Getting Started.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, you’re an Android user. Good choice. Not only is it an operating system that you can customise but it’s also very user-friendly. However, this doesn’t mean annoying niggles can’t crop up from time to time. If your Android’s playing up or is on its last legs, here are a few quick fixes to common problems that could save the day. 1. Apps playing up If your apps aren’t working the way they should, there are a few things you can check. Firstly, see if there’s an update available for the problematic app. If there is, update it. But if that doesn’t do the trick, force the app to close by pressing the square button on your home screen to bring up your multi-tasking menu. Then, locate the app and swipe it away. This way when you re-open the app any corrupted data will hopefully have been wiped away. Still hasn’t worked? It’s time to uninstall the app completely, and reinstall it. If that doesn’t work, try getting in touch with its developer for advice. You can usually find an email address at the bottom of the app’s page in the Google Play store. 2. Slow performance One of the main reasons a phone might slow down is because its internal storage is full. A lot of apps sneakily run in the background even when you’re no longer using them, and when storage is low, this can be a problem. So if your phone’s speed has reduced, it might be best to start clearing storage space. To start with, uninstall any apps you don’t need or use anymore. Once you’ve done that, look at your essential apps and potentially move them to a microSD memory card, or a cloud-based storage system. Google Photos is perfect for your photos and videos, as it gives you free and unlimited storage. Also, try downloading CCleaner, which helps you free up space. 3. Connectivity issues If you’re struggling to connect to your Wi-Fi or mobile network, turn on airplane mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off and try connecting again. Sometimes this can jolt your phone into connecting, rectifying any problems it might have been experiencing. 4. Battery life problems Is your battery feeling the drain? Again, uninstalling apps could be the solution. Just head over to the ‘Battery’ section in your settings, and you’ll be able to see which apps are using up your power. If you don’t need any of them, uninstall. Another trick would be to reduce your display brightness. Don’t use the auto-brightness mode as this can use up a lot of power. Instead, adjust the brightness to a suitable level (somewhere under half way is ideal). Lastly, check whether your Android has a power saving mode. If it does, stick it on. 5. Frozen phone Faced with a frozen device? Try holding down the power button at the same time as the volume button. This is called a hard reboot, and is sometimes enough to kick-start your device back into working. 6. Your device won’t turn on If your device won’t even turn on – don’t panic. There are a couple of things you can try. For starters, you can try removing the battery for a few seconds and then putting it back in. If that doesn’t solve the problem (or if your battery can’t be removed), hold down the power button for fifteen seconds. Still no luck? Stick your phone on charge and hold the power button down for 15 seconds. And if that doesn’t work you should probably turn to a professional. In extreme cases, you can always perform a factory reset. This wipes everything off your phone and returns it to its original state – solving almost any problem on your trusty Android. As long as you backup all of your important data before you do it, you’ll be okay. The factory reset option can be found under ‘Backup & reset’ in your settings. Do you have any Android problems you'd love to have fixed? Any troubleshooting pearls of wisdom of your own? Share them in the comments below.

We love endless running games. They’re easy to pick up and play, and can be horribly addictive. Because every time you die during a run, you think you’ll be able to go further with just one more go, right? So here you go. If you don’t mind wasting endless hours long into the night, we’ve come up with five amazing endless runners for you to take a swipe at. They're all free from Google Play or the App Store. Minion Rush Even if you’re not a fan of those lovable minions, the spectacular Minion Rush is worth giving a go. We can’t think of an endless running game that’s more fun - or diverse. Yes, you’ll be doing the usual jumping, ducking and dodging, but you’ll also be riding on rockets, sliding through water and attacking bad guys (we’re looking at you, El Macho). And we haven’t even mentioned the mini-games yet. One minute, you could be collecting bananas on the moon, and the next, riding a fluffy unicorn high up into the sky. If you can resist shelling out your hard earned cash to buy extra characters (and stick to using your hard-earned virtual bananas instead) you’ll