Five of the best pocket-sized smartphones

This year has been the best yet for smartphones, with more useful features, better designs and improved software. It has also been the year which has proven that top experiences don't have to have a premium price tag and good smartphones don't have to have massive screens.

Here's a quick look at five of the best smartphones, that won't stretch your hand or your pocket.

Sony Zperia Z5 Compact

Sony's flagship small phone has a 4.6in screen in a compact case that makes it the most powerful smaller smartphone currently available. A fast and accurate fingerprint scanner hides under the power button on the ring hand side of the phone, so there is no need to put your finger on a home button to unlock your device.

The new 23-megapixel camera is Sony's best yet and one of the best available. Its takes a micro SD card for adding extra storage and the phone is waterproof to depths of 1.5m for 30 minutes, meaning a trip down the loo isn't the end of the world!

But it is its three-day battery life that is the killer feature. This is longest lasting high end smartphone currently available.

Verdict; a powerful, waterproof smartphone that lasts three days between charges.

Samsung Galaxy S6

The Galaxy S6 is Samsung's first premium-feeling flagship smartphone with an all-metal and glass body and a big step up in design means it now matches the competition.

It's the fastest feeling smartphone currently available, zipping between apps and blazing through games. It has a great 16-megapixel camera that is among the best out there, a fantastic 5.1 2K screen and its thinner and lighter than its competitors.

A fingerprint sensor under the home button unlocks the phone and can authenticate payments. It's also got wireless charging and enough battery to see you through the day.

Verdict; The fastest feeling smartphone that just zips along.

Apple iPhone 6S

The iPhone 6S is the latest 4.7in model from Apple and one of the best smaller smartphones available. It's biggest selling feature is a pressure sensitive screen, which allows new gestures and a 12-megapixel camera that can capture Live Photos - still snaps combined with a short video shot at the same time.

The metal body is now made of a harder aluminium that reduces scratches. It's processor is 70% faster than last year. Apple's new Touch ID fingerprint scanner is almost instantaneous, while it's new Taptic Engine produces a great staccato vibrating feedback.

It's biggest downside is a battery that will not last a day, meaning you'll probably have to charge it during the day and overnight. Making sure you close apps will help conserve the battery.

Verdict; A very good phone, ruined by the battery life.

Google Nexus 5X

Google's latest non-phablet flagship, the Nexus 5X, is the successor to the popular Nexus 5 from 2013.

It has a good 5.2in screen, is thin and light and is one of the first smartphones to run the latest version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The phone, made by LG for Google runs Android the way the search giant intended it, without bloatware and will get software updates before anything else.

A fast and accurate fingerprint sensor on the back fits naturally under your index finger for unlocking your phone and authenticating payments. It also has a USB type-C port, meaning the cable can be pluged in either way up to charge. The battery lasts about a day, but not much more.

The camera is one of the best on the market and is easy to use to grab great pictures.

Verdict; Fast, light and bloat free, the way Google intended it.

Motorola Moto G (2015)

Motorola's third-generation Moto G is the greatest yet, and is the best all-round smartphone for under £200.

It runs Android without modifications, is snappier than the competition and gets the basics right. The battery lasts a good day, more with lighter use and it feels good despite being noticeably thick with a customisable plastic back.

The Moto G is waterproof to IP67 standards or 1m of water for 30 minutes, which means it'll be fine if your drop it in the bath or get caught in the rain.

The camera is capable of capturing above average shots but there's also a micro SD card slot for adding more memory if the 8gb or 16gb built-in storage isn't enough.

Verdict; The best balance of cost to experience available.

THERE'S A LOT OF NASTY VIRUSES GOING AROUND - GET THE FIVEBARS FLU JAB

Considering how integral Smartphone’s are now to everyday life, it’s scary to think how much damage can be done by malware – and sometimes all it takes is one lapse in judgement to become infected. Keep reading to find out what these infections could do to you, how to detect them, and how to shield yourself from them.

Smartphone malware infections might seem like a recent concern, but the first attack goes back nearly a full decade. As consumers, we can be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to electronics and downloads. We believe that if we visit only reputable websites and only download apps, music and games from reputable sites, then all is well. Unfortunately, not!

Computer viruses have plagued consumers for many years now, causing companies to install every kind of firewall protection known to mankind and individuals to spend hundreds of pounds each year on keeping their security updated.

