Tag: mobile

Internet use now higher on Android than Windows

We are used to hearing news that more people are accessing the web on a mobile device rather than a desktop. However, a new and somewhat significant milestone has been passed, this being that Android’s internet use has overtaken Windows PC’s. According to StatCounter the Android platform represented 37.93% …

Dodge those RPI contract increases with Tesco Mobile

A lot of you may have received a text message from your network recently. I know I have. On my Vodafone plan I’ve received this text which pushes my bill up by 3.2%. This, if you check your payslip, will probably be way higher than your most recent …

Where to get your Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has been leaking all over the internet in the last few weeks but, finally, we now know all about it. There’s two handsets – the £689 S8 with a 5.8″ screen and the £779 S8+ with a 6.2″ display. Both of them have the …

MWC – Wiko Mobile and the WIM

Direct from Marseille, meet Wiko! They tell me that they’re targeting, “The Wiko Generation”. Smart people who are “not fooled” and appreciated value for money smartphones which are suitable to them. They’re the “Power Generation” who “choose their path freely”. They have, let me tell you, a lot …

Find your local mast. The 2017 version.

21/02/2020 – The best solution to finding your local mast is now located within this recently updated article. A lot has changed over the years, and this is now the best place to go. This topic seems to pop up time and time again. Our original story from …

MWC – The Sony Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra. Up close.

You may have missed it, but the Xperia XZ Premium wasn’t the only Sony phone to be announced in Barcelona this year. The Xperia XA1 and XA1 Ultra are for selfie lovers and a “super mid-range” phones. The XA1 has a 5″ screen (720 x 1280 pixel) and …

MWC – THAT new BlackBerry. Hands-on with the KEYone

This was tucked away around the back of the Alcatel stand but there was no shortage in interest. It’s a bit of a heavy thing at 180g and we’ve already posted a BlackBerry KEYone gallery after it leaked all over the place last Saturday morning. This one is …

MWC – We finally got a look at the Kodak Ektra

We’ve given the press people at Kodak quite a few emails now. We’ve still not been able to borrow one, so during our trip around the Mobile World Congress we finally got a few minutes to have a look at the Ektra in the flesh. It sells for …

MWC – E&L Mobile push to make a name for themselves

Don’t worry, I’d never heard of them before either. They’re actually a company called Shenzhen Kenzinda Technology Co. Ltd. and they’re 10 years old in May. They have factories in India, Iran and Ethiopia along with Shenzhen City. Now, as “E&L Mobile” they’re trying hard to move out …

MWC – The new MyKronoz ZeTime. Everything you need to know.

We came to have a look at MyKronoz last year and they have a wide variety of wearables again this year. This one is brand new, and combines a digital screen with old-school analogue hands. The result is the ZeTime, which has a 30 day battery life, heart …

MWC – The Deconnect Gloo

No! Don’t make me leave Barcelona! It’s warm and sunny here! OK so this one isn’t a smartphone, but it is a rather cool charging unit. You can charge it up and then unscrew the bottom to reveal charging points for your devices. Inside, depending on the model, …

New tougher mobile laws live today for drivers

Whether you’re a new driver or a more experienced one, it’s really worth paying attention to this. From today, if you’re caught using your mobile phone at the wheel in the UK, you’ll get 6 points on your licence and a £200 fine. New drivers who have passed …

MWC – Hall 1,2 and 3. The video tour special.

A couple of years ago I had the idea of filming my walk around this expansive event so that you guys could sort of see it from my perspective. The whole place is really rather large, and it takes a long time to get around. This year I’m …

MWC – Oh wow, I’m in love! Hands-on with the Xiaomi Mi MIX

This morning I talk a walk to the China Mobile stand and there, amongst the robots and networking kit, was the Xiaomi Mi MIX we covered last year. This, though, was my first time seeing it in the flesh and .. woaha… A 6.4″ display oozes right to …

MWC – Nokia have returned.

In reality the Nokia brand should be worthless. Microsoft grabbed the mobile arm of Nokia and then either.. (a) Performed a number of changes in order to make it more successful (b) Completely destroyed the mobile side of the company after launching devices like the 930. ..it depends …

MWC – Sony Event Live Blog

We’re live here in Spain for the latest Sony announcements. Join us below for all the fun… Here’s the clever protector in action…

Mobile World Congress / MWC – Why all the fuss?

