Tag: test
A few weeks ago even more Starlink satellites were launched. It’s part of an internet connectivity solution provided by the Elon Must SpaceX company. Even though space-delivered internet has been done before, the reduced height of the satellites means a faster and better experience. A recent batch of …
If you choose an unlimited plan with Vodafone there’s three different types. All will deliver unlimited data, but the maximum speeds differ. As an example, “Unlimited Lite” delivers speeds of up to 2 Mbps, whereas “Unlimited” gives you up to 10 Mbps and “Unlimited Max” provides the fastest …
My son and I headed to Wembley a year ago and, while I was in the area, I decided to check out the new 5G connection that had popped up on my phone. Getting 5G back then was a hit-and-miss affair, and it was really only to be …
Our government haven’t been performing too brilliantly of late. An exams disaster, a police-enforced border around Kent, MP’s telling us to stop moaning about a lack of COVID-19 tests and a willingness to break the law whilst telling the public not to. It’s not cricket, is it? Our …
I passed my driving test many years ago, but the Bill Plant Driving School still sticks in my memory and I see their cars going round on a regular basis. Available only on iOS right now, they’ve launched “Parkathon”, an app where you need to navigate various obstacles …
On Monday Ofcom published the results of 5G testing which proved that radiation levels in the UK were at “tiny fractions” of safe limits. However, this testing comes against a backdrop of conspiracy theories, critical stories on click-driven newspaper websites and totally unsubstantiated claims on Facebook. The latter is …
The people at JerryRigEverything have been taking an up-close look at the Galaxy Z Flip and they’ve come up with some very interesting results. Of course, let’s get over the immediate problem that here in the UK we call it the “Zed Flip” whilst in the USA it’s …
Back in August I parked up near Wembley Stadium to do some “real world” tests with a 5G phone. I did this because I’d seen testers competing to get the highest speeds possible. Usually this involved someone waiting for a quiet day – like a Sunday morning – …
The oldest underground system in the world has only very recently had WiFi installed. It means that the majority of mobile users can, via their network provider, hook into a free WiFi connection as they travel under London on the Tube. Trouble is, it only works on the …
Whenever I look for 5G speed test, there’s usually YouTube videos showing blistering speeds. That’s expected, right? Well, yes. But I wanted to do some proper tests. How to do that? Well, first of all I’m not going to sit right next to a 5G mast. I’m also …
Wait though, because it’s not all about 5G. Three are also boosting their 4G, with 3G spectrum now being refarmed for 4G. They’re upgrading the 4G antenna masts on thousands of sites, with Croydon recently seeing new antennas and a reallocation of 10MHz of 3G spectrum (leaving 5Mhz …
The new, faster 5G network will, when combined with connected gaming, create a whole new world of mobile games. Vodafone have tested their 5G network in Birmingham with Gaming Expert, “Syndicate” and has been checking out some of the cloud-based games from Hatch. The new, faster 5G network …
I have a long story which I won’t go into right now, but let me tell you this. In two weeks I will no longer have a car. This will make the Coolsmartphone Podcast, recorded in the car, a little difficult. However, it does at least give me …
After we covered the liquid foundation for your phone just recently, we got some to test. Oh, and before I start, I’ll mention the usual US / UK spelling differences between Defence and Defense are in play throughout this article. Defence is how I’ve learned to spell it …
That clever folding Samsung smartphone looks beautiful, no denying that. However, deep down we’re all thinking, “Surely it’s going to develop a crease or crack somehow?” I tend to use my wallet as an example. It’s got folds and stretches all over it so, despite what my head …
It was a throwaway remark. A passing comment on Twitter. Last night I did a quick speed test and got 365Mbps down. Insane. However, I got a few questions about how it was achieved, so here goes. The speed was the result of me combining my Vodafone 4G …
I’m sure we’ve all heard about crowdsourcing. Many of you will have no doubt seen our coverage of Kickstarter projects, where your money is needed to get a product or idea off the ground. However, let me introduce you to something a bit different, and something where you …
If you’ve got a standard ADSL connection then, even if you’re sitting next to the telephone exchange, you’re not going to get much more than 20 Mbps on ADSL2+. You’ll be connected via some copper wire hanging off telegraph poles or in trunking under footpaths. Here in the …
