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Polish up your hashtags and strike those selfies, it was Social Media Day on 30 June. A day to recognise and celebrate the role social media plays in our society. Thanks to social media, we’re able to connect with each other like never before. It’s a great way to make new friends and re-connect with old ones. Whether you like to watch cat videos, show the world what you’re having for dinner, or find information on causes and world events that matter to you, social media gives everyone a platform to create their own content, voice their opinions and connect with like-minded peeps. To celebrate this year’s Social Media Day, we’re running a fab competition. For your chance to win a £50 Currys voucher, all you have to do is follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/idmobileuk/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/id_mobile_uk?lang=en and comment on our recent post saying why or what you love about iD Mobile? (Competition closed) So, start a hashtag, upload a selfie, update your status and j

Summer’s here, school’s out, and with holidays, festivals and day trips on the horizon, there are plenty of reasons to get out and about and enjoy the warm weather. While you’re having fun in the sun, keep your home safe and secure with our top 6 security tips. 1. Smart lights Smart lights can be programmed to turn on to make your house seem occupied when you’re out or away on holiday. Some lights use your phone’s location to switch on lights to welcome you home. Look out for smart lights you can sync with movies and music from your smartphone and colour changing bulbs that can create different moods. In this month’s competition, we’re giving 3 lucky winners the chance to get their hands on a Philips Hue Dual Pack of smart lightbulbs . 2. Wireless security cameras See what’s going on both in and outside your home when you’re not there, with wireless security cameras that you can monitor from your smartphone. Built-in night vision means you can see what’s happening 24/7 and you can even

With Glastonbury about to kick off and Wimbledon just a few days away, nothing says summer more than National Sunglasses Day on 27th June. There’s no better day to don those shades and give your eyes some much-needed protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, while looking super-cool. And for the ultimate in super-cool gadgets, check out the Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses. The frames come complete with mini acoustic chambers, which produce rich, immersive sound. Open-ear audio allows you to stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying your music, and the integrated microphone means you can take calls and access Siri or Google Assistant. The premium lenses block up to 99% of UVA/UVB rays. So, all you have to do is choose from 2 designs, a classic angular look in the Alto [https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/headphones/headphones/bose-frames-alto-audio-sunglasses-black-10193032-pdt.html] or distinct rounded lenses in the Rondo [https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headp

Kids and the internet stick together like glue, but there are a few things you can do to make sure they’re safe online… Whether it’s socialising with friends or getting help with homework, the web has all sorts of useful information and can provide kids with really useful skills as they make their way through life. But, alongside the good websites, there are just as many that you wouldn’t want them going anywhere near so here are a few of the best ways to keep them safe. Download a parental control appWhen you’re working with one computer for the whole family it can be easy to keep everyone safe and monitor what’s going on, but personal devices like phones and tablets are a whole different story. By downloading some parental control software (if the device doesn’t have it built-in) you can monitor your kids screen time and even password protect some areas. QustodioQustodio is a great little app that can filter web content, monitor calls and even has a child location feature. There’s al

Whether the sun is out this Summer or you’re putting up with the typical British Summer, find out how to take the best photos with your phone to capture the memories. Your camera knows what it’s doingMost modern phones now have some kind of Artificial Intelligence built into the camera, and that helps you take those pro-looking photos. The clever tech figures out what you’re looking at and then changes the settings to give you the best result. Whether you’re snapping action shots of pups on the park, tempting your Insta followers with the sizzling BBQ food or showing off your travels, the artificial intelligence in your camera will help you get the best picture – without spending an age fiddling with the settings. One phone which has some extremely clever AI tech built into the camera is the Huawei P30. There is a powerful processor packed in there, as well as huge 28-hour battery, so your phone won’t start to slow down even if you spend all day on those power-hungry editing apps. Inte

