Author: Ian Furlong

Huawei reveal the Honor 6 Plus

Stuffed with three, yes three, 8 Megapixel cameras, Huawei today unveiled its latest smartphone under the new Honor branding. Following on from the reasonably priced Honor 6, meet the new imaginatively named Honor 6 Plus. The new device’s unique selling point is it’s three 8 megapixel cameras. There’s two in …

Production of the Nexus 5 finished

Google has confirmed that the Nexus 5 production has stopped, and… once they are gone, they’re gone, so we’d suggest people get them while they can. It was only yesterday that Google removed the listing of the the Red and White variants of the Nexus 5 from Google Play. The …

Latest update to Hangouts brings new features.

Today Google revealed the latest update to their own messaging app, Hangouts. The update sees the addition of 16 sticker packs, new video filters for calls, the ability to add contacts with their phone number, smart location suggestions and a “last seen” timestamp that shows you when your contact …

Sky Fibre 38Mbps broadband for just £10 a month.

There is a 25GB limit though. UK TV/Phone/Broadband supplier Sky has announced a new broadband package. For those interested, it’ll cost just £10 a month for up to 38Mbps fibre internet. However, it’s really for those who don’t use too much data as it is capped to a limit …

Carousel by Dropbox update now recovers space on your phone.

Recently I moved to using my Nexus 5 as my daily driver again (just to use the pure Lollipop Android experience).. Thing is, with it being a 16GB version, space is at a premium, as it is with a number of handsets that haven’t got microSD slots. I …

Android 5.0.1 being pushed to AOSP

It looks like Google are pushing out a point release to the latest version of their operating system Android 5 Lollipop, up to 5.0.1. Google has also released the factory images for the Nexus 7 (2013, Wi-Fi), Nexus 9 and the Nexus 10. Google has not provided any …

Samsung Galaxy S5 getting Android 5.0 Lollipop

In an unusually speedy move for Samsung, it has been reported that they’ve started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the G900F variant of the Galaxy S5 in Poland. Although not confirmed by Samsung itself, the rumour has been released by the folks over at Sam-mobile. …

Inateck TPB-IM iPad mini Sleeve Case Review

Do you use your iPad naked (ooooo missus, the iPad, not you) or do hide all of the Apple design inside a case ? I recently took my iPad mini out of its case and instantly remembered how thin and light the device was. I decided that’s how …

Getting a Chromebook? How does 1TB of Google Drive space sound?

A couple of us writers here in Coolsmartphone towers use Chromebooks. I for one love my HP11. In the past, when you purchased a new Chromebook, Google would give you 100GB of Google Drive storage free. This would last for two years and would act as a little …

Inateck BR1001 Bluetooth receiver review.

Like most people nowadays I love listening to media from my phone. Be it either music, podcasts or audio books, I love it. I would say 90% of the time my listening is done through headphones. Now, I mainly use two sets of headphones. The first are my …

Ceramic and metal body rumoured for the Huawei Ascend P8

The mid-range Ascend P7 launched six months ago and our very own Gary reviewed it here. Now it’s rumoured that the next phone in the Ascend series, the P8, is currently undergoing internal testing at Huawei HQ. Rumours are that the new device could make a appearance as …

Sharp’s eye-watering 736ppi display

It appears that phone manufacturers are moving away from the camera megapixel race and instead onto who’s got the higest resolution screen. A screen resolution is measured by pixel density, or Pixels Per Inch “PPI” (not payment protection insurance). Now the human eye struggles to see anything more than …

Want to view your NHS records from your smartphone?

Our National Heath Service (NHS), love it hate it, it’s still the envy of the world. As we move ever closer to the digital edge, it appears that the NHS is following too (abeit slowly). The NHS today outlined a number of new digital improvements that include making …

Google wallet to cease third party digital purchases.

Google have announced that they will shut down the Google Wallet API for third-party digital goods purchases from March 2nd 2015. Google Wallet will continue to function, however, for Google Play purchases. Google Wallet will still exist and consumers will be able to make purchases for goods in …

Tactus Buckuva iPad Mini case review

I recently managed to pry my iPad Mini from my little boy’s hands, meaning I could finally use it for myself. I’ve been sent the Tactus Buckuva for review, so now was the perfect time to test it out. Good Points The case has a quality premium feel …

Fancy a Blue HTC One M8?

Today UK independent phone retailer Carphone Warehouse announced that it would be exclusively stocking the flagship handset, the HTC One (M8), in blue for the first time in the UK. This striking coloured version of the phone will be available exclusively from the Carphone Warehouse, for those who …

One Plus hope to sell 1 million One’s by year end.

  Having already sold over half a million devices to date, through an invite only system, the Chinese startup company OnePlus have stated they now hope to have one million of their “One” phones sold by years end. Speaking to a Forbes reporter at Dublin’s Web Summit, Director …

OnePlus rumoured to be producing a Windows Phone.

Chinese phone manufacturer OnePlus is believed to be releasing another device – possibly the OnePlus Two in early 2015. Following a recent meeting with Microsoft, it’s rumoured that they could be considering using the Windows Phone operating system. In a recent interview with India’s Economic Times they stated …

Oppo N3 to have the swivel camera like the N1

Phone manufacturer Oppo has released the above photo of their rumoured next device the Oppo N3, with what appears to be a rotating rear camera module at the top of the device, which we first saw the N1, enabling the high quality selfie, which seems to be the …

Pocket-Casts web based podcast player now in beta.