Smartphone’s are the new laptops just with a smaller, sexier design. As Smartphone’s continue to progress and consumers continue to use them for everything from taking pictures of their kids in the park, to managing their financial portfolios, viruses and hackers will continue to find new hunting grounds. Even Apple products with their stringent security processes are not beyond being hacked.

Below are five ways your phone can pick up a virus:

Downloading Apps – Before you can play with a new app, you have to download it and accept the terms and conditions. As a conscious consumer, you read every word in these agreements, right? For the majority of consumers, the answer to that question is (with a shameful bow of the head), "wrong." Within the tiny print of those permission agreements, you may miss the section stating what the app will have access to, including your location, contacts list, social media accounts, email, text, calendar and so forth. Pretty scary stuff.

The Web – Internet downloads are probably the easiest way for your mobile phone to contract a virus. With your favourite TV show or comic book on the line, you may be quick to download any file that promises that content. Beware! You have no idea what could be coded into those files. If your phone is not protected by mobile antivirus software, you will likely get more than just the latest "Community" episode. PC Hook-ups – If your child goes to school and a classmate has lice, it is likely that your little darling will come home with a hair full of the unwanted bugs. The same concept is true any time you connect your Smartphone to your computer via USB. If your computer has a bug and your phone is not protected, it will get the malware, too.

Message Attachments – Whether it's personal or business, you may receive hundreds of texts, video messages and emails every day. You simply ignore or delete texts from unfamiliar numbers and your email's spam box filters out the most obvious offenders. If your Smartphone has a virus, however, it can send you texts and emails that are disguised as messages from familiar contacts, which you'll probably open, exposing your phone to damage Bluetooth Connection – Bluetooth-enabled phones and connections are becoming the superhighways for airborne viruses. Like the human cold or flu viruses, Bluetooth phones can infect one another by simply being in the same vicinity. This is quite frightening, as almost every phone, Smartphone or not, has Bluetooth capabilities.

As more and more consumers use their Smartphone’s to store their personal and professional information, the temptation for hackers to create dangerous viruses and other malware will continue to increase. Even now, Smartphone’s are a primary target for malicious code.

Protect yourself now. Contact us and get access to McAfee Multi Device cover;

• Easy to set up

• Auto back-up that’s easy to restore to keep everything safe and secure

• On-line management for adding devices

• Always up-to-date with the latest information.

• Flags untrustworthy websites and changes in Wi-Fi connection

• Works on all browsers including Safari, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox

• Stops spam and phishing emails and encrypts data

• Doesn't drain battery

• If Smartphone or tablet is lost or stolen, it can be found, locked and wiped customers can also take a picture of the person trying to open it, send them a message or make the device scream

• Puts all passwords in one place so customers only have to remember one

• Works on iPhones and iPads too

IT'S NO SECRET THAT SONY IS BEING SHAKEN AND STIRRED!!

Sony's Mobile division has been 'shaken & stirred' recently, whereas they excel in other verticals, such as music and movies. They have been having problems for quite some time and although Daniel Craig will be using the new Xperia Z5 in Spectre, it is sad to see Sony doing so badly in the Smartphone market as they make such great devices

There are two big issues with Sony Mobile - availability and product cycle. Many of us feel that the 'Roadmap formula' that Sony have of a 6 month release cycle of new flagship Smartphones is partially to blame. Compare this to Apple and Samsung, who release updated product on a twelve month cycle which allows more time for development.

Following another unsuccessful year in the mobile business, Sony is looking to remove more members of staff from the mobile division. The new report comes after Sony contemplated selling the Xperia division to focus on music, services and gaming.

The Xperia Z3 and other devices launched in 2014 failed to impress the US and European audience, Sony's two largest buyers alongside Japan.

The competition from Samsung, Apple, LG and HTC has put the once prominent mobile manufacturer in a tough spot and it has been unable to regain its former glory under the partnership with Ericsson.

Could the new Xperial Z5 launch change things? This new handset has a new approach focused on the camera, instead of waterproof features. The Xperia Z5 Premium with a 4K display, will launch later in the year. The Xperia Z5 Compact will launch alonside the Z5 and should be available on all carriers.

Latest news, Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia Z5, is available to pre-order now. Call us now on 02380 981253.

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'Adapt or die' as mobile payments to top 1.8bn

Banks must 'adapt or die' when it comes to the digital world, with a number of people using mobile banking set to double in the next four years.

According to figures from accountancy firm KPMG, 80 million people used mobile banking in 2014, but this will reach 1.8 billion by 2019 - more than 25 percent of the global population.

