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Want to make someone’s Christmas extra special this year with a new phone? For all interests and all ages, we’ve come up with a list of five phones to fit everyone’s Christmas stocking. Galaxy S9 Plus – for the movie buff in your life A bigger version than the S9, the S9 Plus has a 6.2-inch widescreen Infinity Display made for film fans. It covers almost the entire surface of the phone, so nothing will take their focus away from what’s happening on-screen. And with Quad HD+ resolution, they’ll see everything happen in spellbinding quality. The stereo speakers in the S9 Plus are incredible too, producing Dolby Atmos surround sound. They will feel like they’re in the cinema. They can even enjoy this next-level sound on the free AKG earphones included in the box. They’ll be fully immersed in their favourite Netflix binge on the train, without annoying the other passengers. Interested? You can order the Galaxy S9 Plus here. Google Pixel 3 – for a budding photographer It’s official - the Google Pixel 3 has one of the best cameras around. Not only is it brimming with features to make photos taken on it look amazing, but it uses the latest in AI tech to help the user snap that perfect shot. It calculates things like lighting conditions, contrast and brightness, and even adjusts the settings automatically. If you haven’t of Top Shot, get ready. This cracking feature uses AI to take a whole series of photos and then cleverly recommends the best one. So if the family’s gathered round for a Christmas photo and someone blinks, no worries - Top Shot will pop back in time to find that split second when everyone’s got their eyes wide open. Are they a selfie lover? Then the Group Selfie Cam is one for them. It uses the phone’s dual front-facing cameras for super wide-angled selfies - so they’ll get more background, friends or family into the frame. Interested? You can order the Google Pixel 3 here. OnePlus 6T – for a thrill-seeking gamer If they can’t get enough of crushing candy or go barmy for the battlefield, you’ll naturally want to get them a phone that can keep up with the action. The OnePlus 6T is a total powerhouse, and its huge 6.41-inch AMOLED display and Smart Boost mode makes it an obvious choice for gamers. For starters, Smart Boost helps games load up to 20% faster, and gives them much better frame-rates. They’ll experience super smooth on-screen action even after an hour of playing an intense 3D racer like Asphalt 9: Airborne. The OnePlus 6T will handle all of their gaming demands. And if you needed more proof, there’s even a dedicated gaming mode that keeps the display bright and stops notifications getting in the way of the onscreen action – they appear as small floating bubbles instead. Interested? You can order the OnePlus 6T here. https://www.idmobile.co.uk/search?q=OnePlus+6T+ Huawei P Smart – for the kid in the family They want an extra pricy flagship, you’re thinking of dusting off your old 3310 – why not start them off with a good quality budget phone instead? If they look after it, you can upgrade them to something fancier in a couple of years. But as far as this Christmas goes, we suggest the Huawei P Smart. The only thing budget about this phone is the price. The Huawei P Smart is jam-packed with the kind of specs that much more expensive phones would be happy to have. The lenses on the impressive dual lens camera work together to create stunning bokeh shots with blurred backgrounds. And the 5.65-inch display is top quality too. It stretches from edge-to-edge and is bright and sharp - perfect for playing games and watching movies on, and most importantly – browsing the web and finding out lots of facts for their homework. Now that’s smart parenting. Interested? You can order the Huawei P Smart here. Galaxy J6 – for a no-nonsense gran Grandparents are always the hardest to buy for. This Christmas, get them something they need, like a Galaxy J6. It’s an affordable choice that’s packed with Samsung’s best tech – a lot of which is specifically designed for older users. Switch on Easy Mode straight away, and they’ll be able to enjoy a simplified layout with bigger fonts and an overall clearer navigation. Easy Mode aside, the 5.6-inch display is bright and sharp, and covers virtually the entire face of the Galaxy J6 – keeping the size of the handset compact and light. Plus, the 13MP camera is easy to use and will take gran’s family snaps to a whole new level. Then, they can store all those precious family photos on the 32GB of inbuilt storage space. Interested? You can order the Samsung Galaxy J6 here. Those are our five phones that would make fantastic Christmas presents. In fact, they’re so fantastic, maybe you should think about treating yourself to one while you’re at it!

We’ve all heard of The Grinch that Stole Christmas, but what about the phone that saved Christmas? That’s right, your smartphone can save the big day in more ways than one. Let us explain. Christmas should be a time of fun and relaxation. But it can also be extremely stressful. From buying the wrong presents to undercooked turkey, it’s full of potential pitfalls. That’s where your smartphone can help. Because by downloading a few handy apps, you can avoid any of the usual festive missteps and mishaps. Sitting comfortably? Then let us show you five ways your phone can save Christmas… 1. Take the stress out of last minute Christmas shopping Let’s face it, shopping for a last minute pressie can be a major headache. The streets are cold and wet, it’s full of desperate shoppers, and every store has Cliff Richard’s ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ on repeat (or is that just our imagination?). So why not do it all online, from the comfort of your home, with a little help from the Funky Pigeon app? It’s free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Funky Pigeon has a great range of Christmas cards that you can fully personalise with text or images. A lot of designs let you add photos straight from your smartphone, to create something really special. The kids will be amazed by a card with them on the cover! You can also buy Christmas gifts like mugs, cushions and posters – and again, these can be completely personalised with your favourite photos. Funky Pigeon can also do the gift-wrapping and delivering for you - just remember to get your order in before their Friday 21st December cut-off. 2. Say hi and wave to far-off family It’s Christmas Day. Time to call your relatives around the world and wish them a Happy Christmas. These days, of course, you can make video calls with your smartphone. Grandparents always love seeing their grandchildren onscreen. And time it right, and you can see the gifts you bought being unwrapped. FaceTime is great just as long as everyone’s got an iPhone. If not, then WhatsApp (free to download from the App Store or Google Play) is the one to go for. It works across different devices, and it’s the world’s most popular cross-platform messaging service. You can make video calls, phone calls, send text messages and videos – and if you’re on Wi-Fi, you won’t use up any of your monthly allowances of minutes, texts or data. It’s completely free. We love WhatsApp because it’s so easy to use. Even elderly relatives that aren’t very tech savvy will be able to get the hang of it, and take your Christmas call. 3. Make it a perfect Christmas dinner Want to create the best Christmas dinner ever? It’s all about timing. Everything needs to come together all at once, and the Timer+ app (free to download from the App Store or Google Play) will help you do just that. Timer+ is an app that lets you run multiple timers at once, and you can label each one, so you know what’s what. You’ll be able to time every single part of your Christmas dinner to the second, ensuring everything will be cooked to lip-smacking perfection – not just the turkey, but also your roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, pigs in blankets, and good old Brussels sprouts. Yes, it’s a simple little app. But that’s the beauty of it. Cranberry sauce, anyone? 4. Bring some music to the Christmas party Christmas dinner is over, and everyone’s had time to relax. A few Christmas tunes to round off the day is always nice, and if you get Spotify on your phone (download it from the App Store or Google Play), you’ve got 40 million songs at your fingertips. There are loads of Christmas playlists to choose from (either created by Spotify users, or by Spotify itself), then it’s just a case of turning up the volume on your phone and pressing play. Or you can stream your Spotify sounds to a Bluetooth speaker – if you’re lucky, someone’ll have bought you one as a pressie. Spotify can be downloaded for free, with adverts playing between songs. For ad-free listening, you can subscribe for £9.99 a month. 5. Control your festive spending It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the most expensive. So be sure to use the iD Mobile app to manage your allowances and avoid bill shock. If you want another helping hand keeping on top of your finances, get the Money Dashboard budgeting app (free to download from the App Store or Google Play). It’s one of the very best. Money Dashboard gives you a single view of all your bank accounts, credit cards and monthly bills, so you don’t have to log on to lots of different sites to track your finances. All your spending is broken down into categories, with clear and helpful charts to help you see where your money goes. There’s also a budget planner that’ll help you save money to spend on the things you want – which is exactly what you need to do at this time of year. Use Money Dashboard wisely, and you’ll stay on top of your spend all through Christmas. Who knows, you might even start off the New Year with some cash in your pocket. So there you have it. Five ways your trusty phone can save Christmas. Have you got any of these apps? Or have you got any Crimbo-saving smartphone tips you’d like to share? If so, post a reply below.

