Author: Leigh Geary

Announced – Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Ahhh.. the classic Walkman. Who remembers those headphones with bits of sponge and having to rewind your cassettes ? Sony looks set to carry the “Walkman” brand on for many years to come with this new handset, named “Live”. Android has always struggled somewhat against Apple in terms …

LG Turns up the heat with the Sol

LG have just announced this, the Optimus Sol. It’s only 9.8mm thick and runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Other highlights are the 5 megapixel camera, DLNA (Media Sharing), WiFi, 1GHz CPU (512MB RAM / 2GB ROM), microSD expansion, Bluetooth 3.0, aGPS, FM radio, 3.5mm audio jack and a 3.8″ …

Is your local mobile mast hidden ?

You may remember how I asked whether you’d spotted any hidden mobile phone masts recently and we’ve had a number of pictures. If you’ve used the Ofcom site to find your local mast then this could be what you’ve seen… They’re not pretty. Huge, imposing towers which are, …

HTC London Event – Tune in here for full coverage

It’s that time of year again. HTC are gearing up to another pretty massive launch down in London. This time Facebook reveals that the event will have a Twitter hash-tag of #HTCQB, but that probably just means “HTC Quietly Brilliant”. Gah… HTC aren’t giving much away, but we’ll …

Take part in the Motorola DEFY Lucky Dip

Whilst it may look a little strange, Kirsty Gallagher is helping Motorola show that their DEFY handset will survive the festival season. Kirsty avoids the mud in Covent Garden where visitors have the chance to win tents, festival tickets and sleeping bags. You can also enter by visiting …

HP kills off WebOS!

Well this caught us all out! HP have just announced that they are to “discontinue operations for WebOS, specifically Touchpad and WebOS phones” – that’ll be the just about/to be launched Pre3. The handset is just about available but it rang alarm bells when the handset received an …

LinkedIn reworks its iPhone app from the ground up

LinkedIn (“Facebook for business” for the uninitiated) has always had a bit of a ‘me-too’ approach to its iPhone app. The interface of the previous incarnations of its application looked and felt like a sort of business-flavoured clone of the Facebook app, complete with a nine-icon grid for …

Three add new MiFi kit to their range

The new Huawei E586 MiFi is due to arrive on Three shortly. Using this gadget, users will be able to create a personal mobile WiFi hotspot which is powered by the Three network. Three are aiming to have 80% of their network upgraded to HSPA+ by the end …

HTC to sue Apple for Patent Infringement

It’s fair to say that we’re slightly losing track of who is suing who now. Today HTC are to take action against Apple, claiming that the iPhone, iPad and iPod all infringe HTC patents. At first glance the patents seem a little generic and are used in many …

Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales now back on

Want to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 ? Good news folks, the ban has been lifted temporarily until the full hearing on August 25th. The news comes after Apple documents were called into question and means that customers across Europe can go and purchase the device. Unfortunately …

Apple documentation against Samsung queried

The BBC is carrying a very interesting story surrounding the continuing battle between Apple and Samsung. Apple have recently secured an injunction to stop Samsung selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android Tablet because is “slavishly” copied iPad designs. A number of images and comparison shots have been filed …

Motorola Defy+. Just like the original, but quicker.

Some months ago we showed you how the Motorola Defy could easily cope with water, snow and dust. Now the Motorla Defy+ has been revealed and it’s still as “life proof” as ever. The new device, which will be available in the Autumn in Asia, Europe and Latin …

Snapped – HTC Pico

The HTC Bliss we saw last month has appeared again by the looks of it. This this time the name is “HTC Pico” and although it’s got a different name it does look exactly the same as the HTC Bliss renders. Equipped with a 3.2″ HVGA 480×320 screen …

Android partners applaud Motorola purchase

Android partners have jumped into to have their say on Google’s acquisition of Motorola. Samsung, who are currently being beaten around the head by Apple, have stated.. We welcome today’s news, which demonstrates Google’s deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem. Sony Ericsson, HTC and …

Samsung to challenge Apple injunction

The international injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which was brought about by Apple, is set to be challenged on August 25th. Samsung have been forced to stop selling their new tablet due to an Apple embargo, although some retailers are still able to sell it as existing …

Some rather strange iPhone accessories

This particular iPhone accessory freaked me out quite a bit when it appeared in the b3ta.com newsletter. According to the website selling it they try and qualify the need for a childs hand to be stuck to the back of your handset.. You could hold hands with your …

LG Optimus Black – Get a FREE tablet with our exclusive deal

The LG Optimus Black is currently available on Orange but, if you’re looking for a network-free version, stay tuned. Our friends at ur-mobile.com have sorted out a special deal which is exclusive to Coolsmartphone readers. We’ve teamed up to offer the LG Optimus Black for just £298.95 but, …

Samsung Galaxy R Announced

The Samsung Galaxy R is now official. The handset has already appeared on these pages a number of times and comes equipped with a Tegra 2 CPU running at 1GHz, a 4.2″ WVGA screen, WiFi, GPS, a 5 megapixel camera at the rear, 1.3 megapixel up front and …

HTC and Beats tie-up for a better sound experience

We’re assuming that the major HTC announcement coming this afternoon is this, a deal between HTC and Beats by Dr. Dre. Estimated to be worth around $300 million will help to “create superior mobile audio experiences”. We assume that this will mean the end of tinny and weedy …

Major HTC Announcement this afternoon

HTC are to hold a teleconference to “Make a Major News Announcement” at 4.30PM BST today. We’re not at all sure what this is just yet, but HTC CEO Peter Chou will be hosting the call live from Los Angeles. We’ll have full news on this shortly after …

Is technology to blame for the riots?