Mobile is already the largest banking channel by terms of volume of transactions, according to KPMG's figures which used primary survey data supplied by UBS Evidence Lab, but the sector is about to experience rapid growth.

The Global Mobile Banking Report suggests the volume will increase as mobile banking and payment systems are integrated into other technologies.

INVEST NOW

Banks must adapt of die. Mobile banking is clearly supplanting all other channels as the main portal between the bank and the consumer. Many banks have already risen to the challenge and invested in new infrastructure and pioneering initiatives, but others must follow suit and commit to building both immediate propositions and ongoing capability to keep up with the pace of change.

'Banks must overcome substantial infrastructural challenges and reconcile consumers’ appetite for ease of use with greater security. Boldness will be required to overcome these challenges and the only sure-fire winner will be the consumer'.

DEVELOPING WORLD

KPMG claims that in the short-term, the availability of mobile banking is a key factor when customers choose to switch provider. Adoption rates are highest in developing countries reaching 60-70 per cent in China and India, as opposed to developed nations such as the US, UK and Europe.

Samsung has partnered with MasterCard for the European launch of its contactless payments service Samsung Pay.

The Korean manufacturer will use MasterCard's Digital Enablement Service (MDES) to allow users to make purchases through their mobile devices.

"Both organisations are committed to ground breaking tech innovations that will deliver on the promise of a true mobile wallet," said Global Head of Samsung Pay - Injong Rhee.

Samsung Pay is scheduled to launch in the US and Korea later this summer, and now the manufacturer and Master Card will work with card issuers to bring the service to Europe, but the firm did not reveal a launch date.

MDES was announced in 2013 and MasterCard claims 'millions' of accounts have been 'tokenised', which provides the security aspect of the transaction when making digital wallet services.

MasterCard Europe president Javier Perez added; "With the continued global growth and reliance on connected mobile devices, we are delighted to expand our relationship with Samsung by extending the reach of Samsung Pay and MDES to cardholders in Europe. Europeans have been leading the way in the adoption of new ways to shop, buy and make payments. Through our strong partnership with Samsung we look forward to continuing to drive innovation in mobile commerce by creating a simple and secure digital payment experience for consumers"

The news comes following the UK launch of Apple Pay on 14 July '15. The service is currently available in more than 250,000 locations across the country. No more digging for your card in your wallet, pay using your iPhone 6, Apple Watch or iPad. Banks participating in Apple Pay;

• American Express • first direct • HSBC • NatWest • Nationwide Building Society • MBNA • Royal Bank of Scotland • Santander • Ulster Bank

Ofcom asks industry to help rewrite portability rule book

Ofcom has launched a consultation on the process used to change mobile provider and port their number.

The current process requires a consumer wishing to port their number to first inform their provider and request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC), which they must provide within 24 hours. That code, which is valid for one month, must then be issued to their new provider in order to retain their existing number. Ofcom said it is concerned this process has led to some operators making it deliberately difficult to switch provider and as of last month, opened an investigation into arrangements for cancelling services.

The investigation comes after it was revealed that operators were using 'dirty tricks' to delay providing PAC codes and ultimately preventing customers from leaving. The regulator has already requested feedback from UK operators on the current system and is now inviting comments from operators and other parties involved in the industry for ideas on how to change the porting process. Interested parties must submit comment by October 6th.

Ofcom has already suggested the introduction of its 'gaining-operator led service', that would cut out the part where customers have to contact the network they are leaving.

Ofcom requested users with suggestions go online to www.ofcom.org.uk and select the stakeholders option, which brings up contact details where ideas can be submitted.

iPhone - Is it fake or real????

When you got your precious, shiny new iPhone, did you check its pedigree. The following report may make you shiver........

A factory which allegedly made up to 41,000 fake Apple iPhones has been raided in China, with nine arrests. The operation reportedly involved "hundreds" of workers repackaging second hand smartphone parts as new iPhones for export, with counterfeit phones produced worth 120m yuan ($19m). The factory was discovered on 14 May but was revealed on social media by Beijing's public security bureau on Sunday, according to reports. The operation was set up in January. It was led by a husband and wife team, on the northern outskirts of the Chinese capital, according to Beijing authorities. They said they had been alerted to the factory by US authorities which had seized some of the fake phones.

