More evidence of a really exciting Sony Phablet – the Xperia Z Ultra

Yesterday we wrote about how Sony was on a roll in delivering exciting innovative and very stylish products. Well according to Xpreia blog there's another one coming and if the press invitation is anything to go by it could well be a very big phone aka a phablet. The invitation to the Sony Mobile event…

Now you can use #hashtags on Facebook #abouttimetoo

It always struck me as a bit odd that while hashtags have become such common currency on Twitter and, by dint of the fact of people dual posting, on Facebook too, but on the latter network they weren't clickable. Well Facebook has finally moved to remedy that and as from today in the US, no…

BlackBerry Q5 – launch date and UK prices revealed by retailer

An interesting spot by the team at Omio which has noted that one UK retailer has got a price and on sale date for the BlackBerry Q5. Announced last month the Q5 is the cut down version of its handset the Q10 - that's the one with the proper QWERTY keypad. It has a similar…

Pink phones are back! Vodafone drops budget Smart Mini mobile

Time was when you couldn't move for pink phones aimed at young women. Then the iPhone came along and the craze died down a little. Vodafone, however, may be about to bring them back too after announcing that it will have a pink version of its new cheap and cheerful phone the Smart Mini. With…

HTC One Mini leaks – coming later in the summer

One of the most highly rated mobiles of 2013 has been the HTC's One with its stunning designs and glorious aluminium build. So the HTC One Mini, which has been rumoured for a while, is set to be a big deal for the company especially given that it is facing difficult financial times. There have…

PS4, Xperia Z tablet, 4K TVs – why Sony has suddenly become cool again

There was a time when Sony was the ultimate name in consumer electronics. It had a superb range of high-end products in a number of sectors that were just better designed, better built and crammed with more useful and innovative features than its rivals. Then about a decade or so ago things started to go…

Samsung takes on Nokia with the S4 Galaxy Zoom high-end camera phone

We were talking in the Shiny offices the other day about how mobile manufacturers are differentiating themselves from Apple in a bid to capture the high-end. For some it is about offering significantly larger screens. For others it is about build quality and there are also makers who are taking phones into niche areas like…

Apple's iTunes Radio or Spotify – which is best for you?

Yesterday, among a slew of announcements, Apple took the wraps off its long promised streaming music service Apple iTunes Radio. Those hoping for a rival to Spotify are going to be disappointed. Apple has a very successful music download business and the last thing it wants is to jettison that in favour of music streaming.…

The Shiny Shiny guide to quirky men's watches

Very soon now the world of watches will be changed forever as Apple, Samsung and whole load of others release their smart watches into the world. So instead of checking your texts on your mobiles you'll be checking your wrist. But it is likely that smart watches even if they become huge will not appeal…