Category: Features
I am getting a bit older in the tooth now than in the early days when I started writing for this site. Now there are a few things that you learn to appreciate more as you get a little older and one of those things is the benefits …
Featuring access to the Netflix library at the press of a button, the N1 delivers a theater-like audio-visual experience with Dolby Audio through dual 5W speakers and a large projection size of up to 120 inches. Projector brand, Emotn, has launched its latest Netflix officially licensed projector, the …
I have really enjoyed using my Flexispot E1L standing desk. It has been performed admirably in its duty as my workspace and has been a joy to work on. However, it has had one major issue that I had not considered when I was offered the desk for …
A good office chair is a vital staple for a good and comfortable work-from-home setup. it is also something that most people will scrimp on when they are setting up their home office, I should know as I was one of them! I was making do with a …
I like quite a lot of us here in the UK, am currently having to work from home a few days a week. For this, I have been trying to get myself sorted out with a suitable desk set up. As chance would have it it was at …
Each year I tend to sign off for a couple of days over Christmas to unwind. This year, for all of us, has been one to remember – and perhaps not for the right reasons. Things started off quite well at Coolsmartphone HQ. We’d put the final touches …
I do have to kick myself at times. Sitting in this hospital, I’ve got a gloriously fast 5G connection on Vodafone and unlimited data to enjoy. The speeds massively outclass the WiFi in here and it’s all just so straightforward and worry-free. Back in the late ’90s, phones …
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 there’s one thing that 2020 has brought us, it’s isolation. Sitting at home, unable to enjoy all the things we’ve been so used to. Meeting with people, talking and shaking hands – it seems like such an alien thing now. Yes, having all these online services is …
Here in the UK it’s very rare for people to switch their bank. Likewise, people have in the past been quite loyal to their mobile network too. However, this has changed lately and it’s become much easier to switch. Not only that, but there’s also a great deal …
This looks similar to the existing Virgin Media V6 TV Box and indeed, it is. Although built by a different supplier, the hardware inside is broadly the same in the new Virgin TV 360 set top box. There’s also a new “Virgin TV 360 Mini” which is essentially …
It’s Christmas, and mobile phones are high on a lot of gift lists. However, unless you’re going to take on the monthly payments and enter into a contract for someone else, it’s definitely quite an expensive gift. So how do you afford a phone and pay for it …
I come from a different world. A world where, if you wanted to get your own music in your car, you had to buy a CD and put it in your car CD player. Heck, who am I kidding? I come from a world even earlier than that. …
You may have accidentally left your phone on during a flight and, if you’re a geek like me, you may have spotted that sometimes – for a brief moment – you get a mobile signal. Even 7 miles up, your phone can lock onto the odd network mast …
Just a few days ago I ran out of data. Stuck in hospital, and with only a relatively slow WiFi connection, I’d basically nailed all my allowance and was a bit “stuck”. Luckily though, a lot of phones now have dual SIM trays, so – even if you …
Earlier in the year I sat in the garden and watched the string of Elon Musk Starlink satellites fly by in the night sky. They’re relatively easy to see because they’re quite low and there’s a lot of them. In fact, there’s now even more. A launch today …
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 …
I’ve spent a couple of hours looking for a new SIM-only deal. I had one requirement – it had to be with Vodafone or one of the virtual networks (like Voxi) running on the Vodafone masts. This is because, in the areas I’ll be needing it, Vodafone is …
If you’ve got kids, chances are that you’ve watched the Lego Movie or one of the spin-offs. They’ve been created to look as if everything is filmed in traditional “stop motion”, however in reality it was done on a computer. Anyways, stop motion filming has long been used …
With a second coronavirus spike now sliding into view, the idea of “going back to the office” is fading into the background. Remote working is rapidly becoming the “new normal” and the idea of cramming ourselves onto public transport in order to spend time in an expensive office …
With 5G masts being thrown up at a rapid rate and concerns over signal or safety, there’s always been a keen interest in where local mobile masts actually are. Back in 2011 we started looking into this, and back then the mobile networks were reporting where all their …
