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Nokia 110, Nokia 111 and Nokia 112 announced

Posted: May 15th, 2012, 4:47pm CEST by Rob

Today Nokia have announced the Nokia 110, Nokia 111, and Nokia 112 mobile phones; which aim to bring up to date features and style within a budget handset range. Colourful by design, these vibrant candy bar handsets offer a similar palette to the likes of the Nokia Lumia 800, at an extremely affordable price. Built with a 1.8 inch display and alphanumeric keypad, the handsets are compact and lightweight; the Nokia 111 weighs just 77 grams! Faster Web Browsing The key feature across all three new Nokia handsets for 2012, is more efficient web browsing. The Nokia 110, 111 and 112 all claim to use a web browser that uses 90% less data. Compressed pages allow faster downloads and lower data charges. Though operating with a WAP browser, this improved efficiency ensures you can browse more for your money if you find yourself on a low data tariff or Pay As You Go. Dual Sim Phones The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 have the added bonus of being able to hold two SIMS within their compact design. The advantage of this is the ability to text or web browse with the network that suits you best. It’s a handy way to save money, or simply combine your personal and business phones within a single handset. You could even insert and extra SIM only deals card that gives you extra minutes or texts at a low cost. Changing between SIMs is effortless and simple as the handset can stay switched on as you flick between networks. Social and Entertainment Just because the Nokia 110, 111 and 112 aren’t on Android or iOS, doesn’t mean they have to lack fun. Connected to the Nokia Store, there are a variety of apps available for the Nokia 110 range. Whether that’s free games from EA such as Tetris, or a Facebook application to keep in touch with friends, there are over ten million apps downloaded per day from the Nokia store. You will need a microSD card plugged into your Nokia 110, 111 or 112 in order to store multimedia files onto your phone but with the option to hold up to 32GB, this is plenty of room for apps and music. The latest Nokia devices come with an FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a VGA camera. Expect the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 to grace the UK shores late summer or early autumn with a very affordable price tag. Even if you already own a smartphone, we think the Nokia 110 and 112 will make ideal back up handsets. You can view a full comparison of the Nokia 110, Nokia 111 and Nokia 112 on the official Nokia website. Check out the latest Nokia phone deals on our website. Do the new Nokia handsets interest you? Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page.

BlackBerry Curve 9320 : Built for BBM

Posted: May 10th, 2012, 2:30pm CEST by Rob

Research In Motion have announced a sole handset release for the United Kingdom this year; the BlackBerry Curve 9320. In this latest blog, we explain why the future might be looking up for BlackBerry in 2012. The Curve 9320 is not targeted to compete against the smartphone elite such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, Apple iPhone or HTC One X. Rather RIM’s focus is to provide a mobile for customers who are purchasing a smartphone for the first time. Glancing over the features, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 also appears to look great for existing Curve fans who desire a boost in speed and functionality. Social Features with BBM What are the key features about the BlackBerry Curve 9320? Well it was built to have your social life at your fingertips! With a dedicated BlackBerry Messenger key located on the site of the handset, you can shortcut straight to your friends in seconds. BBM has seen some great improvements over the last few updates with the inclusion of BBM Music; where you’re allowed a playlist of 50 songs per month plus all your BBM friends music too! Even if you get bored of your friends music, this BlackBerry device for 2012, has an FM radio so you can keep tuned into the latest sounds.Those who are worried about slow internet speed on the latest BlackBerry Curve 9320, shouldn’t panic as the 3G and Wi-Fi internet access ensure you can Tweet and Facebook at a reliable speed.

BlackBerry Curve 9320 overview On the surface, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 holds a petite 2.44 inch non touch display with the familiar QWERTY keypad and touch sensitive optical trackpad combo. It’s a safe design that feels sturdy and secure. Under the bonnet there’s a 512 MB processor, offering twice the oomph of the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 and 8520. There’s even a 3.2 megapixel snapper with flash and video recording so you can show your friends across your social media channels, exactly what you’ve been up. The removable 1450 mAh battery also appears efficient, offering 18 days standby time and up to 30 hours continuous music playback. With the latest BlackBerry OS 7.1 preloaded on the Curve 9320 you can control your power output with the Battery Saving Mode app; designed to automatically reduce brightness settings and connectivity at a threshold set by you. Release date? Expect the BlackBerry Curve 9320 to be available in June. The BlackBerry Curve 9320 mobile phone by all means won’t impress those seeking a top of the range smartphone; that’s not its purpose. Instead the BlackBerry Curve 9320 is perfect for those who want an affordable smartphone for the first time. With a range of new features, upgraded operating system and integrated BBM we believe this handset is ideal for text frenzied teenagers. Check out our latest BlackBerry deals. What do you think of the BlackBerry handset for 2012? Let us know your thoughts on the BlackBerry Curve 9320 our Facebook Page.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Apple iPhone 4S

Posted: May 4th, 2012, 6:50pm CEST by blogstaff

This week saw the unveiling of Samsung’s flagship new handset, the Samsung Galaxy S3. Following last month’s announcement that Samsung have overtaken Nokia as the world’s largest mobile manufacturers – they shipped 93 million phones in the first quarter of 2012 – the S3 looks set to cement their position as market leader. It also lands a considerable blow to their nearest smartphone rival, the Apple iPhone 4S. Apple’s next release is thought to be the iPhone 5, but this isn’t expected until the end of summer at the earliest. This means the iPhone 4S will have to hold its own against the mighty Samsung Galaxy S3 deals for the best part of 2012. But has the current iPhone got what it takes to compete with Samsung’s new smartphone behemoth? Under The Hood A quick look at internal specs show just how powerful both handsets are. Running on a 800 MHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, and with 512 MB of memory, the iPhone 4S has impressed us with its smooth user experience, fast processing speeds, and ease of multitasking. It would appear, however, that the dual core processor may soon be out-dated, as quad-core processors begin to infiltrate the smartphone market. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is at the forefront of the quad-core revolution, packing in a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor to make it one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. The Galaxy S3’s 1GB of memory also trumps the iPhone 4S’s 512 MB, making it both powerful and lightning fast. Weighing in at just 133g, all this power is concealed in a package that is 7g lighter than the iPhone, meaning you can carry around one of the most powerful smartphones in the world, without even noticing it’s in your pocket. Samsung Galaxy S3 design

Does Size Matter? The success of Samsung’s recent smartphone/tablet hybrid, the Samsung Galaxy Note proved one thing – smartphone users like a big screen. From games to browsing to watching videos, people like to see their multimedia on large shiny HD display. Samsung have taken note (no pun intended), and beefed the Galaxy’s screen from the 4.3 inches of the S2 up to an impressive 4.8inches for the S3. The screen itself has been pushed closer to the edge of the handset, resulting in a much larger display without drastically increasing the size of the phone, and dwarfing the 3.5 inch display of the iPhone 4S. As well as the size of the screen, a pin sharp HD resolution also adds to the desirability of any smartphone, and both handsets hold their own in this particular arena. The awesome Retina display of the iPhone 4S packs in a 326ppi pixel density, which offers a screen as clear as crystal. Not too far behind is the Samsung Galaxy S3, with a 306ppi pixel density on its new Amoled screen (for any acronym fans, that stands for Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), which also offers a striking HD display. With the both handsets offering such stunning visuals, the sheer size of the Galaxy S3’s screen really does make the most of its high resolution display, and we’ll be surprised if the new iPhone doesn’t appear with an extra inch or so in the screen department. You Talkin’ To Me? No cutting-edge smartphone is complete without its own array of unique features and innovations. The main talking point of the iPhone 4S was the inclusion of Siri, which utilises voice recognition software to carry out a range of functions, as well as using the phone’s internet access to answer questions spoken by the user. Committed to keeping up with the neighbours, The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with a new voice activation interface dubbed as S Voice. While this may not be as advanced as Siri, it does allow spoken instructions to activate many of the phone’s functions, such as playing music, sending texts or emails, and taking photographs. But the Samsung Galaxy S3 doesn’t just know when you’re talking to it, it also knows when you’re looking at it. The 1.9 megapixel front camera also comes with eye-recognition software, which means that the phone won’t lock or go dark so long as it can see you’re looking at it. Whether this will turn out to be a useful innovation or a battery draining annoyance remains to be seen, but it proves that Samsung are committed to staying on the cutting edge of smartphone advances. Read on how the Apple iPhone 5 technology may change everything. Apple iPhone 4S

Head to head With the Galaxy S3, Samsung have proved once again why they’re dominating the smartphone market, and have delivered a product that will be valuable in retaining their crown. The Galaxy S2 was one of the bestselling handsets of the past year, and we’ll eat our quad-core processor if the S3 doesn’t follow the same trend. With a range of impressive specs and new innovations, the new iPhone release later this year has a lot to live up to if Apple are to match the high benchmark set by Samsung with the Galaxy S3. Who do you think wins in the Apple versus Samsung battle? Let us know on our Facebook Page

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: May 3rd, 2012, 12:45pm CEST by Rob

Due to be announced this evening at 7pm, Samsung will unveil their Next Samsung Galaxy S3 to the world. The Next Samsung Galaxy is sure to be a big deal. This is the smartphone that will contend with the Apple iPhone 5 to take the 2012 smartphone crown. Expect the demand to be huge. How can I get the Next Samsung Galaxy? Though demand for the Next Samsung Galaxy will be at an all time high, fear not; as you can already pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S3 deals with Mobiles.co.uk. So you’ll have it way before your friends on the May 29th European release date. Key Features of the Next Samsung Galaxy

4.8 inch SUPER AMOLED HD Screen
8 megapixel camera with Zero Shutter Lag, 20 shot burst mode.
Quad Core processor
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
NFC
UK Release May 29th

News Feed of the Next Samsung Galaxy We’ll be updating our news feed from Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012 as things happen. 20:13 – 50 GB dropbox account included as Cloud Storage. Twice the capacity of the HTC ONE series! 20:00 So thats the round up of the Samsung Galaxy S3. Make sure you register your interest, so you can pre-order from Mobiles.co.uk as soon as deals are announced. 19:54 – Samsung Galaxy S3 is hero of the Olympic Games 19:50 Galaxy S3 services – High powered games on the way with Games Hub 19:47 Showing a Samsung Galaxy S3 commercial 19:46 Wireless charging kit is an optional accessory. 19:44 – Screen is 4.8 inches Super AMOLED HD 19:42 – Zero Shutter Lag on the Samsung Galaxy S3 camera. Less than 1 second to get into camera mode. Take 20 images in a burst shot. 19:41 – Pop Up Play lets you do 2 things at once. e.g. watch a video and search internet at same point. Video can resize to a smaller screen, easily moved. 19:40 – To support the natural causes, Samsung are supporting the WWF. 19:39 – Design is the curves of nature – 8.6mm thick, 136grams 19:37 Quadcore performance. 19:35 Allshare Play – Great for content sharing, DLNA compatible devices. Group Cast, lets multiple friends work on the same file at the same time. 19:33 Buddy Photoshare, lets you share photos instantly with any friend in your images. 19:32 – NFC technology is in there 19:31 Social – Ability to bond instantly with another Samsung Galaxy S3 user. Introducing S Beam. 19:30 Social Tag, Keep closer to your friends. Face recognition in photos, takes you straight to their Facebook Wall. 19:27 Direct Call uses motion recognition and proximity sensor, knows the phone is near your ear and you want to call. 19:24 S Voice, the Samsung Galaxy S3 acts like a good friend. E.g driving in your car, Phone is just resting, you can unlock it by saying “Hi Galaxy!” 19:23 No more screen switch offs when watching content. The Samsung Galaxy S3 uses the front facing camera to see when you’re looking 19:21 Intelligence of Galaxy S3, looks into eyes, and closes when you do. 19:21 Smartphones should be able to see and listen 19:19 Samsung Galaxy S3 – Designed for Humans 19:18 The design looks beautiful 19:16 WILL BE LAUNCHED END OF MAY IN EUROPE 19:15 – Tracks eye movement, listens to voice for playing your favourite music tracks 19:14 – Inspired by water and pebbles. 8 megapixel camera, 4.8 inch screen with SUPER AMOLED Screen 19:11 – People want sophisticated phones. Hence the London Orchestra setting the tone. 19:08 – MC Suzi Perry ready to speak – “The biggest launch of the year” 19:06 – “I expect a universe packed within a square shaped Galaxy” 19:05 What do you expect from the next Galaxy? 18:59 Transmission has started broadcasting live from the venue. A very classy atmosphere in London tonight. 18:55 Zoe Hardman from Samsung Tomorrow TV is asking London locals earlier in the week their thoughts of the future device. Lots of positive opinions. 18:50 10 minutes to go! Are you ready? 18:25 Who is excited for the Next Samsung Galaxy then? UK release date of the Samsung Galaxy S3? May 29th 2012. Get the Next Samsung Galaxy before your friends when you pre-order with Mobiles.co.uk. Link at top of the page.

Best Fun Apps. Random apps from Google Play

Posted: April 30th, 2012, 6:14pm CEST by Rob

Our latest blog from Ricki Naqvi guides us through his top list of best fun apps. All the fun and all for free, these are available from Google Play. For those of us with smartphones, we have all sat somewhere messing around with our phone pointlessly. Be it out of boredom, waiting around, or because we can’t be bothered to do, what we are actually supposed to be doing. This article is designed for those who suffer from any of the above. Next time you find yourself in dire need of an app fix, its worth checking out our best fun apps to help pass the time. Optical Illusions If you’ve ever liked staring at optical illusions trying to make head or tails out of them then you’ll love this. It’s a fairly simply app with a bunch of pictures that by the end you may leave you with a slight headache. Its updated frequently so there’s always something new adding to its already size worth collection. Nevertheless, a highly entertaining random app that comes complete with a brief explanation so you are not completely lost. Like the sound of our best fun apps list? Download the free Optical Illusions app from Google Play.

TuneIn Radio You can never have too much music on your phone. Period. No matter how much you update it, there will always be music you don’t have – Not with TuneIn Radio. This music loving fun app can find stations from American to Japan to underground stations in Russia, not that most of the people reading this would be looking for those stations but you get the point. It allows you to search by a variety of categories including genre, location and language to mention a few. It also lists news and sports stations you’ll never miss a game. So whatever mood you’re in, you are bound to find something to listen to with TuneIn Radio; a worthy entrant to our best fun apps list. Like the sound of our best free apps list? Download the free TuneIn Radio app from Google Play. Colornote Notepad Notes As they say, ‘simple yet effective.’ Gone are the days when we had to say ‘You can never find a pen when you need one’. This is a very basic random app that will allow you to write memos, be it, shopping lists or even text copied and pasted from websites. It allows you to set reminders and just incase your feeling creative, you can even change the colour of the background text. A very handy fun app because you never know when your not going to be able to find a pen. Like the sound of our best free apps list? Download the free Colornote Notepad Notes app from Google Play. PicSpeed HD Wallpaper 170,000 If you’re like me and very quickly get bored with the wallpaper on your phone, then nothing will satisfy your needs like this random app. Updated daily, it has literally thousands of high definition wallpapers with everything from animals to cars to celebrities to random abstract illusions. You’d be hard pressed not to find something that doesn’t suit you here and by the time you have I’m sure your ‘waiting around’ would be over. You’re welcome. Like the sound of our best free apps list? Download the free PicSpeed HD Wallpapers 170,000 from Google Play. Mixology Drink Recipes If you’ve ever wanted to be Tom Cruise in ‘Cocktail’ then this is your bible. It has just about every mix you can possibly think of. It allows you to search by category or by ingredients, so if you fancy a ‘Mexican Fire Engine’ or an ‘Incredible Hulk’ this random app not only provides the ingredients but full instructions on how to mix. It even has a bartending guide complete with tools of the trade and terminology. So next time there’s a party and you want to show off a little, why not try the random feature and see what you come up with… just leave the juggling glasses to Tom Cruise though. Like the sound of our best free apps list? Download the free Mixology Drink Recipes from Google Play.

So there’s a round up of our best fun apps to keep you occupied during your day. If you feel like you’re missing out on all the fun, check out our Android smartphone deals page. Have we missed a really good app? Let us know on our Facebook page.

LG Optimus 4X HD vs HTC One X review

Posted: April 25th, 2012, 10:56am CEST by Rob

Winter has fully thawed away and we’re now bouncing into spring. As a smartphone fan, this time of year always blossoms great arrivals as many manufacturers come out of hibernation to show off their latest premium offering to eager tech lovers. With LG and HTC officially releasing their latest and greatest flagship handsets to date, we compare the LG Optimus 4X HD against the HTC One X. Dazzling size and power like nothing before, our handset review pits the super heavyweights of the smartphone market against each other for battle. Display and Exterior Both the HTC One X and LG Optimus 4X HD mobile phone prize a gleaming 4.7 inch display; perfect for you to lose yourself in whilst watching that streamed movie online. A screen display 1.2 inches larger than the iPhone range and 0.4 inch above the Galaxy S2, these latest phones were made to give you more. The large screen doesn’t hinder either as the image quality on both displays is fantastic with the LG Optimus 4X HD cramming in 720p High Definition action on its HD-IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. The HTC One X packs in just as many pixels on the display (720×1280) as the LG Optimus 4X HD, meaning that it’s a dead heat between both handsets for display. For exterior and casing, the LG Optimus appears very similar to the rest of the smartphone market with its safe black rectangle case design. It’s a design that’s effective and has worked for well for the Samsung Galaxy series. LG have made it their own using a dual banding around the edges of the handset. The HTC One X however dares to be different. Its curved design looks fresh, intuitive and well constructed. Processing Power and Software Both of our titans also house the same Tegra 3 chip 1.5GHz quad core chip. With so much superpower I’m surprised one of these handsets isn’t coined “Quadzilla” as it makes the big Apple iPhone 4S appear insignificant with its 1.2GHz dual core processor. Both with 1GB RAM, they’re primed ready to take on your extensive multi-tasking demands. As you would expect with both flagship handsets, the LG Optimus 4X HD and HTC One X are served with the supercool Android Ice Cream Sandwich. This combination of power with Android means there are great games to download from Google Play. With HTC Sense 4.0, the HTC One X has the added bonus of HTC Car; an intuitive driving companion that can navigate you to a geo-tagged photo. With no current physical release of the LG Optimus 4X HD, we’re currently awaiting to see how LG will tweak the Android Ice Cream Sandwich user interface with their own features. Entertainment and Storage With built in Beats audio software the HTC One X enhances your audio experience. If you’re a bit of a music mogul, you’ll struggle to not be immersed by the powerful sound, as every texture and layer is clearly defined. The HTC One X also comes with one year 25GB dropbox account storage, so you don’t have to worry about having your favourite song on the wrong device. The LG Optimus 4X HD, hosts plenty of space for your favourite tracks, with an internal 16GB memory, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD. HTC One X Beats Audio

Camera As both handsets come with 8 megapixel camera’s capable of full HD video record, the kit is there for you take high quality photos on either device. The HTC One X goes a step beyond hardware specs to bring you HTC ImageSense; intelligent software that helps you capture great photos in any condition. The flash will automatically adjust between 8 presets based on the natural light availability already present in the room. With instant capture features, and the ability to take photos whilst video recording, the HTC One X offers that little bit extra of inbuilt software to optimise your photos. The LG Optimus 4X HD picture quality will still give you great photos and these can be easily enhanced using the vast amount of Android apps available on Google Play. UK Release Date Fans of HTC will be pleased to know the HTC One X deals are already available on mobiles.co.uk. With an April release, you can pick up the HTC One X as a free handset from £26 per month. The LG Optimus 4X HD has no official release date announced as yet, though with the full specifications announced at the Mobile World Congress back in February, expect to have the handset available for purchase before the end of May. Our Verdict The differences between the two handsets are slim. For hardware specifications, it’s a photo finish tie. For those who crave the very best handset, we would recommend the HTC One X mobile phone. The LG Optimus 4X HD, offers impressive specs but just lacks the HTC Sense features that give the edge. With Beats Audio integration and the HTC ImageSense photo capture software, the HTC One X just offers slightly more. This is no fault of the LG Optimus 4X HD, rather that the HTC One X beats anything currently on the market. If you are keen enough to find your own photo and music apps from the Android Market Google Play, then the LG Optimus 4X HD, may be a great way to get your hands on some top technology without the HTC One X price tag. Overall, both fantastic phones available from mobiles.co.uk. Will they stand the test of time and how will they compete against the likes of May 3rd’s Next Samsung Galaxy announcement?

The Samsung Galaxy S3 – Countdown Cut Short

Posted: April 23rd, 2012, 12:36pm CEST by Rob

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S3 Available in Marble White or Pebble Blue, you can pre-order Samsung Galaxy S3 deals from Mobiles.co.uk. The handset will be released in the UK on 29th/30th March. If you go on [www.tgeltaayehxnx.com] and can’t wait to find out about the Samsung S3, you’re going to be in for a very pleasant surprise. Tweeted by Samsung Mobile yesterday, the anagram of the web link can cleverly be rearranged to spell “The Next Galaxy.” No marks for guessing this is promo towards Samsung’s flagship handset for 2012. Earlier in the week, Samsung invited the UK press to a media announcement to “Come and meet the next Galaxy” on the 3rd May in London. Samsung’s latest online media antics could throw a whole new curveball on the release of the most anticipated Android device for 2012. Will specs and design be unveiled in just minutes to come or will it be a pre-registration page? The most popular rumours for the Samsung Galaxy S3 compared to the Galaxy S2, are a larger screen (up to 4.8 inches), a faster processor with quad core power (up to 1.8GHz) and a 12 megapixel camera. As the Samsung Galaxy S2 has been rolled out with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, we’re confident the Next Galaxy; the Samsung Galaxy S3, will arrive with Android’s latest OS fresh out of the box. With the clock ticking, we’re excited to know what this “next step” will be.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 review

Posted: April 20th, 2012, 2:15pm CEST by blogstaff

Unfamiliar with BlackBerry devices, we gave Carl a BlackBerry Bold 9790 and PlayBook 2.0 to experience for one week. As a devoted Android user, did BlackBerry’s latest devices and OS upgrades tick the right boxes for a man who lives off Ice Cream Sandwich? Those who know me well enough would agree that they’ve never seen me own a BlackBerry or Apple iPhone. In my view, why eat rotten fruit, when you can eat delicious Ice Cream Sandwiches all day? So when I was presented the opportunity to test out the BlackBerry Bold 9790 mobile phone, I felt uncomfortable with the thought of leaving my familiar Android device at home for BlackBerry devices that were alien to me. I am however a firm believer that you shouldn’t never judge a book by its cover. Therefore, I spent a week with this foreign object by my side, coupled with a BlackBerry PlayBook pre-installed with 2.0. Now the first thing that you notice about any phone is its design. As far as smartphones go, the Bold 9790 is quite good looking. It has the usual curved look, but has one of the best keyboards that I have seen so far attached to it and the screen is the right proportion for the size of the phone. If the touchscreen was any bigger, the keyboard would be too small, and if it were any smaller, well it would be pretty useless as a touchscreen all together. When you start to use the Bold 9790, it has a nice bit of style about it. It runs very well on BB7, the latest OS from BlackBerry. My past criticisms of BlackBerry seemed to vanquish as I swiped through a sharper user interface that was responsive and flowed. Certainly better than some of the older BlackBerrys that I have played with in the past. As you would expect on any BlackBerry, with the Bold 9790 you get the unique BlackBerry services, such as Messenger, World. One feature I love is that BlackBerry App World now has thousands of Google Play apps integrated into its store. This doesn’t give you access to every single Android app, but I can imagine how previous BlackBerry users were disgruntled with envy as their Android amigos were getting the best games long before BlackBerry could. Definitely means you can have a lot more fun on the Bold 9790. Internet browsing on the Bold 9790 is next to none. The handset really has impressed me when surfing the web is concerned. The speed that the phone fully loads a web page, was sometimes faster than my desktop computer. This was in an area that 3G was particularly strong, but still, wow. The actual usability of the Bold 9790, comes into its own when used with the BlackBerry PlayBook. Now using the upgraded 2.0 OS, the ‘BlackBerry Bridge’ app allows you to connect your Bold 9790 up to your PlayBook and use it as a controller. You can easily mirror images and other items that you have on the Bold 9790 straight over to the PlayBook which is great to allow for a streamlined display of the handsets contents. So, a week with the BlackBerry Bold 9790 went a lot better than expected. The handset shows off how far BlackBerrys have come since the first few versions. I found BB7 was really useful throughout my day to day usage and could be a realistic contender against the other operating systems. Why not check out our latest BlackBerry PlayBook deals. Alternatively, you can get the BlackBerry PlayBook as a free gift.

HTC One X Vs HTC One XL

Posted: April 10th, 2012, 10:55am CEST by Annabel

iOS beginners guide

Posted: April 2nd, 2012, 10:00am CEST by Annabel

What is iOS? As Apple’s operating system for their smartphone and tablet devices, iOS was the first major smartphone platform to hit the UK that really appealed to the mass market. Apple found a way to make things as simple as possible with a very easy to use touch gesture experience. Unlike Android OS, iOS is exclusive to Apple mobile devices such as the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. Apple’s iOS software also powers their range of tablet PCs such as the Apple iPad 2 and the New Apple iPad which launched last month. Future iOS devices such as the Apple iPhone 5 are guaranteed to use the latest version of iOS within the handsets. Apple’s iOS operating system platform is extremely fast and reliable. It works seamlessly with less clutter, which you might see with other popular operating systems. The iOS platform has remarkable features such as a fast web browser, multi-tasking and enhanced social networking integration; so you can view and share content effortlessly across websites such as Facebook. With Apple’s own cloud synchronisation, iCloud features let you view your favourite multimedia across a range of your personal devices. Design and Features of Apple iOS iOS features a remarkably sleek and stylish user interface. When you power up your iOS device you’re presented with a lock screen. The lock screen prevents you from accidently calling someone in your pocket. To open the device you have to swipe your finger across the screen. From the lock screen to the home screen, Apple iOS uses a very sophisticated swipe-touch home screen feature. You can house a number of app icons on different home screen views. You can even create folders and store apps here on multiple home screen views. The iOS platform lets you be a flexible as you like. Simply tapping on an app will launch it, and within seconds it’s ready for you to use. Apps will be loaded into the background which means you can refer to it later and not have to wait for it to load every time. Double clicking on the home button will allow you multitask with your apps. You can also completely close down apps from here. Apple iOS really makes things simple for you. The experience and journey that you take really is something special.

What is the iOS App Store? What makes Apple iOS so successful is the growing success of its App Store. The App Store is Apple’s equivalent of Google Play; an archive of applications, games, multimedia, music and films available to download onto your iDevice. The App Store recently passed 25 billion downloads this month, making it the most popular app market of all time for smartphones. With close to 600,000 apps available for the Apple iPhone and iPad range, several of these are available as free downloads. The store is very easy to navigate and the portal has a very clear and simple interface with the ability to search for apps by category, top free and top paid apps. Apple iOS is a great device to use and the iOS software is great fun and full of features that will blow you away! Find out about our latest Apple iPhone 4S deals.

