Category: Android

TuneIn Radio fixes those little irritants

The recently refreshed TuneIn Radio app introduced us to a brand new UI and a clean design, however it also brought with it some additional “features” which weren’t well received. First was the lack of an exit button, which had been available before, whilst the second annoyance was …

Gmail for Android now allows you to save to Drive

Attachments to emails can sometimes be a little bit annoying, having to save the file locally and then upload it to the Cloud afterwards. Obviously not everyone works like this, but I know I sure do. Google have updated their Gmail for Android app, adding amongst other things …

iOS apps now running on Android

You can now run Apple apps on Android. Sure, that’s the headline but in reality the solution isn’t a retail boxed product as yet. The software is called “Cider” and, well, let’s just get this out of the way and show it in action shall we? Researchers at …

Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime caught on video, or is it an Active?

There’s been more than a few rumours splashing around about an Active version of the Samsung Galaxy S5, as there have been about a ‘Prime’ version. An anonymous, and very kind person has sent a pre-production Samsung handset to video blogger TK Tech News that seems to be …

Apple and Android call a truce in the patent wars

We all know how this story starts. Patent spat. Lawsuit. Courtroom drama. Huge amounts of money changing hands. Customer ends up getting penalised somewhere along the way. However, today Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss any lawsuits they’d raised surrounding technology patents. had brought against each other …

Get the golden S5 from Three

Whilst EE have got the exclusive on the gold HTC One mini 2, Three have the Samsung Galaxy S5 in gold on their network. It’s available on one of three 24 month plans or you can choose a Pay As You Go plan and pay £549. If you …

T5 becomes S5

Heading somewhere nice over the next couple of weeks? Well, if you’re passing through LHR you’ll find that Terminal 5 has had a rather massive makeover. The Heathrow terminal is to be converted into a rather large advert for the Samsung Galaxy S5. There’ll be branding and promotion …

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active seems to have made an appearance

Benchmarking programs are quite handy for people like me and also for manufacturers, allowing you to see how a device compares to other devices. Although sometimes people do make the mistake of being connected to the Internet and accidentally uploading the device details. Which for a non announced …

Roadchef have released an app. Stop press!

Roadchef want us to mention their app. Roadchef, if you weren’t aware, are one of the UK’s leading “Motorway Service Area operators”. If you, like me, live in the UK you’ll have no doubt encountered the motorway services. They’re a place where you meet mortgage advisors in order …

HTC One mini 2 SIM-free pricing revealed

Following this mornings’ announcement, Phones 4u and Mobile Fun have announced SIM-free pricing. Phones 4u will be offering the handset for £359.95 whilst Mobile Fun will be trying to get £399.99 off you. The pricing is a little close to the bigger brother – the HTC One (M8) …

OnePlus One cheap? It’s sold at cost.

The interwebs are constantly chattering about the new high speced device from the fledgling company OnePlus. Their OnePlus One phone is amazingly high spec for a low price and now their CEO Peter Lau has revealed how they’ve been able to bring high-end features with Nexus-like pricing. The …

CrapApp Volume 1 – Hang Over.

We get asked to review a lot of apps here at Coolsmartphone. When I say a lot, I mean A LOT. Some of them aren’t up to much, and when you try to explain that an app that makes a noise when you press a button doesn’t warrant …

ZTE Kis 3 launching in Europe

ZTE have made a name for themselves in this ‘budget handset’ sector and the Kis 3 looks build on that success. A handset designed to be ‘versatile’ rather than ‘groundbreaking’ the Kis 3 features a 4-inch WVGA screen and checks in at a chubby 10.7mm thick with smoothed …

HTC One mini 2 available on EE too

The HTC One mini 2 (which we’ll call the mini M8 for sanity) is already coming to Three, but now we’re hearing that EE will be taking it also. EE however,  will have an exclusive on the “amber gold” version. Available in June,  you can pre-order the gold …

HTC One mini 2. The details.

This isn’t a math’s lesson before anyone tries to run away.  It’s HTC Launching the One Mini 2 “The world’s most grippable android ever” according to HTC.  But as all good things come in small packages, lets go see what we can say about this. The specs first are …

Buy a Nexus 7 and get £50 Google Play credit

  Everyone loves a bargain, particularly if there’s a shiny new gadget involved. Announced 10 months ago at last year’s Google I/O conference, the Nexus 7 received positive reviews.  With this year’s I/O conference to be held at the end of June, speculation is rife that a new Nexus …

Do you fancy flashing Cyanogenmod 11S on your Oppo Find 7a?

The OnePlus One is a fairly unique device, or it is in the software stakes anyway. Running a unique version of Cyanogenmod, which was made specifically for the OnePlus One and many people are itching to port it to their devices. Not too surprisingly the first device to …

Galaxy S5. 11 meeeeelion sold

Samsung have,  according to the co-CEO of the company,  off-loaded 11 million Galaxy S5 handsets so far. It proves that, despite the doubters, the Galaxy range is doing very well indeed. Since going on sale early last month, J.K. Shin can also see the company grabbing a higher …

Use your smartphone to talk to your new friend… the oven.

