Category: Gadgets & Tech
Today One Plus announced that the long awaited Lollipop update will be available by the end of March. They’re so confident of hitting this deadline that they’ll give away five 64GB devices if they miss it. By March 27th OnePlus plans to release their own Lollipop-based ROM, using …
Music plays such a varied role in our lives, it can be fun, it can be serious, it evokes emotion, we listen to it alone and we listen to it to be sociable and often the environment we are dictates how we consume our media. Of course and …
You probably know about James Dyson. He’s a British guy who struggled to sell his bagless vacuum cleaner to the major manufacturers. After being told that the “bags make us money” and “you’re basically bonkers”, he went on to create a solid British brand, making products for Britain …
Online serial “leaker”, @Onleaks, has provided the interwebs with what is to be believed to be the next flagship device from Sony – the Xperia Z4. Measuring in at 146.3×71.9×7.2mm, the Z4’s measurements are very similar to the current Z3, as is the actual look of the device. There’s …
Last week we saw the Xperia Z4 Tablet released at MWC and I have to confess I was drooling a wee bit at the prospect of it. I just went on to the Sony store and found this. Now the biggest issue I had with the tablet was …
Following on from it’s sale by Sony to a local investigative firm, VAIO Corporation has launched the VAIO Phone (VA-10J). It is the company’s first dabble in to the smartphone world, made in partnership with Japan communication. When it was first seen, comments were made that the phone shares …
Some time ago, our very own Leigh carried out a review of the Lugulake Bluetooth speaker, which he was thoroughly impressed with, and you can catch up with the review here. Well the company have contacted CoolSmartPhone towers, asking us if we would like to look at the new improved version …
A number of us here at CoolSmartPhone towers use Chromebooks. I for one am currently writing this post from my HP 11 Chromebook which I absolutely love. Chromebooks are usually inexpensive, with a good battery life, but not that highly specced in terms of RAM or onboard storage, …
Rumoured for a next quarter anouncement, (which fingers crossed is April not May) more leaked renders LG’s next flagship device the G4 are hitting the internet. It’s said to be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, having a 20 MP rear camera, a 5MP front-facing camera and …
Around the side of the ZTE stand there were some ordinary-looking watches. I only say “ordinary” in the sense that they didn’t immediately scream “smartwatch” at me. They were neither chunky or “techy” in appearance and the design was both understated and stylish. None of these are on …
One of the most intriguing things I came across at MWC was Piper NV, Piper NV is a product from icontrol Networks in the US, it basically is a network attached device that allows you to create a home automation or home security system to suit your needs. …
We’ve seen AR before. Displaying images over the a live image that your phone is seeing. It’s all very cool. However, things have moved on a little since then and Metaio look to be pushing things on pretty quickly. Already they have companies like IKEA using their solution, …
It looks like eBuyer are off-loading this Lexar 16GB microSD card today for less than half the normal price. If you still have a microSD slot in your phone then count yourself lucky my friend, as this 16GB Class 10 card is a quick way to boost your …
Are you a gamer on mobile devices? Do you get frustrated with having fiddly controls on the phone? If you have answered yes to either of these questions then you may want to point your browser to Madcatz. They have got some really good-looking gaming controllers which are …
Think IKEA and you think of a weekend spent touring the store, navigating other couples who are as equally stressed, annoyed and argumentative as you and your wife or girlfriend are. You’ve probably experienced the 14 mile walk around the predefined pathway around the store. You may have …
In London our underground system works very well considering the age and complexity of it. People commute in and out of the city and leave their cars in expensive car-parks or, if you run a business servicing the city, you have to try and get your big diesel …
While I was down seeing the shiny shiny tech at Lenovo yesterday I encountered something that looked like it had been made with me in mind. I will need to give you a bit of a story to explain this so here goes. Back when I was still …
It is really inspiring to see a new OS enter into the crowded Mobile market space. With this in mind I went out to the far reaches of the Fira to track down Canonical. They’re the guys behind Ubuntu. Now, for those of you who have been long …
Each year I come to Mobile World Congress with the same thought. “Where else can smartphones go?” Yes, there’s better cameras, faster processors and sharper screens, but it’s just quicker with incremental changes. It’s not always new technology and new ideas. After meeting Elliptic Labs, who have created …
If you think about it, watchmakers are probably breathing a huge sigh of relief. There was a moment when lots of people thought.. “Hey, I don’t need a watch, I’ve got me a phone. This thing tells me the time, the date, the weather and it does Facebook …
