Category: Software (Apple)

blinkbox music – The new boy on the streaming scene

Tesco have sent me something. I think it’s because I’ve started shopping in Aldi more. Who knows, but they are trying to grab my attention. They own blinkbox music, which is another offering alongside their blinkbox TV and movie streaming service. Considering they’ve not sent the Coolsmartphone team …

Hooligans ‘The Bravest’ iOS revew

We’re British, it is therefore in our bones to love booze, brawls, and the beautiful game… In a twist to the myriad World Cup games comes a novel approach: Hooligans ‘The Bravest’. What can we expect of this celebration of all that makes us proud? According to the …

Saving a few quid on your purchases

Getting yourself a good deal, it’s always a bit of a minefield. You’ll no doubt have seen people in supermarkets, clothes and electronics stores using their phones to get a better deal on items they’re looking at in store. What apps are they using? How are they comparing …

WinZip for iOS – Now with Google Drive and OneDrive support

The people from WinZip contacted me. I figured I’d listen because I’ve pretty much used their software for absolutely ages, so I owe them. Anyhoo, they’ve now announced a new iOS app which costs a mere £1.49 (provided you buy it either today or tomorrow). There’s now support …

Token news item featuring Wayne Rooney

Clickbait? Us? Never. This one is a risky release, especially just a few hours before England play a vital World Cup match, but still, here’s Wayne Rooney with his football training app. It’s called a “soccer” training app because there’s apparently some confusion with some other sport involving …

Controlling Pandora’s box

I know I’ve mentioned it before, and yes, I’m guilty of repeating myself. However, it’s something I’d like to bang my drum about because, for the most part, people tend to switch off when the words “online safety” are mentioned. Still there? Good, because a recent survey of …

Give your phone flower power!

If there’s one thing I’m never really much good at, it’s watering the plants. During my recent bike ride to Paris pretty much everyone at home forgot and my hanging baskets sadly fired dried up and became hanging soil carriers. It’s either a sad statement on modern life …

Get your uff-uff and your agga pang

If like a bit of Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and Upsy Daisy then you’ll probably want to climb into the Ninky Nonk and perhaps take a flight on the Pinky Ponk. If, however, you have no idea what I’m on about then you’ll probably think I’ve gone mad. “In …

Like your cars? Try the Drive.net app to meet other enthusiasts

The big social networks are all well and good, but if you want to meet like-minded people you’re probably best to create your own social network. For car enthusiasts the Drive.net website is already a popular place to be, but now the mobile app (available on iTunes and Google Play) …

Stay updated with the World Cup on your mobile

OK, OK. Here’s the token World Cup news post. We have been bombarded with emails from PR agencies who are trying desperately to make their accessory, phone or app have something to do with football. This, though, is the official app from FIFA. FIFA have been accused of …

Which device’s will run iOS 8

Following last night’s announcement by Apple announcing iOS 8, the latest version of its mobile operating system for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch people are wondering which device’s it will run on. For the moment the good news is, that unless you are running anything older than …

BBC iPlayer update for Android & IOS

Not long after we had the news about Windows Phone getting a nice update to BBC iPlayer, we see another press release from the BBC to tell us about the updated Android and iOS version. This seems to follow on from the smart TV update in March, so …

Where am I? Help is at hand thanks to OS Locate

My recent charity cycle ride (feel free to donate) was all “on road”, so a quick check of Google Maps would let me know where the next turning was. Now, if you’re planning to go off road then you’re going to need something a bit better. Finding your …

Buying music to download? Oh, that’s so 2010

The world of music and entertainment has changed significantly over the last decade or so. Before that, we saw vinyl getting replaced by CD’s and then MP3’s. In the last decade people have switched from traditional brick-and-mortar shops to downloading tunes online. However, streaming music services like Spotify …

TuneIn Radio fixes those little irritants

The recently refreshed TuneIn Radio app introduced us to a brand new UI and a clean design, however it also brought with it some additional “features” which weren’t well received. First was the lack of an exit button, which had been available before, whilst the second annoyance was …

iOS apps now running on Android

You can now run Apple apps on Android. Sure, that’s the headline but in reality the solution isn’t a retail boxed product as yet. The software is called “Cider” and, well, let’s just get this out of the way and show it in action shall we? Researchers at …

Roadchef have released an app. Stop press!

Roadchef want us to mention their app. Roadchef, if you weren’t aware, are one of the UK’s leading “Motorway Service Area operators”. If you, like me, live in the UK you’ll have no doubt encountered the motorway services. They’re a place where you meet mortgage advisors in order …

UK Transportation now comes to Google Maps

For some time now Google Maps has shown Transportation info for the USA. However, Google has now updated Great Britain too. You can now get directions for travel using public transportation. The app update is available now for iOS and Android, as well as on the web on …

In London? Tube staff on strike? Try the updated Kabbee app

If you’re looking to get yourself a cab in London then you could just flag one down. However, if there isn’t a rank or cab in sight you can easily book one with apps like Kabbee. The new version now has a fresh look with the entire booking …

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed now available for nothing

Love Sonic? Interested in playing Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed but don’t want to pay? Hey, your luck is in my friend. The game is now free, and that’s across all platforms – iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and via Google Play on Android. It’s an exciting and fast …

WWDC 2014, Keep June 2nd Free

It’s that time of the year again when Apple set their date for WWDC and we are inundated with ideas of what might be released this year. Will it be the Ipad 12, Iphone 26S, Mac OS 134.23.  Okay they are a bit over exaggerated but we have …

Exclusivity agreements blocking you from getting that latest game

Just recently the new version of Cut The Rope arrived on Android. Trouble is,  it’d been released months before on iOS. Watching an app or game being used by your mates which you can’t download is difficult and, according to the Wall Street Journal,  it’s due in part …

Don’t worry, Sky Go and Now TV is back!

