Author: Leigh Geary

MWC – Ford looking to solve your city transport problems

In London our underground system works very well considering the age and complexity of it. People commute in and out of the city and leave their cars in expensive car-parks or, if you run a business servicing the city, you have to try and get your big diesel …

MWC – YotaPhone 2 becomes available in the USA

It’s via Indiegogo and not a network, but you can get your name down to have the two-faced smartphone in the summer. There’ll be “exclusive pricing” for “early adopters” (even though the phone is already built and selling elsewhere) and the campaign will begin in April. So, this …

MWC – Your next smartphone could have a sense of smell

Each year I come to Mobile World Congress with the same thought. “Where else can smartphones go?” Yes, there’s better cameras, faster processors and sharper screens, but it’s just quicker with incremental changes. It’s not always new technology and new ideas. After meeting Elliptic Labs, who have created …

MWC – GUESS who do smartwatches

If you think about it, watchmakers are probably breathing a huge sigh of relief. There was a moment when lots of people thought.. “Hey, I don’t need a watch, I’ve got me a phone. This thing tells me the time, the date, the weather and it does Facebook …

MWC – giffgaff to range the HTC One M9 too

Some hours ago, or possibly days (I’m not totally sure as Mobile World Congress week is always pretty insane at the best of time), we mentioned that giffgaff are to offer the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Now they’ve announced that the HTC One M9 will be …

MWC – HTC One M8 to become the HTC One M8s

If I’m honest it’s difficult to know exactly where to start with this one. I mean, the HTC One M8 is still a fantastic handset, regardless of the HTC One M9. However, just a couple of days after the HTC One M9 launch, there’s news via tweakers.net that …

MWC – Global Mobile Awards. Winners announced.

Believe it or not, it’s the 20th Global Mobile Awards ceremony this year. Hosted by John Cleese there were no awards for HTC this year and instead the “Best Smartphone” award went to joint winners – the Apple iPhone 6 and the LG G3. Why those two? Well, …

MWC – Full hands-on with the HTC One M9

During the big HTC One M9 event we only had a brief and very sweaty few minutes with the device on video. Sadly, even when we went to the stand today, there wasn’t any HTC staff to give us a demo or show the device off. So, we …

MWC – Tesco Mobile to take on the Doro 820 Mini

We had a look at the Doro 820 Mini just moments ago, and if you’re interested in getting one, Tesco Mobile have confirmed that they will be selling it. Yes, it’s for the elderly, but Tesco are keen to point out the “beginners” who might be interested in …

MWC – Pebble Time Steel announced

I’m currently trying to find ways to tell James that I’ve “accidentally” kept his Pebble watch. I’ve been here in Barcelona since Saturday, it’s not been charged once and it’s received endless notifications during that time. Email, calendar notifications and tweets all pop up and I’m just loving …

MWC – KAZAM announce the Tornado 552L

We’ve managed to get a first hands-on with the new KAZAM Tornado 552L, which was only announced minutes ago. It’s at the top of their range and carries on from the KAZAM Tornado 348, which had a 4.8″ screen. This, the KAZAM Tornado 552L, has a 5.2″ Super …

MWC – Kronoz. Can a watch maker create a smartwatch?

We’ve already seen how smartphone manufacturers like LG create smartwatches. However, we should perhaps consider how an existing watchmaker approaches the problem. MyKronoz have designed watches since 2013 and I was interested in their ZeTel and ZePhone watches, which have SIM cards in, and the ZeFit, ZeCircle, ZeBracelet, …

MWC – Orange Ub-y brings people to you. Virtually.

I’ve seen some weird tech items before, but these things totally freaked me out today. Meet the Orange Ub-y (short for “ubiquity”), which roams around the Orange stand here in Barcelona. There’s actually two as I write this, and the girls controlling the devices are chatting to each …

MWC – Lacking an IR blaster? Get this.

Some of you are lucky enough to have an IR blaster in your phone. You’re lucky enough to be able to control your TV, stereo and more – direct from your phone. It’s a neat trick, if you’ve got the necessary hardware. What if you haven’t? Last week …

MWC – Elliptic Labs. Ready to be the next big thing

When you arrive home from Mobile World Congress people tend to ask the same question. What impressed you most? What’s the next big thing? It’s always a tricky one, but last year there was one definite winner for me – Elliptic Labs. I actually used the words “The …

MWC – Google to launch an MVNO

Tesco Mobile? giffgaff? How about switching your mobile to Google as a provider? It’s another step into your life for the company, who last night announced here at Mobile World Congress that they would be launching an MVNO in the USA. It’ll be arriving in the “coming months” …

MWC – Hands-on with the Saygus V2

I know what you’re saying out there. I can hear you. “Who are Saygus?” See. I can hear you. Sometimes I know when you’re making those secret trips into the kitchen for those cakes too. To be honest I’d not heard a great deal about this company but, …

MWC – Hands-on with the LG Watch Urbane LTE

LG went ahead and thought, “Hey, why don’t we stick a SIM card in a watch”. Everyone laughed, said they were crazy. However, what they’ve made is really quite nice, and there’s a danger that you might even consider leaving your smartphone at home… even perhaps not having …

