Tag: android

Android 4.3 Factory Images now available for Nexus devices

Google yesterday released the latest incantation of Android 4.3 Jellybean stating that the the Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus will all be getting the update over the air (OTA) in the coming weeks. Some of us however can’t wait that long. For those of us …

How to: Enable Dial Pad Auto Complete in Android 4.3

There has been something missing from stock Android since the very beginning. Many many times I have seen people ask for the inclusion of auto complete for the dialler but the calls have always gone unheeded. Until now. This option doesn’t appear to be turned on by default …

Chromecast announced

The Google Chromecast was just unveiled at today’s Google event. Running a modified version of Chrome OS, It allows users to stream from the cloud directly to a TV with support for 1080p and 5.1 surround sound. Notably, the Chromecast allows users to control the stream from any …

Live with Coolsmartphone: Google’s Breakfast with Sundar Pichai

Join the Coolsmartphone writers at 5PM British Summer Time for today’s Breakfast with Sundar Pichai event by Google. We’ll be bringing you all the news, opinions and reactions from this event. We expect to see some more information on Android and Chrome, particularly Android 4.3, a new Nexus 7 …

Swiftkey Cloud Beta now available

The latest beta version of Swiftkey is now available, and it brings cloud support to spread predictions between all your devices. Swiftkey is a third-party keyboard that predicts what you type, as most Android users will know by now. The way it does this is by analysing what’s …

[Opinion] The Moto X is Motorola returning with a bang!

The Moto X phone should be great, an important evolution of the smartphone in some substantial ways and a resurgence for Motorola. How have I come to this conclusion? Let me explain… A couple of weeks ago I bought the Motorola RAZRi which we reviewed here. This phone …

The Android machine plows on and on.

7.4 million phones in 3 months.  That is 2.46 million phones a month. The figure above details Nokia’s handset sales of Windows Phones in 3 months.  not bad going that eh!? Now lets take the city of Birmingham in the Midlands, UK.  At the last census in 2011 …

LG Optimus L3 II – Review

The LG Optimus L3 was part of the surprisingly successful L-Series of budget Android phones. So successful that there is a second series now available. I’ve had the entry level Optimus L3 II for a couple of weeks to see what all the fuss is about. Tech Specs …

Benchmarks reveal a new Galaxy S4???

Think about all of the technology that the world could possibly need. Go on, admit it, the first thing you thought of was another Samsung Galaxy handset.  After all, there quite simply aren’t enough phones in the Galaxy range and another one is bound to improve all of …

Is Android 4.3 about to be released?

Back in May Google I/O bought us many changes to some of Google’s core offerings however nothing was announced regarding an update to Android. Whilst the announcements were well received there was an air of disappointment with the fact that Android 4.3 or 5.0 were not released despite …

HTC One Mini not mentioned by HTC in any way at all. Honest.

Ooo lookie here. HTC talking about something small? Something that’ll pack a “BIG PUNCH” ? That’s definitely nothing to do with the HTC One Mini we saw earlier or those pictures of a HTC One Mini or even these other leaked shots. Ohhh.. no. No way buddy. HTC …

HTC One update on Three rolling

    Blimey, this was quick! So HTC announced this morning that the 4.2.2 update for the HTC One was being rolled out to the UK today, and now Three have tweeted the same for their phones. I think that’s one of the quickest updates from a carrier so …

HTC One receiving Android 4.2.2 update

Not much we can add to this really is there? The HTC One is getting an update delivered as we speak, although as usual you might have to wait a little if you got your phone direct from a network. Your phone should automatically check for this, however …

Vodafone to stock the Huawei Ascend Mate

The thought of owning a Huawei Ascend Mate is quite an appealing one, seeing our own Leigh Geary struggle to use it one handed in his review recently made me eager to get one. It’s just what you do with a large oversized phone. The good news is that …

Google Maps 7.0 hits Play Store

The updated Google Maps has finally appeared on the Play Store. Featuring the new stripped down UI first featured on the iPhone, it’s quite a change from the previous Android versions which were fairly Chrome heavy. There are also a number of other changes.  UI The new UI …

Galaxy S4 Active Now Available In UK

AT&T the US carrier was first to get hold of Samsung’s ruggedized, waterproof Galaxy S4 Active late last month. But now independent retailer Unlocked-Mobiles is stocking the Active in the U.K. today, priced at £494.98 — a little less than the average asking price for the regular GS4. So …

Rumoured… The worlds first Tegra 4 phone from ZTE

Back in February ZTE and NVIDIA announced a partnership to make the Chinese manufacturer the first to bring Tegra 4 phones to market this year. Rumors and leaked images (shown above) have surfaced and if they  are to be believed, then ZTE as expected is set to launch the …

Facebook Android app gets an update

Are you a user of that small and some what unknown Social Media Site Facebook. Well the Facebook for Android App has an update yesterday evening, bringing all the features from the last beta to the current stable version (that’d be 3.4). The biggest feature is for users …

LG L3 II – First Impressions Review

The LG L3 II is part of the second generation of the quirky L-Series smartphones. The range is characterised by its almost square screen. It’s certainly an individual look, and because/despite of this they have sold millions worldwide. LG have been kind enough to loan us one, and …

Top up your Sony Entertainment Wallet with your mobile

We received this email yesterday and it may be of interest to you PS3 owners out there. It basically means you can use your monthly mobile bill to top-up your Sony wallet. It is no doubt part of the preparation for the arrival of the PS4. Dear Sony …

Android users – Start panicking now

Actually you probably shouldn’t panic quite yet. Things are being blown out of proportion as usual. Earlier on today details of a Android security hole appeared online, you know the normal stuff. The bug could be exploited to let an attacker do what they want to a phone …

Acer Liquid E2. Wanna know the best bit?

