Getting Started.

We all love our smartphones. We rely on them for so much. But there may be some things your phone can do that you didn’t know about. Here are five of our favourites. 1. Snap while you shoot If you can’t decide whether to film some footage or take a photo, why not do both? On iPhone, head to the Camera app and switch to video mode - then start recording as usual. You can then take a photo as you go by tapping the white button to the left of the start/stop button. When looking through your camera roll, you’ll see both your videos and photos. On Android, tap the video icon to record as normal, then press the “camera” or “shutter” icon while you’re filming. Then find your photo in your gallery. 2. Get tethering Need the internet to use your laptop or tablet, but there’s no hotspot around, or no Wi-Fi in the bar or pub you’re in? No worries. You could use your phone’s 3G or 4G to power up instead. On iPhone, head to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggle the dial across, then find your phone in your list of Wi-Fi options on your tablet or laptop. For Android, go to Settings > Tethering & portable hotspot, and then switch ‘Portable Wi-Fi hotspot’ on. Beware though, it’ll use up your data faster than you’re used to. 3. Good vibrations If you can’t be checking your phone (if you’re in a meeting, etc), you can customise your vibrations, so you’ll know if the call coming in is an important one. For iPhone, head to Settings > Sounds. Click on Ringtone or Text Tone, then select Vibration. Then scroll down to Custom, and select ‘Create New Vibration’. Then assign individual vibrations to specific contacts. For Android phones, you’ll need the ‘Contact Vibrate’ app – it’s free to download. In the app, select ‘Set vibration to contact’, and look for the contact you want to apply the custom vibration to. 4. Brush up on brushing Did you know you can download an app that gives you info on how you’re brushing your teeth, and dissects your technique. We know, what will they think of next?! There’s the Oral-B app, which uses Bluetooth technology to track your position and gives you advice on how you could be brushing all parts of your mouth evenly. 5. Let’s get one thing straight Here’s a way to turn your phone into a spirit level. Download the Bubble Level app from the App Store or Google Play and you’ll never again need to suffer wonky pictures on the wall. Good tips eh? Well, we thought so. If you’ve got any of your own, do let us know below the line.

This is the Nokia flagship smartphone we’ve all been waiting for. The legendary Finnish phone-maker returned in style last year, with an impressive range of mid-tier smartphones. There was just one thing that Nokia fans were crying out for though – a truly premium, high-end device. And now, Nokia has answered their call… The Nokia 8 Sirocco is a luxury flagship handset that the chief product officer at HMD Global (Nokia’s parent company) has described as “the ultimate fan phone.” That’s great news, and not just for Nokia fans - because the Nokia 8 Sirocco is a real stunner. Here’s why we think it’s so special. Slim and elegant design The Nokia 8 Sirocco has a tough stainless steel core wrapped in Gorilla Glass 5. The edges curve into the metal frame, giving the phone a compact look and feel. It’s comfortable to hold, and feels like something that’s built to last. Despite it being so slim (just 7.5mm at its thickest part), HMD Global says it’s the most robust Nokia phone made so far. A display that curves The Nokia 8 Sirocco’s 5.5-inch display curves at the edges, giving you a lot of screen to immerse yourself in. The quality is amazing. It’s a Quad HD OLED display, so everything you look at is incredibly sharp, bright and colourful. And the blacks are deeper than deep – that’s something that OLED is renowned for. Dual lens camera, courtesy of Zeiss The Nokia 8 Sirocco sports a dual lens 12MP and 13MP main camera, tuned by the German optics brand Zeiss. The setup consists of a normal and zoom lens that work together to give you as much of the bokeh effect (that professional looking background blur) that you want in your photographs. The camera has a large aperture of f/1.7 capable of taking clear shots in low light conditions, and there’s also a lossless optical 2x zoom feature. This lets you get in twice as close to the action, without losing any quality at all. If you can’t resist a selfie, don’t panic – there’s a 5MP wide-angle camera at the front of the Nokia 8 Sirocco. It also supports Nokia’s ‘bothie’ mode, so you’ll be able to take those trendy split-screen photos and videos that show the front and back simultaneously, if that’s your thing. Pure Android power The Nokia 8 Sirocco is powered by one of Qualcomm’s latest processors, the Snapdragon 835. It’s backed up by 6GB RAM, so this is a phone capable of handling anything you can throw at it with ease. Oh, and there's also a huge amount of internal storage space for your favourite apps, games and videos - how does 128GB sound? And then there’s Android One. All of Nokia’s new smartphones have it on board, and it really improves the user experience. Android One gives you ‘pure Android’, so there are no added apps or services to wade through - bye bye bloatware. You’re also guaranteed a full two years of system updates, along with monthly security updates. So if you’re thinking of investing in a Nokia 8 Sirocco, it really is a phone for the long term. Interested? If you want the very best of Nokia, you can order the Nokia 8 Sirocco from iD Mobile right now. Or if you’ve got a question, post it below.

If you’re a regular mobile gamer, we’ve got some top tips to help you play like a pro and take things to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Ready up, and read on… Get some extra life Advanced graphics and stunning special effects can really enhance your gaming experience. But they can also drain your battery pretty quickly too. So what’s the solution? For starters, try turning down the brightness on your display. Dimming down the on-screen action to a less eye-melting level is a great way of saving power. You should also think about disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi if you’re playing an offline game, and even turning down the volume. These days, most good games come with their own power saving options. Typically, these will reduce the quality of the graphics to extend your battery life. So if your favourite game is hitting your battery hard, dive into its settings and look out for a battery or power saving mode. Last but not least, why not treat yourself to some back-up power? Hardly any smartphones have replaceable batteries any more (boo), so a power bank is the thing you need. As a rough size guide – a 2,000mAh power bank should be enough to fully charge your phone. A 4,000mAh power bank will charge it twice over, and so on. Keep an eye on your data If you’re playing an online game on the go, it’ll be using up some of your monthly data allowance. But actually, your mobile data might get you further than you think. One hour’s play uses as little as 60MB (it could be more though). We don’t know about you, but we thought that was surprisingly low. So, if you’ve got a decent amount of data in your monthly allowance, that’s a lot of playing time. Or why not go offline? From the insanely addictive Plants vs Zombies to the action-filled racer Asphalt 8: Airborne, there are some amazing games that you can play offline, without using an ounce of data. Get the right phone A good phone can really add to your mobile gaming experience, especially if it has features designed with gamers in mind. For example, there’s the stunning Sony Xperia XZ2. Its 5.7-inch HDR display gives you amazing visuals, and dual front-facing speakers blast out all those in-game sounds in stereo. Best of all, the unique ‘Dynamic Vibration System’ lets you experience all the action in your fingertips - it’s a little like the feeling you get with the DualShock PlayStation 4 controller, and really does add an extra dimension. Check out our Sony Xperia XZ2 deals here. Stay safe Finally, a few words on safety. We strongly recommend that you sit or stand somewhere safely when you’re playing a game on your phone. Yes, it’s called mobile gaming, but try not to do it when you’re actually walking about. Having said that, we realise that there are certain mobile games that use augmented reality to interact with your real-life surroundings. Pokémon GO is the obvious example here, but newer games like The Walking Dead: Our World also use the same technology. So if you really can’t stand still when you’re playing a game, always be aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted. A recent study estimated that Pokémon GO caused more than 100,000 traffic accidents in the US. So if you’ve really gotta catch ‘em all or fight off hordes of marauding zombies, be safe. That’s all.