I don’t like spending money. Some might call me “tight”, but I’d rather call it “sensible”. My wife, for example, somehow ended up with a £59 per-month package for her Samsung phone. She had far too much data included and she somehow got Spotify plus mobile phone insurance …
Watch a movie and, if a phone number is ever given out, you’ll always hear and see that fake area code… It’s used in nearly every US-made movie because, if you try calling it, nothing happens. However, did you know that here in the UK there’s something very …
Sitting at home can be a solitary affair. The enforced coronavirus lockdown has led to many working from home and many companies have no plans for that to change any time soon. Many previously saw home working as an ideal solution to the stresses and strains of commuting, …
A few months ago I decided to leave Sky TV after many, many years and get myself a Netgem TV box. The transition, considering how many streaming services are out there to fill the void, has been really rather smooth. I’m not a bit football fan and didn’t …
Don’t get me wrong, this situation is utterly rubbish. Huawei / Honor make totally brilliant phones. They’re well designed and – especially the Honor brand – extremely well priced. However, America won’t let Huawei (or Honor) work with American companies – and that includes Google. So, no “Gapps” …
We mentioned in April how, during lockdown, the various TV streaming services have become increasingly popular. It was so popular that, as more and more people were furloughed or sat inside during the coronavirus lockdown, streaming quality had to be reduced in order to keep the internet pipes …
You’ll have probably seen this one in the news recently. Today we’ve decided to dig deeper and find out how much money was being made from this. Recommended in a report prepared for Glastonbury Town Council, and mentioned heavily in the 5G conspiracy forums / Facebook groups, 5GBioShield …
I’m redecorating right now. We’ve had to wait quite a while due to the coronavirus lockdown, but now things are finally moving forward. A new cupboard has been constructed, I’ve ripped all the skirting board off and the plasterer has been in. Last night I moved onto installing …
While we’re mostly still stuck indoors, it’s important to make use of this extra time we have. Mobile network giffgaff have launched their new giffgaff Academy. It’s the place to go if you want to increase you digital skills. You don’t have to be a giffgaff customer – …
I have a very mad belief that there’s a direct correlation between the quality of a car and the sound of a car horn. Get in a Fiat Cinquecento and sound the horn. You’re gonna hear a “meep”. However, get yourself in a big Merc and you’ll gear …
I’ve had Sky TV installed for about 15 years. I’ve seen it grow from a normal satellite TV box to a “timeshifting” one and then, as on-demand TV increased in popularity, we got more choice and flexibility than ever. However, we consume TV differently now. There’s a huge …
It’s been over a month since Vodafone started dishing out free data for NHA staff and now they’re giving unlimited data offer to both NHS staff and care workers. Free access to unlimited mobile data will now continue for a massive six months. Vulnerable customers can also benefit …
Good morning lockdown crew. Hope you’re well. Yesterday, and for the first time in a while, I found myself in a couple of local shops. There’s a mixture of coronavirus changes, with the local Co-op implementing a “one way only” and “one in, one out” system and keeping …
If you’re a Vodafone customer, head into the “My Vodafone” app on your phone and, within the “VeryMe” section, you’ll be able to claim 30 days of unlimited data right now. This is all part of the Vodafone “#KeepingtheUKConnected” mission during the coronavirus lockdown. The data should be …
We’ve all heard about the flexible giffgaff goodbags, but now there’s something new – the giffgaff goodybank. It’s a new way to help communities in Britain and members of the giffgaff community during the coronavirus outbreak. You can help by directly contributing towards a local Community Fund or …
OK, you’re trapped at home but, in order to keep fit and healthy, we’re bringing a selection things to keep you mentally and physically strong during the COVID-19 crisis. We might be on lockdown but we can keep things moving hopefully. I’ve just finished off my daily P.E. …
We spoke about the wild rumours connecting 5G to coronavirus cases over a month ago and, well, we got some “interesting” emails after that (mainly threats). Over the weekend, in the midst of a global pandemic and a lockdown here in the UK, some people have taken it …
I’ve been guilty of this myself. Mainly because it’s easy. Let’s imagine you’ve been out with a group of people (imagining is all we can do right now due to social distancing). You could’ve nipped to the pub, had a day out, a camping trip or a party …
Pluralsight, which is a great online IT learning platform, is now offering all their courses for free during April. It’s a great opportunity to learn some additional skills during the lockdown. Head to this page and you’ll get a whole month of their IT videos and training. There’s …
