Modern smartphones are expensive, relatively fragile and battery-hungry. Consequently, they're pretty much useless in any tough emergency situation. Todd talks to Christian Scheder of SpareOne about their solution to the problem. The SpareOne emergency phone is a mobile phone that runs off a standard AA battery rather than a rechargeable one more usually found in a mobile phone. While this gives
Today I was relaxing in a cafe, taking it easy on Sunday. As I looked around the other tables, everyone else was either looking at a smartphone or else had one resting on the table. They weren't students or young professionals either; these were mums and dads, grandmas and grandpas. Here's the tally of what I saw: 3x Samsung Galaxies
The launch of 4G services in the UK by Everything Everywhere today has been heralded by the majority of the tech blogs and news sites as a long-overdue success. But is this a victory for common-sense or has Ofcom simply managed to cover-up its own incompetence? (For those outside the UK, Ofcom is the regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.) Here's
Independent mobile retailer Phones 4u has today launched a range of garden gnomes which conceal high-tech mobile phone signal boosters to improve mobile phone coverage in otherwise poorly served areas. Branded as Gnomes 4u, there will be a range of gnomes in different poses plus celebrity gnomes based on famous people. The Gnomes 4u signal boosters are portable and improve the mobile signal,
Veteran biker, Andy "Hog" McCaskey, checks out Vertix's Raptor helmet communicator. Let's roll! Vertix Raptor-i is a Bluetooth-based helmet communication system that brings together phone, intercom, radio and music player functions into a single unit. It's perfect for any activity where wearing a helmet is the norm including motorcycling, motorport and skiing. A microphone and speaker are fitted inside the helmet and Raptor
Bruce from AfterShokz shows off their bone-conducting headphones to Courtney at this year's CES. Previously the preserve of military specialists and bored long-distance swimmers, bone-conducting headphones transmit sound to the inner ear via the skull bones rather than down the ear canal. This method has several advantages over headphones and earbuds including much improved hygiene and comfort. They're good for
zBoost by Wi-Ex is a range of signal extenders that will improve cell and mobile phone coverage in weak areas. Todd and Don discuss zBoost's latest products from Sharon Cuppett, VP of Wi-Ex (and they get a mention on Wi-Ex's blog) Wi-Ex launched two new products at CES, the first being the zBoost 4G-V, a signal booster for 4G frequencies on