Author: Mike
Playboy, that great and venerable publishing powerhouse, have collected some interesting statistics about its readers. Apparently there are 19 million visitors to its website per month – that’s only marginally more than Coolsmartphone gets. Of those, 80% (15,200,000) use a mobile device or tablet. Playboy has clearly realised …
I moved to iOS last December and one of the great things about it, particularly compared to Windows Phone, is the wild and wacky world of accessories that are available. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the varied world of Kickstarter projects. A new idea currently making …
The cynic in me suspects this might be a sign that O2 are not shifting enough of their stock of the Lumia 640 and Microsoft Band…but, for those tempted to opt for a pretty well-specced but low priced Windows Phone, look no further than this deal. Anyone …
Yesterday Microsoft opened their annual developer’s conference in California to great fanfare. As we had reported, rumours had been rife about some sort of Android announcement, yet when it came it wasn’t entirely as had been expected. Most of the attention was, of course, focused on the forthcoming …
Later today the annual Microsoft Build conference will get under-way. This is sort of the equivalent of the Google I/O event, or Apple’s WWDC; in other words it is a massive deal for Microsoft, particularly in a year when Windows 10 will be released for desktop PCs, tablets …
Another week, another mid-range Lumia phone…the phablet-sized Lumia 640XL is nothing new, but Microsoft’s website has now changed its status from coming soon to available for purchase Announced at the same time as the 640, Microsoft’s latest phone boasts some decent specs, if nothing that’ll change the mobile …
For those of you disappointed that you cannot buy an Apple Watch immediately, rest assured that the national treasure that is CEX has some in stock. Given the relative scarcity the prices are significantly higher than you’d pay at Apple, but if you have deep pockets and …
You’ve just got to love rumours; without them most tech websites would be very sad affairs. Microsoft’s approach to Lumia handsets has been nothing short of dull – the vast array of similar low and mid-range handsets has been, frankly, quite underwhelming. There’s obviously a market for them, but for …
Like pretty much everything that Apple produces, the Watch has already proven to be a financial success. Although Apple hasn’t confirmed, it appears that online orders have been overwhelming and that over 2 million were placed within 6 hours. An internal memo from the Senior Vice President for …
Another week, another smartwatch announced…I don’t know about you, but it seems like smartwatch launch announcements are occurring at an almost daily rate the moment. The big problem with most of these is that the release date is often some months ahead, and it is not uncommon for …
Before any of you start drooling at the prospects of the Microsoft Band’s new tour, this is not the Gates/Ballmer/Nadella reunion gig at Brixton, but the long awaited release of Microsoft’s fitness Band. Disappointing I know. Announced yesterday, somewhat out of the blue, the Microsoft Band is available …
Yesterday we heard and saw official details about the Apple Watch. US pricing was revealed but nothing was said about pricing anywhere else. The Apple Store has now published prices here in Blighty and, you won’t be surprised to read, we’re paying a premium for what is already …
Those paranoid about how gadgets and the internet is taking over everything be aware, a soon to be released smartwatch from Geeksphone is preparing to invade your nocturnal activities. From the Spanish company that created the privacy-heavy Blackphone comes a new smartwatch. It’ll look a bit like many …
I am a daily Pebble Steel user. Those who regularly follow the site might have read that I love the watch so much that it made me ditch Windows Phone for an iPhone, just so that I could use it properly. I use it for (often surreptitiously) checking …
The inordinate delay that carriers and manufacturers impose on releasing updates of the Lumia firmware can be offset by the installation of the Preview for Developers app. This allows users to install the updates before they’re officially released. Occasionally there are some problems that accompany these, but generally …
Another of the long running and massively tedious legal disputes between tech giants was recently resolved. Microsoft had sought legal action against Samsung for what it argued were missing royalty payments for Android handsets. As Microsoft reported in a joint statement, the matter has now been (confidentially) resolved. …
Spoiler: unless you’re a student this will be of no real relevance. I remember sitting GCSE exams back in the mid-1990s and before our mock exams some bright spark discovered a new type of calculator that would allow you to write words. Lo and behold, the teachers soon cottoned …
On January 21st Microsoft took the wraps off Microsoft 10. The phone version of the OS was covered here and aims to integrate the features of the desktop version onto mobile phones. Microsoft did not announce any firm details of when this might happen. According to a leakster on …
Like most people who write for and read this site, I’m passionately interested in and excited about gadgets. Sometimes, though, you wonder whether things have spiralled out of control. Microsoft is supposedly developed a smart scarf. Not only will this woollen wonder keep your neck warm, but it …
Remember when Microsoft first announced Windows 10 they stated quite unequivocally that all Windows Phone 8 handsets would get the upgrade? Just to avoid any confusion, the precise message released via Twitter was: @Kalars07 We plan to upgrade all Windows Phone 8 devices to Windows 10 in the …
