Getting Started.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day! It’s a great time to take a moment and think about our wellbeing, and the most effective ways to stay productive when it all gets a bit too much. No matter whether you’re studying for exams or chairing a big project at work, stress can easily take its toll and make a hard day seem even harder. Stress Awareness Day was created by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) to help provide information and strategies on how to manage stress, both for individuals and organisations. Unchecked stress can ultimately lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, so it’s important to take a step back and identify the things in your life that make you feel tense or under pressure. Here at iD, we’ve got a list of four apps that are great for helping to combat stress, and we’re also running a competition to win a Special Edition Fitbit Versa 2 to celebrate. More on that later, though: 1.Breath2Relax (Free) Take a deep breath. This app is great for helping you to remain conscious of the way you breathe, and how it can affect the way you deal with stressful situations. The app provides useful info on the way stress affects the body and teaches you the skill of diaphragmatic breathing. It’s not a standalone tool to purge stress from your life, but it can help you make significant improvements. It can even help you keep your mood stable, control anger and manage anxiety. Try it out! Download Breath2Relax for Android or iOS. 2.Sanvello: Stress & Anxiety Help (Free, with in-app purchases) Sanvello isn’t just about meditation or dealing with stress as and when it occurs. Instead, it’s a comprehensive platform that offers you long term skills to help you deal with stress, anxiety and depression. With Daily Mood Tracking, you’ll answer a few short questions each day to give the app a clearer picture about how you’re feeling. You can also track things like exercise, caffeine intake and sleep to see how certain factors affect your mood. With this data, you can make changes to your lifestyle that you know are guaranteed to have a positive impact. That’s not all though. You’ll also find Guided Journeys recorded by experts that draw on techniques from mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other effective skills that can help each day seem more manageable. Check out Sanvello on Android or iOS. 3.Happify (Free, with in-app purchases) You’d be forgiven for thinking that graph-based data isn’t the best way to examine something as subjective as emotion. But with Happify, it works. Designed with quick use in mind, Happify is an app that fits easily into your routine. Combining activities and games designed by scientists and mental health experts, all you have to do is complete a few tasks a week to develop personal satisfaction and effective ways of tackling negativity. You can even track your progress over time and see how a few simple changes in the way you think can drastically improve your outlook! Check out Happify on Android or iOS. 4.Headspace (Free, with in-app purchases) Sometimes, an activity that would be effective in tackling stress at work wouldn’t be as useful late at night when you’re at home. Headspace is an all in one guided meditation, mindfulness and sleep app, that helps you deal with stress and anxiety whenever it occurs. Meditation is split into themes, so you can pick the most relevant topic and learn how to apply your newly learned stress-combatting technique to a real-life situation. You’ll find courses on everything from Dealing with Regret to Finding Focus. And if stressful thoughts cause you to have sleepless nights, the ‘In the Sleep’ by Headspace experience may give you the peace and quiet you need. There are guided meditations for sleep, relaxing music and ‘sleepcasts’ recorded to relax your mind. Download Headspace on Android or iOS. Those are just four apps that we’ve found to be a great help when dealing with stress and its symptoms. Why not download and try them out? And of course, we haven’t forgotten the competition - we’re giving you the chance to win a Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition fitness watch with Amazon Alexa! All you have to do is tell us below how your phone helps you combat stress. It could be that one friend in your contact list that makes everything better, a distracting game or a great app we’ve never heard of. Let us know by Wednesday 13th November, and you could win a brand new smartwatch to help keep tabs on your wellbeing! T&C’s apply

Getting a new iPhone? Apple have recently unveiled the top apps on the App Store for 2019, and there are some absolute crackers on the list. From incredible camera software to addictive games, we’ll show you the apps that should take pride of place on your home screen. Game of the year – Sky: Children of the Light Review: 4.8 Free Apple have declared Sky: Children of the Light as their number one game of the year on the iOS platform, and for many great reasons. Designed by the team that created Journey (the 2013 game of the year), Sky contains a whole host of experiences made to be shared with a friend. Sky contains seven different realms that each represent the various stages of life. You arrive as a Child of the Light, and the aim is to return fallen stars to their constellations in each realm. The more fallen stars you collect, the more ‘winged light’ you receive, which gives you the ability to fly further across the kingdom. It’s also a great way of meeting new people, and the huge range of cosmetic items make your character really stand out. App of the year – Spectre camera Review: 3.7 Purchase: £2.99 If you’re looking to take beautiful, scenic long exposure photos but don’t want to fork out on a DSLR camera, look no further than the Spectre Camera app. For regular phone users trying to get that postcard-worthy shot, holding the phone perfectly still and guessing the right amount of light are both very tricky. Using clever AI, Spectre takes care of both and the results are amazing. You’ll be able to remove crowds from that gorgeous scenic shot, capture stunning horizons like paintings and make waterfalls beautifully misty. Top free games Mario Kart Tour Review: 4.8 If this one isn’t already on your home screen, download it right now! Mario Kart Tour takes the best elements of the classic Nintendo game and turns it into an accessible, portable portrait-configured adventure. As well as all the classic Mario Kart courses (Rainbow Road, *shudder*), you’ll also find brand new tracks inspired by real-world cities. As your racing improves and you get better at using perks and drifting, you’ll earn Grand Stars to spend on new drivers, karts and gliders. Keep practising with different characters and karts to find your perfect, formidable combo! Find out more about Mario Kart Tour. Aquapark.io Review: 4.6 If racing games are your go-to when you’re commuting or taking a break from work, you’ll love aquapark.io. The concept is simple – make it to the bottom of the water slide first and beat the competition. It’s not that easy though! You can knock other players off the course to improve your chances, but they can also do the same. You can even use your momentum going into corners to fly off the course and land further ahead, which is great when you’re falling behind. But make sure you know how close your opponents are, or you could be in for a shock at the finish line! Color Bump 3D Review: 4.6 Color Bump 3D is one of those games that’s perfect to lose yourself in at the end of a hard day. All you have to do is roll the ball to the finish line without touching any other colours. Sound easy? Think again. There are over 100 levels and they each get much harder as you progress. By the time you think you’re beginning to get the hang of it, you’ll need extremely steady hands and precise movement to make it through each round. Top free apps WhatsApp Messenger WhatsApp shouldn’t need any introduction, but in case you’re yet to give it a go, it’s a messaging platform that offers far more features than simple texting. Using your internet connection, WhatsApp lets you text and call friends without using up any of your texts or minutes allowance. And you won’t need to request your mates’ usernames either. The app works seamlessly with your contact list, so anyone in your contacts with a WhatsApp account will be added automatically. Send gifs to your friends, make a group to catch up with family, or even call your mate as they travel the world – all for free. Instagram Give your travel photos a new lease of life on Instagram. It’s a great platform for connecting with friends, editing those postcard-worthy snaps and showing off your adventures to the world. Instagram Stories are great for sharing the funny things that happen throughout your day, while the app picks up on the photos that interest you and show you similar content you’re bound to love. Snapchat Share that funny moment as soon as it happens with Snapchat. The app opens straight to the camera, so you can instantly send photos to your mates. There’s also a whole host of editing options, and new lenses and filters are frequently added to keep your snaps funny and interesting. If you like staying up to date with the news but don’t have time to follow in depth, You can even quickly browse the latest breaking news stories posted by BBC, Sky, Vice and more. Or, you can watch live stories from the Snapchat community either locally or across the globe. Those are the top iOS apps for 2019? What’s been your go-to app this year? What kind of app are you hoping to see on the App Store in 2020? Let us know below!

