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Whether you’re new to the world of Apple or want to start making FaceTime calls on your current iPhone. Here is your guide to video calling, and the most seamless way to do it… So, why FaceTime instead of calling? Quite simply because if you’re an iPhone user it’s the easiest way to do it. Plus, if any of your contacts use an iPhone, you’ll be able to audio or video call them for free when you’re connected to a strong internet connection. How to set up FaceTime The FaceTime app should come pre-installed on every iPhone, but in the event that you’ve deleted it, re-installing it is super easy. Here’s how: 1. Click on the App Store 2. Search for FaceTime (it’s the green icon with a white video camera icon) 3. Click GET 4. Confirm the free download And then you should have the FaceTime app back on your iPhone’s home screen. How to make a call on FaceTime 1. Open the FaceTime app 2. Press the + button in the top right 3. In the ‘To:’ box, type in the contact you’d like to call 4. Click on t

Your smartphone can help keep you fit and healthy. One of its neatest tricks is monitoring your heart. In fact, it's so neat that hospitals are now interested in this mobile tech. A study has revealed that a new smartphone-controlled heart monitor is far more effective (and cheaper) at diagnosing cardiovascular issues than a standard ECG monitor. Joint research by the British Heart Foundation and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland found that a smartphone ECG “increased the number of patients in whom an ECG was captured during symptoms over five-fold to more than 55%”, which opens up a whole realm of possibilities with this innovative, low-expense technology. The device is to be carried by paramedics in A&E departments, who will measure the patient’s heartbeat at the scene and send the data off for a doctor to interpret. Smartphones saving lives? Sounds good to us! Do you use the heart rate monitor on your phone? Have you tried a heart rate monitor out on your smartphone yet? It’s easy to

Netflix is testing out a new mobile-only app that costs half as much as a full subscription. Here’s everything we know about the trial. A good Netflix binge can be the perfect way to while away a rainy afternoon, and with rumours circulating around price rises for the beloved streaming service, it’s welcome news that they’re also testing a new mobile-only app, which would cost up to half the price of a normal package. What is the mobile-only Netflix app? It’s a version of Netflix aimed at users watching on their mobile phones. In a statement to The Verge, Netflix said “We are always looking for ways to make Netflix more enjoyable and accessible. We will be testing different options in select countries, where members can, for example, watch Netflix on their mobile device for a lower price and subscribe in shorter increments of time.” The last part is interesting because it could mean they start offering lower priced weekly or bi-weekly subscriptions, alongside the monthly plans already

We’re not saying you should spend your holiday glued to your phone, but it can be a great help! Make the most of your holiday by checking out our top apps to download and take on your travels… BBC Weather Free to download on iOS and Android We hate our unpredictable weather in the UK, but it can sometimes be just as bad abroad. Download the BBC Weather app ahead of time, so you’ll have the forecast at your fingertips when you’re away. You can then plan your time more confidently, and it’ll also prevent you shelling out for an excursion if it’s going to be in the middle of downpour! It’s quick and easy to check the daily and weekly forecast in pretty much any location in the world. Babbel Free to download on iOS and Android Learning a bit of local lingo if you’re heading abroad can make such a difference to your trip. You’ll feel more at ease communicating with locals and will get much more out of the experience. If you’re up for the challenge, download Babbel and try out some of the gr

Twitter has unveiled its new Snapchat-like camera for Android and iOS. Find out what you can expect from Twitter’s new integrated camera... Twitter’s new camera is ready for action It’s been in the works for a while now, but Twitter finally rolled out its new integrated Snapchat-like camera. The feature will be available on Android and iOS mobile apps, where users will be able to take and share pictures instantly, within the app. Tweeting using the new camera If you’ve already been lucky enough to receive the update, you will now be able to swipe left from your main timeline screen in the app, and you’ll open a dedicated camera screen. This then allows you to take a photo, video, or live stream straight to all your followers with Capture and Live Capture. In Capture, just tap to take a photo or long press to shoot a video, while Live will start broadcasting straight away. For even more customisation, you can overlay the image/video with text, your favourite hashtags or a location, and

