The Samsung Galaxy S4 is already packed full of innovative features, but if you’re looking to futureproof you’re device even more then the Samsung Galaxy S4 Wireless Charging Kit might just be for you.

I have been lucky enough to spend some time in Seoul, South Korea recently and actually managed to purchase the charging kit before its release to the UK market.

The case has worked exceptionally well in the first few days I have been using it. The device still charges pretty quick and stays firm on the charging pad unlike the previous QI charging device I owned (Nexus 4)

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Wireless Charging Kit does make the device a little thicker which actually gives a better feel in the hand, though it does mean a lot of cases will be incompatible when using the kit.

I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S4 Wireless Charging Kit for around 140,000 Korean won which is approximately £79

For a futher look at the Galaxy S4 Wireless Charging Kit check out our YouTube Unboxing

Click here to view the embedded video.

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Wireless Charging Kit appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

The HTC One 4.2.2 leak has been released over at XDA Developers. I decided to flash TrickDroid 6.0.1 to find out what the new leak brings to the already superb HTC One

The update brings a few nice improvements

1. 4.2.2 Quick Toggles

If you have used a 4.2 device before you will know that the quick toggles were redesigned. Originally the HTC One didn’t have any sort of toggles so this is a welcome improvement although it doesn’t seem to offer the same level of customization as the Galaxy S4 does.

2. Battery Percentage

It might be a subtle change but its a nice one! A numeric battery percentage can now be switched on in the usage menu.

3. Instagram on Blinkfeed

You are now able to add you’re Instagram account to Blinkfeed along with Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Linkedin and also Plurk which is a new addition.

4. Button Improvements

The HTC One comes with a strange button layout, HTC decided to avoid using a menu or recent apps button. Fortunately the developers at XDA come up with a nice solution where you could use the top of the HTC logo for menu but now HTC have included there own button fix. You now have the option to set the home button (longpress) to activate menu and swipe up to activate Google Now. Its a good idea but i still prefer the logo setup

5. Daydream

HTC have included the daydream function from 4.2 which allows you to control what you’re HTC One does while its on charge. Although i don’t really understand why you would want to make you’re screen multicoloured

What we didn’t get….

Lockscreen Widgets - HTC have not yet included lockscreen widgets although this is a leak build.

Multi User - Multi user allows you to create a separate area of you’re phone for other family members etc. Unfortunately HTC have not included this in the update

Custom Blinkfeed Sources - HTC added Instagram and Plurk to Blinkfeed but they still havnt added the ability to use custom RSS Feeds. I hope HTC do add this soon, it would take Blinkfeed to a whole new level

Have you flashed the new leak yet? If so, feel free to leave us a comment with you’re experiences

The post HTC One 4.2.2 Leak appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

If you’re the owner of an Android device then it’s likely you have come across the term “Rooting” before. Rooting can be risky for basic users, leaving you’re device open to exploits and harmful apps. So why do so many people decide to do it? Well actually in my opinion, rooting is one of the best parts of Android. In this post we are going to look at 10 reasons to root you’re Android device.

1. Custom Roms

Custom Roms are our number 1 reason for rooting Android devices. The XDA forums have a range of skilled developers making roms, some will offer new themes and better battery life while the others will offer groundbreaking tweaks or leaked updates. TrickDroid and Omega roms are a fine example of great custom roms. Trickdroid allows you to use the HTC Logo on the new HTC One as a menu button and even offers an extensive tweaks package which allows you to change the battery logo, grid size and even theme aspects of you’re phone.

Omega rom on the other hand is available for most of the Samsung Galaxy phones and offers a tweaked stock base with a lot of good additions such as themes, mods and even OTA updates. The developers will often remove bloatware from the devices to squeeze some extra battery out of you’re phone but they usually allow you to download a package if you want any of that manufacturer bloatware back.

2. Titanium Backup

Some manufacturers such as Samsung or HTC offer their own backup and restore services, unfortunately none of them come close to Titanium Backup. The backup solutions from the manufacturer are mainly geared towards saving you’re photos, contacts and texts rather than transferring you’re apps. Titanium Backup will allow you to backup app’s to you’re phone or sd card and even the app data so you won’t be losing those Candy Crush saves anymore! Titanium can also backup you’re wifi and bluetooth pairings and settings.

Cost: Free/£4.49

3. Mybackup Pro

Mybackup Pro can be used to fill in the gaps left by Titanium Backup, using the 2 together creates the ultimate backup experience. Mybackup Pro is great at saving you’re texts, call log and contacts. Mybackup can also be used to backup applications but i have always found Titanium Backup to be the best option for app management. Mybackup will allow you to store you’re backups on you’re sd card or on their cloud servers.