Christmas is on its way and you’ve got prezzies to buy and stockings to fill. Let us solve your Secret Santa stresses with these great-value gadgets – all for under £20. Nails Inc iPhone 8 case + nail polish Turn on the style! If you know an iPhone fan with an eye for fashion, this’ll be right up their street. With the iPhone 8 Nails Inc case and matching nail polish, they’ll proudly strut their stuff. Get a colour that suits their style – there’s Leopard Print, Marble and Stars. KitVision Selfie Stick Stick one of these in their stocking. Get it? Stick? Oh, forget it. But if you’re buying for a selfie fan, this is a great choice. With the inbuilt extension pole, there’ll be able to take those difficult high-angle shots. There’s no selfie that’s beyond them with the KitVision Selfie Stick PopSockets Grip This PopSockets collapsible grip fixes to the back of phones and tablets, acting as a stand. It’ll also make holding their phone way more comfortable. Choose from three bright designs Goji VR Headset with Speakers Give the gift of virtual realty this Christmas. With a Goji Universal VR headset, they’ll be able to lose themselves in stunning games with incredible immersive visuals and sound – though maybe ask them to take it off during Christmas dinner. And if you’re not sure what size their phone is, don’t worry - this’ll work with phones with screens between 3.5 and 6 inches. KitSound Boomcube It’s boom time! They’ll be able to shake, shake the room with this great stocking filler. One charge of the bluetooth wireless KitSound Boomcube will give them six hours of music. And with a durable metallic build, it’s one tough cookie, too. Belkin 5W Wireless Charging Pad A simple solution to crossed wires. With this Belkin Wireless Charging Pad it couldn’t be easier to charge any Qi-enabled phone. Put the phone on the pad, and let it work its magic. Amazon Echo Dot “Alexa – set a one minute alarm.” That should be just enough time to tell you about the awesome Amazon Echo Dot. This great stocking filler is a smaller version of the Amazon Echo, but with a screen! Ask Alexa to play music, provide news, sport or weather forecasts – even control appliances in the home. She’s a bit clever… Some great Christmas gift ideas there, we’re sure you’ll agree. In fact, they’re so good, maybe you should treat yourself while you’re at it!

Samsung’s next flagship is rumoured to be unveiled in February 2019. What can we expect from it? Here’s what the tech press is predicting… When will the next Galaxy be released? “We’re expecting Samsung to follow tradition and announce the new Galaxy during the first quarter of 2019: most likely around the end of February or the start of March during the annual Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona” T3 How many versions of the next Galaxy will there be? “When it comes to the screen though it’s worth noting that there’s sure to be more than one size. In fact, this time around there might be three. One of these, apparently codenamed 'Beyond 0', is said to have a 5.8-inch screen which might be flat. That would be the most basic model, but there's also said to be 'Beyond 1', which apparently has a 5.8-inch curved screen, and 'Beyond 2', with a 6.2-inch curved screen. There’s also said to be differences in the three models’ fingerprint scanners and cameras, which we’ll get to in the relevant sections below.” Tech Radar. What kind of display will the next Galaxy have? “Tipster Ice Universe is back today with more information for the new Galaxy lineup. He’s shared both model numbers and screen sizes for the three new Galaxy devices that are reportedly due early next year. According to him, the three devices are: • SM-G970: A 5.8″ flat display • SM-G973: A 5.8″ edge display • SM-G975: A 6.4″ edge display” wccftech How many cameras will the next Galaxy have? “The noises anticipate three variants of the new Galaxy, one of which has three cameras at the back.” Android Pit “The newspaper, citing "people familiar with the matter", reports that Samsung is planning to launch four variants of the new Galaxy, including a 6.7in model - codenamed Beyond X - that will support 5G and pack six cameras; two in the front and four around the back.” The Inquirer “The main lens will be the same 12-megapixel variable aperture lens that we saw on the Samsung Galaxy S9, joined by a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens with a 123-degree field of view, an f/1.9 aperture, but no optical image stabilization or auto-focus. The third lens seems to be the same one we saw on the S9 Plus — a 13-megapixel lens with a much smaller f/2.4 aperture, likely equipped with a 2x telephoto zoom.” Digital Trends What will the next Galaxy look like? “Instead of a notch space for the front-facing camera and facial recognition tools, Samsung appears to have opted for a little hole in the screen. A black dot that, presumably, will house the front-facing camera capable of fulfilling the same role as a notch, without the unsightly invasion onto your screen” alphr “Samsung has teased the new Galaxy will have a markedly different design from its predecessors, and rumors suggest it'll come in the form of a bezel-free Infinity-O screen with a cutout in the panel for the front-facing camera.” Tom’s Guide Are you as excited about the next Galaxy as we are? Which features are you looking forward to the most? Tell us what you think below.

Happy World Giving Day, everyone! If you’re feeling charitable and want to start giving, we’ve found five apps that’ll help you support those good causes you’re passionate about. Today is an international day of charitable giving, so it’s a great time to donate to good causes. But with so many worthy charities helping people around the world, it can be difficult giving to all those we want to support. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of charitable apps for you. They're all available to download from the App Store or Google Play, and another thing they’ve got in common is that they let you help charities in a number of imaginative ways – not just cash donations. Charity Miles Charity Miles is a real win-win app. The more you exercise, the more you reward your favourite charities. Everybody benefits. Go for a walk or run, and Charity Miles will donate some cash per mile to the charity of your choice (you can choose from a selection in the app). If you prefer getting on your bike and cycling, not a problem - Charity Miles will still make a donation for every mile you cover. Charity Miles couldn’t be easier to use – just open it up, choose your charity, select whether you’re on foot or on your bike, and do your thing! The app then tracks how far you go using your phone’s GPS, and it’ll make the donation at the end of your workout. Donate a Photo Johnson & Johnson’s Donate a Photo app is a nice and simple way to support the causes you believe in. Just set up an account, choose who you want to help and upload a photo. Yep, that’s all you need to do! Then for every photo you upload, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 to your chosen cause. Causes have targets, and once the target is met a new one replaces it. So you can keep coming back to donate to new charities. You can upload a photo every day and the only place they’ll be displayed is in Donate a Photo’s gallery – so you don’t need to worry about your pictures being used for marketing. Walk for a Dog Need to take the dog for a walk? Then download this app, grab a lead, and turn this daily chore into an act of giving. The app will track your daily dog walking activity, and make a donation to the animal shelter or rescue organisation of your choice. The donation depends on the number of people walking their dogs for your chosen charity, so it really pays to share your activity on social and spread the word. JustGiving You’ve probably heard of the JustGiving app. It’s perfect if you’re planning a fund-raising event of your own. Whether you’re running to fight cancer or cycling to raise money for a local charity, this app makes it easy to take donations from friends and family. You simply choose the charity you’re supporting, set a funding goal, then write a short description of what you’ve got planned. You can share your page, and others can donate with just a couple of clicks. First aid by British Red Cross This app isn’t about raising money - it gives you the skills to help others instead. You’ll learn all the first aid basics, as well as tips on how to prepare for emergencies. It covers everything from severe winter weather to road traffic accidents. To make learning easy there are loads of videos, interactive quizzes and step-by-step guides. And because everything’s built into the app, you don’t need an internet connection to use it – so it could come in very handy in an actual emergency. Will you be using one of these apps today? Or have you a got another app that you use for charitable giving? Post a reply below, and share your thoughts with the rest of the iD Community.

