Google's newest version of Android has an official name at last. The P is for ‘Pie’. It’s rolling out right now, and it’s packed with some extremely handy new features. Let’s check them out. A clever operating system Google Pie will get to know your habits, and use this info in a really smart way. For example, if there are one or two apps you use the most, the battery will make sure there’s some battery left for them – directing power to those apps at the time you need them. On top of the adaptive battery, there’s also a thing called adaptive brightness, which works out for itself how you use your brightness settings. Get more from your apps App Actions is a feature that predicts the next thing you’ll do, and serves you your content faster to save you time. For example, you may start the day at 6.30am with a news update and a check on the trains – your phone will suggest the right app at the right time, and they’ll be right there waiting for you in your app drawer. There’s also a thing

When I dial out on my Blackview Shark 8 the persons handset rings but as soon as they answer their phone my phone says 'Line Busy' and cuts me off. Phone was working perfectly well until a few days ago. Other people can call me no problem

Most of us use our smartphones every single day, but it’s probably fair to say we don’t always get the most out of them. Or actually realise how to. There’s a ton of clever features tucked away just out of sight on iPhone and Android that you might not know about. From fun ones to the more practical, here are a few of our favourites that you’re definitely going to want to try out… Document scanner Got an important doc you need to scan and send for work? No worries. If you’ve got an iPhone, fire up your Notes app. Create a new note, and then tap the camera icon at the bottom of your screen. Hit ‘Scan Documents’ and position your camera over the document. It’ll then automatically snap it for you. But if you want some more control, hit ‘Auto’ in the top right corner. It’ll switch to ‘Manual’ mode, letting you scan it in the same way you’d take a photo. Then just crop the corners of your doc, and when you’re happy with it, hit save. Sorted. It's a bit different on Android. Open your camera

How to Make Your iPhone More Secure Our phones carry more personal data the more we use them. It’s not just contacts, messages, and WhatsApp. They also store account passwords, financial data, location data, the websites we browse and the searches we make online. As you’ll have seen in our April Newsletter email, your phone privacy, safety, and security are important to us. We want you to have the best experience possible, whether it’s ultra-secure account sign-ins or being pickier with app permissions. Luckily, iPhones make security and privacy a front and centre feature, so keeping your personal info personal couldn’t be easier. Apple’s privacy policy: Of all the big phone brands out there, Apple probably leads the way for user privacy. Every Apple-made app has been built to make your user experience uniquely yours, and not store your data, or worse, sell it to third parties. For example, the Maps app doesn’t link your data to your Apple ID, and it doesn’t record your location histor

Phishing is a cyber-attack where criminals impersonate trusted sources, like banks or HMRC, to steal your personal or financial information or infect your device with malware. Spam refers to unwanted SMS or junk emails often sent with malicious intent. Both phishing and spam can occur through text, email, or phone calls. Remember, iD Mobile will neve r send an SMS with a short URL or ask you to make a payment through a link. We always provide secure payment options through the iD Mobile app or My Account online, where you can check for any outstanding payments. Why Does Phishing Exist? Phishing exists because it’s an easy and effective way for cybercriminals to steal valuable information and money. It requires minimal technical skill and can target thousands of people simultaneously by creating messages that appear legitimate and play on fear and urgency. The low cost and high reward make it an attractive method for scammers. Who Do Attackers Pretend to Be? Attackers often use the iden

Due to the current climate, we're more and more reliant on the internet to keep us connected to the outside world. It's allowed us to communicate using video calling within a few clicks, helped us locate and purchase those essential goods (as well as a few other bits we don't really need but want anyway!), binge watch series and movies and a vast array of other things. As we use it more, ensuring your personal information is secure and doesn't get into the wrong hands, has never been so important. Here's our list on how to protect your identity online: Always keep your data security software up to date Those software update notifications may be annoying, but they’re there to give you a heads up. If your phone or computer is infected with malicious software, other safeguards won’t be much help as you’ve already given the criminals the key to all your online actions (and transactions). So, it’s worth making sure that your security software and operating system are both fully up to date.