We’re reviewing (perhaps better late than never) the Acer Liquid E1 at the moment, so to compare I took a look at the new E2. This has an improved spec and will arrive in the next day or two at Expansys. They’re doing it SIM-free, so no contracts …

Motorola Moto X is the first phone you can design yourself

The eagerly anticipated Motorola Moto X smartphone is going to something designed by you! Wow, sounds cool huh? Tell me more… Well, all we can tell you is that there’s an advert that’s been leaked that says just that. See below if you don’t believe me (click for …

Polamatic by Polaroid is now available for Android

If you share a lot of photos to every social network thinkable then this app might be of interest to you. As long as you like applying filters and frames to your shots anyway. The Polamatic app brings back the instant nostalgia of Polaroid pictures. Capture or import …

Barnes and Noble are selling off their Android Nook tablets

Since Microsoft got heavily involved with Barnes and Noble and their Nook franchise the writing had been on the wall for their Android tablets. In a move that preempts the discontinuation of the Android tablets you can now get hold of the Nook HD and the Nook HD+ …

Three for Three – New handsets heading to the network

If you’re thinking of switching to Three then listen up, because they’ve announced that three new handsets are now available or coming soon. First is the Samsung Galaxy Mega we spotted yesterday, but Three will also be carrying the Liquid E2 from Acer too. We got confirmation on …

Samsung Galaxy Mega now at Three

We have just had the press release from Three UK confining that the new Samsung Galaxy Mega is now available to buy both online and in stores. Available for £37 a month on The One Plan and £449.99 on PAYG,  the Mega might be a big price but …

OPPO Find 5 – Review

The OPPO find 5 is unknown to some, a curiosity to others and an item of desire to others (James). For me it’s been all three and is now my daily driver. To be clear, this isn’t a review unit that I’ve been sent, it’s my phone bought …

Pop-ups and notifications driving you mad?

I’ve been meaning to write this for a while but never got around to it. This is a problem that every Android user has encountered at one time or another. You’ve probably been sitting there at home, or you’ve left your phone on overnight and suddenly you hear …

Spotify for Android now has Notification area controls

Spotify have released an update to their Android app, which brings notification area controls for the first time. If you have Jelly Bean 4.1 or above, you will now be able to control playback straight from your notifications area, instead of opening the app itself. Radio performance has …

OPPO Find 7 confirmed but Find 5 Mini dismissed

OPPO are having a fair bit of niche success in Europe at the moment, so much so that rumours are abound of new devices. Last week we reported that there would be a Find 5 Mini. Unfortunately this turns out to be spurious, according to an “OPPO representative” …

Like a P6? Pre-order one now

You’ve seen our hands-on pictures and videos, you’ve checked the specs and now you have “like a G6” going around your head even though it’s a P6. Either way, if you’d like a P6, Carphone Warehouse will be making them available on pre-order for just £21 per month. …

OPPO Find 5 now in stock and available on next day delivery

If you’re a regular reader of Coolsmartphone you’ll have heard of the OPPO Find 5, if not then I suggest you: a) check it out and b) become a regular reader! The newly released handset is blessed with what is arguably the best 5-inch, full HD screen on …

Vodafone Smart III Android phone – Review

The Vodafone Smart III is a budget Android phone (real name Alcatel 975), designed to introduce the world of smartphones to those who haven’t discovered it yet. It’s fun, colourful and comes with some innovative thinking behind it. However, does it justify its £95 price point on pay …

Huawei Ascend Mate – Review

Pop along to any major supermarket and you’ll no doubt find a bargain-basement 7″ tablet. Those cheap tablets will usually have a fairly large frame around the edge of the device but, for keeping the kids entertained, they will do. Now, imagine lopping less than an inch off …

Google Cloud Print for Android is released

Printing should be easy, press print and you’re done. It never seems to be the case though. Especially if you’re trying to print from a mobile device. In the past Google Cloud printing has been a matter of setting up your printer and pc and then relying upon …

Vodafone Smart III Android phone – Initial Impressions

The Vodafone Smart III (aka Alcatel 975) is an entry level Android smartphone with an eye on those who want something a little different; something fun, functional and funky (you can have that one, Apple, if you’re after a tag-line for iOS7!). I’ve got one for a week, …

Huawei Ascend P2 exclusive to Phones 4u … in white

There’s no denying it, Huawei make some very good phones. The Ascend P2 is just around the corner now and Phones 4u will have an exclusive onthe little blighter in white. The handset, which you can pre-order it on their website now, features a 13 megapixel camera, 1.5GHz …