The reports come amid an official Chinese crackdown on counterfeit goods, with authorities pushing firms to trademark their goods. China has also agreed to work with the US authorities to try to stem the large quantities of fake goods flowing between the two countries.

The discovery of the factory comes four years after fake Apple stores were found in Kunming city, China. The fakes were so convincing she said many of the staff themselves were convinced that they were employed by the US electronics firm.

So let us help you; how to check if your iPhone is fake or real.

Each iPhone has a serial number that identifies it. By looking up the serial number, you can verify whether or not it's in Apple's database. Locate the serial number on the iPhone by tapping "Settings," choosing "General" and selecting "About." Scroll down to "Serial Number," and keep the screen open or write down the number. Visit "https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do" and input the serial number. The system lets you know whether or not your iPhone is still within the warranty period. If you receive the message "we're sorry, but this serial number is not valid. Please check your information and try again," it is likely that the iPhone is a fake.

Always check where you are getting your phone from, or just make Fivebars Mobile your first point of call for all your telephony needs.

IoT - what's it all about!

Businesses are connecting everything you can think of to the internet - cars, vending machines, white goods, cameras, wind turbines and even cattle.

Rather than thinking about IoT as just a way to connect ‘everything to everything’, you need to consider the value this technology can add to your business by supply.

No business can afford to be complacent about the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.   This innovative technology is creating new opportunities for businesses to push the boundaries and deliver new, disruptive services ahead of your rivals.

Many of you will know M2M, or Machine to Machine to give it its full title, but in recent years, it’s no longer just about machines talking to machines.  It’s now about almost everything on the planet being connected, via the Internet of Things.  And as many of these connected ‘Things’ are in a mobile environment, they require Mobile SIM’s to complete the connectivity process.

IoT isn’t just the next big thing, it’s set to see massive growth with an additional 20 billion SIM’s being connected over the next 5 years.  That’s an 1800% growth rate on where we are today.

So what’s driving the growth?  What are these ‘Connected Things’?  Well the simple answer is that companies are connecting literally everything to the internet and they’re doing this in order to obtain more date and drive a more accurate and timely decision-making process. 

If you already know about IoT let us connect you, if you want to know more about IoT and how it will grow your business let us help you.

'Don't be rushed, don't be hushed'............

July is Scams Awareness Month

July is Scams Awareness Month, a campaign from Citizens Advice and Trading Standards aimed at improving our ability to stop and avoid scams.

Thousands of people fall for telephone scams each year.  And it's not just vulnerable people who get caught out - professionals, professors and even bank managers have fallen prey to some of the tricks detailed below.

The Scams Awareness Month tag line this year is 'Don't be rushed, don't be hushed'.

This is  particularly appropriate when it comes to telephone scams, people calling out of the blue offering investment opportunities with phenomenal returns, or calls to say your computer has a virus, when it doesn't or of course the one we all know about the call from 'your' bank.

So, lets take a closer look at just how 10 common telephone scams work, and how to protect yourself.

1.  Investment scams

Many of us will at some time receive a phone call out of the blue from someone promising us a great way to make money.  Often it will be enticing you into investing in something exotic like wine, carbon credits or land in Brazil.

The deal on offer will sound fantastic.  You'll be told that the investment is low risk, there's no way it can loose.  And the returns will be unbelievable, far more impressive than anything you can get from your bank or even by sticking your money into a few FTSE 100 shares.

Of course, it will all be a con.  The callers are scammers, trying to get your to sign over your cash into an investment where the only winner will be them.

Citizens Advice reported that one person it spoke to was convinced to invest £100,000 wines, only to discover they were worth less than half that amount.

2. Pension Scams

One of the most common cold call topics at the moment are pension.  Thanks to the new pension freedoms over-55's have far more control over what to do with their pension pots.  And that presents a massive opportunity for scammers.

Back in May, the Information Commissioner's Office reported receiving more that 1,000 complaints about pension-related cold calls and texts this year already.

Beware, if someone calls you out of the blue offering to help you access to your pension particularly if you're not yet 55, its going to be a scam.

3.  Computer virus phone scams

Some scammers will simply prey on your fears to con you out of your money.

For example, some scammers will call and tell you that you have a virus on your computer and that only they can help you remove it.  They will pretend to be from Microsoft or another big tech company, and talk you into downloading some form of software that allows the caller to access your computer, so that they can 'remove the virus'.

They will almost certainly try to empty your bank account or spend on your credit card too.

