Author: Leigh Geary

Google hand over weaponry to HTC

HTC have added more patents to a lawsuit against Apple. The patents were purchased from Google last week and actually come via Pal, Motorola and Openwave Systems originally after Google purchased those companies last year. At face value it seems that Google are helping HTC to fight their …

TouchTalk – Translate on the fly

Whilst looking at Push To Talk apps I stumbled across this real-time translation software. It’s fairly easy to setup and is completely free from the Android Market. There’s two steps really. First, choose a source and “destination” language, then speak the phrase you’d like to say. It’ll translate …

Problems sending picture messages on the Galaxy SII ?

I’ve had two Samsung Galaxy SII phones and have noticed the same issue with both. I can’t send MMS (picture messages). I thought I’d sorted it the other day but no, I continually get the “Failed” message flash up even after coming away from the UMA connection I …

HeyTell – An app that should be in all smartphones

It’s not often that an app causes me to record a video review, let alone two, but I’ve been using my Android phone in totally new ways recently and wanted to share the love. 🙂 I’ve tried “Touch To Talk” apps in the past and I’ve seen, many …

White Galaxy SII now available on Vodafone

It’s been just days since we spotted the all-white Galaxy SII was on its way to Vodafone. Today it’s appeared on the Vodafone site and you can get the pearly white version for nothing on £36 per month plans. The white version is also available on Three on …

Toshiba AT200 – Supermodel thin

The AT200 tablet may not have a catchy name, but Toshiba have squashed this new Android tablet down to a mere 7.7mm thickness. Using Android 3.2 Honeycomb and powered by a TI OMAP 4430 1.2GHz CPU, this has a 10.1″ screen and weighs in at 558g. The new …

LG Optimus 3D to cut down on the burgers?

We liked the LG Optimus 3D but it was, how can we say this, a little on the heavy side. It looks like LG have noted this criticism and are, according to pocket-lint.com, planning on a Slim-Fast diet for the handset. LG’s Dr Hentry Noh explained that.. Everyone …

Android almost doubles UK market share according to report

Just in case you weren’t aware, Android is continuing to rise in popularity. Research from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech shows the sheer seismic shift in the market share for Android. Android now has a 47.1% share of the smartphone market here in the UK, with BlackBerry some distance behind …

Virgin Media adds more grunt to Three, Orange and T-Mobile

If you’re browsing the web on Three, T-Mobile or Orange, listen up. A new deal has been struck with VIrgin Media Business to give the networks use of their network, plus they will add 14 regional datacentres to add extra bandwidth to the three networks. The deal is …

IFA – The booth babes

So, those of you who have read coolsmartphone.com for a while may remember a site called msmobiles.com. It’s been sold on now and redirects to another site. The guy behind msmobiles.com was Edward, and he’s sent us a report from the IFA Electronics Show. We weren’t going to …

We’re a little slow today…

Today we noticed some serious speed issues and drop-outs on the site. It is, as with a number of connectivity issues nowadays, due to a fibre-optic cable being cut. Usually fibre failures are due to thieves assuming that it’s copper cable and want it for the ever increasing …

LG Optimus 2X – Video overview

A couple of weeks back we had a look at some of the latest LG handsets. The first was this, the LG P990 – aka the LG Optimus 2X. It’s been known as the Optimus Speed or the Star and has a Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU. …

Galaxy Tab 7.7 Removed from IFA show

Apple have fired yet another shot at Samsung in their continuing patent battle. This time it’s resulted in Samsung removing their new Galaxy Tab 7.7 from the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. The BBC states .. The two companies have been fighting legal battles in the US, …

Orange to carry the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

It looks like the Xperia Ray will be heading to Orange in the not-too-distant future. The handset has just appeared on the help and support pages and, whilst this page alone isn’t concrete proof that the network is taking the phone, “Rich” has mailed in to say that …

Radar Love – HTC’s new handset in video

The HTC Radar got the hands-on treatment last week when we attending the big HTC reveal. It’s a Windows Phone device with a 5 megapixel camera, 1GHz CPU and 8GB of storage built in. The full specs are here, plus HTC have now added these YouTube videos…

HTC Titan – In video

Last week the Coolsmartphone team was camped out in London, bring you all the latest news on the latest Windows Phone handsets from HTC. The HTC Titan got the full hands-on treatment and you can get specs here, plus we’ve now got a raft of videos direct from …

In detail – The Sony Tablet P

This interesting looking device is the Sony Tablet P. You can connect to the web via WiFi or 3G and there’s two 1024×480 5.5″ Ultra-wide VGA screeens. Other specs include a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.1, two cameras (5 megapixel around the back with HD video recording and …

In detail – The Sony Tablet S

Pre-orders for the new Sony Tablet devices are underway. Coolsmartphone reader, Anthony, has just shelled out £499.99 but doesn’t have a delivery date just yet. Rumour has it that it could take a month for devices to arrive. Three devices are available – the Sony Tablet S 16GB …

The Andy Pad is go!

