Articles and competitions.

Check out some of the latest mobile news, reviews and advice to help you get more out of your smartphone.

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550 Topics

Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Then and Now: What's Changed in the Past Few Years? (Android Edition) - 2021Blog

Android: What’s new?Coming to the end of your phone contract and ready for something new? You’re in the right place. Since the last time you treated yourself to a new device, smartphones have got better…a lot better. These days, you can find a great smartphone to suit any budget. Here are a few of our favourites, and how they shape up against the smartphones of yesteryear. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G One of the biggest developments to reshape the smartphone world recently is the introduction of speedy 5G. While it was an exclusive feature for the most premium phones only two years ago, we’re starting to see it introduced in mid-range handsets like the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G. And it’s a hugely welcome addition.That’s not the only thing that’s new, though. If you’re moving on from the A52s 5G’s predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy A51, you’ll notice plenty more technological leaps. Like the display, for instance. They both have a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, but this time around, Samsung have dou

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have arrived!Blog

‘Tis the season for new smartphone launches, where the biggest brands in the smartphone world unveil their latest innovations. September saw Apple unveil their game-changing iPhone 13 range, and now the titans of Android, Google, have launched their two best smartphones yet. We’re talking about the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro.There’s been a lot of hype about these phones over the past few months in the run-up to their release. That’s partially because they’re the first smartphones to feature Google’s own custom-made processor, but there are plenty of other reasons to love these smartphones.Let’s take a closer look: How do they look?See for yourself! The latest phones in the Google Pixel family sport a radically different look to their predecessors. We love the unique ‘bar’ style camera module at the top, and the two-tone design above and below it is a real point of difference.Elsewhere, the selfie camera moves on both phones to the top centre, and both the front and back are protected

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Kash
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

iD Community News and Updates – November 2021News

Welcome back to the iD Mobile Community’s monthly news and updates!After the excitement in reaching our big milestone of 50,000 Community members in last month’s edition, you’d be forgiven for thinking things would be a bit slower this month. But as we said, we’re just getting started.From making the Community the instinctive go-to place for all your Help and Support content, awesome competitions that fire up lively chats, to making sure you guys are the first to know about our best deals, we’ve got your back. So, what’s new in November? The numbers…In time honoured Community News and Updates fashion, let’s begin with the numbers this month.  Since our last update, over 2,000 new Community members have joined the ranks and are currently working their way up from Civilian to Rookie, and onwards. The sky’s the limit!Elsewhere, it’s been a pretty active month on the iD Community. Over 260 topics created by Community members including questions and discussions and over 1,200 replies given.

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Our latest iPhones - 2021 EditionBlog

Looking to upgrade to a shiny new iPhone? iD Mobile has got you covered. We’ve got the latest and greatest iPhones, with everything that makes the Apple experience so good – all new iOS 15 software, effortless style, and cameras that set the standard. And you’re bound to find a top deal that works for you, right here. Let’s take a closer look at the line-up: iPhone SE: The SE delivers the best of the iPhone experience to suit any budget. It has the same processor that’s used in the iPhone 11, and a more-than-capable 12MP camera that’ll shoot instantly shareable 4K footage. That’s impressive.With a 4.7-inch screen, it’s the smallest iPhone available right now. But with a Retina HD display, the iPhone SE still delivers bundles of clarity and colour, and the handset feels super comfy and natural to use single-handed.Elsewhere, the SE can run intensive AR apps and offers 13 hours of video playback time. Plus, with up to 256 GB storage, you can download as much as you like.Discover the iPho

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Best mobile apps and accessories to beat the coldBlog

[b]Stay toasty warm this winter with some of our favourite tech to beat the cold. We’ve gathered together a handful of handy apps and accessories to help you beat the winter weather this year.[/b] [h2]Weather apps[/h2] [img]https://uploads-eu-west-1.insided.com/idmobile-en/attachment/7675f7f4-2d92-4b22-948b-74f2afcc3204.jpg[/img] It’s happened to all of us... you wake up, look outside and it’s a beautiful clear morning. So you leave the brolly and winter waterproofs at home, only for things to take a turn for the worst when you leave work. If only you’d checked before you left home! It’s hardly surprising to discover that there are loads of useful weather apps to help you stay prepared for an unexpected downpour. Here are a few of our favourites: [b]Accuweather[/b] ([url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/accuweather-weather-alerts/id300048137?mt=8]iOS[/url] and [url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather.android&hl=en_GB]Android[/url]) – It looks gre