Just when you thought the Samsung Galaxy A Series couldn’t get any better, the stunning Galaxy A10 is the latest model to be released... With a 6.2” Infinity-V display and a big bundle of tech packaged into a compact design, the Samsung A10 is well worth a look. So, we did and here’s what we found: Simple slender design The Galaxy A10’s slender 8.1 mm body is designed to sit perfectly in the palm of your hand and slip effortlessly into your pocket. With a choice of a sleek black or blue glossy finish, this phone looks the business. And it’s far more than just a pretty face … A phone you’ll love to watch With an immersive 6.2 HD+ Infinity-V display, you won’t be able to take your eyes off this screen. From blockbuster movies to intensive games, the edge-to-edge v-cut screen puts you right at the heart of the action. Pretty impressive for such a slender, compact design. Capture and create With the 13MP Wide rear camera and the 5MP front camera, you can keep those precious memories vivid,

These are our top picks for the best phones to take on your summer getaway… It’s a great feeling to know you’ve got a holiday coming up, and there’s even apps dedicated to just counting down to your big trip! So, if you’re lucky enough to be ticking off the days to your upcoming getaway, you might want to check if you’re due an upgrade on your phone before you go. There have been some amazing phone releases this year, especially when it comes to cameras, from astonishing zoom capabilities to crystal-clear 4K video. So, whether you want to take some beautiful shots of the local architecture, or you want to capture every thrilling second on your kayaking adventure, we’ve got a phone for you. These are three of our favourite ones that’ll make the ideal travel buddy, just in slightly different ways. Google Pixel 3 – the perfect all-rounderLet’s just start off with the fact that this is a great looking phone. The rounded-edge screen and two-tone back make it beautiful to look at, but then t

Now Closed Fancy winning a £100 Red Letter Days voucher to get out and about this spring? Simply comment below where your favourite break destination is (either home or abroad!) and we'll choose two winners! Red Letter Days provide a range of experience days or breaks for every taste, occasion and budget. Whether it's a day out at the zoo with the kids, a romantic date night or your own solo adventure, there's plenty to choose from. Hurry! Competition ends midnight on Sunday 12 May. T&C's Apply

If you’re fed up of having to untangle headphone wires before you plug them into your phone, wireless Bluetooth headphones are the way to go. Interested? Then read on and we’ll help you pack in the jack! If you haven’t already got a pair of wireless headphones, what are you waiting for? From smashing your goals at the gym to breaking up the daily commute, they make everyday life much more bearable. If you’ve already treated yourself to a shiny new pair, read on to get set up… and clued up. How to connect Bluetooth headphones Okay, so you’ve unboxed your new headphones, and you can’t want to pair them up with your smartphone or one of your other favourite devices. The first thing you need to do is put your headphones in ‘pairing’ mode. If you’re not sure how to do this, check the instruction manual. The exact method varies, but it usually involves switching your headphones on, and holding the multi-function button for a few second (that’s the button you press to answer a call). Now you

6 gift ideas for every type of dad The iD Community loves celebrating real-life heroes. For most of us, the best heroes on the planet are our parents. They’re the ones who come to our rescue and save the day, time after time. As Father’s Day is coming up very soon (Sunday 16th June), we’ve come up with some exciting ideas every super-dad will love! Buy one for dad to get in his good books, or if you’re a parent yourself – drop some hints with the kids. 1. For the music loving dad Every dad deserves quality time without distractions now and again, and that’s exactly what wireless noise-cancelling headphones are designed for. Our gift suggestion: Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Headphones Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Headphones have clever noise-cancelling technology that shuts unwanted noise out, so you can lose yourself in your favourite sounds. The sound quality is crystal clear, and there’s a smart function on board that lets you temporarily d

A lot of mobile gamers are getting excited about 5G, the fifth generation of mobile networks – and rightly so. It’s going to be a massive leap forward in terms of speed and performance, and it should make gaming completely seamless and very, very fast. One cloud-based gaming service that look set to harness the power of 5G is Hatch. Let’s check it out. Hatch cloud gaming Hatch is currently the world’s only ‘made for 5G’ gaming service, although you’ll be pleased to hear that it also works just fine over 4G or a good Wi-Fi connection. It’s free to download onto Android phones and will be on other platforms soon, according to the webpage. Hatch has a selection of great mobile games that you can stream straight onto your phone and dive into straight away. You’ve got instant access to the likes of Angry Birds, Monument Valley, Hitman GO, Chameleon Run, Mini Metro, Beach Buggy Racing, Bad Piggies, Leo's Fortune and a whole load more. There are over 100 games to choose from at the moment, an