Sony Xperia range: P vs U vs S. Part 2

Posted: March 27th, 2012, 2:20pm CEST by Rob

We’re back with more info on Sony Mobile’s latest handsets for 2012. In part 1, we covered the design, power and entertainment features across the Sony Xperia range. This week we explore the differences in camera functionality, social sharing and NFC capabilities of the Sony Xperia P, Sony Xperia U and Sony Xperia S. Let’s go! Camera Features A great feature across all the Sony Xperia range is the sleep to snap function. Rather than trawling through tedious menu options to load up the camera, the Xperia smartphones have a dedicated photo button primed and ready for action. Holding this button when locked will give you quick fire photo snaps in just over a second. It’s a great feature to ensure you never miss that perfect photo opportunity. If you’re concerned about the camera taking photos of your jeans pocket, then this sleep to snap functionality can be disabled with ease. For basic snaps and video, the Sony Xperia U with its 5 megapixel camera and 720p video capture will please the opportunist photographer. The Xperia P and S with their 8 and 12.1 megapixel respective resolutions and 1080p video capture, will tick the right boxes if you wish to focus your smartphone usage on owning a great camera. The Exmore R lens inside the Sony Xperia P and S, helps to capture more light, so you can have great shots even in low lit settings. All three smartphones across the Xperia range come equipped with the image stabilisers, face and smile detection, red-eye reduction and autofocus to aid you in taking super snaps. Interesting Extra: Though the Sony Xperia P and S both have front facing camera’s the Sony Xperia S presents your video calls in glorious 720p High Definition. This means your loved ones can see you with greater clarity. Social Sharing The Timescape application, built across the Sony Xperia range, lets you manage and view all of your communications with one person in one place. With everything in chronological order you can effortlessly browse Facebook, Twitter, email, text communications and photos with your favourite contacts in a single feed. Using the Infinite button, you can filter categories to view specific feeds only, giving you great control over your interaction and communication with friends. NFC capabilities New to the Sony Xperia range is the NFC accessibility via Xperia Smart tags. Available to purchase in a range of colours, Xperia smart tags let you change the settings of your Sony Xperia S and P. Near Field Communications (NFC) technology is only just emerging and the full benefits are yet to be rolled out across the UK. The Sony Xperia P and S use NFC technology to improve the convenience of your smartphone experience. Leave an Xperia Smart tag in your car, tap it on the back of your smartphone and in a second your GPS and Hands-free settings could be activated. When returning from work, leave a smart tag near your front door to instantly send your music playlist wirelessly across to your DLNA registered Hi-Fi. The use of NFC Smart Tags helps to remove time wasting sequences and lets you focus on living life. sony xperia nfc smart tags

Verdict on the Sony Xperia Range The three new smartphones released across Sony Mobile’s Xperia range, cater for a broad mix of smartphone user. If you seek a fashionable device that’s small, cute and bursting with colour, the Sony Xperia U delivers a stylish handset. The Xperia U is all about design and looks. With its colour changing LED illuminated strip and changeable base caps the Sony Xperia U is vibrant and exciting. With a dual core 1 GHz processor, HD video capture and Android Ice Cream Sandwich it’s more than just a pretty handset too. For those who want the best specifications, the Sony Xperia S is the one to choose. With the largest screen, a mighty 1.5GHz dual core processor and 12.1 megapixel camera, the Sony Xperia S is heavily focused around multimedia and sharing content. PlayStation Certified, this smartphone is built for those who want fun and games in a future proof, next generation device. Finally the Sony Xperia P smartphone is ideal for those who want the happy go between; a great sized screen without being too big, or a dual core processor that’s powerful but at the same time affordable. The aluminium casing offers an alternative style that’s more subtle than the Sony Xperia U but still whispers fashion. The unique WhiteMagic technology is fantastic for improving screen brightness whilst conserving battery life and will surely play a role in future Sony Xperia handsets. With the Sony Xperia P, you get to access the advantages of NFC technology, without the price tag of a Sony Xperia S mobile phone. Whether the Sony Xperia U, Sony Xperia P or the Sony Xperia S are the right smartphone for you will ultimately depend on your preferences and smartphone usage. With improved social networking and multimedia sharing, the Sony Xperia range for 2012 offers exciting handsets that make life more convenient so you focus on the fun! Let us know what you think of the Sony Xperia range on our Facebook Page. You can pre-register your interest on the Sony Xperia range as well as view the latest Sony Xperia S deals on our website.

Sony Xperia P, U and S roundup part 1

Posted: March 22nd, 2012, 6:19pm CET by Rob

As Sony Mobile chops the Ericsson from their name, the Xperia revolution begins. For 2012, the Japanese based company have three alphabetically named releases planned for the UK. Due for summer release, the Sony Xperia P and Xperia U join forces with CES announced Sony Xperia S, to become the ultimate triple team to take on the mass smartphone market. Here’s our verdict of the Sony Xperia range and why there’s an Xperia for every type of smartphone user. Sony Xperia Display The Sony Xperia range caters for across the board for size. If you love you’re media blown up and supersized, the Sony Xperia S towers above with its 4.3 inch screen. The Sony Xperia U offers a comfortable pocket sized smartphone with 3.5 inches; the same sized display as an Apple iPhone 4S. For those sat on the fence, the Sony Xperia P caters for the happy medium of 4.0 inches. Interesting Extra: The Sony Xperia P display uses Magic White technology. This newly developed technology, adds a fourth White pixel to the conventional red, green and blue pixels seen on most screens. The difference? Instead of using three colour pixels to generate a white dot, the Sony Xperia P needs a single Magic White 4th pixel. This means efficient picture brightness without a drain on battery life. When outdoors, White Magic technology doubles the brightness of your display without the use of additional power. Sony Xperia Exterior Sleek and attractive, the Sony Xperia range shows off a minimalistic design which helps place emphasis upon the stylish buttons and navigation. Though all carry an eye-catching and transparent LED illuminated strip which lights up for incoming calls and texts, each Xperia is unique within the range. The Sony Xperia P presents itself within an aluminium unibody case; perfect for a lightweight yet sturdy design. Interesting Extra: The Sony Xperia U is by far the most eye-catching of the trio. Its transparent LED strip lights up to match the most dominant colour on the display. With an included colour cap for the base of the phone, you can shout out your mood for the day. The black Sony Xperia P comes with an additional pink cap, the white version offers yellow as its alternative tone.

Sony Xperia OS and power All three Sony Xperia’s are built and buckled up for Android. Though the Sony Xperia S runs off the warmly baked Android Gingerbread OS, Sony have full intentions to serve up the supercool Ice Cream Sandwich before summer. Given the Sony Xperia P and U aren’t to be released until this phase, they may come preloaded with Android ICS or will be upgradeable out of the box. With muscled up dual core processors under the bonnet all the Sony Xperia handsets are great for multitasking and running the latest version of Android. The Sony Xperia S wins outsprints last year’s Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S2 and HTC Sensation with an explosive 1.5 GHz dual core processor; some 25% faster over its rivals. Even the middle tiered Sony Xperia P and U have 1.2 and 1.0 GHz dual core processors have more than enough juice to juggle your everyday tasks with ease whilst streaming a movie. Entertainment on the Sony Xperia As if the extensive resources available from Android’s Google Play weren’t enough (450,000 apps, 3 million books, millions of songs and thousands of movies), Sony Xperia handsets come with access to the Sony Entertainment Network. With a six month free trial to Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited, enjoy access to over 15 million music tracks, and 80,000 movies; it’s a truly phenomenal amount which should satisfy any audio addict or film buff. Sony Xperia devices are also crammed with DLNA connectivity, so you can wirelessly hook up your smartphone with multimedia devices such as TV’s, laptops and audio systems for that true home entertainment experience. Interesting Extra: The Sony Xperia S smartphone is PlayStation Certified, giving you access to one of the greatest games console franchises of all time. With a whole host of PS1 titles available such as Crash Bandicoot, the Sony Xperia S is a thumbs up for gaming addicts who’ll enjoy the fast paced action load with smoothness and grace thanks to the dual core 1.5GHz dual core processor. UK release dates Released in the UK early March, Sony Xperia S deals are already available. Though no official dates are announced, we expect the Sony Xperia P and Xperia U to be available in May/June 2012. We compare camera features, social sharing and NFC capabilities in part 2 of our Sony Xperia range review.

SIM only deals: save money, stay flexible

Posted: March 21st, 2012, 1:19pm CET by Rob

Since the recession, SIM only deals have become popular with savvy customers who are more price conscious and less bothered about the mobile phone they own, with the main benefit obviously no lengthy contract. A lot of customers prefer to go with SIM only deals rather than signing up for regular 12/18/24 month contract phone deals with their network provider. Why? Let’s find out right away! Flexibility: One of the biggest advantages of signing up for a SIM only deal is that it offers complete flexibility for consumers. If a customer takes a 12 or 18 month contract, they have to continue with that contract for a minimum term. If they cancel or change before that, they would have to pay an unavoidable early termination charge. With a SIM only deal, you can opt for a 1 month rolling contract or a 12 month contract, meaning if you are not satisfied with your tariff or feel a lack of value for money, you can change the tariff with ease. Value for Money: Most of the SIM only deals offer great value for money. These deals mostly include a lot of internet and text allowance. As texting and browsing is the new smart phone trend, taking SIM only deals instead of regular contracts only make more sense because you can opt for unlimited internet or texting tariffs and get these at an affordable monthly cost. Use your current phone: SIM only deals are a great advantage to people who have existing mobile phones and just require a SIM to pop into their phone. As SIM only lacks the inclusion of a smartphone like contract phone deals, the cost is drastically reduced. All you have to do is put the new SIM in your existing mobile phone and you’re good to go. If you’re prepared to pay for you handset upfront, you could even purchase the latest phone SIM free and insert your desired SIM-free tariff, for a winning combination. no pay monthly contract

Let’s take a look at the two most selling SIM only plans in the market. O2 Simplicity SIM only deal The O2 Simplicity SIM only deal is one of the fastest selling SIM only deals available in the market. O2 has been offering a wide range of Simplicity SIM only packages. Here are the highlights of these packages:-

While the minutes and internet allowance of each of these deals vary, all the packages offer unlimited texts for customers to use texting to the full extent.
You can choose between 300, 600, 900, and 1200 minutes to call your friends and loved ones.
The O2 Simplicity 300 offers 100 MB of data allowance while most of the other packages offer 500 MB of data allowance.
The O2 Simplicity 900, 1200, and Simplicity unlimited do not come with internet allowance.

The SIM Only One Plan The SIM Only One Plan from 3 mobile is a total game changer. This deal offers customers more than they can imagine. Here’s a look at what it offers.

Enjoy 2000 cross network minutes and 5000 3 to 3 network minutes every month to call whoever you want to in the UK.
5000 text messages every month help you constantly keep in touch with your loved ones, even if it is just to say “Hi”
3 mobile has included 1 GB of internet allowance in the One Plan to give users unmatched value for their money.
The plan also allows you to get a free PAYG SIM for a friend if required.
All this for just £25 on a one month rolling contract.

Samsung Galaxy S3 announced 22nd March?

Posted: March 16th, 2012, 3:16pm CET by Rob

Could the future Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone be announced next week? A leaked handset image from Phone Arena teases an official announcement date for the Samsung Galaxy S3 as Thursday March 22nd. Coincidently, Samsung have a scheduled mobile event pencilled in for this date in Paris though they have already quashed the rumour that this announcement is for the Samsung Galaxy S3. The successful Samsung Galaxy series caters for a wide array of needs with its vast selection of smartphone handsets. In particular, the popular success of the Samsung Galaxy S2 has helped the Korean smartphone manufacturers head the throne of the Android OS kingdom, becoming the true competitor to take on the rumoured spec of this summer’s Apple iPhone 5 release. Looking at the Samsung Galaxy S3 leaked image in detail, it shows no physical buttons on the device; plausible given many rumours state the Samsung Galaxy S3 will house Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS software. Expecting an April release of the Samsung Galaxy S3, the strongest rumours claim a 4.8 inch handset fired up with a supercharged 1.5GHz quad core processor. With such powerful specifications rumoured, Samsung need their latest device to meet and exceed fan expectations if they want to take on iOS giants Apple. Will the Samsung Galaxy S3 meet expectations? With Galaxy S2 sales surpassing the 20 million units mark in just 10 months (April 2011 to February 2012), Samsung have a great opportunity to deliver a smartphone that will take the media by storm. Refusing to announce the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress last month was a smooth tactic that makes the Samsung Galaxy S3 sound far more mysterious and desirable. When Samsung do finally announce their flagship smartphone for 2012, the world will listen in awe as specifications trickle down impatiently waiting ears. One could argue Samsung releases are quickly developing the mass hype of a new Apple iDevice. Perhaps the proposed Samsung device will carry an alternative name, thus no official announcement of the Galaxy S3. This would be the perfect white lie that will surprise smartphone addicts out of their misery and look towards the future with a beaming smile. Either way, let’s hope the 22nd of February brings exciting news for Galaxy S3 fans. What do you think of the Samsung Galaxy S3? Let us know on our Facebook page.

Apple app store achieves 25 billionth download

Posted: March 14th, 2012, 10:45am CET by Rob

Within the midst of the new iPad release, Apple announced the toppling of an exciting benchmark as the App Store achieved its 25 billionth download. The Apple App Store, an online market for iOS devices such as the Apple iPhone 4S, is the first mobile app store to sail past this momentous value. So who downloaded the 25 billionth app from the Apple app store? Chunli Fu from eastern China, who downloaded the free Disney app “Where’s my Water”, was the man who turned the landmark into a reality. Apple seemed pretty thankful too as he was awarded a $10,000 iTunes gift card for his efforts. The paid app with the most downloads is Angry Birds; an app so successful, the franchise perches pleasantly on the US stock exchange. With over 585,000 apps to download within the Apple App Store, there’s something to please everyone. With the highly anticipated release of the Apple iPhone 5 this summer, expect to see advanced technology offering new categories of apps that will change everything again! iOS has never looked so healthy. With 15.4 million Apple iPads purchased last quarter alone, this value outsells the total units shipped by leading PC manufacturers such as HP, Dell and Acer. Apple CEO Tim Cook, describes the iPad as “the poster child of a post-PC world”. Outnumbering the world’s population by over 3:1, the 25 billion Apple App Store download barrier is far from a final destination as the company continues to pick up speed. It was previously believed that the Android Market was hot on the heels of the Apple App Store as Google reported a billion app downloads per month. Apple’s latest statistic however means 10 billion iOS App Store downloads since July 2011; a rate of 1.25 billion downloads per month! Expect the 50 billion barrier to be shattered before the end of 2013. With Apple iPad 2 prices slashed to just £329, the world’s best selling tablet has just become more affordable to a wider audience, thus helping Apple push their App Store downloads even further. What’s your favourite app from the Apple App Store? Let us know on our Facebook page.

The new iPad / Apple iPad 3 out 16/03

Posted: March 7th, 2012, 6:58pm CET by Rob

Be first to know about the new iPad / Apple iPad 3… The new iPad will be available in the UK from 16th March 2012. Register your interest in the new iPad from Mobiles.co.uk! The new iPad official spec (Apple iPad 3)

9.7 inch display
Retina Display screen technology with 3.1 million pixels “More pixels in the new iPad than on a 1080p TV screen”
Operating system iOS 5.1
9mm thin
1.3 LB weight
16GB internal storage
Dual Core Processor with Quad Core Graphics – A5X chip
iSight Camera – 5 megapixels, Backside illumination, 5 element lens (same as iPhone 4S), Hybrid IR filter, Auto exposure, auto-focus, auto-face detection
1080p video record – Autofocus, Face detection, built in stabilisation
Wi-Fi 4G LTE connectivity
Voice dictation
iCloud
9 hours of battery when connected to 4G internet. Up to 10 hours battery life (Same as iPad 2)

Apple iPad 3 : The new iPad Announcement timeline 19:23 - “Across the year you’re going to see a lot more of this kind of innovation, we are just getting started.” – Starting the hype for the Apple iPhone 5 perhaps? 19:21 – Is it called “THE NEW iPAD”? 19:20 - “It’s the ultimate iPad, and we think it’s going to change how you see and do just about everything.” 19:12 – Create your own scrap books, put Geotagging maps, Weather, notes linked to your iPhoto. Send it to your cloud. App $4.99. 19:11 – Great effects too: Vintage, Aura, Black & White, Duotone, Warm & Cool. 19:10 – iPhoto edits, Repair, Redeye, Saturate, Desaturate, Lighten, Darken, Sharpen, Soften. 19:05 – Apple iPad 3 can edit photos up to 19 megapixels. 19:00 – Talk of Photo Beaming and Photo Journals on the new iPad. 18:58 : Updates on iMovie, offer advanced planning and editing tools. 18:57 : GarageBand. 4 iOS devices can jam together.. 18:53 Talk of games. How will the PS Vita react? 18:34: 4G LTE : Faster webpage loading. 18:32 : Voice Dictation, Tap then speak, your voice will translate into text on the screen. 18:31 HD 1080p Video, Autofocus, Face detection, built in stabilisation. 18:30 iSight Camera – 5 megapixels, Backside illumination, 5 element lens (same lens as Apple iPhone 4S), Hybrid IR filter, Auto exposure, auto-focus, auto-face detection. 18:28 – Claims to have 4 times the graphics performance of NVIDIA Tegra 3 chip. 18:27 – The new iPad uses A5X Chip, offering quad core graphics. 18:25 – More pixels in the new iPad than a 1080p Television. Fit a full Blu-ray image within the iPad. 18:22 – Retina Display included. 264 pixels per inch – sharper graphics. “Text sharper than a newspaper”. 18:18 : Over 200,000 apps created specifically for iPad screen size. 18:17: Role of iPad was to create a new category. 18:16 iPad TIME

– “Poster child of the post-pc world” . 15.4 million iPad’s sold last quarter. 18:14 iCloud supports movies. Recommends movies based on what you’ve seen. Similar to Genius on iTunes. 18:12 – Announcement of Apple TV – interface will look more like iOS. 18:11 – App store will support 1080p video. 18:10 – Talk of a post PC-era. This sounds very iPad. 18:08 – Siri in iOS 5.1, now available in Japanese and Australian. App Store – 25 billion apps downloaded, from a selection of 585,000 from the app store. Apple iPad 3 UK release date 16th March 2012.

Apple iPhone 5 – what we know so far

Posted: March 6th, 2012, 6:00pm CET by Rob

Apple has a history of surprising smartphone users over and over again. We’re sure that with the launch of the iPhone 5 as part of the Apple iPhone range, we’ll continue to see innovation and creative smart phone manufacturing. There has been a lot of speculation about the iPhone 5 design, what technology it’ll use; even the price of the Apple iPhone 5. Apple has chosen to be quiet about most of the speculation; however, experts believe that with the iPhone 5, Apple has something unique for smart phone users. Here’s a peek at what we know so far. Design There is no official confirmation from Apple Inc. on the design of the iPhone 5; however, industry experts believe that it would have a sleeker and much wider design compared to previous iPhone models. The body of the Apple iPhone 5 is supposedly made of aluminum and the home button is said to be much wider to the older iPhones to help you easily navigate through the mobile without having to touch the screen for most of it. The prototype for the Apple iPhone 5 was leaked from Foxconn, the company that makes iPhones for Apple Inc, giving rise to such speculation. Another speculation of the design suggests that Apple managed to fit an external antenna on the iPhone 5, surrounded by a rubber plastic bezel in order to avoid call drops complains of the 4S. Although there hasn’t been any official confirmation about the design of the Apple iPhone 5, it’s quite usual for the company to produce something that’s totally avant-garde. Display Every smartphone manufacturer realises that a larger display is a key selling point to its target market. The iPhone 5 may continue to showcase the same screen size as the Apple iPhone 4S – 3.5 inches of immaculate touch display. Many experts believe that a larger display could hamper the sales of the iPad. If Apple decides to increase the screen size of the iPhone 5, users would obviously prefer to go for the iPhone rather than purchasing both the iPad and the iPhone. Apple’s retina display is considered to be the best HD screen that is available in the market and increasing the size of the screen may disrupt that reputation. 4G With the market opening up to smarter and more advanced mobile phones, Apple will make sure that the iPhone 5 has the best it can offer. As with the evolution from WAP to 3G, if the Apple iPhone 5 has built in 4G connectivity, this means faster web browsing speeds. Although 4G accessibility isn’t available in most countries, there are test runs currently being conducted in the UK to get this service up and running as soon as possible. 4G access will ensure the Apple iPhone 5 remains future proof for years to come. Camera When it comes to providing a top notch camera, Apple leave no room for error. With HTC recently announcing their HTC ImageSense software, expect Apple to offer advanced camera features that flash past the large megapixel specs and focus more upon features which improve the quality of your images. Apple has always managed to impress smart phone users with a stunningly clear camera and the Apple iPhone 5 will obviously feature a better camera compared to older iPhone models.

Waterproof Wow! We know what you’re thinking, but it looks like a near reality. Industry experts believe that Apple and nano-tech giants HZO could have struck a deal to give the iPhone 5 a fantastic conformal coating. Imagine a highly advanced superficial smart phone that shakes off water and continues to go about doing exactly what it should. That’s what the iPhone 5 may be like. Waterproof and dustproof technology has previously been cited in a rumoured Panasonic smartphone. Memory iPhone has already shown the world that it can provide smart phones with extensive memory for everyone. Apple may not look to enhance the internal memory feature of the Apple iPhone 5, instead the company may continue with providing just adequate memory like in the older versions. For those who need more memory, expect a greater push towards the iCloud for all your music and file needs. A contract phone deal on the Apple iPhone 5 is expected to be available early summer. Keep checking back, and we’ll deliver the latest as it unfolds.

Samsung Galaxy S3, April release.

Posted: March 5th, 2012, 4:33pm CET by Rob

As anticipation builds towards one of the hottest handset releases for 2012, leaked info on the Samsung Galaxy S3 has spread like wildfire across the internet. With the iconic success of the Galaxy S2, Samsung have built up a loyal legion of fans and support for their future flagship device. Can the Samsung Galaxy S3 take on the rumoured spec of the Apple iPhone 5? Going off the latest leaks for the Samsung Galaxy S3, it appears Samsung may have victory in the bag! The Samsung Galaxy S3 will sport a 1.5GHz quad core processor which is power and speed identical to the One X; HTC’s flagship phone announced at the Mobile World Congress last week. Samsung’s latest device however will operate using a Samsung branded Exynos processing chip. Could a same branded chip and smartphone offer improved performance over the HTC phone integrated with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 chip? The Samsung Galaxy S3 leak source also claims the handset will offer a glorious 4.8 inch touch screen; 0.1 inch larger than the HTC One X, and half an inch larger than the predecessor Samsung Galaxy S2. With such a large range of smartphones within their Galaxy series, Samsung don’t need to worry about this handset being too large for its market as there’s a smartphone for every need. The Samsung Galaxy S3 appears targeted towards those who love high end multimedia and gaming on their mobile phone. As with the HTC One X, the Galaxy S3 leak states Android Ice Cream Sandwich for Samsung’s most eagerly awaited for device. Samsung Galaxy S3 release date? Rather than promoting the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung have already confirmed that they will hold their own announcement party event “closer to the commercial availability of the product.” With April being the bookies favourite for a Samsung Galaxy S3 UK release, the smartphone giants are trying their best to keep it entirely under wraps. Samsung have since confirmed that their prestigious S3 release will be tweeted from @samsungtomorrow when it is ready to be announced. Don’t forget to sign up to our Facebook group to keep in the know of all the latest handset news for 2012.

Apple iPad 3 launch: 7th March 2012

Posted: March 1st, 2012, 6:55pm CET by Rob

The New Apple iPad 3 is coming? **Edit – Register your interest for the new iPad to be informed of pre-order before anyone else.** Next Wednesday 7th March, Apple have something “We really have to see. And Touch”. Given this date has been the announcement for previous iPad releases, it’s extremely likely that next week’s Apple event will see the announcement of the highly anticipated Apple iPad 3. We just can’t wait to find out what future tech the next generation Apple device will possess. Last month we discussed how next generation iPhone 5 apps will change everything again: Any new technology revealed at the Apple iPad 3 launch will give way for programmers to develop fantastic new apps for us to play with. Most likely iPad 3 rumours? It’s highly likely the iPad 3 offer a much improved screen resolution, with many rumours citing Apple’s latest device to have Retina Display. This technology is already present in the Apple iPhone 4S so it’s not outrageous to assume a transfer of technology onto the iPad 3. We believe Siri will play a vital role at the iPad 3 launch party as Apple look for ways to further improve user experience through voice control. We hope the iPad 3 launch also unveils an improved camera spec. With the iPad 2 snapping it up in a single megapixel, we want to see the iPad 3 launch reveal a built in camera, similar to the iPhone 4S; 8 megapixel happy snapping with a larger aperture and shorter exposure time. When is the iPad 3 UK release date? Expect the iPad 3 to be shipped to the UK and available to buy before the end of March. Apple have an excellent reputation of releasing a product days after its announcement. The iPad 2 arrived to the UK just over 2 weeks after announcement, the iPhone 4S beat this in a blistering 10 days. One could safely assume that the iPad 3 launch would reveal a UK release date just a stone’s throw away. Everything will be revealed on Wednesday 7th March.

HTC One X : pre-order yours today!

Posted: February 28th, 2012, 10:15am CET by Rob

One day after HTC officially announce the HTC One X, Mobiles.co.uk now have pre-order available on pay monthly contracts with Vodafone and T-Mobile. This is the first mobile phone retailer to move to pre-order of the HTC One X and is likely to set the trend on the pricing. Just a little catch up on the specs of the HTC One X – it packs a powerful 1.5GHz quad-core processor; which is enough to munch through Android Ice Cream Sandwich and still be hungry for more. The HTC One X also comes pre-installed with Sense 4.0; HTC’s unique user interface which helps you multitask to the max. Available in White or Grey, the design is flawless with a 4.7 inch touch screen which curves at the edges to give a really beautiful flowing feeling. With Beats Audio, your favourite songs and media are rendered clearer and more defined. With HTC ImageSense, the 8 megapixel camera will interact withyour surroundings to offer more than just point and shoot. The HTC One X is an incredible piece of kit. Pre-order the HTC One X today! You can pre-order the HTC One X for free on £31 per month contracts on Vodafone and T-Mobile. With the SIM free price rumoured to be around the £600 price mark, the pay monthly tariffs offer a great deal on the most powerful smartphone we’ve ever seen. The HTC One X will be released in the UK early April, so pre-order yours today to get your hands this amazing piece of technology. What do you think of the HTC One X? Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page.

HTC One X : Official spec announced

Posted: February 27th, 2012, 8:28am CET by Rob

For a phone that has had three codenames (Supreme, Edge and more recently the Endeavour), and more leaks than a sieve – the HTC One X doesn’t disappoint those that have been taking an interest. It makes sense to start at the beginning of the HTC One X experience, with its image. Available in black or white, the white variant is possibly the best looking phone I have ever seen. The stunning 4.7 inch display compliments the single piece of polycarbonate body making the HTC One X extra strong, lightweight and very durable. As with Apple iPhone 4S, you can’t remove the battery or slot in an external memory card but who cares? The HTC One X is beautiful! Even if you are worried about not having enough space for your favourite tunes or snap shots, don’t worry, the HTC One X comes with 32GB internal memory and access to an online 25 GB Dropbox account. The screen is sleek and very smart looking. Its curved design gives the HTC One X a gorgeous flowing look. Safe to say if I was a phone, I’d be dialling that number! It will, as rumoured have a whopping quad core processor. It doesn’t stop there though. Not only does the HTC One X have a quad core processor, but it is a massive 1.5GHz quad core processor; knocking all previous processors out of the ball park. This being said, if the One X hasn’t been created in a way that can utilise all of the power – it’s pretty much as good as a chocolate tea pot (slight exaggeration but you get the picture)! After a quick play with the HTC’s flagship phone for 2012, I soon discovered just how responsive it really is. Any task you assign to the HTC One X, is taken care of at lightning speed. With Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS and HTC Sense 4.0 built in, this is HTC’s friendliest user experience ever. The latest edition of HTC Sense, gives users improved multitasking and copy and pasting functionality. Even the 8 megapixel camera demonstrates how the HTC One X could be a leading phone for 2012. With the ability to autofocus in a blistering 0.2 seconds, the HTC One X can even capture up to 99 snaps simultaneously with Burst mode. There’s even seven differing levels of flash brightness to make sure your pictures always dazzle. Quietly brilliant, HTC have released a powerhouse of a smartphone in the form the HTC One X. As for a UK release, expect the HTC One X to be released early summer. We can’t wait to test this device out. Official Spec of the HTC One X

4.7 inch screen with Gorilla Glass
Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS
HTC Sense 4.0
1.5 GHz Tegra 3 quad core processor
8 megapixel camera recording 1080p video
Secondary 1.3 MP camera with 720p video
NFC technology
Bluetooth
32 GB internal memory
25 GB Dropbox account

Is this the smartphone of 2012? Let us know what you think of the HTC One X on our Facebook page. Alternatively, discover more on available HTC smartphones.