Disappointed you didn’t get the gift you wanted? Get tips on what to do with unwanted pressies. Before you stick your unwanted electronics in the back of your wardrobe, here are a few other ideas that could help you get the most out of them. 1. Sell ‘em Chances are, whoever gifted you that games console, drone or e-reader probably spent a bit of money on it. And, if the item is still sealed in its original packaging, or at least in a fairly decent state, it could be worth a bit of money. So, why not stick it on a website like: - eBay - Amazon - Gumtree Just remember to be discreet – you probably don’t want the person who gave it to you to figure out you’re selling it on! Better still, if you’re trying to get rid of a laptop, tablet, smartphone or Smart Watch you may be able to trade it in. Check out the Currys PC World trade-in policy and get an estimate to see if you could put your unwanted gadget towards something you do fancy. 2. Regift ‘em The ultimate form of cheekiness. If you know of a friend or family member’s birthday coming up, and they’ve been in the market for the gift you just received, you can subtly re-gift your device to them. That means you won’t have to fork out any cash for their present and you get to shift your unwanted gift. Win-win! 3. Return ‘em If your gift is in a resalable state (best case scenario, it’s still shrink-wrapped), you should be able to return it to the store. No receipt? No problem. Most stores will allow you to return an item, even without one. Having said that… you may have to get into detective mode to figure out where your friend or relative bought your gift in the first place. Do bear in mind that if the person who bought the item paid by card, you may not be able to get a cash refund – but you’ll still have the option to choose in-store credit, meaning you can put the money towards something you do like. Of course, returning may prove difficult if the item was bought online. However, some stores, such as Currys PC World, will allow you to return or trade the item in store, even if it was bought from their website. If you’re returning an unwanted phone, make sure you’re clued up on the difference between returning a pay monthly phone and a SIM only phone. 4. Give ‘em to charity Feeling benevolent? Then why not do some good for the world and take your unwanted gifts to your nearest charity store. Here are a few charities that will happily accept donations of unwanted gifts: WaterAid Your Local Air Ambulance The Salvation Army 5. Use ‘em for something creative Nowadays, most electronics can be used for all sorts of functions. A smartphone, for instance, can easily double as an expert camera. So, if you don’t need your new phone to do phone stuff, why not: Strap it to a selfie stick and start a vlog of your daily travels Attach it to a drone and get some awesome footage from up high Mount your phone to a tripod and use it to capture footage of you in the gym, cooking at home or as a home security camera There are many other ways you can use other electronic devices too: An unwanted laptop can be used as a second screen – great for gaming or working across multiple applications at home. If you can’t use your new tablet at home, how about using it at work? If you run a shop or other small business, you could use a tablet behind the checkout or even on the shop floor to help customers find products they like. As well as a camera, an unwanted mobile phone could be used as a satnav device, a music library or even just an alarm clock.

Smartphones are part of our everyday lives. From booking tickets, paying for things and ordering food, to connecting with friends and family, they’ve revolutionised our lives. But perhaps one of the most incredible things they can do is make us smarter. Here we look at a few ways your phone could support your learning… Improve your artwork We all love doodling with pen and paper. But when we want to take our illustration skills to the next level, our mobile phones can help. Drawing Desk: Draw & Paint Art is a free app available on iOS and Android. It lets you sketch, paint and create realistic-looking artwork in the palm of your hand. Even novice artists will love experimenting with tools such as 3D brushes, NEON brushes, glitter brushes and many more. Adobe Illustrator Draw is another app available on iOS and Android. It’s a must-have for improving artists and professional illustrators. You can go from sketch to finished product with vector lines to ensure your illustrations have a perfect finish. It’s trusted by professionals everywhere – and it’s completely free with no ads! Become a master chef Whether you’re looking for recipes for a roast dinner or a myriad of veggie and vegan meals, your smartphone is your perfect kitchen partner. BigOven is a free app offering over half a million recipes – including many quick and simple ones that will help you feel like a cookery pro in no time. It’s available on Android and iOS. Our favourite feature is that it lets you share and receive recipes from your favourite chefs and food bloggers. For veggies and vegans, gonutss is a must-have. Dubbed the “vegan translator”, it takes meaty recipes and transforms them into heathy, veggie ones. It even contains a Veganpedia, helping you search for meat-free ingredients to complement your dish. Get gonutss now on Android and iOS. Develop expert coding skills Have you always wished you could code, but don’t know where to start? With just a couple of apps, you could get started on your way to be an expert coder. One of the top choices is undoubtedly SoloLearn. Whether you’re looking to learn simple HTML or become fluent in Java, SoloLearn helps you with simple and interactive tutorials. It’s aimed at everyone from absolute beginners to experts, and you can learn in your own time with nothing but your mobile. Download it free for iOS and Android. Meanwhile, if you’re helping your little ones get a grasp of code, we recommend the fun and interactive Codemurai. It breaks the coding down so that anyone can understand it, and tracks your progress with medals. Download Codemurai free for iOS and Android. Achieve zen With a number of apps on the market to help you cope with whatever life throws at you, your phone can help you stay calm. Headspace is a free app available for both iOS and Android. It offers guided meditation courses that can boost your happiness and lower anxiety through meditation, breathing exercises and mindfulness. It can even help you get a better night’s sleep – no wonder it’s loved the world over! Calm is another free app available on both iOS and Android. As well as offering guided meditation and mindfulness, it includes a plethora of sleep stories to help you drift off, ambient sounds and music to calm you down, plus masterclasses in all sorts of life lessons, taught by experts in psychology. Learn an instrument Once you’ve decided which instrument you’d like to learn, the right app can guide you through those difficult first steps. Yousician is a great free app available on both iOS and Android. It’s perfect for you if you’re a complete beginner, advanced or even a professional trying to brush up on your skills. Both kids and music teachers can benefit from it, and it contains lessons for singers, pianists, guitarists and even ukulele players. Simply Piano is fun and works at your own pace, showing you which keys to play. You’ll be impressing your friends in no time! Get it for Android and iOS today. Hablar otro idioma (Speak another language) Learning another language takes time, patience and dedication. But with your handy smartphone, you can learn on the go to become fluent fast. Duolingo for iOS and Android is one of the most popular apps for learning a new language or brushing up your skills. It’s completely free, but if you want to remove the ads and support free education you should sign up to Plus. It contains every language you could think of, from English, French and Spanish to Hungarian and Japanese – and new ones are added all the time – one of the most recent was Scottish Gaelic! Babbel is a free app available for both iOS and Android. Using its tried-and-tested method, Babbel helps you learn a language by speaking and listening to native speakers, as you develop skills using local dialects. It can help you improve your proficiency in up to 14 languages in just two months. Also, don’t forget to check out our European Language Day article to find out about all the great apps to help you learn a new language. The day itself comes around once a year in September, so this could be the perfect time to get started, or to practice the skills you already have. Find out more about learning a language.