Cost: £3.15

4. FolderMount

Android apps are getting bigger by the day. Some HD games can take up to 2GB data from you’re internal storage. Interal storage is also used to store texts, call logs and you’re other apps so running out of memory can be a serious problem. The Galaxy S4 is a prime example, 16GB internal storage but when you’re turn the phone on you only have around 8GB free! That’s around 8/9 HD games. Foldermount aims to solve this issue on devices that have a micro sd card slot. Foldermount will move the data from you’re internal storage on to a folder on you’re memory card and then cleverly links the 2 together so you’re device doesn’t notice any difference! FolderMount has been a life saver for me, I have around 30/40 apps installed and i still have 5GB free on my internal memory

Cost: Free

5. Custom Kernels

Kernels are sometimes bundled with custom roms and other times a developer will release them seperately. Using a custom kernel has many benefits, firstly you usually have the option to overclock, underclock or even undervolt. This means you can make you’re phone run faster whilst getting better battery life thanks to the undervolting. Developers such as FranciscoFranco have made groundbreaking developments in terms of kernels. The LG Nexus 4 is arguably faster than the Galaxy S4 when running Franco’s kernel. Custom kernels can also give the user better screen calibration, hardware key mods and volume improvements too (certain devices only)

6. Rom Toolbox Pro

Rom Toolbox Pro is the ultimate all in one application for rooted users. Rom Toolbox Pro gives you ad blocking, backups, root explorer, terminal emulator, font changer, density changer, Kernel management and much more. Rom toolbox is 8/9 root apps rolled into one neat app package! This is a must have app for rooted users.

Cost: £3.25

7. Xposed Framework

Xposed Framework was made by XDA developer Rovo89 and it was one of the best breakthroughs in the world of rooting. Xposed Framework allows you to edit the density (make apps smaller, similar to Paranoid Android), edit batteries, change the status bar and many other cool things. Xposed Framework uses modules which are created by different developers, these modules will even work on a rooted stock rom! For more tips and tricks with the Xposed Framework visit the XDA Thread

Cost: Free

8. Greenify 

Greenify is a really clever app that can greatly improve the performance and battery life of you’re Android device. If you’re anything like me you will have a lot of applications installed on you’re phone, what you may not realise is some of these will automatically be running in the background without you even starting them! Greenify acts in a similar way to iOS, it shows you the apps that run in the background and then allows you to put them into hibernation. Hibernation means the app will no longer start without you opening it! Greenify has made a real difference to my devices since i started using it

Cost: Free

9. Root Explorer

Root Explorer is one of the nicest and simplest root managers on Android. Root Explorer allows you to edit and access files in the system directory, of course this might not be of use to everybody but it’s good if you want to delete a particular app from a rom etc. You can even add you’re own APK’s to the system folder if needed!

Cost: £3.00

10. TWRP Recovery

TWRP Recovery is the best recovery available (if you’re phone is supported) TWRP gives you all of the recovery options in a nice and easy touchscreen interface. TWRP also allows you to make full backups of you’re rom. This means you can always restore you’re device to the time when you backed up (similar to a windows restore) A custom recovery is needed to flash Roms & Kernels.

Cost: Free

Hopefully this article has been useful Feel free to ask any questions.

The post 10 Reasons To Root Your Android Device appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

1. Genuine HTC One Car Holder and Charging Kit

The HTC One is the ultimate travelling device thanks to Google Maps support out of the box. If you are planning on using you’re HTC One for navigation purposes then you will certainly want to invest in the HTC Official Car Cradle. The Cradle has a beautiful design with added practicality that allows you to hold and charge the HTC One at the same time.  The Car Cradle will attach to virtually any window or dash and the Cradle will automatically put you’re device into Car Mode when you attach you’re HTC One.

The Car Cradle is made from Polycarbonate and a central metal ball joint which allows you to position the device to suit you. The HTC One simply slides in or out with no fuss which helps give the Cradle a seamless experience.

Mobile Fun customer Adam Weston said

“This is pretty sweet, the plug lets the phone know it’s plugged into a car jack, so it goes into car mode and enables blue tooth. It also has a plate with 3M adhesive on it in case you’re car dash isn’t a good surface for the auction cup. Only downside is the One won’t fit in the mount with a case on it.”

Here is a video courtesy of Marc The Geek that demonstrates the HTC Official Car Cradle

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Official Car Cradle is available for £44.99 from Mobile Fun

2. Desk Dock for HTC One

Are you fed up of trying to find you’re charger every night? Well this Desk Dock can solve that problem for you. The Dock is built using a similar minimalistic design to the HTC One and is also custom built for the device so you don’t need to worry about breaking the port or over charging. The Desk Dock will also hold you’re HTC One at the perfect angle for listening to music or watching a video!

