Author: Coolsmartphone Staff

My iOS annoyances

I’ve been an iOS user for nearly eight months now having bought a 4G iPod Touch to find out what Apple’s mobile OS is all about. Having used Android for the last two years and Windows Mobile for the six before that it’s fair to say that I’ve …

iGizmo for Android Tablets

For me, tablets represent a great way to replace paper and digitize publishing. Amazon’s Kindle & Apple’s iBooks are going great guns on Ebooks, and there are now some great digital magazines on the iPad already.  Android has been playing catch up, but now iGizmo – a digital …

Opera Mini 6 for Android

  Earlier this week Opera released a new version of Opera Mini for Android. The new version has an updated look and feel which is more polished than before. There are also new features with the browser offering support for pinch to zoom for the first time. The …

Apple reduce UK iPad 2 prices ahead of launch this Friday

Apple have announced a price drop for the iPad 2 in advance of the new tablet’s UK launch this Friday. The entry level model has been reduced by £30 to £399. This means that iPad 2 prices will also be cheaper than the equivalent iPad 1 prices from …

Amazon Appstore for Android launched today

Earlier today Amazon officially launched their Appstore for Android. The store will feature apps that have been given Amazon’s seal of approval which we hope means that it will be free of all the crapware that plagues the Android Market. Amazon will be giving away a free app …

Platform Wars

Platform wars, is Apples way the only way? With the enormous growth of the smartphone, and the never ending war between platform makers to be the dominant force, are we looking at a future dominated by the curated, closed platforms, and will Android have to become more regulated …

iPad 2 launch delayed (a tiny bit)

Apple have confirmed that the iPad 2 launch will be delayed to 5pm on Friday 25th March.  Originally scheduled for 9am the same day, the later time has been blamed on problems with shipping. Online ordering has also now been confirmed as starting at 1pm on Friday. Stock …

Google Search App for iOS

Earlier this week Google released a new version of their Google Mobile App for iOS. The newly dubbed Google Search App has a new UI which in my opinion makes it nicer to use than Google Search on Android. The default view gives you a text search box …

What tablet to buy?

It’s sometimes difficult to think that the tablet that has spawned so many imitators this year, Apple’s iPad, was only released last year. At this year’s MWC there were tablets everywhere – Samsung, Motorola, HTC and HP to name but a few are all coming out with their …

Should we be kept updated?

I was listening to a podcast the other day, and they had a featured discussion on software updates, and whether or not as consumers, we should expect device manufacturers to update our devices during their lives. I think the answer to this is a resounding yes! I work …

The king is dead?

I’m not looking to promote another site.  Let me make this clear.  However,  Endgadet are experiencing some changes. A couple of weeks ago, Paul Miller, a senior editor announced he was leaving. Then tonight, Nilay Patel and Editor in chief Josh Topalsky have announced that they are leaving. …

Notsocoolsmartphones?

My 18 months contract with Orange for my HTC Hero expired last month and for the first time ever I’ve plumped for a 12 month SIM only deal. My Hero, great phone as it was, only lasted me 7 months before I caved in and bought a HTC …

Google launch Instant Previews for mobile

Some of you may have noticed a new magnifying glass icon appearing next to your search results over the last few days. Clicking on these icons launches a new Instant Previews feature which Google has just introduced. They provide a great way for visually searching through sites when …

LauncherPro – Android customisation done right

Ask any geek why Android is great and more often than not the answer will include the word open. One of Android’s biggest purported benefits is it’s openness, which we’re told leads to more innovation and greater customisability. Unfortunately, I’d argue that in practice it’s also a big …

The Italian Job

What a trip!  Well, as I promised a little while ago here is a review of some apps that I used while trying to navigate around Rome and Florence on a fantastic sightseeing trip.  To make it easier (and shorter) I will list the apps and what I …

iPad 2 – coming soon

We have had lots of stories recently on the plethora of new tablets rushing out this year, as companies look to capitalise on the market Apple’s original tablet proved existed. We haven’t though mentioned the avalanche of rumours concerning Apple’s sequel. Rumours on V2.0 started pretty much the day after …

3 HTC Desire’s getting Gingerbread

3 have disclosed in a tweet that they will be bringing Android 2.3 to their customers who have an HTC Desire. Things have been a little quiet in terms of existing HTC devices getting the latest Android OS, but its good to hear that they aren’t forgetting their …

Twidroid suspended by Twitter

Hi all, just got this email from Twitter, looks like Twidroid may be in a bit of trouble… Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX), Regardless of how you access Twitter, we are dedicated to making Twitter better, faster and more reliable for you. As part of this effort, we ask applications that …

Loyalty. Part 2.

As promised, here is the follow up to my earlier post, full of intrigue, drama, secretive phone calls, dead drop messages and information…

Avete un cellulare Android?