find that Minion Rush is one of the best free mobile games around. Run Sackboy! Run! Run SackBoy! Run! is a 2D left-to-right endless running game featuring Sackboy, hero of the LittleBigPlanet series of PlayStation games. Run SackBoy! Run! has characters and worlds straight out of LittleBigPlanet, and it’s a great looking place to spend some time. In typical endless running fashion you’ve got all sorts of obstacles to negotiate, from spikes to sticky goo that slows you down. And the last thing you want to do is get slowed down, because you’re getting chased by the Negativitron, the final boss from LittleBigPlanet 2. The Negativitron is an evil robot serpent vacuum, so it’s best if you try and stay at least one step ahead of it. Into the Dead 2 Into the Dead is a much-improved sequel. The graphics are more colourful and the weapons are more powerful - but the basic premise remains the same. Make your way through a zombie apocalypse to save your family. Arm yourself with an awesome arsenal, and don’t become a zombie’s dinner. Simple stuff, yet incredibly addictive. Zombie Tsunami “Frantic flesh eating fun for all the family” is what Zombie Tsunami’s creator Mobigame has to say about their game, and we’re not going to argue with that. Zombie Tsunami is a 2D left-to-right endless runner, and this time you’re on the side of the zombies. You start off as a single zombie roaming the streets, and each human you chomp becomes one of your undead gang. So if you’re on a roll, pretty soon you’ll have a long horde of zombies racing across the screen, looking for yummy people to munch. You’ll have to avoid the tanks and bombs that are out to destroy you, but as long as you’ve got at least one zombie left, you’ll keep on going, on an endless insatiable quest for brains. Enjoy! Lara Croft: Relic Run If ever there was a character made for an endless running game, it’s Lara Croft. She’s fit, agile, knows no fear, and she’s been doing this kind of thing for years. Lara Croft: Relic Run is full-on and fast-paced from its very first level. Lara doesn’t just run and jump; she uses super-cool parkour moves to vault over obstacles (often in glorious slow-motion) and more often than not, escape from certain death. If you progress far enough, you’ll come face-to-face with some epic bosses to battle against, including the infamous T-Rex that Lara first fought against in the original Tomb Raider game. Is your favourite endless running game missing from this list? Then reply below, and let us know!

The last few months have seen some awesome new phones release. And they all have one thing in common – a hulking big screen. Just recently you had the Samsung Galaxy A7 – and then you’ve got other phones such as the Huawei P20 Pro that are great for previewing your photos. This got us thinking about how much we love big-screen phones, and why you should love them too. Super-sized multitasking Big screens let you see so much more – which means they’re superb for multitasking. Multitasking lets you run more than one app at the same time, and in split-screen. So, you could be watching a film while having a group chat with your friends, and you won’t miss a second of the movie. With the screen split in two parts, you can do so much more at once. Better battery life Bigger screens mean better battery life. And it makes perfect sense – that’s because manufacturers can fit a larger battery into a bigger phone. So you can enjoy movies on the train, and browse your social media feeds for longer throughout the day. Big screen phones such as the Huawei P20 Pro even use artificial intelligence to extend battery life by learning how you use your phone. So you’re not left with 5% by the time you need to call a cab home, or check the last train times at the end of the day. Movies just look better You won’t need us to tell you that movies look better on a bigger screen. With more screen space you can enjoy movies just as the director wanted you to see them. Phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9 have an Infinity Display that wraps around the edges – and it’s fantastic for watching your latest Netflix obsession on. And don’t forget gaming – all the latest games are brought further to life on a big screen. Big screens also make life easier – you can read emails and browse your favourite websites without having to squint for a closer look. Turbo-charged typing Did you know that typing is much faster on a big screen? That’s because larger screens make it easier to see what you’re typing, and the expanded keyboard makes for more accurate typing. You’ll spend less time trying to correct dodgy typos. You’re less likely to misplace it The bigger something is, the more difficult it is to misplace. Say you need to leave the house in a hurry, and you can’t find your phone. Well, a larger phone is easier to spot. If you’re in the market for a big phone, then check out the ones above here on iD. Which one tickles your fancy?