Did you know 12% of all new gym memberships are taken out in January? The New Year is just around the corner, and loads of us will be itching to get back into shape and start working towards our health and fitness goals again. Apps are a great way to monitor your progress and keep track of your physical activity. Lots will let you set goals to work towards - perfect to give you a little boost when your will power is wavering. We’ve done the research, and here are our top recommended health and fitness apps to help you smash it in 2020. My Fitness Pal If you’re looking to keep a closer eye on your eating habits and calorie intake, My Fitness Pal will help you take back control. With iOS and Android apps, as well as a website, all which let you keep track of your diet and calorie intake, My Fitness Pal makes healthy eating easier than ever. With a barcode scanner and a database with over 11 million foods, just scan or search to instantly find the nutritional information of whatever you want to check. You can even save meals and recipes for quickly adding in future. Find out more at https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ Runkeeper If you’re trying to maximise how many calories you’re burning, you can’t beat cardio for an efficient workout. With Runkeeper you’ll get access to a community of over 50 million runners, so you can always reach out for tips, motivation and advice. Available on iOS and Android, you’ll easily be able to keep track of your pace, distance using GPS – so you can see your progress day by day. You can upgrade to Runkeeper Go for £9.99 a month at https://runkeeper.com/ to get even more features, including in-depth details on your progress, and tailored coaching programmes. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock We all know how important a good night’s sleep is for our general wellbeing and outlook on life. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock is an intelligent alarm clock app that analyses your sleeping patterns and wakes you up when you’re in the lightest sleep stage, so you always wake up feeling refreshed and well rested - you’ll get the best possible start to your day. The app is available for Android and iOS and you can download it here: https://www.sleepcycle.com/ Charity Miles Get fit and make an impact at the same time with the Charity Miles app. Not only does it track how many miles you’ve covered, you’ll also earn money for your chosen charity with every step. There are over 40 charities to choose from, and you’ll feel great knowing that while you’re helping your health, you’re also helping others too. Turn that run, walk or jog into something good for everyone! You can even get sponsored by friends and family, and best of all, it’s free. Are you working towards smashing your fitness goals in 2020? Why not head over to our competition, and a Fitbit could be yours to help you get there even sooner.

We’ve all done it – overspent during the festive period and suddenly found ourselves a little lighter than we’d like to be come January. No need to fear, it’s easy to get back in control of your finances when you’ve got the right tool for the job, and we’ve got you covered. Did you know, Brits spend 4.9 billion on Christmas nights out, tell more than 154 million cracker jokes every year and eat two Christmas dinners over the festive period on average? (Though we won’t tell if your total is higher!) So after all that indulgence, when you’re ready to get your spending back under control, we’ve got 4 apps to help you get started. Mint Get ahead with your finances and enjoy that feeling of knowing your money is fully managed with the Mint app. By bringing together your bank account, credit cards, bills and investments all in one place, it can help you fully track your finances – so you can see the whole picture. Set yourself a spending budget, see where you can save money and check your credit score for free as many times as you’d like. Mint is available on both Apple and Android – and you can sign up for free! Review: Apple users have rated 4.7 Android users have rated 4.6 Yolt Understand your spending, view your bank and credit cards side by side, and view your upcoming debits, bills and subscriptions. With the Yolt app, you can completely alter your attitude towards your money, and form healthier spending habits – you can even create charts from your spending history and see your averages. Get it for free on both Android and iOS. Review: Apple users have rated 4.5 Android users have rated 3.1 Monzo You’ve probably already heard of Monzo, but if you haven’t, you’re welcome! 40,000 people have already opened a Monzo account to start managing their money better, and it couldn’t be simpler. Put your salary into Monzo and you can sort your money between savings, bills and spending with just a couple of taps, which means you can’t overspend. The Monzo app is available on Android and iOS, and it’s totally free, so it’s worth checking out. Review: Apple users have rated 4.6 Android users have rated 4.3 Starling Bank If you want an app that alerts you to every little spending or payment so you can get a real insight into where your money is going, the Starling Bank app will help you understand your spending habits better. Best of all, there’s no fees for using your card abroad, and with the handy Settle Up feature, you can split a bill super easily – no bank details or codes necessary, just a single link and you’re all squared up. Get it on both iOS and Android. Apple users have rated 4.9 Android users have rated 4.7

Whether your New Year’s resolution for 2020 is to get fitter, eat healthier, save money or travel more, everyone wants to try and be a better version of themselves in the year to come. While people come up with great ways to smash their goals early on, statistics show only 9.2% of people actually stick to their New Year’s resolution and kick their bad habit long term. If you’re looking to make a change next year and stay on top of your goals for good, take a look at our list of top 5 apps for really embracing the new you. Strides If you’ve got a few goals you want to work towards and bad habits you want to change, the Strides app is the perfect place to keep track of everything you’re working towards in one place. Get organised and build charts to see your progress on everything in one place – you can even set reminders for extra motivation when you need a boost. Available on iOS only, it’s completely free. Track anything you want, any way you want and stay on top of all your different goals. HabitBull If that all sounds great to you but you’ve got an Android device, the HabitBull app is available on both Android and iOS, and works on all the same principles. Keep track of your day to day habits and build healthy routines to help you stay on top of your goals. You can quickly input data from your homescreen using Android widgets, so you’ll never end up forgetting exactly what your run time was. There’s also multi-device syncing, so if you want to switch from your phone to your laptop – no problem. Way of Life Changing the bad habits of a lifetime isn’t easy, but with Way of Life you can keep track of your routine and spot what helps and what doesn’t. With a colour coded system, you can easily spot positive and negative trends, and there’s a diary function too, so you can jot down what triggered a bad habit, and avoid it in future. The app is available on both Android and iOS for free, or you can get the premium version to access even more features, like cloud backup. Toodledo If you’re looking to improve your productivity in 2020, the Toodledo app could be the perfect companion. Flexible and multi-functional, it provides you with the tools to efficiently organise your life and get the most out of everyday. With folders, tags, contexts and more to help you get organised and make lists, you can then easily filter and sort your tasks to see what’s due when. Toodledo can also tell you what needs to be completed when, and send you alerts when things are due. It’s free, and you can download it on Android or iOS. Coach me Learn a language, get into shape, stop snacking – it’s up to you. With Coach Me you can track your habits, and even get support, advice and tips from a huge community whenever you need a helping hand – and the basic version is free. From £20 a week, you can also get access to over 700 coaches ready to help you whenever you need a boost through the app or through a phone consultation – it’s like having a life coach on hand whenever you need it.

Chinese or Indian? Whatever you choose for your takeaway night, there’s no need to call up to get your favourite cuisine delivered to your door. Calling up and ordering a takeaway is a thing of the past. If you’re not up to date with what takeaway apps are available, or your current takeaway app just isn’t delivering (no pun intended), we’ve put together a list of the best food delivery apps in the UK right now. (Android, iOS) If you’ve used Uber before, you’ll have no problem using Uber Eats. They’re different apps but share similar features, including estimated delivery times, driver tracking and cashless transactions. There’s a huge range of restaurants to choose from, and the standard delivery charge is only £2.50. You can even get McDonald’s delivered to your door via Uber Eats, perfect when you’re craving a Big Mac. Plus, you’ll often see voucher codes for free delivery or money off your order, so you can save money while getting proper restaurant cuisine delivered. (Android, iOS) With thousands of restaurants signed up to Deliveroo including plenty of exclusives, there’s loads to love about Deliveroo. And with a huge fleet of delivery riders, it only takes an average of 32 minutes from ordering your feast to the food arriving at your door. If you’re a bit of a foodie and love trying out new restaurants, give Deliveroo Plus a go. It’s a membership plan that costs only £11.49 a month, and for that, you get free delivery on all your orders. You’ll also find exclusive deals in partnership with the restaurants you love, so it’s the best way to get the most out of your chilled takeaway night. (Android, iOS) Just Eat is the best place to discover local gems that you’ve passed many times but never tried. There’s over 30,000 Just Eat restaurants a across the UK, and you can view all their menus in the app. If you’re not sure whether to try a new place, there are plenty of reviews from fellow customers on things like food quality and delivery time, so you always know what to expect. The search feature is pretty handy too. If you’re really hungry and want dinner fast, you can find restaurants based on distance. Or, if you’re in the mood for a certain cuisine, you can narrow the search down to ‘Pizza’, ‘Indian’, ‘Kebab’ or whatever you fancy. (Android, iOS) Okay, this one’s not exactly a food delivery app, but it’s too good to not share (see what we did there?). Have you ever thought about how much perfectly edible food restaurants throw out at the end of the day? About a third of all food produced is wasted. The answer is Too Good to Go. Instead of throwing food in the bin, restaurants offer ‘Magic Bags’ of food at a huge discount, too be collected at a certain time. Plenty of restaurants and bakeries are signed up, and you could save loads of money while saving great food from going to waste. Some restaurants even offer 70% off meals! You can search for your closest restaurant either by map or on a list. You won’t know exactly what food you’re getting until you go to collect it, but it’s bound to be delicious! Those are our top food delivery and takeaway apps of 2019? Which one do you use? Is there one we’ve missed that you think deserves a mention? Let us know below