I have operated fine with ID network for 3 years. Suddenly today my phone won’t let me make calls, it just stays dead. Any suggestions?

Apple has just unveiled its huge new update, iOS 26! Get ready for a brand new look and some incredibly clever features that will make using your iPhone better than ever. We’ll walk you through the biggest changes, from the stunning "Liquid Glass" design to smart tools that help you block spam calls and messages. And it’s available now! So, before you whip out your iPhone to admire the iOS 26 makeover, we’ll give you a quick guide to some of our fave new features… A fresh new look & feel. Your iPhone is getting a visual makeover that makes it more personal. The new "Liquid Glass" design creates a cool, translucent effect on icons and widgets, giving your display a dynamic and modern look. Run your finger across the screen and it’ll look like you’re viewing your screen through a lens. It’s the biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7. But that’s not all! You’ll have more customisation options for the Lock Screen and Home Screen, allowing you to tailor your device to your unique style. The Ca

Forget the Oscars – it’s the iD Community Phone Awards that take centre stage! As we kick off 2025, let’s take a moment to look back at the standout phones of 2024. From the best camera to the most durable device, here are the smartphones that stole the show last year. Drum roll, please… Most improved – Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Sometimes the jump between an older version of a phone and the newest one isn’t what it could be. Luckily, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is one giant leap. Literally. There’s a massive 8” main screen here. It’s big enough to use different apps side-by-side and when you want to chill out with a film, you won’t be squinting to see what’s going on. Then there’s Circle to Search. Like that jumper your favourite influencer’s wearing? Draw a circle around it and you’ll be told which brand it’s from and where you can buy it. Oh, and it’s got their handy Gemini Ai assistant built right in too. Trying to draft an important work email? Gemini can handle that. Not sure what

Now that there’s a tiny hint of sun, it’s time for a good spring clean. And that includes your phone. It’s all well and good giving your screen a quick wipe with some anti-bac – but what about decluttering the stuff that’s on it too? Having a proper clear out can help with your phone’s performance. From longer battery life to quicker loading times. Plus, when you want to find that great holiday snap, you won’t have to dig through years of memes and screenshots to find it. Delete photos and videos This is a pretty obvious one. Having tons of photos and videos in your camera roll can take up a lot of storage space. So, the best place to start is by having a good tidy. Get rid of anything not worth keeping – after all, you don’t need 45 versions of that one selfie. Then move everything else to external or cloud storage. Even if storage isn’t a massive issue, this is still worth doing. If you do ever lose your phone, you’ll have everything backed up. Remove some apps We’ve all got apps we

Everything else is slowly going paperless, so why not streamline your holidays too? Before you arrive and can start relaxing, you have the stress of getting there. Nobody wants to lug around a folder full of printouts and travel docs - tickets, boarding passes, passport copies, itineraries. It’s just another thing at risk of being forgotten or left behind. Save yourself the hassle and do it all on your phone. Most of us don’t go anywhere without our phones, so you might as well keep everything in one digital place and go paperless. It’s better for trees and it’s easier for you. Everyone wins! Here are some top tips for how to nail your paperless getaway. Tickets and boarding passes It’s a lot harder to leave paperless tickets at home by mistake. Better yet, adding your flight tickets or boarding passes to your phone is really straightforward. It keeps them just one or two taps away, saving you plenty of hassle when checking in. Providing you’re using a participating airline, you can sa

There’s a new kid on the social media block. It looks like Twitter. And it works quite like Twitter too. So, what exactly is Threads and is it about to take the world by storm? Let’s have a quick look… What’s been happening with Twitter/X? I know what you’re thinking - ‘do we really need another social media app?’ Your answer probably depends on how you feel about Twitter. It’s gone through quite a few big changes recently, including an issue with ‘throttling’. This was where you could only view 600 tweets before you’d reached your limit for the day. Then you were stuck refreshing your feed with no new content to show for it. And as you can imagine, that left a lot of people a bit confused and frustrated. And it might go through an even bigger overhaul soon too. After 17 years, Twitter recently announced they’ll be changing their name to X. Yep. Literally just the letter. This rebrand is all part of the plan to turn the platform into the next super-app. What does that actually mean tho

