Category: General

We’re on that Facebook thing

Social media. We’re all over it. InstaTwit, SnapTube, FaceGram and YouBook. We’re on it and we’re, like, proper experts and that. If Facebook is your thing, just head to .. www.facebook.com/coolsmartphonedotcom   …and we’re there. You can find us easily by just searching for @coolsmartphonedotcom on Facebook too. …

Dog & Bone – Waterproof and drop proof iPhone X case. Win!

Maria from Dog & Bone got in touch recently about this new rugged, slim, waterproof and drop proof iPhone X case. However, although we can show it to you, we don’t have an iPhone X to hand, so this is where you can step in. This “Wetsuit Impact” …

Find your local mast, the 2018 version

Every time I check the site stats, there’s one post in particular which is always massively popular. This mast finder article from 2011 is causing the most amount of interest. It’s understandable really. People obviously have coverage maps from their network, but finding out how close masts are is …

#MWC18 – Cellhire mobile data and Mifi hire

So this is going to be my last #MWC18 related article. However, it is one that has been very important. Why? Well, we were actually able to deliver the content thanks to this very gadget. Oh, and we were on a boat. A boat. We needed a solution …

#MWC18 – 3mk Screen Protectors

This was a meeting that we arranged to see what this unknown (to us) company was all about. In the end I was extremely glad that we went along to see them as they do some really cool gear. What we are looking at here is my Mate …

#MWC18 – Meet the biggest smartphone in the world.

On Monday we stumbled upon these really tiny phones that plugged straight into your ear. They were one step away from plugging directly into your brain, and were the size of a regular Bluetooth hands-free device. Now we’ve found the complete opposite – a simply massive smartphone. This …

#MWC18 – Energous. Wireless charging from a distance

Wireless charging is great and, although it has been a staple of many Android phones for a few years now, it is very much a new thing for iPhone users. As a side affect from this, a lot more companies are showing interest in the tech now. As …

#MWC18 -Huawei push their AI tech further …. into a car!!

We all know that the dawn of self-driving cars is rapidly approaching, Tesla is pushing the boundaries every day. I have driven the new Nissan Leaf with Pro-Pilot and my standard battlecruiser (aka VW Passat Estate) has got the basics of it in the form of auto cruise …

#MWC18 – Vodafone announce 4G coverage… on the MOON

Yes, the moon. The actual moon. Methinks they’re going to need a bigger coverage map. They’ll be using “Ultra Compact Network” kit, the lightest ever developed. It weighs less than a bag of sugar. In a partnership with Nokia, the Vodafone 4G network will enable the first live-streaming …

#MWC18 – Come on PanzerGlass, give it a PROPER whack!

On Monday we saw the guys from PanzerGlass hammering their own screen protectors to prove how well they protect your phone. Now, truth is that they do break sometimes, and they’re designed to do that if there’s a really, really hard impact. After all, it’s better to have …

GoXtreme Introduces the ‘Barracuda 4K’ Ultra HD Waterproof Action Cam

Just before Christmas 17, we introduced the GoXtreme Action Camera Vision 4K and we will be hopefully releasing a video on the unit very soon. In the meantime, GoXtreme has announced the Barracuda 4K Ultra HD Waterproof Action Camera. Featuring a touchscreen (which is missing from the Vision 4K) and …

Introducing Hyfit’s Wearable Gym

Companies have been trying to combine fitness with smart devices for quite a few years now and there will be plenty of new products at this year’s MWC in Barcelona. Hyfit is launching a Kickstarter campaign on the 6th March 2018 for their Wearable Gym, which is sponsored …

#MWC18 – Cyclocharge!!

This was something that we spotted whilst passing and decided that it had to be tried out. It is a bike that will allow you to charge your phone by well pedaling. Given Leigh’s penchant for cycling (lycra included), i decided it was best for him to give …

#MWC18 – Essential Phone. Hands on

I decided to take a bit of a wander down to the Essential Booth today to go and find out about their phone. Also, the burning question that I wanted to ask. Just when will we will see them in the UK? Unfortunately, I was unable to get an answer …

#MWC18 – MyScreen Protector, a phone, a drill. What could go wrong?

See? I’m becoming a master at this click-bait headline writing! So, just around the corner from PanzerGlass is a company called MyScreen Protector. They have a protector that you can fit yourself (the PanzerGlass ones are perhaps best fitted professionally) and it’s got a special film which is …

#MWC18 – PanzerGlass, a phone, a hammer. What could go wrong?

Misleading headline that because, in reality, nothing went wrong. I am, though, learning the art of click-bait 😉 Yes, we’re back again in Barcelona and we’re back to see those crazy guys at PanzerGlass as they show just how good their screen protectors actually are. They’ve roped in …

#MWC18 Sony release their new Xperia XZ2 range

Sony kicked things off for MWC2018 proper this morning with the release of the new Xperia line up. Welcome then, the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact. The two devices have new design elements thanks to move of the fingerprint reader. This is now on the back, much …

#MWC18 Gemini PDA from Planet Computers

I have talked about the Gemini PDA on the site before and I am a huge fan of what they are doing. Today I had the chance to get hands-on with a full production unit of it in its Android version. The device has been made of the …

#MWC18 – Want a tiny phone that you can stick in your ear?