The Desk Dock for HTC One is available for pre order at Mobile Fun (£14.95 Black & White available)

3. Mophie Juice Pack

The HTC One comes packed with a 2300 mAh battery which should easily last most users until they get home to charge the device but there are situations when you need that little bit more. Unfortunately due to it’s unibody design the HTC One does not have a removable battery. If you’re going away for a weekend or are away from a charger for a long time you will need an alternative method of juicing you’re HTC One and this is where the Mophie Juice Pack steps in.

The Mophie Juice Pack doubles up as a durable tough case and also a 2600 mAh battery pack which has enough power to charge you’re HTC One from 0% to 100%. The Juice Pack does add bulk and weight to the device but no more than a similar otterbox case would and the Otterbox does not have a built in charger. All features and ports are fully accessible and you can still use the IR remote even with The Juice Pack fitted.

Here is a video by AndroidCentral demonstrating the Mophie Juice Pack for the HTC One

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Mophie Juice Pack is available for pre order at Mobile Fun (£74.99 Silver & Black available)

4. Otterbox Commuter Case

The aluminium chassis of the HTC One is certainly durable but it’s not gonna survive a hefty drop or keys and coins hitting it in you’re pocket. If you’re looking for ultimate protection for you’re HTC One then you won’t get much better than the Otterbox Commuter case. The Otterbox Commuter offers superb all round protection without adding too much bulk. If you haven’t already read our Otterbox Commuter review you can check it out here. The Otterbox Commuter also includes a screen protector.

Vasilis from Greece said

“THE BEST CASE I HAD EVER.IT IS TIGHT FIT GREAT OTTERBOX MATERIALS.THE CASE FEELS GOOD IN THE HAND AND SOLID LIKE A ROCK.FURTHERMORE THE CASE DOES NOT ADD TOO MUCH THICKNESS AT ALL.GOOD PROTECTION.GREAT CASE. GOOD WORK OTTERBOX THANKS MOBILEFUN!” (Quote taken from Mobile Fun product page)

The Otterbox Commuter case is available from Mobile Fun (£29.95 Black & White available)

5. The Ultimate HTC One Accessory Pack

The Ultimate Accessory Pack for the HTC One contains everything you could possibly need for you’re new HTC One. The pack includes the following

HTC One Desk Stand  

HTC One Car Holder

Flexishield Skin 

Mini Portable Desk Stand

HTC One Car Charger

5 x MFX Screen Protectors

This pack offers you complete protection with added portability! Not bad for such a cheap price!

Brian from the I.O.W said

“Simple stuff realy but when you change to a new phone and want to keep it smart you need new bits and bobs. I needed a new case and screen protector, car charger and desk stand, after a quick search i found all i needed and more in this multi part kit.Gell phon e cover is extra smart in black and fits snuggly with all the essential cutouts.Screen protectors easy to use and the correct size. Desk stand with gell sticky stuff holds the phone great in both Portarit and Landscape views. also the car hoder is a dream with super suction pad and 360 degree tilting .All in all great value kit of essentials.I know its not sexy but good to find it all in one and great value too. p.s. ordered this after i ordered my phone. The kit arrived first!” (Quote taken from the MobileFun product page)

The Ultimate HTC One Accessory Pack is available from Mobile Fun (£19.95)

Hopefully these accessories will be useful for all of the HTC One owners out there. Please feel free to leave any feedback/questions

For a wider variety of HTC One cases visit Mobile Fun’s product page

The post Top 5 HTC One Accessories appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

The Galaxy S4 has now officially launched worldwide and the guys over at Mobilefun have kindly sent me one of the official cases for review. The Official Samsung View Cover is a follow up to the Official Flip Case that was released previously for the Note series and the Galaxy S3.

The View Cover comes in the standard Samsung white box which is easy to open, there are no extras supplied such as screen protectors although Mobilefun do sell a bundle if your looking for even more protection

One of the issues with the previous Flip Covers was that they often frayed around the edge which made them look cheap. Samsung claim to have addressed this in the new Galaxy S4 covers and i must admit the material does feel more substantial. The standard S4 back cover leaves the camera protruding which means it is more liable to scratch when its laid down on a surface. The View Cover uses thicker plastic so the camera becomes level with the back of the device (Although i don”t think this was intentional, it was made this way so it also fits the thicker i9500 model but its certainly an added bonus)

One of the nice things with the View Cover is that it adds virtually no bulk to the Galaxy S4 and still maintains the beautiful sleek look of the device. The View Cover replaces the original battery cover which means its a perfect fit too. The View Cover ‘s main selling point is the little window on the front, this window activates a special screen on the Galaxy S4 which will show you an overview of your notifications and the current time. You can also answer and reject calls without even opening the case! The Galaxy S4 will automatically detect when the case is opened/closed and will turn the screen on/off respectively. This is extremely useful in everyday use. The Galaxy S4 has a wonderful 13 megapixel camera and you will be pleased to know that the little window will also allow you to take photos with the flap folded round the back (although you may lose a little bit of clarity due to the plastic being infront of the lens)

Overall I am very impressed by the View Cover, usually i am not a fan of flip covers but the little view window makes a huge difference to the functionality of the case. I can fully recommend the View Cover for anyone that wants some screen protection and extra functionality without adding too much bulk to there Galaxy S4.