We’re running a great competition to help make your Christmas 🎄 the best one yet. And the best bit? We’ve got three prizes to give away – that means three chances to win! Win a Nintendo Switch Lite with Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe All board-gamed out? The Nintendo Switch Lite is the ultimate on-the-go console. Super lightweight and able to connect with other Switch consoles, it’s perfect for the long journey home and keeping the kids happy. And with another addictive Mario adventure included, the kids may need to fight you for a turn. Win 1 of 2 all-new Amazon Fire 7 Tablets Get stuck into family Christmas flicks and keeping everyone entertained with this gorgeous tablet. Tuning into your festive playlist is as easy as saying “Alexa, play Last Christmas by Wham”. How to enter All you need to do is comment below this post and tell us “What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?”. Just make sure your logged in first. It couldn’t be easier! Good luck! T&C’s apply

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the festive period can be a stressful time as we make travel plans to visit friends and family in the UK, overseas or even ditch the cold and have a warm Christmas on the beach. But there’s no need to stress. If you’re taking a trip this festive season, let your phone do the work for you with our handy guide. Book and plan your trip TripIt If you hate leaving things to chance, this is the app for you. It’ll do everything from remind you when to check in to letting you know how long security lines are. Plus, you can even get interactive maps of the airport. As soon as you book a flight, hotel or car forward it to plans@tripit.com and TripIt will instantly add it to your itinerary. PackPoint If you never know what to pack, PackPoint is like having a personal assistant on hand. It shows you what to bring based on the length of your trip, the weather and any activities you’re planning along the way. Just enter the city you are visiting and put in all your travel details. Plus, it’s totally free. Your days spent counting pairs of socks are over! Roadtrippers If you’re jumping in a car, Roadtrippers not only plans out your driving route but lets you book activities and hotels along the way. Letting you know about cool restaurants and landmarks on the way, it’s like having a tour guide with you. Plus, you have the option of offline maps, live traffic info and more. And speaking of road trips… The best apps for travelling by car While a train or plane has a scheduled arrival time, travelling by road means you need to be up-to-date so you’re in the know about traffic jams and disruptions. Here’s our pick of some great apps: RAC mobile traffic app – Get traffic news and a route planner at your fingertips. Because it doesn’t use GPS, this app means you won’t use phone data. Plus, its completely free! Waze is a GPS navigation app that works on smartphones. Waze will find alternate routes around accidents and alert you when there are traffic jams ahead. Need to fill up? Waze will also include petrol stations in your route. Like some road tunes? You can also use Waze to listen to music and podcasts. Google Maps is famous for its satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, real-time traffic conditions and route planning. You can send your friends live locations so they know when to put the kettle on! Maps is Apple’s answer to journey planning, with detailed maps, 3D experiences and real time travel information. Like Waze and Google Maps, Maps has GPS and will use your data -so best to keep an eye on how much you’re using it. How to stay in touch Whether you need to get in contact with people on route or you just want to chat to family and friends over Christmas, there are plenty of great options. But before you do go grabbing for your phone to give your friend in Australia a buzz, it’s worth checking out what time it is where they are with the timeanddate app . It’s available on iOS, Android and Microsoft – so there’s no excuse to wake them up at 4 in the morning! FaceTime: If you’re both Apple users, FaceTime is a great way to stay in touch. You can even create a Memoji to match your personality and mood, then use the Memoji during a FaceTime video call. Skype: One of the biggest video apps there is. The good news is that it’s free, is widely used and you’ll only need to pay when using premium features like voicemail, SMS texts or making calls to a landline, cell or outside of Skype. Plus, you can have a conversation with several family and friends at the same time. Virtual Christmas! Google Duo: It great for family and friends that want to video call with up to 8 people and is available on Android, iOS and web. Can’t pick up or want to share something more personal than an SMS? Google Duo has videos messages too. In a remote location or don’t want to use a video app? If you’re with iD already and have Wi-Fi access, you can use Wi-Fi calling. This service will kick in when you’re connected to a WiFi network, but your signal is weak. Find out more with What is Wi-Fi Calling and why should you use it?

We all love a good get together especially during the festive season, here is my guide to planning the perfect event. Plan your party to perfection Planning is the fun part and that means gathering ideas and inspiration. So, we’ve found two friendly apps to help you make sure you’ve got all your Christmas party bases covered. Simplenote and Evernote are great user-friendly apps that are available on iOS and Android Simplenote – easy to use and syncs with all your devices: A simple, fast and multi-platform app You can use it everywhere (your notes stay updated across all your devices) Allows you to drag and drop images from other sites Evernote – next-level note-taking Evernote Basic is free but you can upgrade to the premium option for £4.99 a month Allows you to not only type notes, but also make audio, photo, video and even handwritten notes Staying organised wherever you are, even when you’re offline It supports bullet points, numbers, and to-do lists – you can use them all in a single note too. My favourite would have to be Evernote, with the great bullet points feature and adding various media to the notes. Although, Simplenote is free and allows me to drag and drop images when I see ideas on social media. Get inspired through social media Getting ideas and inspiration isn’t always easy – especially with the added pressure of keeping all your guests entertained – but one of the best ways to get inspired is through social media. Apps like Instagram and Pinterest are ideal for finding party inspiration on anything from drinks to decorations. Set the party scene with some festive décor ideas… Pinterest is a great place to find ideas for your festive bash. You can scroll through thousands of images on practically any topic you like. Find recipe ideas for festive snacks or scroll through the top trending party decoration ideas. Get Pinterest on iOS or Android Instagram has loads of great inspiration pages to help get the latest décor ideas. Instagram hashtags can help your search, try things like #christmasdecor #christmasparty #christmasspirit #partyideas and #newyeardecoration. Get some food inspiration - from sweet treats to belt-busting feasts Who doesn’t love a fabulous festive feast? And if planning a big dinner for loads of people isn’t stressful enough, you’ve also got to think about those fussy eaters. So why not make a list of all your guests and any dietary requirements. That way, you’ll avoid any embarrassing faux pas because you forgot to do the gluten-free, zero carb, vegan option. We’ve found a handful of great sites with different types of recipes to help you out: Tasty Tasty is a fun and free app that offers all types of recipes from the Ultimate Christmas dinner to Hot chocolate on a stick, honestly, check it out, it looks amazing! The great thing about Tasty is that each recipe includes a video so you can cook along. Download the Tasty app on iOS and Android. Big Oven With over 500,000 recipes, you’re sure to find the perfect Christmas menu for your festive get-together. The app is completely free and is available on both iOS and Android. You can also follow Big Oven to get updates on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Food Network Ok, this one’s a little different, Food Network started out as a Sky TV channel back in 1993 and you’ll still find it on channel 172. But these days, it’s way more than just a TV channel, their website, foodnetwork.co.uk offers recipes from top chefs from around the world and they’ve also got a free app that you can download on iOS and Android. Make sure everything’s ordered in time Got all your inspiration and ideas? Its time to get everything ordered, here are a few suggestions for where you order food and decorations from: Get your food order in before it’s too late Fancy getting your food ordered? It’s easier, quicker and you’re far less likely to miss something if you’re working through a list. Try Ocado, Lidl, Tesco or Sainsburys. Get some great décor deals online Most of us would prefer not to spend a fortune on decorations, especially when you’re only going to use them once a year. We’ve found that some of the best places to try for cheap and cheerful deals are eBay, Groupon and Amazon. Make sure everyone’s entertained One of the most difficult things over the festive period can be simply keeping everyone entertained. So here are a handful of ideas. Get your game on… A great option when you want to keep your family and friends entertained during the festive season. You’ll find loads of great apps that are available on iOS and Android at no costs. Monopoly, Kahoot and Heads Up – all multiplayer games but keep in mind of your data usage if Wi-Fi isn’t connected. Unsure on how to find your data usage visit the article and find out more. Crank up the tunes… Everyone will have different taste in music, but you can get all genres on one music streaming app. Visit the iD guide for music apps article with great suggestions for music apps available. You can also get a free trial for most of them. Chill out with a festive film A festive family movie is always a great option to keep everyone entertained. Check out our ‘iD guide to movie streaming apps’ article with great suggestions for movie streaming platforms. As well as the usually streaming options, there’s sure to be plenty of movies to catch on regular TV, check out the BBC Christmas TV guide but remember, any listings appearing here are predicted schedules only confirmed listings will not be known until early December. It sure can be difficult picking what movie to watch especially with all the movies being so good during the festive season from Home Alone to Elf. What’s your favourite festive movie?