Keep it safe in style, start charging it wirelessly, or even explore stunning VR worlds. Check out these five handy accessories to bring your Google Pixel 3 smartphone to life. Got a new Pixel 3 smartphone? Then why not treat it to an accessory or two? The choice is yours… GEAR 4 Crystal Palace clear case If you want to keep your Google Pixel 3 safe from knocks and bumps but you don’t want to hide its smooth curves and unique colour, a clear case is just what you need. Why is this case so special? Well, GEAR4 has teamed up with D30, the world’s leading impact protection brand. And the material they’ve produced for these clear cases is the same stuff used by the military, pro athletes and industrial builders. It’s even used in bulletproof glass, so it’ll easily protect your Pixel 3 from everyday scrapes and scratches. All this super-strength protection doesn’t make the case too bulky, you’ll be pleased to hear. It’s slimline and completely clear, and you can easily access all the buttons and ports. Buy the GEAR4 Crystal Palace clear case from Carphone Warehouse. GEAR4 Piccadilly clear case The GEAR4 Piccadilly is almost identical to the GEAR 4 Crystal Palace case - you still get military grade protection in a slim and transparent case. What exactly is the difference then, you say? Well, the GEAR4 Piccadilly isn’t completely clear. It’s surrounded by a black trim, which complements the Just Black Pixel 3 rather nicely. If that’s the colour you’ve gone for, this could be the case for you. On the other hand, if your Pixel 3 is Clearly White or Not Pink, then we suggest you go for the GEAR4 Crystal Palace. Buy the GEAR4 Piccadilly from Carphone Warehouse. Google Fabric Case Clear cases are great for showing off your phone’s existing colour and design, but if you want a case that looks amazing in its own right, go for Google’s very own fabric case. It’s certainly an eye-catching case with its fabric and knit design, and it feels fantastic too. Google first made this for the Pixel 2, and it’s been improved since then. It’s now even slimmer and tougher. It clips easily onto your Pixel 3, and it plays nicely with wireless charging. Interested? Then you’ve got four colours to choose from: grey, black, pink, or a magnificent looking blue. Buy the Google fabric case from Carphone Warehouse. Google Pixel stand The Google Pixel stand is much more than just a stand. It’s a wireless charging dock capable of doing loads of cool things while it charges! Place your Pixel 3 on to the stand, and it’ll start fast-charging straight away. But there’s more – much more. It also gives you easy access to the Google Assistant. So, if it’s first thing in the morning, you might want to pull up the ‘My Day’ feature and check out your calendar, reminders, traffic news and weather alerts. Or what about turning your phone into a digital photo frame while it’s being charged? You can choose any of your Google Photo albums to display onscreen. So if you think seeing snaps of ‘Ayia Napa 2016’ will make these cold winter starts more bearable, you know what to do. You’ll also be able to control some of your smart home features from the Google Pixel stand. If you’ve got a Nest Hello video doorbell, you can see who’s at the front door with a simple tap of your Pixel 3’s display. Pretty cool, right? Oh, and just because your phone’s charging doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favourite tunes. When you play music on your Pixel 3 while it’s charging, you’ll see some lovely big controls onscreen. These make it easy to control your playback and skip past unwanted tracks - there’s always one on every album. Buy the Google Pixel stand from Carphone Warehouse. Daydream View 2017 VR headset We’ve left the best the to last. The Daydream View headset lets you enjoy amazing virtual reality experiences on your Pixel 3, at a fraction of the cost of standalone VR headsets. Simply insert your Pixel 3 into the front of the soft and lightweight headset, strap it onto your head, and start moving your handheld remote around to explore the VR world you’ve chosen. From adrenaline-fuelled racing games like Need for Speed VR, to a relaxing night at the Netflix VR cinema, there’s something for everyone. Buy the Daydream View 2017 VR headset from Carphone Warehouse. Have you got one of these Pixel 3 accessories already? Would you recommend it? Post a reply below and share your thoughts with the rest of the iD Community.

These days it’s easy to take amazing photographs with your phone – especially if it’s got a multi-lens camera. We’ve rounded up some of the best below, with our thoughts on what makes them so special. Huawei P20 Pro The Huawei P20 Pro was the world’s first to have three lenses. We’re talking about a 40MP, 20MP, and 8MP 3x telephoto zoom lens. Why three? Well, they each do separate things, but work together to create the perfect photo… The largest lens captures colour, while the second one captures black and white detail. Combined, they deliver incredible detail and colour reproduction. That means everything you shoot looks just as you remember seeing it with your own eyes. And then there’s the telephoto zoom lens, which lets you get closer to your subject using a 3x optical zoom, or a 5x Hybrid zoom. In fact, quite often you’ll be able to zoom in and see stuff that’s not visible with the naked eye, like a sticker on the window of an office block. You can order the Huawei P20 Pro from iD Mobile Samsung Galaxy A9 Three cameras on the back not enough? How about four. The A9 is the first phone to have that many on the back, and they work wonders on your snaps. The 24MP main camera is great for shooting all those everyday moments with brilliant colours and detail. Even in low light, the A9 adds more brightness, so those ‘night out’ shots will be crystal clear for once. The 120° ultra-wide lens captures the same amount of the scene as the human eye can see, for a wider view, which means no more struggling to cram everything in the shot. The 10MP telephoto camera with a 2x optical zoom lets you get right up to your subject without sacrificing detail. And finally, the 5MP depth camera lets you adjust the level of background blur during or after your shot. The result? Professional looking photos to make your mates jealous! You can order the Samsung Galaxy A9 from iD Mobile Samsung Galaxy A7 The A7 has three cameras on the rear instead of four, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices photo quality. Like the A9, it has a 5MP depth camera that can give your photos cool-looking background blur effects. It’s also got an ultra-wide-angle lens for getting more detail into every shot. Not only that, but the main camera has a low f/1.7 aperture that lets in more light – making it perfect for low-light photography. So, even your favourite candlelit restaurant photos will look great on social media! You can order the Samsung Galaxy A7 from iD Mobile Huawei Mate 20 Pro Here’s another Huawei with a super Leica triple-lens camera phone. Like the older P20 Pro above, the Mate 20 Pro’s camera impresses in every area. The 40GB main lens captures colour in astonishing detail, while the 8MP telephoto lens lets you focus on subjects out in the distance. Then there’s the 20MP Leica ultra-wide-angle lens, which is brilliant at capturing landscapes. You’ll realise just how good it is when you’re taking holiday snaps of scenic landscapes, or when you’re taking a mass group shot. The Mate 20 Pro is also the perfect camera for budding nature photographers, because it’s capable of taking ultra close-ups. You’ll be able to capture the smallest details on a wildflower, or the freaky features of an insect in gorgeous detail. You can order the Huawei Mate 20 Pro from iD Mobile And there you have it! There’s no doubt that three, or sometimes four cameras are better than one. With those extra lenses, you can do so much more with your camera. If you’ve got a question on multi-lens camera, or if you want to dish out some advice of your own, post a reply below and share your thoughts with the rest of the iD Community.

