Apple fans hoping to snag the latest Apple Watch under the Christmas tree will be disappointed as the Series 9 and Ultra models are no longer available online or in stores due to a legal issue. Additionally, repairs for older watches may be delayed due to reported service limitations.

Following a legal ruling, Apple adjusted its U.S. sales strategy for the Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches. These models are no longer available online but remain in stores until December 24, just before an import ban comes into effect.

In the wake of a recent patent dispute, Apple is reportedly limiting repair options for certain smartwatches. Out-of-warranty hardware replacements for Watch Series 6 and newer models are suspended. Software support continues for these devices.

Apple reportedly instructed its service teams to inform customers impacted by the halted hardware replacements that they will be notified if and when repairs resume for their specific watch models.

Due to a legal dispute, Apple will have limited post-ban (Dec 25th) options for pre-ban watch purchases. Color/size exchanges won’t be available during the return window. Swapping watches won’t be possible, but bands can be replaced. Under-warranty returns for refunds still apply.

No news if the ban will hit us here in the UK as of yet , but if we hear we will let you know

The post Apple halts smartwatch sales and replacements in the US is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

The latest addition to the HaloLock system continues ESR’s mission to level up MagSafe

ESR, a leading global brand in tech accessories, has announced its latest product to level up MagSafe, the HaloLock Power Bank Wallet.

Instead of having to choose between attaching a wallet, stand, or power bank on the back of a phone, the HaloLock Power Bank Wallet combines all three in one convenient, user-friendly accessory.

Extremely multi-functional, the Halolock Power Bank Wallet includes a wallet that holds 1–2 cards equally secure, a stand that opens out for stable hands-free viewing at 20°–70° in portrait or landscape orientations, and a 5,000mAh power bank that supports both wired and wireless charging.

Tim Wu, CEO of ESR,

1\“In 2020, we changed the playing field for MagSafe with the release of the first ever MagSafe car charger. In 2021 and 2022, we moved things even further forward with the expansion of the HaloLock system and our patented CryoBoost technology, giving users not only far greater options and a more satisfying experience with MagSafe, but also the fastest magnetic wireless charging for phones in use. Now, in 2023, we’re continuing to level up MagSafe with the release of the HaloLock Power Bank Wallet. MagSafe is all about convenience, but having to constantly swap out different accessories is hardly that. By developing this all-purpose 3-in-1 device, we’re letting users experience the true meaning of MagSafe convenience1

Three Accessories in One

Users can get three MagSafe accessories in one: a wallet that holds 1–2 cards equally secure, a stand that opens out for stable hands-free viewing at 20°–70° in portrait or landscape orientations, and a 5,000mAh power bank that supports both wired and wireless charging.

Stronger Magnetic Lock

Powerful built-in magnets with 1,200 g of holding force enable a magnetic lock on iPhones with MagSafe almost double the strength of the official MagSafe Wallet, ensuring users’ valuables always stay secure on the go.

Compact and Lightweight

At just 16.5 mm thick and weighing just 170g, the HaloLock Power Bank Wallet is 40% thinner and 20% lighter than the three separate accessories carried together, letting users enjoy a slim and lightweight way to take everything they need all in one pocket.

The HaloLock Power Bank Wallet is available from 6th April on Amazon for $59.99 with UK and European availability on Amazon in May

Hopefully we will get one in for a full review.

The post <br>ESR Launches the world’s first MagSafe power bank with integrated wallet and stand is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

ESR, today announced the launch of its line-up of cases and screen protectors for the new iPad 10th Generation and iPad Pro 11″/12.9″. Designed for the highest level of protection and seamless compatibility, the entire line-up also gives users greater functionality with their iPads across a broad range of everyday scenarios.

Tim Wu, CEO of ESR, said

Following on from the success of our HaloLock system, which marked a new milestone in MagSafe, and our CryoBoost technology, which unlocked the fastest magnetic wireless charging for iPhones in use, the new ESR collection of cases and screen protectors is set to level up iPad for even greater versatility.  “Our design team has focused on what users love doing most with their iPads: working, playing, watching, and drawing, while still creating accessories that provide outstanding protection.”

Level Up Your iPad for Play.

Rebound Hybrid Case 360: this powerfully protective case offers 5 different stand modes, so users can achieve the ideal view of their iPad when browsing, video chatting, writing, watching videos, and gaming. The tough back case can be attached to or detached from the magnetic wrap-around cover on demand, giving greater control when gaming while still ensuring full-body protection. Compatible with iPad Pro 11″ and iPad Pro 12.9″.

iPad Pro 11 – £31.99 on Amazon

iPad Pro 12.9 £36.99 on Amazon

Level Up Your iPad for Watching.

Ascend Hybrid Case: the smooth-textured front cover attaches magnetically to the side of the tough back case for lightweight, ultra-sleek 360° protection and the ideal stand when watching videos or writing. Thanks to the side recess in the back case and magnetic clasp in the front cover, users can magnetically attach, charge, and securely hold their Apple Pencil 2. Compatible with iPad 10th Generation, iPad Pro 11″, and iPad Pro 12.9″.

iPad 10 – £24.99 on Amazon

iPad Pro 11 – £25.99 on Amazon

iPad Pro 12.9 – £30.99 on Amazon

Level Up Your iPad for Drawing.

Rebound Magnetic Case: this case attaches directly to iPad via strong built-in magnets for faster, lighter, all-around protection and easily folds into a stand for comfortable viewing or drawing. The open side access lets users directly attach and charge their Apple Pencil 2 while a magnetic clasp keeps it secure and always protected. Compatible with iPad 10th Generation, iPad Pro 11″, and iPad Pro 12.9″.

iPad 10 – £19.99 on Amazon

iPad Pro 11 £17.99 on Amazon

iPad Pro 12.9 £22.99 on Amazon

Paper-Feel Magnetic Screen Protector:

this innovatively designed screen protector attaches via side magnetic strips, allowing users to apply and remove as and when they want. Once applied, the specially textured surface expertly mimics the feel of pen on paper for a superior drawing experience and reduced nib abrasion. Thanks to the ultra-thin design, it can be applied directly to the iPad screen or on top of a tempered-glass screen protector to achieve powerful screen protection while maintaining high touch sensitivity. Once removed, users can view their creations or watch videos on the original iPad display. Compatible with iPad Pro 11″, iPad Air 5, and iPad Air 4.

iPad Pro 11 £19.99 on Amazon

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London-based Atom Studios a  brand that creates beautiful smartphone accessories using eco-friendly materials, today adds Keep, a premium cork MagSafe wallet, to its product range in the UK and US.

Available in carbon black or natural, Keep is made from cork — a natural, durable alternative to leather and plastic that has the added benefits of being naturally water repellent and antibacterial. The wallet boasts a minimalist design and subtle Atom Studios logo, which emphasises the natural beauty of the cork, and has a card slot which can hold two cards, offering a convenient way to keep credit, debit and ID cards close to hand.

Compatible with all MagSafe equipped iPhones (iPhone 12 and newer) the secure built-in magnets ensure that Keep stays firmly in place on the back of your phone or MagSafe phone case.

Akbar Ali, Creative Director at Atom Studios.

“We carefully consider environmental impact when designing our products, so choosing cork as the material for Keep was crucial. We want to offer iPhone users a beautifully designed, functional MagSafe wallet with environmentally friendly credentials. Many MagSafe wallets on the market are made from leather or plastic which ends up in landfill, so Keep will be an attractive option for conscious shoppers.

Not only is cork biodegradable, recyclable and reusable it’s also inherently sustainable – oak cork trees grow abundantly and harvesting the cork assists in CO2 absorption. Every year, the trees absorb nearly 14m tonnes of carbon dioxide during their natural regeneration. Harvesting the bark from these trees aids in the regeneration process, and helps them absorb more carbon dioxide and release more oxygen.

Due to its eco credentials and durability, cork is having a renaissance in the product ranges and the design space, as architects and designers embrace the material as a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing choice for interiors, walls and ceilings. It’s for these reasons that Atom Studios has chosen the material for its new MagSafe wallet.

Keep is available in the UK and US from 31st August for £29.99 / $29.99 from Atom Studios (UK and US),  Amazon (UK only), Verishop (US only).

The post Atom Studios launches Keep: A stylish MagSafe Wallet made from natural materials is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Spec’s:-

• Patented SoundPulse® Audio Feast with Impactful Stereo Sound.
• Patented TuneConn Technology
• Creative Utilized handle
• Beat Driven Light Show
• IPX6 Waterproof
• Built-in Power Bank
• Personalize App Control
• Customizable Eight EQ Effects
• Various Music Playing Modes (Bt. TF Card, U-disk or Aux In)
• Supports NFC Seamless Connection
• Supports Voice Assistant

The Tronsmart Bang features patented SoundPulse technology, giving a louder sound and bigger power than ordinary speakers. Designed to provide a better sound quality through its two tweeters and two woofers for a cleaner treble and bass, Bang covers all frequencies at a high standard with professional acoustic tuning.

View a video of the Bang speaker here

For the ultimate party showpiece, the BANG puts on a beat driven immersive lightshow where the LEDs phase, pulse and shine with the rhythm of the music. The BANG is also capable of syncing with up to 100 other Bang speakers thanks to Tronsmarts TuneConn technology to amplify the audio and visual experience. The innovative speaker also supports Advanced Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC Seamless Connection.

The sturdy design with built in handle allows for easy portability and IPX6 waterproof protection guards against rain, dust, snow and a spills making it perfect for the beach or pool without worrying about water damage. With a charge time of just 4.5 hours delivering up to 15 hours playtime (At 50% volume) the Bang will keep the party going for as long as needed without stopping the music. In addition, it also doubles up as a power-bank when not in use and on the go, making it the ideal travel accessory.

The Tronsmart Bang 60W portable speaker is available to purchase from Amazon UK for RRP £109.99 or just £76.99 using the 30% discount code XZ8BQFCH which is now live.

The post Tronsmart’s loud and powerful Bang 60 Watt portable speaker with Light Show,is now available on Amazon UK is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Specs:-

• 10W MagSafe compatible Wireless Charging for Smartphones, iPods and other wireless devices.
• 100W Power Delivery (PD) USB-C output delivers fast charging for MacBooks, laptops and Samsung phones.
• Wireless charging, 2 x USB-C and USB-A ports allows for 4 device charging at the same time.
• 65W PD fast charging USB-C input, recharge 0%-70% in just 60 min.
• -20800mAh heavy duty Li-ion battery will maintain capacity and output levels for years.
• Low Power Device charging mode: special mode for charging Apple Watch and wireless earbuds.
• 8 level safety protection for devices.
• Digital display.
• Accessories:  included 5A (E-Marker) USB-C to USB-C Cable.