From exclusive podcasts to limitless downloads, there’s an audio streaming app out there for everyone. With fewer phones featuring a built-in music player app, more people than ever are turning to streaming apps for convenient listening, hassle-free downloads and the huge range of choice they provide. But which one should you go for? To help you choose, here’s a run-down of the top 5 music streaming apps for Android and iOS this year, and what makes them so great. (Android, iOS) There are over 217 million Spotify users around the world right now, and over 100 million of them pay for Spotify Premium. So, what are the benefits? When you subscribe to Spotify Premium, you can download an unlimited number of albums and songs to listen to offline in higher quality. Once you start building your library, Spotify learns what kind of music you like and makes great recommendations with Daily Mixes just for you. Unwind to the albums you love without any annoying ad breaks, and there’s a mind-blowing choice of podcasts to tune into. Some podcasts are made exclusively for Spotify, so you won’t find them anywhere else. You’re also able to play any song seamlessly on any of your devices – so if you’re listening to a track on your phone when you arrive home, you can easily switch to listening on your laptop. If you want to give Spotify a go, you can try Premium free for 3 months. After that, it’s only £9.99 a month. And if you’re a student, you can subscribe to Premium for only £4.99 monthly! (Android, iOS) If you’re a fan of Apple and love the flawless iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac ecosystem, Apple Music might just be the perfect streaming app for you. There are over 60 million songs to listen to, and using the app is very similar to iTunes (RIP). Just like Spotify, there’s no limit to how many songs you download or how many devices you listen on. And if you’re moving over from an iPhone to Android smartphone, you can still download Apple Music and keep your whole library of tunes. But that’s not all. You can also listen live to radio stations broadcasting from all over the world, including Apple’s own station, Beats 1. Like Spotify, you can give Apple Music a 3-month trial run for free. After your trial, it’s £9.99 a month for individuals or £14.99 a month for a family subscription (up to 6 people). And again, if you’re a student, just verify your college or university and it’s £4.99 a month. (Android, iOS) Google’s music streaming app has loads to offer, no matter what device you use. There’s over 40 million songs available, along with radio stations based on artists, songs, albums or genre. So, if you find a new band and love how they sound, it’s easy to find similar music and expand your tastes. If you’ve already got a huge library of existing tracks, you can upload them to your Google Play Music account and listen to them alongside your new discoveries. Easy. You’ll also get to enjoy your music and podcasts completely ad-free, get smart recommendations based on what you listen to, and you’ll even get access to YouTube Music Premium too. Try Google Play Music free for 30 days. After the trial period, Google Play Music is competitively priced at £9.99 a month for single users, and £14.99 a month for families of up to 6 people. (Android, iOS) YouTube Music is a little different to other music streaming apps. Of course, you’ll be able to watch music videos while listening to your favourite artists, but that’s not the only difference. Unlike regular YouTube, you can listen to your music in the background while using other apps or casually browsing. That means you can lock your screen to save power and keep the tunes flowing. Remember the lyrics but forgotten the song title? Thanks to Google’s searching smarts, you can find the track you’re looking for simply by entering a lyric from the song. And it’s not just about official studio recordings. You’ll also get access to live versions of songs, covers, remixes, mashups and more. Try YouTube Music Premium for one month absolutely free. After that, just like Spotify and Apple Music, it’s £9.99 a month for a standard premium subscription and £4.99 for subscribers. Or you can subscribe to a family account for £14.99 a month for up to 5 people. (Android, iOS) Amazon Prime Music is by far the most affordable option for music lovers. You need to have an Amazon Prime membership to access the 2 million songs in the Prime library, but you also get unlimited one-day delivery and Amazon Prime Video. If you have an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, you can ask Alexa to play a song and you’ll hear it instantly. You’ll also get unlimited downloads, so it’s great for taking your music on the commute or to places with reduced signal. At just £7.99 a month for a regular Prime membership and £3.99 a month for students, Prime is considerably cheaper than the competition. And for a limited time for students, you can try Prime for a whole 6 months for free! Those are our five top music streaming apps! What streaming service do you use to find new tunes? Let us know below!