4. Bank account scams

Scammers may also call and say that there has been a security breach on your bank account that they need to fix.  Of course, to do that they'll need your account details, including your PIN.  Give these details and your account will be drained!

Or there is the courier scam.  You receive a call, supposedly from the police or your bank, stating that it has seen fraudulent payments on your card and it needs to be replaced.  A courier will be sent to collect your card and arrange for a new one.  By now they have your card, your name and your home address.

5.  Tax rebate scam

You will receive a call informing you that your are due a tax rebate.  You are then asked to divulge your bank card details over the phone so the money can be paid in to your account.  Of course the fraudsters plan is to take money from your account.  

If you are due a tax rebate, you will only every be contacted in writing by post.

6.  Telephone disconnection scams

Here the scammer will call posing as a representative of a major telecoms provider.  You will be told that your account is in arrears, or your telephone line needs digital upgrade work.  As a result, you will need to hand over your bank details to make a payment.  You're then tricked into believing your phone line has temporarily been cut of - which leads you to think the call is genuine.  However, in reality the fraudster stays on the line with the 'mute' button on meaning you can't make any calls.

7.  Spoof phone number scams

It is easy for scammers to buy 'spoof' phone numbers, which look like genuine UK telephone numbers, in order to give themselves more creditability.  One particular warning sign is if the caller tries to draw special attention to the name and number which appeared on the screen when your phone started ringing.

8.  Council Tax Scams

Bogus callers posing as council officials inform home owners that they've either paid too much or too little council tax due to their due to their homes being put into a new tax band.

During the scam, the victim is urged to hand over their bank details to ensure a refund can be made or to avoid a fine for late payment.  Of course, what actually happens is very different - the fraudsters empty the victims bank account and are never heard of again.  Local authorities have stated that no council would ever contact a resident in such a way and that all correspondence in such cases is written.

9.  Text Message Scams

A new scam is doing the rounds which trick victims into handing over bank security details through spoof text messages.  The text appears to be sent from the victims bank, claiming that the recipients account or account details need to be updated.

They encourage people to call a number or visit a website stating that the matter is urgent.  What the recipient doesn't know is that the number or website is controlled by fraudsters, allowing them to steal security details which can then be used to access the recipients bank account to steal money.

Scammers use specialist software which alters the sender ID on the message so that it appears as the name of the victim's bank, adding it to any existing message threads on the recipient's phone.

10.  How to protect yourself

You should always be suspicious of any call out of the blue.  If an investment sounds too good to be true, then chances are it is.  If the caller says they are from your bank, don't be afraid to hang up then call the bank directly to establish if the caller's claims are genuine.

The person on the other line will be trying to hassle you into agreeing to whatever they want, whether that is investing in a diamond mine in South Africa or handing over remote access to your computer.  Don't let them.  Always take your time.  Or just hang up, don't get scammed because you didn't want to be rude.

You could invest in a 'nuisance calls blocker' telephone and make sure you are signed up to the Telephone Preference Service.

And you should always report any attempted scam calls to Action Fraud.

Mobiles ' most popular way to bank'

Banking on smartphones is a 'game changer' which is set to be more popular than using a computer to bank.

Customers will check their current accounts 895 million times on their mobiles in 2015, research for the British Bankers Association suggests.

This will outstrip 705 million checks on computers, 427 million branch visits and 64 million telephone calls.

Five years ago, internet banking was the most popular.

In 2010, customers checked accounts 565 million times on their computer, 502 million times at a branch and only 86 million times on mobile phones.

"Technology is changing our lives and banking is no different," said Anthony Browne, Chief Executive of the BBA.  "The rapid take up of apps and mobile banking appears to be a real game changer for the British public".

Cash Drop

Customers have moved £2.9bn a week using  banking apps in 2015, compared with £2bn a week on average in 2014, the BBA said.

The figures come after a report in May found that cashless payments had overtaken the use of notes and coins for the first time.

Some 52% of payments last year were made up of electronic transactions, ranging from high-value transfers to debit card payments, as well as cheques, according to the Payments Council.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33132111

VODAFONE TRIALS BIRD BOX ANTENNA

Vodafone has developed a mini-antenna designed to look like a bird nesting box.

The new mini-antenna, designed in conjunction with NET Coverage Solutions, picks up signal from a nearby mobile mast and boosting it to strengthen indoor coverage.