Last month, the world said goodbye to the iPod, which was officially discontinued by Apple after more than 20 years (we know, it makes us feel old too). And it made us think about how much all tech – not just portable music – has changed over the years. From dial-up modem and the Sega Genesis to wireless earbuds and even smarter smartphones, come with us on this journey through tech history… The evolution of mobile phones At their conception, mobile phones were simple, brick-like devices with one – and only one – purpose. To make phone calls. But things have changed quite drastically since then. These days, smartphones are no longer just phones, they completely rule our lives. In fact, the average person touches their phone a whopping 2,617 times every day ! But how did we get here? The world’s first mobile phone: 1983 It’s been almost 40 years since the world was introduced to the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, the world’s first consumer mobile phone. And by the late 80s, more and more featu

Celebrating International Mother Tongue Day February 21st marks a very special day in the calendar: International Mother Tongue Day. So, what’s it all about? Officially proclaimed by UNESCO in November 1999, this day is dedicated to protecting and preserving every single language that’s used by people around the globe. It’s about recognising the beauty in our diverse cultures, making an effort to understand and familiarise ourselves with cultures that aren’t ours through multilingualism. In other words (excuse the pun), when we dedicate ourselves to learning a new language, we automatically take a step closer to unifying with others from all walks of life. The idea of a special day to recognise the relationship between language, heritage and culture actually originated from what is now Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). When the Pakistani government declared Urdu to be the sole national language of Pakistan in 1948, many people fought for Bangla, the mother tongue of the majority, to

Is your smartphone secure when you’re out and about? Mobile security attacks are on the increase. So help you out, here are nine mobile security tips to keep your handset safe from harm. Our smartphones are mobile digital assistants that carry a huge amount of data about us. Unfortunately, criminals have cottoned on to this and are targeting them more than ever before. According to a recent MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) report, 66% of smartphone users have experienced some sort of data-related attack. Thankfully, we’re here with some top mobile security tips. 1. Keep your phone locked when not in use An unlocked phone is an easy target for a criminal. So if you haven’t got at least a basic passcode on your lock screen, do it now. Go into your phone’s settings, look under the security heading, and you should see a number of options to lock your phone. Pattern unlocks and PIN numbers are tried and tested ways of locking your phone down. But if you do use one of these methods, we recommend

If you’re ready to take the plunge on a brand-new iPhone but just need a little guidance in the right direction, you’ve come to the right place. For the different needs, budgets and lifestyles, there’s an iPhone ready to take on them all. Which iPhone suits what you need? Apple are certainly known for quality, seamless designs and top of the range tech, but how do their entry-level phones stack up against the more premium models? iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max If you’re all about getting that perfect family photo the first time around, the iPhone 11 Pro makes it impossible to take a bad shot. Both the 5.8” iPhone 11 Pro and the larger 6.5” Pro Max feature three 12MP cameras on the back, making them the first iPhones to have a triple camera setup. Thanks to a combination of Wide, Ultra-Wide and Telephoto lenses along with 10x digital zoom, you can capture just about any scene. If nighttime photography is your passion, the new Night mode uses clever AI to bring detail to low-light shots autom

Forget about those ‘get out of jail’ petrol station flowers and the generic heart shaped card. You can make this Valentine’s Day a special one with the help of a few handy apps on your phone. Get ready for heart-eye emoji levels of affection. Make them a personalised card with Funky Pigeon If your other half is one of those ‘I’ll just be happy with a card’ people, why not go creative and give them a personalised one from Funky Pigeon? It’s super easy to design on your phone and will be professionally printed and sent in just a couple of days – or delivered First Class (if you’ve left it to the last minute). So, dig out all your romantic and funny couple’s photos and make a card they’ll want to keep! Download Funky Pigeon free on Android and iOS . Order a bouquet for you beau Giving your loved one a bouquet of flowers is a great way to kick off Valentine’s Day. We’re not talking about the slim pickings in your local supermarket, though. Bloom & Wild offer an amazing selection of bouquet