Huawei says the P30 “rewrites the rules of photography” and you know what, they might be right… The P30 comes in two options, there’s the regular P30 and the P30 Pro. So let’s take a look at the P30 before checking out what extras you get from the P30 Pro… The triple lens setup on the P30 gives you a 40MP wide-angle lens, 16MP ultra-wide lens and an 8MP telephoto lens. Last year’s flagship, the P20, featured one of the best phone cameras of 2018. So with the huge improvements made to the P30’s camera, could this actually be the best phone camera ever? Let’s take a look… 10x lossless zoomThe P30 combines two new features to deliver an incredible zoom capability. Huawei has developed a new ‘periscope’ lens stacking system which arranges five hidden zoom lenses inside the phone. They’re stacked vertically with light reflected into the lenses using a 90-degree prism – clever stuff indeed. This means the phone is capable of an incredible 5x optical zoom. As well as the clever periscope syst

Now that most of us are at home for a lot more of the time, it’s more vital than ever that we take care of our health. We’ve seen people building makeshift training circuits in their gardens, doing yoga in their living rooms and resistance band workouts in the kitchen. However, mental health is just as important as physical health. Here are our favourite apps that are great for mindfulness, meditation and clearing your head from stress: Headspace iOS/Android It makes total sense to start with a no-brainer. Headspace is one of the best-known meditation apps out there, and from personal experience, it’s really effective. The app eases you into the essentials of meditation and mindfulness with a free 10-part basics course. Each of these sessions will come in three, five or 10-minute chunks, so you can pick a session based on how much time you have. The meditations are quite easy to follow, too. Once you’ve completed the free trial you’ll need to pay for further sessions – but whether you

Samsung recently launched its new Galaxy S10 range, so we thought it was time we checked out the entry level Galaxy S10e. This is a smartphone with a lot going for it, and we’re not just talking about the low price tag… The S10e looks and feels just as good as the S10 It might be the more affordable version of the Galaxy S10, but the S10e is certainly no budget phone. It’s got a nice big 5.8-inch screen with a crystal clear, Full HD+ resolution. The super-thin bezels make the most of phone’s surface area and the curved screen corners give the phone a super stylish and bang up to date feel. The S10e doesn’t come with the curved screen like you get on most Samsung flagships, but we don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. A flatter screen can give you a more secure grip. So, if you’re not a fan of wrapping your beautifully designed phone in a big, bulky case, the S10e might just give you a bit more peace of mind. Excellent build quality with an IP68 rating There was a time when an aff

Android Q is coming soon. We don't know exactly what it'll be called yet (quiche, perhaps? ), but we do know that it'll be coming to more smartphones than ever before. Google drummed up a lot of excitement last year when it announced all the Android handsets that were eligible for the 9 Pie operating system. But this time, it’s expected to roll the beta version out to an even wider range of smartphones in 2019 - making this year the biggest rollout in history. This move is part of a wider effort from Google to make it easier and faster for Android users to update their devices, an initiative named Project Treble. What new features will Android Q have? Here are a few of our favourite features that Google confirmed will be on Android Q, according to its recent Android Developers Blog post. Foldable support. Android Q will be offering support for "foldables and innovative new screens". This is more of a back-end feature for developers, but it’s still exciting news for anyone thinking abou

Don’t believe everything you hear. A few mobile myths seem to have cropped up over the years, and they’re simply not true. Here are five of the most persistent tall stories you should be ignoring. 1. “You need to let your battery go down to 0% before recharging” False. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Which is good news, because who has the time to wait for their battery percentage to run right down before re-charging? Nobody, that’s who. And the truth is, you don’t have to. The majority of smartphones these days come equipped with strong Lithium-ion batteries, which are more than capable of handling a full-ish charge at all times. In fact, batteries are under the most strain when they’re fully charged or completely empty. Their real sweet spot is round about the 50% mark. So, if you really want to keep your battery in good nick for as long as possible, you should try and keep it charged between 20% and 80%. 2. “The more megapixels, the better the phone camera” Hogwash. While it’s t

