Category: Android

Rumour – Oppo to launch premium, Cyanogenmod range

It seems that the team at Cyanogenmod are not content with just providing a limited edition N1 with special packaging and their own ROM preloaded but are already in talks with Oppo, the Chinese manufacturer of the Find 5 and R819, to produce a separate line of premium …

Instagram for Windows Phone is finally available

The day has finally come, the day that non Windows Phone fans have to search for another app to cite as their reason for not being able to get on with Windows Phone. Yes Instagram is now available for Windows Phone. But as is often the way, you …

Turn your HTC One into an ultrasound scanner?

I’m just going to put this one out there, then stand back and slowly slide out of the room. The story behind this one is as follows… This HTC One has been “hacked” via a firmware tweak to “pursuade the phone to emit ultrasound pulses” from the BoomSound …

Nexus 4 OTA Update rolling out now

Motorola yesterday started rolling out the Android 4.4 Kitkat update to Verizon customers in the US. Whilst this is quite big news in terms of the speed that Motorola have actually implemented the update what is causing more of a stir, particularly amongst the more vociferous Nexus fans, …

Will the Motorola RAZR i get KitKat?

Historically Motorola have been a bit rubbish at updating their devices and since the Google buyout they’ve obviously had to play ball and actually update their devices. Their current generation Moto X & Moto G have both been confirmed to get KitKat (with the Moto X rolling out …

Official Nexus 5 bumper now on sale

Google have just updated the Play store and the different colour bumper cases are now on sale here in the UK and in other countries. At the moment the Black is still ‘coming soon’ but the Grey, Red and Yellow are all in stock and shipping within 1-2 …

More channels added to Sky Go

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been writing several furious letters to those people at Sky TV about the lack of TV channels such as Eden, Alibi and Animal Planet on their mobile TV platform – Sky Go. The system lets you watch a range of channels …

Samsung ad ends up being a bit pants

Samsung don’t appear to share my huge dislike of that media-hungry do-anything-for-fame “artist” called Miley Cyrus. They’ve recently mentioned her in an advert for their Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. The picture, as you can see below, shows a pair of pants and relates to Miley and her semi-clad …

Problems with Samsung 4.3 updates

We are seeing reports that Samsung and networks are pulling the Android 4.3 update for the Galaxy S3 and S4, due to the update causing severe problems. The S3 seems most affected and that is the update that is has currently been pulled by Samsung, but Sky are …

Nokia music heading cross platform [rumour]

Nokia music is a free music streaming service that allows users to either choose a pre-created playlist from a wide range of themes and musical styles. You can also create one of your own by selecting up to 3 artists and letting the app then choose similar artists …

Google Search for Windows Phone gets an update

Google made Windows Phone apps are a little rare, the one that has been around for a while is Google Search, it basically lets you search the web and do a little bit of browsing too. The latest update has basically improved the search functionality. Here is what …

Bluetooth speakers, but with a whole lot more

Bluetooth is OK, but you might still want FM radio and that utterly rubbish “DAB” system that sometimes decides to work. Now a British-based developer has released a couple of rather beautiful radio systems. They have Bluetooth connectivity, FM radio, DAB and and dual alarm. Not only that, …

AirDroid – Manage your Android from a browser

An app I use far too much is AirDroid. It basically offers a friendly and easy web interface into your Android handset. You can transfer files, send and receive texts easily, plus you can even activate and use the camera on your phone without being near it. You …

Thinking of buying an OPPO phone? Wait a fortnight

If an OPPO phone is top of your list of handsets, you may want to hold fire on that buy button. You see, they’ve sent out an email today saying that they’ll be doing a “Black Friday surprise” offer! Wooh! Black Friday, the last Friday in November, is …

4.4 KitKat Nexus Factory Images now live

If you’re anything like me you’ve been refreshing the official Google Stock Images page since the announcement of KitKat, well the wait is over. If you head over to the developer pages you’ll find all you need to update your Nexus 10, 7 (2012 and 2013 model) and 4 …

BWC 7″ Kidi-Value Tablet Review

So these days it seems that every man and their dog is making an Android slate. Now although this is a very good place to be as it give the consumer a multitude of options, it is also a potential minefield for the 1st time buyer. This buyer …

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star game – 8 bit construction

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star is a game developed by NimbleBit and Disney Mobile and published by LucasArts. It is a business simulation game, based on Tiny Tower a previous hit for NimbleBit. The Emperor has tasked Darth Vader with constructing the Death Star, according to his nefarious …

HTC One and Android – From an iPhone fan’s perspective

Introduction I have been a fan of the iPhone ever since the iPhone 3G, but find that after around 12 to 18 months of using a phone I get very bored. The issue with iOS is that it looks and feels the same no matter which device you’re …

Medion deliver a slim 7″ tablet to Asda

Cheap tablets. There’s a skip-full down at your local supermarket. Often it’s hard to find out which ones are any good. Now there’s another one, and this time it’s from Medion, who are a German consumer electronics company. This 7″ (1024×600) Litetab E7310 weighs 305g and is powered …