You’ve waited, you’ve seen the teasers, now it’s finally here – the Andy Pad is live. Two models are now available, the 8GB Andy Pad for £129 and the 16GB Andy Pad Pro for £179. If you order now, deliveries will start on September 12th. Both devices come …

Mobile internet use on the rise

A new survey by ONS has revealed that almost half of internet users in the UK now browse on their mobiles. Amongst the 16 to 24-year-old age-group the stats were even higher, with 71% going online through their mobile. The survey showed that 45% of people used the …

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Announced

Samsung have also just announced their new Galaxy Tab 7.7. It builds on the already successful Galaxy Tab range and adds the same processor as the Galaxy Note – a thoroughly rapid 1.4GHz Dual Core CPU. The screen os a Super AMOLED PLus 7.7″ unit (hence the name) …

Even bigger – Samsung announce the Galaxy Note

Yesterday HTC launched the HTC Titan. It’s got a 4.7″ 480×800 pixel screen, but heck – Samsung have already gone one better with this, the Galaxy Note. Packing an amazing 5.3″ WXGA (1280×800) HD Super AMOLED screen it’s somewhere between a phone and a tablet. The specs reveal …

Live at the HTC Launch

Recorded live, we broadcast this just a few moments ago. Dive in for the live launch of HTC’s two new handsets.. Live video for mobile from Ustream

Create a mobile hotspot

There’s probably a fair few of you who are already familiar with this, but for those of you who’ve not tried it yet, this BBC video shows you how to create a mobile hotspot. Put simply this turns your phone into a WiFi Access Point (AP) which connects …

Skinflips Review

I’m not a big fan of phone covers. Over the years this has resulted in most of my phones looking a little scratched and dented, but I still refuse to add a cover because I think it hides the handset a little too much. Skinflips could change my …

Defy+ Heading to the UK

The Motorola DEFY+ popped up a couple of weeks back is set to arrive here in the UK from September. Packing a quicker CPU than it’s predecessor, the DEFY+ still has the “life proof” design for protection against water, dust and scratches. The handset is powered by Android …

Motorola Atrix Review

This is a weird one to get your head around. We’re used to seeing smartphones here. They fly across the desk and have the usual things. A touch screen, a fast processor, a slick OS, a good camera, GPS, etc. Here though, we have a few additions. A …

Motorola Fire due to arrive next month

Motorola are planning to roll out their Fire handset here in the UK next month. Looking like a slightly cheaper version of the Pro, this has a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.8″ screen and is powered by Android 2.3. Targetting the “youth” market this has a 3 megapixel camera, …

Snapped – The HTC Vigor

Rumoured to be heading towards Verizon in the USA, this is the HTC Vigor. With a grippy rear, this 4G LTE device is said to be arriving on October 6th. Rumoured specs include a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 4.3″ screen, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage and the new Beats by …

New shots of HTC Sense 3.5 appear

Shots of the new HTC Sense interface have emerged on xda.cn. These shots are apparently taken from the upcoming HTC Bliss handset and show HTC Sesne version 3.5. New rounded buttons have appeared at the bottom of the main screen and there’s widgets on the left-side. Rumours have …

HTC Omega / HTC Radar images and rumoured specs

We’re quickly getting the impression that the HTC September 1st event will see at least one Windows Phone handset running Mango. Now first images of a device called the HTC Omega, possibly also called the HTC Radar, have appeared online. OK, rumoured specs mention a 3.8″ SLCD screen, …

Samsung ban may not include UK

Apple have yet again taken aim at Samsung by getting an injunction to ban the sale of Galaxy handsets. The embargo is due to kick off in a few weeks time and concerns an Apple patent for an interface to “view and navigate photographs on a touch screen …

In detail – The Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V

Today Sony Ericsson announced a new handset this morning along with new Android updates for other handsets. We decided to take a closer look at their new model, the Xperia neo V. It’ll be arriving in Q4 and features a 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 CPU with two cameras, a …

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO at Apple.

Can’t really add much to the title! Big news as Steve Jobs IS Apple to a lot of people, he is widely credited with turning Apple into the massive company it is now. Edit: Apple shares have dropped 7% approximately an hour after this was announced. Personally I’m not …

BBC Coverage Survey – The results are in

Last month the BBC launched a survey to try and find the actual mobile coverage in the UK. To take part you simply needed to download an Android application and use your phone as normal. The app then logged whether you were on a 3G or 2G connection …

8GB iPhone4 rumours emerge

Reuters has reported that some Apple suppliers are gearing up for the production of a reduced capacity iPhone 4 variant. Whilst there’s a definite indication that some aspects of this story are true – despite Reuters being cagey about its sources – there’s no confirmed comment on it …

Bargain frenzy – The HP TouchPad at dabs.com

If you’re still looking for a HP TouchPad then quickly check out dabs.com. They’ve just dropped prices down to £105.. although their site appears to have buckled under the load.. and, when it does load, shows a higher price. (Update – It’s now showing the new lower price) …

Asus Eee PC 4GB Running Android

So, I have an Asus Eee PC off eBay. It’s got a fairly small 4GB SSD drive inside and comes with some random Linux variant. Running Android on it is just a matter of downloading the appropriate ISO thanks to the hard work of Android-x86.org. There’s other custom-built …

HP TouchPad continues to fill bargain bins everywhere

Prices on the HP TouchPad continue to tumble, with Dixons now knocking down the 16GB version to just £89, or £115 for the 32GB variant. This isn’t just a normal price cut, this is a massive price explosion. The 32GB TouchPad used to be a stonking £429.99, now …

New Windows Phones from HTC next week?

Could the big HTC event on September 1st feature a new Windows Phone or two? That seems to be what’s happening if rumours are to be believed. An update on the Windows Phone UK Facebook page is inviting everyone to the exact same HTC event we spotted last …