Do you have an Android Handset?  Well, the title is the Italian for that phrase… You see, myself and Miss T are off to Italy for the week and being a geek, I want to do as much as possible without resorting to a paper based guide book. …

A marriage made in heaven?

Although I’m an Android user I’ve had a good play around with Windows Phone 7 and have been extremely impressed with Microsoft’s new OS. Sure it’s missing some features but overall it looks stylish, is easy to use and in general just works. I prefer Android for the …

Twitter for Android 2.0

Twitter have just released a big update to their Android app. Version 2.0 brings a significant overhaul to the UI. Gone is the previous homescreen with it’s six icons, replaced by a standard timeline with a tabbed interface. The compose screeen has also been refreshed with icons for …

Does Loyalty Matter?

Loyalty.  It would seem that its a fluid state of affairs.  Certainly to a certain mobile network. I have two devices, one is my mobile, My HTC desire, and one is a data dongle almost at the end of the contract.  On the Desire, I have a ‘Loyalty’ …

New Valentine Box released for Cut the Rope

Fans of Chillingo’s iOS puzzler can rejoice as the plucky devs have today released a new set of levels for Cut the Rope. For those of you unfamiliar with this little Gem the aim, as you may have guessed, is to cut various ropes attached to a sweet …

iPlayer apps coming to iPad and Android this week

The BBC have announced today on their Internet Blog that their brand new iPlayer apps for Android and the iPad should available by the end of this week. While the iPad app has been long awaited, the news that the Android app will launch simultaneously has to be …

O2 UK confirm Experia Play!

O2 UK today confirmed the Experia Play will be coming to their network. Using their @o2 twitter feed, they also plugged the new commercial for the highly anticipated Sony Ericsson handset. No news yet on prices and plans, But with MWC shortly upon us, it surely only a …

Will NOKIA announce Windows Phone 7 partnership?

Rumours are rife that NOKIA may be announcing Windows Phone 7 as a partner, having previously partnered could it be that NOKIA are lining up the Windows platform for “a major platform shift” Although these rumours have been around for a while, what makes these more believable is …

White iPhone 4 – coming end of March (probably!)

This is one keeps on rumbling, but the LONG awaited white version of the iPhone 4 is now coming (honest), at the end of March. Apple’s official timeline remains as “Spring 2011”, but Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and a Pocket-lint.com tipster have now come out saying end of …

SonyEricsson Arc coming to Three

Three have announced on their blog that they will be selling the new SonyEricsson Arc soon. No exact details on the the timing yet, but the handset is due out in April, so sounds like Three will have it from launch. It will be available on Three’s fabulous …

Google Maps 5.1, now with Check ins for Latitude

Google have just updated Google Maps for Android to version 5.1. The major updates all centre around Latitude, it’s location based service. Taking a leaf out of foursquare’s book, you can now check in to various locations to let your friends know exactly where you are. Google have …

LG Optimus 3D Pictured

Various Android Sites are reporting the first sighting of the new LG Optimus 3D.  It is widely expected that LG will unveil their first 3D smart phone at MWC next month, the device borrows some styling from the Optimus Black and Optimus 2x, with a Phandroid source describing …

Get Gingerbread on your HTC Desire now

If  you’ve gotten a bit tired of the usual wait for Android updates and are a bit more technically minded why not get your Desire running Gingerbread now. I’ve been using a great custom ROM for about a month now and have been enjoying the new features that …

SonyEricsson LiveView update now available

We did review of the SonyEricsson LiveView before Christmas, and it was not without its teething problems – especially around connections. Sony promised an early update, and true to their word they have now released it. The release promises much improved connections, improved compatibility with 3rd party phones, …

New year, new Apple class action

So with antenna gate hanging over Apple in 2010, the tech giant could have been forgiven for thinking new year new start, but not so! Welcome everyone to 2011’s Glassgate, This latest action revolves around Donald LeBuhn who is suing apple because when his daughter dropped his iPhone …

Facebook updates Android app

Facebook have just updated their Android app on the market. New improvements include the addition of deals, chat and push notifications. Its great to see the Chat functionality finally being added, especially as iOS has had this feature for some time already. Facebook deals provides access to savings …

Google spill the beans on Android 3.0 Platform Highlights

Google have released a few more details on Honeycomb and the new features it will bring to the party. The Platform Highlights page elaborates a little more on new UI additions like the new System Bar and Action Bar as well the improved task switcher for multitasking and …

More on the Facebook phone – Blackberry killer?

After yesterday’s rumours of Facebook phones, more information is coming out. BGR have a tipster that was part of a focus group for what could be the Facebook phone, with more details of what could be in store. The phone will be cloud based and location aware – …

HTC Facebook phones coming?

A Facebook phone has been rumoured for sometime, but it now looks as though two might be coming. The rumours are the HTC are responsible and will be presenting two Android based devices at MWC, with Facebook pushed to the fore. Given HTC’s excellent work on integrating Facebook into …