If you’re an Instagram fan you’ll love the latest raft of updates. They make Instagram much more personal, more useful, and simply… more fun. Here are a few of our favourites. Explore by topic or channel Instagram’s ‘Explore’ tab has always been pretty good at showing you new content based on the photos and videos you like, but the randomised collage layout can seem disorganised and tricky to follow. The good news is, you can now explore by topic. Instagram’s clever AI picks up on the photos and footage you engage with, and groups these into relevant topics that you can search through. You’ll see these displayed along the top of your screen, next to the ‘For You’ box. What you see is personalised to your interests. It’s a much more effective way to find the things that interest you than following hashtags. Go ahead and give it a go! Video chat with friends

What a year it’s been for Samsung. And it’s only July! So far at iD Mobile, we’ve had the Galaxy S9, Galaxy A8, and the Galaxy J6. Next up, it’s the Galaxy A6. And it’s pretty special, as you’ll see from our hands-on guide. Budget or premium? The answer is somewhere in the middle. If you think of the A8 as a mid-range to premium handset, then the Galaxy A6 (along with the J6) is a solid mid-ranger, with great specs, but maybe not quite as great as the A8. But for the money, this one’s a winner. How does it look? In a word, it looks… good. Actually, let’s make that two words… very good. With a super-slim aluminium body and smooth curves, it truly looks the part. It’s durable too, thanks to its sturdy metal design and Corning Gorilla Glass to give added protection. What about the display?

Having the Google Translate app on your phone makes chatting with non-English speakers a whole lot easier. And with the World Cup in full force, it now gives you a great chance of talking football with fans of other countries. Using the Google Translate app When you use the Google Translate app, everything is automatically translated online. This uses up your data, but the good news is that EU roaming charges are now a thing of the past. So if you’re in an EU country, your standard monthly data allowance will get used and you won’t be charged (unless you run out of data, of course). However, if you’re watching the World Cup in Russia, the rules work a little differently. Russia obviously isn’t in the EU, so you’ll be charged your network’s international roaming rates for using mobile data. Unless you do one of two things… Sign in to Wi-Fi somewhere. If Starbucks (or any other coffee chain) is your

Gone are the days when you had to appear on TV to be on a quiz show. With the free HQ Trivia app, you can win real cash prizes on your phone, without having to step out in front of a TV audience. What is HQ Trivia? HQ Trivia is an interactive game show that tests your pop culture and general knowledge. It goes live at 9PM every day, and 3PM on weekdays too. You can win prizes of up to $2500 (it’s American) by answering every question correctly. Every once in a while, the jackpot will be a lot higher. A special event on 11th April 2018 had a top prize of $300,000. And if that wasn’t enough, it was co-hosted by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Are you a bit of film buff? Then this is the article for you. If you find yourself in the mood for a bit of movie action when you’re out and about, we’ve put together a list of some of the best apps for watching films on your smartphone. Netflix Let’s start with a familiar name. Netflix has got thousands of films - as well as hundreds of hours of original programming every month - and it’s all available from £5.99 a month, or £7.99 if you want to watch in HD. Or you can sign up free for a month; just don’t forget to remind yourself to cancel (unless of course, you’re enjoying it and want to carry on). Amazon Prime Video

As the World Cup rumbles on, stay in the know – and have a laugh along the way – with our pick of the best football-related Twitter accounts. Football 365 | @F365 F365 is always on the ball with the latest football news, which also comes with some high-quality analysis. Their regular writers – and guest bloggers – provide no-holds-barred opinion pieces, and we particularly enjoy their Mediawatch, where they cast a critical eye over the great British press and the way it covers the beautiful game, but not always beautifully. Footy Humour |

World Cup fever is in full force, and we’re loving every minute of it. But even if you have superhuman levels of dedication, it’s highly unlikely that you’re able to watch every game from your sofa, what with annoying things like work getting in the way. Should you find yourself away from home when a crucial match is about to be played, fear not. You can stay on top of things using your phone. Here’s how: Stream it live… Every match is screened live, and completely free to air, on BBC TV or ITV. And that means you can also watch them free on the BBC iPlayer app or the ITV player app, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action, even if you’re on the move. …Or just keep an eye on it If you’re not bothered about seeing every kick, and just keeping in touch is enough for you, a lot of media outlets offer text commentaries and minute-by-minute information. A simple Google search should sort y