It’s a decade since we saw the very first Android phone - it all started with the HTC Dream ten years ago. We’ve taken a look back at Android through the years, and how it’s got to where it is now. Join us in an all-out nostalgia-fest. Where it all started – the HTC Dream It seems like Android phones have been around forever, but it is in fact just ten years. But while these days we’re dazzled by phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Sony Xperia XZ3, it wasn’t always this way. Take the first Android phone, the HTC Dream. It wasn’t exactly a looker – it was actually rather boring-looking, with a flat physical keyboard. But it was certainly a trailblazer – and helped pave the way for all the great things Android gives us today. It sounds like a small thing, but this phone let you copy and paste – the iPhone 3G didn’t let you do that back then. So, what made us love Android back then? Make your phone your own One of the great things we could do was make our home screens our own. We could move things around to suit us. Think how excited you were the first time you got to place your widgets exactly where you wanted them – it felt so revolutionary to put the weather or the time or your music app just where you wanted it. Throw in customisable wallpaper, and that’s a unique phone right there. Today, things have moved on, but the original idea – to be able to make your phone truly yours – remains. Getting app-happy With the launch of the HTC Dream came the Android Market – you’ll know it today as Google Play. The Android Market gave you access to a range of apps, and though there wasn’t the choice you’d get now, there was plenty to keep you going. Great deal of designs After that first Android phone, a lot of new phones and exciting designs came to the market. Names like Samsung, HTC and LG came to the party, giving us a lot of choice when it came to finding our perfect phone. But the phone that really made people sit up and take notice was the Google Nexus One (remember that?). This was the first premium-style Android phone, and certainly helped take all the focus off Apple, the main phone-maker at the time. The Nexus One had a great camera for the time, a Super LCD display, and it was pretty fast to boot. So what about now? Well, a year’s a long time in the world of mobile, so ten years is practically an era! Today we’re truly spoilt for choice, with a recent batch of Android phones which includes the Samsung Galaxy S9, Huawei P20 Pro and Sony Xperia XZ3. The features and specs on these will take your breath away – they’re super-fast, have stunning displays, awesome cameras and immersive games. But that’s not to write off what the original Androids gave us. Because everything we have now is possible because of phones like the humble HTC Dream. What’s your all-time favourite Android phone? Tell us below the line.

Doctor Who has returned for an eleventh series - with the thirteenth Doctor along for the ride. The first episode has had rave reviews, with lots of praise for Jodie Whittaker’s performance as the TARDIS–travelling Time Lord from far-off Gallifrey. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up the best Doctor Who downloads for your smartphone, tablet, sonic screwdriver or any other mobile device. The Woman Who Fell To Earth (video) What better place to start than with the new episode itself? If you missed ‘The Woman Who Fell To Earth” when it first aired on the Beeb, then all is not lost – you can download it onto your phone for keeps, at a small price. If you’ve got an Android phone, you can buy it from Google Play for £1.99. If you’ve got an iPhone, you can buy it from The Apple Store for £2.49. Doctor Who: Legacy (game) Doctor Who: Legacy is one of the coolest gem-matching puzzle games around. But don’t let that ‘gem-matching’ part fool you. It’s much more than a mere Candy Crush clone, as you get to build your very own team of allies from Doctor Who’s past, and then do battle with the good Doctor’s greatest enemies. Daleks, Cybermen and yes – even The Master can all be fought and taken down in a frenzy of gem-matching mayhem. Doctor Who: Legacy is free to download from The Apple Store and Google Play. Doctor Who: Sonic Screwdriver (official app) The Doctor’s sonic screwdriver has to be the most famous gadget on the show. So if you’re an iPhone owner, this is the app for you. It’s the official app (accept no imitations) and it gives you detailed models of eight of The Doctor’s Sonic Screwdrivers as well as The Master’s laser firing screwdriver. Once you load up your chosen device, there are loads of cool sound effects that change as you tilt your phone. The app can even control your flashlight. Download your official Sonic Screwdriver from the Apple Play store. Lights Out (50th Anniversary eBook) There are loads of Doctor Who eBooks available, so why not head into your app store and have a browse? One of our favourites is this bargain eShort published by Penguin to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who in 2014. Lights Out starts with the twelfth Doctor (the Peter Capaldi version) heading to a space station that serves the third best cup of coffee in the universe. When the Doctor gets there, however, everything isn’t quite as rosy as he expected. In fact, things are pretty grim, as every time the lights are turned off – someone turns up dead. What happens next you’ll have to find out for yourself, but we can assure you that it has a great twist and will keep you hooked to the last word. Fancy a bit of Doctor Who trivia? This story actually slotted in between two episodes of Capaldi’s debut series. He left for coffee at the end of episode 8 and returned three weeks later at the start of episode 9… with two cups of coffee in tow. Check Lights Out out yourself by downloading it from The Apple Store or Google Play for just £1.99. Have you got any Doctor Who downloads you'd like to recommend yourself? Or have you got a question? If so, ask it below.