Huawei has released two new versions of its flagship phone, the P30 and the P30 Pro – and they both come packed with plenty of great new features, so let’s dive in… How does the P30 look and feel? Well, the first thing we noticed when we picked up the phone was how lightweight and slim it feels. The stunning colour gradient effect on the back of the phone really sets it off. The Breathing Crystal option is a pale shade of white and blue, with the Aurora Blue glistening from blue to green. Key features: · Updated and great looking design · Slim and lightweight feel · Stunning gradient effect What’s the screen like on the P30? A tiny water-drop notch at the top of the phone means you get even more screen from the P30, 6.1 inches to be exact. So, if you love to use your phone for gaming, or catching up on your favourite shows, the P30 should be perfect. Key features: · 6.1-inch Full-HD+ picture quality · OLED screen offering 16M colours · Subtle water-drop notch The Full-HD+ screen delive

If you ❤️ emojis so much that you can’t imagine texting without them – get ready, because more are on the way. Unicode have just made its new emoji list for 2019 official, and there are 230 new ones! What new emojis can we expect? New animal emojis include a sloth, otter, flamingo, skunk and orangutan, but there are plenty more where those came from – and they’re just as wild. If you’re a foodie that’s constantly messaging your pals about grub, you’ll soon be able to send them a waffle, butter, onion, garlic or a juice box emoji. That sounds like a delicious lunch if you ask us! However, we reckon the ones you’ll use the most are the new yawning face and pinching hand emojis. A new white heart has been added to the mix, as well as loads more diverse additions including a sari, a Hindu temple, falafel and the Diya lamp emoji. There are also 70 new combinations of couples holding hands and a dozen new emojis that represent members of the deaf and blind communities and people with disabil

Anyone that’s watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix knows how much getting your life in order can ‘spark joy’. But why should your smartphone be any different? Here’s our guide to spring cleaning your phone. Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge how much joy you get out of your phone. It keeps you in touch with all of your nearest and dearest, it helps you find your way when you’re lost and it’s your go-to tool for capturing and storing all of your life’s memories. So, in true KonMarie Method fashion, kneel down and give your phone a moment of uninterrupted appreciation. How to sort your apps Before you can sort your apps effectively you need to firstly delete any that don’t ‘spark joy’. Take a look at each app individually and think about whether it enhances your life or makes you feel excited or content. Marie Kondo describes it as a sort of ‘powering up’ emotion. If it doesn’t, delete the app – but before you do, thank it for being useful for you at one stage in your smart

Do you worry about answering your phone in the rain? Are you unsure about taking it to the pool or beach on holiday? Then this is the article for you. We’re going to give you some top tips on keeping your phone safe from liquids. But first things first, let’s see how waterproof your phone really is… How can I find out if my phone is waterproof? To find out how watertight your phone is, you need its IP rating. This information will be in its instruction manual somewhere. Or if you’ve ditched your instruction manual long ago, head over to GSM Arena and search for your phone. Its IP rating should be listed under the ‘Body’ section. So, what exactly is an IP rating? We hear you ask. Well, it’s basically a two-digit number that tells you how good your phone is at withstanding dust and water. The first digit refers to protection against solid particles including dust, and the second digit refers to moisture and water. If your phone has an IP67 or IP68 rating, it’s classified as being water a

The OnePlus 6T is one of the best phones of 2018, and it’s impressed us a lot. Thinking about making it your next phone? Then let us help you decide, with our list of things that make it so special. It looks amazing The OnePlus 6T is a gorgeous handset. It’s slimline, incredibly lightweight and has an all-glass body. It’s an unmistakably premium phone, and it feels perfect too – weighty but not too heavy, so it’s really comfortable to hold. It’s available in two colours – or two blacks, rather. Midnight black gives you an understated matte finish, while mirror black is the real head-turner, with a glossy and reflective finish you won’t be able to resist showing off to your mates. A super-wide screen The 6.4-inch AMOLED display is the largest that OnePlus has ever built for a smartphone, and it looks incredible. That huge display covers almost all of the phone’s surface, and with a super-wide 19.5:9 aspect ratio, it’s just made for entertainment. If you’re a film buff, gamer or budding