Summer’s here, and with it comes a whole load of festivals. Glasto’s having a year off, but from Bestival to V, Reading and Leeds – and that’s just the biggies – musos will be well catered for. However, we know that festivals can get messy, and phones don’t like mess. Which is why you need a smartphone for the job (and a few other bits and pieces besides). Here, we pick some of the best festival phones, and a few other accessories you shouldn’t be without. Top budget phones There are plenty of great budget phones, just perfect for a festival. The two we’ve picked are the Nokia 1 and the Moto C. Simply put, the Nokia 1 is just a good, solid phone. There’s a big-enough 4.5-inch screen, a couple of decent cameras and 8GB of internal storages – though this can be added to. It’s good value without looking che

These days when you set off on your holidays, your smartphone is just as essential as sun cream. And now that EU roaming charges are a distant memory, you don’t have to worry about using your precious 4G in Europe – but what happens when you venture further afield? Here are a few simple things you can do to prepare your phone for an overseas jaunt. Cut down on data roaming While you’re free to roam to your heart’s content in the EU, it’ll still cost you a pretty penny when you’re travelling outside. A few years ago, while holidaying in South Africa, a woman was landed with a £2,600 bill after downloading a Neil Diamond album, and we’d prefer that not to happen to you. So we’re going to suggest that turning off your data roaming setting might be a good place to start. This’ll make sure you don’t automatically connect to the local network provider. You won’t be cut off from the modern world though – because here comes Wi-Fi t

The World Cup kicks off on the 14th June. For a whole month, we’ll be able to watch the best players on the planet showing off their skills. England will be there too. We love our footie here at iD HQ, and the World Cup is already a hot topic. Which country will lift the trophy? Which plucky underdog will cause an upset? We can’t wait to find out, but meanwhile, we’ve downloaded our favourite football apps. Here they are… FIFA official app (free on iOS and Android) The World Cup is FIFA’s competition, so this official app will have lots of exclusive content from the big event. You’ll be able to read live match blogs, watch highligh

On the face of it, Snapchat is a pretty simple app. You can take photos to share with your friends. But, dig a little deeper, and Snapchat actually lets you do a whole lot more. You can customise pictures, add effects, see what’s happening around you, and keep up with all the latest world news. Here are a few Snapchat tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the app. Shoot 60-second clips You used to only be able to record 10-second video clips on Snapchat. Well, not anymore. You can now record up to 60-seconds of footage by holding down the record button for up to a minute. Snapchat splits the footage into six 10-second segments for easier edit

Sure, your phone may have a dual-lens camera and variable aperture, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a part to play when capturing that crowning shot. Here are a few handy tips to help your next Instagram post get all of the hearts. Compose, compose, compose That camera grid setting on your phone isn’t just there to remind you of your old Maths exercise books. It’s there to cleverly divide the screen into thirds and four lines (2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines) so you can strategically place your subject at the intersections. Doing this perfectly frames your photo so everything is well balanced and in shot. Switch up the POV It’s very common to just whip out your phone, hold it up, snap a shot and move along – but a different angle can really give your photo an edge. And an interesting angle can even make less interesting shots more compelling and ‘artsy’. Get down low, climb up high, bury

Summer is on the horizon at last (it officially starts on 21 June, fact fans), so it seems like the perfect time to start thinking about heading off into the sun. With that in mind, we’ve chosen seven of our favourite free travel apps to help you plan your great escape. Bon voyage! Hopper (free on iOS and Android) You’ll probably have heard of Skyscanner, the

Looking for an app that’ll help you pass a bit of time? Sometimes, that’s all you need - so we’ve dedicated this article to those addictive little time-wasters that are easy to pick up and hard to put down. If you want to make that train or bus journey go a bit quicker, these are what you need. Cat Condo (Free on Android and iOS)