Blimey. I think I’ve been writing for this site far too long now. I’m getting press releases about how you can control and talk to your household appliances via a smartphone. Yes, you can actually control and monitor devices like a washing machine and fridge using the new …

Pink Galaxy S5 spotted

Not happy with your white, black, blue or gold versions of the Galaxy S5? Well if you’re living in Japan, today is your lucky day. Japanese carrier NTT Docomo has just unveiled a pink color variant of the Galaxy S5. Other changes include the NTT Docomo branding at the front and …

The ArcBook, by ARCHOS Unveiled

Archos has revealed what they are calling the “ArcBook”, which is an “Affordable Mobile Productivity Enhancer”. Errr…  in other words an Android powered netbook. Google™ Certified ArcBook with a 10.1” touchscreen and fully-fledged keyboard designed for students and mobile professionals available in June for under £139.99 Spec’s include.. …

UK Transportation now comes to Google Maps

For some time now Google Maps has shown Transportation info for the USA. However, Google has now updated Great Britain too. You can now get directions for travel using public transportation. The app update is available now for iOS and Android, as well as on the web on …

Motorola also announce a 4G version of the Moto G

Today we have been treated to not just one piece of news from Motorola but two. Alongside the announcement of the uber cheap Moto E they have also announced the Moto G in a 4G variety This great wee phone will come with the addition of a Micro …

Moto E revealed

Here in London Motorola have just announced this, the Moto E. Dubbed the “featurephone killer” by some, it’s everything we expected – a well-built, cheap smartphone… http://youtu.be/v5Asedlj2cw Made to Last. Priced for All Powered by Android 4.4.2, KitKat, the E also has a 4.3” display with 256ppi. You …

LG announce three new models in the G Pad series

2013 was a great year for LG, with the success of the Nexus 4 & 5, the hugely popular LG G2 and G Flex and the slightly overlooked yet brilliant G Pad 8.3. All in all they had a range of great products, so it’s only to be …

G, it’s an LG Watch

A new promotional video for the LG G Watch has popped up on the internet. We don’t have a great deal of information on the new Android Wear watch, other than what’s mentioned in the video itself.. No news on pricing as yet, but we do know that …

Moto E spotted before launch day.

Some very official looking shots Motorola’s new device the Moto E, have turned up online over the weekend ahead of it’s launch on Tuesday. The images show the new phone will look similar to the Moto G in design and be available in black and white, and renowned …

No KitKat for international version’s of the Galaxy SIII and SIII mini

A couple of days ago documentation was leaked showing Samsung’s progress in bringing Android 4.4 KitKat to their older generation devices. These documents unfortunately indicated that the official KitKat update for the International Galaxy S III GT-I9300 had been “canceled for now.” This documentation stated that the hangup …

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Review

The Galaxy S range has become a bit of a Marmite thing. Many many people love the Galaxy S range, with the S3, the S4 and now the S5. But contrary to there are many people who really do hate them. Often on Twitter I’ll mention something to …

Unboxing of the Huawei Ascend P7 and first impressions

I have now had the Huawei Ascend P7 in my hands for a little under 12 hours and in that time I have had a play with the device properly. This includes that new “Panoramic Selfie” feature. All in all I think it is a very nice handset. …

The Cat B15 gets some SERIOUS abuse

Cat (who, incidentally, have a rather massive presence about 2 miles from here), asked me to “properly test” their Cat B15 smartphone I decided to put it through what I thought was the ultimate test. I gave it to my son and, after explaining that it was a …

In London? Tube staff on strike? Try the updated Kabbee app

If you’re looking to get yourself a cab in London then you could just flag one down. However, if there isn’t a rank or cab in sight you can easily book one with apps like Kabbee. The new version now has a fresh look with the entire booking …

Got a console? Wanna swap some games?

If you’ve got one of those Xbox 3DS’s, Microsoft PS4’s or Nintendo Sony Vita gadgets then you’ll know that the games are absolutely chuffin’ expensive. Step forward Jiggster, an app which will let you dive into a trading marketplace where you can sell or buy games. I could …

Another shot of the new smaller Galaxy S5

Confusingly named the Galaxy S5 Dx (obviously “mini” just doesn’t cut it any more), here’s a slightly clearer shot of the smaller brother of the S5.. We have already covered some of the rumoured details this morning and you can probably guess where this newer leak has come …

Huawei Ascend P7 hands on.

Here is a quick selection of hands-on photos from the event in Paris. Don’t forget that you can get full Huawei P7 details in my earlier post. I will get an unboxing video up later on today, but until then enjoy! As you can see it is lovely …

Clauncher – The new “Beautiful Launcher” for Android

Did you wake up this morning and think… My phone isn’t as beautiful as it could be, old fashioned icons, boring skins and themes from your phones manufacturer.  Well if you did then “CLauncher” could be for you. CLauncher is a relatively new launcher for android phones (Android …

Huawei Ascend P7, all the info

So there we have it – the Huawei P7. It has now been announced to the world’s press. It’s a beautiful looking device which has a glorious feel to it thanks to it an all metal construction, very similar to its predecessor the P6. The dimensions come in …

The LG G3 is shaping up to be quite a phone

The LG G3 is expected to be announced at the end of the month and I can honestly say I’m quite excited at the prospect. Various leak and rumours have been appearing around the web over the last few weeks and I thought I’d gather them up into …

ZTE announce the Blade L2 for Europe

ZTE have today announced the latest device in their arsenal of devices. The rather budget sounding Blade L2. Featuring an elegant design with a 5” touch screen and white exterior finish, the Blade L2 not only delivers on style but also packs a powerful performance with its 1.3GHz …