We recently got hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S10 and you know what? It’s an incredible piece of kit. From its stunning display to the groundbreaking camera, this is a truly impressive phone. Key features: · Slim, lightweight, pocket-friendly design · 6.1-inch Quad HD Infinity-O display · TrueVision triple-lens camera for incredible photos · Super secure, screen-based fingerprint scanner · Powerful Snapdragon 855 processor with 8GB RAM. What’s the Galaxy S10 like to hold? The first thing you notice when you hold the S10 is just how slim and lightweight it feels, considering how much amazing tech is packed into it. It’s just 7.8mm thick, so even in the pocket of the skinniest pair of jeans, you’ll barely notice it. The screen sports Samsung’s recognisable curved design which is pushed right up to the edges of the phone, with only a tiny sliver of bezel at the top and bottom. How good is the screen on the S10? Well, put it this way, it’s the brightest smartphone display ever, it’s got

Oppo is one of the world’s biggest phone brands, and its three latest handsets are available at iD Mobile! After something a little different? Think that Oppos might attract? Then read on. Oppo has just released a trio of stunning smartphones. And at the time of writing, iD Mobile is the only place you can get them on a pay monthly deal. If you don't want to pay the full cost of a phone upfront, spreading out the cost on a pay monthly plan is a great option. You might not have heard of Oppo before, but the Chinese phone maker is kind of a big deal. It’s one of the biggest smartphone brands in the world, and now you can see what all the fuss is about for yourself – at iD Mobile! Meet the Oppo RX17 Neo Key features: · 6.4-inch Full HD display · 16MP + 2MP dual camera · 128GB internal storage The RX17 Neo is affordable smartphone with all the specs of a flagship. Its 3D gradient design looks stunning from every angle, and it’s made from super strong Gorilla glass 6. The huge 6.4-inch Wate

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Honor has just launched the View 20 - a spectacular flagship phone packed with ‘world firsts’. In other words, tech that’s simply never been seen on a smartphone before. Let’s take a closer look. Biggest camera ever The Honor View 20’s main 48MP camera is the biggest that’s ever been on a mobile phone, and it’s capable of taking great photos day and night. In bright light, the sensor uses every single one of those 48 million pixels for incredibly detailed shots. In low light, it merges the pixels for photos that are bright and clear. The camera also uses AI (artificial intelligence) to make taking Insta-worthy shots an absolute doddle. It couldn’t be easier - just point and shoot, and the AI automatically adjusts the camera settings to give you the best possible picture. It can recognise over one and a half thousand different scenes, apparently – everything from pets to sunsets. Rear of the year If you look at the back of the Honor View 20 and give it a slight turn or twist, something

Want to get your hands on the latest Samsung Galaxy S10 phone? Of course you do… Simply ask or answer a question on the iD Mobile Community between 4 March ‑ 10 March and we'll pick one of you at random to win a NEW Samsung Galaxy S10 phone! Each question or answer counts as a unique entry, so for a greater chance at winning, make sure to be someone's hero this week! Need some help? iD Mobile Community can help with all sorts of questions. Ask about: - Apps or mobile recommendations - Latest mobile trends - Help and support with any phone issues You can ask your question here. Or help answer some of these burning questions: - Any good battery saving tips? - Is using apple pay/wallet safe? - What’s the best phone for photography? Good luck! T&C's Apply