Find out what we know about the latest Beta version of Apple iOS 12.3… It’s always an exciting time when there’s new releases. And, we’re usually kept on our toes with bits and pieces of information being teased out in the run up to the final date. Recently, Apple released the latest Beta update (Beta 4) for its latest iOS, 12.3. Right now, only registered developers are lucky enough to get their hands on it, and it’s likely that we’ll see a few more Beta releases before the final release. What will be in the final iOS 12.3 update?So far we haven’t really seen anything huge, and there doesn’t seem to be any visible changes to the looks of the operating system. The Beta 4 download comes in at around 164MB on an iPhone X, so most of the updates seem to be tweaks to enhancing performance. This is what we’ve found so far: · Faster menu navigation for older iPhones. · Updated modem firmware for better connectivity. · Minor tweaks to battery efficiency. iOS 13 is just around the corner, ahea

Facebook’s private messaging service could be set to return to the main app – here’s what we know… You might remember that back in 2011, the Facebook mobile app split in two - one for your social media feed and Facebook Messenger. At the time, it was unexpected and confusing, and it didn’t get the greatest of responses, but people still continued to use it and now we’ve just gotten used to the idea. Well, that might be about to change. Rumour has it that Facebook Messenger will be returning to the main app, letting you see your newsfeed and your messages all in one place. Don’t worry, the Messenger icon won’t just disappear from your phone, but now instead of opening the standalone app, it’ll just take you to the Facebook app and open a new section, originally called ‘Chats’. That’s how things used to work before things merged, but if you can’t quite remember that far back don’t worry, we’ve slept since then too. The word on the street is that Facebook are making this change to try to

Our pick of the best photo-editing apps you can use to make the most of your snaps. The cameras inside our smartphones are improving every time a new one is released, and that means we’re all taking more photos than ever. But, there’s more to getting the best pictures than having a great camera phone. The right app can make all the difference. The best photography apps don’t just put a nice filter on your pictures – they let you do so much more. Here’s our quick guide to some of the best photo-editing apps around. 1. Snapseed Snapseed is a filter-friendly app that specialises in giving your pictures a more artistic look and fine-tunes them, ready to share with your online followers. There are 29 filters to choose from, and all kinds of features to edit your photos, such as white balance for colour adjustment, and a healing tool that lets you get rid of unwanted background objects from the scene. A ‘lens blur’ tool even lets you add a bokeh effect (blurry background) just like the pros.

If you’re ready to take the plunge on a brand-new iPhone but just need a little guidance in the right direction, you’ve come to the right place. For the different needs, budgets and lifestyles, there’s an iPhone ready to take on them all. Which iPhone suits what you need? Apple are certainly known for quality, seamless designs and top of the range tech, but how do their entry-level phones stack up against the more premium models? The best camera - iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max If you’re all about getting that perfect family photo the first time around, the iPhone 11 Pro makes it impossible to take a bad shot. Both the 5.8” iPhone 11 Pro and the larger 6.5” Pro Max feature three 12MP cameras on the back, making them the first iPhones to have a triple camera setup. Thanks to a combination of Wide, Ultra-Wide and Telephoto lenses along with 10x digital zoom, you can capture just about any scene. If night time photography is your passion, the new Night mode uses clever AI to bring detail to lo