What's the difference between Google Maps and Sat Nav ? Going on a road trip and planning to use your phone to navigate? We’ll show you the pros and cons of Google Maps compared to sat navs… Most smartphones come with a 'sat nav' (satellite navigation) built in. For Android there's 'Google Maps', while iPhone has Apple Maps. We're going to look at how these navigation systems compare to a sat nav, to see if there's any reason you might want to use one instead of the other. A few years ago, Google added 'full offline navigation' to Maps, meaning you can download routes and maps that you use quite often, so you don't have to use your data when you’re on the move. They expire after 15 days, which means you'll always have the latest version. Needing directions quickly Most of the time, you won’t leave home without your phone. Your sat nav, however, could easily be forgotten and left behind. That means if you’re out on the road and need to find a quicker route to skip the traffic, you could

If you’re ready to take the plunge on a brand-new iPhone but just need a little guidance in the right direction, you’ve come to the right place. For the different needs, budgets and lifestyles, there’s an iPhone ready to take on them all. Which iPhone suits what you need? Apple are certainly known for quality, seamless designs and top of the range tech, but how do their entry-level phones stack up against the more premium models? The best camera - iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max If you’re all about getting that perfect family photo the first time around, the iPhone 11 Pro makes it impossible to take a bad shot. Both the 5.8” iPhone 11 Pro and the larger 6.5” Pro Max feature three 12MP cameras on the back, making them the first iPhones to have a triple camera setup. Thanks to a combination of Wide, Ultra-Wide and Telephoto lenses along with 10x digital zoom, you can capture just about any scene. If night time photography is your passion, the new Night mode uses clever AI to bring detail to lo

We recently got to try out Samsung's latest mid-range releases, the A80 and A70 smartphones, at their incredible Milan launch event in April. See our first impressions... Getting to grips with the Galaxy A80Samsung have only just finished wowing us with the Galaxy S10 Series, but they went ahead and gave us another amazing range of devices anyway – the Galaxy A range. We were lucky enough to get out hands on one of Samsung’s new additions, the mid-range Galaxy A80, which has some pretty serious specs under the hood. 6.7 inches of edge-to-edge screen That’s right, the screen on the Samsung Galaxy is 6.7 inches of uninterrupted display, so there’s plenty of space whether you love getting wrapped up in your favourite films or getting lost in a mobile adventure game. And when we say uninterrupted, we mean it. It’s the first Galaxy on offer that doesn’t have the infamous notch, so you can enjoy the whole Super AMOLED screen like you’re meant to, with all the images and colours in stunning,

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

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 th

Fraud is on the rise. Every year, 4.6 million people in the UK fall victim to it. And though it’s easy to believe it won’t happen to you, scams are getting smarter. Whether you’re connecting with loved ones or shopping for essentials, our online identities make life easier – so it’s more important than ever to protect them. Read on for our top tips on how to keep your online identity safe. You’ll be a pro in no time. 1.Keep your software up to date Don’t ignore those pending update pop-ups. Software updates include important security patches to emerging online threats and new features to keep your information safe. And the sooner you do it, the sooner those pesky reminders will cease. 2.Check your social media settings Switch your social media profiles to private and ensure you’re only connected to people you trust. Your latest sunset picture might not go global, but you’ll be a step closer to safer selfie-taking. And when setting up a social media account, try not to include informati

iOS 17 is here. It’s the newest version of iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system that runs on iPhone – and it comes with some exciting new changes to voicemail, emojis, Messages, Safari and lots more. Here’s all you need to know about it. The best new iOS 17 features There are lots of new features in the iOS 17 update. Here are some of our favourites: Standby This handy feature lets you turn your iPhone into a bedside alarm clock every night. You can even use an old iPhone that’s gathering dust in the drawer! When your iPhone is charging and placed on its side, it now goes into standby mode and becomes a smart display. This shows the time in a range of clock styles, and you can also choose to display other things like your favourite photos and widgets. NameDrop Here’s a quick and easy new way of sharing your number and contact details with someone else. Simply NameDrop your info to them in the same way you pay for stuff on your phone. Turn on NFC, hover your iPhone over theirs, and they