MWC conference 2012 : exciting releases ahead

Posted: February 23rd, 2012, 6:12pm CET by Rob

From February 27th to March 1st, the Mobile World Congress will take place in Barcelona, Spain. The MWC conference is Europe’s largest gathering for all things mobile! The event brings together phone manufacturers, software designers and the media, into a magical melting pot to discuss the future and beyond of our favourite portable devices. Unlike Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show (CES), anything shown at the MWC conference is highly likely to reach the UK. So what are we most looking forward to seeing at the MWC conference 2012? HTC HTC look set to steal the show before it even begins. Inviting key members of the press to an event on the eve of the MWC conference, HTC must have something pretty important to announce to warrant their own event. What can we expect from HTC in 2012? The Taiwanese giants look set to unveil a ONE series of top of the range smartphones. The ONE X (ONEX) is widely reported to have a jaw dropping quad core processor; power in a smartphone that could easily chomp its way through multitasking applications and Operating Systems such as Android Ice Cream Sandwich. With a supersized screen of over 4.5 inches, a HTC release of this rumoured spec would certainly help fight their corner against smartphone rivals Apple and Samsung. There’s also talk of a HTC ONE S (ONES) which will represent the next generation HTC Sensation, equipped with a still impressive 1.5GHz dual core processor and 8 megapixel camera. Expect the unveiling HTC devices to have Sense 4.0 preinstalled. Sense 4.0 will give your HTC access to Microsoft’s Skydrive, improved copy and paste functionality and an improved dual panel task manager. Let’s hope the HTC rumours turn to truths at their announcement pre MWC conference. Samsung Galaxy S3? After months of speculation and rumour, we were saddened to hear the news that the Samsung Galaxy S3 won’t be making an appearance at the 2012 MWC conference. Instead Samsung plan to adopt Apple’s approach and host their own event; a PR stunt which will raise a mountain of hype and attention towards their flagship Samsung Galaxy S3. One possible announcement Samsung may unveil at the MWC conference is a new Galaxy Note. The previous edition offered a happy balance between tablet and smartphone with a stylus equipped 5.3 inch portable device. For those who like the functionality of a stylus integrated with their tablet, the new Galaxy Note is rumoured to have a 10.1 inch display.

Nokia Lumia 900 We were mightily impressed by the announcement of the Nokia Lumia 900 at CES. Like an older brother to the Nokia Lumia 800, the latest Windows Phone offers a larger 4.3 inch screen size, 4G LTE capabilities and a front facing camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Currently only available in the USA, we expect Nokia to use the MWC conference as the perfect opportunity to spread the Lumia love and announce a UK release date. The Nokia Lumia series may also be set to expand with new editions trawling the web including a budget Nokia Lumia 730 and a possible Nokia Lumia 910. With Windows also expected to dazzle their new Windows Tango OS to the world, the MWC conference should announce which smartphones in the Nokia Lumia series will be lucky enough to utilise this software. BlackBerry After a troublesome 2011 and senior level restructure, Canadian Manufacturers Research In Motion look set to announce a few new handsets to their BlackBerry Curve series. Expect unveilings of the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and 9320 at the MWC conference. BlackBerry’s biggest announcement is likely to be in the form of a tablet. With a smooth user interface and great multi-tasking potential, the original BlackBerry PlayBook was let down by the lack of apps available on its BlackBerry App World. With the new BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 to offer apps from the Android Market, BlackBerry could be ready to unveil a tablet which can compete with the best. Let’s hope BlackBerry use the MWC conference to turn their fortunes around. So there’s our round up of exciting releases we expect to be announced at the MWC conference 2012. Don’t forget to visit us next week as we bring you the latest info from Barcelona. Let us know what you think of these future releases on our Facebook page

Money by mobile phone? Barclays Pingit app

Posted: February 21st, 2012, 12:19pm CET by Rob

Mobile banking has leapt forward with the announcement of Barclays Pingit; an app which gives customers the opportunity to send money by mobile phone. The free app available on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, will streamline the banking process for customers who now have the option to leave their wallets at home and shop with their smartphone. How it works? By linking a UK mobile number to your current account, the Barclays Pingit app lets you send money by mobile straight to another phone. Simply log into your account and dial your contacts’ UK phone number to wire your funds across in seconds. Currently the Barclays Pingit app only accepts payments between Barclay’s current accounts. With time, Barclays intend to expand their service and allow any Barclays Pingit account to receive payments from any UK banking current account. How safe is Barclays Pingit app? With an estimated 90,000 muggings in the UK last year, can banking on the mobile phone expose our hard earned cash to opportunist thieves? For those concerned, the app is protected by a Barclays Pingit passcode, which needs to be entered every time the app is opened. Should your smartphone get stolen, you can call Barclays to deactivate the app as a precaution against fraud. For extra security, only one mobile number can be linked to each current account at any time. The process of sending money by mobile phone is a firmly established option in Japan. Using NFC technology, there are over 117 million contactless payment accounts; 20 million of which are considered actively used. As smartphone users go through the cycle of changing their smartphone it’s expected that within 4 years, 90% of Japanese phone users will have access to contactless payment solutions; whether through NFC or mobile banking apps. As mobile phones continue to redefine their purpose, transferring money by mobile banking will let the smartphone user lighten their pockets as they leave their wallets and purses at home. Will this movement pay off for Barclays? If successful, expect to see rival banks creating their own mobile banking apps in order to offer streamlined services to their customer base. Does mobile banking appeal to you? Download Barclays Pingit app from the Barclays website.
Would you use a service like this? Let us know on our Facebook page.

The best iPhone 5 apps will change everything again!

Posted: February 16th, 2012, 1:33pm CET by Rob

iPhone 5 apps are just around the corner. With the Apple iPhone 5 hotly tipped for a UK release this summer, we’re excited to uncover how Apple plans to push the boundaries of the smartphone industry once again. As new hardware and technology is installed inside the latest smartphones, new apps have to be developed to use this exciting technology. How will the iPhone 5 apps of tomorrow change our usage of smartphones? Here’s the technology we’d love to see feature in the next generation of Apple iPhone 5 apps. More Powerful iPhone 5 apps If there’s one thing guaranteed with the iPhone 5, expect improvements in the processor and performance. As rival brands continue to release new smartphones with greater technology, Apple must push the boundaries once again to maintain its crown as king of the smartphones. Rumours suggest that both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple iPhone 5 will contain quad core processors; a step up from the dual core processors found within the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S2. What does this mean for iPhone 5 apps? Not only will you be able to run more iPhone 5 apps at any time, app programmers will be able to code their apps on a whole new level to what we’ve seen in smartphones previously. We’ve already been amazed by the A5 dual core chip within the iPhone 4S and its ability to process graphics for games such as Grand Theft Auto III and Infinity Blade II. A quad core processing chip for the iPhone 5 would leap a step further and match the multi-tasking abilities of the PlayStation Vita; the latest portable console dedicated towards intensive gaming action. For those who love creating music or video clips, quad core will be able to handle the demands of the more professional software available on the market. Even if you’re not a hard core gamer or music maestro, you’ll notice the improvement in everyday iPhone 5 apps as Safari web pages load faster and operate more efficiently. Holographic Keyboard This concept design may have existed before the iPhone 4S release but that doesn’t mean to say it won’t happen. Using projector technology, a full sized QWERTY keypad glows onto the work surface in front of you. Use your fingers to type, twist and zoom the keyboard into shape. You can even adjust the projection brightness with the slide of a finger. It’s perfect for typing up those long Facebook updates! Technology like this would be incredible for the next generation of iPhone 5 apps.

Whilst the Nokia Lumia 900, Sony Xperia S, and Samsung Galaxy S2 believe bigger screen displays are better, Apple appears reluctant to increase beyond their iPhone 3.5 inch display. At such a small size, the iPhone 4S is easy on the pockets. The inclusion of projector technology would offer the user a much larger display when required. How could this be use within iPhone 5 apps? How about learning to draw on paper by pencilling over projected lines? You could plan a journey with a map or learn to play the piano at your kitchen table. Exciting stuff! Improved Voice Integration The announcement of Siri on the iPhone 4S shows how voice commands have become a reality in controlling our devices. The integration of Google Maps with Siri in the United States allows you to find the nearest shop, fishing lake, or even where to “hide a dead body”. For us Brits however, Siri’s lack of knowledge of the United Kingdom means we’re left to joke around with his assistance and ask those less functional questions such as “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” We can see Siri sticking around for the iPhone 5 apps, but we expect UK integration with Google Maps to make his presence truly welcome. As one of Apple’s proudest innovations, Siri’s reputation is unlikely to be on the line for third party iPhone 5 apps developers to use. Let’s hope Apple push Siri in their iPhone 5 apps further, offering us more ways to use our voice. The Xbox Kinect already demonstrates how voice integration within gaming can enhance the user experience. How do you think iPhone 5 apps will develop in the future? Let us know on our Facebook Page. If you just can’t wait for the new Apple iPhone 5, we now sell the refurbished iPhone 4S; letting you save money on the leading smartphone.

What is Android? A Beginners guide

Posted: February 14th, 2012, 12:17pm CET by Annabel

What is Android? We hear it everywhere these days and there is no getting away from it. So what really is Android? No it’s not just an alien but Android is an operating system that powers millions of phones, tablets, and other devices in much the same way that PC’s and laptops run Microsoft Windows and brings the power of Google and the web into your hands. Before I get started, it’s important to remember that unlike some of the other popular Smartphone operating systems out there such as Apple iOS and BlackBerry RIM, Android can run on multiple devices ranging from a wide range of manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson and HTC. Android has an amazingly fast web browser, cloud sync, multi-tasking, easy ways to connect & share and the latest Google apps (and thousands of other apps available on Android Market) your Android powered device is beyond smart. So, let’s start at the beginning. There have been several different versions of Android since it came to the market and each version is named in alphabetical order after a dessert. The most recent versions from the last couple of years are Android Gingerbread 2.3, Android Honeycomb 3.0, Android Honeycomb 3.1, Android Honeycomb 3.2 and the very latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Smartphones and tablets run different versions of Android. Currently, Android Honeycomb 3.2 is the latest version for tablet devices. The reason that tablet devices run a different version to smartphones is because it’s specifically designed for devices that have larger screens. Other features on the latest version of Honeycomb is a new “zoom-to-fill” screen compatibility mode and loading media files directly from an SD card. Android Ice Cream Sandwich Features The most up to date Android OS version is Ice Cream Sandwich which was released in October 2011 brought all the features you find on Android Honeycomb straight to smartphones and added extra features like facial recognition unlock, unified social networking contacts, photography enhancements and app folders. You can discover more Android Ice Cream Sandwich features in our previous article. Now that you’ve had a history lesson on all things Android, let’s start taking a look at some of the design features.

Android Design and Features The coolest feature with Android has to be its ability to house multiple home screens. These home screens can store things like shortcuts to your favourite apps, or you can even install widgets. I know what you’re asking yourself right now, what on earth are Widgets? Well, Widgets are small programs that can be used to perform lots of small functions such as displaying social media updates from popular sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can even control your music, or a photo stream! Android allows you to be as flexible as you want to be! From your home screen you can navigate easily to your main App roll from the bottom bar. Here you can view all of the applications that are installed on your Android Smartphone. The App roll can be controlled with touch gestures, just like your home screen. You can use your finger to scroll through all the apps and then tap them to open and enjoy. The whole Android experience is simple, quick and easy. What is Android Marketplace? I mentioned apps previously, but probably the biggest highlight of using an Android Smartphone is the ability to download apps from their massive Android Marketplace; with over 10 billion downloads. After a few small steps in setting up a Google account, you will gain access to thousands of apps, under hundreds of different categories. You can pick from Games, Books and even Movies. What else could you ask for? So if you’re sitting on the fence about getting an Android Smartphone, then don’t be. It’s a very easy and intuitive Smartphone operating system, and differently a whole lot of fun. And now that you know what is Android, have a look our latest Android Deals on mobiles.co.uk

Free BlackBerry games – Fun and free BB apps

Posted: February 10th, 2012, 3:51pm CET by Rob

Aiming to bring our readers a wide variety of free games, this week we take fresh pickings from the BlackBerry App World. Here’s our choice of the best free BlackBerry games currently available. Beat the Intro If you fancy yourself as a music boffin, Beat the Intro is the perfect game to show off your superior song knowledge. Challenge your friends over BBM to uncover whose ears are tuned into the right station. With a variety of genres to choose from, there’s a music round to satisfy everyone. This free Blackberry games app is great for discovering new music, as 7Digital integration ensures you can download the full version of any track you are quizzed on. Upgrade versions of Beat the Intro, help to push your intro intelligence further as you gain access to more quiz questions. Like this games app? Download Beat the Intro for free from BlackBerry App World. Copter Similar to Jetpack Joyride, one of our recommended free iOS games, Copter offers a stripped down thrill without the fancy visuals. Simply keep your Helicopter from crashing into a selection of oddly positioned floating rectangles. The floor and ceiling present further risk to your copter as drops and climbs reduce your game space. Press any key to add up lift to your chopper and let go to lower: It’s simplicity at best as you push yourself to fly further on every new go. Like this games app? Download Copter for free from BlackBerry App World. Bomberman vs Zombies The next app in our free BlackBerry games list, is perfect for those who love an extra dosage of our flesh eating fiends. There’s something about killing zombies which causes hordes of smartphone users to download these truly infectious games. Playing as a Bomberman (not THE Bomberman), who wouldn’t get kicks out of blowing up the undead? To blast through the levels, Bomberman must obliterate all the zombies in his path, find the hidden key and unlock the hatch to the next room. With a variety of different paced zombies to decimate, bonuses to power Bomberman and different types of explosive, there’s enough firepower in this free BlackBerry game to light the fuse of fun and blow boredom out of sight! Like this games app? Download Bomberman vs Zombies for free from BlackBerry App World. Toss it! Free Whether it’s scrunched up paper or a ping pong ball, there’s always a great sense of achievement in scoring a goal into a home-made basket. Toss it! will limber your fingers into shape for some good honest throwing fun. With four levels; the office paper basket, the beer-pong table, the Basketball three point shot and the American Football penalty kick, there’s plenty of scenario’s to improve your target practice skills. To make the levels more difficult, the forever changing wind will force you to change your throw line in order to maintain your goal scoring winning streak. Fun, free and highly addictive, you won’t throw this game away in a hurry. Like this games app? Download Toss it! for free from BlackBerry App World.

Plumber There’s no time for this plumber to save a princess from despair in our next free BlackBerry game. Our final app in the free BlackBerry games list, has you working against the clock; those pipes aren’t going to fit themselves! In Plumber, you’re set with the impossible task of rotating pipe pieces, to form a workable water passage. For every challenge you complete, the pressure of a tougher pipe design awaits. Sure to set a splash, Plumber the most fun you can have at the kitchen sink. Like this games app? Download Plumber for free from BlackBerry App World. So there’s our wrap up of our favourite BlackBerry App World games. We’d love to know what you think on our Facebook page. For the latest offer’s, look at our BlackBerry deals page.

PS Vita pre-order today! Free gifts at mobiles.co.uk

Posted: February 7th, 2012, 12:36pm CET by Rob

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We’re happy to announce that Mobiles.co.uk are now taking pre-orders for the PlayStation Vita. Sony’s latest gaming console, short named the PS Vita, is set to become the portable gaming device of 2012! We can’t wait to finally play on the PS Vita, which will be unleashed across the UK on 22nd February. If you want to make sure you don’t miss out on the action, pre-order your console with mobiles.co.uk; not only will you receive the PS Vita without the enduring those launch day shopping queues, you’ll also a fantastic free gift. PS Vita specs Offering high powered, full throttle gaming, the PlayStation Vita showcases your favourite titles upon the eye catching 5 inch OLED touchscreen. With launch titles such as the adventurous Uncharted: Golden Abyss or the fast paced Wipeout-2048, PlayStation are making sure their PS Vita hosts some of the hottest new titles around. Built with a quad core processor, the PS Vita handles high performance graphics with smoothness and grace. There’s great flexibility in the way you control your games too, with dual analogue sticks, action and shoulder buttons, rear touch pads and PlayStations own Six-axis motion sensing system; the technology that lets you shake and tilt your PS Vita to enhance your game play experience. There are two models of the PlayStation Vita available from mobiles.co.uk. Choosing the right PS Vita for you will depend on how you wish to use the internet on your portable games console. PS Vita Wi-Fi Connect your PS Vita to a nearby wireless hotspot to access the PlayStation Network; your hub for playing against other competitors across the world. It’s hugely addictive fun trying to climb the leader boards of your favourite games. Additional features let you download bonus content such as wallpapers, themes or demos. Keeping in touch with friends is easy as you text or voice call your friends through the PSN. With front and rear cameras built into the PS Vita, you can even catch up with friends over a video call. PS Vita Wi-Fi priced at £229. Pre-order today! PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi If you want online access when you’re out and about, then you need the PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi. With 3G built into the upgraded version of the PS Vita, you have access to the internet, anytime and anywhere. As the PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi is designed for on the go gaming, this model also boasts GPS. By knowing your position on a map, the PS Vita can bring you Augmented Reality gaming: Imagine fleeing from hordes of zombies in your local neighbourhood; the technology to do this safely has arrived. The PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi will still give you the full access to the PlayStation Network as seen on the Wi-Fi edition. PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi priced at £279. Pre-order today!

Free memory card when you preorder the PS Vita Did you know when you order the PlayStation Vita from mobiles.co.uk, you’re entitled to an awesome free gift? Everyone who pre-orders will receive a free 4GB memory card; a must have for saving game progress or downloading additional content. PS Vita as a free gift You can even get the PS Vita Wi-Fi as a free gift with your next mobile phone contract. Prices start from just £15.50 per month. Likewise, the PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi is also a free gift, starting from £20.50 per month. Take a visit to mobiles.co.uk to reserve yours today.

The Full Monty – T-Mobile reveal all!

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 5:50pm CET by Annabel

No we’re not blogging about the hit film of six unemployed Sheffield steel workers. The Full Monty is T-Mobiles latest tariff table which exposes you to everything; unlimited calls, texts AND data, starting at £36 per month. As a smartphone generation we are now guzzling deeper into our tariff allowances, requiring more data for downloading games or streaming our favourite songs. Even that push Tweet notification will peck a byte or two from your data allowance. T-Mobile state that their Full Monty tariffs aim to “truly blow their customers socks off” by offering an enticing bargain that’s impossible to refuse. The Full Monty will dance its way onto your smartphone from just £36 per month, offering unlimited texts, unlimited internet and 2000 minutes (that’s still nearly a day and a half of calls!). At just £41 per month, you can leave that cap off, as even the minutes have no limit. The additional tariffs of £46 or £61 per month, offer the same unlimited package but with a range of better smartphones and access to more gifts. Through mobiles.co.uk, you can get your hands on the iPhone 4S for free from £41 per month with unlimited EVERYTHING.

How does this compare to the One Plan from Three?
The £36 per month Full Monty deal directly tackles the One Plan from Three; which for £35 per month serves up 2000 minutes, 5000 texts and All You Can Eat data without the fair usage cap. One feature Full Monty provides over the One Plan is the option to tether your smartphone to your laptop or tablet. Tethering enables you to set your smartphone up as a Wi-Fi hotspot so your laptop can connect to the online world. With unlimited data available in the Full Monty package, could this deal tease customers into using a mobile internet connection over home broadband? T-Mobile’s latest offer could be a game changer in the way we purchase our data. Let’s hope the other networks respond with competitive deals in due course. Greater clarity on choosing your Tariff
If you feel like you don’t need unlimited everything, then T-Mobile are renaming their data tariffs to cater for internet usage. There are four categories; Basic, Standard, Extra, and Super. Basic Intenet is ideal for those who don’t really use it except for the odd email or Facebook post. Standard Internet lets you cover a little YouTube comedy and is set for your low usage smartphone user. Extra internet is great for those who download lots of apps or stream BBC iPlayer and Super Internet is for the online addicts amongst us. Both Extra and Super internet let you tether. So for those who want it all plus a little bit more, the unveiling of the Full Monty looks set to catch the attention of many. See the best deals that come loaded with the Full Monty package.

Free iPhone games : Our favourites from iOS

Posted: February 2nd, 2012, 5:42pm CET by Annabel

Last week we gave a rundown of our 5 favourite free Android games. This week we trawl Apple’s chart for some essential free iOS games, available to play on devices such as the Apple iPhone 4S and iPad 2. All the fun and all for free, here’s five free iPhone games apps which we’re addicted to. Jetpack Joyride First in our free iPhone games list is Jetpack Joyride. Meet Barry. He may wear a suit but he’s far from your regular guy. After breaking into a secret laboratory, Barry has commandeered a selection of jetpacks. With mad scientists, rapid fire missiles and deadly laser beams destined to stop Barry in his tracks, your mission is to control the Jetpack to avoid these hazards. Just touch the display to add more boost to your jetpack. Timing and quick reflexes are essential. High scores are determined by distance covered and the coins collected. It’s essential thrust filled fun in your quest to help Barry stay alive. Like this games app? Download Jetpack Joyride from the free iOS games chart. iPhone | iPad Ninja Fishing Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Teach a Ninja to fish and he’ll slice the scaly beasts right out of the water! By casting your hook as deep as possible into the ocean, use tilt controls to reel back in as many fish as possible. Once out the water, use your sword to descale the fish ready for market; a concept similar to Fruit Ninja. With over 50 fishes to catch, there’s great variety within this free iPhone games app. It’s manic fish and slash gameplay, that will keep you coming back for more. Like this games app? Download Ninja Fishing from the free iOS games chart. iPhone | iPad

Mega Jump How high can you jump? Help Redford defy gravity as he collects coins in efforts to throw himself higher towards the edge of the universe and beyond. Miss the cash however and you will plummet to a fall of shame. Guide Redford by tilting your iPhone left or right; the controls are easy to pick up and are surprisingly effective. As with Jetpack Joyride, it has the addictive element, making it acceptable to have “just one more go” in order to get further. With Facebook and Twitter integration, you’ll justify the extra time spent on Mega Jump to leap above your friends on the ranking lists. Like this games app? Download Mega Jump from the free iOS games chart. iPhone | iPad Bejewelled Blitz The next app in our iPhone games chart pushes the mind to the limits! With a screen preloaded full of mismatching bling, your task is to swap jewels around to form horizontal or vertical lines of the same coloured jewel. Bigger lines means more points. Sound easy? The panic and dread of the looming 60 second time limit, adds pressure which would crack any diamond. With the highest scores awarded to those who craft multiple combos or collect Hypercubes, you need to plan your moves a few steps ahead to dazzle the ranking lists. If you get stumped for too long, arrows hint your next jewel switch to help you dive straight back into the action. We think this game rocks and is a worthy entrant in our free iPhone games list. Like this games app? Download Bejewelled Blitz from the free iOS games chart.
iPhone | iPad ..And our free iPhone games favourite: Slam Dunk King Our final app from our free iPhone games list is fresh from PikPok. Slam Dunk King, challenges your finger swiping skills to master the hoops and dunk as many balls as possible. Flaunt your skills with trick dunks and smooth moves to earn as many points as possible. Watch out for the bombs though, they’ll blow up your basket! There’s a selection of games including Time Attack, Arcade and Sudden Death to choose from. With additional options to earn or buy coins to unlock new balls, courts and mascots, Slam Dunk King is sure to keep you bouncing from boredom! Like this games app? Download Slam Dunk King from the free iOS games chart. iPhone | iPad So there’s our round up of our favourite free games available on the iOS platform. We’ld like to apologise in advance for any unsociable acts you may put your friends through as you strive for a new high score. Addictive and free, they’ll definitely keep you occupied. Join us next week for our run down on free games available from the Windows Phone Marketplace. For the latest info on the iOS platform. View info on iOS devices:
iPhone 4S | iPhone 4 | iPhone 3GS | iPad 2

Free Android games apps – Fun and Free!

Posted: January 26th, 2012, 12:53pm CET by Annabel

Last month, Google revealed that their total number of downloaded Android apps had passed the 10 billion mark. The largest slice of the app pie went to games, with a staggering 25.6% of all apps downloaded, that’s 2,560 million games downloaded so far. Phew. Here’s our rundown of the top 5 free Android games available on the market at the moment. 5 – Zombie Dash At the time of writing, this game holds the number 1 spot on the freebie Android games chart, having toppled the mighty Angry Birds from its pedestal. The secret of the Android games success is down to two things. The first aspect is its simplicity – you have two moves at your disposal, jump and shoot. The second aspects is zombies. People like zombies. Especially when you can shoot them. When jump and shoot is combined with zombies, you have a winning formula, as 5 million Android games downloads have so far confirmed. Like this games app? Download Zombie Dash from the free Android games chart. 4 – Pool Master Pro Pool has always been a popular game subject whatever the platform, and the Android games version continues the trend with its 10 million downloads. Offering practice modes, as well as options to play against a friend or the computer, simply add a pint of lager and bowl of stale peanuts to recreate your local pool hall as accurately as possible without ever leaving the house. Like this games app? Download Pool Master Pro from the free Android games chart. 3 – Fruit Slice There has been much debate over the two fruit based slicing games currently available. Fruit Slice and Fruit Ninja offer a very similar setup; various items of fresh fruit fly through the air as you swipe the touchscreen to split each item of your potential five-a-day. The plentiful produce is occasionally punctuated by Looney Tunes style bombs, which you have to avoid or its game over. It may sound dull, but it’s hugely addictive stuff. On the Android games chart, Fruit Ninja has the highest placing (although they both have 10 million downloads), but we suspect that this is just down to it having the better name. Ninjas are cool – ‘nuff said. Judged on the games themselves, however, Fruit Slice is the clear victor. It offers more games on the app itself, much better graphics, and a smoother gameplay. If you have a spare fifteen minutes to waste though, either of the two will pass the time nicely. Android games Fruit Slice screenshot

Like this games app? Download Fruit Slice from the free Android games chart. 2 – Words With Friends This game is essentially Scrabble, but slower, which doesn’t necessarily sound too exciting, but stay with us on this one. The slow nature of the game is essentially its unique selling point, as it’s great for taking out on your afternoon break, playing your go, and then forgetting about it until later. The game consists of a Scrabble style set-up where you make words with the lettered tiles you are given, trying to use the double/triple letter/word squares to hit maximum points. As the title suggests, you can connect with your favourite social networking site to challenge your friends, or select random player in order to take on a mystery opponent from anywhere in the world. It would appear that ‘Words with Friends or Stangers’ just wasn’t as catchy a title. Either way, it has 10 million downloads to date. Like this games app? Download Words With Friends from the free Android games chart. ..And number 1 of our Android games – Angry Birds Probably the most popular smartphone game ever, with a mere 50 million downloads at the time of writing, our number 1 spot goes to those perturbed avians, the Angry Birds. It’s a total mystery as to why they are quite so angry, or why they take out their frustration by loading themselves into slingshots in order to systematically assassinate a race of green disembodied pigs with a penchant for flimsy architecture, but they just do. Spawning a series of themed sequels and special editions, such as the Halloween and Rio editions, and their very own merchandising line in the real world, the Angry Birds seem pretty unstoppable… especially if you’re a pig with no legs.. Like this games app? Download Angry Birds from the free Android games chart. But why take our word for it, all Android games mentioned are free of charge so log onto the Android Market and check them out for yourself. Prefer portable console gaming to Android games apps? Check out our blog on the soon to be released PS Vita. If you’ve played these free Android games, let us know what you think of them on our Facebook page. Find out more about Android smartphones.