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M
Civilian
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Say hello to iOS 15!Blog

Meet the newest and most refined iPhone operating system yet…Even if you’ve got an iPhone and you’re not in the market for a new device, there’s still a big reason to love Apple phone launches, and that reason is a new OS. Whenever Apple launch a new flagship, you can be sure that a cutting-edge software release will come with it, and this year was no different. Along with the launch of the iPhone 13 family, iOS 15 went live to the world on September 20th, and it really builds on the best bits of the iPhone experience. At first glance, you’ll see a few subtle stylistic upgrades and refinements, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find nifty new features that are bound to make your phone feel smoother.Here are six new iOS features we’re loving right now: Don’t like your tab bar at the bottom of Safari? Change it!Tab bars at the bottom of your browser have always been a bit of a crowd divider. For many iPhone users, the update to iOS 15 has moved the address bar on Safari from the

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Introducing Android 12Blog

Google’s operating system just got a big refresh. Here are the new features we’re loving right now…It’s always exciting when you get that alert on your phone to say there’s a big new software update available, and Google’s latest OS release is no different. Android 12 brings some fantastic new features to Android phones, including better privacy and security, a fresh-looking interface and the most in-depth drop-down Quick Settings we’ve seen yet.Whether you’ve got an Android phone that’s around two years old, or you’ve just bought a new Android phone that ships with Android 11, you can expect to get that update ping real soon. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at the finer points of Android 12: It’s a widget wizard!We all love widgets. They make your home screen personal with info that’s tailored and relevant to you. And with Android 12, they’re clearer to navigate.Widgets are now divided into the apps they belong to, and it should tell you how many widgets are available. It’ll

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Is your smartphone waterproof?Blog

Find out if your smartphone is beach-ready in this jargon-busting guide… Planning to relax to podcasts by the poolside on holiday, link up with friends at a festival or watch a movie whilst relaxing in the bath? Then you’ll be needing your phone by your side. But before you bring your trusty smartphone with you on your adventures or near water, you should know if it’s as ready as you are to take on the elements. And if not, how can you protect it?We’ve put together this handy guide to explain everything about waterproof phones, from IP ratings to a list of the most water-tight phones around right now. First thing’s first, let’s see just how waterproof your phone really is… How can I find out if my phone is waterproof?To find out how resistant your phone is to water, you need to know your phone’s IP rating. What’s that?An IP rating is essentially a two-digit number that tells you how good your phone is at keeping out dust particles and water. The first number refers to solid particles l

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

How to move from iPhone to SamsungBlog

[b]This guide will help you transfer your data if you’re moving from an old iPhone to a new Samsung phone.[/b] To move from an iPhone to a Samsung phone, you’ll need to use the Samsung Smart Switch app if you want to transfer the data from an iCloud backup, or with a USB cable. Any music won’t be transferred, because iCloud doesn’t include it in the backup, so you’ll have to add it through iTunes yourself later. [h2]Back up your old iPhone or iPad[/h2] This will get all your data backed up and ready to transfer. This process can take a while, so make sure your iPhone is fully charged or charging while it completes the backup. [list=1] [*]From the Home screen, go to [b]Settings[/b] > [b]Your name[/b] > [b]iCloud[/b] > [b]iCloud Backup[/b]. [*]You’ll be able to see when your phone was last backed up. If there isn't a recent backup, tap [b]Back Up Now[/b] to make a new one. [/list] [h2]Restore your data to your new Samsung[/h2] On your Samsung phone, install [b]Samsung Smart Switch[/b]

2002
Michelle
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

iPhone: What's new? - 2021 EditionBlog

Every year brings a new iPhone line-up and with them, new innovations that make the experience that much better. Whether it’s ground-breaking smartphone camera tech like Cinematic Mode, ever-smarter AI or an all-new, intuitive iOS operating system, the latest iPhones can do things that simply weren’t possible even just a few years ago. So, how does iD Mobile’s current iPhone line-up compare to previous generations? iPhone SE:The 2020 iPhone SE is a more entry level offering from Apple among the current range, but nonetheless a great way to get the best of the iPhone experience.The difference between the SE and the iPhone 6, for instance, is night and day. It’ll offer 5 hours longer battery life and has a higher 12MP camera that captures 4K 60 fps footage. But the biggest development is power. The A13 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone SE performs tasks 4 times faster than the iPhone 6’s A8. That’s a big plus for things like web browsing and opening apps.Amongst all the hardware advance

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

WIN one of five £50 Currys gift cardsNews

To celebrate reaching 50,000 Community members we’re giving away five £50 Currys gift cards! To enter the competition, read the article below and follow the instructions to enter. Good luck! 