We’ve already seen how smartphone manufacturers like LG create smartwatches. However, we should perhaps consider how an existing watchmaker approaches the problem. MyKronoz have designed watches since 2013 and I was interested in their ZeTel and ZePhone watches, which have SIM cards in, and the ZeFit, ZeCircle, ZeBracelet, …
I’ve seen some weird tech items before, but these things totally freaked me out today. Meet the Orange Ub-y (short for “ubiquity”), which roams around the Orange stand here in Barcelona. There’s actually two as I write this, and the girls controlling the devices are chatting to each …
The other day I attended an event where Slimport were in attendance, Slimport are the company who make your Micro USB port if you own an Nexus 5, LG G2, LG G3 or LG G Pad 8.3. Slimport is an alternative to MHL, but Slimport has taken things …
When you arrive home from Mobile World Congress people tend to ask the same question. What impressed you most? What’s the next big thing? It’s always a tricky one, but last year there was one definite winner for me – Elliptic Labs. I actually used the words “The …
I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never really considered a smartwatch until now. Heck, I’ve not even considered a watch full stop for a while. James has given me a Pebble on loan and, I’ll admit, my attitude is changing somewhat. Here, it’s Android Wear powering the show …
Following on from their announcement of the New Huawei Ascend G7 4G (which I covered here), I was lucky enough to get sent a device for review. Device Specs. 5.5 inch HD IPS display, 720p resolution. Measuring in at 7.6 mm thick. 1.2 GHz quad core processor capable of …
Today was a big day for Pebble. Just in case you have been living under a rock and dont know who Pebble are, they made the first truly usable Smartwatch that could work on both iOS and Android. That one was also funded through a Kickstarter project and …
Well that came around quick didn’t it? MWC 2015 is here and, in preparation of the team arriving in Barcelona, we have decided to share an insight into the kit we are taking with us. I have tried to go relatively lightweight with my gear as I’m going …
You may have noticed a little countdown timer on the side of the site. You may have even wondered what Mobile World Congress, or “MWC” for short, is. The event website details it as being the “very best exhibition for the mobile industry”, and around this time most …
Remember the long-running TV show “Friends”? Well, if you do then I’m here to completely ruin your day and tell you that Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffet) is now 51. Now, if you’re a fan of the show, which was last aired over a decade ago (May 2004), then …
Chinese phone giant Huawei, which is the world’s third biggest smartphone provider, today launched the Huawei Ascend G7 4G. Spec’s Include. 5.5 inch HD IPS display, 720p resolution. Measuring in at 7.6 mm thick. 1.2 GHz quad core processor capable of download speeds up to 150 Mbps ( …
For Christmas my son managed to upgrade his old Nintendo Wii to a new Nintendo Wii U. Thanks Santa, very good of you. He’s been enjoying the new higher-resolution games and is a big Mario fan. Somehow I’ve lost quite a few races against him on Mario Kart …
Right let start with talking about the elephant in the room, the Kitvision Escape HD5W action camera, that I have been sent through to review, is the spitting image of the current class leader, but I’m not going to go pro there. Now that’s done…… The action camera market …
Let me start by saying this: I have been an Android user from the very beginnings. My first Android phone was the T-Mobile G1 way back in 2008. So I haven’t really used any other operating systems. Yes, I have had a little play with iOS and Windows Phones …
A short while ago I put together my ultra-cheap Google Cardboard headset. It’s something you construct yourself, pop on your head and then, using the Google app, you can step into a 3D world. Now, if you’ve got an LG G3 handset, you’ll be getting one free. It’s …
If I ever get my phone out whilst filling up the car, a dull monotone voice usually bellows out across the petrol station PA system… “Pump 4, put your phone away please.” Now though, it seems that some petrol stations actually want you to use your smartphone. A …
Here’s another gadget I found whilst browsing some random Chinese gadget suppliers. It’s a smartwatch, but not just the usual type that hooks into your smartphone via Bluetooth. No, this one actually has a SIM card and microSD inside so you can make and receive calls on the …
We all love a new phone right? We all love fledging mobile OS’s right? We all love web apps right? If you said yes to all three then there is a phone coming out soon that’ll be right up your street. The Ubuntu edition of the BQ Aquarius …
As the man of the household, whatever I say goes. I wear the trousers and I make the decisions… errr..when the wife isn’t there of course. So, with my endless chargers scattered around the kitchen and in the bedroom, I do get “reminded” that they’re messy and annoying. …
Today Microsoft announced that the Lumia 535 will be available here in the UK. The device will be available from the following retailers: Amazon, Tesco, O2, Carphone Warehouse and Virgin, and in a striking range of colours including green, orange, white, dark grey, cyan and black. The spec’s of the …