The S View Cover is available here

Pros - 

The view window is a great addition to the Galaxy S4

Good screen protection without adding bulk

Photos can still be taken with the flap folded round the back of the device

Cons - 

View window seems to smear easily

Using the phone one handed can be more difficult with the case on

Expensive

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Official View Cover Review appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

Internet not working on your Smartphone? Nowadays phones require some particular settings to connect to the internet. In most cases these settings will be input automatically when you insert you’re sim card but on some rare occasions you may be left without an internet connection. Trying to find the correct APN’s (Access Point Names) can be a very difficult and tiresome procedure and then inputting them can be even worse, hopefully this article will be useful to those of you that have a Pay As You Go or a Contract.

Click your network below to get the correct internet settings

O2
Three
EE
Orange
T-Mobile
Vodafone
Giffgaff

APN Settings for O2

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: O2 Mobile web (PAYG: O2)

Access Point: mobile.o2.co.uk (PAYG: payandgo.o2.co.uk)

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: O2web (PAYG: payandgo)

Password: Password

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002

MMS Proxy: 193.113.200.195

MMS Port: 8080

MCC: 234

MNC: 10

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: * if available otherwise ignore

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: idata.o2.co.uk (PAYG: payandgo.o2.co.uk)

Username: vertigo

Password:  password

Visual Voicemail (Contract Only)

APN: idata.o2.co.uk

Username: vertigo

Password: password

MMS

APN: idata.o2.co.uk (PAYG: payandgo.o2.co.uk)

Username: vertigo

Password: password

MMSC:  http://mmsc-ac.mms.o2.co.uk:10021/mmsc

MMS Proxy: 193.113.200.195:8080

MMS Max Message Size: 2097152

MMS UA Prof URL:  Leave Blank

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: mobile.o2.co.uk (PAYG: payandgo.o2.co.uk)

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - mobile.o2.co.uk (PAYG - payandgo.o2.co.uk)

Proxy address: - 193.113.200.195

Proxy: 8080

Username: o2web (PAYG: payandgo)

Password: Leave blank

MMSC Address: http://mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings for 3

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: 3 Internet

Access Point: three.co.uk

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: Leave Blank

Password: Leave Blank

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc

MMS Proxy: mms.three.co.uk

MMS Port: 8799

MCC: 234

MNC: 10

Authentication: None

APN Type: * if available otherwise ignore

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: three.co.uk

Username: Leave Blank

Password:  Leave Blank

Visual Voicemail (N/A Contract)

APN: three.co.uk

Username: Leave Blank

Password: password

MMS

Username: Leave Blank

Password: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc

MMS Proxy: mms.three.co.uk:8799

MMS Max Message Size: 2097152

MMS UA Prof URL:  Leave Blank

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: three.co.uk

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - mms.three.co.uk

Proxy address: mms.three.co.uk

Proxy: 8799

Username: Leave Blank

Password: Leave blank

MMSC Address: http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings for EE

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: internet

Access Point: everywhere

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: eesecure

Password: secure

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  Leave Blank

MMS Proxy: Leave Blank

MMS Port: Leave Blank

MCC: 234

MNC: 30

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: Leave Blank

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: everywhere

Username: eesecure

Password:  secure

EE also offer support for Visual Voicemail for customers who are on one of the 4G tariffs. This will need activating by sending a text to 150 saying iphone visual

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: everywhere

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - eezone

Proxy address: - 149.254.201.135

Proxy: 8080

Username: eesecure

Password: secure

MMSC Address: http://mms/

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings Orange

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: internet

Access Point: everywhere

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: eesecure

Password: secure

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  Leave Blank

MMS Proxy: Leave Blank

MMS Port: Leave Blank

MCC: 234

MNC: 30

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: Leave Blank

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: everywhere

Username: eesecure

Password:  secure

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: everywhere

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - eezone

Proxy address: - 149.254.201.135

Proxy: 8080

Username: eesecure

Password: secure

MMSC Address: http://mms/

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings T Mobile

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: T mobile internet

Access Point:  general.t-mobile.uk

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: t-mobile

Password: tm

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mmsc.t-mobile.co.uk:8002

MMS Proxy: 149.254.201.135

MMS Port: 8080

MCC: 234

MNC: 30

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: Leave Blank

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: general.t-mobile.uk

Username: t-mobile

Password:  tm

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: general.t-mobile.uk

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - general.t-mobile.uk

Proxy address: - 149.254.201.135

Proxy: 8080

Username: user

Password: one2one

MMSC Address: http://mmsc.t-mobile.co.uk:8002

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings Vodafone

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: Vodafone Internet

Access Point:  internet (PAYG: pp.vodafone.co.uk)