Summer is here, and when the sun’s shining, there’s no better time to share your smartphone photos on Instagram. With that in mind, here are our top five summer photography tips for your smartphone. Your camera knows best Lots of smartphones on the market now come with AI technology, which assists you in taking professional-quality photos. It cleverly understands what you’re looking at and figures out the best way to shoot it. Whether you’re taking photos of mates at the park, a plate of BBQ food or a landmark in the sunshine, artificial intelligence automatically adjusts the camera settings to get the best possible shot. That means you don’t need to fiddle around with your settings – just aim and capture. Nice and easy. A prime example of AI camera technology at its best is the incredible Huawei P20. Order yours from iD Mobile today. A doubly good photo As you probably know, most phones these days come with a dual-lens camera under the hood. And two lenses really are better than one. Why? Because in some dual lens cameras, you can snap between both lenses easily on the fly, to get different kinds of results depending on what you’re trying to shoot. Depending on the type of secondary camera, it can help you get a sharper image with more detail, give you an ultra-wide angle frame or help you take photos with a shallow depth of field – making your subject really pop. The Nokia 8 Sirocco boasts an amazing dual lens camera. Order yours from iD Mobile today. The power of portrait mode When it comes to putting your friends and family in the frame, nothing looks quite as professional as portrait mode. It uses your dual-lens cameras to keep your subject sharp while creating a beautifully blurred background – perfect if you want to keep the focus on someone special in a nice summery setting. Fancy putting yourself in the picture? You can even take selfies in portrait mode on certain phones. The iPhone 7 Plus camera features a stunning portrait mode. Order yours from iD Mobile today. Become a selfie master If your selfie game is strong but you’re keen to up the ante this summer, a dual-lens camera with a wide-angle lens on the front is the only answer. A selfie may just be a selfie but without the extra field of view, you won’t be able to get more of your friends or the background into the frame. No more having to ask bystanders to take pictures of you and your mates at the seaside or a rooftop bar. The LG V30 has an incredible 13MP wide-angle front shooter for unrivalled selfies. Order yours from iD Mobile today. Boost your range We’re talking HDR – which stands for High Dynamic Range. In short, it takes three shots in a single click, each with a different exposure level: an overexposed, underexposed and balanced shot. Then it combines all three to create a bold image, rich with shadowing and highlighting. So, popping your camera on HDR mode eliminates any overexposed or underexposed anxieties you may have – giving you nothing but the best photos. The Sony XZ Premium has a fantastic 19MP HDR camera. Order yours from iD Mobile today. Got any photography questions? Do you own a phone that takes perfect summer snaps which isn’t mentioned in our list? Let us know in the comments below.

Google launched Android Oreo (Go Edition) a while ago, and you can find it on the new Nokia 1, a great little super-budget smartphone that we reviewed here. But what exactly is Android Oreo (Go Edition), we hear you ask? Okay, let us explain. What is Android Oreo (Go Edition)? Android Oreo (Go Edition) is a new version of Android designed for budget smartphones. It’s been built using the same foundation as the standard version of Android Oreo, but with modifications, such as stripped down versions of Google apps. For example, there’s Google Go, which promises to be an easy way of finding what you’re looking for on the internet. It’s only 5MB, so it’s speedy to download and won’t take up much space. Then there’s Google Assistant Go, a stripped down virtual assistant that lets you do most of the stuff that Google Assistant is capable of. Although you can’t use it to control your smart home devices or set yourself reminders, you’ll still be able to ask questions, send texts, set alarms and loads of other useful things. Gboard Go is another app that gives you most of the standard edition’s best features, including auto-correct, voice typing, GIFs, emojis and multilingual typing. You can get more info on Google’s full range of Android Oreo (Go Edition) apps here. Other Android Oreo (Go Edition) features Android Oreo (Go Edition) will include a handy data management feature, letting you closely monitor and control your data usage. For added security, Google Play Protect is also available – it uses machine learning to search for malicious apps on your phone and keep it safe. What phones will Android Oreo (Go Edition) be on? The first UK smartphone with Android Oreo (Go Edition) is the new super-budget Nokia 1. It’s currently available from iD Mobile at the UK’s lowest price, so check it out here if you’re after a bargain. What do you think of Android Oreo (Go Edition)? Let us know in the comments below. Or post a question and we’ll do our best to answer it.

What exactly is Google Assistant? Think of it as your very own personal helper. It’s always ready to help you out at a moment’s notice – all you have to do is ask. Google Assistant has been designed to have actual conversations with you, and to help you complete tasks. To do this, it uses Google’s vast amount of internet search expertise, along with the company’s latest innovations in voice recognition and artificial intelligence. Is Google Assistant available on my phone? Google Assistant launched in May 2016, as an exclusive feature on Google’s Pixel phones. Since then it’s spread far and wide, and now works on over 5,000 devices. If you’ve got an Android phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later, it’ll have Google Assistant on it. You can also get it on iPhones. How do I set up Google Assistant on my phone? It’s easy to use Google Assistant. Firstly, check that it’s set up on your device as follows: If you’ve got an Android device, open the Google app. Go to the menu, then ‘Settings’. Under ‘Google Assistant’, tap ‘Settings’ and then ‘Turn on’. If you’ve got an iPhone, you just need to download the free Google Assistant app from the App Store and follow the set-up prompts. All set up? Good. To activate Google Assistant, simply say "Ok Google", or touch and hold the home button on your phone. You can then ask a question or issue a command. It really is as simple as that. What can I ask Google Assistant to do? Because Google Assistant is powered by the vast knowledge of Google, there’s not much it doesn’t know. Here are just a few examples of what you can ask it to do: Translate something into over 100 languages. Reserve a table at your favourite restaurant. Check movie times at your local cinema. Get a reminder to do something on a certain date. Open any app. Take a selfie. You can basically ask Google Assistant any question you can think of, and it's great at understanding follow-up questions. For example, if you were to ask: “Which currency would I use in Peru?” you could then say “…and what’s the population of the capital city?” without mentioning Peru again. Google Assistant will know which country you’re referring to, and give you the answer. Can Google Assistant make my home smart? Google Assistant isn’t just available on mobile devices. It can also be used to control a wide range of other products. There are currently more than 1500 smart home products that Google Assistant is compatible with. You just need to set them up on the Google Home app (free on iOS and Android), and you’ll then be able to control them with your voice. Google has its own range of smart speakers with Google Assistant built-in. If you’ve got a Google Home or Home Mini, you’ll be able to ask them absolutely anything. You’ll also find Google Assistant on Android TVs, Chromebooks, wireless headphones and lots of Android Wear devices. The list grows daily. What will Google Assistant be able to do in the future? At Google’s recent annual developer’s conference (8-10 May 2018) some exciting new Google Assistant features were revealed. In the near future, you won’t even have to say ‘Ok Google’ every time you want to speak to Google Assistant. It’ll also be able to do multiple things from a single voice command. So for example, you could say “Okay Google, I’m home”, and Google Assistant will open your smart lock, turn the lights on and start playing your favourite music. Google Assistant will also be able to make actual phone calls for you, thanks to an incredible piece of new technology known as Duplex. During a live demo, Duplex was able to phone a hair salon, speak to a real person, and book and appointment. Google Assistant looks set to become one of the most popular pieces of technology around. It couldn’t be easier to use - with a simple “OK, Google”, help is at hand. If you’ve ever wanted a personal assistant to make your life easier, Google has you covered.