Buying a Christmas present for friends, family or a Secret Santa? Sticking to a budget can be tricky, so let us help. Just for you, we’ve come up with some great techy gifts for all budgets. We’ve got gift suggestions at three popular price brackets – under £50, £100 and £200. So take a look, and prepare to be inspired! Just one thing to note – please use the prices shown as a guide only. They were correct when we wrote this, but obviously these things can change. Gifts for £50 or less PlayStation alarm clock (£24.99) Buying a gift for a gamer? Then look no further. This alarm clock features the iconic PlayStation button symbols and analogue sticks, and plays video-game inspired sounds when the alarm goes off. Buy it here Google Nest mini (£49) Google Nest Mini is a compact and discreet smart speaker with the always-helpful Google Assistant built-in. It’s just like the original Mini, but now has better voice recognition and bass that’s twice as powerful. Use your voice to play music with Wi-Fi connected speakers, adjust heating with your smart thermostat, and lots more. Just say "OK Google" and ask away. Google Nest Mini will take care of it, and make your life easier. Buy it here Amazon Fire 7 (2017) Tablet (£49.99) Here’s an affordable tablet, with quick and easy access to all of Amazon’s digital services from books to movies to games. The battery lasts up to 7 hours, so you’ve got more than enough power to keep yourself entertained on the commute home or when you’re chilling out at home. Buy it here Gifts for £100 or less Nintendo 2DS & Mario Kart 7 (£79.99) What about buying a legendary handheld game console as a gift? The 2DS has two touchscreens to immerse yourself in the action, and Mario Kart 7 comes pre-installed. So get ready to collect those powerups and beat your friends to the finishing line! Buy it here FITBIT Charge 3 (£99.99) The sleek and comfortable Fitbit Charge 3 gives you heart rate monitor right on your wrist. It also automatically tracks how you're doing in your favourite activities, from running and swimming to cycling and field sports. You’ll get lots of detailed stats to help you keep on top of your health and fitness. Buy it here Logik L20HE 18 20-inch LED TV (£99.00) A 20-inch TV screen is ideal for bedrooms, dens and even kitchens. This one comes with Freeview HD for subscription-free entertainment, and will easily connect to your games console or DVD player. There's even a PC input, if you want it to double up as a monitor. Buy it here Gifts for £200 or less Nintendo Switch Lite (£199.00) It’s a games console that’s always ready to go! The Nintendo Switch Lite has been designed with on-the-go gaming in mind, so you can jump into your fave games on your daily commute, on a flight, out at the park or back at home. Anytime, anywhere. Keep an eye out for our December newsletter for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch Lite with a Mario game! If you don’t get our newsletters, you can opt-in to marketing emails in your account settings. Buy it here Apple Watch Series 3 (£199.00) This smart watch syncs with your smartphone, giving you all the information you need on your wrist. Use it get directions when you’re out and about, ask Siri to set reminders and lots more. It also has a heart rate monitor, to give you a clearer picture of your health. Buy it here Ring Video Doorbell Pro with Chime (£149.00) Keep track of what’s going on around your property at all times, with a video doorbell. When someone presses it you’ll get an alert on your phone, even if you’re miles away. You can the interact with them using two-way audio. Buy it here And there you have it. Our list of tech gifts! But hang on – are you buying for someone especially fussy? Then why don’t you get them a voucher instead? Then they can choose something they’ll be happy with. Lots of websites offer great voucher deals during the festive season, and here are a few of our faves: Red Letter Day. Buy a voucher and give them an unforgettable experience, from pampering to flying. Choose from over 6000 amazing gifts. Activity superstore . Over 1000 gift experiences from short breaks to fun days out. They’ve got a 10% off deal at the moment. Buyagift. Great deals and discounts on experience days and gifts. They’re currently offering a £10 gift code! What do you think of our suggestions? Have you got any of these cool products yourself? Would you recommend them? What would your favourite techy Christmas gift be? Post a reply below, and share your thoughts with the Community!

We’re constantly talking and listening to our customers, identifying ways to improve the service we offer, making mobile better. So we’re delighted to announce we’re on YouGov’s 2019 Top 10 list of improvers for Brand Advocacy! YouGov BrandIndex screened 1,500 brands asking respondents "Would you recommend the brand to a friend or colleague?" and “Would you tell a friend or colleague to avoid the brand?”. And vs. our 2018 score we’ve improved to a 45.8 net score! This is great news and shows the progress we’re making, but we won’t stop there with plenty more improvements planned for 2020 and beyond. You can see the full results here: https://www.brandindex.com/ranking/uk/2019-advocacy

It’s National Text Your Ex Day! Yes, you did read that right. Even if message a former lover may not be your cuppa tea, why not enter our competition and find a reason to celebrate! No, you don’t need to message your ex to win. Instead, we’re offering one winner a chance to get their hands on some extra data this month. All you need to do is share 5 things you’d rather use your data on than texting your ex! Here’s a few things we’d rather spend our data on: 1.Find a date Better to move forward than dwell on the past, right? There’s a stack of different dating apps out there, and each of them offer something slightly different. Tinder is probably the most famous one, with the classic ‘swipe right, swipe left’ system. Then there’s Bumble, where only women can strike up a conversation once you’ve matched. Happn is a little different, too. It works with your location data to show you people you’ve passed while you’ve been out and about. Give it a go! You never know, you could end up meeting that special person. If you’re not sure which app to go for, take a look at our 5 most lovable dating apps. 2.Binge watch your favourite show Everyone has a go-to show that can instantly put a smile on their face (*cough*, Bodyguard). With a little more data, you can disable that ‘WiFi streaming only’ setting on Netflix and dive into a box set without the worry of draining your data. So, why not get reacquainted with the characters you love? 3.Book a holiday Everything is better when you’re relaxing on a beach, and a little spontaneity livens things up. Why not escape National Text Your Ex Day altogether and find yourself a great deal on a city break or beach getaway? With sites like lastminute.com, Love Holidays and Cheeky Trip offering beautiful destinations at a super price, you’re only a few clicks away from bathing in the sunshine with a Pina Colada in hand. 4.Get back in touch with long-lost mates You’re probably wondering how an out-of-the-blue text to your ex-partner would go down, so why not message a friend instead and see how they’re getting on? Everyone’s got a few people in their contacts list that would love to hear from them. Whether they’re mates from school, college or uni, old colleagues or relatives, drop them a line and arrange to meet up! 5.Get home after a night out Picture the scene: it’s late, you’re walking out of a bar or club to head home, and it’s raining. Instead of putting up with the agony of the night bus, that little bit of data could be enough to book a uber that’ll turn up right where you are and take you to your front door. No journey around the houses, no need to side-step dropped kebabs, and no hassle. So, those are just a few of the things we’d rather do than text our exes. What would you rather do? Whatever you’re thinking, let us know below for a chance to win extra data

As you may already know, iD Mobile Black Friday event has already begun. Unlike other retailers, our Black Friday event started on the 4th November, but don’t despair if you weren’t aware (that rhymes), because we’ve just added a heap of new handset and SIM only deals, and you’ve got till the 2nd December to get your hands on them. Introducing the iD SIM Only Big Data plans! As part of our Black Friday event, we have introduced a set of new SIM only deals, with unlimited Minutes, and enough Data for you to talk, stream and browse the web to your heart’s desire, without having to worry about running out of allowances. Our Black Friday deals just got even sweeter. How about unlimited everything for only £23 a month? Check out our Black Friday SIM Only deals: Already an iD customer and want to get your hands on one of these great deals? Don’t worry, why not check if you can change your plan to one of the plans above - check out this article on how to change your plan . Whether you’re on a Handset plan or SIM only (and been with iD for over 31-days), you can change your plan to suit your needs. Alternatively, why not check if you can upgrade , you can do both in the iD Mobile app, with a few simple clicks, and you don’t have to commit to anything until you’re 100% sure. You’ll find plenty more deals on the iD Mobile website, so why not check them out!

It’s the biggest Community Competition ever! Yes, you have three chances to win three amazing prizes… Win a SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A Perfect for watching your fave films and Netflix binges on a gorgeous 10.1-inch Full HD display. Win a SAMSUNG Galaxy A70 Three superb cameras (including a 32MP main camera, depth and ultra-wide) capture all the action. Win an HP 15.6" 1 TB Laptop Loaded up with Windows 10 and a powerful processer, this compact laptop takes on everyday task with ease. How to enter All you need to do is comment below this post and tell us “What is your favourite event to celebrate?”. Just make sure you logged in first. It couldn’t be easier! Good luck! T&C’s apply

Trick or treat? We’re running a Spooktacular competition to celebrate! Whether you’re dressing up as ghosts , carving pumpkins into glowering jack-o’-lanterns or watching a horror movie to celebrate October 31st, we’ve got a great competition that’ll make your Halloween even better. You’re probably familiar with the short horror story attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” The reason it’s so scary is because it raises more questions than it answers. In other words, what’s left unsaid is far more terrifying than what’s written because it’s left to your imagination. In the spirit of Hemingway and all things ghoulish, ghastly and chilling, we want you to come up with a short story that you think will give us the shivers. We aren’t expecting a story as short as six words, so let your imagination run wild! We’re offering two winners the chance to get their hands on the Motorola G7 Power. But, as this is Halloween, there will also be another 2 winner that will be receiving an envelope containing a trick for two unlucky entrants. Reckon you can make us jump? Give it a go! The competition closes on Thursday 7th November, so send in your horror story before the closing date and you could end up winning a shiny new phone.