Sony Xperia S – Release Date & Complete Roundup

Posted: January 24th, 2012, 4:40pm CET by Annabel

Due to be released this spring is Sony’s latest smartphone creation; the Sony Xperia S. Having removed Ericsson from their name, this marks a fresh start for the Japanese juggernauts. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, we delve deep into the details of why this smartphone promises to be one of the top handset highlights for 2012. The flagship phone for Sony in 2012, it will directly take on the new Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3. Hardcore Hardware If smartphones were judged entirely by their figures and numbers, the Sony Xperia S would confidently challenge the top trumps of the mobile industry. The 1.5GHz dual core processor is 25% faster than the iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy S2. Its LED-backlit 4.3 inch display towers above Apple’s smartphone range and is complimented by the transparent LED illuminated strip that shows off the necessary navigation buttons. Armed with NFC technology, the Sony Xperia S is ready for the increased reliability smartphones will have in card transactions and augmented reality. Ice Cream Sandwich OS Nothing tastes sweeter than the ability to optimise your smartphones performance. Android’s latest OS, Ice Cream Sandwich, will help you get the most out of the meaty hardware encased within the Sony Xperia S. PlayStation Certified Being manufactured by Sony can only be a good thing when you consider they own one of the greatest games console franchises of all time. It’s great to see they’ve branded the Xperia S as a PlayStation Certified smartphone, giving you access to a whole library of PS1 classics tailored for smartphones. In addition to the PlayStation Certified range, the Android Market provides over 300,000 apps at your disposal, including the PlayStation Classic, Grand Theft Auto III. Wherever you download your games, the Sony Xperia S will charge through their exhaustive demands without losing breath, thanks to its already praised 1.5GHz dual core processor.

Capture it all – Camera Specs Worries in photo quality between camera smartphone and camera are phasing out for the casual happy snapper. Capturing 12 megapixel photos, the Sony Xperia S offers a resolution that’s competitive against standalone cameras. The inclusion of an Exmor R mobile CMOS sensor maximises light availability in your picture to help prevent dark and gloomy snaps. With a 1080p high definition rear facing camera, your video memories are sure to look crisp and detailed. There’s even a front facing camera perfect for video calls that captures it all in 720p high definition. To help achieve that perfect photo, the camera hardware is provided all the trimmings; touch focus, face detection, image stabilisation, geo-tagging, LED flash and 3D sweep panorama, making the Sony Xperia S a truly sensational camera smartphone. Sony Xperia S UK release date Not long to wait until the release day as the Sony Xperia S will be available in the UK at the start of March. For a full product spec and all the info on the Sony Xperia S, visit our coming soon page. So there’s our run down on another hotly tipped smartphone for 2012. Does the Sony Xperia S excite you? Let us know on our Facebook page.

HTC Flyer and Beats headphones up for grabs in our competition

Posted: January 23rd, 2012, 2:26pm CET by Annabel

To celebrate our latest offers on HTC smartphones, we have a fantastic competition where you can win a great tech bundle worth £560! The winning entrant will not only receive a HTC Flyer tablet, but a pair of Beats Solo headphones to accompany your audio pleasure. HTC Flyer The HTC Flyer is a 7 inch tablet that’s upgradeable to Android Honeycomb. Offering 3G and Wi-Fi access keep in touch with your friends Facebook updates at a swipe of a finger; alternatively comment to them directly with the front facing video calling feature. Equipped with a Magic Pen, it’s the perfect tool for producing fine details or brushstrokes. With a 16GB internal memory (and external memory expandable by another 32GB), the HTC Flyer is great for storing all your favourite music and more. The meaty 1.5GHz processor ensures the HTC Flyer is a reliable tablet that won’t let you down when running powerful applications.

Beats Solo headphones Beats are the prestigious headphones by musical icon Dr. Dre. Let the music move you, as you hear layers you would struggle to pick up through normal headphones. With enhanced bass, Beats Solo headphones bring out all out the textures and details, so you can enjoy exactly what the artist hears. With a built in microphone for hands-free calls or online chats, it’s the perfect hardware to wire up to your 3G device.

How can I win? Any mobiles.co.uk customer, who purchases a HTC contract handset between 19th January – 16th February 2012, is automatically entered into this fantastic giveaway. For your chance to win visit our HTC competition page. Remember to enter by midnight 16th February 2012 if you wish to qualify for our draw. For full terms and conditions, please check on our HTC competition page. We also offer the HTC Flyer Wi-Fi as a free gift with many of our contracts. Alternatively, 3G or Wi-Fi versions of the HTC Flyer can also be bought as standalone products. Don’t forget to tell your friends on Facebook about this amazing giveaway. Good Luck!

Apple iPhone 5 : Round up of 2012’s biggest release

Posted: January 20th, 2012, 2:15pm CET by Annabel

It’s been a while since we’ve posted about the Apple iPhone 5. After months of anticipation and excitement across 2011, we were presented the iPhone 4S; an upgrade of the Apple iPhone 4 with more muscle inside its A5 processor chip and more knowledge through personal assistant Siri. Even though the upgrades were necessary, Apple fans couldn’t help but feel slightly disheartened. We love it when Apple releases something completely new that “Changes everything. Again”. With leading brands releasing the Samsung Galaxy S3, Sony Xperia S & the Nokia Lumia 900, 2012 is the year for Apple to step up and release the true next generation smartphone: The Apple iPhone 5. As all our old blogs relate to the 4S, we thought it was time to blow away the cobwebs, delve deep into the rumour mill and bring you the latest designs, specifications and more on everything iPhone 5. New design – Apple iPhone 5 A new design is possibly the most anticipated feature expected for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4 and 4s have stylish designs but all fashions change with time. iPhone enthusiasts want to own something that looks new, fresh and distinctly different from past iPhone models. One feature that would separate the Apple iPhone 5 from its range is a new screen size. It’s a quick win for Apple as their standard 3.5 inch display is towered by the Samsung Galaxy S2’s 4.3 inch screen. Would a larger screen on the iPhone affect sales of their iPad range? This could be the reason for sustaining the iPhone’s original size. Will the iPhone 5 have a new shape? Here’s our three favourite concept designs below.. a concept design of the Apple iPhone 5

A second concept image of the Apple iPhone 5

We’re certain the iPhone 5 will host a new look design. Apple iPhone 5 rumour rating 5/5 New Name or just iPhone 5? The strangest rumour we’ve heard so far is that the device will be named the iPhone SJ, in memory of the late Steve Jobs. This is the last iPhone which Jobs had an input into the design and features of the device. Although it seems a fitting tribute to the icon who retransformed the fortunes of Apple with his innovation and industry changing ideas, we think there’s only a moderate chance the iPhone 5 will be named the iPhone SJ Apple iPhone 5 rumour rating 3/5 UK release date? One of the safest guarantees is that the iPhone 5 will in our hands by October 2012. It’s more than likely the product would also be available within 10 days of announcement. For a company that loves to throw surprises and spontaneity, is an October release date too predictable? Apple would certainly please a large fan base if they released the iPhone 5 ahead of the date cited by many blogs. The reasoning for an iPhone 5 release towards the end of 2012, is to allow time for the iPhone 4S to sell enough units. With Sony and Samsung releasing their next generation smartphones in the spring and summer, we believe Apple are more likely to unveil their latest addition to the family within their older June/July iPhone release date format. With Android OS racking up the largest share of users on any platform, the last thing Apple needs is to give the Galaxy S3 and Sony Xperia S a head start. We’re confident that the iPhone 5 will be released in 2012 and hoping for a summer release. Apple iPhone 5 rumour rating 4/5 Over the following months, we’ll be posting roundups of the latest iPhone 5 news and stories as they unfold. What would you like to see in the upcoming iPhone 5? Let us know what you would like to see on our Facebook page. Can’t wait for the iPhone 5. Then grab yourself an Apple iPhone 4 from mobiles.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy S3 : The Ultimate Roundup

Posted: January 18th, 2012, 3:44pm CET by Annabel

Samsung are set to officially unveil the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. Hotly tipped to be the smartphone of 2012, we sift through the rumours and hype to establish what the Galaxy S3 will feature.
With the highly successful Galaxy range, Samsung have the world at their feet. The Samsung Galaxy S2 was crowned the bestselling smartphone in the UK for December. With sales that challenge the iPhone head on, it’s no wonder why the next instalment of the Galaxy S range is so eagerly anticipated. Could this be the Galaxy S3?

During the international CES conference, Samsung slipped in a clip of an unknown smartphone during their official promo video. Is this the Samsung Galaxy S3? Demonstrating a thinner bezel strip around the display, the screen appears larger than the Galaxy S2 and would match the rumour of a 4.6 inch display; 0.3 inches larger than the Samsung. Whether this image is the genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 or just a fake remains to be seen. It’s certainly a clever marketing stunt for Samsung to raise the excitement bar and get the press talking on their mysterious handset. Snap it up with the S3 Circulating rumours suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will come equipped with a 12 megapixel camera. With key 2012 releases such as the Sony Xperia S already confirmed to have a resolution of this scale, it’s more than likely that Samsung will want to build upon the Galaxy S2’s 8 megapixel camera with their next generation release. With Apple also expected to upgrade their 8 megapixel camera with the release of the iPhone 5, Samsung have a great opportunity to steal exposure from Apple’s future handset by offering the technology sooner and stealing the wow factor from under their rivals noses. Hungry for Ice Cream Sandwich? The S3 is. It’s a dead cert the Galaxy S3 will come pre-loaded with the tasty new addition to the Android family. With a refined and evolved user interface, Ice Cream Sandwich is even more efficient for multitasking. This is great news for the Samsung Galaxy S3, which is rumoured to house a 1.8 GHz dual core processor which would storm through high end games and applications without breaking a sweat.

Galaxy S3 release date? Following the World Mobile Congress in February, it’s highly likely that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will grace the UK shops within weeks of its announcement. Demand will be high, so make sure you don’t miss out on what is expected to be the top selling handset of 2012. We’ll be tracking the latest announcements on the Samsung Galaxy S3 as they happen. So check back for specific details as we get them through. Watch this space on how you can pre-order from mobiles.co.uk.

PS Vita to challenge the apps games

Posted: January 13th, 2012, 10:38am CET by Annabel

Welcome back to part 2 of our apps games review. In part 1 we explained the rise of the apps.This time around we explore what the major games consoles are doing to take on the apps games and mention the upcoming release of the PS Vita. If you can’t beat them… The leading console brands clearly want a piece of the action, chasing the new revenue available from distributing game apps on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms. The latest Sony products such as the Sony Xperia S or Sony Tablet S are PlayStation Certified meaning you can download a range of classic PlayStation titles straight to your phone. Xbox have taken a similar approach offering the Xbox Live Arcade across Android and iOS, with additional features available for those who use the latest Windows Phone Mango. Nintendo currently don’t offer their titles as game apps. With strong branded characters such as Mario and Donkey Kong, maybe keeping these exclusive to Nintendo hardware is what keeps fans coming back for more. PS Vita released in UK 22/02/2012 For those who still crave a portable gaming device, the PlayStation Vita is released in the UK on the 22nd February with 11 games. Armed with a Quad-Core processor, the PS Vita promises to bring PS3 quality gaming to a portable console. The top model boasts Wi-Fi + 3G access which is perfect for online gaming against your rivals or downloading the latest title from the PlayStation Store. The rear touch pads help interact with games in three dimensional motions such as touching, grabbing, pulling and pushing without obstructing the OLED screen. Overall, this product promises to push the boundaries of portable gaming once again. Will the PS Vita reverse the trend of game apps? The heads at Sony realise the challenge they face against the smartphone as their Marketing team plans their “biggest campaign ever” for the PS Vita. With so many smartphone devices activated daily, PlayStation are unlikely to ever recapture their share of the portable games market of 2009. To place it in perspective, 6.68 million Nintendo 3DS’s were sold globally in the first 6 months of release. 0.7 million Android activations take place every day!

Front and Back image of the PS Vita. Released in the UK on 22/02/2012

The Future.. The technology of the PS Vita looks incredible and is unlikely to be replicated in a smartphone that is primarily for calls and texts. Because a mobile phone is such an essential piece of kit bought by everyone, even PS Vita owners are likely to purchase apps games for their smartphone. The casual gamer only ever wanted that quick fix of gameplay when on the bus or away from their main games console; smartphones achieve this. Sony and Nintendo’s revenue from portable games hardware will surely shrink as smartphones continue to grow worldwide. Could this be Sony’s last dedicated games console? With such a wide range of electronic products, Sony could make their games accessible as downloads onto their BRAVIA Televisions or invest further into PlayStation Certified smartphones to win back the heart of the casual gamer. With Nintendo’s top releases appealing greatly to children, many will be too young to own a smartphone. As long as Nintendo continue to captivate hearts with the likes of Mario Kart and Pokémon, portable games consoles will continue to sell; just in smaller volumes than we’ve seen before. The golden age may be over for now but that doesn’t mean Game Over. Sony and Nintendo have exciting products lined up and will push in directions to provide an ultimate gaming experience. Let’s hope they fork out another coin and press continue because we still want to play! What do you think? Let us know on our Facebook page. We also offer the Nintendo 3DS as a free gift. The perfect solution to play apps games on your smartphone and Nintendo games on the 3DS. Be sure to look out for the PS Vita on mobiles.co.uk after its UK release date of 22nd Februrary.

Apps games battle the portable console

Posted: January 12th, 2012, 1:44pm CET by Annabel

Apps games taking over the portable games devices

The rules of the game have changed. Just a few years ago, handheld consoles such as the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP ruled the roost of portable gaming. I remember in my childhood being captivated by Zelda DX and Pokémon Blue on my Game Boy Colour; back then the must-have device for gaming on the go. The birth of the app and evolution of smartphones have brought to light an increase in the quality of apps games available on your mobile phone. Not only do the likes of Android and iOS offer quick fix games such as Angry Birds, or Plants vs Zombies but fully fledged blockbusters with lengthy storylines and awe blasting 3D graphics such as GTA III and Infinity Blade II. With the next generation of smartphone releases set to run faster and blast even more power, is it game over for the portable games console? The Problem Statistics from Flurry Analytics suggests that portable consoles are losing their slice of the pie. In 2009, Sony PSP and Nintendo DS were recipients of 81% of total portable game software revenue in the United States. Fast forward to the end of 2011, and their share has halved to 42%. Where has it gone? Smartphone operating systems iOS and Android have leapt from a combined 19% share in 2009, to a dominating 58% in just two years. Out of control? Hard core gamers may criticise iOS and Android games apps for their lack of a physical game pad to control the game; often the player has to touch the screen repeatedly. Even this hindrance can be removed thanks to an Android app which allows Bluetooth synchronisation with your PS3 controller. It won’t be long before apps games have this feature coded into their official titles and smartphones steal another life from the portable games console.

Power to the smartphone! The iPhone 4S released with a dual-core A5 chip, has given the 1UP in smartphone apps games and offers power and graphics unseen in mobile devices previously. Even consoles such as the Nintendo 3DS, which offers 3D gaming without the need for glasses, could be matched for technology. We’ve already seen the release of the LG Optimus 3D smartphone and further rumours suggest the Samsung Galaxy S3 will come with eye trickery technology to match Nintendo. Apps Games cost less The apps games streamlined digital approach, eliminates the need for physical manufacturers and distributers. This means cheaper games for the consumer. Combine this factor with an ultra-competitive OS platform that releases new games daily, and you create a market where £6 chart toppers are frowned upon as too expensive – effectively the price of a bargain bin Nintendo DS game in the supermarket. Why would you pay £40 for the latest handheld title when you can download entertaining apps games that all your friends have for under £3? What does the future hold for portable gaming hardware? Visit our blog tomorrow for Part 2 of our apps games review… Get the Nintendo 3DS as a free gift on selected contracts. What titles currently top the Apps Games Chart?
Android | iOS | Windows Phone

Nokia Lumia 900 unveiled

Posted: January 10th, 2012, 1:46pm CET by Annabel

Nokia Lumia 900 - America's first real Windows Phone

Unveiled officially at the CES 2012 press conference in Las Vegas, the Nokia Lumia 900 is the first smartphone in the Lumia series to enter America. Designed as the first real Windows Phone smartphone designed for the US market, the Nokia Lumia 900 offers some nice upgrades from the UK release of the Nokia Lumia 800 last quarter. Can we expect a Nokia Lumia 900 release date for the UK any time soon? Larger Screen
The most notable change from Lumia 800 to 900 is the larger 4.3 inch AMOLED Clear Black display compared to the Lumia 800’s respectable 3.7 inches. The increase in size may raise concern over the performance and battery life of the Nokia Lumia 900; though don’t panic! Firstly the AMOLED Clear Black display offers a bright display without exhausting the battery. Encased within the Nokia Lumia 900, is an 1830 mAh battery which gives an extra 25% kick compared to its predecessor (The Nokia Lumia 800 had a 1450 mAh battery). Front Facing Camera
The Nokia Lumia 900 also comes with a secondary camera that Lumia fans have been shouting for. Whereas the Lumia 800 lacked a front facing camera, Nokia’s latest release has a 1 megapixel camera suitable for video calls. Not only does the front facing camera have a large aperture to let in more light, its wide angle lens takes in more picture, so you can video call a friend, with another friend by your side! As with the Lumia 800, the 8 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics is still present on the rear of the handset. Windows Phone Mango OS
Running the same Windows Phone OS as the Lumia 800, the People Hub feature seems a great tool for integrating together your favourite contacts across the wide range of platforms we all use. By linking Facebook updates, Twitter feeds, emails and texts across your chosen friends, it’s even easier to stay in touch and in the know. The People Hub even integrates Facebook chat without the need to download another app. At the CES conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, promised revolutionary apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace including 20 titles from games giants EA; apps not available on iOS or Android. A UK release for the Nokia Lumia 900?
Built as a 4G LTE smartphone for high performance browsing and video and audio streaming, the UK’s online connection speed is currently too slow to utilise the Nokia Lumia 900’s performance fully. With a 4G network not expected for completion in the UK until 2015 (Ofcom), will this phone even grace our shores? A UK release of this handset would lack the advanced connectivity but a tweaked version of the Nokia Lumia 900 including a larger battery, screen and front facing camera would be welcome advancement from the Nokia Lumia 800. We hope to see a UK release around autumn 2012. The additional features are steps in the right direction to help Windows Phone OS expand and Nokia to reclaim lost ground from the likes of Apple and Samsung. EDIT 24/01/2012 – Internet pre-order websites suggest the Nokia Lumia 900 will see a UK release date in June. Interested in finding out more about Windows Phones? For the latest updates, visit our Facebook page

Best apps for music lovers

Posted: January 6th, 2012, 2:54pm CET by Annabel

The start of a New Year naturally brings on an opportunity for self-reflection and change. Maybe you want to spend this year discovering new music? If every day you love your Kaiser Chief collection less and less, now’s a great time to blow away those audio cobwebs. 2012 is the time to use your smartphone and expand your musical horizons with a selection of our best apps for music lovers. Shazam Encore (Android £2.99, iOS £3.99 , Windows £4.99) You’ll often stumble across your new favourite song when you least suspect it; during an advert, on the radio, in a pub. If you’re not told who it is, how are you supposed to download and experience more music by this artist? The first of our best apps, Shazam Encore has this covered. All you have to do is hold your phone towards the speaker and Shazam will recognise the song and artist in seconds. Once you have this info, you can buy the track through Amazon, see related YouTube videos or even view the lyrics. Magical. For convenience and a rapid response, Shazam Encore is the first in our best music apps list. Like this music app? Download Shazam from the App markets: Android | iOS | Windows Ghostly Discovery (Free music app for iOS)
Our music tastes can vary depending on our state of mind or mood. Ghostly Discovery will factor this in your endeavour for all things electronic. After setting the mood wheel to a colour that reflects your state of mind, hook up to your headphones and enjoy a streamed audio archive of Ghostly International and Spectral Sound catalogues. Tailor your playlist between Digital versus Organic sounds and fast versus slow pace, as you position a slider between these extremes. iTunes integration opens the possibility to download the songs you like. Like this music app? Download Ghostly Discovery from the iTunes Stores: iOS

User interface of our best app from Ghostly Discovery

User interface of our best app from Ghostly Discovery

TuneIn Radio (Free music app for iOS ,Android, Windows)
For radio stations beyond dance, the TuneIn Radio app offers free access to over 50,000 radio stations. Wherever you are, tune into local or global radio to find a sound to quench your ear drums. Beyond music, there are even sport and news stations available to keep you in the loop. With so much choice at hand, our best app for radio ensures you’ll never skip a beat in your quest for new music. Purchasing the TuneIn Radio Pro for under £0.70 gives you the added bonus of recording, so you can listen to your favourite clips time after time Like this music app? Download Ghostly Discovery from the App markets: Android | iOS | Windows Spotify (Free music app for Android, iOS & Windows, Subscription required after trial period)
If you want instant access to over 15 million tracks you can stream online, create into playlists and share with your friends, Spotify is the ultimate music app. With a subscription fee of £10 per month, it’s legal and great value for those who find their headphones soldered to their skull. Built for social integration with Facebook and Last.fm, Spotify keeps your friends in the know of your new favourite sounds. For those after one of the best apps around, Spotify is a great choice for the ultimate music search party. Like this music app? Download Spotify from the App markets: Android | iOS | Windows iAmBeatBox (Free music app for iOS) Ok, I admit this probably hinders your quest for new music rather than help but with so much fresh music trickling into your brain, you may feel an urge of inspiration to make your own sounds. Produced by savageapps, it’s free, popular and allows you to enjoy the art of beat boxing at the swipe of a finger. Using a diamond icon, scratch your way around the screen to a plethora of samples, rhythms and beats. Simple and addictive, it makes the last entry in our best apps list. Like this music app? Download iAmBeatBox from the iTunes Store: iOS So there’s our run down of our best apps for music lovers. We’d love to know which apps you use in your hunt for new music. Why not let us know on our Facebook page Tempted by these? Get yourself a new phone from mobiles.co.uk’s music phone range.

What is a refurbished phone?

Posted: December 29th, 2011, 2:49pm CET by Annabel

If you fancy owning the latest technology without the burden of a premium price tag, then a refurbished phone could be the perfect solution. Despite the great savings, many people are unaware you can buy refurbished phones. What are they and what are the benefits of owning one? What is a refurbished phone? A refurbished phone has been returned to mobiles.co.uk by customers who change their mind within 7 days of purchase. This means all handsets have hardly been used and are barely out the box. What are the benefits of a refurbished phone? By purchasing a refurbished phone, you can own a handset for less than if you bought it brand new. If you’re on a strict budget, refurbished phones will give you more features, faster technology and more fun for your money. Alternatively, if you know exactly what phone you’re after, why pay more? The savings on buying a refurbished phone could be handy towards a holiday or that guitar you’ve always wanted. How does a refurbished phone differ to new handsets? The handset may have minor cosmetic flaws to the exterior design. All refurbished phones are fully inspected, tested and repackaged by qualified engineers so you can be sure that you will receive a fully functional phone. Due to testing, refurbished phones will arrive to you in a different box to the original. Though you will always receive the handset, battery, charger and manual, we cannot guarantee additional accessories will be included i.e. headphones. Am I covered for faults? A refurbished phone still comes with the 12 month manufacturer’s warranty starting from YOUR day of purchase, so you can have peace of mind your phone has identical cover to a brand new phone. How much can I save? A refurbished phone can often be purchased for 30% less than the price of a brand new handset. It’s not only refurbished phones that we offer. Many of our free gifts are also available as refurbished. This allows you to receive a higher value gift on a lower monthly tariff. See our current offers on refurbished phones For up to date offers and the latest news, visit our Facebook page

12 Days of Christmas App for iOS users

Posted: December 28th, 2011, 2:48pm CET by Annabel

If you were lucky enough to receive a brand new iPhone 4S or iPad 2 in your stocking this Christmas, the latest present from the App Store is sure to whet your appetite. Created by Apple, the 12 days of Christmas App, offers exactly what it states; a free gift each day for the 12 days of Christmas. In Apple’s words “Each download will only be available for 24 hours. Get our special 12 Days of Christmas app to make it even easier to access your gifts while you’re on the go.” This is Apple’s fourth year to offer free content throughout the festive season and has kick started with some great freebies. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me … an iTunes Live Coldplay E.P (A package containing three videos and music files for free!) The gift for December 27^th, a free episode of Top Gear, was perfect for petrol heads and those after some light hearted motor entertainment. Today (December 28th) the 12 days of Christmas app offers a free download of Lady Gaga’s smash single “Marry the Night”. Rolling from December 26^th until the 6^th January, the 12 days of Christmas App is a great way to introduce your new device to the App Store with popular content into the New Year. To see what’s available today, visit the 12 days of Christmas App page. For all the latest Mobiles.co.uk offers visit our Facebook page.

iCloud and Facetime explained on the iPad 2

Posted: December 20th, 2011, 5:06pm CET by Annabel

Now available at mobiles.co.uk, the Apple iPad 2 offers some nice improvements to its 2010 predecessor. If you’re looking to get kitted out with a tablet for the New Year but are confused with the terms Facetime or iCloud, we explain their meaning and how they can enhance your tablet experience. Apple iCloud If you’re the type who has digital media scattered across a range of devices, then iCloud will help collate it all together. You’ll never be without your favourite music track with instant access to your media across a range of portable devices. It’s also a great timesaver as a file uploaded straight to iCloud will automatically appear on each of your synchronised devices. You can even edit documents across devices or open an iBook on the exact page you left on your iPhone. Beyond accessibility, iCloud is a back-up system for your valued files should your iPad get lost or stolen. By logging into iCloud, you can view a map to locate the whereabouts of your device and even lock or wipe the handset should it enter the wrong hands. Facetime With a front and rear camera built into the Apple iPad 2, Apple have found the best way to say hello to your loved ones. Facetime is great for video calling and won’t cost you data charges when connected to a Wi-Fi connection. With both cameras operable during Facetime, it’s effortless to flick between front and rear camera. This feature is great for showcasing your surroundings in high definition, yet allowing you to see their reaction as it happens. Not restricted to the iPad 2, Facetime is available on the Apple iMac, iPhone 4 or the latest iPod touch. Once you create an Apple ID you’re only a tap away from sharing a smile with those who matter most. With prices starting at £399, the Apple iPad 2 is now available at mobiles.co.uk. Click here to see a full range of models and latest Apple iPad 2 deals. Join our Facebook site for the latest developments in the mobile world.

GTA 3 re-release rocks the charts

Posted: December 16th, 2011, 3:10pm CET by Annabel

To celebrate 10 years since its release, Rockstar Games have made Grand Theft Auto 3 available on iOS and Android platforms. Back in its day, GTA 3 was the first game in the series to allow a full 3D experience as gamers could kill, steal and hijack from the inhabitants and underworld of Liberty City. One of the most exciting features of the GTA franchise is its ability to allow full flexibility in the way you complete the game thanks to its non-linear gameplay. Take on heists and assassinations instructed by the mafia at a time that suits you; preferably in between the thrills of taking on the fuzz, SWAT teams and the army purely for the adrenaline rush of survival. As one of the most influential games of all time, this is no standard rerelease. Now with HD quality resolution and visually stunning updated graphics, GTA 3 comes with even comes with better graphics than the original release a decade ago. At just £2.99 in the App Store and Android Market, GTA 3 looks a dead cert to shoot its way to the top of the charts and steal the Christmas number one spot.

Panasonic smartphone to arrive March 2012

Posted: December 13th, 2011, 3:25pm CET by Annabel

Panasonic are back! The Japanese brand has officially announced their plan to release a Panasonic smartphone across the UK and Europe. Though limited details have been announced, we’re excited that the information unveiled so far suggests a high powered smartphone capable of challenging the Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S. Due for release in March 2012, the Panasonic smartphone will boast a stunning 4.3 inch OLED qHD display. Rumoured to have three navigation buttons along the bottom, it offers a similar interface to the Galaxy Nexus. Being a new release on Android, if Panasonic really want to establish themselves as smartphone innovators, expect the handset to be pre-loaded with the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Panasonic’s allegiance to Android will surely boost the dominance of the Android Market further, which recently reported the preferred OS for 52% of smartphone users. One factor which could potentially leave rival smartphone brands trailing is the camera specification. Panasonic are renowned for their premium Lumix camera range and have previously integrated this technology into a Japanese only Panasonic smartphone release (The Lumix Phone 101 P). The camera for this phone offered 13.2 megapixels, optical zoom and a real camera flash. Though it’s unlikely the new European Panasonic smartphone will be so camera orientated, let’s hope they use some of the technology to produce a great handset. Stating the upcoming release as “dustproof and waterproof”, Panasonic have understood the need to offer durability and robustness in a high value handset. In addition to these features, images of a prototype model clearly have NFC engraved on the back which is a popular technology in Japan for sharing data and paying for goods with your smartphone. A UK release of a Panasonic smartphone sounds exciting and should add a new dimension to an already competitive market. The official unveiling of the latest Panasonic smartphone is scheduled for the World Mobile Congress in February. Join our Facebook page to keep informed of the latest news.