Experienced m

Mobile charging specialists EXCITRUS, who have a strong history of developing the latest technology in PD chargers and power banks, has announced the latest product in its charging series, the PD100W power bank.

The latest EXCITRUS power bank boasts a large 20800mAh heavy duty Li-ion battery which delivers super-fast 100W Power Delivery (PD) via the two USB-C ports to charge MacBooks, laptops and Samsung phones in the shortest time possible (Laptop 60% charge in 1hr, Smartphone 85% charge in 1hr). Additionally, the 100W power bank also features a 10W MagSafe compatible wireless charging option for Smartphones, iPods and other wireless devices.

If fast wireless charging is not for you, the 100w power bank also features a special low power device charging mode and features eight levels of safety protection to ensure all devices will not overheat or overcharge.

The digital display on the power bank shows the power remaining in the and also the charging mode status information by indicating fast charging mode (over 18W), low-power Bluetooth device charging mode and wireless charging mode activation with a set of icons. Thanks to its 65W PD fast charging USB-C input, the power bank can be recharged 0%-70% in just 60 minutes, making it ideal for those on the go to ensure they are never without charge on all of their electronic devices.

Weighing in at just 480 grams (16.93oz) with dimensions of 113 x 222 x 48mm (7.68 × 3.35 × 1.02 inches), the EXCITRUS 100w Powerbank is the ultimate travel and work companion with the ability to charge up to four devices at the same time and is available in dark green on the fabric design.

The EXCITRUS super-fast charging 100W 20800mAh Power bank is available from Amazon for £75/$99 and the EXCITRUS website.

Hopefully we will get one in for a full review, and take on a road trip.

The post EXCITRUS launches its super-fast charging 100W 20800mAh Power bank with MagSafe wireless charging. is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

We just can’t ignore the fact that mobile casino games have exploded in popularity in recent years. They have become one of the main ways people now engage with gambling, and when you look at the benefits of the platform it’s clear to see why. It seems like an age ago, but when casino games were restricted to a laptop or PC, it was a faff to get started and the install process could be long-winded. Now mobile players are free to engage with the casino whenever they want, wherever they want, making it a far more accessible and convenient way to enjoy gambling.

The way you play on a mobile casino can be a little different, however, due to the smaller screen, most of the games on online casinos now implement touch screen controls to operate them more easily. Making that jump from playing online casino games primarily on computer to mobile, or going from physical casinos to mobile, can be pretty huge and intimidating. Here’s a beginner’s guide to help you get the most out of mobile casino play.

You can play everything 

Thanks to the quick advancements in mobile technology, most current mobile phones are powerful enough to allow online casinos to offer pretty much every game on that device, meaning that there’s plenty of options to choose from and that you’re not missing out on anything by gambling this way. This means that if you’re predominantly a slots player, or someone that likes to have a go at the poker table, you can continue playing the games you love, just on mobile, meaning that you can take the action with you.

Of course, some games are a bit more intensive and require a suitable device, so before you invest in mobile play make sure that your device is up to the task. If it’s one of the best current smartphone made within the last four years or so, then it should comfortably have the processing power to manage the games.

It’s better on an app

There are two different ways to play mobile casinos, the first being to open your web browser on your phone and visit the website. The benefit of this is that the website will be presented in a similar way to what you may be familiar with, but apart from that it isn’t optimal as images and copy could be a bit hard to read and things might load up a little awkwardly.

The other option, and the far superior method, is to download the dedicated app for the casino you want to play on. This has been designed specifically for mobile use, meaning that it’s going to be optimized for the phone and will just run better and appear better too. To find the best online casinos on mobile, have a look at OnlineCasinos.co.uk where they compare the various different sites to help you pick your new favourite.

It’s super safe 

Providing that you’re joining and playing on a licensed and registered casino, your details and money should be extremely safe. This is because a mobile will have the same security features as a desktop, such as encryption and password authentication. In fact, if you have a more recent phone with a fingerprint scanner or face scanner, it could actually be safer, as you can set it where your app only opens when you provide these unique biometrical passwords.

The post A beginners guide to playing online casino games on your mobile is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

As an example, taking an up-close photo will have your phone automatically switching to the wide-angle or macro lens. Taking a shot of the countryside could mean that the white balance or ISO is adjusted. All of this, done in the background and without you knowing.

However, most smartphones also have a range of pre-built filters and a “Pro” mode too. This will give you a lot more range, and you can be more expressive with your shots. We’re talking more than just a few “fun stickers” placed on the phone. Instead, you can express your creativity and make a unique statement with shots.

Looking for a good image to capture is perhaps the first step, but even those quick test shots can be fruitful. Diving into the “Pro” mode on your smartphone can be daunting, but we’ve hopefully got some hints and tips to get you started.

Get to know your camera app

Make sure to find the time and explore the camera before actually using it. Find out what all those little controls do. It’s good just to get in there and have a fiddle.

Whether your Android camera calls it “Pro”, “Manual” or “Expert”, switch into this mode and try twiddling with the settings. You’re not going to break anything! The shutter speed, white balance, ISO, focal point and the save file format. This is where you have to rethink. Instead of letting your phone magically sort out problems, you must adjust the camera options until the image in the viewfinder is what you want to capture.

First, take a look at the white balance, or “WB”. Adjust it and see what happens to your image. It’ll appear to alter the colours of objects. Normally digital cameras will compensate for changing light conditions, however you can take control of this, taking full control of the “temperature” of the shot.

Next, ISO, or shutter speed. The faster this is, the smaller amount of time the shutter is opened. Reduce the ISO, slow the shutter speed, and you introduce blurring of fast-moving objects. More light, yes, but more blur. Then again, this could be what you’re going for.

It’s also worth checking out the “EV” or exposure compensation setting. This will let you darken or lighten your shot. You can also adjust the light meter and weighting. Finally, use manual focus, adjust where the focal point is and which part of the frame is in focus. It’s OK to play, it’s OK to try and it’s OK to see how images come out with the dials in different places.

Adjusting the focus

Got a photo but still not quite happy?

We’re not all going to produce our most perfect shot just yet, so don’t be upset if your latest attempt has come out slightly differently. This is where most photographers move onto the next stage – editing their images.

This task isn’t really a difficult one, and again most smartphones will either come with inbuilt tools for doing it or your can grab one of the huge variety of programs and apps available. For example, the RetouchMe app at https://retouchme.com/ provides a wide range of editing tools. Many phones, though, will let you fix simple problems like a blurred shot with the option to re-focus on the snap or the object in question. This is especially true for the “Bokeh” style shots which many AI-packing parts of the phone will want you to do, however – don’t be afraid to create that same effect with your new “Pro” camera skills too.

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So, whether it’s the latest signings, injuries or even fixture changes, here are some of the best ways to keep up to date with your team on your smartphone.

Betting odds

One of the best ways of gauging how likely it’ll be that your team can beat their rivals in their next match is to look at the odds the bookmakers are offering on them. Every bookmaker employs a lot of experts to try and predict the outcome of every game. If they get it wrong, they could lose a serious amount of money. That means they have a big motive to get it right every time, so they often have a better track record than the commentators and summarisers on TV.

The best way to gauge what the bookmakers think is to look at the odds of lots of different bookmakers at once. You can see lots of College Football Odds at Odds Shark, a comparison website that shows you the latest odds from up to eight of the biggest betting providers on the market. If you’re confident in their prediction, or you think they’ve got it completely wrong and see a good chance of winning some big money, the website also allows you to quickly access those odds on the bookmaker’s website.

Score alerts

Although the predictions are thoroughly thought out, we all know every team doesn’t get the points and the glory until they actually play the game and win. These days, and especially during 2020, it can often be hard to keep up with your team’s progress. Many games have had to be postponed due to outbreaks of the coronavirus. League officials are then forced to reschedule the matches in unusual timeslots on days where games aren’t traditionally played to make sure they can complete the league on time.

The good news is that you can now get mobile phone apps that will send you notifications of all the big news on your team directly to your home screen. With many of the apps, you can decide exactly how much information you want. You might want to follow every second of the match and know whenever a goal has been scored. You might think that’s too many notifications and just want to hear the final score. Whatever kind of fan you are, you can personalise the settings for your needs.

Signings on social media

One of the biggest bits of news your team will ever have to share during a season is when they’ve signed an exciting new player. These days, the first place fans get the chance to hear about these announcements is on a team’s social media. The big teams’ social media managers are constantly coming up with new ways to draw out the tension, with many filming bespoke videos for each announcement. Make sure you follow your team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss any of the news and the amusing videos that go with them.

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It’s simple enough. Just get your old books, DVD’s, games and CD’s, then use the app to scan the barcode. You then trade them in and get paid cash.

It’s similar to Ziffit, which is another app along similar lines. That’ll show you an instant price, then you just pack up your unwanted goodies and send them off via their free courier or drop-off service. Simple, easy and quick. You’ll then get paid via Paypal, cheque or bank transfer.

The MusicMagpie app is available for iPhone and Android, as is the Ziffit solution.

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Even if you like to play the “old way” and get your tickets from the local store, you can use the app to check the official results of all the lottery games. You never miss a draw and you can scan your paper tickets for instant results checking. There’s also the ability to play your saved numbers or choose a Lucky Dip. In addition, you can now also play the Irish Lottery on mobile phones with ease.

Indeed, these lottery games have proved so popular that the government has recently stepped in to increase the age limit for playing from 16 to 18. This will kick in from October 2021, and even the government themselves admit that the industry had “evolved at breakneck speed” in recent years.

Meanwhile, the entire eSports ecosystem has also boomed in recent years. More and more viewers are tuning in to watch their favourite games being played by some of the best gamers in the world. The surge in the number of eSports fans opened up a new market for brands and advertisers to sell their products and led to the impressive growth of sponsorships as the largest revenue stream of the eSports industry. Research now shows that eSports sponsorships are forecast to grow by 7.5% year-over-year and hit £438 million this year, which is 61% of the global gaming industry revenue.

Whichever way you look at it, through global pandemics and economic downturns, gaming and the easy access into lottery apps has meant that the industry has remained buoyant throughout, proving popular in almost every country.

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In the modern world, technology keeps the first place in everyday life. Almost all the aspects of our living have become easier and quicker with technology. Especially now that mobile phones and smart phones are more than ever necessary tools for everybody. As the pandemic has affected public life, people tend to accomplish most of their activities through the use of their smart phone. Work, shopping, and even education are done through the phone. Of course, leisure and entertainment could not stay behind. Not only watching a film or listening to song is possible with a smart phone, but also activities traditionally public, like playing games, betting, and going to a casino are now available thanks to the smart phones and their various apps.