For quite a number of years now we’ve been lucky enough to head out to Barcelona. We go armed with ultra-portable gadgets and good running shoes. The event, held in the city since 2006, is basically where all the big mobile companies such as LG, Huawei, Sony and …

EE look to the skies for emergency coverage

We all tend to have a bit of a whinge regarding coverage. Indeed, I’ve mentioned that even outside network stores in cities you can struggle to get a decent signal. However, when disaster strikes then getting a connection to the outside world is even more important. In recent …

Tesco Mobile to deliver money-saving perks to families

A refreshed Family Perks scheme has been launched on Tesco Mobile here in the UK today. It means that, if you get your family together on one bill, you can choose perks for each member. Those perks include free minutes, data or Tesco Clubcard points. Using the O2 …

Smartphone shopping to treble in just four years

We’ve got the result of some research from OC&C Strategy Consultants, Google and Paypal. It shows that shopping on your smartphone is going to treble in the next four years. Treble. Yes, treble. Think about that. It’s already pretty massive as it is – £13.5bn. This research states …

Help us get to Mobile World Congress 2017

Mobile World Congress is right round the corner now and we’ve got pretty much everything nailed down in terms of meeting the relevant people and seeing the latest gadgets. Our plan, as usual, is to grab the latest and most interesting gadgets – putting them live on the …

Vodafone block 100 million nuisance calls in 6 months

These days it is hard to get away from them – those pesky calls that come in about PPI, claiming for an injury you never had in the first place, offering you services you didn’t ask for etc… There are a wide range of apps you can install …

Tesco Mobile slash the price of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

With Mobile World Congress just around the corner and a raft of new handsets about to be announced, it’s a good time to check for deals on the handsets that are out there now. Tesco Mobile have just been in touch and they’re offering a pretty good deal …

LG Profits fall again. That G5 wasn’t a monster hit

Somebody recently asked what my main phone was. To be honest I have two – an iPhone 6s and an LG G5. The Android handset tends to win in the daily battle for my trouser pocket, and even though I’ve not made any use of the modular G5 …

How much is the app marketplace actually worth?

Apps. The ones I download are mostly free because, deep down in my heart, I’m tighter than a gnats backside. How do these apps make money then? How do the developers get paid? How do those big TV advertisements appear on TV if we never actually click “Buy” …

How app pricing seems to impact app types

If you follow us on Twitter then you may have seen me mention the fact that Kodi is riding high in the Google Play apps charts. It’s not overly surprising though, especially when you consider how many people are buying Android TV boxes or attempting to get around …

Merry Christmas Coolsmartphoners

Have a quick look on the “Whois” for this site and you’ll see the following … Creation Date: 2003-02-14 08:44:29 Yes, in February it’ll have been 14 years since I bought the coolsmartphone.com domain name. Now, while I’m having a quick trip down memory lane, does anyone remember …

Windows 10 Mobile on ARM

In my day job I have and still do work with Microsoft Operating Systems. It’s been a love / hate relationship over the years but now, when I get home, I don’t want anything more to do with it. Turning on a laptop, getting the endless updates and …

LIFE Mobile merges into Plusnet Mobile

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Plusnet. They’re a “no nonsense” UK internet provider based in Sheffield. They do broadband, landlines and calls… oh, and they’re owned by BT after an acquisition in 2007. Who else is owned by BT? Well, EE of course. EE in turn own …

Get a new mobile from Nuu Mobile

Good ‘ole Nuu Mobile eh? Good to see some smartphones from them isn’t it? No, we’ve not really heard of Nuu Mobile either, but they’re here and they’ve just launched three new handsets in the UK. They range from just £40 all the way up to £129.99 and they’re …

Locate your local mobile mast

21/02/2020 – The best solution to finding your local mast is now located within this recently updated article. A lot has changed over the years, and this is now the best place to go. Quite some time ago we published a story about the Ofcom Sitefinder database. It’s …

Papa’s got a brand new p BAG

You may have bought yourself a phone cover with a couple of credit card slots in the back recently. It’s becoming a bit of a trend and, thanks to Android and Apple Pay becoming more popular too, we’re carrying more of our life around with us on our …

What has gone wrong with Mobile Gaming?

We all like a spot of gaming and you would have thought that the wide availability of mobile devices would have provided a solid base for real main stream mobile gaming evolution  but the potential, in my opinion anyway, has yet to be tapped. It was starting to …

Do you really know what your child is doing online in today’s world?

There’s a definite increase in popularity for mobile trackers. Many attach negative connotations with the software, perhaps thinking that their only purpose is to track and secretly spy on partners. However, with the traditional PC now leaving our homes, more and more kids are using the internet in …

Microsoft offloads mobile support to B2X.

Well, this is about all I need to hear to be honest. Microsoft are effectively washing their hands of remaining Lumia users. Today a customer care company called B2X has announced that they will be taking over customer care responsibilities for all Microsoft mobile devices. That’s all devices. …

A phone and a contract for just £6 per month

Fancy a phone and a 4G contract for just £6 per month? Check this offer out from iD Mobile. They already do SIM only plans from just £4 per month and sure, that’s only 250MB of data, but for another £2 per month you can get a phone …

No Windows 10 phones from Lenovo

Let’s face it, Microsoft have realigned their mobile efforts away from hardware. Not only that, but the traditional smartphone operating system doesn’t seem to be high on the priority list for the company. Their own Lumia handsets are being killed off and there’s not exactly a queue of …