Released at the start of September at the IFA conference in Berlin was the Lumia 735 and the Lumia 830.  Microsoft promised that these would be available for September.  These phones were beginning to look like the yeti – much discussed but rarely seen in public – until …

The Apple iPhone is probably the most popular phone ever, it creates such urges within people once a new one is released, almost a compulsion to buy one. No other phone ever has created such irrational mass purchasing. One could say there was witchcraft involved, I’d go with …

Following news that Vodafone are to take on 140 Phones 4u stores and save around 900 jobs, EE has confirmed to us that they will have a further 58 of the stores. This move should save another 359 jobs, and with our rough calculations (800 jobs saved in …

Sure, smartwatches might be a new thing, but can you get one for your child? There’s a range of tracker watches that’ll help parents and carers monitor movements yes, but how about a full-blown smartwatch? The new VTech Kidizoom is just £29.99 and it’s about the closest thing …

A lot has been said about OnePlus over the last few months. Some of it good and some of it bad. Most conversation revolved around people trying to get an invite. Amazingly I managed to get one and I subsequently sold it on. None the less I was …

For the life of me, I can’t remember when I first used Shazam. I know it was so far back that I used to have to either call or dial a number to let it do its magic. Even when music recognition became built in to smartphones and …

Well, I have to say, I didn’t think I’d gel with this thing to begin with. I’ve not worn a watch for a good many years and when I saw the rubber strap I presumed that this wouldn’t be my thing. The Misfit Shine is a fitness and …

Unless you were lost in a techless-like black hole for the last couple of weeks, you’ll already know how Apple’s annual release revealed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. What we don’t have is confirmed knowledge of what happens when its Google’s turn… Although we have seen …

Whilst for many the Samsung Galaxy Range of devices may look and feel somewhat ‘plasticky’, the recently announced Samsung Alpha has turned a few heads with its executive and luxury styling. Over recent weeks rumours have started to surface on the net of further devices sharing the same …

Back in the day, the Microsoft cloud used to be called SkyDrive. Trouble is, Sky TV got a bit annoyed about that, what with all their Sky products ‘n all (Sky Go, Sky +, Sky Movies, Sky Sports etc). So now we have the newly renamed OneDrive and, …

We’ve just had confirmation that Vodafone will be buying 140 old Phones 4u stores and rebranding them. The offer, for an undisclosed sum, should mean that a further 900 Phones 4u staff will have their jobs saved. Employees will be “engaged” and rebranding will commence pending court approval. …

There was, for a brief moment there, a glimmer of hope for the Phones 4u staff. We told yesterday how a plan was being formulated to give bondholders of the company a share of equity in an attempt to get stores opened and trading again. Sadly this plan …

I’m sitting in a rather damp car park in Birmingham. Right now I could go to the Apple shop and buy the iPhone. Hey, if I’m lazy I could go onto the Apple website and get one there instead. First though, I should tell you the iPhone prices …

There’s various reasons that people want to get phones unlocked and, although some networks are now supplying unlocked handsets as default, many people make the choice to unlock on a daily basis. Let’s go through some of those reasons. It could be that you’re looking to exit a …

How does a brand new iPhone 6 at £29.89 a month sound? Good? Well, on giffgaff they split the cost of phones and talk plans (aka, “goody bags”) so you need to add on the goody bag you’d like on top of that. If you go for a …

Scotland narrowly chose to stay part of the United Kingdom this morning. The Scots showed that an unprecedented level of citizenship is possible with an 87% turn-out – more than any General Election for decades. Despite the “No” vote, today could mark the beginning of a new shift …

Yes, I recently dropped my phone into a pool. I tried to dry it out, but alas the damage was done. I didn’t have one of those clever EVAP pouches to try and get the moisture out and I quickly learned to be a bit more careful. Trouble is, …

Emoji are a part of life now, in the past I’d have just replied “this makes happy” but nowadays your obliged to reply “lol :)”. But if you have a Pebble and someone sends you a message containing an emoji previously you’d be lost, wondering what that blank …

Welcome to the Coolsmartphone podcast, joining me this week were Ian and Nirave. This weeks topics revolved around Phones4U going into administration, Apple iPhone 6 pre-orders selling by the millions, me being unable to decide which small phone to get next, Nirave and his iPhone pre-order experience, Ian …

Welcome to the live, raw, unedited and often broken version of our podcast. Joining me this week are Ian and Nirave. This weeks topics revolve around Phones4U, readers questions, the iPhone pre-order stampede and our usual chit chat about our mobile goings on. To listen live it’s dead …