As technology evolves, powerful smartphones, and quick connections to the internet have become part of everyday life for all. This is why the industry of online gambling offers a wide range of games and services specially designed for mobile phones through apps and developed casino online on the browser. A large number of players prefer gambling on mobile phones, because there are a lot of advantages in that, as privacy, convenience, accessibility, a wide range of choice.

Privacy and convenience

When you own a smartphone, you don’t need to share your device and, therefore, your activity with other family members or the household. Plus, as soon as the user downloads his favorite online casino apps, one can take his pleasure and enthusiasm everywhere without the restrictions of a desk computer. With an online casino on the mobile, players can relax on the couch, during their day off, or even on the way home after a tiring day at work. The mobile gambling apps are safe and reliable, as they need to comply with all online casino rules.

Ease and accessibility

Casino apps for mobiles tend to be easier to use than the edition for a browser, and that’s a great advantage for the player who wants to try new sites or games. People of limited mobility or the elderly can easily use casino on mobile. Many smartphone devices have big screens to make life easier for people who can’t see well. Touch screens of smartphones and tablets are much more user-friendly than the dashboard, where it is necessary to use a mouse and keyboard. Plus, new technology has brought to the market screens of multiple touches. 

Wide range of casino and games

When the user is looking for a casino app on a mobile, the research results can end up to a few thousand entries! This is good, but to be sure of landing in the right place, the player can visit sites where reviews and evaluations are found. The variety of choices for mobile apps is really impressive. Thanks to the improved technology, the programmers have created stunning graphics and sound. And for the lovers of table games, the new exciting live casinos allow the player to interact with the bookmaker and other players in real-time, offering a lively and fascinating experience. 

Therefore, the choices that the apps of online casino for mobiles offer, their easiness, safety, reliability, and environment, have made playing casino on the smartphone a very attractive choice to spend your free time and relax. Enjoy!

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The wide variety of streaming platforms has brought on massive confusion for users online. Some unofficial websites also offer streaming services on which you can read about their safety here at https://www.vpntesting.com/guides/is-123movies-safe/. You can also turn to torrenting websites with security from firewalls such as Peerblock.

If Peerblock does not work, you can also get a VPN service on your phone to do pretty much the same job. Many smartphone streaming apps often provide their services on a subscription basis or through a one-time payment. Here are the most popular ways through which you can successfully stream TV shows on your mobile device.

Amazon Prime

Amazon has a dedicated Instant Video Service that allows you to purchase or rent out a TV series after signing up for its various subscription plans. There is a main plan dubbed Amazon Prime where you have to pay $99 annually. With Amazon Prime, you can stream a massive collection of TV shows without making any additional payments.

If you don’t have a Prime subscription, you can still rent out TV shows for as little as $1.99. There is also an additional tag where you can purchase a movie of your liking for only $5.99. However, it is important to note that some HD shows can only be viewed through a TV. There is also a trial period of 30 days where you can familiarize yourself with whatever is available.

iTunes

The Apple iTunes platform has a vast array of the latest TV shows that you can use to purchase or rent your favorite shows on your iPhone. After renting a show, you are allowed 24 hours, after which if you fail to watch it after opening it, the show disappears.

The platform recently underwent some upgrades for a much cleaner presentation. However, after some of the most recent shows, they can command a high price of up to $17.99.

Netflix

Netflix is among the original streaming services, with over 150 million subscribers globally. This platform’s base service is set at $7.99 each month and allows you access to numerous TV shows that you can stream through a stable internet connection. You can access Netflix through a dedicated app on your smartphone, provided you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection or data.

This streaming service recently underwent major scrutiny after it created a rift between its streaming and DVD rental provisions where there was a huge price difference between the two. However, the company has now revitalized its protocols with uniform pricing that doesn’t include any long-term subscription plans. There is a vast collection of TV shows that you can access through genre categories depending on what you like.

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Spotify paid subscribers have risen by a massive 27% to 144 million in the third quarter of 2020, according to data research by Comprar Acciones. In addition, Spotify saw active monthly users soar by 29% year-on-year to a massive 320 million. This meant that their revenue rose by 15% year-on-year to £1.59bn in Q3 of 2020. In addition, advertising revenue grew by 9% year-on-year and 41% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) to £164.99m.

Despite the lockdown helping to boost the Spotify user numbers and revenue, they’re actually losing money – some £90.07m loss in the third quarter. Confusingly, this is down from a £214.93 profit in the same period a year ago. Why did this happen? Well, in part it was due to Spotify offering discounted plans to attract those new customers that are now coming on board. It’s meant that the actual revenue per user fell by 10% year-on-year.

Other reasons for the increase in users (apart from more people being at home) include a Russian launch and 12 additional European markets. Spotify continues to be the biggest in terms of music streaming, with a 35% share. Apple Music has a 19% share and Amazon Music is sitting on a 15% slice.

The days of buying music aren’t quite behind us yet though. Streaming music sales made up 56% of all sales in the global music industry last year.

Streaming music customers have grown by 30% to 400 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Meanwhile the enforced lockdown in India has seen the country consume 17% of global downloads – the highest number of mobile game installs globally. This has pushed the market value of India’s gaming industry as a whole to £0.90 billion in the 2020 fiscal year. This is now projected to rise to £1 billion next year and £1.42 billion in 2022.

This increase in downloads will, according to Statista, mean that 40,000 new job opportunities will be created by 2022. By then, the value of its mobile gaming market will be £303.19 million.

A study by Bernstein estimates that there has been a 30% to 40% increase in the number of daily active gamers since the start of the pandemic. Statista projects that by 2022, the number of mobile gamers will reach 370 million, up from 201 million in 2016. Overall, there will be 510 million online gamers in India by 2022. Games range from adventure, arcade, sports betting using bitcoin, strategy, gambling, casual, puzzle, trivia, strategy and role playing games.

The US was second globally in terms of the number of mobile game installs during Q1 to Q3 2020. With 4.2 billion downloads, it accounted for 9.8% of the global total. Brazil came in third with 3.5 billion downloads, an 8% share.

Globally, the number of mobile game downloads from Q1 to Q3 2020 rose by 36.9% to 42.7 billion. Google Play Store downloads increased by 42.8% year-on-year while on the App Store, there was an increase of 15.9% year-on-year.

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The new consoles come with a definite push towards game-downloading rather than traditional in-store purchases, and many gamers will now be used to buying online rather than having to head into town for that all-new game. This also comes at a time when other consoles are getting into the mix – these are the new “breed” like Google Stadia, Steam Link and so on.

No downloading here – instead everything is streamed to your device and, with solutions like Google Stadia, that device doesn’t need to be stuck in one place. Oh sure, you can play on a fixed laptop, desktop or a Chromecast Ultra stick in your house – you can pipe the images out to your TV and you can play with the Stadia controller just as you would with a PS4 – but you can also play the very same games on compatible phones and tablets too.

Google Stadia

Making the gaming experience more mobile is technically easy to achieve – the high-powered smartphones and super-fast 4G and 5G connectivity means that everything can operate without too much bother. However, the big-screen experience and controller-driven experience can be a little harder to replicate when you’re trying to play Assassins Creed on the bus to work.

Online games that are played either partially or entirely online – are also becoming increasingly popular and, when combined with the “play anywhere” – add to the popularity of mobile gaming. Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs or MMOGs) such as World of Warcraft plus ‘battle royale’ games such as the incredibly popular Fortnite have grown and grown in the rankings in recent times.

Undoubtedly one sector of mobile gaming that is also becoming increasingly popular off this is online gambling. There’s no need to get dressed up to visit a real casino (plus many of us can no longer go to real casinos due to the coronavirus pandemic) and you can get the same experience using an online casino. There are many different ways to make deposits through your mobile phone, with Boku being one of the most convenient.  Those looking for boku casinos can already check out some of the best sites here and statistics from the European Betting and Gaming Association show that online gambling has already grabbed a 20.7% share of the total EU gambling market activity in 2017. In addition, the online share of the gambling market is expected to grow to 24.9% during 2020 despite COVID-19.

The addition of smartphones to the gaming world also means that there’s a relatively inexpensive cost of entry for virtual reality gaming. There’s no need to spend additional cash to get a PlayStation VR – instead you can get a very cheap Virtual Reality headset for your phone, place it in there and try the experience for a lot less money. There’s a range of VR games out there to try out including Along Together, Minecraft VR, The Well, End Space, Battle Planet and Voxel Fly VR.

A high-end and expensive phone isn’t necessarily needed either – any smartphone can run these VR games and there’s already been a keen amount of interest from the gaming and gambling sector in virtual reality. Even more so now that we’re all so locked down in the middle of a global crisis. It promises a whole new experience to the customer and means that you can effectively play in a new location without actually moving from your front room. In a recent VR gambling market survey, statistics firm Technavio predicted that the VR gambling marketplace will expand by 55% between now and the year 2022.

VR casinos are already appearing for the Oculus and there’s more to come – a 3D VR headset and VR Gloves too – just to get the full experience. Add real, live dealers into the mix and you get a totally new world which is close to the movie representation in “Ready Player One”.

No doubt about it, over the next few years we will see even more changes as technology opens up yet more possibilities for gamers.

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Protecting your valuable data from intruders is vital, and virtual private networks (VPNs) are the best options for this purpose. With a larger bias on Android phones, below are some VPN options smartphone users ought to consider. 

Choosing the Best VPN Services for Your Smartphone

There are several options you can choose when selecting the right VPN for your phone, but what you choose should serve your needs exclusively. When picking a VPN service for your smartphone, look for the following features:

• Ensure that the VPN provider does not store your browsing activity. This ensures the safety of your personal data.
• The VPN should block customized ads appearing on your browser. These advertisements are displayed based on your browsing history, meaning that someone is watching you. Make sure that the VPN service you intend on using has sorted this issue out.
• An adequate number of servers to prevent overload: One thing about VPN servers is that if they are overloaded, they will not serve you properly.
• A VPN does not protect you from being hacked. However, strong encryption technology will make this much more difficult. Make sure that the VPN service you are choosing has a strong encryption technology.

The Best Free VPNs for Android 

1. Hotspot Shield 

Hotspot shield provides military-grade encryption with high-speed servers. It has a very strict no-log policy, which means that all your data is in safe hands. It also gives you 500MB of free data every day.

2. Windscribe 

One of the best offers that Windscribe has is the 10GB free data per month that they give their users. Their encryption is also military-grade, plus they all have a strict no-log policy. It tends to have a limited number of servers, however.

3. NordVPN

While it has a free version, the paid version of this service offers world-class security features and has 5,530+ servers. NordVPN is one of the best VPN options for android according to Tim and the folks at inVPN.com. The speed of the network is itself adequate for any activity you may have in mind. Whether you are using your android phone as a wallet, call booth, or as a computer, you can be sure you are safe with NordVPN.