Everyone needs some Insta-goals, so we’ve pulled together our top Instagram profiles for all the things that truly matter, Food, Fitness, Tech and Fashion. FOOD: Pie Fiends, Look Jo Further No pie is ever too pretty to eat, right? Well, we’ve met our match with this one. Jojo Harrington is a woman with a tasty-mission: to bake the perfect pie. And from scrolling through her Instagram, we’d say she’s doing a scrumptiously good job so far. But what we really want to know, is what she does with all her pies, and how we can get our finger-licking hands on them. Follow @jojoromancer FITNESS: Join the Kayla movement Bodybuilder, fitness model, best-selling author AND over 7 million followers: it’s safe to say Kayla Itsines is one of those over-achievers we love to hate. Even more annoying, she's only 26. The Australian trainer has abs we’d only have if we painted them on. Just scroll through her Instagram and you’ll see how sickeningly healthy she is: mini workouts, transformation photos and

The ‘force touch’ is having a makeover… You may remember back in 2014 when Apple announced one of its most exciting screen features on a range of its devices: 3D Touch. Known as ‘force touch’ amongst the geeks and manufacturers, this innovative tech was a game-changer for the touch screen. Beforehand, most of our devices’ touch screens had no measurement of pressure, which allowed for a few ‘long press’ features but (as the name suggests) took some time to activate. Force touch was able to remove that problem, offering the features as soon as you press the screen a little harder. Historically, Android handsets have only sported the ‘long press’ feature, introduced on the Android 8 Oreo OS. But we’ve heard that the latest OS update Android Q might be finding its own way to incorporate some pressure-touch tech. The idea is that if you press harder on an Android app, it’d offer you different shortcuts to certain areas of it – the ‘Compose an email’ section of a mail app, for example. That

We recently got to try out Samsung's latest mid-range releases, the A80 and A70 smartphones, at their incredible Milan launch event in April. See our first impressions... Getting to grips with the Galaxy A80Samsung have only just finished wowing us with the Galaxy S10 Series, but they went ahead and gave us another amazing range of devices anyway – the Galaxy A range. We were lucky enough to get out hands on one of Samsung’s new additions, the mid-range Galaxy A80, which has some pretty serious specs under the hood. 6.7 inches of edge-to-edge screen That’s right, the screen on the Samsung Galaxy is 6.7 inches of uninterrupted display, so there’s plenty of space whether you love getting wrapped up in your favourite films or getting lost in a mobile adventure game. And when we say uninterrupted, we mean it. It’s the first Galaxy on offer that doesn’t have the infamous notch, so you can enjoy the whole Super AMOLED screen like you’re meant to, with all the images and colours in stunning,

Want to take professional looking shots with arty blurred backgrounds? Then the bokeh effect is what you're looking for. Read on to find out more! Bokeh comes from the Japanese word ‘boke’, which means ‘blur’ or ‘haze’, and the first thing you might be wondering is, how on earth do you pronounce it? Some people say “bo-key”, some go with “boo-kay”. So, why not check with a Japanese speaking photography expert? According to Ryu Nagase, Product Management Director at Cannon, it’s actually pronounced “boh-keh”. Now we’ve got that cleared up, let’s take a look at what exactly it is and how you can improve your phone pics with it. What is the bokeh effect? Simply put, it refers to the blur of objects in your image, other than the subject of your photo. If you’re taking a photo of an item or a person, a bokeh effect can really add a sense of depth to your image while giving the subject a lot more definition. Until recently, the only way to capture bokeh images was by using an expensive camer

Mental Health Awareness Week starts on Monday 15th May, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. To support this initiative, we’ve got some tips on digital wellbeing we’d like to share with you. It’s important to feel good when you’re using your smartphone, and we think this advice will help you do just that. Avoid social comparison We all love scrolling through our social media feeds, but the downside is that it’s easy to feel like you’re in competition with others. Remember, what you see online isn’t an accurate portrayal of reality – so if anyone’s images make you feel insecure, try and ignore them. Better still, unfollow or block that person. Be yourself When you’re on social media, be yourself and stay positive. Write posts that will put a smile on your friends' faces, and don't feel like you've always got to put filters on your photos before you share them. You’ll feel better for it. Use mindfulness to stay positive Mindfulness can help you focus on the things you like about yours