When the Apple Watch was announced last year many were left surprised that it was not going to be available immediately. One of the suspicions at the time had been that Apple was struggling with sustaining the battery life on it. Fast forward several months to January 2015 and with …
Just before Christmas we posted that the prices in the iTunes and App store were shortly to increase thanks to some new EU tax rulings. That duly happened at the end of last week, with the minimum price for paid apps rising from 69p to 79p. Another implication …
I don’t know about you, but the main reason I went to McDonald’s as a child was that it offered a free and (relatively) clean toilet. The McPiss was a regular feature of holidays in France. With the recent announcement that McD’s will offer free phone charging, both …
When Apple first introduced The Watch (not sure where the capitals are needed; did Apple invite the watch?) last year it struck many commentators as odd as there was no release date announced. One thing that Apple have always excelled at compared to most other manufacturers is the …
First we weren’t allowed pints when the game was on, now selfie sticks have been banned. What’s next? Banning swearing? Arsenal and Tottenham have recently announced that they’re banning selfie sticks from home games. The reason: an Arsenal spokesperson said that ‘The club’s ground regulations prohibit any object …
Last month Microsoft sent out invitations for the official launch of Windows 10. The beta version has been available to download for some time and there have been a raft of updates. Less clear has been any indication of when Windows Phone 10, or whatever Microsoft is calling …
The news from Tesco recently is one of decline and slump. Somewhat out of the blue, it has been announced that its broadband and streaming TV service, Blinkbox, have been sold to TalkTalk. In a statement TalkTalk have announced that the Blinkbox service will be available ‘immediately’ to …
Everyone loves a bargain, particularly in the cold bleak post-Christmas days of January. To brighten our mood, Tesco is currently offering 20% off iTunes gift cards. The deal is certainly available online but there’s no information about whether it is also available in-store. If any readers find the …
Some good news to cheer you up on these pre-Christmas days. As a recent adopter of iOS I’m surprised by how many ‘free’ apps there are, only to discover the numerous in-app purchases. For those apps that you have to purchase from the outset, from 1 January 2015 …
Like a great many tech fans, I’m always on the look out for interesting, innovative new gadgets. I just spotted the following two products on the Expansys website but cannot decide if they’re totally pointless or the workings of a crazy genius. I believe we’ve covered then some …
Reader’s beware: this is very much a first world problem! Nonetheless, for those interested in tech matters it is a real issue. So, without further ado, here’s my story. Much has been written lately about long-time Windows Phone users switching to other platforms. This article blames the update …
It’s always a sad day when good businesses close but, on the upside, there are potential bargains to be had! The Phones4U administrators are auctioning off surplus stock with some decent deals available. The stock has been split across several auctions and at the last look they had …
One of the great frustrations in the mobile world is seeing a new handset released, only to find that it is either unavailable in the UK or available in limited supplies via an invite-only scheme. Oppo, the Chinese manufacturer, is a perfect example of this. It’s Find 7 …
If, like me, you couldn’t give a baboon’s buttocks about the US and Canadian traditions of Thanksgiving, you might have missed out on the associated shopping days and the deals that can be had across the Atlantic. The idea is simple: for the Thanksgiving weekend most people generally get …
A shorty but a goody. Long suspected, or rather long hoped for, Microsoft have now confirmed via the official Lumia Twitter account that all current Lumia handsets running Windows Phone 8 will get upgraded to Windows Phone 10. In addition, new handsets will be released once the OS update …
Just in case you cannot decide which of the myriad mid-range Windows Phone handsets to purchase, O2 are offering a free speaker and charging plate, worth a respectable £60. The phone itself is available in black or a garish shade of green, to which the freebies are colour coded. The …
Regular users of Sky apps and Android devices will not be surprised to read about another problem in this marriage of convenience. Sky’s forums are chock full of entries about how their apps crash whenever Android is updated. Lollipop, aka Android 5.0, is no different. Many Sky users …
In the past it was Apple that was famed for being able to keep its launches secret until the actual launch (fancy that!). Now you could argue that pre-launch leaks generate interest and publicity and as we all know, tech companies feed on every morsel they can find. Fast …
Did you know that we had a ‘Digital Economy Minister’? Me neither. But apparently we do. His name is Ed Vaizey and he looks like this: Our Eddy is actually more than just this Digital Economy Minister, though this is part of his portfolio. His full title …
Last week Amazon released its third quarter financial results. Amongst a great number of tedious statistical and fiscal matters was the curious fact that it had $83 million worth of unsold Amazon Fire Phones on the shelf. In fact, the fantastically awful sales figures have hit Amazon’s overall …