Android users switching to iPhone in increasing numbers

A recent survey done by CIRP (an American research company) has found that more and more users are switching from Android to iPhone and more people are upgrading from iPhone to iPhone than a year before.   Last year 55% of iPhone buyers were upgrading from a previous …

The Moto G – All you need to know

Motorola have been quiet for some time. Quiet, that is, in the high street. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Motorola device in someones hand, so the Moto G announcement was one to watch. It has Android 4.3, quad-core CPU, changable rear covers, an “all-day …

4oD TV catchup is now available for Windows Phone

TV catchup apps are pretty damn useful, with the move towards official apps from each channel being the way forward apparently. Last night UK channel “Channel 4” released their TV lso catchup app. Which allows you to watch channel 4, E4 and More4. Streaming only works via WiFi …

Samsung Galaxy S3 receiving update to Android 4.3

The global rollout of Android 4.3 Jellybean to Samsungs previous flagship handset the Galaxy S3 has begun. According to Samsung dedicated site Sammobile the rollout began with unlocked UK devices and has not started to be seen on devices in South Korea. The list of changes and new features …

The history of wearable devices or Samsung’s version of events anyway

Don’t you just love a good infographic? Enormous, hard to grasp the point, slightly biased towards the creator and sometimes misleading. Well Samsung have come up with a cracker that shows the history of wearable devices, featuring their products and no one elses. Yay, well done Samsung. Source …

Motorola Announce Moto G

In an event held in Sao Paulo, Brazil today Motorola announced the new Motorola Moto G. Curved back, edge to edge display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Waterproof nano coating. 4.5″ 329ppi 720p display 1GB RAM 1.2GHz quad core Qualcomm processor 1500mAh Battery Android 4.3 Jellybean – definite upgrade …

Nokia Refocus is now available for Windows Phone

During Nokia World in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago, Nokia demonstrated a rather useful app called Refocus. Which takes a photo and then let’s you choice which bits to “Refocus” on. Nokia Refocus lets you take a photo first and choose what you want in focus later. …

Sony Z1S Pictures Leak

Sony are trying their hardest to make something of a comeback within the smartphone market and their attempts have so far been rather well received.  The newest offering looks like it will follow the trend of offering a miniature version of the current flagship which in this case …

New PlayStation 4 around the corner as companion app arrives

Sony look to have added a new PlayStation app to the Google Play store and the iTunes store today. If rumours are to be believed, it’s to prepare us for the launch of the spanky new PlayStation 4. The app adds a portable experience to your gaming world …

Cyanogenmod Installer is now available

The thought of Rooting, unlocking bootloaders, flashing ROMs and all the other jargon like ADB & SDK to some may seem like an absolute minefield. A warranty voiding, potentially device breaking minefield. But to some it’s a means to an ends, a way of life, the thing to …

HTC Desire 500 – Photo Special

Take yourself a quad-core 1.2GHz CPU, 4GB of on-board storage (plus a microSD card slot for more space) and a 4.3″ WVGA screen. Sounds good so far. Add a dash of GPS, a 3.5mm audio port, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, WiFi and the Beats Audio technology. All this stuff, …

Android 4.4 KitKat rolling out to Nexus 7s, Nexus 10

If you have got a Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013 Wifi models) or a Nexus 10 you may want to start checking for the big update right about now, as the OTA to KitKat has been released into the wild according to the official Android Google+ account. The …

Vine officially available on Windows Phone

Vine, the six second video service that originally launched on iOS followed by Android is finally available for Windows Phone. Windows Blog made the announcement early yesterday saying “The popularity of Vine, a mobile service for shooting and sharing six-second looping videos, is nothing short of astonishing: In barely a …

Lenovo announce The Vibe Z with Snapdragon 800 and dual-SIM unveiled

Lenovo has announced a new smartphone the Vibe Z. It’s got a decent high end spec using the mighty Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, an Adreno 320 GPU, a 5.5 – inch 1080p display, a 13-megapixel f/1.8 dual-LED flash camera and a 5-megapixel front facing snapper. …

Vodafone want you to feature in the movies

Well, almost. Orange / EE customers have long enjoyed the “Orange Wednesdays” promotion, which gives their customers 2 for 1 entry to films. Now Vodafone are getting in on the act too, giving their Pay as you go customers £10 to spend at the cinema every month for …

Carphone Warehouse to stock HTC Desire 500

Bringing the best bits of HTC at an affordable price, it’s the Desire 500 and it’s now available at Carphone Warehouse. They have become the first UK retailer to start this device and you can hook it into all the major mobile networks. If you enjoy HTC BoomSound …

Motorola Moto G appears on Amazon UK

Motorola are due to return to the UK very soon, with the leaked and rumoured Moto G which seems to be a dumbed down version of the US only Moto X. Motorola have posted it up for pre order on Amazon of all places for a rather tempting …

Google Nexus 5 review

When reviewing the Nexus 5, I’m extremely conscious of getting caught up in the excitement phase that accompanies receiving a new phone. After looking back at last year’s review, I actually feel that my assessment was mostly fair. But still, the passing of time has allowed that device’s …