There are so many Windows apps out there, that picking a list of the very best, most must-install software for your desktop or laptop feels daunting. We've pored over pages of recommendations, countless forum posts, and lots of comments to come up with this year's Lifehacker Pack for Windows, a list of software champions across four categories: productivity, internet/communications, music/photos/video and utilities.

Which Android app is worth a spot on your new smartphone or tablet? Trying to find the very best of the best is a challenging process, because there are millions of apps to pick from on the Google Play Store. Even if you just scan Google’s “top free” or “top paid” list on a daily basis, you’ll miss out on a lot of digital gems. Allow us to help you out with our freshly updated Lifehacker Pack for Android.

Over the years, I've accumulated a bunch of Ethernet cables. I've kept a stash of cables of different lengths in a box - you'd be surprised how handy a 10 metre cable can be - as well as some short ones of just 25 centimetres and various in-between lengths. Here's how to tell what ethernet cables you're using and why it matters.

Trying to find the perfect iOS apps can be tough, and we’re willing to bet that your iPhone or iPad is full of pages and pages of apps. There’s just so much out there, it’s hard to come up with a short list of favourites. We understand. Allow us to help you with our freshly updated Lifehacker Pack for iOS.

A new research report by Deloitte has found that 5G technology will contribute to $50 billion to Australia’s economic growth through increased productivity, workforce participation and new business opportunities. With mobile tech already increasing the Aussie economy by 2%, recent forecasts by the Bureau of Communications and Arts Research put the benefits of 5G to Australia’s GDP at up to $2,000 per person, or between $32 billion and $50 billion, by 2030.

Microsoft has spent most of the last seven years messing around with Skype, integrating it into their existing collaboration tools, such as Skype Busines. It is also constantly tweaking the consumer product, adding social media and other features much to the chagrin of users who just want to use Skype to make voice and video calls.

Peter Skillman, the Director of Design for Skype and Outlook has admitted that some of these efforts have resulted in complexity that has messed up the user experience. So, there will be yet another redesign to simplify Skype.

NEC Australia has announced availability of the SL2100 Smart Communications System for Australia. This is a SMB communications platform that offers VoIP, mobility and Unified Communications and Collaboration features.

Skype for Business is getting a few more enterprise features, likely in response to the likes of Amazon and Google who are both ramping up and changing their enterprise comms applications. Among the new Skype for Business features are an app for Mac users and new features including Call Queues and Auto Attendant, as well as a preview of Skype for Business Online Call Analytics

Negotiating your salary is a tough conversation, but over on Harvard Business Review, they suggest coming up with a "what if" plan to help you solidify a strategy.

This is one I often get caught out with. I did a science degree and often find that stuff I say is misinterpreted by non-sciency people.

Although mobile phone coverage hits about 99 per cent of the population, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy says that satellite phone coverage covers 100 per cent of the population AND of the Australian landmass. Pivotel has launched SPOT Connect -- bringing satellite comms to smartphones.

Loads of people tuned in for our special TechLines discussion on the future of email a fortnight ago, but if you couldn't find the time, here's the edited version of the live broadcast, compressing all the insight from our expert panel into half-an-hour of insights into the future of email and workplace communications. Don't miss it!

Don't fancy taking that work trip next week? Push the benefits of video conferencing by calculating how much you'll save in carbon emissions using Telstra's new telecommunications ready reckoner. The calculator is part of Telstra's Now We Are Talking blog, and thus not entirely neutral, but it's still a useful tool for stimulating workplace discussion. For a more flight-specific carbon calculator, check out previously mentioned Carbon Planet.