Apple to the core? Android die-hard? Still supporting Nokia? If you had to be loyal to one phone brand for the rest of your life, which would you choose? To enter the competition, simply scroll to the bottom of the page, tell us what brand you'd choose and hit reply! And why not tell us a bit more about what makes you so brand loyal? One winner will be selected at random, with the closing date for entries at 23.59pm on 18/11/2018; so be sure to enter by then. It really is that simple! Good luck! 🍀 --------------------------------------- iD Community £100 Technology Voucher Giveaway – Terms & Conditions. Promoter: iD Mobile, Dixons Carphone PLC, 1 Portal Way, Acton London, W3 6RS. By entering this promotion, you accept and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions: This promotion is open to all UK residents aged over 18 years (except for employees and their families, of the Promoter and their group of companies). To enter this promotion, you will have to register to the iD Community and answer the question on the corresponding topic thread: “If you had to be loyal to one phone brand for the rest of your life, which would you choose?” The promotion opens on 17.00 (GMT+1) on 01/11/2018 and the closing date for entries is 23.59 (GMT+1) on 18/11/2018. Only 1 entry per person is permitted, duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw. 1 prize will be awarded to 1 winner. The prize will consist of £100 of Technology Vouchers. The winner will be selected at random by an independent person from all correct and eligible entries received. The winner will be notified by email and via public reply/comment on the original thread on the iD Mobile Community by 18.00 (GMT+1) 23/11/18. The winner will be asked to reply to the email by 18.00 (GMT+1) 30/11/2018. If the Promoter does not receive confirmation from a winner that they accept the prize by this time, the promoter reserves the right withdraw the offer/prize. The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. The prize will be delivered within 30 days of acceptance. The decision of the Promoter is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome of this promotion. We make no representation or warranty in relation to the prizes provide and to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall have no liability to you in relation to any prize, its fitness for purposes, merchantability or otherwise. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. By entering this promotion, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

The latest smartphones have pretty amazing cameras, so if you’re the sort of person that likes to just point and shoot, you’ll probably end up with a great-quality shot. But could it be even better? We’ve taken a look at the different modes to make your photos sing. Auto Mode / Photo If in doubt, go auto. This is the camera’s default setting, and it makes all the decisions for you. It takes care of things like light and whether you need a flash – and when it comes to close ups, auto mode can really do the job. Let’s say you’re taking a picture of an important document or something you’re looking to sell – auto mode will ensure an accurate shot, more often than not. And better still, some newer smartphones offer intelligent auto mode (AI), which will work out what you’re trying to take a picture of and adjust the settings accordingly. Clever stuff. Portrait Mode Portrait mode is here to give your photos a professional look. It chooses things like colour settings and depth of field, and uses an ultra-fast shutter speed to make sure your subject isn’t blurry. And on phones like the iPhone Xs, you can control the depth of field yourself, and make a blurrier background that’ll put your subject in the spotlight. And it’s not just about people – portrait mode works well for objects too. Like if you’re enjoying a picnic in the park – your luscious-looking lunch will have all your Instagram followers salivating. Pro Mode / Burst Mode This one’s for the pros (or those that aspire to be), as the name suggests. This is available on most new Samsung phones, and it lets you tweak all the settings. Things like ISO – if your shot’s too bright, try a lower setting. Or turn off auto focus and choose how close or far away you want your subject to look. And if it’s dark and you’re in need of a better exposure, pro mode can help here. Burst mode is great for shooting moving objects. So, if your kid's just scored their first ever goal – a proud moment, indeed – you can pick out the photo that looks the best. Panorama Mode Don’t miss a thing with panorama. Well, it would be a shame to lose out on some of that amazing view. Capture an ultra-wide shot by simply sweeping from one side of the view to the other. And the best thing is that most smartphones have this feature, so everyone can enjoy it. Monochrome Mode We love the arty pictures you can capture in monochrome mode. Not only can you take moody black and white shots, but you can also add a filter afterwards to give your snap a brilliant retro feel. This mode is especially good for pictures of people, particularly close-ups. Here’s a top tip: a monochrome image works wonders on a personalised birthday card. Have we missed any modes? What’s your go-to camera mode? Tell all in the comments below.

Right, so you’ve got your awesome new iPhone Xs, with its stunning 5.8-inch Super Retina HD display. But it’s time to start really exploring! Here are some of our favourite iPhone Xs tips and tricks. Make a Memoji Remember Animojis, those fun animated emojis on iPhone X that responded to your facial expressions? Well, the Xs has gone one further with Memojis. They’re animated emojis – and they look just like you. Creating yours is easy. Just go to the Message app, then select App drawer and the Animoji icon (it’s a monkey). Swipe right and tap ‘New Memoji’. Look at your camera, and your Memoji will appear. Then you can change things like your hair colour, and when you’ve settled on a look, press ‘done’. All that’s left to do after that is to share your Memoji with the world! 2. Get to grips with depth control A lot of phones give you pictures with professional-looking blurred backgrounds, but with the iPhone Xs, you can give your snap the treatment after it’s been taken. Choose a picture, tap edit, and the depth control slider will appear on the screen. Then slide to decide how much of a blur you want. 3. Play around with portrait mode As well as adding a great blurred background, there are other awesome effects you can apply to your picture. Swipe to Portrait mode and you’ll be able to see the various lighting options, which includes our favourite – Stage Light. It’ll put you on the stage and in the spotlight – finally, the recognition you deserve! You’re a star! 4. Set up Face iD If you haven’t set up Face iD yet, what are you waiting for? It’s the easiest way to unlock your phone. Just head to Settings, then select Face ID & Passcode. Enter a passcode and hit Setup Face ID to get started. Your face will be scanned twice, so do it somewhere where the light’s good. When it’s all done, you’ll be able to able to unlock your iPhone Xs with your eyes – and you’ll be amazed at how fast it does it. 5. Make a gesture To get the most out of your iPhone XS, there are a few gestures you’ll have to learn – don’t worry, you’ll pick things up very quickly. After a couple of hours on the Xs, we picked up our old iPhone and tried to use some of the new gestures on there! So here’s a quick rundown: Swipe left for the camera from the lock screen Swipe right for your widgets Swipe up from the Home Bar (the thin line at the bottom edge of the screen) to unlock the phone. Swipe up from the bottom of the phone to switch between open apps. Swipe down from the centre to get to your notifications window? Wake your iPhone by lifting it up, or tapping the display. Those are our top five tips for the iPhone Xs, but have you discovered anything else? If so, share away below the line. Get your hands on your awesome new iPhone Xs.

Nokia has been busy this year, releasing a range of smartphones for everyone – one of the most recent being the top-of-the range Nokia 8 Sirocco. And now with the release of the Nokia 1, the Finnish phone giant has the budget price bracket covered, too. In fact, the Nokia 1 isn’t just budget. It’s super-budget. We don’t usually like to talk about phone prices straight away, but we think this one’s worth mentioning. Because it’s the low price that makes the Nokia 1 such a rare thing – a quality Android smartphone, at a feature phone price. Let’s take a closer look at it… Tough build, swappable back You know what we love about the Nokia 1’s design? It’s not pretending to be anything other than a budget phone. Yes, it’s made of plastic, it’s chunky and it’s got thick bezels. But it’s also nice and grippy, and fits comfortably into the palm of your hand. It certainly doesn’t feel flimsy, and you get the impression that this is a phone that could take being dropped with a mere shrug of its (nicely rounded) shoulders. The Nokia comes with a black back, but if that isn’t your thing you can switch the backplate for an ‘Xpress-on’ cover. Nokia was famous for these replaceable covers back in the day, and we’re glad to see them make a comeback. There are currently a few different Xpress-on covers available, and we hear that Nokia will be adding more colours and patterns soon. Oh, and if you do remove the back you’ll also be able to take advantage of another handy feature on the Nokia 1 – its replaceable battery. The 2,150mAh battery is big enough to give you more than a day of use, but if you’re running low and you’re carrying a spare, you can easily swap it over. Bright and colourful display The Nokia 1 comes with a basic 4.5-inch display. The 854 x 480 resolution isn’t especially crisp, but the rest is good news. The display uses IPS LCD technology (the same as iPhones), so colours are rich and brightness is good – you’ll be able to use the Nokia 1 outdoors without struggling to see what’s onscreen. Serviceable snappers, front and rear There’s a 5MP main camera with a LED flash on the rear, and a 2MP selfie snapper on the front. With these kind of specs, you’ve probably guessed that pictures you’ll take won’t be amazing quality. But they’re decent enough. Take a photograph of a still-life subject in daylight, and this is the kind of quality you can expect. Not too bad at all… Under the hood with Android Go A low-end processor and a mere 1GB RAM. Yep, that’s all that’s running the show here. But you know what? The Nokia 1 performs like a much more powerful phone, thanks to Android Oreo (Go edition). In a nutshell, this is a new version of Android designed for budget smartphones. It’s based on Android Oreo, Google’s latest operating system, but has a few tweaks that make it ideal for phones with less storage and processing power. For example, some of Google’s most popular apps have been redesigned and trimmed down, including Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube. The Nokia 1 is the first phone running Android Oreo (Go edition) that we’ve had the chance to try out, and we’re impressed. Apps feel responsive with no noticeable lag, and we were able to open multiple apps and switch between them without any issues at all. Google Assistant is also available, which surprised us a little. It’s your very own virtual assistant, and it can instantly be accessed with a long-press of the Nokia 1 home key. Our verdict? Nice One, Nokia… The Nokia 1 is a simple and fun smartphone. It’s easy to use, and it performs better than most other budget phones out there. The combination of Nokia’s design skills and the power of Android Oreo (Go edition) is a real winner. So, just who is the Nokia 1 aimed at? We think it would be a good choice of phone for anyone on a tight budget. And it would be a great first smartphone for someone. From young kids to elderly relatives upgrading from a feature phone, we’d recommend it. Take a look at the great Nokia 1 deals available with iD Mobile today.