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: web

Password: web

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms

MMS Proxy: 212.183.137.012

MMS Port: 8799

MCC: 234

MNC: 15

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: Internet + MMS if available otherwise leave blank

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: internet

Username: web

Password:  web

MMS

APN: wap.vodafone.co.uk

Username: wap

Password: wap

MMSC: http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms

MMS Proxy: 212.183.137.012:8799

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: internet (PAYG: pp.vodafone.co.uk)

Proxy: Leave Blank

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: internet (PAYG: pp.vodafone.co.uk)

Proxy address: 212.183.137.012

Proxy: 8080

Username: web

Password: web

MMSC Address: http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms

Port: Leave Blank

APN Settings for GiffGaff

Android

Firstly to enter the settings on to an Android phone you will need to

Go to your app drawer/applications list

Press on Settings

Press on Wireless and Networks

Scroll down to Mobile Networks

Make sure Packet Data is switched on

Now click on Access Points

Now you need to press the menu key and select Add Apn and enter one of the following APN’s (Depending on whether you are contract or pay and go)

Name: giffgaff

Access Point: giffgaff.com

Proxy: Leave Blank

Port: Leave Blank

Username: giffgaff

Password: Password

Server: Leave Blank

MMSC:  http://mmsc.mediamessaging.co.uk:8002

MMS Proxy: 193.113.200.195

MMS Port: 8080

MCC: 234

MNC: 10

Authentication: PAP

APN Type: Internet + MMS if available otherwise ignore

Now simply press the menu button then select Save, now just click the circle that is next to the APN you just created. Reboot your phone and now internet and picture messaging should both be working.

iPhone/iPad

To enter the settings on a iPhone/iPad you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Select General

Select Mobile Data

Select Mobile Data Network

Now you need to type this information into the relevant boxes

APN: giffgaff.com

Username: giffgaff

Password:  password

MMS

APN: giffgaff.com

Username: giffgaff

Password: password

MMSC:  http://mmsc.mediamessaging.co.uk:8002

MMS Proxy: 193.113.200.195:8080

MMS Max Message Size: 2097152

MMS UA Prof URL:  Leave Blank

Windows Phone

To enter the settings on to a Windows Phone you will need to do the following

Open Settings

Press Mobile Network

Choose Add APN

Now you will need to enter the following settings

APN: giffgaff.com

Proxy: Leave Blank

Username: giffgaff

Password: password

To get MMS working you will need to scroll down the page a little and enter the following

MMS: - giffgaffmms

Proxy address: - 193.113.200.195

Proxy: 8080

Username: Leave Blank

Password: Leave blank

MMSC Address: http://mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002

Port: Leave Blank

The post Internet Not Working On Your Smartphone? appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

The Galaxy S4 officially launches this weekend in most major markets and if you’re lucky enough to get you’re hands on one you might also be interested in rooting it. Legendary developer Chainfire has already released a version of CF-Autoroot for the Galaxy S4.

Chainfire states

“This root has been tested on the XXUAMD2 firmware and is found working. It will not work on older firmwares that that, and we’ll just have to wait and see if it will work on newer ones …

GT-I9505 only, this is the Qualcomm-based Galaxy S4 LTE”

Chainfire has not given many instructions on the thread so I thought it would be a great idea to write a quick guide for those of you that are new to rooting.

Before we start please download Chainfire’s auto root package from here

1. First off you will want to switch off your Galaxy S4. Then all you need to do is hold down the volume down key + Home Key whilst powering on the phone, you should then see a screen similar to the one here (right)

2. Now you will need to extract the file that you downloaded earlier. Now open the folder that you have just extracted and double click on Odin 3 v.185. You should see a screen similar to this one

3. Now plug your Galaxy S4 into your computer using the USB Cable that was supplied. You should see the first box on the second column become yellow to confirm you’re phone is successfully connected. Click on the PDA button and select the CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.tar.md5 file. Now press start (Make sure repartion is NOT CHECKED)

4. After a minute or so you’re Galaxy S4 should automatically reboot. You are now rooted

Hopefully this post was useful to those of you looking to root the Samsung Galaxy S4, keep an eye on MobileMadeSimple for some of the best tips and tricks for your rooted device. Please feel free to leave feedback/comments

The post How To Root The Samsung Galaxy S4 appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

With just under a week to go until the launch of Samsung’s latest flagship device I thought it would be a great idea to write up a definitive guide explaining the key features, the best accessories and some tips and tricks you can do when you get the device. Firstly we will look at what features set the Galaxy S4 apart from its competition.