Your online security is crucial, even when you are using your smartphone. You need to make sure your activities are encrypted as you use your phone to browse. This is more crucial if you are using public Wi-Fi. Consider the options above, and you will have less to worry about when it comes to online privacy and security.

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Young and old, no matter what smartphone, instant communication and video calls have brought us all closer together. At the same time, there’s been more games downloaded and more apps used.

Indeed, over the next three years there’s no sign of the rise in smartphone gaming slowing. It’s predicted to reach £10bn by 2023, increasing employment to over 80,000. We’ve seen the gaming sector make more money than video, music and film production during the lockdown, with game sales skyrocketing to +218%.

It’s meant that all types of mobile games, including the footballfans mobile betting app, have succeeded as that craving for interactivity, fun, entertainment, enjoyment and the ability to play together has increased. After all – football is back on, but there’s no fans in the stadiums. This has meant a lack of comradery amongst footie fans. Instead of drinking and cheering for their team inside of stadiums, a lot of fans are experiencing that same buzz from home with the aid of football apps designed to bring those fans together. After all, we’re all trying new ways to fill that void – whether it be through online meetings, virtual “shared watching” experiences or live-chats in WhatsApp groups.

Covid-19 has also seen betting, bingo and app downloads increase in popularity and range. In a world where blockbuster premiers, national sporting events, and hospitality and leisure are all vetoed – gaming has further infiltrated the daily lives of multiple generations as one of the only accessible lockdown past-times. Plus, with our smartphones offering such easy and simple access, there’s really no need to worry about having the right console or equipment. Even a fairly simple Android smartphone can provide access into thousands of games, delivering a fun and interactive experience that can lift users out of the confines of their locked-down homelife. Plus, even iPhones have become a little cheaper and more accessible thanks to the mass of reconditioned phones entering the marketplace.

Tom Chambers, Senior Manager Technology at Robert Walters, told us..

With games now accessible on mobile, apps, and PC’s – accessibility was at an all-time high compared to the days when you needed a console.

Where gaming really came into its own has been on the interactivity front, and during lockdown there was a substantial rise in new users looking to bridge the social limitation with friends and family by playing together online – this was particularly notable with the over 60’s market who took to gaming to ‘keep their brain in shape’ and play with grandchildren.

At the end of Q1 digital downloading increased by 67% week-on-week and physical game sales increased by a staggering 218%. The longer the lockdown measures, the more the downloads and gaming increases.

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Sourced from Unsplash

That’s a lot of time, and money, spent playing games and rolling the proverbial dice. Why not make a little cash while you’re at it? Here are some ideas for making money while you game and gamble online:

Gaming Monetization Tips and Tricks

Not all of us can get rich from day trading, so why not take a shot at gaming? Whether you are into retro favorites or the latest multi-player role playing games, there is an audience who will either want to play against you or watch you play. Social gaming platforms like Twitch have become incredibly popular around the world. Countries like the US and Japan are leaders in terms of the number of users. You may think this isn’t a legitimate way to earn extra money but you would be wrong. Some Twitch influencers are making millions of dollars a year playing video games.

You don’t necessarily have to be the best gamer to capture followers, either.  To start, you will just need to ensure you have the equipment to capture video of yourself playing and a PayPal account to collect money. 

There are several ways to make money while you game. Here are a few:

• • Add a donation button for viewers to send you cash via your channel. Some players have received large donations from strangers who enjoy watching them play.  
  • Apply to be a Twitch partner.  This program is said to be a key to earning revenue.  Once you are a Twitch Partner, Twitch will pay you $2.50 a month for each subscriber you gain as well as “bits” which are worth money for each “like” or video viewed. 

• Use social media. Post videos of your gaming on sites like Facebook and YouTube to promote yourself.  Once you have a lot of subscribers on a channel like YouTube, you can make money from pre-roll ads or even sponsored videos. 

Online Gambling Tips and Tricks

Maybe you aren’t much of a gamer and prefer to play your odds at a casino like www.slotsheaven.com/ca/payment-methods/idebit/.  Online casinos are one of the best places to play your favourite casino games like poker, blackjack and slots, without the smoke and loud noise. While it may not be ideal for everyone, playing online games can be an excellent place to make extra cash. 

Here are some tips to maximizing your chance of winning when you play online poker games like Texas Hold’em:

• Look for casino sites or apps with the best bonuses. 
• Play progressive games. Why limit your chance of winning? When you play progressive casino games, you have the chance to win in the current pull or hand, as well as a larger jackpot that is accumulating from what other players are putting in the pot too. Video slots can accumulate large progressive jackpots, you want to target these machines in order to get the most out of video poker and slots. 
• Consider tournaments. Many online poker tournaments have small buy ins but offer large winnings. You can show off your gambling skills while potentially earning more than you would without the tournament aspect. Why wouldn’t you want more chances to win some money?

If you enjoy gaming or gambling as a hobby, why not give yourself the opportunity to earn some real money doing it? 

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Playing multiplayer games is a great way to blow off steam or catch up with friends. These games range from puzzles, strategy games and arcade games to first person shooters, augmented reality and adventure games. 

Not all mobile games are available on both iOS and Android devices. This can be a rather irritating discovery when you switch phones and realise you can no longer play the game you love, or when everyone you know is playing a newly released game, but you are missing out because your device isn’t compatible.

Games accessible on both devices

There are however many games that have been created by developers to be both suitable on both iOS and Android devices. Some game manufacturers recognise the importance of reaching a larger target market by making their games compatible with several devices which in most cases has led to their game thriving. An industry that has recognised this importance is the mobile casino industry, with many providers offering their sites and games on both devices. Mobile casinos can be accessed via a mobile app that can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play, as in most cases providers have made apps iOS and Android friendly. Popular casino games like roulette, blackjack and slots can be accessed anywhere and anytime because of mobile casinos, and this has led to this industry excelling as the casino world realised the importance of making games accessible to everyone. 

Cross Platform Games

For those players who are looking to compete each other but have different devices, it is important to know that there are cross platform games that support multiplayer in every gaming category. Here are just a few of the most popular and highly rated games:

Cribbage Pro Online

If you are a fan of puzzles and card games, then the Cribbage Pro Online is definitely one to try out. 

Played with two players, the classic Cribbage rules apply and participants must try and reach a score of 121 with the correct combination of cards. The game has a simple easy-to-use layout and it doesn’t take new players long to pick up the rules and learn how to use all of the app’s features.

Competitors can play together across different platforms and device types, including mobile phones and computers. There is even a global leader board for you to compare your results with.

This is a fun and simple game suitable for all ages and technological abilities.

Words with Friends 2

Another cross platform game is the Words with Friends series. The classic Words with Friends game has been updated to include a whole host of new, exciting features. As with the original version, you can play against either a friend or a complete stranger on the internet.

This new update includes lightning rounds. The lightning round involved two teams of five players, who must compete to reach a certain score in the amount of time given. There is also a solo challenge that allows you to play against the computer and win virtual prizes. 

If you find the third party adverts distracting, players can opt for in-app purchases and turn them off. There are also daily goals, weekly challenges to get involved with and quick play mini games for those short on time to enjoy.

Spaceteam

Space themed cross platform game Spaceteam is another free app ideal for groups of friends or housemates. The game’s display features cool spaceship controls, including phasers and accelerators that allow you to travel at hyperspace speeds. You’ll give commands to one another as you fly through the galaxy. Together you must find your way through a number of unexpected challenges and keep your spacecraft in good working condition.

You and your partners will need to be close by as the game requires you to connect to one another using your phone’s Bluetooth. 

While the game’s storyline is fairly simple, Spaceteam is a thrilling adventure and will have you hooked after a couple of go’s.

Call of Duty: Mobile

First person shooter Call of Duty has a number of multiplayer modes, including sniper v sniper, 5 v 5 team deathmatch and the 100 player battle royale mode. Loyal COD fans will enjoy its iconic maps and weapon choices. 

As with the console version, you can collect and customise weapons with a variety of skins.

Still its release, the game has spent a lot of time in app store top charts for free to play games. There have been a few bugs that have needed fixing along the way, but these have been remedied quickly with version updates.

Hearthstone

Hearthstone is a strategic, warfare themed game available to download free through both Google Play and the Apple store. Players collect cards and compete in enemy battles. You can defeat enemies with different spells and use different creatures. 

Part of this game’s allure is its stunning, colourful graphics and well-designed animations and sound effects, which allow players to fully immerse themselves in the Hearthstone world. It’s easy to forget that you are playing on a small mobile phone screen.

If you are feeling especially brave then you can battle it out with other players in the arena.

Hearthstone is a game of skill, patience and strategy. Getting the cards you need and developing an effective game plan takes time. However, with time you will be able to devise your path to victory. 

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EE

On EE, the iPhone 12 Mini 5G 64GB is available from £45 per month and, if you trade in your old iPhone, you can get up to £300 off. This will bring the price down to £37 per month if you trade in certain phones.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB is available from £65 per month. The EE Full Works Plan is also available, but you’ll need to spend £91 per month to get that with a £30 up-front charge. This will deliver inclusive access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, plus you’ll get uncapped and unlimited mobile data.

In addition, there’s 24 months of BT Sport via the app, the option to Upgrade Anytime and the EE Service Pack which features an EE Lifetime Guarantee warranty.

The network also has smart number tech to extend your number to five other devices, such as laptops and tablets. It also supports Enhanced HD Voice, 4G Calling, WiFi Calling, Dual SIM and eSIM functionality along with the Apple Watch 4G Connectivity.

Three

Three

The iPhone Mini is available from £27.50 per month – that’s 6 months at that price (half the normal price) with unlimited data and a £90 upfront cost. You can choose instead to trade in an old handset to get the phone on the same deal for £29 upfront, and £29 a month for the first six months.

You can, with the deal above, add on some AirPods. It’ll cost just 50p more per month (for the first six months).

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB is available at half price (£34.50 per month) for the first 6 months on unlimited data, although you’ll need to pay £230 upfront. You may choose to trade in instead, which means you pay £99 upfront and £38 a month instead for six months.

These are two year deals and the monthly price will double after 6 months. Again, you can add on AirPods for 50p more per month for the first six months.

You can still get the personal shopping experience via the Three personal shopper.

Vodafone

The iPhone 12 mini is available from £46 per month (£29 upfront cost) and the new iPhone 12 Pro Max for £66 per month (£29 upfront cost). This is on the Vodafone Unlimited Max plan, and only when you trade in your old iPhone.

Without trade in, the iPhone 12 mini is going to be £61 per month with £29 upfront and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is £81 per month with £29 up-front for the Unlimited Max plan.

