Super Bluetooth in 2016

Bluetooth is about to change from what we all know and love (or not, in some cases). The organisation that looks after the Bluetooth standard is updating it next year to increase coverage distance by 4 times the current distances, so we should see Bluetooth speakers work up …

Come in Major Tom? New Christmas Presents from Oppo

It wasn’t that long ago we had to be dependent on the headphones and ear buds that came in the box with our phones. Thankfully that has all changed with fantastic features for music lovers on phones, and the ability to use any headphones we want. Step in …

Myfox Home Alarm – Review

An alarm system, fitted, can cost you around £500. However, for £249 you could try this Myfox Home Alarm and set it up yourself. It’s got bags of extra goodies for us smartphone lovers. It’ll work with Nest too, because this has a key fob and smartphone app …

More evidence of Android malware hijacking

We recently reported on various studies and stories about Android being vulnerable and various applications been hijacked by malware. It is important to stress at this point, with due care and attention to where you are downloading applications from – you will reduce the risk of an attack on your …

Apple iPad Pro Smart Keyboard – You can only buy the US layout

Here in the UK our keyboards are slightly different. Indeed, if you travel around the world a bit you’ll notice that keyboard layouts differ depending which country you’re in. Differences between national keyboard layouts are mostly the placements of symbols on the character keys. Between the UK and …

Arcade OrbitCAM XL Drone review

One of my other hobbies, apart from writing for this fantastic site, is flying drones. These are also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV’s. My current setup is able to hold a GoPro camera on a 3 axis gimbal which gives excellent super smooth clear footage. The drone …

Move over HTC, Ford want to be quietly brilliant.

Modern cars tend to have a lot of sound proofing, especially if you’re driving one of those diesel cars. It’s to reduce engine noise, but despite how nice your tyres might be, there’s still road noise to deal with. Ford have been thinking of new ways to sort …

iPad Pro goes on sale. Here’s which network is offering it

Fancy getting the new iPad Pro? It’s big. It’s got a really nice 12.9″ Retina screen but it’s a tad expensive and the keyboard seems to cost a lot too. That said, you’re about to see it popping up in lots of mobile phone stores up and down …

New Microsoft Lumia phones reduced again

All I ever seem to write about these days are price reductions to Microsoft products.  I’m not complaining mind; I can’t wait to get my hands on one of the new phones, it just leaves me wondering why the cost keeps dropping given that nothing has actually been …

Oppo handset snaps up some underwear models

We’ve got some snaps of Kendall Jenner getting in on some selfie action at a Victoria’s Secret Show in New York recently. Kendall, for those who haven’t experienced the delights of the “Kardashians”, is the daughter of Kris Jenner and Bruce Jenner. Bruce, of course, is now called …

Apple Music, on your Android

Two unstoppable forces. Two immovable objects. Apple and Android. They never seem to really work well together, and if you want a small piece of one OS then you usually have to jump in and sign up for the whole ecosystem. But wait. What’s this? Apple Music on …

AVANTEK BC-L6 Bluetooth Stereo audio receiver

Your phone will no doubt have all your tunes on it, but when you get in your car there’s just a few methods of getting those tunes pumping out of the powerful speakers in your car. First, you could perhaps use one of those FM transmitters. They’re usually …

I’m the firestarter, smartphone firestarter

Just the other day we covered the rather “unique” testing process for the OUKTIEL K6000 phone. Last time we saw this handset, some mad fool took an angle grinder to it. This time, they’re trying to burn the thing. Honestly, I’ve got some pretty weird mental images of …

Nexus 6P camera glass cracking

First it was Bendgate, now it’s Crackgate. More supposed tales of woe to hound the new Nexus 6P flagship. Some users are reporting that the Corning Gorilla Glass 4 panel that sits in front of/protects the camera is spontaneously cracking. It appears that this piece of glass isn’t …

Xperia Z5 & Xperia Z5 Compact Comparison – Review

The time has come to put Sony’s finest under a microscope and to see what you are getting when you plonk down £610* on the counter. We know that the camera is meant to be the best thing since they made the camera obscura back in the early …

EasGear Qi Wireless car charger and phone holder review

I’m terrible with the whole car mount / phone holder situation. I get to my car, open the door, then throw my wallet and phone onto the passenger seat. If the phone is lucky, it’ll be plugged in and will perhaps reach the destination without sliding off the …

Can an LG G4 covert an iOS Fan Boy?

For those of you that listen to the Coolsmartphone Podcast, you have probably picked up on the less than subtle suggestion that I’m somewhat of an Apple fan boy. Guilty as Charged. I’ve been an iPhone user for a long time, and no device in the past has …

Meizu M2 Note – Review

Meizu is a brand not particularly well known here in the UK. Leigh recently reviewed the Meizu M1 Note, and I have been using a Meizu M2 Note for a few months now. This is my review of the Meizu M2 Note, a device purchased from Shenzhen Chigon …

Original Microsoft Band reduced again – now £69.99

Last week we posted a story about Argos selling the original Microsoft Band for the bargain basement price of £99.99.  That’s now been eclipsed by Microsoft itself.  The original Band is now for sale through the online Microsoft Stor e for £69.99, a saving of exactly £100.  Microsoft …