Galaxy S4 – Key Features

Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes packed with a 1.9ghz quad-core snapdragon 600 processor, Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB ram which will ensure the Galaxy S4 is among the elite when it comes to performance and gaming capability. The Galaxy S4 also has 16gb of built in storage (32GB & 64GB versions should also be available) which can be expanded with another 64GB using a Micro SD card and also a 2,600 mah removable battery in its arsenal which gives it the advantage over rivals such as the HTC One or Xperia Z. This is particularly useful when you’re going away for a weekend and need the extra juice.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the first phone from Samsung to ship with a 1080p Full HD Super Amoled display. This will give you jaw dropping quality whether you are watching moves, playing games or even browsing the 800,000+ apps available on the Google Play Store.

Air View

If you have had the pleasure of using a Galaxy Note 2 you may be familiar with the term ‘Air View’. This is a clever software feature from Samsung that allowed you to hover the S Pen above the screen to view a preview of emails or to take a peek inside one of your photo albums.  The Galaxy S4 completely reinvents Air View, you can now navigate around the device and peek for more information by simply hovering your finger above the screen. This is the first time we have seen this sort of technology in a smart phone. You can now effortlessly swipe between your photos by simply using hand gestures.

You can see Air View demonstrated by Phonearena on the following video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Smart Scroll & Smart Pause

The Galaxy S4 introduces another two amazing features known as Smart Scroll and Smart Pause, thanks to the fantastic progression Samsung is making with its software. Your phone can now be closer to understanding what you need and when you need it than ever before. Smart Scroll will cleverly move the text up and down when you need it without you having to touch the screen. The phone cleverly detects how much of the text you have read by the way your hand is tilting it. This is ideal for reading emails or articles on the net whilst you’re standing on a bus or travelling on the tube.

Smart Pause takes Samsung’s eye recognition to an whole new level, the Galaxy S4 now has the ability to detect when you are actually watching the screen and when you’re not. For example, you’re watching a video on the train but the tea lady comes round to see if you want a coffee OH NO you have only gone and missed the best part of the film! Well not anymore, the Galaxy S4 will cleverly pause the video when you look away from the screen and will resume it as soon as you look back at the screen. Now is that clever or what?

Here is a short demo by T3 where you can actually see these brilliant features in action

Click here to view the embedded video.

New Camera Features

The Galaxy S4 is the first galaxy series phone to pack a 13 megapixel camera and along with the megapixel increase Samsung have included some very cool new camera features. Dual camera allows you to capture memories using both the front camera and the rear camera at the same time which will be ideal for those times when you need to capture your own reaction to something. It could also be extremely useful for those of you that need to record video reviews and need yourself talking to the camera at the same time.

The Galaxy S4 also introduces Drama Shot, this allows you to take several photos in succession and the phone will cleverly put them in a nice looking collage. This will be ideal when you want to take a photo of a special theatre performance. We also get all of the best camera features from the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 including Best Shot, Smile Detection and 1080p video recording.

S Translate

Have you ever been on holiday and been dying to ask a local resident a question only to find out your language skills aren’t up to scratch? Well if you’re going to be the owner of a new shiny Galaxy S4 then this won’t be a problem anymore thanks to the new S Translate application. S Translate can take text or speech and then translate it into many other languages for you at the press of a button, you can now be a polyglot simply by having this beauty in your pocket. S Translate currently supports 9 languages including French, Spanish, English, Korean, Chinese, German, Italian and Portuguese. You will also be pleased to know the app is loaded with up to 3000 common words for each language so you can still use translations even without an active internet connection.

Want to see S Translate in action? Here is the segment from the New York Unpacked event courtesy of GSMinsider

Click here to view the embedded video.

Connectivity

The Galaxy S4 comes packed with all the latest connectivity features including Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, S Beam, WiFi, Glonass GPS. An Infrared sensor is also included so you can use your smartphone like a remote for your television. The Galaxy S4 also comes with top notch support for the latest 4G networks which will enable you to get up to 100Mbps for downloads and 50Mbps for uploads! Downloading and streaming on the go has never been so simple!

The Galaxy S4 will also work anywhere in the world so you will never have an excuse to leave your trusty companion at home!

Accessories

So now you’re aware of some of the Galaxy S4′s unique features and you’ve decided that you can’t wait to get your hands on one, but wait… You need some sort of protection for your new phone? Well not to fear! Mobilefun already have a great selection of accessories available for the Galaxy S4 and we will take a sneak peak at some of them here!

Cases

So first and foremost the most important accessory you probably need is a case, there is already a wide selection of both official and third party cases available at Mobilefun and we will take a look at some of them here.

