Author: James Pearce
It isn’t often I laugh out loud at a letter. Especially when it’s two companies arguing about apps and services. Normally the letters between the two are very straight forward and not that funny, but this one is great. Let me set the scene. Google have YouTube apps …
As part of Google updating everything last night they updated the Play Books app. Not only have Google updated the interface to be in-line with the other Google Play apps they have also added some new features. What’s in this version: Support for reading your own PDF or …
Woohoo, finally the day has come. The BBC have finally made an iPlayer app, well a wrapper for the website anyway. Don’t expect some lovely Metro gubbins here. It is probably the number one app that people moan about when telling the world why they can’t use Windows …
Nokia have this morning announced the Lumia 925. Dan has been posting hands on pictures here. Networks have been announcing their intentions here and now Nokia have posted a load of promo videos on YouTube. They basically show some of the key features of the Lumia 925. They …
Today Nokia have announced the Lumia 925 and as is the norm on a new device day we get a LOT of emails from from retailers and networks about their deals and tariffs. This post will grow over the next few days as we get more and more …
Last night in the UK during the The Inbetweeners Movie Nokia had a quick advert. An advert showing off a nice looking upcoming device, or a tiny part of it anyway. The below image was the focus of the advert. Nokia have also published the advert on their …
Finally I can post pictures of my dinner to Instagram from my Windows Phone. Without any restrictions or limits. Today is a happy day. It did cost me £1.29 though. Itsdagram uses a loophole in the api to allow you to post to Instagram, so how long it …
For the last few weeks we’ve been dealt a confusing array of leaks and rumours surrounding the next Nokia Lumia device. This afternoon Nokia have published details of what they’re releasing in the US which might just give a huge insight into next weeks event. They have announced …
I think I’d like to be an analyst, they get to just make stuff up and the whole world sits up and takes notice. An analyst from KGI Securities has released some information about the supposed New Nexus 7 and it kind of fits in with what’s expected …
Episode 46 of the Coolsmartphone Podcast is upon us. What’s in store I hear you ask. Well…… Joining me this week we have Ian Furlong, Mark Peters and Ravi Patel. This weeks topics are the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC One, the BlackBerry Q10, the Samsung Ativ S, …
Every self respecting ecosystem needs books and magazines, don’t they? Apple have them, Google have them, Amazon have them and Microsoft don’t really have them. Relying entirely on third parties like Kindle and Nook. So what better way to start selling books etc? You just buy a third …
FCC applications are possibly the single biggest source of leaked information about new devices and this latest one is no exception. Sony are really just plugging away with their confusing naming convention and if this FCC application ever appears Sony will have just started again at the beginning …
YouTube for Windows Phone has been awful for years. It was basically just a shortcut to the mobile website. For ages people have been waiting for Microsoft to update the app, it’s one of those things that are awkward to deal with as Google own YouTube and Google …
Earlier on today I posted an article about our articles covering our favourite apps for our chosen OS. As I came up with this idea I’m going to start the whole series off. So what do I use that is worthy of recommendation, well lets have a look shall …
We all use apps on our phones, some more than others, some install huge games that take several GB of space, some install dozens of Social Network apps, some install bafflingly pointless apps like fart apps or soundboards. It really is a personal thing it’s your phone and …
The Nokia Lumia 920 is a great device, it is also the most expensive Windows Phone device and yet it has appeared at the top of the list of Windows Phone devices. So where do these facts come from? Well adduplex are a company who help Windows Phone …
BlackBerry are in an interesting position these days, the Z10 and Q10 are what some may see as their last ditch attempt to remain relevant. We had the Z10 in for review a few months ago (which you can read here) I ended up liking the hardware and …
The Cat B15 Tough Smartphone is a bit of a rugged looking device. With an IP67 rating meaning it can withstand dust and water, in depths of up to 1M for 30 minutes. Impressive stuff really, although it is a bit of a chunky device. At 14.95mm thick …
Acer this afternoon have announce six new devices. Some are Android tablets and some are Windows 8 devices. Lets have a look at the Android tablets first, Acer have announced two devices with two variants, so four in total. They have announced the Iconia A1 and the Iconia …
Quoting an old clichéd phrase: good things come in small packages bēm Wireless have made a small 2.5″ cube Bluetooth speaker that looks more like something Nokia would sell. The speaker comes in six different colours. the mobile speaker comes in six colours to allow expression of personal …