Ever found yourself wondering what some smartphone jargon actually means? Well, here’s a list of common (and not-so-common) smartphone-related terms and acronyms along with easy-to-understand explanations. 3G 3G was introduced back in 1998 and gave phone users internet access at higher speeds - making downloading music and video much more accessible. It’s so good in fact, that loads of people still use it. 4G It’s the current standard of internet speeds, capable of super-fast mobile speeds of up to 300Mbps. That’s pretty fast and is the reason you’re able to stream problem-free when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi. 5G 5G is the future, supposedly offering speeds hundreds of times faster than 4G. It could even make wired internet connections a thing of the past. No more crossed wires, just smooth wireless connectivity. GPRS If you’re on 2G, you might have noticed the letters ‘GPRS’ (General Packet Radio Service) appear in the top right of your screen. This is enhancing your connection’s capabilities - meaning your phone is ready to send and receive data as speedily as it can. Mbps Standing for ‘megabytes per second’, Mbps is all about internet speed. Here’s a little breakdown: A bit is a digit of data with a value of 0 or 1. A string of 8 bits equals 1 byte. And, a megabyte is 1,048,576 bits. So, if your 4G is running at 300Mbps (we won’t do the maths), you’ve got access to some super speedy internet. Bokeh Bokeh or Portrait Mode blur the background of your photos. The out-of-focus areas not only boost your subject but also add a real professional touch. Wondering where the word came from? The Japanese word for blur is boke. HDR Love taking photos? Snap! And, if your phone’s camera has an HDR setting, you can capture photos with a high contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the image. MPs Megapixels measure the quality of a phone’s camera. But it doesn’t mean the more megapixels your camera has, the better your photos will be. The amount of light a lens lets in plays a massive part in snapping the perfect shot. Bezels Bezels are found on the outside frame of your phone’s screen. This means the smaller the bezels, the more of that glorious edge-to-edge display will be fronting your phone. AMOLED AMOLED stands for the already catchy: Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. AMOLED screens are a real step up from LCD screens. They’re sharper and put less of a strain on your battery. You can’t argue with that. mAh This stands for ‘Milli-Ampere-hour’ and is used to describe the total amount of energy a phone battery can store for a certain time, typically one hour. It’s simple, the higher the number before mAh, the longer the battery will last for that specific amount of time. A-GPS A-GPS stands for ‘Assisted Global Positioning System’. This means the mapping software you’re using assists you by speeding up the process of finding your location. Dual-band If a phone’s dual-band then it can switch between two different radio frequencies. This is very handy for when you’re using your phone in another country. Don’t worry - all new UK mobiles are dual-band. Did we leave any common jargon terms off our list? Is there a feature your phone has that you just don’t understand? We’ll answer any questions you have in the comments below.

The end of 2018 is fast approaching, so now seems like the right time to look at this year’s big developments in the world of mobile. We’ve picked out five trends. Artificial intelligence (AI) We’re aware of AI through the likes of Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, but now there are lots of other clever things it can do on our phones. For example, built-in AI cameras know what we’re taking a picture of and where we’re taking it, then adjusts the settings to give you the best possible shot. Clever, right? One of the phones that does this to great effect is the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, which recognises over 1,000 scenarios. Augmented reality From AI to AR. Augmented reality turns our ordinary selves into dancing dogs, fabulous fairies and the like – and there’s a load of phones that now support this new technology. One example is the Samsung Galaxy S9, which lets you embrace your own unique style and express your personality. You can pick your hair and clothes – and then make your AR-self come alive with a selection of movements and faces! You can even bring your favourite Disney character to life with Disney AR Emoji. Using your phone to control your home Smart technology has been around for a while, but 2018 could just be the year things really took off in this area. Just look at the developments. You can control heating and lights in your home from your mobile device. You can also keep an eye on things by logging into cameras placed around your home for ultimate peace of mind. And of course, there’s the fun stuff too. Things like checking the cameras in your fridge so you can see if you need to pick up milk on your way home. Not exactly life and death stuff, but a little something that means you can have your post-work cuppa – sounds totally worth it to us. Super security Our phones have never been more secure, with the introduction of some pretty smart technology. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone Xs are two examples of phones that now have facial recognition. That’s in addition to fingerprint unlocking, which makes your purchases safe and secure. Charging A phone’s no good without a charger, and we were very excited to see a bona-fide world first in this area – reverse charging. It’s a feature on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and allows you to charge another device by placing the Mate 20 Pro up against it. Will this be more widely available in 2019? We’ll have to wait and see. So, what will next year have in store? One thing’s for sure – it’s bound to be eventful. Let us know below the line what you’d like to see, and as ever, stay tuned to the iD Community blog.

The iD Mobile Black Tag event has started, with some amazing mobile deals up for grabs. You don’t have to wait until Black Friday 2018, these money saving offers are available now! Ready for a bargain? That’s right, our Black Tag event is up and running with some incredible deals. You can save up to £330 on a pay monthly handset deal, or buy a SIM free phone and pair it with one of our great little SIM only deals. We’ve got something for everyone, so head to our Black Tag event page and check them out! You can save up to £330 on the incredible iPhone 7. Or if you're more of an Android fan you can save up to £96 on the Huawei P20 Lite, or save up to £100 on the Samsung Galaxy J6. If you’d like to learn a little more about Black Friday, and why our Black Tag event is a little different to it, read on… What is Black Friday? Black Friday is the day of the year where lots of retailers offer large savings and attractive deals for one day only. This makes it one of the busiest shopping days of the year, for in-store and online purchases. Black Friday has really taken off in the UK over the last few years, but it originated in the United States. Black Friday always falls the day after Thanksgiving, and it marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. When is Black Friday 2018? Black Friday falls the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is the fourth Thursday in November. So Black Friday 2018 will be on November 23rd. When can I get an iD Mobile Black Friday deals? Our Black Tag event brings you Black Friday prices two weeks early! And rather than just one day of deals, our event runs for three whole weeks – that’s before, during, and after Black Friday. You can get an incredible Black Tag deal right now, online or in Carphone Warehouse store across the UK.