Early  Bird

The box is currently being trialled in a garden in Wiltshire, with the design specifically aimed at blending in the a rural setting

Vodafone UK head technical engineer Pedro Santos, who installed the system, said "We take great care about the visual impact our systems have on the beautiful countryside.  A standard external mobile antenna can look out of place situated on, or near, a rural cottage so we are always looking at clever ways to ensure they blend in to the surroundings".

"The Vodafone bird box in working well and no birds have been sufficiently fooled to try to get in to it, although the customer says it looks very convincing"

Does BT’s purchase of EE mean the end of mobile networks?

So BT having originally sold Cellnet/O2 to balance the books have now entered the mobile market again as a network operator as opposed to a virtual with EE as its portfolio mobile offering. While this on the surface may look like a plan to rival Sky and Virgin with the consumer all in offering of TV, Broadband, Mobile and Telephone, I believe it goes much further than that. 

Last week EE announced that it’s customers can now make calls over WiFi, just like O2 customers can with TU GO. I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before Vodafone announce the same. This means that there won’t really be a need for  the home/office boost box as the calls can be routed straight over WiFi using most 3G handsets. BT though have millions of WiFi locations which currently offer its customers use of BT WiFi, formerly Openzone and Fon. Now Fon for those of you who don’t know is BT’s jewel. This is where it lets you use bandwidth on any BT home or business users network without you even needing their WPA password. This means that BT & EE customers will now be able to make and receive calls & data in more locations than O2 & Vodafone put together. 

BT also have the added advantage that for pretty much all broadband installations require Openreach to attend and operate a phone line. The only thing holding everything back for now is that call quality is only as good as the network you are on and too many places in the UK are still offering substandard speeds especially in rural areas. 

I've just taken delivery of a device this morning to help a customer who can’t get a line in at his new premises, but this device can plug in to his WiFi and propagate it’s signal 2 miles away. He can then have the ability to run a VOIP phone system on it without a phone line or WiFi on the premises. It will also provide the same quality data connection speed in his new location. With this kind of tech available right now, the rollout of fibre and the inevitability of WiFi improving all the time, how long will it be before the mobile mast becomes a thing of the past? 

Smile ...... iPhone Selfies on a timer 

Take selfies on a timer

Selfies may of been banned in Cannes, but everywhere else they are still in vogue.  So, how to achieve that snap without your arm in the way?  Use the shutter timer...... frame your shot, tap the timer icon  and the number of seconds, then tap the shutter button and jump in to the shot.

Go Faster with Your iPhone.........

Quickly Manage Your Mail

Customer web history will  be kept on file for one year

The Conservative Party can now implement policies, unpopular with civil rights groups, such as the Draft Communications Data Bill, previously rejected by the coalition.  The Bill will force internet service providers and mobile networks to retain customer data for at least 12 months.  This would include records on browsing activity, social media, email, voice calls, internet gaming and messaging services.

Following the Queens speech on 27^th May 2015 the Investigatory Powers Bill  will be as follows;

“New legislation will modernise the law on communications data.” The purpose of this legislation is to:

• Provide the police and intelligence agencies with the tools to keep you and your family safe.

• Address ongoing capability gaps that are severely degrading the ability of law enforcement and intelligence agencies ability to combat terrorism and other serious crime.

• Maintain the ability of our intelligence agencies and law enforcement to target the on-line communications of terrorists, paedophiles and other serious criminals.

• Modernise our law in these areas and ensure it is fit for purpose.

• Provide for appropriate oversight and safeguard arrangements. The main benefits of these clauses would be:

• Better equipping law enforcement and intelligence agencies to meet their key operational requirements, and addressing the gap in these agencies’ ability to build intelligence and evidence where subjects of interest, suspects and vulnerable people have communicated on-line.

• Maintain the ability of our intelligence agencies to target the on-line communications of terrorists, and other relevant capabilities.

• Provide for appropriate oversight arrangements and safeguards.

• This will respond to issues raised in the independent review by the Independent Reviewer of Counter-Terrorism legislation, which is due to be published shortly. The main elements of the clauses are:

• The legislation covers all investigatory powers including communications data, where the Government has long maintained that the gap in capabilities are putting lives at risk. 27 May 2015 

• The legislation will enable the continuation of the targeting of terrorist communications and other capabilities. 

THE SPY IN YOUR HAND

You might not realise it but your iPhone has been watching and recording exactly where you've been and how long you spent there.  Are you where you should be!!