Customers can upgrade yearly with no upgrade fee, plus you can see how much your existing phone is worth via the trade-in toold on the MyVodafone app.

Head to Vodafone.co.uk for more information.

O2

You can choose the plan you want with their adjustable sliders but the default is a 36-month deal. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is £60.10 with a £30 upfront fee. That’ll get you 90GB of monthly data. The same deal on the iPhone 12 mini is £47.95 per month with £30 upfront.

BuyMobiles

They’re offering the following deals on various networks…

– iPhone 12 Mini 64GB. Free at £44 with 100GB Data on Three.

– iPhone 12 Mini 64GB. Free at £46 with 200GB Data on O2.

– iPhone 12 Mini 64GB. Free at £47 with 100GB Data on EE.

– iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB. Free at £65 with 100GB Data on Three.

– iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB. Free at £70 with Unlimited Data on O2.

– iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB. Free at £73 with 100GB Data on EE

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Now though, we’re all plumbed into the internet. With cinemas closed (or closing down for good), the idea of a movie being released at a different time in one country to another seems a little old. Instead, we’ve got premium streaming services, and we expect on-demand content to appear on our screens when we push a button

That, though, doesn’t always happen. We saw this problem to a degree when The Mandalorian appeared at the US launch of Disney+. Only those in the USA could watch it but, because the internet is a global phenomenon, people all over the world suddenly wanted to see it too.

This was possible through a couple of different ways. First, you could perhaps download it via a torrent, but nobody would recommend doing that unless you’re behind a VPN for starters. Also, it’s not totally legal. However, the second way is perhaps going to tick both boxes. It still involves a VPN, but this time you need to make sure that it features worldwide servers that you can switch between. In this case, you’d choose “USA” or a city within the USA and then connect before firing up your VPN. Disney+ or a free VPN for Netflix would then open up your world to a totally new range of TV shows and movies that you would previously be unable to enjoy.

You can be anywhere, virtually, and you don’t even need to worry about Android TV boxes or complex setups. For most people, a simple smartphone VPN is all that’s necessary, and you can get straight into your favorite episodes without any restrictions.

Depending on which VPN provider you go for, you can usually use your VPN account on multiple devices – adding in laptops or tablets around the house for that bigger-screen experience. Just do a little research, check that the required countries are provided and that the provider has speedy servers, good feedback, and a decent track record before switching across.

VPN’s aren’t just for TV watching though, they will make your web activity anonymous – no more tracing or logging. In addition, you’ll be secured, encrypted, and protected from any outside interference – this is especially of concern if you’re using an internet connection that isn’t your own. They take seconds to install on your device and can protect you from dangers you probably haven’t considered.

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To help calculate your app development costs, you’ll need to identify all the features and functionality you want the app to have. You then need to hire someone who is experienced in the type of app you want to design.

Here are a few things to look for when you hire an app developer.

1. Hire Someone with a Solid Track Record

Your app developer needs a great portfolio of their work. When you review their portfolio, check to see which apps have the best user interfaces and really “pop”. It’s estimated that about 60 percent of a new app’s features are how the audience reacts to it. You’ll also want to hire someone with excellent references you can contact right away.

2. Hire Someone Who Plays Well With Others

Your app developer will become part of your team and development isn’t a one-time project. They’ll also need to help with maintenance and updates after the rollout. You want to hire someone that you like and someone who can get along with your project manager and other team members.

The developer you hire should also be accountable and report on time when you have meetings and updates and they should do their work to its entirety. You don’t want someone caught between other projects who can’t give you a full commitment. Or worse, they’re not holding up their end, you’re now over budget and they’re waiting to be fired (so they don’t have to abandon ship).

To avoid this, when you interview developers, ensure that they will be fine with you setting up metrics and KPIs to keep everyone accountable for their work and timeframes. This can help you meet deadlines and weed out less than stellar candidates.

3. Hire Someone Passionate About Your Project

A good developer will want to know about your app and they’ll ask a ton of questions. They want to see your creativity so they can integrate it with theirs. They should love working on all aspects of app builds, have similar apps they’ve designed and can help you get the creative juices flowing.

4. Hire Someone With Lots of Experience

There are different types of developers. An inexperienced developer, student or new grad might wait for you to give instructions and you have to supervise them with every step. And, that’s okay if you don’t mind training them. However, the other type of developer is experienced, doesn’t need training and is ready to take the lead. They’re also proactive, innovative and will come up with all kinds of ideas for you. That’s the type of developer you want.

When a developer is experienced in designing the type of app you want, it can simplify meetings, reduce miscommunication and you can save money because they might know a few shortcuts. When you prep your creative brief, map out your ideas for your app build, the message and theme and your ideal user.

The right developer will relate and can meet your expectations. In your job description, include the level of experience you want your developer to have. They should have samples, recommendations, and be able to meet your deadlines and troubleshoot any problems. They should also have a network of other developers they work with (never hurts).

5. Hire Someone Proficient in the Features You Want Your App to Have

About 77 percent of people never use an app again after 72-hours. Hence, your app needs to have the right features. If an app developer has never set up push notifications or social media, how can they help you with your app? The developer you hire should be proficient in every area that you want your app to have. They should understand how to add geolocations and ratings.

They should know how best to integrate social media into your app and a password if applicable. And, what about other features like if your app works with the user’s camera? Your designer needs to be a “Jack or Jill of all trades” That way you can have the best-designed app (and you don’t have to worry that your developer will flinch if you want to make changes). There are always changes.

6. Hire Someone That Sells You On Their Service

About 1 in 4 people abandon an app after only one use. Hence, a cheaply-made app can cost you. A mistake is to hire a developer based on the cheapest price. That can cost you more money if they make mistakes. While you’ll have a budget, you don’t want to have to redo your app because you’ll lose time to market. Hire the best developer you can afford and one with a portfolio and resume you can be proud of.

Focus on the right aspects of your business and you’ll have a better shot at choosing the right app developer. It’s an important decision. The realization of your vision is often in your developer’s hands. Choose wisely.

Final Thoughts

Focus on hiring the most qualified developer for your app build. They should be experienced in your type of app design and they should have a great portfolio and references. Don’t hire based on the cheapest price as this can cost you in the long run. You want the developer with the best user interfaces in their portfolio and the best ideas. That way you’re getting your money’s worth.

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Imagine, if you will, the coronavirus pandemic hitting us 20 years ago. It’s a sunny morning in the year 2000. You’ve got yourself the classic Nokia 3310 and you’ve got Snake to play. That’s it entertainment-wise on your phone.

Imagine it’s the year 2000….
If you wanted to keep in touch with friends and you were locked down in 2000, it’d be limited to text messages and phone calls. Speedy internet, video calling, social media and even colour screens were a far-fetched dream. Imagine being on “lockdown” in your home and that’s your only way to keep yourself occupied.

If you were lucky you’d have some DVD’s and PlayStation 2 console to keep your fingers busy, but now – fast-forward 20 years – and we’ve all got gadgets in our pockets that can consume our day. Whether it be social media, streaming TV, stream movies, streaming music, browsing the web or gaming – these magical, clever smartphones do it all.

Mental health benefits
Plus, it’s not just about passing the time. This is all about keeping your mental well-being in check too. In the USA a report published by WePC has shown a positive effect on mental well-being after gaming. The vast majority of those 524 surveyed (92%) told how playing video games had no negative effect on their mental health, whilst more than a third (some 37%) stating that it had a positive impact.

In the middle of a crisis, mental health issues such as heightened anxiety, violent behaviour, and gaming addiction can potentially become a problem, but the survey found the exact opposite, with one respondent describing his gaming as “a way to be involved in interactive entertainment in the new socially distanced world”.

Not only that, but gaming can become a form of escapism too, and 46% of respondents to the survey said that it was a useful distraction from the pressures of everyday life during lockdown.

Andrew Kirkcaldy, Co-founder at WePC, told us..

Gaming has received a lot of negative attention over the years, but the results of this survey don’t surprise us.

We know that gaming has many benefits, from increased cognitive skills to enhanced performance at work, but the positive impact on mental health is something we really want to bring to light.

There is though, always a danger of going too far, and the World Health Organization does still point out that too much of anything can be a bad thing. Keeping control and balancing your time is key.

Some play to meet others online, others for the challenge and some just to keep mentally active. Plus, with gaming available in more places and more often, there’s always an opportunity to dive in.

Mobile gaming continues to grow.
Indeed, mobile gaming is now even bigger than console and PC gaming. Statistica states that there’s already 2.4 billion mobile gamers this year. That’s the population of the entire Commonwealth, playing games on their phone, and it’ll grow to 2.7 billion by the end of this year. It’s a growing and lucrative industry.

In the USA there are 209 million mobile game players and over 56% of them are at it more than 10 times a week. Some 50% of these, according to MediaKix, are older than 34 and there’s a lot of women playing too. All during lockdown.

Multi-player and technology advances
Although single-player time-fillers do well, the advent of global online multiplayer games have added an extra dimension, challenging players and adding to the excitement and competitiveness. In addition, betting on casino games has seen a rapid gain in popularity. To see just how quickly it’s grown, you only need to take a look at the mobile casinos list by Casinofy to see just how many great online casino sites are available and how widely the mobile gaming and casino market has expanded. It’s also popular because there’s a desire for each casino and online bingo or gaming site to be the best. They spend time, adding the best features, graphics, sounds and gameplay in order to stop you switching. It’s fair to say that these casino apps will have a lot more attention to detail than regular apps and games – the competition is cut-throat in the industry.

In 2020, with big colour screens, fast processors and a colossal selection of phones to install on, mobile apps and games are thriving. They’re keeping our world connected and entertained. Plus, the ever-improving technology adds fast and no-lag data to give us instant and on-demand enjoyment. Add in the CPU and graphics chips, which allow for larger and more graphically intense games, and we now have true mobile entertainment centres in our pockets.

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They will be offering the whole iPhone 12 lineup, including iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 mini.

You can already pre-register your interest for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 and they’ll be arriving on October 23rd. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini beginning will be arriving a little later, on November 13th. The guys have sent us a lovely table showing the cost of each phone – just add on whichever giffgaff goodybag suits yourself.

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In the USA, the video games industry has grown 50% since 2010, with a massive uptick in the last few months. That’s a total increase of $20 billion. Despite the industry actually expecting a decline of 0.4% for the year 2020, the last five years have shown an average growth of 12.1% per year between 2015 and 2020 instead. Not only that, but there’s no signs of this slowing.

The number of people that are employed as part of the industry has also dramatically increased over the last decade. In 2020 an estimated 241,389 people worked in the video game industry compared to less than 125,000 in 2010. In the last five years, the number of employed in the industry grew an average of 5% per year from 2010-2015. Employment growth is estimated to be at 2.3% for 2020. There’s now 42,438 businesses in the USA that fall under the gaming industry category compared to less than 10,000 in 2010.