Let’s play, iPhone X and iPhone Xs owners. Animating yourself with the Animoji and Memoji feature is a lot of fun, and is sure to impress your friends. It’s really easy too, as you’re about to see. Let’s get animated Thanks to the amazing front-facing TrueDepth camera on your iPhone X or Xs, you can animate Apple’s emoji characters with your own facial expressions and create fun video messages up to 30 seconds. If you’ve ever fancied being a cute pooch, cheeky monkey or oh-so-spooky ghost, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You can also add some audio to the mix while your chosen emoji follows your facial movements to a tee. Fancy creating something that’s a little more, well, you? Then go for a Memoji, the super fun feature that gives you the tools to create yourself as an emoji. Yep, you can finally see yourself as an awesome cartoon-style avatar! We’ve tried it out for ourselves and the result is hours of fun. Memojis and Animojis are really easy to create. Just open up a conversation on Messages, tap the Animoji button (that’s the little yelling monkey) and you’ll see a whole host of characters to choose from. Then tap record the record button and you have 30 seconds to bring your alter ego to life! But wait, there’s more… Sure, sending messages is all well and good – but we have a feeling you’re going to want to take your new love of Animoji and Memoji even further. Here are some game-changing things you can do with your new animated buddies... Did someone say karaoke? Think of your go-to karaoke classic. Got it? Okay - now imagine it being belted out by a rowdy rabbit or better yet, a sassy skeleton. If this is the kind of thing you need in your life, it’s pretty easy to do. All you need to do is find a karaoke version of your chosen track on YouTube - then sing your face off using Animoji. A fan of the original? Just lip-sync along and have a little fun with Snoop Dog the actual dog or Lion-el Richie. Need some inspiration? Check out this Animoji Karaoke gem: Animoji movie magic People have even been taking the Animoji craze to blockbuster levels by uploading various movie scenes recreated with talking emojis. Hilarious clips see Russell Crowe’s character from Gladiator turn into a chicken, and Al Pacino’s Tony Montana character from Scarface become an aggressive animated monkey. Check this out: If you’d like to explore wonderful the world of Animojis and Memojis for yourself, you can order the incredible iPhone Xs from iD Mobile right now. Have you experienced the joys of Animoji and Memoji yet? Which is your fave? Be as expressive as you want in the comments below.

More and more smartphones are using wireless charging to get back up to speed after a hard day’s work. So you can forget about plugs, wires and cables – where we’re going, we won’t need them. Wireless charging has been around for a few years, but it’s only been quite recently that the major smartphone releases have started featuring it. And if you ask us, it’s about time. Technology that lets us power up our favourite devices without worrying about wires and searching for plug sockets? Yes please. Wireless charging is the future, and here’s everything you need to know about it… How does wireless charging work? Ready for some science? Good, because here it comes. Wireless charging – also known as inductive charging – uses magnetised coils to create an electromagnetic field. A moving magnet inside the coil generates electricity, which can be transferred to another coil nearby as a source of power. So just imagine the other coil nearby is inside the battery of your smartphone. Your smartphone’s battery can absorb this power without having to be plugged into anything. No charging cables are needed. That’s wireless charging. What do I need? The first thing you need is a smartphone that supports wireless charging, like one of these perhaps? Apple iPhone Xs Apple iPhone Xs Max Apple iPhone XR Google Pixel 3 Google Pixel 3 XL Huawei P20 Pro Huawei Mate 20 Pro LG G6 LG V30 Nokia 8 Sirocco Samsung Galaxy Note9 Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung Galaxy S8+ Samsung Galaxy S8 Sony Xperia XZ3 Sony Xperia XZ2 These are the most popular smartphones that support wireless charging but it isn’t a complete list, so it’s worth checking your handset’s instruction leaflet even if it’s not listed above. You might be pleasantly surprised. The second thing you need is a wireless charger. They’re now widely available and usually look like small docks or mats that you place your phone on top of. Carphone Warehouse has a great range to choose from here. What is Qi wireless charging? You’ve probably noticed that many phones such as iPhone Xs and Google Pixel 3 support something called Qi (pronounced “Chee”) wireless charging. This is just a standard of inductive wireless charging that has been proven to be safe and reliable. Think of it as a mark of quality. It’s not the only standard available, but it’s one that has support from the major smartphone manufacturers. Why don’t all phones use wireless charging? Let’s not be too hasty. The technology is still relatively new, and only now is it fast and reliable enough to be used widely. But who knows what will happen in the future? What does the future hold for wireless charging? We predict that wireless charging will become the norm in the near future. It’s only a matter of time before we all have at least one wireless charger at home, or on our desk at work. More of them are appearing, and the technology is getting better all the time. They’re getting faster, cheaper and less bulky - which means they’re more likely to take up less space on your bedside table or desk. At the moment, not all wireless chargers will charge your phone as fast as a wired connection, but that could change in the future too. For wireless chargers, this is only the beginning. Have you got a question about wireless charging? Ask it below, and let the iD Community have a go at answering it!

Remember, remember it’s the 5th November! To help you celebrate, here’s a list of bangin’ apps to download before you head outdoors for bonfire night. They’ll add some sparkle to Guy Fawkes Night. iLightningCam 2 Free on iOS Originally designed for capturing photos of lightning, iLightningCam 2 works for taking pictures of fireworks too. The most impressive thing about the app is its ability to take photos automatically. Just point your camera up to the sky, and it will detect the firework straight away and take a picture. And the full resolution feature means you’ll get razor-sharp images. Boomerang Free on iOS and Android If you want to try and make some fun firework videos, give Instagram’s Boomerang app a try. It loops one-second videos backwards and forwards, so with some good timing and a bit of luck, you should be able to create some cool firework effects. AccuWeather Free on iOS and Android No one wants to be stuck watching fireworks during a downpour, so use AccuWeather to check out the latest weather conditions in your area. The app even offers a minute-by-minute precipitation forecast, hyper-localised to your exact address. So you can head home early for a mug of hot chocolate if any sudden rainstorms look likely. Real fireworks camera Free on Android A firework display in the comfort of your own home? No, we’re not talking about indoor fireworks, we’re talking about this fantastic firework simulator app. It uses AR to let you superimpose firework displays onto real life backgrounds. As the app blurb says: ‘stop wasting money on fireworks, step into the next century!’ We can’t promise that this’ll satisfy any kids looking forward to an actual fireworks display, but it’s worth a try. Anonymous Mask Free on iOS Get in the spirit of Guy Fawkes by superimposing the anonymous mask over a picture of yourself. Just take a selfie, or use a pre-existing photo. Then choose from four masks to cover your face with - ideal for that seasonal profile pic. Will you be downloading any of these apps? If so, let us know what you think of them below!

With an incredible 6.3-inch screen, clever AI camera and all-round speediness, the Honor Play is a heck of a phone. Let’s take a closer look. The screen’s a gamer’s delight The Honor Play is great for gaming. Well, the clue’s in the title, really. But a great gaming phone simply wouldn’t be complete without a great big screen. And the Honor Play certainly has one of those – there’s a whole 6.3-inches to play with, the largest on any Honor phone. Plus it’s Full HD+ so you can really immerse yourself in what’s happening on screen. It has a bigger body-to-screen ratio for a better view of the action, and if you’re worried that the notch will distract you, simply hide it. Plus, with up to 16 million colours, that’ll do all your games justice. You have the power The Honor Play is seriously fast (that’ll be the Kirin 970 octa-core processor doing its thing, processor fans). And graphics are impressive too, thanks to something called GPU Turbo, which will make sure everything will look good and run smoothly, not slow and jerky – no-one wants that. Storage and then some There’s plenty of space to store all the things that matter to you – your games, movies, photos and more. There’s 64GB built-in, but if that’s not enough you can boost it up to a massive 256GB with a microSD memory card. Don’t just play - feel Honor’s 4D gameplay tool means that the phone will vibrate as you play, giving the feel of playing at home on your console rather than on your phone. Again, this’ll make for a more immersive experience. Together with 3D sound technology – which will add extra sound effects – this will all come together for the ultimate gaming experience. Clever camera But this phone isn’t just about gaming. The cameras are pretty nifty too, and the 16MP & 2MP rear dual-camera is a winner. There’s built-in AI on board which knows what you’re taking a picture of – and where – and automatically chooses the settings that’ll give you the best shot. The front camera is 16MP of awesomeness, and your selfies will be spot on. There’s a portrait mode, with lighting effects that’ll make you look even better (if that’s possible). Safe as houses Finally, there are some great security features on the Honor Play. The camera supports face unlocking, so the only person that’ll be able to get into your phone is, well, you. So there you go. That’s your introduction to the Honor Play, which we reckon is a bit of a revelation. The screen is a knockout, pictures look great, it’s fast, powerful and secure. And it’s available right now from iD Mobile. Got your eye on one? What are you looking forward to most? We’d love to know your thoughts. Tell us in the comments below.

