Tag: smartphones
1 in 4 kids have smartphone addiction, study shows
One in four children and young people have a smartphone addiction, research suggests (to be honest we're surprised it's not much higher). These youngsters are exhibiting “problematic smartphone usage”, meaning they use the devices in way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction, scientists found. The study, by researchers at King’s College London and published…
Motorola revives Razr flip phone with foldable screen
Motorola has revived its popular Razr flip mobile phone as a modern smartphone with a foldable screen. Unveiled in the US, the reinvented Razr has a 6.2-inch screen which folds in half to shut in the same way as older “clamshell” handsets. Flip phones such as the original Razr were popular in the early 2000s,…
Google admits Pixel 4 Face Unlock works when eyes closed
Google has confirmed the Face Unlock system on its new Pixel 4 smartphone can allow access to the device even when the user has their eyes closed. Early testers of the phone, as well as security experts, have raised concerns it could lead to unauthorised access to the device. It has been suggested someone else…
Quarter of mobile phone users make less than 5 calls a month – Ofcom
A quarter of mobile phone users make less than five standard calls a month, while 6% make none at all, latest Ofcom figures show. Of those who did make calls, 60% ended their conversation in less than 90 seconds, according to the regulator’s Mobile Matters report. The study of how around 150,000 people used their…
Three Mobile customers face loyalty penalty, says Citizens Advice
Three Mobile customers who are being penalised for their loyalty will continue to be overcharged by between £1.5 million and £2.7 million a month, Citizens Advice has said. In July, Ofcom announced commitments from some of the UK’s biggest mobile companies to apply discounts to out-of-contract customers’ bills as it announced proposals to ban firms…
Xiaomi announces £99 Redmi 7A smartphone in the UK
Xiaomi has unveiled its latest budget smartphone for the UK. Dubbed the Redmi 7A, the £99 device can last two days on a single charge, claims the manufacturer. A complete upgrade over its predecessor (the Redmi 6A), it also comes with the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 and larger 4000mAh battery. Other improvements, claims the…
HTC suspends UK smartphone sales ‘out of abundance of caution’
HTC has said that it decided to temporarily pull smartphones from sale in the UK “out of an abundance of caution” amid an intellectual property dispute. All handsets, including the HTC U12+ and Exodus 1, recently appeared as “out of stock” on their UK website while other countries still show smartphones available to buy. The…
Tech to help farmers detect plant diseases with smartphones
New technology that could help farmers quickly spot diseases in plants using smartphones has been developed by researchers. The handheld device for identifying problems with crops, which was designed at North Carolina State University, can be plugged into a mobile phone and used to analyse compounds that plants release through their leaves. Diagnosing diseases in…
Oppo debuts ‘hidden selfie’ camera technology
Chinese smartphone maker Oppo has revealed another glimpse of its hidden selfie camera technology as manufacturers explore new designs to maximise display space. The firm first unveiled details of an under-display front-facing camera earlier this month, which puts the lens under the smartphone’s screen. OPPO's brand new solution for full-screen display – Under-screen Camera (USC)…
Review: Should I buy £469 Google Pixel 3a XL
Google’s attempt at taking a bigger bite out of the hardware side of the smartphone sector continues with its Pixel range, which now includes a budget version of its third handset. Jamie Harris reviews the Google Pixel 3a XL... The strongest part of Google's Pixel phones lie within its photographic abilities. With the Pixel 3a…