Samsung sell 300 million phones in 2011!

Posted: December 12th, 2011, 3:27pm CET by Annabel

Korean electronics manufacturers Samsung have reported end of year mobile phone sales of over 300 million. Comfortably beating last year’s record, Samsung have breezed past their 2010 best of 280 million units. Part of Samsung’s success can be attributed to the Galaxy S smartphone series. Q3 of the financial year reported Samsung’s first time as the largest selling smartphone manufacturer worldwide, toppling Nokia from their throne. Both the Galaxy S and Galaxy S2, running the widely popular Android OS, are reported to have contributed significantly to the record breaking year. In addition to the latest technology, Samsung also offer a wide range of budget handsets which all contribute to the record breaking year. With a Samsung Galaxy S3 release anticipated as early as February 2012, Samsung look to set to steal a head start from the iPhone 5 in the battle of the next generation smartphones. For our range of Samsung mobiles visit here.

Android Market downloads reach ten billion

Posted: December 9th, 2011, 10:02am CET by Annabel

Google have announced this week that the Android Market has reached its ten billionth app download. The popularity of the Android Market appears to be expanding at a phenomenal rate as 70% of total downloads have been obtained in the last 9 months. With no signs of slowing down, it’s expected the Android Market will soon see a regular 1 billion downloads per month; a figure which took 22 months to achieve the first billion. The success of the Android Market is largely down to the huge availability of manufacturers offering the OS on their smartphones. With 52.5% of smartphone users operating on Android, the Market is accessible to more smartphone users than any other store. Android still have some way to go before overtaking Apple as the leading app provider. The App Store announced their 15 billionth download in July earlier this year. With no recent announcement of Apples 20 billionth download, it can be implied the Android Market is fast catching App Store and could overtake for the top spot as early as next year. To celebrate the success of the Android Market, Google have announced they will showcase 10 different apps per day for a bargain 10 pence price tag. With classic apps such as Minecraft and Fruit Ninja already released as part of the celebrations, next week seems the perfect opportunity to get the hottest apps onto your Android smartphone or tablet device. To find out which apps are currently 10 pence, visit the Android Market. Alternatively find out more about Android smartphones here.

Top 5 free Android apps this Christmas

Posted: December 6th, 2011, 11:20am CET by Annabel

With Christmas just around the corner, we demonstrate how you can use your phone in a fun way to maximise your Christmas experience. Providing a dashing of festive fun, here’s five free Android apps to get you into the Christmas spirit: Christmas Radio
If you wish it could be Christmas everyday then the Christmas Radio is the perfect start to our Android apps list. The free app from BluMedialab.com will always find the music to cater your Chrimbo cravings. With over 40 xmas radio stations to choose from including traditional, rock, religious and jazz, there’s a sound to get your sleigh bells ringing. There’s even a radio station broadcasting from the North Pole! Christmas Carols
This is ideal for those who love carol singing but can’t remember the words. With a pick and mix selection of popular Christmas carols you’ll have no problem participating in the festivities. Forgotten the melody? This free app can even play you the carol, so you’ll know your Away in a Manger from your Ding Dong Merrily On High! Christmas Trivia
Think you know the traditions of Christmas? The Christmas Trivia App offers a fun way to test your knowledge on the world’s most celebrated holiday to the max. Topics covered include food, music, decorations and history. Why not set up your own profile and challenge a friend? For being educational and informative, Christmas Trivia is accepted into our Android apps list. Christmas Recipes
One of the highlights of Christmas is sharing quality time with loved ones over a delicious dinner. If you need help on the essential turkey or wish to expand your pallet with a festive desert, this Android app provides the time-tested recipes that’ll please any critic. Christmas Advent Calendar 2011
Of course before you can truly enjoy Christmas, you must endure the 25 day countdown. Lighten up the anticipation with free Android apps every day before Christmas. The Christmas Advent Calendar 2011 from MagicSolver is a great way to receive a present a day. With a range of free apps providing music, quizzes and recipes, we hope our list of top Android apps will help deliver a truly special occasion. If you’re still looking for Christmas gift ideas, we have a range of free gifts, including Android tablets, available here. If you wish to know more about Android phones check out our friendly guide. Merry Christmas!

Rumoured Facebook Phone codenamed “Buffy”

Posted: November 24th, 2011, 6:08pm CET by Annabel

Rumours suggest Facebook are teaming up with Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturer HTC to release a new handset with deep Facebook interaction within its operating system. Codenamed “Buffy” after the Vampire Slayer played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a possible Facebook phone release in the next 12 to 18 months would use a modified version of Android in a similar fashion to the way Amazon recently launched the Kindle Fire. Is a Facebook phone a viable product that would interest social media addicts? Creations such as the HTC ChaCha and the AT&T HTC Status already have their own dedicated Facebook button, allowing a user to post status updates and share multimedia content straight to their wall. Despite the innovation these mobile phones barely registered a poke against its smartphone competitors.

Such a creation may be the result of Google phones pushing their Google Plus social network and the favouritism of Twitter integration within the latest iPad updates. As neither Facebook nor HTC prefer to comment directly upon these rumours they released the following statement: “Our mobile strategy is simple: we think every mobile device is better if it is deeply social. We’re working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers to bring powerful social experiences to more people around the world.” Whether project “Buffy” turns out to be true or just a spin on the rumour mill, it seems certain Facebook are looking to continually progress their accessibility for mobile users worldwide.

No Siri for the Apple iPhone 4

Posted: November 11th, 2011, 2:52pm CET by achan

Some of you Apple iPhone fans with older models that haven’t managed to be able to bag yourself a new iPhone 4S may be disappointed. An unofficial statement was leaked from Apple’s engineering division today regarding the new personal assistant software, Siri. It looks as though there’s a strong possibility that Siri will only work on iPhone 4S with no plans to support the older generations. Now there are rumours that this could possibly be a sales and marketing strategy to keep the sales for the iPhone 4S high due to the significant drop in price for the iPhone 4. There are hackers out there though, trying their very best to port Siri over to the older devices and if they are successful, then this could prove the latter rather than it being down to technical deficit.

In the meantime though, for those of you that are looking for the new iPhone 4S, here at Mobiles.co.uk we now have it back IN STOCK. We have some great deals at the moment with the iPhone 4S 16GB free at £36 per month from Vodafone on a 24 month contract term.
Just order your iPhone 4S before 4pm Monday to Friday and you’ll receive it the next day.

Nokia Lumia 800: Return of the king

Posted: November 2nd, 2011, 12:01pm CET by Dan

So, Nokia are nowhere in the high end smartphone business having tried and failed to topple the all conquering iPhone and a slew of Android juggernauts. From the Nokia N8 to the recently released E7, the hardware has been up there with the best of them but the operating system, namely Symbian, has always been lacking. Well, at Nokia World last week, Nokia at long last announced the handset that will sport an OS to match the beautiful hardware; the Windows Phone 7 powered Nokia Lumia 800.

Taking design queues from the Nokia N9 (which sadly didn’t get a UK launch), the Lumia has a seamless one piece body and and 3.7” curved touchscreen. Not just stunning to look at, the one piece design also aids durability giving the Lumia and reliable and solid feel; this is a phone built to last. On to the touchscreen, at 3.7” it’s marginally bigger than the iPhone 4S and features eqaully impressive quality and clarity thanks to the Clear Black AMOLED technology. On the inside, the Nokia Lumia 800 is running the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile OS; Windows Phone 7.5 (or Mango) and powered by a scorching 1.4GHz processor. The aforementioned OS brings new features such as multi-tasking and copy and paste whilst the processor ensures said multi-tasking is snappy, fluent and effortless. On to apps and you’ll be pleased to know, as the fastest growing app store of any mobile OS, you should find plenty of great titles to keep you entertained on the move. Keeping in tune with Nokia’s strong heritage in camera phone technology, the Lumia 800 boasts an 8.0 Megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss

Optics, autofocus and a dual-LED flash all coming together to ensure the 800 takes stunning photos. On the video front the Lumia captures in 720p HD and deep integration with your favourite social networks (thanks to Windows Phone 7) means that uploading your pics and movies is a breeze. Want more? How about Wi-Fi, 16GB internal memory, 512MB RAM, Bluetooth, GPS, SatNav with free turn-by-turn navigation(a first for Windows Phone 7) and acess to a suite of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and Outlook. In short, this is the Nokia phone we’ve been crying out for for the past 2 years. Available to pre-order now, the Nokia Lumia 800 is launching on the 16th of November. Free from £25 per month, pre-order yours now!

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Posted: October 26th, 2011, 11:43am CEST by Nathaniel

Google have finally announced their latest Android smartphone and have made the awesome decision to allow Samsung to manufacture the Google phone. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus wont disappoint you if you were previously upset about the Nexus which was created by HTC.

The distinct advantage of owning a Galaxy S over any of the other Samsung Galaxy mobile phones is that this is the first smartphone to offer Ice Cream Sandwich (The latest Android software) which is the successor of Gingerbread. A nice new feature is the unlocking mode where you can actually unlock your phone is using face recognition and voice typing is also available which is very similar to iPhone’s Siri. Although the mobile phone looks quite compact in the photo above dont be fooled, the 4.65-inch display makes the Galaxy Nexus almost as large as the HTC Sensation XL however this is made up in thinness at only 7mm compared to the iPhone 4′s 9.3 mm and the Nexus is also 5g lighter than the Apple iPhone 4 weighing at only 135g.

If we are comparing the Galaxy Nexus to the iPhone then we will have to point out that the camera is only 5 megapixel compared to 8 megapixel cameras found in the Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4. Overall the new android mobile has its advantages over other smartphones such as the brand new software it runs on and its super AMOLED HD display which will be a significant upgrade from the Nexus S.

iPhone 4S out today!

Posted: October 14th, 2011, 4:34pm CEST by Rianna

Apple and other retailers watched in delight as thousands queued this morning to get their hands on the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S has reported to of attracted the longest ever queue for an Apple product at 778 people. Many people queuing were due to missing out on pre-ordering with their chosen network. Despite this, Apple have reported that the iPhone 4S broke the record previously held by the iPhone 4 for pre-orders. Approximately, One million pre-orders were taken for the iPhone 4S in the first 24 hours of launching and around three million of the shiny new handsets are expected to sell over the course of the weekend. The most popular variant pre-ordered and purchased has been the iPhone 4S 16GB white which is free from £41 per month on Vodafone. The most popular feature seems to be the newly introduced 8MP camera which now matches other handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S II. The next new introduction which fans are thrilled about is Siri, the new voice assistant. Siri enables iPhone 4S users to send messages, make calls and place diary entries by voice control. Some Apple stores have reported to be completely out of stock and you could be waiting 1-2 weeks before they will be getting any more. Mobiles.co.uk however still has iPhone 4S stock remaining! To receive your iPhone 4S with next day delivery just order before 4pm and make sure you use royal mail. Even if you order your phone over the weekend you’ll still receive your shiny new phone on Monday. Why wait in the cold queuing for hours, order with Mobiles.co.uk today to secure your iPhone 4S!

Mobiles.co.uk collects the award for “Best Online Retailer” at the uSwitch Mobile Awards 2011

Posted: October 12th, 2011, 4:41pm CEST by Nathaniel

Dedicated to celebrating the best of the mobile phone market, uSwitch polled the nation in their Mobile Awards Survey and enlisted the help of some of the mobile industry’s top names to form the Mobile Awards Judging Panel. And we saw some great success for both Mobiles.co.uk and Carphone Warehouse awarded:

Best Online Retailer: Mobiles.co.uk
Best Highstreet Retailer: Carphone Warehouse

In the ‘Best Online Retailer’, the judges noted: “The Mobiles.co.uk website is easy to use, offers an incredibly large range of exclusive contract deals on all the latest phones – and a fantastic selection of affordable SIM only offers and pay as you go handsets.”

Referring to ‘Best Highstreet Retailer’ category, the judges commented: “With a great selection of handsets and tariffs, knowledgeable and impartial staff, and a range of time exclusive deals, Carphone Warehouse stole the march on its high street rivals on several occasions in 2011.

Nexus Prime and Ice Cream Sandwich round up.

Posted: October 11th, 2011, 6:13pm CEST by James

Google announced that they were working on a replacement to the Nexus S last May with subsequent leaks revealing the phone will be called the Nexus Prime. Like the Nexus S it’s expected that the newest phone from Google and Samsung will be running a previously unreleased version of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Let’s have a look at what we can expect from the handset. Firstly the name, this was leaked accidently by Samsung when references to the handset were found in a list of settings on their website. The name hasn’t actually been confirmed by either Google or Samsung so this could just be a code name whilst the phone is being developed. We were expecting to see the handset revealed at the Samsung Unpacked event however this was delayed in a gesture to Steve Jobs who passed away last week. That’s as concrete as the rumours get so from here on in were basing this article on unfounded rumours and guess work. We imagine that the Nexus prime will be based largely on the ever popular Samsung Galaxy S II, as a result you can expect Dual Core processor (Maybe as powerful as 1.5GHz according to the latest rumours). An 8 mega pixel which in turn unlock full 1080p video capture. An improved screen wouldn’t be beyond the realms of reason so it could be one of the first phones to offer 720p resolution display. The place to be at the moment in terms of screen size is around 4″ which we imagine is going to be needed to get a high resolution display. We haven’t seen any leaked images on how the phone will look but the Nexus S is one of the nicest handsets on the market and we imagine the Nexus Prime won’t let down Google’s portfolio. Ice Cream Sandwich will be the latest version of Androids operating system, with most handsets now running Gingerbread 2.3 and tablets running Honeycomb 3.x it’s starting to get a bit tricky keeping up to date with the latest versions. Google are going to make this simple for us by creating an OS that runs on all devices and this is going to be Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0. As far as we know at the moment there aren’t going to be any new features but we’ll know for sure once the Nexus Prime hits the market place.

Smarten Up: Operating Systems & Choice

Posted: October 10th, 2011, 1:31pm CEST by Louis

We find ourselves at a crossroads, dear readers: a crossroads where we are forced to choose an operating system first and foremost, and (for the first time in Mobile Phone history) a manufacturer second. It used to be that we could all just go out and buy a Nokia 6310, and know that we had made the right choice. Unfortunately with the sad demise of the 6310 in 2005, we’re all in a sticky situation. We firmly believe that choice is excellent. That choice allows us to express our own individuality, to exercise self-determination, and to have the freedom to play Angry Birds on whatever mobile operating system we choose! Now, choice is all well and good in theory – but in practice it means we have to make decisions – and as humans, we’ve a long and embarrassing history of making the wrong decisions time and again. As evidence, I would like to present for your consideration: • Flared trousers
• Mixing comb-overs with cabriolets…
• Windows Mobile (and the fact that people bought them and pretended it was OK that they never worked properly)
• I could go on, but you get the idea… So we at Mobiles.co.uk have decided that in order to avoid any further embarrassment, we should provide you with as much information as possible concerning the big four mobile phone operating systems – Android , BlackBerry , iOS (on the iPhone ), and Windows Phone 7 (which promises to be at least 4000% better than Windows Mobile by virtue of the fact that it works). Check out our Smarten Up pages on the website, and let us know either via Facebook or in the comments below what you’d like to know that we haven’t yet covered. Do you want to know what all the fuss is about the Apple iPhone 5 (or will it be a 4s)? Are you deliberating over whether to buy an Android Honeycomb device or wait for an Ice Cream Sandwich? Do you struggle with what the difference between BlackBerry messenger and bog standard IM is (honestly… not a lot)? Whatever your question, we’re here to help. It’s our mission to rid the world of poor decision-making and we’re starting with Smartphones …

iPhone 4s – available on pre-order TODAY!!

Posted: October 7th, 2011, 1:28pm CEST by James

Yes folks, that’s right – as of today, you’ll be able to pre-order the iPhone 4S. We imagine right now that there are thousands of Apple fans trying to get their orders placed for the newest addition to iOS family. We’ve all seen the huge waiting lines that circle around apple stores on release day, if you don’t consider camping out all night in the pouring rain and suffering from sleep deprivation as fun then you probably should consider pre-ordering your iPhone 4S soon. But it’s ok there’s a third option that doesn’t require you to wait in any sort of queue. Apple are allowing pre-orders on their site but the starting price might be a bit high at £499.00. If you’re looking for a lower cost but with a contract we’re working FURIOUSLY to make the 16GB iPhone 4S in both black and white available to you to pre order ASAP. We’ll have the option hopefully by this afternoon which co-insides nicely with our Birthday Celebrations. As a billy bonus, if you get your order in with us today (the last official day of our birthday week), you’ll be able to get £16 cashback if you order between 16:00 and 16:16 this afternoon!! That’s the best offer we think you’ll find on-line for the 4S. Be one of the first to lay your hands on the only phone you can have a conversation with: “Suri - remind me to trade in my old iPhone at Mobiles.co.uk“… Click here for updates.

Apple iPhone 4S specs revealed.

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 12:49pm CEST by James

So it finally came the big day everybody was waiting for apple finally told the world what to expect from iPhone. On Tuesday apple announced at 6pm UK time the newest addition to the iPhone family the iPhone 4S. We’ve been providing regular updates here based on the rumours over the last 12 months since the original iPhone 4 was released in June last year. After the apple event we can admit that many of the guesses were way off the mark.

iPhone 4S Design Over the last few months we’ve reported many stories that apple’s newest iPhone was going to change significantly in design. We were expecting rounded glass and a return to the curved back. In fact we actually received the exact same phone dimensions of the iPhone 4. as a result the screen size hasn’t increased and it turns out the majority of the rumours was just that. Why did apple keep the same style? We’ll the name says it all, the iPhone 4S is simply an improved version of its current model. This is exactly the same approach Apple took with the 3G and 3GS. It makes commercial sense, this way apple gets two years of maximising on the accessories built to fit the exact shape of the iPhone 4 and production costs are kept lower as only minor changes are required to fit in all the new upgrades. We could now be looking at apples phone strategy for the next ten years with a major upgrade only coming every 2 years. (Great news for those who like to get 2 year contracts). iPhone 4S Spec The two big changes that we did get were the A5 chip which comes directly out of the iPad 2 and offers dual core technology, this

effectively doubles the speed of the iPhone 4S VS the iPhone 4. Apple has also improved the graphics processor with a significant improvement to gaming graphics. The other big upgrade is the camera. An 8mp sensor is now in place which offers full 1080p video. The lens has also been rebuilt giving you an aperture of f/2.4 allowing for better pictures in low light and greater depth perception in the 2D images. The improvement on the camera lens was unexpected, however most rumours were expecting the camera and processor upgrade which places the iPhone in a position to contend with the Android power houses such as the Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Sensation on a hardware level. We didn’t see a larger screen or any changes to the button layout which some of the more hopeful rumours were insinuating. iPhone 4S Software The surprise really came in the form of Siri, the voice activated software that we be exclusively reserved for iPhone 4S owners. Imagine having a PA who carried your phone, ask Siri to do something and she obediently performs the task in question. Want to be reminded to get a pint of milk when you drive past your local supermarket, ask Siri to set a reminder and your phone will alert you thanks to a nifty bit of GPS wizardry when you approach the local store. This is kind of difficult to illustrate the potential in words so take a look at the below video to see for yourself.
Although there aren’t any world changing enhancements to the iPhone line, what apple have done (Which they do best) is consider how you use your iPhone and improved the features that will mostly affect your experience and that’s what apple really care about. Making sure the products they supply offer you a seamless experience that actually benefits your day to day life. The iPhone 4S should be available for pre at mobiles on the 11th of October and on general sale from the 14th October. Any update on the iPhone 5 Rumours will be available right here

Mobiles.co.uk’s Sweet 16th Birthday

Posted: October 3rd, 2011, 5:28pm CEST by Nathaniel

It’s Mobiles.co.uk’s sweet 16th Birthday this week and to celebrate we are giving customers a present on us, an extra £16.00 automatic cashback when they place an order with us at 16.00 for 16 minutes on the 7th October, giving them even better value! Mobiles.co.uk was launched in 1995 and was the first UK website to sell mobile phones 16 years ago, the first to offer free gifts with your phone and the first to realise customers don’t want to wait for their free gift – they want it now, making them the first mobile phone company to send your free gift at the same time as your mobile phone!

During our birthday week why not sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest mobile news, offers and giveaways and be entered into our birthday prize draw for the opportunity to win a free gift of your choice from a long list of fantastic gadgets including a 32 inch Toshiba HDTV, HP Netbook, PlayStation 3 slim, HTC Flyer, BlackBerry Torch 9800 and a Nintendo 3DS to name just a few! Head over to Facebook where we will be giving away a birthday cake to one lucky follower every day until the 7th October.Simply follow us, answer a question and wait to see if you’re a winner! Following mobiles.co.uk on Facebook and Twitter gives you the chance to get exclusive offers, prizes and be the first to hear of all our competitions and best deals. And don’t forget to check out our birthday page here and join in on the fun!

Android in a nutshell

Posted: September 30th, 2011, 11:10am CEST by Matt

Google Android. That little green robot has been propping up everywhere recently but what’s it all about and why is it the fastest growing smartphone operating system in the market right now? Simply put Android is an operating system for smartphones (and now tablet PC’s) developed by Google in 2008 as the answer to the continued dominance of Apple’s award winning iPhone. It didnt quite work out that way initially but nowadays Android is the word on everyones lips with many smartphone manufacturers from HTC and Samsung turning to Google’s product to run their latest phones. The Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Desire HD, Sony Ericsson Xperia Play have all been big handsets in the last several months and all of them have shipped with varying updates of the Android operating system (we’ve had versions ranging from Cupcake all the way through to Ice Cream Sandwich so far – we’re thinking someone at Google has a sweet tooth!)
But there’s more than just the cute names and funny robot – Android OS can run multiple applications at the same time, whether in built apps or those from Android Market. Listen to music whilst browsing the internet, play a game whilst also on facebook, mutli-tasting is effortless on Android and with the introduction of new dual-core handsets like the Galaxy S II, this is only set to get easier.

Talking on the Android Marketplace – Googles apps store now boasts over 250,000 3rd party applications ready to download to your phone and improve your mobile phone experience. From the hugely popular Angry Birds puzzle game (they’re angry over evil green pigs stealing their eggs apparently) to apps like Shazam which identifies a song on the radio for you – Android have catered for all smarpthone needs – entertainment, productivity, Utility and communication. And that’s not even mentioning all the built in apps like Facebook, Twitter and Google Maps. But it’s not just Google Maps – one of Android’s biggest selling points is it’s full Google integration including Gmail, Google Talk,, YouTube, Google Calendar, and Google Search. Oh and not to forget Google Goggles! So that’s it – Android in a nutshell. There’s plenty more features of the little green robot but we won’t ruin the fun of finding them out for yourself. But if you are after more information be sure to check out our new Android OS page as part of our ‘Smarten up’ campaign or check out all our latest Android phones here.

Apple: “let’s talk iPhone” World: “About time!”

Posted: September 28th, 2011, 11:01am CEST by Dan

Ever since the iPhone 4 first hit shelves last Summer, questions, rumours, theories and more have been circlating concerning what Apple had planned for its successor. Will it have a bigger screen? NFC? 3D tech on board? Will it be called the iPhone 5 to mirror the world beating features or will it carry a 4S moniker to match a more incremental spec bump (akin to Ipad vs. iPad 2)? All these questions and more have been on the tip of consumers tongues for over a year and all look set to be answered on Tuesday 4th of October with Apple’s announcement that they will be holding a press conference in less than a week with the non too cryptic tag line of “Let’s Talk iPhone”.

Exciting stuff indeed. So what will the Cupertino outfit unveil on Tuesday to match the already announced (and already impressive) iOS5? Well, in short,we don’t know. But, you can bet your house on us being on hand to cover the press conference in full, live as it unfolds, to bring you all the details. What we do know is that the competitive landscape for smartphones has certainly stepped up a notch since the iPhone 4’s debut back in June. Android’s finest wares – namely the Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Sensation – give the iPhone 4 a real run for its money and in many cases out-punch and out-gun their fruit baring rival. If Apple want to regain their position at the top of the smartphone pile, the iPhone 5/4S will have its work cut out. Based on previoius experience, we wouldn’t bet against them. So Apple, want to talk iPhone? The world’s listening. Sign up for the next generation iPhone news here

Meizu to produce first Quad Core Android Mobile

Posted: September 28th, 2011, 10:25am CEST by blogstaff

Handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Sensation and Apple Iphone demonstrate the capabilities of the devices now common place in our market but the cores just keep on coming with news emerging that Meizu are set to release the worlds first quad core mobile handset from the end of September.

There is not a great deal of details available at this time regarding the device and it is rumoured unlikely to reach the UK, however it still represents another landmark in the mobile handset market. Information that has been obtained states that under the hood it is likely to be running with the A9 quad core processor, boast 32 GB of internal storage, a 4.3 inch screen and hopefully a few more surprises. It is rumoured to be running on google’ android operating system and I am sure a lot more information will become available when the device finally gets into customers hands. We will as always keep you posted for further updates and if mobiles.co.uk receives any stock.

HTC Sensation XE – The First Hip Hop Smartphone with Beat’s Audio™

Posted: September 27th, 2011, 10:38am CEST by Nathaniel

The brand new HTC Sensation XE has been announced by innovative Taiwanese manufacturer since striking a $300 million deal with Beats Electronics™ (a joint venture between hip hop rapper Dre and Interscope chief) HTC have improved one of their latest super-multimedia smartphones : the original HTC Sensation and have engineered the mobile to deliver an extraordinary sound experience - ”just like the artist intended” with Beat’s Audio™ integrated. The new XE sports a red trim compared to the original HTC Sensation and a beats audio badge on the reverse. The android smartphone is powered by a 1.5Ghz dual core processor and has the same size screen as the original Sensation with a 4.3″ display touchscreen however the battery is larger (1750mAh) to accommodate the audio capabilities. The custom beats audio headphones allow you to shuffle through music tracks with the remote, HTC have also integrated a sound profile which comes to life when these special head phones are plugged into the mobile.

Current HTC Sensation users wont be chucking their mobiles in the bin for the new XE unless they are from the west coast or just hardcore dr dre fans but HTC have caught another gap in the market signing with beats audio which makes you question whether you would rather chuck your cheap ipod in the bin instead and experience “sensational” sound from your new smartphone.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S – The New, Faster Xperia Arc

Posted: September 26th, 2011, 12:07pm CEST by Nathaniel

Sony Ericsson launched a smartphone in October and called it the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and now they have improved this brilliant Xperia mobile and released the new Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, Judging from most performance cars we can safely assume the letter “S” means faster a bit like the porsche turbo S being faster then the porsche turbo, it turns out we were correct and the new Arc S is pumped with a 1.4 Ghz processor compared to its predecessor which clocked at 1Ghz.

The Xperia Arc S has a 2d to 3d converter which lets you take photos and use ” 3d sweep panorama” application to display 2d photos in 3d if you plug it into a 3d tv or any other 3d display using a hdmi port. Sony Ericsson have maintained the reliable operating software for the Arc S which runs on Android OS gingerbread 2.3 and sustains all the hardware features the original Arc did including ultra thinness at 8.7mm. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is available in an array of colours : pure white, gloss black, misty silver, sakura pink and midnight blue. So what does this mean for current sony ericsson xperia arc ? Cheaper deals? yes ! you can now get the sony ericsson xperia arc free on a 12 month contract, (yes they still exist and are growing fast) for £30 a month plus 6 months free line rental by redemption. If you are weary of free line rental deals then take a good read of our new cashback page which actually has a cashback calculator where you can find out everything you need to know about claiming back without having the make any phone calls or send any emails to verify details. If you want the Xperia Arc now then take a look at the cheap deals available on o2, orange, vodafone, talkmobile, 3 and Tmobile here alternatively check back and find the Arc S very soon

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc price crash!