Are you missing out on the fun of Instagram Stories? You might have noticed them already, on top of some of your friends' feeds. So, let’s get you up to speed, and show you how to create your very own slices of Instagram history. What are Instagram Stories? Instagram Stories has got to be the most eye-catching feature on Instagram. It lets you create a single story by posting multiple photos and videos onto it. The story appears just like a slideshow, and the content disappears after 24 hours. You’re basically free to come up with any story you want. You could create one of a big night out with friends, mixing up photos and videos, or you could share an evening spent trying to create a culinary classic in the kitchen. Even if you don’t get it right, it could still be worth posting – we all love a failed attempt at a Bake Off classic. If you feel like you still need some inspiration (or should that insta-ration?), there’s only one thing for it. Let’s see what your friends are up to… How to view other Instagram Stories Go into Instagram, and you’ll see some of your friends’ profile photos running along the top of your freed. That’s their Instagram Stories. Tap one, and you’ll be treated to a full-screen story of what they’ve posted in the last 24 hours. You can’t hit an Instagram Story with any hearts, as much as you love it. But there’s a ‘send message’ box at the bottom if you feel like commenting. Or hit the camera icon and snap a selfie as a reply. How to create your own Instagram Stories Okay. The time has come. You’ve had a look at your friends’ Instagram Stories and to be quite frank, you’re a little disappointed. You know you can do much better. Go to your profile pic on the top left of the screen and give the ‘+’ icon a tap. This opens up your story camera, and you’re now all set to take photos or record videos. It’s worth exploring all the features and options in the story camera, because they’re lots of fun. Our favourites are ‘Boomerang’, which creates three second GIFs, and ‘Rewind’, which films a video in reverse – it’s made for holiday shots of someone jumping into a swimming pool. And the fun doesn’t end there, because you can also add Snapchat-style face filters. Tap the face icon on the bottom right of the screen and get scrolling until you find a filter you like. Big eyes and bunny ears is a well-known classic, but we prefer this far-out space filter. When you get the look you want, tap the ‘+’ icon with ‘Your Story’ underneath it. Your photo or video will be added to your Instagram Story for 24 hours. After that, it’s history. So make it memorable. Are you an Instagram Stories master? Got any tip and tricks up your sleeve? If you wouldn’t mind sharing, go ahead and post a comment below.

Got your pumpkin ready? Halloween is here, which means there’s no better time to head to the nearest costume shop, daub yourself with fake blood and put on a scary movie. If that’s not your thing then fear not, because you can have just as much spookily good fun with your phone. Just check out these ghoul – ahem, cool – Halloween-themed apps to sink your fake fangs into. The Simpsons: Tapped out (free on iOS and Android) One of our favourite mobile games has been given the scare treatment with a new Treehouse of Horror story. An evil sorcerer has taken over the town of Springfield using dark magic. Now it’s overrun with hordes of beasties. Naturally, only you can stop them. Want more? Then check out the other games joining in the Halloween fun, like Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff and Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow to see what other scary goings-on are occurring. Into the Dead 2 (free on iOS and Android) Halloween just isn’t Halloween without zombies, right? Into the Dead 2 has hordes of the brain-munchers to contend with in this terrifying sequel to a brilliant game. It’s basically more of what made the first one so much fun. Armed with an arsenal of weapons, you must make your way through a zombie apocalypse to save your family. It’s addictive stuff, and certainly not for the squeamish. Creepy Tales (free on Android) Do you like scary stories? Then gather around a campfire and regale your Halloween party guests with these tales of horror. The Creepy Tales Android app has a scare-riffic collection of spine-tingling urban legends that will shock and terrify even the most Halloween-hardened human. The story categories give you an idea of what to expect – choose from the likes of ‘Instructions to Evil’, ‘Secrets of our Minds’ and ‘Ghost and Demons’. Your guests will be hanging on your every word. Stranger Things It’s that time of the year when eerie happenings are afoot. Some would say Stranger Things. If you haven’t seen any of The Stranger Things episodes, there’s no better time to sit indoors (after all it’s freezing outside) and binge watch it all using your Netflix app. And when you’re done, just kick back with Stranger Things: The Game on iOS or Android. You won’t regret it – it’s utterly amazing. Know any other fun Halloween-flavoured games or apps? Then let us know in the comments below. Happy Halloween, phonesters.

Smartphone camera tech has never been better. It’s easy to take great-quality shots with a simple aim and shoot. But how much do you know about the different modes on your camera? Let’s take a look at what each mode does and when to use it, so you can get the most out of your camera. Auto Mode / Photo Your camera’s default setting (Auto Mode or just Photo on iOS) makes all of your photography decisions for you. Some of the newer phone cameras also have Intelligent Auto Mode, which cleverly analyses your setting and automatically puts you on the best mode. It knows whether you need a flash or not, and sorts out your lighting as well. When to use it: Need a close-up of a document or object? Auto Mode will capture all of the detail you need. The shot might not look as aesthetically pleasing as it would if you used a different mode but it’ll give you an in-depth, clear look at what you’re photographing. Pro Mode / Burst Mode If you’re an expert that knows your aperture from your ISO, Pro Mode is perfect for you. Available on most new Samsung phones, Pro Mode lets you adjust the settings that work for you. Take charge of your photos by upping your ISO setting if you’re in a dark setting – or whack a filter on before you take the photo. When to use it: Pro Mode does the job when you’re taking photos in a dark setting. Also, Burst Mode is ideal for action shots. So, if you’re taking snaps on the dance floor, you can go back and choose the best ones for your social media. Portrait Mode Portrait Mode or ‘the bokeh effect’ adds a professional-looking blurred background to all of your photos. It enhances your colour settings and depth of field, putting whatever your shooting centre stage. The new iPhone Xs even has a depth of field controller, so you can choose how blurry you want your background to be. When to use it: Don’t let the name fool you. Sure, Portrait Mode is great for taking pictures when people or pets are your main focus but it also works brilliantly for objects too. Just imagine how good your ice cream shot would look with a blurred beach in the background. Panorama Mode It’s tricky trying to figure out which part of an amazing view to snap. With Panoramic mode you can capture images with horizontally elongated fields of view. It’s easy - just sweep across the view while holding down the capture button, and you’ll see the bigger picture – literally. When to use it: Panorama Mode was created for picturesque views but it’s equally as effective if you want to take a shot of the whole room. Make sure to go slow though. Rotate too quickly and you could end up with a few distorted faces in your picture (and that’s never a good look). Monochrome Mode There’s a time and a place for artsy black and white images. But when you are in the mood for something with a more retro feel, Monochrome works wonders. You can take a black and white photo directly with the sensor, or if you want the option, you can stick a Monochrome filter on afterwards. When to use it: You’ll get the most out of Monochrome when you use it to take close-up photos of people. It’s also a great touch if you’re creating nostalgic personalised birthday cards or mugs. Which mode is your favourite? Have we left any off the list? Tell us what you think below the line.

