Author: Simon Allum

New iPod dock….but you may need a lot of room!

Its starting to feel like a branch of John Lewis around here lately, what with the news yesterday of an Aga with mobile capabilities, news now reaches us of a breakthrough in the highly technological world of ……sofas! DFS have launched their take on the iPod dock, the …

Coolsmartphone now an official supporter of 4G Britain.

      Here at Coolsmartphone we are always on the lookout for new technologies, innovations and companies that push the boundaries.  We have reported on new product launches, mobile conferences, new applications and new operating systems. It is for that reason we are extremely pleased to announce …

Massive EA Games iOS Sale

Now EA Games are at it. Following on from the Because we May sale, EA Games are offering some quite large discounts on several of their big name titles for iOS. These include Tetris, FIFA 12, Shift 2 Unleashed, Dead Space and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Lots more are on offer, even …

Android Still on the rise, Blackberry still on the drop.

A little while ago I posted regarding the loss of market share for Blackberry and how Android is gaining as the days and months go past. Well, these figures have been confirmed once again as IDC have published their latest figures for Quarter 1 2012 showing shipments and …

Google+ for Android Updated and Beautified

Google have today release an update for their social networking app, Google+. The app has now been updated and the following features have been added: Initiate a Hangout from the main menu Support for ringing hangout notification Support for post editing Messenger suggestions for people you may know …

Because we may – BIG game sale on Google Play

Starting earlier today, several developers have got together to celebrate the fact that they can set their own pricing when selling their wares online. The end result is that there are many games that have gone onsale with same rather big titles included. We believe that developers should have …

Grab a bargain – Grand Theft Auto III on Android

Android gaming is growing and with a target market of some 300 million + handsets running Google’s operating system is it not really a surprise! Now, Rockstar games is helping the gaming cause by putting Grand Theft Auto III on special offer and making it available for only …

Breaking: Google Wins Phase 2 of Patent Case

News just in from the courts of California says that Google has won the second phase its patent trial against Oracle. Oracle filed a suit in October 2010 alleging that Google’s Android operating system infringes on patents relating to its programming language Java.  Google responded by saying that …

Opinion: Handset Makers, Not Good enough, Must Try Harder

It is seven months since the launch of the latest incantation of Google’s mobile operating system,  Ice Cream Sandwich. Since October 19th 2011, there have been 3 revisions and the OS is now on version 4.0.4 Within a few days of the release of the SDK, ROMs started …

Samsung Galaxy SIII Pre-orders Top 9 Million

An interesting facet of the Samsung SIII hype before the official launch of the “New Galaxy” was the use of sheep.  It was said to be an attack on users of the iPhone and how the flock is followed. Well, it seems to have paid off and a …

HTC Handsets Released By US Customs

HTC Have confirmed that certain models of it handsets that have been held by US customs awaiting clearance have been released after last week warning of a delay in shipping. The HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE have both been subject to delays due to customs …

Sony ICS Updates Update!

Posts made on the Sony Xperia blog today reveal the latest information regarding Ice Cream Sandwich being released for both the UK versions of the Sony Tablet and the much vaunted Sony Xperia S. The Sony tablet rollout will start on 31st May with the Xperia S slated …

Lookout Mobile Security – In Depth.

I have been interested in technology since I first saw a teacher programming an old ZX80 when I was about 9 years old.  I remember sitting with my dad as he programmed his Commodore Amiga, the old PC’s in college that used the then massive 1.44mb floppy disk …

Do you own a ZTE Score M Handset, if so then you NEED to read this!!!

Here at Coolsmartphone Castle we have had word from Lookout Mobile Security of a major vulnerability affecting some ZTE handsets. Last week it was discovered that a number of ZTE Android mobile phones had a security hole. Specifically, some phones contain a poorly protected setuid shell that can be …

Sony Smart Wireless Headset Pro Arrives at Clove on 25th May

Added to my rather long “I want one of those” list is the new Smart Wireless Headset Pro. This universal accessory offers premium stereo sound, MP3 player, FM radio and an Android remote that displays messages, caller names, media titles and more. You can even call a contact …

Samsung Cares

Hands up.  Come on, admit it.  You think that mobile phone manufacturers are after one thing and one thing only, your hard earned money. Well, not Samsung.  No because Samsung Cares. At least, that is the name of their newly released app.  The app, available on Google Play, …

Carphone Warehouse to get Pink Galaxy Note

Samsung’s Galaxy Note has so far been one of the surprises in the mobile arena.  A sort of half breed, stuck somewhere between a tablet and a phone, the Note has won many admirers and sold by the bucketload. To further enhance those sales and desirability, Carphone Warehouse have announced …

Panasonic Eluga dL1 Review

Panasonic, long missing from the smartphone arena, have finally made the decision to enter the European market.  Their first foray is the Eluga dL1 and thanks to the kind people of Expansys we’ve gold hold of one to review. The Panasonic Eluga is a fantastic looking device.  Have …

Samsung Galaxy S3 Flip Cover – First Pictures!

First pictures have been revealed of the new Flip Covers for the soon to be released Samsung Galaxy S3. Available in Chrome Blue, Pink, Lemon Yellow, Orange and Mint colours they are currently retailing for £29.95 The covers are designed to replace the back cover of your S3 …

LG Optimus 4x HD Coming to Clove.

Confirmation has reached us that the LG Optimus 4x HD is coming to Clove in June and is available for pre-order now. Priced at £456 the 4x HD has some impressive specs including a 1.5GHz quad-core processor (NVIDIA Tegra 3), Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.7″ (1280 x 720) True HD IPS …

Windows Phone On the Rise?