Samsung Official Flip Case

This case is the official flip cover from Samsung which you may have seen previously for the S3 & Note 2. The flip cases replaces the original battery cover and then gives you full screen protection without adding any bulk to the device. The flip case is unlikely to protect your device from falls though so if you often drop your devices then this case may not be for you. You can see our review of the Official Flip Cover here

The case is available in both White & Black with more colours available soon. Price – £26.99

Samsung View Cover

The View Cover is another official case from Samsung. The View Cover is an improved version of the Official Flip cover, the View Cover offers the advantage of seeing your notifications with the cover shut. You can answer and reject calls with the Cover closed, glance at the time or even see what music is playing. The View Cover also turns the screen on/off automatically when you open the case.

The View Cover is available in both White and Black. Price – £44.99

Olo Tread Case

The Olo Tread Case is made out of durable silicone material which adds protection to your Galaxy S4 without adding too much weight or bulk. The Tread case comes with a tyre like feel which will also add more grip to your phone. All ports are still fully accessible when using the Olo Tread case.

The Tread case is available in Black only. Price – £12.99

Cygnett Workmate Case

The Cygnett Workmate case is for those of us that need more protection than the lighter cases offer. The Workmate is made using layers of silicone with a hard polycarbonate shell on the top. This means your phone will be protected from drops and falls because the silicone will absorb the shocks. Despite having such great protection the Workmate doesn’t cause too much bulk and all of the ports are still accessible.

The Cygnett Workmate case is available in Bright Blue, Grey, Black and Orange. Price – £19.95

Case-Mate Barely There Case

The Barely There cases by Case-Mate are available for most of the top tier smartphones and the Galaxy S4 is no exception. The Barely There case is exactly what its name suggests ‘barely there’. This one will not protect your phone from big falls or shocks despite offering some impact resistance but it will prevent scratching and adds literally no bulk to the phone at all. This is ideal for those who want to keep their device slender.

The Barely There case is available in Black now and in White for Pre Order. Price – £15.95

More Accessories

So we have looked at some of the best cases available at launch for your new Shiny Galaxy S4 but is there anything else? Of course there is! Samsung are taking the Galaxy S4 very seriously and they are making sure it’s backed up by some superb accessories, we will take a look at some of the best ones now.

Samsung Battery Kit

The Galaxy S4 comes with a huge 2,600 mah battery which should see most normal users for 1 full day at least. However, if you’re going away for a weekend or you’re away from a charger then a spare battery is the way forward. The battery kit includes an official spare battery and then the battery charging kit which is particularly useful because you can charge your spare battery whilst your other battery is still in your phone. The charger can also double up as a desktop stand which is a nice feature.

The battery charging kit is available to order now with stock arriving in 1-2 weeks. Price – £39.99

Samsung Smart Dock

The Samsung Smart dock has been around for a few months already since it was initially released for the S3 and Note 2 but it also supports the Galaxy S4 which is great news. The Smart Dock pretty much allows you to connect everything to your phone that you would have on a PC: Keyboard, Mouse, HD Display and even external storage devices. Thanks to the Galaxy S4′s 1.9 ghz quad core processor the smart dock will allow you to do most of your desktop computer activities from your phone. Now if that’s not cool then what is?

The Samsung Smart dock is available now. Price – £59.99

Samsung Game Pad

With a top of the range GPU chip, 2GB ram and immense processing power the Galaxy S4 has the potential to be the perfect portable gaming device. The common problem with smartphones is that the games are getting better and better but they still remain awkward to control with on screen buttons. Samsung obviously noticed this was an issue and this led them to making the official Samsung Game Pad, the game pad fully unlocks the gaming power of the Galaxy S4. You can now download your favourite emulators such as FPSE (psONE) or Myboy (GBA) and benefit from having a real console gaming experience. The Gamepad connects via Bluetooth or NFC and also supports devices up to 6.3 inch screen size. The Game pad also supports Galaxy S4 optimised games such as Need For Speed.

The Official Samsung Gamepad is available for pre order now. Price – £89.95

Tips & Tricks/Getting Started

So you know the features and you have seen the awesome selection of accessories available, all that is left to do now is discuss some of the things you can do when you first get your hands on the Galaxy S4.

Create a Gmail and Samsung account

When you first turn on the device you will be prompted to sign or create both a Gmail account and a Samsung account. A Gmail account will be needed because this is what gives you access the Play Store and other great services such as Google Calendar, Play Music, Google Now and even you’re Chrome Bookmarks. A Samsung account will also be useful to have because it gives you access to Samsung’s cloud backup services and access to the Samsung Apps Store which gives you some of the best apps that were specifically made for your Samsung device.

Setup your Wi-Fi

Connecting to your Wi-Fi network will make sure you’re not using excessive data when you’re at home and will also allow you to download and install any relevant software updates. Simply go into Settings> WiFi >Click on your network then enter the WEP key if you have one.

Download some popular apps

Now you have such a powerful phone with that beautiful HD display, why not download some applications that make use of the big screen? Apps such as Whatsapp, TVCatchup, Angry Birds, Temple Run 2 and Need for Speed will have you being the envy of your friends in no time.