We’ve seen smartphone games become wildly popular too. The top games currently in charts – such as Among Us, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Minecraft, Clash of Clans and Fortnite – continue to pull in millions of players per week. Meanwhile, traditional card games like Solitaire, Blackjack and Poker, ride high in the charts too. Their relative simplicity and easy-entry means that people can learn before venturing more expansive offerings like Betway Casino, where over 100 card and casino games are available to players. It’s in big-name apps like this where things get interesting, as live poker games and live dealers are involved – raising the excitement and keeping you entertained.

Plus, of course, the benefit of the various casino games is that you can win real cash. However, as these games are available directly through the official app stores, there’s also the ability to set limits and stay in control of your gambling for safety. Here Betway88 ensures a safe environment for players so, no matter what you’re playing (roulette, slots, card games etc), you’re in control all the way.

With a second wave of COVID-19 on the way and more of us looking to stay at home again, there’s no doubt that the smartphone will be the go-to time filler for many. Whilst TV and film companies struggle to provide content, game developers have no such problems. The video game industry will continue to thrive, even through these uncertain times – even whilst our mobile phones become less “mobile” than they once were.

The coders can work remotely, continuing to develop even more games to keep us playing and entertained. Plus – with many offering online multiplayer functionality – we can stay in touch with the outside world too.

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However, when it comes to the iPad, more innovations were taking place. Moreover, due to a large number of differences, the operating system for tablets was even given its own name – iPadOS.

Here is the list of the top perks of iPadOS:

1. Widgets have moved to the home screen

A great idea that could be implemented on the iPhone as well.

You still don’t have enough freedom to place widgets wherever you want (for instance, between the apps icons), but a small column with some useful information was added.

Even though you’re a bit limited in this aspect of making your life better, you can improve another, a really huge area of your life. We’re talking about the financial sphere, about making your money. What is more, we know exactly how you can make your money make more money (sounds like a tongue twister, but you will be getting better-off while you sleep). The Jing Stock – bitcoin otc broker is the site we recommend to buy and sell bitcoin online. Bitcoin makes the future – you make money off bitcoin.

2. There are convenient control gestures now

In order to make your working with the text easier, they added four gestures with three fingers. Swipe to the left with three fingers – undo the input or the last action. Swipe to the right – return/repeat the action.

3. More icons on the desktop

The developers have finally redesigned the iPad interface instead of the banal stretching of the picture for it to match the huge screen.

4. The screenshot editor has become better than most photo editors

The already good screenshot editor just got better. Now you don’t even have to save your screenshot to the gallery if you wanna work on it.

5. The Safari browser has been significantly upgraded

Now the standard web page viewer displays a full-fledged version of the site with adaptation to the display’s width instead of a stripped-down mobile version for iPhone.

6. In Split View, you can run two windows of the same applications now

As a result, you can have two windows with email, notes, reminders, or a browser open for comfortable work on your device.

7. Slide Over is better in iPadOS

Quickly accessing the apps you need without leaving the one you’re in is a game-changer for all the Apple enthusiasts.

8. Apple introduces “Show All Windows” in a multitasking mode

With such a range of application launching capabilities, it can be easy to get confused by all these windows. The developers have provided the ability to view the copies of any of the applications open quickly.

9. iPad learned to work with a mouse

What many Apple tablet users have been waiting for was finally brought to life.

The left button performs the function of tapping the screen, the right one brings up the AssistiveTouch menu, and the middle one brings you back to the home screen. Most applications support a scroll wheel.

10. The Files app is actually useful there

The default file manager has long been a weird and useless program. With the release of iPadOS, everything changed. Alongside a full-fledged download manager for Safari, working with data on the tablet is taken to the desktop-like level.

11. iPad made friends with flash drives

Now plug-in storage media are fully supported by the Files application with the ability to transfer any data to the tablet memory and vice versa.

12. Download Manager – finally!

The Download Manager is another perk there. You can download any files from any sites. Before downloading, a pop-up window will appear, asking: “Do you want to download the file?” You’ll be able to find the downloaded file in your Files application.

13. Using Apple Pencil for screenshots

Swiping up the iPad screen with the Apple Pencil allows you to take a screenshot instantly – and it is opened in the editor immediately.

14. iPad as a second display for Macbook or iMac

This is great news for the designers and even video editors out there. The iPadOS tablets will be able to broadcast an image from an Apple computer without any problems, thereby replacing a second monitor. What’s more, the Apple Pencil will let you control your computer directly from your iPad.

We love iPadOS – iPad is really becoming a serious tool for work.

The post Top 14 things that make iPadOS so great is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Well, iD Mobile (which sits on the Three network) seem to have a really good offering, provided you don’t mend a slightly hefty upfront cost. You can get the 64GB Apple iPhone 12 for £39.99 per month with a £99.99 upfront cost for 20GB of monthly data. They also do an unlimited data plan for £41.99 per month with the same upfront cost of £99.99. In addition, they have the iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) for £49.99 per month (£99.99 upfront) for 20GB or £51.99 per month and £99.99 upfront for the unlimited.

Meanwhile O2 are offering the iPhone 12 from £41.37 monthly for 3GB data with a £30 upfront cost, and you get 6 months free Disney+. There’s also the iPhone12 Pro for £48.10 monthly (3GB data) with the same £30 upfront and 6 months free Disney+. The iPhone 12 Mini 5G and iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G will be available to pre-order from 6th November.

EE have the iPhone 12 64GB for £77 per month with a £30 upfront. This gives you the “Full Works Plan” with unlimited everything and inclusive access to Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. You’ll also get 24 months access to the BT Sport App. They’re also doing the iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) for £87 per month with £30 upfront on the same plan.

Vodafone are doing the iPhone 12 for £50 per month (£29 upfront cost) on Unlimited Max when you trade in your old iPhone. That’s £15 off per month (£360 in total) and you’ll soon be able to use their Trade-in Tool on the My Vodafone App. Customers can trade in previous iPhone (X, XS, XS MAX or XR) handsets to unlock an instant, guaranteed saving of £15 a month.

Also worth mentioning is the cashback available via Topcashback on Mobiles.co.uk and Carphone Warehouse deals. With Mobiles.co.uk, via the cashback site, you can get unlimited Data on the iPhone 12 for £41.99 per month and earn up to £50 cashback on New Contracts or £70 cashback on upgrades.

With Carphone Warehouse it’s a similar deal – £50 cashback on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro for new contracts and £70 for upgrades.

The guys at Three have sent us a lovely table so you can see their pricing. First though, they want you to now that there’s six months at half price, so you get the iPhone 12 64GB at £27.50 for the first six months and all upfront costs are covered if you trade in your old phone. If you don’t have an old phone then you’ll need to front up £210 to get the same deal. The iPhone 12 64GB is available also with 1GB data at £19.50 a month for first six months on a similar trade-in arrangement, or you can have the iPhone 12 Pro instead with unlimited data £32.50 a month for first six months and upfront costs are covered when trading in.

Here’s their pricing..

The post Yet more iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro deals is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

For more options, we’ve got a funky table with all the pricing, which includes the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pricing too (these will be available for pre-order from November 6h but you’ll be able to pre-order the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro today).

There’s free 5G for all customers who join, or are already members of, Sky’s free loyalty programme, Sky VIP. Not only that, but there’s an extra 10GB data boost. Anyone who pre-orders also will get £30 off Apple AirPods and double data on all plans. Existing customers can also get up to £50 off by exchanging spare data from their Sky Piggybank.

Head to the Sky Mobile website for more info.

The post Sky Mobile announce iPhone pre-order pricing is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

You can pre-order here and get the brand new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Pricing starts at £33 a month and £39 a month respectively, albeit with only 1GB of monthly data. No upfront costs, but this is a 3-year deal.

If you want more data, they’ll be offering the iPhone 12 for £43 a month and the iPhone 12 Pro for £49 a month. You can also get a pair of Airpods for just £1 extra per month.

Annie Brooks, Executive Director of Product at Virgin Media, told us…

The long awaited iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are finally here, so to celebrate we’re offering our customers knock out value with unlimited data so they can keep connected with a flexible mobile plan that truly works for them.

If you’re looking to pre-order the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini, these will be available for pre-order from November 6th.

The new iPhone 12 family

Head to the Virgin Media site for more info.

We’ve got further details on pricing below…

36 month iPhone 12
£33 – unlimited texts, 1000 mins, 1GB data
£43 – unlimited texts, 5000 mins, unlimited data
Only £1 more with Airpods

36 month iPhone 12 Pro
£39 – unlimited texts, 1000 mins, 1GB data
£49 – unlimited texts, 5000 mins, unlimited data
Only £1 more with Airpods

24 month iPhone 12
£40.50- unlimited texts, 1000 mins, 1GB data
£50.50 – unlimited texts, 5000 mins, unlimited data
Only £1.50 more with Airpods

24 month iPhone 12 Pro
£49.50 – unlimited texts, 1000 mins, 1GB data
£59.50 – unlimited texts, 5000 mins, unlimited data
Only £1.50 more with Airpods

The post Virgin Media iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro deals go live is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

You can watch the lengthy launch, but we’ve got all the important bits here. It’s safe to say that the Apple announcement mentioned 5G A LOT..

There’ll be five aluminium finishes, including blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED. Pre-orders start soon and you can get more details on the Apple website, but let’s dive in…

The new iPhone 12 family

There’s been an actual design change here, with handsets getting flatter and sharper edges.

First is the iPhone 12 at £799 or £33.29 per month. It has a the same 6.1″ screen (2532×1170 at 460 ppi) as its predecessor, albeit lighter at 162 grams and thinner too (7.4mm). The price increases depending on the storage. Just 64GB for your £799, or 128GB for £849 and a simply bonkers (in my opinion) £949 for 256GB. Honestly. What’s going on? You can get a OnePlus Nord with 256GB of storage for £469.

The iPhone 12 mini

Next, the iPhone 12 mini, which has a small 5.4″ screen (2340×1080 at 476 ppi) and weighs just 133 grams. I can’t remember the last time I used a screen that small. £699 for the 64GB model, £749 for the 128GB model and £849 for the 256GB handset.

If you want to spend £849 for a phone with a 5.4″ screen, that’s the one to go for.

Despite the cost of the phones, none will have headphones or a charger in the box. Apple tell us it’s for “environmental reasons”. I’m sure it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they can grab another £19 for a charger from people buying an iPhone for the first time. You do at least get a USB-C / Lightning cable in the box.

