Author: Holly Brockwell
Editor Holly worked on some of the tech industry's most high-profile smartphone launches before coming to us, and is a self-confessed Android fangirl. She's currently lusting after the Galaxy S6 Edge, and is never seen without her Misfit Shine.
Vodafone Smart 4 review – A competent starter smartphone let down by its camera
With thanks to Vodafone for the handset. The Vodafone Smart 4 is one of the lower-end phones in the Smart 4 range, one step above the entry-level Smart 4 Mini. As with the EE Kestrel and most network-branded phones, it’s actually made by a Chinese manufacturer that isn’t widely known here: Yulong. The name might…
8 of the best themes for your Android Wear smartwatch #WearablesWeek
One of the brilliant things about smartwatches is the ability to change the face whenever you like. It’s like having a whole wardrobe of watches. The official API to make new faces for Android Wear isn’t out yet, but lots of enterprising developers have already released apps that’ll do the same thing. So whether you’ve…
Vodafone Smart 4 Mini review – a £39 Android that punches above its weight
With thanks to Vodafone for the handset. The smaller of Vodafone’s two Smart 4 handsets, the Smart 4 Mini is an entry-level Android at an appealing £39. It’s only on Vodafone (obviously) and some features are more compromised than you might like, but the screen and battery hold up well and you won’t have to worry…
8 of the daftest, flashest, fashion-est phones ever made
[nextpage title="Next"] Every so often, a tech company woos a fashion or lifestyle brand, and together they birth a branded phone. Sometimes these are prettier, pricier versions of their less-fashionable siblings – and sometimes they're the ugliest pieces of tech known to man. We've collected 8 of the most interesting examples, including the alleged inspiration for the iPhone and…
24 iPhone 5 cases from your favourite fashion brands
[nextpage title="Next"] If the launch of the iPhone 6 is making yours feel a bit last season, we can help. Your phone might not be the new kid on the block, but it's been around long enough to be styled by some of the world's biggest, most fabulous fashion houses. Which means you can give it…
Archos Helium 50 review – a generic 4G Android saved by its screen
With thanks to Archos for the handset Better known in the UK for its audio and video players, French firm Archos has been making smartphones in Europe for quite a while. The Helium 50 is one of two phones in its first ever 4G LTE offering: a mid-range black plastic slab running Android Jelly Bean.…
Samsung Galaxy S5 review: Still the brightest star in Samsung’s Galaxy
With the much-discussed Galaxy Alpha just around the corner, we take another look at Samsung’s current top dog, the S5, to see if it’s still a worthy contender half a year on. Is this the best Galaxy in the universe, or will the Alpha leave it feeling like a beta release? With thanks to Vodafone…
How NOT to get motivated: Eight of the worst songs to run to #RunningWeek
Chucking together a running playlist on the fly can be dangerous. Pumped up and eager to get moving, you throw a few favourite songs on a list, load it up and go. But not every song – no matter how much you love it – is good to run to. Here are the eight most-regretted additions…
The 8 worst fitness gadgets of all time #RunningWeek: JumpSnap, Gravity Strider, Hula Chair
Garages across the nation are crammed to the rafters with dusty dumbbells, ex-exercise bikes and untrodden treadmills, testament to the spirit being willing but the flesh being lazy. It's no surprise, then, that quick-fix fads offering gym bodies without the actual effort have made millions for their inventors. We're all guilty of watching those celeb-laden infomercials,…
EE Kestrel review: A surprisingly good 4G Android for just £99
Handset supplied by EE EE’s first own-brand smartphone is one of the lowest-priced 4G handsets on the market. The Kestrel delivers a surprising amount for a super-budget Android device, but has some tough competition even at £99. Manufactured by Huawei, the Kestrel is actually a rebranded Huawei Ascend G6 with a downgraded camera – but…