Use Group play to battle fellow Galaxy S4 owners

The Galaxy S4 now has a brilliant new feature called Group Play which allows you to remotely share content with other Galaxy S4′s in your proximity. Group Play also allows you to compete against your Galaxy S4 rivals using a Group Play compatible game! Here is an example of Group Play in action via e2save

Click here to view the embedded video.

Add Mobilemadesimple & Mobilefun to your bookmarks

Hopefully this post has been helpful to all of the Galaxy S4 Owners, Potential Owners and general smartphone fans. Feel free to leave comments if you have any questions or feedback

Full catalog of Galaxy S4 accessories at Mobilefun

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

Android Smartphones can do pretty much anything your computer can do nowadays, whether it be photo editing,  streaming or even running a PlayStation emulator so its easy for us to forget there core functions as phones! The SMS app can vary depending on manufacturer but the functions tend to be pretty basic to say the least, by installing one of the following text message apps you can gain some rather nice features.

1. Go SMS Pro – Free

Go SMS Pro is my number 1 recommendation to replace your stock sms app, Go SMS has support for themes, folders and even offers a pop up option so you can reply quickly to any incoming messages without exiting what your currently doing. Go SMS will also be a great addition for those of you who are running Samsung phones, Galaxy phones tend to convert your standard sms to a mms if it is over 3 pages long which can obviously result in unnecessary charges if you have to pay for mms on your current tariff. GoSMS has a setting where you can stop this conversion! Be sure to check this one out

2. Handcent SMS – Free

Handcent used to be the messaging application of choice for Android lovers until Go SMS came on the scene. Handcent offers very similar features as GO but doesn’t have any downloadable themes although you can change all sorts of things such as text colours, bubble colours and even the background colour.

3. ChompSMS – Free

ChompSMS is also similar to the previous options although it is more lightweight, ChompSMS offers all the extra features you would want without having all the extra bloat features that you find with Go SMS. ChompSMS comes with adverts but can pay a small one off fee to remove them for good.

4. Facebook Messenger – Free

If your a regular facebook talker then why not include your sms into the program too? The facebook messenger app allows you to do this and with the new chat heads feature you may find it quickly becoming one of your most used apps, unfortunately messenger doesnt offer all of the special sms features that the other 3 do but its still worth consideration.

Hopefully this quick post will be of use to those of you with Android devices, feel free to comment if you have any questions or feedback

The post Bored Of Your Android SMS App? Here’s The Best Alternatives appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.

The HTC One is a very durable phone thanks to its aluminium chassis and gorilla glass screen but if you still require the maximum protection or your worried about scratching your phone then a case will be necessary. Thanks to the lovely guys at Mobilefun i have had the chance to review some of the best protection available in the form of the Otterbox Commuter case, Otterbox are renowned for offering tank like protection for your device at the cost of extra bulk, the commuter case aims to fix this by offering traditional Otterbox protection whilst being thinner and stylish at the same time.

The Otterbox commuter comes in the traditional plastic packaging which is easy to open, thankfully you don’t need to fight to open the packaging like some cases on the market nowadays.

The Otterbox comes with a screen protector to protect your screen, a silicone case that wraps around the phone and then the hard white shell piece which clips on to the silicone.

As you can see in the photos above, the silicone case covers the phone and this is the part that will absorb any shocks or bumps from dropping the device, then the anti scratch shell clips on to the back to form a very stylish protective case. The shell can be quite tricky to clip on but i found that the best way was to line up the top of the HTC One with the case and then pull the protective charging cover through the shell at the bottom (this will make sense if you have the case in front of you).

All of the ports are easily accessible despite having protective covers over the headphone and micro usb sockets. There is an additional hole in the case for the microphone and the volume buttons are firm but easy to press.

The case has a slight lip around the edge of the device which prevents the phone falling on the screen in the event of a fall or drop.

Summary:

So after using the case for 3 days i can safely say that the Otterbox Commuter offers great protection for the HTC One, the case still makes the device twice as thick which might be an issue to some people because one of the HTC One’s unique selling features is its premium design and feel although its nice to know your £500 phone is safe if you drop it!

If you work in the building trade or an heavy duty job then you may even want to consider the Otterbox Defender case but for those who just want to give there phone great protection without sacrificing too much of the phones design then the Otterbox Commuter is a great choice! A wide selection of HTC One cases are available at Mobilefun.co.uk

Pros: 

Great protection

Phone is easier to hold and therefore less likely to slip out of your hand

Stylish design with a selection of colours available

Cons:

Adds extra bulk to the HTC One (Nearly twice as thick)

Added weight

Can be a little big in the pocket

Quite Pricey

The post HTC One Otterbox Commuter Review appeared first on Mobile Made Simple.