MWC – LG G Flex2 Hands-on

Yes, the LG G Flex2 does indeed look like my existing LG G3 after I’ve sat on it. The comparison shots below should hopefully show that. The G Flex2 doesn’t appear as curved as the original G Flex and there’s no concerns about the screen, which could “ghost” a …

giffgaff to sell new Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge

When a new and rather popular device (like the HTC One M9 or the two Samsung Galaxy S6 devices) appears, you almost expect every UK network to be ranging the device. What you don’t expect, at least not straight away, is for the MVNO’s to say they’re getting …

MWC – Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition on show

During the big Samsung launch we also saw the new Gear VR Innovator Edition. This was just minutes after leaving the HTC event, where their HTC Re Vive was on display – on the stage at least – to give you an immersive gaming experience. Here Samsung are …

MWC – HTC One M9 hands-on, plus the HTC Grip and HTC Vive

We didn’t just get the expected HTC One M9 announcement. No. We had a virtual reality headset and a big partnership with Valve and a fitness tracker too. However, concentrating on the One M9 for a moment, it’s yet another robust, well designed and good looking handset. The …

MWC – The LG Watch Urbane hands-on

I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never really considered a smartwatch until now. Heck, I’ve not even considered a watch full stop for a while. James has given me a Pebble on loan and, I’ll admit, my attitude is changing somewhat. Here, it’s Android Wear powering the show …

MWC – Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge hands-on

They were just as we expected, but the two new handsets from Samsung had some surprises. Gone is the removable battery, gone is the microSD card and instead we have two handsets with one device in their cross-hairs. The iPhone 6. During the presentation the iPhone was mentioned …

MWC – Samsung. The Next Galaxy – LIVE

We’re here in Barcelona for yet another big launch. This time it’s Samsung, and we assume that they’ll be showing us the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge that leaked out the other day. As usual though, we’ll bring you the latest details as they happen. We have the …

MWC – HTC One M9 quick photo special

So, it was pretty much as expected with the launch of the HTC One M9. What wasn’t expected was the additional gadgets and services that HTC are working on. A virtual reality headset, coming to consumers before the end of the year, and a partnership with Valve grabbed …

MWC – HTC Event Live

We’ve seen the leaks and this morning we even saw it available to buy online. Now is the time to see how much of this is true and to get the full details of the new HTC One. We’ve got the live stream below plus our thoughts in …

MWC – HTC One (M9) slips onto BestBuy website a little early

Hey, someone tell bestbuy that the HTC One (M9) launch isn’t until this afternoon. This listing has appeared overnight, and it seems to contain either official imagery or good “guesswork” based on the leaks we’ve seen so far. The specs are also listed and the handset is stated …

KnowRoaming on test – Cut your roaming costs dramatically

Picture the scene. You’re about to go abroad. You’ve got your passport, you’ve booked the hotel and the flight. What about your phone? Unless you’re lucky enough to be using a network like Three and going to one of the countries in their Feel At Home plan, you’ll …

I feel the need, the need for speed

You may remember how EE signed a 6 year deal to push the latest tech into the Wembley stadium. EE will be bathing the stadium in enhanced 4G, fast WiFi and NFC mobile payments. Of late though, they’ve gone a bit nuts with their speed trials. Using CAT …

MWC – A new range of tough smartphones from the Energizer brand

Information is a little thin on the ground but MWC will see a new range of smartphones sold under the Energizer brand. Energizer have long sold chargers, cases, cables and wireless charging solutions. Now they’ll be offering smartphones too. Four new products, distributed by Avenir Telecom, will be …

Vodafone offer up the LG G Flex2 with free G Watch R

Hello, what’s this then? The hot new LG G Flex2, on Vodafone with a G Watch R chucked in too? For £44.50 per month? Ohh, I’ll have a bit of that thank-you. Feeling a bit like a bendy LG G2, this has a 5.5″ screen and runs Android …

MWC – Acer gives a quick glimpse behind the Barcelona curtain

With just days to go until Mobile World Congress, various phone manufacturers are either trying to hold back leaks or tease you about upcoming products. Acer is currently in the latter camp, and have just posted this … Above it is confirmation that we’re going to see more …

Artelac eye-care review

We must be doing something right. I don’t know quite what it is, but we must be doing it right. No longer are we just reviewing smartphones, we’re now reviewing eye drops. Yes, eye drops. Stay with me, because you’re looking at the problem right now. Screens. We …

Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge pictures leak

See folks, it’s not just me putting brand-new phones face-down on the floor to take shots. These images of the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have just leaked out over at xda-developers. A member called graaler, who doesn’t appear to have posted anything else, has uploaded …

Drivers now browsing social media at the wheel too

People will do things they’re not supposed to sometimes. It’s a fact. We get told not to do something but there’s always going to be a certain majority that’ll go ahead and do it anyway. Don’t drive in the centre lane of a motorway when the lane to …

MWC – LG G Flex2 availability. Not long to wait

If you want the LG G Flex2 then get your wallet ready, it’s not too far away. LG have been in touch with us to state that Sprint in the USA will be getting the handset first, and then Europe and Asia shortly after. In the UK Vodafone …

MWC – Moto E updated and available now

Morning Coolsmartphoners. Hope you’re all well. We’re just about to board our private jet to Barcelona so that we can be all over that Mobile World Congress thing. It’s going to be huge, and already there’s the likes of Motorola trying to jump the gun with limelight-grabbing announcements …

MWC – HTC Announce exclusive new handset

Yes, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here. The new HTC handset has been announced just ahead of Mobile World Congress. It is…. the…. HTC One M8 again. Ahhh… This isn’t the handset expected to launch on Sunday and is instead an existing HTC One …