It’s been a busy year for Nokia so far, and our favourite Finnish phone maker isn’t letting up just yet. At an exclusive London event on Thursday 4 October, the Nokia 7.1 was unveiled in all its glory. So without further ado, let’s lift the lid on the new Nokia’s best bits. Strong looks, strong glass The 7.1 has a metal (series 600 Series Aluminium, since you ask) and glass build - and with attractive diamond-cut edges, it really does look like a premium piece of kit. Super-tough Corning Gorilla Glass 3 surrounds it, making the 7.1 impressively damage and scratch resistant. An edge-to-edge, top notch display The new Nokia will be rocking a 5.84-inch Full HD display, compatible with HDR content. Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, made a point of highlighting this feature at the launch event: “The Nokia 7.1 even offers real-time SDR to HDR conversion, meaning you can experience HDR quality entertainment, event when your content is not.” The screen goes all the way to the edges of the handset, and yes, the 7.1 is one of many new smartphones sporting a notch on top. It’s where you’ll find the front-facing camera and speaker. Lenses, cameras, action The 7.1 has a dual lens main camera, consisting of a primary 12MP lens and secondary 5MP lens to give you that bokeh effect we know you all love. Once again, Nokia has teamed up with ZEISS Optics for their lenses, so expect great looking photographs in both light and dark conditions. The 8MP selfie camera looks interesting. It’ll be using AI-powered facial recognition for all sorts of fun 3D effects like animated personas, filters and masks. A peek under the hood The 7.1 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor backed up with 3GB of RAM. That sounds like a set up capable of delivery a smooth and speedy all-round performance. The 3,060mAh battery should give you a full day of use, and fast charging tech is also on board. According to Nokia, this is capable of charging the 7.1 up to 50% in a mere 30 minutes. And just like Nokia’s other new smartphones, the 7.1 will be running Android One. This gives you a pure Android experience, fully endorsed by Google. That means you won’t have to wade through needless app, and you’ll get the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from monthly security updates. Do you like the sound of the new Nokia 7.1? It’ll be available to order very soon from iD Mobile, so keep your eyes peeled!

Mobile games are great for helping you escape from life’s little stresses, but sometimes you want something with an extra dose of adrenalin to get your blood pumping on the train home. We’re talking about the latest mobile racing games. So, rev up your engine and prepare to floor it with these five awesome racers. CSR Racing 2 If you thought mobile games offered a tame experience to console games, think again. CSR Racing 2 sets a new standard for brilliant-looking mobile titles. Just like a gleaming red Ferrari, it looks great from every angle and is an amazing drag racing game to boot with realistic graphics and the chance to team up with friends and form a racing crew. You also get to build your dream garage of real world cars, upgrade and fine-tune them to suit your style. It’s a nitrous-fuelled blast to play. iOS / Android (Free) Real Racing 3 Real Racing 3 is another of the better racing games out there. It’s beautiful to look at, and gives you a proper in-depth driving experience with over 45 of the world’s best cars to choose from. Get behind the wheels of a Porsche, a Lamborghini and many more. You’ll also find plenty of game modes including a Time Shift Multiplayer option which lets you play against real people without everyone having to log in and race at the same time. iOS / Android (Free) Red Bull Air Race 2 It’s not all about cars. Swap the tarmac for the high-flying hijinks of Red Bull Air Race 2. The sequel to the popular air racing game lets you take to the skies for a series of high and low altitude racecourses sure to get your adrenaline flowing. Play using touch or tilt controls, and challenge real players in multiplayer and challenge modes as you pilot your way through real-world locations with stunning graphics. iOS / Android (Free) Asphalt 9: Legends Torch some rubber and take on the most fearless street racer pros to become the next Asphalt Legend. There’s lot to enjoy if you’re a fan of turbo-charged racers. Collect over 50 of the world's most powerful cars in this brilliant arcade game that you can play anywhere. You can also create your own online community with the Club feature, and show your skills to real people all over the world for serious bragging rights. iOS / Android (Free) Riptide GP 2 Like getting wet? Good, because you’ll enjoy a rocket-powered soaking in Riptide GP2. The water-based racer has you tearing through futuristic race tracks and performing death-defying stunts. Play through the career mode, or against people online over multiplayer. iOS / Android (Free)