Motorola since being took over by Google haven’t exactly been the most vocal of companies. The last generation of phones from them barely even reached our shores never mind selling in any quantity. But still people are excited by what’s to come next. Rumours about Motorola making the …
Episode 45 is upon us and guess what? I’m back so you’ve got to listen to me this week. The long wait is over and the Samsung Galaxy S4 is now available and in true Coolsmartphone style no one on the Podcast has got one. This week I …
I just love marketing departments and their infographics. This one from Samsung is full of the features of the Galaxy S4. Take a look below. Source – Samsung
The excitement/fuss about Instagram for Windows Phone will just not go away. Itsdagram is a bit different to the other recent Instagram third party apps though. Itsdagram is coming soon to Windows Phone and it will allow you to do everything you’d want to do with an Instagram. …
Each month Google publishes information about the various distributions and each month it makes for worrying/interesting reading. Jelly Bean is now on 28.4%of devices, Ice Cream Sandwich on 27.5% and Gingerbread on 38.5%of devices. Google last month changed how they get the data as well. Note: Beginning in …
The already super cheap Acer Iconia B1 is now about to get even cheaper. You can get £20 Cashback on the Acer Iconia B1 throughout May. We haven’t managed to get one for review yet, I can’t comment on how good/bad it is. You’re really into the “should …
The Samsung Ativ S should have been one of the greatest Windows Phone 8 devices out there. It just paled in comparison to the offerings from Nokia and HTC. It is a shame as the Ativ S has all the specs you would require in a high end Windows …
For me the Nokia Lumia 920 has sort of become a fabled device, it is one of those devices that I had basically come to terms with that I’d never get to own. I briefly had one last year and it just wasn’t long enough. This all changed …
Microsoft have released an app that on the surface seems harmless and almost helpful, but it makes me wonder about Microsoft. The app is meant to make the move to Windows Phone easier. Here is how they sell the app. Are you thinking about switching to Windows Phone …
Some would have you believe that if you want a tablet that you have to have an iPad, some would also say you have to have a Nexus 7 but my take on things is that sometimes in life you need to take the Red Pill and try …
Another month has passed and I’ve gone and bought another Otterbox. This time it was for my HTC 8X which I have felt is increasingly becoming likely to be dropped. Only because I’ve had it for a few months now without much protection. Otterbox cases are pretty cool …
Apple fans and Samsung fans don’t half love a good argument about whose phone is better. That’s exactly the point that Microsoft have gone with for their latest Windows Phone advert. It made me chuckle, which is always a good thing. See what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19vR1GldRI
Samsung have a rather confusing array of devices this year, the latest of which is the Galaxy Tab 3. The Galaxy Tab 3 is a 7″ budget Jelly Bean device that has budget specs and no doubt a budget price. This is more than likely because of the …
Last week we covered the availability of the Acer Liquid E1 Duo from Expansys. I liked the idea of it as I have a bit of a thing about Dual Sim devices. Well Acer have now actually announced it’s successor already. The Liquid E2 comes in either single …
I love a good QWERTY phone, although it has been a few years since I actually owned one. Nokia have posted a quick teaser image showing a shift key, a Z key and some nice yellow curved corners. Lumia fans shouldn’t get too excited though, this is likely …
Waze is quite a useful app, it is a Sat-Nav, mapping and traffic app, where just by using it you are contributing to it’s accuracy. It is one of those apps that has never made it to Windows Phone, possibly due to user numbers in the past. Israeli …
ZTE have recently hit two milestones and both are pretty impressive, making phones for fifteen years and also making 500 million devices. Somewhat strangely both milestones were hit at the same time. ZTE entered the handset industry in 1998 and since then ZTE has become a mobile device …
Once again another Dual SIM phone appears on the market and my imagination runs riot. The prospect of not having to carry two phones around all day gets my temperature racing. The fact it is made by Acer also means it will probably be well made, in the past I’ve had my …
Episode 43 of the Coolsmartphone Podcast seemed to be about the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and a few other minor things. Joining me this week was Ian Furlong, Mark Peters and Ronnie Whelan. Topics included the Archos Phones, the Galaxy Mega, the Aluminium Lumia, Firefox OS Geeksphone, Facebook …
Pocket is one of those apps that you either use and love or you don’t use and can’t comprehend. I use it and I don’t think I could survive without it (bit extreme I know). Pocket basically allows you to save a webpage for viewing at a later …