Sony Xperia XZ3 goes official at IFA2018

It only seems a few minutes since we reviewed the XZ2 but now, here it is, the Xperia XZ3. It might “just” look like a small upgrade, but there’s actually a lot more to appreciate about this one. Specs include a 6″ 2880 x 1440 screen – that’s …

IFA 2018 – Follow our updates on Twitter

If you’re trying to find out what’s coming next in the world of connected gadgets, tech and smart technology, IFA is a good place to start. IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) is Europe’s biggest consumer electronics show and runs from August 31st until September 5th. It’s held in Berlin and you …

Mobile phones. We’re becoming addicts without morals.

Earlier in the year I posted this feature about how we’re effectively living our lives through and behind a mobile screen now. It’s something that I saw on holiday too and, if I still had the photos (and hadn’t smashed my phone to bits), I’d show you some …

The breadcrumbs are back!

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. …

HTC launch the U12 life. Great specs, equally great price.

Whenever anybody puts “Life” in the name of their product, I somehow think of a Vauxhall Corsa Life. It’s a typically entry-level car with eco credentials. Here though, the new HTC U12 life (with a lower-case “L”) offers a high-end spec for a midrange price. Available in Moonlight …

Random strange shed project. Day 1

Publishing this in the middle of IFA is just insane really. If I was one of those click-bait websites, I’d add this to the site at some point in the next couple of weeks, but.. Nah, can’t be bothered. So, off the back of my rather epic ultra-cheap …

Jump on my USB-powered hot seat.

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 …

Now Xiaomi work with Yeelight to launch latest smart lighting

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 …

Wear OS to get new experience

Google have been in the smart watch business for a while now, however it is no secret they have had a tough time when compared to their Apple rival. Android Wear rebranded into Wear OS in a bid to bring a better experience, however there was still a …

Acer at IFA 2018

Acer has kicked things off at IFA 2018 with a heavily PC based event showcasing their new laptop line up alongside some of the new gaming systems and Virtual Reality/Mixed Reality. The things that were most interesting things for us at Coolsmartphone were really the laptops in the …

Look at my twanger!

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 …

IFA 2018 – It begins

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 …

My kitchen radio setup

I mentioned in a post yesterday about my kitchen radio setup. Many years ago, before DAB was ever really a “thing”, I got an internet radio because the choice of FM stations was a bit bland. Now, we’ve got smartphones that can get on-demand content, live radio and …

SKAGEN Falster 2 watch announced at IFA

With IFA expected to show off some interesting new technology to the world in 2018, smart watches are starting to become more mainstream so we are expecting a few at least. First out of the races with their press release is SKAGEN who have just announced their Falster …

O2 Refresh gets big….refresh

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 …

Back to school. Keep them safe with this clever watch.

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 …

An alternative to Amazon Echo and Google Home. Meet Volareo.

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 …

So, there was an incident…

I’ve been on holiday recently. I had a lovely Huawei Mate 10 Pro with me. It was the very one that I was using when I showed you the Huawei Desktop Mode and you can see our full Mate 10 Pro review if you’re looking to buy one. …

KitSound BoomBar 2+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker – A Review

Since joining CoolSmartphone, I’ve always enjoyed KitSound products and their perfect mix between quality and value.  As technology has changed, their products have evolved to match. (does anyone the KitSound Glow? – great for its time but shows how far KitSound has come.) Most of us like our …