It's weird, fascinating and just a little bit scary to realise that your iPhone contains a perfect record of where you've been in the last month or so.  That includes the exact time you arrived and left anywhere;  your office, a bar, the shopping centre, even the beach!!

Apple say the data is collected "in order to learn places that are significant to you" and improve traffic routing services.  The company says the data is stored locally on your iPhone and will not be accessed elsewhere or shared with anyone else.

Now if you would rather use your memory and photos to record where you've been, here's how to switch off this spy;

 In System Services scroll all the way down to the bottom, press 'Frequent Locations' and look at the 'History' section.  Click on one of the area names to see where you've been - you may be surprised!

Watch out for those Tattoos says Apple

Apple has warned customers with tattoos around their wrists, they may experience performance issues when using its newly released Watch due to the ink blocking its sensors.

The manufacturer has received a number of complaints surrounding the heart rate sensor on the device, since it went on sale in April.

Apple confirmed in a statement there are numerous factors which can affect the Watch's ability to detect a heart beat, including temperature, motion and changes to skin colour - such as tattoos.

The heart rate sensor on the smart watch uses technology known as 'photoplethysmography' to detect the amount of blood flowing through a users wrist by reflecting light off the skin.  Apple said;  "Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance.  "The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings".

Back to the Future: our favourite smartphones, past & present

The Huffington Post recently published their list of the 10 Best Smartphones currently available. It’s not a hugely surprising list, but it makes for interesting reading:

• 1.       Apple iPhone 6/6Plus
• 2.       Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• 3.       HTC One M9
• 4.       Sony Xperia z3
• 5.       Huawei P8
• 6.       Google Nexus 6
• 7.       LG G3
• 8.       Motorola Moto X2
• 9.       Samsung Galaxy Note 4
• 10.   Nokia Lumia 930

It is obviously the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S6 which have had the most press, but the HTC and the Huawei in particular are stand out phones which show promise for the future of the companies. It is worth noting that there is only one Windows phone on the list, but we fully expect that to change over the next five years, with the upcoming introduction of the multi-platform Windows 10.

Reading this list, though, got us all thinking about our favourite phones that we’ve had over the years. There were some favourites that we all had in common, and many of them are on the list of the all-time bestselling mobiles:

• 1.       20. Nokia 2650, 2004, 35 million units
• 2.       Apple iPhone 3GS, 2009, 35+ million units
• 3.       Samsung Galaxy SII, 2011, ~40 million units
• 4.       Samsung Galaxy SIII, 2012, ~40 million units
• 5.       Nokia 6230, 2004, 50 million units
• 6.       Nokia 3100, 2003, 50+ million units
• 7.       Motorola StarTAC, 1996, 60 million units
• 8.       Motorola C200, 2003, ~60 million units
• 9.       Apple iPhone 4S, 2011, 60+ million units
• 10.   Nokia 5130, 2007, 65 million units
• 11.   Nokia 6010, 2004, 75 million units
• 12.   Nokia 1208, 2007, 100 million units
• 13.   Nokia 1600, 2006, 130 million units
• 14.   Motorola RAZR V3, 2004, 130+ million units
• 15.   Nokia 2600, 2004, 135 million units
• 16.   Nokia 3310, 2000, 136 million units
• 17.   Nokia 5230, 2010, 150 million units
• 18.   Nokia 1200, 2007, ~150 million units
• 19.   Nokia 3210, 1999, 160 million units
• 20.   Nokia 1110, 2005, 250 million units

Both the Motorola RAZR and the Nokia 3210 appeared on our favourites list – especially for those in the office in their mid-thirties! But there’s a few of us who definitely had a soft spot for the Sony Ericsson T610, and the W200i. The T610 was one of the first mobiles to have a quality in-built camera; even if it was just 0.1MP. And the W200i featured the Walkman tie-in, allowing users to play MP3, AMR, MIDI, and WAV files (amongst others).

The one thing that we all remembered, was playing Snake. Either on our own Nokia 3210 (remember the battery life on that thing?!), or borrowed from a friend. So imagine the elation when the Fivebars office discovered that you can download the Snake ’97 app for both Android and iOS.

We pride ourselves on providing the best mobile phone deals for our business customers, but there is a little pang of regret that we can’t sell you one of our favourite late 90s, or early 2000s phones.

Go Go Gadget…

With EE’s offer of a free-but-for-the-price-of-a-text-message Power Bar for every customer, we thought we’d take a look at some of the other useful gadgets for business mobile users – because running out of battery half-way through a day of out-of-office meetings is no longer your biggest problem.

