Category: General
New headphones from OnePlus? Sure, I’ll have a look at that email. They’re an updated version of the acclaimed Bullets V2, but wait a minute, these USB-C headphones are being launched to coincide with their next phone. Which can only mean that their new phone won’t have a …
After the disastrous handling of Brexit, I’m perhaps less inclined to believe what politicians say now. After all, the current Chequers Brexit Plan was knocked up in a weekend, and I don’t tend to trust things that we cobbled together that quickly. However, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has …
I quite like Inbox. I’ve got it installed on my phone right now and I appreciate the exciting and additional features. I installed it because Gmail, whether on the t’internet or on your phone, has remained pretty samey for quite a while. Recently though, I’ve noticed that Gmail …
Backpacks are an essential part of my daily kit. They allow me to transport my gear around with ease and minimal discomfort. I have used various cheap bags over the years, but recently was offered the chance to test on from Booq. This was slightly different from any …
I am not an audiophile by any means – I don’t have a finely tuned ear, and I couldn’t tell you what a chord was if it slapped me in the face! However, I do like to listen to music, and anything that makes that easier and better is appealing …
The 2100MHz 3G frequency has been in use by all the UK operators for a long time. Now EE are refarming the spectrum so that it’ll power 4G instead. This effectively means that EE will have five “carriers” of the 4G signal – more than any other UK …
Before I say anything, watch this video. Soak it in. Look at the grin on the face of the guy.. It’s more than a little creepy, however this virtual lady seems to be proving quite popular. They call it / her, the “Gatebox” in the PR email. “She’ll …
This one hasn’t even gone fully live on Indigogo as yet but, from what I can see, this is a case, an extra battery for your iPhone and a walkie-talkie, all in one. Cheap data, better coverage and apps like WhatsApp, which has an inbuilt audio recording / …
There’s still a sizeable majority of people out there that, by default, tend to choose one of the “big four” UK operators. Sure, there’s reasons for looking just at EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three. You’ll get added benefits like WiFi calling and, because they’re big companies and you’re …
Not too long ago, if you wanted the phone number of the caller to be displayed on your home phone, you’d have to pay some mad fee. It was, when you think about it, a little unfair. Mobile networks have been providing the caller’s number since, ever, but …
I was already having a bad enough few months. Remember my busted Galaxy S7 ? I smashed the back on that. Then there was the Honor 9 which, although it still works fine to this day, has a small crack across the camera lens and means that all …
Morning all. Good news ! That rash has cleared up! Ah no, wait. BT have got some news for us. They’ve just announced 4G mobile broadband plans for the first time. Not only that, but they’ve also got their first range of 12 month 4G SIM-only plans. BT, …
You may not have heard about Nuu Mobile at all. It’s probably because most people will never have seen anything from them in the UK. I have to say that I was also in this camp as well until I found them at MWC earlier this year. Leigh …
Remember how this bike-rental was experiencing a crime-wave in Manchester? Well, it’s now hitting their margins enough for them to totally quit to city. Anti-social behaviour, dumped, smashed and lost bikes have now meant that the cycle-sharing firm has pulled out of Manchester. Some 10% of bikes were …
The Mate 20 lite is available right now. You can buy it Carphone Warehouse on a Vodafone contract for just £23 per month with £29.99 up-front. This gets you unlimited calls and texts plus 4GB of data. You can also get in on O2 for £31 per month …
Xiaomi CEO Lin Bin posted an image on the social network Weibo, which is believed to be the Mi Mix 3. This was a much clearer image than those blurry cam pics that had been leaked previously. If this is the Mi Mix 3, we can see that there …
So alongside the new Kirin980 chipset that was announced today at Huawei’s Keynote their were two IOT based products, the AI Cube and the Locator Firstly let’s look at the Huawei AI Cube. This is a 4G Router which also doubles as a powerful Soundsystem and AI speaker. This is what …
Huawei has chosen their keynote event here at IFA 2018 to Launch their new Kirin 980 SOC which features the first 7nm chip construction. The key stand out features of the chipset are to enable better facilitation of the On Device AI that was introduced last year with …
I’m typing this on my old Chromebook. Man, it feels good. Like a pair of comfy slippers. Turn on, into a browser, type a bit, close the lid. No updates interrupting the experience. No 5 minute random unknown reboot times. No virus worries. Just productivity power. Love it. …
Right, short version. This is on Kickstarter right now and you can (if you’re really very quick), pledge just $69 to get one. It’s basically a comfortable, portable, self-supporting seat which has a heat pad to warm your bottom. The power for this is provided via any portable …