Posted: September 23rd, 2011, 10:41am CEST by Dan

With the smartphone market moving so quickly, manufacturers have, at best, 1 month at the top of the pile before their flagship launch is superceded with the next big thing. Bad news for the manufacturers? Perhaps. Good news for consumers? Definitely. Case in point; the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. Released back in April, still incredibly competitive in terms of spec and still arguably one of the best looking smartphones on the market right now. Just 6 short months have passed since the Xperia Arc first hit our virtual shelves and Sony’s best Android offering has now had its price slashed and can be picked up for a fraction of the original cost. The Xperia Arc is a stunning specimen. 4.2 inch LCD touchscreen display employing Sony’s mobile Bravia engine to bring the best out of your videos and photos. Check. 8 Megapixel camera with Sony’s Exmor digital camer technology on board. Check. Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) powered by a stunning 1GHz processor. Check and mate. And that’s just for starters. The Xperia Arc truly is a multimedia monster with the aforementioned camera capable of HD video capture and an HDMI port letting you enjoy your masterpiece on the big screen. Elsewhere the Xperia Arc features all the trimmings ubiquitous with the latest smartphones; Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPS (with Google Maps’ free turn-by-turn sat nav solution) and all packed in a stunning form factor with head turning looks and a barely there 8.7mm thickness. Available on a range of incredible deals across 12, 18 and 24 month contracts (Click here to take a look), whatever you’re after you should find it available on the Silver Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc.

sim free mobile phones – Freedom and Flexibility!

Posted: September 22nd, 2011, 12:59pm CEST by Eric

Many mobile users have got their handset free of charge as part of a pay monthly contract. This can keep them tied to the same deal for up to two years and whilst it may be tempting it is certainly not for everyone. Other people get pay as you go mobiles direct from a network and these suffer from a similar problem in that you will not be able to change providers without going through unlocking-based hassle. This is why sim free mobile phones are the only solution for anyone who wants true freedom of choice and network independence.

Sim free phones are available to everyone and you will be buying the handset outright, so there is no need to pay off its costs over a lengthy contract. Sim free mobiles are also never tied down to a specific provider. As such you can pop in any sim card and start using the service almost immediately. You will need to pair sim free phones with sim only deals. These involve the network of your choice sending you nothing more than a tiny sim card which you can then insert into your sim free handset and start enjoying whatever benefits that are featured in the tariff of your choice. Sim only deals are available on both pay as you go and pay monthly-style tariffs, but the biggest bonus is you can cancel at any time as the pay monthly deals will have a 30 day rolling contract. These deals are usually much cheaper than equivalent offers which include a free mobile and a fixed term contract, so you save money in the long run. Many different models are available as sim free mobiles which includes not only high end smartphones but mid range handsets like the HTC Desire or budget options like the Samsung Tocco Lite. Here the upfront payments will be much lower than if you are opting for a cutting edge device and you can still enjoy all of the freedom you would expect from a sim only deal. There are also many deals for sim free tablet PCs which take advantage of your home wireless, public networks or tethering with your Smartphone to go online. Great sim free deals on tablet PCs include the HTC Flyer and Motorola Xoom.

Vodafone and O2 offer free wifi hotspot using your mobile phone.

Posted: September 21st, 2011, 2:07pm CEST by Richard

Using your phone as a wifi hoptspot to connect your laptop or tablet to the internet is also known as Data Tethering which is now included on all data enabled O2 and Vodafone tariffs. If you purchase a new contract mobile phone from Mobiles.co.uk and it’s connected to either the O2 or Vodafone network then you will be entitled to use you inclusive mobile data to set up a mobile wifi hotspot! Using your mobile phone as a modem has become ever popular in recent years and it is a great way to keep you connected while on the move. You can sync most devices via Bluetooth or a standard USB cable however the majority of smart phones today allow you to connect via wifi making it really simple to get on-line. Once connected you can use your laptop wherever you get mobile signal to browse the web, download e-mails, Skype or watch YouTube. The best part is that you don’t pay any additional monthly charges and any data consumed comes out of your already allocated monthly allowance. O2 spouted an interesting fact stating that 70% of all new O2 customers select a smartphone when taking a new contract. All of these consumers will undoubtedly be enjoying internet on the move so clearly O2 have stood up and taken note of their users requirements to use their data allowances ever more flexibly. It is yet to be seen how many people will begin tethering as a result but as I am sure you’ll agree, it’s nice to know that you can. Vodafone users will also be happy with the news that their network no longer differentiates between device only and mobile wifi hotspot data consumption. However Vodafone do urge their customers to take note of the fact that tethering will see the average user burn through their data more quickly than one would via standard usage. Take a look at the below video to see how simple it is to tether from an Android handset. Data tariffs are available on O2 from as little as £13.50 monthly and Vodafone’s data offerings begin from just £15.50.

Pre-Order BlackBerry Curve 9360 now.

Posted: September 20th, 2011, 3:32pm CEST by Dean

BlackBerry has announced its newest additions to its budget range with the BlackBerry Curve 9360, the obvious choice for those with a slightly worn out Curve 9300 or 8520. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is in keeping with the Curve range with a QWERTY keyboard and touch sensitive optical trackpad. It features a 2.44 inch, a 5 mega pixel camera with geo-tagging, an 800MHz processor, 512 MB of storage (up to 32GB with a micro SD card) and 512MB RAM. The Blackberry 9360 fulfils all of your social needs with the latest version of BBM, facebook and twitter feeds included and the ability to send and receive emails instantly so you’ll never miss out. The BlackBerry 9360 runs on the all new BlackBerry OS 7.0 which gives you a smoother scrolling and browsing experience. It has a voice-activated search which allows you to search for music, contacts and more! The device is NFC-enabled (Near Field Communication), opening a whole new world of connectivity. NFC allows you to make a payment straight from your mobile, which is great if you’ve left your wallet at home. The BlackBerry 9360 may not have the specs to compete with BlackBerry’s high end handsets such as the 9900 or Torch 9860, but that’s not to say it’s not an impressive phone. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is now available to pre-order on Vodafone and it’s free from only £20.50 p/m.

Smarten up, get to know your smartphone. First up iOS

Posted: September 19th, 2011, 3:35pm CEST by Nathaniel

Do you need to get to know your smartphone? Do you find yourself not knowing anything about it and feel embarrassed when your friends sit and chat for hours about their favourity apps whilst you sit in silence because you only use your iphone for calls ,texts and angry birds? It’s ok friend, mobiles.co.uk is here to save you and give you a good lesson in “getting to know your smartphone” with our new multi-os campaign. This week is iOS (the apple iphone operating system) The latest campaign introduced by mobiles.co.uk will be focusing on 4 key smartphone groups and their relevant operating systems: The Multi-OS campaign has launched with its first smartphone in the range being the iPhone iOS.
Each week we will be hosting a different mobile phone operating system and educating the market on how these work and the key benefits and features of each one.
The initial launch of the multi-os campaign has started with the apple iphone iOS, other operating system’s included in this will be Android, Win Phone 7 and Blackberry OS. For example, This week’s iOS campaign for the apple iPhone operating system consists of key selling points such as itunes store, face time and even the “find my iPhone” application. Not only will the new campaign introduce the systems to people who don’t know about them or ones that use them and want to find out more, we will also be offering special deals each week for their respective handsets such as latest deals on the iPhone.

BlackBerry 9860 Torch Available Now! Read now for the best mobile phone deals online.

Posted: September 16th, 2011, 5:14pm CEST by James

It’s only been available on pre-order a couple of weeks but the eagerly awaited BlackBerry 9860 is in stock now at mobiles.co.uk. For those who don’t know the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is RIM’s proper touch screen phone (or all-touch as they call it), dropping their trademark QWERTRY keyboard in favour of a 3.7 inch capacitive touch screen making it the largest in Blackberry’s range and even bigger than the iPhone 4. At the same time though it’s also BlackBerry’s thinnest phone And this slender smartphone is crammed full of features. It ships with BlackBerry’s Updated OS 7 with improved graphics (see below) and browsing. Other features include a 1.2Ghz processor, 5 mega-pixel camera and then there’s of course the hugely popular BlackBerry Messenger updated to version 6. The 9860 also boasts Liquid Graphics™ which provides smoother rendering and fluid graphics when combined with the high resolution screen – making it the prettiest BlackBerry to date. Available on Vodafone and now O2, the new touchscreen only BlackBerry device is free from £31 per month with 300 minutes, unlimited texts plus that all important chunk of data allowance capping at 500MB. Alternatively, get it ever so slightly cheaper on o2 24 month contract with 4 months half price. This deal offers the same inclusive bundle at effectively £29.33 per month via our cashback by redemption scheme. If you’re not ready for full touch screen then be sure to check out the coming soon BlackBerry Torch 9810 which is a hybrid of touch screen technology and traditional keyboard or click here for the best deals on the 9860.

Android News Round Up: The Jelly Bean, Dr Dre, Sensation XE And Runnymede Edition

Posted: September 15th, 2011, 5:02pm CEST by Mark

Don’t worry, we haven’t completely lost our marbles here at Mobiles, there is a very good reason (three in fact) that we’ve listed such a random combination of words in the title. First up, the moniker for the incarnation of Android following Ice Cream Sandwich has supposedly been leaked and as expected, follows the traditional confectionary based naming convention that we’ve all grown quite acustom to. Say hello to Android Jelly Bean. According to ‘ThisIsMyNext‘, Google are already planning and working on the successor to Ice Cream Sandwich but quite how it fits in the line up remains to be seen. All we know is, we’re still looking forward to the delicious delights that Ice Cream Sandwich brings to the table with the rumours that it’ll be the first combined OS optimised to work flawlessly on both Tablets and Smartphones and should go along way to address the fragmentation issues that continue to plague Android.

Next up, following the acquisition of Beats Audio by HTC, we have the Official announcement of the first ever handset to benefit from the new found collaboration with the creators of the Beats by Dre range. This is the HTC Sensation XE, which for all intents and purposes is a slightly souped up HTC Sensation; a phone which we praised heavily already. The Sensation XE is said to benefit from a clever piece of software, refreshed UI and of course, the obligatory Dr. Dre endorsed headphones which offers the ‘ultimate mobile audio experience’ according to HTC. On top of this, the Sensation XE’s processor clock speed has been upped to 1.5GHz versus the 1.2GHz in the Sensation (or rather, the HTC Sensation was downclocked originally from 1.5GHz to 1.2GHz) on top of which HTC have incorporated a larger 1730mAh battery, included a 16GB or 32GB SD card and have given the Sensation XE a lick of red paint and a bebo-esque red logo on the back casing.

Finally, we have the strangest item of news in the form of another HTC handset ground from the rumor mill and this one really should be filed with a pinch of salt or rather, some of the details should be. This is said to be the HTC Runnymede, which as far as we can tell is an Android touting HTC Titan that we featured earlier in the month. Specs are said to include a single core 1.5GHz processor, 8MP rear camera with dual LED Flash, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a whopping 4.7inch WVGA screen and the obvious Beats upgrades. Where things start looking a little odd to us, is with the screen shot that’s shown in the supposed HTC press shots. Look closely at the bottom dock bar, looking specifically at the on-screen buttons in the bottom left and bottom right hand corner. We could be wrong, but we can’t recall ever seeing a Sense version that looked like this. Chances are that someone has just photoshopped a poor choice of screenshot onto the Runnymede but what we really don’t understandis the decision to use a single core 1.5GHz processor on a phone which would normally be considered a flagship with it’s huge 4.7 inch screen. We’ll keep digging to see what else we can uncover, so keep an eye on the blog for more details.

What will iOS5 offer you

Posted: September 14th, 2011, 3:39pm CEST by Zoe

In the last week there have been lots of stories floating around regarding the latest version of Apple’s iPhone software (iOS 5). Apparently the networks have been sent official versions of the software the latest software and some vloggers are even showing ways to add the latest version of the OS to your phone We know that the latest Apple operating system IOS 5 is coming soon but what does it actually do? IOS 5 boasts over 200 new features for you to get to grips with, helping you to stay ahead of the crowd with an even more advanced phone than ever before! Notification Centre
With texts, emails and social media messages coming in to your iPhone keep track of them all in one location with Apples new Notification Centre. Now you will never miss out on that all important message with the ability to swipe down on the screen to enter the notification centre, customisable by you to see which notifications you want to see without interrupting what you are doing. iMessage If messaging is your thing then iMessage will be perfect for you. IMessage is a new messaging service for all IOS 5 users. Keep up to date on the go and send unlimited text messages, photos and videos via Wi-Fi or 3G. If organising your friends is your thing then keep everyone in the loop with group messaging and see when your messages have been delivered and read. Newsstand
Have magazine and newspaper subscriptions on your iPhone? Then Newsstand lets you access all your publications quickly and easily all in one place. As new issues come out, Newsstand will automatically update them ready and waiting for your next visit with all the latest covers. Enhanced Camera + Photos
Why settle for less than perfect photos? Photo enhancements allow users on iOS 5 to use their creative flair and turn off the cuff snaps into wall-worthy masterpieces. iOS 5 offers the ability to Crop, rotate, enhance and remove red-eye all within the photo app. The Auto Enhance feature transforms your poorly lit photos into studio quality images. All of your photos are then backed up directly to your iCloud for safekeeping or why not push your new and improved images to all of your IOS devices. PC Free
Don’t have a PC? No worries with PC free it cuts the cord between your iOS device and your home computer. In the past you would need to plug your iOS device into a Mac or PC to set it up, now this can all be performed wirelessly without the need of a Mac or PC. Sync with your computer and move your music and movies about all via wifi. (And of course everything is backed up to your iCloud). Free iOS software updates can also be downloaded directly to your device. iCloud
iCloud is like having a hard drive in the sky which your Apple phone can sync with. Not only is your iOS device backed up to Apple’s server but your home computer and other iOS devices are also updated. What this means is if you lose or damage your device none of your media or data will be lost and can instantly be restored on any replacement iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac. On top of this iTunes Match offers a fast and easy way to back up your music library. Click here for more info. It seems IOS 5 is to be the most extensive software update ever, offering you even more freedom to do the things you love on the go effortlessly.
Take a look at our Apple iOS page here to learn more and compare against over operating systems to find the perfect Smartphone for you.

iPhone 5 Price in UK predictions and rumours

Posted: September 13th, 2011, 11:05am CEST by Eric

Few pundits would dare predict the iPhone 5 price in the UK with so many factors affecting cost. The factors affecting price will have to include how technically different the device is, the change in design and how competitive the market is.

There have been many iPhone 5 rumours and we have reported that the specs are likely to be highly superior to its predecessor with dual core processing, 1 GB of RAM and improved camera/video capabilities. All this comes at a cost that Apple either absorbs or passes on to consumers. Another factor that will have bearing on the iPhone 5 price is whether it will come equipped with 4g LTE chip. This rumour spread following reports that Apple stores were being outfitted to test LTE. But Apple seems to have put the idea to bed with new CEO, Tim Cook, coming out and saying the chip would make the handset too bulky at its current state. Also it is thought the current cost of LTE chip would push the iPhone 5 cost beyond the favourable price point. As far as design is concerned the big talk has been whether iPhone 5 will have a curved back and a bigger 4” screen. Leaked photos from the wintek manufacturing plant seem to suggest the iPhone 5 will have a bigger full 4” screen but we don’t expect this to have much bearing on price. The main pricing factor will probably be competition. One should note that the iPhone 5 is being launched in a far more crowded market than its predecessor so many competing Smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC sensation and LG Optimus 3D are very credible alternatives at a reasonable price. Android is now the leading OS in the market by sheer number of devices and with upgrade of the software to ice cream sandwich this will give iPhone 5 a stiff competition. The iPad 2 launch has taught many industry watchers about Apples thinking regarding pricing. Many expected the increased iPad 2 features to come at a premium but Apple threw a curve ball to Galaxy tab and other competing tablets by releasing at same price as the first version. This is great for the gadget fans as it leads to a price crash of the previous tech putting it within reach of many more consumers such as great iPhone 4 deals. The best prediction for the iPhone 5 handset price in the UK is around £510 for the 16 GB and £612 for the 32 GB which is similar to iPhone 4 at launch. The contract best prices are likely to be around £189 for 16 GB and £280 for the 32 GB on an 18 month £35 monthly tariff. In general Apple has increased its product prices in the UK in line with increase in VAT to 20 percent so we should expect to pay a bit more for the iPhone 5. However there could be another price point following more rumours of a 64 GB prototype version. It is difficult to imagine what most people would do with 64 GB on a mobile phone device but may be possible with prices of storage falling. So the most likely prediction is that Apple will repeat the idea of keeping the iPhone 5 launch price the same as its predecessor while upping the technology in the product. You can be notified of the iPhone 5 price in UK as soon as we know it by registering on our Apple iPhone page.

Best Mobile Network For University.

Posted: September 12th, 2011, 6:52pm CEST by James

If your off to uni soon it’s fairly easy to pick the handset you want, you’ve probably got preferences from past experience of which phone brand you like and which you don’t, you’ve seen the features on your friends phones or maybe, like me, you trawl through the Internet picking up all the rumours and just want the latest gadgets regardless of whether or not you’ll use the new features. Either way you’ve most likely found the phone you want. Now it’s time to consider what Network you should get it on. Many don’t even consider this, they’ve had their mobile with the same provider for years and are more than happy with the service they’ve received. However for many students heading off to university this is the first time that you’ll be spending significant time away from home. If your uni is more than an hour’s journey from home you might find that the signal in your new accommodation isn’t up to the standard you’re used to. The last thing you want is to be tied into a two year contract with a provider who’s got a patchy service where you’ll be spending two thirds of the year. (You don’t want to miss out on spur of the moment house party’s and cinema trips just because you didn’t have any signal.) Here’s a few tips you can follow that might save you from being “cut off”. Local Knowledge is always best, later we’ll talk about how you can check the network coverage remotely from your computer at home but these really aren’t full proof. What they don’t account for is if there any obstacles between you and the mast that might be blocking signal. The best way to find out the best signal for uni is to ask people who live in the local area and ask somebody subjective. Luckily Carphone Warehouse stores are spread throughout the country and you’re likely to find one near your university. As they offer all the major phone networks they shouldn’t be biased so give them a call and ask if they know which network offers the strongest signal in the area. Secondly you could speak to the student union. Most universities have unions made up of current or ex-students and they’ll be more than happy to let you know what their experiences are. Once you’ve done this research you then have another two sources of information. The first offers a biased view, the networks coverage map. All the networks offer coverage maps of the uk, simply type your networks name and coverage map into Google and the first link will probably give you the information you’re looking for. The problem with this method is that the data on these pages hasn’t been tested. For example it might show you have amazing signal at your new uni, this is because they know a mast is close by and should cover your new accommodation. What they haven’t done unfortunately is driven to every postcode in the country to check the signal. As this is the case this information is really hypothetical. The next option you have is to go to [www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk] . Site finder shows you exactly which masts are near your uni and who looks after them. From this you should be able to find two or three masts and decide which network has the best

signal for you. It might be worth bearing in mind however that in your second year you’ll be moving out of student halls into a rented house so take a look at the wider area and see who has the most masts in the area. You can also see what type of masts they are GSM or UMTS. GSM is the older technology that gives you good signal but not so good for data, UMTS sites offer the 3G speeds so great for internet type functions on your phone. If you think you’re going to use the internet on your phone you probably want to look for a network with a local UMTS mast. The issue with this system is the same as before, although you could be living right next to a mast if your building is made of reinforced concrete signal might not penetrate the fortified walls. The other draw back to site finder is that the site doesn’t show if the mast is actually functioning. You might not be aware of this but masts break down all the time. We don’t notice as usually if this happens there is another mast nearby that you’ll use instead. If you choose a network based solely on the fact that they have one 3G mast next to your uni, it’s possible that it might not be switched on and you won’t get the signal you were expecting. The masts are constantly being repaired but we don’t recommend putting all of your eggs into one basket As you can see there isn’t a sure fire way of checking you’ll get good signal at uni but if you follow at least two of these tips you should find yourself with plenty of signal to keep in touch with your family back home and more importantly, with enough signal to meet up with your new friends at uni. If you want to see what offers we have for students check out the following page and why not enter our competition to win a student survival kit over on our Facebook page. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

What are the best pay as you go deals?

Posted: September 9th, 2011, 1:12pm CEST by Rianna

Pay-as-you-go was originally an expensive and unexciting proposition. Now it comes with top-up incentives that can offer anything up to unlimited texts with a small monthly top-up. With everyone off to school and university, pay-as-you-go can be really beneficial financially. So which network is best for you? Well it depends on what you like to do with your phone as each network offers slightly different perks, so apart from obviously getting the best signal what else should you be considering? Take a look below to see how much bang you can get for your buck as we highlight what you get when you top up with either a £10 or £15 top up. (Apart from £10 or £15 pounds worth of calls of course)

With every monthly top-up of £10, O2 provide 300 free texts and 500MB of data with unlimited Wi-Fi access. O2 rewards is an incentive rewarding customers for the amount they top up every 6 month period. Customers receive 5% back on all their top-ups in the first 6 months and then 10% back thereafter. O2 priority offers customers a 48 hour window before general release to purchase tickets for gigs at the O2 arena. Perfect for students! Parents can also ensure that their kids don’t run out of credit by logging on to O2 and setting up automatic top-ups up.

Orange offers 300 free texts and 100MB of internet with a monthly top-up of £10. Unlimited texts rewards can also be added for £5 and can be activated by texting ‘TEXTS 5’ to 6620 from your Orange pay-as-you-go sim. The ever popular ‘Orange Wednesday’ offers 2 for 1 cinema tickets and 2 for 1 pizza express meals for you to share with friends and family. Lastly, Orange now offer ‘Film-to-go’ which is a free movie rental service via iTunes. Great for saving if your on a tight budget.

With a monthly £10 top-up, T-Mobile offer 100 minutes or unlimited texts. To access these great offers you will need to either text ‘TEXT’ or ‘TALK’ to 146 to switch to your plan of choice. One other plan which is available is their international plan, as before text ‘INT MONTH’ for this to be applied. The international plan provides you with 60 free international minutes to be used with 65 different countries, so great if your studying in the uk from overseas and want to keep in touch with your family back home. A chargeable internet booster is available for £5 a month and includes 500MB of data, the same amount of data which is available on most pay monthly services!

Virgin offer 300 free texts with every monthly top-up of £10. There’s also a bonus for all uni students possessing a NUS extra card – 15% discount on all top-ups! That’s a saving of £1.50 which equates to one cheap beverage or a loaf of bread and a tin of beans depending on your preference. If you’re a customer of virgin media then you can also benefit from free virgin to virgin calls. To activate this service you need to call 789.

As a Vodafone customer, you can receive 300 free texts and 500MB of data when you top up £10 a month. 1000 minutes are also up for grabs for those chatterbox’s who run up your phone bills, to activate the free minutes you are required to call 4352.

For all you text addicts, TalkMobile offers unlimited free texts when you switch your talk plan to ‘textmania’. Alternatively, you can apply the international plan and receive 75 free international minutes to call those loved ones abroad. These incentives are available when you top up £10 per month. TalkMobile are the only network to offer free voicemail if you are unable to answer your phone at school! Lifesaver is as it says on the tin… offering an extra £1 worth of credit for the times when you need it. This is then paid back once you next top-up your phone.

Lastly, Three offers the equivalent of a pay monthly tariff when you top-up up a slightly higher amount of £15 per month. For £15, you get 300 minutes, 3000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for you social butterflies! Now Facebooking doesn’t have to cost the earth on pay-as-you-go. Skype to Skype calls, Windows messenger and Twitter are all free with no need to top-up. This really is great value considering that you get pretty much a pay monthly service on pay as you go meaning if you need to save a bit of money for a month you can skip a top up and pick up where you left off the following month. So as you can see each network offers different perks that will appeal to different people. Why net tell us in the comments below which networks you think offer the best pay as you go incentives in the comments below!

Xperia Ray in Stock

Posted: September 9th, 2011, 12:41am CEST by James

Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to a swanky Sony Ericsson Event in the west end, apart from getting an intimate performance from Emeli Sande and a up close and personal mind trip from Magician Impossible, Dynamo. I also got to play with the Newley Released Xperia Ray. (I took one picture so please excuse the low level mood lighting). The Xperia Ray is essentially the Xperia Arc on a diet. As soon as the handset was placed in my hand I started to second guess if this was actually an Android handset. The phone is very slim at only 9.4 mm so is .1mm thicker then the iPhone 4 and a total of 9mm smaller in width and height, honestly it did seem nice to hold a reasonably sized smartphone again that I could wrap my entire hand around. Unfortunately due to those damned laws of physics the screen measures 3.3 inches. Compared to the iPhone thats only .2 inches smaller but is almost a whole inch smaller then the Xperia Arc. But the question is, is it still useable? In short yes. The smaller screen really doesn’t affect the experience when playing games and watching movies, the on screen keyboard might be slightly less useable especially if you’ve got big hands but if you do, then the Arc is probably more suited to your anatomy. You also get an 8 Mega pixel Camera that produces images at a resolution of 3264 x 2488 pixels and includes auto focus and an LED flash. Sony Ericsson also had some pretty special software running on most of their Android handsets. The software is said to be an update coming soon to most of their recent releases. The Xperia Ray comes with Gingerbread 2.3 installed which is currently the latest version, but 2.3.4 which was being show cased comes with “3D sweep panorama” What’s that then? Well, what it does is takes 3D images using it’s single camera. Simply boot the camera and hold your phone in the air, sweep it from right to left (Or left to right if you’d prefer) and voila you have a 3D image. The only drawback being you’ll need to plug the camera into a 3D Sony TV to see the 3D image as no Sony Ericsson phones currently have a 3D display. So on one hand it’s not very practical but on the other is a really amazing software trick that you mates Samsung doesn’t have! One up for Sony Ericsson. Another little Software tweak is Facebook integration. I was shown two nice little features that offer an

improved way of sharing stuff with your friends. Firstly the music player (See badly lit photo) has a dedicated thumbs up button. Press this and the track your listening to gets uploaded to your Facebook wall, not revolutionary but a nice touch and allows you to let your friends know how incredible cool you are without ever leaving the music app. Secondly from the home screen when you hold your finger on an app you don’t just get the option to remove it as with most Android handsets, you also get an option to share the app on your Facebook wall. This is quite a unique way of using Facebook share with most sharing services reserved for music, videos and pictures. It’s really about time that apps got the same treatment. Apart from that you get all the mod cons, wifi, bluetooth SD memory card slot, 1.4 GHz processor, HDMI port, YouTube support, FM stereo etc. The Xperia ray really packs a lot into a stylish little smartphone. And the best news of all, it’s currently available right now at mobiles.co.uk free from £25 pounds per month.