I absolutely love the PocketCasts app, I must use everyday and I have installed it on every device I own both iOS and Android, to be honest it’s one of the few app’s I can’t do without. If you don’t know what PocketCasts is, it’s a podcast aggregator …

Gigaset Tablet 8″ Review

I have been sent a new tablet through for review, this being The Gigaset Tablet 8 QV830 ( black version ). Never heard  of Gigaset ? well neither had I prior to hearing from them regarding this review. Gigaset is a German company that is one of the …

£100 worth of free apps and games today

Are you a user of Amazon’s own app store? I am, and if you didn’t know Amazon give away a free paid app everyday. I make sure that I check at least once per day as sometimes you can get a real gem every once in a while. …

Samsung to stop selling Chromebooks in Europe.

Reports are hitting the internet quoting a Samsung spokesperson saying the company plans to stop selling its laptops, including Chromebooks in European markets. We quickly adapt to market needs and demands. In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now. This is specific to the …

Samsung Mega 2 revealed

The popularity of large screen phones is growing, take the recent sales figures of the iPhone 6 plus for example (as a side note the 6 plus is bigger than my Note 3 and I’ve got a bigger screen. Just saying). Anyway this large screen malarkey in the …

Inateck BP1002B Bluetooth speaker review.

Following on from my other Inateck speaker  review I have been sent a further bluetooth speaker to review, this one being the entry level BP1002B portable speaker. Features : Bluetooth v2.1 and EDRAux-inBuilt-in-mic for handsfree calling. Charge via micro-USBBuilt in Li-Ion battery1 x 3W speakerDimensions: 61.5 x 61.5 x 71.5 …

Huawei reveals the 6 inch Ascend Mate7

Today at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (or as we know it, IFA) Huawei launched Ascend Mate7 alongside the Ascend G7. The Mate7 features.. – A 6″ screen with FHD display for enhanced entertainment viewing. – A Slim 7.9mm body. – A octa-core chipset for superior performance. – Massive 4100 …

HTC Desire 610 in Coral coming to Three

The HTC mid-range 4G Desire 610 looks set to arrive exclusively to UK network Three in a stunning new Coral colour. The specs of the device remain the same, with its 144.1 x 70.5 x 9.6mm frame, 4.7 inch qHD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU …

Travelcard Charger – Review

Back in March I did a small post about a portable battery pack, I was keeping an eye on over on Kickstarter, called the Travelcard Charger (see here), anyway I finally got my unit through, so after popping it on charge I thought I would give it a …

HTC Desire 820 first 64 Bit Android Device

HTC are a company that have given the mobile device world a number of firsts, LTE, 3D screens, front-facing stereo speakers, Duo camera to name but a few. HTC will once again be a ‘first’ on releasing the first 64-bit Android phone — nearly a year after Apple released …

Google’s new music streaming service, YouTube Music Key.

Google’s Play Music All Access music service is rumoured to be changing things up in a big way. According to Android Police, Google’s new music streaming service will be called YouTube Music Key, offering content from Google Play All Access, as well as from YouTube Music Key. The …

Note 4 clone revealed.

Can’t wait to get your hands on Samsung’s latest flagship device the Galaxy Note 4, at IFA in Berlin, in a couple of weeks. Well,if you don’t mind using a cheap knock-off of the phablet, Goophone has you covered.The company has already listed its Galaxy Note 4 clone …

Sharp Aquos Crystal the first truly bezel-free smartphone?

Now I’ve got to admit it had been some time since I’ve laid eyes on a phone made by Sharp, and that was a feature phone nothing in the current crop of smartphones. Now Sharp has unveiled a new smartphone, with a truly bezel-free design. The Sharp Aquos …

Grab the LG G2 Mini for £159

Back in March we had a look at the LG G2 mini which you can view here and as you know us here at Coolsmartphone love a good bargain. Well over at UK Hot deals there is a deal where you can grab the LG G2 mini for …

Android powered motorcycle helmet

After looking on the crowd funding site Indigogo, the following really grabbed my attention. I’ve ridden a motorcycle for 30 years and a I’m a self-confessed geek. So, the Skully Android powdered helmet appears to have answered my prayers. Skully Systems has started taking pre-orders for the Skully …

Galaxy Note 4 pictures leaked

The folks over at GSM Arena have released onto the interwebs what they are stating are leaked images of the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. As listener’s of our podcast will know my device of choice is my Note 3 and as I stated the Note 4 has got …

HP reveal their luxury Smartwatch

Designed in collaboration with fashion designer Michael Bastian and retailer Gilt, HP has announced the company is going to release its first smartwatch later this year. The watch features a circular face with a diameter of a 44m, making it far more smaller than the Moto 360 and puts it …

Google Now Launcher available for most devices.

Ever since owning a Nexus 5 my launcher of choice is the Google Now Launcher. But up until recently the Launcher was only compatible with Nexus devices, meaning only way to get it on a none specified device was to download the apk file and side load it. …

Inateck Bluetooth speaker review

The Bluetooth speaker market is flooded with different devices, if you don’t believe me, just do a quick search on either Amazon or eBay and it will take about a week to trawl though all the offerings. Prices range from just a couple of pounds through to the …

World’s cheapest smartphone launched

Priced at an amazing £26 the Karbonn A50S is set to launch in India. The Karbonn A50S features the Android operating system and has access to the Google ecosystem including Gmail and Maps. It also has a touchscreen display, front and rear cameras (no details on megapixels, although …

Explore feature added to Google Maps

Google is rolling out a new feature in Google Maps with “Explore”. Once updated you’ll notice a small location pin button in the bottom right next to the location button — tap it, and you’ll be taken into the new Explore interface with information tailored to your location. …