I’m always interested in the smaller stands here at Mobile World Congress. The big names have equally big stands, but down in Congress Square you’ll find some new ideas and companies that want to get noticed. As we strolled through we spotted a company called L8Star who had …

#MWC18 – #EE confirm that they will range to Galaxy S9 and S9+

This just in and, as we watch the live stream, we’ve got prices and further details on the Samsung Galaxy S9 on EE. You can also pre-order them both right now www.ee.co.uk/thenewgalaxy. Plus, there’s some deals available. Uf you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ on a …

#MWC2018 Samsung Unpacked – Our live coverage

This is one of the bigger events before MWC 2018 kicks off proper – Samsung Unpacked. We are expecting to see the Galaxy S9 and S9+ properly revealed to the world. Leigh is at the event and will be live blogging his thoughts, opinions and reactions here. If …

Ofcom tells BT to share telegraph poles

Getting broadband into your home can be done one of two ways. First, you can push it through the air. More and more networks are doing this and, as EE showed us fairly recently, it doesn’t matter too much on your location. The second option, of course, is via …

YouTube – We made a boob.

Becoming a well-paid YouTube video star seems to be really high on the list of “wants” for kids in 2018. Many think that they don’t need to concentrate at school, because they can merely chuck a few YouTube videos up, get loads of subscribers, then live like a …

Truly unlimited everything with Virgin Media

It looks like Virgin Media are keen to get noticed. The caveat to this particular offer, though, is that you’re already a Virgin Media broadband or TV customer. If you are, listen up. First, the facts. Virgin Media use the EE masts, so coverage is very good indeed. …

DJI Mavic Air unboxing video and first impressions

DJI Mavic Air – intro In his first article and video for Coolsmartdrone.com Coolsmartphone.com, Lukasz unboxes the latest drone from DJI, the Mavic Air, comparing it with other drones, and shares his first impressions and some footage from the beautiful Scottish coast. Let’s get to the headlines first: …

Smart Stand 360 – Review

Good points: Price Build quality Can be fitted to a multitude of devices Lots of stand combinations Choice of colours Bad Points: Adds some bulk Doesn’t adhere to all cases I really like products that are simple in nature, simple to use and do a good job, and …

Want better coverage? Go to church.

Getting coverage into rural areas is a constant challenge for the networks. We’ve seen EE using an innovative home-broadband solution for rural homes and Vodafone have their Sure Signal kit plus new mini masts. However, the problem with planning permission and fierce opposition to unsightly large masts in …

Moto Z2 Play coming to Three UK

Three emailed us recently with some exciting news for gaming fans, but with the mass emails for Mobile World Congress it looks like it was overlooked. Thankfully the news is that the Motorola Z2 Play will be coming to Three UK in April, with an exclusive gamepad thrown …

EE to increase prices for many customers

Next month millions of EE customers will see their monthly contracts cost 4.1% more. Customers are being contacted about the increase, which will kick in on March 30th. The rise is based on the December RPI figure and affects all pay-monthly mobile customers apart from those joining or …

Boston Dynamics continue to frighten the living heck out of us

Here’s the latest robotic madness from those hugely talented people at Boston Dynamics. With each passing robot they create, things are becoming more natural-looking and intelligent.. Look at the way that “hand” stays poised in the air so statically. Amazing stuff. How long before these turn into robot …

Vodafone test 4G mini mast

Filling in those problem signal areas is easier said than done for a lot of networks. The restrictive planning legislation is a massive blocker, but then you also have to consider power, backhaul and buying or renting the land to put the mast onto. All that, plus the …

EE launch a rural broadband fixer

Long-time, handsome, intelligent readers will know that Vodafone have a solution for rural signal issues. It basically involves installing a ramped-up version of their Vodafone Sure Signal into rural communities to enhance the coverage. Now EE are on a similar mission, but with 4G home broadband antennas sitting …

Ready for 5G? You’re going to need a bigger package.

Consuming lots of data on 4G? Have you got a large package to cope with the action? Well, according to this giffgaff research, you’re going to need a hefty tariff in a few years time. Customers on the network used an average of 1.72GB of data monthly in …

EE announce new monthly plans

The UK’s largest mobile network, EE, has today announced a shakeup of it’s pay monthly plans, including some new extras. Plans are now split into Essential, Max and SIM Only, and offer different benefits depending on your needs. All plans now include unlimited minutes and texts, making it …

B400 Quad Balanced Armature Earphones

Brainwavz is at it again, introducing the B400 Quad Balanced Armature Earphones for a respectable but high-end price of £144.43. The Brainwavz B400 features a 4 driver setup with separate drivers, each focused on specific ranges to produce true audiophile-grade sound reproduction. The majority of the components that make up the B400 …