We all know what SIM cards are – they manage your number and network connection. But what are dual SIM phones? And more importantly, how do they work? Let’s go ahead and find out. What is a dual SIM phone? A dual SIM phone is a phone that can handle two SIM cards at once - which is ideal for anyone who has two different numbers or data plans. Let’s say, for example, you needed one SIM card primarily for calls and texts and the other has a big data package which you use to browse and use social media with. With a dual SIM phone, you can switch between them depending on what you need at the time. Other examples where you’d need a dual SIM phone is if you had a work number and a personal number, or if you travel frequently and need to switch to the local SIM card as soon as you arrive. But in true dual SIM fashion, there are not one but two types of dual SIM phones. You’ve got DSDA and DSFA. How do DSDA phones work? DSDA stands for Dual SIM Dual Standby and means that when you’re using on

Creating an actual worldwide web Dial-up may feel like ancient history, but some of the world is yet to catch up when it comes getting online. Getting every part of the world – even the remote parts – onto the web isn’t exactly easy, but some companies are up to the challenge. OneWeb says it wants to see everyone connected, “including those on the move— on the road, in the air, or at sea. We envision a world where all people have access and hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others wherever they are.” The idea is that by using a global set of low-earth orbit satellites, even the most isolated parts of the world should be able to enjoy high-speed broadband. Sounds ambitious, certainly, but OneWeb has already launched its first successful satellite, and has received funding to continue the next-gen plan. Making a change with Social Media Social media is key to making a real impact these days, both locally and globally. Increasingly, we’re turning to social media for

Here’s what we’re expecting to see from Apple’s new online gaming subscription service… What is Apple Arcade?The easiest way to describe Apple Arcade is as an online gaming subscription service – like Netflix but for Apple gamers. The service will feature over 100 games which will all be exclusive to Apple, and there will be a single price plan that lets you play any game on any of your Apple devices. The beauty of a service like this is that, just like Netflix, you can jump from one device to another. Play a game on your iPhone while you’re on the train, then pick up where you left off on your Apple TV when you get home. What devices can I use to play Apple Arcade games?You’ll be able to play Apple Arcade games on pretty much any Apple device, so that’s iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. And according to Apple, all games will be available offline, so you won’t have any issues playing on the go. What games will be available?The fixed monthly fee will give you unlimited access to over 100

Whether you’re new to the world of Apple or want to start making FaceTime calls on your current iPhone. Here is your guide to video calling, and the most seamless way to do it… So, why FaceTime instead of calling? Quite simply because if you’re an iPhone user it’s the easiest way to do it. Plus, if any of your contacts use an iPhone, you’ll be able to audio or video call them for free when you’re connected to a strong internet connection. How to set up FaceTime The FaceTime app should come pre-installed on every iPhone, but in the event that you’ve deleted it, re-installing it is super easy. Here’s how: 1. Click on the App Store 2. Search for FaceTime (it’s the green icon with a white video camera icon) 3. Click GET 4. Confirm the free download And then you should have the FaceTime app back on your iPhone’s home screen. How to make a call on FaceTime 1. Open the FaceTime app 2. Press the + button in the top right 3. In the ‘To:’ box, type in the contact you’d like to call 4. Click on t

Your smartphone can help keep you fit and healthy. One of its neatest tricks is monitoring your heart. In fact, it's so neat that hospitals are now interested in this mobile tech. A study has revealed that a new smartphone-controlled heart monitor is far more effective (and cheaper) at diagnosing cardiovascular issues than a standard ECG monitor. Joint research by the British Heart Foundation and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland found that a smartphone ECG “increased the number of patients in whom an ECG was captured during symptoms over five-fold to more than 55%”, which opens up a whole realm of possibilities with this innovative, low-expense technology. The device is to be carried by paramedics in A&E departments, who will measure the patient’s heartbeat at the scene and send the data off for a doctor to interpret. Smartphones saving lives? Sounds good to us! Do you use the heart rate monitor on your phone? Have you tried a heart rate monitor out on your smartphone yet? It’s easy to