It’s holiday time! And if you’re preparing to fly out somewhere hot and sunny (just like here in the UK!), you’ll want to make sure your phone can stand up to inadvertent beachside or poolside splashes. First thing’s first. Don’t go in the water with your phone. Even if it says it’s water-resistant, is it really worth it? I mean, there’s a lot of salt in seawater, and your phone won’t like that – just like it wouldn’t like any corrosive substance. Ditto the pool - lots of chemicals in there, which will help keep your pool clean, but not so good for phones. But if you can’t go in the pool with a water-resistant phone, what’s the point – and what does water-resistant mean? Is your phone even water-resistant at all? Read on for the answers. Is my phone water-resistant? To find out how water-resistant your phone is, you’ll need to know its IP rating – a two-digit number, the first referring to its ability to withstand solid particles (dust etc), the second referring to moisture and water. If yours is rated IP67 or IP68, that means it’s water and dust-resistant. IP68 is the best, having been tested in lab conditions and able to be submerged in up to 1.5m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Note ‘fresh water’. So rain, yes. A splash from your drink of water, yes. Even a quick drop in the bath (be sure to wipe it clean asap though). But things like beer, wine coffee, and fizzy drinks – as well as the previously mentioned pool water and seawater… that’s a no-no. A quick spill on your IP68 device should be ok with a quick clean, but a lengthy soak could be a problem. What are the best water-resistant smartphones? These all have an IP68 rating, so should be able to withstand most minor holiday mishaps. Samsung Galaxy S9 An iconic edge to edge 5.8-inch Infinity Display is a knockout, and your pics will look awesome in any light thanks to the main camera’s dual aperture. You can shoot stunning super slow-mo vids too. LG V30 The full package. A sleek, slim body, 6-inch Quad HD+ OLED display, a dual lens camera and a clever video camera, which features Point Zoom. Pan into any point on the screen just by tapping it gently, and help your videos look super professional. Samsung Galaxy A8 Not quite a flagship, but a winner with us. There are premium features galore, from a bezel-less 5.6-inch Infinity Display to a dual lens selfie camera. Release your creative side with selfies complete with blurred backgrounds. Here’s a thing: you can adjust the effect even after the shot’s been taken. Clever, eh? Sony Xperia XZ2 What a great looking phone this is, and tough with it. You’ll love the seamless aluminium frame, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is super strong. Enjoy the world’s first 4K HDR movie recording in a smartphone, with super slo-mo in Full HD. And for gamers, there’s an interesting Dynamic Vibration System which makes the phone vibrate in time with the action in the game. You’ll feel really part of it. The vibrations also come through – if you want them to – on music, movies and even videos you record yourself. Those are our suggestions. Got any of your own, or any thoughts on water resistance in phones? Talk to us below!

Love them or hate them, emojis are as much a part of lives as actual smiling, pizza or cats crying with laughter. But if you thought emojis were all pretty self-explanatory, think again (shocked face). Word on the street is that people are giving new meaning to their most loved icons - creating a secret emoji language that lets you take chat between you and your contacts to a whole new personalised level. It’s time to lift the lid on this secret emoji language. Pure cheese If someone sent you an emoji of a pizza or a wedge of cheese, your initial thoughts might be that they’re treating themselves to a Dominos – wrong! In fact, these emojis mean ‘I love you’. Bit cheesy, right? While we’re on matters of heart, the cute octopus emoji means ‘cuddles’, with the more cryptic balloon followed by a teddy bear meaning ‘I’m thinking of you but don’t have the words to say it’. But the ultimate display of affection seems to be the penguin emoji – they mate for life you know. The science behind it In a recent study, researchers asked 134 participants about how they use emojis while messaging. 72 of them revealed that they repurpose emojis, with 21% using them to express affection, 19% using them to symbolise a particular person or pet, and 7% using them to refer to, ahem, romance. Dr. Sarah Wiseman, co-author of the study and lecturer in computer science said “Often this was about more than just typing something more quickly: people found that by using emoji they could convey very complex meanings and thoughts with them that could not be described in words.” A developing language And this secret language keeps growing day by day – with the latest editions proving even more obscure. For example, the arms-above-head emoji could now mean ‘OK’ (the arms above the head symbolising the letter ‘O’ and the legs that don’t even appear in the icon indicating ‘K’). And, the cat version of Munich’s ‘The Scream’ is now being used by some people as a way of saying ‘I’m so tired’. According to one example cited by a sociologist, bathtub actually translates to ‘coffin’. Which, in our opinion, is absolutely mortal. So, what do you make of the secret emoji language? What hidden meanings can you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below (in emoji form preferably).

