Installing updates on Windows has always been a pain. Not only does Microsoft seem hellbent on forcing users to update their machines whether they want to or not - including in prior versions of Windows 10 a nightmare "feature" that forcibly seized control of users' systems to start the installation process - the process is infamously slow.

The combination of these factors can make updating a Windows machine feel less like a minor but necessary inconvenience than a suddenly imposed tug-of-war for control of a computer. Fortunately, Microsoft is now mulling ways to make the process less painful.

For those who missed the memo, the first developer preview of Android P is now available. If you're keen to get Google's latest operating system on your smartphone right now, here's what you need to know.

The Google Assistant, the very best part of the Google Pixel and any other Android phone worth its salt, is now on iOS. If you're not a fan of Siri for whatever reason, this is Good News.

After being made available to developers back in March, and then more broadly through a public beta in May, the eighth major release of the Android operating system finally arrives today with Google revealing that the mysterious "O" actually stands for Oreo: A sandwich cookie suffering from a terrible identity crisis over the past few years.

I recently purchased an Android phone because my iPhone is getting old and I can't afford a new one. I'm wondering if you have any suggestions for porting everything across (contacts, music, apps, etc)? Preferably as quickly and seamlessly as possible!

Having guided you through the not-all-that-straightforward process of switching from Android to iOS, we're back to tell you how to go in the opposite direction. (Make your mind up will you?) Going from Apple-powered devices to Google's platform is either ridiculously easy or rather taxing, depending on your current setup.

The recently revealed "Android O" may not have knocked it out of the park for Google, but there is a nifty feature coming to the upgraded platform that will appeal in particular to mobile gamers -- graphic driver updates independent of full OS ones.

And in a week where the world is grappling with the consequences of just how vulnerable computers are is this joyous nugget of news: more Australians are using Windows XP than Windows 8.1, even though support for the former was officially canned years ago.

Google Chrome has become so good that when it comes to affordable, quality laptops, it's a better buy than a cheap Windows device. So Microsoft needs a lightweight OS to compete, and it's really hoping that the education-focused Windows 10 S will be that OS.

Today, Apple released a new upgrade to its MacOS operating system, dubbed Sierra. Like previous upgrades, MacOS Sierra is a free download for Mac users. It comes with a host of useful improvements including in-built Siri functionality, a universal clipboard, integrated Apple Pay and automatic iCloud uploads. Intrigued? Here's everything you need to know about the new OS.

MacOS Sierra is finally out of beta -- which means you can download the final version for free from the Apple Store. Get it here.

Last week, Google released Android Nougat for Nexus owners. It comes with some sweet new headlining features like multi-window support and bundled notifications. After digging into the developer preview we found even more treats that you might’ve missed.

This week marks one year since the launch of what is arguably Microsoft’s most ambitious – and possibly most controversial – operating system: Windows 10. Windows 10 represents a fundamentally different approach compared to the earlier versions of Windows that many of us have used, such as the highly popular Windows 7. A year after its launch, it continues to evolve and improve upon its predecessor. However, the privacy concerns still haven't gone away.

Still haven't upgraded your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 device to Microsoft's latest OS? You might want to pull your finger out asap. On July 29, the free upgrade will no longer be offered. We take a look at what you should consider before upgrading.

Dear Lifehacker, I'm trying to toss up whether it's worth upgrading my laptop from windows 8.1 to Windows 10. I've heard mixed reviews and don't want to make the wrong decision! Should I take the plunge? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Windows 10 has officially been with us for close to a year now, but even if you've spent a lot of time with the OS since its launch, you may not have found everything it has to offer. Here are five of our favourite hidden features that we've discovered over the course of the last year, and why you might want to start using of them.

When it comes to turning a Raspberry Pi into a retro game console, we've long recommended RetroPie because it's relatively simple to set up, but still packed with a ton of features. If you're looking for something even simpler to use, Recalbox is worth a look.

One of the common uses for a Raspberry Pi is a low-cost information display, powering something like a magic mirror or an animated GIF photo frame. FullPageOS is a Raspberry Pi operating system that makes that process a little simpler.

In the next few years, Microsoft wants Windows 10 running on a billion devices. One way it's making sure that happens is by tricking users into upgrading in shady ways. But here's the real problem: Windows 10 is a good operating system, and Microsoft's tactics are giving it a bad rap.