A new A14 Bionic CPU should push the performance up to another level thanks to the next-gen neural engine and there’s IP68 water resistance should you drop the phone in the water for 30 minutes.

The usual GPS, NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth and iOS 14 are to be found here. There’s also fast-charging – up to 50% in 30 minutes if you bought that £19 20W charger– and wireless charging (up to 15W).

A dual 12-megapixel camera setup at the rear (one wide-angle, one ultra-wide) have 2x optical zoom plus bokeh and depth control. Up front is another 12 megapixel camera for your selfies and Apple said that better night-mode selfies will be possible – no flash needed.

The iPhone 12 Pro

In addition, there’s a third and fourth model – the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Pricing goes into the insane category again, with the Pro (packing a 6.1″ 2532×1170 460 ppi screen) costing £999 for 128GB, £1,099 for 256GB and £1,299 for the 512GB model. The iPhone Pro 12 Max (6.7″ 2778×1284 458 ppi screen) costs £1,099 for the 128GB model, £1,199 for the 256GB model and an utterly silly £1,399 for the 512GB handset.

These come with a third 12 megapixel camera on-board, basically adding a telephoto lens. There’s also a Lidar sensor for speedier autofocus.

Head here for info on the two iPhone 12 Pro models or here for the two iPhone 12 devices.

Networks – So far we’ve had O2, EE, Sky Mobile, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone all confirm that they’ll be ranging the phones. It looks like pre-orders on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 will start on October 16th with availability from October 23rd. Meanwhile the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro mini pre-orders largely start November 6th with availability from November 13th.

The post The 5G-packing iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Range announced. is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

It seemed to relate to me switching Bluetooth on and off, but for many people they were quite shocking and – given that you couldn’t get any more details – confusing too.

I dived into the Notification Log on Android to try and get more information, but there wasn’t a great deal of extra detail.

Today a “fix” has been issued, although to be honest it’s more of a workaround as the pop-up messages will still appear, however a follow-up message will then show up to tell you to ignore it. The second message will read..

Covid-19 Exposure Check Complete. Don’t worry, we have assessed your risk and there is no need to take action at this time. Please continue to stay alert and follow the latest advice on social distancing.

So, umm… basically a fudge…

The post NHS COVID-19 App updated. Ghost message workaround issued. is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

A “VPN” stands for “Virtual Private Network”. Sat in a cafe, connected to the free WiFi, you can never really be sure who’s snooping on your internet activity. Passwords, web history, your activity and your personal information – it can all-too-easily be sniffed and taken. This is mainly because it’s really simple to set up a WiFi hotspot. Heck, I could sit next to you in a cafe and slick the hotspot on my phone and grab your data. If I called it “Free Cafe Hotspot” you’d never know that all your web traffic was flowing through my phone.

A VPN will encrypt your data and, if you choose a decent VPN provider, it won’t log your activity either.

There are more benefits though, and at the weekend I got talking about this with a friend in Australia. He wanted to access a UK documentary but – due to geo-restriction blocks – he couldn’t see it.

This is where a VPN can help. We spent a few minutes checking the Best VPN for Australia guide to find a reliable VPN service that would allow us to stream British content from Down Under. Once we chose a provider, we connected to a server in the UK, and unblocked the documentary successfully. Effectively what the VPN is doing here is, it’s virtually moving your internet connection from your home country to another country that you choose – the UK, America, Germany, wherever you wish. That way, you’re able to bypass region blockers and filters and get the same experience that someone actually in that country experiences.

The BBC website, as viewed outside the UK

Take, as an example, the BBC news website. Here in the UK you get the UK-specific home page and all the local content. You also don’t get any adverts because it’s all paid for by the TV Licence. However, whenever I work abroad it’s a totally different story – you get the international version of the BBC news site, and it’s peppered with adverts too. It means that some content is really hard to get to and the experience is totally different. However, once you fire up your VPN and set your location to the UK, it’s just as if you were sitting at home in your slippers all over again.

The same page, when viewed through a VPN set to the UK

A VPN will also give you other benefits, such as anonymity, improved performance (especially if your internet provider is controlling certain types of traffic) and the ability to share files without being traced.

More than anything though, in a world where nearly all of our internet activity involves trading personal data, a VPN will help keep you secure and protected on the internet.

The post VPNs Come of age – Why you need to consider getting one is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

It is simply amazing if you think about just how much one can accomplish using a smartphone or tablet for that matter. When you look back at how technology has shaped today’s world, it is crystal clear that things are only getting better. The milestones being witnessed in the financial industry include being able to invest online using your phone. You just need to have the know-how of online investing and you are good to go. Forex trading is one of the most outstanding and sought after forms of investment.

The world has become a decentralized market, giving potential investors a chance to be part of life-changing opportunities. New forex traders can join the markets at their own pace using mobile phones. Besides trading, you can access online resources when looking to be knowledgeable in all matters surrounding forex trading, such as hedge fund strategies. With a smartphone, you can also keep up with the latest news on currencies performance.

However, if you are looking to venture into forex trading through smartphones, you need a good one because not all phones will pass for a great device when trading. Interest in mobile trading and investment apps has grown in recent times by over 115%. That shows how smartphones are taking over online investing. That said, take a look at the best 5 smartphones to consider using in forex trading:

Samsung Galaxy S10/Plus

If you are an Android phones lover, any of this combination would make the perfect choice for a trading phone. Not only do these phones exude power and class, they offer value for what they are worth. Both makes come with a large screen and a size that your hand can easily accommodate.

You can also count on their battery in terms of charge longevity, giving you ample time to take part in forex trading without fear of running out of charge. When it comes to speed, their 8GB RAM is sure to give you a wonderful browsing experience. Their screen is vibrant and you can easily navigate your way through forex trading platforms with ultimate clarity. They come at a price, but are worth it in terms of value.

iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max

Launched in 2019, these two remain a favorite among iOS lovers. They definitely make it to the list of reliable smartphones in forex trading. So,  what makes these models better than their former counterparts? They have faster processing speeds, sophisticated cameras and a brighter, clearer screen resolution. Their battery life is impressive too and their size fits well on their hands. This is however not the perfect choice for you if you are operating on budget, as they are a bit pricey. But if you can afford them, don’t hesitate to upgrade your current smartphone and those forex trading sessions of yours will never be the same again.

Huawei P30

This phone could be your next forex trading partner at under $500. That is a fair price for a phone that gives you memory capacity of 128GB and 6GB RAM. It’s battery is long lasting, ensuring that you are always powered up in your various forex trading activities. Generally if online reviews are to go by, it is a powerful smartphone. It is another option for Android lovers to try out as far as affordability and quality are concerned.

OnePlus 7T Pro

This phone was released in 2019 and also makes it on this list as a good choice for trading. The screen size is great and so is its battery life. It has a 6-12 GB RAM and, making it an efficient phone for carrying out multiple tasks without freezing. For a phone with latest technologies and tools, OnePlus 7t Pro makes you spend less for great value.

Google Pixel 4 XL

This is yet another smartphone that makes a good choice for online trading because of several reasons. One, it’s battery life is reliable for someone who spends a lot of time trading online. Secondly, it’s big screen can accommodate a lot of information. Thirdly, it has a 6RAM and 128GB memory making it suitable to perform several tasks at a go. It is also budget-friendly when compared to what it has to offer.

The post 5 Smartphones you can use in 2020 for Forex trading is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

To remain a relevant casino of choice among gamblers, Novibet continues to support a wide range of mobile devices. Its players can play easily and quickly using any internet-enabled device – from smartphones to tablets.

But there’s another deal. Novibet gives you a chance to get the best slots too. So, if you want to find more of the best slots online in the UK, then read on. In this article, we’ll explore the popular Novibet app and how it works.

Remember that an app makes it easy for you to play your favourite games just the way you would on their website.

Overview of Novibet Casino App

• 100% mobile bonus of up to €250
• Over 1400 games available
• Supports EUR, GBP, AUD currencies
• Available in English, Greece, German languages
• Supports a wide range of mobile devices
• Player protection guaranteed

App Security

While casino apps are great, there are security concerns that players often worry about, especially regarding new apps. No one would want their identities stolen or defrauded while playing. App security is, therefore, paramount and something that gamblers value.

With the Novibet Casino app, your security as a player is guaranteed. The app has excellent security features and a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. The regulator is trusted in the whole of Europe and is known for imposing strict regulations. You can trust that the Novibet Casino app is safe. Plus, it’s a direct download from the app stores – no side-loading.

In addition to meeting all app security and licensing requirements, the Novibet Casino also has its own safety/security measures. For instance, it uses complex encryption systems to keep your data safe from anyone who might want to have unauthorized access to it.

Number of Games

Truth be told, the number of games you will find on this app is mind-blowing. So, if you want to play hundreds of games, then the Novibet app is the best for you. You can play over a thousand games.

Want to know why Novibet has many games? Well, the company has over time partnered with several software providers in the industry including, iSoftBet, Play’n GO, Microgaming, Playson, and NextGen, among others.

What does the partnership mean for the player? You may spend several hours browsing its game library before you finally find one favourite game.

The best part of Novibet’s several games is the fact that its games are diverse. You will find old games, new ones and even those that might not be available anymore in other casinos.

Novibet, therefore, remains a casino of choice among veteran gamblers as well as freshmen trying to find their best games.

Easy and Safe Deposits/Withdrawals

One consideration that every gamer makes when choosing a casino is the ease and safety of making deposits to play and withdrawing their winnings. With the Novibet Casino app, you can deposit your money using your credit card either Mastercard or Visa, and the money is deposited to your account instantly.

What if you do not have a credit card or interested in using it? Novibet gives you e-wallet options such as Neteller and Skrill. With these options, you still enjoy instant deposit to your gaming account. But that’s not all. You can also purchase prepaid Novibet vouchers from retail shops and use them for deposits as well.

What happens after depositing money, playing and winning? Novibet ensures that you safely withdraw your winnings through bank transfers. Such transactions usually take a few days, but the one thing you should be sure of is the fact that you will get your winnings into your bank account.

Any Bonuses?

Yes, Novibet gives you many opportunities to win bonuses each time you play using their Novibet Casino app. For instance, if you are a new player, you get a chance to win a 100% bonus for all deposits exceeding a minimum of €10 to €250.

But note this, you are not eligible for this bonus if you deposit using Neteller.

Our Final Take

Without a doubt and based on the highlighted features, Novibet Casino App is the best if you want to enjoy playing in the casino online using your mobile device.

Game variety, ease of making deposits, bonuses and security are amazing! Give it a try!

The post Fantastic new casino app from Novibet is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

It’s something that we can’t find any mention of on the TuneIn website but, in a recent licensing battle between Sony Music and TuneIn, the result has been a complete removal of international stations for UK TuneIn users.