Remember how Xiaomi helped bring us the ROIDMI cordless vacuum? Well, they’re now branching out into light strips too. Light strips can be placed into or under cupboards, on walls, skirting boards or on ceilings. They’re flexible and can be cut and pasted onto objects around your home …
Ever wanted to try archery? Now, with the help of £31.95 virtual archer, you can do it anywhere. OK, so it’s not carved out of walnut, but the plastic device adds a smartphone holder which, when paired with Bluetooth and used with the relevant app, gives you a …
So it is that time of year again when the tech blogging world makes their annual pilgrimage to Berlin. The show is massive in scale but fortunately I am here for a few days, I have lined up a lot of meetings with some very cool people to …
The big news just now comes from UK network O2. They’re making a big update to their Refresh contract offering. In case you did not know, O2 Refresh split your contract into two payments. First an airtime part which is for your talk / text / data, and …
I used to have an internet radio in our kitchen. In fact, 10 years ago I wrote about it as Orange (the network that us “old people” used before EE) was selling them. It was a good solution, but the system which provided internet stations and their stream …
I know what it’s like. Right now (if you’re in the UK) you’re running around trying to buy uniforms and shoes. It’s all hectic and you’ve not even been paid yet. Nightmare. However, if you want the little guys and girls to be safe, head to the V …
There seems to be quite a buzz about this thing. It’s a fully crowdfunded smart speaker. They guys behind it want to make the whole process more simple, and everything is open source. This clever gadget will let you access your audio, video, entertainment and information available with …
I’ll give you the short version of this blog post so that you can basically do a “tweet read”. I’ve just been on holiday. I ate too much. I sat around too much. I got all chubby and fat. On Sunday I’m going to squeeze all that blubber …
RevoNext, a Swedish company built by audio engineers have launched the QT3 quad driver in-ear earphones. The QT3 earphones feature double balanced armatures and double dynamic drivers to deliver an apparent superior sound quality, hopefully, we can get a set to test in the coming months. The QT3 are …
Good Points: Lightweight Ability Pair to 2 devices Magnetic clasp Up to 9 hours playback Price Excellent sound quality Bad Points: Range suffered as the battery got low Design: The Connect Wireless headphones are Bluetooth headphones that are of the neckband type, with magnetism holding the earbuds in …
Several of us here at Coolsmartphone (including myself) are paid subscribers to the cross platform mail client Newton Mail by Cloud Magic. I for one loved the the way the client would integrate all my mail accounts in one easy interface and sync across all my devices from …
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be in the USA. As it was a quick visit, I’d not really organised any local SIM and took my normal Vodafone handset. When the plane touched down I received the usual text message from Vodafone advising on …
As we mentioned earlier, SMARTY, the simple SIM only network, are backed by Three. Travelling within the EU, as you would expect, is included in your normal usage. You can head to Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, where-ever. Just use your phone as you would back in the UK. Further …
Over the weekend I got chatting with an old friend. The subject of my “strange hobby” came up they asked if I was still doing “that website thing”. Well, yes. Yes I am. The conversation went on for a while and it made me realise just how long …
We have all now accepted the unrivaled role of smartphones in our lives. There is rarely a moment they are not accompanying us through the various different activities of our day; at work, during our commute, out with friends and even at the gym. Giving us direct access …
I know. I didn’t believe it either. Head straight to the video if you want the quick hit. So, this evening, as I was busy typing up details of the Galaxy Note9 launch, my son happened to say… Hey, Dad, you do know that Fortnite is available on …
EE have just got in touch with news that they will not only be stocking the Note 9, but they will be the exclusive network for the 4G Galaxy Watch too. The big news is the 4G version of the watch, which is exclusive in the UK to …
Alright, so you watched our live coverage and now you want one. I guess you’re going to have to go to one of the big four major networks, right? Well, no actually. Sky Mobile, who use O2 masts, are going to have both the Note 9 and the …
The simple SIM only network from Three (covered earlier here) has a straightforward offering. There’s three packages – either a 2GB one for £7.50 per month, a 4GB one for £10 or an 8GB for £15. All have unlimited calls and unlimited texts. You just need to find …
A few years ago we had cavity wall insulation put into the walls. It makes sense really – keeping the heat in during the winter and ensuring that your home is nice and cool during the summer months. I know lately, with the UK going through a prolonged …