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

iD Community News and Updates - October 2021News

It’s that time again where we give you a run down of everything that’s been going on in the iD Community this past month. Where do we start? We’ve done it… 50,000 Community members!We at iD have been in a celebratory mood recently, and that’s because we’ve reached 50,000 members! The iD Community has never been bigger, and has become a hub of activity, support, chit-chat and community spirit. Nothing makes us happier than seeing new members get stuck in and seasoned superheroes helping them get acquainted. Here’s to the next big milestone!The numbers…As well as hitting that big 50k, the Community has seen 1,600 new members join over the past few weeks. Welcome Newbies! Not only that, but you guys have posted nearly 300 new topics, 1000 replies and well over 300 positive content helpfulness scores. Cheers to everyone that’s keeping active on here and helping make this place the wonderful knowledge base it is.We’ve had a face lift...We’ve updated the Community homepage banner to a fresh,

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

iD Community News and Updates - September 2021Blog

Welcome back once again! It’s that time where we give you the latest lowdown on all things iD.So, what’s been happening around here? We’re almost there… 50KOur Community is so close to reaching a major milestone in the next few weeks – the 50,000-member mark is just around the corner! There’s never been more people active on here, chatting to each other, working to answer questions and solve issues. We couldn’t be happier to see so many of you getting involved, earning points on the leaderboard, and climbing through the Community ranks. We can’t wait to see even more new members join the fold and what expertise they will bring along with them.Who will the next iD Superhero be? Who else can make it to the top of the points leaderboard? Can anyone else achieve Legend status? Only time will tell! Have your say!Got ideas about what you’d like to see posted here? The iD Mobile Community team is on a mission to bring you stuff we know you’ll love, every single month. That’s why we want you g

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

9 tips to get the most from your iPhoneBlog

[b]Whether you’ve just got a shiny new iPhone (congrats!) or have been attached to your trusty old one for years, here are some of our favourite hacks and tips to help you get the most from it…[/b] [h3][b]1. Charge faster in airplane mode[/b][/h3] Let’s start with a great little tip to make sure your battery charges fast when you really need it. Simply switch on airplane mode, and your iPhone will gain juice much faster. Okay, so you won't be able to make calls or use the internet in airplane mode – but think of all that lovely battery life! [h3][b]2. Shake your iPhone to undo that thing you didn’t mean to type[/b][/h3] If you're sending someone a message - or writing a cool Insta caption - and you've just changed your mind about what you've written, just give your iPhone a shake and it’ll ask you if you want to undo. No more tapping the backspace button a million times now! [h3][b]3. Hold down the camera button and go into burst mode[/b][/h3] To make sure you capture that moment p

69374
T
Civilian
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Celebrating International Friendship DayBlog

Keeping friendships strong requires mutual effort. We all lead busy lives, and it’s easy for time to simply run away and, before you know it, it’s been ages since you’ve checked in with one another.That doesn’t have to be the case, though! This International Friendship Day, we’re encouraging everyone to spend time with their mates and loved ones, be it in person or online. After all, we’ve spent so much time away from our nearest and dearest over the course of the past year, catch-ups are long overdue.So, what can you do to connect with your friends? Easy, we’ll show you: Book a holiday abroad togetherDid you have plans to get away with the group last summer that got derailed by the pandemic? Now’s the perfect time to cash in on that rain check.With so many destinations on the UK’s green list, you’re free to soak up some sunshine, top up your tan and share amazing moments without any post-trip quarantining.Remember, when you travel to any of our 50 Inclusive Roaming destinations, you c

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Purchase Guide: Choosing a phone for an older personBlog