Ever seen an advert with a strange-looking bar code telling you to scan? Or have you got your eye on a pair of wireless headphones that claim to link instantly to your phone with a quick tap? What you’re looking at are QR (Quick Response’) codes and NFC (Near-Field Communication). Here, we’ll explain what they are and just how they can help you get more out of your phone. What is a QR code? QR codes are pretty similar to the one-dimensional bar codes you see on the back of product packaging or books. However, where 1D bar codes are only able to store up to 30 numbers, two-dimensional QR codes can store over 7000 and be scanned both horizontally and vertically. That means not only are they more practical, but they can also store more information. You’ve probably seen QR codes and haven’t noticed. When you book a flight and download your boarding pass to your smartphone, the QR code on your ticket is the bit that you scan to get you into the departure lounge and through your gate. If you’re reading a magazine and stumble upon an ad, or waiting for a bus and see a billboard, you’ll often see a QR code you’re encouraged to scan. It could take you to the brand’s social media pages, or lead you to a promotional offer. Scanning a QR code is easy. If you have an Android phone, all you have to do is download an app like Red Laser, Barcode Scanner or QR Scanner and use your camera to focus on the QR code. All three apps are free to download and add amazing functionality to your handset. Some even let you create your own QR codes, which is great if you’re building a brand and want to gain some extra exposure, or if you’re in a band and trying to get more followers on your Facebook page. Rather than just providing a link, it’s a great way to get people engaged. If you have an iPhone or Apple device, it’s even easier. The Wallet app that comes with your phone also features a built-in QR code scanner, so no downloading required. Just scan and see where it takes you. Why don’t you have a go? Scan the QR code. You can also create your own QR code What is NFC? NFC is very different to QR codes. It’s a wireless data transfer system that lets two nearby devices communicate without the internet. It’s quick, easy to use and has a whole host of applications. Not all smartphones have NFC, but if yours does, you’ve probably used it already. If you use your phone or smartwatch to pay when you’re out shopping, NFC connects your device to the card machine at the till. It’s the same tech that’s used in contactless debit and credit cards. Try it out during our Black Friday Event! It’s a great way to make payments fast, especially when you’ve found a great deal that you’re worried might sell out quickly, or when you’re on the move and it’s impractical to enter card details. You might have seen a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones that highlight NFC as a key feature. That’s because unlike most Bluetooth headphones, you don’t have to go through the pain of manual connection whenever you want to listen to music. Instead, all you have to do is make sure NFC is enabled on your device, and place the headphones against your phone to pair. It takes a matter of seconds and is much easier than scrolling through Bluetooth devices to find the right one. It’s not just about headphones and payments. You can use NFC to send directions to a friend via Google Maps, direct them to an app on the Google Play store or even send a document, picture or phone number. You can even buy NFC tags that let you get really creative with the technology. Many apps let you program commands to work with tags. Why not place one in the car and program your phone to connect to the Bluetooth sound system whenever you tap? Or, you could program your phone alarm to only turn off when you tap the phone against an NFC tag on your bedside table. Those are only a couple of ways you can use QR codes and NFC with your smartphone. What’s the most ingenious way you’ve seen them used? Let us know in the comments below.

What's the difference between Google Maps and Sat Nav ? Going on a road trip and planning to use your phone to navigate? We’ll show you the pros and cons of Google Maps compared to sat navs… Most smartphones come with a 'sat nav' (satellite navigation) built in. For Android there's 'Google Maps', while iPhone has Apple Maps. We're going to look at how these navigation systems compare to a sat nav, to see if there's any reason you might want to use one instead of the other. A few years ago, Google added 'full offline navigation' to Maps, meaning you can download routes and maps that you use quite often, so you don't have to use your data when you’re on the move. They expire after 15 days, which means you'll always have the latest version. Needing directions quickly Most of the time, you won’t leave home without your phone. Your sat nav, however, could easily be forgotten and left behind. That means if you’re out on the road and need to find a quicker route to skip the traffic, you could be a bit stuck. With your phone, you can just tap on Maps and find where you want to go. There’s also a built-in search option on your phone. This lets you type in business names, and will show you the results on a map so you can choose the best outlet for you – like a fast-food chain or supermarket. It’s much easier than having to find the specific address to then manually enter into the sat nav. Another advantage of Google Maps is that because it’s connected to the internet, it should be mostly up to date. Roadworks and traffic will usually be picked up and highlighted on your route. If there’s a quicker way, Google will suggest it too. All this means you’ve got the convenience of a sat nav, without having to carry another device and charger. Going the wrong way Something else that Google Maps can do is send anonymous info about speed and location to build up a ‘live traffic map’. This helps give more accurate predictions for traffic and journey time. It doesn’t just apply to driving, either. You can also use it when you’re cycling or walking, so long as you choose that option on Maps. If you choose the ‘public transport’ option, Google will let you know where and what time you need to be there, and any connections you need to take. You can also enter your home and work address via Google Assistant, and it’ll let you know the best route to take and time to leave each day. Wrong turns and low signal There’s still a few areas that could do with improvement on Google Maps. The GPS, for example, can be a little patchy in low signal areas. When this happens, Google Maps can tell you that you’re in a slightly different place, making it confusing if you don’t know the area well. If you know that where you’re going is a low signal area, it’s probably best to download the route beforehand. Sat navs, however, seem to keep full signal in these areas. Another issue is battery life. Using Google Maps with data and location turned on can drain your battery faster than normal. It’s fine for short journeys or if you have a charger handy, but without one, you may find your battery runs out before you make it to your destination. Also, a lot of the features on Google Maps require an internet connection. Things like traffic updates, bike routes and public transport directions all need you to be online. So, which is best? We think that having a sat nav in the car is handy for times when your phone battery is low or you can’t get a signal. Overall though, Google Maps works just as well as a sat nav and has the added bonus of automatic updates. So, you don’t need to buy the latest map packs to keep things up to date. There’s still a place for the sat nav, but mobile apps are getting better all the time, so it might not be long before they overtake their dashboard counterparts. What do you use to get from A to B? Is there an app out there that you think does the job better, or are you sticking with your trusty sat nav? Let us know below!

One of the biggest shopping days of the year! Our Black Friday event has started, it is a deal hunters dream, but you have to get in quick to grab the best deals. Are you ready? What is iD doing for Black Friday? Phones are actually one of the highest selling products this time of year. During Black Friday 2018, phones and smartphone accessories were big sellers online. And here at iD, we’ll be offering some great deals you won’t want to miss out on. Unlike other retailers though, we’re not waiting around till the end of November to bring our best offers to you! Looking to treat yourself, know a friend or family member looking for a new phone? Or due an upgrade? In our Black Friday Event you can save up to £339 on selected Apple and Samsung devices. Check out all our Black Friday deals on www.iDmobile.co.uk. Feel confident shopping online. We appreciate that shopping online can be daunting at times, that’s why we’ve created a guide on how to protect your identity and information when shopping online.