If your phone has a problem, it’s tempting to ignore it. But that’s not always wise, because relatively minor issues can be caused by something much more serious lurking behind the scenes. Here are some of the most common phone problems you definitely shouldn’t be ignoring. If you can’t fix them yourself, you can pop into Carphone Warehouse and take advantage of their Free Health Check – even if you didn’t buy your phone from them. More details at the bottom of this article. Your battery life is getting worse Smartphone batteries get worse as they get older. If your phone’s a few years old, it’s just not going to last as long as the day it came fresh out of the box. That’s life, we’re afraid. But if your phone’s really bad at holding its charge, or if it seems to have gotten worse all of a sudden, you should get it seen to. Your battery could be about to fail, you could have a rogue app sucking up all your precious power, or something could be wrong with your charging port or cable. Your phone’s slowing down If your phone’s recently slowed down to a crawl, that’s not good. You could have something running in the background that shouldn’t be there, so try removing apps or programs you don’t recognise. You should also look at freeing up some storage space and clearing your cached data. If this doesn’t solve the issue, try a reputable diagnostic app like Phone Doctor Plus. Your phone keeps crashing Slow phones are annoying. Phones that crash are a nightmare. If this is happening to you regularly, don’t ignore it. Identifying the cause of a major problem like this isn’t always easy. If a piece of malware is causing your phone to crash, then it might be deliberately well hidden. Try working out exactly when your phone started behaving like this, and see if you can remember doing anything that might have caused it. If you downloaded any suspect apps, get rid of them. If the problem persists, you might even have to do a full factory reset. You keep getting random pop-up messages If you’ve downloaded lots of free games and apps, then you should expect your fair share of pop-ups and advertisements from them. It’s how they make their money. But if you feel like your phone’s getting overrun with the pesky things, you need to take a closer look at what might be going on. Try removing rogue apps, and clear your cached data. A diagnostic check for malware wouldn’t go amiss either. You’re using lots more data all of a sudden If you see a sudden spike in your data usage, it could be caused by an app. If so, you should be able to go into your settings and identify it. The exact method for doing this varies by phone, but on Android, it could be something like: Settings>Network & internet>Data usage>App data usage. Then it’s just a matter of changing the app’s settings to reduce data usage, or if that’s not possible, binning it. If you can’t identify the cause of the problem, then something dodgy could be hidden on your phone. Carphone Warehouse’s Free Mobile Health Check. Carphone Warehouse can help with the phone problems above, and lots more besides. So if your smartphone’s not behaving as it should, take it to any Carphone Warehouse store and ask for a Free Mobile Health Check. Within a few minutes, they’ll diagnose any problems –even if you didn’t buy the phone from them. You can read more about the Free Mobile Health Check here.

You’ll have heard of YouTube. But you may not be aware of YouTube Music. Well, it’s the new music streaming service to rival Spotify – with the added benefit of being able to show videos. But is it really a threat to Spotify? Let’s explore further what YouTube Music has to offer. What is YouTube Music? It’s an app that makes it easy to access YouTube’s large selection of music videos – including live performances, covers and remixes – and it features music videos that aren’t available to watch anywhere else. With a subscription, you can enjoy your music offline, too. As well as released material from established bands, YouTube Music will also feature amateur recordings and fan covers, together with exclusive YouTube sessions and documentaries. Basically, plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Find songs you don’t know the name of We’ve all been there. There’s a song doing the rounds, but we can’t for the life of us remember what it’s called. All we know is it’s the latest one from Drake, for example. Well, YouTube Music can help you there. Just type in ‘new Drake song 2018’ and it’ll bring up all the songs released in 2018, with the latest song at the top. Handy, eh? Personalise your music experience Based on the time of day, where you are, and your listening habits, YouTube Music will give you a personalised suggestion intended to really hit the spot. For example, if you’re at work and need a pep up to power you through the rest of the day, a motivational feelgood song might be just what you need. Or if you’re gym-bound, a bassy beat-filled banger might do the trick. Is it only videos? No, you’ll have access to 50 million songs including audio-only clips. How much will it cost? £9.99, the same as Spotify and Apple Music. When is it coming to the UK? It’s available now. Here’s the link: www.youtube.com/musicpremium We’re not sure if it’ll catch on. Spotify and Apple Music are dominating the market right now. But the inclusion of videos certainly is interesting. Are you planning to try YouTube Music? Let us know in the comments section, and keep us posted with how you find it.

It’s been a busy year for Samsung, and here’s the Korean mobile giant’s latest smartphone offering - the stunning Galaxy J6. Like the recent Galaxy A6, the Galaxy J6 falls into the mid-range category - even though some of its standout features can be found on premium handsets. Let’s take a closer look. Slimline design With its sleek body and smooth curves, the Galaxy J6 looks and feels fantastic. If you’re not a fan of bigger phones, this’ll be right up your street. It sits nicely in your palm, and it’s so compact that you can use it with one hand. A jaw-dropping display One of the first things you’ll notice is how the 5.6-inch Infinity Display goes right to the edges of the phone. The 18.5:9 screen ratio gives you a wider screen for a full-on cinematic experience, and the AMOLED display really packs a punch, with rich colours and deep blacks. Cameras that catch it all For a mid-range phone the 13MP rear camera is right on the money, giving you great-looking photos night or day. The front-facing camera is pretty special too, with three flash settings to help you get rid of glare and take the perfect selfie. And with a wide range of modes, stickers and filters, you can add some real personality to all your photos. Under the hood With 32GB of storage space onboard, the Galaxy J6 has lots of room for your apps, videos and music. Not enough? Whack in a microSD card and add up to 256GB. The Galaxy J6 runs Google’s ‘Android Oreo’ operating system out of the box, with plenty of features that will help improve your battery life and generally make your phone perform better. When it comes to security, the Galaxy J6 is on-point. There’s face recognition and a fingerprint scanner built-in, both of which will help you – and only you – instantly access your phone. Our verdict We only have positive things to say about the Samsung Galaxy J6. It’s a phone with a premium look and feel, an amazing Infinity Display, and a top quality camera – all for a great low price. Want one? You can order the Samsung Galaxy J6 from iD Mobile.

Android P is the most interesting Android update in years, and it’s set to change the way we all use our Android smartphones. From new features to design tweaks, here’s what you need to know… Scroll on The biggest change Android P will bring is new gesture controls – basically the way you move around your phone. The new controls are similar to iPhone X, but with an Android-flavoured twist. Up to now, Android has been all about those three buttons: back, home, and multitask. Now you’ll be able to swipe up on the screen to juggle between apps easily. Swiping up will show you every app you have open. From here, you can swipe right to scroll through these apps. Currently, you scroll up and down to look through your apps. With Android P you’ll be scrolling right to left. While it may complicate things at first, the idea is that you won’t need to use on-screen buttons to navigate, and using your phone will feel more natural. Ration your app use The most curious feature of Android P is one that encourages you to use your phone less. Yep, you heard right. Android P will tell you how much time you spend on certain apps, and let you set time limits on how long you use them for. Think of it as self-imposed parental controls for adults. For example, you could set yourself a maximum time limit of 30 minutes per day for your Facebook browsing. Once you’ve hit that limit, the app icon will go grey, and you won’t be able to open the app. Of course, you could still use the app if you really want to, by diving into the settings and modifying your limit. Less of those annoying notifications Pop-up notifications are great. They alert you on stuff you want to know about, like news alerts, or when someone likes your latest Instagram post. But they can be annoying when you receive too many of them. Android P will make notifications more tolerable. For example, it’ll suggest you mute an app’s notifications if you regularly swipe them away. Now you’ll only see what you want to see. You can also set the Do Not Disturb feature to completely block all notifications, and switch this feature on by putting your phone face down on a table. Peace at last. All-round better Android P has got the nail file out, ready to sand down those rough edges – Android’s icons are getting a more rounded look. The settings menu will also get an injection of colour to make your menus look more pleasant, so your Android experience will now look beautiful on the inside and the outside. The search function has also been improved. Search results won’t just show you your apps, but will also suggest things you can do with them. So, searching for Twitter could provide a shortcut to the ‘Compose Tweet’ function, and so on. Screenshot sureshot Taking screenshots on Android is simple, yet fiddly. Well, the good news is, it’s getting better. With Android P you can now hold down the power button and then tap ‘Screenshot’. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to take screenshots the old way. Editing screenshots will also be made easier. As soon as your screenshot is saved, you can draw, crop, and highlight screenshots before sharing them more easily than before. I like the sound of this Android P. When can I try it? The final version of Android P won’t be available until this autumn. A beta version is currently available from the Android beta website, however, this is a test version of the update, and may contain bugs and stability issues. You have been warned. Have you dipped your toes into Android P waters? Then let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