A couple of days ago BBC iPlayer, Sky Go and NOW TV packed up for iOS users. The reason behind this seems a little mysterious, with a temporary work-around involving setting the date back a day, but that’d cause other issues trying to get onto the App Store. …

CoPilot on test

So just to set my stall out, pre-Lumia and “Here”, I used CoPilot. It was one of the most feature-packed and reasonably-priced navigation products for Windows Mobile at the time. So here we are on a new platform – Windows Phone. It’s the same product and of course …

Monitor your car from your phone with Carlock

I’m sure there’s some of you out there who know exactly where the diagnostic port on your car is. That OBD connector might’ve been used by yourself with one of those cables you bought off eBay (and that “iffy software” that “fell off the internet”) or the brilliantly …

I’m a special effects MASTER!

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to the latest phone launches and see some pretty smart innovations lately. Camera technology on the latest high-end smartphones is getting better all the time, but inside there’s some clever software tweaks that are doing some pretty amazing things. As a quick …

iOS 7.1 Released

After what seems like forever in testing, iOS 7 was today pushed to iPhones, iPods and iPads around the world. I’ve posted a full changelog as a GitHub Gist here, but here are some of the key changes. iOS 7.1 integrates CarPlay, the AirPlay equivalent for motorists that …

The next Angry Birds game teased

Seriously, I’m really going to struggle to stretch this post out to any more than two paragraphs. It’s a teaser video for the next big Angry Birds game from Rovio. All we know is what is revealed here, which is the fact that it… A) Involves Angry Birds …

New Lenovo tricks in action

During our time with Lenovo last week we got chance to have a look at a couple of software additions that you’ll find on their new handsets. The first is SHAREit – which is an app you can download on iPhone and Android. It’s an incredibly simple way …

FlightRadar24 – Be a clever plane spotter

Waiting for a friend or loved one to return from holiday or a business trip, you’ll no doubt have checked the flight arrivals page on the airport website. However, with FlightRadar24 you can go one further and, with the paid-for version, you get some very clever augmented-reality functionality …

The Flappy Bird saga. Why remove it?

Where do I start really? This is a game that got people talking. Sure, it didn’t always gain positive comments, but it lit the social media candle and soon turned into a bonfire. It’s become the most popular app so far this year, but has now been taken …

O2 Match day App Review

During this time of year we all like to snuggle down into our slankets and watch 30 overgrown men (I use the term in the loosest possibe sense) beat each other up on a grassy pitch at the weekend. No I am not talking about a trip to Glasgow …

More ways to watch TV on your device

Available for both iOS and Android, “TV Player” is competing directly with the CatchupTV app we’ve covered here previously. As with most streaming apps, the data usage when you’re not hooked into a WiFi hotspot can get a little high, so be careful if you’re not on an …

Take a stroll around Leicester as it was in 210 AD

I’m getting to know you quite well dear reader. I’m thinking that you’re the sort of person who’d love to take a 3D interactive journey through a virtual reconstruction of Roman Leicester. I’m right aren’t I? Oh yes. Well, your luck is in my friend. De Montfort University …

Flappy Bird – Is anger the key to success?

To be honest I was in two minds about whether to post this on my personal blog or here. Somehow it’s ended up here. It’s because I have a problem with FlappyBird. I know, I know. You’re all mentally swearing at the screen right now. I’ve played the …

Facebook Paper app launch for iOS in US

Facebook have launched a new app for their social network today – Facebook Paper. This is a new app, but not an entirely new service – more a reimagining of the Facebook news feed. There have already been some great 3rd apps that have taken the basic content …

Golfers to enjoy a full guide to Tenerife

With mainstream news getting more and more insane each day, I spent most of yesterday with my head in a bucket wearing nothing more than a kilt. Justin Bieber? On Radio 4? Are you all mental? Then some gleeful news-reader is telling me that January is / was …

Swiftkey for iOS – Sort of

Many Android users are very familiar with Swiftkey’s excellent replacement keyboard, which is one of the best on Android. However, Apple are far more restrictive on custom keyboards – as in you can’t replace the keyboard, only make some enhancements in individual apps. This has obviously been vexing SwiftKey, …

Checking in on elderly relatives easily

A smartphone is a great way to keep in touch. You can share not just voice calls but video calls, music and pictures too. My elderly relatives love using Skype to talk to their friends and relations from all over the world but it’s usually my smartphone and …