Looking for a new phone but on a budget? Here’s everything you need to look out for. So, you’re after a new smartphone but money’s a bit tight right now. If you’re thinking a budget phone won’t give you everything you need, think again. We reckon you’ll be surprised by the choice available to you, and you’ll be pleased to hear that lower end devices now share a lot of the technology you’ll have found on premium devices a couple of years ago. When it comes to finding a great budget phone, here are the five key areas to look at. Display It feels like display technology has improved massively in no time at all. For example, it wasn’t long ago that only the leading smartphones could boast a HD (high definition) screen with a 720p resolution (1280 x 720 pixels). But now you’ll be able to get an HD display on a decent budget phone. Camera

Today we’re asking - which smartphone would your favourite Star Wars character go for? Poe Dameron Poe is an all-action kind of guy. He wants to experience everything up close and personal, so the Xperia XZ2’s Dynamic Vibration System is right up his alley. He’ll be able to feel the action through his fingertips. Tense moments will feel even more epic, and with S-Force Front Surround sound, he’ll be able to hear everything above the noise of the carnage he always seems to unwittingly create. Poe can buy the Xperia XZ2 from iD Mobile. Finn Finn is a man on a mission. He’s happiest when he’s hopping between planets and running into trouble. To do that, he needs to have his wits about him, and a phone with a decent battery life. He needs a Motorola G5 Plus.

Google Lens can translate foreign menus and recognise landmarks, just by looking at your photos. So, what are you waiting for? Ditch your tour guides, and read on for details. How do you get Google Lens on your phone? Until recently, the AI-powered visual recognition technology tool known as Google Lens belonged exclusively on Google Pixel phones. But now, there’s great news for all you non-Pixel phone owners out there. Yes, you can now use Google Lens to reveal more about your photos. It’s no longer a Pixel phone exclusive, and can be found on the Google Photos app (iOS and Android) What does Google Lens do? Google Lens u

Are you thinking of upgrading to a new phone on iD Mobile? It’s a big decision. So to help you out, we’ve rounded up a handful of the most important things to check out. The Operating System The first thing to consider when choosing a new phone is the type of operating system (OS) you want. This is a big decision because it affects how you can use your phone. Here are the differences between the two most popular: iOS. This OS is found on iPhones and iPads. It’s known for being extremely user-friendly, and the look is clean, clear and easy to understand. Android. Most phones use Android, the OS made by Google. It’s very

The truth is, your smartphone is probably the most important gadget in your life.So to help you choose the niftiest one out there AND get more bang for your buck - we’ve picked our favourites – all under £15 a month. Kerching! Samsung Galaxy J3 First up is the Samsung Galaxy J3. If you’re looking for great performance as well as price – this is the one for you. A powerful camera, water resistant and wireless charging – just some of the reasons it stands out from the pack: Weight: 138g | Dimensions: 142.3 x 71 x 7.9mm |
 OS: Android 5.1.1 |
 Screen size: 5-inch | 
Resolution: 720 x 1280 | CPU: 1.5GHz quad-core |
 RAM: 1.5GB |
 Storage: 8/16GB |
 Battery: 2,600mAh |
 Rear camera: 8MP | 
Front camera: 5MP From £10.99 per month, now with Double Data! Nokia 6

Do you strive to take the perfect selfie? Here are 5 easy tips to get the most out of your smartphone camera and ensure everyone stays swiping right. See the light. Darker? Lighter? Natural? Fluorescent? With so many options it’s easy to understand how in certain light you can look a 10 and in others a 2. But our top tip is to always use natural light which will brighten your face and minimize shadows. In front of a window is perfect. Know your angles. We all know our good side, but not knowing what angle to hold the camera can turn even a beauty into a beast. So in the words of Kim Kardashian ‘keep your chin down, and the camera up’. Filters are your friends. We’re sure you have real friends too, but they won’t always tell you when you’re overdoing it. So when you do reach for a filter, always; stay natural, remember less is always more. Unless you’re going