The recent riots here in the UK have scared many and caused the destruction of property, livelihoods and homes. The media has been quick to blame technology – “social networking sites” and BlackBerry handsets are mentioned time and time again in new bulletins and reports. Yes, technology allows …

Updated….Apple blocks Samsung from selling 10″ Tab in Europe.

Ok, the title isn’t exactly right, but there isn’t room to put the detail! According to BGR Apple have won a preliminary injunction in Germany that could effectively block the sales of the Galaxy Tab in all Euro union countries except Holland where there is a similar case ongoing. Samsung could …

ZTE ship 35 million handsets in the first half of 2011

ZTE sent us some information about their sales figures  today, highlights listed below: 60 million terminal products shipped, including… 35 million handsets This represents a year on year 30% increase in handsets shipped. A 400% increase in smartphone sales! According to Market analyst IDC ZTE are the 5th largest mobile …

Make yourself a free mobile phone holder

We get a lot of companies trying to promote their gear. Chris from ur-mobile.com emailed in about a totally free mobile phone holder. Sure, we were interested, but after watching the video we’ve decided not to try with our brand new handsets .. just yet… Link – YouTube

LG Optimus 3D arrives on Orange

Good news if you’re looking for the LG Optimus 3D on Orange. The network has just made it available through their stores, online and through phone sales. Available for free on £40, 24 month plans, it features dual 5 megapixel cameras, HD video recording, WiFi, GPS and a …

HTC Evo 3D Hands-on video

The HTC Evo 3D got announced back in June here in the UK. Like the LG Optimus 3D it has a glasses-free 3D screen and dual 5 megapixel cameras, but also adds the HTC Sense experience. Powered by a 1.2GHz Dual Core CPU it comes with a qHD …

Motorola XOOM receiving Android 3.1

Motorola have just confirmed that Android 3.1 will shortly be available to Xoom owners. An OTA (Over The Air) update is now rolling out and, good news, it’ll activate the SD card slot to give you up to 64GB of storage capacity. Other improvements contained within 3.1 include.. …

Hungry House for iPhone

Now right away I can see advantages to this app. I travel frequently on business and am often looking through the Hotel’s/B&B’s brochures for local take-outs before making my mind up. In the past I’ve found that some unscrupulous take-outs remove competitors menu’s from the stands.. oh dear. …

Samsung Galaxy SII on Orange – Now with Signal Boost

A few days back we spotted that Android 2.3.4 was arriving for the rather excellent Samsung Galaxy SII. Now, if you’re on Orange you won’t be getting that version just yet but, if you do update your Orange branded handset, you do get UMA. UMA is called “Signal …

UMA / Signal Boost. Just what is it ?

Has your phone got UMA technology? What? You don’t know what it is? Well, the technology has been kicking around for some time now and there’s a few networks and handsets supporting it. It stands for “Unlicensed Mobile Access” and networks tend to call it something different because …

Galaxy Europa now available on Three

Available for a mere £49.99, the Samsung Galaxy Europa is now available from Three. If we’re honest it’s an entry-level smartphone with 600MHz CPU, 2.8″ capacitive screen, 2 megapixel camera, WiFi, GPS, FM radio, microSD expansion and Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP. Sylvia Chind, Head of Handsets at Three, …

Google attacks the opposition

In recent months we’ve seen patent wars heat up with more and more mobile companies attacking each other over intellectual property. Google have come out fighting with this statement on their blog. Google are proud of Android – they state that it’s “on fire” with more that 550,000 …

Hey you! Apple lover!

Love the iPhone ? Want to write about the iPad or iPod Touch ? Let us know, we’d love for you to be part of Coolsmartphone. We get daily emails from PR agencies and software houses offering review copies of their games or apps but, if truth be …

Android 2.3.4 arriving for the Galaxy SII

Samsung appear to have started rolling out Android 2.3.4 updates via Kies to Galaxy SII owners. The upgrade is rolling out today and will backup all your content as part of the update. We’ve had a couple of mails about this and would like to know if yours …

Huawei Vision announced

Available in three colours (gold, silver or charcoal), this is the new Huawei Vision. It’s just 9.9mm at it’s thinnest point and weighs “less than a bottle of aftershave” 😉 It’s built with a unibody construction and has a 5 megapixel camera with 720P HD video recording. Running …

Ripping – Soon to be legal in the UK

Got yourself a CD or a DVD ? Want to rip it to MP3 or an MP4 video file so that you can play it on your phone ? Woah.. wait a minute there soldier, you’ve probably just broken the law. At least, that’s the way things used …

Xperia arc update available

Head on over to the Sony Ericsson website or check the PC Companian software if you own the Xperia arc. There’s a new software update available which adds new themes, a landscape mode for the homescreen, stereo audio in video recordings, an audio boost system called xLoud and …

LG Optimus 3D Review

AGH. My eyes. What the heck is going on with my eyes? The first thing you do with this phone is turn it on and jump into the “3D Space” feature. Here you’ll get YouTube 3D for lots of featured YouTube content, the 3D Gallery, the 3D Camera …

Unlock a phone, unlock a chicken!

Slightly cryptic I know, plus I’m abusing my position here at Coolsmartphone promoting this but I’m sure Leigh won’t mind. Basically GiffGaff are running a promotion that for every SIM activated they will “free” a battery chicken. Two reasons to promote this, firstly GiffGaff SIMs are great value …

Desire Z now receiving Gingerbread

We’re hearing reports that Desire Z owners have finally received their Gingerbread update over the last couple of days. Those handsets without network branding appear to be receiving the update first with Android 2.3.3 appearing on handsets yesterday. Please do let us know if you’ve upgraded and what …