New figures published by Kantar Worldpanel reveal that Windows phone is finally on the rise.  Helped by Nokia’s new range of Windows Phone handsets they now have a 6% market share in Germany and 4% in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the US. Android however stretched their …

HTC Desire C Pricing Confirmed For T-Mobile & Orange

Both T-Mobile and Orange have confirmed that they will carry the newly confirmed HTC Desire C on contract and Pay Monthly tariffs. Available on Orange from £20.50 per month and at £169.99 on PAYG and T-Mobile from £15.50 per month and at £169.99 on PAYG. As revealed here, …

Samsung Galaxy S3 Accessories Pictured! – Update – Now with videos

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy SIII only days away, the hard working people over at Mobilefun.co.uk have released images and video of the new accessories for the class leading handset. Doubling up as both a holder for the S3 and a battery charger, the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 …

Klipsch S4a Android Earphones Review

The shops and internet are full of products that are “Made for iPhone”, from docks to headphones, from cases to wireless chargers.  However, try and find an accessory that is “Made for Android”.  They are few and far between. Klipsch however have bucked the trend with their S4a …

Samsung Announce New Windows Handset

Samsung have today announced a new budget Windows Phone powered handset. The mobile, titled Omnia M,  has a 1GHz processor, 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 4GB of storage and 384MB of RAM meaning it is not near the top end of the handset  range. It also includes a 5mp rear …

HTC 5p Films Weekend

HTC Watch, the online video service,  are offering another 5p films weekend. With 30 days to start downloading after purchasing then 48 hours to watch your film, the list is a long one containing some great titles. Adventures of Tintin Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Happy Feet Two Happy …

EU Vote For Mobile Roaming Rate Cap

There is some good news for smartphone users that travel throughout the European Union today as the European parliament voted to place a cap on the cost of mobile roaming charges. To take effect from July, the rates are to be limited to 24p per minute for calls and …

Huawei Y100 Android Launches Exlusively to O2

O2 have announced the exclusive carriage of the new Huawei Y100 Android handset. The Y100 has a  2.8 “LCD screen,  a 3.2MP camera without flash, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS.  Running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the handset has full access to Google play and all the compatible apps therein. Huawei claim that they have …

Nokia Lumia 900 Now Available at Phones 4 U

As revealed here on Coolsmartphone, the flagship Nokia Windows phone, the Lumia 900 is now exclusively available from Phones4U. Priced from free, the handset is available on both Vodaphone and Orange. It features the latest Windows Phone 7.5 operating system, an 8 MP Camera with Carl Zeiss lens, 4.3 inch …

TV Catchup Beta Now available for Android

TV Catchup, the service that lets you stream live freeview channels direct to your handset for free is now available in beta format for Android. TV Catchup say “As this is a beta, there may still be one or two issues that need resolving which is  where you …

Google Maps Updated, now includes Google Offers

A new version of Google maps has today been released to Google Play. The new version includes the ability to discover nearby Google Offers (US only), indoor walking directions (beta) for Japan and the US and enables the viewing of 360 degree panoramas inside restaurants and stores. The …

Orange brings TVcheck to the UK

Having launched in France last year, Orange is about to make a foray into the UK social tv market with the launch of TVcheck. In a press release today Orange said that the TVcheck app enhances your live TV watching experience by allowing you to check in to your …

Official Phone For London Olympics Confirmed as Galaxy SIII

Once upon a time the Olympics were about the best athletes in the world competing against each other to ascertain who really was the greatest. Now it seems that the Olympics are as much about buzzwords such as “partnership”, “inclusion”, “equality” or “legacy”.   We can now also …

Flipboard Now Available on Android, sort of!!

Flipboard. Once called the “Killer app for ipad” the much loved iOS app is another coming to Android from the Apple platform following hot on the heels of Instagram. One small problem though is that you have to be in possession of the Samsung Galaxy SIII in order …

Samsung Galaxy SIII to be Available on Virgin Mobile

The brand new flagship Samsung Galaxy SIII is to be available to Virgin Mobile customers from the summer the company have confirmed today. Pricing details are yet to be announced however Virgin Media customers will benefit from a range of exclusives such as £5 less on their monthly tariff, …

Instagram For Android Updated to 1.1.0

Instagram, the photo sharing application that has garnered massive popularity from both iPhone and Android users alike has released an update to its newly available Android version. Now on version 1.1.o, a brand  new Tilt Shift feature is now available allowing users to create linear or spherical blur effects …

Fraud? Nokia?? Surely Not…..

Nokia, the mobile giant that seems to be able to create trouble like  Bart Simpson in a catapult factory has managed to land itself in another quagmire of issues. Stephen Elop (CEO) and Timo Ihamuotila (CFO) along with Nokia themselves have had a class action lawsuit filed alleging that the …

T-Mobile Announces Unlimited “Orange” Broadband

The merger of T-Mobile and Orange into Everything Everywhere took another step today with T-Mobile’s announcement of a home broadband service using Orange broadband’s unlimited plans. Orange Unlimited broadband plans are now available from T-Mobile telesales and are being rolled out to T-Mobile shops and the online shop. …

Mobile Banking for Android – a quick guide (Updated).

Banks, we may not like them, we may not want them but unfortunately, we all need them! In this recession hit world many of us work strange hours and find that a visit to the bank during the week is certainly inconvenient if not nearly impossible . Most …