The HTC U11 I have on test right now has a very clever system which creates a specially tuned audio profile when you’re using the included headphones. By emitting white noise and then listening for feedback inside your ears, it can augment your listening experience. I’ll be honest, …
Today I’ve been using the LG G6. Matteo has already taken a look at the handset up close but I wanted to bring you a full review. Before all that, here’s a look at that camera and how it compares to the Huawei P10 that I’ve got with …
If you’ve got yourself an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy S7 you’ll find it relatively easy to find a case for it. However, if you’ve got a phone made by another manufacturer then it can sometimes be a little tricky to get hold of one. Take, as an …
Ah. I should’ve expected this shouldn’t I really? Just yesterday we asked whether any of you had ever received a 4G download speed that could beat 133.11Mbps. Well, guess what? Yep, Dan himself has beat his very own speed test. It’s in Torquay again and it’s on EE. …
Our man Dan has definitely got some “skills” when it comes to finding fast networks. Back in 2014 he managed to get 149.74Mbps from a Vodafone mast outside Victoria station in London on an early Sunday morning. After visiting Wembley recently it’s clear that competitor EE are proud …
At school I played a game to see how well me and my friends “matched” each other. It was a bit like the origami paper game where you’d create a folding “fortune teller” device which had a concealed message. You’d ask each other questions and then, based on …
You may remember how I created a way to get the Android version of Skype working on a Chromebook. It’s 10 steps, but to be honest it should be a lot easier. Thankfully, since I wrote that, things have progressed somewhat. Firstly we Android apps coming to Chromebooks …
Today those with compatible Nexus devices are being treated to the option to upgrade to the Android N Developer Preview 2. I’ve already upgraded my Nexus 6P and will do the same with my Nexus 9 this evening. This is an incremental update to the Android N Developer …
The release of a new phone usually means the publication of some mad video from somebody, somewhere, doing something crazy with it. Whether it be dropping it or getting it wet, there’s usually some sort of damage involved and we all sit back, laugh and point at how …
We’re getting bombarded by insurance companies linking their offerings to the whole “bendy iPhone 6” issue. We’re also getting case manufacturers offering their stuff as a way to fix the kinky iPhone. One particular video was sent to us by SquareTrade, who are an extended warranty provider. They …
Here in Barcelona Sony have a set of boxes with small holes in. You pop the Z2 camera onto the hole, take a picture and see how it compares with your current handset. When you focus on the shot there’s pretty much nothing to be seen, so you …
If you’re here in the UK and use Three, you will no doubt be excited by the thought of free 4G access. Three, unlike many others, won’t charge extra for 4G access. Tweets are going out today from some happy customers stating they’re now seeing 4G on their …
Recently we showed an early peek into the Three 4G network. It was a test under almost lab conditions and we managed to get around 50Mbps download speeds on the all-new 4G network. However, just like my home fibre connection, there’s a lot of factors that can alter …
Three might be the last of the UK networks launching 4G, but many people have chosen to wait for them. It’s especially due to the fact 4G on Three costs no more than your existing deal and you don’t need to swap any plans or SIMs. Also, you …
Back in February we got a first look at the new tough smartphone from Cat – those people who do the diggers. This, at first glance, seemed to strike the balance between style and ruggedness pretty well. A good quality 4″ screen, dual-core 1GHz CPU, microSD slot and …
You’ve seen the news and the TV reports. A reporter, stood inside or next to an EE store slap-bang in the centre of London or Manchester. He lifts the handset, does a speed test and tells us how great 4G is. I could have done the same, but …
Don’t ask me. We get PR companies sending us emails and sometimes I think, “Are they alright? Did they have too much to drink last night?” This time we’ve received a video from SquareTrade. They sell warranties or something, and if you watch this video to the end …
Leak season is upon us once again and from here on in its all about the new iPhone. These photos come from Kitguru who have indicated that the photos are of a test assembly unit and were taken somewhere in the “Far East”. Pictured side by side with …
I have arrived in London for the first day of O2 LTE 4G testing using a LTE modem kindly supplied by the network. If you did not know, O2 have a test 4G network covering 40km distance in London and selected websites have been given a dongle to …