“The overhead storage compartments are full…”

One of the advantages of some of the Android phones over iPhones has always been the ability to use a microSD for extra storage space, but a number of Androids seem to be doing away with this feature.

So what do you do when you love a particular phone, but know you’ll need more storage? Use a flash drive!

If it’s so simple you’re probably wondering why more people don’t do it. Some phones have the drivers already installed (I tried plugging a flash drive into my S4 Mini, but it did not immediately recognise it), but many phones will require that you do something called ‘rooting’ where you download an app which will allow your operating system to recognise the drive. There are a number of apps that you can use, and it will depend on your phone and your OS as to which one you choose. However, you may want to check your warranty, as rooting your phone can invalidate it.

“The pilot will be dimming the lights…”

Many people have to travel for business, which means that their phones become portable offices whilst they are away from their desk. Now, you’ve added the extra storage capacity, which means that you can carry your flash drive full of music with you at all times, but you don’t want to be that kid at the back of the bus.

If you like to listen to music to help you sleep whilst travelling – or even when you’re at home – then there are a couple of options available. You can get pillows which have mini speakers inside; either plug your phone in via the headphone socket, or connect by Bluetooth. Or use something like SleepPhones. These look like soft headbands that are much more comfortable than earbuds or headphones when you’re sleeping. They, like the pillows, can be used with or without wires, and would be ideal for plane or train journeys.

“Please ensure that your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright, and locked position…”

There are times when using your phone is not always appropriate or possible, in which case you may want something to keep you occupied – especially if you rely on your Kindle app for reading. We would recommend the Belkin LEGO Builder Case (available for iPhone 5/5S) – ideal for the nervous flyer!

We'd love to hear what your favourite mobile gadgets are, so leave a comment below. And if you want the best mobile deal for your business, get in touch with us at Fivebars Mobile.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Five Best Apps for Improving Productivity

You’ll see from the title of today’s blog, that the intention was to write about the best apps for improving your productivity.

Unfortunately, not everything went to plan…

We picked an office guinea pig to try each of these apps out, and whilst things started off well, it would be incorrect to suggest that productivity for today was increased for all.

Streamlining your phone

The first apps we played with were Opera Max, and CleanMaster, both available for free on iOS and Android.

Opera Max is designed to manage your data. It compresses videos, images, and other media to save your mobile data usage, and to speed up mobile browsing. It also self-pauses when your WiFi is turned on. It’s relatively useful if you regularly find yourself paying for data at the end of the month, but if you have a good mobile phone plan, like those on offer here at Fivebars Mobile, you probably have more than enough data already.

CleanMaster installs a ‘1 Tap Boost’ button onto your home screen, so that you can perform regular ‘sweeps’ of junk that slows down your phone’s performance. Our guinea pig for this app says:

“I decided to really test this out, so before installing it, I trawled through my phone, deleting every cache, every extraneous file. Once installed CM managed to clear another 1.3GB of ‘junk’ – I’m sold!”

Self-motivation

An app that was recommended to us recently was Carrot – which bills itself as a to-do list with a personality. Sadly it is only currently available on iOS, but is fairly priced at £2.29.

The idea behind Carrot is that she already doesn't like you. If you tick off the tasks in your to-do list, you can appease your mini-robot master, but if you fail, Carrot Will Not Be Happy. It’s definitely fun, but whether you get more done than “Task one: write to-do list. Task two: check off task one” just to raise your level, remains to be seen.

Social media

As anybody who uses social media for their business knows, you can easily spend hours on Facebook and Twitter trying to reach everyone. This is where apps like Fenix, and IF come in handy.

Fenix is reasonably priced at £3.69, on Android, and is one of the most consistently well-reviewed third-party Twitter clients available. It allows you to customise how you view your Twitter account, and lets you manage multiple accounts. Our guinea pig would definitely recommend this for people who find themselves tweeting a lot throughout the day.

This brings us to IF. Also known as IFTTT – if this then that.

We’d love to give you a review of this amazing connecting app, but despite having installed it nearly three hours ago, our guinea pig is still playing with it…

The basic premise is that it allows you to connect different apps, by adding ‘recipes.’ These recipes do things like automatically making your latest Instagram photo your screen pic, or sending you an email reminder if you miss a call from your mum. Or, hopefully, switching your employee’s phone off if they miss more than three meetings in a row…