If you’re an Instagram fan you’ll love the latest raft of updates. They make Instagram much more personal, more useful, and simply… more fun. Here are a few of our favourites. Explore by topic or channel Instagram’s ‘Explore’ tab has always been pretty good at showing you new content based on the photos and videos you like, but the randomised collage layout can seem disorganised and tricky to follow. The good news is, you can now explore by topic. Instagram’s clever AI picks up on the photos and footage you engage with, and groups these into relevant topics that you can search through. You’ll see these displayed along the top of your screen, next to the ‘For You’ box. What you see is personalised to your interests. It’s a much more effective way to find the things that interest you than following hashtags. Go ahead and give it a go! Video chat with friends Yes, you read right, video chat is on Instagram. Until now, many users have been using live video to talk with friends, but that’s set to change. With the new update, you’ll see a brand new camera icon appear in your direct messages. Tap it, and get chatting to your mates. It won’t stop you from finding new posts, either. Minimise the video chat so that it appears as a small window on your screen, letting you see and talk to your mates while you scroll, follow and like away. Enjoy some amazing AR camera effects For the past year, Facebook (Instagram’s owners) has encouraged developers to create their own augmented reality filters for the app. And now, Instagram users themselves are being encouraged to get creative. Not only that, but Instagram is developing AR as a way for users and influencers to engage with their followers. Let’s say you’re an animal lover and your favourite dog’s Instagram account (yep, it’s a thing) has just released a funny AR filter – then only you and other followers will be able to use it when you want to share a photo. And if you’re looking to grow your own follower base, your followers’ friends will be able to find you when they see your filter being shared. Keep your eyes peeled for this AR feature, coming soon! Share your Spotify and GoPro activity It’s always good to find a new song or album recommendation on Instagram, but sharing the track you’re listening to on Spotify has always involved screenshots and cropping. By which point, the song is over. Well thanks to improved cross-app integration, you’ll have the option to share what you’re listening to direct from Spotify, So you can be more spontaneous and get your followers into that soundtrack you have on loop. Adventurers and adrenaline junkies will be also able to share their GoPro footage directly onto Instagram, so expect to see more action-filled footage in the near future. What do you think of the new features? Are you excited to video chat to your mates, or were you already settled in story mode? Post a comment below and let us know.

What a year it’s been for Samsung. And it’s only July! So far at iD Mobile, we’ve had the Galaxy S9, Galaxy A8, and the Galaxy J6. Next up, it’s the Galaxy A6. And it’s pretty special, as you’ll see from our hands-on guide. Budget or premium? The answer is somewhere in the middle. If you think of the A8 as a mid-range to premium handset, then the Galaxy A6 (along with the J6) is a solid mid-ranger, with great specs, but maybe not quite as great as the A8. But for the money, this one’s a winner. How does it look? In a word, it looks… good. Actually, let’s make that two words… very good. With a super-slim aluminium body and smooth curves, it truly looks the part. It’s durable too, thanks to its sturdy metal design and Corning Gorilla Glass to give added protection. What about the display? Considering the fact that this is a mid-range phone, you have to say that the 5.6-inch Infinity Display is very impressive. The screen goes right to the edge of the phone, and because it’s Super AMOLED, you’ll be blown away by the vivid colours and dramatic, deep blacks. Oh, and the extra-wide 18.5:9 ratio makes for a cinematic viewing experience on your phone. Cameras any good? Oh yes. The detail and sharpness you get from the Galaxy A6’s 16MP main camera is quite something. Daytime photos will look simply awesome, but even those taken at night will look the business. The f/1.9 aperture will let in enough light to brighten up your shots, even when it’s dark. Your selfies will be right on point too, with a 16MP camera which instantly brings faces into focus – and with three flash settings, you’ll get plenty of clarity. And don’t forget those fun stickers and filters that’ll give your photos a personal touch. Under the hood If the Galaxy A6’s inbuilt 32GB of storage space isn’t enough, slot in a microSD card and crank it up to 256GB. Battery-wise, the 3,000mAh battery will last you over a day, and with face recognition and fingerprint scanner, you can get into your phone fast. Our verdict We’re giving it the thumbs up. It’s a mid-range phone that packs a punch, with a terrific display and top-quality cameras. Buy it here.

Having the Google Translate app on your phone makes chatting with non-English speakers a whole lot easier. And with the World Cup in full force, it now gives you a great chance of talking football with fans of other countries. Using the Google Translate app When you use the Google Translate app, everything is automatically translated online. This uses up your data, but the good news is that EU roaming charges are now a thing of the past. So if you’re in an EU country, your standard monthly data allowance will get used and you won’t be charged (unless you run out of data, of course). However, if you’re watching the World Cup in Russia, the rules work a little differently. Russia obviously isn’t in the EU, so you’ll be charged your network’s international roaming rates for using mobile data. Unless you do one of two things… Sign in to Wi-Fi somewhere. If Starbucks (or any other coffee chain) is your usual free Wi-Fi destination of choice, Moscow has around 40 of these quaint little coffee houses. Alternatively, here’s a handy map of Russia’s free Wi-Fi hotspots. Save the languages you’ll need onto your smartphone before you leave home. The languages are at the top of the screen and to download them simply tap the down-facing arrows. They all average about 240MB and are totally free. How to talk football with Google Translate If you want to translate an English phrase into another language, go into Google Translate, tap the name of the current language on the top left side of the screen, and select English as the source language. Then tap the name of the language on the top right side of the screen, and select the target language – that’s the language you want your English to be translated into. Next, tap the field that says: “Tap to enter text” and start typing the English word or phrase you’d like to translate. It’ll be translated instantly onscreen, and you can then tap the speaker icon next to the phrase to hear it spoken aloud. So for example, if you find yourself sat next to a friendly Croatian fan while you’re watching England v Croatia in the semi-final, here are a few phrases that may come up: Is that four or five goals for Harry Kane now? Sada je četiri ili pet golova za Harry Kane? We beat Croatia. Tukujemo Hrvatsku. Football's coming home! Nogomet dolazi kući! What else can Google Translate do? As with everything Google produces, Google Translate is packed with loads of extra features. If you want to write something down to find out what it means, you can draw the words with your finger onto your smartphone’s display. This can be really helpful if you’re trying to figure out languages that don’t use the English alphabet, like Russian or Japanese. If it’s not a person you need to understand, but rather a menu or a street sign, you can hold up your camera and Google will magically translate the words in front of your eyes. Google Translate also gives you the option of selecting dialects of languages. This will help the app understand what you’re talking about if you speak with an accent. If you want any more information about using Google Translate while you’re abroad, drop us a comment below.