Here’s everything you need to know when buying a phone for a senior…Over the past decade, the number of people using smartphones has grown a serious amount. From 2012 to 2020, the percentage of over 65s using a smartphone grew from just 3% to a big 65%, and it’s set to grow further.It’s easy to see why. Smartphones let seniors connect with their friends and loved ones, not just by calls and messages but by video calls and emails, too. It’s all there in one place. There’s also health monitoring apps, the web, their favourite radio station, and much more. Smartphones give everyone the confidence to live independently.Although, not every smartphone is meant for all ages. Some of the more premium phones are made from smooth glass which can be slippery. Others can prove trickier than expected upon setup, and some are more user friendly than others. So, what should you look out for? Easy to use software:Smartphones feel more intuitive than ever before, but that doesn’t mean they’re all equal

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Celebrating our top Community members - CompetitionNews

We love when iD members really get a feel for the Community and use their charm, knowledge and skills to strike up conversations and help others. Loads of you are getting involved, and as a result, the iD Community is only getting better, stronger and more knowledgeable.That’s down to you guys.We’ve been blown away by your commitment to the Community cause recently, and there are three iD Community superheroes that have got stuck into a ton of great chats, helped members find their way, and seriously showcased their knowhow by resolving other members questions.Of course, we’re talking about @Gregor , @terrywebbs  and @WelshPaul!You guys have been super busy. Over 20 badges earned between you for your expertise, and over 1,500 replies to topics between all three of you since you all joined the iD Community. That’s incredible by itself; but, there’s only one person who can be at the top of the leaderboard.So, who is it? Drum roll please… Congratulations @Gregor ! You’re currently top of

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Treat yourself to tunes, games and news on iD MobileNews

In the market for a new phone, looking for a new SIM deal or treating someone to a shiny new smartphone? iD Mobile is the place to go. We’ve got top deals that offer bundles of data, as well as unlimited minutes and texts as standard.But now, there’s even more!When you make a purchase over on the iD Mobile website, we’ll throw in up to 5 months free Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and News+. That’s everything you need to keep entertained and up to date everywhere you go – over 70 million songs, 150 games and 300 magazines. So, no matter if you’re an avid podcast binge-listener, drift-racing gamer or morning paper reader, it’s all right there on your phone. So, can you get your hands on it?Easy. After you’ve bought your phone or SIM, you’ll see a link to redeem the offer on the order confirmation page. Don’t worry if you miss it, we’ll also send you an order confirmation email with the same link. We don’t want you to miss out on a great deal, so we’ll send another email around 12 days after

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

How to send photos and videos in the best qualityTutorial

Picture the scene: it’s a beautiful day and you decide to head into the city to capture some fantastic photography and footage of the sights, architecture and passers-by. They all look great – bundles of detail, lighting just right. So, you decide to share a few of the best clips and shots with mates over on the group chat. And that’s when it starts to go a little wrong. How?Simple. Messaging apps like WhatsApp compress the files you send to make quicker to send, quicker to download, and smaller to store. When you send files to friends on WhatsApp, they need to download them to view them. Once you accumulate a few of these files, they start to take up quite a bit of space. Higher res photos and footage take up even more. So, in terms of sending files, chat apps like WhatsApp are better for instant sharing than they are for quality.But if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to show off your creativity in the exact quality you shot it in. After all, you’ve got a phone with a camera that

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Download the NHS Track & Trace app – CompetitionBlog

 Download the NHS Track & Trace app – Competition Heading out?Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer! Lockdown restrictions are gradually easing, and many of us are venturing further from our homes than we have over the past year – but let’s not blow it now!We’re not fully back to ‘normal’ just yet, but we’re able to go out for food and drinks with 6 mates, work out at the gym, get stuck into a blockbuster at the cinema, even attend football matches. Loads of things we’ve sorely missed. NHS Track & Trace App:However, Covid-19 may be around in one form or another a little longer, and things are still a bit different. Head out of your front door and wherever you go, a facemask and anti-bac are as necessary as your phone, cash and house key. But there’s another essential that’ll give you piece of mind, and help protect you and others from Coronavirus at this late stage. We’re talking about the NHS Track & Trace app.We’ve spoken about the Track & Trac

