Category: Software (Android)

Top browser extensions for 2019

On your “regular PC” (or laptop), you’ll no doubt have a range of your favourite extensions in Chrome. Regardless of whether you’re an easygoing or avid user of the Internet, there are some must-have browser extensions that you’ll be using on a daily basis. However, when you’re on …

2019’s most entertaining online games

Mobile gaming is now more popular than ever. In fact, almost half of all revenue in the global gaming industry was earned through mobile games last year. Game developers used to only release games for PC and consoles, but now they’re investing and becoming more involved in the …

BritBox now launched in the UK

Here in the UK there’s a multitude of streaming services. We’re at the stage now where, if you join several paid-for services, quite a bit of money will be leaving your bank account per month so that you can watch shows from competing companies. The BBC iPlayer is …

13 Android apps you may not have noticed

There’s plenty of apps out there – perhaps too many for us to ever mention here. Whilst many apps are heavily featured and recommended around the web, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the apps you may not necessarily have seen. Those apps that are …

Park an F1 car on your drive. F1 Pack Rivals.

This is a card trading game with a number of extra goodies. Download the app on iOS or Google Play and you get tought how to play straight away. F1 Pack Rivals is a strategic card game with all the official F1 cards and imagery. Use your tactics …

Survey reveals that games continue to increase in popularity

We do talk about it quite a bit here but mobile gaming shows no sign of slowing down. A recent survey by App Annie has revealed that games now account for 40% of all mobile downloads, and over 70% of all consumer spend across both iOS and Google …

5G – More than just a faster connection.

With Google Stadia about to land and bigger, more in-depth games now being downloaded, people are demanding ultra-fast connectivity from their phones. Traditionally the advancement in data speed has been beneficial for watching movies and TV shows on the move. It’s also meant that you can listen to …

MetaTrader 4 empowers Android users with mobile trading

With the state of the financial markets a definite “hot topic” in the news right now, Android users can make the most of the opportunity to trade on the go with a mobile trading app like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). This state-of-the-art software is tailored to suit traders who …

Using your smartphone for log management

I work in IT and I have a definite love / hate relationship with the infamous “Windows Event Viewer”. Log management has come a long way though, and you don’t just need to rely on the built-in tools as there’s now a variety of alternatives. That means that …

Hot trending apps to ease the boredom away

Got nothing to do? Got some time free? Waiting for a bus? Are you perhaps on a train, in a lift, on your lunch, in the coffee queue or waiting for a lift? Chances are, you’ll be looking down at your phone to soak up some free time. …

Fortnite and Fortnite fans explode.

In a masterclass of hype, free PR and a way to regain interest in the game, the Fortnite world has been blown to bits. It’s sent ardent fans into a frenzy of disbelief, as Epic Games ended season 10 by deleting almost all their Fortnite tweets, stopping people …

When tech DOES help your mental health

You’ll have no doubt seen the stories detailing how smartphones affect your mental health. Constant social media use and an open gateway for those who wish to contact you can be damaging, but apps like Flow, which is currently only available for iOS, are trying to help. The …

A super-easy way to share your location

Google Maps is great. If you want to share your location then it’s just a matter of clicking the relevant button. Likewise, if you’ve got WhatsApp, you can share your location or your live location. It’s great if you’re sending to someone via the internet or to someone …

What services are included in mobile app development?

Are you considering building an app to promote your business, keep in touch with customers or to launch a startup You’re probably busy shortlisting development companies right now, trying to find a team with a good portfolio and skills. Although a lot of companies offer a similar package …

Automating your phone – MacroDroid

A short while ago I had a problem. It was a strange one and I found myself hitting a bit of an impasse. When I got in the car, the WiFi from the dashcam would be detected by my phone and it’d connect. That’s great if you’re planning …

Advantages of mobile-based services for customers

Let’s say you’re a business or service provider who wants, or who even already is taking advantage of a mobile-based model for their services. You provide a service, your customers pay X amount every Y amount of time, and that’s more or less the end of it. You, …

Business ideas for the smartphone generation

If you’re going to start a business, then it makes sense to .. Make sure that it fits into the modern world and Make sure that it fills a need for the people. It’ll be people, after all, that ensure you have a long-term, viable venture! While there …

Remember when we used to locally installed Office on a PC?

I didn’t used to rate Microsoft products, but on mobile phones their cloud offerings are rather spectacular. Office 365, and the ability to work anywhere, is refreshing and simple. Today I’ve been using Excel, and it’s got me thinking about how useful and how integrated with the office …

Google Play to start auto-playing videos.