Gone are the days when you had to appear on TV to be on a quiz show. With the free HQ Trivia app, you can win real cash prizes on your phone, without having to step out in front of a TV audience. What is HQ Trivia? HQ Trivia is an interactive game show that tests your pop culture and general knowledge. It goes live at 9PM every day, and 3PM on weekdays too. You can win prizes of up to $2500 (it’s American) by answering every question correctly. Every once in a while, the jackpot will be a lot higher. A special event on 11th April 2018 had a top prize of $300,000. And if that wasn’t enough, it was co-hosted by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. How does HQ Trivia work? The game consists of 12 multiple choice trivia questions, and you’ve got just ten seconds to answer each question from choices A, B or C. Having just ten seconds to answer delivers an exciting sense of urgency AND stops any surreptitious Googling from taking place. Yes, we’re afraid so – the questions have been designed to be non-Googlable within the 10-second timeframe. Get an answer wrong and you’re out the game. Answer correctly, and you get to move on to the next question. There’s no better feeling than getting a savage question correct (these are the notoriously tough questions that loads of players get wrong) and seeing the number of fellow contestants drop right down. If you’re smart enough, and if more than one person makes it to the end, the prize is split. If everyone gets eliminated, the cash prize rolls over to the next day. Win over $20, and you’ll be able to cash out directly to your PayPal account. If you do get eliminated, you can still watch the game. You never know if any of the same questions will come up again, and it’s a fun way to pass a few minutes, and to brush up on your general knowledge. What did we like about HQ Trivia? We all love winning things, especially when there’s real money involved. There’s no entry fee either. So, where does the money come from? Prizes are sponsored by app founder Intermedia Labs, Inc, so there’s no element of gambling on your part. Phew. We also love the game show style presentation. There’s even a real-life host on hand to narrate events. The question toughness ramps up as you go on, but it’s not difficult enough to make you give up on the app altogether. Think ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ difficulty, rather than ‘University Challenge’. You always feel like next time might be your lucky day. Our verdict on HQ Trivia… HQ Trivia is a brilliant attempt to deliver an exciting quiz show experience on your smartphone. It’s a well-thought-out idea, with real hosts, and a genuine sense of thrill while playing. So, what are you waiting for? It’s free to download from the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) right now. Good luck!

Are you a bit of film buff? Then this is the article for you. If you find yourself in the mood for a bit of movie action when you’re out and about, we’ve put together a list of some of the best apps for watching films on your smartphone. Netflix Let’s start with a familiar name. Netflix has got thousands of films - as well as hundreds of hours of original programming every month - and it’s all available from £5.99 a month, or £7.99 if you want to watch in HD. Or you can sign up free for a month; just don’t forget to remind yourself to cancel (unless of course, you’re enjoying it and want to carry on). Amazon Prime Video Probably Netflix’s biggest challenger, Amazon Prime Video also has an enviable selection of films. If you fork out for Amazon One-Day Delivery at £79 a year, you’ll get Amazon Prime Video included (without one-day delivery, it’s £5.99 a month). So, if you’re a big online shopper, that might be a clincher. Their current movie selection includes Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Logan Lucky and The Death of Stalin. Now TV with Sky Cinema Now TV has a good number of premieres every month (It, Blade Runner 2049 and Dunkirk are a few of the latest), so it’s well worth a look. It’s fairly pricy at £9.99 a month, but one advantage is that you don’t have to take out a contract – you can just come and go as you please. All you need to do is download the app and choose the Sky Cinema pass. BBC iPlayer Surely the BBC iPlayer is just for TV, right? Wrong. It has some cracking films on there too, including – at the moment – Little Voice, Made in Dagenham and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Sure, you’ll have to stream these rather than download to watch later, and there aren’t loads of movies to watch, but there’s enough to fill a wet afternoon. And of course, it’s free if you have a TV license. Mubi Mubi boasts “cult, classic independent and award-winning films from around the world,” and puts up a new one every day (there are always 30 to choose from). It costs £7.99 a month, but you may wish to try it free for a week first. You can download films via their app and watch them offline rather than streaming them, so your monthly data allowance doesn’t have to take a hit. In terms of the content, it’s strictly off the beaten track and all the more interesting for it. One for the serious film fans. YouTube Another surprise, perhaps, but YouTube actually has a huge amount of full-length blockbusters (Black Panther, Justice League, Thor: Ragnarok etc.) available to rent from £3.49. If you’re not so keen on the latest superhero flicks, there’s also an incredible selection of all-time classics. Disney Life The best of Disney for £4.99 a month? Count us in. It’s all here - classic movies that kids and parents can enjoy, plus TV episodes, books and singalong songs. All together now… “I just can’t wait to be kiiiiiiiiing”. Did we miss any? Do you have a favourite movie app that didn’t make it onto this list? If you’d like to suggest one, feel free to post a comment below.

As the World Cup rumbles on, stay in the know – and have a laugh along the way – with our pick of the best football-related Twitter accounts. Football 365 | @F365 F365 is always on the ball with the latest football news, which also comes with some high-quality analysis. Their regular writers – and guest bloggers – provide no-holds-barred opinion pieces, and we particularly enjoy their Mediawatch, where they cast a critical eye over the great British press and the way it covers the beautiful game, but not always beautifully. Footy Humour | @FootyHumour This Twitter account is a great way to pass your time. It’s packed with humorous GIFs and loads of funny clips showing things like horrendous goalkeeping mistakes and outrageous timewasting. Fisted Away | @fistedaway Here’s another funny account, but there’s more of an edge to this one. It has its say on the big football issues (and the serious ones too) and there’s no shortage of personal opinion in there. But there’s also plenty to make you laugh. A good all-rounder. Boring James Milner | @BoringMilner A few years ago, James Milner’s understated playing style and his somewhat dour persona off the field led to genesis of the Boring James Milner Twitter account. James Milner | @JamesMilner What wasn’t in the script was how Milner himself embraced this, and played along with the joke on his own account: Fair play to him, we say. Tifo Football | @TifoFootball_ Your go-to place for stats, fact and content in illustrated form. There are tactical masterclasses, player profiles and football history. It’s informative and fun… and you’ll learn a lot. Any more we should be talking about? Let us know below in the comments below.