It’s important to choose the right amount of data for your mobile plan. If you get too little, you might end up buying add-ons every month. If you get too much, then you’re paying for something you don’t use. So, let us help you get it right - and we’ll also throw in a few data saving tips for good measure. The amount of monthly data you need depends on what you use your phone for. If it’s purely for work, the chances are you’ll mostly be sending emails and browsing the web. For that type of usage, a 500MB allowance should be enough. But if you use your phone like most of us do - for fun, leisure and timewasting on your daily commute (streaming music and videos, playing online games… you know the kind of thing), then 2GB data is probably the minimum amount you need a month. And even then, you’ll need to be careful with video streaming. Watch a Netflix film in glorious HD and your 2GB will be gone in less than an hour. If you go for a bigger amount of data, like 5GB, then it gives you a little more freedom. For example, you could do all this over the course of a month: • Watch 5 hours of your favourite Netflix show on SD (standard definition). • Spend more than 24 hours enjoying YouTube. • Listen to Spotify for two whole days (that’s over 300 songs). Of course, you can go much larger than 5GB. Most of our pay monthly handset plans give you the option of going up to 10GB. We’ve also got a 20GB SIM only plan for just £20 a month. If you think you’re going to be powering through your data, it could be the deal for you. How can you save data? If you've got a nagging feeling that you might be using mobile data needlessly, here are a few good housekeeping tips. Stick to these and you could see a sharp drop in your data usage… 1. Be wary of auto-play videos We all love scrolling through our favourite social apps, but beware of those videos that play automatically on Facebook and Twitter. They eat away at your data allowance, even if you haven’t even got the volume turned on. 2. Turn off auto updates A lot of smartphones automatically update themselves and their apps whenever they see fit. If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, this won’t be a problem, but if it’s happening when you’re out and about, you could see a draw on your data. Here's how to sort it: Android: Google Play > Tap the three lines in the search bar > Settings > Auto-update apps > Choose ‘Over Wi-Fi only’. iOS: Settings > iTunes & App Store > Automatic Downloads > Toggle the ‘Apps’ and ‘Updates’ switches to the left, so they turn grey. 3. Manage your apps It’s always worth checking if any of your apps are being a bit too greedy. My Data Manager lets you do just that, and it’s free to download from Google Play or the App Store. It lets you track apps to see which ones are using the most data, and you can also get alerts when your data’s running low. Have you got a question on choosing the right amount of monthly data for your iD Mobile plan? Would you like to share any of your own data-saving tips? You know what to do - go ahead and reply below.

The waiting is finally over, and Apple’s latest smartphones have been unveiled. The new iPhones will be known as iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, and they all share features and tech that are truly off the scale. But first of all, let us explain the key differences between each one. The 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max – the biggest display ever on an iPhone – is truly awe-inspiring. It has the most storage space in any iPhone, up to a massive 512GB, which is enough space to hold 200,000 photographs. It packs dual 12MP cameras for great-quality photos and Face ID for secure unlocking and payments. The iPhone XS comes with the same amazing features, but with a 5.8-inch screen – the same as on the iPhone X. The iPhone XR is truly ground-breaking. Not only does it have all the great specs as you’d get with the iPhone XS and XS Max, but it does it all with the most advanced LCD in a smartphone. The screen comes in at 6.1-inches – a bigger display than iPhone 8 Plus but in a smaller design. Battery life’s great too – an hour and a half more than iPhone 8 Plus. Okay, let’s take a look at the features in all three… Portrait mode with depth control There’s a real advancement in Bokeh – those great photos with professional-looking blurry backgrounds. Once you’ve taken a photo in portrait mode, you can adjust the depth of field AFTER you’ve taken the picture – make your background as blurry as you like once the photo’s been taken. Properly innovative stuff. Aside from the brilliant Bokeh, the dual 12MP camera is an absolute beauty, and it does so many jobs at once - auto exposure, auto white balance, auto focus, noise reduction – and that’s just the start. You’re guaranteed crisp detail, bright colours and top-quality photos, day or night. Incredible video in low light Videos look great in 4K, and you’ll be amazed how good they look even when you’re shooting in low light, so prepare for those dawn walks and sunset views to look even more dramatic. And with four built-in microphones, videos will sound good in surround sound too. Face ID Once again, there’s no home button, but with advanced Face ID, your iPhone will recognise your face and unlocks faster than ever. It’s the most secure facial authentication ever in a smartphone, which means you don’t need to worry when making purchases on Apple Pay. Dual SIM capability For the first time in an iPhone, there’s dual SIM capability. So, whether you like to keep two numbers – one for work etc – want two different plans or you do a lot of travelling and like to travel on a different plan, it’s now easier than ever. The new iPhones will be available in the UK soon. If you've got a question on anything iPhone related, post it below.

Do you ever think where we would be without smart people? Without them you wouldn’t have amazing life-changing inventions such as the lightbulb, the car, or even the smartphone. Being smart is cool. So, join us as we celebrate Smart is Cool Day, with a look at some of the best brain training apps around. You’ll definitely feel smarter after playing around with these. Luminosity Android (Free) / iOS (Free) Luminosity is one of the most popular brain training apps around, and for good reason. It’s crammed to the brim with games to exercise a range of mental skills including memory, attention span and problem-solving. It’s the perfect app to reinvigorate your grey matter and give your brain a boost. With a training programme on board, it’s like having a personal trainer for your brain. The developers reckon that a single session can turbocharge your mental skills. So, what are you waiting for? NeuroNation Android (Free) / iOS (Free) Take your cognitive skills up a notch with NeuroNation. Think of it like a gym for your brain. The app has been developed with the help of German scientists, and is packed with exercises that draws on findings in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology. There are over 60 brain-training exercises, and nine personalised courses to train various functions of your brain such as numeracy, memory, perception and reasoning. It’s just the ticket for getting your thinking skills in tip-top shape. The app even adapts to your performance to keep your cerebral cortex ticking along with regular evaluations that highlight your strengths and weaknesses, so you know where to improve. Memorado Android (Free) / iOS (Free) Want something easier to get into? Then dive into Memorado. It has similar brain training benefits to the above apps, with colourful graphics to boot. Choose from over 450 levels across 15 games geared towards beefing up your memory, concentration and reaction skills. But don’t let the baby-faced looks fool you, this is one seriously challenging app designed by some exceedingly clever folks at the forefront of neuroscientific research. With enough practice, the developers claim that you can increase your brain quotient by up to 76%. Now that’s smart. Got any favourite brain training games you’d like to recommend? Feel free to suggest them in the comments below.

Why do one thing when you can do two? This article takes a closer at multitasking on your phone. How to do it – and why you should. How to launch split-screen It’s easy – just a case of dragging and dropping. Open your chosen app, then select the app switcher icon (a square on the right of the nav bar) and select the first app. Drag the app to the top of the screen to drop it into place, then simply tap the second app and it’ll magically appear in the bottom half of the screen. Why multitask? Research while you write Got research to do for a piece of work, or writing an important email but need more details? Constantly switching between your web browser and your emails or word doc can be a right pain. Well, with split screen, half of the screen can be your writing and the other half can be your webpage etc. Research while you write, and save time. You can copy and paste from one place to another, or even drag and drop. Tweet and watch Want to catch up on the Bake Off latest goings-on or see who’s been eliminated from Strictly, but don’t want to take your eyes off the show to tweet all about it? Watch TV in split screen with your social media account. Problem solved. Play games – and chat If you’re in the middle of a game, it can be difficult to drag yourself away. And what if a notification (or 20) pops up on WhatsApp and you just want to get involved? Well, you can do both. Watch those messages roll in on half the screen, while on the other half you can carry on matching those sweets or keep trying to stay alive. Be extra social What’s better than keeping up to date on your social accounts? Er, keeping up with two social accounts…? If you’ve got a lot to say across Facebook and Twitter – or you’ve got pictures you just have to share on Insta and WhatsApp, you can split the screen for maximum social power. Get creative Let your creative side free with a bit of help from your stylus. And if you’re drawing something you’ve taken a picture of, you don’t just have to do it from memory or keep checking back to the original. On one side you can have your drawing app, and on the other side you can have the picture you’re working off. Multitasking is available on most Android phones. Check out all the incredible handsets and plans on offer from iD Mobile. And don’t forget to let us know below the line why you split the screen.