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

QR Codes: What are they?Blog

 QR Codes: What are they?QR codes are everywhere, to the point where you probably see one daily and not think twice about it. They’ve gone from being a novelty feature to an essential part of our digital world. They can help you bag bargains, get onto websites, and even get onto flights. So what exactly are QR codes? QR codes are very similar to the bar codes you see on the back of the products you buy in shops, the parcels you receive in the post and the books you read. Only QR codes can do much more. Where one-dimensional bar codes can store up to 30 numbers, two-dimensional QR codes can store over 7000, and can be scanned either vertically or horizontally.You’ll see them used in lots of places. If you buy a train or flight ticket online to download and use on your phone, the part that gets scanned is actually a QR code. It’s unique to your specific ticket, and prevents it from being duplicated. You may see them in restaurants, too.That’s not all, though. You can use a QR code to lin

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Peter Harrison
Newbie
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Our Latest Android PhonesBlog

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new Android phone, you’re in great hands with iD Mobile. New smartphones are launched regularly, and they get better and better, so choosing the right one for you can be tricky. Here’s our pick of the best to make that all-important decision a little easier.  Samsung Galaxy S21 5GThe Galaxy S21 5G has three rear cameras (with a big 64MP Telephoto Camera leading the way) and a huge 30x Space Zoom – which makes for some amazing close ups. It can even record in incredibly high res 8K at 24 fps, and you can pick out high resolution stills as crystal-clear, in-the-moment photos. It’s a content creator’s dream.Everything you do on the S21, from general browsing to multiplayer online gaming, feels super-smooth. That fantastic 6.2-inch AMOLED display supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, so every tap, swipe and press, feels more responsive. And it adapts to your activity, so you can rely on the battery to keep going.Packed with an octa-core processor, 8GB RAM and fa

69396
WelshPaul
Legend
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Mobile Phone Refresh RatesBlog

 Mobile Phone Refresh Rate What you need to know:If you’ve had your trusty phone for a year or more, you’d be forgiven for thinking little has changed in the smartphone world. However, you couldn’t be more wrong! While it can be said that smartphones are doubling down on tried and tested design, they’re also doubling up on something else at the same time: screen refresh rate. But what does this mean? Imagine a pitch-dark room with strobe lighting – every time the light flickers (or ‘refreshes’), you see a ‘frame’. The faster the light flashes, the smoother motion appears to the eye. Phone screens work in a similar way. Every display must refresh a certain number of times to make it look like what you’re seeing is moving. Refresh rate means how quickly the content on your screen can update, or refresh, moving onto the next frame. Where most phones predating mid 2020 had a refresh rate of 60 Hz (or 60 refreshes per second), the best handsets of 2021 can go all the way to a silky smooth 1

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Emil
iD Mobile Employee
2 years ago
Emil
iD Mobile Employee
EmiliD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Train Your Brain with These Brilliant Apps – CompetitionBlog

​It’s time to train your brain!Whether you work 9-5 or study, or both, it can be tricky to get your mind into razor-sharp focus without the stimuli of your regular working space.Giving your brain regular exercises is as great way to regain that focus and prepare yourself to handle anything that comes your way, whether it’s a problem that needs solving or several tasks that demand attention at the same time.When you train your mind, you’re actually giving yourself the tools to complete tasks that you might have struggled with before, or even considered impossible. That’s why setting a little time aside each day for mental exercises can help you work, study, focus, and retain information more effectively.Here are a few apps to help you on your brain training journey: LumosityFree (Android, iOS) Lumosity is one of the most well-known brain training apps around, and it’s no surprise. This app has something for everyone. Whether you want to improve your mental maths skills, add more words t

739199
V
Newbie
2 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

The iD guide for movie streaming apps

Whether you want to watch a classic movie or keep up to date with top shows, we’ve picked some of the best streaming apps for your mobile. They’re great when you’re travelling home for some festive fun. What is it? One of the biggest streaming platforms around, Netflix has tons of great movies, shows and documentaries to get you in the festive mood. How much does it cost? You won't be charged until after your free month and then there are different plans tailored to you. Basic plan £5.99, standard £8.99 and premier £11.99. Recommended: How the Grinch stole Christmas, A Christmas Prince What is it? Another great app that lets you watch content on the go. Watch plenty of classic Christmas flicks which you’ll have access to with an Amazon Prime subscription. How much does it cost? You can get a 30-day free trial, available on Android and Apple. After the trial it would cost £7.99 per month if you go for a monthly subscription. When you sign up to Amazon Prime, you’ll get a whole bundle of

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J
Newbie
3 years ago
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