A High Court battle against TuneIn from Sony and Warner resulted in TuneIn becoming “responsible for both direct and authorising infringement in connection to all but the UK-based stations contained in its app”.

TuneIn tried to argue that it was simply a “search engine” which found and catalogued radio streams from around the world. Indeed, all of the international stations which are now not listed or available in the TuneIn app can still be listened to if you simply Google, but not from within the app.

UK users are presented with this message when trying to listen to an international station

The judge didn’t seem to go with the “search engine” argument, as TuneIn users can usually get far more involved in stations by searching for tracks and content.

The TuneIn Twitter account has been getting a lot of flack from customers, with even Premium users getting their favourite content blocked….

Hello, Thank you for contacting us. Due to a court ruling in the United Kingdom, we will be restricting  international stations to prohibit their availability in the UK, with limited exceptions. We apologize for the inconvenience.

— TuneIn (@tunein) September 12, 2020

What a pain in the a** that is.

The post No international radio for you, UK TuneIn listeners is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Nowadays, hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated in how they hack devices. There are countless hacking software options online available for free, and by using these apps, hackers can retrieve any information from your phone. Not only that, but they also use “social engineering” to fool you into thinking that something is safe and secure when it’s not.

It is essential that you take action to protect yourself and your mobile device. It’s a matter of understanding how hackers target you, and doing some research into cybersecurity – learning the tips that can be used in your daily life. The 5 tips below should help start you off on your foray into the cybersecurity world.

Turning off WiFi when you’re out

There’s a lot of free public WiFi hotspots out there. Most of the time they’re from recognisable brands such as Tesco or Costa Coffee. You might feel quite relaxed using this, but what if a hacker was sitting outside your local coffee shop broadcasting a public WiFi hotspot of the same name?

Also, for smaller establishments that might not have WiFi, it’s so simple to set up a public WiFi hotspot with the same name as the venue you’re sitting in. It makes public networks much less secure than your average network due to the lack of a password needed to get in. Plus, data transmitted through this network tends to be unencrypted – “in the clear”.

To avoid the dangers of a public network, and to save your battery life, you can disable the Wi-Fi on your phone. If you need to use the network, refrain from accessing sensitive information or doing anything important or personal.

Encrypt your Network

Using an unencrypted network opens you up to numerous security threats, from data breaches to cyberattacks. To keep your digital privacy, make sure you only use encrypted networks. But how?

One of the most efficient ways to encrypt a network is to use an online privacy tool like a VPN.  A VPN creates a new private tunnel for all your online activity to go through, so instead of passing through your local network which is exposed to your ISPs and other cybercriminals, a VPN shields your activity and data from others. This will allow you to encrypt your network and, depending on the tool, include extra security features to make sure you’re as protected as can be.

Use Security Apps

One common misconception many people still hold onto is that cybercriminals can only hack into your device and/or steal your information when they have possession of your device. This is far from the truth. In fact, many cyberattacks happen remotely.

This is why it’s important for you to take advantage of as much security software as possible. Whether you’re using software that encrypts your device’s data or software that generates strong passwords for your account, all that matters is you take advantage of these applications whenever possible. After all, human error is a leading cause for many cyberattacks, so why not let programs do some of the heavy liftings?

Be Careful while Installing Files

One trick cybercriminals like to pull is to create a mock-website – a website that looks just like an official website (for example, a site to look like Amazon.com or the DVLA). This is because cybercriminals know that some will fall for this trick, then they will enter their information – whether personal or financial – and give them easy access to said information.

Some cybercriminals will also use phishing methods to take users to these websites, download certain applications, and so on. All in all, you need to be careful about what you’re downloading and from where. If you get an email from someone you don’t know claiming they’ve found a great website, don’t click on the link.

Create Strong Passwords

Passwords are the gates to our accounts, and if these gates were breached, then whoever was responsible for the breach would have access to all of the information on the account. Clearly, this is bad. Fortunately, there’s one foolproof way of securing your accounts, and it starts with you.

Using a strong, unique password for all of your accounts will near-guarantee your account will be safe from most cybercriminals. After all, most cybercriminals go after accounts with potentially-weak passwords, and if yours has a strong password? They may just give up before getting in.

Conclusion

These practices will safeguard your devices from security vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks. Our mobile devices contain a lot of personal data, such as online banking details, saved passwords, private information, personal media, and more.

No matter what brand you are using, adopting proper cybersecurity etiquette is a must for any mobile user.

The post 5 Essential tips to safeguard your mobile phone digital security is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Our blame-shifting Prime Minister recently stated that our semi-functioning COVID-19 Track and Trace system doesn’t work as well as other countries because people in the UK are “more free”.

Meanwhile Dido Harding, the NHS Test and Trace boss and disastrous ex-CEO of TalkTalk, revealed that up to 750,000 requests for COVID-19 tests were going unanswered every day. She also complained that her team couldn’t have “foreseen” the increase in demand for tests, despite the government telling schools, universities, colleges to re-open and workers to go back to their offices many weeks earlier.

Anyways.. the NHS COVID-19 app is now out of beta and you can download the live app. Maybe it’ll work, maybe it’ll explode in a ball of flames. From what we’ve seen though, it works quite well.

It’s available here for Android and here for iOS. You can get more information on the NHS website too.

It’s designed to inform you if you’re at risk from Coronavirus and runs on software developed by Apple and Google. You can find out when you’ve been near other app users who have tested positive for coronavirus, plus it’ll tell you the alert level of your local area and you can check-in at venues – this will then be stored so that you’re informed if there’s been a case there. This replaces the existing form-filling that you may have done at pubs and restaurants.

The app also lists symptoms to look out for, plus you can book tests and find out how long you’ll need to self-isolate for.

It’s all very easy to use – just fire it up, put the first part of your postcode in and you’re done.

Head to the Covid19 NHS website for the download links.

The post NHS COVID-19 App (finally) goes live is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

A Virtual Private Network encodes your internet traffic and transmits it via remote servers. As a result, your data and your location is protected. No-one can easily get access to information such as your downloads or browsing history.

How do you know that a VPN is safe? First of all, on Reddit you can read that VPN software is safe. You should, though, be a little wary of free VPN solutions that are available in the Apple or Google Play store. These have to make money in order to keep running, so you might question whether your information is being logged or not..

Should you get a VPN?

If you need anonymity as you browse the internet, yes, you should. It is great for protecting your online anonymity. Also, it comes in handy at home when you want to stream content that may be unavailable to you – from other countries etc.

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for your traffic, so other internet can no longer monitor what you’re doing or where you are. While your online activity may be perfectly innocent, nobody wants a peeping Tom following their online activities.

Can a user be tracked even when they use a VPN?

When you are connected to a VPN, your network goes through a protected tunnel. Not even your Internet Service Provider can access your traffic. Therefore, it would be difficult for anyone to track your online activity.

However, difficult does not mean impossible. Check whether your VPN provider logs your activity. Some do, but many will promote the fact that they don’t – this is definitely the preference.

A VPN protects you in instances such as the following:

• Making it difficult for advertisers to get to you
• Limiting cybercriminals access to you
• Keeping your online activity safe from anyone that may be spying
• Allowing you to access material that may be unavailable to you

How do you know which VPN you can trust?

Note that each VPN provider has its unique features, merits, and demerits. While there are free VPNs out there, paid ones come with additional benefits such as more advanced security features and a “no logging” promise.

The first thing you want to think about when shopping around for a suitable VPN is the price. Naturally, you want one that fits your budget. However, if your online security is important to you, you won’t mind a small fee charged.

Apart from payment, a trustworthy VPN contains features such as the following..

• It does not leak IP addresses

One of the reasons you want a VPN is to have your IP address concealed. Are VPNs completely foolproof when it comes to IP address leaks? Unfortunately, they are not. However, if this is your biggest concern, you can opt for a VPN that specialises in preventing leaks with split tunnelling and multi-port connections.

Reviews from users are always a great place to start. Both positive and negative reviews will reveal a lot about the VPNs you have shortlisted.

• Multi-Step Authentication

Most paid-for VPNs will need you to login before even using the VPN, however free ones won’t. Ensure that your VPN connection is protected and that no-one else can use it by choosing a provider who will lock-down your VPN account.

• It Does Not Collect Your Data

As mentioned, if you want a VPN that does not log your data, a no-log VPN is your go-to option. It does not save your private details, your location, or your search history. Hence, your online activity is protected from everyone including your VPN provider.

Read the VPN provider’s terms of service to find out what the company does with data. For instance, do they keep logs or disclose user information under certain circumstances? Do they regularly clean out their logs?

• Kill Switch

Sometimes your VPN connection may drop. If this happens, your internet access may revert to a regular connection. A kill switch allows your VPN to quit certain programs if the connection drops. This prevents leakage of data from sensitive programs.

Conclusion

Your choice of VPN will depend on the features they offer. If you simply need one that hides your IP address or a no-log one, then you’ll need to pay. A paid VPN is more trustworthy than a free one because it comes with more security features including excellent customer care.

The post Which VPN should you trust? is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

For WeChat, a judge has blocked a the ban as it raised “serious questions” surrounding the first amendment – guaranteeing free speech. Judge Beeler, sitting in San Francisco, also question the entire reason for blocking WeChat.

While the general evidence about the threat to national security related to China (regarding technology and mobile technology) is considerable, the specific evidence about WeChat is modest.

The US government believe that apps such as WeChat are collecting user data in an inappropriate way.

In addition, the large orange man has given his “blessing” to the Oracle and TikTok deal, which means that the expected ban on the app will now be pushed back a week while the formalities are addressed.

TikTok sent out the following..

#WeAreTikTok and we are here to stay! pic.twitter.com/AaA8OhpvGx

— TikTok US (@tiktok_us) September 19, 2020

The post WeChat and TikTok avoid Sunday ban in USA is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.

Unless there’s some sort of approval of the Oracle and TikTok deal, the US will bring the hammer down on both TikTok and WeChat this Sunday.

Existing installations of TikTok will continue to work, but it’ll be removed the US Google Play and US Apple App Store. That means no new downloads and no updates in you’re in Russia the USA. There’s the possibility that TikTok will then be fully banned and removed from handsets on November 12th.

US President Donald Trump started a trade war many months ago against many Chinese tech companies, calling them “security threats”, and banning them from operating in the US or from working with US companies. We’ve already seen the damage that this has caused on the likes of Huawei and Honor. In this particular case, the Trump administration has stated that the collection of personal data to a Chinese datacentre is a “threat to national security” and wanted TikTok sold off to a US-based company.

In addition, WeChat will be dropped and made unavailable on Sunday too.

The post US to ban TikTok and WeChat is original content from Coolsmartphone. If you see it on another news website, please let us know.