World Cup fever is in full force, and we’re loving every minute of it. But even if you have superhuman levels of dedication, it’s highly unlikely that you’re able to watch every game from your sofa, what with annoying things like work getting in the way. Should you find yourself away from home when a crucial match is about to be played, fear not. You can stay on top of things using your phone. Here’s how: Stream it live… Every match is screened live, and completely free to air, on BBC TV or ITV. And that means you can also watch them free on the BBC iPlayer app or the ITV player app, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action, even if you’re on the move. …Or just keep an eye on it If you’re not bothered about seeing every kick, and just keeping in touch is enough for you, a lot of media outlets offer text commentaries and minute-by-minute information. A simple Google search should sort you out. Make sure you’ve got enough data… It generally takes up to 750MB of data to watch a football match in standard definition, but as ever, it all depends on the quality of the stream. If you’re watching in HD, you could double the amount of data you’re using. If the game runs into extra time, it’ll obviously use more still. If you’re streaming a lot of football through your phone, iD has some great data deals, including these on SIM Only – giving you all the data you need to get you through the rest of the tournament. …and if you haven’t? Pay a visit to your local café or bar, hook up to their Wi-Fi and enjoy the game, safe in the knowledge that you data remains intact. But a word from the wise – buy a coffee while you’re there, or you might not be too welcome next time. Projecting success If you believe bigger is better, but you’re nowhere near a TV, it’s not too late to buy a smartphone projector. With some, you can pop your phone inside, and project onto any flat surface. But there are other projectors that you can stream your phone display to, rather than physically putting your phone inside. Quality football. Quality picture. The standard of football this year has been pretty high so far. And games this good need to be enjoyed with a quality picture. So, with that in mind, there’s no better time to upgrade to a new smartphone – and we’ve got a sizeable selection to choose from. If you have any further top tips when it comes to watching football on your phone, let us know about them in the comments below.

Summer’s here, and with it comes a whole load of festivals. Glasto’s having a year off, but from Bestival to V, Reading and Leeds – and that’s just the biggies – musos will be well catered for. However, we know that festivals can get messy, and phones don’t like mess. Which is why you need a smartphone for the job (and a few other bits and pieces besides). Here, we pick some of the best festival phones, and a few other accessories you shouldn’t be without. Top budget phones There are plenty of great budget phones, just perfect for a festival. The two we’ve picked are the Nokia 1 and the Moto C. Simply put, the Nokia 1 is just a good, solid phone. There’s a big-enough 4.5-inch screen, a couple of decent cameras and 8GB of internal storages – though this can be added to. It’s good value without looking cheap, and runs Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition), optimised so you can use apps faster, without annoying lags. We’ve also plumped for a Moto C. It’s affordable, has a nice bright 5-inch screen and with 16GB of storage, that’s enough to get all the pics and vids you need. Wireless Bluetooth Speaker When the music’s done, it’s all back to your tent for the party to continue. This JVC Bluetooth speaker not only sounds good, but it’s water-resistant, too. Powerbank Don’t let your phone run out of juice. This GOJI powerbank is easy to transport, sleek and lightweight and gives you 6,000mAh of charge – that’s about two days’ worth. Selfie Stick For cracking team selfies and for getting a shot of the stage when there’s loads of people around you, a selfie stick is just what you need. Try this one. That’s it – now you have everything you need! Enjoy the music!

These days when you set off on your holidays, your smartphone is just as essential as sun cream. And now that EU roaming charges are a distant memory, you don’t have to worry about using your precious 4G in Europe – but what happens when you venture further afield? Here are a few simple things you can do to prepare your phone for an overseas jaunt. Cut down on data roaming While you’re free to roam to your heart’s content in the EU, it’ll still cost you a pretty penny when you’re travelling outside. A few years ago, while holidaying in South Africa, a woman was landed with a £2,600 bill after downloading a Neil Diamond album, and we’d prefer that not to happen to you. So we’re going to suggest that turning off your data roaming setting might be a good place to start. This’ll make sure you don’t automatically connect to the local network provider. You won’t be cut off from the modern world though – because here comes Wi-Fi to the rescue. Don’t get lost If you’re getting sick of sitting by the pool and fancy exploring your new surroundings, you can avoid data drainage by saving your maps offline. When you’re connected to a reliable internet signal, like the Wi-Fi in the hotel, search for where you want to go on the Google Maps app. Once you’ve found it, clear the search bar and type in ‘OK Maps’ – you’ll then be presented with the option to save that area offline. Easy. Go on a Wi-Fi hunt A few years ago it was a rarity to find a beachfront bar or restaurant with free Wi-Fi, but it’s a fairly common sight on holiday now. If you want to tap into Wi-Fi when you’re abroad, just make sure it’s password-protected. We also wouldn’t recommend using banking apps if you’re unfamiliar with the owner of the network – just to be safe. Backup before you pack up Before jetting off, it could be an idea to backup all the stuff on your device to a cloud system (Dropbox, Google Drive) or an external hard drive. This way, just in case your phone goes walkabout, you’ll have all your precious photos and important contacts safely stored away. The waterproof truth Let’s face it, the best holidays involve time at the beach or around the pool. Avoid putting a dampener on your trip by investing in a water-resistant smartphone. That way if you were to have any mishaps, it’ll be a funny holiday story rather than a stressful blunder. Do you have any tips of your own? If so, share them below.

The World Cup kicks off on the 14th June. For a whole month, we’ll be able to watch the best players on the planet showing off their skills. England will be there too. We love our footie here at iD HQ, and the World Cup is already a hot topic. Which country will lift the trophy? Which plucky underdog will cause an upset? We can’t wait to find out, but meanwhile, we’ve downloaded our favourite football apps. Here they are… FIFA official app (free on iOS and Android) The World Cup is FIFA’s competition, so this official app will have lots of exclusive content from the big event. You’ll be able to read live match blogs, watch highlights, listen to player interviews, and vote for the man of the match in each game. Outside of the World Cup, the app will keep you bang up to date with breaking football news and live scores from around the globe. Welcome 2018 (free on iOS and Android) If you’re lucky enough to be heading over to Russia and attending a match, this is the app you need. Welcome 2018 is packed with essential information for travelling fans. There’s advice on getting to Russia in the first place, travel information for each of the host cities, and a planner with things to see and do if you’ve got some spare time. Panini Sticker Album (free on iOS and Android) It’s a World Cup sticker album, on an app. So rather than opening real-life packs of stickers, you collect digital packs (you get two free ones each day). You can also create a group of collectors and invite your friends, which replaces the age-old tradition of taking your swapsies into school and offering your Phil Jones sticker for your mate’s spare Brazil badge. If you can do that digitally, count us in. SofaScore (free on iOS and Android) This is the ideal app if you want to take a deep dive into the world of football stats. During the World Cup, you’ll be able to view information on every player, in all the games. Our favourite feature is the live player rating, updated in real-time as the action on the pitch unfolds. The level of detail this app gives you is staggering - we can see it coming in handy for picking fantasy football teams, or trying to work out why England had such a hard time scoring against Tunisia. FreeKick World Football Cup 2018 (free on Android) There are lots of good mobile football games out there. Some are incredibly in-depth and realistic, but we’ve selected a fun little time-waster as our final footie app. It’s easy. Choose your team, and select ‘free kick’ or ‘dribbling’ as your match mode. Then it’s game on. In the ‘free kick’ game you simply swipe the path that you want your ball to take. The ‘dribbling’ mode is pretty much the same, but you move the ball with an onscreen button before you unleash your shot. It’s not completely faithful to the 2018 World Cup, as our England team was pitted in a group with Senegal, Serbia and Saudi Arabia. But if you’re looking for a game to play standing on a busy bus or train, this one’s hard to beat. Would you like to add your favourite football app to our match-winning squad? Then post a comment below, and share your thoughts.