HTC Titan and HTC Radar Coming Soon

Posted: September 7th, 2011, 5:59pm CEST by James

This week HTC announced two Windows 7 phones the Titan and the Radar. Windows phones are still set to be a big contender in the market place with with Nokia expected to adopt the OS onto all their Smartphones from Q3. We’re big fans of HTC here at Mobiles.co.uk with the Android Sensation being one of our most loved phones this year. Lets see if they’ve done it again for Windows. The HTC Radar

Size The Radar is the smaller of the two measuring 120.5 x 61.5 x 10.9 mm, so in comparison to other HTC’s your looking at a similar size to the HTC Desire S. With that you get a 3.8 inch display that offers 480 by 800 pixels. Nothing revolutionary here but defiantly not under delivering. Specs Inside we’ve got a 1 GHz Scorpion processor found in most Android smartphones currently available, a healthy 5 megapixel camera, auto focus and a flash LE.D. The camera’s images will be a maximum of 2560 x 1920 pixels and 720p video at 30 frames per second. Again a solid performance so far. 8GB of internal storage and 512MB of ram as well as a sleuth of other features wifi b/g/n, Bluetooth v2.1 and a stereo radio. The big difference is the lack of an external memory card. This is due to the Windows operating system which doesn’t allow for the swapping over of memory cards without a full format. Software The Radar is going to come with windows 7.5 (Mango) which is the much anticipated updated to the original windows 7 software and will bring some essential updates such as multitasking, social media integration and maps. On top of the Windows update HTC have added some spice of their own with the HTC watch application. This offers owners of the handset access to premium music and video content directly to their handset which is streamed over Wifi and 3G. This is quite similar to the iTunes app found on iPhones and iPads, time will tell how popular this feature will be and will mainly judged on content and cost. Next up the HTC Titan

This isn’t the first windows phone from HTC to have this name although the previous model was launched under network specific pseudonyms (Orange SPV M3100 for example). In it’s day the original Titan (Or tytn as it was cleverly branded) was the cream of the crop for, although compared to today’s standards it was pretty horrific. Lets see how it stands up. Size Well as the name suggests it’s a big phone. The Titan is 131.5 x 70.07 x 9.9mm so the biggest windows phone yet. Larger still then the HD7, you’re going to notice this in your pocket however for that you get a 4.7 inch display which is pretty impressive. The pixels displayed is 480 x 800 so not a higer resolution then the Radar but if your eye sight isn’t the best we’re sure you’ll appreciate the extra inch. Specs Thanks to the larger form factor you get a 1.5 GHz processor which is the fastest from HTC and Windows 7. Although not dual core 1.5GHz is more then enough to process any mobile operations with ease. You also get an 8 mega pixel camera offering images with a resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels, auto focus and L.E.D flash. You also get a front facing 1.3 mega pixel camera for video calls and using as a mirror. 16GB of internal memory and 512mb of ram, although again you’re not able to get external memory cards due to the operating system. Software All of the above, the HTC titan comes with windows 7.5 Mango as well and getting the HTC watch software on top so a pretty solid phone all round. Final Thoughts Both the Titan and Radar offer a wider range of handsets to the Windows phone fans and updates what was becoming an outdated catalogue. We know that the build quality of HTC phones is solid and can rely on happy customers in the hardware camp. What is waiting to be seen is the success of windows 7 as a mobile operating system. We think with the big names backing it windows 7.5 is going to be a success sooner or later especially with the resources Microsoft has to pull from. The HTC Titan and Radar should be available in Q3 and you can register for updates on the release dates here.

HP Touchpad Back in stock!

Posted: September 6th, 2011, 4:28pm CEST by James

The HP Touch Pad is coming back into stock from tomorrow for a limited period, check it out here. Don’t know what the Touchpad is? Then read on. Two weeks ago a new tablet hit the stores and it sold out instantly. The demand for the tablet was so high that our parent company The Carphone Warehouse had to add a specific out of stock message to their homepage. At this point tech addicts were hunting hi and low to find a retailer that still had stock of this wonder device. You’d be forgiven if you thought this was
Apple’s newest gizmo as the panic buying reached unprecedented levels, however the device in question is not born from the ideology of Steve Jobs. We’re in fact talking about the HP Touchpad. The Touchpad Runs on a unique operating system called “Web OS” which is solid in design, usability and well respected within the tablet world. It offers the best level of multitasking found on any mobile device and the build quality is exceptional. You might now be thinking why was this so popular but you haven’t head about it? Well the reason the Touchpad has sold so well isn’t due to it’s clever OS or it’s processing power, it isn’t because it offers a revolutionary experience, no, the HP Touchpad is like gold dust for one specific reason. It’s cheap, really really cheap. Last Month HP decided to get out of the PC hardware game and is closing down it’s consumer manufacturing business. As a result the HP Touchpad and it’s mobile phone the

PRE are also coming to an end before they’ve really had a chance to shine. Due to this announcement the future of Web OS was cast into doubt with nobody sure if the platform would be able to survive against the likes of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. It’s been known for a while that a mobile OS is judged by the apps that are available for it. Apple’s 500,000 apps available for iPhone and iPad have made it one of the most popular devices in the world. In contrast Nokia’s struggle to encourage app developers for their Symbian operating system has resulted in Nokia abandoning ship and hoping into bed with Microsoft and Windows Mobile. As Nokia has demonstrated a lack of app developers can lead to difficult times for any operating system and with HP ceasing the production of all Web OS devices any fans intending to develop apps for the Touchpad or PRE will find themselves second guessing if any rewards will be received for their efforts. Web OS could be over before it’s really started. So why is the Touchpad still so popular? For two reasons. The first being the HP Touchpad was going to Launch with a price tag of around £400, after HP’s announcement to get out of the manufacturing business the price was dropped to a staggering £89.00 for the 16GB variant and £115 for the 32GB variant. When you compare this to other tablets on the market, the Specs just don’t stand up. Google “10 inch tablets” and you won’t find any at this price point from a household brand. The other reason being that even though the software is solid and out of the box will do what most people use a tablet for (Web browsing, watching movies, listening to music, amending documents) a bunch of Android fans are working tirelessly to port Google’s Android OS onto the Touchpad. If they’re successful an £89 tablet with such a great spec running an OS with over 100,00 apps would be a clear winner in the market place.

As you can see with the HP Touchpad you really can’t go wrong with huge amount of potential. At mobiles.co.uk from tomorrow we are offering the HP Touchpad as a free gift on contracts starting from as little as £15.32. Our stock will be arriving tomorrow and you’ll be able to order them on the new low cost tariffs by tomorrow afternoon keep checking this link.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 the best of both worlds.

Posted: September 6th, 2011, 11:07am CEST by Dan

Ok, so here’s you’re predicament. You want a top of the line BlackBerry in a traditional BlackBerry form factor but you’re intrigued by this new fangled touchscreen technology. What are you going to do? Well, you could buy yourself a BlackBerry Bold 9780, an iPod Touch and a soldering iron and get creative. Or, you could check out the amazing new BlackBerry Bold 9900 that has just landed in the UK, boasting that tried and tested BlackBerry design (with full QWERTY keyboard) and combining it with a stunning touchscreen display. We recommend the latter. Launching last week, the Bold 9900 is RIM’s (the people behind BlackBerry) latest flagship phone and brings with it a wealth of top of the line specs and an all new operating system to boot. On the outside, it’s very much business as usual for the 9900 – if it ain’t broke… – with a full QWERTY keyboard, optical track pad and a 2.8 inch display all wrapped up in a premium and stylish design that exudes exclusivity (though with the excellent deals you can pick these up on, expect this to be next must have for BB fans – more on that later).

On the inside, RIM certainly aren’t pulling any punches. The Bold 9900 runs BlackBerry OS 7, the latest iteration of BlackBerry’s proprietary OS which brings along with it improved performance (apps open almost instantly with no lag), support for new technologies such as HD video recording and NFC (or near field communications, enabling contact interaction like those used on the Underground Oyster Card payment system), and several improvements to the built in apps such as email and BBM. The new OS is also perfectly suited to touchscreen navigation and the touchscreen unit on the 9900 is as good as they get with fluid animations and support for multi-touch (pinch-to-zoom!). All of these tweaks make for the most advanced and user friendly OS to have ever graced a BlackBerry device and a real contender for the heavy weights of iOS and Android. Powering the revamped operating system is a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor 768MB RAM making the Bold 9900 the most powerful smartphone the Canadian outfit has released to date. No longer just concerned with email and messaging, the multimedia arm of the 9900 has also received a significant shot in the err… arm, sporting a 5.0 Megapixel camera with image stabilisation software, an LED flash, face detection and Geo-tagging using the built in GPS chip. Video capture has also been boosted with 720p HD video capture (thanks to the OS update) andthe LED flash doubling as a video light. Internal memory is a respectable 8GB but for those who insist on carting around every music track they’ve ever heard, memory is expandable up to 32GB via a memory card slot (allowing for a potential 40GB of memory). Elsewhere, the Bold 9900 features all the little extras you’ve come to expect in a top of the range smartphone including Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPS and

Bluetooth not to mention the perks of being a BlackBerry owner; namely BBM instant messaging and best in class email. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is in stock now and available on O2, Talkmobile and Vodafone on a range of 12, 18 and 24 month contracts. Our pick? Vodafone BlackBerry 300 + Mobile Internet which comes in at £31 p/m, gives you 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB data for BlackBerry email, BBM and web browsing.Whatever your tariff/network of choice may be, if you’re in the market for a high end smartphone that excels at email, masters multimedia and quenches your thirst for QWERTY, look no further than the BlackBerry Bold 9900.

Does iPhone 5 & iOS5 spell the end for iPhone 4?

Posted: September 5th, 2011, 4:43pm CEST by James

In short – absolutely not. The iPhone 4 was a bit of a game changer when it launched. Ultra-premium construction (something Apple’s competitors are still struggling to match a year on), front-facing camera, Facetime, and a whole host of operating system upgrades meant if you had an iPhone 3GS or below, you pretty soon found yourself yearning for an iPhone 4 with its sexy construction and massive speed increase. This year’s iPhone launch is less likely to be as revolutionary – you can see a roundup of the most recent rumours here. First and foremost, it’s unlikely there will be any massive technology changes although we will in all likelihood see a processor speed upgrade, and some cosmetic changes. HOWEVER – and here’s the crucial bit – the iPhone 4 is plenty fast enough already so beyond the cosmetics, why choose an iPhone 5? The answer should be iOS5 – Apple’s latest incarnation of the iPhone’s software, but as with iOS4 before it, it’s going to be made available on older-gen iPhones including the iPhone 4. That means that most of the great new functionality such as iCloud, iMessage, and iTunes Match will be available on iPhone 4 and the big advantage here is that as soon as the iPhone 5 is available, you’ll be able to pick up an iPhone 4 for HTC money. I say should because there are those of us who will just go and buy an iPhone 5 anyway! Some of the iOS5 features you’ll be able to enjoy on your Apple iPhone 4 include:

Notification center – a bit like the swipe-down alerts screen on Android, you’ll finally be able to see all your alerts in one place.
iMessage – yep – it’s BBM for iPhone (but, not BBM itself, obviously). Instant messaging finally arrives on the iOS platform. No, it’s not groundbreaking, but no doubt it will work brilliantly and you’ll be able to send text messages to ‘normal’ people who don’t have iPhones without having to do anything different.
News stand – If you subscribe to newspaper and magazine apps, you’ll be able to see all your subscriptions listed in the Newsstand app.
Reminders – this one’s really cool. Want to remember to get milk next time you’re at the shops? Tell your iPhone to remind you that you want milk, next time you’re at the shops. (Sounds obvious, doesn’t it). Your iPhone will alert you, when you’re next at the shops, that you need milk! (You’ll need to tell your iPhone where the shops are, mind…)
In-built Twitter support – You’ll be able to connect to Twitter without having to download a separate app – and more to the point, full Twitter integration in your favourite apps.
Camera – it’s not a biggie, but for long-time Apple users, you’ll be glad to hear we’ll be able to take a picture by pressing a button, rather than tapping the screen.
On-screen photo editing – Rather than relying on a host of 3^rd party paid-for applications, we’ll be able to do simple edits to our photos right out of the box.
Calendar, Mail and Safari all get enhanced functionality – bringing them closer to their desktop cousins.
Wireless (Over the Air) software updates! Hooray!
Wifi Sync! Double hooray! No longer will you need to plug your phone into your PC to sync your iTunes library.

No – it won’t have a 3D headache-inducing display like its HTC and LG competitors, and no, it won’t have the latest number-crunching processors. It won’t even have a magnetic power adapter (in fact, it’s not clear whether the Apple iPhone 5 will either) – BUT, for the first time you’ll be able to pick up a cutting edge device with rock solid software and support at a really compelling price. The iPhone 4 will almost certainly (like the 3GS before it) become the ‘value’ handset in the range, but at mobiles.co.uk we’re pretty sure it’ll be the best ‘value’ handset we’re likely to see for some time to come.

Blackberry 9860 Pre-order now.

Posted: September 2nd, 2011, 11:21am CEST by Richard

As the dust settles after the football transfers, Mobiles.co.uk reveals a major signing of its own. You heard it here first; the BlackBerry 9860 has landed, well on pre-order anyway… The BlackBerry 9860, available to pre-order from today is available on the Vodafone network initially. Free at just £31 per month you will see BlackBerry’s first all touch device (since the Storm series) come partnered with 300 anytime minutes, unlimited texts and a whopping 500MB of BlackBerry data, you get Vodafone passport too. It doesn’t stop there, to make the deal even sweeter we have thrown in £30 automatic Cashback, effectively making your first month just £1. If free gifts are your thing and with Christmas just around the corner why not increase your monthly spend by just £5 and reap the rewards? You can receive a free BlackBerry 9860, 600 anytime minutes, unlimited texts, 500MB BlackBerry data, Vodafone passport and a free Archos 7 tablet PC! If you still need convincing and these amazing deals aren’t enough on their own then you’ll need to check out the amazing 3.7 inch touch screen display. This feature makes the BlackBerry 9860 the largest in the Blackberry range so far. With a screen even larger than that of iPhone 4, the 9860 will undoubtedly have Apple quaking in their boots – at least until the iPhone 5 stock lands. So there you have it, the BlackBerry 9860 is expected to arrive in-stock from next week. It will be released on a first come first served basis so don’t miss out and make sure you pre-order your BlackBerry 9860 today.

Galaxy S II White now available!

Posted: September 1st, 2011, 1:05pm CEST by Nathaniel

Henry Ford once said : “You can have whatever colour you like –so long as its black”. This was once the sad case with smartphones too, amazing software, great camera and features but always stored in a black mobile phone which you were embarrassed to take out of your pocket infront of white iphone users, but not anymore! Samsung have now released their Galaxy S2 which was originally only available in black but has now launched a new White Samsung Galaxy S2 to the market! Samsung’s choice to push forward with this colour is in line with the new range rover sport, White private jets and of course the white apple iphone 4. Don’t be deterred from buying white mobile phones just because brides may wear white and it may portray innocence and purity, but it also represents being cool, safe and best of all perfection. The fastest Samsung Android mobile phone is now available in white. If you were impressed with the apple iphone 4 when it launched in its shiny white variant you will be loving life using this new white smartphone with a 4.3” display and LED flash with autofocus. The White Galaxy S2 offers Super Amoled Plus display, great photo and video recording as well as the impressive TouchWiz 4.0 user interface. The S2 runs on android gingerbread 2.3 and comes with a 1.2 Ghz Processor dual core this means faster multi-tasking and better browsing than on the first Samsung Galaxy S. So the line now goes “You can have whatever colour you like –so long as its black or white” The White Samsung Galaxy S2 is available now free on Talk mobile 24 month contract or 99.99 on a 12 month contact @ mobiles.co.uk.

Pre 3 Still got plenty of life left!

Posted: August 31st, 2011, 4:04pm CEST by Dean

HP has announced that it plans to stop making phones and tablets, so what does this mean for the recently launched HP Pre 3? Well, after a huge drop in price the handset is now available for free from only £10.50 a month on a 24m contract! If you are looking for a cheap monthly contract you won’t get a phone of this caliber for anywhere near this price. The Pre 3 has a 3.58 inch touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keyboard, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, digital zoom and HD video, plus a front facing camera for video calling. There is also a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8x55 processor, 512MB RAM and 8GB built in memory. It runs on HP’s own Operating system ‘WebOS’ which is ideal for multi-tasking and has its own dedicated app store. This features HP’s card interface which allows you to run and organise multiple apps with just a simple swipe of your finger. You can switch between apps without having to close a thing, just swipe across until you find the one you need. You can also enjoy a full web browsing experience as its offers support for HTML 5 and Adobe Flash player. The Pre 3 is a top quality handset at a great price, available now only on Vodafone from mobiles.co.uk.

What’s the best for uni? A Laptop, Netbook or Tablet?

Posted: August 30th, 2011, 12:29pm CEST by James

The results are in – thousands of A-level students across the country are now looking to the future and the lure of university (we don’t need to say what they are but studying is obviously top). And the world of technology has never looked so good to the aspiring student, with tablets, laptops and smartphones aplenty, but whilst we now know how the future generation are getting on in the classroom – the jury is still out on which next generation gadget is best in class. Well here at mobiles.co.uk we’re going to try and answer that question. Is it the time of the tablet PC or do laptops and their smaller cousins the netbook still reign supreme? Lap up the Laptop

So let’s start with the traditional laptop as it’s still the most recognised mobile computer device on the market. They sport big screens (significantly more so than netbooks and tablets) and faster processors for better multi-tasking (and we don’t mean shooting Pool in one hand and drinking a beer in the other – that’s impossible). With the inclusion of a mobile broadband package or USB modem dongle, laptops also mean you can take the internet with you, which is great for studying or keeping in touch with friends. They also tend to hold a sizable chunk or memory both in terms of the Hard-Drive and RAM, supplying ample multimedia storage from music and games to photos and videos plus of course that hefty dissertation! Where laptops fall short is, whilst still being all about portable computing, they’re pretty big (usually 15-16 inches screen width) and heavy (between 2-3kg’s) and because they do a lot, battery life is key and you’re often left wanting (most laptops peter out at around ten hours) Netbook Next

If you want something cuter and more compact than a clunky laptop, then the netbook is a good place to start. When netbooks first arrived on the scene a few years ago, they filled a gap in the market by offering the basics of a laptop but at a much more compelling price. Netbooks do all the things you need on a daily basis from internet browsing, emailing, documentation and storing and editing files. Where they’re lacking is in the powerful hardware that lets you indulge in high octane gaming or lots of multi-tasking. Netbooks are however much better for portability as they’re smaller and as a result of shedding all the heavy duty stuff, boast a much more healthy battery life meaning it won’t be giving up the ghost quite so regularly when you’re relaxing in the park, pub or coffee shop. They may lack the punch in terms of processing speed but they’re stylish and affordable and therefore perfect for students, though perhaps as a useful addition to more meaty desktop PC or laptop. Take your Tablets

Last but not least, the most recent entry into portable computing – the Tablet PC – and you must have been living in a cave to not have heard of these gems because they’re coming out left right and centre at the moment. But many of us are still scratching our heads as to what tablets actually offer that laptops and netbooks don’t. In truth, not much except maybe the orgy of downloadable apps available catering for everything under the sun. Plus the tablet doesn’t need five minutes to boot into the action. They’re quick, convenient and well…cool. You won’t be writing wordy documents on a tablet like you could on a netbook however. For a start there’s no keyboard – we’re talking full touchscreen technology here but that’s the norm these days if your new smartphone is anything to go by. As always though, it comes down to what you’re looking for. Tablets are small enough to fit in a hand bag (from the 7 inches of the market leading iPad 2 to larger incarnations such as the Asus Transformer at over 10 inches) and are therefore the pinnacle of portability. They also provide an enhanced web browsing experience thanks to high resolution screens, the latter of which also lends itself to gaming, reading e-books and watching movies. A strong battery life also contributes to the growing appeal. But are they all play and no work? Well they’re compatible with Microsoft software such as Word and Excel and good for multi-tasking, fuelled by decent processors along the same lines of netbooks but maybe not as speedy as laptops. Okay so maybe we haven’t been able to answer the question of which is best, but it really does depend on what you want to get from it and your personal lifestyle. Gaming and sheer convenience tends to lean toward the tablet, but a powerful portable computer for studying and keeping in touch is where the laptop comes into its own. Netbooks are small and easy to lug around and do the basics of both at a more affordable price. Whatever you decide, don’t forget to check out our range of tablets and laptops here, all available free with pay monthly phone contracts. Or click here to browse our best student deals to keep you connected.

HTC Smartphones: The Latest Rumours

Posted: August 29th, 2011, 10:32am CEST by Mark

It’s been a pretty hectic week as far as tech news goes, following the shock announcement of Steve Jobs standing down as CEO of the most valuable fruit in the world and the controversial injunction that will block Samsung shipping it’s products in Europe, we bring you not one but three leaks out of the HTC camp.

First up, we have the rumoured HTC Bliss which follows hot on the heels of the recently released HTC Sensation and HTC Evo 3D. Despite being nothing more than a few blurry images previously, XDA China have managed to get some hands on time with the HTC Bliss and have reported it to be running a new incarnation of HTC Sense; Sense 3.5 on top of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The Bliss is also reported having a front facing camera, 800MHz Qualcomm processor and an Adreno 205 GPU handling the graphics. Dimensions are said to be similar to the current Desire S which means that in all likelihood, this device will form part of HTC mid-range, more affordable offering sitting below the flagship handsets like the Sensation and Evo 3D. Great news for all those out there that like Smartphone tech at affordable prices! (Source: XDA.cn)

Next up, is the leaked screen shots of what is rumoured to be HTC Sense 3.5 (pictured below). Whilst there’s been no confirmation either way from HTC, we’d hedge our bets and say that it looks pretty real to us. Eagle eyed readers will notice that the update appears to be very minor from the screen shots so far, donning two on-screen buttons (App draw and phone) where typically HTC’s curved, black/silver dock would have sat. Aside from this, the screen shots reveal a larger weather widget which, for all those out there that enjoy the weather animations, will also probably be a welcome addition. These screen shots are said to have been captured on the aforementioned HTC Bliss which given it’s spec, seems to support the rumour that HTC will be removing the imposed minimum hardware requirements that infuriated so many HTC owners when Sense 3.0 was announced. That means that for anybody clinging on to a HTC Desire or Wildfire S, chances are you’ll be able to update to this at some point in the not-so distant future! (Source: XDA.cn)

The final HTC update takes us away from the little green Android and over to Windows Phone. Meet the HTC Omega. It’s rumoured to be the next HTC handset joining the Microsoft ranks. You’ll notice if you look carefully, that the Omega looks very, very similar to the Bliss pictured above. In fact, aside from the paint job, the only real difference we can spot is the 3 touch sensitive Windows Phone buttons under the screen where the Bliss dons the usual 4 Android buttons. Given the similarities in looks, we expect the Omega to also share a similar spec list although that isn’t confirmed. The HTC Omega is said to be the first handset launching on the Mango Windows Phone update and the inclusion of the front facing camera supports Microsoft’s confirmation that Mango will bring with compatibility with front facing cameras. Windows Phone users, welcome to the wonders of Skype video calling. (Source: PocketNow) Hit up the comments section and let us know what you think of the latest HTC devices, do you like them? Would you buy one? And keep an eye on the blog for more details as we get them.

Sad day for Apple as it loses it’s head.

Posted: August 26th, 2011, 12:09pm CEST by James

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stepped down and the board has replaced him with Tim cook. The company said “Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company.” It is a sad story that Apple’s innovator has finally stepped down but we have suspected that this was coming for a while although the timing is quite a surprise. Most expected and hoped he would release the long anticipated iphone 5 before doing so. Steve’s health has been an area of concern since 2004 when he was diagnosed with cancer, Jobs thankfully recovered from this after surgery however was then the recipient of a liver transplant in 2009. In a statement this week Job’s announced “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.” The exact reason for his step down as CEO is unknown however he will continue his role on the board of directors and remains an employee of Apple. Apple has some big products coming up such as the long awaited iPhone 5 which no retailer has received a release date for yet, the iPad 3 and not to forget the mass of desktop and laptop computers. It seems while Apple shares decreased, shares in two of Apple’s main competitors gained. HTC rose 4.1% and Samsung Electronics gained 3.2%. These manufacturers compete with Apple in the smartphone and tablet sector of the market. However the overall effect on the share price of apple isn’t expected to last. “At the end of the day, consumers don’t buy products from Apple because they’re from Steve Jobs, they buy them because they meet their needs and they’re good products, and they’ll continue to do that,” Michael Gartenberg from Gartner told the BBC. As long as Tim Cook, a long time serving employee of apple, is able to continue the “Apple Vision” we don’t imagine any dramatic changes in how Apple’s success.

Mobile Music; grooves on the go

Posted: August 25th, 2011, 12:37pm CEST by Liam

As we continue our headlong plunge into the digital age, media portability is becoming an accepted (and somewhat taken for granted!) part of everyday life. Be it music, videos, or even an entire shelf of books (yes, we mean you Kindle); your average person will be carrying around quite the library of media – all of which is compressed into something no larger than the palm of your hand. It’s not only the varieties of media that have increased; it’s also the mediums through which one can obtain said media. Today we’ll be looking at music, and the various ways you can get your hands on it…

Napster is a pay monthly service wherein you are given unlimited access to a library of something in the region of 15 million tracks. Spoilt for choice, perhaps? It can be accessed via computer, mobile, or even a net-connected TV. Playlists can be made, and any amendments to these will automatically synchronise with all devices used. MP3s are also purchasable on an individual, pay by download basis.

Pretty much the same as the above. Also claims to have a library of 15 million tracks. A paid premium service is required in order to stream music to a mobile phone, though.

Last.fm is (surprise) similar to the aforementioned two services, only with a more social slant to it. You can create a profile which lists your favoured bands, recommend them to friends, and write a little bit about yourself. It’s also a fantastic way to discover new artists that are similar or related to your existing taste in groups/singers. Heard of any new music services? Let us know in the comments below.

is Google’s Acquisition of Motorola all good?

Posted: August 24th, 2011, 10:59am CEST by Eric

Last week Google announced they were going to buy Motorola mobility for a reported $12.5b putting it head to head with the other software/hardware giant, Apple. Google buys motorola

With over 80 years of history of innovation in communication technology products and development of intellectual property, Motorola is a prized asset for any intercom business. The company’s achievements include the introduction of the world’s first mobile phone over 30 years ago and the world’s first “wearable” mobile in 1996. The acquisition may seem an unusual play by Google but it is a natural fit when looked at in several factors. Of course the competition from main rival Apple is the main reason since Google can now be assured of hardware delivery to match its phone and tablet ambitions. In 2008 Motorola mobile phones bet on Android operating system for all its Smartphones so the synergy is already there and the move will give Google advantage of being able to control hardware innovation to match its software. It is also by no coincidence that the acquisition is coming in the middle of a number of patent infringement law suits by Apple and Microsoft against Android based devices manufacturers. If the deal goes through, it gives Google an Aladdin’s cave of patents which Motorola has been working on including approximately 14,600 granted patents and 6,700 pending patent applications. So Google may go from being pursued for infringements to a patent powerhouse with leading innovation. The move will also help Google TV in its attempt to get into the paid television world by getting set top boxes. This has to be an important move with the transition of the humble television to Internet Protocol (IP) TV. As Google CEO, Larry Page, pointed out Motorola has been a “market leader in the home devices and video solutions business.” But the most likely advantage is shoring up the Android Market which has seen magnificent growth despite not having a guaranteed hardware supplier. But Google CEO, Larry Page, was quick to point out that the acquisition will not change the decision to run Android as an open platform so it likely improve the Android eco system. So, all in all, the takeover is likely to be to the benefit of all Google stakeholders including users and developers. It will also likely improve the market by increasing competition for similar Apple products. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft takes a similar view and pursues a hardware manufacturer like Nokia.

LG Optimus SOL Specs and Release Details

Posted: August 23rd, 2011, 11:34am CEST by James

The LG Optimus Sol was officially announced yesterday. It boasts an ‘Ultra AMOLED’ display on a 3.8” screen which claims to improve the image quality outdoors. The 9.8” mm thick Smartphone runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It has 512MB of RAM and 2GB ROM of which 150MB is available for usage. The Quad-band handset runs Bluetooth 3.0 and features Wi-Fi connectivity as to be expected.

LG are marketing the Sol as the cheapest handset rocking a 1GHz processor in the market. The other unique feature of this handset are its visibility in the beaming sunshine! (Not that England see’s that much.) It’s been rumoured to offer unrivalled performance in direct sunlight due to its ‘Ultra AMOLED’ screen. It also has a ‘Dark UI’ option enabling the user to reduce the amount of white light emitted. The result of enabling this option can increase the battery life by a whopping 30%! That can mean an extra few hours of usage or an extra hour of gaming if preferred. The LG Optimus Sol looks to be a winner for style and effective features. It will be released in black, white and titan which is likely to be a graphite-esque shade. Watch out for this sleek handset, it’s due to enter the market in mid-September.

