Author: Majid Saleem
It’s pretty simple logic when you think about it. If there’s apps and manufacturers out there developing ways to disinfect and clean up your Android phone, then there’s obviously some apps out there that are misbehaving. Just this week, Google started pushing to get this fixed, with a …
Regular readers may know that I’m a bit of a free and open source software advocate. Fundamentally I believe that if the code for software is open then its is more secure and useful. Many eyes make good code! It also advances technology. Android is based on the …
Smartphone fidelity has not been my strong point lately. In the last 2 years I’ve had got through 6 phones. However, I am generally monogamous, sticking to one at any one time…but I seemed to be now, for the first time, genuinely torn between two different devices. Do …
In 2013, billionaire space-tourist and Linux advocate Mark Shuttleworth announced Ubuntu Phone. It was based, rather obviously, on the Linux distribution, Ubuntu. Ubuntu had already seen a lot of success in the server and desktop world, and could arguably be the most important distribution since the creation of the open-source …
Digital assistants are a thing. Think Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, or (for a few windows die-hards) Cortana. Samsung also had a such a feature, the universally terrible S Voice. It seems Samsung is having another bite of that cherry. One of the announcements on Wednesdays Samsung Galaxy event …
In 2011, Nokia took the now-fateful decision to abandon the “burning platform” of Symbian and moved over to Windows Phone. This decision was close one; in those days the smartphone market was very different with multiple OS’s having a reasonable foothold (as opposed to the duopoly of today …
Lenovo and Chrome OS 2016 has been on record for being one of the most interesting years on record. Whether in the political sphere (not going there) to the tech world (Google’s smartphone, exploding Note 7s, the disappearance of headphone jacks). However arguably the most innovative device has been the …
Introduction Regular readers of the site may remember my adventures and #firstworldproblems in the tablet world. Whether it was using an iPad Mini (many years ago), Windows, convertible devices or a cheap Android slate, I hadn’t found a device which satisfied me completely. My Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 …
After being rumoured for a while, and then available through a beta build, WhatsApp continues on its quest for global domination of its messaging platform with video calling. Whilst it is arguably the biggest cross-platform messaging service, with a 1 billion users, WhatsApp has fallen behind competitors such …
My friends and family know me as a tech enthusiast who is forever buying new devices and perusing the technology press. This has meant that I often I get asked questions on what devices people should buy. This is because (at least in my social circle) most people …
Virtual Assistants are something that major phone vendors have been pushing for a while. Whether it may be Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana or the new Google Assistant on the new Pixel phones. Now Sony has gotten into the act with their new Xperia Ear. According to the Sony blurb, this …
Laptop PC sales are falling, tablet sales are dropping, and even the might smartphone is plateauing. Wearables have been a bit of a damp squib, and VR is just starting out. In the midst of all this, one area does seem to be (anecdotally at least) doing well… …
Laptop PC sales are falling, tablet sales are dropping, and even the might smartphone is plateauing. Wearables have been a bit of a damp squib, and VR is just starting out. In the midst of all this, one area does seem to be (anecdotally at least) doing well… …
Regular readers of our website will probably read about my latest #firstworldproblem… the search for a (cheap) 10inch Android Tablet. After my #EpicFail with the unbranded variety. I scoured eBay for something else. In the end, I settled on an Xperia Z2 Tablet (not bad for £149). It reminded …
You may have seen recently the little photo special our Dear Leader posted on the Honor 5c. Recently Huawei have caused significant disruption in the phone market both with their own devices and sub-brand Honor devices. Devices such as the Honor 6 Plus, the Honor 7 and the …
“If it’s too good to be true, it often is.” “Learn from others mistakes and take heed.” “Be wary of the unbranded Chinese gadget.” “Be careful on eBay!” These are maxims to live by…. and that I have regularly ….ignored. My latest crowning glory on this front has …
Laptop PC sales are falling, Tablet sales are dropping, and even the mighty smartphone might be plateau-ing. Wearables have been a bit of a damp squib, and VR is just starting out. In the midst of all this, one area does seem to be (anecdotally at least) doing …
