen not wearing at least one smartwatch, can talk your ear off about political biographies, and is a long-suffering fan of Derby County FC (which, on balance, he'd rather not talk about). He lives in London, right at the bottom of the Northern Line, long after you think it ends.
You can find Alan tweeting at @alan_p_martin, or email him at mralanpmartin@gmail.com.
Latest articles by Alan Martin
![Best business laptops: A photograph of the Dell XPS 15 overlaid with the IT Pro recommended award](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5wK5b8eD9Mn5MHKEom6Mdk-320-80.jpg)
Best business laptops 2024
By Alan Martin last updated
Best Looking for the best business laptops? Here’s our pick of the best machines in 2023
![A graphic mockup showing an abstract representation of a black and red smartphone next to a IT Pro Recommended badge](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uaTEXjemDz668iKP8mmXWJ-320-80.jpg)
Best business smartphones
By Alan Martin last updated
Best The best business smartphones on the market today packed with work-focused features you need
![Mobile QR Payment](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bJqnKRzt6TTZSB3Czq2zkD-320-80.jpg)
How does Google Pay work in the UK? A complete guide
By Alan Martin last updated
Opinion Our guide to using Google Pay in the UK, including where you can use it and what cards support it
![Best all-in-one printers: A photograph of the Canon Pixma TS6250, overlaid with the IT Pro Recommended Award logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SxPYMuWoPwWbXmcz5DH8C4-320-80.jpg)
Best all-in-one printers 2023
By Alan Martin last updated
Best For your home office to function, you need a reliable all-in-one printer. These are the best you can buy.
![Best cheap printers: photograph of the Epson Expression Home XP-4100, overlaid with the IT Pro Recommended Award logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jgqPYXSq94vswQbzaUzESd-320-80.jpg)
Best cheap printers for 2024: Office printing on a budget
By Alan Martin last updated
Best Getting a decent home office setup needn’t cost the earth. These are the best cheap printers you can buy
![A photograph of the Canon Pixma TS8350, overlaid with the IT Pro Recommended Award logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wRh9AP6HdjUsNaSmWmg7yQ-320-80.jpg)
The best printers for small business 2023
By Alan Martin last updated
Best Your small business needs a quality printer that won’t let you down - these are the best business printers around
![Windows 11 splash screen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w2xT8M3KemFbrRB7ognD9V-320-80.jpg)
How to check if your PC is compatible with Windows 11
By Alan Martin published
Tutorials Find out if your PC is ready for the brave new world of Windows 11 with this guide.
![The Microsoft Windows logo with lights shining through on top of a dark background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tsd2pFSePT4CkyjDhWtP3i-320-80.jpg)
How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10
By Alan Martin published
Tutorials Are you missing Windows 10? Here’s how to get it back if you’re regretting your Windows 11 upgrade
![The Windows (start menu) key on a keyboard](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YkTwmxGBG6o7HWeSAyFWLF-320-80.jpg)
How to move the Start Menu in Windows 11 to where it belongs
By Alan Martin published
Tutorials …and other tips to make Windows 11 feel like Windows 10
![A photograph of the Apple iPhone 12 mini overlaid with a banner with text reading 'Amazon Prime Day'](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ELgzCDPKuv5r44YFRGRx7C-320-80.jpg)
Best Amazon Prime Day smartphone and tablet deals
By Alan Martin published
Best Grab yourself an upgrade for your business device
![Amazon Prime Day](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/icGhXA2SMdrmW76YVnydz7-320-80.jpg)
Best Amazon Prime Day tech hardware deals
By Alan Martin published
Best Price reductions on everything from monitors to microSD cards
![A photograph of the Samsung Galaxy Book S overlaid with a banner reading Amazon Prime Day](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k6dRE6FSjUAejdtaKBDM6Z-320-80.jpg)
Best Amazon Prime Day desktop PC and laptop deals
By Alan Martin published
Best If your computer’s looking a bit long in the tooth, it could be time to upgrade
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YQdxmuMRBrsbHJ7x2fup9B-320-80.jpg)
How much does an iPhone cost to make?
By Alan Martin last updated
In-depth The true cost of devices isn’t in their specifications or hardware, but rather in how manufacturers run their businesses
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/amE6Zon2cucMn6jpfquxfa-320-80.jpg)
Google Pixel 3a XL review: More than enough for business use
By Alan Martin published
Reviews Google has made cuts in all the right places to make the Pixel 3a XL a no brainer for the office
![Facebook icon displayed on a smartphone before a screen with the full logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/47q9iJcxRFABk99m6vaaj-320-80.jpg)
Irish Data Protection Commission has questions for Facebook
By Alan Martin published
News Plans to merge Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram prompts request for an “urgent briefing”
![A fishing hook rests on top of a stack of credit cards, while a padlock sits in the background out of focus](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jQqJ7cTgccfCCohQaaLvBe-320-80.jpg)
A TV licence phishing scam has driven over 5,000 complaints
By Alan Martin published
News Action Fraud states that 5,057 people have complained about the phishing attempt in the last three months
![The Acer Chromebook 14 for Work with the lid closed](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uM56VTXjzZRznTL3mZwFjm-320-80.jpg)
Chrome OS takes steps to block ‘Rubber Ducky’ USB attacks
By Alan Martin published
News Google is making Chromebooks less susceptible to sabotage via USB port
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2dS9B9EwR37xVYMubXQDdb-320-80.jpg)
Microsoft Surface Laptop review
By Alan Martin published
Reviews Not quite a MacBook Air killer, but a fine laptop regardless
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNzvgsnDibfgjfwHnJWkPK-320-80.jpg)
Chinese cities roll out gait-recognition technology
By Alan Martin published
News Surveillance technology claimed to recognise walkers from a silhouette with 94% accuracy
![The Union Jack and the European flag with a diagonal tear spitting the apart.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vrbDzAJd3GdTN8Uax6HYFT-320-80.jpg)
Leave.EU faces big fine over data law breaches
By Alan Martin published
News Information commissioner reveals Leave.EU was fined a total of £75,000 for “serious breaches”
![amazon building](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r4RAxwUxyqexPGSWHaSYP9-320-80.jpg)
Amazon’s HQ2 could be split between two cities
By Alan Martin published
News Plan aims to ensure ecommerce giant can hire enough talent, reports say
![Facebook workplace](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HJJ7tbyotZJijqXrbKcHfK-320-80.png)
Facebook plans to move Workplace to its own domain
By Alan Martin published
News The Slack and Teams rival will be getting its own domain in 2019
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KLmAAb6c6hAEM7ugrW8P9d-320-80.jpg)
Google Pixel 3 XL review
By Alan Martin published
Reviews A great handset, but ultimately too expensive for its own good