It’s been a whole year since our first Community newsletter, and we’re celebrating! Since we started the Community newsletter a year ago, we’ve posted all kinds of articles for iD Mobile users to enjoy. From helpful guides on how to get the most out of your new phone, to the best camera phones, to the most addictive apps and games, we love engaging with you and making your smartphone experience even better. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them, and that they’ve proved helpful along the way. Don’t worry though, this is only the beginning. We’ve got some great features, how-to guides and competitions lined up for the coming year. In the meantime, though, here are the top 10 most loved Community articles from the past year: 1.What is Wi-Fi Calling and why should you use it? Our guide to Wi-Fi calling has proved very popular. If you’re still not sure what it is, Wi-Fi calling is a handy way to call and text when you’re in an area with poor phone signal. Many handsets are compatible with Wi-Fi calling and setup is easy. For iPhone users, you can switch on Wi-Fi calling in Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling. For Android phone users, it tends to vary by manufacturer, but the process is largely the same. So, next time you’re in a remote service station or hotel in the countryside, you’ll be able to call just as easily as at home. 2.14 uses for your old phone To commemorate World Environment Day, we’ve shared 14 ways to keep your old phone in use to encourage you to think twice before putting it in the customary ‘tech graveyard’ drawer. You could use your old handset as a home security camera with a decent webcam app, music player, alarm clock or digital photo frame. And if none of those suggestions tempt you, why not donate it to your local charity shop? ​​​​​​​3.European Language Day Here at iD, we love apps that make learning a new skill easier, more digestible and fun. So to celebrate European Language Day, we’ve posted our top 5 language apps that we think are perfect for helping you on the road to multilingualism. 4.9 mobile security tips to remember when you’re out and about Is your smartphone secure when you’re out and about? Mobile security attacks are on the increase. So help you out, here are nine mobile security tips to keep your handset safe from harm. 5.RIP HQ Trivia. Long live Quiz Planet! Do you miss the mobile quizzing excitement of HQ Trivia? Are you looking for a new quiz game that pits your wits against your family and friends? Then make Quiz Planet your next destination. 6.7 top tips for staying in touch with friends With our lives becoming increasingly hectic, finding the time to make that call isn’t always easy. But, as always, technology is here to help. Here are some great tips for keeping in touch with your mates, no matter how far apart you live from each other. 7.7 tips to stay connected this summer Holidays, festivals, parties in the park… whatever you’re up to over the summer, you don’t want to miss a thing. So, make sure your mobile connection is the best it can be to help you keep in touch when you’re out and about. Check out our connection top tips for maximum fun in the sun. 8.How to beat your post-holiday blues Let’s face it, sometimes you get back from holiday and feel like you need another one. As soon as you’re back to the commute on a rainy old Monday morning, it can seem like you’ve never been away. So, we’ve put together a few hints and tips, together with helpful links and apps, to help you beat those post-holiday blues and arrive at work with a positive attitude. And, if you haven’t been away yet, read on, a little pre-holiday planning can make it much easier when you do get back. 9.5 ways your phone can save Christmas 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… 10.Our latest smartphones If you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone, you’re in the right place. Amazing new handsets are being launched all the time - so to help you choose the right one, here’s our roundup of the very best. So, those are our top 10 Community articles this year. Have our guides helped solve a phone issue you’ve had? What’s your favourite Community article this year? Let us know below!

Got your new phone but found out it doesn’t come with a radio app? Here’s how to tune into your favourite station on the go. Like most things in today’s tech world, radio – and the way we listen to it – has changed dramatically. No longer do we gather around the ‘wireless’ to listen to The Archers! Radio has evolved, but so have the ways we can access our favourite artists, shows and music. Through the power of the internet and smart technology, we can tune in to the radio through our mobile devices, be it our phones or tablets. While FM radio was eventually a standard feature on most phones, it’s now fallen by the wayside on many current smartphones – particularly the more expensive ones. Now, if your phone does have a built-in radio app, then this is a pretty quick read. Just make sure you use a set of earphones, as they also double up as an antenna! However, if you’ve got a blank space staring at you where FM radio ought to be, or you simply want to broaden your horizons, then don’t worry - there are plenty of options for listening to radio stations. Although you can’t listen to radio transmissions in the conventional sense, you can stream many stations over the internet. In fact, many radio stations have dedicated apps to make it easy to listen online. And there are also dedicated online shows and services that you can take advantage of. On a Wi-Fi connection, you can, of course, stream away to your heart’s content. However, do bear in mind that streaming radio over your mobile network could use a good chunk of data! If you’re not sure of your limit, it’s easy to find your data allowance and how much data you’ve got left for the month on the iD app. 1.BBC Sounds iOS / Android – Free If you love listening to Radio 1’s Essential Mix on Friday nights, or catching up with the best panel shows on the weekend, look no further than the BBC Sounds app. Designed to replace the rather dated iPlayer Radio, BBC Sounds gives you every BBC radio station and over 40 regional stations on one handy platform. If you’ve just missed the start of your programme, you can easily play it from the beginning. Or, just like the iPlayer app, you can catch up with episodes whenever you like or download to listen offline for a limited time. There’s also a huge choice of podcasts available, covering every genre from news to comedy. Based on what you’re tuning in to, the app will give you recommendations for programmes you might like. And the best bit? Because of the way the BBC is funded, the app is completely free and there’s no ads! 2.TuneIn iOS / Android – Free Available across all smartphone platforms, TuneIn is a real gem. With over 100,000 radio stations and millions of podcasts from all over the globe to choose from, there's more music than even in your wildest dreams! You can create your own personalised selection of stations to follow, share your thoughts with other users and receive recommendations of new stations to listen to. You’ll need to create an account first, but this can be linked to your existing Facebook or Google+ pages to make things even easier. You can also sign up to TuneIn online here. 3.Earbits iOS / Android – free Looking for something a little different when you listen to the radio? Earbits has you covered: it's completely free and with no adverts, limitations or other disturbances to hamper your listening. Earbits is designed solely to showcase the music of independent bands and artists and doesn’t include any mainstream content. The chances are you’ve never heard of any of the songs available – so if you’re always on the hunt for new and upcoming music, then this is the app for you. Sign up to Earbits here check out what's available! 4.Beats 1 iOS – free If you’re using an iPhone or iPad then you’ve got access to Beats 1, Apple’s 24-hour streaming radio station. Headed up by former Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, Beats 1 launched in 2014 as part of the Apple Music subscription service. However, while you need to pay for the main Apple Music subscription, Beats 1 is still currently free to listen to. By all accounts they play a lot of hip hop – but there’s an eclectic range of presenters, from Julia Adenuga to Matt Wilkinson, so you’re sure to find something you like. Listening to Beats 1 couldn't be simpler, you don't need to install anything - simply open the Music app on your device and you'll find it in there. And if you’ve got an Android phone but still fancy listening to Beats 1, simply download the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store. Easy. Tune in and explore! Once you've got your desired app downloaded and installed on your smartphone or tablet, it’s time to explore an endlessly exciting new world of sounds, which is music to our ears indeed!

Win a Samsung 50" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV We’re offering one lucky winner the chance to win an amazing Samsung Smart 4K Ultra HDR TV! HDR technology gives you scene-by-scene image mastering, so you can see the finer details in the picture, even when the setting is dark. Witness the true beauty of a sun-filled landscape or discover what’s lurking in the shadows of a horror movie. Better be careful what you watch this Halloween. You could get more spooked than ever before! To be in with a chance to win, comment below and tell us, what’s your favourite horror movie? You’ve got until midnight on Sunday 8th October to enter and we’ll pick the winners at random. Ghoul Luck! (T&C’s apply)

It’s #TechiesDay! Whether you’re a gadget lover, work in technology or are the go-to troubleshooter in the family, today is a day to celebrate the impact that technology makes on our daily lives. To celebrate, we’re running a competition. All you have to do is tell us a feature you’d love to have on your phone (nothing boring like ‘a better camera’!) to be in with a chance of winning a £50 Currys voucher. So, get your techy brains on and take part! You’ve got until midnight on Thursday 10th October to come up with your winning feature, and we’ll pick two winners at random. Good luck! Ts & Cs apply