On the face of it, Snapchat is a pretty simple app. You can take photos to share with your friends. But, dig a little deeper, and Snapchat actually lets you do a whole lot more. You can customise pictures, add effects, see what’s happening around you, and keep up with all the latest world news. Here are a few Snapchat tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the app. Shoot 60-second clips You used to only be able to record 10-second video clips on Snapchat. Well, not anymore. You can now record up to 60-seconds of footage by holding down the record button for up to a minute. Snapchat splits the footage into six 10-second segments for easier editing, but don’t worry, once you share the clip, it will play as a continuous 60-second Snapchat story. Send stories to your friends Snapchat’s Discover section lets you catch up on the latest news and current affairs stories from around the world. Seen something you like? Then share it with your friends directly on WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, or their Snapchat. Create your own Geofilter Create your own Geofilter tags to let people know where you are, and what’s going on around you. Set which locations you want to appear, and create Geofilters to mark cities, landmarks, and even personal events like weddings and birthdays. See where your friends are with Snap Map Snap Map lets you see where your Snapchat friends and other Snapchat users are near you, or in other locations around the world. Access it by pinching the camera screen. If the feature’s not for you, you can hide yourself from fellow users by activating Ghost Mode. Discover and share music Snapchat has built-in Shazam skills, so next time you hear a song you like, just tap on the camera screen, and hold down to identify any song playing nearby. You can even share the song with your mates. Find out what those message symbols mean If you’re a new user, Snapchat can be tricky to grasp. For example, you’ll probably be wondering what some of the coloured arrows next to messages mean. From the Manage Preferences menu, you can see what each one does. Unopened messages are indicated by squares, and arrows mean a Snap has been viewed. And those emoji symbols The Manage Preferences menu also lets you find out what those emojis next to your friends mean. A sunglasses-wearing emoji indicates mutual best buddies, while hearts mean your number one best friend (the person you Snapchat the most). Know of any more tips we’ve missed? Let us know about them in the comments section.

Sure, your phone may have a dual-lens camera and variable aperture, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a part to play when capturing that crowning shot. Here are a few handy tips to help your next Instagram post get all of the hearts. Compose, compose, compose That camera grid setting on your phone isn’t just there to remind you of your old Maths exercise books. It’s there to cleverly divide the screen into thirds and four lines (2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines) so you can strategically place your subject at the intersections. Doing this perfectly frames your photo so everything is well balanced and in shot. Switch up the POV It’s very common to just whip out your phone, hold it up, snap a shot and move along – but a different angle can really give your photo an edge. And an interesting angle can even make less interesting shots more compelling and ‘artsy’. Get down low, climb up high, bury your body in the sand if needs be - do whatever it takes to get that out-of-the-box angle. Light it up When it comes to photography, lighting is everything. However that doesn’t mean you should use your flash for every shot. Always make sure your subject is well lit (the more natural light the better). It’s also worth double-checking that the lighting is even and that there aren’t any unwanted shadows in your shot. Also, look at the colour of the light, and see if it works for your photo. Maybe there’s a cool shadow you could incorporate or if you’re sticking in one location for a while, why not wait until sunset to get that wow-inducing photo. Add some depth Taking a landscape or cityscape photo? Then creating depth is so important. Always try to include subjects in the background, foreground and middle group. This adds a more impactful scale of depth to your picture – and is more likely to grab the viewer’s attention. What about close ups? Whether you’re taking a photo of your fancy artisan coffee or an adorable pooch, an out of focus background will give your photo that professional look. If you’re lucky enough to have a portrait mode option on your camera, stick that on. If not, you can have a play with the editing features on social media apps to help blur the background. Alternatively, go full blur with a ‘bokeh’ shot. Think about your shot A perfect shot requires patience. You might need to take 30 shots, switching angles, composing it differently, moving into different lighting, before you find ‘the one’. Also, be realistic about what subject has potential. If you have to think about whether something is photo-worthy for too long, chances are it isn’t. It doesn’t matter how many lenses your smartphone has, a well-lit photo of some overcooked porridge isn’t going to set your Insta on fire. Any tips you’d like to add? Have you taken any game-changing photos lately? Let us know in the comments below.

Summer is on the horizon at last (it officially starts on 21 June, fact fans), so it seems like the perfect time to start thinking about heading off into the sun. With that in mind, we’ve chosen seven of our favourite free travel apps to help you plan your great escape. Bon voyage! Hopper (free on iOS and Android) You’ll probably have heard of Skyscanner, the well-known app that finds the best prices for your flight. Hopper goes one step further, by telling you the best time to snap them up. A notification will come up on your phone when the time is right, and you’ll be able to book the flight in less than a minute (according to Hopper). KAYAK (free on iOS and Android) KAYAK’s big selling point is that it searches almost everything travel-related - hotels, flights and hire cars - then gives you the best deals. Once you’ve decided on these, it puts them together in one handy itinerary. And if the price changes before you’ve had a chance to book it, KAYAK will let you know. TripIt (free on iOS and Android) An alternative to KAYAK, TripIt is another very smart app that organises your booking emails into an easy to digest plan of action for your trip. It’s been around a while, but this award-winning app is still one of the best of its kind, and dead easy to use. It sifts through your booking emails and puts them in order. Then when it comes to needing your documents later on everything’s at your fingertips. Airbnb (free on iOS and Android) It’s hard to imagine life without Airbnb. It’s a great alternative to hotels, and can provide a real home away from home. You can search for whole homes to have to yourself, or go for cheaper room-only options. Airbnb covers 34,000 cities around the world, and the app is easy to navigate, with listings displayed clearly on a map. Headout (free on iOS and Android) Here’s another great app to help you get acquainted with your new surroundings. Headout won’t just tell you about the great places to grab some food and drink, but it’ll let you know about any gigs that might be happening that night, or events you might want to check out. And sometimes, booking tickets through the app might even get you a discount. Did we miss any? If you’ve got a favourite travel app that we haven’t mentioned, don’t keep it to yourself! Post a comment below.