It’s no secret that despite making some nice devices, Sony has been struggling in the mobile phone space. This has led to severe problems within the rest of the company. This saw a new tack being taken by Sony with the launch of the Xperia X series. Ostensibly, …
Samsung fanbois of the world rejoice! After years of trying to be as cool as those pesky iSheep, it seems Samsung is finally making headway in what the Korean corporation thinks is its major competitor. It’s no secret that Samsung is the world biggest mobile phone vendor for …
I feel compelled to write this article because over the last few months I have come to a conclusion. Everything is easier on my Android phone than my Windows PC. Now before you start cursing, I am no hater of Microsoft’s computing behemoth. I have used Windows PCs …
We here at Coolsmartphone towers are big fans of Jide and their Remix OS. For those that have only just come across this, this is a desktop-friendly Android OS with windows and toolbars providing a full desktop experience. It is one of a number of Android x86 projects, …
BlackBerry, one of the past greats of smartphones, have just announced the DTEK50. This will be their second device running Android after the (also appallingly named) Priv. The Priv was a first for the company – it was the first to run Android rather than its proprietary BB10. Whilst it …
Podcasts have exploded in popularity since they first came onto the scene in the early 2000’s. The move to smartphones and busy lifestyles with commuting, has only increased this popularity to the extent that phones seem to have become the main medium for consuming them. In such an environment, a good …
One of the great strengths of the Android platform, and one which attracted me personally to it over other platforms, is its customisability. Of these, the keyboards are probably the most important functional part of the device that the user interacts with (as opposed to aesthetic parts like …
Every few years, it seems that certain trends become the “in” thing in the mobile and computing space. For the last few years, it was “wearables”, smartwatches etc. Starting last year, and really taking off this year is Virtual Reality. HTC announced their Vive last year, and this …
There has been a lot of chatter about this years flagship from HTC, with early leaks showing a design reminiscent of the HTC One A9 we reviewed. Now today, serial “leaker” (is that a word?) OnLeaks has tweeted some photos of the new device. The device is reportedly named the HTC …
A long time ago (in a galaxy far far away… no, not really) in the early days of Android, there was an app called Google Listen. This was one of the earliest podcasts apps. It was really popular and I used to really like it. Why? Because it …
Mobile World Congress is drawing closer and the inevitable rumour mill starts picking up pace. Also at this time of the year though we get a variety of figures from the companies regarding revenue and profits for the preceding year. Apples figures are eagerly awaited (even the BBC …
We are only a few weeks away from MWC, probably the biggest event in the smartphone calendar. There are many big flagships devices that are expected to be announced, the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 and the new HTC One amongst the others. Its at this stage that …
The eagle-eared amongst may have heard our Matteo mention (during our monster End-of-the-Year Awards Podcast) that his “Tablet of the Year “was the “Xiaomi Mi Pad 2”. This was a metal-clad, QHD screen-toting device that was released in China earlier in the year. At 7.9 inches, and with a spec …
Well aren’t we being busy Acer? Acer is announcing a slew of devices at CES 2016 in Las Vegas. These include a new tablet, some new laptops, a smartphone and a Chromebook. The press releases are making the rounds on the internet. If on the other hand you …
Part 2 – The Lenovo Miix 3 Review (Read Part 1 here) Which Device? So, the scene having been set, how did I proceed? There were a variety of other options. First the size issue, 8 inch or 10 inch. There were 8 inch tablets by Linx, Lenovo …
Part 1 – Setting the Scene Come around the winter fire kids! Let me tell you a story, this particular story is about my search for a work device without breaking the bank. I am an unashamed tech geek, I love things all bright and shiny. I love …
It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that there have been multiple events in the last few months. Apple started the rollercoaster unveiling the new iPhones & iPads. This was closely followed by a Google event unveiling its new Nexus phones (Nexii?) Chromecasts etc. There was also an LG …
Being married to an Indian woman has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that the mother-in-law is about 8000 miles away (sorry couldn’t resist a mother-in-law joke!). Another advantage is that when we do have to go meet her I get to experience the assault on …