A new phone can be quite an investment, so it makes sense to protect the display with a good screen protector. It’ll help you avoid unsightly scrapes or scratches, and keep your phone looking its best. Which screen protector should I buy? There are few different types available, so here’s what to look out for when choosing one: PET type – made from semi-hard, clear plastic. They’re extremely durable and are one of the most common types available. Glass type – made from clear tempered glass. Very hard and smooth to use. They’ll have a plastic layer that holds everything together in case of any damage. Soft vinyl plastic type – these can be cheaper and more tempting, but they’re usually not very pleasant to use and can peel easily. Applying a screen protector without an applicator Some screen protectors come with applicators. If yours doesn’t, these steps will help you get it spot on. Before you start, you need to: Set things up in a clean, dust-free environment Wash your hands, then mak

If you’re looking for a phone with plenty of power and an amazing display, what about the Motorola G6 Plus? We got our hands on it recently and we’ve got to say, Motorola has pulled out all the stops to produce a stunning smartphone. Here’s what we made of it… A superior design and display The G6 Plus is a big phone, with a 5.9-inch edge-to-edge HD+ display that lets you see and do more. It feels comfortable to hold despite the large size, and that’s all down to the curved edges and 3D glass design. The G6 Plus is completely wrapped in super-tough Corning Gorilla Glass, giving you outstanding protection from scrapes and scratches. A camera with brains The dual-lens rear camera (12MP + 5MP) on the G6 Plus features Dual Autofocus Pixel technology, which lets you focus in an instant. Meanwhile, its large aperture means you’ll be able to take great shots in low light. It’s also a camera with some serious brains. For example, if you’re on holiday and want to know what landmark you’re lookin

Foldable phones seem to be popping up all over the place, and now Huawei has got in on the act. The Chinese tech giant has unveiled the foldable Huawei Mate X, and it looks incredible. Here’s all we know so far… At a special event held on Sunday 24 February, Huawei CEO Richard Yu, wowed the crowd with the company’s first ever foldable phone, the Huawei Mate X. We’ve seen a few prototype foldable phones recently, but this one of the first that's actually ready for market and due for release soon. Huawei Mate X - check out the view The Huawei Mate X features what Huawei calls a FullView display, inside and out. When it’s folded, the front of the phone measures a generous 6.6-inches, while the back measures an equally impressive 6.38-inches. Unfold the phone and you’ve got an 8-inch tablet. The Mate X is going to give us the best of all worlds. It’s a regular smartphone when you want it to be, but when you want to catch up on your favourite Netflix show, just fold it out and you’ve got th

The Galaxy Fold was finally revealed at Samsung’s recent Unpacked event, so here’s all the exciting news about this much awaited smartphone/tablet combo. How does the Galaxy Fold look? You may be surprised to hear that it’s actually pretty sleek – not bad for a device that has a hinge system down the middle. From what we saw at the launch event, the Galaxy Fold spears to fit in the hand pretty well, and it’s not as bulky as you might expect. When folded out from the standard 4.6-inch front screen, it transforms into a tablet-style 7.6-inch infinity-flex display. Videos are going to look simply stunning, take it from us. There are four awesome ‘galactic’ colours to choose from as well, for added personalisation. There’s Space Silver, Martian Green, Cosmos Black and Astro Blue. How will it perform? Until we get our hands on one, it’s hard to know for sure, but if the specs are anything to go by, then we’re in for a right treat. The switch between screens is completely seamless thanks to

We hit the world’s biggest mobile tech show to give you a glimpse of the future. Foldable phones were the star turns, but they weren’t the only amazing things on display. Let’s take a closer look… For phone fans, there’s no better place to be than Barcelona in late February. That’s when MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2019 hits town. It’s the world’s biggest tech show, and it’s a chance for all the major phone manufacturers to wow us with their wares. We’ve rounded up the show’s highlights below. Think of them as sneak peek into the future of mobile tech. None of these products are available to buy just yet, but hopefully it won’t be too long until they hit these shores… Foldable phones We saw some incredible folding phones at MWC, thanks to a huge leap in screen technology that enables screens to be completely flexible. Let’s meet two of the best… Samsung Galaxy Fold Samsung announced the release of the Galaxy Fold at its own event prior to MWC. It’s a powerful smartphone/tablet combo, it