Following the white redesign of the Google Play Store another, and what I deem more annoying update, is due pretty soon. Yes, the Play Store will start playing promo videos in the app listings automatically. According to Google the videos in the app listings will “help more users …

Petrol Prices app receives a big update

With oil being priced in dollars and the value of the pound now at it’s lowest level for many, many years, petrol and diesel prices are reaching all-time highs. A No Deal Brexit is set to raise food and petrol prices further, with incomes reduced. All of this …

5 of the most popular app categories

Unbelievably there’s now 4 billion people connected to the internet. That, though, isn’t the most amazing number. There’s now a larger number of mobile phone users, now amounting to 5 billion. Mobile phones and the internet are both integral parts of life now, with many people shuddering at …

Parental Control apps to monitor usage

The internet can be a dark place. As we have now transitioned into our digital world, we’ve also had to wrestle with its complexities. The number of children using the internet grows each day, and the younger children are, the more likely they are to use the internet. …

New Hermes app launch

Every single time I have something delivered you can guarantee that I’m always in one place – on the toilet. Luckily delivery firm “Hermes” now new app that gives you more choice and control over how you receive their parcels. They’ve got a lady with incredibly long nails …

Suggestive Hustle Castle adverts appear on Twitter

Whilst we can’t fully verify that the Twitter account in question is directly linked to the makers of Hustle Castle, some serious money has been spent recently advertising this game on Twitter. The adverts, as you’ll see below, are very suggestive and seem to signify that the game …

Mobile Industry – Poised for a revolution in FPS Gaming

Wait, what? FPS Gaming might be a confusing phrase for some, but it basically means “First Person Shooter”. Not (as I initially thought) “Frames Per Second”. Think about the biggest games on mobile though and the likes of PUBG and Fortnite are right up there. Recent developments in …

Go and Snatch. Win prizes and get fit too!

Fancy grabbing some Snatch action? Now you can thanks to a radical new AR free-to-play mobile game. This one has you engaging with your favourite brands and you get the chance to win some exclusive prizes! To get involved, you download “Snatch” from the App Store or Google …

The uncontainable expansion of mobile apps

Virtually every segment of our lives is monitored by an app. We use them to track our diet and exercise routines, meditate and unwind, run our business or just have fun. Since their conception, these apps have come a long way. From a so-called hand extension, they have …

Investing and saving on your smartphone

I’ve tried a number of ways to save money but, right now, the interest earned on your savings isn’t that high. I’ve therefore switched to “pocket money” apps that take small incremental payments each week or apps which will “round up” your change to build some cash for …

Google Maps – Now with a speedometer

I’m probably going to open up a whole can of worms here, but your car speedometer, some of the time, isn’t right. For the most part, it only needs to be accurate to within plus or minus 5 mph at 50 mph. Here in the UK the law …

Saving and earning money with your smartphone

I’ve got a savings account. The other day I took a look at it and was pretty shocked at just how much money wasn’t there. The problem? Here in the UK our interest rates are really low. That’s great if you’re getting a loan or a mortgage, but …

Mario Kart – Android gameplay

Mario Kart has been a hugely popular and addictive game in our house. It’s available on the Nintendo Switch, but we’ve played it on the Wii U and the original Wii back in the day too. For everyone else though, it’s not readily available. You can’t get it …

Played Fortnite recently?

If you haven’t, you probably know someone who has. The game has not only exploded across gaming platforms, but it’s remained “sticky”, with players coming back again and again to play. On your smartphone though, you may be playing a very similar game – PUBG Mobile. This has …

Atmosphere Weather – A whole new way to plan your day

When you check the weather it’s usually via a daily update or a top-down representation of your area with clouds, sun and rain symbols etc. This, though, is very different. Atmosphere Weather definitely takes a different and very refreshing approach to forecasting. The main screen has a clock-like …

Update your WhatsApp people!

A small advisory on the Facebook site sin’t something you’d perhaps take notice, but the vulnerability allowing remote code execution via WhatsApp VOIP stack is something a lot more people should be aware of. What’s good is the fact that the WhatsApp application is updated regularly, and I …

Watch the Formula 1 of sailing on your iPhone

If you’re into your sailing then you’ll be wanting to get SailGP. It’s an iPhone / iOS app which let’s fans watch the races live across the world. Just choose what you’d like to watch and which boat to follow, then you can tap into the live data …

Cool Android time-filler game. Invaders.

Many years ago, when school computers looked like this, I went to school with a guy who ended up – as I’ve just found out – coding Android games. Last time I saw him was at his wedding, when I got very drunk indeed. Anyhow, he posted something …

Some of the best Monopoly smartphone games

  It’s the Easter holidays, so I’m doing my best to ensure that my son isn’t stuck to his smartphone all the time. Today it’s resulted in him bringing out a whole load of board games. We’ve had the infamous “Mousetrap”, plus “Buckaroo”, “Scrabble”, ”Trivial Pursuit” and, of …

How APK sideloading became mainstream

Here at Coolsmartphone we download pretty much everything for our Android phones via the Google Play Store. There’s over a million apps and games available there, and they’re all categorised and reviewed. For years though, all Google Android phones have been able to “side load” apps. This means …

Total phone content protection and monitoring. SpyMyPhone.

Just recently I’ve been looking for a way to keep tabs on my son. He’s just got his first ever proper smartphone and, although I don’t want to snoop on him too much, I do want to ensure he’s safe. One app that has pinged my radar is …