LG Optimus 3D vs. HTC Evo 3D

Posted: August 22nd, 2011, 1:21pm CEST by James

With two fully fledged 3D smartphones now on virtual shelves, the time has come for a 3D shoot out. Both LG and HTC have entered the 3D arena and are vying for your attention (not to mention hard earned cash) so which should you plum for? Let the Mobiles Blog help with that difficult decision in our 3D face off… Design, Size and Weight One thing is clear with both of these smartphone powerhouses; adding that 3rd dimension certainly bulks up the size and weight. Both these 3D Android’s tip the scale at over 160g, 168g for the Optimus 3D vs. 170g for the Evo 3D (for reference, Apple’s iPhone for is a relative super model at 137g), and it’s a close call in the dimensions stakes as well with the Optimus 3D marginally thinner (11.9mm vs. 12.1mm for the Evo) but the Evo slightly shorter making this a very tough round to call. The physical design of both devices is very similar also with both opting for touch sensitive capacitive buttons and a solid, sturdy construction. The Evo 3D edges this round thanks to its stylish textured battery case, metallic camera shutter and 3D/2D slider, the touch of colour surrounding the dual lenses and a slightly shorter profile making it ever so slightly more pocket able. Winner: Evo 3D (just)

Software

No contest. The Evo 3D runs the latest version of Android, v2.3 (or Gingerbread), whilst the Optimus 3D is still on v2.2 (Froyo, if you’re interested). Whilst certainly not a deal breaker, Gingerbread does offer several tweaks that improve the user experience including support for NFC, Video calling (both these phones have a front-facing camera) and improved copy and past functionality. The Optimus 3D will eventually get the Gingerbread update (LG say it should land very soon) but right now the experience on the Evo just edges the Optimus. Winner: Evo 3D Performance

Both these phones include a dual-core processor although the Evo 3D clocks in a 1.2GHz (vs. The Optimus’ 1GHz) and offers more RAM (1GB vs. 512MB). To be perfectly honest, in day to day use you won’t notice the difference from the extra 0.2GHz of processing power – we certainly didn’t – so it’s very hard to call this one. What we did find however is that the one element we could separate these two on was battery life. From our real world testing (answering a few calls, browsing the we web, using the 3D cameras and playing a few rounds of Angry Birds), we did find that the Optimus 3D kept on trucking some time after the Evo had given up and gone off in search of a charger. Whether it’s HTC’s Sense UI overlay draining the battery, some clever software LG has installed or just some sort of witch craft, we found we had much more confidence in the Optimus 3D lasting a full day. Either way, both of these will need daily charging so again there’s not much between the two. Winner: Optimus 3D

Camera

Both of these multimedia-monsters will capture 2D and 3D photos from the dual-5Megapixel lenses and HD video, again in 2D and 3D, though the Evo tops out at 720p resolution where as the Optimus 3D captures at full 1080p (though only in 2D). The Optimus 3D also has an HDMI port meaning you can play your videos back on the big screen and, for those lucky enough to have one, in glorious 3D. The Evo will also perform TV-out but without a dedicated HDMI port you’ll notice a dip in quality and also won’t be able to charge whilst enjoying video playback. The Evo 3D does out perform the Optimus in low light photography thanks to a dual LED flash (the Optimus makes do with a single LED) but 3D images, what should be both of these phones party pieces, do max out at 2 Megapixels for the Evo giving the Optimus a clear win here. Winner: Optimus 3D

Screen

A tough one to call. Both pack a glasses-free 3D LCD display, both measure 4.3” and both are capacitive units with equal responsiveness and performance. The Evo 3D has an edge over the Optimus 3D when it comes to pixel count, boasting 540×960 vs’s the Optimus 3D’s 480×800 pixels, resulting in crisper images and sharper text. What turns the tide in this contest is the 3D functionality; viewing angles on the Optimus 3D feel much wider meaning that you don’t have to keep the phone fixed in exactly the same position to enjoy the 3D experience. Perhaps this is a personal preference but on the Evo 3D it felt more difficult to “get” the 3D and keep it in your sights. Neither create the dreaded (and exaggerated in our opinion) eye strain that mainstream media likes to get itself worked up about though it’s always recommended to take breaks when viewing any sort of media content on a screen this size. Winner: Optimus 3D Overall If you want a 3D smartphone with the latest Android software, powerful future proof hardware and HTC’s excellent Sense UI, go for the Evo 3D, it won’t disappoint you. However, if you don’t mind waiting for the Gingerbread update (it’s coming pretty soon and plus, Froyo is still a great smartphone experience), the Optimus 3D’s superior camera and video capture (both 3D and 2D), battery life and 3D display just swings this contest in LG’s favour. Throw in the fact that the Optimus 3D can be picked up for as little as £25 per month on contract vs. The Evo 3D which starts at £35 per month, the LG is also financially the smarter choice with a saving of £240 over the course of your contract. Whichever you choose, we’re sure you’ll be happy enjoying that extra dimension, be it in photos, videos, online content or the slew of apps that are winging their way to the Android market. LG may have just piped HTC to the post in this battle, but the real winner here is the 3D tech itself.

More iPhone 5 Rumours

Posted: August 19th, 2011, 12:54pm CEST by James

This week 9 to 5 Mac and TiPB both raised claims that they had received more details on the iPhone 5 release date.

The claim now slates the iPhone 5 release date as the 7th of October with an announcement and pre-order date of September the 30th. Although the sources for this update are kept as a close secret by both websites, they seem to have a high level of confidence in this latest rumour. This may be a shock to some as many rumours were pointing to a September launch with assumptions that Apples early September event from 2010 would be replicated in 2011. However Apple very rarely bend their will to satisfy the media, and generally look to make sure their products are 100% ready and have everything in place for a seamless launch. The rumours still point to two devices being announced with an iPh0ne 4 upgrade and a lower cost model (iphone Nano maybe?) appearing in the market at the same time. The iPhone 5 will most likely have the dual core A5 processor from the iPad 2 an 8 mega pixel camera and we imagine will be their hero device for showcasing iOS 5. It’s important to note that on a podcast from TiPD the broadcasters make it clear that the launch date is infact constantly being revised and is dependent oh how quickly Apple are able to Manufacture the new devices and produce enough units for a world wide launch. It’s highly possible that the date could be moved forward or delayed due to how smoothly this process runs. If we get any more details we’ll let you know right here.

Stay connected at school and University.

Posted: August 18th, 2011, 1:33pm CEST by James

So you’re heading off to University and you have a whole host of things that you need to get ready, the list is endless. For some this is the first time away from the creature comforts of home life, leaving behind friends, family, pets and other familiarities that you associate with your family home. How is this all relevant to a mobile phone blog, we hear you ask? Well it’s simple; our aim this summer is to help each and every one of our customers stay connected with their loved ones.

We have some fabulous deals which will help set you up with all the necessary pieces of kit required to keep you entertained, help you learn and most importantly stay connected. Don’t let price be a barrier either, with these cheap mobile deals you can pick up free laptop deals from £25 per month, a free tablet from £20 per month and games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 from only £10! It doesn’t end there, during our stay connected promotion we will be throwing in a free 3 month subscription to Napster on all Android and Apple iPhone purchases. Yes that’s right, Napster for free! If you’re impressed with your free Napster trial then you can sign up for unlimited music streaming on your mobile phone for an incredible £10 per month. These deals are not limited to university students; we’ve got phones for kids too. It’s important to keep in touch with your children when they first begin travelling to school on their own. A simple pay as you go phone (PAYG) will enable you to stay connected and these start from just £7.90. We have a wide range to choose from, including fashion phones, phone for messaging, phones for apps or gaming and phones for security. So take a look through our amazing value mobile phone deals, find something suitable for you and be sure to stay connected this summer.

iCloud vs. Google aren’t they the same thing?

Posted: August 17th, 2011, 12:23pm CEST by Louis

Well, yes and no. While both services talk about Cloud computing, both actually do it in a subtly different way – and that might make all the difference.

Apple is focused on the device – be that an iPad, an iPhone or an iMac – and iCloud allows you to synchronise all those devices so they each get a copy of your ‘stuff’. This is all done transparently, but the fundamental point here is that each device maintains its own copy, and those copies all get organised by the fat controller in the sky (aka Apple iCloud).

Google on the other hand prefers for all your data to live in the cloud. Permanently. Rather than syncronising, Google would prefer you use your always-on internet connection to access your ‘stuff’ in real-time, across the web. This is really a utopian vision of the future (See Google Chrome OS), rather than something that works right now (because today’s always-on internet connections aren’t… well… always on), which means that Google devices today employ a combination of synchronisation and live data access. There’s a noticeable gap between the way Google devices work right now, and how Google tells us things should work.
So that’s the fluffy stuff out the way: Google continues to be visionary but arguably verging on the irrelevant, and Apple remains fixed right in the present, capitalizing on the now – but as a result is (perhaps) at risk of falling behind as we all become better connected. Storage space In terms of the tech stuff, there’s little to separate them. Google: 7.6Gb (unless you buy more)Apple iCloud: 5Gb (unless you buy more)
They both cover pretty much the same ‘stuff’, so you can store your mail, calendar, contacts, photos, device settings and documents in the above allowance for free. Usability Apple tightly integrates all their key products into one place and gives them a name: iCloud. The branding and execution is paramount, and iOS 5 will capitalise on the one-login approach, meaning that once you’ve entered your Apple ID into your new device, all your ‘stuff’ will magically start to appear with no further interaction needed from you. Google lags behind here, in the sense that while you’ve got a single Google login, it’s not immediately obvious how you use ‘The Cloud’ on your Google device (read: Android).
While you’ll get your calendar, and your email, it’s not clear how you get access to your Google Documents – or how you link to your Picasa account (Picasa remains one of the Google products which isn’t as tightly integrated with its others). Even Gmail isn’t automatically set up on a Google Android device’s “Mail” application by default – there’s a separate Gmail application for that, hidden away in the apps menu. There’s no doubt in my mind that Google will respond in due course so we’ll keep our eyes peeled on both the next version of Android, and how Google+ (Google’s Facebook rival) pans out, as this alone has resulted in a great deal of integration between the various Google products over the last month. I’m an Apple iPhone 4 user, but have also been playing with an HTC Sensation for the purposes of compiling this article. It’s a shame Android doesn’t do a better job of integrating Google’s cloud services more tightly but the truth is that for now, iOS4 doesn’t actually have iCloud available, and we’ll all have to wait until later in the year for both iOS5 and iCloud to be launched before we’ll be able to see it all working.

The big difference: iTunes Match. With iCloud, by default you’ll be able to see all your music purchased from iTunes across all your Apple devices – you’ll be able to download the music and enjoy it without having to store it on a central PC at home somewhere.
The really big news though, is that iTunes Match (a chargeable service) will scan your entire music collection, and make it available in iCloud, across all your Apple devices. Yeah, there are other services that do that, but only a small handful that don’t actually require you to upload all the music in your collection. As long as you own a track and it’s available in the iTunes catalog, Apple will let you play it back without needing to upload.
That’s huge – that means your music collection will be available in the cloud within the space of a few minutes, rather than taking days or even weeks to upload. Furthermore even if your copy of a track is recorded in low quality, Apple will offer it to you in high quality 256Kbps AAC format (as long as it’s a track they offer in the iTunes catalog of course). A percentage of the annual fee goes to the record industry, which appears to be a way of dealing with the fact that most peoples’ music collections will contain at least a few tracks which weren’t obtained entirely legally… and for that contribution Apple will apparently turn a blind eye to where you might have got your music from. Google isn’t ignoring this difference by any means, but its own Google Music service which Google themselves admit is not ready for prime time doesn’t have the same functionality (yet), and has some way to go before it’s as functional or as usable as iTunes (or even Amazon’s Cloud music player). The next few months:

iCloud, as with all Apple products will be highly polished from the outset. It will be heavily integrated into both iOS5 and Apple’s OSX Operating System.
Google’s cloud offering is more a disparate set of Google products, all of which rely on internet access and which need further integration, and crucially from my point of view, a clearer message to consumers about what it does, and how it works.
We’d love to hear your comments – it’s a touchy subject for some – perhaps I’ll be accused of being an Apple ‘fanboi’ but while I can’t deny that I love Apple products, my Apple iPhone and Macbook are permanently connected to Gmail and Google Calendar…

Xperia mini Pro

Posted: August 16th, 2011, 2:08pm CEST by James

The Xperia Mini Pro (Not to be mistaken for the X10 Mini Pro), is the keyboard equipped version of the Xperia mini that lanced last week. With so many Mini’s out there from Sony Ericsson it can be quite confusing especially considering the Mini Pro was code named “Mango” for the last few months. So just to be clear the Xperia Mini range is a small version of their popular Android powered Xperia smartphones. Rather then the usual format of adding numbers or letters to signify an upgrade Sony Ericsson have dropped the X10 from the newest model and is simply called Xperia Mini Pro. Hopefully that clears up any confusion over the name.

So now that we’re sure this is in fact a new phone, what does it have offer? Well for a small Android handset it’s got a pretty powerful processor. It’s main competitor the HTC wildfire S comes with a 600 MHz processor and is no slouch with a very smooth and responsive menu system. The Mini Pro however has a 1GHz Scorpion processor which is almost double that of the other micro Androids out there. So the handset is 92 x 53 x 18mm and has only grown 5mm overall compared to it’s predecessor the X10 mini pro. What else have they squeezed into that extra 5mm, well you get 512mb of ram along with 400MB of internal storage. The phone will come bundled with a 2GB SD card and will accept up to 32GB. You also get a bigger screen 3.0 inches instead of the previous 2.55 inches. The graphics are powered by the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine which gives it truly stunning graphics for such a small phone. The camera hasn’t seen an upgrade but is till a hugely respectable 5 Megapixels with flash, however thanks to the improved processor you can record 720p video with ease. A secondary VGA camera has also been added for good measure. Wifi, GPS and all the other goodies you’d expect in a full sized smartphone make it into the Xperia mini pro as well as the full QWERTY keyboard for those that aren’t ready to give up on the joy of actually pressing buttons. When the x10 mini pro launched last year it was marketed as having a “Limited” version of android namely 1.6 (donut) and was destined to live it’s life with limited potential. The Xperia Mini Pro however gets the latest version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and has the hardware for future upgrades. Looking at the spec for this tiny tearaway you might imagine that the cost would be fairly high, well actually no, the phone starts for free on £20 per month tariffs and with this we also throw in 8 months line rental. If your looking for a compact smartphone with enough processing power to put a man on the moon, the Xperia Mini Pro could be the phone for you.

Top 5 Tablets

Posted: August 15th, 2011, 12:42pm CEST by Dean

With 2011 being marked as “the year of the tablet pc” the question on everyone’s mind is which one should you buy? With the iPad currently dominating the tablet market we’ve taken a look at what else the tablet world has to offer. Here’s what we think are the top 5 tablets. 5. Archos 7

This really is a great little tablet for those on a budget. The Archos has a 7” touchscreen display, 8GB internal memory, built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity and MP3 player. It runs on Android 2.1 so you can use all your Google services, so if you not looking to break the bank this may well be the tablet for you. This is far from cutting edge but for an entry point tablet it offers all the basics, video, web browsing, ebooks and games. 4. Samsung Galaxy Tab

For Samsung the Galaxy range has been nothing but a success. With sales of the Samsung Galaxy S 2 surpassing 5 million in the few months since its release and the Galaxy Tab is no exception. The Galaxy Tab features a 7” multi-touch display, 1GHz processor, front facing and 3 megapixel rear cameras and HD video playback. Whist running on the slightly outdated Android 2.2 Froyo Operation System, this is still an impressive device. 3. Asus Transformer

The Asus Transformer is a tablet with a twist. On its own this is a fantastic tablet but with an optional clip on keyboard sold separately it really is difficult to fault. This 10.1” tablet which runs on the latest Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is powered by an impressive Tegra 2 dual core processor that makes it fast and fun to use. The Transformer comes with 16GB of Memory and can be upgraded to 32GB. Pound for pound the Asus transformer offers exceptional value when compared to other high end tablets. 2. HTC Flyer

HTC have gone from strength to strength over the last 18 month with the release of handsets such as HTC Wildfire S, the Desire range and the newly released HTC Sensation. So it’s no surprise they are trying their hand at the tablet market with the HTC Flyer. The Flyer has a 7” touch sensitive display, 1.5 GHz processor, 5 megapixel rear facing camera as well as a 1.3 front camera and more than ample 16GB of internal memory. With the HTC Scribe pen you can make notes or draw those glasses and moustache on your ex’s pics, turning your tablet in to a digital canvas. 1.BlackBerry Playbook

The Playbook is a 7” HD touchscreen tablet with 1Ghz dual-core processor, 16GB internal memory and a HDMI port to connect it to your HDTV! This tablet is a must for any Blackberry user. Thanks to Blackberry Bridge users have the ability to pair the tablet to your phone. It gives you full access to BlackBerry Messenger, email, calendar and much more which really amplifies your experience. If you haven’t been persuaded to rush out and get one of the above then please visit mobiles.co.uk to find out more and view our full range of Tablet PCs.

Cash for phones

Posted: August 12th, 2011, 12:16pm CEST by James

Everyone has an old mobile phone lying around in their draw, that’s why it makes sense to trade in mobile phones for cash. Everyone loves getting cash for phones they no longer use, well everyone at mobiles.co.uk does. You see, years ago the average cost of a mobile phone was quite substantial, this meant people were unwilling to trade in mobile phones just in case something happened to their current phone of choice. Fear no more! With pay as you go handsets available from as little as £7.00 it won’t take much time for you to save those pennies and buy a new ‘back-up’ phone to see you through until your next mobile phone upgrade. Mobiles.co.uk mobile phone recycling scheme launched recently and we are paying market leading prices on old mobile phones. You can browse and trade in mobile phones all from our dedicated trade in page, located here. All you need is your IMEI number and we will be able to give you a price for your mobile instantly. To find your IMEI all you need to do is enter *#06# into your handset and it, along with your serial number, will appear on screen. Once you are happy with the price quoted and have decided to take that final step to trade in your mobile phone we will send you a pre paid envelope. Post us your mobile phone and we will send you a cheque as soon as we have received your mobile phone trade in. It really is that easy to get cash for phones!

BlackBerry has gone all touchy feely.

Posted: August 11th, 2011, 12:05pm CEST by Matt

RIM have recently announced their next generation smartphone with the new BlackBerry Torch 9860, which will ship with a touchscreen only display –ditching the traditional QWERTY keyboard. The Torch 9860 is the spiritual successor to the Storm 2 and boasts a streamlined design with optical trackpad, a powerful 1.2 GHz processor and 768MB RAM, plus comes with the ability to shoot video in 720p HD and a 5.0 mega pixel camera. (Breathe) The most impressive feature is reserved for the much talked about 3.7 inch touchscreen display which makes it the biggest in the Blackberry range to date and even larger than that of iPhone 4 which the 9860 will undoubtedly be competing with – that is until iPhone 5 arrives. One of the other notable additions is the introduction of RIM’s new operating system Blackberry 7 OS which is faster and more efficient and sports a completely new web browser and ‘liquid graphics’ technology.

What are liquid graphics though I hear you ask? Is your phone going to leak in your pocket? Are liquid graphics better than solid graphics? In a nut shell it’s a way of making the whole browsing experience more fluid and responsive through a higher degree of hardware acceleration. With Blackberry’s OS looking a bit dull and behind the times – this will be a welcome enhancement and only look to cement Blackberry’s popularity in the young adult market.
Other improvements of BB7 OS include the revamped web browser providing full support for HTML5, improved zoom functionality and web based gaming, and finally, a running theme, it’s faster – loading pages in nearly half the time than that of its predecessors. So all in all the Blackberry 9860 is shaping up to be a strong rival to the iPhone 4 but it’s still got a lot to do to compete with Android and iOS especially in terms of their constantly growing apps stores which is what smartphones are all about. But it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on RIM’s touchscreen only flagship smartphone when it’s released in October.
Keep up to date on the Blackberry Torch 9860 at mobiles.co.uk or click here to register for e-mail updates.

Free iPhone 4

Posted: August 10th, 2011, 11:42am CEST by Mark

With everything going just a little bit crazy here in the UK right now, we thought you’d probably appreciate some news that doesn’t mention the looting, rioting and generally destructive behaviour that seems to be dominating just about every news site, TV channel and radio station at the moment. So instead, we thought we’d bring you some news about the best way to get your hands on a Free Apple iPhone 4, without resorting to looting, which is of course to buy one through Mobiles.co.uk.

We here at Mobiles are pleased to announce that as of right now, you can get yourself an iPhone 4 for absolutely nothing, if you’re willing to take out a 24 month contract paying £30 per month on the Three network. In return you will get 300 Minutes, 5000 free text messages, 500MB data allowance, free wi-fi access and of course a free Apple iPhone 4 16GB. It’s a fantastic deal when you consider that when the iPhone 4 was first released, it would have cost you at least £40 per month and you would have had to have paid a substantial upfront cost for the iPhone itself too. This is one of best iPhone 4 deals on the market and in fact, at the time of writing this we simply cannot find any better smartphone deals anywhere. Some of you may be put off by the Three network and truth be told we would have been a year or two ago, but substantial improvements to the networks infrastructure in recent times have seen the network turn itself around and actually now, Three has succeeded in establishing itself along the likes of Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and O2. Grab yourself a bargain today and if you’re in any doubt about the signal in your area, simply check the coverage by typing in your post code here: Three Coverage Checker

HP take on the Pre!

Posted: August 9th, 2011, 2:10pm CEST by James

The HP Pre 3 is set to launch this August and offers a great improvement on its predecessor Palm Pre 2. HP have pumped a great deal of resourses into making improvements offering a faster processor, larger screen and bigger keyboard minus the Palm from its name.

So what does it have to offer? The Pre 3 has a 3.6-inch 800×480 display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash and the option to shoot 720p HD video plus a front-facing camera for video calling, the all-new webOS operating system and mobile hotspot technology. There is also a Qualcomm MSM 8×55 1.4GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and A-GPS.
Using webOS everything you do can be running all at the same time. Apps you are running can be seen on the home screen in their own window a “card”. If you want to switch to a different app you can simply swipe through them to find the one you are looking for and tap to open. Although there are not the amount of apps on offer with Apple or Android HP are working on building up the amount of apps they have to offer on their app store.
Paul Hunter, general manager of the Personal systems Group at HP in the UK said. “We’re also focusing on expanding the eco-system to get more apps and developers working on the WebOS platform.” However, rather than taking on Apple or Google’s app repositories, Hunter said HP’s focus is on producing quality, local apps that will be used, rather than having to sift through thousands upon thousands. So you can expected good quality, useful apps that you will actually use!
The overall styling of the Pre 3 hasn’t changed much from the previous pre handsets except in its size but it seems its features have improved greatly, with video calling, mobile hotspots, webOs and HD video it is slowley getting up there with the best smartphones.

HTC Salsa Launch – Social Networking Made Simple

Posted: August 8th, 2011, 9:30am CEST by Eric

The HTC Salsa has been launched as the best phone for social networking Facebook fans with the unique selling point of letting you quickly and constantly update your status on the move. Like its sibling, the HTC ChaCha, The Salsa carries a physical dedicated Facebook button to quickly post to your profile.

On board physical buttons are limited to a power button, volume rocker a camera switch and the all important Facebook button which sets the phone apart from the rest. This button allows you to quickly post your status to Facebook in seconds! As soon as you take a photo with the inbuilt camera, the button starts to glow to remind you that you can upload that picture right away. Sending the picture to your profile is achieved immediately by taping the button. The HTC Salsa is perfect for people who like to share most (if not every) aspect of their daily life with friends on Facebook. You have got to be a fan of the social networking site to appreciate the full extent the device can help in making your posts easier. For a fuller interaction with your Facebook account, just keep holding down the dedicated button to open up Facebook places. This lets you check in to various geographical places of interest similar to foursquare and let your friends know your location or where you have been. It is just as easy to make other Facebook posts such as sharing videos posting links or share music you’re currently listening to on your music player. So with the HTC Salsa you will be able to keep your friends informed of your whereabouts with pictures, videos and what music you are listening to. Besides the social networking, HTC Salsa kicks in features between HTC Wldfire S and and HTC Desire S. It has a 800Hz CPU which is sufficient for most of its dedicated uses but can seem to lag a bit compared to higher end Smartphones in the HTC stable if you do a lot of processor intensive tasks. It boasts support for Google services such as search, Maps and the Android Market app store but the low end CPU also rules out support for browser based flash support. The phone comes with a good sized 3.4 inch HVGA resolution screen has 480×320 pixel which gives good overall contrast though not quite as vibrant as the super AMOLED display of Samsung phones. The Salsa also has notifications bar that gives you information about availability of wifi and blue tooth in one place. The phone features a reasonable 5 mega pixel camera and front facing lens to enable video calls. The battery is an impressive 1,520 mAh that gives the Salsa an impressive running time between charges – much longer than most current Android devices. As the name suggests (think nachos and dance floor moves) the Salsa embraces socializing and is definitely one for people who like to share their social life with their friends, family and loved ones. So if you are a person who likes sharing most aspects of your day with your Facebook friends then then check our HTC Salsa deals.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini, a little phone with big features.

Posted: August 5th, 2011, 2:08pm CEST by James

We reported back in a April about two new phones coming from Sony Ericsson. Today the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini is available for order and proves to be a tough little contender in the world of hard hitting power houses like the HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II. The original X10 Mini was released in May 2010 and the market has moved on considerably since then, obviously the new Xperia Mini isn’t going to be the cutting edge due to it’s small form factor but for it’s size it’s leaps and bounds ahead of the X10 Mini. The Spec The Xperia mini has a 3.0 inch display and displays 320 x 480 pixels which is an increase in pixels of 112%. The phone size is 88 x 52 x 16 mm making it one of the smallest Android handsets on the market. Internally the Xperia Mini is powered by 512 MB Ram, 320MB storage (Upgradeable to 32GB with microSD card), a 5 MP Camera with LED flash and autofocus, 720p video capture, 1GHZ Scorpion Processor and a battery that lasts up to 14 days on stand by or 24 hrs as a Music player. The Mini also comes with the latest version of Android V2.3 (Gingerbread). In the past haveing a smaller pocket fitting smartphone would have meant a heavy compromise on spec and features, with the Xperia Mini this isn’t the case. Sony Ericsson have recently promised to release updates to their version of Android on a more frequent basis so the Xperia Mini should have a fair amount of life thanks to the high quality of it’s hardware. It’s Social It’s not just the hardware that’s top notch, if your a Facebook addict the Xperia Mini intergrates Facebook into every aspect of the phone. Take a look at the below developers video to see just how well Facebook works with the new Xperia Mini. The Xperia Mini is available today and starts free on Tariffs from £10.50 per month. Also available on pre-order is the Xperia Mini pro a variant of the Xperia Mini but comes with a full qwerty keyboard that slides out from the side of the phone. Well update you on the Availability of the pro in the next few weeks so keep an eye on the blog.

Possible iPhone 5 Pictures Leaked

Posted: August 4th, 2011, 11:51am CEST by James

New images showing rumored iPhone 5 pictures have been the subject of two stories over the last week with fans wondering how the new iPhone is going to look.

Back on Thursday two cases were revealed for the new generation of the iPhone, how exactly the case manufacturer knew the design is still unclear but they are confident enough in their prediction to start producing the cases ready for the new iPhone. The case indicated a much larger screen up to 4 inches which would compete with handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 and HTC Sensation. In order to keep the handset the same size however it appears as though the handset will have no bezel on the left or right hand side of the screen. As a result of the larger screen the home button may be sacrificed for a touch sensitive panel/button but this remains to be seen. The phone would also be a similar size to the iPhone 4 but get back the rounded design of the iPhone 3GS on both the back and front. Gizmodo this week were handed a handset that is supposedly a “clone” of the next generation iPhone. The iPhone copy is claimed to have come from Shenzhen in China which is the same location where the iPhone 5 is being created. The most compelling evidence that the handset is the real deal is that it fits the cases which had been leaked only a few days earlier. Although this seems a bit far fetched the copyright laws in china are not as strongly enforced as they are in the UK and a carbon copy of the design wouldn’t be beyond believable.

This isn’t a sure thing like last year when Gizmodo picked up a pre-production iPhone 4 but looking at the level of finish on this clone it does make you think. Either way we’ll know for sure in the next few months once the iPhone 5 release date UK is announced as Apple will be dying to get a new product available for all of the iPhone 4 customers now due an upgrade. Please register your interest to be kept up to date on iPhone 5 pictures and other news on our iPhone news page.